USA > Maryland > Portrait and biographical record of the Sixth congressional district, Maryland V. 2 > Part 3
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J. C. Ward was born in this county, Febru- ary 28, 1839, and until he was fourteen he worked in his father's shop, attending the district school during the winter season. He preferred farm- ing, however, and was thus employed for a time, and spent one year in Pennsylvania. He was very successful as a teacher, which occupation
was the next that claimed his attention, and for two years he devoted himself to it almost exclu- sively. The war coming on about this time he came home and enlisted in Company E, First Regi- ment of Maryland Infantry, as quartermaster sergeant. He was in the Army of the Potomac during some of their most notable campaigns, taking part in the battles of Antietam and sur- render at Harper's Ferry, Monocacy, Gettysburg, Williamsport and many others scarcely less im- portant. He also went on a raid into Maryland and was in several fights for the protection of the railroad. He was mustered out in Frederick City, in October, 1864, at the close of a little over three years of active service. His regiment was captured at Harper's Ferry, Md., and he and twenty-five others were on picket duty .- He escaped when he found out the situation and was thus saved the fate of being kept by the enemy at their pleasure. Afterwards he served six months in the quartermaster's department under Captain Flagg.
When he returned to the commonplace world of business Mr. Ward located in Rohrersville, Md., at first carrying on a general merchandise enterprise for three and a-half years. Later he sold out and for ten years was in the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad as a conductor. He at length left the company on account of his health and for a second time engaged in business in Rohrersville. At the expiration of three years he disposed of the venture and lived retired from active cares for a few years. He had served as postmaster in Rohrersville, under the administra- tion of President Arthur and in June, 1888, was made deputy tax collector in Washington Coun- ty. In the meantime, between the years of 1884 and 1888, he was a schoolteacher. From ISSS to the present time he has made his home in Hagerstown. After he had retired from the of- fice of tax collector, which he held for five years, he was occupied in clerical work about the court- house and in May, 1895, was appointed justice of the peace by the governor. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is past commander of Reno Post, No. 4. He is also connected with the Order of Red Men. For forty
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years he has been an earnest supporter of the Re- publican party. Religiously he holds member- ship with the United Brethren Church and is a true Christian gentleman.
In September, 1864, Mr. Ward married Henri- etta, daughter of Lazarus and Catherine Eader, then of this county, but since deceased. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Ward has been blessed by one son: Charles O., who married Miss Nellie Warden. They have four children, viz., Vera Leona, Nellie Beulah, Errol and Joseph. They are also residents of Hagerstown.
C HARLES G. WATSON, surveyor of Alle- gany County, and a rising young attorney of Frostburg, possesses the ability and energy that are the almost invariable precursors of success. While engaged in teaching school, he devoted his odd moments to the study of law, and in 1896 he passed, with high honors, an ex- amination before the court of appeals, being ad- mitted to practice before all of the courts of the state. While at Pennington, N. J., he studied civil engineering, and graduated with a grade of nine and eight-tenths out of a possible ten. In 1896 he was appointed city engineer of Frostburg, and the following year was elected county sur- veyor, both of which positions he now holds.
The Watson family is of Scotch extraction, but has been connected with American history for generations. One of the family, Hugh, served as a colonel in the Revolution, and our subject has in his possession two copies of Brown's Pres- byterian Bible Dictionaries that were once the property of this Revolutionary hero. One of his sons (probably James) settled in Pennsylvania, where he engaged in farming near Mercersburg. The latter's son, James, was born in Pennsylvania, but when a young man came to Allegany County, Md., and engaged at the trade of a carriage maker. He married Mary Nesbitt, a sister of Isaac Nesbitt, who served as clerk of the court at Hagerstown for many years, and was the in-
cumbent of the position during the war. They were the parents of five sons and two daugthers, but two of the children died when young. Eliza V., the surviving daughter, is the widow of George Creek, who enlisted in the late war and died of starvation while in Andersonville prison; Isaac N., the oldest son, served in the Civil war, and now resides in Pineygrove, Allegany County; John D., the second son, is the father of our subject; David C., like other members of the family, served in the war with valor, and now lives in Iowa; and Rev. Lorenzo Dow Watson, D. D., Ph. D., LL. D., who served in the war, is now a member of the Genesee conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
John D. Watson was born in Allegany County, Md., and completed his education at Rainsburg, Pa., where was situated one of the noted schools of that day. Upon his return home he became interested in agricultural pursuits, to which his entire active life has been devoted. In political belief he is a Republican. He is an active, zeal- ous worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has officiated as steward and class- leader, and as superintendent of the Sunday- school. During the Civil war he married Mary E. McGinnis, daughter of Jolin and Ellen (Ash- kittle) McGinnis. Her father, who was a native of Scotland, came to this country at eighteen years of age, and first located at Pineygrove, where he married. Soon afterward he removed to Indianapolis, Ind., where he engaged success- fully in the shoe business for many years. The three sons of Mr. and Mrs. Watson are Charles G .; Ezra J., who operates the home farm; and John Asbury, a contract painter in Ohio.
In District No. 1, of Allegany County, the subject of this sketch was born May 16, 1866. The rudiments of his education were obtained in the Pineygrove public school, after which he attended the Union street public school in Cum- berland, and still later took a course of study in Pennington (N. J.) Seminary, graduating in 1888. Afterward, for five years, he engaged in teaching school in Washington and Allegany Counties, prosecuting the study of law at such leisure moments as his busy life permitted him.
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He is a young man of ability, and without doubt will attain success in his profession. Of Repub- lican sympathies, he takes an interest in the success of the party. He is a member of the Junior Order United American Mechanics, and in religi- ous connections is identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
December 13, 1891, Mr. Watson was united in marriage with Miss Cora B., daughter of Adam E. Whitfield, of Fulton County, Pa. Her father was a soldier in the Civil war, enlisting in a Pennsylvania regiment, in which he served for three years, and participated in many hard-fought battles of the conflict. He is a man of prominence in Fulton County, and at this writing is school director of his district. He and his wife are the parents of four children, of whom Mrs. Watson was second in order of birth. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Watson has been blessed by four chil- dren, Edith E., Mary N., John W. and Cora Elsie.
- RANKLIN A. HEARD, proprietor of a large dry-goods and millinery establishment at Hagerstown, has been engaged in the mercantile business in this city continuously since 1849, and is not only one of the oldest, but also one of the best known, business men here. He is a descendant of French ancestry, but the family has been identified with American history for many generations and its members have been noted for patriotism. His grandfather, Gen. John Heard, was an officer in the Revolution, and for many years served as prothonotary of the orphans' court; he died when about ninety years of age. He was a son of Nathaniel Heard, a major-general in the Revolution, who lost all his property during the incursions by the British.
William V. Heard, father of our subject, was a native of New Brunswick, N. J., and was reared on a farm there. He came to Maryland and ac- cepted a position in the bank at Williamsport, where he was employed as teller for a number of years, and until the failure of the institution. He
then removed to Hagerstown, where for several years he was employed in the county clerk's office. In 1832 he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and remained in that city until 1841, when returning to Hagerstown, he secured a position as teller in the Farmers' and Millers' Bank. Several years were spent in that bank. His last employment was that of deputy in the county clerk's office. Politically a Republican, his was one of the very few votes cast for Abraham Lincoln in Hagers- town. He was an active member of the Meth- odist Church here and was a man of consistent Christian character. At the time of his death he was eighty six years of age. His wife, who was Henrietta Warfield, of Baltimore, died at thirty- seven years.
Iu Hagerstown, where he was born June 10, 1826, the subject of this sketch spent the first six years of his life, after which he removed with his parents to Cincinnati. He attended private schools and an academy until fifteen years of age, when he secured a clerkship in a dry-goods store and remained in the same establishment for eight years. He then served an apprenticeship in a printing office at Harrisburg, Pa., and at the expiration of his time he purchased the Chronicle at Hagerstown, which he published for fourteen years. Since 1849 he has been interested in merchandising, being one of the oldest surviving merchants of the city.
By his marriage to Mary A. Mobley, of Hagerstown, Mr. Heard has five children, namely: Charles E., who is engaged in the mill- ing and coal business at Hagerstown; Albert, who is secretary and treasurer of the water and gas company in Hagerstown; Franklin S., a mer- chant tailor in Harrisburg, Pa .; Laura S., wife of Rufus M. Hayes, of this city; and Ella, who married John E. Stonebraker, also of this place.
Politically Mr. Heard is a Republican. He was appointed stamp deputy of the state under the administration of President Garfield, also served for a short time under Cleveland, and was again appointed under Harrison's administration, serving under the following-named revenue col- lectors: Sellman (Republican) ; Roberts, six months (Democrat); Hill, four years (Repub-
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lican); and Vandever, eight months (Democrat). Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. For a number of years he has been an elder in the Lutheran Church and conductor of the choir.
( AMES K. WATERS, M. D., ex-register of wills for Frederick County, is a resident of the pretty and thriving town of Thurmont. Here, about ten years ago, he established a drug store, which he has owned ever since and has managed, either in person or by deputy. By years of unsparing toil he has not only amassed a competence amply sufficient for his future needs, but has at the same time won the admira- tion and heartfelt respect of all with whom he has come in contact. Politically he has always given his ballot to the representatives of the Dem- ocratic party. Among the fraternities he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and a charter member of the Ancient Essenic Order; also is prominent in the Masonic order, being a member of Acacia Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and DeMolay Commandery, K. T. of Frederick.
Dr. Waters is one of the eight children of Somerset R. and Rachel (McElfresh) Waters. The oldest of the brothers, Charles, was a com- mission merchant in Baltimore, and served as tobacco inspector under Governor Lowe. A few years ago he retired from active life, and died in 1896, when in his seventy-seventh year. John T. is a prominent Baltimore lawyer. Somerset is engaged in the management of a farm and was collector of internal revenue during the adminis- tration of President Johnson. Margaret, a sister, married a Mr. Davis of Carroll County, owner of a fine homestead. Rachel is the wife of Dr. S. R. Waters, who for years has been chief clerk in the state tax commissioner's office at An- napolis. Hannah H. is the wife of James H. Steele, a Carroll County farmer. Sophia is unmarried.
The father of these children was a native of Montgomery County, Md., and in early manhood followed farming as an occupation. Later he re- moved to Baltimore and was appointed tobacco inspector by Governor Thomas. This office he held with ability and fidelity for many years, giving entire satisfaction to all concerned. Sub- sequently he engaged in the wholesale commis- sion business in Baltimore, making a specialty of tobacco. At one time he ran for the office of sheriff of Frederick County and was a zealous Democrat. In the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he belonged, he was noted far and wide as a lay preacher. His death occurred when he was in his sixty-fifth year. £ His father, Dr. Richard Waters, was a successful physician and surgeon during the war of the Revolution.
Dr. J. R. Waters is a native of the Middletown Valley, his birth having occurred upon the paternal homestead April 10, 1838. He was but a child when the family removed to Baltimore and in the excellent schools of that city he re- ceived his education. In 1859 he graduated from the medical department of the University of Maryland, having been privileged to have as one of his preceptors Professor Miltonberger, a profound scholar and man of eminent attain- ments. In his initial practice our subject was house physician at Baltimore City alınshouse, this being before Bay View Asylum was built. Upon settling down in independent practice, he decided to become a permanent resident of Utica Mills, Frederick County, and there he made his home for twenty-four years, until 1891. He then took his place as register of wills, to which office he had been elected on the Democratic ticket, and when his six years' term had elapsed he came to Thurmont, which is only a few miles from his former home in Utica Mills.
In 1862 Dr. Waters was first married, the lady of his choice being Miss Annie May Hill, daughter of John Hill, of this place. They had two sons: John S., who has been a trusted clerk in a large commission house in Baltimore for many years, and Charles C., who was his fa- ther's chief clerk while the latter was register of wills, and is now a member of the Frederick Coun-
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DANIEL EDWARD KEFAUVER.
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ty bar. In 1891 Dr. Waters married Miss Sarah E. Bowman, whose brother, John C. Bowman, is professor of theology in Franklin and Marshall College.
ANIEL EDWARD KEFAUVER. Among the enterprising agriculturists of Frederick County, no one stands higher as a business man than the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He is the proprietor of a beautiful farm known as Glen Dale, situated on the line of the Frederick & Middletown Railway, which system is of great value to the inhabitants of these fertile valleys. He has been very actively connected with this celebrated road, having used his means and influence in getting the company organized, and for years has been the vice-president.
Nicholas Kefauver, the paternal great-grand- father of the above-named, was a native of Ger- many, and was an early settler in Frederick County. He made the trip to the United States in company with a brother and their descendants have since been represented in the annals of this section of Maryland. George, son of Nicholas Kefauver, and grandfather of our subject, was a farmer by occupation, and his home throughout life was in the Middletown Valley. He was a member of the Reformed Church, and in all his dealings with his fellow-men his course was marked by strict integrity. The maternal grand- father of D. E. Kefauver was Lewis Bechtel, who followed the same calling, agricultural pur- suits, and who was likewise identified with the old Reformed Church.
Daniel Kefauver, father of our subject, was born in Middletown District, and with his several brothers and sisters was reared to maturity on the parental homestead. A brother, John; was for some time a flour inspector in Baltimore; Jonathan, a miller by trade, went to Ohio; Henry was a farmer of this region, as was Jacob also; Elizabeth, a sister, married Hanson Flook; Mary Ann became the wife of Philip Coblentz; and Rebecca married a Mr. Young of Pennsylva-
nia. Daniel adhered to the vocation of his fore- fathers, and became well-to-do. He owned two large and valuable farms in the Middletown Valley and was also the proprietor of a sawmill. During the war he was stanch in his allegiance to the Union, and in politics he was a Whig and Republican. Though often solicited to accept public office he steadily refused, as he much pre- ferred a quiet life, and found his time fully occu- pied in looking after his property. He was an official member of the Reformed Church, and was connected with the society of Sons of Temperance. His happy, because useful and busy life, came to a peaceful close in 1876, when he was in his sixty-eighth year. His wife survived him sev- eral years, attaining her eighty-fourth year, and was buried by the side of her husband in the Reformed Cemetery in Middletown. Their eldest son, Horatio, is a farmer of this locality, as is also Richard. William died when about thirty- one, and Lewis F., Joseph H. and Samuel M. are all farmers. Amanda C. is the wife of Abraham Ifert, of this valley; Mahala, deceased, was the wife of Henry C. Remsburg; Martha E. is Mrs. Harmon Routzahn.
The birth of Daniel Edward Kefauver took place in 1841 at his parents' home near Middle- town, and in that neighborhood he was reared to manhood. Having completed his district-school education he devoted himself to agriculture, and when he was about twenty-five years old he as- sumed the charge of a farm situated a mile or so from his present abode. Twelve years rolled away while he carried on this homestead, and in 1882 he came into possession of his valuable place, Glen Dale. He has made extensive im- provements and greatly increased the value of the farm. A commodious brick house and fine barns are situated on a desirable site and every- thing about the homestead speaks volumes for the care that is bestowed by the owner upon each detail. His various investments have proved successful, and his ability as a financier is un- doubted. In addition to being the owner of several fine farms he is one of the charter mem- bers and stockholders of the Frederick & Mid- dletown Railroad; a director in the Frederick
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City Elevator Company, and a charter member of the Citizens' National Bank of Frederick, and since one of the directors. Politically he has always voted the Republican ticket. In the Grange, with which he has long been identified, he is considered to be a man whose opinion car- ries weight, and in many lines of agriculture he is an authority. He was a charter member of the Grangers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, one of the first companies in the state, of which he has been vice-president and member of the exec- utive committee since its organization in 1876.
The first marriage of Mr. Kefauver was sol- emnized in 1867, the lady of his choice being Miss Virginia, daughter of Daniel Culler, of Jef- ferson. (See sketch of Col. Henry Culler for family history.) Clarence, the only son born to this marriage, is in the coal business in Middle- town, and the two daughters are Annie C., wife of Milton F. Holten, and Stella V., at home. In 1873 our subject married Mrs. Amanda E. Snider (née Leighton) and their children, three in num- ber, Martin E., Minnie E. and Viola E., are at home. The family are connected with the Reformed Church of Middletown.
ENRY MAYER is a business man of Frost- burg, who has earned his advancement by energy and perseverance. He is engaged in the furniture and undertaking business, having formed a partnership in 1886 with John F. Gehauf, under the firm title of Gehauf & Co. After six months he gave up his connection with the mines, in which he had previously been interested, and concentrated his entire attention upon the furniture business. The firm has since been changed in name to Gehauf & Mayer and occupies a central location in the Ravenscroft opera building, where they have a storeroom equipped with furniture of all kinds.
The Mayer family, as the name indicates, is of German origin. John Mayer, father of our sub- ject, was born and reared in Germany, where he
had the advantages offered by the excellent public schools. After arriving at man's estate he crossed the ocean and settled in Baltimore in 1854. For a time he worked in Wheeling, W. Va., but in 1856 moved to Cumberland, Md., where he carried on a brewing business. During his residence there his son, Henry, was born March 15, 1860. In 1862 he came to Frost- burg and embarked in business for himself, remaining a resident of this place until his death, which occurred April 12, 1888.
The marriage of John Mayer and Elizabeth Herwig took place May 17, 1859, and resulted in the birth of ten children, namely: Henry; George, who is engaged in mining at Frostburg; John, who lives at Wilkinsburg, a suburb of Pittsburg; Lizzie; Annie; Fred, who is engaged in business at Frostburg; Mary; William; Emma, who teaches school; and Sophie. When the family removed to Frostburg our subject was two years of age. His education was obtained in public and private schools here. When nineteen years of age he embarked in business as a grocer, but after two years commenced to learn the fur- niture business with Gross & Nickel, and upon the dissolution of the firm he remained with Mr. Gross. Later he worked in the mines for a time, afterwards secured employment in the National Tube Works at McKeesport, Pa., and later returned to Frostburg, where he again worked in the mines, spending fifteen months in the Huffinan Mine. His next occupation was in the furniture business, where he remained for seven months, and then took a position in the Eckhart Mines, remaining in that place for more than two years. Meantime he had again become interested in the furniture business, and finally severed his connection with mining interests in order that he might devote himself entirely to the other enterprise. He and his partner have built up an excellent trade among the people of this locality, and are known and respected as honor- able business men.
Politically Mr. Mayer adheres to the tenets of the Democratic party. In fraternal relations he belongs to the Royal Arcanum, Junior Order United American Mechanics and Knights of the
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Golden Eagle. He is a member of the English Lutheran Church, and has served the congrega- tion as treasurer and deacon. He was united in marriage April 10, 1882, with Margaret, daugh- ter of Frederick Horchler, of Eckhart Mines. Four children have come to bless their union, namely: Roy, Karl, Alberta and Minnie.
OHN A. TROUP has been numbered among the prominent and successful business men of Hagerstown, but is now retired. If years of activity, trained experience and a practical knowledge of business details are of any service in the successful prosecution of an enterprise, certainly he was fully qualified to conduct his business ventures successfully. While he started out for himself without capital, he steadily worked his way upward and is now in possession of a competence that enables him to surround himself and wife with all the comforts that en- hance the pleasure of existence.
The Troup family has been identified with the history of Washington County for a number of generations. The grandfather of our subject, Adam Troup, was born in Clear Spring District, and spent his entire life there, engaging in farm pursuits and also following the occupation of a tanner. He died when sixty-eight years of age, firm in the faith of the Reformed Church, of which he had been a life-long. member. His re- mote ancestors were of German birth. Our sub- ject's father, John Troup, was born in Washing- ton County and upon attaining man's estate, embarked in farming pursuits, to which his entire life was devoted. He died in this county when ninety-two years of age. On the organization of the Republican party he became an adherent of its ranks and continued to vote for its men and measures during the remaining years of his life. In religion he adhered to the Reformed Church and its doctrines. In spite of the fact that he attained an age so unusual, he retained possession of his faculties until shortly before he died, being
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