USA > Maryland > Portrait and biographical record of the Sixth congressional district, Maryland V. 2 > Part 52
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William Winter learned the business of manu- facturing brick in the yards owned by his father. From a very early age he has followed the trade and thoroughly understands it in every detail. His brick-kilns have a capacity of one million five hundred thousand bricks per annum, but of late years he has manufactured but from five hundred to eight hundred thousand.
February 7, 1868, Mr. Winter married Eliz-
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abeth Summers, daughter of George Summers, a has since made his home. Though eighty-five native of Germany. The seven children born to years of age, he is well preserved and quite active. our subject and wife are: Florence V., wife of Albert Ankeney, only son of Calvin Ankeney, of this city; George, who is in business with his father; William, Mary E., Charles H., Ellen M. and Samuel F. The parents and six of their children hold membership with St. John's Lutheran Church.
MORY A. PRY. After having engaged ex- clusively in the milling business for some years, Mr. Pry in 1884 began to turn his attention to the fruit business, and his subsequent experiences in this industry have been so success- ful that he is said to be the largest fruit grower in the state of Maryland. With his brother, who has also been his partner in the milling business, he now has six hundred acres planted to peach trees, from which each year he gathers about fifty thousand baskets of peaches. In the work connected with the peach orchard, as well as in the carrying on of the farm, he gives employ- ment to at least thirty men, and during the busy season the number of employes is increased to one hundred and twenty-five. The crates for shipping the peaches are manufactured on the place, where also three packing houses afford every facility for the packing of the fruit. The farm is known as Mount Lookout Orchard, and is situated near Keedysville, Washington County.
In this town Mr. Pry was born in 1849. His father, Samuel, who was born here in 1814, is still living in the village, but is now retired from active business. For years he was one of the leading farmers and millers of the county and owned the best equipped mill in this section. Politically he has always been a Republican, and during the exciting days prior to and during the Civil war he took his stand firmly for the abolishment of slavery. In 1876 he retired and took up his residence in Keedysville, where he
The grandfather of our subject, Philip Pry, was of remote French descent. The family name was originally spelled Bryne, later changed to Bry and after settling in Maryland was altered to Pry. He was born in Germany and was six years of age when his parents left their native land, intending to settle in America. Unfor- tunately, - while crossing the ocean, both died, and the orphan boy was then taken care of by a Mr. Rohrer, who settled near York, in Franklin County, Pa., and engaged in the distillery busi- ness there. About 1810 he came to Maryland and settled in Washington County, establishing the family of Prys in this section. He died here in 1828, when sixty-five years of age. He was twice married, his first union being childless; while by his second wife he had three children, Samuel, Philip and Susan.
"Samuel Pry, our subject's father, married Miss Mary Ann Cost, whose family is referred to in the sketch of Jacob H. Cost. They became the parents of seven children, namely: Aaron C., who was born in 1845; Barbara Ann, born in 1847, now the wife of William Hughes; Emory A., born in 1849; Alice Myra, born in 1853, wife of Frank Deaver; Susan K., born October 31, 1855, married John Nunamaker; Thomas Jeffer- son, born in 1858; and Philip David, who was born in 1861 and died June 2, 1862. The wife and mother passed away July 27, 1897, at the age of seventy years.
The early years of our subject's life were passed on the home farm and around his father's mill, where he learned the milling business. In IS76 he and his brother, Aaron C., took charge of the mill, which they have since carried on, having added the roller system in 1882. In 1884 they began in the fruit business, and now have the largest peach orchard in the state. In poli- tics Mr. Pry is a Republican and takes an interest in local matters. Fraternally he is connected with Antietam Lodge No. 197, A. F. & A. M., in which he has passed the chairs. In religion he is connected with the Reformed Church. In
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1882 he married Carrie, daughter of George W. Warfield, and by their union two children have been born, George R. and Mary W.
ILLIAM A. WATERS, M. D. In 1873 Dr. Waters purchased property near Ger- mantown, in Clarksburg District, Mont- gomery County, and here he has since made his home, meantime carrying on a general practice as a physician. In his profession he has attained an enviable reputation, while as a citizen he is known to favor all plans for the upbuilding of the community and the welfare of the people. He is a man of fine physique, hearty and robust, and while he has always been a very busy man, his hard work has never seemed to impair his facul- ties or injure his health.
A native of Montgomery County, born near Brookeville, Dr. Waters is a son of Ignatius Waters, who was born at the family homestead and followed agricultural pursuits. He was an extensive farmer and had the supervision of over one thousand acres, on which he raised tobacco, wheat and corn. Politically he was a Whig and a great admirer of Henry Clay. In religion he was identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church and was deeply interested in its progress. His home was always the stopping place for preachers of the denomination, during the early days when itinerants were frequent in this lo- cality."He married Elizabeth, daughter of Capt. Eli Dorsey, of Elk Ridge, a Revolutionary patriot, who served during the entire period of the war. Of their thirteen children only two are now living: William A. and Zachariah D., a retired merchant, who spends much of his time with his brother.
After completing the public-school studies, the subject of this sketch entered New Windsor Col- lege, Carroll County, Md., where he was a stu- dent for two years. He then went to Frederick City and began the study of medicine under the preceptorship of a cousin, Dr. William Waters.
After acquiring a rudimentary knowledge of the profession in this way, he entered the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, from which he graduated in 1852. On graduating he came to this locality and commenced in practice with his brother, Dr. Washington Waters, with whom he remained for several years. His next point of practice was at Clarksburg, Montgomery County. In 1873 he purchased his present property, and has since resided here. Though maintaining an active interest in politics, and a stanch Democrat in opinion, he has always refused to accept nomi- nation for any position, though urged strongly to become a candidate for the legislature, at a time when nomination was equivalent to election. He is not a member of any church, but attends the Methodist Church, to which his family be- longs. He is a stockholder and director in the First National Bank of Gaithersburg.
In 1863 Dr. Waters married Miss Mary N., daughter of William Wilson, of Clarksburg. Two children were born of their union: Mary Wilson, who married Algernon Pool, of Barnesville; and Charles C. The wife and mother died in Sep- tember, 1891. The doctor was a second time married, September 17, 1896, his wife being Mrs. Maria E. L. Wilson, of Clarksburg, Md. The only son of Dr. Waters, Charles C., superin- tends the home farm of six hundred and sixty acres; he is interested in good stock and owns some fine horses, having a half-mile track on the place, where he trains them. " An expert marks- man, he is much interested in hunting, fishing, and all athletic sports, a taste which he inherits from his father, who is an ardent supporter of all sports.
OHN H. YOUNG, one of the most honored citizens of Cumberland, has been a resident of this place for over half a century, and has been prominently connected with every enter- prise or public movement that has built up and increased her prosperity. At one time he was the city treasurer; about 1868 he was appointed
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deputy revenue collector for Cumberland and vicinity, and occupied this responsible post until his retirement to private life in 1884. He had previously been for a few years the postmaster here, having been appointed by President Lin- coln, whose death, however, took place before he had signed the papers. In these several and varying offices Mr. Young displayed practical knowledge, great executive ability and careful regard to detail. He was considered a very val- uable employe by those in authority over him, and with one and all he was very popular.
The father of the above, John A. Young, was a native of Germany, but came to the United States to seek a home and fortune when he was in early manhood. He located in Reisterstown, Baltimore County, Md., later removed to Balti- more, where he made his home for a number of years, and acted in the capacity of deputy- warden in the state penitentiary in Baltimore several terms. His death occurred in the city of Wash- ington, D. C., his age being about threescore and ten at the time of his demise. He was a mem- ber of the German Reformed Church, as was likewise his wife. She was Miss Rebecca Abra- hams, of Pennsylvania, prior to their marriage, and her age at death was about seventy-five years. She was the mother of eleven children, all of whom have been summoned to the land of shad- ows, with the exception of our subject and his sister, Mary, wife of Peter Hepburn, of Wash- ington, D. C.
John H. Young was born in Reisterstown, Baltimore County, October 15, 1815, and passed his youth in that locality. He was educated in the public schools of Baltimore, and in one known as Rittenhouse's Day School. He was about nineteen years of age when he started out to make his own way in the world, and settling in Ellicott City, Md., he carried on a hardware store until 1844. He was very successful and had built up a large and paying trade, but for certain reasons he believed that he could do bet- ter elsewhere, and fifty-four years ago he came to Cumberland, casting in his lot with our people. He bought out John G. Huffman (father of the late Judge Huffman) and conducted a hardware,
stoves and tinware business there for over a quar- ter of a century. He established an enviable reputation for straight dealing, fairness in all his transactions and faithfulness to his contracts. When the war seemed very imminent he con- cluded to retire from his business and accordingly disposed of the enterprise. Then followed his public life of nearly a quarter of a century, his record here as blameless and creditable in every respect as his business career hitherto had been. In his early days he was a supporter of the Whig party, and after the organization of the Repub- licans he became a stanch ally of the party.
Mr. Young married Miss Eleanor A. Mat- thews, a daughter of James and Mary L. (Mc- Intosh) Matthews. He has been identified with the Odd Fellows since 1840, and passed all the chairs in Chosen Friends Lodge, of this city. He is a member of the grand lodge, and has been district deputy grandmaster several terms. In the Methodist Episcopal Church of this city he has the distinction of being the oldest member, and for a great many years he has been an officer in the congregation, trustee, steward and superin- tendent of the Sunday-school. His wife has also been an honored and active member in the church and is loved by all who know her.
ROF. GEORGE B. FRAZEE, vice-principal of the Oakland public school, of Oakland, Garrett County, is one of the native sons of this county, his birth having taken place in the vicinity of Friendsville, not far from the Pennsyl- vania state line, in 1864. He possesses a fine education and since he arrived at man's estate has devoted his whole attention to teaching. In this field of effort he has met with the success which he truly deserves, as he is deeply in earnest, is progressive and a great student of modern systems and methods. His experience as an educator has been wide and diversified, and his energy and general ability are without ques- tion.
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In the early days of the settlement of New York City, (then called Manhattan) the ancestors of our subject were concerned to some extent in the leasing of the site of the town. They had come to the United States from France, their na- tive land, to found homes in the new world, where they might be secure from the oppression and religious persecution which was their por- tion upon the continent. The great-grandfather of the professor lived upon a farm in New Jersey, not far from the state line separating it from New York. His parents are Isaac T. and Barbara (Thomas) Frazee, both natives of Maryland. The father is still living, and is carrying on his valuable farm in the northern part of this county, where he has dwelt for a great many years. His family comprised seven children, one of whom is deceased, while those surviving are as follows: Howard, a resident of Uniontown, Md .; S. Kim- mel; Matthias; Martha, wife of George Hum- berson; Newton; and George B., of this article.
Prof. George B. Frazee obtained his early edu- cation in the public schools of his home district, and in the Garrett County Normal, where he was a student for two terms. He then went to Mount Pleasant, Pa., where he attended the Mount Pleasant Institute for some time, perfecting him- self in the higher branches of study and fitting himself for his future work as a teacher. The next four years he was actively engaged in teach- ing in the public schools of this county. Desiring further instruction in certain branches he went to Mount Union College, near Alliance, Ohio, for a period, then returned to teach in the schools of this county for several terms. In 1894 he graduated from the commercial department of Redstone Academy in Uniontown, Pa. He wished to see something of the great west, and accordingly went to Nebraska, obtained a school and remained there a few months. Upon his re- turn home he was called to become the principal of the Selbysport, Md., schools, and also con- ducted classes in the normal school in that town. In 1897 he came to Oakland, having accepted a position as assistant in the normal school and in the fall of the same year entered upon his new duties as vice-principal of the public school. He
is very popular with the faculty and with his pupils as well, and our citizens feel that he is a valuable addition to our already excellent corps of teachers. Fraternally he is identified with the Junior Order of American Mechanics, having joined the organization in Markleysburg, Pa. Politically he is in favor of the Democrat party.
In 1888 Professor Frazee and Miss Ida Wright were married in Nebraska. Mrs. Frazee is a daughter of Samuel Wright, now of Nebraska. Our subject and wife have two bright little ones, a son and a daughter, Earl W. and Carrie L. The parents are members of the Baptist Church and are prominent in local society wherever they make their home for any length of time.
ARON C. PRY was born in 1845 on the farm known as Mcclellan's Lookout. and
- there the days of boyhood and youth were spent, much of his time being passed in his fa- ther's mill, where he early acquired a thorough knowledge of the milling business. His educa- tion was primarily obtained in the country schools and later was extended by a course of study in Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Upon completing his education he re- turned home and took up the milling business, with which he had been familiar from early boy- hood. He carried on the mill for his father until 1876, when the latter retired from active life, and he then formed a partnership with his brother, Emory A., the two carrying on the milling busi- ness under the firm name of A. C. & E. A. Pry. He being a practical miller, was given the active management of the business, and the same has since been carried on successfully .
In 1884 the firm became interested in the peach business and they are now the most extensive growers in the state, having over six hundred acres in a peach orchard. Besides this, they also carry on a farm and raise cereals. For a full description of the orchard and the peach business, as well as for account of the family history, the
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reader is referred to the sketch of Emory A. Pry, on another page. Our subject is also a member of the firm of Mencer & Pry, peach and fruit growers of Quincy, Pa., where they carry on a large business.
Politically Mr. Pry has always been a supporter of Republican principles and has taken an active part in local and state affairs, but never consented to accept nomination for office. Fraternally he is a member of Antietam Lodge No. 197, A. F. & A. M. In religion he is connected with the Reformed Church, in which he has served as an elder for a number of years. In business he has been very successful, his success being due to his energy, good judgment and sound common sense. In 1885 he was united in marriage with Miss Annie E., daughter of Jacob and Susan Mencer, of Quincy, Pa., and a lady of lovely Christian character, whose death was a deep bereavement to the family and friends. She passed away in 1896, at the age of thirty-six years, leaving two children, Ruth M. and Hugh M.
EORGE D. WHITE, deputy fish commis- sioner of Garrett County, has been recog- nized as a local leader in the Republican party for over a score of years and has officiated in various positions of trust and responsibility, ac- quitting himself with credit to himself and all concerned. In. 1875 he was elected deputy sheriff, under J. C. Dunham, and later held the same office during the administration of sheriff Thomas Coddington. In 1879 he was called upon to act as sheriff of Garrett County, it being believed by his fellow-citizens that no one was more capable of occupying the difficult place, partly because of his extended experience as deputy and partly on account of his general fidelity and executive ability. For a few years afterwards, his health being poor, he lived some- what retired from active life, but in 1896 accepted the office which he has since held under John E. Gnagey and A. F. George. His personal popu-
larity was manifested at the time that he was a candidate for county sheriff, as the county was then distinctly Democratic in tendency, but in spite of this drawback he received a majority of nearly a hundred votes.
Rowan White, the father of the above-named gentleman, is a remarkably active man for one of his advanced age-eighty-six. He has been very influential and stalwart in his support of the Democratic party and prior to and during the war was the postmaster of Oakland, serving altogether some twelve years. His wife is still living and all but three of their large family of fourteen children survive. Mrs. White was Miss Margaret Walz in her girlhood, her father hav- ing been William Walz. Rowan White was born in West Virginia, and when he arrived at an age when he felt it incumbent upon him to start forth to make his own livelihood he came to this locality, then Allegany County. He settled upon a farm situated about eight miles from Oak- land, and to the cultivation of this property he gave his entire attention up to 1859. For a num- ber of years he then carried on the old hotel known as the Monroe House. He possesses the good-will and esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances and gives promise of living many peaceful and prosperous years.
The birth of George D. White occurred upon the old homestead, about eight miles distant from the county-seat of Garrett County, in 1849. He has always dwelt in this immediate region and it speaks well for him that here, where his whole life-history is thoroughly known and where he grew to manhood with many of the men and women now numbered among the most sub- stantial citizens of the town, he is most highly regarded and respected. He obtained a liberal education in the public schools of his day, and is well informed upon the matters of moment in the past and present history of our country. For several years he conducted a livery business in Oakland, but was obliged to give it up in 1890 on account of his poor health. Formerly he was a member of the Knights of Pythias, but the lodge was disbanded. In the local lodge of the Legion of Honor he has passed all the chairs.
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In 1878 Mr. White married Elizabeth Davis, daughter of John Davis, of Frostburg, Md. They have two promising children, a son and a daugh- ter, Harry and Margaret, both of whom are well educated. The family have a pleasant home, where books and flowers abound, and everything bespeaks the refinement of the inmates.
HOMAS H. HALLER. It has been often commented upon that in Frederick, an oid and conservative place, there are fewer of the so-styled self-made men than in many younger towns and cities, owing, probably, to the fact that the rising generations have been settled in business by their well-to-do relatives, in most instances. Among those that may truly boast of being the sole architect of his own fortunes here, is the gentleman of whom the following history is written. The story of the noble, manly way in which he met and overcame the obstacles in his way should inspire many a young man of this community with courage to will and do for himself, and we take great pleasure in rendering this slight tribute to the worth of our subject.
The birthplace of Thomas H. Haller is within a stone's throw of his present fine business estab- lishment on North Market street, the old Ex- aminer building, and the event referred to took place December 8, 1855. He is of Swiss-German extraction. His higher education was obtained in the old Frederick Academy, and while quite young he became very desirous of entering the legal profession. However, he was forced to abandon his treasured dream, owing to the fact that he was the eldest son in a large family, and his father had received a stroke of paralysis in 1861, this having almost disabled him. The outlook was certainly very discouraging to the youth, but he was equal to the burden, and was cheerful and hopeful at all times. For a brief period he worked in the store of Henry M. Nix- torff and afterwards in the store of G. J. Doll, where he remained until his twenty-third year,
when he went into business for himself. In September, 1879, in partnership with L. E. Mullinux, he opened a dry-goods store in the Erchison building, which partnership continued until 1883. He then opened his present estab- lishment on North Market street, one of the best locations in the city, since which time his busi- ness has increased yearly. He has gradually en- larged his stock, and now carries a splendid line of general dry-goods and notions, cloaks, men's furnishings, etc. Employment is given to seven or more clerks, and all of the equipments of the store are modern and first-class.
In addition to looking after his flourishing dry-goods business, Mr. Haller has numerous other investments and enterprises. He is now vice-president of the Union Manufacturing Com- pany, of this place, and was one of its chief organizers, some ten years ago. He is nothing if not practical, and, believing that in many ways the community would be benefited by a large factory, he broached the matter to several of the progressive and public-spirited citizens, with the result that a charter was at once secured and a plan well under way. At first eighteen stocking-knitting machines were purchased, and placed in a small store-room on Market street, but as soon as possible a permanent structure 210x40 feet (part two-stories and the rest three- stories in height) was erected. The scheme has been a success financially, and employment has been given to from two hundred and fifty to three hundred girls the year round. Mr. Haller was also one of the prime movers in the building of the Frederick & Middletown Electric street rail- way, and is now the treasurer of the company. This enterprise has been of incalculable benefit to both cities, and one of its remarkable features is, that in addition to the large passenger traffic, the road carries freight, being the second in the United States to do so. The farmers of this sec- tion are thus enabled to have their grain and other products transported for less cost than the regular road toll would amount to.
In 1882 Mr. Haller married Miss Cora E., daughter of William D. Bowers, of the Bowers Lumber Company. They have four children
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William H., Grace V., Ruth E. and T. Stewart. The parents are members of the Lutheran Church. Fraternally Mr. Haller is a Mason, being a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter and a Knight Templar, also a member of Boumi Temple of Mystic Shriners. In political affairs he is a Republican.
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