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David Knighting Resources
Page News & Courier, Friday 14 Oct 1927
Jacob's Well, Oct. 11, 1927-…
I looked around in what is known as the Alger graveyard and found about fifty-two graves, and the oldest people buried in this graveyard did not reach eighty.
Near the center of the graveyard sleeps the dust of my grandfather and grandmother, Davie Freeze and Littie Alger Freeze. Just below grandpap's grave are four graves of grown people. Marked with limestone rocks, thought to be the family of the first Algers that settled in this county. On one of the limestones I see the time worn figures, 1719, showing that they were buried in the early part of the seventeenth century.
When I was a small boy I spent much of my time with uncle Fred Alger who owned the land that this graveyard is on. He told me that his father Lemuel Alger always said that his grandfather and grandmother were buried in those graves. Large cedar trees have grown up on these graves.
*** I am not saying that Jacob didn't see 1719 on a tombstone, but I would probably guess that what he saw was a birthdate. Unless the books have to be rewritten so as to say the Algers beat Adam Miller in settling the Valley.
Page News & Courier, Friday 29 AUg 1919
Amos L. Aleshire has sold his place near Stanley to his brother, Clyde and next Tuesday will leave for Urbana, Ohio, near which place he will locate on a farm belonging to his brother, Wilber V. Aleshire.
Page News & Courier, Friday 14 Jan 1927
Announcement has been received here of the marriage of Miss Maude Foster, daughter of J.E. Foster, south of Luray to Claude Alger, son of Jacob Alger, of Rileyville. The ceremony was performed in Hagerstown on the 29th of December... The groom has returned to Columbus, Ohio, where he is employed while the bride is residing for the present with relatives in Washington, D.C.
Page News & Courier, Tuesday 12 Apr 1932
I attended the funeral of Mrs. Henry Painter at the Adventist church on Saturday. Before marriage she was Ruth Virginia Breeden and was a daughter of Fount Breeden who died in 1865...
Page News & Courier, Tuesday 10 Jul 1934
Westmont, N.J.
In the early months of the year of 1860 a young man then living 2 1/2 miles from Marksville, Page county, Virginia, seemed to think he could better his financial condition seeking employment in other parts of the country and leaving his parental surrounding, he accepted a job on a West Virginia farm where he worked until the latter part of the summer when he came back to visit his parents and friends and when I say friends they seem to be legion expeciall one may notice how he was all "togged-up" with his wardrobe all of the best weave. He was riding a plump bay mare that he called Susie and when he would dismount, he did not have to tie the nag for he would throw the rein over the horn of the saddle and with bowed neck Susie would step proudly about until he would say "come her, Susie" and she was quick to obey and he seemed to be having the time of his life and in all this I noticed when he called to see our family as we had always been close friends but soon a change came. A man came to W.Va., appearing on the scene with his employer ordering his arrest for horsestealing. He was lodged in jail in Luray and that worked so hard on the nerves of his aged father that he took his own life.
So we now take up another part of this story.
Now I think on the very site where the Stanley High School now is there once stood a little house built of logs with the chimney of "split wood". It was a one story and one room and the occupants of the house was Caleb Campbell, father of the late Samuel Campbell and grandfather of the late Isaac Campbell of Stanley. Now in order to use brevity I will only refer him as Caleb in the future. He lived alone until a few times a year a woman whose name was Julia Turner came to clean house for him.
I remember it was on one of these occasions that I had her to knit me a pair of patriotic mits. Now I recall them patriotic only because they bore the national colors, red, white and blue. Now Caleb claimed to be half Indian and his appearance and manner of living went far to substantiate his claim. He was by trade a blacksmith and while work was slack he would while away the lonely hours with his violin and when he drew a well rosined bow across the cat gut it make the welkin ring. I remember two pieces he used to play such as "Ladies in the Cotton Patch" and "Sallie Will You Marry Me" and others.
Now on a "B" line and about half way to T.M. Offenbacker's house was Caleb's blacksmith shop built of pine poles with the print of two big horseshoes burnt on the doors which acted as his only business sign and as he did not do what is often called a land office business what charcoal he required he made himself by setting up a few cords of pinewood in the shape of a Mexican hat which he would cover over with leaves before applying the dirt and it was on one of these occasions as I was watching, he gathered the leaves in his arms I noticed him throw the leaves in all directions and begin to dance and scratch with all his might. At the same time words such as, "You Damn Little Devils" and many other things that sound better out of print could be distinctly heard. I soon found out that he was in a heated argument with a nest of yellow jackets and the way they were perforating his skin was a plenty. Noew at that time there was but one field from his shop to the pike all else was in dense woods. He wore shoes made of pig skin and for a perfect fit it was plain to see they were not made to measure. They were made more on the slipper order for comfort.
One day a man who was a brother of the horse theif in jail at Luray, called on Caleb to have him do a very odd job. He wanted him to make an auger of iron with a handle also of iron. The auger 8 inches long and the handle was six inches long and the job proper was a fair representation of mechanism, except the handle was not made fast and was always loose.
And now for the hookup- For you want to know for what purpose this auger was made. Well, it was this- It was to have been smuggled by his brother to the man in jail that he might work his way to freedom but before it could be done I think the officers came and took him back to W.Va., to pay the penalty for his crime, and that is the last that I ever heard of that man.
Poor old Caleb died at Samuel Campbell's home and was buried at the John Long graveyard (since the Otho Rodgers place.) The late John Pendergast made his coffin and while his body was being consigned to the ground I noticed only one person to shed a tear. Well Caleb, did not make the link for this hookup and with the auger gone I will "bore" you no longer. So good night. J.H. COFFMAN
Page News & Courier, Tuesday 8 Sep 1925
Elmer Campbell, who is suspected of having been concerned in the murder of his cousin, Tom Campbell at Little Line trestle, this county, on the night of Feb. 16, 1924, was captured early Thursday morning, while in his bed at the home of his grandmother, Nannie Campbell. The arrest was made by Sheriff Lucas accompanied by Deputy David S. Fox, Sergeant G.W. Slusher, J.D. Frazier and Herman Seal.The Sheriff learned a short time before the arrest that the youth was in the neighborhood of his old home. The officers searched four houses in the Little Line settlement before getting the boy.
Elmer Campbell who gives his age as sixteen at present says that he had nothing to do with the murder but was persuaded to leave by Amos Campbell, the alleged principal in the perpetration of the deed, who is still at large. Elmer Campbell has a prepossessing bearing. He seems unusually well grown to be only sixteen years old. At the time of the murder he was fourteen. He says he has been in Michigan since leaving here.
Both Tom and Amos Campbell were just growing into manhood when the murder, one of unusual atrocity, was perpetrated. Jealously is the alleged cause of the deed. Tom Campbell was stabbed a number of times after which his body was tossed off the trestle. Tom Campbell was the son of Dolly Campbell and Amos Campbell of Mandy Campbell. Elmer Campbell's parents are dead.
Page News & Courier, Friday 23 Oct 1914
John H. Cave, of Washington, D.C., son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Cave, of Ida, this county and Miss Annie E. Woodward, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William E. Woodward also of Ida were married in Washington, D.C., last Friday. The groom has had an excellent position with the Raleigh Hotel for a number of years…
Page News & Courier, Tuesday 25 Feb 1930
Later and more accurate information indicates that Mark Clark, of Staunton, Va., a former Page County woman, who recently was found in an unconscious and half frozen condition in Washington, D.C., was not a daughter of Liza Clark who moved to this place from Rappahannock county years ago, as one of our informants surmised but was really a daughter of Jeff Good, colored, of Blainesville, near Luray. She located in Staunton many years ago. Some weeks ago she went to Washington to obtain work.
A welfare worker from Washington came here last Thursday to look up the Page history of the Clark woman, and established the fact that beyond a doubt the woman, who is 52 years old, is a daughter of Jeff Good, at present an employee of A.J. Yowell, on the Hawksbille. It seems, however, that the woman left here in her girlhood. When still almost a child she was employed in the family of the late John P. Grove, on the Hawksbill. It is said that she was at the Grove place looking over her old haunts only a few years ago, but for some cause did not make her identity known. She is a very light mulatto. One report is that she had married a white man and had separated from him. In Staunton she was always reticent about her past history. Some one there remembered that she had dropped a remark that her grandmother was killed by falling from a cherry tree and her brother had fallen in a well. This was true as to her grandmother and also of her brother, John Good, who now lives near Luray.
The woman was well dressed when she was found on the streets of Washington by man named A.G. Davis. She was half frozen, and unconscious and her vocal organs were paralyzed. It is said that she had been staying at a boarding house on L St., near Thirteenth Street, Northwest. When she finally regained consciousness at the Emergency Hospital she was asked the question about the violent death of her grandmother and her brothers' fall into the well. In each case she responded in the affirmative by a squeeze of the hand, the manner in which she was told to say yes. The District does not care for unfortunates who have not been there for two years, and the welfare worker was here to ascertain who was really responsible for the woman' support. She is still at the Emergency Hospital where she will probable remain some time.
Page News & Courier, Friday 6 May 1932
Westmont, N.J., April 29, 1932
The News and Courier:-
... Now I am not a believer in spooks or apparitions, but this one thing I can testify to without fear of contradiction.
Back in the year of 1879 I lived in Chester county, Pa, and it was in that year that my mother, passed away at Stanley, Va., and it has been told me how she called to see me just before the end came, around about 4 a.m. and about that time I was in a comatose state, or about half asleep. We burned coal oil lamps then and kept a light burning low all night, and I hear a noise like the rustling of slik or starched garments, and I could see a form looking down on me and it passed on and the thought came to me- Mother. I did not mention this to my wife until at the breakfast table when I said to her. "Alice, did you see or hear anything peculiar early this morning." and she repiled "Yes, your mother passed through our room and looked at us and passed on." So it was an absolute fact that we both had the same experience, and I believe to this day, the Lord permitted her to see us as her spirit took its flight.
Page News & Courier, Friday 20 Jul 1928
Jacob's Well, July 17- I have a letter from the granddaughter of Brass Conley who lived on top of Honeyville hill, one mile Southwest of Honeyville in 1870. She writes for information regarding her grandfather and grandmother, who died before she was born.
I will answer through the News and Courier as many of their kin are scattered through America. Brass Conley was a grand old man. He came here from Augusta county. He married a Miss Summers. They had three boys, Isaac was killed near his home by a runaway team, Noah and John Conley went to Missouri. He had three girls, Mary Married William Martin, of Rileyville. One married Banks Snyder, of near Grove Hill. One married Jack Long, of near Alma. All are dead. Old Mr. Conley died in 1873 and was buried in the Judy graveyard, about one mile Southeast of Honeyville, near Honey Run. His grave is not marked. The son that was killed is buried at the same place. After the death of Mr. Conley his widow went to Missouri to live with her children. There she died and was buried. In this old graveyard, I think the dust of about one hundred now sleeps... The graveyard is a wilderness. Trees two feet in diameter have grown over the graves. Some of the old slave colored people are sleeping in this old graveyard. Old uncle Mat Ford, wife and daughter sleep there. In the South corner of the graveyard is the dust of a Union soldier that was killed by Katie Judy in 1863. We have never heard much about this unknown soldier...
Near this old graveyard stands an old log house were twenty-five people have died. In twenty-five yards of the old graveyard stands the old Sam Griffith home where all his large family of boys and girls were born forty-five years ago. All of those people went to Missouri in 1874. Just across Honey Run stood the old Katey Judy home. In 100 yards of this old graveyard was the old Sam Griffith tanyard. Just up the run stood the home of John Housden. Just a little further up the Run stands the old Ben Housden home. Just a little down the Run stood the old Davey Kite up and down saw mill. Justt below there stood the Reuben Nauman mill. In about one hundred yards from the old graveyard stood the Capt. Dave Dovel sawmill. All run by the water of Honey Run. Most all of these people are dead...
Page News & Courier, Friday 30 Apr 1937
Sighs For The "Swish" of Broken Back River
Finnell Corbin, who during his life of 87 years, as had several tilts with the law, though always coming out on top in court, a resident in the Corbin Hollow neighborhood in Madison county, not far from the Page county line, has been removed to one of the Old Folks Homes in a different part of the State.
Corbin, a familiar figure in Page county at intervals for the last half century, dispensing his wares- axe handles and split baskets- has had a friend in that institution where he is spending the closing days of his life write one of his relatives in Corbin Hollow, saying: "My treatment here is good, but I long for the roar and swish of Broken Back River along which I have always lived. I would like again to have a chance to show younger folks how to carve out axe handles and weave split baskets, but my days for that kind of work are over forever. Even if my fare in Corbin Hollow was meagre, often corn bread and potatoes and sometimes not these, I would again like to have a morsel of them as they were prepared by my mother when I was a boy and by myself when there was no one else to prepare them. Ever since I was a boy, Broken Back River even when it went on a tear, was music to my ears as it swirled and snarled by my cabin's door."
Edward Nichols, 46, a son-in-law of Corbin, died a short time ago at his home in Corbin Hollow. The cause of his death was tuberculosis. Nichols has many relatives living in Page county, where for the last thirty years, like his father-in-law, peddled baskets and axe handles in this county. His wares for that long have been kept on sale at the Kiblinger and Jenkins stores in Marksville district and at the Lee Judd store in Luray district.
Finnell Corbin years ago, shot and killed Clark Dodson, a youth, who was making himself an intruder in the Corbin home. Corbin was promptly acquitted by a Madison county jury. It is said that the then Commonwealth's Attorney of Madison refused to prosecute the case against Corbin befoe the charge had been half aired in court.
Page News & Courier, Tuesday 8 Jul 1930
*** There is some misinformation in this article, such as Jacob Cubbage dying in 1886 (he died in 1896). The Cubbages were not Hessians. But the story in this article about Big Jim Cubbage I have heard recited by Tommy Knott, who was raised in the Honeyville area in the 1930's.
I will not write about the deserted home of Jacob Cubbage, who shot and killed his grandson Fred Cubbage, in a few feet of the old man's door. When the old man, Jake, was put in jail he left at his home three children, a young man about grown and two daughters, about the ages of twelve and sixteen. On account of having seen strange lights about the place of the shooting it is said they now leave the home about sundown and go away and spend the night with other people. After daylight they go back home and prepare their meals. This story is told me by parties who liver near the home. I have gone to considerable trouble to investigate all of this trouble and find out that moonshine liquor was the cause of this young man's tragic death. The home of Jacob Cubbage is up in the head of the Mandy Cubbage Hollow. Mandy Cubbage was the mother of Jake. The Cubbage family is large and all closely related. Some of them are very fine citizens, some preachers and the majority of them are very honest people.
Descendents of the Hessian Soldiers of the Revolutionary War
They are German people. They crossed the Blue Ridge from the colony of Hessian soldiers who colonized after the Revolution***. Jim Cubbage, who weighed over four hundred lived in this hollow just East of the Blue Ridge in 1880. He was undoubtedly the strongest man who ever lived in Page County. He could pick up a forty-four gallon barrel of molasses and carry it up a long flight of steps. It was about two miles from where Big Jim lived across the mountain into the Lee Lucas Hollow. Mr. Cubbage would borrow an old-time wheat fan of Mr. Lucas and carry it across the mountain on his back. The old wheat fans weighed around 600 pounds.
Many of Their Troubles Traced to Rum
Old Man Jim Cubbage died about 1886***. He was a very humble and peaceful man and would rather run than to fight a man one-third his weight. It took a coffin 6 1-2 feet long by 3 ft. 4 in. wide and 3 feet 4 in. deep to hold his body. I am well acquainted with all the Cubbages in Page County, also those who have lived in the county since 1875. The majority of the troubles that have come to this family have come from liquor, though many now living are absolutely dry people and do not use liquor in any shape or form.
Has Been Away From Home only Twice in Fifty Years
Mrs. Della Campbell, of near Stanley, visited Mrs. Tom Campbell, of near Leaksville last Sunday. This is the second trip she ever made in her life and she is fifty years old. She is a daughter of Samuel Campbell who once hauled beef to Luray and sold it...
Page News & Courier, Friday 10 Jun 1927
Jacob Seekford, speaking of his step mom, Virginia Decker-Seekford, Daughter of John Decker and Mary "Polly" Dinges. (This is one evidence that Robert Dinges was part of the John & Frances Housden-Dinges family)
Her quiet and strange life is over and she now goes to that better world to meet her murdered father and mother, who was a sister of John and Robert Dinges, of near Leaksville.
Page News & Courier, Friday 22 Oct 1920
Marriage licenses were issued at Hagerstown during the fair to the following couples:
Horace Estep, of Luray, and Miss Edith Aleshire, of Stanley.
Page News & Courier, Tuesday 28 Feb 1939
Mrs. Caroline Fincham Now 102 Years of Age
An example of unusual longevity has been recently found in the person of Mrs. Caroline Fincham, widow of Tazewell Fincham, who is 102 years of age. Mrs. Fincham, who is a native of Rappahannock county, has spent the greater part of her life in that county, at her home near Woodville, this home being broken up on the death of her husband, in 1922. Since then she has been dividing her time with her five children, spending months at a time with a daughter, Mrs. Bob Dodson, in Culpeper.
She is the mother of five licing children, having lost three. Her sons are John Fincham and Gilbert Fincham, of near Woodville, in Rappahannock county, and her daughters are Mrs. Will Jack Settle, of Woodville; Mrs. Margaret Butler, of near Woodville, and Mrs. Bob Dodson, of Culpeper. She also has 16 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren.
In her youth, Mrs. Fincham was a skillfull weaver, and states that soon after the Civil War she, then a young woman, went from house to house in her county, doing weaving for people to earn money to send a younger sister to a neighborhood school. This was before the era of public schools in Virginia.
In appearance, Mrs. Fincham has none of the withered thinness that one associates with her great age, being stout and rather robust in looks...
Page News & Courier, Friday 22 May 1931
May 18, 1931
I attend the George W. Strole sale on last Saturday...
In a field south of his home (*** refering to George Strole) is an old graveyard where sleep many of the oldest people of Page county, buried in the eighteenth century. About a quater of an acre of this old graveyard has been farmed over and the wheat that grows over the graves is now eighteen inches higher that the rest of the field. Sleeping under the wheat is William Waters and wife and old aunt Kitty Waters, who was the greatest baby doctor of her day. She measured hundreds of babies for "undergrowth" and took "spells" off children that were brought to her home from Shenandoah, Rockingham, Madison and Warren counties. She was looked upon as a great benefactor. She still has grandchildren and greatgrandchildren living. She was the wife of Jacob Waters whose dust rests in a cemetery at Front Royal. This old lady measured me for the undergrowth. In a well inclosed square sleeps Harrison Jobe, born on the Col. Yager farm below Luray 128 years ago. His wife, before marriage was Kitty McDaniel. Beside her are buried two daughters, one was the first wife of Isaac Turner and the mother of Mrs. William Nauman, of Honeyville.
In another enlosure is Joel Foltz who died Feb. 9th, 1893, aged 75 years, by his side is his wife, Catherine, who died August 2, 1887, aged 69 years. Heare also lie the remains of her son, Hiram J. Foltz, who was wounded at the battle of Chancellorsville, and his brother James L. Foltz who was killed by a cider mill. Off to the east lies Mrs. George Louderback. Her name was Virginia, she was only 21 years old when she died. Nearby is her sister, Sarah Foltz. Mrs. Foltz, wife of Joel Foltz was a daughter of Jacob Strole, the first man that ever represented Page county. He was the son of Christian Strole, who married a Miss Keyser, and was the first Strole that ever came to this county from Germany...
Page News & Courier, Friday September 25, 1936
They are going down the valley one by one.
Mrs. Luther Lowery, who was buried at the Adventist Church sometime ago, was born and reared at Rileyville. She was the daughter of Jackson Phillips the celebrated wagon maker of Rileyville. Her mother was the daughter of Billy Gaines and Betsy Shatwell Gaines. Both were born and reared near Gaines cross-roads east of the ridge. I knew Billy Gaines and his wife when I was a little boy. All children were afraid of him on account of his cane that had a snake head on it. He and his wife were buried near Humes Run in Rockingham County. His grandson, who lives in Roanoke, had a fine rock wall put around her grave.
"Tipe: Blosser buried last week at the Adventist Church at Stanley, was the son of Joseph Blosser and a great grandson of Polly Foltz who was born and reared at Luray 130 years ago. She was my mother's aunt.
Page News & Courier, Friday 22 Oct 1920
Marriage licenses were issued at Hagerstown during the fair to the following couples:
William Gochenour and Miss Grace Ellen Cave, both of Page.
Page News & Courier, Friday 12 Sep 1919
Gilbert Good, of Stanley and Miss Lucy Breeden, daughter of Galen Breeden, of near Mauck, were married in Hagerstown on Tuesday of this week. The couple have returned to Stanley where they expect to reside.
Page News & Courier, Friday 24 Apr 1914
Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Aleshire, of Baltimore, have announced the marriage of their daughter Effie V. to Mr. J. William Green, of Baltimore. The wedding will take place at their home no. 3537 Cedar Ave., Baltimore, on May 21st, 1914, at 8:30 p.m. The bride who formerly resided with her parents near Alma this county has many friends in Page who extend congratulations.
Page News & Courier, Friday 14 Feb 1919
Miss Rosa Presgraves, daughter of Samuel Presgraves and Elmer Griffith, son of Lafayette Griffith both of Luray, were married in Hagerstown on Wednesday of this week. They have returned to Luray where they expect to reside.
Page News & Courier, Friday 20 May 1921
Marshall Griffith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fayette Griffith and Miss Edna Good, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Good, both of East Luray were married in Hagerstown on Saturday, May 14th. The happy couple returned to Luray the following day where they will reside.
Page News & Courier, Friday 22 Feb 1924
The News and Courier several weeks ago contained an account of a murder that was supposed to have been committed in this county in the year 1868, though for obvious reasons no named were given, the article having been gleaned from a copy of the Page Valley Courier printed in Luray in that year. The article as taken from the old paper was hazy leaving considerable doubt as to whether the murder was really committed in this county. Now Jacob R. Seakford, of Alma, is furnishing in the following some additional information as to the crime:
"About ten o'clock in the morning of the 28th of February, 1868, Josh Grimsley concealed himself behind a large oak tree near Ingham and waylaid and shot and killed his brother, Jim Grimsley. On ethe 29th of February the following day he was arrested by Peter Read, constable, and taken before Daniel Brown, then a justice of the peace, Brown sent him to hail. At the next term of the court Grimsley was tried. Peter B. Borst was Commonwealth's Attorney, and Grimsley was defended by Richard S. Parks and J.Y. Menefee. The court decided that Grimsley was not human, but an animal, and he was turned loose and went back home where he lived til the year 1879. The father of the Grimsleys had died and the land was to be divided up and Jim, being the youngest boy, was to have the home place, John, being the next youngest, thought with Sim gone he would get the home. This was the motive for the killing. The ground was covered with snow, and Josh was tracked to and from the place of the shooting.
I think that this will clear up the mystery as to where the murder was committed. If the old paper had told where the brothers lived and where the murder took place it would have said in Steam Hollow, or near Slabtown or near Watery Branch or near East Liberty, as all of these places were prominent at that time, but after the railroad came all of the names were dropped and all of that country is known as Ingham." JACOB R. SEAKFORD
Page News & Courier, Friday 31 Jan 1919
Fred Henry, son of Stephen Henry ("Buck") who lives near Bixler's Ferry, and Miss Effie Jewell, daughter of Thomas Jewell, left for Hagerstown on Monday of this week where they were married soon after their arrival in that city. The returned to Luray on Tuesday night and will make their future home in this place.
Page News & Courier, Friday 17 Jun 1927
Jacob's Well
"Mr. Seakford, can you give a little history of my grandfather, Benjamin Housden who lived up Honey Run from Honeyville?" I well remember your grandfather and have seen him many times. My wife is his great-grandchild. He was the son of Judy Housden. He also had a brother John. They were the sons of John Dovel of Rockingham county but took their mother's name. Therefore your grandfather was a Dovel instead of Housden. Both Ben and John changed their names to Housden on account of some trouble in the family. For many years they went by their father's name. Ben married a Miss Alger and John married Sarah Lucas. James Perry Housden and Press were sons of Ben. Formazanty, Angeline and Dood were his daughters, Taz and Mrs. Andrew Alger were the children of John Housden.
Page News & Courier, Friday 5 Jan 1923
Elmer H. Huffman, son of William L. Huffman, rural carrier on Route No. 1 from Stanley, and Miss Blanche Cave, daughter of Jacob H. Cave, who lives a mile south of Luray, were married in Hagerstown, Md., on December 20th. Immediately after the marriage the couple went to the home of the bride's brother, Harry Cave, in Waynesboro, Pa., where several days were spent, after which they returned to the groom's home, about three miles west of Stanley. The News and Courier is a little late in announcing this marriage, though its tardiness in a measure may be atoned for by its hearty congratulations…
Page News & Courier, Friday 12 Jan 1923
The marriage of Miss Loretta Ariee Alger, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H.A. Alger, of Charles Town, W.Va. and Luther J. Jansen, of New York city took place New Year's night at the bride's home... Rev. A.B. Mitchell of the local Episcopal church officiating... Mr. Jansen is in the advertising business in New York. Mr. Jansen is an alumnus of Washington and Jefferson college and served witht he air service in the World War... the couple will go to the west coast, making their home in Pasadena, California...
Page News & Courier, Friday 28 Mar 1924
Westmont, N.J., March 24
I do not intend starting a chain of letters neither do I wish to take issue with my old time friend, Jacob Seekford, whose letters in your valuable paper are read with much interest and convey information that otherwise I would not get, but I feel I can show where he has been wrongly informed on a few points. In his last letter he says Russell Jenkins; hand was cut off at the Petefish Pond and at the saw mill of Elder John K. Booton. Nether was at the Petefish Pond, but at the first sawmill ever brought to Page county and operated by a Mr. Louderback and operated on the Coffman place near the residence of the late Henry Sours. Many people all around would go to see the saw mill, and on the day of the accident while Mr. Jenkins who I think worked at the saw mill- was showing some lady visitors how close he could hold his hands to the saw while it was running caught his hand and as he grabbed to save it lost both, less one thumb. This I know from the fact that my brother, the late Harvey Coffman, who rented the Coffman house and was living there at the time, and it was he who buried Mr. Jenkins' two hands in the garden at the Coffman place. Later on this mill became the property of Mr. Booton and was operated part of two winters at the Petefish Pond until the boiler blew up, caused from the settlement of mud, as the water was pumped from the pond. This accident took place early in the morning, before the hands began to work. I was on my way to school, which was near the old Stoneberger church. When I head the explosion it was a very gloomy morning and snowing. Now in the rest of the history of this mill I will concede that Mr. Seekford is right...
Page News & Courier, Friday 16 Aug 1918
Carl Jenkins, son of Elder John B. Jenkins and Rena Blose, daughter of W.A. Blose, married 4 Aug in Hagerstown.
Page News & Courier, Friday 29 Jan 1937
*** Picture attached
More About John "Shack"
A short time ago we published an article concerning Rev. John William Jenkins or "Shack", a noted colored preacher of this county. His son, Rev. I.I. Jenkins, of Blainesville, this county, who is not only a preacher but operates a job printing shop at his home, has prepared an interesting booklet entitled "Faithful Service Annual" in which he gives futher information in regard to his father:-
Rev. John William Jenkins ("Shack")
Rev. John W. Jenkins was born in Madison County, Virginia, February 12, 1850 and was brought by his mother Sallie Jenkins to Page County, Virginia, when but six weeks of age where the greater part of his life was spent.
In early manhood he was married to Miss Charlotte Frances Bright and to this union was born fifteen children- nine boys and six girls, three boys dying in infancy. Since he was reared on the farm, it was natural for him to be a farmer. In later years, with the assistance of his boys, he worked on a saw mill.
During his early life there were no public schools for colored youth. By hard study after his days labot by the light of a pine torch, under the tutelage of his wife and white friends, he obtained a practical education.
At the beginning of his religious career, he became affiliated with the Methodist Church, but his belief in immersion was so strong that he requested to be baptized in that way. He remained with this church by a short while, then for some time standing alone until Northern Missionaries brought the faith of his choice, Freewill Baptist.
... At that time there was no regular house of worship in his community, so meetings were carried on in the open, with no roof save the blue canopy of heaven. Later by means of the saw mill and the cooperation of a few friends he was able to purchase a lot on which a church was built and known as Old St. Anna. This church was free to all denominations.
In August 1879, he was ordained to the ministry by a council of ministers set apart by Nothern Missionaries and served his church in the capacity of janitor, financier and preacher. Under his guidance the church grew and did much in Christianizing the community in which he lived. His activities as a minister extended over a period of thirty-five years. During these years he served as pastor of the following churches Blainesville, Salen, Hagerstown, Berryville and Swickley. He also did missionary work in the following counties of Virginia: Bedford, Franklin and Halifax for ten or twelve years. As a result of the work a Quaterly Meeting of seven or eight churches was firmly established. His pastoral career was brought to a close by failing health and he retired to his old home where he lingered for more than a year his spirit taking its flight January 17, 1916 at the age of 65 years, 11 months and 5 days- Queenie Taylor and Virgie A. Lee.
Page Courier, Friday 14 Feb 1913
Rev. T.W. Cave will preach at Mrs. M.S. Meadows' March 5, 1913, to celebrate the birthday of Mrs. Jobe Breeden.
Page News & Courier, Friday 28 Jul 1911
Morning Star Column
John Jones, an aged Confederate from Madison, has returned home. He also visited his nephew, near Printz Mill.
Page News & Courier, Friday 22 Feb 1924
I will now write a letter giving my relatives on my mother's side. As I said in my other letter, my mother was a miss Leaville, and she had two sisters and two brothers. Their names are as follows: My mother was the oldest of the five. The oldest brother was named James P., and lived when I was a boy at Bixler's Ferry. He was a cabinet maker and kept the ferry boat. His wife was Miss Bettie Bixler, daughter of Peter Bixler and sister of Morgan Bixler and aunto of Mayberry Bixler, now living in Luray, and William Bixler, living in Shenandoah county. He had two children- a boy and a girl. Their names were Peter and Palmira, and while living there a colored man took the little boy into the river to teach him to swim. The colored man was taken with the cramp and both were drowned. They then bought a house and lot at Hamburg, known as the Beasley place. While living there their daughter was married to Richard Revercomb. At that wedding I was one of the waiters and waited with Miss Mary Ann Williams, sister of J.C. Williams, now living in Luray.
When my uncle moved to Hamburg he put up a cabinet maker shop. He was a fine workman. I have a corner cupboard, safe and wash stand he made. John was never married. He lived with a man by the name of Joseph Miller, who lived on Mill Creek- I think were Willia Modesitt now lives. He died there. My aunts were named Betsie and Caroline married Harvey Rothegb, brother of John W. Rothgeb, who lives on the Mud Pike, near Luray. Shortly after their marriage they moved to Ohio, and therefor there is little that I know about them.
While staying at my father's we would get up in crowds to fo four huckleberries in the Massanutton mountains... When you get on top of the mountain there is some flat land and while gathering berries we came across what is known as a horn or hoop snake, which came rolling through the bushes and barely missed uncle Harvey, and struck the horn which is near the tail in a small tree and could not get loose and in that position it was killed by my uncle...
I will write the next time about the flood. J.W.H. Kibler
Page News & Courier, Friday 22 Jun 1923
Samuel B. Davis, a gallant Confederate veteran of Grove Hill, this county, says that James W. Wood omitted one of the oldest churches in the county in his recent article dealing with the sacred edifices of the past. Mr. Davis has reference to the old Monger Lutheran church, which stood on a steep eminence West of the Shenandoah River and just below Roudabush's mill and which was torn down during the civil war, at or about which time the present "Brick Church" was erected in the same neighborhood. The old church stood on land now owned by John W. Foltz. Some graves are still to be found where the church yard was located. One epitaph still decipherable is that of Lizzie Kite, supposed to have been the wife of Henry Kite, the two having been the parents of Isaac, Daniel and Christian Kite, all of this branch of the Kite famile have long since passed away. Mr. Davis does not know when the Monger church was built but it was a very old structure when torn down at the time of the civil war. Among the preachers who occupied its pulpit were Elders Peter Cline and Stirewalt, of Shenandoah county.
Among the relcis possessed by Mr. Davis is a spoon which his mother used when she went to housekeeping at the present Isaac Comer place eighty-five years ago. The spoon is of German silver and well preserved. Mr. Davis also has various household articles used by his grandmother more than one hundred years ago including her German testament and a hymn book more than 125 years old. His grandmother was Christena Kite, and his grandfather Benjamin Kite, the two having resided where Mr. Davis now lives. This was also the abode of his great grandfather, Philip Kite, a Revolutionary solder, who lived at the same place but not in the sam ehouse. In the same graveyard nearby lie the remains of this Philip Kite, a Revolutionary soldier, his son Benjamin Kite, a soldier of the war of 1812, and by his side is the last resting place of James F. Davis, their lineal descendent who served in the civil war and who was a brother of Samuel Davis, our informant.
Mr. Davis has a letter from his grand uncle David Tofflemire, a pioneer emigrant, written from Iowa, on August 25, 1810, to two brothers back in Page county, advising them to locate in Iowa where the finest land could be bought for almost for a son. These Tofflemires were brothers of Mr. Davis' grandmother Christena Dofflemoyer Kite, wife of Benjamin Kite. Tofflemire was the early spelling of Dofflemoyer.
Another possession of Mr. Davis is a tax bill about a century old showing that his ancestor pad a tax of 90 cents on 150 acres of land and 3 head of horses.
A land grand to Philip Kite dated 1747 is another relic treasured by this old soldier who is a descendent of a line of brave patriots.
Page News & Courier, Friday 26 Jun 1931
John T. Kite, a retired farmer of Bird CIty, Kansas and District Judge, E.E. Kite, of St. Francis, Kan., are visiting their uncle Isaac Shuler, of near Grove Hill, and other relatives in this county and at Waynesboro and Elkton. Their father, the late Noah Kite of Ben, emigrated to the west in 1868 and first settled in Iowa, later going from there to Missouri and from there to Kansas. An ucle, Mr. Kite, of Grove Hill, was a Civil War veteran.
Page News & Courier, Tuesday 21 Oct 1924
Raymond Knight, son of W.H. Knight, and Miss Viola Manuel, daughter of L.J. Manuel, motored to Hagerstown, Md., October 15, and were united in marriage by a Methodist minister, Rev. V.A. Lewis. The bride will make her home with the groom's parents at Compton.
Page News & Courier, Friday 31 Jul 1936
Zeb Lamb, a patriarch of the Weaver Hollow section near Jollett, who is 80 years old, spent the night with his young friend Grover C. Miller recently. Mr. Lamb was in Luray to attend court and saw the movies for the first time in his life as well as spending his first night here. This sturdy old mountaineer, who is still a giant in stature was ten years old when the war broke out between the states. The Lam family, who were Nothern sympathizers, moved to Pennsylvania in covered wagons at the outbreak of the conflict. He distinctly remembers these stirring days and relates the incidents of that day quite clearly. While camping out one night on their way north a party of Confederates stole one of their best horses. After the conflict had ceased they returned to their old mountain home where he has prospered and reared a large family. He was one of the leading characters for the pay given by the school at Stanley several years ago depicting the eviction of the Park dwellers. It is needless to add that he enjoyed his visit in Luray.
Page News & Courier, Friday 29 Jan 1926
Shenandoah, Va., Jan. 26, 1926
In reference to the bear story by Sheriff Lucas and the pictures he is having taken of the dear den where our grandfather, Levi Lucas, crawled in and shot four bears and wounded another, beings to mind grandpa's story of the bear hunt.
The way my grandfather related this story to me was this. He and his brother, Bill Lucas, Preacher Geo. Bailey and Paul Offenbacker, tracked the five bears in the cliffs. They selected grandpa to crawl in the den and of course if he could get close enough to shoot them. He crawled about twenty-five feet in the ? and came to an offset and laid still for a few minutes. The bear scented him and stuck up his head up and he could see his eyes shining, so he took aim at his eyes and shot and the bear feel back in the den, and another would raise up and look over and he fired again until he had killed four, when his ammunition ran out. He felt in his haversack and found an old pewter spoon handle and he said he reamed this spoon handle down in his gun and when the fifth bear raised his head he fired again, but failed to kill him but broke his jawbone so he began to back off and the bear ran out by him, but instead of going out the way, he came in went up through the cliffs in another way.
The other three men were stationed around the cliffs in different places to shoot the bears it they came out. It seems that Paul Offenbacker was nearest the bear when he came out and he became very much frightened and threw down his gun and ran from the bear, and they said you could have played a game of cards on the tail of his coat.
Combat Between Rev. Geo. Bailey and Bruin
Then the fun began, the dogs made chase and the bear jumped down over a high cliff and landed near where Preacher George Bailey stood. Uncle George, as they all called him, had a favorite little dog with him and when the dogs stopped the bear or were fighting him the bear stood on his hind feet and fought at them. Uncle George's pet dog got too close to the bear and the bear caught the dog in his paws and was squeezing him and when the dog began to cough, Uncle George said he could'nt stand that so he ran to the bear to release his dog and the bear sunk his claws in one of his shoulders. He hollered for help but them men stood by let Uncle George wrestle with the bear until he tripped and threw him and he then drew his hunting knife and cut his throat. They knew the bear has his lower jawbone broken and could'nt bite him and they wanted to see the wrestle. After Uncle George had killed the bear, grandpa laid said his face and his white vest were covered with blood where the bear had tried to bite him.
If I am not mistaken, it was on this same hunting trip that my grandfather climbed a tree and captured a cub bear. He took it home and raised it up to be grown. It was very playful while small but when it got older it became very unruly, he made a rail pen close to the house and kept it penned. One Sunday Paul Offenbacker paid him a visit and when evening came it was time to go home Paul filled his ? tailed coat pockets with apples. He stopped to look at the bear as he passed the bear pen and while taking leaned against the pen and reached his paws out and grabbed the coat tail and tore it off up to the waist. Grandpa then chained the bear in a ? stable, but he got loose one night and killed and a 200 pound hog and had eaten a good portion when grandpa went to the barn next morning. This angered him and he got his ? and shot bruin.
When John Flannery, an Irishman, first came to this country he in some way found his way into the "Basin" and cleared about four acres of my grandfather's land and planted it in Irish potatoes. One year he raised 400 bushels of potatoes, buried them and next spring hauled them to Shenandoah Iron Works and got $1.00 a bushel. In planting and digging he hired a good many hands, mostly men and woman from Cubbage Hollow among them Jake, now mayor of Cubbage Hollow.
One day he undertook to do some plowing himself, when he looked up from the plow he found he was near the opposite corner of the field. He threw down the plow and remarked, that he couldn't watch the horse and plow at the same time.
How Levi Lucas Got His First Hat.
My grandfather, Levy Lucas, was born in the year 1811 at Slabtown, near Grove Hill, Va., and when about ? years old his father, Simeon Lucas, promised him if he sprout ? acre of land he would have Mr. Hollar? of New Market, make him a hat. It seems he went bareheaded til he had arrived at that age. So he cleared the acre of land and his father brought him his lamb's wool hat ? and told him if he caught him in the field with his hat off he would give him a whipping. It was a very warm day and the perspiration began to run down his face and the dye in? the hat had streaked his face and he threw his hat aside and when his father came to the field and caught him bareheaded he whipped him with the ramrod out of his Belgian rifle?, so he said there was danger in an empty gun. His father had his ? made and would hang them up and he wasn't allowed to wear them till Christmas. The only garment he wore was a home-made hemp shirt, and when the weather was warm the herds would stick him and he would pull off the shirt and thresh it over the fence to break the ? while it was new.
He went to school only eleven months? (or weeks? or days?) and the reason for this was one of the scholars, girls. I think, ? playing in a hog pen at the ? hour and he slipped and closed the door and penned them in and of course, they failed to show up at the end of recess and an investigation was made and they teacher found the girls? Penned in the hog pen. They told? who told who did it and the teacher threatened to whip grandpa, and so he would pretend to go to school by instead he would go and be in a pine thicket until the school was dismissed at evening, and then go home with the other scholars.
Grandpa was not only a huntsman but also a wrestler, during his boating days, when he, Joe Campbell and John Flannery used to boat flour and lumber to Harper's Ferry and Georgetown. He said he had a great many wrestling matches on his way down the river. One one occasion he had a man by the name of Greenberry Hampton, "bully" of Loudown county, to banter him for a wrestle, he, Hampton, being the champion wrestler and scientific boxer of that county. They hooked up for a wrestle. When all was ready, Joe Campbell yelled out "Lee, give him the flying jenny." Hampton, went down. They took another fall at 50 cents a fall and another one and Hampton went down again. This infuriated him so much, he said to grandpa "You can't do the other thing." Grandpa answered, "That is a two handed game." and at that, Hampton struck him just above the eyes making him see stars. At that they went in to knocking each other, grandpa soon saw he was too scientific for him, so he took hold of him and threw him down. Grandpa said Hampton could out knock him, but he could throw him down. After several rounds grandpa got worried and threw him down and jumped in his face with long sprigs in his shoes, such as they used to stand on ice. Some of Hampton's friends wanted to take a hand in the fight, but John Flannery and Joe Campbell stood over them with fence rails drawn and defied any one to interfere while the fight lasted. Hampton gave up after grandpa jumped in his face with the sprigs in his shoes. I think this happened at their camp in Snicker's Ferry. Next morning Greenberry Hampton sent for Grandpa to come over. He wanted to make up, Grandpa though he might want to renew the fight and declined to go but John Flannery told him to come along with him and they would go and see him and if there was to be any more fighting to do he would do it. But when they got there Hampton was in bed with both eyes swollen shut. He asked pardon, and offered grandpa a drink, but he refused, thought he might get poisoned.
Page News & Courier, Friday 13 Aug 1926
D.R. May, son of Mrs. Effie May and Miss Beulah Mae Lucas, the attractive daughter of L.L. Lucas, both contracting parties of near Shenandoah were married July 22rd by Rev. M.A. Ashby in Boonsboro, Md...
Page News & Courier, Friday 20 Mar 1914
In a recent issue we published an item to the effect that Mrs. Mary Huffman of the Hawksbill, is the living mother of a surviving Confederate soldier.
An instance yet more remarkable is that of Mrs. Nancy Lucas, widow of John Lucas, who resides with her daughter, Mrs. Love Yager, at Edinburg, a suburb of Shenandoah City, this county. This statement is made because Mrs. Lucas who was 96 years old the first day of this month is the mother of three living civil war veterans, two of whom served in the Confederate army and one in the Union army.
The two sons who served in the Southern ranks are James A. Lucas, of Shenandoah City, 72 years of age, who served in Co. A. 10th Va. Infantry and Samuel Lucas, of Grove Hill, aged 70, a member of Co. D. 7th Va. Cav. John Lucas, another brother was a Confederate soldier and died during the war. David Lucas, aged 75, a plasterer of Los Angeles, Cal., was a member of the 28th Illinois Regiment in the union army. David went West as a very young man prior to the war and thus it happened that he fought on the opposite side. Mrs. Lucas is in good health for her advanced years. Her daughter, Mrs. Jane Lang, of Los Angeles, has been with her at Mrs. Yager's for the past year. Besides those named she has another son in Los Angeles.
Page News & Courier, Thursday 22 Oct 1942
Mr. and Mrs. Casper J. Nauman Married 50 Years
The golden wedding occasion of Mr. and Mrs. Casper J. Nauman was celebreated Sunday afternoon, September 13th with an informal reception and open hose at their home in Craig, Mo., with about 50 guests present.
Mr. Nauman and Lorena Huffman were married at the Pleasant View church near Craig by Rev. O.D. Allen on September 14, 1892...
Mr. Nauman was born at Craig, Mo., May 8, 1868 and Mrs. Nauman's birthplace was Overall, Va. She was born September 9, 1867 and taughter school at Rileyville, Va., before she was married.
Mr. and Mrs. Casper J. Nauman were the parents of four children, a daughter, Nellie Lane died on June 15, 1933. The three living children are Clarence G. Nauman and Mrs. Charles Mavity, of Ottawa, Kansas, and Glenn Nauman, Mound City, Mo...
Page News & Courier, Friday 18 Jan 1924
For the benefit of the relatives and friends of Sally Ann Henry, who passed away at her home near Woodstock, Shenandoah County, Va., on Dec. 23, 1923, you will please publish this article. Mrs. Henry was born at Newport, Page County, Va., 83 years ago. She was a daughter of David Freeze and married John Henry in 1866, who at that time had just recovered from wounds received during the war. Seven balls had passed thru his flesh, one hit the heart. She was a sister of Mrs. Adam Seekford, my mother, who died in
1865, and Mrs. Noah Foltz, who is also dead; Mrs. John Higgs, of Baltimore, Mrs. Henry Shenk, of Luray; Jeff, John Harrison and Joseph Freeze, all dead but Harrison, who lives near Harrisonburg, and Joseph, who lives near Newport, Va. She was the mother of a large family of children, but I do not know their names, as I never saw any of them…
But few people now living around Newport remember her as most all the people of her young life have passed away. Old Jake Freeze, who at one time lived just north of the bridge in Luray, was her uncle. In her young days Newport was one of the most business places in Page County. Emanuel Foltz ran a tanyard just a little southwest of the mill and also a potter ship near where the Christian church now stands. James Foltz owned the mill at Newport and was the miller. Billie Shomo was the blacksmith, Mack McCalister and Johnny Miller ran the harness and collar business. William Hitt and Peter Keyser were the shoemakers; Gideon Foltz was the pump maker, and Isaac Louderback was the mill wright and house carpenter, Johnny Louderback made molasses on a large scale, Billie Gaines was the sale crier and horse and cattle doctor, Fate Martin was the cooper, just a short distance west of Newport, Noah Foltz ran the old Catherine furnace, and Joe Foltz ran a mill and ground bones and lime; John Dofflemoyer was the justice of the peace; the late W.A. Dofflemoyer was the school teacher and preacher; John A. Freeze was the greatest watermelon raiser of that day, who peddled them as far as Winchester and Lexington; Simon Higgs was a tanner; John P. Foltz made apple brandy; Sammy Louderback was the great bee man of his day; Danny Freeze probably had the most extensive business of all these industries. He burned thousands of barrels of pitch out of fat pine. He also made harness and hauled both as far as Culpeper and Fredericksburg; Winchester and Lexington. The tar or pitch was used to mix with lard, and was used to grease wagons at that time instead of axle grease of this day.
Mrs. William Shomo was the most extensive weaver of that time Linsey and material to make men's clothes and thousands of yards of carpet were the products of her loom.
The merchant at that time at Newport was a man by the name of White, who came to this county from Culpeper. With them teams that hauled the products of this county to Culpeper he brought his goods to Newport. This man White gave Newport her name. He was crossing the river just above the mill dam at that place and the small boat and the boat went over the dam and her was drowned and when he was found the fish had eaten his face most off. Philip Louderback was one of the harness makers at that time…
Page News & Courier, Tuesday 5 Mar 1940
Do You Remember
Some Date on the Moyer Families Of Page
1. The familt of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Moyer, old and beloved citizens of Page, who for many years lived in the Fairview neighborhood. Here Joe Moyer taught his small regiment of boys all the arts of blacksmithing. True, at the early history of which this Do You Remember deals, blacksmithing was done at a time when the trade was carried on quite differently from at the present. Main force then took the present devices that make blacksmithing quite easy when compared with sixty or seventy years ago. Joe Moyer, head of the almost exclusive family of boys, was born on October 25, 1825. In this good year, if living, he would have reached his 115th year. His good old wife, Susan Freeze Moyer, was born December 9, 1828. She was a member of one of the oldest families in the county. Their first child was Malcolm, who was born April 14, 1850, and died September 17, 1851. Ben Moyer was the next son and was born January 4, 1852. He is dead. Only one daughter blessed the Moyer-Freeze marriage. This was Ada V. Moyer, who was born May 16, 1854. She also is dead. Next comes our "John J. Moyer" of East Liray, who was born August 4, 1855. He has been a member of the Luray Town Council and has held other positions in the religious and business life of Page. He has been married three times. Milton BanBuren Moyer, the next was born March 28, 1858. He lives in East Luray... Stephen was another son who was born July 21, 1860, and died June 17, 1879. The next of the Moyer boys was Macon Lee, who was born December 23, 1862. He was an honored citizen of Luray who has been dead a few years. He, like the brothers before him and the younger that came after him, was one of Luray's highly respected citizens... Perry Washington, known to all as "Wash", was a wheelright, blacksmith and everything that pertained to both lines of business. No more unassuming, upright man has ever lived here. Next on the roser is our William T., a respected citizen of the Fairview neighborhood, who has followed many lines of business, two of his strong points in life's endeavors having been the operation of canning factories which in past years has given employment to many who needed and wanted work in that line and who with his brother, Doctor Davy, were in the blacksmithing business in Luray at one time. Doctor Davy was born April 1, 1870, and has been dead about twelve years. In addition to his knowledge of blacksmithing he at one time operated a cannery on the west side of the Shenandoah River in the Oak Hill neighborhood. He was genial, jovial and good natured. The next one of the clan and the baby of the Moyer household is Thomas Ashby, living in the former C.J. Lucas property at Stony Man. So innocent is Tom of wrongdoing that one of his friends say that a rattlesnake would have to show its ugliest nature before he would use a bludgeon on it.... Some still living have bright mental pictures of the old Joe Moyer blacksmith shop near Fairview where in the misty past the veteran "smithy", with his leather arpon, indispensable in warding off sparks, and his begrimed and honest face who with his brawny arms wielded his hammers... He knew but one God and served him according to his concept of the teachings of the Primitive Baptist Church.
Page News & Courier, Tuesday 10 Jun 1924
Noah Nauman, son of the late Fred Nauman of the Stanley section and Miss May Campbell daughter of William Campbell of Newport...rest torn off... married in Charlestown.
Page News & Courier, Tuesday 12 Jul 1932
Westmont, N.J., July 5, 1932
Dear News and Courier:-
I notice in the last issue of the News and Courier that Joseph R. Broiyles had asked my old friend J.R. Seakford for information in regard to the killing of a man by the name of Norman. Although past my 80th milestone in life, in sound mind, sufficient to set both Mr. Broyles and friend Seakford right on that most unpleasant subject from the fact that I was an eye-witness to that sad affair.
The victim was Thomas Norman, son of John Norman. He was a soldier in the Army of Northern Virginia and was at home on a 10-day sick furlough. There was a gang of conscript hunters as they were called at that time (I mean by that they were men sent from camp to arrest and bring back for duty all men who had deserted without leave) This gang of conscript hunters were under the command of Lieut. Perry Kite, son of Jacob C. Kite and Rolf Kite, son of David Kite, of Honeyville. These two men were first cousins. They were both at a home near and had sent two men to get Thomas Norman. The men were Al Campbell and a man named Richards. They got Norman, who showed them his sick leave, but neither of them could read it. He then agreed to go with them to the officers of the gang to reach the furlough and they had to pass by the school that was being taught by Thomas M. Offenbacker, who was a brother-in-law of Mr. Norman. This being near the noon hour, and Mr. Offenbacker seing that some trouble was going to take place dismissed school. By this time Norman and the two men came to the school house and Norman went in and took a sear on the front bench and spread his arms out at full length hold to the back of the seat with each hand. He wore heavy sheep-skin gloves. The two men ordered him to come out and he refused. They then asked Mr. Offenbacker to put him out. Mr. Offenbacker told them that he could not put him out and told some of the school boys to go and find Lieut. Kite. The late William D. Knight and myself went for the officers and just as we got back near the school we heard the shot, and there was much excitement in the way of crying of relatives. The man that shot him was blowing the smoke out of his gun. The shooting occurred in this way- Before Kite got there Norman came out of the school house and knocked both Richards and Campbell down in the snow (it was then snowing fast) and he started to run toward the old Stoneberger church, but by the time he was only 20 yards away, they had gotten to their feet and one of them shot him dead, the bullet hitting in the back of the head, near the top splitting his head from the back to the forehead, near the top and spilling his brains on the ground, so you see he was not hit in the back nor did he run through the fields as Mr. Seakford has been erroneously informed.
I do not know which of the men did the shooting, Campbell or Richards. One of Norman's uncles, whose name I withhold, offered a large sum of money to the man who would kill the one that shot Thomas Norman. He was carried in the school house and the stain of that man's blood was still on the floor as long as I knew the place.
Now I am not the only persons that tells the truth, but if anyone ever gives a different account of this dastardly and cowardly act it will not be correct. I am not finding fault with Broker Jake for I feel sure he gave the best at his command, but in this I am one ahead of him. And now until I write again soon. In regard to your 65th anniversary will say, "o-yeah." J.H. COFFMAN
Page News & Courier, Tuesday 9 Aug 1932
Strasburg, Va., July 29, 1932
Dear Editor-
Will you please find room among your columns for the following letter which I am writing to my friends in Luray and Page County. I have been paralyzed for the past 3 years haven't walked a steo. In regard's to J.H. Coffman's letter about the death of J.H. Norman. I want to say that Alfred Campbell was the man that killed him and lived at Needmore, Page County. I knew him well and lived close by him for years. He often related his story regarding the shooting to me (personally) and after reading Mr. Coffman's letter in last week's paper I found correct in every respect. Mr. Campbell was never known to go to any public places. He told me that the Normans were looking for him and if they found him, it would mean certain death for him. In 1878 I did pursuade him to go with me to Luray to get my marriage license. He went but I could'nt get him within a half mile of town.
I will tell of the Doctors prices, when I was a boy. Dr. Miller was our family doctor. He would come about three miles to our hom rain or shine and only charge a dollar a visit. He would bring his medicine with him with no extra charge.
In those days when a man died he could be buried in a walnut coffin for about forty dollars.
My grandmother died in 1868 and Sam Larkins at Marksville made her a walnut coffin and brought it in one snowy day and hauled her ten miles and buried her. My father asked him what he owed him for the burial expenses. He said "well being its a bad snowy day, I'll have to charge you fifteen dollars." In my next letter I will tell you more about prices in old time also about the treatment Slaves got in Slavery time. I will close this letter now as it will take up too much space, but hope you won't tire before you read it.
I remain your friend, SAM HENRY MIDDLETON
Page News & Courier, Tuesday 10 Apr 1934
Walter Nichols and Manuel Campbell, living in Nichols Hollow of Madison county, brought two valuable horses to Luray last Saturday which they were offering for sale. The would-be horse sellers, after making a try-out of the local market, finally disposed of the animals. The horses were ridden out of Nichols Hollow to the top of the Blue Ridge at Skyland, thence down the "Pinnacle Path" on the west side of the mountain, landing in Luray about ten o'clock. Messrs. Nichols and Campbell say that farming in the neighborhood of their home has gotten down to such a low level that keeping horses is more costly than the revenue they derive from them by their work.
Page News & Courier, Friday 2 May 1913
Marksville & Stanley
On Sunday, March 30 at noon, Jacob Offenbacker, a son of the late T.M. Offenbacker of Stanley, was married to Miss Anna Donovan, of Holt county, Mo. The marriage took place at the home of the groom's uncle S.S. Nauman in Holt county. The bride is a niece of Captain Donovan, a N. & W. R.R. conductor. Mr. Offenbacker left Page about six years ago, and located in Holt county, Missouri where he is now a prosperous farmer.
Page News & Courier, Friday 7 Nov 1930
Nov. 3, 1930
I will now write about some old relics. On Sunday the 19th of October I went to Covington, Va. While waiting for the train at Waynesboro, I met up with John Owens the son of William Owens who lived at the foot of the Ridge near Kiblinger's Store. Mr. Owens was born, Dec. 25, 1844, in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. He enlisted in the Southern army in 1861 on May 1st and fought in most of the battles in Virginia. He was with Jackson when he was killed at Chancellorsville in 1863. At this place, Mr. Owens baked a cake of bread which he brought home in his knapsack and kept until his death about 12 years ago and his wife kept it until just before her death when she gave it to her son, John, who still has it. Mr. Owens also has an old pipe that is 150 years old, made of birch with an Indian carved on it. He also has two letters stamped 131 years ago** that were written by his mother from Kansas City, Mo. by Dan Taylor. Mr. Owens now lives at Waynesboro, Va., Park Sta. Box 405. Mr. Owens mother was a daughter of Eld. Thornton Taylor, who lived and died three miles east of Stanley. The elder Mr. Owens was a fine citizen and raised a large family.
** 131 years! I think Jake was off on his dates.
Page News & Courier, Friday 26 Oct 1926, Vol. 18, no. 36, pg. 3, col. 4
October 24, 1926-
Hubert Painter, son of Isaac Painter, who ran away from his home near Stanley 38 years and was not heard from for many years, turned up at Stanley last week, accompanied by his wife and father-in-law. Mrs. Painter is highly educated and about 45 years of age. Her father, who has fought all up and down the Valley during the War Between the States, is 83 years old and made thr trip to look over the old fields and hills where he faced the bullets and shells in those trying times. Hubert has grown up with smart people and is a very smart man, and is well posted on most all questions. He is engaged in farming Beaver county, Pennsylvania. This was a grand meeting for Hubert, to show that he had as many relatives in the county or probably in the State of Virginia as any other man. When so many gathered and the handshaking was in progress his wife asked if all the people in the county were Painters. I gave her the history of the Painter family: 100 years ago, Peter Painter IV was buried on the hill near the road just South of William Duncan's, above the Paul Yates place in Marksville district. He left the following sons and daughters, John and Peter, Abraham, Joseph, Noah, Thomas, Nancy, Mat and Phoeby, my grandmother. He had 73 grandchildren, 286 great grandchildren, 593 great great grandchildren…
Noah Seekford, of Alma, Reuben, Hubert, Abraham, John, Lewis, James A., Charles, Ambrose, Newton, Henry and Dr. Billy Painter, Eliza Good, Bessie Painter, Mrs. Isaac Turner and Mrs. Rebecca Rhinehart and Mrs. Sarah Ellen Mayes are the living grandchildren of old Peter Painter.
Page News & Courier, Friday 15 Jan 1932
About 106 years ago old David McKay lived below Luray. My grandmother was then a young woman and lived with Mrs. McKay. There she met my Grandfather, George Siegfreld, who had emigrated to American from Germany. At Mr. McKay's house there were married by old Eld. Ambrose Booton. At that time Grandmother had on a black collar with some fur around the top. She wore that collar until she died in 1887. Her children then divided all her clothing between the three sisters, and the collar fell to Aunt Mat's lot who wore it until she died, then she gave it to her niece, the wife of Elder Jackson Painter. Just a few months ago Mrs. Painter turned it over to me and asked me to keep it for the rest of my life, and then to have it turned over to one of my children.... JACOB R. SEAKFORD.
** This article gives the place for the marriage of Phoebe Painter & George Seekford. It also helps put Eliza Painter in the Peter Painter family a little more securely. Eliza Painter married James W. Good and was the mother of Nannie Good-Painter (referred to in this article as Mrs. Jackson Painter).
Page News & Courier, Friday 27 Feb 1925
Stanley, Va., Feb. 25, 1925
Dear News and Courier:- I desire to inform you of a mistake made by some unknown writer in your paper. The writer speaks of the graveyard known as the old Abram Painter graveyard as on the M.L. Painter place. It is not on the M.L. Painter place. This yard was reserved by my father, Abram Painter, for a family burying ground. It adjoins the land of M.L. Painter, along whose land a right of way to the graveyard is reserved.
The writer speaks of the relatives all helping to clean the graveyard. I beg leave to say they certainly did not. Louis Painter one of the relatives made a donation, and has also hauled stone to the graveyard and has assisted in putting them to the graves. The writer says that the graveyard was at one time a neglected spot. I beg leave to say my father kept the graveyard decent during his life time and I am trying to follow his footsteps, which I have done sinc ehis death, this being the second fence going around the graveyard by me, Abram Painter, since his death, with the exception of a few light donations, most of them by outsiders, that have no dead in the yard. My brother, John M. Painter has helped me this time to clean the yard, also Charlie Nauman, Jake Nauman and the children of W.O. Nauman ABRAM PAINTER
Page News & Courier, Friday 26 Oct 1923
Conn Painter, son of Abe Painter, better known as Jube, and Miss Mollie Jenkins, daughter of Dave Jenkins, deceased, were married Saturday, October 20, in Charlestown W,Va. The following day at the same place Kirby Blosser, son of Tom Blosser, of near New Market and Miss Fay Higgs, daughter of Joe Higgs, of Leaksville, were married. All came home Sunday night...
Page News & Courier, Friday 12 Apr 1935
Earl Painter, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Painter of Newport and Miss Frances Louderback, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Louderback of Shenandoah were married Saturday, March 30, at Martinsburg, W.Va...
Page News & Courier, Tuesday 17 Feb 1925
Emmett Eugene Painter, son of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Painter and Miss Reda Mae Kathern Painter, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Painter, both parties of near Stanley, Va., were married in Rochester, Penn., Thursday, Feb. 12, by R.W. Doty...
Page News & Courier, Tuesday 31 Aug 1926
Miss Ruby Painter whose marriage is reported in the following item from the Winchester Star, of Aug. 26th, is a daughter of Isaac N. Painter, formerly of Leaksville, this county:
"Announcement was made today of the marriage of Miss Ruby P. Painter, attractive daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac N. Painter of Stephens City, to Mr. Wilbur N. Ritter, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Ritter, of Macedonia, this county. The wedding took place yesterday, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. J.C. Hooks, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, at the parsonage of Frederick circuit on North Loudoin street..."
Page News & Courier, Friday 27 Apr 1923
Luther L. Presgraves, son of Russell Presgraves, of Jeremy;s Run, this county, and Miss Edith Good, daughter of Everett Good, of East Luray were married in Frederick, Md., on Wednesday, April 25th, the ceremony having been performed by Rev. Mr. Kibler, pastor of the Evangelical Reformed church...
Page News & Courier, Friday 14 Jan 1916
The paper has received a letter from Mrs. Alice Price Caskey, 901 North 13th St., St. Joseph, Mo., who wants information regarding the Price and Keyser families of Page, from which she is descended. She states that her grandfather Peter Price, (son of John price) was born near Luray, Aug. 6, 1797, and that her grandmother Mary Keyser, daughter of Noah Keyser was born in Luray, May 21, 1810. The couple were married in Luray, Nov. 17, 1829, and came to Missouri with their family about 1855. Mrs. Caskey particularly wants to know where John Price came from and who his parents were Peter Price and Mary his wife united with Mt. Carmel Baptist church, Luray in 1842.
Page News & Courier, Tuesday 31 Jan 1928
"The old man Corbin found dead in his home last week was my blood kin. It came from my grandmother on my father's side."
*** The man referred to was Thomas Corbin, son of Noah & Barbara Bowen Corbin. Noah was believed to be the son of a Thomas & Elizabeth Corbin. There was a Thomas Corbin who married Elizabeth Purdham. Elizabeth was a sister of Sally Purdham-Painter, whose daughter Phoebe Painter-Seekford, was Jacob Seekford's paternal grandmother, Jacob being the writer of this column.
Page News & Courier, Friday 6 Sep 1930
Elder B.F. Purdham spent the day with 3 first cousins, Thomas Purdham, 86, Samuel, 75, John, 75, none of the men are brothers.
*** This helps establish the parentage of Amanda Purdham, mother of John, and Lucy Purdham, mother of Thomas. ** Rev. Ben also mentioned his cousin John in a seperate article in the Tuesday 6, Feb 1932 issue of the Page News and Courier
Page News & Courier, Friday 18 Mar 1932
(Battle Creek, Mich., Enterprise, March 6.)
Mr. and Mrs. Fountain T. Purdham, 19 Upton avenue, today are celebrating 50 years of wedded life. They were married in Fremont, O. March 7, 1882, but are observing it today so that their children and grandchildren may be with them.
When Fountain Thomas Purdham of Luray, Va. and Frances G. Birdsall of Clyde, O. were married the day was cold and clear and they drove a horse and buggy from Clyde to Fremont. They were married by the Rev. H. Lang pastor of the Lutheran church. Immediatelt following the ceremony they returned to Clyde and had supper in their own home, which had been previously furnished. Mr. Purdham laughingly recalled that a number of their mutual young friends had planned a charivari for them, but they were married so quietly that it was not known for a week or two afterwards. In the accompanying picture Mrs. Purdham is wearing the gold brooch that graced her wedding gown.
Mr. Purdham, son of Jeremiah and Mary Purdham was born December 16, 1860 near Luray, Va., one of eight children, five of whom are now living. In company with an older brother, Edward M., he went from Virginia to Clyde, O. in October 1879, where they settled. Mrs. Purdham, daughter of Charles and Eliza R. Birdsall, was born September 20, 1864. She was one of three children, and the only one now living.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Purdham, Glenn Birdsall who with his wife and two children now resides in Dearborn; Linnie Corrine, who as Mrs. Howard John Vogt, lives with her husband in Lansing; Fountain Dallas, who with his wife and three children is living in Kalamazoo; and Violet, who died in infancy.
In his youth Mr. Purdham was a cabinet maker. Because of delicate health he had to leave this work, but later he invented a wrought iron ratcher bar with which to stretch carpets. He went into business for himself soon afterward. In a few years he had to leave this, so he began studying for the ministry in the Seventh Day Adventist church. He was in denominational work in Louisiana for several years, but again his health made it necessary for him to discontinue the work. Though his early life was a continual fight against ill health, Mr. Purdham is strong and well today.
About 1902 Mr. Purdham learned the carpenter trade and was in Battle Creek soon after the Sanitarium was burned. For eight months he was carpenter foreman during the rebuilding of the Sanitarium. At this time he had between 50 and 60 men under his direction.
His family continued to reside in Clyde until November of 1907, and then moved to Battle Creek. Mr. Purdham had been engaged in the building and contracting business from that time until five years ago, when he was obliged to retire because of failing sight...
Page News & Courier, Friday 5 Jun 1931
HOME OF THE BIRDS June 1, 1931
I have a letter from a lady sking me about another old grave yard at Luray. These things date so far back in the past that I can only tell what I have heard. I never knew anything about Lew Ramey. He died long before I was born, but old aunt Nancy Ramey, was his granddaughter and if now living would be 140 years old. She was born in a little log house that stood just about where the old school building is located at Luray. She once gave me the history of her father and grandfather, both of whom were named Lew. Old aunt Nancy's mother was a half Indian and Aunt Nancy herself showed her Indian blood. Just about where the home of the late Andrew Broaddus is located was a graveyard. It may now be under the building or in the yard or in the garden. There is where Lew Ramey and his son, Lew, were buried. Some of the descendents of Ramey are still living around Luray. William Ramey, who lived and died at Liray, also gave me a history of his ancestors. He married a first cousin of my mother. He told me that Luray was named after Lew Ramey and according to his story Lew Ramey was the first man that ever lived in Luray... Honeyville got its name from a large bee tree that was cut down in that village... The name of Battle Creek, was given to this little stream because two womwn had a bloody fight on its banks and one of them waded the creek to get to the scene of the conflict.
Page News & Courier, Tuesday 8 Jan 1924
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Ramey, the former 89 years and the later 98, residing with their son "Doc" Ramey, on the Boom, Luray, are perhaps the oldest couple to be found in Page county. In addition to this remarkable feature the couple have eight children and there has never been a death in the family. The old child is Charley Ramey, who lives near Ruffner's Ferry, 66 years of age, while the youngest is "Doc" Ramey, of Luray, about 53 years old. In all their married life the couple have never had a serious case of sickness. Mr. Ramey was born just north of Kimball, while Mrs. Ramey was born at the old Mart Alger place near Alma. At this time J. Wilmer Alger resides on the old farm which is on the hill just south of the village. Mrs. Ramey is a sister of the late Abe and Andrew Alger, the latter dying at an advanced age a number of years ago on the farm west of the river from Oak Hill. Mrs. Ramey's mother was a Dovel, a family noted for its longevity in the records of Page county. When Mr. and Mrs. Ramey were married they lived for a while on what was known as the "Granny" Rhinehart place near Newport, later moving to the Buracker farm on the Shenandoah river, three miles west of Luray. This place is just above the electric dam and is owned by Daniel S. Hit and sons, Hubert and Edgar Hite. They lived also at other places along the river, but as age began to tell upon them, they changed their location, coming to the home of their son in Luray, where they have been living for the past eight or ten years... Mrs. Ramey, despite her two years less the century mark, is hale and hearty, though Mr. Ramey is quite feeble. He was a Confederate soldier during the sixties.
Page News & Courier, Friday 8 Mar 1929
Now, Brother Seakford we have found the true facts about Mrs. John T. Rickard. I was sure she was a Petefish and her first husband was a Nauman, for after she married Nathaniel Alger, her second husband they moved from up about Alma to Egypt Bend. Soon they had two sets of children. There were three by Nauman and I remember well when the oldest one died: Tommie Nauman, who died Apr. 13, 1878. There were three children by Alger, Martha, Nellie and Allie. Nellie married J.W. Silvious of near Forestville, Shenandoah County, VA., Oct. 27, 1887. He preceded her to the grave, May 24, 1889. Nellie died Feb. 7, 1891. Martha married our brother, C.B. Smith on February 8, 1888. She preceded him to the grave, June 12, 1893. Allie died Oct. 30, 1895 or 1896. We think it was 1895. Then there were two children by J.T. Rickard. Annie, who married Casper Sours in 1899 and lives in Hagerstown, Md., and Sallie, who married Joe Ponn and lives in Luray, on Cave Avenue. These are the facts of Mrs. Rickard and children.
Page News & Courier, Friday 29 Oct 1915
Mrs. Phoebe Rowe, living East of Luray, who is 79 years young, and is hale and hearty, retaining all her faculties in her advancing years, can rightly boast of her many descendents. Mrs. Rowe has been the mother of 10 children, five of whom are living, she can also boast of the following grand children and great grand children.
44 grand-children living and 17 dead.
18 great grand-children living and 5 dead. Making a total of 94 children, grand children and great grandchildren. Mrs. Rowe has presented each of her grand children with a dress, while they were in infancy.
Page News & Courier, Friday 22 Oct 1920
The following persons were married in Hagerstown last week while attending the fair: Oscar Worthington Seal and Miss Lucie Anna Yager both of Stanley.
Page News & Courier, Friday 9 Dec 1921
Stanley, Va., Dec. 5, 1921
On account of being sick at the time I could not attend the funeral of Thomas L. Seekford at Rileyville. Tom was the first son of George W. Seekford. The first Seekford ever known in America was George W. Seigfred, Tom's grandfather, who came to America from Germany about 95 years ago. He was a sailor when he came here, but by some means he left the sea and came to Virginia with a man who lived in this county by the name of McCoy. I think McCoy had the contract of navigating the Shenandoah River from Georgetown to Port Republic. I once met McCoy when he told me all about how my grandfather got to this country and about his helping to pick out the boat's course on the line of navigation. He was one of the first men to run boats down the Shenandoah river. He was the father of five sons- George W., Adam, Noah, John W., and David Seekford. All of these sons followed boating on the old Shenandoah till the railroad came, when the boat course went down. My grandfather had a wife when he came to this country, but on the way down the river she died on the boat on the river just east of Stone Chapel Clarke county. She was buried on the bank of the river at what is known as "Hawk's Rock". The last time I saw her grave was about 25 years ago. At that time three large hickory trees had grown up over the grave. No other grave is near this lonely one. Then my grandfather came back up here to run more boats and through McCoy got acquainted with my grandmother, Phoebe Painter, and they were married. Only one of my uncles is living- Noah Seekford- residing at Alma. My grandfather also had two daughters- Peggie and Sallie. The former is still living at the age of about 86 years. My grandfather had one brother that came to this county and settled in Rockingham. Of his family I knew little. Tom was the oldest first cousin I had living in this county. He was a good man, and as to his eternal home beyond this life I have no fear.
J.R. Seakford
Page News & Courier, Friday 7 Aug 1914
Newport Column
Miss Nora Shomo and Grover Seekford were married in Hagerstown last week, and went to Pen-Mar the same day. They are now visiting the groom's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Noah Seekford, at Alma.
Page News & Courier, Friday 5 Jan 1923
Charlottesville, Va., Jan. 4- Two notorious Virginia outlaws are at large in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains is Greene county and scors of persons who have in past years incurred their enmity are living in constant fear of their lives.
The outlaws in question- Edgar Morris, self-styled Jesse James II, and Charles Sisk, some weeks ago escaped from the chain gang, but the fact had been kept secret until they again began to flaunt the law, and have gone about at will as if no sentences were hanging over them.
State and county authorities are said to be searching for both men and bloodshed is looked for when they meet, since both are known to be armed with automatics....NEED REST OF ARTICLE
Page News & Courier, Friday 26 Mar 1937
Celebrates His 90th Birthday by Subscribing For The News and Courier
Abram Smelser, living in the fastnesses of the Blue Ridge, above Morning Star, was a welcome visitor in our office on Thursday. Mr. Smelser, who has been a resident of the Ridge section practically all his life, vividly recalls the days when the Blues and the Grays were at each others throats and of Jackson's brilliant flank movement in his swift counter march through Milam's Gap. He celebrated his ninetieth birthday by coming down to the county's metropolis and subscribing for the Page News and Courier.
Page News & Courier, Tuesday 16 Feb 1926
John A. Smith, a Page county patriarch, father of seventeen children, moved from Page county about a half century ago and located at Brandy Station in Culpeper county, then something like a land of Canaan to Page emigrants, where he bought a farm, and multiplied and it is hoped, prospered. A letter of his dated February 1, 1888, to his brother, Emanuel Smith, of Mill Creek, this county, has been handed to us by Arthur Sours, a great nephew and contains some interesting matters. Emanuel Smith referred to above was the father of Mrs. William Sours, of Mill Creek. Although John A. Smith had a family of patriarchal dimensions his great-nephew does not at the present time know where they are located.
Bad Weather But Lots to Eat
"We are having bad weather. We can't do much work now more than haul in feed and wood and go to the mill and sit by the fire and eat pudding and sausage and flitter cakes and molasses. O, brother, you ought to see me eat.
Prices in 1888
Flour is worth 4 ½ and 5 dollars a barrel, wheat 75 to 80 cents, corn 52 cents per bushel, oats 35 cents per bushel, Baltimore bacon 12 ½ cents, coffee 25 to 28 cents, sugar 7 to 8 cents.
17 Children 5 of Them Named Ann
"I have boys enough to cut all the wood I want and I can sit on a stump if I wish to do so. Brother, I will give you the names of my boys if I can just think of them all: Joseph Wesley, John David, Noah Edward, Jacob Benton, George Martin, William Monroe, Simon Peter, James Emanuel, Tyler, Melton, Thomas Franklin (dead). (Girls) Pamily Ann, Mary Ann, Susy Ann, Nanny Grove, Eliza Ann, Barbara Ann, (dead), Fanny Bell. Brother, if you can beat that you can get up and dance Jim Crow and wheel about and do just so.
"I only made 150 barrels of corn this year, 220 bushels of wheat, 260 bushels of oats, 226 gallons of molasses.
Page News & Courier, Tuesday 1 May 1934
More Stepp History
Shenandoah, Va., Dec. 11, 1933
Mr. Seakford- Your card received in regard to ancestors. Would have answered sooner but was trying to collect some informantion which I have been unable to get as yet. Sorry I cannot give you more information in regard to the McKinneys. As you know David Stepp was a brother to my father, whose name was Martin Stepp. Martin Stepp married a daughter of William Deene for his first wife and Phrayne Rinica for his second wife. You said that Abram Stepp married the widow of John Shuler. Mr. grandfather Stepp's name was Jacob Stepp. Did George "Boggy" Kite marry for his first wife a daughter of Mike Stepp. His last wife was a daughter of William C. Kite.
William was my father's oldest brother and married some close relative to Susan Fowler, and moved from Virginia to Indiana, I think, and from there to California. Jacob Stepp, my grandfather, had ten children. These were William, Samuel, Martin, Emanuel or "Nub", David and John, who died young. His girls' names were Polly, Betty, Nancy and Rhoda or Sally. Silas and "Well Stepp moved from Virginia to Tennessee, I suppose about or before the Civil War. It is very likely Charles Hilliards could give you some information about Silas and Well Stepp.
... A.J. Stepp, Shenandoah, Va.
Page News & Courier, Tuesday 20 Jul 1926
Miss Ollie Baker, daughter of W.C. Baker, of Luray, was married at Hagerstown, Md., on the Fourth of July to Harry Stoneberger. The groom is employed in New York but lives in Rockingham between Shenandoah City and Elkton. He has returned to his work in New York while his wife is with his sister, Mrs. Ferrell, near Shenandoah.
Page News & Courier, Tuesday 11 Oct 1927
Every man who has heard of the Blue Ridge mountains has head of Frank Weekly, who lives on the old Brannon place of Big Meadows, on Milam's Gap, above Marksville, belonging to Philip P. Long and Philip Lamb. Mr. Weekly was celebrated as a trout fisherman, and fox and raccoon hunter. The cliffs of the Ridge have echoed thousands of times to his hunter's horn as he called in the hounds and no man could blow that horn like Frank Weekly. Born in the Blue Ridge in this part of Virginia his sympathies were with the North in the civil war and he was a bugler in the Yankee army, where he graduated as master of the bugle... For about forty years he has lived on the Long place, before that he had his home on the Madison side of the Ridge on the headwaters of the Rapidan...
Page News & Courier, Friday 3 Apr 1914
Mrs. Elizabeth Williams celebrated her 74th birthday anniversary on last Sunday at her son W. Williams near Printz Mill. Those present were your scribe and wife and Mrs. Joseph H. Emerson, also an aged lady being 76 years old…
Page News & Courier, Friday 27 Aug 1915
One of Jackson's Foot Cavalry
B.N. Wood, aged 77, of Rileyville, one of the gallant survivors of Company K, 10th Virginia Infantry, drove a cow and calf from his home to Luray, a distance of nine miles, yesterday in three hours leaving home at 11:35 and arriving here at 2:30, having walked every foot of the way and driving the stock unassisted. He says he was late getting back to town because he had to hold back for the calf. He felt in excellent condition to walk back but without special inducement would take the train. He had two brothers killed in the war. Mr. Wood was one of the best soldiers in Co. L. and was in every important battle in which his command took part except Gettysburg, yet escaped without a scratch.
Page News & Courier, Friday 31 Aug 1917
Elmer Viands, of Luray a valued employee of the Page Milling, Co. and Miss Myrtle Purdham, daughter of the late Jacob Purdham, of Stanley, were married on Aug. 17, 1917, at Hagerstown, Md., and are now residing at the groom's home in East Luray.


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Around the Majors: Green to the Diamondbacks
1) According to the LA Times, the Dodgers have agreed on a trade to send RF-1B Shawn Green to the Diamondbacks. Assuming the Randy Johnson is completed, the Dodgers would receive C Dioner Navarro and a pitching prospect. Otherwise, they would receive a C prospect, either Koyie Hill or Chris Snyder, and the same pitching prospect as in the first scenario.
If you enjoy the ATM reports and want to support them, check out my other creation–the sabermetric baseball encyclopedia. Orders are now being taken for the next edition, which will include the 2004 stats and is currently shipping. It's powerful, yet extremely easy to use. Features extensive sorting, stat display options, and features that are not available in online and printed sources. The deluxe package has been greatly expanded, making it a much better bargain. For more information, see http://www.baseball-encyclopedia.com
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found a new home!
Plenty of my friends are looking
for one too. Find a pet to adopt.
I am already spayed, up to date with shots, and good with cats.
It will take a while to learn to trust you but I promise that when I turn that corner I will love your attention! Especially at bedtime and in the morning. (Great time to brush me too. I really love that!) Your bed will be my favorite spot in the house. During the evening, though, I kind of like to sit in the window and watch all the neighborhood activity.
I really like other cats but if they are mean or aggressive toward me that won't work. I don't assert myself very much.
I only eat dry food. Won't touch that other stuff. And because no one played with me nicely when I was little I am just learning now how to play with my humans and the feather stick. But when no one is around, I play plenty with whatever I can find to amuse myself. Carpeting is better for me when I run but I have gotten used to the hardwood floors.
My foster family loves me but I know that I just don't fit in. There are 3 other cats with a bond that I just can't break through. I really want to fit in someplace special just like them; to feel like I am truly wanted and that I really belong. Then my life can be filled with snuggling and just hanging out!
Pamela was born in Jan 2010. She has tested negative for FELV/FIV, is spayed, and is current on her distemper and rabies vaccines.
Pamela, a Merrifield Domestic Longhair cat was adopted! Here's how you can benefit by looking at adoption as an option to buying a Domestic Longhair for sale in Merrifield, or seeking a Domestic Longhair cat from a breeder in Merrifield.


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Report: Los Angeles Clippers Sold To Microsoft CEO
A new report places former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer as the winner of the Los Angeles Clippers bidding war. The "Los Angeles Times" reports Ballmer's bid of two-billion dollars for the Clippers has been chosen as the winning bid by Clippers co-owner Shelly Sterling. If approved, it would be nearly four times as much as the highest previous NBA franchise price. That came earlier this month when the Milwaukee Bucks were sold for 550-million dollars.
Ballmer's bid reportedly topped an investment group led by David Geffen that had come in at one-point-six-billion dollars. Several big names had been linked to the Clippers sale in recent weeks, including Ballmer, Geffen, media mogul Oprah Winfrey and former Lakers star Magic Johnson.
The news comes less than a week before NBA owners are set to meet and oust the Sterling family from owning the Clippers following Donald Sterling's racist remarks. Ballmer's deal will need to be approved by the other 29 NBA owners. (Metro Networks Inc)


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Autumn trademarks in San Diego — dense fog and Chinese flame trees
November is our real fall
8:30 a.m., Sept. 24
New forms of technology are evolving. Just a couple of years ago, Steve Jobs gave us the iPad. Before that though, tablet PC's weren't even popular, but now they're everywhere. Everyone suddenly has a tablet by their side.
However, tablets have limited capabilities. For example, surfing the net can be a hassle, because mobile versions of websites are downloaded. Typing on a tablet is a drag too. While it makes sense to use laptops instead of tablets, they're quite expensive.
So what's the solution? Google Chromebooks.
If you've never heard of a Chromebook, it's basically a laptop that runs a desktop version of Google Chrome. The materials are very inexpensive and the storage is small. Basically, a Chromebook offers the responsiveness and price of a tablet, but you'll be able to surf like you're using a real desktop.
As mentioned earlier, one advantage of Chromebooks is the ability to surf websites in their full versions. On tablets, only mobile versions of websites are loaded.
You'll be able to get a complete surfing experience with Chromebooks. You'll also get access to all of Google's services such as Drive, Google+ and a host of others.
All the information you need will be saved on Google's cloud storage, negating the need for hard drives. The fact that they also use flash storage means the responsiveness of the computer will be fast. Also, the price is very cheap. For $250, you get a nice, portable, computer. You get a trackpad and a keyboard that allow you to navigate the Internet easily. You also get a couple of USB ports and HDMI, which you won't find on a similarly – priced tablet.
Overall, the main advantage of Chromebooks is your immediate connectivity to the Internet. You'll be able to connect anywhere fast. Your files will also be saved on the Internet. Everything that involves Internet work can be done on your Chromebook.
Admittedly, Chromebooks have some disadvantages too. For example, the operating system is very limited in terms of apps. It's not a full operating system like Windows where you can install whatever you want.
Also, you have very limited space to work with; 16 GB of memory. It's like you're using a tablet's hardware, but with a laptop sized display.
Chromebooks also feel cheap. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. The Chromebooks released right now are made from common plastic.
The adoption rate of Chromebooks is rather low right now, but the benefits are certainly noticeable. If you think of Chromebooks as laptops with the price and software of tablets then you're on the right track.