USA > Maryland > Dorchester County > History of Dorchester County, Maryland > Part 6
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BAPTIST MISSION CHURCH, CAMBRIDGE.
77
CAMBRIDGE NEWSPAPERS
published by James H. C. Barrett. In 1867, E. L. Keer began the publication of The Dorchester News, afterwards selling out to Joseph H. Johnson who also purchased The Democrat, and consolidated the two under the name of the Democrat and News. About this time William H. Bowdle started The Tele- graph, and in a year sold out to Clement Sulivane, who changed the name of the paper to The Chronicle. He pub- lished the paper about fifteen years. *
* Next it passed into the hands of James Melvin. Two or three years later John R. Pattison and E. C. Harrington became its owners. Mr. Pattison retired, and his half interest was purchased by the present editor, and proprietor, W. Laird Henry, who bought out Mr. Harrington.
To return to the Democrat and News, when Mr. Johnson became interested in shipbuilding, he sold his paper to C. V. Bingley and John G. Mills. Mr. Bingley soon retired, and from that time on, the paper was edited and published by Mr. Mills until 1901, when he sold out to Orem and Johnson.
The Dorchester Standard was established in 1895, by Phil- lips L. Goldsborough, who sold out in 1901, to Thos. S. Latimer, who is now editor and proprietor.
The Item, a monthly paper, was started in 1894, by E. P. Vinton, who still continues its publication.
The Daily Banner publication began Tuesday, September 21, 1897, Lindsay C. Marshall and Armistead R. Michie being editors and proprietors. May 19, 1898, it was consolidated with the Chronicle, a weekly paper published by Emerson C. Harrington and W. Laird Henry.
Mr. Michie retired, as did Hon. W. Laird Henry, editor of the Chronicle, and the two papers have since been published by Harrington, Henry & Co. with Lindsay C. Marshall edi- tor and manager.
NOTED CONFLAGRATIONS.
Cambridge has severely suffered great loss, by two disas- trous fires, and numerous smaller ones. The first conflagra- tion took place on November 30, 1882, destroying Christ P.
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER COUNTY
E. Church and other buildings and involving a loss of many thousands of dollars.
The second fire occurred July 30, 1892. Fifteen buildings were burnt, including two hotels, two newspaper offices, one National bank, several stores and dwellings. The estimated loss was $75,000.
A CITY OF FINE CHURCHES.
Christ Protestant Episcopal Church was first erected in 1693, rebuilt in 1794, and was destroyed by fire with many other buildings in November, 1882. The present fine edifice was completed in 1883, at a cost of $20,000. Rev. T. Carter Page is the present rector.
Zion M. E. Church was built in 1845, and rebuilt in 1881 of stone and is a structure of modern architecture. Rev. E. C. Macnichol is the present pastor.
Grace M. E. Church South, was built in 1882. It is a fine stone edifice of elegant design and finish. The present pastor is Rev. R. T. Waterfield.
St. Paul's M. P. Church, a wooden building located in East Cambridge, was built in 1882. The pastor is Rev. S. B. Tredway.
The First Baptist Church, a neat and attractive building, is located in West Cambridge, and was built in 1884. Rev .. W. S. B. Ford, of South Carolina, is the pastor.
"Mary Refuge of Sinners," a Roman Catholic church was built in 1894, to replace one built there in 1885. This parish church and others in the country are in charge of Father Dougherty, recently appointed by Bishop Monaghan.
From Cambridge, a charming city of flower-gardens, shaded streets and modern buildings that collectively deco- rate a well selected town location; a spot of the Red Men's choice where they built their wigwams centuries ago; and from its present commercial and industrial activities, we turn ยท to other towns in the county that have had less advantages and made slower progress.
GRACE M. E. CHURCH SOUTH, CAMBRIDGE.
MOU
CHAPTER IX.
VIENNA.
The date when the town of Vienna, in Dorchester County, was founded by Act of Colonial Assembly has not been dis- covered in the Archives of Maryland, in either the printed or written records. After weeks of tedious research, how- ever, it has been ascertained that it was a town for some years prior to 1709, when a "Chapel of Ease" was built there, very convenient for some people, but not satisfactory to others, as is shown by the following petition presented to the Governor and Council of Maryland, at a session held in 1728.
"The petitioners of many of the inhabitants in Dorchester County, of Great Choptank Parish, most humbly sheweth; that in the said Parish the Church thereof is placed on the side of Choptank River, a great distance from your Peti- tioners, so that they could not possibly attend God's worship.
"That your petitioners in regard to the great distance to the Parish Church aforesaid, did on or about the year 1709, by the assistance of the then vestry, and their own contribu- tions obtain a Chapel of Ease situated in Vienna Town, by the Nanticoke River on the other side of the Parish afore- said.
"Notwithstanding the peaceable enjoyment of the said chapel ever since, as well as convenient situation of it, sev- eral endeavours hath been made to remove the same to the great inconvenience of your petitioners, and since those endeavours have hereto been frustrated by a suitable opposi- tion, so your petitioners were in hopes of resting easy and quiet in the use of the said Chapel for the future.
"But so it is, May it please your Excellency and Honors; the Vestry of the said Parish of late, to the great surprise
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER COUNTY
of your Petitioners did make an appointment to meet at a certain place in order to choose a piece of land, and contract with workmen to erect another Chapel of Ease not distant from the former, about five miles, which accordingly they have done; although there is no intervening creek, cove, branch or swamp between them whereby the people may be incommoded in their passage; by which means, your Peti- tioners although not at present, may hereafter by such a method be deprived of the above said Chapel at Vienna, which they have so long enjoyed.
"The premises considered, your petitioners humbly entreat such relief herein as may prevent the Vestry erecting the new Chapel. The securing and repairing the old, or such orders and determinations in this matter as in your great wisdoms may be for the quiet and ease of your petitioners in their possession of their Chapel and preventing designing persons giving them uneasiness therein for the future.
"And your Petitioners as in duty bound shall pray.
E. D. W. Elliott,
John Edwards,
John Hurley,
Robert Dyas,
Roger Hurley,
Thomas Tacket,
Darby Hurley,
Mich'l Stockdell,
Morris McKenney,
Isaac Charles,
Roger Bradley,
Joseph Hurst,
Thomas Colson,
John Lamey,
James Baker,
Robert Dixon,
Charles Smith,
Wm. Rawley, Jun.,
John Creeke,
Jno. Quartermas,
William Smith,
Pat. Quartermas,
John Minisk,
Maurice Rawley,
William Guy,
William Rawley,
Nath. Mitchel, And. Lord,
Solomon Davis, Henry Parks,
Capt. Johnathan Hooper, 2d,
Jacob Charles,
May Lew. Hicks,
Wm. Thornewell,
Capt. Thos. Hicks,
James Jones,
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VIENNA A PORT OF ENTRY
Wm. Holloway, Thomas Dyas, Henry Dyas,
Mathew Clark, James Rawley, Leonard Jones, Sr.
"Ordered that the clerk of this Board give notice to the Gentlemen of the Vestry of this petition, and that they may attend to be heard to the contents thereof at the time of the meeting of the next Assembly, which order issued accord- ingly."
OTHER CHURCH REFERENCES.
In 1725 an Act was passed to invest the vestry of Great Choptank Parish with an estate in fee simple, viz: Two acres of land out of a parcel of 15 acres laid out for public use at the town of Vienna, whereon the chapel was built. Many years after the chapel had been abandoned for church wor- ship, its old brick walls were the chief memorials of that cem- etery then rich with the ashes of the dead. Now lettered tablets of stone erected there in later years make it as sacred a spot to-day as it was nearly two centuries ago.
In the year 1730 (see Lib. L., No. 5, Fol. 323), the bounds of this parish lot are given as follows:
"Beginning at the N. E. corner of the chapel aforesaid and running east to William Ennalls' ditch; then south 38 deg. west 12 perches; then west 38 deg. north 20 perches; north 38 deg. east 16 perches; then east 38 deg. south 20 perches to the said ditch; then bounding therewith until it intersects the aforesaid east line drawn from said Chapel, containing 2 acres of land."
WHEN MADE A PORT OF ENTRY.
In April, 1762, an Act was passed to build a public ware- house at Vienna. An Act for amending the Tobacco Laws was passed in 1763, that designated places for warehouses and officers' salaries; and named one location on the land of Joshua Edmondson, at Vienna Town. The salary of the Inspector was 4800 lbs. of tobacco.
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER COUNTY
In 1768, in a letter from Robert Jenkins Henry to Gov- ernor Sharp, reference is made to Mr. Herron's application to move the Collector's office from Wicocomoco, at Green Hill to Nanticoke as the centre of trade. The inducement being his removing his residence from Wicocomoco, in Somerset County, to Dorchester County, where he had pur- chased a tract of land. The writer entered into a discussion to prove "where the rivers and creeks ran into the bay as the place to locate" the office for collection of customs; after which he proceeds; "should the Custom House be moved to Vienna, it would by no means be convenient for the trade in general. True, more of the common trade goes into the Nanticoke than any of the other rivers in the district."
The exact date of the formation of Vienna into a Custom District is not known, but was probably about the year 1768.
In 1776 it was a thriving place. During the War of Inde- pendence, a British gun-boat ascended the Nanticoke River, and threw shot into the town. In October, 1781, two British barges with crews of thirty men attacked the town and burnt a new brig on the stocks there. One of the Dorchester mili- tia, Levin Dorsey, was killed by the British in one of these attacks. He was the only man who lost his life on Dor- chester soil in battle, during the stormy days of the Revolu- tion.
The Viennians were patriotic, they formed a militia com- pany for home defence, which was commanded by officers whom they did not like, and a majority of them petitioned the Committee of Safety for an official change.
In 1812 the town was prepared for defence against British aggressions. Breast works were thrown up at the saw-mill wharf and guns were mounted. A company of militia was organized and equipped ready for service. Gun-boats of the British were frequently in sight of the town, but made no attack, unless throwing an occasional shot at long range be so regarded.
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TOWN RESIDENTS
AN ERA OF PEACE.
Thomas Holliday Hicks made Vienna his home in 1829; the large mansion in which he lived still stands; he engaged in sail-vessel trade and merchandising. The streets in the town were narrow and so wet and muddy that carts mired ir them when used for hauling town and country products. Guided by the inspiration of Mr. Hicks, a charter was pro- cured for the town and under its provisions new streets were opened and old ones repaired. There were no railroads then. The old steamer "Maryland," slow as a coach, plowed her way twice a week between Baltimore and Cambridge, the lat- ter place being 19 miles from Vienna. Otherwise from that section the passage to Baltimore was by Bay schooners.
Probably the first steamer to stop at Vienna was the "George Washington;" that event was on the Fourth of July, 1840, when the steamer took from Baltimore, Reverdy John- son, Charles H. Pitt and Thomas Yates Walsh (orators whose like do not exist nowadays), with a load of Whig excursionists for the great Harrison rally at Barren Creek Springs.
The old "Osires" was the earliest liner between the upper Nanticoke and Baltimore; following her was the "Cham- pion," next, the "Kent," and others since not necessary to name.
TOWN RESIDENTS.
Mr. Thomas Holliday Hicks left Vienna in 1840 and re- moved to Cambridge, having been appointed Register of Wills.
In 1850 the leading residents were James R. Lewis, vessel owner, with large business interests: Isaac Cornwell, likewise engaged; the store merchants were Thomas Webb, Thomas Higgins, Josiah Kerr and Fletcher E. Marine. Other well known citizens were Benton H. Crockett, hotel keeper; Dr. Daniel Ewell; Capt. Thomas Henry Webb; Daniel M. Henry; Capt. Frank Higgins; Brannock Moore, undertaker; Isaac Robinson, coffin maker; George D. Smith; Wethers Smith; Dr. Smithers; Judge Craft; William Venables; Widow Vena-
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER COUNTY
. bles; William Hearn, cabinet maker; Garretson Sewell; tailor; Burton Hearn, wheelwright; Britain Robinson, car- penter; Samuel Keys, shoe maker; Capt. Isaac Kennerly; Eli- sha Collins, carpenter; Mrs. Jacobs and two daughters; Squire Geo. A. Z. Smith, Rev. Enoch Bailey, school teacher; William Jackson; Dr. Jackson; Jacob Insley, constable; John T. Gray, undertaker, and Noah Foxwell. Hooper C. Hicks and Zacha- riah Webster lived on their farms adjoining the town. There were some families in the place of pure African type who had the respect and confidence of their white neighbors. Of these were Hooper Jolly, Aaron Hews and Mary Moore. Hews was a blacksmith who was accidentally killed by the collapse of his shop. All of the above-named town and subur- ban citizens, with others, whose names are not herein given (except Richard and Weathers Smith), have passed onward to the end of life's journey, whither all descend to that com- mon plane of lonely retirement-the grave.
Before Vienna was a town, Hoopersville stood adjoining the Vienna site on the Hicks farm near the "Sycamore" where the boys have gone swimming for centuries. As late as 1850 the foundations of a store and warehouse were trace- able; the evidence of its existence now is legendary.
A bridge was authorized to be built at Vienna in 1828 that spanned the Nanticoke from the Dorchester shore to the Somerset; it had a "draw" that consisted of two sections which were hoisted to upright positions, almost vertical, to admit the passing of sail and steam vessels through the bridge, and lowered to close the draw for travel over it. It was such a menace to navigation that it was removed in 1860. A ferry has been established across the river as a substitute for the bridge, which connects with a causeway over a mile long across a treacherous marsh on the Wicomico side of the river. The marsh reminds us of Squire Geo. J. Z. Smith, a native of South Carolina, who settled at Vienna about eighty years ago. He spent his money liberally in constructing rice fields in the marsh near Indian-town Creek. He dug what is called "Smith's Ditch" from the mainland to the Nanti-
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COLLECTORS OF THE PORT OF VIENNA
coke; since then the tides have washed it deep and wide. His experiment failed; the seasons of hot weather were not suf- ficiently long to ripen the rice.
Mr. Richard Smith, of Baltimore, a native of Vienna, who was during the Greenback Movement that party's candidate for Mayor of Baltimore, is a son of the late Squire Smith.'
Col. Thomas S. Hodson of Baltimore, is also a native of Vienna. He and William M. Marine attended the same school at that place.
COLLECTORS OF THE PORT OF VIENNA.
After the adoption of the Federal Constitution in 1788 and the United States Government had established Customs Reg- ulations for the collection of revenues, Collectors of Customs who were commissioned Inspectors of the Revenue also were appointed by the Federal Government for Vienna at the time named, and in the following order :
John Muir, March 21, 1791. James Frazier, February 20, 1795.
Algernon Sidney Stanford, January 29, 1805.
James Ennalls, July 1, 1808.
John Ennalls, December 6, 1808.
Charles Leary, March 31, 1830.
Charles Leary, April 28, 1834.
Charles Leary, March 15, 1838.
Benton H. Crockett, March 31, 1842. Benton H. Crockett. May 8, 1846.
Hooper C. Hicks, April 30, 1849.
Hooper C. Hicks, August 29, 1850. George A. Z. Smith, March 16, 1853. William S. Jackson, March 6, 1858.
Daniel J. Waddell, July 23, 1861.
James F. Webb, February 19, 1866.
VIENNA OF TO-DAY.
Vienna has excellent public schools and school buildings, four churches, one Episcopal, one Baptist, one Methodist
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER COUNTY
Protestant and one Methodist Episcopal, all well supplied with able ministers who attract fine congregations. It now has traveling and shipping advantages by rail. The Balti- more and Eastern Shore Railroad (now the Baltimore, Ches- apeake and Atlantic Railway) connects Vienna with Baltimore and Ocean City. It touches the suburbs of the town near the old Sycamore. Steam mills for manufacturing lumber, flour and meal do a thriving business; fine stores of general mer- chandise command active enterprise and the town is alive with a thrifty population of 500 citizens.1
1 To Hon. Wm. M. Marine, ex-Collector of the Port of Baltimore, much credit is due for history given in this sketch of Vienna and its people.
EAST NEW MARKET HIGH SCHOOL.
...
CHAPTER X.
EAST NEW MARKET-HURLOCK-AIREYS-BUCKTOWN-LINKWOOD.
EAST NEW MARKET. (By Miss Pink Jacobs.)
East New Market, a town of about 600 inhabitants, is sit- uated twelve miles from Cambridge and one mile from the head of Warwick River, once known as Secretary Creek, a tributary of the Great Choptank. It is a thriving village and is surrounded by some of the best farming land in the county. The farmers of this section of the county have ceased, however, to depend upon the usual staples and now raise peaches, melons, berries and other fruits and vegeta- bles. The canning and shipping of these products form the principal industries here and give employment to some hun- dreds of men, women, boys and girls.
Each religious denomination here of any significance has a very creditable church. Almost annually the Methodist Epis- copals hold a camp-meeting at the old historic place, En- nalls' Camp Ground, about five miles from town. The Methodist Protestants camp nearly every year at Shiloh, about one mile away. The oldest church in the town is the Episcopal; the present building is the third one erected here. The foundation stones of the first one, which was built before the Revolution of 1776, are now lying opposite the old site.
The old New Market Academy, which was incorporated in 1829, has since become a part of the State Public School Sys- tem, and is now known as the East New Market High School. Its reputation is of the best, and its graduates dur- ing the time when Dr. James L. Bryan was Superintendent of the County Schools, were placed on the roll of eligible teachers without further examination.
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER COUNTY
East New Market is growing and is especially well situated for progressive enterprise, being surrounded by productive farms, and has shipping facilities by the B. C. & A. R. R., three miles distant, the C. & S. within one mile, and daily lines of steamers on the Choptank River, one mile away, to Baltimore.
The present town development is not the work of any active immigration, but under old names with new energies the village flourishes; of them we note Webster, Thompson, Hooper, Hicks, Wright, LeCompte, Thomas, Smith, An- drews, and Jacobs, who are still to the front as merchants, farmers or professionals. From the older ones much inter- esting history may be heard of the old days, when the cross- roads tavern here would be filled with travelers from the upper to the lower peninsula or vice-versa. Frequently did traders from Delaware and New Jersey meet here who came to sell negroes or exchange horses.
Iron staples are still shown here in one building to which slave negroes were chained for safe keeping until sold or to await the purchaser's time when ready to convey them South for service in the cotton fields of Georgia.
One of the oldest tanning firms in Maryland for many years was located on what is now Main Street. Tanning leather was then an important and profitable industry, when Dorchester County was almost a dense forest of oak, from which tan bark was obtained cheap and plentiful. This town has always been noted for its healthfulness. Though within a mile of Warwick River, it is free from those pests in other parts of the county-malaria and mosquitoes.
Subjoined is an illustration of an old home of one of the Hooper families of East New Market. It is now the summer home of William Hooper, a descendant of Henry Hooper (1), (2) and (3), of the colonial period.
Accompanying is an obscure view of the home of the late Dr. - Edmondson, in East New Market. He was a de- scendant of one of the oldest families in the county, who were large land holders, influential and enterprising people.
HOOPER HOUSES, EAST NEW MARKET.
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HURLOCK
The first to settle in Dorchester County was John Edmond- son, who came from Talbot County about 1665, when he took up and had surveyed the following tracts of land: "Provi- dence," 1300 acres, surveyed February 12, 1665, for John Edmondson, on the south side of Great Choptank River, in the woods; given by John Edmondson, by will, to his son, James Edmondson. "Edmondson's Reserve," 1050 acres, surveyed August 26, 1665, for John Edmondson, on the south side of Great Choptank, about two miles above the dividing. "Skipton," 200 acres, surveyed July 16, 1669, for John Edmondson, at the head of Fox Creek. He also pur- chased other tracts. (See Dorchester County Rent Rolls.) They first settled in Virginia before locating in Talbot. The Talbot branch of the family were members of the Society of Friends or Quakers.
HURLOCK.
The origin of Hurlock, a new and attractive town in the upper section of the county, was the location of a railroad station at that point on the Dorchester and Delaware Rail- road (now the Cambridge and Seaford Railroad), in 1867. The first storehouse there was built in 1869 by John M. Hur- lock, who also built the first dwelling there in 1872. Then a beautiful forest of oak surrounded the station on all sides and Methodist camp-meetings were annually held in a charm- ing section of that picturesque woodland.
James M. Andrews sold the first town lot for $25. Wil- liam W. Howith built the second dwelling there in 1885. After Mr. Howith built, the following gentlemen, viz: T. W. Noble, Henry Sinclair, B. F. Carroll, Thos. I. Wright, Thos. Hackett, each built dwellings about 1887, and James A. Dean built a hotel. The town continued to grow, and was incorporated in 1893. Stores of all description now number 15, hotels two, one flour mill, one saw mill, one box factory, employing twenty men; two canneries, one cream- ery, one machine shop, and the Hurlock Drop Forge Com- pany. comprise the principal industrial enterprises. Wm. H. Stevens is Postmaster. The town has two churches, Meth-
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER COUNTY
odist Episcopal and Methodist Protestant; two physicians, Dr. H. F. Nicols and Dr. G. A. Haefner.
The building of the B. C. & A. R. R., which crosses the Cambridge and Seaford Road at this point, in 1890, gave the town of Hurlock a live boom; it now contains 450 inhab- itants, and is thriftily developing.
AIREYS.
Aireys is a little village and railroad station on the Cam- bridge and Seaford Railroad, five miles from Cambridge. It contains about seventy-five inhabitants, one M. E. Church South, two stores and post office, and one public school.
At this place the first Methodist sermon in Dorchester County was preached at the home of Henry Airey by Free- born Garrettson in 1781. In that neighborhood he was ar- rested and confined in Cambridge jail for several weeks, being charged with preaching a religious doctrine of John Wesley, who was said to be a Tory at that time.
BUCKTOWN.
Bucktown is an inland hamlet, situated near the central part of Dorchester County, twelve miles from Cambridge and five miles from a railroad station. A fertile farming country surrounds it. Two stores, one M. E. church and about forty people in ten or twelve dwellings measure the size of that quiet town where the ring of the hammer on the blacksmith's anvil is no more heard.
LINKWOOD.
Linkwood is a railroad.station on the Cambridge and Sea- ford Railroad, about eight miles from Cambridge. It con- tains one M. E. church, one public school, one store of gen- eral merchandise, a post office and a few family dwellings. It is in a fertile farming district, in which grain, fruit and veg- etables are extensively raised. The most important industry is the fruit and vegetable canning plant owned by Mrs. Belle F. Turpin and operated by Roberts Bros., of Baltimore.
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EDMONDSON HOUSE, EAST NEW MARKET.
CHAPTER XI.
WILLIAMSBURG AND WILLIAMSBURG DISTRICT-CROTCHER'S FERRY (BROOK- VIEW)-GALESTOWN-FORK DISTRICT -THE LEES OF VIRGINIA ON NORTH WEST FORK RIVER-OTHER FAMILIES.
WILLIAMSBURG AND WILLIAMSBURG DISTRICT.
The little hamlet, Williamsburg, situated on the Cam- bridge and Seaford Railroad, about twenty miles from Cam- bridge, is in Williamsburg district, which was a part of East New Market district but laid out for a new election district in 1859. The first election in the district was held at Wil- liamsburg in 1860. The town is not of colonial origin, though its original name was Bunker's Hill. Henry Jones, who was a school teacher, land surveyor and farmer in a small way, built the first house there in 1804. He was the grandfather of the author of this village sketch. As founder of the town, his house was small in size and plain in construc- tion, described by Enoch Lowe, Esq., who saw it when he was a boy. The first business started there was by a wheel- wright, John Woolen, who made spinning wheels for spin- ning flax and wool, as well as cart wheels for the farmers' carts.
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