OLD
STONE HOUSE
An
old house whose walls were built of stone stood at the head of Main Street
about where the Bank of Stuart building now stands. It was built by Col.
Samuel Staples and was his home until his death. Samuel Staples' wife was
Lucinda Penn, daughter of Col. Abraham and Ruth Stovall Penn of Poplar Grove.
Both Samuel Staples and his wife were originally buried just back of the stone
house. The remains were later removed to the Town Cemetery.
The
old stone house had such thick walls that very little heat was need to keep it
warm, and was so well insulated that it did not get very hot in summer. The
house remained a dwelling until the second half of this century. It was torn
down to make room for the bank building.
Many
of the descendents of Col. Samuel Staples have held important offices in
Patrick County as well as other places. Several were judges of the Virginia
Supreme Court, two were Attorney General of Virginia. Only one male Staples
now lives in Patrick County.
Samuel
Staples was a brother of John Staples whose daughter, Sarah, married Harden
Hairston of Old Fort. Samuel Staples' granddaughter, Kiziah Staples, married
Nicholas Edward Hairston, son of Harden and Sarah Staples Hairston of Old
Fort.
This page was written by Mr. O. E. Pilson for the 1996 Hairston Reunion