Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1919-08-27
TWO SCORE YEARS AGO

Some of our contemporaries make
features of clippings from their
files of many years ago. The repro
duced items often bring to the
minds Of the older readers interest
ing "reminiscences CT the long ago.
IN locking over the mortuary list
OF Alexandria in the year 1879
(forty years ag'o) we found the
names of numbers Of CO. former
accuai ntances, and fell into rev.
erie as the reproductive sense OF
memory began to work. These
names brought back many incidents
in the lives of the deceased ones,
some amusing, others of sad ma
ture.
Among those who passed into the
rr.en world in 1879 were the follow
ing:
Thomas W. White, who in ante
bcllum days was the clerk of gas
Af!.cr the close CT the war he was
clerk of council until 1870.
Thomas Dwy.r, civil engineer
by profession, who was clerk of gas
during the civil war. In 1872 he
was one of party of civil engi-
ncrs of Alexandria who went to
Costa R7ca when railway was
built from the Atlantic to the Pa
cific. f. f. Marbury, President Of
The Ecard of Aldermen, was one of
the party.
Enoch AIagrudcr Lowe, the first
Judge of the Corporation Court, I'M
der the Underwood Constitution.
His portrait hangs over the judges
desk m the court room.
William .Triah Herbert. He con-
Quoted the shotmaking business IN
Alexandria fer many years. MIR.
Herbert w&d an active member OF
the Methodist Protestant Church
and was "a lay preacher. In the lat
tcr part Of his Fife he was made a
member Of the conference and as
signed to charge in Pennsylvania.
He subsequently, resigned from the
ministry.
Captain James Guy. In the lat
C. Part of ths fcrties he was cap
tain of the old steamer Joe john
son, which was consigned to the
scrap pile in 1851. Captain Guy
was ore CT the most interesting
story-te,lers in the State Of Vir-
ginia. and was universally known.
lie cever reto!d story, invariably
having something original with
which to regale his auditors.
john I. Armstrong. He was a
copper by trade, but his mind ran
on pGiEt:cs. During our war ha
was known as a mild union man.
He was lcquacious and good natur
ed. Mr.. Armstrong many years ago
was member of the Beard of Al
ic1men from the Second ward, hay
ing been appointed while the state
was under military control.
James Fossett. In his latter years
he vas tiler CT Alexandria Wash
ir@tcn ledge Of Masons. In pre-
war DAYS he was one Of the asses
scrs Of this city and subsequently
one Of the collectors Of taxes, there
being two at that time.
Captain Ellis Price. father of Aud
dtor Ilico. ard ., descendant of one
Of the publishers Of the Alexandria
Gazette century or more ago.
Turirlr the early fift;es he was
master CT IA steamer which
no !c trips between Alexandria ana
Baltimore. In the latter part of
the ffties he was captain OF the
ferry steamer George Page, which
at that time was on the route be-
tween this city and Washington. The
Page played a prominent part in OPP
eratlcns cn the Potomac during the
early part Of the civil war, when
Confederate batteries made it haz-
ardous for vessels 10 pass UP or
down the river. The stheamer left
here III May, 1861, for Quant;co,
Avre she Was converted into a.
eunbcat. She remained there until
the Confvdrates destroyed her when
thc%..atsnGoned their batteries. The
rps cf the George Page now rest
nca. Quantico.
\ TRUE STATEMENT