The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-08


of the old Virginia towns which o'o
depend upon a watercourse iot
isteace ros.
IN 7z7a there was a part OF the Meee
o,n frontier called Fincastie 80,
Wheeling. w. Va, was oiiS. ia tho
Fincasue. and some nfne ~ ~ oo,,,.r
town of Monroe. "hlch We" ,c,etIa
scat az Botetourt, was naiheo
in respect for the h'iis'
BARON de Botetouri.
IL 80 colonel William Preston IN MS
rcnorts to the Governor refers 10 ',ie &C.
Element as "Botetourt Cour f'ouse. -
onel Preston lived on the site Oh 'he
oi,.,o,.,,,,ic Institute near Blacksburg at
mar time. and gave list OF the se..ieis
who lived in Botetourt ana fliicas'ie
counties. and the Ho!sto" $50 ~ -.
IA. tolls of "slSullSing bands OF lnuians
NO have terrified the inhabitants ana
have been seen within twenty-five nl1ies
NJ Rotetourt Courthouse. ms was me
attack of the Shawanese upon the nome
of DR. John Lybrook. who lived on Ne"
River. what is now Giles county. me
same band We're within fifteen miles OIL
Fincastle as late as this. 1iI4. being seen
in the neighborhood of what is now the
farm Of hte late Major Mccartney
CAUSED A BATTLE.
This was the direct cause of the battle
of Point Pleasant for the band on re-
turning west attacked Fort Savannah at
Lewisburg and being followed. the mis-
takes of massacre of Logan's family by
whites and retaliation by Indians We're
the sequence.
Colonel Preston collected his men ana
passing through Fincastle was Joined BY
Colonel Fleming, Coionel Love. ana
Colonel Buford, and all marched to the
Ohio 10 participate in the battle with
Cornstalks braves.
Colonel Fleming took the Botetourt
troops Many of them lived in F1ncas-
tie and surrounding country.
Fincastle was built upon the land of
Israel Christian, with the proviso that
the courthouse be built therein. Bote-
;ourt court was at first held at Sweet
Springs.
Fincastle's first courthouse was of logs,
built up like a begun. round at the
ton and cribbed with the logs in a kind
of hexagon shape.
It was place of traffic with tobacco
currency, and wolf skin premiums, and
had no bell, but a rams horn to call
them -.in to court
OF course. this was just at the very
first: for soon this beautiful valley was
settled up with some of the finest blood
that ever came to America" and they
l have heard that John Bower was
the first clerk after the Revolution, and
that he traded horse for his office
That he was a beautiful penman some
old papers in my possession which he
charged a fee of ninety cents for copy
ing we'll attest.
THE BOWERS.
The beautiful old-fashioned home
called ..Santelane" now the home of
NPy 1,o
yer's in my first recollection. DR.. =Thos.
Miller who came to America with Lord
Milton. bought '.Santelane from the
Bowers. and lived there many years.
he sold it to the Fincastle Land and
Improvement Company, who in turn sold
IT to Mrs. Scott Mr.. James Bowyer.
distinguished writer and author, was
born at Santeane.
General Breckenridge was another of
the old style gentlemen, and his home
was called Grove HILL and is situated
on Catawba Creek, about three miles
from Fincastle. General breckenridge
was the largest slave and land owner
in the county, so far as I am Informed.
His home was the handsomest private
building near Fincastle. being an i'm
,mense red brick structure, with white
pillars and high facade after the old
home style of architecture.
1t stands in a grove of oaks and Is
rich in legend and story. General Brock
enridge's land extended many miles
through the Catawba Valley. There are
other handsome colonial homes near Fin
castle. the Spiller house. the Utz home.
the Thompson place, and Hammond
home, the Anders. Patton's. Johnson's.
Beates. in fact dozens of fine mansions
around and near FincaStle whose owners
attended often school and church in the
town-the Woodsons. the Ewings, the
Brugh's, the Calahan's, and many others.
This made a superior state Of society.
for they were of the refined and leisure
class, with plenty of time for culture
and plenty of money for the support
of It.
OLD FAMILIES
Some of these old families live directly
In Fincastle at present. Colonel Cary
breckenridge and also Judge G.. w.
breckenridge and others
Now in the busy days that have re-
Gently built up other mushroom tow-ts
and cities Fincastle has been left out
but she still has the advantage of social
and historic prestige over her contenl-
poraries She has no railroad. nor trolly
cars.
Socially. think it ranks with the best
towns In the South. IT has had few poll
tfcians. and 1t has never been ruled by
political ring. Its municipal affairs
have been prudently and honestly man,
aged
1t has had its tragedies. its sorrows
fits crimes.
The churches have ruled the different
classes. and the monied and professional
lines were once rather sharply drawn a:
against the poor and the laboring classes
It has probably the best newspaper o.
local value in the State. having beer
owned and run by the Camper Brother.
for thirty years or more.
II has some right to literary prestige
also. for several interesting writer's have
lived there. Among them Mrs. Julia
Breckenridge. Professor Eugene Luster
Miss Copeland. whose home IS near Fin.
castle; Mr.. James Bower. Miss Fannie
f. Foster Miss Mag Kennedy Gan old
fashioned writer for Peterson's Maya
zinel. a Mrs. Carter; and ! have seen
the famous .Mars. Johnson in the
church at Fincastle. I have also seen
her father. Major J. w. Johnson (who is
now writing a war book at my mothers
tea-table. They lived at Buchanan. bu'