USA > Maryland > Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland > Part 75
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quaintance. He married Miss Martha Plummer, a native of Queen Anne's County, Md., and a daughter of William Plummer, a farmer by occu- pation. She died when our subject was only nine days old, he being the youngest in a family of seven children, of whom the following are still living: Mary R .; David McClellan, a compositor in the public printing office in Washington; James A., a carriage manufacturer in Easton; and Martha M., wife of Matthew T. Plummer.
The boyhood days of W. W. Spence were passed in Easton, where he attended the high school, and later graduated from the North- western Normal and Collegiate Institute of Wau- seon, Ohio. He then obtained a position as clerk in the shoe store of R. S. Fountain, of Easton, and in 1894 accepted the responsible position of cashier of the Talbot Savings Bank, which he still continues to fill. . On the 28th of November, 1894, at the residence of Judge J. B. Bennett, the bride's father, was performed the marriage ceremony which united the destinies of W. W. Spence and Mrs. Susie (Bennett) Graseley. This was one of the most brilliant weddings which had ever taken place in the city; the floral decorations were of the finest, and the attendants were among the most prominent society people of the place, as both of the contracting parties held high social positions, the bride being a recognized belle on the Eastern Shore. She was educated at Western Maryland College, and like her husband, pos- sesses musical talent of a high order. She is an excellent soprano soloist and a fine performer on both the piano and organ. They both take an active part in the work of the Methodist Protest- ant Church, with which they hold membership. Jerome Bonaparte Bennett, Mrs. Spence's father, was born in Kent County, Del., in 1830, and is of French-English extraction. His father, a native of France, on coming to America first settled in Philadelphia, and died when Jerome was only seven years of age. In 1842 the latter became a resident of Queen Anne's County, Md., and six years later took up his residence in Easton, Talbot County. For many years lie has been actively identified with the agricultural in- terests of the community; is a large land owner,
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and since 1885 lias been president of the Talbot Savings Bank. As a Democrat he lias always taken an active and prominent part in political affairs, and was first elected constable in 1849, which position he continued to fill until 1855, when he was elected slieriff. In 1869 he was again chosen by the people for slieriff, which office lie most capably filled, and was secretary and treasurer of the Talbot almshouse for seven years. Elected judge of the orphans' court of Talbot County in 1892, and being appointed by the governor as chief judge, he continued to hold that position for four years. He has ever proved a most popular, trustworthy official, discharging his duties with commendable promptness and fidelity, and winning the approval of even those opposed to him politically. For the long period of forty-eight years he has been a prominent member of the Odd Fellows' society. One of the leading members of Calvary Methodist Protestant Church, for over a half a century he has taken an active part in its musical affairs, either as leader or assistant leader of the choir, and has been chorister of the Sunday-school for twenty- seven years. His wife was also musically in- clined. In 1849 he married Miss Susan Wilcutt, a native of Talbot County, and their only child is now the wife of W. W. Spence, of this review. He is truly benevolent, and helpfulness might be termed the keynote of his character. His esti- mable wife was called to her final rest on the 2d of April, 1897.
D HARLES W. MEYER. Among the repre- sentative business men of East New Mar- ket, Dorchester County, is this public- spirited citizen, who has been established here since 1888. He possesses the chief requisites to success in any line of commerce, unflagging determination to win in the end, excellent meth- ods and principles, and strict attention to the demands of the trade. He is uniformly courteous
and obliging to all, and makes friends of his customers almost invariably. In everything pertaining to the growth and development of the town and its resources he takes an active and thoroughly interested part, and is ever certain to be found espousing the side of order, law and progress. He is devoted to the platform of the Democratic party and has served as a member of the board of control and review in this place.
The father of the subject of this article, Au- gust Meyer by name, was a native of Germany, his birth having taken place in the city of Leipsic. He was an ambitious and fearless lad, and while still in his youth he decided to try his fortunes in the new world. Alone, therefore, he crossed the Atlantic, and settled in Baltimore, Md., where he is yet living, a respected citizen. He there met and married a Miss Mary Deal, daugh- ter of Henry Deal, and to them seven children were born, of whom our subject is the eldest.
Charles W. Meyer was born in Baltimore De- cember 1, 1860, and grew to manhood in that metropolis, receiving the benefits of the excellent city public schools. Upon starting out in life to fight his own battles for a livelihood he obtained employment with the well-known firm of Alex- ander Dodd & Co., and later was with the Berg- man Manufacturing Company. He was em- ployed most of the time in the capacity of travel- ing salesman, selling harness, and did very well in that direction. In 1888 he came to East New Market, and with his previous practical experi- ence to guide him, found himself well fitted to be- gin business upon his own account. He carries a large and fine stock of hardware, and has built up an extensive trade in this town and vicinity.
November 23, 1887, was solemnized the mar- riage of Charles W. Meyer and Miss Katie, daughter of Robert Wright and granddaughter of William O. Wright, of Baltimore. The young couple have two children, bright boys, called re- spectively Leland Winfield and Willie R. Re- ligiously Mr. and Mrs. Meyer are members of the Baptist Church. The only fraternal organi- zation with which the former is connected is that of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He possesses the high esteem and genuine regard of
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all with whom he has come into contact, whether in a business or social manner, and deserves to be thus considered, as he is a man of sterling worth.
G ARRISON I. PARSONS. Occupying an excellent location in the third district of Kent County lies the farm owned and oc- cupied by Mr. Parsons. It consists of one hun- dred and seventy-six acres, planted to the various cereals and containing in addition a valuable orchard of bearing trees. It is but natural that the owner should be interested in raising fruit, for his father was one of the earliest advocates of the industry in the county, and to his efforts, combined with those of other progressive farmers, is due the fact that the county has gained a reputation as a peach section.
The Parsons family is of English extraction. The father of our subject, Isaac Parsons, was born in Pennsylvania. About 1843 he removed to Maryland and settled in Kent County, where he tion. purchased a tract comprising about one thousand acres lying near Smithville. Later he became the owner of other farms, so that his property possessions were extensive and important. The remainder of his life was spent here, and he bore an active part in various enterprises for the de- velopment of local resources. By his marriage to Mary Wood, of Delaware, eiglit children were born, but of these only four are living. They are Alponza, wife of George R. Beck; Elizabeth, who married Elias Walraven; Harrison I .; and Rachel A., wife of Thomas Gale. The father advocated Republican principles and always voted the straight party ticket. For some time he held the office of school conimissioner. In relig- ious work he was prominent, assisting as far as possible in the activities of St. James' Methodist Protestant Church. In 1888, on the anniversary of the day when he had first reached Maryland, he passed away, being then eighty-two years of age. His life was a busy and useful one, and the enterprises which he fostered and the movements
which he assisted proved that he was a man of pub- lic spirit, desirous of seeing his district and county prosper.
In Newcastle County, Del., near the state line of Maryland, Harrison I. Parsons was born in 1841. At the age of two years he was brought to Maryland by his father and his education was obtained in the common schools of Kent County. At the age of twenty-five he took charge of his father's property and has since carried on general farm pursuits in the neighborhood which has been familiar to him from earliest recollection. In 1866 he married Anna J., daughter of Joshua Bell, and to their union seven children were born. Those now living are: Mary E., wife of J. E. Morris; Harry B .; Grace M., who is married to John F. Clark; Willian G. and Lewis B. In fraternal relations Mr. Parsons was formerly identified with the Improved Order of Red Men, but his membership in the order has been discon- tinued. He is a worker in St. James' Methodist Protestant Church and for some time acted as trustee of the congregation, his family also being interested in and identified with that denomina-
LPHEUS W. NICHOLS, the enterprising young agriculturist who carries on the fine farm known as Cherry Grove, which he leased in 1893, is also the owner of the home- stead called Brainard's Pasture. The latter com- prises two hundred and thirty-seven acres, beau- tifully located in the sixth district of Queen Anne's County, and is justly considered one of the best farms in this region. Mr. Nichols is progressive in all his methods and is thoroughly and practically acquainted with everything per- taining to the work of a farm. Some time ago he invested a large sumi in a steam thresher, which he runs during the harvesting season, and from this venture he reaps a sure and comfort- able income.
John Nichols, the father of the gentleman of . whom we write, was a native of Caroline County, Md., and lived much of his mature life at Gil-
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pin's Point. He was engaged extensively in merchandising and ran a line of boats from Gil- pin's Point to Baltimore. He was a very active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was summoned to the better land in 1873. He was married three times, his last union having been with Mary Webster, of Dorchester County. They were the parents of six children, of whom the following survive: Flora, widow of Richard Stevens, of Dorchester County; Alpheus W .; Winifred, of the same county; and Dr. Clarence, of Baitimore.
The birth of A. W. Nichols occurred Decem- ber 9, 1857, in Caroline County, Md., and when he had arrived at a suitable age he was sent to the district school to acquire knowledge of the elementary branches of learning. He was an apt student, and soon mastered whatever could be gained in the local schools. For several years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has been superintendent of the Sun- day-school. In his political affiliations he is con- nected with the Democracy.
January 18, 1881, Mr. Nichols married Ida, daughter of William N. Cannon, of this neigh- borhood. They have four children, a .son and three little daughters, viz .: Glendora, Lizzie, Mabel and Webster.
EORGE F. POOLEY, manager of the Salis- bury Shirt Company, one of the finest and best-equipped plants of the kind upon the Eastern Shore or, indeed, in this portion of the United States, is not a native of Salisbury, but has made many sincere friends here during the brief time he has dwelt among our citizens. Without doubt, he is one of the best-posted men in the country in the manufacture of shirts, and in everything pertaining to the business. He has been connected with some of the largest shirt factories in America and is a practical man of affairs.
The Salisbury Shirt Company was organized with a capital stock of $40,000, in June, 1897,
and the plant was constructed under the direct supervision of Mr. Pooley, work being pushed forward so rapidly that the factory was ready and open for business by the 17th of September following, though ground was not broken for the buildings prior to July 22. It is a brick structure, 32×280 feet in dimensions, with a forty-horse power engine, electric cutting machine, laundry, etc., in short every modern appliance used in the process of converting the raw material into fin- ished shirts ready for the consumer. There are two artesian wells, an electric light and gas plant and even a paper-box manufacturing department. Thus the separate parts of the shirt, are cut out by electric cutting machines (bands by means of dies ) are stitched on fine sewing machines, and are then passed through the laundry, where they are washed, ironed and polished by machinery run by electricity, and finally packed in pasteboard boxes made in the same factory.
ARVEY LEE COOPER, an attorney of Denton and one of the local leaders of the Democratic party, was born in this place, June 17, 1873. His father, Thomas M., was born in Kent County, Del., a member of one of the families that early became identified with the history of that locality. When a young man he came to Denton, where he embarked in the mer- cantile business, and the remainder of his life was devoted to that occupation. He died here in De- cember, 1895, and is survived by his wife, Rachel (Green) Cooper, and their three sons, Alceynus, a merchant engaged in business in Denton; Ern- est G., also a business man of this place; and Harvey Lee.
The last-named, who was second of the three sons, received his primary education in the schools of Caroline County. In 1890 he entered St. John's College at Annapolis, where he carried on his education until he graduated in 1894, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In January, 1895, he was appointed justice of the peace, being the youngest man to hold the office on the Eastern
WILLIAM M. SCHOOLFIELD.
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Shore. Admitted to the bar of Caroline County in October, 1895, he, however, continued to act as justice until May, 1896, and since the latter date he has carried on professional practice.
As an attorney he is well informned regarding the technicalities of the law. Though now an active practitioner, he continues to study the law with an interest surpassing that of his student days. It is his ambition to gain a success which his talents merit, and his energies are directed to- ward the consummation of his hopes. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons. The Dem- ocratic party receives his vote at local and general elections, but he does not consider his duty lim- ited to the mere casting of a ballot. He works for the party in campaigns, and is frequently heard upon the stump defending the principles in the justice of which he so firmly believes.
ILLIAM M. SCHOOLFIELD. One of the most important industries in the lower part of the Eastern Shore peninsula is the basket, crate and barrel manufactory owned by Schoolfield, Barnes & Co., of Pocomoke City. Here employment is furnished to about two hun- dred and fifty men, women and children, and the manufactured product is sold to dealers all over the United States. Since 1887, when Mr. School- field purchased the plant, he has greatly enlarged and improved it, and now has a small mill de- partnient, 100x40 feet in dimensions, a planing department 80x50, and an engine and boiler room 30x60. Above these departments is the work roon, where the articles are completed and made ready for shipment. The mills are operated during the entire year and they have large ware- houses for the storage of their output until the spring market opens.
The first eighteen years in the life of Mr. Schoolfield were spent on a farm near Pocomoke City, where he was born. On beginning for him- self he engaged in farming and fruit growing, which pursuits he followed until 1885. He then came to Pocomoke City and embarked in the saw-
ntill business with W. J. S. Clark & Co., remain- ing in that enterprise for nineteen months. After his withdrawal he became interested in merchandising and carried on business with his sons until 1888, when he inaugurated the concern which he now conducts.
In 1857 Mr. Schoolfield married Miss Emily S. Barnes, and seven children came to bless their union. Elijah, the eldest, is engaged in business with his father; William is a merchant in Poco- moke City; George E. is in business with his father. The four daughters, Emma, Laura, Hattie and Ella, are with their parents. The Methodist Episcopal Church has Mr. Schoolfield among its active members and stewards. Politi- cally he is a Republican1. About 1868 he was appointed school commissioner by Judge Frank- lin. Besides his other important and valuable interests he is the owner of two farms itear Poco- moke City, the two containing four hundred and sixty-five acres. He also has a beautiful resi- dence in tow11.
HESTON HICKS. Foremost among the merchants and able business men of Galena, Kent County, is ranked this gentleman, who is justly entitled to a place among the leading people of the Eastern Shore of Maryland. For the past six years he has owned and conducted a gen- eral store here, and commands a very large and remunerative patronage, not only from the local population, but from the adjacent country as well. He has won a very enviable reputation for fair dealing and integrity in all his transac- tions, and is on the high road to success, as he deserves.
Born March 4, 1858, in Queen Anne's County, near the village of Sudlersville, Mr. Hicks is a son of Levin and Sarah Matilda (Milbourn) Hicks, who were natives of Queen Anne's County, Md., and Delaware, respectively. The fatlier was born March 2, 1820, and was reared to the calling of an agriculturist, which business he fol- lowed with fair success in mature life. His death was the result of an accident, he having fallen
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through a hay loft in his barn, and received se- rious injuries. An active worker in the Meth - odist Episcopal Church, he was honored with several official positions in the congregation for years prior to his decease, which took place in his sixty-fourth year. His fatlier, James Hicks, was a native of Caroline County, Md., and car- ried on a good farm until middle life, when he died, leaving two sons, Richard and Levin. Mrs. Sarah M. Hicks was also born in 1820, and was sixty-eight when claimed by death. She was a member of the Methodist Church, and was a great favorite with all who knew her. She left five children. James R., a resident of this place, and a blacksmith by trade; Ella F., who married Daniel Loller, and died in her thirty-third year, leaving two children; William T., an undertaker of Galena; R. Heston; and Samuel, a blacksmith and resident of Chestertown.
The boyhood of R. Heston Hicks was spent under the parental roof, his education being such as the schools of that day afforded. When he was about nineteen he commenced to clerk in Sudlersville, and a short time afterwards took a similar position in Church Hill, Md. Four years thus rolled away, and in 1881 he came to Galena, and was employed by T. H. Horsey for ten years, giving entire satisfaction to all. It was in April,. 1892, that he started in the mercantile business on his own account, and since then he has done very well indeed. He carries a full line of dry goods, glassware, harness, groceries, etc., in short, whatever is usually to be found in a store that caters to a widespread general trade. His stock is kept regularly replenished with the latest styles of standard high-grade goods. He is a Democrat, and was appointed to serve as post- master in October, 1893, and has made a popular official. A director in the Kent County Savings Bank of Chestertown, and secretary and treas- urer of the Galena Creamery, he is thus identi- fied with two of our practical enterprises, and is interested in others. Socially he is connected with the Order of Heptasophs of this place.
In1 1894 Mr. Hicks married Emily C. Nutz, of Talbot County, and daughter of Dr. Eben Nutz, of Easton, Md. The only child of our subject
and wife is Helen, a bright and attractive child. Mrs. Hicks is a woman of rare ability and zeal in the temperance cause, and is now acting as pres- ident of the Christian Temperance Union Society. They are active members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, Mr. Hicks being a steward of the same.
HRISTOPHER COLUMBUS WARD, M. D., comes from a respected old family on the Eastern Shore, and is engaged in the practice of his profession in the town of Crisfield, Somerset County. At the same time he is a member of the firm of Ward & Collins, who own and carry on a well-equipped drug store here. He was born in Pocomoke City, Worcester County, September 21, 1863, and is, consequently, in the prime of early manhood. His family is of English extraction and can boast of many miem- bers of it who have occupied positions of honor in the professional and business world.
The father of the doctor, M. P. Ward, is a na- tive of Pocomoke City also, and is now resid- ing in Crisfield. He is a contractor and builder by occupation, and has led a very active life. He is about sixty-two years of age and is hale and hearty. He is a Republican, but has never been an aspirant to official distinction, finding his time fully taken up in his attention to his business affairs. He married Sarah A., daughter of Peter Johnson, a merchant vessel owner and a promi- nent man along the Eastern Shore.
When Dr. Ward was a child of three years the family removed to Baltimore, and in the fine schools of that city the youth received his educa- tion. When he was fifteen he went to Philadel- phia to serve an apprenticeship to the druggist's business, graduating in 1886 at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. There he continued to live for a period of some ten years, being employed as a druggist, and for a year and a-half running a store of his own with fair success. Selling out his interest there, he came to Crisfield and here was similarly occupied in managing a drug store for five years or more alone. At the end of that
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time he took into the firm his present partner. In the meantime he went to Baltimore and en- tered the medical college, from which institution he graduated in 1894. Since that date he has been engaged in medical practice here and in connection with this he has been interested in his drug store. Like his father, he adheres to the principles of the Republican party.
In March, 1891, Dr. Ward married Miss Louisa Janvier and one child, a bright little son, Edwin E., has come to cheer their hearts and home. Mrs. Ward is a daughter of Edwin P. Janvier, a prominent citizen of Kent County, Md. (See his history published upon another page of this work. )
ON. JOHN WALTER SMITH, of Snow Hill, Worcester County, stands the peer of the leading business men of the Eastern Shore. He began his career in the financial world with little or nothing and is to-day one of the wealthy men of the Eastern Shore of Maryland as a result of his well-applied energy and superior judgment. He is equally prominent in Demo- cratic politics and has been sent as a delegate to the conventions of his party, both state and con- gressional, time and again. Though his earnest efforts on behalf of the party had been appreciated sincerely and he had often been strongly urged to accept some public office, he persistently refused up to 1889. At that time he was unanimously nominated for the state senatorship and was elected to that position by a large majority. He was re-elected to the senate in 1893 and in the ses- sion of 1894 was made president of that honor- able body, serving as such with distinction. In 1895 he was chairman of the state Democratic committee, having full control of the campaign that fall. He was unanimously nominated by the Democratic party and elected to the senate in 1897. He served on the staff of Gov. Henry Lloyd with the rank of colonel and in 1890 was appointed on the staff of Gov. E. E. Jackson.
After having been elected a member of the sen-
ate in 1889 Colonel Smith was given quite a large vote for United States senator, in 1892, being a member of the senate at that time, and was given the caucus nominee of the party for the same position in 1896, when the state went Republican. Perhaps he is most celebrated for his introduction of the Smith free book bill in the session of 1892. It passed both houses but did not at once become a law, owing to the fact that the measure was not signed by Governor Brown. The bill was again submitted by him in 1894 with the same result exactly as before, but at last, in 1896, he again having introduced the bill, it was passed and signed by Governor Lowndes. and became a law. This notable bill provides for free school books, thus affording the advantages of an educa- tion to those children of the very poor, who are, perhaps, the ones miost in need of schooling. As a direct result the attendance in the public schools increased from fifteen to twenty per cent. the first year after the bill went into effect. This idea of free text-books is a grand and philanthropic move- ment, taxing the wealthy for the benefit of the masses and placing education on an absolutely free basis, as it has never been before. How often has it been seen in the experience of most of us, that fairly well-to-do parents have complained bitterly of the tax that it is upon them to provide several dollars' worth of school books apiece for their several children, and in spite of so-called "compulsory school attending" the children of the poor were effectually excluded on account of their being unable to buy the necessary books. In 1892 Mr. Smith refused the tender of the can- didacy for congress by the Democratic congres- sional convention at Easton on account of the pressure of his business affairs.
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