USA > Maryland > Montgomery County > Sandy Spring > Annals of Sandy Spring history of a rural community in Maryland, Volume II > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21
Gc 975.202 Sa57a v.2 1752985
M
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
L
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02167 341 0
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/annalsofsandyspr02farq_0
ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING
OR
TWELVE YEARS HISTORY
OF
A Rural Community in Maryland
VOLUME II
- V. 2
BALTIMORE: THOMAS & EVANS 1902.
563
1752985
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1902, by ELIZA N. MOORE, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C.
Dedicated to the memory of my former teacher, friend and predecessor, William Henry Farquhar, who at the end of twenty years service as neighbor- hood historian requested that I should continue this record.
ELIZA N. MOORE.
Norwood, 1902.
--
:
PREFACE.
-
The friend, without whose persistent effort these notes had remained stowed away, with other molder- ing relics of bygone days, believes a preface abso- lutely necessary to the second volume of Sandy Spring Annals. An old saying declares, "She who excuses herself, accuses herself," but the present time and page are the historian's sole opportunity to crave a gentle judgment of what was compiled for the annual meet- ings of our Lyceum Company ; gatherings composed almost exclusively of her friends and neighbors. That the every-day happenings of our people and place can be of interest or value to strangers is unlikely.
As a faithful, if halting, record of the joys and sorrows of many near and dear to the compiler, she trusts they and their children may be, "to its faults a little blind, and to its virtues very kind," since she has not knowingly "aught extenuated nor aught set down in malice."
:
:
xili 111
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
From Fourth Month, 1SS3, to Fourth Month, 1884.
Excursion to Luray-Plainfield House destroyed by fire- Postal Telegraph line completed-Friends' Sherwood Schoolhouse built-Obituaries of Mary Ann Kinnard, Samuel Scott. Pennel Palmer, Edward Stabler, Eliza Kirk, Caleb Stabler, Eliza Stabler, Fanny S. Lea and Alban Gilpin. Page 1
CHAPTER II.
From Fourth Month, 1SS4, to Fourth Month, 1885.
Earthquake felt generally through Sandy Spring-Golden Weddings of Robert R. and Hadassah J. Moore, and William Henry and Margaret B. Farquhar-Lectures by the Hon. Alonza Bell, Francis Thomas and Miss Phoebe Cozzens-Ednor postoffice established-Obitu- aries of Henry Brooke, Dr. Artemus Riggs, Benjamin . D. Palmer, jr., Anne T. Kirk, Anna Miller, Agnes H. Bentley and Samuel A. Janney-Reminiscences of Wil- liam John Thomas and Mahlon Chandlee. Page 30
CHAPTER III.
From Fourth Month, 1885, to Fourth Month, 1886.
Mr. and Mrs. Warwick P. Miller and four children go to Europe-Louis E. McComas lectured-Locust year- Sunderland P. Gardener visited Sandy Spring-Disap- pearance of Philip Haviland-Local option petition signed by 3,850 names, presented to the Legislature by Delegate Philip D. Laird-A National College to educate farmers-Obituaries of Mrs. B. D. Waters and Anna L. Moore. Page 54
xiv
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IV.
From April, 1886 to April, 1887.
Rebecca Russell's hundredth birthday-Hall built by Brighton Grange-Poor crops-Large convention of farmers at Lyceum-Library built-Obituaries of Sarah B. Stabler, Patience H. Leggett, James S. Hal- lowell, Mary B. Hall, William Henry Farquhar, Wil- liam L. Kinnard and Benjamin H. Murry. Page 76
CHAPTER V.
From Fourth Month, 1887, to Fourth Month, 1888.
Baseball and Excursions-Long, cold winter-Terrible blizzard, roads blocked-Moncure D. Conway and Mrs. Zeralda Wallace lectured-Five railroads projected- Obituaries of Mary Wetherald, Francis Miller and Elizabeth Fowler. Page 100
CHAPTER VI.
From Fourth Month, 1SS8, to Fourth Month, 1889.
Barn and outbuildings burned at Belmont-George Ken- nan, Moncure D. Conway and the Rev. J. S. Kieffer lectured-Many transfers of property-Obituaries of Henry Pierce, Sallie Lea, Mary L. Roberts, Mrs. Wash- ington B. Chichester, Mary Lea Stabler, Elma Paxon, John H. Strain, Sarah B. Farquhar, William S. Bond, Margaret B. Farquhar, Rebecca Russell and Deborah Brooke. Page 122
CHAPTER VII.
From Fourth Month, 1889, to Fourth Month, 1890.
Ashton Postoffice established - Johnstown flood - Dr. Francis Thomas and family went to Europe -- Post- office established at Holland's Corner and named Norwood-Very warm winter-Obituaries of Allan Bowie Davis, Helen Bentley Lea, jr., Rebecca Iddings, Albert Chandlee, Joseph Paxon. Mary Ellicott Thom- as, William Miles, Catherine Bowie, Roger Brooke Thomas, Richard T. Bentley, Uriah B. Kirk, Mahlon Chandler and Wm. Summers Osborn. Page 155
XF
1
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VIII.
From Fourth Month, 1890, to Fourth Month, 1891.
Henry Stanley Newman, of England, lectured on India- Visit from Mrs. James A. Garfield to Fair Hill-First business meeting of Friends in joint session, held in the meeting-house at Sandy Spring-John D. Mac- Pherson lectured -- Obituaries of Ray Miller, John Marsh Smith, Henry Stabler, Eliza Palmer Griffith, Elizabeth Hopkins, Dorcas Pumphrey, Robert Sulli- van, Orlando Hutton and Washington W. Owens. Page 189
CHAPTER IX.
From Fourth Mouth, 1891, to Fourth Month, 1892.
Visit from Susan B. Anthony-Gold diggers appeared at Brooke Meadow-Percy M. Reese lectured on Rome, and George Kennan on Vagabond Life in Eastern Europe-Ellen Farquhar and Rebecca T. Miller went to Europe-Obituaries of Deborah A. Lea, Edward Lea, Caroline Roberts, Thomas L. Moore, Kate C. Elbrey, Warwick M. Brooke, Mary Annis Stabler, Mary G. Tyson, Annie E. Hartshorne, Rachel E. Gilpin and Elizabeth J. Holland. Page 216
CHAPTER X.
From Fourth Month, 1892, to Fourth Month, 1893.
Prof. E. J. Loomis and President Gilman, of the Johns Hopkins University, lectured-Bicycles appeared- Golden Wedding of Charles G. and Jane T. Porter- Large excursion to Sugar Loaf Mountain-Philip Stab- ler's barn burned-Obituaries of Mary M. Miller, Sarah Ann Gilpin, Cornelia Strain. B. Gilpin Stabler, Samuel Hopkins, Richard T. Kirk and Mary H. Chandlee.
Page 249
xvi
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XI.
From Fourth Month, 1893, to Fourth Month, 1894.
One hundred and forty persons from Sandy Spring visit the World's Fair, at Chicago-S. Stanley Brown and the Rev. J. T. Kieffer lectured-Extracts from min- utes of the Senior Club of 1844-Obituaries of Sallie Pleasants Brooke. Marcella Sullivan, Mary H. Brooke, Louise Tennant Miller, Elisha John Hall, Louise P. Nesbitt, Edith D. Bentley, Guion Miller, jr., and Mar- garet Miller. Page 284
CHAPTER XII.
From Fourth Month, 1894, to Fourth Month, 1895.
Telephone Company organized-Invasion of Coxey's army - Damage and suffering from snow-storm - Mrs. George Kennan lectured on her Russian experiences -Doctors' Club formed-Obituaries of Joseph Weth- erald. Elizabeth Gilpin. Stephen L. F. Holland, William M. Thompson and Gideon Gilpin. Page 316
ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
CHAPTER I.
From Fourth Month, 1883, to Fourth Month, 1884.
Excursion to Luray-Plainfield House destroyed by fire- Postal Telegraph line completed-Friends' Sherwood School-house built-Obituaries of Mary Ann Kinnard, Samuel Scott, Pennel Palmer, Edward Stabler, Eliza Kirk, Caleb Stabler, Eliza Stabler, Fanny S. Lea and Alban Gilpin.
I find myself in a position without a precedent ; women have been poets and authoresses, they have occupied wisely and well, the pulpit, the stage, the rostrum, even the stump, but in all the world they have never been Historians, they have invariably left that task to the sterner sex.
Coming as I do, after one who has so long and so acceptably filled this office, I can only ask your for- bearance and implore your clemency, for all short- comings and mistakes.
The first weeks of Fourth month, 1883, were cold, stormy and uneventful, the almanac proclaimed the springtime, but not one green leaf or balmy southern wind confirmed the date.
On the Sixteenth of Fourth month, Mary Ann,
1
2
ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
wife of William Kinnard, died after a brief illness, at the advanced age of eighty-one years.
Of a singularly unselfish, and self sacrificing dispo- sition, her ministrations to her family, ceased only with her life, and when quite speechless and on the .verge of dissolution, her last thought and care was for those around her. She was buried on the after- noon of the 17th, first of the many who were laid in the old graveyard during the year.
Fourth month, 24th. A large delegation went to the Temperance Alliance in Baltimore, showing by their presence and interest a support of a cause, which is assuredly the foundation of all social and political reform. Temperance meetings have been held here through the year with good effect, and the "Mutual Fire Insurance Company" has refused to in- sure any building where liquors are sold. Thus Sandy Spring presses forward in condemnation of the great evil of the day.
On fifth month, 6th, at the residence of his daugh- ter Caroline, died Samuel Scott in his ninetieth year, retaining to extreme old age, his habits of industry. He was buried on the afternoon of the 7th.
On the Eighteenth of 5th month, a new barn was raised at Mt. Airy. The neighbors generally were in attendance, and some of the largest and finest timbers ever used in this section were successfully placed in position.
Fifth month, 31st. Anna Parker, daughter of Henry T. and Helen Bentley Lea, was born.
As if to compensate for a tardy spring, all the lavish- ness of summer came on in early June, the trees were
1
3
ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
laden with unusual bloom, the grass crowded up as though there wasn't room for every blade to grow at once, still, with all this silent activity, Dame Nature did not quite make up for oversleeping herself in April, the season was ten days late.
Sixth month, 9th, 10th and IIth, our quarterly meeting held its sessions, not a very large attendance, but a pleasant gathering of friends. Many who were not members also added by their presence to our social pleasure, at that time.
Seventh month, was one of extraordinary toil to the farmers, owing to an unusual amount of rain, and sudden showers, that would scatter the laborers and drench the loads coming from the fields. It was only with much extra exertion that the large crops were secured, labor was scarce, but the persistent throb of machinery was substituted as far as possible for hands, and thirteen self-binders were working in our neighborhood, three of which were newly purchased.
Seventh month, 17th. As if some malign influence was abroad, four accidents occurred in our midst, the most serious happening to Mr. Robert Abert, who was thrown from his vehicle at Plainfield and badly injured.
Seventh month, 20th. Pennel Palmer died in Balti- more, at the residence of his son, in his eighty-ninth year, buried from Sandy Spring Meeting House on Ist day the 22d.
Seventh month, 23d. Florence Magill, daughter of William C. and Annie Hallowell Riggs, was born.
Eighth month, 3d. An excursion party of fifty- eight persons, visited Luray Caverns in Virginia,
4
ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
making the trip out in less than one day, and return- ing delighted with the beauty and marvel of under- ground scenery.
Eighth month, 10th. Florence Miller, daughter of John C. and Cornelia Hallowell Bentley, was born. I can frame no better wish for this little maid at Clov- erly, than, that she should closely resemble in char- acter the lovely girl for whom she is named and who is now numbered with the angels.
On the afternoon of Eighth month, 23d, a terrific storm occurred, which will be long remembered for its violence, people, houses, barns, trees, cattle and horses were injured by the electric fluid and the lightning struck in twelve different places in this im- mediate vicinity. Charles Porter's house and barn were fired by a descending bolt, rain fell in torrents, and extinguished the fire on the house, but the barn was entirely destroyed, and so quickly did the build- ing burst into flames, that his valuable horses were severely injured before they could be rescued.
On Ninth month, 7th, Edward Stabler died in his eighty-ninth year. He was born Ninth month, 26th. 1794, and resided nearly all his long and active life at Harewood, where he died at a ripe old age. He was an agriculturist, who not only thought, but wrote and read on the subject, and by economy and industry, he converted a worn-out tract of land into a rich pro- ductive farm. In contrast to the primitive modes and customs of his early years, he beheld the great progress made on all sides and was quick to seize and apply all those mechanical inventions to farming op- erations, and to benefit his land by the application of
5
ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
fertilizers, which have revolutionized the tilling of the soil in Sandy Spring and increased its productiveness tenfold. He was a natural mechanic and expert en- graver, and his seals and presses, for state and city governments, corporations, and courts of law, were widely circulated throughout the country. He furnished the various departments of the National Government with seals, and made presses and seals for the Con- sular Agents of the United States all over the world. In the year 1830, he was appointed, under Andrew Jackson's administration, postmaster at Sandy Spring, an office he retained till his death.
In 1848, he originated, with the aid of a few of his neighbors, "The Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of Montgomery County," which has grown to be a large and flourishing institution and of which he was, at the time of his death, its energetic head and president.
His intelligence and agreeable conversation made him a pleasant companion, and he was widely known outside his native place. Retaining to extreme age, much of the fire and vigor of youth, he enjoyed al- most to the last the pleasures of the chase and traveled near and far on business or recreation.
His funeral on the afternoon of Ninth month, 8th, was largely attended by his neighbors, and many stran- gers from other states and the city of Washington.
My next date, Ninth month, 12th, records the death in her eighty-ninth year of our venerable friend "Aunt Eliza Kirk," as she was affectionately called by the whole neighborhood.
As I could not possibly improve on the address made at her funeral by Caroline H. Miller, who al-
6
ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
ways speaks so wisely and so well, I will insert here, some extracts from it. She said :
"We meet this morning to pay the last observance of respect and duty to a beloved friend. The body that we come to bury, is cold and dead, but it will need , no monument to keep alive among us, the memory of the precious spirit, which it once contained, for we shall wear upon grateful hearts, until they cease to beat, the record of her love and tenderness. How many of us can look back beyond the stern and anxi- ous years of our latter lives, upon a distant childhood, gladdened by her gentle kindness, upon sweet favors of word and deed constantly bestowed through the rich blessings of her love and sympathy with the young.
"We see her no longer, groping sadly in dark places, but, again as of yore, we behold her, bright, busy, passing with buoyant step, from duty to duty, her life one constant round of cheerful active useful- ness.
We must believe that those dimmed eyes have opened upon a morning the glory of whose perfect day knows no decline ; upon the light effulgence of the New Jerusalem, the city not made with hands but eternal in the Heavens."
Henry C. Hallowell kindly furnishes me with notes from his journal of Ninth month, 13th.
We had a very doubtful day, whether to go on with our Annual Horticultural Exhibition or not. The clouds looked full of rain, but the building having been previously prepared, and decorated, we conclud- ed to attempt it and had a very successful exhibit.
-
7
ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
Many did not know till near midday that it would be held, but while there were fewer people than usual, the display was fine, the flowers were beautiful, and fruits and vegetables, abundant and excellent. Ad- dresses were made by the president, by Col. William Kilgour, and several others."
About the middle of this month, Richard T. Bent- ley, was appointed postmaster at Sandy Spring, and elected president of the Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany, in both instances succeeding the late Edward Stabler.
The summer which had been cool and pleasant, was now on the wane, there had been no scorching heat to kill the luxuriant vegetation, and the vivid fresh- ness and green of spring continued even after a chang- ing leaf here and there, proclaimed the autumn near at hand.
Tenth month, Ist. Samuel Bond retired from the firm of Gilpin and Bentley, entering into business for himself at Norbeck, and Samuel Wetherald fills the vacated position.
Tenth month, 24th, 25th and 26th, Rockville Fair, al- ways an interesting occasion for our people, occurred.
There not being quite as much rain as usual, the at- tendance especially on the 26th was large. The ex- hibits were more complete than in past years, and fi- nancially it was a success. Ffteen persons in our neigh- borhood received premiums, ranging from soft soap to sheep, and from flowers to the best darned stock- ings.
Up to this time, the last of Tenth month, no severe frosts had killed the brilliant foliage, and as if it might
8
ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
be a reflection from this carnival of color, a gorgeous crimson spread over the morning and evening sky, continuing long after the sun had set. A most pe- culiar afterglow, which has interested the scientific world, and given rise to innumerable theories, but not one satisfactory solution.
Seldom, if ever, in the history of the neighborhood, has any one died more generally respected, beloved, and regretted, than Caleb Stabler, whose death oc- curred at Alloway on Tenth month, 26th, in his eigthy-fifth year.
In early life, with a real help mate, and a family of little children, he purchased an extensive tract of land then, and now known as the "Manor." With untiring industry and intelligent cultivation, in the course of years he saw his labor rewarded, his farm increased in value (fifty fold,) and his children, happily and pros- perously, settled around him. His public spirit and wise counsel went far towards making our neighbor- hood what it is and he held most worthily many pub- lic offices of honor and trust. Full of pleasant con- verse and anecdote, with the frank and courteous man- ner of a true gentleman, his society was eagerly sought and enjoyed by old and young. His declining years were made serene and peaceful, by the tender ministrations of a beloved, only daughter. and the care and watchfulness of children and grandchildren, whose delight it was to honor and cherish him. On the afternoon of Tenth month, 28th, he was borne to his resting place, in the family ground at Alloway. A very large concourse, composed of every class, stood round his open grave, and in the solemn silence of
9
ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
the assembly, words were not needed to express the grief that every one sincerely felt in paying a last tri- bute to this most admirable man.
My next entry, Twelfth month, 5th, records the marriage at Lakeside, near Baltimore, by Friend's ceremony, of J. Janney Shoemaker and Helen M., daughter of Henry Reese. The bride and groom came directly to their charming home, which had been pre- pared for them near Sandy Spring.
Twelfth month, 13th. Mary Chandlee, daughter of Edward N. and Hallie Chandlee Bentley, was born.
Twelfth month, 18th. Eliza Stabler, another of our valued old friends, entered into rest ; in her eighty-first year. Her long and tranquil life had been passed in this neighborhood; her tastes were literary, and books, many and varied, had been her constant companions. Purely domestic and devoted to her family, she sel- dom went abroad, but welcomed her friends to her own fireside, with unfailing kindness.
As she lay in her coffin, on the afternoon of the 20th, prepared for burial, a sweet and peaceful ex- pression was on her face. A soft mantle of snow covered her grave, fitting emblem of the innocence of her life.
When the old lay down their burdens, and pass from works to reward, it brings no shock, since it is the inevitable course of nature, but when a compara- tively young woman, the mother of a growing family, is cut off in the prime, we feel that death is relentless.
Fanny, wife of Thomas J. Lea, had been for some years an invalid, but it was an unexpected sorrow to
10
ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
her friends, when her death was announced on Twelfth month, 21st.
Full of charitable deeds for the poor around her, a kind neighbor and devoted mother, her home was made pleasant by evidences of her constant care and refined taste. Fully aware that the end was approach- ing, she made every preparation for the sad parting with her family, and evinced a resignation, and cour- age most touching. Her sufferings were only exceed- ed by her patience, and to the close, she sought to comfort those who watched around her. Her remains were brought from Baltimore, where she died, and buried on Ist day afternoon.
As the night was settling down, and in the midst of a fierce storm of sleet and snow, Twelfth month, 23rd, the house at Plainfield, was entirely destroyed by fire. Owing to the inclemency of the weather, but few knew of the disaster in time to render assistance. In less than three hours, the pleasant home was a mass of blackened ruins, and the inmates were sheltered at Norwood.
The next morning many neighbors assembled and with sleighs and teams, transported the ice-covered and scattered effects of the Plainfield families, to the unoccupied house of Jos. T. Moore, Jr., at Pen-y-Bryn, where Willliam Moore and family have resided since.
Robert R. Moore and family remained at Norwood, a home especially adorned and blessed this winter by the presence of two grandmothers, under the same roof.
The new house at Plainfield, is rising from its ashes
11
ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
and before many months, we hope to see our friends re-united beneath their own roof tree.
However much more modernized and comfortable this habitation will be, there is something especially sad, in the destruction of an old home, where chil- dren have been born, reared, and married, where joy and sorrow, have mingled in the varied scenes of life, and where every room is hallowed by a thousand as- sociations.
Christmas was very quiet, and there were but few family gatherings, perhaps because of inclement weather, or that sorrow and disaster had followed thick and fast.
New Year's day, 1884, was much observed, the youth and beauty of Sandy Spring was gathered at Stanmore, Fair Hill, and Black Meadow, and each bevy of young ladies counted the "cavaliers" by the dozen through the day. Even fathers and grandfath- ers donned their meeting suits, and wended their way through the wind and rain, to make their best bows along the line.
First month, 5th and 6th, the mercury fell below zero, the nipping cold crept in at every crevice, bread refused to rise, water froze at night on the kitchen stove, and we felt that now if ever, was "the winter of our discontent."
First month, 14th. There was a heavy fall of snow which covered and clung to every thing like swan's- down, the sleighing was fine and the effect of riding through the woods under this soft white canopy, was indescribably beautiful.
First month, 15th. The Farmer's Convention was
ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
held at the Lyceum. The attendance was large, and the President, Henry C. Hallowell, called the assem- bly to order, and in a very happy speech, reviewed the conventions of the past twelve years, and gave some of the good results which had followed their de- liberations, and dwelt upon the fact, that as agri- cultural prosperity advanced, it tended to elevate the social, moral, and religious conditions of the com- munity.
Interesting reports were read from the several clubs, and many questions of utility, relating to fertil- izers, sheep raising, ensilage, keeping wood-land for fuel, etc., were discussed with profit.
The ladies furnished a bountiful lunch, which must have gone to the right spot, as they were invited into the Lyceum afterwards, to listen to a portion of the proceedings.
Among the meagre notes of Second month, I will record a religious visit from Abel Hull, of Harford, and the painful injury sustained by our useful friend, Charles G. Porter, who can comfort himself with the reflection that only industrious people are liable to have their fingers cut off.
Many of our inhabitants fled to the cities, the roads were bad, storms frequent, and much less farm work than usual was done. The neighborhood, however, was enlivened by some pleasant parties and enter- tainments at the Lyceum and Grange Hall.
This, and the preceding month of 1884, will long be remembered by the children of Sandy Spring, and some of larger growth. The measles prevailed from Crowtown to Colesville, from the Patuxent to Rock-
13
ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.