Public Landing, Part 19 —The Cupola House—
This was likely the very photo that convinced, in 1906, Mary and Louis deGuibert of Stork County, Illinois (Peoria area), to buy a chunk of Public Landing's prime real estate. It is also likely that they found out about the availability of the property through Mary's niece Eva. Eva and husband Charles Otis Carter, born in Iowa, acquired "Winchester," midway Berlin and Ocean City. It was patented in 1678 for 800 acres, and then passed through the hands of various owners (Hamlin, Quillin, Purnell, Taylor), and in acreages of various amounts. When millionaire and horseman Samuel D. Riddle acquired "Winchester" in 1915, it was known as the Old Taylor Farm, and it may have been from Eva and Charles Otis Carter that it was bought. Riddle transformed the old farmhouse into a 25-room showplace Colonial Revival mansion, which burned down in 1967.
Mary deGuibert was highly literate with gifts in both writing and painting. Much correspondence to her and from her has come down to us, as well as her diary, from which we get captivating glimpses of life, 100 years ago, in Public Landing and on the Riddle Farm, then known as "Winchester."
This 1906 letter written by the Register of Wills in Snow Hill -- Edward P. Davis -- to the deGuiberts in Illinois, sets the stage for our account of "Life in Worcester County, 1906-1930." The series on Public Landing will end after Part 20 (resuming later, however) to give way to this new series, which, in any event, will have Public Landing as its locale, and, occasionally, the Riddle Farm at "Winchester."
Snow Hill, Maryland, May 16, 1906
Mr. L. C. deGuibert
Dear Sir: I have yours of the thirteenth stating you have sent to the Deposit and Savings Bank of Snow Hill, Maryland, which had not been received at the bank this p.m. The papers are being prepared as instructed and will be forwarded to you as soon as completed. I congratulate you and Mrs. DeGuibert on acquiring such a beautiful and healthy home at a low figure [$2,100].
The tenant is William Lathbery. He gets his mail daily Spence Post Office, Worcester County. The post office is at the turn of the road, 1½ mile from the Bay. The insurance policy for two thousand dollars is in force until 6 September next.. We rent Mr. Lathbery the place for one half the corn and one third the fodder, corn housed and fodder stacked in field, and he and his wife look after the premises generally, and the unoccupied portion of building, and look after the enclosures.
Yours very respectfully, Edward P. Davis
Office of the Register of Wills for Worcester County, Edward P. Davis, Register
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The Lathbury family will figure prominently in the account of Mary deGuibert. Rob Hall, Volunteer Extraordinaire at the Snow Hill Library, has identified the family (see below), and I am hopeful that there may be kith or kin still residing in our precincts.
From Rob Hall: William, Mamie, George, Ralph and Martha Lathbury are all buried in Whatcoat Cemetery in Snow Hill.
Generation No. 1
1. William H. Lathbury was born Oct 1864 in Virginia, and died 1933. He married Mary A. 'Mamie' Pennewell 31 Jan 1894 in Worcester Co., MD. She was born 1864 in Maryland, and died 1952.
Children of William Lathbury and Mary Pennewell are:
+ 2 i. George Henry Lathbury, born 21 Nov 1895 in Snow Hill, Worcester Co., MD; died 14 Jul 1962.
3 ii. Ralph P. Lathbury, born 1901; died 1977. He married Martha Sarah Taylor; born 08 Oct 1902 in Worcester Co., MD; died 1977. She was the daughter of John William and Mary Esther Boston Taylor.
Generation No. 2
2. George Henry Lathbury (William H.) was born 21 Nov 1895 in Snow Hill, Worcester Co., MD, and died 14 Jul 1962. He married Anna Roddy.
Children of George Lathbury and Anna Roddy are:
4 i. William Lathbury.
5 ii. John Lathbury. |
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