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[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Jonas Aleshire Surveying Noteboook, 1850-1851, SC 0343, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.
Donated in January 2023 by Sharon B. Judd, daughter-in-law of Austin C. Judd who previously owned the surveying notebook.
The notebook was previously owned by Austin C. Judd before being passed down to his son, Edward F. Judd, and eventually his daughter-in-law, Sharon Judd. It is unclear how the notebook, created by Jonas Aleshire, came into the possession of Judd.
Jonas Aleshire (1801-1878) resided in Page County from his birth in 1801 until 1852. While in Page County, he served as sheriff and represented the county in Virginia's legislature (1839-1840). He was also a civil engineer and surveyor. In this capacity, he surveyed the New Market and Sperryville Turnpike.
With its charter granted in 1843, the New Market and Sperryville Turnpike Company constructed a turnpike that spanned from New Market in Shenandoah County across Massanutten Mountain through Page County to the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the town of Sperryville in Rappahannock County. The historic turnpike largely follows the current U.S. Route 211.
The Jonas Aleshire Surveying Notebook, 1850-1851, includes measurements, distances, descriptions, and surveying notes related to the New Market and Sperryville Turnpike. The bound surveying notebook ("Note Book B") was created by civil engineer and surveyor Jonas Aleshire.