This Month In Frederick County History

October

From John Ashbury's - '... and all our yesterdays'

October 5

Each day we hear about accidents, particularly those which cause traffic jams. Many people listen to radio and TV news for word on accidents they witnessed.

Much as in today's newspapers, accidents were reported by the press in earlier days of our local history. Seems people were as interested then as we are today in what befalls others.

The Frederick News reported on October 5, 1893, that two young men riding a spring wagon on East Patrick Street had escaped injury when their horse bolted.

William Kolb and a friend, identified only as "Smith," were bringing two hogs to town. Near the fairgrounds the horse "shied over an embankment," throwing the two men - and the hogs - to the ground. The frightened animal then ran up Patrick Street.

At Carter Street, which no longer exists, the horse took to the sidewalk, first striking the steps of the W. D. Bowers Lumber Company. It next hit the porch of Mrs. William Retch's home. After this collision the horse was dragging only the running gears of the wagon. At Market Street the horse was stopped.

The two men were only slightly injured, but - as the newspaper reported - "the wagon was badly demolished."

The next day The News reported another runaway. This one occurred on West South Street. Adam Notnagle was driving some cattle and had stopped his "no-top buggy."

Some neighborhood boys began playing near the cattle and caused them to bump into the horse. This frightened the animal, which immediately bolted, turning the buggy over. The horse took off down South Street to Broadway, hitting porches and trees with the dragging harness. It was finally stopped at John F. Stein's barn near Mount Olivet Cemetery.

October 12

In taking note of his death on October 12, 1864, the New York Times said that Roger Brooke Taney would forever be "associated with the famous decision in the case of Dred Scott, which has gained special prominence from its bearings on some of the most important political issues of the age."

Taney, who died at the age of 87, had been a Frederick resident from 1801 to 1823. Even though he will be chiefly remembered for writing the majority opinion in the Dred Scott case, which held that slaves were not citizens, he abhorred slavery and had, in fact, freed all his own slaves long before he moved to Baltimore in 1823.

During the last several years of his life, Taney was in failing health and infrequently made public appearances except for those of the Supreme Court itself. Many years before his death he had asked a Frederick friend to be certain that, when he died, he be buried beside his mother, Monica Taney, in the St. John's Cemetery on East Third Street.

His remains were brought to Frederick on October 15 by a special train from Washington, arriving just before 11 A.M. Many government dignitaries accompanied the body.

From the station on South Market Street, the body was taken to St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church, followed in solemn procession by the Frederick County Bar and a large number of friends and relatives.

At 11:30 a.m., a Requiem Mass was celebrated, with the funeral sermon being preached by Father Maguire, of Washington. Afterwards there was another solemn procession to the graveyard where the rector of St. John's conducted the burial service.

Despite the fact that he personally opposed slavery, there are those today who still lay the blame for the Civil War at his feet.

October 19

When Charles Lord Cornwallis surrendered his forces at Yorktown, on October 19, 1781, bringing to a close the fighting of the Revolutionary War on American soil, there were several hundred Germans among them. These prisoners consisted of two Hessian and two South German regiments.

They traveled to Frederick Town - arriving on January 31, 1782 - and were housed in the barracks on Cannon Hill, built in 1777 by order of the State Assembly, and in 100 huts constructed by other British prisoners of war captured earlier.

These German soldiers were loosely guarded and even allowed to work for area farmers. Some deserted and purchased their own land, even marrying local women.

In September 1782 Congress ordered all the prisoners who were working on area farms to report to Frederick Town, where they were permitted to "ransom" themselves with the payment of 80 Spanish dollars. Those who were able to do so had the money paid by German kinsmen or friends, mostly through loans.

One of the barracks which housed these prisoners still stands on the grounds of the Maryland School for The Deaf on South Market Street between South Street and Clarke Place.

October 26

He was a member of the Continental Congress, the first governor of Maryland, and an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Yet Thomas Johnson once said that George Washington's friendship was his most cherished accomplishment.

When he died October 26, 1819, at Rose Hill Manor, the home of his daughter, he was 87. He was a native of Calvert County and early demonstrated a unique ability in politics.

The Frederick Town Herald said in acknowledging his passing: "Mr. Johnson was among the first in the Union to assert the just claims of his country against the tyranny and oppression of Great Britain, and was early in life honored with the most important and arduous trusts which his countrymen could confer. He was the first governor of the state after the Declaration of Independence, and successively enjoyed without solicitation every honor which his native state could bestow, until the executive council of the Union selected him to fill a seat in the supreme judicature of the nation, a station which his ill health obliged him to relinquish after a very short tenure.

"Since that period he retired himself entirely into the bosom of his family and the society of his nearest connection. His deeds are inscribed in the imperishable archives of his county; his wisdom, impartially and integrity in the records of justice; his worth and virtues are preserved in the hearts of his countrymen; his kindness, affection and friendship in the memory of his family, relatives and friends; his trust for immortality rested in his Savior and God. Washington Was His Friend - Eulogium can add no more."

One of his last public appearances was to deliver an eulogy for his friend Washington at the German Reformed Church on February 22, 1800.

He was buried in the cemetery of All Saints Episcopal Church on East All Saints Street and was later moved to Mount Olivet Cemetery.