USA > Maryland > Men of mark in Maryland Johnson's makers of America series biographies of leading men of the state, volume I > Part 10
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During his business career in Baltimore he has been associated with many local interests, having served as president of the Merchants and Manufacturers' Association, and of the Citizens' National Bank. He has been vice-president of the Consolidated Gas Company and di-
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JAMES ALBERT GARY
rector in the Savings Bank of Baltimore and Baltimore Warehouse Company, the American Fire Insurance Company, the Merchants and Manufacturers' Insurance Company, and the Baltimore Trust and Guaranty Company.
Mr. Gary and his father together have a successful business record of seventy-two years' duration in Baltimore, without a mark to their discredit, and during all these years both father and son have not only stood in the front rank of Baltimore business men, but have stood in the front rank of Baltimore's citizenship as useful and public-spirited men.
Mr. Gary married, in 1856, Miss Lavinia W. Corrie, daughter of James Corrie, and his son, E. Stanley Gary, is now junior partner in the old firm of James S. Gary & Son.
The sketch of E. Stanley Gary, which appears in Volume I of this work, shows that he possesses the same qualities of sound judgment and concentration of purpose which have made the lives of his grand- father and father so noteworthy. Now in middle life, he is recognized as one of the capable, representative and public-spirited men of the city.
From father to son, and from son to grandson, the record of this old firm is one of continued success and constant growth, which reflects credit on the proprietors and makes the people of Baltimore proud of such citizens.
13"
ALLAN McLANE
A LLAN McLANE, lawyer, of Baltimore, bears a name which is historic on two continents. His ancestry goes back to one of those great Scottish clans, the story of which is one of the most romantic in history. For five hundred years these old Highlan : clans made the Scottish history picturesque and, in the last three ( :.- turies, have carried the Scottish name and the Scottish virtues int. every corner of the world.
The great clan of McLean, or MeLane, had its seat along the w - coast of Scotland, in the Island of Mull off the west coast, and the grave. Į of many of their chieftains may still be seen at Iona. The American history of this particular offshoot of the clan has been equally as dis- tinguished as the history of the original Scottish clan. Allan McLane, the founder of the American family, came from Scotland to Philadel- phia about 1740. In the Revolutionary war, Captain Allan McLane. son of the preceding, was a noted partisan officer. Louis MeLane, son of Captain McLane, was born at Smyrna, Delaware, on May 28, 1786. and entered the United States Navy a boy of twelve. At eighteen he began the study of law, and began practice in Smyrna, Delaware, in 1807. He served in the War of 1812, was a Democratic Representative from Delaware to the fifteenth, sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth Congresses ; a United States Senator from 1827 until 1829 : Minister to England, 1829 to 1831; Secretary of the Treasury, 1831 to 1833; Secretary of State, 1833 to 1834; again Minister to England in 1845; president of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad from 1837 to 1841; and a delegate to the Maryland Constitutional Convention in 1850.
His son, Robert Milligan MeLane, had an equally distinguishel record. He was born in Wilmington, Delaware, January 23, 1815. graduated at West Point in 1833, commissioned Second Lieutenant of Artillery in 1837, served in the Florida Indian war, resigned from ti !! army in 1843, studied law, admitted to the bar and moved to Baltimor. in 1845. He served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegat. .. he was a member of the thirtieth and thirty-first Congresses, Demo- cratic Presidential elector in 1852, Commissioner to China and other
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ALLAN MCLANE
Oriental countries, Minister to Mexico in 1855, served in the State Senate of Maryland, Democratic member of the forty-sixth and forty- seventh Congresses, Governor of Maryland and United States Minister to France. He died April 26, 1898, in the eighty-third year of his age.
Allan McLane was born in Baltimore, December 8, 1864, son of James Latimer McLane, a lawyer and banker, who was the youngest son of Louis McLane of Delaware, and who married Fanny King, a daughter of James Gore King, of New York, a son of the Honorable Rufus King, a noted patriot in the early history of the country. James Latimer McLane, like many other members of his family, has served in many capacities in the city of Baltimore, and shows the strong traits which seem inherent in his family. He is a man of inueh personal force, of a high order of ability, and he is at present the president of the National Bank of Baltimore. Mr. MeLane's mother, Fanny King, was a granddaughter of the celebrated Rufus King who was delegate from Massachusetts to the Federal Constitutional Convention in 1787, a member of Congress, Minister to England, United States Senator, and one of the most prominent men during the first thirty years in the history of our Republic. Her father, James Gore King, of New York, by occupation a banker, served in the Federal Congress as a representa- tive from New Jersey, and was at one time president of New York Chamber of Commerce.
Allan MeLane, as a boy, was strong and healthy, fond of horse- back riding and reading. His academic training was obtained in the schools of Mrs. Donald and Geo. G. Carey, in Baltimore, from which he was sent to St. Paul's school, in Concord, New Hampshire, where he remained from 1879 to 1881. He entered the academic department of Johns Hopkins University, and was graduated therefrom in 1886, with the degree of A.B. Taking up the study of law, which seems to have been almost an inherited profession, he graduated from the Law Department of the University of Maryland in 1889. Since that time he has continued in the practice of his profession in Baltimore, with a large measure of success.
On April 22, 1890, he married Miss Augusta James, daughter of the late Henry James, of Baltimore. They have four children-two boys and two girls.
Mr. MeLane is a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church, and, since 1898, has been a vestryman of St. Paul's parish. In politics he is a Democrat, both by tradition and conviction; but in the un-
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ALLAN MCLANE
happy divisions which sprang up in the Democratic party over the finan- cial question, he adhered to what was known as the " sound money " wing of the party, and in 1896, and again in 1900, he voted the Re- publican national ticket solely upon the currency issue. Upon other matters of public import he yet adheres to the Democratic party.
During his college career he took much pleasure in football, cricket and lacrosse. His favorite relaxation at present is horseback riding, and he is especially fond of fox hunting. While not given to fads, he is exceedingly partial to all forms of athletics.
Mr. McLane is partial to all good English literature, but is par- ticularly fond of history, especially English and American history.
He has served as treasurer and president of the Johns Hopkins | Alumni Association, is a member of Maryland Alpha, Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, of the Maryland and Baltimore Clubs of Baltimore, of the Green Spring Valley IIunt Club, and is chairman of the Alumni Council of the Johns Hopkins University. Like many other prominent citizens of Baltimore, he has given a term of service to the state mili- tary, and for four years was a faithful member of the famous Fifth Maryland Regiment, in which he rose from private to First Lieutenant. He then became successively Judge Advocate, Acting Chief Quarter- master and Assistant Adjutant-General on the Brigade Staff, and was then transferred to the Governor's staff, with the rank of Inspector- General.
Perhaps the strongest evidence of ability given by Mr. McLane was an episode outside of his profession. In August, 1903, he became third vice-president of the Maryland Trust Company, and in October, 1903, that company failed, because of a policy which had been insti- tuted prior to his connection with it. He was appointed receiver. His receivership was one of the most successful on record, as he succeeded in making a sale to the Mexican government, on most favorable terms, of a railroad in which the larger part of the company's assets had been invested, resulting in the payment of all creditors, dollar for dollar with interest, and the reorganization of the trust company by its stock- holders. This incident showed that he inherited the business, as well as the legal, ability of the long line of able men from whom he is descended.
He has several times served as Register of Voters, and has been very active in securing fair elections in Baltimore City.
To the young American starting out in life Mr. McLane does not
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ALLAN MCLANE
give much advice, but what he does give is strong and terse. His words cannot be improved on. He says: "The building up of char- acter should be the chief aim. A sound mind in a sound body; tem- perance in all things, a high standard toward others and towards your- self, and never hesitate to take responsibility. I believe absolute frank- ness in dealing with men to be more important than anything else."
Allan McLane started in life the possessor of a noted name, which is sometimes a handicap, and sometimes an incentive. In his case, the traditions handed down by a long line of able and patriotic ancestors have been lived up to, and the family credit has been enhanced in his hands.
1420
YATES STIRLING
B ALTIMORE has among its honored citizens two retired officers, one of the army and one of the navy, whose combined active service exceeds eighty years.
General Peter Ieary, Jr., retired, whose biography appears in this work, has to his credit more than forty years' army service, while Rear- Admiral Yates Stirling, retired, the subject of this sketch, served av- tively in the navy for forty-five years.
Admiral Stirling comes of that excellent Scotch stock which has ! contributed so much to America, and bears one of the historic nam: - of Scotland. His immediate family goes back in this country to Jam : Stirling, who came from the parish of Stirling, Scotland, in 1:14, an settled in Baltimore. James Stirling is said to have been of the family of Keir.
We know of him that he was a prudent man of good character, for he had the forethought to come properly accredited, as will appear from the copy here given of the credentials he brought, which is not only a matter of historic interest, but also charming in its quaintness of expression. It reads thus :
" This certifies to all concerned that the bearer hereof, viz : James Stirling, has resided in our neighborhood from his infancy and these last four years in this town of Stirling, behaving himself soberly hon- estly and inoffeneivly. Is unmarried free of Scandall or ground of Church Censour-And is in full communion of the Church of Seot- land-And as he desires to go to some of the Colonies in America we would recommend him as a sober person to any Christian Society where Providence may order it in his Lot. This signed by us the Ministers and Elders of the Town of Stirling the fourteenth day of June one thousand seven hundred and seventy four years.
THOMAS RANDALL, Min. JOHN MUSHER, Eldr. HENRY JAFFRAY, Eldr."
Evidently the careful Scotchman intended to found his family in the new country on a sound basis. Archibald Stirling, grandson of the immigrant, gained prominence in business circles and rose to be presi-
yours Truly. Latestulary Bear adiminis u.s.te
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YATES STIRLING
dent of the Savings Bank of Baltimore. He married Elizabeth Ann Walsh, and of this marriage Yates Stirling was born in Baltimore on May 6, 1843. His given name is derived from a great-grandfather, Thomas Yates, who was in the patriot armies during the Revolutionary war. Another of his ancestors was Jacob Walsh, who came over in the colonial period. Others of his ancestors who may be noted are Charles Frederick Von Meyers, of Prussia, who came over in the co- lonial period and settled in Baltimore, and Andrew Gibson, who came later and settled in Pennsylvania. Admiral Stirling's great-grand- father, Thomas Yates, married the daughter of Von Meyers, and his grandfather, James Stirling, married the daughter of Gibson. This makes Admiral Stirling, in his combination of racial strains, a typical American. Stirling is Scotch, Yates is English, Gibson is Scotch- Irish, and Von Meyers is German.
After good academic training in private schools in Baltimore, young Stirling was appointed to the United States Naval Academy as an acting midshipman, upon recommendation of Honorable Henry Winter Davis, Representative in Congress from the fourth district of Maryland. He entered the Academy September 27, 1860, and gradu- ated May 28, 1863, one year in advance in consequence of the war, and was commissioned as ensign. He served, until the close of the war, in U. S. S. Shenandoah, of the North Atlantic blockading squadron. In April, 1864, he was temporarily detached from the Shenandoah, while that vessel was undergoing repairs at Philadelphia, in consequence of damages incurred in a cyclone, and served, until June, 1864, on the flag-ship Minnesota, on the staff of Rear-Admiral S. P. Lee, and on the monitor Onandoga in the James river, during Grant's advance upon Richmond, and was in both attacks upon Fort Fisher, in the Shenandoah. After the capture of Fort Fisher, the Shenandoah joined the blockade off Charleston, South Carolina, which city was shortly after evacuated, having been cut off by General Sherman's march to the sea. Upon the close of the war, he was ordered to the U. S. S. Monango, a "double-ender " built for river service, and sailed for Pacific stations in June, 1865. The Monango had a difficult passage through the Straits of Magellan, being obliged to cut and use green wood for fuel, there being at that time no coal supply in the Straits. He was promoted to master, November 10, 1865; lieutenant, Novem- ber 10, 1866; and lieutenant-commander, March 12, 1868. He served in various ships and was executive officer of the U. S. S. Lackawanna,
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YATES STIRLING
1878-1881. He was promoted to commander, November 26, 1880, and was on duty at Washington navy yard, 1882-1884; commanding U. S. S. Joaquin, Pacific station, 1884-1886; commanding receiving- ship Dale, Washington navy yard, 1887-1890; commanding U. S. S. Dolphin, 1890-1891; member examining and retiring boards, 1891- 1892; lighthouse inspector of fifth district, Baltimore, Maryland, 1892-1894; promoted to captain, September 16, 1894; commanding U. S. flag-ship Newark, June, 1895, to March, 1896, South Atlan- tie squadron ; commanding U. S. S. Lancaster from March, 1896, to December, 1897, same squadron, and was also commander-in-chief of squadron. He was a member of the Lighthouse Board, 1898-1900; commandant naval station, San Juan, Puerto Rico, November, 1900, to June, 1902; was promoted to rear-admiral, June 8, 1902; command- ant Puget Sound navy yard, August, 1902, to April, 1903; command- ing Philippine squadron, Asiatic fleet, June, 1903, to April, 1904; commanding cruiser squadron, Asiatic fleet, April to July, 1904; com- mander-in-chief Asiatic fleet, July, 1904, to March, 1905. He was retired May 6, 1905, upon reaching 62 years of age.
The bare record here given can convey to the reader no adequate idea of the life of a sailor whose active service covers forty-five years, but all men know at least this much, that it is a far cry from midship- man to rear-admiral, and that the man who enters the navy, a youth of twenty, and retires, after more than forty years, with the highest rank, has been a faithful servant of his country, a capable officer, and has fairly won the honors which have come to him. The work of the navy in the Civil war has never been fully appreciated by the American people. Thoughtful students of history can now see clearly that if the Federal Government had been compelled to rely on the armies alone the issue of the struggle would have been different. The navy was the deciding factor.
Since his retirement from active service, Admiral Stirling has resided in Baltimore, and maintains an active interest in historical and social matters, being affiliated with the St. Andrew's Society, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Historical Society, the University Club of Baltimore, the Army and Navy clubs of Washington and New York, and the Masonic fraternity.
For the current year (1910) he is serving as president of the So- ciety of Sons of the American Revolution.
On August 29, 1867, he married Miss Ellen Salisbury Haley. Of the seven children born of this marriage, five are now living.
yours truly
WILLIAM HENRY BOSLEY
W M. H. BOSLEY, of Baltimore, is seventh in descent from Walter Bosley, the immigrant from England who came over in the early days of the colony of Maryland, and died November, 1717. His will, now preserved by his descendants, bears date of July 29, 1:15. Walter Bosley is said to be the ancestor of all the American Bosleys. Apparently the Bosley family originated in Staffordshire, England, for there is in existence a coat of arms granted to the Staffordshire Bosleys, which has neither crest nor motto. As these coats of arms without crests or mottoes are among the most ancient, this in itself is proof that the Bosleys were established in Staffordshire many centuries ago. The immigrant, Walter Bosley, was a man of attainments, and a barrister by profession. By his wife, Mary, he left five sons: Joseph, John, James, William and Charles. John, the second son, whose will bears date of September 20, 1767, had by his wife, Hannah, two sons, Walter and Joseph. Walter died without issue. Joseph, whose will bears date of October 9, 1775, married Mary Hall, and by this marriage there were five sons: Joshua, William, John, Philip and Daniel. John, the third son, married a Cole, and of this marriage there were two sons: Thomas, who died without issue, and William of John, who married a Parks and left three sons: Peter, John of William and William H. J. John of William married Rachel Harryman Cole, and of this marriage three sons were born : William H., our subject ; John C. and Richard W.
An interesting fact in connection with Mr. Bosley's genealogy is developed on the maternal side. In the Revolutionary war Maryland had four particularly distinguished soldiers : Generals Mordecai Gist and Wm. Smallwood, with Colonels Otho H. Williams and John Eager Howard. The Maryland line in that struggle won immortal reputa- tion. General Mordecai Gist, who was one of Washington's most trusted lieutenants, was descended from Christopher Gist, who settled on the Patapsco river in Maryland, 1682. This Christopher Gist had married a Cromwell, the daughter of a kinsman of the great Oliver. Their son, Richard Gist, was one of the surveyors of the western shore
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WILLIAM HENRY BOSLEY
of Maryland in 1727, and assisted in laying out Baltimore town in 1736. He was a prominent man, served in the Assembly, and became a Presiding Justice. He married Lapora Murray, and one of his daughters married James Calhoun, first Mayor of Baltimore. Three of the brothers married daughters of Joshua Howard and Johanna O'Connell, while a sister married in the Ridgeley family. Richard Gist's and Lapora Murray's son, William, married Rolitta Howard. Joseph Gist, a son of this marriage, married Elizabeth Elder. Cori! Gist, a daughter of this marriage, married Abraham Cole. Their son, Lewis Richard Cole, married Sarah Harryman. Their daughter. Rachel Harryman Cole, was the mother of Wm. H. Bosley. So Mr. Bosley is descended in the direct line from the Revolutionary Genera. Mordecai Gist.
This is one of the comparatively small number of American families in which the line can be traced back to the original immigrant without a break.
Wm. H. Bosley was born at Beaver Dam, near Cockeysville, Balti- more county, on October 14, 1849. His father, John Bosley of Wil- liam, was a farmer and manufacturer. He was a man of high character and great energy. He represented his county in the General Assembly of Maryland, was County Treasurer, held other official positions, and was a member of the Maryland Club.
Young Bosley, a sturdy boy, had the advantage of country train- ing, assisting in the work of the farm when not at school, varied by fishing and hunting. His education was completed at the Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
On the completion of his schooling he entered the banking firm of John S. Gittings & Company as a junior clerk. After fifteen years of service, backed by strong natural ability, he had won such a position that he was admitted to the firm. This old banking firm now occupies the honorable position of being the second oldest private banking house south of Mason and Dixon's line, with a long and honorable record. In the twenty-five years which have elapsed since his admission to the firm, Mr. Bosley has become one of the prominent figures in the busi- ness world of Baltimore. He has built two railroads and served as president of both. He is a director in numerous corporations, and is reckoned a valuable addition to any enterprise which can secure hi- co-operation. It is worthy of note that when he entered upon a bus :- ness career as a junior clerk, which he did upon the advice of his father,
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WILLIAM HENRY BOSLEY
his salary was $16.66 per month. Mr. Bosley frankly admits that he inherited the desire to win success and to enjoy the respect and confi- dence of his fellows. Looking back over the line of his ancestors in this country, this can readily be believed.
The records show that these Bosleys from the very beginning identified themselves thoroughly with the country and planned to per- petuate their name in their landed possessions. Between 1734 and 1812, eleven patents for lands were issued to the Bosleys. Note the names : June 4, 1734, " Bosley's Delight," 143 acres, Baltimore county, patented to James Bosley : December 1, 1:43, " Bosley's Meadow," 21 acres, to John Bosley : November 50, 1258, " Bosley's Range," 178 acres, to Charles Bosley; April 5, 1:64, " The Great Tobacco Man's Loss," 200 acres, to John Bosley; October 30. 1164, " Bosley's Adven- ture," 499 acres, to John Bosley; June 15, 1:13, " Bosley's Plains," 384 acres, to Elijah Bosley; December 2, 1774, " Bosley's Inclosure," 14134 acres, to Thomas Bosley; February 8, 1785, "Boreing's Chance," 601% acres, to Gideon Bosley; December 23, 1793, " Well Enough," 138 acres, to Vincent Bosley; March 2, 1798, " Fertile Marsh," 291 acres, to Ezekiel Bosley; May 29, 1812, " Phillip's Choice," 1134 acres, to Wm. Bosley. With the exception of the traet patented under the name of "Well Enough," all of these lands are situated in Baltimore county. The family has therefore been identified with that county since the immigrant, Walter Bosley, 250 years ago.
Mr. Bosley is identified with the Democratic party, is a member of the Maryland Club, the Baltimore Club, the Merchants' Club and other social organizations, in addition to which he holds membership in the Maryland Commandery of Knights Templars, one of the most famous organizations of the United States, and is also a member of the Phi Kappa Psi college fraternity. Religiously, he is a member of the Episcopal church.
In our migratory American population, it is refreshing to come upon a family like this, which has been identified with one county for 250 years, which has preserved an unbroken record of good citizenship. and which in the present generation is displaying as true a spirit of adventure in accordance with prevailing conditions as inspired the old barrister when he broke loose from the comforts of an old and well- ordered society to establish a new home for himself and his descendants in the wilderness of America.
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WILLIAM HENRY BOSLEY
The grandfather of William H. Bosley developed the celebrated Beaver Dam Marble Quarries located at Cockeysville, Baltimore county, Maryland. The lime industry, which has so long been owned by the family, is located at Texas, Baltimore county, Maryland. It is a very remarkable occurrence that so valuable properties as these remain in the same family generation after generation. In this instance they are now being owned by the fifth generation of the family that originally started the industry. The Bosley family have everywhere been active in advancing the material interests of Maryland and the country. They have improved their properties, given employment to a large number of people and helped in a hundred different ways in the material pros- perity of the State; at the same time members of the family have always fixed and lived up to a high standard, being men of recognized character and standing, and exercising a happy, healthful influence over those with whom they come in contact. It is perhaps true that Wm. H. Bosley, without these family advantages, being a man of natu- ral force, would have accomplished results, but he himself would be the first to acknowledge his indebtedness to a good ancestry, which has been of undoubted assistance to him, as it is to any man who wants to live on a high plane.
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