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 126

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 126

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As a fit conclusion to this part of the sketch, the words of one thoroughly imbued with the teaching instinct are quoted. The letter is highly prized because it came from a cultured gentleman who is known in the community as one not given to writing con- ventional testimonials. Dr. Henry E. Shep- herd, superintendent of schools for many years, speaks in praise of Doctor Grady, as an educator, as follows:

"Dear Doctor Grady: It is with genuine pleasure that I bear my testimony to the high character, the thoroughness and the ef- fectiveness of your educational work during the years of my official relation to the pub- lic schools of Baltimore. I had ample op- portunity to observe its progress in more than one relation or capacity. The status of your classes, the character of your in- struction, the order and discipline that pre-

vailed during the two administrations of which I have personal knowledge were the theme of commendation, and your adminis- trative efficiency as well as your scholastic capabilities were repeatedly recognized in official language too clear and explicit to be susceptible of mistake or misapprehension. To you, too, is to be attributed the honor of reviving the Teachers' Association by your individual energy and persistence at a time when it had approached perilously near to decadence, if not extinction."

In 1877 Doctor Grady began the study of dentistry, believing he had found his life work, and for the past twenty years he has practiced that profession, the first nine years while engaged in teaching, but, beginning in 1886, he has devoted his whole time to diseases of the mouth and not mere opera- tive work upon the teeth. He is a graduate of the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, the oldest dental institution in the world, and of the Maryland Dental College, from which he received the prize for the best thesis, "Conservative Treatment of the Dental Pulp." He has served for eight years as a member or secretary of the State Board of Dental Examiners under three Governors of Maryland, and has been a helpful friend of dental legislation. He is the founder and first president of the Asso- ciation of Dental Surgeons, the incorporated local organization of dentists. He is co- editor of the American Journal of Dental Science, the first dental periodical published in the world. He is also, for the time, chair- man of the Committee on Dental Education of the State Dental Association, whose duty is to award scholarships.

Doctor Grady, while in the practice of his profession, deeming a full medical and sur-

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gical education desirable by dentists, as well as oculists and aurists, pursued a course at the Baltimore Medical College and was graduated in 1888. The Alumni Associa- tion awarded him a gold medal in 1891 for the prize thesis "Maladies Dependent Upon Affections of the Teeth." He is one of the faculty of this institution, being lecturer on Stomatology, the science of diseases of the mouth. He is also a member of the Balti- more County Medical Society.

While Doctor Grady is best known as an educator and as a dentist, and his life may be broadly divided into two phases, the nine- teen years in which he was a teacher and the nineteen years in which he practiced dentis- try, yet he has been a worker of indefatiga- ble energy in other fields. He is the founder and only president of the Industrial Educa- tion Association, incorporated in 1888, an organization of 150 representative citizens, whose purpose is to create and express pub- lic sentiment in regard to the necessity of industrial education as a part of the training of youth. For years he has been an active member in Presbyterian churches-as trus- tee, deacon and treasurer and in giving di- rection to the best forces in the community by inspiring teachers and training boys for noble citizenship.

In 1895, the "ruling spirit" too strong to be overborne, Doctor Grady organized the Helping Head, Heart and Hand Club for boys and young men at the First Presby- terian Church. Fifty or more are instructed weekly in drawing, shorthand, book-keep- ing, arithmetic, telegraphy, whittling and Venetian iron work; and scientific knowl- edge is communicated in a popular and en- tertaining form in experiments made in the

presence of the boys. He is happy in the boys' pleasure.

In 1878 he became interested in fraternal beneficiary orders and has held office in sub- ordinate, grand and supreme councils. He was elected secretary of Mount Vernon Council, Royal Arcanum, in 1879, and has proved such an excellent official that he has been unanimously re-elected every year since. He is Grand Commander of the American Legion of Honor in Maryland, unanimously elected in 1896 for two years, having previously been Grand Orator and Vice-Commander for two terms each.

Notwithstanding the demands of the lec- ture room and the onerous duties of his pro- fession (he is visiting dentist to five schools or institutions) Doctor Grady has contrib- uted regularly to the American Journal of Dental Science of which, as said, he is co- editor, and to medical and dental societies, including the American Medical Associa- tion, the Odontological Society of Pennsyl- vania, etc. His writings have been com- mended or translated by European journals. Among his published papers are "The Pro- gress of Dentistry," "Dental Jurispru- dence," "The Abuse of Dental Charity," "Competitive Examinations for Dental Scholarships," and illustrated cases treated by him for closure of the jaw, for fracture of the maxillae, for everted crown, etc.

Doctor Grady's style is simple and clear. There is a steady aim in his writings to be understood. His long service in the class room and his mental methods make him an instructive rather than a popular speaker. Occasionally he writes sketches of valued friends, including his preceptor, Dr. H. H. Keech, with whom he lived and studied den-

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tistry, and Mr. John T. Morris, president of the Board of School Commissioners, on whose recommendation lie was appointed a teacher in 1871 and who has been his abid- ing friend for thirty years. He spoke the praises of Mr. Morris on the occasion of the celebration of his 70th birthday by the pub- lic schools, which celebration was suggested by Doctor Grady in recogniton of thirty- four years of service as commissioner and twenty-seven years as president.

Doctor Grady is a man of decision. Nobody needs question to which side he be- longs. His convictions are positive and he has the courage of his convictions. When- ever it happens to be needed he has on hand "that desperate courage which makes one a majority." He believes in a square, fair, open fight. He never depends upon ques- tionable methods. In asserting the claims and dignity of the dental profession he came in conflict with the U. S. Census Bureau in 1890, and is the author of the movement which defeated the classification of dentists as manufacturers-"one of the grandest victories achieved in dentistry," says the report of the American Dental Associa- tion, and adds: "In 1890 the effort was made by Baltimore men, Doctor Grady and others. To these who were brave when bravery was most needed, who stood alone, as it were, in the breach and suffered con- tempt, contumely and even threatened im- prisonment; who by their intrepid courage, before the cause was popular, made the end possible-to these your committee would accord their fair meed of praise and recog- nition."

What is Doctor Grady's special, or chief, line of knowledge is a question one is unable to answer with definiteness. Only those ac-

quainted with the wide scope of his varied learning and his ever willing use of it can have any apprehension of his character and work. His heart goes out rather to the starting and fostering of new enterprises than to the management of those fully devel- oped. Whatever work he takes in hand, he does it with all his might-and he does it well. The imprint of his master hand has been stamped upon many a forward move- ment in educational, industrial and philan- thropic work. A helper to many in many spheres, the work that is dear to his heart seems to be that of friendly adviser to boys and young men whose confidence he in- spires, and who reward his interest in them by unmistakable evidences of personal af- fection for stimulating their thinking, build- ing up their habits, fostering their independ- ence and respecting their personality. This interest in boys, especially working boys, has continued from his early manhood, when he organized and taught a brass band at the Boys' Home, which his musical education qualified him to do, and as a manager of the House of Refuge, a benevolent and reforma- tory and educational institution for boys.

December 29, 1874, he married Ellen C. Godfrey, daughter of Joseph Godfrey, of Worcester county, Md. His family consists of his mother, his wife and two daughters.

Inspired by the noblest of all convictions that he has only done his duty in his active and useful life, it is an extraordinary record that all the positions of profit or trust or honor which Doctor Grady has held have come to him unsought because of worth and capacity. In fact, it is a cardinal principle with this respected teacher, strong organ- izer, and leader with the power to command confidence and gain support to heed the im-

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perative demand of the duty of to-day and not protect himself against the causes which solicit his support. He says: "Heaven helps those who help others; God's hand takes hold of our work when our work is done out of love in brotherly kindness."

W. POWER OAKFORD was born at Arling- ton, Baltimore county, Md. He is the son of Charles A. and Emma A. (Zollinger) Oakford, the oldest and most highly es- teemed residents of Arlington. Charles A. Oakford came to this city in 1850, where he engaged in the provision trade under the firm name of Oakford & Co., to which busi- ness he confined himself all his mature years. He was a man of sterling qualities, respected and trusted by all who knew him. He mar- ried Miss Emma Zollinger, a most estima- ble lady, in 1860, by whom he had five chil- dren. He was at one time elected County Commissioner, an office which he held for a long period with credit to himself and satis- faction to his constituents. He belonged to that much respected society known as the Friends. His very home would seem to in- dicate the gentleman's taste and refinement. This beautiful home is known as "Ros- lyn" and contains twenty acres. Mr. Oak- ford died after a brief and useful life at the age of 43. Col. W. P. Zollinger, uncle to the subject of this sketch, and brother to Mrs. Emma A. Oakford, should receive due honor, because of his prominence in busi- ness, politics and society. He was at one time known among the liquor trade as one of the wholesale dealers in Baltimore. He had a wide reputation as a military man. He was captain of Company H, Fifth Maryland Infantry. He afterwards became colonel of the same regiment and took an active part

in the B. & O. R. R. riot, and was the means of saving the road. He fought under Stone- wall Jackson in the Confederate Army, and was a prisoner at Johnson's Island. He was a man of wide influence and usefulness.

MRS. LAURA C. GAULT, 920 W. North avenue.

Mrs. Laura C. Gault is the daughter of William Deale and Araanna (Auld) Gault, of Maryland, a daughter of Hugh Auld, who fought in the War of 1812.

Matthew Gault, the husband of Mrs. Laura C., was born in New Hampshire. He came to the city when a boy of seventeen years of age, and entered into business with his brother Cyrus, who was extensively engaged in the granite business. He and his brother were contractors in the erection of the Post Office in Washington, D. C. He was an experienced workman, and executed some fine specimens of his genius while engaged on the Treasury De- partment. Died 1877.

He married in Washington, in which place he resided for a number of years. He was the son of Andrew, who was the son of Matthew, who with his father Samuel were Revolutionary soldiers. They were of Scotch-Welsh descent.

The family of Matthew and Laura C. Gault consisted of ten children, five of whom are living. The Gaults are members of Baltimore's best society. The three sons are in honorable positions in business. Tivo of them, William A. and Matthew, have succeeded their father in the stone (marble) trade. Ed. A. is a banker, clerk of the National Bank of Baltimore, chartered in 1795.

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

MRS. O. B. WARFIELD is a native of Baltimore. She was born in 1816, and is the daughter of William and Jane (Jones) Baker. The Bakers are one of the oldest and most respected families of Baltimore. They descended from German parents, who settled in Pennsylvania at a very early day, when the Indian contested every inch of ground with his pale-faced brother. It is traditionally reported that the great-grand- father of Mrs. O. B. Warfield, (William) Baker, was massacred by the Indians; his son, another William, through the assist- ance of some friendly Indians, reached Philadelphia, where he grew up, removing thence to Baltimore, where he became an extensive importer of merchandise.

His son, William, Jr., succeeded his father in business and became very success- ful in the dry goods trade. He was a man of sterling qualities, and had a clear percep- tion of what was right, and did it. He was the choice of his fellow-citizens to serve as Judge of the Orphans' Court, an office which he filled with credit. He was honest to a fault, thoroughly conscientious in all his business transactions. Mrs. Warfield's maternal grandfather settled on the grounds now occupied by his daughter, Melissa Baker, in 1786, and which are now known by the name of "Friendsbury." Mr. Baker's well regulated family consisted of eleven, nine of whom grew.to maturity. They fol- lowed various professions. Charles and Henry became interested in the manufac- ture of glass. William practiced law. Mrs. Warfield's mother was of Welsh descent, and she inherited from the Jones' a love of Methodism. Mr. Jones, Mrs. Warfield's grandfather, was a contemporary with Charles Wesley, and consequently became

much interested in that movement. In the early history of Baltimore, the Methodists were in the habit of holding their meetings in the barn belonging to Mrs. Warfield. The Bakers have inherited from their mother the love of Methodism. Their home is the home of the preacher. Mrs. Warfield was married to Dr. John J. L. Warfield, a native of Pipe Creek, Md., a graduate of the Maryland University School of Medi- cine, and a practitioner for many years in Carroll county. He died about 1887, after a life of usefulness. There were no children born to them. Mrs. Warfield was for a number of years identified with the manage- ment of various charitable institutions of this city.

MRS. ALICE (SLINGLUFF) SMOOT is the daughter of Chas. D. and Eliza (Haines) Slingluff, both of whom were born in Mary- land. Mr. Slingluff has been a prominent business man in this city for fifty years, succeeding his father in that capacity. Dur- ing these years he has been engaged in the wholesale grocery trade. Subsequently he entered the phosphate or fertilizing busi- ness, in which latter business his son is now engaged, under the firm name of Slingluff & Co. Mr. Slingluff was at one time a director of the Union Bank of Baltimore, and also a director of the House of Refuge. He was much respected by his fellow-citi- zens. His daughter, Alice, the subject of this sketch, was married to Col. Luther R. Smoot, a native of Washington, D. C. He served his country as a faithful soldier in the Mexican War, under Gen. Winfield Scott. During the late war, he served the cause of the South in defense of the Con- federate principles as faithfully as he for-

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merly served under General Scott. He ef- fected several runs through the Federal blockade which proved very advantageous to the South. He was sent abroad at one time by the Confederate authorities to transact business of importance for them. In business life he was trusted and loved. His family consists of one daughter and one son, Chas. D., a young business man of promise.

REV. U. F. SWENGEL, A. M., upon whose genial countenance we share a look with you, was born a farmer's son near Middle- burg, Pa., 1846. He is the son of John and Sarah (Frantz) Swengel. The family con- sisted of ten children, four of whom are preachers. He was converted at the age of fourteen, and joined the Evangelical Asso- ciation two years later. When sixteen he began his work as a school teacher, which work was for a time interrupted by his en- listment in the Union Army when a youth of less than eighteen. During his soldier life he remembered that he belonged to the army of the living God, and then already showed the true Christian spirit by taking up the leadership of a prayer-meeting, which was continued until the close of the war. Upon being mustered out of the United States service, he re-entered Union Semi- nary (now Central Pennsylvania College). In this institution he was student, teacher, and is now an honored trustee, representing the Alumni Association of the college. Be-

fore reaching the age of twenty he was li- censed to preach the gospel, and began to serve his first charge when less than twenty- one. He has effectually filled some of the most important pastorates of Central Penn- sylvania Conference, of which he is a mem-

ber, and has also served as presiding elder. He is now pastor of the Memorial Church, Baltimore, Md., for the second term. He has served his Conference as secretary for nine years, president of the Conference Mis- sionary Society, and now is trustee of the Conference, and president of her Educa- tional Aid Society. Thrice in succession has he been elected a delegate to the Gen- eral Conference of the Evangelical Associa- tion, and again in 1894 his Conference elected him to represent her in the first General Conference of the United Evan- gelical Church. He has served his church as assistant editor of Sunday-school literature and The Living Epistle, and was one of the founders and the first publisher of the first English missionary magazine in his church. He is author of some tracts on missions, a number of Keystone League of Chris- tian Endeavor leaflets, a book, "Modes and Methods of Sunday-School Work," a manual of the United Evangelical Church, and is now editor of The Evangelical Bible Teacher, The Evangelical Quarterly, and co- editor of The Pathfinder, a bright, helpful Christian Endeavor monthly. He was one of the founders and is co-editor of the Keystone League of Christian Endeavor Jour- nal, the organ of the Keystone League of Christian Endeavor, into which The Path- finder was merged. The first General Con- ference of the United Evangelical Church placed Rev. Mr. Swengel on a committee to compile a hymn book for the church and on another committee to arrange the new church discipline for publication. He was also elected at the same Con- ference recording secretary of the Gen- eral Board of Missions. Bishop R. Dubs, D. D., LL. D., of Chicago, says:

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"Brother Swengel is in the fullest and best sense of the word a man of progress. He is systematic in his labors, a man of pro- nounced, positive convictions. Having reached conclusions after mature delibera- tions, he supports them resolutely, and yet with dignity. Righteousness and truth weigh more with him than personal ad- vantage. As he believes so he speaks." But this tireless worker has not been less active as a Christian Endeavorer than in any other branch of church work. He or- ganized the first Christian Endeavor So- ciety of his Conference in the church of which he is now the pastor, the first local Christian Endeavor Union within its de- nomination. That union still lives, and is known as the Baltimore B. L. C. E. Union. Mr. Swengel took an active part in the first Maryland State Christian Endeavor Con- vention, and was a member of the Execu- tive Committee. When the General Con- ference met in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1891, Mr. Swengel presented a plan for the or- ganization of a denominational Christian Endeavor Union for the church. This met with determined opposition on the part of many who favored the organization of a distinctively denominational Young Peo- ple's Society. Mr. Swengel, in a masterly and convincing manner, championed the cause of Christian Endeavor, which result- ed in the organization of the Keystone League of Christian Endeavor. He was then elected a member of the first general managing board, and its recording secre- tary, and was re-elected in 1894. Mr. Swengel was elected a trustee of the United Society of Christian Endeavor at Boston in 1896 to represent the United Evangelical Church in that Board. In June, 1892, he

was elected president of the Central Penn- sylvania Conference, Keystone League of Christian Endeavor, and re-elected in 1893 and 1894. He presided at the Evan- gelical denominational rally at the Inter- national Convention, New York, 1893, and represented his denomination in the pas- tors' hour at Montreal in 1894. He has been frequently called upon to take import- ant parts on Christian Endeavor programs, and in this capacity has rendered effectual service for the cause he loves so well. He is prominently connected with the Bible Conference movement of the Central Penn- sylvania Conference of his church. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Anti-Saloon League, and also a member of the Executive Committee of the American State Temperance League. He married for his first wife Mrs. Mary B. Hipple in 1871, by whom he had two chil- dren. For his second wife he married Lot- tie Anthony in 1875. The latter died in November, 1896.

HISTORY OF MEMORIAL UNITED EVAN- GELICAL CHURCH.

In March, A. D. 1870, Rev. J. M. Ettin- ger was sent to Baltimore by the Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangeli- cal Association, to organize the congrega- tion now worshiping in this church. The first services were held in Fisher's Hall, corner of Green and Lexington streets. The first year was spent in this hall and the following two years the congregation wor- shiped in China Hall, on Baltimore street. The first Board of Trustees consisted of R. Hengst, W. N. Numsen, C. H. Flaxcomb, L. A. Waidner and A. Smith. In 1873 the Trinity Chapel was built on Edmondson

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

avenue near Fremont avenue, where the parsonage now stands. Rev. Benjamin Hengst was pastor at that time. The beau- tiful edifice in which the congregation now worships was dedicated on the thirteenth day of November, 1887. Rev. U. F. Swengel, the present pastor, took charge of this work in October of that year, and relieved Rev. J. C. Hummer, M. D., who had served the charge as a supply for two months. The edifice was dedicated by Bishop R. Dubs, D. D., LL. D .; Revs. Et- tinger and Swengel and J. C. Hummer, M. D., assisted in the services. A united choir of one hundred voices from Evangelical churches of the city furnished the music for the occasion. The largest contributor to the enterprise was the now sainted Rev. William Numsen. The names on the memorial windows indicate liberal donations by others. The edifice is of rough-hewn green stone blocks with sandstone trim- mings. It has a frontage of fifty-five feet on Edmondson avenue and seventy feet on Fremont avenue, with a transept on the latter. The interior of the building is neatly and comfortably arranged. Five hundred easy and comfortable opera chairs furnish ample room for a large con- gregation. The transept has, during the past year, been converted into a choir gallery which adds much to the effective- ness of this department of the work of the church. The building committee of the church consisted of William N. Numsen, L. A. Waidner, C. P. Gerber, Andrew Ja- cobs, Charles H. Flaxcomb, J. B. Walter and George Schaib. E. F. Decker was the contractor. When the Evangelical Asso- ciation was divided in 1844, this church

became affiliated with the United Evan- gelical Lutheran Church, which was for- merly a part of the Association. The Sun- day-school was organized in Fisher's Hall in the spring of 1870. At the first session there were only three persons present, viz: Rev. J. M. Ettinger, Mary Frey (afterward Mrs. Flaxcomb), and Annie Dasch. In the afternoon the same persons met, and in ad- dition to them were Lydia Beard, Joseph Ball, Wm. Dill and Jacob Frey. All these had come to teach. There were no scholars until the second Sunday.

Grace United Evangelical Church was established in 1887, and is an off-shoot of Memorial Church.

Olive Branch United Evangelical Church was established in 1888, and is also a child of Memorial Church.

CHARLES SINGLETON MONTELL, Cashier of Customs at this port, was born in Balti- more on the 5th day of January, 1864. He is the son of James E. Montell and Elizabeth (Singleton) Montell. His par- ents were born in Baltimore, and are of French and English descent. His father's people came from New Providence, Nassau, and settled in Baltimore about 1810; his mother's ancestors were among the early settlers of Maryland, and belong to some of our most prominent families, the well- known McKim family of this city being rel- atives of Mr. Montell. His father was for years a prominent wholesale tobacco mer- chant of this city and did an extensive busi- ness. He also carried on for a number of years the coal mining business at Frostburg, Allegany county, Md. He died in Balti- more in 1881. His wife is still living, and resides with Mr. Montell, the subject of

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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