Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-07-04
The Pioneer Farmers OF Mont
gonery County.

The following paper, Interestingly remi-
hiscent OF thirteen pioneer farmers and
founders of the Farmers Club of Sandy
spring, was read by Mr.. Allan Farquhar
at the 18th annual meeting of the club
held on Saturday, June 18th. and omitted
for the want of space from the report of
the meeting that appeared in our last issue
J 1t was a little nconsiderate-almost
cruel-in your secretary to tie me down to
the topic "reminiscences of the Founders
OF the Club as Remember Them" when
can always write best by giving free rein
to my imagination, unhampered by barren
facts. But il would be showing DOOR an.
probation of the kindly hospitality ex-
tended to guest II should fail to obey
orders and carry out my part of the ar
ranged program.
Superstition dies hard, but even the most
confirmed believer that IS is an unlucky
number would find difficulty in reconciling
his pet theory with the fact that there
were just IS founders of the Farmers Club.
He might claim that they are all dead and
therefore it was unlucky for them, but how
many of us will be living rs years hence.
when the sesqucentennial is celebrated 2
But must stop moralizing. for have to
do justice to those pioneer immortals,
though less than minute can be devoted
to each one. my talk, or paper, being lin
tied to ten minutes altogether.
The first name on the list as given to me
is that of Richard T. Bentley. and this is
truly appropriate. Never was there bet
ter illustration of mental telepathy. great
minds running together, the psychological
moment taken advantage of. than when
he and Benjamin Hallowell met on the
road between here and Sandy Spring, both
on the same errand, in February, 1914. He
was only a kid then, little over "a,
being the youngest Of the founders. Many
and bright are my recollections Of Cousin
Richard. whom saw almost daily at the
store, insurance Office or bank for well nigh
80 years. If his conservatism showed out
too strongly in the character of his dwell
ing and barn, and in his shutting down on
the proposed extension Of the Norwood
Branch turnpike down the natural valley
across his place to Rawlings river, this
defect was more than balanced by his
kindly nature. his ever-present sense of
humor and exhaustless fund of entertain
ing anecdotes. His take-Off of the Enter
prise Club. when both met on very stormy
day, was worthy of Mark Twain at his
best. And the financial help he extended
in those days when there were no banks
was of great service, as have reason to
testify.
Robert r. Moore comes second on the
list. My earliest impressions of him were
unfavorable. as he was not entirely gracious
when he told me to shut that door I" when
| went in to hand him an application or
to get supplies for my father; but closer
association revealed to me his sterling
worth. ut is easy enough to be pleasant
when life goes by like a song" but when
one is constant sufferer from i'll health
it is a different proposition and much
allowance should be made. His son showed
me letter written when Cousin Robert
had to leave his city business on account
of his health and come to the farm, in
which the writer deplored the prospect
that his wife would soon be widow, yet
half century later she and Cousin Robert
were the only persons still living of the
many that were mentioned in the letter.
How often he would be seized with a
coughing spell that almost seemed as though
it might be his last, yet as soon as he re-
vived enough to speak he would ask a
question or give some direction about in
surance matters.
Third. VIM. H. Farquhar. who was the
first secretary of the club. Of course. you
will not expect me to say much of him,
but it is an interesting coincidence-and
almost might be called an unintentional
tribute to his devotion to this organization
for more than 40 years-that this is his
birthday; he would have been 106 years
old today. 1t was rare indeed that he
missed a meeting from that first one until
his health finally gave way in 1885.
Fourth. Benjamin Hallowell. the greatest
of them all ; not as a farmer. or a men,
Der, but in other ways. No one can read
his autobiography without recognizing that
he was no ordinary prominent citizen.
but that he was in a class by himself, his
towering intellect being only equaled by
his grandeur of soul. 1t was unfortunate
that he did not do full justice to his splen-
did mind when in the Meeting House on
Sunday morning. but he had been brought
up on the doctrine, Take no thought how OF
what we shall speak. for it shall be given unto
you in that hour" and therefore prepare
ton beforehand was improper. But some.
times. as after the Chicago fire in 1871. he
would preach sermon from head as well
as heart, and then he was unsurpassed
He had such venerable presence and as.
pect that ii is hard to realize that an
several years older than he was when
first knew him. Do any young boys look
up to me as did to him? Not once in q
thousand years
Fifth. Caleb Stabler. My acquaintance
with him was mainly in the few years we
were associated together as fellow officers oil
the Savings Institution. Before that period
| merely respected him as one Of the lead.
ing men in the community. and shared my
fathers regret when he voted the Demo.
cratic ticket some years before did but al
the bank learned to love him. He was as
fond Of joke as any one knew. and when
some one rebuked him for telling rather
shady one. as ALLAN might get spoiled. he
turned to me and said seriously. but with q
twinkle in his eye you can't spoil a rotten
egg |" Not high compliment, but eveI
| afterward felt at ease in his presence