USA > Maryland > Portrait and biographical record of the Sixth congressional district, Maryland V. 1 > Part 49
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membership to lapse. He is a charter member of Dispatch Lodge No. 11, A. O. U. W., of Cumberland, in which he has filled several offi- ces. In politics he has been a life-long Republi- can and an active supporter of party principles. He was present at the capture of Harper's Ferry during the celebrated John Brown raid, and now has in his possession a spear in appearance some- what resembling a bayonet that was taken at the time.
ULTON B. RICE, the able and enterprising superintendent of Montevue Hospital, near Frederick, county-seat of Frederick County, is a native of Jefferson District, his birth having occurred upon a farm in the vicinity of the town of Jefferson, January 28, 1851. He has been a long-life resident of this county and has done not a little in its advancement and development. He is a man of sterling character, uprightness and integrity of word and deed, and possesses the high regard of his fellow-citizens.
George B. Rice, the father of our subject, was born on the same old homestead as was the gentleman whose name begins this article, and the paternal grandfather of the latter was like- wise born and brought up there, spending his whole life in agricultural pursuits. He, Perry G., was not only a farmer and a large land- owner, but carried on a distillery in connection with his other occupations. His wife, wliose maiden name was Dudro, and who was also a native of Jefferson District, lived to attain four- score years. He was a Whig in his political proclivities. George B. Rice followed in the footsteps of his senior in the matter of politics, and in after years identified himself with the Know- nothings. He was a very active and valued member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for years was an elder in the Jefferson congrega- tion. He died in 1860, when in his fifty-fifth year, and was placed to rest in the old Jefferson grave-yard. His wife, whose maiden name was Catherine House, is still living, her home being
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in Jefferson. She is a daughter of Stephen St. Louis convention that nominated Mckinley. House, of the Middletown Valley, and, as her birth took place some eighty-eight years ago, she is naturally quite feeble now.
The children born to George B. and Catherine Rice comprise the following: Edward, a retired farmer; Thomas McGee, who died in infancy; George L. H., a wholesale grocer of Indianapolis; Milton G., a stock-dealer of Jefferson; Rev. M. F. B., pastor of the Center Methodist Episcopal Church of Cumberland; Perry H., a farmer in the Hoosier state; Olin W., who is a plasterer by trade and resides in Jefferson; Hiram H., a farmer of this district; Mary Jane, wife of Francis Blessing, a farmer of Petersville District; Catlie- rine, who married Henry M. Slagle, of Howard County, Md., and who died in March, 1897; Mar- tha Ellen, Mrs. William Easterday, of Jefferson; Johanna H., unmarried and residing with lier mother; Nettie M., Mrs. Walter Linthicum, of Montgomery County, Md., and Fulton B.
Upon the old farm which has been in the Rice family for several generations Fulton B. Rice passed his happy boyhood, growing up with his numerous brothers and sisters. Having acquired a common-school education in the neighborhood schools and having become thoroughly conver- sant with the various kinds of work essential to the proper management of a farm, he started out to make his own livelihood. From the time that he reached his majority until about 1870, he was occupied in agriculture, but at that time he turned his attention to the milling business, and until recently was chiefly interested in that direction. For some years he was proprietor of a mill on Catoctin Creek, in his old home district, and subsequently he carried on the Monocacy mills (also called the Delaplain mills), in Buckeystown District. He owned and operated the last-men- tioned mills from 1885 to 1898, when he took charge of Montevue Hospital in the capacity of superintendent. He has been very active in the Republican party, and had the honor of being chairman over the Frederick delegation to tlic state convention hield at Baltimore. That con- vention sent delegates to the national convention of the party, where were chosen delegates to tlie
In 1892 Mr. Rice was a candidate for county com- missioner, and though twenty-one of the twenty- two districts were in his favor, he was defeated along with the whole Republican ticket at thc ensuing election.
December 6, 1883, Mr. Rice married Miss Sallie F. Shaffer, a daughter of George Shaffer. Two sons and a daugliter have been born to this worthy couple, namely: Blanche S., Millard Fulton and Walter H. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and Mr. Rice served most successfully as superintendent of the Sunday-school for a period of fifteen years.
ILLIAM FREDERICK, SR., came to Friendsville, Garrett County, in ISS6, and bought what was known as the old Kent mill on the Youghiogheny River, since which time he has prosperously conducted a milling business. After seven years, in 1893, he opened a grain store, where he has since engaged in selling grain, both at wholesale and retail; and, in addition to these two enterprises, he is to some extent interested in farming. He is actively connected with various enterprises for the benefit of the village and county, and gives his influence to the promotion of public-spirited projects.
Mr. Frederick was born in Front Royal, War- ren County, Va., in 1829, and is a son of John Frederick. His father, who was born in Lancas- ter County, Pa., October 12, 1779, migrated to Virginia in young manhood and spent the active part of his life there. A miller by trade, he carried on a mill at Front Royal and Moorefield, W. Va., also owned and operated a number of farms and was a very successful man financially. In politics he adhered to the old-line Whig party, but never took an active part in public affairs. He died in 1865, at the age of eighty-six years. By his marriage to Rachel Erliart, who died at fifty- seven years, he had a family of nine sons and four daughters, of whom our subject is the youngest.
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UtB.Shaffer
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The boyhood years in the life of our subject were passed principally in Moorefield, W. Va. He was educated in the common schools and Flint Hill Seminary, at Rappahannock, W. Va. When a young man he learned the miller's trade with his father, and in 1847 he hired a mill at Barton, Md., where he carried on a milling busi- ness for two years. In 1849 he went to Hardy County, W. Va., where he ran a mill one year. In 1850 he settled near Frostburg, Md., and en- gaged in the milling business for four years, after which, in 1854, he came to the Second District of Allegany County, near what is now Friends- ville, and for six years was proprietor of a mill. In 1860 he removed to Uniontown, Pa., and for twenty-two years engaged in the milling busi- ness, also operated a branch mill on Patterson's Creek in West Virginia. In 1886 he came to Friendsville, where he has since resided.
Politically a Democrat, Mr. Frederick served as justice of the peace for some time. He is one of the leading members of his party in Friends- ville. For some time he has been an elder in the Christian Church of this place, and his family are also actively identified with religious work. In 1849 he married Miss Annice Schell, daughter of Daniel Schell, of Hardy County, W. Va. They are the parents of four children, namely: Ellen Virginia, wife of Samuel Schafer; Augus- tus M., living in Fairchance, Pa .; Maria, who is the wife of John Haney; and William, who is engaged in the mercantile business in Friends- ville.
ENRY BRAMWELL SHAFFER. During the greater part of his active business life Mr. Shaffer was a resident of Frostburg. In fact, his residence here covered the entire period, with the exception of four years, from 1854 until his death, which occurred March 8, 1897. A native of Pennsylvania, he was born at Schiells- burg, Bedford County, September 19, 1828, and was the son of Peter and Catherine (Andrews) Shaffer, the former a blacksmith of Schellsburg.
While still a mere lad he secured employment as mail-carrier and made tri-weekly trips between Schellsburg and Alum Bank, Pa. Afterward he learned the trade of a cigar maker, which he followed in Donegal, Somerset and Stoyestown, and for seven years in his native place with John Kemerer. During the last six months of his residence at Schellsburg he also taught school at night. In 1853 he removed to Mount Savage, Md., and the following year came to Frostburg, where he worked at his trade until 1857 and then formed a partnership with Thomas H. Frost, under the firm name of Frost & Shaffer. The mercantile establishment opened by them was continued successfully, and after a year he bought out his partner, carrying on the business alone until 1862. He then sold out in order to accept the office of tax collector of the county (which then included Garrett). The ensuing year he was again appointed to the position and closed the entire business in twenty-two months, a record that was never equalled before and has not been surpassed since.
In 1864 Mr. Shaffer formed the firm of Shaffer & Co., his partners being William R. and Al- pheus Beall, and the three continued together until 1869, when he bought out the others. Later he sold the stock and building to W. R. Beall and W. H. Koch, who lost all in the fire of 1874. In 1870 Mr. Shaffer purchased a farm near Saegerstown, Crawford County, Pa., where he engaged in farm pursuits for four years, and then returning to Frostburg, again engaged in mercantile business, this time under the firm title of Hitchins Bros. & Shaffer. He withdrew from the firm in 1877 and established himself in what was the Paul's opera house. The next year he also formed a partnership at Mount Sav- age with S. A. Munn, the title being Shaffer & Munn, which connection continued until 1884, when he purchased the interest of S. A. Mum. He then associated with him MeMullen Bros. & Co. at Mount Savage, and after a short time bought an interest with D. F. McMullen & Co., in Frostburg, but withdrew from the firm in 1889. Ten years prior he had purchased the old McCulloch house, known as the City Hotel, which
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he had remodeled for his business in Frostburg, and upon retiring from the firm he concentrated his energies to this enterprise. In October. 1896, the business was incorporated as the H. B. Shaf- fer Company, of which he was president, Louisa K. Shaffer secretary, and William A. Shaffer treasurer.
In the councils of the Republican party Mr. Shaffer was active. He was one of the first members of the Frostburg Know Nothing Soci- ety, by which he was nominated and elected magistrate in 1854. He held the position for two years, but meantime his business increased to such an extent that he felt obliged to decline re- nomination. In 1872 he became a member of Crawford Lodge No. 234, A. F. & A. M., at Meadville, Pa., and he was also identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, serving through all of the chairs of his lodge. For a number of years he served as an elder in St. Paul's English Lutheran Church.
February 12, 1853, Mr. Shaffer married Louisa Kemerer, daughter of his employer at Schells- burg, Pa. Ten children were born of their union, of whom all but the eldest reside in Frost- burg. They are: Mary K., who married Hiram Mason and lives in Kansas City, Mo .; Duncan E., William A., Carrie K., Effie A., Harry F. (de- ceased), Louisa K., James M. P., Grace S. and Sarah Bramwell.
In business affairs Mr. Shaffer was a very methodical man, possessing progressive ideas, combined with untiring industry and determina- tion of purpose, which earned for hint consider- able financial success. He aided in the organiz- ation of the Citizens' National Bank, of which he was a director until his death. His life work ended when he was sixty-eight years and five months of age. The bereavement was felt not alone by his family and immediate circle of friends, but by all the people of the town, for he had ever been deeply interested in public enter- prises tending to the advancement of the home of his adoption.
Resolutions of regret were passed at the time of his death, by the officers of the Citizens' National Bank and those of St. Paul's English
Lutheran Church. The latter we append hereto:
WHEREAS, It pleased God, our Heavenly Father, in His all-wise providence, to remove from our midst on the 8th day of March, 1897, Henry B. Shaffer, our beloved brother in Christ, and
WHEREAS, We, his associates in the Church council of St. Paul's English Lutheran Church, of Frostburg, Md., feel deeply the loss his death has occasioned, therefore, be it
Resolved, That, while we bow in humble sub- mission to the Divine Will, knowing that He who ruleth in the heavens doeth all things well, we nevertheless record our sense of loss consequent on his removal from among us, as also our appre- ciation of his sterling qualities and genuine worth as a gentleman and a Christian, as a de- voted friend and as a loyal servant of Jesus Christ, our common and only Master; further- more,
Resolved, That, while his taking away was ap- parently so untimely, and while we regret that his life could not have been prolonged, we never- theless in like manner bear testimony to the uniform faithfulness of Brother Shaffer in the discharge of all his duties as a Christian and a member of the Church, as well as to his practical efficiency, keen-sighted sagacity and business ability in all matters pertaining to the manage- ment of the affairs of the congregation with which we as a body have been entrusted.
Resolved, That in the presence of the loss sus- tained by us in common with his family and other friends, we duly acknowledge our thankfulness to God for the evidence of His supporting grace in the Christian fortitude of Brother Shaffer who. with such calm resignation under such painful circumstances, was able to face death without fear, knowing whom he liad believed, and being persuaded that He to whom he liad committed his soul was able to keep that which he had entrusted unto Him against that day.
Resolved, That we as a council formally extend our sympathy to the family of Brother Shaffer in this the tinte of their bereavement, conscious that they have lost in his death the one upon whom they
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were accustomed to lean, the wife a kind and death summoned him to his reward, in 1858, he loving husband, the children a tender and affec- tionate father, all a gentle friend. Finally,
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the family, be recorded on our minutes, and published in the Mining Journal and News. CHAS. A. BRITT, Pastor.
WILLIAM STAPLES, FREDERICK MITCHELL, Elders
WILLIAM HUMBERSTON,
HENRY MAYER, CONRAD ORT,
CONRAD GANT, D. F. ROLAND, GEORGE HILL,
Deacons.
CHAS. R. HARTLEY,
HARLES M. HERMANN, the leading florist of Frederick, possesses that gennine enthusiasm and love for his chosen work that is a particular characteristic of the people of his native land, Germany. About a decade has passed since he established himself in business here, and in the meantime he has built up a large and paying patronage, his services being called into requisition upon all occasions of a social nature, where beautiful plants and flowers are needed to add that finishing touch which nothing else can fitly supply. His taste as a decorator is highly commended by all who employ him and the exquisite floral pieces which he has furnished for funerals, weddings, graduations, etc., have been universally admired.
Mr. Hermann was born in middle Germany in 1842, being a son of a minister in the German Lutheran Church, Rev. Gotlieb Hermann. He was a life-long preacher of the Gospel and to- wards the close of his useful career the govern- ment bestowed upon him a gold medal for his labors on belialf of liis fellow-men. He stood very high in the ministry, and for years preached in the same church as had the great founder of tlie Reformation, Martin Luthier. He was still active and at his post of duty when the angel of
then being iu nis sixty-fourth year. His wife survived him nearly thirty years, her death tak- ing place in 1837, at the age of eiglity-six years. Of their Eve sons and four daughters Gotlieb, Jr., now deceased, was in the book-binding business in Atchison, Kan .; Rudolph, a machinist by trade, was manager for a manufacturing company in bis native land; Richard has been casliier for a bank in Poesneck, Germany, for about a quar- ter of a century; Otto is also a resident of Ger- many; Linda died at the age of twenty-five years. Ida is married and lives in Germany; Louisa and Marie are unmarried and at home; and Charlotte is the wife of Dr. Bruckner, of the old home town.
C. M. Hermann received a fine education in the excellent schools and government college of his loved native land, and was occupied as a florist in various large cities in Germany. In 1366 he concluded that he would try his fortunes in the United States, and upon his arrival here he settled in Quincy, Ill., where he remained two years. He then came to Maryland, and up to 1877 lived in Baltimore. He worked for others for a few years until he had gained knowledge of the language of our citizens and some necessary capital. He had commenced in independent business about 1871, and in 1877 came to Fred- erick. Here he was in charge of the cemetery grounds for sixteen years, and no better man was .ever in that position, the thrifty lawns, trees, shrubbery and flowers bearing evidence of the constant care of one who is imbued with deep love for these beautiful manifestations of. Motlier Nature. For a portion of this period lie also carried on business for himself and in 1888 he purchased his present location on West South street. He has four greenhouses and does a flourishing business, often sending plants and flowers to points outside the city on orders. He votes for the candidate or principle which lie deems the best, and is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
The marriage of Mr. Hermann and Lizzie Diehl was solenmized in this city in 1871. She is a daughter of Albert Diehl, who is in the shoe
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business here. Two sons and two daughters comprise the family of our worthy subject and wife, viz .: Edward, who is in the clothing busi- ness in Frederick; Charles and Lizzie, who are still attending school; and Sophia, who is a trained nurse and is a graduate of Hahnemann Hospital of Philadelphia. The family are niem- bers of the German Reformed Church, of which Rev. Mr. Dorams is the beloved pastor.
DWARD C. KRANTZ is the owner of a beautiful country home located on the Buck- eystown pike about two miles south of Frederick. He has lived here since 1885, when he rented the place for a few years, afterwards purchasing it from the other heirs, for it had formerly belonged to his father. The place com- prises one hundred and forty acres, upon which stand a substantial residence and a fine barn, which were erected by our subject. He has set out a large orchard and has made numerous other improvements on the farm, materially in- creasing its desirability and value. He is a thorough and practical farmer and gives employ- ment to several men and to more during the busy season. The house stands back from the dusty road some little distance and from its broad verandas and windows a fine view of the sur- rounding country may be obtained.
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this county, where he worked at his trade of shoemaking. He died when his son Frederick, the father of our subject, was but four years old. In consequence the little lad was early thrown upon his own resources, and had a hard struggle for years. For a few years he worked as a laborer upon the very farm which he afterwards owned and which is the one now carried on by the gen- tleman of whom we write. He then learned the miller's trade, but the greater portion of his life was devoted to agriculture. He had amassed a large fortune at his death, several large farms,
money in the bank and in other investments. During the war he was strongly in favor of the Union and later he was a loyal Republican. For some years he was a member of the Reformed Church of Frederick, and in that city his last years were spent in rest and comfort. He died at the ripe age of seventy-one years and was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery; his wife had preceded him to the better land. She was formerly Miss Catherine E. Stup, whose father died when she was a little girl, and thus she did not know much of him, save that he had been a well-to-do farmer of Frederick County. Frederick and Catherine S. Krantz were the parents of two daughters and two sons, viz .: Edward C., William Henry, a successful farmer living north of Frederick; and Laura and Martha, both un- married and living on one of the old homesteads of their father, and near to their brother, E. C.
The birth of Edward C. Krantz took place in 1852 in New Market District, Frederick County. In his early years he spent his time in his fa- ther's mill and in working on the farm, thus ob- taining practical knowledge as he could have done in no other manner. He was a pupil in the common schools of Mount Pleasant District, and later at Braddock Heights. He continued to give his services to his father until he was past his majority and at the age of twenty-five he, in company with a brother, took one of their father's farms and carried it on for several years with success. Then, in 1885, as mentioned at the beginning of this sketch, Mr. Krantz came to
Grandfather Krantz was a native of Germany : his present home. At his father's death he was and came to America when a youth, settling in .. . given his portion of the estate, of course, but he
had already amply demonstrated the fact that he was abundantly able to make his own way in the world and to reap a generous livelihood for his family. His farm brings to him a large revenue each year as the reward of his care and toil and he may justly feel prond of his success, for he has wrought it out for himself.
In 1885 Mr. Krantz married Mary C. Biser, who has been a devoted helpmate to him in all of his labors and struggles. She is a danghter of Henry Biser, an agriculturist of the Middle Valley. Mr. and Mrs: Krantz have three chil-
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WILLIAM KIGHT OF E.
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dren, Frederick, Henry and Kate, the two elder ones being in school. The parents are members of the Reformed Church of Frederick. Mr. Krantz is liberal in politics, using his vote in favor of the man or measure which he considers best under the circumstances.
ILLIAM KIGHT of E. The entire life of Mr. Kight has been passed in the vicinity of Western Port. In 1892 he re- tired from active agricultural labors and since that time has occupied himself with the care of his home place, a portion of which is planted to an orchard and a vineyard. He has a convenient arrangement for making wine, which he sells for medicinal purposes only, and which is made of pure juice of the grape. In addition to grape wine, he manufactures other varieties from the black- berry, cranberry, rhubarb and tomato.
About two miles from his present place of resi- dence, Mr. Kight was born September 20, 1832, and there also occurred the birth of his father, Enoch. The family have been represented iu this country since a period antedating tlie Revolti- tion. Henry, our subject's grandfather, was en- gaged in farmning on what is known as Onion Patch, but this property he traded for the place where our subject was born. Fifty years later, when the railroad was being put through and titles were looked up, it was found that 110 deed had been given for the property. Some parties were planning to take out a warrant on the land. This came to Enoch's knowledge and upon in- vestigating the records he found he was absolutely without title to the land, although he had lived tliere for fifty years; lie then took out a warrant and thus secured the property legally.
Among the farmers of the neighborhood Enoch Kiglit held a position of prominence. Up to the time of the war he advocated Democratic principles, but afterward he voted the Republi- can ticket. For years he was a class-leader in the Methodist Church, in the work of which lie
was actively interested. By his marriage to An- nie Hamilton he had fourteen children, of whom three daughters and five sons survive. They are: Richard A., who lives in Barton; William, of this sketch; Joshua, who is engaged in business at Western Port; John W., living at Parkers- burg; Samuel, a conductor on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, with headquarters at Keyser, W. Va .; Isabella, wife of Judge Hamill, of Oakland; Rachel, who married Patrick M. Dayton, a far- mer at Bridge 21, on the Baltimore & Ohio road; and Rebecca, Mrs. Cephas Broadwater, who resides at Salisbury, Pa.
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