The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-11-20
mislellaneums.
NORRISVILLE.
The Long Corner of Hartford.

The Long Corner of Hartford.
Sketch of an Old Town-Its
Early settlers-Its Improvements and In
dustries.
Written fol. The Kgs and Intelligencer.
The history of Norrisville is in reality the
history of the Long Corner" as that part of
the precinct which lies between upper Deer
Creek and the Pennsylvania line is often
called. Their interests and local events are
in every way identical, and the inhabitants
are SO connected with each other by marriage
and inter.marriage that they are almost as
one family.
The general topography of the "Long Cor
ner," presents different features from the rest
Of Hartford county. From the residence of
Mr.. Franklin Gilbert, (wbere the Baltimore
county line forms right angle with the his.
torical Mason and Dixon's line,) broad Sec
lion of gently rolling land stretches to the
steep high hills which border Deer Greek.
The land is fertile and capable of extensive
producing good crops of cereals
and hay; and is thickly settled, the farms
averaging not more than one hundred and
fifty acres. Only few years have elapsed
since it was a customary thing to see long
lines of farm wagons on their way to the
city markets, filled with the products of the
country, but the advent of rail-
roads has effected wonderful change, and
The construction of the railroad connecting
five miles from Norrisville,)
with the Northern Central, has turned the
current and drawn most Of the traffic to that
point. 1t has been the direct means Of slim
ulating production to higher standard and
opens an avenue of enterprise which should
be an example to our own capitalists. The
water powers OF upper Deer
Creek would, if utilized, be of incalculable
pecuniary benefit to Hartford county, and
would go far towards placing her on an equal
footing with any county OF Maryland. A
railroad could be built from Norrisville to the
Rocks of Deer Creek-about 10 miles-at u
much more moderate cost than that estimat-
ed for the construction of the ID. G and s. r.
R., and would bring into immediate use all
of the now wasted resources of that romantic
stream. The place would be put in immedi-
ate connection with Bel Air-rom which it
is about twenty miles distant-and its Excess
sive remoteness removed, much, we believe, to
the benefit of both places.
The settlement of Norrisville dates far back
of the Revolutionary war, and many Of our
Oldest families have been known in the neigh
century. The names of Norris, Hughes, Dun
can, Wiley, Payne, Bosley and others have
long been thoroughly identified with the
landed and local history of the community,
and their descendants are still among the
prominent families.
1t is somewhat difficult TO name or date
the earliest settlers; but about A. D. ITO
Edward Norris erected the first house in what
is now the village ofNorrisville. 1t was sit
uated on the easterly side OF the Baltimore
road, Il few feet north of the old oak tree and
nearly opposite to the residence of George n
Norris. Edward died during.the revolution
leaving the following issue: George Norris
who married Elizabeth Hughes : Vincent
Norris, who married Mary Wiley; Jonathan
who died unmarried; Elizabeth, who married
William Hudson; Charlotte, who married
Benjamin Payne, and Talitha, who married
James Tyrrell. George, the eldest son, erect
ed, about 1870, residence, small portion o.
the foundation of which is still to be seen
For number of years there were no more
buildings erected, the tract of land which haC
been patented under the name of salisbury
Plains" being used for farming purposes
The junction of the Baltimore and York anC
Baltimore and Lancaster roads. situated few
rods north of MIR. Norris home, however
made the site an attractive one, and John 5
Norris, carried out the design of his father
Vincent, by the erection of home for hi
sisters Ellen, who married William Rigdon
Rachel, who married Samuel Stubbins Char
lotte, who married Benjamin Ebaugh; Ann
who married James Gemmill and Elizabeth
and Jane who died unmarried. This build
ing is now occupied by Thomas Miller and j
nearly opposite the hotel.
The second house was small one now oc
cupied as a residence by J. Wesley Pollock
The hotel building at the forks OF the roa'
was next in order Samuel Stubbins was th
first proprietor and was successfully follow
ed by DIR. Preston, (now dentist at Stew
artstown,) Mrs. Slade, Samuel Butler, Josep
w. Butler, Alexander Rigdon, Benjamin
Toy, Jacob Forder and Shadrack r. Gilber
Shortly afterwards Warren Strong erected
house which at present forms the south en-
of the building used by Alexander Rigdon
a store and dwelling. Thomas O'Neill erec'
| ed about the same time wheelwright sho
south of Strongs house, which was change
| into dwelling by Richard Kirkwood, and
now occupied by Mrs. Eva Campbell.
In 1862 Daniel T. Norris built a residenc
nearly opposite the site of the original or
| erected by his grandfather, Edward, whic
was long occupied by William B. Smitl
| (wbo married Eliza A, daughter of Daniel
| and is now owned by George N. Norris.
| Buel J. Smith built plowshop on the Low
| er corner of the church road about 1858. Blu
F! mess was carried on here for several year
when Jacob Forder remodeled it into dwell
ing and opened hotel, which he cOnducte
until the passage of the local option law
1882. 1t was afterwards purchased and use
as residence by Justice Solomon Barter
schlager.
Mr.. Smith had previously built what VS.
long known as the old foundry, on the opp
site corner and established a successful bus
I ness as founder. He was succeeded in o
der by David A. Edie, Hulshart & Heap
l Joseph w. Butler and John G. B. Wrigh
4 Early in November, 1891, the building was d
moIished preparatory to the erection of
store and dwelling TO be occupied by j. We
ley Strawbridge s. Bro. In respective ord
the following houses were then built
/ brick house tor Isaac Strawbridge, now US
| as q residence by James A. Dalton the hou
Occur pied by Isaac G. Hulshart; the prese
store stand of J. Wesley Strawbridge; the l
sidence of J. Alex Gordon; the dwelling
Curtis H. Sitter; the building occupied
Mrs SusSn Hudson and the residence of M
Rachel Strong. The residence of Mrs. Be
Sitter will probably antedate some of the
last mentioned ones but we have no positi
data concerning 1t.
| In 1870 Curtis II. Sitter erected the fou
dry adjoining his dwelling, which has be
in successful operation ever since, and is NJ
, controlled by Aaron F. Sitter & Co.
i Several of the houses in the village ha
been used as stores, the one now occupied
J. w. Pollock being the first, a small stock
i merchandise being kept by Isaac Strawbrid
5 Mr.. s. afterwards conducted business in
house now used by Mr.. Dalton as residen
n The lower store was erected afterwards
o Dr. ]. l.. Matthews, who was succeeded
> Wells Matthews, Addison Kirkwood, Richs
v Kirkwood, Volney VanTrump, Ede 6 N
ris, J. Wiley Norris, J. III. Crandall, Jose
Stein, James Lyle; Joseph w. Butler, N
\ NJ. E. Edie, George w. DcVilbiss and j.