Politics and Potatoes and Such- 1911

                                                            Roxbury.

Roxbury. Va.. November 13- After the political storm there is a calm. The victors and vanquished have settled down to business again. In New Kent county especially that for supervisors the fight was a hot one. Black Creek district was the battle ground between Mr. R. Southall (Democrat) and Mr. Lemuell L. Ellyson (Republican). In this precinct there were 72 qualified voters, and 66 out of 72 voted. Mr. Ellyson got 36, Mr. Southall 30. For justice of the peace. J. A. Wright, 65; C.C. Tunstall, 18. For constable, G.W. Moran, 62. All the others for state office has no opposition. 

The saddest part is life long Democrats, some of whom voted in the primary, forgot their pledge went over to the Republican camp. Mr. Ellyson won his laurels on a determined fight, not one derogatory word was spoken by either candidate of each other. Mr. Ellyson like his father, is a Republican from principle not for graft, and will be as faithful in the trust confided to his keeping as in his dramatic life. All will watch the actions of the members of the board with an eagle eye. They go in as reformers. So may it be, all hope, for the county is heavily in debt, a burden heavy to bear on the tax payers. The new courthouse¹, the automobile highway, the six head of mules and road implements. All came against young Southall, who has been on the board 14 years and believes in public improvements. Many can not see it that way. 

Many new homeseekers are here today looking after Peninsula farms. Several farms have changed hands the past week. Looks to this writer now as if all the far western people are now heading for the country between Richmond and Newport News. 

On the farm of Mr. Bock at this place is an exhibition sweet potatoes 3 feet 8 inches long; Irish potatoes measuring 6 inches in diameter. 400 bushels to the acres. The latter raised on the farm of Mr. R.D. Provo, Liberty Farm. 

Mr. T. W. Marston has on farm several white partridges among the brown. Where this strain of birds originated none knows. None like them were ever seen in this section before. Mr. Marston is guarding them with care. The party who kills or captures these prettys will be severely dealt with. Notices have been posted everywhere to be careful of these birds. A few months ago a pair of white squirrels made their appearance here. One was killed, the other captured and became as gentle as a kitten. Mr. W. P. Tunstall, Sr., killed a fine old doe a few days ago and Mr. Roy Ford killed an old buck weighing after dressed 165 pounds. This section is stocked with deer so plentiful that much corn and green vegetables are being destroyed. This month closes the hunting season east of the Blue Ridge mountains for deer. The watchful eye of the; game wardens are keeping the pot hunters and triffling(sic) negro with a gun off, so game is plentiful.   

Four men from Richmond were arrested by Game Warden Moran a few days ago. They begged off the fine, promising to pay the costs. This they have failed to do and Sheriff Apperson will look after them. Before these arrests Richmond pot hunters swarmed in Chickahominy swamp, shooting all day Sunday as if it were a week day. It is different now.

-Virginia Gazette, 16 November 1911


1- New Kent had decided after years of controversy to build a new courthouse which was finished in 1909 for the sum of $7,700. Then work was started on a new jail for $2,500.

2- The highway funds for Peninsula highway.