The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-03-26
REV. R. A. WILLIAMS
Writes interesting Letter From
Charles Town, ". Va.
EXPERIENCES AND IMPRESSIONS
To The Free Lance:


Thinking that possibly your readers
might be interested in some of the
things that have interested me in and
around Charles Town, w. Va, have
ventured 70 JOt some of these down and
send them on to you.
Charles Town is the county seat of
Jefferson County, w. Va. said to be
the richest county in either of the two
Nlrglnlas. IL is situated i'm the eX-
treme end of the Pan Handle and is in
part of the far famed Valley of Vir-
glnia. One of the things that makes
Charles Town of interest 10 a Freder-
icksburger is the close relationsip that
the Washington family bear to il. The
site was given by Charles Washington.
Tor whom the town is named. and he
donated the four principal corners for
public buildings for town and county.
Just outside the town is the grave of
Charles Washington. Gen. George
Washington knew all this section of
country well as early as 1850. in his ca
pacity as surveyor for Lord Fairfax.
who resided at "Greenway Court. -
near Winchester. and IT is said that the
town was surveyed by Washington.
The principal street in the town run
ning east and west is named Washing
ton and all the streets running north
I
the Washington family. such as George.
Lawrence. Charles, Samuel, Mildred.
The old courthouse in which John
Brown was tried. the Jail in which he
was imprisoned are still standing and
on the spot where he was hung a splen-
did residence has been built by one of
the leading citizens Of the town.
Here also lived Hon. VIM. l.. Will
son. one OF the most distinguished Dem
ocrats OF the country and at one time a
member of Mr.. Cleveland's cabinet.
Mr.. Wilson was a deacon in the Bap-
tlst church of this place and was regard
ed as one of the most pous and up
right mon in all this community, always
eXerting an influence for the highest
and the best. Ii would be a great
thing II we had more men like Mr.. Will
son directing the government Of our
country.
Jefferson county is remarkable for
several things and one Of them is the
unsurpassed roadways of the county.
have never seen such turnpikes in all
my experience. Ii is said that this
county received a prize of $500 from
the New York Herald and Atlanta
Journal automobile contest, which was
the second prize for the best roads be-
tween New York and Atlanta. the first
prize being awarded TO a county in New
Jersey. For miles and miles in every
direction leading from Charles Town il
is solid stretch of macadam road. Up
to few years ago the roads were
maintained by a system of tOllgates,
but these have been abolished and they
are now kept up by splendid road tax
The farms around here are magnif-
cent, bringing tremendous crops of
wheat and corn and cannot be bought
for less than 500 per acre.
One of the interesting sights TO me
was the Jefferson county aims house. |
was invited out by the superintendent
to dine and accepted IL looked more
to me like splendid old country resi-
dence, with a magnificent farm at
tached to IT of nearly 800 acres.
never sat down to a better meal and
secretly wished for my capable friend.
Mr.. ). h. Eastburn, TO do the honors,
but tried TO do justice. Rev. w. Il.
Flanagan, pastor of the Baptist church
here, and Mr.. w. :. Phillips were along
and what couldn't do they did with
all ease.
While here | made a trip to Harpers
Ferry, memorable in history as the
place where John Brown was captured,
and later taken by the Confederates,
just before the battle of Sharpsburg.
Capt. Quinn was all through here during
those terrible days and | have wished
for him to point out to me the different
positions of the various commanders.
While at Harpers Ferry | climbed in
company with Mr.. Flanagan the noted
jefferson Rock, on which Thomas
Jefferson was said to have delivered his
Democratic principles to a great audi
ence. One of the most beautiful pieces
of natural scenery / suppose in this
country is be seen at this place, where
the murmuring Shenandoah mingles its
waters with the Potomac and together
they start for the sea, while on either
side rises in majestic grandeur the Blue
Ridge. Here Virginia, West Virginia
and Maryland join hands, and a man
speaking in one State can be heard in
the other two.
On Saturday, in company with Mr..
Phillips, drove to Berryville in Clark
county, and spent the day with my
cherished friend, DIR. Julian Broaddus.
While there we went to the "OId
Chapel about 8 miles from Berryville.
IN whose cemetery sleeps the dust of
the famous John Esten Cooke.
Faithfully yours,
K. Aubrey Williams.
Charles Town, W. Va, March %.