KENT COUNTY
Transcribed by Denise Wells
Kent county to-day stands in the very front rank of Maryland counties, and it is safe to say that the most beautiful and productive section of the celebrated Cumberland Valley cannot surpass the high state of cultivation or productiveness shown by the results secured to the Kent county farmer. All progressive measures along the line of agriculture or horticulture have always found a ready lodgment in Kent county soil, and have flourished and brought forth fruit until superseded by some more advanced and better systems. The Grange has done a good work, and farmers' clubs, peach growers' associations and similar organizations having in view some specific object, are all in active operation. The Still Pond Farmers' Club is one of the most aggressive organizations of the kind in the State, has a large membership, and continues to achieve magnificent results along the line of agricultural and horticultural investigations and experiments. The disposition of the farming community throughout the county to adopt more improved methods and advanced ideas in the cultivation of the soil has had a good effect, and a speaker at a recent meeting of farmers declared that by the adoption of scientific and still higher principles of fertilization and cultivation, it is believed that the productiveness of these already fertile lands may be doubled.
The surface of the county is beautifully undulating or rolling, while the soil, though varied, is, for the most part, of a dark loam, fertile, warm and easily worked. Underlying this is a rich and deep clay subsoil, making geological conditions calculated to produce the most satisfactory results.
Though, as a rule, the county is in a high state of cultivation and the land commands correspondingly good prices, yet there are many acres possessing all desirable qualities which have not as yet been so highly improved or developed, which invite the immigrant, offering a pleasant home and abundant and speedy returns for his labors. Under the financial depression which has existed during the several years past, lands which at one time sold for from one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five dollars an acre, may now be bought at a much lower figure. The scale of prices for lands in the county might be put: Eighty or eighty-five dollars for the best and twenty dollars per acre for the lowest, grading from that up according to quality, improvement and location.
The soil is adapted to the cultivation of the cereals, fruits and grass, thus offering advantages to the agriculturist, horticulturist, trucker or stock raiser. It is claimed that under the impetus and stimulus given by the introduction of creameries, the value of stock in the county has more than doubled within the past five years, thus placing the county as one of the first cattle-producing sections in the State.
The climate is delightful and healthful, the thermometer rarely ever reaches 96° in mid-summer, or falling below 10° during the winter months. Fever and ague are almost things of the past, and low fatal fevers are not more common than in the most healthful sections of the State. Contagious diseases of a malignant form and epidemics are almost unknown.
The public school system of the county, it is safe to say, is not surpassed by any county in the State, the schoolhouses being conveniently located and the schools taught by a most thorough and efficient corps of teachers.
Nearly every religious denomination is represented in the population, and Catholic, Methodist Episcopal, Protestant Episcopal, Methodist Protestant and Presbyterian churches are found at convenient distances throughout the county.
That unchanging hospitality and sincerity of social relations which is a characteristic of the entire Eastern Shore of Maryland is developed here to a prominent degree; the stranger may rest assured of a kindly welcome and thoughtful consideration [sic] when he crosses the boarders of this county. Fine water power is afforded for milling purposes in various sections, and all of the coarser bread material, and much of the finest patent-roller process flour, are turned out by fine mills located on natural streams.
Though particularly adapted to agriculture, the lands of Kent have been found to be all that could be desired for a successful cultivation of the peach, pear and all of the more profitable small fruits; indeed, it might be said that this county is now and has been for years past, the great peach garden of the Maryland and Delaware peach belt, the county furnishing nearly two million packages of peaches alone to the markets of the world during the season of 1891.
Situated as it is, with the Chesepeake [sic] bay sweeping its western borders, the Sassafras and Chester rivers forming its northern and southern boundaries, it is protected, to a great extent, from the destructive effects of frost. The peach has absorbed, in a greater measure possibly than any other crop, the attention of the people, and vast tracts of the most fertile lands of the county are in peach orchards, stretching away miles in length. All of the Maryland fruits are largely cultivated, and form sources of extensive revenue.
As a section having an enviable record for large yields of corn and wheat, this county stands second to none in the State, her best lands yielding from forty to forty-five, and as a high as forty-seven bushels of wheat per acre, with a minimum yield in exceptional instances of twelve bushels. The corn crop runs as high as eighty and as low as twenty bushels per acre. Many farmers have devoted much attention to grass, and with the introduction of vast creamery and dairy interests in nearly every district, it has been clearly demonstrated that the lands are capable of magnificent possibilities in the direction of growing grass. Already the products of the dairy have become sources of great wealth to the farmer. In addition to this, it has resulted in the introduction of superior grades of dairy cattle, and it may be doubted whether any county in the State can show finer herds of thoroughbred Holstein and other high bred stock. Indeed, stock raising has become an important and profitable industry, which, with its dairy profits, stand second only to the cultivation of grain and fruit.
The question this naturally presents itself is: What cause to a greater extent than any other has been conducive to this high state of general agricultural development? The answer is given-accessibility to market, an abundance of good labor and excellent transportation facilities. There is scarcely any section of the country which is further than a thirty or forty minutes' drive from either rail or water. During the summer months seven steamboat lines touch the county daily, and during the heavy freighting seasons, extra boats are frequently put on to meet the demands. The Baltimore and Delaware Bay Railroad traverses almost the entire length of the county, while a branch of the Pennsylvania Road touches at Millington and Massey's, on the northeastern border. Scarcely less than twenty sail vessels ply constantly between the rivers and Baltimore city. What county can show a more extended array of commercial facilities? By rail, Kent is brought within two hours of Wilmington, two and a-half or three hours of Philadelphia, four hours of New York, bring her into accessibility of the great markets of the west and northwest. Baltimore is but two hours from some sections and within a five hours' run by steamer from her farthest points. Her river and bay frontage offer excellent ports.
Having one of the most extended water-fronts of any county in the State, it may readily be seen that the oyster and fish interests are valuable. Thousands of the population live exclusively from the products of the water, and several comfortable and beautiful villages have sprung up on the shore contiguous to the vast oyster fields along the bay. The rivers teem with fish and oysters. Swan and wild geese and the canvas-back, red-head, black-head and other choice varieties of ducks are numerous on the waters, while excellent gunning is found in the interior of the county.
The area of the county is 315 square miles. The census of 1890, gave the county a population of 17,471, divided as follows: white, 10,416, colored, 7,055.
Chestertown the county seat, is a prosperous town of 2,632 inhabitants, and is situated on Chester river, about thirty miles from its mouth. Here is an excellent harbor, extended wharf front, and navigable water sufficient for steamers and the larger class of sailing vessels. The town is alive to the spirit of enterprise. A board of trade has been formed, and special inducements in the matter of free sites, exemption from taxation and other advantages are offered to manufactures settling within her limits. The manufactories already in operation are the extensive plant of the American Strawboard Company; the large paper basket works, under the same corporation, both plants being valued at several hundred thousand dollars; an ice-factory, creamery, a new patent process roller flouring mill, extensive brick works, several phosphate factories, planning and sawmill, sash and door factory, foundry, wagon and carriage works. It has two banks, two newspapers, four churches, an excellent public school, and one of the finest water supplies in the State.
Washington College, one of the oldest and most efficient educational institutions in the State, is also situated here. The surrounding country is fertile and beautiful, while, socially, Chestertown is, like the entire county, characterized by that genial hospitality which reigns as a most striking feature of the social life.
The biographical history of Kent bears some of the most prominent names of the State, namely: The Pearces, Vickers, Ringgold, Hanson, Raisin, Wilkins, Wroth and many others.
Kent may challenge any county in the State to offer greater inducements to the immigrant, the manufacturer or the investor. Rich in her natural resources of soil, climate, location and general healthfulness. Kent invites all to share her blessings and advantages. A land of splendid opportunities, she offers a home alike to the poor but honest immigrant, the manufacturer or the retired merchant or man of business in quest of a home.
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. 89-94.