Legends of Loudoun: An account of the history and homes of a border county of Virginia's Northern NeckWilliams, Harrison
History
Legends of Loudoun: An account of the history and homes of a border county of Virginia's Northern Neck
Williams, Harrison
Historic buildings -- Virginia -- Loudoun County; Loudoun County (Va.) -- History
The profession of the law was followed in Leesburg by Richard Henderson,
Burr William Harrison, L. P. W. Balch (who was also secretary of the
school board) and John K. Mines. Dr. J. Clapper practiced medicine at
Hillsboro "where he may be found at Mr. Hough's tavern," we trust not
indicating undue conviviality of the gentleman's disposition. There was
ample accomodation for travellers, their servants and horses. Enos
Wildman announced that he had lately acquired the Eagle Tavern, formerly
run by W. Austen;[140] while Samuel M. Edwards presided at the "Leesburg
Hotel & Coffee House" which he had recently purchased from Mr. H. Peers
and which was "situated on the main street leading from Winchester to
Alexandria, George Town and the City of Washington." Yet another tavern
was operated by one "Mr. Foley" and, as we have seen, there were
boarding-houses as well. Their bars were stocked without difficulty, for
Lewis Mix & Co. had a distillery near the mouth of Sugar Land Run and
called for rye, corn and oats.
[140] 20th Jan., 1818.
But perhaps the most impressive picture painted by these old
advertisements is that of the teeming industrial and commercial life of
the town. It was still, happily, the age of the handicraftsman; the
machinery age was yet to come. Transportation was uncertain and slow,
and country towns largely produced the furniture, tools, clothing and
other needed articles for their own inhabitants and those of their
surrounding communities. The variety of the activities of the artisans
and merchants of the Leesburg of that day paralleled those of other
similar towns throughout the nation. John Carney had a "Boot & Shoe
manufactory" which was conveniently located "on King street, next door
to Messrs. Humphreys and Conrad and immediately opposite the Court
House." In advertising his wares, he added that he wished to take on two
or three apprentices of from thirteen to fifteen years of age. He had a
business rival in William King, who conducted a similar activity and
confidently announced that he had "some of the first rate workmen in the
State."
Hats were made and sold by Jacob Martin "at his shop opposite the
market house" who duly proclaimed "a very large assortment of hats on
hand from the first quality to those of lowest prices; including a large
assortment of Good Wool Hats, likewise some Morocco Caps."
If the Loudoun citizen of President Monroe's day needed the services of
a tailor, they were made available by Thomas Russel whose business
apparently flourished; for he advertised for "one or two journeymen
taylors to whom constant employ and the best wages will be given." He
also sought one or two apprentices to learn his craft.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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