(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 1843, Captain Henry Long commenced merchan-
dising, in New Town, and continued until 1855, in which
year he died. His store was considered the poor man's
store to deal at; he always kept a heavy stock of groceries,
and sold his goods lower than others.
It was said by some that there was no chance for other
merchants in New Town, as long as Captain Long sold
goods. His eventful life is worthy of notice in this history;
in many respects he was a remarkable man; he com-
menced life a poor boy, with but little education, engaged
as cook on board of a schooner, and continued the life of
a sailor until he was 63 years of age. He then engaged in
the sale of goods until he died. He rose from the position
of cook to be master and owner of his vessel. While
engaged in the vessel trade he amassed considerable wealth.
Captain Long, though comparatively uneducated, had
studied human nature, and had as large a share of the
knowledge of men as the most scientific. His was a
decided character; integrity marked the whole course of
his life.
He was true to his engagements. No one ever feared
that Captain Long would not meet his word. He was
also kind and benevolent. Many a dollar he has given
to the poor; he took a real pleasure in accommodating
and helping those who were in need.
Captain Harry Long, for so we used to call him, was a
bachelor; and, as a matter of course, his associations were
with the young folks. He was also quite eccentric;
would make it a point to go to church at least twice a
year, when the preacher would come on the circuit, and
go again to hear his farewell discourse.
On one occasion he went out to church; it so happened
that the young preacher had the first appoint. Captain
Long took his seat as usual near the door. After the
sermon was over the young men gathered around him
and asked him how he liked the discourse. Captain
Long had a by-word, very pat, which he called "By
Jing," and he was much in the habit of smacking his
mouth and shrugging his shoulders in conversation.
When he was asked, "How did you like the discourse?"
he replied: " O! By Jing, boys," with a smack of the
mouth and shrug of the shoulders, "that other preacher
is a big preacher."
"How do you know, Capt. Long, have you ever heard
him?" "No, By Jing, I have never heard him, but I will
tell you what I go by. They generally send them like
shad — a big one and a little one together."
Captain Long was full of fun for the young folks.
Sometimes he tried his talent at poetry, for instance, the
following as a sample :
"As she slips she slides along,
A trusty friend is hard to find."
He was thoughtful and kind to the poor. He left in
his will the sum of $2,500 to be appropriated towards
educating the poor children in and around New Town.
This sum was appropriated by the Commissioners or the
School Board of the county, by and with the consent of
the heirs of Captain Long, to the erection of the High
School building in New Town.
As this departure from the will was made, it was but
just to the memory of Captain Long that the building
should have been called the Henry Long High School.
Captain Henry Long was brother to Captain John W.
Long and David Long, and was the oldest of the three.
When he died he was by his own request, buried in a
pine coffin, by the side of his sister, Polly Henderson, in
the Methodist Episcopal Church burying ground of New
Town.
The following inscription may be found upon the
marble slab that covers his remains:
" In memory of Henry Long, who was born the 27th
of April, 1780, and died the 3rd day of January, 1855.
Kind to the poor in his life, in death their wants were
not forgotten."
In 1855, John P. Hargis and William S. Dickinson
commenced merchandising under the name of Hargis &
Dickinson, at the corner of Market and Commerce Streets.
(Commerce Street was the former name of Clarke Avenue.)
Previous to this, however, there was a firm by the name of
Jones, Hearn & Co., which occupied the same stand, how
long they did business I am not able to say.
The store of Hargis & Dickinson was a first-class
store, comprising dry goods and groceries, liquor excepted.
This firm continued successfully until 1865, when by
mutual consent, they dissolved partnership.
John P. Hargis continued the business in his own
name about six years and retired.
William S. Dickinson again commenced mercantile
life, forming a co-partnership with I. H. Merrill and F. H.
Dryden, two enterprising young merchants, who were
already selling goods under the firm of Merrill & Dryden.
This connection with Merrill & Dryden took place in
1867. This firm was known as Dickinson, Merrill &
Dryden, Mr. Dickinson being already in possession of the
store house, at the corner of Market and Commerce Streets.
The firm, having an opportunity of renting the store-
rooms adjoining, previously occupied by A. S. Stevens
and James S. Primrose, connected the three together,
having three entrances on Market street and one on Com-
merce Street, and the buildings being so connected that
customers could pass from one apartment of the store to
the other without going out of doors. They arranged
their stock in trade in three departments, occupying the
central room for dry goods and notions, with groceries,
hardware, & liquor excepted, on one side; and boots,
shoes and gentlemen's furnishing goods on the other. This
firm did a heavy business from 1867 to 1874, when by mutual
agreement they dissolved partnership, each one taking a
department and continuing the business in the separate
branches so as not to conflict with each others interests. In
this division, William S. Dickinson the dry goods and
notion department, I. H. Merrill the boot, shoe and gen-
tlemen's furnishing department, F. H. Dryden the gro-
cery and hardware department. Here were three stores
made out of one, each one doing a good business.
In 1878, F. H. Dryden sold out his stock of goods to
H. T. Stevenson and E. F. Gibbons, this firm continued
business but a short time, when E. F. Gibbons sold out to
H. T. Stevenson, and Mr. Stevenson then took as a part-
ner Dr. Sidney W. Handy, the firm now doing business
under the name of Stevenson & Co. In the fall of 1881
they added to the hardware and grocery department that
of dry goods, boots and shoes, and are doing a thriving
business.
Stevenson & Co., are the first in Pocomoke City to
introduce into their business house an elevator.
At the commencement of 1881, Mr. I. H. Merrill took
into partnership, with himself, two sprightly young men of
this place, James P. Plain and William F. King, and the
business of the house is now transacted by this company.
William S. Dickinson has associated with the dry goods
business, that of furniture also, and as I have given a brief
history of Mr. Dickinson as a merchant, I feel it a pleasure,
to give a synopsis of his life, as I have known him from
his infancy. He was born the fifteenth day of March,
1833. Forty years ago, or more, he was a member of the
Sabbath School, in this place, and I often call up in
memory the Sabbath School Exhibitions of those days,
and the speeches of those who were then children but now
are the venerable fathers and mothers of the present day.
Frequently in meeting Mr. Dickinson on the street and
elsewhere, I think of him on the stage in delivering his
speech, commencing with, "you will scarce expect one
of my age, to speak in public on the stage, etc."
He was always a good boy, thoughtful, studious and
industrious.
At the age of thirteen he entered the store of his
cousin, Joseph Bratton, Esq., at Barren Creek Springs,
then Somerset county, Md., as clerk. He remained in
this situation about fifteen months, when he returned to
New Town.
After returning home he went to school about one
year, when he entered the store of Captain Henry Long,
in 1848, as clerk. He remained in this situation until the
death of Captain Long, which event took place in 1855.
It was found by the last will and testament of Captain
Long that William S. Dickinson, in connection with his
father, James T. Dickinson, were left executors of his
estate.
This was no small amount of confidence which Cap-
tain Long reposed in Mr. Dickinson, as the estate was a
heavy one.
Integrity has marked his whole life, and if it were
possible that one could be conscientious to a fault, I would
say that of him. He is a ruling Elder in the Presbyterian
Church in Pocomoke City. He has three children — two
daughters and a son, who are an honor to his name, and
adorn his home with bright sunshine, and are as precious
gems around his table of plenty.
CONTINUES NEXT SATURDAY HERE AT THE POCOMOKE PUBLIC EYE.
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