USA > Maryland > Portrait and biographical record of the Sixth congressional district, Maryland V. 2 > Part 25
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The education of George R. Rice was chiefly obtained in the academy of Leesburg, Va., and the academy of Darnestown, of which he was subsequently secretary of the board of trustees for a number of years. When the Civil war broke out he returned home from Pennsylvania, where he had been occupied in teaching, and joined Company A, First Maryland Cavalry, Confederate service. He continued fighting for the southern cause from the date of his enlist- ment in August, 1862, until the close of the war, taking part in many important campaigns and battles. Shortly after the destruction of Cham- bersburg he was captured and for seven months was kept a prisoner in Ohio, then being ex- changed. During the battle of Gettysburg he was detailed as a courier for General Ewell. Since the war Mr. Rice has been engaged in gen- eral farming and has been very successful. He is benevolent and public-spirited, and loves to do whatever he can to promote the general welfare. In his political convictions he is a believer in the
principles of the Democracy. For four terms he has been supervisor of elections, but otherwise has held no official positions. A member of the Masonic order, he belongs to Montgomery Lodge No. 195, A. F. & A. M. For more than a quarter of a century he has been an elder in the Presbyterian Church.
The marriage of Mr. Rice to Elberta M., daughter of the late F. A. Tschiffely, of this dis- trict, was solemnized January 2, 1866. Of the eleven children born to this worthy couple, three died in infancy. Those who survive are as fol- lows: Jennie Longstreet; Lizzie; Frederick M., who married Jennie Vinson and is engaged in farming in this county; Lacey B., Elberta T., Newton Campbell, George R. and Louise C.
M ISS MARGARET J. BEALL is the only living representative of the old Beall family, who were prominently identified with the early history and development of Rockville and vicinity. Her paternal grandfather, Brook Beall, was the first county clerk of this county, offici- ating in that position for a number of years most creditabiy. He was a man of wealth and high standing in this section of the state, and was the owner of a fine plantation comprising about fifteen hundred acres, it being still styled, as in his time, Beallmont. Brook Beall was a native of Mary- land, three miles above Great Falls, now owned by Samuel Wade McGruder. He spent the greater part of his life in this county and was thoroughly interested and concerned in its growth and improvement.
For his companion and helpmate in life's journey Brook Beall chose Miss Margaret Johns, and to their marriage the following children were born: Upton, father of our subject; Aquilla, who married Miss Grace Holliday, of Prince George County, Md .; Harriet, wife of Edward Williams, of Georgetown; Christina, who married Benjamin McCall, of Georgetown; Catherine, wife of Leon- ard McCall; Helen, who married William Stewart;
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and Lewis, whose wife, Eliza Wooden, was from Montgomery County. The only son of the last- named couple was Samuel, an attorney, who married Elizabeth Fenimore Cooper, a niece of James Fenimore Cooper, the well-known author.
Upton Beall was born upon the old homestead, Beallmont, which is beautifully situated on the bank of the Potomac River. The place is now owned by the subject of this article, and though she has disposed of four farms since it came into her possession the place still contains twenty-five hundred acres. Upton Beall was reared to man- hood on the old farm, learning everything per- taining to the proper management of such a large and valuable place. He was a polished gentle- man, of the old school of southerners, hospitable and courteous, and benevolent toward those less fortunately situated than himself. He enjoyed the love and respect of a large circle of friends and acquaintances, and his spacious old home was the scene of many a merry gathering of neighbors and relatives. In early manhood he entered the legal profession, and practiced law with much success for many years. In order to be near the courts he took up his residence in Rockville, his first home here being the old Miles Inn, now owned by Mrs. Mary Russell. In 1812 he commenced the erection of the fine old mansion in which his daughter, Miss Margaret J., was born, and which is still her home. The war with England then coming on, his plans were interrupted and some of the lumber needed in the construction of the house was burned by the enemy. Finally, however, the building was completed, in 1815, and is still in a good state of preservation, and is an interesting landmark in the town.
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Mr. Beall was very active in the interests of the Whig party and was always noted for his patriot- ism and public spirit. His home was the head- quarters of the American forces during the War of 1812, at times when they were in this neighbor- hood, and in many ways, material and otherwise, he gave substantial encouragement to the conti- mental troops. He was an intimate and valued friend of John Quincy Adams, and many other noted men of that period. He succeeded his honored father in the office of county clerk of
Montgomery County, and retained that position for years. He was an earnest member of the Episcopal Church, was a vestryman in the local congregation and was one of the founders of the old church which has since been supplanted by the present edifice. His death occurred January 27, 1827, when he lacked but thirteen days of being fifty-seven years of age.
The first marriage of Upton Beall occurred December 29, 1796, Miss Matilda B. Price of Cum- berland being the lady of his choice. Their only child died when young. The second mar- riage took place December 6, 1810, when Miss Jane Neil Robb, a daughter of Adam Robb, be- came Mrs. Beall. Her father was a native of Ayr, Scotland, and her mother, whose girlhood name was Jane Neil, was also of Scottish birth. Of the seven children born to Upton and Jane Beall but three lived to maturity, namely: Matilda B. L., Jane E. and Margaret J. The latter was born May 30, 1817, and has always lived in this town and vicinity. With her lives Mrs. Dawson, widow of John Dawson, and daughter of Priscilla ( Beall) Somerville, who was a child of Aquilla Beall, previously mentioned. The father of Mrs. Daw- son, James Somerville, was a wealthy land owner of Prince George County, Md. She has a brother, James A., and her two sisters were Amelia Holli- day and Margaret, the latter of whom died at the age of twenty-one years.
RANK HIGGINS, a well-known attorney- at-law of Rockville, has been very aggress- ive in the cause of temperance, law and order, and is a very public-spirited citizen. In 1896 he took an active part in the organization of the county anti-saloon league and is at present a member of the committee having it in charge. He was the first county chairman of the Pro- hibition party, and has done all within his power to suppress the great evil of open saloons and unrestricted sale of liquor. In his profession he ranks deservedly high, and since 1892 he has
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been examiner in chancery. Prior to the year monitor Amphritite, which is with the blockading mentioned he held the office of notary public for squadron at Cuba, and under command of Ad- miral Sampson. His wife was formerly Alice P. Johnson, daughter of Capt. M. L. Johnson. four years, being the first one appointed to this position in his town or county.
The parents of our subject are John H. and Sophia D. (Barnard) Higgins. The mother, who is still living, and is now in her seventy- fourth year, is a daughter of Robert Barnard, who was a native of Boston, England, but in early life settled at Normanstone, D. C., and be- came prominently connected with the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Company, being secretary of the same for many years. J. H. Higgins was born on the old Higgins homestead, near Rockville, this noted place originally containing upwards of one thousand acres. A portion of this tract is now comprised in beautiful Springlake Park. On the farm is the old family cemetery, in which are buried many of our subject's relatives, including his father and his grandfather. For thirty years J. H. Higgins conducted a mercantile establish- ment in Rockville, and no one was more thor- oughly esteemed and respected among the citi- zens of that period. He occupied numerous public offices and was mayor of the city for some time. He departed this life in 1870. His father, James B. Higgins, owned large estates and many slaves. His father, in turn (James also), was the first one of the family to settle in this county, he having come here from his native land, Holland. The grandfather of our subject married Mary E. Wilcoxen, June 10, 1801, and after her death married her sister Ruth.
The union of John H. and Sophia Higgins was blessed with eight children. Dora L. married Dr. Charles G. Stone; John J. Higgins married Laura C. Muncaster, daughter of Otho Z. Mun- caster, a well-known citizen of Georgetown, D.C .; John J. was for eight years county examiner and secretary and treasurer of the school board of this county. The others are Mary E., who is taking care of her mother; Amelia P .; Margaret C., wife of William W. Welsh, a leading merchant of Rockville; Sophia C., Frank and Robert B. The latter is a graduate of the Annapolis Naval Academy, and is chief engineer in the United States navy and is now on the double-turretted
Frank Higgins was born May 22, 1861, and was brought up in the neighborhood of Rock- ville. His educational advantages were excellent, as, after completing the grammar and high school curriculum here, he entered the National Uni- versity of Washington, D. C., and was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, in 1891. He had previously pursued legal studies under the guidance of H. M. Talbott and was well grounded in the fundamental principles of law at the time he became a student in the university. Returning home in June, 1891, he opened an office, and from that time until the present has devoted his whole attention to his professional work, meeting with success.
October 21, 1885, Mr. Higgins married Roberta Baker, daughter of Reuben Baker, of this place. She is a descendant of Samuel Ogle, ex-governor of Maryland. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Higgins six children have been born, namely: Roberta P., Laura Mildred, Frank H., Margaret Taylor, and Lawrence Augustus and Cornelia Florence, twins.
UGUSTUS C. FLACK, a successful farmer of Berry District, Montgomery County, was born on the family homestead near Garrett - Park, this county, July 29, 1839. His father, Francis Flack, a native of Wurtemberg, Ger- many, emigrated to the United States when a young man, and followed the trade of a stone- mason, together with farm pursuits, during his entire active life. His farm near Garrett Park is now owned by his son, Joseph. In politics he affiliated with the Democrats and in religion was identified with the Catholic Church. His death occurred when he was fifty-five years of age.
By the marriage of Francis Flack to Elizabeth Sherren, who was born in Darmstadt, Germany, but came to America in girlhood, there were
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born four sons and six daughters: John Philip, who was a stonemason by trade, accidentally fell from a bridge and was killed; Joseph owns the old home place, which he farms; William was proprietor of a hotel in Rockville until his death; Catherine married Anthony Kleindienst, of Wash- ington, D. C .; Lizzie is the wife of John G. Killen, of Washington; Caroline, deceased, was the wife of John Sheppach; Sarah married Rob- ert Franck, of Washington; Mary, Mrs. Jacob Bool, also resides in Washington; and Philomena married Thomas Hannon, of Kansas City, Kan.
The education of our subject was acquired in the district schools. At the age of eighteen he began to learn the blacksmith's trade, and after serving his apprenticeship in Washington, he opened a shop in Bethesda, where he remained for three years. He then moved just above his present home on the Brookeville and Washington pike, where he conducted business for seven years and also had a general store. In 1874 he purchased his present farm, then all in timber. He cleared the land and made all the improve- ments now to be seen, placing almost all the land under cultivation, building good fences, a neat residence and substantial barn. The land runs along the pike a distance of one and one-quarter miles. The location is ideal, being twelve miles from Washington and only four miles from the electric cars running into the city. It is an ideal home, and best of all, the owner does not owe a dollar on it.
In 1864 Mr. Flack married Annie, daughter of George Wolfe, who was born in Frederick County, Md., and followed the carpenter's trade. Two sons and one daughter blessed their union: Bruce, who is a real-estate dealer in California; Lawrence, who is conducting a hotel in Rock- ville; and Valerie, who has traveled extensively and is an accomplished young lady. In politics Mr. Flack is a Democrat, but does not tie himself to his party, voting in local elections for the man best qualified to hold office. Though urged to. accept local positions, he believes it best to de- vote himself wholly to his farm work. He and his family attend the Episcopal Church. Though in the main successful, he has met with his share
of reverses. In 1894 his barn burned to the ground, with all the horses and grain he had, causing a loss of about $7,000. The excitement incident to the fire affected his wife to such a de- gree that she was taken sick and after a year's illness died. Mr. Flack is a genial, pleasant man and holds a high position among his fellow- citizens, who respect him for his worth of char- acter and uprightness of life.
HOMAS O. WHITE, who is engaged in raising stock and general farm products in Barnesville District. Montgomery County, was born in this district August 20, 1862, a son of Richard G. and Huldah A. (Pyles) White. His father, who was a native of this county, engaged in farming and took an active part in public affairs, serving as county commissioner for some years and until his death, in January, 1879, at the age of fifty-two. His only child, our subject, was reared on the home farm and received his education in the common schools and Emerson Institute of Washington. When only seventeen years of age he was left fatherless, at which time he assumed charge of the home place of five hundred and fifty acres. Since then he has purchased another tract of similar acreage.
In politics a Democrat, Mr. White was his party's nominee for the legislature in the fall of 1897, but was defeated with the remainder of the ticket, which he led in a number of votes. He was reared in the Baptist faith, but is not actively identified with any church. December 5, 1883, he married Anna E. Pyles, daughter of Richard T. and Laura V. (Hawkins) Pyles, of Montgom- ery County. They have two daughters, Mary and Laura H.
Our subject's father was a contractor when the branch of the Metropolitan Railroad was built and constructed a considerable portion of the road in his locality. He also took contracts for store buildings and bridges. His father, J. C. White, was born in this county and resided upon a farm
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JOHN DERR.
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now owned by J. Collison White, near Buck Lodge. By his marriage to Mary C. Gott, he had the following-named children: Richard G., father of our subject; Susan, Mrs. Alexander Dade; Thomas H., of Hagerstown; John C., who lives on the homestead; and Sallie, who married Dr. Olin Ruhey, an oculist and aurist of Wash- ington. Of this family all are dead excepting John and Thomas.
UGENE L. DERR. No one is more highly honored among the citizens of Frederick County than is this gentleman, who has been thoroughly progressive and public spirited, doing all in his power at all times to promote the prosperity of his fellows. For a number of years he has been the president and a member of the board of managers of the County Agricultural Society, and was very prominent in the reorganiza- tion of the Agricultural Society after the war had closed. A disastrous flood in the Monocacy River swept away eight large bridges in 1889, at the time that he was serving in the responsible ca- pacity of county commissioner, and while he was yet in office new ones were erected. He is a stockholder and director in two turnpikes. The substantial stone mansion in which he was born and is still living was built by his great-grand- father during the war of the Revolution and is well preserved. It was constructed of stone found on this land and appears as though it would stand for centuries. Near by is another stone house of smaller dimensions, which was put up previous to this, being the first house put up on the place. It also is as good as ever.
The father of our subject, John Derr, was born on this farm in 1798 and few men of his genera- tion took more lively interest in the upbuilding and success of Frederick City and County than he did and no one was held in higher honor by his neighbors and contemporaries. He was very successful in his business career, and died a rich man. He was one of the first citizens
who were interested and directly concerned in the building of the fine Frederick and Woods- boro pike, and for years he was a director in the company which had the matter in charge. Then for a long period he was a director in the Farmers' and Mechanics' National Bank of Fred- erick. He was an officer in a cavalry company at the time that General LaFayette made his trip to Frederick, and was one of the guard of honor. He was very influential in the Reformed Church, being an elder. At the time of his death, in 1866, his property included several valuable farms, among them the one owned by our subject. Dur- ing the war he was a strong sympathizer with the south.
Our subject's grandfather, John Derr, Sr., was born on the old farm. He was one of the found- ers of the Frederick and Woodsboro pike and was an official member of the company for years. He was also identified with the Reformed Church. He married Catherine Steiner, whose father, Captain Steiner, was an extensive land owner in this county, where his ancestors were among the first pioneers. He won his title in the wars with the Indians, and in the Revolution he was a mem- ber of the Home Guards. His father, Jacob, built the first brick house on the site of Frederick, and the history of the family is traced back to the thirteenth century. Being of the Reformed faith, they were induced to seek a refuge from religious persecution in the New World. The three daughters of John and Catherine Derr were Catherine, Mrs. Jacob Reese, of Frederick; Eliz- abeth, wife of Jonathan Getzendanner; and Mary, who married Daniel, a brother of Jonathan Get- zendanner. John Derr, Sr., was a son of Sebas- tian Derr, who was descended from an old Bava- rian family. He was the original owner of the homestead which has been handed down to our subject, having settled upon it in 1755. The farm, called Dear Bought, was a part of the Dulaney tract.
The maternal ancestors of Eugene Derr were from Holland and France. His mother, Eliza- beth, was a daughter of Peter Lugenbeel, who was a farmer in the vicinity of Unionville, this county. His wife was Elizabeth Worman, a de-
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scendant of the old Keyser and Penapacker families, Philadelphia, Pa., and at her ancestral home at Pennybacker's Mills Washington had his headquarters before the battle of Germantown. The Lugenbeels first settled in New York. The grandfather of Mrs. John Derr came to Maryland about 1750, and settled on the home- stead where she was born. One of her ances- tors was Leonard Keyser, of Bavaria, who was a friend and co-worker of Martin Luther. For his Protestant faith he suffered martyrdom in 1527, and afterward Luther published a history of his life and death. Our subject had the follow- ing sisters: Margaret, who was the wife of Ed- ward A. Shriner; Mary and Alice V., who reside with their brother. A brother, John Peter, who was a cotton merchant in Baltimore, engaged in trade with the south, died at the age of thirty- four years. Thomas, also a merchant, was located in New York City and on a trip to San Domingo he died of the yellow fever, aged but twenty- three years. William lives in Baltimore. Charles, who died in early manhood, was a lawyer of promise and ability. Dr. Ezra Z., who graduated from the University of Virginia, has been a sur- geon in the United States navy since 1870. He was in the terrible Samoan disaster, when five brave ships went down in the gale and was one of the few that were saved. He ran a free hos- pital for the poor natives on the islands for some time and was highly honored by them. He was also tendered an earnest vote of thanks for his generous work on behalf of the American navy and also received similar notice from the London Missionary Society. He is the author of a vol- ume entitled "Evolution vs. Involution," which has been published and highly commended. The mother of these children died in 1883 and was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery.
family are the fortunate possessors of three of the finest farms in the county, they comprising about six hundred acies. He has made a success of his financial undertakings and stands high in the estimation of his neighbors and associates. He has always giver his ballot to the support of Democratic measures and candidates, and, in re- ligion, follows in the footsteps of his forefathers, being connected with the Reformed Church. In 1875 he married Fannie Groverman, who died about ten years ago. She was a daughter of a prominent business man of Baltimore.
ONATHAN C. WILLIAMS is one of the progressive and successful business men of Olney, Montgomery County, active and in- terested in all local improvements and enterprises, and thoroughly public spirited at all times. He is the proprietor of a general store, in which may be found a well-selected stock of dry goods, no- tions, drugs and everything usually comprised within the term. In manner he is ever courteous, and his customers are always numbered among his friends, for he endeavors to please them and to this fact much of his success is due.
A native of Cedar Grove, Montgomery County, born March 16, 1844, the subject of this article is the son of William and Priscilla (Lewis) Will- iams, who, as their names indicate, are of Welsh extraction. The paternal grandfather of our sub- ject also bore the name of William Williams. His wife was a Miss Holland, of the old Holland family in this county. J. C. Williams is one of the five children who grew to maturity upon the old homestead in this county. He remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-two years of age, having in the meantime received good educational privileges in the public schools.
After leaving the district schools Eugene Derr entered Frederick College and was still a mere youth when he began the study of law in the office of Judge Palmer, of this city. He was In starting out in the world, Mr. Williams ob- tained a position as a clerk in the store of John H. Gibson, and continued with him for two years, thoroughly mastering the details of the only twenty-two years of age at the time of his father's death, in 1866, and he was compelled to take charge of his large estate, so it turned out that he never actually engaged in practice. The business. Then going to Damascus, Md., he
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established a general store, dealing in all kinds of merchandise, and during the five years of his stay there achieving a distinct success. In 1874 he accepted a remunerative position as a receiv- ing clerk in the state department of the tobacco warehouse in Baltimore and held the office for four years, to the entire satisfaction of all con- cerned. Since then he has been a resident of Olney, and has given his time and attention to the management of his flourishing business here. He is a stockholder in the Uniontown Pike Com- pany, and has aided local industries and improve- ments in material ways. In his political views he is a Democrat, and though he takes great interest in the success of his party, he is not an office-seeker.
November 15, 1882, Mr. Williams married Georgiana Umstead, daughter of Alfred Um- stead. She was born at Boyd Station, Mont- gomery County, and has spent her whole life in this region. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have one son, Harry. G., who was born November 14, 1883, and is now a student in Sherwood Acad- emy. He is a very promising youth, and is a son of whom his parents have just cause to be proud.
IGNATIUS THOMAS FULKS, president of the Gaithersburg Milling and Manufacturing Company, is a native of Virginia, born July 7, 1832. The Fulks family is of German origin, but has been represented in America for several successive generations. William, grandfather of our subject, was born in what is now Montgom- ery County, Md., and here carried on farm pur- suits, but during the War of 1812 he removed to Virginia. He had three sons and two daughters. James, one of the sons, served in the War of 1812 and participated in the battle of Bladens- burg, where he was taken prisoner and after- wards paroled.
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