Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1932-07-29

Rockville Madison F. Harriss, George
r. Braddock and John 0ffutt eaef
wanted to be justice Of the peace
William Yiers Bouie was running fol
States Attorney and Richard GroOmes
sought TO be sheriff, post then filed
by Mr.. Fields, the proprietor Of the
Sentinel
To the great joy Of the young peo-
PIE Of the town Joe Pentland's circus
was being widely billed and gener-
Gus portion of the paper was given
over to an advertisement in which Joe
Pentland, the chief priest Of Momusa
and the @antipOdean equilibrist" TO-
gether with the fat lady and the wild
wild man Of Borneo was featured
The Montgomery County Agricultural
Society was issuing its premium list
and otherwise preparing for q big
farm exhibition. A prize of SIS was
offered for the best appearing farm in
the county and the best yoke Of oxen
could claim one dollar. The bz-
ploughman also was to be rewarded.
The president Of the society was auth
orized to secure an orator and hand
for the fair.
Charles N. Price Of Unity and Rock
vile was advertising for negro slaves
and Washington slave dealer an
nouneed that he paid the highest cash
prices for blacks, both male and fe-
male To add q humorous note to the
narrative, there was a notice Of a
horse strayed from q camp meeting
grounds for the return Of which ample
reward would be given
Among the religious activities of
the day, the Baptists were holding .
prOtraeted meeting in the grove Of
Capt z. r. Johnson and large con-
gregations were gathering to hear the
various elders Of the circuit expound
the Bible.
Local advertising was represented
By several business firms. The firm Of
Humphrey and Norton, house joiners
and carpenters, told the general public
that it was also making q choice line
Of collins. Mr.. William E. Humphrey,
grandfather Of the present VIM. r
and Warner E. Humphrey and James
E. Norton were so associated. They
were then located in the north end Of
Rockville. In the same section Of the
county seat Hoffman's blacksmith anC
machine shop was doing business.
The newsprint upon which the issu'
Of August, 1855 was printed is still
remarkably weIl preserved Its page
are surprisingly legible and tn,
amount Of work involved in those day
Of hand set type IN itself must repre-
sent a prodigious feat. That ther'
were printers then can not well b,
denied.
A remarkable feature of that four
page issue is the numerous long let
tiers to the editor. Communication
were evidently being received from al
over the United States and their con
tent displayed a rare knowledge o
events, history and literature. Latil
phrases were rule, not an exception
and the pens Of those correspondent
were undoubtedly guided by strong
vigorous minds which never hesitate
to speak their beliefs in attacking o
defending the doctrines of the hour.
Although the depredations of Uniol
soldiers makes it impossible to ponde
over the complete files of the Civ
War period, the issue Of October 4
1851 provides much discussion on thl
struggle between the States. Tier
was q skirmish at Great Falls and tn
Confederates fired shots at the loci
gate and through the old tavern q
Crommelin. There were said to be L
Federals slain. Passing wearers Of tn
blue broke into the Office of the Sen
tinel at various times and destroye,
type and tore up papers. Mr.. Field
was cast into the old Capitol prisol
where he was kept several month
until released through the interven
ton Of the Hon. Montgomery Blair
secretary Of War and himself a fore
most Montgomery Countian.
It is interesting to note that in 1877,
wheat was selling at s1.1s to $1.2I
and corn at sixty cents per bushel
Richard Browning Of near Damascus
reports a wheat yield of SO bushels t,
the acre.
The Hyattstown Brass Band an
nounces that its personnel is compos
ed Of mechanics, mostly young men