HomeMy WebLinkAboutA Hearthstone History of Washington CountyA HEARTHSTONE HISTORY
OF
WASHINGTON COUNTY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
A Brief Survey of Early History ........................
Mrs. Cushwa
I
The Pioneer Settler ................................
Mrs. Campbell
4
Indian Lore ........................................
Miss Cushwa
10
The Conococheague Settlement ...........................Mrs.
Mish
13
Long Meadows and the Cresaps .........................
Mrs. Russell
30
Braddock's Road .....................................
Mrs. Caspar
34
The French and Indian War Period ............. Mrs. Marshall Wilson
39
Nathaniel Rochester --His Importance
to the Community ...............................
Mrs. Mathias
42
General Heister.....................................
Mrs. Mason
47
OldForges and Furnaces ............................
Mrs. Manners
50
Fredericktown as the County Capital ..................
Mrs. Hoffman
54
The Buchanan Brothers --Thomas and John ...............
Mrs. Seaman
59
The Masons of Montpelier and Stafford .................
Mrs. Snively
68
Early Industries .......................................
Mrs. Lusby
70
The Itinerant Minister .............................
Miss Hoffineier
83
Epitaphs and Tombstones .......................... Mrs. Altenderfer
94
Stage Routes and Taverns ...............................
Mrs. Lane
101
Belinda Springs Hotel ..............................
Mrs. Brumback
107
Early Schools and Schooling .........................
Mrs. Gardner
III
Benjamin H. Latrobe ......................... Mr. A.
H. Onderdonk
117
General Ringgold ...................................
Mrs. Bonner
121
Our First Newspapers .................................
Mrs. Byron
125
Fame Comes to the Family of Levi Leiter ...............
Miss Roulette
130
General Henry Kyd Douglas ............................
Mrs. Maar
134
Hagerstown in the Civil War .........................
Mrs. Roulette
138
Anecdotes of Antietam ..............................
Mrs. Statton
143
This history was written by members of the Arts and Letters Club as their program for
i 935-36. At that time the officers were:
President - Miss Ida A. Trammell
Vice -President - Mrs. William U. Roulette, Jr.
Recording Secretary - Mrs. Frank Lusby
Corresponding Secretary - Mrs. W. P. Lane, Jr.
Program Committee - Miss Helen Hoffineier
Mrs. Frank W. Mish, Jr.
Miss Ida A. Trammell
Mrs. Robert L . Campbell
The members in i 935-36 were:
Mrs. Willis Al tenderfer
Mrs. Kenneth Bonner
Mrs. Lynn K. Brugh, Jr.
Mrs. Lynn H . Brumbac k
Mrs. Vaughn J . Byron
Mrs. Robert L. Campbell
Mrs. John Caspar
Mrs. G. Victor Cushwa
Miss Julia Cushwa
Miss Miriam Everts
Mrs. Leslie Gardner
Mrs. J. Sylvester Gower
Miss Helen Hoffineier
Mrs. Harold H. Hoffman
Mrs. W. Preston Lane, Jr.
Mrs. C. G. Ramsey Leigh
Mrs. Frank Lusby
Mrs. Richard Maar
Mrs. Leslie Manners
Mrs. Edwin Mason
Mrs. Philip Mathias
Mrs. Frank W. Mish, Jr.
Miss Anna K. Roulette
Mrs. William U. Roulette, Jr.
Mrs. James Russell
Mrs. Courtney Seaman
Mrs.. Raymond Snively
Mrs. Ph i l o Statton
Miss Ida Trammell
This history is printed by the Board of Education of Washington County with the
permission of the present directors of the Arts and Letters Club.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
A Brief Survey of Its Early History
"I only bring a cup of silver air,
Yet in your forbearance receive it here
These words that should have walked as bold
As the storm walks along the mountain crest.
Take them - and should you choose to touch them
With one slant ray of quick, American light,
Even the dust wil I have no power to smirch them,
Even the worst will glitter in the night."
The story of the emanation of so vast a wilderness as a trans -oceanic continent, in-
habited by hostile savages, from oblivion into the consciousness of a distant civilized
world - is the prologue to any survey of Maryland history.
Five years after Columbus discovered America, the restless energetic appetite of the
English for a share of its fabulous prizes induced King Henry VI to commission John Cabot
to make a voyage of discovery across the North Atlantic. He may have touched our land,
for so he claimed - but no mark was left to tell . In old records we find, the French and
the Italians were not idle - they too skirted the shores of Maryland -yet -to -be, but again,
no trace of Latin boots on the brown sand of our far-flung Chesapeake shores. The first to
enter the land -locked waters of old -- "Axacan" was one English Captain Lane, who came
in 1585. He left no record of any exploration, if indeed he made any, beyond his
piquantly elusive claims.
When we leave the fog of conjecture and sight with documentary detail the first
European pioneer into Maryland, we find we have been waiting for Captain John Smith --
the first white man to glimpse the Western rays dancing on the placid waters of what was
to be Maryland's blue shore.
In those days ships, the only means of oversea discovery and communication, moved
deliberately; events between an old world and a new were marked by intervals of gener-
ations. And so - the circle widens to include that sunny day in June, 1634, when the
Indians at the mouth of the lower Potomac were startled by an apparition such as never
had been seen before. Two great ships, with white sails flying, bearing the I ittle company
of stout English hearts under the command and guidance of My Lord Baltimore's brother,
Leonard Calvert! Brave men and women for the third permanent English settlement on the
North American continent.
Need I retell the colonizing land -system of Lord Baltimore which distinguished his
"Land of Sanctuary" from any other colony? Or the English law of primogeniture, the
result of which was to build up estates of vast acreages throughout the grants?
IThe civic development of Maryland followed in many respects that of her sister -colony
Virginia. The life of the first six or seven decades of both was so exclusively agricultural,
2
i3
and towns showed such a disinclination to appear spontaneously, that Maryland in 1683
ordered that towns be built.
At the end of the 17th century the province had passed the formative period, its civic
divisions had been established and it was about to enter upon that golden period which
saw the finest flower of its colonial development.
Faring forth in coaches or on horseback came not to be the precarious adventure of the
ancient days of the notched roads thru the forests. A century of clearing had extended
gravel roads in many directions and Maryland became the inevitable pathway of travel
between the colonies north and south of her.
In 1732 the attention of Charles, Lord Baltimore, was directed to the lovely land ly-
ing at the foot of South Mountain. He, forthwith, in March of that year, published an
inducement to settlers - "under his hand and seal at arms" - offering "200 acres of land in
fee - simple, 40 shillings sterling" payable to him by the conditions of plantations, etc.,
if they in turn, with family and findings, "would populate the back lands of his province -
between the Potomac and the Susquehanna rivers." Good land, so fit for tillage and the
pursuit of peace. Brave land, which one day would carry the name of Washington on its
deeds and titles.
This Western province of the Proprietor was guarded by two mountain ridges North and
South. In the valley flowed East - a I ittle creek - Antietam. To the West ran the waters
of another--Conococheague. To the south-east rose a spur of blue hills known as Elk
Ridge. A few miles distant, Israel Creek encircled Pleasant Valley.
Here, in truth, was a Promised Land where the soul weary from persecution might find
safe refuge - and - "persons desirous to come into Maryland would be assured of their
liberty, their freedom and the sanctity of their own Hearthstone," in this Valley of the Blue
Ridge.
They came - the settlers - English and German, Irish -Scotch and French, with the
sound of guns ringing in their ears. For there were long, long wars in Europe and the new
America.
The first settlement was laid out on the river's edge, where one day a town would rise -
bearing the name of Williamsport. The first resident was Charles Friend! What better man
or name to lead the vanguard of "My Lordship's landed gentry"? On Friend's land a block-
house was built - soon to become a trading post, where this magnificent agricultural county
would abound in grain and all the rich fruits of its verdant hills.
They named the settlement, "Conococheague"I It was fitting that thus it should be
called, nestling in this majestic valley stretching away from mountain to mountain, wound
thru w!th the garland of "the river Potomac." A lasting monument upon the green fields
that for centuries had been the Hunting ground of the Red Man. For here was land that
could be had for building a cabin and making a rough clearing, crying, "This is mine!"
Sturdy arms swung to the tune of old world ditties as glinting axes felled the lofty trees,
clearing the virgin land. In the primeval forests of this upland dale, colonial industry sang
and shone.
The gracious river leaped and played in its undulating curves of valley -course, the
sweet air went softly by, brown earth and rock almost found voice. As for wild life, these
were its carnival days. The stags and does, the bears and foxes, the mountain cats and
the wise, gray wolves, the 'possum and the beaver and the coon - and - the multitude of
birds and insects felt the strange music which was Spring and the coming of the White Man
to their mountain vale. Home after home was built on granted land - land whose deeds
bore singing titles - "Sweed's Delight" - "Dear Bargain" - "Long Meadows" - "Darling
Sale" - "Little Friendship" - "Meadow Green" - "Mountain Misery" and "Dutchman's
Folly."
For many summers came the dogwopd - bloomed the wild grape and the laurel . Corn
and wheat were planted in furrowed rows of new earth - up sprang the blades, long, green
and tender. And - on a crested hill of the Potomac these brave pioneer hands built a Fort,
to watch over their women and children while the men were at work - for who among them
knew the heart of an Indian? Their valley might be safe, but others 'round them were not.
In time of danger what a good haven these grey stone walls! Though comfortless to live in -
what a bulwark against a Catawba arrow!
Sun and stars rose and set on concerted industry. Swiftly went the years on wings relent-
less. Chinked cabin and forest clearing gave way to white -walled mansion and fields of
yel low grain. Great tracts of land bore mills and furnaces - tanyards and lime -kilns -
neucleus of county towns that would one day echo down the pages of history - such names
as Antietam - Sharpsburg - Hancock and our own good site of "Hager's Choice."
Beauty had her gleanings in this outpost of civilization. Marvellous rolled the October
forest around the little villages of the new made county. The days ran, purple and gold and
red. The wild grapes hung in blue abundance. The chestnuts and the walnuts fell from sky -
tall trees. The persimmons ripened and the small birds flew from their summer nests at the
cal I of the wild ducks winging South. Fish swam in the clear waters of the winding river,
bright trees stood up from the mirrored shores like candles in the wind - overhead arched a
stainless aiure sky - for "The Land of Prospect" (our Washington County) was settled and at
peace, ready to begin the long journey from 1735.
Thru years of joy and sorrow it marched with courage - aware, that it would ever be -
the pride of this great Valley that is "The Heart of Maryland."
4
P
THE PIONEER SETTLER
Reputedly the first naturalized citizen in Maryland --probably in this country --was
Augustine Herman in 1666. He was sent by Peter Stuyvesont to settle a dispute with Mary-
land. He liked the country so well that he offered to make a map of the province if Lord
Baltimore would give him a manor. Lord Baltimore agreed and he received a grant of
5000 acres --later increased to 20,000. His map of the province was engraved in London
in 1673,and is now in the British Museum. It was a very good map for those days. On the
northwest corner of it he marked the Alleghany Mountains near Cumberland and said,
"These mighty, high, and great mountains is supposed to be the very middle Ridge of
Northern America."
Much was known about the country at the beginning of the 18th century. We know,
for example, that the first lot of settlers were 20 gentlemen adventurers and 300 laborers.
After them came the redemptioners and convicts and slaves. A certain George Alsop, who
was one of the redemptioners bound for 4 years, wrote on his arrival in Maryland to a friend
in England: ".I am now upon land and had I known my goals would have been so easie, l
would have been here long before now." In another letter to his father he said, "The
servants of this Province, which are stigmatized for slaves by the vulgar in England, live
more I ike Freemen than the most mechanick apprentices in London, wanting for nothing
that is convenient and necessary and are extraordinary wel I used and respected."
Unlike New England, Maryland had no trouble with the Indians until the French and
Indian War. That had much to do with the way in which Maryland was settled. The people
did not have to herd together in towns and blockhouses for protection but scattered out
through the country on isolated farms and plantations. Almost every colonist was a farmer.
There were a few manors of 2000 to 20,000 acres, others of 1000 acres, and small home-
steads of 50 to 200 acres. Whether the farm was large or small, life in it was much the same.
Do you remember what a manor was? Lord Baltimore granted a manor to any settler who
could bring with him from England 20 able-bodied rnen, each armed with a musket, a sword
and belt, a bandolier and flask, 10 lbs. of powder, .and 40 lbs. of bullet and shot. A manor
consisted of 2000 acres or more, and was a little state - within the state. The owner and the
freemen in it passed by-laws and held law courts to punish evil -doers. There was the great
house, the chapel and graveyard, the smoke houses and cabins for the slaves. The white
freehold tenants had dwellings with ample land about, held on 21 year leases. The owner
paid Lord Baltimore a rent of 460 lbs. of wheat and up a year.
The houses were for the most part small and built of Ic)gs, but some belonging to the
rich planters were built of brick. The log cabins were often fastened together with wooden
pegs as nails, like everything else made of iron, were costly. Sometimes a man, when he
moved to a new neighborhood, would burn down his log house to gather up the iron nails
from the ashes. Door hinges were made of leather.
Some of the richer people had a little furniture brought over from the old country and a
few silver tankards, saltcellars; candlesticks, and spoons, but nirely forks until later. There
•wasmuch interest in 1633 when Governor' Winthrop of Massachust'tts received one fork.
Pewter was more common than silver and the poorer people used wooden trenchers and wooden
spoons. China and glass were rare. When delftware was finally introduced the backwoods
people thought it a culpable innovation. It was too easily broken and the plates dulled
their scalping and hunting knives. Teaware was too small for men but might do for women
and children.
The first lights were pineknots of pitchpine, later candles, then lamps of pewter and of
glass burning whale oil.
In the kitchen a bar of wood or iron stretched across the fire -place and from it hung
chains and pot -hooks of various lengths with pots and kettles of iron or brass. Baking was
done in bake -kettles which stood in the hot ashes or in Dutch ovens.
There was plenty of game, deer, bears, and ducks, etc. The early settlers do not seem
to have eaten crabs and terrapin. - Some complained, when their supply of corn was cut off,
that they had to eat oysters. Some of these crabs and oysters were 12 inches long. At that
time lobsters six feet long were caught at New York.
Everyone grew tobacco, as it was used for money. A horse was worth not so many
dollars or pounds sterling, but so many hundred pounds of tobacco. Wages, rents, taxes,
everything was paid in tobacco. Soon everyone grew so much tobacco that it dropped
rapidly in value.
In 1756 the population of Maryland was 108,000 whites and46,000 negroes. When
the French and Indian War was begun in 1755, Maryland had no forts for defense. The
Indians now began to invade Frederick County, killing and burning the settlers and their
cabins. Many of the settlers fled to the eastern part of the State. It was during this period
that Fort Frederick was built.
No doubt the first white man to climb the eastern slope of South Mountain was a hunter
or fur trader. After reaching the top of the mountain he looked north and west to North
Mountain 15 miles away. Between the two mountains was a fertile valley covered with
waving grass six feet tall; the Antietam and Conococheague wound through banks covered
with trees. The only sign of human life - curls of smoke from the Indian villages clustered
about the limestone springs. Here was a magnificent hunting field, here the Delawares
from the North fought the'Catawbas from the South.
Hunters and fur -traders reached the Cumberland Valley as early as 1700 but the eastern
part of the state was settled long before the western. It took nearly a century for civili-
zation to march seventy-five miles so great were the difficulties.
The long grass made excellent pasturage for herds of deer and bears. -Wild game was
plentiful and there were so many raccoons and squirrels that they often destroyed the
settler's crop of Indian corn and left him without bread for the winter. This increased the
sufferings of the people, especially the children. One writer said, "We became sickly,
the stomach seemingly to be,always empty and tormented with a sense of hunger. I remember
how narrowly the children watched the growth of the potato tops, pumpkin and squash vines,
hoping to get from day to day something to take the place of bread. How delicious the
taste of young potatoes! What a jubilee when we could pull the young corn for roasting
Still more so when it had acquired sufficient hardness to be made into Johnny
cakes."
0
IFA
In 1732 Lord Baltimore published in England special inducements to settlers, granting
them 200-acre tracts. The people attracted were largely Germans who were being persecuted
for religious principles.
The denial of religious freedom to the Presbyterians of Ulster in 1719 started an exodus
from Ireland of the bravest and best subjects of the British crown. Many landed in Phila-
delphia and came to Washington County. A considerable number of Redemptioners of
Indentured servants also became citizens of the valley.
A much less desirable class of immigrants were the convicts. Thousands of the inmates
of British. prisons were transported to America and three or four thousand came to Maryland.
We must remember that a convict in those days was not necessarily a hardened criminal .
Men and women were thrown into prison for any minor offense.
The pioneer settler had no luxuries and few necessities. When the log -cabin was built,
so was the furniture. Pegs were driven into the sides of the cabin to hold clothes, rifle,
and powder horn. Holes were bored in the sides of the logs at proper places and pins were
inserted which supported the shelves upon which the few utensils and other belongings were
kept. The bed was supported by poles. The dining -table was a large slab from a tree,
smoothed on one side with the broad axe and supported on four legs which were wedged into
as many auger holes. As I said before, bowls, trenchers and noggins were usually made of
wood.
Tea and coffee were unknown. Milk or water, sweetened with maple sugar, washed
down a meal of pork or bacon and hominy or mush. Mush was generally eaten with milk,
bear's oil or gravy. Bacon was only used when there was no supply of bear steak, venison,
or other game. Bread was always an uncertain quantity. If corn was secured the process of
converting it into meal was tedious and tiresome. It had to be done by beating it with a
pestle in the high wooden hominy mortars, or ground by hand between two rude millstones.
Breakfast often had to wait until game was hunted down and shot. Later when tea and
coffee were brought over, the backwoodsmen called them "slops" which "did not stick by
the ribs," they said.
The dress was as primitive as the dwelling and the furniture. The fashion was largely
patterned after that of the Indian. The men wore a hunting -shirt of deer skin or homemade
linsey tied about the waist with a belt. From the shoulders hung a cape, ornamented in a
crude way. Breeches of deerskin and moccasins completed the costume. In dry weather
the feet could be kept comfortable but when wet the deerskin became instantly soaked and
the settlers suffered greatly from rheumatism. That was one reason why they always slept
about the campfire with feet to the fire. In cold weather the moccasins were well -stuffed
with deer's hair or dried leaves. The women dressed in linsey petticoat and bed -gown and
the only attempt at ornamentation was a homemade handkerchief tied about the neck.
The few necessities which the settler himself could not produce were brought on pack-
horses across.the mountain trails. Upon pack -horses the furs and peltries were carried to the
towns nearest to the coast: at first Baltimore, later Hagerstown.
The principal article of trade the settler had to go across the mountains to procure was
salt. Caravans made the bong and dreary journey to the seacoast. The bags, which were
to contain the salt, were filled with feed for the horses in the journey down and some of it
was left at points along the way where it would be needed for the return trip. Each horse
was loaded with two bushels of salt. At the earliest period of the settlement it required the
price of a good cow and calf to purchase a bushel of salt. When filling the measure, no
one was allowed to walk heavily across the floor, for fear of shaking the salt down and
getting too much into the measure.
Hunting was a serious occupation and not a pleasant diversion. Out of the woods the
settler procured a good part of his food, and his furs were exchanged for his rifles, am-
munition, salt, and other necessities.
As soon as the leaves were blown from the trees, the men became restless, nothing
pleased them. They became irritable. The cabin was too warm. The feather -bed was too
soft. Even the wife was not a fit companion. They began to speak of little except the hunt,
and soon a group would be off. They studied the habits of the animals with the assiduity of
the naturalist. They selected the camp with the greatest of care. The site had to be secure
from the cold north winds and from the observation of Indian and game. They studied the
movements of the different animals. They knew the deer herd would be found in a sheltered
spot when the cold north winds were blowing and on a high dry place in rainy weather.
They knew the points of the compass and could guide themselves through trackless forest by
observing the bark and moss on the trees.
They were very superstitious. If bitten by a rattlesnake, the reptile had to be killed at
all costs, cut into two-inch sections, laid on the wound to draw out the poison and the
pieces then burned; afterwards an application of boiled chestnut leaves was made. Charms
and incantations were used in the treatment of many diseases. There were remedies in the
garden and forest for all manner of diseases and the use was learned from the Indians. Walnut
bark stripped downward was used for an entirely different purpose from walnut bark stripped
upward. The children suffered greatly from croup, which was called "bold hives" and they
were treated with garlic or onion juice. Sweating and bleeding were used for everything.
The young people married early. There was no distinction of rank and very little of
fortune. Their marriage customs show the crude state of the society of the backwoods people.
The marriage was celebrated at the home of the bride and she selected the priest. The whole
neighborhood came and the frolic was eagerly anticipated by old and young. The wedding
was the only gathering not accompanied by the work of log -rolling, reaping, building, or
campaigning.
On the morning of the wedding, the groom and his attendants assembled at his house.
They had to reach the home of the bride before noon. Their march, in double file, was often
interrupted by the narrowness and obstructions of the horse -paths, as they were called. There
were no roads. Good or bad neighbors often felled trees or tied grapevines across the way.
Sometimes an ambuscade was formed by the wayside and an unexpected discharge of several
guns took place. If the sudden spring of a horse threw his rider and a limb was sprained, it
was tied with a handkerchief and little more was said or thought about it.
Another event on the way was the race for the bottle. About a mile before the party
reached the bride's -house two young men were selected to race for it. The worse the path -
the more thickets, brush, and deep hollows - the better, as these afforded greater opportunity
for display of horsemanship. The bottle was filled with the best wiskey possible to obtain
and tied with a ribbon. The one who reached the bottle first, raced back and gave it to the
groom. After he had a drink, it was passed on back to everyone and returned to the groom.
The bottle was cal led Black Betty and continued to have a conspicuous part throughout the
0
0
wedding celebrations.
The marriage preceded the dinner which was at noon. Dancingcontinued through the
night and for several days. The figures of the dance were three -and four -handed reels or
square sets and jigs. If anyone tried to slip away to sleep he was dragged out and the fiddler
played "Hang Out Till Morning."
About 9 or 10 o'clock some of the young women stole the bride and put her to bed. Then
some of the young men did the same to the groom. After the couple were "bedded," as it was
expressed, the young people gathered in the room.. Some stockings were rolled into a ball.
Each girl, in turn, stood with her back to the bed and threw the ball at the bride's head.
Then each man did the same, trying to hit the groom's head. .The first to hit either head
would be the first to marry. Later food and Black Betty were sent up to the bride and groom.
The celebrations continued for several days or until everyone was exhausted.
The German settlers were thrifty and industrious. Unlike the exclusive tobacco -growers
of other parts of the province they raised corn, wheat, and other crops. They also knit yarn
stockings, tanned leather, made harness and linen goods, and prepared honey and apple
butter. They built up a trade with Baltimore, carrying their goods at first in strings of 6 or
8 pack horses and later in large covered carts, called Conestoga wagons, made in Pennsylvania.
A stranger could hardly get away; the settlers were so glad to see him and to have news
of the outside world. Hospitality was so widespread that even an inn -keeper had to notify his
guests if he intended to charge them for what he served; otherwise he could not collect his
bill.
There is an amusing diary by a man named Ebenezer Cook, a tobacco buyer, or as he
called himself, a "sot -weed factor." Describing his visit to Maryland in 1700, he wrote:
"So after hearty entertainment
Of drinks and victuals without payment;
For Planters' Tables, you must know,
Are free for al I that come and go.
While Pon and milk, with mush well stoar'd
In Wooden Dishes grac'd the Board;
With Homine and Syder-pap,
(Which scarce a hungry dog would lap)
Well-stuff'd with fat from Bacon fry'd,
Or with mollasses dulcify'd.
Then out our Landlord pulls a Pouch
As greasy as the Leather Couch
On which he sat, and straight begun
To load with Weed his Indian Gun.
His Pipe smock'd out, with awful Grace,
The reverend sire walks to a Chest
From thence he.lugs a Cog of Rum."
While he did not seem to enjoy his supper of corn -pone and hominy, he wrote more
cheerfully about the breakfast the next morning:
"I did to Planter's Booth repair,
And there at Breakfast nobly fare
On rashier broil'd of infant Bear;
I thought the cub delicious meat,
Which ne'er did ought but Chestnuts eat."
He had very little rest the night before for he says:
"Not yet from Plagues exempted quite,
The Curst Muskitoes did me bite."
His diary shows us that he found the settlers more than a match for him in business dealings.
He had so much to complain of, that we can be sure he never returned to Maryland again.
bandolier --shoulder belt with cartridge loops.
noggins --small mug.
linsey--coarse wool or linen woven by hand.
L71141eel". 220 1
Scharf, J. Thomas
"History of Maryland" 1879
Scharf, J. Thomas
"History of Western Maryland" 1882
Williams, T. J. C.
"History of Washington County, Maryland" 1906
10
INDIAN LORE
WASHINGTON COUNTY was a magnificent hunting ground for the Indians who fought
for it among themselves and invaded it from the north and the south, just as the Blue and the
Gray did many years later. Of these disputes there are only traditions. The Delaware from
the north met here the Catawba from the south, and the battles between them were extremely
bloodthirsty. Some of these took place about the time when the white settlers were friendly
with the Indians and until a later period were entirely unmolested by them. Many settlements
of early colonists grew up along the banks of the Antietam which still bear the traces of the
conquest of the land from the wilderness and the Indians. In the earliest days of which we
have record the Shawnees came to the banks of the Antietam. Always moving to and fro,
warring against other tribes, the Shawnees, the most restless of them all, moved to the west and
the Antietam saw no more of them. But others came who were more powerful men and great
fighters, the Delawares from Pennsylvania and their hereditary enemies, the Catawbas from
the Carolinas.
We know of two great battles which took place in the valley, one where the Antietam --
the other where the Conococheague--empty their waters into the Potomac. It is interesting to
notice the occurrence of fords, at the mouth of the streams, which were ofsuch great importance
to the Indians who made no bridges. At the mouth of the Conococheague where Williamsport
now stands, and where the creek enters the Potomac, there was one of these crossings. Here a
great battle was fought between the Delaware and the Catawba tribes and all types of imple-
ments of Indian warfare have been unearthed beside the stream. Again below Sharpsburg,
where the Antietam flows into the river, there was a famous fight --bones, skulls, and arrow-
heads can be scratched out of the earth today. This fight was so illustrative of Indian
character: the story is told of the Delawares returning from one of their forays to the country of
the Catawbas, of being overtaken by the Catawbas, of every Delaware brave with a single
exception being killed and scalped and every Catawba warrior, save one, having one or more
scalps to show after the victory; without delay he pursued the surviving fugitive for fully 100
miles, the fugitive overtaken was slaughtered and scalped, the Catawba returned home tri-
umphant. There is a story of Indian love quite as terrible in its way as this one of Indian hate.
According to tradition, there lived upon "Red Hill" near Keedysville, a settler, his wife and
two children. Hearing the terrible sounds of Indian battle, the family took refuge in a hiding
place on South Mountain. They hid for days, suffering for want of food and exposed to the
weather and the constant fear of being discovered, reduced to such a state of terror and weak-
ness that when they returned home the mother and son died and the daughter's health was
greatly injured. While staying with some neighbors living near Belinda Springs, Rosalind, the
daughter, drank the water of this spring and her health was restored. (This was the first dis-
covery of the medicinal value of that spring, which afterward became popular.) Here a
Catawba chief saw her and fell in love with her and demanded her for his wife. Rosalind and
her father were horrified at such a proposal but the savage was not to be repulsed; prowling
around the house and awaiting his chance, one night he shot the father and carried Rosalind,
never to be heard of again, to his wigwam. Another most bloody battle was fought at the mouth'
of the Conococheague, after the settlement of Conococheague had begun, in which but one
Delaware escaped death by running into the house of Charles Friend.
There are remains of Indian settlements in various parts of the county. Arrowheads and
stone pipes and tomahawks have been found and Indian skeletons exhumed around the great
spring at Fountain Rock --the college of St. James. Just outside of Williamsport there was
an Indian graveyard, which probably contained the bodies of those who fell in battle. Along
the Potomac there are many Indian relics, and in the neighborhood of Sharpsburg mounds have
been discovered, some of which have been destroyed; others have been excavated and have
been found to contain numerous interesting archaeological specimens: arrow -heads, pestles,
skinning -knives, tomahawks of superior workmanship, stone implements and curiously wrought
stones. Stone mounds, some 6 by 12 feet, composed of small stones, disclosed a grave
ingeniously constructed beneath --the bottom laid with flat stones, the sides and the ends com-
posed of the same, set up in a slanting position, the covering a large flat stone, built in the
form of a comb -roof as of a house. In these mounds were remains of skeletons, some broken
pieces of pottery and a stone knife.
The French and Indian War not only called the settlers away from the cabins to fight, but
it had a much worse consequence: the Indians, allies of the French, were loosed upon the
settlements to murder women and children.
After the fatal battle where Braddock lost his life, the Indians kept up warfare upon the
settlements, burning, scalping and carrying victims into captivity and being, in their turn,
hunted like wild beasts for a period of two years. This war upon the settlers of this county
was so ferocious that for a time scarcelya white person was left west of South Mountain.
George Washington wrote of it in 1756, when the war was at its height. "The whole settle-
ment of Conococheague in Maryland is fled, and there remains only two families from thence
to Frederictown." There were a few houses strongly built for defense, which served as Forts
for the people who remained. One was the house of Moses Chaplin, in the neighborhood of
Keedysville. Another, Thomas Cressap°s, the old Indian fighter, on Long Meadows. Fort
Frederick was built near Hancock and many took refuge in it. But almost all had fled for
safety to the older settlements where they were pursued by parties of the Indians within thirty
miles of Baltimore. Among the Marylanders who accompanied Braddock was Col. Thomas
Cressap who fought the Indians with the utmost ferocity.
Many deeds of horror were perpetrated night after night, many perished by the tomahawk.
These were the most fortunate. It was those who were carried into captivity or reserved for
torture, whose fate most excites our pity. Some who were carried into captivity escaped, and
returned to their homes after years of suffering. But many were carried away, never to be
heard from again. Children were brought up among the Indians and forgot their native tongue.
Some time in the 1700's--the Great -great-grandparents of John S. Kausler (Hagerstown,
Maryland) were massacred by the Indians in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The remainder
of the family moved to York County, Pennsylvania. While living there, John Kausler, a lad
If eight years, and great-grandfather of John S. Kausler, was playing along the road with his
sister, two and a half years old. A band of Indians came along and carried her off. No trace
was ever found of her. Later in life the brother moved to Washington County, Maryland, and
married. His wife was scalped by the Indians, (between Williamsport and Hagerstown) --it
did not kill her, but produced a running sore, the grafting of skin being unknown. Each time
Indians came to the settlement to barter, Mr. Kausler, still looking for his long -lost sister,
would go to the camp to see if any of them bore traces of white blood. One time as he
imagined he saw some such signs in a squar, he bought some beads and trinkets and several
dresses and took them out to the camp and gave them to her. Such were thr tragedies of our
forefathers.
Captain Robert Elliott, a settler of Hagerstown, was killed by a party of Indians on the
12
13
Muskingum, while on his way to join General Wayne's army. The story goes that Captain
Elliott wore a wig. The savage who shot him hurried foreword to scalp him, but when
having drawn his knife, he seized him by the hair, the scalp to his astonishment came off.
The Indian looked at it and exclaimed: "Dam lie!" Can't you imagine his amazement and
the amusement of his companions?
One Jeremiah Jack leaped into the River from a high rocky cliff overhanging the Poto-
mac above Williamsport and swam to safety --to escape the scalping knife. But one could
to on and on with tales of remarkable escapes from the Indians which are too long to be told
at this time.
In Hagerstown, old Oak Spring was a meeting place of the Indians, and it is told that
an aged Indian, who passed through in 1816, recognized the Spring as the one at which he
had often quenched his thirst in his boyhood.
In successive battles in the North, the Warriors of the Five Nations met defeat. In
Maryland, Governor Sharpe raised the bounty on scalps, thereby stimulating the rangers and
patrols to such tireless activities that, before long the power of the savage was forever
broken in the East. Soon nothing remained where he had once reigned supreme, save the
soft, harmonious names of the mountains, valleys and streams.
CONOCOCHEAGUE SETTLEMENT
Where the serpentine, tree-embowered Conococheague Creek mildly flows at long last
into the Potomac, there secretively rest --just as they did two hundred years ago-- the
clustered homes of a settlement. Quaint houses peer at us; still, quiet fields ripple around
the township's edge; but no more the solitary, warning blockhouse, the ever -ready musket,
the light, moccosined football. Changed the name, changed the temper of a time long dead.
Once called by the native Indian name, Conococheague--meaning "a long way" because of
the stream's circuitous pathway --the town now flourishes under another title. Williamsport --
a sane, safe, comfortable name apportioned out under sane, safe, and comfortable circum-
stances. Down a street where famous men rode ( in those dogs famous men never walked) --I
speak of George Washington, General Braddock, General Otho Holland Williams, Judge
John Buchanan and, in a later day, General Jackson, General Lee, --cars now flutter past
like autumn leaves blown spinningly over asphalt. Facetiously and proudly this little town
hides its place in history --a history flowered from soil soaked in blood from the gory Warlock.
Its harbors a mighty tale, not alone of the "Beautiful Valley of the Antietam and of the
Conococheague" but of our whole vast West.
We cannot say for a surety when the Conococheague Settlement was first begun. Ac-
cording to the authority, Williams, we are told that Charles Friend was the first settler to
obtain legal title to land in this district. According also to Williams, this tract, "Sweed's
Delight, " was dated '1739. Scharf enters two dates for this grant: one, August 13, 1738;
the other entry, July 11, 1739. In any event, whichever date is correct, i t is interesting
to note that Friend's legal title preceded the first land claims of -Jonathan Hager,_ who,. in.
the latter part of 1739 was judicious enough to turn "tomahawk rights" into land grants and
become eventually the founder of a present day Hagerstown. We must all realize that oc-
cupation of these tracts took place probably several years before any legal claim was made
to them. References, for instance, to the lone Delaware Indian who escaped from his pur-
suing foes, the Cotowbas of the South, by seeking refuge in Charles Friend's homestead,
brings the date to 1736. History relates .how in the case of Hager, he was living on his
land prior to his legal claims of 1739. In fact, prior to the settler's being granted legal
ownership of the land, he was required by law to give proof of his occupation of it. Further-
more, while unwise to consider assumptions in dealing with history we have some logical
right to think that the first settlers were not in a true sense discoverers. The adventurous
spirits who first penetrated our wilderness ;were not of the material that established home-
steads; they were the nomadic forerunners who, in the spirit of adventure and wanderlust as
suredly preceded the home -founding Charles Friend, just as Friend's establishing of his
household must have preceded his legal claim to "Sweed's Delight. "
To continue the argument for an earlier date of settlement that is popularly supposed, I
call attention to Joist Hite and his followers who are commonly called the first settlers this
side of the Blue Ridge Mountains and who came in 1732.' This date is repeatedly referred to
by historians --in spite of a footnote entered in the Fourth Edition of :Kercheval's "A History
If the Valley of Virginia -which states that settlers "quite conclusively" were known to be
in Shepherdstownas early as 1717, and which also implies that inhabitants were there even
prior to that date. From perusal of various sources of material, I have come to the con-
clusion that smoke was rising from a few -scattered cabins of a settlement on the Potomac,
known by 1732 as "Conococheague." Here a large creek met the river, and there the junction
14
15
of two bodies of water provided fertile plains and pleasant lowlands. After an arduous climb
over the rocky, wooded Blue Hills, here was the logical resting place for a generation baited
on by the next chain of mountains --a place of settlement which could serve as a springboard
for the West. The dream was realized in 1763 with the signing of the treaty of Paris, a treaty
which pushed the Red Man back to the Mississippi.
Indeed, until the outbreak of the French and Indian War in 1755, the valley settler had
pushed on his pursuits with a remarkable degree of unhindered preoccupation. Stop to con-
sider --and at once the historian realizes that progress could only have been made in the face
of peace, a peace with the red residents of a country which abounded in water and game for
all concerned. Kercheval enumerates the plentiful game when he speaks of the "buffalo, elk,
deer, bear, panther, wild cat, wolf, fox, beaver, otter, and all other kinds of animals, wild
fowl, etc." Realize, too, that these vast supplies of animals were attracted by the de-
forested, prairie -like reaches of valley land which likewise lured the pioneer. Ironically
enough the settler found such pleasant flats helpful to his cultivation. I say "ironically," for
it was the Indian who burned over and kept the land prairie -like for the much -hunted buffalo
which scorned the woodland. Here, then, is a vicious circle if ever there was one!
In the heart of this fertile rolling valley, now put your finger on its much lush and logical
spot. For there rested the old Conococheague Settlement, secure on its two waterways, rich
in the important but generally scarce timber, its highways and byways beaten by animal and
Indian footfalls which led to an ancient ford over the wide Potomac. There, too, were wild
beginnings from old Indian encampments where the aboriginies had pitched their tepees on
their long treks over the 'Indian. Road." Years come and gone had seen the Red Man pass
through the site of this village over the ancient Indian trail, later to be used by the first white
settlers and called "the Pennsylvania Road." Today, the main highway south follows this same
trail over the Potomac and on down through the Valley of Virginia.
For the first settler at Conococheague we may then picture a fertile if slightly trampled
spot. Here moved the young colonist, eager for a safe and comfortable home. At the mouth
of the Conococheague he found his first toe -hold. His choice was strengthened by opinions from
the past --the trail, the watercourse, the look of occupancy. In the midst of a few friendly
valley Indians, he made his first fire on the banks of the Potomac (or Cohongoruton as the
Potomac was called in its upper reaches above Harper's Ferry. Fairfax purportedly was the first
to use the name "Potomack.") His Indian neighbors probably looked on with interest. The
picture is colorful --the tall red -black -and yellow -striped bodies glittering in the shadows,
Indian blanket more often than not covering the grotesque applications of paint. Only a
solitary tuft of hair at the top of the head provided foot -hold for a knot of feathers. The outer
rims of the ears, practically cut away in some perverted effort at decoration, added to an
already savage appearance. Not winning associates at a glance, but men who were friendly
at that early time and who were allies in a wilderness where able work with the rifle and
tomahawk was of first-rate importance. These Tribesmen, familiar at Conococheague in the
early seventeen -thirties, were the enemy Catawbas and Delawares, as well as the trans -
Potomac Tuscaroroas who inhabited present-day Berkeley County, West Virginia. Here, too,
we must add that in 1730 and 1740 the Potomac River was not the boundary line it is today
or was, even, prior to the Revolutionary War when it separated holdings of two famous "Lords
Proprietary," Baltimore and Fairfax. When first the Cohongaruton's lappings fell on the ear
of the earliest settler as he slept fitfully by his campfire, the river cut one bank from the other
only in its inaccessibility --not, as it does today, in geographical and historical fact. Even as
late as 1767 it was merely "expected" that the South Branch of the Potomac River would be the
boundary line between the land holdings of Lord Baltimore and Lord Fairfax.
The Congressional Library harbors an entertaining document called a "A Plain and
Friendly Persuasive to the Inhabitants of Virginia and Maryland For Promoting Towns and
Cohabitation --By a Well -Wisher to Both Governments." The fly -leaf reads, "London -
Printed by John Humfreys in Bartholomew Lane, 1705." Of such stuff are the tides of empire
swayed. The article is not unduly "plain," certainly not "friendly" in the sight of subsequent
historic events, but no one in his right mind could deny that it is most assuredly "persuasive."
Another advertisement urging settlement was printed in 1732 by Charles, Lord Baltimore, who
at this time had his attention directed to certain fertile but undeveloped parts in his domain.
On March second of the same year he published most pleasant offers in connection with the
cultivation of specific "back lands on the northern or western boundaries of our said province."
Was it such documents as these that during the next twenty-five years lured, routed out and
led young men and their families to settle first our shore -lines, next the far sides of our
mountain ranges? At any rate, in time came the people of all nations --Scotch, Irish, English,
French, German, Swiss --burning with the spirit of unrest, fired by the urge for adventure.
Over the Blue Ridge they came, felt their hardy hearts quell in the face of an almost
impenetrable wilderness, and were thankful to find a haven in a verdant spot where they built
an outpost of civilization, known to history as the Conococheague Settlement.
No matter what jewels conjecture may offer us, positive historical facts do not precede
the year 1736. Around that time there was a reputed battle between the Delawares and the
Catawbas on Charles Friend's land. This tract was along the Potomac, in the present-day
vicinity of the Byron Tannery. The lone Delaware who escaped death at the hands of the
Catawbas by fleeing to Friend's house, proves my former contention: that the red and white
men were mutually on the best of terms. Blood was shed --but only between the Indian foes
themselves. Various stories, told by eye -witnesses of the current events, support the tradition
of frequent and bloody encounters between the Northern and Southern tribes who passed and
repassed through Conococheague. Definite locations which still abound in arrowheads and
tomahawks, give further credence to numerous and large battles which were fought on the
placid river -edge. Very slight research will supply the reader with many horrendous tales
which had the settlement as a backdrop of their stage during the bloody years of the seventeen -
thirties.
Contrary to present supposition and eighteenth century moral intent, the Indians emphatically
sold their land with the idea of encouraging a "joint occupancy." This lofty but ephemeral
plan was advocated by Thomas Jefferson, Colonel William Byrd and other prominent Virginians
of the period. We all know to what eictent this idea succeeded! And, since the indictment has
ever been great, let us add another solitary and sour note: the Indians preferred the Pennsyl-
vanian settlers to the Virginian. The quiet, Quakerish policy of Penn's followers made possible
a faster development of the Valley than would have been possible under direction of the
Virginians whom the Indians devastatingly called "Long Knife." Kercheval adds, however,
With dispassionate pessimism, that the Indians "soon found to their cost that Pennsylvanians
were not much better than others!" Ominous is the statement that Conococheague was often
referred to by contemporary writers as a "Scotch -Irish Settlement" --particularly when we are
told that the Scotch -Irish" had an inveterate propensity for making trouble with the Indians."
But as yet the seed was merely scattered; in the early years of settlement neither white man
nor red could see the nature of the plant to come nor the type of bloom to wave above a stalk so
insecurely started.
Washington County was still a part of Frederick County at the time when Conococheague
become its first settlement beyond the Blue Ridge. (It remained so until 1776 when Frederick
County was subdivided and one section was given the name of the Commander -in -Chief of the
16
17
Armies.) The long, difficult name of Conococheague was the cause of much variegated
notation and of much fun -making in the early days of its history. We know that Governor
Sharpe wrote the name intemittently, "Conogogee," "Conogsgee," and "Conogochegh."
General Braddock, in his diary, spelled it, "Conocogee," "Connogogee," and "Conogoee"
before he finally settled down, still uncertainly no doubt, to the last given spelling. The
Maryland Gazette generally printed the name with the present-day order of lettering. When
the prominent men of the period found Conococheague a perfect Charybdis for spelling, is
it any wonder that the untutored simply referred to "that place with the long name"?
Surely it must have been in spite of its name that Conococheague became "important as
being the outpost of Civilization in the province." Ever a center for fur -trading, it became
more important as a stronghold when a blockhouse was built and a mill set in operation.
Apparently, too, Colonel Thomas Cresap built a stone house there in addition to his home at
Long Meadows and his hunting lodge further up the Potomac. A pamphlet issued by the
Williamsport Chamber of Commerce places this dwelling at Springfield Farm. An historical
allusion in "Williams" strengthens this note: On Washington's trip to Williamsport in 1790,
he told Elie Williams that more than thirty years before he had visited the spot. "He pointed
uut to his host, as they stood at the fountain on Springfield Farm, an old hut, which he said
was the only improvement to be seen on the face of the country thirty years before. This but
had been the dwelling of the noted Colonel Cresap." In a private letter of correspondence,
Mr. William J..Showalter, Chief of the Division of Research of the National Geographic
Magazine, said that "Washington first was in Conococheague when he rode there from
Frederick, Maryland, to Winchester, Virginia, with General Braddock, on Saturday, May 3,
1755; the second time was between July 15 and July 19, 1756." Washington recorded on
July 15 that he was leaving Fort Cumberland and marching to "Conogochieg." From there he
wrote on Sunday, July 18, "The troops are not to march until tomorrow morning, two o'clock --
the waggoners to have all their houses picketed to -night, so that no delay may be offered
tomorrow." By July 19 he was in Winchester. More original spellings of Conococheaguel
But more important, definite allusions to Washington's visit to the settlement at the specified
period. The Williamsport pamphlet claims that the Cresap property was sold direct from
Colonel Cresap to the Williams family (parents of General Otho Holland Williams) in 1750.
If Cresap had a home or lodge at Conococheague, the fact is interesting as well as ill -
recorded in history. As for Washington, he had made, in spite of Mr. Showalter's assertion,
an earlier trip into this section on his apparently first survey -period. That he did know
Thomas Cresap, however, at this early date, is clear from the material found in his diary,
which refers to Cresap's hunting -lodge up the river (probably the one at Old Town) and
which reads:
1748 --- March 21st.---
"Travelled up ye Maryland side in a continued rain all ye day to Col. Cresap's, right
against ye north branch, I believe ye worst roads ever travell'd by man or beast."
March 22nd.---
"Continued rain and ye freshet kept us at Cresaps"
March 23rd.---
"Rained till about 2 o'clock, when we were surprised by thirty odd Indians coming from
war with a scalp. Gave Indians liquor and induced them to give war dance."
Perhaps if Cresap had a house at Conococheague, it takes precedence in point of view
of time over his dwelling at Long Meadows. Since Conococheague was settled prior to
Hagerstown and Long Meadows, the possibility remains that Cresap, along with the other
pioneers, may have made the Settlement his first stopping -place. If so, we know the
doughty Cresap tarried but briefly --for he suffered mightily from the wanderlust, as his
Ulysses -like wanderings proved.
As in other frontier settlements of the period, once begun the actual progress in the
development of Conococheague continued rapidly. With a cabin built, a small crop raised,
came a gift of four hundred acres of land, plus "a pre-emption right to one thousand acres of
land adjoining, to be secured by a land office warrant." The days of the "Tomahawk right,"
when a few blazed trees at a spring gave a man undisputed possession of the "improvement,"
were fast waning. Many early land grants prove this contention by their very existence and,
at the same time, pass on to history the names of their owners as the pioneer fathers of the
Valley of the Antietam and the Conococheague.
Kercheval tells us that in 1734 the familiar names on the Cohongoruton were Robert
Harper, the founder of Harper's Ferry, William Stroop, Thomas andWilliamForester, Israel
Friend, Thomas Shephard, Thomas Swearengen, Van Swearengen, James Forman, Edward Lucas,
Jacob Hite (son of Joist Hite), John Lemon, Richard Mercer, Edward Mercer, Robert Buckles,
John Taylor, Samuel Taylor, Richard Morgan, and John Wright. A handful of these names
may be definitely tied to the Conococheague Settlement. Names found in an old ledger
(unearthed by workmen in my house "Maidstone -on -the -Potomac," Berkeley County, W. Va.)
and dated 1782-1788, give a further idea of the families settled at this particular spot.
There is reference to Gabriel, Jacob, and Joseph Friend, possible sons of Charles Friend, of
Jacob, John, and Peter Light, a Virginia family which had land holdings in the town of
Conococheague. Other names are of the Virginians, Alexander and William Porterfield, a
family which intermarried with the Lights; of the notable transient, George Stockton, whose
story I shall tell later; of Christian Ardinger, ferryman and racetrack promoter. History is not
pedantically aided by reference to "Old" Charles Collins and "Old. Sprouts," but the ledger
gravely records the some. John Wright, perhaps the some as in Kercheval's list, is mentioned,
along with Elijah Wright, John Raifsnider, Daniel Bowen, Daniel Hollinger, James Jack and
Moses Jeffries. There are other names --but with a less familiar ring, --long lists of men who
met at Peter Light's early tavern, accesible to both sides of the Potomac, and there drank
recorded drinks of cherry bounce, wine sling, cideroyl, songaree, maple toddy, "Egnog," and
rum, as well as nine other concoctions not here noted.
The earliest land grants at the Settlement were taken out by Charles Friend, his "Sweed's
Delight" of 1738-39; by Jeremiah Jack, with his "Jack's Bottom," of December 12, 1739;
and another by Charles Friend with his "Dear Bargain" of December 18, 1741 . In 1778
Jeremiah Jack deeded his tract of 175 acres to the afore mentioned Jacob Friend. In 1787
Jacob received two more tracts called, respectively, "White Oak Swamp," and Charles
Friend's "Dear Bargain." Three more tracts come under Jacob's name --"Scruple," entered
May 26, 1764; "None Left," May 16, 1780; and "Trifle," August 8, 1781 .
In a Packet of early "Indentures" which I possess, there are entered several names of
owners and of their grants. Some of these tracts fell, I believe, in and about Conococheague.
as though the papers are merely surveyors' notes. And, from the nature of their foldings, look
gh they hqd been carried in the proverbial breast -pocket. One paper, dated 1760,
�J
18
contains notations on property deeded from Jacob Bowman to Jacob Zeller. Bowman's
signature is written on various deeds in a heavy German script. Was this man a grandson of
Joist Hite, whose son-in-law was George Bowman? Jacob Zeller, a former captain in the
Revolutionary War, was a prominent citizen and land -owner of the period. He owned
property outside of Conococheague on both the Greencastle and Hagerstown sides as well as
in the Settlement proper. Surveyor's notes refer to various grants:
"Bakers Lookout," "Mulberry Fields" (the surveyor was forever writing "Marlboro" and
having to correct himself), "Walnut Bottom," "Honey Hill," "Egypt," "New Stone" (granted
John Boyd as early as November 29, 1739), "Smithfield," "Woolf's Lott," "New Store,"
"Resurvey on Bachellor's Delight," "Old Store," "Great Trouble," (deeded May 22, 1760,
Jacob Bowman to Jacob Zeller), "Salem," "Baker's Delight," "Friendship," "Mount Airy
Resurveyed," "Castle Plains," "Wolf's Delight," and "Good Neighbour."
Many of these tracts lie, no doubt, far afield from Conococheague. But the resurveying
of various of these grants in 1787 (for the benefit of Jacob Zeller) makes me at least suspect
that a few were in or near the Settlement --for in that year of 1787 Conococheague was formally
laid out into a township and its name changed to Williams Port. While my earliest "Indentures"
are dated 1760, reference in the surveyor's notes are made to much earlier land grants. On
the outsides of two of the earliest Indentures, we find such notations:
"June the 18th, 1760 Received of Jacob Zeller the sum of two shillings sterling as an
alienation fine on the within mentioned twenty-four acres of land by order of Edward Loyd,
Esq., agent of his Lordship the rights honourable the Lord proprietary of Maryland.
Jno Darnall
Duty paid Jna Darnall Clk.
Of further note of interest is the simple manner in which the surveyors laid off their
boundaries. Each landholder of Conococheague had deeds which read something like this:
" Ten links from a White Oak tree marked with nine notches ---- (the dashes
indicate numerical notations) to a stone standing near and between two Spanish Oak Saplings
----to a stone standing by a Spanish Oak marked with nine notches ---- to a White Oak
Sapling marked with nine notches ----to a stone standing by a double Red Oak tree marked
with eighteen notches "-----and so ad infinitem. Furthermore, this remarkable form was made
out by one of three surveyors appointed to the County in 1787, a gentleman by the name of
Thomas Brooke. Apparently Mr. Brooke's informal form of report, combined with the accuracy
of his surveying, was quite acceptable to the officials of the land office of Marylandl
A few of the more outstanding names which may indisputably be attached to ConococheagL
are those of the Friends, the Van Lears, the Dahls, the Buchanans and the Williams. Of
course, in a transitory spirit we may briny in George Washington and his various visits; even
Daniel Boone and his propensity for making the Old Conococheague Settlement his lost supply
post for the West; also Braddock in his scarlet and gold --his supplies likewise stored in the
same trusted haven. But the local names of interest are not too many for inspection and should
be considered with some emphasis put upon their very existence in so arduous a resting place.
The first family of known historical importance was that of the oft -referred to Friends.
They were a hardy lot, their name the first to be legally recorded in Conococheague in 1738 or
19
1739. Three Friend brothers came from Switzerland in 1732. Note - According to more
recent data (Jacob Horn Diary) Friend was of Scotch -Irish descent. This ancestry seems more
logical than the Swiss. That was the year Lord Baltimore advertised his back lands, and in
that year or the next it is not unlikely that Charles Friend penetrated the(lands beyond the
Blue Ridge. Kercheval mentions the name of Israel Friend as being one of those well known on
the Upper Potomac by 1734. Israel was very likely one of the three brothers. We know that
Charles lived at Conococheague and already had a house there by 1736--from the incident
of the fugitive Delaware. In my old ledger of 1782-1788 are entered the names of Gabriel,
Jacob, and Joseph Friend, undoubtedly sons of Charles. Of Jacob, we know that he, with
two others, was appointed in 1775 to raise county funds in Conococheague for the arming of
companies in the Revolutionary War. Beside the Conococheague Creek, solitary and weather-
beaten, stands today his gravestone. In the midst of pasture -land, forsaken, its companion
monoliths crumbled and eradicated by time, the old marble slab bows toward the mouldy bones
beneath. The stone's slant has preserved the quaint epitaph from erosion and has guarded with
remarkable lucidity these words:
"Reader, WHOSOEVER thou art,
Thy life must surely end;
Prepare in time that GOD may be
Thine everlasting FRIEND."
The stone is dated, September 18, 1738 - February 10, 1802. (The St. Patrick's Day's flood
of 1936 righted this tombstone.)
Later members of this family were buried in.Riverview Cemetary in Williamsport where
their graves still rest. One ancient stone attracts, however, particular attention --after the
caretaker has hauled it up out of fifteen inches of earth; for from the buried inscription we
learn that one intrepid lady, Elizabeth Friend, had the great luck to be born on April 31 ,
17661 May even her bones rest in peace
Possible the most prominent name connected with the history of the town was that of
Williams. Otho Holland Williams was an able general under Washington. At the end of his
military career, being still young and active, Williams laid out the township as it is today.
It was accordingly given its newer name of Williams Port in 1787 when the cumbersome title
of Conococheague Settlement fell into disuse.
As previously stated, Springfield Farm is said to have come into the hands of Joseph
Williams in 1750 from Col. Cresap. The illustrious, brilliant young son of Joseph, Otho
Holland, was born before the family's trek to new boundaries --just one year prior, in Prince
George's County. His career during the Revolution gave him a worthy and luminous name to
Pass on to his home on the Conococheague. His health impaired by his military campaigns,
the weary, retired officer died unexpectedly at Woodstock, Virginia, in his forty-fifth year.
His brother, Col. Elie Williams, also served in the Continental army, and after the Revolution,
was appointed clerk of the Washington County Court. In the latter capacity many papers have
come down to us, signed in his flourishing, legal hand -writing. It is interesting to note that
Elie's son, Otho Holland Williams 2nd, also served as clerk of the Court in the same capacity
as his father before him. His signature, at a much later date, is not to be confused with that
of his illustrious uncle's, the first Otho Holland. Today at Riverview Cemetary, on the crest
Of land donated to the town by the General, lies his honored grave, a monument of decent
date (1882) assuring continued years of tribute to "A distinguished patriot and hero in the Armies
Of the United States."
20
21
On this same promintory above the Potomac, where mossy graves quickly proclaim their
age and early inscriptions defy translation through their film of lichen, next to the Williams'
lot rests another impressive grave --that of Judge John Buchanan, a son-in-law of Col. Elie
Williams. He, too, was born in Prince George's county --in 1772. As associate Judge from
1806 to 1824, we are told that he was Chief Justice from 1824 till his death in 1854. His
beautiful inscription reads:
"An incorruptible Judge who kept
his Ermine white.
In his life was the law of
truth; in his counsel, the
Stamp of Wisdom and Love,
His decisions were tempered with
Justice and Mercy and his life
was an ornament to the world
wherever he was known."
His uncared-for "Woodland," built after the plan of "Homewood" in Baltimore, stands outside
of Williamsport. A feeling of spaciousness and living -on -the -grand scale still lingers around
the ruins of the exquisitely proportioned dwelling. There is still even a trace of the terraced
garden where roses, heliotrope, mignonette and box must have once flung back their fragrance
to the huge banquet -room where five, sixteen -foot -high windows opened out their wainscoting
onto a now mystical veranda.
"Woburn," was the home of John's able brother, Judge Thomas Buchanan. It stands a few
miles off- in the same community as "Woodland."
"Dahlton," the lovely but derelict old house on the outskirts of Williamsport, facing the
Hagerstown Pike, gives mute testimony of its once wealthy builders, the Dahls. This family
later intermarried with the neighboring Buchanans of "Woodland."
Nor must we forget that in a later day Gen.. Ringgold lived not far from Conococheague,
nor that the town was ever free of his business dealings and his sporting proclivities for the
race -track. His enormous land grant, made in 1792, of twenty -some thousand acres, was
reminiscently called Conococheague Manor.
Other names, many of them, flit in and out of the pages of books, of yellowed old papers.
They are the names of men who helped make the history of their day, who shaped the temper
of their times --through business, politics and the very common but complicated business of
merely living.
An interesting question --just how those people went about their daily chores and pastimes.
It is a question which involves both the manners and the business of the period. Let us
unobtrusively lift the lid and look at the goings and comings of these early men and women of
Conococheague.
To begin with, these especial settlers were no different from hundreds, maybe thousands
of others, throughout our early frontiers. They were a hardy lot as exemplified by both their
mode of dressing and the very food they ate. The linsey petticoat of the women, the hunting -
shirt of the men--tight-girded with a belt which often held both the bullet -bag and mittens, --
the short -laved and for from water -proof moccasin; the shaved, wigged heads of the married
men and the tight calico -capped or coarse sunbonneted heads of the women, all were familiar
to the founders of Conococheague. In their log -cabin homes, with the single room and its
accompanying "loft," they cooked their simple fare of hog and hominy, alleviated in summer
by vegetables from the small garden -patch, and served up these meals with iron or wooden
implements on wooden or pewter bowls. Kercheval and Doddridge give us lively accounts of the
customs surrounding the wedding, the house-warming. These accounts are remarkable for their
vivacity and have apparently attracted the historian from their earliest jottings -down, for every
subsequent history of any consequence has taken out wholesale passages on these merry -making
subjects --the extraction being sometimes acknowledged, sometimes notl But at any rate, from
the accounts we may conclude that the Conococheague Settler had his moments of fun --made
more hilarious by their infrequency and the over -balancing of sterner pursuits. Most of the time
the man spent in hewing his farm out of rough, over -grown land; in Conococheague, after the
Indian disorders, he had to combine farming with short -notice soldiering.
A notable example of the hardiness of the Conococheague Settler --even as late as the
year 1776--is left us by an eye witness of these sturdy men. In 1776, Congress ordered two
companies from Maryland to join the Continental forces at a camp in Boston. The first company
was commanded by Captain Michael Cresap, son of Thomas Cresap; the second company by
Captain Thomas Price under whom Otho Holland Williams marched as one of Prices two
lieutenants. Many of the men of both companies came directly from the Conococheague
Settlement itself. In Cresap's company there were one hundred and thirty men. They reached
Cambridge --a distance of five hundred and fifty miles --in twenty-two days. An onlooker left
a glowing account of their accomplishment in these words:
I have had the happiness of seeing Captain M. Cresap marching at the head of a
formidable company of upwards of one hundred and thirty men from the mountains and back-
woods, painted like Indians, armed with tomahawks and rifles, dressed in hunting shirts and
moccasins, and though some of them had traveled nearly eight hundred miles from the banks of
the Ohio, they seemed to walk light and easy, and not with less spirit that the first hour of their
march. . . . What would a regular army of considerable strength in the forest of America do
with one thousand of these men who want nothing to preserve their health and courage but water
from the spring, with a little parched corn and what they can easily procure in hunting, and who,
wrapped in their blankets in the damp of the night, would choose the shade of a tree for their
covering, and the earth for their beds?" Of such moral fiber were the forefathers of the hamlet
made.
The early Conococheague could have had no jails, no doctors' offices. Legal troubles were
settled in hand to hand encounters, or by the dreadful boomerang of concerted public opinion.
This last method acted so effectively in the days of necessity for the neighbors' good will that
model conditions existed. Lack of medical care, however, was not the success which willy-
nilly fell on court -free offenses. More often than not witchcraft was resorted to where medicinal
skill was sorely needed. Under surveillance the "old time remedies" do not look too sound, and
leave us unwittingly with an answer for the usual preference for inacantations, which at least
had the advantage of being colorful and exciting.
What did our littlest settlers do with their idle hours on the Cohongoruton and Conococheague?
They entered into sports and pastimes that, for the most part, were shared by their elders. Many
of these sports were borrowed from their Indian neighbors and friends. There were various games:
skill with the bow and arrow, competitive imitation of the sounds of the forest folk, tomahawk -
throwing in all its varied intricacy, "running, jumping, wrestling," shooting, dancing and the
age-old art of lengthy story -telling. Aside from play hours, we may be sure that our little
22
23
Colonists knew a good deal about work, and chores were done at an early age by the daughter
for her mother, the son for his father.
We should not omit mention of another sport which came later to figure in the history of
Conococheague. It was horse -racing. We know that prior to 1790 a regular race -course existed
at the Settlement --probably Otho Holland Williams' onhis "Springfield Farm." Unfortunately,
all available history on this sport falls at a later date, and at a period too late for use in this
paper. Christian Ardinger was one of the promoters of racing in Williams' Port. He was also a
ferryman and his name is found in my old ledger of 1782 as a patron of Peter Light's tavern on
the Virginia side of the river.
This mention of this ferry brings up another matter --the question of the currency of the
period. Williams tells us that up to 1805 "the rates for tavern charges had been fixed in British
or Colonial money." (Certainly the entries in my ledger were made in pounds, shillings, and
pence.) Ferry charges were overseen in a like manner --the rates being "fixed by the Judge of
the court and announced once each year." Spanish, French, English, German, even Arabian
money found its way into circulation. We are told that the Spanish "Joe" (Johoness), worth
sixteen dollars was the most prized and that its golden glitter was carefully hidden away. To my
knowledge, both here and across the river at Conococheague, English, French and. Spanish
pieces have been picked up in recent years, the metal corroded but the lettering not entirely
effaced. Think of it! --and of the foreign hands that dropped those coins in a soil grown nat!ve
to subsequent generations sprung from French, German, English, and Scotch -Irish stock.
Money bespeaks business. What trades, occupations, and pecuniary pursuits took place in
Conococheague prior to the dead -line date, 1787? To begin with, in the earliest days, the
Settlement had no tradespeople, just as it had no lawyers or doctors. It is difficult to imagine,
in our day, the self-sufficiency of these people within the confines of their small and humble
homes. Such staggering pursuits as weaving, tanning, shoemaking and grain -grinding (or, on
the large scale, milling) were all done by the family. Mills were probably, the first major
household problem to be treated extraneous to the home and on a grand scale. Certain it is that
many mills sprang up at an early date all over the county. In addition to mills for grain-grindin
there were also gunpowder mills and dying and fulling mills where hand -loomed materials were
left to be dyed --predominantly blue. (Six miles above the town a man by the name of William
Didenhover had either a gunpowder or a fulling mills on the banks of the Conococheague. Hist.
disputes his exact trade. Major Kerchner is purported to have had a mill of some kind or other
in the same vicinity.) There was a mill on the edge of town called Swengles's, one Kemp's,
two belonging to the Van Lears. Williams tells us that "the waters of the Antietam and Cono-
cocheague were turning numerous mill wheels" at the outbreak of the Revolution.. Close to the
Williamsport of today we may still see the remains of a few old mil Is, hipped -roofed, their
hand -made shingles mossy and weather -curled, their huge wheels no longer utilizing the water
which nostalgically eddies about them.
It is interesting to note that the various taverns of the period likewise served as stores. Jol
Smurr had a store a short distance from Conococheague; safely, I believe, we may list the same
as a tavern. Various stores are mentioned as being existent in Williamsport in the 1790's but
most of them probably sprang into existence with the Settlement's transformation into a townshiF
in 1787. On the other hand, it is not being too imaginative to suppose that these merchants, it
some cases, had long and tenuous roots sunk into the mysterious past of Conococheague. Every
business has had a faculty for passing on its traditions from father to son since time began. The
same is true for Conococheague.
This matter of business being conducted at taverns is an interesting historical note. From my
old ledger I made a list of articles sold and trades pursued and that list is not unimposing. For in-
stance, Peter Light sold tobacco, vinegar, salt, leather, pine boards, buttons, penknives, and all
possible forged articles. Once he obliged with a pair of silver buckles re-routed by way of
Hagerstown. We know from this ledger, that aside from the obvious occupation of hostel ing--a
"putting up" for both man and beast"and the obvious duty of "ferriding" to and fro across the
Potomac, that Peter ran a forge, was a money lender and exchanger, a "lender" of meat and the
then precious salt in large quantities, and that at his tavern he ran a club which paid dues and
gave dances! When I look, today, at my two modest -sized "wing rooms" and think of those "danc
I quell with apprehensive incredulity. The smoke, the fumes of hard liquor, the constant bobbing
up and down of dancers performing the numerous figures of square dances, the shill crow -like
caw of the leader calling his figures, all have the power of recalling themselves to life. People
were hardy, tastes not distressingly selective. In 1782, with social gatherings still sparse
and far between, we can be sure that Light's tavern saw some roaring good times.
Other taverns of the Settlement were; a building which still stands on the S.W a corner of
Artizan and Church Streets; one where the Mil Ier Lumber Yard now is, (then operated as an inn by
the Van Lear brothers); one where the West section of the Overall Factory is. Unfortunately, the
names of these taverns are, for me, lost in the mists of antiquity. Perhaps they will, like the bad
penny, turn up some day at last.
References, unsure in their details, are made to the drum -makers, brush manufacturers, and
silversmiths of early Williams Port. Their suggested existence offers much material for the curious.
For the present, these semi-precious gems of history lie as securely hidden as any other treasure
gone before them.
Trades and business must have routes for outlet. At an early date Conococheague kept up some
kind of trade with 'Hager's Town." It also had its incoming trail from Boonsboro--via Keedysville--
a road used constantly until Hager's Town finally forged its connecting link with the main road to
Frederick. The settlement always used the Cohongoruton and the Conococheague for transportation,
and its Valley outlet followed the old Indian Road or Pennsylvania, across the River. In the earliest
records the ferry over the river was called Watkin's. (Indeed, a "minor grant" of this land, made
by Fairfax, was to "Evan Watkins. ") Prior to the founding of Winchester in 1752, a road was
chartered "from Watkin's Ferry to Falling Waters," a distance of about three miles. Prior to 1774
roads were chartered from Watkin's Ferry to Vestal's Gap and to Winchester. Conococheague had
many outlets for many trades.,
In 1762 concerted effort was made to utilize the Potomac River to its fullest extent. This
idea had been hatched by Washington in his youth when he made his first surveying trip to
Fairfax. Added to his amazement at the isolation of the upper reaches of the Potomac from
society in the tidewater section of Maryland, he now had a deeper and more mature idea of
bringing the wealth of the land eastward via this some Potomac, instead of idly letting it flow
down the Ohio and upper Mississippi into Spanish hands at New Orleans, For years this project
abored over, for many an immense amount of wheat and pig -iron was shipped down to
Georgetown and Alexandria. The officers of the Potomac River Co., as it was called, even
ofthe
Imposed tolls, one toll -point being at Conococheague. Rates were made for (to give us an idea
ed
exports)ai , "wine, rum, spirits, hogsheads of tobacco, linseed oil, wheat, peas, beans,
�Arh, flour, beef, pork, hemp, flax, potash, bar staves, and heading, lumber and
ntY. much ge amount of pig -iron was shi pped from the numerous iron -furnaces of the
178q a h u of it passing through Conococheague from Lancelot Jacques' Green Spring Furnace.
gentleman by the name of Freneau wrote in verse an amazing article on balloon
24
25
e%
i
e
ascents, in which article --of all places! -- he chose to increase our commercial knowledge of
Conococheague as well as to give it distinct aplomb by referring to the spot as one evidently
familiar to his readers, (and without any of that you -know -it manner which succinctly suggests
that you are very hazy indeed on the subject in question.) Mr. Freneau wrote:
"What packs of best beaver, bar -iron, and pig,
What budgets of leather from Conococheague!"
The dreams of the best of us sometimes have to die and to fade into oblivion. In so far as
history relates, the Father of His Country gained one reward for all his efforts --a last splurge
that was intended as the inauguration of his hopes --an autumn trip with Gov. Johnson, in 1790,
in one of the Company's "Bateaux," all the way from Williamsport to Mount Vernon down the
lovely Potomac. Almost reward enough, perhaps, for any man, even a disappointed one.
Before the country was so well opened up and Washington was still a young man --only tweet,
four --he had visited Conococheague in that previously mentioned campaign with General
Braddock. 1755--that was a black date in the Settlement's History --was the beginning of blacke
days to follow, one on top of the other, till a far -away peace to come in 1763. Perhaps, with
the alms of the grasping white man excluded, the Indians and the industrious average pioneer
could have continued to live, cheek by jowl, in some form of felicity. As it was, with France
and England squabling over what was not yet theirs, the most horrifying, gruesome and trouble-
some period of our history was finally brewed. The French used the savages to make forays into
English territory this side of the Alleghanies.
Ere long the English had Indians in their employ. The settler suffered not only the loss of
his own life, but that of his wife, his children. With prospects of losing a well -launched hold
on this New World, the British Government --much to the disgust of the Colonial woodsmen --
promptly sent over, with the lofty aim of winning its war --General Braddock. Today, the world
knows the folly of the enterprise, the resultant defeat and death of the bumptious, scarlet -and -
gold -covered general, and the appalling results for the settler when he found himself left to
the mercy of the merciless savage. History can offer no more hand -wringing, hair-raising or
peek -under -ere -you -pop -into -bed moments than those provided by the French and Indian War.
Conococheague holds an important place in the history of this period. Fort Cumberland,
toward the West, was too remote, too solitary, to prove of worth as a defense. Fort Frederick,
now the last standing of the barrier forts of the wars, was not then built --not until the end of
1756. The Conococheague Settlement was the real outpost of our Western civilization --so muc
so that news of its difficulties sent the valley families fleeing to Annapolis. We are told that
the streets of "The Athens of America" were filled with wandering, wide-eyed refugees. Some
there were, whose blood the Indian war -whoop could turn so readily to water, that contemplate
setting sail, back again, to Europe.. What a fortress, then, was old Conococheaguel Certainly
the westernmost bulwark of English control and development on this continent --and after a
battle with the very conditions of the country itself for almost one hundred and forty years.
The most enigmatic, touching figure of this period is, to me, the Colonial Governor, Shore°
Appeals from Conococheague rung his heart, until, ready, as he himself said, to lay down his
own life to alleviate the suffering 'of tortured victims, he fired report upon report into the Gene
Assembly at Annapolis with the hope of gaining pecuniary, concerted aid for his charges. Faced
with the stultifying indifference of the fat, the rich, the safe, he himself plunged into the
wilderness in some not wholly vain hope of setting the wheels of defense in motion.
In 1775 we know that Sharpe actually went to Conococheague. He wrote all about his trip
to Charles Calvert. His intentions had been to proceed even to Fort Cumberland, but he
returned, for, as he told Calvert, "on my arrival at Conogogee which is thirty miles beyond
Frederick Town, I was informed that they had a plenty of everything at the camp . . . . ."
Horatio Sharpe was a remarkable man --humane, indefatigable, spirited. What his very
existence meant to the people of Conococheague and to the other settlers of the Valley, not
history, nor man, nor even time can say. Bound up as he was with the sorrows, the joys, the
defeats, the victories of this new world, his final return to his native England has always afforded
me a note of fresh surprise. But his mild homeward turning proved the point that Horatio Sharpe
in this country had been motivated by purely humanitarian principles.
That wily printer of Annapolis, Jonas Green, published regularly the "Votes and Pro-
ceedings of the Lower House of Assembly of the Province of Maryland." In these pamphlets
were Sharpe's letters to the Assembly duly recorded. In June of 1755 he wrote, in describing a
recent massacre:
"This accident, I find, has so terrified the distance Inhabitants, that many of them are
retiring and forsaking their Plantations." He had warned the settlers a month previous, being
apprehensive of Braddock's results. After eleven people were carried away above Conococheague,
at this very time of his correspondence, Sharpe urged the Assembly to raise a militia of from
sixty to one hundred men for frontier protection. -With a careful compromise figured out to a
nicety, the Assembly voted to raise eighty men!
Another letter soon followed his previous efforts. (How tiresome he must have seemed to
the Delegates!). Fifteen more settlers had been captured. Sharpe wrote, "there were nineteen
white people together, who, fearing the incursions of the Indians, had left their habitations,
three only of the nineteen escaped unhurt, but a youth whom the Indians scalped and left for
dead, is since gone to Fort Cumberland, and is I ikely to recover. I am also informed that some
day last week, twelve Indians were seen to cross Tonaloway Creek and that another party was
discovered last Saturday about twelve miles from the mouth of Conococheague."
Another letter from the Governor entreated the members of the Assembly "to lose no time."
But at that Session the members were mostly interested in passing bills that dealt with "wine,
molasses, and sugar." (Many of the Southern planters, after all, had their trade with the
Barbados to consider, and a glory scalp was a gruesome subject to dwell upon too constantly.)
Plop! another message from Sharpe stating that for some days no carriers had come in from
Fort Cumberland --giving every reason to think that "the enemy are between the two camps,
and have cut off the communication." Hollow words now that once must have been desperate --
"the enemy are between the two camps. "
In May 14, 1756, Samuel Chamberlaine from the Upper House, delivered the following
message to the speaker:
'Tho' a Fort on the North Mt. wil I be very proper and necessary, yet such a Fort alone,
garri
because thsoned with only two hundred men, will not effectually secure and protect the Inhabitants,
easie North Mt. is so near the Settlements on Conococheague, that parties of Indians may
a fell hours ays the Fort, come down, destroy the Inhabitants, and retire again beyond the Fort, in
. without being observed, or before an alarm can be given."
26
27
An amusing little advantage to be gained from such a fort, another at the conflux of the
North and South branches of "Potowmack," and an additional fort between the last and North
Mountain, was the possibility of the militiamen being able "to march into enemy country, and
annoy them in their towns or hunting grounds." Mr. Chomberlaine also thought that such a
layout would secure pasture -land, provide a place for arms, encourage settlers to remain on
Plantations in preference to otherwise reducing them "from affluent or easy circumstance to a
state of Dependence or want. In my wildest dreams I cannot picture the purported state of
"affluent or easy circumstance" referred to, but apparently, as in every case in life, conditions
could have been worse. They were. No matter how many the hardships of daily living in those
early days, they were as nothing compared to the grim moments these same people later suffered
as captives of painted, howling, demon-ideaed Indians.
Stories grim and grizzly have come down to posterity by the score. Peter WilIiamson's
terrible experience and later escape; George and Isabella Stockton's capture; the experience of
Jeremiah Jack and of others are a few of the thrillers which fit into the historical puzzle of
Conococheague. Because they do relate to the early life of the Settlement, let us consider
them more minutely.
In the case of Williamson, it seems that, once captured, he was used by the savages as a
veritable pack -horse. After all, the Indians made forays not only to massacre but, as has ever
been the case in history under like circumstances, to plunder. Apparently strong healthy male
captives were generally used as the beasts of burden for the loot -until the poor fellows dropped
in their tracks and were promptly tomahawked. But Peter Williamson was a strong man even
among strong men. He endured --and what he saw happen to captives taken on the expedition
only made him resolve to last out until he could safely take to his heels. His hardships were
many and are not to be recounted here, but his references to Conococheague must not pass by.
He said, "one night after he (an old man the Indians had taken captive) had been thus tormente
whilst he and I were condoling with each other at the miseries we daily suffered, twenty-five
other Indians arrived, bringing with them twenty scalps and three prisoners, who had unhappily
fallen into their hands at Conococheague, a small town chiefly inhabited by the Irish. These
prisoners gave us some shocking accounts of the murders and devastations committed in their
parts---. A number of disasters were then related by the three captives, who --hating their
captivity --managed eventually to escape. But unfortunately for them, they were recaptured by
another scouting party and returned to their former camp. Fastened to a stake, two of the
prisoners had a lusty fire built around them, and there they remained until, half burned aliver
the Indians deftly removed their entrails while they were still in a living state. The third
captive was buried upright in the ground, a fire built around his protruding head which was I
promptly scalped: After two hours of torture this man died from a fire built around his head, 1
his very eyes literally boiling out of their sockets. It was Peter Williamson's task to bury the
remains --two bodies and a decapitated head. `
After a winter at Alamingo, Williamson was again hauled out to act as pack -horse on a
spring expedition. What stamina the man had! He said, "When we again arrived at the Blu
hills about thirty miles from Conococheague, we encamped three days" --Also, "I still belon
to my old masters, but was left behind on the Mts. with ten Indians, to stay till the rest wou
return, not thinking it proper to carry me nearer to Conococheague or the other plantations.
Williamson knowing where he was, finally effected his long -looked -for escape.
Another man, uniquely named Smith, was brought to Conococheague by his captor fro
Virginia. Several Indians in the group went horse -stealing and soon returned with an unbro
horse. Out again they went, leaving Smith with his captor who entertained himself by I
antagonizing the distraught animal, which promptly responded by plunging away dragging the
Indian in the tangled halter. Mr. Smith returned home.
And do you remember Jeremiah Jack who took out one of the first land grants in the
Settlement in 1739? At the outbreak of the Indian disorders Jeremiah shook off a pursuing
party by leaping from a rocky cliff into the Potomac and swimming the river to the Virginia
side. Members of this Jack family were of Scotch -Irish descent and were far -famed as Indian
fighters.
As for George and Isabella Stockton, Mr., C. J. Faulkner has left a stirring account of
their capture and subsequent and separate home -comings. George escaped after a three-year
captivity, while Isabella was sold into kind hands in Canada. Her romance at sixteen with
Jean Baptiste Plata and their eager trip to Isabel la's childhood home near Martinsburg, only to
end in the Frenchman's expulsion from that home, is real drama. But Isabella reunited with her
chivalrous lover and fled across the Potomac at Conococheague into Pennsylvania. There her
raging brother caught up with and killed the prospective bride -groom, bringing his sister home
in a, by then, understandably demented condition. Stockton, the revengeful brother, years
later stopped over at various times at Peter Light's tavern where he occasionally ferried the
river into Conococheague.
In spite of these amazing stories, a curious account exists of these participants in the
gory pageant. Doddridge--and his father was in charge of a fort --related how, at notice of
attack, brief orders were given to the men and women. But he adds that, while we of today
might suppose the women were badly frightened, such was not at al I the case. He says, "On
the contrary, I do not know that I ever saw a merrier set of women in my life." I believe
three explanations can be given of this so-called "merriment." First, the people were, --had
to be, --of hardy stock; secondly, they really were brave and quite equal to dissembling; and,
lastly, so many constant chores were at hand --both for daily living and for defense --that minds
and hands were kept busy till the eleventh hour, mercifully leaving little time for anticipation --
that arch break -downer of man-made morale. Even at that, in times of attack many a fluttering
heart of the Conococheague blockhouse after the midnight alarm of rapped knuckles on the
windowpane, the stealthy gathering up of the children, the gently covering of the smallest
one's mouth, the hurried, careful dash for safety. Frightened or stolid, captivity meant eventual
death for the victim.
From Conococheague, on March 11 , 1756, Isaac Baker wrote to the "Gazette" at Annapolis
(letters were forever pouring in) of the various horrors which he personally had seen in and
around the Settlement. The atrocities were many.
Governor Sharpe's brave efforts, combined with the native fear of each man for himself
Should Conococheague finally fail as a bulwark, finally brought results. After Braddock's defeat
Conococheague was doubly open to attack for the simple reason that it stil I harbored a large
magazine of Braddock's supplies which was most alluring to the enemy. In fact definite plans
for its seizure ncowere
ten captured from the French. Therefore, in 1756, arrangements were made to
epounds each for Indian scalps, and steps were launched to build Fort Frederick. Sharpe
^curaged the settlers to return to their homes and many did go back to Conococheague where
in the ensuing years, till peace in 1763
late July of that f ,most of them managed to sacrifice their lives. As
Pleodi^9 the cause anal year, 1763, a Fredericktown contributor to the Gazette was still
°{ Conococheague as a barrier between savagery and civilization.
ow Perhaps ,e should here insert that Washington was, at an early date, ever one of the ar
dent
29
supporters of defenses for Conococheague. In fact, in 1756, when still a young Colonel, he
wrote a long letter to Fairfax expressing his urgent opinions on this very subject.
Fort Frederick, once built, was fourteen miles west of Conococheague. In times of alarm
we are told that people for twenty-five miles around assembled within the stone fort's stout
walls, which provided ample protection from the thwarted Red -Skin.
Prior to the building of this fortification it is probable that Lancelot Jacques' small cabin
at Green Spring furnace served as a refuge. Its nail -studded shutters and double, wide -spread
doors attest to the possibility of its being one of the original block -houses of the frontier.
None -the -less, as I have already described, bitter years were stil Ito follow for Conoco-
cheague. In retrospect, people suffered terribly, but they had a part in that vast undertaking
which was to carry humanity, in seven league boots, from Conococheague to the far side of the
AI leghanies. And the far side of the Alleghanies stretched all the way to the Pacific.
Strife ceased for Conococheague, and in the few fat years which followed another con-
flict, the Revolution, Conococheague ended its period as a.Settlement. In 1787Otho Holland
Williams laid it out as a township, businesses sprang up, river trade swelled its proportions,
and the transformation resulted in the present town of Williamsport. But its humble beginning,
remembered only its prominent present and, in 1790, bowed a head no longer bloody to re-
ceive the laurel crown in the form of Capital of the country. It proved to be a vain,
repudiated gesture. From the time of the community's formal founding in 1787, history in its
more glowing aspects overlooked the little town. True, had Gettysburg not been disastrous to
the Southern cause, Lee had planned to wage at Williamsport one of the great battles of the
Civil War. As it was the township knew nothing of the thunder of conflict with --even in defea
its accompanying fame. The I ittle Settlement rested ignobly in the obscurity of peace. Grand
and trumpeting war clouds now passed by this brave haven which hadonceknown a bitter -bright
glory. With exacting History as witness, the name "Williamsport" remains today the merest
alias for what was once a swashbuckling hero called "Conococheague."
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Williams, J. C. "A History of Washington County, Maryland, Vols. 1 & 2 Pub. John
M. kunk & L. R. Titsworth 1906.
Samuel Kercheval, "History of the Valley of Virginia"4th edition, Published - Shenadoah
Printing House, Strasburg, Va. 1925.
J. Thomas Scharf, "History of Western Maryland" Pub. by Louis Everts, Philadelphia 1882.
James W. Thomas "Chronicals of Colonial Maryland" Pub. by Eddy Press Corporation, Cumber
Maryland 1913.
Osmond Tiffany, "General Otho Holland Williams, Pub. by John Murphy, 1844, Baltimore,
Maryland Historical Publications.
W. H. Snowden, "The Story of the Young Surveyors". Washington's Diary. Printed by G. H.
Ramey & Son, 1902, 1st Edition Alexandria, Va.
Corporation, 1909 Winchester, Va.
"History of the Lower Shenandoah Valley", Edited by J. E. Morris 1890.
"Notes and Proceedings of the Lower House of Assembly of the Province of Maryland" Pub. by
Jonas Green 1755, 1756, Annapolis of Maryland.
Pamphlet issues by Williamsport Chamber of Commerce, 1934.
Old letters, Ledgers, and other papers.
T. K. Cartmell - "Enenandoah Valley Pioneers and their Descentants" Printed by the Eddy Pro'
30
,J 31
LONG MEADOWS AND THE CRESAPS
When we think of the early settlers of this county, we must think of their relation to the
outside world. Between them and the coast, with its towns and shipping trade with Europe, was
the blue wall of the Alleghany Mountains, isolating the valley and making it a thing apart.
It was entered only after a toilsome journey and the people who settled in it cut themselves
off to a great extent from the coast land to the east and trading posts to the west. They were
cut off from all the conveniences of life of which their brethren along the coast were never com-
pletely deprived. There was to them, in case of need, no hope of effectual and timely help.
They were surrounded by savage red men and had to struggle with nature for a livelihood.
This country was a magnificent hunting ground for the Indians who seemed to have fought
for possession of it among themselves. Always moving to and fro, roaming through forest and
by stream, and warring against other tribes, passed the Shawnees, the most restless of them all;
the Delawares from Pennsylvania and their hereditary enemies, the Catawbas from the Carolina
roamed through this valley. These savage tribes frequently met and fought. The valley rang
with shouting and the horrid cry of Indian Warfare.
The French and Indian Wars served further to incite the Indians and conditions became so
bad that for a time the valley was practically deserted by white settlers. To guard against the
depredations of the red man, houses were strongly built for defense and these houses frequently
served as forts. It was to this valley that the first settlers came, and here they went patiently
to work to establish settlements which would be safe from Indian interference and give them
the easy subsistence which the fertility of the soil promised.
. When the first settlement was made in this valley, the eastern part of the state had been
settled by Europeans for over a hundred years and Virginia and Massachusetts for longer periods;
and yet the struggle with the fierce difficulties in which these hardy pioneers had engaged had
been so great that it had taken a century to penetrate seventy-five miles from the shores of the
Chesapeake into a valley more fertile than any that had been settled before.
The first settlement, made in what is now Washington County, was at Conococheague, the
present site of Williamsport. The second settlement of any consequence was made at Long
Meadows which took its name from the grant made to Thomas Cresap in 1739 by the Proprietary
Governor of Maryland. This was the first tract of land secured by patent in which is now
Leitersburg District in Washington County. On March 10, 1738, Thomas Cresap petitioned
the Land Commissioner of the Province for a survey of a tract under this name, for which he
received a patent June 16, 1739. The preamble of this instrument recites that, "Pursuant to oui
instructions to our Governor and judge in land affairs for granting our back lands on the borders
of the Province aforesaid, a certain John Church obtained from his Excellency, Samuel Ogle,
Esq., an order for 300 acres of vacant land, all whose right, .title and interest of, in, and to
the said order and the land herein mentioned, the said Church assigned and made over to the
petitioner (Cresap); and forasmuch as he has discovered that quantity of vacant land" --a warroo
for its survey was issued in his favor. This was executed by J. P. Dent, Deputy Surveyor of Prig
Georges County, June 14, 1739.
The tract is then described as being on one of the branches of the Antietam, and lying
between that creek and the Conococheague. It is strongly suspected that Colonel Cresap was
granted this patent partly in recompense for his efforts in heading an expedition into
Pennsylvania, during the border disputes between the two Provinces.
The original area of Long Meadows was twice enlarged by Colonel Cresap. An addition of
110 acres was made July 30, 1742, and a "West addition to Long Meadows" of 100 acres on
August 8, 1742. The tract eventually totaled about 550 acres.
Colonel Cresap built a trading post and fort at Long Meadows in the year 1740. This
settlement was about three miles north of what is now Hagerstown, on his original grant of land,
and parts of this old settlement are still in existence today.
The trading post is now part of the home which is standing, and stone from the walls of the
fort were used in the construction of the present spring -house and barn. Their block house,
which was strong enough to resist the savages, served as a place of refuge in case of an in-
vasion and as a rendezvous for the settlers and rangers in the more peaceful times.
Here Thomas Cresap engaged extensively in business as an Indian trader. Obtaining a
loan of 500 pounds from Mr. Daniel Dulaney, "he commenced to trade in skins and furs and
shipped a large quantity to England." His ship, however, was "captured by a French vessel on
the way over, to the financial ruin of this unfortunate trader." But he was not the sort of man
to be frowned down by fortune, and, in settlement of his indebtedness, he transferred his farm
to Mr. Dulaney and again struck out through the wilderness, establishing an outpost and fort
near the forks of the north and south branches of the Potomac River in the vicinity of what is now
Oldtown. Thus in 1746, Long Meadows passed from the Cresaps into the hands of Daniel
Dulaney, a prominent lawyer.
. Many names have since been associated with Long Meadows and in 1789 it was owned by
Colonel Thomas Hart. Letitia Hart, his daughter, who later became the wife of Henry Clay,
was born on this farm.
Col. Thomas Cresap, it may be said without exaggeration, was one of the most remarkable
men of his day. He emigrated to America from Yorkshire, England, when only fifteen years of
age and at about the age of thirty married a Miss Johnson and settled on the Susquehanna River
at or near Havre de Grace in Harford County.
After becoming involved in border troubles between William Penn and Lord Baltimore,
during which he and several of his men were arrested in Lancaster County, charged with the
murder of one, Knowls Daunt, he was imprisoned in Philadelphia, where he remained confined
for about a year and was released by Royal Order in January, 1738. During his imprisonment
his family found shelter at an Indian village on the Codorus. In the Spring of 1738 Thomas
Cresap removed to what is now Washington County and settled in Long Meadows where he re-
sided until 1741.
g
At the time of Braddock's defeat, the Conococheague settlement at the mouth of the creek
C, that "Omen was the outpost of civilization. By that time Colonel Cresap had left Fort
Cresap Long Meadows and had penetrated the wilderness to the west and established for him-
self a
fought the hunting1 diansgwhot infested the nenow ighborhood.
hoodHere for a time he maintained himself and
No sooner was Braddock°s army out of the way than marauding bands of Indians descended
32
33
K
upon the settlers and deeds of horror were perpetrated night after night. Not one white man
was left beyond the little forts on the Tonoloway. Even Fort Cumberland was abandoned and
Cresap, fighting as he went, retired to Fort Cresap in Long Meadows, where his son Michael
lived.
These Cresaps, most remarkable men of English blood and nomadic tastes, were of immense
service to the Province during these years of terror. Ranging the wilderness at the head of
their "Buckskins" or "Red Caps," the latter dressed and painted like Indians with the addition of
a red cap, they turned the weapons of the savage against himself. No Indian was ever more
subtle, more deadly sudden, more astute in reading the different lore of the forest, more re-
lentless in pursuit or merciless in action than the Cresaps.
At the close of these troublesome times and after the Indians had been driven further to the
west, we again find Col . Cresap at Skipton or Oldtown, where it appears he had again taken
up residence with his family.
In 1752 he was associated with Washington and others in the Ohio Enterprise. During the
French and Indian War he took command of the Pioneers and distinguished himself by his intrep
bravery and excellent generalship.
When seventy years of age, he made a voyage to England where he was commissioned by
Lord Baltimore to "run" the western line of Maryland to ascertain which of the two branches of
the Potomac was the larger and which was the actual fountain head of that river. On his retu.
he employed surveyors to run the line, and the map of this work prepared by Col . Cresap was
the first ever made to show the course and fountains of the north and south branches of the
Potomac River.
When more than eighty years of age, he married a second wife and at the age of a hundre
made a journey, partly by land and partly by sea, from his residence, then at Oldtown, to an
Island near the British Province of Nova Scotia and returned in safety.
One enthusiastic biographer states That had Providence placed Col. Cresap at the head
our army, state, or kingdom, he would have been a more conspicuous character. He was not
inferior to Charles XI of Sweden in personal bravery nor to Peter the Great of Russia, whom
in many things he much resembled in coolness, fortitude or that peculiar talent of learning
experience from misfortune, and levying a tax upon damage and loss to raise him to future
prosperity and success."
Col.-Cresap had five children: three sons, Daniel, Thomas, and Michael; and two do'
Sara and Elizabeth. Daniel, presumably the eldest son, was killed on one of the expeditio,
father made to the west. The mountain on which he was killed is now called Dan's Mounts
and an adjoining mountain got its name Negro Mountain from the fact that on that hill a hu
negro, one of Cresap's slaves, was killed by the Indians.
History does not again mention his son Thomas nor his daughters, but Michael, his you'
son, is described as no less distinguished than his father. He was born the 29th of June, 1;
and was sent to the school of Rev. Thomas Craddock in Baltimore. After the completion of
this
studies he married a Miss Whitehead of Philadelphia. There were five children born of
union, several of whom rose to prominence in early colonial life.
successful, however, and urged by necessity as well as ambition, he repaired to the wilderness
of the Ohio, clearing lands and building settlements.
In 1775 ill health compelled him to retrace his steps to Maryland where he was met by
messenger and informed that he had been appointed to take command of one of the two rifle
companies required to be raised in Maryland by resolution of the Continental Congress. In
spite of bad health he accepted the commission and marching through the wilderness, joined
Washington at Boston with the first company of riflemen raised in Maryland. Cresap's Riflemen
were of great assistance to the Continental Army.
His illness increased and after a few months' service, he was compelled to leave with the
intention of returning to his home but he was unable to proceed further than New York where
he died and was buried with military honors in the churchyard of Old Trinity Church. His
tombstone bears the following inscription beneath the rude sculpture of a winged head, "In
memory of Michael Cresap, first captain of the Rifle Battalions and son of Col. Thomas Cresap,
who departed this life October 18, 1775."
Long Meadows still survives with its relics and traditions of these earlier pioneer days but
the name of Cresap and the descendants of this family have long since disappeared from
Washington County.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
c
Scharf's History of Western Maryland, Volumes I and II.
Williams' History and Biographical Record of Washington County, Volume I.
Bell's History of Leitersburg District.
Information furnished by Mr. J. Forney Young, present owner of Long Meadows.
After his marriage Michael started in business as a trader. These operations were not
34
r«
BRADDOCK'S ROAD
One morning in the early part of May, 1755, a small army descended the western side of
South Mountain, winding like a scarlet thread down through Turner's Gap where now passes
the National Pike --down to the site of Boonsboro--and on through the unsettled plains across
the Antietam --at the Devil's Backbone --whereD elamere Mill afterwards stood --and over the
broad trail, which an advance attachment had laid out --to the settlement of Conococheague,
present town of Williamsport. This was the first regularly organized army ever seen in the
Valley of the Antietam.
One year before this, in the early part of 1754, every Indian suddenly and mysteriously
disappeared from our valley. But the mystery was soon solved. The emissaries of France had
been among them and had enlisted their aid in the scheme of taking possession of the Valley of
the Mississippi. J
As is well known, England claimed the whole of North America by virtue of Cabot's dis-
covery. The French had established a colony at New Orleans and their settlements were
gradually extending up the Mississippi River, and when the English Government made a grant
of certain privileges beyond the Alleghany Mountains to the Ohio Company, the French began
to establish rapidly a chain of forts from Canada to their Mississippi settlements. The object
was to confine the English possessions to the Atlantic slope. Upon the first news of the con-
struction of Fort Duquesne on the present site of Pittsburgh, the Governor of Virginia dispatche
a small force under George Washington, then a youth. They were sent through the wildernessr
orders from the Governor to capture the French Post, Fort Duquesne. The expedition was un-
successful and Washington had to surrender to superior forces. The next year, in order to put
an effectual end to these French pretensions, General Braddock was sent to America with two
thousand British regulars. ,
It is not generally appreciated that the British Commander was chosen to head the ex-
pedition to destroy the French powers in America because of his distinguished army record. In
the Battle of Fontency, for instance, he was Colonel in Command of the famour Coldstream
Guards who covered themselves with glory, and shortly before embarking for America he was
made Major General of the line. Braddock had won his promotion through galkantry--his pe
bravery was proverbial --it was said his troops never faced a danger when their Commander w
not "greedy to lead."
But for commander of such an expedition as this no worse selection could have been ma
He was ignorant of the people he had to contend with and the face of the country he had to
He had but slight regard for soldiers who could not go through with their exercises with the
precision of the parades of Regent Park. And so on February 20, 1755, the British fleet, co
this General Braddock and his soldiers, about 2,000 men landed at Hampton Roads, Virginic
General Braddock proceeded to Williamsburg, Virginia, and then called a conference of th'
various Governors of the colonies at Annapolis, Md. The Governors did not arrive on the
appointed day and General Braddock with Governor Sharpe of Maryland and Governor DIM,
of Virginia returned to Alexandria where they, with Governor Shirley of Massachusetts, Go'
Morris of Pennsylvania, and Governor James DeLancy of NewYork met to make plans for ths,
expedition against Fort Duquesne. J
It was finally agreed at this conference, which was held in the old Carlyle House (still
standing), that the troops under Sir Peter Halkett should proceed from Alexandria to Winchester,
Va., and thence to Fort Cumberland (Will's Creek). Colonel Dunbar's regiment was ordered
to proceed on the Maryland side to Frederick, Maryland, and they were to take with them the
sailors from Commodore Augustus Keppel Is ship and the heavy artillery.
Colonel Dunbar's troops made their first march from Alexandria to Georgetown on Saturday,
April 12, where they stayed Sunday, April 13. On Monday, April 14, they marched fifteen
miles to Owen's Ordinary over the old Georgetown Road, now the site of the Court House in
Rockville, Maryland.
On April 15 they marched fifteen miles to "Dowden's Ordinary," which was located in
Clarksburg, Montgomery County, Maryland. The troops were encamped on the hil Is around
"Dowden's Ordinary," the foundations of which are still standing and which are marked by a bronz
tablet on a boulder. According to one of the diaries, which still exists, a severe snow storm came
up which blew down some of the tents and made the troops exceedingly uncomfortable.
The next day, April 16, the troops marched to Frederick, Maryland, called in the diary
"Frederick's town," which was fifteen miles from Michael Dowden's--"the road very mountainous,
marched eleven miles when they came to a river called Monskiso which empties itself into the
Potomac --it runs very rapid and is after a hard rain thirteen feet deep. Ferried over in a float.
The town has not been settled over seven years --there are 200 houses --churches, one Dutch,
one English, the inhabitants chiefly Dutch --industrious but imposing people."
It was here in Frederick that Braddock was detained considerable time by his inability to
procure transportation for his baggage. Braddock required 200 wagons and 2,500 horses to convey
his baggage and the amount of baggage required by the young officer is said to have disgusted
the young Lieutenant, Colonel George Washington, of the colonial militia. But a conference
was held with Washington, Governor Sharpe of Maryland, and Benjamin Franklin, who was then
Postmaster General of the Colonies.
And it was this great man, Benjamin Franklin, who relieved Braddock of his difficulties.
Nothing seemed to be beyond the powers of Franklin. He was relied upon for everything --as a
legislator, a scientist, as an inventor, a financier, and especially as a diplomat --for he under-
stood how to conciliate the British Commander. Franklin dined with Braddock daily and removed
Many prejudices by informing Braddock of what the Assembly had actually done and were still
Willing to do to facilitate his operations.
Franklin finally advertised for wagons and horses, and when he gave his individual promise
for the hire as wel l as for payment for those that might be destroyed --after undertaking this
Matter Franklinhad I50
reOdY to march. WOg°ns and 259 carrying horses, along with 1500 pack or saddle horses,
It is interesting to note that "after the defeat of Braddock, the wagoners demanded 20,000
Pounds from Franklin for thei
to the re r property and some of them brought suit but the Government came
scue and relieved him of his embarrassment; the last payment to Franklin was only made,
however, on the
very breaking out of the Revolution."
Then the
suitable Young
profficers complained that they could not afford to supply themselves with
ovisions for the march. So the Pennsylvania Assembly, as a further measure for securing
the good will of the British, gave to the officers 20 packages --each package containing sugar,
36
tea, butter, Madeira wine, coffee, chocolate, biscuit, pepper, vinegar, Jamica spirits,
mustard, hams, dried tongue, rice, raisins, and cheese --all of the best quality. Small wonder
is it that Braddock regarded Washington and Franklin as the greatest men in the colony? And
so, on April 27, General Braddock and his army set forth. The General travelled in a coach
drawn by six horses. The road, of course, was not suitable for the passage of vehicles and the
fiery General damned it heartily as his cumbersome vehicle bounced over the outcropping
limestone and through the mud holes.
The first stop after leaving Frederick was Braddock Heights, five miles west, and the tr
drank from the spring there. That spring, now called Braddock Spring, flows as abundantly
today as it did then.
According to a diary --the troops marched to Mr. Walker's, eighteen miles from Frederick
Town. The army camped at night near the foot of the mountain not far from the present site of
Middletown.
The next day the army crossed the mountain through Turner's Gap, since rendered famous
as the scene of the Battle of South Mountain.
The next morning the march was resumed and the route taken was over the present Willian
port and Boonsboro Road. They crossed the Antietam twice --once at Keedysvil le and at
Delamere Mill At the Hitt Bridge near Keedysville a road is pointed out, coming down to the
water by a steep hil I now almost abandoned in favor of one that approaches it by a more genth
slope. This abrupt and difficult track is Braddock's Road and characteristic of his methods.
He chose the straightest way and marched on in spite of all obstacles, tearing out forest trees
so that it is said that where Braddock's Army passed trees never grew again.
Braddock had a disdain of details and did not inform himself very well of the country he
was to pass through. When he heard that the Antietam had to be crossed he sent a detachment
on with orders to seize all the boats and canoes on the river for the use of his army --taking it
for granted it was both wide and deep. When the troops reached it they found good fords at
both places as the Antietam is but a shallow stream a few yards wide.
On April 30 they arrived at Conococheague, now Williamsport, where a store of pro-
visions was awaiting the army, including the flour from 14,000 bushels of wheat. Also, they
found all the artillery stores preparing to go by water to Will's Creek. The seamen were to
build barges on which the heavy artillery was to be carried up to Fort Cumberland on the
Potomac, which at that time had more water in it than it has at the present time.
May 1--Braddock's Army was employed in ferrying the army and baggage over the Poto
into Virginia. Note - (At Watkins Ferry referred to in the paper on "The Conococheague
Settlement.") Then the army marched to John Evans' --sixteen miles, where they encamped
and had a day of rest and sent the horses to grass.
May 3--marched to Widow Barringer's also in West Virginia (then Virginia), and the t
day nine miles to George Poll's where they were refreshed with "Venison and Wild Turkeys
May 5--to Mr. Henry Enock's--fifteen miles, also in West Virginia and located on tr
Cocapon River where they rested the sixth day. Mention is made at this point of the Forts
Cape Capon --also Kagepatin--which they crossed twenty times in a distance of three mile
37
On May 7 they marched twelve miles to Mr. Cox's at "Ye Mouth of Ye Little Cacapon,"
which is opposite the present site of the Woodmont Rod & Gun Club on the west side of the
river.
Then on May 8 they ferried over the Potomac, back into Maryland. This was at the present
site of Pearre where the Washington County Boy Scout Camp is now located.
Then they marched eight miles to Mr. Jackson's where they found a Maryland Company
encamped in a fine situation on the banks of the Potomac with cleared ground about it. Here
lived Colonel Cresap at Old Town. In the diary he is called a "Rattle -snake Colonel" and a
"d --- rascal." Colonel Cresap built a little Fort around his house and though summoned to
retire from his. Settlement (by the French) he was resolved to keep his ground. Gen. Braddock
stayed at Colonel Cresap's house and one of the diaries states that "Braddock drove through
Old Town with out -riders on each side and making a great show." From Old Town Braddock
drove up to Cumberland where they delayed from May 10--when Washington received his
commission as one of General Braddock's aides -until June 10 waiting for the teams and supplies
which had been gathered together by Benjamin Franklin and forwarded to him.
On June 10 they cut a road over Will's Mountain to a camp which they called "Spendelow
Camp" sometimes called "The Grove" and still called Allegheny Grove.
Here they discovered that an easier route than going over the mountain would be by way
of The Narrows and up Braddock Run and they delayed here until the second road was cut which
is now the route of the National Pike.
The diary of one of Commodore KeppelIs seamen, who accompanied the expedition, tells
of the great difficulty in getting the teams over Will's Mountain --that it was necessary to pull
them up with blocks and fal Is to the top of the mountain and then let them down on the other
side so that they would not be crushed to pieces.
From Spendelow Camp they moved on five miles to Martin's Plantation, which is located
on the outskirts of Frostburg. Then to Savage River Camp. It was in crossing Savage Mountain
that the ropes, blocks, and falls pulling the wagons up and letting them down the mountain --
broke, and several wagons were completely demolished.
On June 17 they marched to Little Meadows, which is the valley near what was Tomlinson's
Tavern. This was seriously considered several times as a proper location for a fort to take the
Place of Fort Cumberland.
On June 18 they marched on towards Grantsville crossing the Little Youghiogeny, now
Castleman River, and on into Pennsylvania, locating a camp near the present site of the Summit
Motel overlooking Uniontown.
i
WashBraddock, as extravagantly as he admired George Washington, had not heeded his warnings.
marched ingn knew how the French and Indians fought behind trees and rocks but Braddock
through the wilderness with drums beating and banners flying. As was to have been
peeredB
attackBraddock
, raddock was surprised and defeated by the enemy on July 9, 1755. In this surprise
Brae be ^was fatally wounded after having four horses shot from under him. His army
would ha
totally destroyed had it not been for Washington's skilful management.
Braddock died on July 13, four days after he received his wound, at Great Meadows, the
K2
39
scene of the Battle of Fort Necessity. It is here that he is buried, a handsome marker at his
grave, directly along the National Highway several miles east of Uniontown. The funeral
services were read by George Washington and it was to Washington that Braddock bequeathed
his favorite surviving horse and body servant.
Braddock's expedition has left a legend in this district. There is a story, firmly rooted,
that Braddock brought with him from England a chest containing 2,500 pounds of money and
many jewels. When he went out with Colonel Washington, accompanied by an old Indian guide
he carried the chest with him. It began to grow burdensome when they reached High Knob and
they buried it in the famous mountain. Braddock did not live to return in search of it and
Washington forgot its existence. The old Indian tried to find the spot afterwards but was killed
by thieves who were in pursuit. Today if you have a taste for romance and eighteenth century
jewelry the treasure is still there for your seeking --somewhere on Braddock Road.
THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR
IN
WASHINGTON COUNTY MARYLAND
The French and Indian War was the culmination of four hundred years' dispute for control
of the colonies established on North America, between England and France. The French desired
a direct route between their possessions, Quebec and New Orleans, and the ability to maintain
these communications by way of a fortified route down the western boundaries of the English
colonies.
The unprotected frontiers of the colonies presented an advantageous and handy point of
attack, and the French had further aided their cause by enlisting some of the Indian tribes.
Indian raids were very effective in terrorizing the scattered communities.
Washington County as we know it today was not in existence at the time of the French and
Indian War, but was considered with what is now Al leghany and Garrett counties as a part of
Frederick County. The settlement of all that land west of Frederick Town, as Frederick was
called, was very sparse. Very few families had the courage to make their homes on the frontiers
of the west.
There were few routes by which to travel, in fact in Maryland there was no road built west
of Frederick leading directly to Conococheague or Cumberland, and in a description of one of
the marches of the English troops who came to fight the Indians, the trip to Cumberland was
described as being eighty miles through trackless wilderness. When we realize the distances
between points from which help could be secured in case of raids, and also the difficulties to
be encountered on the way, with horses as the only means of travel, we can understand why
these pioneers found it necessary, when building their homes, to settle near a large estate or
where a stone house or especially -constructed fort had been erected. To these central houses
the families would go for shelter as soon as they learned of an impending raid. Even then, it is
told that to one of these forts fairly close to what is now Hagerstown, people came from along
the Potomac River and Conococheague Creek for distances of twenty-five miles.
General Braddock, an Englishman in whose command was placed an expedition, gathered
supplies and left for the western portions of the colonies by way of Frederick, Conococheague,
and Winchester. The first day's journey led along the route of the present turnpike road to
South Mountain and camp was made near the present site of Middletown. The second day's stop
was of Turner's Gap near the Devil's Backbone on the Williamsport-Boonsboro pike. The journey
From Frederick to Fort Cumberland was made in ten days, in the early part of May, 1755. The
c"Paign which took place on the western frontier, was planned with thought and a fair amount
of precision. Braddock, however, did not heed the advice of Washington and those experienced
men who at previous times had encountered the Indian methods of attack. The commanders and
troops
ro scent by England lacked understanding of the Indian warfare, and the English lacked
anding of the Indian warfare and the English soldiers, many of whose leaders were mas-
sacred early in the battle
number , were thrown into disorder and in the resulting confusion a large
was shot by their comrades. During this campaign General Braddock received the wound
which caused his death. The campaign met with defeat.
Governor Horatio Sharpe of Maryland was made commander of al l forces by a Royal Com-
M
41
mission, and Colonel Fitzhugh was to conduct them in the Governor's absence. Early in 1756
the immediate need for a large Fort was clearly shown in the location between Hagerstown and
Hancock, the authorization was given and construction of Fort Frederick was begun. One
hundred and fifty acres of land was purchased fourteen miles west of Conococheague in Wash-
ington County. Eleven thousand pounds was voted for the forts and blockhouses on the western
frontiers, and twenty-five thousand pounds was voted to provide expeditions for general service
Work on the fort had been so far completed in August, 1756, that a garrison of three
hundred men under Captain Dagworthy was assigned to the fort. One-third of the number were
to scout the neighborhood for any stealthy attacks planned by the enemy.
Definite accounts of fighting at Fort Frederick during the French and Indian War are rathe
scarce. Some of the accounts say, however, that sometimes as many as six toseven hundred
persons gathered within the fort in anticipation of a raid. In March of 1758, a band of ninety
Cherokee Indians volunteered their services to the Fort.
Appropriations of money to pay the soldiers and care for them were among the points of
controversy during most of the duration of the war. At times when the Indian raids struck
closest home, that is, when reports came which rumored Indians to be in the vicinity of Fredei
Baltimore, or Annapolis, there would seem to be ample funds. For instance, at one time thirt
pounds would be offered to a soldier for any Indian scalp brought in, and yet at other times th
soldiers were without pay for several months. At such a time as this, Governor Sharpe wrote
a letter to an Englishman, "It is well Captain Dagworthy and the rest of our officers taught
their men to I ive without victuals in summer, otherwise they might not have found it so easy a
matter to keep them together six months without pay in the winter."
The Fall of Montreal in September, 1760, closed the struggle, and peace was restored by
the Treaty of Paris in 1763. It is interesting to note that Maryland did not enter the French
and Indian War until 1756, in spite of numerous encounters on the western borders with the
Indians. The campaign was considered neither a brilliant nor colorful one so far as Maryland
was concerned. It may be very wel I to say the last in regard to the actual organization and
functioning of the army, but considering the frequent Indian raids with their scalpings and burr
ing of property, Maryland's part in establishing the western frontiers can hardly be disregarded
Notable among the families who were successful in combatting Indian raids, and who ma
it possible for the neighbors to protect themselves, was the Cresap family. "Longmeadows,"
name of the Cresap home which was situated three miles from Hagerstown, was sturdily built
and kept open to all neighbors as a place of refuge from attacks by the savages. The Cresap
family figured prominently in fights against the Indians. Their daring seems not to have been
outdone by any other individual or family, and their record along these lines continued for
several generations. After the Indians had been forced farther into the interior, we find one,
branch of the Cresap family moving farther west, to what is now Cumberland, where Thomas
Cresap built a home and fort house which he called "Skipton" after his home in England. H
also the neighboring farms were settled as closely as possible to the large estate.
Interesting stories which have been handed down concerning the Indian raids show the
feelings of the early settlers and tel I more clearly their reactions to the various situations.
instance, during an Indian raid in a village, a man by the name of Smith, whose home was
Virginia, was taken prisoner by the Indians. Smith was taken to a small Indian camp near
Conococheague, where one of the Indians was left to guard him while the rest of the band
off to get cattle, horses and whatever plunder remained of the ramsacked town. One of the
ions, however, returned and brought with him an unbroken horse which Smith's guard started to
mount. The result was that the Indian guard was dragged off, Smith made his escape and
returned to his home. The next day a pursuing party made up of whites who had heard of the
raid, went by Smith's house and found him repairing the furniture which the Indians had battered
in the raid.
Another story is that of Jeremiah Jack, who held a large grant of land, and who was over-
taken by a band of Indians. The story says that Jack was forced out on a rocky cliff overhanging
the Potomac at a point above Williamsport and his freedom from the Indians was effected by his
jumping into the river and swimming to the opposite shore.
The William Stockton family, whose home was east of North Mountain, was scattered during
one of the raids. Two children, Isabella and George, were taken by the Indians. George was
later returned, but Isabella was kept by the Indians who sold her as a slave to a wealthy
Canadian trader and his wife. Isabella was old enough to remember her family and her home.
The trader and his wife became very fond of her and educated her as one of their family. Their
nephew, a Frenchman who came to visit, fel I in love with her, but the romance which began
so happily had a tragic ending, for Isabella desired to see her family and receive their consent
to her marriage. Accordingly, long after the war, Jean Baptiste, the Frenchman, and Isabella
journeyed back to her home and found her family. The Stockton's although overjoyed to be
united, were so enraged when they heard of the couple's plan to marry, due to their feeling
against the French who had been engaged with the Indians in the combat which had caused the
family separation, that they would not consent to the marriage. Isabella and Jean tried to
escape to Canada, but the father and George Stockton pursued them and Jean was killed by
Isabella's brother.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Andrews, Matthew Page
Tercentenary History of Maryland 0 925)
McMahon, John V. L.
An Historical View of the Government of Maryland (1831)
McSherry, James
History of Maryland from the First Settlement in 1634 to the year 1848 (1849)
Scharf, J. Thomas
History of Maryland 0879)
Scharf, J. Thomas
History of Western Maryland from the Earl iest Period to the Present Day (1882)
Barns, Thomas J. C.
History of Washington County, Maryland (1906)
42 I 43
COLONEL NATHANIEL ROCHESTER
HIS IMPORTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY
One of the earliest residents and most influential men in Hagerstown at the end of the
18th and the beginningof the 19th century was Colonel Nathaniel Rochester. While not a
native of Maryland, he contributed enormously to the building and progress of our town and
it was certainly a great loss to the community when he left later on to go to New York State
Rochester was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, in 1752. His grandfather came
to this country from England and died on his farm in Virginia leaving Nathaniel's father,
Nicholas, and another son. When Rochester was only two years old, his father died and left
his mother with five children to care for. Soon afterwards, the mother remarried and the fam
moved to North Carolina. Opportunities for education were limited in Nathaniel's early yec
and beyond the age of sixteen, he became cultured by his own efforts. At that age, he was
employed by a Scotch merchant in Orange County, North Carolina, and from that time till
his death, he was to be actively engaged in commercial affairs.
He started out with a salary of five pounds a year for two years, but at the end of six month
his wages were increased to twenty pounds. He then went in business with his employer, which
partnership was dissolved in 1775 at the commencement of the war.
Time will not permit me to go into his army life, but during the Revolutionary War,
Rochester was very active and soon became a colonel, though quite young. He was, however
eventually forced to retire before the end of the war on account of ill health.
In 1783 Rochester moved to Hagerstown where Col . Thomas Hart (father-in-law of Henry
Clay) resided. In North Carolina these two men had previously been engaged in business and.
Colonel Hart was largely responsible for Rochester's moving to Maryland. At first he condu
Colonel Hart's business for him, but they soon established a mercantile business together.
factories (large for that time) were built for the manufacture of rope and nails and a dry g
business was carried on at the same time.
Along with these, Rochester operated a flour mill with Captain Daniel Stull. Their
operations extended into Kentucky and West Tennessee.
In 1788 he married Miss Sophia Beatty of Frederick and they had twelve children
them born in Hagerstown and some later in New York State. These children were to i
distinguished lawyers and doctors. Their father became very proud of them.
A year later Colonel Rochester built the lovely "Mount Prospect" which was at that tl'
in the suburbs. It was the only house in the square block bounded by our present W. Anfl°
St., Walnut St., W. Washington St., and S. Prospect St. (which was at that time only ort
This house was later added to by different owners after Rochester left it and is now one oft
most beautiful homes in this section. The main reason the Colonel built Mt. Prospect was''
near the rope factory which he had purchased from Colonel Hart. This probably stood who
the Presbyterian Church or Manse now is. In the meantime, he had given up the dry goods
business.
Probably many relics of the forge of Hart and Rochester remain in Hagerstown. The name
of this firm is constantly found in old papers and notes of early enterprises here. One of the
prized possessions of Mrs. James Findlay is a huge lock on the inside of her front door which
came from Mt. Prospect and was made at Rochester's lock factory across the street. Many locks,
bolts, bars and hand -hammered nails may still be seen on the doors and windows of the old home.
With the doors of double thickness as well as the walls, and with all the bolts and locks, Mt.
Prospect was a fortress itself. In the hall is an old gun closet where each member of the family
kept his weapons. There is said to be in the house an old rope -walk which is thought to be the
back hall between the present dining -room and kitchen. This hallway, long and straight, was
adapted to the twisting of hemp for Rochester's "rape factory." The mansion, later occupied
by Upton Lawrence, Wm. D. Bell, Dr. Howard Kennedy (Mrs. James Findlay's father) is now
owned by the Cushwa family.
Throughout his entire life, Rochester was handicapped by ill health and several severe
diseases. Despite this handicap, his indomitable courage and unlimited energy and initiative
made him the leading citizen in Hagerstown and in Rochester, N. Y., which he later founded.
Nathaniel Rochester was a conservative, sensible, and honorable gentleman and considered
a "master -mind" by all who knew him. He was looked up to and beloved by his townsmen who
appreciated his philanthropic endeavors and charitable deeds.
Hagerstown being on the national highway was a stopping place for statesmen on their way
to Washington. It was a great place for cockfights, poker, and other pleasures of the men of
these times. Colonel Rochester, however, was a serious-minded man and never indulged in such
sports --(neither did he drink) --though Mt. Prospect (after he left it) was a gathering place for
many such entertainments. It is said that one night the possession of this house changed hands
in a game of cards.
I was very fortunate in obtaining a rare old copy of the "Maryland Herald & Hager's-town
Weekly" printed in 1806 by Thomas Grieves --"Near the Court House." This paper, brown with
age and very brittle, was quite legible and contained many references to Colonel Nathaniel
Rochester. In the paper as Sheriff he advertised for a runaway negro--held in jail. "If not
claimed will be sold for his jail fees --agreeably to the law." His name appeared as executor
of an estate and in an advertisement of the Sprigg & Rochester Nail Factory. Also he offered
$10.00 reward for a slave who ran away from the nail factory --named Isaac and described as
"Remarkable strong and well made --the whites of his eyes have a reddish cast. As he has clothes
Of different kinds, it is uncertain what he has on."
In 1792 he dissolved partnership with Colonel Hart and they operated separately in business.
About that time, Rochester became actively interested in politics, and in 1790 he held his first
Political ob
with the mans s ° member of the Maryland Legislature. However, he soon became disgusted
came Ha management among the members and refused to go to Annapolis. The next year he be -
his election, he 's first postmaster, which position he held on and off till 1804. At the time of
he built a small brick building on the corner of his lot to serve as a post office.
realize tk he was appointed one of the three judges of the Washington County Court, but he
�he5tzed that his lack of a legal education and knowledge of court rules would not permit him
Romcienriausly to hold office, so he resigned the next year and procured the position for Robert
er, his
nephew, Who had worked with him in some of his enterprises.
0From 1804-07 he was sheriff (quite an honorable position at that time) and in 1804 Roche
ster
45
established a private banking house in connection with his other interests. Three years later,
he organized the Hagerstown Bank and became its first president at a salary of $1,000.00 a
year. At that time he lived in the stone house (now the site of the Hamilton Coffee Shop)
next to the old Antietam Tavern on W. Washington St., and across from our Court House,
having sold Mt. Prospect to Upton Lawrence. The Bank was organized in the front room of
his house.
The Bank was organized with a capital stock of $250,000 divided into shares of $50.00
each. Charter members later bought the site and built the lovely old Georgian brick building
on W. Washington St., (completed in 1814) where it remained for more than a century. Very
soon, much to the regret of the older residents of Hagerstown, this building is to be town down
and replaced by a modern stonestructure, leaving in Hagerstown very few examples of any-
thing so fine from an architectural standpoint. Rochester remained as President of the bank as
long as he lived here, and his brother-in-law, Eli Beatty, was the first cashier. Carroll and
Fitzhugh were among the first directors.
One of the valued possessions of the old Hagerstown Bank is a lovely portrait of Colonel
Rochester as a young man --done in pastel . This picture has always occupied a prominent
position on the walls of the institution. Until recently it was loaned for an exhibition to the
Washington County Museum of Fine Arts in whose care it is now intrusted.
Always interested in the welfare of the community, Rochester started a movement for im-
proving the streets of the town. The streets Vere in very bad condition and it seemed impossib
to raise enough money through taxation to rebuild them. By an Act of Assembly a lottery was
authorized in 1803 to raise the necessary sum of money for this. Rochester was one of the
managers of the lottery so thus the streets were mended --largely through his influence. He
was also interested in the county roads (a movement just begun at this time) and always looked
for the time to come for a good turnpike between Baltimore and Washington County. Rochester
believed in encouraging any commercial relationship with Baltimore realizing that this would'
help Hagerstown grow and prosper.
One of the wealthiest men in Washington County at the beginning of the 19th century,
Rochester seemed to be the outstanding citizen. He was not only a distinguished politician,
agriculturist, and merchant, but an interested churchman. The Episcopal Church elected him
Register of the Parish and he became a member of the first vestry. In 1803 the church was still
incomplete, so a lottery was sanctioned to raise $600.00 to complete it with Rochester in
charge of this. The church was on 5. Locust St. where the graveyard now is.
He must have been an unusually remarkable man to conduct his many businesses, to take
such an active interest in everything for the betterment of the town and state, and at the same
time carry on his real estate enterprises in Kentucky (Daniel Boone managed his affairs in
Kentucky), Ohio, and Tennessee, and more especially in the Genesee Country of New York
State. This, of course, required him to make frequent trips away from Hagerstown. At one
time he had looked in Ohio for a free country where his family could be reared away from the
influences of slavery which he always opposed. It was on business trips in connection with his
flour mills and nail and rope factory that Rochester bought much land through the South. Ag"
he thought of moving his family to Tennessee where he held 640 acres of land, but when he
discovered that the country was settled with rough inhabitants, he disposed of the land.
Realizing the economic advantages of western New York State, with Charles Carroll of
Bellevue and William Fitzhugh, two of the leading citizens, Rochester in 1800 started out
horseback to find a suitable country in which to settle --principally to get away from the cause
of keeping slaves. (Several negro servants followed with their luggage. Later he gave these
slaves their freedom.) They all were so delighted with the Genesee country, which they con-
sidered one of the garden spots of America, that they made large purchases of land. Rochester
had been in every state of the Union and thought that this part of the country had more local
advantages than any place he had ever visited. He had always been a great land speculator
and loved the thrill of adventure in looking for new places.
These men sold lots on this land at "A pound of bacon for an acre of land" to get settlers.
The value of this land at that time was about $300,000. Three years later they bought a
hundred acres at $17.50 per acre which is now included in the City of Rochester. My subject
will not permit me to tell much about Rochester's activities there, but he was certainly more
than a representative pioneer of the Genesee country and a great public benefactor. The
Rochester Historical Soceity has published several volumes on his life and enterprises in memory
of the man who promoted their earliest prosperity and shaped their village from which it has
rapidly grown to be one of the leading cities of the state.
It was at the age of 60 in 1810 when Nathaniel Rochester advertised his house for sale and
left Hagerstown with his family to go to New York State--Hagerstown's population at this time
was 2,342. How courageous he was at his age to start out for this rather uncivilized part of
the country! It must have been quite a sight to see the various families leave in covered wagons,
carriages, and some on horseback with their modest household goods.
Years later in 1881 Colonel Rochester's son, Henry E. Rochester, visited Hagerstown --an
old man --and recalled many places and incidents --though only four years old when the family
left for New York --the youngest in the party. (He rode horseback most of the way --except to
take a nap now and then.) Mrs. James Findlay recollects that her mother entertained him at
dinner at Mt. Prospect. Henry Rochester together with some old friends of his father's visited
many familiar places --which he remembered as a child --the old stone house on N. Potomac
St., called "Potato Hill," where the family lived before moving to Mt. Prospect --the home on
W. Washington St. where his father had organized the Hagerstown Bank and in front of which
the Rochester household goods were put up for sale before the family left town. Henry
Rochester remembered in particular the man who stood on the front porch ringing a bell to bring
the bidders to the sale.
Rochester, New York, has, as I've said, established a society in his name and has done
much to perpetuate his memory. It seems that he did almost as much for Hagerstown, Maryland,
as he did for Rochester New York, and yet we have done little to honor him. _ (Rochester
Place is named for him --a small alley running alongside of the old Hagerstown Bank Building).
New Rochesterlchester really spent the best years of his life in Hagerstown and died in 1831 in Rochester,
in his eighty_{first year --having amassed a great fortune. As much as any old man,
fl contributed much to the conservative building of early Hagerstown. The loss of his strong in-
fluence and
State• He public spiritedness was certainly felt when he left to make his home in New York
calm . °'gas considered abreast of his time or "in advance of it." His vision, faith, and
always
caused men to seek his advice even in his old age. Nathaniel Rochester will
and reIi rememberedfor his adventurous spirit and foresightedness --a man of high principle
gr°us convictions.
M
47
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Rochester Historical Society - Vol. III
History of the Hagerstown Bank
Scharf's History of Western Maryland - Vol. II
William's History of Washington County -Vol. I
GENERAL DANIEL HEISTER.
General Daniel Heister, lawyer, patriot, warrior, and statesman was born near
Philadelphia in 1747. He belonged to a family of noted statesmen. Before coming
to this state and county, he represented a western district of Pennsylvania in the
National House of Representatives at Washington for five years.
The Heisters were prominent politically as well as socially and for many
years were political rivals of the Findlays, a branch of which settled at Tammany,
near Williamsport, Maryland. A member of the Heister family would alternate as
Governor or Senator in Pennsylvania with a member of the Findlay family according
to the political party in power. It is a tradition that the Heister family were also
friends of the Hager family in Germany, the fatherland of both families. It was
while on a trip south that Daniel Heister came to Elizabethtown and visited Jonathan
Hager and doubtless it was on this occasion that he met Rosannah, Jonathan Hager's
only daughter whom he later married. At the time of Heister's visit, Rosannah was
being courted by General Thomas Sprigg also of Revolutionary fame. It is interesting
to note that General Sprigg and General Heister were rivals in the courtship of
Rosannah, but friends later on in politics. General Sprigg had given Rosannah a large
18 carat gold watch, the product of a Parisian handcraftsman, made long before
watches were in common usage. It strikes the hours, half, quarter hours, ten and five
minutes. At the time of her marriage to General Heister, Rosannah gave General
Sprigg $200 in gold in payment for the watch.
Before the sudden death of Jonathan Hager, he had expressed his intention of
willing a portion of his estate to Rosannah. Under an English law, which was at
that time in force in Maryland, Jonathan Hager, Jr., being the oldest son, inherited
all his father's large real estate. But the generous young man did not propose to avail
himself of a law which had always been distasteful to Americans, at the expense of
his only sister. Immediately upon his father's decease, he entered into a written
agreement to convey to his sister the portion of the 5000 acre estate which he thought
should rightfully be hers. At the time he was not 21 years of age and the deed of
agreement had no binding force. He attained his majority while a prisoner of war
at Halifax, Nova Scotia. In August of that year General Heister got leave of the
Board of War to go to Halifax to get his brother-in-law to make a good deed. This
was readily effected but still General Heister was not satisfied. Upon his return
he went before the Maryland Legislature to obtain the passage of an act which should
cure all defects in the deed. Such an act was passed in 1781, but with the proviso
stare if the said Jonathan Hager, Jr., shall at any time hereafter return into this
' and
said Daniels all within six months thereafter institute his suit in chancery against the
Heister and Rosannah his wife or her heirs and shall make it appear to
the chancellor that he did not voluntarily and freely and fairly make and execute
the said deed of conveyance or that at the time had not attained the age of twenty-
one years, that then this act shal I cease to have any operation of effect. "
In
o February, 1782, Heister persuaded Rosannah that he intended to make a bona
fide sole
signing the deed of the proprty to heir pronerty and to move to Philadelphia. She joined with him in
reCOnve� Yed the Same back toe
lhis bonathan HaJr.,William onhis Heister,return ntodMarryland
m
49
petitioned the Legislature for an act repealing the aforesaid law, which actually
passed the House but Heister filed a cross petition in which no mention was made
of the deed from himself and wife to William Heister and from William Heister to
him. After 1781 Daniel and Rosannah took possession of the property and remained
in possession until their deaths. After Rosannah's death in 1810, Jonathan Hager,
Jr.'s, only child Elizabeth, and husband, Upton Lawrence, brought suit for the
property against John, William, and Gabriel Heister, brothers of Daniel . In 1811
the County Court decided the deed from Daniel Heister and wife to William Heister,
was sufficient in low to stop the said Elizabeth and Upton Lawrence from claiming
the property. In 1813 the Court of Appeals reversed the decision, but before this a
compromise had been reached dividing the property.
Of the 1434 acres Hager conveyed to his brother-in-law for his I ife with fee in
his sister, 500 acres lay between Elizabethtown and Jerusalem (now Funkstown).
Upon this tract Heister laid out the addition to Hagerstown known as Heisterboro.
In 1772 he had built a stone Colonial farm house for a summer residence which was
later owned by Mr. & Mrs. Milford Schindel . It was completely destroyed by fire
January 1, 1917. He also built the spacious, and at the time, magnificent mansion
on the south west corner of the Square. This residence still stands, although its sur-
roundings have sadly changed and its dignity is gone. But it is apparent that once
it was a handsome residence. It was finished inside in hard wood in the best possible
taste, which some later owner has hidden under thick coats of paint. In the rear of
the house extending along Washington Street to the "Old Hagerstown Bank" alley
was the garden, beautifully cultivated and filled with the finest flowers, which Mrs.
Heister delighted in attending. The garden was entered from Washington Street through
an imposing gateway between two massive gate posts. In 1885, while digging the
foundations of the building which now adjoins the old Heister mansion in the rear,
a portion of these posts was dug up five feet under the pavement.
General Heister was a man of wealth and was liberal in his expenditures and
hospitality. He was closely identified with all public affairs for a considerable num-
ber of years and his name constantly occurs in contemporary history. When he first
came to Elizabethtown, he joined the patriot army. At the close of the war he be-
came active politically and was a Republican candidate (now Democratic party)
for Congress from this district. Although he was defeated at this election, he ran
again the next term and in 1798 was elected and served for three consecutive terms.
At the time of the Whiskey Insurrection Heister presented the petition of the "Whiskey
Boys"of this district.
Washington County is just two months and two days younger than the State of
Maryland. By the Declaration of Independence the Province became a state. The
first state convention was held at Annapolis, August 14, 1776. In the new convention
each county had four delegates, except Frederick, and to it were appointed twelve --
four from each of the districts now composing Frederick and Montgomery counties and
four from the territory west of South Mountain, a territory which the convention made
into a county and called Washington. The next important matter was to decide the
place for a county seat. The only opposition against Elizabethtown was Mr. Funk's
town of Jerusalem. Mr. Funk obtained a great many signatures asking the convention
to bestow the honor upon his promising town, but the personal influence, with members
of the convention, of Heister and other leading citizens interested in Elizabethtown
carried off the coveted prize.
In 1796 a meeting was held at Hagerstown to devise a means for procuring a
turnpike road from Baltimore through Hagerstown to Williamsport. General Heister
was the choice of the meeting for the representative from Washington County to lay
out the road. It was twenty-seven years before the object sought by this meeting
was attained and in that time there was a regular turnpike fever.
General Heister died in Washington before the expiration of his third term, in
his fifty-seventh year March, 1804. The interment was first made in the lot opposite
the Zion Reformed church which had been given to the church by Heister upon condition
that it should be kept fenced and in good repair. A vault was constructed in it in
which Heister and Rosannah were buried, but the church had an abundance of ground
surrounding it so this lot was abandoned in order to avoid the expense of maintaining
it. It reverted to Philip Wingert the beneficiary of Mrs. Heister's estate. In November,
1860, the remains of Heister and his wife were removed to the graveyard adjoining the
church.
After General and Mrs. Heister's death, the property fronting 80 feet on the
square and extending back 45 feet on Washington Street was considered for a public
hall, but rejected. To give an idea of the value of property at that time, the price
asked for it was $4000 and the store rooms under the hall would command the magnificent
rental of $520 a year.
No children were born to beneral and Mrs. Heister but according to the reminis-
cences of the late Edwin Bell, Mrs. Heister offered to adopt a neighbor's daughter,
Miss Susan Harry. She refused and later became the wife of William Bell, owner
and developer of Prospect Street and father of Edwin Bell .
Mrs. Heister retained Philip Wingert, grand -nephew of Jonathan Hager, to
look after her extensive business affairs, in which capacity he served until her death
in 1810. By her last will and testament he was made co -executor of her will and
under its provisions received the greater portion of her estate both personal and real .
The bequest included the watch spoken of formerly, a life-size portrait in oil of Mrs.
Heister, and one-half of General Heister's library These precious heirlooms are
still preserved in the Wingert family.
50
51
FORGES AND FURNACES
Studying the history of Washington County gives one not only an insight into the
customs of the early settlers, their hardships and marvellous courage --but a realization
of how richly endowed by nature was this land on which they settled --and clung to
through great adversity. Aside from a land which produced the necessities to sustain
life, namely food and water, materials for building, for tilling the soil, as well as
for cooking food and defending homes and waiting for someone to uncover and utilize
it --iron.
The minerals of the county are few but iron ore of the brown Haematite variety
was abundant, a specie called pipe or sometimes limestone ore and yielding metal of
excellent quality--well-adapted for the manufacture of bar iron. None of the Indians
had the art of melting it, their skill in metallurgy being confined to making rude
articles out of native copper and occasionally gold.
When the tide of immigration started to flow through the Hagerstown Valley and
many grants of land were taken up, it was only natural that the rich deposits of ore
should be located. There may have been small furnaces but the earl ist forges and
furnaces of any size and character were built by the Hughes Family and Jacques and
Johnson.
Lancelot Jacques, a Huguenot refugee, came to America and soon after his
arrival met a rich provincial of Frederick, one Thomas Johnson, a friend of Washington
and afterwards first Governor of the State of Maryland. Jacques and Johnson became
patentees of large tracts of land, with a vision not only of speculating but of im-
proving the county and developing its resources. They constructed and operated the
Catoctin Furnace and later the Western part of the county. On this grant, not for
from Fort Frederick, Jacques came to live and built his home. His discovery of iron
ore in the vicinity suggested a smelting furnace. So he and Johnson appl led for
100 acres of land lying on a run of water called Green Spring Run --as might be
convenient for setting up a Forge Hill, necessary for carrying on the iron work.
The deed for the property from Lord Baltimore is dated "23 day of December,
1766," and very quaintly written --one sentence reading as follows --"Containing
100 acres, and which is fit and convenient for an Iron Work for the running of pig
iron --it would not be to the damage of us the said 100 acres or any part not being
a Manor."
passed to a nephew, Denton Jacques.
All the original furnace buildings have long since vanished, though according to
an article written a few years ago by Mr. E. G. Kinsell of Clearspring "The flame that
fed the wheel which blew the old furnace may still be seen beside the baker oven built
by Roman and this is the only relic of the Johnson and Jacques Furnace."
The second furnace was built on the site of the older structure --some of the ore
being found a short distance north of the furnace site and some mined across the river.
Charcoal was made in the hills nearby and the iron thus produced was called charcoal
iron considered superior to that made in the coke furnaces --a small amount of the out-
put was used in Hagerstown but most went by mule team to McCoy's Ferry and the C
and O Canal to Washington, thence to Baltimore and Philadelphia by rail . The Furnace,
being unable to compete with Pittsburg and Birmingham, Alabama, furnaces, ceased
working in 1873 and did not resume operations.
The Hughes seemed to have had the largest number of forges and furnaces. The
first of this prominent family, Barnabas Hughes, came to America in 1750 and settled
in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. A few years later he settled in a portion of Frederick County
which was afterwards within the boundary of Washington County. He and his three sons
became identified with the iron business, building their first furnace at Black Rock and
the second at Mt. Aetna about a mile further down. Later on, Daniel Hughes in partner-
ship with William Fitzhugh built a furnace and nail factory at Old Forge, Hughes also
had a furnace at Great Rocks and at Antietam, south of Sharpsburg, as wel I as furnaces
in Pennsylvania.
The Hughes foundries were well known and established at the time of the Revolutionary
War. They furnished many cannons for the use of the Continental Army.
At the Mt. Aetna furnace, wood, limestone, and ore were plentiful, the limestone
being essential for use as flux in the furnaces. In the "Maryland Journal ", March 31,
1786, it was advertised for rent:
"To be rented --The Mt. Aetna Furnace lying in Washington County, within 6 miles
of Hagerstown --ore is of excellent quality either for iron bar or castings which with wood,
limestone, and sand is in
etc, great abundance and very convenient --building bellows, gear,
in good repair --stream of water constant. Pot, stove, and other patterns may be
had with Furnace. Great Rock Forge is also to be rented. Stands on Antietam Creek
within eight miles of above Furnace --has two hammers and four fires --substantial dam
and considerable head water; lease from three to seven years --Daniel and Samuel Hughes
in Hagerstown."
So on Green Spring Run Jacques and Johnson built the first Green Spring Furnace.. and The foundry a^Mt. Aetna seemed to have been used mostly for the making of stoves
The i iron was loaded in wagons and hauled b wayof McCoy's Ferryto Winchester Cannons Mt.
that Mistress eed ss Jacown ques
st-bottomed rovided al boats.
pillowcase for thre the
purpose of brJacques inging amily Mentions theca cannon
naatMt Aetna.on
These party History icular guns were spiked and had neveritten by the late Samuel Detrow, r
or used
r.
etrow
back the gold paid for shipments of ore. In 1776 Johnson and Jacques dissolved to
the Ci Sal
on New Yearniany c, nTheyDlaid inaa bottom ys, he enearly t covered with earth and o dril I them out in rafter
partnership --Jacques retaining Green Spring Furnace. Sold to John r wene,otheld tfoundryafune y in Hnd stn.The
whole
built tplantation
was finally
The Forge was used for gun castings in pre-Revolutionary times and cannon balls' awhiskey
i were cast there for the Revolutionary army. Several six -pounders were still to be
found in the old Woolen Millat McCoy's Ferry as late as 1858. The property finally
�YA
53
Great Rocks was a tract of 50 acres originally patented to Daniel Dulaney in 1750.
The boundary was described as usual: "Beginning at a bounded white oak standing near
a spring called the Locust Spring on the Antietam about a mile from the temporary line.
Below the Locust Spring the bank was quite steep but the great rocks from which the tract
derived its name were some distance above. There the rocks rose precipitiously at the
southern bank of the creek and for some distance west the water later ran through a deep
gorge which was obviously artificially excavated. It was doubtless the practicability of
such an excavation that attracted the attention of Hughes. While there can be no doubt
that he developed the property for industrial purposes, the time when this was done is
difficult to determine. The old Forge was a substantial stone building, one-story high,
with two stone chimneys as high as the tallest trees. The product probably consisted of bar i
though cannon balls have been found in the debris near the site of the Old Forge.
1805, Col . Hughes entered into an agreement to sell a tract of land called "Balsher's
Misfortune" not to include any of the land that the Rock Forge dam formerly covered
with water. This reference to the Forge is significant --it shows the dam had sustained
material damage and consequently it is fair to assume that the property was no longer oper-
ated. The owners being interested in the Old Forge and Antietam Furnaces, the machinery
was probably moved to either of these places.
In 1840 Holker Hughes sold the property. It passed through several hands and was
finally bought by John S. Dayhoff who built a machine shop, Foundry, and Implement
Factory --making grain separators, hay rakes, farm wagons, and corn spellers. Then in
1877 it was purchased by Garver Foltz and Coy who manufactured and transacted a general
foundry and machine business. Subsequently it was converted into a distillery when
Garver Foltz moved to Hagerstown.
Daniel Hughes and William Fitzhugh built the Forge and Nail Factory at "Old Forge"
on the Antietam between Leitersburg and Hagerstown. Here Col . Rochester bought much
of the iron for his nail factory in Hagerstown. Most of the nails and floor brads used at
this time were being made at the Old Forge and at Rochester's. They were hammered by
hand out of wrought iron, (cut nails not yet being made) and were sold at Hart and
Rochester's at 9/5 per pound, 13/6 per 1000, and claimed to be far superior to those
imported from Europe. Many of the farming implements and household goods, together
with nails, locks, and hinges, were made locally, iron being procured mostly from the
Hughes' Furnaces. -
The old Antietam Furnace was located on one of Joseph Choplines grants of land,
comprising 6352 acres, which he called "Little I Thought It", about three miles south
of Shorpsburg. How this tract came into the possession of Daniel Hughes or whether he
leased it, I've not been able to find out. In the will of Chapline which was written
January 27, 1768, a very voluminous document, he disposes of his vast estates mention-
ing his Antietam Iron Works, the buildings for which he furnished the ground. This date
is later than that of the Hughes' Furnace.
On the other hand, in the Articles of Agreement concerning the Iron Works, October
31, 1765, the parties mentioned are Chapline--Samuel Beall --Jim Jr. --David Ross, and
Richard Henderson. No mention of Hughes --nor does it seem as if they were linked to-
gether at all --especially as it isneorly certain Hughes manufactured cannon, small arms
and ball there as early as 1775. In an extract from the minutes of the Committee of
Safety which met in November, 1775, is an order --that Hughes have nine pounds of
powder to prove his cannon, and at a later date Colonel Stull delivered 112 pounds of
powder to prove the cannon at the Hughes' works. Evidently the guns were satisfactory.
When in 1776 the Provincial Commission held convention in Annapolis the proceedings
show that Colonel Stull had a hearing with Hughes as to the execution of the contract
made by Samuel Hughes for the casting and furnishing of cannon for the public, the fol-
lowing resolutions being passed:
"That notwithstanding the said Hughes have not furnished all the cannon they con-
tracted for, that on pursuing the work with diligence and spirit the Council of Safety
for the time being take the whole number contracted for on account." It looks as if the
firm, of Daniel and Samuel Hughes, were financially embarrassed at the moment as the
Committee was further empowered to lend and advance a sum of money, not exceeding
2000 francs, out of the public treasury. The contract referred to may have meant the
output of both Antietam and Mount Aetna furnaces, the brothers being engaged in the
same business at different places. Bar iron was made at Antietam in 1796, Daniel Hughes
advertising it as of the finest quality. He married his third wife in 1800 at the ageof
70 years --but no further reference seemed to have been made to his business life.
The famous old Antietam Iron Works were erected by William Brown and operated
by Ross, Bell and Henderson of Baltimore. Later they came into the possession of John
McPherson Brien, their water -power was furnished by the Antietam Creek, the head of
the falls there being about 21 feet. All the wheels were driven from the same race--
250 yards away was the Canal basin --where coal, lumber, and ore were received and
the products shipped.
The works comprised rolling and sheeting mills, sheet -iron mills and extensive nail
factory, housing 19 nail and spike machines. There was a 6-fire forge with a hammer
weighing 21 tons, and 3 puddling furnaces. From 40 to 60 tons of metal a week was
turned out, some made only into bar iron. The coke yard was on the site of the famous
battle between the Catawbas and Delawares and an Indian burial ground. Many relics
were found there. In 1853 several hundred people were employed and quite a village had
sprung up around the works. In addition to the dwell ings, there was a large grist and
saw -mill, a store and office and a mansion for the owner.
The old Furnace and Iron Works may justly wear a faint halo of fame contributing
in a small way to the renown which came to Washington County through the invention
of the steamboat. James Rumsey who was a machinist and mill-wrightby trade and had
make many valuable improvements in milling machinery, had a deep desire and consuming
ambition to propel a boat by steam --so he left his business to his partner and started
experimenting. He built three boats with a degree of success, but the boat on which
eumsey made his name was built, or partly so, in Washington County, part of the machin-
ry being made at Antietam Iron Works, the smelting furnace at the mouth of the creek.
References:
Scharf's History of Western Maryland.
William's History of Washington County.
BelI's History of the Leitersburg District.
54
55
FREDERICK TOWN AS THE COUNTY CAPITAL
Frederick County was created by an Act of the General Assembly passed in 1748.
This new county included the entire state west of Baltimore and Prince George's Counties,
embracing the present counties of Frederick, Montgomery, Washington, Allegany and
Garrett and portions of Howard and Carroll. Even the District of Columbia was included.
Frederick County retained these large proportions for twenty-eight years. So rapid was
the growth of settlement that in 1776 two new counties were carved out of Frederick;
Montgomery on the south, and Washington including all land west of South Mountain.
Carroll, which nowbounds Frederick on the east, was not established until 1835. Allegany
County was formed out of Washington in 1789 embracing all the part of the State lying
west of Sidel ing Hill Creek. It was nearly a hundred years later, 1872, that Garrett
was formed.
For ten years before the creation of Frederick County there had been speculation
in its land. The Proprietor had offered large tracts at attractive rates. For three years
after settlement, these tracts were to be exempt from taxes and then only four shillings
sterling for every hundred acres thereafter. Many wealthy men from tidewater Maryland
speedily took advantage of the offer and acquired large patents along the Monocacy and
Antietam. Charles Carroll took a patent on Carroll's Manor in what is now the Buckeystown
District: James Carroll took a large tract in the Linganore District; the Catoctin Furnace
property was patented by Leonard Calvert and Thomas Johnson and the latter's brothers,
James and Baker Johnson, got large tracts. The land upon which Frederick Town was
laid out was originally known as Tasher's Chance. Benjamin Tasher, president of the
Governor's Council of Maryland, had bought eight thousand acres along the Monocacy,
of the most fertile land in the province.
From Tasher, Daniel Dulaney, the wealthiest man in Maryland, purchased a section
of land upon which his brother Patrick surveyed and laid out the town that named its
main street in his honor. From the time the town was laid out, down to 1781, when
his property was confiscated, Daniel Dulaney and his son Walter sold about two hundred
lots. A lot was generally 62 feet wide and 393 feed deep.
The generally accepted theory has been that Frederick was named in honor of Frederic)
the twelve year old son of the proprietor and afterwards the last of the Barons of Baltimore.
Another conjecture is that the name was given to compliment Frederick Lewis, Prince of
Wales, a son of George II and father of Georgelll, who at the time of the settlement was
an important factor in public affairs in England and heir apparent to the Crown. There
is every reason to suppose that the Cal verts were eager to please him.
Although Frederick Town was laid out by a English gentlemen, its lots and the rich
farms immediately surrounding it were taken up by a host of honest, thrifty, laborious
immigrants from the German Palatinate. One hundred families of them were led by John
Thomas Schley, a schoolmaster, who began the actual settlement of the town in 1745.
During the early years, the German language was spoken more frequently on the streets
than English. Two of the congregations had their services entirely in that language. The
children were instructed in both languages in the schools. The style of the houses and
barns was chiefly that of the German rather than the English origin. However, many
English settlers came, too, especially from the lower counties as they were given attractive
offers from prominent citizens who had taken up land grants. That the English came in
large numbers is shown by the fact that All Saints Church, now known as the Episcopal
Church, was one of the very earliest churches in Frederick County, and one of the wealth-
iest parishes in the province.
Fifteen years before the Revolution, the Methodist Church, which was composed of
English speaking people, was established in Frederick County at Sam's Creek by Robert
Strawbridge, a Wesleyan lay preacher from Ireland. This was the first Methodist Church
in America.
The geographical position of Frederick made it the scene of many stirring events.
As the town was situated on the great highway to the South and the West, it was con-
spicuous during both the French and Indian War and the Revolution. Here General Braddock
swore over vexatious delays which preceded his fatal march. Governor Sharpe, then
Commander -in -chief of all the forces against the French, came to Frederick to confer
with General Braddock, Col. Washington, and Benjamin Franklin, for Frederickstown
was the military headquarters for operations against the French and Indians. Here supplies
were being assembled. To such an extent were seizures made that the contractors for
the new court house, which was then being erected, found it impossible to obtain horses
to haul material to the site of the building. Franklin obtained for Braddock 150 wagons
with four horses each and 1500 saddle horses. Braddock Heights is named for General
Braddock, as well as the spring where he stopped to quench his thirst.
Frederick was one of the first towns to show indignation over the Stamp Act. On
November 27, 1765, the twelve Judges on Magistrates of the local court repudiated the
British Stamp Act. These men are spoken of as the "Immortal Twelve". A great demon-
stration was held to celebrate the action of the court. This included "the burial of the
Stamp Act" in a coffin and the execution of an effigy of Zachariah Hood, the stamp
agent, which was followed by a ball and banquet at night. "Many loyal and patriotic
toasts were drunk and the whole concluded with the utmost decoreumm."
In 1894 the General Assembly of Maryland made November 23 a bank half-hol;day
in Frederick County under the title of "Repudiation Day", in commemoration of the re-
pudiation of the stamp act; and in 1904 the Frederick Chapter of the Daughters of The
American Revolution placed a bronze tablet in the Court House to commemorate the Court.
The opponents of British authority began about this time to organize themselves in the
colonies under the name of the "Sons of Liberty." In October of the some year in re-
pudiation of the Stamp Act, Colonel Cresap organized a "Son's of Liberty", in Frederick
County, In Annapolis the Assembly was disputing over the Stamp Act. Colonel Thomas
Cres°p threatened to march from Frederick to Annapolis with the army of several hundred
to see tha
and t something was done. Governor Sharpe sent a communication to the Assembly
gave evidence to prove that the Stamp Act had been repudiated. The army never
marched.
that Bost werenowrapidly drifting from commercial war to real war. Believing
Cornpanies were
vas suffering and that it was the duty of every colony to unite and assist, two
Captain Thomas Priced in Frederick County, They were composed ofebrra baded rave dypfighters, stain achooled el CresaP and
the
e11111in
56
dreadful conflicts of the Indian Wars and were hardened to discipline. An exhibition of
their expert skill as riflemen was given to the people of Frederick before their departure
on the 18th day of July, 1775. They started on their long march to Boston armed with
tomahawks and rifles, dressed in deer skins and moccasins. After traveling 550 miles
over rough and difficult roads, they arrived August 9th, making the journey in twenty-
two days without the loss of a man.
These two companies and one other were the first troops from the South to reach the
field.
It has been claimed that no community contributed more liberally to the Revolution
than did Frederick County. Some of her outstanding patriots were Thomas Johnson, John
Hanson, Thomas Sim Lee, and Alexander Coutee Hanson.
Thomas Johnson had the honor of nominating George Washington for commander -in -
chief of the Continental forces at the second Continental Congress in Philadel phis. For
many years these two men were close friends. President, Washington visited Johnson in
Frederick at his home, "Richlands." They were associated together in the Potomac Company
for the improvement of navigation in that river. Mr. Johnson was re-elected to Congres
at every successive election until February 13th, 1777, when he was chosen first Governor
of Maryland. He was notified of that fact while he was in New Jerseyas Brigadier General
of the Maryland Militia at General Washington's encampment. In 1791, Governor Johnson
was appointed one of the associate justices of the United States Supreme Court by Washington
in place of John Rutledge, who had recently died. He retained this position until 1793
when.ill health compelled him to resign. Afterwards President Washington asked him to
accept the Secretaryship of State but he declined. He consented, however, to serve with
Dr. Stuart and Daniel Carroll as one of the commissioners for laying off the City of
Washington, and for selecting the sites of the Capitol, of the President's home, and of
other public buildings. "It is said," says Col. George A. Hanson in a biographical
sketch of Mr. Johnson, "that when John Adams was asked why so many Southern men
occupied leading positions and possessed great influence during the struggle for independence
he replied that, "if it had'.not been for such men as Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson,
Samuel Chase, and Thomas Johnson, there never would have been any revolutions " (1)
John Hanson, one of the most eminent lawyers at the Maryland Bar, came to Frederick
in 1773 from Charles County. He became the first president of the Congress of the Confe
tion but it is for his fight over the making of states out of the western lands that Marylon de
are most proud. He and Daniel Carroll ratified the Articles of Confederation after forcing,
the making in due season of sovereign states out of ceded lands. Most of the other states
had wanted the west to remain as their territories.
For several years preceding the outbreak of the Revolution there were frequent mee
of the free holders to vote on important questions. It was difficult for the citizens to
travel and the country was divided into three districts: Upper District (Elizabetht-own),
Middle District (Frederick), and Lower District (Hungerford, now Rockville). This divisi
naturally led to the creating of Washington and Montgomery counties in 1776.
(1) History and Biographical Record of Frederick County, page 392.
Frederick at that time was a well-built and prosperous town with brick and stone
houses having replaced most of the wooden ones. Of course to cross the street on a wet
night was a bold undertaking, The streets were unpaved and dark; sidewalks were un-
known. Houses were placed to suit the owner with no regard for grade levels. The town
boasted of three good taverns, The tavern on West All Saints' Street was the most prominent.
It was there that General Braddock and Governor Sharpe had held consultations. Travelers
claimed that the town reminded them of an English Village or Continental town.
Since I am discussing Frederick as the county seat, I feel that I should mention the
early court and bar. In Maryland the courts were but little altered from the old English
model . They were much more formal and precise than now, more rigid as to precedent,
and more complicated as to practice.
The Chancellor was the most important judge in the State with the highest salary.
It was 650 pounds in 1777. There was the Court of Appeals, which had then but minor
jurisdiction, the Admiralty Court and the Chief Judge and his Associates of the General
Court. These men after the business in Annapolis was over would separate and preside
over the county courts. Judges were appointed by the Governor for I ife and were usually
some of the best lawyers of the state regardless of what seems to us very small salaries,
These judges kept up a dignified presence and attitude which would appear astonishingly
severe at the present day. The wig was not a part of the judge's costume, but the gown
was until quite a late period. All this dignity was well for a bench which had such
unlimited power. It could imprison an offender for debt while life lasted, could place
him in the pillory, brand, whip, or hang him in chains and giblet for offenses which today
scarcely cause a year or two's imprisonment. However, these severe punishments were
rare in Western Maryland.
A review of a few specific legal cases in Frederick might be interesting. In 1749
a death warrant was issued for John Murphy condemned for felony and burglary, He was
the first person hanged in Frederick Country. The same year Conrad Cross was fined 40
shillings on his confession for selling liquors without a license, the first conviction for
this offense. In June Term, Mary Ryan, for bastardy was given five lashes on her bare
body at the whipping post and her servitude with her master was extended nine months
as Payment of costs. The next year a woman for purloining a snuff -box worth ten pounds
was set up in the pillory for five minutes, given five lashes at the whipping post and
Ordered to return the snuff box and pay the owner29 pounds. A man for the theft of
an axe was fined and whipped twenty lashes. In 1773 four convicts were hanged for the
murder of their master. This hanging was quite a public spectacle.
For the first few years the Court was held in the "Dutch Meeting House, " then three
acre, of ground were bought for 18 pounds and a wooden ( one -storey -and -a -halt} court
house was built in 1750, with a whipping post and a small jail close by. The court
house of the present day has been the result of several rebuildings.
eIn 'hegorded colonial period visiting lawyers, distinguished for ability and eloquence and
inepsure "Patriarchs in the legal profession, would meet at various court houses to
couDo . � DW�Pons with l other. The
am Cumming 1749, and first mention
next name in he attorney
court minutes srthattof
the downfall in the same year. Of the latter it has been said "for many years before
colony as a lOwyeOf
r po a rie r, govern oent, he stood confessedly without a rival in this
RE
59
During the early period of Maryland history the bar of Frederick County numbered
among its members some of the most distinguished lawyers of the state. It furnished the
fifth chief justice of the United States, Roger Brooke Taney; the first Governor of Maryland,
Thomas Johnson; the second United States Senator from the Western Shore, Richard Potts,
one of the early judges of the Court of Appeals; and two Attorney Generals of the United
States, Roger B. Taney and John Nelson.
References:
History and Biographical Record of Frederick County, Maryland
Vol . I, Titsworth and Co.
History of Western Maryland, Vol. I, Scharf, Carrollton Manor - William Grove
THE BUCHANAN BROTHERS - THOMAS AND JOHN
"The world was so full of a number of things,
I'm sure that they all lived as merry as kings!"
O temporal O mores! What a time to be born! What an age of experience! What
discoveries, what adventures, what romance! Looking back over some seventy odd years
of life, John and Thomas Buchanan must have thanked God that it was their privilege to
be alive in such an amazing era, to have witnessed the great Revolution, to have seen a
new nation born and unfold as if by magic until it could take its place with the centuries -
old nations of the world. True, they had seen many hardships and much suffering about
them, but having been born into a family of wealth and prominence they had had the bene-
fits of all the advantages and opportunities of their days.
What fun it must have been to gather 'round the fireside of their stately mansions and
to hear them recount the events of their age. It had been a period of discovery, not only
of new lands but of great machines that could make life easier and more profitable. In
1785 James Watts, an Englishman had found out how to turn a wheel, thru the medium of
steam. A system of factories resulted which gradually supplanted domestic industry.
Then came the Cotton Gin in 1793--a pioneer in inventions --followed by a whole series
of mechanical devices which gradually eliminated the machines. which for centuries had
been operated by hand and foot. As industry and business increased we find that neces-
sity became the mother of invention and so the steamboat was evolved and demonstrated
in 1807. In 1825 the Erie Canal was opened and three years later the first spadeful of
earth for the building of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was removed by John Quincy
Adams. At the same time Charles Carrol of Carrolton set in position the first stone for
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. There were many affairs of national interest --the
purchase of Louisiana in 1804 and in the same year the expedition of Lewis and Clark;
a second war with Great Britain in 1812 which lasted three yearsand which was followed
by a general business depression in 1818; the year Flordia was purchased from Spain.
All the while the wheels of industry were turning faster and faster and trade with other
nations reached colossal stages. Some regulations had to be made concerning the trade
rights of one country with another and so the Monroe Doctrine was expounded in 1844.
It seemed almost incredible that so much could have happened in such a short space of
time. And most of these events took place on this side of the Atlantic!
With all of these activities, man found time to think and to reflect and to write.
Benjamin Franklin began his famous "Autobiography" in 1771. Washington Irving com-
pleted his "Knickerbocker History of New York" in 1809 and brought out his "Sketch
Book" ten years later. 'The Leather Stocking Tales" of James Fennimore Cooper --the
first great romancer of the forest and sea in this country --were published in 1840; and
William Cullen Bryant had inscribed his name in the Hal of Fame as early as 1817 when
setSef immortal poem, "Thanatopsis," appeared. Patrick Henry and Richard Henry Lee had
themselves up as models of oratory, while the political essays of John Adams,
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and Thomas Jefferson were read and discussed with
Much gusto throughout the land. No doubt, therefore, the two emiment gentlemen about
dorn it is od y_ What a pity we were bor
n so soonlust have often said to themselves --as we
i 60
6
I
And so young Thomas Buchanan (some of the present heirs call him James) a mere
lad of twenty, packed his Lares and Penates in 1780, said good-bye to his family and
friends in Chester and started for the new world. He too must have felt within himself
that it was great to be alive and to be in the swim of things. Perhaps it took courage,
perhaps it meant great sacrifice to leave a long-established home, to gamble with one's
social status and the opportunities it afforded --to forsake all these for the uncertainties
that faced him in a new hemisphere.
Now the Buchanans were aristocrats of the first rank. That they were people of
virulent minds, polished, refined, well educated, people of position and wealth and
close to the crown, had long since been affirmed --indeed, some two hundred years
before -by their famous great -great and as many "greats" as are necessary to cover two
centuries by their great-grandsire, George Buchanan, whose span of life covers the
years 1506-1582. He was one of Scotland's greatest scholars, and for his mastery over
Latin he has seldom been surpassed by any modern writer. He was the son of an old
family in Killearn, Sterlingshire. His early education was received at the University
of Paris where he devoted himself to the writing of Latin verses. Later he was graduated
from the University of St. Andrew. James V engaged him as a tutor for one of his sons --
Lord James Stewart. In 1560 we find him reading Livy daily with the young Queen
Mary. His reputation for learning was known throughout the land. Through George
i ry P
a director of chance and
' n James VI acquired
fired his scholarship. Hews chancery Buchanan s tuition, J q P
i Seal -an office which gave him a seat in Pa
rliament. iament. He wrote Latin with
Lary Privy
as much ease as his mother tongue. Mirabile dictul In one of his famous works "De
P
n a regin ud Scotos" he laid down his political principles andfeelings. All of his
I 9
the Psalms
works show much originality and thought and of his translations --particularly
Y
�� i ns.
li 111 --it is said: The are more than mere versions.
and Greek la s y
P Y
Accordi
ngly
young
n I thadventurer Thomas Buchanan came to America with a feeling
9
add fresh
he was bringing which might some day
of ride in his heart of the heritageg g 9
P
n name. He settled in
laurels to the Buchanan Maryland, near Port Tobacco in Prince
George s County. At this time Port Tobacco was one of the first ports on the Potomac
Ma 's City in commerce for man ears
to trade with England and was the rival of St. ry y Y Y
to come. On the hills about the town many eminent citizens built their homes --practically
one to wrack and ruin now. young all 9 Here Buchanan laid out his vast plantation known
g
as "Graydon".He p9 made several trips to England in the interest of the crown and on one
of these voyages is said to have accompanied Charles Carrol of Carrolton. The two young
were both engaged gentlemen had much in common, for the w to be married and to the
Y
might
attractive daughters of John and Eliza Tilighnan Cook of Maryland. That there g
ht
he ha young ladies, the proud swains sent to England for
be no ill -feeling between t happy y g
their wedding -rings. Buchanan purchased a lovely amethyst set with diamonds for his
fiancee, Mary, while Carrol chose a glorious topaz in similar setting for Ann. They
t from abroad among which were two hand-
some
' e numerous 9 i i brides brought their prospective ve 9
9 P P
some brocaded gowns --which until a few years ago were in the possession
of the Buchanan
n the tokens of affection
� broke out and the were destroyed. Among heirs. But alas. a fire br Y Y
garnets --still in the family. was a magnificent collar of g Y. Ann Cook died before her
nuptials
ials could be celebrated and her ring, along with her sister's still remains in the
Buchanan family.
When the revolution broke out in 1776, Buchanan, who had been so closely con-
nected with the crown, felt that he must remain loyal, and so was considered a Tory--
61
for which he suffered heavy losses in the confiscation of much of his personal property.
Little more is known of this first Buchanan settler and his part in the affairs of the day,
for he died when but forty-seven years old --in 1787--and was buried in Prince George
County. We are told that he was one of the founders of Upper Marlboro --the county
seat.
The Buchanans had four children --Thomas, John, Mary and Sophia --all born at
Graydon --the family plantation. Thomas and John were destined to catch the torch of
fame and blazen new trails of glory; for in the moulding of the laws of our State they
became two of the most famous jurists of their day and their public worth can be meas-
ured by the many valuable decisions they rendered.
Thomas Buchanan, the elder of the two sons, was born September 25, 1768. He
received his education in law at a very early age. For a few years he practiced in the
courts of Anne Arundel and St. Mary's Counties. In 1797 he married Rebecca Maria
Anderson, the granddaughter of Governor Samuel Ogle. After a few years they moved
to Baltimore and later to Washington, where they had large landed estates. Still later
he built a beautiful home known as "Woburn" just out side of DownsvilIe, Maryland on
the road leading to Dam 04. Here he lived with his wife and five children. In March,
1806, he was admitted to the bar, just one month after his famous brother, John, had
been appointed Associate Judge of this judicial district. While never as prominent as
his brother, Judge Thomas was considered by many to possess the greater mind. He was
a tall, handsome gentleman, dignified and refined in appearance. He spoke with an
easy grace and without ostentation. A kindly gentleman, with an understanding heart
for the misfortunes of others, that he was vitally interested in the affairs of his day is
evidenced by the many activities in which he played a prominent part.
He was a religious man and a generous contributor to the Church. His name first
appears, and in his own handwriting, on the registry of St. John's Episcopal Church,
July 10, 1814, as being eligible for the vestry. The records show that he was attentive
to his Church obligations. At that time it was customary to set up the Church pews in
Classes and auction them off to the highest bidder. This purchase price gave him a kind
of lease on the pew for 99 years, but was subject to an annual renewal. Thomas Buchanan
occupied per #33 for which he made a purchase price of $200 and paid an annual rent of
$30. His brother, who spent the major portion of his tine in Baltimore, also held a pew
(#46) in this church for which he paid $105 with a rent of $16. In 1843 when certain
necessary reparis had to be made to the Church, the Honorable Thomas was among those
who subscribed most generously to the cause.
It has been said of the Buchanans that they were extremely proud of their name
and prestige and when the occasion demanded it could be quite domineering and exalted.
In 1809 a certain Thomas Burke was tried and convicted for rape and sentenced to be
hungo Among his lawyers was the brilliant young Luther Martin who fiercely contested
the trial and in the heat of the argument offended Judge Thomas Buchanan so deeply that
a few hours later, when Martin attempted to enter the stage where Judge Buchanan was
already seated, the Judge, still highly incensed over the affair, struck him with his cane.
At probably no other time in the history of Hagerstown were there so many distinguished
lawyers at the bar as during the period when Roger B. Taney, John and Thomas Buchanan,
Luther Martin, John Thomas Mason, and William B. Rochester practiced.
62
61"I In May, 1815, Thomas Buchanan succeeded the Honorable Roger Nelson as Chief
Judge of the Circuit Court. This office he held until his death in 1847. One commentator
says of him, "He became a stern and upright judge and dispensed justice to rich and poor
alike, he administered the laws with an impartiality that knew no friend. He seldom
erred in his judgement. The two brothers sat together on the bench and some of the more
important cases which they jointly tried I shall mention later.
In 1825 plans were being discussed for the building of a canal along the Potomac
river to its headwaters and thence to the waters of the Ohio. The Potomac Company had
failed in its attempt to realize Washington's dream of uniting the East and the West by
bonds of common interest, and Commerce Boats drawing only one foot of water were found
to be too expensive to operate. So, in 1825, plans for the building of a canal were dis-
cussed at a conference in Washington. In December, 1826, another conference was called
to which delegates from Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania came. After three days
they decided that a canal. should be built. Thomas Buchanan was among the representatives
from Maryland.
Judge Thomas was intensely interested in education and took a very active part in
the establishing of the old Hagerstown Academy. In 1842, when St. James College was
with its early management and a member of the
opened, we find Judge Thomas connected
board of trustees.
The two eminent jurists are most famous, as has been stated before, for the many
valuable decisions which they rendered in the many important cases which they tried.
and it is to men
like John and Thomas
in their formative period The laws of Maryland were P with a keen intellect
reciation. Endowed with
e a tremendous debt of appreciation. Buchanan that we ow P ,
ithuntirin effort
heir state and community w 9
of thought, the served t Y
and a profundity g Y
P
ty
and gave the best that was in them.
e trying
One afternoon in late September --the 27th to be exact--1847, after a very
dayin court, Judge Thomas was returning hom
e with his 9
amiable daughter and a valued
died right in his car -
an attack of apoplexy and g
servant. He was suddenly seized with PoP Y
me
Rench whose beautiful home,
The vehicle was pulled into the stable of Andrew ,
na e P
g eventually fell into ruin and all that now
�� There the carriage event y
Bellevue, was close by. 9
remains of the eminent gentleman's chaise are the hub caps which have been converted
into door -steps and now adorn the apartment of Miss Helen Hoffineier, a Rench descendant.
In speaking of his death, the Hagerstown Papers said: "Thus passed from earth to
Heaven the late venerated, venerable senior judge of this judiciary district. But few
men have ever descended the tomb in Western Maryland whose death was more deeply
me ned. He left behind. him an ermine, of stainless purity." He was buried in the Episco-
pal graveyard beside his devoted wife whose demise had occurred seven years before.
About fifteen years ago a very lovely portrait of Judge Thomas Buchanan was un-
veiled in the local courthouse by Nettie Canby Scott, a great -great grandniece.
As I stated before, Thomas and Rebecca Buchanan had five children. The eldest of
these was Dr. James A. Buchanan who married the daughter of Col . John Miller. Their
son was Brigadier General James Buchanan of the United States Army. He died in 1826
1 in Upperville, Virginia. It was Brigadier General Buchanan who presented the court-
63
house with the portrait --a copy which he had had made from the original . The next three
children were Melivia, who married John Robert Doll; Anne, who married John Steele
of Annapolis; and Harriett, whom many of our local residents recall, lived in the old
Pole house --just below the Brughs. She called her home "Woburn," too. She was noted
for her terrible temper as well as for a handsome pair of mules which she drove about the
town. Another son, Thomas Cribb, left home and, although his father spent vast sums to
locate him, was never found.
As for John Buchanan, he was much more celebrated than his older brother, and
hence much more is today known about him. He, too, was born at Graydon, Prince
George County, in 1772. Both parents died while he was quite young. He attended
Charlotte Hall Academy and received the usual education of the day. After this he
was sent to Winchester, Virginia, to read law with Judge Robert White. He stayed there
only a short time and came to Hagerstown to complete his studies with John T. Mason --
a most distinguished lawyer. The two brothers must have arrived here about the same time
for we find them mingling with the elite of society. They were regarded as the most
entertaining and attractive beaux of Washington County. Miss Heister, a step -grand-
niece of Jonathan Hager, Founder, in speaking of John Buchanan said: "I I ike Mr.
Buchanan and think him a gentleman." (Scharf 1013). He practiced successfully for a
few years and on October 4, 1818, married Sophia Williams, daughter of Col. Elie
Williams, whose brother, General Otho H. Williams, was the founder of Williamsport.
Col . Elie Williams was for many years clerk in the Circuit Court where Judge Thomas
and John Buchanan sat. From 1797 to 1799, John Buchanan served as a member of the
House of Delegates.
The year 1799 was a very eventful one. The hearts of the people everywhere were
filled with geniune grief over the death of Washington. February 22, his birthday, was
set aside as a day of mourning and prayer. Governor Ogle called upon all the citizens
of the state to review his virtues, public services, and unshaken patriotism, and to im-
plore the most High God to supply his loss. "However, the people didn't wish to wait
until February 22, and so January 24 was set aside." All places of business were closed
and appropriate addresses were delivered in all the Churches. Elie Williams headed the
committee in charge. There was the largest gathering of people ever witnessed in Washing-
ton County. They assembled in front of the courthouse and marched to the German Lutheran
Church. A cannon was mounted and sixteen rounds fired.
But how quickly mourning can be turned to joyl Three days later a play was pro-
duced "Love a la mode", written by one of the local townsmen. Also "The Regent" -
described as heavy tragedy. These were given in Ragan's Ballroom. It was said of some
of the actors that they would have done credit to the first theaters of the Land. The
ballroom was packed and the grief of three days ago was completely drowned by the
frivolity of the stage. The plays were indeed so successful that it was found necessary
to repeat them. Then came the wrangle over the proceeds. What should be done with
the money? Some were in favor of using the money for a causeway from each corner
Of the square; others wanted to buy a public clock. Finally they did neither and gave
the money to the German Lutheran Church.
In the fall of the some year an election was held by the deputy sheriff instead of
the high sheriff. It was at once declared null and void. The high sheriff tried to justify
himself by placing the blame on young John Buchanan who was just coming into prominence
as a leader of the bar. He saidthat Buchanan had told him an election held by the deputy
64
sheriff would be legal . Buchanan denied this and questioned and cross-questioned the
sheriff in open court until both gentlemen became quite incensed and made a scene. At
this time John Buchanan's office was on the square next door to Richard Pindell s house.
In February, 1806, when but thirty-three years of age, he was appointed Chief
__ Washington, and Alle han Counties.
Wash 9 Y
Judge of the fifth Judicial Circuit Frederick, g
As such he became Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals where he served with great
distinction for thirty-eight years.
The Judicial system of the state was revised in 1806. Up to that time there had been
a chief -justice who was a lawyer and associated with him were the justices -of -the -peace
who were laymen. Under the new system, Judge Buchanan became Chief Judge with
William Claggett and Abraham Shriver, associates.
Various attempts had been made to establish an Academy for Hagerstown. Finally
in 1810 the sum of $2700 was raised thru a committee made up of the important citizens
of the day. In December of that year the legislature passed an act incorporating the
Academy. Such men as Upton Lawrence, John T. Mason, John Kennedy, Christian
d 'ill Hager, etc., were named as trustees. The capitol stock was $6000 which was divided
into 1200 shares. The sale of the stock was slow and hence the erection of the building
even slower. Finally it was completed and opened its first Academic year June, 1813.
The school was located in the very middle of the present Prospect Street between Mrs.
Charles S. Lane's home and the Spalding Apartments. The professors and students lived
on the first floor; classes were carried on the second. At first it received $800 per year
i I'' from the State but soon it got into financial difficulties. Through the efforts of John and
I Thomas Buchanan a lottery scheme was worked out. It was not to exceed $10,000. The
plan was authorized and successfully carried out. Thus the old Academy continued to
exist. It was discontinued in 1867.
the minutes of the court, many severe sentences were meted out. For
According to „
some trifle --twenty
�r of shoes --eighteen months of hard labor. For Y
stealing a pa 9
on the bare back generally supplemented by the pillory.
lashes 9 Y
There are between
here in 1817 wrote,
Englishman traveling through,
John Palmer, an
consist
f brick or stone. The public buildings
li I�ill� 300 and 400 houses in Hagerstown either o P
of a Court House, jail, Market House, and Bank. The Episcopalians, Presbyterians,
Lutherans, and Methodists each have a meeting house. There are several stores and a
Y ° number of mills along the Antietam." Meat was 8p a pound, butter 16�, Whisker 50�
a gallon, milk 8p a quart. Farms sold for about $100 an acre. Laborers were paid $12-
n $14 a moth and were boarded.
In 1816 a general business depression occurred. The people became panicky and
made an outcry against the prevailing system of banking or "swindl ing" as some called
it. Judge John Buchanan ordered the Conococheague Bank of Williamsport closed. The
Bank was solvent. The General Assembly issued a stay law or bank holiday. Later
this bank became the Washington County Bank.
For real diversion the populace needed nothing more than a good nurder trial with
a public execution as a climax. In the year 1819, two brothers by the name of Cotril I
along with their father furnished all the thrills and excitement that was necessary.
65
seemed that the brothers, John and W!Iliam had robbed and killed their companion, James
Adams, all of whom together with the father of the Cotrills had arrived from Liverpool
in the spring and had gone to Alleghany County to get work. Adams had decided to return
to Baltimore and so set out on foot accompanied by the Cotrill boys. Three hours later
the Cotrills returned and told their father what they had done. The three then started
for Baltimore and on the eve of sailing were apprehended and brought here for trial . On
November 22, 1819, Judge John Buchanan sentenced all to be hanged. The execution
took place about 50yards above the hill on West Church Street. For several days people
began pouring in from the country side. Every road was crowded. They traveled all day
and night and by eight o'clock of the morning of the execution, the highways and streets
were quite impassable. The execution was scheduled for 10:30 a.m. The crowd was
estimated at at least 20,000! One minister delivered a sermon, another offered prayer.
Several hymns were sung in which the condemned joined most earnestly. Then John
Cotrill came forward and addressed the crowd. He advised them to take warning and urged
them to become religious as the only means of happiness now or in the hereafter. The
two brothers confessed their guilt but swore their father was innocent.
In 1821 we find John Buchanan a member of the electoral college which elected
James Monroe --the eighth President of the United States.
On St. John's Day --June 24, 1822, the cornerstone of the Masonic Temple was
laid. As was the custom, numerous memoranda were placed therein. These included the
names of John Buchanan as Chief Justice and his brother Thomas as Associate. (in giving
the names of the Directors of the Hagerstown Bank, John Buchanan's name appears as a
director.) This building, which is now the present Municipal Building, was in the be-
ginning a Market House, Town Hall, and Masonic Temple.
About this time the distinguished Frenchman --General LaFayette was traveling thru
this country. The people of our community were most eager to have the noble gentleman
visit Washington County. A committee, composed of Judge John Buchanan, Col . O. H.
Williams, Col. Frizby Tilgman, and others, went to Baltimore to meet him and invite
him to visit Hagerstown. He accepted and was scheduled to reach here in May, 1825.
However, the boat on which he was ascending the Ohio River struck a snag and sank
and LdFayette barely escaped drowning. He never got any nearer to Hagerstown than
Leesburg, Virginia.
Upon the resignation of Judge Chase, John Buchanan became Chief Justice of the
Appellate Court of Maryland, July 27, 1824, There he served at every session until his
death in 1844--except for a brief period in 1837 when he was sent to England as a member
Of the Commission of Maryland to negotiate the sale of eight million dollars worth of
State -secured railroad and canal stocks. The Commissioners failed, but they succeeded
In getting the C & O Canal Company and the B & O Railroad to agree to the condition
to take $6,000,000 of State Stock before they set out for Europe. This resulted in heavy
losses to both companies.
In the building for the B & O Railroad only about three miles of main I ine were to
90 thru Washington County. It was therefore considered essential to flank the mountain
and go up the valley of the Potomac from Point of Rocks. When the canal directors heard
this they got out an injunction issued by Judge John Buchanan for which he was greatly
criticized in the Baltimore papers for exceeding his jurisdiction. However, he was amply
vindicated later. The case was argued by Daniel Webster and R.everdy Johnson. Judge
M
67
Buchanan's decision was most important for it determined the Railroad's privileges as
conferred by its charter.
During all this time his health was rather precarious, but he labored with indefatigable
perseverance and bequeathed the state a series of decisions which had reaped wholesome
and vivifying fruits. His great amenity was to discover and protect the just rights of his
fellow citizens. Because of his remarkable profundity he was the admiration of such notes
men and jurists as Roger B. Taney, Luther Martin, and William Pinkney. His diction was
polished and unlabored. "He was not given to copious citations but he preferred to seek
his decisions in an analysis of the social and economic conditions and factors which produced
the cause rather than the compilation of obsolete legal precedents. His manners and per-
sonal appearance were most elegant."
He died at Oakland in 1844 and was buried in Williamsport not many miles from his
magnificent estate, "Woodland." He left two children, Thomas Elie who married Ann
Spottswood Dandridge of Virginia. and Irene who married John Embrey.
The following inscription appears on Judge John Buchanan's tombstone --"He was an
incorruptible judge who kept his ermine white. In his life was the law of truth, in his
couselmpered
I fenwastan ornament tostthe world wherever he was eknown. ~justiceith
he stamp of idom. is decisins were 'Blessedare the merciful for
's
they shall obtain mercy.
Chief -Justice Roger B. Taney at a memorial service held for Judge Buchanan (Herald
of Freedom --November 13, 1844) said, "1 am aware upon occasions I ike this that honors
paid to the memory of distinguished men are often considered as very little more than
matters of courtesy and form. But in this case I desire to be understood as acting under
the influence of very different feelings. It is now more than forty years since Judge
Buchanan and I became acquainted. Our intercourse with one another has been constant --
part of the time as members of the bar practicing in the some courts. We were intimate
and cordial friends. No word of unkindness ever passed between us. Untainted honor
marked his personal character --his integrity was unbending," etc.
The homes of these two noted Judges are well worth visiting. "Woodland", located
about three miles from Williamsport on the road to Downsville, is in a very sad state at
present. This house is similar to "Homewood" (Charles Carrol's) which belongs to the
third Period of Colonial architecture. The house proper is a central mass flanked by wings
which are connected to it by lobbies or corridors. In the main block are parlor, dining -
room and bed chambers. Kitchen and utility rooms comprise the ends. It is of red brick.
The view for miles around is superb.
"Woburn", the home of Thomas Buchanan, belongs to the second period. It is in
theDownsville district on the road to Dam f4. It is similar to Counsellor Wythe's house
in Williamsburg, Va. The house, which is now occupied by Mr. & Mrs. Courtney Myers,
is well preserved. It is built of brick covered with plaster. There is a broad central hall,
separate from the rear or stair hall . The ceilings are extremely high throughout. On the
first floor the windows reach to the floor and open in the panelling so that when the windows
are raised one may step out into the garden. The fireplace and woodwork are quite simple
in design and evidently were painted white to match the walls --all of which was character'
istic of this period. Over the main portal we find a Palladian window --used during the
Georgian era. The door is flanked by side lights and crowned with an elliptical fan -light.'
In those days the 'front yard" was of secondary importance and so we find a lovely garden
at the rear of the house protected from the gaze of passers-by and which gave a privacy
that seems to have become a missing quality in our modern gardens. Some of the slave
quarters, the meat house, the spring house, etc. --all built of stone, are still standing.
Bib] iography
Wm. McSherry "The Former Chief Justices of the Court of Appeals of Maryland." Bar
Bar Association Report. 1904
T.J.C. Williams, "History of Washington County" Vol. I, 1906
A.W.P. Buchanan "The Buchanan Book" 1911
"Torchlight; November 7, 1842
Scharf's History of Western Maryland
Britannica
Registry of St. John's Episcopal Church. Hagerstown, Maryland.
M.
[s1
THE MASONS OF MONTPELIER AND STAFFORD HALL
The Mason family was originally founded in Virginia by Colonel George Mason, who
left Staffordshire, England, about 1651, after the defeat of King Charles II. In the church
of the
of memorial tablets and monumentsinsc,are ribedthe
itsvaults
family and a number
different members.
George Mason IV, of Gunston Hall, near Mt. Vernon, was the originator of the
Virginia Bill of Rights, from which the Declaration of Independence was drawn personally
by George Mason and Thomas Jefferson.
ngton were .neighbors and great friends.
acMoason
This George Mason and George Washi
owned about two thousand acres of land in Charles and St. Mary's Counties, j
the river from his Gunston Hall property in Virginia.
Thompson Mason, second son of George Mason 111, and brother of George of Gunston,
married a Miss Barnes of St. Mary's County, daughter of Colonel Abraham Barnes. Colonel
Abraham Barnes came over to this country from England and settled in St. Mary's County —
He had two sons, Colonel Richard and John. Richard was a very wealthy man. Heowned
a large number of slaves and bought a large tract of land including "Montpelier" and
became an active citizen of Washington County, Richard Barnes bequeathed the "Montpelier"
estate to the son of his favorite nephew, John Thompson Mason, son of Thompson and Mary
Barnes Mason, provided he would assume the name of Abram Barnes. His will also read
provided
that three yeas after his death several thousand slaves were to be emancipated,
they behaved themsels. They
ned
heir freedom
t to Pennsylvan
they became so g eat a i
nuisance thattheytnn
were dispersed an act of assembly's where
"Montpelier", originally written "Mount Pelier," in the early eighteen hundreds,
was one of the most outstanding estates of Maryland --not only
used standing of is
se of its beauty of
location and architecture, but because of the brilliancy, popularity
owner, John Thompson Mason. As a lawyer and orator he was accorded a high place,
but his singular modesty and impated health prevented him from seeking or accepting
any political office, although many were at his disposal.
President Jefferson, while on a visit to Montpelier, personally asked Mr. Mason to
become his Attorney General . Later a letter followed from the President urging him to
accept this office and reproaching him for his persistence in refusing to use his brilliant
abilities in the service of his country. This letter is said to be in the possession of some of
his descendants today. In July, 1806, Mr. Mason did accept the appointment of Attorney
General of Maryland to succeed William Pinkney, but resigned in a few months.
John Thompson Mason died at Montpelier, December 10, 1824, and was buried there.
Upon the stone marking his grove, his name and dates of his birth and death are clearly
seen. Early Maryland reports and legislation bear the impression of Mr. Mason's legal
and literary ability and statesman-like mind.
Judge John Thompson Mason, son of John Thompson Mason, was also a lawyer, who
inherited some of his father's ability. He took an active part in politics at an early age
and was elected to two successive Legislatures and to Congress within the short period
of three years, from 1838 to 1841. In 1844, when the Whigs swept the state upon the
tariff issue, carrying every Congressional district with it, Mr. Mason went down with
the rest of the Democrats. In 1850 he was defeated as a candidate for the Constitutional
Convention, which made the office of judge elective. He was chosen as one of the
Judges of the Court of Appeals. Later he was appointed Collector of the Port of Baltimore
by Buchanan and at the time of his death held the office of Secretary of State, to which
he was appointed by Governor White. At the age of 58 years, in April 1873, he died
at Elkton, Maryland, where he was arguing a case in Court.
"Stafford Hall" was built about 1840 by Judge John Thompson Mason. It is supposed
to be an exact rep] ica of the architecture of Lady Stafford's home which is unchanged
today. There are eightyfour doors of "cross" design with original brass locks and knobs.
It has a large center hail with rooms on either side. In the formal drawing room to the
right, the original fireback, which bears the Fairfax coat of arms, was one brought from
"Belvoir", the Fairfax home in Virginia. It has since been taken from "Stafford Hall"
and is now at Mt. Vernon.
This property was purchased by Governor William T. Hamilton in the latter 1800's.
At this time its size was twelve thousand acres.
In 1921 it was bought by Mr. Leo Cohill from the Hamilton estate. Mr. and Mrs.
Cohill are doing everything possible to preserve its original beauty. Unlike "Montpelier"
it is unchanged today.
70
71
B
THE EARLY INDUSTRIES OF HAGERSTOWN
The earliest industries are always interesting, however humble they may appear to
succeeding and more prosperous generations. The mill of John Stull, on the Antietam
near Hagerstown, as early as 1752 may not have been a pretentious struenbothamfiIived
those early settlers it was an important institution. Capt. Charles Higg
on Secret Bottom" near this mill which probably takes precedence in the industries of
Hagerstown. In 1796 we find Heiskel here as a coppersmith__makinghis "Little Heiskel"
th, living at Yorktown,
which has stood so long. In 1773 William Bailey, coppersmias, for the e
informed "the public in general and his old customers in particular that he h
convenience of the inhabitants of the back part of this county, fixed a coppersmith shop
in Hagerstown, Frederick Co., next door to Baltzer Golly e haft and fish kettles, where he as for
ea
sale all sorts of copper work, such as stills, brewing coppers,
kettles, sauce pans, coffee and chocolate pots, which he will sell as low as any imported
in the provinces of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia." Thus we learn from this
advertisement that chocolate was served in Washington County 163 years ago. In 1789
Hart & Rochester had for sale at their nail factory all kinds of nails, brads and sprigs on
lower terms than those imported from Europe. Fulling, dyeing, and coloring of all kinds
was the business of John Rohrer in 1790. Daniel Nead was in the tanning business. Jacob
Ott was the hatter, Daniel Linebough was the tailor, Lawrence Protzman was the reed -
maker and blue -dyer. Mrs. and Miss Aull conducted the mill inery and mantua-making
business, Robert Aull was a joiner hes & Fitzhugh Inet in 1794r. John T. Mason and "would keep onas a hand atslupply
Nails were also made by Hug
of mill and well -ropes, bed cords, leading lines, hatters cords, etc." In 1797, Leonard
Billmire was a coach maker, John Leight manufactured gun -powder at a mill near the
town and carried on the tinware business. John McJilton made boots and shoes and John
Greiner was a brass -founder. Doris Dozel was a tanner, and Alexander Simpson was a
mathematical instrument maker in a house opposite the German Lutheran Church. George
Plaster of Paris from John Stull's mill . Jacob Cook, in a house nearly
Henderson advertisedbridles,
opposite Major Adam Ott's house,eamanuIn 1800dsaddles, es
GeorrgeBeiglercon continued the comb -making
harness, and all kinds of wagon g
business in all its branches. Robert DouwoolS made red gements for carrying on weaving 1801
of all kinds, particularly plain linens, P
we have John Watt carrying on his father's business of wheel -Wright and chair -maker.
John Fry was the shoe -maker, and Seth Lane was the cabinet-maker, William Kreps,
the hatter, Henry Townsend, tailor and habit -maker, George and John McNamee offered
ground Plaster of Paris, also a quantity of Indian Spring oil. Fechtig & Voglesong were
the potters, and John Bailie was a stocking -weaver.
Quotation from Dr. W. H. Grimes in the Hagerstown Mail:
"Archibald Waugh carried on the manufacture of tobacco and snuff just
osouth
ne of
Kennedy's store on Potomac Street. you could then purchase six ci g
for On
hats was an extensive and lucrative John
Julius onhpotomoc
nNortdf
The manufacture of streets
the southwest corner of Potomac and Franklin streets
John Crumbach at the extreme west of Washington Street, were all hatters. Cut nails
had not yet come into general use, but Peter Suter made and sold wrought nails the
northwest corner of Franklin and Jonathan Sts. Immediately west of him on Frankkll in St -
was John Creager who made curled -hair mattresses, and just beyond him was Mr. Brentlinger
who made gloves and buckskin breeches. Capt. Geo. Shryock made pumps. Blue -dying
and coverlet weaving were carried on by Mr. Binkley on East Washington St. The farmer's
wives and daughters were very industrious and usually spun and wove and made all sorts
of articles worn by themselves, husbands, and brothers. The yarn when spun was carried
to the blue -dyers and colored blue, part was then woven into coverlets and the remainder
was taken home and made into home -spun goods. John Shugart made the new spinning -
wheels and repaired old ones. Job Hunt --a very worthy citizen --was a coppersmith.
Whiskey distilling was not then thought such a disreputable calling as some people think
it now and many worthy people who engaged in that pursuit bought their stills of Job Hunt.
Job was a member of the church and certainly did not think his calling of still -making
incompatible with his profession of Christianity or he would not have followed it. But,
beside his whiskey -still, he manufactured large copper kettles used for domestic purposes
generally but more particularly for boiling apple butter. In the fall of the year butterboil-
ing was a great source of pleasure and amusement to the young folks in and around the
town and I have little doubt but that many a contract entered into at these meetings was
afterwards ratified at the hymeneal altar."
At this point I should like to read some of the advertisements taken from the old
newspapers --
This is taken from the Maryland Herald and Elizabeth -Town Weekly Advertiser:
Byers & Reed --Taylors & Habit Makers.
Have taken the house next door to Mr. Conrad Coffroth's Store opposite Capt.
Daniel Nead's, where they intend to prosecute their business in the neatest
manner and after the newest taste. Those who may please to favor them with
their custom may depend upon being served to their satisfaction.
Hagerstown - April 27, 1802.
William Reynolds
Spinning -Wheel and Chair -Maker.
Respectfully acquaints the public that he has removed his shop from his former
stand to that adjoining the house occupied by John Byers - Taylor - next door
to Colonel A. Ott, and opposite Cook's Tavern - Market St., where he con-
tinues to carry on his business as usual in al I its branches.
1802.
Book -Binding
Samuel B. Davis solicits the patronage of his friends --and thepublic and will
engage to do any work in the Book Binding line with neatness and dispatch
during his vacant hours.
N. B. --He still continues to teach school at the reduced price of $2.00
per quarter at the German Impartial ist Meeting House. --
April 24, 1807
WA
73
Candle Making
The subscriber begs leave to inform her friends and public that she dips candles
on the some terms as her late husband --Philip Hornidge--viz., at one shilling
per hundred and engages to make them equally as good in every respect as those
that were made by him.
As this is the only means whereby she can support a family of small children
she hopes to meet with encouragement from a generous public.
Those wishing to employ her, on sending her word will be waited on, at
the shortest notice
January 15, 1807.
Rachel and Sarah Wilson
Catherine Hornidge.
Respectfully inform their friends and the public that they have moved to
the house formerly occupied by Mr. Baltzel, saddler, in the Back St., a few
doors below the dwel ing of the Rev. M. Rahauser, and directly opposite Capt.
William Lewis's, where they continue to make Round-abouts, Vests, and Pantaloons,
also Ladies Dresses and white sewing of every description. Those who please to
favor them with their commands may depend on having their work done in the
neatest manner, and on the most reasonable terms.
general satisfaction to those that will give him a call and is thankful for past
favors --and also flatters himself that he will receive a continuance of public
patronage.
Hagerstown, April lst, 1825 (?)
John F . Kontner.
* Kersey --Woolen cloth, coarse and ribbed.
** Cass inettes--cloth of cotton and wool -or wool and silk.
*** Linsey --cloth of linen and wool or cotton and wool .
Cradle -Making Business
John Hartman
Respectfully infoms his friends and the public in general that he continues
making "cradles" at the farm of Jacob Zeller on the road leading from Hagerstown
to Mercersburg where he will constantly keep an assortment of English scythes
which he sells with the cradles on the most reasonable terms for cash --June 4, 1823.
In 1820 John Hershey was the tanner, George Marteny maker of saddle trees, and Jacob
King a wagon maker.
George Marteny was one of the town commissioners. He died January 18, 1850,
and in the "Herald of Freedom" this note appeared:
May 8th, 1807. "In the death of Mr. Marteny our town has lost one of its aged patriarchs; the com-
munity an honest, good citizen and the church a consistent member. Thru' a long I ife,
60 years of which were spent in this town, Mr. Marteny sustained the character of an
Mulberry Trees upright man, a kind neighbor, a good citizen, and a faithful Christian."
The time has arrived for planting this most valuable of all trees --I have a
great number of the Persian and Italian white Mulberry Trees of the best kind
for sale. The seed was collected from the choice double -leafed trees. The
price is from one to ten cents.
Middleburg, Nov. 5th 1823 (. )
George Hewitt.
Manufacturing
The subscriber respectfully informs the inhabitants of Washington County
that he has commenced the manufacturing business in W. Franklin St., Hagerstown —
opposite the Market House in the building formerly occupied by Henry Middlkoff
as a hatter --where he will manufacture for customers from the wool or yarn,figured
or striped carpeting. Blanketing, coarse cloth, Kersey,* cassinettes,** fulled and
plaid Linsey`*at the most reduced prices. He will also full, dye and dress for
customers cloth, Linsey etc. --on moderate terms and will also weave coverlets,
do figured and all kinds of plain weaving and carry on the Blue and Fancy Dying -
The subscriber will always have on hand for sale an assortment of figured
and striped carpeting, coverlets, stocking yarn, wool carded into rolls of every
description. Having good machinery at his hand, he is confident he can gjye
John Hershey was one of the founders of the old Hagerstown bank. He was Mayor
of the town (or Moderator as it was then called) in 1819, 1823, and 1834. Hershey was
one of four town commissioners for eight years. Ht was chairman of the committee of 100
who were to prepare for General LaFayette's visit to Hagerstown.
Workman Wanted
Theodore Bruff, Dentist, has applications from various parts of the Continent,
for his Patent Perpendicular Extracting Instruments and wishing to extend the benefit
of them generally, wants to engage a capable person to make a number of sets.
A man who can make them of durable temper and good finish and on moderate
terms, would get a large job as the demand is considerable. He has patented a
small coffee mill, that will grind a pound in a few minutes, applications have
been numerous and he wants a manufacturer. The plan is so simple, that any
good white -smith could make them, but a mill maker could do it to greater advantage.
A workman engaging in this business would find employment enough as it is an
article everywhere wanted.
July 14, 1817.
74
75
Tobacco Manufacturing
George and Jonathan Hager
Having entered into copartnership with the widow* of the late A. M. Waugh--
dec'd--and rented the establishment lately occupied by him, respectfully inform
their friends and the public in general that they will in future carry on the
Tobaccoist Business, in all its branches, under the firm of "George & Jonathan
Hager& Co,"
They have purchased nearly the whole stock of the deceased, consisting of
several thousand weight of choice Manufactured Tobacco--4000 pounds of snuff --
Best Spanish & half sponish and common segars Cut & Dry etc. Some of which
they will sell on the same terms at which they have heretofore been sold & some
at more reduced terms than they have ever been offered at in this place, for
case, or on reasonable credit --to punctual men-- July 3, 1822 or 23.
* Katharine Hager Waugh, sister of George and Jonathan; children of
Jonathan Hager, Tavern -Keeper.
Mill Irons & Edge Tools
The subscriber, living at Sharer's Mill below Funkstown respectfully informs
the Millers of Washington and adjoining counties, that he is prepared to make
and turn Mill Irons of every description. He will also make Edge Tools --according
to order and on the most reasonable terms. From his thorough acquaintance with
the business, he flatters himself he will be able to render general satisfaction.
October 14, 1823 George Poe.
Comb, Mattress and Bolster Making
The subscriber respectfully informs his friends and the public in general
that he continues to carry on the above business at his stand in E. Franklin St.,
immediately west of the old Methodist Church --where he is prepared to execute
all orders in either line of business at the most reasonable terms.
His Hair and Straw Mattresses and Bolsters he can recommend with great
confidence. He tenders his sincere thanks to a generous public for the liberal
patronage which has been extended to him and requests a continuance.
March 6th 1823. John Ebbert
Removal
William Hawthorn
Baker and Confectioner
Columbian Inn, between the Bank and Court House in West Washington Street,
Hagerstown, where he is prepared to receive the favors of a generous public
and hopes to merit their patronage by a strict attention to business and un-
ceasing efforts to please.
April 10, 1829.
House & Sign Painting
The subscriber returns thanks to his friends and the public for their liberal
patronage and respectfully informs them that he still continues to execute,
House & Sign
Painting
in a superior and workmanlike manner. Persons wishing to have work in his line
of business, well -executed, would find it to their advantage to call on the
subscriber residing in E. Washington St., Hagerstown.
The subscriber has on hand a few reams of Crown & Straw paper, just received
from S. Bentz & Co., manufactured in this county near Boonsboro--call and judge
for yourselves.
May 1, 1829
Brass Foundry
F. B.O. Kinsell, Agent
The subscriber, residing in S. Potomac St., Hagerstown, Md., respectfully
informs the citizens of this place and the publ is generally, that he executes in a
masterly and workmanlike manner all kinds of "Brass Castings" --such as candle-
sticks, andirons, etc. etc., after the latest and most approved patterns.
He will also repair old work--hls charges will be moderate. The public
are requested respectfully to give him a share of patronage which he will endeavor
to merit by strict attention to his duty.
Dec. 12, 1828 Wm. Kriner
Wm. Bender
has removed his
Chair Factory
From his former establishment to the house of Mr. Philip Keller, nearly opposite
11L the residence of Alexander Neill, Esq., a few doors east of the Court House
on W. Washington Street, Hagerstown, where he has on hand a
Handsome assortment of
Chairs.
P.S. The gentleman who got the loan of "Jefferson's Note on Virginia", would
do a favor by returning it to the above establishment.
Respectfully informs his old customers and the public generally that he has
removed to the house lately occupied by the "Mail" printing office, formerly the
April 10, 1828.
76
77
Hagerstown
English & German
Almonacks for 1830
By the gross or smaller quantity. Apply to Gruber & May.
Sept. 11, 1829
From its earliest history, the town has been noted for the number and variety of in-
dustries. The rich surrounding farm landsbrought the farmers wealth which they in turn
were willing to trade for things they did not have. No discussion of industries would be
complete without telling about some of the mills. See 1808 maps in J. B. Ferguson's
office.
These types of industries prevailed until around 1840, when we begin to see changes.
On December 22, 1841, the matter of home manufactures was brought directly before
the people of Hagerstown by the following call:
"Whereas, the undersigned having viewed with regret a rising disposition manifested
by many of our citizens to give a preference to articles of foreign manufacture and as we
believe this disposition to be detrimental to the interest of the whole American Community
and particularly to the manufacturing and mechanical portions thereof and as we feel a
deep interest in the prosperity and advancement of home manufactures and the sustenance
of our American operatives, will meet at the Court House on January 1st, (New Year's
Day) for the purpose of forming a "Home League." There will be several addresses delivered
on the occasion. The citizens generally are invited to attend."
Among those present were, "W. H. Handy, John Weis, Samuel Gettinger, George
A. Bender, Thomas Schnebly, William Brazier, Jonathan Kershner, J. Buchanan Hall,
Richard Ragan, Jr., George W. Hartly, Charles Gelwicks, John W. Boyd, Martin Startzman,
John Bradshaw, W. Waltz, Henry Weis, John Sworzwelder, Joseph Boyd, William Thomas,
M. W. Boyd, William Faulkner, William Allen, Thomas E. Mittag, W. Thompson, John
R. Sneary, W. H. Boyd, Charles G. Lane, Martin King, George Updegraff, Edward
Watkins, Samuel Eichelberger, Henry Metcalf."
The conclusion of this meeting brings this quotation:
"Palsied be the hands which receive British gold to put down American
Industry."
Now we see business expanding and such factories as The Iron Foundry & Machine
Shop --near the present location of Hagerstown Brewing Company on West Fronkl in Street
and Walnut -where were made steam engines, mill gearings, threshing -machine castings,
railroad wheels, plough castings. One could turn in old iron and brass and copper in
exchange for Castings. James R. Jones operated the factory.
Now we will jump 25 years and see what has happening after the Civil War.
i9
In 1865 William Updegraff started his glove manufactory --making gloves especially
for persons who having odd -sized or chapped hands could not be fitted from regular stock.
The excellent fit and durability of these gloves attracted dealers in gloves. The manufacturers
soon outgrew their West Washington Street quarters and bought a property on East Franklin
Street, making then 72 different styles and grades of gloves. They specialized in fur gloves
made of otter and beaver skins. Their system seems all together different from anything yet
worked out--14 different people worked on one pair of gloves. They moved their largest
factory to Gloversville, New York where together with the local factory they later em-
ployed between 500-600 persons. (It is interesting to note the advertisement in one of the
early newspapers: "Reward six cents for a runaway slave who is learning the glove business.
signed George Updegraff. ")
The Hagerstown Spoke Works employed 80 in 1879. It was established in 1873 by
Charles Sebold and transferred to a stock company in 1880. They made all kinds of foreign
and domestic spokes from second growth white -oak and hickory. Their trade extended to
many parts of the United States, Canada, Great Britian, France, Germany. Lutz &
Reynolds replaced the old company.
The Washington County Leather Manufacturing Company operated in 1867 with Daniel
Schindle as President. It had a capital of $50,000,
The Hagerstown Manufacturing Company made window sashes, doors, shutters and
blinds--1867, with John Cook president.
The Hagerstown Agricultural Implement Manufacturing Co. organized in 1869--
with Mr. A. Miller & Updegraff, D. R. Appleman, J. W. Cook and Wm. Protzman in-
corporators. They made clover hullers, grain drills and hay -rakes. In 1881 they shipped
via B. & O. 11 car loads of agricultural implements to John McKee, of Kalamazoo,
Michigan, and to Morris & Son, Warsaw, Indiana. They employed 150-200 workmen.
Today after being in operation for a number of years, the Organ factory of M. P. Moller
makes both reed and pipe organs. These organs combine all the late improvements and new
designs of cases and are elegant in finish. A novel construction of Mollers choral pipe -
organs which is patented is built with five sets of pipes with independent pedal base, that
can be shipped to any distance without removing a single pipe. His first factory was
destroyed by fire and with the aid of the leading business men he bought the present site
of the factory and started again. William Updegraff, Philip Wingert, Hon. William T.
Hamilron, M. L. Byers, S. M. Bloom & Co., A. D. Bennett, Hagerstown Manufacturing
Co., E. M. & B. H. Griswold, Henry K. Tice, George Harris, Martin Stover, Gassman
Bro., J. M. Beachley, William Schlotterbeck, Jacob Roessner, L. E. McComas, F. C.
McComas --all advanced capital I. The terms were the use of the money for 10 years, without
interest, secured by a mortgage upon the property.
Napoleon Hull operated a foundry and made the famous 10 plate stove in Clearspring
on West Martin Street. Just after the war he moved to Hagerstown and his foundry became
The Hagerstown Steam Engine & Machine Shops" --bought by Garver & Flannagan and
clater transferred to a stock company in 1874--John Garver, William Flanagan, William
n Hamilton, Jos. F. Smith, E. W. Mealey, Charles Doyle, Henry Keedy, John Welty
d Charles Humrickhouse. They made castings for grain drills and large amounts of grist -
and Paper -mill machinery.
`L]
I�
f 1881 amounted to 1,642,500 cigars and
The manufacture of cigars in six months o
employed 70 men at the average wage of $7.00 per week.
John W. Stonebraker s Woolen Mill was tototed at
Funkstown. He also had a paper
mill in Funkstown, where he made paper for books and newspapers. The new mill burned
in 1873 when a larger one replaced it, and Mr. Stonebraker took as his partner Mr. John
A. Dushane. It was known as the Antietam Paper Mill I. In 1879 h ellenufactured fertilizer
at Funkstown with his son, John E., and his son-in-law, 9
Just about the time of the Civil War, Jacob Roessner was starting in the confectionery
rade from George Bowman whose store was on West Washington
business. He learned his t
street about the present location of Emmert's Hardware store. Roessner opened up where
street bout Fruit store is now on the South Potomac Street -then moved across the street in
present Young Building.
the present Schindle & Rohrer location, and then lastly in theMr. Rossner ws noted
ine hrd candies,
died ine1922 tithe age ofr83. fThreea children arefsurviving daughter, Mrs. Jruit cake, and ice cream. Mr. Roessner
his C. Beard
and sons, Frank and Walter Roessnen.
ode were cigar manufacturers. They located in the rear of
I Josiah Baker & Son, Kn
the present Hagerstown Trust Company. Miss Nettie Baker is the only living member o
this family. She lives at San Mar.
Street at the present location
There were several brickyards --one on East Washington
of the Roulette Mills, one where Noland Motors is now on East Baltimore Street, and one
on West Washington Street near the present Washington Street.
I' &Ames were manufacturers of Phosphate. Their business was on
Ames, Manning a Brethern.
--present location of Chu
rch of th
Washin ton p
Mulberry and Ea
st 9
ry
East Baltimore
d Delamatur--Walnut & Franklin: Donzer Lumber Company, East
Middlekauff
Beck an William B ink and
Street, and Middlekauff, were all in the lumber business. Fr
survive their father. Frank is a tailor and Will jam Middlekauff is a clerk in the Western
Maryland Railroad office.
at
ted on East Washington
Schindel
reason wh t is now Baker'sns
Is Jewelry Cauffmantime. it was casCut-rate. Hubert and
Street e
Leah Schidel survive their father.
Charles Henneberger was a cabinet maker, Mrs. E. A. Witmer, South Potomac Street
survives her father, Mr. Henneberger. William Suter was a maker of fine furniture and a
funeral director. His grandchildren, Frank and Anna Suter and Mrs. Rouzer survive him
and, until just recently, Charles Suter.
Samuel Rouskulp was a maker of men's hats --Miss Mary Rouskulp, a niece survives
him. Emma and Anna Houser, East Washington Street just near the bus terminal were
tailors for men.
Henry and John Weis were potters and made jars, jugs, and crocks of all kinds. They
Martin Hoppel whose kiln was on the corner of Washington and Locust
Lula
b Mart pP Hall an
adie
were bought y kiln was Miss S
this k
itIIP Street --at the present Brining Jewelry Store. Over
�G
Walsh's school . Surviving Mr. Hoppel is.5ue Hoppel Fiery. Her daughter, Marion, is
head of The Children's Department of Enocn Pratt Library, Baltimore.
Four breweries were in operation then: Justus Heimel, Lakin Apartments; William
Wagner, S. Prospect St., Central Garage: Robert Schuster, Prospect St.; Wm. Witzenbacjer,
E. Washington St. near the bus terminal .
Eli Mobley was a maker of fine carriages. Mrs. J. C. Roulette, Mr. George Updegraff
survive him.
Pilkington and Schlotterbeck were Tinnes and Plumbers. Their stand was on N.
Potomac Street where the present Fur Shop is. Mr. Albert Heard, (present water com-
missioner) learned his trade as a plumber from Pilkington.
S. D. Straub was also a tinner-he made tin dishes, wash boilers, buckets, spouting,
roofs, wire screens, etc. His daughter, Mrs. Harry Burtner, survives him.
Samuel Leonard --corner S. Potomac and Antietam Street, was a coppersmith --he
made the expensive (and what was considered a luxury) copper kettles, tea kettles, buckets,
etc.
J. D. Swartz, Wm. Swartz, and Joseph Fiery were the tailors.
D. C. Martin, E. Franklin Street next to Ridgely's Electric Company, was the harness
maker. His son, Charles Martin*, married one of the daughters of Cyrus H. K. CurtiA--
of the Curtis Publishing Company.
Gassman's Rope Factory at 128 E. Franklin Street, made hemp and sisal ropes, sash
cord, hay rope, twine, fly nets for the horses, etc. Miss Kate Gassman, surviving her
father, tells about the order for rope to hang a man named Smith: March 12, 1862,
Frederick Smith, (Smithburg District) was indicted for the murder of Agnes Tracy (his
sweetheart). Arrainged March 24, 1862, plea not guilty. Case continued until December
1862. Seven days consumed in trial and on December 31, 1862, a verdict was returned
finding Frederick Smith guilty of murder in the first degree. "Judgement of the court
that the said Frederick Smith be oaken thence to the jail of Washington County, from whence
he came, and there be confined until the time of his execution, and that at such time as
the Governor of this State shall, be his warrant appoint, he be taken thence by the sheriff
of this County to the place of execution and that he then and there suffer death by hanging
by the neck."
The case was prosecuted by State's Attorney Wm. Matter.
Defense Attorneys--Syster and Al vey.
Judge --Daniel Weisel.
Sheriff --Henry Gantz.
Jurors who served at trial:
John Knodle
David. H. Karnes
* NOTE: Charles Martin married Curtis' step -daughter.
Fi
WE
Samuel Eavey
Daniel Cearfoss
Joseph O'Neal
Daniel Root
Ephriam W. Funk
Jacob Wolfkill
Jonathan Slifer
Hezekiah Long
Samuel Artz
George W . Grove
NOTE:
The court record does not show on what date the execution of Frederic
Smith actually took place. i have spent some time at the Public Library
looking for some account in early histories, but my efforts have not been
rewarded.
I further talked to several older residents who have heard their parents
wheredescribe the scene execution t
he actual l
being about where heHagerstownStorage Uransfer Company isnow cation
located.
Some of the dressmakers of the day were: Miss Melinda Bentz; Miss Bertie Little;
Miss Kate Gassman, Mrs. Cushwa.
Mr. Frank Hahn made daguerreotypes. His store was on the Square at the present
location of Abe Martin's Grocery Store
Mr. E. M. Reecher later made tintypes --Mr, Phil . Reecher is a decendant.
I should like to give just a brief picture of what was going on in some of the sur-
rounding towns.
After an interesting afternoon with Mr. George Prather of Clearspring I gathered
the following information:
Settlers began coming to the town as early as 1727, His own forbears built a house
in 1727, part of which still stands. As the village grew, most of the necessary trades and
industries sprang up --grain mills, saw -mills, distilleries, were numerous along the
Conococheague and Potomac and also along the canal . Thomas Jefferson Costly and
Breidendoff made cradles, corn shellers, fanning mills, which consisted of two sieves and
a fan, and wheat screens. Before the war the wheat was threshed by hand or horses. The
machine didn't appear until afterward. The French buhrs were almost always used--dom9
stone didn't work well . Two tanners were there, also McAtee's and Cushwo's large vats
were buried in the ground and the beef, sheep, and calf skins were put into the vats with
the bark of oak trees and tannic acid and left there for 12 months. Durable and fine
leather resulted. Farm wagons were also built in Clearspring. Jacob Houcke was the
weaver --some of his work still exists. The wool was fulled, carded and dyed right there
too. Brick was made on the site of building. The yellow clay which makes fine brick's
very plentiful in and around Clearspring.
One story which Mr. Prather tells about his great grandfather --Jeremiah Mason,
follows: He lived about one mile north of the main
highway
w with thruhimCfeand arspr s faithful
ing along
Licking Creek. He owned his own slaves, SO, together
slaves, he marketed lumber from these rugged mountains in Washington, D. C= We
may wonder how he managed to get the lumber there. In the winter whenever the weather
was clear enough to work they cut and hauled to their own sawmill the logs, cut them all
even and the some size, dragged them to a level place in Licking Creek where they had
built a raft, loaded the raft until it had just what they considered the right number and
tied them securely. Then they cut and loaded the raft full, fastened these together with
hickory wythes--filled as many rafts as they had time for --then in the spring when a freshet
came and carried the rafts out into the creek they knew it was time to start their journey,
so they threw dirt over the lumber, pitched a tent on top of each raft, got provisions on
board and started down the creek and out to the Potomac and down to Great Falls, Va.
From there it was carried on in wagons to the capital. Only sturdy and dauntless river
men could take safely such crudely constructed crafts safely to their destination.
In the Leitersburg district much of the same industry prevailed. Mills and distilleries
were numerous, and all other trades which were necessary. One item of interest from
Leitersburg is a mill where the hemp was reduced to fiber and prepared for weaving. Cable
wire fence was also made there very early.
In Williamsport, beside the regular industries, we find James Shoaff who built boats
for use on the Potomac.
Boating
The subscriber having on hand several new Boats still continues at the old warehouse
formerly occupied by Ardinger & Shoaff to receive and deliver in Georgetown and the
city of Washington Flour & Whiskey upon reasonable terms. He thankfully acknowledges
his past favors by his customers&hopes to meet a continuance of their patronage.
Williams -port James Shoaff.
Proposals for Publishing a weekly paper in the town of Williams -port, Washington
County, to be entitled "The Banner."
Aug 21, 1829.
Daniel Weisel.
$2.00 per annum. Thomas Tice
No subscription for Iess than b mos.
No paper discontinued unless at the option of the publishers until all
arrearages are discharged.
In the little settlement of Benevola, Mr. Eavey cut from the hills a lovely white
marble which he made up into tombstones, steps, sills, arches, etc. Most of his marble
was sent to the west --as far as Chicago. Mrs. George Updegraff survives as a descendant
Of Mr. Eavey.
The story of Banking and the Founding of the Hagerstown Bank is closely linked with
this subject of industry, but time does not permit in this paper a discussion of the bank.
One item of interest, however, in the exchange of money was that if the customer wanted
to 'Pent 5N he could tear a $1 .00 in half. Import & Export laws and tariff all became of
Wvital interest to industry. But we will leave Washington County 30 years after the Civil
p ka prosperous village --with the rich farm lands and with people who had a desire. to
work For with work comes remuneration and happiness and with happiness, contentment,
which is the first essential of a happy community.
82 it 83
Bibliography-- I THE INTINERANT MINISTER OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
Scharf's and Williams Histories
Map of early mills from We could not write a Hearthstone History of the early days of our county without
Mr. J. B. Ferguson. including in it a chapter on, what was perhaps closer to the hearth than any other phase
Group of Pictures available from of the life of the times, religion or the church.
Mr. J. Frank Bell.
Many of the people of our county were refugees from the religious persecutions and
Interviews with-- inquisitions of Europe. Thousands of these emigrants came to America and found their
way to the colonies offering tolerance and liberty to all sects. Maryland had opened her
Mr. Geo. Updegraff doors wide and from the seaboard came the English, both Catholic and Protestant, and,
Miss Kate Gassman following the valleys of the streams into the west, came that greater band of Germans,
Mrs. Joseph Roulette Swiss, and French Hugunots.
Mr. Clarence Emmert
Mr. Henry Holzopfel They were fundamentally a religious people and accustomed to church affiliation, so
Mr. Albert Heard that along with establishing their houses went the establishing of meeting --house. Here
Mr. Geo, T. Prather. they assembled together and for a time held what services they could without a minister,
for ministers were few, and those few were serving vast territories. Occasionally,. perhaps
once a year, one would leave his own people and make a missionary journey through the
newly -settled regions, conducting the various rites of the church and giving the hardy
pioneer new courage. But these visitors left no records; however, we know from later
records that here and there a congregation had been organized.
The first minister we know of to have visited this region was the Rev. Michael Schlatter,
a young Swiss, who had been sent over to America by the Reformed Church of Holland to
be a traveling missionary to those of the Reformed faith in the colonies. He landed in
Philadelphia, September, 1746, and immediately began his work. It was his duty to organize
the people of the various settlements into congregations, ordain the officers, preach and
administer the sacraments of the church. His territory extended through New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Maryland and into Virginia, in fact wherever there were German people.
As he went he not only organized the congregations, but, finding out what each congregation
could or would pay to the support of a minister, he organized the congregations into charges,
with the hope of eventually securing a minister for each charge.
In 1747 he visited the Monocacy congregation (now Frederick) and he entered in his
diary; "If this congregation were united with another called Conococheague lying 30
miles distant, these two would be able to sustain a minister."
Just when the Conococheague congregation was organized we do not know, but the
above entry and the fact that Schlatter makes no mention of his organizing it shows that
it was without doubt already in existence prior to his arrivel (1746-7). We do know that
there was a log block meeting -house among the cedars along the Conococheague (on what
is now the Grove farm, 1/2 mile south of where the National highway crosses the stream)
as early as 1747. (See history of St. Paul's Church on Western Pike. A corner stone,
dated 1747, commemorating this first meeting -house, is in the present St. Paul's Church
building)- This was used for the double purpose of protection against the Indians and as
a meeting -house, and in it worshipped both the Lutheran and the Reformed people.
In 1748 Michael Schlatter visited the Conococheague congregation. He wrote of his
IN
journey: "Looking to God for direction I undertook a great journey in the beginning of
May, 1748, to Virginia and neighboring localities. On May 6, 1 preached a preparatory
sermon at Conewago (near Hanover, Pa.). On May 7, 1 continued 40 miles further to
Monocacy in the Province of Maryland, where, on the 8th, in Fredericktown, a newly
laid out town, I preached a preparatory sermon in the school house, and on the same day,
in company with an elder of the congregation, who of his own free will offered to accompany
me through Virginia. I continued my journey 34 miles further to Conococheague, crossing
the Blue Mountains, so that we did not arrive in Conococheague until two o'clock in the
morning of the 9th of May, where we came to the house of an honest Swiss* and greatly
enjoyed a pleasant rest. I preached there yet on the same day --Here in this region are
very fruitful fields for grain and pasture; they produce Turkish corn, almost without manure,
among which are stalks ten and more feet long,and grass exceeding fine. In this neighbor-
hood there are still many Indians, who are well disposed and very obliging and are not
disinclined toward Christians when they are not made drunk by strong drink."
"After the sermon we left and passed on ten miles further toward the Potomac river,
which is at this place one mile wide, from which also we had a fine view of the place
where the Conococheague stream falls into this river. There is the boundary at once
between Pennsylvania and Virginia, and between Maryland and Virginia. This evening
we journeyed 15 miles without having seen either a house or a human being, but we saw
deer in droves."
Michael Schlatter, having spent four years in the organization of congregations,
returned to Holland and Germany and made a personal appeal for ministers. So earnest
was this appeal that within the next year (1752) he was supplied with six young missionaries
and the promise of aid toward their support. Of this group the Rev. Theodore Frankenfeld
was established pastor of Monocacy, Conococheague and Conewago in the spring of 1753.
This was the first regular pastor for this district. How often he could reach each point, or
what place he used for serving so wide a charge we do not know. But his residence being
at Frederick, he was compelled to travel 30 miles in one direction, 40 miles in the other,
through a lonely wilderness, across mountains, through streams, in all sorts of weather
and at all seasons of the year. What an undertaking for a young minister fresh from the
University and cultured centers of Germanyl What courage and physical endurance it
must have taken!
In the little block house on the Conococheague the Lutheran and Reformed con-
gregations worshipped for fifty years (until 1795) and for almost half of that time (20
years) in spite of the hardships entailed, they were supplied by the Frederick-Conewago
pastors.
1753-175-
Rev.
Theodore Frankenfeld
1956-1759
Rev.
John Conrad Skeiner
These three
1760-1765
Rev.
Philip Will iom Otterbein
: brought over
1766-1768
Rev.
Carl Lange
: by Schlatter
in 1752
The first pastor to reside in this community came in1770. In Elizabethtown, then
an unpretentious little village (having been laid out, 1762), there was a promising little
ev. Jacob
Reformed congregation which combined with Conococheague and called the R
Weymar as pastor.
* John Jacob Schnebele, some of whose descendants are I iving in Greencastle, o°
Father Weymar, as he was always spoken of, was a native of Germany although
nothing is known of his early life prior to 1770. He came to Elizabethtown from a pastorate
in eastern Pennsylvania. He is spoken of in "The Fathers of the Reformed `Church" as
having "something of a missionary spirit." He supplied no less than six congregations
regularly (Hagerstown, St. Paul's, Salem, Beard's near Covetown, Besore's near Waynesboro,
Apple's near Thurmont). He organized (1787) and served the congregation at Chombersbur
he made occasional visits to churches in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. His salary g,
was the magnificent sum of 70 pounds. However, his expenses no doubt were few for in
those days a minister was eagerly welcomed and provided for wherever he stopped. Some
one who knew Father Weymar wrote of him: "He was a good man, an excellent preacher,
plain and practical, beloved by every person both in and out of his own congregation."
It was during Father Weymar's pastorate that the Zion Reformed Church was built
(Cornerstone laid 1774), three of the. original walls of which remain in the present building.
Jonathan Hager gave the land for the church and lost his life while cutting logs for the
building.
Father Weymar served the charge for twenty years until his death in 1790. He is
buried in the Zion Reformed Churchyard, but according to his request, no stone marks the
spot. He left a widow but no children.
The Lutheran congregations of the county were organized slightly later than the
Reformed and, I ike the Reformed, the first Lutheran pastor came from Frederick and Conewago.
The Rev. Frederick Wildbahn was the first to serve this region regularly (1770-1773). He,
like Michael Schlatter, traveled through all these regions hunting up scattered villages
of his German brethern and ministering to their wants in holy things. He came from Saxony
as a soldier in the employ of Great Britain, but shortly after his arrival in America he was
sought by his countrymen as a teacher and abandoned the military service --In 1762 he went
to Philadelphia, where the Ministerium of Pennsylvania was in session, with letters from
fouror five congregations in southern Pennsylvania and Maryland. These letters stated that
Charles Frederick Wildbahn understood Latin and Greek, thathe was a beautiful writer;
that he was a good singer, having been leader of a choir in Germany; that he was apt at
teaching, was a good Cathechist, and was eloquent in the pulpit, a person of good character;
and moreover he had ministered to their wants for some years, not being ordained he could
not administer the Holy Communion. These congregations asked that the Ministerium ordain
him that he might be able to celebrate the Holy Communion with them and become their
minister. The Ministerium had adjourned when Wildbahn arrived so the letters were not
presented until a later session, and this accounts for his not becoming the regular pastor
until 1770 though he had supplied this region for some -years previous to 1762.
It is not definitely known who was the pioneer in organizing and establishing the
Conococheague congregation, to all evidences the oldest Luteran congregation in Washington
County. It is supposed it was John Nicolas Kurtz --"The elder Kurtz," whose labors ex-
tended from the year 1745 to 1799, as a missionary through Pennsylvania and Maryland.
In the minutes of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania for 1770, he gives an account of a
communion which he celebrated in the Lutheran congregation --on the west bank of the
Conococheague, and states that for many years he was accustomed to minister to their
Pants in that way --so the congregation may date from the early days of his ministry, 1745-1746,
Wildbahn lived at McAllistertown, Pennsylvania --We have no knowledge of the size
a.
M
of his charge or the territory he covered --and no records show an occasional baptism. He
was followed by the Rev. George John Young in 1773, who resided in Hagerstown --A
congregation had been formed here in 1769, and Conococheague and others in the con-
gregation by that time organized, were united with it into one charge --Mr. Young served
the charge until 1793 although the records of his work are meager.
With the coming of the Reverend J. George Schumcker (1793-1810) the first definite
records begin.
The Rev, Mr. Schumcker had been educated at the University of Halle in Germany
and came to this country in 1790.. He was only 22 when he came to Hagerstown and looked
young for his age, so much so that he was called "the boy preacher." Although small
of stature he had a commanding personality. It is said "he preached with such solemnity
and impressiveness, such clear reasoning and overpowering conviction that he had a command
over his audience few men of his day possessed."
At the time of his death, the Rev. Benjamin Lantz wrote at length of him in the Lutheran
Observer. Among other things he said: "When our young minister came to Hagerstown he
found religion at low ebb, The German reformed, Episcopalians, and Presbyterians were
in no better condition. The Methodists had just commenced their operations --Presbyterians
were very leisurely keeping the Sabbath and waiting God's time; while the Lutherans and
German Reformed thought themselves quite as good as their neighbors, though it is absolutely
certain they were not a bit better than they ought to have been. Sunday Schools, Bible
Classes, prayer meetings, weekly lectures, etc., had not yet been introduced. There were
no stoves and no lamps in the churches and night meetings were regarded as 'new measures'
and as tending to fanaticism, though for dancing, playing cards, etc., they were thought
to be very appropriate. Conversion was a strange word and revivals were unknown--. The
Cock pit, the race course, the long bullet lane, the dog and bear fight, etc., were more
numerously attended than the house of God. On the whole darkness comparatively covered
the land and gross darkness the people----."
He had an arduous task to perform but he entered upon it with energy, prosecuted it
with fidelity, and perservered in it for sixteen years. One of his churches was two miles
distance, another five, another six, and the fourth, ten, Besides these, he frequently
preached in school -houses, and private dwellings, in barns, at crossroads, at funerals,
etc'. When he was to fill an appointment in one of his country churches on Sunday morning,
he was wont to visit the neighborhood on the preceding Saturday; call a meeting at some
farmer's house in the evening, and preach to the collected neighbors with a simplicity
and earnestness which God blessed to the conversion of many obdurate sinners. On such
occasions he was not content to dispense the word in the usual formal manner. After he
had finished his sermon he pushed aside the little table before him, containing the Bible
and Hymn Book, walked out among the people, and with a countenance beaming with love
and kindness, tookhis seat beside them and entered into a heart-searching conversation
with each person individually respecting the great work of regeneration by the Spirit and
preparation for eternity.
His meetings thus often kept up till a late hour and until the whole audience was
bathed in tears; sobs and groans of contrition were heard throughout the room.
The scoffer sneered, the infidel derided, and the worldling foamed and threatened,
but the disenthralled, regenerate sinner blessed God for sending them the boy preacher.
Mr. Schumcker resigned the pastorate here in 1810. In 1795, the cornerstone of the
present church building on South Potomac Street was laid. The money for the building of
the tower was raised by lottery,
At the same time the Rev. Schumcker was at the Lutheran Church, Jonathan Rahauser
was pastor of the Reformed and the Rev. George Bower was rector of the Episcopal church.
These three formed a strong triumvirate in the community. They were all three men of fine
character and ability and served long pastorates.
Schumcker
1793-1810
17 years
Rahauser
Bower
1792-1817
25 years
1786-1813
27 years
Jonathan Rahauser followed Father Weymar in 1792 and served until his death, 1817.
His house was a landmark in t,e town in the days before houses were numbered. Sales
and various affairs were advertised to take place so many "doors from the Rev. Rahauser's house on the Back Street." (Franklin Street) Jonathon
Mr. Rahauser did a prodigious amount of work. He had ten congregations to look
after, scattered through Washington Co., part of Frederick Co., and into Franklin and
Adams Co., Pa. The labor and exposure of such a pastorate can hardly be imagined today.
In a period of ten years he preached 1361 sermons and married 2500 couples. He suffered
heavy spel Is of sickness as a result of exposure. In 1817 he narrowly escaped being drowned
while crossing the Conococheague. (There was as yet no turnpike west, nor was there a
bridge over the Conococheague which might be used at high water.) From this accident
he did contract pneumonia which resulted in his death. He is buried in the Zion Reformed
Churchyard. He left a widow and six children.
(One of his daughters, sensitive about her age, crossed out the dates of her birth
and Baptism in the church records. Not until on a recent visit here did the member of her
family know why "Aunt Rosina" had always maintained that no one would ever know haw
old she was.)
The situation with the Episcopalians was quite different from that of the other denominations.
The Episcopal Church was the established church of Maryland from 1692-1776. The colonists
were taxed for its support: 40 lbs. of tobacco per head; later when the population increased,
the revenue was so great the tax was reduced to 30 lbs. per head. The parishes were large
and they provided an income both attractive and assured so that the ministerial supply was
generally abundant.
The All Saint-s Parisi., of which Washington County was originally a part, was
divided from Prince George°s Parish in October, 1742. It included what is now Montgomery
Co., and part of Carroll Co., and all Western Maryland. It was the frontier parish of
the colony and its work was for a great many years largely missionary in character. The
Rev. Joseph Jennings became the first rector (November 23, 1742.) In 1746, Rev. Samuel
Streeter came from Christ Church, Kent Island, and continued until his death in October,
1758 Whether these two paid any visits to this remote part of their parish we do not know.
We do know that in 1747 the vestry was empowered by the General Assembly to purchase
"three separate acres of land in the said Parish, whereon to build a church and two
chapels of ease. Vis: -- 200 for building the Parish Church in Fredericktown
IN
89 'N
on Carroll's Creek; 50 toward building the Chapel, already begun, between the Monocacy
and Seneca Creek and 50 towards erecting another Chapel between Anti-eatom and
Connogocheague." and in 1750 an Act of the Assembly provided for a further levy for 100
"for finishing the parish church in Fredericktown and the minister of the said parish church
to perform Divine Service,etc., at said Parish Church and at each of the two Chapels,of
Ease belonging to said Parish every third Sunday." From 1750 then until 1758 the Rev.
Mr. Hunter coming from Frederick as the order read, must have officiated at the Chapel
of Ease, the first Episcopal church in Washington County located at what is still called
Chapel Words near St. James School . Only a few grave stones now mark th
We spot.
Mr. Hunter was followed by the Rev. Thomas Bacon, a man of exceptional ability
both as a clergyman and in his knowledge of law, also as a musician. He made a compil-
ation of the Laws of Maryland in 1765 which has ever been a standard authority and is
now a valued book of reference as a history of the progress of the state from the earliest
days. Mr. Bacon, with the aid of a curate, Mr. Soldie, served until 1768.
At Mr. Bacon's death the parish, then considered the richest in the state, became
eagerly sought after by the Rev. Bennett Allen, who had recently come to Maryland.
His history exemplifies strongly the disadvantages of a state church and for that reason
is interesting if not edifying. He was a great favorite and close companion of the dis-
solute Lord Frederick, the Proprietary. He had first tried to become rector of a Maryland
parish while remaining in England, a curate serving for him, but the Governor objected
to this arrangement so he came to Maryland and was appointed to St. Anne's, Annapolis.
He next attempted to act as rector of two parishes at the some time. This resulted in
his being sent to Frederick. The parishioners of All Saint's Parish, prejudiced by reports
of his behavior at Annapolis, refused him the keys of the church. Obtaining them by
stealth he attempted to conduct services, threatening his objectors with a pistol . He was
finally forced to give up the keys, and although he managed to retain for himself the
salary, he withdrew to Hagerstown to live, from which place he conducted the affairs
of the parishes with the aid of three curates, the Revs. Jeremiah Berry, Daniel McKennon,
and Bartholomew Booth. Later, in order to profit by his popularity, he appointed Mr.
Soldie, the curate of his predecessor, to be his personal representative. While the
presence of the curates was due to an agreement with the vestry, Mr. Allen was respon-
sible for their appointment and remuneration. This must have reduced his salary considerably
He also, whether voluntarily or through influence of the vestry, gave each year to the
Lutheran Church and also to the Reformed (in Frederick -town) 25 pounds each against the OF
of their ministers. This was no doubt due to the feeling among the Germans over the tax
for the state church, or it may have been merely another play for popularity on the part
of Mr. Allen.
Though Mr. Allen was the first Episcopal minister to live in Washington County, we
have no further records of his work. The Declaration of Independence ended the Established
Church and it is safe to say Mr. Allen did not remain long after his legal support was
withdrawn. One of the curates, Daniel McKennon, while returning to England during
the Revolution, was lost at sea; Jeremiah Berry took an oath of allegiance to the colonjes
in 1777 and continued to serve the parish until 1783; Bartholomew Booth was primarily°nry
educator but he holds a particular place among the earliest ministers of Washington Ca
Mr. Booth was a nephew of Lord Henry Booth of England, whose daughter, Lady
Mary Booth, succeeded to his title and estate and married Earl Gray. He was graduated
at Oxford in 1754, ordained Deacon of the Parish Church of St. Maragaret's in Westminister
In 1755 by Edward Keene, Bishop of Chester; admitted into the Holy Order of Priest in the
Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary in Chester, by the Bishop of Chester
in 1748; licensed to perform the office of curate in the Chapel of Marple in the parish of
Stockport and Courts of Chester in 1760.
The exact date of his coming to America is not known but it must have been of course
prior to his being made curate of All Saint's Parish in 1768. Leaving his wife and youngest
son, John:,in England, he, with his two older sons, Well iam and Robert, came to America
and settled at "Needwood Forest" (named for Needwood Forest in England) near Petersville
and there opened a school . They were accompanied by a Mrs. Bradsley and her sister,
Miss Mary Valens, who served as matrons of the school.
During the Revolution, the situation with the Episcopal clergy was very serious, Most
of them had come directly from England, or had been educated there and were under oath
of allegiance to the king. They were looked upon as Tories and consequently they were
in popular disfavor and many suffered persecution. Bartholomew Booth suffered along with
the rest and it was the hostility of the people around him which caused him in 1775 to flee
across the mountain and settle in Washington County on the banksof the Antietam along
what is called The Devil's Backbone. Here he purchased a large tract of land which he
named "Delamere" after the title of the Booth family in England. (This tract of land con-
tinued in the hands of his descendants for six generations and part of it is still held by
them.)
Here at Delamere, Bartholomew Booth again opened his school which gained a high
reputation. Here he instructed the sons of many prominent people. Among his patrons
were Robert Morris , Edward Shippen of Philadelphia, Gen. Benedict Arnold, Dr. James
Craik, surgeon on Washington's command® General Charles Lee and Mrs. Hannah Washington.
The son of the latter afterwards became Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Letters from these patrons bearing testimony of the reputation and the excellence of the
school are still in the possession of the Booth family. *
From 1775 until his death in 1785, Bartholomew Booth was the only Episcopal
minister in Washington County So far as we know, so .it is natural to suppose that he offi-
ciated at the Chapel of Ease and administered the various rights of the church throughout
this part of the parish.
In 1786 the Rev. George Bomer, whom I have previously mentioned, was appointed
rector of All Saint's Parish, and in 1787 the congregation in Hagerstown was organized.
Mr. Bonner lived in Hagerstown but preached also at Frederick, Saint Mark's (Petersville)
and at Toneytown, one Sunday a month at each place. His parish, included three counties,
reaching from Baltimore County to the end of the state, 150 miles in length. With no state
tax now to support the church there were no curates to aid him in this extensive field and
he faced the difficulty of training the congregations to self-support. To raise sufficient
nuuerr Doorn, sons of Bartholomew, were lost at sea while returning to
^gland. John, who had remained in England, came to this country on the death of his
father' and an act of the legislature gave him title to Delamere, a tract of 1700 acres. He
Willrmarried Drusilla Sweringen. They lived at Delamere and had the following children:
yem Ann M., Joseph van Lear, Marla M., Mrs. French, and Susan M. Alexander
Kennedy.
Y
m
funds seemed to be a problem (judging from the Vestry records.) Pew rents and sales
came into being. An auction of pews was advertised and held at a certain time
and the pews sold to the highest bidder. They became the personal property of the purchaser,
though they were not permitted to be taken from the church. In 1803 a lottery was held
to raise $600 for the completion of the church. Mr. Bomer was re-elected each year and
the salary fixed for that year, sometimes it was increased, sometimes diminished. Even at
that, in 1790-1792 it was two years in arrears. He was allowed in addition to his salary
to charge $5 for funerals and $4 for baptisms. In 1805 they discontinued pew rents, for
a year or two at least, and in 1807 Mr. Bomer's salary was raised to $550 so the indications
were that they were getting "on their feet." Mra Bomer continued as rector here 27 years
until his death in 1813, and is buried in the old Episcopal graveyard on South Mulberry
Street.
So far in this paper we have been dealing with the home missionary or "located"
itinerant minister. As population increased and the county became more prosperous,
ministers became more numerous and the bounds of their charges narrowed, and the
need for extensive traveling decreased. But there is another type of itinerant who presents
an even more colorful picture among the ministers of the day --the revivalist or the
circuit rider. His parish had no boundaries, his field was humanity anywhere, everywhere.
He was not interested in tending the flock already in the church or enlarging it but he was
out to preach salvation to the masses and to bring the sinner to repentance. He was op-
posed to the formal service and the stiff theological discourse. He believed in direct
communication with God through a strong emotional appeal --conversion.
The majority of these itinerants were authorized ministers who had pecul for powers
of exhortation and oratory and were able to draw great crowds wherever they would
take their stand. Many of these had little or no education and it was said of them
(by Peter Cartwright) speaking of the Methodist itinerants, that "when they felt the
call to preach, instead of hunting up a college or Biblical Institute, they hunted a
hardy pony or a horse and some traveling apparatus and with their I ibrary--their Bible,
Hymn Book and Discipline --always at hand, they started preaching up and down the
countryside to convert the masses from their worldly habits."
Their zeal for the Word, for service, and for converts took them astounding dis-
tances and through great dangers and their sacrifices were immeasurable. Great crowds
gathered to hear them. Many came out for curiousity and for amusement for it provided
entertainment where entertainment was scarce. But thousands were converted. Love
feasts, camp meetings, the mourners' bench, all came into being as a result and became
a part of the regular procedure of certain sects.
Almost every denomination had its itinerants of this type but the ones who came
Within the history of our county belonged to the Methodists and the United Brethren.
It is interesting to note that both of these denominations had their beginnings in
America in our state , almost within our county.
Robert Strawbridge in 1766 formed the first Methodist Society and built the first
Methodist meeting house in America at his home on Sam's Creek, Frederick County,
and the first United Brethren meeting house in the world was the Geeting Meeting
house, built 1774, on the Little Antietam near Keedysville.
The two denominations had many points of contact, although one was born in
91
England and was transplanted to America among the English and the other was founded in
America among the Germans. They were very similar in their origin, their methods, and
their points of emphasis. Their leaders were closely associated, their paths crossed, and
their circuits coincided. Together they conducted revivals and camp meetings by which
they enlarged their folds.
Philip Otterbein, the founder of the United Brethren Church was one of the six Reform,
ministers whom Michael Schlotter brought back with him in 1752. He was pastor of the
Frederick charge, which included this region, from 1760-1765. Dissatisfied with the
lack of zeal and enthusiasm in the church, he began evangelistic work without any thought
of leaving the Reformed church or founding a new sect. He soon had associated with him
many others who like himself felt the call to testify of their own religious experiences in
an effort to arouse the worldly and indifferent to similar experience.
While at Frederick, Otterbein must have preached at Antietam where Adam Geeting
was a schoolmaster. Geeting was converted and became active in the religious life of
the community. Being the schoolmaster he was called onto conduct service when no min-
ister was available, Later he became an ordained minister and was Otterbein's chief
advisor and closest friend and co -laborer in the founding of the denomination. His home
became a favorite spot for Otterbein and there together they mapped out the plans for their
work. Geeting remained pastor of the flock on the Antietam, and in 1790 organized the
congregation in Hagerstown and served it until 1807. But his work was largely itinerant,
only n lace on a large
and Hagerstown was o y one a circuit that he covered. p g
y
Another who early associated himself with Otterbein and Geeting was Christian New-
comer, He holds a unique place in the history of the United Brethren church. He is
spoken of as their "unmatched missionary." His father, Wolfgang Newcomer, at the age of
ten, had emigrated with his father to America and settled in Pennsylvania where Christian
was:born. The family were Mennonites and Christian was early interested in religion.
However, as he grew older he became dissatisfied with the Mennonite beliefs and left
them to come to Maryland. Here he came under the influence of Otterbein and Geeting.
He joined their Society and took up the work with them.
Together these three, Otterbein, Geeting, and Newcomer with others of their
followers, traveled throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, holding great union
meetings of an evangelistic nature. The meetings were held in barns or in the open, for
there were few churches in these outlying districts and what were there were in most cases
not open to these "Unse tartan Ministers." For thirty years this work was conducted witho
any organization, until in 1800 the United Brethren church was formed.
Christian Newcomer became the third Bishop of the denomination and at Otterbein's
death the head of the church. He has left a diary of his travels from 1795 to 1830 and
forms the basis f the history of the denomination during those ears. Ins ite of family
it o s s o e ry 9 Y P
ties and the care of a farm, he devoted practically his entire time to the cause of reli9i0n
For 50 years he was constantly in the saddle, traveling and preaching daily. His journey'
took him as for north as Canada, and West to Ohio and Illinois. He crossed the Allegha
twenty times, traveling entirely by horseback. The saddle bags he used are still in ex'
istence in the possession of one of his great grandchildren, (Howard Newcomer, Linc010
University, Pennsylvania).
In preparation for his work he was in no way an equal of Otterbein and Geeting Wh
92
been educated in Germany. He was merely a licensed layman but he was peculiarly
fitted for the work and greatly inspired. He traveled more extensively, preached more
frequently, and established more congregations than either of the others. He lived to be
82 years old in spite of the hardships he must have endured, and lies buried in the family
graveyard on the farm where he lived, near Beaver Creek.
Just where the Methodist Society was formed in Hagerstown we do not know except
that it was supplied by itinerants as early as 1776. Strawbridge, Owen, Asbury, and King
were frequent visitors.
Francis Asbury was perhaps the most outstanding itinerant minister in America.
was sent over from England by Wesley in 1770 and two years later, at the age of 2He was
made Superintendent or Head of all the Methodist Societies in the country, then numbering
600 members.
Leaving England he renounced his sweetheart, marriage, home, and his country for
his work. He believed that an evangelist should have no family ties that should cause
him to narrow his boundaries or be dependent upon funds. For forty years he had no home,
no headquarters, no possessions ('The contents of a saddle bag and one great coat do for
me. ") Money he was loathe to accept without good reason. His salary was never more
than $80 a year.
On horseback he traveled the length and breadth of the country. Through all kinds
of weather, storms of wind, hail, snow, and rain; climbing mountains, traversing valleys,
fording swollen streams, spending the night on the wet soaked earth, or in filthy one -room
crowded cabins; enduring hunger, poor food, poor water, poor beds, mosquitoes, fleas,
Ill health. But, he says: "All this is for souls; were it for silver I should require a great
sum; but the Lord is not unrighteous to forget our labor of love, and our reward is with
him."
Every morning foun4him up and off by daybreak to new fields. He wrote, "Unless
I arise by five, sometimes four, every morning, I should have no time to eat my break-
fast, pray in the family, and get ready for my journey." At another place he takes him-
self to task severely for lying in bed until six when he had no cause through bodily in-
disposition; why should he lose one hour when so much had to be learned and toughtl
Asbury visited Hagerstown several times between 1776 and 1812, The first on July
15, 1776, when he records: "It seemed as if Satan was chief ruler there. The people
were very busy in drinking,, swearing, and drumming, etc."
Since he made no such scathing remark on any later visit and "since it was only eleven
days after the signing of the Declaration of Independence it might be reasonable to suppose
that it was to a large extent patriotic exuberance." (Spayeth)
During the Revolution, Asbury was the only one of Wesley's representatives who
remained in Americand his suffering was great. Prejudice against the English was strong.
EVen though he had declared himself in sympathy with the colonies he was refused meeting
Places, or fined for preaching, or forced to keep silent. At times it was necessary for him
to hide in swamps during the day and travel by night. His life was constantly in danger
but he stuck to his post.
93
94
It I
As his work progressed, his territory stretched from Georgia to Canada and west across
the Alleghanies to Kentucky. He made the circuit --from 5000 to 8000 miles --annually.
By the time of his death in 1816, the Societies of the Methodists numbered 200,000 members,
7 900 traveling preachers, and 300local ones.
What an influence he must have been in the building of our nation!
At the unveiling of a statue to Asbury in Washington in 1924, President Coolidge paid
the following tribute to him:
"Just as the time was approaching when our country was about to begin the work of
establishing a government which was to represent the rule of the people, where not a
few but the many were to control public affairs, where the vote of the humblest was
to count for as much as the vote of the most exalted, Francis Asbury came to America
to preach religion.
"How well he fitted into the scheme of things, this circuit rider who spent his
life making stronger the foundation on which our government rests,and seeking to
implant in the hearts of men, however poor and unworthy they may have seemed,
an increased ability to discharge the high duties of citizenship. His outposts marchedw!1
the pioneers, his missionaries visited the hovels of the poor, that all might be brought
to a knowledge of the truth --what a wonderful experience hemust have had, this
prophet of the wilderness! What homes he must have hallowedl Who shall say where
his influence, written on the souls of men, shall end?"
With these some words might we not voice our appreciation of that whole noble band
of consecrated itinerants?
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Scharf's History of Western Maryland
Williams' History of Frederick County
Williams' History of Washington County
Life and Journal of Michael Schlatter by Henry Harbaugh
Fathers of the Reformed Church
Life of Francis Asbury
Hawkers and Walkers of Early America
CEMETERIES, EPITAPHS, AND TOMBSTONES
IN
WASHINGTON COUNTY
While my subject brings us right down to earth, still there is something rather ethereal
and spiritualistic about it too, I've had to get most of my material first hand for I found
scarcely anything on this dead subject in Washington County Histories. So after months
spent in ambling thru graveyards and falling over tombstones I am going to try to tell you
where and how our Washington County ancestors are buried.
So many of the old families in our county were buried on their homesteads and while
some of the markers and stones still remain, in most cases the property has changed hands
so often that there is no evidence remaining, the graves having been plowed under. I
will mention a few later.
While not the oldest in the county, the Reformed Church Cemetery (corner of Potomac
and East Ave.) is of great interest in Hagerstown history. Jonathan Hager gave the ground
for the church and cemetery in 1766 and it is a sad yet interesting fact that he was killed
while superintending the preparation of timber for the building of the German Reformed
Church, as it was then called. He and members of his family are buried there. A very
simple but dignified stone marks this resting place. The inscription "Captain Jonathan
Hager -Founder of Hagerstown -born 1719-died November 6, 1775." His wife lies beside
him, Elizabeth, 1765, no birth date given. His only son lies next, the stone bearing
this inscription, "His Only Son, Jonathan Hager, Jr., Proprietor of Hagerstown 1755,
died 1798. Jonathan Jr.'s wife is buried next to him, Mary Magdalen Orndorf, 1767-
1844. There is a German inscription on her headstone, which translated reads, "What
God does is Well Done". Her people, as well as all the Hagers were of German parentage.
Captain Hager's only daughter, Rosannah, married General Daniel Heister, .and they are
both buried in the first grave to the right as you walk in back of the church. I explain
the location, for the inscription on the slab is no longer legible and I had to copy it from
the church records furnished me by Rev. S. Wagner who was also of great assistance in
giving me information on the above, General Heister, 1747-1804; Mrs. Rossannah , his
wife, 1752-1810, 1 found a bit of history that told me interment of the Heister's was the
first made in the lot opposite the church which had been devised to the church by General
Heister. Finding that the church had no use for it, it was conveyed to Mr. Wingert, the
devisee of General Heister, who paid $500 for it. The bodies were then moved to their
Present resting place. John Gruber, founder and publisher of the first Almanac, is buried
in this cemetery; his dates, 1768-1857. He came here thru inducements offered him by
General Ringgold whom he met in Baltimore. Gen Ringgold was interested in a new
Republican newspaper being edited here. One of the first pastors of the Church, Rev.
Rahauser, rests here. The oldest, that is the oldest person buried in the county, Mary
Schnebley, 1773-1876, (103 Years) is finally at rest here. She was the wife of Col .
avid Schnebley. Other prominent Tamil ies are buried in this graveyard, Rench, Joseph
On Hoffman, Hilliard, Humrichouse, Wingert, Alex, Armstrong, etc. A very lovely epitaph
the imposing stone of Mary Humrichouse, wife of Samuel, died 1847 reads:
95
'Death from sin has set her free
And will her gain forever be.
Kind angels watch this sleeping dust
Till Jesus comes to raise the Just.'
So many of the old stones here, as in most of the graveyards, are made of l limestone
The td
weathered so badly that they cannot be read even with a magnifying g
la.one I could make out gave the burial date as 1793.
We will now leave town and go to the oldest burial ground in the county,S.t Paul's,
adjoining the church. You all know where it is, on the National pike, 2 1 /2 miles east
of Clearspring. The congregation dates from 17477. much hnof the stonenkeney ethe ngrorecti for the
the church and burial purposes. Joseph Fiery g
ave church, and they and many of the large Fiery family are buried there. A large bronze
plate near the church door and close to the burial ground is dedicated to the memory of
"De Walt Ankeney" the first of his name, founder of that family in America, born 1728,
died 1781. Some of my information of the location of old stones was obtained from the
caretaker who I ives across the way. He couldn't go over to the cemetery with me for he
was repairing a leak in the roof above the third floor and halloed down the information
that the oldest graves I would find close to the men's toilet -house. (These old folks in
death as in life will look after their comfort.) Members of the old Cushwa family; Potts
family, Charles being a soldier in the war of 1812, under GeneralJackson; Wolf, born
in Prussia, 1811-1883, scarcely legible; Seibert, old pioneer family of Clearspring district
are some of the names inscribed on the oldest stones. There is a lengthy epitaph on the stone
of Catherine Harsh:
'Tisfinished, the conflict is past
Thy Heaven -born spirit is fled
Her wish is accomplished at last
And now she's entombed with the dead
The months of affliction are o'er
The days and nights of distress
We see her in anguish no more
She has gained her happy release.'
Beneath this is a I ine stating that her funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Bishop. I
looked up the records and found that Rev. Bishop was pastor of St. Paul's in 1849. I
can wager there were plenty of tears shed as that sermon was preached. Many of the
Mish family are buried here but you can scarcely read the datesand names, George
Mish, born 1772, died 1826 age 54. He was the father of F. W- Mish Sr., of Hagerstown
Mary his wife, died 1854 age 71 . The epitaph on Mr, George Mish's stone 1 copied.
'Go home, dear friends and cease from tears
I must be here till Christ appears
Prepare for death whilst time you have
There's no repentance in the grave.'
And isn't it true? It amazing the number of markers for infants and babies. It shows
us what tremendous strides have been made in conquering children's diseases. The fom"i
Fiery, gave me some of my data on the
mily
of J. O. Snyder is buried here and his brother, he Fier
above families. The Wingert family, a branch of which intermarried with t
have a very lovely lot with old boxwood around it.
I am now going into Clear Spring and out to Green Spring Furnace Chapel where there
are some very old stones. Of human interest in this burial ground is the grave of E. G.
Kinsell of Clear Spring. He and his son built the concrete grave (slab and curbing) for his
wife and mother who are resting there. After their death he built for himself a second
concrete grave adjoining although he lived 11 years after her death. They are an old
and highly respected family, three generations having taught school in the some school
house still in use and not more than 200 yds from his grave. There are many very crude
wooden markers in this yard that have almost petrified and are no longer legible. There
are many glass covered boxes with artificial flowers inside.
Near here Is the old graveyard of Shanktown. Many of the Shank family are buried
there. The inscription most popular in this place is 'Gone, but not forgotten'. Here
rests a branch. of the Mason family, Worthington Jeremiah Mason, October 1853-1935
and I surnia, his wife, the mother of twelve children.
There are two cemeteries in Clear Spring, the Lutheran and Rose Hill, located on
the National Pike. In the Lutheran yard is the slab over the grave of the Rev. John
Winter founder of the Lutheran Church in Clearspring. The slab beside him had an
unusual inscription 'Sarah Winter, relic of late Rev. John Winter.' One of the loveliest
epitaphs and one that really breathed of sincerity I found on the stone of the Charles
family (old family of farmers and mill owners.)
'Meek, affable, sincere, abounding in good works.
He shed a I ight around his pathe and left a
vacancy in his home, church, and community.
He looked like Daniel thru his open window
Toward Jasper walls --no veil now intervenes --
Green be his memories the grass that springs
Above this resting place.'
In Rose Hill near Clearspring many members of the old Perry and Prather family are
buried; they were related to Commodore Perry. Here also are members of the Hossett family,
Pioneers in the community.
I didn't get to Hancock for I hadn't heard anything of interest that might be found there
Other than that of human interest. Mrs. Caspar kindly sent me an extract from a Hancock
Paper, (a recent issue) giving interesting facts on the Stillwell family,one of the family
having recently died in California. The name Stillwell has been identified with Hancock
history from before the French and Indian War. In a graveyard two miles north of Hancock
Stands a stone dedicated to the Stillwell family having an interesting epitaph; "In Memory
! of Marian Stillwell wife of Elias Stillwell, Esq., who departed this life October the 19
Anna Domine, age 95.
My loving mate I did survive
And true my age was great
I lived the years of 95
And here behold my fate."
Tie pion
eers in the Hancock section will recall the cholera epidemic and its death toll
Jur'ng the construction of the C. & O Canal when they see the grave of Philip P. Fitzgerald,
■
97
6.
The Zeller family is represented here.
the contractor in the construction of this canal, who lies buried in the St. Peter's grave-
yard there.
Riverview cemetery in Williamsport is most interesting from an historical standpoint
and we will now take a journey through the old section. It is ideally located on a wooded
high elevation that overlooks the entire surrounding country. It is well kept and enclosed
by a high iron fence and most imposing wrought iron gate. Gen Otho Williams in 1787
granted this tract for a cemetery. Mrs. Agnes Crawford has done a great deal in establishing
a permanent fund for the care of this burial ground. Gen. Williams, founder of Williamsport,
is buried here. His lot is rather a pretentious one and the stone most imposing. There are
inscriptions on all four surfaces as follows: "Friendship, Modesty, and Brotherly Love,
Dedicated to the memory of General Otho Holland Williams, founder of Williamsport,
1749-1794, age 45. Beloved, Honored and deplored. He was an active member of the
Continental Army. The memory of the just is blessed and shall live and flourish like a
greenberry tree." On another side, "A devoted and excellent husband, father, and
brother; a refined, courteous and steadfast friend, a loyal and enlightened citizen; a
virtuous, benevolent and accomplished man. A distinguished patriot and hero in the
Armies of U. S. in which he attained by meritorious service the rank of Brigadier General
during the war. This monument erected by money appropriated by the General Assembly
of Maryland, session 1882." His son, Edward Green Williams, is resting near. In an
le Mrs. Seaman in
adjoining hanan is
Buchanan faon the
tmilyuhas read thecepitaph onuhissto stone, am going to repeateittfok I think
it is a lovely tribute.
"Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain
mercy; an incorruptible judge who kept his
ermine white.
In his life was the law of truth
In his counsel the stamp of wisdom and love.
His decisions were tempered with justice and mercy.
His life was an ornament to the world where he was known.
One of the pioneer families in this locality who are buried here is the Van Lear family
who lived in "Tammany." I believe the highest monument in the cemetery is the one
dedicated to Mathew Van Lear's son, John, 1789-1857. Mrs. James Findlay is a de-
scendant. The Kennedy family, one of the oldest families in this section are kin of the
Van Lears. Several epitaphs and inscriptions are in German. Michael Miller (first
postmaster) is buried here and I copied the epitaph:
"Relatives and strangers as ye pass by
As you are now so once was I
As I am now so must you be
Prepare for eternity --follow me."
He was oCaptain in the Revolutionary War and has
many descendants in this locality.
Charles
wa
One of the first land owners and first man to settle in Williamsport was les frjens
When he died his property and land were passed on to his surviving heirs. A provIt
made in the deed that the plot of ground in the south-west corner field was to bees p�
inviolate and used for the family burial ground. You have all passed it many
is on the road to the Tannery just across the Conococheague bridge, in the field to the
left. Here you can see one large stone and a few old markers. The former bears the
following inscription: "Here lies the remains of Jacob Friend, If (a probable son of
Charles) "born September, 1738, died February 10, 1802:
Reader, whosoever thou are
Thy life must shortly end -
Prepare in time that God may be
Thine everlasting Friend."
If Mr. Friend could see the cows, horses, and chickens grazing about his grave, I feel
sure he might become restless. However the lovely oaks that stand as sentries and the
Conococheague and Potomac flowing peacefully by, more than compensate for the crudeness
of his maker and the surroundings.
The following epitaph in Riverview amused me:
'Sacred to the memory of Maria Foster, consort; of John,
died 1839.
Blessed by the name of the Lord for they sake,
For it is written, whosoever hath found
A virtuous wife path a greater treasure
Than costly pearls."
So you see the reputation of the town hasn't changed much and I found only one stone
erected to the virtuous wife.
The burial grounds in and near Leitersburg make interesting history. Beard's church,
St. Peter's, now in the Chewsville district was formerly in Leitersburg district. The
graveyard adjoins the church and the oldest known congregational record bears the date
of 1790. Years ago many of the stones were pulled up and used in the construction of a
culvert. However; a few old ones remain, one with 1763 death date on it. In 1897 only
the stump of a wild cherry tree remained to mark the spot. It seems a pity that in a civilized
community a spot hallowed by Christian worship and burial, the oldest burial spot in the
Antietam valley, the last resting place of many pioneers and war veterans, should be so
desecrated. Across from the Leitersburg school is the Mother Lutheran Church, the oldest
'n Washington County. The cemetery is adjoining, but not the original church. However,
here are the graves of many of the old families. Among them are Zeiglers, Leiters, Bell,
there rcllare
Martins and many others. Jacobs Church is a very old one, but unfortunately
there are few readable memorials on the stones in the cemetery. They are limestone specimens,
eyidentl
y selected with regard for smoothness of surface and regularity and not for wearing
qualities. It is pro
here bable that George Jacobs, the son of the donor of the land, is buried
Nis death was in the year 1790. There are many private burial plots in and around
Ethe Leitersburg district. One of the earliest inscriptions on a stone in a private bround it th
e one on the farm of Joseph Martin, 1781--a German iurial
nscription: "Hier lieght
Ze lambrman ert and thre trochter var alt 59 Johr." On the farm of George Zeigler is the old
9�er buri
fQrnle5 al spot where some of the early representatives of the Lantz, Zeigler, and other
the burial rgroundrof the ofld Hartle f milyl s8on the 'faermtnolw owned by Al ey L. Sltockslager.
m
100
It too is enclosed by aCsubstantial ' aroidenumerous othel . There are private burial plots on the farms
of Upton, Clappers,
The cemetery of the BroadIt is sig
German Baptist congregation, is one of the finest
and best kept in the County. It is situated on an elevation overlooking the country for
to become
miles around. It is two and a half acres within an enclosed fence besides two acres a joining.
Emanuel Niswonger of Franklin County has deeded seventeen acres adjoining
the property of the church after his death, to be used solely for cemetery purposes. So it
looks as if there will be plenty of elbow room for the entire community. The first person
to be buried in this graveyard was MoliarsFunk, sister of J. J. Funk, who was President
of the Second National Bank here for yea
s incorporated in 1883 under the
wa
The Citizens' Cemetery Association of Shorpsburg The have 634 acres, beautifully
name of
out Mt- View CemeteAssociatio
well coed fort' The handsome n of w ought iron gate at the entrance cost $850.
la
urial rounds on South
ii We will nowgo back to Hagerstown
to the old
iverw��itsstone and iron fence and
Mulberry Street. It seems very p The Lutheran grounds were adjoining at
huge iron gates that you must open with a key. is iust for the
he
one time but have buried moved to Rose endowment wHilas left for its maintenance. At one tti es of t there
families now old,
Gen. Ringgold, who was I ivin9
was an old chapel in the north-east corner othe yard..
)(The foundation stones were faun
not so long ago by the caretaker wh�ecloSdigging days in his coach while the young men.
at St. James then, drove to this church old and St. James,
from the school came on horseback. While on the subject of Ringgold to
when the diocese bought St. James fora ldefamily wherethe
they nowgIieh they and stheir
II ' further
build a wall around the ashes of the Ringgold
slaves. There is to be a paper on this interesting family so I will not say anything
about them. n to the
Pike, now belong'r9 1ve�
The
hman's, the house having been 9
Rocklane time the property of the Tilgd house beyond St. James on the Sharpsburg
Bridges family, was at onrave
Tighman. Back of this old home
by Gen. Ringgold to his sister, Mrs. is the graveyard
with the original iron fence still around it. Here
them the Hughes and
I have digressed a bit so I will go back tothe Episcopal burial ground in town.
land• among Hagerstown
we find many of our old aristocratic families ties from Ene Nail factory between Hag
Fitzhughs. Col . William Fitzhugh built the old h th Hughes family. They were oil
and Leitersburg. The Fitzhughs intermarried with the Hug judge
Also his wife Rebecca•
conspicuous in the Revolutionary War. There
eeee Johto be endless markers for this his
Here Judge Thomas Buchanan is buried,
eebecca, was a granddaughter of Gen. ogle;rjed here'
Thomas dates 1768-1847. His wife, You will see many
o
residence being "Woburn Manor" near Downsvilieished family being Mrse F Schley Canbymrly u also b 1ny
the latest burial in that distinguished
one of the first medical dpctorsd
i the Neill family,, also Otho Holland Williams, son of Gen Otho dates September, /n
1852; Col. Jack Wharton, son of Dr. John Wharton, ett, first Bishop of MOryIon risk'
ill first rector of Queen Caroline P°
Washington County and prominent politically; John Clag
hter of Re he James Macdata , Miller
' also Mary Macgill, chug above data on their markers.) the Peter o hugg
Anne Arundel County. (I got all the abo goes that he was
family, whose grandfather was a native of Russia. The story
he was made a member of the famous bodyguard of Frederick the Great. (I didn't notice
that the slabs on the graves of the descendants were any longer than the others.) An
interesting marker was a very old one with the very scrolly inscription, "To the memory
of Steward Herbert, late printer of Elizabethtown, 1795."
Haveyou ever noticed the tombstone in the yard of St. Mary's church on Washington
Street? If you have noticedit,you surely have admired the lovely colorful tulip bed in
the early spring. Well, it serves as a blanket over the grave of Father Ryan, who in the
year 1822 built St. Mary's church. He was one of the first Catholic missionaries and will
long be remembered for his true never-ending devotion to his flock. He was beloved by
all who knew him. He was buried here in 1838.
And so I will close with a very old verse from Grey's Elegy in a Country Churchyard:
'The curfew tolls the knell of parting day
The lowing herd winds slowly o'er the lee
The plowman homeward plods his weary way
And leaves the world to darkness and to me."
STAGE ROUTES AND TAVERNS
As early as 1666 the Assembly of Maryland began the work of improving the com-
mun ication between the different parts of the colony. An act was passed for "marking
the highways and making the heads of rivers, creeks and swamps passable for horse and foot."
It was not until 1796, however, that a group of citizens of Elizabeth -Town, present day
Hagerstown, met at the Court House to discuss the utility of a turnpike to the seaboard,
Baltimore, for the transportation of produce to the market. The result of this meeting was
an act passed by the Assembly of Maryland in 1797 for the laying out of a turnpike road
from Baltimore, through Frederick Town, Elizabeth Town, and Williamsport. This was
the beginning of the National Road which later extended from Wheeling, W. Va., to
Baltimore and was 60 feet wide, 8 carriages being able to pass at one time.
In 1783 a bi-weekly I ine of stage -coach was inaugurated between Baltimore and
Frederick Town. Fourteen years later, a weekly passenger stage was started between
Elizabeth Town and Baltimore. It left Elizabeth Town on Tuesday, stopped in Frederick
Town for the night, and arrived in Baltimore, Wednesday afternoon. Remaining there
one day, it returned to Elizabeth Town by the same route, arriving on Saturday. There
was also a stage which ran once a week between Cumberland and Elizabeth Town which
passed through Hancock and required two days for the trip --quite a contrast to the two hours
it now to es, for the trip by automobile and considerably less time byairplane.
In 1802 Peter Orndorf informed the public that as many inconveniences had arisen from
there being but one stage a week between Hagerstown and Baltimore, he had gone to
considerable trouble and expense to arrange for running in the future, two stages a week,
leaving Jonathan Hager's Tavern, "Sign of the Ship" and stopping in Frederick for the
night,the fare being $2 to Frederick and $3.50 from Frederick to Baltimore, fourteen
pounds of baggage being carried free.
In 1805 there was a line of mail coaches established between Frederick and Chambersburg
which passed through Hagerstown.
In 1823 the United States mail stage left Baltimore for Wheeling every Sunday, Tuesday,
and Thursday, requiring three and a half days for the trip, the fare bing $18.65. At this
time adoily mail stage for Washington, Baltimore, and Wheeling was first made up at
Hagerstown .
The first mail coaches were arranged to carry only three passengers in addition to the
mail pouches. The passenger compartment was known as a "monkey box." It was at the
Front end of the vehicle and rested on springs, the mail pouches being placed behind it
in a long tight wooden box without springs. It made such a loud noise on the road that
after a short time the ordinary passenger coach was substituted for the mail coach.
co Mr. L. W. Stockton operated a coach factory at Uniontown, where many of the
°Ch
S+es were made and also repaired. These stage -coaches cost between $500 and $600. Mr.
ackton was the most conspicuous stage proprietor of the National Road. It is related
+hat in his early career, he had a race with a horse and buggy against a locomotive between
+he Relay House and Baltimore in which he came out ahead.
102
103
Stage lines of the National Road were never equalled in spirit and dash on any road
in any age or country. The grandeur of the old mail -coach ascending a long hill, in-
creasing speed when nearing the summit then moving rapidly over the intervening level
to the top ofa the next hill and dashstraight asit,
an arrow, and driver
nd one of the bestly Redding
known and
Bunting: was l ft.,
sta a in ,
best liked of all stage drivers. To see him wielding the whip and handling the reins re-
vealed a scene never to be forgotten.
Excitment followed in the wake of the coaches all along the road. Their arrival in
the towns was the leading event of each day and they were so regular in transit that the
farmers along the road knew the exact hour of their coming without the aid of watch or
clock. They ran day and night alike. Relays of fresh horses were placed at intervals
of about twelve miles. Ordinarily a driver had charge of one team only, which he drove
and cared for. Mail drivers, however, drove three or four teams or more, which were
cared for by grooms at the stations. Teams were changed almost in the twinkling of an
eye. The coach was driven rapidly to the station, where a fresh team stood ready harnessed
and waiting on the roadside. The moment the team came to a halt, the driver threw down
the reins and almost instantly the incoming team was detached, the fresh one attached,
the reins thrown back to the driver, who did not leave his seat, and away again `vent the
coach at full speed, the usual group of loafers, meanwhile, looking on and enjoying the
exciting scene. The horses used were showy and superb, the admiration of all who beheld
them . �
There was one mail coach that was especially imposing. On its gilded sides appeared
the picture of a post boy with flying horse and horn, and beneath it in gilt letters this
awe-inspiring inscription:
"He comes, the herald of a noisy world,
News from all nations lumbering at his back."
No boy who beheld that old coach ever forgot it. The coaches were for the most part
artistically painted and ornamented, lined inside with silk plush and the floor covered
with straw to keep the feet warm. There were three seats furnished with cushions and
three persons could sit comfortably on each, so that nine persons made a full load as
far as the interior was concerned, A seat beside the driver was more coveted in fair
weather than a seat within. During the prosperous era of the road, it was nT t d we t on
to see as many as fifteen coaches in continuous procession. Both ways,
there would be thirty daily.
When Jenny Lind, the world renowned songstress, made her first professional visit g.00,
to the United States, she returned East from her western tour by way of the Nationp. al
Road, in company with her troupe and in chartered coaches of the Stockton line.
Barnum, the celebrated showman and Miss Lind's manager, was with her on this occ0
un9
s were only $12
Stage driving was quite a lofty calling in those days and the acme of many
0 o
man's ambition. Although the wagea month with boarding and lodging,
the work was light and the whirl exciting and exhilarating, Man of the driverth or od "°'j
e
tarting On
ro
trip,
men of good sense, honest intentions, and steady habits. Their experiences an t hats
e oc
many andvaried.
off aefull load ofriver ted that on passengers onDiscerning�in aamomenter sthat the ho
his tea
not be checked by ordinary methods, he pulled his team off the road and turned the coach
over against a bank. The passengers were badly frightened but none of them hurt. After
righting the coach, which was little domaged,they proceeded on their way, the driver ac-
quiring a wide reputation as being cool and skillful .
Another driver told of his experience with highway men; how he was hel d up at the
point of a gun 6y five masked men, who after having thrown an obstruction of logs and brush
across the road, when the coach slowed down, seized the lead horse by the bridle. When
the robbers discovered that the driver was unarmed, they attempted to shoot him, but due to
the dampness in the air the powder did not explode. This confused the bandits temporarily
and the driver at this point seized his whip and proceeded to lash the would-be robber,
vigorously. At the some time he called to his team which jumped the obstruction in the
road and galloped off to safety.
There was another feature of the old stage I Ines which is interesting. It was called
the Postill ion A groom with two houses was stationed at the foot of many of the hills
and added to the ordinary team of four horses to aid them in making the ascent. After
they reached the summit, the extra horses were quickly detached and returned to. await
and aid the next coach.
In 1835 a line of couriers called the "Pony Express" was placed on the road. It was
intended to carry I ight mails with more speed than the general mail was carried by the
coaches. The "Pony Express" was a single horse and a boy rider, with a leather mail
pouch thrown over the horse's back, somewhat similar to the old-fashioned saddle bags.
The route for each horse covered a distance of about six miles. The horse was put to his
utmost speed and the rider carried a tin horn which he blew vigorously as he approached
a station. The "Pony Express" did not remain long on the road but the old pike boys said,
"It surely kicked up the dust."
With the making of the National turnpike road, the taverns became the stopping
Places for the enormous travel between the East and West. They did not use the word hotel
but the old Anglo-Saxon word tavern, with its wide open fire in the cheerful bar -room
and the bountiful spread in the dining room; the long porch for summer loafers, and the
immense stabling quarters with their wealth of horse flesh and the great open yards crowded
with teamsters' wagons, stage coaches, sheep, and cattle. The outward appearance of a
tavern was no index to the quality of entertainment it afforded. Many of the least pre-
tentious houses furnished the best meals and paid the most agreeable attention to guests
and patrons. It was not unusual to see the wagon yard attached to a small wooden and
apparently decaying tavern, crowded with teams and wagons, while the inviting grounds
Of an imposing brick tavern near by were without an occupant. At the side of each tavern
stood a big water -trough, filled with fresh, sparkling water.
The patronage which came to Hagerstown demanded and received the best accommodations
available. At the time of George Washington's visit here, however, in 1790, the taverns
were still on a par with the ordinary country taverns of the time. In those early days, even
fieto some of the large towns, it was not uncommon to see eight beds in a single room and if
tavern were crowded and no bed empty, and a new arrival came, he would get into the
st bed he came to without even so much as asking leave. Thesheets were changed only
pec+ed for days and a travel er who presumed to ask for clean sheets would have been sus -
law as follows: breakfast or a upper - 34 cents; dinner with pint hofsmalI beerorr id fed by
104
105
and a gill of whiskey - 7 cents.
16 cents; gill of brandy - 13 cents; ers, whom curiosity
50 cents; lodging - published by strang good but
Letters complaining of the taverns were frequently
The admitted that fo°thenfare * benef t osfate arrivals.
brought to this country from Europe' kept open all night
however, when the announcement was made that it
naturally objected to their rooms being P P
All of the complaints were silenced,
was the custom of the country, ion of dances, amusements
es of public resort for
the
discuss
isco sand pure, olithesprice being regulated
Taverns were plat P
and also for the drinking of whiskey,
by law. For many years it was the fashion to have i whiskey hich wasCountylhadlone which he hadown in the sfilled
man in Washing It was said
of George Washington, Nearly every Goods and Wet Goods"
at the nearest grocery, which in those days b old i9 ng "George Washington' from the barrel.
that on Saturday a grocery clerk was keptY
le who came to Hagerstown to deal at the stores or who were traveling on
35
The peo P
the road, had no lock dfPotomac Straeets alonehe taverns were numerous. There were
Inns on Washingtond from Williams) there is the following
In Mrs. Wilson,-s book about Hagerstown (Quote
ent a
on ofia ert the town innn Royal
amusing descriptiuncertainpte terms:
at one of these taverns,
who wrote her impress
Hagerstown she found well enough-"' situated as�tnot is ra fashionable n fertile lplaceand -
it is a flourishing thong
ers. It lies on the grand road from Baltimore to
by an industrious German Race,
course, it is usually crowded with strangersmany
is: pleasant, the 000 or maybe 2,r600na habiantsof the houses elegan,,
Philadelphia. The site p
I might say superb.. It contains about 2,
"Some of the male members of society pass muster. 'There are many enlightened and
who rank with the first gentlemen of ucf aid ill
accomplished gentlemen in Hogerstown, jaundiced eye. 'The women are squat
For her own sex, however, she had only a j
neighbors in Baltimore, endeavor to cover their
shaped and have a vacancy
ever, like their neig worth too worcl e; fo when one sees a fine d
schooling. They, how
s the ignorant woman or a very great fool .'
defect by dress whichsetherdown as anni}gier ten trines worse; d
lady we, of course, bloome
"Outspoken as was this, it was but the bud of her eloquence. 'The full flower travel
but wornlives
for one Sneaking or Sneakguns or some landlord (I do not knoiel who, rw his th enameiord where I P t up, e
are the worst men in Maryland. The
ublic house in the Atlantic countrI gp5n
who do not wait their post office. Thisksrihe worst P rnlmaid was drunk all the time sq�°t
next door to i P° atronoge, The chamberroud,
none can be less worthy of p asso9
the windows high and thePdePo ivrr
there need be no more said about her. The mistress was ignoran r
there, night previous to my. the
I called for my bill the nig places and quitted and
scornful and sluttish. The house was small and rty, and at other p
narrow. The landlord 1 never saw. paid what I usually p tVLJ4
the ruffian bar keeper refused to give up my sin
and found it a third too high. I P° for robbery, but my friend
house instantly. The next morning
I came off without it, intending to have the fellow up
un9ent Pan
Baltimore sent for it.' I, al her racy and P
_ -L. M^rP profitable could Mrs' Royal have employ
had she not wasted it on ruffian barkeepers but turned it on the lusty life that centered in
such taverns as "The Sugar Loaf," "The Golden Swan," which stood where the Patterson
Hotel now stands, "The Indian King" kept by John Ragan on West Washington Street, the
"American Arms" nearby kept by James Downey or the "Indian Queen" on North Potomac
Street kept by William Mackeyl
She would have fared better had she stayed at the "Fountain Inn" which was kept by
one Jonathan Hager on the public square fronting the court house. Hager was a namesake
but no relation to the founder of the town. It was stated in his obituary that he was a
soldier in the Revolutionary Army and that he lived in Hagerstown when the ground on which
it stood was a "howling wilderness."
There were many other well-known taverns such as the "Columbia Inn" a few doors
from the Court House on West Washington Street, kept by Christian Fechtig, the "Eagle
Tavern" which stood on the Square where the Fleisher Building now stands. It is said that
here Henry Clay courted Lucretia Hart, There were the "Black Horse Inn" kept by Benjamin
Light with its bricks painted alternately red and black like a checker board. This Inn was
later known as the "Antietam House" and occupied what is now the Hotel Hamilton corner.
There was the "Buck Tavern" the building of which still stands opposite the Washington
Street School; the building at the corner of Baltimore and South Potomac Streets, which is
now a feed store, was at one time a tavern.
The "Rising Sun Tavern" stood opposite the Lutheran Church on South Potomac Street
and was for many years the favorite resort of teamsters. It was kept by John Wrench and
its spacious yard was always filled with the great express wagons from the West. Wagoner
was the name applied to the men who hauled goods and merchandise over the road. The
teams of the old wagoners were drawn by six and sometimes eight horses which were harnessed
with wide shoulder pieces studded with brass. On the head of the leader was an arch of
bells, so that the team could be heard before it appeared around the narrow curves. These
teams were rarely stabled, but rested over night in the wagon yards of the old taverns,
no matter how inclement the weather. Blankets were used to protect them in the winter
season. Feed troughs were suspended at the rear end of the wagon -beds and carried along
in this manner the year round. In the evening the troughs were fastened to the tongues
of the wagon, to which the horses were tied, three on a side with their heads in the trough.
The wagoners carried their beds rolled up in the forepart of the wagon and spread them out
in a semi -circle on the bar -room floor in front of the big open fire at night upon going to
rest. Some of the old bar -room grates would hold as many as six baskets of coal, and iron
Pokers from 4 to 6 feet long were used for stirring the fires. These wagons traveled from
15 to 20 miles a day.
One of the earliest and perhaps the best known of the taverns was owned and operated
6n George Beltzhoover. It was here that George Washington spent the night on his visit
1790• In 1814 the "Beltzhoover Tavern" became known as the "Globe Inn" and in its
t1854,
r'm entertained many of the great men of the country, including Andrew Jackson, In
"" "Washington House" which was "Globecompany purchased the property, tore down the
pronounced the fi est hotel In the s ate routsidelt on tofsite
R�I trmore
a triumph of mechanical skill and genibus four stories high. This hotel later
me the "Balledwin House" and the site isnowoccupied by the Arcade Building on West
There were also numerous taverns throughout Washington County. There was Smith's
106
107
y. The Slifer Brothers
on, stands in Funkstown. The building that
Tavern at Dahlgren's on South Mountain --there is a tavern there today-
kept a tavern in Boonsboro. There were two wag
George Bishop in 1793. The present Overall
is now occupied by Snooks store at Halfway was at one time a tavern. In Williamsport t ere
'
was the "Sign of General Washington" kept by
Factory was once a tavern, as was the Miller Brother lumberyard.
John Miller .
Seven and a half miles west of Hagerstown stands thThe young people of the vicinity
e Gateway Inn. This was described
as being an imposing brick tavern kept by " the cotillion, and the Virginia Reel
gathered there to dance such figures as the Hoe down there was a wagon stand
There was a Boyd°s tavern at Clearspring and at Indian Spring
kept by David Miller. onerrs. building
camel the "Sign ofds on hthe Shnortips! Tavernhand famous
'Ben
favorite resort
Beans" in Hancock and so on West to Cumberland and Wheeling a tavern standing every
few miles, offering its hospitality to travelers.
The National Road with its stage -coaches and taverns is a monument of a past age,
eresting other material structure
but like all ntd millions monuments
wealth i into the West and more ethan any ro hied thousands oft e
Population a
in the land, it served to harmonize and strengthen the Union.
References
1 . Scharf's History of Western Maryland, Vol. 2
2. William's History of Washington County, Vol. 1
3. The Old Pike by Searight
4. Turnpikes and Dirt Roads by Leighton Parks
BELINDA SPRINGS
Two miles southeast of Sharpsburg, on the road leading to Harpers Ferry, are the once
celebrated Belinda Springs. Although these Springs were known to be a favorite gathering
place as early 1740, we find very little record of them until 1818.
There are two Springs on the farm. One is of pure limestone water, the other, about
two hundred yards away is of sulphur water. In 1818, while measuring the depth of this
Spring with a long pole, it was found that a deposit was left on the pole with an odor of
sulphur. One farmer was keen and wealthy enough to engage a physician to analyze the
waters. Dr. Hartman, the first physician and chemist in the Sharpsburg district, was
engaged and found the water from the larger spring contained a certain per cent of sulphur,
iron, and magnesium. The use of this water was considered highly beneficial to general
health and to cure some diseases.
In July, 1818, Jacob Gordenhour bought the farm of 153 acres and named the Springs
in honor of his wife Belinda.
Mr. Gardenhour's first improvement was to wall up the sulphur spring in American
marble. He built a tavern to face the ever memorable Antietam Creek that flows gently
on its way three hundred yards to the East. A meadow of about two acres lies in front of
the tavern and to the back and sides of this meadow are rolling hills and ravines of natural
beauty. This meadow was planted in gross for a playground and tournament track. Gravel
carriage roads and walks were neatly and tastefully laid out. Ornamental trees and shrub-
bery were planted. The steep hills back of the tavern and the banks of the creek were
covered with wild flowers all during the season. Mr. Gardenhour seemed to appreciate and
to take advantage of the naturally beautiful background in locating the tavern.
From 1818-1840 we find Belinda Springs enjoying great popularity as a sport and
health resort. Many guests came to Belinda for the quality of the water, but it was
soon found that many more came to enjoy the sports and the romantic character of the
natural scenery. For many years a pleasure boat ran on the Potomac River and Antietam
Creek from Harpers Ferry to Belinda Springs, affording visitors an opportunity to view
some of the "grandest scenery in America."
In 1832 added cottages and cabins were built for the comfort and convenience of the
�"Iitors. There were also Ten Pin Alleys, Billiard Rooms, Bath Houses with hot and cold
showers Drinking and Tonsorial Salons. Horse racing was very popular. Some seasons a
theatrical troupe was in attendance to afford added amusement for the guests. An orchestra
Of fiddlers played for dances in the ballroom.
suBelinda was a favorite resort for house parties. Many of the wealthier families spent the
mmer there. Rates were $6.00 a week for each horse or servant. Guests could use the
, free
PruePr,
rof charge, but outsiders were required to pay $1.00 a drink, which was also the
by the barrel. Hacks were always kept in readiness at Belinda and Hagerstown to
�1co'nmadate guests not arriving in their own carriages.
t'lanY conventions and celebrations were held at Belinda. One that received much
E2
109
publicity was in 1826• A meeting was held in Sharpsburg
and a committee made up of David
Col. John Miller, Major Jacob irds of o and Jacob Miller s
Donelly, Jacob Grove, herdstown, John Edwards of Boonsboro, and Thomas Dunn
appointed
to arrange a celebration at Belinda Springs in honor
Sharpsburg, Phillip Hunter of Shep
Of Antietam Iron Works were
of the 50th anniversary of American Independence • W. B. Rochester of New York, eldest
Among gentlemen declared themselves
the guests in 1825 and 1826 were Judge
son of Nothanial Rochester, and Judge Elias Glenn. These g
greatly benefited by the waters.
„_ ,.It may perhaps be necessary to say than
Virginia -Mr. Jefferson wrote in his "Notes on Virginia-
in Washington County,
the Belinda Springs one of the tributary strea whichhhaeat Potomac rin s is situated in the neighborhood of Sharps urg,
Maryland, in the fertile valley of the Antietam,
River and only a few miles above the great public works at the works is Harpers Ferry,
and a single rock b full rie across the Atlantic of itself so great a
tracted so much attention,
curiosity that the sight of which alone is worth a trip
(Federal arsenal and gun factory later destroyed by John Bro` n.)
owners many times during its popularity. In 1832 they were
"The Springs" changedthis time enterprising men had started
competition with Belinda. most of them were near the cing powers in the
bought by Daniel Schnebley of Hagerstown. BY
new resorts in comps nwhere Jacob Gilbert found healing P
nearest competitor was Paradise eSpring uthearaa,ed to cure practically
located three miles north of Hagerstown on the road leading to aynes-
waters of his Spring powers were u potent that merely to bathe
born. Mr. Gilbert freely advertised that the water here w r gand a distracted mind.
every known ailment - indeed that their healing p
them was instantly to be made well of Saint Vitus Dance,Epilepsy ,s enjoywere
P°
H.Schnebley. The Schnebley enenjoy were still
In 1844 Belinda was bought by Johntournments, dancing, and house p
pularity for a few years. Horse racinarties g,
the leading pastimes.
Personally cared for by Mrs. he a lnt
Belinda was in the heart of the Antietam Battlefield. e
During the Civil War. died
's had thirteen children while living at Belinda. Mr. Schnebley
buildings were used as a hospital and the soldiers were
The Schnebley to 1899. One son survives and lives in Sharpsburg. hist�
1894 and Mrs. Schnebley ' Prof. P. Smith, a collector,
In 1878 a group of Sharpsburg citizens headed bYrestored.
and schoolmaster, made some attempt to have the springs
Dec. 6, 1878 copy of
Sharpsburg Enterprise
f to
Volume 1
Number 11 °
ears since the Springs were in operation aan the°enti entire
Tact '°"
,,it is now about 45 ystamped
lose could be un
d its urro
buildings have been torn down and the mark of decay is stamps uP m of t
lace on s rt °f the`
yet to some enterprising individual with some capto
ital this p o P ce
no doubt would draw crowds of visitors from far and near. Thep ent e P
Two acres are attoched to the Springs. The
have become now memorable since that time on account of this spat being °
. . • .,_ - A-0.+nm.
bought at a reasonable rate."
The present owner, Mr. R. K. Baker, bought Belinda at Public Sale in 1928.
Last week I spent the morning at Belinda Springs. Every building on the farm is in a
truly dilapidated condition.
The tavern is a large old frame building on a stone foundation. The front part of the house
is composed of four rooms --two upstairs and two down. There is a long three-story wing to the
back of this building. The basement :of the wing is underground on one side, but on the other side
opens to a flagstone terrace facing the creek. It is divided into four rooms. One of these
rooms has a massive open fireplace that is built in stone. It is ten feet wide about three feet
deep, and at least six feet high. All the old iron cranes are still used in this fireplace.
There is no record of what these rooms were used for, b ut it has been handed down by hear-
say that they were the Bar, Barber Shops, and small game rooms.
The first floor has a long porch facing the beautiful view of the mountains and natural
beauties above the creek banks. There are three rooms in this part of the wing. The Ballroom
is the largest room of the building. It is 60 feet long and about 30 feet wide. At one end are
four large folding doors that separate the Ballroom from two smaller rooms. These rooms,
about 12 feet square, are separated by a partition of solid walnut boards, 18 1/2 inches
wide. The extreme width of these boards makes them very valuable. Mr. Baker has had
many offers for them but has refused to sell. The orchestra is said to have used one of these
rooms during the dances. At the other end is a staircase leading to the sleeping floor. This
floor now is one large room, but there are marks between each window space where partitions
once stood to separate the bedrooms. The rooms were 8' x 8' in size and were on each
side of the 60-foot hall. Each room had a small window. Some of the windows are stil I intact
and these have panes of spun glass. The third floor is just an open room. I could find no
marks to show that this room had ever been laid out for bedrooms. There is practically no
roof on this part of the building. Water from the melting snow was running through all
three floors.- There are only 2 small windows on this floor and they are in the end of the building
facing up the Valley. During the Battle, sharpshooters are said to have used them to pick
off the enemy as they came down the Antietam.
The rafters are fastened together with wooden pins and are in the splendid state of
preservation. The shingles and lathes are said to have been carved by slaves. The ceilings
over the entire house are very low.
The kitchen is about ten feet from the.main building. It is joined to it by a porch roof.
It is 12 feet square. In one corner is a large open fireplace with a hand carved mantle. There
is o small window on each side and the ceilings here as elsewhere are very low. There is a
basement below this room that was used for food storage.
01, the hillside back of the tavern is a small brick building what was used as servant-
9uarters. It was one story only with a chimney
fireplace to each of the two rooms. This buildingn the center destroyed building, giving a
practically Y
no c
anted by Hesakich
nebleY when he wasa boy of 13. This is the an tree outside of the kitchen
tree close towas
building and I saw
e"idence of shrubbery or ornamental trees any place.
110
covered
The limestone spring had no charm for the present owner. He had it entirely American
WASHINGTON COUNTY
was more like a deep well. There are beautiful American arly choo s and Sc ooling
with fodder so that the own to the walled spring that is underground. The overfflodwa piped
feet
marble steps leading Schools of America, as in the older European countries from which the early American
away to the creek. The last time he measured the spring it was 10 feet deep
settlers came, arose as children of the Church. From instruments of religion they have
in circumference. gradually been changed into instruments of the state. The first schools in America were
the resent w+ner, paid about $1500 for the farm of 153 acres. Because
he and his family have a bare sort of existence at the clearly the fruits of the Protestant revolts in Europe, and were set up by those who had come
Mr. Baker, P to America to obtain a freedom in religion, which the could not enjoy in their own lands.
of the poor quality of the land, g' y I y
once celebrated Belinda Springs. Few records appear to have been kept of early education in Washington County, and
until the publication of the first paper "The Spy" in 1790, no traces of the methods or means
of instruction can be found. For those who wished to acquire an education there were
schools, but they were probably very poor ones. In 1790, the last year of Benjamin Franklin's
life, we find a man who could teach Latin and English, and who advertised that he wished to
have encouragement in a private family, or would take upon himself the care of a public school.
There was an English school in the hands of trustees which educated a small number of pupils.
Some of these came from the country, but the condition of the roads in winter was so bad that
they had to give up school during that season.
It was years before there was any great progress in popular education, but there were
numbers of well-educated and refined people. They did not read many books, for they lacked
a great abundance of them, but what they did read was worthwhile. In the homes of the
better classes could be found a few books, either translations of the Greek and Roman classics,
or the best of the English authors. Few novels were read. Now and then we meet with a notice
in the paper asking for the return of some book which has been loaned.
In the late seventies, Miss Ann Rawlings had a school in which she taught children
"reading, sewing, flowering, marketing, and open work," and a Mr. Spicer taught the "rules
and practice of vocal music" in the courthouse, on Thursdays and Fridays. There were other
schools, in all possibility, and perhaps a free school of some sort' but the records are vague.
In 1795 a Mr. and Mrs. Jones came from Annapolis, opened a boarding -school for young
ladies, and taught reading, writing, arithmetic, tambour and Dresden, English and French
embroidery, drawing and painting in water -colors, geography, filigree work, plain and colored
needlework of all kinds, instrumental music, seed, shell and paper work." Mr. Jones, in
a separate house, taught arithmetic and bookkeeping.
Toward the close of the eighteenth century (1795) an academy for the education of
Yung men was opened, in which the various branches of science and literature were taught
by the president, Mr. McDonald, and his assistants. The thirst for knowledge seems to have
grown wonderfully after this, for it justified a Mr. Barrett in establishing in the same year a
school for the special instruction in 'That agreeable and necessary branch of learning --
French." The school was very.successful. Soon afterward an evening school was opened
at the Academy --the first night school in Hagerstown.
In looking through the history of Frederick County (of which Washington County
was then a part) it was interesting to note the excessively long school hours the children
kept. In one seminary the hours for study were from six o'clock in the morning, to six
o'clock in the evening, allowing an intermission of only a half hour for breakfast, and
on hour and a half for dinner.
112
113
teacher engaged in active educational effortsCounty
who fraught school in Washing at his
The first and most important school
in the county was the Rev. Bartholomew Booth, Booth had come to this
in the historic days of 1776. At that time he resided on She banks of the Antietam,
"Delamere" or "Booth's Mills." Mr- was a member of the
home which was known as 1�0 Fifteen years before, Contained over a thousand
country from England as early as in Annapolis,
University of Oxford. His country seat, where his school was also, seat, and his school
to have been very g
acres. Previous to his removal to Washington County he had been residing
and later Frederick. His fame as a teacher ntappearsGen. Benedict Arnold, Gen. Charles
patronized b some of the most prominent men of the historic days i.n which he lived.
wasp Y
Among the p trons bear striking testimony to the reputation and
patrons of his school were Robert Norris Thest le of these letters is very
Lee. A number of letters from these Pc Mountains. y
the excellence of this school in the Blue Ridge
charming and sincere, and quite different from the often hurried letters we write today.
eon and friend, reads: I
who was George Washington s surgeon for very often
One from Dr. Crack, son's improvement, Y
must beg Y and apt to be led away with too good an opinion of
of You to be candid with me in regard to my
parents are partial to their children, profession which they can make no figure in,
their abilities, and frequently put them u, l
and which *Is quite contrary to their not genius."
Arnold had married °second time, and
od deal in the way, as Gen. Arnold
There is ° letter
s found ndom nher hus edict rand st sons
atlg.
his young wife p P living in one of the handsomest residences 'in Philadelphia,
was then leading a fashionable life,
laces, is interesting for one reason because
and incurring those debts which helped to drive him to ru°Jj and disgrace thenext
of this
and as, is otes beautifully how People
This letter, while rather ungramm°tic° °n P In the letter which his sons
it uses many of the expressions of the day, He said;
time spared neither paper nor time in testitheirfied
dtohisesteem
correspondence.
carried to Booth, Gen. Arnold also tesfiafaed to h°' esteem 'for Bartholomew Booth.
m sons to you has prevented my
ctoiion of sending Y in committing
"Dear Sir: Being in daily expe ril before. I am extremely h°PPY d admired, not in
answering your favor of the 2nd AP articular. Let me be of
ntleman sa universolly esteeme car°
you would your own. When they
the care of their education to a ge
the heart doubting your care and attention to them in every P time in
m dear sir, to treat them in the some manner as y have been for some
ottention
y°Us y I wish not to have them spared. They a ing they ore
situai'lon has prevented my P y
deserve correction, bad habits' et them °
this city, which is a bad school, and my have contracted any b soon forgo
to them I otherwise should have one-ke no doubt th",nder your care they
will not of a long standings too short and
one man in ten
"I wish their education to be useful rather than that
Y+anly one
t° y°Ur S
uncertain to throw away on speculation on subjects that perhaps only
Sin
thousand has a genius to make a figure in. Y®ua e uncedtainm m sons to.
fo to
I wish Y � of
man in than country gequrrem
maybe
but as the fortunes of every prudence and industry they me
Hued of their Patrimony) as well as to become useful °^ ii
educated an such a manner that with p
(in case they
are deprived i Jfn
society.
the wa9g ' plot r
"My taylor has disappointed me and sent home their clothes untie e Ailt I _
them undone or detaining to pr°cure
therefore under the netheslty of atter, andsending
must beg the favor of Y '
cannot think of doing
finished, and some new ones made out of my old ones. I must beg you to purchase
any little matters necessary for them. I have inclosed $300, for their use, out of
which you will please to give as much to spend as you think proper, with this con-
dition that they render to you a regular account as often as you think necessary,
of their expenses, a copy of which I shall expect they will transmit to me. This will
teach them economy and method, so necessary in almost everything in life.
"If there are any books 'wanting, I beg you to purchase them, and when ever
you are in want of money to draw on me. I have the honor to be with great respect
and esteem, dear sir:
Your most obedient, humble servant,
B. ARNOLD."
During the early years of 1800 the first attempt was made to found a seminary for higher
education, and a subscription paper was circulated for the purpose of raising the necessary
funds. But the effort was unsuccessful, and the Hagerstown youths for ten years more ob-
tained all their instruction through the medium of private schools and the Hagerstown Grammar
School. There was also a school maintained by the Lutheran Church. While these efforts
were being made to train the minds of the young people of Washington County, their deport-
ment was not neglected. A Frenchman named Gabaude was the first dancing master of the
County and opened his school at Col. Daniel Hughes country seat at Antietam Forge.
In 1807, while the nation thrilled over Fulton's five -mile -per -hour steamboat,
Hagerstown was just as thrilled, if not as exited, over the forming of the Hagerstown Library
Company, which was a subscription stock company.
HAGERSTOWN CHARITY SCHOOL In 1815, Miss Isabella Neill of Hagerstown,
while in Philadelphia, became deeply interested in the "Ragged Schools" which had been
established there, and which were doing so much for the education of the destitute. Free
schools were then unknown, and she determined to attempt the establishment of a charity
school at Hagerstown. Three other ladies joined her in her undertaking, and a school for
the education of poor children was soon in active operation. Officers were elected, managers,
and trustees. The school was opened with twenty-five pupils. There were donations from
interested friends, and one from the Masonic Lodge.
At first the ladies themselves taught the children, but as their work began to be
appreciated by the public, contributions flowed in, and they were enabled to hire a room in
the back building of a house on North Potomac Street and employ a teacher. Each year
a sermon on behalf of the charity was preached in some one of the churches, and a sub-
scription was taken up for its benefit. Singing societies also gave concerts in its behalf,
and efforts of various kinds were made to increase its funds. In 1827 a statement was made
Fh°wing that the institution had educated for the thirteen years of its existence between
Schoolroom
and fifty pupils each year. For many years two of the ladies met the childrenatthe
hoolroom on Sunday morning and proceeded with them to church. The children were
neatly attired, and wore blue bonnets and capes.
its friends18Inh 18442oaoIMr. Martin Hammond made a donation twhich madelegacies
ible the funds from
114
115
building of a house for the institution. That house, erected almost a hundred years ago,
is the building which now houses the present Day Nursery.
HAGERSTOWN ACADEMY ° Then, his time$itOwas successful tpt t� It wasestablish
the Hagerstownfor
higher education was rev i ved, in
me of
Academy, situated on what is now Prosy eatr began in 1t813v'cOne off the depathe rtments nnt ts was
d and the
Mrs. Charles Lane. The first academy yupi a military school inwhich
Mich o to tither cnguct d the $hortlsword and cutlass -
manual of arms,
were about thirty classical students. It became an institution of considerable fame, an
however, it began to decay, and in 1867, about
could boast with truth that from it had been graduated some of the most distinguished
morehthan an
in Western Maryland. After about he building
fifty-five years after it was built, the building was discarded as being
cture remained standing until 1877, when it was torn
unsightly pile of bricks. This old stru
down.
ST. JAMES S s dOtOLerry The
to Open at thon of th pr ss Fount ntain nmes Rock hManor" ool sinaWashington
ic
1842, when i
County a school for the instruction of youth, under the discipline and doctrine oft e
ely new to
A modified form of the English System had been tried with great success by
Protestant Episcopal Church. In those days the idea of a church school was et success
finally
y
this country. Long Island, and it was Dr. Muhlenberg y
Dr. William Muhlenberg at Flushing, the Bishop of Maryland,
consented to give up his chief assistant, the Rev o°ened in 1$42,fbyt� to be the ties o
this new school. St. James Hall was accordingly P
financial, and otherwise. In 1844 the plan of
with a most solemn service of dedication. From the first, the growth of the schoolwas s e y
and continuous, in spite t many difficulties, which
school was changed, and to meet it i charter 9e from IMarylandunder
and the south, College
of St. James." As such it drew a wide p who later
continued up to the CiidiWtrgui hedAt 1in evlery walk ofge and t life. There we
many eduCOraduates
many who later becameand navy St. James is proud to claim as one of its dut
became prominent in the army y° he greats
a young man who later became Admiral Alfred Motion, considered in his days the
authority Mr naval
C al tactics.
iOckhrs: Ferdinand C. Latrobe, Harold Griswold,
Meoley, was first added
Maryland.
As increasing numbers demanded ,increettdHall°after the first bishop of Mary and
to the original mansion, now colledc fled ,Paradise" and'Purgatory" respectively, MOryland,
Then other buildings were erected, called "Kemp Hall" after the second
well of {errible
finally a large five -story building, most
keenly,
Thus the college grew and prospered•Kemt just as
was burned was The loss was felt moss S
blow befell the College. In 1857, P fire o0s'
that another terrible
but through the help of the authorities and friends of the college a generous sum ed1et0
round.) The other considerations cad°v�SOb in91
raised to repair the damage. (They little knew at the time,
in 1926, to burn St. James, this time to the g and it was deemed d,/" d'
St. James within the reach of patronage• un•
their plans. At that time the college was very inaccessib e,
devote the new endowment to bringing County --Plans a site was purchased in BaltimoreC as the Grammar eSchool, and the new building bee
"Fountain Rock" was still to be
These plans were destined, however, never to be carried out. The outbreak of taA
Civil War found them but half completed and left them utterly ruined. All efforts had to be
bent toward maintaining the college at the old site. But this was impossible. Its neighbor-
hood had become the field of contending armies. Besides this, Dr. Kerfoot was naturally a Union
sympathizer, and his students were Southern boys. Off they went to give their boyish
enthusiasm and sometimes their lives to the cause of the Confederacy, leaving but a handful
to the peaceful pursuit of learning. The second battle of the Gettysburg campaign was to
have been fought on the very college grounds, had Meade chosen to attack Lee at bay. Then
came the arrest of Dr. Kerfoot by Gen. Early as a hostage; and yielding to the inevitable,
St. James was closed.
It was five years before St. James again opened its doors to receive pupils. The South
had been its largest patron, and this now lay devastated by war. Its youth could no longer
be spared to go off to school, so the college had to wait for more prosperous days. At last,
in 1869, Bishop Whittinghom was moved by the many inquiries he received about re -opening
the school, to seek the right person as Dr. Kerfoot's successor. He found such a one in
Henry Onderdonk, a teacher of wide experience and singular ability. His plan was to re -open
only the Grammar School. During the twenty-six years of his head -mastership, St. James
maintained its high rank as an outstanding preparatory school. A new "Kemp Hall" was
built, and a third story was added to "Claggett Hall." There were later many improvements,
which cannot be included in this early history. In 1895 the name was changed to St. James
School.
HAGERSTOWN FEMALE SEMINARY Because of a growing feeling that there was not
adequate provision for the schooling of girls, there being as yet no high school in Washington
County, the Hagerstown Female Seminary was founded in 1854. This institution was projected
and built by the Maryland Synod of the Evangelical Church. Trustees were chosen and a
charter obtained and the first scholastic session began. The accepted school costume for
the young Washington County maidens who attended was a calico dress and a sunbonnet.
There were a few magazines and patterns in those days, so that as graduation time drew near
the young ladies of the seminary, and their mothers, could be found pouring over photographs
of dresses sent from the department stores of the large cities. Some of these dresses were copied
and made at home, while others were ordered from the pictures. At any rate, on graduation
day the fair young things must have been quite lovely in their dotted Swiss frocks, with their
high necks and long sleeves. The class pin of one of the early graduation groups used for its
motif a capital H, with a capital S engraved directly over the H, which at a casual glance
resembled the dollar mark $. Some one made the remark, that just as the sign of the dollar
Mark is, after all, inestimable, so was the value of a course at the Hagerstown Female
Seminary inestimable.
In consequence of heavy liabilities incurred in the building and management of the
institution, Messrs. C.W. Huimerickhouseand J. C. Bridges purchased the property and
Paid off its indebtedness in 1865. fen years later, Rev. C. L. Keedy, principal at the
time and for many years after, purchased theproperty, improving and developing it, until
it became one of the most beautiful and attractive places in any of the Middle States. The
study of one ancient and one modern language, a complete knowledge of all the English
branches together with some degree of musical culture were required before a diploma
Was given.
aThe name of the Hagerstown Female Seminary was later changed to Kee -Mar College,
leefor Dr. Keedy, and Mar for his wife's maiden name, Marberg (1891-1911). The Kee -Mar
Lumnoe founded the still supports the musical department of the Library. It also gives two
116
117
prizes a year of one of
es
his mother that otheeKee-Mar Alumnaewn High Swasthe livesndead thing he had evertseen.recently told
Long after the Hagerstown Academy became a prosperous and growing school, and just
a few years before the founding of the Hagerstown Female Seminary, in fact in 1847, an
he
anactAssembly ktplacehe inty commissioners ashingtnweretempowered toglevyof ronecc nthoolson the
hundred dollars for the support of the schools, to supplement the various funds which came
the state for this purpose. The schools were not to be absolutely free. Each pupil
from pay one dollar per quarter for tuition. The Board of School Commissioners o as t
had tb
consist of one member for each election district of th counoi t teachers, prescribe be text books,
the county commissioners. This Board was, in turn, to app
etc. But the act was not to become operative until ratified by the people. This was done,
an had no more right to look to the
but not without bitter opposition. It was argued that a m
public treasury for the un y, Cleaos his children, than Hancock, Covoetown,eir food and clothing. and Pleasant ValleyOdeclared
nine districts of the county, P ge
against free schools. But the measure finally went through. Under this law, the first Board
of School Commissioners was organized in 1849, with Andrew Kershner, President, Wm. H.
Fitzhigh, Secretary, and Abraham Strite, Treasurer.
A few years before the Civil War the Legislature enacted a law which abolished the
payment of one dollar as a quarterly tuition fee, and made absolutely free schools For
the first time. The schools were closed on the first of March, 1861, and the Legislature
that year, in view of the heavy taxation caused by the War, restored the "Pay feature" of the school law. At that time, 1861 , there were 123 schools in the county, including schools
for negroes, kept open nine months. The average salary of the teachers was $249.
Washington County had its first high school only fifty-nine years ago. (1877) The
building was somewhere back of the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks, but has since been torn down
We find then, in the span of a little over an hundred years, from the days when the new
colonies wrote their Declaration of Independence, when Washington as first President saw
our nation through troublous times --on through to the time of the assassination of Lincoln,
nty had established a school system. Much yet remained
Washington Couto be done to carr
but supported by general taxation, free, and equally open to all, free from
it into full effect,from the primary
uh
all sectarian
control, ofand
Washington County were heralded as a very real accomplishmen oil --the
public schools
Williams: "History of Washington County"
Scharff: "History of Western Maryland"
BENJAMIN H. LATROBE
It is indeed fortunate that you did not ask Mr. Ferdinand Latrobe, son of the seven times
Mayor of Baltimore, to talk to you about his paternal great-grandfather, for had you done
so, and had he accepted, you would be here not only throughout the entire afternoon but
for, far into the night. Some of the information which I shall give you about Benjamin H.
Latrobe comes from him. It so happens that this son of the seven times Mayor has the nerve
to suggest that possibly the old building where I was born was not the work of Latrobe. Either
he is mistaken, or for half a century I have been a cheerful liar.
BENJAMIN H. LATROBE
B. H. Latrobe, the son of an English clergyman of the Moravian faith, was born in
1767. His earliest youth was marked by his fondness for his pencil. In the family there
still exists a drawing of Kirkstall Abbey, from nature, made by him in his tenth year, the
accuracy and force of which, in all its Gothic detail, would do credit to an artist. He
left his school in Yorkshire when he was twelve and went to Saxony where he prepared
himself for the University of Leipsic, which was the most celebrated on the continent of
Europe. While at Leipsic he devoted himself with the most intensive application to the
acquisition of knowledge of every kind. I recall my mother telling me that he spoke most
languages and many dialects. (We like to boast about our forebears.) He left the
University at the age of 18 and meeting some friends while traveling through Germany;
and all agreed, in a wild spirit of adventure, to make a campaign with the Prussian Army.
Two hard-fought engagements, in the second of which Latrobe was severely wounded,
satisfied his curiosity. He had had enough of fighting for a cause in which he had no
interest, so he resigned his commission and continued his travels. He returned to England
when he was 19 and resided for several years in London, devoting himself to study. It
would seem that he wanted to know everything about everything. After several years
he determined�to choose a profession. One of his intimate friends was the celebrated
Swenton (whoever he might be) and it was through his advice that he took up the study
Of architecture and civil engineering. His previous education, his skill with his pencil,
his profound knowledge of Mathematics, and his acquaintance with the great buildings
Of the continent allowed him to forge ahead at a rapid rate. At the age of 23 he married
and two years later he was plunged into such deep sorrow, because of the sudden death of
his wife, that he decided to leave England and throw in his lot with the New Republic,
America, which was the home of his maternal ancestors. He finished up the works in which
he was engaged in London, resigned his position as Supervisor of Public BuEding, declined
the Office of Surveyor to the Crown, disposed of his patrimonial estate and in November,
1795, set sail for America. Fortunately, his previous studies included navigation, for
otherwise, I might not be here this afternoon. A mutiny on board, whenthe Captain and
officers were killed, left the ship without anyone who had any knowledge of navigation,
except the passenger, Latrobe. Possibly that is the reason it took four months to make the
Passage. Be that as it may, he brought the ship into Norfolk. As he brought from England
fetters of introduction to people in Norfolk and other parts of Virginia, he was greatly
mpressed with his reception. In one of his letters he says, "A Virginian welcome must be
e"Perienced to be understood. It includes everything that the best heart can prompt and the
most luxurious country afford." From Norfolk, Latrobe went to Richmond. While in
flh�is ii, he designed many private buildings in Norfolk, Richmond, and Petersburg, and
the countryside adjacent to these towns. He examined and reported on the Dismal
118
119
Swamp Canal, the navigation of the Appomattox and James rivers, and the fortifications great
at Norfolk. He wrote much on the geological features of Virginia. He was a
friend of Bushrod Washington, John Sims, and Edmund Randolph. In one of his letters
he speaks of a delightful visit to General Washington at Mount Vernon, where the General
plied him with questions, especially about the Dismal Swamp. Later when he was the
Architect and Superintendent of Construction of the No Capitol, he and his second
wife --yes, he recovered from his first great sorrow which brought him to America --became
very warm and intimate friends of Mrs- Laurence Lewes.
On a trip to Philadelphia in 1798 he met the president of the Bank of Pennsylvania.
On one occasion, while having dinner with this gentleman, the conversation turned to
the banking house which had been propcsed be built. While they were talking about the
project, Latrobe drew a sketch on a piece of paper which was handy and threw it across
the table to the bank president, and later forgot all about it. His surprise was great when
he later received a letter from Philadelphia saying that his design for the Bank of Pennsylvania
had been accepted and urging him to prepare correct copies of the sketch and the necessary
instructions for the workmen. He was rather put to it because he had no access to a single
work to which he might refer. The vessel containing his library, which was sent after him
to America, had been taken by a French privateer, so for several years he was obliged to
entirely upon his memory and his taste. It was the Bank of Pennsylvania which per-
relymantly established his reputation as an Winarcg.
Hettheefore brought . Not only was Lhis business atrobe in Virginia to draw he
design but also to superintend its bui9dong.
to a close and took up his residence in Philadelphia. Shortly after his arrival he undertook
to build the water works to supply the city with water from the Schuylkill. It was the first
time such a thing had been attemped in America. Lovrobe was looked upon as a visionary
prospector. Personal abuse was heaped upon him. Just before his arrival in Philadelphia,
L'Enfant had disappointed the people in the house which he undertook to build for Robert
Morris and the City Assembly rooms. Although immense sums of money, raised by popular
they
re
subscription, had been sguanerd on anoahe. damnedsFrenchme"seed. The
and the epeople etransfer transferred all their
e
name Latrobe suggested "
hatred for L'Enfant to this "other damned Frenchman. They threw his
difficulties into finished and the
After
pipes laid the sentiment against Latrobe w
way at every turn. Injuries were done to the building. When the engine was as so great that acts of violence took place°
end
th
ouse, two
giving directions
went that
a l hydrants hebe lnighefl pto the waen be, °ternorks,hand, wh`➢e thercity slept,
a workman, with w
and as usual, those who
kindled a fire under the boiler and started up the rr°cach°^erY° The streets flowing doubt
the next morning caused the people to turn a complete flip-flop,
previously had been the loudest in their denunciation were shouting his Praise and no
saying, "I knew it all the time."
see that this paper is getting too long and soon some of you will look at your watch
and then put in to your ear to find if it is still running. "on
While at work on the survey of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal ,President Jef ris
Washdn9{On e
sent for him to complete the buildings which had been commenced in General 'N�th
administration. Having undertaken the task, he was made surveyor of Public Buildingshat h.
United States. The design chosen for the National Capitol came from the pen that is i
Thornton, a man of talent, but with no architectural skill. Thornton himself sate' n f Nei
a Library -
him sea man of great was genius. Afters study in the Latrobe receivedhishis troub�em elf° hose°
couldn't suggest an alternation or point out a defect without bringing down on
assailants. Every effort was made to undermine him in the President's good opinion.
Several times he wished to resign but was prevented by the unwavering support of Mr.
Jefferson. While at work on the Capitol, the business of the Navy Yard was put into his
hands and the entrance, with its beauty of proportion, is from his pencil. While at work
on the Capitol, he invented that has often been termed "a new order of Architecture."
In a small vestibule at the east entrance to the north wing the vaulted roof is supported by
columns representing a stalk of Indian Corn with its fruit. The shaft of the column is com-
posed of the corn stalks bound together by a cord or rope at the bottom which forms the
moulding of the base. A smaller cord at the top makes a proper fillet below the capital of
the column. The Capitol itself is composed of the ears of corn with the husks sufficiently
open to show the grain within. I tried to find this vestibule several years ago in order to
point out these columns to some friends. I he favorable
or unfavorable comments l
on this "new order of architecture." ost my way and liam d ninclinedt havetto think that
the comments would have been unfavorable because of the caustic remarks made by my
friends on "The tour of a cellar." The use of the tobacco leaf instead of the acanthus leaf
was also Latrobe's idea.
About this time he was asked by Governor Claiborne, of Louisiana, to do for New
Orleans what he had done for Philadelphia, namely, supply that city with water. The
delayedwar of 1812
and underto kthe job of bu IdlisteamboatsUnfortunately
building toplyathe°m, he joined with Ohio and Mississippi RRivers It The
least said about that venture the better. In Pittsburgh he ran into difficulties which
deprived him of his money and almost of his courage. While in Pittsburgh, Latrobe designed
several private homes. Among these was the residence of Henry Clay of Lexington, also
that of Governor Taylor at Newport.
After peace had been declared, Latrobe was recalled to Washington by Madison to
rebuild the Capitol, after its partial destruction by the British. With the exception of
the dome, the Capitol, as you see it today, is the work of Latrobe. The present dome is
an inverted coffee cup instead of a tea cup, as Latrobe had designed it. It is a case of
not seeing the forest for the trees, as the present dome detracts from the beauty of the
classic design of like wings. During his residence at this time in Washington, Latrobe de-
signed St. John's Church (which has been disfigured in an attempt to enlarge it by the
prolongation of one of the arms of the cross), and also Christ Church in Alexandria.
After resigning his position as Surveyor of Public Buildinas he took up his residence
in Baltimore. where he was occupied In building, the Exchange and the ,Cathedral ° To
show how much I know about the beauty of Architecture, I have always been apologetic
about the Cathedral in Baltimore. I never fail to push out my chest when anyone speaks of the
National Capitol but I have kept very quiet about the Cathedral -
In preparing this paper I ran across this statement: "The Cathedral in point of size
and solidity of execution is Latrobe's greatest work. The Bank of Pennsylvania was long
considered as the most beautiful, but while it does not yield to the Cathedral in taste or
execution, it is considered as finished. The exterior still wants one of its towers to
lighten by contrast the dome, which now appears too massive --and most of all it wants its north
Portico with a double range of Ionic Columns."
Whil
hhey were in Baltimore he had the engines built for the New Orleans waterworks. When
e was looking pforwardleted emoved °finely and
to a life of affiluencelY The work was almost compile ed.n He was e-
120
121
ns
joicing in the thought that in one week he would see
waterets of Newbut Latrobe wasanot thereflowing
with water. In one week the streets were flowing
to see the result of his labor Yellow
fe
adver had ded to theasacedif ice
in His all had been embarked
in the works and his own
Where, you may ask, does Washington County appear in the picture. ndvfather. sinceer All
the work of his pencil. There
my earliest years 1 thought that I was born -in a house built y Y 9
mikes it so, then Latrobe did build
these years I have considered Rose Hill, near inkigWilliamsport,
now seems to be some doubt about this. If thinking of our make a visit
Fountain Rock and Rosis an es
e Hill. Thnot theathelprese designonee.CPlease, Is beg unwell see nnehanging
toblished fact, but, thank God, resent monstrosity where
eyrecently amen made
to the Clerk of the Court's Office in the p
hotograph what he termed one of the best examples of
on the wall Latrobe's Court House. Mr. Oswald told me that q
a special trip to Hagerstown top ears 1 have hung my head with shame because
resent Court House was Latrobe'sI Did you know that the Court House
classic architecture. To think of all the y
1 thought that the p Latrobe in 1816-17 was built with the aid of a lottery? Will it
which was designed byoads and a house of
shock you if I addefehthschools,
o lylones who did not use ethis trobe surveyed
dithe Jews, The Quakers,
of
and Unitarians parents to
worship. What I didn't know until recently was that
I was taken
tby my
Road
to Cumberland. Which reminds me. B. & 0. When s 1 happened to overhear several men making
to my grand -
nasty World's Fair, we traveled bygrandfather
*Jill have you know that my 9
nasty remarks about the man who surveyed the road. A sense of IoyoToo bad he didn't
father brought forth this remark from me,
you who have traveled the National
often
surveyed this road before he died." To which one of the men said,
die before he surveyed it." I hope that none of Y our neighbor,
Highway from Hagerstown to Cumberland will whisper to y
wondered who the engineer was who surveyed that crazy road. $o it was Benjamin Henry
Latrobe. Well, Welll
GENERAL SAMUEL RINGGOLD
In the year 1762 a son was born to Thomas Ringgold and wife, Mary Galloway, in
Kent County, Maryland. They gave their boy the sturdy name of Samuel and doubtless
pictured to themselves a life full of fame and power for their treasure, as is the way with
doting parents; but the life they dreamt of would probably have been very different from
the true (or mostly true) account I am about to relate to you.
Of his childhood there seems to be no trace and so for us he changed from a squalling
bundle at the baptismal font to a rich, impressive and no doubt courtly young man of thirty,
newly married to the charming young Mary (or Maria) Cadwalader, whom he brought in May,
1892 to her new home at "Fountain Rock" --also known as "Conocheague Manor" and there
after to be remembered as Ringgold's "Manor." The first mistress of this Manor died in 1811
and a year or two later, Samuel married Marie Antoinette Hay, grand -daughter of President
Madison. The wedding celebrations, perhaps even the ceremony, took place in the White
House, possibly near the time of the attack on our Capitol. Due to this match, one feels,
one of the bedrooms at Fountain Rock was alluded to as the Dolly Madison Room.
Samuel Ringgold was one of the people encouraged to move from the Eastern Shore
into this part of the State by those, who believed in the stability and importance of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. He chose his estate because of its proximity to his friend,
Otho Holland Williams, established in the lovely mansion "Springfield" just outside of
Williamsport. He must also have been swayed in his choice by the existence of an ex-
cellent spring on this property called by the Indians, "Bai Yuke",and
convenience of havingtheween altimore and Philadelphia
doubt nearby
the
appealed highly to the Politically ambitious young bridegroom. InScharf's Volume II
there is the reproduction of a letter dated June 1795, concerning the sale of an extensive
tract in Pennsylvania, about 45 miles above Pittsburgh, from which it seems reasonable
to deduce that young Samuel sold that property in order to buy the estate in Washington
County to which he moved just one year later. Another letter dated 1799 which offered
a thousand acres of "Ringgold Manor" for sale, makes us realize that only three years
after he settled there the General started selling the land that was probably his entire
fortune .
The fact that he had already sketched his life design by 1795 is evidenced by another
letter dated September 22, 1795, which I will quote in full.
TO THE CITIZENS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
I shall offer at the next election to represent this county in the next General
Assembly, and would thank you for your suffrages should you think me a proper
character to fill so important an appointment. I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
Samuel Ringgold.
The estate he purchased contained 17 or 18 thousand acres of fine arable land with its
sad' 9 whe ere OfeSt� ohn'srLutheratn Church nowt stands. Theep
re is now twere five grist mills on this rroown, its north eastern y, rt
Pe Y.
122
123
but whether or not these were built before he purchased the land isn't mentioned.
to the extraordinary
The mon ion house he had builate �t aBactaattnbut bier not only obe as -its architect was so one
of the most Popular atmosphere created by its spacious and well
of of its host but also to the C' a harming manyfamous and distinguished men
proportioned rooms, with their handsome mahogany doors and artistically frescoed ceilings
and walls. These old rooms could boast of having
it tired from their night
ed
in the round room with its domed left n suclhrrudeldis-
ascend their stately central staircase in the wee small hours,of st
happily
roof
of gaming, guzzling and gossiping
How it would have startled them to he that the room they had j
er no whisper of fate's plan disturbed them as they lounged about the
array would serve as chapel in the boys' school that Fountain Rock would house one ay not
so far away? However, arties; each of them earnestly
beautiful grounds,
or rode around the countryside
bigtsw9gpor even seeking to gain the
advocating the strength and wisdom of some political
valuable partisanship of their host, who stepped into place as one of the state's most Important
politicos soon after taking up his residence at Fountain Rock.
political life one cannot give
position of
Since there are few dates offered in the references t Is Oed with in return for his
a chronological resume of his career. It receiving
thisP liti ai started with the p
Justice of the Levy Court, probably It
a .He was made a. Brigadier General
ardent support of President Jefferson. William s says,
lled force to
and upon several but whether
°shisterm enithe15tate Senate or was offer hheld over ena1peri d of years
this appointment preceded he certainly was Brigadier General in 1812 for he was later
I cannot decide. However, the militia to arms at the time of the Briti
accused of unnecessarily and unlawfully calling ng of impotent tent disgust
invasion of Washington. His opponent in the 1814 Congressional Election, John Baer, s
been called from their fall harvesting only to be
attributed his victory over the General in that election to the fee Ihary me, though, that Ri
Riggold's militia experienced at having
natural concern for the
disbanded after was three days in Boonsboas It does seem wrong opinion by
or an other, election s a resultefrs to hay changed its op
should have lost that, Y sition's effort to tie the
country's capitol and as a matter of fact the countaeappe the opp General Ring9al
1816 for Ringgold won that election hands down, P county
old accusation more strongly 'round his neck. Except for the defeat of 1814 the On that
resented the
Congress in held
attendance in Congress was uninterrupted from 1810 till he r . e rep supposed to have
for five terms. George Boer,Jr. beat him the first time he r old was supp saying
ton County. He was quoted by a Mr • Jennings t yWhlch
occasion Baer stressed the contempt in which General In99 Jennings
the German pto live
opulation.of Washing able
good deal more than the German vote. But evidently he was Wait m,pt
there wasn't a German in the Community fit to reprfou teen yearsnlater t Such
must have lost him a g 1810,
that careless expression of opinio'od°n9 fhe value of tact. While it
have served as a strong lesson in p ort, on
the bent an
Much of the General's political P°puced by onetEdward Lloy Can be td wh chtproP°S drth h by th
y althoug
the. State Senate, °fThblseems to indicate ndicate that, like Thomas Jefferson,
universal suffrage. of these
aristocrat, he was by political philosophy a democrat.
Ringgold had nine children by his first wife, Mary Gadwalader, but ent.
are most deserving °f comet f
General W�
Samuel, born in 1800, and Gadwalader born in 1802, research
Cadwalader entered the navy and after a life devoted to expeditionary
retired as a rear -admiral in 1866. 1 am told that he had a destroyer named after him, but
found no mention of this fact in historical biography. In addition to his connection with the
Wilkes expeditions, one of which was concerned with a survey of the South Sea waterways,
the other, exploration and discovery in the 'Arctic regions --the Admiral served in the Civil
War, acquitting himself with great distinction in several engagements. He died in New
York, April 29, 1867.
Samuel, a major in the army, is credited with introducing flying artillery into our cavalry
tactics as well as originating the McClellan saddle. He also invented an appliance for
exploding the fulminating primer of field guns, this device leading the way to many modern
improvements which added to the safety and long -life of such weapons. He was killed in
action during the Boundary War with Mexico in 1846• at Palo Alto, Texas. From the lengthy
and detailed accounts of this engagement, he seems to have commanded his battery with
consummate skill and the greatest courage. His many friends and admirers passed several
resolutions to erect a monument in his memory, but this was unfortunately never done.
Of the four children borne by General Ringgold's second wife, Marie Antoinette Hays,
two attained recognition in public life. Fayette was a U. S. Consul at Peru. George Hay
Ringgold, born in 1814, embarked upon a military career, graduating from West Point in
1833, but he resigned his commission in 1837 to take up farming. He is recorded as being a
draughtsman, painter, and poet, these last two talents probably explaining his early with-
drawal from army life. He held the position of Paymaster General several times, notably
during the Mexican War of 1846 and again in the Pacific Coast at the time of his death,
April 4, 1864. Despite his poetic tendencies, he has left but one published work to posterity,
a book called "Fountain Rock, Amy Weir and Other Metrical Pastimes."
Certain it is that the father of these men lived hard and fully, being a man of strong
temper and deep-seated beliefs. Take the time, during the war of 1812, that a Washington
orchestra leader, under some misapprehension, had his musicians play "God Save the King."
Ringgold became so enraged that he wildly flung biscuits at the poor man, roundly damning
him and his people, thereby inciting the crowd almost, though not quite, to the point of
serious riot. There is also the oft -repeated anecdote about his favorite trick of riding up
the front stairs of the entrance to Fountain Rock, thereupon using the five dollar bank -note
bet him by some friend against his accomplishment of this stunt, to light his cigar.
Often this past year as I have walked over to the school, I have looked at the walled
enclosure where lie buried the General, his first wife, and three of his sons who died young.
I have looked in that direction and wished there was some way I could feel closer to his
nature with its zest and sparkle. But no use, for since the mansion burned to the ground in
1926 no one ever hears the famous coach and four arriving at the front portico each Washington's
birthday at midnight, and I'm afraid there's no chance that I'll meet Ringgold's ghost
ascending the porch steps.
In Scharf's history this tribute is paid him: "Probably no man ever lived in Western
°rYland who exerted a wider influence or enjoyed a more unqualified popularity, than
theneral Samuel Ringgold." Reading those words makes even more poignant the knowledge
°t heilate s debts, while died as it is quaintly phrased, financially embarrassed, with his handsome home sold
e and his
e had to
ive on
ounty of his son-in-law,
ill 4m Sch eIy of Frederick. hIt was there sfhe died, lOctober h8,b1829, in his sixty-seventh
' having enjoyed a life filled with action, success and happiness.
124
125
Scharf's History of Western Maryland --Vol. 11, P. 1023. Most thorough account of the
General and his sons.
Williams History of Western Maryland (indexed copy) RL 975-291 W 67, pages 148 and 197,
General R. P 242, three sons.
Scharf's Vol. III (Bright red set) P 220, Major Samuel Ringgold.
NEWSPAPERS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
One of the most important events which took place in
Wshinton ounty toward the
end of the eighteenth century was the establishment of the first newspaper --The Washington
SPY- Up to this time the nearest periodicals were the Gazette of Fredericktown and a paper
in Winchester, Virginia. In fact, there were very few newspapers published anywhere in
the United States and most of the people of Washington County had never seen one,.ond a
large proportion of them could not have read one.
The first issue of the S �
the first, seventeen hundred and pninety Itto hwasstonhandsomely'print d on sstoutopapeon r_-lconary
tained four pages with three columns to the page, and without rules. The size of the paper
was fifteen and a half inches by ten and the price fifteen shillings a year. Stewart Herbert,
the first publisher, died five years after the establishment of the paper, but his wife,
Phoebe, and her second husband, Thomas Greeves, continued the paper until. seventeen
ninety seven when they changed it to the Maryland Herald. Greeves was the editor of
this paper for thirty years.
These early papers seem very crude to us today but they played a most important part
in the history of the county. The entire first page of most of the early issues was devoted
to advertising with perhaps one article extolling the virtues of some new medicinal
compound. The advertisements continued through the other pages, of course, but considerable
space on the second and third pages was given to foreign and national news. As a rule
the local news did not cover more than a few inches in one column and was confined generally
to death notices. The headlines of important news were very small and inconspicuous, while
the captions for the advertisements were both bold and unusual.The following are a few
advertisements from some of the earliest issues and were selected for the most part because
of their strange wording.
Will Be Exposed to Public Sale
On Saturday the thirtieth instant, at the Subscribers' Tavern, on the Public Square,
'n Hagerstown, the following articles --a complete set of dining and other tables, chairs,
saleFeather beds, bed steads, with a number of other articles too tedious to mention, The
e salwill commence at ten A. M. where due attendance and reasonable credit will
March 7, 1805
Jonathan Hager
NOTE; Jonathan Hager, the Tavern keeper, not the founder.
Notice
"deAs the subscriber intends to decline kepin
bted to him, I g,Tavern, he earnestly requests all persons
to come forward and sette their accounts immediately.
John Ragan
Caution
�9ereos my wife, Lucy, has left my bed and board without just cause, this- is'}herefore
126
127
to forewarn all persons from trusting.her on my account as I am determined not to pay any
of her contracts after this date,
October 17, 1802 Michael Lenheart
Warning
Any persons that I find on my lands after this date, taking therefrom wood of any
description whatever, without my order, may depend on being treated as the law directs,
and I will reward pny person for information.
Henry Lewis
Notice
That I intend petitioning the next General Assembly of the state of Maryland for a bill
of Divorcement.
October 19, 1802 Susanna Orr
Notice,
William Powers is requested to call as soon aspossibleon John Ragan, Sr., in
on importance to himself. John Ragan
Though Lee and Dietrick of their virtues tell,
Avoid them Public, they're as black as hell.
We presume the public are fully satisfied with the impropriety of the charge brought
against us by the Richard, Lee and Company --and at the request of Pigmy Dietrick.
Nothing but MrDietrick's insignificance protects him from the cow -hide.
Little and Miller
The Spy was not long the only newspaper in Hagerstown. John Gruber, whose name
has since been inseparably connected with the famous Almanac which he founded,
came
over from Philadelphia in 1795, and at the solicitation of General Ringgold started a paper'
printed in German, called the German Washington Correspondent. Although not ° per-
manent success, it outlived an English paper --the Sentinel of Liberty, which General
Ringgold also persuaded Mr. Gruber to publish.
his
With the failure of both of these enterprises, Mr .Gruber planned and prOlbutewidely
famous Almanac which has made his name not only locally famous for all time gauntry
throughout the country. In the century and a half in which the Hagerstown and not Almanac has been published,, most of the time in a German and English edut
ition, th ou9ha a
had contributed so ,much to make the name of the town d Hagerstown familiar ubll°00
ati�
the United States, as this little Annual. During the entire life of this remorkaabicl a ppie
it has been owned by the founder and his direct descendants. The following
Popular Science Monthly some years ago --"Nearly all countries have ro
had fobohbly, dO
but they were particularly popular ny and England. In
cloy
which has been widely read and itstweatheraforecast moire gene allyIcredted tan MA
is the Hagerstown Almonac, which has been published regular)
Yet the weather predictions appearing in it were based entire)
moon entered into any of her four quarters, For instance, Y every Year since 1797.
and two A. dM. I in it Indicated fair weather in summer aY upon the time w day the
less the wind be south or southwest. if this happened between midnight
and two P, . and fair with hard frost in winter, no
M. it indicated very rainyweatherin summerOther hand
so a table, claimed to be constructed on a due consideration of the tattraction of the sun nand
n
moon in their several positions respecting the earth and ram or snow in winter. And
weather forecasting simplified and made easy,
' was Prepared for all hours® and thus was
The Maryland Herald, the successor to the S
hundred and six when it was changed to the
Advertiser. The price at this time was two dollars and aerald a under this name until eighteen
Maryland Herald and Hagerstown Weekly
Yearly in advance, as the publisher's notice announced, and its advertising rates were one
square, 'three times, quarter a year, which was payable half -
for. .dollar and one fifth of a dollar for every subsequent insertion.
In 1809 a rival English paper appeared, coiled the Gazette,
observe the amenities of journalism even in the earl
September, 1809 It is somewhat curious to
, for instance, in an editorial paragraph of the Heraldp a century. In
h
editor of the Gazette, "Billy Brown is certain) ® P °the r®Id speaks thus of the
write, spell, print, or talk. Although a friend of Poo order good
appears from his last paper that he does not look at his catechism even tonrthe Sabbath.,knows how ,
good government and religion, it
The life of the Gazette was short but in l81
to start the Torch Light. The {first editor was W11Biarnt® ber of Prominent men raised the capital
and from the beginning the paper was a complete success.Bell--a man of great industry and ability
were announced° "The Torch Light will beThe following terms of subscription
Per annum, if paid within the year; if not threerdo8 ars will bevery invariably
subscription will be receivedTuesday at two dollars and a quarter
arrears are paid off, for less than'. ix months and n® i exacted. No
dollar;ger Advertisements --not exceedingPaper discontinued until all
About 182$ The Torch Ligones in ht me proportion and twentone square° r inserted three times for a
to be y five cents {®r subsequent insertions. "
g bought the Herald from Mr. Greeves
the continuation of the Spy, the host a
the Torch had in its offices and successfully used some of the Ve and in that way could claim
fir Paper. if,, is a curious fact that as late as 1858
first issue,of the Spy,
ry type used in printing the
At Mr, Bell's death, his son Edwin continued to edit thePaper
en
iernPlOYll health forced him to resign and move to California.
Of Free an editor After several uansuecessful attemptsto
o{ Free
edom , Mrs. Bell sold the paper to Mittog and Sneary, the proprietors f the Herald
the' / a paper which had been founded in 1839. After the consolidation of the two,
Shi Paper was known as the Herald and Torch Light, Man
p but through them all, John Sneary
In 1879 to Charles was the spirit of the changes were made in the proprietor-
Negley. Mr. Sneary was almost the lost survivomachinr of the t e sold his interest
editor or printer as he was called in those days.
typical country
Fell°,Mr. Negley sold the paper to Captain John Mentzer who was
wtlgn Boonsboro. This paper was removed to Hagerstown and merged into the Herald
dam L'9ht. After Captain Mentzer's death thePaper Publcshing the Odd
" is to of Sharpsburg, a leading Republican, and James Pecame the
teke convert the proprietorshipPossession of Charles
and other influential Republicans awererla ge stoaof kholderouis Eews The next change
McComas, Edward
6ho This company bought the
128
129
Hagerstown Daily News, the first daily paper in Hagerstown, and began the publication of a
daily morning paper, called the Morning Herald.
In 1828 a majority of the people of Washington County were in favor of Andrewnumber of
ate his cause. A
for President and there was no newspaper in the county to advoc
leading Democrats raised the necessary capital iniaaand started tfirst
steditor. In 1831ublication of eMagThomas
Mail with James Maxwell of Martinsburg, Virg' P l and his son, Dr. Howard
H. Kennedy,
the ostmaster at that time, succeeded Mr. Ma thepaper changed hands
Kennedy, took over most of the editorial work.
vania
numerous times but the he next year enstalled ad the eHoencyl8inderr press, Dhe first of
npthe county.
bought the paper
1862, a rumor reached
In spite of the fact that Deckert was a Northern sympathizer, the conduct o the paper
gave great offense to the Union people, On ayttwe5tatee-fsVolunteers, had been destroyed
Hagerstown that the first Maryland Reg his ht u about it
at Front Royal and Colonel Kenly then ° erYheless the people erreaso wrought rumor about
Colonel Kenly was of course untrue, Deckert
that that night a mob gutted the Mail office, smashed the presses and furniture, destroyed
the files, and sowed the type broadcast in the Public Square. After the war,
successfully sued
ro
naheMayor and ve hundred dollarsCouncil
cover the judgment per protection and bonds were issued
for seven tho
to the old
In 1867 misfortune again visited the Mail offices which had been removeadnd the machinery,
Eaqle Tavern in the northwest angle of the Square. Fire ruined the building
type, furniture, and files wewas
ins alledeathef first efter over used in the ur weeks of co'untygto unca
reduced paper, a steam engineam
press. About the same time Mr, Edwin BC. returned Williamsfbecome la associated with Mr. Bell Andres
in the Mail. Several years later, T. Dr, Howard Lion. dY�
these two men ably published the paper until 1884 when it was changed into a corporation.
The first president of the new company was Frank Kennedy whose father,
had been its editor a half century nerve. tDherreforming emov'ementpinft erDemoc at Mparty.11iams,
hoot the States and the paper became a strong
The Mail became the leading expo public
Its editorials were copied by newspapers throng rent improvement in the conduct of pin
factor in the movement which finally worked a g policy b the State Government.
Richard
affairs, and in the establishment of adebt-paying P y y
1891 the company changed hands and The Mail Publ ishing Company was formed w
J. Hamilton as editor and James T. Briscoe as Business Manager. e%isted
There have been many newspapers published in Washington Countywhich have
marks on the records of
erstown by Will McPherrin. It lived
for a shot timebut whose brief lives have left very small if any, by
d1edfetw
history. In 1809 The Gazette was started in Hag war, by Ar
four years. In 1828 Our Count was established to support John Quincy Was d
election time. The Weekly News was published for a short time before thears Or' e
To these we
er paper loste
G. Boyd who IaMail established
Bloomer arppeared in 18511 butt died quicklya 15 the Cleorsco ring
d
bought by The -the 7i� an
Hagerstown Twice a Wee eman's Guard, the Clear Spring er-the Gazette and the,
Sentinel and Fountain of Health --The W— il�—rt Re ublican Banner
Scott Banner-- in Sharpsburg, The Enter rise --in Hancock, he Tr meetl and
Sta— r�in Boonsb°ro, the Odd�lO"r--°nd in Smithsbur , the PO
The history of the newspapers of Washington County illustrates the rise,
all
decline of the weekly newspaper. For three quarters of a century after the �a Was .es-
tablished the people were compelled to rely on the local papers for their news. The city
papers had not invaded their fields nor had the government made adequate provisions for their
distribution. Until nearly 1859 the Mail and Torch Light had messengers on horseback to
carry their papers to the subscribers, over routes exten ing many miles from Hagerstown,
Charles W. Humrichouse, when a boy, performed this service for The Mail and Edwin Bell
for the Torch Light.
The county paper was the only means of carrying the news to the majority of the people
in the United States and its political power and influence were enormous. The man in the
country had no other periodical, and the matter which the county weekly published was of a
very serious nature and largely political. A favorite publication was the speeches of the
great Statesmen of the day. For instance, if Clay or Webster made a speech in Congress,
it would be published in full in,every Whig paper, even if it was so long that it had to run
in serial form, sometimes continued for five issues or more. The price of the paper was two
or three times as great as today and money two or three times as scarce so that many people
could not subscribe but were forced to depend upon their neighbors' papers. Many sub-
scribers paid for their paper with farm products and wood and their relation between the
editor and the subscriber was very close. The subscriber advocated and upheld the paper of
his choice --believed what it stated --absolutely refuted credence to the opposing paper --
and strongly urged his neighbors to support his paper. He was a personal friend of the editor --
always made a call at the newspaper office when he came to town and frequently came bearing
gifts.
The editor relied upon his readers to bring him news, as there were no reporters. If
there was a political gathering of his party, the editor was there in person, and always
published a very full account of the affair. If of the opposing party, the meeting was con-
temptrously dismissed with a few lines.
The growth of local news in the county papers can be traced directly to the improvement
in transportation facilities. Post offices were multiplied --mails became more frequeht--
postage rates were reduced --so that there was no obstruction to the circulation of city
papers throughout the country. The city papers, with their up-to-date equipmentand large
staff of men, could supply a far greater volume of general news than .the county paper and
for less than half the price of subscription.
This drove the County paper into a new field --the collecting and publishing of local
news, and in the large towns and the county seats the people wanted such news more than
once a week --so the daily county paper came into existence. Under such conditions only
the richer and stronger papers were able to survive and the influence and power of these
were tremendously reduced except on matters of local interest. As late as the latter part of
the nineteenth century there were four thriving newspapers in Hagerstown --the Hagerstown
Do ily News --the Hagerstown Herald --the Hagerstown Mail --and the Evening Globe. By slow
elimination the number has been reduced to two --the Morning Herald, a direct descendant
of the first paper, the Washington Spy;, and the Mail, the only paper in the County to con-
tinue under its original name for well over a hundred years.
References—
History of Western Maryland -- J. Thomas Scharf
History of Washington County, Md. -- Thomas J. C. Williams
File of early Newspapers in office of Herald and Mail Publishing Company.
130
131
4
FAME COMES TO THE FAMILY OF LEVI LEITER
Jacob Leiter, from whom the Leiter family of Leitersburg is descended,The nasme waiborn n
Europe and emigrated to America about the middle of the 18th century.
other variant forms being Lighter, Leidre, and Lider. He was a Holland
originally Lyder,
Dutchman.
embracing the present site of Leitersburg. Later
about the year 1762, when e
Little is known of the personal history of Jacob until
purchased 362 acres from George Poe, tangible testimony to the sound
he bought 1294 more acres. The section of the land is
lue and extent show that he was evidently a man
judgment of the purchaser, while its va
of substance.
ticularly interested in. Jacob,
He had seven
ewchildren
, only one of Whom in the Leitersburg we re pal
rcould find no information about
the fourth so
him, good or bad, except that he was a member of the Lutheran church and had ten chi ren.
was a miller by trade. Apparently there were no
Jacob 2nd's fifth child, Abraham,
outstanding events in his life whichHeaisworthy athe father of except large family having considered
the actual founder of Leitersburg.
six children by his first wife and three by his second.
Jacob Leiter, the eldest son of Abraham and a great-grandson of the pioneer Samuel
was
born in the Leitersburg district in 1805. He learned the trade of carpenter as under cabinet-
Dayhoff and later while in the employ of George Zeigler became proficient
maker. He married Ann
andZeigler,
intoabusiness for hmseemployer.
From hcabinetortly t-maker herdeveloped
purchased a property ioneer's business
into on architect been the cterirst and built
of Jacob to show any of the p Leitersburg n s s _1
He seems to have
but he read a lot and retained
ability. He employed four to six men the year round. Joseph Leiter's early educational
antiona
advantages were limited. He attended school but one term,
He was a member of the House
what he learned. This, coupled with the habit of close observation, developed
intelligent mind which made up for the lack of schooling.
which in those days showeda certain standing in
of Delegates, the community•
an office wh
Levi, the third son of Joseph was born at Leitersburg in 1834, His boyhood was sPent
in his native village where his early education was obtained. Realizing the He found-
portunities of the insular community in which he was born and believing
1853. west wood
afford him a wider field of action, he went to Sprim t'merchant. Levi was then 19 Y
employment in the store aF Peter Murray, P 1pGed it
rowth that P. t
man of Leiter s
It was at this period.thatChicago first evinced the marvelous 9 inontr
pioneer spirit dOm1n
a few years among the great cities of the United States. To a young
perament, it presented peculiar attractions. Again we find the p ,Lev aF
in the magnitude
that spiritof d venture\ eel zed (business careerrdormant rthat placedthree rhim,�s In 185 ,
in Chicago
success, among the foremost financiers of his generation. 1556/
He entered the employ of Dorons and Wyck with whom he continued until
he secured a position with the wholesale hous a of Cooley, Wadsworth, and Co. He re-
mained with this firm, throughout its various changes until 1865. During this period, in
consideration of value of services, he secured an interest in the business. He sold this
interest in 1865 and in conjunction with Marshall Field purchased the controlling interest
in the business of Potter Palmer. This firm continued for two years under the name of
Field, Leiter, and Co. until 1881 . Mr. Leiter then sold his interest to his partner. The
care of his large real estate and other investments engaged his attention after he retired
until his death.
In social life in Chicago, no less than in its business circles, Mr. Leiter was a prominent
figure, while his Washington residence was a scene of many brilliant social functions.
Mr. Leiter married Mary T. Carver in 1866 and they had four children --the oldest, a
son, Joseph, was born in Chicago in 1868. He prepared at St. Paul's School, Concord,
N. H., and was then graduated from Harvard. He assisted his father's agent in 1891-92
and then became the agent in 1892 in which capacity he served until 1898. In the autumn
of 1897 he bought wheat on the Chicago board of trade to such an extent as to make him at
the beginning of 1898 the largest individual holder of wheat in the history of grain trade.
He attempted to corner the wheat market but failed to do so for more than about six months.
He lost a tremendous amount of money in the speculation --about $12,000,000.
The second child, Mary, married Lord Curzon in 1895. He was the under secretary of
Foreign Affiars and Privy at the time of the marriage. In 1898 he was created an Irish
Baron with the title of Lord Curzon of Kedleston and in 1899 was made Viceroy of India.
(Read "Rules of the World.") The Curzons had three daughters. The second daughter married
Oswald Mosley, eldest sonof Sir Oswald Molsey. I could not find out the names of the
husbands of the two other daughters although I know they married. Lady Mary Curzon died
in 1906. Lord Curzon remarried in 1917 at the age of 58. He died sometime between the
years of 1923 and 1926. (Was in 1923 Who's Who and not in 1926.)
Nancy, second daughter of Levi Leiter married Major Colin Campbell of the English
army and had a son and a daughter. The son is married and both he and his sister spent
much of their time at their mother's Santa Barbara estate. (California.)
The youngest daughter, Marguerite, married the Earl of Suffolk. They have a celebrated
picture gallery and a well-known collection of old masters. They had two sons. The eldest
and heir married an actress which was quite a blow to his family. The second son is not
married as for as I can discover.
Joseph, the oldest of the Leiter quartet, married Juliette Williams, the daughter of
Col. Williams of the U. S. Army.
Whether Levi was ambitious socially I do not know. Gossip says that Mrs. Leiter was,
although friends deny that, There were rumors at the time that Mary announced her
engagement to Curzon that Mrs. Leiter was very pleased at the match. She also approved
Of Colin Cambell. Marguerite, or Daisy, as she was usually called, was very much in love
with some man in Washington but the family broke it off by sending her to Europe where
She met and married the Earl of Suffolk.
Mrs. Leiter was a Miss Carver --the daughter of a Chicago jeweler. She was a school
teacher. I doubt if she made the mistakes in English she is reported to have made. Mrs.
132
133
Jim Leiter of Williamsport knew her and told me that she was a kind, gracious woman,
very much a lady.
As far as I could learn Levi never returned to Leitersburg butonce--when he and his
brother James
he Freeland
platrectedand i was done in honor of their grandfathers and grandd the groves of their fmotherhers.
This was t Their mother and father are buried in the Lutheran cemetry,
Zeigler (mother's family.)
directly behind the church. was a very
an and was
Mrs•apll,business abild daugieebossed the famlyland twas rtd
he go-between in all
a person of omean
family quarrels and disputes. (compare with paragraph in paper-)
her •sister-in-law, is still
The Countess of Suffolk, the youngest daughter,
Lethe only one left.
She resi es
Mrs.
at Chariton Park, England. Of course,
alive. She lives some of the time in thhChicago
Washington although I believe the big meon Dupont Circle Levi leeselosede sTheLeiter
Mrs. Joseph Leiter's daughter,
estate has not been settled and cannot be until Nancy,
is twenty- over the canial easily s Hy that ess world ph and his three sisters carried the name of
Leiter
Information gotten from:
History of Washington County
History of Leitersburg District
Mr. Joe Ground in Leitersburg
Mrs. Jim Leiter in Williamsport
Newspaper Clipping:
JOSEPH LEITER, CAPITALIST AND HORSEMAN, DIES
Man Who Cornered Wheat Market Expires in Chicago.
Millionaire had a varied career.
Son of late Levi Leiter, a native of Leitersburg
Chicago, April 11, (1932, (AP) --Joseph Leiter, capitalist and horse fancier, died todoy•
He was 63 years old.
$12,000,000
The world of commerce still remember
Old P first venture Armour,bnippeng The memorable
wheat corner of 1898 that was broken by " note and
from the millions amassed by Joseph's father, Levi Leiter, merchandising ma9
once partner of the first Marshall Field.
ILL TWO WEEKS
The multi -millionaire, whose pilgrim -topped hats and long, flowing coats were n t
home o e
at every American race track, died after a two weeks' illness. At his winter
the Louisiana coast, Leiter became ill with heart trouble. He returned to his Chicago
Lake Shore residence. Pneumonia set in and death came shortly before 4 o'clock today.
Surviving of Levi's four children now is only Lady Margaret Hyde, Countess of
Suffolk and Berks, who spend eight years seeking to oust her brother as a trustee of the
$30,000,000 Leiter estate.
The other two sisters preceded their brother in death. Mrs. Nancy Campbell, widow
of a British army officer, and Lady Mary Curzon, wife of the former Viceroy of India.
The Mrs. Campbell, who died two years ago in England, sided with her brother in the
litigation with Lady Hyde, and the daughter of Lord Curzon.
His widow, and two children, Thomas and Nancy, who was adopted by the Leiters,
were at the bedside of the sportsman when he died.
After the Appellate Court of Illinois, in May, 1931, upheld the ruling of Judge Denis
J. Sullivan, denying Lady Hyde's petition for the ouster of Leiter, a compromise was reached
between brother and sister. Both resigned as trustess cf the estate.
The eight years of litigation entailed attorneys fees of more than $1,000,000.
VARIED CAREER
Leiter, a massive man with a powerful jaw andaggressive mien, foryears captured head-
lines in the world's newspapers in his career as a grain trader, railroad and utility operator
and turfman.
Born to millions, he lived his life on a grand scale. To his racing avocation, he
early in life added that of big game hunting. From his graduation from Harvard in 1891, Leiter
worked and played at full blast.
He lost and made fortunes and, at his death, his income was estimated at $1,000,000
a year.
Leiter was as wel I known in the nation's capitol as in Chicago. There he married.
There, he owned a gas company that helped to recoup his fortunes after the 1898 failure.
Ranching in the west and coal mining in southern Illinois added more millions to the
family coffers. His racing stable was one of America's finest.
Levi Leiter, father of Joseph Leiter, was born at Leitersburg, this county in 1834.
He attended school in the county and moved to the west in 1853, later becoming associated
with Marshall Field in the merchandising business.
134
135
HENRY KYD DOUGLAS
Let us consider Douglas in 1859 when he came to Hagerstown for the first time --a
youth of singularly good looks, possessing more than common intelligence, but with no im-
pressive background to hurl at a small community that was already much disturbed with the
burden of dissatisfied neighbors. He was but 19 years old,he gradwas uate of Franklint that me tocope
College, and though striking enough in appearance, y
nt from Shepherdstown where he had been brought up, sheltered
with a community so differe
with
the protection of a small Reformed Church over which his father presided with a zealous
by eye. Here we see him a boy with burning potentialities. Later we see him as a distinguished
personage. Studiously he went to work in the Hagerstown Academy, teaching Latin and
English to a small group of boys, who were later to remember him as a brilliant and able
teacher and an excellent Latin scholar. He taught on in the old Academy by day, and by
night he read law with a local judge. He appears to have received little recognition for
his efforts, yet even then he made a definite impression on the local gentry. A few of the
old aristocrats who remain remember the tall, erect Douglasocasion striding
do chat Washington
ashi gt short
bowing here and there where it was necessary, stopping Y
time with those people whom he considered his equal; but for the most part, in those days,
keeping his own council.
In 1861 war was inevitable and Douglas, a Southerner from Shepherdstown, cool but
loyal, returned home from St. Louis where he had been practicing law, to enlist as a private
in the Stonewall Brigade. It is difficult to determine whether Douglas, cared more for
Douglas, or for the cause he so strongly defended. Of a certain he had opinions, con-
victions, ties to the South, but beyond that did he see behind the curtain of the war into
a new and more brilliant future for himself ,_or was he an adventurous Southern youth carried
away by the conviction that the South must be free and he, a loyal son, must defend her at
any cost? It seems to me that Douglas, though not yet 21 had even then a plan in mind.
Unfortunate, however, that through his life, though always possessed of a plan, he seemingly
had not the last ounce of courage it took to brush aside alland step into the star part. No,
he must be satisfied with the light sent forth from another's candle --yet plan he had
vatle it i
1861 he was welcomed into the Southethis yrn army, and although he started out g a p
was not long before Stonewall Jackson himself observed outh, who though arresting
in a uniform was yet more convincing on horseback. By word of mouth it passed around that
Douglas knew
f anwselrviceBysurrounding Douglas waerritory s seen alwaywas at the sw thaJacksonl of kandson 'in article, f his ledp
could be o y companions
written long after the Civil War was past Douglas seems to delight in the close comp
he had with Stonewall Jackson. He writes in "Battles and Leaders" of the Civil War that '
"General Jackson never surveyed the country without taking me along as guide." bgen °I
There seems to be no doubt that Douglas was an able soldier and as such must have
He
d
much service to the Southern Army, but it is not there that his true talent showed itself- to
distinguish himself at Antietam where he commanded a light brigade. He was valuable atht w
Gettysburg where he was wounded, and he did show courage at Appomatax where he YOU
°nd
after peace was declared. Yet his. remarkable talent was not as a soldier butas
Y n
able to hold his own among older and wiser heads than his. Doubtless his enr, but ger aging 9
bly
beautyhedidnotsit,taose men who s sick cat worshipping at theirre feetl,lsbuthe sat always at their table as
be h
one of them --and that was to continue throughout his lifetime.
In 1865 Douglas emerged from the war with a still handsome face and a glowing war
record which he could with very little encouragement enlarge upon delightfully for those
who knew him personally. He did not, however, return to Hagerstown but instead went
to Winchester where he practiced law for two years. Winchester, it can be imagined,
admired enough this Southern soldier -lawyer yet Winchester, beaten down by the war,
could not afford to hold on to such a luxury as Douglas for long and so in 1868'Major
Douglas settled once and for all in Hagerstown.
Meanwhile in the years following the Civil War Douglas' sojourn in 1859, Hagerstown
had undergone a change. She was no longer the provincial farming community she had
been ten years before. She now had definite hopes and ambitions socially and culturally.
She was beginning to throw off the yoke of fruitless toil and to branch out into a com
mun ity interested in the fine art of social conviviality and light entertainment. So
Douglas, settling here in 1868, was quick to see this change and, with a mind and temper-
ament exactly suited to the new Hagerstown, it was not long before he became the most
sought after social lite in the community. Everywhere doors of the rich and proud were
thrown open to him for was he not the best -tailored man in the town with the most de-
lightful manners and had he not always picturesque tales to tell of his past experiences,?
In 1870 he was so well established socially that no party was a success without his
presence. No young lady had arrived socially unless Douglas had cast sidelong glances
at her or perhaps whispered sweet speeches in her ear. It is told of him that at one
social gathering he was entertaining an assemblage of people with stories of the Antietam
battle, and there happened to be in the group a young Southern girl who had not received
sufficient attention from Colonel Douglas, and being upset, she said to him after he
finished his tale, "Major, it seems to me that Mr. McClellen must have been on one side
and Mr. Douglas on the other." For a moment there was complete silence then Douglas
burst out laughing, for though he was a vain man he was quick to see that he had been
caught in his own net and for the rest of the evening he paid strict attention to the young
lady.
Douglas was without question the most charming, the most sought after, the most
flattered dandy of the town yet none of the young ladies could turn his head in her
exclusive direction. It was not until Miss Washington, a charming girl of twenty-two,
came on the scene that Douglas was at last seriously attracted. Then it was whispered
that he was secretly engaged to this young lady who was living with her aunt, Mrs.
Dorsey, on Prospect Street. But Mrs. Dorsey, a stern Northerner, was not pleased with
the doubtful alliance, for Douglas represented the hated South, while she preferred to be
allied with the triumphant North. Douglas was forbidden the house but Miss Washington,
deeply enamored of the Major, had other ideas. She promptly began to meet him wherever
and whenever she could at the houses of more sympathetic friends. Until at last Auntie,
informed of the state of affairs between the niece and Douglas straightway packed the
lovely girl off for Europe and breathed a sigh of relief. But the unhappy lady appeared
to have felt the shock severely. She stood it well enough until she reached Italy where
She contracted Roman fever and died. Word of her death reached Douglas and he was
so stricken by it that
experience,nbut his closest
friends him for many days.
After
unfortunatehenever bec mecompletelya attached to anyone though he con-
tinued to flatter the ladies whenever he met them.
Shortly after this incident, he bought a house on the site of the property where Mrs.
136
Lewis Byron now resides and he began his splendid entertaining career. Distinguished
people from all over the country were welcomed at his house during the winter season and
in the summer he spent his time at Bar Harbor and Mount Desert, where he met and was
entertained by the elite of New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. It was said of him
that when he went to New York he was welcomed in any house on Fifth Avenue. But
strangely enough, while in New York,he usually stayed with Mrs. Sartoris, the daughter
of General Grant with whom he was a great favorite. By that time the late war was no
longer important --it was only important that Douglas was charming and distinguished and
ohl so entertaining.
But unfortunately with his more national social prominence, he wasfast becoming less
popular locally. This was shown by the fact that though in 1874 he tried to enter the
political life of the city he was never in any measure successful. He was defeated both
for the State Senate and for Congress --although he was considered by the knowing as an
able man and a distinguished speaker. The story that was circulated about him shows the
extent of his unpopularity with the people. Every morning, as he walked out of his
house, he picked a red rose from his garden and usually, either because he was given to
show or because he was particularly fond of flowers, held the rose tight in his teeth as
he sauntered along. His friends assure me it was merely a gesture but most of the people
were convinced that he could not bear the odor of the poor and hence carried the flower
to ward off the unpleasantness. Those who remember him can still see a tall militaristic
figure with snow-white halt and bold blue eyes with a red rose in his mouth walking down
Potomac Avenue. It must have been an arresting sight for those that saw him, told others
and finally in Life magazine in New York there appeared a couplet that went something
like this --"Go back to the South, with the red rose in your mouth --Colonel Douglas."
Now let us look at him in 1875, liked by a few warm personal friends, who under-
stood, if vaguely, his plans, admired by many of the elite for his delightful society,
his sharp keen wit, and his dashing elegance in social realms, and misunderstood and despised
by the people who regarded him as a`selfl-centered aristocrat. He had nothing to offer the
public but a devastating and scintillating'wit, and for that they had little use. To
illustrate something of the form his wit, often took, I use an anecdote that my father was
often told. While studying law with Douglas, 1888, he remembers that one day a certain
well-known local man passed by the window. Father chanced to say, "Douglas, there
goes a self-made man." "That accounts for if,,, said Douglas. "If God had made him, and
then seen what he had made, he would have killed him."
It is fortunate that Douglas understood well his own ground for though he was politically
unsuccessful it caused him no bitterness and he was as willing to speak for others as for
himself, often stump speaking for hours at a time for his political friends, yet more often
speaking to encourage some interest in a decent burial ground for the Southern soldiers
who died at Antietam. In his own words he said, "The purpose of having the dead of both
armies buried on the Antietam cemetery having been defeated, the bones of the Confederate
dead lie buried in the furrows where they were hastily covered up on the day of the battle.
For years this has gone on, until it has become a public shame." In 1876 he was suc-
cessful cessful in encouraging Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia to buy a portion of ground
in Rosd H "on -
federate delad. In 1877 many prominent Southerners gathered at Rose Hill, wheere the
unhallowed remains of the. Southern soldiers from Antietam were buried, and where, with
dedication music especially written by Rheinold Halm and H. K. Douglas, the ceremonyn°t
want on with Douglas the leading figure of the hour. This was his hour. For if he
*ere
137
Properly appreciated by the people of the North, the people of the South made up for
it. They idolized him for the striking aristocrat that he was, and they saw in him the
legendary Southern gentleman, personifying all that they held dear. Douglas triumphed
in his little hour.
But with his dearest public affairs. wish gratified, Douglas continued to remain active in public
In 1891 Judge Syster died and in the spring of that year Governor Jackson appointed
his successor, General H. K. Douglas. He did not distinguish himself as Judge, but he
did his duty ably and the Governor was well satisfied with his choice. At the time oh
appointment, a colored cook that was a member of his sister's household said, on hearing
the news, "Thank de good lord, the general is elected to something he didn't have to run
after. "
In the year 1898 Douglas was appointed a member of the Antietam battlefield board
where he was untiring in his efforts to assist in building what he hoped would be a per-
manent memorial to the war dead. In 1900 when the battlefields, heavily financed by
Northern money, were opened to the public, Douglas presided at the gathering and his
good friend and house guest, General McClellan assure me that Douglas , was the chief speaker. Eye witnesses
the distinguished was magnificent on that day when he presented one after another
officers of the Northern Army, who spoke of the great events Douglas
himself so well remembered. To my mind this colorful pagant was more real, more superb,
more important that any other gathering Douglas had ever attended for here he sang, though
almost mutely, his own Swan -Song. True he did not die until 1903, but in 1901 he was
beginning to show signs of the harrowing disease that eventually killed him.
Never in his previous life a tiresome talker, he would hold with his sharp eye for a
hour on end a stray acquaintance that he chanced to meet on the street. That was the first
indication that all was not well. By the beginning of the year 1902 he had to have an
attendant follow him about, and before his death in 1903 he was well known as a public
mad man. His few real friends never ceased to sorrow that death had to place on him, a
vain and brilliant man, the stigma of feeble-mindedness. Yet for all that, Henry Kyd
Douglas lives, and has lived for more than a generation, as one of the most striking
figures ever to cross the stage of Washington County.
138
139
m
HAGERSTOWN IN THE CIVIL WAR
During the Civil War the population of Hagerstown was divided in sentiment with each
portion ascribing to the other the losses and indignities they suffered. No trust could be
placed in a friend and in many instances strife and division occured within the family circles.
Hagerstown voted to remain in the Union, but owing to the trend of events this was easier
said than done. The town changed hands 65 times during the war, to the utter confusion of
its citizens. Those who sympathized with the Union suffered loss during Southern occupancy
and incovenience all the time, and felt that their nearest neighbors might be aiding and y gave
abetting those who were despoiling them. Those who sympathized with the South, if the
any license to their tongues, were oppressed and insulted and some of them taken from their
homes and families to be imprisioned in Northern forts. ,The town was overrun by armies,
and farmers frequently saw the results of a year's hard labor trod under foot in an hour. The
armies encamped in fields, wiping out entire crops. Every horse from a farm would be carried
off leaving the farm operations paralyzed. Miles of fencing were swept away and used for
fire wood, in a day. For all this each side considered the friends of the other responsible.
If, during the occupation of the Northern Army, the Union man under protection treated his
whession neighbor wit Northern armh arrogance, it y had given place tothe Southeexpectedrnthat the latter wouseceld take his revenge
n the
up to this condition of affairs are interesting. The
Some of the local events leading
the election of Mr. Lincoln was not as exciting
presidential campaign which resulted in
as many which had preceded it. The Hagerstown Mail favored Breckenridge. The Herald
and Torchlight favored Beel and Everettthe "Constitutional Union Ticket."
, known here as
Lincoln had no friends and no support and, except from the expressions of apprehension that
his election would lead to war, no one would have known that he was a candidate. He re-
ceived but 12 votes in Hagerstown.
as similartothatin amajority of states --the division
The result in Washington County w
for Lincoln 95. But the vote for Breckenridge did
of the Democratic vote lost the election
Breckenridge 2,475, for Douglas 283, to that party. The vote for Beel was 2,567, or
not indicate that half the people of the county were in favor of secession inon the f his
defeat. The news of secession in the d alarm y far South, which quickly followed upon great majority
that Lincoln was elected, was received with genuine concern an
of our people. The condition of affairs became gradually more threatening and as the news
assembled
of secession movements came, a series of union meetings began. On the 15th day °
January there was an immense meeting of citizens in the Court House. They officers -
regardless of party and it was at this meeting that the first sign was mtwo °etshofy1 Officers.
division of sentiment. The difficulty was finally adjusted b having
The presidents were Charles McGill and John McKee. appointed to report
4
Upon the motion of William T. Hamilton a committee of twentylwosarnost n. htd
resolutions. At the head of this committee was Richard H. Alvey. ublished On
before the committee returned and it was decide when thd that e meeting would e resolutions ereconvene le of the
no action taken until the following Saturday,southern
resol}tiatsthatfine. They dweltuponthe wrongs which had been noting ssion to the predomit nfl ted Upon Id be fo ^d
countythat redress could and s
wihinstates b the Union The wrongs and under the Constitution. redress but Al
on behalf of himself °nd °
minority of the committee reported an additional resolution, favoring the call of a
convention and setting forth at length and with marked ability the right of states to
secede and the doctrine that the General Government had no right to employ force
against a state so seceding. Five months after this resolution was offered, the author
Of it was in a federal prison.
The following Saturday the Court House was again filled with people to vote on the
resolutions. It was soon apparent that there could be no harmony between the friends of
the North and those of the South. The strong Union men withdrew and organized an out-
doors meeting in the square. Daniel Startzman, Sr., was the chairman., This meeting was
the beginning of the difference in sentiment. But none failed to deplore the election of
Lincoln. He was severely criticized by the Herald and Torchlight for what is called his
frivolous speeches at the various towns where he stopped on his journey to Washington.
Sentiment rapidly took shape during the spring of 1861. The Union party was formed,
and opposed to this the party for the Constitution and Equality, afterwards known as the
Peace Party, After the beginning of April, events began to crowd upon each other. On
Friday, the 19th, a little body of 50 regular troops under the command of Lieutenant Jones
arrived in Hagerstown. This was the garrison of Harpers' Ferry which had government
Property there and retired upon the threatened advance of Virginia troops, who were in the
field. The command arrived in Hagerstown after the departure of the last train for
Chambersburg and the various members had to go to that town by wagons and carriages which
they hired in Hagerstown. The Baltimore and Ohio R. R. from Washington through
Baltimore was obstructed, and since the 19th of April riot in that city, Northern people had
no desire to enter its limits. So, for some time the route from Washington to the north was
by rai I to Frederick, to Hagerstown by stage and to Harrisburg by the Cumberland Valley
road. A large stream of trsvel followed, flowing through Hagerstown for the first time since
the old staging days.
Before the beginning of May, armies were on both borders of Washington County. .it
was a strange circumstance that on Sundays many Southern Sympathizers of Hagerstown made
the journey to Harpers' Ferry to see their Southern friends, while Union people went to
Chambersburg to view the army there. Very soon the spectacle of even larger bodies than
those at Chambersburg and Harpers' Ferry grew very familiar and there was grave fear that
a conflict would take place in the county. The "Howe Guards" were organized in Hagerstown.
On the first of June some Confederate soldiers were fired on in the ferryboat on the Potomac
Opposite Williamsport, the fire was returned and a brisk fusilade ensured. The news of the
affair was exaggerated and a body of 20 young men from Hagerstown hastened to the scene
Of action but the next day the Confederates departed for Martinsburg.
Another outcome of the condition of war was the sudden disc
silver. The fractional paper curtency had not been issued. The silver "change" was gone
disappearance of gold and
and no one could tell where. The newspapers remonstrated with the people for hoarding
it but to no avail. It all stayed for many years in old stockings and other hiding places.
it waS a matter of serious concern which was felt at every transaction in the stores. A
S°ddler on Washington Street advert4ed that he would sell his wares for Virginia money,
Which venture was anything but successful because in a short time Virginia money was of
hO value.
rday
MagOn ersutown,and until Monday at to pour to
Mondy evening th¢ heavy tramp of hensoldierrsr, the beating of
140
141
drums, the sound of the heavy baggage -wagons and the trains of artillery did not cease.
yinspiring.The troops were
The soldiers uniforms were new and bright, the streets were filled with long lines of bristling
bayonets, companies poraded the streets, wnd it ere lloudrintheexpressions of loyalty,
well received by the people. The Union people
while the Secessionists generally discreetly kept silent. Hagerstown continued to be a
military camp. The Court House was now taken foraguaGeneral Pattersod room, n with het house and
Town Hall for the storage of army supplies. Malofiinary for his ne ro
ir
occupied the
Fox,ale Semand p esent d himeto Colonel rIrwin.ATheepre entity sraccepted without
Y; to fight for the Union and
unneceensfhemselves with slaveryhat aII�oM stlof the neg oes thought they had come to set
id not
cone
them free but this belief was soon dispelled. Runaway slaves wce, the ordinary
ere promptly returned o
their masters. The presence of the Army in Hagerstown made it a stirring pla
ased. The pay of the soldiers went large
force of post -office clerks had to be increa ready sale ly into
the At one rthmet15001Go ernmentmul ss. All the twere pastured neahe forms r Hagerstown at 3; a day'prices.
each- Hay
was in great demand.
But it was not long before the exhilaration of active business began to give place to
t, the Northern
serious temperaturep and he irregularities ofocamp life. In a short ftime the hospitals begaers were unaccustomed n
such
to fill up, The Academy building and Court House were occupied by the sick and rapidly
ere
becomhad torelyupon tdhe people of theed. Then no town forJsuppliess!1eDr. Hammod by the nd, the Surgeon ment and hGeneral,e
behalfI-Icly in
wrote the ladiesvaluable of andu unremitting a letteri thanking wounded wthem pub' ho were gathered from the various
for their
in Vil rginia ssauto the number of sick,
skirmishes along
the
ac,and
demygroundDuring the lost weekinJune
hospital hadbe a the A
wn, and
the
e was a
d around Hagersto
rtenth of Julyrthe only troops left in Hagerstown were apportion of a Connecticut re Y
giment encamped on the Fair Grounds. In August the military depots and hospitals were
itement of
stown being an
all tionvhad ceased,'but the townThe awas sti11, occupiedabyrsmall egiments1passingpthroug o ng
sta
to Virginia. Then came large bodies of men whose terms of enlistment had expired, y
men coming home to the North. ears went
In August the first direct tax by the general Government for a number of y
into effect. A tax was laid upon gold watches and carriages and an excise tax of 54 a
gallon on whiskey. This caused great dissatisfaction, but it was soon looked back upon
as a time of comparative freedom from public burdens.
the war
All this time the feeling of bitterness between the sympathizers of the two contending
parties was on the increase. Richard H. Al was above al others hated by the summer
party and so a trap was set and he was imprisoned for seven months. All duringmarkers
of 1862 the effect of war upon the d
of 1861 the war had not seriously distressed the people of Hagerstown. War had no actuallyan
shown itself in the county. But by the beginning price of wheat wasentire
and daily life
a were so expensive enbegan
to thek use of them was eenly felt. egene ally abandonedVeThe e
coffee and to
at
disappearance of all coin caused great inconvenience.
their condition
In July, 1862, the first Confederate soldiers arrived in Hagerstown;
was forlorn, their uniforms in rags. They spent the night in the Seminary grounds and
left the next day.
On August 5 a meeting was held in Hagerstown which passed resolutions approving
a draft, on the grounds that this way a great many disloyal ists could be caught and com-
pelled to serve their country. Active recruiting began but was not sufficiently rapid,
and to stimulate it, Mr. P. L. Blood, principal of the Hagerstown Academy, offered to
teach sons of volunteers free of charge for a year. Later in the month a public meeting
was held in the Court House which adopted resolutions favoring the appropriation by the
County Commissioners of $60,000 to be used in paying bounties to volunteers. The sug-
gestion was adopted by the County Commissioners and the appropriation was made. Its
effect was magical and it is doubtful whether any part of the loyal states furnished so
large a number of volunteers in proportion to the population as Washington County. Added
to the number who went into the Northern Army, we must not forget that there were many
in the Southern Army also. The war was now getting to be a very serious business. Privations
and deaths, widows and orphans began to result. Taxes began to increase --September was
a month of terrors to the Union people. On September I I, when a squad of Virginia cavalry
dashed into Hagerstown, a considerable part of the Union population had departed for
Pennsylvania. As soon as it became known that Lee had crossed over into Frederick
county, these people were in mortal terror. More Confederate regiments followed. General
Robert E. Lee, marching at the head of Longstreet's division, arrived. The condition of the
Confederate soldiers was deplorable. They were not only dirty and badly clothed, but in a
half -starving condition. As so many of Hagerstown's merchants had fled with their wares, the
supplies were inadequate. The alarm and excitement continued in Hagerstown, increasing as
the days went by, and did not subside until Lee had retired across the Potomac two days
after the battle of Antietam. Now Hagerstown was again filled with wounded from the battles
of South Mountain and Antietam and occupied by Federal troops.
By the 17th of April, 1863, the Confederate line of march extended from Culpepper
County, Virginia, all the way to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. The passage of the Confederate
Army through Hagerstown, 60,000 men with their supply trains, 200 cannons, each drawn by a
number of horses, was a marvelous sight. For nearly two days Lee paused, while his army was
gathering in Hagerstown. In all these movements there were no Federal troops to make any
opposition. On June 27 Lee had left his headquarters on the Williamsport Road and had gone
as far as Carlisle. Finally all the invading Army left Washington County and there was a
period of calm and suspense. The town had been deserted by the most active Union people
and those who were left felt that it was no time for petty factions or personal rancor. Finally
on the first day of July a cloud appeared to the Northeast which kept increasing, until it
finally rolled away on July 4, but no news came to Hagerstown. The people went to sleep
that night in suspense, not knowing what had happened. Before dawn of July 5, the supply
train of Lee's defeated Army rumbled into town. The next morning the soldiers came, sadly
reduced in numbers and carrying many of their wounded, on their way back to Virginia.
There followed much disturbance in Hagerstown, several skirmishes between returning
Confederate troops and Federal troops took place and several citizens were killed. "The
Yankees are coming" was the cry that started the advance that met and commenced fire,
where the road to Frederick goes off to the left. The Yankees drove the rebels pellrmell up
Potomac Street to beyond the Reformed Church, where the main body of the force rested.
They opened battery with shell which proved inefficient to move or check the gradual advance
of the Federals.
142
143
Hagerstown, those Union people who remained had
During the Confederate occupation of
suffered great loss from the Confederate soldiers. On July 14 there was every indication
that the Union people would do violent injury to the Southern sympathizers. The ministers
went about among the people urging peace and moderation. Notices urging a tolerant attitude
he
were hastily printed and posted. No great harm resulted.
3t the hungry
The winter following the Gettysburg campaign brought the feeling that teyes of the
t of
g th4
the South was only a matter of time and an the productive as not Liven country north of the Potomac.
Confederate soldiers should be turned up P erstown with 300 U.S. troops. About
On July 1, 1864, Brig. Gen. McCauslandrill ,ed h 1500 Confederates, entered towan^d along
noon, on the 6th, Brig. Gen. Mc retired before him, g
Averill, unaware probably t the size of thisoinvading uees,r including every official of the
with the Federal troops went a great throng 9 of the asurer Of
town with the
exc exception
dfup the GreencBaslerPike about rthree miles an'd there rerema remained
th
until the Confederates had departed. McCausland established his headquarters at the
Market House
and sent f teller of theor bank. tth Th y met at ByehO drug s oere�and Gen. McCausland accompanied by Mr. Jhanded
H. Kausler,
or $20.000 in cash and 1 ,500 outfits of clothing.
them a written requisition upon the town f
Mr. Barber argued that the demands mrnt would exorbitaresultin tnt, bt hers
burning of Hagerstown uattand
the
insisted that the penaltyfor non-p ye
end of an hour.
Mr. Barber and Mr. Kausler then went to Mr. Roman, president of the Bank, for
, went to
can -
counsel h Mr-
Roman,
o a � who It wasafinally decideds on crutches ttohpro'cuee he money and as much clothing
fe Hagerstown Bank advance $100 0 00 Writhe
as possible. The plan of payment was that the Hag sign b
g y Mr.
First National and Williamsport Branch Bank each e$ fo OO.t the banks, te for 20,
drafted, made payable by the Corporation of Hagf the
Barber ntdtoang ll loath an act ofsthestill
Assemblye enablingjt e'towneto issue bondsner"Thes
McCausland Debt" was thus created and appeared on Hagerstown tax bills for many
years. Subsequent to the McCausland episode; there were several raids made by the
Confederate Army.
The suffering, privation, anxiety, and loss by the people Hagerstown during the
four years de before f war, nd especially
al in the latter art of it, were great and cruel and there
was a deco
I✓
•
BATTLE OF ANTIETAM
September 17, 1862
In let us review' itng the Battle
l
as the scene of Antietam
'blo bloody but u decisve battle which prat ed the fclimaxeof
the fighting in the year 1862. In this battle about eighty thousand Union troops were engaged
under McClellan and about thirty-five to forty thousand Confederate troops under Lee.
Both armies were confident and powerful.
The Union forces, after Second Manassas or Second Bull R.un on August 30, 1862, had
been somewhat demoralized. The army under General Pope had not been successful and
the Southern armies feared them little. McClellan was living in Washington without a
command. He haformally been of his command of the Aies
Virginia and
had taken residence in Washington.
Afte the battle of Second Mana sas,�McClellan had
a call in the person of President Lincoln and General Hallic who was General -in -Chief
of the Union Army. McClellan was given instructions to take charge of and reorganize
al I
Washi
for the def
were fthtroops in and arounthere
not a g eat many soldier for himgtoocommand, andshe was actally a Generlal without
an army.
The Union troops gradually converged upon Washington after the Battle of Second
Manassas, and as they reached the Capitol it became General McClellan's duty to reorgan-
ize their units. The Union army under General Pope had been known as the Army of
Virginia. McClellan was put in command on September 2, 1862, and as he reorganized
the Union Army he named it the Army of the Potomac. The immediate purpose back of
the reorganization of the Union Army was the protection of the Capitol in Washington.
Lee's maneuvering after the Second Battle of Manassas had to be on a large scale as
the country in and around Fairfax County, Virginia,had been very cleanly stripped of
forage. Lee's advantage after this battle was in prompt action, as it was evident that the
Union Atiny was demoralized, and,, if attacked promptly, could be defeated.
Many moves were considered by Lee. Destiny, however, beckoned him northward
across the Potomac. First of all, it seemed like the most logical maneuver to harass and
defeat the Union Arms. Second, the Mtoryland region offered positive advantage as the
next stage of maneuver. The enemy could be drawn away from the Washington defenses and,
with Maryland occupied, Virginia would be free. No Federal Army based on Washington
would dare advance on Richmond so long as Lee was north of the Potomac. Third, there
was a Political advantage that beckoned Lee into Maryland. The South believed that
strong sentiment for the Confederacy existed in Maryland, and would have exhibited it-
self in extensive volunteering and possible cession, had it not been repressed with the
overwhelming power of a Federal Government that was charged with brushing aside Con-
stitutional rights. The South thought of the Baltimore riots of 1861 . They thought of the
many Legislators and prominent private citizens that had been arrested and detained because
of their Southern sympathies. They brought to mind the devoted service of many Maryland
soldiers in the Army of the Virginias. Lee reasoned that the presence of a large Southern
force North of the Potomac might assure revolt against Federal Authority. He was not sure
Of this, however, but reasoned that the presence of a Southern Army in Maryland would
give Marylanders a chance to express their own free will.
T44.
145
O{ course, there were practical reasons why Lee should not undertake an extensive
invasion across the Potomac. The Army was not equipped for it; uniforms were in rags;
thousands of men were shoeless; the horses of many Cavalrymen were so exhausted that
nitio
they culd notfrom Richmond band, a since this line of supply was lonin any forward ;g,it mmmea tnhardtwoek tolkeep
ed
from being raided by the Federals.
Of course, Lee realized that Maryland had its rich valleys untroubled by war.
It
had well -stored cities that the hand of the Army Quarter -master had never touched. On
the other hand Lee did not want to make wholesale seizures in Maryland and thus bring
upon him the indignation of right-minded people north and south and especially of Maryland-
ers themselves whom he hoped to weave into his causes
land the There was also a risk that while Lee was
River invading
Mar capture Richmond.Federals might be
able to throw a strong Army
to Weighing necessity, advantage, and risk in the scales of his judgment, Lee virtually
decided on September 3 t
enter Maryland, and
day
e set thAy
Loudon County where heot
could feed it temporarilywhihlethreateni grt elShena doahr
Valley and debating further the advantages of an invasion of the north.
He doubted as to where he should enter Maryland --east of the Blue Ridge or west
of it. His conclusion, promptly reached, was to advance east of the mountains because
regarded by the Federals as a direct threat to Washington and to Baltimore. He
this was d in Maryland to move westwarHagerstown and there be on a straight road into
planned re
Pennsylvania and at the same time maintain a direct IinLe with communications
into actnenhe
Shenandoah Valley. After deciding to move his Army, P P Y
n r
The greater
,hVirginiaFrederick.
ber 5-6 the
'otomacelevvnmilessouth of Freder ck.OSepem
White
head of Lee's columns prepared to cross the river at this point. The troops reached the
Potomac, plunged into the shallow waters and clambered up the Northern banks, cheering
in the proud knowledge that they had carried he wand thesol enemy's
iers counts They The few Mary
were
battered bands played "Maryland, My a and confident
confident of their ability to win new victories, confident of their cause,
of their Commander.
The Marylanders observed this Army coming into their�og°es,te f more tattererom the td ra�dersnd aw
anything but a romantic -looking band. Lank and logging but the well
shocks of the ra99ed columns; dirty unshaved attered brims,rshocks'of hair suck throught the
tended rifles they carried. Hats hung
holes; caps had lost their color, toes gaped from flopping shges, and naked feet limps
y who sawthis
in protest at the hardness of Maryland's stony roods. A Federal correspondent wroteea;
disgust --"Ireland in her worst straits could present e the l st men lParalleler A saw; the most rog9
Army march by remembered--"They
there was adash about that the Northern men
lean and hungry set of wolves, yuth
locked. They rode
otlike circus understand.i They we°reyof them were from the for so
profane beyond belief and talked ance �^ ly`nd spoke a M
dialect I
e
ssed, over, he COar
pa was Wt
As Lee himself approached the river, after the first troops had P Hill di
upon some of Hill's troop lying prone in the road awaiting their turn. A imme
him at the time and called to the men, Move out of the road." Lee broke in
"Never mind, General, we will ride around them. Lie still men," and he turned his
horse out of the road.
Once in Maryland, Lee rode with the Infantry straight for Frederick, within two miles
of which he established his headquarters on September 7. His tents were pitched near
those of Longstreet in a beautiful grove of Oaks, which soon became the objective of
many curious visitors. Many outspoken Southern sympathizers showered Lee with invitations,
which he declined. He felt that he should not accept such invitations because it would
go hard with his hosts, he explained, after the Army moved on, and it became known
that they had entertained him. He made only one exception so for as is known. Going to
dinner in a private home he found among the guests a very young and exceedingly bashful
Corporal of R.oxbridge Artillery. The guilded staff officers ignored this young man from
the ranks, but the General went up to him, put a crippled hand on his shoulder, and
spoke with pride of the fine service the boy's Battery had rendered.
The first impressions made by the Army on the people of Maryland were not wholly
unfavorable. Firm discipline was enjoined on the Army. Sentinels were posted at the
stores at Frederick. Soldiers were forbidden to enter the town, though many of them
contrived to purchase necessities with Confederate money and soon began to take on
a less bedraggled appearance.
It was during this invasion of Frederick that the famed incident of Barbara Fritchie
ws supposed to have occurred. There seems to be no bgsis of fact in this story. It was
evidently the work of the imagination of a Federal newspaper correspondent who conveyed
an idea to the mind of Whittier, the poet, for his famous poem "Barbara Fritchie". In
discussing the Barbara Fritchie incident, a Confederate officer mentioned a happening as
his column reached Middletown. He stated that two maiden sisters, upon seeing the Con-
federate troop approach, brought forth a Union flag and displayed it prominently. The
nion, "We
hnds
re." He thenrate 'cer turned to his bowed deeply to the ma iden sisters and passed doon. It would havenot have many been
• most r any
l to have
a happening. Thesrmal thing otry related tbyrWhittieraundoubtedly'wals aed every coursy in such
product of the imagination.
Lee planned to wait at Frederick until the people showed their sentiment, or until
McClellan appeared in his front. He hoped for the arrival of ex -Governor Lowe, of
Maryland, an ardent Southern supporter, who was believed to have great influence with
the people of this part of the State. When Governor Lowe did not arrive, Lee issued a
proclamation to the People of Maryland on September 8. In this proclamation he in-
vited them to join the Southern cause and promised them the full protection of the
Southern Armies,
Forage and food in the Frederick section was running low, and Lee decided that it
would be best for his Army to move on to the north. Before going forward, he looked at
the Federal Garrisons at Martinsburg and also at Harpers Ferry, and decided that these
Points should be cleared of the Union troops before any great maneuvers in the north could
be undertaken. He felt that General Jackson was the man to do this work. Accordingly
he called Jackson to headquarters on or about September 9 and began a discussion of the best
Way h these
Harpers
Ferry, of
ails mucascapturg itwo
dbreak the main line Batthe west. emore and Ohio Railroad to
146
147
It was, of course, a very dangerous proposition for Lee to divide his Armies, moving
some to the north while three divisions under Jackson moved to the west. However, he
had known General McClellan in Mexico and knew that while McClellan was an able
general, he was a very cautious one. Lee also counted on the fact that the Union Army
bwavery muchesreorganized fornefficient offensives operation he should be on the Susquehanna aoralie. Lee intnded that bore the time when the Union t
could
Harrisburg.
All of the details of his campaign, including the move against Harpers Ferry and the
movements of his Army toward Hagerstown and on to Harrisburg, were covered by his
special orders No. 191 issued on September 9 and destined to have a memorable place
in American Military History. Copies of this order were made at general headquarters
for all those division Commanders who were to participate in the movement. One of these
copies was given to General D. H. Hill. Another copy was made, and being superfluous,
was used by some staff officer of Hill's (the world will never know by whom) to wrap
three cigars against the time when the owner should want them. It was to prove the cost-
liest covering ever used for such a purpose.
The routes set forth in these orders were
passingrs the Potomactat a Jackson
in advance
selection,
Frederick to Middletown to Sharpsburg,
taking possession of the Baltimore & Ohio on the morning of September 12, capturing
Martinsburg and cutting off the retreat of the enemy from Harpers Ferry. Second-
McLaws with R. H. Anderson - Frederick to Middletown to Harpers Ferry, occupying
Maryland Heights on Friday morning, September 12, and endeavoring to capture the
garrison there. Third- General Walker -to complete the destruction of the Monocacy
Aqueduct across the C. & O. Canal, then to cross the Potomac at Cheek's Ford to occupy
Loudon Heights. Fourth - Longstreet - with part of the wagon train - Frederick to Boonsboro.
Fifth - D. H. Hill preceded by the rest of the wagon trains and reserve artillery to follow
Longstreet as a rear guard. Sixth- Stewart detaching a squadron, each from the columns
of Jackson, Longstreet and McLows to cover the route of the army and round up stragglers.
Seventh - All movements to begin the morning of September 10, Jackson, McLaws, and
Walker on Completion of their mission to rejoin at Boonsboro or Hagerstown.
For the time let us leave the movements of General Lee and join the Union Army.
McClellan's talents as an organizer are generally admitted. There is no doubt that at
this time, in September, 1862, he was extremely popular with his men. He was P°hat the
sensed of information, which he received on September 3, that led him to ement for the
enemy intended to cross the Potomac into Maryland. The necessary orrang troops
anGeneral
anks was placed in command of the
in the citytof Washington• Hedefense of e Capitol wamadsre ea ed his instructions from McClellan, who left under
his command three corps. been
ington
I McClellan promptly lead the reorganized army from Washington. Its force as
accurately estimated at 89,452 men. On September 7 General McClellan hasht the
and the headquarters were moved to Rockville. By this time, McClellan knew no moans
mass of the rebel army had passed up the south side of the Maryland; the,
t hleshad n oshin9ton,
Leesburg, and that a portion of their army had crossed into Mary turn
urnor
of determining whether Lee proposed to cross his whole force with a view ton pro-
anizo
by a flank movement, down the north banks of the Potomac, to move he process of eoBaltimore,
to ceededde Pennsylvania, apidly; the more rapidly he army moved
byyrea otntof the slowness oft he march
On September 9, the army with one division excepted, was on the circumference of a
circle described from the center of Washington with a radius of twenty miles and with an
extension from left to right of about twenty-five miles. One division moved by the river
road, watching the fords of the Potomac. Another division moved along a road through
Dawsonville and Barnesville to Buckeystown, reaching this point on September 13, Another
division moved by Rockville, Middleburg, and Urbana to Frederick, where it arrived on
September 13. Other parts of the army moved toward Frederick by other routes. All of
Rodman's division had advanced as far as Middletown. Thus on September 13, the bulk
of the army was near Frederick, extending to the west to the junction of the Monocacy
Creek with the Potomac River.
It was at this time that McClellan came into the possession of some very important
information. Without this information General McClellan would undoubtedly have con-
tinued to play a cautious role, and would have advanced in a manner expected by General
Lee. One of the Union soldiers picked up the three cigars, dropped on the streets of Fred-
erick by the staff officer of the Confederate General Hill . Upon unwrapping them he
saw the General's orders No. 191 which had been issued by Lee. Reading these, he
realized that something very important was in his hands and immediately transmitted the
COPY of the orders of Lee to McClellan. Had the latter moved with immediate speed, he
would have undoubtedly overwhelmed the army of the Confederacy and won a victory
that would have been decisive and cheap.
Before the loth of September a rumor reached Lee that the Federal Force was moving
southward on Hagerstown from the direction of Chambersburg. This he had not reckoned
upon. He felt Hagerstown must be secured. Longstreet was, therefore, directed to proceed
thither on September 11 instead of remaining in Boonsboro. Lee was loath, however, to
abandon the strategic position at Boonsboro, until he was certain that the Federals at
Harpers Ferry had been bagged. Reasoning in this way, Lee determined to leave D. H.
Hill at Boonsboro while Longstreet went on to Hagerstown. Lee rode on with Longstreet
to Hagerstown on the I Ith.
It was on this ride that he and Longstreet reined their horses at the side of the road
and drove into the yard of Daniel Bovey who lived at the half -way house at Death Curve.
Mr. Bovey, in relating this later, said that he withdrew to the second floor of his
house, and there carefully peeping out of the windown, saw General Lee and Longstreet
on horseback conversing together. For a moment, he considered the possibil ity of using
his rifle and doing a lot of damage to the Southern Cause. As Mr. Bovey stated it, he felt
that a live Marylander was a great deal better than a dead hero and so desisted from his
impulse to shoot at Lee and Longstreet,
Lee had expected to receive news on September 12 that Harpers Ferry had been captured.
This news had not yet arrived on September 13. The delay of capturing this vantage point
meant a delay in concentrating his army and was worrying him very greatly. During the
evening of the 13th, intelligence reached him from Stewart that the Federals at 2:00 p. m.
had driven the troops of D. H. Hill from a gap in the Catoctin Mountains, namely Braddock
Heights McClellan, contrary to all expectations, was pushing on shrewdly, Once
Federals had covered the distance from Catoctin Gap to Turners Gap in South Mountain,
the whole situation would be changed. The Federals would be in the rear of McLaws
on Maryland Heights, and he might be compelled to retreat quickly in order to escape
caPture.
148
149
D. H. Hill was ordered to defend Turners Gap. Longstreet was called to headquarters
and ordered to leave one brigade at Hagerstown and march with the rest of his command on
the morning of September 14 to Turners Gap. Longstreet did not I ike this order. He argued
that his troops would be too tired to make an effective defense, and wanted instead to
withdraw to Sharpsburg and there concentrate all of the army. Lee listened, but did not
yield to Longstreet.
Had McClellan, upon finding general orders No. 191, immediately put his troops into
action and moved toward the Gaps in the South Mountain range, he could have forced
these Gaps without any opposition whatsoever and with this done could have overwhelmed
Lee. But McClellan delayed, and the Battle of South Mountain followed. This Battle
lasted from seven in the morning until well into the evening of September 14. There was
plenty of hard fighting. Turners Gap or Dahlgren is located on the aintroad from
m Frederick
by Middletown to Hagerstown. The Mountains there are steep, rugged,Y
ood
and peculiarly hard to climb because of the presence of many ledges and loose rock. The
Confederate Army, according to many reports, was not creditably handled in this engage-
ment. The Federals outnumbered the Confederates to a great extent. Longstreet's men
went into action in this Battle after a hard march. When nightfall ended this battle of
South Mountain, some 1800 Confederates and a like number of Federals lay dead or wounded
on the ridges.
The hours that followed were among the most anxious Lee had known. Never before
in his campaigning had the situation changed so often or so perplexingly as between dark
on the 14th and dawn on the 15th. He looked toward the morrow and saw no chance of
bettering his position. He gave up all idea of going north into Pennsylvania. The army
of Northern Virginia must seek friendly soil on the south side of the river and await a new
opportunity, so reasoned Lee. At 8:00 P. M. on September 15 he dictated a dispatch to
General McLaws and said - "The day has gone against us and this army will go by Sharpsburg
and cross the river." The Army must retreat - it could not hold South Mountain the next
day. Crompton's Gap had been lost by the Confederates, and Union troops were pouring
through directly in General McLows' rear. With this situation, Lee issued were
for
all divisions to concentrate on Sharpsburg and make preparations to cross the river into
Virginia.
Sharpsburg appeared in the morning light of September 15, 1862, a quiet substantially
built little town lying on one of a series of ridges between the sluggish Antietam Creek
and the winding Potomac. Slowly Longstreet's and D. H. Hill's divisions tramped down d,
from Centerville, now known as Keedysville, by way of the Boonsboro-Sharpsburg
roa
crossed the creek and took positions on either side of the road. Lee personally helped to
make our stand
on .
e said
hput the last of these ills" as he directed the the
pmen twhere t'o go. HThere were onlyl
leighteen thousandnmenos all
told.
Meanwhile at Harpers Ferry there was delay in arranging the Confederate le ed fire
capture this Federal Garrison. Finally, on the 15th, every Confederate 9 eral fire was silent. General Jackson, realizing
on Harpers Ferry, and in an hour the Fedsurrender
the need for concentrating the army with speed, left General Hill to reciive the sburg
of the Federal troops and moved at once with his remaining division to rejoin Lee o
Maryland. By what he called a severe night march, he reached the vicinity end apse re-
ed Jackson
ion
pothe morning of rted to General Lee near Sharpsbuember 16. rg early lonsthe fmorn`ing of the 16th rely
olio
P°
Jackson asked where he should take his troops. At 2a00 P.
enemy was approaching the Antietam Creek. Steadily through the afternoon
M. it was noticed tha t the
of dust, far off flags, and glimpses of blue on distant hills showed that the Federals were
moving clouds
coming up in great strength. They made no attack, how+•ver; Lee sent word to Jackson to
come up at once with all his force. Lee was confident that the next day would pass without
battle. He knew that McClellan would not attack hurriedly. A little after noon on the
16th, General Jackson'% and Walker rode up to Lee's headquarters and reported that their
troops were behind them enroute to Sharpsburg. Jackson's troops were directed to the left
of Lee's line, while Walkers troops were put into position on the extreme right.
Through the afternoon of the 16th the Artillery had been most active. About sundown
on the evening of the 16th the Union Artillery quickened its fire on the Confederate's left.
There was an attack on that part of the line, and shouts of engaging troops reached Lee's
ears. Union troops engaged the Veteran division, yet Lee felt no concern that Hood
would give ground.
A hurried message was dispatched to A. P. Hill to hurry forward with all his men at
once. The Confederate Veterans had moved into their position, but they were exhausted
and had had very little ration. Terribly hungry, the men ate green corn and apples from
nearby fields which made them ill. A gentle rain was falling during the night of the 16th,
but the tired veterans would have slept on in spite of it had not a nervous picket's firing
swept often and loudly along the dark lines that lay across the hills. During the night of
the 16th Lee's lines were extended as follows: His left was in the west woods, which are
preserved and noticeable today. The line extended across the Hagerstown road over and
in front of the town of Sharpsburg, reaching over to a point on the road which leads to-
wards Harpers Ferry via Frog Hollow.
Lee had no breastworks on any part of his line. About fifty batteries, slightly more
than two hundred guns and twenty-five thousand of his men were on the field. Except
for Hood's division, no reserves were at hand, and none could be expected until McLaws
and R. H. Anderson should be on hand from Harpers Ferry. They were expected hourly,
but the question was --when would they come up?
The Union troops came into position with Hooker's corps on the extreme right in the
vicinity of the Hagerstown pike. Burnside's corps made up the extreme left, being
down around the location of Burnside's Bridge. McClellan's lieutenants were Sumerlaced
Burnside, and Franklin. Hooker's command seems to have passed the night of the 16th
about a mile and a half north of Sharpsburg, in the neighborhood of the point on the
Hagerstown pike where the Centreville or Keedysville road branches off. A signal station
was established that night close to the Hagerstown pike near the headquarters of McClellan.
it was still black night on September 17 when the sporadic fire of the skirmish 11 lines
for off on the Confederate left broke into the steady rattle of an approaching general engage-
ment. The Union Army was starting the attack at a point which satisfied Lee, because his
two best combat divisions, Jackson and Hood, were to receive it. At dayli
Federal force from Hooker's corps struck furiously. A great gap
flank between Hurlye°s brigade supporting the cavalry on the ght a powerful
extreme left and theConfederateline on the center. The Union troops were reported to be streaming down the Hagerstown
road and through the west woods, close to the commandingH Hill's
This was a threat of immediate disaster for the Rebels. Lee immediately ordered Dunkertroops to
the support of his left. All the reserves that had come up were promptly moved into action
150
151
with no assurance that they would stem the Union tide.
Confe
It was probably at this time, when his whves ich hewere was tensecarrynghto his ment at Lee mea5t aggang, e
straggler who had found and killed a pig
in Lee's mind, was largely responsible for the plight of his army, and at the sight of the
t and
soldier, be sent to Jacksonis wrath rose. He lwith orders to for a
shot as sternly
a dmyd that the
McLaws' and Walker's divisions were now coming from Harpers Ferry. Walker's division
had already gone into the battle and
the part of
e line on th
that was badly in need of assistance. endeavored
Soon McLaws' division a pea edtover the hill a left
At this time Lee turned back the left and rode toward the center of his line, reaching
an eminence in the line where he met Longstreet and D. H. Hill to review the battlefield.
Lee dismounted and Longstreet, am unsmoked cigar in his mouth, did the some thing. Hill
sat astride his horse. Longstreet banteringly said to him: "f you insist on riding up there
I
and drawing some fire, give us a little interval so that we may not be in the line of fire
when they open upon us. Hill did not get down, but I ike the other two studied the dis-
positions of the enemy to the left. Presently, as Longstreet changed A few seconds later glaeld of his sses,
he noted a puff of smoke. "There is a shot for you,
struck General Hill
difficulty that Hill ldismounted as the horse stood forelegshe
bal stoodshivering in anguiIt was with
anguish.
McLaws' troops attacked with splendid courage. They reached the same rail fence along
the turnpike where Walker's men had been halted by enemy fire. In a few minutes they had
in turn to fall back to the edge of the west woods, but this time the Confederates were not
following as the Union strength had been exhausted.
Next came an attack on the center of the I ine about eleven o'clock. John B. Gordon,
a Colonel of the Sixth Alabama, in command of the Confederate I ine, described this
scene. Through his glasses he observed a tremendous concentration of the Unnoon troopsme dson,
in ranks four deep. Finally the command was given and a Union officer, by
left the front of the ranks. The soldiers of the Union Line came forward with unloaded
guns and bayonets ready for action. The intention of the Federals was to force an entry
through the center of the Confederate line through sheer weight of numbers. Gordon
observed, as he looked at his single line of Confederate troops, that if he shohld,sn on
shooting at the Union line at once, he could in no wise kill or disable enoug
troops to stand the attack. After some fast thinking on his part, he ordered that all his
troops withhold their fire until he gave the command.. He waited until the Union troops
were very close to the Confederate line, and then called in a loud voice,
line, and hundreds of the Federals went do tha
sheet of flame burst forth at the Union line, so t
Loading and reloading, the Confederates poured a volley of lead into the
it became disorganized and retreated. Again and again the line of the Union soldiers to
moved forward but were repulsed. Finally the Union commander ordered the Fedehoavy
load their rifles and shoot it out with the Confederates. This brought about
some
since
casualties in the Confederate line. The ground over which they fought
borne the sanguine name of "Bloody Lane." Brigade
The attacks on the center seemed to die away, when a lieutenant of Rides when
vintage t
ce
itwould enfilade a pa tof thesunkenroad. R des a
pthe
Union
soldiers
t once orderedpoint of Tine drawn' in,
the officer understood that this was to involve the withdrawal of the whole brigade. As
a result of the misunderstanding, there was disorganization in the Confederate ranks. The
men broke and came across the road with the enemy in hot pursuit, reaching a point within
a few hundred yards of e high
Yawned in the Confeddeground on which stood the Dunker Church, A gap again
rate center, as ominously as the one that had been made on the
Confederate left earlier in the action. Disaster seemed at hand for the Confederates, but
D. H. Hill refused to admit that the day was lost. He found Boyce's battery nearby and
set it firing furiously. Personally, Hill gathered a few men together, and lead them against
the enemy. There was wild confusion at the time„ and then most mysteriously the Union
line halted, though the Union artillery continued to pour its fire against a line that had
almost disappeared.
About this time the action at the Confederate right became so heavy that Lee had to
ride in that direction to see what had happened. The right of the Confederate line faced
Burnside's Bridge and two fords across the Antietam. This bridge had been defended by
three Confederate regiments of the Brigade of Robert Tombs, together with the help of a
few scattered companies. After ten o°clock four attacks had been delivered by Burnside.
Fortunately for Tombs, these were directed against the bridge, the approach to which
was along the road that paralleled the creek for a few hundred yards and was exposed to
the fire of the Southern Batteries. After a severe battle, the Union soldiers finally forced
a crossing of Burnside's Bridge about one o°clock.
The Confederates retreated to the high ground west of the fords and south of Sharpsburg,
hoping that A. P. H!II's division would come up from Harpers Ferry in time to save them.
If Hill were delayed nothing could prevent the Federals from pushing forward until they
got in the rear of Longstreet's left. They might even sweep on until they cut off the retreat
of the army to the Potomac in the vicinity of Shepherdstown. Either advance would cer-
tainly mean ruin for Lee unless Jackson In the meantime turned the Federal right flank.
Lee rode to an eminence west of Sharpsburg where he watched Tomb's men form with
the rest of Jones' division for a lost stand on the ridge to which they had by this time
skillfully withdrawn. Lee was gathering together all fragments of this part of the line in
an endeavor to support Jones. He come across two disabled guns and one other artillery
piece that seemed still serviceable. A handful) of the begrimed and sta
noneers followed the exhausted horses. The captain of the Battery with a few of his
men came up to Lee for instructions. In this Batteryggfew o can_
listened to the commander of the Battery and then ordered him to take the remaining
Bob Lee, a son of General Lee
gun and best horses and return to Jackson°s front. "General," said Robert, "are you
go ing to send us in again?" "Yes my son," he answered, "you all must do what you can
People back!
With the Federal line pressing so hard and the Confederate line on the verge of ex-
haustion and defeat, a group of officers rode in a
division was near Sharpsburg on their march from Harlperrs to
erry. ey would arrive--b
Lee and reported that Hill's
would they arrive too late to save the battle for Lee. Everythingrnow depended on thet
speed with which the four brigades of A. P. Hill could reach the field and go into action.
The battle was fought furiously and many on the Confederate side despaired of Hill's
division arriving in time for service. Finally about four o'clock, as a section of the Towan
Artillery passed Lee on the way to the front, General Lee noticed that the Commander,
Lt• John Ramsey had a telescope. Lee pointed to a distant column and asked, "What
troops are those?" Ramsey offered him the glass. "Can't use it, " Lee said holding up
III.-
e 152
151
his bandaged fingers. The Lieutenant focused the telescope. "They are flying the United
States Flag," he said. Lee pointed to the right where another line was not visible. He
repeated his question, A fateful question indeed, for the troops at which he looked were
where they could flank the Jones devision very quickly. Lt. Ramsey looked dfo aninstant,
hesitated to reply. "They are flying the Virginia and Confederate flags,reported.
Lee very quietly said, "It is A. P. Hill from Harpers Ferry."
He then hastened to tell Ramsey to open fire on the enemy he had first cited. A. P.
Hill had left Harpers Ferry at 7030 in the morning only an hour after he had received Lee's
word to move to Sharpsburg with the utmost speed. Hill covered 17 miles in seven hours
by pushing his troops to the utmost limit of their endurance. As soon as Hill's division
reached the field, they deployed and were hurled against a Federal column that had overrun
the field above Burnside's Bridge. Raising a defiant rebel yell, the Confederate troops
swept forward without a halt, recovered a battery that had been previously surrendered
and continued to press the enemy. The troops of Tombs and Jones joined in the pursuit of
the Federals. The Federals fought valiantly but could not stem the tide. They were content
to find such cover as they could away from the avenging rifles of A. P. Hill's division. The
action continued furiously, but finally the September sun set. The battle was abruptly
over within an hour and a half after Hill's division had gone inin thef nalto c ion. 3,000 men but these
were with Hill, only 2,000 of which had been engaged
troops had saved Lee's army from almost certain destruction.
Thus the 17th of September, 1862, saw one of the bloodiest days of the war. Three
separate battles were fought, the first on the Union right under Hooker at sunrise; the second
about ten o'clock in the morning in the center of the Union I ine; the third about noon on
the Union left under Burnside's command. Each of the three battles had taken heavy toll.
The dead were everywhere. Of the 36,000 infantry that Lee had in action from sunrise
dead
to officers,
L. 0. Branche than l0,000 and Wm.ere 6 Stark;ta third,eG. B. Anderson, waed two s mortallleneral
ly wounded.
Officers,
On the Union side 10,000 more were casualties with several excellent officers dead or
mortally wounded.
As grievous as the losses and desperate as the outcome had been, what could the morrow
hold except disaster? Another series of attacks by the Union line like those that already
nfederates
had been delivered would certainly drive the Cobut
was k
calm and as cheerfulad
among his men, got their reports of losses and weaknesses,
a man could be with almost a third of his army dead upon the field or tortured with wounds.
When the last of the reports had been received, Lee concluded that an offensive was out
of the question the next day, but he was confident that the army could and would defend
its position, if McClellan again attacked. Artillery was replaced to cover the bridges
across which Burnside had attacked. Lee made no move to retreat across the Potomac river,
he chose to stand for another day at Antietam.
were
On the morning of thel8th, no action was visible. Both lines were formed but reet
not ready to conduct any maneuver. Finally about two o'clock, Lee notified Long back
of his intention to withdraw that night. He began quiet preparation for the
in Virginia. The day of the 18th ended as quietly as it had opened, over the
land again
of the Confederate position. After midnight of the 18th, Longstreet lead the WO through
Potomac and advanced up the West Virginia banks in order to return into Mary at
he
of the army was
d. tea
tand vex the he night and into the lmorning ank, if tof the retirement
l9th, tthe gray columns passedtback int dVirginia
J
the officer understood that this was to involve the withdrawal of the whole brigade. As
a result of the misunderstanding,, there was disorganization in the
the road Confederate ranks. The
men broke and came across with the enemy in hot pursuit, reaching a point within
a few hundred yards of high ground on which stood the Dunker Church. A gap again
Yawned in the Confederate center, as ominously as the one that had been made on the
Confederate left earlier in the action. Disaster seemed at hand for the Confederates, but
D. H. Hill refused to admit that the day was lost. He found Boyce's battery nearby and
set it firing furiously. Personally, Hill gathered a few men together, and lead them against
the enemy. There was wild confusion at the time, and then most mysteriously the Union
line halted, though the Union artillery continued to pour its fire against a line that had
almost disappeared.
About this time the action at the Confederate right became so heavy that Lee had to
ride in that direction to see what had happened. The right of the Confederate line faced
Burnside's Bridge and two fords across the Antietam. This bridge had been defended by
three Confederate regiments of the Brigade of Robert Tombs, together with the help of a
few scattered companies. After ten o"clock four attacks had been delivered by Burnside.
Fortunately for Tombs, these were directed against the bridge, the approach to which
was along the road that paralleled the creek for a few hundred yards and was exposed to
the fire of the Southern Batteries. After a severe battle, the Union soldiers finally forced
a crossing of Burnside's Bridge about one o°clock.
The Confederates retreated to the high ground west of the fords and south of Sharpsburg,
hoping that A. P. Hill's division would come up from Harpers Ferry in time to save them.
If Hill were delayed nothing could prevent the Federals from pushing forward until they
got in the rear of Longstreet's left. They might even sweep on until they cut off the retreat
of the army to the Potomac in the vicinity of Shepherdstown. Either advance would cer-
tainly mean ruin for Lee unless Jackson in the meantime turned the Federal right flank.
Lee rode to an eminence west of Sharpsburg where he watched Tomb's men form with
the rest of Jones' division for a lost stand on the ridge to which they had by this time
skillfully withdrawn. Lee was gathering together all fragments of this part of the line in
an endeavor to support Jones. He come across two disabled guns and one other artillery
piece that seemed still serviceable. A handfull of the be rimed and staggering
noneers followed the exhausted horses; The captain of the Battery with afew of his
men came up to Lee for instructions. In this Battery Bob Lee, a son of General Lee
listened to the commander of the Battery and then ordered him to take the remaining
gun and best horses and return to Jackson's front. "General, " said Robert, "are you
going to send us in again?" "Yes my son," he answered, "y
to drive these people backl ou all must do what you can
With the Federal line pressing so hard and the Confederate line on the verge of ex-
haustion and defeat, a group of officers rode in a gallop to Lee and reported that Hill's
division was near Sharpsburg on their march from Harpers Fer
ry. ewould arve--b
would they arrive too late to save the battle for Lee. EverythingTnow depe ded on thet
speed with which the four brigades of A. P. Hill could reach the field and go into action.
The battle was fought furiously and many on the Confederate side despaired of Hill's
division arriving in time for service. Finally about four o'clock, as a section of the Towan
Artillery passed Lee on the way to the front, General Lee noticed that the Commander,
Lt. John Ramsey had a telescope. Lee pointed to a distant column and asked, "What
troops are those?" Ramsey offered him the glass. "Can't use it, " Lee said holding up
J 152
153
his bandaged fingers. The Lieutenant focused the telescope. "They are flying the United
States Flag," he said. Lee pointed to the right where another line was not visible. He
repeated his question. A fateful question indeed, for the troops at which he looked were
where they could flank the Jones devision very quickly. Lt. Ramsey looked for an instant,
hesitated to reply. "They are flying the Virginia and Confederate flags," he reported.
Lee very quietly said, "It is A. P. Hill from Harpers Ferry."
He then hastened to tell Ramsey to open fire on the enemy he had first cited. A. P.
Hill had left Harpers Ferry at 7:30 in the morning only an hour after he had received Lee's
word to move to Sharpsburg with the utmost speed. Hill covered 17 miles in seven hours
by pushing his troops to the utmost limit of their endurance. As soon as Hill's division
reached he nd were hurled against a
eral column that
the f e dtabovel Burnside''s Bridge. Raising a defiant Trebel yell,, haderrun
the Confederate troops
swept forward without a halt, recovered a battery that had been previously surrendered
and continued to press the enemy. The troops of Tombs and Jones joined in the pursuit of
the Federals. The Federals fought valiantly but could not stem the tide. They were content
to find such cover as they could away from the avenging rifles of A. P. Hill's division. The
action continued furiously, but finally the September sun set. The battle was abruptly
over within an hour and a half after Hill's division had gone into action. 3,000 men
were with Hill, only 2,000 of which had been engaged in the final counterstroke, but these
troops had saved Lee's army from almost certain destruction.
Thus the 17th of September, 1862, saw one of the bloodiest days of the war. Three
separate battles were fought, the first on the Union right under Hooker at sunrise; the second
about ten o'clock in the morning in the center of the Union line; the third about noon on
the Union lef t under 's command.
The dead weredeEach
everywhere. Of the 36,000infantry that Lee had battles
n acttionkfrom sunrisell
to nightfall, more than 10,000 were casualties. The dead included two of the General
Ofcer, L. ark; a
nerson, was mortally
Onf'thesUn onOsider10,,000 more were casualties third,
sualtieswith several exwounded.
cellent officers dead or
mortally wounded.
As grievous as the losses and desperate as the outcome had been, what could the morrow
hold except disaster? Another series of attacks by the Union line like those that already
had been delivered would certainly drive the Confederates into the Potomac. Lee walked
among his men, got their reports of losses and weaknesses, but was calm and as cheerful as
a man could be with almost a third of his army dead upon the field or tortured with wounds.
When the last of the reports had been received, Lee concluded that an offensive was out
of the question the next day, but he was confident that the army could and would defend
its position, if McClellan again attacked. Artillery was replaced to cover the bridges
across which Burnside had attacked. Lee made no move to retreat across the Potomac river,
he chose to stand for another day at Antietam.
On the morning of the 18th, no action was visible. Both lines were formed but were
not ready to conduct any maneuver. Finally about two o'clock, Lee notified Longstrbeck
of his intention to withdraw that night. He began quiet preparation for the journey
in Virginia. The day of the 18th ended as quietly as it had opened, with no challoeVeethe
of the Confederate position. After midnight of the 18th, Longstreet lead the way
Potomac and advanced up the West Virginia banks in order to return into Marylanthrough
and vex the Federal Flank, if the retirement of the army was contested. Steadily Virginia at
the night and into the morning of the 19th, the gray columns passed back into Virg —
a Ford a mile and a quarter below Shepherdstown. When the Confederate groups had gone
northward, they had sung "Maryland, My Maryland." Now to quote one who waded the
river, "All was quiet on that point." Occasionally some fellow would strike up that tune,
and you would then hear the echo, "Domm my Maryland."
Of McClellan's conduct of the battle'of Antietam there is little to be said in the way of
praise, beyond the fact that he did fight voluntarily. He formed a plan of battle which was
respectable but rather vague, and could not have been called brilliant even if it had been
crowned with success. He fought his battle one day too late, perhaps two. He
whole day of the battle till toward the middle of the afternoon, when all of the fighting
he
was over, on high bround near Pry °s house, about one mile and a half from Sharpsburg, where
he had some glasses strapped to the fence so that he could look in different directions. He
made absolutely no use of the magnificnet enthusiasm which the army then felt for him. He
never followed up,the glorious advantage he gained on the seventeenth.
Many stories were told of the wounded and dead after the battle of Antietam
M.
the rail fence bordering the Hagerstown turnpike were rows upon rows of dead. Along
The sunken
road, which is the road that used to connect the Hagerstown pike with the Boonsboro pike,
was filled at places with dead. There had been so many charges and counter charges over
this road that gradually the road became a trench of the dead. The bloody cornfield was
a scene of many an attack that took a terrific toll from the ranks of both armies. For a
long time thereafter citizens of this community were kept busy. in burying the dead around
and about Sharpsburg.
The battle is remembered as the high spot of the year 1862 - an indecisive bloody
struggle with the advantage on the side of the Union. Never will history be able to
discern why this advantage was not followed up and made use of in order to terminate,
in its earl ier stages, a war of Brother against Brother.
Interesting personal recollections were given by Mrs. James Findlay of this city at
the time this paper was presented to the Club. She was a little girl when the Battle was
fought, and remembers vividly the noise of the guns all that terrible day of the seventeenth of
September. She visited the battlefield with her mother about a week after the battle when
the dead soldiers had been buried, but the horses still lay where they fell. Her description
of the long trenes he new
th of the common roves
the dead mae
alm st impossible for usvto believe ered with tthat it was rindeed seve ty five yearns since the errriblet
battle was fought.
Today the fields are green again. The rolling Maryland hills are as lovely as the day
before those bitter and determined armies met there. Across the well -kept lanes, woods,
and fields, it is almost impossible to believe that men fought and died in bitter combat.
It is well indeed that the years of bitterness have passed and that an ever -healing Nature
helps us to forget.