PWCo Items: Manassas is still pushing ahead... (1871)

Alexandria Gazette (Va.)
12 June 1871

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA. -- Correspondence of the Fairfax News.

Manassas, May 27. -- Manassas is still pushing ahead and is about three times the place it was in 1869. A new Baptist Church is now going up and is nearly completed, in the grove belonging to Mrs. E. E. Johnson. The Presbyterians and Episcopalians intend to build churches during the coming summer. The Episcopalians and Baptists, at present, worship in the new Methodist Episcopal Church.

Several new buildings have gone up during the Spring and Winter, and among them a fine brick freight depot, and we are promised a brick passenger depot during the Summer.

Our public school system is in full blast. We have a Graded school under able teachers, and it is the intention of the Trustees to have a school where any Academical branches can be taught.

At the election Thursday last, this Township voted a 4 1/2 mill tax, and a poll tax, of 50 cts for public schools; every Township in the county carried the tax, except Coles, where it was lost by one vote. In Manassas, where the Trustees asked for the heaviest tax, the tax received the heaviest vote. Anson Bangs, of New York city, who is probably the largest owner of real estate in the county, happened to be in Dumfries at the time of the election, and not only favored the school tax, but offered $100 extra from his private purse.

The somewhat famous "Lewis Robinson suit," brought by a colored man against four of the late officers of the county, appointed under military authority, were tried at the May Circuit Court, and resulted in the discomfiture of Lewis. The suits were nine in number, and were brought for damages to the amount of $17,000, against Messrs. Baldwin and Ketchum, late magistrates, Mr. Herrick, a deputed constable, and Mr. Round, late Commonwealth's Attorney. His Honor Judge Keith instructed the jury that it would be a violation of their oaths to give the slightest weight to political or sectional prejudice, and if he thought any juror would be influenced by such motives, he would send him to jail. These trials have been an expense to the county, and have done nothing for the county but retard immigration and keep out capital.

The crops in this section are looking the finest I have seen for years.

M. J. 

 

PWCo Items: 20 September 1869

Alexandria Gazette (VA)
20 September 1869

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA. ITEMS -- Since our last mention of the improvements about Manassas, there have been several others commenced. Mr. A. Z. Phillips, Mr. L. B. Butler, Col. P. B. Stilson, Mr. Bernard Bryant, and Mr. Wm. Hickson, are all building themselves dwellings, besides other of our citizens are building additions, and otherwise improving their premises.  We also learn that some of our capitalists expect to soon engage in the manufacture of articles now in great demand in this and other portions of the country, there being an abundance of raw material in this county.

The Masonic Fraternity in this place is prospering finely; and is bidding fair to become a large lodge. We understand they intend putting up a three story building, the third to be used by the order, the second to be fitted up for offices and the first or ground floor for stores. District Deputy Grand Master George R. Head, of Leesburg, is here and visited the Lodge last night.

The long continued drought has had the effect of drying up many of the smaller streams causing owners of stock a little inconvenience in procuring a sufficient amount of water. At Manassas, although none of the wells have failed, yet the water in some has become so low that the owners have been compelled to get water for their stock elsewhere. 

Mr. Wm. A. Ketchum, is engaged in building a residence on his farm near Brentsville. -- Col. Snow, who owns a beautiful farm near Nokesville Station, on the Orange & Alexandria R. R., is engaged in rebuilding his residence which was destroyed during the war.

Mr. Seymour Johnson of the firm of Buckingham and Johnson, who purchased the farm of Col. H. W. Cunningham, arrived here a few days ago from Wyoming county, New York, having travelled the distance, 350 miles, in eleven days, with their team loaded with furniture. They have commenced work at their new home, and will get full possession the first of October.

Messrs. E. F. Pickett, James E. Pickett and Philip Smith, three young men of this county, left here on Tuesday for the West. We should prefer they remained here and help to build up the waste places of old Prince William.

Cannon, McLean & Co., sold last Saturday, 827 acres of land near Gainesville, the property of Dr. Beverly Buckner of Louisiana, to Mr. Wm. Brown, of Alexandria, for $3,875.

~Manassas Gazette

Sunday's Obituary: Chap Steel / Jason Ketcham

Alexandria Gazette
17 February 1875

FROZEN TO DEATH. -- An old man living in Prince William county, near Burke's Station, named Chap Steel, is reported to have been found dead and frozen stiff in his house a day or two ago.  He lived alone.




Alexandria Gazette
16 November 1874

On Friday morning, November 13th, 1874, at his residence, in Manassas, of bilious intermittent fever, Mr. Jason Ketcham, aged 51 years.

Newspaper Tidbit: PWCo Item: May 15, 1875

Alexandria Gazette
15 May 1875

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY ITEMS.

Geo. W. Abel was seriously injured on Monday last by the falling of a blundering horse. He was on his way from Occoquan, where heh resides, and has been employed as ferryman, and when near Cedar Run bridge the horse he was riding fell, turning a complete summersault, throwing its rider over its head and falling upon him, the pummel of the saddle striking him in the pit of the stomach. The fall so stunned the horse that it laid on Mr. Able until it was pulled off but Mr. A. was up and walking about the next day.

On Thursday of last week as Mr. Joseph B. Reid was driving from Brentsville to Bristoe Station in his buggy, the horse coming in contact with the ox team of Mr. W. A. Ketcham, threw Mr. Reid out of the buggy, who, falling upon his head received very painful injuries. Mr. John H. Butler who was in the buggy with Mr. Reid jumped out as soon as the horse started, and was not hurt.

The attendance at the Circuit Cour was smaller than usual, though quite a large amount of business was done.  ~ Manassas Gazette