USA > Maryland > Cecil County > Portrait and biographical record of Harford and Cecil counties, Maryland. Containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties. Together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 32
USA > Maryland > Harford County > Portrait and biographical record of Harford and Cecil counties, Maryland. Containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties. Together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 32
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T'en children comprised the family of John H. and Mary Porter, and five of these are now living: Robert; Mary E., widow of E. W. Gillespie; Will- iam E., George, and Aima E., widow of William Morrison, of Baltimore. Our subject attended the common schools in boyhood and at the age of seventeen went to Baltimore, where he served four years as an apprentice to the carpenter and builder's trade. In 1851 he secured em- ployment with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company as superintendent of construction and building. Eight years later he was made general assistant to the road master, and while acting in that capacity he had charge of the building of the Parkersburg bridge over the Ohio River, the com- pletion of the Benwood bridge over the same river, and the arching of tunnels. He remained with the company until I878, when he resigned in order to accept the more lucrative position of superintendent of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, and in that capacity the two following years were spent. In 1880 he was made general superin- tendent of construction for the West Virginia Central Railroad at the time of its building and remained with it until the work was completed in 1893.
Meantime Mr. Porter had rented to tenants the old family homestead, of which he had become. the owner. About 1878 he purchased the Mt. Welcome farmi of three hundred and fifty acres and here he established his home about eight years later. In 1851 he married Sarah Paxson, of Chester County, and they became the parents of seven children, named as follows: William, a lawyer in Baltimore; George H., who is inter- ested in a banking business in that city; Henry T., who has held the position of general road master for the Toledo & St. Louis Railroad since 1887; Augustus H., superintendent of the Macon & Northern Railroad; A. Lee, a practicing physi-
cian of Cumberland, Md .; Elizabeth, wife of P. S. Shaffer, of Baltimore; and Anna M., Mrs. Louis Traddell, whose home is in Philadelphia. Henry T. married Anna, daughter of Richard Hall and granddaughter of Washington Hall, who was a member of a prominent old family of Revolutionary fame.
Public spirited and liberal, Mr. Porter is always ready to encourage worthy projects and has proved an important factor in progressive inove- ments. He votes the Democratic ticket, but has never been active in politics, owing probably to the fact that his business duties required a fre- quent change of location. Personally he is genial and social, having inherited in a marked degree many of the traits peculiar to his ancient and honorable ancestry.
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OHN T. MOORE. Among the leading and influential agriculturists of District No. 3, Cecil County, who thoroughly understand their business, and pursue the avocation of their chosen calling in a methodical and workmanlike manner, is the subject of this biography. He is the owner of twenty-seven and a-half acres of timber land, besides his homestead, which com- prises one hundred and forty-four acres of valuable and productive land, on which he is successfully engaged in general farming and dairying.
Mr. Moore was born near Newport, in New- castle County, Del., January 15, 1849, a son of William V. and Jane (Stewart) Moore, who were the parents of ten children, seven sons and three daughters. In the year of his birth, the family removed to Cecil County, Md., locating in Dis- trict No. 3, where the father purchased a farili 011 which they made their home for four years, but at the end of that time they removed to our sub- ject's present homestead. The father was born in 1818, and died on the 9th of April, 1896, re- spected by all who knew him.
In the common schools of Cecil County, John T. Moore acquired a fair education, sufficient to
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fit him for the responsible duties of business life, our subject is a member is an honorable one. His and he was reared to manhood upon his present farm, remaining with his father until twenty-six years of age, when he rented a farm, which he operated for one year. At the end of that time, however, lie returned home, and has since had the management of the place, which is made to yield bountiful returns for the care and labor be- stowed upon it.
On the 2d of March, 18SI, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Moore and Miss Henrietta Shaw, of Neweastle County; Del., and to them were born six ehildren, Ethel J., William T., Bertha H., Jolin C., who died in infancy, Lulu May, and James H. Mr. Moore uses his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Demo- cratie party, and has served his fellow-citizens as a member of the county board of supervisors. Fraternally he is a member of the American Me- ehanics. They are attendants at the Methodist Episcopal Church of Cherry Hill.
ON. WILLIAM J. SMITH. Doubtless few men have done more for the upbuilding of Cecil County and its general improvement - than the subject of this sketch, who has proved a valuable acquisition to its citizenship. His tact in the management of affairs, his recognized abil- ity and his devotion to the interests of his locality have brought him before the public as a desira- ble official. He has frequently been chosen by · his fellow-citizens to represent them in offices of trust and honor, and at this writing is a member of the Maryland legislature. To that responsi- ble position he brings the same energy of char- acter and devotion to principle that marked his career in positions of lesser importance. He is a man of intelligent and pronounced views upon all subjects, and particularly in the matter of poli- ties, where he always acts with the Republican party.
'To rightly judge character, it is necessary to note the ancestral record. The family of which
grandfather, Rev. James Smith, was well known in his home neighborhood as a local Methodist preacher, and accomplished mueh in the cause of religion through his self-sacrificing efforts. He had a son, Stephen, who was in the railroad service throughout his entire life; another son, Samuel, our subject's father, born in Cecil County in IS64, who was for many years engaged in the construction of railroads, principally on the Pennsylvania system and the branches since secured by that road. Late in life he settled upon his farm, where he died in 1862. His wife. who bore the maiden name of Sarah J. Batton, was born in Newcastle, Del., and died in Cecil County in March, 1891. Her father, Will- iam Batton, was a prominent farmer in Delaware, a soldier in the War of IS12, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Her family consisted of four sons and two daughters, namely: Thaddeus S., who was a soldier in the Sixth Maryland regiment of Federal infantry, and after the war went to Illinois, where he died in 1877; Samuel C., who was a farmer and died in Cecil County; George P., a Methodist minister, having a pastorate in Dorchester County, Md .; Mary A., wife of T. B. Brown, of Baltimore County; Anna J., who is employed in the post-office de- partment in Washington, D. C .; and William J., who was born in District No. 2, of this county, June 26, 1850.
Upon the home farm the early years of our subject were uneventfully passed, his education being obtained in the neighboring public schools. At the age of twenty one he began for himself in the painting and paper-hanging business, and his careful work and industry soon brought him a favorable reputation. From early manhood he has taken an active part in local politics as a stanch supporter of the principles of the Repub- liean party, and he is one of the leaders of this political organization in the county. In 1883 lie was elected to fill the responsible position of county sheriff, where the value of his services were soon apparent. In 1891 he was a candi- date, on the Republican ticket, for the office of clerk of the circuit court, but was defeated. In
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1895 he was elected to the state legislature and at this writing is a member of the house. In 1896 he was a delegate to the St. Louis convention that nominated Major Mckinley for the presi- dency, and he took an active part in the heated campaign that followed. As a member of the house he has served on a number of important committees and has taken an active part in all the important proceedings. Among his fellow-citi- zens in Elkton he has many warm personal friends, who appreciate his genial qualities of character. He is now a candidate for register of wills of Cecil County.
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The marriage of Mr. Smith took place in 1876, and united him with Miss Mary A. Ash, by whom he has four children, Gertrude, Estelle, Julian C. and Mary B.
. WESLEY FALLS, attorney-at-law, of North East, was born May 31, 1835, in District No. 5, three miles from this place. He is a son of Elijah Falls, a native of the same district, and by trade a cooper, but throughout much of his life a farmer, cultivating a tract which he pur- chased in 1844, and which is still in the posses- sion of the family. In early years he supported Whig principles, and upon the disintegration of that party, became a Republican. Though well informed regarding public matters, he never al- lowed the use of his name as a candidate for office, but preferred to give his attention to private affairs. His death occurred at his home October 4, 1876. He was a son of Hugh Falls, who emigrated from Ireland, and died in Cecil County in 1816. The mother of our subject, Emily Rid- dle, was born in the house where the eyes of her son, J. W., opened to the light. She was a daughter of William and Mary Riddle, and died in 1886, at an advanced age. Her grandfather, Humphrey Riddle, was born in Ireland in 1732, and about 1750 established his home in the United States; he married Bridget Shannon, who was born in 1737.
In youth the subject of this sketch learned the cooper's trade, but never worked at it after- ward. He was sick much of the time from twenty-one to twenty-six years of age, but, though sick, he was never idle. He was ambi- tious to learn, and devoted himself closely to help- ful reading and the study of such branches as he believed would be of assistance to him. For two years, while still in poor health, he studied law with Hiram Mccullough. I11 IS58 he be- came teacher of the Marion school, one mile from his home, and was thus engaged until the spring of 1861. From that time until 1866 he cultivated the old homestead, but in the latter year removed to Philadelphia, and for two years carried on a produce commission business. In 1868 he re- turned to North East, and for some time after- ward gave his attention to teaching school, being three years at Charlestown, two years in Elkton and eleven years at North East as principal of schools. He taught under a first-grade certifi- cate, and was recognized as one of the best instructors of the county.
In spite of these years of work in the teacher's profession, Mr. Falls had never abandoned his hope of becoming a lawyer, and at last his desire was fulfilled, and he was enabled to study law with William S. Evans, the present state's attor- ney. In 1886 he was admitted to practice at the bar of Maryland, and at once opened a law office in North East, where he has since built up an extensive practice. While studying law, he did a large surveying and real-estate business. He is now well-to-do, his possessions comprising the old homestead where his boyhood days were passed. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias, has passed all the chairs in the lodge, and is a member of the grand lodge. He is also connected with the Odd Fellows. In 1873 he allowed liis name to be used as candi- date on the Republican ticket, for the house of delegates, but the large Democratic majority in the district made election impossible. In addi- tion to his practice, he has various business in- terests. He is vice-president of the Wakefield Fire Brick Company, and a stockliolder and director in it, and the Stevenson Wrench Con-
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pany. February 9, 1860, he married Miss Rachel Thompson, of Cecil County, an estimable lady, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They are the parents of three children now living: Emily Elizabeth, wife of William H. Lynch, of Cecil County: Rachael T., who married Worden Rambo, of North East; and Wilmer J., who is engaged in the insurance business in this place.
RANK R. SCOTT, postmaster of Elkton, has an exceptional record as a local leader in the Democratic party, and as one of the best business men of the village. It is conceded by all that Elkton has never had a more public- spirited and judicious official than Mr. Scott, for he has carried in his official relations the same good judgment and superior ability which he has always manifested in the marts of trade. A man of strong convictions, when once he makes up his mind what is best to do, he is not easily swerved from his decision.
The connection of the Scott family with the history of Cecil County was begun at a very early period, when our subject's great-grandfather crossed the ocean from Scotland and made settle- ment here, he being then a young man. Suc- ceeding generations have been closely identified with the development of this community. To its progress they have contributed liberally of their toil and their incans, and it stands to-day con- spicuous as a monument to their thrift, assisted by other pioneers; a spot to which the entire state can point as a fitting result of the labor and intelligence of early settlers, whose brain and brawn have planted villages and built up large plantations.
One of the most influential and prominent members the family has ever had was David Scott, father of our subject. He was born in District No. 4, Cecil County, six miles north of Elkton, in January, 1824, and received a liberal academic education, becoming a man of cultured
literary tastes. When a young man he taught school and also acted as clerk to the board of county commissioners. In 1867 he was elected clerk of the circuit court, which position he filled efficiently for six years. In 1875 Gov. John Lee Carroll tendered him the position of State Weigher of live stock with office in Baltimore, and he was filling his second term in this capacity at the time of his death, which occurred May 13. 1879. Interested in religious and educational enterprises, he was a trustee in the Presbyterian Church and the Elkton Academy. In the or- ganization of the National Bank at Elkton he was actively interested and in it he served as a director from its inception until his decease. In his love of literature he resembled his cousin, whose name was the same as his own and who was an author of note. In the course of his act- ive public life he made many friends and even those who differed with him in opinion had the highest regard for his integrity of purpose and action. His first wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary J. Wilson, died in 1858, leaving three children, one of whom, Ella M., is the wife of Edwin M. Miller, of Newton, Kan. By his second marriage, which united him with Anna Elizabeth Craig, he had one son and three daugh- ters, namely: Henry D., who resides with bis widowed mother; Eva C., wife of J. F. Frazer, of Elkton; Bessie F. and Helen, who are with their mother.
The subject of this article was born in Elkton August 11, 1856, and was only two years of age when deprived by death of his mother. He was educated in the Elkton Academy and also took a business course in Eastman's commercial college, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. In 1875 he entered his father's office as an assistant, and four years later succceded to the fertilizer business that had been established by his father and uncle. In partner- ship with the latter and William H. Mackall our subject carried on the enterprise, under the old firm name, until 1887, when the Scott Fertilizer Company was organized, with him as the presi- dent, and he has since continued as its head, conducting an extensive business. He succeeded his father as a director of The National Bank of
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Elkton and continued as such until January 1, 1897, when he sold his stock in the bank. Al- ways actively interested in politics and well in- formed regarding the public issues of the day, he has been prominent as a member of the Demo- cratic party. The first important office to which he was elected was that of representative to the state legislature, in 1883, and during his in- cumbency of this office lie held membership on a number of important committees. For two years he was treasurer of the town. Another honor tendered him was that of World's Fair Commissioner for Maryland, which appointment was made by Gov. Frank Brown. Under the second administration of President Cleveland, in April, 1894, he was appointed postmaster of Elkton, and in this position he has displayed the same energy of purpose and accuracy of system characteristic of him in every relation of life.
The marriage of Mr. Scott took place in 1882 and united him with Miss Rachael J. Wilson, who was born in Chester County, Pa., but came to Elkton at an early age. Their family consists of five children: Edith W., David, DeLancey, Eliza- beth and John Wirt.
< SRAEL R. DEAN. In the suburbs of the village of North East lies the place usually known as the Scotten farm, consisting of a large acreage of well-improved land and contain- ing all the buildings to be found upon a model farm. This is the home of Mr. Dean and his family, and here they are surrounded by all the comforts that can enhance the happiness of ex- istence. He is a busy man, for it requires all of his time to cultivate the two hundred and sixty acres in his charge, but this he does in a manner that proves his ability and good common sense. He and his wife, who have ever been economical and thrifty, are classed among the representative residents of District No. 5, and are highly esteemed by all.
The Dean family is one of the oldest in Cecil
County. John Dean, our subject's grandfather, was born near Elk Forge, in this county, and was an iron worker by trade; his father owned the land where now stands the Howard House, of Elkton. Moses Dean, father of our subject, was born in Cecil County, and throughout life followed the trade of an iron worker, never taking an active part in politics or in public affairs. In religious belief he was a Methodist. He was killed at the works here in 1865. His wife, who died in 1869, was in maidenhood Julia Ann Alexander, and was a member of an old family of Cecil County, the Alexanders having come here from Scotland about 1700. Six sons and six daughters comprised the parental family, of whom the following survive: Israel R .; Mary J., who married Benjamin R. Rocky, a railroad man residing in Philadelphia; Ann Rebecca, wife of Isaac Nyman, a farmer of Chester County, Pa .; Jacob, who makes his home at Elk Neck; Susan, widow of George Williams, and a resident of New Jersey; and William G., an iron worker employed at Mckeesport, Pa.
In Lancaster County, Pa., our subject was born May 8, 1838, and there he resided until the spring of 1861, when he came to North East and secured employment at the trade of an iron worker with the Mccullough Iron Company, holding a position with the same concern for twenty-one years. In June, 1882, he went to Mckeesport, Pa., where he worked at his trade for ten months. On his return to North East he took charge of the Scotten farm, formerly the property of his father-in-law, who had been man- ager of the iron works for forty years. He car- ries on general farming and keeps the place under excellent cultivation. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and in religious connections is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, in which he has been steward. In politics he is now and always lias been a Republican, voting with and working for the success of the party ticket. However others may have faltered in devotion to the principles of this organization, he has always remained firm, and through evil and good report has labored for the success of the party. Honoring the party,
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JOSEPH B. HANWAY.
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he has in turn been honored by it, and is at pres- ent a member of the state central committee. In 1891 he was nominated for county commissioner by the Republican party.
February 13, 1862, he married Minerva A. Scotten, a native of Cecil County, and nine children were born of their union. The seven now living are named as follows: Martha Ann, wife of Schuyler Boyd, of this county; Sarah E., Mrs. Samuel S. Biles, of Chester County, Pa .; John H., an iron worker by trade; Joel H., who assists in the cultivation of the farm; George Herbert, William S. and Minerva, who are at home.
3 OSEPH B. HANWAY. "Self-made" is the word that affords the clue to this enterprising business man's rise to his present influential and honorable position. Back of that lies a ster- ling character derived from worthy Scotch ances- tors, and it is of the utmost interest to the student of human nature to trace his career from his first start up to the present, for it is only in this way that one can realize the difficulties and discourage- ments that he has surmounted - difficulties and discouragements that would have caused any one of less determined will to abandon the struggle and sink back into insignificance. Such was not the stuff of which Mr. Hanway was made, how- ever, for every buffet of fortune's wheel but inade him the more determined to bend the force of cir- cumstances to his will, and the result may be seen in the fine fortune he has accumulated.
Mr. Hanway was born at Hall's Cross Roads (now called Aberdeen), Harford County, Md., April 12, 1842, a son of Thomas and Sarah (Keen) Hanway, botlı natives of Harford County, the latter a daughter of Timothy Keen, of Dis- trict No. 2. In his early manhood Thomas Han- way was engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods, but later devoted his attention to merchan- dising and farming, carrying on the former occu-
pation at Creswell. He was a pronounced Demo- crat in his political views and for years prior to his death, which occurred in 1862, he was a mem- ber of the Friends' Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Hanway the following children were born: B. F., a resident of Creswell; Mrs. J. G. Rouse, of Bel Air; George William, who served in the Confed- eracy during the war, and died in Philadelphia; J. B., the subject of this sketch; Timothy L., a resident of Aberdeen; Saralı B., wife of James Kenly, of Hopewell; Thomas, who was a hard- ware merchant of Bel Air, where he died; David, of Bel Air; E. C., who also lives in Bel Air; and Ella, wife of Adolph Ahrens, of Philadelphia The mother of these children has attained to the advanced age of eighty-two years.
The first schooling received by J. B. Hanway was at Calvary, and for three years he attended the Grove Academy at Aberdeen, and in 1862 began the occupation of teaching, his pedagogic career being confined to the country districts. He finally opened a mercantile establishment at Cres- well, but later removed to Churchville, where he had control of a similar establishment, but he eventually gave up this occupation to engage in the retail grocery business in Baltimore. In 1873, upon the death of his father-in-law, C. C. Rouse, he purchased the Rouse property at the cross- roads, where he now lives, and at the same time had charge of thirteen miles of the Baltimore & Philadelphia Turnpike for Colonel Gittings. At the time the Baltimore & Qhio Railroad was built, Joppa station was established, and he at once began clearing his tract of land in the vicin- ity, and may be said to be the owner of the town, which was built up through his push and enter- prise.
His attention has not alone been confined to these enterprises, for during the past fifteen years he has been a directorof the Harford Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Bel Air and a director of the Second National Bank of the same place. For the past twenty years he has been the pro- prictor of a large canning concern, where all sorts of vegetables are put up. This fine establishment is complete in every detail, fitted up with the fin- est and latest improved machinery, which is run
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by steam. Hc manufactures his own cans, and a's an illustration of the capacity of his plant it may be stated that twenty-four thousand cans of toma- toes are put up daily, and other vegetables in like proportion. This establishment has been a bless- ing to the community in which he lives, for it furnishes a ready market for farm produce and has greatly stimulated that industry in his vicinity. The purchase and sale of coal and fertilizers have also occupied his attention, and without doubt he is the largest dealer in the latter commodity in his section.
The tenets of the Democratic party have always met his approval, and in his religious proclivities he is a Presbyterian. Public spirit is one of his distinguishing characteristics and generosity is a scarcely less conspicuous one. Taken all in all, he is the sort of man who is pointed to as a shin- ing example of good citizenship, the kind of man whom one knows to one's pleasure and edifica- tion. He is a member of Mt. Ararat Lodge No. 44, F. & A. M., of Bel Air, but owing to his remoteness from the lodge has never taken the higher degrees. On November 24, 1865, he was united in marriage with S. E. Rouse.
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