USA > Maryland > Portrait and biographical record of the Sixth congressional district, Maryland V. 1 > Part 11
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Mr. McKenney was born in Anne Arundel County, Md., near the Chesapeake Bay, July 11, 1846, being the eldest son of Joseph and Ellen A. McKenney. The father was a native of Calvert County, Md., and followed agricultural pursuits during his entire life. During the war he was an ardent southern man in sentiment, as he had owned slaves, and believed that it was right, when they were kindly treated. For years he was a justice of the peace, and was a man of im- portance in his neighborhood. In earlier life he
was a church member, but later severed his con- nection with the same. His death occurred about fifteen years ago, at the ripe age of seventy years. He was a member of the Odd Fellows' society. His father was a soldier in the War of 1812.
The mother of our subject was a daughter of Isaac Brown, who served in the War of 1812, and received a wound at the battle of Bladensburg, from the effects of which injury his death re- sulted. The Browns were of English descent. Mrs. McKenney was born and reared in Prince George County, Md., and is now living in Wash- ington, and though seventy-eight years of age still enjoys excellent health. She had three sons and six daughters: George W., a coal merchant of Baltimore, was the second son; Robert L., who died five years ago, was an employe of the Pennsylvania Railway Company, his home being in Washington, D. C .; Susie married John T. Marshall, of Glyndon, Md .; Mrs. Elizabeth Har- rison resides in Washington; Mrs. Clara E. Barnes was the wife of Prof. L. M. Barnes, a music teacher of Baltimore, and died two years ago; Mrs. Emma J. Carr lives in Washington, D. C .; Lillie A., unmarried, resides with her mother in Washington; Mrs. Rosa L. Clarvoe also lives in that city.
The boyhood of William J. McKenney was spent upon his father's farm, his education being obtained in the public schools and in West River Classical Institute, of Anne Arundel County, then for a few years he taught in the same institution of learning, and at length took up theological studies. He was admitted to the Baltimore conference in 1869; was ordained a deacon in 1871 and was made an elder in 1873. His initial work as a minister was in St. Mary's County, Md., and his first regular charge was in Baltimore County, in the Somerfield Circuit. Then for two years he was located in Mount Washington, for a like period was at Union Square, Baltimore; served three years in the Fifteenth Street Church, of Washington, D. C., and for similar lengthis of time was in Hamline and Wesley Chapel, in Washington. Two years fol- lowed, spent in Georgetown, after which he was
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assigned to the Jackson Square Church in Balti- more, but owing to ill health he was obliged to give up his pastorate at the end of a few months. When he had recruited in Washington for a time, he became pastor of a congregation in North Baltimore, and three years later was assigned to Strawbridge Church, remaining in Baltimore some five years. His last pastorate was in Frederick.
In 1876 Mr. McKenney married Carrie P. Birch, whose father, Henry Birch, is a well-known contractor in Washington. This estimable cou- ple have but one child, Harry J., who is a stu- dent in Columbian University, Washington, his intention being to enter the legal profession. Mr. McKenney is identified with the Masonic order, being a member of Arcana Lodge No. 110, A. F. & A. M. of Baltimore; Adoniram Chapter, R. A. M., of Washington, and Columbia Com- mandery, K. T., of Washington, D. C. He also is a member of the Ancient Order of the Essenes, and of the Eastern Star.
He is a man of great earnestness and zeal in the upbuilding of the Master's kingdom, and pos- sesses the love and deepest regard of all who know him for his unaffected and sincere example.
OHN M. EDWARDS, A. M., principal of the Allegany County Academy, of Cumber- land, Md., and now school examiner of Allegany County, is a young man of exceptional ability, both as an educator and as a financier. His scholarship is of a high order and he is building up the reputation of the academy to a degree that is most gratifying to those who have watched over this justly lionored old institution, and who were much concerned in the few years prior to the coming of Mr. Edwards, as the school seemed steadily deteriorating. He has been en- abled to change the current, which is now drifting toward old-time prosperity.
The father of the professor is Edward Edwards, president of the Slatington Rolling Mill Company, of Slatington, Pa., and for nearly thirty years
closely identified with the iron industry of Lehigh County. He is a native of Wales. His wife, Mary Miller Edwards, is a native of Lehigh County, Pa.
John E. Edwards was born May 8, 1869, in Catasauqua, Lehigh County, Pa., and was reared in that town. His preliminary education was obtained in the grammar and high schools of the place, after which he entered Lafayette College, of Easton, Pa. He was then only fifteen years of age, and graduated in due course of time, in the class of 1888, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. As a teacher, his initial work was in the Pennsylvania State Normal school, at Mans- field, Pa., where he had full charge of the Latin and Greek department. This important position he occupied during the following four years, at the end of which period he took a post-graduate course, covering two years, at Lafayette College, paying special attention to philology and psy- chology. In 1894 he accepted his present posi- tion, and under his jurisdiction the enrollment of pupils has increased more than double what it was four years ago. Mr. Edwards is a member of the Masonic Order, the Elks and the Essenic Order, and is still connected with the Delta Kappa Epsilon Society of Lafayette College. In July, 1897, he married Miss Mary Lamar Read, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Clark Read, of Cumberland.
The Allegany County Academy was estab- lished by the act of the General Assembly of Maryland in the last year of last century. The first school building was erected on the present site of the German Catholic Church, but by 1849 this structure was declared too small for the ac- commodation of the pupils. The citizens came to the rescue and contributed liberally toward a new building, while the county donated thie ground. The site is in the prettiest residence district of the city, and upon the other half of the square of which it occupies a part, a fine court- house has been recently erected. A special feature of the academic department is that the boys receive instructions in military tactics and this discipline is of incalculable benefit to every youth. The teacher in this line is a thorough,
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practical man, who has had excellent military training himself, and he is meeting with marked success. Pupils are prepared for college here and the standard of education is kept up with the best institutions of learning of the period. No better place could be found in all the associa- tions and environments for young people who must go away from home to school, and the terms of tuition and other expenses are very low, in view of all the facts.
ILLIAM M. ROBERTS, JR. From the time that lie attained his majority until the present this young man has been inter- ested in everything pertaining to electric appli- ances, and is a thorough master of his business. With the exception of some six months he has been in the employ of the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Cumberland since 1886, and since 1892 has also been with the Cumberland Electric Railway Company, and is now the general manager and treasurer of the former and superintendent of the latter. He possesses executive ability of a high order, practical judgment and excellent methods.
Our subject is a native of South America, his birth having occurred in Brazil January 21, 1865. William M. Roberts, the father of our subject, was born in Carlisle, Pa., and is still living, his home being in Cumberland. He was engaged in railroading during his active years, and was occupied in the construction of a railroad line in South America at the time of the Civil war in this country. His father, William M., Sr., followed the same occupation, was a civil engineer of much ability, and was chief engineer of the construc- tion corps when the Union Pacific Railroad was built, and also carried through considerable work along this line in South America. He was in the employ of the Brazilian government at the time of his death, at the advanced age of seventy-five years, and thoughi so old, lie had been as active
as a man of a score or more years his junior until his career was nearly finished. The mother . of our subject, formerly Elizabeth Humbird, is a resident of this city and a daughter of Jacob Humbird, who lived in Pennsylvania. Of lier nine children the following survive: William M., of this sketch; J. H .; J. B. G., Jr .; Eleanor, wife of William M. Bruce; Eliza Van Lew; Amnie Gibson, wife of H. H. Dickey; Jean and Bessie.
When he was but an infant the parents of William Roberts, Jr., brought him to the United States, and his boyhood was passed in Cumber- land. He acquired his education at Allegany County Academy, and early manifested genius for mechanics. When he reached his twenty- second year he took a position as a lineman with the company he is yet connected with, and was gradually promoted to more important and re- sponsible posts until he became the general man- ager and treasurer of the company. From 1892 until the present he has filled the position of superintendent of the Cumberland Electric Rail- way Company, and has given ample evidence of his superior business qualifications. In 1896 he returned to the old firm, where his services incet with due appreciation. He is a director in several corporations and companies, among these the street railway before mentioned; the South Cum- berland Supply Company, and the Cumberland Cereal Company. Mr. Roberts takes great inter- est in the promotion of enterprises calculated to benefit the community, and is a public-spirited citizen. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, being identified with Cumberland Lodge No. 63. In the Young Men's Christian Association he is a valucd worker, as he has a thorough and sympathetic understanding of the nature of his fellow-men and is never happier than when he is able to lend a helping hand to others, particularly to thie worthy youth who is striving to win a respected position in the business world.
The pleasant and hospitable home of Mr. Rob- erts is presided over by his charming wife, for- merly Miss Fannie Randolph Millholland. She is a daughter of James A. Millholland, of Cumber- land, president of the George's Creek Railroad
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Spencer C. Jones-
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Company. Her marriage occurred at the home of her parents, June 6, 1894. To them have been born two daughters, Virginia and Elizabeth.
ON. SPENCER C. JONES, president of the Montgomery County National Bank of Rockville, is one of the most influential and progressive business men of this section of Mary- land. He favors all public enterprises and has invested in numerous industries calculated to benefit and develop the resources of the county. He is very popular, not only with the citizens of this locality, but of other counties as well.
The parents of our subject were Rev. J. H. and Elizabeth (Clagett) Jones, natives of Fairfax County, Va., and Montgomery County, Md., re- spectively. The father, who was born December 4, 1798, died December 29, 1871. He was a Baptist minister and located in Rockville in early manhood, this being his first pastoral charge. He remained here from 1821 to 1845; then went to Frederick City, Md., where he preached up to 1866 and from that time until his death he re- sided in Montgomery County. Throughout this section of the state and in the adjoining coun- ties of Virginia he was very well known and be- loved. The parents of his wife, James and Su- sanna (Hawkins) Clagett, both natives of this county, were from old families here, their ances- tors having settled in the county prior to the Revolution. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Maj. Charles Jones, was born February 2, 1758, in Ireland, and, upon account of his political views he was obliged to leave liis native land in 1793. He died in October, 1811, and he and his wife, Prudence (Hawkins) Jones, are buried in the Congressional Cemetery at Wash- ington. He was a son of Thomas and Hannah Jones, the former a son of Robert Jones, who was a native of Wales, and who removed to Ireland in 1690.
Spencer C. Jones was born in Rockville, Md., July 3, 1836, and here passed the first nine years
of his life, then removing with the family to Frederick City. There he received excellent school advantages, finishing his education in the old and renowned Frederick College. When he was twenty-one the young man entered the law office of the late W. J. Ross, of Frederick, and, after pursuing a regular course of study was ad- mitted to the bar in 1860. He opened an office and had gained a foothold in practice when the war broke out, and overturned his plans. En- listing in the First Maryland Confederate Cavalry he served from the organization of that command to the close of the conflict, participating in innu- merable hard and daring campaigns and battles. Prior to his enlistment he had been arrested as a sympathizer with the Confederacy and was held as a prisoner for eight months, being at various periods in the city jail at Baltimore, at Fort Mc- Henry and Fort Delaware.
For two years after the close of the war Mr. Jones engaged in teaching school in Texas, but upon the adoption of the state constitution of 1867 he returned to his old home in Maryland. Coming to Rockville he established a law office in the summer of 1868, and continued actively engaged in practice. In November, 1871, he was elected state's attorney of Montgomery County for a term of four years. When his term had expired he was re-elected for another term, and thus filled that position for eight years. Then, in 1879, he was elected clerk of the court of appeals of Maryland, and, being re-elected to the office at the completion of his first term, he served, alto- gether, twelve years in this capacity. Still higher honors were in store for him, and in February, 1892, he was appointed by the state legislature to serve as treasurer of Maryland for two years, and in 1894 was re-appointed for another term of similar duration. In these many and different positions, each requiring marked ability and jndg- ment, he made a record of which he has just cause to be proud, and the sincerest respect and esteem of those who were associated with him are liis, in an eminent degree. In May, 1898, he was elected mayor of Rockville, which office lie now holds.
The Montgomery County National Bank of
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Rockville, now recognized as one of the most stable banks of the state, was organized in 1884. Mr. Jones was, perhaps, as influential as any other person in the foundation of the bank and was elected its president in the year 1892. He has been one of the directors since it was incorpo- rated, and to his wise policy is doubtless due much of the high standing of the institution. Mr. Jones has always been in favor of the best possible educational advantages for the young and is, in every sense of the word, a public- spirited citizen. He is a Jeffersonian Democrat. Fraternally he is past master of Montgomery Lodge No. 195, A. F. & A. M., and is a Knight of Pythias. He is a member of the Baptist Church at Rockville. December 21, 1871, he married Ellen, daughter of John and Elizabeth Stewart (Buchanan) Brewer. Her father was one of the influential lawyers of this place in former years and in 1850 was a member of the state constitu- tional convention. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Jones was blessed with one daughter, Eliz- abeth, an accomplished young lady, who was edu- cated at Hollin's Institute, Virginia. Mrs. Jones died in July, 1876.
00 AVID SLOAN, president of the Lonaconing Savings Bank, was born at Mount Savage, Md., July 3, 1845. He possesses the integ- rity of character and determination of will char- acteristic of those who trace their lineage to Scot- land. His grandfather, whose name was the saine as his own, spent his entire life as a farmer in Ayrshire, Scotland, where, like most of the people of his locality, he was a strict member of the Presbyterian Church. In his family were the following-named children: David, who died unmarried; Matthew, father of our subject and a native of Muirkirk, Ayrshire; James, who was killed by the Indians during the early days of California, where he was a pioneer; Duncan, who spent forty years of his life in Pomeroy, Ohio, where he was a successful merchant until his
death; John, who died in Frostburg, Md .; Mar- garet, whose husband, Hugh Sampson, of Frost- burg, served in the Civil war as a member of the Second Potomac House Brigade, to which his brothers-in-law, David and John, also be- longed. David seems to be a family name. Twenty-five years ago there were five of the name, and they were distinguished from one an- other by the following prefixes: Uncle Dave, uncle of our subject; "Big" Dave, our subject; "Little" Dave, of Alexandria; "Kentucky " Dave, a son of James; and "Uncle Jolin's" Dave.
About 1830 the father of our subject came to America, and after a short sojourn in British America he removed to Pennsylvania and front there came to Mount Savage, Md. He married Anna Muir, a native of Ayrshire, who accom- panied the family of George Tennant to Frost- burg, Md., crossing the ocean on a sail-boat that consumed seven weeks in the voyage. After landing in this country she walked from Bal- timore to Frostburg, spending one week on the road. It was then before the days of railroads, and people were obliged to travel by wagon or on foot. This little party journeyed on foot, while their baggage was carried by team, and the children who were too young to walk were weighed as baggage and placed in the wagon. Until her marriage she continued to make her home with the Tennant family.
For some years our subject's father was inter- ested in coal mining, but during the latter part of his life he was an invalid and unable to en- gage in any active work. He passed away in 1863. In his family there were one daughter and five sons. The former, Mary, became the wife of William M. Reed, of Lonaconing, in 1866, and died in 1872, leaving four children, of whom three survive, David, Wylie and Mary. The oldest son, James M., is assistant treasurer of the United States at Baltimore and makes his home in Lonaconing; Duncan R. is associated with our subject in business, the firm being D. R. Sloan & Co .; John and Alexander are de- ceased.
When ten years old the subject of this sketcli
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went to Pomeroy, Olio, where he made his home with his uncle, Duncan, a merchant of that place. While assisting in the store lie also at- tended tlie public school, from which he gradu- ated at twelve years of age. Afterward he did not attend school, but the education that he sub- sequently acquired was the result of observation and experience rather than study of text books. In 1862 he went to Preble County, Oliio, but after working in a mill there for a short time he went to Cincinnati, where he learned telegraphy. With the promise of a position as operator on the Baltimore & Oltio Railroad he left Cincinnati, but between the time of his departure from that city and his arrival in Maryland the Confeder- ates had destroyed a part of the road at St. John's River in West Virginia, and on that account he failed to secure the expected position.
Accepting the first work that came to him Mr. Sloan began as an assistant in the Detmold mines at Lonaconing, where he remained from 1863 to 1865. He then entered the employ of Hanekamp & Brothers, of Lonaconing, which firm employed him first as clerk, later as salesman on the road. In March, 1869, he entered the Detmold store as an employe of Z. T. DeWitt, but in April of the following year he embarked in the mercantile business for himself, opening a small store on the present site of the business. His brother, James, assisted him as a clerk, and the two in the spring of 1873 established the branch store at Pekin, which was successful from the start. In 1879 the firm of Sloan & Sloan was established by James M. and David at Ocean, Allegany County, and in 1878 the title of the firm at Lon- aconing was changed to D. R. Sloan & Co., the principal member being his brother Duncan, who had been in ltis employ since 1873. A substan- tial building was erected, but it was destroyed in 1882 and the present store was then built. Mean- time Mr. Sloan was interested in stores at Frost- burg and Cumberland and the milling business in Jefferson County, W. Va. In 1889 the bank was organized, with himself as president, and he has since held this position. The business has increased to such an extent that for several years it lias required his entire attention, for which
reason he is not actively connected with the mer- cantile business. For eight years he was a di- rector of the Second National Bank of Cumber- land, but other duties demanded his whole time, so he resigned the directorship January 1, 1898, and was succeeded by Judge D. W. Sloan.
September 6, 1873, Mr. Sloan married Mar- garet Maitland Percy, daugliter of Judge Douglas Percy, of Frostburg. She died in Lonaconing July 31, 1893, leaving four children: Nellie R., Aleck M. R., Annie M. and Marion Percy. In November, 1895, Mr. Sloan married Minnie Har- ness, daughter of George Harness, of Petersburg, W. Va. While Mr. Sloan is not a member of any denomination he is in sympathy with religious movements and contributes to the churches and to philanthropic objects. A Republican in poli- tics he was his party's nominee for the legislature in 1875, but was defeated with the remainder of tlie ticket. He has large and valuable real-estate interests, also owns coal and mineral tracts, and has other possessions that are important and ex- tensive. As a citizen he is public-spirited and deservedly ranks among the most influential men of his town.
DWARD A. WAREHAM, M. D. Among the most successful physicians and surgeons of western Maryland is this gentleman, who has an office at No. 47 North Jonathan street, Hagerstown. His ability and high standing in his profession have been recognized in numerous ways and besides being the official surgeon for the Cumberland Valley Railway Company he is as- sistant surgeon for the Norfolk & Western Rail- way; examiner for the New England Mutual, Union Central, Prudential and National insur- ance companies. He has also been a member of the examining board of surgeons of the Bureau of Pensions for the past four years. His constant endeavor being to keep fully up to the times in everything pertaining to advancement in the line of liis special field of work, he liolds a member-
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ship with the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland and the American Medical Associa- tion and subscribes to many of the leading med- ical journals of the day. Possessed of fine mental endowments and high executive ability. he has already achieved success in his department of activity and has a future of much promise before him. His patronage is from the best families in this region and with all classes with whom he has had dealings he is popular.
Dr. Wareham is a native of West Virginia, his birthi having occurred in Ritchie County, Sep- tember 28, 1858. His parents, David and Anna. (Summers) Wareham, were, however, both of this state. The father has been interested in railroading and agricultural pursuits, but is now retired and is living in Hagerstown. His wife died in 1893, aged about sixty-five years. She was the daughter of Rev. Jolin Summers, a far- mer and minister of the Mennonite Church, but she herself held membership with the Presbyte- rian denomination.
The second in a family of three children, the doctor grew to manhood in the county of his birth and in this state, whither he came with his parents at the age of ten years. His brother, John S., resides in Hagerstown, and Sallie C., the only sister, is the wife of F. T. Goddard, a merchant of Williamsport. In 1876 our subject entered the drug store of D. C. Aughenbaugh, of this city. There he thoroughly learned the busi- ness, at the same time reading medicine with Dr. O. H. W. Ragan for three years. In 1883 he graduated from the University of Maryland with high rank, as he averaged ninety-two per cent. on all branches. Not wishing to lose the knowledge he had gained in the drug line he next devoted two years to establishing the Wareham City Pharmacy, which is in a flourishing condition, be- ing one of the best-equipped stores of the kind in this portion of the state, and now managed by W. E. Strite, and employing two assistants. Since 1885 the doctor lias devoted his entire time to the practice of his profession.
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