FREDERICK COUNTY, VA - HISTORY - Homesteads of Frederick County --------------¤¤¤¤¤¤-------------- Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants A History of Frederick County, Virginia (ILLUSTRATED) From its Formation in 1738 to 1908 Compiled Mainly from Original Records of Old Frederick County, now Hampshire, Berkeley, Shenandoah, Jefferson, Hardy, Clarke, Warren, Morgan and Frederick T. K. Cartmell Clerk of the Old County Court p. 182-185 CHAPTER LI Homesteads of Frederick County The Glebe, often called the Glade, was a celebrated tract of land lying on the West side of the old Cartmell and Froman roads. One part of it is now owned by Mr. Andrew Brumback. This tract occasioned much trouble. When the first Vestry was formed in Frederick County, a certain survey was designated as the Glebe land, to be known as the property of the Established Church (Episcopal). All revenues to be for the use of the Vestry towards the "living of the Minister." In 1754, Nathaniel Carr obtained a grant from Fairfax, and located where the old Pitman property is now seen. Later on he built a house where Mr. Jacob Brumback now lives. Carr's grant lapped over into the Glebe. He and the vestry compromised, Carr paying a nominal rent, and was virtually owner. He sold a portion of his grant and included part of the Glebe, to Peter Gilham in 1777. At this time the Vestry was so demoralized by changed conditions in their Church, brought about by the war then in progress, that the tenants were forgotten; and the Glebe was regarded for many years as the property of Gilham's estate. Titles to the Glebe tract were disputed for many years. Col. Carr, as he was called, retained over 1200 acres of land at a cost of one dollar per acre. Several well-known homesteads were formed from this tract. The Old Quaker School House property was famous in the olden time. Martin Cartmell set aside five acres of his land for this purpose in 1748. This grove of majestic oaks made this a land-mark for a century. A spot West of the Old School House was chosen for a graveyard; and this is where a number of the old Cartmells were buried until 1841. Nothing to mark a single grave. Long since the burial plot was filled by other families, the Carr, Longacre, Funkhouser, Fawcett, Snapp, etc., being of the number. The original five acres has been mysteriously reduced in size. The writer has neve, been able to find any trace of a conveyance from trustees or others to any coterminous owner. Doubtless gradual encroachments account for the depletion. The writer has always had a tender repard for the Old Quaker School House Graveyard. The last of the "Homespun" Cartmells to go there was Martin Cartmell, a great uncle. His son Thomas K. Cartmell had preceded him by one year. He requested his name be given the writer at his birth, 1838, and, as his namesake and kinsman, he has repeatedly tried to locate the graves. This is a sad commentary on the lives of the ancestors. With all the vast property they owned, not one felt the need of preserving this important bit of history! Quite a number of marble slabs dot the old graveyard: but none are more than 50 years old, the oldest legible inscription being that of Isaac Watson Longacre, born 1793, died 1860. Robert Stephenson died 1864, aged 72 years; Anthony Funkhouser 1796—1871. The Fawcett family is largely in evidence. Doubtless old hidden graves contain the dust of prominent ancestors of this family, who were among the first settlers in this section. It is well known that the old families of Carr, Gilham, Baylis, and Sexton gave up many of their number to take the long sleep in the old place. Quite a number of old graves have stone markings, but no inscription to tell who they were. The old school-house erected in the Colonial period has disappeared, and the site has been added to the graveyard proper. It is gratifying to see the grounds under good care and attention. The graveyard now enclosed comprises about one acre, while the old grove of 1-1/2 acres protected by wire fence, makes a long and attractive front entrance to the sacred place up on the hillock to the West. North of this point and in sight on same side of the pike, is Mt. Zion U. B. Church, erected several years before the Civil War. To the Eastward is a fine scope of country running North from the Glebe lands, embracing the splendid farms now the property of the estates of Jos. P. Richard, Joshua Lupton and Joseph O. Bywaters, deceased, and the farm of Henry C. Glaize. This large tract was for many years called the Snapp Property, but was not part of the Snapp-Fairfax grant. Where Mr. Bywaters lived, there was an old house erected by the Gordon family about 1740. This family had litigation with Fairfax; they based their claim upon the so-called Tomahawk right. The boundary lines were marked by girdled trees; and they stood upon the claim that they had come to this country at the instance of a promulgation from the English Crown, that such settlers co___ ___s secure titles. Investigation of such claims proved that the Gordons held the same views entertained by the Morgan and Sheperd immigrants at their settlements near the Packhorse Ford. The Gordons lost, for the Tomahawk right did not apply to the Valley Section. Their old log houses remained, however, as landmarks for many years after Snapp acquired the property. Then Nash Gordon purchased land adjoining the Glebe, near where Joseph E. Funkhouser lived for many years, and finally absorbed by the Sexsmith tract, known for many years as the Hollingsworth Farms. Winter Hill, the large brick house now occupied by N. B. Clagett's family, standing near the Cedar Creek Grade, was erected about 1811 by Capt. Charles Brent, who owned a large tract of land extending towards the Creek. This was the home of his large family during the first half of the 19th Century. His widow survived him for many years. She and one single daughter were the last of the immediate family to hold the property. Henry M. Brent, cashier of the Old Valley Bank, a son of Capt. Brent, became the owner at the death of his widowed mother. Later on his son Edwin S. Brent became the owner until his removal to his present residence near the Big Spring. Casper Rinker Esq. having purchased Winter Hill, lived there until his death, and there his widow resided until her death a few years ago. The property was devised by Mr. Rinker to his daughter Mrs. Anne Clagett, subject to her mother's dower. Mr. Clagett took charge of the large farm during Mrs. Rinker's life, and successfully conducted its many interests. Leaving Winter Hill, going South, we come to the well-known locality "Old Forge," "Marlboro," or "Cedar Creek" as it is variously called. The principal attraction nature presents is the "Big Spring," gushing out great volumes of cold water from the many prominent limestone ledges of enormous proportions. Casting a glance over the wild, romantic surroundings, the beholder is apt to feel that there can be nothing here but a rock-ribbed surface resisting all efforts of cultivation. Soon, however, the eye falls upon the many comfortable homes comprising the scattered village of Old Forge. In approaching this point from Winter Hill, we pass near by the once hospitable home of Mr. Elijah Shull, where he and his happy family dispensed old Virginia hospitality long before the Civil War. His daughter, Mrs. Dr. Cherry, became the fortunate possessor of the homestead in the partition of the estate. One of her nephews, Elijah Shull, is the village merchant. A short distance South from the Spring, can be seen the remains of the once celebrated Marlboro Iron Works, commonly called The Forge,—a term applied when Isaac Zane the owner, undertook to utilize the product of his smelting-furnace in the manufacture of stoves, and also small cannon for the army in 1777. We have very reliable traditionary history to establish this claim. Previous to this, "Stephen Fort" stood near the site of the iron works. The large stone mansion standing on the roadside about one-fourth mile North, now the property of Briscoe C. Shull and family, formerly the home of Eben T. Hancock, was built by Philip Swann in 1850, where he lived with his large family until it passed to Mr. Hancock. The mill on the Creek nearby, is an important feature of Old Forge, occupying the site of one of the first mills in the country, once known as Froman and Kites. Prior to 1755, Indians in their raids, annoyed the own- , ers by taking corn-meal. Prior to the Civil War it became the property of Henry Wisecarver Sr. Passing from his family, Mr. Geisleman purchased it, and used it in connection with his large distillery. Mr. Dorsey Brill, the present owner, has wrought a revolution by using all modern mill appliances, resulting in satisfactory profits far beyond his expectations. Spring Hill the home of Edwin S. Brent and wife, with its large lawn extending to the wall of "Big Spring," is rich in historic incidents of the igth Century, including the Civil War and Reconstruction periods. Of the latter, fuller notice will be given in family sketches. Capt. Chas. Brent was its founder. Passing from him to Capt. R. M. Sydnor his son-in-law, in 1826, when from that time it was popularly known as "Captain Sydnors;" his office as commissioner of revenue bringing him into constant intercourse with people in every section, made his home familiar to all tax- payers and to the large family connection and numerous friends who gathered there to enjoy the well-known hospitality of Spring Hill—before the family circle was broken, or the war clouds had lowered over this peaceful hamlet. The old residence has undergone many desirable changes since Mr. E. S. Brent's grandfather laid the foundation. The major part of the old structure remains. The writer, in the sketch of Cedar Creek Church, has given brief mention of the grounds, etc. Want of space forbids further notice, not only of the old place, but of several others belonging to the early part of the 19th Century, that have been pointed out between Cedar Creek and Opecquon. In sketch of Paul Froman and family, it will be seen that the property occupied by J. H. Cleaver—for many years the home of Dr. Hite Baldwin—was an important point in the Colonial period. In sketch of the Snapp family, it will be shown where the pioneer settled. Greenfield, now known as the Greenfield Farm of Mr. Thos. N. Lupton, is entitled to special mention. In the partition of the old Cartmell grant between the sons, this tract embraced about 600 acres, and was assigned to Thomas Cartmell about 1770 by his father Nathaniel in his lifetime, where he raised a large family and died in 1808. The widow and several unmarried children remained there until Sept., 1811, when the farm was sold. John Lupton a son-in-law, purchased 26 acres off the North end at 219 pounds and 14 shillings; and Isaac Kite of Belle Grove purchased 400 acres, including the old residence, and paid $25 per acre. From this place went the Cartmells who settled in Kentucky and Ohio. John Lupton acquired the whole tract later on and raised his first set of children there—John, Nathaniel and a daughter. After his death, the property was scjld in 1835 under decree of court, when Jonah Lupton the father of the present owner, became the purchaser. There he lived for several years prior to his death. During that period, Thos. N. Lupton built an addition to the old Colonial building, the former occupied by his father and the old building as his own residence until about 1855. The Cartmell family set apart a small plot of ground due West from the homestead, for a family burial-ground. There Thomas the founder, his wife, and several unmarried children lie in unmarked graves, as well as quite a number from the neighboring families. The place was crowded when the writer saw the last interment there, a Mrs. WVight, in 1850. Since then it has been abandoned, and for many years has nothing to mark the sacred place but a clump of trees standing in an open field, that sometimes reminds the ploughman that the place represents something of the past; and he leaves it, doubtless with some wonder as to what it means. Formerly the old graveyard was enclosed with a durable fence, but for the last fifty years, all has gone. In sketches of the Cartmell family, "Greenfield" branch will more fully appear. Lest there be some confusion, the writer will state here that Mr. Jonah Lupton spent nearly all his life at Rock Harbor, now the property of Rev. Dr. Jonah Lupton, to whom he gave this farm when he removed to Greenfield. Retirement, the home of Mr. John Wesley Larrick, was founded by Nathaniel Cartmell in 1769. This was part of the old Cartmell grant. He acquired title for 200 acres from his father Nathaniel of "Homespun." The tract adjoined Greenfield on the South and East. Nathaniel Jr. subsequently purchased other tracts, enlarging the boundaries to embrace about 1200 acres at one time. This was reduced, however, to about 600 acres prior to 1820. Since then, no transfers occurred. The writer's father, M. B. Cartmell, being the only child, inherited the estate at his father's death, and there reared his large family. The devastation of the War 1861-65, denuded it of many natural attractions, as well as all fencing and some out-buildings. Changed conditions induced the family to part with the old homestead. Mr. Abram Polhamus of Pennsylvania, purchased the entire estate in 1868, where he and his large family lived for upwards of twenty years. When his estate was closed, Mr. Larrick became the owner. During his incumbency, the once famous estate 'has been restored to its former beauty. Under Mr. Larrick's good management and successful operation, the pristine features have been eclipsed. Large and attractive additions to the Colonial building increase the charm of Retirement; and travelers over the Northwestern Turnpike have a full view of this magnificent estate. The mansion-house, surrounded by the vast acreage of well-tilled lands, with several fruit orchards laden with blossoms in Spring-time and luscious fruit in Summer and Autumn,—produces a picture grateful to the only survivor of the Cartmell generations who enjoyed the homestead for more than a century. And in this connection, he is pleased to state that in all the renovation, the Colonial structure was not demolished. Mr. Larrick is to be congratulated for preserving the walls and other features that point to days of the 18th Century. The property has many natural advantages: Sheltered from Western storms by the brow of Little North Mountain, the numerous springs of good water—flowing rivulets that find their way through the large tract from every direction, and the "Cluster Springs" near the mansion house—ever ready in themselves to cheer the thirsty ones of bygone days—the old stone dairy built before the Revolutionary War, give out tender memories. It is hoped this landmark will remain, and that maybe some pilgrim will come and revive some incidents of the shadowy past. During the writer's life, old Retirement was known for its unlimited hospitality and happy family circle. These conditions changed after the soldier's bier rested in her halls. Sadness and gloom would creep in) Out towards the great highway is seen a memorable spot that was considered as part of the life of the old family. There is the Family Graveyard, founded before the old brick church was erected. Just to the North of this plot, is the site of the old School-House, which afforded ample opportunity to the youth of the neighborhood for many years. The old building was razed during the Civil War, and every vestige of it carried to the camps of Genl. Custer's Cavalry Command during the Winter of 1864-5, then in winter quarters in the vicinity of Dr. Jno. S. Lupton's residence on the Northwestern Turnpike. The old foundation can only be traced by a very few,— the writer being one. Few are the survivors of the school-day life at Old Round Hill. The old masters have long since passed to the Beyond; and memory of the birch-rod and rigid discipline has grown diml The Presbyterian Church standing nearby the places just mentioned, and the old grove of oaks, received attention in the Church Sketches, and those of (he Civil War. The School-house lot embraced one-half acre, conveyed to trustees Jany. 24, 1835, by M. B. Cartmell and wife. No consideration, except that the ground be used for no other purpose than for school purposes, and that the grantor reserved all trees standing on the lot. The deed for the Church lot of J4 acre was executed Aug. 22, 1845, by same parties, and work on the church building started promptly; and in the Autumn of 1846, the large brick building now seen was dedicated. The family graveyard was dedicated October 19, 1833, when Wm. C. Cartmell, infant son of M. B. and Eliza Cartmell was placed in the first grave. The next interment was that of Ann Eliza, another infant from Retirement, May 14, 1846. The next was a grandsire, Wm. Campbell, April, 1838. In December, 1863, Capt. M. B. Cartmell was the next from Retirement to be interred here. This gallant young soldier had been killed in battle Dec. 17th, and carried from the field by his faithful comrades to the East bank of the Shenandoah at Berrys Ferry, and thence borne to his old home by the writer and his brother N. M. Cartmell, where a few friends had gathered to await the arrival near the midnight hour. The next day, Dec. 22nd, solemn services were held, undisturbed, at the Old Church and graveyard, though the country near Winchester was within the lines of the Federal army. The family circle—now so rudely broken—yielded to increasing trials, and one by one were laid away in the sacred spot. Modest marble slabs show their resting places. The other mounds in this plot will receive notice in Personal Sketches of the families represented here. Aspen Shade, the home of Perry C. Gore during the latter part of his life, was founded by William Campbell about the close of the i8th Century. About that time he built the stone house as an addition to the wooden building still standing, but added to by Mr. Gore and family. The writer's mother was born in the stone house May 8, 1805. The location was chosen by its founder because it resembled his old home in County Derry, Ireland, where the landscape was similar. The Round Top and Smoky Mount in Derry had their counterpart in old Round Hill and Little North Mountain. The young Irishman brought with him sufficient means to purchase his home; and his energy and intelligence soon made him a conspicuous figure as a prosperous business man, becoming the owner of several good farms, and leaving a valuable estate at his death in 1838, consisting of several families of negroes and other property. This landed estate was parceled out between his sons, his widow and youngest son James Harrison Campbell taking this homestead, where they spent their lives. During that period, the old homestead was a great gathering place for the large connection. Many grandchildren enjoyed the warm hospitality of "Ole Mistus," as the young negroes called the grandmother. After her decease, the Uncle endeavored to maintain the reputation of the old place; his early death and the Civil War wrought serious changes, but the estate has never passed out of the family. Mr. Gore married Laura C., the oldest daughter of James H. Campbell. She inherited the property after the death of her mother Elizabeth C. Campbell. After Mr. Gore's death Jany. 19, 1904, the widow and her two children Thomas Walter and Lena C., removed to Winchester, where the mother died June 26, 1905, thus leaving two of the great-great-grandchildren of William Campbell the founder, owners of the homestead. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher ___________________________________________________________________