Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-09-30
WHERE PEGGY sHlPPgN LIVED.



is located at Oxford Furnace. 1t is
the large mansion directly opposite
the store Of the Oxford iron company.
1t is known as the ..Fowler house."
and is occupied now as a boarding
house. The house Is known TO have
been built in 1742 by William Ship
pen. who had some time previously
received grant Of 10000 acres of
land from King George Of England,
says the New York Sun.
The mansion consists of two stories
and basement, with walls three feet
thick. Ii was built to stand the raw
ages OF time, and so well has il faced
the storms Of l51 years that to-day
it is in wonderful state of preserva-
tion. The great chimneys that start
from The cellar and rear themselves
far above the sloping roof resemble
huge towers built within the house.
the freplaces. seven in number. are
large openings in the chimney walls
and are lined with iron plates The
back plates are ornamented with the
British coat Of arms When changes
were made in the old house several
years ago these ireplaces were walled
up. John Jourdan, a Philadelphia
banker, spent a summer at Oxford
Furnace some years ago. While be-
ing shown through the house he
noticed the coat Of arms on the mid
die iron Of the only fireplace not
closed up. He received permission
to remove the plate, and it now forms
q part Of an interesting collection
owned By the Philadelphia historical
society. The Shipper family who
originally built this house, came
from England and settled in Phila-
delphia about the year 1885. They
were wealthy family and moved in
the best society.
During the revolutionary war,
while Philadelphia was in possession
Of Lord Howe, DIR. Shippen's was the
social headquarters OF the officers.
Or, Shippen's daughter Peggy mar
ried Benedict Arnold. William Ship
pen. who built this house, was a son
Of DIR. shipper and a brother-in-law
Of Benedict Arnold. He occupied
the house for a number OF years with
his family. Every fall friends would
visit him from New York and Phila-
delphia and a grand hunt with
hounds would take place, All dur
ing the winter the old stone house
would echo with sounds OF revelry,
as the guests warmed under the
stimulating effects Of the well-filled
vine cellars.
In this old stone house Judge Robe
son lived FOR some years, and here
his son, General George NJ. Robson.
/ secretary Of the navy under President
Grant. was born.
snippen's wife was very fond of
wine and under its mellow influence
would become extremely hilarious,
Shipper concluded that he would
break up these orgies by locking the
wine cellars But She proved more
than match FOR him. During his
I absence she set ore OF the colored
male servants al work to cut a hole
I through the stone wall that separated
the kitchen fireplace from the wine
! cellars He first removed the iron
I plate embiazoned by the British coat
w 81 MS AZ VII AlAt bsAA "a ALlt
and then with a pick and crowbar he
made hole large enough to admit
the woman's body After drawing
supply from one of the casks she
would return to the kitchen and slide
up the iron plate in place. She drank
a great deal before her method was
discovered by her husband. In spite
OF her fondness for strong drink she
was as thoroughly aristocratic as the
times would warrant While taking
her morning walks she would be ac-
companied by colored boy named
James Burr, who carried her train
over his shoulder.
DR. shipper did not end his days
IN Oxford. Ii is more than probable
that lie returned to Philadelphia,
the home OF his ancestors, After his
departure the old house and magnif-
cent surroundings fell into decay
and passed into other hands. As the
years sped by many owners lived in
the old stone house, great changes
came about. until to-day the grand
mansion Of century and half ago
is nothing but an ordinary boarding
house The walls are as firm as
when first built. and there is no
doubt that they will last a century
more.
"Belgian" Block QuSrrieJ in Americi l.
Anyone asked where the Belgian
block comes from would say, why,
from Belgium, Of course, but this is
far from the truth. Great ouarries at