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 54
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 54
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74
Returning to Harford County at the close of the war, our subject was admitted to the bar in November, 1865, and has since been one of the leading attorneys of Bel Air. He was elected a member of the house of delegates of 1874, where he ably represented his constituents. He has been an examiner in chancery continuously since 1867 and counsel to the Harford County board of school commissioners. As an advocate of im- provements that will promote the progress of the county, he has taken an active part in local af- fairs. He holds the office of president of the Bel Air Water and Light Company, and since its in- corporation has been president of the Permanent
452
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Building Association of Harford County. The title by which he is always called, was given him in 1876, when he served on the staff of Governor Carroll with the rank of colonel. He has always taken a great interest in the militia of the state and has been captain of two companies raised in the county. A prominent Mason, he is past master of Mt. Ararat Lodge, at Bel Air.
In 1867 Colonel Lee was united in marriage with Miss Sallie B. Griffith, only child of John L. Griffith, a prominent farmer of District No. 2, Harford County. They are the parents of eight children, named as follows: Helen M .; John L. G., a graduate of Johns Hopkins College and the University of Maryland law school, recently a member of the house of delegates, now assistant United States district attorney of Maryland, and one of the most promising young men of the state; Hannah B .; Elizabeth Dallam; Henry W. Archer; Alice; Cassandra; and Otho Scott Lee, member of the class of 1899, Princeton College.
2 OBERT MARSHBANK. Within the limits of a brief biographical sketch it is impossible to render full justice to prominent men, and yet there are some whose names are so familiar to all that it is only justice to dwell upon what they have done. In a list of those once prominent in business circles of Elkton we find the name of Robert Marshbank, whose long and honorable connection with the best interests of the village entitled him to the respect in which he was held. It was in 1843 that lie came to Elkton, and the following year he opened a furniture store, which he afterward conducted, in connection with the undertaking business. During this period of more than half a century he witnessed the many changes that have been made in Cecil County; the darkening days prior to the war, the perils of that great civil strife, the business depression that followed it, and the final return to prosperity. To secure the development of material resources he contributed his quota. While, in the manage-
ment of his business, lie never gained a fortune, he secured a competency and that which is even better, an enviable name as an efficient, honorable business man.
It was on Christmas Day of 1821 that the birth of Robert Marshbank occurred, his native place being Chester County, Pa., where also were born his parents, Robert and An (Lyle) Marshbank. His father, who was a member of a Scotch fain- ily, was a-school teacher by occupation, but died at an early age, when his son and namesake was a boy of seven. His wife was a member of a family that engaged principally in the manufacture of paper. Their family consisted of two sons, our subject's brother being John D., who was a cabinet-maker by trade, but in later life owned a foundry at Harrisburg, Pa., and died in Chester County. The mother departed this life in Lan- caster, Pa., at the home of her son. The death of the father leaving the family in straightened circumstances, our subject was unable to devote much time to study, but in boyhood was bound out to a farmer, with whom he remained until sixteen years of age. He then went to Baltimore and learned the cabinet-maker's trade. Coming to Elkton in 1843, the next year he opened a furniture store, and has also for more than fifty years been in the undertaking business, during which time he has had charge of the burial of more than five thousand persons.
The first wife of Mr. Marshbank, Eliza J. Short, at her death left a daughter, Eliza J., now the wife of George Crocker, of Laporte, Ind., a civil engineer, who is engaged in railroad construction in the west. The second marriage of Mr. Marsh- bank was to Eliza A. Lynch, who died July 31, ISS7, leaving four children. The eldest of these is Maggie, wife of H. C. Wells, a druggist of Elk- ton. J. H., who is in business with his father, married Lidie Bennett, of Elkton, and they have five children, Robert, Flora, Hyland, Harry and Mary. Fannie is single and lives at home. The fourth child, Richard, is deceased. The third wife of our subject bore the maiden name of Mary D. Henry. Fraternally Mr. Marshbank was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for more than half a century, and filled
453
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL, RECORD.
all the offices in the local lodge, besides which he was a member of the grand lodge of the state. He was vice president of the Mutual Building Association for twenty years or more. During the existence of the Whig party he advocated its principles, and upon its disintegration became a Republican, the principles of which party he af- terward supported by his vote and influence. Though he did not care to take a very active part in the political life of the village, the value of his citizenship was never questioned, and his deatlı, July 11, 1897, was recognized as a public loss.
DWARD A. BALDWIN. While this gen- tleman has been a resident of Darlington for a comparatively brief period only, yet he has many acquaintances in this portion of Har- ford County, for much of his life has been passed in the adjoining district. No. 2, of which his ancestors were pioneer settlers. He was born at Hopewell Cross Roads in 1857, the son of Samuel Tyler and Fannie (Lofiin) Baldwin, natives of the same district. His paternal grandfather, Tyler Baldwin, was born there and spent his entire active life as a blacksmith. Samuel T., who followed the occupation of painter and glazier, was a man of some prominence in his commu- nity, an active worker in the ranks of the Dem- ocracy, and for some time the incumbent of the office of road supervisor. He passed away June 9, 1884, aged sixty-six; his wife died March 17, 1888, at the age of seventy. They were the parents of nine children, namely: John T., Sarah M., Annie C., George F., Eben N., Phoebe E., Edward A., Robert L. and Samuel T. All are living but the last named, who died in 1861.
The boyhood days of our subject were passed in attendance upon the common schools and in work at home. With a desire to see more of the world, and thinking a more favorable opening might be found elsewhere, he went to Texas, in February, 1877, and spent one year in Dallas.
However, lie found the Lone Star state not equal to his expectations, and, with the belief that no state could surpass old Maryland, he returned to Harford County in 1878. Afterward he engaged in the canning business for three years in Hope- well precinct, and then spent five years in Ken- nedyville, Kent County. October 6, 1896, was the date of his arrival in Darlington. Here he at once establislied a cabinet, upholstery and undertaking business, in which he has embarked with every prospect of success.
The Democratic party stands for the principles in which Mr. Baldwin believes, and to it therefore he gives allegiance. In fraternal relations he is identified with the Aberdeen Lodge of Masons. In the lodge of Odd Fellows at Aberdeen he has passed all the chairs and is eligible to member- ship in the grand lodge of the state. The Senior Order of American Mechanics numbers him among its members. He is also connected with the Sons of Temperance at Hopewell Cross Roads and was treasurer of the organization for two years. Reared in the faith of the Methodist Protestant denomination, he has for years been associated with the congregation at Hopewell Cross Roads and at this writing is a trustee of the church.
ICHARD B. MERRITT. On one of the principal streets of the village of Warwick stands the general mercantile store owned and conducted by Mr. Merritt and of which lie has been the proprietor for more than twenty years. He is an efficient business man, honest in every transaction, energetic and capable, and has built up a good trade among the people of . his locality, who have learned to place confidence in his word. As boy and man, his entire life has been passed in Cecil County, and naturally he feels the deepest interest in its development and in the welfare of its people. He was born here February 5, 1850, and this county was also tlie birthplace of his parents, Joseph and Rachel
454
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
(Boulden) Merritt. In order of birthi he was second among five children, the others being James, Mary, Anna, and Julius, who was acci- dentally shot and killed while out hunting deer, when he was a boy of eleven. Both the Merritt and Boulden families are old residents of Mary- land, having resided here from an early period of its history. Richard Boulden, our subject's grandfather, and for whom he was named, took part in the Revolution in his early manhood, and again, when quite old, started out to defend our country against the encroachments of the British in the War of 1812. Afterward he received a pension from the government.
Reared upon a farm, our subject was given ex- cellent advantages in boyhood and finished his education in the Middletown (Del. ) Academy. In early years he devoted his attention principally to farming, but since then he has carried on a general store in Warwick. At the age of twenty- two he married Leota L. Wilson, of this county, and to their union were born five children.
Mrs. Merritt is a member of a family long resi- dent in Maryland, and is a lady of estimable Christian character and an active member of the Methodist Protestant Church. Mr. Merritt is not only interested in business, but in politics as well, and is a firm Democrat in principle. For a time he held the office of collector, and in 1897 was his party's candidate for county treasurer. He is a public-spirited citizen and takes an interest in all measures for the benefit of the people of this section.
OBERT KERR VANNEMAN. The social, financial and business history of Harford County is filled with the deeds of self-made men, and if by this word we understand that a man, solely through his unaided exertions, has risen from an unimportant position to one of in- fluence, then certainly Mr. Vanneman may be called self-made. The family of which he is a member, though an old and honored one in this
part of Maryland, has never been wealthy, and from an early age lie was obliged by force of cir- cunistances to earn his living. From his remote forefathers he inherits the traits of perseverance and honesty that have ever characterized the Swedish nationality, as well as the enterprise that is a trait especially peculiar to Americans. These qualities have enabled him to gain a posi- tion among the prominent men of Havre de Grace.
The First National Bank of Havre de Grace, of which Mr. Vanneman is cashier, was organ- ized, largely through his instrumentality, in Sep- tember, ISS3, with Arthur Vosbury as president and himself as cashier. The president died in February, ISS9, and was succeeded by A. P. McCombs. Mr. Vanneman is now the largest stockliolder in the concern. Since the inception of the enterprise the bank has paid the stock- holders a large percentage in dividends, and has added to its surplus an amount greater than the capital stock of $60,000. This flattering record is largely due to the management of Mr. Vanne- man. The excellent condition of the institution is especially worthy of mention, after these last years of bank failures, stringency in the money market, and depreciation of values; but in times of panics elsewhere, the depositors in the First National have never had cause to feel the slight- est concern regarding the safety of their moneys.
In considering the life of a man, it is always appropriate to dwell upon the lives and char- acters of his ancestry. The father of the gentle- man named was Daniel Vanneman, who was born and reared in Port Deposit, Md., where for years he was employed as timber inspector and later owned a steamer line from Port Deposit to Havre de Grace, and from Church Creek to Baltimore (after the railroad was built to Port Deposit), carrying both freight and passengers. He built the "Isador," which, however, proved too large for these waters and was sold for navigation on larger rivers. Another steamer that he built was named the "Alice." The railroad taking away his custom was the cause of his financial reverses, and obliged him to sell his vessels. From that tinie he served as postal clerk on the Baltimore Central Railroad, which position he retained until
455
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
his deatlı, at the age of fifty-four. Politically he ization of the Havre de Grace Improvement Com- voted the Republican ticket, but was not active in local affairs and never displayed any partisan- ship in his opinions. His father, Jolm P. Vanne- inan, came to Port Deposit in early manhood and was among the pioneer lumbermen of the place.
The mother of our subject, in maidenhood Caro- line Isador Kerr, was born in Port Deposit. In 1884 she moved to Havre de Grace. She is now sixty-seven years of age. The birth of the sub- ject of this sketch occurred in Port Deposit De- cember 1, 1854, and his education was obtained in the public schools of the village. When about seventeen he began in life for himself and thence- forward was self-supporting. His first position, which he held for a year, was that of clerk in a hardware store in his native town, but afterward he was offered and accepted a position as runner in the Cecil National Bank. Soon afterward he was promoted and filled all the positions up to teller, but resigned August 1, 1883, to aid in the organization of the First National Bank of Havre de Grace.
In 1879 Mr. Vanneman was united in marriage with Miss Laura V., daughter of Samuel M. C. Nesbitt, of Port Deposit. They are the parents of five children, namely: Charles Reeve, Caroline Kerr, Arthur Vosbury, Ella Haines and Homer Nesbitt. The family attend the Methodist Epis- copal Church of Havre de Grace, of which Mr. Vanneman and his wife are members. Politically a Republican, lie has been an active factor in local politics and has been closely identified with the work of the party here. His fellow-citizens, realizing his fitness for public office, -have three times elected him to fill the responsible position of mayor, and he is the present incumbent of this office. In the responsibilities of the position he is proving the possession of energy, tact and fidelity to duty, the qualities that have also brouglit him success in private affairs. For sev- eral years he held the position of town treasurer, and in 1892 was a member of the city council, but refused to serve again after the expiration of one terni. In all matters tending to the advance- ment of the place he is interested, and his hearty co-operation may be relied upon. In the organ-
pany he was a princ mover, and is its secretary and treasurer, and a director and stockliolder, also secretary and treasurer of the Water Com- pany, a director in the bank, stockholder and director in the Havre de Grace Shoe Manufac- turing Company, director of the Harford Tele- phone Company, and secretary, treasurer, director and the largest stockholder in the Perryville Water Company, which is just across the river in Cecil County; also vice-president and a stockholder of tlie Havre de Grace Real Estate and Power Com- pany, which bids fair to be the leading concern of this locality. Fraternally he is connected with Susquehanna Lodge No. 130, F. & A. M., of Havre de Grace, and Cecil Lodge No. 31, K. of P., at Port Deposit.
TAYLOR RAWLINGS. Concerning the genealogy of the Rawlings family but little definite information can be obtained. It is known, however, that the first representatives in this country came from either Scotland or Ireland; possibly Scotland was the original home of the family, but during the religious persecution they may have fled to Ireland for safety and from that island afterward crossed the ocean to Anierica. Several succeeding generations have resided in Cecil County, and almost invariably they have been people of moral worth and great energy of character. The first to come here was-Green- berry Rawlings, who settled in District No. 7, at what is now known as Battle Swamp.
John, son of Greenberry, had a son Robert, who was the father of our subject. Robert was born in Cecil County, where he spent his entire life, engaged in agricultural pursuits. On the home farm, in District No. 8, his deathi occurred when he was sixty-four years of age. By his marriage to Mary McVey he was the father of five children, named as follows: Elizabeth, John M., Z. Taylor, Hannah M. and Roberta E. The subject of this sketch was born in 1848, in the
456
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
house which still remains his home. Educated in the common schools, and reared to habits of in- dustry, he became a man of sound common-sense, practical knowledge of agriculture, and sterling traits of character. At the age of twenty-two years he assumed the management of the home farm, and of it he lias since maintained a general supervision. The place is not as large as many of the farms of the county, but its eiglity acres have been brought under such excellent cultiva- tion that the best possible results are being secured from year to year.
While Mr. Rawlings is well informed regarding politics, yet his tastes do not lie in that direction, for he is a man whose inclinations are toward pri- vate rather than public life. However, he keeps posted regarding the issues before the people to-day, and gives his allegiance to the Democratic party. It has always been his opinion that pro- tection tends to the building up of monopolies and the concentration of wealth within the hands of a few, while free trade is calculated to more equally distribute money among the people. He believes, too, that much of the financial depression from which the country has suffered during the past years is due to the incorrect standard of re- lationship between silver and gold; when this is rectified and the free coinage of silver an estab- lished fact, an era of prosperity will begin. Fra- ternally he was connected with the Knights of Pythias in former years, but does not retain his membership in the order. His marriage united him with Emma H. Reynolds, daughter of Jacob and Eliza Reynolds, of this county, and an estim- able lady, who takes a part in the work of the Presbyterian Church and has many warm friends among the people of the district.
OHN B. HANNA. Harford County may well be proud of the amount of brains and energy possessed by her representative busi- ness men, for, taken as a whole, there are none brighter, more intelligent, or with more ability
and push in any direction than they possess. Among the number is Jolin B. Hanna. Those who deal with him find him a very pleasant geil- tleman, courteous and affable, and in every re- spect a true man of business: a man whose ex- perience and thorough knowledge of his work have placed him among the leading merchants of this thriving village. Mr. Hanna is a native of the town of Bel Air, where he was born May 16, 1867, son of William F. Hanna, who was born near the village of Churchville. The latter was a carriage manufacturer by trade, a member of the firm of John A. Hamma & Bro., and in every relation of life was the soul of honor, and a mail who endeavored to "do as he would be done by." He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church, and died in that faith in 1875. His father, Stephen B. Hanna, was also born in Harford County, and a more complete notice of his life is given in the sketch of James Fulton. The maiden name of William F. Hanna's wife was Martha A. Barnes. She was born at Churchville, a daughter of John Barnes, who belongs to an old and leading fam- ily of this section. Mrs. Hanna is living in Bel Air.
John B. Hanna has three brothers: Edwin F., who is a successful insurance man of Baltimore; William F., a substantial business man of Bel Air; and Henry N., who is secretary of the Bal- timore Blind Company. The subject of this sketch received his education in Bel Air Acad- emy, and when still a lad began working as a clerk in the store of John G. Rouse, with whom he remained until 1887. By that time he had acquired a sufficient knowledge of business to make a venture on his own account and the result has proved most satisfactory. His trade is exten- sive and continually increasing, as it has every reason to do, for he keeps an excellent stock on hand and is reasonable in his prices. He has not confined his attention wholly to his business, however, for he has taken an active interest in local politics, is a leader of the Republican party in his section, and has had charge of every cam- paign therein since the fall of 1893. So in- telligent and active has he proved himself in all matters pertaining to public affairs that in 1897
457-458
ISAAC TWINING.
459
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
he was the candidate of the second congressional district for collector of internal revenue for the district of Maryland. He is a director in tlie Fireside Building Association of Harford County.
He and his family have identified themselves with the Presbyterian Church, in which he lias been a ruling elder since 1891. Fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, in which he is district deputy. In ISSS Miss Martha Standiford became his wife. Slie was born in Harford County, and liere their chil- dren have been born: John A., William F., Mary Fulton, and Horace, who died at the age of four years.
M ISS MARTHA E. TWINING. The first member of the Twining family who sought a home in America was the great-grand- father of our subject, a native of Wales, but from an early age a resident of Pennsylvania, where he made settlement in Bucks County. Like the majority of the early settlers he engaged in farm- ing, which he conducted in the usual crude man- ner of those days, and without the aid of the many modern improvements now considered indispen- sable. In spite of hardships and discouragements, he gradually added to his possessions, until he was one of the largest land owners of the county. The kind hospitality, genial manner, strict hon- esty and financial thrift characteristic of the Quakers in every age of the world were among his noticeable traits, and he was ever earnest in upholding the principles adopted by the Society of Friends.
Our subject's grandfather, David Twining, was born in Bucks County, Pa., and, like his father, was an extensive land owner, and a faithful meni- ber of the Friends' Church. Isaac Twining, father of our subject, was born in Bucks County, and shortly after attaining manhood he married Ann H. Hallowell, member of an old family of that county, whose representatives were by occu- pation principally farmers, They became the
parents of seven children, namely: D. Hallo- well; Martha E .; Horace B., who died in 1895; Isaac; B. Franklin, deceased; Caroline W., and Robert B., who was killed in the Union army at the second battle of Bull Run, in 1862.
Born in Pennsylvania, the subject of this sketch was brought by her parents to Harford County in 1845, and settled with them in District No. 4. Upon the death of her father and mother, she inherited the old homestead, and here she has since remained, having in all these years made many friends among the people of the vicinity. When her nephew, Joseph B. Twining, son of D. Hallowell Twining, was a boy, she took him to her home and there he has since remained, being reared under her careful training to habits of industry, perseverance and energy. He was given a good education and prepared for the re- sponsibilities of life. In addition to looking after his aunt's place, he owns a farm of forty-three acres. At the age of twenty-seven he married Minnie S. Saurman, who was born near Philadel- phia, Pa., and they have one cliild, named Martha E., in honor of her great-aunt.
The farm which Miss Twining owns and occu- pies consists of sixty acres, upon which have been placed the improvements that mark a model estate and so largely add to the comfort of its occupants. The well-tilled fields return large crops to reward the industry of the husbandman, and the granaries are filled each season. The active work of superintending the place falls upon her nephew, and his good judgment and enter- prise have been of the greatest assistance to her in the management of lier property interests. In religious belief she is loyal to the teachings of the Friends' Church, in which faith she was reared.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.