The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1889-02-08
ANOLD STORE AT LAPIDUM.

In paper on Lapidum, read before the Har-
ford Historical Society some time since, said
the credit of opening the first store at this place
seems to bsleng u Robert Bell" Since that time
Dr. Geo. W. Archer has placed in my hands nm
old day book OF store at "susquehanna. In ia,
Of which John Stump. afterwards Of Stafford
asproprietOr This was another name applied to
Lspidum, which was then known as Susquehanna
Upper Ferry. The store was located below the
pre,ent site Of Lapidum, on land owned by Dr.
In l772, WIN. Husband. an uncle Of the above
named John stump, purchased a lot on the river
shore, upon which he erected a stone warehouse
which stood at the waters edge a short distance
above DR.. virdn's residence. WIN. Husband
uied in October. lTI3 the property descended 10
his wife Elizabeth, and his brother Joseph, who
band. Sr.
li74 John Stump, Jr then only twenty-five
years of age, opened up his store. This was pro.
badly his first venture, the BEGINNING OF a career
which displayed great business en- erprise and
was rewarded with wonderful success.
When stump came the warehouse contained
3lla bushels OF salt belonging TO Henry Holliugs-
worth. OF BLK. a brother-in law OF Mr.. Husband
all OF which was sold during the year. which in
dicates very brisk demand among the fisheries.
hr. Stump boarded with his uncle Henry
stump, who lived near where the ice houses now
stand. He at once began remodeling the build
Ing to suit his purposes. Samuel Hopkins.
mason, made the additional windows in ye
house, partitions were put up, girders casei.
surbases and washboards added. &c. The pIas-
tering was done by Charles W htelock and Ber ia
ullu nun ne bHnlln"OTh, consisting OF nails,
hinges, hooks tor store goods, &C., by Ephram
Byard. All the repairs, amounting to about $40.
Were charged to Juseph and Elizabeth Husband
The stock in trade consisted of rum groceries,
crOckery and hardware. but there appears to
have been no dry goods sold.
1t was not unusual to sell several hog sheads of
rum in one day, especially during harvest as
two farmers would buy hogshead and each
take one-haf of II.
This store not only furnished the community
with their necessary supplies, but also afforded
market for their grain.
John stump, Jr., shipped from this place to
Henry Holllngsworth: at Blk farm, August lst,
amounting to f3.sG0. The most OF this WHIT at
was probably delivered on horseback, as II was
generally received In small quantities.
1t is interesting to note the large amount of
nax seed raised IN this vicinity in those days
There was shipped, on August 2S. l715, per sloop
ELK, Ito HollingsworIh. ll6 hogsheads OF flax
seed. and upon August 3lst, per sloop Polly"
33s bushels, "a hogsheads and 20 barrels vi tiax
serd.
The regular entries in the old day book stop
Oct 10. lIT5, after which date there are occa-
sinnal entries until July 0, l776
The Revolution evidently closed up the store,
but before the struggle was ended the proprie-
tor had purchased land on Deer Greek, after
which We find him located at Stafford.
There are 3i6 different names upon the pages
OF this old book, forming a complete directory
Tor this section OF the county. for the year 1915
Many OF these names are found upon the store
books of to day others, however. belong to FAINT
lies now extinct.
The following appear upon the first page Henry
stump Gershnm Silver. Samuel Bayless, VIM
Snodgrass John Weathernton, (Worthngton)
and sktpwith Coae. all familiar names except
that OF MIR. Snodgrass.
Thomas Smith was proprietor of the ferry at
this time, in connection with which he conduct
ed tavern but the first store undoubtedly was
established by John stump. Jr., in l7Ti.
This was not, however, the only store in the
nelghborhood. There had been one at Rock
Hun for many years. 1t WAS at this time kept by
John Wilson, (the great grandfather OF Messrs.
Christopher and Isaac Wilson. of Darlington,)
who also operated the mill under a lease IRON
Nathaniel Giles. A. p. SILVER.