Sunnyside began as a log cabin built in 1800 by Capt.

[1][2] Albert Warfield was known for generously freeing his slaves at the age of 40, albeit at a time when life expectancy was shorter.

[3] His son Joshua Warfield operated a title company, and imported food waste for composting fertilizer for soil.

The house later passed to Norman Hutton Warfield (1889 - 1955) who worked for the Federal Land Trust.

[4] The last Warfield heir to own the estate was the assistant states attorney for Howard County, Albert Gassaway Warfield III (-1983) who worked for Pierce, Fenner and Smith Inc.