When Pocomoke Was Young- A continuing weekly feature.

 

(Chapter flow:)

ITS ORIGIN AND TOWN LIMITS

TOWN LIMITS

GROWTH, CHANGE OF NAME, ETC.

MERCANTILE ASPECT

MANUFACTURING

TRADES ETC.

SHIPPING INTERESTS

EASTERN SHORE STEAMBOAT CO.

SHIP BUILDING ETC.

HOTELS, LIVERY STABLES, ETC.

PHYSICIANS

LAWYERS

POST OFFICE

PRINTING OFFICES

SOCIAL ASPECT, ETC.

MORAL ASPECT

TEMPERANCE CAUSE

SCHOOLS

CHURCHES

Note:  In duplicating this material for publishing on The Pocomoke Public Eye we have made minor adjustments to correct some of the spelling, punctuation, etc. We believe the errors were not in Rev. Murray's original writing but occurred in the process of formatting the material to a digital format for viewing online.

1868, Edward H. Clarke commenced the mercantile 
business, in New Town. Since then he has been engaged 
nearly all the time in the sale of goods alone and with 
his father. 

As Mr. Clarke is quite a prominent man in business 
circles, he is entitled to a place in this history. He was 
born in 1845, and is the only surviving son of W. J. S. 
Clarke. He was appointed a midshipman at the naval 
academy in 1861. After remaining nearly two years and 
spending one summer at sea, he resigned, as we learned, 
much to the regret of the officers of the naval academy. 
Returning home he at once entered the service of his 
father as clerk, being there well drilled, and remaining in 
that capacity until 1868, when he married an amiable and 
accomplished young lady, the only daughter of William 
M. Coster, Esq., one of the most respected and wealthy 
gentlemen in Somerset county. He is a very, popular 
man, and in point of business sagacity he is said to be 
equal to any of his name. 

In 1866, Levin Atkinson commenced the sale of 
groceries in connection with the sale of leather, and con- 
tinued the same for ten years, or until he died, which 
event took place in 1877. 

Mr. Atkinson was quite a prominent man in the com- 
munity ; was retired in disposition, obliging, and a warm 
friend. He was a member of the Methodist Protestant 
Church, in New Town, for many years, and filled promi- 
nent positions as a layman in that church. From the 
commencement of his connection with the church to his 
death, he always kept an open house for the preachers of 
that denomination, and there was nothing too good to pro- 
vide and no labor too great to perform for those whom 
he and his devoted wife loved to entertain. 

In 1880, Henry Dryden and his son Clarence engaged 
in the sale of groceries, confectionery, etc., in connection 
with the sale of tin ware, Mr. H. Dryden having been 
engaged in selling tin ware previously. This firm continues 
and will no doubt be successful. 

In 1878, James H. Vincent commenced merchandising in 
Pocomoke City, and is growing in trade and popularity. 
We have several other stores in Pocomoke City, which 
may be called green grocery and provision stores, kept 
respectively by: A. H. Benson, Roland E. Bevans and 
John W. Selverthorn, John T. M. Sturgis and Thomas 
Melvin and J. A. D. Robinson. 

These are all reliable houses, where the substantials of 
life may be purchased. 

In presenting to the reader this concise history of the 
mercantile business of New Town, now Pocomoke City, I 
have aimed at facts, at giving a fair showing, and not 
throwing more gloss upon the men and trade than they 
really merited. I shall now close this part of my history 
by saying : we have, in Pocomoke City, some thirty 
business houses of all grades, selling goods, doing an 
annual business, aggregating over two hundred thousand 
dollars. 

MANUFACTURING. 

Manufacture, in the early history of New town, was, as 
a matter of course, in its infancy. The first, probably, 
should be mentioned is the manufacture of clothing for 
the families. These goods consisted of woolen, cotton 
and linen. The wool was taken from the sheep's back 
and washed, then picked, carded, spun and woven into 
fustian, that is to say, the warp was of cotton, the filling in 
was of wool. Linsey-woolsey was also made for the 
mothers and daughters. 

This word linsey-woolsey comes up in memory as some- 
thing long since past away. 

I used to hear, when I was a little boy, these words 
sung: 

"Linsey-woolsey petticoats,
Silk and cotton gown, 
Shoes and stockings in your hands, 
And feet upon the ground." 

The cotton was, as a general thing, cultivated at home, 
that is to say every family had their cotton-patch if they 
had ground sufficient for that purpose, and when ripe was 
harvested, the seed picked, then carded, spun and woven. 
These were for underwear for both sexes, for sheets, and 
the beautiful white counterpanes that used to be made. 

The linen was made out of flax. Every farmer had his 
flax patch. The flax when ripe was pulled up by the 
roots by hand, then placed in a creek, pond or water- 
hole if their was any convenient, if not, it was spread out 
on the ground to mildew, when sufficiently cured it was 
then housed. In the wintertime the flax break was heard 
singing its day-long song, as the busy laborer would be 
plying the instrument. 

In this instrument the woody portion of the flax was 
separated from the fibrous. Thus the flax was prepared 
for the hackle, then after that it was spun and woven into 
what we used to call country made linen, and then made 
into underwear for both sexes, for toweling, table cloths, 
sheets, etc. Now the modus-operandi in clothing. The 
carding and spinning would be carried on day and night 
by the mothers and daughters. At night the father and 
brothers would unite around a roasting fire with a plenty 
of pine knots to make a light, and would engage in pick- 
ing the wool or cotton. During these seasons of night 
work they would roast sweet potatoes and have a pitcher 
of cider to cheer the tedious hours of labor. 

When the wool, cotton or flax was thus prepared for 
the loom, they would commence weaving. 

When I was a little boy I used to hear the loom going 
all day long. It did not make as sweet music as the piano, 
but went click, clack, click, clack, from morning until 
night. 
CONTINUES NEXT SATURDAY HERE AT THE POCOMOKE PUBLIC EYE.