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6 THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, P. C., FEBRUARY W4, 1932 istory of Joseph C. Lewis, who built his resi- dence, Hopeton. on Seventh street pike in 1841. BY JOHN CLAGETT PROCTOR. EORGIA AVENUE is one of the old- est thorcughfares leading out of Washingt-n. Early known as the Seventh Street turnpike, it ex- tended, as it does today, from Florida avenue to the District line. In more recent years it became Brightwood avenue, and no doubt would have remained as such had Congress not ignored the wish of the people and decided ctherwise. From the Dis- trict line this popular connecting link with the North becomes the Washington and Brookville turnpike, but before reaching Brookville, where it terminates, it is intersected by a number of delightful rcads which lead to Rockville, Balti- more and pcints North and West. It is not one of the early roads found here in 1800, when Congress and the Government departments moved to the Capital City. Some time between 1808 and 1810 its construction was authorized, but the Columbia Turnpike Co., chartered to build this and otber roads, delayed beginning the work, and the project was finally taken up by the Washington & Rockville Turnpike Co., of which Benjamin Ogle Tayloe was president and John Carroll Brent, secretary. Mr. Brent was later the first secretary of the Association of Oldest Inhabi- tants. Sessford, in his “Annals” for the year 1822, says: “The Turnpike road leading from Sev- enth street to Rockville has already become of great utility to this ward and the city gen- erally,” and from this statement it might well be assumed that it was a new road at that date, but ‘. was certainly not completed to Rockville until 1829, when toll gates were _erected. It must have been s mud hole in wet weather, and extremely dusty when it was dry, for it remained unimproved for many years. BOUT 1850 the Maryland portion was im- proved with a plank road, and in 1852 the District part was covered with hemlock planks three to four inches thick, with a width of eight feet. Just what two teams did when they met can only be surmised. Undoubtedly some one had to step aside in the mud. It was a narrow road even within the mem- ory of many, and has been widened at least twice within the last 30 years. As might be expected, the plank road did not last long, and for that reason it remained in bad shape for a long while, until graded and macadamized by the Board of Public Works during Gov. Shepherd's administration, and it so happened to be one of those improve- ments which were questioned by the committee which. tried to find something wrong with everything that Mr. Shepherd did. However, in its improved condition it made a fine road for driving, and in later years, when bicycling became a craze, it was much used by enthusi- astic wheelmen. As the writer first recalls this road, it was similar to any other, country road around Washington—lined with overhanging trees of various native species, and with holes in it large encugh to make a driver stop every once in awhile in order not to break a wagon spring. Occasionally there was a spring to the side of the road, around which a half barrel had been placed, and a cocoanut dipper or a rustg-tin can with which the weary traveler on a warm Summer’s day refreshed himself with genuine ‘ aqua pura. One of these natural fountains—known as James White's spring—the writer still recalls in particular, since it was the most copious, so far as he knows, along this pike. Inciden- tally it now empties into a sewer, though & few of the trees which once surrounded it are still starding, recognized only by a few whose memories wander back into the distant past, and in their mind’s eye they can see this old road in all its rustic beauty as it appeared to them in their childhcod days. EORGIA AVENUE up fo the period of the Civil War was praojally nothing but farm land. Between 1857 and 1860 but few persons lived and ownef vBaperty om what Georgia Avenue, Its People and Homes Furnished Chapters in Story of National - Capital—Family of Joseph C. Lewis—Emory - Church and Its Cen- tury of Service. “Hopeton™ erection begun on Seventh strect pike in 1841 by Joseph C. Lewis. Represented in the picture are: Herbert K. Lewis, Bryvan H. Stickney. Dr. Ben- jamin B. 4dams, Miss Rosamond K. Stickney, Mrs. Julia Hall (Stickney) Coch- rane, Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Douglass, Miss Katie Althea Stickney. Miles M. Shand, Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Stickney, F. Lewis Stickney, Mrs. Clark. Mrs. Mary K. (Stickney) Rice, and Mrs. Mable (Stickney) Bliss. was then and even for years later a turnpike road. On the east side. near Florida avenue— house still standing at the entrance to the base ball park—lived James Johnson, well known to many an early Washingtonian as a lieu- tenant of police at the old second precinet, where Joseph T. Morgan, uncle of the present Capt. Morgan of the Brightwood precinet, did mounted duty for many years. Lieut. Johnson was for a number of years a conspicuous figure cf the Association of Old- est Inhabitants, with his long white hair and beard, and cape which he always wore on the street in cold weather. He was born in 1818, and when he died, in 1909, The Star said: “The deceased was born in on old stone residence, long since torn down, on what was called Seventh street road between what are now known as Q and R streets. The date of his birth was January 12, 1818. He was the son of Jacob Johnson and Mrs. Barbara John- son, who came to Washington from Prederick County, Md., several years prior to the birth of the son, who is the subject of this sketch. His mother was Miss Barbara Miller of Frederick, many of whose blood connections afe now living in that section of Maryland. “Mr. Johnson was educated in the local schools and engaged in various vocations with his father and brothers, among them employ- ment in the navy yard. He labored there until September 27, 1861, when he was ap- pointed a private on the police force. His first service was in the section of the city north of L street, between North Capitol and Tenth streets, which was considered at that time a suburb. The station house, afterward turned into the second precinct, was thea on the Seventh street road. Later he per- formed service in what is known as ‘Foggy Bottom,” and made a name for himself for fearlessness and bravery in the apprehension of thugs and crooks in that section. “On account of commendable service he was created an acting sergeant March 12, 1863, and raised to the rank of a full sergeant December 16, 1864. In the capacity of sergeant and lieutenant he served in every part of the city and saw the gradual enlargement of the force until it had assumed substantial . He was made a full lieutenant July 23, 1866, and later was placed in command of a precinct. He was the first to be in charge of what is now known as the eighth precinct, with head- quarters near Ninth and U streets. He re- sigred fronr the police force May 1, 1883. “Two daughters and one son, Mrs. J. W. Payne, Mrs. Prank De Neale and George John- son, all of this city, and 12 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren survive him. One brother, Jacob Johnson of Oklahoma, also survives him. “Until the time of his illness in November, dence the aged lieutenant died. EXT north of the Johnson home Park Hotel, then the residence Beckert, Otho Gattrell, butcher; W. Belt and John B. King, father of Miss Emma who is now the widow of Hefiner of the Washington police force. Mrs. Hefiner was born on the northeast corner of Howard place and Georgia avenue on Febru- ary 22, 1849, her father’s property being carved out of the farm belonging to John A. Smith, who sold to the Government. about 1832, an acre of ground containing several springs from which to pipe water to the Capitol for drink- ing water and for fire protection. Capt. Heffner was also a member of the As- sociation of Oldest Inhabitants and died Sep- tember 27, 1913. Mrs. Heflner, who resides with her daughter, Mrs. Lillie Stull. has toid the writer that when she was a child living on the Seventh street pike, the family got their drinking water from a spring in the bank of the Garfield Hospital property, on the Sher- man avenue side. John H. Glick, the butcher, had his home and slaughter house to the north of the King property and then came E. Lindsay. whose house was painted yellow for many years. It is probable that it was this property that later became the Widmayer home. and upon which some of the family still reside. Close by was also the home of J. Major, and back toward the Soldiers’ Home line lived t & later date a Mrs. Major. a dressmaker. Charles G. Page and M. G. W. White either near neighbors or owned property here. toward the Soldiers’ Home was the prop- Asa Whitney, from whom Whithey road—took its name. The residence of Henry H.McPherson. a pharmacist, who erected the building at the southwest corner of Ninth and H streets northwest, where for some years he had his city residence and drug store, after moving from the corner of Seventh and H streets. just to the east. He also at one time had a drug store at theé corner of Ninth and N streets. In speaking of this gentleman, Frank L. Stickney, an early resi- dent of Georgia avenue, tells us that Mr. Mc- Pherson was a valuable citizen of the country and took a genuine interest in sports, and that the kites he made for his son were the wonder of the neighborhood: also that on the west side of Georgia avenue, opposite his home, the men of the neighborhood plaved base ball and their families often assembled to watch the game on a Summer’'s evening. He married a Miss Clark and had two daugh- ters, one of whom, Augusta. married a Dr. Danforth of Chicago, a well known physician. The son also moved to Chicage and married there. DJOINING the McPherson estate lived & Mr. May, who kept a grocery store on D street between Sixth and Seventh streets north- west. His sons, Prank P. and Philip, estab- lished the hardware business of F. P. May & Co., with whiech George, another son, was also later associated. The latter married a daugh- ter of John Saul, the horticulturist and nursery- man. He was a graduate of Gonzaga College, left & remarkably fine library, and was re- garded as a highly cultured gentleman. The property of Stuart Gass, to which the writer referred upon another occasion, extended north from Park road. The oid home is still standing on the south side of Newton street, the main entrance having been changed from the Georgia avenue side to the Newton street Seventh Street Turnpike Mrs. Mary (Knowles) Lewis, wife of Joseph C. Leiris. Prom the first, Josepnh Constant Lewis was neighbor to the norith of Mr. Gass. He one of the eariiest settlers along the enth street pike. having moved there about of the brief administration of Presie William Hernry Harrison in 1841. He from Ohio and was the son of David Blmira Caulkins Lewis, who emigrated to County, Ohio, in 1804, where the oseph C. Lewis. was born September 29, On April 30, 1830, he married in Green- N. Y, Mary Knowles, in the ancestral of the Knowles family. In politics Mr. Lewis was a Whig, and an ardent supporter of Wiliiam Henry Harrison in the political campa'gn of 1840, making speeches and aiding as far as possible in the general's election. He was rewarded with a clerkship in Washington, and thither he re- moved with his family, where he was domiciled in several homes om Capitol Hill, which In sibpRjREge e ] It was also known as the Eastern Branch Hotel, was opened in the Fall of 1796 by WH- death of President Harrison occasioned the loss of Mr. Lewis’ oficial position. Upon advice of friends he visit:d New York City and returned as tte agent for several fire and life insurance companies. He opened an office on the second floor of a building next to the corner of E street on Seventh street, renting from the Mattingly family. At that time this was the center of the commercial district, and the quarters were occupied until the fine new iron building known as the “May Building* was erected on the northeast corner of E and Seventh streets. His office on the second floor front was easily recognized by his name, which was painted on the metal surface over the windows of the building. The business was sucecessful from the start and had many well known officials in municipal and public life for s patrons. Here also was the office of the Piney Branch Quarry, dealing in building material, and conducted by Mr. Lewis’ son-ine law, J. T. H. Hall. Tnmu Jand which was purchased by Mr. Lewis on Seventh street road, and whieh at that time was close to the toll gate at Rock Creek Church road, consisted of five acres Here he erected a modern home for his grows ing family; at first only one wing, later anothee and finally the central part. Some years later two acres of this land were presented to his oldest som, Joseph Knowles Lewis, for many years a clerk in the Navy Department. The name of Hopeton was given to the place. Mr. Lewis died October 17, 1877, at his Seventh street road zesidence, and from & local paper we copy the following: “The funeral of the late Joseph C. Lewis, for many years a leading agent of life and fire insurance companies in this District, and for a long time past deacon in the First Baptist Church, took place yesterday afternoon from his residence on Seventh street road, above the Scheutzen Park, and was very largely attended. The services consisted of reading the Scriptures by Rev. Dr. Cuthbert, an address by Dr. S. P. Hill prayer by the Rev. A. F. Mason, and singing by a choir under the direction of H. G. Ayer. The interment was made at the Congressional Cemetery.” Before Mr. Lewis' death Hopeton became the property of Francis H. Stickney, who had married Mr. Lewis’ daughter. Julia Elizabeth, and here Mr. Stickney and his family resided for 10 years. Prank L. Stickney recenily in a talk regard- ing the home of his early manhood. where he spent some years as a child with his grand- parents, said: . “During the Civil War Hopeton was the center of a Jocality filled with passing regiments and all the stir and panoply of war. During many days through 1861-1865 many soldiers passed along the highway.” Tubs of water on the lawn satisfied thirsty soldiers. A surgeol falling from his horse near the place was