NEWSPAPER CLIPS FROM OLD ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, VIRGINIA NEWSPAPERS The following information was transcribed from microfilmed records of the local Rockingham County, Virginia newspapers: The Rockingham Register, The Harrisonburg Daily News, and The Daily-News Record, Harrisonburg, Virginia. This transcription includes excerpts from scattered issues for the years 1822-1914. Not all years are complete. If you would like to go straight to the news clips, skip the background and scroll directly to the ROADCAP surname. BACKGROUND The Rockingham Register (also called the Rockingham Register and Virginia Advertiser) began publication in 1822. Very few of the earliest issues of this newspaper from 1822-1865 have survived. For example, only one issue (October 5, 1822) is available for the entire year 1822. There is a more complete collection of microfilmed issues of the Rockingham Register available at the Library of Virginia for the years 1866-1904, with a few scattered missing issues. The Harrisonburg Daily News began publication in about 1904. It was published under the name The Harrisonburg Daily News until June 3, 1913. On June 4, 1913 the name was changed to The Daily News-Record. The Daily News-Record is still in publication today. This transcription probably does not include every reference to all of the ROADCAPS mentioned in the newspapers. Some of the microfilm is of poor quality and not easy to read, and I'm sure I probably missed a few entries. Every effort was made to transcribe the records accurately. However, if you think an error has been made, please contact me so that I may double check my notes, or you may wish to check the original source for yourself. Bridgewater College, Virginia Microfilm Holdings of the Rockingham Register for the Years 1822-1865 (as per information on microfilm): The following issues are available through interlibrary loan on microfilm from Bridgewater College, Bridgewater, Virginia. Please contact your local library for more information. 1822-October 5 1825-May 12, August 11 1827-May 12 1833-June 19, March 9, April 13, November 9, November 30, December 7 1836-October 29 1839-March 23, December 21 1840-August 15 1841-January 10, February 20 1842-April 9, May 7 1844-May 4, November 16 1849-October 13 1861-October 18 1863-January 2, December 18 1865-May 12 Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia Microfilm Holdings of the Rockingham Register for the years 1866-1904 (as per information on microfilm): The following issues are available through interlibrary loan on microfilm from The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia. Please contact your local library for more information. The following years are complete EXCEPT for: 1866-January 19, December 27 1867-June-October 10 1868-January 2, April 2, 9, September 17-December 1869-January-May 13, May 27-October 7 1870-June 16, September 15, 22, 29, October 6, December 29 1871-September 28 1872-March 29, July 19, September 13, 27, October 4, 11 1873-October 17 1874-October 22 1875-November 11 1876-December 28 1877-December 27 1881-October 6 1882-June 1, December 21 1883-September 20, 27, October 4 1890-March 7 1900-October 19 1903-May 29, June 23, July 7, August 3, 10 1904-February 19 ROADCAP ~~~~~ ROADCAP ~~~~~ ROADCAP ~~~~~ ROADCAP ~~~~~ ROADCAP ~~~~~ ROADCAP Rockingham Register and Virginia Advertiser, Harrisonburg, Virginia Friday, May 18, 1860: Sudden and Violent Death of an Old Citizen. One of our correspondents has furnished us with the particulars of the sudden and violent death of an old citizen of Rockingham county, a resident of Brock's Gap.--MR. EMANUEL ROADCAP, living in the Gap, left his home on Saturday last, as the family supposed to salt some cattle. Not returning, he was sought for and found lying dead in one of his fields, near a colt, which was also dead. It is supposed that he attempted to turn the colt, which was sick or crippled, into a different field, when it fell, and in its struggles kicked MR. ROADCAP to death. He was much bruised, and his clothing was torn as though done by the hoofs of the colt. Mr. R. was in the 73d year of his age. He leaves a widow and twelve children and many grand-children to lament his death. Rockingham Register and Virginia Advertiser, Harrisonburg, Virginia Friday, September 7, 1860: Sale of A Negro Girl. By virtue of a Decree of the Circuit Court of Rockingham county, rendered at its October term, 1859, in a cause between HOUCK & MELLHORN, Plaintiffs, against JOHN ROADCAP and ELIZABETH his wife, Defendants, I shall, on the 3d of Monday in September, next, (Court day,) in front of the Court House, sell, to the highest bidder, a very likely negro girl, CATHARINE, to satisfy the sum of $69.00, with interest from the 12th of September, 1857, and the cost of this suit and sale....." Aug 24--4t.....................J. T. LOGAN, D.S. for J. H. KOOGLER, S.R.C. Rockingham Register, Harrisonburg, Virginia Thursday, August 9, 1866: Our old friend, DANIEL ROADCAP, now at a very advanced period of his life, is still as warm a friend as ever of our railroad in the Valley. Many of our readers remember his zeal years ago, in behalf of the Manassas Gap Railroad. In his humble, yet earnest and determined way, he did as much as any citized of the county to help onward that improvement. Old as he is, and removed as he has with his interests to a distant State, he is yet as anxious as ever for the realization of our long cherished hope of a railroad in the Valley. And the old gentleman's eyes sparkled with unusual animation as he informed us of what he had heard relative to the early construction of our road, on the Winchester and Potomac railroad as he came through. Some of the passengers in the cars informed him that there was no doubt about the early betting out of our road to contractors-The impression secured to be that the work is to go on at once, and that the thunder of the trains, as they fly up and down this great Valley, will soon be heard in Harrisonburg. Rockingham Register and Virginia Advertiser, Harrisonburg, Virginia Thursday, January 23, 1868: Married. On Thursday, 9th inst., by REV. R.P. KENNEDY, MARTIN J. GOCHENOUR, of Augusta, and MISS VIRGINIA C. ROADCAP, of Rockingham county. Rockingham Register and Virginia Advertiser, Harrisonburg, Virginia Thursday, April 30, 1868: Died. On the 9th inst., in Cooper county, Mo., from the effects of a cold contracted in August last, ABRAM ROTHGEB, in the 70th year of his age. Rockingham Register and Virginia Advertiser, Harrisonburg, Virginia Thursday, October 28, 1869: Home Department. Sale of Farm. REV. SOLOMON GARBER has sold his farm, near Dayton, lately occupied by his deceased son, CHRISTIAN, known as "the ROADCAP property," for $12,550 or a little over $73 per acre. There are 171 acres in the farm. Purchaser, BENJ. KERLIN, residing at Bowman's Mill, near Dayton. Rockingham Register, Harrisonburg, Virginia Thursday, June 1, 1871: Commissioner's Notice. Commissioner's Office, Harrisonburg, Va., May 16, 1871. GILES DEVER.....Plaintiff, VS. EMANUEL ROADCAP.....Administrator. In Chancery, In The Circuit Court of Rockingham. Extract from decree of September Term, 1870. "The Court doth adjudge, order, and decree that this cause be referred to one of the Commissioners of this Court, to ascertain the amount of assets which have come into the hands of said Administrator, the amount on hand, the indebtedness of said estate, and the priority thereof, and such other matters. etc." The Creditors of the estate of said Emanuel Roadcap and all other parties interested are hereby notified that I have fixed upon Friday, The 16th Day Of June at my office in Harrisonburg, as the day and place for taking the accounts in the foregoing decree directed. PENDLETON BRYAN, Commissioner in Chancery. May 18, 1871-4w. Rockingham Register, Harrisonburg, Virginia Friday, February 14, 1873: Married. On the 11th of Feb. by REV. SOLOMON GARBER, FRANKLIN GARBER and MISS CATHERINE ROADCAP, daughter of JACOB ROADCAP, dec'd--all of Rockingham county. Rockingham Register, Harrisonburg, Virginia April 25, 1873: Married. By REV. JACOB MILLER, FRANKLIN S. EATON and MISS BETTIE, daughter of JACOB ROADCAP, all of Rockingham county. Rockingham Register, Harrisonburg, Virginia March 20, 1874: Made his own coffin. The innocent eccentricities and independence of character which have marked the life and history of our esteemed and excellent old friend, DANIEL ROADCAP, now living near Burke's Mill, Augusta county, still attach to him like "ruling passion, strong in death." MR. ROADCAP, it is known, has reached a very advanced period of human life, being now in the 91st year of his age. Wishing to give his friends and the world as little trouble as possible with his remains after his death, which he feels satisfied cannot be very remote, he determined a few days ago, to construct his own coffin, although he is by no means a coffin- maker. Accordingly he took the necessary tools at MR. SWITZER'S, with whom he is living, and getting some plain pine plank, proceeded to construct a rude, flat-topped coffin for his own use when dead ! After making the coffin, the old gentleman concluded to get in and see how it fit and suited him. The coffin being a little too small, after getting in, being very frail and infirm, he found some difficulty getting out ! He remarked that it had not occurred to him that the coffin might be too small; if it had, he should have met the difficulty by tying a rope to the beams of his shop and around his body, so that he might have drawn himself out.... Rockingham Register, Harrisonburg, Virginia October 29, 1874: Married. Oct. 8 by REV. JACOB MILLER, WM. VAN PELT and MISS MARY JANE ROADCAP--all of Rockingham county. Rockingham Register, Harrisonburg, Virginia July 1, 1875: Died. At his late residence, near Harrisonburg, on Monday the 28th of June, after a short illness of paralysis, JAMES ROADCAP, aged 69 years, 1 mo., and 11 days. He had been for many years a worthy member of the ME Church, South, and his friends trust he has gone to his long sought rest. Rockingham Register, Harrisonburg, Virginia December 23, 1875: Married. Near. Mt. Sidney. Dec. 12th. MR. JACOB N. ROADCAP to MISS TENIA L., daughter of WM. CRAIG, ESQ. Rockingham Register, Harrisonburg, Virginia February 3, 1876: Died. Suddenly, in Brock's Gap, on the 21st of Jan., MRS. EMANUEL ROADCAP, in the 84th year of her age. She was taken sick while at the table eating. As soon as her illness was observed she was carried to the bed, and died in a moment after. Rockingham Register, Harrisonburg, Virginia May 10, 1877: Information Wanted. My husband, JACOB ROADCAP, left his home, near Harrisonburg, Va., on the 3rd day of July, 1876, while I was sick in bed, without any known cause, and having no better way of learning his whereabouts, I take this means of ascertaining where he is. Any one knowing his whereabouts will confer a favor on a distressed wife by addressing me at Harrisonburg, Va. All persons are forewarned from harboring him, as I am determined to prosecute any one who may do so. JACOB ROADCAP is about 23 years old, about 5 feet 8 inches high, rather slender, brown hair and grey eyes. Signed, SUSANNAH R. ROADCAP. Papers in West Virginia disposed to help a sorrowful wife to learn something of her truant husband, will contribute to the cause of humanity by copying this notice. Rockingham Register, Harrisonburg, Virginia August 9, 1877: Married. On the 19th of July by REV. JACOB MILLER, BENJAMIN ROADCAP AND FLORA V., daughter of JOHN R. KOOGLER, dec'd, all of Rockingham. Rockingham Register, Harrisonburg, Virginia January 9, 1879: Died. At the residence of her mother in Harrisonburg, Va., on the 1st day of Jan., 1879, MISS MARY HENRIETTA ROADCAP, aged 17 yrs. 7 months and 1 day. She was the daughter of JAMES ROADCAP, dec'd, was a faithful Sunday School scholar, had committed to memory a large portion of the scriptures, and died in the exercise of a wonderfully strong and mature faith in Christ for one of her age. Another voice is added to the "Song of Redeeming Love" in Heaven. Woodstock paper please copy. Rockingham Register, Harrisonburg, Virginia September 23, 1880: Died. In Brock's Gap, on the 17th instant, after a long illness, of dropsy, ABSALOM ROADCAP, aged 70 yrs. 1 month and 24 days. He was a good neighbor and a quiet citizen. The funeral services were conducted by ELDER JACOB MILLER, assisted by JOHN P. ZIGLER. Rockingham Register, Harrisonburg, Virginia February 18, 1886: Married. February 7, 1886, by REV. ISAAC LONG, MR. ISAAC D. ROADCAP and MISS LUCY J. BEGOON, all of this county. Rockingham Register, Harrisonburg, Virginia April 11, 1890: From Port Republic. Monday, April 8, 1890. Our section of the country has been much exercised over numerous cases of rowdyism for several weeks past, and whilst our justice of the peace has tried and fined several parties, we think the "punishment did not fit the crime." WALTER CRAWFORD was arrested and fined $10 and costs and bound over to keep the peace for 12 months: cause, too much tangle-foot, which caused him to feel belligerent, to use profane language, to make threats and throw rocks at the house of THOM. SIPE. JACOB SIPE, DAVE ROADCAP AND JOE RANDALL were tried for the same offense and fined $2.50 and bound over to keep the peace. Rockingham Register, Harrisonburg, Virginia June 20, 1890: Married. ROADCAP-SHOEMAKER. June 8th, by ELDER JACOB A. GARBER, MR. CHARLES ROADCAP and MISS ELIZABETH M. SHOEMAKER, both of this county. Rockingham Register, Harrisonburg, Virginia August 22, 1890: Married. ROADCAP-VAN PELT. August 10th, by ELDER BENJAMIN MILLER, MR. WILLIAM H. (OR N ?) ROADCAP and MISS HENRIETTA VAN PELT, both of Rockingham. Rockingham Register, Harrisonburg, Virginia Friday, February 5, 1897: Married. ROADCAP-SHORT. At Alma, Page county, January 13, by REV. R. H. CLINE, JAMES A. ROADCAP of Rockingham county, and MISS MARY E. SHORT of Page. Harrisonburg Daily News, Harrisonburg, Virginia November 22, 1904: Marriage licenses issued. REUBIN ROADCAP and MISS LUCY ELLA VIRAR. Harrisonburg Daily News, Harrisonburg, Virginia Friday, December 28, 1906: RITCHIE'S Slayer Behind the Bars. CHAS. R. ROADCAP Committed on Charge of Murder. Evidence Heard at Inquest. Five Witnesses Examined, Three of Whom Were Present at Killing--Fatal Stab Near the Heart. CHARLES R. ROADCAP, who stabbed PHILIP RITCHIE to death in Brock's Gap Christmas night, was brought to Harrisonburg last night on the Southern by DEPUTY CHARLES R. FAWLEY and locked up in jail. ROADCAP was held responsible for the murder by a coroner's jury yesterday afternoon and was sent to the grand jury by Magistrate COOPER, after he had waived a preliminary hearing.... ROADCAP talked freely about the killing with several people yesterday. He said that he stabbed RITCHIE because the latter was crowding him with a club. On the way to jail he appeared to be downcast, evidently realizing the gravity of his offense. He is twenty-four years of age and is a son of AMBY ROADCAP....The knife with which the stabbing was done was found on ROADCAP'S person by DEPUTY SHERIFF FAWLEY. It is an ordinary pocket knife with two blades, the one with which RITCHIE was cut being very sharp and having a bowie point. The blade is not over three inches in length. The stab was made through a heavy overcoat, a canvass coat, a corduroy vest, a woolen and cotton shirt. RITCHIE was stabbed with such force that his chest was depressed by the blow, thus accounting for the deepness of the wound. The gash in the outer coat was 2-1/2 inches in length (Note: This article and the articles on the ROADCAP murder trial that follow are included only in part due to their length). Harrisonburg Daily News, Harrisonburg, Virginia Saturday, December 29, 1906: RITCHIE Burial at Oak Grove Church. Services Attended by Large Concourse of People. ROADCAP Morose in Jail. Has Little to Do with Other Prisoners--No Step Yet Taken to Secure Council for Defense.... CHARLES ROADCAP the self confessed slayer of RITCHIE, who was held for the grand jury Thursday afternoon by Magistrate COOPER, and brought here that night by DEPUTY SHERIFF FAWLEY, passed the day quietly in his cell in the county jail. ROADCAP appeared morose and had little to do with the other prisoners on the same tier of cells. These included TOM LAM, under sentence of sixteen years in the penitentiary for the murder of FRANK P. HENSELY, and ISRAEL MONGOLD, who was sent up for five years for killing his own son last summer. Although a slim, wiry young fellow, ROADCAP'S face shows the effects of dissipation.... Harrisonburg Daily News, Harrisonburg, Virginia Wednesday, January 2, 1907: Counsel for ROADCAP. MESSRS. DECHERT and CRAWFORD to Defend Slayer of PHILIP RITCHIE. CHARLES ROADCAP, who killed PHILIP RITCHIE in Brock's Gap last week, has secured counsel to look after his interests and yesterday wore a more cheerful air than at any time since his incarceration. His father, AMBY ROADCAP, visited him for the first time and talked with him for several hours. MESSRS. D. O. DECHERT and E. B. CRAWFORD have been employed to defend the prisoner and have begun an investigation of the case from their client's standpoint.... Harrisonburg Daily News, Harrisonburg, Virginia Monday, February 4, 1907: JOHN RITCHIE locked Up. Charged with Having Threatened to Kill CHAS. ROADCAP on Sight. JOHN RITCHIE, a son of PHILIP RITCHIE, for whose death CHARLES ROADCAP will be placed on trial in the Circuit Court today, was locked up in jail Saturday evening on the charge of disorderly conduct. OFFICER DOVEL made the arrest, after he had RITCHIE under surveillance for several hours and after he had made threat's against ROADCAP'S life.... Harrisonburg Daily News, Harrisonburg, Virginia Tuesday, February 5, 1907: Jury Found Easily for ROADCAP Trial. Both Sides Ready When Case is Called. One Witness Examined. DR. DODD Describes Knife Stab Which Put an End to PHIL. RITCHIE'S Life on Christmas Night. CHARLES R. ROADCAP was placed on trial in Circuit Court yesterday for the murder of PHILIP RITCHIE, whom, it is alleged, he stabbed to death in Brock's Gap on the night of December 25....The CALDWELL premises, the home of RITCHIE'S daughter EVA, wife of HINTON CALDWELL (where the murder took place), are located a few miles south of Fulk's Run in a mountain hollow....On the night in question PHILIP RITCHIE, accompanied by a friend or two, returned home in an intoxicated condition. Upon his arrival ascertained that CHARLES ROADCAP, the accused, and a man by the name of ABNER DONOVAN were at CALDWELL's. Knowing that HINTON CALDWELL was absent from his home (being at work in West Virginia) the father regarded their presence there as objectionable and started for the house accompanied by NIMROD DOVE. After his arrival at the house RITCHIE called to the men, who were in an upper room, and demanded that they leave the house....DONOVAN did leave immediately, but ROADCAP lingered inside the door. RITCHIE had in his hand a small stick or cane and when ROADCAP finally stepped out on the porch, the former struck at him with the stick, the blow falling short of its mark. Right then and there, before either of the two men had left the porch, ROADCAP turned on RITCHIE and drove a knife into his side, dealing him a fatal wound.... Harrisonburg Daily News, Harrisonburg, Virginia February 9, 1907: Five Tear Verdict For CHAS. ROADCAP. Jury Says Crime Was Voluntary Manslaughter. Prisoner Remains Unmoved. Seven Jurors Originally Favored Ten Years, but Two Were for Acquittal--Result was Compromise. CHARLES R. ROADCAP, on trial for the murder of PHILIP RITCHIE, was yesterday found guilty of voluntary manslaughter and his punishment fixed at confinement in the penitentiary for a term of five years....The prisoner heard the verdict without betraying the slightest evidence either of disappointment or elation.... A few minutes after the verdict had been returned, ROADCAP'S counsel left the court room and the prisoner was hustled off to jail. A motion for a new trial was not submitted.... Harrisonburg Daily News, Harrisonburg, Virginia February 9, 1907: Wife Accuses ROADCAP. Husband Made Woman's Life One of Terror. Relief Sought by Divorce. Freedom from Marital Bonds, Long Delayed, May Be Hastened by Sentence of RITCHIE'S Slayer to Prison. MRS. MAMIE ALICE ROADCAP, wife of CHARLES ROBERT ROADCAP....is the complainant in a divorce suit in which the husband's cruelty is alleged as a ground for the dissolution of her marital bonds. The suit has been pending for a little more than four years, during which time ROADCAP has filed an answer denying the wife's charges, and a cross-bill in which he makes charges....In her bill of complaint MRS. ROADCAP represents that on January 15, 1902, when little more than 15 years old, she was married in Hagertown, Md. to defendant, the marriage being what is commonly known as a "runaway." Complainant says she soon had occasion to bitterly regret her rash and ill considered marriage. Her husband proved to be without any means for her support and they were forced to live around from place to place, just wherever they could find accomodating friends or relatives to furnish temporary assistance....ABNER DONOVAN, who was the main witness for ROADCAP in the recent murder trial, was a witness for MRS. ROADCAP, in the divorce suit. She is now living at the home of her father, near Manassas. Harrisonburg Daily News, Harrisonburg, Virginia Tuesday, January 2, 1912: Will of JAMES ROADCAP. The will of JAMES ROADCAP has been admitted to probate in the clerk's office. MRS. MARY E. ROADCAP, the executrix named in the will, giving bond of $600 without security, as requested in the will. The Daily News-Record, Harrisonburg, Virginia Tuesday, December 2, 1913: ROADCAP Given Year. Pleads Guilty to Stabbing at Port Republic. In Circuit Court yesterday JOHN ROADCAP pleaded guilty to stabbing WILIAM L. SCOTT and was sentenced to one year in the penitentiary at hard labor. ROADCAP had pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging assault with intent to kill earlier in the term, but when his case was called yesterday, his attorney CHARLES A HAMMER, announced that his client desired to withdraw the pleas and throw himself upon the mercy of the court. ROADCAP stabbed SCOTT three times during a fight in front of Miller's Store in Port Republic two months ago. The prosecution it is said was prepared to prove that ROADCAP was decidedly the aggressor.