The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Maryland and District of Columbia Pt. 1, Part 24

Author: National Biographical Publishing Co. 4n
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Baltimore : National Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 844

USA > Washington DC > The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Maryland and District of Columbia Pt. 1 > Part 24
USA > Maryland > The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Maryland and District of Columbia Pt. 1 > Part 24

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daughter of Richard P. Sherwood; Sarah Isabella, who married Samuel W., son of Richard G. Mackey, of Balti- more County ; Anna Williams ; Elizabeth Frazier; Charles Williams, who married Fannie C., daughter of Rev. J. N. Davis, of the Baltimore M. E. Conference; George Wash- ington, who died in infancy ; Mary Frances, who married Dr. J. Carey Cunningham, of Baltimore ; Edwin Owens and 1.ottie Letitia. Mr. Bentley is small of stature, and youth- ful in appearance ; so much so that, at fifty years of age, he was mistaken for thirty-five, and many times, when visited by customers for the first time, who had been dealing with him for twenty years, they have asked to see his father, not supposing him to be the man with whom they had so long been dealing, and who had so much machinery throughout the country. He is an exceedingly modest and retiring man, affectionate and confiding. Ile is strongly attached to his friends, and for them would make any sacrifice. He has been successful in making money, but not in keeping it. He has met with many losses and disasters by flood, fire, and panics, that would have paralyzed a man of less nerve, energy and will-power. Mr. Bentley is justly uum- bered with the men of whom Maryland may well be proud.

YETII, WILLIAM N., was born September 29, 1837, in Baltimore, Maryland. llis father, Charles Wyeth, came from New England to Bal- timore when about twenty-one years of age, and entered the wholesale drygoods house of his uncle, Leonard Jarvis. After a few years he, with his elder brother, L. J. Wyeth, bought out the business. Some time afterward, this firm was dissolved, L. J. Wyeth going to New York. Ile then associated with him as partner his brother-in-law, Edward S. Norris, and with him carried on the business for about twenty-five years, under the firm name of Wyeth & Norris. This firm was finally dissolved, and he became associated with Mr. N. F. Blacklock, with whom he entered into the wholesale boot and shoe busi- ness, under the firm name of Wyeth & Blacklock. This concern was ruined by the great lire at San Francisco, in 1851. At that time the subject of this sketch, William N. Wyeth, was a school-boy, twelve years of age, at Baltimore College. Ile, with his younger brother, H. C. Wyeth, was then sent to a boarding school at Concord, Massachu- setts, which place he left at the age of about sixteen, to en- gage as clerk with his uncle, Leonard J. Wyeth, in New York city. He remained with his uncle and others, until 1859, when he left for his home in Baltimore, to enter into business with his younger brother, above named. The firm of Wyeth & Brother, in the iron and steel business, was then started by them, and has since continued with unin- terrupted success. In March, 1878, Henry C. Wyeth re- tired from the business, since which time Mr. William N.

Wyeth has carried it on in his own name. Mr. Wyeth is also interested in the metal business in Philadelphia and New York. He has large investments in real estate and other property. In 1863, he married Ellinor, daughter of James A. Maynard, of Baltimore, and has three children, two sons and a daughter. This house is a monument of what can be done by persevering industry, integrity, and prudence. Beginning on a small scale, with but little cap- ital, in less than twenty years it has grown to be one of the largest in its line, either in Baltimore or in the South. Mr. Wyeth, though yet a young man, has displayed a spirit of energy in his business eminently characteristic. With this quality are united a conservatism and prudence that keep him within the line of legitimate trade. His keen sagacity, enterprise, and experience, combined with a jealous regard for the faithful performance of commercial obligations, have been the leading instrumentalities in assuring his success. In manners, he exhibits that suavity which evidences the true gentleman, and is possessed of that general and varied intelligence which lends a charm to conversation, and gives him most attractive social qualities.

RAIN, HON. PETER W., Ex-Judge of the Circuit Court of the First Judicial District, Maryland, and ex-mem- ber of the Court of Appeals, of Maryland, was born January 9, 1806, in Charles County, Maryland. Ile was the son of Robert and Elizabeth (Wood) Crain, natives of the same county, whose families were ag- riculturists. His father had been a Justice of the Peace for forty years, and was President of the Levy, or Commission- ers' Court of Charles County. His paternal grandfather, John Crain, came to Charles County from Wales, about the year 1700, and married a Miss Maston. llis mother was a daughter of Peter Wood and Elizabeth Thomas, a cousin of Governor James Thomas, of Maryland. llis maternal grandfather came from England, about the year 1680, and settled in the same county. The subject of this sketch received his elementary education in the common schools of the county ; but his more advanced early studies were pursued at the "Charlotte llall Academy," of St. Mary's County, then, as now, a renowned educational in- stitution, situated near Benedict, St. Mary's County. While there he possessed peculiar advantages in having the con- fidence, esteein, and tutorship of James Miltimert librarian and assistant teacher, who was an accomplished Greek and Latin scholar. This, with free access to the library, of which he fully availed himself, enabled him to become proficient in his studies. Leaving the academy in his nineteenth year, he read law under Hon. John Truman Stod- dard, of Charles County, for about eighteen months. He then went to Winchester, Virginia, and attended law lee- tures, given by Hlenry St. George Tucker, Chancellor of

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Winchester, who had a class of forty-five students, among whom were the afterward distinguished Governor Henry A. Wise, of Virginia ; Hon. Charles James Proctor, mein. ber of Congress and Minider to France ; Mi. Atkinson, who abandoned the law and became Bishop of North Cano lina; Hon. Pennybacker, who became Judge of the Circuit Court of the United States, West District, and Albert Con- stable, who was a member of Congress, and Judge in 1851. The latter, with Mr. Crain, were the only members of that class from Maryland, who were honored with positions on the bench. Mr. Crain gradnated in 1827, and the next year commenced the practice of law in Port Tobacco, Charles County, Maryland. Soon after his admission to the bar, Lewis Dent, brother of Frederick Dent, father of Mrs. General Grant, killed a man at Rum Point, Charles County. Mr. Crain was employed as one of the counsel to defend him. The jury was composed of the most enlightened men of the county; and though great prejudice existed against Dent, the masterly arguments of his defenders, who put in the plea of "self-defence," resulted in a verdict of " not guilty," within half an hour after the case had been given to the jury. The speech of Mr. Crain upon that oc- casion secured for him the reputation of being among the first and best lawyers at the bar, which at that time em- braced such men as Clement Dorsey, Judge Fred. Stone, Colonel Stonestreet, George Chapman, member of Con- gress, and A. Chancellor Johnson, State's Attorney upon that occasion. Mr. Crain soon thereafter acquired a large and lucrative practice. In 1841, without his knowledge or consent, he was nominated for the Legislature and clected. Ile was a prominent opponent of repudiation of the public debt-a policy attempted to be forced upon the State by Governor Frank Thomas, and other prominent men of that day. A debt of about eight million dollars had been contracted, in 1836, for public canals and railroads, and other improvements, and it was this which they songht to repudiate. Their efforts were rendered abortive by Mr. Crain and others. At the close of his term, Mr. Crain ex- pressed a wish not to be returned ; but, during his attend- ance at St. Mary's County Court, he was again nominated and elected by a large majority. At that time there was uo protection in the laws of the State of the rights of mar- ried women, as it regarded personal or real property. Mr. Crain was the first legislator, in Maryland, to propose mens- ures seeuring such protection. A law was passed which initiated subsequent State laws, respecting the rights of mar- ried women, At the close of that term, he published a card, positively declining any future nomination. In connection with his local practice he argued many cases in the Court of Appeals. In several of his most celebrated cases he had as his colleague, the Hon. John V. L. MeMahou, of whom Chief Justice Taney said to Mr. Crain, " Ile is the ablest jurist in this country ;" and asked Mr. Crain to use his in- fluence to get Mr. Me Mahon to show his ability in the Su- preme Court of the United States, and, so gain for himself

a national reputation. An interesting case in Charles County, which depended upon the true construction of the rule in " Shelly's case," in which Mr. Crain gave his opin- jon, and in which the adverw party sought the opinion of the celebrated Walter Jones, of Washington, D. C., the Court decided against Mr. Crain. Hle carried it to the Court of Appeals, when the ease was argued with Mr. Mc- Mahon, for the appellants, and by Mr. Chancellor and Rev- erdy Johnson, for the appellees. At the conclusion of Mr. McMahon's argument, Judge Archer said to Mr. Crain, that Mr. McMahon had read a funeral dirge on all of Johnson's authority. Justice Dorsey said that Mr. Crain ought to advise Mr. McMahon to write a treatise on Contingent Remainders, and Executive Devises, because his speech that day was greater than anything Ferne ever wrote. As Mr. McMahon left the court-house, he was astonished when he heard that they had gained the case, depending upon which they had a joint fee of one thousand dollars-a large fee for that day. Judge Dorsey said, they might draw up their papers, giving a reversal of the decree, giving them all the property. When Mr. Crain was but twelve years old, his father brought him to Port Tobacco, where the court was in session, and introduced him to lon. John Johnson, Chief Justice, father of Reverdy Johnson, and John J., late Chancellor Johnson. Ile was also introduced to Reverdy Johnson, who was then acting State's Attorney. As they left the court house, his father said to him, it ought to be his ambition to aspire to reach the position of a judge. It made a deep impression on his young mind. He did reach it, in 1846, but his father did not live to see it, having died in 1829. He served under the Governor's appoint- ment, until November, 1851, when a new State Constitution made the judiciary elective, when he was elected, irrespec- tive of party, for ten years, to serve as Judge of the First Judicial Circuit, comprising Charles, St. Mary's, and Prince George's counties. At the expiration of that term, he com- menced the practice of law in Baltimore, which he contin- ued from 1861 until January, 1867. After the death of Judge Cochrane, of the Court of Appeals, Judge Crain was appointed his successor, serving in that capacity about eleven months, until the adoption of a new Constitution, about the close of 1867. Ilis opinions are to be found in the twenty-seventh volume of the Decisions of the Court of Appeals, the most celebrated case being that of Nelson against the Hagerstown Bank-accepted as the law on that point, and decided upon that case. Ile resumed the practice of his profession, and continued until February, 1878, when he retired with a competence, his last case being one involving thirty thousand dollars. It was that of Messrs, Cornell, Johnson, and Dunkanson against McCann. He gained the case for the plaintiffs. In addition to discharg- ing the duties of his profession, the Judge has successfully conducted a large farm for twenty years, known as " Locust Grove," which has produced as high as twenty-two hun- dred bushels of wheat in a year. In 1859, he disposed

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of it to good advantage. He has been paymaster of the Forty-sixth Regiment, Maryland Militia, with the rank of Major. Ile was an ardent Whig, attending the conven tions of 1838, 18.11, and 1844. His religions tendencies are liberal. To his confidence and executive ability has been committed the administration of the large estate of the Weems family.

ALIASE, HANNIBAL HAMILTON, Manufacturer, was born August 18, 1810, at West Newberry, Massa- chusetts. His ancestors for several generations were natives of that town. Ile was the son of Jonathan and Hannah (Brown) Chase. His mother was daughter of Samuel Brown. She was an energetie, con- scientious, and pious woman. Some of her immediate rela- tives were distinguished for their ability and wealth. By both father and mother he was subjected to a rigid moral and religious training. When about nineteen years of age, with a common school education, some knowledge of eomb- making, and about one hundred dollars in his pocket, he Ieft Newberry to seek his fortune. In this pursuit he visited New York, Albany, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, arriving in the latter city with about four dollars in his possession. Ile was fortunate enough to obtain work at combmaking, and in about one year he went home on a visit with about two hundred and fifty dollars in silver, wrapped up in a cheekered handkerchief, thus early evideneing that industry and thrift which have resulted in financial success in his riper years. After a few weeks he again left home, trav- elled through several of the Southern States, and returning to Baltimore re-engaged in his old employment. After about thirteen months, heset up business for himself, which he carried on sueeessfully for about seven years. Ile was then induced to invest several thousand dollars in the brick business. About three years after making this investment, finding that business more profitable than manufacturing combs, he gave up the latter and turned his whole attention to the brick trade. In this latter business he has been suc- cessfully engaged for thirty years. He has also been a successful speculator in real estate. In some other outside speculations he has not been so fortunate. The aggregate of life, however, shows him to have been a successful busi- ness man-the result of untiring industry, perseverance, eaution, and good judgment. In 1861, Mr. Chase was a member of the City Council. For about ten years he has been a director of the People's Bank ; and for a number of years, a trustee of the Westminster Presbyterian Church. In 1834, he married Susanna, danghter of William Disney, of Baltimore. She died in 1850, leaving four children. In 1804, he married Rebecca, daughter of Hon. Moses Newell, of West Newberry, Massachusetts, a substantial farmer, who for many years was a member of the Senate of his own State. Mr. Chase has now eight children, two of whom, a son and a daughter, are married.

ROOK, CHARLES, JR., Retired Merchant and Manu- facturer, was born in the city of Baltimore, corner of King's and Howard Streets (formerly Whiskey and Carpenter Alleys), May 5, 1794. His father, Walter Crook, was born in Back River Neck, Balti- more County, Maryland, in the year 1762, and removed to Baltimore city, where he carried on the cabinetmaking business very snecessfully for many years. Ile died very suddenly, in 1825, leaving six children, three sons and three daughters, the oldest of whom is the subject of this sketeh. Mr. Crook received his education in the city of Baltimore, and at the age of fifteen, went into the counting- room of Mark U. Pringle, Baltimore, in December, 1809, where he remained for about two years, when he entered the employ of William Wilson & Sons, among the oldest and wealthiest shipping merchants in Baltimore at that ,, time. After remaining there a short time, he was appointed bookkeeper in the Bank of Baltimore, in 1812, and re- mained in that situation for four years, when he became a partner of the firm of William Wilson & Sons. He was a member of that firm for eight years, after which he bought the cotton factory of Robert and Alexander MeKim, and commenced the manufacture of cotton duck, being the first ever made in the United States. He continued working at this business for ten years, or until the year 1830, after which he retired from active business, except, subsequently, being occupied for a few years in the shoe factory of his son, G. W. M. Crook. On March 23, 1823, he was mar- ried to Miss Sarah Ann Brown, daughter of John Brown, of Baltimore eity, eleven children being the fruit of this marriage, seven sons and four daughters, of whom five are living, three sons and two daughters. The oldest daughter, living, Mary Ann, married Dr. Joseph 11. Criggs, who is now (1878) a prosperous farmer in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. The oldest son, living, Charles, is a farmer, in Howard County, Maryland. The next oklest son, G. W. M. Crook, is extensively engaged in the shoe business, at 43 North Eutaw Street, Baltimore. Mr. Crook's first wife died, April 14, 1864, at Mount Pleasant, Anne Arundel County, Mary- land, after a married life of forty-one years of uninter- rupted happiness. She was a lady of superior intelligence and great excellencies of character. George Peabody, the great philanthropist, was a suitor for the hand of Miss Brown at the time she was courted by Mr. Crook. On January 8, 1867, at the age of seventy-three, Mr. Crook married Miss Angelique Leadrich, daughter of John J. Leadrich, of Mollown, Upper Alsace, France, by which marriage he has three children, all daughters. Although now at the age of eighty-live, Mr. Crook exhibits remarka- ble bodily vigor and is in the full possession of all his in- tellectual faculties. His life has been one of great activity und usefulness. He was a member and the Secretary of the Baltimore " Independent Blues" Military Company, Cap- tain A. R. Levering, which was present and displayed great bravery at the battle of North Point, and was the

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nearest company to the advance columns of the British troops. It is the opinion of himself and others that the Butich General Ross was killed by some of the members of this company, who formed a part of the skirmish line to obstruct the passage of the British troops to the city of Baltimore. He is one of the few surviving members of the gallant band of patriots known as the Old Defenders of Baltimore,

BURTIS, WILLIAM WALLACE, Lawyer, was born near Mount Vernon, Knox County, Ohio, Novem- ber 9, 1828. Ilis parents were William and Sally Curtis, his mother's maiden name being Curtis. A singular coincidence' is shown in the names of his 0 grandfathers; both bearing the name of Z. Curtis, and both serving throughout the entire war of the Revolution. llis mother's family on the maternal side were lineal de- scendants from the Yale family, of Wales, and his father of the Tompkins family, of New York. In 1809, his parents went to Ohio, accompanied by his mother's entire family. Her family became one of influence in that then new coun- try, two of her brothers, losmer and Henry B., attaining eminence at the bar. Her youngest brother, General Samuel R. Curtis, served with distinction in two Con- gresses, and as a Major-General during the American civil war. His father's immediate family consisted of eleven children, of whom seven are now living (1879). Mr. Curtis's early education was received in the common schools of his day, with the addition of one or two terms at an academy. At the age of seventeen, as was then the cus- tom, he was compelled to leave school and start out to pro- vide for himself. At the age of twenty, he commenced a course of reading preparatory to entering the legal profes- sion ; but after a short time, he abandoned it for mercantile life. In 1854, he removed to Dixon, Illinois, and opened an extensive hardware establishment. He there married Miss Jane I .. Backus, of Brandon, Vermont, October 10, 1855, and removed to Fulton, Illinois, in 1856, and from thence to Washington, D. C., in April, 1861. On his ar- rival at Washington he was appointed to a clerkship in the General Land Office, and soon afterward promoted to the head of one of the principal divisions of that burcau. In 1870, he was constituted Chief Clerk of the office, and served as such during a portion of the administration of Commissioner Wilson, and through the administrations of Commissioners Drummond and Burdett, frequently filling the position of Acting Commissioner. Mr. Curtis resigned his position, January 1, 1876, to enter upon the practice of law as land attorney. On leaving the office he was hon- ored with the most flattering testimonials from his superior officers and others who had been associated with him. Ile opened his office on Ninth Street, Washington, D. C., and entered upon a prosperous practice, which steadily in-

. creascd, until it became necessary to associate others with him, the firm now being known as Curtis, Earle & Bur- dett. He took up his residence, January 1, 1863, in George- town, D. C., in which place he has lived ever since, Ile has been somewhat largely connected with local matters in that city, being a member of the Council at the time the municipality was ended and the territorial government es- tablished for the District. He has taken an active interest in educational matters under the old corporation, and since, having served continuously on the School Board from 1870, and for three years was Secretary and Treasurer of the Georgetown Board. Shortly after the consolidation of the various Boards of the District, he was elected President of the Consolidated Board and was twice re-elected. Dur- ing the administration of Governors Cook and Shepherd, the erection of a new school building in Georgetown, suitable to the wants of the community, was decided upon .. As treasurer of the building committee, the principal labor of superintending the construction and providing means to carry it on fell upon him. After expending forty thousand dollars, no further money could be obtained from the Dis- triet revenues, and an appeal was made to Congress for aid. Mr. Curtis was untiring in his efforts to secure Congres- sional assistance, and finally, with the aid of Superin- tendent Wilson and others, secured an appropriation of fifty thousand eight hundred dollars to complete the build- ing. In recognition of these services, the Board of Trustees named the building the " Curtis School.". It is an impos- ing and commodious structure, crected at a cost of one hundred and nine thousand dollars; containing in addition to the public schools, the Peabody Library and Linthicum Institute; also, the Curtis llall, which serves for purposes of lectures, concerts, etc. To Mr. Curtis, as much as to any one man, are the people of Georgetown indebted for the splendid educational advantages they enjoy. Ile is a man of superior qualities of head and heart ; of great pub- lic spirit and genial disposition, and in his professional capacity, of more than ordinary ability. Mr. Curtis has had several children, but one of whom is living, his son Charles William Curtis.

AGINDO ONTEE, HONORABLE BENJAMIN, D.D., was born in 1755, in Prince George's County, Maryland. On June 29, 1776, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Continental Army, He was a conscientious, brave, and humanet soldier, admired by his brother officers and beloved by his men. When in- dependence was established, he visited France, Spain, and England, and returned home with his mind enriched with thoughtful observations of foreign countries and govern- ments, but retained all his native simplicity which distin- guished him through life. He was a member of Congress

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in 1787, 1788, 1789 and 1790, and though, from natural | diffidence, he seldom spoke, he was justly considered an · able representative among great men. He was indefatigable in inquiry, calm in deliberation, profound and correct in judgment, bold, honest and independent in action. After he retired from Congress, he was appointed one of the judges of the Orphans' Court of Charles County, a position which he filled with credit. In the year 1803, he found his true vocation on earth, and was ordained, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Thomas John Claggett, D.D., a clergyman of the Protestant Espiscopal Church, and took charge of the Parish of William and Mary's, in Charles County, Mary- land. In 1808, Trinity Parish was placed under him, and also, in 1811, St. Paul's Parish, in Prince George's County. lle was for many years an influential member of the Standing Committee, and, in 1814, came within a few votes of being elected Bishop of the Diocese of Maryland. At the time of his death, in 1816, he was the Chief Judge of the Orphans' Court of Charles County, Maryland. The striking traits of his character were a quick sense of right and all its obligations of duty, an amiability of disposition which could not be ruffled, a dignity and quiet repose of manner which nothing could disturb, a strength of de- cision, which was softencd and made beautifully attrac- tive by the love he bore his fellow-men, and deep picty. lle was a refined, cultivated Christian gentleman.

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The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Maryland and District of Columbia Pt. 1, Part 24

Author: National Biographical Publishing Co. 4n Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Baltimore : National Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 844

Author: National Biographical Publishing Co. 4n
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Baltimore : National Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 844