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 117

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 117

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His father, Louis Beeler, came to Amer- ica from Germany when a young man, lo- cating in Alexandria, W. Va., where he be- came an extensive confectioner and large importer of foreign fruit. He amassed con- siderable wealth. He owned'a large inter- est in a steamboat and lost $80,000 by the burning of the same and through the failure of a bank. He removed his family to Wash- ington about 1834, and followed the same business there. He died while on a visit to Norfolk, Va., in 1850 in his 68th year. His wife, who was Mary Stittinious and mother of our subject, survived him a few years. Of their five children, all but one survive.

DR. D. S. WILLIAMS, 254 Carroll, Wood- berry.

This gentleman was born September 4th, 1844, on a farm in York county, Pa. He is a son of Luther M. and Mary A. (Allison) Williams. The elder Williams, when our subject was a boy, was assistant supervisor for the Baltimore and Susquehanna R. R. Co., now the Northern Central, and in order to be at a more convenient point, re- moved his family to Baltimore about 1851. Here our subject attended private and pub- lic schools until the age of 18, when he be- gan his studies under Dr. E. W. Free, of New Freedom, Pa. He entered the Uni- versity of Maryland in 1863, was grad-

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

uated in 1865, and immediately began the practice of his profession at Oakland, Balti- more county, where he remained until 1874, when he located at his present address, which was then Woodberry. From Janu- ary Ist, 1879, to the present time he has rep- resented the N. C. Railway as Company's surgeon at Woodberry continuously. On May Ist, 1880, he was appointed by Gov. Wm. T. Hamilton, Registrar of Voters Ninth District of Baltimore county; on May Ist, 1882, was appointed Visiting and Consulting Physician to Baltimore county Almshouse, "Uplands Home," Texas, Bal- timore county .* On May Ist, 1888, he was appointed Sanitary Inspector of Baltimore county; about one month later Woodberry became part of the city of Baltimore, and Doctor Williams was appointed by Mayor Latrobe as City Sanitary Inspector, which office he has held ever since.

He married, April 29th, 1869, Miss Ida W., daughter of Henry Hush of Baltimore; their children are: Annie C., a school teacher, and Clarence D., a druggist.

Doctor Williams is a Democrat. His professional career has been very honorable and eminently successful. He is deserving of the great esteem in which he is held.

Luther M. Williams, the father of our sub- ject, received a common school education, and began life as a cart-boy when the Balti- more & Susquehanna R. R. Co. was con- structing its road. He later assisted in the construction of many small roads through this section of the country. He worked himself up to the position of assistant super- visor for the Company, and acted in this capacity until his retirement to his farm in Baltimore county, where he still resides. He was born in the above county in 1819.

His wife, Mary, is deceased. Their children are: our subject, D. S .; Jennie (Mrs. Eli S. Brown), of Baltimore; H. Benton, farmer; Mary E., maiden lady at home; Annie E., maiden lady at home; L. Meredith, farmer, at home.

Abraham Williams, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Baltimore county, Md., where he died. He was a farmer by occupation, and took part in the battle of North Point.

DR. JOSEPH VON KUELL, 1132 N. Car- rollton avenue.

The subject of this sketch comes of an old and distinguished family of Vienna, Austria, where he was born Aug. 19, 1848. After receiving his primary education he was a pupil at the Military School for four years. In his seventeenth year he entered the Austrian Army and was later promoted to first lieutenant; in connection with his duties as a soldier he took up the study of medicine at a medical college in Vienna, from which he graduated in 1877. He was connected with the army for fifteen years, and took an active part in the Revolution. In 1869, at the battle of Cattaro South Dal- mation, he received twenty-two wounds, which necessitated his being confined in the hospital for three years. For his bravery on the field of battle he received three medals, and after his discharge from the hospital he took up his residence in Vienna, receiv- - ing the pension of a retired army officer from the Austrian Government up to five years after his coming to America. He lo- cated in New York, where he practiced for a short time, then came to Baltimore and for a few years practiced his profession here, abandoning it to accept the position of

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

solicitor for a company, which position he still holds.

He was married March 5, 1891, to Miss Mary Miller, daughter of Jacob Miller, a native of Germany, now a resident of New York City. Mrs. Von Kuell was born in Germany in 1870, and when fourteen years of age came with her parents to New York City, where she resided until her marriage.

Jacob Von Kuell, father of our subject, was a native of Vienna, Austria. For many years after reaching manhood, he served as Governor of an Austrian province. He died in Vienna where his wife also passed away. She was before marriage Anna Von Stockinger. Four children blessed their union, viz: Jacob, a general in the Aus- trian Army; Alex, Mine Inspector for the Austrian Government; Elizabeth (Mrs. Alex. Von Meyer), and Dr. Von Kuell, our subject.

Jacob Von Kuell, grandfather of subject, was of the Austrian nobility, and held a high government position.

J. PERCY WADE, Physician and Superin- tendent of Spring Grove Asylum, Catons- ville.

Dr. J. Percy Wade was born October 22, 1869, in Montgomery county, Va. About 1872 his father moved his family to Balti- more. He received his education in the public schools, and for four years was a student at Baltimore City College, where he made rapid progress in the various branches of study. His early impressions were decidedly in favor of a professional career. He entered Johns Hopkins Uni- versity, where he successfully studied for one year, after which he took a three years' course at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, graduating in April, 1891. For

a time he was resident physician at the col- lege. In April of the same year he was ap- pointed second assistant at Spring Grove Asylum; was later promoted to first assist- ant, and in April, 1896, was appointed su- perintendent.

He is an independent voter.

His father, John J. Wade, recently de- ceased, was a prominent attorney in Balti- more.

SYDNEY O. HEISKELL, Quarantine Phy- sician, P. O. Box 231, Baltimore City, Md.

Our subject was born at Washington, D. C., in 1854, and was reared by his grand- father, Samuel J. Gouverneur, who was Secretary of State under Monroe. His father, Henry Lee Heiskell, who for many years prior to his death was Surgeon Gen- eral in the United States Army, died when the Doctor was but an infant.

Our subject was educated at Mt. St. Mary's College, near Emmettsburg, Md., and at St. John's College, Annapolis, Md. He began his medical studies at Baltimore School of Physicians and Surgeons, gradu- ating in 1881, after which for one year he was connected with Bay View Asylum. He was later connected with the Spring Grove Asylum for one and a half years. He was afterwards appointed assistant at the Quar- antine Hospital in January, 1882. At the beginning of the awful small-pox epidemic in January, 1881, Dr. James McHenry Howard was in charge of the hospital, which was then opposite Fort McHenry. So inadequate were the hospital facilities that when the scourge reached its height, tents were erected upon the grounds for the accommodation of patients. Since 1883 Doctor Heiskell has treated one thousand

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

two hundred and fifty small-pox cases. From June 1, 1883, when the last patient of this awful epidemic was discharged from the hospital, no more small-pox cases came un- der his treatment until May, 1894. At this time the "South Before the War" troupe was playing an engagement in Baltimore, and it was discovered that one of the mem- bers had a mild case of the disease. From this one nineteen others contracted the disease and were sent to the hospital, four deaths resulting. Doctor Heiskell was ap- pointed Quarantine Physician November I, 1884. The old hospital was abandoned and in June, 1884, the present one was opened. Since then the Doctor has devoted much of his time to beautifying the build- ings and surrounding grounds, and has suc- ceeded in changing what was once a wilder- ness into one of the most beautiful places imaginable.

He was married in March, 1883, to Miss Addie C. Townsend, of Baltimore county. She died in February, 1884. The Doctor is a member of the Monday Social Club, Baltimore.

His mother, who was Miss Gouverneur before marriage, was a direct descendant of President Monroe. Her father, Samuel L. Gouveneur, had been married twice. His second wife was a Miss Lee, and first cousin of Gen. Robert E. Lee. She is at present living in Frederick county, Md.

THOMAS B. HORTON, M. D., South Bal- timore.

Of the prominent young physicians in the suburbs of Baltimore none are more worthy of mention than Dr. Thomas B. Horton, of South Baltimore. His father, Thomas C. Horton, of a prominent old

family of the Old North State, was a native of Franklin county. On completing a com- mon school education he was proficient enough to teach, having fitted himself for that profession by self-instruction, in addi- tion to his regular school work. Teaching but a few years, his many excellent quali- ties attracted the attention of Mr. W. K. Davis, Clerk of the Court of Franklin county, and Mr. Horton was offered the position of assistant clerk, which he filled so satisfactorily that two years later he was elected to succeed his principal as Clerk of the Court. His conduct of the affairs of the clerkship was so thorough and business- like that his constituents were loth to part with his service, and kept him continuously in office for sixteen years.

Subsequently he served as Register of Deeds for two years, and then retired from public life, meriting a well-earned rest. Purchasing a large tract of farming land near the county seat, he retired to the quiet and rest of a country life, which he enjoyed for a number of years, and then removed to Louisburg intending to spend his declin- ing years here, having by business tact and judgment, through economy and good în- vestments, amassed a comfortable fortune. He was cut off in 1882 at the comparatively early age of fifty-nine. His wife, who sur- vives him, was Miss Maria H. Hollings- worth, of one of the old families of the State.

Mr. Horton was a member of the Baptist Church. His demise was lamented by all who knew him, he having through his long years of public service endeared himself to the entire population, who for so many years honored themselves in honoring him. He was all in all a man to be admired.

Dr. Thomas B. Horton was born in

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

Louisburg, N. C., September 24, 1866. He attended the public schools and academy of his native city, from which he graduated at the early age of sixteen. Deciding upon medicine as his profession he secured a po- sition in the drug store of Dr. J. B. Clifton, of Louisburg, where he studied pharmacy and medicine until 1888, when he came to Baltimore to enter the Baltimore Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1891. Shortly after graduation he pur- chased his present store in South Baltimore, and offered his services as a healer to the citizens of that portion of the city. That his worth has been appreciated is indicated by his success, which was marked from the first, and his practice has grown to be a very lucrative one, as has trade in his store.

Recognizing his ability as a physician and surgeon, the numerous corporations were not slow to secure his services for their many employes. He is serving officially for the Baltimore Sugar Refinery, South Balti- more Car Works, South Baltimore Foun- dry Company, Ryan & McDonald's Manu- facturing Company, Curtis Bay Brass and Metal Works, and the Diamond Soap Works.

September 27, 1895, when the delivery system was extended to the suburbs, Doctor Horton was appointed superintendent of Station No. 13, of South Baltimore, which position he is filling to the satisfaction of all patrons of the office.

Doctor Horton is a member of the Im- proved Order of Heptasophs, and in poli- tics is an independent Democrat.

The Doctor was married June 14, 1892, to Miss Blanche Quaid, of Annapolis. One child has blessed their union, born March 20, 1893.

DR. J. BRYON ROBINSON, Brooklyn, Anne Arundel county.

Dr. J. Byron Robinson, of Brooklyn, Anne Arundel county, a prosperous suburb of Baltimore, is a descendant of one of the old colonial families of Maryland. His re- mote ancestors came from Scotland, bring- ing with them the sturdy qualities of mind and body of the old Covenanters. They trace their lineage without a break far back into the twelfth century, and in later gener- ations were closely allied with the Stuarts, the royal family of Scotland.

Thorton Fleming Robinson, Sr., grand- father of our subject, was a native of Mary- land. For many years he was a prosperous merchant of Baltimore, and died in that city in the third decade of the present century. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was probably in the battle of North Point. His son, Joseph, served with distinction in the same war, and came out of the service with the rank of general.

Thorton Fleming Robinson, Jr., father of the Doctor, was born in Baltimore in the year 1799. He was educated in the private schools of the city, and on attaining matur- ity entered the real estate business, in which he was engaged the greater part of his life. In political views he was a firm supporter of the Whig party, and took an active part in politics. He was a vigorous supporter of the party candidates, but refrained from ac- cepting nomination for any office for him- self. His death occurred in Queen Anne county, Md., in 1872, at which time he was living a quiet, peaceful life. He had always been a consistent member of the Episcopal Church, and died happy in the faith that had sustained him through the trials and vicis- situdes of life.

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

Doctor Robinson, of this sketch, was born in Baltimore. Here his childhood and school days were spent, and here in 1858 his medical studies began under the tutelage of Doctor Dunbar. Entering the Medical School of the University of Maryland, he received his diploma in the spring of 1862, opening an office in Baltimore in the fall of that year.

Securing a position as surgeon in the United States Army, with the rank of cap- tain, he remained in the service six years, being stationed at various army posts throughout the South.

He was considered a skillful and efficient surgeon, and it was regretted by all with whom he came in contact when he decided to sever his connection with the National military service and resign. On his retire- ment from Government employ, Dr. Robin- son located at Savannah, Ga., remaining eight years. At the end of that time he opened his present office, and from that day until the present his success has been un- questioned. In connection with his prac- tice, to insure the proper filling of his pre- scriptions, the Doctor opened a drug store, which is now in charge of his son, while he gives his principal attention to his ever- increasing practice. He married in 1865 Miss Addie Gros Claude. Her death oc- curred in 1877, lamented by a wide circle of loving friends. Their only son, Frederick F., a graduate in medicine, is now with his father in full charge of the store. The Doc- tor is a member of the leading medical so- cieties of Georgia and Maryland. In poli- tics he is a Democrat, and while taking a lively interest in all political issues of the day, cannot be induced to come out from his private life and accept office.

In religious belief he is a consistent mem- ber of the Episcopal Church.

FRANCIS MOORE DARBY, Treasurer of the Safe Deposit and Trust Company, of Balti- more, is a son of the late Charles A. and Martha (Chandler) Darby, who were de- scended from early English settlers of Montgomery county, Md. Mr. Darby was born near Monrovia, Frederick county, Md., March II, 1838.

He completed his education at Rockville Academy, and immediately thereafter en- tered upon the study of the law, under the preceptorship of Hon. James Dixon Ro- man, in Hagerstown, Md. He was admitted to the bar in November, 1858, and early evidenced that native ability which led to the prominence he soon attained as orator, careful counsellor and successful lawyer. In 1859 Mr. Darby married Louisa Ken- nedy, a daughter of Benjamin Price, and granddaughter of John Kennedy. Mrs. Darby died twenty years later, or on July 5, 1879.

In those troublous times of 1863, when it cost men much to maintain Union senti- ments, especially in Maryland, Mr. Darby accepted the Republican nomination for State's Attorney of Washington county and was elected. This was the inception of his public service. Subsequently and often when defeat seemed inevitable, his party leaders appealed to him, and never in vain. Throughout many campaigns he abandoned his considerable law practice and its emolu- ments to further the interests of his party. In 1859 he had been defeated as a candidate for State's Attorney. In 1869 he again, with his party ticket, met defeat for the Legislature. In 1871 the same result at-

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

tended his candidacy for State Senator, al- though he was beaten in this contest by only eleven votes, and he was genuinely fright- ened lest he might be elected and thus com- pelled to abandon his profession during a too protracted stay at Annapolis. In 1879 some exceptional recognition of his services was accorded to him, and he accepted the nomination for Attorney General of Mary- land, when Hon. James A. Gary was the candidate for Governor. In the spirited and vigorous contest that ensued, Mr. Dar- by led his ticket by a flattering vote of sev- eral hundred.

Early in his public life, or in 1859, Mr. Darby gave evidence of clear insight into financial affairs. He consented to accept a seat as director in the Hagerstown Bank, where he served for twenty-five years, act- ing also as the bank's attorney. He also became president of the "Washington County Insurance Company." For a number of times also he served as a mem- ber of the Republican State Central Com- mittee. During that period of service, from 1860 to 1882, he served his county in State, county, judiciary and other conventions al- most wholly without interruption. As will be gathered from the above, Mr. Darby has, from the first, been a zealous worker for his party, State, and the general welfare.

His services were given when his party was in the minority and were accentuated by an absence of any reasonable hope of personal reward, other than an approving conscience and the making of hosts of friends.

Mr. Darby was appointed August 18, 1882, by President Arthur to the responsi- ble position of Assistant Treasurer of the United States at Baltimore, which he held

until 1886. The latter part of his tenure extended into President Cleveland's first term. Mr. Darby's retirement from this office was regretted by Mr. Cleveland's United States Treasurer, Mr. Conrad N. Jordan, because of the latter's appreciation of the business-like conduct of his office in connection with the Central Office at Wash- ington. Mr. Darby was appointed June I, 1890, treasurer of the Safe Deposit & Trust Company of Baltimore. His peculiar fit- ness in such an enlarged field of general use- fulness had been seen and was thus recog- nized. His identification with Baltimore's growth, development and material interests has accordingly been thus cemented. He is a director in the Union Railroad Com- pany and director in and treasurer of the Merchants' and Manufacturers' Permanent Building and Loan Association of Balti- more, and a member of the Young Men's Republican Club and Columbian Club.

In early manhood Mr. Darby united with the Presbyterian Church at Hagerstown, but a few years ago "Christian Science" as taught by Mrs. Mary Baker G. Eddy was brought to his attention, and by careful study of her text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," he is thor- oughly convinced that she has given to humanity the guide that will lead every one who follows it to real practical Christianity the same as Christ came to establish; a Christianity which reveals health, holiness and happiness, even the kingdom of God here and now, and enables man to enter into them as his inheritance; a Christianity which must result in the universal brotherhood of man.

Mr. Darby was married, October 25, 1881, to Miss Ella V., daughter of John S.

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

Leib, late treasurer of the Northern Con- tral Railway Company.

MR. CHARLES GOLDSBOROUGH, whose identification with this city's growth, devel- opment and rank as a great metropolis, has been noteworthy, began his active business career in 1865, as head of the firm of Golds- borough & Tate, jobbers and dealers in wines, brandies and whiskies.

Before recounting his public life here, it seems not amiss to trace his ancestry: His father, Hon. William T. Goldsborough, lived in Dorchester county, Md., and died in Baltimore. The ancestral manor there, "Horn's Point," only a few miles below Cambridge, was second to no other planta- tion in the county, as regards productive- ness of soil and beauty of location. Our subject's father was a "gentleman of the old school," of unswerving integrity, untarn- ished character, proud, and justly so, of de- scent from a line of Maryland's honored sons; and honored himself (whenever he would accept public trusts) by his constitu- ents. Three terms he served as State Sena- tor for Dorchester and he was a member of the Peace Commission in 1861. In 1867 he consented once more to serve his country and State as a member of the Constitutional Convention.

The paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, after whom he was named, was Hon. Charles Goldsborough, once Governor of Maryland. He, too, the Gov- ernor, was a native of Dorchester county, his ancestors having come to America in 1636.

Mr. Charles Goldsborough's mother, Miss Lloyd, was a daughter of Hon. Ed- ward Lloyd, of "Wye," Talbot county, and

one of the foremost orators and most noted gentlemen of the State. He, too, was once Governor of Maryland. It is somewhat unique therefore, and an extremely agreea- ble reflection to note two Governors in this one family, and on each side of the line. The subject hereof, however, has ever been too busy a man to embrace political life, per se. He was born at Annapolis in 1839, during one of the periods of his father's service there as State Senator. Carefully educated, he completed his scholastic training at the "Balmar School," West Chester, Pa., and began his active business life in Baltimore in 1857, when he entered the counting room of Lambert Gittings & Co., the most exten- sive shippers of that date here.

In 1860 Mr. Goldsborough made a trip to the West Indies for them. On his re- turn he was tendered, and declined, a part- nership in their extensive business, prefer- ring to cast his lot and fortunes with the Confederacy. He accepted the post of a commissioned officer in the Confederate States Navy, serving under Capt. Smith Lee, a brother of Gen. Robert E. Lee, at Drury's Bluff, where he was, during the troublous days incident to that campaign (Drury's Bluff being the one stronghold never captured), ordered away, to another scene, Captain Lee made a personal appli- cation to Secretary Mallory for his reten- tion. The naval service finally became use- less, so Mr. Goldsborough enlisted in the First Maryland Light Artillery and sur- rendered at Appomattox. His commission in the navy came from the strong personal recommendation of Admiral Buchanan, en- dorsed by Gen. R. E. Lee. Admiral Bu- chanan was an uncle by marriage of Mr. Goldsborough.

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

The firm in which Mr. Goldsborough is such a conspicuous member controls that luxury of "bon vivants," known the world over as Wilson Whiskey. Their distillery has a capacity of one thousand bushels of rye per day, with a yield of one hundred barrels per day of "the finest rye whiskey in the world."

With $500,000 capital invested in the business, and with practically unlimited means outside of the enterprise, Mr. Golds- borough's firm can and does compete with the world. They are recognized as the lead- ing distillers of whiskey in North America. Mr. Goldsborough, is, however, widely known and his counsel sought in many other spheres. He is the president of both the Merchants' and Athaeneum Clubs in Baltimore, and governor of the Maryland Club. The first named of these organiza- tions, the Merchants', is an aggregation, at once, of the most influential, opulent and potent citizens of this great metropolis. The commodious and artistically equipped build- ing occupied and owned by this club is one of the features of the city. He is also a member of the Elkridge Fox and Hunting Club, and holds membership as well in the Manhattan and Commercial Clubs of New York.

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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