USA > Washington DC > The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Maryland and District of Columbia Pt. 1 > Part 37
USA > Maryland > The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Maryland and District of Columbia Pt. 1 > Part 37
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the same time with her husband. They have had four children. The sons, George G. and Gustavus Warfield, are engaged in the business of railroad supplies in Phila- delphia. George ti. lost his wife in 1875. Gustavus W. married the youngest daughter of John P. Crozer, a widely known and wealthy manufacturer of Upland, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. They have three children, William Gray, Lucy, and Eva Crozer Knowles. The second child of Dr. and Mrs. Knowles, Mary W., married William II. Horner. She died in February, 1876, leaving three chil- dren, Martha Thomas Horner, Mary Warfield Horner, and Emma Crozer Horner, since deceased. Their youngest daughter, Louisa K., is the wife of Clarence A. Evans, of Baltimore. They have two children, William Knowles and Emma Crozer Evans. Dr. Knowles is one of the most successful and highly respected physicians of Balti- more. His practice has always been very large, and while he is sought by the best citizens, the poor have during his long and useful life found in him a faithful, sympathizing, and valuable friend. Few men combine so many elements that insure popularity and usefulness. Thoroughly cordial and hearty, his evident sincerity impresses all with whom he meets, and enables him to influence them in the best manner. lle is a man of rare excellencies; as good as he is able and learned.
OUGLAS, GEORGE, Journalist and Lawyer, was born, in Florida, February 22, 1856. He is the son of Henry Douglas and Ann (Prendiable) Douglas. On his father's side, he represents an old and distinguished Scotch family. Ilis grand- father, Henry Douglas, held the rank of captain of in- fantry in the British army, and was killed in an engage- ment, in Ilindostan, during one of the Sepoy rebellions. ITis mother was born in Woolwich, England. Her father, Maurice Prendiable,was a native of Ireland, where his ancestors had lived for many generations, The subject of this sketch received his education at Georgetown Col- lege, D. C., graduated, with distinction, in June, 1873, and received the degree of Master of Arts in 1877. In 1874, when but eighteen years of age, Mr. Douglas was selected as city editor of The Capital, which was founded and conducted by that versatile genius, scholar, and poet, Colonel Don Piatt. The genius of the " boy editor" soon made its own road; his bright literary gems, in prose and poetry, his masterly criticisms, tempered by an excellent judgment, gave promise of a brilliant future. lu 1875 Mr. Douglas was tendered a position on the l'itts- burgh Leader ; this he accepted and still holds. In 1870 he was promoted to the managing editorship of The Capi- tal. In June, 1877, he was admitted to the bar of the District of Columbia, but his editorial duties leave him
little time for legal practice. Although one of the youngest managing editors in the United States, Mr. Douglas has attained, by his talents and industry, a high rank among metropolitan journalists. As a descriptive writer he excels. His fine classical education, as well as his acquaintance with history, ancient and modern, are evinced in the columns of his papers, which have been strengthened very materially by his contributions. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Church. His father was originally a Presbyterian, but became a convert to Catholicity, after close, earnest reading, and mature delib- eration. ITis mother was always a Catholic, as were her ancestors for many generations. Mr. Douglas is five feet ten inches in stature; of handsome and well-propor- tioned figure ; has dark brown, curly hair, and blue eyes. His face, always smooth-shaven, strong and manly, is of Roman mould, and indicative of histrionic talent. He is unmarried, and lives with his parents, for whom he has the most affectionate devotion.
MORGAN, THOMAS P., Major and Superintendent of the Metropolitan Police of the District of Co- lumbia, was born in Alexandria, then in the District, November 2, 1821. His parents were members of the Society of Friends. His father having died when he was about eleven years of age, an uncle residing in Montgomery County, Maryland, adopted him, sending him to school in the winter, and employing him on the farm all the rest of the year. At the age of fifteen he was apprenticed to Dr. Howard, a reputable apothecary of Washington, whom he afterwards suc- ceeded. On account of ill health, he gave up that busi- ness and engaged in manufacturing and commercial pur- suits for some years. In 1847 he was elected a member of the Common Council of the city of Washington, and in 1851 a member of the Board of Aldermen. Ilis ability as a municipal officer was speedily recognized by the citizens of Washington, and from time to time he was a member of the city government, until 1861. He has also served as a member of the Board of School Trustees of the District of Columbia, and was a Director in the old Bank of the Metropolis, now the National Metropolitan Bank. Major Morgan was the first agent of the New York line of steamers running between Georgetown, Washington, Alexandria, Norfolk, and New Vork. HIc was also largely interested in this kind of business in New Orleans, Mobile, Baltimore, Charleston, and the District of Columbia. During the war, he held the responsible posi- tion of QQuartermaster's Agent, in charge of water trans- portation. In March, 1873, he was appointed President of the Board of Fire Commissioners of the District. While serving in this capacity, he won the esteem of his colleagues
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on the Board, who pronounce him an untiring and devoted officer, lle has been a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church since 1840, and is at present an official member of the Foundery Station in Washington. Since his first connection with the denomination, he has been an active officer in the church and Sunday-school. Ile is now President of the Washington Grove Camp-meeting Asso- ciation. lle was President of the Young Men's Christian Association during a part of the years 1877-8. His in- terest in the work of this association is untiring. His sympathy with the unfortunate, especially young men, is of the warmest kind; and there are many in the city of Washington who could testify to his noble deeds of charity. Ile was appointed Major and Superintendent of the Metropolitan Police of the District of Columbia, Feb- ruary 2, 1878. Shortly after his appointment, the Board of Police Commissioners was abolished, and their entire duties turned over to Major Morgan. He has continued to discharge the duties of both without embarrassing the police department, but rather making it of greater effi- ciency, and at less cost to the District and General Gov- ernment.
CALAROGERS, ROBERT LYON, Lawyer and United States Commissioner for the District of Maryland, was born in Baltimore in 1827. His youth, up to the age of about fourteen years, was spent at his grand- father's farm, in Baltimore County, where he en- joyed the advantages of the best private schools of the neighborhood. At the age of fourteen years he was placed at boarding-school, at Sandy Spring, Montgomery County, Maryland, remaining there about three years. On account of impaired health, it was deemed advisable for him to take up his residence temporarily in the South, and, in 1844, he located in Tennessee, where he entered upon the study of law in the office of his cousin, Thomas C. Lyon, a gentleman who enjoyed eminent distinction in the legal profession. After a yluously pursuing his law studies for two years, he entered Dare Law College, of Harvard University, graduating therefrom with high honor in the spring of 1848, with the degree of LL.B. While on his return to Baltimore, he met with a relative who had just been appointed to the command of the United States frigate Cumberland, which was then in the port of New York, and about to sail on a eruise in the Mediterranean. The commander tendered to Mr. Rogers the appoint- ment of his private secretaryship, which the latter accepted. The voyage occupied two years, during which time Mr. Rogers visited all the interesting ports on the Mediterra- nean, and made excursions to many of the most celebrated and historical cities of Asia Minor and Egypt. He also made a general tour through the southern portion of Europe. On his return to Baltimore, he established him-
self in the practice of his profession, which he has suc- cessfully pursued thence to the present time. Mr. Rogers's law practice has not only been very extensive in Baltimore city, but also through Baltimore and Carroll counties. Ile succeeded the late Hon. Judge Parkin Scott as Auditor of the Circuit Court of Baltimore City, which position he re- signed after the expiration of about four years. On April 4, 1867, he was appointed United States Commissioner for the District of Maryland, the responsible duties of which he has performed with rare ability and faithfulness. He has been compelled to adjudicate many important crimi- nal and civil cases, which have been referred to him as Master in Chancery of the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of Maryland. The above position is still held by Mr. Rogers, he having acquitted himself therein in a manner that makes his retention most desir- able for the public good. The father of the subject of this sketch was Micajah Rogers, who was a native of Massachu- setts, and graduated at Harvard University in the class of 1817, which embraced among its members such distin- guished men as George Bancroft, Caleb Cushing, Jared Sparks, and others of cqual eminence in literature and statesmanship. After graduating, he removed to Baltimore, where he established a select classical academy, and also entered upon the study of law. He subsequently became an extensive farmer in Carroll County, Maryland, and repre- sented said county in the State Legislature of 1844. He married Mary Lyon, youngest daughter of Major Robert Lyon, of Baltimore County, who was a distinguished officer in the American Revolutionary service. The latter's father was Dr. William Lyon, a prominent physician of his day, and among the first settlers of Baltimoretown. In 1857 Robert Lyon Rogers married Miss Ann R. Hall, his second cousin, and daughter of Washington Hall, of Mount Wel- come, Cecil County, Maryland, the Halls being one of the . most ancient and highly honored of Maryland's many noble families. In person Mr. Rogers is tall and commanding, and his general appearance and manners indicate great force of character. He is a gentleman of marked ability, in or out of his profession; possesses original and decided views on all subjects, which he enforces with clear and cogent reasoning, and ocenpies a position socially, intel- lectually, and officially, that places him among the most. highly esteemed of Maryland's representative men.
UKEHART, THOMAS MURPHY, was born in Bal- timore, June 18, 1835. llis father, the late llenry Dukchart, was born in the same city, in 1794. Ile was well known and highly esteemed, noted for integrity and praiseworthy qualities in business and social life. At the battle of North Point, in 1814, he was a member of the " Sharpshooters," com-
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manded by Captain Edward Aisquith. Thomas Murphy, whose niece he married, and after whom the subject of this sketch was named, was also a member of that com- pany. Mr. Dukchart was detailed, after the British forces retreated, to convey to Baltimore, for burial, the dead bodies of Wells and MeComas, who gained the honor of having killed General Ross, the British commander, and were themselves shot by a volley of musketry from the encmy. Ile was also at the battle of Bladensburg, under command of .Commodore Barney, and wounded there. For some years subsequently he was engaged in the cabi- netmaking business. Toward the close of life he devoted himself to farming, near Parkton, Maryland, and died in 1868, aged seventy-four years. He was of German de- scent ; his wife's ancestors came from Ireland. They had six sons and four daughters. Thomas Murphy, his com- panion in arms at North Point, was one of the well-known early editors and proprietors of the Baltimore American. Hle died in 1860, possessed of a large fortune. After obtaining a good common-school education, young Duke- hart went to Reading, Pennsylvania, at the age of seven- teen, and learned the trade of a machinist in the Reading Railroad shops. In the latter part of 1858, he entered the United States navy, and the following year received his commission as third assistant engineer. At the competi- tive examination for admission to the service, only twenty- five out of one hundred candidates were successful. He ranked number eleven, and, in subsequent examinations for promotion, he ranked number three, and then number one. The first three years of his naval life were on board the United States steamer Wyoming, Captain John K. Mitchell. In her he visited the Arctic Ocean, Sandwich Islands, and other places of note, and assisted in the search after the ill-fated sloop of war Levant. In 1862 he was ordered from San Francisco to Bath, Maine, to superintend the placing of the machinery of the Katah- din, one of the forty-three gunboats fitting out at that time. Upon the completion of that duty he acted as her chief engineer for three years. Mr. Dukchart took part in forty-three engagements during the late war, among which were the capture of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, and also Port Hudson, passing through the forts at Vicks- burg. In both attacks he was attached to the Taney, which towed the powder-boat to blow up the fort, and on account of gallant daring therein, received a compli- mentary note appreciative of his conduct. Ile was also present at the capture of the Plymouth, and one of the daring volunteers who accompanied the dashing Cushing in his first and unsuccessful attempt to blow up the ram Albemarle. Whilst on duty in the Mississippi squadron, on the coast off Galveston, he received a letter of thanks from llon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, for having so well kept his engines in serviceable condition during two years, incurring but trifling expense to the government, causing all repairs to be done by his own men. At Forts
Jackson and St. Philip he rendered serviceable a number of guns, which had been condemned as useless, by drilling new vent-holes and inserting buckings. After the war, Mr. Dukchatt was in charge of the Algonquin in her great contest at the docks with the Wynowski, the trial being for the purpose of testing the relative merits of the Isherwood and Dickerson engines. It resulted in a victory to the former. He subsequently passed three years at the Naval Academy, Annapolis, as Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy and Chemistry as applied to Mechanics. - Ile was afterwards attached to the Nipsic, engaged in the survey of the Isthmus of Darien. Re- turning home, he obtained a leave of absence for one year, to experiment with Ransom's method of manufac- turing concrete stone. He introduced several improve- ments in the manufacture. In 1873 he resigned from the navy, and became associated with Mr. Jacob Medtart in the brewing of ale and porter, for which his practical knowledge as a machinist, and thorough acquirements in chemistry, and inventive genius, especially qualified him. Owing in a great measure to improvements introduced by Mr. Duke- hart, the Medtart ale and porter attained excellence and popularity in all parts of the country. The senior partner, Mr. Medtart, having deceased, the brewery has since been conducted by Mr. Dukchart as the sole proprietor. The brewery is an extensive establishment, employing a large capital and many operatives. In 1863 Mr. Dukehart married the daughter of J. Wesley Krebs, Esq., of Balti- more. "They have three children.
YSTER, GEORGE HUPP, M.D., Baltimore, was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, March 4, 1840, being the eldest son of Dr. William D. and Mary Catharine (HInpp) Kyster. His father, a native of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, was a descendant of one of the oldest and most highly respectable families of that city. They were of German origin and among the carly settlers of that State. His father removed to Virginia in early life, and became one of the most eminent physi- cians of that part of the State. . Dr. Martin Hupp, the ma- ternal grandfather of Dr. Kyster, was also a physician of great prominence, having no superior in his time. He died in 1830. Dr. George II. Eyster was carefully reared in one of the best homes of Virginia. When the civil war broke out he was a cadet at the Virginia Military Institute, and he, with the other members of his clays, enlisted in the Confederate service. They were placed in the regular army under General R. E. Lee. The fine military figure of Mr. Eyster, together with his superior courage and abil- ity, made him a general favorite with the officers, and al- though having but just attained his majority, he was appointed to staff duty, in General Early's division, and
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was retained in that service during the entire period of the war. Most of the time he was on the staff of General Smith, Ile actively participated in twenty seven infantry and many cavalry engagements, and was with Lee's army at the time of its surrender. Although he, with soute eighteen hundred others escaped, and did not actually sur- render, yet they were included in the terms of the con- vention. After the war Mr. Eyster pursued his studies at the University of Virginia till 1866, when he matriculated at the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York, graduating M.D., in March, 1868. Dr. Ryster at once opened an office in Staunton, Virginia, and commenced the practice of his profession. He continued in that town five years, securing an extensive practice and winning the confidence and esteem of the entire community, as an able and successful physician, and as a conscientious Christian gentleman, In 1873 he decided to seek a wider sphere of labor and usefulness, and in October of that year removed to Baltimore city, locating at No. I Waverly Terrace, where he still ( 1879) remains. During his residence there he has made hosts of friends and patrons, and secured an enviable reputation as one of the most popular, skilful, and successful physicians in the city. He is a thorough student, and keeps himself well up with the advancement of his chosen science. Dr. Eyster is the physician to the Aged Women's Ilome, and also to the Aged Men's Home. Hle is a prominent member of the Medical and Chirurgical faculty of Maryland, and of the Baltimore Acad- emy of Medicine, In religion he is a member of the Bap- tist Church. He was married in November, 1869, to Miss Josephine English, of Virginia, daughter of Colonel John A. English, and granddaughter of ex-Governor Johnson of the same State. They had the misfortune to lose their only child in infancy.
1 . ANEKER, EDWIN F., Soldier and Superintendent of the Government buildings in Baltimore, was born in that city, May 10, 1837. He was the sixth son of John J. and Sarah Daneker. He received a good common-school education, and at sixteen years of age went to learn the trade of millwright. In this business he continued till the war broke out, In Novem- ber, 1861, he enlisted in Dix's Light Infantry, a regiment named after General Dix, then commanding at Fort Mc- Ilenry, The regiment remaining inactive for several inonths, he was one of ninety who volunteered to enter the First Maryland Light Artillery, and at once joined Com- pany A, at Yorktown, just prior to the Peninsula campaign. He was in nearly all the battles and skirmishes of that cam- paigu, under General Mcclellan; was in the seven days' fight, including the battle of Malvern Hill ; his battery was in the division that was sent to the front, at the time of the
second battle of Bull Run. They arrived just as the Fed- cral lines gave way, and a line was at once formed to ar- rest the retreat. Ile was stationed ou picket duty, and it rained all night. They were afterwards sent into Mary- land, and were at the cugagement at South Mountain, Sep- tember 14, 1862. Up to that time he had been in all the engagements and battles with his command, and had not been sick a day or received a wound; but three days after this, when in the thickest of the carnage at Antietam, his left foot was, shot off by a cannon-ball. Ile continued to encourage his fellow-soldiers, and bade them not to leave the guns to care for him. But he was tenderly removed to a place of safety, and his leg amputated just below the knee. This closed his military career, He was one of four brothers who enlisted at the same time in that battery, and he was the only one of. the four that was wounded. The others all served out their time. Their names were John F. Daneker, sergeant, promoted to a lieu- tenancy ; Charles W. Daneker, corporal ; and Samuel 11. Daneker, private. Mr. Daneker had proved a brave and faithful soldier, and had been appointed sergeant on the march from Alexandria to South Mountain. After recov- ering from his wound he sought an appointment as a com- missioned officer in the Invalid Corps. Finding that the army regulations only permitted soldiers and officers to enter this corps in the same rank they held in the army, he declined to become a member of that branch of the service. The following letter and indorsement, however, are given to show in what esteem he was held. The first is from Cap- tain James II. Rigby, commander of the battery in which he served, and is dated, Headquarters, Battery A, First Maryland Artillery, January 7, 1864, and is addressed to Mr. Edwin Daneker, as follows : " It is with pleasure that I refer to your connection with my command as a non- commissioned officer, and sincerely regret that the wound which you received on the ever-memorable field .of An- tietam, has so disabled you as to unfit you for those arduous duties of a soldier in the field which you so faithfully and honorably discharged while a sergeant of Battery A, First Maryland Volunteer Artillery. Although you have been so unfortunate as to be maimed for life in your early manhood, it should be a consolation to you to know that it was a sacrifice offered upon the altar of your country, in defence of her honor; and that your bravery on the field, the heroic fortitude with which you bore your sufferings, after being wounded, your faithful- ness as a non-commissioned officer, and your general good qualities as a man, have won for you the admiration of your officers, and the respect and esteem of youf late comrades, May you long enjoy the honors you have so nobly and so .gallantly won," In communicating this letter to Governor Bradford, the Secretary of State made the following in- dorsement : " Annapolis, March 1, 1864. I have read the foregoing testimonial of his commanding officer to the gal- lant and heroic services of Sergeant Edwin Dancker, of
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Battery A, First Maryland Artillery, and desire to add to its just recognition of his worth as a soldier, one word in regard to his character as a man. He is moral, temperate in his habits, and reliable in every respect. I speak from personal knowledge, and would earnestly recommend him to the Provost . Marshal-General for promotion into the In- valid Corps, with such rank as his exalted bravery and devotion to the service of his country may entitle him to re- ceive." Signed, William B. Hill, Secretary of State. The father of Mr. Dancker being sheriff of the city of Balti- more, he served as deputy under him, but was removed when the Democrats came into power. In 1868, when Gen- eral Grant became President, he was appointed Superin- tendent of the Government buildings, by Collector Thomas. This position he still retains. Ile is called " Captain," by general consent. Ile has made a fine military record, and is a truly representative soldier and a worthy man.
ROOMBS, DR. W. OTTERBIEN, Homoeopathic Physi- cian, Baltimore, was born in Warrior's Mark, Inut- ingdon County, Pennsylvania, February 14, 1842, being the second son of Rev. Isaac and Elizabeth (Forney) Coombs. . His father, who was very proud of the sturdy Scotch-Irish race from which he was de- scended, was an able and faithful minister in the United Brethren Church. He was pastor of several of the most flourishing congregations of that order in Pennsylvania and Carroll County, Maryland, and died, in 1854, at the age of forty-six years. His wife, who is of German de- scent, afterwards married Reverend, now Dr. Samuel Enterline, of Baltimore city, and is still living. Mr. Coombs attended such public and private schools as were found in the several places where his parents resided. After the death of his father he prepared himself for a teacher, by attending a normal institute in York County, Pennsylvania, taught by Professor G. W. Ileiges, and after teaching some time, graduated at Cottage Hill College, under the same instructor. On the breaking out of the war, on April 20, 1861, he enlisted in the Union army as a private sollier, for the defence of his country, but in less than a month he was detailed to the Hospital Depart- ment of the Ninth Army Corps in the Army of the Potomac, under General Keys. So ably and satisfactorily did he perform the duties to which he was assigned, that he was retained in that position till the close of his three years' term of enlistment. He devoted himself to the study of medicine and rose to the rank of Medical Cadet, the highest rank in the medical department of the army that can be obtained without having first seenred the degree of M.D. Yet most of the time he performed the duties of as. sistant surgeon. He was honorably discharged, August, 18o.j. After the war he resmined his former vocation, ably
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