Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 99

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

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ON. GEORGE M. VANSANT, whose pleasant home is situated in the second dis- trict of Queen Anne's County, Md., has represented this locality in the state legislature. He was elected in 1895 on the Democratic ticket to that honorable body, and made a creditable record for himself and party. In his early prime, he is earnest and enthusiastic in all his ideas and undertakings, and brings into action unusual executive ability and fixedness of purpose when- ever he starts in any venture.

Our subject is a son of Joshua L. Vansant, a native of Queen Anne's County. George M. is one of their four children, who were as follows, in order of birth: George M .; Cornelia, deceased; Sadie E. and J. Frank. George M. was born in the first district of Queen Anne's County, July I, Į862, and passed the following ten years of his

life under the parental roof. Then death deprived him of a mother's love and a father's protecting care, for they both died in one year, and the boy was left alone to struggle along as best he could. His grandparents took him to live with them, but they could not make up for his great loss, try as they would. He dwelt with them scarcely four years, when he set forth to make his own way in the world, and found employment with neighbors in their farm work. His education consequently was much interrupted and frag- mentary, but he was naturally gifted, and having· a strong desire for knowledge, he made the best of every opportunity, and by private study and reading became well informed.

When he was only eighteen years old Mr. Van- sant passed the required examinations and ob- tained a teacher's certificate. After teaching a term or so with fair success, he went to Easton and clerked in a store for a time. For two years he was a student in Washington College, at Ches- tertown, and subsequently he taught a graded school for five years with excellent success.

Mr. Vansant bought a valuable homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, in the second dis- trict, a few years ago and has since devoted his time to its management. He was married in 1888, Miss Julia A. McGinnis being the lady of his choice. Three children brighten the home by their presence, and are named respectively: Mary J., Edith A. and Ethel G.

AMES W. URIE, M. D., has engaged in the practice of his profession at Still Pond, in the second district of Kent County, for a number of years and has met with success, hav- ing gained a large and valuable patronage among the people of this locality. He is an exponent of the system of homeopathy, in the superiority of which he emphatically believes. In addition to his general practice he has held the position of health officer for the county since 1895.

At Goose Hill, this county, Dr. Urie was born in 1863. He is a descendant of Scotch ancestry,

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the first of the name in this country being John Urie, a native of Scotland, who settled in Mary- land the latter part of the eighteenth century and followed the cooper's trade. His descendants mostly followed farm pursuits. However, our subject's grandfather, James Urie, engaged in the general mercantile business, being the first merchant at Still Pond, but later he removed to the central part of the county and became the founder of what is now known as Urieville. He was a man of considerable local prominence, a leader in public affairs and for many years held the position of judge of the orphans' court.

James Urie, the doctor's father, was born at Urieville, and from there removed to Goose Hill with his father. He established the first nursery in Kent County, and this he carried on for many years. In addition to its management, he super- intended his large farm. When a young man he advocated Whig principles, but later he became a Democrat, and from that time onward he sup- ported the policy of that party. His death oc- curred in 1866. By his marriage to Mary E. Kendall, he had five children, namely: Mollie, widow of E. L. McGinnis; John D .; Helen E., wife of J. Hammond, of Florida; James W., and Frank H., who resides in Florida.

When only one year of age our subject was taken by his parents to Queen Anne's County. He re- ceived his primary education in the public schools, and the knowledge there obtained was supple- mented by a course of study in the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Virginia and Washing- ton College. With a view to the practice of medi- cine he entered the Hahnemann Medical College, taking the complete course of lectures and grad- uating in 1886. Immediately afterward he opened an office at Still Pond and here he has since de- voted his attention to professional duties. He does not take an active part in politics, but is pronounced in his allegiance to the Republican party.

All matters pertaining to his profession enlist the interest and co-operation of Dr. Urie. He isa member of the Maryland Homeopathic Medical So- ciety, also similar associations in Delaware and Pennsylvania, and at one time was second vice-

president of the Maryland Society. In fraternal relations he is connected with the Junior Order of American Mechanics, and the Knights of Pythias, in which he has passed all the chairs. His sympathy is given to all enterprises for the benefit of the community and the advancement of the people, and so far as possible he aids these projects with his time and means.

DGAR A. P. JONES, M. D., a rising young physician of Dorchester County, has been located in the village of Crapo, Lake dis- trict, for the past four years and is succeeding in building up a remunerative practice. He is thoroughly abreast of the times in everything relating to his chosen field of labor, and is an earnest student of modern discoveries and meth- ods in the treatment of the "ills that flesh is heir to." Though he is enthusiastic in his endorse- ment of certain well tested, though recent, meth- ods he is yet conservative enough to adhere to most of the true and tried remedies of the past- those known to be without doubt thoroughly efficacious.

The father of the doctor is likewise a medical practitioner, Dr. Elias Jones by name, now of Baltimore. He was born in Caroline County, Md., and spent his youth in Federalsburg. His higher education was obtained in the University of Maryland and for twenty years he was engaged in the practice of the medical profession in Lake district, Dorchester County, and also in the ad- joining district, Strait. He was well and favora- bly esteemed, not only in the southern part of the county, but in remoter portions of the same, and was quite a leader in the Republican party. In 1890 he removed to Baltimore, having been appointed store-keeper in the United States cus- toin-house, and this responsible place he still holds. He is the president of the proposed Cam- bridge & Chesapeake Railroad, to run through the lower part of this county. His wife was Mary Nichols in her girlhood, and was brought up in Caroline County. They have had six children;

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Dr. A. C., now deceased; Harvey, a druggist of Wingate, Dorchester County; E. A. P .; and tliree daughters. The Jones family is of English descent, and has been represented for several generations in this state. The grandfather of our subject was E. Jones, of Caroline County. He was a sailor and made his home and lead- quarters in his native county during the greater part of his life, later settling here.

The birth of Dr. Edgar A. P. Jones took place in Caroline County in 1872, and as he was but three years old when his parents brought him to this county he is practically one of its sons. His elementary education was obtained in the district schools, and later he entered the Baltimore City College. He was graduated from the Baltimore Medical College in 1893, and returned to Lake district immediately, taking charge of the practice of his brother A. C. in Crapo, owing to the latter's serious illness. Subsequently he succeeded to the work and office of his senior, and is doing very well. He is a member of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland, and socially is identified with the Heptasophs. Following the footsteps of his father, he is a stanch Republican.

OHN C. JONES is engaged in general farni- ing in the third district of Kent County. A native of the Eastern Shore, he was born in Caroline County in 1844, and is a son of Richard and Elizabeth Jones. He is of English descent, his grandfather, William Jones, having come to Maryland from England and made settlement in Caroline County. Little is known concerning his life except that he was a farmer by occupation and devoted his active life to the improvement of a homestead. Upon this property, which was sit- uated near Henderson, his son, Richard Jones, engaged in general farming. He was prospered in his undertakings and became the owner of large tracts of land and many slaves. By his marriage he became the father of thirteen chil- dren, but five are deceased. Those who survive are Marcellus, Samuel T., Sarah Amanda, Elea-

nor, John C., Florence, A. W. and George M. F. In politics a Democrat, the father was for years one of the local leaders of his party, but never aspired to office for himself, preferring to give his attention to his private business affairs. He passed away in 1879, when seventy-three years of age.

The boyhood years of our subject's life were passed in Caroline County, where he obtained a common-school education. At the age of twenty- five, thinking that the west might afford better opportunity than his home neighborhood, he went to Indiana, but three years of life there were sufficient to satisfy him that there is no place like old Maryland. He returned to Caroline County, where he engaged in farming for two years. In 1876 he came to Kent County and settled in Galena, where he engaged in merchandising for three years. For a similar period he carried on a mercantile business in Baltimore. In 1885 he settled on the farm where he now resides and to the cultivation of which his attention is given. In politics he is a Democrat, but not active in the party.

In 1878 Mr. Jones and Sallie C. Rouse were united in marriage. Five children came to bless their union, namely: Caddie, Elmer, Daisy, Charles and Annie. By the first marriage of our subject, which united him with Mary E. Hynson, he had three children: Minnie, wife of Samuel Mann; William, who resides in Omaha, Neb .; and Mamie, whose home is in Baltimore. The family are connected with the Methodist Protestant Church and contribute to its support.

ENJAMIN J. LINTHICUM is one of the most energetic business men of Church Creek, Dorchester County, and though yet a man young in years, is wealthy and influential in this community. He is interested in a great many enterprises, but is chiefly concerned in farming, lumbering and shipbuilding. He owns large tracts of forest and farm land, in the neigh- borhood of three thousand acres. For twenty years he carried on a general store here, only

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selling it out in 1896 that he might attend inore thoroughly to his many and varied investments. The paternal ancestor of the subject was a na- tive of Wales, and came to America about 1643, settling in Anne Arundel County. The great- grandfather of the subject, Richard Linthicum, removed from Anne Arundel County to Dorches- ter County in 1775. The grandfather of the subject, also Richard Linthicum, was born in Dor- chester County, May 12, 1780. He was engaged in farming and the building and management of his vessels, which were engaged in foreign and do- mestic trade.

Josiah, father of B. J. Linthicum, was born in this locality, and followed agricultural pursuits in connection with merchandising at Church Creek for a number of years. He became very well-to-do, and was a life-long resident of this im- mediate vicinity. He transacted an immense busi- ness in lumber, and never found time in his busy career to be much of a politician or officeseeker, but used his franchise in behalf of the nominees of the Democracy. His death occurred in 1895, when he was in his seventy-sixth year. His wife was a Miss Dixon in her girlhood, and to them were born two children.

The date of our subject's birth is March 18, 1856. This event took place in the old home on the farm near Church Creek, and in that neighborhood he passed his happy childhood. He attended the public schools here and in New York and the Dover Academy, of Dover, Del. Returning home, he purchased the general store at Church Creek two years later and operated the same until 1896, a period of twenty-one years. During this time he developed the excellent busi- ness talents for which he is noted, and learned by practical experience many of the lessons of finan- ciering which are essential to pronounced suc- cess. In 1892 he started a sawmill of his own, has dealt especially in ship-lumber, and has also done some building of vessels upon his own ac- count. He is an ally of the Democratic party. He was nominated in the fall of 1897 as the can- didate of the Democratic party to represent the county in the state legislature, to which position he was elected by a large majority.

In 1890 Mr. Linthicum married Miss Mary E. Greene, daughter of Rev. William M. Greene, of Virginia, and four children have come to cheer their hearts and home. Their names, in order of birth, are as follows: Charles, Josiah, William and Henry. They are all bright, active boys, of whom any parent might justly be proud, and will undoubtedly make their mark in the world if they live to mature years. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, though Mrs. Linthicum was reared in the faith of the Episcopal Church, in which denomination her father is a minister.

BRAHAM R. WRIGHT, of Denton, was born near Hurlock, Dorchester County, Md., May 27, 1845. His father, K. A., was a native of the same county, born in 1797, and throughout life engaged in agricultural pursuits. Upon his plantation were many slaves, and he, not being allowed by the law to free them, but wishing to give them their liberty, gave them money to pay their expenses to the north. For nearly forty years he was a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church and the work of that denomination was ever dear to him. His death occurred in Dorchester County in 1884. The mother of our subject, Sella Lewis, was born in Dorchester County, of which her father, Abra- ham Lewis, was a native. Like her husband she worshipped in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Our subject is one of fourteen children, and two of his brothers and several sisters are residents of the Eastern Shore. The boyhood of Abraham R. Wright was spent on the home farm. After attending Bryant & Stratton's Business College of Baltimore for a time he taught school, devot- ing two years to this occupation. Sixteen years were spent in the mercantile business in Caroline County, after which he engaged in the wholesale tobacco business in Baltimore for two years. In 1885 he came to Denton, where he has since been successfully engaged in business. Financial prosperity has come to him, though he began

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without capital. He now owns a fine farm near Denton and is a director in the Denton National Bank. Some years ago he was nominated on the Republican ticket for register of wills, but was defeated by one vote. In harmony with the religious belief of the majority of his kinspeople he is a Methodist. He takes an active part in church work and is a steward of the congregation and a teacher in the Sunday-school. Fraternally lie is a blue-lodge Mason and at one time was secretary and treasurer of the lodge.

I11 1869 Mr. Wright married S. A. Hitch, daughter of Rev. Elijah Hitch, a Methodist minister residing near Laurel, Del. Four chil- dren were born of their union, but one child, a son, died when ten months old. The eldest daughter, Anna O., is a graduate of the Luther- ville Female Seminary and has taught success- fully in St. Mary College, in St. Mary County. Martha Maude studied in the conservatory of music in Philadelphia, graduating with high honors and undoubtedly possesses great talent. V. Grace, the youngest daughter, is attending school.

LBERT T. LA VALLETTE, JR. There are few of the leading dealers in sea food throughout our country to whom the name of Mr. La Vallette is not familiar. Since estab- lishing himself in business he has built up a wide reputation in his special line, and has become famous as an epicure, and is familiarly known as the "king terrapin" dealer of the world, for inany seasons controlling the output of the Chesa- peake Bay and its tributaries. Recently he built a beautiful villa, called Ruth-Elie (named for two of his children), outside of Crisfield and over- looking Tangier Sound, surrounded on all sides by water and by the various appurtenances that enable him to conduct his business with system and dispatch. Here the genuine diamond backs are hatched and grown. Adjacent is a large oyster-planting ground, also a factory where hard crab meat is canned and hermetically sealed, and also an artificial harbor, where the buster or

shedder crab is transformed into the soft-shell. Shipments are made from this point to almost all parts of the world. Houses as famous as Del- monico's and the principal club houses through- out the world invariably order their sea food from Mr. La Vallette, and he also had the dis- tinction of furnishing the terrapin for the ban- quet given His Eminence Li-Hung-Chang, the celebrated Chinese dignitary, when in New York on his tour around the world.

The La Vallette family is one that is honorably known in American and French history. The grandfather of our subject, Rear-Admiral Elie A. T. La Vallette, was born May 3, 1790, in the state of Virginia, so prolific of great men. La Vallette, at the tender age of ten years, sailed from Philadelphia in the frigate Philadelphia, commanded by Capt. Stephen Ducator, a name ever to be held in greatful remembrance, to make reprisals on the French commerce. Under this intrepid leader he learned many lessons of bravery. In 1810 he was placed in command of a ship. In 1812 he was appointed an acting lieutenant in the United States navy. During the war with England he was conspicuous for his daring bravery. On September 11, 1814, the memorable engagement between the British and American fleets took place, La Vallette, who was the only lieutenant on board the flagship Saratoga, surviving the action. It was calm during this engagement and most of the Ameri- can fleet was at anchor, and at one moment the contest had narrowed down to the flagships Saratoga and Eagle, against the Confiance and the Linnet. The Linnet, at the head of the enemy's line, had secured an admirable position and was gallantly sustaining the honor of her flag against the fire of the Eagle. The British gun- boat, with a gallantry bordering on desperation, struggled for the command of the southern extremity of the line.

The Eagle soon after lost her springs and was prevented from bringing her unused battery to bear when her commander cut his cable, sheeted home his tops sails, cast the brig, and running down behind the Saratoga, anchored by the stern, where, from his larboard guns, he opened afresh.

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In the meantime the entire starboard battery of the Saratoga had become disabled by the enemy's shot and she was left in the midst of her opponents without the use of a single available gun. At this moment the admirable seamanship of MacDonough was displayed in all its brilliancy to bring around her fresh, uninjured, larboard bat- tery to bear on the enemy. This was accom- plished with the most satisfactory success, not- withstanding the heavy raking fire which was thrown by the Linnet.

Commodore MacDonough says, "La Vallette, who took command of the two remaining divi- sions of guns, opened an exceedingly effective fire on the Confiance, commencing with the after- most gun and continuing it as fast as the battery could be brought to bear, and, having struggled manfully against the effective fire from the Ameri- can flagship, she struck her colors, after a con- test of about two hours and a-quarter. Immedi- ately afterwards the Saratoga's broadside was swung to bear on the Linnet, and within fifteen minutes after the surrender of the Confiance she, too, struck her colors. The triumph was com- plete, unequivocal, undeniable. La Vallette had taken possession of the Confiance and the Linnet, and the former commanders. of the prizes were approaching to make a formal surrender of their swords to the victorious chief. They came under convoy guard directly from the flagship Confiance, and their reception by MacDonough, consider- ing the time, place, circumstances, manner and sentiments expressed, was one of the most beauti- ful exhibitions of moral sublimity ever witnessed. As they stepped upon the deck of the Saratoga they met Commodore MacDonough, who kindly bowed to them, while they, holding their caps in their left hands and their swords by the blades in their right, advanced toward him, and bowing, presented their weapons. The commodore bowed and said: " Gentlemen, return your swords into their scabbards, and wear them; you are worthy of them;" and liaving obeyed the order, arm in arm, with their swords by their sides, they walked the deck of the conqueror. After La Val- lette had recovered from a splinter-wound in the groin, he joined the illustrious commodore and

shared with this gallant officer the triumphal ovations of a generous and grateful people.

The state of Virginia, quick to recognize the valor and bravery of her son, promptly voted him a gold sword, an elaborate and costly piece of workmanship, and Congress presented him a splendid medal as a testimonial of the high appreciation entertained for his noble and heroic conduct in aiding to secure for our flag that glorious and significant naval victory. He was the first civil and military governor on the Pacific coast during the war with Mexico, and was commissioned rear admiral by President Lin- coln, and placed on the retired list in 1863.

Admiral La Vallette was not only born great, but that he achieved greatness is well attested by the following: Nearly four hundred years ago his ancestors were distinguished. Among them history conspicuously mentions Bron de foix La Vallette, duke of Espernon and colonel-gen- eral of France, and Jean Louis De La Vallette, the famous grand master of the Knights Hospi- tallers of St. John of Jerusalem, whose exploits against the Turks in 1565 rendered his name one of the most brilliant of that century.

In 1764 the admiral's grandfather, Elie A. T. La Vallette, held the position of register of the pre- rogative office of the province of Maryland. Dur- ing that year he published, at Annapolis, a quaint volume entitled "A Treatise of the Deputy Com- missary's Guide for Executors, Administrators and Guardians," which he dedicated to His Excellency, Robert Eden, governor of the prov- ince.

The father of our subject was born in Philadel- phia, Pa., in 1829, and at the age of nineteen years was made a lieutenant in the Mexican war. He died in 1894, in Florida, where he had gone for his health. He was prominent in Philadel- phia as a real-estate speculator and was the promoter of La Vallette City, N. J., which place was named in compliment to the admiral.

Our subject was born in Burlington, N. J., Sep- tember 14, 1864, and spent most of his boyhood days in Philadelphia, receiving his education at the State College of Pennsylvania. Like the rest of the family, having a predilection for the

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sea, he applied for and was granted a pilot's license when he became of age. He went to Crisfield in 1887, and embarked in a new industry, the terrapin and crab business, of which he has since made such a remarkable success, and to whom is due the credit of having made the crab business a vast industry in the state of Maryland, and a revenue earner for her people. He is a ge- nial, whole-souled man, and has a host of warm friends everywhere. He married Amy K. Rick- etts, of London, England, and they are the parents of three children: Elie A. T. (named after the admiral), Ruth and Amy.

The State Experimental Station for the prop- agation of terrapin is under Mr. La Vallette's jurisdiction.

WORTHINGTON GOLDSBOROUGH, of Cambridge, is the son of Hon. Brice John Goldsborough, judge of the first judicial district of Maryland for more than thirty years and afterward judge of the appellate court for eight years, until his death, in July, 1867, at sixty-four years of age. He was the son of Dr. Richard Goldsborough, a well-known physician of Cambridge, who practiced medicine here from early manhood until his death, at sixty-seven years. His father, Hon. Robert Goldsborough, was a member of the continental congress of 1776 that adopted the Declaration of Independence, and was appointed a delegate by the several con- ventions of Maryland held in Annapolis, June 22, 1774, December 8, 1774, December 7, 1775, and May 8, 1776. As a lawyer, he also attained prominence. He was a member of the council of safety and the convention of the province of Mary- land that drew up the first constitution for the state of Maryland, August 14, 1776. His father, Charles, was the son of Robert and Elizabeth (Greenbury) Goldsborough, and a grandson of Nicholas Goldsborough, the progenitor of the family in America.

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Portrait and biographical record of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Part 99

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