Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 104

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 104

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George Whitefield Woolford, father of our subject, spent his entire life on the family home- stead, and was one of the largest land owners of Dorchester County. In 1893 he was elected to the legislature, where he served for one term. For some time he held office as a county commis- sioner. In early life he was a Whig, but.later became identified with the Democratic party. His death occurred in 1874, when he was eighty- four years of age. Of his fourteen children, be- fore named, four are living, namely: Susie; Kate, widow of John A. Mace, of Philadelphia; Sam-

uel W .; and Valeria, wife of William Hurlock, of Cambridge. The wife and mother died in 1865, at the age of sixty-five. She was a faithful member of the old-school Baptist Church, in which her husband was a deacon.

At the age of nineteen, in 1856, our subject, Hon. S. W. Woolford, went from his native county of Dorchester to the city of Baltimore, where he was employed as clerk by Whitely, Stone & Co., for three years. He then returned to his native county and purchased the mer- cantile business owned by his brother, J. S. B. This enterprise he has since carried on. In po- litical belief he is a strong Democrat, interested in everything pertaining to his party. He at- tended the state convention of 1897 and is usually a delegate to the congressional conventions. For many years he has served as judge of elections, and in 1870-72 he was a member of the state legislature, besides which he was district col- lector for seven years. Fraternally he is con- nected with the Heptasophs and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His family attend the old-school Baptist Church, to the work of which he contributes. In addition to his store he is the owner of a farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres; situated in Church Creek dis- trict. In 1872 he married Miss Lillie Crawford, of Philadelphia, daughter of William H. and sister of George L. Crawford, an attorney of Philadelphia. They have three children: Lizzie V., wife of Ralph Rees, of Chesapeake City; and Samuel W., Jr., and Lillie C., twins.

OSEPH MALLALIEU, an honored and distinguished agriculturist residing in the seventh district of Queen Anne's County, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., May 10, 1841, and is a son of Thomas and Mary Mallalieu, both natives of Saddleworth, Yorkshire, England. In 1839 the father crossed the broad Atlantic, arriving in Philadelphia August 1, after a six weeks' voyage in a sailing-vessel, and the follow- ing year he was joined by his wife. During the

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childhood of our subject they located near Smyrna, Del., where the father worked in Murphey's wool- en mills until 1848, when a partnership was formed between him and his brother John, and they op- erated the same mills until 1852. That year they, Thomas and John, located in the upper part of Queen Anne's County, Md., where they rented the Unicorn Woolen Mills, which they purchased two years later. Together they successfully engaged in business until the latter's death in 1869, after which Mr. Mallalieu conducted the mill alone until 1887, when he laid aside business cares and lived retired in Millington until called from this life in 1896, at the age of eighty-two. His faith- ful wife, who had for sixty-two years and a-half shared with him all his trials and hardships as well as his pleasures, died on the same day, aged eighty-three years.

In the family of this worthy couple were eleven children, namely: Samuel, a resident of Millington; Esther, deceased; Joseph, of this sketch; James M., who died August 7, 1887; Mary R., wife of Rev. R. H. Adams; Sarah; Ann J., wife of George M. Jenkins, of Talbot County, Md .; John T., a resident of Kearney, Neb .; George H., who was drowned in 1861; Emily, who died in 1859; and Willie, who passed away in 1862.

Our subject was eleven years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Queen Anne's County, where he grew to man- hood and attended the public schools until enter- ing Dickinson College, where he pursued a three years' course. At an early age he had become familiar with the manufacturing business under the able direction of his father, and when his school days were over he was employed in the mill until his father disposed of the business in 1887. He then purchased his present farm of one hundred and seventy-three acres of rich and fertile land in the seventh district of Queen Anne's County, and has since devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits, making a specialty of the raising of peaches, strawberries and other fruits.

In 1867 Mr. Mallalieu was married to Miss Jemima Fogwell, of Sudlersville, by whom he had three children: Clara S .; Mary J, wife of Oscar Roe; and Jolin F. She departed this life Septem-

ber 30, 1874, and Mr. Mallalieu was again mar- ried in 1879, his second union being with Miss Sallie M. Warner, daughter of Rev. W. M. Warner, who belongs to the Wilmington con- ference. Two children grace this union, W. Warner and Nettie.

Mr. Mallalieu is a recognized leader in the ranks of the Republican party in his locality, and in 1881 was the first man ever elected on that ticket to the state legislature. He was also the candidate of his party for state senator in 1894, has served as supervisor of election, and by Governor Brown was appointed a member of the tax convention. He has proved a most capable and popular official, and possesses the sterling qualifications necessary to success in public life. His genial, pleasant manner enables him to make friends readily, and he as easily retains them. Religiously he is a member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, and socially belongs to the Masonic lodge of Centreville.

ICHARD D. HYNSON. There are few of the residents of Kent County to whom this name is not familiar. It is that of a man who stood for years as the Nestor of the Chester- town bar, a man learned in the law, skilled in the most profound intricacies of jurisprudence, and possessing the logical reasoning faculties so im- portant in the development of legal processes. A life-long resident of the county, Mr. Hynson cherished the deepest affection for his native home and evinced an interest in every project for its advancement. The talent which he possessed and the painstaking care he took in the acquire- ment of knowledge ultimately brought him a de- gree of eminence reached by few of those who compete for this world's honors. Had he chosen to seek political prominence it would have been his, but he was not an office seeker, and aside from at one time accepting the candidacy for gov- ernor of Maryland he never came before the peo- ple as an aspirant for their suffrages.

At Poplar Neck, eight miles below Chester-

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town, in St. Paul's parish, Kent County, the sub- ject of this sketch was born in January, 1820. He is a descendant of one of three brothers, Rich- ard, Thomas and George, natives of England, and early settlers of Maryland. His father, Maj. Thomas Bowers Hynson, was a son of Richard Hynson, and was an officer in the war of 1812, where his service was most efficient. He was a life-long citizen of Kent County, to which his ancestors had removed from Kent Island in 1659. His wife was Ann, daughter of Robert Dunn.

In boyhood, Richard D. Hynson attended the local schools and an academy in Pennsylvania, after which he studied law with Judge John B. Eccleson, of Chestertown, a cousin of his father. In 1843 he was admitted to practice at the bar of Chestertown, where he at once opened an office, continuing in the management of his legal inter- ests until his death, October 23, 1889. During the existence of the Whig party he advocated its tenets, and upon its disintegration becanie a Democrat, but as already stated he avoided nominations for public office. In the Episcopal Church, of which he was an active member, he held the office of vestryman, and to all the be- nevolences of the church he was a liberal con- tributor. He was interested in Washington Col- lege especially as one of the board of visitors and governors, though a friend of every educational institution in general. When the Kent National Bank was founded he assisted in its organization and afterward officiated as a director of the insti- tution. He was a state director of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, a director of the house of cor- rection, and treasurer of the Chestertown Rail- road at the time of the inception of that enter- prise.

In 1843 Mr. Hynson married C. L. Marsh, a native of Philadelphia, and daughter of Elias and Mary L. (Eccleson) Marsh. Her father, who was a native of New Jersey, was engaged in the mercantile business for years before his death. Mrs. Marsh was a sister of Judge Eccleson, under whom our subject studied law; also of Samuel Eccleson, an arclibishop in the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. and Mrs. Hynson had seven chil- dren, of whom the eldest daughter is the wife of

William L. Sly; Caroline L. is unmarried; Thomas C. died in infancy; Thomas B. is also deceased; Alice died in childhood; Mariana is the wife of Edward Rogers, of Newcastle, Del., and the youngest is Richard Dunn. The last- named was born in 1865, graduated from Washı- ington College in 1883, later was a student in Bryant & Stratton's Business College of Balti- more, and then took a legal course in the Mary- land Law School, from which he graduated in 1886. He was admitted to the bar in Baltimore and has since engaged in practice at Chestertown. In February, 1890, he was appointed by Gover- nor Jackson a member of the board of directors of the house of correction, in which capacity he has since been retained. His marriage, February I, 1892, united him with Emma A., daughter of Joseph E. Gilpin, of Kent County. They have had three children, Caroline Marsh, Helen Eccle- son and Richard Hynson.

OSEPH HUBBERT is one of the sterling old residents and farmers of East New Market district, Dorchester County, his pretty and modern home, which he erected in 1896, being in the village of Hurlock. He has always lived in this portion of the county, his birth having oc- curred near the boundary line between this and Caroline Counties in 1834. His boyhood was spent in the adjoining district of Williamsburg, and when he settled down permanently as an agriculturist he came to this place and has since dwelt hereabout.

The Hubberts came from England a few gene- rations ago, but the grandfather of our subject was born in this county, it is supposed. This worthy man, whose Christian name was Michael, settled upon a farm near Williamsburg, and there the father of James Hubbert was born. The lat- ter, Thomas, lived and died within a mile of his birthplace, and was very successful in his busi- ness life, having accumulated a large and valu- able estate before his demise, at the age of fifty- two years.

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Joseph Hubbert resided under tlie paternal roof until he had attained his majority, when lie left liome to try his fortunes upon the briny deep, whose attractions are too great for many of the young men of the Eastern Shore to entirely resist, as at one time or another they usually find out by experience what it is to lead the life of a sailor. As in the case of Mr. Hubbert, they find that five years, perhaps, is enough, and then, like hin, they conclude that the independent career of the farmer is preferable. After his marriage he learned the carpenter's trade, and has followed this in conjunction with managing his fine farm, which comprises one hundred and seventy-three acres up to the present time. He is very liberal in his political views and chooses not to be bound to any party, but to reserve his opinion and vote for the principle and candidate that, in his esti- mation, are best suited for tlie occasion.

For his wife our subject chose Mary, daughter of Hooper Hubbert. He was born in 1805 in this county, being a son of Michael Hubbert, and lived to be eighty-nine years of age. His three sons, brothers of Mrs. Hubbert, are Thomas Michael, Jr., Edward and Tilghman, and the only sister is Mrs. William Harper, of Hurlock. The only child of our subject and wife is now a promising young man, Michael by name. Mrs. Hubbert is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church and is an amiable, Christian lady whom everybody loves and respects.

ULIUS A. JOHNSON, M. D. About a quarter of a century has rolled away since this worthy citizen and practitioner of Easton, Md., settled here and first opened an office. Year by year his reputation as a physician of marked ability and skill grew apace, until his time was fully occupied and the demands upon him were almost more than he could personally attend to. At last, feeling the need of relaxation from his too-exacting duties, he removed to The Anchor- age, a beautiful country seat about three miles from this city, on the banks of the picturesque

Miles River, and here with his beloved family around him he thoroughly enjoys his leisure hours.

Julius A. Johnson, Sr., was a native of New York City, as was also his father before him. The last-mentioned gentleman was named Julius Christopher and his wife was one of the Rockwell family, whose ancestors landed in Plymouth col- ony in 1826, having sailed across the briny deep in the good ship Mary & John. During the youth of our subject's father he learned the print- ing business, and coming to Easton at the time of attaining his majority, was married and soon after became the editor of the Easton Gazette. He was postmaster here several years and did not leave the city before 1855, when he removed to Baltimore. Later he returned to Easton and established the Ledger, of which he was the effi- cient proprietor ten years. In 1881 he went to Auburn, N. Y., and purchased the newspaper which he still conducts, The Independent. He is a man of most sterling worth and an able finan- cier and a business man of correct principles. He is recognized as a leader of public thought and has never abused the great trust which, as a molder of men's opinions, he has had resting upon his shoulders these many years. In both the Odd Fellows' and Knights of Pythias' orders he is high in rank, and though he is now in his seventy-second year, he is hale and hearty and his mind is as clear and active as it ever was.

The mother of our subject was a Miss Christy S. Graham before her marriage, and a daughter of Alexander Graham, of Easton. She was married in 1847 and died in 1889, when about fifty-two years of age. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, our subject is the eldest. The others are as follows: Jannie G., wife of William B. Chisholm, of Auburn, N. Y .; Evelyn M., Mrs. William Powell, of Chicago; Lucy Rockwell; Dr. F. P. Casey, of Auburn, N. Y .; and Sophia C., wife of T. Eugene Smith, of Chicago.

Dr. J. A. Johnson, Jr., was born in Easton July 15, 1849, and attended the schools of this place. When he was about eighteen he began the study of medicine with Dr. Richard Mc-

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Sherry, of Baltimore, at the same time taking a course of lectures in the University of Maryland. He graduated in the class of 1871, and at once located in the city of his birth. For several years he was United States examining surgeon on pen- sions. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and is past master of Coates Lodge No. 102, and has passed through all the chairs of the Odd Fellows' lodge, and is past grand of the same order. In politics he is affiliated with the Democratic party.

February 4, 1880, the doctor married Elizabeth T., daughter of Commodore Charles Lowndes, of Easton, and two bright children were born to them, named respectively C. Lowndes and Julius G. The family are attendants of the Miles River Episcopal Church, the doctor being one of its vestrymen.

ENRY ALPHA TOWERS was born in Sussex County, Del., March 24, 1867. He was the fourth son of James H. and Eliza- beth (Deen) Towers. When but a small boy his parents moved on a farm near the village of American Corners, Caroline County, Md. He received his education from public and private schools. In 1887 he became a clerk in the gen- eral store of B. Gootee Stevens, Williston, Caro- line County, Md., who was at that time the most influential and energetic merchant of that section. It was under him that Mr. Towers gained his first knowledge of mercantile life, remaining in his employ until 1891, during which time he carefully studied out the perplexing problems and details of the business, then deciding to take upon himself the responsibilities of mercantile life, and looking about for awhile, he found that the town of Trappe, situated in the third district of Talbot County, Md., offered the desired open- ing for his vocation. In 1891 he moved to that town and began the pursuit of his business life.

When first embarking in business he did not receive the assistance of a financial helping hand, but by the strictest economy and the exercise at all times of that good judgment and foresight

which are so necessary for the success of business enterprises, and also by the use of that greatest quality of the mind, common sense, and the power to think and reason out these financial problems for one's self, he has steadily increased in wealth and prosperity, until to-day he occupies a promi- nent position among the most influential men of his section1.

He keeps a general store, his stock comprising "dry goods, boots and shoes, hats, caps, carpets, groceries, building materials, farm implements and fishing outfits. He also handles a good line of furniture and stoves. In politics he is a Demo- crat, but has never held a political office. He attends the Methodist Episcopal Church, com- mands the respect of his fellow-citizens, and lends his influence to all charitable enterprises worthy of assistance.

APT. SAMUEL A. LAWSON, who is a very prominent old resident of the eleventh district of Dorchester County, was elected on the Democratic ticket to the responsible office of county commissioner in 1888 and acceptably filled that position for four years. In 1876 he purchased the farm known as Fullersville, a tract of two hundred acres, and here he has made his home for the past twenty-one years.

The captain's father, Samuel Lawson, was a sailor in his early life, but for a few years pre- vious to his death engaged in farming. He mar- ried Leah Reagan, by whom he had two children, one since deceased. The father of Leah was Jere- miah Reagan, a soldier of the war of 1812, and a native of Ireland. Samuel Lawson departed this life when our subject was a young lad, and the mother survived until about 1867.

Captain Lawson was born in this district Oc- tober 9, 1832, and as soon as he was old enough he was sent to school for at least a part of each year. When he was fourteen his inherited liking for the sea led him to obtain employment upon a boat, and from that time until 1876 he sailed upon the briny deep most of the time. For many

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years he was captain of a vessel and during the war he was in the government service, engaged in the transportation of troops from one point to another. He now owns a fleet of boats which are kept for the oyster fisheries hereabout. In botlı of his occupations, upon the land and the sea, the captain has met with remarkably good success and is now very well-off from a financial point of view.

In April, 1857, Captain Lawson married Miss Mary Marshall, daughter of Bond P. Marshall, of this county. Eight children were born to their union, but only three survive, viz .: Octavia E., married and living in this county ; Thomas H., of this community; and Sarah F., who is unmar- ried and at home with her parents. The captain is a genial, whole-souled man, cheerful and opti- mistic in his manner of surveying life, and re- joices in the sincere friendship of a large circle of acquaintances.

RANCIS B. PHELPS, M. D. Somewhat east of Cambridge, on the banks of the Choptank River, in Cambridge district, Dorchester County, lies the beautiful country home of Dr. Phelps. Within its boundaries are four hundred acres of land as fine as may be found for miles around, and valuable improve- ments in the way of fine buildings are on the place. The present owner has resided here since retiring from the army in 1863 and in the years that have intervened he has given his attention largely to the supervision of his property, not having engaged in active practice.

Near Federalsburg, in Caroline County, Md., the subject of this sketch was born August 30, 1836. His father, Dr. Francis Phelps, was born near Milford, Del., and in youth read medicine and became a physician, which profession he fol- lowed for many years. At one time he repre- sented his district in the house of delegates. He died in Cambridge in November, 1886, and his remains were interred in the cemetery at that place. When six years of age our subject was

brought to Cambridge and there his years of boyhood and youth were passed. For a time lie was a student in the academy at Cambridge, and later, for three years, conducted his literary studies in Wyoming Seminary, in Luzerne County, Pa. In 1850 he matriculated in the University of Maryland and was graduated from its medical department three years later. Open- ing an office in Preston, Caroline County, he en- gaged in the practice of his profession until 1858, when he purchased a farm formerly owned by Governor Hicks.

At the opening of the war in 1861 Dr. Phelps enlisted in the army and was commissioned sur- geon of the First Regiment of Eastern Shore Volunteers, with which he remained until ill health forced him to resign from the service, which he did in December, 1863. He has been twice married. In 1853 he was united with Miss Mary R. Springer, who bore him three children, namely: Florence, the widow of Wilson Lowe; Nancy, wife of Roy Hayes; and John, who resides in Cambridge. In 1862 Dr. Phelps married M. T. Houston, daughter of Dr. Henry H. Houston, of East New Market. The latter was born in Lewes, Del., in 1809, and was gradu- ated from the University of Maryland in 1834, after which he practiced his profession at Fed- eralsburg for a year. He then removed to East New Market, where he continued to practice until a few years before his death, which occurred in 1887. In religious belief he was a Methodist. By his marriage to Mrs. T. M. LeCompte he had four children, as follows: Francis H., a journalist and well-known literary man residing in New York City; Samuel, a banker, also of that city; Susan L., wife of J. Kent Dukes, of Philadelphia; and Mrs. Phelps.

By his second marriage Dr. Phelps had seven children, namely: Frances P., M. D., who is en- gaged in the practice of medicine in Cambridge; Agnes, wife of H. S. Todd; Tryphena, Mrs. R. V. Todd, of Berlin; Joseph W., who is with his parents; W. Wallace, of Baltimore; May and Elsie. The family were identified with the Episcopal Church, to the maintenance of which Dr. Phelps contributes. He is well informed

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concerning public affairs and takes an interest in matters pertaining to the welfare of his com- munity. He was the Democratic candidate for the house of delegates in 1893, was elected and served one term with efficiency. He was again his party's choice for the position in 1896, but failed to secure the election. He is a man who is loyal to the interests of Maryland and devoted to her welfare, and the good old state has no citi- zen more patriotic than he.

9 AMES W. HURTT. Among the leading agriculturists of the second district, Kent County, is the gentleman of whom we write. He was born in 1828 upon a farm adjoining his present place, and is a son of Edward Hurtt, also a native of Kent County, who spent his entire life upon the farm where Charles Hill now resides. He was a successful business man and prominent citizen of his community. He was twice married, his first union being with Miss Rebecca Merritt, a sister of Benjamin Merritt, and to them were born twelve children, but all are now deceased. After the death of his first wife he married his second cousin, Martha A. Hurtt, by whom he had two children, James W., and Dr. Edward D., of Prince George County, Md. The father died in 1831, when about fifty-four years of age.

Our subject was only three years old at the time of his father's death, and spent his early life in Galena, where he attended the common schools and an academy. At the age of eighteen he took charge of the old homestead and two years later purchased that place, where he continued to reside for eleven years. He then bought the Marsh Point farm, which he made his home for nine years, but in 1868 purchased the J. F. Wood- land farm, where he still lives. Being a thorough and systematic agriculturist, he has placed the land under a high state of cultivation, and is suc- cessfully engaged in general farming and fruit raising. In addition to his home farm, compris- ing three hundred and seventy-five acres, he owns a tract of one hundred and seven acres near Ken-

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Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 104

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