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 49
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 49
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Edward Carsins now owns eighty acres of rich
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and arable land, where he carries on general farming, but his efforts have been by no means confined to one line of operation. He is a man of resourceful business ability, and has connected himself with other enterprises, whereby he has added to his income. He is now engaged in can- ning tomatoes, renting and operating a canning factory at Forest Hill, Harford County. He also owns a small gristmill and grinds feed. He pos- sesses great energy, is enterprising and progress- ive, and his sound judgment has carefully guided his business interests to a successful termination. He is numbered among the leading citizens of this community.
MOS MARTINDALE. The farming com- munity of Cecil County recognizes in the subject of this article one of its representa- tive citizens and agriculturists. He is the owner of a fine estate lying in District No. 9, and, by a course of unflagging industry and wise economy, he has not only retained the full amount of his inheritance, but has increased the value of his possessions. The district where he lives has been his home throughout the greater part of his life and here have centred his closest interests. The occupation that he follows, farm- ing, is the one in which for several preceding generations his ancestors engaged, and in it he has been prospered.
The subject of this sketch is a namesake of his paternal grandfather, the son of an Englishman and a native of Bucks County, Pa. Ross R. Mar- tindale, father of our subject, for some years car- ried on farming and general merchandising in Bucks County, his native place, but in 1852 removed from there to Cecil County and settled in District No. 9. His death was a sad one, be- ing the result of accident, and was deeply mourned by all who knew him. He was killed on the rail- road at North East when fifty-two years of age. By his marriage to Ellen S. Singley, of Bucks
County, he had seven children, namely: Samuel, who resides in Oxford, Pa .; Mary, Ellen S., Alice, Rebecca, Hannah and Ainos.
In 1844, during the residence of his parents in Bucks County, the subject of our sketch was born. At the age of eight years he accompanied the family to Maryland, where he lias since re- sided, his home being on the place purchased by his father at the time of coming liere. In the various departments of farm labor lie is energetic, shrewd and industrious, and from the raising of cereals and garden truck obtains a good revenue from his farm. In religious belief he and his family are Presbyterians and for some time he was a trustee of the church. In 1872 he was united in marriage with Gertrude Vanarsdale, who was born in Cecil County, and is a daughter of Isaac and Mary (Smock) Vanarsdale. Of the children born to their union three are now living, namely: Ross V., who assists his father in the cultivation of the farm; Harry, who is in Phila- delphia; and Gertrude, at home. In his political views Mr. Martindale is a Republican. He has never sought office, but has devoted his energies principally to the welfare of his family and to his duties as a private citizen.
ON. E. M. ALLEN. The history of a county is best told in the record of the lives of the people. Their successes mean the advancement of the community and the enlarge- ment of local industries; their reverses, the re- tarding of progress and the thwarting of enter- prises. Reading between the lines of their biog- raphies, one may learn much concerning the early days of a locality, its settlement, the experiences of its pioneers, the gradual development of its inaterial resources, the introduction of improve- ments, the enlarging of commerce and the various transforming influences that have so much to do with the growth of any section of country. While the biographies in this volume are principally those
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of men now living or but recently deceased, yet the records of their ancestors incorporated therein do much to throw light upon days long past, and largely enhance the value of the work.
There are perhaps few of the residents of Bel Air who cherish a deeper affection for the place and its people than does the subject of this article. A busy man of affairs, he yet finds opportunity to keep in touch with every local measure and all village improvements. It is but natural that the place should be dear to him, for this was his birthplace. He represents the third generation of the family that has been iden- tified with the history of Harford County, the first of the name to settle here having been his grandfather, Rev. John Allen, a native of Wex- ford, Ireland, a graduate of Trinity College, and from 1795 to 1815 rector of St. George's parish, which at that time embraced all of the county. He died in 1830. Concerning the remote history of the family little is known, except that, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, some of the name accompanied the Earl of Essex from Scotland to Ireland, which afterward remained their home. The homestead, three miles from Wexford, has remained in the family for three hundred and fifty years.
Dr. Richard N. Allen, father of our subject, was born in Harford County, and was a man of marked ability and talent. In young manhood he became an attorney, and would undoubtedly have risen to prominence in the profession had it not been for an unfortunate accident. While speaking in public upon one occasion, he burst a blood vessel, and the injury sustained debarred him from further practice at the bar. He then began the study of medicine, but died soon after- ward, in 1835, when his children were small. Had he lived to mature years, he would doubt- less have made a name and enviable reputation for himself. He had a brother, William H., who was an unusual man, both physically and men- tally. In height he was six feet and six inches, and his mental attainments were as remarkable as his physical. At one time he hield the office of territorial governor of Florida.
The mother of our subject was Adeline Miller,
a native of Harford County and the daughter of Edward Miller, who was born in England and became a woolen manufacturer of Maryland. She died within less than a year after the death of her husband, leaving three orphaned sons, of whom Edward M. is the eldest. Richard N., the second son, became a lawyer, and died in 1870. Henry L. is engaged in farming near Dallas, Tex. The subject of this article was reared in the home of a wealthy aunt, who sent him to Darlington Acad- enty and would have given him a college educa- tion liad he so desired. But the bent of his mind was in the direction of business affairs, rather than literary attainments, and he preferred to take charge of lier estate, which he did very suc- cessfully. When twenty-three years of age he married Miss Sallie E. Wilson, half-sister of the late Judge John H. Price, with whom Mr. Allen studied law. Though often identified with pro- fessional, political and business affairs, he still makes his home on a farm in the northern part of the county.
In ISSI Mr. Allen was elected, upon the Re- publican ticket, to represent this district in the state senate, and during his term of office was chiefly remarkable for his aggressive disposition. He made a strong fight for low taxes and for the reduction of the fees of county officers, which naturally brought to him the emmity, or at least the determined opposition, of some politicians. Nevertheless, feeling that he was in the right, he persisted in his advocacy of reform movements, and now, though no longer in office, he still does all within his power to bring about the culmina- tion desired. In 1890 he was admitted to the Bel Air bar, where he has since practiced, and prior to that time he had also done much legal business for his neighbors. He is a member of the Mary- land Historical Society and strongly favors every means for perpetuating the memory of our early settlers and famous men. Fraternally a Mason, he is identified with Mt. Ararat Lodge of Bel Air. For more than forty years he was a vestryman of the Episcopal Church, but finally resigned front the position, in which he was succeeded by his SO11. He and his wife have four children. His son, E. M., Jr., is a prontinent manufacturer and
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business man of Harford County. J. A. Greme, who resides at Davis, W. Va., is president of one company that has a capital of $70,000, manager of another with $120,000 capital, and of still another with a capital of $150,000.
With a desire to perpetuate the names and faces of our once distinguished residents, Mr. Allen, assisted by friends, but without expense to the county or the general public, placed in the court room at Bel Air, oil paintings of many men who were natives of Harford County and who attained distinction. Among them are the fol- lowing: Dr. J. A. Preston, who was a member of congress and a man of influence in public affairs; Capt. John A. Webster, who commanded the six- gun battery that defeated the British fleet at Ft. McHenry in 1814; Dr. John Archer, the first graduate of a medical college in the United States, later a surgeon in the Revolutionary War and several times representative from his district in congress; Commodore Rogers, U. S. N., and his son, Admiral John Rogers, U. S. N .; Gen. William P. Maulsby, who was a general in the Union army and also a judge; Henry D. Far- nandis, who is one of the most distinguished mem- bers of the Harford County bar, and refused the nomination for governor of Maryland when it was equivalent to an election; Otho Scott, a member of the Bel Air bar and a man of remarkable gifts intellectually; Judge James D. Watters, the pres- ent judge of the circuit court; Judge Stevenson Archer, chief justice of Maryland; Judge William Paca, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence; Judge J. L. Bartol, who was chief justice of the Maryland Court of Appeals; Judge Hugh I. Jewett, who was a member of congress and a judge, and formerly president of the Erie Railroad; Judge John H. Price, ex-judge of the circuit court and brother-in-law to Mr. Allen; Henry W. Archer, one of the legal lights of the Harford bar; Col. E. H. Webster, who filled many positions of trust and honor in the county and state; Dr. David Harlan, who spent most of his life in the United States navy and who was the father of Henry D. Harlan, now chief justice of the superior court of Baltimore; Col. Robert S. Rogers, an officer in the Union army; and Edwin
Booth, the famous tragedian, whose first perforni- ance was given in the court house at Bel Air. These portraits were painted in oil by a leading artist of Washington, and their presence in a public building may well serve as an inspiration to young men starting out in life. reminding them of the success that almost invariably crowns dili- gent effort and application.
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? ICHOLAS P. MANLY. Among the resi- dents of Cecil County who display a high order of ability in connection with agricult- ural affairs, and whose personal characteristics have brought them added prominence, the sub- ject of this article is conspicuous. With steady purpose, energy and determination, he attended to his chosen calling through all the years of youth and early manhood, and his industry en- abled him to accumulate a competency, so that he is now living retired, in the enjoyment of the fruit of the labor of former years. His home is in Elkton, within a mile of which village he was born April 16, 1834.
The father of our subject was Capt. Nicholas Manly, a native of Elk Neck, born May 3, 1795, and a seafaring man by occupation. Prior to the age of forty years he commanded vessels on the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, after which he purchased a farm near Elkton and spent his remaining years in the cultivation of the place. Personally he was of a quiet and retiring disposi- tion, with little interest in public affairs, content rather to devote himself to his private business duties. His industry and energy brought him a small fortune and he was well-to-do at the time of his death, which occurred March 18, 1864. His father, whose name was Nicholas G., was born in Cecil County and made his home in District No. 5, where he successfully carried on a farmi. He also engaged in hotel keeping in North East. He died December 8, 1826. The mother of our sub- ject was Sarah W., daughter of John Highland, and was born in Chestertown, Kent County, Md.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
By her marriage to Captain Manly, which took place May 10, 1831, a son and daughter were bori, the latter being Anna E., widow of Thomas Drennen and mother of Manly Drennen, treasurer of Ceci! County. Mrs. Sarah W. Manly died December 12, 1856. Our subject's father had two brothers, John and Stephen, both of whom served in the War of 1812: John died unmarried.
The years of boyhood and youth were spent by our subject on the home farm. On the death of his father the estate was divided between him and Mrs. Drennen, he taking a farm two miles from the place where he was born. In 1885, renting this place, he retired from farin work and moved to Elkton, where he owns a comfortable home. February 13, 1862, he married Miss Louise J. Simcoe, of North East, daughter of Hon. William Simcoe, a farmer by occupation, and a member of the Maryland legislature in 1842. He died when Mrs. Manly was quite small. She has two broth- ers, George, of Bay View, and John S., of North East. By her marriage two children were born: Sarah Rebecca and Elizabeth L., the latter of whom remains with her parents, brightening their declining days with her attention and devotion. The elder daughter is the wife of George McCauley Reese, grandson of the late Judge McCauley, and at this writing an employe in the Baltimore custom house; they have two children, Louise M. and Richard George.
HARLES H. JAMES. Many of the native sons of Harford County have become known as successful farmers and efficient men of business, and among these is none more worthy of mention than Mr. James, a business man of Aberdeen and the owner and occupant of a well- improved farin situated about four miles west of the village. He was born in this district (No. 2) May 19, 1829, being the son of Jacob and Sarah (Gilbert) James, also natives of the same dis- trict. His father, who was a farmer and turner, was fairly successful in life, and was a hard-work-
ing, persevering man. He died when about seventy years of age. He did not take an active part in public affairs and never sought official distinction, contenting himself with casting a Republican vote at elections. His wife lived to be ninety years of age.
The parental family comprised ten children. named as follows: William, whose home is in Indiana; Jarvis G., a farmer, also residing in Indiana ;. Charles H .; George B., who carries on a farm and is interested in a canning business in District No. 3, Harford County; John L., a farmer of Baltimore County, this state; Jacob MI., who is connected with our subject in the mer- cantile business; Catherine, Elizabeth, Susie and Jennie. The demands of this large family obliged the parents to husband with care their resources and to see that each child was doing his share of the work. The sons early learned the truth of the trite sayings, "No pains, no gain. No sweat, 10 sweet." "He that would eat the kernel inust crack the nut." As they grew toward man- hood, the sons went out into the world for thein- selves, the most of them selecting agriculture for their life work. Our subject, however, learned the carpenter's trade in his youth and for twenty- two years followed it and contracting. A careful workman, he was considered reliable and efficient, and met with commendable success. On retiring from liis trade, he purchased a farin near Aber- deen, where he has since engaged in farming and the canning business. In 1895 he opened a flour, grain and feed store in Aberdeen and has since spent a portion of his time here. This is not done to the detriment of his farm, as he continues its cultivation and improvement the same as be- fore. His possessions consist of his store and three small farms in District No. 2, these repre- senting his own earnings and the fruit of his toil.
While Mr. James has never taken an active part in politics, this does not mean that he is uninterested in public events or deaf to his duty as a citizen. A thoughtful student of the times, of late years he has had an increasing realiza- tion of the evils of the liquor traffic. Believ- ing that prohibition is the only remedy for the disease that gnaws at the vitals of our nation
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LEWIS B. ROBINSON.
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and threatens even the perpetuity of the govern- ment, he has become a Prohibitionist and casts the regular party ticket at elections. In religious belief he is connected with the Methodist Epis- copal Church. By his marriage to Maria J. Cole, of this county, he has six children, named as follows: Lemuel C., a farmer in District No. 2; Lulu A., C. Harry, A. Minnie, Cornelia II. and J. C. Hagey.
C
EWIS BOLIVAR ROBINSON was born upon the family homestead in District No. 3, Harford County, July 4, 1825, and died at the same place, of paralysis of the heart, May 9, 1890, when little less than sixty-five years of age. The family to which he belonged came to this state from Pennsylvania. His father, Will- iam, was the son of the original member of the family in Maryland and was a man of earnest Christian character, an industrious farmer and an intelligent citizen. By his marriage to Margaret Pierce, there were born four sons and two daugh- ters, all deceased but two sons, Lewis Bolivar and Alphonso, between whom the estate was divided, the former receiving the tract that contains the buildings. Here his whole life was passed, with the exception of a few years spent in Baltimore County, where he also owned a farul.
Reared in a Christian home, the son of up- right, intelligent parents, the subject of this sketch was the recipient of a goodly heritage. He was endowed with a bright mind and the capabilities that grasped every opportunity. En- tering upon an occupation, he chose the calling with which he was most familiar and became a farmer. . In addition to the raising of cereals, he became interested in other departments of agri- culture. For some years, during the latter part of his life, he engaged in the canning busi- ness, putting up fruits and tomatoes, in which line he met with success. For thirty years he was in the dairy business, in which line he was also successful.
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Twice married, the first wife of Mr. Robinson was Ellen Holland, who bore him three children. Only one is now living, Adelaide, who is the wife of J. W. Archer. His second wife was Marion I. Smith, of Harford County, a lineal descendant of the Levering family, who were pioneers of Baltimore and have always been prominently connected with the business interests of that city. By his second wife Mr. Robinson had three chil- dren, Jesse Levering, Charles Carroll and Olivia Smith. His death occurred very suddenly, while he was at work in the field, on the 9th of May, 1890, and was a deep bereavement to his family. For many years before his death he was an ear- nest member of the Methodist Protestant Church, the services of which he attended regularly and in which he was long a steward. In politics he was a Democrat.
ILLIAM E. CHANDLER. The life of any man is of benefit to his community, when his energies are directed toward ad- vancing its interests, and when he lives in accord- ance with principles he believes to be right. Mr. Chandlee is one of this class. His residence in Darlington, which covers a long period of years, has brought him intimate acquaintance with many people here and the regard of those with whom he has business and social relations.
The grandfather of our subject, John Chandlee, was the son of a Frenchman, who spent his life principally at Brick Meeting House, Cecil County, where he was an extensive farmer and large land owner. The father of William E. was Allison Chandlee, who, it is thought, was a native of Ce- cil County, but whose life was principally passed in York County, Pa., where he followed the trade of a tailor at Delta. His death occurred in 1868, at the age of fifty-nine. His wife, Mary, daugh- ter of Adam Anderson, a soldier in the War of 1812, survived him many years, passing away in 1893, at the age of sixty-five. In their family
.
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were six children, but only three are now living, namely: William E .; Mary, wife of John Dor- ton; and Charles, who makes his home in Delta.
Near Texas, in Lancaster County, Pa., the subject of this notice was born in IS4S. When a small child his parents removed to Peach Bot- tom, York County, and later settled in Delta, where he was a pupil in the public schools. In 1867 he came to Maryland and learned the trade of a harness-maker with a cousin, John Chandlee, at Brick Meeting House, Cecil County. After- ward he went to Zion, in the same county, where lie followed his trade for two years. He also spent a short time in Wilmington, Del. In 1871 he settled near Pylesville, Harford County, where he made his home for three years, and later spent a short time in Philadelphia. Coming to Dar- lington in 1876, he opened a harness manufactory and repair shop, which he has since had in charge. In 1894 he erected the building which he has since utilized as his shop.
In 1871 Mr. Chandlee married Rachel Dorton, and their family consists of seven children, all at home, namely: George, Charles, William, Her- bert, Allison G., Harry A. and Grace. The par- ents and the three eldest sons are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to the maintenance of which Mr. Chandlee contributes regularly. He takes pride in being a Democrat of the strong- est type and adheres with fidelity to his political views and party principles. Fraternally he is connected with the lodge of Odd Fellows at Ris- ing Sun.
HE CHANDLEE FAMILY, which is an old and honored one of Cecil County, was founded in America by Benjamin Chandlee, a native of France, who, with his father's family, fled front that country to a sea-port town on the coast of Ireland to escape religious persecution. This was during the reign of Louis XIV, when many thousands of Protestants, known as French Huguenots, left France and spread over Europe
or came to America. Benjamin Chandlee was probably born about 1685 and came alone to the new world in 1699 or 1700, leaving the rest of the family on the Emerald Isle. He located at Phil- adelphia, which at that time was a mere village, having only been founded in 1682, and there bound himself as an apprentice to Abel Cottey, a watch and compass maker, who belonged to the Society of Friends.
Sometime after completing his apprenticeship, Benjamin Chandlee married Miss Sarah, daughter of Abel and Mary Cottey, the wedding being per- formed at the Friends' meeting house in Philadel- phia, March 25, 1710. In 1702 Nottingham, Cecil County, Md., was laid off in farms of from four hun- dred to six hundred acres each, and one of these (located near the Brick Meeting House) was taken up by Randel Janney, who gave it the name of Randel's Prospect. This place he sold in 1706 to Abel Cottey of Philadelphia, who at that time had Benjamin Chandlee in his employ. Soon after his marriage the last-named came to Nottingham and located at Randel's Prospect, thus establishing the family in Cecil County. Here he was employed at his trade and also did iron work for neighboring farmers.
As Mrs. Chandlee was born in Philadelphia, her parents were probably among the colonists who founded the city. Abel Cottey also owned a small farm adjoining the Brick Meeting House at Nottingham, which property his widow, Mary Cottey, left by will to her daughter, Sarali Chand- lee. The will was dated June 18, 1713, and proven and registered at Chester, Pa., March 3, 1714. In this document are mentioned her grand- sons, Abel Cottey and Cottey Chandlee, and also ten acres were to be given John Cottey, "if he comes into these parts again."
The children of Benjamin and Sarah (Cottey) Chandlee were all born at Nottingham, Md., and were as follows: (1) Cottey, born between eleven and twelve o'clock in the morning of Feb- ruary 2, 1713, lived, married and died at Notting- hanı, passing away October 9, 1807, at the ad- vanced age of ninety-four years, five months and three weeks. He was a faithful member of the Society of Friends. (2) Mary, born June
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27, 1715, married, and lived at various places, being last heard of in York County, Pa., in 1773. (3) Hannah was born about four o'clock in the afternoon of March 24, 1718, but nothing is known of her history. (4) William, born at sunset, June 29, 1721, wedded Mary Elagar in 1748, and died January 28, 1806, at the age of eighty-five. (5) Benjamin, born a little before day on January 22, 1723, became the great-grand- father of William E. Chandlee, of Darlington, whose sketch appears in this work. (6) Abel, born about eleven in the morning of July 12, 1726, was married in 1760, and lived at Sassafras, Md. These children were all born at Randel's Prospect, where the parcuts continued to make their home for thirty years, but in 1741 sold the place to Joseph Trimble.
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