Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-10-07
Saint Maru's Beacon
FARMERS INSTITUTES.
(Continued from First Page. J

told by him in his lectures have
been . revelation 10 the most ex-
perienced. He - an enthusiastic
advocate of farmers organizations
as an instrnmentality for the adj
vancement Of agricultural interests.
When the Grange movement was
started in 1865 he at once became
member and has held the position
Of State Lecturer almost continuous
" ever since. In this relation he
has addressed farmers meetings in
every county OF the State and is
perhaps the best informed man in
Maryland as to the condition and
needs Of its farmers in every Sec
ton.
The Professor is a fluent talker
and is never so happy as when he
is telling farmers how togrow crops
and to market them.
President Sylvester was born in
1857 in Norfolk, Va. Was educa-
ted st the Virginia Military Ipsti-
tute at Lexington, Va. He gradh-
ted in 1877 in the department Of
Theoretical and Practical Science.
lie was elected to the position of
assistant in Mathematics and the
Natural Science in Charlotte Hall
Academy in September, 1877, was
made full professor in charge of
these Departments in 1884, was adj
vsnced to the position of Principal
IN 1886, was elected President Of
the Maryland Agricultural College
in 1892. The improvement in this
Institution has been marked dur
ing the past five years of his admin
istration. President Sylvester by
birth and natural inclination has
well defined agricultural tastes.
His ancestors have been among the
largest land owners in Virginia.
He has been a close student of ag-
ricultural methods for years. He
is a large land owner in Southern
Maryland and his faith in the soil
is emphasized by his investments in
the same. The constant improve
ment OF his land bespeaks an in
telligent Judgment which may well
be emulated. He has more than
once in public addresses stated that
had he to be deprived of the infor-
nation coming from the Agricul-
tural Department in Washington
asd from the Agricultural College
and Experiment. Station OF the
country he would feel himself Sc
riously handicapped in the pursuit
of the profession. He realizes that
as much il not more training is re-
quired IN the practice OF this pro-
fession than in that of any other.
5. Ii. Todd was born in Ohio
Ills parents left their native State
of Connecticut while young, and
settled in the wilderness OF Ohio,
country without roads, school
houses or churches. They COM
menced bravely the struggle with
poverty.
Under such circumstances he was
born and introduced at once into
practical, every day life. His faith
or trained his children to work, and
he was connected with all the bust
ness of the farm, especially with
the stock which his father kept.
When but eight years old he was
left with the entire charge of the
farm and stock, while his parents
visited their old home. lie always
manifested All immense interest in
sheep and hogs aud early learned
their characteristics and habits.
lie received q somewhat limited ed
ucation at 0berlin College, and was
soon pressed into public life. He
was forty years n trustee of "a vigor-
GUS country church, thirty years SUI
perintendent of the Sunday school.
fifteen years president of the
American Chester White Record
Association" and is now president
of the Wakeman Banking Compa.
ny.
He has always beer a practical
farmer and stock breeder. His
own breed of hogs is we'll known as
"The Todd Improved Chesters.
His hogs won SO, 40 at the Worlds
Fair. This itself is q sufficient
guarantee of his success as a breed
er. His sheep breeding has been
successful.
His farm has increased in fertil.
ity. due to careful management,