Portrait and biographical record of the Sixth congressional district, Maryland V. 2, Part 12

Author: Chapman Publishing Company
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: New York : Chapman publishing co.
Number of Pages: 722


USA > Maryland > Portrait and biographical record of the Sixth congressional district, Maryland V. 2 > Part 12


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569-570


HON. STEPHEN M. LYDDANE.


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Virginia, he lived there until his death in his eightieth year. For many years he was a justice of the peace, and as a Whig and later a Republican he was quite an important factor in politics here- abouts. His wife died at the age of seventy-six years. Of their twelve children six survive, namely: Ira E., John H., W. H. H., Marshall, Taylor, and Martha, Mrs. Samuel Falkner. The father of Cornelius W. Friend, John Friend, was born on the bank of the Potomac River and moved from there to the site of Friendsville, where he became the owner of large tracts of land and was one of the leading men of that section. He lived to be one hundred and thirteen years of age.


William H. H. Friend was born in Carroll County, Ohio, in 1840, and passed the first six years of his life in that state. The remainder of his youthful days were spent in this vicinity and his education was such as was afforded by the district schools. Then followed his army service, after which he returned home and attended school for a time in order to more fully equip himself for life's duties. After he had completed a course at the normal he took the required examination, and for eight winters had charge of schools in this county. The rest of the year he gave his at- tention to farming. In 1868 he bought a portion of Blooming Rose tract of land, some eighty-five acres, and in addition to this he subsequently became the owner of one hundred and twenty- two acres of the Kensington tract. He has been very successful in his enterprises and has brought to bear upon them wise and judicious methods, which have wrought out his wished-for results. In 1891 he purchased the mercantile property of J. B. Bowermaster at Friendsville and has since devoted much of his time to managing the busi- ness.


In his political faith Mr. Friend is a Republi- can, stanch and true. He was appointed to the office of justice of the peace by Governor Lowndes in 1898 and is still acting in that capacity. An influential member of the Methodist Episcopal Church he gives liberally of his means to its up- building and maintenance and was one of the stewards for some time. In 1870 Mr. Friend


married Miss Jane F. Friend, daughter of Jona- than Friend (presumably no relation). Their five children are: William H. H., Jr .; Walter R. R .; Ward, who is employed in his father's store; Blanche and Percy.


ON. STEPHEN M. LYDDANE, whose death occurred at his old home in Rock- ville, September 2, 1889, was one of the prominent citizens of this locality, and during his prime was an important figure in all public affairs of the county. He was an honest, industrious, patriotic man, universally respected for his gen- uine worth and nobleness of character, and withal, quiet and unassuming in manner. For years he occupied various high positions of trust and responsibility, with which the people honored him by placing in his charge, and he never neg- lected the duties thus devolving upon him in the slightest degree.


A son of James Lyddane, our subject was born February 10, 1817, upon a farm in the vicinity of Rockville, and passed his entire life engaged in agricultural pursuits, when he was not serving in a public capacity. He purchased the farm, where he made his home for some forty-five years, at the time of his marriage in 1843; and having materially improved the place, made it the model homestead which it is to-day. He was very hos- pitable and genial in manner, and had hosts of sincere friends among the young people, as well as among those of his own generation. In this fact is manifested the kindly, sympathetic nature of the man, who, though immensely superior in attainments and experience, yet took great pleas- ure in the society of children and youth, and won their love in return.


From 1840 to 1847 Mr. Lyddane held the office of justice of the peace, and in 1848 was elected by his fellow-citizens county commissioner. Upon the expiration of his term of office he was re- elected, and again in 1852, thus serving for three successive terms in this important capacity. Then


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for several years he lived a quiet, retired life, at- tending solely to his farm and business affairs, but always maintaining his active interest in pub- lic matters. In 1869 he was once more elected county commissioner, and held that position for six years to the satisfaction of everyone. In 1887 he was elected judge of the orphans' court and continued in this trustworthy office up to the time of his demise. Politically he adhered to the principles of the Democratic party. In his relig- ious views he was a Catholic.


In 1843 Mr. Lyddane married Sarah Hilton Braddock, who survives him and is now living in the old home where she was born, in Rockville. Her father was William Braddock, a worthy citi- zen of this place during the fore part of this cent- ury. Four daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lyddane, namely: Gertrude, Grace, Nan- nie and Bessie. Gertrude became the wife of William Dorsey, who carries on the old Lyddane homestead, in this district; they have one son, Lee S. Grace is the wife of Charles H. Quigley, an attorney-at-law in Baltimore; they have one son, Stephen H., a graduate of Baltimore City College. Nannie became the wife of David H. Warfield; she died November 12, 1888. Bessie, the youngest daughter, is tenderly caring for her mother in their pleasant home in Rockville.


5 MANUEL CUSTER. The men who are in charge of the farming interests of Garrett County are as a rule enterprising, persever- ing and of upright character. Such is the reputa- tion of Mr. Custer, a well-known agriculturist of the Fifth District, and the owner of two hundred and forty acres, the larger part of which has been brought under cultivation. Upon this place, at one time known as the Benjamin Junkins' farm, he has made his home since 1865, devoting himself to stockraising and general farm pursuits. .


Near Grantsville, Garrett (then Allegany) County, the subject of this sketch was born, March 1, 1839, of German descent. His grand-


father, Emanuel, after whom he was named, probably came from Germany. He was a brother of the famous General Custer, the Indian fighter. Settling in western Maryland, near Grantsville, he began the cultivation of a farm, which he made one of the finest for miles around. His son, David, was born on that place in 1811, and became one of the large farmers and stock-raisers of his day, having a reputation as one of the best farmers of the county. He was an active worker in the Democratic party. Upon the farm, where for so many years he had resided, his life work was ended when he was sixty-two. By his marriage to Margaret Stark, who was born of Irish parentage and died at the age of about eighty, he had seven children, namely: Susannah, wife of Elmer Morrell, Meyersdale, Pa .; Isabella, who married Daniel Switzer; Emanuel; Mary Jane, deceased; Jarvis; Sampson, and Maria, who is the wife of Daniel J. Brenneman, residing on the old homestead.


At the age of twenty-one, in 1862, our subject enlisted in Company D, Third Regiment Potomac Home Brigade, in which he served until the close of the war. He was present at the battle of Harper's Ferry, and was taken prisoner there, but was afterward released. He also participated in all the campaigns of the Army of the Potomac through the Shenandoah Valley, returning home at the close of the war and resuming farming operations.


In addition to his farm pursuits Mr. Custer is now, in the autumn of his busy life, devoting much of his time and attention to the cultivation and propagation of fish. He has no less then six ponds and a good sized lake, all well stocked with trout, carp and chubb; he has both the California and native brook trout, and his fisher- ies contain more of the finny tribe than any other private collection in the state.


Active in the work of the Republican party, he is its leader in this locality, and was by it elected assessor of the Fifth District, in 1896. Like all veterans, he takes an interest in Grand Army matters and, meeting with his comrades of Sher- man Post No. 11, he takes pleasure and pride in recounting his experiences in many a hard-fought


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battle. For twenty successive years he has officiated as a steward of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, in the work of which he is deeply interested and to which he contributes regularly.


The first marriage of Mr. Custer united him with Rebecca Friend, who died leaving four children: David S .; Mary J., wife of Senator R. A. Ravenscroft; George W. and Henry A. His second wife was Virginia DeWitt, who bore him two children, namely: Homer, and Alice, wife of William S. Friend. After her death he mar- ried Margaret Sisler, by whom he had one child; she died at the birth of the infant. This child, Margaret Elizabeth, is now a young lady, and an accomplished musician. She resides with her father. His present wife was Elma J. Cuppett, daughter of Zalmon Cuppett, and three children were born of this union: Roy M., William A. and Annie Bertha.


AMES THOMPSON, who is one of the well- known citizens of Lonaconing, was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, October 14, 1836, and is a son of Robert and a grandson of Thomas Thompson, one of the retainers of the house of Douglas. Robert, who was a contractor and builder by occupation, was twice married, having by his first union two children, James and Mar- tha, wife of Daniel Reynolds, of Lonaconing; while by his second marriage there were four children, one of whom, Thomas, resides in Illinois, while the others remain in Scotland. The father was killed by an accident in the mines when James was a youth of fifteen years, and from that time forward he earned his own liveli- hood, being employed in the mines in the capacity of watchman and fireman.


At the age of twenty he started for America, intending to join his two uncles-in Canada but changed his plans and accompanied an acquaint- ance to Illinois, settling near Peoria. From there he went to St. Louis, where he remained for a short time. He spent three years in various


mining regions, but on account of poor health was obliged to seek a change of climate. He went south to Kentucky and from there to Mary- land, where he engaged in mining. When the war broke out he was among the first to enter the company organized by Dr. Porter, but the com- pany's services not being required, it was dis- banded. He then went to Ohio, and from there soon went to Broadtop, Pa., where he engaged in mining for a short time. Meantime the state of Maryland had taken a decided stand for the Union and another regiment, the Second, was being raised. This he joined under Captain Shaw, and after four months of service in the ranks he was made a sergeant, then orderly, and afterward lieutenant, in which rank he served for two and one-half years. During the period of his service he experienced many hardships and encountered many dangers, but his courage never faltered, and he remained, faithfully giving him- self to the cause of his country, until the expira- tion of his time, when he was discharged in October, 1864.


Returning to the pursuits of peace, Mr. Thompson resumed mining, being employed at Lonaconing. In 1870 he became mining boss for the Maryland Coal Company, filling a vacancy caused by the shooting of his predecessor by the Molly Maguires, who then formed a dangerous element in the community. In 1872 he bought the mine store, but sold out in 1875 and went to San Francisco, where he engaged in business for three years and then spent some time on various islands in the interests of a coal company. Upon his return east he resumed mining, and for six years served as mining boss for the New Central Coal Company at their Midlothian mines. Until recently he has engaged in mining at intervals.


Elizabeth Rohm, daughter of Conrad Rohm, was born in Bedford, Pa., but for some time re- sided in Cumberland, Md., where her father was proprietor of a hotel. By her marriage to Mr. Thompson she had an only son, James, a young man of excellent habits and unusual ability. He was born March 14, 1864, and early became in- terested in mining. Between himself and his father an unusual degree of companionship ex-


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isted; each was devoted to the happiness of the other. He never drank a glass of liquor nor in- dulged in excesses of any kind. On the 5th of June, 1890, while he was working by his father's side in a mine, a large piece of coal fell, crushing and killing him. Since then the father has not been able to endure the sad association of the mines and has practically retired from the business.


In connection with mining Mr. Thompson took up the study of surveying and engineering, to which he gives his time at this writing. He is not a politician, but always votes the Republican ticket and is active in its interests. Fraternally he was connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Repub- lic, but with advancing years he has to a large extent withdrawn from all social organizations. While his life has in the main been successful, yet he has had his share of hardships and re- verses, but the heaviest misfortune that ever befell him was the loss of his son, to promote whose happiness and success his life had been devoted and of whose talents he was justly proud.


HARLES H. BRACE, M. D., holds a prominent place among the physicians of Cumberland, where he has engaged in prac- tice since December 1, 1879. At that time he purchased the practice and good will of his former preceptor, Dr. Fechtig, and entered upon the practice which he has since successfully con- ducted. Enthusiastically devoted to his pro- fession, he is a firm believer in the principles of homeopathy and its superiority to other schools of medicine. While his practice is general, he makes a specialty of gynecology and the diseases of children, in the treatment of which he has been particularly successful. Formerly he served as a secretary of the United States examining board of surgeons, and at this writing he is a member of the board of state medical examiners and physician to the county insane asylum, alms- house and jail.


Dr. Brace was born at Western Port, Allegany County, Md., September 11, 1855, the son of William and Susan C. (Stafford) Brace. His father, who was born in London, England, lent his home in boyhood and shipped on a merchant vessel, following the sea for a number of years, after which he settled in Cumberland, Md. By occupation he was a mining and civil engineer, and this occupation he followed through life. While engaged in the construction of this part of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad he came to Cum- berland, where he remained until his death, in 1875. He was retiring and unobtrusive in char- acter, and was respected for his many worthy qualities. His wife, whom he married in Keyser, W. Va., makes her home with her youngest chil- dren, in St. Louis, Mo. She was the mother of four sons and one daughter, namely: William, who is a member of the law firm of DeFries, Brace & Rittern, in Chicago; Charles H .; Harry C., managing editor of the Financial Herald and Mercantile Press, in New York; Sue, wife of Charles Klives, of St. Louis; and Theodore, also of that city.


The education our subject was obtained in the public schools of Cumberland and under private tuition by Rev. J. W. Nott. Under his father he gained a practical knowledge of civil and min- ing engineering, and his education was conducted with a view to following that occupation. When only eighteen years of age he projected and sur- veyed the suburban village of Mapleside for Gleason & McBride, and drew a map showing the water mains of the city of Cumberland. In 1872 he entered the office of Dr. James A. Fechtig, with whom he gained his rudimentary knowledge of medicine. Afterward he attended the Hahne- mann Medical College of Philadelphia, the pion- eer college of homeopathy in the United States. From that institution he received his degree March 12, 1877." Prior to this he took a special course in surgery with Prof. Charles M. Thomas, also studied obstetrics with Prof. O. B. Gause, and took a course in practical and surgical anat- omy under Prof. A. R. Thomas. He also at- tended a series of surgical and medical lectures and clinics at the Jefferson Medical College,


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Philadelphia, Pa., receiving certificates for each branch of study. April 10, 1877, he opened an office in Frostburg, and from there two years later removing to Cumberland, established the large practice he now conducts.


Politically Dr. Brace is an active worker in the interests of the Republican party, to whose prin- ciples he gives stanch allegiance. In fraternal relations he is a member of Lodge No. 63, B. P. O. E., at Cumberland. His marriage, which was solemnized December 14, 1880, united him with Edith M., daughter of Barney and Rachel E. (Clary) Dilley, the former for many years a prominent figure in the commercial circles of Cumberland. Mrs. Brace was born in Wellers- burg, Pa., May 6, 1859, and was given excellent educational advantages in girlhood. Dr. and Mrs. Brace have many friends among the people of the city and are welcome guests in the best circles of society.


C ENRY BRADLEY. The Bradley family has been represented in America for many generations, the first of the name here hav- ing come from England. Abraham Bradley, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in New Jersey and acted as assistant postmaster- general when the seat of government was in Philadelphia, also after its removal to Washing- ton. . On his retirement from office he returned from his country place and took up the life of a country gentleman. He owned the property where Chevy Chase now is and had other valu- able possessions. His children were Abram, Thomas, Joseph, Henry, Charles, Hannah, Mary, Caroline and Julia.


Of these sons Henry was born at Chevy Chase in 1817. When about twenty-one years of age he went to Ohio, where he remained for one year. He then returned and embarked in the mercantile business in Washington and continued success- fully as a merchant until he was forty-four. His store was the largest dry-goods establishment in


Washington and was located next door to the present site of the Saks store, corner of Seventh and Market space. Accumulating a large fort- une, he determined to retire from business and seek an occupation more congenial and less wearing. For this reason he came to the old Fourth (now Potomac) District and purchased the place now owned by his son and namesake. Of the eight hundred acres comprising the place, more than four hundred were cleared. The farm is now one of the finest in the district and bears every modern improvement, including a residence that is at once comfortable in its interior arrange- ments and elegant in architecture. One notice- able feature of the farm is the fact that every field has running water and all have springs. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Repub- licat.


By the marriage of Henry Bradley, Sr., to Mary, daughter of William Prout, six children were born: Sarah, Mrs. James H. Davidson, deceased; George G., a farmer in Potomac District; Mary, who died in girlhood; Henry; William T., de- ceased; and Martha H., who resides in Washing- ton, being the wife of William Anderson, owner of a ranch in the Bad Lands of South Dakota.


August 22, 1846, the subject of this sketch was born in the house where he still lives, he being the first child born there. He was edu- cated in Rockville Academy and Miller's board- ing school at Sandy Springs, where he studied Latin, Greek and higher mathematics. It was his intention to go through college, but his father's ill health made it advisable that he re- turn home and assume the management of the farm. Mathematics was his favorite study and he was well qualified for work as a surveyor, though he never followed the occupation. From the time of his return home, 1863, he has re- mained on the farm. He is methodical in his habits, sound in his judgment and practical in plans, and has been very successful in his under- takings. In political belief he is a Democrat but not a politician. Fraternally he is connected with Montgomery Lodge No. 195, A. F. & A. M., at Rockville.


The marriage of Mr. Bradley, October 20,


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1874, united him with Elspeth, daughter of James M. Kilgour. She is an accomplished lady and as a hostess is most gracious, showing the hospitable spirit so characteristic of the Virginians and pre- siding over their home with a grace that can be appreciated only by those who are her guests. They spend their winters usually in Florida, stopping at Rockledge, on the Indian River.


The family residence is an ideal home, and all its surroundings are in keeping with the elegance of the home. Every convenience for conducting the farm has been introduced. A well was sunk, eighty feet deep and nearly eight feet in diameter, with a gasoline engine of one and one-half horse power, so that the windmill can be supplanted when there is not enough breeze. The house is also modern in every respect, having furnace heat, hot and cold water, lavatory, etc. Mr. Bradley is fond of billiards, and so has a billiard room in the house. If he has a hobby it is his fondness for the rare and beautiful, especially in ornithology. He has many rare specimens of birds; among these a pink flamingo, fully mounted, and standing three feet and seven inches high. He also has a stuffed alligator and a huge diamond- back rattler, mounted in position as taken, when just ready to strike; it is ten and three-fourths inches around and six feet and three inches in length. Another fine specimen is a pelican that he shot in Florida, and that, having been shot only in the head, is still perfect in body, bearing no trace of disfigurement.


D OL. JOHN R. ROUZER, member of the state legislature from Frederick County, and a director and vice-president of the Mechanicstown Water Company, was born May 7, 1839, on the old family homestead about one mile from Thurmont, formerly Mechanicstown, his present place of residence. His father, Peter Rouzer, was born November 1, 1792, in Hagers- town, Md. He married Rachel Hope Martin, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Martin, May 29,


1817, in Mechanicstown. She was born in Albe- marle County, Va., July 10, 1799, and died Au- gust 16, 1840, on the old family homestead above mentioned, at the age of forty-one years, when her son, our subject, was one year old. The father of our subject engaged in schoolteaching during much of his life, following that occupation in Virginia for a time. In addition to teaching he engaged in farm pursuits. His death occurred May 17, 1877, when eighty-four years old, at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Joseph Freeze, in Thurmont.


The first of the Rouzer family to settle in Maryland was Daniel, our subject's grandfather. who was born in the state of New Jersey in 1776, and came to Maryland when quite a young man and learned the tanning trade in Hagerstown. In 1793 he moved upon the present Rouzer homestead near Thurmont, now owned and occu- pied by Mrs. Emma K. Rouzer, widow of John Rouzer, and established the first tannery in this part of the state. At first the enterprise was conducted on a very small scale, but by degrees it grew in importance. He died August IS, 1850, aged eighty-four years. His son John then purchased the tannery property and contin- ued, on his own account, the business, which became one of the important industries in this section, continuing under his supervision until his death, January 1, 1894. The first wife of Daniel Rouzer was Sophia, daughter of Peter Schover, and a member of an old family of Fred- erick County. By his marriage to Miss Schover he had ten children. His second wife was Julia. daughter of John Mathues, of Frederick County. Three children were born of this marriage.


The family of which our subject was a member consisted of five sons and five daughters. Sophia Margaret was born July 18, 1818, and died in in- fancy; Mary Elizabeth was born March 22, 1820; she is the widow of Joseph Freeze and now lives in Thurmont. James Madison was born June 21, 1822, and died July 26, 1895. He was a cabinet-maker by trade. In 1861 he enlisted in the First Pennsylvania Reserves, and served in said regiment until the close of the late war, when he was honorably discharged. Daniel Riley was


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born October 20, 1824. He was a miller and farmer, and died December 15, 1860. Catharine Jane, who was born April 1, 1827, married Joel Weller. Her death occurred May 2, 1898, in Washington, D. C., where she lived. Simon Henry died in infancy. Barbara Ann, born De- cember 19, 1830, was the wife of Washington A. Bennett, and she died May 11, 1890, in Shep- herdstown, W. Va. Uriah A. was born July 20, 1833. He was a mill-wright by occupation. He was a zealous and active member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he held many important positions. He was a Knight Templar, and was a man who lived up to the teachings of Free Masonry. He officiated at the burial of ex- President Andrew Johnson at Greenville, Tenn., in 1875. He died at Knoxville, East Tenn., on the 14th of December, 1886. Eliza Adaline was born January 22, 1836. She married Joshua Smith and is now a widow, he having died a number of years ago.




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