USA > Maryland > Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland > Part 44
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Born February 15, 1830, Mr. Hayward is a son of John E. and Margaret (Duer) Hayward, who were both likewise natives of this portion of Maryland. Of their five children three are de- ceased, and only George and John E. are left. The latter is a farmer, owning the old estate in Somerset County, Md. Grandfather John Hay- ward was also a native of the Eastern Shore and was a farmier by occupation. Our subject's fa- ther was a very wealthy man for his day, being the owner of over one hundred slaves, and real
estate valued at about $50,000, it comprising about three thousand acres of fertile farm land. At one time he was commissioner of this county. His death took place when he was in his seventy- fourth year.
The boyhood of our subject was passed quietly enough upon his father's farm, where he early learned the various lines of work incidental to the management of a homestead. His education was completed in Jefferson College, in Washing- ton, Pa., from which institution he graduated in 1850. He then read medicine for a year, attend- ing lectures in the meanwhile, but the vocation not being exactly to his taste he concluded to return to an agricultural life. In politics he is an ardent Populist, as he believes that neither of the old parties meet the difficulties of the age in the right manner.
October 13, 1863, Mr. Hayward married Miss Annie, daughter of Rev. Henry Crosdale. She was born in New York State, and was a sweet, consistent Christian lady, beloved by all who had the pleasure of hier acquaintance. She was sum- moned to her reward in February, 1882, when but forty-five years of age. Both she and her husband allied themselves with the Protestant Episcopal Church many years ago. They were the parents of seven children, viz .: George, Henry C., Thomas M., William W., Millard P., Barton L., John C., Emily F. and Annie M. They are bright, energetic young people, of whom any parent might well be proud.
OHN H. SIMPERS. Intimately associated with the business interests of Chestertown through a long period of years, himself ac- tive in the development of local resources and in- defatigable in his efforts to promote local progress, Mr. Simpers justly ranks among the progressive ·business men whose presence has given individ- uality to the town. In the long period of his business history he has been strictly honest in every transaction and has thereby gained the
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esteem of all with whom he has been brought in . a full stock of dry goods, boots, shoes and notions, contact. As a citizen, too, he is public spirited and enjoys the patronage of a large proportion of the citizens of Chestertown. and progressive, and the welfare of his town and country is ever an object of importance in his eyes.
The Simpers family is among the oldest on the Eastern Shore. John B. Simpers, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Cecil County and throughout active. life engaged in farm pursuits. It is probable that he participated in the war of 1812, joining the ranks of those volunteers who shared in the defense of Baltimore and other cities threatened by the British. In his family there were two sons who attained years of maturity: Thomas W., a prominent member of the Phila- delphia Methodist Episcopal conference; and Henry G., father of our subject. The last-named was born near North East in 1820, and engaged in the mercantile business; also for a time taught school. Late in life he became a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church and in that faith he passed from earth in 1872. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Jane Sherman, was born in Salisbury, Md., and died at North East when thirty-three years of age, leaving three sons and two daughters: John H .; E. W. F., a busi- ness man of Chestertown; Milton S., who resides in Wilmington, Del .; Emma B. and Fannie W., both living in Chestertown.
Born in North East, Cecil County, Md., April I, 1849, the subject of this article received his education in the public schools of that place. At the age of seventeen he came to Chestertown, where 'he held a clerkship in a store for seven years, and has since carried on business for him- self at the same stand for twenty-four years, meet- ing with a fair degree of success as the result of his energetic efforts. He began in business with little capital, with an abundance of energy and hope, and as he was careful in his expenditures and judicious in his purchases, prosperity re- warded his efforts. In all his dealings he has maintained that uprightness of character and un- flinching honesty, in even the smallest details, which should be characteristics of every fair- minded business man. He carries in his store a full line of staple and fancy groceries, as well as
By his marriage to Mary A. H. Vannort, daughter of the late William Vannort, which was solemnized in 1873, Mr. Simpers has four sons, naniely: Henry G., a student in the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons, in Baltimore. Frank V., J. Raymond and Earle D. In relig- ious connections he is identified with the Method- ist Protestant Church. He is a member of the Masonic order and for some time has been master of the local lodge. His active co-operation may be relied upon in promoting the advancement of that fraternity, in aiding the progress of the church or in fostering plans for the commercial development of the community.
ONATHAN W. KERR. From boyhood Mr. Kerr has been interested in horticulture and it has been his chosen occupation in life. April 4, 1867, he arrived in Denton, near which place he has since resided. Here he at once embarked in the nursery business, and in spite of the fact that his capital was limited and obstacles many, from the first he met with success. He is now the owner of more than four hundred acres of well-improved land, lying in the third district of Caroline County, of which amount one hun- dred and sixty-five acres are devoted exclusively to orchard and nursery stock. He has made a specialty of the plum, of which he is one of the largest growers in the United States, having more than three hundred different varieties of the fruit in his orchard and nursery. He sells direct to planters in large lots and has a very extensive trade throughout the country.
Born in York County, Pa., January 23, 1842, the subject of this acticle is a son of William and Elizabeth (Gates) Kerr, also natives of that county. He and his sisters, Sarah A. and Eliza J., are the only survivors of the original family of eleven children. Their grandfather, William Kerr, was born in Scotland, whence he
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came to America during the Revolutionary period and at once settled in York County, taking up the occupation of a farmer.
In the public schools of York County our sub- ject received an education sufficiently thorough to permit him to teach. For six winter seasons he engaged in teaching, the intervening summer months being devoted to the nursery business. Afterwards he came to Caroline County, where his energy and acumen aided in promoting local prosperity during the years that followed the war. December 14, 1870, he married Amanda C. Sisk, daughter of William and Lucetta Sisk, who re- sided upon a farm in Caroline County. Three children blessed their union, of whom two are living: Jessie V. and Sophie G. The older daugliter is a graduate of the Woman's College of Baltimore and is a talented musician, of which art she is a capable instructor. The younger daughter will graduate in the spring of 1898 from the Woman's College of Frederick.
During the administration of Governor Hamil- ton, Mr. Kerr was appointed register of voters. Politically he adheres loyally to the principles of General Jackson and is a Democrat of the stanch- est type. Unwilling to occupy public position, he declined to accept the nomination for the legislature, which was tendered him by his party. Fraternally a Mason, he has been master of Temple Lodge No. 128, at Denton, for a number of years. In religious belief he is identified with the Reformed Church, while his wife is connected with the Methodist Episcopal denomination.
ON. PHILLIPS LEE GOLDSBOROUGH, one of the leading young men of the Eastern Shore, is well known as editor, attorney and politician. He was born in Princess Anne, Somerset County, Md., August 6, 1865, and is second of four living sons of Worthington and Henrietta Maria (Jones) Goldsborough, and a grandson of the late Judge Brice Goldsborough, of the court of appeals of Maryland, and of Hon. Samuel Jones, for many years a prominent poli-
tician and the register of wills of Somerset County. His youth was passed principally in Dorchester County and at Annapolis, Md. His early education was obtained in the public schools of Cambridge and he also attended the Episcopal high school of Virginia, near Alexandria, when fifteen years of age. After a short time in that school, however, he went to Baltimore, where he studied in private schools for some time.
Before attaining his majority he began the study of law with the late Hon. Daniel M. Henry, Jr., of Cambridge, and at the age of twenty-one was admitted to the bar of Maryland, and subsequently to the court of appeals of the state. Shortly thereafter he went to San Francisco to act as chief clerk to his father, Worthington Goldsborough, of the United States navy. Returning to Cambridge in the spring of 1890, he entered upon the practice of his profes- sion. He at once became a leading factor in local Republican politics. In the fall of 1891 he was nominated by his party for the office of state's attorney of Dorchester County, and defeated his opponent by a small majority. Since that time he has continued to hold the office, having been elected for a second term by a majority of four hundred and eighty-one, leading his ticket.
In 1895 lie was a candidate for congress, but was defeated in convention at the end of a hard and close fight. In 1896 he was a candidate for the United States senate before the assembly of Maryland, and was defeated, after a long and hard struggle, by an extremely narrow vote. At the Republican state convention of 1897 he was nomi- nated for the office of comptroller of the treasury of Maryland, being elected November 2 by a ma- jority of over seven thousand votes. In the spring of 1895 he organized and started the Dorchester Standard, a weekly Republican newspaper, of which he has since been proprietor and editor. He is fond of the bicycle and is a charter member of the Cambridge Cycle Club. He is also con- nected with the Athenæum Club, the Columbian Club, Young Men's Republican Club and the Journalistic Club, all of Baltimore. In religious belief he is identified with Christ Protestant Episcopal Church, in which he is a vestryman.
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Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
The marriage of Mr. Goldsborough, in 1893, united him with Miss Ellen Showell, of Wor- cester County, Md., daughter of the late William Showell. They are the parents of one child, a son, Phillips Lee, Jr.
AMES L. BENNETT has been engaged in the mercantile business at Rock Creek, Tangier district, since he attained his major- ity, and by perseverance and judicious manage- ment he has become known as one of the reliable business men of Somerset County. In addition to the sale of general merchandise he has engaged to some extent in the oyster business, being the owner of a large number of oyster boats; and he also maintains the supervision of his farm of fifty acres, these several enterprises demanding his entire time and leaving him little opportunity for participation in political affairs. However, he finds time to advance the cause of Prohibition, in which he is deeply interested and quite active. In 1885 and again in 1891 he was the candidate of the Prohibition party for the legislature and in 1897 he was nominated for county commissioner.
The Bennett family is of English descent and its members were among the early settlers of Wicomico County. Our subject's grandfather, James Bennett, was born in that county, where he followed farm pursuits until his death, at thirty-two years. Politically he voted the Whig ticket. The father of our subject, Ebenezer T. Bennett, was born and reared in Barren Creek district, Wicomico County, where he is a large farmer and land owner, also has an interest in a milling business. A Democrat in politics, he has served as constable and deputy tax collector, and is an active worker in the interests of his party. The homestead where he still resides is situated twelve miles from Salisbury; and here the subject of our sketch was born October 16, 1849. He was the second of seven children, the others being named as follows: Sophronia E., the widow of
Levin H. Bennett; Ebenezer T., Jr., Thomas W., Gillis E., Isaac S. and Louis A. The mother of this family was Sallie E. Taylor, a daughter of Levi Taylor; she is still living and holds a high place in the esteem of all who know her. In re- ligion she is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church.
At the age of twenty-one our subject came to Somerset County and has since made his home in Tangier district, his postoffice address being Chance. By his marriage to Miss Alice, daughter of Thomas Tigner, of this place, he has four chil- dren: L. Atwood, an attorney-at-law, residing in Salisbury; S. Edith, wife of W. C. Todd; Bertha E. and Harley D. Fraternally Mr. Bennett is identified with Aurora Lodge No. 69, K. of P., Tangier Lodge of the Shield of Honor, and the Nanjemoy Tribe of Red Men. For some years he was steward and trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church, also class-leader and superin- tendent of the Sunday-school. He is one of the leading business men of his district and as such is well known and respected.
ILLIAM A. VANE, of Church Creek, Dorchester County, is a well-known citizen and a leader in the local Republican party. He has held several official positions of trust and honor, and among others was postmaster of this place under the administration of President Lincoln for four years, and also under his succes- sor, Andrew Johnson. In 1880 and in 1890 he acted as census enumerator, and has been a can- didate for the house of delegates, county commis- sioner and judge of the orphans' court.
Joseph T. Vane, the father of the above named gentleman, is yet strong and in the enjoyment of life, though he is four-score years of age. He is a native of the vicinity of Linkwood, Dorchester County, and passed perhaps thirty-five years there. Then coming to Church Creek, he estab- lished a wheelwright's shop here and carried it on for about four years, after which he engaged in the milling business for a short time. He finally
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located upon the farm where he is yet residing, and devoted himself thencefortli to its cultivation. He is an active Republican, and religiously is connected with the Methodist Protestant Church. His father, Allen Vane, of Linkwood, was an ex- tensive land owner and slave holder in the early part of this century, and was very rich. He died when about fifty years old. His ancestor was a native of England and made a settlement near Linkwood, and in that locality many generations have since flourished. Joseph Vane was married three times. His first wife was Henrietta Brins- field, who died, leaving three children: William A .; Alexander, deceased; and Joseph H., of Golden Hill. The second wife was a Mrs. Hur- ley, by whom there were no children. After her death Joseph Vane married Annie Vincent, who is still living. They have had eleven children, two of the unmber being now deceased.
William A. Vane was born in this county, upon the paternal homestead near Linkwood, September 24, 1839, and his education was ob- tained in the common schools. He remained at home until eighteen years of age, when he began farming in earnest, and thus spent the next three years. He has always had great fondness and a natural aptitude for music, and at this time taught the art of vocal music for about a year. In 1861 he became a clerk in the employ of Thomas D. Esgate, and remained with him for two years. He then established a general store at Church Creek and carried on this enterprise until 1868. Becoming financially interested in ship- ping affairs, he sailed upon a vessel from this point to Baltimore and return during several years, and at last became part owner in a boat which plied in these inland waters. After oper- ating a general store at Church Creek five years or thereabout he was burned out, and since that time has devoted his attention entirely to the trade of ship-carpentering. Socially he is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias of Baltimore.
In 1862 Mr. Vane married Sarah P., daughter of Capt. James Fooks, of Dorchester County. To this worthy couple four children have been born: Allen P., a sailor; James G., a merchant of this place; William B., who has money
invested in a ship whichi plies the bay; and Floyd B., who is a sailor and makes his home and headquarters in Church Creek. Mrs. Vane is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
ILLIAM W. WILLIAMSON. As might be surmised by the student of nomencla- ture, this worthy citizen of the fourth dis- trict of Caroline County is of direct Welsh de- scent, but his ancestors have been associated with the history of the Eastern Shore of Maryland for so many generations that the family appears to be indigenous to the soil. Beginning his career without means or influence, our subject is another striking example of what success may be accom- plished by a young man of energy and determin- ation, provided that he exercises good judgment and high principle, for there is truly sense in the old saying that "honesty is the best policy," and without correct principles of action, prosperity in a financial way cannot be desirable or a matter of true success or happiness.
Born in Caroline County, near Concord, in 1821, Mr. Williamson is a son of Ennalls Will- iamson, who was a native of Delaware, but who died in early life, when our subject was a mere child, and thus he is unable to obtain definite information as to the exact locality. His grand- father, Elijah Williamson, was also a native of Delaware. The mother of our subject was a Miss Sarah Fisher in her girlhood.
The early years and youth of W. W. William- son were spent in the neighborhood of Preston, Caroline County, and such education as he ob- tained was confined to that which was to be had in the district schools of his day, but he has since read extensively and is thoroughly posted in matters of great importance and on general topics of the times. From a small beginning as a farmer he has advanced until at this writing he owns several hundred acres of land, as fine as can be found in this county, and in addition to this he is the proprietor of a mill in Dorchester County, this being carried on by his son, William
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Fletcher, at present. He has always taken active part in political and local affairs, and has been affiliated with the Democratic party since he became a voter.
In 1864 Mr. Williamson married Mary, daugh- ter of John H. Fletcher. Their eldest daughter, Carrie, married W. T. Hassinger, and died leav- ing a child; William F. resides at Cabin Creek, Dorchester County; Edgar is a teacher in Dela- ware; May, the youngest of the family, is the wife of Kirby Wrightson. Edgar was educated in the higher branches of learning in the Preston Academy and in Washington College. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are always in hearty accord with all worthy philanthropies, assisting, as far as they are able, to advance the cause of righteousness and justice among their fellow-men. Mr. Will- iamson has lived to see his children honored members of society and will leave to them that priceless heritage-a stainless name. His life has been blessed with the esteem and love of his asso- ciates, the hallowed influences of a happy home and family, and no one can estimate the power for good such a man is in a community. Certain- ly his life contains inspiration for others who are struggling as he did, along the thorny highway of poverty and deprivation, and encouraged by his success, they will persevere.
ROF. JAMES SWANN, for many years a prominent factor in advance educational work, has been interested in other lines of labor, notably the insurance business, and for some time he has been secretary of the Home Life Insurance Company of Caroline County. Formerly of Republican belief, he is now, how- ever, a Prohibitionist in his views and is chair- man of the party in Caroline County and one of its most influential members.
Upon a farm near Ridgely, Caroline County, Professor Swann was born on the 4th of July, 1848, and is a son of James and Mary (Chaf- finch) Swann, also natives of this county. His
father was born in 1809 at the old homestead, where he spent most of his life in the pursuit of agricultural operations. At various times he was elected to local offices. He died in 1865 upon the farm where he had passed his entire life. Though not a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church he was particularly interested in its work and aided in its benefactions. His father was also born at the old homestead, covering the present site of Ridgely, which land has been in the pos- session of the family for over two hundred years.
The mother of our subject, who died in 1869, had a family of three sons and three daughters. Sarah Elizabeth died, unmarried, in 1895; Will- iam Thomas, a farmer, resides near Ruthsburg, Queen Anne's County; Mary is the wife of James D. Wilson, a miller and farmer living in Caro- line County; James was fourth in order of birth; Gilbert, an agriculturist, resides on the old home- stead; and Henrietta died at the age of fifteen. In the local public schools our subject received an excellent education and this was supple- mented by four years' attendance at Fulton Sem- inary in Fulton, Del. At the age of eighteen he began to teach, in which way he earned the means necessary for prosecuting his studies. After finishing his seminary education he taught in the same institution for a period of two years, and later was an instructor in public schools in Caroline County, also for two years teacher in the Wilmington Conference Academy of Dover, Del. In 1882 he became examiner, secretary and treasurer of the schools of Caroline County, and that responsible position he held for five years, discharging its duties in a manner so effi- cient as to win the commendation of all.
On retiring from educational work he became interested in the insurance business, in which he is now engaged. Fraternally he is a Mason and is past master of his lodge. Identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, he has served as trustee, class-leader and superintendent of the Sunday-school, and has also been an exhorter. No one takes a deeper interest than he in church work, and certainly few have contributed more in time and means to the church with which he is connected. Music is one of his chief pleasures,
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and his talent in this line is utilized for the en- joyment and profit of others. Besides being in- terested in Masonry he is also associated with the Heptasophs and takes an interest in both frater- nities.
3 ACOB WESLEY WEBSTER, one of the honored old residents of Deal's Island, is now retired from active business life, but has a good income from judicious investments that he made in the past. His whole life has been passed in Somerset County, and for about thirty-five years he was interested in the oyster trade, being upon the water much of the time. He has been recognized as an influential man in the ranks of the Democracy in this region, and in 1887 was appointed by the governor of Maryland as cap- tain of the Bessie Woolford, a police boat de- tailed to carry out the laws relating to the oyster beds abounding in the local creeks and bays. As such Mr. Webster served most efficiently for a term of four years, the time of his appointment.
Born in 1833, J. W. Webster is a son of Will- iam J. and Mary Webster, natives of Deal's Island. The father lived to be over eighty years of age, while the mother died at the age of seventy-eight. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and were worthy Christians in word and deed. Of their six living children our subject is the eldest, while the others are as follows: William J .; Julia A., Mrs. L. L. Shores; Melissa J., wife of Hampton B. Walter; Isabel, wife of Lazarus Wilson; and Zachary W., whose sketch is printed upon another page in this volume.
Until he was fifteen years of age our subject lived quietly at home with his parents, brothers and sisters, a part of each year attending the local schools. In his youth he worked a little at farming, but the attractions of the sea were much greater to his mind, and as soon as he was old enough he literally began to "paddle his own canoe." During the war he had a rather excit- ing and decidedly unpleasant experience, as he was arrested on a charge of being a rebel and was confined in prison at Salisbury for a time. His
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