The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-11-02
IcoSrISuEp FROM FIRST PAaR.l

on the Great Elk just north of where
the road from the Brick Meeting House
to Newark crosses that stream. The
flour manufactured at these mills found
a market in Philadelphia. 1t was
taken to Christiana bridge Gas the vii
lage of Christiana was then called and
shipped thence to the former place.
The Hollngsworths of Elkton were
probably more largely interested in the
milling business at this time than any
other family in the county. As early
as 1851, Levi Hollingsworth, who was
grandson of the Henry Hollingsworth
who founded this branch Of the family,
was the owner and master Of a small
shallop that was employed in this trade
on the Delaware river and Christiana
creek, and made regular trips between
Christiana bridge and Philadelphia
In 1850, he had amassed sufficient capt.
tai to start business in Philadelphia as
merchant His place of business was
on the Delaware river, below Spruce
street lie was successful merchant
and continued in business more than
half n century Thus have we briefly
sketched the early history Of the -four
trade in this county Ii afterwards be-
came, as we shall see, matter Of very
great Importance.
In l16l. John Roberts, David Davis,
Thomas May and David Thomas, of
Philadelphia county, Pa, formed a part
nership for the purpose of manufacture
ing bar iron, Under the name of the
Elk Forge Company. For this pur-
pose they agreed to purchase tract Of
land, containing six hundred acres, call
ed Rumsey's Success" from William
Rumsey. This land was on the Great
Elk, where Baldwin's factory now
stands. They also agreed to contribute
$500 for the erection Of a forge and the
prosecution of the business. David
Thomas did not sign the articles of
agreement, but nevertheless had an in
terest in the business which he trans
ferred, three years afterward, to David
Davis For some reason this company
did not obtain deed for their land at
the forge till after the Revolutionary
WAT, Nutu w ItuuiStN tue
son of the William Rumsey before re-
ferred to, conveyed it to the heirs of
the original purchasers The William
Rumsey who sold the land TO the forge
company was the founder of the Rum
sey family in this county. He was the
owner of several large tracts of land
along the Elk and North East creeks
He was also County Surveyor and, As
mentioned before, assisted in running
the temporary line between this pro-
vince and Pennsylvania, in 1887. lie
resided at the head of navigation on
time collector of the duty upon the rum
and other articles and commodities
which were imported into Maryland
from the landings along the Delaware
river The head Of navigation on the
Bohemia river was the only place pre-
scribed in Maryland, at this time and
for many years afterward, for the pay
ment of duties upon imports from Penn
sylvania, and that river was the only
channel by which they reached the resi-
dents along the shores of the Chesa-
peake Bay Rumsey owned a large
tract of land upon which he erected
very large brick house-so large that il
contained thirty rooms. 1t has been
described 10 us by old residents, who
visited it in their childhood, Us being n
magnificent building. with a massive
stairway and large hall which had a
plaster of-Paris cornice around it. The
house was in Middle Neck, near the
mile west of the road leading from
Murphy's Mill to Warwick The house
was deserted about the early part of
the present century, on account of the
prevalence of the fever and ague in
that locality. Owing to this fact it be-
came the abode of those who, having
no houses of their own, were allowed
to live in it free of rent, and owing to
this, it fell into decay and soon after
wards went to ruin. Rumsey also
owned mill, which was on the middle
branch of Bohemia river, near a spring
which was called the Pipe Spring
The Elk Forge Company was proba-
uiN " Slalt DuSiutsS Nv tue
success of the Principle Company,
which, as before mentioned, then had
their FORCES at North East and Erin
cipio, in successful operation. This
company erected the old grist mill.
which is still standing close by Bald
wins factory. The original articles of
agreement are in the possession Of one
Of the descendants of the immediate
successors of the original company
The document is ohe of the best writ
ten we have ever seen, and must have
been the work OF a person of much
learning and great ability 1t contains
stipulations to meet every imaginable
contingency that might arise in carry
ing on large and intricate manuiactur-
ing business. This company was very
successful in business and soon acquired
large tracts Of wood land and employed
large number Of teams in transport
ing their charcoal from the forests
where it was burned to their forge and
in hauling the pig iron they used from
the furnaces where it was made in Lam
caster county to their forge on the Elk
creek. We have been informed bv an
old gentleman, into whose possession
the books Of the company afterwards
came, that a correct and accurate ac-
count, showing the whereabouts of each
driver and team, and the work they
were engaged in daily, was kept by the
manager of the business, who resided
at the forge. Stone coal was not used
at this time in the manufacture of iron.
and this company like the Principle
company, bad to acquire large quaint
ties Of wood land in order to manufsc.
ture sufficient quantity of charcoal to
supply their FORCES. The wood had to he
cut and coalcd aad this added much To
the labor and expense of carrying on
the business. In order to lessen this
expense, both of these companies pur-
chased negro Slaves, which they EN-.
ployed as forgemen and wood choppers