USA > Maryland > Portrait and biographical record of the Sixth congressional district, Maryland V. 1 > Part 32
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Samuel, father of Vincent Sebold, was born in Frederick County about 1820 and resided during
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the greater part of his life near Emmitsburg, where his father, Peter, first settled after emi- grating from the Rhine country to the United States. Both the father and grandfather of Vill- cent Sebold were Democrats, but took little in- terest in politics, devoting their time and attention to agricultural pursuits. The mother of our sub- ject was Ann Miller, who was born in Carroll County, Md., and died near Emmitsburg in 1889.
ENRY IRVING, a retired business man and capitalist, resides at his beautiful coun- try home, Buzzards Roost, in Middle- town District, Frederick County. He purchased the property about three years ago, and located here with a view to benefiting his health. He takes great pride and interest in beautifying and improving the place, which was long ago given the name it still holds, and is sparing neither pains nor money in adding.to the general attract- iveness of his new home, which is destined to be- come one of the choicest in this section.
Mr. Irving comes from a family that has dis- tinguished itself many times in the annals of the Empire state. His grandfather, Judge John T. Irving, was for over twenty years judge of the court of common pleas in New York City and was a very prominent and honored member of the bench and bar of the metropolis. His brothers, George and Washington, were real- Havana, Cuba. From this time, 1874, until estate dealers in the same city and were men of sterling characteristics. The last-mentioned is the well-known and talented author, Washington Irving, whom New York is proud to acknowledge as one of her most gifted sons.
The father of the subject of this sketch is Jolin T. Irving, who was born in New York City and has spent his whole life there. Now, at the close of an honored and able career, he is passing his last days in comfort and content, and though in his eighty-ninth year, is sound in mind and well preserved in body. For over forty years he was considered one of the leading legal lights of
the great metropolis and at one time he was a very popular man in the Republican party. Some years ago he declined a nomination for congress. For years he has been actively identi- fied with the Episcopal Church. His wife, whose girlhood name was Helen Schimmerhorn, was of the sturdy old Knickerbocker stock. Her father was a wealthy citizen of New York City, and one of her sisters became the wife of William Astor (the millionaire). Gabriel Irving. a brother of our subject's father, married a Miss Firman, and their daughter Henrietta became the wife of Smith Van Buren, son of President Van Buren. Mrs. John T. Irving was summoned to her re- ward in 1893. She left four sons and two daugh- ters to mourn her loss. John is a stock broker of New York City; Cortlandt is a leading member of the bar of the same city; and Walter is now living retired from business. Helen C. and Frances R. are unmarried and residents of New York.
Henry Irving, whose name heads this sketeli, was born in New York on Christmas day, 1348, He was an apt student and was pursuing the higher branches of knowledge in the college of the city of New York at the time of the breaking out of the Civil war. Though a mere youth he volunteered his services in defense of the stars and stripes and was made first lieutenant of Company B, Sixth New York Heavy Artillery. At the close of the war he returned home and within a short time started upon a trip to far- distant China. He returned to New York City by way of Cape of Good Hope, stopping at
1878 he was engaged in stock dealing in Texas, and was very successful in his financial ventures. The next few years were spent by him in Vir- ginia and on the eastern shore of Maryland at St. Michaels. For several years he then made his home in the city of Baltimore and about three years ago, in 1895, he bought his present home, two miles west of Middletown. It stands upon an elevation overlooking the Catoctin Valley for miles. Beautiful groves and fields stretch before the eyes of the delighted beholder of one of na- ture's most charming domains. Mr. Irving is mak - ing numerous substantial improvements, having
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reconstructed the residence and many of the farm buildings, and has planted a fine orchard. The place is already a model homestead and each year 'the owner adds somewhat to the usefulness and beauty of the farm.
receiving a public-school education. He was still but a lad when he began learning the ma- chinist's trade, and was only sixteen when he re- solved to come to America, of which he had heard. a great deal. He had but little money, Ever since he attained his majority Mr. Irving has voted the Republican ticket. Though often urged to accept public office, he has constantly refused, as he greatly prefers the quiet, retired life of a private citizen. Ever since the war he has been a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is connected with the A. W. Dodge Post No. 44, of Baltimore. and, not being of the mettle to be deterred by slight obstacles, he found employment on a ship, where he was allowed to work his passage. Hc came at once to Frederick, and for a time things looked pretty dark for the orphan boy in a strange land, without money and friends. No one had any employment for him and he was almost in despair, but at length F. Pampel In 1886 Mr. Irving married Miss Josephine K. Miller, daughter of Dr. John Miller, a leading physician of St. Michaels, on the eastern shore of Maryland, up to the time of his death in 1893. Mrs. Irving is a member of the Episcopal Church and both she and her husband are regular at- tendants upon its services. They have always moved in the best society of the several cities in which they have resided and are people of cul- ture and superior attainments. gave him a place as a machinist. The youth was faithful to his duties here for five years and then entered into the employ of the firm of Daub & Glaize, who were also in this line of business. After four years spent with this concern, J. Walter engaged in the junk business, making a grand success of the enterprise. He has used excellent judgment in the investment of his means and now possesses railroad securities and real estate, located in both the city and coun- try. He always kept in view the rights of his fellow-men and has never been overreaching or anything but strictly upright and honorable in all his dealings. During the war he made a great share of his fortune and took no active part on either side. Since then he has been a Re- publican in his political views. Socially he is an Odd Fellow, a member of the encampment and of the Order of Red Men. In religion he holds to the faith of liis ancestors, and is iden- tified with the Lutheran Church. For over when he was a child, as both of liis parents died thirty years he has been superintendent of the Sunday school and actively connected with the work among the young people, with whom he is a great favorite.
OHN WALTER, who is a retired business man and capitalist of Frederick, is a native of Germany, but has lived here since his youth and has been actively interested in every- thing relating to the development and prosperity of this place. He was thrown upon his own efforts and he has been literally compelled to "paddle his own canoe." He long since had won a com- petence, and, secure from fear of need in his old age, has enjoyed life thoroughly. His friends are legion, and to one and all he most hospitably ex- tends the courtesies of his comfortable home. He is an entertaining conversationalist and one enjoys his accounts of how he obtained a start in finan- cial affairs.
The birth of John Walter occurred in 1825, and, as previously stated, he was left an orphan when quite young, and was reared by friends,
For more than three decades Mr. Walter and his family have resided in their present home. In 1847 he married Elizabeth Pampel, daughter of his former employer. They have had four sons and four daughters. Of the former, William is in the fertilizer business in the town of Hano- ver, Pa .; Charles, an optician, died at the age of thirty-five years; Edward H. is an optician in this city; and Lewis is a locksmith. The eldest
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daugliter, Kate, married John O. Smith, a well- to-do merchant of Hagerstown, Md. He owns a large dry-goods house and is also interested in a lumber business there. Alice is the wife of John F. Snyder, a thrifty farmer of Germantown; Bertha is the wife of Prof. E. Daniel, of Newburg, N. Y .; and Florence is Mrs. John S. Snider.
ILLIAM S. RAY. This well-known mer- chant of Pearl, Frederick County, was born in Washington County, Md., Sep- tember 2, 1865, the son of Samuel and Fannie M. (Lease) Ray. He is of German ancestry, being descended from Joseph Ray, a prominent agriculturist of Franklin County, Pa. He was only six months old when his parents moved to Frederick, and in that city he passed the years of boyhood, meantime attending the public schools and obtaining a private-school education. He was sixteen years of age when the family moved to the neighborhood where he has since made his home. About the same time he be- gan to serve an apprenticeship to the black- smith's trade, serving for four years under his father, after which he started a shop of his own. He remained in that business for three months and then embarked in the mercantile business near the present location of his store; eighteen months later his business had increased to such an extent as to warrant the erection of a building for himself, and this he built and has since occu- pied, carrying in it a general stock of merchan- dise. Owing to the continued growth of his bus- iness, he is at this writing making further en- largement of his business premises and will soon occupy a building thoroughly adapted to his needs.
Since 1894 he has also been the owner of a general store at Ijamsville. In 1897 he bought out the general store owned by Charles Mealey at Pearl, and-he has since given his personal supervision to the three stores, besides which he has also dealt in farm implements and has been
at the head of the Pearl Creamery, which he started in the spring of 1897. Politically a Re- publican, he has always adhered faithfully to the principles of his party and has voted the straight ticket in local and national elections. During the administration of President Harrison he was appointed postmaster at Pearl, filling the posi- tion until there was a change in the politics of the administration. When Major Mckinley be- came president he was again appointed postmas- ter and is holding the office at this writing. In religious connections he is identified with Mount Carmel Methodist Protestant Church at Pearl.
The marriage of Mr. Ray took place in ISS8 and united him with Alice C. Haugh, of Fred- erick County. Six children have been born of their union, named as follows: Elsie M., Maude, William S., Jr., Hattie E., Ira F. and Nellie. Mr. Ray has always displayed the strictest hon- esty in business transactions, and his known re- liability has made him popular as a merchant. His upright character and genial disposition have brought him friends who are as numerous as his acquaintance is extensive. He has proved him- self able to conduct a number of different enter- prises at the same time and succeed in each of them. The village where he resides has felt the impetus of his progressive nature and has re- ceived the benefit of his public-spirited plans.
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OHN S. RAMSBURG, long numbered among the representive citizens of Frederick, has been engaged in one line of business here for a period of thirty years. No one has taken a more active part in whatever tends towards the prosperity and advancement of a community, and his best and most energetic efforts have been to this end. For many years he occupied public positions of more or less importance and respon- sibility, and not a question was ever raised as to his thorough integrity and fidelity to the duties thereby imposed upon him.
Mr. Ramsburg was born and reared, and has
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always lived, in Frederick and its immediate vicinity. His birth took place within a mile of the corporation limits, upon the old homestead of his forefathers, March 6, 1836. He is the only son of Elias Ramsburg, who was a native of the same neighborhood, born in 1804. The latter was a graduate of the old Frederick Academy, and from that time forward was a tiller of the soil. His home place, known as the John Rams- burg farın, was located on Carroll Creek, in plain sight of Frederick. After his children had grown up and had left the old home he purchased another farm in New Market District, residing thereon from 1844 to 1854. Then, removing to Frederick, he continued to dwell here up to the day of his death, which event occurred in 1869. He was an old-line Whig, and was a strong Union man during the war. A conscientious and upright man in all his dealings with others, he put into daily practice the teachings of Christi- anity, and was a zealous member of the Evan- gelical Reformed Church. His mortal remains were placed to rest in the German Reformed churchyard. His father, John Ramsburg, was likewise a native of Frederick County, and fol- lowed agricultural pursuits upon the old farm previously mentioned as the John Ramsburg place. He was also a Whig, and identified him- self in youth with the German Reformed Church. His father, John, came to this section from Pennsylvania in 1740, and owned large grants of land (called Tasker's Chance ) bordering on the city of Frederick. He was the son of a worthy German, who left his native land some time in the sixteenth century, and was one of the Pennsylvania pioneers. The grandfather of our subject married Rebecca Stilley, and had five sons and four daughters: Elias: John, a carpenter; Peter, a farmer; Jacob, a glove manufacturer in Georgetown; William, a farmer and merchant in this city; Elizabeth, Mary, Anna and Catherine.
The mother of the gentleman of whom we write was Miss Catherine Houck in her girlhood. Her father, John Houck, was a native of Pennsyl- vania, and was always interested in farming operations. He owned a valuable homestead about two miles from Frederick, and there passed
his mature life. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, through which service he came without serious injury, but later was obliged to have one of his legs amputated, he having been run over by a heavily loaded wagon on the national pike while taking some merchandise from Frederick to Baltimore. He was a member of the German Reformed Church. The four children born to Elias and Catherine Ramsburg were named John S., Elias, Zacharias and Mary Catherine. With the exception of John S. they all died in early childhood.
John S. Ramsburg received a common-school education, subsequently supplementing it by a course of study in New Market Academy. He resided in that locality with his parents from 1844 to 1854, when he came to Frederick. When he had reached his majority, or a short time pre- viously, he embarked in farming upon his own account. During a portion of 1856 and 1857 he was employed as a clerk by Joel Hall, the county surveyor, and obtained a practical knowledge of the business. Then for several years he con- tinued in the pursuits of farming and surveying, until finally, in 1861, he was elected county surveyor, and served as his own successor for a number of terms. Politically lie was first a Whig and afterwards a Republican. He was first elected by the so called Union party, and later by the Republicans. Many years have passed since he was first chosen to act in the capacity of resi- dent engineer and commissioner. In 1868 lie commenced the manufacture of fertilizer, his plant being located near Frederick. The.busi- ness soon assumed large proportions and is now one of the most paying ones of the kind in this part of the state. The plant is situated on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, three-quarters of a mile from the city limits, and covers about an acre of land. Employment is given to a dozen or fifteen men and everything is in a flourishing condition.
In 1869 Mr. Ramsburg married Drusilla H., daughter of Jesse Beeson, of Uniontown, Pa., a miller by trade, and of Quaker family. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsburg have six living children. Elias is head clerk in his father's office; Henry
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is general salesman for the fertilizer company; Jesse is the resident physician and surgeon at Providence Hospital, Washington; Mary and Drusilla are at home; and Mattie is the wife of Jacob Rohrback, an attorney of Frederick. Henry married a daughter of Dr. J. H. Maynard, and. las four children: Henry, Mary, Helen and Harriet. Mr. Ramsburg, Sr., and wife are members of the Evangelical Reformed Church, and he has officiated as an elder for several terms.
HARLES FREMONT GOODELL, M. D., is one of the leading physicians of Frederick, though he has been located in this place but seven years. He is in the prime of life and pos- sesses the energy and determination that surely win success sooner or later. Upon a fine founda- tion of theoretical knowledge he has built a super- structure of practical experience in his favorite calling, and to this he constantly adds by study and research, for he is of the progressive order of men, and believes in keeping in touch with the spirit of the age.
The father of the doctor was Hosea B. Goodell, who was a native of Connecticut. He was a manufacturer of boots and shoes, and operated a large and prosperous establishment during the greater part of liis mature life. He was an ad- herent of the Republican party, but never held official positions of any sort. In the Methodist Episcopal Church of his town he was a faithful and practical worker and member, and died strong in the Christian faith, in 1877. His father, Asa Goodell, was a thrifty agriculturist, and owned a large farm in Connecticut on which was a fine apple orchard, in which he took espe- cial pride. He was a soldier of the War of 1812 front Massachusetts, and was a member of tlie state legislature at one time and a magistrate for years. Religiously he was a Baptist. His death took place in 1876, when he had arrived at the age of eiglity-five years. His paternal ancestor had left England in 1699 to make a new home in
America, the land of liberty and religious tolera- tion, and his descendants are scattered all through the states, particularly in New England and Ohio. A brother of Asa Goodell fouglit under General Putnam in the war of the Revolution.
The mother of Dr. Goodell was Miss Harriet C. Fiske before her marriage, and she died when he was an infant of but three months old. Her father, Moses Fiske, was a native of Massachu- setts, and was a merchant there. He came from one of the old and influential families of the state, and one of his relatives, Rev. Wilbur Fiske, was the first advocate of Methodismn in that part of the country. A cousin of Mrs. Harriet Goodell was Samuel F. B. Morse, the founder of our present telegraphic system. She was the mother of several children, of whom William F. was a railroad man in Boston, but died in 1SS3: John H., who is located about twenty miles from Boston, at South Framingham, is an extensive dealer in provisions and meats, and employs about ten men; he was chairman of the board of selectmen for several years; Raymond D., who died in 1884, was in the pension department in Washington, D. C .; Mary died when two years old; and Harriet E. died in 1870, aged seventeen.
The birth of Dr. C. F. Goodell occurred in Southbridge, Mass., August 30, 1856. He re- ceived an excellent education, and after graduating from the high school at North Brookfield, Mass .. in1 1878, took a partial course at Tuft's College. Then for two years he held a responsible position in the census bureau at Washington, D. C. Later he took up the study of medicine and graduated in this branch from the medical department of Howard University, Washington, D. C., in 1882. Subsequently he took a post-graduate course at the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia, Pa. His initial practice was in Washington, D. C., where he remained until 1889, when, 011 account of the ill health of his wife, he went to Lincoln, Neb. After sixteen months had elapsed he returned to the east, and came to Frederick, Md., in 1891. He was elected a member of the state board of medical examiners by the Homeo- pathic State Medical Society in 1892, and four years later was elected president of the Maryland
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State Homeopathic Medical Society. He enjoys a large and paying practice here, and is thoroughily identified with the leading interests of the city. In 1898 he was appointed city health officer of Frederick.
While a resident of Washington, the doctor married Miss Ada V., daughter of Robert H. Graham, a leading carriage manufacturer of that city, the date of the event being May 15, 1883. They have three children; two were born in the capital city, Jessie R. in 1884, and Robert F. in 1886; and Charles Graham in Frederick in 1898. The parents are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. Socially the doctor is a member of Columbia Lodge No. 58, A. F. & A. M., and Enoch Chapter No. 23, R. A. M., of Frederick, and is an officer in the last-mentioned. He is also associated with the Ancient Essenic Order. Politically he is a Republican and takes great interest in the success of his party.
DWARD NELSON, D. D. S., has been en- gaged in the practice of the dental profes- sion in Frederick since 1862, and during this long period has won and retained a reputa- tion for skill in his chosen lifework. Not only is he well and prominently known in this city, but in other parts of Maryland as well, where his posi- tion as president of the state board of dental ex- aminers, to which he was elected in 1891, has brought him into a conspicuous position, especially among the dental fraternity. He possesses con- siderable originality and has recently invented several valuable instruments, to be used in his profession.
The sixth son of Judge Madison and Josephine M. Nelson, the subject of this sketch was born in Frederick in 1843. He was educated at St. John's College of this city and Mount St. Mary's College, Emmitsburg. He began the study of dentistry in Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, from which he graduated in 1862, having by careful study gained a thorough theoretical
knowledge of the profession. Since graduating he has engaged in practice in his native city. His interest is not limited to the circle of pro- fessional matters. His influence has been con- tinually given in behalf of morality, intelligence and religion. In his long career as a professional man, those who know him most thoroughly testify to his worth and integrity. With con- scientious firmness he has always stood by his convictions and principles, and he may justly be considered one of the best types of American manhood and citizenship.
The paternal grandfather of Dr. Edward Nel- son was Roger Nelson, who was born in Fred- erick County in 1759, entered the Revolutionary army at an early age as an officer, and won dis- tinction for his bravery in the battles of Camden (where he was wounded thirteen times) and Eutaw Springs. He rose to the rank of general. After the war he entered upon the study of law and was admitted to the Frederick bar in 1789: served in congress from 1804 to 1810 and in the latter year was appointed assistant judge from the fifth congressional district of Maryland. He died in 1815. His father was Dr. Arthur Nel- son, of Point of Rocks Plantation, an ardent patriot and member of a committee of safety and of the patriotic organizations of the period. He was a large landed proprietor, owning estates in Montgomery County, and upon the Shenandoah River, in Virginia. The emigrant, John Nelson, came from England to Maryland previous to 1745. The old Queen Anne service of silver be- longing to him is in the possession of his great- great-grandson, Dr. Nelson. John Nelson, uncle to our subject, and son of Roger Nelson, was born in 1794; commenced the practice of law upon attaining his majority; was elected to congress as soon as he became of eligible age, and afterward removed to Baltimore, where he at once went to the front of his profession. In 1830 we was ap- pointed minister to Naples by President Jackson, in 1843 was appointed attorney-general for the United States by President Tyler, retired from the cabinet in 1845 and devoted himself to his practice, in which he held a national reputation until his death, in 1860.
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JOHN B. BRAWNER, M. D.
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Madison Nelson, our subject's father, another son of General Nelson, also rose to prominence in the law and was elected judge of the third judicial circuit of Maryland (Frederick and Car- roll Counties) in 1851 and judge of the fourth judicial circuit (Frederick County) in 1864, and chief judge of the sixth circuit in 1867, by virtue of which he was one of the judges of the court of appeals of Maryland. He died in 1870, after serv- ing nearly twenty years on the bench.
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