History of Baltimore, Maryland, from its founding as a town to the current year, 1729-1898, including its early settlement and development; a description of its historic and interesting localities; political, military, civil, and religious statistcs; biographies of representative citizens, etc., etc, Part 100

Author: Shepherd, Henry Elliott, 1844-1929, ed. 4n
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Uniontown? Pa.] S.B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1344

USA > Maryland > Baltimore County > Baltimore City > History of Baltimore, Maryland, from its founding as a town to the current year, 1729-1898, including its early settlement and development; a description of its historic and interesting localities; political, military, civil, and religious statistcs; biographies of representative citizens, etc., etc > Part 100

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in the Democratic party of the State at this time, and the ring generally dictated the nominations and was not favorable to the nomination of Frank Brown, preferring one who would be more subservient to their will than they knew Mr. Brown would be. But the latter had taken such a strong hold upon the confidence of the people that his nomi- nation was demanded and the ring was com- pelled to yield. He was inaugurated at An- napolis on January 13, 1892. His term was for four years, when he was succeeded by Hon. Lloyd Lowndes, who was elected on the Republican ticket and is the present Governor of the State.

Governor Brown's administration was a complete success and he is considered the best Governor the State has had for years, and he came out of office as popular as when he went in, which is a very unusual fact. When his name was presented in the Con- vention in a nominating speech by his friend Doctor Shaw, of Carroll county, (and at present United State Collector at the Port of Baltimore) the Doctor said, among other complimentary things, that Frank Brown would make one of the best Governors the State ever had, because besides other quali- fications, he was noted as having plenty of "good old cornfield horse sense," a trait of character ofter exhibited by him during his administration when handling the many difficult matters that came before him, and when he would break off from all precedent, to take the bit in his mouth and decide these questions in his own way and according to the rules of "good old cornfield horse sense," or in everyday parlance, common sense, and always to the satisfaction of the people of the State. Among the many acts showing how the Governor decided matters and in

illustration of the character of the man, was his action in the case of the eight negroes convicted and sentenced to be hanged in Chestertown, for the murder of Doctor Hill, a crime which at that time created such an excitement throughout the State. It was by the most strenuous efforts on the part of the authorities these negroes were not lynched. Among these eight negroes were some who were mere boys and who, it was demonstrated at the trial, were not the ring- leaders in the murder, but through drink and in other ways were lured by the older ones and actual murderers into the matter, and were morc by-standers in it than any- thing else; but they were convicted and sen- tenced to be hanged with the balance. The matter was brought to the attention of the Governor by their friends, and some of the best people of the county, who thought it unjust to punish these boys in the same manner as the actual murderers. The Gov- ernor made a quiet examination into the matter, but was not satisfied; he kept his counsel, however, and exhibiting that "good old cornfield horse sense" determined to see these men himself, and went to Kent county to investigate the matter, spending a day at the jail in Chestertown and having all these negroes brought before him. After mak- ing this investigation he said nothing to in- dicate what course he would pursue, but to disarm suspicion of his interference, direct- ed the sheriff, who was also the jailer, to proceed with his preparations for the execu- tion of the eight negroes, and returned to Baltimore. He then had a conference with the police commissioners, announcing to them his intention to commute the sen- tences of four of the eight men to imprison- ment for life in the Penitentiary, and direct-

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ing them, with the utmost secrecy, to take Captain Cadwallader, of the Baltimore po- lice, with a squad of policemen, and pro- ceed on the State ice-boat "Latrobe" to Chestertown and bring the four men he des- ignated to Baltimore. The boat left here in the afternoon and in order to get to Ches- tertown had to break ice fifteen inches thick in the Chester river. The people in the vicin- ity thought she was sent to break a channel in the river, one of the impressions the Gov- ernor wished to make. If the people had known his real intentions they would have lynched these men before the boat arrived at Chestertown. The boat arrived at Ches- tertown about 2 o'clock in the morning, when Captain Cadwallader and his squad proceeded quietly to the jail, awakened the sheriff, were admitted, and on the order of the Governor he delivered to them the four men, whom they took to the boat and brought to Baltimore. They were well on their return trip before the good people of Chestertown wereaware that the Governor's people had been to the jail and taken away the four prisoners. When it became known what was done the people became highly incensed at the Governor and it was by the greatest efforts that the authorities prevented them from taking the other four from the jail and lynching them. The people quieted down, however, and the other four were exe- cuted at the appointed time. Governor Brown was at the time severely criticized by the people of Kent county, but as time rolled on and the excitement died away all saw the wisdom and justice of his act. To- day he has no stronger friends than those in Kent county.

Another exhibition of his firmness and wisdom during his administration was when

the coal strike took place in Allegany county and he was called upon to send the military to Frostburg to protect the lives and property of the county. After carefully considering the application for troops it did not take him long to decide what to do and when he did it was not long before he had the Fourth and Fifth Maryland Regiments, of Baltimore, in Frostburg, himself accom- panying them, the effect of which was at once to restore order, to save many lives and the destruction of thousands of dollars worth of property. About the close of the Governor's term he was elected president of the Baltimore Traction Company, one of the largest street railway companies in the city, and under his administration the busi- ness of the company improved very much. He held this position until a few years since, when, to give attention to his own private matters and manage his large estate, he re- signed, and although often solicited to take charge of many large interests here in the city, he has been compelled to decline. Since his term as Governor ended, he has made several trips to Europe, traveling all over the world with his family. He is a very close observer.

On the 23d of December, 1879, Mr. Brown was married in Baltimore to Mrs. Mary Ridgely Preston, widow of Mr. Ho- ratio Preston, of Boston. She was the daughter of Mr. David Ridgely, of this city, who belonged to a noted Maryland family. Mrs. Brown died in 1895; her death was a severe blow to the Governor as she was a most estimable lady, noted for her chari- ties and kindness and loved by all who knew her. Mr. Brown has two children, Frank Snowden and Mary Ridgely Brown. He and his family attend the Protestant

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Episcopal Church. He is a member of sev- eral of our leading clubs, a director in many large business enterprises. He is a man of genial temperament, approachable by the most humble.

WILLIAM FLETCHER EDWARDS, ex-Judge of the Orphans' Court, of Baltimore, Drug- gist, 1800 E. Baltimore street, Baltimore, was born at Jones's Neck, Kent county, Del., May 1, 1843, and is the son of George Edwards and Margaret Ann (Allaband) Ed- wards. George Edwards was born in Kent county, Del., near what is now Felton, in 1817, being for many years a farmer, but at the time of his death, when he was thirty-six years of age, was proprietor of the Wash- ington House, Dover, Del. The mother of our subject was born in Kent county, Del., in 1820, being of English descent and at the time of writing, still living. William F. Ed- wards was raised in Kent county, Del., and educated in the public schools of the county, District Twenty-one, farming during busy seasons and attending school in session. April 19, 1858, he entered the drug business at Dover, Del., with James Cowgill & Son as clerk, remaining in Dover until 1864, when he went to Philadelphia as clerk for Isaac H. Kay, Eleventh and Arch streets. While in Philadelphia he was clerk in turn for Samuel Chapman, Eighth and Coates streets, and Dr. Samuel Creadick, Fifth and Wharton streets. On June 23, 1877, he came to Baltimore, locating at his present stand. In 1882 he was made commissioner of City Springs Square, Pratt and Eden streets; elected to the City Council from Third ward October, 1885, re-elected 1886, and in September, 1890, appointed one of the judges of the Orphans' Court to fill the

vancancy caused by the death of Chas. E. Jenkins; elected to the same po- sition in 1892. He became a mem- ber of the Royal Arcanum July 16, 1879, charter member of Baltimore City Council, 357; in 1882 Judge Edwards was made regent of his Council, then collector of said Council in 1889, which position he still re- tains. In 1883 he was representative to Grand Council of Maryland and in 1893 ap- pointed to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Col. Willard Howard, as Grand Guide of the Grand Council of Mary- land. In 1894 he was elected Grand Orator; 1895 Grand Vice-Regent; 1896 Grand Re- gent of Grand Council of Maryland. As a Mason he is Past Master of Warren Lodge, A. F. and A. M., having passed through all minor chairs to this point. He is a member of St. John's Royal Arch Chapter and Con- cordia Council of Royal and Select Masters. He is a member also of the Finance Com- mittee of Supreme Camp, Fraternal Legion, Past Archon of Improved Order of Hepta- sophs; Past Chancellor Knights of Pythias, (passed through all chairs to this point); Past Master Shield of Honor; member Committee of Appeals of Grand Council, Legion of the Red Cross; life member of the Most Excellent Assembly of the Artisans Order of Mutual Protection. Judge Ed- wards was married January 1I, 1876, to Miss Mary W. Davis, daughter of Alexan- der D. and Mary H. (Walton) Davis, of English descent. Our subject has one child, Susan May, born 1889. Judge Edwards and his wife are members of East Baltimore Street Methodist Church, he being trustee . and agent of Church Cemetery on the Phil- adelphia road, and his wife president of the Ladies' Guild. Judge Edwards is also a

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member of the East Baltimore Business Men's Association and East End Improve- ment Association, being director and vice- president of the first mentioned. He was one of the incorporators of Economy Sav- ings Bank, of Baltimore.

COLUMBUS CLARK ISAACS, Cigar Manu- facturer and Dealer, of Baltimore, was born in Baltimore, September 20, 1831, and is the son of William Creighton and Caroline Dorothy (Knight) Isaacs, the former of Prince George's county, and the latter of Frederick county, Md. Columbus Clark is the eldest of four children. His sister, Re- becca C., married Mr. Andrew J. Yeager, of an old and representative Maryland family ; the other children are now deceased. The subject of this sketch attended the pub- lic schools of this city until thirteen years of age, at which time he took up the trade of cigar making, and in 1856 commenced busi- ness on his own account at the present ware- rooms, 40 and 42 South street, as cigar manufacturer and dealer, under the firm name of C. C. Isaacs. In 1882, his sons be- ing admitted, the firm was changed to C. C. Isaacs & Sons, which is among the best known and most highly respected of Balti- more's business houses. Not only is he most creditably identified with Baltimore's business interests, but also along other lines equally important. He was a Master Mason in Mystic Circle Lodge, No. 109, in 1859, while it was still working under dispensation, and was elected master in 1872, serving in that capacity two terms ; in 1878 he was elect- ed its treasurer and since then has been con- tinuously elected to the same position. In 1865 he was exalted in Jerusalem Chapter, No. 9, elected its high priest in 1879, serv-

ing four successive terms and was re-elected in 1885 and 1886; in 1887 was elected grand high priest and in 1891 again elected high priest of his Chapter. He received degrees of Royal and Select Master under the old system, and after the organization of Je- rusalem Council, No. 2, he served as Thrice Ill. Master for a number of years and was deputy grand master of the Grand Council in 1888, and at present is deputy grand master of the Grand Council of Maryland, as well as Thrice Ill. Master of Council. Was dubbed a Knight Templar in Mary- land Commandery, No. I, April 26, 1867; was elected its Eminent Commander in 1877 and in 1885 was elected Grand Com- mander of the Grand Commandery of Mary- land. In 1879 he was elected one of the Board of Managers of Masonic Temple, Baltimore, which honor he still enjoys. In November, 1890, he was elected Junior Grand Warden of Grand Lodge of Mary- land. He received the degree of Scottish Rite to the Thirty-second degree in Grand Consistory of Maryland, under its Southern Jurisdiction, and was the Grand Treasurer of that Body at the time of the surrender of charter, after which he assisted in the or- ganization for Maryland of the Accepted Scottish Rite of the United States of Amer- ica, their Territories and dependencies, the Corean bodies of his city, from which he withdrew in 1889. Aside from this most commendable Masonic record he is a mem- ber of the following: Ancient Order of United Workmen; Improved Order of Hep- tasophs; Royal Arcanum; American Le- gion of Honor; Knights of Honor; National Union; U. S. Benevolent Fraternity; Ma- sonic Aid Association and National Life Association. In May, 1858, he married Miss

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Annie Blythe Rogers, of Baltimore, daugh- ter of William Rogers, of Irish descent, by whom he had three sons and two daughters; three children now deceased; Annie Blythe died November 30, 1882. In October, 1885, he married his second wife, Mrs. Catharine L. Hastings. During the late war Colum- bus C. Isaacs was a member of Union Relief Association and was a liberal contributor to the same. Mr. Isaacs is a member of the Public School Board of Baltimore City, Twenty-eighth ward, elected March, 1897.

WILLIAM CHAPMAN JENNESS, of Balti- more, was born March 10, 1850, at Abing- don, Harford county, Md., and is the son of John A. and Mary A. (Hutton) Jenness. John A. was a merchant of Baltimore, in the produce business on Hillen street. He was of English descent, his parents having set- tled in Rye, N. H., in 1665. He was born in 1815 and died March, 1888. The mother of the subject of this sketch was of Welsh descent. William C. was the youngest of seven children, six of whom were daughters and all are deceased except Mrs. Addie H. Abercrombie, wife of the manager of the Baltimore News Company; Mrs. Rudolph, of Baltimore, and William C. Jenness. He was educated in the public schools of Bal- timore, leaving the City College in 1867 to accept a clerkship in the National Fire In- surance Company, of Baltimore, where he arose to his present position as president of the company. Mr. Jenness is well identi- fied along Masonic, Odd Fellow and Royal Arcanum lines.

REV. CONRAD CLEVER, D. D., Pastor of Third Reformed Church, Baltimore, was born at Cleversburg, Cumberland county,

Pa., February 1I, 1848, and is the son of George and Isabella (Kelso) Clever, both of Cumberland county. His father was a well-known merchant of his county and of German descent, while his mother was of Scotch-Irish extraction. Conrad C. was the second son of eight children, four of whom were boys; one son and three daugh- ters are deceased. His early youth was spent in the fields and on the mountains, which life was naturally conducive to a healthy constitution and has served him well in the performance of his clerical duties. In the spring of 1865 Doctor Clever entered the preparatory department of Gettysburg (Pa.) College and in the beginning of the scholastic year of 1866 entered the Fresh- man Class of the same college and com- pleted the Sophomore year. In 1868 he joined the Junior class of Franklin and Marshall College at Lancaster, Pa., at which he graduated with the class of 1870. He afterwards entered the Theological Seminary located at the same place, at which he took the full three years' course. On the 26th of June, 1873, he was ordained and installed as pastor of Trinity Reformed Church at Columbia, Pa. His pastoral re- lations at this church continued for nearly six years, during which time the church debt was cancelled and its membership so increased that what was for a long time a mission became almost a self-supporting church under his charge. In 1880 Doctor Clever was called to the Third Reformed Church of Baltimore, where, under his guidance and direction, tlte church has been blessed by a steady growth. The degree of D. D. was conferred upon our subject by Ursinus College, of Collegeville, Pa. Doctor Clever is a most pleasant writer and

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frequently contributes to the magazines and papers of his city as well as of other com- munities. It is needless to state that Doctor Clever is highly esteemed and respected by every one whose good fortune it is to make his acquaintance. Doctor Clever was mar- ried June 7, 1889, to Miss Mary L. Ever- hart, daughter of the late David L. Ever- hart, of Baltimore City.

WILLIAM MORGAN JETT, Salesman, of Baltimore, was born in Virginia, June 3, 1862, and is the son of Robert E. and Sarah A. (Covington) Jett, of Virginia, of English descent. William had three brothers and three sisters, two of the latter being de- ceased. Those living are Mrs. R. D. Carter, R. Arthur Jett, J. C. Jett and R. Storke Jett. Robert E. was a farmer and stock raiser, of Northumberland county, Va., until his de- cease some twenty years ago. William be- gan his education in the public schools of . Virginia and completed the same at Eaton and Burnett's Business College, in Balti- more. He took his first position in 1884 with Louis Israel, gentlemen's furnisher and clothier, Baltimore and Gay streets. Next with A. Mandlebaum & Co., retail clothiers, a prominent Baltimore firm, and from there to the New York Clothing House, Septem- ber, 1888, as salesman, which position he has held since, ranking among its best repre- sentatives and commanding a large trade. He was married March 7, 1888, to Miss M. Louise Bangs, daughter of W. H. Bangs, of Baltimore. His wife was of the Killings- worths, a prominent and wealthy Delaware family. Three sons and one daughter are the fruits of this union: Owen W., M. Ver- non, W. Melvin and Vera Louise. Both Mr. Jett and his wife are members of the Lafay-

ette Avenue M. P. Church, and he takes an active part in all the departments of his church and was granted a license by it in 1896 to preach the gospel. Our subject is a member of the Royal Arcanum, Ancient Order United Workmen and Junior Order United American Mechanics.

JOSEPH ST. CLAIR NEAL, Clergyman, of Baltimore, was born in Winchester, Va., February 17, 1849, and is the son of Joseph and Margaret (Sloat) Neal, of Pennsylvania and Virginia respectively, being of Scotch- Irish extraction. His father, Joseph Neal, was a manufacturer of tin-ware at Winches- ter, Va. J. St. Clair attended the Valley Academy of Winchester until seventeen years of age. He entered the Baltimore Con- ference of Methodist Church in 1870. His first charge was South Branch Circuit, Hampshire and Mineral counties, W. Va. From there he went to Hancock, Md., Cir- cuit; next Mt. Savage Station, Md .; Long Green, Baltimore county Circuit; West River, Anne Arundel county Circuit; First Church, Woodberry, Md .; Columbia Ave- nue Methodist Church; Grace Methodist Church; Broadway Methodist Church, and was finally made presiding elder West Bal- timore District, 1891; Harford Avenue Methodist Church, Baltimore, 1897. His wife was Miss Lizzie Brosius, of Maryland.

DR. AUGUSTUS PENNINGTON BADGER, Dentist, of Baltimore, was born in Charles- ton, S. C., March 4, 1863, and is the son of David E. and Adelia (Lee) Badger, of Eng- lish-French descent. His father was born in Charleston, S. C., August 8, 1834, being for many years a builder in his native city. During the late war he was stationed at

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Fort Sumter, serving in the engineer depart- ment, and occupies a conspicuous place in history on account of his nailing the Con- federate flag to its staff in the heat of an en- gagement after its having been shot down by Union soldiers. (See Johnson's Defense of Charleston Harbor.) David E. died in 1886, leaving four children, Mrs. Fowler and Mrs. Graves, of Baltimore; Mrs. G. W. Rice, of New York, and our subject, (five children being deceased at the time of this sketch). Doctor Badger came to Bal- timore in 1863 and attended the public and private schools of the city, graduating from the Maryland Institute with honorable mention in the architectural division of 1885. After this he took up the study of dentistry, graduating from the University of Mary- land March 13, 1889, entering at once upon his practice in Baltimore, where he still con- tinues with marked success, having been re- peatedly appointed assistant demonstrator at the University of Maryland. He has filled the various chairs in Golden Chain and Fra- ternal Legion of Baltimore, and is also a member of Baltimore City Dental Club and Maryland State Dental Association. Oc- tober 13, 1886, he married Miss Matilda Phillips Jones, of Baltimore, daughter of Charles and Ozelah M. (Linthicum) Jones. Mrs. Badger is descended on her mother's side from John Linthicum, who came from England 133 years ago. Her great-uncle, Abner Linthicum, then nineteen years of age, fired the signal gun at Annapolis, an- nouncing the approach of the British up the bay. On her father's side she is descended from the Lush, Jones and Dickison fami- lies, of Baltimore county. Mrs. Badger's great-grandfather, Charles Jones, came from Prince George's county in the latter

half of the eighteenth century, with a large following of slaves and bought an immense tract of land in the vicinity of Woodensburg, which has now been divided into many farms, one of them still remaining in the possession of one of the family, Mrs. Mar- garet Henkle, who lives at the old home- stead, and is more than a hundred years of age. They have two children, Robert Ver- non and Mollie Ozelah. Doctor Badger is a member of Columbia Avenue Methodist Church and has been for the last twenty- four years, besides being one of the trustees. His wife is a member of Starr M. P. Church, Baltimore.

DR. THOMAS SOLLERS WATERS, of Bal- timore, was born in Montgomery county, Md., near Brookville, May II, 1842. He is the son of Rev. Ignatius Waters, a farmer of Montgomery county, Md., being at the time of his death in 1870 a local minis- ter of the Methodist Church, South, but for many years a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Doctor Waters' mother was Miss Mary D. Sollers, a descendant of the family which settled Sollers' Point, Md., opposite Fort Carroll (Fort Carroll being at one time called Fort Sollers after that family). Doctor Waters is of Scotch and English descent. He is the third of five chil- dren. Our subject was educated at Brook- ville Academy and Calvert College, New Windsor, Carroll county, Md. After leav- ing college he had conferred upon him an honorary degree. He farmed for several years, coming to Baltimore in 1863 and be- gan to study dentistry under the late Philip H. Austin; attended Baltimore College of Dental Surgery two years, graduating March, 1865, beginning practice at once in

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Baltimore. Immediately upon receipt of his diploma he was appointed demonstrator of mechanical or prosthetic dentistry, which position was retained for eight years con- secutively, and at the present time Doctor Waters has entire charge of the clinical work of the institution, being Chief of Clin- ics. At the beginning of his practice, in connection with Doctor Gorgas, Doctor Waters succeeded the late Dr. William Stinson at 43 Hanover street (1865) under the firm name of Gorgas & Waters. This partnership lasted five years and at its disso- lution Doctor Waters continued to practice at the old stand for several years, when he removed to Eutaw street, near Saratoga street, where he remained for seventeen years, removing to his present location, 756 N. Eutaw street, in 1894. In 1868 he mar- ried Miss Amanda P. Grafflin, of Baltimore; they have one child, Thomas Stephen. Doc- tor Waters is a member of the American Dental Association, Southern Dental Asso- ciation, honorary member New Jersey State Dental Society, honorary member First Dis- trict Dental Society of New York, honorary member Central Dental Association of New Jersey, president Maryland State Dental Association. He was one of the first mem- bers of the Board of Dental Examiners, hav- ing been a member for eight years; was one of a committee to have the first dental law passed, and succeeded in the last Legis- lature (as chairman of committee) in having dental law re-enacted. Doctor Waters was president of the National Association of Dental Examiners for two years, being now honorary member of the same. As a Mason we find the following record: Past Master Blue Lodge; Past High Priest Chapter; Past Officer Royal and Select Masters;

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Author: Shepherd, Henry Elliott, 1844-1929, ed. 4n Publication date: 1898 Publisher: [Uniontown? Pa.] S.B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1344

Author: Shepherd, Henry Elliott, 1844-1929, ed. 4n
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Uniontown? Pa.] S.B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1344