Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1889-01-25
"reminiscences.

wish to tender thanks to the Editor OF
the Sentinel for copy of the issue of Janu-
airy 4th, 1889. 1t is capital number, well
made up, and bearing on its pages impor-
tant matter on general, local and domestic
interests. The touching tribute in memory
of an estimable lady of this town cannot
fail to vibrate tender chords in the hearts of
all husbands who within the last year have
been bereaved of dear companions, whose
moldering dust lies safely garnered beneath
the green sward OF the cemetery. But the
reflections on the retiring and incoming
years are worthy of profound attention.
The poetic drapery of the style in which
they are given to the reader, with the sound
advice in the concluding paragraphs com.
! mend them to all persons who have taste
for the beautiful, and who in morals desire
to do right. Having so often in the course of
a long life passed from one year to another,
purpose following this editorial leader with
some "reminiscences for the information and
benefit, would hope, of the rising and cur
rent generation.
| was born in 1904, and hence l have lived
under all thePresidents except Washington
and the elder Adams. But my personal re-
collections of events date no farther back
than the administration of President Madi-
son; yet from traditionary reports had be-
come tolerably well informed of the exciting
events which preceded Jefferson's election,
and the subsequent incidents which were
connected with the trial of Aaron Burr. |
shall speak only of events, conditions and
changes which were contemporaneous with
my own life and history. 1t is known that
Virginia owned the immense territory which
reached from the western slope of the Allie
ghany mountains to the eastern slope of the
Rocky mountains Out of this territory
.Ntfh .. NJ T.cfpg St.tN Al.
Union, were formed, so that the "Old Do
minion" may truthfully be regarded as the
"Mother of States and of Statesmen."-
Shortly before my birth, Vermont, Ohio,
Kentucky and Tennessee were added to the
original thirteen, making II free states to
greet my nativity This was two less than
half of the present number, and gives an
increase OF twenty-one states in the course
of eighty years With four or five states
now seeking admittance, Texas large
enough for four states, and immigrants com
ing from all parts of the world, who can
predict the growth of this Union OF states
by the year 1870? The question o5trudes
itself, Can Republic of such vast terrtori-
al dimensions hold together? The thought
is portentous, and leave it,
| remember distinctly the notions of dis
lance which the inhabitants east of the AL
leghanies had when | was youth But
few of them ventured across the mountains
in those days. and the supposed wilderness
that lay beyond them was called the "back
woods TO move to Ohio, us few of the
most courageous did, was an adventure
which many persons regarded as pregnant
with uncertainty and peril. Indians, bears,
wolves and every variety Of wild animals
filled the imagination with terror and he
who could cling tenaciously to his home
OF. ,ay;on
paratlon were necessary for the change
Property had To be converted into cash.
Outfits Of teams, farming utensils and pro
visions To last for the journey and through
the first year in the new settlement had to
be procured aud put iii To condition Tor con
venient transportation. No one paused to
think that possibly some of these articles
might be obtained IN the new country. And
then when letters came back from those
who had made the change safely, they were
read with romantic Amusement and sent
from one neghbor to another till worn out
with handling. People thought it strange
that there should be Il country fit to live in
on the other side Of the blue mountains.
in my boyish ignorance believed with the
majority. But | have learned better since
! have been widely over the great West,
and believe with Henry Clay, that "the
east is but the vcstibu,e To the palace of
states in the great Western valleys"
II agreeable to the Sentinel, may add
few articles on memorable events treasured
up in my memory.
JOSEPH WALKER.
Roeheitle, Md
Rev. Dr. Walker is one Of our most re-
liable citizens and We shall be glad to have
other articles from him, for we think they
will prove interesting to our readers.-ED.