The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-01-09
FARMS OF CARROLL.
Written for the Democratic Advocate.
CLOVER HILL.
The Residence of Algernon Tillard.

IhlS nne estate Is well lOcaUeu III u mUSI
healthy region, one mile from the village of
Finksburg, and convenient to Finksburg
station on the Western Maryland Railroad.
1t comprises three hundred and three acres
of very productive land, and has long had
the reputation of being most desirable
property. The mansion is large and built
of stone, two stories high, with four rooms
on each floor, divided by halls nine to ten
feet in width, and two rooms in the back
building, making ten in all, exclusive of the
basement, which has five compartments, in
Guiding large kitchen. The house is well
finished throughout, and is ample for the
accommodation of large family. 1t was
erected about the beginning of the present
century by Mr.. McCreary, who was a
member of Congress. Mr.. McCreary owned
the farm up to 1910, when he sold it to
DIR. Ephraim Cover Cox. DR.. Cox sold it
to Judge Bonham, of York, Pa, and it was
subsequently occupied by his son-in-law,
Michael Denny, an attache of the U. 5.
Navy. DR.. Francis Butler bought it of
Judge Bonham in 1855, for the sum Of
$4,000, and moved to Glover Hill from
Hartford county, Md, in 1856. DIR. Butler
greatly improved the property, and occu-
pied it for nine years, when he sold it to
Mr.. Thomas Poultney, Of Baltimore, for
$4,000, and removed to Westminster in
1866. DR.. Butler died in Westminster,
May 81, 1883, leaving widow and two
daughters, who still live in Westminster,
and two sons who reside in the West
Mr.. Poultney sold Clover Hill to Mr.. Lewis
H. Cole, of Baltimore, for the sum of
5000, including stock, farming utensils,
&c. Mr.. Cole occupied it for number of
years, and engaged largely in shipping milk
to Baltimore, keeping large number of
COWS for dairy purposes. Clover Hill was
subsequently sold to Mr.. Algernon Tillard,
who came to this country from Huntingdon
county, England, in 1874, for the sum of
s1s,5OO.
The mansion is well located upon rising
ground, overlooking lovely rural land
scape, embracing fine meadow land well
set in a green timothy sward, through
which flows Beaver Run, never-failing
stream, very convenient for grazing stock,
and adding much to the beauty of the land
scape The mansion is surrounded with
stately shade trees. 1t has a handsome
portico in front, and wide verandah ex
tending the whole length of the back
building Not far from the portico in
front, at the foot of the lawn, is crescent
shaped terrace, descending to the carriage
way, which used to approach from the turn
pike, but has since been changed to the
rear of the dwelling.
When Mr.. Denny occupied this prop
erty, he being inexperienced in agricultural
pursuits and the requisites of good farming,
it fell into depreciation, and was consider
ably run down in tidiness and productive
ness when purchased by DIR. Butler. But
DIR. Butler speedily transformed the whole
place He was quick to perceive its nat
ural advantages and beauties, and set about
developing them without delay. He en-
closed it with substantial post and rail
fencing, instead of the old worm fence;
he put new roof on the mansion; repaired
two tobacco houses, which were falling into
ruin; built large hog house with agranary
over it; also carriage house and a dairy,
and extensive hay barracks. Beaver Run
was at that time almost hidden from view
by dense growth of alder and other
bushes, which presented a very unsightly
aspect, and occupied much of the best land
upon the farm and INSTRUCTED proper drain
age. This tangled jungle was cleared, the
land grubbed, plowed and set in timothy,
and transformed into one of the most slightly
and productive meadows in the county,
with the beautiful Beaver Run meandering
through it ike broad fillet of silver. The
view which this green meadow presents
with the ripping and sparkling waters of
the Beaver flowing through it, is one of
surprising loneliness, when viewed from
the portico on calm summer evening. 1t
is one of the finest landscapes we have seen
in this county, remarkable for its many
scenes of picturesque beauty. From this
meadow DR.. Butler cut as many as seventy
tons ofthe finest timothy hay. 1t also af-
forded superior pasture, at the proper
season, for some twenty-five head Of mich
COWS and other cattle, to the growth of
which DIR. Butler paid special attention.
His great speciality, however, was the pro-
duction of hay, timothy and clover, along
with the ordinary cereals, wheat, corn and
oats. The farm was always remarkable for
the production of grass, and hence it de-
rived its name-Clover Hill. Some to-
bacco was also grown upon the farm, but
the culture of that plant seems to have
been abandoned by later proprietors.
A large stone barn, sufficient to accom-
modate number of horses and cattle, and
for the storage of the products of the farm,
is conveniently located. During Mr.. Coles
proprietorship, however, he added extensive
sheds for the protection and comfort of his
dairy cattle As he made speciality of
the production Of milk for the Baltimore
market, he kept large number of the
finest dairy cows which he could procure
in this region. The production and ship
ment Of milk is one Of the most worrying
and trying pursuits that the farmer can
well engage in. 1t is often, too, attended