USA > Maryland > Portrait and biographical record of the Sixth congressional district, Maryland V. 2 > Part 29
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among his clients many of the representative citi- zens of this vicinity and his time is usually very busily occupied in attending to the needs of his patients. He is a stockholder in the Lovettsville & Berlin Bridge Company, and has invested capi- tal in several local concerns. Politically he sides with the Democracy, and fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias and a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics. In 1896 he was elected to act as a member of the city council, and may be safely relied upon to uphold the best interests of the general public. He holds mem- bership with the Lutheran Church.
In October, 1893, Dr. Horine married Miss Virginia Aholt, daughter of Carlton P. Aholt, a prominent agriculturist of Burkittsville. The young couple have a very pleasant home and de- light to entertain their numerous friends.
HARLES HENRY THRIFT, who owns a valuable farm in Darnestown District, Mont- gomery County, is one of the energetic, per- severing and successful farmers of his district. Starting with nothing (for his father had been unfortunate in endorsing notes for others) and operating a rented farm for seventeen years, he saved a little each year and finally bought a tract of two hundred and seventy-nine acres on the Potomac River. He remained there from 1877 to 1885, when he bought one hundred acres where he now resides. . The land he cleared and improved and has made of it a finely improved farm. His health is not good, so that he can no longer work as incessantly as he did in former years, yet he still maintains a general supervision of his interests and keeps his land under good cultivation and his buildings in excellent repair.
Absalom Thrift, who was of Welsh descent, was reared in Virginia and was by occupation a far- mer, later a school teacher. He had two sons and three daughters, of whom Colmore, our sub- ject's father, was the oldest. He was born and reared in Montgomery County and carried on a large farın near Potomac. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Democrat. In early life he was a Methodist, but later became connected with the Catholic Church. By his marriage to Ellen, daughter of John Rabbitt, three sons and three daughters were born, of whom four are living: Elizabeth Jane, who married Washing- ton Case and makes her home near Potomac; Charles Henry; Anna America, widow of Richard Waters, and now living near Darnestown; and Laura Rebecca, wife of J. Walter Carroll, living near Potomac.
On account of trouble with his eyes when a boy, our subject could not attend school regularly, nor could he pursue a systematic course of read- ing. His father died when he was about twenty- two years of age, and afterward he removed to Darnestown District, where he rented land for several years. In 1877 he purchased a farm on the Potomac, and later bought the land which he has since cultivated. In politics he is a Demo- crat and in religion a member of the Catholic Church. April 7, 1874, he married Mary Ann McCrossin, of Howard County. Five children were born of their union, one of whom, Mary Catherine, died at the age of four years. The others are: Mary Ellen, Agnes Eugenia, Sylves- ter Griffin and Charles Mackin.
ORACE WATERS is one of the most suc- cessful farmers of Montgomery County. He was born May 25, 1823, on the farm in Clarksburg District where he still resides, and is a son of Horace and Charity (Boyd) Waters. His grandfather, William Waters, came to this county from Prince George County, and took up
. In the county where he still resides Mr. Thrift was born October 11, 1836. His maternal grand- father, John Rabbitt, came to this country from England in youth and engaged in farming in Montgomery County, where he acquired con- siderable property. The paternal grandfather, a tract of seven hundred acres, which he devoted
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to the raising of tobacco. He had two sons, Nathaniel and Horace, the latter of whom re- ceived an excellent education and became an agriculturist, successfully carrying on the culti- vation of his farm until his death, which occurred in the prime of manhood. By his marriage to Miss Boyd, of Richmond, Va., he had three chil- dren: Franklin, deceased, formerly a physician near Darnestown; Horace; and Mary Elizabeth, Mrs. John H. Hilleary, of Frederick County, de- ceased.
In the public schools and the academy at Rockville the subject of this sketch received a practical education. On completing his studies he began the management of the home place, which he conducted for his mother until he at- tained his maturity. He then worked the farm on shares until he acquired it by purchase from the other heirs. He has carried on general farming and stock-raising, and has also engaged extensively in the dairy business, shipping about fifty gallons of milk a day. By purchase at dif- ferent times he has added to the estate until he now has seven hundred acres under an excellent state of cultivation. A large portion of the place he has cleared through his own efforts, and has made it fertile by putting thirty thousand bushels of lime on it.
Politically Mr. Waters has always had the welfare of the Democratic party at heart and has worked in its interests. His time has been so engrossed with personal matters that he has had no time for public office, even had he the desire to occupy positions of responsibility in the gift of his fellow-citizens. The only office he has held was that of county commissioner, which he filled for one term, and then declined to run again. When twenty-seven years of age he married Mary Jane, daughter of Remus Dorsey. Three children blessed their union, the youngest of whom died in infancy. The son, Horace D., is a merchant in Old Germantown, and the daugh- ter, Nettie, is the wife of Dr. E. C. Etchison, of Gaithersburg. The second marriage of Mr. Waters united him with Mary, daughter of Perry Etchison. Six sons were born of their union, namely: Perry E., who is engaged in the mer-
cantile business at Germantown Station; Bowie Franklin, an attorney at Rockville; William A., who is a farmer in Clarksburg District; Clinton C., deceased; Julian B., who assists his father on the home farm; and Eugene H.
Since the incorporation of the Montgomery County National Bank at Rockville, Mr. Waters has been one of its directors. He is well-to-do financially, having by his sound judgment and perseverance accumulated a competence. In his dealings with all he is honest and upright. In his declining days he may have the satisfaction of knowing that he has wronged no man and that he has the respect and esteem of all who know him.
APT. ROSS R. SANNER, principal of the public schools of Oakland, Garrett County, is a gentleman of wide experience in educa- tional work, as he has devoted his life to this field of endeavor, and has met with unqualified success during the thirty-four years of his active career in this direction. He is a patriot and loyal citizen before everything, and during the late war offered his life and services to his be- loved land, enlisting in the defense of the dear old stars and stripes when they were in peril. In times of peace as well as of war he has stood by the best principles of government, and his in- fluence over the minds of his pupils and those. coming within his sphere has always been exerted for good.
The paternal grandfather of the captain was a native of Somerset County, Pa., and was en- gaged there in agricultural pursuits. His par- ents were Germans by birth, and upon coming to America, took up their permanent abode in Som- erset County. This was prior to the war of the Revolution, and several generations of their de- scendants have since lived in the locality in which they originally settled. The parents of our sub- ject were Lewis F. and Sarah (King) Sanner, the latter a daughter of John King. Lewis F.
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was a life-long resident of Somerset County, and was numbered among her representative farmers and business men. He was very successful in his various undertakings and possessed the respect of all with whom he had dealings. He died when nearly the age which the psalmist al- lotted to mankind in general, as he was approach- ing his seventieth birthday anniversary. His family comprised the following children: William H .; Ross R .: Katie, wife of Joseph Hyatt; Asby J .; Ryan and Mrs. Jennie Grimes. The mother is still living in her old home in the Keystone state, and has reached the advanced age of eighty-three years.
Captain Sanner was born in Somerset County, Pa., in 1843, and his boyhood was not unlike that of the other farmer lads of his day. He gave what assistance he could to his father in the general work of the homestead, and for a portion of each year was a pupil in the public schools of the district. Later he attended the county normal. About this time the war of the Rebel- lion broke out and the young man, then but eight- een years old, was enthusiastic in his desire to enlist in the Union army. In October, 1861, he became a private in Company H, Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania Infantry, and during the Peninsu- lar Campaign, in which he was soon engaged, he was repeatedly promoted for gallantry and devo- tion to duty. First made second sergeant, he then became second lieutenant, then first lieuten- ant and in 1863 captain of his company. He par- ticipated in the seven days' campaign under Mc- Clellan, was active in the siege of Charleston, S. C., and Petersburg. At Morris Island he:was wounded and was in the hospital for two months; again, at Beaufort, in front of Petersburg, he was injured, and on account of this was honora- bly discharged, September 27, 1864.
After he had recovered something of his ac- customed health Captain Sanner returned to his interrupted task of obtaining a thorough educa- tion. He took a course of instruction in the Iron City Business College, after which he attended Mount Union College, in Mount Union, Ohio. In 1866 he commenced his active work as a teacher, and for many years has held very re-
sponsible positions as principal of schools in Som- erset, Confluence and Union, Pa., in Cumberland and Frostburg, Md. In 1897 he was urged to accept the position of principal of the Garrett County Normal, and in 1898 was elected by the board of education to the principalship of the public schools of Oakland. Politically he is a Republican.
In 1866 Captain Sanner married Miss Alice C. Fuller. Seven of the eight children who blessed their union are still living and are named as fol- lows: J. Howard; Maud S., wife of Lucius C. Thompson; Oscar W .; Norman R .; Lloyd F .; Ethel P. and Walter R. The captain is one of the leading members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and for some time has been superintend- ent of the Sunday-school. His wife and family also attend the church and are interested work- ers in its various departments of activity.
OHN E. WEST, a prominent citizen of Bethesda, Montgomery County, was born in this county in 1836. He is a member of one of the oldest families of western Maryland, a family that has been identified with local agri- cultural interests and has ever been characterized by integrity and uprightness. His grandfather, Norman West, was a native of this county and followed farming here, as did also the father, Tilghman West, who was born in this county and died here prior to the war. In politics he always voted the Democratic ticket.
The marriage of Tilghman West united him with Miss Mary Harper, daughter of John Har- per, who was a native of this county and engaged , in farm pursuits here. They became the parents of two sons and three daughters, namely: John E., of this sketch; Amos, who is a farmer and cultivates the old homestead; Elizabeth, who married Judson G. Fields, of this county; Eliza, widow of Gary Fisher; and Sarah V., who is the wife of George McCormick.
The boyhood days of our subject were un-
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JOHN W. STONEBRAKER.
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eventfully passed on the home farm, and in at- tendance upon the district schools of the neigh- borhood. He has been twice married. In 1360 he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Bur- nett, by whom he had one daughter, Eliza, now the wife of Elvin Hisey, and living in Ohio. In January, 1893, he married Miss Ella Kidwell, daughter of George Kidwell, of Washington, and a lady whose education and character fit her for the best society of the community.
In political affiliations Mr. West is a stanch Democrat. From 1886 to 1892 he served as tax collector, and in 1896 he was appointed assessor- at-large by Governor Lowndes. In 1892 he came to Bethesda, where he built his present residence, a comfortable home, situated near the car line leading to Washington, D. C.
OHN W. STONEBRAKER. In reviewing the history of any community there are always a few names that stand out pre-emi- nently among others because those who bear them are men of superior ability, sound judg- ment and philanthropic spirit. Such names and such men add to the prosperity of a place, elevat- ing its moral tone and increasing its commercial importance. Their wealth, put into circulation in the home neighborhood, becomes a factor in the prosperity of every citizen. Their probity and intelligence are a power which cannot be lightly estimated.
As that of a man who has risen from a humble position to one of importance and influence, the life of John W. Stonebraker is well worthy of emulation by the youth of the rising generation. He is one of the representative citizens of Hagers- town, and has been identified with the history of this locality throughout his entire life. He there-
fore feels an interest in the community that a stranger could not have. Its prosperity is one of the chief objects of his existence, and to its prog- ress he has largely contributed.
We need but to mention some of the business connections of Mr. Stonebraker to show his close connection with the interests of his town and county. He is the owner and proprietor of the Antietam Paper Mill Company, one of the large and important concerns of this place. In addi- tion, he holds the position of president of the Windsor Knitting Mills, of Hagerstown, another important industry, and one whose success has been secured through his energetic efforts. He has large farming interests and is proprietor of the large flour mills owned by the Antietam Milling Company. He took an active part in the organization of the Middle States Building and Loan Association, of Hagerstown, with the sub- sequent history of which he has been intimately identified. For a number of years he has served as president of the Tri-States Agricultural Fair Association, whose annual fairs have been held in Hagerstown and have drawn large crowds from adjoining towns.
Born September 28, 1828, near Funkstown, Washington County, Mr. Stonebraker has passed his entire life either in or near Hagerstown. He is a son of Gerard and Catherine Stonebraker, natives of Maryland. In boyhood he attended the public schools of his district, where he was given fair educational privileges.
In politics a Republican, Mr. Stonebraker has borne an active part in the political history of his town. His fitness for office has been recognized by his appointment or election to numerous posts of trust and responsibility. In 1884 he was re- elected county commissioner, making his fourth term in the office. Under the administration of Governor Brown he was first appointed county school commissioner, an office which he still fills with efficiency. In religious belief he and his family are connected with the Presbyterian Church, and here, as in other organizations, he has been called to responsible duties, being presi- dent of the board of trustees of the church.
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OHN T. EDWARDS, of Cumberland, is a descendant of Welsh and English ancestors, who were represented among the earliest settlers of America. It is known that Robert Edwards, along with Hayden Edwards and another brother whose name cannot be learned, came to this country from Wales prior to 1740. Hayden settled in Virginia, the other brother settled in Connecticut, Robert remained in New York and became a real-estate owner and pur- chased the property in New York City which now forms the basis of the great Edwards' estate, which lays claim to the title of sixty acres in New York City, embracing a section lying on Broadway and Wall street and including the land on which stands the Trinity Church property. The estate also claims title to all that land on which the city of Troy, N. Y., stands. Robert was a bachelor and is supposed to have been killed in the war for independence; Hayden Ed- wards had a family, and one of his sons, Benja- min, went to Mongomery County, Md., where he founded the family of which our subject is a lineal descendant.
Emory Edwards, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was a planter in Kent County and owned a large number of slaves. During the War of 1812 he organized a company and as its captain was actively engaged in fighting the British. He was identified with the Demo- cratic party and bore an important part in the political problems of his day. In religious belief he was an Episcopalian. He married a Miss Comegys and of their children, Benjamin R., father of our subject, was the third eldest son.
Born in Kent County on July 31, 1817, Ben- jamin R. Edwards received his early education at Chestertown and later was a pupil in an acad- emy. When nearly twenty years of age he came to Cumberland and embarked in business with his cousin, John T. Edwards (one of Allegany County's foremost and most influential citizens) . Mr. Edwards was early identified with mercantile life and was engaged in the commission and for- warding business. He also helped to construct the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, having contracts
for masonry, for which this waterway is so noted. Later on he kept a hotel in Frostburg, where his hostelry was frequently the home of many noted men of the day, who had to reach Washington by the old National pike. This fact gave him the friendship and acquaintance of scores of the brightest public men of those days. In 1854 he was appointed superintendent of the National pike, a position of prominence in those days and which he held for four years. In later years he be- came a farmer, moving to his farm above Grants- ville, in Garrett County, and during the war of the Rebellion lived on a fine farm on the Potomac River, about nine miles above Cumberland. In 1872 he moved to Cumberland and associated himself with his son-in-law, E. J. Russell, and formed the firm of E. J. Russell & Co., exten- sive carriage manufacturers, and carried on the business for some years after the demise of his son-in-law, Mr. Russell. Retiring from business he was appointed trustee of the Dilley estate, which he handled with great executive ability until his death, on May 7, 1889. He was a firm friend of the public schools, believing that every child should have an opportunity to obtain a good education. For fifteen years, and until his death, he was chairman of the board of public school trustees for the city of Cumberland, in which capacity he was an active factor in pro- moting local educational interests. He also took a prominent part in all matters looking to the ad- vancement of the section of the state in which he lived, and was identified with many public and private enterprises. In politics he was an ardent · Democrat and an active worker and counselor in conventions of his party, but of retiring dis- position. He never sought office at the hands of his party, but was once nominated for registrar of wills; owing to the large minority of his party he was defeated by John Rhind, the candidate of the Republican party, but succeeded in polling the largest vote of any candidate on his ticket in the county. In early life he was actively iden- tified with the Masons and Odd Fellows, but in late years did not keep up his membership in these organizations. Of a deeply religious na- ture, he lived a conscientious Christian life and
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did all in his power to advance the kingdom of tion of cashier, which he declined, and became Christ upon earth. During his long life he main- tained his integrity, and built for himself a char- acter for truth, justice and righteousness. Al- ways of a genial disposition and beloved for his many sterling qualities of heart and hand, when he approached the evening of his existence he could truthfully say that he had done his duty as best he could toward God and preserved his faith in Him to be his staff in the final journey. With nothing to cause him remorse for the past and nothing to give him fear for the future, he passed from this world to the next on May 7, 1889, leaving to his children a legacy of love and a respected name.
The marriage of Benjamin R. Edwards united him with Margaret Dilley, daughter of Joseph Dilley, a wealthy and extensive real estate owner residing in Allegany County. The marriage took place in the year 1840. They had ten children, of whom five are now living. They are: Mary Elizabeth, widow of E. J. Russell, who founded the carriage manufacturing firm of E. J. Russell & Co .; Emory J., who married Mary, daughter of ex-Mayor James B. Walton; Benjamin Owen, who married Emma Dawson; John T., who lives in Cumberland; and Annie Lee, wife of Prof. Benjamin W. Mitchell, of Philadelphia, Pa. The mother of this family died on May 20, 1885, in her sixty-sixth year. The subject of this sketch was born in the house of the superintendent of the National pike, above Frostburg, August II, 1857. He gained an academic education in Alle- gany County and took a preparatory course for Princeton College, but before attaining his ma- jority accepted a position with the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Company. Later he became collector of the canal and superintendent of the basin wharf at Cumberland. For eleven years he re- mained an employe of the company and also ship- ping agent of the West Virginia Central Railroad for their coal shipments by canal, severing his connection with the canal after the great flood in May, 1889, which washed away the bed of the canal. After this he accepted a position in the First National Bank of Piedmont, W. Va., and after a year's service there was tendered the posi-
supreme secretary of a national insurance com- pany, chartered in West Virginia, with head offices in Piedmont, W. Va. His marriage took place on November 8, 1888, and united him with Effie M., daughter of Jacob S. Jamesson, president of the First National Bank of Piedmont, W. Va. They became the parents of two chil- drea, Elizabeth Jamesson and Louise Estelle, born December 1, 1889, and January 19, 1891, re- spectively. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards resided in Cumberland, at. Mr. Edwards' homestead, Maple Arch. Owing to the illness of Mrs. Edwards our subject was not engaged permanently in any busi- ness for some time, but travelled in the hope that his wife's health might be benefited. With his family he spent ten months at Pasadena, Southern California, in the years of 1894-95, but returned to Western Port, Md., in June, 1895, where Mrs. Edwards died August 24, 1895. In the fall of 1895 our subject opened up the Central coal yard, in Cumberland, as manager for the Davis Coal and Coke Company, and built up a good busi- ness for the company and a reputation for himself. In May, 1898, he accepted the position of man- ager of the Washington office, and coal yard of the Davis Coal and Coke Company, but still claims residence in Cumberland, where his family reside.
Politically Mr. Edwards has been a life-long Democrat and took an active part in the affairs of his party, and always had a strong personal following. He never aspired to office, but was once the candidate of his party for city clerk. In his younger days he often represented his county in conventions, and wielded an influence in naming candidates, but of late years has turned his attention exclusively to business, and has been successful in providing a substantial com- petence. Mr. Edwards takes an active interest in affairs of his city and county, and is a mem- ber of the board of trade of his city. He is identified with the Ancient Essenic Order of Cumberland, in which he held the office of secre- tary. In religious connections he is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He is a young man of fine character, of whom all speak well, and who has many friends among the people of his
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city and county, and is esteemed for his hospi- table manners and genial disposition, as well as business qualifications.
OHN E. WILLSON, who is an agriculturist of Rockville District, Montgomery County, is a native of this district and was born May 19, 1833, on a farm adjoining his present place of residence. The family is of English descent, but has been identified with the history of Amer- ica since a period prior to the Revolution. The early home of the family was in Charles County. Our subject's great-grandfather, Joseph Willson, (son of John Willson, who died in Charles County in 1750) came to Montgomery County when it was a part of Frederick County, and our subject has in his possession a survey made for this ancestor in 1764. Buying a tract of about two thousand acres, he gave his attention to its cultivation and improvement, and there spent his remaining years. His son, William, was a large tobacco raiser, and shipped the greater part of his crops to England. His chil- dren were: Martha, William, Samuel (our sub- ject's father), John, Susannah, Margaret, Char- ity and Martha.
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