Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 16

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 16

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The general lost his father during his infancy, and as his mother was left in very limited cir- cumstances his early advantages were poor. The farm was sold in 1829. His education was begun in private schools, to which he had to ride on horseback a long distance. He later was for two years a student in the Centreville Academy.

General Thomas began his business career in February, 1830, obtaining a position in the store of William H. & P. Groome, at Easton, Md., who took quite an interest in him and proved his true friends. At the end of three years the general went to Centreville as a clerk in the store of Thomas R. Carville, who died the following year, and he then entered the employ of George C. Palmer, of the same place. In 1836, at the age of twenty, he embarked in business for him- self at that place as a member of the firm of Em- ery & Thomas, and the next year purchased his partner's interest, carrying on operations alone until August, 1839.

On the 29th of November, 1837, General Thomas led to the marriage altar Miss Mary E. Smith, of New Jersey. In 1839 he disposed of his store in Centreville, and removed to Easton in January, 1840, where his wife had an aunt living. Here he engaged in the lumber business until the 20th of April, 1846, when he was appointed bookkeeper in the bank which at that time was a branch of the Farmers' Bank of Maryland, at Annapolis. On August 29, 1849, he was elected cashier of said bank, and has held that office ever

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since. He is one of the leading and representative business men of the place, and as a citizen is equally prominent. He has been called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died in October, 1884; and their only child, Anna Frances, who reached years of maturity, died in November, 1892. They had a son who died in infancy.

At the age of nearly fourteen years General Thomas was converted and joined the Associated Methodist Church, and is one of the oldest mem- bers of the Methodist Protestant Church in the Maryland Conference, while socially he is a Royal Arch Mason. In early life he became identified with the Whig party, during the war was a strong Union man, and after the war be- came a Democrat.

During his administration Gov. P. F. Thomas commissioned our subject lieutenant-colonel of the Fourth Maryland Regiment militia, and Governor Hicks later promoted him to brigadier- general, in January, 1861. He took quite an act- ive interest in military affairs for many years. His loyalty as a citizen and his devotion to his country's interests have ever been among his marked characteristics, and the community is fortunate which numbers him among its citizens. His life has been manly, his actions sincere, and he truly deserves the high regard in which he is uniformly held.

2 AVID STRAUGHN, who for a great many years has been numbered among the lead- ing citizens of Cambridge, is a magistrate, having been appointed to that position in 1896 by Governor Lowndes, and is an able member of the legal profession here. He enjoys the distinction of residing in a beautiful, quaintly built house, situated in the geographical center of the town, and constructed as long ago as 1728, thus being not only the oldest occupied residence in Cam- bridge, but two years older than Baltimore City, which was founded in 1730. This pretty house with its wide, latticed verandas, of old colonial style, was erected four years prior to the birth of

the great Washington, and has sheltered many a distinguished guest. At one time it was the home of Hon. John Scott, who represented the people of this district in congress several terms. Nearly a century ago, Josiah Bailey, afterwards the celebrated first attorney-general of Maryland, lived under its hospitable roof, while studying the principles of law laid down by the great com- mentator, Blackstone, and otherwise taking ad- vantage of the privilege afforded him in master- ing the excellent law library of his host, Mr. Scott, in exchange for which he acted as tutor to the daughters of the house.

The parents of David Straughn were James and Eliza (Willis) Straughn, who were natives of Centreville and Dorchester County, respectively. The father lived to be eighty-five years old, his death occurring in 1880. The mother departed this life when her son David was a child of but seven years. The latter was born August 19, 1838, and when he had arrived at a suitable age he was sent to the public schools. He was born and reared in Cambridge. He early conceived the idea of becoming a lawyer, and his initial studies were under the supervision of William Stuart and William W. Ballard, of Easton, Md. In 1863 he entered the Yale Law School, and graduated from that institution in 1865. Return- ing home, he found it necessary to join his father, who was then engaged in merchandising in Cam- bridge, and seventeen of the best and most act- ive years of his life were spent in the commer- cial field. He rose to a position of high standing among our business men and accumulated a snug little fortune in the legitimate channels of trade. In the practice of law he has been equally suc- cessful. He possesses fine qualities of mind and disposition, but at the same time is modest and unassuming. By one and all he is greatly re- spected and his friends are legion. In his political faith he is unwavering in his allegiance to the principles of the Republican party.

Mr. Straughn is quite an authority on the early history of Cambridge and the old families of this vicinity, as well as those of a more remote distance, and as he has always been much inter- ested in the Eastern Shore, he has made a study

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of the annals of its past. He was united in mar- riage with Miss Annabel Bennett in 1873, she being a daughter of Charles W. Bennett, an hon- ored citizen of Carroll County, Md. They have never had any children.

AMES A. STEVENS, M. D., is a success- ful medical practitioner of Oxford, Talbot County. He is a native of Nova Scotia, his birth having occurred in the town of Wallace in 1852. He lived in that locality until he had at- tained his seventeenth year, and received excel- lent educational advantages. After leaving the public schools of his native town he finished his higher studies in Boston, and Halifax, Nova Scotia. He seemed fitted by natural bent of mind to enter the medical profession, and in 1880 we find him one of a large class of graduates of the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia.

In order to be better qualified for the active duties of the life upon which he was now about to enter, the young doctor stayed under the in- struction and practical help of some of the old and distinguished physicians and surgeons connected with the faculty of the Jefferson College and hos- pital, and in this way obtained much invaluable experience. Two years were thus profitably passed, and at the end of that time he went to Brooksville, Fla., where he was engaged in prac- tice about six years. In 1889 he came to Oxford and will undoubtedly make this his permanent home, as he has gained an extensive and remu- nerative patronage in these parts. That he might keep more thoroughly in touch with the pervad- ing spirit of progress, he joined the Maryland Medical and Chirurgical Faculty and the Ameri- can Medical Association. For years he has been connected with the Masonic order, and belongs to Coats Lodge No. 102, F. & A. M., of Easton, and Chesapeake Commandery No. 10, K. T., of Easton.

The parents of Dr. Stevens were Levi and Jane L. Stevens, natives of Nova Scotia. In the year 1880 he was united in marriage with Miss J. E.

McCulley, of Chatham, New Brunswick, and two of the three children born to them died in infancy. Alexander, their only remaining son, is a promising lad of eleven summers, and is now a student in the high school. The family are members of the Episcopal Church, in which the doctor is now serving in the capacity of vestry- man. He is liberal in his gifts to the cause of religion and other worthy enterprises, and well merits the high regard in which his fellow-citi- zens hold him. -

HARLES WESLEY CARROLL. Among the honored old residents of Dorchester County is this sterling citizen, who has lived upon one farm for almost half a century and has been a witness of very important changes in this portion of Maryland. Since he and his wife set- tled in Williamsburg district, near Hurlock, to spend a useful and happy life together, great en- terprises have been carried into operation. Among other marks of progress it may be mentioned that whereas there were then no railroads on the Eastern Shore there are now two within sight of their home. Mr. Carroll has been an advocate of Republican principles since the organization of the party and has held several local offices, such as county commissioner, justice of the peace and register of voters.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, Charles Carroll by name, was a native of this county. Charles Wesley Carroll was a son of James and Margaret ( Medford) Carroll, born to them June 7, 1816. The father was a native of this county and followed agricultural pursuits as a means of making a livelihood for himself and family. Rebecca, his eldest daughter, is the widow of Stephen Andrews, of Hurlock; Josiah and James are deceased; Margaret is the widow of Shelby B. Fletcher; George W., the youngest, is deceased.

The early years in the life of C. W. Carroll were passed in the northern part of this county upon his father's farm, where he was trained in

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habits of industry and persevering effort and in about four years later, was a daughter of Giles right principles of conduct. February 1, 1848, Jones. Ellen A., sister of our subject, was the wife of Charles Parker, of Snow Hill, and died, leaving one child, Mary. he married Ann C., daughter of Joseph Douglass, and in all the long years that have succeeded she has been a true helpmate to him, sharing his joys The birth of I. T. Matthews occurred February 3, 1828, in Snow Hill, and here he spent his youth, being educated in the public schools and in Union Academy of this town. He was an apt student, and graduated from the classical course at the early age of sixteen years. In the fall of 1846 he became a teacher in the academy, having charge of the English department. At that time Judge E. K. Wilson was the principal of the institution, from whose halls many a man, after- . and sorrows with womanly fortitude and sym- pathy. They became the parents of five children who survived to mature years, viz .: George H., a resident of Miller, S. D .; Emma, wife of Silas Sparklin, of Federalsburg, Md .; James, who is managing the old homestead; Benjamin F. and Frederick W., citizens of Hurlock. Mr. and Mrs. Carroll are faithful members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and are beloved by all who know them.

RVING T. MATTHEWS, cashier of the First National Bank of Snow Hill, Md., is highly respected and popular among the citi- zens of this place, of which he is one of the native sons. He has always been deeply concerned in all matters relating to her prosperity, and has stanchly favored new enterprises and industries which he deemed calculated to advance her wel- fare. The bank with which he holds the respon- sible and trustworthy position of cashier was organized in 1887, its doors being opened for business upon the twelfth day of September of that year. He was quite instrumental in effecting this result, and from the time that the question of founding the bank was brought up he was one of its most enthusiastic advocates. The president of the bank is John Walter Smith (see his sketch elsewhere in this work), while the vice-president is Levi A. Purnell. According to the published statement of the officers, under date of July 23, 1897, the bank has a paid-in capital stock of $50,000 and a surplus fund of $16,500.

The parents or our subject were Ephraim and Leah (Jones) Matthews. The father was a car- penter and builder in Snow Hill, and was a man of ordinary means. He died in 1842 and left two children. The mother, who passed away

wards famous in the various walks of life, has gone.

Since attaining his majority Mr. Matthews has been identified with the Democratic party, and before he was thirty he was tendered the position of deputy to William E. Timmons, county clerk of Worcester County, and this office he held with credit for ten years, a part of the time being deputy to George H. Richardson. Soon after the new constitution of Maryland went into effect, in 1867, he was chosen as a candidate on the Demo- cratic ticket as clerk of the court and was elected. He served in that capacity with fidelity and excellent ability during his term of six years, being re-elected in 1873, and again in 1879, and thus, altogether, occupied the office for the ex - tremely long period of eighteen years. Since then he has been connected with the bank, as previously related. He is a member of the Odd Fellows' society and for several years past has been district deputy grand master in the organ- ization.

In 1849 Mr. Matthews married Sarah H., daughter of George Hudson, of Snow Hill. They have but one child living, Julia L., wife of John L. Robbins, of this town. An elder daughter, Lelia, deceased, was the wife of George S. Paine. Mr. Matthews is the proud grandparent of five grandchildren and also has two great-grandchil- dren. Heisa member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was a delegate to the general con- ference of his denomination in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1880. He enjoys the entire confidence and

HON. ROBERT B. DIXON.

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trust of all who know him well, and his genial manners make him a general favorite with young and old.

ON. ROBERT B. DIXON, president of the Easton National Bank, president of the Nickerson Phosphate Company of Easton, treasurer of the Easton Gas and Electric Light Company, the Easton Water Company and the Easton Ice Company, director and treasurer of the Workingmen's Permanent Building and Loan Association, director of the Mutual Fire Insur- ance Company of Montgomery County, Md., and of the United States Fidelity and Trust Com- pany of Baltimore, is a representative of one of the oldest families in Talbot County. He is a descendant, in the seventh generation, of the founder of the Dixon family in America, who came here in 1680 and took up a large tract of land from the English government. At the same time the Bartletts, our subject's maternal ancestors, took up a grant of land in another part of the county. Both families were members of the Society of Friends and a por- tion of the land they originally purchased is still in the hands of their descendants. They were not only large land holders, but also had many slaves, being typical southern planters. Thomas Bartlett, one of the ancestors, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

James, son of Robert Dixon and father of our subject, was born in Talbot County, and in his early years was engaged as a contractor and builder in Baltimore, but at the age of thirty-six he returned to the Eastern Shore, where he en- gaged in the banking business and farming dur- ing the remainder of his life. He died in July, 1891, at the age of eighty-one. A devoted inem- ber of the Society of Friends, he served the con- gregation as elder and deacon, and was highly esteemed by others of that organization. At one time he served as county commissioner, but as a rule he refused public offices. He was first a Whig and later a Republican. His wife, Mary Ann, who died in 1888, was a daughter of Robert

Bartlett, owner of the family estate, Bloomfield, which was included in the original tract of sev- eral thousand acres taken up in 1680. Of her twelve children, the following survive: Robert B .; William T., president of the National Ex- change Bank of Baltimore, president of the Johns Hopkins Hospital and member of the Dixon & Bartlett Shoe Company of Baltimore; Isaac H., member of the firm of Smith, Dixon & Co., of Baltimore; and Mary Ann, wife of Caleb J. Moore, of Harford County.

In the city of Baltimore the subject of this re- view was born August 22, 1834. In boyhood he attended Westtown Academy, a well-known school conducted by the Friends, in Chester County, Pa. Returning home at the conclusion of his course of study, he engaged in farming for a time, but in 1859 came to Easton, where he embarked in the lumber, coal and insurance busi- ness, and in this he has since continued. He is also largely interested in steamboat enterprises and is a director of the Baltimore, Chesapeake & Atlantic Railroad Company. The bank of which he is president is one of the oldest and strongest in the state, and its substantial reputation is due in no small measure to his excellent financiering.

A Republican in politics, Mr. Dixon was on that ticket elected to the legislature in 1888. Two years later he was a candidate for the office of comptroller, but was defeated. It was the de- sire of his friends that he accept the nomination for United States senator at the time that Wel- lington was elected, but he declined, his tastes not running in the direction of public life and politics. He is a member of the Republican Club of Baltimore. The farms which he owns are rented to tenants. During the summer he occupies a beautiful home on Miles River, a short distance from Easton, and in the winter he occupies his city residence in Baltimore. He is an active church worker and has officiated as treasurer and as elder of his congregation.

October 30, 1861, Mr. Dixon married S. Am- anda, daughter of William Lee and Abigail J. Amoss. She was the great-great-granddaughter of William Amoss, a Quaker preacher, who resigned his commission in the militia in order to preach in

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the Society of Friends. At the time of his death, when he was ninety-seven, he had three hun- dred living descendants. These were invited at one time to meet him and one hundred and forty accepted the invitation, gathering at his request in the Friends' Meeting House, Lombard street, Baltimore. Mr. and Mrs. Dixon are the parents of six children, namely: Mary G., wife of J. K. Bartlett, Jr., of the firm of Shriver, Bartlett & Co., of Baltimore; Laura L., who married Will- iam T. Norris, a prominent business man of Bal- timore; Roberta B., who resides with her parents; James, who is connected with his father in busi- ness; William Amoss, residing in Baltimore, member of the firm of Dixon, Bartlett & Co .; and Florence A., at home.

EWIS C. SMITH has been the owner of Derrickson farm for the past seven years, during which time he has instituted many valuable improvements upon the place, which is a truly model one to-day. It lies in the fourth district of Talbot County, and comprises two hundred and eighty acres, finely adapted for the raising of a general line of cereals and crops which are common to this region.

William C. Smith, father of our subject, was a son of Clement Smith, of English extraction, and both were natives of Kent County, Del. William C. was a farmer by occupation, and became a resident of this county about 1868. He had bought a good homestead in the vicinity of Easton and there he dwelt for many years, or until his death in 1888. In political matters he was quite prominent in early manhood, in Delaware, but after coming here did little more than to vote for the nominees of the Democracy at each elec- tion. However, he was a stalwart supporter of religious work and was very liberal to the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, of which he was a mem- ber. His wife, Sally Stafford, whom he married in Delaware, died in 1853, leaving five children. One is now deceased, and the others are L. C .; Mary E., who is unmarried and living at Wye

Mills; Angeline, wife of A. Wilson, of Easton; and Sally, Mrs. William G. Quimby, of Wye Mills.

L. C. Smith was born in Kent County, Del., November 12, 1844, and as soon as he was old enough he was sent to the neighboring school to acquire knowledge of the elementary branches. . He was deprived of his fond mother's love and care when he was a little lad of scarcely nine years. When about eighteen years of age he went to Philadelphia, where he worked for a com- mission merchant about six months. He then returned to Delaware, where he clerked in a store for about three years. In 1868 he came to Tal- bot County, living first in Easton district, then removed to the fourth district, where he has re- mained since. In 1890 he purchased his present place and for the past six years has resided here. He takes considerable interest in politics, and at one time was candidate for judge of the orphans' court.

April 25, 1883, the marriage of Mr. Smith and Annie Merrick took place at Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church. For several years she had been a very successful teacher and in 1897 she was honored by the county school commissioner in being appointed to serve as a trustee of a dis- trict school. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of three bright, interesting children, Mabel, How- ard and William M.

ILLIAM F. RUSSELL. The importance to a community of a safe, conservative bank can scarcely be overestimated. To a town it is a promoter of prosperity; to the people it affords a secure place for the deposit of their earn- ings. Of the banks of the Eastern Shore one of the most substantial is the Kent County Savings Bank of Chestertown, established July 1, 1893. In spite of the fact that it was started during a dark period of our nation's financial history, when on every hand banks were suspending and the faith of the people in their stability was wa- vering, from the first it has met with success. It

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does business upon a capital stock of $20,000, and has on its list of depositors many of the principal business men of the place.

A native of the town where he now resides, Mr. Russell was born November 7, 1867. He is a son of T. Waters Russell, who for twenty years served as clerk of the board of county commis- sioners and is a prominent Democrat. William F. was educated in the public schools and Wash- ington College, from which he graduated in 1889. Afterward he became a student in the law depart- ment of the University of Maryland, but after a time left the school in order to enter, as deputy, the office of the treasurer of Kent County. He remained in that position for three years and then resigned in order to accept the cashiership of the savings bank.

February 1, 1893, Mr. Russell married Allie E. Shuster, and they have two children, William F., Jr., and Carmeta. Fraternally Mr. Russell holds connection with the Improved Order of Hepta- sophs, in the work of which organization he takes an interest. He attends the Methodist Protestant Church of Chestertown and contrib- utes to its maintenance, as well as to projects having for their object the advancement of the people and the promotion of the local welfare.

HARLES A. CHIPLEY, general freight agent of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany, in Philadelphia, Pa., has a beautiful country home near Easton, Talbot County. This attractive place, known as the Anchorage, was formerly the property of Commodore Charles Lowndes, of the United States navy. The fine mansion is situated on the bank of the lovely Miles River, a tributary of Chesapeake Bay, and commands a charming view of the vicinity. It is a large and picturesque structure, furnished in most refined and cultured style, and here the many friends of the family are frequently enter-

tained with true southern hospitality and good cheer. They spend about six months of the year here, the remainder of the time being passed in their Philadelphia home. Several yachts of varying size afford great pleasure to the inmates of this rural paradise, and many are the delight- ful excursions which are carried out in the course of the season for the benefit of the guests and members of the household.

Charles A. Chipley is a man of unusual ability, rare good judgment and marked executive skill. He deserves great credit for the success which he has accomplished in life, for it is the result of diligence, perseverance in whatever he has under- taken to do, and correct methods of action. He is a native of Virginia, having been born in the city of Alexandria, February 2, 1836. He was a student in the public schools there until he was about seventeen, when he began learning the machinist's trade. In 1854 he entered the navy and served three years under the government, re- ceiving that discipline and systematic training that have been of inestimable value to him in later years. During the war he was a clerk in a quar- termaster's department, and all of these experi- ences were gradually moulding him into the capable man of business that he has been for many years. It was in the year 1869 that he entered the railroad employ, being a clerk in the office of the general freight agent of the Baltimore & Ohio, and in 1870 was promoted to be agent for the same corporation in Pittsburg, Pa. In 1872 he was made assistant general freight agent for the same company in the "smoky city," and resigned in 1877 in order to accept a position as general freight agent of the Pittsburg & Lake Erie Railroad, which position he resigned in 1881 to accept the general agency of the Union Line of the Pennsylvania Railway Company. Later he was promoted to the post of assistant general freight agent, and finally became the general freight agent. In September, 1893, he bought the Anchorage, a place containing two hundred and thirty-four acres, and during the stay of his family there he goes home every Fri- day night, remaining over Sunday. He is quite independent of party ties politically, using his

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Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 16

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