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 74
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455
OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
Benjamin Franklin Newcomer was the eldest son of John and Catharine Newcomer. He was born April 28, 1827, at the old homestead of Hen- ry Newcomer, his grandfather. He was educated at the old Hagerstown Academy and it was in- tended that he should become a civil engineer. Instead of this however, he was sent to Baltimore. His father had formed a partnership in the grain and flour business with Samuel Stonebraker, in that city and when only 16 years of age B. F. Newcomer was sent to represent his father in the firm. Two years later he purchased his father's interest and became a member of the firm which was dissolved in 1862, Mr. Newcomer becoming the sole proprietor doing business under the name of Newcomer & Co. Leaving school at an early age Mr. Newcomer did not abandon his design of obtaining an education. During his early life in Baltimore he became a subscriber to the Merchan- tile Library and devoted his evenings to study, to reading good books and attending lectures. In all his business enterprises he achieved success and rapidly accumulated a fortune. In 1854 he became a director in the Union Bank of Maryland. He was one of the original promoters and mem- bers of the Corn and Flour Exchange which was organized in 1853. In 1861 he was elected direc- tor of the Northern Central Railway Company and was for years chairman of the finance committee, and was also a director in the Philadelphia, Wil- mington and Baltimore road. From 1867 to 1869 he was one of the Finance Commissioners of Bal- timore. After the war Mr. Newcomer invested largely in Southern railroads and supplied capital for their rehabilitation, among the rest the Wil- mington and Weldon and various roads which con- stituted the Coast Line. At one time Mr. New- comer was a director in no less than thirty rail- road companies. In these transactions which were always guided by consummate business judgment, he made a vast sum of money and became one of the wealthiest citizens of Maryland. In 1868 he founded the Safe Deposit and Trust Company of Baltimore against the advice of his friends and business associates who predicted failure of an institution founded to depend upon the business it was designed to do. But Mr. Newcomer's judg- ment was vindicated and the Safe Deposit and Trust Company became one of the wealthiest and strongest financial institutions in the South. Of this company Mr. Newcomer, was the President up to his death in 1901.
Mr. Newcomer transacted business with mar- velous facility. He never was flurried by the pres- sure of affairs and never appeared to be in a hur- ry. But he never got behind in the transaction of -the vast volume of business which he took upon himself. In Baltimore his advice as to invest- ments and other matters was sought by many people and he never failed to give them the benefit of his judgment. His manner was simple, kind and affable and his presence was commanding. Perhaps because one of his brothers, Mr. Alex- ander Newcomer of Washington County and others of his relatives, were afflicted with partial blind- ness, he always took a great interest in institutions for the education and relief of the blind. About 1852 he became one of the incorporators of the "Maryland Institution for the Instruction of the Blind" in Baltimore, and was a liberal benefac- tor of that school, his son Waldo, succeeding him in the directorate upon his death.
When about 21 years of age B. F. Newcomer married Amelia, daughter of John H. Ehlen of Baltimore, who died in 1881. They had four chil- dren : Waldo Newcomer, Mary L., wife of the late James M. Maslin; Nannie, who married F. H. Hack, of the Baltimore Bar, and Harriet, who married Henry B. Gilpin, of Baltimore.
Mr. B. F. Newcomer's charities were exten- sive. He was a liberal soul, always ready to ex- tend a helping hand to those in trouble or need. In his will he added to the great benefactions of his life. He loved his native County and was proud of his father. In his liberality and love of Washington County his youngest daughter, Mrs. H. B. Gilpin, follows him. She added to his gifts to the Washington County Library and has given generously to St. James School which her two sons attended and of which her husband is a trustee. She erected a noble memorial to her father in the form of a Baptistry to Emanuel Episcopal Church in Baltimore. A fine portrait of Mr. Newcomer hangs upon the wall of the Library in Hagerstown.
The endowment of the Library is not Mr. Newcomer's only benefaction to his native County. To him more than to any other is due the fact that Washington County has a fine home for Or- phan and Friendless children. Charitable men and women had long desired an institution which would rescue homeless and friendless children from the County Alms House where there was always danger that they would grow up into confirmed
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
pauperism. It was also desired to rescue children from vicious parents and to care for those whose parents are unable to support them. These child- ren, including even infants and foundlings, it was designed to care for and to educate into self sup- porting citizens. As soon as they are able to work they are bound out by the Orphans' Home, but while away from the home they are still in its care and under its protection. In the quarter cen- tury of its existence many children have been adopted and many have gone out into the world as worthy and respected men and women. The whole number cared for to this time is 403. The County supplies a teacher for them and their education is well cared for.
The movement to establish this beneficent in- stitution began about 1880 and three years later it was opened for the reception of children. The first superintendent was David Emmert, a man of piety, of infinite patience and charity and in his good work he had the aid for many years of Miss Anna McCarty, the matron, a woman so efficient in her management that she contributed largely to the success of the Home. While Mr. New- comer was the chief contributor, the Orphans' Home is a popular institution and the money for its early support came largely from collections in the churches all over the County. One year Mr. Newcomer promised to give a sum equal to that contributed by all the people of the County that voar. This stimulated liberal contributions and Mr. Newcomer was called upon for a large amount to redeem the promise. The more he had to give under these circumstances the better he was pleas- ed. For the Home a building was found on S. Po- tomae street which had been erected for a sani- tarium. It was admirably situated, with wide grounds around it and of ample size. This was first rented and then purchased the money for the purchase being collected by popular subscription and with $5,000 contributed by Mr. B. F. New- comer. To this sum Mr. Newcomer later added $10,000 as an endowment and when he died he gave in his will. the further sum of $25,000. The County Commissioners annually appropriate $1,- 500 for the support of the Home, estimating that the care of pauper children saves the taxpayers that sum in the expenses of the Alms House. The cost of conducting the Home is about $3,500 a year. People contribute largely to its support by supplying fruit and vegetables besides giving money.
Among the most liberal friends of the Home have been the brothers and other relatives of Mr. Newcomer living at Beaver Creck. The late Alexander Newcomer, one of the brothers, was a trustec and contributor down to the time of liis death a few years ago.
The present Board of Managers is composed of Jacob Roessner, S. M. Bloom, John Gassman, Charles E. Roach, David Emmert, Dr. V. M. Reichard, Frank M. Thomas, Isaac Emmert, Wil- liam Newcomer, Mrs. Samuel Emmert, Mrs. George Freaner, Mrs. James Findlay, Mrs. Henry A. Mcomas, Mrs. O. D. MeCardell and Miss Jen- nie Stouffer. The present superintendent is Ja- cob A. Zeigler. Among those who were conspic- uous in founding the Home and who are now deceased, were Charles W. Humrichouse, Dr. Thomas Maddox and Henry Onderdonk.
The idea of establishing a public hospital at Hagerstown was first suggested a good many years ago by Miss Lucy H. Nimmo, a pious lady then living at "Surrey" the suburban home of the late Joseph Reynolds. Miss Nimmo had fairs and did sewing to raise a fund, but without any great success, although the necessity for such a charity was all the time more keenly felt. The numerous railroads centering in Hagerstown caused many accidents, and it was felt that there should be a properly equipped hospital where such accident cases could be treated as well as medical cases.
In 1904, Senator B. Abner Betts of Wash- ington County procurred the enactment of the charter of "The Washington County Hospital As- sociation," (Chapter 234 of the Laws of that year ), and also secured an annual appropriation of $6,000 from the State of Maryland for the support of the charity. The Board of Trustees for the first year wore: J. G. Bower, President; B. Abner Betts, vice-President ; James P. Harter, Secretary ; Ed- ward W. Mealey, Treasurer ; M. A. C'ullen, George B. Oswald, W. H. MeCardell, William Newcomer and Col. Win. P. Lane. A building on North Po- tomae street, near Broadway, was secured for temporary occupation, while a fund for a perma- nent building is accumulating. To this fund Mr. Edward W. Mealey and the Byron family of Wil- liamsport have already been liberal contributors, and the main work of estblishing the hospital has been assumed by Mr. Mealey. Miss M. Grace Matthew, a graduate of the Waltham Training School for Nurses was engaged as superintendent. The institution was opened for patients in 1905.
457
OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
In an address before the Washington County Med- ical Society in the summer of 1905, Mr. Mealey explained the purposes of the Hospital as fol- lows :
"The Washington County Hospital is designed for the treatment of accidents, of acute and sub- acute diseases, and cases of chronic, incurable, in- fectious or contagious diseases, will not be admit ted at present. The rules, regulations and rates will be prepared as soon as possible, and will be made as liberal as the resources at command will permit. The Hospital is to be open for the reception of the patients of all the doctors of the County, such patients to be under the sole advice and treatment of their own physicians, and to receive from the Hospital under the directions of each ones' own physician, such carc, attendance and nursing as the resources of the Hospital can fur- nish. * * *
"The other purpose of the Board of Trustees has in view is the establishment in connection with the Hospital of a nursing school. They would of course prefer, were it possible, that such nursing school should be a separate and distinct institution, but as at present situated we do not think it pos- sible. * *
"We desire and propose going a step further, namely to have nurses, not only for the Hospital and the cases treated there, but to make the nurses, while student nurses, available for neigh- borly nursing among the poor and those of moder- ate means, known as district nursing. This is not only the most economical service obtainable, but in many ways is the best kind of service for district visiting nursing."
We have now traced the progress of Wash- ington County from the first advent of white people to its territory, which was then a wilder- ness, inhabited only by Indians and wild animals, down to the present time. That first settlement was considerably less than two centuries ago-a brief period in the life of a people. But in this County it has been full of events, not merely of local happenings, but of some historic deeds of world-wide importance. In recent years, tlie County and its chief town have grown in popula- tion, in civilization and in wealth more rapidly than at any like period in its early history. Its soil has increased in fertility, methods of farm- ing have become more scientific, public roads have been better made, and the outlook for further im- provement is better than ever before.
When the County was first erected, in 1776, it included a territory extending from the crest . of South Mountain to the Western slope of the Alleghenies at the "Meridian of the first fountain of the Potomac," the present Western boundary of the State. What the population of this great territory, now divided into three counties, was in 1776, there is no means of knowing. But in all probability it did not exceed 8,000 or 10,000. In twenty years it had increased to about 20,000. In 1789 Allegany County was set apart, and this took from Washington County 4,800 persons, leaving the population of Washington County, in its present boundaries, 15,822 by the first census, that of 1790. In the successive decades, the pop- ulation was as follows: In 1800, 18,659 ; in 1810, 18,730; in 1820, 23,075 ; in 1830, 25,268 ; in 1840, 28,850 ; in 1850, 30,848 ; in 1860, 31,417; in 1870, 34,712 ; in 1880, 38,561; in 1890, 39,693 ; in 1900, 45,133.
At one time, namely in 1820, one-cighth of the population were slaves, there being 3,201 of that class, 627 frce negroes and 19,247 whites. This was the largest number of slaves in any census. It grew to this from 1,286 in the first census, and gradually decreased, as the habit of running away to Pennsylvania after that State nullified the fugitive slave laws, increased, until in 1860 there were only 1,435 in the County. It is likely that in 1864, when the Constitution of that year abolished slavery, there were only a few remaining to get their freedom. Between 1850 and 1860, there was a considerable diminution in the number of free colored people. In 1790, there were only 64 free negroes in the County. There was a steady increase in the number, until in 1860 there were 1,677 of them, a number exceeding the slaves, and showing the growth of the growing custom of manumitting the slaves and the rapid disappearance of the institution of slavery from the country.
At the time of the creation of the County, in 1776, Hagerstown was about fourteen years old. There is no way of ascertaining with any degree of accuracy its population at that time. But Funks- town was its rival and competitor for the lionor of being the County seat. It is likely that the population then was not much in excess of 500. At an early date, as soon as people began to travel westward, Hagerstown became an important point on the principal road between east and west. It was the stopping place for stages, freight wag-
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
ons and herds. There were many taverns to ae- eommodate the traveling public and it is somewhat surprising that its growth was not more rapid. The traffie on the National road was at its high water mark between 1840 and 1850, and yet in all that time the population of the town did not reach 4,000. Beginning with 1810, the popula- tion, according to the eensus of various deeades was
as follows: In 1810, 2,342, of which 297 were slaves and 94 free negroes ; in 1820, 2,600 ; in 1850, 3,849; in 1860, 4,132; in 1870, 5,779; in 1880, 6,627; in 1890, 11,698; in 1900, 13,591. It is likely that at the present time, the beginning of 1906 the population, ineluding the suburbs, is over 15,000.
St. Paul's Reformed Church, Clearspring.
St. John's Reformed Church, Clearspring.
OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
461
CHAPTER XXXII
S T. PAUL'S REFORMED CHURCH, CLEARSPRING .-* Among the oldest of
the institutions of this section of the State
is St. Paul's Reformed Church, known in the early church annals as the "Conococheague Congregation," and commonly known in our day as "The Stone Church on the Western Pike." Early in the eighteenth century, immigrants holding the Reformed faith settled here. Far from home, and surrounded by hardships and perils, they had a lively sense of dependence upon God, and held divine services as well and as often as they could without a spiritual leader.
The earliest authentie history dates from May 9, 1748. On this day the Rev. Michael Schlatter, sent out by the Reformed Church of Holland at the earnest solieitation of the Church in Germany and Reformned colonists in Pennsylvania, arrived from Frederick, Md., preached, administered both saeraments and ordained elders and deacons. He speaks at length of this visit in his diary. He visited Frederick during the year before, and at. that time refers to the Conococheague congrega- tion in a manner which shows that he is already acquainted with it.
He writes that the people are of Swiss and German origin. Among the family names of that time we find Seibert, Kershner, Seller and Price. The missionary notes that "Here in this region there are very fruitful fields for grain and pas- ture; they produee Turkish eorn almost without any manure, among which are stalks ten and more feet long ; and grass exceeding fine." He traveled
many miles through forests by Indian trails, which were the only roads. Such indieations of civil- ization as he saw were the result of painful toil amid trying hardship. Again he writes, "In this neighborhood there are still many Indians, who are well disposed and very obliging and are not disinclined towards Christians when they are not made drunk by strong drink." But the settlers had prepared themselves, against the worst by building block-houses : one where Gov. Sharpe af- terward erected what is known as Fort Frederick, and one on the west side of the Conococheague creek, about a half mile south of where the West- ern Pike now crosses. This latter one was used for public worship. It was here that the Rev. or Domine Schlatter gathered the congregation, and here they worshipped regularly thereafter until 1797, a period of fifty years.
There were few ministers, and although some were brought from the fatherland, it was difficult to supply all the charges organized by the missionary. Therefore it was not until 1753 that a regular cler- gyman, the Rev. Theodore Frankenfeld, was in- stalled. The charge then consisted of three eon- gregations : at Frederick, Md., where he resided, at C'onewago (between Littlestown and Hanover, Pa.,) and the"Conococheague." This arrangement continued until 1759, when the Conewago congre- gation was connected with that of York, Pa. In spite of this great territory which he covered, we learn from the minutes of Synod that "Domine Frankenfeld rejoiees with thanksgiving to God over them." Each congregation had its own day
*Contributed by Rev. Frederick Wm. Bald.
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
school, and the minister sent a man, Tauber by name, as teacher for St. Paul's. Frederick and Conococheague together contributed in 1753, forty pounds for their minister's salary. Beside this, he received an allowance from the Holland mis- sionary fund of twenty pounds, making his salary about $300. He acknowledges having received from the Rev. Mr. Schlatter 12 folio and 24 octavo Bi- bles. Eight folios were sold for 10 shillings a piece ; the remainder were given away or placed in pulpits. St. Paul's received one of these, but it has been lost. This pastorate elosed in 1756, with the death of the minister.
The Rev. John Conrad Steiner was the second pastor and served from 1756 to 1759. The Rev. Philip William Otterbein became his successor, his time of service extending from 1760 to 1765. In 1764 he reports to Synod that the congregation consists of 30 families, and that the school has 30 pupils. In 1766 the congregation makes a touching appeal to Synod for a pastor, saying that they are "still living in poverty and the wil- derness." After this the Rev. Carl Lange became pastor of the charge, but served less than 2 years, from 1766 to 1768.
There followed an interregnum of two years. But it is apparent that the service must have been growing more and more irregular, because the Frederick congregation had become strong, and was requiring more attention from her pastor. This explains an entry in the diary of the Rev. J. C'. Bucher in which he notes that he preached upon numerous occasions from 1763-70 in the Conoco- cheague Church. He resided at Carlisle, Pa., and was the regular pastor of an immense field; but, like his brethren, was always ready to preach the Word wherever there was need.
The Frederick and Conococheague congrega- tions were separated in the year 1770. The lat- ter now became a part of a charge which included Zion Church, of Hagerstown and Troxell's. In this same year, the Rev. Jacob Weymer beeame pastor. Before he was installed, a committee was sent by Synod to adjust certain differ- ences, the nature of which is not stated; but the committee reports that "the sects make strong ef- forts there, and the district is populous." Peace was restored, and in the year 1772, Rev. Mr. Wey- mer gives the following totals for the three con- gregations : Membership, 86 families ; confirmed that year, 47. Three years later there were 97 families, 116 persons were received by eonfirma-
tion ; and there were three sehools with 70 pupils. In 1776, the number of families had inereased to 100.
A congregation at Funkstown was added to the charge in 1785. This year, the salary amount- ed to 75 pounds and perquisites to 15 pounds. St. Paul's membership numbered 21 families. On May 12, 1790, after 20 years of faithful serviee, crowned with abundant suecess, he died. His re- mains lie buried in the cemetery of Zion Reformed Church, Hagerstown.
The Rev. Jonathan Rahauser began his pastor- ate in the year 1792. This was his first charge, and the records show that his labors were prodi- gious. Five years later, and during his ineumben- cy, the old stone church, a high reetangular build- ing with galleries on three sides and a wine-glass pulpit, was erected upon the site now oeeupied ; and the old block house which had done duty so long, was abandoned. He died in 1817, having given to his people twenty years of noble serviee. One day he received a drenching while fording the Conococheague when the water was very high. From this he contracted a severe eold, and died a few weeks later.
Until this time the preaching was in the Ger- man language. It is thought that during the pas- torate of the Rev. Mr. Ebaugh English preaching was introduced. He served from 1817-18. Some difficulty arose between him and the Hagerstown congregation. He was exhonorated, but was ad- vised to resign, which he did.
The Rev. James R. Reily became pastor in 1819, and continued as such until 1825. He pos- sessed unusual preaching ability ; but was forced to resign because of failing health ..
Then followed two short pastorates, that of the Rev. Martin Bruner, 1826-32, and that of the Rev. William H. Good, 1834-36, after which St. Paul's was detached from Hagerstown and made a part of the ('lear Spring charge. It thus eame under the spiritual leadership of the Rev. D. G. Bragonier who had for two years been serving ('lear Spring. Little Cove and Timber Ridge in Bedford County, Pa. His relation was severed in 1840. The Rev. Geo. H. Leopold followed, but remained only a few months. Then eame the Rev. B. T. Neal, 1842-1845. From this time, for a period of twenty years, the charge was feeble, probably because the Pennsylvania congregations had been detached. The Rev. S. N. Callender was appointed as stated supply by Maryland Classis,
463
OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
and served from 1846 to 1850. The Rev. John Beck was regular pastor from 1851 to 1853. Then eame another period of stated supply, by the Rev. J. Rebaugh, from 1854 to 1863. Father Rebaugh, as he is still ealled, was pastor at Greeneastle, but attended regularly to the work of this charge. During the next two years the pulpit was supplied by professors and students from the Reformed Seminary which was still at Mercersburg.
The prospects brightened when the Rev. Wil- liam Goodrich was installed, in 1865. The people were rallied; a handsome church edifiee was erect- ed in Clear Spring; a parsonage was donated, through his efforts, by Mrs. Sarah Heller; the membership was substantially increased; and to- ward the elose of his long pastorate, the beautiful and modern St. Paul's Church building was erect- ed jointly by the Reformed and Lutheran eongre- gations, to take the place of the old structure which had withstood the storms of a hundred years. He served until his death, which occurred on May 5, 1899. His pastorate of nearly 34 years was marked as having been the longest, the most pros- perous and the tenderest of all those years that had gone before. His remains were laid to rest in the Rose Hill Reformed Cemetery, Clear Spring, by a mourning community.
In October, 1899, the Rev. Charles Knight, a recent graduate of the Reformed Seminary, be- came pastor. He was in ill health from the beginning, but struggled heroically with his dis- ability and labored arduously, aeeomplishing much, and eompletely winning the affeetion of his peo- ple. At the elose of the first year he resigned, and in February of the next year he died. He gave promise of much usfulness and many hearts were sad because of his premature deatlı. He was bur- ied at Bethlehem, Pa.
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