Greenbrier County, West Virginia         THE OLD MANSE.

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History of Greenbrier County 
J. R. Cole 
Lewisburg, WV 1917 
p. 122-123

THE OLD MANSE.

Now the Residence of Mrs. T. K. Totten.

Among places of historical interest in Greenbrier county is the first 
parsonage of the pastor of the Presbyterian congregation of Lewisburg. It is 
a substantial stone house standing on the beautiful bluffs overlooking the 
Greenbrier river at the crossing of the James river and the Kanawha 
turnpike, about one and one-half miles above the bridge. It was built by the 
Rev. Benjamin Griggsby sometime between 1794 and 1803, for he was pastor of 
the congregation between those years. He was called to the church before the 
construction of the Manse, when they worshipped in the first log building on 
the land of Joe Fermster (so says James Withrow, who supplied the data for 
this sketch), "which was about one mile north of Lewisburg. I think he had 
another house," the writer says, "on the other tract of land on the east side 
of the river, but the present residence has always gone by the name of the 
'stone house.'  It stands on land obtained from Abraham Hoptonstall and 
adjoins lands of John Anderson, (the Hunter land now.)"
The Rev. Griggsby's tract consisted of 1,050 acres, patented from the State 
of Virginia, and the Hoptonstall land purchased by deed in 1794.  (See Deed 
Book I, page 408.)
Different transfers of the property were made from that time, as found by the 
very full and carefully made up abstract by Mr. Withrow, and until the large 
estate on both sides of the river were deeded to T. K. Totten, who purchased 
it of Alex Atkinson September 26, 1902.
Thomas K. Totten, the purchaser of the "Manse," was a prominent citizen of 
McDowell county, where he was born June 8, 1851.  For a long time he was 
resident judge of the County Court and filled other positions of honor and 
trust conferred upon him by the commonwealth. He was a big merchant and 
farmer, with the lumber and mercantile interests carried on to a very large 
extent.
T. K. Totten first married a Miss Patsey Newsome and to this union were: 
William L., horn January 1, 1878; Major H., September 5, 1880, both married; 
Boyd M., November 3, 1882; Walter M., October 8, 1888.
Mr. Totten's second marriage was to Miss Matilda Jane Lambert, daughter of 
Hiram and Eliza (Collins) Lambert. She was horn February 22, 1870, and her 
marriage took place on June 30, 1888. In 1891 they moved to Greenbrier county 
and on January 5, 1907, Mr. Totten died, since which time Mrs. Totten has 
successfully managed the large interests of the old plantation.
To Mr. and Mrs. T. K. Totten were horn the following children: (1) Helen V., 
horn April 20, 1889; (2) Edith Maude, January 26, 1891, married C. A. Wright, 
of Roanoke, Va., December 24, 1913; they have one daughter, Mildred Jane.  
(3) Amanda Pearle, January 31, 1892; married H. B. Austin, of Natural Bridge, 
Va., May 28, 1913; (4) Harry Burks, Jr.; (5) Elizabeth Jane; (6) Burbridge 
Payne, May 17, 1895; (7) Edgar K., February 5,1897(8) Virginia M., December 
28, 1899; (9) Gladys, February 1, 1900; (10) Thomas, Jr., February 3, 1903; 
(11) Evelyn Mildred, February 19,1907.