The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-03-24
Iistorifol.
A SEistOry Of
CECIL COUNTY.

SLSlA SoolN L.
tTFrom History of Maryland and Della
ware Ivy Joseph Scott, printed in Philadelphia
in 1907 by Kimbcr & Sharplcss, We take the
following IN relation to Cecil County. 1t is
highly interesting, as it gives quite a minute
description Of the county half century ago.
This county was established in 1914, and
is the most northerly county, on the Eastern
Shore. 1t is 81 miles inlength, and % in
breadth, and contains 243 ,20G acres.
1t is bounded E. by New Newcastle coun-
ty, in the State of Delaware, n. by Chester
county, in the State of Pennsylvania, w. by
the river Susquchanna. and Chcsapcak bay,
which divides it from Hartford county, on the
Western shore, and S. by Sassafras river
which separates it from Kent county.
1t contained, in $780, 10,2lS free inhab-
tants, and 3,407 slaves: and, in 1900, G,9l5
free inhabitants, and 2,l03 slaves. Decrease
of free inhabitants in 10 years, 1903, and of
slaves ,304; total decrease 1907.
1t is divided into the following 5 hundreds,
viz: Octoraro, West Nottingham, East Not
tingham, North Susquchanna, South Susquc-
hanna. Charlcstown, South Milford, North
Milford Elk Neck, Back Creek, Bohemia
Manor, Mddlcncck, North Sassafras, West
| Sassafras, and Bohemia hundred. 1t is also
divided into four election districts. The first
election district is held at Warwick, second
at Elkton, third at Charlcstown, and the
fourth at the Rising sun, in West Noting
ham hundred.
Cecil county contains a great variety of
soils. Land ola looss red soil begins nearly
at point, on the w. side of Little Elk river,
and extends W. along the Pennsylvania line,
nearly to the Susquehanna, where the lands
incline mostly to barrcns. The greatest
breadth of this tract, at the w. end is about
two miles and half. \ different quality of
land, adjoins the above tract on the S. 1t
extends from the Susquchanna, to the State
of Delaware, and is, at the W. end, on the
Susquchanna, about six miles wide, and at
the Delaware line, on the T. about four. This
tract is very hilly. rocky, and stony, along
the Susquchanna, and mouth of Octoraro
creek. The bottoms along the river, and
hills, are generally rich black mould; and
for fertility may be accountcd.frst rate land
After leaving the river, and Octoraro hills.
eastward the soil is not 50 black, or rich, but
generally stony. The hills gradually decline
for six or seven miles, t.ld the land, in many
places. fertile. The earth then changes its
quality, and appearance, the land is more
level, for seven or eight miles, the under
stratum being clay and marie, ntermiXe3
with tale or isinsass, with light brown,
and, in some places, a greyish soil on the
surface. The fiat, low grounds, consist of a
still clay, moi so fertile for grain of any kind,
without manure; yet very well timbercd, and
well adapted to raising clover, and blue
grass. About Little Elk. and Big Elk, the
country is hilly, and ill some places stony.
and, excepting few places, Of better quail
ity. The soil gradually declines, in fertility
to the state of Delaware.
The principal timber, on the above land,
is black, white, rcd, and Spanish oaks,
hickory, black walnut, poplars, wild cherry,
mulberry, elm, sour gum, and ash, white
walnut and locust, grow principally about
Octoraro creek, and Susquchanna river. This
tract of country Is elevated, generally several
hundred feet above the tide water.
The land south of the above, and border
ing on the Susquchanna, Chcsapeak, North
East, and Elk river, by Elkton, eastward to
the state Of Delaware, is chiefly barrens. The
soil is in most parts gravclly, intermixcd, in
many places with round white pebbles, from
the size of musket ball, to an eighteen
pound shot. The land is, in general, hilly,
especially between Elk and North East rivers.
Notwithstanding the soil is gravelly about
the mouth of the Susquehanna, Carpenters
point, North East river, Turkey point, Elk
river, and Elkton, there are in several places,
tracts of excellent land, hich may be rcck
oncd of the second rate quality.
The timber, ON these lands, is generally
low, consisting of oak, of different kinds,
hickory, chestnut, sweet gum or liquid am
Der, sycamore, magnolia glauca or swamp
sassafras.
About Elkton, and in several other parts
of the county, the land is improving by Gull
tivation, the soil agreeing in many places,
with lime and plaster of Paris, with the help
of stable manure.
In the south part Of the county, on Bohc-
mia and Sassafras rivers, arc bodies of excel
lent land. 1t is rich, level, and clear of stones
and is rcckoncd among the first land, in the
county.
The best land produces from 40 to 50
bushels ofcorn to the acre, from 20 to % of
wheat, and about 30 ofryc. Poor land, on
being manurcd, has produced the some guam
tity.
The principal stones in the county, are
white and yellow fints, black stone. contain
ing iron, soapstone, fagstone, sandstone of
different colours, whetstoncs, suitable for car
pcntcr's edged tools; bloodstone, with
variety of others containing iron, and plum
pudding stone. On the bay shore, beyond
Carpenters point, stones have been found,
when broken containing hollow cavities re-