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 116
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131
He made many European voyages or trips in safety, and after the close of the war he and his brother, John A., returned to Baltimore.
In 1865 they founded their banking house
938
HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.
of which far famed concern he is the execu- tive head. This house has ever been char- acterized by its reaching out for Western, Eastern and foreign capital, thus brought into Baltimore and with what results all readily see. In this particular field the Ham- bletons are pioneers. And, it may be ob- served here, Mr. T. E. Hambleton is a legit- imate successor to his banking affairs and practices, being a grandson of Jesse Sling- luff, one of Baltimore's distinguished citizens.
Busy as he ever is, Mr. Hambleton finds time to devote to and help develop other interests than banking. He is a potential factor in the Gas Light Company, a large warehouse concern, and is the head of that notable company, "The Traction Com- pany," the pioneer of real rapid transit here.
The country seat of Mr. Hambleton is called "Hambledune," situated a few miles from the city, in Baltimore county. It is called the handsomest country residence in the State, and both inside and outside, to- gether with its spacious lawns and grounds, is an evidence of its owner's refined tastes.
In Talbot county also, Mr. Hambleton owns large landed estates, which have been in the family over two hundred years, and are still among the most impressive for beauty of landscape and admired in the State.
Mr. Hambleton's wife was a daughter of Gen. Salisbury, U. S. Army. They were married in 1856. In the banking house his son, F. S. Hambleton, is a partner with his father.
MR. CHARLES F. MAYER, the subject of this sketch, is a son of the late Lewis Mayer, also a Baltimorean of much reputation, and
wide commercial connections. His father, as a very little boy, was sent abroad to be educated at the then, and indeed still, cele- brated school of Herr Salzmann at Schnep- fethal in Saxe-Gotha, Germany.
As the only American boy who had ever been there, he was as much an object of curi- osity on this account, as he was of high re- gard on account of his singularly high in- telligence and attractive bearing.
Upon his return to this country he com- menced his commercial career, etc., etc. He was one of the defenders of Fort Mc- Henry as a volunteer artilleryman in the War of 1812, commenced his commercial career as supercargo upon his father's ves- sels engaged in the trade between this coun- try and Spanish and other European ports. He afterwards became actively identified with the importing dry-goods trade here, and later removed to Philadelphia, where, with the members of his family in Pennsyl- vania, he became interested in the develop- ment of their large interests in the anthra- cite coal fields of that State. This great in- dustry was then in its earliest infancy.
The father of Lewis Mayer was Christian Mayer, the paternal grandfather of our sub- ject. He was also a resident of Baltimore and one of the earliest merchants to engage in the East India trade of this port. He came to America from Amsterdam as a rep- resentative of an important mercantile firm there, and continued to be for many years one of our largest shipping merchants en- gaged in the foreign trade. He was the progenitor of the Baltimore branch of the Mayer family.
The mother of Mr. Charles F. Mayer was Susan O. Mayer, daughter of Christopher Mayer, of Lancaster, Pa. This branch of
939
HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.
the family came to America in 1754 and set- tled in Lancaster, Pa.
The Mayers had been for many genera- tions natives of the old free city of Ulm in Germany.
Our subject, Mr. Charles F. Mayer, was born in the early thirties and was carefully educated at private schools, and at Mount Hope College, in Baltimore. In early man- hood he went to the west coast of South America as a super-cargo. On his return to Baltimore about 1852, he entered at once into active commercial life, and continued therein until 1865. In that year he joined with a number of other gentlemen of wealth and enterprise in developing the immeasur- ably rich gas-coal fields of West Virginia. He continued interested in that region for many years.
In 1877 Mr. Mayer became the presi- dent of the Consolidation Coal Company, of Maryland, the largest producer of the celebrated Cumberland George's Creek steam coal and one of the largest coal min- ing companies in the country. He at the same time became the president of the Cum- berland and Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany, which traverses this Cumberland and George's Creek Coal Region and carries the vast coal product of that region to its con- nections with the Baltimore & Ohio Rail- road and Pennsylvania Railroad systems, and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal at Cumberland, Md. Mr. Mayer continued in these two positions until the early part of 1896, when he withdrew from both. In No- vember, 1887, Mr. Mayer became a director in the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Com- pany and chairman of its Executive Com- mittee, and in December, 1888, he became its president. He declined a re-election in
December, 1895, and withdrew from the presidency of the company the following January upon the election of his successor. It was during the presidency of Mr. Mayer that the great work of constructing the Bal- timore Belt Railroad was undertaken, and largely through his energy that it was car- ried to a successful completion. This great work connects the main line of the Balti- more & Ohio Railroad at Camden Station, Baltimore, with its Philadelphia Division at Bay View, just outside the limits of the city-passing under the city by a tun- nel of something over a mile in length. It gives the Baltimore and Ohio Rail- road Company the commodious and handsome Mount Royal Passenger Sta- tion, up-town, and it also gives it access for freight business to the upper and growing sections of the city of Baltimore, to which the road had not heretofore had access. The Company's former connection with its Phil- adelphia Division had been by the unsatis- factory methods of a ferry across the harbor from Locust Point to Canton and thence by rail construction to Bay View. This great work is said to have cost something over eight millions of dollars. It was through the tunnels of the Baltimore Belt Railroad, during Mr. Mayer's administration, that electric motors were first successfully used for the hauling of trains instead of loco- motive engines. This use of electric motors entirely avoids the smoke created by the ordinary coal-burning locomotive engine, which has heretofore rendered the passage of trains through tunnels so very objection- able.
To Baltimore therefore belongs the credit of having first solved this difficult railroad problem.
940
HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.
The Baltimore Belt Line tunnel is lighted throughout its entire length with electric lamps.
Had Mr. Mayer accomplished only this great railroad undertaking, which is of so much importance to his native city, his name and memory would be an enduring one.
In addition to the foregoing, Mr. Mayer is a director in the following institutions:
The Western National Bank, of Balti- more, in which he has served some thirty years; the Baltimore Steam Packet Com- pany, the Mercantile Trust and Deposit Company, the United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company.
He is also a trustee of the Johns Hopkins Hospital, the Church Home and Infirmary of Baltimore City, the Benevolent Society of the city and county of Baltimore, and a vestryman of old St. Paul's Protestant Epis- copal Church.
In club circles he is a member of the Maryland Club, the University Club and the Merchants' Club.
Mr. Mayer married in 1867, his cousin, Miss Susan Douglass Keim, a daughter of the late Hon. George May Keim, of Read- ing, Pa., a prominent member of Congress for several terms from his native city in the early forties.
Mr. Mayer is of retiring disposition, but is, as will be seen from the foregoing, ac- tively and prominently identified with the growth and development of Baltimore as a great commercial city.
MR. J. H. JUDIK, President of the Peo- ple's National Bank of Baltimore, comes of sterling ancestry. His father, Joseph Judik, came to America early in this century, set- tling in Baltimore. His father, Joseph, was
a commissioned officer in Holland and when his adopted country was invaded by the Brit- ish in the memorable Campaign of 1812, Jo- seph Judik became a defender of Baltimore together with other patriots.
The mother of our subject was Miss Mary M. Eagle, of Lancaster, Pa., a daugh- ter of Henry Eagle, a gentleman of high personal character. Mr. J. H. Judik was born in Baltimore in 1845; was educated at Georgetown College, D. C., as his father was before him. He began his active busi- ness career almost at once, after graduation, or in 1865. Although a merchant of large and varied commercial interests, Mr. Judik is perhaps not so widely known in that sphere as in the financial world.
Before accepting his present official po- sition, Mr. Judik acted as vice-president of his bank, "The People's." When Presi- dent Grover Cleveland sent Mr. W. S. Car- roll his commission as Consul to Dresden, Mr. Judik accepted the presidency as Mr. Carroll's successor. This was in 1877. The People's Bank is and ever has been since it was chartered in 1856 most ably managed. It has likewise been one of the most pros- perous financial institutions in the city and State. Mr. Judik is widely known and rec- ognized as a successful, careful and able financier.
The People's Bank has weathered every financial storm since it was chartered, its success then as measurably reflecting the ability, integrity and precedence of its head, as well as its Board of Directors. Some light will also shine upon its status else- where than at home, from the following sig- nificant list of its intimate business connec- tions with other financial institutions. Transacting as it does a general and lucra-
941
HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.
tive banking business, the People's Bank has correspondents at every financial centre. In this list are, among others, the Chemical National Bank of New York, with the larg- est undivided surplus of any bank in Amer- ica; "The Independence" of Philadelphia; and that bulwark of financial stability, the First National of Chicago, Secretary Gage's bank. To readers familiar with men and af- fairs this summary speaks volumes for the status of Mr. Judik's executive administra- tion. As "a tree is known by his fruit," so may a bank be said to be known from the character and ability of its head and man- agement.
Mr. Judik married Miss Bringues, of New York City. In temperament he is of rather retiring disposition, and too much en- grossed with his varied interests to become a club man.
He likewise eschews political life, and is on the whole a man whose life and career would materially aid in developing any city in which he might elect to live into a great metropolis.
MR. ISAAC S. GEORGE, President Trader's National Bank, German street near Light street. Perhaps it is perfectly safe to affirm at the outset that the subject of this article, Mr. Isaac S. George, occupies a position without a parallel as regards public ser- vice and its attendant results in aiding the development of this great city. His whole life, as this brief summary will attest, has been one devoted to business enterprises and to public measures calculated to ad- vance the material growth of Baltimore.
Mr. George was born here July 18, 1818, his father, James B. George, being also a Marylander. His father was a participant in the historical War of 1812. He was sta-
tioned with his regiment at Fort McHenry during its bombardment, and was an hon- ored and respected member of the Old De- fenders' Association until his death, Febru- ary 1, 1869. He served his State and city respectively in the Legislature and City Council. He was of Huguenot ancestry, his progenitors having come to America in 1730, and having participated in the battle of Brandywine.
The paternal grandmother of Mr. Isaac S. George was Elizabeth A. George, one of the original members of the Light Street M. E. Church, with which she was connected for seventy years until her death at the ripe old age of 95.
Mr. George's maternal ancestors were Scotch-Irish and came to America in 1801. His maternal grandfather was John Stew- art, whose wife's maiden name was Nancy Glasco. They were Calvinistic Presbyte- rians, and were here identified with the Sec- ond Presbyterian Church under the pastor- ate of Rev. John Glendy.
Mr. George's mother, Mary Ellen Stew- art, came to America with her family in 1801. In 1817 she married our subject's father, 'Mr. Isaac S. George being the eld- est of ten children by this marriage.
On February 3, 1843, Mr. I. S. George in turn married Elizabeth A. Mann, of Hali- fax. The husband and wife were active in aiding to found and establish a Universalist Church here.
Commencing, however, in an orderly ar- ray of facts prior to those just mentioned, Mr. Isaac S. George was educated chiefly under the guidance and supervision of pri- vate tutors. Before attaining his majority he embarked in business as an assistant to his father. He subsequently established a
942
HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.
business for himself on Centre Market Space, which he conducted with success for several years. In 1864. together with his son, J. Brown George, he established the mercantile house of I. S. George & Son, on Baltimore street. On the death of this son, Mr. George again embarked in busi- ness with his youngest son as extensive boot and shoe dealers. As asserted at the outset, Mr. George's business career is unique and extremely noteworthy. It is replete with large trusts, careful control and successful outcomes, the results as stated, all tend- ing to the advancement of the growth of the metropolis and the general good.
In 1869 he was the president of the At- lantic and George Creek Coal Company, but he resigned afterwards. In 1868 he accepted the presidency of the Atlantic Fire and Insurance Company, holding it until the voluntary liquidation of the company years after. In political affairs, too, he has ever been a worker and a trusted adviser. In 1860 Mayor Brown appointed him as a member of the Water Board. In 1864 he accepted a Democratic nomination for State Senator.
In 1867 he filled the most important and distinguished position of member of the Constitutional Convention. His city also secured his services as chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means in the City Council in '68-9. For two years he also served as president of the Board of the Maryland Institute. He was induced to serve for six years, the last two as president, as a visitor of the Board to the city jail, ap- pointed by Mayor Vansant.
He is likewise a director, of many years' standing, in the Associated Firemen's In- surance Company. Busy man as he is and
ever has been, Mr. George has found time for other pursuits than those above noted.
In Odd Fellowship he is widely recog- nized as a worker, while as a Mason he is a craftsman of high repute and zealous pur- pose.
Mr. George was also one of the founders of the Murray Institute, a notable social and literary association. In 1879, in addi- tion to his many other labors, he accepted the presidency of the Consolidated Real Estate Fire Insurance Company.
In no sphere, however, is Mr. George bet- ter or more favorably known and respected than in financial matters. As president of the Traders' National Bank, his name and status are too well recognized to require any extended mention in the space at com- mand.
The Traders' was organized in 1865, as the First National Bank of Annapolis, Md., and opened for business there on June 5th of that year. By act of Congress, June, 1872, the bank was moved to Baltimore, and its name changed as above. On the resig- nation of Wm. H. Tuck, Mr. George ac- cepted its presidency, which he has ever since held. The bank's capital is $230,- 000.00; its undivided surplus, $27,000.00; dividends, to stockholders, average of 6 per cent .; deposits, $400,000.00. Its corre- spondents are "Commerce" and "Conti- nental," of New York.
Of such men as Mr. George, as coadju- tors and citizens, are made great metropoli- tan centres like Baltimore. His life work to that end is a fit setting to such a history.
DR. A. S. WARNER, 1120 Highland ave- nue.
Dr. A. S. Warner was born in 1856 in
943
HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.
Manchester, Carroll county, Md. When a child, his parents moved to York, Pa., where he began his primary education at the usual age; after passing through the public schools he attended the York Acad- emy for a time, then entered the Millers- ville State Normal School, Millersville, Pa. After completing his studies here he be- came a teacher in the public schools of York, county, Pa., which occupation he followed for a time. In connection with his duties as teacher, he took up the study of medicine. After severing his connection with the York county public schools, he accepted a position as principal of the pub- lic schools of New Market, Pa., in which capacity he successfully served for two years. He then, in 1878, entered the school of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore, graduating in 1881 and immediately after began the practice of his profession at his present location.
He married in 1881 Miss Florence Night- ingale Eisenberger, of New Cumberland, Pa. They have one child, Harry Augustus, who graduated from the public schools of Baltimore with first honors in 1897 and is now preparing for the Johns Hopkins Uni- versity.
Doctor Warner is an active member of the Presbyterian Church and has held the offices of trustee and treasurer for many years. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Masonic Fraternity. In politics he is a Republican.
Peter Warner, father of our subject, was born in Europe, and when a boy came to America with his parents. He is now de- ceased. His wife, who was Miss Rachel Fair before marriage, and mother of our subject, still survives.
DR REUBEN M. DORSEY, 727 Third ave- nue, Hampden, Baltimore.
This gentleman was born February 22, 1869, in Howard county, Md. He was brought up as a farmer and from childhood was inured to the hard labor of a farmer's life. When not at school, he employed his time advantageously in the fields and get- ting out lumber, thus rendering his father much valuable assistance. He pursued his primary studies in the public schools.
Having determined upon a professional career, with the view to the acquirements of a physician, he prepared at Maupin's University, near Ellicott City, Md., and be- gan his medical studies under Dr. Wm. E. Hodges, of Ellicott City, with whom he re- mained for one and a half years. He was graduated from the Maryland University in 1891 and then took a special course in the treatment of nervous diseases under Dr. J. S. Conrad. Doctor Conrad was a well known and highly esteemed physician. His labors in the field of medicine won for him a high place in the profession. After leav- ing Doctor Conrad, our subject was asso- ciated in the general practice of medicine with Dr. J. Carroll Monmonier for one year. He then accepted a position as surgeon for the B. & O. R. R. Co., and successfully served in this capacity for two years, leaving it to accept the higher position of medical examiner for the same company and is at the present time occupying the same posi- tion. For a time he practiced his profession on Madison avenue whence he removed to his present location.
On September 25, 1895, he was married to Miss Alice Berger, daughter of Rev. Alexander Berger of Baltimore county. He is a member of the Episcopal Church;
944
HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.
in politics he is a Democrat. He is a mem- ber of the Maryland State Medical and Chi- rugical Society, also a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.
Reuben M. Dorsey, the father of our subject, is a native of Ellicott City, Howard county, Md. He has been a prominent and successful farmer all his life, in connection with which he has served for 16 years as Judge of the Orphans' Court of Howard county.
He married Mary E. Krafft, daughter of a Prussian Consul to this country. Mr. Krafft was a thorough linguist, being master of seven languages. He died in Baltimore. The union of Mr. Dorsey and his wife has been blessed with the following children: Charles K., a prominent attorney of Elkhart City; Dr. Reuben M., (subject); Philip Hammond, a farmer of Howard county; Nicholas, a farmer of Howard county, and Henry, who is at school; and Caleb Dorsey, D. D. S., residence, 1218 W. Lexington street.
MR. LOUIS F. BEELER was born Feb- ruary 18, 1827, at Alexandria, Va. When a boy he went to Washington to live with his grandparents, his parents locating there about 1834. He attended private schools until he was seventeen years old. At one time he had for a preceptor a Mr. McCloud, a very peculiar man, noted for his strange ideas in the school-room. During the sum- mer the pupils were placed under very strict discipline, one rule being that the scholars should be at their desks at 4 o'clock in the morning. When our subject was about fourteen, the B. & O. R. R. was about to begin operations, and a big demonstration in honor of the event had been arranged.
General Scott was in command of the United States troops which were to take an ac- tive part that day. The military company of which young Beeler was a member call- ed upon General Scott in a body and asked permission to take part in the celebration. He inspected the youthful company and assigned them to an important position on Wilkes Hill, and they were highly compli- mented upon their appearance.
At seventeen young Beeler became a clerk in a dry goods store in Washington and continued as such until Congress pass- ed the resolution that War existed with Mexico, and he with others hired a drum- mer, fifer and color bearer, paraded the streets of Washington and got together enough young men to form two companies, our subject being chosen as sergeant. They were assigned to Baltimore and Washing- ton battalion, under command of Col. Wm. H. Watson, who was killed at the battle of Monterey. He proceeded with his com- pany to Mexico where they remained for one year, taking an active part in the battle of Monterey. A few months after his re- turn to Washington, he went to Cumber- land, Md., and accepted a position as clerk for a shipping and forwarding company. This was before the railroads became so numerous, and the company did all its busi- ness with teams. The concern was known as Calhoun & Harrison. He remained with this company until the latter part of 1851, when he accepted a position as delivery clerk and assistant yard master for the B. & O. R. R. When the B. & O. completed their road to Wheeling, W. Va., he became an assistant of Joseph B. Ford, who looked after the company's interest at that point. Mr. Beeler remained at Wheeling until
945
HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.
about 1859, when he was transferred as agent to Benwood, W. Va., and continued here until 1864. During the war as agent at Benwood he rendered the Government valuable assistance in the building of the pontoon bridge across the Ohio river at that point, which was erected at his sug- gestion as being the best means of trans- portation for the troops and munitions of war. In 1864 he severed his connection with that company, and for a time was a clerk in an Ohio river steam boat. In 1865 he went to New York City as soliciting agent for a line of steamers plying between Park- ersburg and Louisville and some years later, to Wheeling, W. Va., as agent for the National Express and Transportation Com- pany. After the failure of this concern, in 1866, he accepted a position as agent at Locust's Point for the B. & O. Co., and save for a year or two has remained in their employ ever since. The freight depot at that time was situated on the present site of Ober's fertilizing plant, and the business in the warehouse was done with horses, and compared to the present business was very small. The wonderful increase in the busi- ness of this department necessitated the building of the pier 8 and 9 in 1868, where the first North German Lloyd steamship landed the same year.
Louis F. Beeler married Miss Amanda M. Fillius, of Washington, on February 3, 1851. They have the following children: Mary Frances (Mrs. A. A. Swing) of Balti- more; Ida Catharine, who lives at home; Martha Louise, who married Capt. Richard A. Dunn of the ice boat patrol; Richard Francis, bookkeeper for B. & O. Co., and Sally May (Mrs. Wm. E. Helm), of Balti- more.
Mr.Beeler is a member of the Democratic party, with which he became connected in 1840. During that year he heard many noted speakers, among them were Henry Clay and Daniel Webster, and it was through their eloquence he was won over to the principles of Free Trade. His family are members of the Roman Catholic Church.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.