USA > Maryland > The book of Maryland: men and institutions, a work for press reference > Part 31
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Dr. Pahnor did military service during the World War and was a member of the surgical staff of the Base Hospital nt Camp Jackson, S. C., from October of 1918 until September of the following year.
Hle is county health officer of Talbot county, town health offi- cer and local physician to the State Board of Labor and Sta- tisties.
He is a member of Masons, Maryland Medical Society. Amer- ican Medical Society and the American Public Health Asso- ciation, also Surgeons' Club, Rochester. Minn.
Dr. Palmer was married to Nellie Alice Gott on October 24th, 1906. They have one daughter, Margaret Virginia, seven years old.
His address is Easton, Md.
PHILIP LEE TRAVERS, M. D.
Dr. Philip Lee Travers, a leader in the medical profession on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, general surgeon of the Emergency Hospital of Easton, and who has resumed his prae- tice in that city after military service during the World War, was born in Dorchester county on November 18th, ISTS.
Dir. Travers' parents were William MeK, and Eugenia Keene Travers. He attended the public schools of Dorchester coun- to. was graduated from Rock Hill College of Ellicott City. Md .. and received his medical degree from the University of Mary- land Medical School with the class of 1902.
After leaving college. Dr. Travers did two year's work on the surgical staff of a hospital and coming to Easton in 1904, esablished his practice in that city.
Dr. Travers began the fight for a hospital in Easton shortly after going to that city and the Emergency Hospital of Eas- ton, one of the most modern institutions of its kind on the Shore, came into being because of these efforts.
During the World War. Dr. Travers was examiner and chair- man of the local draft board and himself entered the service in October of 1918. Ilis first assignment was to Camp Lee, Pe- tersburg. Va. He then was sent to the hospital at the Erie Proving Grounds, Port Clinton, Ohio, and thence to Fort Mc- Pherson, Atlanta, Ga. Ile was engaged in surgical work at all of these hospitals, and held the rank of captain. Ile was discharged in August of 1919.
Dr. Travers was married to Maude Emily MacHale on June 16th, 1906. They have one daughter, Emily Lee Travers.
IIIs address is Easton, Md.
Page Tiro Hundred Fifty-Fire
HENRY JACKSON WATERS.
Henry Jackson Waters, one of the leading attorneys of Som- erset county. Maryland, and of the Maryland Peninsula, is A native of that county, having been born at Beechwood. near Princess Anne, where he now makes his home.
Mr. Waters was born on September 19th, 1865. His parents were Levin Lyttleton Waters and Lucretia Jones Waters, both descendants of pioneer Maryland families.
Ile attended the Washington Academy of Princess Anne, the Episcopal High School of Mexandria. Va., and entering the Law School of the University of Pennsylvania was graduated with the Class of 1892.
Mr. Waters returned to Princess Anne immediately after the completion of his college course and began the practice of law in which he has been very successful. He is president of the Peoples Bank of Princess Anne.
He was appointed on the staff of Governor Emerson C. Har- rington with the rank of colonel in 1916. In 1892 he was ap- pointed state's attorney for Somerset county and elected for the subsequent two terms of four years.
He is past master of the Princess Aune Lodge No. 106. A. F. & A. M.
Mr. Waters was married to Emily Brower Wilson, on Novem- ber 16th. 1899. They have six children. Henry J. Waters. Jr., C. Wilson Waters, Emily Wilson Waters, Levin Lyttleton Waters, Robert W. Waters and Elizabeth Elzy Waters.
HIIs address is Princess Anne, Md.
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JOHN THOMAS HANDY.
John Thomas Handy, president of John T. Handy Company. Inc. largest planters and packers of oysters in the State of Maryland, was born in Marion, Maryland, on October 5th, 1876. son of Thomas J. and Marian O. Handy.
Mr. Handy was a student at St. John's College. Annapolis. for the period of two years, and he derived his business edu- cation at the Bryant & Stratton Business College. Baltimore. In 1898 Mr. Handy founded the original firm of John T. Handy & Company. In 1917 he incorporated the business. having extensively enlarged the scope of its operations, the company is now acknowledged to be one of the largest canners of fruits, vegetables and seafoods in the entire State, and the largest planters and packers of oysters in the State. Mr. Ilandy is interested in other Inisiness activities aside from the John T. Handy Company, Incorporated. He is especially in- terested in financial institutions, being a director of the Marine Bank of Crisfield. Md .. and of the Farmer's Bank of Marion. Md.
Mr. Handy is affiliated with the Masonic Order and the Knights of Pythias Lodge.
On February 15. 1905. Mr. Handy married Sne Egerton Davis. of Kingston, Md. Their children are Lois, Marian Sne, and John T. Handy. Junior.
Ilis residence is at 10 South Somerset ave .. and Mr. Handy's offices are at Main and Water street. Crisfield, Md.
Page Tiro Hundred Fifty-Sis
MADISON B. BORDLEY.
Madison B. Bordley, lawyer, agriculturalist, active in pub- le Ilfe of Queen Anne county for many years and one of the leaders of his party, was born in Centreville, ou Jannary 9th, IN78.
llis parents were James and Elia Fassitt (Brown) Bordley. both members of pioneer families of the Eastern Shore, John Beall Bordley having settled Wye, formerly known as Bordles.
Mr. Bordley attended the public schools of Centreville. Le- high University. Bethlehem, Pa., Trinity College. Hartford. Conn., and received the degree of LL.B., from the University of Maryland in 1885.
Ile established his practice in Centreville the following year. He has served as supervisor of assessments for Queen Anne county for the last five years, was deputy treasurer of the county from 1904 to 1908 and clerk of county commissioners from 1908 to 1912.
Mr. Bordley also is a director of the Centreville National Bank, the oldest in the county, is associate editor of Centre- ville Record and operates three farms which have been in the family for generations.
lle is a member of the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity and established the chapter at Trinity College: Odd Fellow and Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Bordley was married to Miss Helen Elizabeth Brown on June 1. 112. They have one son. Madison Brown. Jr.
llis address is Centreville,, Md.
WILLIAM MERRICK SLAY.
William MI. Slay, banker, lawyer, agriculturalist. and one of the leading publie men of the Eastern Shore of Maryland. was born in Queen Anne comity on Angnet 5. 1847.
His parents were William and Louisa conings Slay. of Kent connty. Delaware, who resided in Maryland a few years. Mr. Slay attended private schools of Dover. Delaware, and entered Yale I'niversity and was graduated with the degree of A. B. in ISGS. Ile returned to Delaware on his graduation, and in a short time came to Chestertown, Maryland, and began the study of law in the offices of his brother, the late John o. Slay. Mr. Slay was admitted to the bar and began the practice of law in 1872, continning to do so with success until the present time.
In addition to his law practice. Mr. Slay has been actively engaged in the development of agriculture and of late years operated as many as fourteen farms, some of which have been in his and his wife's family for a long time.
Ile also has taken a leading part in the financial progress of his community and was one of the organizers and has been a director and the attorney from its establishment of the Peo- ples Bank of Chestertown.
In educational circles, Mr. Slay also has been prominent. having been a member of the Board of Visitors and Governors of Washington College for more than thirty years. The cor- ner-stone of this institution was laid by George Washington.
Mr. Slay was State's Attorney for Kent county from 1891 to 1895.
Ile was State Senator for one term in 1907. a Presidential elector in 1896 and many times a delegate to State conven- tions of his party.
Ile was married to Angusta Eccleston Hynson. a daughter of Richard Hynson ta most successful lawyer of Chestertown and very influential in the politics of his conmy and statel on December 3, 1885. Ilis address is Chestertown, Maryland.
Page Two Hundred Fifty-Seren
C. S. THOMAS. CENTERVILLE. MD.
Two Hundred Fifty-Eight
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JOHN L. MASON.
John L. Mason, largest lumber operator on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. lives in Newark, Worcester county. Mr. Mason is a native of this county. He was born on October 28th, 1564. His parents were Leonard Thomas Mason and Luisa A. Ma- son. Mr. Mason attended the public schools of Worcester county.
His first work was done on the farm owned by his father. Ile now operates several farms of his own. He entered the Inmber business in 1906 and became engaged in general mer cantile business in 1910. The principal prodnets of the three mills he operates are staves, piles and props. Ile employs more than 60 teams in hauling this lumber. The products of his mills were used in the building of the Hog Island shipyard and the IIndson River tubos.
Mr. Mason is Judge of the Orphans Court of Worcester county. He is a member of the 1. 0. 0. F.
He was married to Miss Iulia A. Ross. They have six chil- dren : Florence. Ralph 1 ... Mollie R .. Cora May. Elton and Kenneth.
llis address is Newark. MId.
EDGAR WINFIELD MCMASTER.
Edgar Winfield MeMaster, one of the leading men in edu- cational, financial and agricultural circles of the Eastern Shore and who was school commissioner in Worcester connty from 1894, to 1900, since then county superintendent, was born in that county on hithe 10th, 1850.
Mr. MeMaster is a direet descendant of two of the pioneer families of the Eastern Shore, and families who have helped to write much of the history of that section. His father was Samuel Schoolfield MeMaster and his mother Ann Eliza John- sony MeMaster. He attended the public schools of Pocomoke City and the New Town Academy until 17 years old.
Mr. McMaster now operates farm interests which have been in his family for so years. His first business experience was In a country store and he subsequently was associated with his father in running several vessels in the Bay trade, one of which they built. Since 1900 Mr. MeMaster has been super- Intendent of schools for his county, and has been instrumental In their development. Ile was a member of the state legislature In 1890.
SENATOR JOHN B. ROBINS.
Senator John B. Robins. one of the leading attorneys of the Maryiand peninsula, and who has practiced law in Crisfield. Md .. since 1890, was born in Whiteport. N. Y .. on April 10th. 1871.
His parents were Bartholomew and Emily Robins. Senator Robins attended the public and high schools of Kingston. N. Y., and was graduated from New York University with the de- grep of LLB with the class of 1599.
Senator Robins has built up one of the most successful prac- tices in his section of the state. Ile is connsel for The Marine Bank of Crisfield, The Consumers Ice Co., and other large cor- perations.
Ile was elected to the Maryland Senate in 1920 for a term of font years.
He is a member of the Elks, Odd Fellows. Knights Templar. Boumi Temple, Mystic Shrine and the Knights of Pythias.
Senator Robins was married to Mrs. Dorothy Sears on De- cember Bith. 1599. They have three sons. F. Douglas, Stanley 6 .. and John B. Robins, Ir.
Ilis address is Prisfield. Md.
GORDON EDWARD MELBOURNE.
Gordon Edward Milbourne, one of the largest seafood distrib- utors of Eastern Maryland and especially active in the erab in- dustry, and who is a member of the House of Delegates, was born in Cristield on October 8th, 1576.
Mr. Milbourne's parents were Lyttleton and Margaret J. M. Milbourne. He attended the public schools of Cristield.
Mr. Milbourne has been associated with the seafood busi- noss since leaving school and estaldished his own business un- der the title of the Milhourne Oyster Company, in 190s, His products are shipped over the entire United States and into Canada.
Hle was elected to the House of Delegates In 191 and has served in all sessions since that time, including the special session of 1917. In the legislative body he has been active in the fight for laws hinving for their purpose the development of the seafood industry of the state, and introduced one miegs- ure for the conservation of the crabs and a joint resolution for the maintenance of buoys on the Virginia and Maryland line for the protection of the Interests of the Maryland fishermen. Be (Continued on page 202.)
(Continued on pge 202.)
Page Two Hundred Fifty-Vine
FREDERICK, MARYLAND
EORGE WASHINGTON called the valley of which Frederick is the metropolis, "the most beautiful in the world," and the County of Frederick and the City of Frederick have lost nothing of their charm since the days of Washington.
Soil fertility is the accepted thing in Frederick County, the land lying adjacent to Fred- erick city yielding the most bounteous crops of the Eastern States, if not the entire coun- try. And the city of Frederick, as the center of the farming wealth is one of the most prosperous of towns dependent almost entirely upon agriculture for their subsistance, in the United States.
There are manufacturing enterprises, several of which operate nationally and on an enormous scope. But primarily, Frederick is an "agricultural town,"-a town which is the distributing point for supplies of the fertile valley and the concentration point for the tremendous crops of fruit and grain which yearly find their way to the market places of the entire country.
Frederick is a very wealthy community, wealthy beyond the average of cities several times its size and this fact is evidenced in no stronger manner than by the existence of seven banks in the city with total deposits of more than $16,000,000, and resources of $19,558,000.
The settlement of Frederick County came almost 100 years after the establishment of American Colonies in tidewater portions of the State. During the time around 1730, several of the parties of Germans who had been drifting down from Pennsylvania to take up holdings in Virginia saw the pos- sibilities in the Frederick Valley and established settlements here. People of English blood came up from the Potomac at the mouth of Rock Creek and established settlements in Urbana District.
Because the land which now comprises Frederick County was so rich in game, it was debatable ground among the Indian tribes, no one of which was permitted to live in peace by the others. Legends carry the stories of many great battles between the tribes, in two of which there was but one survivor of the defeated party. The Indians were disposed to dispute the rights of this fertile valley with the white pioneers and many of the early settlers paid with their lives for their attempts to carry civilization westward. During the French and Indian War. a great part of the county was devastated and after the Braddock campaign the Indians approached to within a short distance of Baltimore.
Frederick was laid out upon what was known as Tasker's Chance and was surveyed for Benjamin Tasker in 1725. Seven thousand acres of land were embraced in the patent. The plotting of the town followed twenty years later. The county was prescribed by an Act of Assembly in 1748. In 1755 the Seven Years War began and Maryland suffered probably more than any of the other col- onies. Frederick County was the center of the campaign and all of the headquarters of the forces opposed to the French and Indians were in Frederick town.
Frederick County was deeply interested and suffered by the running of Mason and Dixon's line in 1767, much of the area of the County being lost by the subsequent decision, however, the disputes which had caused much bloodshed between the Colonists were settled and border peace restored.
Frederick County had recovered in appreciable measure from the devastating raids of the Indians and French before the start of the Revolutionary War. Some of the communities had begun showing greatly increased population and building was being carried on in increasing volume, when the second call to arms came.
Because of the independence that had been instilled in the hearts of the residents of the county, through the farther removal of English influence in the coast settlements and the necessity for standing alone during the Indian strife, the District proved a fertile field for the recruiting of the Continental .Army. In addition to these facts the residents of the valley were men who had felt the yoke of oppression and were quick to spring to arms to aid concerted effort to remove these bonds. The various tax acts were particularly obnoxious to the hardy pioneers of Frederick County and almost the first threats heard against the Mother Country, came from here. Evidencing the spirit of the times. a meeting was held in Frederick on December 8, 1774, at which it was urged that not only the commer- cial independence be sought but that military companies be organized for the fight for complete inde- pendence. Shortly after this the manufacture of munitions began on a comprehensive scale nearby and Frederick was selected for an arsenal, a general military headquarters and military prison.
When the news of the first brush with the British forces in the North reached Frederick, two full companies were completed and marched to join the Continental Army in Boston.
Page Two Hundred Sixty-One
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The first British prisoners reached Frederick and were put in the military prison here in March of 1776. The first cannon made in this country were made in a foundry in Georgetown on the Potomac.
The Maryland troops were actively engaged in the battle of Monmouth and in the fighting inci- dental to Washington's campaign to recover New York.
The first two governors of Maryland, Thomas Johnson and Thomas Sim Lee came from Fred- erick County. Thomas Sim Lee was born near the foot of South Mountain.
Nail making was one of the important industries of Frederick in the earliest period. All of the nails had to be made by hand, as eut nails had not been invented.
From the end of the Revolutionary days, the development of Frederick County has been rapid. Agriculture then, as now, occupied the prominent place in the district's activities. The whiskey troubles of 1791 to 1794 occasioned considerable excitement in the territory because of the fact that much whiskey was made thereabouts and at one time an organized movement was started among the makers of whiskey to march upon Frederick and take possession of the arsenal.
The first lights on the streets of Frederick were installed in 1832. Twenty years later gas lines had been installed and the streets were lighted by this fuel. The construction of the city's water supply system began in 1844 and was completed in November of the following year and cost $90,000.
The first train reached Frederick December of 1831, and was greeted by lines of citizens and a salute from several cannon.
Among the early industries started in Frederick was the manufacture of perukes; in 1761 an iron mine; in 1763, a wire mill; cotton and wool card manufacture; grist mill; rope factory in 1809; candy making in 1812; bakery in 1822, ice cream shortly after; a carpet factory in 1833, tanning in the same year, and copper mining in 1798.
Francis Scott Key, the most widely known man of Frederick County, was a son of a pioneer resi- dent of the Monocacy Valley. He was widely known throughout this District as a lawyer, poet and patriot. He began the practice of law in Frederick in 1801. He had been here but a short time when he was appointed United States District Attorney for the District of Columbia. It was while living in Washington that the instance arose about which he wrote the National Anthem.
During the closing months of 1860, Maryland, divided as it was between the views of the North and South, began taking sides for the great civil struggle. The state as a whole hield sympathy with the South, but counties, cities and families were divided and the opening of hostilities found friends and relatives arrayed against friends and relatives. Frederick changed hands several times during the advance and retreat of the opposing forces, two flags being shown during several days.
Agitation for paved streets began in Frederick in 1888 and in the same year a movement was started to supplant the antiquated gas lights with the modern electric lamps. Shortly after this thoughts turned to the possibility of construction of electric lines and the first was built in 1894.
In 1869 the first packing plant operating upon a comprehensive scale, was started in Frederick and sugar corn was canned in considerable quantities. Tomatoes were added to the products and later beans and peas. By 1886 the output of the first plant was increased to more than 3,000,000 cans of corn yearly.
The banking institutions of Frederick today are among the soundest of the entire state, the seven banks being composed of three national banks, one state bank, one trust company and two savings in- stitutions. Three of the banks are more than a hundred years old.
There are two foundries in the city employing more than 300 men, one of them, the Frederick Iron and Steel Company, with more than 250 employes.
The Ox Fibre Brush Company, manufacturer of brushes to the extent of 18,000.000 a year. and having a national sale, is the largest single industry of the city.
There are two hosiery mills employing more than 300 persons and several flour mills, one of which has a daily capacity of 800 barrels.
Canning factories always have played an important part in the industrial life of the city and the three plants employ more than 1,000 persons. There also are several plants of this kind in Fred- erick County. Sweet corn is the principal product although practically all of the garden vegetables are handled as well as fruit and berries.
Page Tiro Hundred Sixty-Tiro
The largest Female School in the state is located in Frederick and was founded in 1848. Hood College. as it has been called since it was changed from the Woman's College. ten years ago, has granted degrees to hundreds of students from many states of the Union. A great building program was started four years ago by the College and in 1917 the school was moved from the old site in Church street to the new buildings on the large campus in the Northern part of the city. The buildings there now represent an outlay of more than $250,000 with several other buildings to be erected soon, includ- ing a chapel and dormitory.
Frederick is the birth place of the United Brethern Church in Christ which now has followers in many parts of the United States. The largest church of the Reformed Church also is located in Frederick.
As a matter of historical interest, it was Thomas Johnson, a Frederick man, who, on June 15, 1775. made the motion that George Washington be made commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.
The Frederick City Hospital stands today as a monument to the spirit of the women of Frederick County, this great institution having been conceived by them and the women of the city and county have taken an active part in its progress during the twenty years of its existence.
The schools in Frederick County are among the best in the entire state. A comprehensive build- ing program was authorized by the recent state legislature which provides for the expenditure of $250.000 in new buildings. The three high schools of the city are practically new.
The Maryland School for the Deaf is located in Frederick upon the site of the old Revolutionary Days arsenal, one of the buildings of the old arsenal still being used as one of the work shops. The school is one of the most improved of its kind in the country.
A beautiful new post office has just been occupied and now is one of the show places of the city.
The population of Frederick in the recent census showed almost 12,000 persons living in the city.
The Baltimore and Ohio and Pennsylvania railroads and the Hagerstown and Frederick Electric line- solve the transportation problems of the district. the Baltimore and Ohio line connecting with the main lines of the company within a few miles of the city. Frederick has one of the most advantageous shipping arrangements of any city in the United States, a reciprocal switching agreement between the roads eliminating all switching charges to the industries which have their plants in the city.
Page Tiro Hundred Sixty-Three
EMORY LORENZO COBLENTZ.
If one man is to be singled ont and given the bulk of the honor for the development of Frederick and Frederick County during the last two decades, that man must be Emory Lorenzo Coblentz. Different from many who have reached places of high esteem, trust and commercial snecess, Mr. Coblentz is not an opportunist, but he has created the opportunities. And in the creation of these opportunities Mr. Coblentz has been instrumental in the organization and development of more enterprises which have brought general prosperity and commercial progress in his tield of operation than probably any other one man.
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