James Clay Darner ^{1 2 3}

  General Notes:

[Family Tree Maker WFT 701, Vol. 1, Ed. 1, Tree #1276 submitted by Dorothy Danner]

James Clay Darner owner a farm of 175 acres, situated in Burkittsville district, Frederick County, Maryland. He was born at the old Daniel Routzahn mill property near Middletown, Maryland.

James C. Darner has an interesting history. From a poor boy he has become one of the leading farmers of the community. Thirty-one years ago, his parents brought him, a sister and three younger brothers to Frederick, where they settled on the farm which he now owns. They were poor and for years the land was only rented. When his father, Henry J. Darner, was dying, James held close to his father's arms, promised to care for his mother, sister, and little brothers, and right well has he kept that solemn promise.

He grew up on the farm and attended the willow grove school in Jefferson district. His first teacher was Milton R. Rice, now a merchant. His attendance was very irregular; his father's health was broken, his older brothers had grown up and left home; therefore, the heavy burden fell upon his young shoulders.

At thirteen he began earning and saving an honest penny. He bought junk from his schoolmates which he should and, at sixteen, was able to purchase a weanling colt, paying one dollar, a sum which looked larger to him than ten dollars now looks to his boys.

Mr. Darner assisted his parents in every way possible, yet at twenty-six, he had forty-eight dollars which he invested in sheep, putting them out on shares. He started with twelve ewes and, in eleven years, he had increased them to three hundred, and had saved $3,100.

After his father's death, Mr. Darner took charge of the farm and, in seven years, with the help of his sister and three brothers, he had cleared two thousand dollars for his mother.

In 1904, he purchased the farm at $45 per acre. In the next four years he expended $3,000 in improvements. He made a new silo, and tore down all the old fences, replacing them with new ones. In doing this, he cut down 350 shade trees which had grown up along the old fences and retarded the growth of the crops. His whole farm of 175 acres is now in perfect order and, if put up for sale, would bring today $75.00 per acre.

James C. Darner was married, 22 Jun 1882 by the Rev. L. A. Mann, pastor of the Lutheran Church at Middletown, to Ada Koogle Smith, who was born 25 Sep 1862. She was left an orphan in childhood, but was brought up by her uncle, Adam Koogle, who lived near Middletown, and was educated at Middletown academy. Mr. Darner was only twenty-two when he married.

Mr. Darner is a staunch republican. He and his wife are members of Saint Paul's Lutheran church in Jefferson, in which he holds the office of deacon .

This information was obtained from the biographical record of the history of Frederick county written by Schraf.
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  Noted events in his life were:

• He has alternate birth date of 6 June 1860 and a birth location of Middletown, MD.

¹

• He appeared on the 1880 US Census in Petersville District, Frederick, Maryland, United States on 9 June 1880. ³

1880 US Census
Page 399A, District 85, Dwelling 67, Family 70, Roll 510
Petersville District, Frederick County, Maryland
James C. Darner..Son..20..MD..Works On Farm
(Living with parents.)

NOTE - If his birth date was 5 Jun 1860, then his age should have been 19 instead of 20.
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• He was buried after 7 January 1947 in the Reformed Church Cemetery in Middletown, MD.

James married Mary Ada Koogle Smith on 23 June 1882 in Middletown, MD.¹ (Mary Ada Koogle Smith was born on 25 September 1862 in Burkittsville, MD ¹ and died on 5 October 1961 in Middletown, MD ¹.)