CONTINUED FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR 1861
DOWN TO THE PRESENT TIME

BY

FOLGER MCKINSEY

[THE BENTZTOWN BARD]

TO THIS IS ADDED A BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF REPRESENTATIVE FAMILIES
PREPARED FROM DATA OBTAINED FROM ORIGINAL

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

TWO VOLUMES-ILLUSTRATED

VOLUME I

PUBLISHERS:

L. R. TITSWORTH & CO.

1910

PREFACE

The History of Frederick County is not merely a local history. It is a history of men and events of national importance and interest. Frederick County as first erected contained all that part of Maryland lying west of Baltimore and Prince George's Counties. The early settlements were peaceful and prosperous. Then came the French and Indian War which devastated all that portion of the County lying west of South Mountain. The history of Braddock's campaign, of the local events of the Revolution, of John Brown's raid which took place near the border of the County, of the old National Road which ran through the County, of the building of the earliest American railroad and its opening to Frederick, of the visit of La Fayette and finally of the great events of the War between the States which took place in this County are matters of thrilling interest.

Among the great men who are mentioned in this History as citizens of Frederick County are Thomas Johnson, the first Governor of Maryland, and his successor Thomas Sim Lee, Philip Barton Key, Francis Scott Key, Roger Brooke Taney, John Hanson, Winfield Scott Schley and many others of national fame.

In compiling this History most of the material was gathered from the files of the local newspapers. These, while not always accurate, still reflect more faithfully than any other records which have been preserved, the actual conditions of society and the course of public affairs. Frederick City has had since the close of the War of the Revolution down to the present time excellent newspapers. Many of the files are in the keeping of the Maryland Historical Society and there the author had access to them. Of course all the matters drawn from this source could not be verified and as a consequence many inaccuracies will doubtless be discovered. It is hoped, however, that these inaccuracies will only be found in the narration of events of minor importance. The author has also made use of a good deal of material which was industriously gathered by Col Scharf in his History of Western Maryland, and he has also examined many volumes in the Enoch Pratt Library in Baltimore. From a bibliography of travels in Maryland compiled by Dr. Bernard C. Steiner, the Librarian of the Pratt Library, a great many interesting events and descriptions in the early years of the County were gleaned. Among these are some accounts written by British Hessian prisoners who were at Frederick during the Revolution. For much of the early history of the German settlements the author is indebted to Mr. Louis P. Hennighausen, the president of the German Society in Baltimore.

I have not undertaken to write any of the sketches of churches, schools, banks or other institutions. These have been provided by the publishers from other sources.

Feeling sure that the history of the County during the Civil War and the following years to the present time should be written by one in closer touch with the present people than myself and with a larger personal knowledge of events than I could have, I suggested that these chapters should be prepared by Mr. Folger McKinsey, known as "the Bentztown Bard," who was for many years Editor of the Frederick Daily News and a student of the history of the County. Mr. McKinsey consented at the request of the publishers to write this important portion of the History and he has done it with ability and in his peculiarly charming literary style.

Baltimore, 1910.

T. J. C. W.

CONTENTS OF VOLUME I