The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1879-12-19

" Breathes there a man with soul so dead,
Who never TO himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land
Whose heart hath ne'er within him burnd
As home his footsteps he hath turn'd
From wandering on a foreign strand"
Sip Water Scott.
We can imagine but few subjects, Mr.. Edi-
tor, that would be so pleasantly entertaining,
as well as instructive, to a large number of
the readers of The -sEgS and Intclligencer, as a
few brief and accurate historical sketches of
The Homes on Deer Greek.
We are precluded from attempting to sup
ply this demand for the reason that we have
not the proper historic materials at hand
Neither do we know where such data can be
found, if any exists 1t is much to be regret
ted that some such record should not be made
before "Time's etfacing fingers shall have
wholly Oblitcrated the LAND marks" of such
a history.
In the present sketches, the writer only de-
signs to notice briefly some of the Homes upon
lower Deer Creek as they are to he seen at
the present time, rarely going back, in their
history beyond his personal recollcctiohs
1t is to be hoped that these outlines of the
present day will prove suggestive to others
who may be possessed of historical facts, and
induce them thus to present them in print,
for the benefit of those who will come after us.
Although scarcely two centuries have pass
ed since the first white man placed foot upon
the hills of Deer Creek, yet how little do we
know of what has TRANSFERRED in the human
history of the remarkable valley so far back,
even as but one hundred years ago
Could we but find true record of the
events that TRANSFERRED here so far back as and
in the single year of 1873, what a treasure it
would be A like record of arr doings and
sayings will, in all probability, possess equal
interest with our successors in the year 1879
Personal sketches where offense to good
taste is avoided, both biographical and auto
biographical, are always interesting and en-
tertaining. This is evidenced by the wonder
full avidity with which the didlies of dstin-
guished persons in society are always read.
All we propose at present is to make few
running remarks regarding the principal
farms, naming their present owners and occu-
pants, and in some cases their former owners,
together with their locations, along the valley
of Deer Creek from its mouth, at Rock Rum
to point eight or ten miles above
While these sketches are deemed of suifi-
cient interest to the present generation, who
can correct their errors, if any exist, to justify
their publication, it is easy to foresee that, in
value, theirinterest will be doubly enhanced in
the estimation of those who come after us
long after we shall have passed to that bourne
whence no traveller returns!
The valley through which Deer Creek flows,
and which has long been famedf or its fertili-
ty, and for the salubriousness ofits climate, was
settled by white people about as early in his
tory as any part of northern Maryland. The
first settlers certainly showed rare dscrmina-
ton in the selection of lands best adapted to
agricultural purposes
Indeed, it may be truthfully asserted that
the far-famed valley of Deer Creek is quite
equal in fertility, as a grain-growing and as a
grazing country to any in the world.
If the same care and attention was bestowed
upon farming here rs is commonly practiced
in Lancaster and Chester counties in Penn
sylvania, we feel sure that our valley would
equal and in general far exceed the produc-
tiveness of the counties named. 1t may be
safely asserted that, even at the present time
under our comparatively careless style of
farming, OM crops of wheat and corn, per
acre, are almost up to the best standard of our
sister counties in Pennsylvania
There are many fine, properties and hand
some residences-H omes-in the full sense of
the word, along the line of the Creek that we
might dwell upon, did we but possess their
early histories, with pleasure and with profit
to ourself and to all in search of such informa-
ton; but, as it is, we will sketch briefly our
impressions OF these properties as tncy now
appear.
Beginning rather below the mouth of Deer
Creek, where it empties its waters into the
Susquehanna, we find the handsome and
commodious stone dwelling of the late Dr.
John Archer, at Rock Run, which, through Il
strange fatility has stood unoccuped, with
the exception of three or four years, for more
than the fourth of century. This widely
known residence was built in the early years
of the present century, by Dr. John Archer,
who married n daughter of John Stump,
of Sutherland who are the parents of our
well-known citizen, the Hon. Henry w. Ar
cher, of Bel Air. A very large and valuable
farm was formerly connected with the Rock
Run property, but it has been divided up very
much lately, and portions oft sold. The land
is ofexcellent quality. DR.. Archer died many
years ago, perhaps forty-five, and with him the
vitality of Rock Ran departed. 1t is true that
the large and slowly revolving mill-wheel has
continued to make its lazy turns, for the sup
ply of food to the neighborhood, but in other
respects this fine property has remained ut q
"stand still" since the decease of its former
owner. We believe it is now awaiting pur-
chaser.
Passing up the Creek, the next property
note is the fine old Stafford property, we'll
known as the former residence of "John
Stump, of Stafford" the homestead portion
of it now b9lts1s to lis son, Mr., Herman
Stump, seniV Nhree-fourths of a century
ago this was eadquarters of wealth, re-