USA > Maryland > Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland > Part 52
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The Crocheron family is of French origin. The first of the name in America came to this country about 1670 and settled in Richmond County, N. V., with the history . of which his descendants were prominently identified, one of them being sheriff and another county judge. The old home- stead where many of the family were born is now occupied by a large fireworks manufacturing company, and the large tracts of land they once owned have been sold for purposes of improve- ment by real-estate speculators. The father of our subject, John H. Crocheron, was a son of Nathan Crocheron, both natives of Richmond County. The latter spent the last twelve years
of his life in Bishop's Head, Md., where he was proprietor of a mercantile establishment, and here he died in 1890, at the age of eighty-eight. The former has devoted his life to the mercantile busi- ness and farm pursuits, and is still a resident of Richmond County, he and his wife, Mahala (Blake) Crocheron, making their home in the place where the years of their childhood and middle age were spent. They are the parents of nine children, namely: Emelie, George (de- ceased), Eugene, Oplielia, Winfield, Abbie, Ella, Claudia and Irving.
At the parental home in Richmond County, N. Y., our subject was born in 1857, and his educa- tion was obtained in the public schools of his na- tive county. As already stated, he has resided in Dorchester County since the fall of 1876, and has followed the blacksmith's trade, merchandis- ing and the oyster business, in each of which lines of industry he has inet with success. He has not identified himself closely with politics, but has firm convictions upon the subjects of tariff and currency and is a Republican in his views. Fraternally he is connected with the Heptasophs and the Junior Order United Ameri- can Mechanics. He is not a member of any de- nomination, but with his family attends the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was married in 1880 to Miss Tryphena Johnson, daughter of Ezekiel Johnson, and their family consists of four children, namely : Emelie S., Irving, Clarence and Eulalia.
AMUEL G. WALLS. This age is not wholly utilitarian. On all sides we see some earnest souls laboring devotedly to bring about a recognition of some higher principle in life than selfish greed, and stimulating in the hearts of others a desire for spiritual progress. The friends of Mr. Walls will see in his years of faithful work in all forms of religious endeavor a source of present good to the community, and long after he has entered into his final rest his influence will continue in everlasting circles.
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He was born near Sudlersville, in the first dis- trict of Queen Anne's County, April 27, 1838, and is a son of Samuel Walls, who was born on the sante farm where our subject now resides. Upon that place his grandfather, Joseph W. Walls, located when a young man, and continued to make it his home throughout the remainder of liis life. He died at the age of seventy-nine. He was a slave holder and was a soldier in the war of 1812. In early manhood he married Rebecca Cloake, and to them were born nine children: Samuel, Joseph W., Henry, Joshua, James and John, all now deceased; George, a resident of Wilmington, Del .; Sally A., deceased; and Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Elliott, of Sudlers- ville.
When our subject was seventeen, his father died, at the age of fifty-five years, and he remained with his mother for two years. He then started out in life for himself as a farm hand, working by the month for two years, and subsequently oper- ated rented land. He purchased his present farm in 1884 but did not locate thereon until 1892. Besides this place, which comprises one hundred and thirty-five acres, he owns another farm of one hundred and ten acres and a town lot in Sudlersville. He is successfully engaged in gen- eral farming and also gives considerable attention to the raising of peaches, having some fine varie- ties upon liis place.
In 1862 Mr. Walls was united in marriage to Miss Temperance A. Lollee, and they became the parents of eight children, who in order of birth are as follows: Walter, who is engaged in the plumbing business in Philadelphia; Spencer, a merchant of Sudlersville, Md .; George A., who operates a threshing machine and clerks for his brother; Jennie, deceased; Elwood, a farmer of the first district, Queen Anne's County; Carrie, Arthur S. and Charles W.
Being a strong temperance man, Mr. Walls gives ltis political support to the men and measures of the Prohibition party. For forty-five years he has been a devout member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, in which he has served as steward for over thirty years, trustee for thirty-five years and is now class-leader. Heis an earnest sup-
porter of all measures calculated to promote the moral interests of the community, and is a most faithful and earnest worker in liis Master's vine- yard. Through his own efforts he has secured a comfortable competence, and is deserving of hon- orable mention in the history of his native county.
AMES T. T.RUITT, of Salisbury, is one of the leading Democrats of Wicomico County, and is respected as a man of sterling integ- rity by his entire circle of acquaintances, irrespective of their political faitlı. He has held a number of positions of trust and responsibility. In 1885, during the first administration of Presi- dent Cleveland, he was appointed deputy collector of internal revenue, and served in that position for three years. In 1891 he was the Democratic nominee for clerk of circuit courts of Wicomico County, and was elected by a fair majority At the expiration of his term, in 1896, he was again his party's candidate for the office and was elected by a majority of six hundred and twenty-five.
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In what is now Wicomico (then Somerset) County, the subject of this article was born, June 5, 1849, being a son of Rufus K. and Mary A. (Stanford) Truitt, natives respectively of Wor- cester and Somerset Counties. He was the second of five children, the others being Alice, Florence, George W. and Laura. In Salisbury, where his father was proprietor of a merchantile store, he was reared and educated, but at the age of fourteen his school days ended and he began to assist in the work of the store. He continued there during the years that followed, his energy and good judgment proving of the utmost value to his father in the management of the business. However, in 1885 he resigned his connection with the enterprise in order to accept the position of dep- uty collector of internal revenue, a position for which he was fitted by his previous experience as a business man.
In 1875 Mr. Truitt married Henrietta Griffin, of Somerset County, daughter of John H. Griffin. Three children were born to bless their union, of
JOSHUA M. ANTHONY.
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whom two are now living: James G., now in the College of Pharmacy at Baltimore, studying for the profession of druggist, and Raymond King. Fraternally Mr. Truitt is identified with the Heptasophs and the Knights of Pythias, while in religious belief he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
OSHUA M. ANTHONY spent his entire life in the third district of Caroline County. Here he was born May 20, 1848, and here his earth life ended September 12, 1896, when he was forty-eight years of age. His active years were devoted to agricultural pursuits, with which he became familiar when a boy. In addition to the management of his farm he carried on a mill and a general store, and was also the postmaster at Anthony, a postoffice founded by himself and named in his honor.
The first of the family to come to America was our subject's paternal grandfather, a native of England and an emigrant to Caroline County, Md., where he built the mill that has since his death been operated by his descendants. The father of our subject, Robert Anthony, carried on farm pursuits and the milling business throughout his life. By his marriage to Elizabeth Melvin, a native of Maryland, seven children were born, and of this number four are still living, namely: Sarah M., Wilhelmina, Joseph P. and Robert W.
Reared on the farm now occupied by his widow, the subject of this sketch early gained a thorough knowledge of agriculture and this stood him in good stead in the years that fol- lowed. As a farmer he was thorough and ener- getic, as a miller, shrewd and efficient; and in every business transaction, honest. He was so successful in his various enterprises that at his death he left a valuable estate, the same now be- ing ably managed by his widow, who also carries on the store, mill and postoffice. She was M. Ella Lowe, a native of Caroline County, where she became the wife of Mr. Anthony December 23, 1874. Her parents, Esma and Margaret
(Records) Lowe, were born in Delaware, and had a family of three sons and three daughters. Her maternal grandfather was a farmer and a soldier in the war of 1812. Her father, Esma Lowe, was an extensive agriculturist and a prominent Dem- ocrat, and served as sheriff of Caroline County for a number of years. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony were named as follows: Bertha, Lulu and Ella, who are married and reside in this county; Edna, George, Joshua M. and Anna M., who are with their parents.
The membership of Mr. Anthony was in the Methodist Protestant Church, the doctrines of which he upheld both by precept and example. He was one of the leaders in his church and took an active part in much of its most important work. He always sustained the platform of the Democratic party and voted for the men pledged to uphold its principles. The third district has had no citizen more worthy of esteem than he, and his death was a loss to the community.
HARLES BENJAMIN DOWNS has large landed interests in Queen Anne's County. In the village of Kent Island he occupies a comfortable and attractive residence, the building of which he personally superintended. A man of excellent business capacity, he has secured a financial success of which he is well worthy, and at the same time he has gained a position high in the regard and confidence of his fellow-men, hav- ing the esteem of all with whom he has business or social relations.
Born in Centreville, Queen Anne's County, in 1832, the subject of this sketch was brought to Kent Island at the age of two years and here he has since resided. He is a son of Charles and Mary Downs, the former a native of Caroline County, Md., but during the most of his life a resident of the island, where he died in 1885. By trade he was a carriage trimmer, having served an apprenticeship to the occupation under Daniel Newnam, of Centreville. He married Mary, widow of Arthur Carter and daughter of
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Benjamin Tolson. Of her first marriage one child was born, Arthur, a representative business man of Annapolis and the incumbent, at different times, of various official positions under the gov- ernment.
After the marriage of our subject, which oc- curred in 1866 and united him with Miss Mary E., daugliter of James Bright, he embarked in farm pursuits, in which he continued until re- cently. He has four children in his family, namely: Arthur; Estella, wife of Eugene Herbert, of Stevensville, Kent Island; Ella and Sarah. Mrs. Downs is identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the work of which she takes a warm interest. Politically our subject has always advocated Democratic principles. Though preferring not to hold office, he con- sented to serve as district assessor, which position he filled with credit to himself.
ILLIAM P. TANNER is the proprietor of a beautiful farm, finely situated in the ex- treme southern portion of Kent Island, fourth district of Queen Anne's County. His residence is a handsome and substantial one for a country home, and few on the island are pleas- anter in every respect. His success, which has been marked, is the result of correct business methods applied to his affairs and untiring in- dustry. Whereas a few years ago he was a poor man, he now finds himself well-off in this world's goods, and all of his neighbors and acquaintances are his earnest well-wishers.
A son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Shawn) Tanner, Mr. Tanner was born on the lower part of the island in 1841, and received a fair educa- tion in the district schools of the period. About 1877 he sought in marriage Miss Hester A. Carter, whose father, Richard Thomas Carter, was one of the influential business men of this region, and she has been a true and faithful help- mate to him. He was then a poor man, but has steadily advanced along the highway of pros- perity until he is now free from care on the score
of lack of means. Besides cultivating and super- vising the management of his own fine farm of three hundred and fifty acres, he attends to a tract of one thousand acres belonging to Christ Church, and another large farm for William S. Young, of Baltimore. He purchased the farm where he now dwells in 1881, it then being much run down, but under his care it has been improved until one would not recognize the place. He makes a specialty of raising wheat, corn and live stock. He is rather liberal in his views on political matters but supports the Democracy ill national elections. He and his wife are members of the Episcopal Church, and are generous in their donations to religious and benevolent enter- prises.
The Tanner family has long been numbered with the leading ones of Maryland. One John William Tanner, who came to America early in the seventeenth century, was a skilled mechanic, and was of great value to the community in which he settled. His son, Philemon, grandfather of our subject, was born in Kent Island, and here oc- curred the birth of Thomas Tanner in 1806. He grew to maturity on the island, was married and reared his family here, and won the esteem of all who knew him. Beginning his business life with small capital, he provided for his large family and though he was never wealthy, was in com- fortable circumstances. His children were named as follows: Cornelius, Elizabeth, William P., Eliza, Susan, Emma and Ella. The last-men- tioned died unmarried, but Susan is the wife of James R. Legg, of this locality; and Emma married James H. Cockey. William Tanner, an uncle of our subject, never married and was a man of excellent attainments in commercial circles.
EORGE F. STERLING, who is engaged in conducting a mercantile business at Law- sonia, Somerset County, is a native of this place, and some twenty years ago he succeeded his father here, he having carried on commercial enterprises in this town for about forty years prior
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to that date. Thus father and son have been prominent in our business circles for a good share of this century, and during this period they have been deeply interested in everything which has gone toward the upbuilding and advancement of the good of the community.
The father, William Sterling, was born in 1810, and is consequently in his eighty-eighth year. He has led a very active and useful life, and un- til well along in years was occupied in boating or merchandising. His home has always been in Lawsonia or vicinity, and he is now passing his declining days upon his farın near whereon his birth occurred. For many years he has been a member of the Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church, and has been steward of the congrega- tion. His father was John Sterling, who was one of the honored old inhabitants of this district. William Sterling has been married four times, and by his union with the mother of our subject (for- merly Jane Moore) he had seven children. Only four of the number survive: George F .; John E .; Cornelia, wife of E. H. Prewitt; and Mary E., widow of Luther Sterling.
The birth of George F. Sterling occurred here in June, 1847, and from his boyhood days he has been quick to learn new methods and has mani- fested good judgment in business matters. Sev- eral years he was engaged in packing and ship- ping oysters, but since 1877 he has carried on a general store here with fair financial results. From the time that he reached his majority he used his right of franchise in favor of the Repub- lican party until a few years ago, when he be- came convinced in his own mind that the cause of temperence should have a part in the national politics, and he then joined the Prohibition ranks. He was appointed postmaster of the town of Crisfield by President Garfield, and gave good satisfaction to the residents there while discharg- ing the duties of his office.
It was April 16, 1874, that Mr. Sterling mar- ried Eveline Lawson, a daughter of John W. Lawson, and to them five children have been born, viz .: Lillie, widow of Charles G. Cullin; Warren, an employe of the Crisfield Bank; Edith, John C. and Marhia. Mr. Sterling is a member
of the social organization here called the Home Forum, but is not connected with any secret societies so-called. He has long been identified with the Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church, and for twenty years has been the able leader of its choir. He has also officiated in the capacity of steward and at all times has done all in his power to forward the work of the church and to promote worthy charities. His family are also members or attendants of the church, and his young people are bright, intelligent men and women, ably fitted by nature and training to oc- cupy a useful place in the world.
B ENJAMIN F. DAVIS, a practical agricult- urist of Tyaskin district, Wicomico County, is the proprietor of a valuable homestead situated near the Wicomico River, and a few miles distant from the postoffice town of White- haven. Here he owns a fine tract of land, over three hundred acres in extent, and suitable for the raising of a general line of crops grown in this portion of the state. He takes leading farm journals, and aims to keep posted in modern methods of agriculture, for he is a man of pro- gressive ideas.
The branch of the Davis family to which the subject of this narrative belongs has long been associated with the development and upbuilding of the Eastern Shore of Maryland. It is supposed that they are of Welsh or English extraction, but, certain it is, that several generations bearing the name have resided in this state, and at all times its members have been noted for their fidelity to the laws of the commonwealth and for their patriotism in general. The paternal grand- father of our subject bore the Christian name of Elzie.
The only survivor of a large family, which comprises the dear and devoted parents, Benja- min and Margaret (Price) Davis, and their fifteen children, Benjamin F., of this sketch, is left alone to mourn their loss. He was born September 1, 1846, and is, consequently, a little past the half-
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century milestone, but still in the prime of vigor- in 1893, at the ripe age of eighty years. His ous manhood. He has followed farming since lie was old enough to handle the various implements devoted to the craft. Under his father's training and instruction lie early became thoroughly ac- quainted with every part of the work incidental to the proper management of a farm. In his po- litical faith he is a Democrat.
In April, 1850, Mr. Davis and Miss Esther V. Harrison were united in marriage. She is a native of this county and is a lady of good educa- tion. Nine children were. born to this worthy couple, viz .: Ella L., Minnie S., Sallie, Florence, Nellie, Annie, Georgia, William and Ola Ray.
AMUEL OSCAR TULL has been for more than thirty years a merchant of Kingston, Somerset County, and has also been inter- ested in the business of planting, packing and shipping oysters for many years. He was in partnership with his brother, T. H. Tull, for a period of perhaps fifteen years, but this connec- tion was broken by the brother's death in 1882, since which time our subject has conducted his affairs alone. In political matters he is a stal- wart Democrat, and very active in the interests of his party. He was deputy commander of a police boat for two years and for a similar length of time he has been a registration officer.
· The father of the gentleman of whom we write was Henry T. Tull, who was born near the vil- lage of Tulls Corner about 1813. He passed his whole life in Brinkley's district and followed the vocations of agriculture and ship-building. At the date of the Emancipation Proclamation he owned twenty slaves and carried on a farm of some two hundred and fifty acres which belonged to him. He also owned a ship-yard on the Big Annemessex River and there built several schoon- ers and large vessels for ocean transit. He once served in the capacity of magistrate, and was active in the ranks of the Democracy. He was a devoted member of the Methodist Protestant Church and died, strong in the Christian faith,
good wife, whose maiden name was Mary D. Ballard, was a daughter of Daniel Ballard, of Fairmount. She also was a sincere Christian, and was for years one of the valued members of the Methodist Protestant Church. She died when in her seventy-sixth year. Of her eight children who grew to maturity, five survive at this writ- ing, viz .: Elizabeth, wife of William G. Sim- mons, of Wyoming, Del .; Samuel O .; Amie, Mrs. Charles Mathews, of Newport News, Va .; Alice, wife of Dr. F. Robertson; and Florence, Mrs. Ira N. Coulbourn, of Marion Station.
Samuel Oscar Tull was born at Tulls Corner, in December, 1848, and his boyhood was passed quietly upon a farm near Kingston, the same homestead that he now owns and cultivates. In February, 1867, he became associated with his brother, T. H., in the enterprise of carrying on a general store in Kingston and the business is still kept up by him. He lias been quite suc- cessful in the world of commerce and is a prac- tical man of affairs. He enjoys the independent life of the farmer and his farm is a most desirable one in many respects. He is a member of the Heptasophs and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Odd Fellows' Society. He married Miss Sallie Elizabeth, daughter of Alex- ander Robertson, of this locality, and they have seven children, who in the order of their birth are named as follows: Grace S., Henry R., Oscar Paul, Allen, Ruth, Rodger and Franklin. Mrs. Tull and the other members of the family attend the services of the Presbyterian Church.
D APT. JAMES E. KIRWAN is one of the most prominent business men of Kent Island. An extensive farmer, he owns more than three hundred acres of valuable land under ex- cellent cultivation. A successful merchant, he engages in this business upon as large a scale as any resident on the island. He is the only fire insurance agent and coal dealer on the island, in both of which lines he has built up a profitable
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trade. In addition to the other enterprises in which he engages he makes a specialty of rais- ing terrapins for the market and conducts this business upon a more extensive scale than any one in the state. It will thus be seen that his interests are varied and valuable and of a nature so important as to demand his close attention and careful thought.
In the city of Baltimore Captain Kirwan was born June 9, 1848. He is a member of a family that originated in England, in almost every generation of which there have been seafaring men. His father, Capt. Lemuel Kirwan, was born in Dorchester County, and during the greater part of his life he followed the sea. When in the prime of life, at thirty-six years of age, he passed from earth. By his marriage to Sophia Stallings, a native of Baltimore County, he had four children, namely: William H. H., who be- came chief engineer on the steamer John W. Garrett, and died December 19, 1895; Lemuel, who died in boy hood; Lavinia, who married Martin L. Jones, of Dorchester County, and settled on Kent Island, where Mr. Jones died in 1893; and James E., the subject of this sketch.
The early boyhood days of our subject were spent almost entirely upon the water. At the age of sixteen he took command of the schooner William Banes, which he commanded for a time. Later he had charge of the schooners Rebecca, Thomas Brinkley, Julia A. Thomas, Richard Sands and the General Robert E. Lee, in succes- sion. In the meantime he engaged in the mer- cantile business in the village of Kent Island. For two years he was department commander of the oyster navy, and was one of the most active men in the navy. He gives his attention to his varied duties, and in the different lines of busi- ness in which he engages has met with success. Much of his time is given to the superintendence of his farm on the island, which bears modern improvements and contains an orchard planted to peaches. In politics a Democrat, he has always been loyal to his party and true to its principles. In his views he is liberal, having the largest charity for the opinions and faults of others. Fraternally he is connected with Arcan-
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