Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 35

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

USA > Maryland > Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland > Part 35

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G OBERT K. JEFFERSON, M. D., of Fęd- eralsburg, is a well-known physician of this locality and is fully in touch with the spirit of progress, which is manifested as much in this profession as, perhaps, in any other. He is still a young man and has a most promising future before him.

The doctor's father was a most worthy and respected member of the medical fraternity. He, Charles W. Jefferson, M. D., was born in Church Creek, Dorchester County, in 1831, his parents being wealthy planters. Having graduated from the medical department of the University of Maryland while still quite young, he came to Federalsburg and established himself in practice. He became one of the most noted physicians of the peninsula, and was sent for from far and near, both in consultation and in regular practice. He was known to be one of the kindest, most liberal and upright of men, and while his friends were legion, he had no enemies. In religious faith he was an Episcopalian. He married Caroline T., daughter of Rev. Robert E. Kemp, and to them were born the following children: Adelia M., Caro- line, Thomas O., Edith (wife of W. A. Mowbray), Robert K., Charles W., and George H., of Phila- delphia. By a previous marriage with her sister, Sarah Kemp, Dr. Charles Jefferson had a daughter, Sarah E., who became the wife of A. P. Redhead.

Born in this county in 1868 Dr. R. K. Jeffer- son is, as may be seen, just in the prime of early

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manhood. He was reared to adult years here, and after leaving the public schools went to Bal- timore, and graduated there from the Friends' Academy. Subsequently he took up the study of medicine with his father and graduated from the University of Maryland with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in the class of 1890. Return- ing home, he had the invaluable instruction and training of his senior for about three years, or until the death of his father, in 1893. With such a start, he has gone on from success to success, until his career is now assured.

In 1892 the doctor was united in marriage with Miss Roberta Davis, one of the brightest of the young ladies of Federalsburg, and daughter of our respected citizen, E. F. Davis. The young couple are actively interested in the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in accordance with his principles of what is right and best and as strong temperance advocates, they are in favor of the Prohibition party.

OL. JAMES M. McCARTER, of Preston, is a member of a family that originated in the north of Ireland. His grandfather, Arthur McArthur, was born on the Emerald Isle, whence he came to America at the age of sixteen and afterward rendered valiant service as a soldier in the Revolution. Owing to a mistake in the mus- ter roll his name was recorded McCarter and he afterward went by that name, preferring the error to a loss of his service in the great struggle for liberty.

James Mayland McCarter was born in the city of New York in 1822, being the son of Samuel H. and Mary Jane (Mayland) McCarter, natives of New York. He was the second of six chil- dren, the others named as follows: Arthur, who was a machinist of Norristown, Pa., but is now deceased; John, also deceased, formerly a nia- chinist at Norristown; Marshall, who resides in that place; Margaret, who became the wife of Jacob Boyer, of Montgomery County, Pa .; and Eliza, wife of Harry Bainbridge, of Philadelphia.

The parents were earnest members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church and the example of their consistent lives was most helpful to their chil- dren. Soon after the birth of their second son they removed to Philadelphia, where the father was employed as a machinist and builder of steam engines. Owing to the cholera plague in Phila- delphia in 1832, he removed to Chester County, Pa., and after the scourge had passed, he settled in Norristown, Pa., where he was employed as a machinist until his death, in 1834. His wife sur- vived him many years, dying in 1864.

In boyhood our subject was a pupil in Norris- town Academy, where he studied higher mathe- matics and the classics. Among his schoolmates there was Winfield Scott Hancock, afterwards famous as a general. At ten years of age he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church at Norris- town, four years later was a licentiate and when less than sixteen was assigned as junior preacher to the Philadelphia circuit, with Caleb Lippin- cott. The next year he served as a supply on the Strassburg circuit in Lancaster County, Pa., Rev. Henry White being his presiding elder. In the spring of 1842 he was admitted on trial in the Philadelphia annual conference, two years later was ordained deacon by Bishop Hedding and was made an elder in 1846 by Bishop Morris. During those four years he was engaged in the Elk Ridge circuit in Pennsylvania, Delaware City, Del., and the Chestertown and Centreville circuits in Maryland. The spring of 1846 found him in Seaford, Del., and in March, 1847, he was assigned to Smyrna, in that state. After leaving Smyrna he was at Duke Street Church, Lancas- ter, Pa., Port Carbon, Asbury, West Philadel- phia and St. Paul's, Philadelphia; West Chester; St. Peter's, Reading; and Lebanon, Pa.

A biography of the subject of this sketch would be very incomplete were no mention made of his war record. From a child his heart had always been open to the weak and defenseless. His father's home was the stopping place for min- isters of every color and creed. When he was still quite young he saw a slave, a colored girl, in Cecil County, Md., the first slave he had ever sèen, and he afterward felt, as he said, "a great

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reluctance to visit and eat in homes where there were slaves." He was ever free in the expression of his views on the subject, and wrote on the sub- ject in Zion's Herald of Boston, the Tribune of New York, and other papers. In 1860 he wrote the pamplilet entitled "Border Methodism and Border Slavery," which created considerable agi- tation in the church and the nation. Among those who frequently attended his church, while he was in Lancaster, was Hon. Thaddeus Stev- ens, whose influence and counsel were helpful to hi111.

At the opening of the war, in May, 1861, he was commissioned chaplain and captain by Gov. Curtin, and served with the three months' men in the Fourteenth Pennsylvania Regiment. Sep- tember 5, 1861, he was sent a commission by the secretary of war, General Cameron, who asked lıim to raise a regiment for three years' service. This he did, and six weeks later was mustered into service, with one thousand and forty officers and inen, as colonel of the Lebanon Infantry, afterward known as the Ninety-third Pennsylvania Infan- try. He first saw the smoke of battle at Will- ianisburg, Va., where there was a hotly contest- ed battle, and where the conduct of his regiment was most meritorious. On that field fifty of his officers and men were buried. At Fair Oaks he lost one hundred and forty men and officers among the killed, wounded and captured; and at the same battle two horses were killed under him and he was thought to have been fatally injured, being paralyzed by a shell, but after thirty-six hours he regained consciousness and revived. To this day, however, he is still a sufferer from the effects of the injury. At Malvern Hill, Antie- tam, Gettysburg and Sharpsburg he was also wounded.

In October, 1863, a severe relapse into a semi- paralytic condition forced Colonel McCarter to re- sign his command, and he was given an honor- able discharge from duty in the field. Afterward, however, he was in command of the defenses of Baltimore at the time of the last Confederate raid, and then served as provost marshal of Caroline and Dorchester Counties, Md., until May 10, 1865. His bravery was unquestioned, and his

men were equally courageous in the face of the enemy on the battle field. Two monuments on the field of Gettysburg, one marking the spot of the second day's fight, and erected by the gener- osity of Mrs. Dawson G. Coleman, of Lebanon, Pa .; and the other on the spot of the third day's battle, and erected by the state of Pennsylvania, attest the meritorious service of the regiment. As might be expected, the colonel is deeply in- terested in the work of the Grand Army and be- longs to the post at Easton.

Retiring from the ministry in 1883, Colonel McCarter has since given his attention to the su- pervision of his interests, which are quite import- ant, and include the ownership of two hundred and fifty acres of land. While residing in Smyrna he became a Mason and has since been identified with the order. February 24, 1846, he married Miss Elizabeth Kelly, of Caroline County, Md., a most estimable lady, whose companionship and counsel were of the greatest value to him, and whose death in Preston in 1886 was a deep be- reavement to the family. Two sons and one daughter were born of their union. The latter, Mary P., died in girlhood. James Edward grew to manhood, embarked in the mercantile busi- ness and was proving himself to be a young man of unusual business ability when his sudden death put an end to his earthly hopes and the ambitions which his friends had cherished for him. The only surviving son is Charles H., who resides with his father, and was married December 28, 1887, to Minnie Brantz, daughter of Thomas H. Ander- son, of Talbot County, and has two sons, Ralph and James Elwood, both of whom are most dear to their grandfather in the twilight of his days.

In 1879 Colonel McCarter became a writer and publisher of books. For several years he was senior member of the Aldine Publishing and En- graving Company. Now practically retired from the activities of his prime, he still, however, cherishes an interest in public affairs and en- deavors to support all that is good and true. He is very liberal to all causes that have for their object the elevation of the human race. Natu- rally his donations are largest to the particular denomination with which he is allied. Among

JAMES H. DODD.

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his recent donations to his church was a tract of land for a cemetery, which was given with the understanding that it shall be kept in order and its fences in repair and that every third lot shall be for the poor. As he approaches the evening of his life, he can look back over his eventful past without remorse and look forward hopefully to the future, but not distant day when he may re- ceive the plaudit of his Lord, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

AMES HENRY DODD, a large land-holder and prosperous farmer of Queen Anne's County, was born in this county in 1833, and is a son of Henry and Anna (Phillips) Dodd, who were from representative old families of Maryland. The grandfather of Henry was James H. Dodd, and the grandfather of our sub- ject was another James, who, with his son John, fought for the rights of the American colonies in the war of 1812. He was a man of considerable means and was prominent in his community.

Henry Dodd was born in this county March 31, 1802, and had but a common-school educa- tion. He followed farming all his life and located in the fifth district when a young man. Later he removed to the sixth, and in 1843 came to this district again, settling upon the farm now owned by our subject, and erected most of the buildings upon the place. He had but $300 when he started out for himself, but by con- stant, unremitting labor became wealthy, and, at his death, in the year 1872, left a good farm to each of five children. He was a very conscientious man, and took life seriously, Each year, on his birthday anniversary, he would call his family together and deliver an earnest, im- pressive talk or lecture, which he has prepared carefully, and sometimes had written out. He was devout, good and just, and his example was one that his children may well be proud of and seek to follow. He had three brothers: John, a farmer; Thomas, a farmer and merchant; and Alexander, a mechanic in Easton. His one sis-

ter, Nancy, lived with Thomas, and neither ever married, though they were both over seventy years old at death.

The mother of our subject was Anna, daughter of Richard Phillips, a farmer of this county. She was born in 1812 and had two brothers, Richard and Thomas, both farmers. Her only sister, Susan, became the second wife of Henry Dodd and is still living, being in her eighty-third year, her home at Wye Mills, Md. She was the mother of three girls: Elizabeth, Mrs. Washing- ton M. Armstrong, of Wye Mills; Mary, wife of William F. Bailey, ex-sheriff of this county, and a resident of Centreville; and Anna, wife of J. E. Bryan, of Kent Island. There were three sons by the marriage of Henry and Anna Dodd, viz .: James H .; John, who was born August 29, 1835; and Thomas H., whose sketch appears on another page of this work.

James H. Dodd grew to manhood here, and came into possession of the old homestead for- merly owned by his father in 1873, the year suc- ceeding the senior's death. He is a practical farmer and business man and is universally re- spected hereabouts. December 10, 1886, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary, daughter of John B. Thomas; their only child died when but sixteen months old. Mr. Dodd is a Democrat in his political preference, but has never desired to serve in a public capacity. He and his estimable wife are members of the Methodist Protestant Church.

D OLIN FERGUSON STAM. Among the energetic, enterprising business men of Ches- tertown, this gentleman takes no second place. He is one of her native sons, and has always taken an active part in every movement promising to advance the prosperity and develop the resources of this place. His fine executive ability and good management of his commercial affairs are frequently commented upon, to his credit, for with it all he is the soul of honor and uprightness, his word being held as good as his note.

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The fatlier of the above, John L. Stam, was born in Philadelphia about 1803, and received his early training there. While still young he came to this county, and soon becoming interested in mercantile pursuits, purchased the business owned by B. F. Houston. The date of this trans- action was about 1850 and for the seven years that followed Mr. Stam conducted the store. In 1867 he sold out to liis two sons, Louis K. and Colin, and thenceforth lived a retired life. He passed to his final rest in 1886, when in his eighty- fourth year. He was a man of many noble quali- ties and was held in the greatest respect by those who had known him for years. His wife was a Miss Louisa Ferguson before their union. Her father, Donald Ferguson, was from one of the old Kent County families, and a descendant of politi- cal refugees who had taken an active part in the Scottish rebellion and were in consequence obliged to take up their abode elsewhere. The great- grandfather of our subject was finely educated in the universities of Scotland, and was the second president of Washington College. His brother, Colin, was a very successful teacher of English and Latin, and was connected with the above col- lege some time. The father of John L. Stam was John Rudolf, a native of Germany. He emigrated to the United States prior to the Revo- lutionary war, in which he became an officer of note, and later he dwelt in Philadelphia. The only brother of Colin F. Stam, Louis, died about ten years ago.

July 22, 1846, the birth of the subject of this article took place. He manifested unusual abil- ity as a student while still a mere lad and took up the higher branches in Washington College, graduating in the class of 1863 with honors. From his boyhood he worked for his father in the store, and then learned every detail of the busi- ness. His knowledge has been very useful to lıim since he entered the world of commerce on his own account, and his added experience fur- nished the secret of his prosperity. He is loyal to tlie Democratic party, but has never been an office-seeker. Socially he is connected with the Odd Fellows, but aside from that is not identi- fied with secret orders, as he prefers to give his

time to his business and family. He erected a very nice house on the Avenue in 1880 and takes much pride in beautifying and adorning the place.

October 9, 1877, Mr. Stam married Annie H. Roberts, and they have a happy family of seven children, viz .: Annie H., Louisa Antoinette, Lil- lian Roberts, John Rudolf, Donald Ferguson, Susie Roberts and Colin Ferguson, Jr. The parents are members of the Protestant Episcopal Church. In 1886 Mr. Stam erected his present fine store building, including the opera house. Upon the tower is a town clock, donated by the citizens, it having the following inscription; " Town bell and clock donated by the citizens to adorn the tower and endorse the enterprise of our fellow-townsman in the erection of Stam's hall, and to warn us by its solemn strokes of the flight of time and our approaching end. Chestertown, Md., November 1, 1886."

ILLARD C. TODD, a practical and pros- perous business man of Caroline County, was elected to serve in the capacity of county commissioner in 1895, his term to run for six years. He is a very active worker in the Republican party, and is a worthy exponent of its principles. Whatever looks toward the bene- fit of the great majority of his fellow-citizens is always warmly advocated by him, and he can be relied upon to advance the good of the public, even to his own loss. He has been concerned in a number of enterprises within the past few years, and is now operating a cannery and a mill, also, in addition to managing his homestead in the third district.

Willard C. Todd is one of nine children, whose parents were Bennett and Elizabeth Todd, both natives of this county. Three of the num- ber are deceased, and those living are as follows: Frank, Ruth, Emma, Willard C., Lewis N. and Charles E. Grandfather Benjamin Todd was a native of Dorchester County, Md., and was a large land owner there. His father, Ben- jamin Todd, Sr., was a Scotchman, and was a

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soldier in the Continental war in America, for he had come to this country some time previous to that struggle. Bennett Todd has lived all his life upon the farm where Willard C. was born, and though now in his ninetieth year, still farms the old homestead.

The date of our subject's birth is June 6, 1855. He was reared upon his father's farm and early learned habits of industry and perseverance which have been the basis of his success in later years. He began to cultivate a farm of his own about 1879, and has greatly improved the place with substantial buildings, fences, etc. He is a member of the lodge of the Junior Order of Amer- ican Mechanics at Denton. A member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Concord, he is foremost in every good work or charitable organ- ization hereabouts.

January 28, 1879, Mr. Todd married Wilhel- mina Willoughby, and to them were born seven children, three of whom are living, viz .: Bennett, Minnie B. and Ulysses Grant. They have a very pleasant and happy home and enjoy the sincere friendship of all who know them.

ON. JOHN CHEEZUM BARTLETT, chief judge of the orphans' court and an influen- tial citizen of Easton, was born May 18, 1839, in Talbot County, at Bloomfield, the resi- dence of his father, now owned by the heirs of the late James Dixon. Upon both sides of the house he is of honorable lineage. His mother, Eliza- beth, was a daughter of Daniel Cheezum, of Caroline County, and a sister of John Cheezum, at one time a prominent merchant of Easton. His father, James, was a descendant of an old and influential family of Talbot County, whose history can be accurately followed for two and one-half centuries. The records of the family appear among the archives made and preserved by the Friends of the Tred Avon meeting house. The first of the name in America came to this county about 1680, and procured under patent

from the lord proprietary a magnificent estate of several thousand acres on the east side of the Tred Avon River, called Ratcliffe.

The founder of the family here had three sons, James, John and Thomas, names which from generation to generation have been preserved in the family. To these sons descended the three plantations, Bloomfield, Ratcliffe and Wakefield. The divisions and subdivisions that have been made of the estate make it difficult at this late date to designate the ancient boundaries, but the names are preserved and are as well known now as they were in the seventeenth century, still serving to designate parts of the former family possessions. James Dixon, who married the sister of Judge Bartlett's father, resided at Bloom- field until his death and the homestead is now occupied by his sons, William and Isaac. Rat- cliffe was owned by Hon. R. C. Holliday, ex- secretary of state; and Wakefield was the home of Thomas B. Baker.

Judge Bartlett represents the fifth generation in direct descent from Thomas, the original set- tler here. When he was two years of age his parents purchased and removed to Cottage Mills, in Trappe district, where his father engaged ex- tensively in farming and the milling business. When he was old enough to enter school he was sent across the Tred Avon to attend the public school near Miles River Ferry with the Dixon boys. At the age of fifteen he was sent to a Friends' boarding school in Baltimore County, where he received the advantages of a thorough academic education. This school (Milton Acad- emy) gained considerable celebrity under the guidance of Emerson Lamb and now, under the management of E. Parsons, still maintains a high reputation. Two years were profitably spent in the school, at the expiration of which time the young student returned to Talbot County.

The family of which Judge Bartlett is a mem- ber consists besides himself of three brothers, Robert, James and Edward, and two sisters, Elizabeth, wife of Richard Kent, of Oakland, Cal., and Mary Ann, wife of Thomas Wilson, of Dover, Del. The father of the family died in 1865, while the mother died in 1893. John C.

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was the executor of the estate, after the settle- inent of which he took possession of the farm in connection with the mills, and there resided for nine years. He became by practical experience thoroughly familiar with the milling business and gained the reputation of being one of the best millers in the state. As a farmer, also, he has been equally scientific and successful. Like his ancestors for two hundred and fifty years, he is identified with the Society of Friends. In politics he was first a Federalist, then a Whig and now a Republican. In 1895 he was elected to the position of chief judge of the orphans' court, having previously filled two terms of four years each as associate judge.

In 1865 Judge Bartlett married Matilda J., daughter of John Woodall, of Kent County, Del., and in 1874 he purchased Clifton from his father- in-law. Here he has since made his home. There were born to his marriage five sons and one daughter, James, Thomas, John, George, Fred and Pauline. James, born October 6, 1866, was for ten years an employe of Dixon, Bartlett & Co., owning an interest in the business. He was also a graduate of the Maryland Law School. While on a trip south he was suddenly taken ill and returned home, where he died July 17, 1893. His manliness and nobility of character won him many friends, and his memory is cherished by all to whom he was known. Thomas, the second son, is employed in the Easton National Bank. John died at the age of eighteen years. George is a farmer and assists in the management of the homestead. Fred is employed as cashier in Hotel Luray, Atlantic City, and in December took an extensive trip to South America. Pauline is witli her parents.

ROF. HENRY TONKIN. Though inter- ested in various enterprises, the subject of this sketch has for years given the principal share of his time and thought to the profes- sion of a teacher, and in it he has met with success. Since 1868 he has been principal of

the public schools of Millington. At the time of accepting the position he had but one assistant. Since then the school house has been enlarged and three teachers are now employed. In addi- tion to this work, he is also secretary of the Build- ing and Loan Association of Millington, in the organization of which in 1883 he bore a promi- nent part. Besides other interests, he buys and ships peaches and other fruits and is also a sur- veyor.

Professor Tonkin was born September 4, 1840, in St. Agnes, Cornwall, England, which was also the native place of his parents, Henry and Jane (Thomas) Tonkin. His father, who was a min- ing superintendent, came to America about 1849 and engaged in mining in Montgomery and Chester Counties, in Pennsylvania. Later re- moving to North Carolina, he became superin- tendent of gold mines in Gaston, and there his death occurred in 1862, when he was fifty-two years of age. His wife passed away when forty years of age, leaving two children, Henry and Emma, but the latter died at fifteen years of age, so that our subject is now the sole representative of his family. He was about eight years of age when his parents brought him to this country, and his early life was passed in Pennsylvania and North Carolina. His education was obtained in the public schools and the Grovemont Seminary, in Phoenixville, Chester County, Pa., where he completed the course of study at the age of twenty.

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Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 35

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