USA > Maryland > Portrait and biographical record of the Sixth congressional district, Maryland V. 1 > Part 27
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the wife of John Kennedy, of Washington Coun. ty, Md .; and the subject of this article completes the number.
His grandfather, Col. John McPherson, was an officer in the Revolutionary war, and was on the recruiting force when he made his first trip into Frederick County. He was of great assist- ance to the government in that hour of her great peril, giving material aid and helping raise funds and men for her army. He was a native of Adams County, Pa., but after the war for our national independence had terminated he set- tled in the neighborhood of Frederick City, his beautiful country home being then known as Bel Air. Buying many desirable pieces of prop- erty he built good homes here and there and disposed of some of them to ready purchasers. Among those that he thus owned are the homes of Dr. F. B. Smith, near the courthouse in the county seat, and that of Col. D. C. Winebrener. In the out-lying districts he owned a great many farms. For years and years he was a judge of the orphans' court, administering the affairs of the same with distinctive ability and fairness.
Dr. McPherson was born on the old homestead near Frederick (this place now being called Prospect Hall) in 1823. After completing the curriculum of time-honored Frederick College he went to St. Mary's County, and in 1843 grad- uated from Charlotte Hall. Later he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine from the Uni- versity of Maryland, where he had pursued a full course. Immediately after his graduation the young doctor settled in Hagerstown, Md., but at the expiration of about two years, in 1849, he came to his present home, and was actively en- gaged in practice until very recently. His home, previously described, is located on the Frederick & Emmitsburg pike, about four miles from Thurmont. In his early manhood he was affili- ated with the Whig party, but later gave his allegiance to the Democracy. His sympathies were strongly with the south during the war, and he was commissioned surgeon by Stonewall Jackson, but did not accept on account of the poor health which was his portion at that time. In 1868 he was elected by the people of Mary-
land to the responsible position of superintendent of labor and agriculture, serving them faith- fully in that capacity for four years. Then he was chosen to be a member of the last constitu- tional convention of this state and for twelve years he held the office of magistrate. Follow- ing in the footsteps of his forefathers, he holds membership with the Episcopal Church.
In 1848 the doctor married a Miss McPherson, a distant relative, and granddaughter of Col. John Buchanan, of Washington County, Md. Mrs. McPherson died in 1896. Three children survive this union: Thomas Buchanan, Mary and Libbie K. The son, Thomas Buchanan, is a wealthy business man and banker in Omaha, Neb., and financially interested with P. D. Ar- mour, of Chicago. He married a Miss Niven, of New York, and they have four children. Mary, wife of Rev. Ernest McGill, a minister of the Episcopal Church, lives with her father, cheering his declining days. She is the mother of six bright, interesting children, who are great friends with the doctor, and his almost constant com- panions. Libbie K., the younger daughter of the doctor, also resides at home.
DWARD HOBBS has resided at Oakland farm, in Liberty District, Frederick County, since 1858, meantime superintending the cultivation of the two hundred and forty acres that comprise the homestead. In addition to this property he owns Black Castle, formerly the estate of Colonel Hammond, and consisting of two hundred acres. Another farm owned by him was a part of the homestead owned by John Climpson, Jr., and composed of two hundred acres lying in Johnsville District. The land is mostly under cultivation, though he also owns considerable woodland.
The father of our subject, William, was born December 6, 1793, and grew to manhood at Ridgeville. He married Susan Dorsey, who was born November 26, 1809, and died September 10,
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1861. Ten years after his wife's death he passed away, September 15, 1871. They were the par- ents of ten children. The eldest, Dr. Warner Hobbs, was born April 5, 1824, and graduated from the medical department of the University of Maryland, after which lie practiced his profession at New Windsor and New Market until his death, November 9, 1887. Julius B. was born September 13, 1826, and died when four days old. William E. was born September 7, 1827, and died January 20, 1852. Roderick was born February 25, 1830, and died November 9, 1894. Ulysses was born April 29, 1832. Clara, born January 2, 1836, married Dr. J. H. Maynard and died April 20, 1865. Edward, the subject of this sketch, was born in New Market District, Frederick County, July 4, 1838. Laura, born May 9, 1841, became the wife of Capt. I. W. Dorsey. Charles was born April 3, 1844, and Eugene March 21, 1847.
When our subject was three years old the family removed from the old homestead to a neighboring farmn. He remained in the same locality until eighteen years of age. In 1858 he settled at Oakland farm, where he has since given his attention to the oversight of his large farming interests. Besides his general farm work he is extensively engaged in the dairy business at the old Climpson homestead, and .. in this branch of agriculture he has been quite successful. He is a Democrat in political be- lief, but the magnitude of his personal inter- ests prevents him from actively participating in politics. In local matters, however, he main- tains a deep interest and does all within his power to promote the prosperity of his district and its residents. To the information obtained in the public schools and Calvert College at New Windsor he has added by systematic reading of current literature, so that he now possesses a wide and comprehensive fund of knowledge. Personally he is genial and approachable, a pleasant companion and accommodating friend.
November 2, 1882, Mr. Hobbs was united in marriage with Margaret Anne, daughter of Henry C. Gaither, of Unionville, and a grand- daughter of the general, William Gaither. They
are the parents of two children. Their son, William, who was born November 9, 1883, is at present a student in Western Maryland College at Westminster. The daughter, Juliet Gaither, was born June 16, 1886, and is a pupil in Notre Dame Academy, of Libertytown.
OHN DARE, deceased, long one of the promi- nent citizens of Jefferson, Frederick County, was born at the beautiful homestead of the family in Bridgeton, N. J., October 25, 1796. His father, William, who was born in England in 1720, emigrated to America in early manhood and settled in New Jersey, where he became the owner of large tracts of land. However, he was not the first of the name to settle in the United States. As early as 1695 representatives had come to this country and settled in New York. One William Dare, a native of England, owned land in Lyne, county of Dorset, and in Gaul, county of Somerset, which property he be- queathed by will to his son and namesake.
The first record of the family in this country shows that they purchased one hundred acres in Black Neck, on the south side of the Cohansey, in Fairfield Township, August 3, 1695. In the deed the purchaser is described as Dare, of Co- hansey, indicating that he was already a resident of the locality. The first William in this coun- try was appointed sheriff of Salem County (which then included Cumberland County ) by Governor Carnbury December 9, 1703. At that time the sheriff's office was one of great importance and dignity, and the one who accepted it was required by law to be the possessor of large tracts of land. In several documents. this ancestor is alluded to as Capt. William Dare, and it is probable that he commanded a vessel, as he is referred to as a mariner. He was also justice of the peace, and as such, justice of the Salem courts, being ap- pointed to the office November 15, 1709. How long he served in this capacity cannot be definitely ascertained. His will is dated March 15, 1719,
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and tlie inventory of personal property, amount- ing to sixty-six pounds and sixteen shillings, was made June 17, 1720. Besides leaving property to his children, he remembered in his will his grand- daughter Constant Dare, and grandson William Dare, and one to whom he refers as "my son, Jeremialı Nixon," who was perhaps a stepson or. it may be, a son-in-law. His home place of two hundred acres he left to his son Robert, and he also divided two hundred acres of cedar swamips and other lands among his children. In his fam- ily were the following-named children: Will- iam (2d), ancestor of the Pittsgrove and Stol Creek Dares; Benoni; Elizabeth; Constant; and Sarah, whose descendants are the Deerfield Dares, among them Isaac, Robert and B. Dare, the last-named formerly mayor of Bridgeton.
William (2d) died in 1749. He lived at Indian Fields, probably on the place where John Dare, our subject, was born. His will was made in February, 1747, and was proved in 1749. A portion of his property he bought in 1710, when he becanie one of the largest landowners of liis section. He and his wife, Elizabeth, had the following-named children: William (3d), ances- tor of John and Philip Dare; John, who died in the fall of 1785; Mary, Mrs. Jessup; Mrs. Har- riet Ogden; Elizabeth, whose first husband was a Mr. Preston and her second Mr. Johiel; Rachel and Sarah, Mrs. Henry Westcote.
William (3d) lived on the David Dare place and was a large landowner. He died there De- cember 12, 1759. By his first wife, Freelove, he had seven children: Mary, Mrs. Elijah Brown; William (4tl1), Levi, Abigail, Freelove, Rachel, and Jonathan, who died young. William (4th), also a large landowner, was born in September, 1736, and died in 1811. By his marriage to Elizabeth Rose he had the following children: William (5th), born in 1770; Levi, 1772; Ephra- im, 1774; Jonathan, 1777; David D., 1780; Lemuel, 1783; and Elizabeth Rose, 1787.
William (5th), born in 1770 and died in 1839, married Rebecca Belange, who was born in 1770 and lived in Bridgeton. Their eldest son, Charles,: born in 1796, married Sarah Sharp; their second son, Jolin, forms the subject of this
sketch; Lemuel, born in 1800, died in 1842, mar- ried Mary Smith; Elizabeth, born in 1806, mar- ried Robert Woodruff; Rebecca, born in ISOS, married Edmund Garrison. Levi, son of Will- iam (4th), married Rhoda Stratton, and their children were: Almarine, born in 1801, and Abigail, born in 1805. Ephraim, born in 1774, and a younger brother of Levi, married Mary Hay, by whom he had several children: Caroline, who marned G. Westcote; Emma E., who mar- ried Ira Allen; William H., who died in Balti- more; Mary M., who married Harrison Holt; and Sarah, who married S. Rice, of Philadelphia. Jonatlıan, born in 1777, and died in 1838, mar- ried Sarah Doughty, by whom he had the follow- ing-named children: Jonathan, Francis, Ephraim, Lydia Ann, Jonathan Dayton, Emeline Eliza, Francis Munford; Mary E., who married Richard Munford and at her death left a son, William: and Sarah, born in 1836, who married Ephraim Holmes.
David Dayton, born in 1780, married Rebecca Fithian, and their children were named: Jane Elizabeth, who married Ephraim E. Shepard; Enoch Fithian; Sarah, who married Benjamin F. Garrison; William, who married Sarah Cleaver; Ephraim, born in 1820; Mary Hay, born in 1821, wife of William Q. Banks; Ephraim (2d), born in 1824; Robert Harris, born in 1827, married Emily Busby White; and Elizabeth Rose, born in 1830, wife of Holmes Parvin.
When quite young our subject removed from New Jersey to Baltimore City, where he learned the tailor's trade with his uncle Ephraim. While. on his way to Harper's Ferry he stopped at Jefferson, where he met the daughter of a large landowner, and this lady, Susan Hersberger, he afterward married. Her father, Henry Hers- berger, was born in 1760 and died in 1812; he owned the land now occupied by Jefferson, be- sides many acres in the surrounding country. His father, Bernard, who settled in this locality in 1798, was a landowner and was a man of large public spirit; he gave the land on which the first Union Church (Reformed Lutheran ) and the first public school were built, and in other ways aided the advancement of the locality. Mr. and Mrs.
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Dare became the parents of the following chil- of our subject, William Springer, was a grandson dren: Catherine R., who married Dr. M. M. of Christopher Springer, one of the original set- tlers of Wilmington, Del., prominently identified with the Episcopal Church there, which he mainly built himself. The Springers are descended from a very old aristocratic Swedish family, whose coat- of-arms and crest date from the time of King Adolphus. Mrs. Keller was called to the silent land in 1886, and was placed to rest by her hus- band's side in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Garry, and now lives in Franklin County, Pa .; Mary Jane, who died in childhood; Lemuel, de- ceased; Elizabeth M. and Susan M., who for thirty years have successfully carried on a mer- cantile business in Jefferson, owning their store building as well as the home estate. They are active workers in the Reformed Church and are well known and universally esteemed by the peo- ple of this community. Their father was polit- ically a Democrat. He died October 6, 1878, and his wife passed away in 1886.
THO J. KELLER, senior member of the firm of Keller, Newman & Co., is one of the energetic business men of Frederick. He is also connected with numerous local institutions and. enterprises, and is always confidently relied upon to give his influence and support to indus- tries that will benefit the town and to improve- ments of various kinds.
The parents of the above-named gentleman were Jonathan and Jane Louisa (Springer) Kel- ler. The father was born in Middletown, Md., and resided there in the early part of his life. Later he removed to Buckeystown, Md., and was there occupied as a tailor for several years. Then he turned his attention to farming, in the
Michael Keller, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was an extensive landowner of the Middle- town Valley and part of the town is called Keller's addition, owing to the fact that he formerly was the possessor of part of the land on which it is now situated. Religiously he was connected with the Reformed Church. The maternal grandfather
Born near Sharpsburg, Washington County, Md., in March, 1843, Otho J. Keller grew to maturity with his brothers and sister. The latter is unmarried and the brothers are respec- tively: Thomas H., who is in the livery business in Ohio; John, manager of the lime business be- longing to our subject, at Buckeystown; Frank, also in charge of one of Mr. Keller's business plants in that town; Charles E., an extensive grower of fruit and dealer in lime in West Vir- ginia; and E. L., a blacksmith and dealer in agricultural implements in Buckeystown. The early days of our subject were spent in the neighborhood of Buckeystown, whither his father removed at an early day, and where he re- ceived a district-school education.
When but seventeen years of age Otho J. Keller went to Baltimore, and for two years, during part of the war, was' a conductor on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Then, returning to Buckeystown, he embarked in the line business, in which he has since been very successful. In 1891 he came to Frederick and became financially
Urbana District, and was thus engaged for several"* interested in a coal and wood business, in part- years, when he again returned to Buckeystown, and there remained until his death. For years he was a justice of the peace and an influential member of the Methodist Protestant Church. He departed this life in 1879, at the age of sixty- seven years.
nership with Jacob N. Newman, under the firm name of Keller, Newman & Co. He continues to carry on his various dealings in lime, both in this state and in West Virginia. He is a direc- tor in the Citizens' National Bank of Frederick, and is interested in various manufacturing es- tablishments in Frederick and Montgomery Counties.
In 1864 Mr. Keller married Margaret Bur- nett, daughter of Robert Burnett, of Charles- town, W. Va. They have the following -nanied children: William O .; John F., who is in busi- mess with his father; Otho, who has just fin-
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ished his education; Martha Jane Belle, Mrs. R. G. Ford (whose husband is one of the firm of Keller, Newman & Co., in the coal business in this city ); and Lillie M. and Bertha L., who are at home.
Politically Mr. Keller has been a Democrat since he received his right of franchise. He at- tends the Methodist Episcopal Church and is generous in his donations to religious and chari- table causes. He possesses the friendship and regard of all who know him and his acquaint- ances, both here and elsewhere, are many.
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EREMIAH P. KARN, one of the leading citi- zens and business men of the town of Bruns- wick, Frederick County, may be justly called one of the founders of this now thriving place. A few years ago, seeing the possibilities before a vil- lage was located at this desirable point on the banks of the picturesque Potomac River, he de- cided to cast in his fortunes with the people of this community. In material ways he has assisted in its upbuilding and progress, and is always to be found upon the side of improvement.
Mr. Karn is one of the native sons of Frederick County, his birthplace being located near Bur- kittsville, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. He was born in 1857 and is the third son of Thomas Karn. The latter was a native of the same local- ity and spent his entire life in the district of whichi Burkittsville is the postoffice. For many years he was an active worker in the Reformed Church, with which he held membership, and at various times he occupied official positions on the church board. He followed the carpenter's trade for the greater share of his active life and erected more buildings in his home neighborhood than any other man, twice over. In liis political affil- iations he was a Democrat, but he was never an aspirant to public positions. In his early man- hood he married Miss Susan R. Heitshew, and five sons and five daugliters were born to them. William C. is a resident of Burkittsville and is a
carpenter by trade; Charles B. is superintendent of a pulp-mill situated above Cumberland, Md .; John T. is next in order; Milton A. is a mem- ber of the firm of J. P. Karn & Bro., with which our subject is connected as senior partner; Emily J. is the wife of George C. Slifer, a fariner; Clara E. is Mrs. Spates, of Montgomery County, Md .; Edith is the wife of B. F. Long; and Annie S., unmarried, resides with her brother, J. P. Karn. The parents are both deceased, the father having died in 1890, at the age of seventy-one years, and the mother January 14, 1892.
Upon the paternal side of the family J. P. Karn is of Holland extraction, as his great-grand- father, Adam Karn, was a native of the land of dykes and wind-mills. He married an English lady, and coming to the United States, settled in Maryland, where his descendants, with few ex- ceptions, are to-day. His son Philip, the next in the line, was born in the latter part of the last century, and died in 1868, when in his eighty- fourth year. His birthplace was on the old Governor Lee property, now owned by John D. Ahalt. Philip Karn was a hero of the War of 1812, and was a true-hearted patriot and respected citizen. His occupation was that of cabinet-mak- ing, and his skill as a wood-worker seems to have been handed down to his children and grand- children. For his companion and helpmate in life he chose a Miss Abrake, and of their six chil- dren but one, Mrs. Hilleary, of Burkittsville, survives. The maternal grandfather of our sub- ject was Bernard Heitshew, who was engaged in transferring goods and supplies along the old na- tional pike between Baltimore and Wheeling be- fore the days of railroads. He died well off in this world's goods, according to the standard of that time. He, too, served as a soldier in the War of 1812.
The boyhood of Jeremiah P.Karn was spent near Burkittsville, and under the practical instruction of his father he learned the details of carpentering and building. At the age of twenty-five he started out to "paddle liis own canoe," as the old saying goes, and for about two years he was in the employ of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Company and the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.
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JOHN T. BEST.
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Returning tlen to his native town he embarked in the business of contracting and building in company with his brother William. After a time they went to Washington, D. C., remaining there in business about two years. Passing through Brunswick in 1891, when there were but a few scattered houses in the place, our subject decided to settle here. His brother Milton became a member of the new firm and they have been pros- perous. Our subject purchased the first lot sold in the new town corporation and built the first house upon this property. In 1892 the brothers opened a lumber yard and keep a well-selected stock of building materials. The yards are the largest in this section of the county and the trade of the firm is rapidly assuming large proportions. The proprietors are men of business-like ability, enterprising and progressive, and are certain to succeed even beyond their expectations. For two years Mr. Karn has been a member of the city council and for six years he has been a niem- ber of the school board. In politics Mr. Karn is a Democrat. Fraternally he is a Mason, belong- ing to Brunswick Lodge No. 191, A. F. & A. M.
OHN T. BEST has long been recognized as one of the representative agriculturists of Frederick County. His beautiful homestead is situated adjoining the city of Frederick on the south, and the elegant mansion which he occu- pies is finely located on a prominence command- ing an excellent view of the surrounding country. This truly ideal modern home was erected at a cost of $17,000, and is provided with all conveniences, besides being furnished in full accord with the prevailing ideas of a cultivated taste. The house stands in the center of the farm, or very nearly so, "and the beautiful shade trees, lawns and winding drives are not the least features of the valuable country place. The barns and all other buildings are models of neatness and commo- diousness, and everything about the premises is kept up in thrifty order, reflecting great credit upon the proprietor.
The father of our subject, David Best, was born in Pennsylvania and passed his early life there, coming then to Frederick County when a young man. He owned a farm near Lewistown, but for twenty-six years lived upon one of Col. Charles E. Trail's tracts of land. He retired from business some sixteen years prior to his death, which event occurred when he was in his seventy-seventh year. He was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery, in Frederick. He was highly respected and loved by all who knew him, and may be justly said to have made a success of life in every sense of the term. He was an influen- tial member of the Reformed Church of Frederick, and in political affairs he was a Democrat. His father was a native of Germany, who settled in the Keystone state in the last century and there spent the rest of his days. He was buried near Littlestown, Pa.
David Best married Mary Lantz, of Carroll County, Md. She lived near Uniontown, her father being a well-to-do farmer of that region. Sle departed this life when in her sixty-ninth year. Her eldest son, William H., is a success- ful farmer of this county. Simon David, who for many years was an agriculturist of this coun- ty, is now engaged in business in Washington, D. C. Elizabeth Ann, who never married, died at the age of sixty years.
John T. Best was born near Lewistown, Md., April 9, 1839, and grew to manhood on his father's farm. He went to the small district schoolhouse to gain liis elementary knowledge, and later he completed his education in Frederick City College. He then began tlie serious busi- ness of life by taking charge of a farm near Monocacy Junction. This place was one of the farms belonging to Col. C. E. Trail, previously mentioned, and was one of the finest homesteads in the county. Here he continued to dwell for a quarter of a century, and though there was not one written word of agreement between the two parties to tlie arrangement, not one syllable of an unpleasant nature ever passed between them, and for years at a time the colonel did not visit his property, such perfect confidence was felt by lin in the integrity of liis tenant.
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In 1864 Mr. Best married Johanna Dorsey, whose father, William B. Dorsey, is a wealthy farmer of this county, and to this union six sons were born. Charles E. T., an employe of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, runs from Baltimore to Brunswick. Rev. William H. is a successful minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church and recently married a Miss Elliott, of Baltimore. John T., Jr., is his father's right hand upon the farm and has general supervision of everything about the place. Oliver is in charge of the milk department of the farm work and runs a wagon to supply customers in the city near. For over forty years the senior Mr. Best has carried on a flourishing business in this line, and it has been a source of much revenue to him. He has kept only the best varieties of cows, and. particular pains are taken in regard to the care of the milk. James H., the youngest son, is also at home and aids in the general work of the farm. Frank Lawrence died when young. The young men are all fine, manly fellows, of whom any father would have reason to feel prond. Some time after the death of his first wife Mr. Best married Emily C. Ford, daughter of James Edward Ford, a railroad man.
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