Buckingham County Romantic Correspondence
In 1902, Baltimore’s Sun announced:
“A $60,000 Romance. Miss Laura Gregory Receives a Fortune from Man She Never Saw.”
The story even found its way to New York City where the Daily People printed:
“$60,000 from a Love Correspondence.”
~
Details varied; however, the Richmond Dispatch ran the fullest story on May 25, 1902:
A PRETTY ROMANCE.
WELL KNOWN BUCKINGHAM LADY THE BENEFICIARY OF A WILL.
BEQUEST FROM OLD LOVER.
Miss Laura E. Gregory Attracted the Attention of a Kansas Man by Her Newspaper Articles–
Correspondence and Courtship Followed–The Unusual Sequel.
ARVONIA, VA.. May 23.—
Just seventeen years ago, Miss Laura E. Gregory, of Buckingham county, contributed several articles on the Education of Women and Woman’s Suffrage in the Kansas City Times. Her writings attracted the attention, and won the heart of Mr. Charles A. Wilmot, general superintendent of a large gold mining company, who wrote and asked the privilege of corresponding with the “Virginia girl.”
The request was complied with, and for a period of twelve or thirteen years they learned to know each other well, and it is needless to say became engaged. Miss Gregory was the recipient of a handsome ring and many gold and silver specimens, and curiosities of the far West.
Mr. Wilmot had planned trips to claim his Virginia fiancée, but for reasons then unknown, he never arrived. Thus the correspondence ceased for several years, and it seemed as if the little romance would fade from the life of our Buckingham daughter. It is now learned that he had left Colorado to seek greater wealth in the far off country of Alaska, where he recently died.
To be continued . . .
slate river ramblings . . . . 
Joanne
As I recall there is mention of this in Vol. II of Historical Notes on Buckingham published by Southside Virginia Historical Press.
Many thanks, Bob. I’ll look it up in my volume. Joanne