USA > Washington DC > The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Maryland and District of Columbia Pt. 1 > Part 60
USA > Maryland > The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Maryland and District of Columbia Pt. 1 > Part 60
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House against our present United States Senator, the Ilon. William T. Hamilton, then entering public life. The con- test was a very exciting one, perhaps one of the most memorably personal ones that ever took place in the county, the Whigs staking the issue on Mr. Fowler, and the Democrats on Mr. Hamilton. In that stirring contest Mr. Fowler was successful, and well he earned his laurels." . As a member of the llouse of Delegates, he took an active part in the business of the session of 1847-48, and was a member of several important committees. It will appear by reference to the House Journal, February 28, 1848, page 341, that Mr. Fowler asked and obtained leave to report a bill to establish public schools in Washington County. This bill was afterward passed, during the same session, on March 9, 1848, and is known as the Act of 1848, chapter 232. Mr. Fowler often referred to the in- troduction and passage of this act as one of the most im- portant events in his early public life, and never ceased to feel a pardonable pride in having been among the first to foster and promote public education in the State of Mary- land. At the end of the session of the General Assembly of 1848, Mr. Fowler returned to his home in llagerstown, and soon afterwards, in conjunction with Mr. Frederick K. Zeigler, " became engaged in projecting and building several of the longest and most substantial turnpike roads in Washington County." Thus far his energies and abili- ties had had a comparatively limited field for their exercise. But in the year 1853 he established the firm of Fowler & Zeigler in the city of Baltimore. This firm was composed of himself and Mr. Fred. K. Zeigler; the former resided in Baltimore County, and attended to the business in the city, while the latter resided in Washington County, and gave his attention to the management of the large flouring mill and distillery owned by the firm, and situated on Antietam Creek, near Lestersburgh, where the celebrated "Ziegler whiskey " was manufactured. In the course of a few years, Mr. Fowler had become as well known in the city of Baltimore as he was in Western Maryland, and he and his firm had won a commercial reputation of the highest character, and a credit almost without limit. Ile was appointed a Director on the part of the State in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, and thus formed an intimacy and friendship with Mr. John W. Garrett, the late Johns Hopkins, and others then identified with the interests of that great corporation, and always retained their confidence and friendship. In 1862 he was elected by the General Assembly of Maryland to the position of State Treasurer, which position he occupied until the year 1870, when he was succeeded by John Merryman, Esq., of llayfields. Mr. Fowler and Mr. Merryman were both residents of Baltimore County, the former having resided there since 1856 at Harvest Home, his country residence on Wilkins Avenue, and the latter being a resident of the Eighth District of Baltimore County, where his magnificent estate, Hayfield, is situated.
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Throughout the long period of his official term of eight years, he discharged his duties with marked fidelity and ability. As Treasurer of the State, he protected the public credit and guarded the public money with such watchful and intelligent care, that he earned an enviable reputation in that position. There were times during his adminis- tration of the finances of the State, when, to devise ways and provide means to escape at least temporary embarrass- ment, all the expedients of his fertile brain and all the boldness of his self-reliant nature were called forth to enable him successfully to meet the emergencies. But at such times and in such emergencies, he would make a per- sonal appeal to the banks and capitalists of Baltimore to come to the aid of the State, and such was the confidence of all in his judgment and fidelity, that he never failed to secure by his own efforts, the funds necessary, in his opinion, to protect the public credit until such time as the revenues could be collected, or until the Legislature could make provision for the deficiency. After the expiration of Mr. Fowler's fourth term as State Treasurer, he again, for a short time, gave his entire attention to the business of his firm, which he had for several years confided to the care of his sons. He was not allowed, however, to re- main long in private life, nor permitted to devote his time exclusively to private business, for in the fall of 1873 he was nominated and elected by his fellow-citizens of Balti- more County, as a member of the House of Delegates of the General Assembly of Maryland. He consoled himself and assured his friends that he would never be a candi- date for another political office after the expiration of the session of 1874 ; and he appeared to be sincerely in earnest in this resolution to retire from the strife and turmoil of public life. Ile said in a private letter, written on the eve of one of his re-elections : " I am not desirous to continue as State Treasurer, as my pleasure is in being more at home." Ile was very much attached to his family, and enjoyed the quiet seclusion of his country home, which he had trans- formed from one of the least attractive, to one of the most beautiful and highly cultivated estates in Baltimore County. He had conceived further improvements and embellish- ments for " Harvest Home," as he called his country seat, and looked forward to many happy days which he hoped to pass there with his family and friends around him; but it was ordered otherwise. Soon after he took his seat in the House of Delegates, he was compelled by what he sup- posed was a severe coll, to return to his family, who were passing the winter at Barnum's Hotel in Baltimore city, where he was attacked with pneumonia, and after a sick- ness of six weeks, died at midnight, on March 3, 1874, at the age of sixty-one years and eight months. The news of his death was received throughout the State with manifes- tations of genuine sorrow. The public press in every county of the State and of every shade of political faith praised him as a faithful, efficient, and intelligent public officer, and as a generous, constant, and affectionate friend.
On March 4, 1874, Mr. Charles Bucannan, of Baltimore County, one of Mr. Fowler's colleagues, in announcing his death to the House of Delegates, said : " 1 do not rise to make any extended remarks upon the life and character of the deceased. His charitable hand, that has so often re- leved the wants of the needy, and his friendly and loving heart, in which there was always room for a friend, and his generous and noble nature, that prompted him to the deeds that have won for him the brightest color of his fame, speak his character in better terms than I can employ." The Hon. E. 1. Henkle, then a member of the House of Delegates, and now a member of the House of Represen- tatives from the Fifth Congressional District of Maryland, also paid a glowing tribute to his memory. Similar pro- ceedings were had in the Senate, and both houses came in a body to Baltimore the next day to accompany their friend and fellow-member to his resting-place in Loudon Park Cemetery. The funeral was largely attended, and the services were of a most impressive character. On Friday, March 6, 1874, the following resolutions were re- ported by a committee of the House of Delegates, consist- ing of Messrs. Bucannan, Freaner, Seth, Gill, and Koons, and were unanimously adopted :
" WHEREAS, It has pleased Divine Providence to remove from our midst the Ilon. Robert Fowler, a prominent member of this body, and for many years the occupant of responsible and distinguished offices of honor and profit under the government of this State; and whereas, in the judgment of this house his death is not only a great and deplorable loss to its councils, but is an event to be la- mented by the people of Maryland ; and it is, therefore, just and fitting that some expression of sentiment should be made by us touching the loss which has thus been sus- tained, therefore,
" Be it resolved by the House of Delegates of Maryland, That this body has learned with the most sincere and pain- ful regret of the untimely death of the llon. Robert Fow- ler, a member from Baltimore County :
" Resolved, That from his well-known record of past usefulness in various high positions of public trust, and the promise of still greater service from his expanding energies and matured experience in public affairs, we feel that the death of no member of this body could have been a greater loss either to itself or the publie of this State.
" Resolved, That we tender our sincere condolence to the family of our deceased friend and fellow-member, in this their sad bereavement.
" Resolved, That as a further mark of our respect, this house be draped in mourning during the residue of the session, and that each member wear the usual badge of mourning for the same period.
" Resolved, That the foregoing resolutions be entered upon the Journal, and that the Speaker be requested to transmit a copy of the same to the family of the deceased."
Eloquent and heartfelt tributes to the memory of Mr.
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Fowler were pronounced by Major George Freaner, of Washington County, William S. Keech, of Baltimore County, and others, after the resolutions had been pre- sented. In the course of Major Freaner's remarks, after commending Mr. Fowler's public life and services, he said : " Ile met every one- high or low, rich or poor-with a gladsome smile and a hearty cheer. He was never too hurried to stop and listen to all who desired to be heard upon any subject-social, political, or of business. Ile would not turn away from the humble to meet the great, nor cut the great to burrow with the humble. Ile was hardly ever known to deny a friend any reasonable re- quest, and his aid was not given grudgingly, but with that hearty good will which always made it doubly grateful to the recipient. In this way it was he gathered around him a host, some of them more conspicuous in many distin- guished characteristics than himself, but with these he al- ways felt his strength, and boldly pushed up upon a plane in business affairs and State matters where the ablest men of the State were contending, and stood amongst them an acknowledged compeer. He was also one of the most ., genial men in social qualities that this State has ever pro- duced ; his hospitalities being great and continuous, and humor and sparkling wit and hearty laughter flowed from him and always fell gently and kindly upon those around him. It was to these qualities, so happily blended . and under complete command, that Mr. Fowler owed pre- eminently his success." Mr. Fowler's prominent charac- teristics were clearness and quickness of conception, firm- ness of purpose, and decision in action. Ile was emphati- cally a man of action rather than of words. One who knew him well wrote a few days after his death : " There is one trait that he possessed above all men I ever knew, and that was forgiveness of those who differed from him, and even when he felt they had done him wrong. That feature alone in his character must commend him to the estimation of all, and perhaps cause a pang of regret, if not remorse, in the hearts of some." As an upright, faithful and intelligent public officer, as a citizen without reproach, as a self-sacrificing and affectionate friend, Robert Fowler will be long remembered by the people of this, his native State, and especially by the many whose homes and lives have been brightened by his generous hand and genial smile.
ONES, REV. GEORGE EDWARD, was born February 7, 1842, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, near what is now Richmond Furnace. His father is John E. Jones of the same vicinity. Mr. Jones re- a ceived his preparatory education in different schools, chiefly at Tuscarora Academy, Juniata County, Pennsylva- nia. At the breaking out of the civil war he joined a com-
pany recruiting for the " three months' service." After lying in camp for a month or so, the regiment was disbanded without having been minstered into service. Subsequently he left school and enlisted in the One hundred and twenty- sixth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. He served his time out, and again returned to school for about a year. In the spring of 1864 he again went into the army, and was in service until the close of the war. In September, 1865, he entered Lafayette College, Pennsylvania, graduating with honor in 1869. Ile won the " Fowler Prize " for profici- ency in the study of the English language, and also de- livered the Latin Salutatory of his class at commencement. He was appointed by the faculty of the college to deliver a Master's oration in 1872, but engagements to supply the pulpit of the Presbyterian Church of Milford, Delaware, during his seminary vacation, made it impracticable to ac- cept the honor. After completing his academic studies, Mr. Jones spent a year in teaching in Stamford, Connecti- cut. He then had an opportunity to enter the lowa State University at Des Moines, to organize and conduct the de- partment of Anglo-Saxon and English literature, but the letter containing the proffer of the position was delayed until Mr. Jones had entered the Theological Seminary at Princeton, New Jersey. He therefore continued his theo- logical course. After three years spent in Princeton he graduated in April, 1873. Ile received a call to become the pastor of Lower Brandywine Presbyterian Church, and was installed there, June 19 following, by the Presbytery of New Castle, where he remained until July 1, 1877. A domestic affliction led to a dissolution of the pastoral re- lation with that people. In May, 1874, Mr. Jones married Miss Annie MeDowell, daughter of the late James B. MeDowell, of Middletown, Delaware. She died Feb- ruary 18, 1877, and was buried in the same grave with her only child at Lower Brandywine Cemetery. At sixteen years of age she united with the Rock Presby- terian Church, Cecil County, Maryland, and was devoted to the church and Sabbath-school. Her funeral took place at the Lower Brandywine Presbyterian Church and was largely attended, the services being conducted by her former pastor, Rev. J. HI. Johns, assisted by the neighbor- ing ministers, G. L. Moore, R. P. Kennedy, L. Marks, and Mr. Smith. The Philadelphia Presbyterian and the Oxford Press paid a beautiful tribute to her memory. Her grace of manners, superior culture, and many excellencies of character, won the esteem of all who knew her. Mr. Jones's pastorate at Lower Brandywine was successful. The membership of the church was increased about one- third, a parsonage was erected, and upon his resignation a united congregation bore testimony to his faithfulness, earnestness, and devotion. Upon closing his labors in that field, June, 1877, he immediately removed to Baltimore, to become pastor of the Broadway Presbyterian Church, where he is now laboring successfully. As a preacher Mr. Jones presents the truths of the Gospel in a most simple and
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practical method, his purpose being to enable all to under- stand, and to induce them to become in heart and life fol- lowers of Christ. Avoiding neither doctrinal nor philo- sophical difficulties, he is remarkably successful in simpli- fying and analyzing what to many minds are obscure, and half-understood truths.
URNER, J. FRANK, Clerk of the Circuit Court for Talbot County, was born in that county November 2, 1844. His grandfather, Joseph Turner, was a farmer and prominent citizen of that county. His father, Joseph Turner,' Jr., died when his son was only two years old, leaving but slender provision for his family. Ilis mother, whose maiden name was Mary Clark, devoted herself to his training and education, but she also died and left him before he had completed his thirteenth year. He worked upon the farm during the busy season of the year, and attended the district school in the winter, until he reached the age of eighteen, when he was offered the position of Recorder in the office of Tilghman N. Chance, then Register of Wills of Talbot County, which he accepted and held till the following year, when his em- ployer's term of office expired. During this year he had exhibited a marked aptitude for writing, and for the duties of his position, and had won by his careful attention to the business intrusted to him, the esteem and confidence of Samuel T. Hopkins, then Clerk of the Circuit Court for Talbot County, who though opposed to Mr. Turner in poli- tics, Mr. Hopkins being then the acknowledged leader of the Union party in Talbot County, and Mr. Turner a Demo- crat, yet offered to the latter the position of Recorder in his office. Mr. Turner accepted, and entered upon his duties in the carly part of the year 1864. On the 13th of the following May he was qualified as one of the deputies of the Circuit Court for Talbot County, under Mr. Hop- kins, and held this position until the adoption of the new Constitution of 1807, when his friend and employer was lethed hom office. He was, however, immediately closen by Mr. John Baggy, Mr. Hopkins's successor in office, as his Chief Clerk and Deputy, and conducted during the entire term of Mr. Baggs the business and general management of the clerk's office in Talbot County. At the expiration of this term, in 1873, he was nominated by acclamation, by a convention of the Democratic party of Talbot County, to be Mr. Baggs's successor, and although one half of the Democratic ticket was defeated, his nomination was ratified by the people by a handsome majority. He enjoys the confidence of both political parties, while he adheres to the faith of his father and grandfather, who were Democrats. They were also strong Methodists, and Mr. Turner inclines to the same church. In all his busy career he has found time for the indulgence and culture of his literary tastes,
and his addresses on public occasions are highly esteemed. On June 7, 1871, Mr. Turner was united in marriage with Sallie Powell Hopkins, eldest daughter of Henry P. Hop- kins, a prominent citizen and farmer of Talbot County.
IENER, MORRIS, M.D., was born in Berlin, Prussia, January 15, 1812. Ilis father was Jas- per Wiener, Esq., a wealthy banker of that city. Ilis mother, whose family name was Morris, was born in the neighborhood of Glasgow, Scotland. At the early age of seven years the subject of this sketch was sent to Joalthimsthal Gymnasium College, where he graduated in 1828. In 1829 he entered the Berlin Fried- rich Wilhelm University as a student of philosophy. The following year he was taken seriously ill and was confined to his bed for over a year. When sufficiently recovered to endure the fatigue of travel, by the advice of his physi- cians, he left Berlin and for two years travelled through Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. The change of air and scenery, and the excitement and interest of his jour- neyings, gave elasticity and health to mind and body. On his return in 1832, he entered the University at Berlin as a student of medicine, studying under Ilufeland, Rust, Graefe (the father), Juenken, Bush, Wolf, and others. He graduated in 1836. The succeeding five years he practiced his profession in his native city. Much of his leisure he devoted to an investigation of the principles and practice of homeopathy, and believing that it rested on a firm and enduring basis of truth and reason, far excelling the old system in its power of healing and eradicating disease, he became it, earnest and zealous disciple. Thus, with a thorough knowledge both of the principles and practice of different systems of medicine, he emigrated to the United States in 1842, and continued in the practice of homeopathy. In 1849 be settled in Baltimore, where he has since con tinued in the practice of his profession. He has contrib uted many valuable articles to the medical journals. During his long practice in Baltimore he has met with that success which his scientific attainment, and professional skill so well merit.
CCLENAHAN, EBENEZER DIKEY, was born November 22, 1806, in Cecil County, Mary- land. Ilis parents were James and Mary ( Biddle) McClenahan. His grandparents emigrated to Amer-
-5 :2 ica, and settled in Cecil County, Maryland, about the year 1750. Their children were John, James, Mary, Margaret, Elizabeth, and Ellen. His grandparents on the paternal side, Samuel and Ellen, were Scotch Irish ; on
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the maternal side, English and Welsh. The country schools of that day afforded him his early education. When about ten years of age, Ebenezer attended the first Sunday-school that was organized in Maryland. That school was in- stituted by Sarah Wilson, daughter of Rev. John Wilson, a seceding Presbyterian minister. Mr. Wilson was an Eng- lishman, and proprietor of the New Leeds factory. The school was opened in the spring of 1816. Mr. McClena- han has been connected with Sunday-schools ever since, as scholar, teacher, and active worker. In 1832 he became a member of the first temperance society that was formed in Cecil County, and he has been noted for his labors and advanced views in the cause of temperance from that time. He was early apprenticed to a wheelwright and coach- maker, and, after serving his apprenticeship, removed to Elkton. In 1832 Mr. McClenahan commenced business on his own account in Port Deposit. He there married Margaret J., youngest daughter of John and Elizabeth Megredy. Aided by his brother-in-law, Daniel Megredy, who was extensively engaged in quarrying granite, Mr. McClenahan subsequently entered into the same business. Ile continued in that line for some years, and was suc- ceeded by his sons, who are now the leading men in that branch in the State. Since his retirement from that busi- ness, Mr. McClenahan has been engaged in real estate speculations and in contracting. His varied business trans- actions have called him into twenty-one States of the Union. In 1828, although reared under Presbyterian influence and taught in its faith, he connected himself with the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, and for more than fifty years has been an active and useful member of its communion. Ilis wife died February 12, 1877, on her sixty-eighth birthday. Their children are John Megredy, Robert Emory, Mary, Sarah W., Daniel Megredy, and Walter. John M. married Laura Jane Farron ; they have twelve children, named as follows: Virginia, Charles Alfred, Laura, Anna Laura, Mary, John, William, Howard, Robert Emory, Sumner- field, Hagerty, and Walter. Robert Emory married Eliza- beth Perry. Mary married Samuel Rowland Carson ; they have three children, Mary E., Walter M., and John C. Surah W. married Joseph W. Reynold. She died October 3, 1870, leaving seven children, Jacob Tome, Caroline Tome, Jesse, Mabel, Bertha, Robert Megredy, and Joseph Webb. Walter died June 19, 1876.
ARRISON, HION. JosErn, Legislator, was born February 22, 1823, in Berkeley County, Virginia. Ilis parents were Caleb and Elizabeth ( Blamer) Harrison. His mother died when he was two and a half years old, and his father when he was five. The family Bible and other records were lost, and he is
unable to trace his ancestry, but believes himself to be of the same family as President Harrison, whose birth was in Charles City County, of the same State. Ile was taken to live in the family of a distant relative, but they were people in humble circumstances, and after two years, ap- prenticed him at the age of seven years to a tailor, Mr. Eli Flemming, with whom he lived till he was twenty-one, when he removed to Washington County, Maryland, where he has since resided. He followed his trade a few years, then entered upon a general business eareer. Ile was Justice of the Peace for nearly twelve years; has specu- lated in lands, and owns several boats on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. In 1866 he was appointed Register by Governor Swann, which office he filled for four years. In 1877 he was elected to the General Assembly for two years, from January 1, 1878. As he is largely interested in the boating business on the great internal water highway of the State, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, he has several times been chosen to represent the boat-owners to the Governor, and obtain redress for grievances which they suffered. Mr. Harrison was married first to Miss Mary E. Synder, in 1849, by whom he had three children, only one of whom is living. She died in 1855. In 1856 he married Mrs. Mahala Eichelberger, by whom he has had one child, Benjamin F. In politics Mr. Harrison is now acting with the Democratic party. Ile was formerly a Whig, and has always been active in local politics. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
ELFLEY, HON. BATHASAR, State .Senator, named after a soldier who served during the entire Rev- olutionary war, was the son of Peter and Eva (Weimer) Wellley, and was born December 14, 1825, in Salisbury, Somerset County, Pennsyl- vania. Ilis father was born in Frederick County, Mary- land, in 1787. His great-grandfather came from Germany ucarly two hundred years ago. His maternal grandfather was an officer through the whole war of 1812. Mr. Welfley was educated at the common schools, and learned briekmaking. From 1840 to 1845 he was Captain of militia in Pennsylvania. He removed to Maryland in 1845, settling in Cumberland, where he remained till 1865, when he removed to Grant's Villa, Garrett County, where he still remains, engaged, as heretofore, in the brickmak- ing business. Before the civil war he was a Democrat, and since that time has been a Republican. In 1877 he was elected State Senator for four years. Ile is a member of the Lutheran Church. He married Miss Elizabeth Keine, daughter of Judge Keine, of Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
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