Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1907-05-16
rmnortaut Real Estate Sale.

1
tate sales made in Jefferson county IN
recent years was satisfactorily con-
cluded in Shepherdstown last Friday
by 81. L. Snyder & Co., who sold to
Col. Isaac v. johnson, of Roanoke,
Va, che splendid estate known as the
Lower Farm, belonging to Mrs. Aze'
mia Shepherd and Mr.. A M. Shep'
herd. \The farm contains BIZ acres
and the price paid was $4,000. II
is four miles north of Shepherdstown
and is at the end of the famous Shep-
herd turnpike, built by the late Hen
~ Shepherd some eighteen years ago
at a cost of over $4,000. and which
is conceded to be the finest road In
West Virginia.
The Lower Farm, which was form.
erly called Rocky Fountain, Is one OF
the finest estates In the Valley OF Vir-
gipia. 1t is excellent limestone land,
in good state of cultivation, part OF 1t
being set in blue grass, and has some
forty acres of timber upon 1t. Ii has
considerable frontage on the Potomac
river, including fine piece OF rlvei
bottom in blue grass sod. 1t is waite. ed
by three splendid springs of limestone
water beautifully situated at the foot
of the lawn surrounding the mansion
house, making bold little stream
that flows through the farm. The
place is very handsomely improved.
The dwelling is big stone manslon
containing fourteen rooms. me
walls are several feet thick, and 1t Is
substantial and comfortable to an un-
usual degree, situated on a. gentle
slope that overlooks a beautiful ex-
panse of country. The barn is an
enormous structure with cut-stone
walls and timbers that will apparent
ly endure for ages. Every needed
building. for an ideal plantation is
there, and all are substantial and OF
expensive and enduring construction
and mcst conveniently located.
This property has been in the Shep.
herd family for l04 years. Its first
owner Was Colonel Josiah Van Swear
ingen, one of the early settlers in this
country, who acquired it from Lord
Fairfax, to whom had been granted
by the King of England all of this
section of Virginia. He built upon 1T
substantial stone dwelling. Ia
1903 Colonel Van Swearingen- sold
the property to Captain Abram Shep'
herd, who willed il to his son, Henry
shepherd, the latter adding a large
wing to the original house and build
ing in 1919 the elegant dairy that
stands at the springs, 1t was owned
by Henry Shepherd from the death
of his father in 1917 until his own de-
mise in 1869, when 1T descended to
his son, Henry Sheph I'd I'd. At his
death in 1891, it went to his sons,
VIM. J. and A. NJ Shepherd, and in
1895 VIM. ]. sold his half interest to
his mother, Mrs. Azemia Shepherd.
Last week Colonel Johnson bought it
from Mrs. Shepherd and A. NJ. Shep-
herd.
Col. l. V. Johnson, the new owner
of the estate;,~is a well.known West
Virgiuian, having been State Auditor
trem 1898 to 1897-the last Demo
cratic State administration. He Is
native of Barbour county, and was
one of the most respected ard popular
men in Central West Virginia. Alter
serving his term as Auditor he moved
to Roanoke, Va, where he has resid-
ed for the past ten years. He now
comes back to his native State and
selects its garden spot, Jefferson coun-
ty, in which to end his days. He
gets immediate possession Of the farm,
the tenant, Mr.. W. s. Myers, having
arranged to let him have part of
the house for occupancy at once. His
family consists OF himself, his wife, a
son, daughter and his mother'in-
law, Mrs. Kemper. Colonel johnson
has been here for a week arranging
affairs at his new home, and Mrs.
johnson, Mrs. Kemper and Miss
Douglas came Tuesday night. They
will be at the Entler Hotel until they
get their household in order. Colonel
johnson is a Confederate veteran and
his wife is an estimable Virginia lady,
80 they and the other members of
their family will find congenial friends
and acquaintance here. We are
sure all our people will give them a
most cordial greeting, and we hope
that they may establish happy and
comfortable home in our community
and live long to enjoy it. The Roa-
noke papers express great regret that
the family is removing from that
place, where they are held In the
greatest resnect and affection,