USA > Maryland > Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland > Part 34
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practice and superintended the farm upon which he resided. In 1831 he was elected a member of the state legislature; in 1835 was elected to the house of representatives; in 1837 was defeated for re-election by Philip F. Thomas, and in 1839, 1841 and 1843, successively re-elected to the house of representatives. In 1843 he was elected to fill out the unexpired term of John Kerr, in the United States senate, and was then re-elected for three successive terms, in 1847, 1853 and 1859, continuing in the senate until his death, December 20, 1862. President Fillmore offered him a seat on the bench of the United States dis- trict court for the state of Maryland and also ap- pointed him secretary of the interior, but both positions he declined, for he believed he could ac- complish more in behalf of his constituents by remaining in the senate. March 17, 1832, he was elected one of the board of visitors and gov- ernors of Washington College, and filled the po- sition of lecturer on law in that institution. In early life he was a Whig, but when that party disbanded in 1856, he became a Democrat.
In 1830 he married Martha J. Laird, who died in 1845. Two years later he was united in mar- riage with Matilda C., daughter of James Ring- gold. His death occurred December 20, 1862. He was a man of exceptional ability, keen in discernment and possessing a breadth of culture and liberality of views that made him a most de- sirable citizen. As a statesman, his views were conservative, and he had none of the reckless enthusiasm characteristic of some public men. It was said of him that he was one of the wisest statesmen in the senate of the United States. At the time of his death, his name was being men- tioned frequently as a suitable candidate for presi- dent, and his demise was a serious loss to the Democratic party.
The education of our subject was begun in Chestertown, where he was born April 2, 1840, and where he passed his boyhood years in the home of his parents, James A. and Martha J. Pearce. After attending Washington College for a time, he entered Princeton College, from which he graduated in 1860. Returning to Ches- tertown, he read law in the office of his father, at
WILLIAM H. ADKINS.
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the same time teaching in Washington College. On the death of his father in 1862 he went to Baltimore and entered the law office of Brown & Brune. May 1, 1864, he was admitted to the bar, and then returned to Chestertown, where he won instant success as a lawyer. In 1867 he was chosen state's attorney and four years later was re-elected, serving until 1875. In 1895 he was the Democratic candidate for state senator, but that year Maryland went Republican for the first time in thirty years and he was defeated, though by only a small majority. Since 1863 he has been a vestryman of Emanuel Episcopal Church and since 1878 has been chancellor of the diocese of Easton.
November 1, 1866, Judge Pearce married Eunice, eldest daughter of Unit Rasin, who for many years was a prominent merchant of St. Louis, Mo., a member of the firm of Rasin, Cabarre & Co., and at one time president of the Merchants' Exchange of that city. His wife was Martha Hanson, of Kent County, Md., a lineal descendant of John Hanson, who was president of the Continental Congress of the United States from November, 1781, to November, 1782. The judge and wife have no children.
ILLIAM H. ADKINS, attorney-at-law, is one of the influential professional men of Easton, where he has engaged in practice since 1889. He is director of and counsel for the Easton National Bank, the Nickerson Fertilizer Company, the Easton Water Company, the Easton Ice Company, and the Hotel Avon Com- pany; and is counsel for the Baltimore, Chesa- peake & Atlantic Railway Company, the Work- ingman's Permanent Building and Loan Associa- tion, the Shannahan & Wrightson Hardware Company, the W. W. Tunis & Brother Lumber Company, the Oxford Savings Bank, the Nor- folk Manufacturing Company, and several other corporations. In addition to other interests he has given considerable time to the settlement and management of his father's estate.
The father of our subject was Isaac L. Adkins, M. D., who was born in Milford, Del., February 9, 1823, a son of Leonard Adkins, who was for many years, and until the close of his life, cashier of the Commercial Bank of Milford. Isaac L. was the youngest of eight children and was but three years of age at the time of his father's death. He was educated in the village academy, not being able to take a college course. For four years he was employed in the store owned by his brothers, in his native town, and afterward, going to New York, he established a branch of the grain commission business of Brown & Goodwin, of Philadelphia. There he gave promise of a suc- cessful business career and also had an opportu- nity to satisfy his thirst for knowledge, frequently attending lectures and devoting many evenings to study under a private tutor.
Poor health, however, finally obliged him to give up his business interests. He went to Tennessee, where he studied medicine with a physician, and later entered the Jefferson Medi- cal College of Philadelphia, from which he grad- uated in 1848. Afterward he engaged in practice in Philadelphia. In 1849 Asiatic cholera visited that city with great fatality. He was appointed assistant surgeon and his plan of treatment proved so satisfactory that he was placed at the head of the staff, which position he held until the epi- demic was over. Overwork brought on a severe attack of nervous prostration. On his recovery, he passed an examination and was made assistant surgeon in the United States army, standing first in his class. He was sent to Fort Columbus, then to Florida and later to California. August 12, 1852, he married Mary E., daughter of Col. William Hughlett, of Easton, Md. Soon after- ward he resigned his position in the army and re- moved to Easton, where he afterward resided upon a farm. In 1857 he was elected a director of the Easton Bank, which in 1865 became a national bank, and in 1869 he was chosen its president. In social and business life alike, he had the merited confidence and regard of the community. In addition to other interests, he was president of the Easton Water Company and a director in the Permanent Building and Loan
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Association. In St. Peter's Parish he held office as a vestryman. Politically he always voted the Democratic ticket, but refused to accept office. At liis death, May 10, 1889, he left a large estate.
By his marriage, Dr. Adkins had six children, of whom four are living: Rev. Franklin B., rector of Spring Hill Parish in Wicomico County; Mattie H., who married Hon. W. L. Henry, M. C., from Cambridge, Md .; William H .; and Virginia L., wife of A. E. DeReeves, of Cam- bridge, Md. Our subject was born at Woodland, his father's country residence near Easton, July 21, 1862, and received his education under private tutors, in the Bishop's school of Easton and at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, from which he was graduated in 1882 with the degree of A. B. While in Baltimore, in connection with his literary studies, he took a law course in the University of Maryland, and also studied in the office of Machen & Gittings. In 1883 he re- ceived the degree of LL. B., and was admitted to the bar, after which he engaged in practice in Baltimore until 1889. At that time, his father having died, he returned to Easton to look after the settlement of the estate, and he has since been active in the profession here. October 8, 1891, he married Mary H., daughter of the late Mor- decai M. Dawson, who was vice-president of the Easton National Bank, and one of Easton's old- est and most respected business men. One child, Leonard D., blesses the union. Politically Mr. Adkins is a Democrat, fraternally a Mason, and in religious belief an Episcopalian, being a member of Christ Church, St. Peter's Parish, of which he is a vestryman.
EORGE C. SUTTON, D.D., is the Dean of the Cathedral in Easton, Md., and has be- longed to this diocese for the past seven years. He is a man of eminent ability and fine scholarship and his heart is thoroughly in the cause to which he has devoted his life. Since coming here he has instituted many important changes in the routine of the church work, and
perhaps the most important is the daily service and the vested choir, both of which innovations have met with popular favor.
Dr. Sutton is a native of England, his birth having occurred in Maidstone, Kent County, in 1848. His parents were George C. and Martha (Hawks) Sutton, the father a prominent man in the commercial circles of his community. George C. attended the common schools of his home dis- trict, and upon arriving at maturity engaged in business for a few years with fair success. In 1871 he determined to seek a new home and fortune, perhaps, in America, and accordingly bade adieu to the friends of his youth and took passage in an ocean steamer bound westward. Locating at first in Petersburg, Va., he re- embarked in business and gave his energies to financial affairs for several years. As he could spare the time he diligently pursued the higher branches of learning and gave particular atten- tion to theology, which had a special attraction for his mind. March 21, 1877, he was ordained deacon by Bishop Whittle, of Virginia, and Feb- ruary 9, 1881, he was ordained to the priesthood of the Episcopal Church. Thereafter he minis- tered to various parishes in Kentucky, Virginia and Maryland. In 1890 he was placed in the Easton diocese and occupied pulpits in Kent County.
It was in 1893 that Dr. Sutton was installed as Dean of the Cathedral of Easton, and under his ministrations the congregation has steadily in- creased in numbers and interest, and every de- partment of church enterprise is now in a flourish- ing condition. The large debt which encum- bered its usefulness has been cancelled, and various philanthropic movements are fostered by the church. The doctor received his degree from Washington College, of Chestertown, Md. He has written a good deal editorially, has published sermons and two series of papers, "Notes on the Collects" and "Sunday Morning Thoughts."
The marriage of Dr. Sutton and Miss Mary P. Stith, a native of Nottoway County, Va., was celebrated in April, 1875. She is a daughter of Putnam and Mary (Epes) Stith, who were promi- nent citizens of Nottoway. Her girlhood was
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passed quietly in her native county, and her edu- cation was obtained from private tutors. Both by nature and training she is eminently fitted to be a pastor's wife, and enjoys the friendship of a large circle of acquaintances. A sister of the doctor is the wife of Rev. A. J. Drewitt, an influential minister in far-away Melbourne, Australia.
ON. JAMES D. ANDERSON, of Deal's Island, has spent his entire life in Somerset County and is one of its well-known resi- dents. He is interested in public affairs and is a stanch advocate of Democratic principles. For four years he held the position of constable, and later, for sixteen years, he served as justice of the peace. In 1881 he was nominated for the legislature, but was defeated by eleven votes. Ten years later he was again a candidate for representative and was elected by a majority of three hundred; at his third candidacy in 1895 he was defeated. Active in public affairs, he has done all in his power to promote the welfare of his fellow-citizens and has been instrumental in advancing many important measures.
The father of our subject, Levin Anderson, was born in Wicomico County in 1828 and about 1850 came to Deal's Island, where he followed the trade of carpenter and builder for a time. A few years after he came here he opened a general store, in the management of which he continued until 1883. He then returned to his trade, which he has since followed. He still makes his home on the island and is in the enjoyment of fair health. When younger he was active in politics as a Democrat. He has been steward and trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His father was Gillis Anderson, a farmer of Wicomico County.
By the marriage of Levin Anderson and Mar- garet Daniel, eight children were born, six of whom are now living: James D., Levin A., Thomas J., George A., Charles L. and Fannie, wife of Wilbur J. Thomas. The mother of this family died when forty-six years of age. Our
subject was born on Deal's Island in 1852, and re- ceived a public-school education. At the age of seventeen he was apprenticed to the blacksmith's trade, and three years later commenced in busi- ness for himself, which he has since carried on. For six years he was mate on the oyster police boat, Bessie Woolford. He represents the Somer- set and Worcester Fire Insurance Company and the Salisbury Building and Loan Association.
In 1873 Mr. Anderson married Sarah E. Wil- son, daughter of Samuel D. Wilson, of Deal's Island. Their children are: Frank, who is at- tending school in Baltimore; James A., Barnes C. and Lizzie. Fraternally Mr. Anderson is a member of the Shield of Honor, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, Improved Order of Heptasophs and Nanjemoy Tribe of Red Men, in all of which he has passed the chairs. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has been a steward and assistant superintendent of the Sun- day-school.
ILLIAM P. BENSON. Practically the entire life of Mr. Benson has been spent within the limits of Talbot County, where he has many and important interests. While his special occupation has been the building of ships, his energies have not been limited to that work, but have found other outlets in the varied vocations that go to make up life in a community. Since the establishment of the Oxford Savings Bank he has officiated as its president. He is also the owner of a farm, comprising one hun- dred acres, to the cultivation of which a portion of his attention is given.
At Royal Oak, in the county of Talbot, Mr. Benson was born December 22, 1827. He was reared upon a farm, but when a youth of eight- een began to work in a ship yard near Easton, where he remained four years, meanwhile gain- ing a thorough knowledge of the business in its details. Afterwards he followed his trade in different places until 1855, when he built his first
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ship at Jamaica Point. He continued in the work from that time forward, and soon gained a reputation for reliability and skill. Coming to Oxford in 1866, he formed a partnership with Col. Henry E. Bateman and Nathaniel Leonard in the construction of ships and yachts. After three years Mr. Leonard withdrew from the firm, and the business was continued under the name of Benson & Co. Upon the death of Mr. Bate- man, our subject has since carried on the busi- ness alone. He has built a number of bay schooners, all of which are reliable in workman- ship and substantial in build.
For two years Mr. Benson held the office of coun- ty commissioner, having been elected to the posi- tion on the Republican ticket. On the same ticket he was elected town commissioner, which position he held for fourteen years. He owns an interest in three vessels, the Arianna Bateman, William H. Meekens and the Treasurer. The success achieved in his business has been due entirely to his own energy and application. In youth he was trained to habits of perseverance and faith- fulness, and these have been important factors in promoting his prosperity.
ENJAMIN E. HARRINGTON is one of the leading business men of Taylor's Island, Dorchester County, and conducts a general store in Parson's Creek district, in addition to which he owns thirteen oyster boats, six of them quite large ones. He has been more or less con- cerned in the oyster business since he was a youth, and has made a comfortable fortune from this source. He is very active and enterprising, and possesses the ambition which, coupled with industry, usually brings success, sooner or later.
Our subject is a native of Madison, a town in this district, his birth having occurred there July 6, 1866. He was reared under the parental roof, and received a liberal education. When he was eighteen he passed the required examinations and was given a school at Golden Hill, of this dis-
trict, and here he taught during a period of about three years. Then he engaged in the oyster busi- ness at Cambridge in partnership with Harring- ton Brothers a twelvemonth or thereabout, and since then has owned and carried on his general supply store. He has built up a large trade, and by his unfailing courtesy and geniality to- wards his customers has made hosts of friends. Though he is not desirous of holding any kind of public office, he is an enthusiastic adherent of the Democratic party. Socially he is a member of the Heptasophs of this place, and is now treasurer of the same, and is also connected with the Shield of Honor of Madison. In 1895 his marriage with Miss Fannie F., daughter of Benjamin L. Smith, of Madison, was solemnized, and the young couple have one child, a son, Byron E.
The paternal great-grandfather of our subject, John Harrington, was a native of Ireland, and came to America when in early manhood. He followed the business of freighting on the Chesa- peake Bay, and before his death, which occurred when he was about four-score years old, was the owner of several vessels which steadily plied the bay. He was a true son of his adopted country, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. His son, John, the next in line of descent, was also a hero of that war, being placed on patrol duty along the bay. He was born in this district and spent his whole life here, his occupation being that of farming and ship-carpentering. He was an act- ive member of the Methodist Protestant Church and was about seventy years old when called to his reward. The parents of our subject were John E. and Elizabeth (Jones) Harrington, both of this county. The father was born in this district May 11, 1824, and in his youth was a sailor for several years upon the bay. He then bought a small schooner, which he man- aged some five years, after which he opened a store and ship yard at Madison, and car- ried on these enterprises about a quarter of a century, building several boats in the meantime and selling them. Soon after the close of the war he purchased a good farm near Madison and has since devoted himself to agriculture. He married Ann E., daughter of William and Mary
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THOMAS L. DAY.
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(Woolford) Thompson, and seven of their chil- dren lived to mature years. John Edward, a well-known physician of Baltimore, died when but twenty-six years old. Mary A. is the wife of Rev. G. J. Smith, a Methodist Protestant minister, now located in Long Island. Willianı W. is a merchant in Madison. Francis W. is a clerk in the revenue collector's office in Baltimore. Emer- son is principal of a seminary in Cambridge, Md. Benjamin E., of this sketch, is the next in order of birth. Elizabeth E. is at home with her father. For many years the parents have been members of the Methodist Protestant Church, the father having also served as a class-leader. He votes for the nominees of the Democratic party.
HOMAS LOCKWOOD DAY, member of the board of commissioners of Caroline County, is also one of the leading business men of Ridgely, where he embarked in the lum- ber business in 1882. Six years later he sold out and turned his attention to another industry, in which he has since engaged, meeting with very flattering results in the undertaking. This busi- ness is the canning industry, combined with the manufacture of peach baskets and berry crates. During the busy season he gives employ- ment to about one hundred and fifty persons, a fact which indicates the size of the enterprise and its importance in the community.
The Day family was founded in America by our subject's great-grandfather, a native of Eng- land and an early settler of Delaware. The father of our subject, William Day, was born in Delaware, and in that state also occurred the birth of the grandfather, Rev. Matthias Day, a farmer and a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In youth William Day learned the trade of a plasterer, which he followed for ten years in St. Louis and New Orleans. Later, however, he settled in Caroline County, Md., where he engaged in farm pursuits. He married Rebecca Roe, a native of Delaware, and five chil-
dren were born of this union, of whom three are living, namely: Thomas L., Enima and Will- ianı P.
In the county where he still resides our subject was born in 1851. He was reared on a farm and remained there until 1877, when he embarked in the mercantile business in Henderson, Md. Un- fortunately, however, he was burned out nine months after beginning in the business. He then went to Philadelphia, where he was em- ployed as a conductor on a street car for one year. In 1882, as already stated, he came to Ridgely and opened a lumber business, which he con- tinued until 1888. He was successful in that enterprise, but discerning better prospects in another line, he turned his attention to his present business. In 1893 he was elected a commissioner of Caroline County, to serve for four years. He has also been constable, tax collector and justice of the peace of the second district. In politics he has always adhered to the principles laid down in the platform of the Democratic party.
In 1879 Mr. Day and Miss Catherine Pastor- field, a native of Talbot County, were united in marriage. Six children were born of their union, three of whom are living, namely: Beulah W., Mattie and Mabel. The family attend the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, to which Mr. Day con- tributes of his means. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to the lodge at Hillsborough.
RANCIS NICHOLS is one of the enter- prising business and public-spirited men of the fifth district of Caroline County, and in his honor the postoffice of Nichols was named. He was the prime mover in the task of getting the office established, and it was accomplished in 1890. He also was one of the most zealous advo- cates of the new Methodist Episcopal Church here and has been very liberal in his gifts to the building and to its support since the structure was completed in the spring of 1890. It is within the jurisdiction of the Federalsburg Conference.
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In ISSo Mr. Nichols was elected by the Demo- crats to serve as a member of the board of county commissioners for two years and he has also acted in the capacity of register of voters four years in this district. In 1889 he erected a substantial store building at a suitable point on one of the county roads running from Fowling Creek to Federalsburg, and since then he has carried a good general line of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, etc., in short, such commodities as are usually required in a concern of this type. He is courteous and obliging, and his customers are invariably his friends.
James, father of Francis Nichols, was born in the fifth district of Caroline County about 1813 and lived here all his life. He was quite success- ful as a farmer and was an industrious, God-fear- ing man, whom everybody respected. His father, James Nichols, Sr., was also a native of this county and a farmer by occupation. He had five children, of whom Senah married and left three sons, Samuel, Perry and James A., all of this county; Robert left three children, John W. and Mary, widow of Elisha Andrew, residents of this county, and James L., of Delaware; Samuel died unmarried; Martha became the wife of Samuel Stevens, and had one son, James, a resi- dent of Centreville, Md .; and Elizabeth mar- ried William Christopher and left a large family. Janies Nichols, Jr., married Rhoda Nichols and to them were born two sons, Grenberry, who left five children, and Silas, who had six children, and Delia, wife of Enoch Covey, of Easton. After the death of his first wife James Nichols married Nellie Sullivan and the following were their children: Francis; Bayard; Robinson; Will- iam; Amanda, Mrs. J. M. Wright, of Federals- burg; Emma, Mrs. Charles Edgell, of this county; Ida, Mrs. John Scott; Ella, Mrs. Greenberry Griffith, and Anna.
The birth of Francis Nichols occurred in 1849 upon the old partly timbered farm belonging to his father in the fifth district, and in this vicinity he grew to manhood. After leaving the local schools he engaged in farming on his own account and in 1872 located near the old family homestead. He has cleared it of the heavy timber which covered
it and now has sixty acres under tillage. He erected a beautiful house and has made many other substantial improvements. Socially he is a member of the Order of Red Men, and has oc- cupied all the offices in the Federalsburg Tribe. His marriage with Martha, daughter of Perry D. Taylor, was solemnized in 1872, and two sons, Clarence and Elmer, were born to them. The latter died October 13, 1891. Mrs. Martha Nichols passed away January 27, 1887, and De- cember 27, 1887, Mr. Nichols married her sister, Emily, a most estimable lady, who is universally beloved.
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