USA > Washington DC > The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Maryland and District of Columbia Pt. 1 > Part 34
USA > Maryland > The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Maryland and District of Columbia Pt. 1 > Part 34
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PARRABEE, EPHRAIM, senior partner of the firm of E. Larrabee & Sons, of Baltimore, dealers in leather, hides and shoe-findings, was born in Balti- more, November 21, 1803. He was the son of Dan-
Záj iel and Anne Larrabee, members of the Society of Friends. His father was a native of Massachusetts, but
of French descent; four brothers of that name having come from France, and settled in the New England States, nearly two hundred years ago, They were farmers. His father, while yet a young man, went to New York und opened a ladies' shoe store, on Maiden Lane. When the yellow fever prevailed in that city, in 1798, he closed his store and acted as a nurse with Dr. Trip, a celebrated physician of that day, and an uncle of Mr. E. Larrabee's mother. In the fall, after the subsidence of the fever, Mr. Daniel Larrabee married Anne Wheeler, daughter of Joseph Wheeler, of Hudson, on the Hudson River, New York. Mr. Wheeler was a prominent member of the Society of Friends, of English descent; an influential man in his county, settling most of the difficulties arising in his neigh- borhood without resorting to law. Miss Wheeler, after- wards Mrs. Larrabee, was mild in her manners, but of strong and active mind. After their marriage they removed to Baltimore, and opened a shoe store on Market, now Baltimore Street, opposite Post-office Avenue, then called Tripolet's Alley. That store was fitted up by Jacob Small, builder, in after years Mayor of the city. fle sub- sequently removed to No. 22 South Calvert Street, and opencd a shoe-finding store, and connected with it the manufacture of boot and shoe lasts. The building was of brick, imported from England, and is said to have been the first brick structure in Baltimore, and was erected for a hotel. It was the headquarters of Gen- eral Washington, while in Baltimore, where he was enter- tained and honored by the citizens. Mr. Larrabee, in his twenty-first year, succeeded his father in the business, in 1824. Some years before, having a strong desire to prac- tice medicine, he had been reading with a physician, but being in delicate health, and fearing his inability on that account to devote himself to the practice, he abandoned the study for that time, and with a view to more active outdoor exercise, worked at the carpenter trade, at which he continued until he succeeded to his father's business. lle, however, subsequently received a diploma from the Botanical Medical College, of Macon, Georgia, conferring upon him the degree of M.D., but he has never used the title. Mr. Larrabee commenced business with but little means, his father having lost nearly all he had by becom- ing security for others. By industry and economy, however, he soon began to acquire capital. In 1828, he removed from Calvert Street, Baltimore, to the head of Cheapside, his store fronting Calvert Street, Water and Cheapside. He married, April 26, 1831, Ann Burns, daughter of William and Eliza- beth Burns, of Philadelphia, both pious Christians. When the cholera broke out in Baltimore, in 1832, he formed a copartnership with his brother-in-law, Ward Sears, in cs- tablishing the Thomsonian botanic medicine business, and erected a mill for the especial purpose of preparing that class of medicines. They took an'active and successful part in relieving those attacked with that fearful disease. They continued the business, prosperously, until their mill
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and dwelling were destroyed by fire, April 9, 1835, entail- ing heavy loss, having neglected, for a few days only, the renewal of their insurance. Immediately after the fire, Mr. Larrabee purchased the property No. 20 South Calvert Street, also the property in its rear, and rebuilt on a more extensive scale. He there continued the medicine business in connection with the shoe-finding and manufacture of lasts. In 1847 he took down the old house, corner of Calvert and Mercer Streets, and built the two brick ware- houses, Nos. 22 and 24, now standing. In 1848 he re- moved from No. 20 to 24, adding leather to his other busi- ness. In the same year he invented and patented an up- right refrigerator, a novel shower-bath, and a water-cooler, which met with great success. Several years since, having sold out the medicine, refrigerator, and shower-bath branches of his business, he and his sons, three of whom he took in as partners (one now deceased), confined them- selves to leather, hides, and shoe-findings, under the firm of E. Larrabee & Sons, in the extensive iron-front ware- house, No. 20 South Calvert Street, which he built in 1852. From a small beginning, the business has extended itself to most of the States. Mr. Larrabee has ever been a man of self-reliance, believing that he could accomplish any- thing he undertook. Early in life he could take a turn at almost anything, and was able to construct any little me- chanical contrivance. He had, too, a natural aptitude for nursing, and at twelve years of age assisted a surgcon in setting a broken limb. Ile has been his own physician, and almost exelusively that of his eight children, who have all come to maturity. 1Ie is now (1879) an active and hearty man, at the age of seventy-five, and rises, nearly the year round, at five o'clock in the morning. He never held, and would not accept, any public office. Politically, he has always been a Whig, advocating the principles of that party at all times, believing them to be best for the country's interests. He has seen no cause for change, and has not, therefore, identified himself with any other party. Ile gave his first vote for John Quincy Adams, and of late years has voted for the man who, in his judgment, is best qualified for the office, irrespective of party. He has no military record, save that of aiding in defence of the city against the mob of 1835. Mr. Larrabee became a member of the Masonic order when he was twenty-one years of age, and has taken its several degrees. He was actively en- gaged in its work until 1835, when he found, in conse- quence of the fire which had caused him so much loss, that he must necessarily attend closely to his business, day and night, He therefore withkrew, because he could not give to it proper attention. He has travelled extensively in the United States, and has twice visited Cuba ; his chief object in all his journeys being healthy recreation and physical improvement. Ilis general appearance is that of health and bodily strength, together with that of youth, as com. pued with his age. Although an early riser, his usual time for retiring is from ten to eleven at night, five hours'
sleep being all he needs out of the twenty four. Ile bas never used tobaceo since he was fifteen years of age, nor spirituous liquors, except as a medicine, and then very sparingly. Hle is of a social disposition, and loves good . society. He has been in business for fifty four years, and for nearly sixty years has been within one square of his present place of business. In all that time he has never had a serious difficulty with any of his neighbors. In his deal- ings with others he has never regarded himself under any obligations to his customers, as he has always furnished them with good articles at fair prices. His success in life is attributable to industry, perseverance, economy, and general good management. He is the only survivor of all the business men who were on Calvert Street fifty years ago. Mr. Larrabee has been President of the Carrollton Hotel Company for the last four years, and is President of the Chesapeake Guano Company, both of which positions he serves without pay. He was President of the Wyoming Coal and Transportation Mutual Company, which has since been leased to the Riverside Coal and Iron Company. Ilis religious views, which are peculiarly his own, he never ob. trudes upon others; and he regards the peculiarities of others with the largest charity.
PPLEMAN, ALPHEUS R., President of the Ha- gerstown Agricultural Implement Manufactur- ing Company, was born at Middletown, Mary- land, July 19, 1836. His parents were John and Naney Appleman. The former was a native of Washington County, and of German descent. Ilis ances- tors eame to this country about the year 1700, and settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Mr. Alpheus Apple- man is descended, on his mother's side, from an English family, founded by Richard Sadler, who came to this country also about the year 1700, and settled in Adams County, Pennsylvania, the native place of Mrs. Appleman. lle received only a limited education in the schools of Middletown, carly displaying great taste and aptitude for trading and trafficking. He was very fond of fishing and hunting, in which he had frequent opportunities of indulg- ing. His father was by occupation a tanner, and on leav- ing school he worked with him till he was twenty years of age, and learned the trade. Then concluding that he pre- ferred saddlery to tanning, he learned that trade also. When he reached the age of twenty-one, his father and himself started a saddle and harness factory in connection with their tannery in Middletown, which was successfully carried on from' 1856 to 1862, under the firm name of John Appleman & Son. In the latter year his father died, and his son closed the business. March 1, 1864, he removed to Hagerstown, and entered into the brokerage business. 'The name of the firm was Gantz & Appleman, until 1866,
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when it became Appleman & Brother, under which name it remained until 1870, when the Citizens' National Bank of Hagerstown was organized, and Mr. Appleman was made its President. On the ist of August, 1874, he, in connection with the Hon. Jacob Tome and the llon. J. A. J. Creswell, removed the bank to Washington city, purchasing for their use the building formerly occupied by Jay Cooke & Co. Mr. Creswell was made President, and Mr. Appleman Vice-President of the bank. Ile held this position until October 1, 1878, when he returned to Ilagers- town, to give his personal attention to the Agricultural Im- plement Manufacturing Company of that place, of which he was elected President. This company was incorporated by himself and four other gentlemen, January 1, 1869, with a capital of $40,000. They commenced the building of horse-rakes, grain-drills, and clover-hullers, with twenty hands. The capital of the company is now $100,000, and they employ upwards of one hundred hands. The manu- factory is one of the largest in Western Maryland, pro- ducing $200,000 worth of machines per annum. From the time of its organization it has been a favorite enter- prise with Mr. Appleman, and its success is largely due to his persistent and energetic efforts in its behalf. He was one of the firm of Zeigler, Gantz & Company, who helped to build the Washington County Railroad, between Ila- gerstown and Weaverton. Ile has always been a thorough Republican, and was elected ou that ticket to the Mary- land Legislature, serving in the sessions of 1866 and 1867. Joining the Masonie order in Hagerstown, in 1864, he afterwards became a member of the Maryland Chapter, in Baltimore, and still later, a member of the De Molay Mounted Commandery, No. 4, of Washington, District of Columbia. In this order he is now a Sir Knight. llis being one of the oldest Methodist families of the State,
he was carefully reared in that faith, to which his maturer years have given hearty and full indorsement. Mr. Apple- man was united in marriage, January 28, 1862, to Annie C. Baker, of Washington County. Iler family connection is one of the largest and most prominent in that county.
RONAVIN, MATTHEW WATSON, M.D., was born, April 11, 1838, at Shippensburg, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. llis parents were Levi K. and Mary K. (McConnell) Donavin, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, the former being of Irish and the latter of Scotch descent. They were married in 1825, and had seven children, three sons and four daughters, namely : Mary J., Annie R., Simpson K., John W., Matthew W., Lizzie V., and Sallie B. Don- avin. Dr. Donavin's paternal grandfather, John Donavin, emigrated from the county of Armagh, in the North of Ireland, in 1794, and settled in Lancaster County, Pen-
sylvania, where he married, and in 1806, removed to and settled in that beautiful section of Pennsylvania which is designated as the Cumberland Valley. He had four children, three sons and one daughter. The maternal an- cestors of Dr. Donavin came to this country in 1684, and took up their residence in the eastern section of Pennsyl- vania, where they continued until about the year 1735, when they removed to and permanently settled in the Cum - berland Valley, at a point called " Rocky Springs," in what is now known as Franklin County. At the commence- ment of the Revolutionary war, the family consisted of William McConnell, his wife, and seven sons and one daughter. They were eminently patriotic and zealous in their devotion to the cause of their country. The father and six sons sealed their love for liberty with their lives during the struggle, leaving the youngest son, Dr. Dona- vin's great-grandfather, as the only male survivor of the family. Dr. Donavin belongs to the class termed " self- made men." His early years were spent with his parents at Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, where he attended the public schools until he was fourteen years of age, diligently applying himself to the branches taught there. From his fourteenth to his seventeenth year he assisted his father, who was engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1855, in his seventeenth year, he left the parental roof, and started out to fight the battle of life alone. He first went to Charles- town, Virginia, where his brother Simpson had purchased a newspaper called the Spirit of Jefferson. Here he en- gaged with Dr. L. M. Smith to learn the drug business ; but his employer having discontinued business the follow- ing year, Matthew went to Washington, and was employed in the drug store of J. D. O'Donnell until the latter part of 1857, when he removed to Baltimore, and was employed by William T. Ely for one year, at the end of which time he formed a copartnership with Mr. Ely, and, under the firm name of M. W. Donavin & Co., established and con- ducted a drug store on the corner of Eutaw and Lee Streets, in that city. In 1860, the interest of Mr. Ely was purchased by 11. W. Arnold, and the business removed to the southeast corner of Sharp and Lee Streets, where it was carried on under the firm name of Donavin & Arnold, until 1861, when Dr. Donavin purchased the interest of Mr. Arnold, since which time he has been sole proprietor. By diligence, integrity, and rare economy, he established himself as a successful business man. Actuated by a de- sire to enlarge his knowledge and to extend his usefulness, he now entered upon the study of medicine at the Univer- sity of Maryland School of Medicine. Ile selected as his preceptors Doctors D. I. McKew and Richard McSherry, and after devoting himself diligently to study for three years, graduated with honor in the class of 1866. He has never entered actively upon the practice of his profession, preferring to continue in the business of pharmacy. Dr. Donavin is a Democrat in politics, and since attaining his majority, has taken an active interest in public affairs. In
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1872 he was appointed by Governor William Pinkney Whyte, without solicitation, Coroner of the Southern Dis- triet of Baltimore, the duties of which position he dis charged for a period of three years, when he resigned, to become a member of the First Branch of the City Council. He was first elected as a Councilman in the fall of 1874, and was twice re-elected to the same position from the same ward (the Fifteenth). In the fall of 1877 he was elected to represent the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Wards in the Second Branch of the City Council, for a term of two years, which position he now holds. He has always taken a prominent part in the proceedings of that body ; has served as a member of many important committees, having been a member of the Committees of Ways and Means and of Claims for four years ; and has frequently presided over the deliberations of the respective branches of which he was a member. He was a member of the commission appointed by the City Council to prepare a history of the new City Ilall, a handsome book, which reflects credit upon those who were charged with its preparation. As a Councilman, Dr. Donavin has always been attentive to his duties, especially so in regard to the routine labors in con- nection with the investigations and deliberations of com- mittees. The varied duties devolving upon committees, especially those on finance, claims, etc., necessitate much research and study. In the discharge of such duties Dr. Donavin has proved himself very efficient, and is generally regarded a wise and judicious legislator, who always keeps in view the rights of constituents on the one hand, and the duty of the corporation on the other. Although he has been zealous in all matters which have engaged the attention of the City Council during his membership, whether of local or general interest, he deserves special recognition for his indefatigable efforts to convert that eli- gible site known as Federal Hill into a public square. Efforts in this direction have been frequently made during the past twenty-five years, but without success. Notwith- standing the many obstacles with which he has had to con- tend, Dr. Donavin has succeeded in having the property condemned, and the hill with its historical associations and grand elevation promises ere long to become one of the most attractive places in Baltimore. The consumma- tion of this desirable public improvement has been some- what delayed in consequence of conflicting legislation on the part of the General Assembly of Maryland with ref- erence to the powers of the municipal corporation on the subject. Dr. Donavin has been an active member of the Masonic Fraternity for the past fifteen years, and has been honored by his brethren with the positions of Worshipful Master, High Priest, and Eminent Commander, respectively of his Lodge, Chapter, and Commandery, and is known as a " Bright Mason." He is also a member of the Knights of l'ythings, in the early organization of which order he took an active interest. His parents have been zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for more than
fifty years; and, like his father, who was a superintendent of Sunday-schools for more than twenty years, he takes great interest in the prosperity of the church. In 1866, he married Mary E. Berry, daughter of Jesse L. C. Berry, a lady of estimable and lovely character. Two children are the fruit of this marriage, Lucretia B. and Mary B. Don- avin. Dr. Donavin enjoys the confidence and csteem of the community in which he resides. His success in life is attributable to close application to business, the practice of the most rigid economy, and a prompt and faithful dis- charge of all the duties and obligations devolving upon him. He has made good use of his time in the acquisi- tion of knowledge, has always avoided the use of intoxi- cating beverages and the indulgence in needless expendi- tures of his means for idle pleasures, and has throughout life regulated his conduct in accordance with his concep- tion of true manhood.
ENNY, WILLIAM, M.D., of Kent Island, Queen Anne's County, was born at Love Point, on that island, May 20, 1825, and is descended from the family of the same name in Talbot County. Ilis father, John Denny, was a ship carpenter, mechanic, and farmer, and carried on his business not only on the island, but also in Baltimore, and in Harford County. Ile died in 1835, and his wife, Mary Tolson Denny, in 1839. Their son William was the eleventh child. Ile attended the district school irregularly from his ninth year. After reaching his sixteenth year, he enjoyed superior cduca- tional advantages, attending part of the time the Centre- ville Academy, and upon concluding his studies, taught school for three years. Ile then commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Samuel Chew, whose son is now one of the Professors in the University of Maryland. Receiving his degree in March, 1853, he settled at once in the practice of his profession upon the island of his birth, where for twenty-five years he has been continuously and most laboriously engaged. For five years he had the en- tire practice of the island, which is twenty miles in length, with an average width of six or seven miles. During some seasons his services were in constant requisition both day and night, and had he been as diligent in making his collections as in attending the sick, he would have accumu- lated considerable fortune ; but his leniency and sympathy for his patients were proverbial. Dr. Denny is strongly attached to the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he was educated, and also to the Protestant Episcopal Church, but has never made a religious profession. Ile was a member of the old Whig party, but since its dissolution has acknowledged no party ties, and his vote is given ac- cordingly, as the character of the candidate commends itself to his approval. He was married in 1857 to Kate S., daughter of William Errickson, of Kent Island, and has three children.
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ANFAIR, IL. S., was born June 7, 1808, at Rast Haven, Connecticut. Ilis ancestors were origi- nally from England. His father, Russel Lanfair, was a sea captain, and was engaged for several years in the First India trade, In 1812, while at sea, he was taken prisoner by the British, but was shortly afterward released. In his early manhood, Mr. Lanfair went to school at East Haven. When about thirteen years of age, he shipped as cook on a coasting vessel. This was a pretty severe task for so young a boy; but having a powerful physique, and a strong desire to see and to know, he soon became accustomed to the rough and tumble of a sailor's life, and drank in with all the eagerness of a being just awakened, the new sights and experiences of a seafaring life. Having quick perception, much natural shrewdness and promptness, he so familiarized himself with general seamanship and the science of navi- gation, that at the age of seventeen he became captain of a vessel. He was captain of different vessels for about thirty-seven years, and such was his carefulness and thrift, that during the last twenty years of the time he owned the vessels he commanded. So great was his caution and nautical skill, that he never lost a vessel he commanded ; neither did he ever lose a man. His voyages were for three years in the foreign trade; he was also engaged in the fruit business in connection with the West India Islands. He has had many vessels built under his super- vision. In 1855 he gave up following the sea, though he has ever since continued to hold an interest in different vessels. In 1859 he went to Baltimore and engaged in the oyster and fruit-packing business, under the firm name of Il. S. Lanfair & Company. In about three years the firm name was changed to D. D. Mallory & Company. In 1868 Mr. Lanfair withdrew from the firm, and engaged in the packing business solely on his own account. After- ward L. W. Councilman was associated as partner with him for about six years. On the withdrawal of Mr. Councilman, in 1876, Mr. Lanfair associated with him W. W. Crozier. The firm name is now H. S. Lanfair & Company. This house has done an extensive business. In 1828 Mr. Lanfair married Esther R., daughter of Eli Sanford, of Fair Haven, Connecticut. By persistent in- dustry, unflinching moral courage, and great natural sagacity, Mr. Lanfair has raised himself to large wealth and an honored social position. In youth and manhood, subjected to the peculiar and severe trials of a sailor's life, he well bore the ordeal, and like gold came out from the test brighter and purer, and fully illustrates how it is possi- ble for a young man to bring himself from poverty and ob- scurity to honorable position and business prosperity dur- ing a life surrounded at the beginning with discourage- ments sufficient to appal any but the stoutest heart. This Mr. Lanfair has done through his own exertions, and can well be classed among the self-made men of his day and generation.
EVANS, THOMAS B., M.D., was born in Baltimore, November 5, 1832. Ile was the eldest son of the Rev. David Evans, of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His literary education was received in the Baltimore Academy, where he graduated, in 1849. Being without the necessary means to enter a medical school, as he intended, he was compelled to accept a situ- ation as clerk in a pharmaceutical store, where he could acquire a knowledge of Materia Medica and pharmacy, and, at the same time, by economy and industry, acquired the money necessary to enable him to take a course of lec- tures in a school of medicine. This desire was accom- plished, and, in the fall of 1850, he entered the medical department of the Washington University, and, after attending two courses of lectures, graduated as a Doctor of Medicine, in the spring of 1853. Professor John C. S. " Monkur, with whom he was a student during the years of his collegiate course, the day after his graduation offered to take him in full partnership, which was deemed by many a most desirable position, as the practice of the doctor was a very lucrative one, and his standing as a physician second to none. After due consideration, this very complimentary offer was declined, and young Doctor Evans commenced alone the practice of his profession. For one year, how- ever, he assisted Dr. Monkur, in order to cancel the obli- gations incurred during his novitiate. Being industrious, and devoting all his time and energy to practice, he soon obtained a fair and liberal share of patronage, and laid the foundation of what is now deemed by many an hon- orable standing among the honored men in the medical profession of his State. He has also acquired a reputation for skill and ability among the community in general. The doctor's practice is large and lucrative. He is a member of the Maryland Academy of Science; of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland ; of the Baltimore Medical Association ; of the Medical and Surgical So- ciety ; of the Academy of Medicine of Baltimore, and of the American Medical Association. He was elected Presi- dent of the Medical and Surgical Society in 1873; and has held, and now holds, many positions of honor and trust in the various organizations with which he is identi- fied. He has contributed many and varied papers to the medical journals of the country, and published addresses, discourses, and scientific reports. Among these are papers on the Relationship between Physician and Druggist ; Therapeutics ; Relationship between Diphtheria and Scar- latina ; Hay Fever ; Aims of Medical Thought, etc. He was for many years Vaccine Physician in the city of Bal- timore, and was commissioned by Governor Bradford as Surgeon of the Baltimore City Guards, with the rank of Major, during his term of office. He was married to Miss Maggie J. Myers, of Frederick City, October 16, 1861.
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