Sunday's Obituary: Francis H. Hereford

Alexandria Gazette
22 October 1851

Mr. Francis H. Hereford departed this life in Independence, Mo. on the 17th of July 1851.  Mr. Hereford was born November 23d, 1810, in Prince William county, Va.  Before leaving that State he was married to Miss Sarah Foot, a sister of the distinguished Gen. Foot of Mississippi.  He had been a citizen of Missouri for some time -- after residing in Boonville several years, he moved to Independence, where he died.



[Francis H. and Sarah Hereford are buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Independence, Mo. --cgl]

Events: "The Dead Files" investigates the Weems-Botts Museum

Noted for years as being one of the most haunted places in Virginia, tonight the Weems-Botts Museum in Dumfries, Virginia, will be the focus of The Travel Channel's "The Dead Files."  The investigation focuses on the Merchant family, who resided in the house from the 1860's until 1968.

More on the museum and tonight's episode can be found here.

People & Places: Former Elkhartan in Charge of Big Virginia Orchard (Ben Lomond)

Elhart Truth (Elkhart, Indiana)
5 June 1919

FORMER ELKHARTAN IN CHARGE OF BIG VIRGINIA ORCHARD

Former Postmaster W. H. Anderson of 714 West Lexington avenue, who is an intimate friend of Howard A. Knevels, for many years proprietor of a book and stationery store in this city, now of Manassas, Va., is in receipt of a letter from Mr. Knevels which contains the following statement of interest to the many friends of Mr. and Mrs. Knevels here:

"I am in the kind of work I enjoy. I have charge of about 100 acres of orchard three miles north of Manassas. I live in Manassas and go to the farm each day when the weather permits. I am my own boss and have a snap. The Ben Lomond farm is owned by F. W. Bruch of Cleveland, O. It consists of about 2,000 acres with quite a village of buildings and more going up. A $10,000 dairy barn was built last year. Two tractor sand 20 horses and mules are used and about 15 to 20 people are employed. A dairy of 80 cows is kept going, the milk being taken to Washington each morning. We have a dairy maid who has charge of the  milk business and she is scientific -- even prescribes the feed for each cow according to the milk she is expected to give.

On Edge of Battlefield.

"It is quite an interesting experience to me. Enjoy the whole business. We are located on the edge of the Bull Run battlefield. Bull Run goes through the farm. The old, big house, built similar to Mount Vernon, was used as a hospital in the time of those battles. People frequently pick up old shells, bullets and bayonets.

"I have an offer to take charge of 400 acres of mountain orchard next year in addition to what I have now. Those orchards will be seven years planted next year and are bearing considerable fruit this year. Thirteen hundred acres of apple orchard at the top of the Blue Ridge is some orchard. If I go to this orchard next year I shall live near there. It is near Markham, Va."

The letter is accompanied by a photograph of "our home." It shows a large, two story and attick structure with porches and surrounded by numerous shade trees.

Sunday's Obituary: John U. Detrick

Richmond Times Dispatch
3 December 1916

John U. Detrick

[Special to the Times-Dispatch]

MANASSAS, VA., December 2 - John U. Detrick, for many years a resident of Dumfries, Prince William County, died of apoplexy on Wednesday at his home, near New Market, Md. He was about fifty-eight years old, and leaves a daughter, Miss Jane Detrick, of New Market, Md.; a son, Dr. Fred Detrick, of New York; a brother, Will Detrick, and two sisters, Misses Lillie and Katherine Detrick, both of Baltimore, Md.

Manassas Journal

1 December 1916

Death of Mr. Detrick

Former Resident of Dumfries Expires Suddenly in New Market, Md.

John U. Detrick, a prominent business man and farmer, died of apoplexy Wednesday at his home near Near Market, Md. He was about 58 years old.

Mr. Detrick, a native of Maryland, made his home at Dumfries, this county, for seven or eight years, returning to Maryland about three years ago.

He was twice married. Surviving relatives are his daughter, Miss Jane Detrick, of New Market, Md.,; his son, Dr. Fred Detrick, of New York; his brother, Mr. Will Detrick, and two sisters, Misses Lillie and Katherine Detrick, all of Baltimore.