Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 73

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

USA > Maryland > Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland > Part 73

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. and Mrs. Loomis are members of the Baptist Church, as are also their children, Grace M., wife of Hon. Charles W. Hackett, and Her- bert F. The son was educated for the ministry in a Philadelphia theological seminary, and is now occupying a pulpit in the Baptist denomi- nation. Socially Mr. Loomis, Sr., is a member of the Improved Order of Heptasophs, of Hur- lock. He is of English ancestry, and is a son of Marshall M. and Lucy (Frances) Loomis, na- tives of Massachusetts.

OHN F. RUTH. This young man is one of the most enterprising farmers and stock- raisers of the fourth district of Queen Anne's County, and is one of the native sons of this county as well. In all things he has been closely associated with her welfare for years, and is anxious to see increasing prosperity come to these shores. He is a practical agriculturist, under- standing the business perfectly, and is a genuine lover of country life.

The parents of our subject were John L. and Sarah (Guessford) Ruth, who were both natives of Delaware, and were married in that state. They subsequently removed to Maryland, and for some years the father operated a farm and also was concerned in mercantile ventures. He is now making his home with his son John, of whom we write.

The birth of J. F. Ruth occurred in this county in the first district, January 14, 1859. . From his earliest years he manifested a desire and unusual ability for farming, and is certainly eminently well qualified for the pursuit. Being a lover of fine horses, he commenced raising blooded ani- inals in 1886 and at present owns a dozen stand- ard-bred horses and colts, which he keeps upon his farm. For about four years he managed the two farms belonging to Mr. Dudley, near Queens- town, but for the past two years has given his whole time and attention to nearer property.

In 1888 he came to Kent Island, and in 1895 bought the homestead on which he now resides. It comprises two hundred and forty acres, and has been brought under good cultivation of late years. There are now a substantial residence and good barns and sheds upon the place, which was much in need of repairs when it came into the possession of Mr. Ruth. Politically he firmly advocates the principles of and stands by the Democracy.

In 1891 a marriage ceremony was performed at the home of the bride's parents, John A. W. and Mary Bryan, of Stevensville, in this dis- trict, by which Miss Grace M. Bryan became the wife of J. F. Ruth. She is a charming, ac- complished young lady, well qualified by birth and training to adorn any society, and presides over her husband's household with dignity and graciousness.

OSEPH B. HOSSINGER, who is a progress- ive young farmer of the second district, Kent County, has resided in this locality all his life, and is favorably esteemed by the friends and neighbors who have known him since in- fancy. He came from a good old family in this section of the country, his ancestors having been identified with the colonial history of Delaware from 1750 onward, and were originally from Ger- many. They have been noted for their sturdy, industrious, persevering characteristics, and have usually been agriculturists.

Joseph H., father of our subject, was a native of Delaware, and came to this state in 1865. He located upon a part of the old Biddle farm and continued to dwell there until his death, which oc- curred in 1887, at the age of fifty-five years. He was a man of sterling worth, and was respected by all with whom he ever had any dealings, whether in business or social ways. His wife was a Miss Biddel, who came from an old family of Kent County, and having survived her hus- band, now lives at Lynch Station.

Joseph B., who is the third bearing that Chris-

670

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tian name in direct line, was born on the home- stead which he now manages, November 15, 1866. He grew to manhood here, his time be- ing divided betwixt work and play, until he was old enough to attend the district schools of the neighborhood. Later he became a student in Washington College, and pursued the higher branches of learning until he is now well posted and a young man of much more than ordinary information, When he had reached his majority he assumed the control of the old farm, and has since prospered beyond his own sanguine expect- ations. In addition to the farm upon which is his home, he now manages another one, the two comprising three hundred acres.

In his political opinion Mr. Hossinger is a Democrat. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to Chester Lodge No. 115, F. & A. M., and is connected with Still Pond Lodge, K. of P. He is much thought of in these organizations, and has been honored with various offices. In 1887 he married Lillian Hepbron, whose father, Lewis Hepbron, deceased, was a prosperous citizen of this community. Mrs. Hossinger and her people are members of the Episcopal Church.

C AMES EDWIN MORTIMER is an ener- getic young business man whose home is on a fine farin in Broad Creek Neck, St. Michael's district, Talbot County. In 1883 he was appointed by Governor McLane to serve on the state fishery force under Commander Wad- dell, and was thus occupied for four years. Soon afterward he was appointed oyster inspector at the port of St. Michael's by Governor Brown, and held this post most satisfactorily for two years. Both of these positions were important ones and the duties connected therewith were quite ardu- ous, but every detail of work delegated to our subject to perform was promptly, thoroughly and acceptably done. His record as a public officer does him great credit, and as a private citizen he is as conscientious and reliable. He is a stalwart Democrat and has been sent as a delegate four

times to county conventions, and has also at- tended state and congressional assemblages of his party.

John Mortimer, father of the above-named gentleman, was a native of Baltimore and was reared in that city. For years he was interested in the lumber trade and in time became very well off. He purchased a tract of land on Broad Creek Neck and in 1865, when he retired from active commercial life, he settled upon this place. He resided there many years in peace and quiet, in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former years of labor. He was summoned to his reward in 1890, when nearly seventy years of age. Though he was an active sympathizer with the tenets of the Democracy he would never accept office, and even went so far as to refuse a position on the staff of the governor, who had appointed him to a place. Nevertheless he was a stanch worker for his friends and simply preferred to remain a private citizen, who had never accepted any pub- lic favors of the kind. Religiously he was a Presbyterian. His father, John, was also a na- tive of Baltimore, and held a position in the cus- tom house nearly all of his mature life, perhaps as a slight recompense for his services in the war of 1812. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Chamberlain. She was from Baltimore, and is still quite active and strong, though now about eighty-two years old, and resides with her son on the home farm. Her eldest son, Alexander, runs the old homestead. Kate A. is the second of the family. Carrie is the wife of Thomas W. Mavitt, of this county. Lil- lian is the wife of Joseph A. Camper, of this dis- trict.

James E. Mortimer was born August 8, 1857, in the city of Baltimore, and was a small boy when his parents removed to this locality. He received a common-school education and became familiar with the work of a farm by actual ex - perience. He gave his whole time to this line of occupation until 1883, when his public duties began, as previously mentioned, these extending over a period of six years. Afterward he re- turned to country pursuits, and in December, 1896, came to his present home, which he had

671

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

purchased some years before. He owns a beau- tifully located farm of one hundred acres, situ- uated on the banks of the Choptank River. For about nine years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is superintend- ent of the Sunday-school and a trustee and steward.

In 1885 Mr. Mortimer married Sarah C. Cam- per, of this district, who died in 1890, leaving two sons, John Alexander and Walter Stewart. The lady who now bears our subject's name was formerly Miss Grace Burns, of St. Michael's.

AMES E. LOWE, an enterprising young business man of Salisbury, Wicomico Coun- ty, is now interested financially in a livery here. He is a self-made man, having had to de- pend solely upon his own efforts since he en- tered the world of trade and commerce. Wisely he learned a trade in his youth, that of black- smithing, but was obliged to give it up at the end of some fifteen years, owing to its being too great a strain upon his system. For the past eleven years he has been engaged in his present enterprise and has prospered beyond his most sanguine expectations.

The parents of the above-mentioned gentleman were Jackson and Maria (Palmer) Lowe, both natives of Delaware. The father built the first house that was put up in the town of Lowe's Cross Roads, in Sussex County, Del., and the place was named in his honor. About 1866, soon after the termination of the war, he re- moved, with his family, to the county seat of Wicomico County, Md., Salisbury, and here he resided until his death, which occurred in 1880. He was a much-respected citizen, and was an ally of the Democratic party.

A native of Delaware, like his ancestors were, James E. Lowe was born at the town mentioned previously, Lowe's Cross Roads, Sussex County, February 25, 1860. He was scarcely six years of age, however, when he came to Salisbury, and his early recollections are mostly of this vi-

cinity. He attended the local schools, where he learned the foundation principles of the three "R's." As soon as he was strong enough he commenced to serve an apprenticeship to the blacksmith's trade, which when inastered he fol- lowed for fifteen years. Failing health at last warned him to seek some lighter occupation, and as the livery business was somewhat in his line he decided to enter the unoccupied field here. He belongs to the Order of Red Men, being a member of Tribe No. 104 of Salisbury. Polit- ically he is a Democrat.

In 1881 Mr. Lowe married Emma Collins, whose home was near Cambridge, Md. She died in 1889, and February 1I, 1891, he wedded Emma Anderson, by whom he has one child, a little son, James E., Jr.

ALTER C. MANN is one of the well-known residents of Sharptown district, Wicomico County, and is especially active and influ- ential in public affairs, being a leader in the ranks of the local Democracy. When quite young he began to take an interest in politics. After having filled a number of minor positions, in 1883 he was chosen a member of the board of county commissioners, a position that he filled with effi- ciency and fidelity. In 1887 he was elected to represent his county in the Maryland legislature, in which capacity he endeavored to promote home enterprises. One of his most important acts as a legislature was securing an incorpora- tion act for Sharptown and placing it under the control of the town commissioners. From 1888 to 1896 he served as deputy fish commissioner of Wicomico County, filling the position in such a manner as to win the commendation of all.

In Federalsburg, Caroline County, Md., Mr. Mann was born January 9, 1853, a son of Joseph H. Mann, M. D., a native of Dover, Del., and a practicing physician of that state, and later of Maryland, continuing in the profession until his death in 1880. In addition he also worked as a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

672

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

He was four times married, our subject's mother being Mary J., daugliter of Joseph B. Cannon, of Laurel, Del. She was a member of a prominent family in Delaware, where she died in 1855, leav- ing two children, Walter C. and Margaret, who is now the wife of S. C. Matthews, of Laurel.

When his father come to Maryland in 1871, our subject accompanied him here, and has since resided in Sharptown district, where he has eighteen acres and a comfortable home near the village. He is engaged in fruit and live stock business, and has been quite successful as a spec- ulator. From 1885 to 1891 he was constable, from 1883 to 1885 served as county commissioner, was a member of the legislature of 1887-88, and after- wards held office as deputy fish commissioner. Frequently he has represented his party as dele- gate to state and congressional conventions. Fraternally he is identified with the Improved Order of Red Men, and for many years has been deputy grand master of the Odd Fellows. March 26, 1888, he married Maggie P. Bounds, a daugh- ter of James R. Bounds, of Quantico district. They have two children, Walter G. and Mary E.

ILLIAM T. KELLEY, owner of a beau- tiful farm, the charm of which is suggested by its appropriate name, Oakland Grove, is one of the worthy representatives of a family long identified with the development and upbuilding of this section of the Union, and particularly with the Eastern Shore of Chesapeake Bay. His home is situated just south of the town of Preston, Caroline County, in the midst of seventy acres of fine land, and the site of his house, in a grove of noble oaks, was selected by him when a mere boy.

The Kelleys have been members of the Society of Friends from time immemorial and for over two hundred years have sent delegates to each yearly meeting of the same. Members of the Society of Friends have annually assembled in the Quaker City for the past one hundred years. From the best information obtainable the branch

of the Kelley family to which our subject belongs is directly descended from Sir William Kelley, who was a member of the court of St. James, of Whitehall, England, in 1634. About 1650 his son, William, of the town of Kelley, Devonshire, England, came to Maryland, and settled in Kent County, and in 1722 one of his descendants, an- other William Kelley, was living with his family in Dorchester, now Caroline County, near the present town of Preston. Here the family have ever since been land owners and farmers. The ancient Quaker meeting-house, which is still standing in the fourth district, and is now used as a school for colored people, was erected prior to 1683, and was the place of worship of the Kelley family for one hundred and fifty years. The family coat-of-arms is thus described in heraldry: "Three fluer de lis with lion rampant and crest of a sea lion holding a spike ball in its paws."

William T. Kelley, of whom we write, is a na- tive of Caroline County, born April 19, 1828, to Jonah and Hester A. (Trice) Kelley. The mother was a daughter of William and Ann (Willis) Trice, and niece of Col. Peter Willis, of this county, a colonel in the war of 1812. Jonah Kelley was for over thirty years a most worthy minister in the Society of Friends. His father, Dennis, was a native of this county, born near Preston, and followed agricultural pursuits all of his life. He married Miss Elender Perry, of Talbot County, and their four sons were Perry, Dennis, Jonah and Ezekiel, while the daughters were: Elender, Mrs. Samuel Fluharty; Mary, Mrs. Peter Willis; and Rebecca, who never mar- ried. The great-grandfather of our subject, Dennis Kelley the first, was born in this county, and had large tracts of land which he left to his children. His mother was a daughter of the noted Quaker preacher, William Edmondson, of England.

With his brothers and sisters William T. Kelley grew to adult years on his father's farm near Linchester, Dorchester County. His eldest sister, Mary A., in the course of time became the wife of Hon. John R. Stack, of this county; Hester A., the second sister, married James S. Bartlett, of Talbot County; Elizabeth is the

673

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

widow of the late Dr. E. E. Atkinson, of Ridgely; Jonah F. resides in Baltimore. The estate of our subject comprises seventy acres in his homestead, and in addition to this he has owned for twenty- five years or so large tracts of land in Duval County, Fla., eighteen miles from Jacksonville. He recently sold a large part of it, still retaining about nine hundred acres. He resided in Easton for five years, from 1863 to 1868, but sold all his prop- erty in Talbot County at the date last mentioned, this including several farms, and this money he invested in Florida land. He always, however, retained the old homestead near Preston.

April 14, 1853, William T. Kelley married Julia Smith Williams at the home of her parents, John and Elizabeth (Springle) Williams, of Woodford County, Ky. The father, who was a relative of Andrew Jackson, was a descendant of Sir William Williams, a Welsh baron, and was an extensive land owner and slave owner of the Blue Grass region. The grandparents of Mrs. Kelley, viz .: Daniel and Mary (Jackson) Will- iams and John and Elizabeth (Smith) Springle, were among the old Virginia Baptists who re- moved from Virginia soon after the close of the Revolutionary war to Kentucky, settling in Woodford County and Lexington, respectively. They were numbered among those hardy pioneers who followed the dauntless Daniel Boone into the "dark and bloody ground" of Kentucky.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Kelley are: Georgeanna, who died when young; Dollie Elizabeth; Julielma M .; William T., Jr., D. D. S., also a member of Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners; Lincoln Daniel, D. D. S .; and Jonah Springle, engaged in fruit growing on the homestead. The family are all members of the Society of Friends. Miss Julielma has taught school most acceptably in Kentucky and other states, and Miss Dollie has also had much ex- perience in teaching. Some of the family have frequently accompanied their father to Florida and have spent from a few weeks to the entire winter there.

In 1856 William T. Kelley was the only man in Caroline County who cast a vote for John C. Freemont, and in 1860 his was one of the eleven

Republican votes cast in this county. He has been strongly in sympathy with the party since its organization, and in 1862 he in company with Henry Cockran, Frank Hubbard and John Henry Williams, met in Denton, in George Mitchell Russum's office, and organized the Republican party for Caroline County. In 1892 lie became identified with the Populists, of which party he is chairman of the state central committee for his county. He was nominated in 1897 for the house of delegates. In Florida he held the appointment of custom house officer for a period. He writes articles for home and farm journals and is a man of much more than ordinary enterprise and ability.

OL. JAMES E. DOUGLASS, deceased, formerly resided near Preston, Caroline County, and was one of the leading and public-spirited men of the Eastern Shore. He possessed admirable qualities of head and heart, and above all, a firmness and uprightness of prin- ciple that raised him above the average. He considered a public office a public trust, to be administered in the most reliable and honorable manner, with due regard to the best interests of the people who had placed the responsibility upon his shoulders. In consequence of his fidelity and genuine ability he was almost con- stantly in requisition for one office or another, and well did he justify the good opinion in which he was ever held. But perhaps, after all, his best service to mankind was carried out in the strict line of his general occupation, the improve- ment and development of land into fine farming property, and it is estimated that he thus practi- cally reclaimed about two thousand acres, now among the finest land on this shore.

A son of James and Charlotte (Wilson) Doug- lass, both natives of Caroline County, our subject was born in Dorchester County in 1820. He learned the carpenter's trade and while still in his twenties was appointed deputy sheriff of his native county, and three years later, in 1851, was made sheriff. Prior to accepting either of these offices,

674

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

however, he had served as a county collector. In 1854 he removed to Caroline County, and erecting a sawmill, engaged in lumbering, and was also interested in some sailing-vessels. He made farming a profession, and when land passed into his hands, lie invariably brought it up to a high standard of excellence. His own homestead, situated just outside the limits of Preston, is now one of the most valuable and desirable ones in the county. He served as colonel on Governor Hicks' staff. He died in 1880, beloved and re- spected by all who had ever known liim, and his place in the community has never since been filled.

In early manhood James E. Douglass married Mary C., a daughter of James Davis, and four of their seven children survive. James H., a druggist and late member of the state legislature, has inherited all of his father's courteous and gentlemanly manners; Joseph, now a resident of Frederick, Md., is and has been for many years general agent for the Deering Harvester Com- pany; Thomas H. is largely interested in a manu- facturing industry at Milton, Del .; and Dr. Eugene is a successful physician now practicing his profession in the city of Baltimore, Md. The mother died in 1866. Later Mr. Douglass mar- ried Ann Emily, a daughter of Joseph Mowbray, of this county, and she survives him, and lives upon the old homestead near Preston. She had previously been married to Steven Clement Clark, and had two sons, Joshua B., formerly editor of the Sussex Journal, Georgetown, Del., who died in 1892; and Joseph C., M. D., who is first assistant physician at the Spring Grove (Md.) Insane Asylum. The only child of Col.

James E. Douglass and wife, Ann Emily, is . bury born within the limits of the city. At the Stephen Elbert, who was born in 1871.

This energetic young farmer, Stephen E. Douglass, inherited his father's aptitude for busi- ness affairs, and although not old in years, has already manifested unusual talent. He has under his management over one thousand acres of tillable land, and cultivates and carries on his parent's old liomestead. He has always lived in the neighborhood of Preston and received his higher education at the Oxford Military Academy,

at Oxford, Md. When but nineteen years old he married Mary, the daughter of Dr. James R. Phillips, of Preston; they have three children, named in order of birth: Percy C., Ruth and Phillips E.

LAIRD TODD, M.D., treasurer of Wicom- ico County and clerk of the board of county commissioners, is a descendant of English ancestors. His grandfather, Jonathan Todd, who founded the family in America, came from Eng- land and settled in the lower part of Dorchester County, Md., where his remaining years were spent. At the time of coming to this country he was accompanied by a brother, who settled in Delaware. The descendants of these two have scattered through different states in the west and south.

The father of our subject, George Todd, was engaged in the boating business in early life, but afterward (in 1812), when eighteen years of age, he settled in Salisbury and embarked in the gen- eral mercantile business, which he continued to follow until he retired. His death occurred in 1866, when he was seventy-two years of age. Twice married, his first union was childless; and by his second wife, who was Catherine N. Steven- son, a native of Snow Hill, he had fourteen chil- dren, of whom H. Laird is the eldest now living. The wife and mother was born in 1800 and died in 1870.

The subject of this sketch has the distinction of being the oldest living male resident of Salis- time of his birth, January 29, 1830, the now thriving place was almost a wilderness, contain- ing but few habitations and these of the most primitive nature. However, when people were attracted to it, the town began to grow and soon attained prominence among the cities of the East- ern Shore. Salisbury Academy was established and in it he obtained his education. Wlien about eighteen he conceived the idea of studying med - icine, and at once began to study under Dr. Na-

675

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

than R. Smyth, who afterwards became one of the greatest surgeons of his age, and died in Baltimore.

After graduating from the Maryland University of Baltimore, with the class of 1851, Dr. Todd opened an office at Vienna, Dorchester County, but after a few months he removed to Salisbury and began to practice, being in partnership with his brother, George W. Todd, M. D., until the death of the latter, in 1875. After that he was alone until his son, George W., graduated in medicine in 1885, when the two became partners and continued as such for a number of years. In 1894 our subject sold his practice to his son, and retired from the profession which he had so suc- cessfully followed for forty-three years.

The marriage of Dr. Todd in 1852 united him with Julia A., daughter of Edward Fowler, of Wicomnico County. Eight children were born of their union, of whom five attained years of matu- rity. Harry S., who is a member of the mer- cantile firm of F. C. Todd & Co., of Salisbury, married Agnes Phelps, of Dorchester County, and they have four children. Lillian F. is the wife of S. S. Smith, of the hardware firm of Dor- man & Smith, of Salisbury, and they have two children. George W., M. D., married Rose Woodcock, and has two children. Edwin N., a merchant residing near Plantersville, Ala., married Annie Vincent, of that state. Marion May is the wife of Dr. Clarence L. Selover, a dentist, of Cambridge, Md.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 73

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