Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 86

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 86

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Up to his twenty-second year C. H. Fleming remained under the parental roof, assisting his father in the work of the farm, and attending the district schools, until he had mastered what knowledge was there to be obtained. Since ar- riving at mature years he has given himself ex- clusively to agricultural enterprises, and has won success. He has voted the Democratic ticket since becoming a voter, and is always prompt in the discharge of his public duties.

December 24, 1854, Mr. Fleming married Frances Powell, who was born and reared in Delaware, and whose grandfather, George Pow- ell, was a veteran of the war of 1812, and later was one of the prominent farmers of Kent County, Del. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fleming: Frances J., Mary E., Cyrenius C., Sarah M., Susan C., William F., George S., James W. and one that died in infancy. The family are regular in their attendance upon the services of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the parents being members of the denomination. They have a pleasant and happy home, where they are surrounded with many of the luxuries of life, as well as being comfortably provided for in every way.

ILEY M. STEVENSON, chief of the fire department of Pocomoke City since 1892, is one of the leading citizens of this place. He takes an active interest in all things which have for their object the prosperity of his com- munity, and has been identified with numerous local enterprises. In 1872, having remodelled a building, he started a grist-mill here, and in 1891 placed improved modern machinery in the mill, and has since been engaged in the manufacture of flour by the roller process. Besides turning out various kinds of meal, feed, etc., the mill has a capacity of fifty barrels of flour per day.

R. M. Stevenson was born in the town of Snow Hill, Worcester County, November 22, 1845. His parents were Thomas F. and Maria Stevenson, natives of Maryland. He is largely self-educated and is to-day a man of wide and general informa-

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tion as a result of his well-applied study and reading. When he was about fifteen years old he took a position as an engineer on a steamboat, and was thus occupied for five or more years. In 1865 he came to Pocomoke City and opened a wood-working establishment, where all kinds of doors, windows, blinds and moldings for house builders were manufactured. This plant was successfully carried on by Mr. Stevenson until 1872, when lie concluded to remodel the build- ing, converting it into a grist-mill.

In 1872 Mr. Stevenson married Miss Bettie M. Merrill, and of their four children, one, Willie, is deceased, while the others are Bessie, Riley P. and Mary. Mr. Stevenson is an elder and de- voted member of the Presbyterian Church. Fra- ternally he is identified with the Masonic order, being connected with Crescent Lodge No. 178, of Pocomoke City. He is also a Knight of Pythias, being a member of Pocomoke Lodge No. 96. For six years he was master of finance with the last- named lodge, and with the Masonic lodge lie was the treasurer for several years. He is a faithful and consistent Christian, upright and honorable in all his business dealings, and in all circles, whether of commerce, society or church, he is very highly respected and looked up to, as he deserves.

ON. WILLIAM D. HOPKINS, who served to the full satisfaction of his numerous friends and fellow-citizens as a member of the house of delegates in the Maryland legis- lature of 1896, is thoroughly esteemed and re- spected and is one of the leading business men of Cambridge, Dorchester County, his well-equipped grocery being situated in the Masonic Temple. He has been a very important factor in the de- velopment and increasing popularity of the West End as a place of residence, and his own invest- ments in real estate here and elsewhere have been very profitable.

Our subject is the eldest living son in a family of ten children, two, Joseph H. and Purnell J., having died. The others are as follows: Sarah

E., Mrs. L. J. Stewart, of Norfolk, Va .; W. D .; Laura M., wife of J. Ben Brown, an architect of Cambridge (see his sketch); Mary E., wife of A. J. Foble, a manufacturer of this place, whose history is given on another page of this volume; Thomas J., a sailor and owner of two vessels, and a resident of Baltimore; John W., a mer- chant, whose home is upon the James River in Virginia; J. Richard, a partner of John W .; Ed- win C., a grocer of Cambridge; and Annie, wife of V. L. Rea, a brick manufacturer of this town. Their parents were William and Eliza (Brooks) Hopkins. The father is still living in Cam- bridge, but his fond and faithful wife died some fifteen years ago.

The birth of Hon. William D. Hopkins took place April 3, 1847, and he was reared in this district. From his nineteenth to his twenty-third year he followed the life of a sailor, but after his marriage he settled down and engaged in mer- chandising at Church Creek. He was occupied in business at that point for about six years, after which he removed to Cambridge. The succeed- ing three years he sailed upon the inland waters of the bay, and then turned his attention to farm- ing for a period. About this time he worked to some extent in the ship yards here as a ship car- penter. Since 1890 he has conducted a grocery, at first being located at the corner of Locust street and West End avenue, but removed to his present place of business in 1894. He is building a num- ber of substantial and attractive houses in Cam- bridge, and is selling and subdividing property which he has purchased from time to time in the ·West End. For the past twenty years, perhaps, this district (congressional) has been practically in the hands of the Democracy, but in 1896 there were elected three Republican legislators, viz .: W. D. Hopkins, William Spry Bradley, of Hur- lock, and Charles M. Wingate, of Lake district, they having a majority of four hundred and fifty votes. Fraternally Mr. Hopkins is connected with the Masonic order, as a member of the blue lodge and chapter, and is also associated with the Knights of the Golden Chain.

In 1872 Mr. Hopkins married Miss Margaret P., daughter of Samuel Christopher, a ship-

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builder, formerly of Church Creek. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins has been blessed with ten children, of whom five survive, as follows: Uhlan D., a member of the firm of W. D. Hop- kins & Son, and also engaged in the livery busi- ness here; Eliza B., Addie, Arthur and Ethel. Mrs. Hopkins, a lady of charming qualities of mind and heart, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the family attend its serv- ices. They have a very pleasant home, built recently, in modern style, and furnished in re- fined taste.

WEN C. BLADES is an enterprising farmer and fruit-grower of the fourth district of Caroline County, of which locality he is a native. His finely kept homestead is situated adjoining the village of Choptank, in fact a por- tion of the town has been built upon land which was originally comprised within the limits of the farm. He is a thorough and practical agri- culturist, having been trained to the life from his earliest recollections. Upon his place he raises a general line of cereals and excellent varieties of fruit and other produce.

The Blades family were early settlers of Mary- land, having crossed the Atlantic with a small company who left their old home in the mother country, England, to found new homes in hospit- able America. Grandfather Isaiah Blades was born, reared to maturity and was buried, at the close of his useful and busy career, upon the old farm now owned by Captain Cockran. He was a good financier and was quite wealthy at one time, leaving large estates to his several chil- dren, and much of the land is still in the hands of members of the family. The parents of our subject were Isaiah C. and Milcath (Todd) Blades, the latter a daughter of Samuel Todd. Isaiah Blades was born in what was then called Fowling Creek, but now known as Union Grove, and there he was brought up. He married in that locality and to himself and wife were born the following children: Anthony, who died un-

married; Eli K., who died, leaving no children; Julia E , who became the wife of James Payne, and left a family of four little ones at her death; Irene, wife of Capt. N. J. Cockran; Christina, widow of Poulson E. Hubbard; Armelia, who married Robert Patton; Martha, Mrs. J. P. J. Hubbard; Owen C .; and Emily, wife of W. T. A. Lockerman, of Easton.

Owen C. Blades was born March 13, 1848, in the fourth district and has always resided here. He has taken great interest in all progressive movements in this locality, and is to be found upon the side of good government and order at all times. He purchased the farm he now oper- ates in 1884, moved here the following year, and has made substantial improvements upon it. In political matters lie uses liis right of franchise in favor of the Democratic party. Socially he is a member of the Improved Order of Heptasophs.

I11 1869 a marriage ceremony united the fort- unes of Mr. Blades and Miss Rhoda A. Fountain, daughter of William and Maria (Hubbard) Fountain. They have had seven children, viz .: Minnie M., wife of Clarence E. Smith; Alva F., Luther L., Anah L., Elsie, George V. and Nor- man R. The family are members of the Meth- odist Protestant Church and are liberal in their donations to all worthy local benevolences.

ROF. M. BATES STEPHENS, examiner of schools and one of the most influential citi- zens of Denton, was born October 5, 1862, in what is known as Tuckahoe Neck, Caroline County. He is a son of William B. Stephens, a native of Kent County, Del., who came to Caroline County in 1858 and settled upon a farm. In ad- dition to the management of his estate he held the office of collector of taxes for four years. In politics he adhered to the Democratic policy and was warmly interested in party matters. His death occurred in 1884. He was a son of Thomas C. Stephens, a native and life-long resident of Delaware.

The mother of our subject was Sarah, daugh-

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ter of John Wooters, and member of an old Dela- ware family. She was born in Kent County, that state, in 1833, and died in Caroline County in 1878. Her family comprised three sons, namely: James A., who is engaged in the mer- cantile business at Crisfield, Md .; John W., a farmer at Burrsville, Caroline County; and M. Bates. The last-named grew to manhood upon the home farm. His primary education was ob- tained in the common schools. At the age of seventeen he entered Greensborough Academy, where he carried on his studies for two years. In 1880 he matriculated in Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa., where he would have graduated had not the death of his father made it necessary for him to return home. However, he carried on his studies alone and was given tlie degree of A. M. by the college.

Selecting for his life work the calling of a teacher, he has since given his entire attention to that occupation, and in it has met with deserved success. For a time he was principal of the Greensborough schools. In 1886 he was elected examiner of schools, in which capacity he has since rendered efficient service. Politically he adheres to Democratic principles, and for several years he has been chairman of the Democratic central committee for Caroline County. He takes an interest in Masonry and is now secretary of the blue lodge.

OBERT W. RANDALL is a public-spirited citizen of the town of East New Market, Dorchester County, and has served in the capacity of town commissioner here, having been elected upon the Democratic ticket. Though not a native of Maryland or even of America, he is thoroughly in sympathy with the people of this community and, after having traveled consider- ably in various parts of the United States, he has come to the conclusion that the natural ad- vantages of this portion of the state are rarely surpassed. With the greatest cities of this conti- nent affording a fine market for our farm and

manufactured products, without long and expen- sive transportation, few, perhaps, realize as earnestly as he does what this has meant, and will in the future mean to the favored inhabitants of "my Maryland."

R. W. Randall was born in Cambridgeshire, England, October 22, 1842, and when a small boy crossed the Atlantic with his parents and settled in Rochester, N. Y. There he grew to manhood, and was given liberal educational ad- vantages. He early gave his entire allegiance to his adopted country, and was but nineteen years of age when he enlisted in defense of the stars and stripes which he loved. He was placed in . Company L, First New York Light Artillery, commanded by Capt. John A. Reynolds, and in the fall of 1861 proceeded with them to Balti- more, and in that city spent the winter. The following spring they went to the front, joining the army of the Potomac, and served from that time until at the battle of Antietam Mr. Randall was wounded and sent to the hospital. He had seen active and gallant service, and he was not again required to report for duty, owing to his disability, though he was not finally mustered out until November, 1865.

July 4, 1864, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Randall and Miss Mary Throp, in Muncie, Pa., and a few years later they removed to this district, where they resided upon a farm some eight or nine years. In 1881 he engaged in milling here and has since followed this business with good financial results. He also handles coal, lumber and shingles, and in connection with his many other ventures, has recently estab- lished a roller-mill. . He owns a valuable farm near the village, and superintends its cultivation.

The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Randall is Ella, who is now the wife of Walter Willis, of East New Market. The parents are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Randall is a sociable, genial man, and always accustomed to look upon the bright side of things, and for these reasons, as well as on account of the fact that his genuine goodness of character is well known, he is a general favorite with all his fellow-citizens. His parents were William and Eliza (Jarvis) Randall,

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both of whom died in Rochester, N. Y., where they had lived ever since their arrival in America. They left two sons and five daughters, of whom our subject is the eldest. The others are: Mary, Mrs. Harry Kemp; Eliza, Emma, Lucy, Lillie and Harry.

AMES ARTHUR SAXTON. A life-long resident of Dorchester County, Mr. Saxton was born in 1845 in the district of New Mar- ket, where he now resides. The concentration of his attention upon lines of work connected with agriculture has enabled him to gain a thor- ough knowledge of every department connected with the occupation and has developed qualities of energy, industry and perseverance that have assisted him in the accumulation of a valuable property. His farm is situated near East New Market and comprises two hundred and forty- seven acres of fertile land, upon which have been placed improvements that make the homestead one of the finest in the district.

The father of our subject, Thomas J. Saxton, was the first member of his family to settle in Maryland. Born and reared in Delaware, he there married a sister of William P. Smithers, of that state. After the birth of one son, William, and the death of the mother, he came to Dor- chester County, where he married Harriet, widow of Whiteley Beckwith and daughter of Jacob Howard, the latter a direct descendant of Roger Willianis. Jacob Howard and John Webster, father of Samuel L. Webster, married sisters, Leah and Rebecca Simmons, respectively, daugh- ters of Levin Simmons. The first husband of Mrs. Saxton had three children by his marriage to her. He was a widower with one child. For some time our subject's father lived in Cam- bridge, but in January, 1845, he came to East New Market and the following year he settled on the farm his son now owns.

Here the boyhood days of our subject were passed. At sixteen, upon the death of his father, he assumed charge of the old homestead. In 1878 he embarked in the phosphate and agri-

cultural implement business, which he has since conducted upon an extensive scale, having sold more farm implements than anyone else in the county during the twenty years he has been in the business. In 1870 he married James- Anna, daughter of Capt. James Le Compte, who was at one time a leading citizen of the county. Four children bless the union, namely: Eustace P., who is employed as purser on the steamer Avalon, owned by the Baltimore, Chesapeake & Eastern Railroad Company; Clarence L., who is a travel- ing salesman for the McCormick Harvesting Ma- chine Company; May and Thomas. Father and sons adhere firmly to Democratic principles, and the entire family are identified with the Metliod- ist Episcopal Churchi. For more than a quarter of a century Mr. Saxton has been a member of the Masonic fraternity, which he has served as past master. He was master of the lodge in 1874 and had passed through three chairs before that time. During all the years of his connection with Masonry he has been active and deeply in- terested in the fraternity. As a business man he is capable and energetic, and the valuable pos- sessions he has accumulated prove his skill as a financier and his judgment in business transac- tions.

ON. PHILEMON BLAKE HOPPER shows in his successful career the possession of traits which are his no less by arduous training and study than by inheritance. As an attorney he is prominent and in political circles influential. In 1883 he was elected state's attor- ney, which responsible position he filled for twelve years, retiring in January, 1896. The able manner in which he conducted prosecutions for the state brought him an enviable reputation, not only in Centreville, but throughout this part of the Eastern Shore. In 1894 his name was men- tioned as candidate for congress from the first district, and in 1897 he was a candidate for chief justice of the second judicial circuit.

The Hopper family has been among the most influential of Queen Anne's County for a number

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of generations. The grandfather of our subject, Judge Philemon B. Hopper, was born in this county, became a member of the bar of Centre- ville and for years was judge of the circuit court. Interested in fruit culture, he had one of the first peach orchards on the Eastern Shore. In the Methodist Protestant Church, of which he was one of the founders, he was a local minister and a leader. He died in 1858. The father of our subject, Philemon B. Hopper, was born near Centreville in 1816, and received his education principally in the Easton high school. Entering the legal profession, he soon became prominent in his home locality. He was a Whig in politics and was elected to the legislature upon that ticket when a young man. During the war his sympa- thies were with the Union. Like his father, he held membership in the Methodist Protestant Church. He died December 28, 1870.

The mother of our subject, Henrietta, was a daughter of Dr. Robert Goldsborough, of an old Queen Anne's County family, and her death occurred June 28, 1878. In her family there were a son and two daughters, the latter being Mary Ann, wife of William E. Thompson, who is justice of the peace at Centreville; and Fannie, Mrs. William Harper McFeely, of Chestertown. Our subject was born in Centreville March 25, 1853, and received his early education in Centre- ville Academy. In 1868 he entered St. John's College at Annapolis, where he was a student for two years. In March, 1871, he matriculated at Western Maryland College, from which he was graduated in 1874. He then began the study of law, and in 1878 was admitted to the bar, after which he devoted himself to his private practice until 1883, the year of his election as prosecuting attorney.

While the reputation which Mr. Hopper enjoy's has been won principally through liis labors as an attorney, yet, being a man of versatile ability, he has not limited his energies to the legal pro- fession, but is also known as a newspaper man and as a politician. In the latter capacity he has been influential in the Democratic party, both in his city and county, and his advice has been solicited and his assistance sought in the develop-

ment of party plans. As the incumbent of an important office, he ably represented tlie interests of the state. While he had the advantage of good birth, honorable ancestry and an excellent edu- cation, yet these have been merely factors in, not the cause of, his success. His prosperity has been secured by his indefatigable energy and sound judgment.

DMUND B. PENNINGTON resides upon a valuable farm in the second district of Kent County. After a residence of some years in Delaware, the state where he was born and reared, he removed to Maryland in 1869 and settled upon a farm at Howell Point. As the years passed by, he saved his earnings until finally he had accu- mulated an amount sufficient to enable him to buy a home of his own. In 1879 he purchased the Forrest or Wilson farm and here he has since resided, engaging in the raising of cereals and fruit. The property comprises one hundred and fifty-six acres of land, the larger portion of which is under cultivation.

For the family history of our subject the reader is referred to the sketch of W. D. Pennington, which appears upon another page. Edmund B. Pennington was born in Newcastle County, Del., in 1837, and spent his early years in the acquire- ment of an education and of a thorough knowl- edge regarding farm work. He assisted in the cultivation of the home farm until he was twenty years of age, when he went to Missouri, intend- ing to make it his home. However the surround- ings were uncongenial, and the state in his opinion not equal to the one where he had formerly resided. After one year's experience in the west, he returned to Delaware, where for nine years he acted as manager for William Rye- bold.

Coming to Maryland in 1869, Mr. Pennington operated a rented farm for ten years and then purchased his present place of residence. In the years that have since passed, he has placed the property under excellent cultivation and has in-

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troduced the various improvements that mark the home of a man of thrift. Keeping himself well posted concerning the questions of the day, he gives his influence and ballot to the Democratic party. He is a member of the Episcopal Church, in which he holds the offices of treasurer and vestryman. In 1870 he married Mary A. Tucker, of Baltimore, and six children blessed their union. Four are now living, namely: Marion; Edmund; Mary, wife of George Sutton, and Elizabeth.

- G ON. JOSEPH H. JOHNSON, of Cambridge, is one of the influential public men of the Eastern Shore. His political career began in 1877, when he was elected to the house of delegates. He served in the legislature of 1878 and by re-election in 1883, became a member of the legislature of 1884. In the lower house he advocated all measures that he believed to be for the good of the state and opposed with equal de- termination other bills that he believed would prove injurious. His service was so efficient and satisfactory that his party, the Democratic, made him their nominee for the state senate in 1887, and he was elected by a good majority. His re- election in 1893 showed the high esteem in which he was held by his constituents. He is the author of the oyster laws of Maryland and has been chair- man of the Chesapeake Bay tributary commis- sion, besides in other ways advancing the inter- ests of the people of his state.

The Johnson family was first represented in America in the seventeenth century, and is of Eng- lish extraction. The grandfather of our subject was a soldier in the war of 1812, for which he built a number of privateers. Edward C., our subject's father, was left an orphan at nine years of age, and soon afterward shipped on board a large sea schooner, at first doing menial work, but being gradually promoted until he was captain and commander of a vessel before he was twenty-one. Later he became a shipbuilder on the Little Choptank, where he also owned between eight and nine hundred acres of fine fruit land. His

first wife was Amelia Ross Wallace, a refined lady of Scotch descent. They became the par- ents of ten children, of whom Joseph H. was the second. All grew to mature years and five are now living, namely: Dr. L. E. Johnson, of Washington, D. C .; Joseph Henry; Susan, who is married and resides in Washington; Helen, wife of Dr. Richard Dixon, of Cambridge; and Emma, wife of Calvert Orem, of Cambridge. By his second marriage, Edward C. Johnson had four children, viz .: James C., a bookkeeper in the National Bank of Cambridge; Sewell, who is studying law in the office of John G. Mills, in Cambridge; Mrs. Martha Hooper, who lives in Cambridge; and Margaret, at home. The father of these children died in Cambridge in 1883, when seventy-five years of age.

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Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 86

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