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 104
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fall of 1874. On his admission to the bar Mr. Hochheimer and Major Ferguson formed a co-partnership, which lasted about six years, since which time Mr. Hochheimer has practiced alone.
Mr. Hochheimer is a son of Dr. Henry Hochheimer, a rabbi in the Hebrew denom- ination, a man of wide learning. A native of Bavaria he enjoyed the advantages of the best schools of his native country, and of the most renowned German universities. During the social revolution in the latter part of the forties, Doctor Hochheimer ac- tively espoused the cause of the reformers and together with many other men of high- est mental and moral attainments, was com- pelled to flee the country when the reform movement was crushed. Coming to Amer- ica in 1849, Doctor Hochheimer located in Baltimore where he has since continued to reside. The Doctor was married before leav- ing the Fatherland to Miss Rosalie England- er, a nativeof Bavaria, who encountered with him all the hardships of his flight from the old country, and the deprivations incident to establishing themselves in a strange land.
Mr. Hochheimer is in politics an inde- pendent with strong leanings toward prohi- bition. He is a member of the Masonic Or- der, having passed through the chairs of Center Lodge, No. 108; Concordia Chapter, No. I, and has occupied all but the highest chair of the Concordia Council, No. I. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Mechanics, in which he has occupied all the official chairs. Mr. Hochheimer is still a bachelor and a devotee of the wheel.
MR. THOMAS S. HODSON, Attorney-at- Law, 6 E. Lexington street. The family of which Mr. Thomas S. Hodson is a worthy
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representative is descended from one John Hodson, who came from near Canterbury, England, and settled in the colony of Mary- land in 1664 with his family of eleven sons, one of whom was named after him. He married a second time in Dorchester county and of this family a son was named John also, and was known as John second to dis- tinguish him from John, Jr., who received a grant of a tract of land known as "Maiden Forest," which became the homestead of the Hodson family.
John Hodson, Sr., was prominent in pub- lic affairs and a member of the Colonial As- sembly, which position he was filling at the time of his death. He was a large landed proprietor, accumulating upwards of four thousand acres of Maryland's finest land. During one of the Indian Wars, he, together with other public-spirited citizens, furnished tobacco from the proceeds of which the war was successfully carried on. Many years after the State repaid the debt to his heirs.
The father of our subject, Thomas J. Hodson, was a man prominent in the affairs of the nation. Between the years 1818 and '32, Mr. Hodson resided in Washington. Between the years '42 and '53 he resided in Florida, where he acquired large tracts of land, and during his residence there specu- lated in real estate on a large scale. During part of those years he served the Govern- ment as register of the Land Office. He married Margaret, daughter of Willis Vin- cent, of Dorchester county. Willis Vincent served at one time as sheriff when it was more of an honor than it is usually consid- ered now. He died at the early age of thirty-five or six.
The great-grandfather of our subject, Thomas Hodson, moved to Boston in 1766
and resided there during the Revolutionary War, eventually returning to his native State, where he died in 1803. His son, Levin Hodson, the grandfather of our sub- ject, married Lydia Sherwood, of Talbot county, and died in 1809, leaving four chil- dren.
Mr. Hodson, of this sketch, was born in Dorchester county, August 21, 1837. First attending the public schools of his native county he next completed the course of The Sherman Institute near East New Market. Entering Yale in the class of '58, Mr. Hodson's course there was cut short by a severe spell of pneumonia, which necessi- tated his return home as soon as able to travel. The succeeding fall he matriculated in Princeton College, graduating well up in the class of '57. His Alma Mater conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts in I882. He had had conferred upon him prior to this time the degree of LL. D. by Dickinson College of Pennsylvania. Mr. Hodson's first intention was to enter the ministry, and he gave three or four years to the study of theology. In 1863 he be- came the editor of The Somerset Herald, a staunch supporter of Republican principles. During his editorship, Mr. Hodson read law and was admitted to the bar in 1872, prac- ticing at Crisfield, Md., until his coming to Baltimore in 1891.
Mr. Hodson had always been prominent in public affairs of the State of Maryland, having espoused the cause of Republicanism while a very young man in the campaign of 1860 at a time when it was anything but a popular or safe move for a man to make in the South. During the terms of '84 and '86, Mr. Hodson represented his county in the State Senate, and for two terms, begin-
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ning in '75, he served as collector of the port of Crisfield. At the National Republi- can Conventions of 1884 and 1892 Mr. Hod- son represented the State as delegate-at- large. In '91 Mr. Hodson moved to Bal- timore, opening an office on Fayette street, later moving to his present chambers on E. Lexington street.
Mr. Hodson has been twice married. First to Miss Alice Mauck, of Laurel, Del. Her brother, Maj. Clarence Mauck, in command of the Fourth United States Cav- alry, distinguished himself in the campaign of Northern Texas, and was with General Mckenzie when he crossed the Rio Grande for the first time, following the red-skins on to foreign soil. Mr. Hodson's second mar- riage was to Miss Clara, daughter of Mr. Samuel G. Miles, formerly of Somerset county, Md. Of Mr. Hodson's sons, the eldest, Clarence, is distinguishing himself as a financier. Admitted to the bar, he soon displayed his fine executive ability by or- ganizing a bank at Crisfield, which has been followed by others at Delmar, Upper Marl- boro and at Lonaconing. He is at the head of several successful building associations and the Ist of September, 1897, The Mary- land Home Fire Insurance Company, of which he is president, opened for business in Baltimore.
W. BURNS TRUNDLE .- Among the mem- bers of Baltimore bar who hail from the mountain regions of the State must be men- tioned Mr. W. Burns Trundle. Born at Mt. Auburn, his father's estate in Frederick county, December 2, 1847, he attended the public schools of the county until the out- break of the Civil War. During that stormy period he remained at home, waiting until the close of the war before renewing his
studies. Entering Calvert College at New Windsor in '65, at the age of seventeen, he graduated in two years, completing in that time the four years' course, and ranking at the head of his class. Beginning in Septem- ber, '67, Mr. Trundle taught in an academy near Charlestown, W. Va., at the same time reading law under the tutorage of his uncle, Mr. N. S. White, a well-known member of that bar. In September, '67, he entered the office of Judge John Ritchie, and the 10th of October of that year was admitted to the bar of Frederick, Md., after examination by Judges Maulsby and Lynch. Shortly after his admission to the bar, Mr. Trundle came to Baltimore, where he opened an office and has been a success in his profession from the start. Mr. Trundle has never been associated with a partner, preferring to man- age his practice entirely alone. His prac- tice extends to all branches of the law ex- cepting criminal cases, which he dislikes.
Our subject is a son of Mr. Otho Wilson Trundle, a native of Maryland, who died in 1891, at the age of seventy-five. He was for many years a prominent agriculturalist of Frederick county, and his large estate "Mt. Auburn" was one of the finest in the western section of the State. Mr. Trundle is descended from William Burns, of Scot- land, first cousin of Robert Burns, the Scot- tish bard. His father, Otho Wilson Trun- dle, married Sarah White, daughter of Mr. Benjamin White, a prominent citizen of Montgomery county, Md.
Mr. Trundle, subject of this sketch, has been a member of the Episcopal Church since his eighteenth year, and for twenty- three years past a vestryman of St. Barthol- omew's congregation, of Baltimore. He married Annie M. Dryden, daughter of Mr.
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Joshua R. Dryden, a well-known retired merchant of Baltimore. Mr. Trundle is a member of the Maryland Historical Society and of the City and State Bar Associations. Of the secret orders the Royal Arcanum is the only one which can claim his member- ship. In politics he is a Democrat, but not a partisan, claiming the right to work and vote against any man or measure that may be advanced by those in control of the party when the public interest, in his judgment, requires it. He is especially opposed to ma- chine politics and boss rule. If all who wield the franchise were of that stamp political impurity would soon disappear.
MR. JOHN HANNIBAL .- Among the prominent younger members of the Bal- timore bar must be mentioned Mr. John Hannibal, a native Baltimorean, whose birth occurred December 20, 1860. His father, Henry Hannibal, was a native of Germany, who, on coming to America, settled in Baltimore, where he es- tablished himself in mercantile business, which he conducted successfully until the time of his death in 1883, in the prime of his business career, at the age of fifty-eight. Mr. Hannibal was educated in private schools of his native city, supplementing them with a course in Bryant and Stratton's Business College, fitting himself for a mer- cantile career. After the death of his father Mr. Hannibal decided to adopt the legal pro- fession, and matriculated in the Law School of the University of Maryland in 1885, being shortly after admitted to the bar and imme- diately began practice, at which he has been signally successful. He has never had a partner, preferring to practice alone. Mr. Hannibal is affiliated with a number of the
leading social and benevolent organiza- tions. He is a member of Adherence Lodge, A. F. and A. M .; Madison Lodge, I. O. O. F .; Steuben Lodge, Knights of Pythias; Merchants' Council, Royal Arcanum, and the Shield of Honor. In politics Mr. Han- nibal is a staunch Democrat, taking a lively interest therein, and while seeking no office, he is always found in the field when a politi- cal campaign is on. In 1896 he was a dele- gate to the National Convention of his party at Chicago and was one of the electors named by them to represent his State in the Electoral College. He is also a member of the Supervisory Committee.
Mr. Hannibal is recognized as one of the leading attorneys at the Baltimore bar, and is withal a genial, courteous gentleman with a host of warm friends. His offices are in the Law Building.
MR. LOUIS B. BERNEI .- Among the well-known members of the Baltimore bar, who are a credit to the profession, may be mentioned Mr. Louis B. Bernei. Born in Baltimore, April 10, 1859, Mr. Bernei se- cured his education in the public schools of the city and the City College, from which he graduated with first honors in 1876. Enter- ing the University of Virginia, he graduated from that famous old institution well up in his class in 1880, receiving his degree of Master of Arts. Deciding on the legal pro- fession for his career in life, Mr. Bernei be- gan the study of law in the office of Mr. Luther M. Reynolds, and graduated from the Law School of the University of Mary- land in 1882. For two years he practiced with his old preceptor, since which time he has been in partnership with no one. Mr. Bernei's practice is probably most extensive
50
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in mercantile and patent law, although his practice is general excepting criminal cases. Mr. Bernei in prominent in fraternal circles. He is Past Master of Warren Lodge, A. F. and A. M .; a member of St. John's Chapter and the Albert Pike Lodge of Scottish Rite Masons, having attained the Thirty-second degree. He is a member of the Royal Ar- canum, Merchants' Council and of the Or- der B'nai B'rith, District No. 5, being a Judge in its Court of Appeals and a mem- ber of the Board of Control of its Orphans' Home at Atlanta.
He is a leading member of the Hebrew Benevolent Association, that at their annual banquet raise many thousands of dollars for benevolent purposes for the needy of their race. The Clover Club, a social organiza- tion, has him on its membership roll. In politics Mr. Bernei is an Independent Democrat, reserving the right to cast his bal- lot against any man or measure advanced by his party which his conscience cannot ap- prove.
MR. EDWIN J. GRIFFIN, surviving mem- ber of the old and well known firm of Thos. W. Griffin & Son, was born in Baltimore, January 28, 1852. Attending private and public schools, until the age of sixteen, Mr. Griffin began the study of law in his father's office, followed by a course in the Law School of the University of Maryland, from which he graduated in 1874, and a few months later was admitted to the bar and began the practice of law in partnership with his father, which continued until the death of the latter in 1886. Mr. Griffin, how- ever, continues business under the old firm's name. He engages in the general practice of law except criminal cases, which
are not to his taste. Conveyancing and equity and Orphans' Court business make up the greater part of his practice. Thomas W. Griffin was born in Washington in 1825, coming to Baltimore in early childhood; when a young man he read law in the office of one of the leading attorneys of the day, and when admitted to the bar began the practice of his profession, which grew to be large and lucrative. He was a Republican from the organization of the party, having been an old time Whig. During the war he served as police magistrate and had served as magistrate many years prior to that time. He married Miss Mary S., daugh- ter of Mr. Simon West, of Baltimore. The immigrant ancestor of Mr. Griffin came from the border between Scotland and England and settled in Charles county in colonial days. Richard West, great-grandfather of our subject, was a soldier in the War of 1812.
Mr. Griffin is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Past Master of Warren Lodge, Past High Priest of St. John's Chapter, Deputy Illustrious Master of Concordia Council, member of the Baltimore Com- mandery, and is Senior Warden of Albert Pike Lodge, Scottish Rite Masons of the Thirty-second degree. The only office Mr. Griffin has ever accepted at the hands of the people is that of school commissioner of the First ward. In politics he is a life long Republican, taking a deep interest in the party's welfare, but asking no political preferment. He is interested in the upbuild- ing of the city, helping it as secretary for many years of East Baltimore Business Men's Association, being connected with many building associations, and serving as their attorney. Mr. Griffin is married to
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Alice A., daughter of Mr. Samuel Ring Rose, of Baltimore, and both are earnest members of the Methodist Protestant Church.
THE first American ancestor of Messrs. Charles C. and Francis T. Homer was Charles C. Homer, First, who came from Hanover, Germany, to America in 1828. He was a farmer most of his life, and was en- gaged in the meat packing business for many years, accumulating a comfortable fortune. His son, Charles C. Homer, Sr., a native of Baltimore, was for many years associated with his father in his various business enterprises. He is now president of the Second National Bank of Baltimore. His wife was Miss Fannie M. Holthaus.
Charles C., Jr., and Francis T. Homer were born in Baltimore; the former Octo- ber 15, 1870, and the latter January 6, 1872. After attending private schools in the city, they became pupils of Loyola College, grad- uating from that institution in 1892, with the degree of A. B. Taking up the study of law in the Maryland University Law School, they graduated in 1894, and immediately began practice in the city. Mr. Charles C. Homer, Jr., after a time discontinued the practice of law to accept the vice-presidency of the Second National Bank of Baltimore. Mr. Francis T. is now associated in practice with Mr. Willis. Both are members of Ger- mania Lodge, A. F. and A. M., and of the Reformed Lutheran Church. In political beliefs they adhere to the principles of the old Democratic party that is unswervingly in favor of sound money for our currency and for fair trade.
HON. FRANCIS PUTNAM STEVENS for over fifty-two years has been a resident of Bal- timore. His birthplace was Ashburnham, Mass., born on the 4th day of October, 1842. During the past thirty-three years he has been well known as a prominent citizen and lawyer.
Educated in the schools and academies of Baltimore, he entered in January, 1859, upon the study of law in the offices of Mil- ton Whitney and Hon. John L. Thomas, Jr., both of whom were eminent members of the bar. In September, 1860, he entered the law school of Harvard University, and gradu- ated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1862. Returning from Cambridge, Mass., he entered the law office of Mr. Reverdy Johnson, Jr., continuing his studies until he was of age, being admitted to the Baltimore bar November 2, 1863, on motion of Mr. Johnson.
His first step in political life was as a can- didate for the House of Delegates in the fall of 1866, to the Legislature of 1867, to which he was elected on the Democratic Conservative ticket. This Legislature passed the Convention bill, providing for a new Constitution for the State and effected the overthrow of the Republican party in the State by the Constitution of 1867. Mr. Stevens was an ardent supporter of this measure. During this session he served on the Judiciary, Claims and other important committees, introduced the bill to permit the City Passenger Railway to run cars on Sunday, for a fire-boat for the harbor of Baltimore, and many amendments to the laws of the State. He was elected to the State Senate on November 4, 1873, by a ma- jority of 3,402 in the district over John Car-
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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.
son, the Republican candidate. During the session of 1874 he served on the Judiciary Committee and the Committee on Educa- tion, Corporations and Elections, and was chairman of the Committee on Labor and Immigration, and of the Committee on the Extension of the Limits of Baltimore City.
He was prominently mentioned in the Senate of 1876 for president of that body, but declined to be a candidate. During this session he was chairman of the Judi- ciary Committee and of the Joint Commit- tee of the House and Senate upon the Cen- tennial of the United States, serving on the Committee on Federal Relations, Printing and on other special committees.
He introduced the bill making an appro- priation for the erection of the Maryland building commemorating the one hun- dredth anniversary of American Independ- ence at Philadelphia.
He was a member of the Congress of Au- thors which met in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, July 1, 1876, and contributed a sketch for deposit there of Hon. John Henry, Jr., Governor of Maryland, mem- ber of the Continental Congress, and first United States Senator from the Eastern Shore.
Mr. Stevens' next political service was as a member of the Second Branch of the Bal- timore City Council for two years-1878-79 -representing the Eleventh and Twelfth wards. He was chairman of the new Post- office Committee, and through his and others efforts the new postoffice site was selected. On the occasion of its dedication September 12, 1889, Mr. Stevens made an address in the building. Mr. Stevens is the son of Samuel Small and Martha Osgood Stevens; his parents came to this city in
1844; his father, Samuel S., was the largest manufacturer of cabinet furniture in the South for many years, well known and most highly esteemed in this community. He died December 1, 1874. His mother is still living in good health at the age of eighty- eight. She is a descendant of John Osgood, among whose descendants was Samuel Os- good, aide to Gen. Artemus Ward, a member of Provincial Congress, one of the Board of War, one of the commissioners to manage the Treasury of the United States, a mem- ber of President Washington's cabinet as first Postmaster General, and afterwards Collector of Customs at New York. Other prominent men related to the family were Samuel Stevens, John Putnam, John Os- good and Robert Fletcher, all of whom bore a conspicuous part in the early history and struggle for independence of the colonies, Samuel Stevens being a lieutenant and John Putnam a captain in the Continental Army, "embattled farmers," who rallied to the "first alarm at Lexington" on April 19, 1775, when "the shot was fired which was heard round the world." Among others whose history is interwoven with the estab- lishment of the independence of the colonies, to whom Mr. Stevens is related, were Gen. Israel Putnam, the senior major general of the army of General Washington, Gen. Ru- fus Putnam and Gen. Ebenezer Stevens. All his ancestors were English.
Mr. Stevens married, September 27, 1864, Alexina, youngest daughter of Alexander J. and Arianna Bouldin. Her father, grand- father and great-grandfather were eminent surveyors, and her brother Augustus was for fourteen years surveyor of Baltimore. She is a great-grandmother of Thomas Sol- lers, the first naval officer of the port of Bal-
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timore, and great-granddaughter of Thom- as Owings, of Owings Mills, Baltimore county.
The sons are Francis Alexander and Mor- ris Putnam-are both lawyers, the latter be- ing a law partner of his father. Mr. Stevens has occupied many positions of honor and trust, among them as manager on the part of the city, appointed by the Mayor, of the Industrial Home for Colored Girls for four- teen years. He is now secretary of the Board of Managers and chairman of the Executive Committee. For the years 1876-77 he was manager of the House of Refuge, and is a life director of the Boys' Home, etc. In 1880 he was appointed by Mayor Latrobe chairman of the Sesqui- centennial committee to celebrate the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the city of Baltimore.
He has been a member of Madison Av- enue Methodist Episcopal Church since 1860, is a member of Fidelity Lodge, No. 136, A. F. and A. M., and of Beauseant Commandery, Masonic Knights Templar, is one of the vice-presidents of the Maryland Prisoners' Aid Society and secretary of the Maryland Sunday-school Union.
Mr. Stevens and his father, the latter Sam- uel S. Stevens, together with Mr. G. S. Griffith and others, were among the organ- izers of "The Baltimore Christian Associa- tion" in 1862, which afterwards became "The United States Christian Commission," the operations of which extended through- out the United States for the relief of sick and wounded soldiers.
Mr. Stevens was also one of the organi- zers of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion of North Baltimore, which was formed
April 19, 1859, and was corresponding sec- retary thereof.
In addition to the above Mr. Stevens is a member of the Maryland Society Sons of the American Revolution, was one of the in- corporators, drew its charter, served as its treasurer for several years and as one of its Board of Managers, and is now one of the most active members. He is a member of the City and State Bar Association and of many other societies.
MR. J. CHARLES LINTHICUM, the subject of this sketch and one of the well known at- torneys of Baltimore City, was born in Anne Arundel county, Md., about six miles south of that city, November 26, 1867. Mr. Lin- thicum is one of Maryland's oldest and best known families, his father being Sweetser Linthicum, a native of Anne Arundel coun- ty, and one of Maryland's largest landed proprietors, whose father was William Lin- thicum and his mother Betsy Sweetser, a daughter of Seth Sweetser.
Sweetser Linthicum married Miss Laura E. Smith, also of Anne Arundel county, in the year 1847, from which union of over fifty-one years there have been born unto them eleven children, nine of whom are now living.
Mr. J. Charles Linthicum was educated in the public schools of his native county and those of Baltimore City, also in the Knapp Institute and the Maryland State Normal School, from which latter institu- tion he was graduated in 1886; after his graduation he was elected principal of Brad- dock School, Frederick county, and though not yet nineteen years of age, he success- fully conducted the school during the follow- ing year, after which he took a special
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course in history, political economy and in- ternational law, at the Johns Hopkins Uni- versity.
Choosing the profession of law, Mr. Lin- thicum entered the Law School of the Uni- versity of Maryland, from which he was graduated and received the degree of LL. B. in 1890. One year prior to this event, however, he had taken an examination be- fore the Supreme Bench of Baltimore City and was admitted to practice in the Courts. He enjoys a large practice which keeps him constantly busy. During the present year he has associated with him his brother, Seth Hance Linthicum, a member of the bar and a graduate of St. John's College with the degree of B. A., under the firm name of J. Chas. Linthicum & Bro., which firm enjoys the confidence and respect of the public and is well known in legal circles.
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