Louisiana Purchase.
Meriwether Lewis and Wm. Clark,
who were appointed by Thomas Jefferson
to make the Louisiana purchase
from the French as decreed by Congress,
June 20, 1803 were both born in
the vicinity of Charlottesville Lewis
[ILLUSTRATION]
Home of Meriwether Lewis at Ivy (of Lewis and Clark Expedition).
was born August 18th, 1774, where the
home of Mrs. Farish now stands between
here and the Woolen Mills.
Lewis was Jefferson's private Secretary
and a Lieutenant in the United
States Army. He had always been in
poor health more or less, and it appears
that this expedition of exploration and
purchase was far too much for his weak
constitution and so affected his mind
that he killed himself in Western Tennessee,
and by which act the world
lost much valuable knowledge that he
possessed. William Clark was born on
what is now the old McMurdo place
located about two miles Northeast
from town. He was the brother of
General George Rogers Clark known
in history as the "Conqueror of the
Northwest." A full history of these
famous men is in the possession of
Doctor Wilson C. N. Randolph of 202
East Jefferson street. He is a great
grandson of Thomas Jefferson.
