In 1843 Lewis H. Machen purchased 725 acres from Coleman Brown's grandchildren for $10,879 and moved to the property with his wife Caroline, daughter Emmeline, and sons Arthur and James.
The Machens moved into a framed house that was located near the stone house that still remains on the property.
Lewis Machen had a large and valuable collection of books and he converted the small stone house into a library and study.
Lewis Machen was not a farmer, but instead served as a clerk for the United States Senate.
Lewis was aware that maintaining his position required a political adroitness that did not come easily to him.
He hoped the farm would be a source of economic security for him and his family when he chose to retire, or if he lost his position.
The Machens also expected that the sale of their home in Washington would help to pay for the farm.
Unfortunately, no one was interested in buying the DC property.
As a result, Machen was forced to rely on his Senate income to maintain the farm and he remained in DC much of the time, leaving the farm in the care of his wife and two sons.
 
The farm was in poor condition when it was purchased, but Lewis had an avid interest in revitalizing the farm and making it profitable.
A participant of the scientific farming movement of the 1840s and 1850s, Lewis experimented with crop rotation and the use of fertilizer including Peruvian guano.
Because Lewis was not always on the farm, he wrote extensive letters giving directions to Arthur and James and kept records of the farm in workbooks.
These workbooks contain detailed information about the operation of the farm including what tasks were completed each day, who completed them, and what the weather was.
  
The eldest son, Arthur, lived at Walney in his teen years, operating the farm alongside his brother James.
It was Arthur who named the farm Walney, a name that referred to the walnut trees that grew in front of the house.
Arthur did not, however, have much interest in farming.
He was a scholar and entered Harvard Law School in 1849 and settled in Baltimore, Maryland as a lawyer.
  
On the farm, the Machens grew a variety of crops for market or to supply the needs of farm animals, including oats and wheat, corn, radishes and potatoes.
They also raised cattle, sheep, and milk cows for market as well as personal use.
The Machens also had a kitchen vegetable garden, chickens and hogs which they harvested for their own use.
 In the winter of 1853, the Machens constructed an ice pond and ice house to harvest and store their own ice.
To help them manage the farm, the Machens hired white farmhands and rented enslaved African Americans from slave-owners.
 
In 1859, Lewis finally retired from service as a clerk for the United States Senate.
However, Lewis was not able to have a peaceful retirement with the coming of the American Civil War.
In 1843 Lewis H. Machen purchased 725 acres from Coleman Brown's grandchildren for $10,879 and moved to the property with his wife Caroline, daughter Emmeline, and sons Arthur and James. The Machens moved into a framed house that was located near the stone house that still remains on the property. Lewis Machen had a large and valuable collection of books and he converted the small stone house into a library and study. Lewis Machen was not a farmer, but instead served as a clerk for the United States Senate. Lewis was aware that maintaining his position required a political adroitness that did not come easily to him. He hoped the farm would be a source of economic security for him and his family when he chose to retire, or if he lost his position. The Machens also expected that the sale of their home in Washington would help to pay for the farm. Unfortunately, no one was interested in buying the DC property. As a result, Machen was forced to rely on his Senate income to maintain the farm and he remained in DC much of the time, leaving the farm in the care of his wife and two sons.  
The farm was in poor condition when it was purchased, but Lewis had an avid interest in revitalizing the farm and making it profitable. A participant of the scientific farming movement of the 1840s and 1850s, Lewis experimented with crop rotation and the use of fertilizer including Peruvian guano. Because Lewis was not always on the farm, he wrote extensive letters giving directions to Arthur and James and kept records of the farm in workbooks. These workbooks contain detailed information about the operation of the farm including what tasks were completed each day, who completed them, and what the weather was.   
The eldest son, Arthur, lived at Walney in his teen years, operating the farm alongside his brother James. It was Arthur who named the farm Walney, a name that referred to the walnut trees that grew in front of the house. Arthur did not, however, have much interest in farming. He was a scholar and entered Harvard Law School in 1849 and settled in Baltimore, Maryland as a lawyer.   
On the farm, the Machens grew a variety of crops for market or to supply the needs of farm animals, including oats and wheat, corn, radishes and potatoes. They also raised cattle, sheep, and milk cows for market as well as personal use. The Machens also had a kitchen vegetable garden, chickens and hogs which they harvested for their own use.  In the winter of 1853, the Machens constructed an ice pond and ice house to harvest and store their own ice. To help them manage the farm, the Machens hired white farmhands and rented enslaved African Americans from slave-owners.  
In 1859, Lewis finally retired from service as a clerk for the United States Senate. However, Lewis was not able to have a peaceful retirement with the coming of the American Civil War.
Ellanor C. Lawrence Park