Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1902-12-17
The Old Men of ROckbridge.
WILLIAM LUSK.

lie lie Oh Ine subject OF tnls
sketch was such as to entitle hin
to place among the memorable
old men of Rockbridge. Mr.. Lusk
filled an important position in the
events transporting in the county
20 years and more ago. His active
business life may be said to have
identified him with the history OF
the county for 40 or so years, SC
that when he died there were many
to feel that another Of the old land
marks-another of the representa-
tives of the olden days-was gone.
He was connected with the old
family names who were the print
tive settlers of the country and who
had made up no uninportant part
of the history of the lower section
of the county.
The most distinguishing charac-
teristic of Squire Eusk, or, az he
was more Familiarity called, cold
Billy Lusk, " was good, hard sense.
He was not a man Of classical edu-
cation. rather guess his educa-
ton at school was for the most
part confined to the three depart
ments of reading, writing and
ciphering, with perhaps { sprink-
ling Of geography and grammar;
but one thing is certain, it was
VERY little Greek he knew
His mind was of that character
that he was bound to make his
mark in life without the aid of
school learning. ! shall not say
without the aid Of book learning,
for he was close reader Of books
and ewsrapers, and thus his mind
was stored with much valuable,
practical information. His obser-
walton of men and things was at
tentive. and he had carefully
studied human nature-the book
that he had perused thoroughly:
in short, he was what he prided
himself in being-a self-made man.
His genius as mechanic was of
a first rate order, as many Of the
mills, buildings and bridges of the
county have borne witness. When
any of the public improvements of
the county required the inspection
Of man of practical, business
sense, William Lusk was very apt
to be tlrat man, or one of the
appointed, because the
Court had confidence in his judy
ment and could rely upon the in
vestigation he would make. He
was one Of the right-bo Vers of the
county in that respect, and ranked,
perhaps, next to Colonel Jordan as
IN Inspector or constructor ofpublic
works.
The reader Of this sketch might /
;ay, especially if he were init !
nately acquainted with the sub j
ect of it: "Well, this sketch of /
id Squire Lusk is not complete
without representing him to have
,een a man of very strong pref
ldices." He did bear the reputa-
ion of being so, and it is not my
Intention to deny the truth of it.
lis convictions we've strong and
mmovably firm wher once formed,
nd it was not often that hechan ged
hem. Certainly, anything like
ckleness had no place in his ccm-
Osition. Once a Presbyterian
lways a Presbyterian, and once
Democrat always Democrat may
e taken as expressive of his prin-
iples-call it bigotry or what
on choose. But, at all events, in
hat he did, he believed he was
light, and his motives were good,
his head should have happened
, err. 1t was an error of the head
nd not Of the heart.
As magistrate Squire Lusk {
erved well and faithfully for many
ears. Whe the magistracy WAS a
slf-elective body he was one, and
fter the adoption of the State
of lS50-'51, which i
ade the magistrates elective by a
lie people he was, at che first t
ection, reinstated and was soon +
1T on the bench as presiding C
agistrate, which place he filled, O
| am not mistaken, to the period G
his death. He would have come g
next for the high sheriffalty but D
+ the adoption Of the Constitution Q
1S50-'51. d
He acted as magistrate in those d
rly days when, without any Il
sparagement to the bench of G,
t or times, it could be well said u
at the County Court system was a
ornament to the counties of the n
ate of Virginia. A better, more a.
mode of administering Ii
r county affairs never has been,
T never will be introduced. Mr.. r.
fferson, after he had filled the
ice of President of the United
ates for eight years, took pride til
serving for the remainder Of his &C
VS. as magistrate of Albemarle pa