PWCo Items: 24 November 1873

Alexandria Gazette
24 November 1873

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY ITEMS. -- [From the Manassas Gazette]

Mr. Matthew Woodyard, of Brentsville, a few weeks ago lost a grown son, then a valuable horse, then a son nearly severed a foot while chopping wood, and now we learn that Mr. Woodyard himself, while putting on a load of wood last week, had one of his legs broken by falling with a stick of wood which he was carrying to the wagon. Mr. W. is an industrious and hard-working man, and has a large family to support.

Mr. John Alexander, who purchased a farm in this county a few months ago, arrived here with his wife on the first of this month from Leelenaw county, Michigan. The contrast of the climate there and here may well be imagined when he informed us that he left snow 12 inches deep.

Mr. George Trimmer has sold the farm on which he lives, near this place, consisting of 241 acres, attached to which is a tolerable good saw and grist mill, to L. G. Prescott, of New Hampshire, for $2,650.

As the north-bound train was moving off a few evenings ago a saucy and unmannerly Miss deliberately squirted a mouthful of water in a man's face, who stood on the platform, and to add insult to injury, laughed at the fun.

Snow fell here to the depth of five inches Monday last, and commenced again on Tuesday about ten o'clock and continued at intervals during the day.

A large number of fruit trees have been received at this place from several different nurseries, but the weather has not been very propitous for planting them.

Judging from the number offered for sale in this village, wild turkeys must be plentiful this season. The price ranges from 75 cents up to $1.50 apiece.

The snow storm on Monday last put a stop to telegraph operations in this section by the breaking down of nearly all the wires.

Mr. John Varns, of the Manassas Hotel, was eighty years of age on the 19th inst. He is hale and hearty.

Newspaper Tidbit: PWCo Items (19 August 1872)

Alexandria Gazette
19 August 1872

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY ITEMS - [From the Manassas Gazette.] -- Jas. B. Sener, Radical candidate for Congress in the first Congressional District, and W. W. Douglass, elector on the Grant ticket, announced that they will speak at Brentsville on the next court day, Monday, September 2d.

A singular phenomenon was noticed at Brentsville on the night of August 10. During the rain the moon broke through the clouds in the west and there appeared in the east, spanning the entire heavens, a beautiful rainbow which remained there for fully half an hour.

A picnic will be given near Brentsville on Tuesday the 2d inst., which, judging from the names of the managers, will be one of the most pleasant affairs of the season.

Mr. Frank Cannon has sold about 5,000 railroad ties for the Danville extention.  These ties were purchased for the Fredericksburg railroad, but were not taken, and have been on hand some time.

A race was run on Tuesday last at Manassas between a sorrel colt owned by H. B. Varns and a sorrel mare owned by C. L. Hynson. Mr. Varns' colt was entered by C. A. Cannon and Mr. Hynson's mare by Wm. E. Goodwin. The distance was 940 yards. The race was won by the colt, beating the mare ten feet.  The stake was $120.

Application for Citizenship: James Jenkyn Davies (5 May 1874)

The path to citizenship was a fairly simple, straightforward process in 19th century Prince William County.  Take the following 1874 application by J. J. Davies, presented before the court 5 May 1874:

Virginia to Wit: 

Appeared before me D. W. Whiting a justice in and for Prince William County, Harvey B. Varns, and after being sworn, testified that he is acquainted with James J. Davies, now of Brentsville, and knows him the said James J. Davies to have been a resident of the United States for five years. 

Given under my hand this 5th day of May 1874. 

D. W. Whiting

Know someone in the county who can verify you've lived in the U.S. at least 5 years?  Citizenship granted!

In "District of Columbia Births and Christenings, 1830-1955" database (familysearch.org), James Jenkyn Davies of England is cited as the father of an unnamed son on 10 October 1887.  His wife, Mildred Hawes Thornton, is a Virginia native. 

[Thank you to Ron Turner for sharing this find from the loose papers of the Prince William County archives.]

Newspaper Tidbit: PWCo Items

Alexandria Gazette

15 September 1873

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY ITEMS - [From the Manassas Gazette] - One of the most pleasant affairs that has ever occurred in this place came off on Tuesday night last at the Manassas Hotel, it being the occasion of a birth day party given Miss Rachie Varns, daughter of the proprietor of the hotel.  A large and fashionable gathering of invited friends were present to do honor to the occasion and the evening was spent amid enchanting music and dancing.

A tournament and ball will be given at Manassas on the 18th inst.; also, one at Centreville on the 15th inst., both under the auspices of the colored fraternity.

A sharp and spicy discussion took place on Saturday last at Trenness', between G. W. Larkin and E. E. Meredith, candidates for Commonwealth's attorney.

We regret to learn the death at his home in Lesurur, Minn, on the 7th inst., of George D. Snow, esq., eldest son of Col. Wm. R. Show of this county.

It is the first time since we have known Manassas that we have heard the hum of that annoying insect, the mosquito.

A basket pic nic will be held in a grove near A. T. Marshall's on the 20th inst.

Chills and fevers are very prevalent in and around Manassas.