100 Years Ago Today: Candidate Cards

Manassas Journal
06 April 1923

CANDIDATES' CARDS

-----------------------------------------

For Commissioner of Revenue

To the Democratic Voters of Prince William  County:
   I hereby announce myself a candidate for the office of Commissioner of the Revenue, District No. 1, of Prince William county, subject to the Democratic Primary of August 7, 1923. If elected, I promise to discharge faithfully the duties of the office. I feel sure I can render more efficient service in the coming than in the preceding term, as my past experience will mean a great deal to the people of the county.

Respectfully yours, R. M. WEIR
45-te

-----------------------------------------

For Commissioner of the Revenue

To the Democratic Voters of Prince William County:
   I hereby announce myself a candidate for Commissioner of the Revenue, District No. 1, subject to the Democratic Primary of August 7, 1923.

BAILY TYLER
45-e

-----------------------------------------

For Supervisor

To the Democratic Voters of Prince William County:
   I hereby announce myself a candidate for Supervisor of Gainesville District, subject to the Democratic Primary of August 7, 1923.

ROLFE ROBERTSON
45-te

-----------------------------------------

For Supervisor

To the Democratic Voters of Prince William County:
   I hereby announce myself a candidate for Supervisor of Gainesville District, subject to the Democratic Primary of August 7, 1923.

R. A. RUST

-----------------------------------------

For Sheriff

I hereby announce myself a candidate for re-election to the office of sheriff of Prince William county, subject to the democratic primary. If elected, I shall retain my present deputy.

CHAS. A. BARBEE

-----------------------------------------

For Sheriff

At the solicitation of my friends, I announce myself a candidate for the office of sheriff of Prince William county, subject to the democratic primary to be held in August, and hereby make an appeal for your support. If elected to the important office, I will give it my undivided attention.

Respectfully, BERNARD C. SMITH

PWCo Item: Two New Tractors Ordered by County

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
25 December 1930

TWO NEW TRACTORS ORDERED BY COUNTY

Prince William Supervisors Authorize Purchase of Road Equipment

Special Dispatch to the Star.

   MANASSAS, Va., December 25. -- Two new tractors will be added to the equipment used in Prince William County road work, the Board of Supervisors Tuesday authorizing H. L. Tubbs, superintendent of roads, to buy two caterpillar tractors of the type No. 15.

The Board also heard the opposition to the closing of the road from the J. D. Crenshaw residence in an easterly direction to Yates Ford road, the abandonment of which had been recommended by a board of viewers, consisting of E. R. Conner, Charles B. Evans and J. S. Evans. The matter was again referred to the viewers for further report and consideration of a change of location as proposed by Martin D. Lynch, whose property borders on the road, and who represented citizens who claimed that to close the road would work a hardship and inconvenience to them. The protestants suggested that a relocation of the road be considered from Centerville road to Yates road. 

W. M. Johnson, John B. House, A. B. Carr, A. O. McLearen and W. H. Herndon were appointed a commission to view and make just compensation for land to be taken in relocating the road from Seymours Corner to Keys Corner in the Brentsville district, objection having been made to the report of the viewers.

The board disposed of many routine matters and approved numerous bills for payment by the county treasurer. Supervisors present at the meeting were J. Lindsay Dawson, chairman, Occoquan; Rolfe Robertson, Gainesville; J. W. Merchant, Dumfries; C. R. Earhart, Coles; D. E. Earhart, Brentsville, and C. C. Lynn, Manassas District.

[Unfortunately, H(erbert) L. Tubbs would later be killed when one of the county tractors "turned over on him" as he was working. ~cgl]

Newspaper Tidbit: Industrial Commission Decrees Prince William Liable

Richmond Times Dispatch (Va)
26 March 1932

INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION DECREES PRINCE WILLIAM LIABLE IN TUBBS' DEATH

A county cannot evade its responsibility under the workmen's compensation act by electing its employees instead of hiring them, the State Industrial Commission held yesterday in an opinion handed down by Commissioner C. G. Kizer.

The case was that of Mrs. Bessie R. Tubbs and other dependents of the late H. L. Tubbs of Prince William County.  Tubbs was killed while in the employ of the Prince William board of supervisors, when a tractor turned over on him.

His dependents sought to recover from the county, but the county claimed that Tubbs had been elected by the board, and hence did not come under the terms of the workmen's compensation law.

Commissioner Kizer held yesterday, however, that "to sustain the contention of the defendant would mean the annulment of the provisions of the workmen's compensation act in thousands of cases."

Such a contention, he added, could be made to apply to janitors, teamsters and all others who do work of a laborious character, and would be a clear evasion of a law which has been on the statute books for more than twelve years.

[Herbert L. Tubbs (1874-1932) was elected Superintendent of Roads, and is buried in Cannon Branch Cemetery beside his wife, Bessie (1882-1970). ~cgl]

PWCo Items - 19 July 1875

Alexandria Gazette (VA)
19 July 1875

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY ITEMS. -- John Lynch, a member of the 43d Congress, from Maine, purchased at Trustee's sale on Thursday last a tract of land situate about two miles from this place known as "Fairview" containing 115 acres, having upon it a fine brown stone quarry, and well watered.

The bridge across Cedar run at Brentsville having suddenly become in an unsafe condition temporary repairs are being made to it. It is said it was damaged by the passage of a dozen cattle across it.

The Board of Supervisors at their meeting this week, levied for county purposes, fifteen cents on the hundred dollars of property.

James W. Carr has sold his farm at Bristoe station containing 210 acres to a Mr. French of Lycuming county, Pa.

A little child of Mr. Halpenny, near Bristoe fell on an axe on Wednesday last and cut his head very severely. 

-- Manassas Gazette

Friday's Faces from the Past: G. C. Russell

Manassas Journal

6 July 1939

Grover Cleveland Russell

Merchant and lumberman of Bethel, who recently announced that he is a candidate for renomination to the office which he now holds, that of supervisor of Occoquan District, to which he was elected four years ago.

A news story concerning Mr. Russell's candidacy was in last week's Journal and his political card is also appearing currently.

Sunday's Obituary: William Peyton Larkin (1930)

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
5 November 1930

JUDGE OF ELECTION DIES WHILE SEATED IN POLLING PLACE

Wellington, VA., November 5 -- William Peyton Larkin, prominent farmer of Prince William County, died here yesterday while sitting in the polling place where he was one of the judges of election.  Mr. Larkin had not felt well for several days, but arose at his usual hour on Tuesday morning and went to the polls, where he was stricken with a heart attack while talking with the other election officials and died instantly.

Mr. Larkin was a brother of James R. Larkin, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, who died in Manassas on October 17, and had been prominent in county activities for many years.  He was born in Lynchburg, Va., on February 21, 1869, and had been a resident of the county since 1890.

Surviving are the widow, Mrs. Lucy Adams Larkin; two sons, Peyton of Manassas and Lucien of Wellington; five daughters, Mrs. W. S. Brower (Elizabeth) of Catharpin, Mrs. Paul Bieber (Lucy) of Washington, D.C.; Misses Natalie, Lucretia and Maud of Wellington; a brother, Norvel Larkin, Manassas, and two sisters, Mrs. C. M. Larkin and Mrs. J. T. Ashford, Manassas.

Funeral rites will be conducted at Trinity Episcopal Church, Manassas, on Thursday, November 6, at 3 p.m., with Rev. A. Stuart Gibson, rector, officiating. Burial will be in the Manassas Cemetery.

Sunday's Obituary: Latham / Metzger / Renoe / Speaks

Richmond Times
22 May 1909

METZGER A SUICIDE

Wealthy Farmer Throws Himself in Front of Train

Manassas, Va., May 21 -- William Metzger, seventy-four years of age, one of the most prosperous farmers and largest land owners of this county, committed suicide near his home yesterday by throwing himself in front of a Southern Railway train.

Mr. Metzger arose early in the morning, and after telling his wife that, as no one cared for him, she would not see him again alive, left the house. Mrs. Metzger, thoroughly alarmed, aroused the hands on the farm and sent them in search of her husband. They found the dead body near the railway track.

Mr. Metzger lived on a splendid farm near Wood[b]ridge.




Richmond Times Dispatch
21 August 1908

FARMER SUICIDES

Joseph Speaks, of Manassas, Despondent, Shoots Himself

Manassas, Va., August 20 -- Mr. Joseph Speaks, a respected farmer of this county, living about two miles from Manassas, committed suicide at  his home this morning by shooting himself with a shotgun. The entire load took effect in the right side and death was almost instantaneous. Mr. Speaks had been in ill health for some time past. He was very despondent, and his act is attributed to the condition of his health.




Augusta Chronicle (Georgia)
8 January 1909

Virginian Found Dead.

Manassas, Va., Jan. 7 -- Carroll Latham, a member of the board of supervisors of Prince William county, was found dead in his room today shot through the heart. Whether death was the result of an accident or suicide is not yet definitely known, though the latter theory prevails.




Richmond Whig
3 July 1855

SHOT HIMSELF. -- William Rennoe, residing near Brentsville, Prince William county, shot himself last week, and died soon afterwards.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. By dialing 1-800-273-TALK(8255), the call is routed to the nearest crisis center in our national network of more than 150 crisis centers. The Lifeline’s national network of local crisis centers provide crisis counseling and mental health referrals day and night.

PUBLIC HEARING: Re Disinterment of the Norman/Lynn Cemetery at the Coles Firehouse

NOTICE:  PUBLIC HEARING

Norman/Lynn Cemetery at the Coles Firehouse in Independent Hill

There will be a Public Hearing on September 8, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. before the Prince William County Board of County Supervisors for comments on the possible disinterment of the graves beside the Coles Firehouse in Independent Hill.

The Hearing will be in the Board of Supervisors Chambers in the James J. McCoart Administration Building, 1 County Complex Ct., Woodbridge, VA 22192.  (This is the brick building in the County Complex.)

Because of the cost of the proposed new firehouse, compared to the cost of alternatives, the vote of the Board of Supervisors is predisposed toward disinterment of the Norman/Lynn Cemetery situated in the lot immediately beside the present firehouse.  It should be noted that the County has been aware of this cemetery since the original firehouse was built.

The Norman/Lynn Cemetery was established at least as early as 1855, with the interment of Charles E. Norman, a local merchant and county magistrate.  It may even be older, with the early demise of two of Charles and Mary Frances (Lynn) Norman’s children who would undoubtedly have been buried in the family cemetery.

A large turnout at the Public Hearing would show the Board of Supervisors that all gravesites – even ones that have been neglected (in this case, by the county itself) – deserve respect and should be allowed to remain undisturbed.  Let our ancestors rest in peace!

Newspaper Tidbit: PWCo Items (1874)

Alexandria Gazette
May 25, 1874

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY ITEMS. [From the Manassas Gazette]

The County Board of Supervisors met on Monday, for the purpose of providing for putting in force the act of the General Assembly for the protection of sheep by a tax on dogs.  It was ordered that the Assessors in the several Townships list all dogs within their several Districts issuing licenses to keep the same, to the owner at a uniform tax of fifty cents per dog; also that whenever the owner of any sheep shall become satisfied that any portion of his flock has been killed or seriously injured  by [d]ogs, he shall apply to the Supervisors or some Justice of his Township, who shall at once proceed to view the sheep so killed or seriously injured, and ascertain what the amount of damage is which has been sustained  by the owner of the sheep and give him a certificate therefor.  The Board agreed that the bounty of forty cents on gray fox scalps, and a bounty of sixty cents on red fox scalps shall be paid out of the dog tax to take effect on and after the 18th day of May.

During the thunderstorm on Saturday last, a large locust tree, in Mr. John T. Leachman's front yard was struck by lightning, tearing it into fragments and throwing the debris on and over the house.  Several members of Mr. Leachman's family were very much shocked.  So great was the shock that articles in the house were thrown down.  The rain was very heavy in that section, raising the streams unusually high, and washing away water gaps fencing & c.  Lightning also struck a tree near the house of Mr. Mankins, a quarter of a mile outside the village, and severely stunned his daughter.

Mr. Samuel Allen, one of the most enterprising citizens of this county, was accidentally killed on Thursday last.  He was at his steam saw mill, on the farm of Mr. John H. Kirby near Independent Hill, and about 4 o'clock in the evening was struck in the stomach with a slab which had be caught by the great saw and thrown from it with tremendous violence.  After undergoing intence [sic] suffering for 14 hours he died at 6 o'clock.

A dog having all the symptoms of hydrophobia was shot by M. F. W. Oakey on Tuesday.  It is rumored that several dogs have been bitten, and it s said the dog was bitten some time since by a dog supposed to be mad, which was killed at the time.

Frank Cole a colored laborer working at the new Presbyterian church in Manassas, while helping to carry a large stone up the gang way on Monday last, fell to the ground a distance of fifteen feet, severely spraining one of his ankles, and receiving other injuries, not however serious.

After the thunder storm on Saturday last, several persons in this community discovered floating on the surface of the water in their rain barrels, a substance which on inspection proved to be a deposit of brimstone.

Mr. F. W. Hutchins has sold to Mr. Thurman of Germanton, Pa., one hundred acres of land near Manassas, improved by a frame dwelling and tolerable out buildings, for $3,000.

The friends of Mr. W. W. Davis will be glad to learn that he is recovering from the severe injuries [h]e received several weeks ago, by being struck to the ground by his horse.

The water in the well of one of our citizens has become so strongly impregnated with coal oil that the family have been compelled to discontinue its use.

We regret to announce the serious illness of Mr. Leonard Lywood, one of our  most useful and highly respected English residents.

The concert at the M. E. Church on Thursday evening the 15th inst., was a most delightful entertainment.

Tombstone Tuesday: James Edward Keys

Woodbine Cemetery, Independent Hill, VA
(photo by C.Lynn)

JAMES EDWARD

KEYS

October 15, 1880

August 7, 1943

James E. Keys served as a Prince William County Supervisor for the Coles Magisterial District from 1924-1927.

Current Affairs: Can You Rest In Peace in PWCo?

On Wednesday, January 8th, the Prince William Committee of 100 hosted a timely forum entitled "Can You Rest in Peace in Prince William County."

Moderated by Charlie Grymes, Chairman, PW Conservation Alliance, the forum panel included (from left to right):

Dr. Bill Olsen, President, Historic Prince William, and member of the PWCo Historic Commission and Cemetery Committee Chairman;

Martin Nohe, Coles District Supervisor (currently serving his third term in office);

Don Wilson, Director of RELIC (Ruth E. Lloyd Information Center), Bull Run Regional Library;

Julie Langan, Acting Director and State Historic Preservation Officer, Virginia Department of Historic Resources ("DHR"); and

Joanna Wilson Green, Archaeology Stewardship and Easements, Office of Preservation Incentives, Virginia Department of Historic Resources.

Prince William County Schools ("PWCS") was invited to send a representative to the forum panel.  Since the first School Board Meeting of 2014 coincided with the forum, PWCS declined due to a scheduling conflict.

The forum was as interesting as it was informative.  Dr. Olsen provided a timeline of the events surrounding the PWCS's discovery and removal of the 100+ year old cemetery on their 12th High School construction site;

Mr. Nohe spoke of the County's limits with regard to cemeteries found on public/County sites and the need for County-level legislation, and what may (or may not) be done to try and prevent the 12th High School graves situation from happening again.   (I should note that a similar situation has already arisen in PWCo, involving the Norman family cemetery behind the Coles Fire House which has plans to expand their facility -- over the cemetery.)

Mr. Wilson spoke of the historical and genealogical detective work conducted by RELIC staff and volunteers to determine the chain of title for the 12th High School site and, ultimately, the identity of the cemetery on the property.  (An especially challenging task, considering RELIC was not informed of exact coordinates or that the title search was meant to determine the identity of a cemetery.)

Ms. Langen and Ms. Green spoke about Virginia Burial Law and the DHR's guidelines with regard the removal of cemeteries in the Commonwealth, the distinction between old or "historic" cemeteries, and what authority DHR has and does not have.

It was learned that on the day of the forum, Delegate Anderson of Richmond submitted a "place holder" Bill to the Richmond Legislature proposing new guidelines and improvements to the cemetery law with regard to the discovery of unmarked/unidentified cemeteries in the Commonwealth.  In its infant stages, DHR, the PWCo Historic Commission, and other interested parties in the name of cemetery preservation will be offering suggestions to hopefully help it become Law.

If you were unable to attend and would like to watch this informative discussion, a video of the forum can be found here.