The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-03-11
PORT DEPOSIT:
Forty Years Ago and Now.
EETTER No. G.


Forty Years Ago and Now.
EETTER No. 6.
MIR. ED1ToR:-In this letter propose to
give some recollections of Ports surround
ings and | am reminded of remark of
John Linton to John Janney. Janney was
employed to survey some land near the
Battle Swamp. After hours of walking
over the land and examining deeds, charts,
&C., a party interested, said: "Janney,
why don't you proceed?' ' Janney replied:
Gentlemen, give me q starting pint and
l am ready" Linton said: "Janney, why
don't you tell them that your starting pint
is at Battle Scamp T'apern ?"
| want starting point, and though it is
beyond the distance that l proposed to
travel in this letter, yet think 1 shall have
to go to Rowlandsville to get it, and then
come back along the canal to make my
circuit.
Samuel Rouland was so identified with
the business and prosperity of Port Deposit,
there, that a Renaissance of Port and its
surroundings would be incomplete without
presenting him prominently in the fore
ground could | do him justice. l should
like to devote this entire letter to his
memory.
For many years he was the weathiest
man in that section, if not in the county,
and the banker for the town. Wealth and
prosperity always engenders jealousy and
envy-hence there were those who called
him ga shaver" &c.
Query-Mr. Editor, if it is wrong to
take more than legal rates of interest for
money, is it not equally wrong to gire it?
Let some astute moralist work out this
problem.
Mr.. Rowland's relations to Port perme-
ated all the interests of the town. Exact
in business, he was generous in aid and
truthful in counsel. Hundreds of men were
aided and assisted pecuniarily by Mr.. Row
land, and l never knew him to take an
adcantage Of or cypress a debtor. He was a
self-made man, aud acquired his large for
tune by economy, prudence and energy.
The motto he adopted in his early days was:
"When you have made dollar, save the
half of it,
Ingratitude is deemed so base crime,
that few, if any, are willing to be charged
with it. But the writer remembers an
occasion when Mr.. Rowland said to him u:
"Of the hundreds of men have befriended,
but three of them ever showed me any graft
tude, and you are one of the three. He
has passed away. The writer of this shall
never more see bis face in time, but he
| takes great pleasure in recording the obi
cations he was under to Mr.. Rowland for
counsel and aid in business. He lived to a
ripe old age-blessed in worldly goods, in
Christian faith and hope, and in his family,
and spent his last days in Port with his
son "Harvey." May his mantle, in all the
! fulness of it's folds, rest on his surviving
| sons.
l now come back to starting point on
the canal. Robert Trump kept the hotel
above the log pond, where the road opens
into the back country. This hotel was the
favorite resort of pilots, raftsmen and
| others.
Col Gerry, of the war of 1912, was a
notable man. When the British fleet was
approaching Baltimore, on the eve of the
battle of North Point, the old Scotch Colo
mel rushed on to the ramparts, and shaking
| Dc nj n
Britons smell ye no,o." His son Robert,
father of L. A. C. Gerry, was licensed to
| preach at Port, and became one of the
ablest ministers of the Philadelphia Con-
ference of the NJ. E. Church. VIM. Pat
ton was farmer Of note; also the Brough-
tons, the Doctor and James; also the Evans,
John Sterrett, Andrew Lyon, John Steel,
John Carson, Janney, Bromwell; George
Kidd, of Kidd's Purchase, farmer and mer-
chant; Elisha Brown, farmer, smith and
coach maker; old Capt. Patton, another
veteran of the war of 1912. Who does not
remember the Captain, and in their mind
eye, see him in his ell-known gig, riding
| Port shore, stopping at each hotel, and cor
daily greeting his associates with "Deligh',
fuL, delightful, to meet old friends" never
forgetting to call on uncle Gordon Nesbitt
The Capt. was the embodiment of social
ity and politeness. His son William sue
ceeds to the homestead. Beyond was the
dilapidated cottage of Billy Porter anG
his sister Nelly" One day while Billy
was coming from Battle Swamp, he wa:
accosted by a traveller, who inquired o
him if the owner of the property he hat
Just passed, was not an Incorporate man
"Never more off your eggs in your life,
said Billy. What them said the stran
ger, "means the dilapidation on such
} beautiful spot ?" &C.," said Billy, sit be
longs to heirs that can't improve" Billy
esteemed this a good joke, and often re
lated it when he was half seas orer.
Beyond Porters, in a beautiful grove
stood the chapel school house This,
have heard, was the site of an old Epsco
pal Church. There is a "grave yard
attached. This school house was used 70
various purposes beside the instruction o
the youth-public preaching, prayer meet
! ing, temperance meeting, debating clubs
d &c, &c, | remember attending a socia