Book Title: Historical Collections Of Virginia By Henry Howe, 1845
Madison (p. 360)
[[Please keep in mind this was written in
1845]]
Madison was formed in 1792, from Culpeper. It is about 23
miles long, and 13
miles wide. It lies at the eastern foot of the
Blue Ridge, from which extend
several mountains into the western part
of the county, some of the smaller of
which are very fertile. The
tobacco raised on the highlands is a superior
quality: between the
mountains are fine valleys of rich bottom land. The county
is watered
by the Rapid Ann [[ modern spelling: Rapidan]] and its branches. Pop.
in 1840, whites 3729, slaves 4308, free colored, 70; total 8107.
Madison, the county-seat, is 97 miles NNW of Richmond. It is situated
int he
heart of the county, on a high and elevated ridge, and
commands a beautiful and
picturesque view of the Blue Ridge and the
neighboring mountains. It contains 4
mercantile stores, 1 Baptist and
1 Episcopal church, and about 50 dwellings. At
the post-offices of
Rapid Ann Meeting-House and Leon are a few dwellings; the
first
contains a Baptist and a Free Church.
The late Hon. Linn Banks,
of this county, "for 20 successive years was speaker
of the House of
Delegates, an office for which he was so peculiarly qualified,
that
he was selected to fill it in all the mutations of party. He retired
from
the legislature in 1838, and was elected to Congress in that
year, to complete
the unexpired term of Mr. Patton, who was chosen
counsellor. He was re-elected
in 1839, and again in 1841. He served
in the extra session of 1841, and then
agreed with his competitor, to
submit their cause to the people of his district.
He consequently
resigned his seat, which was obtained by his opponent, the
majority
against him being small. He was found drowned (Feb 24th, 1842) in a
stream which he had to gross in going from Madison Court-House to his
residence,
a few months after he was thus consigned to private life."
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