"At a meeting of the " Columbian Independent Company," commanded by Capt. Nicholas Snider, of Taneytown, and the " Independent Pipe Creek Company," under the command of Capt. Thomas Hook, held at Middleburg, Oct. 13, 1821, information of the death of Gen. John Ross Key was first received. Middleburg is on the Western Maryland Railroad, forty-eight miles from Baltimore and fifteen from Westminster, in a fertile and thriving section of country. The merchants are Ferdinand Warner and H. D. Fuss; the physician. Dr. Charles Thompson; and the hotel-keeper, Lewis F. Ijynn. A large pottery establishment is conducted"