USA > Maryland > Portrait and biographical record of the Sixth congressional district, Maryland V. 2 > Part 49
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R ICHARD H. WHITWORTH, proprietor of the Westernport pharmacy, was born at Laurel, Md., March 29, 1850, the son of Richard and Isabella (Willoughby ) Whitworth. His mother was born in the city of Baltimore, while his father's birth occurred on an ocean steamer while the family were en route to Amer-
ica from Manchester, England. He grew to man kood in Baltimore, and there he engaged in business as a woolen manufacturer for years. From there he removed to Zanesville, Ohio, where he died in 1858. He and his wife were the parents of five sons and three daughters, of whom we note the following: Laura married Thomas M. Young, who is employed in the pen- sion office at Washington, D. C .; Mary A. is a resident of Laurel, Md .; Isabella is the widow of William H. Young and lives at Laurel; Charles S., who enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty- ninth Maryland Infantry, was killed in the battle of Cedar Creek; Horace, a chief engineer in the government service, was in the United States navy during the war; Richard H. was next in order of birth, while the youngest of the family is Edwin A., who has a drug store in Piedmont. W. Va. The grandfather of this family, Richard Whitworth, was a native of Manchester, Eng- land, and after coming to America engaged in the manufacture of woolens in Baltimore. The mother of our subject is now eighty-six years of age. She makes her home in Laurel, and is quite hearty for one so advanced in years.
When twelve years of age our subject began to work, his first position being in a grocery at Laurel. Five years later he began in business for himself, and for three years carried on a gen- eral store in Laurel, after which he entered into a partnership with his brother, Edwin A., in the drug business at Laurel, the business remaining there until 1882, when it was removed to West- ernport. Later he established a store across the river at Piedmont, and when the partnership was dissolved in 1894 the Piedmont pharmacy became the property of his brother, while he took the store at Westernport. Other enterprises have engaged his attention at different times, but for some years past he has given his entire attention to the drug business.
Actively interested in public matters, Mr. Whitworth has been a factor in the development of local interests. For four years he served as postmaster of Westernport, holding the office under Presidents Arthur and Cleveland. In 1892-93 he served as collector of county and
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state taxes for the fifth district, and in 1890 he filled the position of census enumerator. In politics a pronounced Republican, he always sup- ports the principles of his party and votes for its candidates in local and national elections. In religious belief he is an Episcopalian. January 18, 1881, Mr. Whitworth married Margaret Prichard, daughter of Arthur Prichard, of Anne Arundel County, Md. They are the parents of seven sons, Horace P., Edwin, Richard S., Arthur, Tracey W., Donald P. and Lewis B. The sons are being educated in the high school under the able supervision of Professor Bruce, and Horace, who is a member of the class of 1898, stands at its head in the excellence of his recitations.
APT. ETHERIDGE KENT is a member of an old and distinguished family of Maryland. The genealogical record is traced to Eng- land, but for many generations Maryland has been their home and the United States their country. In commerce and in the professions they have had able representatives, men of ability and sound judgment, whose talents have con- tributed to the advancement of the state, as well as won for themselves high standing and financial prosperity. Probably the most noted member of the family was Hon. Joseph Kent, who was born in Prince George County, Md., and became à man of such influence and power that he was chosen governor of the commonwealth and its representative in the United States senate. He was the second governor who lived in the colonial residence erected by his predecessor, Governor Stevens, a building that was constructed of im- ported brick and that is still standing.
The family of Governor Kent comprised eleven children, of whom the following attained mature years: James, Daniel, Thomas, De Witt; Jane, who married Dr. Julius Hall, of Port Tobacco, Md .; and Kate, who married a Mr. Mitchell. DeWitt Kent, father of our subject, was born in Prince George County and received his primary
education there, afterward taking a collegiate course in order to prepare himself for a profes- sional career. His plans, however, were changed and he entered the mercantile business in Balti- more. For many years he was employed in the patent and land offices in Washington. Interested in agriculture, he owned and superintended a farm in the third district of Anne Arundel County. His last days were quietly passed on that place and there his life work was ended March 10, 1886. He was well acquainted with many of the prominent public men of his time, and was an intimate friend of Gen. Winfield Scott, Henry Clay and Daniel Webster, all of whom often enjoyed the comforts of his hospitable home. Though never seeking office for himself, he took an interest in public affairs and kept himself well informed concerning the questions of the age. In religious connections he was identified with St. Anne's Episcopal Church of Annapolis.
The marriage of DeWitt Kent united him with Julia M. Sudler, of Kent County. The four sons and two daughters born of this union were named as follows: Joseph, who is deceased; Henry Ballard, a merchant in Baltimore and a namesake of an uncle who bore a prominent part in the War of 1812; William Lee, also of Baltimore; Etheridge; Julia Ballard, the deceased wife of Dr. H. R. Walton, of Annapolis; and Ella Lee, the widow of Ogle Winchester, who lives in Annapolis.
In Washington, D. C., where he was born August 31, 1848, the subject of this sketch spent the days of his boyhood. He received his edu- cation in St. Frances de Sales Academy in Boston, but at the age of sixteen, in 1864, left school and entered the United States navy, where he remained until August, 1865. When the war closed he secured employment with the Bal- timore & Ohio Railroad Company, with which he has since remained, having been a passenger conductor for more than thirteen years. He is a member of the Naval Veterans' Association of Maryland, at Baltimore. He casts his vote for the man and the measure rather than the party, and is independent in politics. In the Order of
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Railway Conductors he holds membership While not identified with any denomination he attends the Episcopal Church, to which his family belong. In fraternal relations he is a Mason.
July 3, 1872, in Baltimore, Mr. Kent was united in marriage with Mary Anna, daughter of the late Captain Chance, who was a sea captain. Ten children were born of their union, but four died in childhood. The six now living are named as follows: Etheridge, who is in the theatrical business in Baltimore; Ella Lee, Neva Whistle, Virginia Beach, Julia Pansy and Edward Bart- lett.
APT. GEORGE L. FISHER. No citizen of Hagerstown deserves more honorable mention than does this gentleman, who, in peace and war, has stood courageously and man- fully by the old flag and has neglected his own personal interests for years at a time, for the good of his loved country. His record as a mili- tary official is one of which he should be proud, and one which reflects credit upon his state and place of residence. Since 1880 he has been the captain of two companies of the Maryland Na- tional Guard; was first lieutenant in two com- panies and was second lieutenant in one company. In addition to this he served in the state militia as first sergeant in one company for six years and altogether filled the post of sergeant for twelve and one-half years. He is now captain of the Douglas Guard.
George L. Fisher is the eldest of the twelve children of George N. and Barbara (Hachtel) Fisher, natives of Bavaria. They came to Am- erica in 1851 and landed in Baltimore, from whence they proceeded to Fulton County, Pa. There the father followed his trade of a wheel- wright and also carried on a farm up to the time of his death, July 15, 1892, at the age of sixty- seven years. He was an official member of the Lutheran Church, and his widow, who is still on the old homestead, and is now in her seventy- third year, is also identified with the denomina-
tion. The five surviving children of George and Barbara Fisher are: George L., Ludwig G., William, Lizzie and Christina, the last-named the wife of John Spade, of Fulton County, Pa., where the others also reside, with the exception of our subject, and William, who is a brakeman on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, with his home in Brunswick, Md.
Though a native of Bavaria, Germany, Cap- tain Fisher is practically an American, as he was but five years old when he came to this country. He was born November 20, 1846, and was reared to manhood on his father's farm in Pennsylvania. He was so thoroughly imbued with the spirit of patriotism that he enlisted before he was sixteen years old, August 18, 1862, in Company A, Seventh Maryland Infantry, and participated in all the notable battles of the Army of the Potomac up to 1864. He at last was so unfortunate as to fall into the hands of the enemy while in a skirm- ish line at Weldon Railroad. The following week while detained in Libby Prison, he lived almost without food, and then during the next three weeks he fared little better, he then being con- fined in an old tobacco warehouse in Danville, Va. For four months he was held a prisoner in Salisbury, N. C., and his diet there consisted of a pound of corn-bread, made of corn-meal, cobs and all, without salt. Two of his companions in misery kept as accurate count as possible of the deaths of our brave boys in blue in this prison, and in a little over four months the record of one was fifty-eight hundred and the other, fifty-eight hundred and .forty deaths. Sixty soldiers who died in one night were seen by our subject the next morning in the dead-house. At last, weakened by untold hardships and privations, he and his comrades were started for the Union lines, and many died on the forced march of over a week which they were obliged to take, rations giving out entirely at the close of the first four days. They were made to sign a parole and on the night of February 29, 1865, were put on the cars and landed within the Union lines. From Wilmington to Annapolis they made the journey on ship-board, eight hundred men being on the transport. Upon receiving his honorable dis-
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charge Mr. Fisher had a furlough of one month and then reported again for duty at Annapolis. He was sent to Arlington Heights, Va., and re- mained there until the return of the Army of the Potomac, when he and his comrades took their place in the Seventh Maryland. The regiment to which he belonged was sent to Baltimore and discharged May 30, 1865, at the close of the war.
last-mentioned he has been commander and officer of the day and is now serving his second term, and at one time he was officer of the guard.
November 6, 1867, Mr. Fisher married Mar- garet, daughter of Michael Hanley and three children have been born to them: George M .; Mary, Mrs. Dr. James Mckibben, of Buck Valley, Pa .; and Thomas, who died at the age of fourteen months and was buried in Buck Valley, Pa., near our subject's old home. Mr. Fisher is a Lutheran in religious belief, as are also his chil- dren, but his wife is a Catholic.
After about a year spent in Hagerstown, Md., Mr. Fisher became a member of the Regular United States Army, July 10, 1866, enlisting in Company A, Second Regiment of Infantry, and served as sergeant twelve and one-half years of the thirteen years of regular service (first sergeant At the beginning of the war with Spain, when the call to arms was made by the president and congress and the Maryland apportionment was completed, Captain Fisher faithfully responded and was mustered as captain of Company B, with his company of eighty men, into the First Mary- land United States Volunteer service, May 16, 1898. Later the regiment was transferred to Fort Monroe, Va. While here he sat on several very important court-martials and had the honor of ranking captain of the regiment conferred upon him by the war department, because of his pre- vious service in the regular army. At the time of this writing he is still in the service of his country. for seven years' time ) and was stationed at Taylor Barracks, in Louisville, Ky., for two and a-half years. Then, in rapid succession, he was trans- ferred from there to McPherson Barracks, at Atlanta, Ga., Mobile, Ala. (about four weeks in each place); then in Tuscaloosa, Ala., nineteen months; and after spending four years in Atlanta, he was sent to Aken, S. C., and six weeks later to Tallahassee, Fla. At the expiration of three months he was removed to Atlanta again; two months later to Spokane Falls, where but two weeks were spent; then to Lapaway, Idaho, where the winter of 1877 was passed. The next two years he was stationed in Fort Sherman, Idaho, where he was occupied in assisting in the erection of a fort, and July 10, 1879, he was honorably discharged from the service. Then he returned to the home and scenes of his youth in Pennsylvania, spending seven months there. His LARENCE MCCALLISTER KING, si- perintendent of the Maryland house of cor- rection and a well-known citizen of Cumber- land, was born December 14, 1848, on the family homestead near this city. He is a member of an old and honorable family, whose record appears in the sketch of Alexander King upon another page. When he was a boy there were no public schools in the neighborhood and he received his education from tutors at home. Until twenty years of age he assisted his father, Capt. Alex- ander King, in the cultivation of the home farm, and then went to Morris County, N. J., where he was engaged with the Mount Hope Mining Com- home has since been made in Hagerstown, with the exception of two and a-half years, when he was watchman in the postoffice in Baltimore, under the administration of President Harrison. He entered the employ of the Cumberland Valley Railroad as a train-caller about 18So and is still with the corporation, and one of its trusted men. Like his father before him, he has been an ardent and life-long Republican, as is also his son, George M. He is a charter member of the Fra- ternal Mystic Circle; belongs to the Knights of the Golden Eagle, of which he is past chief; the Association of the Cumberland Valley Railroad, and the Grand Army of the Republic. In the pany. Returning home in 1871, he resumed
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farm work and continued in the management of the farm until after the death of his parents, when he bought out the other heirs. He has owned the place since 1881, but has not conducted it personally since 1893, having hired a man to give it his oversight. On the farm there is a fine grove, known as King's Grove, which is much patronized by excursionists during the summer months.
As a Republican Mr. King has always taken an interest in the success of his party. For fif- teen years he held the position of school trustee, but refused nomination for other offices, although frequently urged to become a candidate for some official position. However, in 1893 he consented to make the race for sheriff and accepted the nomination, being subsequently elected by a ma- jority of thirteen hundred and sixty-five. Dur- ing his incumbency of the office there was con- siderable trouble, notably the miners' strike of 1894. He was called to the Eckhart mine to quell a strike, and there found a mob of men numbering between one and two thousand. He endeavored to get them to disperse, but they were bent on destruction and would not listen to rea- son. Finally, finding arguments thrown away, he wired for three regiments, and succeeded in quelling the riot without the shedding of blood.
At the expiration of his term as sheriff, Mr. King was appointed magistrate and held that office for six months. He was then given the position as assistant superintendent of the house of correction. January 30, 1898, the superin- tendent died and in February of the same year Mr. King was appointed superintendent, having the support of the Democrats and Republicans alike. All of the employes joined in requesting that he be appointed to the vacancy and signed a petition to that effect, but the letter was not used, Governor Lowndes having such confidence in Mr. King that additional influence was not neces- sary. The institution is a large one and at this writing he has four hundred men under his charge.
Fraternally Mr. King is connected with the Knights of Pythias, Shield of Honor, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Chosen Friends
Lodge No. 34, I. O. O. F., and Potomac Lodge No. 100, A. F. & A. M., of Cumberland, being past master of the latter lodge. In religious be- lief he is identified with the Presbyterian Church. His marriage, which was solemnized in January, 1882, united him with Susan Johnson, daughter of James Johnson, formerly of Somerset County, Pa., but now residing in Ellerslie, Allegany County, Md. Five children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. King, but one is deceased, the others being : Mabel, Helen, Harry and Emma.
2 ROF. A. G. HARLEY, principal of the public school of Comus, Montgomery County, was born in Fauquier County, Va., May 26, 1834, a son of Thomas H. and Jane Harley, na- tives respectively of Fauquier County and the city of Annapolis, Md. His father, who was a mechanic by occupation, took a prominent part in public affairs and in religion adhered to the faith of the old-school Baptist denomination. He died in 1884, at the age of eighty-seven. He had two sons, our subject's brother being Elbridge, a resident of Washington County, Md. The grand- father, William Harley, was born in Dumbarton, England, and crossing the ocean, settled in Fauquier County, where he married Mary Harts- ton.
Both in literature and the professions, our sub- ject's education was broad and thorough. He graduated from the Medical College of Philadel- phia and later from a theological seminary of the Baptist denomination, after which he took a charge at Newton. Failing health, however, terminated his labors in the ministry about the time of the Civil war. From 1861 to 1864 he was principal of a school in King William County, Va. Meantime his labors were interrupted by his enlistment in the Thirty-third Virginia In- fantry in 1861, and he served with valor until he was wounded at Antietam and taken prisoner. For eleven months he was a prisoner, most of the time in the old state capitol building. He was
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again wounded at Rappahannock, so seriously that he was obliged to retire from the service. When the war closed, it found him without means, for he had lost all in the southern cause. He engaged in teaching in Pocomoke and was soon made principal of the Williamsport schools, where he remained for five years. Later he spent twenty years at Centreville Academy, since which he has been in Comus. He holds a life certificate as a teacher.
Possessing considerable literary ability, which enables him to express his thoughts in appro- priate and interesting language, Professor Har- ley has for years been a contributor to educational journals and prominent newspapers. For twenty years he was a correspondent of the Baltimore Sun and for six years he has held a similar posi- tion with the Herald. In politics, too, he has been active and has stumped every county in the state. To some extent he continues pastoral work, for, in whatever position he feels he may be useful he is anxious to serve. Fraternally he is connected with the chapter and shrine of Masonry, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Good Templars, for which last organization he has fre- quently lectured. As a teacher he has been very successful. Many who were under his instruc- tion have became excellent teachers, having been drilled in normal work under his supervision; others have become professional men, prosperous business men or noted men in public life. Of his work and its success he has reason to be proud, and at no time more so than when he reflects upon the successful careers of those who were once his pupils.
In Worcester County, Md., June 9, 1857, Professor Harley married Josephine, daughter of Levin and Margaret A. (Brettingham) Ames, of Accomac County, Va. Of their children, all of whom are graduates of schools and hold promi- nent positions in society, we note the following: Albert V. is now principal of Centreville Academy ; T. L. Walter is practicing law in Centreville; Charles F. is an attorney at No. 310 East Lexing- ton street, Baltimore, and for ten years was assist- ant superintendent of the city mails of Baltimore;
Warren died when he was holding a position in the government printing office; Stuart and Holton died at Centreville when boys; G. Leonard is en- gaged in the lumber business in Baltimore; Mar- gie is a teacher in Baltimore; and R. Cook in Montgomery County.
ON. JAMES E. AYTON is the present representative of the Republicans of Mont- gomery County in the Maryland legislature, having been elected in the fall of 1897. He has always been a great worker in behalf of his party, but has never sought office for himself, and it was an entire surprise to him when he was notified that his name had been used as a candi- date for his present position, in the convention of his party. In 1893 he had been nominated for the same office and was defeated by a majority of about one hundred votes, whereas the Democratic majority the previous year had been some eight hundred and sixteen votes.
Mr. Ayton, whose beautiful home was built by him in 1892, has been a resident of Laytonsville since the close of the Civil war. He was born in Washington, D. C., January 16, 1847, and was an infant when the death of his father, Samuel Ayton, occurred. The latter was a native of Montgomery County, his birthplace having been near Laytonsville. In his early manhood he was occupied in agricultural pursuits, but subse- quently, removing to the capital, he passed the remainder of his life in mercantile enterprises. His father, Beall Ayton, was also a resident of this county and was of Scottish origin. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Susan Cox. To her loving care and supervision of her son's youthful life and studies, much of his success in after years is undoubtedly due.
Until he was nineteen years of age James E. Ayton lived in the city of Washington, and was educated in the excellent schools of the metropolis. He was but fourteen years old when he entered the government service as special
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messenger in the quartermaster's department, and during the last year of the Civil war his duties called him to North Carolina. Afterward he came to Laytonsville and entered the employ of George W. Mobley, continuing with that worthy citizen until his death, in 1881. From that year until 1892 Mr. Ayton was engaged in merchandising, but then sold out to other parties. For the past three years he has operated a pro- ductive farm three miles from the town, and in addition to this he is financially interested in various enterprises. He is a director and one of the original stockholders of the Gaithersburg Milling & Manufacturing Company, and was one of the founders and is now a director in the First National Bank of Gaithersburg. He is an of- ficer in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is active in Epworth League and Sunday-school work and has served as superintendent of the school for several years. He is prominent in Masonic circles, being a member Pantalphia Lodge No. 194, A. F. & A. M., and of Mary- land Consistory. He is also secretary of Delta Lodge of Perfection No. 2, of Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite.
November 10, 1870, Mr. Ayton married Miss Frances E. King, daughter of Rufus and Am- anda (Mobley) King, of this county. To them have been born one daughter and one son, namely: Elizabeth C. and George E. The son is a student in the Episcopal high school near Alexandria, Va.
HOMAS PLATER, of Thomas Plater & Co., bankers of Nashville, Tenn., is a mem- ber of an old and prominent family of Mary- land. His father, Thomas, was a son of George Plater, of Maryland, a distinguished lawyer and supporter of the American Revolution. He was president of the convention which adopted the resolution separating the colony from Great Britain. He served as governor of Maryland and member of congress from that state. Thomas
Plater, Sr., was a lawyer and member of con- gress from Montgomery County congressional district of Maryland from 1799 to 1803.
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