Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 21

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

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The father of Mrs. Elizabeth George was Col. Robert Hopkins, who won his title for meritorious service in the war of 1812. He too was an agri- culturist in Delaware, and was born and grew to manhood there.

John H. George was born in Kent County, Del., June 23, 1829, being one of nine children, of whom only four are now living. His brothers, James H. and Thomas R., are residents of Chester- ville, Pa. and near Dover, Del., respectively, and the only living sister, Anna E., lives at Wilming- ton, Del. Our subject's boyhood was spent in the manner usual witlı farmer lads, his time being divided betwixt work and play, and a small por- tion being spent in the mastering of the three "R's." When he left home it was to open a liv- ery establishment in Smyrna, Del., and this he carried on with fair success from 1858 to 1865, although the depression of the monetary market during the war was appreciable in this business, perhaps more than in most occupations. He en- listed himself in 1863, as a member of Company B, Sixth Delaware Regiment of Volunteers, to serve for nine months, but they finally remained in the field for a whole year. However, it hap- pened that he was never in any active engage- ment. In 1866 he came to his present home and bought the property which comprises one hun- dred and fifty acres. He has always voted the Democratic ticket since he received the right of franchise.

In 1855 Mr. George married Mary E. Hus- bands, who was born and grew to womanhood in Delaware. To them ten children have been born viz .: Ella H., Robert B .; Florence, the wife of Wesley Perry, and they have two children, Elva and Arthur; John L., who married Mattie Carroll, and they have one child, Mary; Susie; Mary E., the wife of Leonard Sheubrooks; Joseph H., who married Ella Slaughter, and they have three children, Paul, Evelyn and Hilda; Addie H., wife of James T. Clark, who has two boys, Stanton and Russell; Walter T .; and Anna B., the wife of Roland Frampton, who has one child, Bernice. The family are great workers in the Methodist Protestant Church, and several of the older ones are members of the denomination.

HON. WOODLAND P. FINLEY.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ON. WOODLAND P. FINLEY, a member of the state senate from Queen Anne's Coun- ty, was born March 15, 1851, upon the farm in the second district where he still resides. The first member of the family to locate in the district was his great-grandfather, James Finley, an attorney-at-law, who, however, retired from the profession after a few years of active practice and settled upon the farm now owned by J. I. Lewis. He became a wealthy planter and slave holder and acquired valuable possessions that descended to his children.

The father of our subject, Washington Finley, M. D., was born in the second district, and was educated in West Nottingham Academy and at Bel Air, Harford County. When only sixteen years of age he taught Latin, Greek and French in Bel Air College. Later he read medicine in the office of a physician in Centreville, and then entered the University of Maryland, from which he graduated in 1835. Returning to the old homestead, he practiced his profession for ten years, but afterward gave his attention wholly to public affairs and the management of his large property interests. A leader of the Democracy, he was their candidate for governor in 1859. In 1852 he was elected to the house of delegates. For three successive terms of four years each he was chief judge of the orphans' court.

The first wife of Dr. Finley was Sarah A. Harrison, by whom he had sixteen children, but our subject and J. L. alone survive, the latter being a physician of Church Hill. The other children died when young, and their mother passed away on New Year's day of 1872. In 1873 Dr. Finley married Miss Mary E. Mason, who is still living. He died August 3, 1896, and his remains were interred in Church Hill cemetery. His realty possessions were large, in- cluding the ownership of eleven hundred acres and town property in Church Hill.

Reared on the home farm, the subject of this sketch has had charge of the place since 1875. He was educated in West Nottingham Academy and a school in Blair County, Pa. In 1875 he married Miss Catherine O., daughter of Benjamin Coppage. They became the parents of four chil-

dren, of whom two are living, Sallie M. and James W. In 1893 Mr. Finley was elected to the state senate to fill the unexpired term of John B. Brown, and in 1895 he was elected for a full term of four years. He is a strong Democrat and always gives his allegiance to party prin- ciples. His landed estate comprises four hundred and fifty acres of land, upon which he engages extensively in farming and stock-raising.

BRADFORD COPPER. The Second Na- tional Bank is one of the sound moneyed institutions of Kent County. The known integrity of its officials and their ability as financiers have brought the concern a degree of prestige not always enjoyed even by older banks. Among the depositors are many of the most suc- cessful business men of the place, as well as farmers of the surrounding country. With a paid capital of $50,000, the bank is in a position to invest money advantageously and furnish to its depositors the usual accommodations of busi- ness men.

For some years Mr. Copper has been cashier of the bank, and his financial acumen has promoted its prosperity, preventing it from sinking in the quagmires of business depression that in the past few years have brought bankruptcy to so many concerns. He is a member of an old family of Kent County. His father, Joshua Copper, was born here in 1802, followed farm pursuits and the occupation of a carpenter in early life. For thirty-five years he held the office of steward of the almshouse. He died in 1892, at the great age of ninety years. His wife, who was about twenty years his junior, bore the maiden name of Millie Perkins and was born in Queen Anne's County; she now makes her home in Kent County.

The family of which our subject is the young- est consisted of nine children, seven of whom are now living, four sisters and three brothers. Sam- uel A. is a business man of Savannah, Ga., and Jesse R. is a successful farmer of Kent County,

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The subject of this sketch was born on the home farm three miles from Chestertown January 15, 1863, and remained at home until fourteen years of age. Meantime he received the advantages of- fered by the public schools of the home neighbor- hood. His first position was that of clerk in a store at Lankford, this county, and he was for thirteen years employed as clerk in different places. Coming to Chestertown, he accepted a position in a hardware store adjoining the Second National Bank and remained there several years. In June, 1890, he entered the bank as cashier, managing its finances in a way that proves his ability and uprightness.

In movements for the benefit of Chestertown Mr. Copper manifests a lively interest. While the demands of his position leave him little time for public service, he nevertheless keeps well posted concerning matters affecting the welfare of the people of the community, as well as those weightier questions that have to do with our na- tional prosperity. In politics he votes the Demo- cratic ticket. He has a pleasant home in Ches- tertown, presided over by his accomplished wife, whom he married in 1893, and who bore the maiden name of Sarah Carroll.

APT. JOHN H. OZMON, one of the most prosperous and highly respected citizens of Centreville, is an honored son of Maryland, his birth occurring in Denton, Caroline County, June 1, 1828. His paternal grandfather spent his entire life in Talbot County, where he suc- cessfully followed the occupation of farming and at his death left a large and valuable farm, which remained in the family for some time. He was the father of eight children, three sons and five daughters, the former being Samuel C., father of our subject; Willian, a farmer and boatsman, who died in Talbot County; and Henry, who always followed the water. The grandfather was a soldier in the war of 1812.

Samuel C. Ozmon began his earthly career in Talbot County in January, 1807, and throughout

his business life also followed the water, being in the employ of the bay line of steamers, running from Baltimore to Norfolk, Va., for many years. He was master of several vessels sailing on the Chesapeake and its tributaries. He passed away in the city of Baltimore at the age of fifty-nine years, and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Ann Willoughby, died at the home of our subject in 1872, at the age of sixty-four. Her father, Edward Willoughby, was an English- man by birth, and came to this country as a sol- dier in the English army during the war of 1812, but soon afterward deserted and later made his home in this country. He married a Miss Moore, by whom he had one son and five daughters, of whom Mrs. Ozmon was the eldest. The son, William M. Willoughby, never married. For a time he served as clerk in the county clerk's of- fice at Denton, Md., and later went to Grand Gulf, Miss., where he was cashier in a bank. Afterward he went to Cuba and engaged in the commission business, since which time nothing has been heard of him.

Our subject was an only son, but had two sis- ters who died in childhood. When a small boy he went to sea with his father, being first em- ployed as assistant cook, but at the early age of twenty years was made master of the schooner Kent, so rapidly had he been promoted. For forty years he continued to follow the water, sail- ing principally upon the Chesapeake and its trib- utaries. He resided at various places until the fall of 1858, when he located permanently in Centreville, where he now owns considerable property, including twenty houses at the wharf, besides his own fine residence, which he built in 1880. Success in any walk of life is an indica- tion of earnest endeavor and persevering effort; characteristics that the captain possesses in an eminent degree. As a business man he is saga- cious and far-sighted and in his undertakings has met with a well-merited success, so that he is now one of the most substantial and prosperous citizens of Centreville.

In 1857 Captain Ozmon was united in marriage to Miss Isabella Whiting, a native of Caracas, South America, of which place her father was a

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prominent business man. After his death her mother married his brother, with whom Mrs. Oz- mon came to this country. The captain and his wife became the parents of two children: Florence Virginia, now the wife of Capt. Bedford Lara- more, a resident of Baltimore, who is commander of the steamer St. Michael; and Joseph Whiting, who married Minnie Satterfield and has two chil- dren, John Harry and Joseph Roger. Captain Ozmon has been called upon to mourn the loss of his estimable wife, who departed this life about thirteen years ago. He is a member of the Cathi- olic Church, is a courteous, affable gentleman, and wherever found, whether in public or private life, his integrity is above question and his honor above reproach. Centreville owes much to him and numbers him among her valued citizens.

OL. EDWARD WILKINS. Of the many men who have contributed to the develop- ment of Kent County, few have accomplished more in its behalf than the subject of this memoir, who was especially prominent on account of his identification with the fruit industry. With a firm faith in the adaptability of this soil and climate to the cultivation of fruit, he set himself energet- ically to work, making of the subject a "hobby," and soon proving by actual experience that his opinions were founded on facts. The land which he owned was situated four miles from Chestertown, on the Chester River, and was planted almost entirely to fruit trees. At one time he had one hundred and fifty thousand peach trees on his five farms, as well as a peach dis- tillery and a greenhouse, where fruit was ripened for the early markets. To facilitate the trans- portation of fruit, he had a line of steamers run- ning from here to Baltimore, where he marketed the products of his farm. To assist in the care of the trees and packing of the fruit he employed as many as three hundred men during the busy season. He was emphatically a pioneer in the fruit industry and the value of his services can scarcely be overestimated.

A life-long resident of Kent County, Colonel Wilkins was born here October 6, 1813, the only child of his parents. His father died when the son was small, and afterward the mother married Robert Constable. Edward was sent to Massa- chusetts to attend school, but the death of his stepfather obliged him to return home and as- sume the management of the estate for his mother. When quite young he became inter- ested in raising fruit, of which he afterward made a specialty, and it was largely due to his efforts that the Eastern Shore was brought to its present high rank as a fruit center. While his attention was largely given to the management of his place, his was not a narrow spirit that centered entirely in self. He was interested in public improvements and projects for the benefit of the people. His ability was recognized by others and he was frequently chosen to serve in positions of trust and responsibility. As judge of the orphans' court and as state senator from Kent County, he rendered his fellow-citizens faithful service, discharging every duty as an official in an able and satisfactory manner. Un- der the administration of General Grant he was appointed collector for the port of Baltimore. The title by which he was known was given him while serving as colonel of the Second Regiment of Eastern Shore militia. In religious belief he was identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and fraternally affiliated with the Ma- sons. When death removed him from the scene of his activities, December 28, 1878, it was felt that the county had lost one of its best citizens, the poor a helpful friend, and the sorrowing one whose sympathy could always be relied upon.

By his first marriage, which united him with Deborah Jones, Colonel Wilkins had four chil- dren, of whom a son and two daughters attained mature years. The son, Edward M., mar- ried Miss Mary Anna Merritt. The daugh- ters, both of whom are deceased, were Juliana, Mrs. Robert S. Emory; and Maria, whose hus- band, James Russell, was paying teller of the Citizens' National Bank of Baltimore. At their death Mr. and Mrs. Russell left several chil- dren, who are living in Baltimore. The second

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wife of Colonel Wilkins was Frances Olivia Mer- ritt, of Kent County, who died at the home place January 20, 1877. Of hier five children four are living, namely: Samuel Merritt Wilkins, a resi- dent of Chestertown; Fannie L., wife of Edward B. Jones: Frank, an official in the Baltimore custom house; and Ben N. S., who owned the old home- stead. The last-named was born in 1854, re- ceived his education in Washington College and the state normal at Millersville, Pa., also took a business course in a commercial college, and tlen settled down to the busy life of a farmer and fruit grower. In 1895 he removed from the farm to Chestertown, where he now resides. In April, 1897, he was appointed magistrate by Governor Lowndes. In his political faith he is a Repub- lican, while religiously he is identified with the Episcopal Church.

February 28, 1877, B. N. S. Wilkins married Miss Rebecca R. Gray, daughter of John R. and Margaretta Ann (Anderson) Gray. Her mater- nal grandfather, Dr. Anderson, was a prominent man of his day. Her father's mother was a sister of Commodore John Rogers and a relative of Admiral Raymond Rogers. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins are named as follows: Frances Olivia, Ben N. S., Helen Gray, Maude, Paul, Brayman Rogers and Maurice Gray.

OSEPH R. USILTON. Surnames of marked peculiarity are to be found interwoven with the history of certain districts, and form one of the distinguishing features of a locality, and so it is in the case of the one given. Ofttimes the family name of a branch of pioneers who settled in some section of this country is rarely met with outside of the particular original settlement, but is very well known there. This family have been most prominent hereabouts, and have always stood for law and order, progress and improve- ment and good citizenship.

Joseph R. is a son of Lewin, and a grandson of Joseph Usilton. The latter resided in Chester- town several years, and spent all his life in Kent

County, his occupation being farming. Lewin was also an agriculturist, and was born and reared on the identical homestead which is now owned and operated by his son, our subject. Altogether he was the happy possessor of about twelve hundred acres, and owned a number of slaves in ante-belluni days. He was a man of unusual intelligence and liberality of nature, and was popular with all who knew him. A Demo- crat in politics, he served his party well, once as county commissioner and two terms in the state legislature. Death claimned him in 1880, when he was in his fifty-seventh year. His wife, whose maiden name was Harriet M. Smyth, departed this life in 1895, aged sixty-four years. She was a daughter of Maj. Richard Smyth, and was born and brought up in Kent County. Eight children were born to this estimable couple, and all who survive are good and reliable citizens of the sev- eral communities where they dwell. (See sketch of Jesse Usilton for further particulars in regard to them.)

The birth of Joseph R. Usilton occurred at Rock Point, Kent County, October 5, 1855, and in the ordinary routine of life upon a farm his boyhood passed quietly and without marked events. He attended the public schools and worked on the old farmn, thoroughly familiarizing himself with everything relating to agriculture. This knowledge, acquired in the school of actual experience, has been of incalculable benefit to him in later years. When he had reached his majority he took charge of one of his father's farms, and later carried on one on his own ac- count, it being situated on Green Point. Here he was a resident seven years, on the expiration of which time he returned to the old home farm, his father having died in the meanwhile, and has managed the place ever since. It comprises three hundred acres, and considerable fruit of fine va- rieties is grown upon it.

In response to the wishes of his friends and neighbors, Mr. Usilton has occupied public posi- tions to some extent, and has always given the best of satisfaction. He was register and judge of elections, and in 1893 was appointed by Mur- ray Vandiver to the place of gauger for the

GEORGE R. GOLDSBOROUGH.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

United States revenue commission. He was obliged to resign, however, the duties of the office proving too arduous for him, as his health was not of the best at that time. He has also offi- ciated as assistant custodian in the Baltimore postoffice. In 1881 Mr. Usilton married Mary F. Aurlock, who was the widow of William T. Skirven, of this county. She is a very estimable lady and of good attainments, mentally and soci- ally. She is a charming hostess, and loves to entertain her own and husband's many friends and well-wishers. They are attendants at the Methodist Church and give towards its support.

G EORGE R. GOLDSBOROUGH. One of the old homesteads of Talbot County is Myrtle Grove, in Easton District, which has been in the possession of the Goldsborough family for more than two hundred years. Conspicuous among its buildings is the commodious brick mansion, a portion of which was built in 1734 and the addition in 1794. Within the ancient dwelling, in days gone by, were entertained many men of note, who were drawn hither by ties of friendship or kinship. Near Myrtle Grove is another estate, Ashby, also owned by the subject of this sketch and occupied by him as a summer residence. In this dwelling the visitor will notice with interest a collection of oil paintings, por- traits of members of the family from an early day, and there are also other souvenirs interesting to all. Both of the houses are picturesquely situated on points of land jutting down into the water and are surrounded by groups of large old forest trees, the whole combining to form an attractive picture in the landscape of the region.

The history of the Goldsborough family is full of interest. The first of the name to settle in America was Nicholas, a native of Dorchester, England, and an early settler of Kent Island, where he died and was buried. Robert, son of Nicholas and a native of England, settled in Talbot County about 1670 and purchased a very large tract of land, a part of which forms the

present estates of Myrtle Grove and Ashby. Robert's son, Robert, who was born at Ashby, had a son, Judge Robert, a native of the same place, and for years a judge of the circuit court on the Eastern Shore.

Hon. Robert Henry Goldsborough, son of Judge Robert and father of our subject, was born at Myrtle Grove, January 4, 1779, and graduated from' St. John's College in 1796. In 1800 he married Henrietta Maria, daughter of Col. Robert Lloyd Nichols, of Talbot County; she was born on the family estate, Peach Blossom, and died at Myrtle Grove in 1838, having been the mother of ten children, of whom George R. alone survives. In 1804 the father was elected to a seat in the house of delegates. In 1812 Governor Winder appointed him United States senator to succeed Gen. Philip Reed, deceased, and in the same year he was chosen by the legislature for the full term of six years. He was again elected to the house of delegates in 1825. Ten years later he was appointed to fill the unexpired term of E. F. Chambers in the United States senate and was holding that position at the time of his death, October 5, 1836. Personally he was a man of many charming. characteristics.

At the family home, Myrtle Grove, the subject of this review was born April 11, 1821. In 1848 he went to sea as clerk for a captain and sailed to China, being absent from home for three years. On his return he came to Ashby, where he makes his summer home, his winter residence being at No. 505 Cathedral street, Baltimore. June 25, 1862, he married Eleanor A. Rogers, of Druid Hill, Baltimore, member of an old family of that city. Her father, Lloyd Nicholas Rogers, was a soldier in the war of 1812. Her ancestors in 1760 purchased from Lord Baltimore a tract of four hundred and eighty-seven acres, comprising the Druid Hill farm, which, one hundred years from the time it was patented, was sold to the city of Baltimore, and is now the celebrated park of that name. Politically Mr. Goldsborough is a gold Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Goldsborough are attendants at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

As might be expected from one who is a great- great-granddaughter of Martha Washington, Mrs.

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Goldsborough is deeply interested in the preser- vation of Mt. Vernon. This historic place is the property of the women of the United States, by whom it has been restored (as far as possible) to its condition at the time General Washington re- sided there. The care of the place is confided to a board of vice-regents, one from each state, who are presided over by a regent. These are life ap- pointments. The duty of the vice-regent is to see that the home and the tomb of Washington are kept in perfect repair and preserved from injury. They meet in council once a year, when each vice-regent reports what she has done in her state. Appointed a member of the board in 1893, Mrs. Goldsborough has since done all in her power to interest others in the work, and has endeavored to induce the women of Maryland to form societies in each county; the especial object being to cultivate among the young a knowledge of the character of Washington and a love for his memory, and also to assist by contri- butions to the object desired, that of preserving the home of Washington. In her possession Mrs. Goldsborough has the original painting by Sharpless, of General Washington, which has been handed down from preceding generations; also a medallion of Gen. Robert E. Lee, a per- sonal gift from that famous soldier, who was a warm friend of Mr. Goldsborough and frequently visited him at his home in Talbot County.

OBERT LEE SPILMAN, deceased, was a fine specimen of the true southern gentlemen of old Virginia, and possessed the distinctive traits of hospitality, courtesy and generosity which have prevailed among them from time immemorial. He was born and passed his youth in the Old Do- minion, but for the last quarter of a century of his useful career was identified with the inhabitants of Taylor's Island, in the fourth district of Dorchester County. His pleasant home was beautifully sit- uated on the southern bank of the Little Choptank River, also overlooking the pretty Oyster Creek, which bounds the farm upon the western side.

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Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 21

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