USA > Washington DC > Washington DC > The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Maryland and District of Columbia Pt. 2 > Part 19
USA > Maryland > The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Maryland and District of Columbia Pt. 2 > Part 19
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jeet, oud soon established the Union Orphan Asylmin, on the corner of Franklin and Schroder streets, Miss Purvi- ance being elected President, Mrs. Griffith one of the managers. Immediately after the evacuation of Richmond, while the blood stains were still fresh upon the battle fields, Mr. Griffith was up and at work for the relief of the refu- gees seeking succor across our borders. He invited Rev. George I'. Hays, Rev. Cyrus Dickson, D. D., Rev. E. R. Eschbach, of Baltimore, and Rev. Robert 11. Williams, of Frederick, to accompany him South, with a view of ascer- taining from personal contact and observation the condi- tion and necessities of the people at Richmond, Petersburg, and other portions of the Southern country impoverished and made desolate by the war, Mr. Griffith bearing the en- tire expenses. What they saw called forth the deepest commiseration, and challenged a free distribution of the stores which they had on hand, left over from the surplus of the Christian Commission supplies. On their return to Baltimore from a second visit, in which they included the Shenandoah Valley, they organized the Maryland Union Commission, Mr. Griffith being elected President. The first meeting was held in the rooms of the Christian Com- mission, April 18, 1865, and was carried on principally by the same gentlemen who had operated with him in his be- nevolent work during the war. In less than one year the committee had raised in Baltimore, in money, provisions, and clothing, twenty-four thousand one hundred and twenty dollars, and distributed the same, in answer to appeals without number, which came up with increased earnestness from the Shenandoah Valley and neighboring sections, desolated by the ravages of war. In addition to this, Bibles, Testaments, and other books, aggregating nine thousand five hundred and ninety-seven volumes, together with three thousand religions pamphlets, were sent out for gratuitous distribution. The demand for all this was everywhere manifested. War had ploughed its furrows deep and its tracks were unmistakable. It was not want of thrift; the hand of the spoiler had been there. Homes and school- houses were in ashes, towns and cities without trade ; eur- teney was worthless, and the people were destitute of means to provide food and clothing. The means of industry were destroyed ; their fields were without grain, and the farmers were destitute of agricultural implements. Seeing no relief from this distress, only as it might come from the loyal States, led these gentlemen to the organization of the Mary- land Union Commission Much of the success of that Com- mission was due not only to Mr. Griffith's Christian philan- thropy, but also to his energy and perseverance. Ile de- voted his time to it, gave office-room and storage without charge, and was one of its most generous cash contribu- tors. Hle called public meetings, secured the services of the most eminent speakers, and caused the aims and pur- poses of the Commission to be set before the public in their true light. The desired impression as to its perfect loyalty was created, and the co-operation of the
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General Government secured. lle has also taken an active and deeply interested part in drafting and procuring its passage in the Legislatine of a bill, providing for the establishment of a House of Correction, to be located near the city of Baltimore. The Board of Managers, of which Mr. Griffith was constituted by the Legislature a member for six years, was endued with large powers. In 1878 they met in Baltimore and organized, placing Mr. Griffith on the Executive Committee, and on Rules for the Govern- ment of the Institution. This building is now occupied by one hundred and twenty inmates. At a regular meet- ing of the Maryland Prisoners' Aid Association, held Jan- uary 4, 1876, Mr. Griffith caused a paper, prepared by himself, to be read, respecting the necessity of a change in the appointment of magistrates in Baltimore, particulariz- ing why a change should be made ; setting forth the grand abuses of the system as it then existed, and giving reasons in detail as to the grounds of complaint. Mr. Joseph Merrefield, one of the Vice-Presidents of the Association, and Mr. Griffith had previously waited upon the Ilon. C. J. M. Guin, Attorney-General, and enlisted his hearty co- operation in the framing of a bill, and securing its passage in the Legislature changing the system. It was placed in the hands of the Hon. Frank P. Stevens of the Senate, and the Hon. John T. McGlone of the House. With the earnest efforts of Mr. Griffith, and the prompt and energetic attention of these gentlemen, it passed the Legislature, and became a law before the time for the appointment of magistrates by the Governor. Under the old system, twenty-four magistrates were appointed, each having authority to commit persons for trial who were charged with offences or merely suspected, whose compensation was derived from fees for the several cases. As a matter of course hundreds were committed on most frivolous charges, and many on false accusations, but the fee was the same as the most important charge. The result was commitments greatly increased, and the expense to the tax- payer increased proportionately. Inquiry on the part of Mr. Griffith in his visits to the jail brought out this gross corruption, and hence the demand for a change. Under the new law, there are but six committing magistrates, who receive salaries in lieu of fees, and who are required to carefully examine charges of alleged offence, and only commit when the nature or gravity of the case requires it. As a consequence, commitments within the two years since have fallen off, so that those for 1877 were three thousand three hundred and forty-two less than in 1875, notwith- standing the large number of commitments at the time of the railroad riots. It is believed the saving to the tax- payers will be from forty thousand to fifty thousand dollars per annum. For many years Mr. Griffith has had his mind greatly exercised by the knowledge that there were a vast number of children of both sexesgrowing up in Baltimore, who by their pursuits of begging, peddling, and visiting low places of amusement, were preparing for lives of
prostitution and crime. What to do for their rescue, and to check the growing evil, was the question. Hle gathered all the information he could from the police force, can- vassed the law of other States, and prepared a bill cover- ing as nearly as possible all the requirements to be met, submitting it to the opinion of Hlon. George William Brown, and Ilon. Judge Robert Gilmor, to ascertain if its provisions were constitutional. He also submitted it to Police Marshal Gray, who rendered material assistance in pressing it through the Legislature, The provisions of the bill so commended themselves to the judgment of the members of the Legislature, that it passed both Houses without an admendment; and Mr. Griffith feels assured that with the co-operation of the police officials the new law will save Baltimore the disgrace of having 'scores of children ruined, and inducted into lives of degradation and crime. Since the passage of the law a society has been organized, to be known as " The Society for the Pro- tection of Children from Cruelty and Inmorality,"' to aid the police in its rigid enforcement, Mr. Griffith being First Vice-President, and prominent in its Board of Managers. Mr. Griffith has been a Director in the Old Town Bank for many years, and also one of the Directors of the Wash- ington Insurance Company. He has also been appointed by the National Prison Society of France as Corresponding Member for the United States. This society is composed of the most prominent gentlemen of France, and has its headquarters in Paris. M. Dufaure, the Prime Minister, is President, and M. Desports, Secretary. We close this in- teresting record of one of Baltimore's representative mer- chants and Christian philanthropists, in the language of one of his fellow-laborers in prison reform : " We most heartily acknowledge the great assistance rendered us by the President ( Maryland Prisoners' Aid Association), Mr. G. S. Griffith. No man could be more devoted to a cause than he is to the work in which we are engaged. Ile contributes, he labors, he directs and encourages the work the whole year round. Thousands of men in high salaried positions do far less than he does. Truly he must realize that it is more blessed to give than to receive."
ARROLL, HONORABLE JOHN LEE, Governor of Maryland, was born in Baltimore, September 30, 1830. lle is the third son of Charles and Mary Digges Lee, and a descendant, in the fourth genera- tion, of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. His grand- father was the only son of the statesman, and married the daughter of Chief Justice Chew, of Pennsylvania; he was not a public character, but was eminent for his social qualities. When Governor Carroll was three years of age his father came into possession of the great family estate
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in Howard County, entitled the Doughoragan Manor, and removed his family thither. When his son, John Lee, was ten years of age he was sent to Mount St. Mary's College, Emmettsburg, Maryland, where he remained two years, and was sent to Georgetown College, D. C. After three years in this institution he went to St. Mary's College, in Baltimore, where he remained until he had determined to make the law his profession, when, in accordance with this decision, he entered the Law Department of Harvard University. After attending lectures there for two terms he returned to Baltimore and entered the law office of Messrs. Brown & Brown, where he studied two years, and was admitted to the bar in 1851. He then went to Europe and spent a ycar in travelling over the Continent, spending some time in Paris, Rome, and the cities of Italy. The next year he returned and opened an office in Baltimore. In 1855 he was nominated by the Democrats of Howard County for the Legislature in opposition to the Know-Nothings. Ile made a very active and energetic can- vass in Howard County, but was defeated, and the State passed into the hands of the opposing party. In the fall of that year he spent some time in New York, and met his first wife, Anita, daughter of Royal P'helps, Esq., a mer- chant of that city, who in early life was engaged in busi- ness in South America, and married there a lady of Spanish descent. His daughter, Anita, was born in that country. Mr. Phelps returned to New York in 1847, and joined the house of Maitland, Kennedy & Co., which afterwards be- came the present house of Maitland, Phelps & Co. Mr. Carroll was married to Miss Phelps, April 24, 1856. He returned to Baltimore, and continued the practice of his pro- fession till the' year 1859, when at the request of his father- in-law he removed with his family to New York, where, for the purpose of making the acquaintance of the lawyers of that city, he accepted the position of Deputy Clerk and United States Commissioner, in the office of George II. Betts, Clerk of the United States District Court. In 1861 the disturbances in Maryland and the enfeebled condition of his father's health made it imperative for him to return and devote himself to the affairs of the family estate, which was a large landed property in Howard County, with two hundred slaves and all the necessary appurtenances of a large plantation. ITis father died in 1862, leaving Mr. Carroll the sole executor of the estate, which he settled up during the three following years, and divided among the heirs. In 1866, by a family arrangement, he purchased of his brother Charles, to whom it had been devised, the old homestead of Doughoragan Manor, and has since made it his home. In 1867 he was nominated by the Democratic party of his county for the State Senate, and was elected for the term of four years, taking an active and prominent part in the proceedings of that body. In 1872 he was re- turned by his constituents for another term, and at the session of the Legislature in 1874 was elected President of the Senate. In the spring of 1873 his wife died, and in
July, 187 %, he went to Europe with his young children, placing his daughters at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Paris, and two of his sons at the College of the Jesuit .. He returned in the spring of 1875, and in July of that year was nominated by the Democratic convention lor Governor of Maryland. Being successful in the canvass, which followed in November, he was inaugurated Jannary 12, 1876, one hundred years from the time his great-grand- father, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, signed the Declara- tion of Independence. In the summer of the same year, Governor Carroll, with his staff, visited the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia, where, as the direct descendant of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and holding the honorable position of chief magistrate of one of the original thirteen States, he was one of the cen- tral figures of attraction, and the recipient of distinguished attentions from the most prominent visitors on that memo- rable occasion. In April, 1877, Governor Carroll was married to Miss Mary Carter Thompson, daughter of the late distinguished Judge Lucas P. Thompson, of Staunton, Virginia.
N BORRIS, JOHN SAURIN, President of the First National Bank of Baltimore, and President of the Sheppard Asylum, was born in the city of Bal- timore, March 25, 1813. The ancestors of the family were from England, and were among the earliest settlers of Harford County. His father, John Norris, came to Baltimore in his youth, and entered the counting-house of Elisha Tyson, a Friend, who was after- wards one of the pioneers in the efforts to abolish slavery in the State of Maryland. On attaining his majority, John Norris formed a partnership with Isaac Tyson, the son of his employer, and conducted successfully a merchant mill- ing establishment, for the purpose of manufacturing llonr. Failure of health, however, finally compelled him to lay aside business, and to seek its restoration in a voyage to Spain and Portugal. On his return, he erected a pleasant residence on a part of his ancestral property at Olney, Harford County, and made it his home the remainder of his life. Ile died in 1829, leaving three children, of whom John Saurin, the eldest, is now the only survivor. The mother, Mary (Rooker) Norris, was of English birth, and came to Baltimore with her father's family in 1807. The children attended such country schools as the times afforded, but were chiefly indebted to the care and instruc- tion of their parents for their education. In his sixteenth year, John Saurin Norris entered the employ of Isaac Tyson, the former partner of his father, in Baltimore, and remained with him till he attained his majority. In 1836 he became the Secretary of the Merchants' Fire Insurance Company, with which he continued until 1842, when, on account of ill-health, he resigned and removed to Olney, the home of his boyhood. In 1847 he was appointed
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Assistant Treasurer of the Savings Bank of Baltimore, and shortly afterward became the Treasurer, holding that posi- tion until 1864, at which time the First National Bank of Baltimore was organized, and Mr. Norris was appointed Cashier. Subsequently he was made Vice-President, and finally President, which office he still holds. Mr. Norris was for many years the Recording Secretary and an active member of the Maryland Historical Society, and has always retained a warm interest in its affairs. The late Moses Sheppard, shortly after obtaining a charter incor- porating the Sheppard Asylum, requested Mr. Norris to accept the Presidency of the institution. He complied, and the Asylum still enjoys the benefit of his kind, disin- terested, and efficient services. Time is required for the carrying out of the terms of Mr. Sheppard's bequest, but everything is being done in strict accordance with the wishes of the deceased benefactor. The position which Mr. Norris holds in socicty has for many years brought him into intimate relations with the best people of Balti- more. Possessing a happy facility in the relation of anec- dotes and reminiscences, it is exceedingly interesting to listen to him as he recalls scenes and incidents of the past. Mr. Norris was united in marriage in 1838 to Henrietta, the youngest child of his early employer, and his father's friend, Isaac Tyson. They have four children, Isaac T., John Olney, Mary, and Henrietta.
ENRY, GOVERNOR JOHN, was born in 1750, in Kent County, Maryland, and was graduated at Princeton College in 1769. He represented Mary- land in the Continental Congress, from 1778 to 1781, and from 1784 to 1787, and in the Senate of the United States from March 4, 1789, until his election, in 1797, as Governor of Maryland, succeeding Ilon. John H. Stone, and held that position one term, and was suc- ceeded by Benjamin Ogle. lle died at Easton, Maryland, in December, 1798. Ile married Margaret Campbell, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Goldborough) Camp. bell, and had two sons, viz., John Campbell Henry, who married Miss Steele, and Francis Jenkins Henry.
JERCER, GOVERNOR JOHN FRANCIS, was a native of Virginia. In early life he distinguished him- self as a gallant Revolutionary officer ; subse- quently, from 1782 to 1785, represented his native State in the Continental Congress, and resided at his estate, " Marlboro," on the Potomac, where all his children were born. His wife inherited " Cedar Park," in Maryland, and he removed to that estate. fle was an in- Umate and trusted friend of Thomas Jefferson, and warmly
espoused the political doctrines of that great statesman. Hle attained eminence, popularity, and great influence in Maryland, and represented the State in the Convention which framed the Constitution of the United States, but did not sign that instrument. He was a member of Con. gress from December 2, 1793, to March 3, 1795, and in 1801 succeeded Hon. Benjamin Ogle as Governor of Maryland, and was succeeded, in 1803, by Robert Bowie. Hle died in 1821, in Philadelphia. He married, in 1785, Sophia Sprigg, daughter of Richard and Margaret (Caile) Sprigg, and had three children, viz., Colonel John Mercer, who married Mary Swann; a son, who died at sea, in ISto; and one daughter, Margaret Mercer.
LOYD, GOVERNOR EDWARD, was born July 22, 1779, at Wye House, in Talbot Connty, Mary- land, the eldest son of Edward and Elizabeth (Tayloe) Lloyd. He was descended from Edward Lloyd, the first Commander in 1650 of Anne Arun- del County, Maryland, who married Alice Crouch, and had a son, Philemon Lloyd, who married Mrs. Henrietta Maria (Neale) Bennett, and left a son, Edward Lloyd. This second Edward Lloyd married, February 1, 1703, Sarah Covington, and died March 20, 1719, leaving an eldest son, Edward Lloyd, who married, March 26, 1739, Ann Rousby, of Patuxent, and had a son, Edward Lloyd, who married, November 19, 1767, Elizabeth Taylor, and had seven children, one of whom, the eldest son, is the subject of this memoir. He was a member of the Ninth and Tenth Congresses of the United States, from Decem- ber 2, 1805, to March 3, 1809; Governor of Maryland, from 1809 to 1811 ; elected Presidential Elector in 1812; and served as a member of the United States Senate from December 21, 1819, until his resignation, in January, 1826. Ife died June 2, 1834. Ile married, November 30, 1797, Sally Scott Murray, and had six children.
'RICE, MORDECAI, Farmer and retired Merchant, of Queen Anne's County, Maryland, was born in that county March 22, 1817. His parents were Basil and Elizabeth (Skinner) Price. Brought up to the labors of his father's farm, and attending a distant district pay-school for only a short time each winter, his education was mainly self-acquired. At the age of eighteen he apprenticed himself to Samuel Colgan, boot and shoemaker, of Centreville, and for two months of each year of his apprenticeship had the privilege of attending the academy of that place. Ou attaining his majority he worked for two years as a journeyman, saving in that time, by close economy and untiring industry, enough money to
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commence business for himself at Beaver Dam, now Ingle- side, in the same county. Allowing only work of a supe- rior character to pass out of his shop he soon had a large business, which progressively increased for twenty two years. In r&qj8 he engaged also in mercantile business, which he continued in that place for fourteen years, when, having prospered well, he removed in 1863 to the estate on which he now resides, called Okentharp, which has one hundred and sixty-two acres of good land. Here he engaged in farming, in which he also succeeded. In 1864 he again engaged in mercantile business, this time in Ross- ville, a small village near his farm, where he had a store for two years, continuing also his agricultural interests. During this period he purchased " Springfield," an estate of three hundred and twenty-five acres, on the Kent and Queen Anne's Railroad. Price's Station, named for him, is at this point. Here, in 1868, he built a large store, the business of which he conducted for four years. Since that time he has become the owner of "Sugar Loaf," a farm of one hundred and seventy acres, adjoining " Oken- tharp," and "Crow's Nest," of one hundred and fifty-eight acres, near Church Hill. Mr. Price has always taken great interest in the agricultural and political interests of his State and county. lle is a Granger, and the Treasurer of Church Hill Grange, No. 149. In politics he has always been a Democrat, and has occupied offices of trust and responsibility in his county. He was for two years County Collector of Taxes, and has been for eight years, or two terms, a member of the . Board of Commissioners for his county. He has served a number of times as Delegate to the County, Congressional, and State Nominating Conven- tions. In 1877 he was appointed by the Governor Register of Wills for Queen Anne's County, to fill the unexpired term of James P. Dudley, who died while in the occu- pancy of that office. He was Treasurer of the Kent and Queen Anne Railroad from the organization of the com- pany until it passed into the hands of the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad Company. Mr. Price attends the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which faith he was reared. He was first married to Frances, daughter of William Stevens, of Queen Anne's County. She died in 1853. One of her children is now living. He was next united to Kate, daughter of James Turner, formerly of Caroline County, by whom he has seven children.
CALE, WILLIAM II., M.D., was born in Somerset County, Maryland, in 1828. His father, Colonel John Gale, and also his grandfather, General John Gale, were among the most prominent and influential citizens of that county. The last-named distinguished himself in the Revolutionary war, and was breveted for his gallantry. Colonel Gale died during his son's minority. His wife was Caroline, the daughter of Colonel William Jones,
also a greatly valued citizen of the same county. Young tale completed his classical studies at St. Enke's Hall, after which he studied medicine for two years in the office of Drs. Franeis G. Smith and J. M. Allen, and graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 1850. He immediately commenced practice in Somerset County, which he continued successfully till 1865, when he became Register of Wills for the same county. In 1853 he was elected to the General Assembly, on the Whig ticket, and served in the session of 1854, in which he was Chairman of the Committee on Elections. The Whig party being absorbed in the American party, he vigorously opposed that organization, and has been from that time a zealous Democrat. Ilis merits have been repeatedly rewarded by his party. He was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1864, and the following year, the Register of Wills of the county having died, the Orphans' Court appointed Dr. Gale to fill the vacancy until the next gen- eral election, in 1867, when he was elected for a term of six years. In 1873 he was again elected to the same posi- tion, which he now holds. In 1876 he represented his Congressional District in the National Convention which met in St. Louis ; fully meeting in all these official trusts the expectations of his numerous friends and admirers. In private and social life Dr. Gale is exceedingly kind and genial, and is everywhere popular. In September, 1858, he married Anna, daughter of John W. Walker, of Kent, and niece of Judge Constable of that county. They have no children.
JUSTEED, WILLIAM W., Editor of the Centreville Observer, was born in 'Tuckahoe Neck, Caroline County, Maryland, July 18, 1843. His father, Warner R. Busteed, and also his grandfather, were school-teachers for many years. The latter emi- grated to this country from Ireland. Warner R. Busteed was an old-line Whig, and became prominent as a politi- cian, at one time commanding large influence in Caroline County. Catharine M. Busteed, mother of William W. Busteed, was a daughter of Nimrod Barwick, a lady of many t'hristian virtues, and though her death took place in 1859, her great kindness of heart and many acts of benevo- lence are still remembered and often spoken of by num- bers who love and cherish her memory. William W. Busteed received scarcely more than a primary education at the country schools he attended, the greater part of the time being spent at the academy at Hillsborough. He afterwards took a brief course at the night school of the Easton Academy, under Professor Matthew Spencer. In his early training he was carefully taught habits of self- reliance and economy, which he has found invaluable through life. From a child he had great fondness for the mechanical arts, and took special interest in the operations . of machinery. Having frequent opportunities of visiting
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