Middleberg Methodist Cemetery

Opening note from History of Frederick County, Maryland v.2, by Williams, Thomas John Chew

WILLIAM HENRY LEASE, deceased, whose death caused much regret among a wide circle of friends, was a leading farmer and prominent citizen of Mount Pleasant District, Frederick County. He was born one mile north of his home farm, Decemher 25, 1827. His parents were William and Mary (Riner) Lease. William Lease, the grandfather of William H. Lease, came from Germany to America with two brothers. His brother George located in Frederick City, Md., and another brother in Pennsylvania. William took up his residence in the vicinity of McKaig, where he owned more than 200 acres of land. He had previously lived some time at Mount Pleasant. He built an old log house on his tract, which is still standing. He was the father of a number of children, of whom there is but scanty knowledge. Among them were: William; George, who lived and died in Frederick City; a daughter who married a Mr. Rhoderick; and another daughter who married a Mr. Shelton.

William Lease, son of William Lease, was born at Mount Plesant, Frederick County, about 1775 and died in 1845. He was a cooper by trade and operated a shop on the home farm. Some of his time he spent in agriculture. He was a Whig. Mr. Lease was married May 24, 1825, to Mary Riner. She was a poor girl when the old Mount Zion Church was being built, but she headed the subscription list with twenty-five dollars. This church was built in 1819 at McKaig and rebuilt in 1891. When the new edifice was erected, the old one was converted into a store and dwelling. Mrs. Lease died in 1882, aged nearly ninety years, and is buried on the farm. She bore three children: Jemima, who was born May 22, 1826, married Adam Jacobs, and both are deceased; William Henry; Davis, was born July 25, 1830, and died aged three years.

William Henry Lease, son of William and Mary (Riner) Lease, was educated in the old Baptist meeting house which was then used for school purposes. He was raised to farm pursuits and followed that line of endeavor all his days. When he was married, he located on a farm at McKaig, which his father purchased for him on the day of his birth. It is part of Middle Plantation and is now known as "Dudley". It contains 140 acres. Mr. Lease's first home on the place was a little log house of two rooms. In 1864, he built the present brick house, two stories in height, the brick for which was burnt on the place. In 1868, a new barn, 40 X 70 feet, was erected. Mr. Lease died November 30, 1893, and is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Frederick City.

In his political opinions, Mr. Lease was a loyal Republican. Although raised in the Methodist faith, he did not connect himself with any religious body. He was a man of intelligence and noted for his excellent character.

On March 26, 1863, at Middleburg, by Rev. George Beckley, a Lutheran minister, Mr. Lease was united in marriage to Anna Martha McAlister. They had issue: Mary Agnes, who was born January 6, 1864, was graduated from Western Maryland College in 1893; William Mcalister, who was born October 18, 1865, was graduated from Western Maryland College in 1899, is a postal clerk in Baitimore, and married Clara Birdell Tibballs, by whom he has three children, John William, Howard Gwynn and William McAlister; Dorsey Riner, who was born November 20, 1868, was educated at Mount Hope public school and busines college in Baltimore, and was married December 17, 1903. to Minnie Mabel Pittinger, daughter of Jacob N. and Julia Ann (Hartsock) Pittinger, of Liberty, by whom he has one child. Austin Riner, born June 21, 1907 and Nanie Camilla, who was born November 7, 1814, was graduated from Western Maryland College in 1895, and from the Emerson School of Oratory, Boston, in 1909, and for five years past has been a teacher of elocution at Western Maryland College. Mrs. Lease was born March 28, 1841, at Middleburg, Carroll County, Md., and acquired her learning in the public schools. She resided there until her marriage.

John W. McAlister, (C01-3-3-1) Mrs. Lease's father, was born July 3, 1798, just over the line of Carroll County in Pennsylvania. There he grew to maturity. He followed rural occupations his entire life. He owned a farm of 134 acres at Middleburg, Md. He died at Detour, Carroll County, in 1880, and is interred in Middleburg Cemetery. He was a member of the Reformed. Church and a loyal Democrat. Mr. McAlister was twice married. He was married first to Elizabeth White, of Pennsylvania, who died in 1824, aged twenty-five years. There was no issue by this marriage. He was married secondly to Agnes McNair, of Adams County, Pa. She was a daughter of Alexander and Lavinia (Scott) McNair. After the death of her husband, Mrs. McAlister removed to Woodsboro, Frederick County, where she died, being buried at Middleburg. Her children were as follows: Mary, died at the age of three years; Lavinia, married Abendigo Slick, and died at Bruceville, Md., leaving children; Amanda, married Evan Ogle, and died at Ellicot City, Md; Maria, married Edmund Biggs, and died at Unity, Montgomery County, Md.; John Alexander, who died at Woodsboro, married Camilla Arthur; Scott, of North Dakota, was twice married, first to a Miss Bohn, and secondly to Nannie Harbaugh: Anna Martha (Mrs. Lease); James, of Holton, Kan., married Miss Brandenburg; and Virginia, died aged sixteen.

The children of Alexander and Lavinia (Scott) McNair, Mrs. McAlister's parents, were: Alexander, went to Kansas, where he died and was married to Salina Jacobs; Hiram, a residtent of York, Pa.; Samuel, who served as a soldier in the Federeal army during the Civil War and was shot through the lung, was postmaster at Emmitsburg and was married to a Miss Martz, of near that place; William, who was a farmer on the home place in Pennsylvania, married a Miss Eckholtz; Helen, never married; Harry. who died in 1908 in Adams County, Pa.; and Agnes, the wife of John W. McAlister.

John McAlister, the grandfather of Mrs. Lease, came to America from Ireland when a young man and settled in Pennsylvania, near the Carroll County, Md., line. He was an agriculturist. The name of his wife was Mary Williams. Her home was in the neighborhood of Dillsburg, Cumberland County. Pa. Her father was John Williams. Williams Grove, where the great Granger picnic is held annually, was owned by this family at one time.