The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-05-17
THE HOME OF BUCHANAN.
Wheatland and Some of It's Traditions.
Frank Burr writes from Lancaster, Pa, to tn

Frank Burr writes from Lancaster, Pa, to the
Philadelphia Press:
There is an old estate lying along the pike, a
mile or so from this city, that has for years at
tracted considerable attention. It was once the
home of President of the United States, the last
who ruled before revolution came, partly as the
result of his own acts. This venerable manor is,
I hear, for sale. It's traditions run back for more
than hundred years, and there is story in al
most every tree and on the wide lawn and each
vine that chambers over and about the mansion.
There is something pathetic in the memories that
cluster about this antique roof-tree. 1t was the
home of famous people long before James Buch-
anan became its owner.
While Andrew Jackson was at the zenith of his
power in national affairs there was in Lancaster
county noted judge named William Jenkins,
who married Mary Field Hubley, the daughter of
Colonel Adam Hubley, soldier of Washngton's
army, whose record makes bright page in the
history of the War for Independence. Judge
Jenkins purchased this old homestead, and his
wife gave it the name Of Wheatland. 1t is need
less to say why she thus christeped it. The wide
fields that even now surround the manor house on
all sides are but faint reminders of the broader
acres of wheat land that in the earlier days
stretched from Lancaster to the Blue Mountains.
THE FOUNDING OF MANOR HOUSE.
Judge jenkins and his wife went to Philadel-
phia and bought the naples and other outrageous
trees that now shade the lawn from the pike to
the porch of the house. The two grand willow
trees that cast their shadows on its front were
brought from Princeton by Judge Jenkins nearly
fifty years ago and planted where they now stand.
The property was made a noble manor by the
Jenkinses, but desire for town life led them to
remove to Lancaster and sell the estate. Thomas
F. Potter, q railroad contractor, became the pur-
chaser, and he in turn sold it to VIM. M. Mere
dith, the renowned lawyer, who disposed Of it to
James Buchanan and made his own home in
Philadelphia.
The people who have owned this estate have
endowed it with a romantic history. After the
Merediths left it and the crusty old bachelor
lawyer took possession his niece, Harriet Lane,
became mistress. She still remains owner through
all these years, but rarely visits it, now that all
its hooks and corners filed with sad memories
for her. So the place that was once the centre of
hospitality is now silent and almost deserted, and
doubtless will be until it falls into some new
hands.
The uncle-the adopted father-ths husband
and the two bright boys of its mistress have pass
ed away. Two years ago the children lied; they
were the pride of her heart. week ago her
husband gave her his everlasting farewell and
left her widow. Virtually alone in The world
and bowed with her misfortunes is it any wonder
that new places are preferable to this one, where
all the associations call up her griefs and the
ghosts of the buried past haunt her at every turn
A REVOLUTIONARY HERO.
The later history of Wheatland is not more in
teresting than its early annals. Adam Hubley,
who was the father of its first mistress, was a
strong and commanding character in Revolution
airy days, and the matrimonial alliances Of this
family include some of the most prominent fami-
lies of those days. Richard Stockton, signer of
the Declaration of Independence, married into
the Hubley family, and the Fields of New Jersey
were among the connections. Portions of the cor
respondence Of these folks of the past century
now in the hands of Mr.. Richard S. Jenkins, of
Camden, N. j., the Chesterfield of the bar of the
county. Old Commodore Stockton, of the Navy,
and ex-senator Stockton, now Attorney General
of New Jersey, trace their lineage one sir
back to Adam Hubley, the bluff old soldier f-s+&
Lancaster county, who bore conspicuous part
in the struggle for American independence.
W. W. Hubley was for a while commissary
general of Pennsylvania in the first war with
Great Britain, and was lieutenant colonel COM
mandant of the 18th Pennsylvania Regiment.
His first commission was as lieutenant of the
Pennsylvania battalion, issued by the Colonial
Congress and bearing date October q, 1875.
Four years later he was commissioned lieutenant
colonel, and during his military career seems to
have enjoyed confidential relations with Washing
ton, Lafayette, Wayne and other high officers.
He appears to have been very careful and
precise soldier