Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 42

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

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the Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church, of Salis- bury, Mr. Williams being one of the trustees of the congregation. The Williams family have been longer associated with the upbuilding of Delaware than of Maryland, and were originally from England, where many of them were em- ployed as miners. John Williams, of Cornwall, sailed from London in 1736, and upon his arrival in this country settled in what is now Sussex County, Del., and died there in 1760. He was the founder of this branch of the family in Amer- ica, and was the great-great-grandfather of the sub- ject of this article. He bought a large tract of land and this estate was handed down from father to son, some of it being still in the possession of the direct descendants. They have always been re- nowned for straightforwardness of conduct, integ- rity of word and deed, and for many other of the recognized Christian virtues.

ALFRED GREENWOOD. Prominent among the educators of Kent County is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch, and who is at present principal of the Rock Hall city schools. During a long career as a teacher, extending over thirty-two years, he has become well and widely known in his pro- fession, and his earnestness and ability have been recognized in many directions. For four years he has held his present responsible position, and the progress of the pupils in his charge and the satis- faction of the parents is proof that his selection for the place was a fortunate event for the com- munity.

Mr. Greenwood was born February 10, 1846, in Fairlee, this county, his father, John Green- wood, being also a native of that place. The lat- ter spent his entire life as a farmer, and was prominent in his locality, being an active Demo- crat. In 1852 and 1853 he served as sheriff of his county, and about 1854 held the office of county commissioner. For a great many years he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he took an active interest. He was fairly

prosperous in his life work as a farmer, and died at the age of seventy seven years. The family is of English descent, the father of John Greenwood, William, having been born in Southampton, England. He emigrated to this country about 1778, settling in New York, where he remained for a few years. Thence he went to Delaware and carried on a farm. In 1804 he purchased a farm in the second district of this county, where his death occurred at the good old age of eighty-four years, when he was still active in mind and body. He served in the war of 1812, belonging to Reed's rifle corps, and took part in the battle of Corks- field, which occurred in the fifth district. His wife, Mary Twiford, the grandmother of J. Alfred Greenwood, was also a native of England. She was brought to this country at an early age and married here. Her death occurred in 1812. She had seven children, six of whom died young. After her death her husband married a Miss Ad- kinson, of Caroline County, and they left one son, James W.

Caroline Adkinson, mother of J. Alfred Green- wood, was a native of Rock Hall, Kent County. Like her husband, she was a faithful adherent of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She died at the age of fifty-four years, leaving five children, namely: John, a resident of the third district, and an active politician; J. Alfred; James, a farmer residing in the third district; Henry, also a farmer of the third district; and Martha I., who died at about the age of fifty years.

The early education of the subject of this sketch was obtained in the public schools of his native county. At the age of fourteen years he went to Baltimore, where he secured a position as clerk in a general commission store, remaining there for about five years. Thence he returned to Kent County and began teaching school, a pro- fession he has followed, as stated before, for over thirty-two years. During all this time he has missed only two weeks' time from his work, with the exception of the time taken up by vacations. For eleven years of this time he taught the old home school in which his early education was received. His labors have been confined to this county, and during his whole experience as a

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teacher he has never been discharged from a school. Four years ago he accepted the position of principal of the Rock Hall city schools and he has at present four assistants. The satisfactory state of the schools is strong proof of his ability and that his ideas and methods are modern and progressive.

Mr. Greenwood's wife, to whom he was married January II, 1872, was formerly Miss Mary M. Toulson, of Kent County, a daughter of Thomas Toulson. The following children have been born of this marriage: Clarence A., now engaged at Tolchester Beach; Laura M. Hope, wife of Joseph Kendall, and Arthur.

Though a life-long Republican, Mr. Green wood finds little time or inclination for active politics. For about twenty years he held the position of postmaster at Fairlee, where he also kept a general store. This latter business he carried on until 1894, when he came to fill his present post.

Mr. Greenwood, his wife and family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, taking a warm interest in its welfare, and the former is superintendent of its Sunday-school.

F EORGE C. INSLEY, of Lakeville, Dorches- ter County, is one of her most respected citizens and is, in the best sense of the word, a self-made man. His advantages in boyhood and youth were of a most limited description, for he was poor and unable to attend school, and with such a handicap in life's race he started forth to make a name and place for himself, and nobly has he succeeded. By observation and self-culture he became a practical business man of fair general information, and by the exercise of indomitable pluck and energy he conquered in a financial way. All credit is due to such a man, for how many fail when they have had every advantage, in- fluence and friends included ..

The most unfortunate circumstance, as it would seem to short-sighted mortals, in the life of our subject was that death deprived him of a father's

love, care and support when he was but an in- fant. The father, Elcanion Insley by name, was a farmer of Strait district, Dorchester County, and was quite a leader in the Whig party of that neighborhood. His wife was Miss Mary A. Robinson in her maidenhood, and she survived him almost half a century, dying in 1897, at the age of eighty years. She was married a second time, and by this union with Zebedee Todd, had one son, Noah L. To her first marriage there were born two sons and two daughters. Rhoda became the wife of Andrew Insley, and Priscilla married James Todd. John H. is living upon the old home place.

George C. Insley was born in Strait district, of Dorchester County, in 1848, and as soon as he was old enough he commenced to dredge for oysters along the rivers near. When about eighteen he purchased a sailing vessel, which fact goes to show how industrious and frugal he had been for years, saving a dollar whenever he could and adding it to the little fund which he watched with pride, as it gradually increased until his long-treasured ambition to have a boat of his own was realized. From this time on he was enabled to do much better, in a monetary point of view, and in the next ten years he amassed a substan- tial little fortune, which he duly invested in more oyster boats, acting as pilot and captain of the little fleet. In 1877 he bought out Thomas J. Steward, a general merchant at Toddville, and there he carried on the store for seven years, after which he came to this present location. He pur- chased a building and opened a store, containing a general line of supplies, and in 1891 he built a fine two-story store, now occupied by his store and ware rooms. He enjoys a good trade and besides operates a farm of about twenty-five acres near. He owns altogetlier about five hundred acres of good farm land and an interest in another tract of several hundred acres. At the same time, he has not lost his old liking for the ocean and owns several sail and oyster boats at this time. Fra- ternally he is identified with the Masonic order, the Red Men and the Senior Order of American Mechanics. In his political convictions he is a Democrat.

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A number of years ago Mr. Insley joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is a very active worker in the organization. He has been a class- leader, steward and trustee and is generous in his support of the various enterprises of the denomi- nation. His good wife, whose maiden name was Melissa F. Robinson, is a daughter of William J. Robinson, of Strait district, Dorchester County.

G EORGE W. GRIFFIN. During the years in which he has devoted himself to farming pursuits, Mr. Griffin has gained a sub- stantial success that places him in the ranks of Talbot County's most successful agriculturists. The farm upon which he resides consists of one hundred well-improved acres, lying in Trappe district, and bearing all the improvements to be found on a model estate. In addition to this property he is also the owner of three farms, and liis possessions aggregate five hundred acres, a large portion of which is under cultivation.

Near Cambridge, in Dorchester County, Md., Mr. Griffin was born February 27, 1833. He was reared upon a farm, gaining only such advantages as the local schools afforded and devoting his time to work instead of study. The years of boyhood were spent in his native county, but in 1844 he came to Talbot County with his father, Caleb Griffin, and settled in Trappe district. His time was given to his father until he was twenty-one, after which he remained at home, working for wages one year. He then secured employment on board a bay vessel and for five years followed the water, at the expiration of the time returning to Trappe district and settling upon a farm. He was not then able to buy property and therefore was obliged to rent land. For sixteen years he oc- cupied rented property, but in the meantime he carefully saved his earnings, looking forward to the time when he could buy a home. In 1878 he purchased and removed to the farm where he has since resided.

The marriage of Mr. Griffin took place in 1865 and united him with Harriet E. Boone, of this

county. They became the parents of six children, namely: Charles T., a farmer residing in this district; George N., deceased; Franklin, also deceased; Nanie B., wife of George Stephens, of this district; Robert T., deceased; and George Linden. The political opinions of Mr. Griffin bring him into affiliation with the Democratic party, for whose candidates he always votes. The success which he has secured shows that he is a man of great energy and unbounded perse- verance.

OHN L. ROBINS, a native of Snow Hill dis- trict, Worcester County, is one of the suc- cessful and enterprising agriculturists of the locality mentioned, where he owns and cultivates a large and valuable tract of land. His paternal grandfather, John L. Robins, in whose honor he was named, was a prosperous farmer and a native of this county, and James B., father of our sub- ject, was a merchant in the town of Snow Hill for many years.

John L. Robins, whose name heads this article, was born February 1, 1854, in Snow Hill, in which place his father was in business at the time, and was a twin brother of James, who, however, died in babyhood. The mother bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Hayward, and, like her husband, was born and reared in this county. Our subject was brought up and edu- cated in Snow Hill, receiving good advantages. When he was fifteen years of age he was sent away from home to Washington and Lee Uni- versity in Lexington, Va. At the end of one term he returned home and thenceforth de- voted his whole time and attention to farming. He now owns over seven hundred acres of well- improved and very desirable land, which is suitable for raising a large variety of crops. Mr. Robins has developed into a practical man of affairs, and uses excellent judgment in the management of his various financial ven- tures and undertakings. His right of franchise he uses in behalf of the platform and nominees of the Democratic party.

S. ASHTON TULL.

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December 12, 1878, Mr. Robins married Miss Julia L. Matthews, who was one of the accom- plished and charming young ladies of Snow Hill. (See sketch of the Matthews family upon another page of this volume.) She is a daughter of I. T. Matthews, and by her marriage became the mother of two bright, manly sons, Thomas M. and James B., respectively. They are both at home and assist in the management of the farm. Thomas is a graduate of the Snow Hill schools. Mrs. Robins is a faithful member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church of Snow Hill and takes an active interest in religious and charitable work.

ASHTON TULL, postmaster of Tulls Cor- ner, Somerset County, received his appoint- ment to this office eight years ago, from President Harrison, and is still meeting all the requirements of the position to the entire satisfac- tion of his fellow-citizens. He is an enterprising merchant and has long been a member of the firm of S. L. Tull & Co., who conduct a general supply store here. He also belongs to the firmn of A. E. Tull & Co., oyster planters and packers, and is a member of the firm of Tull, Miles & Co., merchants and oyster packers. They own several boats and oyster vessels and do quite an extensive business.

S. Ashton Tull was born at Tulls Corner, February 6, 1856, and is a son of Samuel L. Tull, whose biography is printed on another page of this volume. Our subject, who is now in the prime of life and activity, has always resided in this immediate neighborhood, and is thoroughly identified with the best interests of the com- munity. His education was derived from our public schools, where he was an earnest student until he was seventeen years of age. His father kept a store here and the youth decided that he could do no better than enter his employ and under his senior's instruction be initiated into the details of commercial life. Therefore he took a position as clerk, and after having faithfully attended to his duties he was re-

warded by being taken into the firm as a mem- ber when he had reached his majority. He has been prospered in his various ventures and is a practical man of affairs. He is a member of the Heptasophs and of the Ancient Order of Ultited Workmen. In politics he is an indepen- dent Democrat.

In January, 1894, Mr. Tull married Miss Sarah Mather, daughter of Rev. A. W. Mather, a member of the Maryland annual conference. A bright little son and daughter have come to grace the home of Mr. and Mrs. Tull and are named respectively, Margaret and Samuel W. Mr. and Mrs. Tull are members of the Methodist Protestant Church and their family attend the services of the local congregation.

ILLIAM F. DASHIELL. Many years have rolled away since this worthy citizen of the town of Damies Quarter located here and cast in his lot with the inhabitants of the community. He has been occupied in conduct- ing a general store here for the past thirty years and is now practically retired since his son took the burden of responsibility from his shoulders. He is a valued member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church and has been one of the trustees and also steward for some time. In his daily life he has ever sought to exemplify the Golden Rule and to put into active practice the high and lofty principles of conduct in which he believes, heart and soul.

The father of our subject, William Dashiell, was born soon after the close of the war of the Revolution, his birthplace having been in Wi- comico County, Md. He was a lumberman for the greater part of his life, and dealt chiefly in the ordinary squared timber. He was a patriotic citizen and was quite active in the support of the Democratic party. He died in 1865, having lived from the close of one of the two great wars of this fair land to the close of the other, which was even more terrible and disastrous. His age at tlie time of his deniise was seventy-seven years. He,

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was the son of James Dashiell, of Wicomico County, a farmer by occupation, and of English extraction. The mother of our subject was Margaret White in the days of her girlhood and she lived to be sixty-five years of age. Of her eleven sons and daughters but three survive. Maria is the widow of William Simkins; Peter is the twin brother of W. F., and is a resident of Mt. Vernon, Md.

Born in 1833, W. F. Dashiell is now in the sixty-fifth year of his age, yet enjoys excellent health and is strong in mind and body. He con- tinued to live at his birthplace in Wicomico County until he was about seventeen years old, when he came to Dames Quarter, and began to learn the carpenter's trade. He worked at this business for four years steadily, after which he became connected with the oyster trade and spent much of his time upon the water during a period of ten years. It was in 1867 that he opened his store at this point, the town having been estab- lished by his wife's father, Major White. He has been quite successful in business undertak- ings and has shown good judgment in his invest- ments. His customers have invariably been friendly toward him, for he endeavors to treat all with courtesy and impartiality. He is a Demo- crat in his political adherance and has never sought official distinction. In 1860 he married Miss Annie White, daughter of Major White, and three children blessed their union, viz .: S. Frank, who carries on the store; Ida May, wife of Ernest Kelley; and Bessie, who is still at home with her parents.

LOYD C. RAMSDELL, formerly senior editor of the American Union, Denton, Caro- line County, is the only living member of a large family and was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., in 1836. In the office of an older brother, C. P. Ramsdell, in Franklin, Pa., he learned the printer's trade. After working as a journeyman printer in Meadville, Pa., for a number of years, he with a brother-in-law of his wife bought the

American Citizen plant of his older brother and the office in which he learned his trade. During the early years of the war he was connected with that paper as editor and proprietor. About the close of the war he sold his interest in the paper and embarked in the oil business, becoming su- perintendent of one of the large oil companies of Philadelphia that owned extensive properties in the oil region.

In 1869 Mr. Ramsdell removed to Delaware, locating at Wyoming. In 1879 he came to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where he has since resided. Having a decided taste for newspaper work, he and his oldest son, Harry E. Ramsdell, leased of that stanch old Republican editor, John H. Emerson, his newspaper plant, The American Union, of Denton, Md., where for a number of years they published the paper under the lease acquired of Mr. Emerson, and at his death they became the purchasers of the plant. In 1888, when General Harrison was nominated for presi- dent, Mr. Ramsdell attended the Chicago con- vention, and after Harrison's nomination The American Union was a firm supporter of the Chi- cago nominee.

After General Harrison's inauguration Mr. Ramsdell was a candidate for the position of post- master at Denton, which appointment he received from the postoffice department, and for four years was postmaster at this place. He is the second of three brothers, all engaged in newspaper work. Charles P., the oldest brother, was connected with several newspapers as editor and proprietor, one of them being at Franklin, Pa., and another at Oil City, that state. In the politics of western Pennsylvania he was influential. In 1856 he was a delegate to the national convention that nominated John C. Fremont. After removing to Virginia he was again a delegate to the national convention that nominated General Grant. For one or two terms he was a member of the house of delegates from Surry County, Va. He was nominated for lieutenant-governor on the ticket with Judge Hughes and after their defeat Hughes was appointed judge of the eastern district of Vir- ginia and Mr. Ramsdell was made United States marshal for the Norfolk, Petersburg and Rich-

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mond district, which office he held until the time of his death. His appointment was received from President Grant.

Hiram J. Ramsdell, the younger brother of our subject, was a prominent newspaper man. While yet young he enlisted and entered a Pennsylva- nia regiment, while serving in which he was wounded at the battle of Antietam, and was sent to the Army Square hospital in Washington. When he had partially recovered from his wounds he was appointed clerk for the hospital, and was finally discharged from the army. After recovery from his wounds he was sent to St. Domingo as correspondent for the New York Tribune by Hor- ace Greeley and went with the Grant commission in the United States war vessel Tennessee. After his return he was sent by the same paper with the first train across the Rocky Mountains, and later was the Washington correspondent for the New York Tribune, and also correspondent for the Philadelphia Press, Philadelphia Times and Cincinnati Commercial. An intimate friend and stanch admirer of James G. Blaine, he wrote a work giving the life history of that gifted states- man for campaign purposes. Probably the last official document that President Garfield ever signed was the commission appointing Mr. Rams- dell to the position of register of wills for the Dis- trict of Columbia, as this document was executed and signed the morning that Garfield was shot.

By this it will be seen that the desire for news- paper work seems to run in the veins of the Rams- dell family. Besides the three brothers who have engaged in journalistic work, the eldest son of F. C. and two sons of C. P. Ramsdell are em- ployed on the staff of two of Chicago's most prominent papers. Harry E., the managing ed- itor of The American Union, was born in Venango County, Pa., April 1, 1862. He commenced to learn the printing trade in the Denton Journal office, but finally completed his trade in the Union office and became identified with his father in the purchase of the plant. For a number of years he has been the managing editor and has had entire control of the paper.

It is difficult to overestimate the importance of the journalistic profession. Those who enter it

should have finely cultivated ininds and noble hearts, for they in a large degree mold the opin- ions of the people, and on their efficiency the prosperity of a community depends. The work which Mr. Ramsdell has accomplished through the medium of his chosen calling in life has been most helpful to the people of Denton and to the material prosperity of Caroline County, and he deservedly occupies a high place in the regard of the people. In the fall of 1897 he severed his connection with the paper and now devotes his entire attention to farming and fruit growing at his home, three miles west of Denton.

RANCIS S. LOOCKERMAN stands high among the farmers of Fairmount district, Somerset County, both as a business man and as a citizen, neighbor and friend. He lives in one of the old houses that are numbered among the landmarks of the Eastern Shore and is remarkable for its simplicity and beauty of style. He has been a resident of Somerset County for about thirty years and the estate which he owns and carries on is a tract of some two hundred acres, and descended to him from his mother's side of the house, it having been an original grant obtained from one of the Lords Baltimore in the seventeenth century.

The Loockermans are of Holland-Dutch origin, but have been so long in America that all traces of their foreign birth long since disappeared. The founders of the family were among the first settlers of Delaware, from whence they came into Maryland. Stanley B. Loockerman, the grand- father of our subject, was a native of Dorchester County, Md., and was a life-long resident of that section of the state. With few exceptions mem- bers of this family have been occupied in quiet agricultural pursuits. Washington C., father of the subject of this article, was born in the beauti- ful little city of Cambridge, Md., and upon arriving at maturity went to Baltimore County, across the bay. He there married Miss Mary, daughter of Dr. Francis Waters, a minister in the

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Methodist Protestant Church, to the ancestors of whom the land previously alluded to in this sketch was granted about two centuries ago.

Francis S. Loockerman was born in Baltimore County in 1843, and passed his boyhood in the city of the same name. About three decades ago he came to Somerset County and took charge of the farm which he still operates. He has been favored with a fair measure of success and pros- perity and has ample means with which to pro- vide his family with many of the luxuries as well as the necessities of life. He is a man of com- mendable public spirit and in political matters is a Democrat. Fraternally he is a Mason. In 1870 he married Miss Annie Ballard, whose father is Dr. R. R. Ballard, of Fairmount district. She, also, is descended from the historic Waters family. A son and daughter, Sallie W. and Washington C., grace the union of our sub- ject and his estimable wife.

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Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 42

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