Chapter II: Orchard and Dairy: Fountain Beattie (1878-1917)

[46] A. W. Moger, _The Rebuilding of the Old Dominion_ (New York:
Columbia University, 1940), p. 46. Citing census data, the
thesis notes that "the value of farm implements and machinery
on farms in Virginia and West Virginia combined was only
two-thirds of what it was in Virginia in 1860, while the value
of livestock in the two states was only four-fifths of that in
Virginia in 1860. Not until 1880 did the number of cattle and
not until after the turn of the century did the number of
swine in Virginia and West Virginia equal the number in the
Old Dominion before the war."

[47] "Status of Virginia Agriculture in 1870," in _Report of the
Commissioner of Agriculture_, 1870 (Washington, D.C.:
Government Printing Office, 1871), pp. 267-291, 273, 291.

[48] Virginia Good Roads Convention, _Programme_ (Richmond: Stone
Printing Co., 1894). While railroad and water transportation
were available from Alexandria to major metropolitan markets
for farm products, the farmer faced the obstacles of
traversing Virginia's notoriously poor farm-to-market roads.

[49] _Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture_, 1870, p. 268.

[50] R. H. Abbott, "Yankee Farmers in Northern Virginia: 1840-1860,"
_Virginia Magazine of History and Biography_, v. 76, No. 1,
pp. 56-66 (January 1968).

See also the _Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture_,
1870, p. 291, which states "a striking mark of progress is the
change of the policy of the planters toward the outside world.
Formerly they were indisposed to encourage immigration from
other States. There was, therefore, no accession to the
population of the rural district from abroad. The same
traditions and habits descended from father to son through
successive generations. Now all this is altered. Strangers
from every State and every country are cordially welcomed
whenever they show any disposition to become permanent
settlers and industrious citizens. The consequence is that in
many counties a strong tide of immigration is setting in,
bearing with it improved stock and better implements, which
cannot fail to impart a healthy impulse to improvement."

[51] Moger, _Rebuilding_, p. 45. See remarks of Governor Henry Wise
in 1867 and A. H. H. Stuart in 1866, cited therein.

[52] W. Fullerton, _Address to Piedmont Agricultural Society_,
October 18, 1876. Speaking to the Society in 1867, William
Fullerton of New York chided Virginians by asserting that
"there is no other calling in life in which there is
manifested such an indifference to new discoveries, as is seen
among the tillers of the soil. If a mechanic or manufacturer
should in like manner fail to avail himself of improved
implements or machinery, he would be compelled to relinquish
his business. It is the farmer alone who resists anything new
appertaining to his calling. This arises mainly from a
deep-seated prejudice to what is called scientific or book
farming."

See also Moger, _Rebuilding_, p. 54, citing the fact that
farmers in the area of diversified agriculture, such as
Northern Virginia, had the highest number of agricultural
clubs, farm newspaper subscriptions, etc., of all areas in
Virginia.

[53] Main steps to assist agriculture taken by the state in the
1870's are summarized in Moger, _Rebuilding_, p. 54.

[54] Fairfax County Deed Book W-4, p. 271.

[55] J. S. Mosby, _Mosby's War Memoirs and Stuart's Cavalry
Campaigns_ (New York: Pageant Book Co., 1958), p. 10. Mosby
records in his memoirs that in Richmond, before being sent to
the Shenandoah Valley, the men were issued uniforms of very
rough quality from the state penitentiary. There was almost a
mutiny as the men piled them up in front of the captain's tent
and refused to wear them--all except Mosby and Beattie. Mosby
then states, "I do not think any clothes I ever wore did me
more service than these. When I became a commander, I made
Beattie a lieutenant."

This story is corroborated in Charles W. Russell (ed.), _The
Memoirs of Colonel John S. Mosby_ (Boston: Little Brown,
1917), p. 30.

[56] Beattie is mentioned frequently in histories of Mosby's
campaigns. In addition to the references noted above, see V.
C. Jones, _Ranger Mosby_ (Chapel Hill, 1944), and James
Williamson (ed.), _Mosby's Rangers_ (New York: Sturgis &
Walton, 1909).

From 1861 to July 1864, Beattie served as an enlisted man. In
July 1864, a new company was organized, and Beattie was
elected first lieutenant. Such regards as still exist
regarding Beattie's service with Mosby relate to this period.
See _Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who
Served in Organizations from Virginia_. Microcopy 324, Roll
207 (National Archives, Washington, D.C.).

[57] Williamson, _Mosby's Rangers_, p. 87.

[58] _Ibid._, pp. 242-3. Reprints a letter from Thomas Moss to
Captain Walter Frankland describing a fight near Front Royal
as follows: "We charged and routed the guards, and I was
fortunate in saving Beattie's life by shooting a man who had a
pistol within 12 inches of Beattie. I then caught a horse ...
[and] Beattie and I ran down the road a short distance and
went up into a piece of pine woods."

[59] John Mosby Beattie, August 22, 1968, interview. Fountain
Beattie's wife, Annie Elizabeth Hathaway, was the daughter of
James Henry Hathaway of "Western View" in Zula, Virginia,
between Rectortown and Middleburg in Fauquier County. Annie
Hathaway was born and married at this home place. Her son,
John Mosby Beattie, states that his father bought Green Spring
Farm with money realized from the sale of "Western View" on
the death of Mrs. Beattie's parents.

[60] Fairfax County Deed Book W-4, p. 271. Also see Hannah C. O'Brien
v. John W. Green, Fairfax County Circuit Court, 1878,
Suspended File No. 10.

[61] Moger, _Rebuilding_, p. 51.

[62] Virginia Good Roads Convention, _Programme_, p. 8.

[63] John Mosby Beattie, August 22, 1968, interview. John Beattie
recalls that his father, Fountain Beattie, sold garden produce
to the local grocery store of one John Carter, located on the
Little River Turnpike (Route 236) approximately where it now
crosses Shirley Highway (I-95).

[64] W. C. Funk, "An Economic History of Small Farms near
Washington, D.C.", U.S. Department of Agriculture Bulletin
848 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1920),
pp. 16-17.

[65] John Mosby Beattie, August 22, 1968, interview. Mr. Beattie does
not recall the date of this fire, but remembers the event
vividly from his boyhood days.

[66] Mosby served as Consul in Hong Kong from 1878 to 1885. He was an
attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice from 1904 to 1910.

[67] _Official Register of Officers and Employees of the Civil,
Military and Navy Service_, issued biennially, lists Fountain
Beattie as an employee of the Internal Revenue Service in the
registers issued during the years 1875 to 1913, inclusive.
Beattie's Service Record Card (Treasury Form 426) shows the
first employment record date as 1872. His appointment was
discontinued in 1914.

[68] E. L. Templeman, _Arlington Heritage_ (Arlington, 1959), p. 74.

[69] _Atlas of Fifteen Miles Around Washington_, 1879.

[70] "Fairfax County as Portrayed by the Virginia Business Directory
and Gazetteer--1906. Published by the Hill Directory Company,
Richmond, Virginia," _Yearbook of the Historical Society of
Fairfax County, Virginia_, v. 10 (1969), pp. 92-104.