The Baltimore County union., 1875-01-30
Letter from WOShiuOtO3l.
WASHINGTON, D. G., Jan. 10Th, 1875.
AQrieulturaI Associations in MaruLand. H;ro;o,


WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 26th, 1875.
Agricultural Associations in Maryland, Nrgin,a
and District Of Columbia Biographical Sketch
ofa Wonderful Rorker &c.
Seeing that your correspondent, Life" de-.
votes his letters mainly to political matters, there
seems to be lett for me the province OF making
note OF other classes of matter in the main. In
keeping with this inference take this occasion
to say that, as former and longtime resident of
Maryland, have been particularly interested iu
the indications of progress, of late, in matters ag-
ricutural. Even before the introduction Of the
order of patrons of Husbandry'' in your -SSt.,
there began 10 spring up here and there count,
and neighborhood associations under the names
of "clubs, " "unions," and the like, devoted to
farming interests. And it must be asubject for
congratuation on the part of the people more
particularly under the influence of the Union, to
remember that one of the very first of the neigh
borhood clubs referred to was formed in Balti-
more county. | allude to the "Gunpswder"
club. Judging from what hare noticed of its
proceedings in the Union, or learned through
| more private sources-for | hsve a number of
personal and valued acquaiptance among its
members-I should think that it had not only
proved very useful to the quiet Quaker neighbor-
hood in which it holds its meetings, (and by the
way, the religious society commonly known un-
der that name furnishes considerable proportion
| if not majority of its members, but wonderous-
| y pacific and harmonious, so far, considering
the war-suggesting name it bears -"Gunpowder. F"
| Well, the successors OF Fox and Penn thereabout
had long needed something to stir them up 10
practical sympathy with the ''world's people, "
as George Fox used to call those outside their Pc
culiar IHee-dnd thou. dom, in the various concerns
of everyday life.
| By this perhaps rather playful train of thought
| am led to remark that have been glad to no.
| tice that some of the aforesaid Quaker members
have felt, recognized and obeyed the movements
of the spirit of Ceres, and testified to 'what they
know about farming" in the meetings of their
club And, verify, that is preaching very prac-
tical sort of gospel. doubt not they each Sli
better after they had ventured to 'break sileaee'
| in the agricultural meetings.
| Referring to agricultural associations and the
connection Of members OF the Society of Friends
Herewith reminds me of what single member
of that quiet sect has done and is still doing for
| agricultural progress in this section allude to
| Chalkley Gillingham, of Woodlawn, Fairfax
county, Va Although now an old man, bis age
being about 67, Friend Gillingham is the presi-
dent of two associations devoted respectively, to
agriculture in its departments OF farming in the
most comprehensive sense and to fruit.growing
In each of these be is a model Or punctuality Of
| attendance and earnestness of cooperation
"Woodlawn Agricultural Club 1t meets, like
the Gunpowder Club, at the residences of its
members, but differs from it by having perma-
nent presiding officer. Its membership is un-
limited in number. (It may be we'll to say thai
its worthy Secretary is Nathan W Pierson-posl
office address, Alexandria believe the vener-
able President has never failed TO attend one oil
its meetings, except while absent for month OIL
two, looking after the 'Indian concerns of his
religious society, as one of a committee charged
with mission westward, year or more ago
AS constantly attending member, your cores
pondent can testify that Friend Gllingham has
never more than once-exceptiag the absence just
referred to-left be chair vacant in the Potomac
Fruit Growers Association" /" which meets - t1is
city, being composed alike of Maryland, District
of Columbians and Virginians. And yet most o
the time he has been President since the assoc-
alton transferred its headquarters from the Vir-
ginia side to this-as it did, several years ago. al
the suggestion OF its FIRST ex-President, by resig
nation, j. E. Snodgrass, now its Secretary
'Chalkley," as he is familiarly called by Quakers
and other members alike, has been obliged tc
drive nine miles to the ferry-boa at Alexandria
cross the river, and thea make his way to the
Board Of Trade Rooms, where the association
meets, in doing which he not unfrequently is toe
smart for some of the less wide.awake city mem
bers.
And now | am moved to give little more o
the biography OF this wonderful specimen of the
Broadbrims, as follows He is native OF New
Jersey. He went to the neighborhood where he
now resides, many years ago. to spy ont the land
in association with Jacob Troth another New
Jersey Friend, father to the worthy parsonage OF
that name, who now farms and mills at Accotink
near Woodlawn. Finding the broad acres of all
but one of Gen Washingt0n's Mt Vernon farms
hac cahl 10 thnca min IN alorc a
large tract and opened up settlement. A
Baptist church, though very feeble one, and the
"Woodlawn" Friends meeting house, we'll.
filled one, were erected, together with school
houses, mills, &c. The lead of "Chalkley'' was
followed by many other new-is EeEs cgom
the North until at length we find there Hour
ishng settlement, agriculturally, educationally,
and religiously considered.
Among the educational institutions "run" by
the indefatigable "Chalkley," is a lyceum COM
posed of former slaves, for the most part of which
he is the only white member and is President
The progress made in knowledge and ability to
impart it, is said to be remarkable therein. Con-
nected with the Friends meeting, at Woodlawn,
is successful "First day school, !" as yonr cor
respondent can attest from recent observation -
1t has for its scholars young and old alike,
"Chalkley" being amongst the "children OF a
larger growth" After obeying the movements
of the spirit from the preachers gsllery-for the
most of that labor of love seems TO have been put
upon him, among the other mulifarious things
he accompshes in spite of his increasing years
and by no means robust physique-he takes his
full part as scholar, supern tendent as the
"way may open" for him to serve the cause of
truth for the practical benefit Of his fellow men,
for that is evidently the sincere aim of his curious
ly busy life. Take him all in all, when this
faithful worker ia the vineyard Of the Master (in
the widest and most practical of the phrase,
which is his, shall have been gathered to bis
Fathers, fear it will be difficult to fad shoulders
to fill out the mantle he has so long and worthily
worn THORNTON.