The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-01-09

garded as great undertaking. After his de-
parture from the United States, no one of his
friends here ever heard of him again. The
| supposition finally settled upon was that he
was lost at sea. Owing to the fact that man
kind, at that time-one hundred years ago
did not reap the advantages of the modern
| telegraph, OF even of the steamship, he who
trusted himself to the winds and the waves
| in those days, might have disappeared in q
watery grave for months before his friends
| would even suspicion that any evil had befall
en- him. From what we have learned, the
| owner of columbia Mill left no relations
or heirs in this country; no one that was par,
ticularly interested in discovering his fate
No tidings of the owner have ever yet been
received neither have any claimants for the
property ever appeared. This mystery, which
has so long shrouded the fate of the proprie.
tor, has added much interest and romance to
this secluded and lonely ruins.
The building, in its uncompleted state
was left standing as it was, awaiting the own
ers return, or the appearance of his English
heirs. To the present day, as said before
neither have made their existence known.
Times ravages has destroyed the roof, and
all of the woodwork. The grim walls with
their great openings for doors and windows
like the apertures for eyes and mouth in the
head of huge skeleton, alone stand in their
deep and abandoned solitude. Nature, as if
attempting to infuse some vitality into this
mammoth death's-head, has thrown up a
number of trees within and around the walls,
and the wild, creeping vines seek to cover
them. There are now to be seen tall forest
trees between two and three feet i'll diameter
standing within the old mill walls, giving
evidence by their growth of the many years
that have elapsed since the abandonment of
the structure.
1t is to be hoped that man will not mar
these ruins by touching with impious hand
one stone ofthose ancient walls Leave them
as they are; leave them alone with time!
Returning from this diversion to our start
ing point at Stafford, that we may take the
farms along the south side of the Creek, one
by one in the succession in which they are to
be found, we may state at the beginning that
the Creek hills opposite Stafford almost rival
in height and ruggedness those of the great
river near by. The almost perpendicular face
of the high hill is covered with huge rocks,
which were apparently heaved up by con-
vulsion of Nature; and look as though they
were ever ready to tumble down upon those
who travel the highway below
Among these great beds ofrocks a few forest
trees find precarious roofing and support
while II great number of the short-leaved
laurel, or ivy bushes, as commonly called,
appear to flourish all the better for their rug
gcd location. The moses, ferns and the
trailing arbutus do also here abound, -beaut-
fully ornamenting Natures grand "rockcry"
The first house we find on the route, above
Stafford, is that : an industrious and enter
prising shoemaker, Mr.. John Steelbcrg. Mr.
Steelberg is German by birth. When he
purchased this small property, twelve or fif
teen years ago, there was only a very small,
one story house uponit BY his industry and
thrift he has now built quite a good sized
stone house three stories i'll height, which is
an example for men without means, who pos
sess energy; and illustrative ofthe axiom that
"tall oaks from little acorns grow" In
front of Mr.. Steclberg's house, the stream
known far and wide as the elbow Branch"
emptes into the Creek. The presumption is
that its name was acquired from its angular
course. 1t is so crooked that the public road
which goes up its valley crosses the stream
four times within less than half mile. A
few feet above the mouth of the Elbow"
stands the Stafford dam; from which is fur
nished the water that operates the mills.
AT this point the Creek hill so rough and
rugged Immediately below, presents chang
ed aspect. The rocks trees and bushes are
absent for Il short distance, and the smiling
fields of rich verdure extend down the gentle
slope to the banks of the Creek. This fine
farm formerly belonged to Reuben Stump,
who dwclt here in peace and content to the
end of long life Dying without children,
the property came into the hands of his
nephew, DR.. David Harlan, ofChurchville.
Upon this property, and near its centre, is
located the old burial ground of the Stump
family. 1t has been receiving its occupants
for more than century, and appears filled
to its utmost capacity, parts of it have been
dug over for the second time-no vcstige of
mark appearing on the surface to indicate the
existence of a former grave. This little cem-
etery is inclosed by high, solid stone WALL
with an iron gate. A great number of tomb
stones, with names and dates, are there; also
number of rude stones, without any mark
upon them, indicate the location of the dead
whose names and very existence have been
long since forgotten. Here lies the dust of
those who, in life, welded much influence
and powcr-active business men who could
find no time, in life, for rest, who in sunshine
or storm, i'll sickness or health, FASTENED to
business, as though the life of society was de-
pending upon their unceasing activity. Here
repose, after "liics titful fever" the remains
of John Stump, of Stafford, John Stump, of
Cecil, and other like active workers. Alas
how vain are the hopes of man! Here they
lie, and are forgotten, and yet the world still
moves on!
This property of DR.. Harlan's is of fertile
soil and is quite extended in acres. The old
mansion was burned many years ago, not
long after the death of the former proprietor,
Reuben Stump. A new stone building was
erected upon the foundation of the old one
There are two tenants upon the farm, occu-
plying separate houses
The farm Immediately above Dr. IIarlan's
| is the old homestead of the Silver family In
an antique cottage in the vale, surrounded by
| higher land, and costly sheltered by shade
| trees, resided for many years. Mr.. Benjamin
Silver, ST., and it was here that he, and sever
| al years later, his aged widow, died.
And it was here in this small, but nicely
and tastily-kept house, that his large and
now wel-known family were reared. Many
| n pleasant evening has the writer passed. in
| the days gone by, subsequent to the decease
| of Mr. Silver, Senior, in this old-time dwell
ing, with its hospitabe and cultured occu-
pants. We may imagine that in the days of
their youth, each and every one of this large
family made n mental vow that, while they
| were cramped and crowded for house room
they would if the fntcs willcd it, upon at
tanning maturity, build themselves large and
commodous houses. Whether such VOW
was ever made in consequence of their con-
tracted space in youth or not, the result is
the same. Each and every one of the Silver
family, except one daughter, have erected fol
themselves large and handsome dwellings,
Taken altogether, perhaps there is no family
in Maryland of like numbers, of which all
have such a splendid set of buildings; and
nearly all in sight of each othcr-though
some of them are five or six miles apart
The oldest member of the family, Philip
built large stone house in Darlington, il
early life, using portion of it for village
store, the mercantile business having beer
continued by himself, and in connection will
one or two of his brothers. until short tint
before his death, which occurred four or fiv,