USA > Maryland > Caroline County > History of Caroline County, Maryland, from its beginning > Part 19
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Thus in 1803 we find Charles Dickinson who had married Jane Erwin of Tennessee, conveying the re- mainder of his real estate in Caroline County to his fath- er-in-law for the sum of about $12,000. Shortly after this he relinquished his citizenship in Maryland and moved to the vicinity of Nashville.
In this connection may it be said that Andrew Jack- son, then a rising young man of Tennessee and slightly older than Charles Dickinson. had been elected to Con- gress then held in Philadelphia (about 1796-1797). Go- ing to Philadelphia as he did on horseback over the well established trail via Baltimore, it seems likely that Jack- son met in the latter city prominent men of this state and seetion. Col. William Richardson, a relative of Charles Dickinson, was one of these. Naturally enough, he was, on one of these trips invited by Col. Richardson, the own- er of a fast sailing sloop, to visit the Eastern Shore and accepted, staying while here at the Richardson, Dickin-
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son, Daffin and Potter homes in this county. Charles Dickinson, with whom he was apparently much associ- ated while on these visits, was a very good sport and proved a very interesting man to Jackson with the result that Jackson invited him to his home and associations in Tennessee, an offer which Dickinson clearly accepted.
For years Grove has been the site of a church and the parsonage of the Caroline Cirenit of the Methodist Protestant church-American Corner, Choptank and Smithson comprising the remainder of the charge.
The first public school in this section seems to have been taught by Mr. Peter James Patchett shortly after the Civil War in a dwelling house provided by Mr. Perry Taylor. Shortly afterwards a new school building was erected near the site of the present one and Miss Annie Hains was the first teacher. This building was used for school purposes until 1887 when the present school was erected.
After awhile a cannery was erected on one side of the school to be followed in a few years by another can- nery on the opposite side of the school. Hence the origin of the term sometimes applied "Cannery Grove."
LAUREL GROVE.
Erected as a school site in 1870 when Ager Andrew gave one acre of land to the School Board, this school has been in operation ever since. After the decay of the old building about twenty years ago, the present struc- ture was erected.
Like the church which is immediately across the county road, this school takes its name because of the fact that formerly the pine woods completely surround- ing the school abounds in laurel, which in bloom is in- deed very pretty.
The church here was formerly in the Southern Meth- odist denomination, Easton charge, but latterly has been the worshipping place of the Holiness Society.
To the general section hereabout the name of Pine- town is given, and doubtless to many of the older resi- dents the school is better known as Pinetown than by its official name.
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FRIENDSHIP.
The first church built in this community was made of logs and located near the site of the present building.
The present edifice, the third one built, was complet- ed about 1880 and is ministered to at present by a pastor from Williamsburg, in which circuit it is located.
The first school building in this community was erected about one-hundred years ago and was likewise made of logs. It was burned in 1851 because of a defec- tive stove. School was kept in a shack for awhile until the first of the present building was erected. In 1911 a new room was added, making Friendship a two-room school.
About three hundred yards from Friendship on the Hynson road may still be seen some walnut trees which mark the site of the polling place of this district fifty years ago.
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PRESTON (Snow Hill).
The founding of Snow Hill, the forerunner of Pres- ton, likely took place about 1845 at which time trees were cut and a clearing made where now stands Preston.
It seems that the Willis family, later well known in this section and county, was the holder of the land here- abont. Philemon Willis the ancestor of Peter Willis who was an officer in the War of 1812, deeded very early the site of the present M. E. Church. William Gootee, one of the first inhabitants of the new village, kept a store and included the postoffice to which for miles around the people would come once a week to get their mail if any there be and do their shopping.
As Snow Hill grew and the quantity of mail in- creased, frequent delays in the service were made be- cause of their being another Snow Hill in Maryland, a much older and larger village. Hence it became neces- sary to change the name. This was done in 1856 while Mr. J. R. Stack of this section was a member of the Legislature. Why the name Preston was selected seems to be unknown, unless to memorialize some prominent family in Maryland at that time. The name, however, was well selected and continues to add dignity to the charms of this favored section. Before 1890, the growth of this town was slow due to the lack of transportation facilities, Medford's Wharf, now Choptank, being the shipping point of this section at that time. However in this year the railroad was constructed and Preston be- gan to grow.
In 1908 electric lights were added and in 1916 the state road was completed thereby putting the town on the main artery of traffic up and down the peninsula.
In educational matters and sentiment this section has always ranked high-explained no doubt in part by the settlement of the community by Friends, a Society which has always stood for education and enlightenment and latterly by the persistent influence of the once famous debating society of this section. No one can deny the fact that these two factors have been important ele- ments in the educational strata of this community.
The first school was said to stand on the road to Friendship, but later the building was moved to a site
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PRESTON SCHOOL.
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near the present German church. After a few years the front room of the old school building recently sold was built and later from time to time a room was added as the attendance increased until the building became en- tirely inadequate to meet the demands of a modern school. In 1918 after repeated efforts on the part of several of the leading citizens of the town a handsome brick building was erected on a lot of six acres which had been previously provided for. The building com- mittee was N. H. Fooks, chairman; Chas. B. Harrison, Esq .. and Walter M. Wright.
A clipping from the Denton Journal explains the disposition of the older school property located in what is now the church grove :
"The Rev. Thomas A. King, pastor of the New Jerusalem Church in Baltimore, and chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Maryland Masons, has brought the old academy building and the grove in which it is situated in Preston. He will re-model the house, which is a large one, and make it a summer residence for his family. It is in a magnificent grove of large primeval white oaks, so few of which now remain on the Eastern Shore. The wood covers 90 square perches of land. The house was built in 1863. Last year a new school house was erected in another part of the town. The first principal was Prof. R. O. Christian, who had just come out of the Confederate army and had no possessions but a battered suit of gray."
Because of the larger German population that had gradually come in the community a parochial school was established here years ago. In this school both English and German languages as well as church forms were taught by the pastor of the church who had charge. As many of the German patrons had become interested in the public school for one reason or another this private school was closed about three years ago.
CHURCHES.
The history of the Friends Society in this commu- nity may be found elsewhere in this volume under the heading-Early Churches.
Years ago a German Entheran Church was estab- lished here and is well attended. Service was formerly held in both the English and German languages.
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PRESTON M. E. CHURCH.
PRESTON'S EARLY CHURCHI.
Among the earliest Methodist records in our county appear the names of William Frazier and Bethesda Chapel. Largely due to the efforts of Captain Frazier was the erection of this chapel on the present site of the Preston Methodist Church. In July of 1797 Thomas Foster, James Andrew, David Sisk, James Sisk, Jacob Wright, Benjamin Colliston and Daniel Cheezum, trus- tees of the Church, purchased from Philemon Willis for the sum of 10 shillings the half acre of land on which the chapel stood. Frazier, although not one of the trustees, probably arranged for the purchase of this land and his name with that of Thomas Weir Lockerman is given as testator of the deed. In 1810 the church was incorporat- ed in accordance with the provisions of the Maryland Assembly with trustees forming the body politic.
In the Bethesda Record Book, kept since 1810, there are several interesting items concerning the Chapel. A colored people's class was held there on Sunday morn-
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ings preceding the regular preaching services, a custom not unusual at that time. The duties of the sexton as as outlined in the minutes were as follows:
"Chop wood, make fires, keep house clean and in order, the benches and pulpit well dusted, with a pitcher of water on the pulpit with a tumbler during church hours, keep lamps trimmed and clean, windows to be kept clean and shutters closed during the week, the premises kept clear of incumbrances."
The carpets were to be taken up and the house scoured twice a year. For all this the sexton received the princely sum of twelve dollars a year.
With the growth of the little town then known as Snow Hill a larger church was needed. It was built about 1847 from which time it became known as Beth- esda Church. Ten years later the church yard was en- closed as a burying ground for Methodists of that sec- tion.
Repairing and remodelling done in 1888 and 1903 have greatly enlarged and improved the building, which is at present an up-to-date church of considerable size.
LINCHESTER.
This village, formerly called Murray's Mill, is on the site of one of the first settlements within the boun- daries of Caroline County.
During the Revolutionary War, this mill still in ex- istence, did its share towards furnishing food to the sol- diers not alone in this section but for a very large terri- tory. Large scows could at that time come direct to the mill and be loaded with flour and meal to be reloaded on larger vessels on the Choptank River.
There must have been a store or two kept here at that time. Likewise an ordinary (boarding house) which was licensed by the County court. Before 1775 people from this section attended the old Episcopal chapel that stood on the road leading from what is now known as Ellwood camp to Hynson and near the latter place. This church like others of the same denomination was prac- tically closed by the Revolutionary War, and as its suc- cessor in this community the meeting at William Fra- zier's home was organized.
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Through the influence of Robt. D. Bradley, once a member of the Maryland Legislature, the name of the place was changed to Linchester-Lin being taken from Caroline and Chester likewise from Dorchester, these two counties forming a boundary at this point.
LINCHESTER AT PRESENT.
CHOPTANK.
This name, given to the most southern village of Caroline County on the Choptank River, dates back to abont 1889 when it was known as Medford's Wharf and even then was in daily communication with Baltimore by two lines of steamers. Later on, three steamers daily left its wharves for our Metropolis.
About 1882 or 1883 the Wright brothers located here, along with some earlier settlers, and started some enterprises which caused the settlement to grow rapidly. The postoffice was established about the time the name was changed to Choptank.
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Formerly the children of this section attended a school called Hunting Creek located some distance away. About 1892 a large school building was erected at Chop- tank.
A little earlier two churches were erected-Metho- dist Episcopal and Methodist Protestant.
The village is noted for its fisheries, perhaps, the best in the county. As many as 60,000 herring and! shad are said to have been caught in a single day.
The inhabitants number about 200.
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BETHLEHEM.
Situated on the main thoroughfare leading to East- on, this village has had a commanding location for years.
Just when the settlement began is not known, but suffice to say that Bethlehem has been on the map for a long time.
Both a church and school have long contributed to the religious and social wants of the community.
In 1865, the school which had heretofore existed as a subscribed, or community school, was turned over to the county and became a part of the state school system. For years the present building was located on the church lot in the village, but the great need of more room for play-ground led to the school's being moved a few years ago to its present site.
One of the largest tomato canneries on the peninsu- la is located here-the property of Mr. A. J. Messick.
The road leading to the river called Dover Road, was long ago so named because of its leading to the an- cient town of Dover on the Talbot side of the river.
The earlier enterprise of the locality may be seen in the announcement of a fair to be held hereabout as per the following clipping :
CAROLINE'S FAIR.
"The Bethlehem Fair to be held on the second, third, and fourth of next month, will probably eclipse all others ever held in the County. The programme comprises almost everything that con- tributes to make such occasions interesting and amusing. Prof. Faux, the champion pedestrian. will make a novel race during the Fair with a fast trotting horse. He is to walk one-half mile in less than the horse can trot a mile. Sportsmen ought surely to see this. As there is no entrance fee to be paid on the property ex- hibit. come and make the Fair what it deserves to be, a success. The Ladies of Harmony are making a flag and streamer to present to the Fair Association."
SMITHSON.
In the year 1873 the school was built at Smithson. The name Hog Creek was first given to the settlement and the school, probably, by the settlers who lived along Hog Creek branch. As there was no church near, ro- ligious services were held in the school for a while. Three years later, a church was built and named Smithson Chapel for the first minister, Rev. Rumsey Smithson.
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The name of the school was then changed to Smithson, by which it is still called.
In 1895 a post-office was established. It was suggest- ed that the post-office be called Newton in honor of Mr. Newton Andrew, who was postmaster. When a few years later the post-office was discontinued, this name was dropped and the village now goes by the name of Smithson.
INDIANS.
In the early part of the eighteenth century there were Indians in Smithson vicinity. One tribe lived at Yellow Hill. Besides their wigwams they had several caves, the remains of which can still be seen.
A story is told of a family by the name of Willough- by that lived near where MacCarty's wharf now is. One day, when their little son Richard was only a few weeks old, the father being in the field and the mother hanging out clothes, the Indians crept in and stole the baby. They took him to Yellow Hill and kept him six weeks. The father, with a band of his neighbors, went to the camp and brought the little boy home.
There seems to have been some Indians along the Hog Creek branch. One tribe went far up the branch and remains of their camp and medicine pit were found only a few years ago. Others lived near Blairtown, for we know they had a large burying ground there and their caves have been found along the banks. Still oth- ers lived near what is now the Hog Creek Mill dam. When the dam was being rebuilt several things which the Indians had buried were dug from the banks.
Blairtown referred to above was clearly a settle- ment of slaves belonging to Charles Blair about 1790. The site of this settlement was just below Hog Creek branch on the road leading from Harmony to Smithson. In 1825 much of the land in this neighborhood was pur- chased from the heirs of Blair by Short A. Willis, the father of Col. A. J. Willis, who died at Williston a few years ago.
Over one hundred years ago a brick grist mill was built along Hog Creek. Perhaps the bricks for this building were brought up the Choptank from some point below where bricks were then made. It is not likely that any of them were brought from England.
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In this section, several militiamen for service in the Revolutionary War were secured.
Contributed by Pupils.
HUBBARD'S.
Hubbard's or the Fraziers' Flats region as it is more generally known, was one of the earliest settled portions of what is now Caroline county. Tradition has it that this settlement was intended to be made in Talbot county from which section the early settlers came. This seems quite plausible and perhaps, is true. In those times grants of land were not as definitely outlined as now by degrees and minutes. It seems that the grant included territory above the "second turning of the Choptank river, " hence a mistake in the number of bends in the river from its mouth would easily place this site on either side of the river.
Then too the soil in this region is very clayey and similar to that of Talbot county. Under these conditions it was only natural that persons from the former county would locate in the new territory and bring with them their religious worship. This, it seems, is what happen- ed as a Friends' meeting was very early established- perhaps shortly after 1700.
The Flats' territory is really included by two creeks -Skillington on the south and Edmonson on the north. These two streams take their names from Thomas Skil- lington and John Edmonson, natives of Talbot county, who were referred to above as taking up the land in this section.
It seems, too, that the ferry across the Choptank was in this section, connecting the roads that led from Easton to Hunting Creek (now Linchester), thereby making this way a thoroughfare.
Later on William Frazier, a prominent citizen, churchman, and soldier, acquired much of this land and erected thereon a handsome brick residence as referred to elsewhere in this volume. In this house church ser- vices were held for years; these were sometimes attend- ed by Bishop Asbury.
It seems likely, too, that these people, many of whom were Quakers, had used their meeting house doubtless as a school in the early life of the colony. The public school
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for this section which was in operation prior to 1865 was at that time turned over to the County Board of Ed- ucation. About 1872 the present site was acquired and a building erected thereon. This building was enlarged in the year 1919.
About twenty-five years ago a colony of Dutch peo- ple from the Northwest settled here and named the ter- ritory "Wilhelmina" after the Dutch Queen. Several farms were made and for a time the people prospered. bidding fair to dyke some of the marsh area in that re- gion according to the plan followed in their mother country.
The Frazier residence was again used as a place of worship by these Hollanders after a period of one hun- dred years. Several years ago, however, these colonies began to move away and at present there are only a few of the former families living here.
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FEDERALSBURG (North West Fork Bridge).
ORIGIN AND UNIFICATION OF THE TOWN.
The first inhabitants of the county around Federals- burg were the tribes of the Nanticoke Indians. Although they were not so fierce as the Susquehannoughs of north- ern Maryland, neither were they so friendly as the Pis- cataway tribes of the western shore. Whether this at- titude toward white people delayed the settlement of the county we cannot say ; but as early as 1682 James and William Wright, who came from England (probably Bristol) with one of William Penn's colonies, settled on Marshyhope Creek, the headwaters of the Northwest Fork of the Nanticoke River. When Caroline County was formed in 1774, this land fell within its boundaries. By an aet of the General Assembly of 1792 the southern boundary was extended to Noris Ford (a corruption of Northwest Fork Ford), because the newly erected bridge at that spot had taken the place of the one which had marked the Caroline-Dorchester division line before it had been washed away.
Already the possibilities of this point where eross- country traffic forded the river had been foreseen by a Mr. Cloudsberry Jones, who built a store, and began to sell groceries and liquor there about the year 1789. This was the nucleus of a small village which so patently owed its growth to the bridge that it was called "Northwest Fork Bridge," or "The Bridge" until early in 1812 when polities took the naming of the little town in hand. By this time the Federalist Party had reached that stage of decline which is characterized by a fever-heat of loy- alty and enthusiasm. The party was strong on the Del- aware-Maryland peninsula, and a rousing mass-meeting was held at "The Bridge." People came from far and near; the militia drilled and paraded with all the pomp and ceremony of military glory; drums beat and fifes shrieked; the Stars and Stripes, together with the party flag, were cheered to the top of an immense flag pole; prominent speakers of the day used all their gifts of ora- tory to foster the pride, and kindle the enthusiasm for party and party principles. Something must be done, such emotion demanded an outlet; of the patriotism, enthusiasm, and party loyalty of that day was born a
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new name for the town-Federalsburg. The few Repub- licans of the locality voiced their protest by still refer- ring to "The Bridge"; however, though Republican prin- ciples finally triumphed, the Federalist name was held and Federalsburg it has ever remained.
The road following the river had been made the boundary between Caroline and Dorchester counties through that section which is now the site of Federals- burg; but as the line of houses which grew up along it developed into proportions of a village, this dividing line threatened the peaceful existence and growth of the town. People living on the west, or Dorchester, side of Main Street, sent their children to the village school. Those living on the East, or Caroline, side sent them to the district school at Tanyard Branch, a mile and a half distant. The residents of the same town paid their taxes into separate county treasuries, and were more or less attached to separate interests. Offenders against the law could baffle and embarrass its officers merely by dodging from one side of the street to the other. More- over, voters in Caroline County had to go to Linchester to cast their ballots, while the Dorchester population went either to East New Market or to Crotcher's Ferry according to the section of the village in which they liv- ed.
So great and so general had the dissatisfaction over these inconveniences become by 1880 that a petition sign- ed by every voter in the Dorchester part of town. sev- enty in all, was sent to the Legislature asking for such a change in the boundary between the two counties that the town and its suburbs might be wholly within Caro- line County. This request was granted, and upon the payment of $614 into the Dorchester treasury by the transferred tax-payers, the change was duly authorized and made. Thus, with the wiping out of the dividing. line. Federalsburg became a unified whole.
EARLY INDUSTRIES.
Probably Federalsburg's earliest industry, and cer- tainly its most picturesque one, was its ship-building. The surrounding white oak forests furnished the mate- rial, but as this industry ante-dated the saw-mill, the old-time whip-saw had to be employed to convert it into lumber. To operate this saw a trestle was erected ; one
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man sawed from the elevated position while his co-lab- orer at the other end of the saw worked on the ground. As the water was too shallow for these ships to be launched at Federalsburg anyway, it was not important that they be built at any definite place; hence keels were laid at many different points in the southern part of the town.
PHOTO BY ยท DAVIS FEDERALSBURG
NANTICOKE RIVER VIEW FEDER
Upon the completion of a ship, it was conveyed on a seow, or lighter, to Brown's Wharf, a landing four miles farther down the river. From thence it was launched, laden, and sent upon its career as a bay and river trading vessel. The same landing was naturally the shipping- point for Federalsburg merchants, although boats of lighter draft ascended as far as Chimney Landing, a distance of less than two miles from the town. Twice yearly, in spring and in fall, the local store-keepers load- ed a boat with tan-bark and cord-wood, and returned from the Chesapeake cities with a miscellaneous supply of city needfuls for their country trade.
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