Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-31

Maryland line, which u MARRIED By IsrRs ooh
| tree standing on the north Of the road and on
posits the mouth Of . road which Loads up 70
Burr vile.
4 sANous 11In
The famous and handsome tree win Be rec
ognfxed In the accompanying illustl alton. II
stands thres-fourths Of . mile northwest Of
the castor. point Of ths ssisinal Ten miles
a quarter Of mile from here Lincoln road
u passed on the left This road leads over to
SentrA avenue, passing through the villas Of
Deanwoed and Lineolnvilla The latter win be
visited on the next excursion.
TIE OLD BfNrrNo MANSION.
On the high hill to the left, in the southeast
angle formed by ths Sheriff and Lincoln roads,
stands the historic old Bsnnins mansion.
This quaint old house, which contains fourteen
rooms, was built by Capt VIM. Benning, after
wnom yonder town was named, about the year
1873. 1t was added to in 1885, shortly after
which time the place was purchased and occu-
pied by the late Mr.. Levi Sheriff. prosperous
merchant Of the thriving town of Bladensburg.
and goodly portion Of the estate has remained
IN the family ever since, Mr.. Sheriffs daugh-
ter, urs Margaret e. Lowrie, and her son.
Rev. DR.: R. W. Lowrie. being the present occu-
pant DR.. Lowrie, who is assistant rector Of
All Saints Episcopal Church In Benning, was
TOR some years pastor Of q church in Washing
ton, and Is an author Of repute. He has been
Ior some twenty years q contributor to the
weekly. monthly and quarterly publications,
both ecclesiastical and secular Of the country,
ana was at one time coeditor Of the New York
Press His life il q very active, useful one
Standing on the porch Of the old house one
cannot but commend the wisdom and taste Of
Capt Benning in selecting this site for his resi-
dence, for more charming landscape than the
one presented to the view is not often witnessed.
You are ITO feet above the mean level of the
Anacostia. The valley of Watts branch-an
attractive and lively little stream having its
source half . dozen miles to the eastward. is at
your feet The proposed southern Maryland
railroad runs along this valley, the graded road
bed being visible. In front are . series of
gently rolling, tree-clad hills interspersed with
green meadow dales. OF clear day far-reach-
ing views, extending from thirty to forty miles,
are presented from this point
An encsmpment of Indians In early times
has given the name of Indian Spring" to q
hne running spring on the premises.
Several prosperous villages surround the
place--Burrville on the east, Lincolnvile on
the south and Deanwood on the west. It is
really part Of the last named subdivision.
Capt. Bepnlng was a man of great energy
and was natural leader of men. His great
force Of character Is indelibly impressed on
this community. He is recorded by local
tradition % having led the life OF desperate
pirate, second only in daring exploit to the
gains-is also of fabulous repute, and it il
believed by many in the community that his
vast treasures are hidden somewhere in the
earth. The truth is, the captain was q plain
matter-of-fact Englishmsn, who, by economy
and shrewdness, accumulated a respectable
fortune-a iarge'oDe. perhaps, for his time In
paying OF his worknen he always gave them
coin, which practice may have given currency
to the stories told about his great wealth Of
treasure. He was q large land owner, but at
the time Of his purchase IS an acre was re-
garded as a big price for land in this vicinity.
The captain was public spirited. He not
only built toll bridge across the Anacostia,
which proved profitable investment, but he
was also instrumental In developing industries
In this place. He opened the public roads, to
which he gave a uniform width of thirty-thre
feet. He died in 1885 and his remains now re-
pose in Congressional cemetery. His wife and
several children survived him, but none of his
descendants now live here. They all drifted
westward with 1.-The course OF empire"
THE TOWN OF DEANwooD.
Recovering from this depression, the excur-
sion is resumed along Sheriff road through
Deanwood. The reform school on the emil
nence across the Anacostis Ia conspicuous.
The road is fianked on either side by lines of
shapely cedars.
Deanwood, a subdivision Of Benning, is a
growing place Of some twenty-five families. Its
gentleman. who still resides here.
The works of the American Energizer Mo-
mentum Engine Company are passed on the