The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-06-06
VOICE FROM TAPPAHAN-
MOCK.


the Ttmes-Dispatch's editorial stan
concerning geographical conditions
and important historical information.
AS the Dispatch wants to know
"Whar Is Tappahannock, anyhow"
we shall proceed TO enlighten 1t not
only as to its locality but as to some
historical facts and general informa-
ton, which should prove interesting
to the unenlightened and uniformed.
Tappahannock is the county seat
of Essex, and is situated on the south
side of the Rappahannock River.
about forty miles from it's mouth. II
Is among the oldest towns in the
State, older than Richmond, older
than Williamsburg.
In the thirty-second year of the
reign of King Charles II. an act of
Assembly set aside fifty acres of land
providing for the town of New Plym-
outh for which was paid 10000
pounds Of tobacco. Afterward by
another act passed in the third year
OF the reign of King william and
Queen Mary the town of Tappahan-
mock was established and the name
OF New Plymouth dropped. Its rec
ords, which are well preserved. date
back to 1854.
Tappahannock is n haven of peace
and soft delights. and its inhabitants
are happy. contented and independ-
ent. Under the glare of the silvery
moon we catch the sparkle OF the
waters of the majestic Rappahan-
mock and fieeting glimpses of the
ships that pass in the night: by day
we can find shelter in the shade of
beautiful trees and inhale the per-
fume of luxuriant and profusive fow-
ers of every variety. The ancient
town obtains n hnntftf1I vi ne
Colonial homes in the Northern Neck
Tappahannock has population Of
not less than 500 nor more than TO-
600 habitants: II has not grown
apace with many other cities because
the intelligence and brains Of its peo-
pie have been needed in other parts
of this great country to set In motion
the machinery and steer the wheels
of religion, science, education and pc
litical economy: but It is in the midst
of a farming and trucking section
that has supplied Baltimore with
hundreds of millions Of dollars OF
produce. livestock, lumber, etc.
while Richmond has been veritable
Rip Van Wrinkle so far as its inter
ests in this direction are concerned
Tappahannock was the home of
Father Thomas Richie, the re-
ncwned editor of the Richmond En-
quirer, and Essex County the home
of Governor Smith, whose tragi 3.
death occurred in the burning of a
Richmond theatre. His port~ait-os
that of Father Ritchie-4s on the wall
of our court room, and was painted
by an Essex lady. In very recent
years Tappahannoek has furnished
Richmond with a president of its
Chamber of Commerce and a pres!-
dent of It's Westmoreland Club. and
with one of its most eminent civil
and criminal lawyers Tappahan-
| mock was also the home of James M.
Mathews. author of Mathews Criminal
and Civil Digest, together with other
valuable law productions which have
made his name famous.
I Tappahannock was the parental
home of DR.. George Denny, one of
the leading educators of the South In
the present day, and Essex the home
OF Dr. Andrew P. Montague, who as
dean of Columbian University, Wash
ington. d. c., later president of Fur
man University, s. c.. and now of a
great institution in Alabama Is not
an unknown figure.
/ AS residents of the county and
! practitioners at our bar of justice we
have had such men as r. NJ. r. Hun
| ter. L. s, senator, who was by one
vote defeated for the nomination of
president OF the Confederates States
when nomination meant election: Cen
eral Robert s. Garnett. one of the
leading statesmen OF his day, who
! gave his life In battle for the cause of
the Confederacy.
| Tappahannock was for many years
the home of Rt Rev. John r. New
ton. bishop of the Diocese of Viz
ginia, and Essex County, the home
OF the late James A. ISatane, presiding
bishop of Reformed Episcopal Church.
| including the synods of New York
! and Philadelphia and OF Dr.. Peter
/ Ainslie who Is now second to few in
prominence of the Baltimore clergy.
! We would find it almost an endless
task to mention In detail the names
of those who in earlier davs. as well
as In later years have placed Tap
pahannock and Essex County on the
map and embell'shed and enrichened
history lore. The present clerk OF
the courts has served for nearly thirty
years. and his predecessor. James Roy
Miccu--father OF DR.. James Miccu, OF
| Washington College. Chestertown
Md, served more than fifty years:
Tappahannock Is a verv habitable
place where people live long and are
satisfied. The tanftor of our court
house will most assuredly agree with
us, too for he has now passed his
ninetieth mile stone. We do not need
to hunt up data, but could mention
1 'off the bat" as the expression goes,
| the names OF Judge Thomas Croxton.
and James NJ Garnett. members of
Congress Of Judge Muscoe Garnett,
and many others of such stamp, to-
gether with that wonderful galaxy of
brave commissioned officers. who in
the travail of war and In time of
peace, as jurists, statesmen. soldiers.
poets, authors. artists patriots have
upheld the name and the honor of
their ancestor from the DAYS when
Knighthood was in Flower up to
the present time We would suggest
that the editor of the Times Dispatch
refresh his memory and apply him
self more diligently to the task of ac-
quiring information lest he forget
some day and repeat the idle ques-
ton. "Whar is Tappahannnock. any,
how" TAPPAHANNOCK rs SOME
PLACE. MISTER. AND DON'T YOU
FORGET IT.-Tidewater Democrat.