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Valley Virginian: September 22, 1870 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

[No Title]
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Summary: This article responds to a letter of inquiry from a potential immigrant to Staunton. The author lists many of the advantageous aspects of the area including geographical position, mineral and water power, and soil quality. Further, he lists several professional opportunities and educational advantages. Finally, the author insists that the area is free from Ku Klux Klan difficulties. He invites all who wish to move to Virginia to come and visit the region to see for themselves.

Full Text of Article:

Staunton, VA. Sept. 20th, 1870.
Mr. G. P. Fitzgerald

Dear Sir:--Your favor of the 16th just received, and it gives us pleasure to respond. The class of settlers in behalf of whom your inquiries are made, is just the sort we want among us. As for the character of inducements offered to immigrants--we Valley people are vain enough to think that the sun of Heaven never shone upon a country combining more natural advantages. With a delightful climate, a generous soil, inexhaustible store of minerals, abundant water power, and, just here particularly, a geographical position most fortunate, in view of the rival railroads approaching from the North, and to intersect here with the great trunk line of the West. All we want for the development of our country is more of the right sort of people. This section is rallying fast from the general prostration which followed the war. There is a greater demand for skilled labor--especially house-builders and machinists, than ever before.

Staunton is a live town, population some five thousand, exclusive of the large number of strangers from all quarters brought here by our Female schools, now at six in number, and all first-class. Within a few hours ride we have Washington College and the University of Virginia. So you see we do not lack educational advantages. Our bar is inferior to none in the State, and numbers some forty practitioners. Of course, no professional man of standing would associate himself with a stranger, without opportunity to judge of his capacity and merits, but if your son should come he will find among them none but courteous antagonists. We have also some twenty practicing physicians, but room for more.

Honest, well meaning, and industrious men are always welcome among us, whatever be their country or calling. The people here are decedents of the old Scotch-Irish stock--frugal and industrious themselves. They have not been so active in politics as our neighbors East of the Blue Ridge--they recognize the right of every man to entertain his own opinions, so he does not thrust them down the threats of the "Klu Klux spirit prevailing," that is all stuff and nonsense, and serves for a jest with our northern friends who have taken the trouble to inform themselves. The men who fought with Stonewall Jackson are not the sort to become midnight marauders; and now that we are suffered to govern ourselves, no occasion ever arises for the strong arm of the Law to put down any such disturbances.

Hoping that any of you who think of moving to Virginia will just come and see for themselves, we are

Very Respectively, &c,
Editors Valley Virginian.

[No Title]
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Summary: The paper takes offense to reports that the New York Times is criticizing the "scum and riff-raff" that filled the Confederate armies. "The people south of the Potomac had occular evidence of an amount of 'scum and riff-raff' which came across that river during the war surpassing in foulness almost anything ever before seen or heard of."

The Valley District
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Summary: Article reporting that the citizens of Augusta have asked Mr. A. H. H. Stuart to announce himself a candidate for Congress. "It is no news to say that Mr. Stuart is one of the most accomplished statesmen in the Union; that he is sagacious, prudent and indefatigable, and would make a worthy representative of any district in the land."
(Names in announcement: A. H. H. Stuart)

Origin of Article: Richmond Whig

Precinct Meeting
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Summary: John B. Baldwin orders that the voters of the precincts that did not hold primary meetings are requested to gather on September 24th to appoint three delegates to the County Convention.
(Names in announcement: John B. Baldwin)

[No Title]
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Summary: A vote was taken in Staunton on Saturday on the question of a further subscription by the city of $50,000 to the Valley Railroad. 286 approved and 90 disapproved.

[No Title]
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Summary: Staunton Wards numbers 1 and 2 held meetings on Saturday to elect delegates to the county convention. The First Ward chose William G. Sterritt, Bolivar Christian, and Richard Fisher and the Second Ward chose H. M. Bell, M. G. Harman, and J. M. Hardy.
(Names in announcement: William G. Sterritt, Bolivar Christian, Richard Fisher, H. M. Bell, M. G. Harman, J. M. Hardy)

[No Title]
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Summary: The various precincts chose delegates to the county convention. New Hope: S. B. Finley, Charles Gratian, Dr. Gillespie. Mt. Sidney: William Crawford, Thomas Burke, Charles Roller. Bolivar: A. W. Harman, Joseph Merickan, S. Croft. Hebron: Jacob Baylor, St. F. C. Roberts, J. T. Mitchell. Barterbrook: A. G. Christian, William A. Abney, H. G. Guthrie. Fishersville: David S. Bell, P. T. Burkholder, William Caldwell. Buffalo Gap: William M. Tate, Baxter Crawford, Lorenzo Sibert.
(Names in announcement: S. B. Finley, Charles Gratian, Dr. Gilespie, William Crawford, Thomas Burke, Charles Roller, A. W. Harman, Joseph Merickan, S. Croft, Jacob Baylor, St. F. C. Roberts, J. T. Mitchell, A. G. Christian, William A. Abney, H. G. Guthrie, David S. Bell, P. T. Burkholder, William Caldwell, William M. Tate, Baxter Crawford, Lorenzo Sibert)

Married
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Summary: Daniel T. Scrogham and Miss Elizabeth F. Humbert, both of Augusta, were married on September 8th by the Rev. Martin Garber.
(Names in announcement: Daniel T. Scrogham, Elizabeth F. Humbert, Rev. Martin Garber)

Deaths
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Summary: Henry S. Keneday and Lucy C. Rhineheart, daughter of Oliver Rhineheart, all of New Hope, were married on September 14th by the Rev. John H. Wolfe.
(Names in announcement: Henry S. Keneday, Lucy C. Rhineheart, Oliver Rhineheart, Rev. John H. Wolfe)

Deaths
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Summary: William Yarbrough died in New Hope on September 4th. He was 81 years old.
(Names in announcement: William Yarbrough)

Deaths
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Summary: Miss Lucy A. Edmondson died near Staunton at the residence of her brother, E. L. Edmondson, on August 24th. She was 35 years old.
(Names in announcement: Lucy A. Edmondson, E. L. Edmondson)