USA > Maryland > Washington County > Hagerstown > A history of Washington County, Maryland from the earliest settlements to the present time, including a history of Hagerstown > Part 69
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94
In the great railroad strikes of 1877 Mr. Douglas was placed by Governor Carroll in com- mand of affairs in Western Maryland, with head- quarters at Cumberland where he superintended the movement of troops who opened the Balti- more & Ohio railroad. In 1892 Col. Douglas was appointed Adjutant General of Maryland and as such was at the head of the Maryland Militia during the coal mine strikes in Allegany County of that period.
At the election in 1888 Mr. Douglas was the Democratic candidate for Congress, but was de- feated by Louis E. McComas after a brilliant cam- paign upon the tariff question, one feature of which was a joint debate between the two candi- dates. In the Judiciary election of 1891 Doug- las was defeated by Edward Stake, republican.
Judge Stake was a native of Williamsport, son of Edward Greene Williams Stake. He served for a time in the Federal Army, got a good edu- cation and entered the bar. He was a man of fine ability, of excellent common sense but some- what disposed to procrastinate. He was a mem- ber of the State Senate in 1888 and 1890 and made a fine record. Before that he was State's Attorney for Washington County. He was a most companionable man, a good talker and pos- sessed all the qualities that make men popular. He took a deep interest in agriculture and for some years was President of the State Farmers' Convention. In the latter years of his life his health was bad and he died in 1902 while still a man in middle life.
On February 9, 1903, Governor John Walter Smith appointed William J. Witzenbacher to the bench to succeed Judge Stake and at the election that fall Martin L. Keedy was elected Associate Judge.
422
HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
In his brief service on the bench Judge Wit- zenbacher did himself great credit. He is a man of fine ability of profound learning and an inde- fatigable student. His successor, Judge Keedy, soon proved himself an excellent judge, honcst, just and painstaking.
The Bar of Washington County thirty years ago was one of the most brilliant in the State. In most of the principal trials, William T. Hamn- ilton and his partner George W. Smith, were apt to be on one side and Syester & Freaner on the other and the forensic duel between these was cer- tain to fill the Court Hall with an audience. Henry H. Keedy had a large practice and was engaged in many cases. He was in no sense what is usually termed a brilliant man. But he was a man of solid parts, indomitable industry and per- severence and that saving common sense which is often worth more than brilliancy. In 1874 he took his brother-in-law, J. Clarence Lane, many years his junior, into partnership with him and when Mr. Keedy died Mr. Lane succeeded to his business. Henry H. Kcedy dicd January 22, 1893 at the age of 51 years, after a long illness. He was a good citizen as well as a good lawyer and took a leading part in the business enter- priscs of Hagerstown. Mr. Keedy was a native of Pleasant Valley and married Miss Julia Lane, of Boonsboro.
J. Clarence Lane was born in Frederick County and educated at Princeton. He entered the Bar at Hagerstown in July 1874 and at once took a fine position. In 1884 he was elected to the State Senate and gained a reputation there by the ability with which he opposed and defeat- ed a bill calling a Constitutional Convention.
Another firm in active practice during the seventies was that of Judge Weisel and Louis E. McComas. Frederick F. McComas, a younger brother of Judge McComas, was admitted to the bar in 1874. He was an excellent lawyer and a man of first rate ability. He died March 27, 1897, aged 46 years.
Gen. Henry Kyd Douglas was one of the brilliant members of the bar and an excellent trial lawyer.
Francis M. Darby was a native of Frederick County, born March 11, 1838. He entered the bar at Hagerstown in 1858. For thirty-five years he held a good position and enjoyed a large prac- tice. His first wife was Louisa, daughter of Ben- jamin Pricc. In 1863 he was State's Attorney
for Washington County. In 1869 he was candi- date for the House of Delegates; in 1871 for the State Senate against Z. S. Clagett and in 1879 for Attorney-Gencral on the republican ticket, but each time was defeated. He was a director in and attorney for the Hagerstown Bank for many years. In 1881 Mr. Darby was sub-Treas- urer of the United States at Baltimore. About 1888 he removed to Baltimore to take the position of Treasurer of the Baltimore Safe Deposit and Trust Company of which B. F. Newcomer was president. That position he held until his death, November 10, 1903.
Col. George Schley was, for many years, the Nestor of the Bar. His practice was not extensive. He was a man of polished manners and of liter- ary attainments, and literature figured in his management of cases. He was fond of a latin quotation and frequently brought in a text from the Bible with telling effect.
Judge George French, after the war, seldom appeared in Court. On the bench in the war time for a short period, he established a higli character for justice and fair dealing. Many of the cases directly or indirectly involved bitter partisan feeling. Judge French was a strong Union man but he never let his political views bias his sense of right. Before the Constitution of 1867 the jury was selected by the sheriff and in a time of bitterness there was sure to be a par- tisan jury. More than once an appeal was made to Judge French by William T. Hamilton or other lawyers of Southern sympathy and the entire pan- el was discharged.
Among the older lawyers of this period were Zachariah S. Clagett and David H. Wiles. Mr. Clagett was a son of Capt. Samuel Clagett of Pleasant Valley. He moved to Hagerstown at an early age and spent his life at the practice of the law in the town. He represented Washing- ton County in the State Senate in 1872 and 1874. For some years he was auditor of the Court. Mr. Wiles had a large chancery practice and accumu- lated a considerable fortune.
Alexander Neill, has for many years, been one of the most substantial members of the Bar, enjoying a large practice. His great grandfather, Alexander Neill, was born in Ireland and came to Hagerstown from Baltimore carly in the last century. Mr. Neill's grandfather, was for many years, president of the Hagerstown Bank, a posi- tion which the grandson now occupies. Alex-
Old United Brethren Church, Hagerstown.
St John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hagerstown.
425
OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
ander, the father of the present Mr. Neill, was born in Hagerstown in 1808. He married Mary Sim Nelson, daughter of John Nelson, Attorney General of the U. S. in 1843. Mr. Neill was a member of the House of Delegates in 1870. After that time he was a candidate, once for State's Attorney but he was defeated by Edward Stake. He was born in Hagerstown August 5, 1844, ed- ucated at the College of St. James, graduating in 1863, and entered the Bar in 1865. He married Miss Ellen Loughridge, daughter of Wm. Lough- ridge, the inventor of the air brake. He is a member of several corporations and has always been prominent in the industrial work of Waslı- ington County.
William Kealhofer is a son of George Keal- hofer and a native of Hagerstown. He was edu- cated at the College of St. James and entered the Bar in 1865. He has been prominent at the Bar, in business and social affairs. He was City Attor- ney for Hagerstown at the time and took a lead- ing part in formulating the new charter of the town. His wife is the daughter of Dr. Josiah F. Smith
Among the many deaths announced in 1874 was that of Mr. Robert Fowler at the time of his death, a resident of Baltimore, but who had spent many years in Washington County. He died at Barnum's Hotel, March 3, 1874, in the 62nd year of his age.
Mr. Fowler was born in Montgomery County, but very early in life removed to Washington County, where he rose to prominence and influence in politics and other local affairs of our people. He was several times elected County Commission- er from the Boonsboro' District, and after his removal to Hagerstown was chosen to the Legis- lature in the year 1847. In connection with Mr. Frederick Zeigler he built the Leitersburg Turn- pike, and in association with the same gentleman he was for many years extensively engaged in the commission and produce business in Baltimore. He was elected and re-elected to the office of State Treasurer some four or five times, and at the time of his death was the President of the Washington County Railroad, and a member of the House of Delegates from Baltimore county.
Mr. Fowler was a man of a most kindly and charitable disposition and was greatly beloved in Washington County. His oldest son, John Fow- ler, succeeded him in the directorate of the Wash- ington County Railroad Company. Another son
was Judge David Fowler for sixteen years a mem- ber of the Court of Appeals of Maryland from which he resigned in 1905.
George W. Smith, Jr., is a native of Hagers- town, the son of George W. Smith, for many years the Democratic leader of Washington Coun- ty, before William T. Hamilton acceded to that place. George W. Smith, Jr., was in partnership with Mr. Hamilton for many years, the connection being terminated by the death of Mr. Hamilton. He entered the Bar in 1856 and has now been in active practice more than half a century. He has been School Commissioner and is director in sev- eral of the more important corporations includ- ing the Hagerstown Bank.
Alexander Armstrong was a practitioner from 1870 down to the time of his death in 1905. He graduated at Princeton in 1868 and entered the Bar two years later and almost at once got a prac- tice. In 1886 he was a member of the House of Delegates where he was an active and useful mem- ber. He was appointed School Commissioner by Governor Lowndes. He was an elder in the Pres- byterian Church. In 1876 he married a daughter of Dr. N. B. Scott.
One of the very earliest members of this Bar was John Thompson Mason, and he was perhaps one of the most brilliant of all. Of him we have already had occasion to speak. He was a son of Thomas Mason of Virginia and a nephew of George Mason, the author of the Declaration of Rights, and one of the most distinguished men that America ever produced. The name of Mr. Mason's oldest son, who lived, in order to inherit a property from Mr. Mason's uncle, was changed to Barnes by the Legislature. He was Abraham Barnes the father of John Thompson Mason Barnes of Baltimore, auditor of the Western Maryland Railroad Company. Another son of Mr. Mason was Judge John Thompson Mason.
Judge John Thompson Mason died at Elkton, Md., where he was arguing a case in Court at the time in April 1873. He was born at Montpelier, near Clearspring, the old Mason homestead.
Judge Mason was in the 58th year of his age when he died. He took an active part in poli- tics at a very early age. He was elected to two successive Legislatures and to Congress within the short period of three years, from 1838 to 1841. In 1844, when the Whigs swept the State upon the Tariff issue, carrying every Congressional District in it, Mr. Mason went down with the
426
HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
rest of the Democrats and was sueeeeded by Mr. Brengel. In 1850 he was also defeated as a can- didate for the Constitutional Convention, but immediately after the adoption of the Constitu- tion, which made the Judges elective. he was chos- en as one of the Judges of the Court of Appeals. In 1857 he was appointed Collector of the Port of Baltimore by Mr. Buchanan, and at the time of his death he held the office of Secretary of State, to which he was appointed by Gov. Whyte.
The two Buchanans, John and Thomas, prac- ticed in Hagerstown only a few years before they went upon the bench.
William Price was born in Washington Coun- ty near the end of the century. He graduated at Dickinson College and studied law with John Thompson Mason and Upton Lawrence. In 1825 he represented Washington County in the State Senate. He removed to Cumberland and then to Baltimore where he was elected to the legislature of 1862 and was appointed United States District Attorney by President Lincoln. In 1840 Mr. Price fought a duel with Governor Frank Thomas. The difficulty originated in a speech made by Mr. Price in Cumberland to which Mr. Thomas took exception and sent him a challenge. The meeting took place in Morgan Comity, Virginia, on the road from Hancock. Md., to Berkeley Springs, or Bath as it was then called. One shot was exchanged between the combatants and then their friends. Wm. H. Norris, Judge McPherson and J. Hollingsworth, effected a reconciliation. Mr. Price died November 25, 1868. Of his fath- er. Col. Josiah Price, but little is known except that he was also a leading lawyer. He had the military title of Colonel gained in the whiskey insurrection in Washington's administration. In that affair he had a command. His wife, it is be- lieved, was the daughter of the Rev. Win. Wil- liams, a minister of the Presbyterian Church who was sent to American from Wales as a missionary. Col. Josiah Price, the father of William Price, lived near the Conococheague creek. He had four sous. Not having a large fortune he told these sons that they could make their choice between inheriting the property and receiving a liberal education. Two of them, William and Benjamin, elected the education. They received every advantage of good schools but began life without a dollar. Their two brothers however,
died and William and Benjamin finally got the property as well as the education. A daughter of Col. Price, Jane Scott Price, married Andrew Rench of Washington County. One of the daugh- ters of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Rench, Sarah Eliz- abeth became the wife of Dr. William H. Grimes, another Susan M., of Dr. John M. Gaines and another, Alice, of Doctor Victor D. Miller.
Robert J. Brent was born in Louisiana of Maryland parents. He was admitted to the Bar in 1834 and after practicing in Washington for a few years he moved to Hagerstown where he practiced law a few years and then went to Bal- timore. While in Hagerstown he married a daughter of Upton Lawrence. The mother of Mrs. Brent, that is Mrs. Lawrence, was the only daughter of Jonathan Hager, Jr., son of the founder of Hagerstown. Mr. Brent died in Bal- timore in February 1822, leaving one son, Robert J. Brent, a member of the Baltimore Bar, and seven daughters. One of the daughters married the late Williamn Keyser of Baltimore.
Upton Lawrence was for many years a leader at the Bar and President of the Hagerstown Bank. He was a son of John Lawrence of Linganore, Frederick County and Martha, his wife, daughter of Sir Stephen West. Upton Lawrence moved to Hagerstown to practice law. He married Eliz- abeth Hager. granddaughter of the founder of Hagerstown. They had five children, two sons, Jonathan and Upton, and three daughters, only one of whom married. She as already stated, mar- ried Robert J. Brent. The other two, Martha and Elizabeth, spent their lives in Hagerstown, living on West Washington street near the corner of Prospect street in a house built by Dr. John Rey- nolds, a physician who lived there and died De- cember 23. 1810.
William Beverly Clark had a large practice in Hagerstown and was prominent in politics. He was born September 4, 1817 and died in Balti- more April 14. 1855, having removed to that city about four years before his death. He went into the law office of William Price in 1836 and later married Mr. Price's daughter. He was a Whig and took part in the great hard cider campaign of 1840. In 1816 he was elected to the State Senate. In 1850 he was the Whig candidate for Governor, but was defeated by Enoch Louis Lowe. He was buried in the Episcopal graveyard in Hagerstown.
427
OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
CHAPTER XXIX
IIE medical profession of Washington Coun- ty was no less distinguished than the legal. Of the greatest of all of the physicians of this County, Dr. Frederick Dorsey, we have already told. Before his time the leading physician was Dr. Richard Prindell, of Hagerstown of whom also something has been said. He married Eliza Hart, daughter of Col. Thomas Hart and sister of Lucretia, wife of Henry Clay. Dr. Pindell went to Kentucky with Col. Hart in 1793. He was for 25 years the fam- ily physician of his distinguished brother-in-law Henry Clay. . One year after going to Kentucky, namely Aug. 4, 1794, Mrs. Pindell died.
Contemporaries of Dr. Pindell in Hagerstown were Dr. Henry Schnebley, Dr. J. Schnebley and Dr. Samuel Young. About 1829 Dr. John O. Wharton came to Washington County and at Montpelier married Miss Mason, daughter of John Thompson Mason whom he met in Baltimore, while studying medicine. After the wedding he returned to Tennessee, his native State to reside but remained there only one year after which he made his home at "Montpelier." There he became a farmer and took a part in public affairs as a Democrat. In 1833, and for several succeeding sessions, he was elected to the legislature. In 1848 he was appointed lottery commissioner for Bal- timore by Governor Frank Thomas and later he was appointed by President Pierce, Surveyor of the Port of Baltimore. After the Civil War he went to Louisiana and died in New Or- leans while on a visit to his son, Col. "Jack" Wharton. His body was brought to Hagerstown and buried in the Episcopal graveyard. Both of
Dr. Wharton's sons, Col. Wharton, and William F. Wharton, a member of the Baltimore County bar, were Confederate soldiers. His daughter, Mary, was the first wife of Judge Richard H. Alvey.
In the early history of the County Dr. Lance- lot Jacques had an extensive practice in the western end of the County. He was a native of England, served as a surgeon in the Revolutionary Army and several times represented the County in the House of Delegates. He died at his home in Hancock in October 1827, aged seventy-two years.
Dr. James Dixon was a pupil of Dr. Fred- erick Dorsey. He was born in St. Mary's County in 1/97 and came to Hagerstown to study med- icine in Dr. Dorsey's office. He graduated in Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and practiced in Hagerstown from 1818 to 1828. Ile died May 1829 aged 32 years.
Dr. Thomas Buchanan Duckett lived near Funkstown. He died in 1875 aged 25 years. He was a son of a sister of Judges John and Thomas Buchanan. His wife was a daughter of Joseph Gabby. One of his sons Joseph Gabby Duckett, was shot and killed by Federal troops while cross- ing the Potomac to join the Southern Army.
Among the distinguished physicians of Mary- land in the olden time, Dr. Horatio Clagett takcs position. He was born and lived in Pleasant Valley. His home near Beeler's Summit on the Washington County Branch railroad, known as "Park Hall," is still standing. He died in 1850. His wife was Mary, daughter of Honore Martin of Rockville. Dr. Clagett first introduced the
428
HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
use of quinine in large doses in the treatment of Malaria.
Dr. Howard Kennedy was the son of Thontas Kennedy, who while in the Senate of Maryland, introduced the bill that removed the political dis- abilities of the Jews. Dr. Kennedy was largely engaged in publie affairs. He was for some years postmaster of Hagerstown and editor of the Mail. In the cholera epidemics he took a leading part. He died in 1855. Dr. Kennedy married Miss Frances Howell of Pennsylvania. He left two sons, Howard and Frank. Both died when they were young men and the Parish House of St. John's Parish, Hagerstown was erected to their memory by their pious mother. Dr. Kennedy had one daughter who is the wife of James Findlay of "Tammany," Washington County.
Dr. Charles Macgill was prominent in Wash- ington County for many years both as a politieian and a physician. He was candidate for Presiden- tial elector on the Van Buren ticket and in 1836 he was one of the "Glorious Nineteen" electors of the Senate of Maryland who brought about the reform of the Constitution and the cleetion of the Senators and Governor by the people. The other eleetor from Washington County was Robert Wason. Dr. Macgill was also colonel of the twenty-fourth regiment of Maryland militia ap- pointed by Governor Philip Francis Thomas and was later Major General in the State troops. Dr. Charles Macgill was a native of Baltimore. He moved to Hagerstown carly in life and engaged in the practice of his profession. His home was on South Potomac street near Antictam. ITe was a leading spirit among the Southern sympathizers, in Hagerstown and when Gen. Lee was in the County going to Pennsylvania in the Gettysburg eampaign he furnished him, it is said, with a great deal of information as to roads, cte., and he established a hospital in Hagerstown for sick. and wounded Confederates. Two of his sons had been imprisoned in the town as secessionists and when the Southern Army came they were liberated and both of them joined Lee's Army. These two sons were Dr. Charles G. W. Macgill, now residing in C'atonsville, Md., and Gen. James Macgill, of Pulaski, Virginia. But before this time Dr. Mac- gill had gotten into trouble with the government. His son-in-law, Major Swan, at the outbreak of the war, went South and joined the Southern Army and this was the reason for the arrest of Dr. Macgill and his imprisonment in Fort Hamilton
and Fort Lafayette from October 1861 to Novem- ber 1862. He was then uneonditionally released and returned to Hagerstown. After the Gettys- burg campaign he went to Virginia with Lee's Army in which he received a commission from President Davis. He was in the service until the surrender. After the war he settled in Chester- field County, Virginia, where he died at the res- idence of his son-in-law, Dr. S. D. Drewry, May 5, 1881, aged 75 years. He had four sons and several daughters. The sons are Dr. Charles G. W. Macgill, of Catonsville, Gen. James Maegill, of Pulaski. William D. Macgill and Danridge Macgill. One of his daughters married Henry Rosenburg a wealthy banker of Galveston, Texas. She erected a beautiful memorial to her father in St. John's Episcopal Church, Hagerstown, of which he had been a vestryman for many years.
Dr. Charles G. W. Macgill was born in IJa- gerstown, May 10, 1833, graduated at the medical school of the University of Maryland in 1853, and practiced medieine in Hagerstown from that time until he joined Ler's Army in 1863. He was with the Stonewall brigade until the surrender. He escaped from Appomattox and joined Gen. Joseph Johnston's Army in North Carolina. He was paroled at Danville, Va., May 4, 1865, and went to Shepherdstown to practice medicine. He remained there only a few months and then went to Catonsville where he has since resided.
Another physician who came to Washington County and became a farmer was Dr. Thomas Maddox of the Tilghmanton district. He was a native of St. Mary's County, graduated at the Medical School of the University of Maryland and then practiced for some years in Louisville, Ken- lucky, where he distinguished himself for his courage and skill during a cholera epidemic. In 1848 he came to Washington County. His wife was Mary Prineilla Clagett, daughter of Dr. Thomas John Claggett of Frederick County.
Dr. Samuel Weisel, a younger brother of Judge Daniel Weise], practiced medicine in Wil- liamsport for forty years where he died in Jan- uary 1872.
Dr. William Henry Grimes of the Tilghman- ton District, was a typical country doctor of the old school. Dr. Grimes was son of James Grimes, a native of Jefferson County, Va., and his mother was Margaret, daughter of James Strode. He was educated at Mercersburg College and receiv- ed his degree in medicine at the University of
429
OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
Maryland. His home was at Grimes Station on the Norfolk and Western road, which was nanied in his honor. He married Sarah Elizabeth, daugh- ter of Andrew Rench in 1855. Dr. Grimes was a physician of remarkable skill and success as a practitioner. His practice extended over a large territory and he worked incessantly. When he was sent for he responded without taking thought of the fee he was to receive. The humblest and poorest sufferer, who had no means to pay and of whom there was no expectation of payment, re- ceived his services as freely and cheerfully as the wealthiest patient. He was gentle, kind and charitable and it was not unusual for him to sup- ply food as well as medicines to his poor patients. He died in 1891, having practiced medicine more than fifty years among his people. In 1874 he was a member of the Legislature.
The successor of Dr. Grimes as practitioner in the Tilghmanton district was Dr. V. Milton Reichard of Fairplay, a physician of distinguished skill, whose practice extends over a territory stretching from Sharpsburg to Hagerstown and from Williamsport to Boonsboro. He is a son of the late John Reichard, of that neighborhood. Dr. Reichard not only attends to his great prac- tice but takes a leading part in public affairs, in charities, libraries, the hospital, in the better gov- ernment of the schools and in the public road improvement.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.