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 56
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 56
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post of duty, he served the people faithfully and efficiently. He has had little time in his busy life for any matters not pertaining to education, though he has been a director in the Second National Bank of Bel Air, in which he is a stock- liolder, and he has held other positions that identified him with local interests and enterprises. In the Presbyterian Church, of which he is a member, he holds the office of trustee and ruling elder. Asan active, public-spirited citizen, he has always endorsed the principles of the conservative Democratic party, though as the holder of an office which makes him peculiarly the servant of the whole people, he has never been identified with politics as an active partisan.
In 18S2 Mr. Worthington married Theresa McCormick, a niece of the late Col. E. H. Web- ster. It is their happiness to be mutually com- patible in disposition and tastes; their union has, therefore, brought a more complete felicity into both lives. They are the parents of four children, Malcolm McLean, Annie Laurie, Frank D. and John D.
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) OL. ISAAC D. DAVIS. The history of the Davis family in America is an interesting one. It begins with the year 1705, when John Davis emigrated from Wales and settled on Long Island, where he remained until his death, at an advanced age. In religious belief he was identified with the Quakers. His eldest son, Isaac, moved to Salem County, N. J., in 1725, and there reared his children, John, David, Hannah and Elizabeth. David, the second son, was appointed judge of the Salem County court and became prominent in his locality. He owned a tract of land near Pittsgrove and there built a brick house, which is still standing, and that place continued to be his home until death. He married Dorothy Cousins, an English lady, who was born in 1693, and their children were Sarah, Mercy, Amy, David and Incol.
David, the son of David and Dorothy Davis,
born in 1730, was, like his father, a large land- owner. His wife bore the maiden name of Mar- tha Cole and they had several children. Isaac Davis, their eldest son, was born in 1762. In early life he commanded a sailing-vessel, trading into Philadelphia, and in the War of 1812 he com- manded a company of Light Horse raised in the vicinity of Christiana, Del. He married Susanna Newman, daughter of John Newman, of Red Bank, N. J., and with his family came to Cecil County, Md., in IS20. His children were, Han- nah, Rachel, Catherine and Joli Newman Davis. Hannah married Thomas McNeal, and they have descendants in Cecil County. Catherine married David Robinett, an officer of the United States navy. Jolin Newman Davis married Rebecca Bolton in 1832, and resided near Elkton, where he engaged in farming. He was a retiring, un- assuming man, of literary tastes, and led a con- sistent Christian life as a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife was a granddangl- ter of Hugh Bolton, who in 1764 was a ship- master in the king's service and came from Glasgow, Scotland. Their children were Mary, Isabella, Isaac D. and William.
The subject of this article was born in Cecil County, near Elkton, December 31, 1841. He was educated at the Elkton Academy, and in 1861, at the outbreak of the Civil War, enlisted in the Federal army, serving in the army of the Potomac until the close of the conflict. Among the engagements in which he participated were the battles of Antietam, Winchester, Varina Landing, Ft. Harrison, Drury's Bluff, Fair Oaks and Petersburg. He was taken prisoner at Winchester by General Ewell's forces and confined for two months in Libby prison in the city of Richmond. After the surrender of General Lee's army in Virginia he was sent with Sheridan's command to Texas. During the Civil War ser- eral European forces had seized upon Mexico as a foothold for establishing a monarchy upon our continent. They placed the Archduke Maximil- ian of Austria on the throne as emperor of Mexico. This was a direct act of war against the United States by the powers engaged and was treated as such as soon as the Federal army was
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free of the war at home. After the surrender of Lee, therefore, General Sheridan was sent with a strong force to the Rio Grande, to be on liand should negotiations for the evacuation of Mexico by the European troops fail.
Concerning the connection of Colonel Davis with this episode of American history, the follow- ing may be appropriately quoted from the Balti- more Sun : "Col. I. D. Davis, cashier of the Second National Bank of Elkton, has the distinc- tion of having commanded the only United States troops which crossed into Mexico to drive out the French who were upholding the Emperor Maxi- milian. Colonel Davis says: 'In the fall of 1865 I commanded the post at Clarksville, at the mouth of the Rio Grande River, in the state of Texas, being a part of the army under General Sheridan, stationed along the Mexico border pending nego- tiations for the evacuation of Mexico by the French. The troops occupied that line from June, 1865, until January, 1866, with no indica- tions on the part of the Mexican, Maximilian, that the demands of the United States would be complied with. The maintenance of this force, about thirty thousand men, was a great expense to the government and the object to be attained seemed as far off as at the beginning of the nego- tiations. All were heartily tired of this inactivity and anxious to strike a blow for the liberation of Mexico and the vindication of the Monroe doc- trine. With the knowledge of this feeling on the part of all the officers, from General Sheridan down, I resolved to take the initial step toward bringing matters to a decisive focus. I had no official orders for what I did, but it was done with the full knowledge of General Weitzel, the corps commander. On the night of January 4, 1866, I crossed the Rio Grande River in an English schooner, with volunteers from my own troops and some ex-Confederates from Kirby Smith's command. I surprised and captured the forts at Bagdad, with two hundred Austrian infantry and four pieces of artillery, and confined the prisoners in the warehouses of the town. At daylight on the morning .of the 5th, the French gunboat "Antonio," arrived from up the river and opened fire upon us, but was engaged by our captured
cannon, disabled and driven off. Three French men-of-war were off shore in the gulf and daylight showed that they had steam up and ports open ready for action. After the "Antonio" retreated these three ships all opened fire on us with shell; but their gunnery was bad and they did us no harm. Seeing this they attempted to land a force in small boats, but we drove them back and hield the town: Next day, the 6th, General Escabedo, the liberal officer of the Republican party of Mex- ico, arrived, and I turned the town over to him, recrossed the river and reported to General Weit- zel. Within a month from that time our govern- ment received notice that the French troops would be withdrawn, and I claim that it was the direct effect of my invasion that brought this prompt result. In this engagement Federal and Confederate troops fought side by side; they met a double force, composed of the flower of Euro- pean forces, and not only defeated, but captured and disarmed them. The audacity of the enter- prise and the prompt evacuation of Mexico by the French afterward, show that the slow process of diplomatic negotiation is not suited to all cases.' "'
For his distinguished services in this engage- ment Colonel Davis was complimented in general orders by General Sheridan and was offered a commission in the regular army. He was also offered by General Escabedo a brigadier-general's commission in the army of Mexico. He declined both, and the services of the troops being no long- er required in Texas, he was mustered out of service in 1866. He returned to Cecil County and shortly afterward married Clara Miller, daughter of Rev. Joseph Miller, of this county. She died in 1894, leaving four children, namely : Henry M., attorney-at-law, of Elkton; William J., secretary of the Keys & Miller Lumber Con - pany; John Newman, clerk to the Pusey & Jones Company, of Delaware; and Mary R., a student in school. The sons are married, Henry M. hav- ing married Araetta Anthony in 1896; Willian J. married Ada Steele in 1895; and John New- man married Bertha McNeal in 1896.
Colonel Davis is extensively engaged in busi- ness, being director and treasurer of the Keys & Miller Lumber Company, director in the Singerly
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Pulp and Paper Company, and director and cashier of the Second National Bank of Elkton. He also manages his farm, a fine property near Elkton, on which he resides and which has been the home of four generations of the family. In educational matters he is deeply interested, and is a trustee of the Elkton Academy and of the West Amwell public school. Political matters receive liis thoughtful consideration, and few men are better posted regarding public events than is he. However, he has never been an office seeker and never ran for office except once, when lie was defeated for the legislature by a very small ma- jority by the late Hon. James B. Groome. For two years, 1889-90, he was clerk to the board of county commissioners, and for twenty years he has been a member of the Republican executive committee for Cecil County. Since 1866 he has been identified with the Masonic fraternity.
A very large number of the old residents of Cecil County of the Davis name trace their ances- try back to David Davis, of Salem County, N. J., and also many of the name in Delaware and Pennsylvania. Some also reside in the west, and it is singular to note that while the old-fashioned names, such as Mercy and Susanna, have disap- peared, the patriarchal names of David and Isaac are still used and seem to be the favorite names in the record running back nearly two hundred years.
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OBERT N. RAMPLEY. The family repre- sented by this gentleman is favorably known in Harford County, and especially in Dis- trict No. 4. Its members have contributed their efforts to the development of the resources of the community, and have ever been characterized by manliness and integrity. When James Rampley, who founded the family in the United States, came here from England, he settled upon the farin where our subject now resides. Capt. James, son of James, and father of Robert N., spent his life on this place engaged in its cultivation. During the War of 1812 he enlisted in the American
army, and while in the service gained the title by which he was afterward known. He married Elizabeth Nelson, who, like himself, was a native of Harford County, and they became the parents of four children, Sarah, James, William and Robert N.
On the farin which has been his only home through life, the subject of this sketch was born June 25, 1817. In boyhood he became familiar with scenes common to the early half of the nine- teenth century. His education was limited, for in those days schools were not as numerous as now. A large part of liis time was devoted to manual labor, and from the time he was old enough to assist he was called upon to do his share of the farm work. On arriving at man's estate he entered for himself the occupation to which he had been reared, and with which he was most familiar. In it he continued until the ap- proach of old age, and the possession of an ample income caused him to retire from active labors, though he still maintains the supervision of his interests. As he looks back over life's day, now in its sunset hour, he rejoices in the many im- provements that have been made in Harford County; he notes with pleasure the enlargement of industries and the increased importance of its commerce and its agriculture. To secure this result he gave his quota, and when he was in his prime the district had no citizen more active than he.
At the age of thirty-two years Mr. Rampley married Frances R. Maul, of this county, mem- ber of a Pennsylvania family that followed farm- ing pursuits. She is an active member of the Presbyterian Church, and has always been help- ful to the needy and distressed. Mr. Rampley contributes to the Presbyterian Church largely, but is not a member of any denomination, though a believer in Christianity. On his farm, and now in use. as a bari, stands the first Presbyterian Church ever built in District No. 4, it having been erected on the site now occupied by Bethel Church. The two children born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Rampley were named: Cornelia and Mary E. The latter is deceased. The foriner became the wife of Capt. James C. Turner, by whom she
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has four sons and three daughters: Fannie M., Elizabeth N., Phillips C., Robert N., Jolin M., Susan M. and James C. In politics Mr. Ramp- ley is a loyal Democrat, and unswerving in his allegiance to the men and measures of the party. An energetic and industrious man, by good man- agement lie has acquired a sufficient capital to enable him to spend liis remaining days in retire- ment from labor.
12 AVID REA. America is indebted to tlie Emerald Isle for many of her best citizens. The sons of that country have come to the new world and with their versatile ability have been quick to see and take advantage of oppor- tunities and work their way upward to success in the various callings to which they have devoted their energies. Among those of that nationality who sought homes in Cecil County and became allied with her best interests was Mr. Rea. He was born in the town of Bangor, County Down, Ireland, on the 14th of June, 1809, and having spent the days of his boyhood and youth in that country resolved to try his fortune in America.
It was in 1830 that MIr. Rea bade adieu to the land of his birth, and in a sailing-vessel crossed the Atlantic to New York City. In that place he learned the slater's trade, which he followed there until 1835, when he removed to New Orleans, continuing in the same line of business in the Crescent City for twenty years. In 1855 he came to Cecil County and purchased the farm on which his widow now resides. It was a tract of one hundred and fifty acres, and with characteristic energy he at. once began to develop and improve . the place, continuing his energetic labors until he had made it one of the valuable and attractive farms of the county. He was a man of great energy, of untiring purpose and resolute will, and these qualities were the essential factors in his business.
In 1838 Mr. Rea was united in marriage to Miss Mary Graham, who was born in New York
City in I822, a daugliter of Robert Graham, a native of Scotland, who came to America in 1821. Mr. Rea was a progressive and public-spirited cit- izen, who manifested a deep interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community, and gave a liberal support to all objects tending to- ward the advancement and improvement of the county. All esteemed him for liis sterling worth, and his circle of friends was extensive. He died in 1885, and his remains were interred in West Nottingham Cemetery. Since her husband's deatlı, Mrs. Rea has continued to reside upon the farın, in District No. 7. which he left to her, and which provides hier a comfortable support. For thirty-eight years she has been a faithful and con- sistent member of the Presbyterian Church of West Nottingham, and her consistent life, her kindly manner and her pleasant disposition have won her the love and regard of many.
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WILEY NORRIS, one of the leading and influential farmers of Harford County, resid- ing in District No. 4, comcs of a family that has been connected with Maryland from the days of its early development. His great-grandfather, John Norris, was born in England, and when a young man came with his brother George to the new world. They made their way direct to Harford County, and purchased cighteen hundred acres of land of Lord Baltimore, the first governor of the colony. A part of this tract is now in pos- session of our subject. From that early day down to tlic present tlie representatives of the Norris family have been prominent in the work of re- claiming the state from its primitive condition and making it one of the leading commonwealthis of the Union. Harford County bears the impress of their individuality, and the town of Norrisville stands as a monument to the enterprise of Vincent Norris, the grandfather of our subject. He was a native of Harford County, devoted his energies to farming with much success, and laid out the village which bears his name.
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Jolin S. Norris, father of our subject, was num- bered among the native sons of this county and followed farming as a life work. In early life he married Manda Z. Hutchins, who was born in the same locality, and their union was blessed with three children: J. Wiley, Robert R. and Richard M., the last-named now deceased. Mr. Norris, of this review, was born on the 7th of December, 1844, on the ancestral homestead, where his boyhood and youth were quietly passed. His elementary education, acquired in the com- mon schools, was supplemented by a commercial course in Eastman's Business College, of Pougli- keepsie, N. Y., and by a few terms' attendance at a select school. He was thus well fitted for life's responsible duties and in 1869, when twenty-five years of age, he embarked in general merchandis- ing in Norrisville. After conducting liis store for three years he resumed farming and has since devoted his time and attention to that pursuit. His landed possessions now aggregate one hundred and forty-five acres, and rich lands yield to him good returns for the care and labor he bestows upon the place.
Believing thoroughly in the principles of Democ- racy, Mr. Norris identified himself with that party ou attaining his majority and is one of the leading workers in its ranks in his district, doing all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. His church relationship is with the Methodist Protestant denomination in Norrisville, and fraternally he is connected with Charity Lodge No. 134, A. F. & A. M., of Parkton, Md.
ENJAMIN M. REED. In studying the lives and characters of men, we are naturally led to inquire into the cause of their success or of their failure. Success is less the result of genius than of good judgment and hard work. When we trace the careers of those who have become well-to-do and influential, whether they are business men, or farmers, or public officials,
we find that in almost every instance they are those who have risen gradually by their own efforts, their industry and perseverance. These qualities are undoubtedly possessed by Mr. Reed, for without them he could not have secured the confidence and respect so universally given him.
The Reed family is among the oldest and most honored within the limits of Cecil County. The first representatives in this country came hither from Ireland at an early day, bringing with them very little capital, but an abundant supply of the sturdy qualities of heart and mind characteristic of the Irish people. The father of our subject, William Reed, was born in District No. 5, Cecil County, and grew to manhood liere. Trained to farmi work, lie selected agriculture for his occupa- tion, and was so uniformly prosperous that lie became the owner of valuable property in the district. In addition to the management of his farm, he had charge of the building and opening of roads in tlie district, and his services in that capacity were of the greatest value in the develop- ment of the locality. Besides being road super- visor, he held other local positions of trust. The Methodist Protestant Church had in him a lead- ing and generous member, and the carrying for- ward of this religious movement was largely due to his interest and assistance. In 1865, when quite advanced in years, he passed away, and was laid to rest near the spot where he had spent his busy life. He married Amy McVey, daughter of Jacob McVey, and of Welsh descent. They became the parents of five children, all but one of whom are living, namely: Joseph T., who is engaged in the mercantile business in Bay View; Benjamin M .; William, whose biography will be found upon another page of this volume; and Martha, now widowed, and residing near Cal- vert, Md.
At the family homestead, and in a stone house standing one-quarter of a mile from his present place of residence, the subject of this sketch was born September 26, 1822. His earliest recollec- tions are of sights and scenes in District No. 5, and he is attached to this locality by ties of long and intimate association. Studies in school occu- pied his attention in the winter and work on the
JESSE A. KIRK.
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farm consumed the summer months. Thus un- eventfully passed the years of youth. At the age of twenty-one he purchased the place where he lias since resided. It is situated south of the property owned by his brother, William, and consists of eighty-two acres, which, though not constituting a large farm, are so productive that they return liberal profits to the owner.
In 1876 Mr. Reed was united in marriage with Christie McVey, adopted daughter of Jolin and Hannah Riddell; she was born and reared in this county and received her education in local schools. Trained in girlhood to a knowledge of housework, she was qualified to take charge of a home of her own and manage it economically and successfully. Four children were born of this union, two of whom are now living, namely: Benjamin H. and Melvina L., both of whom are with their parents.
OSEPH C. BOSLEY. This gentleman was for many years counted among the leading farmers of Harford County, and although he has now passed from earth's activities, it is but just that an outline of his life work be given, for he was one of those who did excellent service in bringing this section into its present splendid con- dition. All of his life was spent here, where he was born June 7, 1820. His parents, Joseph and Mary (Cathcart) Bosley, were also born here and in this section their earthly career ended. They were the parents of the following children: Je- mima, Mary, Ann, Ellen, Rachel, Elizabeth, Vil- cent and Joseph C.
The early life of Joseph C. Bosley was spent in the same manner as that of the average fariner's boy; that is, lie did chores about the home place, and later followed the plow, and to this occupa- tion his attention turned after he commenced life for himself. At the age of twenty-six years lie married Miss Anna Wiley, a native of Harford County, and they became the parents of nine chil-
dren, named as follows: Mary A., Alice A., David W., Jemima E. (deceased), John J., Margaret C. (deceased), William R., Rachel E. (deceased ) . and Laura R. (deceased). Mr. Bosley's life was one of usefulness and activity. Being a man of excellent judgment and unbounded energy, he tilled his fine farm of one hundred and fifty acres to his profit, and improved it with substantial buildings. His interests were not confined to agriculture alone, for the welfare of his section was of moment to him, and everything pertaining to the advancement of Harford County received his support. He was a patron of worthy enter -. prises of all kinds, charitable in disposition, and liis correct mode of living won him universal re- spect and esteen. He was for years prominently connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he was an active worker and a substan- tial supporter.
Mr. Bosley was always in sympathy with the principles of the Democratic party and supported its measures and candidates at each election, but was himself no office seeker, for his farming and other interests occupied his attention to the ex- clusion of all else. On the 21st of September, IS90, at the age of seventy years, his earthly career closed, but the good which he accomplished in his quiet way will live through the ages, long after his name has been forgotten. Such is the influence of a well-spent life.
ESSE ALLEN KIRK belongs to that class of citizens whose sterling worth, public spirit and progressiveness have been the means of procuring the substantial development of Cecil County. He belongs to one of the old and hon- ored families of the county and was born in Dis- trict No. 6, June 22, 1822. The founder of the family in America was Roger Kirk, who emi- grated from Ireland in 1712, and settled in Clies- ter County, Pa. His son, Elisha Kirk, was the father of Allen Kirk, who was born in District No. 6, Cecil County, in 1789, and became the fa-
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ther of our subject. He married Martha McCul- lough, and they had fourteen children: Evander, James R .; Benjamin F., Rebecca, wife of James Cameron; Elisha, Martha J., William A., John, of College Green; Mary A., Jesse A., Lemuel, and three who died in infancy.
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