Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 100

Author: Chapman Publishing Company
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: New York, Chapman pub. co.
Number of Pages: 906

USA > Maryland > Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland > Part 100

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The mother of our subject, Leah, was a daugh- ter of James Goldsborough, of Talbot County, and

Achsah (Worthington) Goldsborough, the latter being a daughter of Col. Nicholas Worthington, whose father, Thomas, of Anne Arundel County, was a son of Capt. John Worthington, the pro- genitor of the Worthingtons in Maryland. In company with his brother, Zachariah, Captain Worthington came to America from Lancaster County, England, about 1690. Reference to the Worthington family appears on another page.

The subject of this sketch was born in Cam- bridge, October 9, 1834, and was educated in Cambridge Academy. In 1850, going to Balti- more, he secured employment in a wholesale dry- goods store, where he remained for two years, and then returned to Cambridge and embarked in farming on the estate, Springfield, one mile south of the town. In 1862 he was appointed acting assistant paymaster of the navy by the secretary of navy, and in July, 1864, was appointed assist- ant paymaster by President Lincoln. His active service commenced about October, 1862, and con- tinued during the entire war. In 1866 he was promoted to the rank of paymaster and was made pay inspector in 1892. In 1873 he was fleet pay- master of the South Pacific squadron and from 188 1 to 1885 he was fleet paymaster of the South Atlantic squadron, also served as fleet paymaster of the Asiatic station, the Pacific station, the North Atlantic station and the naval review fleet in 1893. During the war he was present at the battles of Plymouth and Little Washington, N. C., and took part in many lesser engagements in the sounds of North Carolina. During his last three years of duty he was stationed at Annapolis, prior to which time he was at Washington, Annapolis, Philadelphia, New York, Sanı Fran- cisco, and Norfolk, Va. He was fifteen years at sea and the balance of the time was on shore duty, being for thirty-four years active in the navy. He is now a retired navy officer, with the rank of commander in navy.

In 1858 Mr. Goldsborough married Miss Hen- rietta, daughter of Samuel W. Jones, of Somerset County, Md. They have four children living: Dr. Brice W .; Phillips Lee, Dr. Martin W. and Robert. He is a member of the Episcopal Church, in which he has been a vestryman, and at one

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time he was a trustee of the Cambridge Academy. Fraternally he is a Master Mason and a member of the Loyal Legion and in politics he is a Re- publican. While active in the navy he visited almost every port in the world. From 1866 to 1868 he was attached to the United States ship Shamrock; 1872-75, Pacific United States ship Omaha; 1881-84, Brooklyn; then with the Savan- nah, Macedonia, Constellation, Santee and United States ship San Francisco; May, 1892, to Decem- ber, 1892, United States ship Charleston; and United States ship San Francisco, January I, 1892, to October, 1893.

G EORGE T. HOBBY, JR. Everywhere in our land are found men who have worked their own way up from humble beginnings to leadership in the commerce, the great productive industries, the management of financial affairs, and in controlling the veins and arteries of the traffic and exchanges of the country. It is one of the glories of our nation that it is so, and it should be the strongest incentive and encourage- ment to the youth of the country. Prominent among the self-made men of Centreville is the subject of this sketch, a man honored, respected and esteemed wherever known, and most of all where he is best known.

Mr. Hobby was born March 24, 1855, in Green- wich, Conn., and is a representative of one of the oldest and most prominent families of that state, where it was founded six generations ago by two brothers who came from England. There the great-grandfather engaged in farming through- out life. The grandfather, Lewis H. Hobby, a colonel of the war of 1812, was also a native of Greenwich, and was one of the most successful and eminent educators of his day. He was a graduate of Yale and for thirty years was presi- dent of the University of New York City, only resigning when failing health caused him to do so. On his retirement he located on a farm near Greenwich, Conn., where he subsequently died of heart disease. By his first marriage he has one

son, M. M. Hobby, a graduate of the University of New York City, who was a professor in that institution during his active life, but for a few years before his death lived retired in Stamford, Conn. For his second wife Lewis H. Hobby chose a Miss Van Duser, who belonged to an old Holland family of Orange County, N. Y., and George T. Hobby, Sr., was the only son born of this union.

George T. Hobby, Sr., was born in Yonkers, N. Y., in 1829, and was educated in the Univer- sity of New York City, where he was a classmate of the Harper brothers. For a time he taught in that institution and then went to northwestern Ohio, engaging in mercantile pursuits in Bryan for about three years. He inherited his father's estate, and on leaving Ohio he started two stores in Buffalo, N. Y., and for about two years con- ducted three different stores. He then came to Queen Anne's County, Md., where he engaged in farming for the following decade, and on leav- ing here engaged in the bakery business in Plain- field, N. J., for a time. Later he was again inter- ested in agricultural pursuits at Northport, L. I .. and subsequently turned his attention to the newspaper business in Brooklyn, where he still continues to live, being the present superintend- ent of the Brooklyn Eagle building. His has been a varied career, but has been marked by the strictest integrity and honor, and he is to-day a faithful member of Plymouth Churchı in Brooklyn.

In early manhood the father married Miss C. Haight, a native of Dutchess County, N. Y., who was left an orphan at an early age. Her family are still prominent in that county and in Brooklyn. Mr. and Mrs. Hobby have eight chil- dren: Mary C .; George T .; Howard, now a resi- dent of Port Deposit, N. Y .; Vincent M., who is married and is engaged in merchandising in Phil- adelphia; Lewis H., a baker of New York State; Alvina; Edward B., who is connected with a paper of Brooklyn, called Once A Week; and Alice.

Our subject was eleven years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Ohio, and he completed his education in the Bryan high school. When thirteen he began his

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business career as clerk in his father's store, and in 1872 entered the service of a New York house, where he remained for three years, after which he was for the same length of time with William McKenny. In 1878 he embarked in business on his own account, was later in the commission busi- ness with his father at Plainfield, N. J., and for a time carried on operations at Stanton, Va. Coming to Centreville, Md., he entered the employ of the firm of Goden & Hall, afterward purchased a third interest, and since August, 1890, has been alone in business. By fair and honorable as well as courteous treatment of his customers, he has succeeded in building up a large and profitable trade, and is accounted one of the most thorough- ly reliable, enterprising and progressive business 111en of the place.

On the 6th of December, 1876, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Hobby and Miss Ada C. Gearhart, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daugh- ter of Henry L. Gearhart, who at the time of their marriage was living at Hillsborough, Caro- line County, Md. Eight children bless this union: George S., who is now in the store with his father; Ada C .; Emma; Edna H .; H. L .; Alice G .; Arthur J. ; and L. E. Politically Mr. Hobby is identified with the Democratic party, and socially affiliates with the Royal Arcanum, in which he is now serving as regent.

A SYDNEY GADD, proprietor of the Centre- ville Creamery, is comparatively a recent ac- quisition to the goodly array of progressive business men in that thriving town, but his abil- ity, enterprise and upright methods have already established for him an enviable reputation. Al- though he is still a young man his popularity is established on a firm basis, that of his own well- tested merit.

Mr. Gadd was born on the Ist of October, 1861, in Hillsborough, Caroline County, Md., a son of A. J. and Mary A. (Dixon) Gadd, also na- tives of that county. The father, who was born February 27, 1832, received but a common-school

education, and in early life learned the carpen- ter's trade. He became quite an extensive con- tractor and builder. Coming to Queen Anne's County in 1870, he first located in the town of Queen Anne, but the following year removed to Sudlersville, where he engaged in farming until 1874, when in partnership with Dr. A. E. Sudler, under the firm name of Gadd & Sudler, he em- barked in the canning business. They have a large plant, do an extensive business and can both vegetables and fruit, putting up a brand known as "Our Choice."

In 1859 A. J. Gadd removed to St. Joseph County, Mo., where in 1861 he organized a com- pany for the Confederate army, but did not enter the service. Having considerable property in this state he returned to Caroline County the same year. He is one of the leading and influ- ential members of the Democracy in his com- munity, and has taken an active part in promot- ing the interests of his party. About 1883 he was solicited to become a candidate of his party for the legislature, in company with W. A. Bar- ton and William H. Ligg, and all were elected, Mr. Gadd leading the ticket. As a business man and citizen he is deservedly popular, and has a host of warm friends throughout his adopted county. His brother, Luther H., was clerk of the circuit court of Caroline County for two terms, was for four years state librarian under Gov. Frank Brown, and is now proprietor of the Maryland Hotel at Annapolis, being a member of the firm of Gadd & Neviln. Another brother, Frank Gadd, was in the Confederate army under General Price, until seriously wounded. He died of consumption. Alexander Gadd, the third brother, was in the blockade service during the Civil war and was later a farmer of Talbot County, Md.

The mother of our subject died in 1869, leaving two sons, the other being Daniel L., who is now connected with the Baltimore & Ohio locomotive works. Her father, Capt. Daniel Dixon, was for over half a century a sea captain and died at the ripe old age of eighty-three years. His only son also followed the water and died in early life. After the death of his first wife A. J. Gadd

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married Mrs. E. H. Morgan, widow of William Morgan, and to them were born two sons: Rob- ert F., now a civil engineer; and Luther L., an electrical engineer. Both are graduates of the Lehigh University of Pennsylvania.

During his boyhood and youth Mr. Gadd of this review attended the common schools, and began his business career in the employ of his father. In 1890 he took a course in Eastman's Business College, after which he remained with his father for one year, but on the 16th of De- cember, 1891, he purchased the creamery in Centreville. None of the three proprietors pre- vious to this time had made a success of the business, but with indomitable energy Mr. Gadd soon built up an excellent trade. Though he had but $60 to invest in the business at the start, his father assisted what was necessary and he has prospered. He has enlarged his plant and now has one of the best equipped creameries in this section of the state. He is widely and favorably known, and is a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge of Centreville.

ORIN CLEVELAND NELSON. From an early age Mr. Nelson has been a mariner, though of later years he has given his attention especially to the oyster business and is now the owner of an oyster house situated about two miles from Crisfield. An energetic, capable business man, he has succeeded in ac- cumulating a competency and in gaining a rep- utation for his accurate knowledge of the in- dustry in which he is engaged. In addition to private business affairs he has taken a warm in- terest in matters relating to the welfare of the district and county where he resides, and has done all within his power for the advancement of local enterprises. He is an advocate of Repub- lican principles, but never took an active part in politics until 1895, when he was elected to the office of sheriff of Somerset County, a position that he has filled with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all.

At the place where he still resides the subject of this article was born August 2, 1861. His father, Alonzo Nelson, a native of the same place, followed the water for a number of years, being engaged in the bay trade. Later, however, he gave his attention largely to farming. He is now seventy-five years of age and is practically retired from active business cares. For forty years or more he has been a local preacher and exhorter in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he still preaches occasionally. Since the organi- zation of the Republican party he has upheld its principles, but has never been active in politics.

Our subject's grandfather, Thomas Nelson, was also born in this neighborhood and here spent his entire life as farmer and merchant, with the exception of a short period in youth when he followed the water. In politics he was a Whig and in religion a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. His death occurred at seventy years of age. His father, Thomas, known as "King" Nelson, was a native of England, and became one of the pioneers of Somerset County, where he died at the age of about one hundred and four years. He was a direct descendant of Lord Nelson, of England.

The mother of our subject was Sallie, daughter of John Sterling. She has spent her entire life in this locality and is now seventy-four years of age. Of her nine children we note the follow- ing: Henry W. is an oysterman here; Charles Edward, also a resident of Crisfield, is a fisher- man by occupation; and John Allen is a mer- chant; Lorin C. died in boyhood; William Clarke is a mariner, preacher and carpenter, and resides in Crisfield; Clara J. is the wife of J. S. Stewart, of Sussex County, Del .; our subject is seventh in order of birth; and the others are Martin Luther and Thomas, residents of this locality.

When a lad of twelve years our subject began to follow the water, and for some years he en- gaged in the bay trade, becoming after a timie the owner and master of a vessel of his own. In 1891 he commenced in the oyster business near Crisfield and has since built up a valuable and important business in his special line. He is known as one of the reliable citizens of his town,

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and the high esteem in which he is held is shown by his election to the office of sheriff in 1895. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is connected with its official board.

In 1887 L. C. Nelson was united in marriage with Miss Alice Lawson, who was born in Som- erset County. They have three children, Jannie, Alnia Lillian and Morrison Marks, all living and at home. The father of Mrs. Nelson, William T. Lawson, deceased, was a member of the legis- lature one term and was collector of customs for the Government for twenty-eight years at differ- ent points, and was very prominent in the church and Sunday-school. In politics he was a stal- wart Republican. As a citizen Mr. Nelson favors measures for the benefit of his fellow-men and the prosperity of the county, and all public-spirited enterprises are sure of his support.

I S. BENNETT has been engaged in the mercantile business since early manhood. At the age of nineteen he embarked in mer- chandising at Dames Quarter, Somerset County, where he remained for a year. Then coming to Wicomico County he opened a store in Riverton where he has since carried on an extensive trade among thie people of this locality. Believing a similar undertaking would be profitable else- where, in 1893 he opened a store at Spring Grove, first district, and in 1896 started another branch store at Sharptown.

Near where he now lives Mr. Bennett was born February 16, 1859, a descendant of an English family that has resided in Wicomico County for many generations, His father, E. T., grandfather, James, and great-grandfather, Gil- lis Bennett, were born in about the same locality in Wicomico County, and were farmers by oc- cupation. The father has been one of the promi- 11ent men of Barren Creek district, of which he was several times chosen collector. Though now on account of age (being seventy-five) retired from active participation in business or public affairs, he still maintains an interest in matters

pertaining to the welfare of the people. £

He married Sarah E., daughter of Levi Taylor, of the same district. She is now sixty-nine years of age. Their children are named as follows: Sophronia, wife of Levin Bennett, of Mardela Springs; James L., who resides in Somerset County; E. T., of Mardela Springs; Thomas W., who lives in the first district; Gillis E., who makes his home in Sharptown; I. S .; and Rev. Louis A., now residing in Crisfield, Somerset County.

When a boy our subject was a pupil in the local district schools and the grammar school at Salisbury. At an early age he became interested in the business in which he has since engaged, and by practical experience he has gained a thorough knowledge of merchandising in every department. Politically he favors Democratic principles. In 1889 he served as collector for Sharptown and the first districts, and in 1891 he was elected a member of the board of county commissioners. These positions he filled faith- fully and well. Fraternally he has been treasurer of the Knights of Pythias and an active worker in the Order of United American Mechanics. February 22, 1890, he married Laura, daughter of Levin Cooper, of Barren Creek district. Their two children are named James M. and Ruth H.

HOMAS E. GRACE, a substantial agricult- urist of the second district of Talbot County, owns a valuable and very desirable farm on Broad Creek Neck. He is a man of quiet, unassuming manner, but his many estim- able qualities are most favorably commented upon by the people amongst whom his whole life has been passed. He is known to be a man of strict integrity, justice and correct principle, and as such deserves to have his name handed down to posterity as a worthy example.

The Grace family is noted for the good old age to which most of its members attain, as they often approach the nineties. Our subject's grandfather, William S. Grace, was a native son of this county

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and was a successful farmer. His son, Skinner, was not only a farmer, but a merchant also, and was one of the patriots of the war of 1812, and had the misfortune to fall into the hands of the British soldiers. He was sent on a prison ship to Jamaica, in the West Indies, and en route con- tracted yellow fever. In spite of these various experiences he lived through it all and passed his old age in restful ease at his old home in this county. (Further particulars of the ancestral history may be found in the sketch of our sub- ject's brother, William S. Grace, which appears elsewhere in this volume. )

The birth of Thomas E. Grace occurred Octo- ber 17, 1841, on a farm not far from the one which he now carries on. He remained with his parents until he had reached man's estate, assisting in the various duties of the farm and a neighbor- ing store. When he was about twenty-three he was married, and settled upon a tract of land which he rented from his mother. This place was situated in Bay Hundred district, and though it was desirable from many points of view, he preferred the one which he later bought and now resides upon. During the years 1889-90, he was engaged in the produce and commission business in Baltimore, and during the winters of 1895 and 1896 he kept books for a contracting and building firm in that city. With these exceptions he has given his attention exclusively to agriculture, and with gratifying results. His place contains about one hundred acres, and is well improved, with good buildings, etc. Until 1892 he was a supporter of the Republican party, but since then has voted for Prohibition nominees.

The lady who bears the name of our subject became his faithful and devoted wife in 1864. She was formerly Miss Susan R. Preston, of Bal- timore, and by her marriage she has become the mother of six children. Elizabeth L. died when twenty-eight years of age, regretted by a large circle of friends and associates. Mary Ella, a bright little girl, died at the age of six years. The others are: William Preston, a rising young farmer of this district; Susan May, wife of G. Edward Wrightson, of this county; Samuel S., who is still with his parents, as is also Leona B.,

the youngest of the family. When he was but fifteen years old our subject united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and from that day to this has been actively concerned in the cause. He has held about all the official positions on the board of his own church, and incorporates in his daily life the Christian faith he professes.

EV. JACOB W. PORTER, a retired minister of the Methodist Protestant Church, was engaged in ministerial work for twenty years or more in connection with the Wisconsin division of the north Illinois conference but in 1876 gave up preaching on account of a throat trouble and came to Maryland. Buying a farm in Bay Hundred district, Talbot County, he has since given his attention to the cultivation of this place. About 1884 he bought a sawmill and has since carried on an extensive lumber business. He is a man who keeps well posted concerning public affairs and the issues before the people, and in politics he has always worked with the Repub- licans. While residing in Wisconsin he was superintendent of public schools and was also chairman of the district board of supervisors and a member of the county board.

The Porters are an old family of New York. The grandfather of our subject, Alexander Porter, was an army officer during the Revolution and was in charge of the commissary at New York, but after the close of the war he retired from the army. The father of our subject, Amasa Porter, was born in Seneca County, N. Y., and when a young man he learned the blacksmith's trade at Geneva, N. Y., and afterward followed his trade in Waterloo, the same state. The latter part of his life was spent upon a farm in Erie County, but his death occurred in Wisconsin when he was sixty-nine years of age. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Republican. He was a leader of the latter party and was always influential in public affairs. For many years he served as justice of the peace. He married Eliza Weatherlow, of Waterloo, N. Y., and eight chil-

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dren were born of their union, four now living, namely: Erastus A .; Mrs. B. F. Bull; Mrs. P. Drake, of Columbia County, Wis .; and Jacob W., of Maryland.

Born in Erie County, N. Y., in 1830, Mr. Porter was educated in the public schools and at Springville Academy. For three years he was employed in a general store in his native county. In1 1852 he joined the Genesee Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church at Batavia, N. Y., and on his removal to Wisconsin was transferred to the conference of that state. For twenty years he was engaged in ministerial work and in superintending a farm. In 1876 he came to Talbot County, where he has since engaged in farming and the sawmill business. In 1852 he married Martha Calkins, by whom he had eight children: Mrs. Randolph Eller; Mrs. James F. Flower; Mrs. W. W. Cummings, who reside in Columbia County, Wis .; Mrs. Albert W. Fair- bank; Mrs. W. O. Wrightson, Mark H. W. now deceased; Grace W .; a trained nurse; and Love C., who reside in Maryland.

G EORGE MULLIKIN, who carries on gen- eral farming in the sixth district of Queen Anne's County, was born in Caroline County, on the Ist of September, 1821. Both his fa- ther and grandfather bore the name of Patrick Mullikin and were natives of Talbot County, while the great-grandfather, a native of Ireland, became the founder of the family in America, establishing his home in Maryland. Patrick Mullikin, father of our subject, was a carpenter by trade and followed that pursuit throughout the greater part of his business career. He died in Caroline County in 1843, and his wife, surviv- ing him many years, passed away in 1865. They had a family of seven children, but George is now the only surviving one.

The educational privileges which George Mul- likin received were very limited. He was early thrown upon his own resources and has made his way in the world unaided, his success being

due entirely to his own perseverance, industry and well-directed efforts. He worked as a farm hand until twenty-one years of age, earning only $5 per month, which sum went to the support of his father and mother. In the year 1844, how- ever, he was married and began farming on his own account, operating rented land. The fol- lowing year he came to Queen Anne's County, where he has since made his home, devoting his time and energies to agricultural pursuits. Suc- cess has attended his labors and he is now the owner of five good farms, which yield to him a golden tribute in return for his care and labor. Something of his prosperity may be gained from the statement that when he came to the county his taxes were only $1.50 and he now annually pays into the county coffers taxes amounting to over $150, his property being valued at $20,000.

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Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 100

Author: Chapman Publishing Company Publication date: 1898 Publisher: New York, Chapman pub. co. Number of Pages: 906

Author: Chapman Publishing Company
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: New York, Chapman pub. co.
Number of Pages: 906