New Store in Buckingham County: Part II
New Store Village Historic Marker.
Need to catch up? Click here: New Store in Buckingham County: Part I
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When Buckingham County historian Lulie Patteson wrote about New Store for The Daily Progress in an article entitled “New Store Important In the Events of ’65,” she recalled that Peter Francisco operated a place of business nearby. When she wrote the article in 1959, a stacked chimney still stood at the side of the McKinney home, where Virginia Governor Philip McKinney was born.
(For much more about both Peter Francisco and Gov. McKinney, search the Slate River Ramblings archives.)
Miss Patteson’s article went on to relate a significant event that took place in 1865.
In a little back room of New Store was a post office. In that room in April 1865, Gen. Robert E. Lee is said to have written his first note to Gen. Grant relative to a possible surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia.
Grant, a scant six miles behind Lee’s fading forces, spent the night at the Crute home, “Clifton,” while Lee moved towards Appomattox.
The Jones family shared with the Confederate Army as long as there was food to share—both before and after the surrender. The writer once photographed a camp stool said to have been given to Louis Dribbrill Jones by Gen. Lee. The stool for a long time was preserved by the descendents of Jones.
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Search the Slate River Ramblings archives to learn much more about the Jones family at New Store. Enjoy the results!
Coming Next: New Store in Buckingham County: Part III
slate river ramblings . . . . 
Dear Readers:
My Grandmother was a proud citizen of Arcanum in Buckingham County; but, she was a member of New Store Presbyterian Church. If she were living, she would want us to recall the importance of Louis D. Jones’ son Rev. Plummer Jones (d. 1968). He was a excellent friend of my Grandmother’s and often spent the night at “Greenwood,” near Cartersville, Cumberland County, where my grandparents lived. He often came to Cartersville on matters relating to the Presbyterian Church, and these events would prompt him to stay with my family. They were all well-informed of his scholarly personality. I have a program of the window dedication at his death when the Presbyterians dedicated a window in his memory at Trinity Church, New Canton. He served this church for many years. My family made sure I knew at his death he was the oldest living member of Phi Beta Kappa. He should also be remembered for being a close personal friend of the notable novelist James Branch Cabell, who worked with Jones as editors of the literary magazine at William and Mary. Jones was also the principal founder of the Longwood sorority Zeta Tau Alpha. His widow survived and resided in the community of New Canton.
Harry Stuart Holman
Harry,
Many thanks for this beautiful summary of Rev. Plummer Jones accomplishments. If readers are interested in more about Rev. Jones, I suggest they search his name in the Slate River Ramblings archive.
Joanne