USA > Maryland > Portrait and biographical record of the Sixth congressional district, Maryland V. 2 > Part 18
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Of his many investments Mr. Smith has the most reason to be proud of the success which the Frederick & Middletown Street Railway Company has attained. It is now recognized as one of the greatest boons to the farmers of the fertile Middletown Valley and outlying districts on the west side of Braddock Heights and the equally lovely Monocacy Valley on the east side of the range of interlying Blue Ridge Mountains. The idea was, or seemed to be, to most of the people of this region, impracticable, as the great expense of building and equipping the road over the mountains was an immense undertaking, and
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the results, from a financial point of view, very uncertain. But Mr. Smith was confident of the feasibility of the plan from the start, and in 1896, while the state legislature was in session, he ob- tained a charter for the railroad, was one of the incorporators of the company and has since that time been its president. The line, being both a freight and passenger road, is about ten miles long, tapping the rich farm-lands of the valleys above mentioned, and crossing the Heights at an elevation of over one thousand feet. From the summit a most charming view is to be obtained of hills, valleys, mountain, towns, rivers and plains. From some points can be had glimpses into four states and South Mountain, where one of the great battles of the Civil war was fought and Antietam, also celebrated for the same reason. This railroad is the only one of the kind in the state that handles freight; the twenty cars belong- ing to the company are loaded to their utmost ca- pacity every day. A new power-house has been built at Middletown, and the line is to be extended about five miles to Myersville. Employment is furnished to many hands and in every way the road has resulted to the benefit of this section. Mr. Smith is treasurer of the Frederick City Suburban Road, which was commenced and within twelve days was in running operation. He has been an ardent politician, but has been too busy with his financial undertaking to accept office, even had he wished to enter public life. He has discharged his duties as a citizen and voter, his preference being for the Democratic party.
In 1853 Mr. Smith married Virginia Howard, daughter of Edward Howard, a well-to-do farmer of this county. George E., eldest son of this estimable couple, married a Miss Simpson, of this county. William L. is a clerk in Frederick City. Charles Arthur, who was engaged in farm- ing in this locality, died in May, 1898; Luther Howard is also a farmer; Ida E. is the wife of Dr. Hunichen, of Baltimore; Mary is the wife of Lewis Markell, of Frederick; Virginia married Wood P. Johnson, of Norfolk, Va .; Eliza and Estelle are at home. With the exception of three of the sons, who received additional advantages in the business college in Baltimore, the children
were educated mostly in Mr. Smith's own private school. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The family removed from the old homestead to their pleasant home on West Patrick street about six years ago.
LLEN J. MASON, M. D. About nine years ago the well-known physician whose name - begins this article located permanently in the thriving town of Friendsville, Garrett Coun- ty, and ere many years had passed had succeeded in building up a large and remunerative practice among the families of this community. He now stands very high in the esteem of all who enjoy his acquaintance, and ranks well with his professional brethren as a practitioner. He served as health officer in Frostburg, Md., be- fore coming here and for the past eight years has been a pension examiner and secretary of the board having such matters in charge.
The grandfather of the doctor, Joseph Mason, was a local preacher in the Methodist Episco- pal Church; had several charges in his native county, Chester, Pa., and for years was a suc- cessful teacher in private schools in Allegany County, Md. He was of English descent, his ancestors having come to this country at an early day, to found homes, and from that time on were identified with Chester County, Pa. For thirty years Joseph Mason was a resident of Frostburg, Md., and was noted for the part which he took in the establishment of mission churches in that region. His son, R. Wharton Mason, father of the doctor, was born near the city of Philadelphia, Pa. For a long time he was paymaster for the Borden Mining Company, with his home in Frostburg. In the Republican party he was a zealous worker, and the only pub- lic position which he ever held was that of judge of elections. He was prominent in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and active in all charitable enterprises. His useful career was brought to a close in 1895, when he was seventy-two years of
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age. His widow, whose maiden name was Sarah M. Gahagen, did not long survive him, as she passed to her reward December 14, 1896, when in her seventy-second year. She was a native of Somerset County, Pa., and of her six children the doctor is next to the youngest. The others are Elizabeth G., wife of Thomas Hill; Robert P .: Ida I .; Howard and Agnes.
Dr. A. J. Mason was born in Frostburg, Alle- gany County, in 1858, and in his youth was given excellent educational advantages. He at- tended the public schools of his home place and Williamsport, and subsequently entered Dicken- son Seminary. Later he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine from Jefferson Medical Col- lege in 1884, and at once took up his initial work as a physician in his native town. At the ex- piration of five years he removed to his present home and, as previously stated, is doing well, in "" cry sense of the word. He uses his ballot in favor of the Republican party nominees and principles, and fraternally is a member of Youghiogheny Lodge No. 134, K. P., and has passed all the chairs. June 30, 1886, he married Miss Theresa B. Connor, whose father, Rev. George J. Connor, is a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, belonging to the Baltimore Conference. Mrs. Mason is a member of the same denomination, and is identified with the local church. The doctor and wife have two bright little girls, Katie S. and Gladys L.
2 EV. PRESTON A. CAVE, pastor of the First Christian Church of Hagerstown, is a young man, full of zeal in the cause of Christ and possesses genuine ability and love for the noble work which he has undertaken. Un- der his earnest efforts the church has materially increased in numbers and influence in this com- munity in comparatively a short period and is giving yet greater promise for the future.
The father of the young pastor, Rev. Lindsay Wallace Cave, is a native of Orange County, Va.,
and has been a very successful minister of the Gospel. He has carried on this work in connect- ion with agriculture and has charge of three churches in the neighborhood of his home in Vir- ginia. During the late war he served on the staff of "Stonewall" Jackson, and his army life altogether covered some three years. At the battle of Petersburg he was shot in the right temple. The ball was extracted from the left side of the neck three years after the war. He lost one of his eyes by this wound. His brother, R. C. Cave, now a minister in St. Louis, Mo., was likewise shot in the neck and another brother, R. Lin Cave, now the president of the Kentucky University, and a minister of much celebrity, was wounded seven times. For several years he was located in Missouri, as president of tlie Christian College, and then for sixteen years he was a resident of Nashville, Tenn., and pastor of the Vine Street Christian Church. In 1894, upon the occasion of the unveiling of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument in Richmond, Va., R. C. Cave was the orator of the day. Their only sis- ter, Mary, married E. T. Powell, of Norfolk, Va. The wife of Rev. Lindsay W. Cave was Miss Ella S. Andrews, who was born in Orange County, Va. They were the parents of twelve children, all but one of whom are still living.
Rev. Preston A. Cave, born in Louisa County, Va., August 28, 1866, is next to the eldest in his father's large family. He received an ex- cellent education and graduated from Bethany College, W. Va., in 1893. He spent his boy- hood on the old homestead and was a pupil in the local schools. Two years were profitably passed in an academy at Louisa Courthouse, prior to his entering Bethany College. For a year and a-half he was occupied in evangelistic work under the auspices of the Tide Water Evan- gelizing Board of Missions, and in this manner gained the experience of years of a more settled and quiet life. While carrying on his college work he served as pastor of an Ohio church from June, 1892, to June, 1893. He then received a call to his present charge and at once entered upon his duties. The enrolled members of the church are four hundred and four, and the flour-
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ishing Sunday-school comprises about two hun- dred and eighty, while the Endeavor Society has eighty-two active and five associate members. During the pastorate of our subject there have been two hundred and twenty-two additions to the church, the majority of them upon confession of faith. The church has been remodeled and enlarged at a cost of $5,000 and was rededicated January 17, 1897. The present seating capacity is over six hundred persons, and every modern comfort is provided.
In all of his work Mr. Cave finds an able and devoted assistant in his wife, who was formerly Miss Alice A. Harris, of Louisa County, Va. They were married November 15, 1893. Mrs. Cave is an active worker in the various depart- ments of the church and belongs to the Auxiliary Society of the Christian Woman's Board of Mis- sions.
OHN J. STAPLETON, attorney-at-law, of Cumberland, was born at Vale Summit, Allegany County, Md., August 29, 1859, and is a son of John and Margaret (May ) Staple- ton. His father, who was born in the county of Roscommon, Ireland, settled in Cumberland in 1858 and remained there until 1884, removing thence to Bedford County, Pa., where he now resides. While a resident of Cumberland he was engaged in mining, and since going to Penn- sylvania he has resided on a farm, retired from active business cares. Politically he has always affiliated with the Democrats. He and his wife had eight children, named as follows: James, Thomas, John (deceased), Patrick, Jolin J., Mary A., Margaret (deceased) and William.
In the public schools of Vale Summit our sub- ject laid the foundation of his education. He graduated from Bryant & Stratton's business college in Jersey City, N. J., in 1882, after which he assisted in the cultivation of his father's farm for one year. Later he was employed as teacher in the public schools of Allegany, then as prin- cipal of the Vale Summit and Eckhart Mines
schools. Meantime his leisure hours were given to the study of law. In 1893 he entered Valpar- aiso University, from which he graduated in June, 1895. During the same year he opened an office in Cumberland and embarked in the prac- tice of law, having been admitted to the bar of Allegany County July 27, 1895. Since that time be has built up a large and profitable practice. Politically he is a Democrat and is interested in matters of public moment.
In addition to bis practice of the law, he has held the position of principal of the Maryland Avenue public school. His interest in educa- tional work leads him to keep abreast with every advance made in the science of pedagogy, and, while the law will doubtless in the future claim almost his entire attention, yet it is doubtful if his fondness for educational work will ever di- minish. Fraternally he is connected with the Cumberland Lodge, Knights of Honor. When he graduated from the school at Valparaiso he was admitted to the circuit court of Porter County and the supreme court of the state of Indiana, also the federal court of the United States for the state of Indiana, and was given a certificate, which he still holds, certifying to his admission to said courts. He is a man of active, energetic disposition, and will without doubt attain a posi- tion of prominence among the lawyers of western Maryland.
LI McMILLEN embarked in business at Accident, Garrett County, in 1852, opening a harness shop for the manufacture and re- pair of harness of all kinds. Since that time he has been among the leading business men of the village. In addition to the management of his business, he owns and operates a farm of one hundred acres, on which he raises various kinds of cereals and also some stock. Politically he has been one of the local leaders of the Republi- can party. He served two years as county com- missioner. For ten years, before Garrett was cut off from Allegany County, he served as jus-
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toce of the peace, also was register of voters for a rt'aber of years. Under the administration of Governor Lowndes he received the appointment «. magistrate, which position he still holds.
Born in Somerset County, Pa., November 27, *; , the subject of this sketch is a son of John K. McMillen, who was a native of Somerset County and spent his entire life there, carrying on business as a tanner and farmer. He was one f the most influential men of his county and owned large landed estates there. Until the dis- integration of the Whig party he affiliated with it, and afterward adopted Republican principles, continuing in the latter party until his death. For four years he held the office of postmaster at U'pper Turkey Foot, Pa. His death occurred when he was seventy-four years of age.
The grandfather of our subject was John Mc- Millen, a native of Somerset County, where he "is a large land owner and extensive agricult- urist. In religious connections he was promi- : ently identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He attained an advanced age, dying shen ninety-one years old. Of the family his- tory prior to his time little is known, except that the members were pioneers of Somerset County and mostly farmers by occupation.
By the marriage of John K. McMillen to Mary, daughter of Jacob Rush, six children were born. Two of these are deceased, the four sur- vivors being Jacob R., Jehu, Reuben and Eli. The mother of this family died when thirty-nine years of age, and afterward the father was again married, having by his second wife, Sarah Critch- field, two sons, William H. and Silas. His third wife was Clarissa Williams, no children being born of that marriage.
At the age of twenty-five, in 1852, the subject of this sketch removed from Somerset County, Pa., to Garrett County, Md. He had previously learned the trade of a harness-maker under his brother, Reuben, and on settling in Accident he turned his attention to that occupation, in which he has since engaged. He has met with a fair degree of success and is in prosperous circum- stances. Though working hard in business, he finds time for political, religious and temperance
work, and aids all enterprises having for their oß- ject the promotion of the welfare of the people. He is identified with the Order of Good Templars and maintains a deep interest in the cause of temperance. For many years he has officiated as deacon and elder in the Lutheran Church at Ac- cident, of which he is among the oldest members and most earnest supporters. By his marriage to Catherine A., daughter of John P. H. Walker, of Somerset County, Pa., eight children were born, namely: Mary Ellen, wife of Mahlon Glot- felty; Ann Amelia, widow of Dr. E. H. Glot- felty; John N .; Emma C., wife of Dr. A. F. Spiker; Rosa B., deceased; Susan E., wife of Frank Liston; William T. and Edwin H. ( twins).
EORGE L. BOSLEY is one of the represent- ative business men and progressive citizens of Oakland, Garrett County. For over thirty-three years he has been the owner and manager of the Bosley House, which is finely situated upon the heights overlooking the Little Yaw River. The hotel is exclusively used as a summer resort, and among its regular patrons are numbered many of the leading citizens and families of this county, as well as people from more distant cities and states. The proprietor thoroughly understands his business and always enjoys doing everything in his power to add to the pleasure of his guests. He invariably makes warm friends of them, and they look back with happy memories to the days that passed so quickly during their stay under his hospitable roof.
The birth of George L. Bosley occurred in Alle- gany (now Garrett) County, October 27, IS35, he being a son of Thomas and Catherine Char- lotte (Rinehart) Bosley. The Bosleys are of English-Irish ancestry, the founders of the family in the United States having settled in Baltimore County, Md., in its pioneer days. Our subject's father was born in Baltimore County in 1810, and was left an orphan in his infancy. When he
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was about nine years old he was brought to this county, and here spent the remainder of his life. He was actively engaged in farming, his home being within a few miles of Oakland until about 1860, when he came to live in the town. He was retired from active life from that time until his death, at the ripe age of eighty-five years, in 1895. His wife, who was a daughter of George Rinehart, of Hagerstown, Md., died in 1879, when in her seventy-third year. She was the mother of two children, the daughter, Louisa, being the wife of Daniel M. Staup, of Illinois.
G. L. Bosley led the usual life of a farmer's boy, attending the district schools of his neigh- borhood, and aiding his father in the general work of the homestead until he attained his ma- jority. In 1859 he went to Iowa City, Iowa, where he remained about two years, returning home just before the outbreak of the war. He was an ardent young patriot, and his love for his fair country was manifested when he enlisted in the Union army as a private in Company O, Sixth West Virginia Volunteers, on the first call for defenders of the Stars and Stripes. Upon the expiration of his term of enlistment he returned home for a short time and then re-enlisted as a member of the same company for three years, receiving an honorable discharge June 10, 1865. Much of his service was scouting duty, but he also participated in several very important bat- tles, besides numerous skirmishes. He took part in the engagement at Winchester and that of Port Republic, and was taken prisioner by the Con- federates when in Oakland in 1862, though he was soon released. He was always faithful to his duties and was never absent from his post on account of illness during his long service.
In June, 1865, soon after his return from the army, Mr. Bosley conceived the idea of opening a summer hotel in the vicinity of Oakland. Hav- ing looked around for a suitable location he se- lected the one he has since occupied and, in a small way, he commenced his now venture. From time to time he has been obliged to build additions to his hotel, until he can now accommo- date about fifty persons. His hotel contains about forty rooms, which are large, light and
airy, and entirely suitable for the summer season. Among his guests there may be found each year people from all parts of the country, and many who have spent one summer here look forward to a future visit with liveliest expectation.
Mr. Bosley has always taken an active part in local affairs and has occupied various offices of importance in this community. He has been an earnest Republican since the war, and has served as a member of the town council of Oakland for three terms of two years each, and at present is one of the board of trustees. For several years he has been the steward in the Methodist Episco- pal Church, with which congregation his wife and two daughters are also identified as active workers and members. In 1870 Mr. Bosley and Miss Hattie Ridenour were united in marriage. She is a daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Wheeler) Ridenour, of Aurora, Preston County, W. Va. Eight sons and daughters bless the union of our subject and wife, and death has not yet invaded the family circle, which comprises the following: Charles D., L. Maude, John O. (now in hospital service of the United States army), Daisy Estella, Ferris, Lee, Nellie and Scott. By his first mar- riage, which was to Kisih Hinebaugh, Mr. Bos- ley had one son, Thomas, who is now a resident of Memphis, Tenn.
ACOB W. BOYER, who is probably the old- est surviving resident of Accident, Garrett County, has resided at the family homestead in this place for fifty-eight years. He was born in Somerset County, Pa., June 19, 1826, and is the descendant of German ancestors who were among the earliest settlers of Somerset County. His grandfather, George Boyer, was a shoe- maker by trade, in connection with which he also followed farm pursuits; he remained a resident of Somerset County throughout his entire life. In politics he was in warm sympathy with Whig principles.
The father of our subject, Michael Boyer, was
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horn in Somerset County, and removed from there to Maryland, settling April 1, 1840, in the forest where Accident now stands. Purchasing a tract of land, he began to clear a farm, bring- ing the land to a high state of cultivation and in- creasing its value by improvements. He owned the property now occupied by his son. In ad- dition to agricultural pursuits he followed the tanner's trade. His death occurred when he was seventy-three years of age. He married Mary, daughter of Jacob Ringler, who was a fifer in the War of 1812. She died at the age of eighty-seven years, and is survived by four of her six children, Jacob W., Solomon, Aaron and Caroline.
At the time of removing to Maryland, the subject of this sketch was a lad of fourteen. He grew to manhood in the forest, assisting in hew- ing timber, "grubbing" and improving the land. Ile had few educational advantages, attending for a short time only a school taught in a log cabin, containing few conveniences or facilities for instruction. At the age of eighteen he se- cured employment in the general store of John R. Brook, in Accident, but after a short time left that place and went into the store of Richard Farall. In 1860 he opened a general store in an old house that is still standing, and here he carried on a profitable business for thirty years, having his son as partner after 1883. The firm of S. E. Boyer & Co., of which Samuel E. Boyer was the active member, opened a store at Oakland, carrying on the two establishments for some time. For sixteen years Mr. Boyer was postmaster at Accident, holding the office under the administrations of Presidents Lincoln, John- son and Grant. In politics he is a stanch Repub- lican. During the war he was enrolling officer for the eleventh district and one of the first registers under the new constitution of Mary- land.
In 1847 Mr. Boyer was united in marriage with Sarah A., daughter of Benjamin Keller. This estimable lady died in 1883, leaving two children: Samuel E., a successful merchant; and Sarah Ann, wife of John Shartzer. November 20, 1895, Mr. Boyer was again married, taking
as his wife Willie Riley, daughter of John Riley, of Oakland. In religious belief he has been con- nected with the Lutheran Church for many years. In addition to his property at Accident he is the owner of a number of farms in the county and has an income sufficient to provide for all of his wants.
13 ANIEL A. CARL, of Hancock, and a well- known citizen of Washington County, was born near Gettysburg, Adams County, Pa., and is a son of George and Catherine (Trone) Carl. His father, a native of Adams County, spent his entire life there and engaged in general farming, being considered one of the most suc- cessful agriculturists of his neighborhood. He died in 1849, when he was fifty-two years of age, and his wife was sixty-nine at the time of her death. Of their twelve children eight are living, namely: John; Elizabeth, widow of John May; Susan, widow of Gideon Price, who died in Andersonville prison; Catherine; Mrs. Jeremiah Gouldon; George, Martin L., Daniel A. and Henry T.
At an early age our subject left home and went to Hanover, Pa., where he learned the trade of harness-maker and saddler, completing his trade in 1357 with John Culp, of Gettysburg. For a short time he followed his chosen occupation in Hanover, after which he went to Warfordsburg, Pa., and engaged in business for two years. July 15, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Third Maryland Infantry, under Captain Kennedy, and served for sixteen months with the volunteers. When the call was made by Secretary-of-War Stanton to recruit the regular army to its full standard, in October, 1862, he enlisted in the Sixth United States. Cavalry, as a private, and served for twenty months. He participated in the battles of Cedar Mountain (Va. ), Antietam (Md.) and Gettysburg (Pa.), being slightly wounded at Antietam. He was a member of the famous raiding party of ten men under Captain Dahlgren, that formed at Middleburg, Pa., July
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