The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1944-11-16

moved to the museum in the City
Hall where it is being carefully
preserved. The inscription, on a
red sandstone marker, reads: Jacob
Friend, born Sept. 10. 1888, died
Feb. 10, 1902" Thus it will be no
ticed, Friend was not an old man
only ga years of age. A title to the
land is being arranged.
Adjoining this old burying
ground, where no markers now re-
main, was large farm. A deed, in
possession of Joseph Grove, barber
and legal authority, shows a tract
of land was bought of Samuel Ring
gold by John Coss. The price paid
was 700 pounds, English money, or
approximately $4,000. Ringgold
lived at ST. James.
Going on about old places in Will
Transport, we were told, while
seated in the Grove barber shop,
that that building was 125 years old,
built by man named McKelvey.
Then man sitting near us men
toned that the house in which he is
living on Salisbury street, was
erected in 1788 It is the oldest
house in Williamsport and is occu-
pied by j. H. Malown, our inform
ant, who has lived there for the
past 72 consecutive years.
The present nice bridge over the
Conococheague creek was built in
1897.
While in Williamsport we did
some little scouting around, talking
to Democrats and Republicans. APP
preaching one fine looking fellow
we engaged him in conversation,
which naturally resolved itself into
the all-absorbing subject of politics.
Said he: 81 am a rebel Democrat,
yes sir" An aged man said he was
Jeffersonian Democrat. There
were ardent, hopeful Republicans.
So we found all kinds, although
Williamsport has been definitely a
Democratic stronghold.
Williamsport has attractive, thriv-
ing stores, two fine banks, elegant
City Hall-and pretty girls. Also
take look at the War Memorial
the Fleming Hospital, Library and
schools.
Then Wi1liamsport is the veritable
gateway to the South. Crossing the
half mile fine bridge, of which
Harry Traver has the management,
you are in West Virginia.
There is a story extant that before
there was any bridge at all at Will
Transport, when the river had to be
forded, if one wanted to get across,
farmer from Washington County
drove through the river. The family
dog was along, but it appears that
for some reason the dog wanted to
go home, probably becoming home
sick. When a week or so later the
farmer got home the dog had al
ready arrived there To do so it had,
of necessity, to swim the river.
Another river story: A resident
named Ardinger operated a ferry.
A man approached him one day and
said he had no money but he asked
to be carried over on the ferry.
Ardlnger replied that if he had no
money on this side of the river he
would not have any on the other
side. So the man did not get across
on the ferry boat.
Reverting to Jacob Friend, here
is good story concerning him: In
a pitched battle between contingents
of two Indian tribes, the Delawares
and Catawbas, one side was COM
pletely annihilated with the excep-
ton of one Indian brave. This fell
low hid under the porch of Friend.
who fed him and when he thought
danger was over bid him go. The
Indians enemies would have slaugh-
tered him, but for a little ingenious
subterfuge in the part of Friend. He
told the pursuers to let the Indian
go so that he could go back to his
tribe and tell what had happened.
This was for intimidation. However,
later on, the escaping Indian was
pursued, caught up with at Carlisle
and killed by his enemies.
Williamsport, a resident states, ac-
cording to tradition, was a central
camping ground or rendezvous for
Indians. After the battle referred to-
which took place at the mouth of
the Conococheage. dead bodies OF
Indians floated thick and fast down
the Potomac river.
Where the Humrichouse farm was
subsequently located, in close prox-
unity to Williamsport, there was a