USA > Washington DC > Washington DC > The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Maryland and District of Columbia Pt. 2 > Part 50
USA > Maryland > The Biographical cyclopedia of representative men of Maryland and District of Columbia Pt. 2 > Part 50
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secutive centuries, it certainly deserves at least as much respect as an oak tree of equal age, and this the De Courcys of Ireland have done. Michael Conrad De Courcy, thir- tieth Lord Kinsale of Ringrone, in Ireland, has just died, a comparatively young man and unmarried, leaving his estates and titles to his cousin, Fitzroy De Courcy, now thirty-first Lord Kinsale and Premier Baron of Ireland. No title in England or Scotland is of equal date, nor any blood among the British peers, unless we except the Court- neys, Earls of Devon, whose actual peerage is a thing of yesterday in comparison with the barony of Kinsale, granted in 1181 to De Courcy, Earl of Ulster." Papers showing the claim of William De Courcy, of Wye River, to the carldom of Kinsale and barony of De Courcy in Ireland, were presented to Parliament in 1763 by the daughter of the late Lord Kinsale, " in behalf of their kinsman, William De Courcy, of America." The hall at Cheston is hung with portraits, beautiful oil paintings, of men in armor, dating back to 1668, and of women of two centuries ago. The literary education of the young heir of the American estate was carefully conducted under private tutors, and completed at St. Mary's College in Baltimore in 1839. His medical studies he pursued as a private pupil of Professor Valentine Mott and Gunning S. Bedford, of New York, and graduated at the Medical Uni- versity of that city. Ilis preference was for his profession, but on the death of his father he relinquished it, and has since devoted himself to the carc of his valuable estate of eight hundred acres and to the pursuit of agriculture. He has given a large share of his attention to the importing and rcaring of the best stock-horses, Ilereford cattle, and Shropshire-Down sheep. Of sheep in particular he is a large importer and breeder. Hle assisted in the organiza- tion of the State Agricultural Society, with which he has always remained connected. He is a member of the C'in- cinnati Society. Dr. De Courcy has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Maryland State Hospital , for the Insane for a number of years,
BEWIS, JAMES K. 11., M.D., of Kent Island, was born November 13, 1828. Under the training of a Christian mother he carly received deep and abid- ing religious impressions. From his eighth to his eighteenth year he attended the district school dur- ing the winter season, mostly employing the intervals of time in assisting his father on the farm. After leaving school he remained with his father until he was twenty-two years of age. Ilis careful and economical habits enabled him to save a small sum, and in 1856 he began mercantile business on the Island. This by his diligent attention he soon made a success, and ere long found himself in pos- session of sufficient means to enter upon the study of med- ieine, to which his attention had been directed by his
friend, Dr. Denny. In his store he commenced his pre- paratory studies in 1858, and to him he expresses his great indebtedness for his kind advice and instruction, and for wisely influencing his course in life, Mr. Lewis had already greatly improved himself by constant reading, and having an eager thirst for knowledge he made rapid progress. He attended two courses of lectures at the Uni- versity of Maryland, and at the same time was an office- student with Professor Samuel Chew, Professor Warren, and Professor Christopher Johnston. After his graduation he received from Professor Warren a certificate of merit for personal character and for attainments in the science of medicine. He received his degree in March, 1861, and in July of the same year commenced practice among the people of his native island, among whom he has now fol- lowed his profession with increasing profit and success for seventeen years. In the community in which he was born, and to whom all his early difficulties are known, he has by his integrity, self-culture, and self-reliance attained an en- viable position. Ile is highly respected by his professional brethren, and is an honored member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
THEELER, REV. JOSEPH R., was born in the city of Alexandria, Virginia, November 12, 1828. Ilis parents, Samuel and Jane Wheeler, were among the first members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church in Alexandria, His mother was re. markable for her great personal piety. From her he in- herited many of the characteristics which have made his life so useful and successful. Iler grandfather crossed the Potomac from Maryland about 1700, and built the first house on the present site of Alexandria. In the private schools of his native city he received a very liberal Eng. lish and classical education, He has always been a labori- ous student, and has acquired considerable mental culture. In his sixteenth year, being thrown on his own exertions for support, he entered a counting-room as a clerk. Ile soon exhibited superior business qualities, which promised u successful career in mercantile pursuits, but being con- vetted, September 20, 1849, he resolved to abandon all secular pursuits and devote his life to the Gospel ministry. Ile entered at once upon a course of study to prepare him for this work. He was received into the Baltimore Con- ference at its session held in Hagerstown, March, 1853. February 21, 1856, he was united in marriage to Julia C. Wanton, of Alexandria. Iler parents were of Quaker de- scent, and one of the oldest families of Friends of the State of Rhode Island. He has spent about fourteen years of his ministerial life in the State of Virginia, and has served some of the most important appointments of his Church in the Valley of Virginia, He spent six years in Baltimore, Maryland, as pastor of Caroline Street and Columbia Street stations. For three years he was stationed at Wes-
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ley Chapel, Washington, District of Columbia. At the ex- piration of a very successful pastorate there he was as- signed to his present charge, Waugh Chapel, Washington. In all his fields of labor he has been eminently success- ful. Many revivals of religion have resulted from his efforts. As a preacher he is clear, forcible, and scriptural. Ilis sermons are always practical and instructive, and at times full of tenderness and pathos. They abound in apt and striking illustrations chosen from the scenes of every- day life. These illustrations give a peculiar freshness, originality, and vigor to his sermons, and make his preach- ing attractive and interesting. Ile excels as a pastor. Ilis stern adherence to the truth, his warm and sympathetic na- ture, his earnest devotion to his work, and his deep and sincere piety make him a welcome guest in the hearts and homes of his parishioners.
ILLER, HION. OLIVER, Chief Justice of the Fifth Judicial Circuit and Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals, was born in Middletown, Connecticut, April 15, 1824, son of Giles and Cla- rissa Miller. Ile was taught first in the common schools of his native town, and at the early age of twelve years went to the city of Frederick, Maryland, where his sister and her husband, Mrs. and Mr. Converse, then re- sided, and attended the academy of that city, of which Mr. Converse was then the Principal. Ile subsequently re- moved with Mr. Converse to Leesburg, Loudon County, Virginia, and was under his instruction in the academy there for a number of years. In 1845 he entered the Sophomore class in Dartmouth College, and graduated with distinction in August, 1848. Immediately afterwards he came to the city of Annapolis and studied law in the office of lion. Alexander Randall, and was admitted to the bar in 1850. In connection with the practice of his profession he su- pervised the reporting of the four volumes of Maryland Chancery Decisions by Chancellor Johnson. In 1852 be was appointed by the court Reporter of the decisions of the Court of Appeals, and for ten years held this position while continuing the practice of the law, resigning it in 1862. During this period he reported the volumes of Maryland Reports from volume third to volume eighteen inclusive. He was clected by the people of Anne Arundel County as one of their delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1864. Ile was elected a member of the Legislature from the same county in 1865-66, and was elected Speaker of the House of Delegates during the important session of 1867. In November of that year, after the adoption of the Constitution, he was elected Chief Judge of the Fifth Judi- cial Circuit of the State, comprising the counties of Anne Arundel, lloward, and Carroll, and thus became one of the Associate Judges of the Court of Appeals. This posi- tion he has held to the present time.
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BUE, CHARLES RIDGELY, Pharmacist, was born, July 18, 1842, at Elkridge, Howard County, Maryland. His father, Charles R. Pue, led a quiet and retired life on his plantation in the above county, devoting himself to the cultivation of his land and the care of his children. His paternal grandfather, Michael l'ue, was a well-known physician of Baltimore, distinguished for his professional skill. Of his seven sons, four, Michael, Arthur, Richard, and Robert, were physicians. Though all of them practiced for some time in Baltimore, they re- sided the greater portion of their lives on their estates at Elkridge. In childhood the subject of this sketch became the adopted son of Christopher and Ann Ilarris. After attending school at Ellicott City and Washington, District of Columbia, he at the age of fifteen years entered the drug store of his uncle, T. C. McIntire, in Washington, to learn the business of a pharmacist, with whom he remained- about three years. IIc subsequently served for four years in a clerical capacity in the drug establishment of Valen- tine Harbaugh in Washington. Ilaving become thor- oughly conversant with the drug business, he, in 1865, in partnership with his brother-in-law, John W. Brown, opened a store in Baltimore. In September, 1867, the partnership was dissolved, and Mr. l'ue then established himself in his present locality, at the corner of Baltimore and Stricker streets, on his individual account. Mr. Pue has been a member and Trustee of the Bethany Indepen- dent Church, and is now attached to the Central Methodist. Ilis success in life is attributable to assiduity and energy combined with prudence and correct dealing. He is a man of thorough business integrity and a sincere Christian. In 1866 he married Miss Matilda, daughter of Rev. Rich- ard Brown, of Baltimore. He has two sons and one daughter living.
PILSON, THOMAS, was born in Harford County, Maryland, in 1789. When he was nine years old his parents removed to Baltimore, where Thomas received a plain but practical education. At the age of seventeen he entered the counting- room of Thorndyke Chase, then one of the prominent merchants of Baltimore. Before reaching his majority he had the entire charge of the books of the establishment and was installed as chief clerk. In 1810 he entered into the shipping business with a wealthy gentleman named Brown, under the firm style of Brown & Wilson. In 1811 he made a voyage to the West Indies in a chartered ves- sel with a cargo partly belonging to his house. The ven- ture was very successful. During the war of 18te with Great Britain, the blockade of the Chesapeake Bay by the English fleet was so effective that the commerce of Balti- more was nearly destroyed, and save privateering, in which Messrs. Brown & Wilson as members of the Society of Friends could not engage, all mercantile pursuits were
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dull. Mr. Wilson in conjunction with another Baltimore merchant and two firms in Boston organized a line of small vessels, which sailing from the latter city discharged their cargoes at Folly Landing, on the Atlantic coast, which were then transported overland to Onancock, and from thence were conveyed by boats of light draught to Baltimore. The energy of Mr. Wilson enabled him to surmount all difficulties, and the line was successfully or- ganized during the year 1813. On one occasion Mr. Wilson accompanied the captain of a vessel which had arrived at Folly Landing laden with sack salt, etc., to Fredericks- burg, Virginia, and loading seven small boats with flour as a return shipment, sailed down the Rappahannock to the bay. Upon reaching the mouth of the river, as the wind was fair and none of the enemy's fleet in sight, it was resolved that an attempt should be made to cross the bay. Accordingly the little fleet of seven vessels sailed at dusk, but as the weather had become almost calm during the night, at daylight, much to their dismay, the whole block- ading squadron was discovered directly ahead, and upon tacking about they were pursued by boats armed with swivel guns, which opened fire as they gained on the chase. Three of the boats escaped, and regaining the river ran up a creek, where they were protected by the Virginia militia. A few nights later Mr. Wilson succeeded in evading the blockaders, and crossed with his three boats. Upon the restoration of peace, commerce rapidly revived, and al- though a revolution was in progress in Venezuela Mr. Wilson was desirous of re-establishing commercial rela- tions with that country, and being joined by another Balti- more house, upon condition that he would agree to reside in that country at least a year and dispose of the cargoes forwarded, he sailed for La Guayra in the latter part of 1814, where he remained over fifteen months. One of the vessels consigned to him was captured by a Spanish cruiser and conveyed to Puerto Cabello, sixty miles dis- tant, and upon his arrival with documents from the authori- ties of La Guayra proving the vessel not to be contraband, he found that both vessel and cargo had been condemned and sold as a lawful prize. The lawyer employed to draw the plea and reclamation, which were signed by Mr. Wil- son as claimant, having reflected severely upon the judge who had adjudicated the case, a decree of the court was exhibited fining Mr. Wilson, in default of which he was to be confined in jail. As this decision was purely arbi- trary, payment was refused, whereupon he was incar- cerated, and though speedily released he was attacked by yellow fever, and several weeks elapsed before he became convalescent. Mr. Wilson in 1816 closed his business in Venezuela and returned to Baltimore. Upon the retire- ment of Mr. Brown in 1819, Mr. Wilson continued the business on his individual account for several years, when he associated with him G. W. Peterkin, the second co- partnership continuing until the death of the latter in 1837. Subsequently W. S. Peterkin and R. W. Allen were added
as partners, under the firm name of Thomas Wilson & Co. This partnership was dissolved during the great financial panic of 1857. The house suffered heavy finan- cial losses, but met all its liabilities. Mr. Wilson was the sole owner of the Pioneer Cotton Factory at Georgetown, District of Columbia, Ile was a large Stockholder, Direc- tor, and President (from 1855 to 1867) in and of the Balti- more Coal Company. For several years he has been engaged in the purchase and sale of coal lands in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, with great success. He has filled many offices of honor and trust. He was a member of the Maryland Colonization Society, and also of the Susque- hanna Canal Company. The " Baltimore Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor " elected him formally for its President, and the " Baltimore Manual Labor School for Indigent Boys" chose him as its executive for many years. Though now in the ninetieth year of his age, Mr. Wilson is still in the possession of mental vigor, and continues to manage his extensive and varied interests.
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EABROOK, HON. WILLIAM L. W., was born near Fairfield, Adams County, Pennsylvania, October 9, 1833. The death of his father when he was four years of age left his mother, in rather straitened circumstances, with three children, of whom the eldest was nine years of age. Six years afterwards she returned with her children to her native place in Frederick County, Maryland, at which time the subject of this sketch was ten years old. During the succeeding seven years he resided with a maternal uncle, and was employed alternately in tilling the soil and selling miscellaneous merchandise in his uncle's store, varied by attendance at the village primary school during the winter months, where he obtained a fair education in the English branches, American history, geography, and the lower mathematics. At the age of seventeen he entered the printing office of the Adams Sen- tinel, at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where he continued about eighteen months and became a practical printer. On account of failing health he then abandoned the case for a period of six months, but at the age of nineteen resumed the occupation and became assistant foreman of The Frede- rick Herald, a newspaper published in Frederick City, Maryland At the age of twenty-one years he became one of the proprietors and leading editor of the paper referred to, a connection which continued about three years. Dur- ing this time and subsequently he has taken an active part in the political movements, and has frequently discussed political issues on the public rostrum. In 1857, at the age of twenty-four, he was elected Commissioner of the Land Office of the State of Maryland for the term of six years, having been a candidate on the American State ticket with Thomas Holliday Hicks, who was elected Governor at the same election. At the expiration of his term of office he
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was re-elected without opposition, having received the unanimous nomination of both the Radical and Conservative Union State conventions of that year, 1863. The adoption of the State Constitution of 1867 cut short the tenure of and vacated all the offices in the State except that of Gov- ernor. At the election of that year Mr. Seabrook was the Republican candidate for Clerk of the Court of Appeals, but, with the other candidates on the ticket for State of- fices, was defeated by his Democratic competitor. Ile was a delegate to the National Republican Convention of 1864, at which Mr. Lincoln was renominated for the Presidency, and was a member of the committee which conveyed the action of the convention to the nominees. He was also elected a delegate to the National Convention of his party which renominated President Grant in 1872, but was un- able to attend its sessions. Upon retiring from the Land Office in 1868 he became connected with the American Sentinel newspaper at Westminster, Maryland, as one of its proprietors and as sole editor and manager, and so con- tinued until January 1, 1874. In 1873 he was appointed Superintendent of Public Stores in the Baltimore Custom - house, and filled that position until December 1, 1876, when he became Chief United States Weigher at that port. Ile has been prominently connected with the Order of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, having been Senior Grand Warden from 1861 to 1862, and Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Maryland from 1862 to 1864. IIe was married, September 4, 1855, in Frederick, Mary- land, to Miss Harriet P. Thomas, a native of that city. He has been a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church since 1851, and later has been actively identified with the work of the Young Men's Christian Association.
TYRES, REV. THOMAS OLIVER, Pastor of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church at Pocomoke City, Mary- land, was born near Greensboro, Caroline County, Maryland, May 27, 1838. He was the eighth child of a family of nine children. Ilis parents were James and Nancy ( Harwood) Ayres. Hlis father was of English descent; his mother, on her father's side, was of Irish extraction. She was married in her eighteenth year, and died in 1850 at the age of forty-eight. James Ayres died in 1842, in his forty-second year, when his son Thomas was only four years old. Thomas therefore had but few opportunities of education. Ile commenced attending school at eight years of age, but went only at intervals. After the death of his mother he was employed on a farm for a year. He then went to Templeville, and lived for two years in the family of Mr. Williamh Henry Council, a harness- maker. When seventeen years of age he went to Smyrna, Delaware, and served three years as an apprentice under Mr. J. B. Ruth, harness-maker. Ile became a good work- man, and was employed by Mr. Ruth for a year after his
apprenticeship expired. At the end of this year as journey- man he bought out his employer and entered into business in his own name, at which he continued until 1861. During these years he improved all his leisure time in reading, and became very well informed, When the civil war broke out he became an carnest patriot and Repub- lican, and, October 25, 1862, entered as a private the Sixth Regiment, Company A, Delaware Infantry. When the company was organized he was made Orderly Sergeant, and served during the entire term. Ile re-enlisted and entered the Seventh Regiment Delaware Infantry, July 27, 1864, and served as First Lieutenant, Company F, for thirty days. He again volunteered, and, September 12, 1864, was made First Lieutenant of Company F, Ninth Regiment Delaware Infantry ; was detailed and made Adjutant after being in camp a few days. On December 15, 1864, he was commissioned Captain of Company II, and . was mustered out with the regiment at the expiration of the term of service. IIe resumed again his business as saddle and harness maker in the town of Smyrna, but under the strong conviction that this was not to be the business of his life. From his earliest childhood he had been the sub- ject of deep religions impressions, which the death of his parents and of his brothers and sisters, only two of whom survive, served to strengthen. In his eighteenth year the reading of infidel books did him great harm for a time, but in the autumn of 1859 he became convinced of their untruth and worthlessness, and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church at Smyrna. During the next nine years he was successively a class-leader, exhorter, and local preacher, and while giving all needful attention to busi- ness was still earnestly applying himself to preparation for the ministry of the Gospel. He first served the Church occasionally on Smyrna Circuit, Wilmington Conference, and was received into the ranks as a travelling preacher in 1870. Ile was first appointed to Millboro, Delaware, and served for three years' in that charge, after which he was sent to Frankford, Delaware, for three years, and in 1876 was appointed to the Pocomoke City Methodist Epis- copal Church. Ile is now pastor of Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church, Crisfield, Maryland. Mr. Ayres is an original thinker and speaker ; in the pulpit and on the platform, as a teacher and worker, he is forcible and popu- lar, and is highly regarded by his people. Ile has been very successful as a financier in church matters, and has been largely engaged in building and fitting up churches and church property. At Millsboro he rebuilt the church, repaired another one in the country, and furnished the parsonage. At Frankford he rebuilt the church, and in his present charge has built one new church, and rebuilt and repaired three others. Ile has also greatly improved the parsonage. Ile has always been very active in the temperance cause, and has been a bold and fearless worker in behalf of local option. Ile joined the Good Templars in 1868, and in September, 1869, was made Grand Worthy
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Chief Templar of the State of Delaware, and served in that capacity for one year. As an Odd Fellow he has passed all the chairs. He has been a Delegate to the Grand Lodge of the State of Delaware. Mr. Ayres was married, April 18, 1861, to Rebecca Taylor, daughter of Joseph and Phoebe A. Disch, of Smyrna, Delaware. They have had nine children, of whom only three, two boys and one girl, survive.
EAST, JOHN, Florist, was born in Yorkshire, Eng- land, June 3, 1802. Ile received his education at Sutton, near Thirsk, Yorkshire, and when thirteen years of age was placed at Lord Yarborough's ele- gant seat at Brocklesby, Lincolnshire, England. For five years young Feast, who had an ardent fondness for flowers, applied himself diligently to their care and culture at the above place, then deemed one of the finest in Eng- land. After having had charge of the Botanic Gardens at Yarborough about two years, he in 1823 set sail for America, landing in Philadelphia on the twenty-first anni- versary of his birthday. Three days after his arrival he went to Baltimore, where he had a brother, Samuel, who had preceded him to the United States in 1817, and was engaged in the above city in the floricultural business. With him John became associated under the firm style of Samuel & John Feast. The Feasts were located on the Frederick Road, cultivating trees, plants, and vegetables, and were the first to offer plants for sale in the Baltimore markets. . The above business connection continued until 1830, when John became the sole proprietor of the estab- lishment, which he removed that year to its present loca- tion, 295 Lexington Street, where he has continuously and successfully conducted it for half a century. It was at one time not only the largest of its kind, but also embraced the most extensive miscellaneous collection of plants in this country. Mr. Feast has been engaged for many years in the origination of new plants, and for over forty years has been an importer of rare exotics, of new and valuable trees. In 1868 Mr. Feast received carte blanche from General Capron, then United States Commissioner of Agri- culture, to purchase in Europe trees, plants, cereals, etc., that were likely to be acquisitions in this country. In the performance of the duty intrusted to him he visited Eng- land, Belgium, Prussia, Germany, and France, and brought home the finest and most valuable collection for the Gov- ernment, as well as many rare and curious additions to his own stock, ever 'gathered at one time. Ile was one of the founders of the first Maryland Horticultural Society, in 1830; assisted in reviving it in 1851, and was active in the organization of the present one in 1874. He took great interest in the early success of the Maryland Insti- tute, and for many years was one of its Board of Mana- gers. A number of its floral exhibitions were arranged by him " with his characteristic ability to produce pronounced effects from the materials at hand." He was the superin-
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