USA > Maryland > Genealogical and memorial encyclopedia of the state of Maryland, a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Volume I > Part 2
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In 1871 Mr. Fulton accompanied the commissioners headed by Senator Wade, appointed by President Grant, to visit San Domingo and report on the advisability of annexing it to the United States. His letters gave glowing accounts of the delightful climate, prolific soil, attractive scenery, and its bountiful yield of tropical fruits. As editorial corre- spondent of the "American," he traversed all sections of the country, joined in excursion trips over new lines of railways, rambled through Texas, descended coal and iron mines, ex- plored oil regions, and never failed to present the results of his observations in a manner attractive and interesting to his readers. His wanderings in foreign countries were also exten- sive. His work, entitled "Europe Seen Through American Spectacles," went through two editions and became a guide book, especially to Baltimoreans. As a politician, he occupied a prominent position in State affairs, and for many years rep- resented his party in the National Executive Committee, and was a delegate to the National conventions of the Republican party. Modest, retiring in his manner, delighting in the eloquence of others, he was not an adept at speechmaking, though in social moments and in the committee room he expressed his opinions freely and to the point.
The public improvements of the city of Baltimore always received Mr. Fulton's ardent support. He advocated the purchase and improvement of Durid Hill Park, and the tax upon passenger railways to meet the outlay. Through his
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exertions the beautiful Centennial Fountain that adorns Eutaw Place was produced and erected, he being aided by other property owners fronting its site and the liberality of the city councils. He aided in a like manner all good causes, no man exceeding him in public spirit. His judgment was sound and true, his convictions deep, his sympathies broad as human nature itself, his fidelity to friendship and to a cause unfailing, his courage and fortitude not to be shaken, his energy exhaustless. His affections were warm and true and he was always accessible to the pleadings of humanity.
Mr. Fulton married (first) in Baltimore, Emily Jane Kimberly. They were the parents of four sons: Albert K. and three named Charles C., two of whom died in infancy, and three daughters: Annie E., Emma Ware and Dolly G. Annie E. married General Felix Agnus, who, at the close of the Civil War, was the youngest man in the Union Army holding the rank of general. After the death of his wife, Mr. Fulton married (second) Mrs. Caroline Driscoll. Shortly before Mr. Fulton's death he executed a deed of trust con- stituting General Agnus sole manager of the "American;" this in recognition of his long and faithful services to the paper and of his perfect fitness for so great a trust.
ARUNAH SHEPHERDSON ABELL
ARUNAH SHEPHERDSON ABELL, founder and owner of the "Baltimore Sun," was born in East Provi- dence, Rhode Island, August 10, 1806, and died at his Baltimore residence, northwest corner Charles and Madison streets, April 19, 1888, in the eighty-second year of his age. Mr. Abell was of English descent, his paternal ancestors having been among the early settlers in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was sixth in descent from his colonial ancestor, Robert Abell, to whom a son was born during the voyage from the Old to the New World. The voyage was a long and stormy one, and, owing to the safety of mother and child during these perils by sea, the babe was christened Preserved.
Preserved Abell settled at Rehobeth (Seekonk), Rhode Island, and had a son, Joshua Abell, who had a son Robert, named for his colonial ancestor. Robert Abell, son of Joshua, had a son, Caleb Abell, who became the father of Arunah Shepherdson Abell.
Robert Abell, grandson of Preserved Abell and grand- father of Arunah Shepherdson Abell, served with distinc- tion during the war of the American Revolution. Caleb Abell, son of Robert and father of Arunah Shepherdson Abell, was an officer during the war of 1812, and for more than thirty years after served his native town in various offices of public trust. He married Elona Shepherdson, daughter of Arunah Shepherdson, whose name has since been borne by three generations of the Abell family. She was a woman of high and noble character and of exceptional intelligence.
Arunah S. Abell was educated in his native town, and when fourteen years of age entered the business world as clerk in a firm dealing in West India commodities. His
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inclinations turned strongly in literary directions. He re- signed his clerkship in 1822, and became an apprentice in the office of the "Providence Patriot," a Democratic journal, published by Jones & Wheeler, printers to the State and Federal governments. When he attained his majority, he obtained employment in Boston, and was soon promoted to the position of foreman of one of the best offices in that city. He was offered a government position in the Boston post- office, under Democratic administration, but having chosen his career as journalist refused to consider any other vocation. A little later he removed to New York, bearing flattering letters of introduction to the foremost newspaper men of the metropolis. His residence in New York quickly resulted in his entering into partnership with two gentlemen, Azariah H. Simmons and William M. Swain, also printers like himself, to establish a daily penny paper. At this time New York boasted several penny papers, while Philadelphia did not, and it was decided to establish the new enterprise in the latter city. Articles of association were drawn up February 29, 1836. The name first chosen for the new paper was "The Times," but an ill fate had overtaken a preceding Philadel- phia journal of that name, and the firm of Swain, Abell & Simmons abandoned the name first chosen for that of "The Public Ledger," under which title the paper entered upon a long and prosperous career which continues to the present time. The partners contributed an equal amount of money and their united energies to the undertaking, and cast super- stition to the wind when the first number of "The Public Ledger" appeared, Friday, March 25, 1836.
Having seen the success of "The Ledger" fully established, Mr. Abell, in April, 1837, visited Baltimore, where all the newspapers published were known as "sixpennies." The year was not a financially encouraging one, and here were five
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newspaper competitors already established in the Baltimore field, yet Mr. Abell's business foresight incited him to make the venture of establishing a penny paper in Baltimore, and his partners agreed to supoprt him if he would personally undertake the control of the enterprise. This he agreed to do, and upon May 17, 1837, the first number of "The Sun" was issued, and the broad and wide policy outlined that has been the paper's inspiration through succeeding years.
While the paper was the property of the three partners, Mr. Abell was, from its inception, its sole manager, and the imprint of his strong intelligent and fearless character was manifest throughout his life in the conduct of the journal. It was designed to voice the sentiment of the people, while endeavoring their judgment aright, and, so far as possible, to carry out their will. The city and State, as well as neigh- boring States, soon realized that here was a newspaper which could neither be bought nor intimidated, with opinions based upon fact and judgment, with news collected by responsible workers, and the paper soon came to be relied upon as the voice of the people in the highest and best sense of the word. "The Sun" commenced its notable career with one reporter, but it was the pioneer in the field of giving local reports, and upon the first anniversary of its founding, May 17, 1838, "The Sun" had a circulation of 12,000 copies-a very large circulation for that day.
The first opportunity offered the paper for displaying the intense energy and initiative which characterized Mr. Abell's management, was President Van Buren's Message of December, 1838. Such messages usually reached Baltimore by mail, and appeared in leisurely fashion in supplementary newspaper issues. Mr. Abell had the message rushed to Baltimore from Washington by Canadian pony express, and brought with all possible speed to the office. In five minutes
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after its arrival, forty-nine compositors were at work upon it, and in two hours the first copy was printed in Baltimore and distributed to the public. The message thus appeared in "The Sun" two days in advance of its local newspaper com- petitors. "The Sun" was successful from its initial publi- cation. In three months its circulation had outstripped that of "The Public Ledger" after nine months' publication, and in a year "The Sun" had more than twice the circulation of the oldest newspaper in Baltimore. The first printing office of the paper was at No. 21 Light street, near Mercer street, but this building became too contracted for the rapid development of the paper. On February 16, 1839, the office was removed to the southeast corner of Gay and Baltimore streets, and on December 22, 1850, Mr. Abell purchased the site upon which was erected the well-known "Sun Iron Build- ing," the first iron-supported structure to be built in the United States. The structure had a front of fifty-six feet on Baltimore street and seventy-four feet on South street, with height of five well-pitched stories. The partnership between A. S. Abell, William M. Swain and Azariah H. Simmons was only dissolved by the death of the latter in 1855. "The Sun" property was sold December 22, 1860, to divide Mr. Simmons's estate, and was purchased by Mr. A. S. Abell.
In 1864 Mr. Abell sold out his interest in "The Public Ledger." He was now the sole proprietor of "The Sun," to the development and success of which he bent his un- divided interest, and to which he contributed with enthusiasm his truly remarkable gifts as organizer and manager. It was a life-work which, for unswerving purpose and successful fulfillment, has no parallel in the journalism of the South. Initiative and conservatism were equally characteristic of Mr. Abell's personality, and this was shown, both in his
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development of "The Sun" and his relation to the city of his adoption. His conception of the mission of journalism was far above the ordinary plane of mere news circulation, al- though his initiative of obtaining reliable news quickly, im- mediately placed his paper in the lead of other sources of news supply, both official and journalistic. He always cherished a high conception of his personal responsibility as newspaper editor and proprietor, and his influence was always directed against sensationalism, scandal and idle gossip. To make "The Sun" what he aspired it should be, was Mr. A. S. Abell's life-work, and his reward was his paper's acceptance by the people of the South as a political guide and a paper that uplifted and enlightened every home which it entered.
An open mind made Mr. Abell a ready and earnest patron and promoter of mechanical enterprises and inven- tions. His firm was the first to purchase the rotary printing machine, the invention of Richard M. Hoe, of New York, which worked a revolution in the art of printing, and which invention had previously been rejected as impracticable by New York publishers. He gave substantial support to that marvel of modern times, the electric telegraph, and Mr. Abell was one of the incorporators of the first telegraph com- pany organized. "The Sun" was one of the most enthusiastic advocates of the practicability of the new invention, and the first document of any length transmitted over the experimental line between Washington and Baltimore was President Tyler's message of May 11, 1846, which was telegraphed to and pub- lished in "The Sun," with a degree of accuracy that excited general astonishment. "The Sun's" telegraphic copy of this Message of May 11, 1846, which was telegraphed to and pub- side by side with an authenticated transcript of the original.
The art of stereotyping, electric light, and many other MD .- 2
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mechanical improvements were immediately recognized by Mr. Abell as important achievements, and promptly applied to the conduct of his business. The submarine cable received his vigorous support, and it was largely due to his efforts in the successful establishment of pony expresses for obtain- ing news promptly by European steamers and from the seat of war in Mexico that the Associated Press service was estab- lished, which now supplies the leading papers throughout the country with news. He was also the first to introduce in Baltimore the carrier system of delivering newspapers which has proved of such great convenience to city readers.
Mr. A. S. Abell, in conjunction with Mr. Craig, after- wards agent of the Associated Press of New York, organized an effective carrier pigeon express for the transmission of news between New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, and the birds were also carefully trained to carry news from incoming ships. From four hundred to five hundred pigeons were kept in a house on Hampstead Hill, near the old Maryland Hospital for the Insane, and this carrier service was regularly conducted until the rapid flight of birds was superseded by the still more rapid transmission of news by telegraph. Even the short-lived Atlantic cable of 1858 was pressed into service by this indefatigable gleaner of news, and transmitted a special dispatch to "The Sun," this being the first news telegram from London over the Atlantic cable received and made public in Baltimore.
In order to obtain the earliest foreign news, "The Sun" established relays of horses from Halifax to Annapolis, on the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia, a distance of one hundred and fifty miles. Thence the news was carried by steamer to Port- land, Maine, from there by rail to Boston, and via New York and Philadelphia to Baltimore, the distance of about one thousand miles being covered in fifty hours. "The Sun"
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published news of the ships "Liberty" and "Cambria" twenty- four hours ahead of other sources of information, and was the only Baltimore paper that joined in the charter of the pilot boat "Romer" to run to Liverpool, and return with foreign news.
During the war with Mexico, when all interests were centered in that section, "The Sun" organized, exclusively for its own department, an overland express by means of ponies from New Orleans, independent of any co-operation with other papers. The trip from New Orleans to Baltimore was made in six days by these carriers of war dispatches, and cost "The Sun" a thousand dollars a month; but it enabled the paper to publish pictures of Monterey and the army and the battlefied of Buena Vista, both before and after the bat- tle, which would have been impossible under any other cir- cumstances than those afforded by this extraordinary service from Pensacola. Throughout the Mexican War "The Sun" supplied not only the public with news, but kept the gov- ernment advised as well.
These expresses became a public necessity, after their advantage over other means of communication was proven, and several northern papers then joined in profiting by the facilities thus afforded. "The Sun" was the first to an- nounce, April 10, 1847, to President Polk and his Cabinet at Washington, the unconditional capitulation of Vera Cruz and the Castle of San Juan d'Ulloa. Even before the pub- lication of this important news in the columns of "The Sun," Mr. Abell's patriotism inspired him to send to the President a private telegraphic communication of the surrender of the Mexican city and castle. "The Sun's" pony express brought news of the victories at Contreras and Cherubusco fully twenty-four hours ahead of steamboats, railways, and even telegraphs.
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Another proof of the enterprise of the management of "The Sun" was given in 1876, when the paper united with the "New York Herald" and sent copies of the daily and weekly*issues to the Pacific coast by Jarrett and Palmer's transcontinental train in eighty-four hours. Mr. Abell was an enthusiastic friend of Professor Morse when the latter was endeavoring to establish the telegraph. He used both his personal and journalistic influence to promote and develop this invention, and was instrumental in securing from Con- gress an appropriation of $30,000 for the construction of a line between Washington and Baltimore, and supplied part of the money to build between Baltimore and Philadelphia the first line of the Magnetic Telegraph Company, which was organized March 15, 1845.
The "Weekly Sun" was first issued April 14, 1838, and continued an important adjunct to the daily edition, especially in rural districts, until 1904. On Saturday, February 6, 1904, the day preceding the great conflagration of February 7-8, 1904, that enveloped the business portion of the city of Baltimore in a mantle of flame and wiped the "Sun Iron Building" out of existence, the last issue of the "Weekly Sun" was published. It had been an important household paper in the annals of Baltimore journalism, and through it, on numerous occasions, prizes ranging from $300 to $1,200 had been won for stories entered in competition.
In the year 1838, Mr. Abell married Mrs. Mary Fox Campbell, a young widow, daughter of John Fox, of Peeks- kill, New York. She was a lady greatly beloved by all who knew her, for her amiable and gracious womanliness and the wide charity of her nature. She bore her husband twelve children, nine of whom lived to reach man's and woman's estate. The children were: 1. Edwin Franklin Abell; mar- ried (first) Margaret Curley ; (second) Elizabeth M. Lauren-
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son. 2. George William Abell; married Jane Francis Webb, daughter of the late George Webb. 3. Walter Robert Abell; married (first) Sallie Sisson, daughter of the late Hugh Sisson ; (second) Philomena, daughter of Henry Bogue. 4. Charles S. Abell; died unmarried, December 3, 1891. 5. Marie L. Abell; became a nun, and assumed the name of Mary Joseph. 6. Agnes Frances Abell; unmarried. 7. Annie F. Abell; married J. W. S. Brady. 8. Helen M. Abell; mar- ried L. Victor Baughman. 9. Margaret Abell; married John Irving Griffiss. 10. Arunah S. Abell; died in childhood. II. Harry Abell; died in childhood. 12. Mary Abell; died in childhood. Mrs. Arunah S. Abell died in 1859.
Mr. Abell's personal appearance suggested dignity and reserve force. His height was medium, and his face in repose a trifle stern. His nature, however, was by no means stern, and his manners were genial, free from all affectation, and his personal friendship of the warmest character. He pos- sessed a keen sense of humor, a vein of interesting remin- iscence, and was a congenial companion for young or old. A man wholly without arrogance over his great achievements, he was regarded with ardent and reverential but also cheer- ful and companionable love, by every member of his house- hold. Arunah S. Abell lived to celebrate the semi-centennial of the paper he had founded, upon which occasion announce- ment was made that upon that date the senior proprietor had associated with himself as co-partners his sons, Edwin F. Abell, George W. Abell and Walter R. Abell. Grover Cleve- land, then President of the United States, was among the notable people who sent personal telegrams of congratulations to Mr. Abell upon this happy occasion.
Mr. Abell's death, which occurred April 19, 1888, was regarded as a municipal calamity by the people of Balti- more. The flag upon the City Hall was placed at half-mast
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by Mayor Ferdinand C. Latrobe, an unusual tribute to one not occupying an official position, and fifteen thousand per- sons congregated at Greenmount Cemetery upon the day of his interment, as a final tribute to his honored memory. The pallbearers were: Messrs. Hugh Sisson, Charles Webb, Pro- fessor Alan P. Smith, Robert Moore, Lewis M. Cole, Charles J. M. Gwinn, R. Q. Taylor, Meyer Stein, Colonel John Car- roll Walsh, Robert Lawson, Enoch Pratt, Dr. John Morris, James M. Anderson and William H. Carpenter.
THOMAS HARRISON GARRETT
THOMAS HARRISON GARRETT, second son of John Work and Rachel Ann (Harrison) Garrett, was born in Baltimore, February 11, 1849. After attending private schools in Baltimore he entered Princeton. He was a member of the class of 1868, and later Princeton conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts. He was deeply devoted to the interests of his alma mater and served as one of its trustees.
He was nineteen years of age when he left Princeton and entered the Baltimore banking house of his father, which was conducted under the firm name of Robert Garrett & Sons, and which had been founded by his grandfather in 1839. The sterling business traits which had characterized gene- rations of the Garrett family found in him an apt and prog- ressive representative, and his success was so marked that in 1871, although his father and brother remained members of the firm, he was placed in charge of the banking interests. His brother Robert was engrossed in the service of the Balti- more & Ohio railroad, and the duties of the bank devolved upon Thomas Harrison Garrett. It was a time of large operations, and the firm, in associations with great banking houses of Europe and America, negotiated most of the Balti- more & Ohio loans and did a large part of the vast business of the Baltimore & Ohio Company. He was a director of the Baltimore & Ohio, and, after Mr. Samuel Spencer became president of the road, was appointed chairman of the finance committee. His work in finance made him an active factor in the enterprise and development of Baltimore, and he was prominent in the most important movements of the day. He was a member of the Baltimore Stock Exchange, a director in the Western National Bank, and one of the incorporators of
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the company that built the Academy of Music. These are but few of his connections, but they show the wide range of his business activities.
Mr. Garrett occupied a unique place in the social and cultural life of the city. He was a man of many benefactions about which nothing was printed, most of them being made on the condition that his name should not be divulged. He accumulated the largest private library in Maryland, and among its treasures was one of the most complete bibliog- raphies of the first railroad, the Baltimore & Ohio. His col- lection of autographs was comprehensive, containing letters from many prominent historical personages of America from the time of Washington. His numismatic collection was noted. But his best known possession was his collection of prints, including the famous Claghorn etchings, and many of these he allowed to be placed on exhibition at the Peabody Institute and several of the social clubs of the city. He was a member of the Maryland Historical Society, and contributed liberally to its needs, taking especial interest in the recovery of the old Calvert papers found on the estate of Colonel Henry Harford, near Windsor, England. He belonged to the leading social clubs, but his main devotion was to his home and to outdoor life, which he enjoyed at "Evergreen," in the uplands of Baltimore.
In 1870 Mr. Garrett married Alice, daughter of the late Horatio L. Whitridge, and they had five children: John W., Horatio W. and Robert, and a son and daughter who died in infancy. Horatio W. graduated from Princeton in 1895 near the head of his class, and in the same year married Charlotte D., daughter of Henry L., and Mrs. Pierson, of Summit, New Jersey ; died in early manhood.
Mr. Garrett was a great traveler and was very fond of the water. His yacht "Gleam" was one of the swiftest boats
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on the Chesapeake, and it was while Mr. Garrett was on a cruise with friends that a collision occurred with the steamer "Joppa," on June 7, 1888, and he lost his life, he being the only one who was not saved. His death cast a gloom over the whole city. The mayor of Baltimore said: "Mr. Gar- rett's death is a municipal loss, and few citizens who will come after him will possess his liberality and public-spirited- ness." The City Council paid the unusual tribute of spread- ing upon the journals of both its branches the following resolution : "Resolved, by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore: That it is the duty of the City Council to record the sense of loss the city has sustained in the death of Thomas Harrison Garrett. He sought no public office and held none, but the example of his character and activities in every work tending to promote the interests of this city ought to be borne . in perpetual remembrance."
Mr. Garrett was connected with the Associate Re- formed Church, of which the Rev. Dr. Leyburn was for many years pastor. Rev. Mr. Ball, successor to Dr. Leyburn, conducted the funeral; it was attended by two thousand rep- resentative people of the city. The services were simple, as had been the life of Mr. Garrett, and Mr. Ball made no address, but in his Sunday sermon he said this: "Some of you may not know, but there are some of us who do, how sub- stantial and persistent and benevolent were the offices per- formed by him whose loss we mourn. We have suffered a great loss."
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