The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1957-05-24
Memories of Old Cumberland
Memories Of Old cumberIond
Richmond to Curdsville by Boat? Sure,
Says Emmett Jenkins in Recollections

gallons Of DerIleSy Impossible, the
new generation might say, but then
mcderns do NOT know Cumberland
county like Emmett j. Jenkins.
Long a resident Of Richmond. Mr..
jenkins finds life there quite insult
ficient to erase cherished memories
Of boyhood and young manhood days
in Cumberland
His roots are deep there. and he
is a descendant Of the Rev. Joseph
jenkins, founder and minister Of
Cumberland Baptist Church. more
commonly known as jenkins
Church That congregation was or
ganized in 1910. the present building
erected in 1857.
Never Forgets
To that church. the Cunberlander
or loan to Richmond. holds a deep
interest backed by financial support.
He had done much to promote
progress in other county churches
through the years and rejoices with
any advancement of Cumberland
county.
A friend recently, remembering
bis love OF the county, suggests it
would be appreciated If he wrote
down some r~ecollections to be pub
ilslled during the ~county's observ-
ance Of the 350th jamestown ami
yersary. III a sketch, BY Gone
Days in Cumberland. he writes:
In the 1905 Mr.. Robert Parker,
near or about one mile from Clinton,
drove oxens about eight miles to Mr..
lack Sanderson's near Ashby to
have five gallons of molasses made
by Mr.. Sanderson's mill.
As late as 1900 people would trade
eggs. chickens and so on for dry
goods and groceries. We could not
get money for such and if you did
not deal out all that was coming
that day the merchant would write
a due bill' for the balance.
IN 1893, Mr.. j. j. Robertson
bought blackberries at his store pay
ing five cents per gallon for them.
His store, mill and postoffice was
located about five miles north Of
Cumberland C. H., as was known
as Tally's Post Office.
On one occasion. a boy took four
gallons Of berries to buy cloth for
two shirts. Four gallons was only
enough for one shirt. The boy had
more berries on the vine so he got
enough cloth for two shirts with
promise to bring four more gallons
OF berries. Then the cloth had to be
cut into shape and sewed, usually
by hand, as there were very few
sewing machines at that time.
Mr.. Robertson's store. mill and
post office did a big business, re-
curing three clerks on Saturday
and two in the week. Now it would
be difficult to find the place-not
4 road passing that way any more.
Prior to 1880, for many years the
old freight line known as Willis Boat
Line usually operated by free col
ored men-six to the boat-ran from
Richmond to near CurdsVille in
Buckingham, making a trip each
week. The boat came up the James
and crossed into Willis neal Carriers
vile.
Here four men stayed on the boat
and two pushed by putting a pole
on the bottom of the river and walk
ing to the back of the boat then to
the front and push again. The two
following on land walked through
Cumberland and Buckingham to tell
farmers where and when to meet
the boats for their freight.
Now compare the present time
with those times
E. ]. jenkins
Poem Catches Spirit
Mr., jenkins concludes with a
poem. written in his honor by
Arson G. Melton. which precisely
captures the feelings he bears tc
Cumberland and the old associa-
there The poem, "An Old Road.
follows.
As | drove oven an old road
/ had not seen III fifteen years
| noted trees how they had grown,
| almost had to shed some tears.
How strong the language was to me
That time gas passing swiftly b.
Just how ii had all taken place
! could not answer how or why.
My heart did all but sink within
As | saw buildings in decay
AS | thought back across the years
II was indeed a sad. sad day.
Then here and there a man was
r gone,
Gone to his final resting place.
The children scattered to and fro.
| could but wear a fearful face
There wef the stream I used to
fish.
There We're the fields l used to
ploW,
There were the woods / used to
hunt
My frosty head l had to bow.
And then that house where was
born
How gray with age, and silent, still
How sacred was that spot to me
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