The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-08-08

character which they had previously
won by their skill and valor." Gen.
Ripley said of him, ''I have no idea
that there is any artillery officer in
any service superior to him in the
knowledge and performance of his
duty"
While stationed at Buffalo sort
of truce was declared, so that the Of
fcers of both armies might indulge
in social festivities. 1t was at con-
genial gathering that British officer
insulted one of the ladies present, for
which offense Capt. Towson prompt
ly knocked him down. A duel was
the result, at which Capt. Towson
had a finger shot off, while his op-
ponent was laid low with more
serious injury. So quietly was the
affair conducted that the story would
have never been known but for Zach
arias Roberts, of Towsontown, who
was one of Capt. Towson's original
company and acted as his second on
the occasion. Roberts was the faith
er-in-law of Henry Lightner, the
drummer boy, who was one of the
last Of the local Old Defenders of
Baltimore to pass away.
When he returned after the war
crowned with hard-earned laurels he
was royalty greeted as a hero. He
was promoted to be lieutenant
onel and then retained in the army
as paymaster general and served
throughout the Mexican War. In
March, I84o, he was brevetted major
general and located in Washington
with his wife, a Massachusetts, lady
of good family.
The social status at the Capital in
those days was of a peculiar nature.
A prominent society lady called upon
Mrs. Gen. Towson one day, and in
apologizing for not coming sooner ex-
planned that it was hard to tell who
was who, as so many people of indif-
ferent lineage were coming to Wash
ington. "If you want Our pedigree,
said Mrs. Towson with some spirit,
"you can have it in short order. My
husbands father was a pump-maker
and my father was a saddler." Her
inquisitive visitor did not tarry long,
but left shortly after in great con-
fusion.
Gen. Towson very frequently Wis
tied the scene of his childhood at
Towsontown. He died in Washing
ton on July rs, 1884,. and is buried
beside his wife in Oak Hill Cemetery,
Georgetown.
When Towson Lodge of Odd Eel
lows was instituted, in 1882, at the
solicitation of it's members, Gen. Tow
son had made large oil painting of
himself to be hung in the lodge-room.
The painting was completed and
handsomely framed, but before it
was shipped here the General died.
1t was afterwards sent by members
of his family and it can be seen at
room.
When and where the two old set
tiers, Thomas and Ezekiel Towson,
died, the writer has not been able to
ascertain. The property, however,
was sold to one Solomon Schmuck, of
Baltimore, who, finding he could not
meet the requirements of the terms
of sale, disposed of it to his brother
in-law, George Shealey, who con-
Quoted hostlery in Baltimore near
the Belair Market. Shealey moved
his family into the old hip-roofed
house formerly occupied by Thomas
Towson and which stood upon the
site where now is located Bosley's
Hotel, and converted it into tavern,
which he conducted until his death,
having reared large family of chill
dren. He disposed of all of the Tow
son property, excepting that connect
ed with his tavern on the north side
of the Joppa road, to Abraham Yost,
a prosperous farmer from York coun-
ty, Pa. At the death of Yost he be-
queathed the Towson tavern to his
widowed daughter, Mrs. Wilhelm,
and several acres on the west side of
the turnpike, a few hundred yards
south of the tavern, to his son Joseph,
who built upon it the stone dwelling
now owned and occupied by Mr.. James
H. Linzey. Mrs. Wilhelm's son
George conducted the tavern for a
short time, when he relinquished the
business and the property was rented
to Joseph Higle for a short while.
The tavern was then sold to the late
Benjamin N. Payne, native of Har-
ford county, Md, who had been con-
Quoting tavern at Meredith's Ford,
on the Dulany's Valley turnpike.
Mr.. Payne called the place "The
Black Bear" and had painted large
bear OH swinging sign, which was
attached to large locust tree that
stood on the present site of the Tow
son National Bank.
Mr.. Payne also purchased from
the Yost estate the land adjoining the
tavern property, located between the
Hillen and York roads, and in after
years added to his possessions large
tract of land east of the Hillen road,
having purchased it from the Stans-
bury estate. When Mr.. Payne re-
linquished the tavern business he sold
it to the late Edward H. Ady, also a
native of Hartford county. Mr.. ADV
enlarged the building considerably