Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 82

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

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The birth of Samuel F. Smith occurred in Ches- tertown, October 3, 1835, and his entire life has been passed in this place. The public schools afforded him a practical education. In youth he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until he was forty years of age, meantime erecting many of the substantial buildings that are to be seen in the town. Since 1870 he has engaged in the mercantile business, and in 1890 he built the store room which he has since occupied. Among the offices which he has held are those of town and school commissioner. He is interested in the

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work of the Methodist Protestant Church, and has long been one of its trustees. While he has been too busy to identify himself with public af- fairs, he nevertheless keeps posted concerning all political questions, and votes the Republican ticket in local and national elections.

December 3, 1857, Mr. Smith married Mary Elizabeth Chambers, a native of Kent County. Fourteen children were born of their union, of whom three sons and three daughters are now living. They are named as follows: Charles Sappington Smith, a leading merchant of Ches- tertown; Owen C., who is engaged in the drug business in Baltimore; Frank W., a student in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Balti- more; Hallie Chambers, wife of Amos Kelly, member of the police force of Chestertown; Katie Dodd and Fannie Giles.

OHN H. PHILLIPS, senior member of the firm of John H. Phillips & Co., well-known oyster packers of Cambridge, Md., is a nian whose sound common sense and vigorous, able management of his affairs have been important factors in his success, and with his undoubted integrity of character have given him an honor- able position among his fellow-men. He and James Wallace were the first oyster packers in Cambridge, and although he has been interested in other business enterprises, his time and attention have principally been devoted to that industry.

On Hoopers Island, Dorchester County, Md., Mr. Phillips was born October 8, 1846, a son of George W. Phillips, who was one of the leading Republicans in this section of the state during the trying days of the Civil war. Our subject completed his literary education in the West River Institute, Anne Arundel County, Md., where he graduated in 1865, after which he be- came one of the first public school teachers in Dorchester County, successfully following that profession for a year and a-half.

On the 26th of February, 1867, Mr. Phillips was united in marriage to Miss Mary P. Meekins,

who died in 1885, leaving the following children: Alice D., now the wife of L. K. Hackett, a farmer of Dorchester County; William T., who married Lizzie Mobry, and died in 1893, leaving two chil- dren; Carrie O., wife of Milton Richardson, of Cambridge, by whom she has two children; Vic- toria, who married Fred Schoenewolf, a merchant of Baltimore, and has one child; John Jay, an oyster packer of Cambridge, who married Ida Myers; and Henry H. and Edna, both at home. In 1890 Mr. Phillips was again married, this union being with Mrs. M. Jennie Howard.

Coming to Cambridge in 1877, Mr. Phillips embarked in merchandising as a groceryman in August of that year, and in connection with that trade he started the oyster business two years later, purchasing a vessel for that purpose. Subsequently he sold his store and engaged in the livery business until 1889, and since disposing of that has given his entire time and attention to the oyster trade, packing from eighty to one hundred thousand gallons per year. He is now meeting with a well-deserved success, and is rec- ognized as one of the most straightforward and honorable business nien of Dorchester County.

In early life he was a Republican in politics, and on that ticket was the candidate for sheriff of his county in 1887, but was defeated, as the party was greatly in the minority. He is now a stanch supporter of the Prohibition party, and is a strong advocate and follower of its principles, while re- ligiously he and his wife are both earnest and con- sistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Cambridge.

J AMES SANGSTON SHEPHERD, chief deputy clerk of the circuit court for Dor- chester County, is a much-respected citizen of Cambridge, and is a worthy representative of a good old family in this portion of Maryland. He was honored by being appointed to this re- sponsible position in 1892, and still occupies the office to the gratification of everyone interested. He is just the man for the place, as he is so

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thoroughly systematic, painstaking and reliable in the performance of all duties devolving upon lıim. He designed the present system, an ad- mirable and practical one, for the filing of docu- ments. Shelves and cases are constructed of steel, and are conveniently classified, so that but a fraction of the time formerly required to in- vestigate titles and other documents, is now necessary. His plan thus specified was adopted by the county commissioners, who reported favor- ably upon the ingenious scheme.

The fatlier of the above-named gentleman was Caleb Shepherd, who was born November 19, 1812, and died in 1878, and the mother, Pris- cilla Elizabethi (Pattison) Shepherd, born Au- gust 2, 1826, died in 1880. The father was an agriculturist in early life, but retired wealthy about 1859, thenceforth making his home in Cambridge. He was quite an inventor and con- structed the first threshing machine ever used in Dorchester County. To himself and wife were born the following children: James Hooper, who died in infancy; Nancy Pattison, wife of George Bryan, of Alexandria, Va .; Frank Lockwood, of Baltimore, whose wife was formerly C. Wilsie Byrn; Elizabeth Hooper, wife of Edgar Bayly, of Cambridge; James Sangston; Robinson Cator, who died in infancy; Nellie, who also died in in- fancy; Dr. J. Hooper Pattison (now deceased), who married Helen Robinson, of Baltimore (she also since deceased); Mary Caroline, deceased, and Henry Pattison, a resident of Cambridge.

James S. Shepherd was born March 28, 1858, and was only a year or so old when his parents settled permanently in this town, coming here from the old homestead, about three miles dis- tant. The lad was educated in the public schools and in St. John's College, at Annapolis, Md. Having studied law he was admitted to the bar of this county in 1879 and to the court of appeals a year later. For a few years he engaged in the practice of law in Cambridge, and then was given a fine position in the land office at Annapolis, un- der ex-Governor Henry Lloyd. Subsequently he became agent for the Maryland Steamboat Com- pany, with his office and headquarters in Cam- bridge, and held this post until he was appointed

to his present position. He searched the records and made out a complete and authentic list of the judges of the first judicial circuit from 1791 to the present time, a work of much interest to the descendants of the honorable judges in question, and work requiring great energy and research. . The aforesaid list has been printed in the local newspapers, but perhaps does not come within the scope of this volume. He is a portrait artist of no small ability, and has contributed pictures of several of the past judges of this district to our court house. The work is crayon, and is very creditably done, and our citizens greatly ap- preciate the kindness that prompted the donors to produce these portraits, and then adorn the walls of our temple of justice with them. He renders allegiance to the Democratic party, and is deeply interested in its success. Socially he is a member of the Heptasophis and is Master Mason.

October 19, 1881, Mr. Shepherd married Miss Elizabeth Ellen, daughter of Dr. Samuel H. and Margaret (Ballard) Robertson, of Somerset Coun- ty, Md. Mrs. Shepherd was born in that county. Three children grace the union of Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd, viz .: James Lockwood, born Decem- ber 1, 1882; Helen, October 15, 1884, and Mar- garet Robertson, August 28, 1893.

These children are of the ninth generation re- moved from their ancestor, Anthony Le Compte, who was the founder of the celebrated family of the name in Maryland. A quaintly worded old manuscript, written in the year 1819, by two blind brothers, Thomas and Daniel Le Compte, is in the possession of one of the descendants, and a copy of the document is kept by Mr. Shepherd. A few extracts from it will doubtless be of inter- est to many of the numerous descendants, who have intermarried with the best families of the state and elsewhere:

"Anthony Le Compte, a native of the province of Picorde, in France, on the account of his being a Protestant and was turned out and his estate con- fiscated to the Roman clergy, which was a cus- tom at that time; he then fled into England, and there took up arms against the King of France, being war at that time between the two nations-

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so joined the British Army and fought eleven years for the King of Great Britain and when the wars were over his fame was so great, and for his valour had him Knighted and the title of Monsieur given to him, and a coat of arms also, which, as we have heard from our ancestors is now in the tower of London, and in the sante city came across a French lady of the name of Esther Doatlan and married her there. She also was a French Protestantess and born in the province of Normande and turned out on account of her religion. He then took shipping and came into Chesapeake Bay and settled on the Potomack River in St. Mary's County; and after hear- ing of the great Choptank River being a settling, he and one Horn came in a boat together and viewed the shores up to where we now live; he then took up his lands upon the bay which was afterwards called Le Compte's Bay, the tract was called the land of St. Anthony; and Horn took up the land of Horn or Horn's Point that belongs to Charles Goldsborough, the two tracts close to- gether. He then moved his family from the Potomack and settled upon the northern side of a creek that was afterwards called Le Compte's creek, and there being so few whites and they so distant apart that he was obliged to fort him- self in or be cut off by the natives, which, how- ever, he averted by bringing white servants with small arms, ammunition and some cannon, and when surrounded by the savages would often disperse them by firing guns of most every size and killed some at different times, which was the sole cause of his preservation, no doubt."

After giving a detailed and lengthy record of the posterity of the said Anthony and Esther Le Compte, the manuscript continues thus: "We will now conclude by observing that Monsieur Le Compte, though he was turned out of France because of his religion and then braved the wars of France and England, and in London found his lady and came and settled in America; still after this there hath arisen the most numerous family here than every man perhaps that came crossed the ocean; which naturally implies that he was in favour both with God and man; as some other fam- ilies are extinct and gone and not one to keep up

the name, while there is hundreds of people that don't bear the name of Le Compte that is as near in blood as some that bears the name; and we that have heard and kept this intelligence are blind men too. Now Moses the first from Monsieur, was the first that lost his sight, and he had eleven children, nine of which lost their sight, which was a great part; but since by the blind men and women marrying into other families the proportion is much less, as from more than two thirds to less than one third; and as their gifts and talents are more and greater than those that could see, both in men and women; that women of other families are commonly more attached to them that could see; also men of other families were much attached to the women that lost their sight; in or by so many women that lost their sight marrying with other families, is the cause of so many blind people being in their families. Since Moses the first that lost his sight, there hath been two and forty, and now in year 1819, there is nineteen living in Dorchester and Talbot of different families and names. Now some foolish people hath thought this misfortune that befel us on the account of the wickedness of their ancestors, but how different it is from the truth, reason and scripture. For our Lord said, 'many are the afflictions of the righteous, but out of them he will deliver them all,' for 'whom he loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every son that he receiveth.' Read the ninth chapter of John's Gospel."

In tracing the lineage of James S. Shepherd, we cull the following from this old record: "I now come to the second son of Monsieur Le Compte, which is Moses. Moses, when about eighteen or nineteen began to lose his sight and was gone at about two or three and twenty, the first that lost his sight, after which he married a lady by the name of Skinner (Elizabeth), the daughter of old Skinner from England, that took up the land that now owned by Joseph Byus. She by him had eleven children." (And as named, nine of the eleven were blind.) The second son, Moses, was blind, but he married "the widow" Lavina Driver, and their son, Moses the third chose for a wife Elizabeth Pat-

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tison. Of their children one was Moses (the fourth) and another, Nancy. Moses married Elizabeth Woodward and their daughter Nancy was born in 1759 and became the wife of Jeremiah Pattison. Their son, James Pattison, married Elizabeth Le Compte. Their son, Jeremialı Le Compte, married Ann Le Compte Hooper, and one of their children, Priscilla Elizabeth Pattison, was our subject's mother.

ON. JOHN E. TAYLOR, of the tenth dis- trict of Wicomico County, is very prominent in political circles and has just been elected to the legislature of Maryland. From 1881 to 1883 he served very satisfactorily as commissioner of the county and in 1895 acted in the capacity of assessor. Frequently has he been called upon to attend the local and state conventions of the Democracy, with which party he is affiliated, and his influence is recognized and desired. In the order of the Knights of Pythias he stands high, having been through all the chairs of Riverton Lodge No. 65, and having been a representative to the grand lodge of Maryland.

J. E. Taylor was born near the spot where his home now stands, in the tenth district, November 15, 1849. His father, John B. Taylor, and his grandfather, whose Christian name was Ebenezer, were also born upon this same farmi, the patent to which tract of land was given by one of the Lords Baltimore to the great-grandfather of our subject. The document which is in the posses- sion of J. E. Taylor bears the date of April 18, 1760. John B., whose death occurred in 1883, was a prosperous and enterprising business man. He was a merchant, and owned large estates and interests in sailing-vessels that plied the bay. He was twice married, his first wife, Mary Walker, having died in 1856. Of their five children three are deceased, and only J. E., of this sketch, and his sister Sophronia remain. For his second wife the father married Mrs. Rebecca Wilson, of Dorchester County, and two children were born

to them: Rebecca, wife of Dison Bradley, of Dor- chester County, and Fannie, wife of Frank Wright, also of that county.

In order to be fully equipped for the business of life, J. E. Taylor attended a commercial col- lege in Baltimore upon completing his public school education here. At twenty-two he went into partnership with his father in his store across the river in Dorchester County, the firm being known as J. B. & J. E. Taylor. There young Taylor was engaged in merchandising for a period of ten years, becoming thoroughly ac- quainted with the principles of business. Since 1887 he has been engaged in milling, operating his farms and running a large cannery here in the tenth district. He owns about two hundred acres of land here, and some seven hundred acres across the river, in Dorchester County. Through his own efforts and wisely directed energy he became well-to-do while yet in his early prime.

Following his early training in religious mat- ters, Mr. Taylor is identified as a member of the Methodist Protestant Church, and is superintend- ent of the Sunday-school. He was married, September 25, 1881, to Miss Annie, daughter of Jacob De Frain, of Pennsylvania, and they have two children, Alice and Fred.

J OHN RILEY ROBINSON was for years a successful business man, and, though he once suffered the loss of his entire fortune, his ability, intelligence, acute management and energy enabled him to accumulate a second fort- une larger than the first. Various industries re- ceived his attention. His was a many-sided nature, and his versatile ability enabled him to carry forward to a successful consummation projects widely different in plan and purpose. During the latter part of his life he resided at his country home, Landoff, in the first district of Talbot County, and here his death occurred. This place he purchased in 1870 from the Golds- borough estate.

In Middletown, Conn., the subject of this

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sketch was born July 13, 1810. In early life he became interested in the banking business, of which he gained a thorough knowledge, and for some years he was a successful banker in Colum- bus, Ohio. In addition to the management of his bank, he had large and important railroad interests, and assisted in the construction of many lines of roads that are still in operation. At the age of fifty, in 1860, he suffered financial reverses. Fortunately, however, he succeeded in interesting some moneyed men of New York in his mining enterprises, and was furnished the capital for the development of mines in Mexico, through which he made a large fortune. In 1876 he sold these mines to "Boss" Sheppard, late of Washington, and about the same time he purchased Landoff.

When young, Mr. Robinson married Jane Wil- kinson, of Pittsburg, by whom he had twelve children, four of whom are now living. In 1885 he married Catherine J. Taylor, of New York. He was connected with some of the old families of the country, the most noted of these being the Washington family, as, on his mother's side, he was a fourth cousin to George Washington. He died at his home in Talbot County, May 9, 1890. Since his demise his widow purchased the fine place known as Arrowstone.

AMUEL H. WRIGHTSON, who is now living a retired life, after years of most in- dustrions, honest toil which had its re- ward in the fact that he became well-off in this world's goods, and highly esteemed by a large circle of friends and neighbors, has dwelt in St. Michael's district, Talbot County, during his whole life. The same thing was true of his father before him, Thomas Wrightson, who was, however, a shipbuilder by occupation, and whose death took place when he was yet in the prime of usefulness, about forty-seven years old. He was a hero of the war of 1812, between the United States and England, and was a man of true pa- triotisin, whether in time of peace or war.

The mother of Samuel Wrightson was a Miss

Eliza Harrison in her maidenhood. She came from an old and respected family of this county, and was a daughter of Joseph Harrison. She died at the age of fourty-four years, leaving but the one child. This was Samuel, who had been born September 25, 1826, and was a mere infant when his father died. He grew up under the tender care and love of his mother, who nobly strove to fill both a mother's and father's place toward her only son. She sent him to the best schools and academies to be found in the vicin- ity and trained him in right and grand principles and ideals. She was removed from him by death when he was still in his teens, and for the suc- ceeding two years he resided with an uncle, help- ing him in farm work. Then he sold the prop- erty he had inherited and invested the proceeds in another farm, which he preferred for several reasons, and here he continued to live, engaged in agriculture, until 1889. He sold out that year and has since resided in the family of his son and daughter. He still owns one hundred and sev- enty-four acres of land, part of this being a valu- able tract on Broad Creek Neck. A few years ago he met with a great affliction in the loss of his eyesight, being nearly blind now. He has long been a faithful member of the Methodist Church, and finds great consolation in religion, and in the fact that his children are devoted to him.

In 1848 S. H. Wrightson and Hester Bartlett were united in marriage. She was a native of this county, and died when in her thirty-second year. She was one of those sweet spirits whom to know is to love, and having enjoyed her sym- pathetic companionship even though for but a few years her husband never sought to install another in her place, knowing that it could never be filled to him. She left two children to mourn her loss, a son and daughter, Jonathan J. and Rose G. The latter is the wife of John R. Daw- son, of Middletown, Del.

Jonathan J. Wrightson was born in 1857 and was reared to the life of a farmer. He is a prac- tical business man and is prosperous and enter- prising. His farm is kept up in thrifty fashion, and shows that the constant attention of the

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owner is brought to bear upon everything need- ing his supervision and watchfulness. He chose for his wife Sarah A. McQuay, of Talbot County, and by their marriage four children have been born, viz .: Albert, William, Laura B. and Jona- than, Jr. Like his father, J. J. Wrightson fav- ors the Democratic party platformn, and like him, also, lias never had any desire for official distinc- tion. He belongs to the Methodist Church and is at present a steward in the congregation.

OSEPH A. ROSS, M. D., is an able and talented young practitioner of Trappe vil- lage, Talbot County, and has a most promis- ing future before him. He has always been a great student and in school and college stood at the head of his classes, as a general thing. The habit of study and observation which he then formed has since become a habit of his mind, and in every new development or discovery con- nected with his profession he is fully up to the times. To his chosen field of labor he brings genuine enthusiasm and liking for the work, and these are frequently essentials of success in any calling.

Dr. Ross and his sister Lulu are the only children of A. P. and Laura A. (Woodland) Ross, natives of Talbot and Baltimore Counties, respectively. The doctor was born April 28, 1875, in Williamsport, Pa., and lived there dur- ing the first eight years of his boyhood. Then, with his parents he removed to Trappe district and for a year or more he resided in the village, at the end of that time settling on a farin a short distance away. Here the youth grew to maturity, in the meantime receiving excellent advantages from an educational point of view. He became thoroughly acquainted with the French, Latin and English languages, and mani- fested unusual talent in various lines of study. He was but eighteen years of age when he began the study of medicine, reading for eight months under the instruction of Dr. T. W. Greenley, of Trappe village. Thus prepared for more arduous

work, he entered the University of Maryland, and graduated in the class of '96. He was a member of a class of ninety-four students, only sixy-four of whom passed the rigorous examina- tions to which they were subjected, and it was his distinguished honor to stand at the head of the class. He returned to this place and opened an office. He gives has whole time and attention to his profession, and is already winning good patronage. His practical training in hospital work was of great benefit to him, and gave him the initial experience which every young practi- tioner requires. He was secretary of his class in college and enjoyed the friendship of all of his associates, teachers and scholars alike. He is now serving as vaccine surgeon for Trappe dis- trict. Socially he belongs to the Order of Red Men and is a member of the Episcopal Church.

G RTHUR JEDSON, proprietor of a sawmill in the seventh district of Kent County, was born near Belfast, Me., July 3, 1832, and remained in his parents' home until about ten years of age, when he shipped aboard a coasting vessel that sailed near the shore line of the At- lantic. His first service was as cook. For about twenty-two years he followed the water and after ten years was made master of a coaster and con- tinued in command of different vessels through the succeeding twelve years. During the Civil war he was in the government employ on a vessel used in carrying stores into Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia. He witnessed the capture of Port Royal, Md., when thus engaged.

In 1865, after the close of the war, Mr. Jedson came to this state and engaged in the construc- tion of Reese's first wharf at what is now Tol- chester Beach, Kent County. He afterwards built the Quaker Neck wharf in this county and in 1868 opened a small country store, where he now lives. He purchased here a small farm and has since made his home thereon. For seven years he conducted his mercantile establishment, enjoying a good trade, and then sold out in order

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Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 82

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