The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-01-29
RecOEIeCti0ns of the OgdeH TIa,le


MEssRs EDITORS: My former crude reflec-
tions on the men and things of the olden time
in my native and beloved Hartford, having met
unmcrited kindness and courtesy at YOUR
hands, l am encouraged to devote another
leisure hour to additional thoughtsi in the same
direction, which, should they fail to interest
your readers, may not be Improbable to my
self, as am thus brought into re-communion
with the friends and incidents of earlier and
happier days.
As have not seen Bel Air for forty wears
or more, nor heard of its changes and i'm
provements, save as | casually gather them
from your paper, it may not be improper or
out OF place to call to mind some of its
features or peculiarities, as it was when left
1t 10 court the smiles of Fortune in the wide,
wide world"
1t had, think, at that time, about 400 in
habitants, nearly every one of whom, both
white and black, could name at this distant
day. Ill remember rightly, there was but
one brick building in the place, and that was
the hotel at the intersection of the main street
with the Baltimore road, kept by old Mr.. Nc
Kinney, jolly old gentleman, who loved to
tell funny stories, and talk about the Mystic
Brotherhood He made the first rude pave
ment that ever honored The town, and that
was constructed of broken quartz covered
Court House. Col. William Richardson sub
sequently constructed like walk from the
Court House to his hotel on the back street,
as also did Mr. Stephen Jones from the same
common centre to his hotel near the old iail
These constituted all the pavements of any
extent In the town; and they of very print
tive character.
can see old Mr. Mckinney yet with his
hat cut full Of round holes, to let the air in
among his scanty locks and as he cracked
his jokes and narrated his legends to the
amusement and cditication of all within his
circle. He had some peculiaritics, and among
them but little tondness for bad boys, ard
hence fear was no great tayorite with him.
! can also see William Richardson, with the
kindness of his heart reflected in his iolly
round face, rs he played his pranks upon his
ostlers Esau and Orange, and amused his
guests beneath the shade of the giant hickory
that stood in his yard. And Mr.. Jones, too,
| still see him in Imagination, as he sat in
his porch, teasing and caressing his Juvenile
Senagambans, wondering if John Magncss
would be in to aid him in serving his nu-
merous customers at next Court, and in
structlng Calsy how to make and turn n
johnny cake. | love to think of these good
Old men OF the past generation, and feel that
| am a better man after having contemplated
their virtues.
There were four stores in Bel Air at that
time, severally kept by r. A, and N. W.
S. Hays, Parker Moores, Joseph and John
Robinson, Ephraim Lyle, and Daniel
Wann Mr. Thomas A. Hays was one of
the most enterprising, as he was one of
the wealthiest men of the county; his
brother Nat superintended the business, and
was also thrifty; old Mr. Robinson WIS get
fl, 90 c., 81, ct
carried loose in his vest pocket, for the sake
of convenience; Mr. Moores died Young, was
an excellent gentleman, and kept the most
tasty store in the town; Mr. Lytle came to
Bel ARA scgar-maker, in very moderate cir
cumstances, but by industry and frugality
amassed handsome competence; and a bet
ter or more lnotensive man than Daniel
Wann never lived or died
The town had two resident physicians
Drs. Alonzo Preston and Parker Forwood.
They were both popular and well patronized.
The former died in the very zenith of his use
full career, and hope the latter is still living
to enjoy the fruits of his labor in a green old
age DIR. Elijah Bond was living in the vi
cinity, young physician of no ordinary
promise, but his health was such that he did
not practice. He is the first man I ever
heard speak of the medical properties of the
tomato. The bar comprised but four law
yers, VIZ James Wallace, |. d. Maulsby,
Ohio Scott and William B. Bond. Stephen.
son Archer had an office in Bel Air, but about
this time succeeded Judge Kel upon the
bench. About this period Albert Constable
came to Hartford from the Eastern Shore and
was regarded as young man of brilliant
parts L presume heis still living, as saw his
name in your paper no; great while ago
Bel Air could also boast of three tailor
shops, severally carried on by William and
Thomas Mills, and Maurice Foley William
Mills lived and died bachelor. He was a
pleasant, kind hearted man, and was the vii
lage barber. He was somewhat suspicious
and superstitious, and hence became the OBJ
ject OF the tricks and pranks of the mschiey-
GUS young men and boys. I remember once,
when sleeping with his head resting on his
shop-board, one Of his tormentors stealthily
entered and with his own shears cut off his
queu, which he held in great yeneration, and
for the loss of which he was inconsolable
until another grew out. A short time after
being thus despoiled of his valued appendage,
the person whom he suspected stepped in and
asked to be shaved. NO" replied Uncle
Billy, you stole my queu, and wouldn't
shave you if your beard was as long as from
here to Lambone's Mill" which was only
about two miles off Poor Uncle Billy, he
followed to the grave the lady to whom
he was affianced, and they are now sleep
ing side by side in the little cemetery
in the northeastern corner of field adj
joining the southern end of the village,
which belonged to Col Dorsey, and at the
northwestern corner of his orchard Modern
progress and civilization may have given that
quiet corner to the plough-share but it was
an obscure place of burial at my day Thomas
Mills was younger brother, and had large
| family. He may be still living for aught /
know, Maurice Foley was an Irishman,
wild as a buck when under the influence of
John Barleycorn, but at other times exceed
ingly gentle and polite in his manners. He
| owned a sorrel horse he called Fox, and re-
garded him as race-horse. With this no.
ton in his head, he sometimes permitted him
to be entered in quarter-race, and though
he never won, Foley was greatly encouraged
| because he always came out second best when
there were but two in the race. remember,
| on one occasion, when John Barleycorn had
thrown him off his feet that some youngsters
got him on a wheelbarrow and were taking
him home, he all at once imagined he was on
Fox's back, in race. Rousing himself to
| the effort, he capped his hands and exclaimed
Flee, Trox, me darlih you're shown 'em
the bottom of your fut."
There was but one smith-shop in town
| where the common grindstone was kept, and
where all who had axes to grind repaired
| There was also wagon-making shop in con-
nection. The former was presided over by
Howell MITCHELL and the latter by John Bla-