The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-07-15
"reminiscences Of DAYS
BEFORE GARRETT COUNTY
WAS MADE 4 COUNTY
a Member Of The Republican Stat.
Talks With Old Citizens.

The pioneer history of our country is
always interesting and entertaining,
both to the old and to the young. MANY
an ENJOYABLE evening has been passed in
listening TO the men who settled Gar
rett county as they described the early
days of this growing county.
The old settlers along the historic
National and Northwestern pixies tell
marvellous stories of the day when four
horse stages passed over the pixies,
carrying Presidents, Senators and Con-
gressmen from the west and northwest
to Washington City; when droves of
turkeys, horses, hogs, sheep and cattle
thronged these public highways. At
night the turkeys would roost on the
tree tops. to be called down early in the
morning by their feed of corn and then
to resume their travel to the eastern
market.
The old tavern or stopping place on
the road to Aurora was an object of
interest for years. Here the horses
were changed, a meal eaten ana then
the tiresome, long journey resumed.
The old stage coach is seen no more;
in its place is the rapidly moving and
comfortable automobile and luxurious
palace chair and sleeping car. The
turkeys are carried to market in speci-
ally constructed cars, on fast trains.
Presidents, Senators, Congressman and
the descendants of the pioneer, travel
on limited express trains and in one
hour travel as far as the stage coach
traveller did in one day.
I remember a visit at the home of
Squire Microbes father, in the North
Glade neighborhood. years ago; the old
fire place and the most interesting de-
scription of father Microbes young
manhood days and happenings. Days
when deer and bear, wild turkeys and
other game and the destructive wolf
and wild cat abounded; when neighbors
were scarce and far apart; when match
es were luxury, when the fire was
carried from a neighbours house to
start the home fire; when the settler
drove to Wheeling, w. Va, and miles
distant, elsewhere. to purchase the
years groceries and home comforts;
when the OK team was the farmers
dependence for farming and hauling.
1t was a great night l spent with
father McCrobie.
l recall day spent at the pleasant
home of Mr.. E. w. Kelso, of Ryans
Glade. He told OF early DAYS in the
Glade, of his boyhood years. The Park,
now city of summer homes and the
resort of the Nation for the warm
months, was then great pasture
ground for cattle, when often a horse
and rope was required to pull some
steer or COW out of the swampy ground;
when the farmers of 1.-THE hill country"
would fish in the Little Yough and catch
the beautiful mountain trout by the
hundreds and salt them down for future
use; when the now rich. fertile and
beautiful glades were not considered
desirable for farming purposes, when
the hills were choice locations.
They tell US, these men who entered
the great forests and jnngles and chopp-
ed out farm and home, who made" the
wilderness bud and blossom like the
rose;" of the old log meeting house and
circuit rider, with his saddle pockets;
about those meeting days, when from
away back in the Clearing" and near
by homes came the men of destiny on
foot, horseback, man and wife, mother
with child in her arms and one behind
her, when the young men and ladies'
carried their shoes and stockings and