Manasses Jacob Grove (1824-1907)

From the Portrait and Biographical Record of the Sixth Congressional District, Maryland, 1898.

  Sporting a pair of fashionable 19th-century sideburns, Manassas Jacob Grove was a leading producer of lime in Frederick County, Maryland, and was the founder of the M.J. Grove & Son and the M.J. Grove Lime Company. A former U.S. Postmaster at Burkittsville, Maryland, Grove was elected to two non-consecutive terms in the state house of delegates from Frederick County. The son of George Washington and Elizabeth (Biser) Grove, Manasses Jacob Grove was born in Middletown, Maryland on February 17, 1824. Bestowed the unusual name Manasses, this name has its origins in antiquity, being the name of several biblical figures. These figures include the son of Joseph and Asenath mentioned in the Book of Genesis, a King of Judah, and a Hebrew tribe. The name is also spelled Manasseh, and Grove's first name has a variation in spelling, being given as "Manassas".

  A student at the Middletown Academy, Grove underwent private tutoring in Latin and Greek, and at an early age began a teaching career that extended four years. At the dawn of the Mexican-American War, Grove left his teaching post and enlisted in a cavalry company that had been raised by his maternal uncle, George Cost Biser (1810-1895). Due to a vast number of volunteer companies that had previously applied for service, Grove's company never saw combat. He returned to teaching sometime later and taught in schools in Arnoldstown, Broad Run, Jefferson, and near Middletown.

  In 1851 Grove left teaching and established a mercantile store in Broad Run, and in the year following married Susanna Jarboe (1830-1889). The couple's near four-decade marriage produced eight children: William Jarboe (1854-1937), Carrie Estelle (1859-1932), Edward Dawson (1862-1934), Margaret (died in infancy in 1865), Bernard Lee (1866-1927), James Henry (1869-1930), Eugene Ashby (died 1929), and Laura Regina (1876-1945).

  Following his marriage Grove removed to Burkittsville, Maryland, where he established another mercantile store. He first entered public life in 1852 when he was appointed U.S. Postmaster at Burkittsville, serving until 1859. Grove undertook a career change in 1859, having seen lucrative opportunities in the manufacture of lime. He would purchase a tract of land containing substantial limestone deposits in Limekiln, an area near Frederick. Grove relocated to this area around 1860 and later founded M.J. Grove & Son, a lime-producing concern that included his son William. Grove's business flourished, and by the 1890s his business was accorded substantial mention in the Portrait and Biographical Record of the Sixth Congressional District, which notes:

"The supply of fine grade limestone appears to be inexhaustible. At Lime Kiln large quarries are being worked and they own several lime kilns there, one being iron clad for the manufacture of lime with wood. They are also operating at Frederick two plants of eighteen lime kilns, three of which are iron clad for the manufacture of lime with wood. During the busy season about one hundered men are employed in the quarries and kilns."

  After many years of success Grove organized the M.J. Grove Lime Company in 1889, and also established plants in Stephens City, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Grove accumulated substantial wealth from his business dealings, and also owned "a number of buildings and tenement houses and several fine farms aggregating about eight hundred acres." Widowed in 1889, Grove remarried in 1891 to Josephine Wilson (1849-1931), to whom he was wed until his death. 

  Remarked as "an ardent Democrat", Grove became a candidate for the Maryland House of Delegates in 1887 and was elected in November of that year. During the 1888-89 session Grove was named to the committees on Inspection, Labor, and Temperance, and in 1891 was a candidate for a second term. Profiled in the October 26, 1891 edition of the Frederick News, Grove's business dealings and previous term were highlighted, with the News remarking:

"His life has been closely identified with the progress of Frederick county, and in such matters as the improvement of public roads, the advancement of legislative measures calculated to favorably effect the interest of the greatest number, he has always been foremost and helpful on the side of the right. If reelected he would be a credit to his party and the people generally, and an honor to the official body of which he would again become a member."

From the Frederick News, October 26, 1891.

  Grove won the election that November and during the 1892-94 session sat on the committees on Amendments to the Constitution, and Pensions. After his term, Grove traveled widely, including visits to California and Canada, and was a member of the Reformed Church and the Enterprise Grange of Buckeystown, Maryland. Manasses Jacob Grove died at his home in Lime Kiln Station on February 3, 1907, aged 83. He was survived by his second wife and several of his children and was interred at the Burkittsville Union Cemetery in Burkittsville, Maryland.

From the Catoctin Clarion, February 7, 1907.

Honor Daniel Hartzler (1912-1947)

From the Baltimore Evening Sun, October 28, 1946.

  With a new month comes a monthlong theme, and throughout May the Strangest Names In American Political History will profile several curiously named political figures from Maryland. The first of these articles takes us to Carroll County and Honor Daniel Hartzler, whose political star shone for a brief time in the late 1940s. A funeral home director in Union Bridge, Hartzler was active in the civic life of his community and in 1946 was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates. Just weeks after being sworn in, he died unexpectedly at age 34, curtailing a political career that was still in its infancy.

   The son of Daniel D. (1869-1941) and Fannie (Smucker) Hartzler (1871-1941), Honor Daniel "Jack" Hartzler was born on February 18, 1912, in Ohio. A student in the public schools, Hartzler was a graduate of the Martinsburg, West Virginia high school and also attended Bluffton University. Hartzler married in April 1932 to Kathryn Eline, to who he was wed until his death. The couple had one daughter, Patricia. 

  For three years Hartzler pursued law studies at LaSalle University Extension in Illinois, and in the late 1930s followed in his father's footsteps and earned a degree in embalming. Later, both he and his brother Byron joined their father's undertaking business, under the title D.D. Hartzler and Sons, and following Daniel Hartzler's death in 1941 continued with its operation. The business, then with locations in both Union Bridge and New Windsor, Maryland, still continues in the Hartzler family today. Additionally, "Jack" Hartzler was a partner in the Powell-Hartzler Funeral Home, located in Woodsboro and Libertytown, Maryland.

  Active in the civic and fraternal life of Carroll County, Honor Hartzler was a past president of the Union Bridge Lions Club, as well as chairman of Zone 3 of the Carroll and Frederick County Lions Clubs. He was a former president of the Union Bridge Parent Teacher Association, president of the Union Bridge Chamber of Commerce, and was chair of the local Red Cross chapter and historical society. A parishioner in the Union Bridge Methodist Church, Hartzler chaired the church choir and was a Sunday school teacher. 

From the Hanover Evening Sun, October 26, 1946.

  Honor Hartzler made his first foray into politics with his election to the Union Bridge town council, where he served for two terms, and was a notary public in the 1940s. In 1946 he announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for the state house of delegates, and that November was elected, polling 6,356 votes. One of four Carroll County delegates elected, Hartzler was sworn into office in January 1947 and was named to the Agricultural and Natural Resources committee. With a bright legislative future before him, Hartzler died just weeks later on February 16, 1947, two days shy of his thirty-fifth birthday. In his obituary published in the Hanover Evening Sun, Hartzler is noted as feeling ill the morning of his death, and while making a cup of coffee at his home was felled by a heart ailment. 

  The loss of the freshman legislator was widely noted in Maryland newspapers in the days following his death, and the house of delegates adjourned on February 18, 1947, out of respect for his memory. Several days after his passing, Hartzler was succeeded by Donald E. Six, who was appointed to fill out the remainder of his term. Honor Daniel Hartzler was survived by his wife and daughter and was interred at the Pipe Creek Church of the Brethren in Union Bridge.

From the Hanover Evening Sun, February 17, 1947.

From the Baltimore Sun.

Nutter Jerome Wimbrow Sr. (1867-1957)

Portrait from the Snow Hill Democrat Messenger, October 11, 1951.

   What isn't humorous about the first name Nutter? Lifelong Maryland resident Nutter Jerome Wimbrow packed an incredible amount of activity into his near nine decades of life, being at various times a grocer, general store owner, banker, one-term state representative, and member of the Maryland state athletic commission. The son of Moses Nutter and Laura Ann (Ward) Wimbrow, Nutter Jerome Wimbrow was born in Worcester County, Maryland on October 5, 1867. His early life was spent in the Salisbury, Maryland area and at an early age entered into the grocery business in that city, continuing until his removal to Whaleyville, also in Worcester County.

  Following his relocation to Whaleyville, Wimbrow founded a "large general store" that he would continue to run until several years prior to his death. In addition to that store, Wimbrow was engaged in a number of other business ventures throughout his long life, including the operation of a sawmill. Wimbrow also went into business with his brothers Robert Stansbury and Peter Ayres, and this business, the Petey Manufacturing Co., manufactured strawberry crates, and peach and tomato baskets. This business also saw the brothers have substantial lumber holdings which they later expanded "into the southern states." Wimbrow is also noted in his 1957 obituary as having operated a tomato canning plant for a time.

  Nutter J. Wimbrow married in Maryland in 1892 to Sallie Mary Dale (1873-1951), to whom he was wed for nearly sixty years. The couple's lengthy union saw the births of three children, Peter Dale (1895-1954), Madge (born 1899), and Nutter Jerome Jr. (1910-1983). Of these children, Peter Dale Wimbrow would find success in radio, writing, and music, being the composer of several popular songs during the 1920s and later founded the Indian River News, which ceased publication in 1966. 

  Wimbrow made his first run for the Maryland House of Delegates in 1899, running on the Prohibition platform while also being endorsed by the Republicans. Though he would lose that election, he again made a legislative run in 1915 (this time as a candidate of the People's Party) and was this time successful. Serving in the 1916-18 session, Wimbrow would be named to the committees on Immigration and Ways and Means.

From the Salisbury Times, August 4, 1936.

  Following his one term in the house, Wimbrow returned to his business interests in Whaleyville and engaged in banking, being a director of the Calvin B. Taylor Bank of Berlin, Maryland, and was president of the Truckers and Savings Bank of Pittsfield, retiring from that post in January 1954. He returned to public office in 1936 when he was appointed by Governor Harry Whinna Nice as a member of the Maryland State Athletic Commission, a body responsible for overseeing boxing and wrestling events in the state. Wimbrow served on the commission until 1941, being succeeded by Baltimore resident Robert Sindell.

  Nutter J. Wimbrow continued to be active in the affairs of his county well into his eighties, and his 84th and 85th birthdays received front-page mention in the Snow Hill Democratic Messenger. Widowed in 1951, Nutter Jerome Wimbrow died at his son Nutter's home in Whaleyville on September 15, 1957, a few weeks shy of his 90th birthday. Both he and his wife Sallie were interred at the Dale Cemetery in Worcester County.

From the Salisbury Times.

Truly Hatchett (1881-1970)

 Truly Hatchett, from the Nov. 18. 1954 edition of "Jet" magazine.

  Lifelong Baltimore resident Truly Hatchett etched his name into the history books in November 1954 when he became one of two African-Americans to win election to the Maryland State House of Delegates, being the first of their race to be elected to that body. Over seventy years old at the time of his election, Hatchett represented the district of Baltimore for one term and in the twilight of his life was remarked as being "the oldest living real estate broker and insurance man" residing in the city of Baltimore.

   Born in Baltimore on June 17, 1881, Truly Hatchett was the son of James H. and Hannah Hatchett. He is recorded as having attended the public schools of Baltimore and for nearly all of his adult life worked as a real estate dealer and insurance broker. A longstanding member of the Elks Lodge, Hatchett was elected as the Exalted Ruler of the Monumental Elks Lodge of Baltimore in 1928. He would remain affiliated with the Elks Lodge until his death, and for several years served that organization's Grand Lodge as its  "regional director of education". Hatchett was also long active in the Y.M.C.A, holding the post of President of the Board of Managers of the Druid Hill Branch of the YMCA in the early 1950s.

   Prior to his election as a state delegate, Hatchett continued to deal in real estate and insurance. In the early 1950s, he was serving as a "senior claims examiner" in the Unemployment Compensation Division of Baltimore and in November 1954 won election as a Democrat to the Maryland House of Delegates from Baltimore's 4th district.

Truly Hatchett and his fellow legislators in April 1955, from the Baltimore Afro-American.

  Seated along with Hatchett was fellow Fourth District delegate Emory Ryan Cole (1893-1968), a veteran of WWI as well as a practicing lawyer. Taking their seats at the start of the 1955 session, Hatchett and Cole were highlighted in the 1955 edition of the Baltimore Afro-American, where they described their first few months of legislative service. Despite his history-making status in Maryland politics, Hatchett remained modest about his and Cole's groundbreaking tenure, noting that:

"At no time did the Assembly try to embarrass us. Our representatives made a fine impression on the two bodies."

    Hatchett's term of four years concluded in 1958, having been an unsuccessful candidate for reelection. For the remainder of his life, he and his wife Bertha played a prominent role in local civic affairs, and in 1969 the 88-year-old former legislator and his wife were taken from their Druid Block home to the Provident Hospital in Baltimore out of concerns for their health and well-being. As the Baltimore Afro-American relates,

"This good news is a great relief to their friends and neighbors who were much concerned that these two grand senior citizens were ill and alone, except for a half-blind dog...But thanks to their minister, the Rev, Vernon Dobson (Union Baptist) and their nieces in Philadelphia and their friend, Charles Parker, they'll get the tender loving care they need now."

 After many years of prominence in Baltimore's black community, Truly Hatchett died on April 1, 1970, two months short of his 89th birthday. A burial location for both he and his wife remains unknown at this time.

Truly Hatchett (on right) at the 1960 Elks Citizenship Banquet in Washington, D.C.

Fetter Schrier Hoblitzell (1838-1900)

                               Hobitzell as he appeared in the 1882 edition of Public Men of Today.


   The life of Maryland congressman Fetter Schrier Hoblitzell is highlighted today, and in this author's opinion his unique name makes an excellent tongue twister (just try saying his full name three times fast!) Born in Cumberland, Maryland on October 7, 1838, Fetter S. Hoblitzell was the son of William and Henrietta Hoblitzell. His education began in the primary schools of Cumberland County and he later graduated from the Alleghany Academy located in that county.
   In the late 1850s, Hoblitzell turned his attention to the study of law and would receive his law degree in 1859. Shortly thereafter he established his practice in Baltimore, but his career as a lawyer was put on hold due to his enlisting for service in the Civil War. Siding with the Confederacy, Hoblitzell joined the First Maryland Regiment of Infantry as a private and later served amongst the ranks of the 3rd Regiment, Virginia Local Defense Infantry.
   Fetter Hoblitzell married on October 28, 1862, taking as his wife Julia Truehart. The couple wed in Richmond, Virginia, and are believed to have remained childless through the entirety of their marriage. Resuming his law practice after leaving the Confederate Army, Hoblitzell was soon bitten by the political bug and in 1870 launched a successful campaign for the Maryland State House of Delegates from Baltimore's 3rd legislative district. He would win reelection to this body in 1876 and 1878, and in the latter year was chosen as its speaker. His stewardship of the house proceedings garnered him praise from his fellow delegates, with the Public Men of To-Day noting that:

"He won golden opinions from every quarter for his able, intelligent and energetic discharge of the delicate duties of his position."

   During his tenure in the house of delegates, Hoblitzell also was a trustee of the St. Mary's Industrial School in Baltimore, serving in that capacity for six years. In 1880 Fetter Hoblitzell was "chosen without opposition" to be the Democratic nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 3rd district, and in November of that year won handily against Republican nominee Joshua Horner, Jr, besting him by over three thousand votes. Hoblitzell took his seat in March of 1881 and would win re-election to Congress in 1882, defeating Republican candidate Thomas F. Lang by over 4,000 votes. 

   During his two terms in the House Hoblitzell sat on the committee on Railways and Canals. After his second term, he returned to Maryland, where in 1888 he was named as Baltimore city counselor. Fetter Schier Hoblitzell died at his Baltimore home on May 2, 1900, after having been ill for several months prior. The 61-year-old former Congressman was later interred at the Loudon Park Cemetery in his native Baltimore. He was survived by his wife Julianna, who died in 1935 at age 92.

An obituary for Hoblitzell was published in the Washington D.C. Evening Times, May 3, 1900.