Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 65

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

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Democracy, but is nothing of a politician. So- J. M. Beaven was born in Charles County, cially he is a member of the Heptasophs and of January 17, 1852, and was brought to this local- Tribe No. 112 of the Red Men. · ity when quite young. He attended the schools In July, 1876, Mr. Ritzel married Elizabeth Betler, of Pottsville, Pa. They have five chil- dren, three sons and two daughters, all still at home, and in the order of their birth named as fol- lows: Mary, Maggie, Augustus, Jr., Annie and Edward. The family are Catholics in religious belief, and enjoy the respect of a large circle of neighbors and friends. of this district until he was about eighteen years old, when he left home and accepted a position as a clerk in the store of Mr. Holt of Hillsborough. In 1883 he went to Tunis Mills and the same year worked in another establishment owned by his former employer. He made good use of his · advantages in a business way, and in 1884 felt qualified by his past experience to embark in commerce on his own account. His partner in this undertaking was Charles R. Wooters, the firmi style being Beaven & Wooters until 1890, when our subject bought out the other's inter- est. In matters of political moment he is to be found espousing the principles of the Democracy. His grandfather was a hero of the war of 1812 and his ancestors have lived in Maryland since 1730, when they came here from England with large grants of land. (For further particulars see sketch of our subject's father on another page of this volume. )

OHN M. BEAVEN, whose postoffice address is Hillsborough, Caroline County, though his home is in the fourth district of Talbot County, is an enterprising merchant and good general business man at Hillsborough, and has inaugurated several local industries. It was in the year 1891 that he removed to this place and opened a store for the benefit of the country trade, and here may be found a complete line of dry goods, provisions, hats, shoes, etc. He also runs a saw and planing mill and derives a fair income from this source.

Rev. George F. Beaven, father of our subject, was born in Charles County and removed to this county during the 50's. He is now one of the lead- ing ministers of the town of Hillsborough, and since entering the priesthood has been identified with the Episcopal Church and considered a leader in the work of that denomination. He is a strong Democrat in politics, and served as county school examiner for fourteen years. Since first occupying his pulpit in St. John's Church, forty years have rolled away, and each year the ties that bind him to his people are strengthened. In 1848 he married Virginia L. Waters, who died in 1881, aged forty-seven years. Of their eight children all but one survive. In order of birth they were as follows: Rev. Wordsworth Y., John M., Grace A. (deceased), George H., Mary V., Arthur R., Thomas C. and H. Lay. Rev. Mr. Beaven chose for his second wife Anna D. Wilson, and their marriage was solemnized in 1885.

OHN W. DOWNEY is numbered among the enterprising young business men of Rock Hall, in the fifth district of Kent County. He is the proprietor of the leading drug store of the place and keeps a full line of reliable drugs, cigars and tobacco, stationery and sundries usually found in a first-class establishment of the kind. He has been quite prominent in the field of local politics, and was postmaster of this town during the administration of President Harrison, making a good record, and being popular with all classes of his fellow-citizens. He was again called to fill this position under Mckinley, September 28, 1897, and is filling the office to the entire satis- faction of all. In 1896 he was register of voters here and has held other local offices. Fraternally he is identified with Maxwell Lodge No. 27, I. O. O. F., and Chesapeake Lodge No. 68, K. of P., both of this place.

Born February 19, 1857, Mr. Downey is a son

GEORGE H. BERRY, M. D.

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of William S. and Anne E. Scoon, natives of Kent County. The father owned a small schooner and purchased a farm shortly before his death, which occurred when he was but thirty-eight years of age. He was a Republican at a time when there were very few adherents of that party in this locality and was very active in the work of build- ing the Methodist Church, of which he was made a trustee. He was a natural musician and led the singing in the old choir. This church was erected in 1854, and is a landmark. The follow- ing children were born to himself and wife: Mary E., Joseph (whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume), William T., George E., John W., Marion and Alice.

John W. Downey remained upon the old home- stead with his mother until he was about twenty- two years of age, when he accepted a clerkship in a general store in Rock Hall, and there learned the rudiments of business. During a period covering about ten or twelve years he was in the employ of his elder brother, Joseph, who carried on a store in which general supplies could be obtained, and at the end of that time he had saved sufficient capital to invest in a business for him- self.

In 1882 Mr. Downey married Miss Mary E. Hynson, a native of this county, and they have three children, Eva, Alice and Allen. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. Downey having been a trustee in the same for several years.

EORGE H. BERRY, M. D. Almost half a century has rolled away since this worthy physician and old resident of Lawson's dis- trict settled here to begin the practice of his pro- fession. Though he is now getting along in years he still attends a few families where his services are particularly desired, but he feels that he has accomplished his chief life work and is now entitled to rest and quiet after the "heat and burden of the day." Long and faithfully has he ministered beside the bed of suffering.

riding long distances in no matter how inclement weather, and under all circumstances, heedless of his own comfort and at the sacrifice of his health perchance, yet uncomplainingly. Small wonder that he is looked up to, admired, rever- enced and loved by those among whom his deeds of mercy have been told these many years.

The doctor was reared in the city of Baltimore, where he was born June 8, 1825. His education was obtained in the public schools there, and in 1848 he commenced the study of medicine under the tutelage of Dr. John S. McCur, of Baltimore. He graduated from Washington University in March, 1848, and at once located in this district, where he has since been in uninterrupted practice.

He enjoys very good health still, and is remark- ably well preserved for a man of over three-score and ten years. He married Mrs. Mary A. J. Brown, of this neighborhood, and nine children were born of their union, Two of the number are deceased and those living are: Mary, Lucy, Robert (a carpenter), William T., John E., Edith and Emma. George died when he was about thirty-eight years of age, and Joseph T. is also deceased. In his political relations the doctor was a Whig in his early manhood and afterwards became a Democrat. As such he voted until the monetary issue of 1896, when he sided with the Republicans. He is not afraid to stand by his convictions, nor is he one of the men who prefer to allow others to do his own thinking in great . matters affecting the welfare of the nation. His comfortable home stands upon a well-cultivated farm of one hundred acres.

The paternal grandfather of the doctor was Robert Berry, who was of English antecedents. He was a hero of the war of 1812, and his widow received the sum of $1,500 as a pen- sion. He was a native of Baltimore and was a pilot upon Chesapeake Bay for a great many years and lived to a ripe old age. His son, Rob- ert, father of our subject, was likewise a Balti- morean and was a sea captain. He died when he was only forty-five years of age. His wife, Jane, was born in Baltimore and always resided in that city, dying when eighty-seven years old. Her father, George Davy, was a native of Eng-

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land, but came to America soon after the close of the Revolutionary war. He attained a good old age, and was quite a prominent man in Baltimore. Mrs. Jane Berry was a member of the Baptist Church and was a sweet, lovable Christian lady.

ON. GEORGE W. COVINGTON. Prob- ably no citizen of the Eastern Shore of Maryland is better or more favorably known as a statesman, lawyer and enterprising business man than is the subject of this article. One of the native sons of Worcester County, he has al- ways had a great interest in the growth and prosperity of the state and an especial interest in this particular portion of it. He has been a life- long resident of the towns of Berlin and Snow Hill, and many of the notable improvements that have been instituted in his native county which have been material factors in her progress have been championed by him, among these being the Worcester Railroad, which company he assisted in incorporating, and in which he was a director. He is also a director in its successor, the Dela- ware, Maryland & Virginia Railroad, of which he is counsel.

George W. Covington, fifth and youngest son of Isaac and Amelia (Franklin) Covington, was born in Berlin, Worcester County, Md., Septem- ber 12, 1838. He received his classical educa- tion in said town, in Buckingham Academy, then noted for its efficient teachers, among whom our subject gratefully remembers Loring Johnson, to whom, above all others, he feels indebted for conscientious instruction. In the fall of 1857 the youth went to Charlottesville, Va., with the intention of entering the University of Virginia, but was deterred by the prevalence of typhoid fever there. Returning home he determined to take up the study of law, under the preceptor- ship of his cousin, John R. Franklin. In his choice of a profession and in his efforts to gain a liberal education he followed his own youthful judgment, as his father had died when the son was but six years old, and his fond, indulgent

mother placed no opposition to his wishes. His older brothers had already left the home nest for distant states, where they were earning their livelihood, and so he continued with his aged mother and young sister until the former's death, August 3, 1863. In the fall of 1858 he entered the law department in Harvard University, Cam- bridge, Mass., and while there became acquainted with many men famous in the annals of history, as poets, authors, statesmen, artists, and in the regular professions. Among his legal instructors were also men of note, such as Professor Parsons, author of the exhaustive work on contracts, and Professor Washburn, then engaged upon his book on real estate. Upon his return home early in 1859 it was found that close application to his books had injured his eyes, and he was forced to abandon his studies and receive treatment from a Philadelphia oculist. During the months of idleness which followed, time hung so heavily upon his hands that he accepted the position of principal of Buckingham Academy, in his native town, and he now looks back to those days spent in teaching as among the pleasantest in his life. The next year he was enabled to resume his in- terrupted legal studies, and after being admitted to the bar, subsequent to examination in open court by Judge Thomas A. Spence, then the only judge in this district, he settled down quietly to practice in his home neighborhood, as he would not leave his aged mother.

About this time the great Civil war came on, and the same reason that had prevented him from locating elsewhere to begin his legal career-the protection of his mother and sister-prevented him from offering his services to his country, he being an avowed sympathizer with the Union side. After the death of his mother he removed to Snow Hill, January 6, 1864, and opened an of- fice for the practice of his chosen profession. The preceding fall he took his initial step into politics, which was never in a more turbulent condition in this fair land. Though the Union sentiment was strong in the county, two factions sprang up amongst them, owing to the attempt of the politicians to accomplish their own selfish ends. In a convention which was called, a county ticket

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

was nominated, it being dubbed the "Uncondi- tional Union" ticket, it being too soon for its sup- porters to call themselves Republicans. The leaders in this movement comprised many of the prominent citizens of the county, and they chose among others William H. W. Farrow as a candi- date for state's attorney and Dr. Edward Hubbell for register of wills. The opposing faction of Union men, also headed by large property owners and representative men, at a meeting called in Snow Hill, placed in nomination a full ticket, among them Robert J. Henry for register of wills, James R. Purnell for the house of delegates and George W. Covington for state's attorney. At the following election such a spectacle was seen as, it is devoutly to be hoped, will never again be witnessed in this land of the free ballot. Excitement had arisen to such a state that the military were called out, and in Berlin, Snow Hill and other voting districts many legal voters were turned away at the command of the soldiers and were not permitted to use their franchise. The vote permitted to be cast for the Constitu- tional Union ticket was insignificantly small, and resulted in the election of the "Unconditional Union" ticket. Much controversy arose and many protests against the irregular and illegal election were presented to Governor Bradford, but nothing was done in the matter, and the can- didates returned as elected and took their offices. The following winter the state legislature author- ized the calling of a convention for the purpose of preparing a new constitution to be submitted to the people the next spring. The "Unconditional Union" mien placed in nomination as candidates for delegates to said constitutional convention William T. Purnell, William H. W. Farrow and others, while the Conservative or Constitutional Union men placed in the field as their nominees John Selby Purnell, Dr. George W. Bishop, Ritchie Fooks and George W. Covington. The contest was a short but heated one, and though our subject was the youngest man on his ticket, he took a very active part in the campaign1, being the only candidate who stumped the county. The issue at point was the question of the emancipation of the slaves, the Unconditional

Union men being in favor of immediate emanci- pation of slaves in the state without compensation, while the Conservative party advocated gradual emancipation and compensation to the owners by the government. The election that followed was carried on under the supervision of United States marshals, and the larger number of Demo- crats not being allowed to vote, the election as a matter of course resulted in favor of the Uncon- ditional Union party faction, and the calling of a convention to be held in Annapolis in 1864 for the formation of a new constitution.

Having thus been baffled in his first two politi- cal ventures Mr. Covington resumed his practice and gave all of his attention to that occupation. He was pleasantly surprised by soon thereafter receiving the unsolicited appointment of auditor of the circuit court for Worcester County from Judge Thomas A. Spence. In 1865 he was elected secretary and treasurer of the board of county school commissioners of Worcester Coun- ty, Rev. Samuel K. Stewart having been presi- dent of the same. This was the first board to serve under the present system of free schools in Maryland. In 1867 he was nominated by the Conservative Democrats to the constitutional con- vention and elected, almost without opposition. He was appointed on the committee of the judi- ciary, but was unable to take the active part he would have done otherwise, owing to illness. He retired to his Cedar Grove farm in 1871 to recuperate in health and while there was unex- pectedly appointed school examiner and treasurer of the county school board, this event occurring in 1874. During the two years of his service he started the first colored school in his county, un- der the present free-school system. In 1874 he took up his residence again in Snow Hill, resum- ing his practice, and in 1878 he built his hand- some home, the Hedges. In 1880 he became the Democratic nominee for congress from the first congressional district and canvassed every coun- ty in the district. He received a very large ma- jority (nearly one thousand in his own county) and took his seat in the forty-seventh congress. He served on the committee on the revision of laws, of which President Mckinley was chairman,

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and was also on the committee on militia. In 1882 he was re-elected to congress by a good ma- jority, John G. Carlisle, of Kentucky, his warm personal friend, being speaker of the forty-eighth session. That gentleman lionored Mr. Coving- ton by tendering him the only chairmanship given to any member from Maryland, to wit: Committee on accounts. During this session he projected the idea of the inland water-way be- tweeti Delaware Bay and Virginia, sometimes called the Covington Canal, and he also pnt forth efforts for the betterment of our postal route system. While Mr. Covington was a member of the forty-eighth congress he was tendered the ap- pointment of associate judge in his circuit by Governor McLane, but deeming it his duty to serve out his term he felt constrained to decline the honor. Since 1885 he has been in private life devoting his time to looking after his practice and estates. He has been town commissioner of Snow Hill three times and was one of the trustees of the high school here for many years. From 1885 to 1895 he was chairman of the Worcester County Central Democratic Committee, resigning then on account of becoming dissatisfied with the political conduct of county affairs.

September 6, 1865, Mr. Covington married Sallie M. D. Bishop, only daughter of George and Louisa C. Bishop, the ceremony taking place in All Hallows Church, in Snow Hill. Four children have blessed their union, Louisa Ame- lia, George Bishop, Harry Franklin and Arthur Dennis, the latter dying in infancy. Mr. Coving- ton was baptized in the above-mentioned church, of which his father had been a vestryman, but after his father's death he attended the Bucking- ham Presbyterian Church, of Berlin, with his mother. After removing to Snow Hill he was elected a committeeman and served as such in Makemie Memorial Church just twenty-five years. During the latter part of that period the fine edifice was built in honor of the father of Pres- byterianism in America, Francis Makemie. Work had ceased upon the structure for more than a year after its partial erection, and things were rather gloomy from a financial point of view, when Mr. Covington put his shoulder to

the wheel and was largely instrumental in secur- ing its completion. At his suggestion his cousin, Lady Kortright, of London, England, contributed $5,000 in memory of her father; and having been given authority to expend the amount as he deemed wisest, he as chairman of a committee was enabled to fully complete the church. Through him a beautiful stained glass window, "the seed-sower," in memory of Lady Kort- right's father, John Richardson, who was a na- tive of Snow Hill, and a former member of this congregation, adorns the front of the church. Since resigning from the committee of the church, Mr. Covington with his family now worships in the church of his fathers, All Hallows Episcopal, of which his wife has been a member from early girlhood.

HOMAS H. CRANE, M. D. The high character sustained by Dr. Crane during the long period of his residence in Millington brought him the confidence of his associates and the respect of all with whom he came into contact. He was numbered among the skillful and efficient professional men of Kent County, and was one of those public-spirited men whose presence so powerfully advances the welfare of a community. Many of the enterprises for the benefit of the people owed their origin to his fertile brain and active mind.

Near Church Hill, in Queen Anne's County, Dr. Crane was born February 7, 1825. He was the son of Dr. Jonathan and Mary (Myers) Crane, natives of the same county as himself. His father, who was a physician, carried on a large practice in his neighborhood for many years and was one of the most prominent men in Church Hill. He and his wife continued to reside there until death. They were the parents of seven children, all of whom are deceased. The early days of our subject's life were passed in his native county, where he attended the public schools and academy. Desiring to enter the medical profes- sion, he made his first investigations into the science under the preceptorship of his father. He

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then entered the medical department of the Uni- versity of Maryland, from which he graduated in 1845. Returning home, he became connected in practice with his father, and there he continued to make his home for a few years. Massey, Kent County, was his next home, but he remained there only two years. In 1852 he came to Mil- lington, where he engaged in practice during the remainder of his life. He passed away in 1887, at the age of sixty-two years.

The first wife of Dr. Crane was Ellen Massey, of Kent County, who at her death left two chil- dren, Henry M. and Edward T., both of Phil- adelphia. The doctor's second marriage took place in 1856 and united him with Anna E. Smith, daughter of William F. Smith, of Virginia, who removed to Millington at an early age and engaged in the mercantile business. In time he became the possessor of important mercantile and landed interests in this locality. He and his wife, who was a Miss Rochester, had only one child, Anna E. The marriage of our subject and his wife was blessed by the birth of three children, namely: John A., of Philadelphia; Jonathan, who lives in New York; and Anna M., who is with her mother. In religious belief Dr. Crane was identified with the Episcopal Church, in which he was a vestryman for several years. His wife and daughter are also members of that denomina- tion. They occupy the old homestead in Mill- ington.

AMES FERGUSON has been one of the suc- cessful agriculturists of Talbot County, and has made his home upon a farm in the fourth district for over twenty years. His chief occupa- tion in life has been that of farming, though he was prospered when, for a few years, he was in- terested in general merchandising prior to his removal here. His father, John, was a native of Scotland, and was reared to the age of nine years in the vicinity of Edinburgh. Then with his parents he crossed the ocean, and settled in Albany, N. Y., in 1791.

About 1859 the death summons came to John

Ferguson, who had been for many decades an honored farmer of Schoharie County, N. Y., whither he had gone upon reaching man's estate. He had been for years a valued worker in the Presbyterian Church and was noted for his stur- dy, industrious, persevering nature and his inborn trait of integrity and strict sense of right and justice. His wife bore the maiden name of Anne Scott, and Albany County was her early home. Their three children were Mary Jane, deceased; James; and Eliza, who lives in Fulton, N. Y.

James Ferguson was born in Albany, N. Y., May 22, 1823, and received a common-school and academic education. When he was about eight- een he returned to the old home and continued to work for his father until 1854, when he opened a store at Fulton, N. Y., and conducted that enter- prise seven years. The next five years he de- voted to farming, and then we find him a resident of Connecticut during the succeeding seven years, while his children were receiving excellent edu- cational privileges. In 1875 he settled down on the homestead where he is to-day and has since cultivated. It was then known as the Merrick farm and comprised eighty-five acres, suitable for the raising of general lines of products common to this region.

June 2, 1858, Mr. Ferguson married Margaret, daughter of Benjamin Best, who was an influen- tial citizen of Fulton, N. Y., and who for fifteen successive terms held the office of justice of the peace. Her grandfather on her mother's side was Timothy Murphy, who fought in the war of the Revolution during the whole seven years of strife. He belonged to Morgan's Rifles, who did gallant service, and he was called the hero of Schoharie County. Julia, a sister of Mrs. Fergu- son, married a son of ex-Governor Bouck, of New York, and her two daughters became the wives of two sons of Governor Cornell, who built the university named in his honor. A son and a daughter were born to our subject and wife, Charles, who is living at home and aids in the management of the farm, and Cornelia M., who is a lady of superior attainments, and a successful teacher in the public schools of New York, where she commands a large salary. She was afforded

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Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 65

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