USA > Maryland > Montgomery County > Sandy Spring > Annals of Sandy Spring history of a rural community in Maryland, Volume III > Part 11
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"When Isaac Hartshorne and his pretty young wife came to Montgomery County they were, in truth, hardly more than boy and girl; and yet they made for themselves, at once, a home and a distinctive place in the life of the neighborhood. Those of the generation now so rapidly passing away will remem- ber many a delightful meeting of Club or Associa- tion in that home at Leawood, and surely they had seldom a more charming host.
"A member of a family of more than usual ability, the son and brother of noted physicians, Isaac Harts- horne himself possessed no mean share of the family intellect, and while he did not fill a large place in the world's history, and figured only as a farmer, a country storekeeper, agent for the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company, director of the local Fire Insur- ance Co. and the like-yet he filled well his place and exerted an untold influence for good upon all with whom he came in contact.
: "In his business associations, his social relations, and his family life he was without reproach, and he seemed unusually fitted to win the love of those about him. To not only wife, children and grandchildren, brothers and sisters was he inexpressibly dear, but to many others he stood in relations that were unique. Friends and relatives turned to him as to a father, for counsel, and in his last illness his faithful nurse, though bound by no tie of blood, gave him all a daughter's love and care.
"With all his clear insight and ready helpfulness for others, in his latter years he came to show an
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almost childlike dependence upon those who loved him for little things. This was due in part to his very defective eyesight and to the loneliness incident to the loss of his wife in 1892.
"Their married life had been one of unswerving affection and mutual dependence and he missed her sorely.
"He will be missed in many ways and by many people besides those who were nearest to him.
"When our friends have left us we speak only of their virtues. The little selfishnesses, the human failings are forgotten, and surely this is right. Our best self must be our truest self. It is our higher nature that will go with us into the larger life, and our faults will be buried like our worn-out bodies. Happy will we be if we have so little to leave be- hind, so much to take with us, as had Isaac Harts- horne.
"It is not hard to fancy that kindly face but little changed in the far land that may be near; the smile the same, but the eyes no longer dim; the ready sym- pathy, the quaint humor showing in every line just as we knew it here. We cannot tell ; but, however it be clothed, surely the soul that was so lately with us walks there unchanged." (Fanny P. Iddings.)
William E. Muncaster was made director in the Insurance Co., to fill the vacancy left by Isaac Harts- horne's death.
December 14, William Wilson, son of Rebecca T. and Tarlton B. Stabler, was born at Amersley.
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The Christmas holidays brought their usual cheer, inany scattered families being reunited for a time ; and there were numerous entertainments of various kinds.
The old year and the old century passed away to- gether, with no startling phenomenon to reward those who watched the new year in, and those who slept as usual on that night found naught in the air of Jan- uary 1, 1901, to show that between sunset and sun- rise the old world had completed one of the most wonderful "century runs" on record !
Edward P. Thomas signalized the opening of the year by taking his sons, E. Clifton and R. Bentley, and G. B. Farquhar, his son-in-law, into partnership with him, the firm name being E. P. Thomas and Sons.
January 2, the house at Willow Grove took fire and was near being burned down, while only a short time before Annie T. Porter's home had a like nar- row escape.
January 14, Alban G. Thomas went to Annapolis to cast his vote, as a member of the Electoral College, for the President and Vice-President of the United States.
On the afternoon of the same day the first session of the Montgomery County Farmers' Institute was held at Olney Hall, and a most interesting and profit- able occasion it proved. The two gentlemen whom Director Amoss brought to us were fitted to make every farmer proud to be of their profession; and the simiplicity and directness with which they gave
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their own experience for what it was worth, without attempting to lay down rules of universal application, won the confidence of all who heard them.
Mr. Edward van Alstyne, of New York, whom we remembered pleasantly from the Institute two years ago, gave the dairymen and fruit raisers much food for reflection ; and Mr. Joseph E. Wing, of Ohio, gave all stock raisers some new ideas on the utility of alfalfa, the care of sheep, and the fattening of cattle.
The W. C. T. U. furnished supper on the first day of the Institute, and luncheon on the second, but the most novel feature of the whole occasion was the lecture on the fundamental principles of cookery, with demonstrations, given by Miss Jacobs, of Wash- ington. She made plain the "why" of many of our common practices in the culinary art, and her sug- gestion that to make cooking scientific would relieve it of its aspect of drudgery deserves consideration.
January 24-25, the first heavy snow of the season fell; it was wet, and clung to trees, shrubs, and fences, wires and roofs, making a fairy spectacle till the wind rose high on the 25 and blew it off. It also filled the roads with deep drifts, and again with more drifts when the first had been cleared away.
The sleighing was very good, till on February 4, there came a warm rain, but still there were drifts three and four feet deep in many places left in the roads, that made travel difficult, if not danger- ous; and the thaw ending as suddenly as it began. they held their own far into March. In fact, without any blizzard or even a severe storm, February was
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the coldest recorded in over twenty years. There were not half a dozen days when the mercury rose above the freezing point, and it lingered persistently in the tens and the twenties until March was well begun.
January 26, Isaac Wilson and wife, of Canada, came for a religous visit among us. He spoke at meeting on the 27, and on the 30, and they were entertained in many of our homes.
About the first of February Henson Hill, one of the worthiest colored men in this vicinity, died in his ninety-first year. He was among the founders of the village of Cincinnati, and one of the first of his race here to own his home. He left a numerous family of four generations.
February 26, Mary Gilpin, daughter of Frank J. and India Downey, was born at Charley Forest.
February 22, Sandy Spring, along with the rest of the world, discovered the new star in the constella- tion Perseus, that shone bright enough to be visible in the daytime for a short interval, and then faded as quickly as it came.
Edward Farquhar was the first to notice it here, and for several nights parties sat up to see the strange visitor.
Another person closely connected with Sandy Spring also had an unusual opportunity recently to observe a star of a different character-Sallie H. Strain was privileged to nurse Lieut. Hobson. of Merrimac fame, in New York, and she was paid for her services in-the coin of the Republic.
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In this year, too, Sandy Spring has again been conspicuous in the sporting world; its fox-hounds have received much comment in papers devoted to such subjects, and that the authentic story of the breed may go on record, an expert prepared the following account of the "Brooke-Gosnell Fox Hounds :"
"In the American Farmer for April 6, 1827, the following paragraph appears : 'A most extraordinary run was made by a red fox last week in Montgomery County, before a pack of dogs of high repute. It is estimated that he ran a distance of eighty miles, and he was not killed until late in the afternoon.
"This was trying to the mettle of the dogs, and it is reported that the two leading dogs throughout the chase belonged to worthy Friend Roger Brooke. As they ran with ambition and performed with success in the line of service for which Providence obviously designed them, they deserve to have their names re- corded, and to be more honored than the most success- ful butcher of the human species in unprincipled wars.'
"This strain of dogs, to which we have given the name of Brooke-Gosnell, is doubtless the oldest pure strain of fox hounds in America. They are the descendants of the hounds of Roger Brooke, of Cap- tain Thomas Griffith, and of Mr. Norwood Gosnell, of Howard County. His dogs were imported from Ireland about the first of the nineteenth century by the Carrolls. 'These hounds have preserved their peculiar color and size, their great endurance and speed, together with their tremendous distinctive
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notes from father to son for nine generations within the memory of the writer, and for several back of that, as witnessed by a gentleman living in our neigh- borhood.
"They have a national reputation from a represent- ative of the stock named 'July,' who was so famous in the State to which he was sent (Georgia), that when he ran his last race, a white stone with his name and fame inscribed on it, was erected to his memory ; and some of his descedants have sold for $500.00.
"Puppies of the Brooke-Gosnell stock have been sold this year from the Sandy Spring pack to parties in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Ken- tucky, Mississippi, Indian Territory, Missouri, Ala- bama, and Florida, with orders from a number of States to be filled this spring." (J. C. B.)
All through the winter the C. & P. Telephone Co, was dangling before the eyes of the directory of the Enterprise Telephone Company very tempting bait in the shape of long distance connections, improved switch boards, and what not, and the proposed victim nosed about these specious propositions longingly, when, on the verge of biting, it perceived that the con- tract within the proposals was hard and crooked, and barbed at the point, and it drew back just in time to escape being hooked.
Although all the houses already here are not in con- stant use, there is always building going on in Sandy Spring. As has already been mentioned Thomas J. and Anna G. Lea have improved their dwelling this year, having added a bay window, a conservatory and
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a kitchen. Two new rooms are building at Edgewood, and T. B. Stabler has added two rooms to his house at Amersley. Frank Snowden has just put up a combi- nation corn and carriage house, and in the fall silos were built at Rockland, Cloverley, Willow Heights and Sunnyside, and considerable improvements were made at the Belmont creamery.
The Sherwood School entertainment for the bene- fit of its piano fund, was given at the Lyceum, on March 1.
Every available square inch of room indoors was occupied, many stood in vehicles outside and enjoyed the songs, the fair drill, the Grasshopper Opera and the Spinsters' Convention, through the windows; while still others left for lack of accommodations. The net proceeds of the affair were $55.00
A week later another successful entertainment was given at Olney Hall by the Oakdale W. C. T. U. for home mission work. The program, consisting of songs, recitations, fine tableaux and the Sherwood fan drill, was enjoyed by a large audience.
The thirty-first annual Farmers' Convention took place at the Lyceum on March 7, and though it came near being given up because of the recent Institute at Olney and because the one in Howard County was held at Highland, within easy reach of the people who attend the Sandy Spring Convention, yet it was one of the most interesting and enthusiastic meetings of its kind ever held here. The attendance amounted to about 150 men, "who represented 15,000 fertile acres of Montgomery County."
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E. P. Thomas presided, with Mortimer O. Stabler and R. Bentley Thomas as secretaries.
Dr. Augustus Stabler read an essay on "Substi- tutes for Bran," discussing the uses and advantages of different kinds of leguminous plants. Allan Far- quhar presented an able paper advocating the town- ship system, especially as an aid to road improve- ments ; and a committee, with R. H. Miller chairman, was appointed to take steps towards its introduction here. Edward P. Thomas' excellent paper on "Corn Culture" was well received, as were the efforts of the lunch committee.
March 6 was the coldest day of the winter, the mercury falling as low as 4º, but a good deal of gardening has been done, and the wheat and grass begin to show green. The lilac buds are swelling. and the Forsythia blossoms peep out, while the bird chorus is daily strengthened by new voices of the spring.
March 28, William, son of William M. and Sarah Rust Canby, was born at Roselands.
March 29, the tenant house on Cherry Grove farm was totally consumed by fire. The mother of the fam- ily, with her week-old infant, was rescued by some of the neighbors, and most of the downstairs furniture was saved.
The first day of April is noteworthy for another event besides the annual meeting, for it has seen the end of Alban G. Thomas' connection with Ashton store. For thirty years and seven months he has con- ducted the business there to his own profit and to
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the satisfaction of his patrons, who-however excel- lent the new firm of Bond & Bentley may be-will always miss his cheerful manner, his ready wit, and his more ready and accommodating spirit. But hav- ing his own word for it that he has sold $1,000,000 worth of goods at Ashton, we cannot wonder that he wishes to retire and enjoy his fortune !
Thus ends the chronicle of the year's doings; but ere we step down from the threshold of the new cen- tury it occurs to me that a review of the state of societies in our neighborhood might be appropriate, as representing the social, as contrasting with the more material, conditions at which we have already glanced.
Oldest among our organizations is the Society of Friends, which here dates back about 150 years, but the first social institution in Sandy Spring was The Club.
February 12, 1844, a preliminary meeting to form the Farmers' Club of Sandy Spring was held at the house of Richard T. Bentley. The gentlemen pres- ent on that occasion were Richard T. Bentley, Sam- uel Ellicott, William H. Farquhar, Robert R. Moore, Edward Lea, Caleb Stabler and George E. Brooke.
After various suggestions as to future arrange- ments, it was agreed to meet at George E. Brooke's on the first Saturday in April. On the 6 of that month, therefore, at Brooke Grove, the seven men already named, with the addition of Benjamin Hal- lowell, Thomas Lea and Henry Stabler, held the first regular meeting of the Farmers' Club of Sandy
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Spring. On that day Mahlon Kirk and William John Thomas joined the Club.
The number of meetings which it has held up to the present time is 682, and of the original members the only one now living is George E. Brooke, who no longer belongs.
Still, though utterly changed in its component parts, the "Old Club" still flourishes, and Dr. Mahlon Kirk is secretary.
Following close in the Club's wake came the Wom- en's Association for Mutual Improvement.
"The first entry in its first book of minutes, dated May 1, 1857, reads as follows : 'Agreeably to a pre- vious invitation from Mary L. Roberts, a number of women of Sandy Spring, desirous of promoting their own and each other's improvement, held a meeting at the home of B. Rush Roberts to form a society and adopt such resolutions as seem likely to conduce to that object. There were present Mary L. Roberts, Hadassah J. Moore, Sally Ann Gilpin, Lydia G. Thomas, Rachel E. Gilpin, Edith D. Bentley, Debo- rah A. Lea. Helen M. Trump and M. Farquhar.'
"The first regular meeting was held at the home of Edward and Lydia G Thomas, when Beulah I. Lea and Sophia Peirce were present and became members. These two are the only survivors of the original members of the Association.
"Although the December meeting has from the first year been dropped by consent, the society has held 455 sessions, with an attendance almost never
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less than twelve, and it has many times numbered forty, including guests. It has increased its roll of membership to nineteen." (M. B. T.)
Third on the list comes the Horticultural, suggest- ed by Francis Miller. The meeting for organization took place at Stanmore in February, 1863, attended by Francis Miller, Eliza Brooke of Brooke Grove, Roger, Granville and Ellen Farquhar, Anna Farqu- har (Brooke), Margaret H. Brooke (Magruder), and Henry C. Hallowell, who presided.
Margaret H. Brooke seems to have been the origi- nal secretary, and till 1869 the foreman was ap- pointed monthly. After that Henry C. Hallowell was president until his death, in 1899, and Elizabeth Iddings, with but brief interruption, has been secre- tary unto this day. An assistant secretary is ap- pointed at each meeting. Roger B. Farquhar is now president and John C. Bentley vice-president.
The Horticultural grew in size all through the first year, and in its second season it made its mem- bership a family affair, nineteen families now being included. It claims the afternoon of the first Tues- day in each month from April to October, inclusive; and from 1865 to 1887, the annual Horticultural Exhibition at the Lyceum in September was an affair of great interest and beuaty, attracting large crowds. In those twenty-two years only seven Exhibitions were missed.
The second Farmers' Club owes its inception to Sarah T. Miller, at whose urgent invitation the pre- liminary meeting was held at Mt. Airy. December
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30, 1865. The first regular meeting was held at the home of William S. Bond, January 13, 1866, but not until seven years later was it christened the En- terprise Club.
William S. Bond, Charles H. Brooke, Granville Farquhar, Samuel Hopkins, Benjamin H. Miller, William W. Moore, Asa M. Stabler, Frederick Sta- bler, Philip T. Stabler, Robert M. Stabler, Edward P. Thomas, Roger B. Farquhar, William S. Brooke, Arthur Stabler and Thomas J. Lea were the charter members. Frederick Stabler was made foreman for the first meeting and Benjamin H. Miller secretary for the first year. The first question put to the Club was concerning ice. Three of the charter members have died and six others have resigned, leaving only six holding original membership. The Enterprise Club now numbers sixteen active members and one honorary ; they appoint a foreman at each meeting, and the secretary for the current year is Asa M. . Stabler. Their meetings occur monthly on the Satur- day before the full moon, going to the homes of the members in alphabetical order.
The Home Interest Society was organized at the home of its founders, Dr. Francis and Beulah L. Thomas, August 18, 1870. Besides the hosts, there were present Frederick and Pattie R. Stabler, Asa M. and Albina O. Stabler, William S. and Mary T. Bond, William W. and Mary E. Moore, Benjamin H. and Sarah T. Miller. Twelve couples were the origi- nal limit of membership, since raised to sixteen, and the time of meeting is 5 p. m. on the Monday fol-
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lowing the Enterprise Club. It has held 332 meet- ings.
Of the first twenty-four members, five have died, and the personnel of the body has further changed from time to time by resignations and new elections.
Though, in its early years, like many of our other clubs, the Home Interest chose a different presiding officer at each meeting; latterly its president is elected annually, Walter H. Brooke now holding the office. Francis Thomas was the first secretary, and Nellie H. Farquhar is the present recorder.
Three years after its beginning the Home Interest, at the suggestion of Sue L. Thomas, started the Sandy Spring Book Club, which has been an insti- tution of growing usefulness since 1873. Originally numbering twelve members, and buying fourteen books to start with, it now embraces sixty-one house- holds and circulates some seventy-five volumes.
"On December 14, 1871, Charles Farquhar and John Thomas met and discussed the adivsability of organizing a Farmers' Club. They suggested the following fifteen gentlemen, who were invited to join : Dr. W. E. Magruder, William Lea, John Thomas, Dr. Francis Thomas, George L. Stabler, Walter H. Brooke, Charles F. Brooke, Alban Brooke, Robert H. Miller, Richard I. Lea, Charles A. Iddings, Roger Brooke, Charles F. Kirk, B. D. Palmer and Charles Farquhar.
"All accepted, and on January 30. 1872, at Sandy Spring Lyceum, the Montgomery Club was organ- ized, with Charles Farquhar president and Dr. Fran-
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cis Thomas secretary. The first meeting was held at the home of Roger Brooke on February 24, 1872.
"The Club has held 356 meetings, and the present officers are Francis Snowden, president, and Mortimer O. Stabler, secretary." (M. O. S.)
Olney Grange No. 7, Patrons of Husbandry, or- ganized in 1874, differs from any of our other socie- ties in that it is a secret order and part of a national body. It has done good work in inducing farmers to co-operate in many of their important business transactions.
It had thirty charter members, only seven of whom are still in good standing; during the twenty-seven years of its existence 293 people have belonged to it, and at present it has, sixty-six members. Its first master was Joseph T. Moore, and Charles F. Kirk now wields the gavel. It holds its meetings on the second Tuesday afternoon of each month in its hall at Olney.
The Benevolent Aid Society was organized No- vember 4, 1878, by Caroline H. Miller, William H. Farquhar, Francis Miller and others, and its first regular meeting was held at the Lyceum on the 18 of the same month.
It meets once in two weeks during the winter; during its first season often as many as forty-seven members attended. Caroline H. Miller was its first president and Anna McF. Stabler secretary.
Of late the membership and attendance have dwin- dled, though it is always prompt to relieve any need brought to its attention, and it has a long record of
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usefulness. Hannah B. Stabler and Mary E. Gilpin are its present officers.
The Sandy Spring W. C. T. U. has held its own modestly since September 29, 1879, when it was organized by Mary Whitall Thomas of Baltimore, then president of the State Union. Mary P. Thomas (Jackson) was its first president, and after an in- terval of many years she again holds the position. Sarah E. Stabler has always been its secretary, Sarah T. Miller was its first treasurer, and Cornelia N. Stabler is the present one.
There were thirteen of the original members, and there have never been less than that ; forty-five is the highest number for any one year.
The membership being contingent on the annual paying of dues, fluctuates greatly, but the purpose of the organization, "total abstinence for the indi- vidual and prohibition for the State," is never lost sight of, and the local Union has done more than the general public dreams of in educating popular sentiment in favor of temperance and purity, in its efforts to secure the enactment of the Local Option law, and to promote its enforcement.
Among the many speakers it has given us the privilege of hearing may be mentioned Neal Dow, Clara C. Hoffman, Lucy H. Washington, Frances J. Barnes, Mrs. J. K. Barney, Anna H. Shaw, Belle Kearney, Zerelda G. Wallace and Mary A. Liver- more.
The first regular meetig of Phrenaskeia was held November 11, 1888, its nine charter members being
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Caleb Stabler, W. Edward Magruder, Virginia McP. Stabler, Margaret C. Moore (Bancroft), Rebecca T. Moore (Stabler), Clarence L. Gilpin, R. Bentley Thomas, Anna L. Thomas (Nesbitt), and Pattie T. Miller, who was its founder. In the beginning Caleb Stabler was president, W. E. Magruder vice-presi- dent, Margaret C. Moore recording secretary, and Virginia McP. Stabelr corresponding secretary and treasurer.
In the almost thirteen years since its inauguration 133 meetings have been held, and every evening in the weeek except Sunday has, at one time or another, been set apart for its use; every third Wednesday evening being now the specified time for its meetings.
Twenty-nine active and forty-seven honorary mem- bers are enrolled today; fifteen one-time members have resigned, seven who were elected declined mem- bership, and one has died, so the total number of persons who have been Phrenaskeians, is ninety-nine.
The present officers are: Nora L. Stabler, presi- dent ; Faith Farquhar, vice-president; Emma M. Thom, secretary; and Sadie M. E. Haviland, corre- spending-secretary.
Phrenaskeia, together with the W. C. T. U. and the Whist Club, enjoys the proud distinction of con- suming only " light refreshments" at her meetings, but she gets ahead not only of these but of all the rest of the societies once a year at her banquet. That is pre-eminently the event of the year in Sandy Spring. gastronomically, socially and intellectually.
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