Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-07-19

residences, all good and attractive
many of them elaborate and costly
My time being so short precluded
visit to many places, but saw enough
to convince me that there is, i'm tn.
West end of this county, one of Tn,
most beautiful and fertile valleys il
all this country, and citizenship
composed of the very best men anc
women in the world.
/ had my sojourn in the hospitabl,
and splendid home of Mr.. and Mrs.
S. j. Thompson, from Saturday even.
ing to Sunday morning. He lives il
the old Barns home, which he pur-
chased some years ago from Mr.. Johr
Barns, now of this town. The farm
consisted of about 300 acres of as
fine bluegrass land as the sun eve,
shone upon. This with two other fine
farms-one at Liberty-aggregates
about sixteen or eighteen hundred
acres, owned by this quiet cattleman,
on which fine crops and fat cattle are
growing-a delight to the eye. Mr..
Thompson buys cattle in large num-
bers for shipment to a large cattle
dealer in New York. l believe, and
has already bought cattle to the ex-
tent of only $500. 10000 this season,
and lacks about a quarter million
dollars of finishing up. This almost
incredible sum, disbursed by one man
in Tazewell will give some idea of
the cattle industry of this section.
Sam goes about this big business like
he does bout everything else, in a
| quiet, solemn manner, but his think
ing machine is always in good work
ing order-so say some of the boys
there who sold their cattle "too soon.
dog-gone it,"
The home in which he lives is the
old Barns home, built 80 years ago,
by Thomas RAIDER. The rooms are
large, after the custom of those DAYS.
The hand-carved mantels and wains-
coting are wonder. Mr.. Thompson
has added bathroom, hot and cold
water and modern conveniences. The
old house looks new and elegant.
Here the generation of Barns were
born and reared chiefly. William
Barns was the original owner. He
reared 5 sons and s girls. There still
survive, Clinton, Mrs. Nancy Harris
son, Mrs. Baldwin, Mrs. Copenhaver
and John Barns, who recently moved
from the old home place to town.
Mr.. and Mrs. Thompson have only
two children splendid young
fellows, both in College. If you want
to know the real actual "power be-
hind the throne" in this splendid
Thompson home. can tell you who it
is, and Sam wont deny it. Itis the
interesting individual who sits at the
head of the table and pours the coffee.
She is "IT,' and deserves to be so.
No man with such wife and "man-
ager" can be otherwise than happy
and successful. Besides being model
housekeeper and mother, she is up on
cattle and stock, and looks after
things while her husband is away
buying cattle. Mrs. Thompson was
Miss Bowen, one of Capt. Reese
Bowen's splendid daughters. Two
others live in this town-Mrs. Royal
and Mrs. Halle Bowen. Such women
are an honor to their race, and a
blessing to the world. This unworthy
scribe is indebted to this family and
home for one of the most pleasant
evenings he ever spent. And, don t
be fooled about Sam. Meeting him on
the street is not enough He looks
hungry, solemn, quiet and easy, and
perhaps dry. But he shines the bright
er the closer you get to him. He is
first class. l never was gladder to see
anyone in my life than l was to see
and greet him on Saturday evening.
1t marked the end of my drive. Sam
says one compensation in having sue h
bad roads is, that people come to see
him because they like him, and are
always glad to see him at his home.
But l will not say anything about the
roads. After we get to heaven we
will care little how rough was the
way. and in the atmosphere and good
cheer of one of these splendid homes
you forget the rocks, ruts and hills.
including Sans Boulevard" leading
down to his house.
On Sunday had the pleasure of 6
short stay in. the splendid new home
of w. o. Barns, perhaps the finest
and best country home in the county
1 The building, a cut of which we give
laer, was completed last year. 1t ha!
Id rooms, steam heat, acetylen'
lights, two bathrooms and every
modern convenience. The building i:
finished throughout with hardwood