Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 62

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

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Since attaining his majority Mr. Lee has been an ardent advocate of the principles of the Demo- cratic party, has taken a prominent part in local politics and for about twelve years was a member of the state central committee, during which time he did much to promote the interests of his party and insure its success. Fraternally he is a thirty second-degree Mason, and is also an honored member of the Odd Fellows' society and the Improved Order of Red Men. Public-

spirited and progressive, he gives his encourage- ment to all enterprises calculated to advance the general welfare and is accounted one of the valued and useful citizens of this community.

LIJAH W. WEST comes from one of the old, influential families of Maryland, such a one as furnishes the very life-blood to any com- monwealth, and from whose ranks are recruited her energetic statesmen, her strong financiers and her representative men in every rank and profession. He has resided in the fourth district of Talbot County, near Wye Mills, for the past five years and in connection with his farming operations runs a steam thresher part of the season. He is industrious and persevering and possesses that strong determination to win that sooner or later brings success.

The paternal grandfather of our subject was William, a native of Wicomico County, Md. The father, John W., was born in the same locality and was always engaged in agriculture. He was a man who was highly esteemed by his neighbors and friends, and was an honored mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He married Ellen Nelson, who died in 1876, and whose father, Eleazer Nelson, was a prominent citizen of Wicomico County. John W. West de- parted this life in 1894 and but three of his seven children survive hin1: Mary E., unmarried; E. W. and Zadokely, of this county.

The date of the birth of E. W. West is Novem- ber 20, 1848, and his first recollections were of the old farm in Wicomico County, owned by his father. When he was of a suitable age he was sent to the district school, and there he acquired practical training in the common branches amply sufficient for the realities of business life. Then he set to work to learn the carpenter's trade and was soon master of it in its various departments. In 1876 he carried on a store and was postmaster at the same time, in Cordova, Talbot County. The greater part of the time for the last twenty years he has pursued agriculture, and now is the

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owner of a good homestead of one hundred and sixty-seven acres in the vicinity of Cordova. In 1892 lie came to the farm which he has since cultivated, a tract of two hundred and sixty-four acres, and this he rents. From 1889 to 1895 he served in the capacity of trustee of the county almshouse. He is greatly interested in the suc- cess of the Democracy, and hias frequently been sent as a delegate to conventions of the party.

February 27, 1878, Mr. West married Lucinda Warner, daughter of Jolin W. Warner, of this county, and tliree daugliters and a son have been born to them, viz .: Howard E., Annie G., Cora A. and Lulu E.

HOMAS QUIMBY is one of the leading citizens of the fourth district of Talbot County, his home being upon the beautiful Powells Point farm, lying along the Skipton River. This place comprises nearly four hundred acres of valuable land and is the property of the late General McKenney, of Centreville. During the three or four years which have passed since our subject assumed the control of the place he has been doing well financially, as he has brought . declined the honors. to bear upon his work qualities of business and excellent judgment which have been fostered in him by long years of experience in other lines of industry.

Grandfather William Quimby and his son, William, Jr., were both natives of Millington, Kent County, Md., and farmers by occupation. The latter, father of our subject, was a successful teacher of vocal music in the public schools of Philadelphia during a period of several years, and was later engaged in the same profession for a time in his native state. In 1852 he came to Talbot County, purchased a good farm, and was fairly successful in this new enterprise. He was a man who was well thought of in the com- munity. He was a stalwart Democrat, and was appointed to a clerkship in Annapolis, and while serving his term in that position was called to his silent rest. For years he had led the singing in

the local Methodist Episcopal Church, and was a zealous member of that denomination and a trus- tee. He wedded Sarah Kennard, from an old Delaware family, and seven children were born to them. One is deceased and the others are W. G., of Wye Mills; John, of Queen Anne's County; Thomas; Joseph and Charles, both of Queen Anne's County; and Sarah, wife of George Tarbutton, of this district. The mother died in 1852.

Thomas Quimby was born in the city of Phila- delphia, Pa., July 28, 1849, and was consequent- ly only thirteen years old at the time of his mother's death. He attended the district schools here until he was sixteen, when he commenced to learn the carpenter's trade. Having mastered every detail of the business he proceeded to work as a journeyman and assisted in building many of the best dwellings, barns, etc., put up in this part of the country during the next twenty-seven years. He has been industrious, hard working and energetic, and has won the good opinion of all his associates. He has always taken com- mendable interest in public affairs, and is an active Democratic partisan. He has not been de- sirous of holding office, and when requested to run for sheriff, and again for the legislature, he February 16, 1870, Mr. Quimby married Sarah Forman, of Delaware, and their only child died at the age of thirteen months.

IRAM S. HALL, of Bay Hundred district, Talbot County, has always been greatly interested in politics since the time when he cast his first ballot for General Scott. When the Republican party was organized he fell into line and has always been one of its standard bearers since. While a resident of Jamestown, N. Y., a few years ago, he was town conmis- sioner for some time and gave perfect satisfaction to all of his fellow-citizens. Four years he served in the capacity of village trustee there, and had the honor of acting as an alderman on the first board of men who incorporated it as a city. It

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was in 1886 that he came to Maryland, and · though he was necessarily unknown to many hereabouts he was placed in nomination for the house of delegates in 1893 and, as might have been expected, was defeated. He was elected, however, two years later for a term of two years, and succeeded so well in pleasing his constituents that they placed his name again on the ticket for the same honors. He is a trustee of the county almshouse, and is a director on the local school board. All public charities and progressive movements started in the community receive his cordial support, for he is a true patriot, a broad- minded and liberal man and a sincere believer in the brotherhood of man.

Born in Columbia County, N. Y., in 1830, H. S. Hall is a son of Ebenezer Hall, a native of Con- necticut, who removed to the Empire State in his youth. He was an expert mechanic and learned the trade of dying wool, afterwards putting it into useful practice by engaging in the manufacture of woolen goods on his own account. He en- listed from New York State for service in the war of 1812, and was later a Whig in politics. He died in 1846, aged fifty-two years. His wife bore the maiden name of Catherine Launt, and of their six children our subject is the youngest. The Halls are of English descent and originally settled in Connecticut.

The boyhood of H. S. Hall was passed quietly on a farm in Delaware County, N. Y., and for several years he was a student in the public schools. When about eighteen he commenced learning the carpenter's trade, and worked at his apprenticeship some three years, after which he was employed on the government works at West Point for a few years. Altogether he devoted twenty-five of the best years of his life to the business, and in 1861 he bought a factory near Jamestown, N. Y., and proceeded to make all kinds of wooden ware. He was quite successful in this venture, and was thus occupied continu- ously until 1886, when he came to Maryland and bought the old Lowe farm, where he has since turned his energies to general farming and fruit- growing. The place is one of fifty acres only, but is a valuable tract of land, well improved and

with about a thousand peach trees in the orchards, and a vineyard of considerable extent.

The first marriage of Mr. Hall was with Ger- trude F. Clarke, the ceremony being solemnized in 1852. She was a daughter of George G. Clarke, who was an agent for a transportation (freight) company on the Hudson River, and their home was in Orange County, N. Y. Mrs. Hall died, leaving one child, a daughter, named for her -- Gertrude. The lady who now presides over the household of our subject was Miss Mary Eroe before their marriage, and is an accom- plished and amiable woman, whom to know is to love.

Fraternally Mr. Hall is identified with the Odd Fellows' society, belonging to Ellicott Lodge No. 221 of Jamestown, and was a member of the Royal Temperance Society while a resident of that city.

OHN E. WILSON is a very practical, pro- gressive farmer of the sixth district of Caro- line County, where he owns a valuable homestead. He is a native of this county, his birth having occurred January 19, 1849, on a farm near where he now resides. He received the greater part of his education in our public schools, and pursued some of the higher branches of study in St. John's College of Annapolis, Md., where he was a pupil for two years. His train- ing, from his first recollections in the various de- partments of agriculture, has been of great benefit to him in his later, active life, and proved the foundation of his success when he began farming on his own account.

William Wilson, grandfather of our subject, was a native of this county, and was also a farmer by occupation. Henry Wilson, the father of John E., was likewise from this county, and made quite a record as a local politician. He served as a tax collector and was one of the commissioners of this county two terms. He was one of the charter members of the National Bank of Denton, and was a very successful business man, He

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married Susan Saulsbury, of Caroline County, and of the four children born to them, all but one, Jolın E., died in infancy. Mrs. Wilson departed this life March 1, 1881, at the age of sixty-five years, and the fatlier did not long survive her, dying September 2 of the same year, when in his sixty-seventh year.

Following his father's example, John E. Wilson is an ardent Democrat, and is now spoken of as a candidate for the position of county clerk. He lias been prospered in his financial enterprises, and owns a well-improved homestead. December 23, 1879, he married Ida M. Downes, who was born and reared to womanhood in this county. They have a son and daughter, Clara and Hen- ry by name. Mrs. Wilson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is a most estim- able lady. John E. Wilson enjoys the friendship and respect of a large circle of friends, who esteem him for liis genuine worth and upright character.

ON. ERNEST DOWNES, formerly a judge of the orphans' court of Caroline County, having served in that capacity from 1888 to 1896, by repeated re-elections, is one of the pros- perous citizens of the county. He and his wife own over seven hundred acres of as fine land as can be found within the limits of Caroline and Queen Anne's Counties, three hundred and fifty acres being in each, and their beautiful home- stead is situated conveniently near the county- seat, Denton. The judge also owns the mill, for- merly belonging to John W. Knotts, which is located two and a-half miles south of Hillsbor- ough, and is being overhauled and put in thor- ough working order by the present proprietor.

Judge Downes was born in this county May 10, 1851, being one of the eleven children of Will- iam and Sallie R. (Ryner) Downes, natives of Caroline and Talbot Counties, respectively. Three of their family are deceased, the others being named as follows: Ryner, Anna, Stephen R., Ernest, Ida M., Emmett, Eldridge and Clara.

The father was a very wealthy man at the time of his death, owning over a thousand acres of val- · uable land in Queen Anne's County, Md. He was county commissioner there for a period of four years, beginning with 1860. His death took place in 1867, at the age of fifty-six years. His wife survived him a long time, and was in her seventy-seventh year when she was summoned to the better land. Grandfather William Downes was a native of Queen Anne's County, and he, too, was an extensive agriculturist.

From his earliest recollections until arriving at man's estate our subject resided upon a farm, and was accustomed to the routine work connected with the management of a large homestead. In 1870, having completed his studies some time pre- viously, he entered a store in Henderson, Md., and during the three years that he was thus employed he acquired a general knowledge of business . methods, which has since been of practical value to him. He then came to Denton, and was here engaged in merchandising until 1873, when he sold out his stock and bought a farm in the vicin- ity. He has made a success of his venture in this direction, and in connection with his other duties now runs a large threshing machine, and . derives a good income from this source. He has been an ardent Democrat since he cast his first vote, but the only public office he has ever held has been that of chief judge of the orphans' court, as previously mentioned. He gave uni- versal satisfaction while filling that responsible place, for he is a man of excellent judgment, un- daunted fairness and a high sense of honor, and to the best of his ability he carried out the duties of his office. He is a charter member of the Denton National Bank, and is now its vice-president.

December 12, 1872, Mr. Downes married Jose- phine M. Williams, who was born in Caroline County, and is a daughter of Thomas Williams, who is a well-known citizen and large property owner of this region. The eight children of the judge and wife are named as follows in order of birth, and none of them are married as yet: William, Lulu, Philip, Ernest, Jr., Hackett, Sallie, Marion and Robert. They are all bright, ambitious and well-educated young people, who

WILLIAM C. SATTERFIELD.

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by natural endowments and training are fitted to grace any society or circle in which their future lot may be cast. The family attend the Method- ist Episcopal Church.

ILLIAM CALVIN SATTERFIELD, who was for years one of the most representa- tive and progressive business men of the entire Eastern Shore, departed this life June 18, 1896. His place in the affections of all who knew him, as well as the important niche he had carved out for himself in the world of commerce, will be hard, indeed, to fill, and in losing him his fel- low-citizens feel most genuine sorrow. However, such a noble character leaves an indelible impress, not only upon his immediate associates, but upon generations afterwards, for the influence of a lofty upright soul cannot be estimated.

In tracing the history of Mr. Satterfield, we . member of the Presbyterian Church, and was find he was born upon his father's farm, March 9, 1822, near Farmington, Del. His parents, Daniel and Mary T. Satterfield, natives of the same state, were of Scotch descent, and were adherents of the Presbyterian Church, in which faith they trained their son William. He was given a liberal edu- cation for a farmer's boy, and taught school him- self for a few years. Then, locating in Faulk- land, Del., he embarked in the mercantile line, but sold out a few years later, when the gold ex- citement of '49 broke out. He went to the Isth- mus of Panama, and from there north along the California coast in a sailing vessel. Upon his arrival there he engaged in mining with indiffer- ent success, and soon concluded that a surer fort- une lay in the transportation of goods and sup- plies, and was accordingly thus occupied about three years. Becoming a trifle homesick he re- turned to Maryland, but with the expectation of revisiting the Pacific slope in a short time.

That the "plans of mice and men gang aft aglee" was once more exemplified in the case of Mr. Satterfield, who was doubtless assisted in this alteration of his intentions by a certain Miss Phoebe Allen, the daughter of Capt. John

Allen, for they were united in marriage about this time. The young husband started in busi- ness in a small way, but year by year his trade increased and the number of his enterprises grew until he was a wealthy man. His store was unusually well conducted and successful; he owned a half-interest in a three-masted schooner, and several other vessels which plied American waters and traded with ports in the West Indies and South America; he bought thousands of acres of timberland and engaged in running saw- mills and in lumbering, and was one of the most extensive property owners of the Eastern Shore. He had nearly twenty farms, comprising about five thousand acres, and owned twenty-eight dwelling houses in Greensborough, in which his employes resided. In short, he fostered many worthy industries and enterprises and through all of his phenomenal prosperity was the same honor- able, trustworthy, unostentatious man that he was in his young days of poverty. He was a connected with the Masonic fraternity. His chil- dren were Ida T., wife of John S. Mitchell; Clara, wife of H. L. Harper; Calvin; Minnie, wife of A. A. Christian, of Philadelphia; Lawrence; Elizabeth, and Virginia, wife of E. C. Carter, a farmer of this county.

Calvin Satterfield was born August 4, 1861, grew to manhood in this county, and graduated from the law department of the University of Vir- ginia. He then returned home and in a short time entered the office of Hon. John P. Poe, of Baltimore, remaining there two years. Going next to Austin, Tex., he became managing editor of the Austin Daily Statesman, and conducted the same successfully about two years. In 1887 he was appointed postoffice inspector for Texas and oc- cupied this important post until September, 1888, when he resigned, and came back to assist his father in the management of his extensive busi- ness affairs. In 1891 he became interested in railroading enterprises in Virginia, and thus oc- cupied, the succeeding four years rolled rapidly away. Since 1895 he has resided in Greens- borough and with his brothers is a manager of the paternal estate and executor of the same. He

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is a young man of wide information and excellent business qualifications, and commands the high- est esteem of those who know him best. He is a Mason, a Democrat, and a member of the Episco- pal Church. In 1886 he married Susan P., daughter of Gen. R. Lindsay Walker, of Rich- inond, Va., and four children grace their hearth- stone: Rose, Phoebe, Calvin and Lindsay.

Lawrence Satterfield was born in Greens- borough in 1866, and literally grew up in the mercantile business owned by his father. He was well educated, completing his studies in the higher branches in Swarthmore College, in Pennsylva- nia, where he spent three years. Returning, he was employed by his father until he concluded to go to California with the Capital Packing Com- pany, with which concern he continued two years. In the beginning of the year 1893 he came home and assumed the entire control of the mercantile branch of his father's business, and is now owner of the same. He possesses those traits of energy and perseverance which were largely the secret of his father's success, and is ambitious and public spirited. He is well liked by every- one and liis genial, cheerful manners make him a very popular young man. He is a member of the Masonic order and the Improved Order of Hepta- sophs, and follows his early training in politics, being a Democrat.

ILBOURN A. TOULSON. The student of the past entertains a peculiar interest in the Eastern Shore. Its atmosphere of life is as old as can be breathed anywhere in the re- public, and it still exhibits, in the character of the people, many of the traits that marked its early settlers. There are ancient towns, with stately mansions that have stood the storms of a century, and old buildings from which we can gaze on long, level stretches of farm land. There is Washington College, in Chestertown, endowed by General Washington with fifty guineas, and near the same town will be noticed a spring from

which Washington drank on his journeys to and from Mount Vernon and Philadelphia, then the seat of government.

However, the history of Chestertown is not en- tirely in the past. It is the home of energetic and capable business men, whose influence has aroused it from the lethargy into which it had fallen and whose efforts have resulted in its up- ward progress. One of these business men is M. A. Toulson, who has been proprietor of a drug store here since 1878. He also aided in the organization of the Kent County Savings Bank, in which he has since served as one of the direc- tors. The cause of temperance has in him a firm ally and for a decade he has voted the Prohibition ticket and taken an active part in the councils of this party.

The paternal ancestors of our subject were of English extraction and his maternal progenitors of French lineage. The paternal grandparents were Andrew and Rachael Toulson, the former a farmer by occupation. The maternal grand- parents were John and Susan (Biscoe) Duyer, the former a native of Kent County, born of English parentage, and one of the defenders of American interests in the war of 1812. Thomas Toulson, father of our subject, had three brothers, Philip, Joseph and James, and two sisters, Maria and Susan, all of whom were adherents to the Quaker faith. The brothers and sisters of our subject's mother were: John, a farmier by occupa- tion; James; Daniel; Isaac, who was captain of a vessel on the bay; Mary, who was twice married; Rosie, wife of Captain Skeggs; and Sarah, wife of Jonathan Crow, of Kent County.

The father of our subject was born in Kent County in 1812, and for some years engaged in mercantile pursuits, but at the time of his death, October 15, 1856, he was making his home on his farm. In the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church he took a warm interest. He married Melcha Duyer, who was born in Kent County, October 15, 1817, and is still living, being 110W eighty years of age. Of their ten children three died in childhood and five are now living. Laura Jane married Charles H. Davis and died in 1891; Catherine was first the wife of Lewis Gill and

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afterward married James S. Bradley, but died in 1894; John Thomas, a farmer, resides in Caroline County, this state, where he is engaged in farm- ing; Fannie is the wife of John Davis, of Chester- town; James H. is engaged in business in Salem, N. J .; and Mary Maria is the wife of Prof. James A. Greenwood, an instructor in the academy at Rock Hall.

The youngest member of the family is the subject of this sketch, who was born in Worton, Kent County, Md., March 11, 1854. He received his early education in the public schools and Washington College of Chestertown. In 1873 he went to Philadelphia and became a student in the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, from which he was graduated in 1876. For a time he clerked in that city, but in 1878 embarked in business in Chestertown, where he has since re- mained. Local affairs receive his attention, par- ticularly matters of a political and religious na- ture. He is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church and for a number of years has offici- ated as superintendent of the Sunday-school. A Mason fraternally, he holds the position of past master of his lodge. In 1877 he married Sarah Isabella Bordley, of Chestertown, and five chil- dren bless their union: John Milbourn, Hallie Isabella, Mabel, William Houston and Nannie Rebecca.

ORATIO N. CRAWFORD is the owner of a beautiful homestead styled Mount Pleas- ant, situated in the second district of Wi- comico County. He is one of the honored old residents of this locality, where his family has been identified since 1795, at which time his father, Henry Crawford, settled in this district, having come here from his native state, Delaware. He had grown to manhood in Newcastle County, and was the son of one of Erin's sons. He bought the farm known as Mount Pleasant in the early part of the war of 1812, and thenceforth was assiduously engaged in improving and cultivating the place. He was a tanner by trade, and worked at the business some, in addition to carry-

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Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 62

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