The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-03-11
scharf's History of Western Mary
land.


Louis H. Everts has at length published in two
elegantly printed and bound quartz volumes Col.
j. Thomas Scharfs History of Western Maryland,
and the agents will be in county to deliver
the work tosubscribers. The book has evidently.
been to the writer labor love well as research
and he has, accordingly produced without doubt
one of the best if not the best local history that has
everbeen broughtto the notice of the public From
an examination of this work, it seems if nothing
relating to the history of county, and nothing
that could be of interest to its people. from its set
Element to the present time, has escaped the keen
research, the intense application and the wonderful
faculty for compilation of statistics devoted TO it by
Col Scharf. He has occupied the whole field, dc
scepding 10 the most minate details, but he has
skillfully handled and moulded the immense mass
of material in his hands to avoid being tedious to
the most careless reader. Yet he has confined him
self strictly to facts overurning occasionally some
cherished tradition, but always sustaining himself
with indubllabe evidence of the truth ofhis nara
tive He has given correct. reliable and complete
history, work which he set out eonscientously to
achieve, and the mass of information he has packed
into the covers of the two volumes of 1850 pages
bears testimony to the patience, fidelity and zeal
with which he has performed what would appear
TO be the labor of lifetime. This is not only the
first but for many years must be the last history of
Western Maryland unless the future historian reads
the road Col seharf has cleared and We may always
be macadamized.
BEGINNING with an able and exhaustive chapter
on the geology and topography of Western Mary
land including Carroll county, with an elaborate
description Of its soils and geological formations an
account of the Indian tribes that originally inhabt
ted this region and the first settlers in each Of the
counties of Frederick, Washington, Montgomery,
q Tho ltzStf
ditions and records there is continuous narrative
of the events that have since occurred down to the
present time. 1t will be invaluable mainly as a
book of preference but there many chapters that
are extremely interesting reading, not only to West
ern Marlanders but to people of every part of the
country For Western Maryland is really historf-
cal section of country. The part it took in the
French and Indian war, in the Revolution, in the
war Of 1872 and particularly in the war of the
rebellion form most interesting chapters OF our
national history The narratives relating TO these
are written with the utmost mpaFtiaity and hdeli-
IT, The various political contests in which the
great men of Western Maryland participated are also
described with much spirit But not only are the
great events OF the history of each county thus
rated there also careful history given Of each OF
the important towns villages and cities In each Of
the counties Of Western Maryland. Every family,
and every individual that had any prominence in
this region Is described and there S in fact com
plete record of ali that IS in the least interesting In
the history of the section Of territory embraced by
this work.
The eneomiums Of the press throughout Western
Maryland and in Baltimore City have been very
na2tering their praise has been iavEshy dispensed in
their favorable notice Of this book. The Baltimore
Saa in late number. gave 1t long editorial notice
In which II said;
ITO public acquainted With Colonel sChart 5
understandable Industry ia historical research, as
exhibited ii previous works. Il IS unnecessary 30
indicate from vs. hat wide and various saurces OF in
fornasion lie has gathered the materials for the
s,,t sSr,,ir notice THE author addressed over NJ
teen thousand communications % individuals sup
posed TO be In possession Of valuable facts. ard
persons whose memories alone preserved the de-
sired record Of interesting eveats THIS in addition
20 consulting innumerable pamphlets, newspapers
ana lnenuscripfs Col seharf has in treating the
geology aud typography OF Western Maryland, cali
Cd 20 his assistance the talent of persons specially
Informed in the subject Thiffy-taree pages. by
Prof p X uhler, associate Of Johns Hopkins INF
yersisy embracing vaiu ahie descriptions Of the si
branch ~ MS subject aud add TO ihr valae of The
work No infcrcSt Is neglected. The manufactures.
commerce and agriculture Of each county reeeiye
elaborate Statistical detail The county school szs
tenn has is history tsaced and The ysFsons sats q
learning 10 MSsiern Maryland receive attention.
Sketches Of the rise progress and pFe%eat eedtion
the various religious aessom nations Professions
sfitutions societies and orders f1rxn conspicuous
feature Of the work fa4ethef with biographies OF
leading and representative men, living and dead,
DO have been Identified with the history 81 the six
counties which fall Within IS pnrvtew. The events
Of the civil war are narrated with imTaglality and
history Of The various volunteer eemtn4nsis nom
Maryland Confederate and Inioa "a skctcbed Out
Col scharf Is 10 e congratulated upon the saeoess
OF his book and The Gathering reception whica
Il has met with from the public. and not only Is
Col $ 10 be congratulated bur the people Of Western
Maryland in that they live in section q CIR noble
old state Witch has Furnished Is sulicct for bis
tory in poins Of Interest eauasicd BY none
The value af such local histories the beiore
"a cannot be easily ovcTcsslmatei tsongh there Is
perhaps, bus Iitfls fame 20 be gained o. moaey
made by their compilation Tbs work Is Alaaoss al
ways labor % love. and zoe author need 20 look
fY little beyon the conscionpsss Of work wei done
Col scharf sloaid enjoy thisiceing a the utmost
for we have Farey seen hook ~ this Kind better
conserved Of more faithfully execased.
The book Is gotten npby Louis II. EreFts, the psh-
Usher. in style worthy Of snch sslhIces + eic-
Eantly bound Ia two large quArfo volutncS e l5Sa
pages and d prohseiy Illustrated with maps. views
and portraits. on the whole thls is a beck which
ne wesgern MaFyisndeE who h@s any regard for his
mother county should be without, and valuable
I contribution 10 sac history af the county.