The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-04-03
GARRETT'S LOCAL HISTORY
One Who Is Interested In Pre-
serving 1t Appeals For
Definite Action

IlSneu III view OF the TACT UnaC at CIlS
late date the thing suggested forty
years ago by Mr.. Brown is about to
bear fruit through the efforts of an
other Garrett countian in the person of
Captain Charles E. Hoye, native of
the Sang Run community.
Mr.. Browns article, appearing, as
above stated in this paper on Deem
Der IS, 1902, is reproduced below:
The older counties of our State have
historical societies which have care
fully collected, recorded and in some
permanent form preserved local ira
ditions, "reminiscences and history.
Twenty-Five volumes of such records
have been published. The newer coun-
ties, having no such organizations,
much interesting and valuable mat
ter will soon be lost if some intelligent,
concerted effort is not made to res
cue this perishing historical material
The founders of Garrett county are
rapidly disappearing. Death is dimin-
ishing the ranks OF the fathers. Few
are left to tell the tale. Spates, Ham
i'll, Schley, Thayer, Slicer, Getty and
others have been called to their re-
ward. The few remaining among us
who actively engaged in the division
of Allegany county and the formation
of Garrett are aged men.
Nearly one-third of a century has
elapsed, new generation has ap-
peared upon the scene. The statement
or recollections of those stalwart sires
Of those stirring scenes should be
secured for the future historian. We
would suggest that those who feel in
terested in the history of our great
and growing county take action in
this direction by reducing to writing
their recollections, experiences, ira
ditions and "reminiscences of the vari-
Gus localities, forwarding the same
data to our county papers. The edi-
tors will gladly aid in getting the
matter in shape for publication.
We have had the pleasure OF an ex-
tensive and extended acquaintance,
visiting the homes of the great and
hospitable yeomanry of Garrett coun-
ty. We were greatly interested and
instructed by the local history of
every neighborhood as related by the
elders; it is certainly well worth pre-
serving.
The sons and daughters of Garrett
have wandered wide, settling in many
States, becoming prominent, prosper
Gus and useful citizens-adorning the
professions and attaining eminence in
all the walks and ways of life.
The obscure village (Grantsville) we
claim as our birthplace has furnished
Congressman, clergymen, judges, mer-
chants, promoters and professors who
have been honored highly and won dis
tinction in the great and growing
States and cities of our country. Some
months ago at reunion Of the Mary
landers in Iowa a Grantsville boy, ex-
Congressman and judge, in replying
to the toast to his native State, de-
livered one of the most eloquent
speeches we have ever read, certainly
the grandest eulogy of Maryland on
record. We have furnished Chicago
with financierS, st. Louis with mer-
chants and manufacturers, Nebraska
and Minnesota with teachers, profes
sors and school superintendent, Iowa
with divines and statesmen, Ohio with
judges, and the soil is yet fertile. If
these successful sons of Garrett county
could be induced to give their exper-
fence through the columns of our
papers, how instructing and interest
ing they would be, stimulating and
educating our youth. A number of our
oldest, strongest and most productive
families, who settled, cleared and
opened our county, have disappeared
entirely by death or removal. Bruce,
Beall, Tomlinson, Thistle, Cunning
ham, Fairall, Shultz, McHenry, Lynn,
Matthews, Sheets, Arendt and others
are heard and seen no more. Governor
Frank Thomas, the matchless orator,
distinguished statesman and great
lawyer, was citizen of Garrett coun-
ty. Governor Johnson's descendants
are among our most useful and prom
inent citizens. Their splendid estate is
among the finest in west Maryland.
Andrew Friend, the guide of Wash
ington, the companion of Boone, who
fought with Braddock, a noted Indian
fighter and scout, whose descendants,
numbering a thousand, are easily the
most powerful family in the county,
was among the first white men to To-
cate in our county. A history of the
Friend family would be rich reading.
We earnestly urge the Judge (Rev. D.
Harrison Friend) to leave us this val
liable record
A company of soldiers from the
Sang Run and Selbysport section OF
Garrett county served through the
Revolutionary War with great credit.
The famous Nemacolin Indian trail
used by Braddock, followed by the
Cumberland National Road, runs
thrn11nh Garrntt nn11,nt,r NMnrl;,, rr+ 81,