Evening Star Newspaper, November 29, 1931, Page 88

THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., NOVEMBER 29, 1391. Mrs. Anton Ruppert. BY JOHN CLAGETT PROCTOR. LADENSBURG ROAD is one of the finest entrances leading into Washing- ton. Since the recent improvement it has undergone, both on the District side and the Maryland side, it is as good a road as one will find anywhere —well laid and of sufficient width. This sec- tlon of the city, by the way, has received another improvement recently of the same character in the opening and improving of New York avenue extended from Florida avenue to where it intersects with Bladens- burg road. This avenue also speaks well for the engineering department of the city, and when the writer drove over it a few days ago he felt that the Commissioners were enti- tled to much praise for putting in this road, which cuts off so much ground t> the person traveling from the western part of the city to some of the northeastern suburbs. A few yedrs have made wonderful improve- ments in traveling, for many of us can recall when the Bladensburg pike was a narrow thoroughfare lined with scrub trees on either side, and, barring the rough stone surface, a fairly goad road in dry weather but a very bad one when the earth was saturated with rain, and when even the best of drivers could not help getting stuck in the mud up to the hubs. _ Northeast Washington—especially to the far northeast—was not developed at an early date. For some unknown reason, people just pre- ferred to settle in the northwest. Of course, maybe the low lands of the Eastern Branch, as they existed years ago, had something to do with the retarding of the settling of people there, for few were willing to run the risk of getting chills—an easy thing to get but a diffi- cult thing to get rid of. The conditions for- merly existing near the Eastern Branch, which once produced the old-fashioned ague, have now practically disappeared, and when the Army engineers finish walling and dredging this stream it will be one of the healthiest as well as one of the prettiest spots in the Dis- trict. Even in the past few years, the improve- ments hereabout have heen considerable over the days when gunning was permitted along this stream, and gunneis and reed birds alike were sacrificed for the benefit of a so-called sport. Indeed, even the bullfrog choir, with its familiar ‘‘Giggerrum, giggerrum, gigger- dum; knee-deep, knee-deep, knee-deep; better- go-round, better-go-round, better - go - round,” lacks considerable in volume that made by the thousands of frog voices once so pronounced | the marches of the branch. 'O say that there were no early residents of this part of Washington would be incorrect, for, although H street was not opened “from Massachusetts avenue to the turnpike gate” (which substantially means to Fifteenth street northeast) until 1849, and from North Capitol strcet east to Bladensburg road—on the same street—the footways were not graded and laid and the curbing not set until nine years later, yet we do know that when the Capital was first laid out Abraham Young, brother of Wil- liam Young (both original proprietors), -had his residence in the extreme northeastern part of the city, and it was to save the copious spring on his farm that the city line at Fif- teenth and H streets northeast was deflected abruptly south for five blocks before again proceeding eastward. This strange feature of the outline of the city was in accordance with directions made by President Washington himself, as indicated by his diary, where is noted under date of June 28, 1791, the following statement: “Whilst the commissioners were engaged in ng the deeds to be signed by the sub- rs this afternoon, I went out with the I’Enfant and Ellicot to take a more per- view of the ground in order to decide on the spots on which to place the buildings—and to direct how a line, as to leave out a spring (commonly the name of Cool Spring) belonging oddart should be run.” ~ appears to have been on a line with F strect, and a short distance beyond Fiiteenth strect, in the Isherwood tract. Per- haps its earliest name was Cool Spring, and th> farm as Cool Run Farm. At different times it also went by the name of Youngs, Gibsons, Stoddarts and Federal Spring, the last because of the many Fourth of July picnics held there in the early days. An idea of its volumz may be obtained from an old statement: “It is supposed by good judges that there is urg Road and lts Unusual Conditions Revealed in Connection With Abraham Young Property in Far Northeastern Section — Days When Gunning Was Permitted. Residence of Nicholas Auth, Bladensburg road. water enough ensuing from those limpid foun- tains to turn a mill with upwards of 30 feet fall.” W. B. Bryan, in speaking of this spring, says: “The size of this water source was such as to lead B. H. Latrobe to give it scrious attention as a possible supply for the dry dock which was proposed to be built at the navy yard.” The same author also tells us: “In recent years an artificial ice plant was built over the spring, and its waters are now turned into what has become one of the necessities of city life.” O far as known, therefore, Abraham Young was the earliest resident of the northeastern corner of the city. His residence occupied a part of what is now square 1054—between Fourteenth, Fifteenth, C and D streets. Writ- ing of the Abraham Young mansion, in 1809, Allen C. Clark made this reference: “The plotting of Abraham Young's tract inio streets and squares disconnected the buildings and destroyed their utility. He, consequently, built a new mansion. It stands today. It is the brick structure on the county side of Fif- teenth street east, opposite D. I am quite sure it is the only existing structure built, owned and occupied by an original proprietor—an owner of a tract which became a part of the city. “Abraham died in the year 1797 (between January and April) and his lots in the city and the county were divided among his six children, with the exception of the mansion and a few acres surrounding it, which the court directed to be sold. ‘“T'he house and its grounds, after two weeks’ advertisement in the National Intelligencer and the Museum, a newspaper of ‘George Town,” was offered for sale by the trustee, Henry Whetcroft, at the inn of William Rhodes, but no ridders appeared. A second advertisement for a like time in the same papers followed; and, at Rhodes’ Inn, September 29, 1801, the property was sold to Henry Moscrop for $1,150. The trustee’s report describes the mansion as ‘a two-story brick house, unfinished.’ Moscrop was an Episcopal clergyman who resided al- most under the shade of Trinity Church, New York, at the head of Wall street.” The original mansion was 20 by 22 feet at the base, and the tract owned by the occupant known as a part of Hop Yard. For genealogical reasons, it may be interest- ing to say that five of the six children of Widow Ann Young were named Charles, Eliza- beth, Susanna, Richard and John, and that the Widow Young afterward married her over- seer, Gerard Gibson, and outlived him by many years. Blandesburg road and the territory surround- ing it are fast developing into a residential section, as are the other sections of the Dis- trict of Columbia, and yet it seems but a few years ago when the territory through which it runs was almost exclusively farm land, oc- cupied mainly by truckers and butchers, a number of whom are_still living and can recall when this part of the District was “way out in the country.” ERHAPS a few people still recall Graceland Cemetery, which for ycars stood at the northeast corner of Benning and Bladensburg roads. For some reason this cemetery did not take, or, unlike other burying grounds here- about, people were not “dying” to get into it. At any rate, what bedies were interred there were finally removed and the ground was given over to other purposes. No vestige of its for- mer use remains teday. In the city directory for 1885, O. F. Presbrey, M. D., is given as president of the cemetery company; F. C. Tate, secretary and treasurer; William H. Gafford, superintendent, and Samuel Norment, Seymour W. Tullock and our old friend, Dr. William Tindall, composed the advisory board. Going toward Bladensburg, on the east side of the road, the following persons either lived in the section between the pike and the Eastern Branch in 1878, or at least owned property there: F. Huhn; Mary, the widow of John Mannings; a family named Eberlt; L. Zetter, Douglas, Andrew Dorr, butcher, north of Ben- ning road; Peter F. Hornig, butcher, Long Meadows, near Benning Bridge; Joseph M. Miller, jr., butcher; John McClelland, plasterer, just to the north of F. Huhn, on the Bladens- burg road, and then George Huhn, gardener. Adjoining the Huhn property was the estate belonging to William Green, and then came that of William Edwards and Hiram Stevens, At this point a private road ran into the country residence of Dr. William G. Palmer, whose city address was 929 H street northwest, and to the home of Col. Walter Irving. Then came the Hickey road, 24 feet wide, which separated the farms of Dr. Palmer and Anton Ruppert, and skirted to the south the property of Col. William Hickey and Leopold Luchs, the latter of the old firm of Luchs & Bro,, tobacco merchants, then at 525 Seventh street northwest. Ed Hickey's place was a little east of this, and another parcel belonging to him lay to the south of Col. Hickey's old home. It is probable that this private road also went as far as Col. Heeley's place, which stood quite a distance back from the Bladensburg road. North of the private road which leads to the Anton Ruppert home was the residence of Santus Auth, also a butcher. This building is still standing and is occupied by Hugh F. McQueeney, who married a daughter of Mr. Auth. A butcher named Dunn was a former occupant of this building. eSS 1d Homes Anton Ruppert, pioneer resident of Bladensburg road. HE writer recalls the McQueeney family many years ago, when the senior member of the family, Edward McQueeney, had a florist place on the northwest corner of Champlain avenue and old Boundary street, now Florida avenue, close to which ran Slash Run on its way down town. If the writer's recollection serves him right, it would seem that 50 years ago Edward McQueeney’s family consisted of Hugh F., Katie, Mamie, who married Michael Lynch, William and Edward. The Anton Ruppert home is very old, but how old it would be difficult to state. Its present occupant is Mrs. Annie Marie Getz, whom the writer met last Summer on a tour of the West, and who is responsible for much of the information regarding her old home— where she was born—for she was a daughter of Anton Ruppert, who resided here until his death in 1911. In days gone by there were four classes of people who were deemed indispensable—the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker, and, of course, the farmer. Gas and electricity have reduced the making of candles and candle« sticks to a minor indusiry, still leaving, hows= ever, reigning supreme, the butcher, the baker and the farmer. Anton Ruppert was of the former occupation, and as his name would indicate, he was of German extraction. Indeed, he was born in Darmstadt October 9, 1834, and stayed there until he was 18 years of age, when he decided to make his home in America, and accordingly arrived in Washington, D. C, in 1852, and was so successful, and liked the place so well, that he made it his permanent home. IVE years after his arrival in this city, bee Heving in the Scriptural idea, that man should not live alone, he took unto himself a wife—Anastasia Schwing, who was born in Baden, Germany, December 25, 1834, and who died at the old Bladensburg homestead Jane uary 7, 1909. Rev. Father M. Alig of St. Mary’s Catholic Church performed the ceremony, No= vember 3, 1857, and the union was a very happy one, resulting in the following issue: Francis William, Gertrude and Catharine Elizabeth, who died in their infancy, and Louis William died February 4, 1913, Jchn Anton and Annie Marie. Of the surviving children of Anton Ruppert, Louis William married the daughter of Mrs, Jane Berry, a sister to Eddie and Lucy Eagle= ston, whom the writer recalls during his pounde party days, when “clap-in and clap-out” and “pillow” were the favorite pastimes for young folks at social gatherings, where everybody provided his own refreshments. The Eaglestons then resided in a large farm house which stood in the block opposite the tenth police precinet; on Park road. This dwelling later becaméd noted as the first residence visited by “Jack; the Slasher,” in this part of the city. Anton Bernard Ruppert, son of Louis William Rupe pert, married Catharine, daughter of George and Mary Dorr. John Anton Ruppert married Mary Roth Schwing, an adopted daughter of his uncle, William Schwing, well known as the joint proprictor of the FPatent Oiffice restaurant; located for many years at the southeast corner of Seventh and G streects northwest, and cone ducted by Schwing & Clarke. After the death of his first wife, John Anton Ruppert married Miss Lona - Miller, daughter of John and Appolonia Bischoff Miller. At an early date, John Miller conducted a truck garden at Third and R streets northwest, where he lived. John Anton Ruppert had no children. He now resides in Chevy Chase. Annie Marie Ruppert, daughter of Anton Ruppert, married Henry F. Getz, son of Augustus Getz and Julia Emmermann. The Getzes, father and son, were both well-known building contractors of Washington, D. C. The children of Henry F. and Annie Marie (Ruppert) Getz were: Carrie Loyola (died August 2, 1909), Emma Bernadette (died August 13, 1892), Irene Augusta (died Deceme ber 19, 1900), Florence Marie, Emil Louis and Henry Aloysius. Florence Marie Getz, a graduate of Notre Dame Academy, married William S, son of Frank P. Madigan. They reside in Grand Rapids, Mich., where Mr. Madigan is regional sales manager for the General Motors Co. Emil Louis Getz, after graduating from McKinley High School, took a course in electrical engineering at the Catholic Univ of America, and is now following his profession in the research department of the American -