Evening Star Newspaper, September 8, 1929, Page 96

'Y ¥ i R: ~ THE SUNDAY STAR, 1920, WASHINGTON, D. €. SEPTEMBER & i e Wotable Homes Are Relics of City’s Suburban Past ¥Landmarks, Which Are Part of History of ! " White and Ray Families, Inspire Many Recollections of Citizens Associated With | BY JOHN CLAGETT PROCTOR. LD houses, old places and old land- ; marks always have had a large o percentage of admirers, ard no { doubt will ever continue to prove attractive to those who like ‘o dream of the past and who love to live in the good old days of yore. Even old people prove entertaining company to their juniors when their minds are active and alert, and when they bear their age with the sa‘isfaction of a life well spent. And to whom should we morz naturally look for first-hand knowledge of the dim and distant past than those whom we look upon today as veterans. Indeed, it is a great privilege to be able to sit down and quietly to tali cver events of long ago with an octogenarian or perhaps some one 90 or even a hundred years old. One of the writer's friends was an old newspapsrman who died a few years ago at the ripe old age of 80. ‘With a mind still clear for details and facts, he could easily relate unpublished reminiscenses of Washington, his native city, by the Lour, and always hold the attention of those who were fortunate enough to be listeners-in. But unfortunately he did not record the valuable information acquired during his lifetime, and much of his vast kncwledge died with him. So it is with one who is buried in Rock Creek Cemetery, right in front of the church, and before whose grave the writer stood a few years ago and read this inscription: “In Remembrance of JAMES WHITE Who Died March 8, 1801 Aged 86 yrs.” Just a few feet away was this slab, which marked the resting placz of his consort and life companion, which read: “ELEANOR WHITE Wife to Jms. White, departed this life Aug. 12th, 1795 in the 80th year of her age and 60th of her marriage.” What a {fascination these old weathered relics of the stonecutter’s art have for those seeking historical information, and how very- limited at times the inscriptions really prove to be. Who, for instance, was this James ‘White? And what of his ancestry? The first question can be cnly partly answered, and the second one answered only with uncertainty. That he lived nearby is quite certain, other- wise it is probable he would not have been buried there. Fortunately, the record of Old Bt. Paul's tell us that he was an early vestry- man of this church, which was founded just four years after his bir‘h. and other evidence leads to the site of his old home in Brightwoeod, still occupied by his descendants. 'I‘EER.E: is every reason to believe that James White was originallv of Prince Georges County, Maryland, and that he lived in that part of the county which in 1776 became Mont- gomery County, and subsequently a part of the District of Columbia. He was a very large owner of land, which he either received direct as a grant from the crown or by way of in- heritance from his father, whom some give, supposedly, as Robert White, who married Ann - Burgess, while others give his father's name as Zochariah. Either guess, however, is hazy. In 1735 James White married Elranor— whose grave is in Rock Creek Cemetery, and they are believed to have taken up their resi- dence in the White homestead, then a log house which occupied the identical spot where Jater was placed the present dwelling which faces the city, and occupies the south half of the block between Georgia avenue and Thir- teenth street and Longfellow and Madison streets. Tradition has it that this old log house was equipped with portholes for defense in case of attack by Indians or wild animals, such as wolves and bears, which were still to be feared when the original house was built. Indeed the story even goes so far as to include the burying of an Indian chief in the cellar, where he might sleep until called upon to take up his abode in the happy hunting grounds. Though James White was unquestionably of patriotic impulses, yet just four years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence he received a direct grant of 536 acres, the tract being hnown as Pleasant Hills, and lying close to Turkey Thicket and Mount Pleasant. Both of these tracks, the writer is told, make up the Soldiers’ Home grounds, which include just a few more acres than the number mentioned ir: the grant. In 1769 Zachariah White (probably a - brother to Capt. James White), was granted a tract of 301 acres, called Partnership, which adjoined Grove's Hunting Outlet, Kendall's Meadows and Fletcher's Good Will. Upon one occasion Capt. James White received a power of attorney from Zachariah White, which would lead one all the more to believe that they were brothers. In the senior James “White’s will are mentioned Grove's Hunting Development of National Capital. Legend of the Burial of an Indian Chief in Cellar of House. Outlet, Grove's Neglect and Partnership, the latter being the tract of land upon which the old White homestead remains standing today. JUS’I‘ whether James White did or did not serve in the Revolutionary War is not cer- tain, but it is quite evident that his son, James —sometimes spoken of as Capt. James White— did, for a pension was granted to him June 10, 1783, and he was still drawing it at least six years later. The senior James most likely had a number of children, but only two need to be mentioned —Capt. James, before referred to, and Zacha- riah, assumed to be a brother. ) Capt. James White must have believed in marrying early and often, for we find he had three wives, and raised a family by each. His first wife was Mary (Beall) White, by whom he had Burgess B., Addison and Mary Drane, Though he had five children by the second wife, yet he failed to record her name, but fortu- nately did not forget the following® children: James, Samuel, Robert, Zachariah and Eliza Ann, Harriet Osborn, of an old Montgomery County family, became his last wife, and outlived him by many years. He passed away in 1826 and she not until 1873. Their issue included Archibald, Eleanor, Lydia, Harriet and Eliza- beth Roberta. Their offspring was numerous. The old White mansion on Longfellow street, like many old District homes, has been ref modeled perhaps upon more than one occa= sion. At a very early period a part of the present structure replaced the original log house, and at a more recent date an addition was made, giving it its present lines and ap- pearance, AT the time of the death of James White, sr., his son, Capt. James White, was farm- ing and operating a mill in upper Montgomery County on or near the Monocacy River. Mrs. ‘Thornton, wife of Dr. William Thornton, archi- tect of the Capitol, in her diary for the year 1800, refers to him several times. On July 22 she says: “Mr. White, a man of whom we bought rye in the Winter for the horses, came for his money. Dr. T. wanted him to purchase the Rockingham Colt, but he thought it too small.” A few months later she refers to him again as calling upon the doctor to collect a bill, saying: “After they were gone a Mr. White, whom we owed for rye, called. Paid by an order on Col. Deakins, who owed Dr. T. some money.” On December 6, she becomes more specific, and gives the location of Mr. White's farm and mill: “Sent Joe to the farm with a note to be taken by one of the boys to Mr. James White at Monocassy mill, respect- ing a manager—and to know when he would send the horses we are to try.” Fortunately for the historian, this last statement connects up most beautifully with a letter kept by the White family for many years and which was written by Dr. Thornton and addressed: “Capt. James White, Little Monocacy, Md.” ‘The letter, which bears date, “City of Wash- ington, 24th Feb'y, 1806,” is in Dr. Thorn- ton’s own handwriting and the latter part reads as follows: “I was much amused with the account of the fall as describsd in your letter. Enos Ray, who settled in the District of Columbia in 1830, an ancesior of many of the Rays in Washington and nearby Maryland. Your son Burgess is a wag. My best complements to him and to Mrs. White, etc. “I am sorry you are so unwell. Soak your legs in a very strong decoction of cak bark, half an hour at a time, and have them well rubbed. and put on warm stockings after. Let this be done twice a day at least. I wish vou would part with Edward. “I am, dear sir, “Yours very sincerely, “WILLIAM THORNTON.” T must have been shortly after this letter was written that Capt. White left his Monocacy farm for the old home of his parents, where his descendants still reside, and which must have been an unu:ually beautiful place before the city began to crcwd it out, even judging from its fine surroundings and outlook today. Even the old tress hereabout seem to breathe the air of antiquity. Down the roadway, over which Archibald White used to drive his blooded horses, is to be seen an extremely old apple tree, while near the house is a mock orange tree nearly three feet in diameter, and the other trees and shrubs nearby seem but to add age to the place. Some few years ago when it was found necessary to repair the sills of the house, the carpenter found that they had been put to- gether with large wooden pegs, and some of these were turned over to the family, who still retain them as relics of the old home. Nearby were encamped soldiers during the Civil War and in the house i'self the officers of a Mas- sachusetts regiment made their headquarters during the Battle of Fort Stevens. Miss Ida May, daughter of Archibald White, the chatelaine of the White Manor, and all of her sisters and brothers were born in the old homestead, and here she and her sister, Mrs. Fannie A. Somerville, expect to reside for many years to come. Ancestral home of the Ray family. built by Encs Ray about 1835, at New Hamp- shire avenue, south of old Shepherd road. ANO’I'HER old dwelling in northwest sub- urban Washington, which attracts more or less attention, is the old Enos Ray home, which stands on the west side of New Hamp- shire avenue, a little south of Concord avenue. Like a sentinel it remains all alone to itself in an area which will soon be built up with houses and converted into a part of the city. Once, however, all around this part of the Dis= trict of Columbia was excellent farm land, at least so thought Enos Ray when he moved into the District of Columbia just one year short of a hundred years ago. He first farmed the Marshall Brown tract, which adjoined Petworth on the north, and in 1835 bought the farm upon which his old home still stands, which was then bounded on the north by the Milk House Ford road, the name later being changed to Shepherd road. As a farmer he was thrifty and successful, and as his sons grew to manhood and were married he gave each a farm nearby. Of sturdy, Colonial, Maryiand ancestry, his great-great-grandfather, William Ray, settled in Anne Arundel County at a very early date, and through John, John, jr d Alexander, in succession, Enos Ray was descended. Some of his forebears served in the Colonial and Indian Wars, as well as the War for Inde- pendence, and the War of 1812-15, in which he, himself, plays a parts and for which he was given by the Government tvn so-tims of land. DESCENDED from a family noted for iis longevity, Enos Ray dicd in 1332, at the age of 90 years, and was buried in Glenwood Cemctery, where his mother, who lived to be 104, was earlier placed to rest. Enos Ray was married twice. His first wife was Sarah, daughter of Anthony L. Moreland of Anne Arundel County, whose progenitors are supposed to have located in Anne Arundel County abouf the time Lord Baltimore came over. She died in 1826 and he later married Elizabeth, the daughter of Archibald Osborn of the District of Columbia. By the first wife he had William, Alfred and Anthony, and by the second marriage, Mary, Barbara E., George H., John W, Caroline E., James Enos, Martha and Catherine. Numerous descendants of the children of Enos Ray reside in and near the District of Columbia. Charles W. Ray, president of the Brightwood Citizens' Association, is the son of John W. Ray, while J. Enos Ray, the Wash- ington and Maryland lawyer, is the son of James Enos Ray, who died in 1918 at his home in nearby Chillum, where his son, of the same name, was born and continues to reside. Living so close to Washington, J. Enos Ray of the present generation seems almost one of us. For years, in Maryland politics, he has been conspicuous, serving as speaker of the House of Delegates in 1908, State auditor to 1913, and as tax collector from 1919 until re- cently, when he resigned the office. He is now chairman of the Democratic State central com- mittee, and is being seriously considered as suitable timber for the position of governor of his native State. The old Ray home on New Hampshire avenue is in fair condition. The rear part is covered with typical old clapboards and is, of course, the oldest part of the house. However, the present structure is a very good example of an early Washington gentleman-farmer's home. AFTER writing the story cf the Tunnicliff Tavern a few weeks hgo, the writer re- celved an interesting letter frem Col. J. S. Easby-Smith, and as it adds so greatly to the history of the old landmark, he feels that the