The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-03-06
FARMS OF CARROLL.
Written for the Democratic Advocate.
SHAFER'S RESURVEY.
The Residence of Mr.. Lewis shafer.

The Residence of Mr.. Lewis Shafer.
This valuable farm consists of 224 acres,
81 of which are woodland. 1t is situated
in Cranberry Valley, near the Sullivan
road, three miles from Westminster, in the
seventh election district, in that part OF
Carroll county which formerly belonged to
Baltimore, before the organization Of Car
roll. Cranberry Valley derives its name
from the fact that the cranberry fruit for
merly flourished in a wild state in that part
of the county, and it is still found there in
some places, though not so plenty as for
merly. The cranberry used to be picked
in considerable quantities by persons re-
siding in the neig hborhood, and sold to the
merchants in Westminster 1t was mis-
take, no doubt, to break up and destroy
these natural cranberry beds, for had they
been judiciously preserved and cultivated,
they would have paid the husbandman, 1t
is probable, better than some other crops
for which the ground was not naturally
adapted And the present owners of these
former cranberry beds would do well to
consider how far it would be profitable to
them to restore them to the growth of their
former natural production, which might
paw better than either wheat, corn or grass,
inasmuch as the cranberry crop annually
falls short of the demand, while the cereals
are raised now only to realize very low
prices.
Skaters Resurvey is composed OF a
number of small tracts, pieces or parcels OF
land, all of which were consolidated and
combined into one farm, under the title OF
Skaters Resurvey, in 1916. They are
l. Johns Hope and part of Iron lnten-
ton, 160 acres, bought of John Durbin in
1910.
3. Deer Park, 19acres, bought of Michael
Dell and decided to Jacob Shafer, great
grandfather of the present owner, in IVA.
3. Mats Ratchet, 80 acres, taken up in
1853. 1t was decided from Nicholas New
anan to John Murray in 1771. Bought
of John Murray in 1871.
4. Skaters Profit, 10 acres, patent issued
to Jacob Shafer in 1888.
s. A tract of = acres, conveyed to John
Shafer by Samuel Owens and Stephen
Winchester about 1893, called Iron Inten-
ton Also another tract, the patent OF
which was granted to Samuel Bucey in
1853, one hundred and thirty-three years
ago. All these tracts were embraced in
Skaters Resurvey, which then contained
3094 acres. Parcels have since been sci
off, reducing the Resurvey to its present
number of 224 acres.
Lewis Shafer, the present proprietor Of
Skaters Resurvey, came into possession OF
it in 1865, having bought it of his father
Abraham Shafer, who became owner in
1928. Jacob Shafer, great-grandfather Of
Lewis, owned the place in ITO, having
patented part of it himself and bought a
part from Others Jacob Shafer, above
mentioned, came to this country from Ger
many about 1856, and settled in Schuylkill
county, Pa, and engaged in farming
Later he removed to Uniontown district
Frederick county, now Carroll, and subse
guently, about 1770, to the land now known
into possession of John Shafer, grandfather
of the present proprietor, in 1900, at the
death of his father. In 1890 Lewis Shafer'i
grandfather, John Shafer, owned the place
by bond of conveyance from Jacob, hi
father, and great grandfather of the presen
proprietor. 1t thus appears that this prop
erty has been in the possession of the fam
lily for period of 116 years, and is likel,
to remain in the same family for years t.
come. This land, like nearly all the lane
in Carroll county, is either billy or gent.
undulating, and therefore easy of drainage
1t is divided into nine fields, besides
meadow.
The dwelling is a commodious bricl
building, 80 by "a feet, two stories high
containing ten rooms besides the cellar
1t was built in 1S43, and is well located OIL
rising grouad, surrounded by lawn OF
namented with shade trees. The barn
81 feet wide by 80 in length, with goo
shedding 1t was built by Abraham Shafe
in 1882. The barn is provided with goot
running water for stock, and the best o
drinking water supplies the house. TIL
outbuildings are numerous. They consis
of smith shop, dairy, bake oven, wasl
house and smoke house combined, work
shop, woodhouse, with room for storinl
above, hog house, Is by 80 feet, house fo
agricultural machinery, carriage house
wagon shed with corn crib attached, fodde
shed, poultry house and yard, and a granar.
q by IA feet. Few farms are better sup
piled with outbuildings than this. Their
seems to be place for everything an,
everything in its place This is an I'm
failing sign Of a good farmer.