R909
Nimrod history before the Woods owned it.
(2011) A letter from Hylton (Motley) Coover of New Market Va. to Elsie Tyree [R561] in Richmond, postmarked 1982. Hylton was a granddaughter of Andrew Sitlington Porter and a childhood friend of Elsie’s in Bath County. Elsie passed the letter on to her daughter, Emma Hicklin.
“Elsie—This will be short I think I can answer one of your questions. My grandpa Porter had an uncle, Col. Billy Sitlington (1). He owned and lived at Wallowhatoola for years and was a great hunter, as was most of those people who had blacks to till their acres (This is the story) Somewhere hunting, Uncle Billie S. met Dr. Henry Smith and invited him to come to Bath. Dr. Smith came, with a party, one member was my grandmother Lucie Edwin Ruckey, from Amerst Co. (this is the country the party came from). On this visit, my grandmother met handsome Andrew S. Porter, with his pretty red hair. In time they were married and settled at Nimrod, he had purchase a portion of this farm from his father, John Porter, at one time John Porter’s holdings were 3,500 acres, extending toward Clifton. The main portion of Nimrod became for sale and Uncle Billy prevailed upon Dr Smith to purchase it. His wife Susan Rucky was a cousin of grandmas (2)—thus the deep friendship.
“I don‘t know from whom the Smiths got Nimrod. The Porter relatives lived there for some years. Dr Smith practiced medicine until his death, And perhaps he worked with his wife Susan, when she started having summer guests. No doubt the love for hunting and fishing was the motive. I think Nimrod has an interesting history. John Porter was born and reared at the Porter place over the mountain. A record book at the Warm Springs Court House might contain this information. Andrew Porter promised to get it for me but he never did. I think I could write to the present Clerk for help, there is always a way. Only I put off too.
“John Porter gave land for Horeb Church and a school that was nearby. He lost Nimrod on a defaulted note, of a prominent gentleman of Staunton. He died in the home of grandpa P, who had to bury him.
“The Nimrod property, that we all love and know well, had a number of owners, before your father purchased it at a sale. I think Ted Watson had a part in the Smith defeat. His ideas were too lofty I never knew how he got up there. Mother knew him, as she was growing up. She was a pretty girl and the Watsons made a great deal over her. I never knew Dr. Smith, I did know his first wife Cousin Annie Bird Smith. I never heard how they got together. No doubt he left the area after the family moved from Nimrod, or there was a death.
“Don't you recall that Ted Watson, with a most charming wife from Lynchburg, returned to Nimrod for a stay? You all were there at the time. And we all were amazed at this union. He was an attractive Englishman and a smooth talker.
“Wade through this jumble the best you can When I talk, or start to write of that muchly beloved area, I know not when to stop. And together you and I would never, never stop. This I firmly believe.
"Let me know if you want to hear more. And I'll do my best. There is no one left interested in those days of long ago. No doubt few care. Lucie Lawson, of Clifton Forge, is quite interested. She and Aunt Ruth had saved many clippings. I would like to talk to her. Now a break HMC...”
1. William A. Sitlington [see R512].
2. Lucie Rucker.
Jim Mann [S094] identified the author of this letter for me.