The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-05-04
The Egis & Intelligencer
eel Air, Md, May 4. 1883
HARFORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
COL. FOrwOOd, Of AiabRma-Historica
sketch OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Pa.
per by DIR. Archer.

The Hartford Historical Society met in the
Court House. last Saturday. The following
donations were received, With the thanks OF the
society:
From A. p. Silver, a copy of "The Mirror OF
Mirh," a humorous journal, published in Bel
Air, ia 1884, by Lynde Elliott.
From Henry e. Wilson, through DIR. George
". Archer number of the Congressional
Globe, containing the proceedings of Congress
during 1868 aud 1864. Also number OF old
newspapers presented by DR.. James NJ. Ma
Graw, five numbers of the Pennsylvania Gazette
of 1857, and an Indian stone axe found on tue
farm of Hon. Stevenson Archer.
Miss Annie Wlloughby, an artist, ofPhiladc-
pha was elected corresponding member, and
Messrs. +. z. Smith, of Norrisyile, and w s.
McCombs, of Havre de Grace, active members
Messrs. Charles A. Conner, Of Havre de
Grace, and Isaac s. Warren, OF Bel Air, were
proposed as active members.
Mr.. N. n Mock announced the death Of Mr.
Andrew jackson lowering, of Fallston, AN ac-
tive member, and upon request, presented re-
solutions expressing the regret OF the society ut
the loss IL has sustained and its appreciation Of
The example afforded by the exemplary life II
this honest, unassumIng Christian gentleman
The President, Dir. W. Stump Forwood, read
photographed sketches of his father, Col
Samuel FOrwood, prominent citizen OF Cos
port, Alabama; Miss Aunic Willoughby, of
Philadelphia, and Majo X. w. EuDank, Of
iavrc dc Grace.
Col Samuel Forwood was born on Deer
Creek, Hartford county, Md, May 9TH, 1899, his
father being John Foiwo0d, his mother Han
nah Forwood. The schools he attended were at
Union Cross Roads, the Trappe, Boarman's
Of The pupils ut Union Cross Roads were the
Scarboroughs, McCauslands, Silvers, Nevillcs,
Lindsays, Montgomery, Days, Coopcrs,
Cavenders, Galbreaths, Coxes, Barclays and
Thomas Chew's, Joseph Hopkins, Robert
GoveI's, Jumes Lees and Bonds. AT Boarman's
were BENZ Boarman's, Robert, Edward, Louisa
aud Ktiie BoaTman, john, Bennett and Austin
Wheeler; Henry Wheeler, Christine Wheeler
and Elizabeth Cover. At Pyle's were Ralph
children, Heaps, Wards, and others. AT Smith
son's-Wm. Smthsons children, Boarmaus,
Morgans, JOhnsons, Wheeers, Grenes aud
Others.
In 1926 Col Forwood removed to Alabama,
In company with WIN. s. Hays, Goldsmith and
Harry q. Davis, Mr.. Downer, and their families.
After fifty days travel they arrived at Claiborne,
Ala, ut the residence of Col. H. II. b. Hays,
brother of VIM. s. Hays. In 1928 Col. For
wood returned TO Hartford county aud married
Rachel Cooper Stump, daughter OF VIM and
Duckett Stump. She died in 1880, leaving nh
infant son, who is now Dir. W. Stump Forwood,
OF Darlington. Col. Forwood the same year re-
turned to Alabama, where in 1884 lie again mar.
rcd, and has lived there ever since, having been
engaged In farming and store keeping.
His title Colonel" was conferred upon him
from having been captain OF militia company
in Dublr-George FOrsythe and John Daughef.
~ being his lieutenants.
MIR. A. i. Gabreath read paper by Mr.. Hugh
pcntine marble, on Broad Creek, Hartford coun-
~.
Rev. +. A. Colburn read succinct pa per on
Mason IL Dixou's line.
At the afternoon session Mr.. W. Beatty liar.
Ian presented, on behalf of Mr.. John 2. Slime,
block of wood, which the latter had found
underneath the pulpit of the old Presbyterian
Church, in Bel Air, while removing it, Upon
IL was pencied the following:
"Bcl Air, June 18th, 1852. "This day is very
hot. The Wing Convention is sitting IN Balt
more, to nominate candidate for President
The Baltimore Presbytery is In session. com
mitiee, viz; DIR. Pummer, Dr. Smith, Rev
Mr.. Peck and Mr.. Mahool are appointed to or
ganlze and dedicate this church. Mr.. Joseph
Gorrell Is the carpenter, building and finishing
the church. Mr.. Coale the painter, and all
under the supervision of Rev Mr. Boswor,h
Jas. A. Fulton and DR.. f. Hall Richardson
all the friends are liberal, but Mrs. Sophia Me-
Henry has contributed very largely-one.thrdo of
the whole cost"
Mr.. A p. Silver read historical sketch of
Lapidum. In 1t he says tradition reports that
there was village of Susquehannock Indians
upon DIR. Firdin's hill, above Lapidum. In
1914 the Susquchannocks were driven from their
homes at the head of the bay by The Senecas.
The land upon which Lapidum stands was
taken up by Thomas Griffith, in 1865. lie call.
ed II "Eighrupp."
In 100 VIM. Lotion was in possession of PAS
acres of the lower part of Eghtrupp. lie died
at the head of Swan Creek and was probably the
ancestor ofthe Lofin family. VIM. Lotion sold
IS acres to Daniel johnson, who also bought 81
acres from Richard Perkins. This is the land
upon which Everett q. Hughes now resides.
johnson was the frat resident at Lapidum.-
lie died in ZIG. His widow married Edward
Harris, after whom the place was called Har-
rs's Landing. 1t was known by this name
until about 1877, when 1t began to be
called "The Susquehanna Upper Ferry" Thos.
Crcsap having established ferry there about
l727 The place was also sometimes called
miles Foy's ferry" Mrs. Harris married
Hugh Grant and afterwards Miles Foy.
In 100 Richard Perkins came into possession
OF the place, which was called perkins Ferry"
lie was succeeded by his son, Reuben Perkins.
Thomas Smith succeeded Reuben Perkins, ia
ne, and the place then became Smiths Ferry.
He was also proprietor of an inn. Smiths Ferry
began to be place Of importance, and in 1871
II road was authorized to be laid out, from Bel
Air to the Lower Cross Roads and to Smiths
Ferry" Thomas Smith built part of the large
stone house now occupied by DR.. Virdn. The
Smiths were succeeded by Robert Bell about
1893, but the name Smiths Ferry was applied
to the place as late as 1912. Robert Bell, Jr.,
was the next and last proprietor of the ferry
The ferry equipment consisted of two boats,
Joined together. In one of them there was a
sweep power which turned the paddle wheels.
The other boat conveyed passengers aud freight.
In 1915 there were two such boats in use
Robert Bells landed below the mouth of Her
ring Run and Scott Hughes boat landed above
the branch. The completion of Rock Run
bridge, in 1915 broke up the ferry business.
The name Lapdum was given in this way
In 1887, the late Henry w. Archer was prcpar-
Ing Iesurvey of his mothers property, when
his uncle, the late DR., Robert II. Archer entered
the office, whereupon Mr.. Archer asked the
Doctor what name he should insert. "Call it
Lapidum," replied DIR. Archer and Lapidum 1t
became, the name being first used in 1857 by b.
+. Heath in an advertisement. The ferry is
still an important one, steamboat plying re-
gularly across the river from Lapidum to Port
Deposit.
Reuben Perkins built grst mill, about 1860.
near where the church now stands. In ITO lie
sold it to Nathan Giles, who in III erected
dwelling house upon the spot where John
Craig now lives. This was The first house in
Lapidum. In III and 17T2 Reuben Perkins
sold most of tie river front, from DR.. Virdin's
northward, in acre lots. Among the purchasers
were Benjamin Rumsey, an attorney, of Cecil
county, Ebenezer Mackie, of Baltimore, Aquila
Hall and VIM. Husband. The latter butt u
wharf and erected a warehouse.
About l77l jacob Giles built large stone
warehouse, above and near the mouth of Her.
ring Run.
In 1904 John Stump purchased of Samuel
Cover that part of Lapidum which was subse-
quently owned by Mrs. Ann Archer Other
purchasers were Isaac Willis, ST. who built the
old stone house near where S. w. Barnes now
lives Elizabeth Mahan and Parker Mitchell
also built houses further up the river The
average price of the land was $50 an acre
In 1906 Elizabeth Mahan decided one acre TO
"The Farmers Society of Hartford County,"
joint stock company, which erected n mill for
grinding plaster.
About 1908 III Robert Bell erected the bridge
over the canal-the houses described compos-
ing Lapidum in 1918. The Giles building was
occupied by Scott Hughes, the tavern by Robert
Bell
In 1914 the British under Admiral Cockburn,
landed at Bells Ferry and set fire to the stone
warehouse which belonged to John Stump, of |
Stafford, and also fired a vessel owned by Mr.. |
Stump, which was anchored in the stream
In 1856 f. j. kiuehart built the wharf aud
Jarrett Spencer erected his house at the end of
the bridge, aud advertised It as IL hotel. The
next year Mr.. Rinehart began the erection of
the warehouse now occupied by Smith Il Allen.
1t was opened for business in 1858 by b. +. |
Heath Il Co. This frm was succeeded by
Davis II Pngh, who were represented successive
ly by Andrew Abels, VIM. Wiles and Silas W.
Barnes. In 1877 Barnes IL Archer succeeded to