(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.
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