Recollections of Onancock, Part II

Several weeks ago we carried in this column the recollections of a citizen of Onancock of the period about 1850. The second and last installment is as follows:

Capt. William Hopkins, though dying when comparatively a young man, had for several years prior to his death, developed qualities of superior business capacity; was well informed in the political literature of his day and a man of strong individuality. He was the father of Messrs. Edward W. and Robert L. Hopkins, now active members of the firm of Hopkins & Bro.

There was another brother, Stephen Hopkins, Jr., who died sometime between '80 and '90, in the town, but whether he was ever an actual member of the firm or not we do not know; he was for several years in the store. The Mrs. Lititia Hopkins mentioned above is his widow; he left only one child, Mr. Stephen Upshur Hopkins, now a member of the corps of engineers of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Across Market street from the Rew & Johnson store was that of Mr. John D. Tyler, whose storehouse then stood very near, if not on the same site as that of Mr. Walter D. Lewis at this time. Mr. Tyler did business there for a long term of years; always carrying a large, well selected stock of goods, enjoying a liberal share of the public patronage; was an active member of the M.E. Church, and by his exemplary walks of life had the respect of the public. He had a brother in the store with him by the name of Thomas, who was popularly known as Capt. Thomas Tyler.

Near where Mr. Custis' saloon now stand, then stood the store of Samuel C. White & Son. Mr. White then owned and lived at what is now known as Margaret Academy," and with the exception of the house where Mrs. Custis lives, we do not recall a single residence or public building of any character after leaving Tyler's store till reaching Mr. White's gate. And, at that time, and for years after, none of the offices and beautiful residences, nor the Episcopal Church had then been built or were projected.

Going from White's store toward the creek on the same side of the street was the cabinet shop of Mr. P. A. Leatherbury, after passing which there was no other building of a public character. "Scott Hall" was then the residence of Dr. Thos. P. Bagwell, the father of Gen. E. R. Bagwell, whose cenotaph now stands in the public square not far from the Fosque store-house.

The present M. E. Church had not then been rebuilt and was a single story unpretentious structure. Coming up the street near where Mrs. Broughton's store now is, stood the shoe shop of Mr. James Carmine, who for years prior, and subsequent to this time, had been a prominent figure in the make up of the town.

We do not recall any other building after leaving Mr. Carmine's residence on that side of the street til reaching the old hotel property, long since torn down; then, or soon thereafter, occupied by a Mr. James Fox. The present hotel of Mr. W. C. West nor its predecessor which was burned down, had not been thought of, and were not in contemplation for years afterwards.

Across North street, from the Rew & Johnson store stood a small store-house side to the street; it is not now positively remembered, but a faint recollection impels us to the conclusion that it was called Dix's store. About this, however, we are by no means positive, for it was not many years thereafter, before our friend, Capt. Johnson and his son-in-law, Mr. Geo. W. Powell, now deceased, and known to many of your readers, removed the old store house and replaced it by the one at present occupied by Powell & Waples.

We have a vivid recollection of the building of this house, for the reasons that it was the beginning of the new departure in building store houses large enough in which to show the whole stock of goods without cramming them under the counters and in by-places where they were never seen by the public unless called for. This house at the time of its building, was probably the largest store-house in the two counties, and Mr. Geo W. Powell soon thereafter made for himself (which followed him through life) the reputation of being one of the best merchants the county ever produced. It was about this time as a boy, we made the acquaintance of Mr. Henry Powell, which has ripened into friendship, and journeyed with us both hitherto, down the stream of time. He was then clerk in his brother George's store.

There were then no buildings that are now remembered, after leaving Powell's store till reaching the "Kerr Place," now the residence of Mrs. Margaret Powell, unless it was the Temperance Hall, the present law office of Mr. Stewart K. Powell. At that time "Kerr Place" was owned and occupied by Col. Edward S. Snead, who died some time about March, 1853, and is buried at "Scott Hall." He was a man of many noble traits of character and prominent member of the Protestant Episcopal Church. He was the father of the late Judge Edward K. and Dr. John Dennis Snead, both of whom died in Onancock many years ago.

There were then no buildings of any character on the street after leaving Col. Snead's residence till reaching an old Bayne house which stood in the field, end toward the road, fifty to seventy-five yards therefrom, near a wild cherry tree, but as we recollect it, no one lived in it.

None of the buildings from the Methodist Church, South, eastward were then there. "Kerr Place" was one solid body of farm land, containing several hundred acres in a good state of cultivation, well supplied with everything requisite to enable the proprietor to measure up to the standard of the Virginia gentleman.

At the beginning we mentioned Mr. Raymond Riley. When we first knew him he was clerk in the store of Mr. Henry Parker, his brother-in-law. Early during the war between the States, Mr. Riley and his brother-in-law, Mr. Charles Snead, now deceased, whom we all called "Charlie," were engaged in the mercantile business in the same Parker store-house, but our recollection is that they soon retired from business succeeded by Capt. Wm. Finney and John M. Fosque, Jr., both of whom are long since deceased.

Much more might be said of several worthy men who have passed away that contributed largely to the history of Onancock, but from fear of being monotonous we here stop.