"Our old city of Frederick was captured by the rebel forces under Gen. Jubal Early on Saturday, July 9, 1864. They first entered about six o'clock a.m. from the west. We had no army to protect us except two or three thousand, while the rebels had from ten to fifteen thousand men. Gen. Early levied a contribution on the city of two hundred thousand dollars, which I am told was paid on Saturday."
The money was obtained from the banks, and the corporation became responsible for its payment. Thus by their assistance was averted the threatened destruction of the city at the hands of the enemy. The amounts contributed by the several banks were in proportion to their capital stock. By act of Legislature in 1865 it was provided that one-half of the amount loaned should be reimbursed with interest. As they were all in a sound condition, the unexpected assessment in no way affected their solvency or credit. The banks of Frederick, indeed, are remarkable for the systematic and careful manner in which their affairs are managed.
Ezra Houck is remembered now and will be long remembered as a prominent figure in the list of Frederick City's eminent financiers. For forty-six years he was closely associated with the administration of the affairs of the Farmers' and Mechanics' National Bank, and for many years previous to his death he was a director in that institution, as well as its president from 1872 until he died in 1878. He was born in Frederick City, July 30, 1802. His father, George Houck, was born in Frederick County, Md., in 1775, and died in the county in 1867, aged ninety-two years. His grandfather came to Maryland from Germany during the latter half of the eighteenth century, and took a place among the pioneers of Frederick County. Ezra Houck's early school education was limited to a brief season at the Frederick Academy, and comprised in its benefits to him but little more than the rudimentary elements. While yet a school-boy he exchanged his school life for a life upon his father's farm, located a few miles from Frederick. There he spent a few subsequent years in rural pursuits, but at the age of twenty returned to the city and took service in the county clerk's office. In 1826 he married Catharine, daughter of Jacob Bentz, of Frederick County, and upon his marriage removed to his father's old farm, where until about 1832 he employed his time and energies in the cultivation of the soil. In the year named he determined to abandon farming, and accordingly removed to Frederick, where he entered the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank as book-keeper, having meanwhile briefly occupied the bench as judge of the Orphans' Court. From the day he entered the bank until the day of his death he devoted himself closely and unceasingly to its affairs, to the exclusion of participation in any other business interests. He was for many years a director of the bank, vice-president for a few years previous to 1872, and in that year succeeded Dr. William Tyler as president of the institution. His administration was conspicuous for the display of a signal ability, and until his death, April 8, 1878, he was the bank's president. Business interests were to him such absorbing matters that he steadily declined to take a prominent part in the conduct of public concerns, albeit he was frequently chosen as alderman. He was, moreover, president of the Mutual Insurance Company, and of the Frederick and Woodsborough Turnpike Company. He was one of the founders of the Junior Fire Company, and for some years its president. He was during life a zealous member of the Reformed Church, and long one of its elders. In the erection of the present fine Reformed church edifice he acted as a vigorous member of the building committee.
In politics he was a stanch Democrat, and affiliated with the Democracy always. Mr. Houck's children numbered eleven, of whom nine are living, six daughters in Frederick City and three sons, Ezra, George, and James, upon their farms in Frederick County. Ezra lives upon the old homestead near Frederick City. Mr. Houck's home in the city was the stone mansion now the residence of his widow, with whom his marital companionship covered the extended space of fifty-one years. That mansion is reputed to be a hundred years or more old, and to have known as occupants but three families during all that time, although it has never been vacant.
Following are sketches of all the banks of Frederick, given in the order of their formation:
The Central National Bank was organized in 1808 as a branch of the Farmers' Bank of Maryland, whose principal office was located at Annapolis. The Frederick branch gradually became so prosperous that it determined to sever its connection with the Farmers' Bank, and accordingly it obtained a charter as the Central Bank, Jan. 2, 1854. It was organized as a national bank May 15, 1865. The officers are: President, Richard H. Marshall (for many years one of the judges of the Circuit Court); Cashier, Henry Williams; Directors, Richard H. Marshall, George M. Potts, Lewis M. Thomas, Wm. Downey, Wm. S. Meiller, Fairfax Schley, Chas. W. Ross, John A. Lynch, Wm. G. Baker, and Wm. J. Worman. The following are the predecessors of the above-mentioned presidents and cashiers: president from 1808 to 1831, John Tyler; to 1850, Wm. Ross; to 1858, Richard Potts; to 1859, Wm. B. Tyler; to 1878, R. Y. Stokes. Cashiers: from 1808 to 1830, Thos. Shaw; to 1838, J. McPherson; to 1848, Cyrus Mantz; to 1861, Godfrey Mantz; to 1875, P. Storm; to 1878, P. M. Englebrecht. Mr. Wm. H. Miller is the teller, a genial and accommodating gentleman, as well as an energetic and reliable businessman. The bank's New York correspondent is the Park National Bank. In the adjustment of the Confederate loan the bank lost $27,000. The building owned and occupied by the bank is of brick, and is strong and substantial in appearance. It is pleasantly and centrally located, and is a very valuable property. The bank has a capital stock paid in of $200,000, a surplus fund of $40,000, and $10,546.61 of undivided profits.
The Farmers' and Mechanics' National Bank was organized in 1817 as a branch of Westminster Bank, with the well-known Dr. Wm. Tyler as president, which position he retained for fifty-five years, until his death, April 26, 1872. The beneficial results of his management have been amply demonstrated by the unusual success which has attended the operations of the bank. In 1828 the institution received its charter as an independent concern, to be known as the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of Frederick County. Continuing the policy upon which it was first conducted, the institution developed steadily in the volume of business and in strength and stability. In July, 1865, under the national banking act, it became the Farmers' and Mechanics' National Bank. Upon the death of Dr. Tyler, Mr. Ezra Houck, who had been connected with the bank for forty years, accepted the presidency, and directed the affairs with ability until his death, April 8, 1878. His successor is Col. Chas. E. Trail, a highly-respected citizen of Frederick. The high business standing of the institution and the fact that it has not paid less than twelve per cent, dividends since 1862 provide a sufficient commentary upon Col. Trail's qualifications as a financial manager. Mr. Samuel Nixdorff has performed the duties of cashier with tact and discrimination since 1877. His predecessors have been Ezra Mantz, Wm. M. Beall, Thomas W. Morgan, Thomas M. Markell, and John Wm. Bierly. The directors are Col. Chas. E. Trail, George Markell, A. H. Hunt, V. S. Brunner, W. Winebrenner, C. Staley, Samuel H. Brown, Wm. F. Johnson, Hon. M. G. Urner, George S. Groshon, Joseph G. Miller, and Philip Reich. By the Confederate raid the bank lost $17, 000. Its New York correspondent is the Park National Bank. The bank is centrally located, and is a very popular institution. It has a capital stock of $125,000 paid in, a surplus fund of $40,000, and undivided profits to the amount of $22,560.79.
Charles Edward Trail, president of the Farmers' and Mechanics' National Bank, has all his life been a resident of Frederick City, where he was born Jan. 28, 1826. His paternal ancestors emigrated to America from Scotland more than a century and a half ago, and, with his maternal ancestors (the Ramsburgs), were numbered among the earliest settlers and founders of Frederick County. Their descendants have contributed largely to the peopling of the Frederick and Middletown Valleys, and to-day are numerous among the representative people of that section of the county. Mr. Trail's father (Edward) was born in Montgomery County, Md., in 1798, and died in 1876, aged seventy-nine, leaving his widow, Lydia Christine (Ramsburg), to survive him. She was born in Frederick City in 1802, and is still a resident of her native place, hale and active, at the age of eighty.
In 1851, Mr. Trail married Ariana, youngest daughter of Col. John H. McElfresh and Theresa Mantz, whose ancestors, the Mantzes,