USA > Maryland > Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland > Part 33
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In the county of his nativity Richard C. Smyth grew to manhood and attended its public schools. After completing his education he turned his at- tention to agricultural pursuits, operating differ- ent farms until 1866, when he returned to the old homestead, where he has since continued to reside. He has about three hundred acres of highly cul- tivated and well-improved land and the well-tilled fields testify to his skill and ability as a success- ful agriculturist.
In 1860 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Smyth and Miss Wilmina H. Appleton, of Dela- ware, and they have become the parents of six children: Mary C., now the wife of J. Raymond Bowers; Hallie E., wife of Robert Loud; Murray, at home; Willie S., wife of William Edwards; and Carrie and Blanche, both at home. In religious belief the family are Methodists. On attaining his majority, Mr. Smyth gave his political support to the Whig party and since its dissolution has been an ardent Democrat. For five years he served as county commissioner and was appointed
by Governor Hamilton for one year. He takes an active and commendable interest in public af- fairs and cheerfully gives his support to all objects calculated to benefit the community or advance the general welfare.
AMES O. DICKINSON. With the exception of a few years in Caroline County, Mr. Dick- inson has spent his entire life in Talbot County, and he is numbered among the success- ful farmers of Trappe district, where he occupies valuable property lying on Dickinson Bay. He ownssix hundred acres of the original family home- stead, and is also the owner of the old Craig farm, comprising three hundred and thirty-nine acres. His landed possessions are further increased by the ownership of thirty-four hundred acres in Kingman County, Kan., the property being util- ized as a cattle ranch. The large estate which he owns has come to him partly by inheritance, but principally through the exercise of sound judg- ment and business sagacity.
Upon the farm where he now resides Mr. Dick- inson was born October 12, 1849. His father, Samuel, who was born on the same farm, was a son of Samuel and a grandson of Samuel Dickin- son, the latter an Englishman who took a grant of land under the lord proprietary. Later gener- ations were prominent as planters and in public life. The father of our subject married Maria Goldsborough, of Caroline County, Md., and they had a family of seven children, namely: Samuel, who died in 1896; Mary A., who married William Thomas; Van Ransvanselar, of Cambridge; Will- iam E., who died in 1876; John, whose death occurred in 1881; and Ellen, who died in 1893.
The youngest of his father's family, our subject was born and reared upon the old homestead. When twenty-one years of age he began for him- self, renting a part of the old homestead and here he has since remained, with the exception of the period of his residence in Caroline County. He is a man of great business capability, keen and shrewd in every transaction, yet invariably hon-
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est in even the minutest detail. His energy and sound judgment have assisted him in the accu- mulation of a large and valuable property. In ad- dition to general farming he has engaged in the breeding of fine horses, of which he has made a success. He is not greatly interested in politics, but votes the Democratic ticket and supports its principles.
USTAVUS A. HAEFNER, M. D., enjoys an extensive and lucrative practice in Hur- lock, Dorchester County and vicinity and is one of our best and most patriotic citizens. He takes commendable interest in everything which concerns the town and county, and is sure to be found casting his influence and vote upon the side of law and order and progress. He is a native of Germany, his birth having occurred in the province of Saxe-Coburg in 1846. However, as he was but six years old when brought by his parents to America, he grew up in the principles of our government and gives his undivided allegi- ance to her-his adopted country. He has traveled quite extensively and is a student and thinker far beyond the average. With the new methods and discoveries made in the line of his profession he keeps in thorough touch, and takes the best medical journals of the day.
Christian A. Haefner, father of the doctor, was a native of Bavaria, and was a man of superior educational attainments. When a young man he went into the province of Saxe-Coburg and found a good position as a teacher, and continued in that vocation for several years with marked suc- cess. He became acquainted with a Miss Sophia Thorman there, and they were married and had five children. Four of the number grew to ma- ture years, viz .: Caroline, Margaret, Sophia and Gustavus A.
Dr. Haefner crossed the Atlantic in 1851 and was reared in the city of Baltimore. His higher studies in science and the languages were ob- tained in the Pennsylvania College of Gettys- burg and in 1867 he graduated from the medical
department of the University of Maryland. His initial practice was in Baltimore County, but during the war he was a medical cadet in the Union army (in 1865) and thus gained some ex- perience in the treatment of the sick and suffer- ing. In 1869 he was appointed an assistant in the quarantine hospital of Baltimore city and in November, 1869, was sent as a physician to the West Indies. After a stay of twelve months he returned to the United States, but again, in 1875, went to the islands, nor did he come back before 1891. Since that date he has been engaged in practice in Hurlock, and resides in the pretty house which he erected the same year that he located here permanently.
Socially the doctor is a member of the Masonic order, he having joined the fraternity nearly thirty years ago, in Baltimore. In1 1891 Dr. Haefner married Miss Emma B., daughter of H. C. Davis, who was a representative of an old family on the Eastern Shore.
M ISS MARTHA ANDERSON, residing in the second district of Queen Anne's County, is a lady of large business capacity and marked intelligence, and is distinguished for her straightforward, womanly course, no less than for the tact and energy she had employed in her business affairs since her parents' death. She is a native of that district and a daughter of John and Martha (Holden) Anderson. The father was born in Ireland and at an early day came to the new world. By trade he was a blacksmith, and in 1833 he located on the farm where his daughter now resides, and there spent his re- maining days. His estimable wife passed away in 1857. They were numbered among the highly respected citizens of the community and their friends were many. In their family were seven children, namely: Mary, William and John, all now deceased; Richard, who is living retired in Church Hill; one who died in infancy; James, deceased; and Martha.
Miss Anderson was educated in the common
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schools and was reared upon the home farm. After her mother's death slie and her sister Mary took charge of the farin which they successfully managed for a few years and then rented until 1876. Since then Miss Anderson has superin- tended its operation and has succeeded in demon- strating the fact that a woman is well qualified to carry on a farm successfully. Besides the home place, comprising sixty-five acres, she has another farm of ninety-two acres, which is also under a high state of cultivation and well im- proved. She merits and receives the warmest respect and esteem of the whole community, and is much beloved by all with whom she comes in contact.
G EORGE B. WESTCOTT. The various en- terprises in which its citizens engage have made Chestertown the chief business center of Kent County. In the list of these numerous industries the mercantile trade holds an important place, employing considerable capital in its man- agement and giving to other enterprises a decided impetus by the energy of its representatives. Among the merchants of this place is George B. Westcott, who in January, 1890, succeeded his father in business, and in May of the same year succeeded him as secretary of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Kent County, with both of which concerns he has since been connected. His financial standing is excellent and his social position the highest, his deportment both in pri- vate and business life having secured for him the respect and esteem of the leading citizens.
The Westcott family is among the oldest of New Jersey. Samuel Buck Westcott, grandfather of George B., was at one time secretary to the governor of New Jersey and at the time of his death, in 1840, held the office of clerk of At- lantic County. The father of our subject, Nich- olas G., was born in New Jersey in 1815, and in 1836 came to Chestertown, where he continued to reside until his death, May 15, 1890. From 1847 until his demise he was interested in the mercan- tile business here, and was also secretary of
the Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Kent County, of which an uncle had been the first secretary. In religious belief an Episcopalian, he served his church as warden and contributed to its well-being by his active efforts. He married Mary, daughter of Dr. Charles Tilden, of Kent County, and an estimable lady, whose death oc- curred in March, 1890. They had an only son, also one daughter, Mary L., who is unmarried.
In Chestertown, where he now resides, George B. Westcott was born February 20, 1852. He received his education in Washington College, after which he was employed as bookkeeper in the bank for several years, and then engaged in farming for some time, retiring from that occupa- tion to succeed his father in the mercantile busi- ness. Fraternally he is connected with the An- cient Order of United Workmen, and in politics is independent. Like his father he holds to Epis- copalian doctrines, and he serves the church as a member of the vestry. In 1880 he married Miss Polly, daughter of Simon Wickes. The eight children born of their union are named as follows: Hallie R., George Godfrey, Edward S., Elizabeth R., Simon Wickes, Joseph P., Ellen L. and Polly Wickes.
ILLIAM T. LUSBY is an enterprising farmer of the second district, Kent County, and has made his home here for some fif- teen years or more. During this time he has steadily made improvements upon his homestead, which is now one of the model ones in this region. He gives his attention to the raising of general crops, and has been especially successful in grow- ing fruit, for which a ready market is always found in the great cities near.
A native of Maryland, our subject was born in Cecil County, February 19, 1821. His father, John Lusby, was likewise a native of that county, and there spent his entire life, his occupation be- ing that of agriculture. He owned quite exten- sive tracts of land and became well-to-do. By his marriage with Sarah E. Nolan he had five chil- dren, of whom William is the third in order of
THOMAS H. DODD.
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birth. Mary Ellen, the eldest of the family, is the wife of Thomas Lusby. Amelia died several years ago. James, formerly a resident of St. Mary County, Md., is deceased; and Robert has also passed to his final reward. The father of these children died while they were still young, and the mother afterwards became the wife of M. L. Wootters. To their union two children were born, Sarah E. and Lemuel J. Mrs. Wootters was a daughter of Thomas Nolan, of Cecil Coun- ty, and she lived to be seventy-eight years of age, dying about 1870.
William T. Lusby was reared to agricultural pursuits, and from boyhood seemed destined for the life. He early mastered the hard and arduous labors connected with the work, and became per- fectly familiar with each department. He re- mained in the locality of his birthplace until 1882, when he concluded to seek his livelihood in another part of the state. After looking around, he decided that he could do no better than to permanently settle in Kent County, and therefore bought the Robert J. Lusby farm, a tract of one hundred and forty acres. Since then he has been numbered among the successful farmers of this community, and at once won friends for himself by the interest which he took, and still takes, in all local affairs. He is a strong Democrat, and in religion is a Catholic, as he was brought up in that faith.
HOMAS H. DODD, whose beautiful home is situated in the fifth district of Queen Anne's County, not far distant from the vil- lages of Wye Mills and Carmichael, comes from an old and highly respected family in this locality. In perusing a map of this section, one is surprised to find how much land is owned by the various representatives of the name, and this fact simply stands for the more important one-the influence they exert and the interest which they, as a family, take in the development and prosperity of the neighborhood. The gentleman of whom this is a brief sketch owns about one thousand acres in this immediate vicinity, and he has reason
to be proud of the fact that this extensive domain was nearly all acquired by his individual efforts. From his father he inherited remarkable financial ability and excellent judgment in regard to com- mercial affairs, and thus by nature and experience he has made his upward way toward the success which he now enjoys.
The birth of Thomas H. Dodd took place on his father's farm in the fifth district in 1839. The history of his parents and ancestors is given at some length in the sketch of his brother, James H., which is printed in this volume. He received good training from his father in farm work and management, but in 1867 he determined to try his fortune as a merchant. He continued in this enterprise about two years and at the end of this time resumed agricultural occupations. His home farm is truly called one of the finest in the county, everything about the place being kept up in a thrifty manner. Politically he is a Democrat, but is quite independent, and does not tie himself to any party. He has served as su- pervisor of elections, having been appointed thereto by Governor Frank Brown.
In 1872 Mr. Dodd married Annie C. daughter of Francis Council, who lived near Centreville, Md. They have had the following children: Thomas H., Jr., Ida M., James C., Elizabeth and Henry. They have been given the best of edu- cational advantages and are well fitted to adorn any society or to succeed in any field of enterprise they may choose to enter.
ILLIAM T. EVANS comes from a family that has long been associated with the his- tory of Deal's Island, Somerset County, as several generations of his ancestors have come and gone since the original Evans settled here. William T. Evans was born on the island in 1831 and from his early years has been interested in whatever has affected this place and its residents. He has been a boatman and a sea-faring man inuch of the time for years and has also worked at his trade, that of carpentering, to a consider-
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able extent. He is a member of the Masonic order, being identified with Manokin Lodge No. 106, of Princess Anne. He is a Knight of Pythias, belonging to Aurora Lodge No. 69 of Deal's Island, and in politics he is a stalwart ad- vocate of the Republican party platform.
William Evans, the father of the gentleman whose name heads this article, after his marriage came to Deal's Island and spent his whole life within its boundaries. He was occupied in the management of his farm and in working at his trade as a carpenter, during his spare time. He died when in the prime of life and activity, being in his forty-sixth year when summoned by death. His father also bore the name of William Evans, and he was a ship carpenter. The mother of our subject was a Miss Sallie Kelly before her mar- riage, and of her ten children only two survive at the date of this writing. Mary C., the daugh- ter, is the widow of Michael Webster. Mrs. Sallie Evans departed this life when she was sixty-five years of age.
Thus, one by one the Evans family have been called to the silent land, until of the large circle of twelve, father, mother, brothers and sisters, only two are left: William T., of this sketch, and his widowed sister, Mrs. Webster. About 1850 he married Miss Keziah, a daughter of Bennett Mister. They became the parents of six children but only two, a son and daughter, are living, viz .: Marcellus and Eveline, who is the wife of Will- iam Shores. They enjoy the respect of all who know them and are honorable, upright citizens.
AMES SETH, M. D., has practiced his pro- fession in Talbot County since graduating from the University of Maryland in 1865. He came to St. Michael's in 1888 and has since had his office in this village, carrying on an ex- tensive practice in this district and also in the adjoining district of Bay Hundred, where he formerly resided. In addition to his professional work, lie devotes some attention to agriculture, and manages the valuable farm which he owns.
Realizing the value of a good education, he has always been interested in measures for the benefit of the public schools, and during his ten years of service as county school commissioner he was instrumental in introducing many helpful plans and in promoting the standard of education in the common schools. At this writing he holds office as trustee of the high school in St. Michael's.
In Bay Hundred district, Talbot County, Dr. Seth was born January 4, 1843. His father, Hon. Alexander H. Seth, was a native of the same district, where he spent his entire life en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. His death oc- curred when he was seventy years of age. In politics a Democrat, he was prominent in the local ranks of the party and was frequenty elected to offices of trust. For three terms he represented his district in the state legislature. Fraternally he was connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. For many years he was a trustee in the Methodist Episcopal Church, to every enterprise of which he was a generous contributor. He was the largest contributor to the erection of the Bayside Church. His father, James Seth, was a native and farmer of Bay Hundred district, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was a descendant of Jacobus Seth, who came to America from Scotland in a very early day.
The doctor's mother was Martha Haddaway, daughter of William Haddaway, a prominent farmer of Bay Hundred district. Like her hus- band, she was an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and, like him, she passed away at seventy years of age. They were the parents of five children, namely: William H., who is engaged in the mercantile business in Oxford, Md .; James; Joseph, an attorney-at-law, Balti- more; Thomas A., deceased; and Samuel H., who cultivates the homestead that has been in possession of the family since the first representa- tive came here from Scotland. The years from six to fifteen our subject devoted to study in the public schools, and afterward he entered the West River Classical Institute, from which he graduated in 1860. He then took up the study of medicine with Dr. Tilden, of St. Michael's, and later was a student in the medical department of
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the University of Maryland, from which he graduated in 1865. Near his birthplace he en- gaged in practice from 1865 until 1888, but in the latter year removed to St. Michael's, which place has since been his home.
By the marriage of Dr. Seth to Julia T., daughter of Nicholas Orem, of Talbot County, six children were born, namely: James, who is interested in the mercantile business in Balti- more; Joseph B., now a student in medicine; Robert L., a student in school; Julian O .; Frank W. and Sara. In political matters, while favor- ing the Democracy, the doctor is inclined to be independent in his views. In 1883 he was elected county commissioner of schools, which office he held for ten years. Fraternally he is a member of Granite Lodge No. 177, A. F. & A. M., at St. Michael's. When a youth of fifteen years he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for twenty-five years or more he has been a member of the official board. He gives his time to the work and also contributes liberally of his means to the furtherance of denominational work.
HARLES LAKE. Men of marked ability and strong individuality leave their impress upon the world in such indelible characters that time is powerless to obliterate their memory or sweep it from the minds of men. Mr. Lake is one of the strong characters who have become an integral part of the business and political life of Dorchester County. He has filled public posi- tions of honor and trust in a most creditable man- ner, has won the utmost regard of all with whom he has come in contact, and is now completing his eighteenth year as clerk of the courts of his county.
Here he has spent his entire life, being a native of Lakeville, born January 14, 1838, and is a son of William W. and Clara Lake, who were the parents of three children, the others being Cor- delia, wife of James Cornell, by whom she has one daughter, Clara; and Cordelia, who died at the age of seven years. The paternal great-grand-
father of our subject was a native of England, and was the founder of the family in the new world. The grandfather was Maj. Washington Lake. The mother of our subject is still living at the age of eighty-eight. After the death of her first husband she married John S. Staplefort, by whom she had five daughters, namely: Vic- toria, Isabella, Annie, Mary Virginia and Julia L.
Charles Lake passed the days of his boyhood and youth upon a farmi, and was provided with excellent educational privileges, being a student for two years in the Cambridge Academy, and in Washington College of Chestertown for two years and a-half. When his school days were over, he engaged in merchandising in Lakeville and also operated a farm and conducted a sawmill, meet- ing with a well-deserved success in his undertak- ings.
On the 3d of January, 1860, Mr. Lake was united in marriage to Miss Wilhelmina Phillips, a native of Cambridge, and a daughter of Richard and Mary (Applegarth) Phillips. She has one sister, Mary E., now the widow of James E. Robinson, and a resident of Cambridge; and a half-sister, Laura B. Staplefort, wife of William T. Staplefort. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lake, but only four are now living: Clara S., wife of Daniel E. Dale, of Cambridge, by whom she has two children; Edwin S., who married Elizabeth Mace and has two sons, Paul B. and Charles Reginald; Virginia Cowart and Hattie Pattison, both at home.
Socially Mr. Lake is an honored and prominent member of the Royal Arcanum, the Heptasophs and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mrs. Lake, a cultured and refined lady, was reared in the Episcopal faith, but she and her husband now attend the Methodist Episcopal Church South, although not members of any religious organization. In his political affilia- tions Mr. Lake is a stalwart Democrat, and dur- ing the war he served as postmaster at Lakeville. In 1869 he was elected county commissioner, and held the office for two consecutive terms, his time expiring in 1873. Six years later he was the candidate of his party for clerk of the courts,
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was triumphantly elected, and by re-election has now filled the office for eighteen years to the en- tire satisfaction of all concerned. He is a quiet, unpretentious man, but very popular with all classes, and is one of the most public-spirited and progressive citizens of Cambridge. Over his life record there falls no shadow of wrong. His pub- lic service is exemplary, and his private life has been marked by the utmost fidelity to duty.
C UDGE JAMES ALFRED PEARCE, presi- dent of the Second National Bank of Ches- tertown and one of the distinguished at- torneys of the state of Maryland, has for years been intimately identified with the professional and political affairs of the town where he resides. For ten consecutive years he was a member of the board of school commissioners of Kent Coun- ty and was for a similar period president of the board of commissioners of Chestertown. He is a governor and one of the board of visitors of Wash- ington College, and for more than thirty years has been its secretary. In 1897 he was elected, on the Democratic ticket, for chief justice of the second judicial circuit, an office for which his broad professional knowlege and keen insight into human nature admirably qualify him.
The father of our subject, Hon. James Alfred Pearce, Sr., was born December 14, 1805, at the home of his maternal grandfather, Dr. Elisha Cullen Dick, in Alexandria, Va. He was a son of Gideon and Julia (Dick) Pearce, of Kent County, Md. His mother died when he was young and he was educated in Alexandria under the oversight of his grandfather. At the age of fourteen he entered Princeton College, from which he graduated in 1822, before the comple- tion of his seventeenth year. After leaving col- lege he studied law in Baltimore, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1824. One year was devoted to practice in Cambridge, Md., after which he went to Louisiana, and engaged in sugar plant- ing with his father. Three years later he re- turned to Kent County, where he engaged in
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