USA > Maryland > Portrait and biographical record of the Sixth congressional district, Maryland V. 2 > Part 14
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The subject of this sketch, who was a son of James and Sarah Harrison, was born in Loudoun County, Va., and on finishing his education took up agricultural pursuits, which he carried on for many years, making a specialty of stock-raising. In 1853 he came to Maryland and began farming in Montgomery County. In 1888 he sold his farm in Potomac District to Senator Sawyer in exchange for a gold mine and then bought the present homestead of two hundred and twenty- five acres, near Potomac. He was liberal in his views and gave aid to all worthy objects. One of his donations was an acre of ground for the establishment and erection of a Catholic church here. His children he gave good educations in the subscription schools. During the war he was an ardent Union man, and the family now have a pass that was given him by General Mcclellan, entitling him to pass anywhere he desired and to
carry anything he chose. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Democrat. He was an ardent and active worker for his party and gave much of his time for the advancement of its interests. However, when Benjamin Harrison was candi- date for president, he put aside his political be- lief and voted for him, in honor of his grand- father. While working for the party he never sought office for himself, but was disinterested in all his efforts. Fraternally he was connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Masonic Order and the Knights of Pythias. He was one of the organizers of the last-named lodge and is a member of the grand lodge.
A Methodist in religious belief, he was one of the prime factors in building the Potomac chapel, to which he liberally contributed. While at Lees- burg, in his young manhood, he was a captain of militia. He was bugler of the Fairfax Light Guards, who acted as escort to President Polk upon his inauguration. Longevity was a family characteristic. His grandfather attained the age of one hundred and two, and he himself was seventy five years of age when he died. Had it not been for a sunstroke, which resulted fatally, he might have rounded out a full century. His demise occurred August 18, 1890. His wife died in 1894, when she was seventy-nine years of age. He was laid to rest in the cemetery, where his two daughters, Sallie and Margaret, have caused a fine monument to be erected above his remains. One of his most noticeable traits was his desire to keep a promise. His word was as good as his bond. In one instance he promised to sell a cer- tain piece of property, and before the transfer was made he was offered $15,000 more from another party, but, having promised to sell it at the lower price, he refused to go back on his word.
February 16, 1843, Mr. Harrison married Catherine, daughter of Michael Whitmore, of Prosper Well, near Leesburg, Loudoun County, Va., where her brother, John Henry, still resides. Michael Whitmore was a soldier in the War of 1812. The five children of Mr. and Mrs. Har- rison are still living, viz .: James M., who has charge of the home farm for his sisters; Sarah
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A .; Mary Elizabeth, who married James W. died when about sixty-six years of age. The Smith and resides in Washington; Margarett Vir- ginia; and Susan Alice, wife of Arthur Meyers, of Potomac District.
OHN SCHAIDT, an old and honored resi- dent of Cumberland, is literally a self-made and self-educated man, for he has always been entirely dependent upon his own resources, and has made the best of his opportunities. In the autumn of 1875 he was elected surveyor of Allegany County, and occupied this responsible position for twenty-two successive years, being re-elected eleven consecutive terms. During this period he has been chiefly engaged in the survey- ing of land, and is considered an expert in his department. Politically he has always been a great worker in the interests of the Republican party, and has been an earnest advocate of all local enterprises, industries and institutions which he believed would accrue to the lasting benefit of his native city.
About 1837 the uncle of the above-named gentleman, John G., left his native home in Ba- varia, Germany, to found a home in the United States. He worked at various things along the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal for a few years, until he had made a start, and in 1842 he sent for his two brothers, Casper and Peter, the latter our subject's father. All settled in Allegany County, in or near Cumberland, and John G. and Casper engaged in farming. Peter, who was the young- est, was in the employ of railroads part of the time, but was also engaged on other public works throughout the county. He married a German lady, Catherine Gehauf, and twelve children blessed their union. Three died in infancy and five lived to maturity; those now living are: John; Harmon, now in New Mexico; Christina, who is Mrs. Matthew Muir, now in Rock Springs, Wyo .; and George, a resident of British Colum- bia. The father finally settled in Lonaconing, this county, where he spent the rest of his life and
aged mother of this family is now living with a niece in Lonaconing. Though she is in her sev- enty-fifth year she enjoys good health and is re- markably active for one of her years.
John Schaidt was born in Cumberland, Decem- ber 22, 1850, and was therefore a mere boy when the Civil war came on. The cost of living was high and his parents had hardly made a fair start in this strange land, and it became necessary for the elder children to lend their assistance to the general support as early as possible. Beginning the battle of life in earnest then, at the age of thirteen years, our subject had but little opportu- nity for obtaining an education, and that he is to-day a well-informed man upon all of the lead- ing questions and is posted upon general mat- ters, is due solely to his own study and reading, mainly since he reached his majority. For several years he was employed with his father in rail- roading and mining. He was very industrious and careful of the money he earned and when he was twenty-two years old he carried out a long- cherished plan he had had in mind, and went to the Kentucky University for one winter. Then for two years he pursued his studies in Lehigh University, South Bethlehem, Pa.
In the fall of 1875 Mr. Schaidt was elected county surveyor, as previously mentioned, and served faithfully and to every-one's satisfaction in this capacity for nearly a quarter of a century. Fraternally he is a Mason, being a member of Potomac Lodge No. 100, A. F. & A. M. In the Odd Fellows' society, to which he belongs, he is connected with Chosen Friends' Lodge No. 34, Cumberland Encampment No. 23, Canton Alle- gany No. 4, Patriarchs Militant, being past officer of the several branches, and has represented the same in the Maryland grand lodge. He is a member of the American Legion of Honor, an insurance order.
In the year of our nation's centennial, 1876, Mr. Schaidt married Miss Elizabeth Knatz, a daughter of Henry Knatz, of Lonaconing. Eight children came to bless their marriage, their names in the order of birth being as follows: Emma M .; Peter Leander; Crissie E .; Charles E .; Henry W .;
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Wilhelmina E .; Mortimer C. and John F., all living. The family are identified with the Lu- theran Church.
ULIUS C. RENNINGER, though one of the youngest attorneys in Garrett County, has in his short time of practice shown marked ability and has attained to a prominent position at the Garrett County bar. His practice is large and growing and is not confined to this region, but extends into the neighboring counties of Allegany and Preston, W. Va. He has been admitted to the bar of these three counties and is recognized as a young man of natural talent, general information and comprehensive knowl- edge of the law. He is a native of western Mary- land, his birth having occurred in the city of Cumberland, Allegany County, October 26, 1874, and has been a citizen of Oakland for a few years only, but his success in this short period is re- markable.
The father of the subject of this sketch is Christian M. Renninger, one of the highly re- spected residents of Cumberland, Md. He is a native of that city and has been engaged in con- ducting a mercantile business there for several · years. He is enterprising and public-spirited and is very popular among the citizens. His wife was, in her maidenhood, Miss Emma Sherr and their three children are Julius C., Theodore and Annie.
The boy hood and youth of J. C. Renninger were spent happily in Cumberland, where he was a student in the excellent public schools. He graduated from the high school with distinction in the summer of 1893 and soon afterwards took up the study of law in the office of Ferdinand Williams. In 1895 he graduated from the law department of the University of Maryland, and the following year opened an office for practice in this city. He soon made a favorable impression upon the business men and general public here by his active, aggressive spirit, by the genuine interest
which he takes in everything pertaining to the welfare and upbuilding of the town and by his thorough knowledge of the details of his chosen work. He is much interested in the success of the Republican party and is well posted upon matters affecting the government, state and county. He is a student and keeps in touch with modern progress in thought and research by pe- rusing the leading journals and publications of the day. In the Lutheran Church he is a valuable member and is one of the trustees of the council. He is a member of Garrett Lodge No. 113, K. P., and of the Junior Order American Me- chanics, and is serving as councillor of the latter order at Oakland.
6 UNCAN SINCLAIR, general superintend- ent of the New Central Coal Company and one of the representative citizens of Mid- lothian, near Frostburg, was born in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, November 15, 1852, and is a son of Peter and Jane (Clark) Sinclair. He re- ceived his education in the public schools and the Andersonian University of Glasgow. Prior to attaining his majority, he determined to seek his fortune in the new world, and bidding farewell to home and friends he came to the United States, joining an uncle, Malcolm Sinclair, at Cumber- land, Md. His first position was that of book- keeper and acting secretary for a coal company, in which capacity he was employed for two years.
Entering the employ of the New Central Coal Company, Mr. Sinclair acted as bookkeeper until 1882, when he was promoted to the position of general superintendent, and this place he has since held, discharging its many and responsible duties with efficiency and success. The annual output of the mines is two hundred thousand tons. Under the intelligent management of the superintendent, the work moves forward syste- matically and with dispatch.
March 20, 1879, occurred the marriage of Mr.
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Sinclair to Josephine Gerstell, daughter of Dr. to Accident, he engaged in custom work, he Arnold Gerstell, of Keyser, W. Va, She was born in Western Port, Allegany County, and through her mother, whose maiden name was Fannie Cresap, she was a lineal descendant of Col. Michael Cresap. Reared in the Presby- terian faith, she has always adhered to that re- ligion. She is the mother of three sons, Duncan, Arnold and Edward, of whom the two eldest have carried on their studies in the Allegany County Academy.
In all matters pertaining to education Mr. Sinclair is deeply interested and the public school system has in him a stanch friend. For two years he has served as a member of the board of education and at this writing he is president of the board. He is also president of the state board of school commissioners and examiners. In politics he supports the principles for which the Republican party stands. A Mason in fra- ternal relations, he is connected with Potomac Lodge No. 100, A. F. & A. M., of Cumberland; he is also a charter member of Rob Roy Council No. 619, of the Royal Arcanum, at Lonaconing. He possesses the integrity so characteristic of the Scotch people, together with the determination of purpose that overcomes obstacles and brings to its possessor a goodly degree of financial success.
3 OHN L. RICHTER, who follows the tan- ner's trade and farm pursuits at Accident, Garrett County, was born in Germany in 1847. His father, Henry Richter, emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1850, landing in New York, where he remained for two years. He then removed to Cumberland, Md., and from there in 1853 went to Piedmont, W. Va., from the latter place removing in 1856 to Allegany County. His home he established in Accident, then in Allegany County, and here he engaged in the manufacture of shoes. In Piedmont he owned a large shop, giving employ- ment to a number of hands. While, on coming
gave his attention principally to the cultivation of the Drain farm, a portion of the original Acci- dent tract. On the land that he purchased he carried on general farm pursuits until his death. He was among the pioneers of his district and was a man who commanded the respect of all his associates. Financially he was quite successful. In local matters he took an active interest and as road supervisor, to which office he was elected on the Democratic ticket, he was instrumental in securing good roads for the county. His death occurred in 1897, when he was eighty-four years of age.
The mother of our subject was Elizabeth Krouse, a member of a prominent family near Hoff, in Bavaria, Germany. In her family there were five children, namely: Edward; George, deceased; Maggie, wife of Henry Zehner; John L. and John H. The last-named was educated in Addison, Ill., and for six years taught in the schools of Paterson, N. J .; he is now teaching in the Chicago schools. The mother of these chil- dren died in 1894, at the age of eighty-five years. At the time that the family came to the United States our subject was only three years of age. He accompanied them on their subsequent re- movals, being nine years old when they settled in Accident. In this village he learned the tan- ner's trade, and at the expiration of his time he secured employment at Meyersdale, Pa., where he worked for four years. Returning to Mary- land in 1870, he built a tannery on his father's farm and has since carried on that business, in addition to which, since the death of his father, he has had charge of the old homestead. In his tannery he tans about three hundred hides per year, carrying on a steady business that has proved quite profitable.
A Democrat in political affiliations, Mr. Rich- ter has maintained a warm interest in local mat- ters. For four years, under Governor Brown, he officiated as register. He has frequently served as a member of the grand and petit juries. and was on the jury at the time the railroad wrecking case was tried. In religion he is iden- tified with the German Lutheran Church. The
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success that he has won merits especial commend- ation, when it is remembered that his educational advantages were exceedingly meagre. The fanı- ily were poor and he was obliged to become self- supporting at an early age. His attendance at school consisted of a short time in a log cabin, where the method of instruction was as primitive as the building, and a term in the school at Western Port while he was living at Pied- mont. Notwithstanding this lack of early op. portunities, he has obtained a broad knowledge, the result of reading and personal contact with men. By his marriage in 1873 to Catherine, daughter of Frederick Snyder, he had six children, namely: Christina, Frederick, Adam, Norah, Gertrude and Lehola.
AJ. EDWARD Y. GOLDSBOROUGH. Numbered among the most eminent citi- zens of Frederick is the gentleman whose name heads this review. As a member of the local bar, of the Republican party in the west- ern part of Maryland, of the Grand Army of the Republic in this state, and as a scholar and writer of no small merit, he has long occupied a leading position in the ranks of the brilliant and repre- sentative men of Maryland. He comes from one of the oldest and most highly respected families of the state, and bears a name that has been celebrated in her annals from her earliest days.
One Nicholas Goldsborough, a native of Eng- land, born in 1640, came to America in 1669, and settled upon large estates which belonged to him, these being situated in Kent Island, Queen Anne County, Md. There he resided until his death in 1670. In direct line of descent to the major was Robert, a son of Nicholas; Charles, son of Robert; Robert, son of Charles; William and Dr. Edward Yerbury. Robert, the great-grand- father of the major, it is believed, was born on the old family homestead, near Cambridge, Dor- chester County, Md., this place being known as the "Point." He was a member of congress for
several terms, and was a wealthy lawyer and a very prominent man of his community. He married Sarah Yerbury, and several children were born of their union. Elizabeth, the eldest, became the wife of Dr. Sikes; Charles, born in 1760, first married Wilhelmina Smith, then Eliza- beth Greenbury, and for a third wife chose a Mrs. Stevens; William was born in 1763; John, born in 1765, died in 1783; Robert, born in 1766, died in 1791; and the others, Richard, Rachel and Howes, were born respectively in the years 1768, 1770 and 1772.
William, the grandfather of our subject, was born on the Eastern Shore, and he, too, was a member of the legal profession, and came to Frederick County in 1790 and purchased the homestead called Richfields, a large place of about a thousand acres, lying to the north of this city, and one-quarter of this property is now owned by our subject. He was an adherent of the old Whig party. His death occurred in this city May 22, 1826, when he had reached the age of sixty-six years, and his remains were buried in Olivet Cemetery. He had married a Miss Sarah Worthington, a native of this county, and from one of the respected old families, and to them were born four sons and a daughter: Will- iam, who died when young, was born in 1793; Nicholas died at the age of about forty years; Dr. Edward Yerbury was the next in order of birth; Dr. Charles H., born February 14, 1800, mar- ried Amelia Poe in 1826, and is a physician of Walkersville, Md .; Dr. Leander, born in 1804, married Sarah Dunkin in 1830, and is a medical practitioner of Hanover, Pa .; Catherine E. W. became the wife of Thomas Duckett in 1827.
The major's father, Dr. Edward Yerbury Goldsborough, was born on the old homestead, previously mentioned as the "Point," near Cam- bridge, Md. He received his early education in that locality and in Baltimore, and later graduated from the medical department of the University of Maryland. After he had engaged in mer- chandising for a few years in Baltimore he re- turned to Frederick, and from that time until his death was actively occupied in medical practice. He enjoyed a very large patronage when he was in
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his prime, and rode far and wide in the discharge of his duties. He was a man of singularly generous disposition, and, besides making no charges to the poor, had thousands of dollars of money due him on his books, sums that he never inade any effort to collect. He was a noted Whig and was a member of the Masonic order in his younger days. Though a strong believer in the super. iority of his own political party, he would never accept office. He was a personal friend of Henry Clay, and entertained him frequently when he paid Frederick a visit, as he often did, and many other notable men partook of his liberal hos- pitality. He was in requisition all over the county, and was often called to distant parts of the state in consultation. He was stricken with his last illness while on horseback, intent upon making a professional call, and died November 14, 1850, aged about fifty years. He was placed to rest in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Few men of this county were ever held in more tender regard and love than was this worthy citizen, whose life was spent in doing good and in self-sacrificing ministry to the suffering. He was a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
The wife of Dr. Edward Y. Goldsborough bore the maiden name of Margaret Schley. Her father, John Schley, was clerk of the court in Frederick for a great many years, accumulated a large fortune and was a man of influence in this locality. The Schley family was represented among the first settlers of Frederick, and indeed the first house built here was constructed in 1745 by Thomas Schley, who continued to dwell here until his death. He (Thomas Schley) was a man of fine education and musical training, and led the choir here in the Reformed Church for many years. Mrs. Goldsborough's paternal grandfather was Jacob, and her father was John Schley. Her brother was the distinguished law- yer, William Schley, of Baltimore. Dr. Golds- borough and wife had the following children: . Mary Catherine, who has never married, though she was considered the belle and beauty of Fred- erick in her younger days, and has always been a fine musician and has spent her entire life in the house in which she was born, opposite the city
hotel; William, born in 1830, graduated from Princeton College, studied medicine under Dr. Tyler, and died at the age of twenty-two years, while attending lectures in Philadelphia; Eliza Margaret died when but a year old, August 25. IS34; two boys died in infancy; John, born in 1835, married Julia Anna Strider, graduated from Frederick Academy, and, after studying medicine with Dr. Tyler, graduated from the University of Maryland with the degree of Doctor of Medicine; then went into the Federal service as surgeon, remaining until the close of the war, and is now retired from practice; Robert Henry, born in 1842, died in 1882; Edward, born in 1838, died in 1839; and Edward Y., of this sketch, completes the number. John Goldsborough, M. D., and wife, Julia Anna, had three children. of whom John and Edward, twins, were born in September, 1864; and Julia Anna married Richard M. Duvall; John died at the age of about twenty- four.
The birth of Maj. Edward Y. Goldsborough took place in the old family mansion opposite the Frederick City Hotel, December 11, 1839. His father having died when he was only eleven years of age, his mother then assumed the charge of the lad's education, and no one could have been better qualified for the task than she, as she was a lady of superior attainments. He attended the old Frederick Academy, and before he was twenty had begun the study of law in 1859. He was admitted to the bar in October, 1861, and commenced practice here. The following year, however, he enlisted in the Eighth Maryland Infantry, and soon rose from the rank of second lieutenant to that of first lieutenant. By reason of severe sickness contracted in the army in 1863 while with his regiment in the field, he was com- pelled to leave the service, but was a volunteer officer without pay. during Early's raid the same year. During the battle of Monocacy he was a major in command on the staff of Gen. E. B. Tyler.
While with his regiment in the Army of the Potomac in the autumn of 1863, he was nominated by the Union party of Maryland as their candi- date for the office of state's attorney for Frederick
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County, and subsequently, whileconfined to his bed by an attack of typhoid pneumonia, was elected. Returning to the army he found himself too weak to endure the hardships of camp life in winter, and he was compelled to resign his commission and leave the army December 22, 1863. January 4, 1864, he entered upon the duties of the office of state's attorney, with a heavy docket and a bar composed of many of the oldest and most experienced lawyers of the state, a trying ordeal for so young a man (twenty-three years of age) and fresh from army life; yet the records show that he performed the duties of the office faithfully and with credit for the full term. He held the office until January 4, 1868.
In 1869 he was appointed United States mar- shal by General Grant, and was reappointed in 1873 by him, later serving in the same capacity under Hayes' administration, by appointment of Chief Justice Waite, of the United States supreme court. Subsequently he returned to Frederick and resumed his law practice. In 1893 he was made United States commissioner, and is yet serving in that office. The president also once appointed him as superintendent of United States census, but he declined to serve, as his other business affairs would not permit. He has always taken great interest in whatever concerns his fellow-citizens in Frederick and the county as well, and has been an able exponent of the prin- ciples of the Republican party. He was the organizer of the Grand Army of the Republic in Maryland and is the oldest surviving commander in the state.
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