Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 49

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

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GEORGE H. TRAX.

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with the class of 1849. Immediately afterward he entered upon the practice of medicine in the southern part of Dorchester County, and was thus engaged for seventeen years, being quite success- ful in his professional labors. In 1866 he estab- lished the Cambridge Military Academy, and was in charge of that institution when, in the same year, he was appointed president of the school board of Dorchester County. In 1868 he was made school examiner of the same county, in which capacity he has since acceptably served. He is now the oldest school examiner in the state, and has been continuously engaged in school work longer than any other man. He has seen the public school system develop from its incipiency and has been an active agent in furthering its in- terests. His valuable recommendations may be found throughout the Maryland Annual School Reports and many of these have become laws to the infinite betterment of the school system. He has been particularly active in instituting the present admirable system of free text-books in the schools and in devising ways and means for raising the necessary school funds. The system recently considered by the legislature, that of the state furnishing the funds to pay all teachers' sal- aries, and the county furnishing the money for all schoolhouses and other incidental local expenses, originated with Dr. Bryan and bids fair to become a law.

Dr. Bryan was united in marriage, in 1852, with Miss Aurelia Pattison, of Taylor's Island, daughter of James M. Pattison, and to them were born eleven children, nine of whom are living: Julian L., of Staunton, Va .; D'Arcy P., of Bal- timore; Frank Otis, who is living near Cam- bridge; William L. H., of Baltimore; Mary Vir- ginia, at home; Nora, wife of Edwin Dashiell, Jr., of Cambridge; Emily, of Baltimore; Guy Lee, of Cambridge; and Lay, of Baltimore.

For thirty years the doctor served as deacon in the Episcopal Church and was assistant pastor to Dr. Barber, during the long and eventful stay of that celebrated divine in Cambridge. He was ordained to the priesthood, and since that time has been acting rector of Dorchester parish. He is a man of broad humanitarian principles, whose

labors for the benefit of mankind have been most efficacious. He deserves to be numbered among the benefactors of the state, and the honor and respect of a grateful public are his just due.

EORGE H. TRAX, a well-known farmer, contractor and builder of the first district of Talbot County, has been one of the commis- sioners of this county since 1895, and has been very active in political affairs here for several years. He attends many of the conventions of the Republican party and is a member of the state central committee, with which body he has been identified for the past ten years. A little more than two decades have passed since he be- came a citizen of this state, and he has ever striven to promote her best interests from the time that he decided to cast in his lot with us.

His father and grandfather both bore the Chris- tian name of Jacob, and were natives of tlie northern part of Germany. They were also both skilled in the same business, that of cabinet-mak- ing, and ran a large sash, door and blind factory after establishing themselves as residents of Al- legheny County, Pa. Jacob Trax, Jr., was very young when he landed in America, and is yet living, now in his seventy-eighth year. In De- cember, 1875, he came to this county, settling in the fourth district, and there farmed about twelve years. Since then he has lived in Rochester, Pa., and was a member of the town council there two terms. He joined the Republican party upon its organization, and has been a true and patriotic citizen of his adopted country. He won a com- petence by steady and well-applied industry, and has sufficient for his declining years. His good wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Knover- shoe, was also a native of Germany, and is now about seventy-three years old. Of their seven children, Kate married Dan Steiner, of Monica, Pa .; George is the next in order of birth; Emma is the wife of Harry Hawkins, of Beaver, Pa .; John resides in the fourth district of this county; Lydia is Mrs. Henry Greenbough, of Columbus, Ohio; and Louis is with his parents.

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George H. Trax was born upon his father's farm in Allegheny County, Pa., June 27, 1851, and attended the schools in the vicinity, later going to Duff's Business College in the city of Pittsburgh, Pa. When but fourteen years old he left home and went to Cleveland, where he soon found employment at the trade of cabinet- making, which he had mastered ere this. At the time of the great Chicago fire he went to behold her sitting in sackcloth and ashes, and found plenty of work ready to his hand. He was only eighteen, but lie commenced to take contracts and built many houses and other structures dur- ing the several years of his stay there. Returning eastward he stopped in Cleveland, spending five years there. In 1876 he located in the fourth district of Talbot County, and has been exten- sively engaged in contracting and building ever since throughout this section of the state. He also does considerable farming, and owns a valuable place liere, it being known as the Chestnut Hill farm, and is a tract of one hundred and sixty acres.

For a long period Mr. Trax has been a men- ber of the Episcopal Church of Easton. May 5, 1880, Mr. Trax married Emma Carson, daughter of Alexander Carson, formerly of Norristown, Pa. Eight children grace the union of Mr. and Mrs. Trax, viz .: Annie, Lola, Rose, Eurith, Percy, Henry, Cruitt and Emma. Mr. Trax de- serves great credit for the financial success that lie has accomplished, when one takes into con- sideration the fact that he started forth empty- handed to battle with the world for a livelihood, and has come off conqueror.

HOMAS A. HUDSON owns a beautiful home situated on the banks of Lankford Bay, in the fifth district, Kent County. There are few homesteads in this section that are more pleasing to the eye or kept in better order than this one, and it may truthfully be termed a model country seat. The proprietor takes commend- able pride in beautifying and adorning the place,

and is a practical, progressive agriculturist. He is a good citizen, and strives to promote the wel- fare of his fellows and advance their interests in all public affairs.

Born February 7, 1828, in Canadaville, in the second district of this county, Mr. Hudson is a son of John Hudson, who was a hero of the war of 1812, and participated in the battle of Caulks- field, being a musician in Capt. Thomas Wilson's cavalry. He was a native of the same place as was his son and there spent his whole active life. His deathi was the result of an accident, and occurred when he was only forty years of age. His father, who bore the same Christian name, was also born in this locality, was of Eng- lish ancestry, and was an agriculturist. The mother of our subject was Henrietta Ashley in her girlhood. She was born and reared in Kent County. She died in 1849, when about sixty- five years of age. Of her eight children, not one is left save Thomas A., who was only a week old when his father was killed. He stayed upon the farm with his mother and lent her his dutiful as- sistance until she, too, died.

It was in 1849 that young Hudson set out from his old home, an orphan, to seek a means of earn- ing his livelihood. Going to Philadelphia, he commenced serving a five years' apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, and became master of it in all its branches. Returning to this county, he worked at his trade in places along the Sassafras River for about a year. Then he rented a farm and tried his hand at agriculture, doing so well, that, after a while, he purchased the homestead whereon he has since resided. This transaction was consummated in 1875, and during the years that have elapsed many great changes and im- provements have been instituted by the owner. It comprises about one hundred and seventy-five acres. This lovely home represents the thrift and industry and persevering energy of the proprietor, who has not only made a good living for himself and family, but has bought and cultivated this place at the same time. He is a true-blue Republican, and is not an office seeker in any sense of the term.

The lady who has been a faithful helpmate and

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has shared the joys, sorrows and labors of Mr. Hudson, became his wife December 18, 1859. She was formerly Miss Addie L. Usilton, a native of this county. To them eight children were born, viz .: William J., who is in the oyster busi- ness in Kent County; Mary Henrietta; Thomas F., a resident of Baltimore; Charles Henry; Walter, who died at about twenty years of age; Edward, who died when nineteen; John R., who died in his twelfth year; and Alfred Washington, who is a farmer.

DWARD T. MOORE, whose pretty home and well-kept farm are situated about two miles distant from Preston, Caroline Coun- ty, is a practical agriculturist and thorough-going business man. From his earliest years he has been closely associated with the development and history of this district, and has taken an active part in everything which has promised advance- ment and better advantages for this community. Like his forefathers, he is identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and stands firmly for law, good government and temperance. In all his dealings with his fellow-citizens he manifests the strictest integrity, justice and impartiality and enjoys the respect and good-will of all as a natural consequence.

Our subject's paternal grandfather was an early settler on the Eastern Shore and was a life-long farmer. The parents of Edward T. were Ed- ward T. Moore, Sr., and Emma, daughter of Tilghman E. Andrews, a resident of East New Market, Dorchester County. The senior Moore was a native of this county, and dwelt within its borders all his life, his occupation being that of agriculture. Beginning his career at the foot of the ladder financially, he secured a livelihood for himself and family and eventually became well-to-do. He had but one son, Edward T., of whom we write, and three daughters, viz .: Mary, Sallie and Bessie.

Edward T. Moore was born upon the parental homestead in the town of Preston in 1869, and was reared to take an interest in all lines of farm

work. He received a very excellent and prac- tical education to further fit him for the duties of life, for when he had finished the common schools and had pursued his studies for a time in the Preston Academy, he was sent to Philadel- phia to gain a knowledge of the underlying prin- ciples of business in the commercial college there. His father, becoming somewhat of an in- valid during his last years, was not strong enough to do much arduous work on the old home place, and therefore the son stepped into the management of the farm, and all affairs connected therewith gradually devolved upon him. In 1895 he bought the property where he now re- sides, it consisting of some one hundred and twenty-five acres. In February, 1893, Mr. Moore married Amanda, youngest daughter of Perry D. Taylor, and they have one child, Effie T.

2 EV. ZACK H. WEBSTER, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Denton, was born on Deal's Island, Somerset County, Md., October 18, 1858, and is a son of Samuel and Sarah Jane (Shores) Webster. His father, who was a native of Somerset County, spent the most of his life engaged in mercantile business there and was for a time commissioner of the county. In religion a Methodist, he was active in the various departments of church work. He died in 1880. His grandfather was the first of the family to settle on Deal's Island and he became quite prominent there.

The mother of our subject was a daughter of Lambert Shores, a farmer and the owner of con- siderable land and a number of slaves. She was a woman of most beautiful Christian character, kind to those in need, forbearing toward the erring, and most devoted to her family. Her death occurred in February, 1894. In her family there were four sons and two daughters, namely: George, who is a farmer on Deal's Island; Zack H .; Luther, a resident of Deal's Island, and the owner of several vessels; Oscar C., who was acci- dentally shot and killed by a schoolmate; Brazilia,

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widow of George W. Windsor, and mother of a who attained years of maturity. The others large family of children, with whom she lives on Deal's Island; and Indiana F., wife of Samuel C. White, of Delaware.

Educated in the schools of Somerset County, at the age of seventeen our subject went on the water and for four years followed the occupation of a mariner. Later he was employed as a teacher in the public schools in Somerset County. After three years as teacher in the high school near his home he resigned and entered the min- istry of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1886. The following year he was received into the conference and was given charge of a church. He spent one year at Quantico, one year at Fruitland, Md., three years at Whitesville, Del., two years at Tangier, Va., and then came to Denton, where he has been for four years. A prohibitionist since 1885, he has been connected with the organization of the party in several places and has done excellent service in its ranks.

December 6, 1882, Rev. Mr. Webster married Elizabethı E. Brewington, formerly of Salisbury, Md., but at the time of their marriage a resident of Somerset County. The five daughters who comprise their family are: Esther, Ruth, Sarah, Ethel and Helen. Another daughter, Grace, was taken from them by death when five years of age.

HOMAS T. CORNWELL, senior member of the firm of Cornwell, Bowdle & Co., of Cambridge, is the oldest man actively en- gaged in merchandising in Dorchester County, if not on the Eastern Shore, and has been interested in the mercantile business, as clerk and proprietor, for a longer period of time than any one now liv- ing in the county. When a boy he began as a clerk, and by dint of his unaided efforts he has become the head of the largest dry-goods store in his section. - An intelligent gentleman, the soul of honor and integrity, he justly stands high both as a business man and a private citizen.

In Hampton, Va., Mr. Cornwell was born October 15, 1816, being the third of five children

were as follows: Joel, who died in Vienna, at the age of fifty-six, leaving three children, of whom one is living; Rosa A., the widow of Ballard Ven- able and a resident of Riverton, Md .; John S., a merchant of Vienna; and Sarah L., deceased, who was the wife of Josiah Carr, of Vienna. The father of this family, William Cornwell, was born on Long Island, N. Y., but removed to Virginia in early manhood and there followed the mechanic's trade. In Princess Anne County, Va., he mar- ried Johanna Ship, a sister of Col. John Ship. Mr. Cornwell died in Wicomico County, Md., as did also his wife, who survived him many years, dying at the age of ninety-four.

When our subject was a youth of fifteen his father died, and he afterwards made his home with his brother Joel, who was a merchant in Baltimore and later in Vienna. His education was obtained principally in Wicomico County, whence he came to Cambridge and secured a position as clerk in the store of Col. William Sullivane, with whom he remained nearly four years. Afterwards he was with Hooper C. Hicks until the latter's store burned down and then he accepted employment with Francis J. Henry, where he remained until that gentleman was elected clerk of the court. Our subject's next employer was T. I. Dail, then of Cambridge. In 1859 he engaged with T. W. Anderson, with whom he remained until Mr. Anderson failed in business in 1884, and for three years afterward he resided in the country. On his return to Cambridge he began clerking for Henry Mayer, with whom he remained for twelve months. In June, 1889, he formed a partnership with Mr. Bowdle and Mr. Barnett, and they have since con- ducted business together, having the largest store of the kind in the city.

In 1840 Mr. Cornwell united with the Meth- odist Church, of which he has since been a mem- ber, and since 1889 he has been a trustee. Both by example and precept he gives his influence to the cause of temperance. He has never been to a theatre or museum. In all things he has been a strict follower of the discipline of his denomina- tion, and his consistent Christian life has continued

WILLIAM KENNEDY CARROLL, M. D.

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for nearly sixty years as an example to others. He has never established domestic ties, but his life is by no means a lonely one, for he has a host of warm friends, both in church and business circles.

ILLIAM KENNEDY CARROLL, M. D., is so fortunate as to be the possessor of nearly four hundred acres of valuable land, finely situated in the fifth district of Queen Anne's County. His residence is patterned after the old English mansions in style and is beautiful both in design and furnishing. Everything about the place bespeaks the presence of refined, cultured occupants, and it is rightly believed to be a model country home. The owner has for many years actively engaged in the practice of medicine, and since coming here a few years ago, to attend to his extensive property interests hereabouts, he has found his time quite fully occupied in his pro- fession and the care of his estate.

The doctor's paternal grandfather was a native of Ann Arundel County, and grew to man's es- tate in that vicinity. One of his sons, David, was the fathe . of our subject. He was born in Prince George's County and became the pioneer in the manufacturing of the fabric commonly known as duck, now so extensively used in clothing. Away back in the 40's he was first interested in this business, and about 1850 he started the Whitehall mills, and later those of Woodberry and Mount Vernon. He was very actively engaged in these various enterprises until shortly before his death, and left large estates. His wife was Miss Annie Ayler, a native of Centreville, Queen Anne's County. Five of their children grew to maturity. Rev. D. H. Carroll, D. D., for many years pastor of a Methodist Episcopal Church in Baltimore, is now president of the Laurel Manufacturing Company; Albert died in Baltimore about 1886 and left a family to mourn his loss. Fannie is the widow of John T. Timanus, a manu- facturer of Baltimore; Laura D. married E. E. Shipley, of Howard County; and Dr. William K. completes the family.

Dr. Carroll was born in the village of Wood- berry, now included within the limits of the city of Baltimore, August 18, 1851. He passed his boyhood and youth in that locality, and there re- ceived a common-school education. From an early day he was familiar with the management of the extensive mills operated by his father, and manifested unusual aptitude for business. He still owns an interest in the mills and obtains a good revenue from that source. He graduated with honors in the class of 1873 from the medical department of the University of Maryland, and at once commenced practice in Woodberry. At the end of five years he went to Denver, Colo., and was there engaged in professional work three years or more. His father being in failing health at this time he returned to Queenstown. Three years later he settled in Baltimore and there con- tinued to practice another five years. For about ten years he has given his principal attention to the management of his estates, and has dwelt on the homestead near Queenstown, alluded to at the beginning of this article, it comprising three hundred and seventy-five acres. This place originally was owned by the Niell family, later was a part of the Pratt estate, and then came into the doctor's possession. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Pickering Lodge No. 146, F. & A. M., of Baltimore, and is also connected with the commandery. In politics he is a Democrat.

The marriage of Dr. Carroll and Miss Margaret Frederick was solemnized May 9, 1872, in Balti- more. She is a lady of superior attainments and rare womanly grace, and, with her husband, has always been most cordially received in the best social circles of every community in which she has resided. Her parents were Jacob and Sarah (Garrett) Frederick, for many years honored residents of Baltimore, but both now deceased.

OHN T. WILSON is engaged in the mercan- tile business at Mardela Springs, in Barren Creek district, Wicomico County, where for a number of years he has conducted an important

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and increasing trade in the general lines of mer- chandise among the people of the village and dis- trict. While he has not spent his entire life in this county, yet lie was born and reared here, and is well known to the people of the locality where he resides. Within two miles of his pres- ent place of residence he was born April 8, 1846, being a son of Levin M., and brother of L. N. Wilson, M. D., mentioned upon another page of this volume.

The education of our subject, which was an excellent one, was obtained principally in the common schools of Wicomico County. At the age of eighteen he began to teach school in Barren Creek district, where he remained an instructor for ten years. In 1876 he turned his attention to the mercantile business and opened a general store at Mardela Springs, remaining here as its proprietor until 1891, when he went to the city of Baltimore and embarked in the retail cigar and tobacco business. Two years later, however, he came came back to Wicomico County, and liere he has since carried on a general business as a village merchant.

On the last day of the year 1890 Mr. Wilson was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie, daugh- ter of James W. Lard, of Dorchester County. They have a pleasant home in Mardela Springs and have many friends among the people of this section of the county. They are the parents of one child, a daughter, Fannie.

9 OHN C. HACKETT, M. D., is a rising young physician of Millington, Kent County, and has been located here since 1894. He is well educated in literature and the sciences, and is thoroughly versed in the duties of his pro- fession. To well-grounded theoretical knowl- edge he has added wide general experience and the reading and study of mature life, and brings to bear upon his chosen work a genuine love for it, which is, perhaps, one of the best essentials for success.

A son of John C. and Cephelia (Wood-

land) Hackett, the doctor was born upon a farm near this place in 1857, and passed his boyhood here. His father is now retired from the arduous and active occupation which he followed in his prime, that of agriculture, and is enjoying the fruits of the years of his indus- trious toil. His home has been made in Sud- lersville, Queen Anne's County, Md., for several years past. The gentleman of whom we write prepared himself for the battle of life by attend- ing the district schools and gaining such knowl- edge of the elementary branches as he could there, and later was a student in Millington Academy. Having made up his mind to enter the medical profession, he commenced to read upon the subject under the direction of Dr. Edward J. Powers, of Millington, and altogether spent much of his time thus occupied for three years. In 1881 he en- tered Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, and was enabled to start in the last year's class, owing to his previous application. He accord- ingly graduated in 1884 with the degree of Doc- tor of Medicine and at once opened an office in Sudlersville, Md., near his father's home. The first nine years of his professional work were spent there, and then he sought another sphere of action, deeming that his energies would have a broader scope elsewhere. The next three years he resided in Crumpton, combining the drug busi- ness with that of his profession, and about three years ago he came to cast in his lot with our citi- zens. He has never regretted this move, and is making a grand success, numbering, as he does, among his clients most of our representative fami- lies.

In 1892 Dr. Hackett and Miss Jessie Guthrie Macbeth, of Cumberland, Md., were united in marriage. Previously she had been very suc- cessfully engaged in teaching school in Queen Anne's County, Md. She is a lady of fine attain- ments and accomplishments and is a model hostess and helpmate to her husband. Rev. James W. Macbeth, father of Mrs. Hackett, was a min- ister in the Presbyterian Church, a highly edu- cated man, and a teacher of considerable promi- nence. Dr. and Mrs. Hackett attend the Epis- copal Church and take commendable interest in

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advancing the welfare of all who are unfortunate and need sympathy or more material aid. The doctor is an ally of the Democratic party, and occupies the office of councilor in the local society of the Junior Order of American Mechanics.

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Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 49

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