USA > Maryland > Portrait and biographical record of the Sixth congressional district, Maryland V. 1 > Part 10
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The father of the above-named citizen of the Sixth District was Jacob Cuppett, who was born in Bedford County, Pa., in 1798, and, with his parents, emigrated to Preston County, W. Va., at the time he was about seventeen years of age. There he became in time a very prosperous farmer, owning one of the finest homesteads in the county and making a specialty of raising live- stock. In 1855 he sold out his possessions there and, removing to Allegany County, Md., in- vested some of his funds in the old John G. old homestead with success for about twelve
the next thirty years, at the end of which time he became a member of the household of his son, Thomas H. He lived nearly a score of years longer, dying in 1892, at the extreme age of ninety-eight years, nine months and seventeen days. Prior to the Civil war he was a Democrat in his political faith, but subsequently he was a strong Republican and an earnest advocate of the Union cause during the conflict between the northi and south .. He was several times honored with local positions of trust and responsibility, and served a number of terms as road supervisor. His father, John Cuppett, was a native of Ger- many, from which country he emigrated to the United States about 1750. He settled in Bedford County, Pa., and became a wealthy farmer. In 1814 he located in Preston County, W. Va., bought one thousand acres of land, and ere lie died, at the age of eiglity-seven years, was es- teemed to be one of the richest men in the county. His property was divided among his four sons. For his companion and helpmate along the jour- ney of life Jacob Cuppett chose a daughter of George Fear, Miss Eva, and to them nine chil- dren were born. Five of the number are de- ceased, and those who survive are Zalmon and George, residents of West Virginia; Margaret, wife of John Riley; and Thomas H., our subject. Their mother departed this life when in her eighty-third year.
The birth of Thomas H. Cuppett took place in Preston County, W. Va., October 17, 1839, and in that region the first sixteen years of his life were passed. He then came to this county with his parents, with whom he continued to dwell until he attained his majority. The fol- lowing fifteen years were mainly devoted by him to carpentering and building, and during this period he constructed about forty houses and barns within a day's journey from his home. He also was in the employ of the Williams Iron Company, owners of the Bear Creek Iron Works, erecting buildings and doing carpenter work for the concern for several years. After his father retired from active cares our subject managed the
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years, and in 1877 sold the place and bought the Gleaning farm, where lie now lives. Here he has one hundred and seventy-two acres of well-im- proved land, with substantial residence and farm buildings. In addition to this he owns the five hundred and seventeen and a-half acre farm near Oakland, known as the Pat Hamill place, and two houses and lots at Mountain Lake, the houses having been built by himself. In all his investments and varied enterprises he lias mani- fested excellent financial ability and wisdom.
In 1863 Mr. Cuppett married Miss Catherine Bishoff, a sister of George E. Bishoff. They have had nine children, named as follows: Azelia, wife of Rev. J. H. Enlow; Upton, who is managing the Hamill farın; Calvin, a machinist at Sang Run; Mally May, wife of Adolph Enlow; Harvey N., now engaged in clerking at Loch Lynn Heights; Jacob, Albert, Olie Belle and Belva Lockwood. The family are identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. Cuppett having served as a trustee and class-leader, and having been a zealous supporter of all religious and benevolent enterprises, as far as was in his power. Few men in this county are more beloved and respected than he, and this esteem in which he is held is but his due.
UDGE JAMES McSHERRY, chief judge of the court of appeals of Maryland and an influential citizen of Frederick, was born in this city December 30, 1842, and is the descend- ant of an ancestry long distinguished in law, literature and statesmanship. He acquired his early education at St. John's Literary Institute in Frederick, which he attended from 1850 to 1856. From there lie went to Mount St. Mary's College, of which institution he was a student until 1861. At the time the war began he had completed the regular course, but had not re- ceived the degree. His sympathies were with the south, and in consequence of liis spirited
manifestations of his principles lie was placed under arrest and confined at Fort McHenry, though for a short time only. In September, 1861, he began to read law under the preceptor- ship of his father, and was admitted to the bar February 9, 1864.
Immediately afterwards he entered upon tlie practice of his profession, which in time became the largest in the city of Frederick. His talents were quickly recognized and lie was sought as counsel in many important cases, his application to duty being a signal trait of his character. As a criminal lawyer he figured in the most pront- inent cases that came before the court until the time he was called to the bench. He rose to an eminent standard of ability, his grasp of the law and convincing force and eloquence of language meeting with the unequivocal admiration of those who watched his efforts in behalf of a doomed man. A large number of corporations elected him as their counsel, and here, as elsewhere, his services were of the utmost value. The death of Judge Ritchie occurred just prior to the election of 1887, and on the Ist of November that year Governor Lloyd appointed him to the office thus left vacant. On the 8th of November he was elected by the people, without opposition. Since his election to the bench he has won deserved distinction as a jurist, and increased, if possible, the general regard in which he has always been held. Upon the death of Chief Judge Robinson, Governor Lowndes appointed Judge McSherry chief judge of the court of appeals of Maryland, an office of the greatest responsi- bility and one which he fills with distinction and success.
We quote the following from the Baltimore Sun of February 19, 1892: "Judge James McSherry is distinguished for liis broad and vigorous intellect, quickness of apprehension, the clearness and cogency of his reasoning and his wonderful capacity for work and application to duty. He possesses the confidence of his as- sociates in a liigli degree." In 1866 Judge McSherry married Clara Louise, daughter of the late Hugh McAleer, of Frederick County. They are the parents of four daugliters and two sons.
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When called to the bench, Judge McSherry re- signed, with his practice, the numerous positions he held as counsel of public and private corpo- rations. However, he is still a director of the Citizens' National Bank. He takes an interest in the progress of his native city, and gener- ously aids all movements for its development.
James McSherry, father of the judge, was one of the most noted authors of his day, his most important production being a History of Mary- land. He was born in Libertytown, Frederick County, Md., July 29, 1819, and was the son of James McSherry, Sr., a native of Adams County, Pa., born July 28, 1776. His mother, Ann Ridgely Sappington, was a daughter of Dr. Francis Brown Sappington, a prominent physician of Frederick County. The paternal ancestors of Judge McSherry were from Ireland, whence Patrick McSherry (born in 1725) emigrated to the United States. By his marriage to Catherine Gartland, of Armagh, twelve children were born, of whom the eleventh was James, grandfather of Judge McSherry. Patrick died in 1795. His son, James, was a man of prominence in Penn- sylvania, and in 1807 was elected to the house of delegates from Adams County, Pa., and later re-elected for five years, until 1813. He was then chosen to represent the people of York and Adams Counties in the state senate, where he served until 1817. During that time, though as senator he was exempt from military duty, he nevertheless enlisted as a private in Captain MeClevis' Company at the time when Baltimore was menaced by a foreign foe. He remained in the service until the company disbanded. In 1821 he was elected to Congess, and three years later was again chosen to the legislature, where he served for six successive years. He was also a member of the sessions of 1834, 1835 and 1836. In 1837 he was elected to the constitu- tional convention. He died in February, 1849.
September 30, . 1841, James McSherry, Jr., married Eliza Spurrier, by whom he had five children, namely: James, of this sketch; William S., a physician, who died in 1876; Edward C., a leading dentist of Frederick; Alice and Gertrude. After liis graduation, in 1838, from Mount St.
Mary's College, our subject's father read law in Frederick and in 1840 was admitted to the bar, after which he for a short time practiced in Get- tysburg with the late Hon. Thaddeus Stevens. Near the end of the year 1841 he returned to Frederick, where he remained until his deathi. His tastes were literary, and he became an author of note. Among his first contributions to liter- ature were articles published in the United States Catholic Magazine. In 1846 he published "Pere Jean; or, the Jesuit Missionary," which in 1860 was again published under the name of Father Leval. He also contributed to the Metropolitan Magazine, published in Baltimore. However, he is best known by his History of Maryland, published in 1848, in which the principal events of Maryland history were compressed into a popular form. The work gives an account of the settlement of the colony, its rise and progress, its troubles and revolutions, and its periods of peace and prosperity, all of which are recounted in simple narrative style, at once attractive and instructive. Only those battles of the Revolution participated in by the men of Maryland are dwelt upon. He avoided strife and politics and the contentions of the parties during that period of the history of the country, embracing the adoption of the con- stitution of the United States, when the foun- dation of political parties was laid; such things found no place in his work. This, being the third history of the state and treating its subjects with fairness and fullness, has always held a prominent place in history. In 1851 he pub- lished " Willitoft; or, Days of James I.," which was re-published in1 858 at Frankfort-on-the- Main. I11 1850-51 he frequently lectured in New York and Philadelphia for the benefit of the Catholic Church, and in 1858 he delivered an address at the semi-centennial celebration of Mount St. Mary's College, of which he was an alumnus. A man of scholarly impulses, keen insight and powerful command of language, he was admi- rably adapted for the field of literature, and deservedly gained a reputation for breadth of his- toric intelligence and ability to embody the in- portant truths in an attractive and enduring for111.
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ON. ROBERT A. RAVENSCROFT, M. D. Prominent among the young and aggressive Republicans of Garrett County is this gentleman, who was honored by his numerous friends in 1893 by being their nominee for the Maryland senate. He was duly elected in the fall of the year mentioned, and, upon the expira- tion of his term of office he was re-elected to the position. At the time of his first election he was the second representative of his party ever elected to the senate from this county. He received a majority of three hundred and ten votes, and while acting as the people's deputy he won their admiration and esteem for his straightforward, manly attitude upon all questions relating to their welfare. In 1897 he was made temporary nominee for congress, but the nomination was finally declared in favor of Capt. John McDonald.
The doctor's grandfather, James Ravenscroft, was born in West Virginia, but spent the greater part of his life in Allegany County. He died at his home near Dawsons, when he was about sixty-five years of age. His son, R. D., father of our subject, was born in Allegany County, and is now living near the town of Rawlins, Md. He is engaged in farming, and is energetic and pro- gressive. Though in his fifty-fifth year, he is well preserved and vigorous, and is seemingly much younger than he really is. His first presidential ballot was cast for Lincoln, and he has been a delegate to county and local conventions of his party for years. His wife, who is also living, bore the maiden name of Martlia McGowen. Her father, John McGowen, was formerly a resident. haps was more generous in contributions of time, of Baltimore, but in later life made his home in Allegany County, Md. The eight children of R. D. and Martha Ravenscroft are: Robert A .; Carrie A., wife of J. Groves; F. H., a physician; Webster, a physician of Brandonsville, W. Va .; Annie, Mary, Roland D., Jr., and Martha.
in 1888 he graduated from the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons, in Baltimore. In ISS9 he came to his present location in Accident, and soon had established an enviable reputation for skill and business ability. In 1893 he returned to Louisville College, where he took a post- graduate course, and further qualified himself in special branches, surgery in particular.
December IS, 1889, the doctor was married to Miss Jennie- Custer. Her father, Emanuel Cus- ter, is represented upon another page of this volume. The doctor and his estimable, cultured wife, are the parents of two children, Della May and Randall McSherry. They hold membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church and are always ready to lend a helping hand to the poor and unfortunate.
ON. RICHARD THOMAS BROWNING. of Oakland, Garrett County, is undoubtedly as well known as any citizen of the county, owing to the active part he has taken for years in the promotion of what he firmly believes to be the best interests of this section of the state. He was a very influential advocate of the scheme of dividing Allegany County, and organizing Gar- rett County out of its western portion. This plan was strongly supported by the majority of the best people of this county, and no one per-
work and means to the furtherance of the desired object than Mr. Browning. A certain bitter sectional feeling was created by the opponents of the plan, and this was increased when the ques- tion of the location of the county-seat of the new county came before the public, but fortunately this sentiment has gradually died away, and there are few, indeed, who have aught but kind- ly things to say of our subject, to whose efforts, in large measure, were due the organization of the county and the locating of the county-seat.
Dr. R. A. Ravenscroft was born in Allegany County, in 1866. He obtained an excellent educa- tion in the public schools, the Cumberland Nor- mal and Shenandoalı College. After he had com- pleted his collegiate course he engaged in teaching in his native county with success, for about two Meslack Browning, the grandfather of our sub- years. In 1886 he began his medical career, and ject, was famed in his day as a hunter, and many
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were the panthers, bears, deer and other wild game which fell under his unerring aim. Game of all kinds was very plentiful in these mountains then, and he was fearless and skillful as a hunter. Late in life he wrote a book of personal reminis- cences, entitled "Forty-four Years a Hunter," and thoughi lie was not favored with the educa- tional advantages which most children of to-day freely possess, liis strong common sense, humor and natural ability are evident upon every page of this interesting volume. He was born in Frederick (now.Montgomery County ) and was a son of Joshua Browning, who was an early settler there. This Joshua Browning was a native of England, and came to this country with Brad- dock's army at the time of the Revolution, but not being in sympathy with this plan, he man- aged to effect an escape and went to Frederick County, Md., where he lived until his death.
William Browning. father of Richard T., was born in 1804, in the famous Glade cabin, near McHenry, Garrett (then Allegany) County, and passed liis whole life in this part of the state. He was one of the leading men of his generation in this section, and was an important factor in local Democratic politics. Twice he served as county commissioner, and for about fifteen years he was a justice of tlie peace. He died in the faitli of the Catholic Church in 1879. In 1829 he mar- ried Elizabeth Anne, only daughter of James Drane, of Prince George County, Md., who had removed to Accident, Allegany County, about 1800. Mrs. Browning was born October 16, 1802, and died December 6, 1842. Tlie follow- ing year the fatlier married Ann DeWitt. The children born of these marriages were as follows: James D., March 13, 1832; Mary F., October 26, 1834; William, October 26, 1836; Richard T .; Priscilla E., August 12, 1841; Jolin T., January 6, 1844; Robert L., October 16, 1846; Louisa C., November 3, 1848; Reuben M., November 3, 1851; Edward A., April 25, 1854; Nathan C., May 4, 1856; and George D., December 16, 1858.
The birth of Richard T. Browning occurred at Sang Run, Allegany County, May 23, 1839, and in that locality he continued to dwell up to 1859, when he went to Missouri. There he en-
gaged in employment as a carpenter in company with his brother James, who had preceded him. In the fall of 1860 he returned home and Sep- tember 28, 1861, he enlisted in the Union army in Company I, Second Maryland Infantry. He was gradually promoted along the line until he was a sergeant, and was honorably discharged at New Creek, W. Va., in February, 1864. He soon re-enlisted in the same regiment, and was made second licutenant of his company March 25, 1865. June 18, 1864, at Lynchburg, Va., he was severely wounded in the right leg by a musket ball; and after being in the hospital sev- eral weeks, bravely returned to his regiment, then at Cumberland, Md. He was finally discharged at Baltimore, May 29, 1865.
April 17, 1864, Mr. Browning married Harriet C. Twigg, of Cumberland, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Father Dolan in St. Patrick's Church. The children born to this worthy couple are as follows: Mary Blanche, January 17, 1866; Anna Alberta, February 10, 1868; Eliza- beth Ant, December 6, 1870; Ellen Jane, Octo- ber 21, 1872; Richard Stabler, April 17, 1875; Margaret Alice, June 15, 1879; Annie May, March 29, 1882; and William R. Getty, April 7, 1884.
At the close of the war Mr. Browning returned to Cumberland, and in the summer of 1865 set- tled on the farm known as the Promised Land, near Oakland. Later he located upon Frank Sebold's farm near Johnstown, and in the fall of 1867 the family took up their residence upon tlie Skyles homestead. About this time Mr. Brown- ing was enrolling officer for the Maryland Nat- ional Guards, and in 1868 was appointed deputy tax collector for Allegany County. He served in this capacity from that time until 1871, under James Willison and William R. Getty. In the spring of 1871 he came to Oakland, and for about six years was occupied in keeping a hotel and in other enterprises. He then disposed of his prop- erty and invested the proceeds in his boyhood's home at Sang Run, and here lie was engaged in farming and milling until 1882, when he sold out, with the intention of going to Dakota. As the liealtli of liis wife was poor, lie yielded to her
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Norman B. Scott.fr.
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wislies and those of his numerous friends, and re- mained in this county. The following two years he carried on a mercantile business at Hutton, six miles west of Oakland, but in 1884, when he was appointed tax collector of Garrett County, he returned to this city. Prior to this, in 1872, he had been nominated by the people's conven- tion for clerk of the circuit court, but was de- feated, owing to the feeling already referred to at the beginning of this sketch. In the fall of 1875 he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the house of delegates, and during the succeeding winter an effort was made to reopen the question in regard to Oakland as the county seat of Garrett County by her opponents, by re-submitting the question to the people, and though the advo- cates of this measure eloquently and earnestly pleaded in its behalf, Mr. Browning succeeded in turning the tide back to the old channels, and Oakland was saved. In 1885 he was elected by a majority of one hundred and two votes to the state senate, and in the spring of 1888 he resigned his place in that honorable body in order to ac- cept the appointnient as state inspector of mines for Allegany and Garrett Counties, which office he acceptably filled four years. At the close of this period he was appointed by Gov. Frank Brown commissioner of fisheries for western Maryland, and held this position four years. In 1896 he was succeeded by the Republican candi- date, as for the first time in thirty years the state went into the hands of the Republican party as a whole.
ON. NORMAN B. SCOTT, JR., a repre- sentative citizen and successful attorney of Hagerstown, was born in this city April 26, 1856, and is a son of Dr. Norman B. Scott, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. In boyhood he was the recipient of excellent edu- cational advantages, and of these he availed him- self diligently. Primarily educated in the pub- lic schools, in 1872 he matriculated in Mercers-
burg College, Pennsylvania, where he carried on his studies until his graduation. Afterwards he served as instructor in Latin and Greek in the college for a year, and then came to Hagers- town, where he began to read law under the preceptorship of Alexander Armstrong.
Having in this way gained a rudimentary knowledge of the law, he entered the law depart- ment of the University of Maryland and there remained until the completion of the regular course, graduating in 1881. On his return to Hagerstown he formed a partnership with his former preceptor, Alexander Armstrong, and the two have since been connected in practice. In 1888 he held the position of counsel for the board of county commissioners. In 1891 he was the Republican candidate for the office of state's attorney, but was defeated. Two years later, without his knowledge or consent, he was non- inated by the Republican party for the house of delegates, and was duly elected, spending the winter session of 18944 at the capitol. So faith- fully did he represent his constituents that he was deemed worthy of other and higher honors. In 1895 he was nominated and elected to represent the district in the state senate. He is the present incumbent of the position, his term continuing until 1899. As a senator he has been progressive in his support of measures for the benefit of the people. Every bill tending to advance the inter- ests of the state, or more particularly of his own district, has received his warm support. Among the other members of the senate he holds the position of prominence to which his merits entitle him.
In 1897 Mr. Scott was chosen chairman of the state central committee of Maryland by the members of the Republican party, a position of great responsibility and one which he filled satis- factorily and efficiently. In May, 1898, he was appointed by President Mckinley naval officer of the port of Baltimore. He is yet in the prime of life, with a promising future before him, and it may safely be predicted of him that he will gain even greater distinction in the future than he has in the past. Nature and education seem to have fitted liim admirably for the legal profession and
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for public affairs; hence he has found his work a pleasure and advancement easy. A close student of his profession, he has established a reputation as a capable and successful advocate, with a broad fund of information concerning every technicality of the law. He is a logical reasoner and excels in those cases where close, careful reasoning must be done. As a citizen he has striven to fulfill every duty, and the regard in which he is held by the people of Hagerstown shows that he has not been unsuccessful in his endeavors to fill an honorable place in life.
R EV. WILLIAM J. McKENNEY, presiding elder of Frederick District and now a resi- dent of Cumberland, was, prior to the ap- pointment to his present position, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Frederick. That church was established over half a century ago and the congregation now numbers some four hundred members, while the Sunday-school has about three hundred pupils enrolled. Every- thing is in a most flourishing condition and gives great promise for future usefulness in this com- munity. After Mr. McKenney assumed charge of the church, the members were stimulated to renewed activity and they carried forward a grand work. Among other things which they accomplished was the repairing of the building at a cost of between one and two thousand dol- lars, and this has added much to the general com- fort and attractiveness of the house of worship.
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