(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.
LAWYERS.
In 1867, Alpheus Sidney Stevens commenced the
practice of law in New Town; previous to this time we
never had a resident lawyer in the place. He was born
in Somerset County, Md., on the 15th day of December,
1840. He was a regular descendant of Col. William
Stevens, of colonial fame. His father, who is still living
at or near the age of 75 years, is no doubt the great great
grandson of Col. Wm. Stevens. This declaration could
be corroborated by such a statement of facts were it
necessary, as would leave but little room for cavil.
Alpheus Sidney Stevens was a self-made man. He
only went to school two years, fifteen months of that time
he went to a country school, which he afterward said was
time thrown away. The remaining nine months was
occupied at New Town Academy, during which time he
made some advancement, enough at least to inspire a
thirst for knowledge, which never abated during his life.
At 15 years of age he engaged as clerk in a store and
continued in that capacity for three years. At 18 years of
age he obtained a first grade certificate from the School
Board of Somerset County to teach school, and he
engaged in that occupation for three years more, at which
time he was 21 years old. He then commenced merchan-
dising in Pocomoke City and was a successful merchant
for six years. On the 3d day of November, 1863, he was
united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Truitt. During his
mercantile life he read law and in 1867 was admitted to
the bar of Worcester County, after passing one of the
finest examinations. He practiced law for four years.
His was a mind of no ordinary cast; indeed, he was a
genius. Although he made great proficiency in the
pursuit of knowledge for his opportunity, yet he was called
away in the morning of life before he had reached the
meridian of his intellectual manhood. Had he lived, no
doubt he would have been a jurist of the first order and
worthy to be associated with his ancestor of colonial fame.
Mr. Stevens was a member of the Presbyterian Church in
New Town. On the 19th day of July, 1872, he passed
away like the blasted rosebud that just began to unfold its
petals to make its fragrance known. So died Alpheus
Sidney Stevens, at the age of 32 years, leaving a widow
and four children to cherish his memory.
Benjamin Williams, attorney at law, was admitted to
the bar of Worcester County Court about the year 1871.
He was a native of Calvert County, Md. but moved to
Worcester County prior to his study in law. Immediately
after his admission to the bar, he located in Pocomoke
City and commenced practicing his profession. He
continued in the practice of law for about two years and
then moved to another part of the State.
Adial P. Barnes, attorney at law, was born in Nassa-
naddus, (Nassawango?) Worcester County Md., on the 10th day of
September, 1848. His parents were James A. and Sarah
E. Barnes. His father was quite an extensive and very
successful farmer and accumulated a large amount of
wealth, and is living", at ease, in Pocomoke City, at the age
of three score and ten years.
Adial P. Barnes, in his early life, labored on his father's
farm with the farm hands except when going to school.
He attended a country school, where only the elementary
principles of education were taught. In his youth, he had
an ardent desire to get an education that he might be
prepared to enter upon a professional life. His father,
seeing the bent of his mind, sent him to the Public High
School of Pocomoke City, where he was taught the
higher branches of education. After attending this school
for two years he read law in the office of George W.
Purnell, Esq., in Snow Hill, for one year. He then went
to the University of Virginia and attended law lectures, in
that institution, for two years. After which he went to the
University of Maryland and took his degree in the law
department of that institution, in the month of June, 1873.
Upon graduating he opened a law office, in the same year,
in Pocomoke City, where he followed his profession until
the month of October, 1877, when he removed to Snow
Hill, Md., and opened an office there, where he is still
engaged in the practice of law. Mr. Barnes is a growing
lawyer and ranks well with his professional brotherhood.
He is a young man yet, and having an ambition to excel,
he will, no doubt, with his application make his mark as a
jurist whose talent will command a lucrative practice and
secure a name to be envied.
J. Lloyd Wilkinson was born in New Town on the 13th
day of May, 1857. His father Rev. William Wilkinson
was a Baptist minister. Mr. Wilkinson attended the High
School at New Town until he was eleven years of age.
After this he entered the Drug Store of Mr. C. C. Lloyd
as clerk, after being in the drug store of Mr. Lloyd for
several years he went to Culpepper, in Virginia, to take
charge of a drug store there. During the time, in which
he was engaged in the drug business, he read law under
Gen. J. G. Field of Culpepper, who is at present, Attorney-
General for the state of Virginia, and in 1878 he was
admitted to the bar. At this period he was 21 years of
age. He practiced in the courts of Madison, Green and
Culpepper Counties, Va. In the winter of 1879 and 1880,
he returned to Pocomoke City and in 1880 he was
admitted to the Worcester bar.
Mr. Wilkinson is a young man of promise, with a good
mind looming up into brilliancy, and is rising in the estima-
tion of all who know him, for his legal ability.
John Glenn Towsend was born in Nassawaddux, (?) Wor-
cester County, Maryland, on the 25th day of May, 1853,
and resided, up to his early manhood, in the county of his
birth. He received a common school education, and
being of studious habits he prepared himself for a teacher
in the public schools. He was appointed principal of the
grammar school at Stockton, Worcester County, Md.,
which position he held some considerable time, during
which he studied law and was admitted to the bar in
Worcester County, in 1877. He, however, continued
teaching- school for two years. Afterwards he opened a
law office in Pocomoke City, where he has since practiced
his profession. Mr. Towsend is the youngest son of
Teagle Towsend, deceased, who was a leading man in
the county, of the old Whig party.
J. Glenn Towsend is quite a young man and has, com-
paratively, just entered the arena of public life as a
lawyer. If a noted family record, with a good mind and
studious habits, together with a good moral and religious
character, is any warrant of success, he will doubtless
honor his profession.
J. Shiles Crockett, attorney at law, was born in Princess
Anne, Md., on the 12th day of December, 1858. He was
educated partly at the Princess Anne Academy and at
St. John's College, Annapolis, Md., at which latter institu-
tion he graduated in 1878. He read law in the office of
Col. Henry Page and was admitted to the bar of Somerset
County Court in 1880. He then moved to Crisfield and
practiced his profession until 1882, when he removed to
Pocomoke City. Mr. Crockett is a young man with a
good mind and is a graduate at college. He read law
under one of the first lawyers of the State. With appli-
cation he has everything in his favor to insure success
in his profession.
A history of the legal profession in New Town, now
Pocomoke City, would be incomplete not to mention the
fact that many of the lawyers, both of the Snow Hill and
Princess Anne bar, have practiced law in New Town, and
chief among those of the Princess Anne bar who have thus
practiced are John W. Crisfield, James U. Dennis, Col.
Henry Page and William McMaster. Those of the
Snow Hill bar are Dennard Williams, Judge John R-
Franklin, Walter P. Snow, Judge Ephraim K. Wilson,
William H. W. Farrow, George W. Purnell George M.
Upshur, William S. Wilson, Clayton J. Purnell and Adial
P. Barnes. The Messrs. G. W. Purnell, G. M. Upshur,
W. S. Wilson, C. J. Purnell and A. P. Barnes, have still
their stated times of visitations to Pocomoke City attend-
ing to all business appertaining to the law.
CONTINUES NEXT SATURDAY HERE AT THE POCOMOKE PUBLIC EYE.
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