Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-07-31

of Charles Bryan (oid Charley an et
centric old batchelor whose costum
was buckskin breeches and stitchdoW
shoes, He was tanner by occupatio
and carried on his business at tn
branch near his residence, which sto0
on the site where Samuel Parkin
house now stands. 1t was one stor
house with porch extending the Who'll
length. Charley was aself constituted
postmaster, and kept an office for tn
accommodation Of his nelghbors. |
was here that khe stage driver threw
off a bundle oil nation SPECTATORS
and the surrounding neihgbors woult
get them at their convenience. Aftel
his death his little farm was sold ant
subdivided, the lot on which the resi-
dence stood was bought by VIM. Cline
dinst who afterwards tore down the
old house and erected better one and
carried on the wagon making business
1t was on the hillside ON the oppO
side of the road that the school house
stood. In takinga retrospective view Of
the school in those days my minds eye
sees the youthful faces of Col. VIM.
Anderson, Maj. VIM. Wilson, Robert
Wilson, Levi Fishburn, Ephraim and
Robert Strasburg, Leander and John
Grinder. Levi and David Beard, with
many other boys, as well as goodly
number of fair lasses, who have ended
their young lives, and now bask in
the beautiful fields beyond. Some few
of the boys are left, but alas the elas-
ITCHY of their step and the radiance of
their eyes have gone. The only ones
that | can call to mind are Robert Guy
of Staunton, and Peter and Joseph
HOuf OF this locality. There may be
others.
The farm adjoining the Bryan tan
yard on the westside, was owned by
George AyIor, and occupied by Abra-
ham Beard. David, one OF his sons, in
with tive others, perished on
the Isthmus of Panama in 1S49 while
on their way to California in search of
gold. Next was the residence of DIR.
Davidson, now the property OF Andrew
Bowling. There was at that time a
dwelling house with several other build
ings, including cooper shop. standing
on the island between the mill race
and the river; the mill had been owned
by Col. Allen, later by Jacob Baylor,
and now by DR.. Davidson. The local
name of the place was 'The Island"
On the opposite side of the river was
the home Of Robert Anderson. father
OF Col. VIM. Anderson, now the prop
erty of Edward Furr.
There was an incident that occurred
at this place which perhaps has passed
from the minds of those living at that
time, which | will narrate for the in
formation of the present generation.
d.. Davidson and Col. Anderson were
slave Owners-a negro man named
John belonging to DIR. Davidson, be.
came very much enamored of a young
negress belonging to Anderson, whose
father. named Ben (aIso slave of An
derson) vehemently opposed the love
match, and forbade John calling on,
or seeing his 'gal.'' Cupid had so
shot his arrow into the
heart of John that he devised
a scheme to take Ben's life. He con-
federated with, aud took as an accom-
plice young negro man belonging to
Anderson (whose name l have forgot
ten). The two men in the nighttime
allured Ben up the river 1t was said
oy one of the slaves of Anderson that
John called over to the Anderson man
and he, in company with Ben, went up
The river. Ben never returned. In.
luiry and search were made for him,
)ut no trace of bis whereabouts could
)e found, Suspicion rested upon the
,wo negro men, but for want of evil
1ence the matter was dropped.
In the month of March. 1871, Moses
Johnston and younger brother, sons
of VIM. Johnston, who was afterwards
Implicated with the three negOes who
we're hung near Staunton Il think in
he year 1S45) then living near where
Mrs. Heatwole now resides, was hunt
ng with dogs over the hills west of the
Bryan place. Their dogs barked and
nowIed on the top of the hill dividing
The pike from the river. The boys sup
posing that some wild game had enter
ID here. made an excavation ard
found human corpse. They reported
The same, coroner's inquest was
held and it was found to be the BODY
Of old Ben. Thus the mystery was
The two negroes before
mentioned had either allured him there
and killed him, or killed him at the
river and carried him there. For want
Of evidence to convict the two men
they were sold to the Southern traders.
thereafter DIR. Robt. Rob-
ertson, young physician, then living
where Sam. Hulvey now resides, ex-
humed the body, gathered the bones
and adjusted them, and used them in
his studies, keeping it in his office,
later he moved to Missouri, and took
the skeleton with him. Thus ends the
story of poor Ben.
On the southern corner of Ander-
son s farm there was a blacksmith shop
carried on by Mr.. Strasburg, father OF
Ephraim and David Strasburg-at one
time connected with the SPECTATOR.
Next was the residence of George
Grinder, later owned by DIR. Eichelber-
ger, who erected beautiful mansion
thereon. Here Grinder was born and
died. He was toll collector for a num-
ber of years for the Valley Turnpike
Co. subsequently VIM. Golliday bought
a lot off the eastern corner of this farm
adjoining the pike and built small
log house on IL; to this place the toll
gate was removed, and a pOstoffice es-
IL u ~ l., ,-xa1.-