USA > Maryland > Portrait and biographical record of the Sixth congressional district, Maryland V. 2 > Part 48
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Prior to the Civil war Mr. Walker voted the Whig ticket and since then he has been a Demo- crat. At the age of fifteen he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church and when the war divided the denomination into two branches he identified himself with the southern branch. For twenty-five years he has been superintendent
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of the Sunday-school, and in other lines of act- He carried on a grain brokerage business in ivity he has endeavored to promote the welfare Baltimore until 1885, when he sold out and came to Hagerstown, his present home. October 19, 1881, he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Hoey Towson, of this place, and they are the parents of two sons. of the church. At the time of buying his pres- ent farm, it contained one hundred and ninety acres, mostly improved, and he has since added to it until he now owns four hundred and fifty acres, all in a good state of cultivation. In 1877 he built a grist mill on his place and since then has done considerable grinding, both for himself and others. He advocates the temperance cause, not only in precept, but in example also, for he has never tasted a drop of liquor or smoked a cigar in his life. He is a man of sterling char- acter, respected by all who know bim for his ability, industry, perseverance and uprightness.
13 AVIES L. KENLY is a member of the firm of W. P. Towson & Co., dealers in coal, wood, grain and hay, and well-known busi ness men of Hagerstown. Coming to this city in 1885, he purchased a farm near town and a half interest in the business, with which he has since been connected. In addition to his busi- ness interests, he takes an active part in public affairs and is a local leader of the Democracy, being at this writing the chairman of the Demo- cratic county central committee. For four years he has officiated as president of the board of ~ trustees of the Bellevue almshouse, and for two years he has been a director of the Tri-State Fair Association at Hagerstown."
In the city of Baltimore Mr. Kenly was born March 15, 1849, and there his boyhood days were passed. After having attended the public schools for a few years, at the age of thirteen he began to clerk in the hardware store of H. W. Webb, with whom he remained for a year. His next position was with the firm of Kenly & Tilghman, grain commissioners, with whom he remained as an employe for nineteen years, mean- time gaining a thorough knowledge of the busi- ness. Saving his earnings, he was finally in a position to engage in business independently.
Mr. Kenly is connected with the Sons of the American Revolution. His grandfather, Col. Gassaway Watkins, was the president at the time of his death, of the Society of the Cincinnati. During the Revolution he enlisted as captain of a company of Maryland soldiers, that served with conspicuous bravery in many a closely-contested battle. Again in the War of 1812, though he was then advanced in years, he offered his serv- ices for the defense of his country. He was made a colonel in the army and commanded the forces in the engagement at Bladensburg.
Industry and perseverance are essential factors to success in any line of business, and it is these qualities that have brought to Mr. Kenly the degree of prosperity that he enjoys. He started out for himself without money, but being an ex- cellent man of business he found steady employ- ment at good wages. And the money he earned was saved, to form the foundation of an independ- ent business. During the period of his residence in Hagerstown he has gained a reputation as an honest, efficient business man, an accommodat- ing friend and a public-spirited citizen.
AMES T. JOHNSON, M. D., one of the leading physicians of western Maryland, was born in Florence, Ala., November 29, 1868, and is the only child of the late Thomas and Elizabeth Johnson. In private schools he laid the foundation of his education, and later he entered the State Normal School at Florence, from which he was graduated. Subsequently he began the study of medicine under the tutelage of Dr. J. B. Pouncey, a distinguished physician of Florence. Afterward he entered the medical department of the University of New York,
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where he remained a student for two years. He year. Returning to his home, he remained in that then spent a year in the south in the capacity of an assistant to a physician, and on his return to the east entered the Baltimore Medical College, where he carried on the study of medicine until his graduation from the institution in 1891, with the degree of M. D., also receiving the high honor of standing first in his class.
Shortly after his graduation Dr. Johnson began his duties as resident physician in the Maryland General Hospital, a responsible position that he retained until 1893. During the same period he also acted in the capacity of government physi- cian of the United States Immigrant Hospital in Baltimore. His administration of affairs, while the incumbent of these positions, met with marked approval on the part of all concerned. In the meantime, at the request of professional friends, he had become a visiting physician of Cumberland Hospital, and he concluded to es- tablish his permanent home in this city. After a connection of two years with the City Hospital he established the practice that he has since car- ried on.
A thorough and indefatigable worker, a close observer, a diligent student, and a man who possesses mental abilities of a high order, Dr. Johnson in the few years since his graduation has attained a position in the medical profession that is reached by few after years of untiring effort. In 1895 he married Miss Ida C. Matthis, of Philadelphia, Pa., and one child blesses their union, a son, James T., Jr. Dr. and Mrs. John- son are prominent in the social circles of this city.
RNEST H. DARBY, manager of the Seneca Mills, in Poolesville District, Montgomery County, was born at the old homestead De- cember 11, 1861. He received his education principally in the Andrew Small Academy at Darnestown. When seventeen years of age he entered the store of Dr. Charles Nourse, a drug- gist of Washington, where he remained for a
vicinity for two years, and then took charge of a mill in Washington that was owned by his father and Mr. Rice. After one year he returned to his home and became associated with his father in the Seneca Mills, which he has since operated. Since the removal of his father to Gaithersburg. in 1872, he has taken entire charge of the business, the mill being run under the name of Upton Darby & Son. The mill is situated on the Great Seneca Creek, one-half mile above its mouth, and was remodeled in 1880, modern im- provements being put in. It has a capacity of one hundred barrels, and turns out only first- class work.
In addition to the management of the mill, Mr. Darby handles mill supplies of all kinds, wheat, flour, feed, corn, etc., and does a large business in selling fertilizer. He owns two boats on the canal and is one of the most extensive shippers of grain, hay and straw of any company in the county. The site now occupied by his mill was first utilized for that purpose about one hundred years ago, when a mill was built. Twice, under the Darby ownership, the mill burned to the ground, each time causing a heavy loss. The first time he rebuilt at once, but within eighteen months it burned again, with a loss of $35,000, which was but little less than his loss the first time. He rebuilt again at once. His special brand is the Caledonia, a fancy straight Chiesa- peake. During 1898 he introduced the modern granulated process, a Franco-American process, as yet adopted by but few mills in the United States. The brand under this process is called Granule, and is a superfine brand, with the flavor of the old process, but with the color of the finest roller process.
The home of Mr. Darby is in Darnestown District, one and one-half miles from the village of that name, and midway between the mill and the town. In connection with the mill, he owns seventy acres of farming land, and operates a quarry farm of over six hundred acres under a long time lease. November 2, 1886, he married H. Louisa Darby, daughter of Philip and Marga- ret (Ijams) Darby, of Baltimore. Two children
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bless the union, Margaret Ijams and Eleanor Nourse. In politics a Republican, Mr. Darby has always supported the party. In 1896 he re- ceived the Republican nomination for representa- tive, which nomination he had frequently refused before, but which was given him at that time without his knowledge or consent. In the election he led the ticket in the county. In addition to his other business enterprises, he is manager of the Antietam Lime and Stone Com- pany. He and his family are identified with the Presbyterian Church of Darnestown, in which he is an elder and formerly took an active part in Sunday-school work.
ICHARD LEE SAUNDERS. The stock farm owned and occupied by Mr. Saunders is situated in Potomac District, Montgomery County, and is conveniently located for the care of horses, being only ten miles from Washington. Having a never-failing supply of running water, it is especially well adapted for pasturage and in that way the majority of the land is utilized. Of this place he has been the owner since the death of his father, May 2, 1883, when he bought out the other heirs, and has since managed the estate. He conceived the plan of caring for horses be- longing to city residents and in this line has acquired an enviable reputation. He has cared for some of the stock belonging to the White House and has as patrons many men of influence. At one time he cared for horses belonging to Mrs. Leland Stanford and now has in his posses- sion a personal letter from her, in which she commends him for his careful oversight of the animals.
On the place where he now resides Mr. Saun- ders was born March 30, 1858. The family is of Scotch descent and was founded in America by . John Saunders, gentleman, who came with a colony and settled in Virginia. Our subject's grandfather, James Saunders, was a prominent planter in Loudoun County. September 1, 1809,
he was commissioned second lieutenant by James Madison, which commission, bearing the personal signature of the president, is now in the posses- sion of our subject, as well as a picture of the lieutenant in his uniform. He served during the entire period of the War of 1812 and attained the rank of major. His wife, Lucy H., was a daughter of Richard Henry Lee, one of the sign- ers of the Declaration of Independence.
During the earlier part of the war Major Saun- ders was stationed near the borders of Canada, where he was engaged in skirmishing. and bom- barding. During a part of his service he acted as an aide to General Parker, but resigned that position to accept the appointment of inspector- general of troops at Norfolk. He was an honor- able man and stood high as an officer in the army. His death occurred April 14, 1837, in Fairfax County, Va., when he was fifty-four years of age. His will, in his own handwriting, which shows beautiful penmanship and is still perfectly clear, is now in the possession of our subject. In his family there were four children: John, Annie, Mary and Richard.
John, father of our subject, was born at Nor- folk, Va., December 29, 1816. His education was acquired principally through his own efforts, but was more thorough than is always given in schools. About 1848 he bought a farm of two hundred and twenty-five acres, all in fine timber. He named the place Ellerslie, and set himself to work clearing the land, which, through his efforts, was brought to a high state of cultivation. Politically he was a Democrat and for two terms served as county commissioner. He attended the Protestant Episcopal Church.
November 17, 1852, Mr. Saunders married Emily Catherine White, daughter of Nathan S. White, who died at his home near Dawsonville at the age of eighty-four. Five children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Saunders. The father was a man whose success was due to his own efforts. At the age of eighteen he was obliged to assume the support of his mother and sisters. He had therefore few opportunities to acquire the education that most young men re- ceive. However, he possessed a wonderful mem-
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ory, which he used in treasuring in his mind quotations from the best writers of all ages, and these quotations he used, on appropriate oc- casions, in conversation, so that he was a most delightful conversationalist.
Until the winter of 1882 our subject assisted his father. He then went to New York and entered the employ of the Walter A. Wood Manufactur- ing Company, for whom he intended to go to South America. However, his health was so greatly injured by the change of climate that in the spring of 1883 he was obliged to return home. Shortly afterwards his father died and he bought the old homestead, where he has since resided, He is a member of the Episcopal Church, fra- ternally is identified with the Royal Arcanum and in politics is a Democrat.
September 21, 1886, Mr. Saunders married Nellie, daughter of Joseph Bean, a builder resid- ing in Baltimore. They have four children: Beverly, John, Charlotte and Josephine. For some years Mrs. Saunders engaged in teaching, for which work her education well qualified her. She had attended school and studied music in Dresden, Germany, for three years, and also was a student in the State Normal School at Balti- more, where she graduated with first honors in a class of forty, her per cent in mathematics being one hundred.
and took an active part in the councils of the Whig party. Among the offices that he held were those of deputy sheriff and collector. In religion he was identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he served as trustee and superintendent of the Sunday-school. Both of his time and means he contributed liberally for the promotion of the welfare of the church. His house was the stopping place for all the min- isters of the denomination who passed through the county.
By the marriage of Charles H. Murphey to Julia Ann, daughter of Samuel Richardson, ten children were born, eight of whom attained years of maturity, namely: Elizabeth T., who married Richard Brown and resides in Win- chester, Va .; Charles R .; Randolph R., a retired minister, residing in Baltimore; Ann, who married William R. Windsor and resides in Montgomery County near Salem; Lucinda, who married John H. Gibson, of Clarksburg; George Washington, a farmer living near Hyattstown; Frances W. and Wooten.
Reared on a farm, our subject engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1865, when he built a large store-room at Clarksburg and embarked in the mercantile business. Until 1871 he continued in business, but in that year retired from mer- chandising and afterward served as deputy sheriff, constable and collector of the district for two terms. In every position that he has held he has given good satisfaction to all parties con- cerned. He has always taken an active part in the work of the Democratic party, to which he has given his allegiance since 1861. At this writing he is serving his first term as judge of the orphans' court; in addition to which he is still interested in farm work and gives personal super- vision to his estate.
UDGE CHARLES R. MURPHEY, judge of the orphans' court and a resident of Clarks- burg, Montgomery County, was born in Clarksburg district, this county, September 7, 1829. He is a son of Charles H. Murphey, who was born in the lower part of Prince George In 1858 Judge Murphey was one of the organ- izers and a charter member of Clarksburg Lodge No. 100, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all the chairs and which he has represented in the grand lodge. In religion he is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church South, in which County, and at the age of twenty-five years re- moved to Frederick County, later going to Mont- gomery County, where he purchased two farms. On one of these, an unimproved tract of three hundred and seventy-five acres, he settled and commenced the work of clearing the land. He he was Sunday-school superintendent for ten was one of the prominent men of his community years and has been a trustee and class leader,
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and is now a steward. Both of his time and means he has given freely to the church, in the work of which he has maintained a deep interest.
The marriage of Judge Murphey occurred in 1851 and united him with Eliza R. Mannakee, daughter of John Mannakee, of Laytonsville District. Seven children were born of their union, namely: Wilbur F., who is engaged in the mercantile business in Chicago; Clara, who married William A. Beall and resides in Wash- ington; Mollie E .; Julia Elizabeth, who married Thomas E. Benson, of Laytonsville District; Isabella, deceased; Jennie, wife of Albert O. Appleby; and Katie L.
OBERT S. HILTON, member of the firm of Buxton & Hilton, and one of the suc- cessful business men of Clarksburg, Mont- gomery County, was born in this county June 25, 1831, and is a son of Thomas Hilton. His grandfather, Thomas Hilton, Sr., came to Mont- gomery County from St. Mary's County when a young man and engaged in farming here. After a time he went to West Virginia, but finding it less preferable as a home returned to Maryland and located permanently in Montgomery County. He married Flavila Stewart and they had a large family. He was originally from England.
Thomas Hilton, Jr., was born and reared in this county and when a young man began- to work on a farm. Throughout life he followed agricultural pursuits. He acquired some prop- erty here and was a man of strict morality and uprightness of character. By his marriage to Sarah E., daughter of John Sheckles, he had three sons and one daughter, the latter, Dorothy, being deceased. The youngest son, Adolphus, who resided in Washington, died in 1893.
The subject of this sketch, who was the oldest son and is now the only survivor, excepting his brother, John B., a farmer near Damascus, was educated in the public schools and at an early
age began to work upon a farm. When about twenty-five he engaged to work for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, with whom he re- mained about five years. On returning home he embarked in the mercantile business. In 1880 he bought out the stock and business of John H. Gibson in Clarksburg, and in connection with Mr. Buxton has since carried on a large trade among the people of the village and surrounding country.
Politically Mr. Hilton is a Democrat and takes an active part in local political affairs. For six years he was tobacco inspector at Baltimore. In fraternal relations he has been identified with Damascus Lodge No. 88, I. O. O. F., for more than forty years. He attends the Methodist Church, to which he contributes liberally. Oc- tober 9, 1870, he was united in marriage with Sarah Catherine, daughter of Garrison Miles, of Clarksburg. They are the parents of two chil- dren: Robert G. A., who is clerk for the board of commissioners, and Lillie May.
ARWICK PRICE MILLER. The Miller family was founded in America about 1680, when Guion Miller and his wife Margaret (known as Moggy) came from Wales and settled in East Culm Township, Chester County, Pa., purchasing land that remained in the possession of their descendants until 1858. There is a tradition to the effect that they built a log barn, he raising the logs as far as possible, then placing skids with auger holes in them, and while he pushed the logs up the skids, she stuck in a pin, and in that way the barn was raised. Their son, Robert, had eighteen children, one of them being Warwick, who was born in 1735 (old style) and who married Elizabeth Price. Their oldest son, Robert, took the home farm. The second son, our subject's grandfather, was Mor- decai, born in 1764, and who went to Virginia and married Rebecca, daughter of William and Susanna (Saunders) Hartshorne, November 8,
1
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1792. He was a clockmaker and for some time carried on business in Leesburg and Alexandria, Va., but finally entered the shipping business and made a fortune in the West Indies and South America trade. He also shipped tobacco to Bremen, his sons, William, John and Robert H., going with the vessels as super-cargo. His wife died December 19, 1810, and he March 2, 1832, both at Alexandria, Va.
Of the children of Mordecai Miller, Robert H., our subject's father, was born August 10, 1798, and died March 10, 1874. He married Anna Janney, who was born September 25, 1802, and was a daughter of Elisha and Mary Janney, of Hillsboro, Va. They were married at Water- ford, Va., April 23, 1823, and she died February 23, 1885, having survived him for eleven years. Their oldest son, Warwick Price, forms the subject of this sketch. Francis, another son, born July 31, 1829, married Caroline Hallowell, September 23, 1852, and died February 2, 1888. He lived in Sandy Spring, and practiced law in Washington, D. C. Sarah, born February 24, 1836, married Henry C. Hallowell July 16, 1857. Benjamin H., born May 20, 1840, married Sarah Thomas September 18, 1862. Caroline, born August 2, 1842, married Roger B. Farguahar November 20, 1867. The three last-named reside in Mont- gomery County, Md.
For years Robert H. Miller carried on a china and glassware business in Alexandria, and the same enterprise is now in the hands of his grand- son. In religion he was identified with the Society of Friends. He was a Whig and for years a member of the town council. In Alex- andria, where he was born, our subject spent his early years, receiving his education in the Benja- min Hallowell school. He assisted his father in the store until twenty years of age, when he went to St. Louis and for nine years carried on a busi- ness similar to that in which his father was en- gaged. In 1848 he returned east and purchased a farm in Sandy Spring, Montgomery County, Md., where he has since made his home. He has an attractive home, surrounded by fine old forest trees, and located on the Ashton and Coles- ville pike. He has effected a wonderful trans-
formation in the place, as when he purchased it, the land was nearly all in pine and sedge, with no building on it save a small log house. In pol- ities he was first a Whig and now a Democrat. He is a member of the Society of Friends at Sandy Springs.
May 9, 1848, Mr. Miller married Mary Moore Stabler, daughter of Caleb and Ann (Moore) Stabler. She was born at Oakwood June II, 1828, and died at Alloway June 17, 1892. Her maternal grandfather, Thomas Moore, who was a civil engineer, was appointed in 1804 by Presi- dent Jefferson to locate a national road from Frederick, Md., to the Ohio River. He also pat- ented the first refrigerator in the United States, the patent for which was signed by President Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, secretary of state. The original instrument may be seen, framed, in the house of our subject, who justly values the document. Ann Moore was born in November, 1799, and was a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Brooke) Moore, the former born June 12, 1760, died October 3, 1822; the latter born July 27, 1760, died July 6, 1840. Their children were: Mary M., who married Thomas Reese; Asa, who died at the age of twenty-three; Ann, Mrs. Stabler; and Caleb, who died at the age of fifty- two.
The Brooke family, of which the wife of Thomas Moore was a member, was founded in America by Robert Brooke, who was born in London June 3, 1602, and with his wife, Mary Baker, emi- grated to Maryland, settling at Della Brooke, twenty miles above the mouth of the Patuxent River, in what is now Calvert County, June 29, 1650. The Stabler family is of English origin also. George Stabler, of York, England, had four children. The youngest, Edward, born about 1732, near York, came to America in 1753, and married Mary Robinson, of Chester County, Pa. After living for a time in Philadelphia, he moved to Petersburg, Va., where he engaged in merchandising until his death. He and his wife were buried at Gravelly Run, Friends' cemetery, Nansemond County, Va. They had four chil- dren who attained maturity: Ann, Mary, Edward and William. The last-named married Deborah,
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daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Brooke) Pleasants, of Beaver Dam, Goochland County, Va. They settled in Leesburg, but removed from there to Sandy Spring, Md., settling upon a place that she had inherited from her mother. Their children were: Thomas P., Edward, James P., Caleb and William Henry.
The subject of this sketch had nine children. Annie, born in St. Louis, married Joseph M. Shoemaker, son of Robert and Elizabeth M. Shoemaker; he died in Germantown, Pa., May 24, 1895, and was buried at Alloway. Frederick, born at Drayton July 11, 1850, died in St. Louis June 29, 1851, and was buried at Alloway. Robert H., born in St. Louis August 29, 1851, married Mariana, daughter of Charles and Sarah E. Stabler, September 18, 1895, and they have a daughter, Annie. He was for five years, 1893-98, director of the government experiment station at the Maryland Agricultural College. Cornelia S., born at Alloway December 17, 1854, married Charles F. Brooke, son of George E. and Eliza Brooke, October 21, 1879, and their oldest child, Warwick Miller, died in 1891; the others are: Dorothy, Gladys and Margaret. Isabel resides with her father. Caleb Stabler Miller, living in Washington, D. C., born February 21, 1859, married Mary Wilson, at Lapeer, Mich., and they have an adopted daughter, Helen. War- wick P., Jr., living in Philadelphia, Pa., born in October, 1860, married Mary Stansbury Bentz, October 10, 1894, and they have a son, Warwick P. (third). Bertha died in infancy, and Mary Janet, the youngest daughter of our subject, re- sides with her father.
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