Harford Legacy Farm Commemorative Book

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Homelands Farm est. 1806 - Churchville, MD Current Owners: David Dallam and Kate Dallam Original Purchaser: John Herbert Current Acreage: 149 Current Agricultural Products or Services: dairy cows, turkeys, chickens, corn, and soybeans Preserved and Historical Designation The property at the intersection of modern Routes 22 and 136 was bought by John Herbert in 1806 and is still owned by his direct descendants. The area was known as Herbert's Crossroads during his time, later as Lower Crossroads, and now as Churchville. Indeed, many of the current businesses and properties in Churchville sits on land originally owned by Herbert. The house and many of the outbuildings date to the early decades of the 19th Century; some barns and sheds are from the mid to late 20th Century. (The Maryland Historical Trust, Document HA-139)

Paul Beatty Harlan

The property passed from John Herbert to his son James Herbert to B. Herbert to John Herbert's daughter Margaret Herbert. She married Dr. David Harlan, the Medical Director of the US Navy, who became nationally known because of his service in the Mexican and Civil Wars. Upon her death, the property was left to her son William Beatty Harlan, who left it to his son Paul Beatty Harlan. One of Paul Beatty Harlan's heirs is Louise Harlan Umbarger, who gave her portion to her daughter, Kate Umbarger-Dallam.

Therefore, the current owners and operators are both the seventh generation of the same family to farm Homelands. The property is an anchor of the Churchville hamlet; though portions have been sold over the years (Rolling Green) or donated (Trinity Episcopal Church), the central acreage and the house has been continuously farmed, maintained, and resided in by the family. Though no ancestor was well known beyond Harford County for his medical contributions, Homelands is the most representative of Harford County's agricultural heritage of continuity and adaptation of new farming directions since David Harlan Dallam continues Homelands' dairy tradition and his daughter Emmy Dallam Beavers (the 9th generation) has begun to raise and butcher turkeys and chickens there. Lucas Beavers and Emmy Dallam Beavers