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). 

In 1851, Mrs. Araminta Hall commenced the millinery 
and ladies trimming business, which she has conducted 
up to the present; has been very successful in business, 
and has made money. 

In 1830, Mrs. Eliza Merrill established the millinery 
and ladies trimming business, in New Town, and con- 
ducted the same for 35 years, and made money. 

In 1846, Miss Anna H. Henderson commenced the 
millinery and ladies trimming business, in New Town. 
In 1863, she married Mr. William T. Hearn, and after- 
wards her store was familiarly known as Mrs. Anna 
Hearn's store. She conducted the business successfully 
until 1863, in which year she died. 

In 1855 Miss Amereth J. Trader commenced the mil- 
linery, notion and ladies trimming business in New Town. 
About one year after this she married Mr. Littleton T. 
Clarke, after which her house of business was known as 
Mrs. Jane Clarke's store. 

In 1866 Mr. Clarke died. She continued the business, 
however, without intermission, and in 1871 she married 
Mr. Henry A. DeKay. After this her business com- 
menced increasing until it has assumed its present 
proportions as one of the finest millinery, notion and 
ladies trimming stores on the Eastern Shore. 

In 1849, Mrs. Julia Redden commenced the millinery 
business and conducted the same until 1861, when she 
closed out. 

In 1864, Mrs. Ursula B. Henderson, commenced the 
millinery, notion and ladies trimming business, in New 
Town, and has continuously conducted the same until 
the present. Mrs. Henderson is industrious and attentive 
to her business, enterprising and unyielding in her pur- 
pose to succeed. If these qualifications are a true index 
to success, she is bound to win. 

She commenced business on fifty dollars and has 
increased to such an extent as to warrant the declaration 
that her house, for the beauty and tasteful arrangement 
of goods, together with its heavy stock in trade, will com- 
pare favorably with any house of like character in the 
cities. In 1866, Mrs. Ella Foster commenced the milli- 
nery business, and continued the same for about two 
years. In 1867, Miss Lizzie Clayville commenced the 
millinery business and conducted the same about two 
years and retired. 

In 1866, Mrs. Mary A. Tipton commenced the milli- 
nery business and continued with slight intervals until 
1880, when she moved to Philadelphia. 

In 1876, Zadock J. Hall and his son, Charles S. Hall, 
commenced merchandising in Pocomoke City under the 
firm of C. S. Hall & Co; this partnership business lasted 
two years, when Zadok J. Hall sold out his interest in the 
store to Richard Hall another son of his. 

This firm is now doing business under the name of C. 
S. Hall & Brother, two enterprising young men, who 
without an accident will succeed. 

A word here in reference to Zadok J. Hall may be 
interesting to the reader: He is brother to Major T. Hall 
and Jerome B. Hall, who have already been noticed in 
this history. He was subject to all the privations that 
marked their earlier years, and was reared under the 
most discouraging circumstances, without a friend who 
was able to take him by the hand and promote him, and 
without education; yet by dint of perseverance, has made 
his mark in the world as well as his brothers. He has 
attained a competency and lives retired from the whirl of 
business life, taking delight in the improvement and cul- 
tivation of his little farm. Mr. Hall is also a member of the 
Baptist Church, in Pocomoke City. He has four children, 
and he is fifty-two years old. 

In I878, Herbert H. King and William Sidney Dryden 
formed a partnership, under the title of H. H. King & Co., 
in a first-class dry goods and grocery store, in Pocomoke 
City. 

This firm is doing a safe business, enterprising and 
polite, they must win. 

Mr. Dryden, one of this firm, has been engaged in 
business nearly twenty years, in the City of Baltimore. 
He left his father's home, a young man, to seek his for- 
tune with no other help but his own native talent. After 
being engaged in business for some time in the city, he 
worked his way up to a clerkship as salesman, in one of 
the largest wholesale dry-good houses in the city, that of 
William Devries & Co. In this house he has been 
engaged without intermission for seventeen years, the last 
three of which have been partially devoted to the collec- 
tion of claims for the house. 

This trust, committed by the house to him, shows not 

only their confidence in his integrity, but also their confi- 

dence in his tact and business ability in dealing with men. 

He has succeeded above many of his chance and has 

made money. 

About the year 1869, James W. Payne commenced 
merchandising, in New Town and continued in business 
until his death, which occurred in January, 1878. 

About 1866, Emerson Melvin commenced the sale of 
goods, in New Town ; he continued in the business with 
great success until he died, which event took place in 
1879. His estate was worth $6,000 clear of debt. 

In the settlement of his estate, the inventory of his 
personal property was the largest that had ever been 
entered in the Registers office of Worcester County. He 
first commenced on fifty dollars capital. 

About the year 1865, William H. S. Merrill added 

clothing and gents' furnishing goods to his stock of boots 

and shoes, he having engaged in the sale of boots and 

shoes several years previous. He sold goods until 1871, 

when he sold out to Robinson & Matthews, who con- 
ducted the business for five or six years and then closed 
out. 

In 1877, A. G. Marshall commenced merchandising, in 

Pocomoke City; he conducted the business until the 

spring of 1881, when he closed out. 

In 1870, Mrs. Sally Payne commenced the confectionery 

and candy business, in Pocomoke City, and continues the 

same to the present. 

In 1874, Ephraim A. Stevens commenced the notion 
and ladies' trimming business, in Pocomoke City; he 
continued until 1880, when he closed this business and 
engaged in a green grocery and provision store. Some- 
time during the year, he took as a partner Roland E. 
Bevans, and they carried on the business under the firm of 
Stevens & Bevans, this firm, however, did not continue 
long before Mr. Bevans drew out. Mr. Stevens continued 
the business until 1882 and closed out. 

In 1856, Miss Charlotte and Miss Ann Truitt, two- 
sisters, were engaged in the confectionary and notion 
business, in New Town, when they commenced and how 
long they continued the business I cannot say. 

Between 1856 and i860, Mrs. Mary A. Smullin engaged 
in the confectionery business and continued the same until 
her death, which event occurred in April, 1881. 

About 1870, Mrs. Ellen Payne engaged in the confec- 
tionery business, and in about two years she sold out to 
Mrs. Sally Mason, who continued the business for several 
years. 

Sometime between 1872 and 1875, R. H. Pennewell, 
Francis A. Stevenson and Allison Fleming engaged in 
merchandising in a store house occupying the site now- 
occupied by the store house of J. W. Selby. The house 
was burned down while Mr. Fleming was conducting 
business. 

In 1872, Edward S. Young commenced the tobacco, 
cigar and confectionery business, in New Town, and con- 
ducted the same until 1878; prior to this, George S. 
Merrill, Alexander Ebberts and John Walters, respect- 
ively, were engaged in it. 

As Mr. Young is the oldest native citizen in the place he 
is entitled to a sketch of his life in its history: He was 
born in 1807 and consequently is now in the 75th year of 
his age. He, like many others, was raised a poor boy, and 
had to work out, at twelve and a half cents per day, to 
help his mother in supporting the family. When of 
sufficient age, he was apprenticed to Colonel William H. 
Merrill to learn the hatting business, after his maturity, he 
settled in this, his native place, and with but one slight 
interval has remained here to the present. He was 
engaged, for several years, in the steam milling business. 
He has been a member of the Methodist Protestant 
Church nearly fifty years, has been ardently devoted to, 
and a liberal supporter of that Church, he has, probably, 
though always poor, contributed more to church building, 
in New Town in the past, than any other man in it. 

He has been the father of several children, all of whom 
are no more, except one son, and he lives in Colorado. 

Mr. Young reminds me of the ancient worthy patri- 
archs, leaning upon the top of his staff, and waiting for 
the summons to a brighter home above, and is entitled to 
the kindly greetings of all lovers of the aged and the 
good. 

In 1878, Capt. H. H. Husted entered into the tobacco, 
cigar, confectionery and fruit business, in which he is 
gaged at present. Capt. Husted is very attentive to 
business; is very polite and obliging, and is quite suc- 
cessful in business. 

In 1878, John L. Quinn engaged in the sale of tobacco, 
cigars, confectionery and fruits, and continues the same 
with success. 

Mrs. Stubbins and Mrs. Whittington both have con- 
fectionery stores, and are prosperous in business. In 1878, 
Simpson Katzenberger merchandised in Pocomoke City 
about one year and then closed out. In 1877, Miss Ruth 
Stone commenced the notion business, in Pocomoke City, 
and continued it for about three years, when she removed 
to Connecticut, her native State. 

In 1879, Miss Virginia Wilkinson and Miss Virginia 

Matthews united in copartnership in the millinery, notion 

and ladies trimming business in Pocomoke City. Their 

house is called the Philadelphia branch store, and truly it 

is very aptly so-called, for it will compare favorably with 

the city in the taste exhibited in the selection of their 

goods, in the prices they charge, and in the style and 

neatness of their work. These young ladies rank among 

the finest milliners of the day, either in the city or 

country. 

In 1880, Miss Ruth Pollett commenced the notion and 

ladies trimming business in Pocomoke City, and continued 

until 1881, when she closed out. In 1880, J. J. Francis 

Townsend and Ira T. Stevenson engaged in a dry goods 

and grocery store which they continue at the present. 

They are very worthy men.

CONTINUES NEXT SATURDAY HERE AT THE POCOMOKE PUBLIC EYE.