Young Martha Dandridge Custis

Young Martha Dandridge Custis

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

One Hundred Years Ago

 

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1922. 

QUINTON 

“The snow, the snow, the beautiful snow”—that is to the beaux and belles as they speed over it as only lovers can, while the sleigh bells give music to the occasion. It makes one who has passed courting days sigh for the days of his youth, but the mill can never grind with the water that has passed. We have had our pleasures and our sorrows, and so it will be with all. 

This is one of the worst snow storms for many years. The poor dumb creatures suffer, both the domestic animals and the wild game of the forest. Beautiful partridges are coming from the woods where they have been hiding from the huntsmen. The farmers are feeding them. 

Young Whit Tunstall*, who is a fine farmer and good sportsman in season, says he has put away his gun. He has killed this season twelve wild turkeys, seven deer, and no telling how many squirrels and rabbits. Returns from a shipment of fur caught this season amounted to $194. He now has more to sell. He is an expert trapper. Now he is knitting a shad seine that will be ready when the fish begin to run. All this will be over in time for farming. He has the prettiest fields of wheat and oats to be found and over 500 bushels of Irish potatoes ready for market. There are many other young men who are making money by farming.

There was general sorrow all through New Kent when it was reported that Dr. C. L. Bailey had sold his- beautiful farm to Mr. Richard McCormick near Quinton. Dr. Bailey has been here twenty years—one of the most beloved and successful doctors we ever had. He is going to locate at Highland Springs. He says he cannot stand the terrible roads in New Kent. He is quite a young man and has only his wife. He could have retired from practice years ago and lived at ease the rest of his life. He will have a fine field to work and fine roads.

Mr. C. W. Bowry¹is building a fine dwelling on the farm bought some time ago. Will move in the spring to his new home. 

Johnson Miller will soon move into his new dwelling near Quinton.

Mr. Riley, of Gloucester, who bought several large tracts of timber near Quinton will soon finish cutting the timber. Mr. Walker, his brother-in-law, is general manager. 

Our faithful rural mail carrier is having a hard time as only a half of the route from Quinton can be made in one day. No one complains, though we certainly miss our mail, especially as we can do nothing this weather but keep fires, feed the stock, and read our paper all day and our Bible at night. The school teachers and children are having a difficult time getting to school. 

Hens have struck. Say they will not lay until the weather breaks up. Now for 75c eggs again!      

                                                                  Truthful Jeems.

- West Point News,  3 February 1922


*Whitmel Pearson Tunstall Jr.,(Jan 13 1890-April  28 1979). W. P. Tunstall Jr. lived at White Hall.

 Dr. Charles Llewellyn Bailey (May 14 1876- Aug 1 1929)

¹ Charles W. Bowery, (Sep 9 1866- Dec 23 1951), The property date fits the house on Henpeck Road.



Saturday, February 5, 2022

"Large, Strong, and One of the Finest Moving Horses I Have ever Seen"- 1833

 

 FORTY-FOUR—One of the most beautiful bay horses in Virginia, thorough bred and nearly 16 hands 1 high, great bone and muscle, will stand a second season in Charles City and New Kent, where he served to the satisfaction of every one, ninety-seven mares, and being greatly improved, will be again ready to do so by the — of March, at fifteen dollars the season, to he discharged by ten dollars cash, or a note for the same, on demand, by the first day of June—thirty dollars insurance, to be paid when the mare is ascertained to be in foal, or parted with-60 cents cash to the groom in every instance. Forty-Four was got by the celebrated Arab, his dam Lady Hamilton by Sir Arthur, he by Sir Archy, out of Green’s old Celar mare, the dam of the famous Little Billy, and other racers of celebrity. Lady Hamilton was the first of the distinguished progeny of my old mare Bet Bounce. Persons having young mares, will be afforded a fine and cheap opportunity to test their breeding powers, and to those who breed for dealt or the saddle, so great an opportunity has never been offered, he being large, strong, and one of the finest moving horses I have ever seen. Forty-Four was trained twice, and proving lame in the shoulder each time, was withdrawn from the turf. His colts are now appealing, having seen one of them, which, like the sire, is a beautiful large bay, without white, and highly valued by its owner at H. Ladd’s Store*, 15 miles from Richmond, within 1-4 of a mile from Turkey Island Bridge, lie will stand 3 days in every 9—at New Kent Court House, and at New Hope, near Charles City Court House. Mares to be left with the horse, will he fed at 25cts. per day—pasturage gratis in the neighborhood of each place. JNO. MINGE, Jr. 


P.S.—The season will expire the last day of June, yet the horse will be sent to Charles City and New Kent on their respective court days in July and August, and at any time within the year a mare may he put at Wyanoke. 

March 19                                                      103-w2w


 - Richmond Enquirer, 19 March 1833


* I believe now Adkin's Store


The "Jno. Minge Jr." in question was Dr. John Minge Jr of Weyanoke and Kittewan Creek-North Bend, (10 Sept 1796-23 Jan 1871).