Davy Crockett amid flour barrells near Ellicott's Mills

Before Davy Crockett (1786-1836) became a US Representative and then fought (and died) at the battle of the Alamo in 1836, he went through Ellicott’s mills in a wagon laden with flour barrels enroute to Baltimore.  He recounted his misadventure in his 1834 autobiography.  After running away from Kitchen’s school at a very young age, he went with a waggoneer to Gerardstown (Virginia, now WV) where he worked until he decided to accompany a man to Baltimore with the load. The horses bolted and he was in a "devlish flouncing about of flour barrels" in the back of the wagon.  He survived - "if he is born for a seat in Congress, even flour barrels can't make a mash of him."

James Lea grafitti at the B&O railroad station 1838

James Lea (1816-1857) was the son of Elizabeth (Ellicott) Lea (daughter of George Ellicott), and Thomas Lea, of the Lea Brandywine mills.  James was born in Delaware but raised south west of Ellicott's mills at the family farm "Walnut Hill" near Sandy Spring, Md.  He and his brothers took produce and livestock into Ellicott's mills, then visited his grandmother Elizabeth (Brooke) Ellicott who lived by their mill, across the river from the station.

James fought during the Mexican War (1846-48), went overland to California for the 1849 gold rush then ran a hotel until he became ill and returned home. A further reason, when his grandmother Elizabeth (Brooke) Ellicott died in 1853 she left him a portion of her Brooke lands near Sandy Spring, MD if he returned to live in Maryland. He died, unmarried, in 1857.

1851 Businesses and professionals in Howard County

The following list from Thomson's Mercantile and Professional Directory 1851-52. (Baltimore: 1851) gives names and businesses in mid century Howard district of Anne Arundel county. 

The first Patapsco Bank building is on the hill by St. Paul's (and now part of it) south of the B&O train station.  Two later buildings are next to each other on the north side of Main St. - 2d 1887 (8090 Main) and 3rd 1905 (8098 Main)

1871 Businesses and farmers in Howard County

The State Gazette and Merchants and Farmers' Directory for Maryland listed about 150 businessmen and 70 farmers in Howard County.  The book described the county and some of the towns.  Ellicott City was one of "the most romantic cities" in the US with "some of the largest cotton factories in the country."