Scrapbook: Anna McFarland Stabler, c. 1875- c.1812

Founder of Society Was Host Tuesday Dr. Samuel A. Martin Entertains Kittochtinny Historians at Shippensburg Home; the Hon. John M.McDowell Read Paper The December meeting of the Kittochtinny Historical Society at the home of the Rev. Dr. S. A. Martin, principal of the State Normal School, Shippensburg Tuesday p.m. was another of the successful assemblies of the series of 1908. A special conveyed and returned the party over forty in number, leaving the C. V. R. R. station at 7:30, and the Shippensburg at 10:45 p.m. As the founder of the Society, and one who so generously cared for its work and entertained while President of Wilson College, since his return to the Cumberland Valley Dr. Martin has been no less interested and active in its progress, welfare and success. The record-breaking attendance of members at his hospitable mansion on this occasion was therefore a deserved compliment and mark of esteen for the affable host and eminent educator. John M. McDowell, Esq.. was the historian of the evening, his subject being "Mt. Delight," with instructive sketches of the McFarlands, five generations of whom have been the continuous owners of the property for almost 150 years. In part his paper is as follows: Mr. McDowell's subject was "Mt. Delight. Its Owners and Those Born Thereon." He ave a short sketch of the farm near Mercersburg, called Mt. Delight, orginally "McFarland's Delight," and of those persons who have owned and farmed the same or who were born thereon durin the past one hundred and forty years or more. This farm was first taken up by one Robert McFarland, sr.. and a patent was issued to him by the Penns, Thomas and Richard, on December 4, 1769. In this patent the place is named "McFarland's Delight." The buildings occupy the western slope of a hill, about one-half way up. A beautiful stream of water courses through the length of the farm from north to south. West of this stream rises another and higher hill, partly covered with large timber. Three long, narrow meadows lie between these two hills, and on each side of the run. The public road leading from Mercersburg past Mercersburg Academy to Lemasters and Upton, runs through the farm, with the West Conococheague creek on the east.. The farm now contains 291 acres and 90 perches. The first house erected on "McFarland's Delight" was built most likely prior to 1769, and was a log structure of one and a-half stories, with four rooms on the first floor and several on second. This original building is still standing, but raised to two full stories, weatherboarded. A kitchen was added some fifteen years ago. In 1793 a large two-storied stone building was added on the southern end. The barn is an old log building constructed prior to 1777, with some additions made between 1824 and 1827. The young McFarlands, of all generations and their visiting cousins seemed fond of seeing and cuttin their names in wood, as every generation has many of their names or initials cut in the logs and boards of the wagon shed attached to this old barn, from 1823 down to the present day. The porch on the western side o the house has always been an attractive place in summer. The view and scenery therefrom and the cooling, delightful breezes wafted over and from the rippling water below, and the sunsets, were very enjoyable. It is certainly a delightful place to live. The farm has been owned, occupied and cultivated by McFarlands continuously for five generations since 1769. Robert McFarland was the first settler. He owned and occupied it from 1769 to 1778, when he sold it to his nephew, Robert McFarland jr.. for a consideration of fourteen hundred pounds. "McFarland's Delight" was then in Peters township, Cumberland county, Pa. Joseph McFarland and his brothers, Robert, sr.. and John, came over from ireland in 1732 and settled in Tinnicum township, Bucks county, Pa. Joseph lived there until his death, about December, 1759. Robert McFarland, jr.. was a son of Joseph. He came to this country in' the spring of 1778 and farmed "McFarland's Delight" until his death in 1823. He willed the place to his two sons, Robert C. and John McFarland, who farmed the place until the death of Robert C., in 1850. John McFarland then owned and farmed the same until the spring of 1854, when he moved into Mercersburg; Pa., where he died December 18, 1856. Robert Parker McFarland, son of John., succeeded him, and farmed the place until his death, May 26, 1899. His son, Thomas Franklin, farmed for his father the last few years of his life. After his father's death, Frank moved to Hueneme, Cal., where he is farming a plantation of his own and one for his cousin, Hon. Thomas R. Bard. After their father's death Mary L. and Alice R. McFarland became the owners of "Mt. Delight," and have lived upon and had the same farmed ever since and are making a success of it. Thus, continued Mr. McDowell, it will be seen that this old farm has been successively owned and continuously occupied by McFarlands for five generation, or near a century and a half. Are there any other farms in Franklin county that have been continuously owned, occupied and farmed by members of one family for so many generations and for so many years? If so, let them be named and recorded. Mr. McDowell gave a history of the McFarlands tracing them back, as he claimed, to Ireland and Scotland - to the clan McFarlands, and to their common ancestors, Gilchrist, brother of Meldowen, the third earl of Lennox, who lived in the twelfth century. Gilchrist had a great-grandson, Patholan, whose name was soon written Pharlan or Pharlane. His children were then called Mac Pharlane, afterwards changed to Mac Farlane. He argued that it is fair to presume that all who are clalled Mac Farlane or McFarland or McFarlin, are all descended from Pharlan, son of Muldowen, son of Duncan, so of Gilchrist, son of Almir, second earl of Lennox, who lived about the year 1150. Mr. McDowell gave a short sketch of the life of every McFarland who owned, lived upon or farmed "Mt. Delight," closing with a more extensive sketch of the life of Hon. Thomas Bard McFarland, son of Capt. John McFarland, a prominent farmer and citizen of Peters township for years. Hon. Thomas B. McFarland was born April 19, 1828. He was graduated at Marshall College, Mercersburg, Pa., in 1849; admitted to the bar of this country in Jan. 1850. The same year he went, with his brother, overland to California. He mined for a few years without much success, and then began the practice of the law in Nevada city. In 1861 he was elected district judge and held this office until January, 1869, when he removed to Sacramento City, In 1874 he was appointed Register of the United States land office at Sacramento City. He resigned in 1878. Was a member of the Constitutional Committee in 1878. In 1882 he became a member of the Superior Court. In 1886 he went on the Supreme Bench and re-elected in 1898, and died last September, working almost to the last. He was an [...] lawyer, and a conscientious and upright jurist. Although on the bench nearly [...] Mr. McDowell's papers[...]recieved, heartily applauded [...] theme of discusion and [...] able comment. He was [...] of thanks for his excellence [...] It revived the wish for [...] to biographies of[...] of the country, [...] Judge Rowe, some [...] more recently by [...] Montogomery. The [...] McFarland, like [...] brother, the late [...] of California, is well [...] his rich intellectual [...] was an occasional [...] local newspapers, [...] attracting wide attention [...] reasoning and[...]

ADEATH OF J. D. MACFARLAND

SUMMONS CAME YESTERDAY MORNING AT LOS ANGELES.

BRAIN FEVER ENDS FATALLY

Long and Active Business Career of the Well Known Nebraskan Re-called Prominent Banker and Broker.

Died April 18th 1902

J. D. Macfarland, a leading capatalist and banker of this city for more than twenty years, died yesterday morning at his home in Los Angeles, Cal. after a brief illness. The telegrams conveying this information brought a great shock to business and professional circles in this city. Nothing was told in the telegrams beyond the fact that the cause of the death was brain fever and that the illness was of only a week's duration. The funeral will be held on Monday.

A telegram received from his wife in this city late last evening by G. M. Lamberston brought the following additional information relating to his death:

"Mr. Macfarland taken sick Friday morning. Not dangerously till Monday night. Best specialists say cause obscure, probably brain pressure."

The news of Mr. Macfarland's death brought the shadow of sadness to many Lincoln people who knew him intimately and well. One of his former business associates said last night: "He was an honorable, noble, upright man; true as steel to his friends, loyal, liberal, big hearted. He was a successful man of affairs, but suffered great losses in the panic of 1893, by having endorsed much paper for the accommodation of friends and business associates, without having any personal interest or profit in the transactions. He was a firm friend to many Lincoln people and did much to aid in the city's growth."

His Work for Nebraska.

Mr. Masfarland's most important work was done as land commissioner of the Burlington. He had a great deal to do with bringing immigrants into Nebraska, and in his enthusiasm he resorted to many expedients to cause others to see as he did the fertility and promise of the western prairies. He found that the state fair had a strong influence in attracting settlers, and for many years he was one of the leaders in promoting this enterprise. In 1885 he assisted in the reorganization that revived the fair and brought it to Lincoln. He was a leading spirit in organizing the Nebraska Exposition company and in planning and preparing the grounds that have become the permanent home of the fair. For many years he was an officer of the state board, and to him more than to any other Lincoln man the board looked to carry out the plans to make the fair what it ought to be.

Always impressed with the future of Nebraska, Mr. Macfarland was one of the first to foresee that Lincoln must become a good city. More than twenty years ago he began investing in suburban property. When the boom of 1886 and 1887 came on he was a heavy owner and operator in real estate, and in a few years amassed a comfortable fortune. A part of this was lost in the depression following 1893, but he still retained a comfortable amount of property when he removed to California a short time ago.

His Life and Works.

John D. Macfarland was born in Franklin county, Pa., OCtober 22, 1846, and received his education there. He enlisted in the Twenty-second Pennsylvania cavalry in 1863 and served until the close of the war. He returned to his Pennsylvania home soon after the close of the war and a short time later removed to Nebraska, locating at Brownville in 1867. While there he held a position in the United States land office. He moved to Beatrice, and from there removed to Lincoln in 1871, taking a position with the B. & M. land department. He was first married in this city in 1872 to Miss Carrie L. Kerr of Ohio. She died, leaving one child, Francis P. Macfarland. In 1878 he was married to Miss Nannie Cobb, daughter of Judge Amasa Cobb.

Mr. Macfarland resigned his position as land commissioner for the B. & M. November 1, 1890, to take the presidency of the First National bank, succeeding John R. Clark, deceased. In this position he was very successful, but he found the banking business too confining. When the work began to tell on his health he decided to accept a proposition from the then owners of the Lincoln National bank for consolidation of the two Institutions or rather liquidating for the Lincoln National and merging the two into one. This arrangement was completed in June, 1892, Mr. Macfarland resigning from any active management of the financial concern, other than consenting to remain on the board of directors. Immediately after this deal was finished he sailed for Europe, returning late the following fall. When he did return he was greatly improved in health.

Shortly after he returned from Europe the Capital National bank failure occurred. Among the stockholders of the broken bank were many of his closest friends and admirers, who believed him to be the most suitable person to take charge of its affairs. While he declined for a time to listen to the proposition, he eventually decided to surrender to the urgent appeals from his friends and was soon after appointed receiver. Because of the close, personal attention given the affairs of the bank from early morning until late at night, his health, fully restored by his European trip, again failed him and he was compelled to resign the receivership. It was during this panic that Mr. Macfarland met many of his financial disasters.

Retired From Active Business

Since his retirement from the receivership of the Capital National bank he has not engaged in active business, but has devoted his time to caring for his properties scattered over the state, but largely in Lincoln. He spent much of his time in the open air caring for his pet herd of Jersey cows and other live stock kept at or near the exposition grounds. So far as known here he has not engaged in active business since going to California, but has endeavored to spend his time outdoors, gardening and keeping an eye an real estate interests in and about Los Angeles, possibly expecting sooner or later to engage in some business that would keep him outdoors.

Mr. Macfarland was coonected with the land department of the Burlington practically from its beginning, and through this business became known to thousands of homeseekers who settled in the state.

Mr. Macfarland was one of the parties interested with the late Albert E. Touzalin in the ownership of the Havelock townsite, and was for many years previous to his removal to California president of the Lancaster Land company. He was also one of the founders and directors until the business was closed of the Lincoln Loan and Building association. During the time Mr. Touzalin was the owner of the Lincoln horse car system Mr. Macfarland was a director.

When Mr. Macfarland was in Europe in 1892 he met a Lincoln friend there. During a conversation about business affairs he told his frined that he was then worth $250,000 and did not owe a dollar.

He was raised a Scotch Presbyterian.

He and the late John R. Clark purchased and presented to the First Presbyterian church of this city the pipe organ now in use.

D. F. Macfarland, a brother of the land, has charge of the large property for the Burlington at Holyoke, Col. Another brother, Francis P. Macfarland, has charge or large property interests near Los Angeles, having removed there from the family home in Pennsylvania two or three years ago.

Francis P. Macfarland, his eldest son, was for a time connected with the electrical department at the state university. Later he secured a position with one of the large electric street railways in Philadelphia, where he now resides.