Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-09

Ile Ccottsviile Of yesterday. History tells
Us that tie Place was Cr ginally known as
SCOTS Ferry, and all the land round
about, including "Scouands,' the county
estate of Senator Martin, was owned by
ore man, Of the name of Scott Abe
,narle's old Courthouse, located at Val
mort, farm a few miles north of here,
is said 10 have been the turning point
| III the Revolution. for here were the
American: stores, and the British. being
foi1cc in their attempt to secure them.
turned their steps to Yorktown where
the2- were bagscd for good and all. -Four
u five years ago there was talk Of erect
ing a monument on the site, but it has
rc*cr been dcne. Warren was a still
more ancient scat Of justice.
Il, 1919 ti:e town of Scottsville was in
corpovated, and was the northernmost
point on James river.
EATEAE NAVIGATION.
In early Gays. before railroad was
thought of here, tateau navigation was
used. The hOaimen knew where every
current III iile lGver was. and steered the
boats through rapids and falls with great
shill The bateauS were sharp at both ends
and we're sometimes called .'bootjacks.'
The trsl-class freight boats had great
contempt For the smaller craft. and would
often run into them.
In the early tiftes Scottsville had the
distinction cf teire the largest flour mar
ket in the State. Persons would come from
Norfolk and buy as many COO barrels
at & tirle. The mountain trade was fine.
at least 100 large covered wagons would
CONE. over at I; TIME from augusta, Rock
bridge and other counties further west
These would be drawn by from four to six
ana sometimes eight of the finest draught
horses The teamsters took great pride
in tflcse splendid animals Some wore
bells. some wore none. If team which
had telis stalled, and was pulled out by
horses that had none. the orirers of the
latter transferred The bells to their own
tesm. The waGoneers would bring their
provisions with them ana camp out III
vacant lots Il: out the village.
ALL SORTS OF PRODUCE.
Al. sorts of produce figured i'll their
leads: venson whiskey, dried fruits, nuts,
etc. and these would be given in exchange
for plaster and salt to take home with
them Good whiskey Gf it ever can be),
real old rye would be sold on the road for
| l2Ia cents per gallon, and at this place Tor
| 25 cents. At one time, when the article
| was scarce. four wagon loads were bought
out on the road for 1:1a cents. In ls5o
the Touring mills were started. The lrst
corn was ground February %, 1850, and
the first wheat in the fall of that year.
che mill owned by Mason & Lewis was
said TO have a capacity of 500 barrels a
day. Before this time flour was included
among the other articles brought over by
the mountain people. Five thousand bar
rels were sometimes inspected IN one lot,
and one-half pound taken out of eacn.
Three cents per barrel was the price pald
for inspection. When the railroad touched
Waynesboro. it cut off the mountain flour
trade
This was as good country as one
would wish to live in them say the old
81 nhabl,arts-''healthy and prosper
uus.'. All the farmers owned slaves ana
| la, orcrs were plentiful. Business was
brisk and the outlook cheering.
A PLANK ROAD TO STAUNTON.
a, one time there was an organized
company with a charter for making
plank road from here Il Staunton Dut 1t
did rot grow as fast as Jacks beanstalk'
and stopped short at North Garden. SO the
dwellers in these parts never got the
gcluen egg that may have been at the
other end. In building the road. ties We're
laid down and planks laid on these ana
vehicles and horses could be heard mics
awav when travelling on it. Every one
thought Scottsville would be big place
then. but the extension of the railroad 10
Staunton was the end OF the dream.
Early in the forties the canal was mace
and by this means produce couio pe snip
90 10 market much cheaper than now.
often thirty or forty hogsheads of tobac-
cc a season would be sent from here.
SOME INDUSTRIES IN THE 5oS.
a woolen factory was established IN tAe
fifties. and there was also nat factory.
candle factory. and foundry. Ihe Wooiieh
IA Glory. which was the most eStenslFe
cne was equipped with costly machlner:
and furnished great quantities OF excel
lent cloth-.enough for the whoie Con
Tolerate army one gentleman said. II
,yas shippeG away In boatloads. MT.
I. Griffin SAYS he had some shirts when
he went to the war that were MADE there,
ono wishes he had some more now. Dur
i,,s Sheridan's raid. twenty-elght oulld-
;ngs great and small, were burned nciuo-
ing ali the factories and warehouses, put
t,,e y ooiien factory vas Afterwards re-
buit. e,
"t,rdurjn' O. the war; many little in
,,ac,,ts occurred which have been re-
counted by the older generation to the
..,ouncer fry Before the Federals en-
tered Scottsville. scouts were sent our
i, Confederate uniform to reconnoiter.
some Of .hese stopped at the boat YARDS
and engaged in conversation with c1ti-
-en of the town 1t required little hido
nt,cuvring 10 discover where there was a
sunply Of liquor stored away and II was
nil secured refore the people were aware
of the wolves in Sleeps clothing IN
their midst. It was on Sunday .hae
they made their appearance one iaoy
says: II remember well being In church
ban some one came to the door ana
cried: The ankees are coming! was
go frightened knew not whether 70 go
or STAY. Either way ! might fare oadiy.
Al home had left my mother and invaiid
sister. however. SO quickly DECIDED 70
90. / sprang into my carriage ana to.u
Tie driver TO urge the horses to their ut-
most speed, as the Yankees were dlrectls
hehind us, and so finally reached my own
door In safety Between twenty AM. ana
t,,enty-avc Federals took possession OF
one gentleman's room and lodged there az
ntrht. When Sheridan entered the v1iiase
with his men. Captain Pollock. then a. q
resilient Of the place, at once hred INTO s.ne :.
.ronn and the Feierals blazed away WIN I'm
n,s1oIs. Tho captain was pursued Up q
sisa street, but not ca apt1rne tnouSn
several others were a cittsen OK g tne al.Ee5