USA > Maryland > Caroline County > History of Caroline County, Maryland, from its beginning > Part 20
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The first ship built at Federalsburg was "The Clip- per." This was followed by the "Richard Tull," the "Eggleston Brown, " the "Mary Havelow, " the "Jacob Charles, " the "Pearl, " and the "Annabelle." Of these the "Pearl" was the largest and best equipped, and the "Annabelle, " built by Mr. Jacob Covey, and named for his two daughters, was the last. The industry ceased at Federalsburg some time before the Civil War.
Exclusive of ship-building, the work of the town centered around the mill-dam at its northern extremity. Mr. John Elliott owned and operated the mills there. At these mills, later known as the "Idlewild Mills, " log's which had been floated np from considerable distance downstream while the tide was coming in, were convert- ed into lumber, in which form they made the return trip down the river and on to Baltimore. To the Idlewild mills also came the fleeces from the country-side, there to be carded and combed, and made into "rolls" for the spinning-wheels of thrifty housewives. Thence, too, came the wheat, destined eventually to be molded into the smoothe, round "Maryland Biscuit," and the corn for the quick batter-bread. Smelting iron-ore obtained from the valley of the town was tried for a time, but it proved unprofitable. As a means of furnishing power for grinding wheat and corn, and for generating elec- tricity the dam was used continuously until the last mill was burned in 1916.
Fifty years ago, and more, all the merchants bought tanbark just as they buy butter, eggs, and other farm products today. The bark was cut into slabs and sold by the cord. Spanish oak bark commanded the higher price. It was shipped in the slab form in which it was bought at the country stores. Black oak bark, however, was shredded after the coarse, sapless part of the bark had been removed. Mr. Henry Mowbray, who kept a store at "The Point," was the only person who shredded the bark. Prior to the year 1840 there had been a tan- vard of some importance on the farm of a Mr. Wright, one and one-half miles east of town. By that time, how- ever, the tan-pits had fallen into disuse, and the build- ing in which hides had been stored was being used as a schoolhouse. The industry, thus abandoned, has never been revived in the vicinity, but the name, "Tanyard Branch,' still marks the site of the activity.
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THE FEDERALSBURG TAVERN.
In the days before the Civil War there was located in Federalsburg an old-fashioned tavern, originally own- ed by a man named Perry. It stood on the east side of the bridge crossing the North West Fork, about ten or fifteen feet back from the road on the meadow land ad- joining the late T. O. Jefferson property. The structure was mounted on the slope of the hillside, so that while the rear of the building rested on the ground the main entrance was reached by a steep flight of steps. Rect- angular in shape, having two stories topped off with an ample garret under the roof, this old tavern was similar to the colonials inns of the time of George III.
Like them, its first proprietors were dispensers of liquor. Later in its history it became a stopping place for negro traders on their way to Patty Cannon's at Johnson's Cross Roads.
In later years this old inn was used as a private dwelling by various Federalsburg families. It was while being ocenpeid by Mr. Hill Smith that the building was finally destroyed by fire.
NANTICOKE BAKERY-FEDERALSBURG MD. 17RO
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HISTORY OF OUR TRANSPORTATION.
The rivers and bays of a new country are its first routes of trade and transportation. Hence river traffic with Baltimore, as well as with some smaller towns of the Chesapeake, began at an early date. Cordwood, lumber, tanbark, and wheat, as well as less bulky pro- duets were loaded on to heavy scows and pushed down the river by four or five muscular men using long poles. At Brown's Wharf, four or five miles below Federals- burg, these commodities were re-loaded upon schooners or other sailing vessels and sent up the bay.
Before the Civil War there was little cross-country transportation for anything except mail and passengers. For these, there were the picturesque old stage coaches. Even after the war, they made daily trips from Bridge- ville to Federalsburg, and thence to Cambridge and East- on1. These lines were operated by Mr. Wesley Moore and Mr. James Finsthwaite.
The Seaford and Cambridge division of the Penn- sylvania Railroad was opened for traffic on Oct. 12, 1868. although at that time it extended only from Seaford to East New Market. This date marked a new era in the history of Federalsburg, for it is that railroad, with its refrigerator car accommodation, which has made New York, Philadelphia and other northern cities the mar- kets for the perishable products of our gardens and or- chards.
UNION METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This church was organized in 1785, in a house own- ed and occupied then by Jacob Charles. This house stands near the bridge which spans the North West Fork of the Nanticoke river which flows through the town, and is at this date, 1919, occupied by Mr. and Mrs. John Smith. The first church building was erected in 1815, and stood within the bounds of the present cemetery. The ground was purchased from one Eccleston Brown and his wife, for the consideration of sixty cents. Upon this ground a frame building was erected for the use of the Methodists as a place of worship. The trustees were Paul Conaway, Constant Wright, Joshua Wright, Ferdi- mand Griffith, and William Frampton. This building was occupied as a place of worship for both colored and white people until 1850, when it was sold and moved to a point
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DAVIS FEDERALSBURG
UNION M. E. CHURCH, TO THE LEFT.
about one hundred yards south, and on the East side of Main street, where it was occupied as a carpenter shop for a number of years. Later it was sold and a part of it moved to the rear of the residence now occupied by Charles M. Davis and wife, and still serves as a part of his outbuildings. The present church building, that is the main part, was built in 1850, on ground bought from Jacob Charles and wife. Again the consideration was the sum of sixty cents. At this time the board of trus- tees consisted of Paul Conaway, Jacob Charles, Charles Willis of E., John Elliott, Joseph L. Kenney, Curtis Davis, and William M. Wingate, M. D. In the years 1901 and 1902 the building was repaired, and enlarged by the addition of an annex on the south side. The cost of the improvements was $3375.00. The building was reopened for worship on the 29th day of June, 1902. At this time the Rev. Thomas S. Holt was the pastor. In the year 1912 the building was again repaired and en- larged by the addition of a room in the rear for the ac-
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commodation of the Beginners and the Primary depart- ments of the Sunday school. The cost of these improve- ments was $1400.00.
In 1914 a pipe organ was installed at a cost of $1700.00. These last improvements were made during the pastorate of the Rev. T. E. Terry, from 1912 to 1914.
For many years the church was a part of a large cir- cuit, during which time preaching on the Sabbath was done by local preachers, the pastors preaching only dur- ing the week. Later it was made the head of a smaller circuit, with preaching by the pastor on the Sabbath. In 1902 the charge was made a station.
By REV. F. C. MACSORLEY.
CHRIST METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH.
The present structure, now known as Christ Metho- dist Protestant Church of Federalsburg, was originally Federalsburg Presbyterian Church, therefore, any sketch or history of Christ church in order to be in any way complete must include the history of the Presbyte- rian church which was the beginning of it.
In the year 1871 under the leadership of a Rev. Mr. Boing a congregation was assembled and October 6th regularly organized as a Presbyterian church. Mr. H. P. Chambers was elected Secretary and Messrs. Jas. A. Sanders, Edward R. Goslin, John Wilson, Jacob Rhoads, and H. P. Chambers were the Finance Committee. The original trustees were Edward R. Goslin. H. P. Cham- bers, W. C. Logan, R. Mitchell, J. Rhoads, J. A. Sanders, Dr. W. D. Noble and John Wilson.
A hall was rented and properly seated and the ser- vices proceeded regularly until the present fine structure was erected. The lot on which it stands was bought from Dr. Noble and the building erected during the years 1872 and 1873.
Regular services were held after this until the year 1897. At this time most of the congregation had moved away or died and it was decided to abandon the work and leave the property in the hands of the New Castle Presbytery. The last meeting of the session was record- ed on Sept. 30th. 1897 by S. A. Logan, Clerk. Rev. Mr. Blackwell was Pastor at Bridgeville and served this church in connection with that charge.
For about five evars after that the church remained closed.
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NEW MASONIC TEMPLE.
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In 1902, a number of Methodist Protestant families having moved into the town and vicinity, it was decided to form a Methodist Protestant church. Mr. James B. Wright, a loyal Methodist Protestant, seeing the need, bought the church building from the New Castle Pres- bytery and advanced the money until such time as the congregation should be able to repay him. Rev. Herbert F. Wright, who was then Pastor at Reliance, opened ser- vices in the church building and June 12th, 1902 Christ Methodist Protestant church was duly organized.
Since that time services have continued to be held continuously and the church has gained until it has reached its present strength and usefulness and has he- come one of the strongest powers for good in the com- munity.
By REV. J. L. NICHOLS.
SCHOOLS.
The first school in Federalsburg was situated on the west side of Main Street midway between Academy Ave- nne and the M. P. Church. One of the first teachers was Mr. Thomas Brown, who settled here in the latter part of the eighteenth century. This building was accident- ally burned during the term taught by Miss Lizzie Gos- lin. It, as well as its successor, built near the point where Main Street became the Preston road, was under the management of Dorchester County. The first Caro- line County school within town limits stood adjoining the present site of the M. E. Church.
Following these came the Academy, at first a one- room frame structure over which Miss Augusta Paine first presided as school-mistress. With the growth of the town, however, other rooms were added until, when last used, it comprised six rooms. Even the conversion of an adjacent machine shop into a primary school failed to meet the growing demands of the town and commu- nity; a more commodious building was an imperative necessity.
One of the last public acts of the Hon. E. E. Goslin. who had championed the Academy and donated the first five hundred dollars to it, was to obtain the passage of a bill appropriating money for the erection of the pres-
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ent High School building, first occupied in 1915. This building is a large stucco structure of two stories and basement. Its thirteen class rooms, anditorium, lunch- room, library, text-book room, office, and rest room, are heated by steam. Electric lights, bells, telephones, and running water are other mdoern conveniences which help to make it one of the finest and best equipped schools on the Eastern Shore.
PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING.
COLORED SCHOOLS.
Standing where Main Street curves to form the "Point" is a little shop where Mr. Richard Tull (a white man) did carpenter work by day and taught the colored inhabitants by night. Somewhat later a school house was built for them at Quaker Branch, where the Hous- ton's Branch road leaves town. A part of the old color- ed church opposite Mt. Pleasant Cemetery also did ser- vice as an institution of learning until the erection of the attractive new building on the Nichols road met ex- isting needs.
(From material collected by Federalsburg Pupils.)
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OLD BETHEL CHURCH, SINCE RESTORED,
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HICKORY HILL.
In the year 1872 a piece of land was bought from Mr. Alfred Davis and Mr. James Willis on which to build a school.
The school was built in a hickory grove on a small hill, so they decided to call it Hickory Hill. In 1916 the school was burned, then for two years the children of this section went in a hack to Federalsburg school.
In the year 1918 the people in the vicinity of Hick- ory Hill School met and subscribed a certain amount of money to erect a new school. At the end of the year the new school was completed. Two miles away from Hick- ory Hill School is a church by the name of Liberty that was built in the year 1907.
In the year 1863 the slaves of the United States were freed by our president, Abraham Lincoln. Many of the slaves of the United States were badly treated. There were many kidnappers in the east. Kidnappers caught the negroes wherever they went and then sent them south and sold them for a good price. The greatest kidnapper near Hickory Hill neighborhood was Patty Cannon. She was as strong as a man and lived where. Reliance now stands. She went around in a one-horse wagon trying to catch negroes. She would invite them to take a ride with her, and when they were in the wagon would throw them down and tie them hand and foot. Then she would take them to her home and put them in her slave pen, until she had enough to send south and sell.
Pupils of Hickory Hill School.
NICHOLS.
The old school house built of logs many years ago, stood near where Mr. Cohee's house now is. It was named Midway because it was about half-way between Friendship and Federalsburg.
The present school site was purchased from James A. Nichols in 1896, since which time it has been known officially as Nichols School.
A sorgum mill was also built in this section long ago. Mr. Corkran built it.
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HOUSTON'S BRANCH.
Houston's Branch is the name applied to a small stream emptying into the North West Fork a few miles above Federalsburg. It was eivdently named for James Houston who came to this section from Sussex County about 1800 and became one of the most representative citizens of this section and well known in county affairs. Mr. Houston was probably the earliest miller in this neighborhood.
As English and Scotch people settled this commin- nity largely, their descendants naturally chung to the Episcopal church-so much so in fact that a church of that denomination was established here years ago. For lack of support, however, it ceased to thrive and finally was closed.
After the Liberty school district was divided about 1871, the Houston's Branch school district was laid off and a building erected. With the exception of one or two years when the school was closed because of poor attendance, it has been in operation ever since. To this school belongs the honor of having the first concrete steps in the county, built by the patrons during the in- cumbency of Mrs. S. E. Parsons, teacher.
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SCENE AT CONCORD CAMP.
CONCORD.
Concord was given its name abont 1804, at which time John Mitchell, Isaac Collins, Sr., Horatio Short. Francis Elliott. Peter Causey, James Jenkins, and James Sullivan, trustees, appointed by the society that was then meeting at Abraham Collins house (near Pot- ter's Mill Pond) and approved by the preacher in charge though't from Abraham Collins for $15, one and one-twon- tieth acres of land for a meeting house to be called Con- cord. There had apparently been no name given to the region up to this time as the records simply speak of the intersection of the two roads, one leading from Greensboro to Hunting Creek and the other from Pot- ter's Landing to Marshyhope Bridge.
The first church at Concord was built near the site of the present one. Both white and colored people at- tended this church. The latter entered by a separate door which led directly up to the gallery. The present church was erected and dedicated shortly before the Civil War. The building committee consisted of Peter
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Sullivan, Gootee Stevens, Wingate Neal, William M. A. Liden, and Tilghman Nuttle. No account was given of the dedication. The building was done apparently by Thomas Murphy. There is a receipt from him dated Jan. 10, 1857 which together with other papers indicate a total of $1861.82 which most likely represents the cash outlay for the building-a considerable sum for a rural church edifice at that time. The church membership in 1847 was one hundred and five divided into three classes. The leaders of the classes were Peter Sullivan, Richard Lockerman and Gootce Stevens. The colored members numbered seventy-seven.
The first camp meeting at Concord was held in 1857 under the joint pastorate of Revs. W. W. Warner and Daniel George. Before this time the local camp had been held at Meluney's woods near Andersontown.
Rev. William Taylor, afterward a bishop, preached the Sunday the money ($60) was raised to pay for four acres of land for the camp ground. At this time Con- cord church was included in the Denton circuit.
Some years ago the Concord church was complete- ly remodelled and about 1906 a parsonage was built, since which time Concord has been a circuit and con- tinnes the seat of the county's largest and most noted camp ground.
Trustees for a public school at Concord were first appointed by the School Board in 1865, before which time by many years a school was apparently maintain- ed. In 1876 the present school site was purchased from Joseph Mowbray.
HOWARD'S.
Howard's takes its name from several families by that name who live in the community. The last genera- tion of these people came from England about forty years ago and proved themselves worthy of their native and adopted lands by becoming enterprising and leading citizens.
In this community as early as 1804 some of the ros- idents planned the establishment of a church and receiv- ed a visit from Bishop Asbury.
Being rather too distant to public schools the local citizens in 1909 contributed several hundred dollars to- wards the erection of the present school building.
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AMERICAN CORNERS.
For several years the polling place of the famous Eighth district, this village is located on the state high- way about five miles from Federalsburg.
Years ago one or two stores, a few dwellings and a tomato cannery seemed to be the equipment of the town. Later, however, the inhabitants of the section succeeded in building a church which belongs to the Methodist Protestant denomination and is attended by the minis- ter from Grove.
About this time the people tired of sending their children so far to school, joined in building a school and finally succeeded in getting the county to take over the responsibility. This latter transaction took place in 1889.
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SMITHVILLE AND COMMUNITY.
Days have come, days have gone; People have lived and died; No longer the woods seems to be Where once we played "hide."
Houses spacious now are standing, Fields of grain and fruits galore Where once the folks of this community Lived several years before.
In the morn the flowers bloometh, All its beauty fadeth soon; In the spring the birdies call, But winter calms their tune.
Changes! Ah, yes, there are many more. We, even change in our dress, appearance and habits as the years roll by. Places change too. How surprised our fore- fathers would be if they could see the little village where once they lived and helped to build; buildings where once their dead were laid away ; and roads where years ago were nothing but acres and acres of trees. Since those days many changes have taken place.
Instead of the pleasant country and the little village which we now see, in the years long ago, there were only Indians camped here and there. If we were to take a walk down the pond now we would see many kinds of flowers blooming on tall bushes. Some of these were probably planted by the Indians. We can also find their curious looking darts scattered over the country which they shot from their arrows, and bricks which they made their floors of can be seen yet, thus indicating that a tent was once there. Now, some people wonder what has become of the Indians. But, we can soon tell.
When the white settlers first came over here they wanted the land for their own. They knew that they must get rid of these red faced people, so they kept driv- ing tribe after tribe away until at last all left.
Mr. Richard Liden was the first man to come from England who helped drive them away.
The white people had come to a beautiful land; a land rich in valuable woods, bountifully supplied with game and streams abonnding with myriads of waterfowl. Many years went by, each year bringing more people to this country. What were they to do? Make it a place suitable to live in and to support themselves. So they began to clear up the land by cutting down the trees, us- ing what they could and destroying the rest.
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The next question which arose was-the building of homes. Where were they to build? The Indians select- ed their site on the bank of a stream. This stream led up to a place called old Bloomery where there were several shops. Yet, many years elapsed, people lived and died, between the time the first homes were built and the be- ginning of these shops. But, John and William Douglass abont 1800 came to this section and bought land, pre- snmably for the purpose of erecting iron works, since it has been supposed there was a bright prospect of iron ore, and one of these men was an excellent iron master. They were successful with their work for a while and thus before their coming the place was without a name. but when all the pits got on fire they called it "blum- ing, " naming the place "Blumery." The term Blumery was also given to the tract of land from which the iron ore was thought to be found. In late years the "00" has taken the place of the "u" now spelled Bloomery.
This country was very thinly populated then. Fol- lowing the stream, it led to a place where one brick building and two small one story houses stood. A Mr. Dukes lived in one of the two small houses. It seems that Peter Jenkins once lived in the brick structure and kept a little store. Later Mr. Wheeler occupied the same building and was the owner of several acres of land sur- rounding his home. About the year 1840 Samnel G. Smith bought the land and property from Mr. Wheeler. In 1869, Robert Bullock bought it and lives there at the present time. Mr. Smith was a very industrious man. always thinking or carrying ont some plan for the bet- terment and improvement of the community. He was the one that built the first saw mill at this place, al- though there were mills there before he came, namely, James Houston was the owner of a grist mill where the road from Federalsburg to BInmery leads across Brights Branch-which is the outlet of the millpond. James Wright, also, at one time owned the mill and prob- ably Levin and Isaac Smith before him, that was before 1800. Mr. Samuel G. Smith bought the same mill site about 1849 and conducted an up and down saw mill, but later discontinued it and carried on a grist and bark mill there. It was he that built the brick mill now standing but remodelled by Mr. William T. Hignntt, he being the owner of it for several years.
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The coming of that man, Samuel G. Smith, to our village gave it the name of Smithville which name has never been changed.
HIe was interetsed in the spiritual welfare of the people as well as the industrial. He hadn't been located here very long before he started tent meetings near old Bloomery where the church now stands. After some time they built a small meeting house. This was used for religious worship until the people were able to afford better, which was in the year 1854. when they constructed a new church which has always carried the name of Bloomery.
The first school in this section was apparently locat- ed between Brights Branch and Old Bloomery. In 1798 James Wright sold to several persons a lot of land, one acre, and provided a small honse thereon to be used for a school reserving unto himself and his heirs one twen- tieth of the rights of the school. We presume he intend- ed to reserve the privilege of his children attending there. The consideration was one pound, or five dollars. The children probably went to this school until they be- gan to think it was too far to walk and the way was somewhat sandy. For a while they sent them to Liden's School, but still it was too far away. This belief caused a school to be built in a more central place near the crossroads by the big hickory tree. This was called Hickory Hill. It did not stand many years before it was burned. William Edward Liden and Bennett Todd were the chief instruments in the construction of the next school. Mr. Liden giving a corner of his land near the cross roads for it to be built upon. After some years they discontinued its nse, and Caroline County bought almost an acre of land from Thawley not quite midway between the big hickory tree and the village of Smith- ville for a new school to be erected. This remains to the present day.
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