USA > Maryland > Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland > Part 91
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Dr. Dashiell was born near Quantico, August 2, 1840, and when he was a lad he was a pupil in the district schools, this being supplemented later by a two years' course in the old Washing- ton Academy, of Princess Anne, Md. He then engaged in teaching school for a time, in order to obtain the necessary funds with which to pursue his education further. At the same time he in- dustriously commenced the study of medicine, having Dr. Cadmus Dashiell as his preceptor for about four years. In October, 1863, he entered the medical department of the University of Maryland, graduating therefrom in 1865. He immediately located in Quantico, and, though he has sometimes seriously considered the advisa- bility of removing elsewhere, perhaps to a larger place, where he might have wider opportunities, he has finally yielded to the expressed wishes of his large circle of friends and acquaintances, who would not hear of such a move on his part. He soon built up an extensive and remunerative patronage and for some years has also conducted a drug store here.
JAMES M. CORKRAN, M. D.
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In 1872 the doctor married his cousin, Susie Dashiell, who died four years later, July 10, 1876. Subsequently he was united in marriage with Mary Meredith, and one son, Henry E., was born to them in 1883, but died in February of the following year. The doctor and his wife are highly esteemed in this town and vicinity and have a pretty, happy home, where their friends always receive a cordial welcome.
AMES M. CORKRAN, M. D., who is now successfully practicing medicine and surgery in Centreville, was born near Hurlock, Dor- chester County, Md., August 14, 1860, and is de- scended from one of the oldest families of the state. His great-great-grandfather, a native of England, secured a grant or purchase of land and named the place Churchfield farm. There four generations of the family were born, but in the present gen- eration the property has passed out of the pos- session of the family. James Corkran, the great- grandfather, was a prosperous farmer and lived on the old homestead, which he operated with the aid of slaves. The grandfather, Thomas Corkran, also a slaveholder and the owner of Churchfield farm, served as a soldier in the Mexican war and died when only thirty-two years of age.
The doctor's father, Thomas Corkran, was born in Dorchester County, March 28, 1821, and throughout his active business life followed farm- ing. He is now living in Seaford, Del., where he settled fifteen years ago. He holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church and has long been an active worker in its interests. He mar- ried Hester Wright, a daughter of Kinley Wright, of Dorchester County. His father, Joseph, was a son of Clementine Wright, a subordinate officer in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Corkran is still living, and by her marriage she became the mother of twelve children: Charles W., a farmer of Missouri; Francis S., a graduate of Glasgow College, who became a Methodist minister and died in Kansas City, Mo .; Mary Elizabeth, wife of Isaac Noble, of Preston Md .; Rev. Lewis P., a graduate of Dover Conference Academy, of
Dover, Del., now a Methodist minister located in Newcastle, Del .; Wilbur F., who was a student of the Dover Conference Academy and a. D. D. of St. John's College, and is now presiding elder of the Easton district; Thomas B., a farmer of Penn- sylvania; Millard F., a graduate of the University of Maryland and now a physician in Wilmington, Del .; Fanny, wife of Arthur Hitch, of Seaford, Del .; David H., a Methodist minister at Lewes, Del., who took a special course of study in Dover Conference Academy and in the University of Pennsylvania and was graduated from the Drew Theological Seminary; Milton W., a hotel clerk in St. Louis; Adelaide, of Dover Del .; and James M., of this sketch.
Dr. Corkran spent his early life on the farm and pursued his studies in the public schools of the county and Federal Academy. After graduating at that institute when eighteen years of age he taught in the public schools of the county for two . years and was then made principal of the Lebanon public schools of Lebanon, Del., which postion he retained until he took up the study of medicine in 1884 and matriculated in the medical depart- ment of the University of Maryland. He took a three years' course in that institution and graduated in 1887, after which he came to Centre- ville, where he has since made his home. He is quite successful in his practice and now has a large and lucrative patronage, resulting from a comprehensive understanding of the science of medicine and the successful application of its principles to the needs of suffering humanity.
June II, 1890, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Corkran and Miss Laura S. Emory, a daugh- ter of Addison Emory, of Centreville. They have one child, Margaret Spencer, five years of age. The doctor is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity and attends the Methodist Episcopal Church.
OHN S. HILL, editor and manager of the Peninsula Press, the state organ of the Pro- hibition party, was born in Snow Hill, May 9, 1860. He is the son of John J. Hill, well
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known to the older inhabitants of Snow Hill as a farmer and miller, and who is still living (1897), a man of sixty-seven years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Esther A. Taylor, died some years ago. A consistent Christian and a man of temperate habits, lie is highly respected by all who know him. By his first marriage he had two children and by his second wife had seven children, John S. being the oldest of the latter.
On the completion of his education our subject entered the educational profession as a teacher in 1880 and for five years he continued to teach in country schools. Afterward he accepted a posi- tion as principal of the Girdle Tree grammar school and then became vice-principal of the Snow Hill high school, where he remained for seven years. For one year he held the position of principal of the Oxford high school, after which he spent three years as principal of the Aberdeen high school.
In 1887, forming a partnership with R. J. and W. A. McAllen, also of Snow Hill, our subject purchased the Peninsula Press, taking charge of the paper in August, 1897. Since then its cir- culation has increased from ten hundred and twenty to twelve hundred and fifty, and it has also been made the state official organ of the Prohibition party. Since the days of St. John in1 1884 Mr. Hill has been actively connected with the Prohibition movement and is an earnest and active worker in the ranks of the party. In 1897 he married Miss Nannie P. Asher, daughter of William W. Ashier, of Aberdeen.
D APT. HENRY W. RUARK belongs to the great army of our Maryland citizens who have made their livelihood chiefly in the oyster industry. He owns a nice little farm of sev- eral acres on Fishing Creek, Hooper's Island, Dor- chester County, where he has his home, but in addition to this he owns a well-improved home- stead of four hundred acres at Meekins Neck, this also being within the limits of the county. June 1, 1896, he was appointed by Governor
Lowndes to act as captain of the Foley, a police boat, and look after the interests of the oyster fisheries in this vicinity. His term of office is for two years, expiring in June, 1898. He has some six or more men under his command and the boat patrols the Honga River, Fishing Bay, Hol- land and Hooper Straits and other adjacent waters.
William T. Ruark, father of the captain, was a native of Hooper's Island, and here made liis home and headquarters during his whole life. When lie was a boy of about twelve years he be- gan liis career upon the bay, and for nearly a quarter of a century was a vesselman. He owned several ships and freight boats, and was mainly engaged in the transportation of wood and lum- ber to Baltimore and Philadelphia. At length he purchased a farm at Fishing Creek and settled down to a less venturesome and dangerous life. He carried on his farm and also conducted a store in this place for about twenty years. His death occurred September 4, 1891, when he was in his sixty-fourth year. He was greatly interested in every triumph of the Republican party, but was not an office seeker. He was, religiously, a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His father, Henry, was likewise a native of the East- ern Shore and followed the sea in early life, later becoming a farmer. He died when about three- score years old. The mother of our subject was Rebecca T. Parker in her maidenhood, and was born in this locality. She is yet living and is now sixty-six years of age. She is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Three of lier children are deceased, the others be- ing: Henry W .; William W., who is engaged in the oyster business in Cambridge; Oliver G., an oysterman of this vicinity; Thomas L., also a local oysterman; and Cora T.
Captain Ruark was born in Hooper's Island September 26, 1859, and remained at home under the parental roof until he was fifteen, receiving the advantages of a public-school education. He then went aboard an oyster boat and followed the business of dredging for oysters until he was ap- pointed to his present position. Following his father's example in the matter of politics he is an
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ardent Republican, and fraternally he is a mem- ber of tlie Senior Order of American Mechanics.
In 1880 the marriage of Mr. Ruark and Miss Lucy R. Leland, of Hooper's Island, was cele- brated, and they have four children, who are named as follows: Nettie Ann, William Thomas, Eugene Henry and Lucy Rebecca.
EYNOR B. DOWNES, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in the sixth district of Queen Anne's County, comes of a family whose ancestral history is one of close and hon- orable connection with that of Maryland. More than a century has passed since the founders of the family in this state took up their residence within its borders and since that time representa- ives of the name have been active in its develop- ment. The grandfather of our subject was born here, and the father, William H. Downes, was a native of Queen Anne's County. He became a leader in public affairs, represented his district in the state legislature about 1836, and was at one time county commissioner of Caroline County. His political support was given the Democratic party.
William H. Downes was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Ann Reynor, a native of Talbot Coun- ty. They became the parents of ten children, namely: Philip W. and Dr. William H., both deceased; Reynor B .; Fannie E., deceased, who married Joseph E. Wilson; Stephen, who is liv- ing in the sixth district of Queen Anne's County; Annie, wife of E. C. Carter, of Caroline County; Ernest, of the same county; Emmett, who is liv- ing in the west; Eldridge, who makes his home in Queen Anne's County; and Clara, who is resid- ing at Hardcastle, Baltimore County. The fa- ther of this family died in April, 1867, and the mother passed away in February, 1895, having survived him for many years.
Reynor B. Downes, whose name begins this review, was born in Queen Anne's County, on the roth of May., 1844, and attended the public schools of the neighborhood, supplementing his
early educational privileges by a course in West River Academy. On attaining his majority he took charge of one of his father's farms, which he cultivated for some time, and in 1885 he rented the farm upon which he now resides. It belongs to his brother and comprises two hundred and twenty acres of rich and arable land, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation. His fields are well tilled, the improvements are in good repair and everything plainly indicates his careful supervision. He is a progressive farmer and ranks among the leading agriculturists of the community.
In December, 1879, Mr. Downes was united in marriage to Miss Fannie E. Corsey, a daugh- ter of Samuel Corsey, of Queen Anne's County. They have one child, Marshall. Their pleasant home is noted for its hospitality and they enjoy the friendship of the best citizens of the neigh- borhood.
RICE W. GOLDSBOROUGH, M. D., of Cambridge, was born in Princess Anne, Somerset County, being the oldest son of Worthington and Henrietta (Jones) Goldsbor- ough. His early years were passed in and about Princess Anne and Cambridge. At the age of twelve, in 1871, he entered the Episcopal high school near Alexandria, Va., from which he grad- uated at nineteen. He then became a student in the medical department of the University of Maryland, and later entered the University of Virginia, from which he graduated July 1, 1880. He took a post-graduate course in the University of Maryland in 1880-81, where he was a clinical assistant, and at the same time took a post-grad- uate course in the Johns Hopkins University, where he was regularly matriculated as a student in chemistry and physics.
Prepared by these studies, continued with such devotion and diligence, Dr. Goldsborough was ready to embark in the profession for himself. Going to South America he spent two years in Montevideo, Uruguay, where he was assistant in
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the charity hospital, as well as in the British hos- pital. During his connection with that work he gained a large amount of surgical experience of inestimable value to lim in after years. On liis return to the United States he opened an office in Cambridge, where he still resides. He married Miss Nannie Campbell Henry, and they have four children, Anna, Henrietta, Louise and Mary Campbell. In religious belief he is an Episcopa- lian, and holds office in his church as vestryman.
SAAC H. A. DULANY is one of the hon- pred sous of Wicomico County, he having been born here February 26, 1825. Since he reached the prime of his early manhood he has been actively engaged in mercantile enterprises in the town of Fruitland, and over forty-five years have rolled away finding him still in the field of commerce here. By his own independent efforts he has risen from a poor boy to a position of wealth and influence, and has exemplified in liis career the old principle that perseverance and industry win.
The parents of our subject were Dennis and Anna M. (Anderson) Dulany, both natives of Somerset County, Md. Their only child was Isaac H. A. Dulany, of whom we write. His grand- father, Henry Dulany, was also a native of the Eastern Shore and was a well-to-do farmer. The family are of French, Scotch, English and Irish extraction, and notwithstanding the unusual com- bination of nationalities, are Protestants in re- ligious faith. The father, Paul Dennis Dulany, was reared upon the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and was a blacksmith by trade. His death oc- curred when our subject was only six years old. The mother, who died in 1882, was a daughter of Isaac Anderson, who owned an extensive estate.
The educational privileges of Isaac H. A. Dulany were not such as fall to every school child here nowadays. The schools of his boy- hood were of a rather primitive nature, and were kept up but part of the year. In common with
the other boys of the period, he was early ini- tiated into the business of properly running a farın, and on account of his father's death he as- sumed responsibility beyond his years when he left school. When he was twenty he concluded to try his fortune in a city, and going to Balti- more obtained a clerkship, and was thus em- ployed there during some five years. Next he went to the nation's capital, and in the year that followed, while he was a clerk as before, lie had opportunities for getting an insight into the rou- tine work of a great store. This knowledge and contact with business men have been of much use to him in later life, and formed a basis upon which to build the success that followed his own entry into commerce. Returning home in 1851 he embarked in business for himself and later became interested in milling. He owns about three hundred acres of land in this county, all of it being improved and under cultivation. In political matters he was formerly a Republican, but is now a Prohibitionist, having formed the opinion that the cause of temperance should be a question of national import, and trusting that at some time in the future the government will put down the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors.
December 11, 1851, Mr. Dulany married Anna M. White, who was born and grew to woman- hood in this county. They reared a family of seven children, six of whom survive and are honored citizens of the several communities in which they dwell. Augustine is the name of the one who has been called to the better land, and the others are: Henry S , a minister of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church in Virginia; Albert J. and Henry S., who are in partnership with their father in the mercantile business founded by him; John H., chief clerk in his father's store; William P., in the commission business in Philadelphia; Joseph, a clerk in a New York commission house; and Maria T., who formerly was a teacher, but who is now the wife of Prof. V. A. Austin, of Salina, Kan. Mr. and Mrs. Dulany and their family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is steward and trustee and takes the deepest interest in the advancement of the cause of Chris-
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tianity. In all his dealings with his fellow-men he endeavors to follow the teachings of the golden rule and to exercise kindness and charity toward all.
OHN W. FLETCHER, now serving as reg- ister of wills, is one of the representative and prominent citizens of Dorchester County, where his entire life has been passed, his birth oc- curring June 21, 1848, on the farm near East New Market, in the second district. He is the only child of the third marriage of his father, but there were three sons by the first: William M., a resident of Cambridge; the other two being deceased; and by the second, two children: Jeremialı B. and Mrs. Mary J. Williamson, both residents of Caro- line County, Md. The Fletcher family, which is of English origin, was founded in America at an early day, and the great-grandfather of our sub- ject, John Fletcher, was a native of Delaware. The grandfather also bore the name of John, while the father was John H. Fletcher. He was a prosperous and successful farmer and held mem- bership in the Methodist Church, to which his family also belonged. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Sarah Andrews, and was a daughter of Medford Andrews, a large holder of real estate where the prosperous town of Hurlock is now situated.
On his farm near New Market, where Mr. Flet- cher of this review was born and grew to man- hood, he acquired a thorough and practical knowl- edge of agricultural pursuits, while his literary ed- ucation was obtained in the public schools of the neighborhood and in the East New Market Acad- emy, a private school. The occupation to which he was reared he has made his life work, has met with excellent success in his undertakings, and is quite an extensive land owner. He continued to live on his farm until January 1, 1886, when he moved to Cambridge to assume the duties of the office of register of wills, to which he had been elected the November previous.
In February, 1869, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Fletcher and Miss Susan Higgins, a daugh-
ter of Judge James Higgins, who for many years was chief judge of the orphans' court of Dorches- ter County. They have two children: Fred H., now twenty-six years of age, who is a promising young lawyer of Cambridge; and Laura, wife of Thomas W. Simmons, also an attorney of that city, by whom she has three children, Harriet Ruth, Lawrence Fletcher and Mary.
Politically Mr. Fletcher is an uncompromising Democrat, and has been honored by his party with a number of important positions, the duties of which he has discharged with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. In 1871 and 1872 he served as tax collector for the second and twelfth districts, and in 1877 and 1878 was appointed to close up the books of J. B. Nesbitt, collector. The following year he was the candidate of his party for sheriff, but failed of election by only a few votes. Previously, in 1875, he had refused to become the candidate of the potato-bug movement (which was composed of Republicans and dissatisfied Democrats) for county commissioner, declining the nomination tendered him. In 1881, however, he was again the choice of his party, and was triumphantly elected sheriff by three hundred majority. In 1885 he was elected register of wills by the same majority over Mr. Medford, the Republican nom- inee, and in 1891 was re-elected over J. Henry Hooper, by a majority of over three hundred. That his duties were most creditable and faithful- ly performed is attested by his unanimous nomi- nation and re-election again, in 1897, by an in- creased majority for the third term. Pleasant and genial in manner, he enjoys the friendship of a large circle of acquaintances, and is deservedly popular. Fraternally he is a member of the Royal Arcanum and the United Workmen. He is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and takes an active part in Sunday-school work.
HOMAS W. SIMMONS, one of the leading members of the Dorchester County bar, was born in Cambridge, where he now resides, August 17, 1867, and is a son of Josias S. and
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Leali C. Simmons. While attending a business college in Baltimore, before he attained his ma- jority, he was offered a position in the Cambridge National Bank, which he accepted in July, 1884. This place he continued to fill for four years, when he resigned in order to accept the position of private secretary to John E. Hurst, head of the firm of Hurst, Purnell & Co., proprietors of one of the largest wholesale dry-goods houses in the city of Baltimore. With that firm he remained until the organization of the Dorchester National Bank, in which he accepted the position of book- keeper and paying teller. While in the bank he studied law under ex-Governor Lloyd, and resign- ing his place in the bank, in 1892 was admitted to the bar and at once entered upon a lucrative practice.
By his marriage to Laura Fletcher, Mr. Sim- mons has three children, Harriet R., Lawrence F. and Mary. In politics he is a Democrat, and fraternally he is connected with the Heptasophs and Masons.
REDERICK H. FLETCHER, one of the youngest members of the Dorchester County bar, is the son of the well-known register of wills, John W. Fletcher. . He was born on his father's estate at New Market, this county, Jan- uary 26, 1871, and received his education in Cam- bridge Academy and Dickinson College at Car- lisle, Pa., where he matriculated in 1888 and graduated in 1892, having pursued the classical course. During his senior year in college he took the first year's course in the Dickinson Law School and the year following he was engaged in teaching in the Cambridge Academy. For four years he continued as assistant to the principal.
In the meantime he pursued his legal studies and was admitted to the bar in July, 1893. However, he continued to give the most of his time to teaching until June, 1896, when he en- tered actively and exclusively into the practice of the law. He has a good library and the other
equipments for professional work. He is a hard student and is rapidly winning recognition among the influential members of the Dorchester County bar.
N. SMITH has engaged in business in Willoughby, Queen Anne's County, since December, 1863, and during this long per- iod has built up a reputation as a reliable busi- ness man. Through the wisdom of his enter- prises he has become well-to-do, and is now the owner of his store building with its complete and valuable stock of goods; also two dwelling houses and thirty acres of land. In addition to other interests he has held the office of postmaster since 1883 and is also agent for the Adams Express Company and station agent at this place.
A native of Talbot County, born April 30, 1830, Mr. Smith is a member of an Irish family that has been represented in Maryland for many generations. His father, who was the son of a Revolutionary soldier, was born in the fifth dis- trict of Queen Anne's County and was himself a participant in the war of 1812, taking part in the battle of Slippery Hill. His occupation was that of farming, which he followed in the fifth district, his native place, for many years. His death oc- curred in 1831. Seven years afterward his wife, Amelia, passed away. She was a daughter of George Grayson, of Piney Neck, Queen Anne's County, and was the mother of twelve children, of whom only two survive, our subject and Richard L., of Baltimore.
In the schools near his father's home our sub- ject obtained a fair education. At the age of sixteen he went to Baltimore and learned the trade of a ship builder, at which he worked for sixteen years, being engaged in business for him- self nine years of the time. On his return to Talbot County he engaged in farming for a short time, but in December, 1863, removed to Wil- loughby, where he has since been proprietor of a general store. In 1866 he built a store room a short distance from the place he then occupied, and here he has since carried on business. In
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