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| Mount St. Mary's University | Emmitsburg, Md. |
August 23, 1743- William Elder purchased from his father-in-law, Arnold Livers, a section of "Ogle's Good Will". William and his second wife Jacoba Clementine Livers built their home on this land. William was a widower with five small children.His first wife, Ann Wheeler, had died of consumption in 1939. In 1742, he wed Jacoba, the daughter of his neighbor Arnold Livers of
Arnold's Delight on Owings Creek. This second marriage would produce seven more children.
Their home was known as Elder Station and one room was reserved as a chapel for their family and the Catholics of the area.
The house was built of logs and the parlor-chapel was equal in size to the rest of the house. Here the Catholics of the area gathered for Mass as often as the presence of a priest permitted. Tradition states that a conch shell was used to summon local Catholics to Mass on these occasions. Sometimes Mass was celebrated by her brother Reverend Arnold Livers.
William had named the mountain St. Mary's Mount, and later on Mt. St. Mary's College would be built there. Most of the land that Mt. St. Mary's is now using for the College and Seminary was deeded by the Elder Family. Ogles Good Will and Elders Resurvey were two portions of land now with the college. The original Elder Cemetary is still sitting in the middle of college land.
(William Elder is my fifth great granduncle. Our common ancestor is Elizabeth Finch.)
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