USA > Maryland > Anne Arundel County > The founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, Maryland. A genealogical and biographical review from wills, deeds and church records > Part 37
USA > Maryland > Howard County > The founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, Maryland. A genealogical and biographical review from wills, deeds and church records > Part 37
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Becoming next a political leader, he became State Senator and Clerk of the County Court. After accumulating an estate of $100,000 he traveled extensively. His wife was Eveline Clark, of Anne Arundel, who bore him eight children. Mr. James Bannon, of Anne Arundel, his son, succeeds as a political leader.
DEACON ABBOTT.
Deacon William M. Abbott, of the "Evening Capital," Annapolis, in addition to being a zealous member of the Democratic Editorial Association, is an elder in the Presbyterian Church and a graduate of the composing-room of the Baltimore "Sun." He was a compositor "on the wait" in the "Sun" office on the night Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, and after midnight "set up" the news of that lament- able event in our national history. Deacon Abbott was born in Trappe, Talbot County, Maryland, May 31, 1839, and was partly educated there and partly in a private school in Baltimore City. He has never held any public office. He was long in the employ of the late George Colton, and on May 12, 1884, started the "Evening Capital," which he has published daily, Sundays excepted, ever since. When he began this work his editorial desk was a dry goods box and he counted out the papers on a barrel head. Mr. Abbott has recently bought the "Chronicle" of Annapolis, and has removed the "Evening Capital" to the "Chronicle" office.
RILEY, THE HISTORIAN.
One of the most industrious members of the association, especi- ally on historical lines, is Mr. Elihu S. Riley, former editor of the Annapolis "Record." Living at the seat of the State Government, where the public archives are kept and historical memories cluster thickly about, Mr. Riley is thoroughly informed upon the legislation and other matters pertaining to government. He was born in Annapolis, May 2, 1845, and educated in the public schools. He is an attorney-at-law as well as an editor. He was City Counselor of Annapolis from 1892 to 1895. He is widely known for various writings on Maryland historical subjects. With Mr. Conway W. Sams, Mr. Riley compiled a history of Bench and Bar of Maryland. He has lately published a history of the Maryland Assembly.
Captain Hugh Riley, his son, of the Annapolis Militia, has once represented the county in the Legislature. He is now counsel for the City government.
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A MASTER OF ARTS.
Another editor of Annapolis who was an active member of the Democratic Editors' Association was also a lawyer and the School Examiner of Anne Arundel, and a very efficient school man at that. He was Mr. F. Eugene Wathen, of the "Maryland Republican." He was born in Leonardtown, St. Mary's County, June 29, 1860. He gradu- ated from St. John's College in 1880 and received his degree of master of arts in 1889. He was president of the Board of Supervisors of Elections for Anne Arundel County from 1892 to 1894 and resigned to become School Examiner in January, 1895.
During the Republican reign Mr. Wathen had hard work to keep at the head of the public schools of his county, but by pluck and skill and ability, the master of arts did it.
W. MEADE HOLLIDAY.
Another Annapolis editor who is a member of the Democratic Editors' Association is Mr. W. Meade Holladay, publisher of the "Anne Arundel Advertiser." He is a bright political writer; never held any public office and never a candidate until his recent appointment of Supervisor of Elections by Governor Warfield in the place of Mr. Revel, resigned.
He was born in Spottsylvania County, Virginia, March 24, 1869, and was educated in the public schools of Fredericksburg, Virginia. He came to Maryland in 1888 and has ever since resided in Annapolis, where the associations are congenial.
INTERESTING DOCUMENTS.
After the repairs to the Courthouse, some five or six years ago, many valuable old papers and records belonging to the Circuit Court and County were put into the cellar of the Courthouse without order and, in many cases, without care whatever. The County Commis- sioners appointed Major William H. Gassaway, late of Annap- olis, to rearrange and preserve the most valuable of these docu- ments. In his work Major Gassaway found many curious bits of local history, amongst them returns of the currency and silver belonging to the citizens of Anne Arundel County. That for 1780 shows that of the R's, Mr. Absalom Ridgely, an Annapolis merchant, had the most currency in hand, that sum being £2,156 12s. 6d. Returns of the Elk Ridge tobacco warehouses of colonial period have come to light, and, amongst other curiosities, the venire of the juries of 1775. Habitues of the Courthouse have been busy picking out ancestors in this old list that is replete with the Anne Arundel names of to-day .. The venire is: Abraham Woodward, Thomas Wilson, Stephen Gambrill, Joseph Meeke, Richard Sappington, Gilbert Yeald- hall, Samuel Warfield, Thomas Warfield (son of Joshua), Amos Gaither, Richard Beard, Henry Hall, John Burgess, Edward Lee, Robert Paine Davis, Robert Welch, Richard Watkins, Samuel Watkins, Thomas Noble Stockett, Charles Hammond (son of John),
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Charles Dorsey (son of Henry), Rezin Mobberly, Nicholas Aldridge, Joshua Marriott, John Barnes (son of Adam), Vachel Warfield (son of Samuel), John Dorsey (son of Michael), John Dorsey (son of Severn John), Thomas Cornelius Howard, James Walker, William Ridgely, Jr., William Fennell, John Rolls, Ezekiel Steuart, Zachariah Gray, Joshua Cromwell, John Scrivener, Thomas Miles, Benjamin Brashears, William Evans, James Cooley, Gabriel Lane, Wilkinson Brashears, Thomas Lane.
MR. JAMES MUNROE.
Upon the highest point of West street, Annapolis, lives the genial attorney, Mr. James Munroe. He has been requested to give me a history of his family, but has, perhaps, forgotten it. In the absence of it, his present life is a history in itself. Broad and lib- eral in his political views, correct and somewhat exacting in his legal work, Mr. Munroe exerts a living influence in the community of an interesting old city.
At present he is a member of the Board of Visitors for the Agricultural College. He holds no other official position, but his legal practice is large and he is by all men held in the highest esteem.
His present home is the beautiful one of the late Judge Tuck.
MR. ROBERT MOSS.
Coming down from one of the first settlers of Anne Arundel, located on the North Severn Neck, Mr. Moss is exerting considerable influence in Anne Arundel. He was graduated from the Agricul- tural College; was a member of the Senate of Maryland. He has been, for several sessions, the reading clerk of the Senate and also an attorney for the City government of Annapolis. He is now a member of the Board of Visitors of St. John's College. He is liberal in his views and endorses progressive movements in public institutions.
OWENS.
This family was represented by Richard Owens, who was seated in the southern section of the county, when Edward Lloyd, in 1649, was given a grant near him. Mr. James Owens, the popular attorney of Annapolis, and Dr. Owens, Registrar of the Maryland Agricul- tural College, are descendants. My sketch of this family was left with Mr. James Owens for revision, but it has not yet reached me. Mr. Owens is not only an interesting talker, but a forcible political writer and speaker who has made himself felt in several recent campaigns. May he continue to guide us.
DR. GEORGE WELLS.
As a successful physician and popular leader in political affairs of the County of Anne Arundel, Dr. Wells has long been at the head of the progressive men of the State. He comes from eminent ancestry. His father was Hon. George Wells, former President of the Farmers'
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Bank of Annapolis, President of the Senate and the chief head of the Annapolis and Elk Ridge Railroad in its earlier struggle for existence. Hon. George Wells was a warden of St. Anne's Church when the furnace which caused its destruction was put into it. He remon- strated against and declined to aid in rebuilding the present edifice, but after it had been completed, with its belfry in which there was no bell, a thousand-dollar bell was soon at hand, the gift of the good-hearted warden, who kept his vow, yet showed his generous spirit. (Riley.)
As President of the Annapolis and Elk Ridge Railroad he made it a success. In 1863 the road paid the State $14,286.72, nearly five per cent. on the investment. Upon his retirement, Mr. Joshua Brown, the builder and superintendent of the road, succeeded to the presidency.
At a special meeting, in 1865, Hon. George Wells was elected State Senator. He was twice married, first, to a sister of Hon. John Stephens Sellman, of the "Nineteen Electors." The mother of Dr. George Wells was Eliza Harwood, cousin of Major Harwood.
Dr. Wells is third in line of his family in Maryland. His grand- father, George Wells, came direct from England. In 1833 he was one of the first trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church which stood near the present record office on State House Hill. His asso- ciates of that Board were Absalom Ridgely, Joseph Evans and John Miller. In 1834 Mr. George Wells and Nicholas Brewer were delegates to the State Legislature.
Dr. George Wells, the present popular Clerk of the Court, was in 1869 chosen upon the issue of the Fifteenth Amendment a Demo- cratic Alderman for Annapolis. He was elected to the House of Delegates in 1872 and to the Senate of Maryland in 1880-82. He was chairman of the committee upon the appropriation for the Agricul- tural College in 1880, in which he made a favorable report of the institution, securing its continued appropriation. In 1887 Dr. Wells was unanimously elected Treasurer of the County. He came into the office of Clerk in 1896 and has held it ever since.
Courteous and prompt in all official duties, he is a popular leader in the Democratic party, an able speaker, and almost idolized by those who know him best.
Dr. Wells holds one of the old historic dwellings of Annapolis, in the southern section of the city, just opposite the old homestead of the first editor of the "Maryland Gazette." He was a delegate to the convention that nominated Grover Cleveland in 1884, and was a member of the State Convention which sent delegates to the St. Louis Convention which nominated Bryan and was again present at the nomination of Judge Parker.
Dr. Wells is still a bachelor. Dr. John D. Wells, United States Army, was an uncle.
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DR. WIRT ADAM DUVALL.
Dr. Wirt Adam Duvall, of Baltimore, was born in Anne Arundel County, 1863. He is the son of Judge Grafton and Mary Rebecca (Sullivan) Duvall, descendants of the Huguenot Mareen Duvall and of the English Sullivans. Of the former we had Judge Gabriel Duvall, of the Supreme Bench of United States, and of the latter, revolu- tionary soldiers of renown. Judge Grafton Duvall sat as Chief Judge of the Orphans Court for a number of years. He likes to spell his name with two "I's" and says he claims no relation to those who drop one of them, but all, alike, come from Mareen Duvall, the Huguenot merchant, who owned an immense estate, including "Great Marsh," and handed down a large and distinguished family of large land- holders, prominent in official positions.
Dr. Wirt A. Duvall completed his general education at St. John's College in 1885 and was graduated from the Medical Department of the Maryland University in 1888. He is Demonstrator of Anatomy in the University and a member of its associations.
He married a daughter of Captain William Mitchell, of Baltimore, and has several children.
DR. JAMES DAVIDSON IGLEHART.
Dr. James Davidson Iglehart, of Anne Arundel, born 1850, now a resident of Baltimore, is the son of the late John Wilson Iglehart and Matlida Davidson, his wife. The Igleharts came from Germany and located near Marlborough, Prince George County, in 1740. James Davidson came to Pennsylvania from England in 1775 and enlisted in the Pennsylvania regiment of the patriot army, was trans- ferred to the Maryland Line under General Smallwood and served throughout the war, becoming, also, in 1812, one of the "Old Defenders" of the Battle at North Point. He settled at Davidson- ville, Anne Arundel County, dying in 1841. John Wilson Iglehart was born 1814, and at twenty-one years was appointed magistrate, serving also as County Commissioner and Judge of the Orphans Court. He owned an extensive plantation in Anne Arundel, dying in 1881. His son, James Davidson Iglehart, took his B. A. degree at St. John's College in 1872. He studied medicine under Dr. William P. Bird, of Anne Arundel, and was graduated from the University of Penn- sylvaina in 1875. He was appointed by John W. Garrett as one of the surgical staff of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. He was an organizer of the Baltimore and Ohio Relief Department and is a member of the Board of Managers of the House of Refuge, member of the Sons of the American Revolution and of the Historical Society of Maryland.
He married Monterey, daughter of Colonel William Watson, who commanded the Baltimore Blues in the Mexican war and was killed at the battle of Monterey. Husband and wife are prominent in colonial orders. He is a member of Colonial Wars and War of 1812.
A GLANCE AT ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY OLD AND NEW.
From "One Hundred Years Ago" I quote a charming review of a century ago:
"Judging the people of Annapolis by their houses, they were of refined and cultivated tastes. Externally without architectural pretension, but within beautifully proportioned rooms, with doors of solid mahogany and sometimes with handles of silver, with many elegant mantel-pieces and stairways-these evidences may still be seen. The dining-rooms, the largest of all, usually open into gardens, beautiful and well kept. After dinner a stroll under the shade of trees or a view of the river till tea served under the trees, was the summer order of the day.
"There still remain in some of the old families pieces of silver of very elegant design. In Dr. Ridout's family I have seen an exquisite piece which was used as an ornament for the centre of the table; also old Dresden china worthy to have graced the collection of Queen Mary at Hampton Court. In the matter of coaches the love of display cropped out and seems to have been unrestrained. The coaches were imported from England, with the horses and liveries. I have heard that some of the panels on which the escutcheons were emblazoned are still preserved as relics of a gorgeous past. Dr. Ridout once told me that his father remembered when six coaches- and-six were kept in the town, and it was not the style for grandees to appear with less than four.
"With the surrounding country abounding in game and the waters of the Chesapeake with oysters, ducks and terrapin, it was not difficult to maintain a bountiful hospitality. The lovely Severn River, the high banks of which remind one of a miniature Hudson, widens a few miles from town into a beautiful sheet of water called Round Bay, where lovely scenery, as well as abundance of fish invited the angler to indulge his favorite pastime. On the other side of the town the "Spa" winds past fine old mansions with terraced gardens, among them "Carrollton," the seat of Charles Carroll, and in front of the city the Severn loses itself in the blue waters of the Chesapeake.
"Everything, therefore, combined to make boating and sailing attractive. The gentlemen kept their sailboats as the ladies did their coaches, and many pleasant excursions were made to the country-seats of friends on the Eastern Shore and in St. Mary's."
At the beginning of this new century we are either tearing down or else trying to preserve the priceless relics of historic Annapolis. At the same time both the city and the State are rivaling each other in remodeling streets and buildings. Even the United States Government has at last recognized the charming advantages of this ancient city of the Severn. With three such combined influences
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centering at our State Capital, with a delightful climate, a most charming location, midway between two great cities, the future of Annapolis can even now be pictured.
Where Colonel Edward Dorsey, in 1705, sold a row of houses on "Bloomsbury Square," because "for want or tenants they were going to decay," the Government has erected a handsome new postoffice facing historic St. Anne's, three times erected on its original site. St. Anne's graveyard, which frightened tenants from "Bloomsbury Square," now rears its silent white columns upon Cemetery Creek, and Bloomsbury Square, facing St. Anne's Circle, is destined to become still more attractive.
For a century or more the Pinkney House, sacred in memory and solid in masonry, stood facing State House Circle and opposite the Governor's Mansion. Yielding up its site to the State, it moved in stately dignity down College Avenue and took its stand facing St. John's College, and now bids fair to shed its lustre through another century. In its place now looms up a new Court of Appeals temple, a new State Library, a new Land Office, a new Comptroller's Office. Even our venerable State House, ashamed of the modern additions that almost obliterated its grandeur, has been relieved of all these blemishes; new legislative and gubernatorial halls and committee rooms, after its original designs, have been added. Its old Senate Chamber has been restored as it was when Washington therein laid down his commission as Commander-in-Chief and bade good-bye to the Continental Congress therein assembled, passing to South River and thence to Mount Vernon. King William School long since gave up its site on the south of the State House; the Armory, on the north, no longer bristles with muskets-a gallant fighting foreigner stands upon the site of the former and now let us have the handsome form of our fighting Revolutionary Governor, Thomas Sim Lee, on the latter, for without him and his Maryland soldiers there might have been no Revolution.
Whilst all these changes have taken place on State House Circle, there is one little building, with its iron chest and its doors that defy robbers, still standing as a reminder of the organizers of the County- seat and State-seat. Let it stand.
For half a century the Government has held the Severn shore of the city. One by one old landmarks in that section have dis- appeared. A century ago the commodious Dulany house, built by Daniel Dulany in 1735, stood with its garden extending to the water's edge. The tragic history of this brilliant family would fill a volume. Near it stood the mansion of Governor Eden, who, with Daniel Dulany, almost alone championed the cause of the proprietary until the booming cannon announced the beginning of the people's govern- ment. From this latter mansion our State Governors held sway until it, too, was absorbed by the Naval Academy, to give way, in turn, to modern advancement. Old Fort Severn is no more. Upon these sites marble palaces of a great naval school have been erected. Until recently five Governors' mansions stood in Annapolis. Some
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declare the sixth, and the earliest, still stands upon Prince George Street. The first home of Governor Nicholson was upon the town common, as was also Major Edward Dorsey's. Prince George Street is upon that common, but our records do not further locate them, nor are there any records to locate Seymour and the first Edward Lloyd, of 1709.
Governor Hart occupied a house then standing upon "Proctor's Choice" and "Norwoods," somewhere in the Naval grounds.
Governor Bladen's attempt at building "Bladen's Folly" gave McDowell's Hall to St. John's College, and preceded Governor Samuel Ogle's success in building his still well-preserved homestead on College Avenue. The next in line, in 1763, was "White Hall," seven miles out on Whitehall Creek, by Governor Sharpe, upon the estate of the two Colonel Greenberrys. Governor Sharpe's full-length portrait still looks down upon its spacious dining-room. This was followed by Governor Eden's addition of wings to Mr. Bordley's Severn River house. Governors Johnson and Thomas Sim Lee followed Governor Eden in the charming home that had been con- fiscated, but William Paca built his own home upon Prince George Street, the charming gardens of which have been so often described. This is now Hotel Carvel, with its driveway.
The Chase House seems to have been the combined product of Judge Samuel Chase and Governor Edward Lloyd, of 1809, who held it then; he added an additional story.
Last in line is the present gubernatorial mansion between State House Circle and St. Anne's Circle. This was built under Governor Swann and has lately been enlarged by Governor Smith and its grounds improved by Governor Warfield.
The English settlers of 1660 followed their home river, the beautiful Severn. From Greenberry Point to Round Bay, or "Eagle Nest Bay," and the Isle of St. Helena in the center of Little Round Bay, is a distance of nine miles. The shores, sloping from the uplands to the river, are varied by decided eminences attaining 155 feet elevation. Forty such little mountains can be seen in sailing up the river. The river secnery of the Severn has been compared to the Hudson, and, excepting always the grand gorge of the Highlands, the comparison can be maintained.
The sail to Indian Landing, where three islands stand out boldly in the river, was once the attraction of the English settlers. From "Mount Misery," at the northern side of Round Bay, at a height of 155 feet, the view commands the bay, three miles in width, and looking east, takes in the headlands, slopes of the Magothy and the Chesapeake beyond. At this point, during the war, was a signal station. It is an eligible site for a summer hotel and suburban park- and Round Bay may yet be utilized by the Government when the contemplated enlargement of the Naval Academy shall have been completed.
Around these hills, named after the pioneer surveyors, settled a neighborly English colony. (Scharff.)
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CEMETERY CREEK RECORDS.
In the beautiful but neglected grounds of Cemetery Creek, where rest the unknown dead of Annapolis' early history, there are many still to give us some idea of the lives and characters of our distin- guished families. Every conceivable memorial and tribute may there be found. I copied some of them as follows:
"Nester Ann, dau. of the late Hon. J. T. and Hester Chase- born 1791-died 1875."
"Thomas Chase"-(letters almost obliterated).
"Mary, consort of Richard M. Chase, died 1836."
"Mrs. Hester Chase" (inscription obscure).
" Theodorick Bland, Chancellor of Md., died 1846 in 70th year."
" Alexander Randall, 1852." In this lot are many handsome memorials that could not be read from closed gates.
"Col. Daniel Randall, of John and Deborah, Paymaster-General -born 1790-died 1851."
"Richard Lockerman Harwood-a Confederate soldier of Mary- land Cavalry, only son of Mrs. Hester Ann Harwood."
"Ninian Pinkney, Medical Director of U. S. A .- born 1811- died 1877."
"Mary Sherwood, wife of Ninian Pinkney."
"Mary Amelia Pinkney, daughter of Ninian and Amelia."
"George Mackubin, son of Edward and Mary C. Hammond- died 1852."
" Ann Carroll Brice-died 1858-74 years."
" Elizabeth Brice-died 1889-80 years."
"Father-Jas. Munroe, Sept. 1827-Sept. 1896."
" Harry S. Munroe-born 1839-died 1863."
"John, son of Grafton and Mary Munroe-born 1839-died 1878." " Ann, daughter of Grafton and Mary Munroe-died 1890, aged 64 years."
"Davidson Hall, son of Frank and Mary Munroe-1900-1903." " In memoriam of Nicholas Brewer-born 1795-died 1864."
" Arthur Tillard Brewer-1873-1897."
"Kate Brewer Sutherland, wife of Charles Sutherland, U. S. Army."
"Thomas S. Beall-born 1816-died 1890."
" Barbara M. Beall, wife of Thomas S. Beall-born 1820-died 1891."
" William Iglehart, son of James and Eliza Iglehart-1848-1896 " William Iglehart, son of James and Eliza Iglehart-1848- 1896."
"Emily Green, daughter of William Saunders Green."
"Eliza, daughter of William S. Green and Widow of James H. Iglehart-1812-1838."
"Mary Harwood-1815-1891."
A flat slab to "James Murray-1786-1866 and Catharine, his wife-1780-1870."
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"Catharine, wife of James D. Murray and daughter of William A. and Catharine Spencer-born 1835-died 1859."
"In memory or Eliza Maynadier-born 1786-died 1852."
"Colonel Henry Maynadier .... died 1849-91 years."
" Hannah Maynadier Murray, wife of Charles Calvert Stewart- 1826-1894."
" Beneath this stone are deposited the remains of Mary Owings, widow of Samuel Owings, of Stephen, of Baltimore County, who departed this life 1835-76 years."
"Elizabeth Maynadier, wife of Colonel H. Maynadier."
"Charlotte, wife of James Murray-1791-1845."
"Henry M. Murray-1824-1870."
"Harriet, second daughter of Rev. Daniel Maynadier and Mary, his wife-1825."
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