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 II > Part 5
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William Duckett Bowie married (first), February 8, 1825, at "Bellefield," Eliza Mary, daughter of Benjamin, Sr., and Rachel Sophia (West) Oden. She died in 1849 and he married (second), January 7, 1854, Mary Oden, his first wife's half-sister, daughter of Benjamin, Sr., and Harriet Black (West) Oden, the latter a sister of the first Mrs. Oden. Children of first wife: Oden, see forward; Catherine, born 1828, died November 8, 1883 ; William Duckett, Jr., born No- vember, 1830, died February 2, 1888; Christiana Sophia, born 1835; Walter Baruch, born August 26, 1836, died February 17, 1837. Children of second wife: Harriet Oden, Mary, Eliza and Laura. Shortly after his second marriage Colonel Bowie conveyed "Fairview" to his eldest son, Oden Bowie, and removed to "Bellefield," near Croom, in Nottingham dis- trict, the lovely old Colonial home of his second wife, and it was here that he spent the remainder of his years, leaving it for no length of time until the winter before his death, which he spent in Baltimore. He was an enthusiastic breeder of stock, and his Southdown sheep and Hereford cattle were famous throughout the State. His wife died in Baltimore, in March, 1873, and is buried at St. Thomas' Church, Croom. Colonel Bowie died at "Bellefield," July 18, 1873, and is interred at "Fairview." Benjamin Oden, Sr., father of both
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of Colonel Bowie's wives, was a very large landowner. When a young man he had charge of some of the mercantile interests of Stephen West, accumulated much property, and married two of Mr. West's daughters. He then bought "Bellefield," which had originally been the property of Patrick Sim, ances- tor of Governor Thomas Sim Lee, and which was then known as "Sim's Delight." Mr. Oden was married at "The Wood- yard," the famous old home of the Wests, January 27, 1791, by Rev. William Duke, who also officiated at his second wed- ding, August 22, 1813, when he married the younger sister. He was born in 1762, died in 1829. The West family is an old one in Maryland, tracing their lineage back for centuries to an English peer, Lord De La Ware. The first of the name to emigrate was Stephen West, son of Sir John West, of Houghton, Buckinghamshire, England, who settled in Anne Arundel county, Maryland, and married Martha Hall, about 1720. Their son, Stephen West, Jr., married Hannah, daugh- ter of Captain Williams, of Wales, and his wife, Christiana Black, of Scotland. Captain Williams bought from his wife's brother, a Mr. Black, of London, "The Woodyard," which was a large estate on which Henry Darnall, brother-in-law of Lord Baltimore, had built an enormous brick house. He was land commissioner under the lord proprietor, and named his plantation "The Delight of the Darnalls." At his death it passed to Mr. Black, of London, a relative and a large creditor of Henry Darnall, from whom it was conveyed to his niece, Hannah Williams, who married Stephen West, Jr., and thus became "West property." The house was probably the largest in Southern Maryland, surrounded by a park and English shrubbery, but was destroyed by fire shortly after the Civil War.
Governor Oden Bowie, son of William Duckett and Eliza Mary (Oden) Bowie, was born in Prince George's county,
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Maryland, December 10, 1826, died December 4, 1894. He was educated by a private tutor at home until nine years of age, when, upon the death of his mother, he was sent to the preparatory department of St. John's College, Annapolis, at that time under the charge of the distinguished Professor Elwell. He remained at St. John's three years, and at twelve years of age attended St. Mary's College, Baltimore, where in July, 1845, he graduated as valedictorian of his class. Shortly afterward he began the study of law, but on the break- ing out of the Mexican War, in 1846, he enlisted as a private in the Baltimore and Washington Battalion, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel William H. Watson, and was promoted to a lieutenancy at the battle of Monterey, where he was highly complimented for gallantry by General Taylor. President Polk subsequently appointed Lieutenant Bowie senior cap- tain of the only voltigeur regiment (one of the ten new United States regiments then raised by act of Congress) ever in the United States service. Captain Bowie's health, however, proved unequal to the rigor of military life, and he was com- pelled to return home before the end of the war. Upon his return from Mexico, he devoted himself to farming, and in spite of his active business and political career managed to find time for agricultural pursuits. He had several of the finest stock farms in the county, breeding largely thoroughbred horses, Devon cattle, Southdown and Cotswold sheep.
His business life involved many important and respon- sible trusts. In 1860 he was made president of the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad Company, and at once proceeded to push that enterprise with his customary energy, having several sec- tions of the road under contract in 1861, when the work was interrupted by the outbreak of the Civil War. On the return of peace the construction of the road was recommended, and was soon completed under Mr. Bowie's intelligent manage-
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ment. In 1873 he was elected president of the Baltimore City Passenger Railway Company. When he assumed the presi- dency of this corporation its stock was selling at $14, with a par value of $25, no dividends had been declared for two years, the company owed the city a debt of over $100,000 for arrearages of park tax, and the road stock was in a wretched condition. Later, stockholders received regular dividends, and the equipment of the road was of the best character. In 1870 he was elected president of the Maryland Jockey Club, then organized, and through his exertions the course at Pim- lico was bought and established. In order to connect the city and course more closely, the Arlington & Pimlico Railroad Company was organized in January, 1881, with John Merry- man as president. Mr. Merryman was ill when elected, and was confined to his house all winter, but during his sickness the road was built through the energetic efforts of Mr. Bowie, and the first train ran over it May 14, 1881.
In politics Mr. Bowie was always a Democrat, and his political career commenced in Prince George's county in 1847, when he was nominated for the House of Delegates on the Democratic ticket, and although not of age on Election Day, was beaten by only ten votes in that strong Whig county. At the following election, in 1849, he was elected to the House, the only Democrat from the county, his three colleagues be- ing Whigs. After this he withdrew entirely from active politics until 1861, when he was nominated as the "peace candidate" for the Senate, but the polls were seized by the military, and the Democrats were not allowed to vote. In 1864 he was nominated as the Democratic candidate for lieu- tenant governor, but was beaten by the soldier vote in the field. Mr. Bowie was chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee throughout the war, and was one of the principal negotiators with Governor Swann in regaining control of the
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State for the Democrats. He was a delegate to the Chicago State Democratic Convention which nominated McClellan for the Presidency in 1864, was then appointed the member of the Democratic State Committee from Maryland, and it was through his exertions and influence that the Democratic State Convention of 1868 was held in Baltimore. In 1867 he was elected to the State Senate, where he became chairman on the committee on federal relations and executive nomina- tions, member of the committee on internal improvements, and other important standing committees. This was a very im- portant legislative session, and Mr. Bowie rendered valuable and efficient service in the consideration and determination of the many great public questions of the hour. It was at this session that an effort was made to annul the charter of the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad, and the life of the road was only saved by the energy and ability of Mr. Bowie. In 1867 he was elected governor by a majority of nearly forty-two thousand votes, leading largely the remainder of the Demo- cratic State ticket. Governor Bowie's administration was of a most successful character, and was marked by many practical and important achievements. Among them may be mentioned the settlement of the oyster difficulties with Virginia, the collection of the arrearages of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, the repayment by the United States of large sums of money advanced by the State, and the obtainment of large quantities of arms and artillery from the Federal government. Not the least of the practical results of his administration was the wonderful change produced in the condition of the Chesa- peake & Ohio canal, which was metamorphosed from a finan- cial wreck into an interest-paying enterprise. Governor Bowie joined the Masonic order in 1870, and was a Master Mason. He was a member of the Episcopal church.
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Governor Bowie married, December 3, 1851, Alice, daughter of Charles H. and Rosalie Eugenia (Calvert) Car- ter, of "Goodwood," Prince George's county, Maryland, the latter of whom was a daughter of George Calvert, of River- dale, a descendant of the early proprietors of Maryland.
HOWARD MUNNIKHUYSEN
W HILE many of our countrymen owe their success to 'intense concentration upon one line of effort, and while, indeed, concentration is a quality of the highest value, yet among the real leaders of American enterprise there often appears a man so endowed by nature with a genius for organi- zation and management as to be able to carry on with ease and success a variety of momentous undertakings. Howard Munnikhuysen was one of these specially favored individuals, and no list of the important men of the Monumental City could be complete without a sketch of his life and career, a man peculiarly useful and successful in every direction in which his preference took him.
Born in Harford county, Maryland, June 19, 1842, he was the son of Dr. W. T. Munnikhuysen, of Bel Air, Mary- land, a prominent physician. Dr. Munnikhuysen's father was a member of the old Holland family of that name, coming to America about the year 1775 from Amsterdam, and settling in Baltimore, where he became a prosperous merchant and established a line of ships that traded extensively with for- eign ports. His wife was a Mary Howard, whose ancestors were prominent in the annals of Maryland.
Howard Munnikhuysen received his early education at the public schools and the University of Maryland, from which he graduated in 1863. He then studied law under Henry D. Fernandis, at Bel Air, Maryland, and in 1864 came to Baltimore, where he practiced for some time on his own account. He became associated with Robert D. Morrison and the law firm of Morrison, Munnikhuysen & Bond was formed, Nicholas P. Bond being the third member. On Mr. Morrison's death the firm name was changed to Munnikhuy- sen, Bond & Duffy, the latter being Edward Duffy.
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Mr. Munnikhuysen's rise in the profession was rapid, and was largely due to his industry and his conscientious ef- forts to master the science of law. He was noted for his apti- tude in grappling with details and for his accurate and keen perception and judgment, and possessing that judicial instinct which makes its way quickly through immaterial details to the essential points upon which the determination of a cause must turn, he was soon one of the foremost corporation law- yers at the bar.
Belonging to that class of distinctively representative American men who aim to promote public progress while advancing individual prosperity, he became counsel for, and part owner in many useful and profitable enterprises which contributed largely to the industrial growth of Baltimore. Street railways received much of his attention, and he was instrumental in the introduction and establishment of the first cable and electric systems in Baltimore. His first venture in this line was to project the Highlandtown & Point Breeze Railway, which extended from City Hall to Highlandtown, and which was afterwards absorbed by the City & Suburban Railway Company. His projection of this line was due in large measure to the fact that he represented various real estate interests at Highlandtown, most of the property belonging to the Pancoast estate, and he also was counsel for a Philadelphia party who owned much land in that vicinity. The next street railway enterprise with which he was connected resulted in the introduction of rapid transit in this city. With the assist- ance of others he secured through the Legislature a charter which empowered the old People's Railway Company to use new methods of traction, to build new roads and to buy others then in existence, and obtaining a controlling interest in the old Citizens' Railway, of which James S. Hagerty was president, he consolidated the two roads under the name of
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the Baltimore Traction Company. In this enterprise he had associated with him Messrs. Widener and Elkins, of Philadel- phia, and the Messrs. Hambleton of this city, and these horse- car lines were soon afterward converted into cable roads. He was also actively interested in the introduction of modern street railway in Washington, D. C., and was president of the sys- tem in that city up to two years previous to his death, which occurred September 6, 1896. After retiring from the presi- dency of the Washington company he gave his attention to the development of the Pancoast estate at Highlandtown, which under his management greatly increased in value.
Mr. Munnikhuysen was a splendid type of the alert, energetic, progressive business man, to whom obstacles serve rather as an impetus to renewed labor than a bar to progress. Quick and decisive in his methods, keenly alive to any business proposition and its possibilities, he found that pleasure in the solution of a difficult problem without which there can be no real success, as otherwise there is indicated a lack of that intense interest which must be the foundation of all progress in commercial and industrial lines. Both in public and pri- vate life Mr. Munnikhuysen was ever unostentatious, always ready to aid the needy and accord to the laborer his hire. Among the public men who were his contemporaries he stood as an example of honesty and patriotism, equaled by few and excelled by none. During the whole period of his public life he exhibited a consistency and uprightness of conduct which won for him the admiration of his fellow-citizens.
In 1881 Mr. Munnikhuysen married Bessie A. Pancoast, daughter of Dr. Joseph Pancoast, one of the most celebrated surgeons of his day in Philadelphia.
A genial, companionable man, Mr. Munnikhuysen liked to entertain his friends, and his handsome home on Charles street was the scene of many brilliant social events, both he MD .- 26
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and his family being social favorites. He was a member of the Maryland Club for more than thirty years. His country seat at Catonsville is one of the show places of Maryland. It is impossible to estimate the value of such men to a city. Their influence ramifies all through the commercial and industrial life, extending itself to the whole social economy. Every man, from the toiling laborer to the merchant prince, receives bene- fit from the enterprises which they devised and established; they need no eulogy, for the simple record of their careers tells its own story.
JAMES MALCOLM
WITHOUT the usual preliminary training, James
Malcolm began the study of law, and by reason of per- severance and ambition finally overcame all obstacles, and was admitted to practice at the Baltimore bar. For twenty years thereafter he practiced his profession at that bar, and when, on May 10, 1864, his death was announced in the vari- ous courts of the city, Superior, Common Pleas, and City Cir- cuit, each vied with the other in rendering honor to his mem- ory. All these courts adjourned until after the funeral as a special mark of respect, and at a meeting of the Baltimore bar resolutions were adopted extolling the many virtues of their fallen comrade and acclaiming him as one whom they de- lighted to honor.
James Malcolm was born August 15, 1819, the son of Peter and Janet (Bell) Malcolm. Mrs. Malcolm's brother, Henry Bell, was renowned for having been the first to apply steam successfully as a motive power to machinery in Great Britain. James Malcolm began his active career as a clerk in the mercantile business operated by his father, but he was ambitious to become a lawyer, and finally obtained oppor- tunity to read law under the direction of J. Mason Campbell, of the Baltimore bar. He read and studied in Mr. Camp- bell's office, and finally, after passing the required examina- tions, he was admitted to the Baltimore bar. The time con- sumed in preparation for this examination was unusually short, but the years which followed were years also of appli- cation and study, and if he lost a case it was not through lack of proper knowledge of the law as laid down in text book and report. His capacity for work was enormous, and he gave to all his early cases such intense study and application that he grew in learning as well as in experience very rapidly. He
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was noted for his loyalty to a client's interest, and as he grew in argument, alive in strength, and in knowledge of court procedure, he became a most formidable antagonist. Finally came the time when he was the peer of most of his contem- poraries in ability and learning. Courteous always to the court and to his legal brethren, he received equal courtesy in return, and his relations with his brethren were unusually cordial. Though associated with William Pinckney Whyte in crim- inal law, he was never known to take but one criminal case. He had a great aversion to dishonesty and crime of any de- scription, and could never be induced to defend malefactors in the criminal courts. He was a man of a strong, upright and sterling character and unimpeachable integrity. He could not tolerate a lie and never broke his word nor deceived anyone in the smallest degree. No man in Baltimore had more friends than he, being gracious and kind to all who came in contact with him. He belonged to that coterie of prominent lawyers who made the Baltimore bar so famous in pre-war times by their great knowledge of the law and by their courtesy both in and out of court. He counted among his intimate friends such men as Severn Teakle Wallis, I. Nevett Steele, Mahon, and other men of distinction. He was a Southerner to the backbone, and though he did not believe in slavery, nor ever held slaves, all his sympathies were with the Confederacy in the great struggle between the States. James Malcolm was a devout and active member of the congregation of the old Central Presbyterian Church. He served for a number of years on its board of trustees, and it is said of him that he never failed to attend Sunday services.
James Malcolm married Rachel C. Cole, daughter of Hamilton H. and Evaline M. Cole, and granddaughter of George Milemon, architect of the old court house.
He was the soul of constancy, and to his dying day re-
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tained the friendship of those with whom he came in con- tact. He was a sound adviser, and whether considered as professional man, citizen, or friend, no man ever passed from the Baltimore bar more generally regretted than James Mal- colm, who passed to the jurisdiction of the Great Court from his home on Charles street, in the city of Baltimore, May 10, 1864.
JUDGE JAMES RUSSELL BRASHEARS
AT a memorial service held in the Anne Arundel County
Court House in honor of a fallen comrade, James Russell Brashears, an Associate Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of Maryland, a calleague, said in part :
In connection with this gathering here today, I cannot but recall that other gathering nine years ago in the Court House at Ellicott City, when Judge Brashears was nominated. It so happened that the privilege was given to me, as one of the delegates to that convention, to place him in the nomina- tion, and the sincere sentiments and predictions then expressed at the outset of his judicial career, perfectly harmonize today with our tributes to that career, now ended. He was the unanimous choice of the Convention, and the representatives of all three counties of the circuit took pride in acclaiming him as the man of their choice, and in pointing to his splendid qualifications for the new honor that was being bestowed upon him. It was a happy occasion, not only in felicitation of the moment, but more especially because of the brightness of the prospect that lay before our nominee. That was the auspicious beginning of his judicial career, which, with the ripening of years, even increased in lustre and strength, and at its close stands out as a monu- ment to nobility of character and devotion to duty. Today it is in sad retrospection that we are gathered together to pay tribute to this noble life and this honored career, which had become an association and attachment to the hearts of all of us. Judge Brashears was a good man, and so pure and undefiled was his private life that it was inevitable that his professional and judicial career should reflect the same enobling characteristics. He possessed in a marked degree the four traits which Socrates said belonged to a judge: "He heard courteously ; he answered wisely ; he considered soberly, and decided impartially." Moreover, he fully measured up also to Lord Bacon's description of a judge: "He was more learned than witty; more reverend than plausible; more advised than confident; above all things in- tegrity was his portion and proper virtue."
While he was beloved by all who knew him, by laymen as well as by his brethren of the Bench and Bar, it was to the younger members that he especially endeared himself by his kindly and helpful interest in them and their proper endeavors. This was true though of all persons needing en- couragement and help, for having himself learned from his own experience
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what it means to make one's way in life, from humble beginnings, the splen- did qualities of his heart and mind were broadened as he ripened in experience, and gave him a rare understanding of and sympathy with all those with struggles and difficulties to overcome.
Always kindly and affable, and even gentle of disposition, he neverthe- less commanded unbounded respect and the evildoer knew and feared him as his uncompromising foe. He was a man of positive convictions on funda- mental principles and conception of duty, and of unbending courage in standing up for them, so that under his administration the noble and best traditions of this Honorable Court have been fully maintained. He was a good man, an able and conscientious judge, an enlightened and public- spirited citizen, a devoted and dutiful husband and father, a loyal and sincere friend, he was, all in all, a true Christian, and more than that could not be said.
Said an eminent judge :
His high character, unblemished life and great modesty could be studied with profit by the young men now at the Bar and entering public life. Many of our young men at their entrance into public life may feel that they have to, in order that they may achieve success, be of the world, worldly, yet in this politically tempestuous county there lived and died a man who, starting life with few advantages, except high character and industry, guided by true Christian teachings, so retiring, so modest, that I feel perfectly safe in saying that during his life he never uttered a word that could not have been with propriety spoken in the presence of his wife, mother or young son, and yet his county loved to honor him and he held very nearly every position of trust and honor that could be held by an attorney.
From the day that Judge Brashears came to the Bar until the day of his death, he constantly grew in public esteem. He enjoyed the confidence of all the people regardless of party. At the first session of the Legislature at which he served, he was, with his modesty, freedom from all petty vices of the times, and his genial disposition to take his duties seriously, regarded as out of place in that body ; but in short time his sterling worth, hard work and high character advanced him to his proper place, and at the session of 1894 he was chairman of the House Committee on Judicial Proceedings, the highest honor in that body that can come to an attorney.
As State's attorney he was careful, prudent and a hard worker, con- stantly improving, until toward the close of his term he was a dangerous
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