Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1885-07-10
A Visit to the Farm of Col. J. A. Boyd


Editor Sentinel In your paper of June
9TH, 1885, l read with great interest your cor
respondents description of Colonel Boyd's
farm.
Awaiting myself of the opportunity and
various invitations from Col. Boyd, the
morning of the 18th ult, found me on the
broad veranda of his mansion. Here, amidst
profusion of shrubbery, all that art and
taste could do TO make the surroundings at
tractive had been accomplished. The MEM
beers Of his family made the occasion most
| pleasant by kind attention to an invalid sis
ter and myself
But here / must digress to show the muta-
bility of all earthly associations. In the
| pleasant family of friends sat Mr.. Rhine
hart, the brother of Mrs. Boyd, helpless
invalid, who years past was paralyzed and
is now blind, but receiving all the iraternal
| attention his condition requires. His sltua-
ton brought TO mind a similar incident.
Three years ago, through the polteness of
Gen. Ayres, l was introduced to Gen. w. T.
Sherman, at the Summit Hotel He was
seated by the side of blind comrade, Gen.
Paul. Subsequently Gen. Paul told me that
at the battle OF Gettysburg he fell insensi-
BILE, the next day recovering found that
bullet had passed between his eyes and the
brain, depriving him forever from seeing, but
otherwise his mind was unimpaired The
attention of Gen. Sherman 10 a wounded
comrade gave me new view of his charac-
ter. While the young and the gay were
anxious to monopolize the Generals COM
pany in the ball room, he preferred to COM
fort and assuage the misfortune Of a help
less friend. And no event in the Generals
varied history has impressed me more forci
bly, with his true inward character.
Resuming my narrative. Col. Boyd told
me that your correspondent had visited him
and that he had charged him not TO make
any fiowery statement or spread-eagle re-
ports. Then turning TO me with an ex-
preston of the eye that indicated in sub
stance, Though not in words) "And don't
want you either to report anything but sim
Pile facts" | saw the point, and remarked
TO the Colonel that l knew the farm and
surroundings from remote period, and the
poverty of the land at that time would
make a man feel melancholy TO ride by it,.
Also, that intended quietly and alone to
review the typographical features of his
farm and remarkable transformation of the
soil, and as a preliminary will digress to
show the topography of territory drained
by Seneca creek, which includes Col Boyd's
farm.
The Seneca creek drains about one-third
of Montgomery county, and from its source,
near Damascus, TO the Potomac, the distance
in straight line nearly south west is about
sixteen miles. Its greatest breadth, from
the Washington Grove camp-ground 10 the
PARIS ridge, near GAINESVILLE, following the
Metropolitan Branch railroad, is about elev-
en- miles. The soil generally is red clay
loan, retentive of moisture, easily improved
and remarkably well watered.
Big Seneca, after receiving number OF
tributaries, unites with Little Seneca near
Dawsonsvlle, and below receives Dry Sen
eca, the latter stream, though draining a
large area of territory, is liable TO dry up in
| droughts-hence its name. Between Big
and Little Senecas to their junction a con
siderable elevation exists, generally called
the Germantown ridge.
| And here | must again digress to point
out the commencement of one Of the i'm
portant improvements of this plateau or
ridge. Many years ago large wagon passed
up the Frederick road, Transporting an EN-.
| igrant family and their effects. The team
returned next day, and l asked the driver
where he had left the emigrant family. He
replied, 81 left them to starve up there on
the ridge between the Senecas, out in the
old fields, and / slept under tree last
night" To-day these emgrants, with Other
German families, have by Industry and per
severance made the lands around German.
town most fertile and valuable.
| must now return to Col. Boyd's farm
Leaving the mansion ! went to the numer
Gus buildings your correspondent 80 cor
rectly described, and can say from personal
inspection that he has faithfully portrayed
the order, arrangement and harmonious
combination OF the farm buildings.
H. Il ...No LII
your correspondent with general outlines,
will now trace the natural features Of the
valley of Little Seneca and tributaries
Standing in the rear of the mansion and
looking northward the valleys and streams
of Little Seneca and tributaries, Cabin
Branch and Ten Mile Creek, all concentrate
on the northeast side of the farm, giving a
natural panorama Of hills, valleys and
streams in bold relief from this point, with
the most beautiful effect.
Twelve o'clock, or the hour to dine, was
announced, and concluded my observa
tons on the northeast side of the farm, u
renew them in the afternoon on the south
west side.
The afternoon was occupied in reviewing
the farm on the southwest side of the rail
road, and again must refer to natural To-
cations Between the Ien-Mile Greek and
Buck Lodge ridge spurs out from PARIS
Ridge, runs southwark and terminates near
the confluence of the latter creek with Lit
tie Seneca. On this plateau the thousand
acre farm of Col Boyd is located, and the
! highest elevation of the farm is about five
hundred feet above tide.
From this elevation a grand panoramic
view, far and near, is presented. The ad
joining or surrounding farms and buildings
| mi haantif,l xuhila IN ha Il.
west side the country declines to the Poto
mac about three hundred and twenty feel
in about seven miles The Sugar LOAF
mountain, about five miles distant, looms
up In grand proportions. The ridge that
spurs out from PARIS Ridge, between Buck
Lodge and Dry Seneca, obstructs part of the
view Of the Blue Ridge mountains Of Vir
ginia, but the Bull Run mountains rise ma
jestically in the distance.
Having concluded my typographical re
view of the natural scenery of the farm and
surroundings, Extended my reconnaissance
through the fields. 1t was simply an ex.
tended review Of magnificent crops, fences
buildings, horses cattle and faultcss cult
walton. And ! was again convinced that
your correspondent had only done justice in
his descriptions.
The teams were now engaged In convey
ing hay 10 the barn, and the loading by ma.
chinery demonstrated its efficiency, as about
sixteen tons were taken from the field To the
barn during the afternoon. The Colonel
told me he could remove forty tons daily to
his barns.
now returned to the mansion and en-
joyed an instructive conversation, Col. b
giving me narrative of his travels and var
ious contracts, ups and downs, losses ant
recuperation. | saw the cause of his sue
cess In liie-"Not born with silver spoon
in his mouth" 1t was obvious that the alb
sence of the spoon had CAUSED him To real
ize such golden returns in after life. "Opi,
mixed brains with his colors," and the poin
was clear to me that the Colonel had mixet
brains with his practical and systematic farm
ing and general business operations, as hi
large force OF operatives moved with mill
tary precision. In the household depart
ment. Mrs. Boyd showed the same system
attic arrangement and precision amongst he
numerous female domestics. Neither on til,
farm or in the mansion WAS AN order twic.