Washington County MD

Washington County MD, situated in the western mountainous portion of the State, bounded on the north by Pennsylvania, east by Blue Ridge Mountains, south and southwest by Potomac River, and west by Allegany County. The surface is an alternation of ridges and valleys, the latter being drained by Antietam, Conococheague, and Israel creeks. The area is 458 square miles, of which more than two-thirds, or 197,948 acres, was under cultivation in 1900. The population for the same year was 45,133. The county seat is Hagerstown. Other towns are Sharpsburg and Williamsport, having populations in 1900 of 1,030 and 1,472, respectively.

Putnam, Wyandt and Snyder Families of Maryland, Ohio and Pennsylvania

The Putnam-Wyand-Snyder Homestead, 1909

E. Clayton Wyand’s A Brief History of the Andrew Putman (Buttman, Putnam), Christian Wyandt (Weyandt, Weygandt, Voint, Wyand), and Adam Snyder Families (Schneider) of Washington County, Maryland (Hagerstown Bookbinding and Printing Co., 1909) is a compiled family history tracing the interrelated lineages of the Putman, Wyandt, and Snyder families. Drawn from sixteen years of research, the work includes transcriptions of wills, land deeds, letters, and genealogical sketches, supplemented by photographs of family members and associated homesteads in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Wyand’s research was based on extensive fieldwork in courthouses, libraries, churchyards, and family Bible records across Maryland and neighboring states. The volume is organized into sections detailing the principal families and their descendants, with supporting documents and an illustrated record of their heritage.

Biographical Sketch of George Brethard Thomas

George Brethard Thomas, born on March 29, 1842, in Maryland, moved to Missouri in 1860 after his father’s death. He worked as a hotel clerk before transitioning to farming in 1861, which he pursued until 1881. Alongside farming, he co-owned a meat market from 1866 to 1875 and served over ten years as clerk of the Shriver district. Thomas married Epha Brosins, with whom he had five children. In 1881, he acquired and managed the Palace Hotel, gaining local patronage.

Biography of Independence Mann

Independence Mann was born on July 4, 1843, in Maryland and later moved to Missouri, where he began his career as a dry goods clerk. He enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1861, serving valiantly through key Civil War battles until he was wounded and captured at Pea Ridge. After the war, he resumed his merchant career, establishing a successful business in Jamesport. Mann married Tobie Taylor in 1868, and they had two children. He was an esteemed community member, active in church and civic organizations.

Biography of Abraham Snethen

Abraham Snethen, a German immigrant, settled in New Jersey with his wife, Elizabeth Stewart, and raised eleven children. After various relocations, including Kentucky and Missouri, he became a prominent pioneer figure. His children included notable individuals like Aley B., a Baptist preacher, and John, Jr., a successful merchant. Abraham participated in the community’s defense during conflicts with Native Americans and was known for his long life, witnessing the growth of his family, which included eighty-one grandchildren before his death in 1859.

Biography of Colonel James H. B. McFerran

James H. B. McFerran, born on September 17, 1819, in Maryland, transitioned from stone cutting to law, studying under Samuel A. Lowe. He served as prosecuting attorney and a county commissioner before becoming a judge in 1859. During the Civil War, he organized the First Cavalry Regiment of Missouri State Militia, achieving the rank of colonel. Post-war, he engaged in banking, founding the Daviess County Saving Association and later the Peoples Saving Bank in Chillicothe. McFerran settled in Colorado Springs in 1873, remaining active in both law and banking while enjoying family life.

Biography of William Mann

William Mann, born April 1, 1839, in Maryland, moved to Missouri in 1841. He faced limited education due to personal losses, including his mother’s death at age nine. After his father’s passing, Mann ventured into a mercantile career, co-founding Brosins, Mann & Co. in 1860. Following interruptions from the Civil War, he resumed business in Gallatin, eventually forming partnerships that evolved into Mann & Coulson. Mann married twice, and he and his second wife, Victoria, had three children. The couple were active members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Biographical Sketch of Elwood M. Mann

Elwood M. Mann, born on December 14, 1836, in Hancock, Maryland, moved to Missouri with his family in 1844. After his parents’ deaths, he engaged in various mercantile ventures, forming partnerships including Mann & Bro. and Mann & Dunn, eventually establishing Mann & Wynn in 1881. He experienced personal hardships, losing his first wife and three children before marrying Mrs. L. W. Hargus in 1879. Mann is also involved in local fraternal organizations, including the Masons and Odd Fellows.

Biographical Sketch of Samuel T. Brosins

Samuel T. Brosins, born on April 1, 1817, in Hancock, Maryland, moved to Gallatin, Missouri, with his family in 1849. He received his education locally and began studying law in 1867 under Judge Robert L. Dodge, eventually becoming a respected attorney by 1871. Brosins served as city attorney of Gallatin from 1871 to 1876. He married Inez T. Evans in 1870, and they had two children. The couple are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and he is part of the Gallatin I.O.O.F. lodge.

Biography of Frederick D. Schnebly

Frederick D. Schnebly, born in 1832 in Hagerstown, Maryland, pursued education at Franklin and Marshall College. In 1854, he journeyed to California via Nicaragua, encountering numerous challenges, including a ship fire. After unsuccessful mining attempts, he settled near Dayton, Washington, contributing to local commerce. He later established an agricultural implement business in Yakima County and was elected sheriff, where he faced lawlessness head-on. Notably, he participated in efforts against Native American conflicts, showcasing his resilience and leadership throughout his life.

Biography of Hon. L. M. Ringer

Hon. L.M. Ringer, born June 17, 1834, in Maryland, displayed unwavering moral conviction throughout his life. Relocating to Virginia and later Missouri, he faced the Civil War by choosing to leave a secessionist community, ultimately losing his property. He served as a clerk in the Union ordnance department and was elected sheriff during turbulent times. After moving to Oregon and then Washington Territory, he engaged in business and held several legislative roles. Ringer, a man of honor and integrity, was married to Sophia W. Owen and had nine children.

Biography of William H. Cheney

William H. Cheney, born on October 12, 1854, in Washington County, Maryland, represents a lineage that dates back to colonial America when his ancestors received land from Lord Baltimore. He settled in Vesper, Kansas, in 1871, following his father, William B. Cheney, a prominent early settler and successful farmer. William H. eventually expanded his holdings to 1,600 acres, becoming a distinguished stockman and serving as a director in local banking and agricultural organizations. Committed to public service, he also holds various township offices.

Biography of John William Farrow, M. D.

John William Farrow, M.D., a prominent physician and surgeon in Elk County, was involved in various civic and business roles, including serving as president of Elk Falls State Bank. Born in 1858 in Williamsport, Maryland, he graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Baltimore and practiced in Kansas for over three decades. Appointed by multiple presidents, he served on the United States Pension Examining Board for fourteen years. Farrow was also a family man, married to Mary Prunty, and had two daughters and an adopted child.

Biography of Samuel Bowman

Samuel Bowman, born May 18, 1846, in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, is a notable Kansas figure with a diverse background. A descendant of German settlers, he migrated to Ohio in 1864 before establishing a farm in Illinois. In 1882, he moved to Kansas, where he engaged in farming and later served two terms as probate judge in Labette County. Since 1910, he has been in Coffeyville with his sons in the real estate, insurance, and loan business, contributing significantly to the community through various civic roles.

Biography of James A. McGonigle

James A. McGonigle, born in Hagerstown, Maryland, in 1834, became a pioneer in Leavenworth, Kansas, arriving in 1857. A dedicated soldier in the Union army, he was wounded in the Civil War but went on to establish himself as a prominent contractor and builder. His legacy includes notable structures across several states, such as the Montezuma Hotel and various depots. Married in 1864, McGonigle remained active in community affairs and continued his business well into his eighties, respected for his contributions to the city.

Biography of George Loughead Eyster, M. D.

Dr. George L. Eyster, born on May 14, 1853, in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, has established a prominent medical practice in Rock Island since 1876. He graduated from Pennsylvania College and the University of Pennsylvania’s medical school, initiating his career in Nebraska before moving to Rock Island. An esteemed member of various medical associations, he served as County Physician and Health Commissioner. Married to Fannie P. Wright, he is actively involved in community and fraternity life, recognized as a generous and respected citizen.

Biography of John Piper

John Piper, born on February 7, 1832, in Maryland, is now retired in Freeport, Illinois. He married Mary Myers in 1854, with whom he had six children, and later married Eleanor Humphreys in 1868, having four more children. A successful farmer and carpenter, he owned over 600 acres and shelled over a million bushels of corn. Mr. Piper was an influential figure in his community, serving as school director and road commissioner, and is a member of the Christian church.