The lodge was in its 6th year since it received its initial dispensation on March 14, 1870. 

There were 236 lodges under the Jurisdiction of The Grand Lodge of Virginia. Greenway Court No. 94 was declared extinct at the Grand Annual Communication in December, and its number was reissued to Winterpock Lodge No. 94. The 14^th Masonic District was reduced to six lodges, including Unity Lodge No. 146.

District 14

The lodge was among six Lodges in the 14th Masonic District that encompassed Frederick County, Clarke County, and Warren County. Having 49 Masons, its membership consisted of 18% of the district. The District Deputy Grand Master was S. S. Neil. He was based in Berryville, Clarke county at Treadwell Lodge No. 213 and was unable to visit two lodges in his district due to professional business and sickness in his family. The lodges he visited had small attendance and little or no work being done. No questions of special importance were presented to him. The Charter for Greenway Court Lodge No. 94 was surrendered. He took possession of the books and sold the furniture. The books were reported to be in a state of conflict between what members owed the lodge, who was a member, and what the Lodge had owed members. S. S. Neill had requested a successor being appointed as he had professional duties that conflicted with his ability to visit the lodges. W. S. Love of Winchester was appointed as the DDGM in his place.

Communications

The Lodge gathered on Saturday evening prior, or on the full moon of every month in Fristoe Hall. Fristoe Hall was originally in the Fristoe Hotel and rented from Mr. Fristoe, but had been later renamed to the Mont View Hotel (now known as the Afton Inn) across from the Courthouse on Main Street. On July 21st, a meeting was held in “Union Hall” in the new Public Free School Building. Summonses were advertised in the Warren Sentinel.

January 13 6½ pm ~February 24 March 24 6½ pm April 7 (2nd Degree) 6½ pm Fristoe Hall ~May 26 ~June 23 (or before the 20th)

July 21 7½ pm Union Hall August 18 7½ pm ~September 22 ~October 20 ~November 17 ~December 15

Lodge Officers

Lodge officers were elected in June 1877 during a stated communication. Worshipful Thomas L. Kirby was elected to be Master of the Lodge.

Office	Beginning of Year	June Elections
Worshipful Master	Smith S. Turner	Thomas L. Kirby
Senior Warden	Thomas L. Kirby	John Terrill Lovell
Junior Warden	Thomas M. Roy	William O. Rust
Treasurer	Edward C. Balthis	Edward C. Balthis
Secretary	Wiliam O. Rust	George H. Bowman
Senior Deacon	John G. Brown	John W. Gulley
Junior Deacon	Charles H. Henning	Charles H. Henning
Chaplain	–	–
Tiler	David W. Jones	David W. Jones

Past Masters

Year	Past Master
1877	William O. Rust
1876	Smith S. Turner
1875	Thomas W. Pettee
1874	Thaddeus Haynie
1873	Thaddeus Haynie
	Gabriel H. Hill

Brethren

Angelo, F. M. Ashby, Thomas N. Baker, Ewell Balthis, Edward C. Balthis, William Beaty, Charles H. Bowman, George H. Brown, John G Buck, Edward G. Buck, Irvin A. Buck, J. M. Buck, M. B. Cline, H. C.

Cone, D. Conrad, Thomas K. Cook, Henry L. Davison, William. S. Deatherage, R. Bird Dulaney, J. H. Forsyth, George M. Fuller, William L. Guley, John W. Dr. Haynie, Thaddeus Henning, Charles E. Hill, Gabriel. H.

Hollis, C. W/H Hope, James T. Jones, David W. Kirby, Thomas L. Leach, George W. Leach, Leroy Leach, Thornton V. Lovell, John Terrill Marshall, Robert M. Pettee, Thomas W. Richards, James R. Reizenstein, Herman

Roy, Gibson E. Roy, Thomas M. Roy, W. Scott Rust, William O. Samuels, Green B. Scroggin, William Smith, Julian M. Turner, Smith S. Updike, J. B. Weaver, M. Scott Weaver, William Cass Wharton, H. M.

Two members, J. C. Little, and W. Kerrick had withdrawn. No suspensions were reported for non-payment of dues.

Deaths

Orville Mauzy Buck 

Born on October 25, 1849 in Front Royal, Warren County, Virginia to parents William Mason Buck and Elizabeth Ann Ashby Buck. Orville passed away in the morning at Bel-Air, the residence of his father after years of painful suffering on August 31, 1877 (Aged 27) and laid to rest at Prospect Hill Cemetery.

His father was a wealthy planter with slaves. He was one of 13 children. Two of his brothers had been Confederate soldiers. His sister, Lucy Rebecca Buck, became a famous Civil War Diarist.

His sister, Lucy Rebecca Buck, had two books published from her diaries from December 25, 1861 to April 15, 1865 covering the Civil War in Front Royal:

• 1973: “Sad Earth, Sweet Heaven: The Civil War Diary of Lucy Rebecca Buck”
• 2012: “Shadows of My Heart: The Civil War Diary of Lucy Rebecca Buck”

Thomas “Willie” William Buck

At 32 years of age, Thomas “Willie” William Buck, passed away at “Mountain View” near Front Royal on Wednesday, November 28, 1877. He was the second son of Dr. Isaac N. and Janet U. Buck, born on November 9, 1845. He had four siblings and five half siblings.

William had a mill business where he often advertised for sawing and planning in the local paper, the Warren Sentinel. He created flooring, siding, moldings, brackets, sash and doors with turning made to order. He would offer work in exchange for Poplar, Pine, Chestnut, Walnut, and Ash logs.

A week preceding his death, heavy rains started on November 23, 1877 which resulted in a great flood of the town of Front Royal rising to 44 feet the next day. Many businesses suffered a great deal of damage from the flood, especially Willy having a mill dam on the river. Buck had lost his mill property consisting of a grist mill, saw mill, planing mill, and more estimated to be between three to five thousand dollars at the time (about $88k to $147k in 2024).

Earlier in the year, his wife Mrs. Augusta Catherine Buck Buck had also passed away at her parents house at Belmont, near Front Royal on March 23rd at 24 years of age.

At 17 years of age, Willie served under Captain Robert Preston Chew of Charlestown as a cannoneer with six-pound guns that could be moved with horses quickly along the Potomac. He was captured along with five men by Fourth Corporal George Everley and Newton Kees of Strasburg on September 14, 1863.

Brethren

F. M. Angelo was a manager of the grounds at the Tournament at Howelsville on the field of Wm. P. Hicks in its third year.

Thornton N. Ashby was the secretary of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad and often put advertisements in various local papers (Warren Sentinel, The Page Courier, Clarke Courier, SPirit of Jefferson, and Shepherdstown Register) for meetings. The annual meeting was held at the court-house in Front Royal on April 2, 1877 at 12pm to elect a president and board of directors. At that meeting, he was re-elected as the secretary. He had won a complaint against Jason M. Stinson in the circuit court on April 22 to recover property valued at $483.63 (about $14,200 in 2024) and compensatory damages amounting to $41.18 (about $1,210 in 2024). In May, he was represented by Scott S. Turner and J. H. Williams and won a decision where he was qualified as the sole executor in 1861 of Jacob Vannorts estate which consisted of Virginia Bonds and Southern bank notes with Confederate States Treasury notes, of which the later became worthless some time after Mr. Vannorts beneficiaries declined to claim them. 

Captain Ewell Baker was the Clerk of the County of Warren at the courthouse for the Twelfth Circuit Court and County Court. Ewell was also on the board of supervisors. Mr. Baker was chosen as one of three alternate delegates for the Front Royal District for the Warren County Conservatives. It was noted that he left for the State Fair in Richmond which took place on October 30.

E. C. Balthis was the Treasurer of the Lodge and remained as the Treasurer during the June elections. Elected as town trustee on May 24.

George H. Benman was not an officer at the beginning of the year, but became the Secretary of the Lodge during the June elections.

John G. Brown began the year as a Senior Deacon, but had left the line during the June elections where the Secretary, William Rust, filled his next seat in line as the Junior Warden. He owned a store on Main Street selling groceries and dry goods directly across the street from Mrs. Rebecca Perry who was a milliner and mantua-maker selling trim hats, bonnets, and dresses. Mr. Brown sold prints, dress goods: flannels, jeans, cashmeres, cottonades, calicoes, hats, boots, shoes for men, ladies and children, ready-made clothing, and furnishing goods. He was named as the primary creditor of Henry A. Buck, who had been declared bankrupt on August 11, 1875. Both John G. Brown and George W. Forsyth would take the train to Baltimore to purchase stock of spring and summer goods on April 30. Mr. Brown often advertised that his goods were affordable in the Warren Sentinel.

M. B. Buck was in a lawsuit regarding two loans of $1,000 and $2,000 in which the plaintiff pleaded usury since the rate was greater than six percent. Mr. Walten and Turner argued for the plaintiff. It was ruled that due to usury, only the principal sum was owed. It appears that M. B. Buck and a few others lent money with a high interest rate in 1875 and the notes were not paid back in four months or 120 days for either one. His property, “Belmont” of 800 acres including the many improvements and crops on the 75 acres of vineyards and orchards were sold by the trustee, James B. Russell, on behalf of the creditors of M. B. Buck on July 27.

Orville M. Buck died on August 31 after being ill at his fathers house in Bel-Air, William M. Buck. It was reported that he had years of painful but patient suffering.

Thomas Willie William Buck performed sawing and planning. He worked with lumber with flooring, siding, and other planned lumber such as mouldings, brackets, sash, and doors. Mr. Buck performed custom turning orders. He offered work in exchange for Poplar, Pine, Chestnut, Walnut, and Ash logs. His wife had passed away at Belair on March 23rd. In a flood on November 24, he lost his grist mill, saw mill, and planing mill among other equipment. Four days later, Willie had passed away at Mountain View.

D. Cone was a trustee for the Fork District. He was also the manager for Riverton Mills Company, Limited creating a market for wheat and flour. The company received 50,000 bushels of wheat in the prior year, shipped 9,000 barrels of flour to Rhode Island, New London, Connecticut, New York, Philadelphia, Scranton, Pennsylvania, Baltimore, Alexandria, Norfolk, and Richmond. Turned 400 tons of offal. They had plans to add a wheat steamer and other improvements to allow them to grind 75,000 bushels of wheat or more this year. They advertised “Riverton New Process” and other-grades of Flour, Corn Meal, Offal, etc. The company had capital of more than $2,000,000 ($60 million in 2024) and was able to raise its payment by 5 cents per bushel of wheat. During the flood on November 24, losses were estimated to be between three and five thousand dollars ($90-150k in 2024).

Thomas K. Conrad was a road surveyor for the county.

George W. Forsyth took the train with John G. Brown, who traveled to Baltimore to purchase stock of spring and summer goods on April 30.

William L. Fuller set up an oyster saloon October 19 over the bowling alley of the Mont View Hotel. Women wanting fresh oysters could have them delivered to the dining-room in the hotel. It is believed that this may have been where Fristoe Hall was located before the Lodge moved into the third floor of the new Public Free School building.

John W. Guley joined the line as a Senior Deacon in June. He owned a store with a big sign “Gulley’s Cheap Cash Store”. He was an agent for Tin, Sheet-Iron and Stove Works and could manufacture items using tin (roofing, guttering, spouting, and repairs), sold lightning rods, cooking and heating stoves along with cookware.

Dr. Thaddeus Haynie was a past master of the Lodge. He was one of the teachers present at the teachers institute of Warren county held at the courthouse at Front Royal on March 10, 1877.

Charles E. Henning started the year as the Junior Deacon and remained in that seat after the June elections.

Dr. Gabriel H. Hill was a past master, but not of Unity Lodge No. 146. He practiced his profession in the town of Front Royal with his office at the Drug Store and residence above. He tried to save a boy who had his ankle and upper thigh crushed by an engine’s tinder cart, but was unsuccessful and the boy later died. Dr. Hill also had an infant son, N. Cloud Hill, who was born in November or December of the previous year. He wrote to the editor of the Warren Sentinel about his infant son’s ability to remain quite while performing on the stage while also mastering “Poor Yorrick” while holding out his outstretched arm, from Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Rev. C. W. Hollis preached on the 1st and 3rd Sundays at the Presbyterian Church at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. He had also practiced in Milldale where it was noted that a revival of religion had been happening on April 20. On August 30, he performed devotional exercises at the Teachers Institute of Warren County. Mr. Hollis was appointed on a committee of three to organize a church near Stickley’s Springs in Frederick county.

David W. Jones started the year off as the Tiler of the Lodge and remained in that office after the June elections. He was also in the International Order of Odd Fellows which shared the third floor of the newly constructed school building. On June 25, he was appointed as the Outside Guardian in the IOOF.

Thomas L. Kirby who started the year as the Senior Warden was elected as the Master of the Lodge. He was a local law officer and voted as the county’s Constable on May 24. In one affair that made the headlines, he found Marcellas Willis, who on March 10, had struck, fled, and nearly killed John Wilson after having a joke played on him, of whom both were repairing the Railroad bridge at Riverton. The fine came to $16.25 (About $477 in 2024). Mr. Wilson recovered.  Mr. Kirby was recognized for making two arrests amounting to $10.80 ($317.23 in 2024) and was allowed/ordered to be certified in the May County Court. He was appointed as one of five appraisers for the estate of Mary Redacil  Mr. Kriby was also at the meeting of the Great Council in Richmond on May 10 in the International Order of Redmen as the Great Guard of Wigwam.

Captain Leroy Leach was the Sheriff of Warren County and his office was located on main street. He would sometimes be appointed as an appraiser with William Scroggins of personal estates. He was also appointed as an administrator of various estates. At times he would advertise the sale of household property. Mr. Leach along with his deputy, Thornton Leach, would execute Jury summonses, such as for the case of the Commonwealth vs. Thomas Beaty. As a stockholder, he was elected as one of the six directors of the newly incorporated Warren Mining Company on April 7. In May, a new law firm, Menefee & Downing, Attorneys at Law shared an office with Captain Leroy Leach.

Thornton V. Leach was the Deputy Sheriff of Warren County. As a stockholder, he was elected as one of the six directors of the newly incorporated Warren Mining Company on April 7. Mr. Leach assisted the sheriff, Leroy Leach, in executing Jury summonses.

Judge John Terrill Lovell was elected as the Senior Warden in June, taking the spot where Thomas M. Roy would have gone as the prior Junior Warden. He was the county officer representative for Warren County. He was also the Editor and owner of the Warren Sentinel, often leaving management to Robert L. Buck during his absence. (Robert L. Buck had a law office in the Fristoe Building to the east of Scott S. Turner’s office.) Mr. Lovell was a member and first Vice-President of the Virginia Press Association and distinguished as Honorable J. T. Lovell. At this year’s meeting, he along with three other members were appointed to secure the passage of laws to protect publishers of newspapers. Mr. Lovel, being a member of legislature (who was in the eighth congressional district) of a planning committee on Asylums and Prisons was tasked with finding a site suitable for the central lunatic asylum to be built somewhere between Richmond and Lynchburgh, and Richmond and Petersburg. On March 7th, he introduced a bill to the House of Delegates to incorporate the Warren Mining Company. On March 9, he voted to impose a tax on whisky “The Liquor Tax” in the House of Delegates, but the bill was defeated 63 to 52. The motion to reconsider prevailed and eventually passed 67 to 45 on March 22. On Memorial Day, he read a poem at Prospect Hill Cemetery. On July 11, he was called out for his warm welcome by the people of Woodstack during his visit along with L. Wagner. He was the Chairman of the Conservative Executive Committee of Conservative Voters for Warren County. Mr. Lovell was chosen as one of three Delegates for the Front Royal District and his attendance was noted at the State Conservative Convention in Richmond on August 10. He was also chosen as an alternate for the Cedarville and Fork districts. At the State Conservative Committee convention on August 8, he was unanimously elected as the chairman. On July 26, Mr Lovell gave the charge to the knights and the coronation address at the third annual tournament at Howellsville on the field of William P. Hicks. Mr. Lovell was an executor from time to time, and he advertised that he was selling a cow for cash in front of the court house on August 21 from William Sumption’s estate. He was a candidate for re-election to the House of Delegates for the third term without opposition, and declined to canvas the county as a result. He ran on opposing an increase in taxes. The Farmers of Warren County posted that they had no opposition for his re-election. After the flood on November 24, Mr. Lovell resolved to introduce a bill for relief to the Legislature. Mr. Lovell represented Unity Lodge No. 146 during the Grand Lodge Proceedings in December and was on the Committee for Masonic Jurisprudence.

Thomas W. Pettee was a past master of the Lodge.

James R. Richards was chosen as one of two delegates in the Fork district for the Warren County Conservatives and was in attendance at the State Conservative Convention in Richmond on August 10. It was reported that Mr. Richards had losses in the flood on November 24.

Gibson E. Roy was the president (similar to the Mayor today) for the board of trustees in the corporation of Front Royal and was re-elected in May. He was elected as one of six Justices of the county on May 24, coming in second place. He was also the county Superintendent of the Warren County school board that resided in the Town of Front Royal district. He was invited to attend a Teachers Institute in Washington, Rappahannock County, but was unable to attend on May 22-23. In Mays circuit court, Mr. Roy was qualified as the administrator of Joseph S. Spengler’s estate. In July county court he was appointed as a commissioner to examine a route to establish a road from Jacksonville to the house of William Rudacil (deceased). Being on the executive committee as the superintendent of the school board, on August 29 at the Teachers Institute of Warren County, he presented an exercise on organization. On the 31st, he performed a reading analysis. On August 20, Mr. Roy offered printed questions to teachers being examined for the Public Free Schools of Warren County.

Thomas M. Roy started the year as a Junior Warden but left the line in the June elections. John Lovell took to the chair he would have moved to as a Senior Warden. Mr Roy was also in the International Order of Odd Fellows which shared the third floor of the newly constructed school building. On June 25, he was appointed as the Right Supporter of Noble Grand. On August 3, it was noted that he had a good amount of wheat consisting of forty-three bushels sown upon thirty-nine acres, resulting in a thrashing of 800 bushels.

William O. Rust began the year as the Secretary, but was elected to the chair as a Junior Warden in June, taking the chair where John G. Brown would have moved in next. He was one of three judges of election for Warren county, and reappointed as a Judge of Elections on April 17th. He was elected as one of six Justices of the county on May 24, coming in fourth place. Mr. Rust was a Trustee of Leasing the new school building representing Front Royal Council No. 141 of Friends of Temperance.

G. B. Samuels was on the board of trustees for the corporation of Front Royal (similar to being on the town council today)

William Scroggin was the county officer treasurer. He would sometimes be appointed as an appraiser of personal estates of deceased members of the community. He was chosen as one of two delegates for the Fork District of the Warren County Conservatives and his presence was noted at the State Conservative Convention on August 10. It was reported that Mr. Scroggin had losses in the flood on November 24.

Captain Smith S. Turner Esq. began the year as the Worshipful Master of the Lodge. At the June elections, he became the immediate past master of the Lodge. He was the county officer as the Commonwealth’s Attorney. He was also one of three Commissioners for the circuit court. He would often appear in other courts. He was seen at the Circuit Court of Rappahannock County on April 30. Mr. Turner and J. H. Williams represented Thomas N. Ashby in the Circuit Court of Warren County in May who was an executor for Jacob Vannort in 1861 when Southern Bank notes from the Confederacy were the primary currency, and later became worthless after beneficiaries declined to claim them prior to them losing value. He was noted as leaving for Richmond on May 23 on legal business. Mr. Turner was also on the Board of Visitors (advisory group) for the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and attended the Commencement Exercises in early July to witness twenty-nine cadets receive their diplomas. He was noted as being in another meeting for the board of visitors as an efficient member. Mr. Turner was chosen as one of three Delegates for the Front Royal District for the Warren County Conservatives.

M. Scott Weaver sold various goods suitable as Christmas presents, confectionaries, and groceries in the “Old Drug Store”. He sold flour from the Riverton Mills in town as well as other choice brands. He also sold tea imported from China and Japan via The Wells Tea Company.

William Cass Weaver was a trustee on the lease of renting the third floor of the public free school building for Front Royal Lodge No. 35 of Independent Order of Odd-Fellows.

Rev. H. M. Wharton preached on the 2nd and 4th Sundays at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the Baptist Church. He also preached at 11 a.m. on Saturday before the 4th Sunday. He did not hold his usual services on March 11th during both the morning and evening. On July 19 his church’s Sunday School held a picnic in the woods. Later that evening at 8pm, Mr. Wharton gave an address at the Baptist Church with an invitation to citizens of the county and town.

Significant Events

The challenges the country grappled with in repairing and reuniting the country after the Civil war was often referred to as reconstruction. 1877 is often classified as the end of the Reconstruction era when President Grant ordered federal troops to leave southern states during this time. Although unsaid, this seemingly was in exchange for allowing Hays to become the next president in a highly contested election known as The Compromise of 1877. Although Tilden received 184 of 185 uncontested votes needed to win the election, Congress voted along party lines that all contested votes should go to Hays, which resulted in many debates and filibusters that threatened to continue after the inauguration date.

At the beginning of the year on January 2nd, news made its way across the Shenandoah Valley of one of the oldest known masons being 86 years of age. He had been a Mason for 64 years since joining Auburn Lodge of New York in 1812, and later became the master of Kanawha Lodge No. 104. He had also served as the District Deputy Grand Master for almost 25 years consecutively. He was also the Noble Grand in Kanawha Lodge No. 25 of the International Order of Odd Fellows.

A 17 year old newsboy, Willie Richards, from Front Royal arrived by train in Front Royal on the Manassas Branch at 3pm on March 2. He stepped off the train while some of the cars were being shifted to a side-track. As the engine was in motion coming back, Mr. Richards attempted to step from the platform to the engine and lost his footing. Dr. Gabriel H. Hill, who had been standing by, tried to grab Richards but wasn’t quick enough. After he fell to the ground, the wheels of the tender box passed over his leg at an angle crushing his ankle and upper thigh. He was brought to the hotel where he was treated. Drs. Hill and Turner were called in, but were unable to aid in the boy’s recovery. He passed at 7pm. The boy’s body was sent back on the Manasses train the next afternoon and carried to his fathers residence.

In Virginia’s 1868 Constitution, a provision was drafted in Article VIII, Section 1 to establish and maintain an efficient system of free public schools throughout the state providing a high quality educational program. As a result, a Free Public School came to its completion in 1877 facing the court house.

The US General Assembly approved a lease of the third story school building from the Front Royal school district for 99 years with the Freemasons and three other secret orders on March 5, 1877. Giles Cooks, Jr. was a trustee representing all four lodges of secret orders using the space:

• Gabriel H Hill: Trustee of Unity Lodge No. 146
• William Cass Weaver: Trustee of Front Royal Lodge No. 35 of Independent Order of Odd-Fellows
• William P. King: Trustee of Senedo Lodge No. 47 of the Improved Order of Red Men
• William O. Rust: Trustee of Front Royal Council No. 141 of Friends of Temperance

As the Public Free School Building was being erected in the town of Front Royal. A vote was proposed for a special levy of one million dollars of real estate and personal property within the Front Royal School District to be voted on May 24th to obtain furniture and liquidate the entire balance needed to complete the schoolhouse. 66 votes were cast for the tax with seven opposing. The July 21 stated communication took place in the building and was called “Union Hall”. The previous known meeting took place at “Fristoe Hall” in April. It is unknown if any meetings took place in “Union Hall” or “Fristoe Hall” in May, or June. The Public Free School Building is known as the Stickly Building at 21-23 South Royal Avenue (38.917621, -78.193692)

On June 2nd, the Ladies’ Memorial Association (known today as the United Daughters of the Confederacy) of Warren County had arranged an event for Memorial day. This was a relatively new holiday that began in 1874 in honor of those who died in the Civil war between 1861 and 1865. A procession was formed at the Courthouse and began moving at 11 a.m. making its way to Prospect Hill Cemetery where flowers were strewn among the graves of confederate soldiers. Everyone was encouraged to participate in the tribute of the local heroes and bring as many flowers as they can. John T. Lovell read a poem at the cemetery.

On July 11, the prosperity of Front Royal was noted by a recent visitor of Front Royal who was awestruck with the public school building built of brick, and three stories high with a cupola 20 feet in height. The third story had a fine hall with four orders of Odd Fellows, Masons, Red Men, and Sons of Temperance. The town was previously known as a wild place, but had become both quiet and religious. Many houses were built, and were being built – all of which were attractive and giving the appearance that the town had been improving more than any other of its size in the Shenandoah Valley since the civil war. The town was full of luxury crops and both the Riverton Mills and Carson’s Lime kiln were flourishing. The visitor noted that most people were hopeful that Colonel Frederick William Mackey Holliday of Winchester would become the next Governor.

On July 17th the Warren County Conservatives met and chose delegates and alternates for each district in Warren County, including Brothers John T. Lovell, Smith S. Turner, Ewell Baker, James R. Richards, and William Scroggin. It was resolved that Colonel Frederick William Mackey Holliday of Winchester was the ideal candidate for nomination as Governor of Virginia due to his integrity, reputation, and personal acquaintances. Mr. Lovell was elected as the chairman of the State Conservative Committee. The crowd was so large that everyone was cleared except members of the state committee, KKK, police, and finally adjourned to 2 pm. After 2:15pm, the theater was still overcrowded with six people on the floor at times trying to make themselves heard. After seven ballots, a nomination was made for Mr. Holliday as the next governor. A telegram from the nominee was read aloud the next day accepting the honor conferred upon him.

On September 7th, Ferdinand R. Bowdow, of Newton Stephensburg, Frederick County, announces that proceeds from his invention and patent (181627 filed August 15, 1876) for a halter for horses will go to the Widow’s and Orphan’s Masonic Fund (today known as the Masonic Relief Fund).

On November 24, heavy rains resulted in the North branch of the Shenandoah raising a foot past the higher than the flood of 1870 at Hottel & Painter’s mill. In some areas, it was reported to be two to three feet higher based on the width of the channel and obstructions. In Riverton, it was reported as being seven feet lower than the flood of 1870. The bridge over the South river was carried away. Losses in the Shenandoah alone was estimated to be three to four hundred thousand dollars (nine to twelve million dollars in 2024). Fencing, buildings, bridges, and livestock were all swept away. Mature crops were swept downstream or buried beneath three feet of sand in some places. William Buck lost his grist mill, saw mill, planing mill, etc. William passed away a few days later on November 28th at Mountain View, near Front Royal. The Riverton Mills that D. Cone managed suffered between three to five thousand dollars in damages.