Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-03-06
Portraits Added to Rockbridge's
Hall of Fame"


Fame" Monday, when those OF Cen
eral Sam Houston Of Texas renown,
Robert Mccormick and Leander j.
Mccormick OF reaper fame, DR.. Arch
ibald Alexander Graham, physician
and man OF affairs, aud John Ruff, Sr.,
one Of the old County Court justices
OF Rockbridge, were presented to
the Board of Supervisors of Rock
bridge and placed in the Courtroom
Of the County Courthouse as the
companions of other distinguished
sons of Rockbridge.
The exercises began at IL o'clock.
Chairman J. ]. l.. Kinnear OF the
Board OF Supervisors, presided.
Col. William L. Shields introduced
the speakers who, in presenting the
portraits, spoke briefly OF the life and
services of each. Supervisor W. M.
McNutt accepted the portraits on
behalf of the board Eor the county.
Mr.. William G. Mcdowell pre-
scented the portrait of General Sam
Houston. W no was born at Timber
Ridge, six miles north OF Lexington,
whose early life was spent in Rock
bridge, and who later became gov
ernor of Tennessee, president of the
Republic Of Texas and governor OF
that State after it's reception into
tue Union. Tue portrait is a hand
some one, a replica of the portrait
presented last Saturday to the State
of Virginia by the State of Texas.
Mr.. Francis T. A. Junkin of Chi
cago, H., a son of ROckbridge,
whose interest in the Houston por-
trait made possible the gift from the
Lone Star State to the Old Domin-
ion, was the donor of the pOrt&it to
Rockbridge.
MIR. Mcdowell also presented the
portraits Of Robert and Leander J
Mccormick, father and son, who
were instrumental in giving to the
world the reaping machine, and
whose home was near Midway,
about IS miles north OF Lexington, il
> Rockbridge. The father first in
vented a reaper and afterwards hi:
son, Cyrus Il. Mccormick. invented
the machine that finally found it:
! way into the harvest fields of tn,
j world. The portraits were givel
0 by Robert Hall Mccormick OF Chi
= cago, son of Leander ]. Mccormick
MIR. NJ. w. Paxton presented tn,
y portrait Of DR.. Archibald AleXande
n Graham, a descendent of William
q Graham, one of the founders {
|" Washington and Lee University
g and connected with many intluer
l. tial families of ROckbridge. He wa
an eminent physician, a succeSsfu
farmer, a member of the Virgini
e House of Delegates and a public
spirited citizen. The portrait wa
" given by two of DR.. Graham's granC
n Sous of Lexington. Messrs. f. l
Of Graham and L. T. Robinson.
Of MIR. Frank 7. Glasgow presente
"a the portrait of Justice John Ruff
K Sr., who was for years president
W the old County Court Of Rock brlog
/. which was composed OF justices OF tt
peace and in that day esteemed
w great honor. His honest and ru
n ged character is shown in his stror
c face. His descendants provided I'll
r. the portrait.
r. Supervisor w. NJ. McNutt in r
lie spending in behalf of the Board
ee Supervisors, accepted the portrai
ad for Rockbridge. He expressed a
probation of the work and devote
all OF MIR. W. G. Mcdowell in securi
,is the many portraits Of the dist
re guished sons of Rockbridge wi
NV which to adorn the walls of II
,ct courtroom, and hoped that their
no fiuence would be for the inspirati
of the coming generations.
On account Of the inclemency
ron the weather the audience was smi
but a mum Der of ladies were in
- tendance.