USA > Maryland > Frederick County > Emmitsburg > History of Emmitsburg, Maryland, with a prelude of historical facts of Frederick County, and a romance entitled Disappointed, or, The recluse of Huckle's feld > Part 9
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EARLY SETTLERS.
Early settlers on Monocacy Church Book, 1747: John
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George Lay, John Krietzman, John M. Roemer, Peter Axtel, Henry Secks, Jacob Hoft, Martin Wetzel, George Schley, John Schmidt, John Verdnes, Michael Reisner, Dr. Schley, John Stolmyer, John Secks, John G. Seldus John C. Schmidt, John Vogler, John Davis, Frederick Overdries, Martin Wehel, Nicholas Wehel, Peter Apfal, Ludwig Wettner, Fredk. Un- salt, Jacob Hoen, Hans Frederick Geyer. Later date, Ap- plebies, Boyers, Hardts, Fishers, Debruers, Hallers, Homes, Couradts, Ebberts, Jenkins, Howmans, Levys, Englebrights, Mayheffus, Mayers, Myers, Hoffmans, Bechtels, Cullers. At Graceham, George Ninke, Lorentz Nyburg, Harbaughs, Boll- ens, Hens, Ebenhards, Kreigers, Reineckes, Lydricks, Seiss, Schmidt, Utleys, Williards, Zohns, Herzers, Rossens, Ren- zands, Schaafs; along Monocacy river, Zimmermans, Kobbs, Hoffmans, Breckenbaughs, Bickels, Tradanes, Devilbiss, Wetz- ells, Eckmans, Cramers, Brickners, Crise (Krise), Gushons, Dohlmans, Bluenenshines, Protsmans, Shrumps, Stulls, Cul- lers, Creigers, Poes, Eichelbrgers, Shriners, Winebrenners, Shryocks, Wilhides, Campbells, Hammets, Hoods, Dulaneys, Snyders, Snooks, Albaughs.
PRICES DURING WAR FROM 1861 TO 1865.
Coffee 50, sugar 121/2, tea $2. 50, tobacco $1.00, rice 10, unbleached muslin 75, Wammitta 8712, New York mills 50, Canton flannel 75c and $1, calico 50, gingham 50, spool cotton 15, blankets $10 to $50, stockings 75c to $1, cassi- meres $1. 50 to $4, boots as high as $16, hides 1412, now 1712.
WRAPPER FACTORY. -
Spangler, the hotel man, and Albert Maxell were the two men who solicited subscriptions for stock to start a fac- tory. The object was to rent a room and buy a gasoline engine and offer this inducement to get an enterprise started. The business men subscribed and the project was started over Zimmerman's warehouse, Albert Maxell putting in 50 machines; he continued successfully from 1900 till 1904, when he sold out and moved to Charlestown, W. Va.
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Samuel Rowe put in machines and removed the engine to Gelwicks Hall, where he continued the manufacture of wrappers to date.
POP FACTORY.
In the spring of 1906 A. Stonesifer, of Harney, Md., opened a pop bottling establishment in the brick house on alley in Shields' Addition, supplying his goods to the town and hauling his pop to other places; an enterprise of profit to the town.
BROOM FACTORY.
Carried on by Winegardner, west of town, buying broom corn by the car load in the West, has made a success of that; in former days, was conducted by a few men, on very small scale. The early broom makers usually making up the stock for the farmers for personal use, whilst the brooms sold in the stores were purchased in the cities from dealers.
SOLDIERS BURIED IN CEMETERIES.
Revolutionary-Capt. Benjamin Ogle, Capt. Henry Wil- liams, Capt. William Blair, Ist Lieut. John Farris, Presby- terian; 2nd Lieut. Michael Hockensmith, 2nd Lieut. George Hockensmith, Ensign Jacob Hockensmith, Sergeant John Smith, Corporal John Crabbs, Corporal Arthur Row, Toms Creek; Corporal William Elder of Guy, College.
War 1812-Michael C. Adelsberger, James Storm, Catho- lic; Felix B. Taney, Jesse Nusseur, College; Capt. Michael Sluss, Toms Creek; Capt. Jacob Row, John Wetzel, Lutheran; Peter Remby, Methodist; - - Paxton, Presbyterian.
Mexican War-H. Jefferson Favourite.
Rebellion, 1861-Major O. A. Horner, .Lieut. John M. Annan, Enos McDannells, Presbyterian; Isaac Heagey, Noah Koontz, Thadeus Maxell, Benjamin Gehrhart, Joseph Wills, John Shields, James Peoples, James McIlhenny, Jeremiah Stranesbaugh, Lutheran; G. W. McPherson, Jacob Settlemyer, James Arnold, Peter Cool, Augustus Little, John Murphy, Theodore Cook, Jacob I. Topper, Nicholas Seltzer, Catholic;
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John Constant, Nathaniel Millsbury, John Rosensteel, Joseph Shorb, Henry Taylor, George Seiss, College; Jacob Reeves, John Spence, Philip Long, Mountain View; John Kipe, George Kipe, Sabillasville; Frederick Nindle, Fairfield; John Hunter, Gettysburg; Joseph Davidson, Rocky Ridge; Peter Glasser, Mt. Joy; Joseph Zech, Henry Gelwicks, Joseph Coombs, Andersonville; Emory Gilson, died in prison; Newton Gilson, killed in battle.
In the year 1810 or 1812 Mr. Frances Gillmyer, a Ger- man importer, purchased Cedar Grove farm (the Gilson farm), bringing with him a family of three boys and two girls. One son studied for the church, but ere he took the vows he concluded to spend his days as a recluse; he pur- chased Huckle's fields in the twenties and built a rustic cabin on it, planting cherry trees as an acquisition he thought to the chestnut grove that surrounded the field; here he dwelt for sometime, carrying his meals from the College or walking there to eat them as best suited him. Whether he died there or was taken in at the College be- fore that solemn moment came I am not prepared to say; he is buried in the cemetery on the hill, and no man at this day knows the place of his burial.
There scattered around the foundation lie the stones upon which rested the structure that sheltered Rev. Gillmyer; a chimney stood as a monument to his strange ways; for fifty years after his death the cherry trees had grown to immense proportions, and the people gathered the fruit. Fifty years after the planter changed his habitation from the mortal to the immortal; the land was inherited by Mr. James Stormn's wife who was a sister of the hermit priest. Later it passed into other hands, yet never changing its name, like his neighbor, Samuel Carrick, after whom the knob was called. Huckle's fields will remain as the name for this spot until realities shall fade away, and there will be neither objects nor time to speak of or reckon. Is there nothing in a name? how about Carrick knob and Huckle's fields. Yes, and Emmitsburg.
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TABLETS.
Erected by the Army Association on east and west side of Fountain, an iron tablet marked Army of Potomac, July Ist, 1863:
First Corps marched from Marsh creek run, Eleventh corps from Eininitsburg to Gettysburg, Second Corps from Uniontown via Taneytown to near Gettysburg, third Corps from Bridgeport via Emmitsburg to the field at Gettysburg, Fifth Corps from Union Mills to Gettysburg, Twelfth Corps via Hanover and McSherrystown to Bonoughton, Sixth Corps from Manchester en route to Gettysburg, Twelfth Corps from Littlestown via Two Taverns to field at Gettys- burg, Second Cavalry Division marched from Washington to Hanover Junction, from whence the First and Third Brigade proceeded to Hanover Junction, while the Second Brigade returned to Manchester; Third Cavalry Division moved from Hanover via Abbotstown to Berlin, and the artillery reserve, First Regulars and Fourth Volunteer Bri- gades from Taneytown to near Gettysburg, the Vermont Brigade from the defence of Washington, joined the First Corps on the field at Gettysburg.
Battle of Gettysburg, first day, and skirmishes at Car- lisle, Pa.
ARMY OF POTOMAC, JULY 4, 1863.
First and Second Brigade, First Cavalry Division; marched from Westminster, and the Reserve Brigade, First Cavalry Division, from Gettysburg en route to Frederick, Second Brigade, Second Cavalry Division from Washing- ton, from Emmitsburg to Monterey; the Third Brigade, Second Cavalry, from Gettysburg to Hunterstown, and Third Cavalry Division from Emmitsburg to Monterey Gap, Pa., and skirmish at Fairfield, Pa., and near Emmits- burg.
CORRECTION.
The troop of horsemen was commanded by Capt. D Andrew Annan; Ist lieutenant, Dr. Wm. Patterson; 2nd lieutenant, John Picking. J. W. Baugher made an effort to organize a second company and be its captain, in which he failed.
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DISAPPOINTED, OR, THE RECLUSE OF HUCKLE'S FIELD.
Strange things happen, not in one State, county, city or town, but everywhere. Could we draw aside the curtain of many families or individuals, the things secreted and hid from view of the public would astonish us. There are sus- picions resting upon many; nothing more than a suspicion developes; pry into these secrets as much as we will, they remain secrets still. Although voluntarily at some future time these suspected confide the secret to others, secrets never intended to be made known. This will be the last act of John Hartel who appears as the leading character in this written drama.
His parents nursed him carefully, educated him and pro- vided him with a competency, dying when he arrived at his majority; he entered the arena of pleasure, he sought the fountains that quenched his varied thirsts; he ran with the multitude that eagerly travelled fromn country to country until he had surfeit and became morose, and society lost sight of him. When his friends and companions asked for him, the answer was, John Hartel cannot be found. Thus time went on, until his name was mentioned no more; his gifts to charity were missed, his singing and laughing in the social circle and club, his genial inanner and ready wit, all were a note that was sung; no echo, no response. Take notice, the scene changes from the metropolis to a rural one. One day there drove into the town of Emmits- burg, Maryland, a man of thirty, well groomed, his gen- eral appearance indicating his social standing, his compan- ion a man his senior, a different type, a business man, the driver a black man. Stopping over night at the Spangler hotel. In the morning they drove off, in the evening re- turning; this they kept up for days, when they disappeared
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as suddenly as they came, leaving the people to wonder who they were and what their business was.
In a few days two men, one heavy set the other rather taller than the ordinary man, and of slight build, both past middle life, came to Emmitsburg. After a few days spent walking around the town, they drove through the moun- tains and ascertained who owned Huckle's field, which they purchased, and proceeded to construct upon it a mod- ern residence of more than ordinary dimentions, having the material shipped by rail ready to put together. This to the mountain people was a suspicious movement for strang- ers to make such improvements on the mountain, as one said they can never get their money back. This was the way these people looked upon this enterprise; at length it was completed, when hands were employed to build a sub- stantial fence ten feet high, closely fitting, the boards re- sembling a stockade, after which trees were transplanted of size sufficient to shade the ground inside the fence, as close together as possible for growth, that they might interlap and make a dense obstruction that no outsiders, even though they had mounted a tree to peer in, would be disappointed and privacy maintained. The old field containing some thirty acres was cleared from brush and stone, and planted with the choicest fruits of every description, besides orna- mental trees and vines and several grottos, benches around some of the large trees, in different parts of the ground, all was complete by the first of October, when a car loaded with furniture, boxes, stoves and a great variety of articles sent to complete the arrangements; after all these had been taken to Huckle's field house and properly arranged by the inen, the laborers were paid off and dismissed; the curious could now give vent to any and every kind of surmising as to who would live here and why all this secrecy; up to this time these two men divulged nothing. A few old women of the neighborhood neglected their home work to watch and see who came; some peeped in through the little shute expecting to see something out of the ordinary; they won- dered and wondered. One said she heard it was to be a
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convent, one a place to keep rich people's crazy folks, one sprightly old maid said, it was an old maid's home and she would try to get into it. The interior of the house was in keeping with the outside; every convenience architecture could plan, every comfort expense could divise, every pleasure art and music could supply, and all delicacies the markets have for the taste are here in abundance; the cu- riosity of the men who helped to haul the goods and arrange the furniture, their surprise at the large library and astro- nomical instruments was such as to excite them, that they. lingered around just to get a peep through the gate; a week: afterward all arrangements were now complete. One night. the people living along the road leading to the new secluded house heard a vehicle passing by; wondering what was. passing, they came to their door to see a carriage pass closed tightly. It came from Thurmont, going to Huckle's field, and returning, when they arrived at the gate, dark as it was,. after the occupants had entered the gate, the driver was. blindfolded, it was closed, and the driver was set free, driving away under secrecy to tell it to no one. The occupants of the carriage were a black man and his wife and John Hartel.
This the world outside the inclosure knew not; even the men who built the house and planted the trees knew not, nor who it was for, as an agent had employed them to do. the work. The mail for this occupant was delivered by a. special carrier employed by these men from Emmitsburg, and passed through the tube in the gate into a box on the- inside; the only address on the letters or papers, Huckle's. field. Now this place receives its share of criticism from. the whole county around, for all are on tip-toe of expecta- tion to know what it all ineans; so much secrecy about this place, it spreads until persons from all over the county know of it. Yes, and in Baltimore, as one of the leading papers sent a special reporter to write it up for the Sunday paper with a kodack to get photographs of this wonderful place and surroundings; the various papers have written articles. of interest for the curious except the Chronicle, whose en- ire space is taken up with foreign correspondence.
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The neigbors are interrogated for information; they have none to give; they are no wiser than the people far away. What transpires inside is a conundrum outside. Let us peep over the wall and take a bird's eye view; such infor- mation is not denied; books, magazines, daily papers, these the postman delivers daily.
John Hartel's time is spent perusing these; to divert himself he uses his telescope by day and night; he is not lonely; he spends his time either in his library or walking through his beautiful grounds. The approaching winter adds new beauties to the foliage, and the cool breeze calls forth the warmer apparel, the fires are lighted and John Hartel prepares to enjoy the comforts of winter in his new home in solitude, far surpassing that of the gaity in social life; thus the winter passed away. In all this time none have seen the occupant of Huckle's field; now that the first flush of excitement is over, of the stranger in his strange abode, he can venture forth and ramble over the hills, which he gladly does as the spring opens, wearing the garb of a workman, carrying his gun. He goes to the neighboring towns; he is not known nor suspected, he sits around the stores and hears the people talk of himself and his beautiful home at Huckle's field, hears speculations and small talk of all kinds, arguments on tariff, expansion, the financial ques- tion discussed, Christian and missionary work, weddings and funerals, and sees a few well developed graduates from the saloons as they perambulate the streets; the only per- son known to the community belonging to the Huckle's field mansion was the black inan, who attends to hauling the boxes, provisions, &c., from the station; the black man is questioned again and again, but all to no purpose; he answers not; this makes things more mysterious to the people; he says he is a servant to obey. Upon one occasion during the month of May a gang of tramps were seated along the roadside near Toms Creek bridge awaiting the ringing of the supper bell at the convent. When John Hartel in disguise passed by he looked neither to the right nor to the left, but kept straight on. One of these tramps
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noticed his walk, his size, and thought he had seen the man before, not observing his face passed it off, as many men look and walk alike. This tramp has a history to be told later on, full of pathos. Still he concluded to follow the man that passed on toward town, and see if possible his face; leaving his companions of the road he hastened on in the same direction; when he came to Emmitsburg he found the man seated on a box in front of J. A. Helman's store; he passed him to get a good look at his face, then concluded it was John Hartel, an old companion in the social circle in the city; he returnd and asked him for tobacco, to hear his voice, when he answered he was convinced he was the man; he knew a cloud was over him, like himself, there- fore he would watch him, and ascertain where he lived be- fore making himself known; he asked different persons who that man was, none knew him, but supposed he was a laborer at one of the institutions, or perhaps on some farm; later as he returned to his home, this tramp followed within sight; he saw him turn off the pike below the College; fol- lowing to the secluded abode he meditated what course to pursue. Once he and John were companions; I know this is he; he will not know me, to expose him I cannot; I will lurk in the vicinity and watch. If opportunity is given to reveal myself to him I will gladly renew old acquaintance; if not, I will go and all will remain as heretofore; the secret will remain in iny breast. Let me see; did John Hartel marry or not? no, they had a break. She was rich like himself and everybody supposed it would be a match, but he had trouble, so had she; they inet at Venice and boated together. I heard that was the last time they were seen together; he left her with her parents and immediately re- turned to London, where he had his letters of credit; set- tling up he took the first steamer for home. I was told he was infatuated with a black-eyed Italian lady, that she was of royal blood; this the American lady heard, and the boat ride gave her an opportunity to take him to task; he re- lieved her mind by saying, I am not engaged to you, you are a little premature in your conclusions; if I am a free- man let me act as such; to this she replied, take me back to my parents, which he did.
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She developed into a morose, silent woman, from which she refused to be rallied. Upon her return home she sought a location on the mountain at Emmitsburg, Md., to spend her life as a recluse.
Whilst touring in the old world, Mary Whittier visited the garden of the old convent of Mar Elias; perched on the summit of a rocky spur of Lebanon overlooking the sea, about eight miles from Sidon, may be seen the humble tomb, now almost obliterated, of Lady Hester Stanhope, who died and was buried in this lonely spot, Sunday, June 23rd, 1839. A volume might be written on the life and adventures of this beautiful, talented but eccentric woman, the eldest daughter of Lord Stanhope, niece of Wm. Pitt, whom she served as private secretary. After his death she visited the different countries of Europe, and finally left her native land, taking up her abode among the wild Arabs of the desert; no reason was given for this romantic turn after her life at court, save that it arose from disappointed affection. She greatly admired Sir John Moore, one of the bravest generals in the English army, who fell in Spain in 1809. This accounts for the fact she never married. The Pasha of Sidon conveyed to her the old deserted convent of Elijah, high up on Lebanon, which she fortified as a castle; her wealth she distributed with a liberal hand; it made her many friends, and enabled hier to keep up the appearance of royalty. Adopting the habits of the Arabs among whom she lived, her manner of life and romantic style gave her unbounded influence over the whole land, so that she was virtually queen of Palmyra and as famous amongst the desert tribes as Zenobia of old; for thirty years this highly cultured woman led this romantic life, self-exiled from her home and all her family. Among these cliffs, like an eagle in her nest, slie live and died, and was buried alone in her glory, none but a few servants being present at her funeral.
How singular the coincidence connected with her death and that of hier early love, both died in foreign lands, but far removed from each other; both buried by strangers in the gloom of midnight, both laid to rest wrapped in
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the folds of their national flag; no relatives being present to drop a tear upon their graves. What a death, without a friend, male or female; alone on the top of the bleak moun- tains, her lamp of life grew dimmer and more dim, until it went out. Such was the end of the once gay and brilliant niece of Pitt, the great master of Europe.
After studying the proud, gay and attractive life of Lady Stanhope, Mary Whittier concluded to purchase the top of Carrick's Knob, and so far as practicable follow in her foot- steps; building a mansion on its peak, she could feast her eyes on the landscape below, and bestow favors upon the poor of all the mountain with a lavish hand. So infatu- ated was she with her plan she erected her tomb and wrote her own epitaph, desiring to set up a motto to govern her during her life and be an incentive for others to follow after her death. She remembered Helen Hunt Jackson, the authoress, whose tomb is on the mountain top above Colorado Springs, and gladly did she adopt this mountain as her home and for her last resting place; here she enjoys the benefit of civilization on the one side, with culture combined, and sees degradation that needs assistance to raise it up, all around her; with an open hand she distrib- utes from her abundance, until she, like Lady Stanhope, has these mountaineers her fast friends. The pathway to her house is dotted with here and there a traveler in all seasons of the year.
After this episode at Venice, John Hartel returned to America. So stung with the sequel of that little tiff on the boat, for he thoughit of none but Miss Mollie Whittier, he sought for information and found the course she has pur- sued, he, through remorse, has pursued this course, he has taken, for I am pursuaded that is lie, has become a recluse, because she has gone from the world into a recluseship. That accounts for his selecting the present sight for his residence, from the observatory of which he can see the house on Carrick Knob. This was told me when I had means and mingled with society folks. They have their gossip as well as others. Since I am a beggar, and have
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nothing, I am an outcast indeed. If I can, without dam- age in anyway to John Hartel, insinuate myself into his good graces, I will do so honorably. Some think tramps have no honor. I am poor because I lived to fast, and my parents drove me off, but honor they did not deprive me of when they closed their door against me.
I was a student at Mt. St. Mary's College for six years, and these hills and hollows are familiar to me, as to the natives, Toms creek, how we used to swim in the old swimming hole and skate on the Sisters dam; Carrick's Knob, Indian Look Out, when each year we planted a pole putting a flag on top, how familiar the scenes; old places to me, the old professors, the Clairvoix boarding house; why I am at home as to the scenes around me. I knew many of the older people, old Leo, the cook, and Leo, the shakey, the small man with the big head; I wonder whether they still live. It is no disgrace to be poor, but to beg it cer- tainly is. I have concluded a course to pursue, I will notice the postman, put the mail through the tube in the gate; I will write a note and do the same. If when I tell him who I am, and he sees fit to disregard me, I will go away and keep my lips closed. If he deigns to meet me, I will be glad to meet him anywhere, if only to talk for a minute. I feel as though some fate has brought ine to this spot, and for such a time.
Going to the College I asked for something to eat; I then asked for paper and envelope. "Do you wish to write a letter ?" the reverend in the office asked me, I replied, yes. He invited me into the office, how glad was I to get a glimpse of the interior of that little white building, where I had often in my boyhood gone during the days of the good president, who is now dead; it brought back the golden age to my mind, and I wept, to think from what I had fallen. This was observed by the good father, who was seated at his desk opposite, he said to me, "You ap- pear affected from some cause, what is it ?" I replied that the truth is mighty, also as said, murder will out. My boyhood here, I referred him to the College record as a
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proof of my being a graduate of the institution. He took compassion on me and lectured ine as to my course; I felt the reproof, and then and there resolved to renounce my past ways, asking him to help me carry out my resolutions, he called a young man who took me to the bath-room. When I took a bath he supplied me with a suit of clothes from head to foot, and invited ine to remain at the institu- tion until they could find something for me to do, or get me a place elsewhere. I sat down to write the letter, when my mind became confused with the thoughts of the good luck that had befallen me, that I postponed writing for the present. "Are your parents living ?" he asked. I think so, I replied. "Let me write to them for you," said the reverened, to which I willingly agreed. Later in the day I succeeded in writing the following to John Hartel.
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