Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 36

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 36

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As a teacher Professor Tonkin began his career in Pennsylvania, where he taught for a year. Later he had charge of a school in Queen Anne's County for two years and for a similar period officiated as principal of the Millington Academy. Then turning his attention to the mercantile busi- ness, he carried on a general store for two years. On selling out the store, he again entered upon educational work, and since 1868 has been prin- cipal of the public schools of Millington. Besides his work as instructor he has other interests, as already enumerated. In political views he is a Republican, but not active in the party. During the existence of the lodge he was connected with Eureka Lodge No. 98, F. & A. M., of which he

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was at one time master. Identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, he holds office as secretary of the board of trustees and is also secre- tary of the Sunday-school.

The first wife of Professor Tonkin was Rosa- mond Jennings, who was born in Cornwall, Eng- land, and died in Millington February 12, 1887. In religious faith she was a Methodist. The five children born of this union are named as follows: Charles Henry, a bookkeeper employed in Mid- dletown, Del .; Mary E., wife of William H. Rash, who resides in Wilmington, Del .; Rosanna, wife of Samuel Irwin, of Wilmington, Del .; Howard J. and Arthur E., at home. In 1892 Professor Tonkin married Miss Catherine R. Moffett, of Millington, and they have one son, Henry Moffett.

L EV. CHARLES A. HILL is the pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Easton, Md., and for twenty years has been actively engaged in ministerial work. He is an earnest, forcible speaker, and his logical, clearly pre- sented arguments carry conviction to the minds of his hearers. His life is one of quiet, zealous endeavor to advance Christianity and make it a vital, living thing to the people who come within his influence. He was assigned to the pulpit he now occupies two years ago and will therefore remain here about a like period, in all proba- bility.

The birth of Rev. C. A. Hill took place in Centreville Md., November 30, 1856. After leaving the district schools he prepared himself for college in the William A. Reynolds Classical Institute of Wilmington. In 1876 he graduated from Dickinson College with the degree of Bach- elor of Arts. In March of the following year he was licensed to preach and was appointed junior pastor on the Camden circuit by Rev. John Hough, presiding elder of the Dover district. A year later he was admitted to the Wilmington conference. In 1878 he was in Bridgeville; in 1879 he was in Princess Anne; in 1880-81 in Kings Creek; 1882 in Sassafras; 1883 in Epworth;

in 1884-86, Cherry Hill; 1887-90 in Centreville; 1891-95 in Salisbury, and since then he has been located here. Mr. Hill is a Knight Templar Mason and is prelate of this commandery.

In 1884 Mr. Hill married Caroline, daughter of the late Thomas C. Cruikshank, of Cecil County, Md., and three children were born to them. Caroline C. died at the age of five years; Charles Westcott and Thomas Cruikshank are with their parents. Mrs. Hill was born and reared to womanhood in Cecil County, and is a lady of good education and many qualities of mind and heart that endear her to all who have the pleasure of her acquaintance. She is an earnest assistant to her husband in his noble work of uplifting mankind, and her womanly sympathy is ever extended toward the unfortu- late.

Unquestionably much of the training in effect- ive Christian work, which was one of the favor- ing circumstances in the life of our subject, was bestowed upon him by his revered father. The senior Charles Hill was born in Dagsborough, Del., February 14, 1822, and was not enabled to obtain a college education. He was admitted to the Philadelphia conference in 1845, and the fol- lowing are among the pastorates which he held in his busy life in the ministry, covering a period of forty-seven years: Cambridge, Accomac circuit, Northampton circuit, Salisbury, Snow Hill, Cam- bridge (again), Accomac circuit (again), Cen- treville, Easton; Smyrna, Del .; Asbury Church, Wilmington; Nazareth Church, Philadelphia; Mariners' Bethel, in the same city; Port Deposit; Asbury Church for the second time; Union, Wil- mington; Port Deposit a second time; Asbury Church again; St. Paul's Church, Wilmington and Elkton, Md. He was presiding elder of the Easton district in 1876-80, and was again honored by being made presiding elder of the Wilming- ton district from 1883 to 1887. For years he was a member of the Board of Stewards, also of the Church Extension Board, secretary of the mission- ary society, and was chairman of the chartered fund. Thrice he was sent as a delegate to the general conference, in 1872, 1880 and in 1884. His wife was Susan, a daughter of Hezekiah P.

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Westcott. She was born in Virginia and is still living, now in her seventy-sixth year. The father died June 22, 1892. Of their seven children five grew to maturity, viz .: Margaret, wife of Rev. R. C. Jones; Anna, wife of Henry C. Downward, of Wilmington, Del .; Charles A., Alexina and Mary.

I SAAC H. WRIGHT, one of the worthy old citizens of Dorchester County, comes from a family that has been independently well-off and influential during their long residence within the boundaries of this county. Its members liave been noted for public spirit and for their successful business characteristics, and to this list our subject has been no exception. He is well and favorably known in this section of the state, and has extensive financial interests in this county. Socially he is a member of the Masonic order, being a past master, and is very popular in his lodge, belonging, as he does, to that in East New Market.

The father of the gentleman whose name heads this review was Isaac Wright, born in this county in 1763, and was actively engaged in the manage- ment of his farm during his whole mature life. He died here in 1850, aged eighty-seven, leaving three sons to perpetuate his name: William, now of Delaware; Isaac H., and John N., who is carrying on the old home place. There were also three daughters: Celia married Dr. Shipley; Ann M. married William T. Vickers; and Harriet mar- ried Hon. Daniel Fields, of Caroline County.

A native of Northwest Fork district, Dorchester County, born February 18, 1826, Isaac H. Wright has been acquainted with the various duties of agri- culture from his earliest recollections. He became a thorough and practical farmer before reaching his majority and had then laid the foundation of his later career of success. Little by little he invested what funds he could accumulate in land and at this time lie owns about one thousand acres of improved property, suitable for the raising of all kinds of cereals and market produce. His own place is a beautiful one, its fine trees especially

arousing admiration in the mind of the passer-by. His comfortable homie is provided with all of the necessities and inany of the so-called luxuries of life, and the numerous books, magazines and pa- pers with which the inmates are surrounded speak well for their literary taste. They are people of marked intellectual attainments, and are fully abreast of the times in information.

February 17, 1853, the marriage of Mr. Wright and Miss Elizabeth S. Craft was solem- nized in this county. She has been a true friend and companion to her husband, sharing his sor- rows and joys with womanly fortitude and cheer. They became the parents of nine children, two of whom are deceased; those living are: Anne, wife of Thomas Lackey; Carrie, wife of Eugene Ross; May, wife of Dr. Lewis Morris; Fred, who mar- ried Miss May Houston; Hattie, Lillian P. and Harry M., at home. Both parents are members of the Episcopal Church and are generous con- tributors to its support, as they are to all charities which come within their field of work. Politically he is a stanch Democrat, but has never been an office seeker, as he has found his time fully occu- pied in attending to his own business affairs.

TEWART MATHEWS. The last ten years in the life of Mr. Mathews were spent in the fourth district of Kent County, where he in- dustriously devoted himself to the improvement and cultivation of his valuable farm. Within the limits of his place there were comprised about three hundred acres, most of which he put under excellent tillage. The property is situated in the northern part of the district, sufficiently near Chestertown to afford every advantage which proximity to a town can give.

A native of Delaware, Mr. Mathews was born in Newcastle County December 12, 1840, and grew to manhood upon a farm, gaining a prac- tical knowledge of agricultural pursuits that was afterward of inestimable value to him. In 1860 he came to Maryland and settled in Kent County, where with his father he cultivated a farm in

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the second district. His earnings were economi- cally saved, with a view to purchasing farming property. In 1881 he bought the farm in the fourth district where the subsequent years of his life were busily passed in the occupation with which he was most familiar. There his death occurred April 11, 1891, when he was fifty years of age.

January 13, 1869, Stewart Mathews and Hen- rietta Sutton were united in marriage. Of their union nine children were born, namely: Susan E .; Mary L., wife of J. W. S. Jones, of Chester- town; James S., Thomas A., Stanley W., Her- bert M., Annie S., Ettie L. and Helen M., all of whom reside with their mother excepting the second daughter. Mrs. Mathews was born in Kent County November 20, 1844, and has spent her entire life here. By her kind disposition and energy of character she has won many friends among her acquaintances. In the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church she takes a deep in- terest and to it she gives practical assistance. The property which she inherited at the death of her husband she personally superintends, and, assisted by her children, maintains the high char- acter of improvements instituted by her husband.

ON. HENRY CLAY DODSON. Doubtless no resident of St. Michael's has been more closely identified with its business interests or more intimately connected with public affairs of Talbot County than has the subject of this article. A leader in the Republican party of his locality, he has been elected to many positions of high honor, in all of which he has acquitted himself ably and with marked efficiency. He has repre- sented the district in the general assembly three terms, and in November, 1897, was elected state senator, to which position he will undoubtedly bring the same force of character and fidelity to his constituents characteristic of him in every office.

In the house in St. Michael's that for genera- tions had been the home of the family, Henry

Clay Dodson was born October 5, 1840. For more than a hundred years his ancestors resided on the bay side. The records can be traced back to Thomas Dodson, who was born presumably in this neighborhood, in the early part of the eighteenth century. His son Robert was born in St. Michael's, and spent his entire life upon a farm here, with the exception of the time he fol- lowed the water. For some years he was a com- missioner of the village. In religion he identified himself with the Methodist Episcopal Church. His death occurred when he was sixty-six.

Capt. William Dodson, son of Robert, and grandfather of our subject, was born in St. Michael's in 1786, and was a sailor by occupation. During the war of 1812 he commanded one of the barges under Commodore Barney, and also had charge of the battery on Parrott's Point that successfully repelled the attack of the British on that town in 1813. He was a brave man, a gal- lant soldier and defended American interests before the British attacks. In religious belief he was a Methodist. The father of our subject, Capt. Robert A. Dodson, was born and reared in this place, and for many years sailed on the Chesapeake Bay, becoming the owner of several sailing vessels and running a packet line on the bay between St. Michael's and Baltimore. Under the administration of President Grant he was postmaster at St. Michael's. His wife bore the maiden name of Hester A. R. Keithley, and was born in Baltimore.

At fourteen years of age our subject entered a drug store in Easton, Talbot County, where he began to learn the drug business. Afterwards he was employed in the drug store of H. F. Byrne, in St. Michael's, whose business he bought in 1860 and successfully conducted until 1880, when he sold out. In order to advertise his business, in 1866 he established a paper, which he called "The Comet," and this he conducted about a year, then sold it. In 1861, under the adminis- tration of President Lincoln, he was appointed postmaster of St. Michael's, which position he held until 1875, when he resigned, having been elected to the general assembly of Maryland. In the session of 1876 he took an honorable and act-

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ive part, and again in 1886 was elected to the assembly and re-elected in 1896, being the representative from this district until elected to the state senate in 1897. For several terms he was town commissioner of St. Michael's. In 1889 he was appointed deputy revenue collector of the fifteenth and sixteenthi districts, which comprised the Eastern Shore of Maryland and two counties of Virginia, under Collector F. Snowden Hill, and this position lie held for four and one- half years.

In 1861 Mr. Dodson married Miss Maggie A. McCarty, of Easton, who died the following year. In 1864 he married Martha, daughter of Dr. William B. Hahn, of Montgomery County, Pa. Six children were born of their union, but three are deceased. Emma is the wife of Russell S. Dawson, of Norfolk, Va. Henry Clay, Jr., is associated with his father in the drug business. Hannah is with her parents. In 1894 our sub- ject and his son fitted up a drug store in St. Michael's and have since conducted a drug busi- ness. Our subject also owns a large brick yard, which he has operated for twenty-five years. In the establishment of St. Michael's Savings Bank he was a prominent factor and has been its presi- dent since the date of organization. Fraternally he is connected with Granite Lodge No. 177, A. F. & A. M., at St. Michael's, in which he is past master. He is a member of Bayside Lodge No. 66, I. O. O. F., at St. Michael's, in which he has been district deputy for several years. Reared in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he has for years been a member of the denomination, and for more than thirty years has served as superintendent of the Sunday-school.

RANCIS J. BARNES has resided in Somer- set County since 1875 and upon his present farm at Lower Trappe, Princess Anne dis- trict, since 1893. He is the owner of large tracts of land lying in Somerset and Worcester Count- ties, his possessions aggregating some two thou- sand acres, and besides the management of this

property and its cultivation he has also specula- ted to some extent in land, his ventures meeting with success. Reared in the Democratic faith he saw no reason to change his opinion on reaching mature years and has always adhered to the prin- ciples of the party. He assists in the support of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which his fam- ily attend.

The Barnes family originated in England. Thomas Barnes, grandfather of our subject, was born in Worcester County and was a farmer throughout his entire life, dying about 1820. Our subject's father, James A. Barnes, was born in Worcester County and engaged in farming; also for ten years was proprietor of a general store at Pocomoke City (then known as Newtown). As a Whig he took an active part in local affairs, while in religious belief he was connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and served as a trustee. He died when seventy-four years of age. His first wife was Sarah A. Q. Adams, daughter of Capt. Mitchell Adams, who commanded a com- pany in the Mexican war. Her six children are all living: Emily S., wife of W. M. Schoolfield, of Pocomoke City; Francis J .; Alfred T., of Poco- moke City; Adial P., an attorney at Snow Hill; Mary S., widow of Samuel Schoolfield; and Clar- ence F., living in Worcester County. The mother of this family died at fifty-five years, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which she had long been an earnest member.

In Worcester County, where he was born Sep- tember 10, 1839, our subject grew to manhood, upon a farm. At the age of twenty-three he left the home of his father and settled upon a farm near by where he carried on agricultural pursuits for nine years. In 1875 he came to Somerset County and for nineteen years cultivated the Stewart farm, which he owns, after which, in 1893, he removed to his present home at Lower Trappe. He was twice married, his first wife being Miss Sarah A. Merrill, who died childless. Afterward he married Emily, daughter of Benja- min Langford, who was a well-known citizen of Somerset County, and died here at the age of eighty-two. She was one of five children born to the union of Benjamin Langford and Mary A.

JOSEPH M. PARVIS.

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Gibbons, the others being Lizzie, now the widow of William Passwalters; Mary A., wife of William Ross; Amanda J., Mrs. M. L. Porter; and Sarah E. The mother of these daughters died when sixty-one years of age. The union of our subject and his wife has been blessed by the birth of six children, namely: Benjamin J., who resides in Princess Anne district; M. Blanche, Frank U., Emma M., Lena A. and Nettie E., who are with their parents.

OSEPH M. PARVIS. The family repre- sented by this influential citizen of Centre- ville has been intimately associated with the history of Delaware from a very early period in its settlement, and its members have contributed their quota to the development of the material re- sources of the state. The grandfather of Joseph M. was Thomas, a son of Joseph Parvis. He was born in Delaware in 1800, and engaged in farming until the infirmities of age rendered manual labor impossible. The place which he owned and cultivated was situated in the north- ern part of Caroline County, and there he died in 1881. In local affairs he was an influential factor, and his name was connected with many plans for the benefit of the community.

The father of our subject, Joseph L. Parvis, was born in Delaware in 1827 and in early man- hood engaged in teaching school, but later turned his attention to farming and fruit-raising. He was a pioneer in the peach industry and his fruit farm was one of the finest for miles around. In the political affairs of the day he took an interest and was a local leader in the Democratic party. His death occurred in September, 1865. Twice married, by his first wife he had a son, William Parvis, who has been in the employ of the Ches- ter River Steamboat Company for twenty years. His second marriage united him with Susan Nor- ris, a native of Caroline County, where her father, Martin Norris, was also born. She is a descend- ant of Thomas Norris, who came to America in the latter part of the seventeenth century or the

earlier portion of the eighteenth, being one of seven brothers to come from England, all of whom settled on the Western Shore excepting one, who established his home in Caroline County. She had two brothers, Dr. John C. Norris, for years a prominent physician of Philadelphia, and William H. Norris, a farmer of Queen Anne's County. At this writing (1897) she is fifty-nine years of age, and resides at Ingleside, in Queen Anne's County, making her home with a son, Preston.

On the family homestead in Caroline County, Md., the subject of this sketch was born March 25, 1865. When a boy he attended the district schools. At the age of seventeen he left the farm and secured a position in a store at Ingleside as clerk, but two years later commenced to teach school and afterward followed that occupation for some time. When he was twenty-four he was elected surveyor of Queen Anne's County, which office he held for four years. In 1893 he was made clerk of the board of county commissioners and in 1895 was re-elected to the office, which he still holds. In the local affairs of the Democratic . party he maintains a deep interest and is quite influential. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons and Knights of Pythias and is officially identified with the local lodges of both organiza- tions, being senior deacon of Centreville Lodge No. 180, A. F. & A. M., and past chancellor of Rathbone Lodge No. 118, K. of P., which is said to be the best in the state of Maryland.

DWARDS REED BURNESTON, M. D., deceased, was the oldest physician in Dor- chester County, in point of years of active practice, at the time of his death, which occurred September 12, 1897. He had been located in Lake district for a period of thirty years, and was well and favorably known throughout this region. He was an ardent Republican, and served under Grant's, Hayes', Garfield's and Arthur's adminis- trations as postmaster of Lakesville, in this dis- trict. He made a good record both for himselfand

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party friends, and at all times he was deeply con- cerned in all matters bearing upon the general welfare. As a citizen, friend and physician, as a father, husband and son he was loyal, kind and faithful, and in his loss the entire community is stricken and bereaved. He was a sincere Chris- tian, a devoted member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church and true to the dictates of his con- science in every particular.

Dr. Burneston was of Irisli descent, his pater- nal ancestors having come. to Maryland from the Emerald Isle at an early day. Both his great- grandfather and his grandfather bore the given name of Isaac. The latter spent his whole life in Baltimore and was one of the very first men who introduced looms for weaving into this state. He operated a large and successful mill called the Washington Factory, where all kinds of cloth for domestic trade were manufactured. The father of the doctor was William R. Burneston, a native of Baltimore and a farmer by occupation during part of his life, the remainder being devoted to merchandising. His death took place in 1872, when he was seventy-two years of age, his own and the century's birth having occurred about the same time. He was a Whig many years, but subsequently he allied himself with the Democratic party. He married in early manhood, Matilda, daughter of Jonathan Edwards, of Baltimore. She died in 1863, leaving eleven children, only four of whom are now living, viz .: Henry Clay; Ellen, wife of R. H. Ridgely; Matilda; and Lucy, wife of Frederick Dutton.

The birth of Dr. Burneston took place July II, 1821, in Baltimore, and in that city his boy- hood was passed. He entered the public schools there when he had arrived at a suitable age, and later pursued his studies in Abingdon Academy, of Harford County, Md., in Baltimore College un- der J. H. Prentice, and Mount Hope College. In 1839 he embarked in the grocery business with Thomas A. Norris & Son, and continued with that firm abont three years. About 1847 he be- gan the study of medicine in the University of Maryland, graduating therefrom in the class of 1850. Two years later he settled in Lake dis- trict and practiced here until seven years had

rolled away, when he returned to his native city. In 1862 he was appointed United States Surgeon under Josiah Simpson, and for eight months was engaged in hospital work at Point Lookout. He then joined the Eleventh Regiment of Maryland Volunteers as regiment surgeon, in June, 1864, and served for one hundred days in that capacity. In 1867 he resumed practice in this district, and from that time forward was a permanent resident here, and thoroughly identified with the prosper- ity of this community. A few years ago he com- manded the largest and most remunerative prac- tice of any physician hereabout, but, as age crept on, he gave up some of his patients to younger and more active members of the profession. He was a member of the Order of Red Men, belong- ing to Tribe No. 89, of this place; was one of the Senior Order of American Mechanics and of the alumni association of the University of Mary- land.

In 1844 the doctor married Lucy P., daughter of George and Mary (Miriam) Gillingham, of an old family of Baltimore. Four children were born to the doctor and his estimable wife, viz .: William N., a resident of Baltimore; Matilda, Mrs. James Webster; Lucy B., Mrs. James S. Wheatley; and Nellie, wife of Samuel H. Wood- land, of Baltimore. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

OBERT PATTON has spent his entire life in Caroline County, his birth occurring in 1833. Trained to habits of industry and perseverance, he grew to a sturdy, robust man- hood. In early maturity he was united in mar- riage with Amelia, daughter of Isaiah C. Blades, who was one of Caroline County's good business men. Mrs. Amelia Patton died, leaving two children, Orlando and Emily, Mrs. John Blades. The second wife of Robert Patton was Sarah E. Trice, daughter of Samuel Trice and an estim- able lady, whose death, September 18, 1881, was a deep bereavement to the family. She left two children, Matthew and Lydia.

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Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 36

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