Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1902-10-15
The Old Men of Rockbridge.
From the Gazette of April 30, 1875.


! | send you a brief memorial 0
the White family, embracing tn
t four brothers Joseph, William
! Robert and Mathew, three Of whom
| reside in ROckbridge, and one
William, in StauntOn. They wer'
intermarried in the Johnston family
of Rockbridge and Augusta, wher,
many Of their descendants still re
side.
/ knew Mr.. VIM. White while h,
did business in Stanton as 4,
merchant, in the years 1873 1920
He married IA Miss Coalter, ano
died many years since without
issue.
Ny attention was first called tC
Mr.. Joseph White (whom | never
knew personality by a long adver-
tisement of the assets Of his estate
published in the Lexington News
Letter, the origin Of The GAZETTE,
! think about the year 1920. The
Staunton Spectator published the
same notice, which at that day was
rather remarkable for the large
amount of property offered for
sale.
Mr.. Joseph White married Miss
Ann Johnston, daughter Of Zech-
aria Johnston, ST., who formerly
represented the county Of Rock
bridge in the General Assembly.
Mr.. White left six children, three
of whom are yet living-two in
Brownsburg and one in Lexington.
| have been intimately acquainted
with this family over fifty years.
My acquaintance with Robert
and Mathew White commenced in
1921, and | may say was intimate
while they lived. At one time /
rode with Mathew White to Phila-
delphia. Putting up our horses at
EIlicott's Mills near Baltimore, we
spent a week in that city, purchas-
ing goods, and amongst Others
bought many articles from Pea
body q Riggs-the former of
worldwide fame. This was in the
year 1924. From Baltimore we
went to Philadelphia, where we
spent another week completing our
assortments in dry goods and
hardware. ! was particularly
struck with Mr.. Whites taste in
purchasing goods. He was rather
rough and uncouth in language
and manners, yet he had fine taste
in the selection Of goods, partic-
ularlyin articles for his ownfamily,
which were generally of the best
quality, such as fine cut-glass,
cutlery, silks, linens, &c. This
trip, | recollect he purchased
fine light family carriage, which
at that period was luxury, there
being but few in the county-Col.
James Mcdowell Of Cherry Grove
had one, and Capt. John Bowyer
and these were all / can
now recollect.
BY way of depression, ! may add,
having married II wife, We (my
lady and self rode down the Valley
by way of Winchester, Gettysburg,
York and Lancaster toPhiladelphia,
at the rate of about 40 miles per
day, each with pair of saddle
bags in which we carried our
wardrobe. We spent month in
and returned in
one-horse barouche for which |
traded one of my horses. This was
the first wheel carriage in New
congregation. | merely |
this to show what changes
have taken place in the last 10
years.
Mr.. Mathew White was settled
md doing business in Lexington
before | knew him. He married a
granddaughter of Il. Johnston,
ST., Il daughter of Robert Me
jhesney, Mrs. Polly White, now {
esiding in Lexington. They had
several daughters and one son.
Mr.. Robert White, you have
poken of. and said all that is i'm {
,ortant to be known. will indorse G
II you have said, but as | knew c
he family well in my early days c
nd used to spend some happy a
Iours in his hospitable home with I
is eldest daughters, Misses Ann t
nd Hannah, very pretty and
Interesting ladies of their day; d
lso of their eldest brother, Zech- {
riah White, who had just grown c
D mans estate. OF VIM. c., &
.obert and Joseph White, / need f,
,arcely speak; they are in your g
lidst, worthy sons of an honest W
ire, and grandsons of Zechariah A
ST., who had eight chill p
rem, if not more. | knew James W
ohnston, Zechariah Johnston, DR.. d
ohnston and Alex. Johnston, Mrs. lc
. McChesney, Mrs. Ann White, is
nd Mrs. Robert White. l.
Mrs. Elizabeth McChesney had f
wen children-James, Mrs. Ann fC
.cBryde, George, and Elizabeth te
rown, dead; Il. McChesney, Mrs. =
oily White and Adam McChesney -