USA > Washington DC > Washington DC > The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Maryland and District of Columbia Pt. 2 > Part 34
USA > Maryland > The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Maryland and District of Columbia Pt. 2 > Part 34
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PEATING, HON. THOMAS JAMES, Lawyer and Comp- troller of the State Treasury, was born in Smyrna, Delaware, May 3, 1829. Ile was the eldest in a family of eight children, whose parents were Michael and Elizabeth Jane ( Palmer) Keating. His father was educated for a teacher, and came to Baltimore from Ireland, at the age of twenty-one. While on the voyage he had amused himself in examining the ship's log, in which he detected an error in the calculation ; a circumstance that greatly pleased the captain. It happened that immediately on their arrival a gentleman from Kent Island came to the ship, seeking a teacher, and the captain took occasion to warmly recommend to him Mr. Keating. He spent his life in teaching on the Eastern Shore, and in Delaware. The latter part of his life he was in the Academy in Cen- treville, Queen Anne's County, Maryland, at which place he died at the age of fifty-two. He was a refined and cul- tivated gentleman, and eminent in his profession, Ilis wife belonged to an old substantial family of that county, whose ancestors were among the earliest settlers of the State. Her father, George Palmer, was a man of high so- cial position, and was for many years a Justice of the Peace. Mr. Keating was prepared for college at his father's Academy, his parents having returned to Maryland when he was five years old. At the age of seventeen he entered Princeton College, New Jersey, from which he graduated in 1848. On returning home he studied law in the office of Judge Carmichael ; his fellow-student in this office, John M. Robinson, afterwards became Judge of the Court of Ap- peals. Ile was admitted to the bar in 1851, entering at once upon the practice of his profession, and soon took a lead- ing position as one of the ablest lawyers on the Eastern Shore. As a trial attorney he was remarkably successful, and in criminal cases he had few equals. Ilis practice be- came very large and profitable, but craving fresh fields for the yet wider exercise of his talents, he purchased, in 1857, the Centreville Sentinel, a county paper. Changing its name to The Centreville States Rights, he was the editor and proprietor till 1864, warmly upholding in its columns the Southern view of political questions. In 1863 an or- ganization, known as the " Home Guard," entered his office demanding an apology for some of the sentiments he had expressed. Not being able to obtain it from him they demolished his office, and threw its contents into the street. Ile procured more material and continued the publication of his paper for another year, when his office was destroyed by fire, and everything in it lost, except the contents of a safe. Ilis valuable law library, printing presses, type, etc., became food for the flames. Ilis loss closed his editorial career, his time being more than filled with other demands upon him. Ile-was elected in 1.860 as State's Attorney for Queen Anne's County, which office 'he held continuously till 1876, with the exception of one term. During that in termission of four years he was counsel in several capital cases of great interest, among which should be mentioned
the trial of William B. Paca, and three of his sons, for the murder of his nephew and his nephew's uncle. It created a profound sensation even beyond the borders of the State, on account of the social prominence of the parties accused of the crime. Mr. Paca belonged to one of the first families of the Eastern Shore. His grandfather was one of the four signers of the Declaration of Independence, whose por- trait now hangs in the Senate chamber at Annapolis. The homicide was committed within one hundred yards of the burial-ground where the signer lies. Eminent counsel were retained in the case. The State's Attorney was assisted in the prosecution by Attorney-General Brent ; and Messrs. Milton Whitney, of Baltimore, and James L. Martin, of Easton, were associated with Mr. Keating in the defence. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty. Mr. Keating was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1867, which framed the present Constitution, and took a leading part in its deliberations. In 1870 his youngest brother, Benjamin Palmer Keating, came into his office as a law- student, was admitted to the bar in 1872, and was taken into partnership with his brother, which still continues. In 1874 Mr. Keating was a candidate for Congress, but was defeated by Governor Thomas, in the nominating conven- tion, and the next year was President of the State Demo- cratic Convention when John Lee Carroll was nominated for Governor. In November, 1877, he was nominated by acclamation by the Democratic Convention for the office of State Comptroller, and elected over his opponent, Dr. Porter, of Alleghany, by the largest majority ever given any man in the State. Ilis popularity is still further at- tested by the fact that he always led the ticket in his own county. His success in life has been fairly won by hard work and strict integrity. He has always been a Democrat. His family owned slaves before the war, and are members of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Ile was married, in June, 1862, to Miss Sarah F. Webster, of Ilarford, daugh- ter of Ilenry Webster, of that place, a relative of Captain Webster, one of the defenders of Baltimore in 1812. Colonel Edwin HI. Webster, of Bel Air, Harford County, ex- member of Congress, is a brother of Mrs. Keating. The family is one of the oldest in the county, and of the highest respectability. Mr. Keating has six children, three boys and three girls; their names are Lizzie, Ilarry, Frank, Thomas James, Jr , Annie, and Hanson Palmer.
PUDESLUYS, CHARLES LOUIS, Merchant, was born in Baltimore, August 6, 1818. Ilis father, Adrian Oudesluys, was a llollander. Ilis mother, Har- rict Steele, was of Scotch descent. At the age of thirteen he entered the bookstore of John II. Naff, where he remained one year. He then entered the count- ing room of Hugh Boyle, doing a large shipping and iron
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commission business, corner Spear's wharf and Pratt Street .. He afterwards became confidential clerk and bookkeeper, and remained in that employment until 1842. In that year he went into business with Henry A. Thompson, doing an iron and commission business, under the old-established firm of Henry Thompson & Son, which was altered in 1850 to the style of Thompson & Dudesluys, transacting a very successful business up to 1861. The partnership was then dissolved, and the business has since been conducted by the subject of this sketch ; first, at the old warehouse, from which it was removed in 1871 to its present location, No. 67 Exchange Place. Before Mr. Oudesluys's birth his father died, leaving his mother in very humble circum- stances. He had, therefore, none of the adventitious cir- cumstances of birth or patronage. He has been highly successful, and he attributes his success in great part to strict adherence to the rule he laid down for himself, never to enter so largely into a transaction that, if the whole capital involved resulted in disaster, serious injury might result. He married, October 8, 1844, Miss Elizabeth l'. , Waters, daughter of Richard and Mary B. Waters, of Bal- timore. They have had eleven children, seven of whom are living, namely : Mary Waters, born November 8, 1845 ; Adrian, born February 28, 1847; Julia, born November 6, 1853; Henry Thompson, born July 27, 1855; Octavius, born January 2, 1858; Louis, born December 19, 1859; and Eugene, born August 24, 1863. Mary Waters was married, in 1869, to Mr. William T. Dixon, of the firm of W. T. Dixon & Brother, wholesale boot and shoe dealers. 'They have two children, Bessie P., born in 1870, and Mary Bartlett, born in 1873. Adrian Oudesluys was mar- ried, June 5, 1877, to Miss Laura, daughter of Mr. Robert A. Greer, of Baltimore. Adrian Oudesluys is in the whole- sale butter, cheese, and produce house of Kennard & Oudes- luys, with C. L. Oudesluys as special partner. This firm commenced business in May, 1872, and have been very successful in attaining an excellent standing. They do business at No. 83 Exchange Place, Baltimore, Mr. Oudes- luys is Vice-President of the Baltimore Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor. Ile bas been an active member of it since 1861. He has been Treasurer of the Historical Society since 1868, and one of the Trus- tees of its Peabody Fund. He is Treasurer of the Mary- land Academy of Sciences, which position he has held since May, 1874, and is one of its Trustees. lle is also a Manager of the Baltimore General Dispensary for furnish- ing gratuitous medical advice and medicines to the sick poor, and is a Manager of the Prisoners' Aid Society for Ameliorating the Condition of Prisoners in Jails and Peni- tentiaries. For about six years he was a Manager of the Maryland Institute. In all these positions he has ever taken an active interest in promoting the objects of their organization, and in all he has served without compensa- tion. Ile has never taken a prominent part in politics. From his boyhood he has been identified with the Prot-
estant Episcopal Church, having attended the Sunday- school of St. Paul's Church for many years. He is now (1878) in his sixtieth year, and in excellent health.
Gut FREONHIARDT, WILLIAM and JOHN 11., Wagon and Carriage Builders, were the sons of Henry L .. Leon- hardt, now deceased. William Leonhardt, the senior partner of this firm, was born in Baltimore in April, 1843, and learned his trade with his father. His brother, John H. Leonhardt, was born in the same city in July, 1848, and learned the blacksmith's trade. In Feb- ruary, 1871, the two brothers started in business for them- selves, under the above-named firm, at No. 61 Holliday Street, Baltimore. Here, two years later, they found them- selves straitened in room for their manufactures, the num- ber of hands in their employ having increased from two to. twelve or fourteen. They accordingly removed to No. 25 Saratoga Street, near Gay Street, where they occupy a large three-story building, the blacksmith's shop, a very commo- dious one, being in the rear of the main establishment. Mr. William Leonhardt was married in 1867, and his brother, Mr. John H., in 1872. The former is an active and highly valued member of the High Street Baptist Church, and the latter of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, in the Sunday-school of which he holds the position of Superintendent. Religion with them both holds a large place even in their daily business life. Each noon they hold a prayer-meeting among their workmen and appren- tices, in which all who may happen to be in the shops at the time are invited to participate. The firm has steadily prospered, and with every promise of future success.
JOHNSON, JOHN, Merchant, was born, June 24, 1809, in the County of Derry, Ireland. His father, Patrick Johnson, was a native of Ireland, but of Scotch descent, a farmer and frecholder. Flis mother was Alice, daughter of Bernard Trainor, also a farmer and freeholder of the county of Derry, Ireland. In early youth Mr. Johnson pursued his studies at Foyle College, Londonderry. In 1835 he entered the Freshman Class of Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, and graduated in 1839. After graduating, he became for four years Professor of Latin in Foyle College. Hle then established a Mathematical and Classical School in Castle Wellan, which he continued for five years. In 1847, September 2, he left Ireland for New York. He im- mediately became Professor in St. Mary's College of Wil- mington, Delaware, where he taught for' one year, when he went to North Carolina and taught for one year in Washington Academy. Ile then taught for two years in Washington Academy, Prince George's County, Maryland. lu 1853 he began the grocery business, and although inex- perienced in that line, was successful from the start. Hlav-
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ing but two thousand dollars capital, he began in a small way, and gradually extended his business until his sales amonuted to a hundred thousand dollars in one year, being engaged in both the wholesale and retail trade. He has never given but two business notes, both of which were paid before maturity. Though in principle he is a Demo- crat, he has never taken an active part in politics. He is a member of the Catholic Church. He has always mani- fested a deep interest in educational matters, and has served as one of the School Commissioners of Baltimore. Mr. Johnson has written a number of essays on the abso- lute ownership of the land, and believes that every man who tills the soil should be the owner of it. Being a man of sound judgment and large experience, he is frequently consulted by his own countrymen in regard to their diffi- culties and business interests.
HAYER, NATHANIEL, J., Lawyer, was born in Braintree, Massachusetts, December 22, 1819. After receiving a preliminary, education in his na- live town, and taking an academie course at Ran- dolph, he, at the age of eighteen years, entered Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island. Ile re- mained in that institution for two years, and then went to Baltimore, where he entered the mercantile cstablishment of Mr. Chauncey Brooks, as bookkeeper, with whom he became associated in business within two years after his engagement with him in that capacity. In 1850 he com- menced the study of law with the late John Nelson, an eminent member of the Baltimore bar, and was admitted to the practice of law in 1852. In 1861 he was appointed Assistant United States District Attorney for Maryland, Honorable William Price being the Chief Attorney. After six years' service in the above capacity he resigned the position and resumed the practice of his profession. In 1848 he married Miss Clara Emily Gilles, daughter of Henry M. Gilles, a distinguished music teacher, of Balti- more, by which marriage he has had two children, Clara Emily and Edmund. The latter is a Civil Engineer in the State Department, Boston, Massachusetts. Ile married Miss Hamilton, of Baltimore. In 1863 Mr. Thayer mar- ricd, a second time, Miss Abbie Locke, daughter of Judge George Locke, of Manchester, New Hampshire.
INIFIE, WILLIAM, son of James and Elizabeth Hyne Minifie, was born in Devonshire, England, August 14, 1805. He received a fair English education in the private schools of Totness, in that county. He remembered very well the public rejoicings held on the conclusion of peace with France, when Napoleon Bonaparte was sent to Elba, and those in
the following year, when the news of the great victory of Waterloo was received ; also of the great excitement which occurred several years afterward, when the news was re. ceived that the bill against Queen Carolme was thrown out of the House of Lords. His parcuts belonged to the National Episcopal Church, in which he was baptized, and was confirmed by the Bishop of Excter. At the age of fifteen he was apprenticed to a carpenter and joiner of Totness, with whom he served two years, when his master failed in business and a portion of the premium paid was lost. Shortly afterward he was apprenticed to Mr. Jacob Harvey, of Torquay, who carried on a large building business, to whom a premium of forty pounds was paid. He lived in Mr. Harvey's family five years. During his residence at Tor- quay he became acquainted with Miss Mary White, to whom he was married, January 14, 1828. They celebrated their golden wedding in January, 1878. Immediately after their " marriage they started for London, stopping at Dartmouth and at Totness, to visit his mother, then to Exeter. On the third evening they left Exeter on the top of the mail coach, arriving in London in about twenty-four hours ; the distance is now travelled by rail in four hours. On the 28th they sailed from the London docks for Baltimore, where they arrived after a very stormy passage of seventy-two days. For several months after his arrival in Baltimore, Mr. Mini- fie worked at shipjoiner's work, the hours of labor being from sunrise to sunset, and the wages one dollar and twenty-five cents per day. Ile then opened a carpenter shop on his own account. In the early spring of 1830 he started for England, in the old ship Dumfries, Captain Harvey; on the second night after she left the city, she was caught in a violent storm in the Gulf Stream, which did so much damage that she returned for repairs to Baltimore, where she arrived after two weeks' absence. Two weeks after he embarked in the ship Philip Tabb, and arrived in Liverpool in twenty days. He returned to Baltimore in the same ship, with his mother and sister, his only near rela- tives, the return voyage occupying six weeks. This was before the days of steam navigation. In 1836 Mr. Minifie was elected a member of the Maryland Academy of Sci- ence and Literature, in which he took an active part. The association was dissolved in 1844, for want of support ; at the time of its dissolution he was one of the curators. In 1837 he announced himself as an architect and builder, and in that year designed and built the Front Street Theatre, in Baltimore. It was generally considered to be equal, if not superior, to any theatre then existing in the United States. It received much praise from prominent actors and others, for its interior arrangement and admirable acoustic quali- ties. In September, 1845, he was elected Teacher of Drawing in the Central High School of Baltimore, and occupied that position for five years. Drawing had not previously been taught in any of the public schools of the city. The course of instruction he adopted was very simi- lar to the industrial drawing now used in the public schools,
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and his own work, afterward published, was used orally for instrumental drawing. In 1852 he was elected Profes- sor of Drawing for the School of Design, of the Maryland Institute for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts. He de- vised a course of instruction, reorganized the school, and gave short addresses at the opening and closing of the an- nual sessions. These addresses have been published. In 1849 he published his Textbook of Geometrical Drawing, Perspective and Shadows, to which was afterward added an Essay on the Theory and Application of Color ; the whole illustrated with fifty-six steel plates, royal 8vo. This work has been very favorably received, both in this country and in England, especially by the scientific press of both coun- tries. In 1853 it was introduced into the Department of Art of the British Government at Marlborough House, London, and was placed in the list of books recommended to the schools of art and design throughout the Kingdom. A duodecimo edition, slightly abridged, illustrated with forty-eight steel plates, was soon after published for the use of schools. Up to this time (1878), fifteen thousand copies of these books have been published, viz., nine thousand of the octavo, known to the trade as the " Mechanical Draw- ings," and six thousand of the 12mo., known as the " Geo- metrical." They are in use in many of the schools and colleges of the United States, and are largely used for self- instruction. Mr. Minifie has been a frequent contributor to the local press, generally on scientific subjects ; his series of letters in the Baltimore American and The Sun, on the various schemes for the improvement of the harbor of Bal- timore, attracted much attention. He was one of the origi- nators of the present Maryland Academy of Sciences, and is still a member, but in consequence of increased deaf- ness, seldom attends the meetings, unless he has a commu- nieation to read. In 1858 he was elected a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, is still a member, but for the reason above given, does not attend the meetings; he takes great interest, however, in reading the published proceedings of the Association. He became a naturalized American citizen about 1833, having given notice of his intention shortly after his arrival in Baltimore, which city has been his residence for fifty years. Ile has never taken an active part in politics, nor hell any political appointment ; he has, however, always had very decided opinions. He was an old-line Whig, and voted for Henry Clay for President, was a very decided out- spoken Union man during the civil war, and is a firm Re- publican at present. He is of temperate habits and cheer- ful disposition. His pleasant manners, intelligence, and integrity, have won for him the esteem and confidence of the community. Though born and educated in England, he has become fully imbued with the spirit and the best elements and character of an American citizen. In religion he does not hold to any particular creed, but inclines to liberal views. Ile was one of the originators of the Mary- land Mechanics' Institute, and also of the Allston Associa-
tion. The object proposed when the Allston Association was first formed, was the formation of a life school, and other aids for the benefit of artists and amateurs, but with the exception of a few exhibitions of pictures, at some of the meetings of the Association, nothing was done in aid of ant ; it was soon converted into a social club. He has always been active in art measures. In 1847 he purchased the stock of a book and stationery store, to which he soon added drawing instruments and materials, as his own ex- perience as architect and teacher had shown him the need of such a depot, and some years later added artists' ma- terials to his stock. Ile occupied the premises 114 West Baltimore Street for twenty-nine years. Since 1868 his eldest son, J. Woodfin Minific, has been associated with him as a partner. In 1876 they removed to No. 5 North Charles Street.
ILSON, WILLIAM, senior member of the eminent shipping firm, in its day, of William Wilson & Sons, was born in Limerick, Ireland, in 1750. Ilis father was James Wilson, a native of Scotland, who first removed to London, and afterwards to Ireland, settling near Limerick. When William was twenty years of age he came to America, and, in 1773, married Miss Jane Stonsbury, of Baltimore County, Maryland. By energy and strict integrity in business he accumulated sufficient means to enable him, after the close of the Revolutionary war, to engage in the shipping business, and under the firm of Wilson & Maris, to become an importer of goods. That house was established in 1790. Twelve years later, in 1802, he took two of his sons, James and Thomas, into partnership, under the style of William Wilson & Sons. No house ever established in Baltimore has had a more enviable record. William Wilson & Sons became owners of a large number of vessels, and carried on an extensive trade with China, Calcutta, Batavia, and other ports in the East Indies, Holland, England, Brazil, and the West coast of South America. Their ships navigated every sea and traded in every available port, bringing Baltimore into commercial relations with every part of the habitable globe. This house long conducted a prosperous shipping trade, enjoying, during the sixty years of its active existence, the highest credit, and its several members commanding uni- versal respect. In 1862 they retired from active business, disposing of their vessels, but the seniors, David S. and Thomas J., still retain the old firm name; while the juniors, Henry R. and James G., have taken to other pur- suits. William Wilson, its founder, was highly esteemed for his nobility of character. Ile was urbane, upright, and beneficent. He gave material encouragement to every benevolent enterprise. He was an active member and most liberal supporter of the Baptist Church, and con-
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tributed largely towards building the house of worship for the use of the First Baptist Church, on the corner of Sharp and Lombard streets, a church whose history has been closely identified with the progress of Baltimore, civilly and religiously. Mr. Wilson evinced his love for the coun- try of his adoption by open-handed and well-timed gen. erosity. In 1814, when no funds could be obtained from Washington to meet the obligations of the Government, he tendered the Navy Agent, James Beatty, a loan of fifty thousand dollars, and then, on its repayment, refused in- terest, saying that " the money was lying idle, and it was just as well that the Government should have the use of it." William Wilson was a member of the Maryland Legislature during one term, being nominated on account of his undoubted popularity to replace a candidate with- drawn on the morning of the election. He died, March 30, 1824, leaving three sons and one daughter. Ile occu- pied a number of important positions of responsibility and trust, which he most satisfactorily filled. For seventeen years he was President of the Bank of Baltimore, and a prominent member of other leading corporations. His family became one of the most cultivated and influential in the State, and widely and honorably connected. James G. Wilson, a member of William Wilson & Sons, until they ceased active business, and William B., great-grandsons of William Wilson, and sons of David L. Wilson, are part- ners in the banking-house of Wilson, Colston & Co., Balti- more. William Wilson Corcoran, the distinguished banker and philanthropist, was named after him, and is a grand- nephew. Mr. Wilson's eldest son, James Wilson, was born December 3, 1775. Ile married Miss Mary Shields, daughter of David Shields, of Chester County, Pennsyl- vania. llis death occurred February 10, 1851. Ile was actively engaged in business as a member of the firm of William Wilson & Sons until his death. He was a Di- rector in the Bank of Baltimore from the time of his father's demise, and during the latter part of William Lorman's Presidency of that bank was acting President, on account of that gentleman's ill health. On the death of Mr. Lor- man he was offered the Presidency, but his own failing health constrained him to decline. fle was President of the Board of Trade, and of the Baltimore General Dispen- sary, a charitable institution, founded in 1801, of which his father was one of the original incorporators. He was a member of the First Baptist Church. In the attack of the British on Baltimore, in 1814, he was a member of the Committee of Vigilance and Safety, which governed the city during that trying period. He was also a member of the City Council in 1819. Ile had ten children. Ilis son David S., on the death of his father, became senior mem- ber of the firm of William Wilson & Sons. While holding aloof from public positions generally, like his father and grandfather, he had been identified with the Bank of Bal- timore, of which he served as Director for nearly thirty years, and the Presidency of which he was offered, but de-
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