Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1910-02-22
The Washingtons of Today
From the Baltimore Sun.

More Of the blood of the Washugtons
exists today in the veins of the residents
of Charles Town. w. Va. and vicinity
than in any community in the world and
probably more than in all the rest of the
world taken together. In the present
generation there are great numbers OF
stalwatt men living thereabout who bear
the name of Washington, and yet other
great numbers who get the Washing ton
blood through their mothers who have
the characteristics though not the name.
The stranger dropping into Charles
Town is likely to be impressed with GER
tain peculiarities of its inhabitante that
seem familiar to him. There sre to be
seen upon the streets Numbers of men.
tall. outstanding. stalwsrt. with certain
dignity of bearing that one seems to have
noticed before. He asks passerby the
name of certain man who has attracted
his attention and is informed that this is
Bushrod Washington A similar query
brings forth the reply that another
straight and athletic looking Individual
is Samuel Walter Washington 1t dawns
upon him that these men have the quail
ties that he has always associated with
the Father of His Country, that these are
Washingtons of the old stock and that
they retain IFS traits. Scores of men in
Charles Town may be picked from the
crowd by these peculiarities. They have
left their imprint upon the whole town.
An inquiry establishes the fact that the
community is overrun with the descend
ants of the family Of Washington. And
why should it not be, for three of the
brothers of Gen. Washington lived here.
bred families, some of them wondrous
large. aud their descendants have lived
here aud diffused the blood until the
whole countryside Is possessed of it and
affected by it. In fact the nearest de-
scendants of the ashingtons of the
generation of Revolutionary days have
their homes here today. If properly ac-
credited one may even be invited to call
upon Richard Blackburn Washington
himself, a venerable patriarch of 81
wears, and the nearest living link to the
olden days.
History records the fact that George
Washington. a strip of lad 10 ysars old.
came into the northern part of Virginia
in I74S to survey vast tract of land in
the wildesness which had been acquired
from the crown by Lord Fairfax, the
eccentric peer and idol of the court. who
chose to isolate himself here because a
woman had refused him. These lands
were in what became the famed seat of
romance and history. the Shenandoah
valley,
The young surveyor lived here three
years and ran his lines in all directions
TO drinking the lime impregnated water
of this valley his great stature has been
attributed by some. The lines he laid
down We're followed by the roads that
increasing civilization built and are a
record of his work that will last forever.
In the courthouse at Winchester are the
original maps he drew. neat and precise
to a marked degree.
Young George Washington carried the
news of the wonderful country to his
old home in tidewater Virginia, expatla-
ting particularly to the members of his
family upon it. As a result Lawrence
Washington. an older brother apd man
of means, bought large tracts. Law
renee. however, died shortly afterward
and the other brothers in dividing his
property went to see these lands. fell in
love with the country and later went
there to live. taking their families with
them and there dwelt to the end of their
days.
From the property of Charles Wash.
ington. the youngest of the brothers. was
laid out Charles Town. named after him.
Samuel. the eldest. rollicking country
squire, who welded FIVE times during
his career, laid out the historic estate al
Hardwood George was also interested
in the property and actively in charge of
the building of the old Hardwood man.
son. John Augustine Washington
throve, aud his descendants today live
in Charles Town. George became great
in war and craftsmanship. but returned
at intervals as long as be lived to Hare
wood, of which he was executor and
guardian of his brothers children after
Samuel died. The estate he always re-
garded as his summer home.
Richard Blackburn Washington. who
is grandson of the generation of which
the Father of His Country was mem.
Der, is descendant of John Augustine
and because of tins unIon of kindred
blood his four sous and two daughter.
have as much of the old strain as had
their parents and more than any othei
| Washiugtons. with one possible eycep
ton. Two sous and daughter still livt
with Richard Blackburn Washington
at their home in Charles Town. TIL,
sons have prospered and are leading mer
IN their community The Washington!
aid in directing the affairs OF the towr
hold leading county Offices, are indepen
dent farmers. country gentlemen. mer
chants ard bankers. Some of them hav,
likewise prcspered in other sections, Z
notable example being George S Wash
ington, commission merchant of Phil
adelpfia.
The town is also the home of Law