CECIL COUNTY
Transcribed by Denise Wells
Cecil county, the northernmost of the Eastern Shore counties, is bounded on the north by Pennsylvania, on the east by Delaware, on the south by Kent county, and on the west by Chesapeake bay and by the Susquehanna river, which separate it from Harford county. The population in 1890 was 25,852, divided as follows: White, 21,850; colored, 3,978.
Cecil county contains 375 square miles, and the property of all kinds is assessed at $13,389,101. The county tax rate is 63 cents on the $100. The soil of the county includes almost every variety. The first district, Sassafras Neck, is chiefly a sandy loam, capable of being brought to the highest state of productiveness. Many, if not all the farms, are now in a fine condition, producing large crops of wheat, corn, oats and clover. It has not been found well adapted to timothy, or at least but little attention is paid to timothy hay in that district. Some of the lands, composed largely of clay, grow well the natural grasses and are excellent pasture fields. This is the great peach-growing district of the county. The second district is much like the other. It includes the historic Bohemia Manor, which is called by some the garden spot of the county. The capabilities of most of the acreage of these districts have never been tested. They could be made to grow everything that can be grown in this latitude. A well-informed gentleman of Cecil county says he does not hesitate to state that finer lands are not to be found in the Middle States. The third or Elkton district embraces a greater variety of soil than either of the other districts named. It runs from a rich loam to an almost worthless clay or gravel. Grain, clover and timothy are raised and many cattle fattened on its fine pasture lands. The fourth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth districts are perhaps in a far higher state of improvement than the lower districts. The farms are smaller and the farmers practical men of superior intelligence as farmers. From these districts the Baltimore market is supplied with its well-known "Cecil county hay." There are fine dwellings in both the upper and lower districts of the county, and fine, large barns, especially in the former. Churches and schools afford every facility for religious and secular improvement. The fifth or Northeast district, the largest district in acreage, is inferior as an agricultural country, containing a large acreage of barrens. Many of its farms along the Northeast and Elk rivers are fine grain and truck land.
Tobacco is cultivated to a small extent in the upper districts, and could be produced in large quantities.
There is considerable unimproved land in the county, which can be purchased at low figures, and give good opportunities to poor but industrious immigrants. The transportation facilities are good. The Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad, and the Philadelphia extension of the Baltimore and Ohio, pass through the county from west to east. The Columbia and Port Deposit and Baltimore Central traverse some of the upper districts. Farmers in the lower districts ship some by the Delaware Railroad, which is within a few miles of the county. The Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, and Elk, Northeast, Sassafras and Bohemia rivers are also used extensively in transportation.
The manufactures of Cecil represent considerable capital and interests. The rolling mills and forges of the McCullough Iron Company at Northeast, West Amwell and Rowlandsville employ several hundred men. George P. Whitaker has a blast furnace on Principio creek. The census of 1880, gave the amount invested in these iron manufactories as $550,000. Paper manufacturing is also an old industry of Cecil. Wm. M. Singerly's Record paper mills at Elkton, are an important industry to the town.
Mr. Singerly bought the Providence Paper Mills in 1880 and built extensive pulp works in Elkton in 1883. In the pulp works one hundred and twenty men are employed and sixty at the paper mills. At the latter 25,000 pounds of pulp are made per day, and 20,000 pounds of paper are made at the other. Both works run night and day. Contracts are also filled for government paper. George W. Child's Marley Paper Mills, which furnishes the Philadelphia Ledger with paper, employs about 40 or 50 hands. Harlin & Bros. manufacture book-binders' pasteboard. Paper is also manufactured at the Cecil Mills, on the Octoraro river.
The Scott Fertilizer Company, at Elkton employs many hands. The Waring Fertilizer Company has works at Colors, and the Eureka at Frenchtown.
The Stone quarries at Port Deposit are an important industry. McClennahan Bros., at that place, employ from 150 to 200 men, and Port Deposit stone goes to all parts of the country. B. C. Bibb & Son manufacture stoves, and Reynolds Brothers manufacture tin cans at Port Deposit. There are fire-brick, kaolin and pottery manufactories at Northeast. The population of this town is 1,249, an increase of 26.42 per cent., since the census of 1880. Two brick manufactories, the Elkton Foundry and Enterprise Machine Works, are at Elkton. There are many flouring mills in the county, some of which have the roller process. The Elk Mills, the only cotton manufactory in Cecil county, which have been closed for many months, were leased some time since by M. Gambrill & Co.
The farmers of the county are replacing old machines with improved new ones, several dealers doing a large business in farming machinery.
The live stock of the county has been improved during the past few years, doubtless caused greatly by competition for honors at the Cecil fair.
Elkton the county seat, has a population of 2,318, and has advanced 32.31 per. cent., since the census of 1880. Many new dwellings have been erected or are in course of erection. A competent gentleman estimates the annual mercantile business of the town at $600,000. A business man of Cheapeake City estimates the business of that town at $400,000. It has a population of 1,155. Large business is also done at Port Deposit, Northeast and Rising Sun. There is land in the county valued at $100 per acre, and other land which can be purchased for $5.00 per acre. One of the greatest industries of Cecil county is the shad and herring fisheries on the Susquehanna, Northeast and Elk rivers.
SOURCE: Scharf, J. Thomas, "The natural & industrial resources and advantages of Maryland: being a complete description of all counties of the state and the city of Baltimore: together with an accurate statement of their soil, climate, antiquities, raw and manufactured products, agricultural and horticultural products, textile fabrics, alimentary products, manufacturing industries, minerals and ores, mines and mining, native woods, means of transportation, price of land, cheap living, ready markets, excellent homes, and the material and social advantages and unequaled opportunities Maryland possesses for those seeking homes, and for capitalists who wish to invest in industries that are sure to pay big dividends," C.H. Baughman & Co., Publisher; © 1892. pps. 86-89.