Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1905-10-27
John Sitlington, Sra Former
Cattle King of Highland
County, Virginia


turesoue characters that figure in
the social and business history OF
affairs in Highland and Bath
Counties was the late John Sit
lington, Sr. While his name was
very familiar to me from boyhood
our personal acquaintance did not
begin until the midsummer OF
1862. At the time referred to he
was a residence of the lower Crab
bottom vicinity in northwest
Highland County. 1t came to my
knowledge through mutual friends
that Mr.. Sitlington and others de-
sired a sacramental service IN
their little church. One OF these
mutual friends was his daughter
in.law, Mrs Henrietta Ewing Sit
lington. at Mcdowell, a Christian
lady, whose memory is revered
by me as devoted, energetic help
err in the gospel in the war times.
Her husband, Robert Sitlington
was a ruling Elder of the Mellow
ell church along with Joseph
Layne and William McClung.
1t may be remarked that the
venerable William McClung was
the grand father Of Rev McClung
Sieg, now missionary at Loebo in
Africa.
Two or three months previous
ly the Union Army under Gener-
al Milroy had been repulsed and
now Goshen church was part OF
the frontier.
The praying people desired to
meet DIT the communion and rem
der to the Lord of Hosts their
hum Bile, grateful thanks for the
gracious deliverance, as they
deemed it, voucbsafed them by
His servant, General Thomas j.
Jackson. On the excursion from
Mcdowell to Goshen quite Il num-
Der of pleasant incidents came UNI
der my notice, which may be the
theme of some future article.
Early on the day before the
Sabbath in question | reached MIR.
Sitlington's house, nestled amid
the green Crabbottom pastures so
widely known. | found upon
my arrival the venerable man had
taken his staff and had been gone
for the church some time accom-
panied by his little daughter Sal
lie. The church was just in sight
but nearly a mile away, as it
seemed to me when | came to
walk it some minutes later. 1t
being part of my religion at that
period of my life to take good care
of my sorrel horse, Harry Light
foot. ! asked permission of Mrs
SitIington to let him rest and Craze
while services were being held.
In her most cordial manner,
Aunt Betsy" observed, "You
are perfectly welcome to pasture,
but we have no corn. The YAM
KEGS took every ear. As there is
no man person about the house, |
reckon you will have to turn him
out yourself if he gets any grass.
20, certainly, Madam, | have
boy with me that always waits on
me when it does not suit my
friends so to do" Thereupon |
took off the saddle and bride and
soon Harry Lightfoot was refresh
ing himself at will upon some ct
the finest grass in the southern
Confederacy.
Upon entering the church |
found but few persons in attend.
ance. Moreover it was very APP
parent that during the occupation
a few months previously by Rul-
ing Elder Milroy's Union soldiers
the house had been used for cook
'ng and sleeping purposes, while
he neat and comfortable building
close at hand was at The same
metamorphosed into stable by
those Wanted promoters of edu-
cation, patriotism, morals and re-
ligion. And then too it would
sound so grimly facetious after
desecra!ing churches and pollut-
ing schoolhouses to hear some OF
the leaders express their commits
Grafton so feeliDglv for the peo-
pie whose lot it was to live in
ghborhood so reduced in the