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James A. Helman's ~ 1906
History of
Emmitsburg, Md.
Pages 101 - End
They occupied their first building February 20th,1810. The property
up till 1816 had been held by the Rev. Samuel Cooper, its generous
benefactor. He deemed it the proper thing to incorporate it, and had an
act passed of incorporation of the Sisterhood by the Legislature of
Maryland, January, 1817. The farm then in their possession was
transferred to them in their own right, by those who previously held it.
Around this institution cluster memories of many from the Lakes to the
Gulf of Mexico.
Silently their progressive work has/gone on, until the perfection
arrived at was consummated. Many are, the hearts made glad by a
returning visit to this valley. The alumnae organization gives proof of
the early impressions made here. They join in chorus, swelling the
volume of praise to their alma mater each year. The excellent condition
of the grounds give evidence of the aesthetic culture so lavishly
displayed; how tame and ordinary the condition usually around the farm
houses, not so on the farm attached to St. Joseph's.
How inviting, how expansive the improved landscape, how fragrant the
air as it is wafted from luxurious beds of flowers; then the outlying
scene as they stretch west to old Carrick's Knob, climb it, and see that
valley of verdure as it spreads before us; the silver stream, Toms
creek, running like a silver thread from the mountain to the farthest
extent of this extensive tract of land. Greater expectation than Mother
Seton's have been accomplished, through the efficient women who have
controlled the affairs of this institution ever since; progress has only
been initiated here, the full fruitage will be gathered later on. When
in its fullest development the word will be excelsior.
The official head of the institution from the beginning. Mother E. A.
Seton, 1808 to 1821; Mother Rose White, 1821 to 1827; Mother Augustine
DeCount, 1827 to1832; Mother Rose White, 1833 to 1839; Mother Xavier
Clark, 1839 to 1845; Mother Mary Etienne Hall, 1845 to 1855; Mother
Regina Smith, 1855 to 1860; Mother Ann Simeon, 1860 to --, Mother
Euphemia, Mother Mariana, Mother Margaret.
In the cemetery adjoining the Convent, enclosed by a brick wall, in
the center of a wood, are interred the bodies of the sisters dying at
the mother institution. There, singular as it may read, lie the bodies
of five of the Seton family. The first buried in this cemetery was Miss
Harriet Seton, December 22, 1809; Miss Cecelia Seton, April 30, 1810;
Miss Annina Seton, March 12, 1812; Miss Rebecca Seton, 1816; Mother
Seton, January 4, 1821. Is it not strange, the first five interments
should be the members of one family? There also rests the body of
Archbishop Bailey, Rev. Burlando, Rev. Gandolfo, Rev. Mandine, Rev.
Justiniana. Three young ladies, whose untimely death, rest here; the
time, the seasons, the distance, prevented carrying their bodies to the
Southern climes. One, Ella Riggs, of Milliken Bend, Miss., unable to
return home on account of the Civil War; Miss Ida Keene and Miss Wagaman.
Here amid the quiet of the scene, with the overhanging branches of
the forest, sleep in security those whose bodies were borne from the
citadel home whilst the feathered songsters repeated the requiem, they
rest in peace, secure from bands of the vandal, watched by those who
hereafter will repose, side by side, and receive like attention from an
unborn community. This gives zest to life to know our graves will not be
neglected; it puts a halo of friendship around the spot and contemplates
the rising morn, when the graves shall give up their dead at the voice
of the Arch Angel, who shall declare time shall be no more. In 1892 by
an act of the Maryland Legislature this institution can confer upon its
graduates such degrees as are granted to other institutions of learning.
Collections in Churches
Among the customs of early times, was the collections taken in
churches; a pole 10 feet long, with a velvet bag having a hoop at top,
fastened to the pole, was carried around and presented to each in turn
for their contributions. Later came the baskets; next the plates. A
common custom Was for some men to nod their heads instead of dropping in
a penny, as they called this their penny contribution.
Butchers
Butchering was carried on at the tan yards in early times; one beef a
week or in two weeks; later, one killed on Monday and Friday. Where J.
H. Row lives a retail beef market was carried on for a long time; where
Hoke's millinery store stands, as far back as 1850, it was a meat store;
twice a week only, could beef be bought; bacon was the meat used, each
family curing it in the fall; the town was full of pig stys; now mark
the advantages; beef all the time; cold storage to keep it; canvassed
bacon, &c.
Relics
The Zacharias family have a jug given the family by a Hessian soldier
taken prisoner at Yorktown. Joseph T. Gelwicks has saber, rifle,
revolver, spurs and canteen; Geo. Gelwicks has sabre, rifle, shells,
bullets; the Miss Helmans have a solid twelve pound ball picked up on
the Gettysburg battlefield; David T. Hoff has a grape shot and rifle
ball his grandfather brought from the War of 1812; S. D. Helman has a
small bible he picked up when on the march to the sea with General
Sherman; also a Tennessee marble bible, carved by one of the soldiers,
with square and compass cut on one side.
Jail
About 1858 the corporate authorities concluded to erect a jail. The
spot selected was that point of land at the intersection of the
Gettysburg road and the alley bordering the priest's lot, where in the
long ago the public school house stood. Here they built a stone house
about sixteen feet square; a few persons were confined in it at
different times over night. One night part of the wall was opened near
the roof; eventually the house was taken down. If a place was wanted for
a drunken man he was confined in the rear of the engine house.
Along in the eighties the present iron cage was made in Waynesboro
for the town; when it arrived the boys intended to run it back to Toms
creek and throw it off the bridge into the creek; a car of lime standing
on the track prevented this game. The commissioners had a difficulty in
getting someone to haul it to the place assigned. It was taken there on
an open wagon in the evening; the next day it was to be set on the
foundation. During the night someone run the wagon down into the field
and upset this iron jail off the wagon. After great labor it was placed
in position; give the men the credit due them. Whilst it is not the best
jail, it has served the purpose of preventing crime and drunkenness for
all fear being put into this horrible thing. The county jail has always
been the place men were committed, and always will be to serve a
sentence; this iron jail is simply to scare evil doers or for a night of
safe keeping.
Mt. St. Mary's College
This institution has a history justly entitled to be told. Whilst it
does not date back as far in the past as some others, it can justly be
proud of its work and speak in excellent terms of some of its pupils.
Rev. John Dubois bought the first land for the seminary April, 28th,
1807, of Arnold Elder; also the plantation of same August, 1808,
possession 1809. The seminary of Pigeon Hills begun by Mr. Nugent in
1806 was transferred to Mt. St. Mary's after Easter, 1809. Seventeen
young men were sent to the care of Mr. Dubois, and lodged first at the
home of Mr. Arnold Elder.
From the beginning of this enterprise until he was made bishop of New
York, Rev. John Dubois was president. Rev. Simon Gabriel Brutea who in
1834 was made bishop of Vincennes, Ind., assisted Fr. Dubois in his
labors, as did Revs. Duhamel and Hickey. From the establishment of Mt.
St. Mary's College until the fall Of 1894, the president of the College
was acting pastor of the mountain church. The parish priests were Rev.
Michael Egan, Rev. John McGerry and Rev. John Purcell until 1832,
between which time and 1838 Rev. Francis B. Jamison and Thomas R. Butler
presided.
In this year Rev. John McCaffery, a native of Emmitsburg and a pupil
of Rev. Dubois, succeed to the presidency, an office which he held with
great success until 1871 when he was succeeded by Rev. John McClosky,
who in 1877 gave place to Rev. John A. Watersan; after him again in 1880
Rev. John McClosky until his death in December 24th, 1880. Rev. Wm. Hill
was called to the presidency, who for a short time looked after the
interests of the College, until Rev. Wm. Byrne, D. D., vicar_general of
Boston, took charge. This office was later placed in the hands of Rev.
Allen, who served as president until made bishop of Mobile, when Rev.
Wm. O'Hara was elected president; the present president is Rev. D. J.
Flynn. Many of the strong men in the Roman Catholic church are among the
graduates of this institution. Amongst them we name Bishops Hughs,
Benton Purcell and Bishop Rider.
The following was kindly furnished by Rev. McSweeney, for which
accept thanks:
Mt. St. Mary's College is about fifty miles from Baltimore and is
reached by the Western Maryland Railroad and the Emmitsburg branch that
leaves the main line at Rocky Ridge; the College is situated at the foot
of the eastern spur of Catoctin, the Blue Ridge Mountains, which
separate the valley of Hagerstown from the plain through which flows the
Monocacy river. The spires of Gettysburg and the hills of the famous
battlefield are visible from Indian Lookout and Carrick's Knob, the
highest points of the mountain that shelters the College in the winter
and overshadows it so gracefully on summer evenings.
The celebrated mother house of the Sisters of Charity, founded by
Madame Seton, is in the vicinity. The macadamized road running from
Emmitsburg about two miles away to Frederick, passes by the College. The
quiet seclusion of the College, its freedom from distractions of cities
and the reputation it enjoys from the great number of its distinguished
graduates have turned towards it the attention of parents who are more
than usually solicitous for the moral welfare and intellectual
development of their children.
The College was founded in 1808 by Rev. John Dubois as a preparatory
school for St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, lay students being afterward
admitted, and the teaching partly done by the seminarians. Father Dubois
enlarged the scope of the institution and established classes of
philosophy and theology, so as to retain his assistant teachers as long
as possible; this finally led to the organization of the College and
Seminary on a basis of entire independence, to be conducted by an
association of priests under the jurisdiction and protection of the
Archbishop of Baltimore; Cardinal Gibbons is one of the most zealous
promoters of the welfare of the College, and has proved himself on more
than one critical occasion its most prudent counselor and practical
friend.
The College has a charter from the State of Maryland, dating back to
A. D. 1830, so that, after Georgetown, it is the oldest Catholic college
in the United States. The College buildings were burned clown on June
6th, 1824, but were immediately rebuilt; not, however, without incurring
a very heavy debt, which was carried with comparative ease till the
disastrous period of the Civil War, when the patrons of the College in
the Southern States, were forced to discontinue their aid. This soon
brought on a crisis which was successfully met by the timely donations
of the alumni, so that today its financial standing is second to that of
no similar institution in the country. Many improvements have been made
during the last quarter of a century; the old buildings enlarged and
brought up to date, a splendid gymnasium with swimming pool, and what is
perhaps the most beautiful athletic field in the Union. At present a new
and vast edifice is rising, which is intended for theological students.
The roll for 1905 and 1906 is the largest known in the history of the
College, there having been 250 lay students and 45 seminarians, while
the graduates of 1906 were 15 in number.
Early Settlers
Early settlers on Monocacy Church Book, 1747: John George Lay, John
Krietzman, John M. Roemer, Peter Axtel, Henry Secks, Jacob Hoft, Martin
Wetzel, George Schley, John Schmidt, John Verdnes, Michael Reisner, Dr.
Schley, John Stolmyer, John Secks, John G. Seldus John C. Schmidt, John
Vogler, John Davis, Frederick Overdries, Martin Wehel, Nicholas Wehel,
Peter Apfal, Ludwig Wettner, Fredk. Unsalt, Jacob Hoen, Hans Frederick
Geyer. Later date, Applebies, Boyers, Hardts, Fishers, Debruers, Hallers,
Homes, Couradts, Ebberts, Jenkins, Howmans, Levys, Englebrights,
Mayheffus, Mayers, Myers, Hoffmans, Bechtels, Cullers. At Graccham,
George Ninke, Lorentz Nyburg, Harbaughs, Bollens, Hens, Ebenhards,
Kreigers, Reineckes, Lydricks, Seiss, Schmidt, Utleys, Williards, Zohns,
Herzers, Rossens, Renzands, Schaafs; along Monocacy river, Zimmermans,
Kobbs, Hoffmans, Breckenbaughs, Bickels, Tradanes, Devilbiss, Wetzells,
Eckmans, Cramers, Brickners, Crise (Krise), Gushons, Doblnians,
Bluenenshines, Protsmans, Shrumps, Stulls, Cutlers, Creigers, Poes,
Eichelbrgers, Shriners, Winebrenners, Shryocks,.Wilhides, Campbells,
Hammets, Hoods, Dulaneys, Snyders, Snooks, Albaughs.
Wrapper Factory
Spangler, the hotel man, and Albert Maxell were the two men who
solicited subscriptions for stock to start a factory. The object was to
rent a room and buy a gasoline engine and offer this inducement to get
an enterprise started. The business men subscribed and the project was
started over Zimmerman's warehouse, Albert Maxell putting in 50
machines; he continued successfully from 1900 till 1904, when be sold
out and moved to Charlestown, W. Va.
Samuel Rowe put in machines and removed the engine to Gelwicks Hall,
where he continued_ the manufacture of wrappers to date.
Pop Factory
In the spring of 1906 A. Stonesifer, of Harney, Md., opened a pop
bottling establishment in the brick house on a alley in Shields'
Addition, supplying his goods to the town and hauling his pop to other
places; an enterprise of profit to the town.
Broom Factory
Carried on by Winegardner, west of town, buying broom corn by the car
load in the West, has made a success of that; in former days, was
conducted by a few men, on very small scale. The early broom makers
usually making up the stock for the farmers for personal use, whilst the
brooms sold in the stores were purchased in the cities from dealers.
Soldiers Buried in Cemeteries
Revolutionary _ Capt. Benjamin Ogle, Capt. Henry Williams, Capt.
William Blair, 1st Lieut. John Farris, Presbyterian; 2nd Lieut. Michael
Hockensmith, 2nd Lieut. George Hockensmith, Ensign Jacob Hockensmith,
Sergeant John Smith, Corporal John Crabbs, Corporal Arthur Row, Toms
Creek; Corporal William Elder of Guy, College.
War 1812 _ Michael C. Adelsberger, James Storm, Catholic; Felix B.
Taney, Jesse Nusseur, College; Capt. Michael Sluss, Toms Creek; Capt.
Jacob Row, John Wetzel, Lutheran; Peter Remby, Methodist; ? Paxton,
Presbyterian.
Mexican War - H. Jefferson Favourite.
Rebellion, 1861 - Major 0. A. Horner, Lieut. John M. Annan, Enos
McDannells, Presbyterian; Isaac Heagey, Noah Koontz, Thadeus Maxell,
Benjamin Gehrhart, Joseph Wills, John Shields, James Peoples, James
Mclihenny, Jeremiah Stranesbaugh, Lutheran; G. W. McPherson, Jacob
Settlemyer, James Arnold, Peter Cool, Augustus Little, John Murphy,
Theodore Cook, Jacob I. Topper, Nicholas Seltzer, Catholic; John
Constant, Nathaniel Millsbury, John Rosensteel, Joseph Shorb, Henry
Taylor, George Seiss, College; Jacob Reeves, John Spence, Philip Long,
Mountain View; John Kipe, George Kipe, Sabillasville; Frederick Nindle.
Fairfield; John Hunter, Gettysburg; Joseph Davidson, Rocky Ridge; Peter
Glasser, Mt. Joy; Joseph Zech, Henry Gelwicks, Joseph Coombs,
Andersonville; Emory Gilson, died in prison; Newton Gilson, killed in
battle.
In the year 1810 or 1812 Mr. Prances Gillmyer, a German importer,
purchased Cedar Grove farm (the Gilson farm), bringing with him a family
of three boys and two girls. One son studied for the church, but ere he
took the vows he concluded to spend his days as a recluse; he purchased Huckle's fields in the twenties and built a rustic cabin on it, planting
cherry trees as an acquisition he thought to the chestnut grove that
surrounded the field; here he dwelt for sometime, carrying his meals
from the College or walking there to eat them as best suited him.
Whether he died there or was taken in at the College before that solemn
moment came I am not prepared to say; he is buried in the cemetery on
the hill, and no man at this day knows the place of his burial.
There scattered around the foundation lie the stones upon which
rested the structure that sheltered Rev. Gillmyer; a chimney stood as a
monument to his strange ways; for fifty years after his death the cherry
trees had grown to immense proportions, and the people gathered the
fruit. Fifty years after the planter changed his habitation from the
mortal to the immortal; the land was inherited by Mr. James Storm's wife
who was a sister of the hermit priest. Later it passed into other hands,
yet never changing its name, like his neighbor, Samuel Carrick, after
whom the knob was called. Huckle's fields will remain as the name for
this spot until realities shall fade away, and there will be neither
objects nor time to speak of or reckon. Is there nothing in a name? How
about Carrick's Knob and Huckle's fields. Yes, and Emmitsburg.
Tablets
Erected by the Army Association on east and west side of Fountain, an
iron tablet marked Army of Potomac, July 1st, 1863: First Corps marched
from Marsh creek run, Eleventh corps from Emmitsburg to Gettysburg,
Second Corps from Uniontown via Taneytown to near Gettysburg, third
Corps from Bridgeport via Emmitsburg to the field at Gettysburg, Fifth
Corps from Union Mills to Gettysburg, Twelfth Corps via Hanover and
McSherrystown to Bonoughton, Sixth Corps from Manchester en route to
Gettysburg, Twelfth Corps from Littlestown via Two Taverns to field at
Gettysburg, Second Cavalry Division marched from Washington to Hanover
Junction, from whence the First and Third Brigade proceeded to Hanover
Junction, while the Second Brigade returned to Manchester; Third Cavalry
Division moved from Hanover via Abbotstown to Berlin, and the artillery
reserve, First Regulars and Fourth Volunteer Brigades from Taneytown to
near Gettysburg, the Vermont Brigade from the defense of Washington,
joined the First Corps on the field at Gettysburg. Battle of Gettysburg,
first day, and skirmishes at Carlisle, Pa.
Army of Potomac, July 4, 1863
First and Second Brigade, First Cavalry Division, marched from
Westminster, and the Reserve Brigade, First Cavalry Division, from
Gettysburg en route to Frederick 7 Second Brigade, Second Cavalry
Division from Washington, from Emmitsburg to Monterey; the Third
Brigade, Second Cavalry, from Gettysburg to Hunterstown, and Third
Cavalry Division from Emmitsburg to Monterey Gap, Pa., and skirmish at
Fairfield, Pa., and near Emmitsburg.
Correction: The troop of horsemen was commanded by Capt. D Andrew
Annan; 1st lieutenant, Dr. Win. Patterson; 2nd lieutenant, John Picking.
J. W. Baugher made an effort to organize a second company and be its
captain, in which he failed.
The End
Helmans' History Of Emmitsburg
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