Yes: Then I was a lad in New Market and working in a dry goods store, placed there by my guardian, for I was only five years old when my father died. I was dressed as men now dress, with vest, pants, and frock coat. The counter in the storeroom was just the height to reach the top button of my vest, so you see I must have been quite a small lad. We boys at that day knew nothing of knee breeches with long stockings running above the knees, with blouse, etc., as top gear.

I remember too the old men (I thought them old) would come in the store and discuss farming, talk about the fattening of cattle, raising wheat, corn, oats, and sowing clover, and the spreading of Peruvian guano and plaster over the clover. Clover then was the thing to improve the land. Phosphate, as we now know it, was then unknown, everything was barnyard manure and Peruvian guano and manure. How well I remember when old Dr. Rice, Samuel Moore, old Mr. Johnny Strayer, Dr. Williamson, Rev. Rude and old Mr. Zach Shirley, Mr. Jacob Price and the Zirkles and the Rosenbergers of Rockingham county and some of the Henkels would congregate, not all at the same time, but at different times would gather and talk over the various things relating to farming and stock raising. Frequently the Windles would come in and then the subject was horses. There was Uncle Wash Windle and Pete as he was called. These were the principal horse talkers, and always held up that end of the conversation. I was a mere lad, but took notice of these things which were afterwards used to my profit.

Then there were the town folks. Among them old Mr. Samuel Tidler, the Maloneys, Mr. Jacob Clinedinst, who was in the height of his business as a builder of all kinds of carriages and vehicles, etc. The Tidler hat was a great commodity at that time, and was sold everywhere. The hats were almost indestructible as many a New Market boy would be able to testify when used in fighting bees' nests. Then there was the Henkel store, or Noah's Ark, as it was then called. For you could get anything you wanted there from the smallest toy for a child up to the largest farming implements then in use. Then there was the Henkel drug store, (but drug stores as now known were then unknown), where you could get anything you desired to cure colic, toothache, and any other complaint - many of which were home manufactured.

There were the McDaniels who were a factor in their line at that time.

The Burkes had charge of and run the stage line, the only means of travel in this section, as railroads had not yet been built.

There was old uncle Tom Read, our Sunday-school teacher, whom we boys had nick-named, "Didymus;" and Mr. Fenimore who was a buddy of Mr. Read, and they were the "dandies" in their day, but as good men as ever breathed. Mr. Hunton was also in their class, but of a more pious temperament. Mr. Abe Neff, the man whom all the boys loved so well, who had a nick-name for every boy in town, such as "Top" who worked in his store, Daddy, Stoney, Betsey, and many others I now fail to remember.

There was Mr. Ferdinand Zeiler, the watch fixer, and also an electrician; for I know full well I went to his shop one day, and he asked me to take hold of two handles, and he turned on the connection with the battery, and I squirmed and twisted, and if I had been a man, I would have licked him then, but I was only a boy.

There was old Mr. Henry Guard, the wagon-maker, a good man who attended to his own business, and let others alone - a very good trait for anyone.

Old Mr. Spitzer, the sexton of the lower Lutheran church, was as good a man as ever lived, and a devout Christian, whose word was as good as his bond. Also Mr. Wm. F. Rupp, fresco painter, who did fine work, and was a good man.

The Wickes who lived at the lower end of town. A chair and cabinetmaker who was familiarly known as "Billy," was toll-gate keeper, and a great local politician, a Democrat to the core, and always in a good humor with pleasantries for all.

Mr. Lige Coffman who made our clay pots was always ready with an answer to every question you might ask him.

There was Mr. Jake and Jacky Spreaker, tanners, who were good people, and men of whom I was very fond.

Mr. Moses Zirkle, a good Christian man was he; and my old friend, tried and true, Jonas Bodell. He and I travelled together, and were always of the best temper to one another, and he always in a good humor.

The Rev. Jacob Stirewalt, I knew well. He was a good neighbor; and many times did he give me wholesome advice as a boy, which I have never forgotten.

I attended the church of which Dr. Socrates Henkel was pastor, and he always knew me when I afterwards visited New Market, and greeted me with kind words which I always appreciated. He was a devoted man to his church.

Well do I remember when I used to go to the lower church, then known as Rev. Cline's church, where we always heard good and wholesome sermons which made impressions that were lasting, even until now. I recall a circumstance that occurred between him and Rev. Rude, a preacher of his own church, but serving then at Mt. Jackson. The latter visited New Market and Rev. Cline said to him, "Well, Brother Rude, what is the news." His reply was, "Nothing but dam talk." "Tut! Tut!" said Rev. Cline. Rev. Rude replied, "You know all the mill dams have washed away." There was quite a big rain that had caused considerable damage, but not like the floods of '70 and '73.

There was Mr. Jacob Summers, the tinner, who kept the apprentice boys working right along. His only daughter Mary married Col. Samuel Walker, a Confederate soldier, who was killed at Chancellorville. We must not overlook our old friends from the country - "Uncle Mosey" Kipps and his pipe, and Samuel Harshberger with his tuning fork, used in leading the choir, nor must we forget Baker Hupp.

Then, too, there were Miss Harriet Little and Miss Lizzie Rutter, two busy, remarkable women.

If I have left out any of the older set, I don't know it, and hope their progeny will excuse me, for it is a failure of memory, and not that I have forgotten any of them at heart.

Now, let me remember the boys as I knew them then. There was Will Hunton, John Read, Sid Rice, Jake Rice, Johnnie go Clinedinst, Ed Guard, John, Charles, and Geo. Phillips, and many others among them, Casper and Lem Zirkle, and I can never forget my old friend Lou Spitzer, who left one night on the stage for Winchester where he took the train for the west, and finally located in California. We were close friends, and I am pleased to know that he has become one of the prominent men in his county, still retaining the principles of his father, a true Democrat, and yet a conservative with it all.

There were the Wickes boys, who went to Missouri and did well. Yes, there was Wash Tidler who also went west and did well. Ed Guard also went west. I had the pleasure of seeing him a few years ago, and found him the same old Ed, as jovial as ever.

I left New Market and went to Highland county, and was there for several years when the war came on. I then joined the New Market battery, and we landed at Beverly, Randolph county, W. Va, then still in old Virginia.

In the near future, I will give you a sketch of the campaigns through which we passed for four long weary years, leading up to the surrender at Appomatox.

Yours,
A Lad in New Market
More than Fifty Years Ago.
December, 1910.

[From an old newspaper clipping found among the papers of Lewis Amiss Spitzer.]