(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).
During John S. Stevenson's mercantile life, there were
other stores in the place, namely: William R. Truitt,
Burroughs & Davis, Maddux & Fields, James Stevenson,
and probably others. Some of them did quite a heavy
business. They were all good citizens and their trade
yielded them a fair income.
There is only one of this number that I shall give an
extended account of, and this is James Stevenson, and it is
because of the novelty of his case.
He commenced to sell goods at an early date, in New
Town, prior to this, however, he taught school.
I have heard it said of him that he commenced mer-
chandising on a capital of eighty dollars. His store, of
course, was a small affair, but his trade was sufficient to
give him a comfortable living. He dealt principally in
sugar, coffee, molasses, pork, liquor, tobacco and a few of
the coarser dry goods. He was magistrate during a great
part of his mercantile life.
He went by the name of little Jimmie, in consequence
of his being small of stature.
He sold goods for thirty years, during all that time he
never visited the city, but purchased his goods by proxy.
He died 1861, aged sixty-seven years, and his tomb
stands in the Presbyterian Cemetery, of Pocomoke City.
In 1840, Grove & Harris bought out the stock in trade-
of John S. Stevenson, and pursued the mercantile business,
until 1844, when they retired.
In 1844, William J. S. Clarke and William H.T.Clarvoe
united in co-partnership, in the sale of goods, in New
Town, under the firm of Clarke & Clarvoe, which firm
continued successfully for eight years, when by mutual,
consent they dissolved partnership.
Mr. Clarke, at slight intervals, has conducted a business,
on a large scale ever since; part of the time by himself
and the balance of the time with his son, Edward H.-
Clarke, and his brother John H. Clarke.
His business career runs nearly thirty-eight years.
He built the first steamboat, the first Marine railway,
and the first three masted schooner on the Eastern Shore.
He has during his time built from forty to fifty vessels.
During the last sixteen years he has, in common with his.
brother, run the steam mill business and Marine railway,
which have done an average business of $40,000 annually.
He owns ten thousand acres of land, some of it is (?) iia
fme estates.
He also owns thirty houses and lots, and amongst
them is the well known Clarke House, which is one of the
first Hotels on the Eastern Shore. He is also one of the
directors and stockholders of the Eastern Shore Steam-
boat Company. He has been twice married, his first wife
was Miss Amanda C. Clarvoe, daughter of the well-known
Dr. John B. H. W. Clarvoe ; his second wife was Miss Eliza-
beth A. Hargis, daughter of Thomas M. Hargis. He has
four children, two by each wife.
It will be no detriment to Mr. Clarke to say that he was
a poor boy. He was born the twenty-third day of June,
1823, in Somerset county, near this place. His mother
died when he was two weeks old; he was then taken and
raised by Captain Robert W. Swan, whose wife was a
relative of his mother.
Captain Swan, being a New Englander and a sea cap-
tain was well educated: consequently he was well pre-
pared to give Mr. Clarke a liberal education, for those days,
which he did.
Mr. Clarke began his mercantile life with John S.Stevenson, in the fall of 1838, in the fifteenth year of his age. He remained with Mr. Stevenson two years. In 1840, he went to New Orleans at the age of seventeen years, and remained there until 1844, when he returned again to New Town and commenced to do business for himself as before stated. In Mr. Clarke's case, we can see what can be done by a man of push, who is determined to succeed, for he had nothing to commence on but the wide world in which to apply his active mind, and this scrap of his life shows how well he has played his part. There are two features of his character that are worthy of notice: The first is, that he is an indomitable worker, always full of business and always at business. The second is, an ardent desire to promote his friends. About 1835, Joseph Fisher engaged in the sale of goods in New Town, he occupied the old stand of his- father-in law, Stephen Redden, for several years and then, moved to the city of Baltimore. Between 1844 and 1850, there were several other stores in New Town, such as: William Townsend, Irving Merrill, William T. Hearn, Oliver Jones, J. Francis Hen- derson and David H. Long, doing business under the firm of Henderson and Long, Quinn and Sturgis, Ashcraft and Risley; after a while David Long drew out of the firm of Henderson and Long, and Henderson took as a partner, George W. Hargis, then James Sturgis as a third partner. After continuing sometime Henderson bought out Hargis and Sturgis and transacted business by himself; after continuing by himself for some time, he took as part- ners his brother Henry Henderson and Levin Conner. During this partnership J. Francis Henderson died, then Henry Henderson and Levin Conner conducted the business for two years, when Conner sold out to Hender- son, then Henry Henderson transacted business in his own name for five years or until 1865, when he closed out. All the above named stores were first-class stores, and the proprietors were all highly reputable men; they have all passed away except Henry Henderson and Levin Conner, who are still living in this place, and David H.. Long, who lives in the City of Baltimore, and is engaged in a very extensive wholesale phosphate house, as general agent. Mr. Long is something over fifty years of age, of high moral character, of tried integrity, and has ever been found faithful to all trusts committed to his care, and is worthy of any position of trust and responsibility which may be placed in his hands.
CONTINUES NEXT SATURDAY HERE AT THE POCOMOKE PUBLIC EYE.
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