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 69
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 69
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since which time he has had his office in Elkton. He is regarded as one of the leading attorneys and rising political leaders of his locality, and his name has been mentioned as the Republican can- didate for state's attorney. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is past grand of the local lodge and a member of the grand lodge. February 25, 1896, he was united in marriage with Miss Carrie, daugliter of H. H. Brady, of Chesapeake City.
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UGH T. HEAPS. The farm which this gen- tleman owns and operates is especially dear to him, because it is his birthplace and was the home of his ancestors for several generations. It lies in District No. 5, Harford County, and contains a fine set of buildings and other desir- able improvements. A portion of the property is devoted to the raising of cereals, while the re- mainder is utilized for the pasturage of stock, Mr. Heaps giving some attention to both of these departments of agriculture.
Born in 1830, our subject is the second son of John and Martha (Alexander) Heaps, natives of this district. The family of which he is a mem- ber consisted of six children, his brother and sis- ters being William A., Sallie A. (deceased), Eliza J., Mary M. (deceased) and Belle V. His grand- father was born in Harford County, and in 1800 bought five hundred acres, a portion of which is included in our subject's farm. Farming was his life work, and being a man of energy he was fairly successful. During the Revolution he ren- dered service in the American army, and his son, our subject's father, was a lieutenant in the War of 1812, and afterward a captain in the service. The great-grandfather, Robert Heaps, was born in England, but emigrated to America prior to the Revolution and settled in Harford County, where he developed and cultivated a farm. Agri- culture has been the occupation of the family as far back as the record can be traced.
As a tiller of the soil, our subject has led a busy
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. and useful life. His education was gained rather from observation than from text books, but it has been none tlie less serviceable for that reason. He married Maggie Barton, of York County, Pa., an estimable lady and a successful school teacher, and they have three children. The Bar- ton family originated in England, whence the great-grandfather of Mrs. Heaps came to America and settled in York County. Members of the family participated in the Revolution and the War of 1812, and they have always been patriotic and loyal to the institutions of our government.
During 1874 and 1875 Mr. Heaps held the office of county commissioner, in which capacity he was always alert to promote the best interests of old Harford. Politically lie is a stanchi Democrat, decided in his views, and not easily turned from his convictions when once assured he is in the right. Fraternally he is connected with Mt. « Ararat Lodge No. 44, A. F. & A. M., at Bel Air. He and his wife hold membership in the Presby- · terian Church, in which he officiates as a trustee . and elder. He is a man of sound principles and has the respect of his fellow-citizens.
ACOB BRILLHART. Among those of Ger- inan descent who have developed a high order of ability in connection with the agri- cultural affairs of Harford County, and whose `personal and social qualities have given them added prominence, Mr. Brillhart is conspicuous. With steady purpose, energy and a full compre- hension of the many duties of his calling, he has pushed to the front and is justly respected in the county of his adoption. He traces his ancestry back through four generations to his great-great- grandfather, who was born in Germany, and came to this country in the early part of his life. He settled in York County, Pa., where he became a very extensive land owner. His son, Isaac Brill- hart, was born there, and, like his father, was en- gaged in farming, but when the Revolutionary
War opened, left the plow to enlist in the colonial army, with which he served throughout the war. York County was also the birthplace of his son, David Brillhart, and farming was his life occu- pation. Joseph Brillhart, son of the last named, was a product of the same county as himself, and farming was his occupation throughout life. He eventually became the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres, and on this home- stead were born to himself and wife, Elizabeth (Strayer) Brillhart, the following children: Jacob; Mary, deceased; Henry S .; Jolin W .; Elizabeth, deceased; Sarah; Noah; Joseph and Catharine, botlı deceased.
Like each and every one of his lineal ancestors, back to his great-great-grandfather, Jacob Brillhart was born in York County, Pa., and like them he was reared to a knowledge of farm life. His birth occurred January 25, 1831, and his youth was spent in doing various chores about the home place and in acquiring an education in the district schools. At the age of twenty-eight years, Miss Elizabeth Venus, a native of York County, Pa., became his wife. Her mother, whose maiden name was Ann Sykes, was a native of England, while her father was of French ex- traction. As the years rolled by a family of four children was given them, named as follows: Ed- ward L., Ellen A., Minnie S. and Jacob C., de- ceased. The mother, who was a devoted mem- ber of the Evangelical Church, was called from this life in January, 1888, at the age of forty-six years. She was a kind and devoted wife and motlier, and hier death was lamented by all who knew her, as well as by her own immediate family.
Although Mr. Brillhart was reared to the oc- cupation of farming, he followed milling and lumbering for over thirty years in various parts of Missouri, Ohio, Arkansas, Maryland and Pennsylvania, and while thus engaged he traveled over the western part of the United States, and became thoroughly familiar with the topography of that region. His experiences were mauy and varied while thus employed, and he experienced numerous financial ups and downs, but never relaxed his efforts to better his financial condi- tion, and is now in good circumstances. He has
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always been a faithful and enthusiastic Republi- can in politics, and has held the offices of assessor and justice of the peace, the latter for three years. He was formerly a member of the Im- proved Order of Red Men. Like his ancestors for generations, he is a member of the Evan- gelical Church.
HOMAS FASSITT. Of the residents of Cecil County, there are perhaps few who have traveled as extensively in our country as has Mr. Fassitt, of District No. 9. His occu- pation of a civil engineer, in which for years he was actively engaged, took him to different points, and at various times he has been a resident of twenty-three states. Finally, wishing to enter an occupation that would enable him to establishi a permanent home, he turned his attention from engineering to farming, and has since operated a farm of one hundred and fifty acres. While he had no previous experience as an agriculturist, his sound common sense enabled him to succeed in the occupation.
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As nearly as can be ascertained, the founder of the Fassitt family in Maryland was Ralph Fas- sitt, who was a native of France, and a descend- ant of the illustrious Huguenots. The grandfather of our subject, James, and the great-grandfather, . William, were born in Worcester County, this state, whence the former removed to Philadel- phia in 1790, and embarked in business there. Alfred Fassitt, our subject's father, was born in Philadelphia in 1800 and spent his life there, en- gaged in business as a wholesale jobber and mer- chant. In politics he was a Whig, and in religion a member of the First Presbyterian Church, al- ways being deeply interested in religious enter- prises. As his wife, he chose Margaret Barclay, of Philadelphia, daughter of Jolin Allen, a soldier in the Revolution, and for years chief clerk to Steplien Girard. They became the parents of nine children, but only three are now living: John B., of New York City; Thomas and Mar-
celcra. The father of this family died in Phil- adelphia in 1874, when seventy-four years of age.
Born in Philadelphia, Thomas Fassitt was edu- cated there and in Maryland. He learned civil engineering while in the employ of the Pennsyl- vania Railway Company and followed the occu- pation for many years. In 1872 he was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Van Sant, of Bucks County, Pa., and afterward bought the old Kirk Brown farm in District No. 9, Cecil County, where he has since engaged in general farming and the dairy business. He has four children, the eldest of whom, Alfred, assists in the man- agcment of the home place; John Barclay, Lor- aine F. and Kathleen Mary arc at home. They attend the Zion Presbyterian Church, while Mr. Fassitt holds membership in St. Mary Anne's Episcopal Church, at North East. While con- nected with the church at Oxford, he officiated as vestryman for some years. He is a veteran of the late war, in which he enlisted in 1862, as a member of the Second Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served about one year. Interested in local affairs, he stands well among his fellow-citizens. His social ways and kindly manner toward all with whom he comes in contact, his hearty apprecia- tion of the merits of others and his enjoyment in whatever brings happiness to them, all these things have won for him a position among the people of the community, which is one of the greatest prizes of life.
APT. JOSEPH HENRIQUES. On the banks of Chesapeake Bay, in District No. 2, Harford County, lies the fertile and well-in- proved estate of five hundred and fifty acres, where, in the twilight of a very busy and active life, Captain Henriques is living retired from bus- iness cares. Could his biography be given in full, with its many thrilling incidents and perilous experiences, it would read like a page from ro- mance. He has traveled extensively, both in for-
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eign lands and in our country, and has thus gained a cosmopolitan culture that can be acquired in no other way; he has also gained a knowledge of then and countries, the customs of peoples and their relations with the United States.
The life here chronicled began at Kingston, Jamaica, June IS, 1825. Of the place of his birth, however, the captain retains no recollection, for he was only six weeks old when his parents re- moved to New York City. His father, Moses, was born and reared in London, England, and in · early life was successfully engaged in trading in the West Indies, where he met and married Sarali Nunes, a native of Kingston, West Indies. They became the parents of ten children, but only three are living, viz .: Joseph, the eldest; William H., a stock broker, of New York; and Lavinia, widow of Col. Alfred W. Taylor, of New York. The father removed to New York in 1825, and re- mained there about three years, after which he traveled in Europe until 1832, when he returned - to New York and became an agent for the bank- ing house of Rothschild. For many years he carried on a banking business on Wall Street. A · speculator in lands, he owned considerable prop- erty where now stands the city of Chicago.
When our subject was two years of age, the family went to Europe and spent two and one- half years in travel upon the continent, then re- turned to New York City, where his early school- ing was obtained. For a time he was a student in the New York Lyceum, where he took a seven years' course in French and Spanish, also carried on other studies. Afterward for three years he attended a private school in Boston, taught by Rev. D. M. P. Wells, and then spent two years in Columbia College, in New York. His first employment was that of clerk in the dry-goods store of A. T. Stewart & Co., in New York, where he remained three years. On the breaking out of the Mexican War in 1847, he became sergeant of the first regiment that was organized in New York and at once marched to the scene of war- fare. When the army finally entered the city of Mexico, he was placed on the staff of the major- general as secretary and interpreter, and contin- ued in that capacity until the treaty of peace was
signed. During that time lie was commissioned to officiate as interpreter and translator to the peace commission, headed by Nicholas P. Twist. When the American army evacuated the city of Mexico, he returned to the United States. Twice during the war he was wounded, once by a gun shot in the left limb and at another time in the lead by a sabre. On his return lie was presented with a medal by the city council of New York City, and this he still has in his possession, one of his most valued souvenirs of the war.
In January, 1849, Captain Henriques was one of a party of one hundred gentlemen organized to go to California. En route to the west he passed through Mexico, where he acted as inter- preter. After the city of San Francisco was chartered, he was chosen deputy county clerk and also served as public administrator of the county, secretary to the United States land com- missioners and interpreter to all the courts. He also held the position of secretary to the judiciary committee of the legislature. For a short time he prospected for gold and also dealt in sugar. On two occasions he has officiated as second in duels, being Graham's second in the duel with John Nugent, of San Francisco. While in the west he became identified with San Francisco Lodge No. 1, I. O. O. F., and passed through all the chairs. He was also identified with Leb- anon Lodge No. 49, A. F. & A. M., of San Francisco, which was the first lodge instituted by the Masons in that city. In 1857 he returned to New York via steamer.
From 1857 to 1861 Captain Henriques was employed as a translator in the liquidating de- partnient of the New York custom house, except during the year 1858, when he was sent by the government to Cuba to investigate some fraudu- lent sugar deals. When the Fourth New York Infantry was organized, under Col. Alfred Tay- lor, he raised a company and was chosen captain. The regiment, about one thousand strong, went to Newport News, where five weeks were spent in perfecting the organization and in drilling. They were then ordered down the line of the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad, between Perryville and Baltimore, and Captain
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Henriques was placed in command of five com- panies at Havre de Grace, as senior captain. Later he was sent to protect a bridge at Gunpow- der River, thence to Ft. McHenry, from there to Suffolk, Va., Washington, D. C., and through Maryland to Antietam. There he received a wound in his left hand that disabled him from further service. Returning to New York, he ac- cepted a position as clerk in charge of French correspondence for the house of H. B. Claflin & Co., and was also made secretary of the New York Stock Exchange, of which his brother was vice-president. This position he held from 1865 to 1869, when he came to Harford County and took up his residence upon Wilton farin, the prop- erty inherited by his wife from her parents. She bore the maiden name of Sarah B. Hoke, and was born on the place she now owns. Jacob Hoke, who was a native of York County, Pa., came to Harford County with his father, Peter Hoke, and settled upon this farm in 1814. The marriage of Captain Henriques and Sarah B. Hoke took place October 22, 1863, and one child was born of the union, Peter H., who died in 1873. Mrs. Henriques is a member of the Epis- copal Church, which the captain attends. In politics he has always been a stanch Democrat, and is warmly interested in party matters.
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HENRY FORD. It has been said that the "worth of a state in the long run is the worth of the individuals composing it." This be- ing accepted as true, the presence of a public- spirited, talented man, of superior mental traits,
> is of the greatest valuc to the state. But, while the state is benefited, the especial benefit falls upon the village or locality, the immediate center from which the influence radiates. We find this to be the case in studying the life of Mr. Ford, of North East. At an early age he displayed the earnestness of purpose that has since been one of his chief characteristics and that has largely been
the means of his success. A review of his life will be of interest to the people in Cecil County, of which he is a native and to which he returned, after an honorable and successful career as an attorney in Washington, D. C.
The Ford family is thought to be of Irish ex- traction, but the genealogy is not clear upon this point. It is certain that it has been identified with the history of America from a very early period of its settlement. Patriotism has always been a marked family characteristic. Col. John Ford, great-grandfather of our subject, took part as an officer in the Revolutionary War and was present at the battle of Long Island. While in active service he captured, from a conquered foe, a Hessian musket, that is now in the possession of our subject and highly prized by him. John, father of I. Henry Ford, was born at Oldfield Point, Cecil County, and became a farmer, whichi occupation he followed, together with work as an itinerant Methodist preacher, as long as he lived. In politics he was first an old-line Whig, and later a Republican. He was a descendant of Francis Mauldin, who came to this country about 1687, and settling on Elk Neck took up a large tract of land, some of which is still owned by the descend- ants. The marriage of John Ford and Elizabeth Simpers resulted in the birth of eleven children, of whom seven are living, namely: Charles, who has been a very successful man and resides in Washington, D. C .; John Fletcher, of North East; Capt. Samuel, who is a resident of Wash- ington, D. C .; Margaret, who is unmarried and resides in Philadelphia; Alfred, of Washington; I. Henry, and Sarah M., who resides with our subject and has charge of his home. The father of this family attained an advanced age, dying in 1891, and the mother passed away in 1876. They were a worthy couple, honest in even the smallest details, kind and generous to those in need, and respected by all who knew them.
At the family home in North East, I. Henry Ford was born October 21, 1845. His father be- ing well-to-do, he was given the best educational advantages it was possible to secure, and of these he availed himself to the utmost, as he was am- bitious to gain a wide fund of knowledge. He
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attended the private schools of his native town, after which for four terms he was a student in Ft. Edward Institute near Albany, N. Y., and then prepared for college at Suffield, Conn. The fall of 1867 found him a student in classic Yale, from which institution he graduated in IS71 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Beginning the study of law, in the law department of the same college, he graduated in 1873 as a Bachelor of Laws. Immediately afterward he opened an office in Washington, D. C., where he conducted a general practice for twenty years, meeting with fair success in his profession. Failing health at last obliged him to seek an entire change of occu- pation, and in 1893 he returned to the old home- stead in Cecil County, where he has since resided, superintending the management of a part of the property and renting the balance to tenants. He . also rents another farm that he owns in this county. He belongs to the Greek letter societies, is a friend of religious movements, and always votes the Republican ticket, though at no time a candidate for office. During the campaign of 1896 he was president of a sound-money club. As a citizen he is progressive and consistent, and always identifies himself with movements tending toward the benefit of town and county.
OHN DUNNIGAN. Among the represen- tative and prominent citizens of Harford County, there are many of foreign birth, who have come to this country with the hope of bettering their financial condition and in this free land of ours have succeeded in securing a good home and comfortable competence as the reward of their industry, perseverance and economy. In Mr. Dunnigan we find a worthy representative of this class.
He began his earthly career in Ireland, and was the eldest of the five sons of John Dunnigan, the others being Patrick, James, Bernard and Andrew. When our subject was a young man the father brought his family to the new world
and took up his residence in Harford County, Md., where he spent the remainder of his life en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, dying in 1865.
The boyhood and youth of Mr. Dunnigan, of this sketch, were spent on the Emerald Isle, where in early life he learned the stone masou's trade, and this occupation he successfully follow- ed for a number of years after coming to America. It was in 1863 that he crossed the Atlantic, and he has since been numbered among the leading citizens and wide-awake business men of Harford County. He is the owner of a good farm of sixty acres in District No. 5, which he has placed un- der a high state of cultivation and operates in connection with his son Daniel J., a promising young man of thrifty and industrious habits.
As a companion and helpmate on life's journey Mr. Dunnigan chose Anna Clark. Five children have blessed their union: John, now a resident of Darlington; Mary, wife of Theodore Crew; James, of Lapidum; Daniel J. and Andrew. The family is one of the highest respectability and worth and its members are all communicants of the Catholic Churchi.
2 R. DAVID O. BOTTS, who has had long and successful experience as a dentist at Darlington, Harford County, was born in this village in 1853, the son of Isaac H. and Mary (Sheridan) Botts. He is a descendant on his mother's side, from one of the old and honor- ed families of the county. His father was for fifty years engaged in the practice of dentistry at Darlington, where his death occurred in 1887, at the age of seventy-five years. His wife died in 1872. Eight children were born of their union and of these five are now living, namely: Mary E., wife of George Murphy; George and John, who reside in District No. 5, Harford County; David O., of this sketch; and Thomas, also a resident of District No. 5.
In the academy at Darlington cur subject ob- tained a practical education, completing his liter- ary studies at the age of twenty-one When a
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mere boy he became interested in dentistry and nothing pleased him more than to be given an op- portunity to visit his father's office, where he stud- : jed the dental instruments, their varied uses, the . - treatment of patients, and all the work connected with the profession. As soon as he acquired a . thorough knowledge of the occupation, he began in practice for himself and has since carried it on among the people residing in and near Darling- ton.
The Democratic party finds in Dr. Botts a firm and loyal supporter, whose views upon matters relating to the government have been adopted only after thoughtful study of men and the times in which we live. In religious belief he and his family are Methodists. In 1876 he married Sallie
B. Smith, and they have two children. Mrs. - Botts is the daughter of Thackery and Sarah Smith, natives of England, who came to America in 1848 and settled in Chester County, Pa., but from there removed to Harford County in 1853 and settled upon a farm. Mr. Smith died here in November, 1893, aged eighty-three, and his wife passed away in August, 1896, at the age of seventy-eight. Their family consisted of seven children, and of these all but one are living. They are named as follows: Richard, residing in Castleton, this county; Johu, also a resident of this county; Harry, who lives in Kansas; Samuel, of Darlington; Sarah, wife of Dr. Botts; and Esther, who married Samuel Love and makes her home in Castleton.
ARVEY H. MACKEY. The service which in the past Mr. Mackey has rendered his fellow-citizens in Cecil County, and which - he is now rendering the people in the responsible office of sheriff, entitles him to rank among the in- fluential men of the county. As an honored member of an honorable family, connected through many generations with the history of this local- ity, he is adding lustre to the name he bears, and
in the efficient discharge of his duties is winning a high reputation. It is fitting, therefore, that in this volume mention should be made of his ancestry and life.
A lifelong resident of Cecil County, Mr. Mackey was born in District No. 9, September 11, 1868, the son of Robert and Lydia (Yerkes) Mackey, natives, respectively, of Rock Church, Cecil County, and Bucks County, Pa. His father, who in youth learned the trade of a wheelwright, has long been a man of prominence in this part of the state, and for one term held the office of sher- iff, in which position he enforced the law with a vigilance that made him a terror to evil doers. At this writing he is engaged in business in Fair- view, District No. 4. His father, whose name was David, was also a native of this county. Our subject's maternal grandfather, Andrew Yerkes, was a member of an old and leading family of Bucks County, Pa. In the Mackey family there were three sons: Harvey H .; Andrew Jarrett, a farmer and wheelwright; and David Clinton, who is now in school.
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