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 41
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It has already been noted that the Williams-
port Bank suspended specie payments in October 1839. The suspension was the outcome of the panic of 1837. The President of the Bank of the United States, Mr. Biddle, engaged in a disastrous eotton speculation with the funds of the Bank, and ruined that institution, which dragged down many other banks and interests with it, eausing a general suspension of specie payments by banks. It was said that J. Dixon Roman lost $10,000 by the failure of this bank. The great fire in New York City contributed to the general ruin, and the climax was reached by a failure in the wheat crop, two successive years. In 1835 there was a short erop throughout the United States. In 1836, there was a total failure owing to the dep- redations of the fly. In Washington County the farmers were reduced to the last extremity. It was decided to try new varieties of seed for the next year and great quantities of seed wheat from the Mediterranean were imported. This wheat was sown in the autumn of 1836. As a precaution against the fly, wheat was sown late and before there was time to attain any considerable growth, cold weather set in. Late in the spring the fields looked bare and desolate, and farmers believed that there was to be a failure for the third year. But warm rains set in, and the wheat began to grow vigorously. but harvest did not take place until August. The erop harvested was a good one. Just at the beginning of the harvest, on July 27, the special election for Congress took place. Thomas and Merrick were the candidates. There was but a small vote in Washington County each candidate receiving 1881 votes. Thomas was elected by 300 majority.
During this decade the papers contained fre- quent notices of the deaths of Revolutionary sol- diers. These old patriots were rapidly passing away. It was now about sixty years since the close of the war, and only the very aged still remained. As each one died the event excited more than a passing interest. David Harry, who had served through the war, died at Hagerstown in March, 1843, at the great age of ninety-three years. In January, 1845, Peter Feigley died. Feigley had attained an even greater age than Harry. He was born in 1748. He served through the entire war, and was present at the surrender at Yorktown. He was buried with military honors by Captain Schley's Hagerstown Cadets. the Union Riflemen under Lieut. Hefflefinger, and the Me- chanics Band. Captain George Wherritt died in
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OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
Funkstown in May, 1844. He was born in 1776, and enlisted in the army when war was threatened in 1790. He also enlisted to suppress the whis- key Insurrection. He fought through the war of 1812, and was present at the battle of North Point. He was a citizen of Funkstown and was buried with military honors by the Washington Riflemen of that place. But the death which ,produced a profound impression throughout the whole state was that of the distinguished Chief Justice of Maryland John Buchanan, which took place at "Woodland," his country seat near Wil- liamsport, November 6, 1844.
The appointment of Judge Buchanan's suc- cessor gave occasion for some political feeling. There had been a hot political contest for Gover- nor. The Democrats had been successful in elect- ing Francis Thomas over Wm. T. Goldsborough. Governor Pratt's term was just about to expire when Judge Buchanan died, and he appointed Daniel Weisel to the vacancy just as he was retir- ing. The Democrats contended that it was un- seemly to make the appointment, and that it should have been left for Governor Thomas. In- deed, during this whole decade party feeling and animosity was very pronounced. In February, 1845, the contest for Congress was between Mason Democrat, and Brengle, Whig. The latter car- ried the County by a vote of 2188 to 2060. The Presidential campaign between Polk and Clay that Fall was a time of intense excitement, and nothing was heard of but the Tariff. In Wash- ington County, it was not merely a political con- test. Most of the prominent Whigs of the County knew Mr. Clay personally, and loved him. The combination of this personal attachment with in- tense political conviction and an entire persuasion that the welfare of the County was dependent upon the result, operated powerfully upon the minds and hearts of the people. When the news of his defeat came, many strong men wept bitter- ly. Then the question of the annexation of Texas came up. The Whigs denounced it as a wicked scheme. Maryland had pronounced against it.by a majority of three thousand. Mr. Merrick represented this majority in the United States Senate. He had been a pronounced Whig, and when this Whig Senator cast the deciding vote in the Senate in favor of the "wicked scheme" of annexing the "barren, debt-encumbered terri-
tory of Texas," the indignation of the Washing- ton County Whigs knew no bounds nor moderation. Senator Merrick's action was "the most damnable recusancy and treachery ever heard of save that of the arch traitor John Tyler."* Then came the Mexican war. The Whigs did not cease to protest against it. The cost of such a war could not fall far short of a hundred millions. It was not only an unnecessary war but it was cruel and uncalled for. But during the whole time their was great activity in Washington County. As soon as the battle was smelled from afar, the roll of the drum was heard and Whig and Democrat alike enlisted with the same feeling and desire for adventure as animates men to go on a hunting excursion. Captain Anniba promptly offered the Leitersburg Invincibles to his country but the offer was declined, because the ranks were too thin. It contained only thirty men. Among the very first to enlist was James L. Freaner.
Col. James L. Freaner a son of William Freaner, of Hagerstown, was one of the boldest and miost enterprising of the pioneers who opened up the wilds of the West to civilization. He was one of the band of adventurers who first penetrated the unexplored wilds of Texas. Whilst in Mexico, he distinguished himself as the war correspondent of the New Orleans Delta and his letters, over the signature of "Mustang," attracted the atten- tion of the country. The treaty of peace which closed the war and ceded California to the United States was brought from the City of Mexico to Washington in an extraordinary ride by Col. Frcancr. After the close of the war he went to California, and became one of the earliest set- tlers of that golden land. But his restless and enterprisng disposition did not suffer him to re- main quiet. He obtained from the Legislature of California a charter for a wagon-road through the northern portion of the State to the Oregon line. With three companions he left Yreka in June, 1852, to survey the route. The party disappeared and nothing further was heard of them for three years. Then Numtariman, a Cow Creek Indian Chief, told how the party with two Indians had started to cross the Pitt River in a canoe. In the middle of the stream the Indians capsized the canoe and a large party on either shore commenced shooting their arrows into the white men as they were struggling in the water. Long afterwards, a skull
*Torch Light.
24:
HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
was found near the place indicated which was identified as that of Col. Freaner by a peculiar gold filling in one of the teeth.
Another son of Washington County in the Mexican War was Richard Pindell Hammond. He was a son of Dr. William Hammond. His mother was Anna Maria Ringgold Tilghman, a daughter of Col. Frisby Tilghman. Richard P. Hammond graduated at West Point in 1841. After serving at various military posts he was ordered to Mexico, where he fought bravely and was brevetted major at Chapultepec. In the fight before the City of Mexico he was highly spoken of, and after the city fell was assigned to quar- ters in the palace of the Montezumas, where he occupied the rooms of General Santa Anna. In 1851 he resigned his commission, and engaged in work in Califorma. Ho laid out the City of Stockton. Upon several occasions he occupied high civil offices in the State and was for many years Chief of the Police Commissioners of the city of San Francisco.
Richard Pindell Hammond's father, Wilham Hanumond, Sr., was also a native of Hagerstown. Dr. William IIammond, Sr., was appointed as- sistant surgeon in the United States Army by President Andrew Jackson on June 1, 1834. His wife was a daughter of Col. Frisby Tilghman, of Washington County, brother-in-law of Gen. Sam- uel Ringgold. The senior Dr. Hammond died in Benicia, Cal., February 13, 1851. During the greater part of his service in the army Dr. Ham- mond's family resided in Hagerstown. He left three sons. R. P. Hammond, mentioned above, was the eldest. William Hammond, the second son, who died in May, 1905, at the age of 80 years, was appointed assistant surgeon in the United States Army, March 2. 1848, and was stationed for a number of years in California. He resigned his commission September 15, 1853, and made San Francisco his home. George Hammond, the third son of old Dr. William Hammond, was appointed assistant surgeon in the United States Army in June 28. 1856. He died in 1863.
One of the daughters of the elder Dr. Ham- mond married John Buchanan HIall, a member of the Hagerstown Bar, who afterward moved to California.
The most distinguished of the soldiers that Washington County gave to the United States in the Mexican War was Major Samuel Ringgold. Major Ringgold's father, General Samuel Ring-
gold, had served the State as a representative in Congress for many years. Three of his sons were in the military service. Major Ringgold was born at Fountain Rock in 1800; graduated at West Point in 1818, and served for several years as aid-de camp to Gen. Scott. In 1836 he became captain ; was engaged in the Florida war, and for his services in that war was brevetted major. He organized a corps of flying artillery, and was mortally wounded at the battle of Palo Alto, at the very beginning of the Mexican War. He introduced flying artillery into our army and invented the MeClellan saddle which is still used by army officers and regarded by them as the best. He also invented an appliance for exploding the fulminating primer of field guns. Major Ring- gold's mother was Maria, daughter of Gen. John Cadwalader of Kent County.
Another son of Washington County who was in the Mexican War was Cadwalader Ringgold, son of Gen. Ringgold of Fountain Rock. He was born at Fountain Rock, Washington County, August 20, 1802. In 1819 he entered the Navy as a midshipman. From 1838 to 1842, he was engaged in the Wilkes Expedition, commanding the brig Porpoise. In that expedition he took part in the Antarctic explorations, and in a survey of South Sea Islands and of the Pacific coast of North America. He served in California from 1849 to 1851. On account of ill health, he had to decline the command of the North Pacifie ex- ploring expedition, and was placed upon the re- serve list September. 1855. The next year he returned to active service and was promoted cap- tain. In 1861, he commanded the frigate Sabine; after varied service during the Civil War, he was promoted Commodore in 1862. placed on the re- tired list in 1864, and retired as rear-admiral in 1866. TIe died in New York City the following year.
George Hay Ringgold was the son of Gen. Samuel Ringgold by his second wife, Marie An- toinette Hay. He was born at Fountain Rock in 1814, and died in San Francisco, April 4, 1864. Ile graduated at the U. S. Military Academy at West Point in 1833. He resigned from the army in 1837, and engaged in farming. He was ap- pointed paymaster in 1846, and served in that capacity in the Mexican War. ITe became deputy Paymaster-General in 1862, and was in charge of this service on the Pacific Coast until his death. In addition to his military accomplishments, he
Trinity Lutheran Church, Hagerstown.
St. Paul's M. E. Church, Hagerstown.
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OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
was a draughtsinan, a painter and a poet. Ile published a volume entitled "Fountain Rock, Amy Weir and other Metrieal Pastimes."
Col. William H. Fitzhugh, son of Col. Wm. H. Fitzhugh, distinguished himself in the fight before the City of Mexico and was wounded. He was a private in the Regiment of Voltigeurs. Thomas Philips, Jeremiah Corey, Upton Wilson, Calvin Julius, Calvin Bowers and John and James Anderson, all of Hagerstown, were in the regular army on the Rio Grande with General Taylor at the beginning of hostilities. A com- mission of major in one of the two volunteer Maryland regiments, was tendered by the Gover- nor to William B. Clarke a leading lawyer of Ha- gerstown, but the offer was deelined. In Septem- ber, 1847, Dr. Frisby Tilghman who lived on the farm near Lappons subsequently owned by Dr. Thomas Maddox, left with a half-dozen others for the seat of war. Dr. Tilghman had been ap- pointed 1st Lieutenant of Captain Tilghman's Light Infantry. When he reached Vera Cruz the war was ended. The farmers of Washing- ton County rcaped considerable advantage from the war in the increased priee of wheat. The priee of flour in Hagerstown quickly advanced to $10 per barrel.
Nor did the newspapers fail to reap their part of the benefit. The eagerness for news was very great, and all of the County papers, "The Herald of Freedom" published by Mittag and Sneary, "The Torch Light," by Edwin Bell, "The News," by Jolin W. Boyd, and the Williamsport "Times" all published semi-weekly editions to sup- ply the demand. It was to these papers that the people looked for for their news, not only for local news, but for the history of events throughout the world. There was no competition by city papers with those published in the County, and that fact accounts for the different character of the County papers in those days. Among the printers of Hagerstown was one whose paper, the "Western Correspondent" had died out with the use of the German language in which it was printed or many years. Although he did not die until ten years later he was even at this time the oldest and best known printer in the State. "J. Gruber's Hagers-Town Town and Coun-
*The substance of this sketch is derived from an article in the Herald of Freedom January 6, 1858, supposed to have been prepared by the Rev. S. H. Giesy, then pastor of Zion Reformed Church
try Almanack"* has done more than anything else to make the name of Hagerstown familiar through- out the United States. Millions have been printed and sold, circulating mainly in Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. The German editions of this famous publieation was established in 1795, at a time when most of the church services in Hagerstown were conducted in that language. Twenty-five years later an English edition beeame necessary. The eireulation of the latter edition rapidly increased, while as a new generation grew up, that of the German Almanac diminished.
The type for these publications was set by Gruber himself, assisted in later years by Daniel May, the husband of his daughter. The press upon which the almanacs and newspaper were printed was bought in Philadelphia. Upon this press, besides printing the Almanaes and his news- papers, Mr. Gruber printed other publications, in- eluding the first edition of the Psalms and Hymns of the German Reformed Church, under the su- pervision of the Synod, in 1813. The copy for the German Almanae was for many years furnished by the eelebrated Dr. Christian Boerstler, a gen- tleman of liberal education and high standing in the County and State, who had emigrated from Germany and settled in Funkstown. The family of John Gruber possess records going baek three and a half eenturies. The family lived at Mai- burg in Hesse, occupying for generations a high and honorable position. One of them, Andreas Gruber, was a pastor who was in one parish forty- eight years. On the mother's side the family derived its lineage, it is elaimed, from noble blood. The first of the family to emigrate to America was John Adam Gruber, the grandfather of the founder of the Almanac, who landed, with his family in Philadelphia in 1726, and settled in Germantown. Here John Everhard Gruber, the father of John Gruber, was born in 1736. John Everhard Gruber was a physician. He married Miss Christiana Pain, of Philadelphia in 1763. Both of them spent the evening of their lives with their son in Hagerstown. There the father died in 1814, aged seventy-eight, and the mother, ten years later, at the age of eighty-six. John Gruber, the founder of the Almanae, was born in Strasburg, Lancaster County, Pa., October 31,
but who afterwards joined the Episcopal Church and died in 1888, whilst Rector of Epiphany Parish, Washington, D. C.
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
1768. He was apprenticed to a printer in Phila- delphia, and served six years. Being in feeble health, he was sent to San Domingo for the benefit of the warm and delightful climate and there sustained himself by setting type for a newspaper printed in the French language. He escaped the horrors of the insurrection which took place while he was in the island. Landing in Baltimore, he met with General Samuel Ringgold, and was by him induced to make Ilagerstown his home; he arrived here in 1795. Ringgold was an ardent politician, and his object in having Mr. Gruber come to Hagerstown was to start a newspaper in the interest of the Jefferson or Republican party. The "Western Correspondent .. " printed in the Ger- man language, was accordingly established. Soon after Jefferson's election a number of Federalists proposed to Mr. Gruber to furnish him with a certain cash sum of money, and to guarantee three hundred new subscribers for several years, upon condition that he would oppose Jefferson and favor the Federalists. This proposal was rejected. Later, at the instance of a number of Republican politicians, an English newspaper called the "Sen- tinel of Liberty" was started, but as an excellent paper belonging to the same party was already well established, namely, the Maryland Herald, by Thomas Grieves, this venture was not a success, and was shortly abandoned. But the publication of the Western Correspondent was continued for some years, by Gruber and May. It was in this office that Adamı Glossbrenner, sergeant-at- arms of the House of Representatives of the United States in 1858, served an apprenticeship. Whilst Mr. Gruber was a Republican or Jefferson- ian from strong conviction, he was never violent, but rather ealm and deliberate in his judgment and in the expression of his views. He voted at every Presidential election from Washington to Buchanan inclusive and continued to the end of his life an adherent of the Democratic party. When he came to die, it was said of him that he left not one enemy ; that he had never been heard to speak ill of any human being, and that he never owed a debt. He lived in and owned the small house on South Potomac street which was taken down a few years ago to give place to Jacob Monath's building. This house was almost his entire estate. He was an exemplar of the domes- tic virtues. "To him ago listened with respect and admiration, and youth rose up and called him blessed." Gruber died on the 20th of December
1857, at the age of 89 years. He was buried on the last day of the year in the graveyard of Zion German Reformed Church by the Rev. Samuel H. Giesy.
Notwithstanding the bitter opposition of the Whigs to the Mexican War, they did not fail to take every politieal advantage which grew out of it. They charged the Democratic administration with lack of vigor in prosecuting the war, and nominated the successful General Zachary Taylor, for the Presideney. The enthusiasm of his cam- paign was only second to that of the Harrison campaign, and the majority which he received in Washington County was 254, even more than that given to old Tinnecanoe. The popular refrain with which the County resounded was
"Hurrah, hurrah we think with reason
That this will be a great coon season."
But politics did not oeeupy the entire publie attention. Several of our most enduring institu- tions were founded about this time. In February, 1846, the Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Washington County was organized. Daniel Weisel, George Fechtig, M. W. Boyd, Alex. Neill. Jr., G. A. Bender, Daniel Sehindel. Edwin Bell, Geo. W. Smith. William B. McAtee, George Shafer and George Schley were the first directors. Dan- iel Weisel was the first President, but he was succeeded in a few months by William B. Clark, and Edwin Bell beeame secretary. The company has had a prosperous career for several years. Matthew S. Barber was the President for many years. During the Civil War an op- position company was formed, based prinei- pally upon politieal objection to the Demo- crats who composed the old Mutual. But this company expired in a few years. The Planters' Mutual Company was organized, and soon entered upon a prosperous career which continues to this day. In 1847, the Hagerstown Savings Institu- tion was incorporated. After conducting busi- ness for eight years without making one bad debt or losing a single dollar, the charter was amended by the Legislature in 1854. The name was chang- ed to che Hagerstown Savings Bank, and the priv- ilege of issuing notes in denominations not less than $5 was given. Under this power, $25,000 wore at once issued. P. B. Small was the first President of the Bank, and Peter Negley Cashier. In 1865 the Bank became the First National Bank of Hagerstown. In 1870, Peter Negley resigned to become sub-Treasurer at Baltimore, and Mr.
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OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
Small succeeded him as cashier filling that position . until his death in 1881, when John D. Newcomer was elected. Charles G. Lane succeeded Small as President. He died in 1873, and Col. George Schley was elected. He filled the position until his death in 1890. During the last year or two of his life, on account of his feeble health, Col. Buchanan Schley was acting President. In 1890 S. M. Bloom was elected President.
The manufactures of the County at this time were important. The most conspicuous Iron Man- ufacturers in the County were the Hughes. The Hughes brothers built a furnace at Black Rock; South Mountain, before the Revolution. After- wards, another known as Mt. Aetna was built a mile further down the mountain. This passed into the hands of John Horine. Col. Daniel Hughes and Col. William Fitzhugh built the Old Forge Nail Factory on the Antietam between Hagerstown and Leitersburg. Col. Daniel Hughes and his two sons, Samuel and Daniel, built the Mt. Alto Furnace in Franklin County, Pa., which had a long and prosperous career. The Hughes foundry was well known and established at the time of the Revolutionary War ; it furnished many cannon for the use of the Continental Army. The first of this prominent family to come to America was Barnabas Hughes, of Ireland, in 1750. He settled in Lancaster, Pa. He had three sons, Daniel and Samuel, who were both conspicuous in the Revolutionary War for the prominent part they took in Washington County, and John, who was a captain in the Revolutionary Army. The sons of Danicl Hughes were Robert, William, Samuel and James. A daughter of the eldest of these married Joseph I. Merrick. A son, John II. Hughes lived in California; Colonel Daniel Hughes at the age of 70 married his third wife, the mother of Commodore Elliott. Robert Hughes the eldest son of Col. Daniel, married Susannah Purviance of Baltimore. He had six children : Elizabeth Isabella; Henrietta F., who married Dr. Fenn, of Rochester; Rebecca L., unmarried ; Letitia P., who married Dr. H. H. Harvey; Wil- liam, the second son of Col. 'Daniel Hughes, who married Margaret Coale of Cecil County and had a large number of children; this family went to Kentucky ; Samuel, the third son of Col. Hughes married Miss ITolker and had the following child- ren : Major Jolin IIolker, James, Napoleon, IIenry,
Lewis, Marie Antoinette who married Col. Wm. Fitzhugh, Louisa, the wife of Dr. Clagett Dorscy, Adelaide, wife of John Savage of Philadelphia; Catherine, who married first Win. C. Brien, and afterwards Dr. Tryon H. Edwards. The Hughes were frequently intermarried with the Fitzhughs and there is close relationship between the two families .*
The old Nail Factory at Antietam Iron Works, owned at the time by John McPherson Brien, was burned on the 25th of April 1841. It was rebuilt, increased in size and in successful operation in two months. These works situated about three hundred yards from the junction of the Antietam and the Potomac, gave employment in 1841 to two hundred white laborers and sixty slaves. To these slaves Mr. Brien was a remark- ably kind master and it was said that their cloth- ing, food and general condition of happiness were superior to those enjoyed by any free negroes. The head of the fall at these works is about twenty-one fect. At the time of which we are speaking, one water wheel, fourteen feet high and eight feet wide, drove an improved saw mill, and shingle, stave and jointing machines. The fur- nace bellows wheel was twenty feet high and four fect wide. The furnace blown by this wheel made from forty to sixty tons of metal a week. An- other water wheel, sixteen feet high, drove nine- teen nail and spike machines, with the necessary cutters to prepare the plates. Between four and five hundred kegs of nails. varying in size from two-penny up to seven-inch spikes, were manufac- tured each week. Another water-wheel twelve fcet high worked a ponderous chaffery hammer. There was a six-fire forge, with a hammer weigh- ing twenty-one tons driven by a sixteen foot wheel. There were also two forge bellows wheels seventeen feet high. There was a rolling mill for turning rolls of various sizes, nail rods, nail plates and bar iron. This machinery was driven by an overshot wheel fourteen feet high and twenty feet wide. There were also three puddling furnaces and an air furnace. Two other wheels, seventeen feet high, drove a merchant grist mill, with four run of French burrs. All of these wheels were driven from the same race, supported by a strong wall laid in hydraulic cement. Two hundred and fifty yards away was the canal basin, where coal, lumber and ore were received and the pro-
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