USA > Maryland > Portrait and biographical record of the Sixth congressional district, Maryland V. 1 > Part 15
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The birth of Dr. M. W. Allison took place in Shenandoah County, Va., May 10, 1843, and up to the time of his enlistment in the Army of Northern Virginia, April 18, 1861, he had always lived tlie quiet life of a farmer's boy. He became
a member of Company F, Tenth Virginia In- fantry, Third Brigade, Jackson's Division, Second Army Corps, commanded by General Ewell. He participated in the battles of Bull Run, Pea Ridge, Cross Keys, Port Republic, Seven Days' fight at Richmond, Cedar Mountain, Second Manassas, Harper's Ferry, Fredericksburg. Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, besides taking part in many campaigns and skirmishes of scarcely less note. Just before the battle of Gettysburg he had put on a new suit of clothes made from two army blankets by his fond mother at home, and was creeping on his hands and knees, the better to avoid notice by the enemy, to the relief of a wounded comrade on the field; had got him safely upon his back and well toward tlie Confederate lines again, when he was discovered and both he and his companion were taken prisoners. Later he was sent to Fort Delaware, whence he escaped on a boat at the time that Lincoln met Mr. Stephens, in Febru- ary, 1865, and was at his old home when the war closed.
In August, 1862, at the battle of Cedar Moun- tain, Mr. Allison and a comrade saw two men, called "Louisiana Tigers," approach a mortally wounded and helpless Federal colonel, lying on the blood-stained battle-field. As'he wore a very valuable ring they started to cut off the finger on which it was placed, but the doctor and his friend frightened the heartless men away, and when the dying colonel asked feebly for a drink, our sub- ject gave him some water from his own canteen. Then, as he realized that he had not long.to live, the officer gave the ring, his gold watch, a Masonic pin and other keepsakes to Mr. Allison, who promised to send them to the wife of the Federal at Fort Delaware. The dying man also had $80 in gold and $40 in greenbacks, the former of which he gave to our subject. After the death of the Union soldier, he was buried decently by Mr. Allison and a com- panion. It so happened that when our subject was confined in Fort Delaware the widow of the colonel, who had safely received the tokens from the one whom she loved, came to see Mr. Alli- son, and through her influence he received many
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favors from those who were guarding him. At Cedar Mountain a shell killed four persons, cut off two arms and three legs and cut the rim of the doctor's hat. The shock knocked him down and he was believed to have been killed by those near him, but, after awhile, he revived and took part in the latter part of the battle. He was never seriously wounded, but very nearly died with the typhoid fever after the battle of Bull Run.
Before starting on what was destined to be his last march, "Stonewall" Jackson addressed his command, encouraging them in every possible manner, and at the same time, telling them in a most emphatic manner that he and they must be on time, that there must be no falling out by the way, or lagging behind on the part of any of the men. Dr. Allison, owing to sickness, sore feet and hunger, at last could go no further, and so reported to his captain. A stump in a fence-cor- ner near offered a most tempting place in which to rest and he sat down with his bayoneted gun on his lap, and watched the passing of the troops. Lastly came General Jackson on horseback. On seeing the doctor, the officer dismounted and walked toward him, with his hand on his sabre, and the former expected that a conflict would take place. However, the general, upon mak- ing inquiry as to the cause of the young man's flagrant disobedience, or what appeared .to be such, kindly and in a business-like way, said that he could not spare a man, and that if it was im- possible for him to walk further, they would · change places. . Then he assisted the weary sol- dier upon his fine bay horse, and, running his arm through the bridle, proceeded on foot beside. Soon the general took from his pocket a copy of the New Testament and during the next hour read to himself much of the time, while march- ing along. At last they were overtaken by a courier with a dispatch and after reading it the general said, "My dear sir, I will have to take my horse and leave you. I think you must be rested enough now to walk and keep up with the others." They thus parted on the most friendly terms; the noted officer sprang to his horse and galloped off in a cloud of dust, and but a few
hours later he was mortally wounded. This in- cident transpired just before the battle of Chan- cellorsville.
Upon his return home, Dr. Allison found it hard to make a livelihood for some time, owing to the disturbed condition that affairs were in. He did a little farming and then, going to Newark, Ohio, engaged in clerking, etc., until he entered upon his medical career. In his younger days he joined the Masonic order, Hunter Lodge. No. 135, in Edenburgh, Va., and Acacia Chapter No. 35, R. A. M. He was married in 1873 to Miss Favoretta, daughter of George and Caroline Stockslayer, of Washington County, Va, Of their four children, the eldest is deceased. This little one, Grace by name, died when two years old. Marcus W. is an employe of the Western Maryland Railroad: and Minnie and Lillian M. reside at home. The mother, who was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church of this city, died in 1883, at the age of thirty-one years. The doctor has also been identified witlı the same congregation for a number of years.
EV. GEORGE A. WHITMORE. The Reformed Church of Thurmont, Frederick County, of which Mr. Whitmore is the ·pastor, is a branch of one of the oldest congre- gations in western Maryland. Its present min- ister, who has held this charge since January, 1889, is a man in the prime of life and mental and bodily vigor, and being a deep and earnest student of things material and spiritual, is well qualified for his responsible mission to the people of the community. In addition to this, he ministers to three other congregations in this section. One of these at one time was presided over by the renowned Dr. Schlatter, at an early day in its history, and it is said to be the oldest church of the denomination in the western part of the state. It is also called the mother of the
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two Reformed Churchies in the city of Frederick, were ministers of the Gospel, three of the as most of the pioneers of those congregations were, at some time, connected with the parent clurch.
Santuel and Sophia (Evers) Whitmore, parents of our subject, were natives of Virginia. The father was a prosperous farmer in the vicinity of Staunton, where he resided with his family until 1862, when he sold and purchased another farni in the vicinity of Mount Crawford, Va. He was a inan of strong principles and wisdom gained from reading, study and experience. During the stormy war period he was about the only man in his community who dared to pronounce openly his conviction that the Union cause was the right one and that all true friends to the best interests of this nation should stand by the flag and the states, united, of which it is the emblem. Prior to the Civil war lie was captain of a company of home guards, and toward the close of the war he was in a cavalry company (a reserve force of men between forty-five and fifty years of age) under command of Colonel Walker. His com- pany was engaged in both the battles of New Market and New Hope during General Hunter's raid into the valley of Virginia; in the latter place his horse was shot under him. In his early life he was a Jacksonian Democrat and subse- quently he allied himself with the Republican party. His life was righteous, noble and self- sacrificing, in full accord with the high princi- ples which he professed. For years he was an elder in the Reformed Church and, strong in the faith of a glorious resurrection, he died in February, 1897, aged seventy-nine years. His father, Daniel Whitmore, owned a large planta- tion in Virginia and was a worthy representative of an honored old family of that state. He was baptized and confirmed by Rev. Dr. Brown, one of the first missionaries of the Reformed Church in that section of the south. The Whitmores came to the United States from Scotland many generations ago and have been noted as in- dustrious, patriotic citizens, loving God and their brother-men.
The mother of our subject bore the maiden nante of Sophia Evers. Four of her brothers
number in the United Brethren, and one in the Mennonite Church. Four of her seven sons be- came ministers in the Reformed Church. The eldest, Rev. D. M. Whitmore, died in March, 1883. Rev. Jacob A. died in January, 1883. Rev. Samuel L. and the subject of this article are still actively engaged in the ministry. Charles Henry was in college preparing for the ministry at the time of his death. John E. was a farmer in Ohio and died in April, 1874. Dr. William P., a young man of great promise, died at the threshold of his professional career in Schells- burg, Pa., in 1890. Sophia E. and Mary Elizabeth died while schoolgirls; and Catherine is the wife of Hon. E. S. Tabler, of Martinsburg, Va.
It is not strange that, reared in an atmosphere of high and lofty motives and principles, such as it may readily be seen were the environments of George A. Whitmore in his childhood and youth, he early decided to devote his talents and life to the service of God and man. He was born upon the old homestead in Virginia May 15, 1848, and with the other children of the neighborhood he learned his elementary lessons in the local schools. Later he laid the foundation of his higher education under the tutorship of professor Linden, of Mount Crawford, Va. In the fall of 1869 he entered Mercersburg (Pa.) College, from which he graduated with honors. From his alma mater he received the degrees of A. B. and A. M. After his graduation he took a post-graduate course in the same institution under the late E. E. Higbee, D.D., LL.D., andin 1878 was em- ployed as a missionary for his denomination in the Virginias. His first regular charge was at Dayton, Armstrong County, Pa., where he re- mained until 1883; thence going to Mount Jackson, Va., where he remained nearly six years, until lie accepted his present charge.
As might be supposed from a man of Mr. Whitmore's nature, he is liberal in matters of general public import, and his influence is always to be found upon the side of right and progress. He uses his franchise in favor of the platform and nominees that in his judgment are the best en- titled to his support. Fraternally lie is a Master
COL. JAMES ALEXANDER BOYD.
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Mason, Knight of Pythias and member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics.
October 20, 1880, the marriage of Mr. Whit- more and Miss Sarah Elizabeth Lichliter was sol- emnized. Her father, the late Conrad Lichliter, was a well-known citizen of Woodstock, Va. Of her three brothers one is a successful lawyer in Washington, D. C., another a leading physician of Dayton, Ohio, and the third the popular pas- tor of St. Luke's Reformed Church at Lancaster, Pa. To the union of our subject and wife one daughter and four sons were born, namely: Ethel E., Bernard Lichliter, George Merle, Raymond Evers and Jay Dinges (deceased in September, 1892). The boys, who are manly lads, are being taught to work by their father, who purchased a small place near Thurmont mainly for this purpose, and they have reason to be proud of the fine fields of wheat and corn which they raise. Thus habits of industry are combined with their moral and spiritual education.
) OL. JAMES ALEXANDER BOYD. The record of the life of Colonel Boyd contains mnuch of interest and much that is worthy of · emulation by those starting out for themselves without money and among strangers. The found- er of Boyds, Montgomery County, was born in Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland, December 22, 1823, and was one of a large family. When one year of age he was taken into the home of his grandmother, a woman of noble character and much piety, to whose influence he owed the forma- tion in his character of a love for all that is upright, just and true. When quite young he served an apprenticeship to the stonecutter's trade and about the time he finished his period of service his grandmother died. As hers was the only home he had ever known, he felt the ties that bound him there were broken, and therefore did not care to remain in Scotland. With two other young men he took a contract to work in the con- struction of a breakwater at Kingston, Jamaica,
where he was employed almost three years, his work being eminently satisfactory to his em- ployers. The contract made when going there provided the option that he should have free pas- sage back to Scotland or $100 in cash, and, act- ing upon the advice of the captain of a trading vessel, he chose the latter. He was about twenty-five years of age when he landed in Phila- delphia. In that city he met Thomas Scott, president of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, who employed him to do masonry work on the road near Harrisburg, Pa. Afterward he super- intended the construction of a section of road, which he completed in 1852. Next he went to West Virginia and constructed two sections of the Parkersburg branch of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. While engaged in that work, he formed the acquaintance of Benjamin H. Latrobe, of Baltimore, who became his life-long friend.
Going from Virginia to Ohio, Colonel Boyd took a contract for the construction of part of the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad. However, this undertaking brought disastrous results. In 1857 the construction company failed, owing him $30,000. Here the high sense of honor which he ever displayed in all his dealings was most nobly shown. He might have taken advantage of the failure and avoided paying his employes, but he felt this would be dishonest, so he sold all his machinery, implements and other possessions, and gathered together all the money he could secure, and with it he paid the entire indebted- ness; but it left him and his wife to commence life anew, with all their possessions in two trunks.
In Baltimore he joined the firm of Hoblitzell & Crowley, and engaged in building a dam near the Relay House for the city water works. In the latter part of 1860 he went to Memphis, Tenn., with the intention of engaging in railroad build- ing there, but owing to the great excitement in- cident to the coming civil strife, he recognized the futility of any such work there, so returned to Baltimore. In February, 1861, he sailed for Brazil and for several years was engaged in rail- road building there. While in South America he enjoyed the friendship of Dom Pedro, who, at one time when inspecting a railroad, was so
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pleased with the work done that lie presented the cane lie was carrying to Colonel Boyd, as a token of his gratitude. This cane the colonel had at the time of liis death.
Returning to the United States, in 1865, Col- onel Boyd the following year secured contracts for the building of several sections of the metropoli- tan branch of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. This was the work that brought him to Mont- goinery County and selecting the spot most con- veniently located, he purchased a tract of land upon which to erect tenements where he could shelter his men and stock. This place is twenty- nine and one-half miles from Washington and in his honor was called Boyds. The land had long been abandoned as worthless for agricultural purposes and was selling for $5 an acre, but ad- vantage was taken of his necessity and he was obliged to pay $30 an acre for the one liundred and thirty acres he bought. Here he decided to make his home. The transition he made in the country was remarkable. Then the only vegeta- tion was broon-sedge and patches of scrubby pine, with small stretches of hardwood forests. He was ridiculed for his idea of making the sterile land productive, but the time came when all ac- knowledged the wisdom of his judgment. By an intelligent use of lime, plaster and other fertil- izers, lie changed the entire appearance of the place.
The last work of railroad construction done by Colonel Boyd was heavy tunneling for the Balti- more & Oliio, on a branch from Washington, Pa., to the Connellsville branch. For a year or two afterward he was engaged by the company in con- fidential work of inspecting and securing right of way. The services lie rendered the road brought him into close relations with its president, John W. Garrett, and their friendship continued until Mr. Garrett's death.
From time to time Colonel Boyd added to his original purchases of land until at the time of liis death he liad thirteen hundred acres, all but one hundred and sixty of which he personally con- ducted. The numerous buildings he erected gave the farm the appearance of a village. His suc- cess caused a change in the entire surrounding
region, for others followed liis example and at- tained a like success. His home became noted for the hospitality dispensed. Many noted men, among them Attorney-General Garland, Senators Beck, Gorman and Blackburn, were recipients of that hospitality. He was proud of his dairy and always had at least one hundred milch cows, his preference being the Durham, or short-horn breed. In the dairy barn a steam engine pumps the water, shells the corn, saws the wood, cuts the hay and grinds the food for the stock. The water is pumped from a depth of sixty feet into a cooling cistern, which is kept at a temperature of fifty-three degrees. All animal heat is thus ex- tracted from the milk previous to shipping. Two hundred gallons of milk are shipped daily to Washington. The dairy barn holds one hun- dred tons of hay and accommodates one hundred cows, fifty on each side, with a broad pathway between, water and feed troughs for each cow, and stanchiions so arranged that in case of neces- sity two boys could release them all in three min- utes. All the floor, except the standing place, is of concrete, and all is kept most scrupulously clean. The house stands back from the road far enough to avoid all dust, and the magnificent lawn adds greatly to the attractiveness of the place. Eighteen or twenty hands are employed on the farm, and about twenty horses are used for cultivating the land. What was once a swamp, back of the barn, has been drained witlı tile and is now a rich timothy meadow, yielding two and one-half tons to the acre. Another swamp, in the southern part of the farm, has also been drained and made valuable. Since the death of Colonel Boyd the place has been super- intended by his wife, who is an exceptionally well-preserved woman. She is assisted by her nephew, James Boyd Maughlin, and her brother, David Rinehart, who was taken into her liome when a boy of thirteen and for some years lias had charge of the place.
At the building of the Boyd Presbyterian Church in 1874, Colonel Boyd took an active part in the work and contributed largely to the building of the structure. He was an elder in the church for many years. Fraternally he was.
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connected with Mystic Circle Lodge No. 109, A. F. & A. M., Baltimore; Maryland Command- ery No. I, K. T .; Jerusalem Chapter No. 9, R. A. M., and St. Andrew's Society, Baltimore. June 22, 1854, he married Sarah, daughter of Jonathan and Zilpah (Allen) Rinehart, and the oldest of eleven children. Her father was born in Allegany County, Md., and was an influential farmer, an old-line Whig and for several terms a member of the state legislature. He died at forty-five years.
Colonel Boyd died December 21, 1896, when lacking one day of being seventy-three years. He came to the end of life full of years and hon- ored by all who knew him. For some three years he was almost entirely confined to the house by rheumatism and suffered much from this cause; but his mind was clear, his judgment unclouded, his counsel wise and his manner most genial and cheerful to the very last. He was a man of great generosity to those who needed help. Many can testify to the proofs of his generous kindness of heart and practical helpfulness. His integrity of character and uprightness of life were unquestion- able.
The funeral discourse, delivered by Rev. J. L. French, of Washington, D. C., was upon the topic, "Death's Lessons." In it this tribute was given to Colonel Boyd: "His nature was like the rugged mountains of his native land-rock-ribbed, but beautified by the verdure with which nature covers them. His innate kindness of heart was the fountain of ready help, whenever he could give it, to those who needed his aid. What he did in this direction was with no flourish of · trumpets-no spirit of ostentation or display. There are many who can testify to the readiness and efficiency of the aid lie rendered. He pos- sessed the unusual magnetic power by which he attracted and bound to himself, as with hooks of steel, in the strongest friendship, men of great in- tellect and prominence. While he was denied the advantages of a liberal education, made no pretensions to literary culture and never held any public position, yet he numbered among his warmest friends senators, cabinet officers, profes- sional men-some of the most intellectual and
prominent men of the nation. The one over- mastering trait of his character, I think, and the key to his success, was his stern, inflexible per- sonal integrity, his unswerving honesty of pur- pose and conduct. He scorned all trickery and double dealing, and in his business transactions was the very soul of honor. This, aided by his good judgment, executive ability and careful jocking after details, made his life a success. * His home life was one of the charms of his character. Affectionate, kind, considerate, generous, he did everything a man could do to make a happy home and he succeeded."
The kindness of Colonel Boyd in his home was also alluded to in the address of Rev. John Ches- ter, D. D., who said: "The home life of Colonel Boyd was a beautiful example of his loving, ten- der and true heart. As a husband, his love and care were ever for that wife who had walked by his side for so many years, who had shared with him the trials of youth and the success of his manhood, who had soothed with gentle minis- tries his declining years. To the other members of his household he was as a father, watching over their interests, loving them all and loved by all. To his friends he was always true, and the doors of his home were open and a generous hos- pitality always provided. Such was the man whose loss will be increasingly realized in this community."
2 EV. CORNELIUS L. KEEDY, president of the Kee Mar College for Young Women, in Hagerstown, has been at the head of this well-known institution of learning for nearly a quarter of a century and to his earnest labors is due the high standing the college bears in this section of the United States. He isa man of broad and liberal scholarship and wide and varied experience, and seems peculiarly fitted by nature and training for such a responsible position as the one he occupies. From his early manhood
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it was evident that he was especially qualified to be an educator, and though he met with gratify- ing success as a minister of the Gospel and later as a physician, he especially enjoys training the young. Genial and courteous, he possesses the esteem of those under his charge as well as of his fellow-citizens.
Daniel Keedy, the doctor's father, was a na- tive of this state and owned a large and valuable farm, which he carried on during his active life. He was a great friend to education, at one time held the office of school commissioner and favored everything in the line of progress and was be- loved by all who had the pleasure of his acquaint- ance. With one exception he sent all of his sons to college, providing for their future with tender, fatherly affection and forethought. He was very active as a church member, being identified with the United Bretliren denomination. He lived to the ripe age of seventy-six years, and to his chil- dren left an honorable record and an unblemished name. His wife was Miss Sophia Miller in her girlhood, she likewise being a native of Mary- land. She was a daughter of Henry Miller, a farmer of this county. After a life spent in good works, kindly actions and loving sympathy with the sorrows of others, she was summoned to her reward in 1881, when in her seventy-third year. Of her seven sons David D. was a minister of the United Brethren Church and for years was the financial agent of the Lebanon Valley Col- lege in Annville, Pa. He died in January, 1895, at the age of sixty. three years. Dr. John Keedy, the next son, whose home was near Keedysville, Md. (which place was named in honor of the fail- ily), died in 1892, at the age of fifty-seven years. Joseph E. is a farmer of the vicinity of Boons- boro, Md. Dr. Reuben M. is a resident of Hagerstown. Dr. S. H. Keedy has been the United States consul to Grenoble, France, for the past seven years, having been appointed by President Harrison, and retained in office by Cleveland and thus farby Mckinley. Henry H., formerly an able lawyer of this place, died at the age of fifty-two years. Barbara A., the only daughter, is the wife of Henry C. Mumma, of this place.
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