SUFFOLK AND EARLY DAYS.
I will take the above railroad and return to Suffolk, when I will say
something of my early recollections of that place. It was in the year
1830 that my father, with his family, moved to it. I was quite small
at that time, but I recollect the time well. Suffolk was then a small
village, situated on the Nansemond river, with a population of about
five hundred, and increased very slowly in population until after the
surrender, which was in April, 1865. Since that it has increased very
rapidly in population and growth. It was in Suffolk that Henry Herman
commenced his business career; moved to Norfolk in 1832; and became
one of her successful merchants. At his death his remains were brought
to Suffolk, and now quietly rest in Cedar Hill Cemetery. I could
mention many instances of successful business men of that town were it
necessary. I will now write of things of more recent date--something
within the recollection of many persons yet living. It will be
recollected that a fire broke out in June, 1837, that destroyed the
lower part of the town. There were no engines in the place and the
flames raged with great fury. The Allen residence, at Rose Hill, about
one half mile distant, was set on fire several times by the flying
debris, and it was with difficulty that the house was saved. It was at
Rose Hill that a large mercantile business was carried on, and no
doubt a large quantity of juniper lumber was shipped from that point
belonging to private individuals. A wharf was built at the mouth of
Shingle creek (I imagine long before the Jericho canal was dug), and
large quantities of lumber was hauled to it by persons living on the
edge of the Dismal Swamp. I knew of several persons who owned large
juniper glades on the edge of Dismal Swamp one in particular. His name
was Thomas Swepston and lived not far from Suffolk, on the line of the
Seaboard railroad, which divides his farm. He was agent of the Dismal
Swamp Land Company for several years, and may have been the first
after the Jericho canal was opened. The last agent, of whom I have any
knowledge, was W. S. Riddick, Esq., who died several years ago. The
last inspector of lumber was J. E. Bonnewell, of whom it is my
pleasure to notice particularly. Perhaps no man was more generally
known and respected in Suffolk than he. He was a true friend,
benevolent and kind, never refusing to bestow charity when called
upon. He succeeded Mr. Joseph Hill as inspector for the company, which
office he held until his death. It was during his term of office that
it was made so pleasant to visit the Lake. By giving timely notice he
would always give the parties the best boats and the most trusty hands
as drivers, and would always be present when the boat left its landing
and when it returned, and was anxious to know if any mishaps had
occurred to any of the party. And if it should be reported that some
lady had fallen into the canal, he would always very politely ask that
she be carried into his house to be made more comfortable. Capt. Babel
Ions, of Philadelphia, was his bosom friend. When the Captain was in
Suffolk, they could always be found together. They both have passed
away, and a generous people will do justice to their memory. Captain
Connewell died leaving a rich heritage behind--a name that will live
as long as it is called. But few have lived and died who was so much
beloved and respected as he. He was proud but not haughty, and
flexible to kind impulses. He was the soul of honor, and no one can
say that he even failed to accord to every one their just dues. I knew
him from my boyhood up and never knew a better man. He left an
interesting family--Mrs. H. R. Culley being his eldest daughter. I
could write many noble traits in the character of that good man, but
it is not necessary. There are but few of his compeers now living, and
soon they will all have passed away. Such is the march of time.
Nothing very important transpired in Suffolk from 1837 until after the
close of the late war, when she awoke from her slumbering condition;
her watchword being progress. She brushed the dust from her eyes, and
her advancement in every branch of industry can be seen in her rapid
growth. She stands second to no town in a commercial point of view.
Her manufacturing interests are considerable, and being a railroad
centre she must prosper and grow. The disastrous fire which occurred
June 7th, 1885, impeded business for a few months, but our men of
capital at once commenced to repair the breach, and she is again on
the road to fame and wealth. And it is to the Suffolk and Carolina or
Short Line railroad that Suffolk is mostly indebted for her present
prosperous condition. Penetrating as it does a country that is rich
and fertile, she has already felt its influence and it should be
fostered as one of the main arteries to her prosperity.
The Gay Manufacturing Company, before noticed, is perhaps the most
gigantic enterprise ever projected at Suffolk. It has extended its
operations as far South as Chowan county, N. C., and the amount of
capital invested is no doubt the largest investment of its kind in
Virginia, if not in the entire South. It has made large purchases of
land in and around Suffolk and has bought all the timbered lands on
the Suffolk and Carolina Short Line or Grand Trunk railroad, giving
employment to hundreds of hands, at fair wages, that would otherwise
eke out a miserable existence. It also enables the landowners, from
the sale of their timber, to free themselves from debt and otherwise
improve their condition. Under the direction of President W. N. Camp,
it has had erected near Suffolk, on the line of the S. & C. R. R., one
of the most extensive saw mills in Eastern Virginia, and with the aid
of the Atlantic and Danville railroad penetrating the primeval forests
of Southampton, Greensville and other counties of Virginia. Millions
of logs will be brought on that road and manufactured for shipment to
Northern markets. The company consists principally of Baltimoreans,
who will reap a harvest commensurate with the capital invested. And in
many instances it is owing to the mature judgment of President Camp
that the efforts to establish this great enterprise has been crowned
with such signal success. The advantages this company possesses, by
its intimate connections with the S. & C. R. R., and A. & D. R. R.,
cannot be estimated, but it can be truly said that their intimate and
close relations with each other, while each is a separate and distinct
corporation, forms one of the grandest and far-reaching enterprises of
its kind in the South.
The Gay Manufacturing Company consists of William N. Camp, president;
Charles F. Pitt, Jr., Chauncy Brooks, S. P. Ryland, John M. Denison
and William N. Camp, directors; George L. Barton, treasurer; Charles
F. Pitt, Jr., secretary.
The A. & D. R. R. has made great internal improvement under the
management of Major Charles B. Peck, of New York, and has progressed
more rapidly than any road of which we have any knowledge. Its
starting point is at West Norfolk, on the Elizabeth river, at the
mouth of its western branch, the great trucking region of the State of
Virginia which will supply it with thousands of dollars worth of
freight annually. It runs diagonally across the Norfolk and Western
and Seaboard and Roanok, railroads, both of which have already felt
its effects, and when it shall have reached Danville the Richmond and
Danville will then feel its withering influence, for this being the
shortest and most speedy route to deep water, in one of the finest
harbors in the world, it is natural that all produce will seek such a
route and such a favorable shipping point.