USA > Maryland > Washington County > Hagerstown > A history of Washington County, Maryland from the earliest settlements to the present time, including a history of Hagerstown > Part 22
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
eipal doubt I ever had of the practieability of propelling against a stream by the aid of meehan- ical power; but as he wanted to avail himself of my introduction of it to the publie attention, I chose previously to see the actual performance of the model in a descending stream before I passed my certificate, and, having done so, all my doubts are satisfied."
Rumsey was reticent concerning his carlier plans, and confided his ambitions to but few, among them being John Wilson, of Philadelphia, who visited the springs during the summer of 1783, and whose description of Rumsey's first boat is to be found in a treatise on the subjeet of steam as a means of navigation published at a later date by the inventor when he was seeking to introduce his invention to the public. Of the first formal trial Wilson wrote :
"The boat was finished in the fall of 1783. Her hull was built by Rumsey's brother-in-law, Joseph Barnes, of Shepherdstown, who was a ear- penter by trade. The capacity of the boat was about six tons burden. Her boiler was a primi- tive affair, being simply an iron pot, or kettle, such as is ordinarily used in the country for culinary purposes, with a lid, or top, placed on its mouth and securely fastened there with rivets, bands and soft solder. The engine, which was constructed partly by the village (Bath) blacksmith, but prin- cipally by Rumsey himself, was upon the New- comer, or 'atmospheric' principle, its power being obtained by the weight of the air pressing on the piston beneath which a vaccum had been ereated by the condensation of the steam. The mode of propulsion was by means of a pump, worked by steam, which, being placed toward the forward part of the boat, drew up at each alternate stroke of the engine a quantity of water, which, by the return or down stroke, was forced through a trunk at the bottom along the keelson and out at the stern under the rudder. The impetus of the water rushing through the trunk against the exterior water of the river drove the boat forward, the reaction of the effluent water propelling her at a rate of speed commensurate with the power applied."
The trial was made under cover of night, in October. 1183, at a secluded spot on the Potomae River near the mouth of Sir John's Run, about six miles from Bath, with only Rumsey and his two intimate friends, Joseph Barnes and Nicholas Orrick, present. Tradition says that for half the
night the three men labored with the strange craft upon the placid stream, pottering at the imperfeet machinery, running the unwieldly bulk hither and thither, the master mind anxiously examining each point of failure in the machinery and sug- gesting such improvements as his better trained intellect deemed advisable. At length, greatly encouraged by the first trial, Rumsey returned to Bath, after carefully removing the engine and depositing it in a secluded place.
At this period in the career of the inventor he married Miss Morrow, of Shepherdstown, a sis- ter of the famous Morrow brothers, one of whom afterward became a member of Congress and an- other governor of Ohio. Rumsey was then about 40 years old, and was described by a eotempor- ancous writer as an exceedingly handsome person, tall, of commanding presence, powerfully propor- tioned and of splendid address.
In May. 1785, he again sought the services of his brother-in-law, Joseph Barnes, to construct a boat upon a larger and more improved model than the one previously built near Bath. The second boat was 50 feet in length and 18 in width, and was completed in December of the same year. Joseph Barnes and the Mr. MeMechen previously referred to, piloted the craft down the river to the mouth of the Shenandoah, where Rumsey was employed with the Potomae Improvement Com- pany's project, in order that the machinery could be placed under the direct supervision of Rum- sey himself. This machinery had been construct- ed upon a more ambitious scale than that in the first boat, and in order to preserve the principle as a whole portions of it were manufactured at Shepherdstown, Baltimore, Frederiek and the An- tietam Works, near Hagerstown.
It was determined that the next trial should take place at Shepherdstown.
Owing to the difficulty of assembling the parts from the different points of manufacture, it was not until the middle of January, 1786, that the boat was ready to be taken to Shepherdstown. In the meantime interest in the forthcoming test of "crazy Rumsey's flying boat" had been aroused to a high pitch. A sudden freeze in the river eom- pelled a further delay of the test.
In March, 1786, the machinery was placed in the boat for the purpose of a trial trip to test her now tubular boiler, which Rumsey had construeted during the winter. The trial was made at night, with no one on board save Rumsey, his brothers-in-
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The Hancock Bank was organized in 1894 and has gradually built up a line of deposits of over $230.000.00 ; enjoying, at home and abroad, a reputation for solidity which is second to none.
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law, Joseph Barnes and Chas. Morrow, Dr. MeMe- ehen and Franeis Hamilton, the latter taking the helm. The trial was successful, the craft steam- ing up the river at fair speed against a strong eurrent. But Rumsey's usual ill-fortune pursued lıim, for just as the boat was about to complete the journey a defeet beeame apparent in the boiler, and it finally collapsed, the occupants of the boat being compelled to guide it to the landing with poles placed against the bottom of the river. This necessitated another postponement of the public trial.
The inventor found it impossible to undertake the construction of a new and costly boiler until the following summer-1786. Rumsey was wholly dependent upon his earnings as secretary and superintendent of the Potomac Improvement Com- pany and the demands upon his purse ineident to the construction of the boat and the machinery had practically exhausted his resources. The man's pride, stung by the open derision of the uneducated and the pitying demeanor of his friends, forbade him seeking assistance; but, urged into activity by the exigencies of the situ- ation, he sought and obtained leave of absence from his duties upon the river and bent his energies to- ward the construction of a new boiler. In this work he was aided by Joseph Barnes, whose devo- tion to the inventor form one of the most remark- able features of the development of the steamboat. Together the men sueeeeded in getting the boat in trim for the long-delayed public test, and a time was fixed for the trial. . Rumsey was not yet to realize his ambition, however, for a few days before the time appointed a sudden rise in the river brought down a mass of floating debris, which struck the eraft at her moorings, tore her loose and carried her down the river to the jagged rocks, upon which she was cast a wreck.
Undaunted by repcated failures, unmoved by the mockery of his fellow-townsmen or the rebuffs which beset his every step, Rumsey faeed this critical period in his fortunes with that indomit- able and unflinching courage which characterized his whole eareer. Almost impoverished by this latest calamity, he yet set to work to repair his boat and replace the machinery. Again he was aided by Barnes, and their united efforts sue- ceeded in restoring the eraft to a condition which would permit the announcement of a day for the trial. In September, 1787, the boat was taken up the stream to Shepherdstown, and when the last
detail of repairs had been completed it was an- nounced that the publie exhibition would take place on the river in front of the town on Decem- ber 3. The news spread rapidly throughout that section, and when the hour arrived the Virginia bank of the Potomae was lined with an eager mul- titude.
The late Congressman A. R. Boteler, of Shep- herdstown, whose life spanned the period between 1815 and 1892, and who, perhaps, devoted more time and effort to establishing the fame of Rumsey than any other man, was personally acquainted in his youth with many of those who witnessed the trial trip of Rumsey's boat, and heard from their lips the incidents of that remarkable oeeurrence. Among those who were present when the inventor moved up the stream in his boat are mentioned Mrs. Ann Baker, Mrs. Eleanor Shepherd, Major Henry Bedinger, Capt. Jacob Haines, Michael Foukc and Peter Fisher. Congressman Boteler has left a graphic account of the ineidents of the day, which is here given in part :
"Although more than a century has now elapsed sinee that memorable day-December 3, 1787-when it was first demonstrated to the pub- lic that an effcetive plan for steam propulsion had been invented, it is not difficult for those familiar with the physical features of the locality where it occurred to form a proximate idea of the scene as it then appeared, with the attendant eireum- stances of the occasion, for the meddlesome hand of modern improvement has not yet done much to mar the general aspect of the quaint old town and its picturesque surroundings. Its roeky eliffs, which rise for more than a hundred feet above the southern bank of the river, are as unehanged, with the exception of a passageway at one point for a railroad, in their time-tinted ruggedness and romantic associations, as on that eventful day.
"The day was a beautiful one. On a roeky knoll near the eliff, and beneath the sheltering branches of a elump of ecdars which formed a natural canopy of evergreens above them, was a group of ladies and gentlemen whose names, being indentified with the oeeasion, may properly be mentioned here. The most conspicuous figure in the group was that of Horatio Gates, late Major General in the Continental Army, and at that time residing on his Travelers' Rest estate, five miles from Shepherdstown. By the side of General Gates was Major Henry Bedinger. Near him were the Rev. Robert Stubbs and Capt. Abram Shep-
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
herd, the former being principal of the Classical Academy and rector of the Episcopal Church, of which Captain Shepherd was one of the wardens. Another Revolutionary officer nearby was Col. Joseph Swearinger. There were also Philip Ten- dleton. John Kearsley and Cato Moore. The three Morrow brothers, brothers-in-law of Rumsey, were there, as likewise were John Mark, Thomas White, David Gray, Benoni Swearinger and other prom- inent citizens of that seetion. Among the ladies in the group were Mrs. Abram Shepherd, Mrs. Rumsey, Mrs. Charles Morrow, Mrs. Mark and daughter Ann.
"Rumsey had invited the ladies to take pas- sage upon his boat, but no gentleman was permit- ted on board except Charles Morrow and Dr. Mc- Mechen, the former of whom was to take the helm and the latter to assist Rumsey in attending to the machinery. When, therefore, it was time to start, the ladies were escorted on board to seats provided for them abaft the boiler, which, with the rest of the machinery, occupied the forward part of the boat. about two-thirds of its length from the stern. When they had shoved the boat off a short distance from the shore Rumsey started her engine, and she moved slowly out to the mid- dle of the river, where, rounding to, in obedience to her helm, and with her prow pointing up the stream, she paused for a moment; then by a sud- den impulse steamed off up stream against the current of the river, amid the shouts of the exeited multitude upon the shore.
"The boat, after going for a half mile or more above the town, to a point opposite what is known as Swearinger's Spring, rounded to and returned, going for some little distance below town, beyond where the Shenandoah Railroad bridge now spans the Potomac. Thus she con- tinued to go up and down the river for about two hours. The average rate of speed to which the boat attained on this occasion was three miles an hour ; but on a second trial, which took place on Thursday. December 14, 1787, in the presence of numerous spectators, her speed was increased to an average of four miles an hour."
In pursuance of his determination to bring his invention to the attention of the people at the centers of population. Rumsey left Shepherdstown and journeyed to Philadelphia. He found that his fame had preceded him and he was received with honor by the most eminent men of that city. Benjamin Franklin was deeply interested
in the new power for boats, and, with 27 other distinguished gentlemen, organized the Rumseian Society, of which Franklin was president. Aided by the members of this society, Rumsey decided to go to England to introduce his invention, and, armed with letters of introduction and indorse- ment from General Washington, Benjamin Frank- lin, Patrick Henry and others, he set sail in May, 1788.
Arriving in England, Rumsey immediately sought to protect by patents his several inventions in engines, pumps, boilers and mill machinery. ITe secured the attention of the members of the Society of Arts and Sciences. The heavy cost of his patents had reduced his funds to an embarrass- ing state, in consequence of which he was unable to begin his boat for public exhibition until 1790. This boat was 100 feet long, with proportionate breadth of beam and depth of hold, and was by far the most ambitious effort of Rumsey's career, as it proved to be the last. Struggling under the greatest difficulties, owing to the lack of funds Rumsey remained loyal to his work, experiencing much the same condition of affairs during the next two years as had characterized his four years' work at Shepherdstown.
Rumsey's boat was nearing completion and the time of trial was almost at hand when he was robbed of the enjoyment of his triumph by the hand of death, expiring suddenly on the evening of December 21. 1792, in the Adelphi Hotel, in London.
A letter written by R. C. Wakefield, on De- cember 26, 1792, speaks of Rumsey's interment and his affairs thus:
"Every respect has been paid to his remains by his friends, several of whom attended at his interment at St. Margaret's, Westminster, where I had him conveyed on Monday evening last. I fear his affairs will be too intricate to make it safe for anyone to administer, as he has left no will, at least in England."
Rumsey's will, written in Philadelphia, on May 15, 1788, just prior to his departure for Eng- land, witnessed by Benjamin Wynkoop and Joseph Wynkoop, was found among his pa- pors and admitted to probate in Philadel- phia a few months after his death. A certified copy of this document is now on file in the Berkeley County Courthouse, at Martinsburg, W. Va. The total value of the estate was about $5,000, one-third of which he left to his wife; the
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remaining two-thirds was divided into four parts, two of which were devised to his son, James Rum- sey, Jr., the residue being equally divided between the two daughters, Susannah and Clarissa. Ed- ward Rumsey, Jr., a younger brother of the inventor, was named as administrator, and his bondsmen were Nicholas Orrick and Smith Slaugh- ter, who gave bond in $10,000.
Thoughi the master mind relinquished the work upon the eve of the consummation of his most cherished dream, the project was yet left in such shape that it was easily carried to a successful conclusion by others, and in a short time the boat upon which Rumsey had spent the later years of his life was tested with the most favorable re- sults.
The honors and rewards so well earned by the great inventor and which formed the chief inheritance of his only son, James Rumsey, Jr., drifted into other hands through the physical dis- ability of his heir.
For many years the people of the eastern sec- tion of West Virginia have endeavored to secure the funds necessary for the erection of a suitable monument to the memory of one whose work has been the boast of every resident, but repeated ap- peals to civic pride, to Congress and the State Legislature proved futile until, backed by former Governor White and an awakened public sentiment, a measure, championed by former Supreme Court Judge Lucas and Delegate Wetzel, was passed at the recent session of the Legislature appropriating a sum that will prove the nucleus of the fund needed.
Already plans for the shaft are being formu-
lated, and the site has long been selected by popular sentiment.
In August 1793 Thomas Cooper left England for America "to determine whether America and what part of it was eligible for a person like my- self with a small fortune and a large family, to settle in." He went through Hagerstown to Ken- tucky and found a home to which he brought lis family. He wrote a series of letters to his friends in England to advise them of what he saw. From these letters the following is taken :
"Maryland. The neighborhood of Haggars- town on the Antietam Creek.
Soil-A dark colored loam similar to that on the south side of the Powtomack.
Price of land from $16 to $24, i. e., from 31 12s to 51, 8s per acre, one-half cleared within 8 or 10 miles.
Labour-Husbandmen scarce. Wages 1s 6d and provisions per day $5 to $6 i. e. 22s 6d per month.
Market-Baltimore where wheat fetches about 7d per bushel more than at Alexandria. The price of taking flour to Baltimore 75 miles, 5s. 3d. per barrel. It may be sent to Alexandria, 80 miles for $1 one-third of which is for the land carriage to Williamsport, 8 miles, at the mouth of Conegocheague Creek. But for want of a warehouse at Great Falls, this mode of conveyance is less useful at present than it would otherwise be. Ten miles north-west of Haggarstown and upon a part of the Conegocheague Creek, to which navigation may be easily extended, land, one-half cleared and the rest in wood, will fetch 61, ($30) per acre. This creek has been used already during a week or two in the spring."
CHAPTER IX
N THE last days of the Eighteenth Cen- tury the news of the death of Washington reached Hagerstown and here as else- where, filled the hearts of the people with genuine grief. Nothing else was talked about. Proclamations were issued by the Presi- dent and by Governor Ogle of the State of Maryland, setting apart the patriot's birthday as a day of mourning, humiliation and prayer. He desired the people "to call to mind his virtues, public services and unshaken patriotism and admir- ing, endeavor to imitate them. And that they implore the Most High God to supply his loss." The day was observed in accordance with these suggestions. All the business houses were closed, and addresses upon the character and public ser- vices of Washington were delivered in the churches. But the people were not content to wait so long for this expression of their feeling of affection and veneration for the dead hero. On the 15th of January a meeting was held at the Court House to perfect plans for a funeral procession. Of this meeting, Eli Williams was the president, and Na- thaniel Rochester, secretary. A committee of ar- rangements consisted of Eli Williams, Adam Ott, Nathaniel Rochester, Jacob Schnebley, George Woltz, William Fitzhugh, Samuel Ringgold, Da- vid Harry, Josiah Price, Thomas Sprigg and Dan- iel Heister. The 24th day of January was ap- pointed for the observances, and that day witnessed the largest concourse of citizens which had ever been gathered together within the County. A cannon had been mounted and sixteen rounds were fired. A procession was formed at the Court House, and moved to the German Lutheran Church
to the sound of tolling bells and bands of music playing the Dead March. First came Col. Schneb- ley's Troop, with standard, as were all the other standards, in mourning ; then followed Col. Fitz- hugh, the officer of the day; Major Ott's battal- ion ; a band of music; Captain Reynolds' Company of inilitia; Captain Ringgold's troop; General Sprigg and his staff; the field officers of the militia ; two German and two English teachers with their pupils; Mr. Kelley, professor of lan- guages, with his school bearing a standard; a white horse handsomely caparisoned ; the clergy of the county with white sashes and scarfs; a bier, bearing a hat and sword, carried by four ser- geants in uniform ; six Revolutionary veterans as honorary pall-bearers-Col. Price, Major Carr, Dr. Richard Pindell, Dr. Lancelot Jacques, Col. Davis and Col. Van Lear; twenty-four ladies in white robes ; the committee of arrangements ; mag- istrates and other civil officers, and then the mul- titude of people. Arriving at the church door, the military opened to the right and left and the bier, the clergy and the twenty-four ladies passed in first. The Rev. Mr. Schmucker had written three hymns for the occasion, which were sung to the accompaniment of the organ and other instruments. The Rev. Mr. Bower of the Epis- copal Church, offered a prayer in English, the choir chanted a psalın, Samuel Hughes delivered an oration and the Rev. Mr. Rahauser closed the ser- vices by a prayer in the German language. 'The bier was then taken to the front of the church, and three volleys of musketry were fired over it by Captain Reynold's troop.
But the people of Hagerstown were by
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no means too much absorbed in their grief to take their pleasure as usual. In January, 1800, a subscription had been started to es- tablish an Academy. To further this object, a young gentleman of the town had written a play called "Love a la Mode," which along with "The Regent," a heavy tragedy was acted at Ragan's ball-room by a number of amateurs of the town, three days after the day ot humiliation and prayer. The affair was a brilliant success, and of some of the actors it was said that they would have done no discredit to the first theatres of the land. The play was shortly afterwards repeated, and this time there was some wrangle over the disposition of the proceeds. Some desired that the money should be used for making a "causeway" from each of the corners of the Square. Others thought it would be best to subscribe it to a fund to buy a publie clock. But the matter was finally settled by hand- ing the money over to Mr. Harry, the treasurer of the German Lutheran Church, for the use of that congregation.
The building of causeways in the Public Square would doubtless have served a very useful purpose, for there was no way of reaching the Court House and the Market, which were in the midst of the Square, but through the deep mud with which the town was "paved" in winter. The sidewalks and roadway were alike neglected and unkept. As far back as 1794, the commissioners of the town ordered that the persons through whose lots the ditch from the public spring at the foot of Brent- linger's lot passed should make that ditch three feet wide and two deep and protect the sides with logs or stone walls, and further, should pave and "post" their foot ways. For six years no manner of attention was paid to this order and then, in April, 1801, John Heddinger, clerk of the Market, warned the people that if all this work was not done by the following September it would be done by the town at the cost of the owners of the lots.
All this time, too, the people were greatly concerned with political affairs. The election in the autumn of 1799 had been declared null and void because it had been held by a deputy sheriff instead of the high sheriff himself. That officer had sought to justify his neglect by throwing the blame upon John Buchanan, then just coming into prominence as a leader of the Bar, who had his office on the Public Square next to Dr. Richard Pindell's house. The sheriff said that Buchanan had advised him that an election held by his dep-
uty would be legal. Mr. Buchanan denied having given any such advice, and he questioned and cross- questioned the sheriff in open court, until both gen- ilemen became very much incensed and made a scenc. Up to this time there had been but one polling place in the County, that at Hagerstown, and no judges of election except the sheriff who "held the poll." In 1800, under an act passed the previous year, the County was divided into five election districts, and judges of election, the first in the County, were appointed for each dis- trict. Those for the first district, or Sharpsburg, were Thomas Crampton, Benjamin Tyson and Joseph Chapline. In No. 2, or Williamsport, Rezin Davis, William Van Lear and Robert Smith. In No. 3 or Hagerstown, John Geiger, Ignatius Taylor and William Webb. In No. 4, or Clear- spring, Richard Cromwell, James Prather and Josiah Price. In No. 5, or Hancock, Thomas Brent, William Yates and Isaac Bachtel.
The elections in the year 1800 were of an exciting character. The struggle was between the Republicans, of which party Jefferson was the founder and undisputed leader, and the Federalists to which party President John Adams, whose term was then just about to expire, belonged. 'The majority of the people of this County were follow- ers of Jefferson. There were two elections. At the first, Jacob Schnebley was elected sheriff by a large majority. The Republican candidates for the Assembly, John Cellar, Robert Smith, Am- brose Geoghegan and Richard Cromwell, each re- ceived 1032 votes and was elected by a majority of about two hundred. The Federalist candidates were Alexander Clagett, Dr. Zachariah Clagett, Robert Hughes and Thomas Brent. Later was the Presidential election. At that time Presidential Electors were chosen by districts and not on a gen- eral ticket as at present. Washington and Alle- gany Counties were entitled to one Elector. The candidates were Eli Williams, who was for Adams, and Martin Kershner, who was for Jefferson. Kershner was elected by a majority of nine votes in the two counties. He carried Washington County by a majority of a hundred and sixty-six, receiving eleven hundred and forty-four votes to nine hundred and seventy-eight cast for Williams. The first election district gave Williams five hun- dred and fifty-nine votes, Kershner fifteen; the second, Williams one hundred and three, Kershner two hundred and eighteen; the third, Williams a hundred and forty-four, Kershner six hundred
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