The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-02-10
VOL. XXXIII---NO. 6.

hahy vi them nave entirely passed away, or
removed from the neighborhood.
NOTABLE coLoRED MEN.
The Colored people, too! Notably among
them were Abram Wilmer, Jimmy James,
Cumberland Cain, Cupid Peaker, Robert
Peaker, Nero johnson, Tom Nosey, Bob
Giles, Bill Henley, Zeke Wilmer and the two
Moses Harris, one of them known as MASON
Nose" and the other as Blacksmith Nose"
With few exceptions these were respectable
men, for whom l entertained much respect,
The only one among them who is now living
is Bill Henley, who | understand is still living
in the neighbOrhOod. AT this time the laws
OF Maryland would not permit colored man
to hold reai estate in lis own right, but by
trustee.
The Peakers, Cumberland Cain and the
Moses Harris, held property in this way
Cupid Peaker married woman who was the
slave of Joseph Prigg, with whom he learned
the trade OF shoemaker. All the children they
had during the slavery of his wife, were born
slaves. Cupid being a thrifty man, purchased
his wiies freedom, and that of an infant
daughter. After the sons grew up they all
purchased their freedom. There were not
many slaves in that neighborhood at that
time. Ephraim Hopkins had a slave woman
Fanny" the wife of Tom Nosey; her children
Charley, Jim and John were slaves, but OBJ
tanned their freedom at a given age, l think
" years. There was another slave, wards
Isaac" who belonged to the Ward family,
whom recall as supplemented old fellow.
The country abcunded in stones of the
variety known as iron" or "nigger head"
They were utilizedf for fenclng-Cupid Peaker,
Cumberland Cain and Nose Harris (mason,j
many OF which are still standing. l noticed
during my recent visit very good specimen
of stone fence in front of the residence of
Wharton Smith, which was informed had
been built by son of Cumberland Cain.
must be pardoned for paying rather
more than passing notice to my old friend
Nose Harris, who was neighbor of ours
during my boyhood. He was blacksmith
by trade, having at one time worked in Oar
lington. He removed 10 small property
between Darlington and Dublin, where he
continued to work at his trade until he be-
came so afflicted with rheumatism he could
no longer work-being compelled to walk
with two canes. He had two boys whom he
had raised, never having had any children of
his own. He managed to cultivate his little
patches and dry his peaches with assistance
of these boys. We boys called frequently to
see the old man and his old wife Jenny, and
sample their peaches, listening to Nose re-
lating tales of "de good old times of de past"
and what he was "gwine to do if he lived and
did wel'' in the future. My acquaintance
with Nose and others of his color and time
gave me high appreciation of the "Unce
Remus" of Joel Chandler Harris.
Nose and Jenny died soon after left the
neighborhood. A few years ago, when pay
ing q, visit to the reighborhood, early one
morning, feeling strong desire to visit the
old pae6 where l had lived when boy, in
hunting Up the paths which my youthful feet
lr,d trod, found myself at the little house
which Nose and Jenny had occupied. l stood
at the little wicket gate, while the memories
OF nearly half century rushed upon me.
There was the same little log house with its
big chimneys, and small windows, at one of
which was the favorite seat of Nose as he sat
smoking his pipe with Jenny similarly en-
ployed at the other side. The door is opened;
but it is the face of stranger who appears
one who knew not Nose nor me-and turn
sadly away.
THE DUBLIN KNIGHTS.
Dublin at this time had rather unenvabe
reputation. Situated in poor neighborhood,
rather sparsely settled by hardy, unlettered
race ofpeoplc, who earned a rather precarious
living by hunting game and sending it to the
Baltimore market in the fall, making fish and
flour barrels during the winter, fishing and
II
ing in harvest ION the creek" in summer
they were Sudden and quick in quarrel" and
were known as the dublin Knights" The
elections being held there, it was the custom
upon these occasions to flight out" any mis-
which might have arisen be-
tween the parties. There were three taverns
II the place at this time, kept respectively by
Robert McCausland, 7. Jefferson McCaus-
and and William Silver; and a store, kept by
IN old gentleman named John Evett or Ever
lart. Mr.. Silver was killed by the accidental
discharge Of pistol in the hands of one of
lis guests, about 1884 or 80.
Most of the land around Dublin was of that
character known as worn-out land, having
,een successfully planted in corn until it was
the ridges of the corn rows being
plainly percGptible. Much of it was over
crown with dogwood and persmmon trees.
There was large tract lying southeast of
Dublin known as the Cedar Fields" contain
ng several hundred acres, completely covered
With cedar of large growth, standing so thick
IS to entirely cover the ground. | presume
IL this is cleared away and made to bloom
nd blossom, as the Dublin old fields have,
lndcr the use Of the fertilizers introduced
incc those days. notice many old
worm out fields, over which we used to chase
abbits, now producing abundant crops of
rain and grass.
| recall an incident in which the dublin
Knights" figured. 1t will serve to illustrate
heir character II was the custom of the
lrmers on the creek 10 engage man to "lead
he field in harvest; this Header" was ex-
ected to engage such sub-hands as were re-
uircd, he receiving an extra quarter dollara
ay, and being looked upon to push things"
Richard Farmer, who farmed one of the
Stump farms" below Darlington, and was
egarded as one of the best farmers of his day,
ad for his leader Israel Day, who had in his
ang a large sprinkling of the dublin
Knights"
1t SO happened that MIR. Farmers neighbor,
oshua Hopkins, had colored men in his
arrest field, who having finished up Mr..
hopkins harvest applied to Mr.. Farmer for
FORK. He, thinking his men were not push
lg things very strong, engaged the coored
leu and set them to work in the morning in
mother part of the field. The knights" did
OF take kindly to this, and at noon, while
be colored brethren were taking quiet rest,
be "Knights" concluded there was one set of
ands too many for Mr.. Farmer Accord
lgly they swooped down on the colored men
nth yels like Comancle Indians. The
olored men took to their heels and ran for
heir lives; some of them were caught and
oughly handled; some never stopped until
lcy reached their homes. The "Knights"
nished the job, but next year Mr.. Farmer
mployed another leader.
A HALF oENTURY's IMPROVEMENTS $50
Standing in the beautiful darlington
emetery,"-and a charming spot it is, select
with such good judgment and adorned
18th so much taste-looking over the sur
ounding country, l was much impressed
18th the change and improvements of the
Ftx-,
18th its neat and tasteful dwellings and highly
improved farms, presents view of landscape
'hich is rarely exceeded even In my own
alive county, which is frequently desi gnated
3 the "Garden Spot" of the Union.
Before the building of the Tide Water
anal, quite number of shad were caught
| seines and dip-nets along the river between
lie mouths of Broad and Deer Creeks. The
rincipal one of these fisheries was at place
.lled the "Sand Bar" below the mouth of
Rock Run Branch" With what interest
sed to watch the fishermen making their