Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 14

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

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Three years later, in 1879, Dr. Gilpin came to Chestertown and opened an office, where he has since engaged in the practice of his profession. He has given his time closely to professional work and is regarded as one of the best and most skill- ful dentists of his town and county. For some years he has been a member of the board of gov- ernors and visitors of Washington College, in the work of which he is interested. In religious be- lief he is a member of the Presbyterian denomina- tion.

many positions of responsibility to which he was called he filled in a manner indicative of his high talents, and when he passed away it was felt that Dorchester County, and the state as well, had lost one of its most eminent statesmen.

At Shoal Creek, near Cambridge, Md., Charles Fitz-Hugh Goldsborough was born December 26, 1830, the son of Hon. Charles Goldsborough, who was a member of congress during the war of 1812 and was governor of Maryland in 1818-19. During boyhood.he was under the charge of Rev. Enoch Bayley, a private tutor in the family of his parents. In April, 1846, he entered St. John's College, Annapolis, and remained there until October, 1848, when he began the study of law in the office of his brother-in-law, Hon. Daniel M. Henry, afterward member of congress from the first district. He was admitted to the bar in the April term of 1852, by Judge Ara Spence, at that time judge of the circuit.

June 22, 1852, Mr. Goldsborough married Char- lotte A. P., youngest daughter of John Campbell Henry, and granddaughter of John Henry, mem- ber of the continental congress, being the first United States senator from the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and subsequently governor of Mary- land. In 1855 he was nominated by the Whigs for state's attorney, and was elected, serving four years. In the fall of 1859 he was elected to the state senate, of which body he was a member during its sessions in Frederick and Annapolis, while the excitement of the war period was at its height. During the session of 1862 he was chair- man of the committee on federal relations, and also a member of the committee on judicial pro- ceedings, education and printing. In 1860 he was an elector for the state at large on the Bell and Everett ticket. During the Civil war he did all in his power to preserve Maryland to the Union, but he was conservative in his views. He was a Whig until the dissolution of the party, and in 1864 united with the Democratic party, of which he remained a member until his death. On the death of Judge Sewart (who was also from Cambridge) Governor Carroll appointed him to the office of judge of the circuit court of the first

ON. CHARLES FITZ-HUGH GOLDS- BOROUGH. The family of which this gentleman was a member has long been identified with the history of Maryland, and its representatives, in various generations, have been men and women of the highest honor and intelli- gence. The high reputation gained by those who preceded him did not lose luster in the life and character of the subject of this review; on the contrary, he added to the prestige of the name long honored in the annals of the state. The judicial district, and he was afterward elected to

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this position. He continued to serve on that bench until his death, which occurred June 23, 1892.

Mrs. Charlotte Augusta Page Goldsborough was born at Hambrooks, the old family estate, in Dorchester County, June 23, 1834, and is a sister of Francis J. and Daniel M. Henry, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume, and a daughter of John Campbell and Mary Nevitt (Steele) Henry. She spent the years of girlhood at Hambrooks, the family home, situated two miles from Cambridge. She was one of twelve children, of whom nine attained to manhood or womanhood, namely: John Francis, James Win- field, Francis J., Daniel M., Ryder; Kate, who married Daniel Lloyd; Isabella E., Mrs. Thomas B. Steele; Mary, who became the wife of Richard Tilghman Goldsborough; and Charlotte Augusta Page, Mrs. Goldsborough. The last-named, by her marriage to our subject, became the mother of six children, but all are deceased. She is a de- voted Christian and a lady of the most pleasing social qualities.

ILLIAM W. BUSTEED. All honor is due the brave men who started out to fight

the battle of life without wealth, friends, influence, and perhaps with only an ordinary education, but who have overcome each obstacle in their way with courage and determination to succeed in spite of all, and have won a fair meas- ute of prosperity. Under these adverse circum- stances a man who has come out of the conflict with victory inscribed upon his banner has a right to be proud, and he is much more entitled to honor than he who is great by the accident of birth. May the day never come in this fair land of ours when the nobility of labor and the glory of the so-called self-made man shall be eclipsed.

Mr. Busteed, of whom this is a brief sketch, is one of the editors and the senior proprietor of the Centreville Observer, with which paper he has been connected for the past thirty-four years. In 1864, when it came into his hands by pur-

chase, it went under the name of the Centreville Times, and was far from the fine, bright sheet it is to-day. Soon after becoming the owner Mr. Busteed instituted many changes for the better, and has since elevated its tone in every essential manner until it is now recognized as one of the leading journals of the Eastern Shore of Mary- land. It presents the current news of the busy world in a concise form, and pays particular at- tention to local interests. It favors every work along the lines of progress and enterprise, and is thus fully in touch with the spirit of the age. It denounces wrong and injustice in high places and wherever found is a champion of the true and right.

The birth of W. W. Busteed took place July 18, 1843, in Caroline County, Md. He is a son of Warner R. and Catherine M. (Barwick) Bus- teed, both natives of Caroline County. The fa- ther was called to his final rest in March, 1889, leaving behind him a record which is above re- proach. His faithful wife died many years pre- viously, when her son William was a youth of but sixteen, in December, 1859. The latter had been a pupil in the public schools up to that time and also attended the Hillsborough Academy for a time, but, as he says, his best teachers were ex- perience in the business world and his private reading and study.

It was in 1860 that Mr. Busteed began serving an apprenticeship at the printer's trade in Easton, in the office of William T. Rowlinson, and from errand boy and printer's devil, he passed through all the gradations until he was competent to man- age an office for himself. Four years thus slipped away, and on the same principle that there is no royal road to learning, so did he find that there is, indeed, no royal road to success, but that it must be won by the hardest labor. For several years he was one of the commissioners of Centre- ville, and helped build the fine system of water- works which the citizens now enjoy, and also assisted in making divers other substantial im- provements here. In 1886, and again in 1890, he was honored by being sent as a delegate to the Maryland legislature. He is a charter mem- ber of the Centreville National Bank, and has

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been a director since the bank was organized in 1876. For the past twenty-five years he has also been a director of the building association, and is now secretary of the Queen Anne's Railroad Company, and took a very active part in the building of that road.

October 6, 1870, Mr. Busteed married Miss Pattie, daughter of Samuel and Julianna Vickers. She died in September, 1891, leaving one child, Catherine, wlio keeps house for her father. She is a well-educated young lady, and is the cen- ter of a large circle of admiring friends.

AMES T. DIXON, who is well and favorably known in Chestertown, Md., has successfully filled the position of registrar of wills here for the past six years. He was elected to this re- sponsible place of trust and honor in 1891, on the Democratic ticket, and has met its requirements in a manner redounding to his own and constitu- ents' credit. In politics he is a prominent figure, and is esteemed one of the best workers for his party interests in this region.

Thomas P., father of our subject, was born in 1816, in Delaware, and in his childhood went to Cecil County. In his early life he clerked in a store for a time, but chiefly followed agricultural pursuits. In 1851 he removed to this county and spent the remainder of his life within its borders. On several occasions he was called upon to serve in public positions of local importance, and was also county commissioner four or five terms. At the time of his death he was still occupying that place, the sad event having occurred in 1881. He was an only son and was bereaved of his father when a mere lad. His wife, whose maiden name was Jane A. Shields, was a native of Baltimore, and died in 1879. Both parents were Catholics in religious faith, and were universally esteemed. There were but two children in their family, and the daughter died when only sixteen years old.

Like his father before him, James T. Dixon was an only son. He was born in this county, near Chestertown, September 11, 1857, and was

reared to maturity on his father's farm. His ele- mentary education was supplemented by a course of study in Washington College, after which he returned to the quiet routine of a farmer's life. He had inherited his parents' valuable homestead, and it became his chief pleasure to improve and beautify the place, already considered one of the finest in that section. In 1889 he was nominated for county commissioner, but he preferred to de- cline the honor. In spite of his reluctance at en- tering a public field of labor, he was prevailed upon to accept the nomination for registrar of wills two years later, and has made so acceptable an officer that his constituents, in 1897, elected him clerk of the circuit court for a term of six years. He takes commendable interest in what- ever tends to benefit the city, and is a stockholder in the savings bank.

In 1879 the marriage of Mr. Dixon and Anna Craddock, of Cecil County, was celebrated. Four children have been born to this worthy couple, two sons and two daughters, namely: Nannie C., J. Thomas, Genevieve and Marion A. The family have a very charming home, where their many friends are always hospitably entertained. They are ever ready to do their part in providing for the needy and suffering, and give liberally of their means to worthy benevolences.

AMES H. BAKER. There are a number of the citizens of Kent County who, in their capacity as public officials, have been en1- abled to advance local interests and promote the welfare of the people. Such is the record of Mr. Baker, a successful fruit and stock farmer of the seventh district, who, however, is perhaps better known through his service as a member of the legislature. When he was the nominee for this position in 1888, he was the only man on the Re- publican ticket in Kent County who gained elec- tion to the house of delegates. During the term that followed he established a reputation as an able man, one who endeavored in every way possible to promote the interests of his constitu-

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ents. In 1896 he was again chosen to represent this district in the legislature, and is now the in- cumbent of the position. He was the only Repub- lican ever elected to the house of delegates of Maryland from Kent County. He has served as chairman of the agricultural committee and the committee on pensions and claims.

The Baker family are descendants of early set- tlers of the seventh (then fourth) district, and the town of Bakerville (now Pomona) was named in their honor. The father of our subject, Francis Baker, a son of Thomas, was born in thislocality, where he engaged in farming and merchandising until his retirement from business pursuits. He died in 1888, aged seventy-seven. In religious belief he was a Friend and worshipped with the congregation of that denomination in his neigh- borhood. His wife, Mary T. (Brown) Baker, was a Quaker and a descendant of a family long identified with that sect. She died when a young woman, leaving one son, James H. By a subsequent marriage there were four daughters, of whom three are living: Mrs. W. S. Maxwell, Mrs. C. H. Price and Mrs. Joseph Clark. Mrs. Thomas W. Tolson is deceased.

On the home estate, situated four miles south of Chestertown, near Pomona, the subject of this sketch was born December 5, 1839. His boy- hood years were passed upon the farm, where he was early trained to a knowledge of agricultural pursuits. Good advantages for obtaining an edu- cation were given him, and of these he availed himself studiously, though he realized then less than he does now that knowledge is power, and they achieve the most in life who bring to their work the most careful preparation of body and mind. After completing the studies of the common schools he entered Washington College, of Ches- tertown, one of the oldest seats of learning in the state. Here he was prepared for the active cares and responsibilities of the business world. On leaving college he resumed farm work, continu- ing to make his home on the family estate, to which he added valuable improvements as the years went by. He has been twice married, his first wife being Sallie A. Trew, and his second Mary Trew, a sister of the former. He is a man

of firm religious belief, who strives in his daily life to exemplify the truths of the religion in which he believes. The Bond Methodist Episco- pal Church numbers him among its faithful members, while the Sunday-school clainis his services as superintendent. By his first mar- riage he has one living child, Lizzie, and by his second, J. Henry and Mamie Trew. Both daugh- ters are graduates of the Wilmington Confer- ence Academy of Dover, Del.

J. Henry in a graduate of Dickinson College, and after attending Maryland University Law School was admitted to the bar, and now has a lucrative practice in the city of Baltimore. While attending law school he was in the office of Hon. Isadore Raynor, ex-congressman from Mary - land.

HOMASJ. KEATING, SR., who was born in Smyrna, Del., May 3, 1829, is a son of Michael and Elizabeth J. (Palmer) Keating. The latter, who belonged to one of the old families of Queen Anne's County, was a daughter of George C. Palmer, a farmer by occupation, and she had a brother, John, who held the office of clerk of the circuit court. Her death occurred in 1862. The father of our subject, who was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, came to America in early manhood and devoted his sub- sequent life to teaching, for which his splendid education admirably adapted him. For a time he was an instructor in the academy at Smyrna. In 1834 he came to Queen Anne's County, and here remained, as a teacher in the Centreville Academy, until his death, in 1847. In local affairs he was prominent and for a time served as justice of the peace. He had a brother, Paul, who followed him to this country, and died here, unmarried. Another brother, William, was a lieutenant in the British army and did service in the India war, after which he was retired on a pension.

The rudiments of his education our subject ob- tained under the careful and judicious training of his father. Before his father died he entered

CAPT. ANDREW WOODALL.

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Princeton College, where he remained until his graduation in 1848. Immediately afterward he began the study of law, which he prosecuted un- til his admission to the bar in 1851. For fourteen years he held the office of state's attorney, which position he filled most efficiently. He was a member of the constitutional convention of 1867. A high honor was conferred upon him in 1878, when he was chosen comptroller of the treasury, and in that important position he re- mained until 1884. In 1894 he was made state tax assessor, which office he how fills. In re- ligious belief he is an Episcopalian, and in his church has held the position of vestryman.

APT. ANDREW WOODALL. America, more than any other land, has reason to be proud of her sons, men who rise above the circumstances of birth and poverty, perhaps, to foremost positions of influence, usefulness and honor in a community; men who become wealthy in strictly legitimate channels of business enter- prise, and are not slow to distribute their hardly won means to the worthy benevolences of our time and to the poor and suffering. In the per- son of the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch is found one who is entitled to great credit, not only for what he has already accomplished in the face of obstacles that would certainly have daunted any man less brave and persevering than he, but also for the good he is constantly doing, in a quiet way, in behalf of humanity and the public good.

Though nearly four-score years of age, the captain enjoys good health and is well and strong, mentally and physically, for one of his advanced years. He still retains in his own management his large and numerous business enterprises, which would prove much too arditous a responsi- bility for many men half his age. He was born April 24, 1819, in Georgetown, Kent County, and has made his home here all his life. His father, Simon Woodall, was born on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and came to this town when

a young man. He bought a house and lot and continued to work at his trade of builder and car- penter until his death, which took place in 1851, when he was but fifty-eight years old. He was living here when the war of 1812 came on, and offered his services as a private soldier. In politics he was an old-line Whig, but was not actively concerned in this direction. His wife was Miss Frances Bagwell, a native of this place. She died when only twenty-two years old, her son, Andrew, being then an infant of two years. Her elder son, Edward B., died a few years ago, aged about sixty-three years, on his farm, which he had operated successfully. Mrs. Woodall was a very lovable woman, devoted to her husband and children, and a loyal member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church.

The early life of the captain was spent under his father's roof, and with him he learned the carpenter's trade. This was not to the young man's liking, however, and he soon invested his earnings in a small sail-boat, and shipped grain and freight of various kinds from here to Balti- more. The venture proved a good one, and be- fore he was twenty the thrifty youth had made other investments, and as his trade steadily in- creased he built larger vessels, to the number of thirteen, one having a capacity of one hundred and fifty tous, and this he is still operating. Per- haps fully forty years ago he became interested in the lumber business and is still dealing in it and in fertilizer, he having been one of the first in these parts to handle the article when it was introduced into common use. He sailed his boats only ten years actually, as he found his time too occupied with these enterprises to do them all justice. He has always believed in investing largely in land, and at the present tinie owns twenty-five well-improved farms, located in this and Cecil Counties, and altogether comprising some eight thousand acres. Among his other possessions are three schooners, one steamer and a one-third interest in the steamer Sassafras. Six large warehouses on the river Sassafras are owned by him, and besides he has stock in the National Bank of Chestertown and is a stockholder and director in the Middletown Bank. It is difficult

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to estimate his wealth, as so much of it is invest- ed in somewhat variable concerns. Though a stanch Democrat, he has never held offices.

In 1841 Captain Woodall married Catherine Holt, of Georgetown, and six children came to bless their union. Emily, the eldest, is the wife of James F. M. Woodall, who is a clerk in the employ of our subject. Catherine married Capt. John F. Wilson, of this town. James E. is in business with his father. Andrew W., a member of the firm of Hopper & Woodall, is engaged in the commission business in Baltimore. Simon R. died when in his early prime, being but thirty- two years of age. Sallie E. is the wife of Rich- ard Lockwood. Mrs. Woodall, who was a con- sistent Christian woman, beloved by a large circle of friends and acquaintances, was called to the silent land July 16, 1892. She delighted in as- sisting the needy and every one who appealed to her for sympathy or aid, and the community in which her quiet, gentle life was led feel that they have lost one whose place can never be filled.

HOMAS W. ELIASON is a much respect- ed citizen and business man of Chestertown, in which place he was born and brought up. He is, therefore, especially interested in whatever concerns the advancement and growth of this en- terprising little city, and strives to promote measures calculated to accrue to her benefit. He is a practical, energetic business man, and posses- ses unusual aptitude for all branches of commer- cial life.

The great-grandfather of our subject was a native of Delaware, was a surgeon in the war of the Revolution, and a member of the order of Cincinnati. The paternal grandfather, John Eli- ason, was a farmer by occupation, and died when his children were quite young. Thomas W. Eliason, Sr., was born in Kent County, Del., in 1816, and in 1839 removed to this state. Two years later he became a resident of Chestertown, where he embarked in the mercantile business, and was thus occupied continuously up to 1871,

when he retired to enjoy the fruits of his diligence. He lived many years after that event, and died in 1893. Few men in this community have ever been more widely and generally esteemed and looked , up to as an authority on matters of commercial or local importance. He married Susan Walker, a native of Kent County, Del., and daughter of John Walker, a thrifty merchant, who died when Mrs. Eliason was a child. She became the mother of three children who reached maturity, and de- parted this life in 1883, inourned by all who knew her. John, her son, was a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, and had entered a career that was most promising, but death cut him off in his early manhood. Wilbur, born January 31, 1853, was educated in Yale University, New Haven, Conn., leaving there in his junior year. Since then he has been engaged in carrying on a farm and in conducting a manufacturing business. He has been very successful, and is highly esteemed in this place. In political matters of local import he has been quite active, but has never held office. Fraternally he is also prominent, being a Mason of the third degree, and past master of his lodge. His wife was a Miss Mary C. Brown, of Chester- town, and to them six children have been born. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The birth of T. W. Eliason took place in Ches- tertown1, December 27, 1843. His preliminary education was such as was afforded by the private schools of the town, and when he had arrived at suitable years he was sent to Washington Col- lege. Subsequently he engaged in business with his father, becoming thoroughly familiar with the practical management of commercial affairs. For many years he devoted himself to general mer- chandising, meeting with fair financial success, and gaining the entire confidence of his fellow- citizens. He is president of the Kent County Fire Insurance Company, in addition to which he is vice president and one of the directors of Ches- tertown National Bank.

The marriage of Mr. Eliason and Miss Violet B. Briscoe occurred in Baltimore, Md., in Jan- uary, 1881. She is a daughter of William Bris- coe, a well-to-do farmer of that section. A son

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and a daughter have come to grace the union of our subject and his worthy wife, and their names are respectively, Thomas W., Jr., and Irma. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. Eliason being a trustee in the board of directors. In his political attitude he is a Re- publican.

HARLES COX HOPPER, journalist, is one of the proprietors of the Transcript, a wide- awake, up-to-date newspaper, which is pub- lished each week in Chestertown, Kent County, Md. It aims to give all telegraphic and current news and a resumé of local events of general im- portance, and is conducted in a most creditable manner. The young men who stand at the head of the enterprise are keen, energetic and busi- ness-like, and are making a success of their jour- nalistic endeavor.

A native of Maryland, Mr. Hopper was born upon the old homestead belonging to his family, and situated four miles from Centreville, Queen Anne's County, October 7, 1860. His father, Daniel C., was born within the same house in 1816, and followed agricultural pursuits during his entire active career upon this farm. About twelve years ago he retired, making his home in Centreville for several years, and for the past five has been a resident of Baltimore. In church mat- ters he has always taken great interest, and has been a valued member of the Methodist Protestant denomination many years. His uncle, Judge Phil- emon B. Hopper, was famed for his activity in the Methodist Protestant Church. The father of Daniel C., in whose honor he was christened, was also a farmer on the old family estate above alluded to, and was born thereon. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Evelina H. McCollister. She is a native of Queen Anne's County, Md., and is still living. Her eldest son, Frank W., is a member of the firm of George K. McGaw & Co., of Baltimore. Thomas Ridgeley represents a large Pittsburgh firm. Catherine Vir- ginia is unmarried and lives with her parents.

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Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 14

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