and North Carolina line the officers of the law in either State could be evaded by passing from one State to the other. It was here that Judge Cameron once vindicated the code.
John Barnett was summoned to cut out a direct road from Halifax C. H., in Virginia, to to Hillsboro'. Commencing at Halifax he came on by Adam's Creek. At this ford he was reminded by the red land of that in Pennsylvania. And fancying a similarity in its fertility he immediately went to the land-office and "took up" a large number of acres of land located here. This land fell into the hands of John W. Williams, as the heir or executor of one Towler.
A brother-in-law of this John Barnett, named Currie, also settled upon these lands, now occupied by J. M. Barnett, Esq., who also owned the Towler place. Thus we trace the Currie family of Caswell County.
Richard Stanford, was a Member of Congress from 1797 to 1816 continuously, nearly twenty years. He died in Washington City, in April, 1816, during the session of Congress, and lies buried in the Congressional Cemetery. He was a prominent politician of his day, and was the confidential friend of the distinguished John Randolph of Roanoke. Mr. Stanford's unexpired term was filled by Hon. Samuel Dickens, who often represented Person in the State Legislature, he removed in 1820 to West Tennessee, which was then called the Chickasaw purchase; he died there many years ago, full of wealth and the good will of his countrymen. Hon. James Cochran, (the maternal grandfather of James Cochran Dobbin,) was a native of Person, and a Member of Congress from 1809 to 1813; he lies buried at Lea's Chapel, five miles west of Roxboro'.
Hon. Robert Vanhook was a native of Person, he served in both branches of the State Legislature and was elected twenty-two times, from 1807 to 1834, the last year he had no opposition, and died before the convening of the Legislature. Major Isham Edwards [father of Col. L. C. Edwards,] was elected to fill the vacancy. Mr. Vanhook was a politician of the Jeffersonian school, he was not a great man mentally, though highly gifted in procuring the good will of the people and retaining it.
Hon. Thomas McGhee, [father of Montford McGhee, Esq.,] was a wealthy farmer on Hyco, and served five sessions in the State Legislature [lower branch] 1826-'29-'30-'31-'33, and was Governor's council during the administrations of Dudley and Morehead and was many years president of the bank at Milton.
His son, Montford McGhee, born in this county, on December 4, 1822, was educated at the University; graduated in 1841, in the same class with Thos. L. A very, R. R. Bridgers, Wm. J. Clarke, John W. Ellis, John F. Hoke, Charles and Samuel F. Phillips. He studied law with Judge Butler, and spent some time at Harvard College. He removed to Caswell County, and was a delegate to the Convention in 1865, and as Representative in 1862 and 1866. Elected to the Legislature in 1879, and since continued to 1882 with great acceptability. He has attained high distinction as a writer, and his eulogy on Governor Graham ranks him with the most polished writers of the State.
He is at present a prominent member of the Legislature and of the bar. Highly esteemed by his friends and his associates as a gentleman and a scholar. He has recently been appointed by the State Board of Agriculture, Commissioner of Agriculture, succeeding Col. L. L. Polk, [1880.]
He married a daughter of Judge Badger in 1854.
John W. Cunningham, resides in this County. He was born in Petersburg, Virginia on Feb. 6th, 1820; educated at Bingham Academy, and at the University, where he graduated in 1840, in the same class with David A.
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