Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 20

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

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ARRETT FOXWELL has been a resident of Kent County for many years and has en- gaged in general farming and fruit raising in the second district. Prominent in public affairs, he has wielded an influence in the councils of the Democratic party and has been a recog- nized power in its councils. As delegate to the local conventions of the party, his influence has been felt in important decisions. His fellow- citizens, appreciating his worth as a man and his fitness for public office, elected him to the position of county treasurer in 1894, and that important office he held for one term.

A native of Delaware, the subject of this sketch was born in Newcastle, September 24, 1845. His father, Tilman Foxwell, was born in the same place and in early life was a sailor, but

afterward left the water and engaged in farm pur- suits. At the age of twenty-eight he removed front Delaware to Ohio and for four years culti- vated a farm there, but not satisfied with the lo- cation he returned to Delaware and spent his re- maining years in Kent County on a farm. When a young man he advocated Whig principles and later supported the Democratic party. His death occurred in 1885, when he was eighty-three years of age. By his marriage to Angeline Griffin, he became the father of five children, of whom three are now living: Elizabeth, wife of David Jones; Garrett and Lydia A., widow of John H. Golt. The Foxwell family has long been identified with the history of Delaware, to which state its first representatives came from Great Britain, being of Irish and Welsh ancestry.

When a youth our subject attended the schools of Smyrna, Del. He remained with his father until he was twenty-three, when he came to Kent County, Md., and rented a farm. Since 1871 he has made his home in the second district, where he has carried on general farm pursuits together with the raising of fruit. As already intimated, he is prominent in the Democratic party and one of its local leaders. In religious belief he is con- nected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1875 he married Miss Kate Hudson, of Kent County, daughter of John Hudson. One child. Annie J., blesses their union. The family stand high in the opinion of acquaintances and have a host of warm personal friends in the county where they reside.

ILLIAM J. HOPKINS, a capitalist and thorough business man of Cambridge, has long been considered one of her most enter- prising citizens and has been a potential factor in the development of her industries. It will not be necessary to enumerate all of the worthy con- cerns here which he has assisted in fostering or founding, suffice it to mention a few of the more important, those which have been of the greatest advantage to the public. Chief among these is

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the Cambridge Water Company, of which he is a director at present. It became evident a few years ago when the destructive fire ravished High street, that Cambridge needed better water facili- ties and better protection, therefore, against the fire fiend. Steps were at once taken toward the establishment of water works and to-day Cam- bridge has the finest plant and one of the best systems in use in a place of this size. Mr. Hop- kins is the president of the gas company, which also owns a well-equipped plant. He is a stock- holder in the Dorchester National Bank; is a director in the Cambridge Telephone Company; a director in the Cambridge Building and Loan Association (which is capitalized at $200,000) and is a director in the Cambridge Creamery.

The paternal grandfather of our subject was Thomas Hopkins, who was a native of Talbot County, Md. He is the second of the four chil- dren of Josiah and Agnes (Redditt) Hopkins, the mother a native of Scotland. The others are Josephine R., Edward G. and Clara E., all resi- dents of Cambridge. Clara is the wife of Joseph H. Sauerhoff. The birth of William J. Hopkins occurred November 18, 1848, in Cambridge. His boyhood was spent in Cambridge, and after leav- ing the public schools he entered Cambridge Acad- emy. Upon his entrance into the commercial world he clerked for Mr. Winthrop and later was employed in his father's and in his uncle's (Gov- ane Redditt) stores. Altogether he was inter- ested in one capacity or another in general mer- chandising during a period covering seventeen years. His success as a business man has been largely the result of exceptional ability and fore- thought in making investments. He is also in- terested in farm lands.

March 12, 1890, the marriage of Mr. Hop- kins and Miss Willie A. Mulligan, a native of Talbot County, was solemnized in this place. Slie is a daughter of George W. Mulligan and was reared in the family of an aunt in Cambridge. There is one child of this marriage, a bright little boy, Granville B. Religiously Mr. Hopkins is identified with Zion Methodist Episcopal Church, while his wife is a member of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church South, to which she belonged

before her marriage. They have a beautiful home of pleasing architecture, with broad, invit- ing verandas, and all in modern style. It is furnished in excellent taste, with many of the so- called luxuries of life, and the inmates of this charming abode delight in entertaining their many friends within its hospitable walls. Politically he is a Republican.

OPE H. BARROLL, attorney-at-law, was born in Chestertown, August 6, 1860. His ancestors were English people who for many generations had been seated in Byford and Mansell Lacy Parishes, Herefordshire, England, as will appear by Rev. C. J. Robinson's "Man- sions and Manors of Herefordshire." In 1760 the Rev. William Barroll, who was a descendant of Col. James Barroll, of Cannon Frome, and a graduate of St. John's College, Cambridge, at the earnest solicitation of his venerable uncle, the Rev. Hugh Jones, came to Maryland and suc- ceeded him as rector of St. Stephen's Church, North Sassafras Parish, in Cecil County. He continued as rector of this parish until 1777, when, being unwilling to take the oath of alle- giance, he was deprived of his living. In 1761 he married Ann, daughter of Alexander William- son, of Cecil County, and three sons were born of their union: William, Richard and James.

Of these sons, William was admitted to the bar of Cecil County and in 1788 settled in Chester- town, where he became a prominent and success- ful lawyer and one of the largest land holders in Kent. He married Lucretia, daughter of James Edmondson, of Talbot County. They were the parents of one son, James Edmondson Barroll, who was born in Chestertown in 1789. He was educated at Yale and afterwards read law in Chestertown, where he was admitted to the bar in 1811. In his native place he engaged actively in practice until 1850, meanwhile building up an enviable reputation in his profession for integrity and ability. His marriage united him with Hen- rietta Jane Hackett, whose grandfather, Gunning

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S. Bedford, of Delaware, was a member of the Continental Congress of 1776. They became the parents of six daugliters and two sons, of whom only one left children, he being Jolin Leeds, father of our subject.

Jolın Leeds Barroll was born in 1830 and gradu- ated from St. Mary's College, Baltimore, in 1849. He was admitted to the bar in 1851 and from 1855 to 1859 he held the office of state's attorney. In religious belief he was an Episco- palian and he died in 1866. In 1854 he married Elleonora Keene, daughter of Thomas Hopewell Horsey, of Delaware. He had three sons, John Leeds, Hopewell Horsey and Morris Keene. The eldest son, John Leeds Barroll, was born Sep- tember 14, 1855, and was educated at Washing- ton College, Chestertown. He married Maria Stocker Lewis, a daughter of Francis A. Lewis, who was a prominent citizen of Philadelphia, in which place he is engaged in the insurance and real-estate business. They have four children, Ethel, Francis L., John Leeds and Anna.

The youngest son, Morris Keene Barroll, was born December 31, 1866, and graduated from West Point in 1889. He is now first lieutenant of the First Artillery, situated at Angel Island, San Francisco. He married Ann Van Bokken Miller, daughter of Col. Marcus P. Miller, and they have one son, Morris Keene Barroll, born at Fort Schuyler, N. Y.

Hopewell Horsey Barroll was educated at St. John's College, Annapolis, and Washington Col- lege, Chestertown, from the latter of which he graduated in 1878. He read law under Hon. James Alfred Pearce and at the University of Vir- ginia, was admitted to the bar in 1883, and almost immediately was recognized as one of the leading members of the bar in Kent. He is a public- spirited citizen, ready at all times to contribute his means and time towards the promotion of all enterprises calculated to advance the material in- terests of his native county and state. He was one of the promoters and organizers of the Second National Bank of Chestertown, is one of its largest stockholders, a director, and since its organization has been its attorney. He is also one of the members of the board of visitors and gov-

ernors of Washington College. Mr. Barroll is said to have one of the largest and most lucrative practices in the state of Maryland, and his con- stant and zealous attention to business is attested by his large and ever-growing clientele. Active in the Democratic party, he is, however, not an office-seeker, but has steadily avoided public positions and the turmoil of political life. Feb- ruary 9, 1888, he married Margaret Spencer Wethered, daughter of John L. Wethered, of Kent County. They are identified with the Episcopal Church and are the parents of four promising sons, Lewin Wethered, Morris Keene, Hopewell Horsey and John Wethered.

ENJAMIN B. GORDY, who is well and favorably known in Parsons district, Wi- comico County, was born near his present abode, August 28, 1823, and has always lived in the county with the exception of three years passed in Delaware. He has watched with great interest the development and increasing pros- perity of this region, and has been himself no small factor in the general result. In 1853, prior to the division of the county, he was elected com- missioner of what was then Dorchester County and served for two years as such, and again, in 1859, he was elected to that position for a two years' term. From 1888 to 1892 he was judge of the orphans' court, and gave satisfaction to all concerned. In his political convictions he has ever sided with the Democracy.

The paternal grandfather of the above-named gentleman, Nathan Gordy, was a native of the state of Delaware, and was of direct English descent. John P., father of Benjamin B., was born in this district in 1799, and died in 1840, having always followed agricultural pursuits, and became well-to-do. His good wife, Mary Dale, as she was in her girlhood, was born the same year that he was, and survived him many years, dying in 1881. They were the parents of five children, of whom Benjamin is now the only one

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left. Those who have been called to the better land are Lemuel B., John S., James D. and William G.

Having been reared upon a farm, and having been familiar with all varieties of work connected with the proper management of the homestead, it is not strange that upon arriving at an age where lie must choose for himself his future vo- cation in life Benjamin B. Gordy concluded to follow in the footsteps of his forefathers. When about twenty he set forth to make his livelihood, and in 1844 purchased a farm in Pittsburg dis- trict, near the town of Pittsville, and there he dwelt for thirteen years. He then bought the farm where he now lives, and where he has con- tinuously resided since with the sole exception of the three years that he was in Delaware. Success has abundantly blessed his labors, and to-day he is a man of considerable means, owing it all, also, to his perseverance in whatever he undertook. Altogether he owns five hundred and twenty-five acres, divided into two farms.

In 1843 Mr. Gordy married Sarah J. Tradder, and they have three children. Lemuel D. is in partnership with his father in running the farm; Martha E. A. is the wife of L. Sherman; John T. is a business man of Brooklyn, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Gordy have been members of the Methodist Protestant Church for a long period, and are great workers in the causes of religion and humanity.

ON. THOMAS KING CARROLL, M. D., one of the most prominent physicians of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, has resided for many years in the ninth district of Dorchester County. He has always taken an active interest in politics, not only of his county and state, but in all that concerns his country. Three times has he been chosen to represent the people in the state legislature, once in the house of delegates and twice in the senate, and withdrew his name from the nomination for the United States senate in order to resume the duties of his profession.

In the community to which he has devoted his life work he is honored as a physician and loved and respected as a man.

Born at Kingston Hall, Somerset County, the ancestral home of the family, Dr. Carroll is a son of ex-Governor Thomas King Carroll and wife, Julia, daughter of Dr. Henry Stevenson, of Bal- timore. His ancestors came to this country about 1640, settling first in Virginia, and later locat- ing upon the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where they have since been represented by many men who have become famous in statesmanship and the professions. The doctor's grandfather, Col. Henry James Carroll, married Miss Elizabeth Barnes King, daughter of Sir Thomas King, baronet of England, he having come to America to escape religious persecution, and Kingston Hall was built by him in 1683.

Finishing school and college at an early age, Dr. Carroll began the study of medicine, for which he had great natural talent, and graduated from the University of Maryland, in Baltimore, in the class of 1846. Before he had received his degree, however, he was the recipient of a petition from the residents of Dorchester County, urging him to settle there. He concluded to comply with the request, and continues in practice here to the present day. He has been very success- ful in his noble work, and richly deserves the genuine and high regard in which he is held in the heart of those among whom he has lived and labored. In his political convictions he is a Democrat: His father was an elector and voted for Gen. Andrew Jackson for president.

Of the large and happy family of brothers and sisters that grew up at Kingston Hall, the doctor and three sisters alone survive. Miss Anna Ella Carroll, prominent during the Lincoln adminis- tration, and called by her biographer "the un- recognized member of his cabinet," was one of his sisters. Those who are left to him are: Mrs. Thomas Cradock, of Baltimore County; Mrs. Dr. Bowdle and Miss Mary Henry Carroll, of Washington, D. C. Dr. Carroll married Miss Margaret Handy Carroll, daughter of Charles Cecilius Carroll, of St. Louis, Mo., and had a family of ten children, of whom three sons and

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three daughters are living. Thomas King died at the age of eleven years; Charles Cecilius resides at the old homestead; Henry Stevenson died when thirty-six years of age; and the others are Margaret H. : Victor; Vivian, a druggist at Church Creek: Julia S. and Nellie T., at home; and two who died in infancy. The doctor's home is upon a fine old estate known as Walnut Landing, on the shell road from Cambridge to Church Creek. He is still in active practice, is hale and hearty, and stands as a noble example of one of the old and honorable families of Maryland, who for over two centuries have borne a prominent part in the social, business and political development of the state.

HOWARD HUBBARD is one of the young agriculturists of Talbot County, one of the live, ambitious men who are to carry forward the work that their fathers began, and upon whose stability and strength of character our beloved state must rely in the future. It is from the ranks of the eager, ambitious generation who are rapidly occupying the places of the citizens of the past half and three quarters of a century that we must select our statesmen, our commercial and professional representatives, and lastly, though perhaps first in importance, the honest tillers of our soil. All countries recognize the fact that their strength, as nations, depends not so much upon their rulers and generals as upon the brave, hardy souls who constitute what is termed the rank and file, and that that nation is the greatest which has the greatest number of well-cultivated farins and industrious farmers.

Born in Concord, Caroline County, March 18, 1872, P. H. Hubbard is a son of J. P. J. Hubbard, who was a native of the same place and came from an old family thereabouts. His life occu- pation was that of agriculture, in which he was blessed with success. He was a Democrat in politics, and served as tax collector of Caroline County for a time. At the date of his death, March 4, 1893, he was one of the directors of the Denton National Bank. In his early manhood

he married Martha Blades, a native of the same region as himself, and she is still living, at the age of fifty-four years. Her father, Isaiah Blades, was a well-to-do farmer of Caroline County. P. H. is the only son in his parents' family, his sisters being Winnie, wife of W. R. Fountain, who manages the old homestead near Concord; and Emma S., who is unmarried.

The first eleven years in the life of our subject were spent at his birthplace. Then, with his parents, he came to the farm he now occupies, in 1883, and here it was that his father died. He received ordinary school advantages, but has further broadened his mental horizon by reading and experience. Since his nineteenth year he has given all his time and attention to the various departments of farm management, and seems specially qualified for the business. In 1893 he fell heir to this farm, Chestnut Cliff, a fine tract of one hundred and eighty-five acres, well adapted for the raising of the products commonly grown in this locality.

On the 22d of November, 1894, Mr. Hubbard married Nannie Stevens, who was born in Vir- ginia and is a daughter of W. W. Stevens, now a resident of Cordova, Talbot County. The young couple have a pretty little daughter, Helen, who is the sunshine of the home. They are the center of a wide circle of friends and acquaint- ances, and greatly enjoy entertaining them in' their pretty and comfortable home.

ILLIAM F. MAY. Nearly thirty years have rolled away since this worthy citizen of Tilghmans Island, Talbot County, came here to cast in his lot with our people and during this time he has won the entire confidence and high esteem of his neighbors and customers. He was appointed postmaster of the island under President Cleveland's first administration and is still in possession of the place, in which he has given satisfaction alike to constituent and oppo- nent in politics. He is a stanch Democrat and has been quite a worker in the ranks. It was in

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1869 that he opened a store here and since tlen he has carried a general line of provisions, dry goods and other merchandise such as is usually required for country trade. He has also invested large sums of money in the oyster business and has been interested for the last fifteen years or more with a Mr. Cummings in dredging and sell- ing oysters.

Our subject's father, William F., born in 1794, was a native of Queen Anne's County, Md., and was a hero of the war of 1812 with England. He was a farmer by occupation and was fairly successful. His home place was situated near the village of Church Hill, and here his last days were spent, his death taking place when he was in the prime of life, but forty-seven years of age. His faithful wife, who was the widow of Ezekiel Godwin at the time of their marriage, was Miss Sarah Neavitt in her girlhood. She was a native of the same county as himself, and lived and died in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church, her age at death being sixty-three years.

William F. May, born February 13, 1841, on the old homestead in the vicinity of Church Hill, has never known from experience what it is to have the loving care, fond protection and firm guidance of a father, for that parent died before the birth of the child who was henceforth to stand in his place and bear his name. The devoted motlier, however, tenderly tried to fill the vacancy towards the lad as far as she was able, but force of circumstances compelled him to leave home when he was a mere child of thirteen. Going to the adjoining county, he worked on farms for differ- ent employers for a few years, after which he rented a place for himself on Broad Neck Creek up to 1867. His chances for obtaining an educa- tion were necessarily very meager, and he is the more entitled to credit for what he has ac- complished. He is truly a man who is self made for he owes it to himself that he has risen to a position of influence in the community. He has been connected with the Improved Order of Hepta- sophs for a number of years and is quite a student and reader on general subjects.

In 1862 Mr. May married Sarah Harrison, of this county, who died in June, 1864, leaving one

son. This son, John T., is now engaged in farni- ing and is interested in oyster dredging. The present Mrs. May was formerly Miss Margaret A. Cummings, of the island. By her marriage she has become the inother of four children, two living, Sallie, who is still at home, and Effie, wife of John T. Higgins, of Baltimore.

G EORGE M. WILSON is one of the most en- terprising young business men of Easton, Md. For several years past he has been in- terested in operating a mill, which property came into the possession of his father by purchase the same year that our subject was born, and from that day to this the mill has been in continuous use, and managed by father or son. From his boyhood George M. was accustomed to spend much of his time in the mill, and early learned every detail incident to the business of running the same. He has excellent financial and execu- tive ability, and is very successful in his various undertakings.

William H. Wilson, father of the above, was born in Caroline County in 1815, and died in 1893, respected by all who had known him. He started in life at the foot of the ladder, and stead- ily advanced in commercial success. He learned the milling business thoroughly in early life, and in1 1865 bought the property here now owned and controlled by our subject. His faithful wife, whose maiden name was Susan A. Smith, was also a native of Caroline County. She was sum- moned to the better land about ten years before her husband's death. They were the parents of four children, of whom three survive. C. E. is a mechanic in Denton, Md .; Mariana is the wife of W. F. Griffith, of Newark, Del.

The birth of George M. Wilson occurred July 12, 1865, in Denton, Caroline County, Md. He attended the Friends' school in his boyliood days, and received a good general education, amply sufficient for the practical business of life. He was but an infant when his parents removed to this town, and here he grew to maturity. When he had reached a suitable age he was admitted to

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the firm with his father, the name being changed to William Wilson & Son, and thus continued as long as the senior member was actively concerned in the same. After his death his interest was bought of the other heirs by our subject, who has since conducted the mill on his own responsibil- ity

April 21, 1891, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Wilson and Fannie R. Shanahan, daughter of W. J. and cousin of W. E. Shanahan, well- known and prosperous citizens of Easton. To our subject and wife lias been born one child, William Griffith, now a bright little fellow of two years. Mr. Wilson is a member of the Improved Order of Heptasophs, and he, as well as liis fam- ily, are identified with the Catholic Church.

OHN H. GEORGE has been one of the citi- zens of Caroline County for over thirty years, during which time he has been actively en- gaged in the management of his well-improved homestead near Griffin. He is a man who has had his own way to make in the world and has relied upon his own efforts exclusively and with good results. From boyhood he has been honest, in- dustrious and persevering and has made a good livelihood for his family, providing them with many of the luxuries and all of the necessities of life, and affording excellent business educations to his children. He may well feel that his life has not been spent in vain when he looks around his home circle and sees his ten bright, happy sons and daughters, all but four of whom have gone forth to occupy places of usefulness in the busy world.

The parents of our subject were Robert and Elizabeth ( Hopkins) George, natives of Delaware, and from old families in that state. The father of Robert was John George, who was born and reared in Delaware, and was a successful farmer and a large land owner there. His father in turn was a son of the Emerald Isle, but came to this country before the war of the Revolution and settled in Delaware, where he thencefortli dwelt.

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Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 20

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