Portrait and biographical record of the Sixth congressional district, Maryland V. 1, Part 17

Author: Chapman Publishing Company
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: New York : Chapman publishing co.
Number of Pages: 818


USA > Maryland > Portrait and biographical record of the Sixth congressional district, Maryland V. 1 > Part 17


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Returning to Oakland in 1865, Mr. Maroney has since engaged in the trucking and livery business, having now about thirty head of horses, as well as all kinds of conveyances for rent. In politics he is a Republican, but does not take an active part in public affairs. Like all old soldiers, he is identified with the Grand Army of the Republic. In religious belief he and his family are members of the Catholic Church.


In 1860 Mr. Maroney married Miss Bridget Keefe, daughter of James and Rose Keefe, who came from Ireland to Maryland in 1851, set- tling in Oakland, of which place they were pion- eers. Eleven children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Maroney, namely: John; Rich- ard Keefe, who married Blanche Browning ; Julia; James and Michael R., who are in Wash- ington, D. C .; Peter J., Patrick, Rose A., Mat- thew Thomas, Alice Elizabeth and Bridget Frances.


ON. THOMAS H. BITTINGER, postmas- ter at Grantsville and former member of the house of delegates from Garrett County, has resided in Grantsville since 1885, and has taken an active part in the political life of the village as an adherent of the Republican party. In 1880 he served às census enumerator for Gar- rett County, and in 1881-83 held the office of school commissioner for the county. In 1886 he was his party's candidate for the state legislature, but was defeated, though by only twenty votes. In the fall of 1891 he was elected to the house of delegates and served in the term of 1892, during


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which session hie rendered satisfactory service in favoring bills for the benefit of liis constituents. During the administration of President Harrison he was employed in the railroad mail service, his route being from Cumberland to Pittsburg. In 1893 he was appointed postmaster at Grantsville to fill out an unexpired term, and in 1897 he was again appointed under the administration of President Mckinley.


William Bittinger, our subject's father, was a resident of this locality throughout his entire life, and owned about two hundred acres of farm land. During his early years he followed hunting quite extensively, and became a skilled marksman. He was a pioneer in the mountain region, hav- ing spent his life here, and witnessed the growth of the county from a sparsely settled community to a prosperous mining and farming region. His death occurred when he was fifty-six years of age. He was a son of Henry Bittinger, a native of Germany, who settled in Ohio, where he often assisted local regiments in fighting the Indians. From there he moved to Pennsylvania, later went to Allegany County, and settled on the site of the present town of Bittinger, nanied in his honor. He died here when seventy years of age.


The marriage of William Bittinger united him with Agnes Ruckle, daughter of Henry Ruckle. She was born in Ireland and came to America with her parents when six months old, and died in Garrett County at fifty-eight years of age. Of her seven children all but one are still living. They are: Thomas H .; Catherine, wife of Joel J. Brenneman; Annie, Mrs. John H. Stark; Julia, widow of C. P. Miller; Josiah; and Alice, who is the wife of Joseph Buckle. Our subject spent his boyhood years on a farm near his birthplace and was educated in the public schools, which he attended during the winter months, the sum- mer seasons being devoted to work at tlie carpen- ter's trade. He was born in 1844, and was forty-one years of age when, in 1885, he came from Bittinger to Grantsville, his present place of residence. For the past twenty-five years he has served as an elder in the Lutheran Church. During the late war, in 1864, hie enlisted as a


member of Company C, Second Veterans' Battal- ion, in which he continued to serve until thie close of the war. In 1869 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Carlisle Hoover, and they are the parents of five children: Howard; Irene, the widow of Clarence Getty; Bertha, Annie and Lawrence.


L LBERT HEARD, superintendent and treas- urer of the Washington County Water Company, and secretary and treasurer of the Hagerstown Light and Heat Company, was born August 2S, 1860, in the city of Hagerstown, where he now resides. He is a son of Franklin A. Heard, to whose sketch upon another page the leader is referred for particulars regarding the family history. His boyhood days were spent in the acquirement of a common-school education. At the age of fifteen lie became an employe in a large stove, tinware and plumbing establishment in Hagerstown, with which concern he remained as bookkeeper for about twelve years. Meantime he had acquired a thorough knowledge of the business and had saved an amount of money sufficient to enable him to start a store of his own. This he did, conducting business successfully for eight years. At the expiration of that time he sold the business to Hunter Brothers and accepted the position which he has since held.


I11 1887 Mr. Heard married Miss Mollie E. Firey, of Hagerstown, by whom he has a daugh- ter, Helen F. Both are members of Trinity Lutheran Church and active workers in that denomination. Socially they are known and liked in the best circles of the city, and by their genial and companionable dispositions have won1 a host of friends among the people with whom - they associate.


Mr. Heard believes in the principles laid down in the Republican platform and therefore votes the straight ticket. However, he lias never been active in political and public affairs, his time and


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attention being entirely taken up with his busi- ness interests. While he keeps himself well informed on the questions of the hour, as all true American citizens should do, he has never sought or desired the honors of public office. In frater- nal relations he is connected with Friendship Lodge No. 84, A. F. & A. M .; Thiel Chapter No. 27, R. A. M., and St. Bernard Commandery No. 9, K. T .; also Valley Lodge No. 30, K. of P., and the Royal Arcanum. Still young in years, his present prosperity indicates the sturdy nature of the man to whose determination and unflagging industry they are due.


OHN A. SPIELMAN, a member of the Busi- ness Men's Association of Hagerstown, Washington County, is the secretary and general manager of the Bester Ice Company, one of the progressive enterprises of which this city is justly proud. He was very influential in the or- ganization of this plant, which now, after but four years have passed, is an assured success, and is bringing in good financial results to the pro- motors, though the business is carried on but eight months of the year, from April I to Novem- ber 1. The ice manufactured is of the kind called "plate" ice, it being made in a solid cake of from three to four tons in weight, and then cut by machinery into suitable sizes for the trade, this being done without waste. The ice is of ex- cellent quality, being singularly compact, and is very much to be preferred to the porous artificial ice manufactured by ordinary processes. Tlie officials of the company are as follows: J. Mc- Pherson Scott, president; William Bester, vice- president; Benjamin F. Beck, treasurer, and John A. Spielman, secretary and general manager.


The parents of the above were Jonathan and Ann Rebecca (Bombarger) Spielman, both na- tives of this county. The father was widely and favorably known throughout this portion of the state, was recognized as a power in the political world, and possessed superior business and geil-


eral qualifications. In 1876 he ran for the posi- tion of sheriff on the Democratic ticket, but was defeated, in common with others of his party. However, his minority was but seventeen votes, and over one hundred Republicans in Williams- port, Washington County, where he was then living, scratched their ticket in order to favor him with their ballot. His winning personality and genuine manhood won for him friends every- where, and some of his sincerest ones were ar- dent Republicans. During some ten or twelve years he was the collector of the port on the canal at Williamsport, and for a great many years he was successfully engaged in merchandising. While the Civil war was in progress he lost a great deal of property. He was connected with numerous banks, industries and enterprises of this county, and was always ready to lend his means and influence to the fostering of concerns which he believed would prove of benefit to his fellow-citizens. He retired from business a few years prior to his death, which event occurred June 3, 1895, when he was in his seventy-fifth year.


The first wife of Jonathan Spielman bore the maiden name of Caroline Stiffey, and one child blessed their union, Emory Edmond. To his marriage with Miss Ann Rebecca Bombarger, eight children were born. She departed this life in 1882, aged forty-eight years. She was a lady of lovable Christian character, and was loyal and true in all the relations of life. She reared a large family of children to be good and useful citizens, and not only they, but all with whom she came in contact, revere and tenderly cherish her mem- ory. The surviving children of Jonathan Spiel- man are our subject, who is the second child of the second marriage; Virginia, wife of John Knode, who has been a member of the Baltimore police force for years; E. B., superintendent of the Hagerstown Gas Works; Aun Elizabeth; Eldora, wife of Dr. Wingert, of Funkstown, this county; William A., salesman for the Antietam Flouring Company, and a resident of this city; and Miss Nettie.


John A. Spielman was born near Williamsport, Md., January 1, 1852, and was reared on the


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GEN. RICHARD C. DRUM.


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banks of the Potomac River. His initial exper- ience in business was as a clerk in his father's store, and then for fourteen years he represented numerous leading firms of Baltimore and other cities as a traveling salesman. In 1890 he estab- lished the Hagerstown Ice Company, and later founded the cracker factory here, which did not prove a financial success. In 1894, as previous- ly stated, he became interested in the manufact- ure of ice, and largely by his management the remunerative and constantly growing trade has been built up. He is a member of Friendship Lodge No. 84, A. F. & A. M .; Eithel Chapter No. 27, R. A. M .; St. Bernard Commandery No. 9, K. T .; and Cumberland Consistory No. 18. He is also identified with the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of Honor, and the Ancient Essenic Order. Following his father's example, he is a Democrat.


November 12, 1879, Mr. Spielman married Ann Rebecca Henneberger, daughter of George and A. R. Henneberger. The former died dur- ing the war, in Hagerstown, where he had been engaged in the confectionery business; his widow is still living. The four children of our subject and wife are Raymond H., Alice, Lee Brian and Gertrude. The mother is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church.


G EN. RICHARD COULTER DRUM, was born in Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Pa., in 1825. As a boy he attended Greens- burg Academy, from which he graduated to Jef- ferson College and there, after spending a short time in the acquisition of the higher literary studies, he commenced to study law. From these pursuits he was roused to action by the sound of the bugle from the Rio Grande, where his brother, Capt. Simon H. Drum, was already serving in the Fourth Regular Artillery. Shouldering lis musket as a private soldier, on the Sth of De- cember, 1846, he entered the Mexican war as a member of Company K, First Pennsylvania


Volunteers. Two months later, February 18, 1847, he was commissioned as a second lieuten- ant of infantry and was assigned to the Ninth, in which he performed such gallant and meritorious service before Chapultepec September 13, 1847, that he was given a brevet. The joy of the pro- motion, however, was saddened by the untimely death of his brother, who fell the same day, in the famous assault upon the Belen gate.


At the close of the war he was transferred to the Fourth Artillery and ordered to Florida. Among his comrades were Pemberton, Getty, A. P. Howe, Garesche, Garnett, Mansfield, Lovell, Fitz-John Porter, Couch and Gibbon. His commission awaited him at Fort Sumter September 16, 1850. During the next decade his services were marked by stirring episodes and flattering marks of approbation. He fought with Harney in the perilous Sioux expedition and as aide-de-camp to that gallant veteran helped to maintain peace during the Kansas disturbance of 1855. In November of the following year he was appointed aide to Gen. Persifer F. Smith and acting-assistant-adjutant-general for the de- partment of the west. When General Smith died two years later, he rejoined his battery at Fort Monroe, where he was made adjutant of the post March 16, 1861, and was transferred to the ad- jutant's general department with a captaincy by brevet.


This merited promotion, which sent him with General Sumner to the Pacific, was unfortunate in the respect that it removed him from the scenes where his knowledge of practical military tactics would have been of greatest value to the government, to an isolated command where the duties and dangers were great, requiring man- agement of the most delicate character. The ne- cessity of holding open the overland route of travel; repressing the tendency of the Indian tribes to revolt at a time when the resources of the government were severely strained; watching the Mormons, and holding the Mexican frontier against incursions from the south, where Maxi- milian had already secured a foothold, were duties that called for the most delicate manage- ment, as well as a thorough compreliension of the


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situation. How well he performed every duty devolving upon him is shown in the fact that at the termination of his service, October 1, 1866, more than $40,000 was raised in San Francisco and presented to him as a testimonial of the peo- ple's appreciation of his work.


Returning east, Colonel Drum was made ad- jutant-general to General Meade, whom he ac- companied a month later to his headquarters and aided in the reconstruction of the states of Georgia and Alabama. After turning over these states to the civil authorities, he accompanied General Meade to the new department of the south. February 22, 1869, he was promoted to be colonel and had his headquarters in Phila- delphia. On the death of General Meade he continued as adjutant-general to General Han- cock. November 26, 1873, on the application of Lieutenant-General Sheridan, he was sent to the division of Missouri at Chicago, where he re- mained until May 2, 1878. During the labor riots of 1877, when Generals Sherman and Sheri- dan were absent on the plains, far beyond the reach of telegrapli, the mob formed in Chicago, aroused by the news of a successful strike in Pittsburg, and General Drum, knowing it was necessary to act instantly, at once ordered all the regulars and militiamen to the city, planted Gat- tling guns at strategic points and patroled the city with soldiers, by which means he dispersed the mob without firing a gun and before any property was injured. For these services he was commended highly. May 2, 1878, he was ordered to Washington, where he remained until 3. the retirement of Adjutant-General Townsend," June 15, 1880. Then, without personal or po- litical influence having been used, he succeeded to the position thus made vacant.


As soon as lie was appointed to this office, hie took an important step. Knowing that the uni- formed state militias must furnish our troops in time of war, with a view to assimilating the forms governing the militia and regular army, he addressed letters to the adjutant-generals of the different states, in which he intimated the propriety of sending him copies of the general orders issued from the war department. The


responses were prompt and hearty. All appre- ciated the importance of recognizing the rela- tions between the regular army and the militia. A year later the tactical works and blank forms were issued to the states, together with books prescribed for the regular army, while regular of- ficers were detailed to inspect camps and troops of the militia in annual musters. The import- ance of this movement cannot be overestimated, and its value was recognized by all familiar with the work.


The military history of General Drum is as follows: Enlisted as a private December 8, 1846; mustered into service December 16, 1846; took part in the siege of Vera Cruz; discharged in that city March 17, 1847; appointed second lieutenant April 9, 1847; transferred to the Fourth Artil- lery March 8, 1848; promoted to rank of first lieutenant May 14, 1861; major and assistant adjutant-general August 3, 1861; lieutenant- colonel and assistant adjutant-general July 17, 1862; colonel and assistant adjutant-general February 22, 1869; brigadier-general and adju- tant-general June 15, 1880; breveted first lieu- tenant September 13, 1847, for gallantry in the battle of Chapultepec; colonel September 24, 1864, for faithful service during the war, and brigadier-general March 13, 1865, for meritori- ous service in the adjutant-general's office during the war; joined the Ninth Infantry May 19, 1847; engaged in the battles of Contreras, Churu- busco, Molino del Rey, Chapultepec, and Garita de Belen; July, 1848, joined the Fourth Artillery and served with that regiment en route from Mexico to Fortress Monroe, Va., August 14, 1848; at Fortress Monroe to October 21, 1848; Fort Pickens, Fla., to April 25, 1849; Baton Rouge June 4, 1850; on leave to October 20, 1850; on detached service with light battery to March 11, 1851; with regiment at Fort Colum- bus, N. Y., to May 23, 1851; on detached serv- ice conducting recruits at Fort Kearney, Neb., to July 21, 1851; Fort Jolinson, N. C., to June 6, 1852; Fort Brady, Mich., to October, 1853; Fort Leavenworth, Kas., to May 25, 1855; 011 detached service as acting commissary for battal- ion of Sixth Infantry en route to Fort Kearney,


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Neb., to July 11, 1855; with regiment in engage- ment against hostile Indians to October 2, 1855; aide-de-camp to General Harney, commanding the Sioux expedition, to November 10, 1856; aide- de-camp to Gen. P. F. Smith, commanding the department of the west; also acting assistant adjutant-general at headquarters of that depart- ment to May, IS58; with regiment at artillery school, Fortress Monroe, Va., to June 9, 1860; and ordnance office to April 21, 1860; on duty as assistant adjutant-general at headquarters de- partment of Pacific. San Francisco, to June, IS65; headquarters department of California, to October, 1866; headquarters department of the east, New York City, from December 27, 1866, to January 6, 1868; headquarters third military district, Atlanta, Ga., to August 1, IS68; depart- ment of the south, March 20, 1869; Philadel- phia, Pa., April 3, 1869, to December 16, 1872; at New York City to November, IS73; head- quarters of military division of Missouri at Chi- cago, Ill., November 28, 1873, to May 3, IS7S; in adjutant-general's office Washington, D. C., to June 16, 1880, from that time retired from service.


While a subaltern, in Louisiana, General Drum married Lavinia, daughter of Gibbs Mor- gan, of Baton Rouge, a prominent old southern family and sister of P. H. Morgan, once a minis- ter to Mexico. Mrs. Drum and her daughters, one a widow, the other a recent debutante, are charming ladies, possessing that ease of manner and grace of person that win friends. Their home, over which they preside with generous hospitality, is situated on the electric car line near Bethesda, in the suburbs of Washington, and is a comfortable and tastefully furnished abode. Formerly they resided on K street, be- tween Fifteenth and Sixteenth, in the fashionable part of Washington, occupying a handsome brown stone residence.


General Drum possesses a typical soldier's figure, being five feet nine inches in height, one hundred and forty pounds in weight, with a face bronzed by exposure to sun and wind. He is rapid in his movements, cordial in manner, quick in action and prompt in decision. He enjoys


life heartily, enduring its hardships with com- posure, and taking its good things to himself with a hearty good will. Not only in military circles, but in civil as well, he has a host of friends, who have been won to him by his genial manner and comparionable disposition.


ON. LEWIS M. MOTTER, a retired busi- ness man of Emmitsburg, Frederick County, is one of the old and honored citizens of this place. This locality has been the scene of the labors of his lifetime, and with its progress and development his own welfare has been inti- mately associated. In his early manhood he was a leader in the Whig party and was elected on that ticket to the Maryland legislature in IS53 and 1854, serving with distinction, but for many years past he has given his allegiance to the Demo- cratic party.


The father of our subject, Lewis Motter, was born in 1775 and held a captaincy during the War of 1812. His father, Valentine Motter, who was born in in York County, Pa., February I, 1852, died when the son Lewis was but an in- fant, and the child was reared by an uncle. Lewis Motter was a native of York County, and came to Frederick County as early as 1797. Here he became very well-off in lands and property, owned a tannery and carried on general merchandising. He was one of the pillars in the local Lutheran Church, in the faith of which denomination his father had lived and died. " In 1837, when he was in his sixty-third year, Lewis Motter was sum- moned to the silent land. His wife, whose girl- hood's name was Mary M. Martin, survived him several years, dying in 1857. Her father, a farmer of this district, died in 1815, the same year that the subject of this article was born.


Of the five sons and three daughters who com- prised the family of Lewis and Mary Motter, all are deceased except our subject. Joshua was a member of the Maryland legislature in 1840 and was for years a justice of the peace, a merchant


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and a farmer of this district. Barbara, who passed her early years and the latter part of her life hereabouts, was the wife of Charles Smith. Isaac, who lived in Williamsport, Washington County, Md., was a tanner by occupation. Anna M. became the wife of Dr. James W. Eichelberger of this vicinity, and both are deceased. Elizabeth married Dr. Andrew Annan, a physician of Em- mitsburg. William, a representative member of the bar, was for years a judge of the circuit court of Hagerstown, Md. Samuel was a resident of this place up to the time of his death.


The birth of Lewis M. Motter, of this sketch, occurred February 6, 1815, on the old family homestead in Einmitsburg District. At the time of his father's death he was in his twenty-third year and was fully qualified by years of actual practice and experience to assume the management of the senior Motter's business affairs. The young man not only carried on the tannery which had been in the family for so many years, but operated the homestead, and attended to various investments. He continued along these lines for many years, finally retiring, as he had an assured competence. He lives in the old home where all of his broth- ers and sisters were born, except the two eldest, and they were born two hundred yards distant, where the happiest days of his life have been spent. It is hallowed to him by sacred inemories and, being near the center of the town, is con- venient to all portions of the place. He still owns considerable, property in this section and since 1849 has been a stockholder and a director in what is now the Gettysburg National Bank, at Gettysburg, Pa.


In 1840 Mr. Motter married Alice Rudisel, a native of Taneytown, Carroll County, Md., daughter of Ludwig Rudisel. To this worthy couple eight children were born, three of the number now being deceased. Josliua S., formerly an agriculturist, is now retired from business. Rev. Isaac M. is a minister in the Reformed Church. Lewis Edwin is engaged in the grain business in Kansas City. Carrie May is the wife of A. A. Hack, and Grace became tlie wife of Rev. George V. Ressler, pastor of the Reformed Church of Hanover, Pa. Our subject


and wife have been prominent members of the Reformed Church for years and are generous in their support of the church and all benevo- lences. They possess the love and high regard of all who know them, and their example is worthy of the emulation of their children, in all respects.


BRAHAM FREELAND. One of the most picturesque locations in Maryland is that oc- cupied by Pleasant Rest Hotel, in Deerpark. To the east lies the range called the Great Back- bone Mountains, while a little to the west lie the quiet waters of the Youglioheny. It is an ideal spot for a summer vacation, when the resident of the city longs for a retreat "far from the madding crowd," and amid the charms of nature in its most attractive mnood. The name of tlie hotel indicates its chief attraction. The surround- ings are restful, both to the eye and the mind, and after a vacation here one returns to the busi- ness cares or social duties strengthened in body and refreshed in spirit.




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