USA > Maryland > Portrait and biographical record of the Sixth congressional district, Maryland V. 2 > Part 34
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In Montgomery County the subject of this sketch was born July 16, 1848. Early in life he was obliged to begin to assist in the cultivation of the home farm, for which reason his education was limited. In fact, his knowledge of men and things has been acquired more by observation than by study of text-books. When twenty- seven years of age he married and started out for himself. He rented his father-in-law's place for three years, after which he and his brother, Wade, purchased the place, which was sold in the settlement of the estate. It is one of the finest farms for miles around and comprises two hundred and eighty-five acres, in a fine state of cultivation. He and his brother, who were then in partnership, bought one hundred and thirteen acres adjoining, and in 1882 put up the stone building at Travilah, conducting a mercantile business for seven years. In this they were quite successful, but our subject finally retired trom the business. He is a man of high standing. His health, however, is not good enough to per- mit him to do active manual work, the necessity
for which, fortunately, does not exist. Politically he is a Democrat, and in religion a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he served as a steward for a number of years. No- vember, 26, 1874, he married Eleanor, daughter of Wesley L. Magruder, of this district. They are the parents of two children: Walter M., a student in Front Royal Academy; and Daisy Valeria, a student in the Andrew Small Academy.
EV. JOHN SCOTT NELSON. To the ministry of the Presbyterian Church and to educational work, the active years of Mr. Nelson were devoted; and though his life was cut short when he was scarcely in his prime, yet he had already accomplished much good among his fellow-men. When twenty-nine years of age he accepted his first charge, becoming pastor of a Presbyterian Church near Danville, Pa., and at the same time he and his wife taught in an acad- emy in that place. On leaving Danville he set- tled in Lancaster, Ohio, where he filled the posi- tion of principal of the public schools and also engaged in ministerial work. Two years later he accepted an urgent call to Kentucky, given him by the father of Senator Breckenridge and others living in the village of Union, sixteen miles from Cincinnati. While there he supplied the church in Richmond, Boone County, and also built a large seminary on thirty acres of land bought by his wife. Scarcely was this work- completed when he was called from earth. His thirty-six years were years of activity and intel- lectual effort. His salary, which was between $3,000 and $4,000, was largely spent in travel, by which means he became the possessor of a broad culture and extensive information. He was of noble lineage, his father, Joseph Nelson, of England, having been a direct descendant of Lord Nelson. He was born in New York in 1823 and graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts, but the information gained in college was of less value to him than the knowl-
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edge he acquired through self-culture. He wasa nard, of Gloucester County, Va .; she died in successful teacher, both financially, and as to re- sults with the children placed under his care. His death was, therefore, not only a deep be- reavement to his wife, but was a severe loss to the professions of educator and minister which he had honored.
August 2, 1852, Rev. Mr. Eckard, of Wash- ington, performed the ceremony which united in marriage John Scott Nelson and Martha Anna Carrington Belt, daughter of Addison and Eliza- beth A. (Carrington) Belt, of Prince George County, Md. Mrs. Nelson is a member of a fam- ily prominent for generations in the history of the Old Dominion. Col. George Carrington, the founder of the name in the state, was ap- pointed lieutenant of his county (Cumberland), the highest military position held in any of the Virginian Counties before the Revolution and for many years thereafter: He had six sons, Paul, George, Jr., Joseph, Nathaniel, Edward and Mayo, all of whom took part in the Revolution. In the organization of the committee of safety, for Cumberland County, Va., Col. George Car- rington was chosen chairman and served as such as long as the organization lasted. All of his sons were members of this committee except his oldest, Paul, who served in the Virginia conventions during the Revolution, also in the Virginia com- mittee of safety' for the state and the house of burgesses for a number of years. Col. George Carrington served in the house of burgesses for some years, also in the house of delegates, 1779, 1780 and 1783. His sons, Edward, as lieutenant- colonel in artillery, and Mayo as captain, served in the continental army for the seven years and a little over of the Revolution. Joseph raised a large company of minute-men (assisted by his father) for North Carolina, and they, with him as captain, served in that state. After the dis- banding of the company he was sent to the legislature, in which he served for the years 1777, 1778, 1783 and 1793.
George Carrington, Jr., who was Mrs. Nel- son's ancestor, was born March 15, 1737, and died November 9, 1784. October 20, 1764, he married Margaret, daughter of William Ber-
1820. Their children were: George, Jr., Cod- rington, Elizabeth, Ann, Robert and John. Cod- rington, who was born August 23, 1766, and died July 3, 1815, was united in marriage Feb- ruary 26, 1789, with Miss Mary Ann (born Oc- tober 19, 1772, died July 29, 1809), daughter of Capt. Joseph Carrington, of Cumberland County, Va. Codrington's children were Elizabeth Ann, Alexander H., Judith, Bernard L., William, Al- bert R., Codrington, Jr., and Samuel Wilson. Elizabeth Ann (born March 22, 1790, died Feb- ruary 27, 1870) was married March 17, 1817, to Addison Belt, of Prince George County, Md. Their children were Thomas L., Mary E., Susan M., John A., Edward C., Martha A. C., Dr. Bayard C., Julia B., Virginia L. and Maria L. Martha A. C. became the wife of Rev. John S. Nelson, who died February 5, 1859. She was educated in Rockville Seminary and received special instruction from Prof. Theodore Apple, of Smithtown, Md. Early in life she began to teach, which she continued until many years after her husband's death. When he passed away she returned to her native home and now carries on the home farm of one hundred and fifty acres, besides looking after three hundred acres, which she and her two sisters inherited.
Addison Belt, father of Mrs. Nelson, was a member of an honored family of Maryland, whose ancestors early came here from England. He was educated at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa .; and was valedictorian of his class on graduating. He was a man of culture, refinement and great ability. After his marriage to Elizabeth Ann Carrington, he inherited, through her, large es- tates in land, slaves and money, and subse- quently bought a farm of one thousand acres near Rockville, a portion of which is comprised in the present home of Mrs. Nelson, while her sis- ter, Miss Susan Belt, lives on the old homestead of her father. From early childhood the latter has been devoted to her father's family and her principal work in life has been to affectionately care for them.
Two sons came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson. One, Addison Lee, died at the
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age of nine years, and the other, Carrington Scott, passed away when thirty-four years of age. lie was educated in Rockville Academy and Georgetown College, and studied law in the of- fice of Peter & Henderson, being admitted to the bar November 14, 1874. He practiced with marked success in the courts of the District of Columbia, having his office in Washington. However, owing to the fact that his mother was alone, he spent much of his time on the home- stead. He was a young man possessing im- pulses of a most noble order, and with intel- lectual ability capable of fine results. By study in college and by self-culture he had gained a knowledge far above the ordinary. He was firm in his views upon all questions of public interest; prudent in the formation of friendships, which when once made were lasting; courteous in bear- ing, honest in convictions and refined in manner. He commanded the respect of all who formed his acquaintance. His death, October 10, 1887, at such an interesting period of life and-when so much might have been predicted of his future, proved a heavy loss to his mother and cast a gloom over the community where he was so well known.
LYSSES GRANT PALMER, county ex- aminer for the public schools of Garrett County, has been a successful educator for many years, and stands high in the profession. He is a man of scholarly ability, practical ex- perience and native talent for the work, and is, moreover, thoroughly interested in the subject of providing for the rising generation better facilities and advantages than they have hitherto enjoyed. He is a patriotic citizen, and as one of his deepest principles holds that in education lies the best remedy for the ills that exist and yet greater evils that threaten our beloved land.
Mr. Palmer comes from sturdy Vermont stock, for in the Green Mountain state several gener- ations of his ancestors resided. His paternal grandfather, Jared Palmer, who lived and died in
Rutland, Vt., was one of the heroes of the War of 1812. The father of our subject, Nathan Palmer, left his home in Vermont when he was a lad of about thirteen years, and later became one of the substantial and prosperous farmers of Tioga County, Pa. He passed the rest of his life in that section, and for many years was the treasurer of Union Township, in which he resided. He lived to the ripe age of fourscore years, and died regretted by a large circle of loving friends and old acquaintances. His widow, who is now an inmate of our subject's home, was formerly Miss Elizabeth Gray, daughter of Hiram Gray, of Delaware County, N. Y. She had but two chil- dren, the other, Miss Jessie, being deceased.
Ulysses Grant Palmer was born in Union Town- ship, Tioga County, Pa., July 3, 1863. He was reared on a farm and attended the county schools until he was fifteen years of age, when he entered the state normal school at Mansfield, Pa., graduating therefrom in June, 1880, up to that date the youngest student ever graduated from that institution. After teaching two years he was elected principal of the public schools of Bloss- burg, Pa., where he remained two years; occupy- ing a like position in Mansfield, Pa., the next year, and in 1885 he was elected principal of the high school at Canton, Pa., one of the foremost borough schools in northern Pennsylvania, in which position he served eight years. In 1890 Lafayette College, Easton, Pa., conferred upon him the degree of Bachelor of Science.
In 1893, in company with several other ener- getic Pennsylvanians, Mr. Palmer came to this state and established the Enterprise Tanning Company, in the town of Hutton, Garrett County. Mr. Palmer was chosen to act as secretary and treasurer of the corporation. He still serves in those capacities and is a director and stockholder in the concern, which is now in a prosperous con- dition. In 1896 he was elected by the board of school commissioners to the place of county school examiner, and has given general satisfaction to all concerned. He uses his ballot in behalf of the principles and nominees of the Republican party.
Since coming to this state Mr. Palmer has been a resident of Hutton. His pleasant home is pre-
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sided over by his amiable and cultured wife, formerly Miss Carrie A. Jennings, of Canton. She is a daughter of E. A. Jennings, a well- known citizen of Canton, and for several years she was engaged in teaching in the public schools. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, who were married in 1896, still hold their membership with the Christian Church of Canton, where they formerly attended. They have two bright little sons: Frank and Ulysses Grant, Jr. Fraternally Mr. Palmer is a member of the Masonic order, having joined the lodge in Canton.
ILLIAM THOMAS LEWIS owns and oc- cupies a fine farm of one hundred and fifty acres in Darnestown District, Montgomery County, which he has under the best of cultiva- tion. He has always led a very active life and although he is comfortably situated and beyond the need of hard work, yet he continues to live up to his motto, that "it is better to wear out than rust out"; so even now he is still actively engaged in conducting his farm. He has been a success- ful agriculturist, having had great experience and the ability to apply all information to the ad- vancement of his work. He keeps abreast with the times and takes great pleasure in recalling the old methods in vogue when he started out, at the age of sixteen years, to assume control of his father's place. Machinery then .was the crudest; almost all work was done by hand. He was en- ergetic and prided himself on doing more work than others could accomplish. These habits of industry and energy have contributed to his suc- cess in life and have brought him the competency he now enjoys.
In the district where he now resides Mr. Lewis was born February 9, 1826. The first of the name to settle in this country was Absalom Lewis, who came from England prior to the Revolution, and in that conflict he served from start to close. He settled near Darnestown and engaged in farming. He married a Miss Dud-
ley, who was a descendant of Lord Dudley, of England. They were the parents of three sons and five daughters. Of these John H. F., father of our subject, was second in order of birth. He was born in this county, received his education in the early schools and took up work on a farm, following agricultural pursuits until he died. He owned one hundred and fifty-three acres north of Darnestown and makes a specialty of raising tobacco. Politically he was a Whig and in religion held membership in the old-school Baptist Church. He married Lucinda, daughter of Thomas Pennifield, of this county, who came from England and served through the entire period of the Revolution, being severely wounded in the battle of the Cowpens. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis were named as follows: Catherine, Mrs. William Colwell, deceased; Will- iam Thomas; Absalom, who died in 1850, while in the army, crossing the plains to New Mexico; Lucinda, wife of Martin Thompson, of Darnes- town District; and Susan, who married Charles Higdon and resides in Washington.
Being obliged to work almost constantly, our subject had few opportunities to attend school, six weeks out of the year being the most that he ever was in school. Hiseducation, therefore, has been acquired mainly through self-culture and his personal efforts, and he is a man possessed of good general information. At the age of sixteen he assumed charge of his father's farm and con- tinued to manage the property until 1855, when he started out for himself. He took a small place which he cultivated until 1867, when he sold and went to Minnesota. The climate, how- ever, was too severe, and he returned to Mary- land, purchasing the place where he has since made his home. Mr. Lewis has a second farm of one hundred and sixty acres located near the village of Darnestown, where his son Joseph re- sides. In early life he was an old-line Whig and stanch admirer of Henry Clay, but he is now free from all party ties, and casts his vote for the men he considers best fitted for office. For forty years he has been an elder in the Presbyte- rian Church and a generous contributor to its en- terprises. At one time he was actively connected
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with Lodge No. 97, I. O. O. F., but when the lodge was moved to Poolesville, he ceased attend- ing its meetings, as it was too far away to permit his regular attendance.
February 17, 1850, Mr. Lewis married Jane Truman, a native of Staffordshire, England, where her father was a master builder. On com- ing to this country she settled with her parents in Philadelphia, thence removed to Washington, and later settled upon a farm in thislocality. Of the eight children of Mr. Lewis six are living, one having died in infancy, and another, Reuben Thomas, at sixteen years of age; Joseph Henry, who assists in the cultivation of the home farm, married Rachel Matthews, of Poolesville, and they have four children, Sadie, William, Alfred and Fletchall; Emma, Mrs. Thomas Purdum, re- sides in Baltimore; Clayton, who has been with a Baltimore firm for eighteen years, married Janie Brown, of Baltimore, and they have six children; Motzer, who is with his parents, married Sallie Trundle and has two children, Julia S. and Mildred T .; Fannie T. is next in order of birth; Rosalie H. married John Baker and resides near Darnestown.
UDGE JAMES B. HENDERSON. The bench and bar of western Maryland numbers among its distinguished members this gentle- man, who has made his home in Rockville, Mont- gomery County, for nearly thirty years. His personal popularity is undoubted, and his high standing in the legal profession is equally be- yond question, as was abundantly shown in the fall election of 1895, when he received a most flattering majority of votes for the judgeship which he now holds, though but few nominees on the Democratic ticket in this congressional dis- trict were elected.
The Henderson family has been influential in the annals of this portion of Maryland for almost a century. The paternal grandfather of Judge Henderson was James, a native of Pennsylvania. He died in early manhood, soon after removing to this county, about 1815. His son, James S. H.,
father of our subject, was then but an infant. The latter entered the Presbyterian ministry and devoted his whole life to the noble work he had chosen in preference to worldly honor, riches and position. In the course of his pastoral work he lived in various states, Tennessee, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Maryland. Returning to this county, he passed his last years here in quiet restfulness, dying in 1882. To himself and wife, Rosanna, daughter of Joseph Neel, of an old and respected family of this county, the following children were born: James B .; Joseph, who is a farmer of this county; Thomas N., an employe of the treasury department at Washington; Will- iam C., with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, at Camden Street station, Baltimore; Rev. John R., pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Abingdon, Pa .; Theodore W., a farmer of this county; and Sarah I., wife of Dr. J. E. Deets, of Clarksburg, Md.
Judge Henderson was born March 23, 1845, at Neelsville, Montgomery County, at the home of his maternal grandfather. The father was then in Kentucky, but in a few years returned to this section with his family, and here our subject was reared and educated. He received excellent ad- vantages in academies and normal schools, was well grounded in the sciences and classics, and was about to enter college when the troublous days of the war interfered with his plans. Ob- taining a school he engaged in conducting the same with great success until January, 1866, when he entered the law office of Brewer & Peter, of Rockville. In due time he was ad- mitted to the bar of this county, in February, 1868, and within a few weeks he "hung out his shingle" in the town of Berkeley Springs, W. Va. He did not remain there long, however, and in the fall of 1869 returned to Rockville, where he has since dwelt. Here he formed a partnership with one of his former preceptors, George Peter, and this pleasant and profitable connection continued in existence up to the death of Mr. Peter, in August, 1893.
In 1879 the high place which the judge had already won in the legal profession was publicly acknowledged by his being made a candidate on
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the Democratic ticket for the responsible position of state's attorney. He was elected for a term of four years, and entered upon his new duties on the Ist of January, 1880. He was re-elected upon the expiration of his term for another four years. January 21, 1895, Gov. Frank Brown honored him by appointing him as a judge of the sixth judicial circuit to fill a vacancy, and in the fall of the same year he was elected to the office, according to the constitutional provisions, for a term of fifteen years, as associate judge. He is making a fine record, and is fully justifying the confidence which has been reposed in him. Since the Montgomery County National Bank was organized in 1883 he has been one of its directors. Among other institutions in which he has been actively interested are the Rockville Cem- etery Association, of which he is a director; and the Rockville Academy, of which he is a trustee and the present treasurer. He has been the legal advisor of many of the leading firms and corpora- tions of this section for years and from a small beginning built up a very large and paying prac- tice.
The marriage of Judge Henderson and Clara S. Adamson, daughter of Walter H. Adamson, of Rockville, was solemnized August 11, 1870. Her father was a prominent citizen of this place, and at the time of his death was register of wills of this county. Eight children were born to our subject and wife. One of the number is de- ceased, and the others are named as follows: James A., Rose M., Margaret, George P., Fred- erick N., Sarah I. and Walter H. The eldest son is a promising young lawyer of Rockville, a graduate of Lafayette College, Pennsylvania, and is a member of the firm of Peter & Hender- son. The Hendersons attend the Presbyterian Church, some of the family being identified with the same as members.
LLAN McLANE ABERT resides upon a farm of four hundred and twenty-five acres, situated in Berry District, Montgomery County. This property is owned by himself and
his younges! sister, Constantia, who presides over his comfortable and attractive home and assists him in hospitably entertaining their many friends. For several years he traveled in the interests of Baltimore firms, but since 1892 he has engaged in farming, giving personal supervision to the culti- vation of his place, though himself too frail to do much manual labor.
Upou the farm where he still resides, Mr. Abert was born March 27, 1865. His father, Charles Abert, was a native of Mount Holly, Westmoreland County, N. J., and graduated from Princeton University, then made his home with his parents, who owned and occupied the residence recently occupied by Secretary Whit- ney in Washington, D. C. In that city he carried on the study of law and was admitted to practice before the supreme and district courts and the court of claims. Continuing in the pro- fession until his death, he meanwhile attained eminence at the bar. Both in Rockville and Mount Holly he officiated as a lay reader in the Episco- pal Church. His death occurred in August, 1897, and twenty-three hours later his older brother, Col. James W. Abert, an officer in the Civil war, passed away. The third brother, William, who was a successful civil engineer, is now retired. Their father, Maj. John Abert, was an officer in the second war with England. In 1850 Charles Abert purchased the land now owned by our subject and the following year he built the house that still stands in a good state of preservation. He was a Democrat and took an active part in public affairs.
Our subject's mother, Henrietta Constantia, was a daughter of Richard Bache, a native of Pennsylvania, and owner of an estate called Homewood. She was a granddaughter, on her mother's side, of Benjamin Franklin, the noted printer and statesman. Our subject was the youngest child, and has two brothers and four sisters. Robert Walker graduated in law in Washington; Ellen married John S. Blair, an at- torney in Washington; Sophia B. is the wife of James S. Mallory, of North Carolina; Dr. Charles, who married a daughter of Dr. Stonestreet, is employed in the postoffice department in Wash-
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ington; Maria B. is the wife of William D. Bald- win, member of the firm of Baldwin, Davis & Waite, prominent attorneys in Washington; and Constantia, the youngest of the family, resides with her brother.
In private schools, Rockville Academy and Emerson Institute, Washington, D. C., where he spent two years, the subject of this sketch re- ceived an excellent education. With the excep- tion of the time spent as a commercial traveler, he has resided continuously in Montgomery County, where he is a well-known citizen. He and his sister are identified with the Episcopal Church, to the maintenance of which they are generous contributors.
2 ICHARD W. TRAPNELL, M. D. The progenitor of the Trapnell family was Sir Osbert Tropenell, knight and lord of Sop- worth and Lawday before the Norman conquest. Consequently the family did not come in with the Conqueror. Later, in Norman times, Neston Park, Corsham, was one of the seats of the family. From very remote and ancient times Corsham was a residence of the Saxon kings, in which was held their court, and afterward the residence of the Earls of Cornwall. Neston House is close to the line of the Roman road, more anciently the Wansdyke or Wodensdyke, which is sup- posed to mark the extent of the last Belgic con- quest prior to the coming of Julius Caesar. Nes- ton Church, Corsham, and the North or Trope- nell Chapel contain arms of King Edward the Confessor, King of Wessex and King Athelstan. The first is in the church proper and the two others in the chapel, where are many other shields of arms. This chapel also contains two altar tombs, one of great size and richness, on which are three coats of arms (1) Ludlowe single (2) Trope- nell impaling Ludlowe, and (3) Tropenell. About the edge of the tomb is an ox yoke, then this writing: "Ihs, Chs, Nazarenus filius Dei, filius David, filius Marie Virginis, salvet nos!" Under the writing in the next moulding is a yoke Sir Thomas Tropenell proved his title to it.
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