The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1948-03-04

OF TWO Sentlemen, when they saw
the young lady who lived on her
fathers plantation near Sharpsburg.
This was back in 1776, when the
Continental Army was frequently
moving through, and the two gentle
men were officers in our army. C.
Christopher Orndorff, the owner of
the plantation, was also at one time
on officer in the army, and his house
was always open to strangers espec-
tally if they were military.
The first gentleman to stop on this
occasion was General Horatio Gates.
AS he was passing down a hallway
in the spacious mansion he was
passed by young girl The gen
eral had an immediate attack" and
turned to stare after the girl as she
disappeared into a room. He then
exclaimed, who is that lovely
creature?r'
Mr.. Orndorff replied, "Oh, that's
my youngest daughter" 1t seems
that the maiden had just obtained
new hat, and was on her way to a
large mirror to view the new hat on
its proper setting; and or course she
had no time to even notice the gen
eral.
General Gates was hard hit He
requested that the young lady be so
placed at the evening meal that he
could feast his eyes upon her.
Only a few days later, the gener-
al proposed-to her father. But the
maid had young ideas, and quickly
rejected all such thoughts.
Some time later, however the son
of the founder of Hagerstown, the
younger Jonathan Hager, then
colonel in the army, stopped at the
same mansion. His first impression
of the youngest daughter was just
the same as that of General Gates.
Mary Madeline Orndorff was indeed
a beautiful woman Jonathan Hag-
er must have had his charms too, for
it was only very short time till
plans were made for their weddings
They had one child, beautiful
girl, named Elizabeth, who married
Upton Lawrence at the age of sew
enteen Even after Jonathan Ha-
gers death, his wife Mary was
beautiful and very popular, and
much sought after by the gentlemen.
At one time she was engaged to
one Luther Martin, a widower, who
was famous lawyer, but because of
his intemperant habits the engage
ment was broken by Mrs. Hager.
Later she married Col Henry Lewis
of Virginia.
The following are several interest
ing love epistles written to the
beautiful widow of Jonathan Hager
from Luther Martin. These letters
have been preserved and handed
down by the Lawrence family.
May IL, 1900
my dear Madam,-I twice called
at Mr.. Wyant's yesterday to see you,
and you were not at home. Being
obliged to leave town this morning,
/ take the liberty of expressing to
you in writing those sentiments
which I should have been happy to
have done in person. You have
charming little daughter who wants
father. have two who are in need
of a mother. BY doing me the hon
or to accept my hand our dear chill
dren may have the one and the other,
and l promise you most sacredly
that in me you shall ever find ten
der, indulgent, and affectionate hus-
band, and your present little daugh-
ter shall find in me everything she
could wish for in father. My for
tune, my dear madam, is not incon-
siderable. I have a large landed es-
tate in Maryland and Virginia, and
my practice brings me more than
twelve thousnd dollars year. Our
estates united will enable us to live
in style of happiness equal to our
wishes. And so far am I, my dear
madam, from wishing my little
girls to be benefited by your estate,
that if we should not increase our
family, your fortune, whatever. it
may be, shall be your own if you
survive me, or if you should not sur
vive me, your daughters. Forgive,
my dear madam, the liberty I have
taken in thus laying before you my
wishes and my hopes, and do me the
honor to write to me and treat me
with the same candor Should your
answer be favorable, I will fly to
you the first moment in my power,
and express my gratitude at the feet
of her on whom, from that time, I
shall depend for my happiness. With
the most perfect esteem and affec-
ton, / am, my dear madam, your
sincere friend nd lover,