USA > Washington DC > The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Maryland and District of Columbia Pt. 1 > Part 40
USA > Maryland > The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Maryland and District of Columbia Pt. 1 > Part 40
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Ilolland cultivated an early taste for literary exercises, and as a speaker is earnest, forcible and logical. He has deliv- ered addresses and read essays before the Murray Institute ; a Fourth of July oration, in 1843, before the Universalist Sunday school and Church; another before a joint celebra- tion of citizens of Baltimore and Howard counties, at Ellicott City, July 4, 1855, which was published and ilicited much comment on account of its strong American sentiments. He has been twice married. Ilis first wife was Miss Frederica Landeman, to whom he was married October 23, 1843. She died June 4, 1846, leaving two children, one of whom survived her but three weeks. The eldest, John M. Holland, is now a resident of Philadel- phia. ITis second wife was Miss Eleanor Myers, to whom he was married March 24, 1853. She was a daughter of Captain John Myers, and half sister to his first wife. She died September 7, 1873, leaving five children, all of whom are living at the time of this writing. There were two others that died in infancy and before their mother's de- cease. Since the death of his last wife he has remained a widower, mingling but little in society and taking but little part in public affairs. Since the above was written, Col- onel Ilolland has again been called into public life by his fellow-citizens of Baltimore. The independent Republi- can Convention of the Fourth Congressional District of Maryland, comprising the ten upper wards of the city, met August 27, 1878, and unanimously nominated him as their candidate for Congress, at the election to be held November 5, following. This nomination was made by the Republicans of the district independently of the regu- lar city organization, and while unsought and unexpected by Colonel Holland, was accepted by him as a tender of the good will and confidence of his fellow-citizens. The regular Republican Convention of the city, which met Sep- tember 4, following, also unanimously nominated him for the same position, both wings of the Republican party thus uniting upon him as their standard-bearer in the political contest for members of the 46th Congress. This nomi- nation Colonel Holland also accepted, pledging himself as an advocate for the resumption of specie payment by the Government at the time now fixed by law, January 1, 1879; in favor of the National Banking System, and the payment of the public debt according to the face of the contract with public creditors. After an active and energetic can- vass, during which he made many speeches, devoted prin- cipally to the discussion of questions of political economy, and especially upon the financial issues of the day, taking strong ground in favor of a sound metalhe based currency, he was defeated, at the election, by K. M. McLane, the Democratie candidate.
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C NYDER, COLONEL HENRY, Ex-President State Sen- ate of Maryland, was born in Chambersburg, Penn- sylvania, April 11, 1802. Ile is the son of John and Margaret Snyder, both natives of Pennsylvania, but of German descent. His mother's name before her marriage was Peters. His father was a brewer by oc- cupation, and died when Henry was only two years of age. Ilis grandfather, on both sides, came from Germany, and settled in Pennsylvania before the Revolutionary war. Be- tween the ages of . ight and fourteen, Henry attended pri- vate schools. In 1816 he was apprenticed, not indentured, to his brother-in-law, at the cabinet and chair-making busi- ness. From 1832 to 1835 he represented York County, Pennsylvania, in the llouse of Representatives; and in that State, in 1828, was elected and served for seven years as Colonel of an independent battalion. In 1835 he went to Baltimore, and from that time to 1839 he kept the " Golden Horse Hotel," corner of Franklin and lloward Streets. From 1838 to 1845 he represented the Tenth, Fourteenth and Twentieth wards, at different times, in the first branch of the City Council, and served as magistrate from 1839 to 1845. Under Mayor Jacob G. Davies, he served as City Collector, from 1845 to 1849, and from 1850 to 1854 he was deputy postmaster under President Pierce's administration, Colonel Jacob G. Davies being postmaster. Mr. Snyder resigned a position in the Appeal Tax Court under Mayor John Smith Hollins, to accept the deputy postmastership. lle was elected to represent the Second District of Baltimore in the State Senate, serving from 1867 to 1869, and re-elected, in 1869, for four years. During this last term he was President of the Senate. At its expiration he declined a re-nomination. From 1868 to 1870 he served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Bayview Asylum, and from 1872 to 1877 he served as President of that board, resigning the position December 6, 1877. The record of Colonel Snyder is that of a man of integrity, of honor, and of service, both to his native State and that of his adoption, as well as to the city of his residence. To his credit be it said, he never sought office, and never paid money, except for printing tickets. He is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the German Reformed Church-the church of his parents. He married Miss Ann M. Swentzel, who died in May, 1852, by whom he had two sons and one daughter, John J., Henry, Margaret E., all married and living in Baltimore, the elder son being an attorney and the younger a merchant.
USSELBAUGHI, WILLIAM HI. B., President of the Board of Police Commissioners of Baltimore city, was born, September 18, 1825, in Baltimore. The family of which he is a scion have resided in the vicinity of Exeter Street, Old Town, in that city, for nearly a century. Ilis father, William Fusselbangh, was a
highly esteemed citizen, engaged for many years in the paint and oil business, and was a consistent member of the Exeter Street Methodist Episcopal Church. His mother, Mary Donovan, was a native of Baltimore, and of Irish descent. He received his early education in the public schools of his native city. On attaining his majority, he commenced the paint and oil business on his own account, on Lexing- ton Street, but on the decease of his father, in 1847, he took charge of his father's establishment, and has contin- ved it successfully until the present writing. lle was a member of the Independent Fire Company, of the old vol- unteer organization, and also of the Independent Grays, a well-known military company of Baltimore. In 1851 Mr. Fusselbaugh was appointed by the Legislature a member of the Board of Control and Review, for the adjustment of the assessment of taxcs; and in 1856 he was one of the assessors. He has been twice appointed as an official vis- itor to the Baltimore City Jail ; and three times chosen by the State Legislature a member of the Board of Police Commissioners of the same city. His last election consti- tutes him a member of that board until 1881. Since 1871 he has been its president. lle is a gentleman of good personal appearance, pleasant address, business qualifiea- tions in an eminent degree, and of executive ability. Po- litically, he is a Democrat ; religiously, a Methodist. His wife was Miss Sarah R. Ilall, a daughter of Major Robert Ilall. The fruits of that union have been nine children, six of whom are living, viz., Sarah, Robert, John S., William, Josephine, Charles, living, and Mary, William and Ilenry B., deceased.
VONRY, WILLIAM P., Ph. D., Analytical and Con- sulting Chemist, and Chemical Expert, Baltimore, was born in the city of Sligo, Ireland, April 16, 1840. lle is the eldest son of William and Cath- arine (Brennan) Tonry. His father, who is a last- maker by trade, removed during his infancy to Saint John, New Brunswick, where he continued his business till 1848, when such a revolution was effected in it by the in- troduction of machinery, that he found it to his interest to remove to Boston, Massachusetts, where he still resides. Professor Tonry attended the public schools of Saint John and Boston, and passed through the grammar school in the latter city. At the age of sixteen he was sent by his parents to Maryland, and commenced his collegiate studies in St. Charles College, in Howard County. After com- pleting the usual curriculum, he entered the Georgetown College, District of Columbia, for the purpose of pursuing a thorough post-graduate course with the Jesuit students, in moral philosophy and the natural sciences, Having been at this celebrated institution four years, he completed his course, in 1865, and was immediately appointed adjunct
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Professor of Chemistry in the same college. This was a position not only in harmony with his tastes, but with his long formed purpose of devoting his life to that fascinat ing science. In 1866, he accepted the position of assist. ant chemist in the laboratory of the Surgeon-General of the United States army, in Washington, which position he filled with great ability till he was discharged by a special order, issued June 21, 1869, four days after his marriage with Miss Annie E. Suratt, of Prince George's County, Maryland. Hle embraced that opportunity to travel through the United States, particularly the Western States, with a possible view of locating in one of their growing cities, but he finally decided to return to Baltimore, where he established a laboratory, as an analytical and consulting chemist and chemical expert; where he has since con- tinued with uninterrupted success, winning for himself an enviable reputation as one of the most eminent scien- tists in the State. In 1871 Professor Tonry accepted the chair of Analytical and Applied Chemistry at the Maryland Institute, which he filled with conspicuous ability and ad- vantage to the institution till September, 1878. While in charge of the chemical department of that school, Pro- fessor Tonry received from his Alma Mater, Georgetown College, the honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy. That was the first degree of the kind ever conferred by that venerable institution since its incorporation in 1790. That degree from Georgetown College is equal to the same degree from European institutions, as the faculty require, not only a theoretic, but a practical knowledge of the nat- ural sciences, also a full course of moral philosophy, pur- sned in the Latin tongue. Dr. Tonry has been engaged as chemical expert in many suits at law, notably those of Mrs. Wharton, charged with the poisoning of General Ketchum, and for the murder of Mr. Van Ness, which obtained a world-wide notoriety, being engaged by the State. lle was also engaged in the prosecution of Mrs. Lloyd, of Leesburg, Va., for the poisoning of her hus- band and children; and in others, too numerous to spe- cify. Besides his customary duties, he has given numerous publie lectures, at the Maryland Institute, Peabody Insti- tute, and Maryland Academy of Science, on popular and scientific subjects, which have been unsurpassed for the interest they have awakened, for the learning they have exhibited, and for the brilliancy and eloquence of their delivery. He has always manifested a deep interest in educational and political affairs. In 1876 he was ap- pointeil a member of the school board from the Eighth Ward, which he held till elected, in 1877, to the second branch of the City Council, for the term of two years. liv that body he has become prominent by his persistent oppo- sition to extravagant legislation, and his eloquent advocacy of honest local government. Largely through his efforts the appropriation for 1877 was reduced half a million dol- lars, He holds that city government should be lifted out of the domain of party politics, and managed with the in-
tegrity aml prilence that a firm would manage its busi- ness ; although for national matters he believes in parties, and is a stanch adherent of the Democratic party, while in religion he is a Roman Catholic. He is a leading men- ber of the Maryland Academy of Science, and also of the American Public Health Association. Dr. Tonry is a gen- tleman of unblemished character, and among scientific and learned men holds a ileservedlly high rank. His knowl- edge of the natural sciences, particularly of chemistry, is both extensive and accurate, and in cases requiring abso- lute certainty, his tests and decisions are regarded as final by those best able to form a reliable judgment. He is now in the prime of manhood, and gives promise of a useful and honorable career beyond the average of human life. Dr. and Mrs. Tonry have four children, viz., William, Albert, Reginald, and Clara.
NIXON, JOHN A. J., was born in Georgetown, Dis- trict of Columbia, October 11, 1824. His father, Thomas Dixon, was born in St. Mary's County, Maryland, of English parents. His mother, Mary Young, was born in Montgomery County, same State; she was of Scotch and German descent. John receivedl his early education partly in Georgetown, and partly in the public schools of Baltimore. At the age of ten years he was apprenticed to learn the comb and brick-making business. In 1843 he moved to Georgetown, where he remained one year, and then returned to Baltimore. In 1848 he was employed to take charge of and conduct a large brick-making establishment, which he did with great success for five years. Having accumulated a small amount of capital, he began, in 1852, the brick-making business on his own account, which he still ( 1878) success- fully carries on. His business has always been on the cash principle. During twenty-five years he never gave but three notes, and only asked for two discounts. Ile was elected to the City Council, from the Seventeenth Ward, by the Reform party, in the fall of 1860. The late Mayor Kane appointed him as one of the Lafayette Square Com- missioners, which position he now holds. Mr. Dixon is a stockholder in the Carrollton llotel, also a stockholder in the South Baltimore Savings Bank, and has been its president since the second year of its organization, in 1872. He is a member of Warren Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Although baptized in the Presby- terian Church, in early manhood he becante a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but in 1851 he associa- ted himself with the Light Street Methodist Protestant Church on its organization, and was superintendent of its Sunday-school from 1853 to 1870. Politically he was an old-line Whig, but is now strictly Conservative. Hle mar. ried, February 3, 1843, Miss Solener Ross, of Calvert
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County. Twelve children were the issue of this marriage, the eldest, a son, being the only survivor, and now living at Cambridge, Maryland. Mr. Dixon is an energetic busi- ness man, a true friend, and an active and consistent Chris- ti.m.
LACIDE, HENRY S., was born in Baltimore, Octo- ber 28, 1800. Ilis father, Paul Placide, was a native of Bordeaux, France ; his mother, Louisa Placide, was born in Paris, France. They came to America at the time of the French revolution. Be- ing a cooper, he established himself in that business on South Frederick Street, where he successfully prosecuted it for many years. During the war of IS12, he took up arms in defence of the city of his adoption, and fought at the battle of North Point. In after-life, he had many in- cidents to relate of those stirring times. He died at the age of sixty-eight. Henry, the subject of this sketch, was the first-born of seven children. IIe received the usual education afforded in the Baltimore schools of that day, studying with creditable industry. Ilis father's health be- coming feeble, IIenry was installed, at the age of nineteen, as manager and representative of the business, which he conducted most successfully for a period of more than forty years, building it up by his energy and close application, until it became the leading house in that line in Balti- more. As a business man, he was cautious and took high rank in the community for integrity. Ile was a man of strong sympathies, and liberally contributed in an unosten- tatious way to the relief of the distressed, and to all ob- jects that had for their end the public good. In the home circle, he was loving and indulgent almost to a fault. At his decease he left his family in comfortable circumstances. In personal appearance, he was of medium height, dark complexion, and of pleasant kindly countenance. The business founded by his father is now conducted by his sons, Henry B., and Jennings Placide, thus being trans- mitted into the third generation. In 1822, he married Susan E. S. Daly, a native of Norfolk, Virginia, in her sixteenth year at the time of her marriage. As the fruits of that marriage there were thirteen children, of whom but five are now living, as follows: Elizabeth J., who married Charles W. Walker, and has three children living; Louisa F., who married A. F. Dunlevy, and has had two chil- dren, but one of whom (Lulie P'.) is living; Jennings; Sue E., and Alice Blanche. In politics he was an old-line Whig, but abstained from all prominence as a politician. When his friends would have nominated him for City Councilman, his sensitively modest and retiring disposi- tion led him to decline the honor. He was a devout Christian, and a member of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church South, for many years prior to his death.
EVRIES, HENRY ORMAN, Agent of Maryland State Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, was born February 20, 1826, near Sykesville, Carroll County, Mary- land. He was the son of Saib and Sarah Devries,
2 His father was a native of Holland, and came to this country with his parents in 1803, when he was but three years old. At an early age he commenced farming near Sykesville, and succeeding well, held a leading position among the agriculturists of the county. Mr. II. O. Devries's mother's maiden name was Elder ; she was of English de- scent. His paternal grandfather was a paper manufacturer and farmer. The Devries family held a prominent place in the wars of Holland in the seventeenth century. The late William Devries, an honorable and highly esteemed drygoods merchant of Baltimore, was an uncle of the sub- ject of this sketch. Mr. Devries's parents had seven chil- dren : Ann E. Diecker, Caroline Norris, Ilenry Orman, Mary R., William T., Christian, and Benjamin F., all of whom are living but the last-named. Mr. Devries's early advantages of education were limited to the ordinary schools of his day in the section of country where he lived. When thirteen years of age, he was employed in a drug store in Waynesborough, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and studied medicine under Dr. Oelig of that place. Two years later, in 1842, he returned home and commenced life as a farmer. Ifis tastes always inclined to the plain and sub- stantial rather than to the showy and ornamental, and for this reason he had a decided preference for agricultural pursuits. March 14, 1850, he married Miss Ann E. Ship- ley, daughter of Judge J. II. Shipley, of Carroll County, Maryland, and grandniece of Colonel Beal Randall, of Baltimore County. In the same year, yielding to the ad- vice of friends, he engaged in mercantile business at Reis- tertown, in which he continued for five years with fair success ; but at the end of that period, he returned to the more congenial occupation of farming. Ile located in Howard County, on a part of the estate formerly owned by General John Eager Iloward, and adjoining the Duhorigan Manor. Shortly after his settlement there, he was selected as one of the judges of the Orphans' Court, in which posi- tion he served acceptably for six years. During the war, he was solicited to accept offices of trust and honor, but he declined them all. After peace had been declared, he was chosen, with great unanimity, as a delegate to the Consti- tutional Convention of the State, held in 1867, and he thus became one of the framers of its present organic law. Since that time he has been frequently urged to accept public office, but has in every instance given a decided negative. One of his peculiar characteristics is the faculty he possesses of adjusting difficulties in his neighborhood and preventing suits at law. Mr. Devries was early inter- ested in the Grange organization in the West, and he looked forward to it as most promising to the agricultural interests of the country. In his judgment, it was the much-needed and long-desired relief. When the organization was effected
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in Maryland, he was one of the first to become identified with it, serving it in subordinate County and State capaci- ties until, at the inauguration of the Maryland Grange Agency, Patrons of Husbandry, he was selected by the Executive Committee, March 10, 1876, to represent the Order in its new enterprise in the city of Baltimore; this he has done creditably to himself and to the entire satisfac- tion of the Grangers of Maryland. Under his supervision, the enterprise has fully demonstrated the wisdom of its projectors in becoming the medium between the producer and the consumer. By its means, the wants of each have been satisfactorily met, and thousands of dollars saved to both. Through the executive business capacity of Mr. Devries in the organization and general management of the Agency, the proof is manifest that the movement is no longer an experiment, but beyond question, a grand suc- cess, centralizing, harmonizing, and advancing the agri- cultural interests of the State, and lessening in very large measure the hitherto just complaints of the consumer. Mr. Devries is highly esteemed as an honorable citizen and as one of the best friends of husbandry in the State. As to his religious belief, he is an Armenian, and is a member of the Methodist Church. In politics, he has always subor- dinated party questions to what he considered the general interests of the country. Mr. Devries has had seven chil- dren, named as follows : Annie E., who married Dr. L. M. Shipley, of Howard County, Maryland; Newton W .; Al- pheus C .; Mary Jane, who married R. S. Maxwell, a farmer, of Howard County; Benjamin F., Cora, and Martha, all of whom are living except the first-named son.
-3 GRAVES, REV. URIEL, pastor of St. John's English Evangelical Independent Lutheran Church, Balti- more, was born at Freysbush, Montgomery County, New York, December 11, 1837. His parents origi- bally were members of the Dutch Reformed Church; afterward, the Methodist Episcopal; and finally united with the Evangelical Association, of which they are now members. Mr. Graves's father, Rev. Henry Graves, is a minister of that denomination. Mr. Graves was the eldest of five children. Although he was in delicate health in early life, he commenced going to school at six years of age, and continued with but slight interruptions until his nineteenth year. During his childhood, he felt that he had a call for the ministry, and at once began to prepare himself for that profession. He commenced preaching when thirteen years of age, and has been preaching ever since. He never attended a regular theological college, but is a self taught theologian. He entered his first charge as a licentiate in 1857, and served four years, when he was examined and ordained in company with a class of gradu-
ates from Hartwick Seminary, at the Synodical meeting of the Frankean Lutheran Synod of the State of New York. Ile has devoted much time to the study of the various systems of theology, and although a firm adherent to the doctrines upon which his faith is based, he is not restricted to narrow sectarian views. In consequence of a misun- derstanding between Mr. Graves and the Lutheran Synod of Maryland, based upon charges which a church trial proved to have had no foundation, and of which he was acquitted, he withdrew from that body. Three and a half years prior to his withdrawal therefrom, he was installed as pastor of the Third English Evangelical Lutheran Church of Baltimore, which congregation he served for two and a half years. Ile resigned the pastorate thereof some time before his withdrawal from the Synod, and soon after organized another congregation. At a meeting held in Temperance Temple, Baltimore, Sunday evening, April 1, 1877, which was largely attended, Mr. Graves delivered a sermon setting forth the facts of his trial, and giving his reasons for withdrawing from the Synod, which was pub- lished in pamphlet form and widely circulated. On that occasion, Mr. Graves reaffirmed his faith in the doctrines of the Lutheran Church, and announced his intention to maintain them on an independent platform. Although he has had to meet considerable opposition, he has succeeded in building up a prosperous church in Baltimore, and has greatly enlarged his sphere of usefulness. In addition to his pastoral labors, he has undertaken the editorial and financial management of a monthly religious paper, the Working Watcher and Family Guest, a five column folio. He has been an earnest and energetic worker in the tem- perance cause, laboring both for the reformation of the in- ebriate and the cultivation of public sentiment in favor of prohibitory legislation. Being a fluent and forcible ex- temporaneous speaker, he has rendered the cause good service. He occasionally lectures on other subjects of public interest. He was married, October 1, 1857, to Lucinda, daughter of John Strong, Canada West, and has live children living. Ilis eldest son, M. C. W. Graves, assists his father in the publication of his paper.
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