USA > Maryland > Portrait and biographical record of the Sixth congressional district, Maryland V. 2 > Part 47
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traveling salesman. In 1882 he became inter- ested financially in the manufacture of smoking tobacco in Richmond, but two years subsequently he commenced traveling for Allen & Ginter, well- known tobacco manufacturers. For about four years he had the agency of the states of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and part of Illinois. When the concern which employed him was consoli- dated with that of the American Tobacco Com- pany, he resigned his position. Going to Shen- andoah County, Va., he took a place as assistant manager of the Liberty Iron Company, and when the plant was placed in the hands of a receiver he was the only one connected with the old firm who was retained to assist in the winding up of its affairs. Since 1895 he has occupied the posi- tion of head clerk of the Consolidated Coal Com- pany of Frostburg.
Upon the twenty-third anniversary of his birth, July 14, 1881, Mr. Tyler married Helen Hobson, daughter of A. Maben and Mary (Pemberton) Hobson, whose home was on the banks of the James River, in Goochland County, Va. The father was engaged in agricultural pursuits until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he en- listed in the Confederate army and served as a captain in the Army of Virginia until his death from fever, which he contracted in the field in 1863. Mr. and Mrs. Tyler have three children: Arthur Robb, born November 4, 1882; M. Brooke, April 6, 1886; and William McC., September 11, 1891. They are members of the Protestant Epis- copal Church.
2 EMUS R. DARBY, a farmer residing one and one-half miles from Buck Lodge in Barnesville District, Montgomery County, was born at Comus, this county, August 25, 1847, on a farm now owned by Frederick Jones, and then rented by his father, John W. Darby, and mother, Ellen R. (Edelen) Darby. He grew to manhood on a farm and, being the eldest son, shared the responsibility of the family's sup-
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port. When of age, he commenced for himself, renting a farm of two hundred and ninety acres, upon which he has since resided, first as a renter, but since 1878 as the owner. He has made all the improvements on the place, erected all the buildings, and placed the land under cultivation.
In politics a Democrat, Mr. Darby has taken an active part in public affairs and in 1895 was elected to his present office of county commis- sioner. He has been twice married. October 30, 1879, he married Nettie, daughter of Capt. George W. and Leah (Griffith) Chiswell, the former a gallant officer of the Confederate army. Mrs. Darby was born near Poolesville August 26, 1858, and died May 23, 1893. Of her six chil- dren five are living, namely: Emily P., George C., John E., Genevieve M. and Remus R., Jr. Ruth E. was born December 17, 1890, and died May 10, 1897. The second marriage of Mr Darby united him with Clara I. Fowler, Novem- ber 19, 1895. She was born August 4, 1860, a daughter of William C. and Alice (Jones) Fowler. One child blesses this union, William L.
The father of Mrs. Darby, William C. Fowler, was born August 17, 1836, a son of William H. and Mary (Du Fief ) Fowler. The latter's fa- ther, Nicholas G. Du Fief, was born in France, and on coming to America settled in Washington, D. C. William H. Fowler settled in Washington when his son, William C., was a child of four years; there was another child, Martha A., Mrs. Hall, of Rockville. The family home continued to be in Washington until Mrs. Darby's father was nineteen, when they removed to Montgomery County, buying the farm now owned by Z. O. Briggs, of which Mr. Fowler had the charge. November 25, 1856, when he was little more than twenty years of age (his birth having oc- curred August 17, 1836), he was united in mar- riage with Alice Gray Jones, daughter of Maj. Elijah and Mary (Griffith) Jones. She died Jan- uary 24, 1867, leaving an only child, Clara I. Her aunt, Miss Martha R. Jones, now makes her home with her niece, Mrs. Darby, and is the sole sur- vivor of her immediate family; Leah died in early womanhood. In politics Mr. Fowler affiliated with the Democrats and in fraternal relations was
a Mason. While attending to his duties at the Rockville depot, June 19, 1897, he was accident- ally struck by the Hagerstown train en route to Washington, and died after lingering a few hours.
YLVESTER C. JONES, the owner of a farm in Potomac District, Montgomery County, purchased his present property when he was a young man. The one hundred and sixty acres were then a barren waste, apparently valueless, and covered with scrub timber, but through his indefatigable energy and untiring industry the place has been transformed into an exceptionally fine estate. He is a stanch Democrat in politics and is active in his support of the principles of the party. For many years he served as judge of elections, and in other ways he has been iden- tified with local matters.
In the district where he now resides Mr. Jones was born September 22, 1832. His great-grand- father, Nathan Jones, was a member of the Eng- lish nobility, but left his native land and sought a home in Maryland, where he became a landed proprietor in Montgomery County. John Jones, father of our subject, was born and reared on the family homestead and in early life devoted his attention to the raising of tobacco, but afterward engaged in general farm pursuits. He was a Democrat and an ardent admirer of Andrew Jack- son. From Gov. Frank Thomas he received ap- pointment as judge of the orphans' court, which position he held for sixteen years, being chief judge during part of that time. He was con- scientious in the discharge of every duty and liberal in his views. Though reared in the Pres- byterian faith, he became a Catholic and was ever true to the doctrines of that church. By his marriage to Catherine, daughter of Andrew Offutt, eleven children were born, but Sylvester is the only one now living. He was educated in the public schools and Rockville Academy and remained with his father until the latter's death. Three years afterward he settled upon the farm he now owns.
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September 8, 1868, Mr. Jones married Carrie M., daughter of David P. Noland of this county, the ceremony being performed in St. Patrick's Church, Washington, D. C. They became the parents of six children, namely: Sylvester Noland, who attended Georgetown College for two years and is now deceased; John F., who was a student in Rockhill College three years and is now interested in an agricultural implement business in Washington, D. C .; Theodore, who was a student in Rockville Academy one year and is now engaged in the mercantile business in Philadelphia; Lena M., at home; James Hamp- ton, who has studied in Rockville Academy; and Frederick Thomas, who died in infancy. The family are identified with the Roman Catholic Church.
D HARLES JAMES ORRICK, president of The J. C. Orrick & Son Company, wholesale gro- ceries and provisions; and of the Cumber- land Dry Goods & Notion Company, importers and jobbers of dry goods and notions, is the pio- neer of the wholesale business in this vicinity. When he established the wholesale grocery busi- ness, under the firm name of J. C. Orrick & Son, some twenty years ago, there was not an exclu- sively wholesale house in any line of merchandise in all the territory between Baltimore and the Ohio River. The success and growth of the business he established and the number of simi- lar establishments in Cumberland and other rail- road centers in this same territory, afford evidence of his foresight in selecting Cumberland as the location for such a business. In Cumberland alone there are ten or twelve exclusive wholesale houses in various lines.
Mr. Orrick is the son of James Campbell Orrick and Susan (Pendleton) Orrick. He was born at Honeywood, Berkeley County, Va., November 8, 1850. He came to Cumberland with his fam- ily when quite young. He attended school here, completing his course in the Allegany County
Academy when sixteen years of age. He then attended a private school in Charlestown, W. Va., completing a classical course there. After sev- eral years' private study at home he entered Le- high University; there he took a special course in chemistry, mineralogy and metallurgy, at the same time working in the capacity of private assistant to Dr. Chandler, head of the school of chemistry. He was honored by the offer of a position of assistant professor of chemistry upon his graduation, but on account of his father's failing health was obliged to decline this offer and returned to Cumberland, where he became asso- ciated with his father, the late J. C. Orrick, in the wholesale grain and flour business, to which later they added a flour mill. In 1882 he pur- chased his father's interest in the business and added to it that of wholesale groceries, subse- quently dropping the grain and milling business and continuing the grocery business.
In 1887 the firm became incorporated as The J. C. Orrick & Son Company, with Mr. Orrick as president and general manager, which position he has held ever since. The object of making a joint stock company of the concern was to permit the employes of the firm to acquire some interest in the business. It is one of the rules of the com- pany that any employe who has served the com- pany satisfactorily can buy a certain amount of stock at par at any time he applies for it. A large and complete plant for the curing and smoking of meats is the last addition to the busi- ness of this company.
Mr. Orrick has never held any public office, except that of water commissioner of the city. During his incumbency he devoted much time to a study of various systems of filtration as ap- plied to the water supply of cities and towns, and the report of the board of water commissioners bearing upon this subject received much favorable comment from water engineers and sanitariums. Mr. Orrick has always been actively interested in the development and growth of the city of his adoption. While serving as corresponding sec- retary of the board of trade he wrote and circu- lated a pamphlet describing the mineral and tim- ber resources of this vicinity. He was president
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of the Merchants' and Manufacturers' Association during the four years of its existence, and, in connection with his associates in that organiza- tion, labored faithfully to advance the material interests of the city. He has been identified with the Young Men's Christian Association of the city since its organization, and is one of the trus- tees of the local association and of the state asso- ciation. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, having served in both local and grand councils of that order. He is also a member of the National Union, a Knight of the Essenic order, a member of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, and the Public Health Association. In 1873 he married Miss Helen M. Lewis, of Wheel- ing, W. Va. They have three children, Mr. Orrick's only brother is the Rev. W. P. Orrick. D. D., rector of Christ Cathedral, Reading, Pa.
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EUBEN BAXTER DETRICK, M. D., a prominent physician of Kensington, Mont- gomery County, was born in Monroe Coun- ty, Pa., in 1827, of German descent, his ancestors settling in Pennsylvania in an early day. His father, John Detrick, spent his entire life in Penn- sylvania, where he owned and operated a farm. .In religion he was identified with the Lutheran Church. While he was in the prime of manhood he was accidentally killed. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Kurtz, was the daughter of a farmer and spent her entire life in the same neighborhood, dying there when eighty- nine years of age. In her family there were five sons and three daughters, Reuben Baxter being the youngest of the number; Samuel was a farmer and miller on the Delaware River; Will- iam made his home in New Jersey; Mrs. Barbara Lander lived in Pennsylvania; Andrew engaged in farm pursuits; Mrs. Madeline Young resided in Pennsylvania; and Theodore died when a boy.
Between the years of six and fourteen the sub- ject of this sketch attended the schools of his native county, after which he spent three years
in the Easton (Pa. ) Academy, where he prepared for college. On leaving the academy he entered Dickinson College at Carlisle, Pa., from which he graduated in 1852. On completing his edu- cation he went to Washington, D. C., where he opened and carried on a private school. While teaching he also studied medicine and graduated in that science in Washington. When the Civil war began he was appointed to hospital work, and at the close of the war secured a position in the treasury department at Washington, where he remained for twenty years, being chief of di- vision for a number of years. When Mr. Cleve- land became president he resigned his position and came to Kensington, where he purchased a beautiful home. The town of Kensington was established in 1890. For some time he was a member of the school board of Washington City, D. C., in which capacity he accomplished much in behalf of the schools and assisted in establish- ing the excellent school system in use at the pres- ent time. His first vote was cast for Franklin Pierce, but since that time he has always sup- ported Republican principles.
In 1866 Dr. Detrick married Miss Susan E. Wright, a native of Virginia and a daughter of Richard Wright, who descended from English ancestors. They have no children of their own, but adopted several, one of whom, a boy, resides in Virginia, where Dr. Detrick purchased a farm for him. In religion they are identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, to the support of which the doctor has been a generous contributor.
RUMAN W. CASTEEL is a farmer of Gar- rett County, who has gained success through his untiring industry and perseverance. Were we to ask him the secret of his success, as shown in his large landed possessions and the thrifty appearance of his estate, he would un- doubtedly say it is due to hard work. He has always worked exceptionally hard, and for this
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reason and for his honesty of character deserves high position among the farmers of his section.
The father of our subject, Nathan Casteel, was born at Hoyes, Md., in 1821, and remained there until 1856, when he bought property near Oak- land, continuing to make his home there and en- gage in farm work until his death. Besides rais- ing cereals he devoted considerable attention to stock-raising. In politics he was stanch in his allegiance to the Republican party. He was elected judge of the orphans' court, which office he held for two terms, and he also served as road supervisor for a number of years. He died in 1892, at the age of seventy-one. Two children, Elizabeth J. (deceased) and Truman W., were born of his union with Sarah, daughter of John Brandt; she died in 1890, at the age of seventy.
Our subject's grandfather, Nathaniel Casteel, was born near Hoyes, Garrett County, and was one of the pioneers of this section, where often, with Meschack Browning and John Lynn, as well as other pioneers, he spent many pleasant hours in hunting the wild game then abundant. At times, when he found a bear hole, he would crawl in and shoot the bears while they were within. His life occupation was farming. Po- litically he was an old-line Whig. At the time of his death he was seventy-six years of age.
The entire life of our subject has been passed in Allegany and Garrett Counties. He was six years of age when his parents moved to Oakland and his education was obtained in the public schools and Morgantown Academy. After his father's death he succeeded to the homestead, which gave him a start in life, although his present success is due less to property inherited than to his own industry and economy. For five years he engaged in butchering at Oakland; with that exception his attention has been given to general farming and stock-raising. His landed possessions aggregate one thousand acres, sub- divided in five farmns. In connection with his farms he has a sawmill and carries on a lumber business.
Politically a Republican, Mr. Casteel was county commissioner for one term and has al- ways taken an active part in local affairs. His
membership is in the Methodist Episcopal Church, to the work of which he contributes. In 1871 he married Sidney M. Hamill, daughter of Judge Patrick Hamill; at her death she left four children: Nathan Hamill, Sarah Isabelle, William L. and Henry M. The second marriage of Mr. Casteel took place in 1893 and united him with Miss Martha M., daughter of Clark DeBerry, of Oakland.
EV. THOMAS SCOTT BACON, D. D., is a retired clergyman, whose home is in Buckeystown, Frederick County. After a very busy and useful life spent in the service of the Master, he has at last given himself up al- most exclusively to study and research, finding his chief pleasure in "finding out the deep and hidden things of God." He has long been most desirous to devote himself to this field of endeavor, and by nature and experience he is one well cal- culated to lead others in the "paths of righteous- ness." His tastes are distinctly literary, and he has had published several very valuable additions to the religious literature of our language. His comprehensive and scholarly work on the " Be- ginnings of Religion," evinces great study and research, as well as unusual knowledge of the motives of the human heart which is always, in all times and lands, reaching out after God. In order that he might produce this literary master- piece of its kind, the author went to England where he had access to the old manuscripts, in- scriptions, etc., narrating the early efforts of the human race in expressing their ideas of the creator, etc. His last great work is entitled "The First and Great Commandment of God," this volume being now in process of publication in New York City.
Dr. Bacon was born in Saratoga, N. Y., in 1825, and was reared under the influence of his father, Rev. William Bacon, a most saintly man, whose power for good was far-reaching and had a noticeable effect upon all who were within the
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radius of his influence. He died in 1862, having been retired from active ministerial work for some time previous. He had been a life-long member of the Presbyterian denomination, and for years one of the most valued pastors in the same. Much of his life was passed in New York state, where he graduated from the Union Theo- logical Seminary, but for a few years he was located in Philadelphia. His wife bore the maiden name of Abbie Price. Her only brother was a distinguished member of the New York bar. Mr. Bacon lived to be sixty-eight years of age, but his loved wife died when fifty. They were the parents of four sons and a daughter: A. B., a lawyer and editor of note and at one time a member of the New York senate, was a personal friend of Thomas Jefferson and was strongly southern in sentiment during the war; he died in New Orleans; Rev. Henry M. served all through the war as a chaplain in the Union army, and was a minister in the Presbyterian Church. The other brother of our subject died young. The sister, Maria, became the wife of L. P. Brewster, of Oswego, N. Y., and is still living. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Capt. David Bacon, who served in the Con- tinental army under General Selton during the Revolutionary war. He was a farmer in New York state, and was a descendant of some of the earliest settlers in the vicinity of Boston, Mass.
The childhood of Rev. T. S. Bacon was mainly spent in Philadelphia and his elementary educa- tion was there gained. Later he entered Williams College (the Alma Mater of General Garfield, Justice Field and many other notable men) and was graduated at the early age of seventeen years. He is the youngest surviving graduate of that college at this time. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in Boston, Mass. In 1848 he went to New Orleans, where he was soon afterwards ordained a minister in the Episcopal Church by Bishop Polk. He was given a charge which he filled until the beginning of the war, but then returned north, on account of his sym- pathy with the Union cause. He was chaplain in the squadron commanded by Admiral Farragut, on the Hudson River, for a period. After hav-
ing been situated in western Ohio in a pastorate for a few years, he located in St. Mary's County, and later went to Oakland, on the crest of the Alleganies. The following five years he was pastor of St. Paul's parish in Frederick County, but since 1887 has been practically retired.
In 1856 Rev. Mr. Bacon married, in Baltimore, Miss Kelsoe, a native of that city. She died in 1882, and thirteen years ago Mr. Bacon married Miss Sophia L., daughter of William Groff, of an old and highly respected family in this section.
ELSON R. BAKER. Almost the entire active life of the subject of this sketch was spent in the service of the government. For thirty-six years he was connected with the treasury department at Washington, D. C., and during the latter part of this time he was chief of one of the departments. Industrious and painstaking in his work, he was admirably fitted for a position of responsibility, such as was the one he occupied. Personally he was a man of fine physique, with a face that indicated high qualities of mind and heart.
In New Castle, Pa., immediately above Hagers- town, Md., Mr. Baker was born in April, 1833. His father, Rev. John H. Baker, in his earlier life followed the mercantile business, but later studied for the ministry and became a clergyman in the Methodist Church. The remainder of his years he gave to the preaching of the Gospel. For a time he had a charge in Pennsylvania, and from there accepted the pastorate of a church in Baltimore, where he remained until his retire- ment. He had a brother, Judge William Baker, who was a prominent man in Baltimore. He was of English descent, but the family has been identified with American history from an early day.
The family of which our subject was a member consisted of five sons and one daughter: W. S. G. resides in Baltimore, where he has an attractive home on Charles street, opposite Notre Dame
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College; John G., who was a lieutenant in the war, owned a beautiful home in Baltimore, where he died; Samuel, a physician, died in Omaha, Neb .; Marcus Young, also a physician, resides in Fayette, Iowa; Nora, the only daughter, died when two years of age.
After completing his studies in the schools of Baltimore, our subject entered the mercantile business in Baltimore, but after a few years he retired from business and entered the service of the government in the treasury department, where he remained for thirty-six years. In 1861 he married Miss Sarah Elizabeth Perry, daughter of Samuel Perry, a successful farmer of this lo- cality, and the owner of the beautiful estate, Lake Forest, now owned by his daughter, Mrs. Baker. The farm is situated only a short distance from the electric car line that leads from Washington to Bethesda and the residence was erected by Mr. Perry, who during slave days owned many slaves and carried on a large planta- tion. In politics he was an old-line Whig. He had one son, James E. Perry, and two daughters, Margaret Catherine and Sarah Elizabeth. Only one child blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Baker, a daughter, Ella Lee, who is with her mother. The family are identified with the Pres- byterian Church, in which Mr. Baker was an elder for many years.
ATHAN J. WALKER, who is engaged in farming near Gaithersburg, Montgomery County, was born October 27, 1824, near what is now Browningsville, near Damascus, upon a farm that is now owned by his brother, G. W. Walker. His father, George B., was born in 1799, devoted his entire active life to farming, held membership in the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and died in 1860. By his mar- riage to Margaret Boyer there were born five children, namely: Sarah A., deceased wife of William Glaze, of Frederick County; Nathan J .; William R., who died upon his farm in Freder-
ick County; George W., who resides on the old homestead; and Mary, wife of Albert Miles, now of Howard County.
George Walker, our subject's grandfather, was born in Maryland and served in the war of the Revolution. After his marriage he settled near Damascus, Montgomery County, where he con . tinued to reside until his death. The maiden name of his wife was Bryan, which was the middle name of our subject's father. In the common schools, the nearest of which was nearly three miles away, the subject of this sketch re- ceived his education. From an early age he assisted his father on the farm, thus gaining an adequate conception of agriculture. July 27, 1848, he married Evaline, daughter of John B. King. She was born July 4, 1828, and by her marriage became the mother of eleven children, all but one still living.
The record of the family is as follows: John W. is county commissioner of Montgomery Coun- ty; George Edward is a farmer near the home place; James K. cultivates a farm that adjoins his father's home; Amanda E. is the wife of Nathan H. Darby, of Montgomery County; Charles W. is engaged in farming near Atlanta, Ga .; Crittendon H. cultivates a farm near Lay- tonsville, Montgomery County; Evaline R. is the wife of C. H. Browning and lives near Ger- mantown, Montgomery County; Nathan A. car- ries on farming on a place that adjoins his fa- ther's; Miriam, widow of William Carlisle, has two children, Roger and Margie, and they now make their home with Mr. Walker; McKendree is at home with his parents. The children were educated in the public schools and academies of the county, and are well informed, upright and industrious, a family of whom the parents may well be proud. One child, Margaret Jemima, died when two years of age.
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