Hide Article Text (OCR)
1f1tC31fVt3esaaL-.r7ek3-effg3.;ele.ei-le;klerleitl-i©yiehifidisn-le«3-ldofn,es*o. s ur-ae.jwetsidr,8e-ntitexpiration of 19 years his wife departed this life, Nov. 1, 1819. May 21, 1821, he married Elizabeth Anderson, of Wood-stock, Shenandoah county, Va., and three years after his marriage he soldhis home to Solomon Pirkey, who held the office of postmaster until his death. In the spring of 1827 Mr. McGahey moved to his farm, “Bonny Brook,” one mile east of this village, where he lived the life of an independent farmer, andthe landlord of a hotel that was noted throughout the Valley for the urbanity and hospitality of its proprietor. In 1831 he entered the mercantile business which he continued until his death, December, 1813. He has one daughter and two sons still living. He was known by many as “Uncle Toby.”/^Another of the first settlers was Peter Bolinger, of Cumberland, Maryland, who married Rebecca, sister of T. R. M Gahey. They moved to this village about the year 1802, purchased the home now owned by his daughter, Rebecca Bader, and established a brewery—making an article of beer that was noted throughout the Valley for its superior quality. The site of the brewery was where the new dwelling of A. J. Bader now stands. He was 1st Lieutenant of the Rockingham volunteer company, which went by order of the government to the defensive protection of Norfolk, in the war of 1812. He died 1835, and his remains were interred in the Lutheran and Reformed graveyard. The first mill was built by Layman, and was situated where the remains of the woolen factory are now to be seen. It wa9 bought by Jacob Pirkey. His brother,Solomon, then bought the McGahey property, and kept entertainment and a wagon-yard, and frequently twelve or fifteen wagons on their way to or from Richmond or Fredericksburg, would put up the same night. He also had a sawmill on the lot now occupied by Mrs. Bonds. The first store-bouse was built by Jos. Mauzy in 1805, near where the dwelling of J. Baugher now stands; soon after he built the frame building attached to the brick house now owned by Richard Mauzy, and in 1825 he built the brick house. At that time he rode to Baltimore horseback for his goods. The old store was torn down about a year ago and the shingles composing the roof were found to be solid, after remaining on the roof nearly a century. The first hatter shop was opened by Mr. Liggett, grandfather of the present lawyer Liggett, of Harrisonburg, on the lot now owned by G. D. Gilmore. This afterwards passed into the hands of Gilmore in 1828. The first tannery was opened by a Mr. Propst; later it went into possession of David Irick, who was the father of the late A. B. Irick, President of the Ftrst National Bank of Harrisonburg. The first school-house stood just in the rear of Dr. Hammen’s office. The first teacher was a Mr. Bernhardt. His home was where the Rev. I. Conder now lives. Afterwards Geo. Mauzy taught upstairs for a number of years, while he occupied the lower part as a dwelling. Miss Jennetta Conrad was teacher about the year 1832. Next Harrison Jeffries and Joseph Mauzy, son of Michael Mauzy. This old building was also used for warrant trials, elections, and even preaching. The land upon which Jt stood was given to the “Old Church” by Mr. Burner, who owned all the land which had belonged to McGahey southeast of the pike, about the year 1810. Dr. Bashan was the first physician* He located where Wm, Heron now lives. Next was Dr. Thrasher, who located in 1830 on a lot known as the Samuel Lindamood property. The first merchant mill was owned by Mathias Snyder. The farm is now owned by Jesse Bowcock. The store now oc-cupied by C. E. Hammen^was built in 1845 by a Mr. Abbott for a tailor-ehop.The first church, thought by some to have stood where the “Old Church” now stands, and by others to have stood where Mt. Olivet Cemetery is now situated. It was owned by no particular ! sect or denomination, but people camegawiofalHLusitjaiciaitlt\aliCi*lrslt;litiaogvupodtorlitttttvtrtcIri3♦1113j3
Newspaper Details
Harrisonburg Rockingham Register
Harrisonburg, Virginia, US
Fri, May 13, 1898
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
James M.
USA 05 Feb 2022
Other Publications Near Harrisonburg, Virginia
Harrisonburg Republican
Harrisonburg Old Commonwealth
Harrisonburg Evening News
Harrisonburg Daily Independent
Daily News-Record
