The First National Bank was incorporated under the National Banking Act of 1865, with a capital stock of 1100,000, and during its entire career has been rated among the best-managed monetary concerns in the country. So successful has it been that it has paid its stockholders a yearly dividend of twelve per cent., and has per its last report a surplus and profits of $30,629.28. The management has undergone comparatively few changes. Its first president, Lawrence J. Brengle, filled that position until his death, in 1874. His successor, Thomas Gorsuch, the cashier during the first nine months of the bank's existence, was elected a representative to the General Assembly, and was for some time assessor of internal revenue, and for six years previous to 1879 was clerk of the Circuit Court. Mr. Gorsuch still holds the position of president. In the last campaign (fall of 1881) he was the Republican candidate for comptroller of Maryland, but was defeated by Thomas J. Keating. The cashier is Thomas Markell, one of Frederick's most active businessmen. Ira Tyler has held the position as teller since Jan. 1, 1867, to the entire satisfaction of all connected with the bank. William K. Zimmerman has been the discount clerk for ten years past. The board of directors is composed of Thomas Gorsuch, Charles B. S. Levy, Lycurgus E. Hedges, William H. Falconer, George Joseph Doll, Charles J. Lewis, Joseph Rousten, John L. Nicodemus, and George Houck. Its New York correspondent is the Park National, and its Baltimore correspondent the First National. The bank has a capital stock paid in of $100,000, a surplus fund of $20,000, and undivided profits amounting to $10,629.28.
Among those who are identified with private banking interests of Frederick City may be named Thomas Clagett, who was born in Clarksburg District, Montgomery Co., Md., April 21, 1813.
Ninian M., his father, was a native of Maryland, being born in 1768, in Prince George's County. He married, after removing to Montgomery County, Margaret Burgess, daughter of Edward Burgess, a captain of the Continental army. He died in 1841, at the residence of his son Thomas, aged seventy-three years. She died about 1844, aged about seventy-two years.
Thomas Clagett moved from Montgomery to Frederick County in 1839, in Urbana District, and came to Frederick City in 1866. His maternal grandfather, Edward Burgess, was one of the first judges of Montgomery County. Several of his ancestors were prominent officials in the early days of Western Maryland. The Clagett family is of English, and the Burgess of Scotch descent.
Thomas Clagett married, in 1837, Cynthia Norwood, daughter of Thomas Norwood, a native of Frederick County, Md., but of English descent. She was born April 25, 1815. Born of this union were the following children: Edward Thomas, Jan. 16, 1838, he went South during the civil war, and was never heard from; Sarah Ann, Sept. 30, 1839, married Henry O. Talbott, of Poolesville, and lives in Charlestown, Jefferson Co., W. Va.; Jane, born July 25, 1841, married Thomas N. Harwood, of Frederick County, and now living in Frederick City; Rebecca, born March 19, 1843, living at home with her parents; William Henry, Dec. 27, 1844, married to Jane Prater, of Greenville, Bond Co., Ill., where he now resides; Margaret B., born Sept. 26, 1846, married Charles T. Remsburg, a farmer of Middletown Valley, Frederick Co., Md., where she now resides Louisa, born Oct. 6, 1848, married to S. Theodore Stauffer, of Walkersville, and died Feb. 18, 1870 Jesse, born May 15, 1851, married to Mary S. Price daughter of Thomas W. Price, of Philadelphia, Pa. and resides in Baltimore; Mary, born Aug. 14, 1853 married to Dr. Edward Bowlus, of Middletown, now of Frederick; Samuel M., born Aug. 12, 1857, living with parents.
Mr. Clagett's boyhood, and in fact the greater portion of his life, was passed in agricultural pursuits, except from 1835 to 1838, when engaged in a mercantile business in Damascus, Montgomery Co. From 1838 until 1866 he was an extensive and successful grower of tobacco, being one of the largest shippers to market of " up-country tobacco" in the State during those years, and since 1866 he has been engaged as a banker and broker in Frederick City; never has been an office-seeker or office-holder.
Of Mr. Clagett's four sisters and one brother none are now living. Rebecca, Ann, and Jane married and moved to Ohio, where they died; Mary died young, about 1821, aged sixteen; John was born Nov. 28, 1815, and died about 1829.
The Mutual Insurance Company of Frederick County was incorporated by an act of the General Assembly passed at its December session, 1843, with the following incorporators, viz.: William J. Ross, Patrick Tormey, Lawrence J. Brengle, Lewis Medtart, Zachariah T. Windsor, Edward Trail, Hugh McAleer, William H. Albaugh, Calvin Page, Francis Leuber, Ezekiel Hughes, David Boyd, Joseph Deck, John Wilcoxon, William F. Johnson, John Ramsburg, Philip Hauptman, Robert Boner, George Hoskins, George Dertzabaugh, Baldwin Albaugh. Its object was to insure against loss or damage by fire their respective dwelling-houses, other buildings, merchandise, household furniture, and other property.
On May 7, 1844, the following directors were elected: Lawrence J. Brengle, president; Patrick Torrney, secretary and treasurer; and David Boyd, Lewis Medtart, Z. T. Windsor, William H. Albaugh, Calvin Page, Edward Trail, William J. Ross, Hugh McAleer, Francis Leuber, Ezekiel Hughes, directors. It has been in successful operation twenty-eight years, and annually writes the insurance of a large part of the best property of the county.
Its directors for 1881 (elected in May) are George Markell, president and treasurer; Philip Reich, Calvin Page, George W. Delaplane, James McSherry (counsel), David Frazier (agent), Francis Markell, Charles E. Trail, Joseph Cronise, Joseph G. Miller, Thomas R. Jarboe, James Houck, directors. Its secretary, George W. Cramer, has held that position for the past twenty years.
The Improvement Land and Buildings Association was chartered May 15, 1868, with the following charter members: David C. Martin, David M. Smith, Milton G. Urner, Charles W. Miller. Its first officers were
President, J. William Birely; Vice-President, David C. Winebrenner; Secretary, E. A. Gittinger; Treasurer, John T. Quynn; Directors, J. William Birely, Daniel Gletzendanner, Jr.. David C. Winebrenner, John C. Hardt, A. H. Aubert, John T. Quynn, George W. Cramer, E. A. Gittinger, Augustus L. Eager, Jacob Heintz, Ethan A. Cramer, David H. Kolb; Solicitor, Milton G. Urner.
The officers for 1881 are —
J. William Birely, president; D. C. Winebrenner, vice-president; Francis Markell, treasurer; George W. Cramer, secretary; Walter Saunders, agent; M. G. Urner, solicitor; Directors, J. William Birely, D. C. Winebrenner, John T. Quynn, Val. S. Brunner, P. B. Kunkel, Francis Markell, Lewis M. Nixdorff, John A. Lynch, John C. Hardt, A. H. Aubert, David H. Kolb, and G. W. Cramer.
The Mutual Aid Association elected the following officers in 1881:
Lloyd T. Macgill, president; Albert W. Burkhart, vice-president; Christian H. Eckstein, secretary; Thomas N. Harwood, treasurer; Dr. Thomas Turner, medical director; Charles T. Darner, Horatio Zittle, general agents; Examining Committee, Dr. Thomas Turner, Dr. Lloyd T. Macgill, Christian H. Eckstein; Board of Actuaries, A. W. Burkhart, Thomas Clagett, Joshua Ahalt, Horatio Zittle, Charles W. Miller; Directors, Dr. Lloyd T. Macgill, Albert W. Burkhart, C. H. Eckstein, Thomas Clagett, Charles W. Miller, Dr. Thomas Turner, Joshua Ahalt, Thomas N. Harwood, Horatio Zittle, Charles T. Darner.
CHAPTER XXIX. SECRET ORDERS, BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES, ETC.
Scarcely any other city in the country is better supplied than Frederick with organizations for the relief of distress, and for the mutual assistance, encouragement, and social enjoyment of their members. There are two Masonic lodges, one commandery of Knights Templar, a lodge of Knights of Pythias, a tribe of the Independent Order of Red Men, a lodge and encampment of Odd Fellows, a Catholic beneficial society, a Young Men's Christian Association, a lodge of Knights of Honor, a council of the United American Mechanics, a post of the Grand Army of the Republic, and several