The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-02-20
FARMS OF CARROLL.
Written for the Democratic Advocate.
FAIR VIEW.
The Residence of Lawrence zepp.

The steady progress made in agriculture
in Carroll county, and especially around
Westminster, is illustrated, in a manner,
in the history of the property which forms
the subject of the present sketch. About
thirty-fve years ago the land, or most of
the land, embraced within the farm now
under consideration, was common, unen-
closed, uncultivated, uncared for, and poorer
than an ancient church glebe. About 1Oo
acres of it was the property of Mrs. Reu-
bina Hillen, of Baltimore, mother of the
late Solomon Hillen, formerly mayor of
that city. Mr.. Zepp bought this parcel of
land of Mrs Hillen, paying her 2,O52 for
it, or $40 per acre. Sundry other lots and
parcels of land, adjacent to it, were bought
from time to time, of different persons, and
added to it. Various prices were paid for
these several parcels A lot of two acres
cost him $3.50 per acre. For another lot
of twelve acres he paid 500 per acre.
This parcel was bought of Jacob Grove, OF
Westminster. Other lots were added from
time to time, until the quantity of land en-
braced in the farm amounted to about 100
acres, forty of which were in timber, oak,
hickory and chestnut, all Of which was en-
closed with good substantial chestnut post
and rail fence. When Mr.. Zepp made
these purchases of land he was "on the
road" as some express it, or trading In
country produce between Carroll county
and the city of Baltimore, and was more
or less successful in the business, thus
getting his start as farmer and landholder.
Having bought and enclosed his land,
the next step was to erect upon it suitable
and comfortable buildings, as there were no
buildings upon it of any kind. The build
ings were put up in 1859. The dwelling
is two-story brick, SO by % feet, with a
back building 16 by IS feet, also two-story.
There are twelve rooms in the building,
including the attic and kitchen. Situated
upon the summit of PARIS Ridge, one
thousand feet above tidewater, this property
commands an extensive view Of the sur
rounding country for many miles in every
direction. As high and healthy location
it is unsurpassed, and its convenience to
Westminster, being only one mile distant,
makes it one of the most desirable prop
critics in the county. The barn is built of
stone and brick, and is very substantial.
1t is ~ feet long by 40 feet in width, with
hay NOW, wagon shed, and corn crib at
tached, capable of holding one hundred
barrels of corn. 1t will accommodate seven
or eight head of horses and from sixteen
to twenty head of cattle. The out-build-
ings are numerous, and ample for all the
purposes of a large farm They are a hog
house, 16 by "a feet; a frame poultry house,
10 by Is feet, attached to the hog house;
also another wagon shed, 32 feet long, and
a corn crib on the side of it, which will
hold 100 barrels of corn, in addition to the
one attached to the barn. Besides these,
there is large carriage house capable of
holding eight vehicles, in which are kept
four carriages and reaper. Mr.. Zepp
believes in having every implement under
cover, to preserve it from the weather.
Such things as these constitute the differ
ence between a good farmer and an indif-
ferent one Adjoining the kitchen is a
good wash-house, with pump of the best
soft water at the door, also another good
pump at the barn, which affords abundant
water for the stock.
This farm is divided into eleven fields,
including the orchard. The orchard en-
braces 100 trees in full bearing, and con-
tains some very choice fruit. There is an
abundance of fruit of all the varieties to be
found in this section Of the state. The
usual crops grown upon the farm are wheat.
corn, oats, timothy and clover, all of which
it produces luxuriantly. The first crop
grown upon the farm was rye, it being too
poor to seed in wheat When wheat and
corn were first cultivated, the yield, per
acre, was of the former about ten or fifteen
bushels, and of the latter about five barrels
Peruvian guano, with the ordinary barn
yard manure, were the fertilizers employed
In 1884, which was good wheat year
Mr. Zepp raised over thirty bushels OF
wheat to the acre, and he now raises about
fifteen barrels of corn, instead of five to the
acre, as in the beginning. This shows into
what a fertile condition he has brought his
land by judicious cropping and good man
agement. The fact is, he is a thorough
farmer, who has not refused to take hold
with his own hands, realizing the truth o.
the old couplet, that
He who by the pillow would thrive.
Himself must either hold or drive
His convenience to Westminster did moi
induce him to run to town too often, as is
the habit of many farmers living conye
nient to towns and villages. He thought
that driving his team afeld, or attending t.
other duties upon the farm, would pay hin
better than running to town and spending
an afternoon kicking his heels against &
goods box in some store, and indulging IL
all the gossip of the period, with the idlers
usually to be met with in such places, OIL
wherever they can find some one to talk
with who is as idle as themselves With
this class of worthless, who indulge in much
gossip and small talk, complain of high
taxes and hard times, and attend to every
body's business but their own, Mr.. Zepp
never had much fellowship.
This farm originally extended to the
corporate limits of Westminster, but the
proprietor sold seventeen acres of it to
the Carroll County Agricultural Society
for the purposes of fair ground, ten
acres at 5000 per acre, and six and halt
acres at s225 per acre. This land has
since been sold to Messrs. 0rendorff and
Lynch, who have laid it off into town lots
and sold a number Of them, at consider
able advance, on two Of which dwelling
houses we're erected during the last sum-
mer, and others are likely to be built upon
in the near future.
Mr.. Zepp pursues no specialties in his