The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1904-07-16
FRANCIS SCOTT KEY.


article, entitled can American Val
halla." It set forth the need of
national memorial hall. where the
remains OF great soldiers, statenlen
and scholars might be laid away, so
that their friends and comrades, as
also posterity, might conveniently
visit their resting places. In that ar
ticle were the following words, viz:
mMany men and women who have
given much to the United States
Government are inferred in ground
unknown. The last resting place of
Francis Scott Key, author of the
Star Spangled Banner is not
known to this day, although several
persons have claimed to know the
spot" This statement is a mistake,
and surprising one in view of the
facts.
| have often visited Mt. Olivet,
beautiful cemetery on the southern
edge of the city of Frederick, Md,
and when / read the statement felt
sure that / had seen the grave of
this patriot in that burial place.
Wishing, however, to be beyond a
mistake in such a matter, / wrote to
a friend in the place. / have, as the
result, now before me copy of the
official program used by the "Key
Monument Association of Frederick,
at the dedication of fine monument
to the memory of the poet, August
9th, 1893. The monument was erect
ed at cost of $4,000, secured by
the association from the patriotic
citizens of Maryland and other
States. The people of Frederick
gave the first $4,000. The mayor of
Frederick, Mr.. John E. Fleming;
the State Superintendent of Educa-
ton, Mr.. E. B. 'Prettyman; the Gov
enor, Mr.. Frank Brown, and many
others, took an active part in secur-
ing the necessary funds. The Ma
tional Society of the Sons of the
American Revolution, in session in
Boston in May, 1884, indorsed the
appeals of the Governor and the as
sociation.
In the letter of Governor Brown
Il Are ethen teneGse wEofds :os TIE etlsasi.ssateS
Francis Scott Key have lain for
many years unhonored beneath the
soil of his native state, in the ceme-
terry at Frederick, Nd" The result
was that the necessary sum was soon
secured, a striking and beautiful de-
sign selected, and at the date already
mentioned, August 9th 1893. the
graceful monument was unveiled
and dedicated in the presence of
thousands of patriotic people. from
far and near. Mr.. Henry Watterson
delivered the oration; there was an
original poem by Mr.. Folger Nc
Kinsey, the secretary of the associa-
ton; Rev. Messrs. Osborne Ingle,
D. J. Beall and C. w. Stinespring,
of the city clergy, took part as chap
lains; Mrs. Donald Mclean, regent
of New York chapter of the D. A.
R., also delivered an address. The
monument was unveiled by a grand
daughter of Francis Scott Key,
Miss Julia McHenry Howard, amid
the singing of the patriots celebrat-
ed poem, the Fourth United States
Artillery Band accompanying Sc
lect choir and a great multitude of
voices. Colonel Howard's Fourth
Maryland Regiment gave a special
salute to the flag. Mr.. Baker john
son, of Frederick, acted as master of
ceremonies. The musical directors
were Professors T. S. Eader and
George Edward Smith; Major E.
T. Goldsborough was the chief mar
shal of the interesting occasion.
l should specially note that the re-
mains of the poet, which, as stated
in the letter of Governor Brown, had
rested for years in the cemetery
marked with plain head and foot
stones, giving name and dates of
birth and deatfl-were disinterred
previous to the completion of the
monument and placed in crypt
specially prepared for the same, be-
meath the structure. The same dis
position was made of those of his
wife and son, Francis Scott Key,
Jr., whose graves had previously
been beside his own. In the year
1904, just after the incorporation of
the Key Monument Association,
flagstaff was planted at these graves,
appropriate patriotic exercises being
held. Since then the flag, of which
Key sang so inspiringly, has steadily
floated from its top, an appropriate
reminder to the freemen of the patri-
otic and immortal services of the
man who sleeps beneath.
While writing on this matter, it
may be of interest to recall the fol-
lowing facts. Of course, they are OF
abundant record, but their restate-
ment may be of use to our children
and growing youth.
Francis Scott Key was born Au-
gust 9th, 1870, at Terra Rubra, near
Double Pipe Creek, Frederick couri-
| ty, Maryland. The place is now in
cluded in Carroll county, since cut
off from that of Frederick. He was
the son of John Key, Revolution
airy officer. He was educated at St.
Johns College, Annapolis, studied
law with J. Townley Chase, was adj
mitted to the bar of Frederick and
practiced there until 1901, when he
removed to Washington city. Here
he served as District Attorney under
President Jackson. While on visit