Evening star., 1933-05-14
Some Prom inent
Families of Ma
tional Capital
Lived TN THatPart
of the City Before
BusiuessH0nses
Encroached Upon
Area -Ga,tleMS
Church.
BY JOHN CLACETT PROCTOR.

] BY JOHN CLACETT PROCTOR.
- HERE are many people in Washington
today who can recall when there was
little need for avenues in the north
ern part Of the city in order to reach
more directly the places for which
they were headed, because the paths
Across the commons were invariably more d.
rect courses, and, so far as the walking was con-
cerned. Just about as good even In wet weather,
for it must be remembered that 1t remained Tor
the Board of Public Works. from 1871 to 1874
under the dynamic leadership of Alexander r.
Shepherd, to provide sidewalks Of any consid-
cradle extent north of M street
OF course in crossing the commons ones
halfway was not always strewn with roses, for
not infrequently an angry billy goat OF the
Rocky Mountain variety was encountered, ana
this belligerent animal never hesltated 70 as
sumo rampant and menacing attitude In Or
der to contest the right Of way. even though
he did usually lose out if his opponent happened
to be adult homo.
Naturally there were other animals to be en-
countered besides goats, for cows. horses, and
pigs roamed at will in the outskirts OF the CITY,
even though it was contrary to law to permit
1t to be done, until a pOundmaster was ap-
poitned shortly following the Civil War.
One of the remarkable things about these old
paths-which never called for repairs of any
kind-was that although they were rarely more
a
outs or detours, and when two pedestrians. ap-
preaching each other from opposite directions.
happened to meet, somebody always had TO
step aside which was usually done in an After
you my dear CASTOR sort of way. courtesy
that automobilists might practice today, and
incidentally, save few lives by so doing.
Sketches of early Washington, made in 1850,
show cows grazing in K street between Thir-
teenth and Fourteenth streets and another
view taken in 1874, from near Thomas Circle,
shows Stewards Castle, then on the north side
of Dupont Circle. There was so much vacant
land hereabouts at this period as to permit this
building to be seen at a distance OF five blocks
Recently, when the writer was at the District
Building, he grasped the opportunity to find
out what he could about the early owners OF
property on M street northwest, between Sew
enth and Fourteenth Streets since M street,
about 65 years ago. was about IS Tar North as
the city had grown, and through the uniform
courtesy of the District surveyor, Melvin c. Ha-
zen and John c. Armstrong, he was able to find
the names of number Of the early settlers Of
this part Of Washington. And one thing he
came across that shows the suburban character
OF the city in this vicinity in 1869 was the ap-
proval of . resubdivision made that year Of
square 314, between Eleventh and Twelfth and
NJ and streets.
: IA T this time there was but one house in this
block, which was occupied by Mrs. Jane
Farntam, widow, and her children, who we're
evidently all Of legal age. since their names ap-
pear as parties to the subdivision. They were
Robert Farnham, jr.; Caroline Fsrnham, Jane
Farnham, jr., and Mary Farnham Miller. The
old home, which is 1903 M street Is still stand
ing. It is q large, well preserved brick house
Ind from the nature Of its construction was
evidently erected prior to 1910. Robert Farm
xhAm the father, lived there Is early as 1843,
when he kept q stationery store at the northeast
corner of Eleventh and D streets. opposite The
Star office; in more recent years BrentanO's book
store. He also residing there in 1845 when
a New England Society was formed here with
David A. Hall as president, Gorge Bender and
N. C. Towles, vice presidents; George j. Alb
kbott. corresponding secretary; Jesse E. Dow,
recording secretary, and Mr.. Farnham,
treasurer.
Apparently he was an abolitionist, for in
December, 1885, we find Robert Farnham 4
Co" publishing the Constitution, which, how
ever had but short life. Mr.. Farnham's name
appears last in the city directory for 1853, and
S1nis wife, Jane, is referred to as widow in 1860,
and therefore he must have died between these
two dates.
tween Eleventh and Twelfth streets we're
assessed as follows: Lots one and two in the
name of Jane Farnham, ST.; three and four,
Mary Farnham Miller; five, Caroline Farnham,
and six, at the northeast corner Of M and
Twelfth street, in the name of Jane Farnham,
jr. According to the cd numbering, the
Farnham house, in 1860, was 486, and the
widow and Robert jr. th1a a. physician, were