Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1908-01-30
A VISIT TO THE COUNTY FARM.

the County Court for business pur.
poses, and sll the members of the
court were present-Messrs. John Q.
Burns, N. T. Snyder, Daniel Hsfe-
bower, N. r Roberts and j. VIM.
Riders well as DR.. 81. P. Hirst, the
physician to the alms-house.
After pleasant drive over the good
roads through a rich section of the
county, by way of Shenandoah juno
ton, Browns Crossing, and Wageley's
Shop, what is variously called the
poor farm, the aims. house and the
county in6rmary was reached, 1t re.
ally ism t poor farm on the contrary,
it is fine farm, containing 220 acres
of wsll.cultivstsd limestone land,
with every appearance of prosperity.
1t has a fine large bank barn, erected
few years ago, with all necessary
out. buildings needed upon a frst.slass
farm, the fences are well kept up, the
implements housed and protected, and
the live stock in excellent condition.
The main building isa large brick
mansion, and around it are detached
structures occupied by the, inmates
and needed for the work of the insti-
tution-all well kept and presenting
tidy and thrifty appearance.
The excellence Of the management
of the Jefferson county alms-houss is
not only a matter Of justifabls county
pride, but a subject of favorable COM
msnt throughout the State. This is
largely due to the fact that the same
family has had charge for nearly forty
years. In 1859 Charles G. Littlston
was appointed manager, and from that
time until his death in 1893-except
for brief period of less than one
ysar--hs successfully conducted the
place. He was Christian gentle.
man-his father was a minister of the
gospel from Clarke county-as well as
good business man, and the unfor-
Inmates committed to his care were
treated with gentle consideration,
while his energy and good manage
ment of the farm kept expenses down
to low figure. At his death his son.
in-law, the late Mason Hiedwohl, was
appointed superintendent in his place,
and he gave equal satisfaction until
his death list December.
At Mr.. Hiedwohls death it seemed
as if there would have to be change
in the management, but Mr.. Little.
tons four dsughters-capable and &C
complished ladies who had long been
active as helpers in the management
of the place-bravsly offered to carry
on the work, and the County Court
wisely appointed Miss Kate Littleton
as superintendent. With the assist.
ance of her sisters and Francis Little
ton, the sprightly and capable young
grandson of the elder Mr.. Littleton,
she is conducting the institution in the
most satisfactory manner, and its af-
fairs were never in better order. Miss
Littleton is not what might be called
"a new woman" but is capable and
conscientious lady of high character
and unusual ability who commands
the respect Of all who know her, and
is fully competent to do the work she
has undertaken.
At the present time there are TWEEN.
ty-eight inmates of the alms.houss-
men, women and children, white and
colored. Some have rooms in the
main building and others have their
quarters in the adjoining structures.
They are properly clothed and shell.
tered and are given substantial and
wsll-prepsred food in abundance, the
products Of the farm being largely
used for their sustenance. They all
have great respect and affection for
the Misses Littleton-all, that is, ex.
cept the chronic grumbler. They as.
sist in the work of the place and do
such chores as they are able, but the
sum total of their labor is not great,
for after the aged and infrm and
those who are of weak mind are elm.
mated, there are not many left. Two
Shephsrdstown persons are among the
inmates white woman and COL
ored woman. There is q natural re-
pugnanoe at the thought of going to
the "poor-houss," and on the part of
many blind, unreasoning terror and
fierce resistance, but once there they
soon become contented and the physi-
cal comfort does much to mitigate the
mental anguish.
The chronic grumblsr, referred to
above, is one of the characters Of the
place. He has been there for long
time, and, being about eighty years Of
age, he feels at liberty to freely criti-
oise, until his criticism has taken the
form OF continual grumbling. Indeed,
he is the sort of grumblsr you read
about, but seldom meet. He conf.
dsntially informed the writer that
they did not have the right sort of
religion there-twssn't the sort they
used to have and the kind he was
brought up on; the place wasn't
farmed right; they didn't cultivate
the corn properly as he elected about
half-pint of tobacco juice at one
discharge, he con6ded that they didn't
allow tobacco enough his room wasn't
sufficiently warm, aud they even made
him hang pictures on the walls him.
self; they wouldn't take him to town
when he wished to go; the other in
mates were not what they ought to be,
and no one about the place had the
respect for old age that they ought to
have; he blamed the doctor because