The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1890-11-22

:. Came Over to Look for a Lost County
Seattle Belair Ggis of 14th instant says
''The Hartford Historical Society, in response
to an invitation of Col. B. It. Taylor, met at
Gunpowder rivers, in Baltimore county, last
Saturday, Nov. 9Th. The object of this field
meeting was to locate, if possible, the site Of
| the Court House of Old Baltimore Town. which
is known to have been on a tract of land called
moimms' Choice" now forming part OF Col.
| Taylor's farm. DR.. Geo. w. Archer had pre-
pared plots of several adjacent tracts. as de-
scribed in the old patents, among others
"Simms' Choice" Swanson" and "Wignald's
Rest whose boundaries are so related that it
was believed if any one of their boundary lines
could be definitely located, surveyor could
locate the exact site of the old Court House.
| Mr.. Albert z. Silver was prepared with COM
pass and chain to do the surveying. Col. Tay-
Tor and Mr.. Alfred Crossmore pointed out sew
eral old corner stones but the marks upon
them were so indistinct and the time for inves-
tigation so limited that they could not be iden-
| titled certainly with the points OF the plots.
However DR.. Archer finally announced that
he believed that mound" pointing to slight
elevation about three hundred yards from
where the party were then standing, lis the
| site of the old Court House." The party pro-
ceeded to the place indicated and found it a
| pleasantly elevated spot, atfording good view
ofthe Gunpowder river where it is crossed by
the p, w. and B. Railroad bridge. No inui-
cations of any buildings could be found, but
numerous excavations showed beyond doubt
| that this spot had been, and still is, the home
of numerous colony-of gophers or ground
rats. ss .-.-
"Col. Taylor's pleasant home is adjacent to
Loreley Park. on the B. q O. Railroad. This
property, which has been known for many
/ years as the Samuel Patterson property, and
| contains some 300 acres, has been bought by
| the new B. and o. Land and Improvement
| Company and converted into park and pic
mic grounds. The old mansion house has been
changed into a club house and handsomely
furnished. Several summer houses and pa
vilion have been built and excavations are
now being made for the foundation of casino
to seat 500 people.
"The same company have also bought the
! Old Forge tract of 1000 acres, just across the
| Gunpowder river from Loreley Park, and have
| had II plotted and laid out for town. Streets
and avenues are partly graded and shade trees
have been planted along them. This town is
| said to- have q Maryland avenue. Pennsylva-
mia avenue and a street named after each of the
counties OF our State. Three houses are said to
be in course of erection in this wOuld-be town
| and the company has the plans for $4,000
hotel which it proposes to build. The Gum
| powder river is here rocky, picturesque
stream, which affords good water power, La
BILE to be seriously diminished, however, by the
| increasing diversion of the water to supply
| Baltimore city. A rolling mill, nail factory
| and an iron forge existed here once but ceased
| operations about 1856 and are now ruins.
| 1.-The members of the Historical Society spent
| very pleasant day in these interesting historic
| grounds Col. and Mrs. Taylor entertained
| them with a bountiful lunch at their hospta-
| BILE home. There were present besides Mr.. and
Mrs. Taylor, Mrs; Clayman, Mr.. p: A. Day,
! Mr.. Albert A. Blakeney and Mr.. Alfred Cross
more and the following members of the His
| torical Society: Rev. e. A. Colburn, Messrs.
jeremiah P. Silver, Albert P. Silver, DIR. Geo.
| W. Archer, w. T. L. Taliaferro and W. Beatty
| Harlan.
.'Mr. Chas H. Pitcock presented to the Socie-
| ty the marriage certificate, in the form used by
the Society of Friends, of James Mason and
Rachel Scott, who were married I'd day Sd
month, 1850. The signatures of 81 witnesses
attest this interesting old document.
Before separating the members of the Socie-
ty passed a hearty vote of thanks to Col. and
Mrs. Taylor for their courtesy and generous
hospitality"
Suicide of well-Known Young Man.
Mr.. Lee Webster, of "Mount Repose," near
Cockeysville, committed suicide at the residence
of Mr.. William Renshaw North Charles street,
| Baltimore, about IL O. clock on Tuesday night
last, by shooting himself in the head with a
pistol. The particulars of the sad affair are
given as follows On Tuesday afternoon Mr..
!
shaw. After dinner Mr.. Renshaw, who had
known Mrs. Webster since her childhood in
vited that lady to attend the performance at
the Academy of Music. While they were away
Mr.. Webster called with the intention of ac-
companying his wife home. When, told she
was at the theatre he appeared to be satisfied,
and he sat in the dining-room to await her re-
turn. Shortly after II o'clock Mr.. Renshaw
and Mrs. Webster returned. Mrs. Renshaw met
| them at the door. She told Mrs. Webster her
/ fOr
the dining-r room. Mrs. Webster hurried back
to greet him. Without saying word Mr..
| Webster drew 32-caliber revolver from his
pocket, placed it against his right temple and
fired. The ball went into his brain, and he
fell dying upon the floor. Mr.. and Mrs. Rem
down stairs, and Mrs. Webster ran screaming
! to the front door and attracted the attention OF
several policemen who went to her assistance,
! only to find the unfortunate man breathing
| bis last. Fhe body was then removed to an
undertakef's establishment where it was pre-
| pared for burial.
/ Mr.. Webster was a son of Mrs. M. J. H.
Webster and nephew of the late William
Webster, a prominent citizen of the 9Th dis
trict of this county. From his uncle he in
mount Repose" besides considerable other
property Several years ago he married q
daughter of the late John o. Price. No reason
is assigned for his taking his own life, although
| IL is Salu he nau Deen Ill uellCate nealtn IOI
some time. Mr.. Webster was about 36 years
of age. He leaves no children.
e. CAUSE OF THE SUICIDE.
A gentleman who knew Mr. Webster init.
mately said to a representative of the San on
! Wednesday: Lee drank absinthe, and it un.
settled his brain when troubles began to crowd
upon him. He was brought up with money at
his command, and never had TO work. About
ten days ago his place, near Cockeysville,
which was called Mount Repose,' was sold al
auction to satisfy mortgage held by his mother
and bought in by her. Lee found himself de-
prived of money which he was once so liberal
| in spending, and it was settled that he would
have to go to work. This worried him, as he
had never been fitted for any occupation. His
father died when Lee was boy, and as he was
/ an only child his mother treated him with the
! greatest kindness He came into possession OF
his property by inheritance about eleven years
ago, and was married in 1888. When under
| the influence of absinthe. as he was the after
noon before he committed suicide, he was not
himself, and would do things he would never
/ think of when sober His act was due to de-
spondency, 1 am convinced, caused by the loss
Esof his money, the knowledge that he would
have to work, and by drinking absinthe."
! ., The funeral of Mr.. Webster took place at
i Sherwood P. E. Church, Cockeysville, at 2
/ O'Clock Friday afternoon, Rev. A. T. Pindell,
rector, conducting the services. The pail
bearers were D. b. Merryman, Clinton Jessop,
/ Frederick Price, Abram Jessop, Walter Warner
and Albert T. Love. The remains were inter-