The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1949-06-02
HORSE AND
BUGGY DAYS
by
Ida 10 Martin


ley, we find the quaint old town of
Williamsport. Although the town
is not nearly so large as Hagerstown,
it was founded shortly after the
close of the Revolutionary War by
Gen. O. H. Williams, who served
through the war with gallantry and
distinction and was complimented
by Congress. After the war Cen
eral Williams returned to Maryland
and became collector of the port of
Baltimore, which position he held
until his death.
The duties of that position did
not occupy his time so completely
that he was unable to engage in
other enterprises, so in 1877 he was
busily engaged in founding upon the
banks of the Potomac the town
which bears his name, and where
he now lies buried. His tomb
bears this inscription: Dedicated to
the memory of the Founder of Will
Transport"
The act of incorporation recites
that sit is represented to the Gen
eral Assembly that Ohio Holland
Williams possessed tract of land
called Ross Purchase and tract
adjoining thereto called Leeds,
contiguous to the mouth of Como
cocheague Creek, and that, from the
advantages of navigation from the
head branches of 'PotoWmack' River
to the mouth of Conocheague,' and
the great prospect of the navigation
to the said river being extended to
tide-Water, on the application of
many citizens of Washington Coun-
ty he hath been encouraged and in
duced to lay out part of the said
tracts into town, and hath contract
ed with the commissioners of the
said county to build a warehouse on
the said land and to furnish scales
and weights for the inspection of
tabacco, and inspector is already
appointed, and prayed to lay out
and erect a town on the said lands
and to secure the purchasers of lots
in the said town."
The board of commissioners, con-
sisting of Thomas Hart, Thomas
Brooke, Moses Rawlings, Richard
Pindell, and Alexander Clagett, was
authorized to lay out town not
to exceed one hundred and fifty
acres, which was to be known as
Williamsport, on the lands men
toned in the preamble to the act.
The main streets of the town were
not to be less than eighty feet wide,
and the cross streets not less than
sixty feet wide. The commission
was authorized to levy a tax of ten
pounds year to pay a clerk. This
act of Incorporation was passed in
November 1876.
1t was only few years until Will
Transport was thriving village,
and in 1871 Thomas Dobbins, mer-
chant of the town, writing to some
friends, was highly pleased with
the prospects. He claimed that it
had fair chance to be the first
town on the river, "as many thous-
and bushels of wheat come down the
river in boats and are unloaded at
the bank, and many boats loaded
with above one hundred barrels of
flour are sent down to GEORGETOWN
from the banks of Conococheague."
Dobbins business was buying hog
bristles and horse-tails for the pur-
pose of making brushes. He also
manufactured link POWDER" guar
anteed to make ink in one minute,
and which he advertised as equal
to anything ever imported from
England, Paris, Amsterdam, Rotter-
dam, or any other dam whereso-
ever"
mentioned in my column some
time ago that the people of Will
Transport held high hopes of their
town becoming the Capital of our
country. At least some considera-
ton was given, because President
Washington paid them a visit in
order to see what the advantages of
the town were as a suitable loca-
ton for the Capital
Before his visit, the following
petition had been circulated and
numerously signed, to be presented
to the State Legislature then is
session:
"The subscribers citizens of Wash
lrgton County, most respectfully
represent that the law of Congress
respecting district for their per-
manent residence presents us with
an occasion to hope that the said
district may be located in this coun-
ty; and as we are willing to make
every contribution towards the