The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-15

liz Last Of Bedford City's Old
to Go Out OF Hands
Of the Family.
q CENTRE or HOSPITALITY
Builded BY a Brilliant Man Who
5S& Left a Number Of Cultured
Descendants.


S BEDFORD CITY. VA, April lave Ave
n nS1,, the beautiful old home OF the bur-
Nell family, the only one of the very ora
II homes Of the early residents OF TINS Town
Ri lat has remained in the hands OF the
si2 candy or its original owners. Is now adj
,.S;rt ,sscd for sale. The house was built
M Mr. William NJ Burwcll, man Of
ntnch brlliancc. who figured cA'ehs', !, e.:
political and literary life oil VIZ
"a rihin Of past generation and whose
Nh h3ccstors were prominent In colonial MS
5$,ory. His father, William a. Bhrwcll,
" Was the private secretary and lifelong
intimate friend Of Thomas jefferson
{i sNvenc, which Is large square prlck
IN house. with spacious aparsncnts ana
broad halls. situated in grove OF spieh
g2dtd oaks was last owned and occupied
,,,v Miss I,ettic NJ. Burwell. the eldest
daughter OF William M. Burwell, whose
A sudden death last December left the
& property vacant q
|S lin her will she desired the properly 10
hes sold and the proceeds to be divided
" between the grandchildren OF her SISTER,
=. Mrs Kate I3owyer. who are the TOUR emu
q tlrens OF State Senator J. l.. Campbell, and
,,ar on,v remaining sister. Mrs. c. H.
Todd. OF Owensboro. Ky. In addition 10
Ayenel, Belmont Seminary, owned BY
the Burwells, IS to be sold and other
lands In the county.
E$S,rhere is no home in Bedford that has
dispensed n wider or more generous hos
\. pitality than Avenel, its guests having
come from all parts of the land, number
y ing many statesmen, military and Literary
celebrities.
Here Mrs. Robert E. Lee and her daugh-
tiers were entertained during the civil
$5hVar for some time, and when wild wars
deadly blast was blown General Lee
II and his daughter. Miss Mildred. stopped
n FOR a brief visit there on their horseback
ride from Lexington TO the home or
Captain Pascal Buford, at Montvalc,
X where the family of General Lee had
been entertained for Il summer during
the war Mrs. Burwell, who lived to the
is &c of eighty-four years, was lady of.
(; remarkable beauty OF person pnd charm
$ OF manner, and was most gracious ana
fascinating hostess, who was most ably
q assisted in her hospitality by her daugh-
8@te rs. Of whom there were four. Miss
aS, I.ottic Burwell was q character Of such
4 loneliness of disposition. gentlencss, rare
&EcultlIre and refinement that she was one
" easily among all classes the most popular
n and beloved woman in the town. and her
death has created a void that cannot
y lie filled Mrs Kate Bowyer, her sister,
Isl Was sngularly brilliant, Il gifted musician,
WI a writer of humorous compositions I'M
:sts excellcd in private life She passed away
N5$ some years since, after the death OF her
H only child Mrs. Lillian Campbell. Mrs.
MI James Breckenridge. who was gentle.
$s bright and lovely, died very young, soon
ID after the death of her husband, captain
James Breckenridge, who was Killed IN
H the war OF the Confcdcracy.
s. Mrs Todd. of kentucky, who was Miss
u Rosa Burwell, Is the youngest and only
surviving member of this gifted and IN
family. IN the library OF this
n home amid It's many rare books and old
60 family pictures, stood modest little
mahogany desk the history OF which
renders it extremely valuable. While
hi secretary OF President Jefferson the desk
was presented Mr. Burwcll, the father of
the owner of Avcne by the President
Himself, as q token of his esteem and
confidence. Within the desk is portfolio
5&t filled with letters on many subjects by
Mr.. jefferson TO his secretary. Though
y the hand that pcnncd them has long since
crumbled into dust, the writing Is AS
clear and distinct rs. thought 1t might
i, have been written yesterday, and as
& easily read as print. The, sheets of paper
were folded in small compass and sealed,
there being then no envelopes.
A Tho smallncss of the desk, the sim
gplic!ty of the arrangement of the letters
sf arc in striking contrast to the many
that man now wants for the needs
OF business, &c, as contrastcd with j. @.