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- Son of James Marion Virts. Oscar was raised by his grandparents Eliza Virts Long and William Long along with his siblings Amelia, Charles, Rose, and Della. His father, James Marion Virts had left his mother for sometime for another woman. Mary felt she was not capable to raise all the children alone, so she had some of them stay with their grandparents. James and Mary reconciled around 1887 and had additional children starting in 1888. The Longs lived on the Nearsville side of the Short Hill mountain. Oscar commented when he was young that all the children had to be in the house before dark because the bears would come down out of the mountain and look for food.
Share cropper most of his life on the farm of Charles Stevens, Long Lane, Lovettsville, Virginia.
The farm on which Oscar share cropped contained the barn in which John Moberly was assassinated during the Civil War.. The house was struck by lightening and burned down in the 1950's. Following is a story from the book History of the Independent Loudoun Virginia Rangers by Briscoe Goodhart detailing the death of John Moberly:
"Monday, April 3 Gen. Stephenson ordered the commander of the Rangers to send to his headquarters a squad of three men. The men selected were Sergt. Charles B. Stewart, Company B, Joseph Waters and M. H. Best, Company A, and they with three citizens proceeded to Virginia on foot.
The general informed Sergt. Stewart that he was to proceed, with a guide to the mountains, where Moberly would probably be found, and capture, or kill him, and bring him to the Ferry. Stewart proceeded to the Short Hill, where he learned from reliable citizens that Moberly would be at a certain rendezvous some time the next day. Stewart's party rested for the night in a barn, and the next day proceeded to the appointed place, concealed themselves in a hay loft, and waited. In the afternoon on April 5, Moberly rode into the barnyard, and under a shed, Stewart's men now revealed themselves, with drawn revolvers, when Moberly was heard to proclaim, "Oh Lord, I am gone." All fired, and Moberly fell from his horse, dead, thus ending his career.'
Oscar also worked on a sawmill for Charlie Painter. He was bitten by a copper snake one morning while gathering kindling for the steam engine of the sawmill. After he retired from share cropping he settled on his land at the end of the Long Lane, Lovettsville, Virginia were he lived until his death with his sons Raymond Eugene and Theodore Roosevelt Virts. Oscar was also a Virginia State Forest Warden during the late 1940's and early 50's (badge no. 3410).
Like most folks of that time he raised hogs and butchered each fall (this is still a tradition carried on to this day), raised chickens for their eggs to sell and cattle for their milk (cream) to make butter. They sold their eggs on the other side of the Short Hill, carrying them by hand across the mountain on the Egg Path. Their butter was sold to the Market Man. He supplemented his income by trapping for furs and hunting ginseng.
Oscar was about 5'10" tall and weighed about 170 lbs. in his prime. He originally had black hair but by his early 40's it was snow white. At the time of his death he still had a full set of snow white hair. He was a constant user of Rose Bud snuff. He would always use his pocket knife to dip it.
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Loudoun Times Mirror, February 9, 1967
Oscar Franklin Virts, 89, retired farmer, died in his home near Lovettsville, Feb. 3. He was the son of the late James Marion and Mary Leigh Virts. His wife, deceased, was Mary Catherine Mann Virts. Surviving are four sons, Lester Virts, Purcellville, and Russell, Raymond and Theodore Virts, Lovettsville; two daughters, Mrs. Jessie Frye, Lovettsville and Mrs. Goldie Stone of Waterford, and one brother Elbert Virts, Lovettsville. Interment was in the Mt. Olivet Methodist Cemetery, Lovettsville.
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1877 - 1967
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