USA > Maryland > Montgomery County > Sandy Spring > Annals of Sandy Spring history of a rural community in Maryland, Volume II > Part 11
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Sixth month, 9th and 10th, quarterly meeting oc- curred, much smaller than last year's, and compara- tively few visitors from other sections, but the address- es and business were of considerable interest.
Sixth month, 13th, occurred the death of an old gen- tleman, William Miles, at Ashton, where he had lived for some years with an only daughter. His remains were taken to Pennsylvania, his former residence, to be buried.
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About this time, also occurred the death of Mrs. Catherine Bowie, near Olney. A lady of the older school of gentlewomen, she had been intimate with a past generation in Sandy Spring.
Sixth month, 17th. A delightful company assem- bled at an early hour at Belmont, to christen the new barn, which was appropriately hung with lighted lan- terns and decorated with half-bushel measures of white daisies, and other choice flowers of the field. A small piano was carried by strong farmer boys to the second square of the barn and discoursed sweet and inspiring strains to the merry dancers below, who dis- covered that the smooth, even floor above the gran- aries, was just right to "trip the light, fantastic toe" on. Some very fine choruses were rendered, and at the seasonable hour of 10, the large party dispersed, ex- claiming one and all, that a barn was the best place in the world in which to have a frolic.
The quotation for this date, Sixth month, 17th. on the Dickens calendar, compiled a year previously by the hostess, was so singularly appropriate it shall be repeated here. '
"You young people don't know what it is to be low in your feelings, you always have your appetites too, and what a comfort that is."
Sixth month, 19th. At the home of the bride, near Jordan Springs, Frederick county, Va., Charles M. Pidgeon, of Sandy Spring, and Katie Duvall, of the former place, were married. The young couple came to reside at the old Chandlee homestead.
In this month a small store was opened in the toll- house at Ednor, and a lamp-post planted at Ashton,
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which gave rise to the suggestion that the new street should be called "Thomas Allie."
In June and July, drenching rains continued, and forty-three inches of water had fallen in three months, while the yearly average is about forty-eight inches.
The farmer who is generally a martyr to wet weather when he wants dry, and is suffocating with dust, when a little rain would be most acceptable, was more downhearted than usual as these storms con- tinued, preventing him from securing what little had not already floated way.
The wheat crop up to the time of the May floods, promised a bountiful harvest, but whether the rain washed off the bloom, or hatched out the fly, or de- veloped the worm, or rusted the stalks, the yield was disappointing all the same, whatever the cause, and all the housekeepers can testify to the poor quality of runny flour, manufactured from this wheat, which made marriage almost a failure, and the bread to run out of the pans, no matter what was done to prevent it.
The hay crop was abundant, but a great deal of it was ruined and left in the fields.
Oats were below the standard and on some farms amost an entire loss.
Later on the yield of potatoes was immense and they were as lovely to look upon as it was in the nature of potatoes to be, but many of them, so false and hollow within. that one farmer, at least, returned hundreds of bushels from his cellars to his fields again, and a wagoner excused his late returns from market by de- claring he had to take his potatoes each week to new
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customers, not daring to go back over his previous route.
The immortal Dick Swiveller shut off a street in London every time he bought a garment, but this son of Africa seems to have closed up an avenue in Wash- ington whenever he sold a sack of potatoes.
Fruit was scarce and inferior.
In the midst of this gloomy outlook, the corn crop was large and of excellent quality, and it may have been these very corn-stalks that saved our discouraged and half-drowned farmers from striking out for Wash- ington in a body and demanding office under the new administration.
The appearance of the railroad engineers, early in July, caused the usual flutter of excitement ; new lines were run, stakes driven, trees blazed, brushes cut away, and when a little later, the president of the pro- posed road was seen riding over the route some of us whose chief diet is hope, almost heard the whistle and had narrow escapes in imagination from the locomo- tive, so much nearer did it seem than ever before, and we were all amiably disposed to wish that the "Gettysburg and Washington" would run, not be- tween our house and barn, but just over the line on our neighbor's farm.
Seventh month, 3rd. At Emmanuel Church, Balti- more, by Episcopal ceremony, Dr. Samuel J. Scott, of Sandy Spring, and Miss Mary E. Webb, were mar- ried.
The family of Edward N. Bentley moved from High - land to Homewood to live, and he secured a situation at the Grange Agency in Washington.
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Seventh month, 20th. Sydney Snowden, son of Dr. Augustus and Helen Snowden Stabler, was born.
Seventh month, 22nd. Gladys, daughter of Charles F. and Corrie M. Brooke, was born.
Seventh month, 22nd. Roger Brooke Thomas, aged eighty-seven, died at the home of Charles G. Porter, where he had resided for a number of years.
He had been watched over and tended in his long decline with a rare faithfulness and self-sacrifice on the part of his host and hostess.
In this month, Dr. Frank Thomas and family started for Europe, and Warwick P. Miller, Henry C. Hallo- well and James P. Stabler went to Bremen and re- turned in five weeks, principally for the benefit of the ocean voyage. Arthur and Anna Stabler returned from an extended tour, embracing such widely sepa- rated points as New Orleans, California and British Columbia.
Seventh month, 24th. Rebecca M. Thomas, aged seventy-two years, widow of the late William John Thomas, passed suddenly away at Mountain Lake 1- Park, where she had gone with members of her fam- ily to attend a temperance convention.
Few indeed have left behind such a record of useful - ness, industry and benevolence as our dear departed friend.
In early life, she liberated her slaves, and joined the Society of Friends, becoming an active worker in all the business of the meeting, and an acceptable minis- ter, though oftentimes speaking with much diffidence and personal trial.
Her practical charity was not only manifested in
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dispensing largely of her means, but the poor and wretched around her were often the recipients of the work of her hands. She assisted a number of poor women to buy sewing machines, and her generous im- pulses took the effective form of doing the duty near- est to her. She often visited the jails and almshouse, performing offices of mercy to the most degraded.
The temperance cause was very dear to her heart, and in that, and other philanthropic work, she con- stantly labored by precept and example.
In all the relations of life she seemed endowed with the faculty of bestowing and receiving devotion.
Her ready sympathy and loving counsel endeared her especially to the young, and she was never a re- straint upon innocent society, but entered into all ra- tional recreations heartily, believing in development rather than repression. She had endured much physical suffering, and the sorrow of losing many near and dear, but her Christian graces were such she bore her burdens with cheerful resignation, and the peace- ful expression on her calm, placid face was ever a help to her friends and an attraction to strangers.
The Sabbath before she passed away, looking out over the mountains, she remarked, "What a beautiful place this would be to go to Heaven from!" and on the morning she was to have journeyed home, out of an apparently quiet and dreamless sleep, she awoke in the "Home of the Soul." On the afternoon of the twenty-fifth many relatives and friends, from far and near. assembled at the house of Samuel P. Thomas to offer tributes of love and esteem, and to follow her re- mains to their last resting-place at the meeting-house.
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Eighth month, Ist. William Davis, son of Charles R. and Ella L. Hartshorne, was born.
Eighth month, 12th, might be fitly termed a "field- day." First, there was a game of baseball played at Clarksville, between a picked nine from Sandy Spring, and the same number from Howard County, resulting in a signal defeat to the latter. In the afternoon the tennis tournament, commenced on the previous day, was continued to the bitter end. Olney Grange held its regular meeting at five o'clock, and there was a large company in the evening. If all the pitchers and catchers, servers and receivers, worthy brothers and sisters, dancing youths and maidens, were not exhausted that night, they certainly demonstrated the capacity of our inhabitants for unlimited endurance in the matter of amusement.
"Excitement and tranquility" are doubtless the main constituents of a satisfied life, and Sandy Springs will be a favored neighborhood if our people can have the first without excess, and enjoy the second without stagnation.
An interest in outdoor sports seems to be growing steadily in our midst. A great many years ago, when your historian was young, the farmer boy seemed to find sufficient exercise in the wheat and potato field; but. now, it is on the football or lawn-tennis grounds that he displays his acme of strength and industry.
There is much to be said in favor of physical culture ; for no one can have complete control of nerve and muscle unless he is temperate in eating and drink-
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ing, and of regular and abstemious habits. The trained athlete dares not indulge in any excess.
In view of broken bones, contused heads and twist- ed limbs, there is much improvement to be desired in the rough manner of playing some of the games. We may also note the fact that while "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," too much play and too little work will undoubtedly develop Jack's mus- cles, but it will never extend his pocketbook.
In the dark, middle ages of history, the body was despised and crucified. We are getting now still fur- ther back to the Greek civilization when it was cul- tivated and deified. Memory does not have to travel very far to the days when people grew up just as the chairs they sat on, or the desks they leaned over, or the clothes often misfitted on them made them grow, and they walked every and any way that seemed most convenient for locomotion. But now the girl is told she must draw her chin in towards her neck, throw her shoulders back, hold her elbows in easy line with her waist, to secure an erect and graceful carri- age. She must not drag her feet in meandering lines either, but must have a firm and even tread as if she meant something by walking. The boy must not hug his hands out of sight, nor let his head ar- rive at home before he does, nor fidget about as if his muscles governed him instead of the reverse.
It is getting more difficult every year to live up to standards of excellence. A great many of us will die of old age before we have time to learn half that pro- fessors of physical culture and professors of mental culture and every other sort of culture are willing and
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anxious to teach us. It used to be thought sufficient to be moraily good ; but my dear young people, now, just as far as you possibly can, you must be healthy and physically good also, or you will be quite left be- hind in the requirements of our modern life.
In the Eighth month, a postoffice was established et Oakdale and Samuel Bond made postmaster. Later on another post-office was established at Holland's Corner, named "Norwood," and James M. Holland appointed postmaster.
"In August came our usual influx of visitors and strangers. This cheerful element like the lilies of the field, "toil not, neither do they spin;" but some of them at least, departing, leave behind them substan- tial mementoes in the shape of sundry greenbacks, as lawful tender for the rather unusual privilege board- ers enjoy in this community.
While we are advised to extend hospitality to all comers, of high and low degree, that we may per- chance entertain an angel unawares, two old writers have expressed themselves so well on this subject, I will quote their admonitions for what they are worth :
"We must have charity towards all, but familiarity with all is not expedient ;" and the second is still more pithy-"Lay not violent hands on strangers."
Ernest Iddings about this time purchased the Cong- don farm near Riverside and returned to this neigh- borhood to live.
Albert Stabler decided to devote his whole atten- tion to the business of life insurance in Washington and Tarleton, and Mortimer Stabler took charge of his farm at Lay Hill.
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Ninth month, 14th. Henry H. Miller was married at Siasconset, Mass., to Helen Gray of Washington. The young couple took up their abode at Stanmore, which was slightly remodeled to accommodate two families.
It does not often fall to the lot of one man, as in this case, to be married and nominated for the legis- lature on the same day.
Ninth month, 19th. The Montgomery County Women's Christian Temperance Union held a pleas- ant and profitable convention at the Lyceum. Pattie T. Farquhar reported good work done among the children of various "Bands of Hope," and Mary E. Moore's account of the colored mission school at Sharp Street was most suggestive. Mary Magruder, State Organizer, made a forcible plea in behalf of the cause she is so interested in.
The afternoon session closed with the reading of a memorial to Rebecca M. Thomas, a valued member of the organization, and the election of the following officers : 3
President, Sarah T. Miller.
Vice-president, Mary E. Moore.
Corresponding secretary, Annie F. Gilpin.
Recording secretary, Rebecca T. Miller.
Treasurer, Sarah E. Stabler.
In the evening a full house listened to an address from the Rev. Anna Shaw, of Chicago, who had been present at the convention.
Of the many fine speeches made in the Lyceum, few could compare with hers in logic, humor and force of expression. Miss Shaw has been an ordained
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minister for eight years in the Methodist Protestant Church.
Rockland, Sherwood and the various public schools had now resumed their labors with a good attendance. and more scholars had gone from the neighborhood to Swarthmore, than ever before.
A gratifying improvement is to be noted in the pub- lic school at Sandy Spring under the care of Sarah Scofield.
The public school at Alloway, conducted by Alice T. and Lillie B. Stabler, is now called Oakley school.
Later in the year, Jessie B. Stabler took charge of the public school at Olney.
It should be a subject of congratulation that so large a number of our young women are self-sup- porting ; many as teachers, some in the care of little children or plying the needle, some as companions for the infirm, others assisting in household work, and sev- eral as typewriters. The girls obtain situations now- days with as much, or greater, facility than the boys, and who knows but that each of these independent damsels may in time be able to support a husband, and support him well, too!
Tenth month, 29th. Many persons attended Bal- timore yearly meeting which was held for the first time in the fine, new meeting-house on Park Avenue.
At Bloomfield on 3rd day, 29th, of the Tenth month. Richard T. Bentley died in his seventy-first year. On the following, 5th day, a large concourse of relations, neighbors and friends gathered to pay their last tri- bute of respect and followed his remains to the burial-
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ground at Sandy Spring meeting-house, where he was interred.
For over five years he had been the victim of a malady that neither the assiduous care of a devoted wife, nor the no-less-willing services of his anxious children, could arrest or alleviate.
His death, therefore, was not unexpected, al- though within two weeks of that event he seemed to defy the agony he suffered and went regularly to his business.
He was born at Bloomfield in 1819, an event his father celebrated by planting the locust trees that have since grown so large in front of the old home- stead.
He spent his early life at his birthplace, and re- ceived all his education at schools in this vicinity. When quite a lad he secured a clerkship in Washing- ton, where he remained two years, but business life in the city was distasteful to him and its pleasures of- fered little to his fancy. He preferred the freedom of the country and the more rational enjoyments it af- forded. He, therefore, returned to his old home and made farming his pursuit. He entered upon his chos- en field of labor with energy and followed it to suc- cess.
He found "Bloomfield" poor and sterile, he left it rich and productive.
He was instrumental in forming the Farmers' Club of Sandy Spring, and its first organized meeting was held at his house. During the long period of nearly fifty years, which it has been in existence, he was an active, useful and valued member.
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In connection with the late Alban Gilpin, he con- ducted a general mercantile business, for many years, in the store his father assisted to establish in 1817 at Sandy Spring. In this business he continued until the fall of 1885, when he withdrew from the firm. His uniform courtesy, honorable dealing and exact meth- ods brought the natural reward of prosperity and he retired with the good-will and best wishes of his num- erous customers and friends
About this time he relinquished the care of his farm to his eldest son, giving him sole direction of it.
In the public institutions which center in Sandy Spring, he took a deep interest and an active part in their management. He was among the very first to es- tablish the Library, and a liberal patron of the Ly- ceum.
He was a director of the insurance company from its beginning in 1848, and on the death of Edward Stabler, its first president, in 1884, he was elected to fill that office, and he continued to discharge its re- sponsible duties with fidelity and honor to the time of his death.
He was appointed postmaster at Sandy Spring about the same time, and this office he likewise held until death released him from all earthly cares.
In the success of the Sandy Spring Savings Institu- tion he was also much interested and was a direc- tor from its inception, and a cautious, conservative and faithful manager of its affairs.
In the Society of Friends, in which he held a birth- right membership, he took a deep and abiding interest. He loved it for the principles it held and was
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thoroughly conversant with its history and traditions. In the latter years of his life he took an active part in its proceedings and in his own and the yearly meet- ings his counsel and aid were often in request. He was a prominent member of the Indian Committee of Baltimore yearly meeting- for twenty years and he gave to the unfortunate race under its supervision much thought, attention and time.
Although he was not a politician in the generally accepted sense of the term, he was a close observer of national, state and neighborhood affairs.
He held decided opinions on public policy, and his voice was heard, his influence exerted, and his vote cast on the side of good government and what he considered was for the advancement of the moral and national interests of his fellow-citizens. But there was another side to his character, that those who new him personally never ceased to admire.
In his friendship he was steadfast and true, in his intercourse with all, the courteous gentleman. His social characteristics, his ready wit and genial dispo- sition made him a delightful companion and a wel- come guest in every household.
His hospitality was acknowledged far and wide and his home was a center where relatives and friends loved to gather. Courtesy without effusion, dignity without stiffness, vivacity without levity, marked his intercourse with those he entertained. Impulsive by nature his emotions were controlled, and his conduct regulated by a high moral code which gave him the manly courage to acknowledge a fault, and the grace of heart to redress a wrong .. To a tale of trouble his
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benevolence made substantial response, and he "gave to misery more than a tear."
To his children he has left an honest name of which they may well be proud, to the rising generation an example of manhood worthy of imitation, and to his contemporaries a blank that will remain unfilled.
M. K.
In the Tenth month, Benjamin H. Miller was ap- pointed Indian inspector and started on extensive travels in the far northwest, as portrayed in some in- teresting letters which appeared from time to time in the country press.
Robert H. Miller was appointed by Governor Jack- son to represent the State of Maryland at the Farm- ers' Convention, held in Alabama in November.
The Farmers' Hotel and Stable at 1210 Ohio Ave- nue, Washington, was now in good running order. Dr. Frank Thomas of our neighorhood after eighteen years of market-going realized the necessity of com- fortable and cheap quarters for, respectable farmers who go to Washington with their produce. He therefore purchased a large property on Ohio Ave- nue and erected thereon a convenient hotel and stable capable of accommodating many persons, horses and wagons. It is what the farmers have long needed and should have a hearty support.
Eleventh month, 7th. At a special meeting of the board of directors of the insurance company, Joseph T. Moore was elected president to succeed the late Richard T. Bentley. Thomas L. Moore resigned, amid many expressions of regret, his office of assistant sec- retary and Allan Farquhar was chosen in his place.
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Captain John MacDonald of Potomac, was made di- rector.
The Rev. J. S. Kieffer of Hagerstown, gave one of his interesting and instructive lectures at the Lyceum for the benefit of the temperance cause. His subject was "Memory."
About the middle of November the pleasant and hospitable home at Highland was broken up by the removal of William Lea, jr., and family to Wilming- ton, Delaware.
For twenty-five years William Lea, jr., had lived among us, identifying himself thoroughly with the interests of the people. An excellent farmer, good business man and kind-hearted neighbor, he will be greatly missed.
Newton Stabler took charge of the Highland farm.
Twelth month Ist. Thomas L. Moore and wife went to Richmond, Virginia, to live.
Assistant secretary of the insurance company, president of the Lyceum, director in the bank, promi- nent in social, as well as in business life, in the depart- ure of a young man so universally esteemed, our neighborhood sustained a great loss.
Twelfth month, 3rd. R. Rowland Moore had a narrow escape from death on the farm of Samuel Hop- kins at White Hall. While working in a well it caved in on him and he was buried alive, and only extricated after two hours hard labor. An arch was formed by the falling stones which preserved him from seri- ous injury, although he suffered severe bruises.
In this month, George B. Miller was made presi- dent of the Lyceum, and appointed postmaster at San-
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dy Spring to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of the late Richard T. Bentley.
Samuel Bond and John Thomas were elected di- rectors of the savings institution.
Twelth month, 24th. Richard Thomas, son of Ed- ward N. and Hallie J. Bentley, was born.
Christmas day was balmy and beautiful, football and lawn tennis were played in a temperature just right for outdoor sports.
During the succeeding weeks we had the perfection of weather, more like October than January, and the numerous girls and boys enjoying their holidays from school and college had hardly a cloud to mar the bril- liant sunshine, or a storm to curtail the festivities of the season. On one afternoon in this week the Alloway family entertained the fifty-four scholars from the pub- lic school near them, Warwick Miller gave the boys a spread at the schoolhouse. and the girls were in- vited to Alloway to tea, where they were regaled with pictures and music, and on leaving each child was pre- sented with a hothouse plant to carry home. contrib- uted by Mrs. Joseph Shoemaker of Germantown.
Twelfth month, 28th. Margaret E., daughter of Caroline H, and the late Frances Miller, was married at Stanmore by Friends' ceremony to Samuel M. Jan- ney. Many relatives and friends from other states at- tended this pleasant wedding. The bride and groom went immediately to their home in New York City.
About this time a most mysterious disease which had started in Russia, and traversed the European countries with wonderful rapidity, respecting neither
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