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Staunton Spectator: November 3, 1868 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Augusta County Fair
(Column 03)

Summary: Account of the opening of the Augusta County Fair, including addresses by Col. John B. Baldwin, president, and Alexander H. H. Stuart and Matthew F. Maury. All three praised the industry in agriculture and the mechanical arts displayed by Augusta's citizens.

Augusta County Fair. Grand Success!
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper declares the Augusta County Fair a "grand success." The article includes mention of the speeches and reports on winners of the sporting events. The paper also provides a long account of a medieval tournament held at the fair.
(Names in announcement: Rev. Dr. J. S. Baird, Col. John B. Baldwin, A. H. H. Stuart, Matthew F. Maury, J. Wayt Bell, James W. Crawford, James Henderson, Capt. Antrim, Col. Christian, A. T. Caperton, Gen. Echols, Hugh Hamilton, Hanger, Eidson, Florence Phillips, Parris, Col. Arch Kinney, Col. H. L. Gallaher, Capt. J. B. Finks, John White, Jack Hardy, A. M. Simpson, Belle Taylor, Harriet Echols)

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The ladies of Staunton's Episcopal Church gave a musical performance under the direction of Prof. E. Louis Ide. They raised $100 toward building an iron fence around the Episcopal cemetery.
(Names in announcement: Prof. E. Louis Ide)

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The Ladies' Memorial Association raised between four and five hundred dollars at their refreshment tent at the fairgrounds. The money will go toward "beautifying and adorning the soldiers' cemetery." The ladies of the Episcopal Church also ran a refreshment tent at the fair. They raised between three and four hundred dollars for improving the cemetery at the Episcopal Church.

"Reconstruction."
(Column 01)

Summary: James P. Cowardin delivered at Staunton's Town Hall his humorous lecture on "Reconstruction." The performance parodies the Virginia constitutional convention of 1867 by comparing it to that of 1829. "His inimitable imitations of the voice, manner, and gestures of the negro, scallawag, and carpet-bag members of the convention, as he repeats their speeches as delivered in the convention, verbatim et literatim, convulsed time and again the audience with irrepressible laughter."

Valley Railroad
(Column 01)

Summary: The Augusta County Court directed that an election will be held December 5th to determine whether or not the county will subscribe $300,000 to the stock of the Valley Railroad Company. Col. Harman believes that if the county raises one million dollars, then the road can be put under contract in early 1869.
(Names in announcement: Col. Harman)

Augusta County Fair
(Column 01)

Summary: The Executive Committee of the Augusta County Fair congratulates the people of the county for the success of the recent fair. The directors would now like to raise money to make improvements to the fair grounds, and they urge citizens to purchase bonds from the fair corporation.
(Names in announcement: John B. Baldwin, E. W. Bailey, W. A. Burke, William A. Pratt)

Education of Soldiers' Children
(Column 02)

Summary: The county fair was an excellent exhibition of the uses of machinery in agricultural production. Reverend Broaddus sought to start a collection for the Soldiers' Children, but was unable to reach many at the Fair.
(Names in announcement: Rev. W. F. Broaddus)

Full Text of Article:

Who could witness the exercises of the Augusta County Fair held here on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday last, without predicting for this organization a brilliant future? The thousands assembled, including the solid experience of age, and the ardent ambition of youth, cannot fail to give character to the institution throughout the Valley; while the display of domestic manufactures, and of improved farming implements, could not fail to impress all present with the conviction that our Virginia Farmers are on the road to independence.

An old negro in Albemarle county, looking at a mowing machine at work in a field of clover, is said to have exclaimed, "De white folks won't want us darkeys presently. Dese machines gwine do every thing. Den what we darkeys gwine do for a home, hey? Tell me dat. I tell you, dis nigger gwine to work now, while he can get it." Had he been at this exhibition, he would have had his apprehensions abundantly confirmed.

Dr. Broaddus, Secretary for the Soldiers' Children, was present on Thursday. Many contributed something to the noble work he is engaged in. But other matters so occupied the immense crowd, that he could speak to only comparatively a few. Would it not be well for all who did not get a chance to contribute to this work, to send him a donation by mail? -- The children are put into the schools most convenient to them, without regard to the church relations of Teacher or pupil. Teachers demand only One Dollar per month. Noble liberality! But even at this cheap rate, thousands of Dollars will be needed. Address Rev. W. F. Broaddus, Fredericksburg.

Valley Railroad Meeting
(Column 02)

Summary: Supporters of the Valley Railroad met in Staunton's Court House and passed resolutions endorsing the proposed county subscription of $300,000 to the company stock.
(Names in announcement: Col. B. Christian, A. H. H. Stuart, Capt. James Bumgardner, Col. M. G. Harman, H. W. Sheffey, Gen. John Echols, Col. George Baylor)

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: Argues that the Constitution is the basis of freedom and liberties in America, and should be protected as such.

Full Text of Article:

The rational freedom which was enjoyed in America prior to the war was founded upon the principles of the Constitution of the United States. There can never be a restoration of the liberties and franchise of the people, nor can republican government be long maintained on the continent except upon the basis of the Constitution of our fathers. This is a serious truth that every American whether enfranchised or disfranchised, should seriously reflect upon. If it is steadily kept in view, many a politician would save himself from the disgrace of frequent tergiversations, which he must be ever exhibiting if he persists in seeking safety in policy merely. Principles are eternal. -- Truth is ever mighty. The Constitution is the only anchor upon which we can hang a hope for American liberty.

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: Capt. Peter E. Wilson and Miss Margaret J. B. Eidson, both of Augusta, were married near Staunton on October 22nd by the Rev. William E. Baker.
(Names in announcement: Capt. Peter E. Wilson, Margaret J. B. Eidson, Rev. William E. Baker)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: Anderson Hutchens and Miss Rebecca S. Hill, both of Augusta, were married on October 27th by the Rev. J. M. Shreckhise.
(Names in announcement: Anderson Hutchens, Rebecca S. Hill, Rev. J. M. Shreckhise)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: James J. Hedrick of Jefferson County, West Virginia, and Miss Susan A. Whitmer of Augusta, were married near Parnassus on October 27th by the Rev. A. A. P. Neel.
(Names in announcement: James J. Hedrick, Susan A. Whitmer, Rev. A. A. P. Neel)

Married
(Column 04)

Summary: John W. Gilkeson and Miss Letitia M. Tate, both of Augusta, were married at Greenville on October 20th by the Rev. James Murray.
(Names in announcement: John W. Gilkeson, Letitia M. Tate, Rev. James Murray)

Deaths
(Column 04)

Summary: Mrs. Margaret Wheeler, wife of Joel Wheeler, died in Waynesboro on October 6th. She was 38 years old.
(Names in announcement: Margaret Wheeler, Joel Wheeler)

Deaths
(Column 04)

Summary: James McComb, Sr., died near Barter Brook on May 9th. He was 68 years old.
(Names in announcement: James McCombSr.)

Deaths
(Column 04)

Summary: Alice Grever, daughter of Philip and Eliza Grever, died on January 2nd after a short illness. She was 16 years old. "She was a dutiful and affectionate daughter and beloved by all who knew her. The voice no longer gladdens the hearts of her sorrowing parents, and if anything can console them under this bereavement, the thought that their loss is her eternal gain, alone can do it."
(Names in announcement: Alice Grever, Philip Grever, Eliza Grever)

How to Keep Up Our Roads
(Column 02)

Summary: The Norfolk Virginian quotes the Staunton Spectator on the importance of county roads, and reports that Augusta "placed a value equal to 25 per cent of that of the real estate of the county on the establishment of satisfactory highways." The Norfolk paper suggests that the county put convict gangs to labor on the roads.

Origin of Article: Norfolk Virginian