When Pocomoke Was Young- A continuing weekly feature.

 

(Chapter flow:)

ITS ORIGIN AND TOWN LIMITS

TOWN LIMITS

GROWTH, CHANGE OF NAME, ETC.

MERCANTILE ASPECT

MANUFACTURING

TRADES ETC.

SHIPPING INTERESTS

EASTERN SHORE STEAMBOAT CO.

SHIP BUILDING ETC.

HOTELS, LIVERY STABLES, ETC.

PHYSICIANS

LAWYERS

POST OFFICE

PRINTING OFFICES

SOCIAL ASPECT, ETC.

MORAL ASPECT

TEMPERANCE CAUSE

SCHOOLS

CHURCHES

Note:  In duplicating this material for publishing on The Pocomoke Public Eye we have made minor adjustments to correct some of the spelling, punctuation, etc. We believe the errors were not in Rev. Murray's original writing but occurred in the process of formatting the material to a digital format for viewing online.

MERCANTILE ASPECT (CONTINUED). 

Upon the dissolution of partnership of Clarke & 
Clarvoe in 1852, William H. T. Clarvoe and James Merrill 
united in copartnership, under the firm of Clarvoe &. 
Merrill, in the sale of goods, occupying the same stand 
that Clarke and Clarvoe occupied. 

This firm continued two years, when Mr. Merrill sold 
out to Mr. Clarvoe. 

Mr. Clarvoe conducted the business by himself until 
1858, when he sold out to William W. and James A- 
Melvin, acting under the firm of W. W. & J. A. Melvin. 

This firm transacted business for a while in the store- 
house formerly occupied by Mr. Clarvoe, after which they 
purchased the wharf and ground upon which they built 
the storehouse, which is at present occupied by Smullin 
& Brother. 

They did a heavy business from 1858 to 1866, when 
they sold out their stock in trade, together with their 
storehouse and wharf, to Stephen E. Mason. 

Stephen E. Mason conducted a heavy business from 
1866 to 1870, when he sold out his stock of goods to John 
W. Selby and Julius J. Smullin, two enterprising- young 
men, who did business under the firm of Selby & Smul- 
lin until 1877, when Mr. Selby sold out his interest in the 
store to Julius J. and Albert Smullin. Smullin & Brother 
keep on hand a general assortment of dry goods, grocer- 
ies, boots, shoes, hats, etc., and are doing a thriving 
business. 

These two young men are worthy of great praise for 

their business qualifications and fidelity, and it is said that 

they stand number one in business circles in the cities. 

In 1878, John W. Selby purchased the ground at the 
north-east corner of Market and Front streets and erected 
a large fine building for store and town hall purposes; the 
store room is a spacious one, the upper room is used for 
town hall purposes. This is one of the finest storehouses, 
and for such a purpose is an ornament to Pocomoke City. 
Mr. Selby has a well assorted and well arranged stock of 
dry goods, groceries, boots, shoes, hats, etc. 

In 1854, Benjamin F. Ulman commenced merchan- 
dising in New Town, and sold goods for some time, after 
which he moved to the City of Baltimore where he is still 
doing business, and report says he has a bank of his own 
and is worth $500,000. 

In 1862, Major T. and Jerome B. Hall commenced 
merchandising in New Town, at first dealing altogether in 
the hardware line; after a while they branched out more 
at large in a general dry goods, grocery, boot and shoe 
house, under the firm of Hall & Bro. 

In 1863, they added to their mercantile trade that of 

steam saw mill business; in 1868, that of ship building; 

and in 1872, the Marine railway business. In 1878 they 
took into copartnership L. Fuller Hall, son of Jerome B. 

Hall. The company now doing business under the firm 

of Hall, Bro. & Co. This firm with this heavy business 

resting upon them, employ sixty men annually, repair about 

seventy-five vessels annually, and have built during their 

business life, about twenty-five new vessels. Their annual 

business aggregating $30,000. 

They own two steam saw mills, a Marine Railway. 300 

acres of land and 23 houses and lots, some of the houses 

are fine buildings. 

In thus giving a brief outline of the business life of 

these two brothers it will, also, be of interest to the reader 

to learn something of their general history. 

In view of their success in life, this will be given with 

the greatest pleasure, for I knew them when they were 

little flaxy headed boys. 

Their father, Benjamin Hall, was a highly respected 

man, a carpenter by trade and a captain of militia; he 

died when these gentlemen were little children, leaving a 

widow and six children, without any assistance, to get 

their living as best they could. It is true the family lived 

on their own place, but that was very little more than a 

staying place, the little boys worked like little giants. I 

have seen them coming to town with a load of pine wood, 

which they had cut, when you would think they were 

scarcely large enough to come to town any way. 

Their mother, with the children, struggled against 
adversity until these two boys were old enough to go to- 
a trade ; then they commenced to learn the blacksmith 
business with George W. Landing. They served an 
apprenticeship with Mr. Landing, and when he retired 
from the shop they took charge of it in their own name, 
and worked hard and continuously at the business until 
they entered mercantile life, as before stated. 

The reader, probably, is already thinking about their 
school advantages. They lived in the country and could 
only go to school, occasionally, in the winter time; what 
little learning they got in this way was of very little 
advantage to them, as they experienced in the commence- 
ment of their mercantile life, in trying to use the pen and 
in calculating figures. They, however, learned to use the 
pen and calculate figures, and how to make money, also; 
and their record shows the character of their intellect and 
business capacity. 

They are both members of the Baptist Church, in 
Pocomoke City; Major T. Hall being a deacon. Their 
ages are, respectively, forty-eight and fifty-six years ; 
Major T. being the eldest. 

In 1856, C. C. Lloyd opened a drug store, which 
was the first ever established in New Town; in addition 
to drugs he kept oils, paints, stationery, jewelry and 
variety store. 

He has, during his mercantile life, closely applied 
himself to business, always at his post, he is polite. 
obliging and accommodating, and has made money. He 
has been sheriff of Worcester county. During 1881, he 
united in partnership with Edgar Fontaine, who was also 
in the drug business, thus the two stores became one; they 
are now doing business under the firm of Lloyd and 
Fontaine, and are prospering. 

In 1862, Dr. D. J. O. Truitt commenced the apothecary 
and variety business, in New Town, and has conducted it 
successfully to the present. In 1862, Dr. Samuel S. 
Quinn and Albert S. Merrill commenced the drug busi- 
ness, and continued it until 1864, when they retired. In 
1866, Dr. John T. B. McMaster opened a drug store in 
co-partnership with Ashton Milbourn, which firm con- 
tinued until 1869, when Dr. McMaster sold out his interest 
in the store to Ashton Milbourn. 

In 1869, Ashton Milbourn and William T. Broughton 
united in the drug business and conducted it until 1873, 
at which time they sold out their stock in trade to Messrs. 
Fontaine and Turpin. This firm continued for two years, 
when Mr. Turpin sold out to Mr. Fontaine. From 1875 
to the present, or until Mr. Fontaine united in business 
with C. C. Lloyd, he has been quite attentive to business; 
has built up a good trade, and has become a popular 
merchant. 

In 1860, William W. Quinn & Brother opened a 
general dry goods and grocery store, which they con- 
ducted until 1873, when they closed out. In 1855, W. S. 
C. Polk commenced merchandising in New Town, and 
in 1863 he took as a partner his brother, Emerson G. 
Polk. This firm continued until 1866, when he sold out 
his interest in the store to his brother Emerson. 

From 1866 until the present Emerson G. Polk has con- 
ducted a dry goods, clothing, boot and shoe store of 
quite an extensive character, and keeps on hand a general 
assortment of first class clothes for gentlemen's wear; and 
none need fear in going to him for a good article and of 
getting what they want. He is polite, obliging and 
attentive to business. 

In 1868, Henry King commenced merchandising, in 
New Town, and conducted the business until 1875, when 
he closed out. 

In 1864, John W. Mezick commenced merchandizing, 
in New Town, and continued until 1866, when he retired 
from business, and removed to the State of Missouri. 

In 1863 or '64, the Messrs. Bachrachs were engaged in 
the sale of goods, in New Town, about one year, after 
which they settled in Baltimore, where they are still 
doing business, and have become wealthy. 

In 1864, Littleton T. Clarke, Thos. J. Blain and Thos. 
N. Williams, formed a co-partnership in merchandising 
in New Town. They kept a first class dry goods and 
grocery store. They continued in the business until 
1866, when they closed out. 

In 1867, Captain Robert Henry engaged in mercan- 
tile life in New Town. His store is a first class dry goods 
and grocery store. Captain Henry not only owns his- 
stock in trade, but three schooners, seven houses and 
several building lots and two farms. Some of the houses 
rank among the finest houses in the town. His 
entire property may be safely estimated at $30,000. In 
thus describing his wealth, the reader may be anxious to 
learn something of the man. 

Well, as I have known him from his infancy, it will give 
me pleasure to show him up as a wide-awake, sagacious 
business man. Let me say in the first place, however, 
that he is a man of color, and was raised to work. When 
but a boy he became a sailor, and was hand before the 
mast, and after he became his own man he laid up $1,400, 
the result of his hard labor on board of vessels. 

After this he joined Ashcraft & Risley in the vessel 
trade, and here was the mine of wealth which he struck. 
After some years this partnership dissolved, and since 
then he has operated by himself. 

Captain Henry has no education. He can neither read 
nor write, but although he is without this necessary quali- 
fication, yet he studies men and business; and there are 
but few more shrewd business men than Captain Henry. 
He has six children, and he is over 50 years of age. 

CONTINUES NEXT SATURDAY HERE AT THE POCOMOKE PUBLIC EYE.