Allegany County
MDGenWeb
COL. JOHN KEATING.-Among the successful business men of Western Maryland, Col. John Keating ranks well to the fore. In business and financial circles, Col. Keating, whose home is in Cumberland, has been for years, and still is, an important member, and is generally recognized and respected as a man of probity, whose standing as a resident in his home city is unquestioned.
Col. John Keating is one of the last men to seek publicity. His whole life has been devoted to his business interests, in the success of which he well may be proud. He is an actice man today, in the prime of life. His energy is witnessed by his executive connection with several of the most important city and out of city business and financial interests. Col. Keating, it may said, has three hobbies first, business; second, his home; third, he dearly loves to dabble in politics; - he is a Democrat whose standing is high at home and throughout the State of Maryland. He was a delegate from Maryland to the Democratic National Convention at San Francisco. He went there an avowed Cox man, and voted for Cox from start to finish. That's Col. Keating, the man-a genial, even-tempered, well-versed and public-spirited man, plain, without any frills, a good mixer, a staunch friend, a worker today, just as he was years ago when he started as clerk in a grocery store, following education in a private school.
A brief write-up such as this needs no flowery language to tell of Col. John Keating, the man. Of Irish descent and proud of it, he displays the energetic traits of the Emerald Isle combined with a staunch Americanism that goes without question. His whole business career is centered in and around Cumberland, Maryland, yet in Virginia, where he was born, and in Baltimore where he is well known, the Keating name is highly rated.
The subject of this sketch, John Keating, was born December 16, 1862, at Winchester, Virginia, son of Catherine and John Keating, the latter having been born in Ireland. Col. Keating was not born with a golden spoon in his mouth. To his credit let it be said, he was a poor boy, who, following a period of private schooling until he was fourteen, has had to work and did work daily, climbing slowly but surely the ladder of success. When he came to Cumberland in 1879, at the age of sixteen, he became bookkeeper at the James Clark Company here, of which his half-brother, James Clark, was the owner: In 1888, he was made a member of the company, and when the company was reorganized in 1895, Col. Keating became vice-president and treasurer of the James Clark Distilling Company. He held this official position with the company uninterruptedly until the business was closed of recent years, and, undoubtedly, the growth of the business was due to Col Keating's efforts in happy cooperation with Mr. James Clark.
Col. Keating's other business connections of importance are as follows:
He has been secretary and treasurer of the Cumberland Brewing Company since its organization in 1889.
In the field of finance Col. :Keating's activities are large. He is a director of the Second National Bank of Cumberland; vice-president and director of the Farmers & Merchants National Bank of Winchester, Va.; Director of the Union Trust Company of Maryland, a Baltimore banking house, for several years, being a member of the executive committee.
With all these varied and important interests, one might think Col. Keating would have no further time for other matters; but not so. He takes vivid interest in home-town affairs, and lends a hand in development of same wherever and whenever necessary. And it may be said that his advice and support is often asked and as often cheerfully rendered. He was leader in advancing the project that eventually landed the Kelly-Springfield Company plant in Cumberland, a $10,000,000 enterprise, and was a large contributer to the undertaking. Col. Keating is vice-president of the Cumberland Development Company, organized in 1917, to carry through the plan for locating the plant in Cumberland.
Since 1911, by appointment of the Governer of Maryland, he has been a director of the Western Maryland Hospital at Cumberland, today, through his earnest efforts and those of his fellow-directors, one of the most up-to-date institutions of its character in Western Maryland.
A many-sided man. of powerful convictions is Col. John Keating, as is noted herein. He is recognized as the leader in Democratic circles in this section of Maryland, and is, and has been for years, an important factor in the fortunes of the Democratic party in this State. His advice is often sought by Democratic leaders at Baltimore, and he has represented his party on important occasions many times. In addition to having been a delegate from Maryland which nominated Gov. Cox for the Presidency, Col. Keating, in 1900, was a delegate from this State to the National Democratic Convention at Kansas City which nominated Bryan. He was also an alternate delegate-at-large to the convention which nominated Judge Alton B. Parker.
In 1911, Col. Keating was tendered the nomination for Comptroller on the ticket with Austin L. Crothers, but declined it. Governor Crothers later appointed Mr. Keating ranking colonel on his staff.
Col. and Mrs. Keating reside in their pretentious home on Washington Street, Cumberland, and it is here that the Colonel and his hospitable wife entertain and receive their scores of friends from, time to time. They live a quiet American-family life with their children, for despite Col. Keating's activities and wide general acquaintance, he loves his home. He is a member of the Maryland Club of Baltimore, also of the Cumberland Country Club; is affiliated with Cumberland Lodge, No. 63; Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. A staunch Catholic, Col. Keating, as are the members of his family, belongs to St. Patrick's Church, Cumberland. As a strong supporter of the Catholic Church, Col. Keating is known to foster its advancement financially in every way, meeting every demand, yet he is not hidebound, for, as is well known in Cumberland, the Keating contribution to each and every public or charitable request is regular and consistent with the merit of the demand.
On September 23, 1896, Col. Keating married Miss D. G. O'Reilly, of Worcester, Massachusetts, by which marriage there are two children, Kathleen D. Keating and John Keating, Jr. Col. Keating's first wife, Miss Sarah Hughes, of Baltimore, whom he married on February 8, 1888, died in Cumberland in 1893, leaving one son, Vincent Keating, who is a graduate of Mt. St. Mary's, Emmittsburg, and a graduate of the University of Virginia. Vincent Keating is now pursuing a journalistic career.
Miss Kathleen Keating, the only daughter, is a graduate of the Sacred Heart College, Eden Hall, near Philadelphia, and John Keating, Jr. (a regular chip of the old block) is a student at Georgetown Prep. School, Garrett Park, Md.
Were a record kept of the daily trials, of adverse circumstances overcome and responsibilities faithfully carried out by every successful business man, much valuable information would be preserved, for it is by the little things of life that a man's character is determined and his worth to his community determined. The majority
stand forth advantageously under stress of powerful circumstances, and under the spur of the moment develop into heroes, but it is the one who can endure the everyday burdens, discharge insignificant duties acceptably, and come out of it all successfully, who can be accounted a real man. Business life serves to develop many of this class, and to them is due the material welfare of the community in which they live. Stone by stone they build the foundation of their enterprises, not in a single moment of emblazoned glory, and because of this very fact their buildings stand firm no matter what winds and storms of adversity beat against them. Allegany county has many men of this class, and one whom all hold in high esteem is James P. Kenney, member of the firm of Kenney Brothers, of Frostburg, wholesale and retail tobacco dealers. He is recognized as a thoroughly enterprising business man, and one of the most successful in his line in Western Maryland. The firm of Kenney Brothers operate the only wholesale tobacco house in Allegany county, and carry a fine and complete line of tobaccos, and manufacture the celebrated Night Rider and Big Savage stogies.
The birth of James P. Kenney took place in Westernport, Maryland, February 20, 1880, and he is a son of the late James and Catherine (Eagan) Kenney, the former of whom was born in County Longford, Ireland, from which he was brought to the United States by his parents in 1850, the family settling in Maryland, where he grew to manhood estate. His death occurred January 20, 1915. Eight children were born to him and his wife, as follows: John, who was a stationery engineer of Frostburg, died in 1918; Mary, who is the wife of George Finch; Edward, who lives at St. Clara, West Virginia; Peter T., who is a member of the firm of Kenney Brothers, married Jennie Broderick, and they have seven children as follows: Madeline, Catherine, Thomas, Mildred, Stephen, Mary Josephine and Robert; James P., whose name heads this review, Aloysius, Anna and Martha, who complete the family.
James P. Kenney received a public-school training at Elk Garden, Mineral county, West Virginia, and subsequently worked two years in the coal mines of that county before his removal to Frostburg in 1900. From that date he has been engaged in the tobacco business. His initial store was on East Main street, where he continued alone until 1909, but in that year formed his present partnership with his brother, Peter, and they have built up a large local retail trade together with their wholesale connections, which extend over Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Because of their progressive methods of doing business, and their consideration for the interests of their patrons, they have become very popular with buyers throughout this territory. All of the brothers have worked untiringly for the success which is now theirs, and personally, as well as commercially, they have gained the respect and esteem of all with whom they are associated.
James P. Kenney married Miss Mary E. Counihan of Frostburg, and they are the parents of seven children, namely: Ignatius Loyola, Paul, James, Joseph Eagan, Frances, Mary Catherine and Rita. The Kenneys are all Catholics, belonging to, St. Michael's parish of Frostburg. Mr. Kenney is affiliated with Frostburg Council, K. of C. and Frostburg Lodge, No. 470, B. P. 0. E. He is a Democrat. In 1918 James P. Kenney and his brother, became interested in the Big Savage Lumber Company, of Garrett county, Maryland, which was organized that year, and this enterprise they are vigorously promoting.
Alexander King, son of Capt. Alexander and Lavinia Martha (Collins) King, was born April 14, 1845, on the State line six miles north of Cumberland, in the house built in 1795 by his great-grandfather, Benjamin Tomlinson. It was the first brick house to be erected in Allegany county. It has remained to the present in the possession of members of the family, and is in a good state of preservation. Benjamin Tomlinson came to America from England, and took up a strip of land over six mile's long on the east side of Wills creek. He became a leading man of his day, serving several terms in the State Legislature.
After receiving such rudimentary instruction as the local schools afforded, Alexander King entered Allegany County Academy in 1855, pursuing his studies there for a year. Later he was sent to school at Romney, West Virginia, where he went about the time of John Brown's raid, returning home from there in April, 1860, and remaining at the old King place until 1870. From that time on he was a resident of Cumberland, where he was prominent in both business circles and official life until his death in 1903. In the fall of 1884, needing a change for the benefit of his health, he engaged in droving in order to have outdoor occupation for a time, but did not follow it long. For a number of years before his death he gave his attention to real estate operations and the making out of legal papers, for which latter business his long experience in public office qualified him thoroughly. His personal holdings in Cumberland were very valuable, including one of the best corner sites in the city. His record in the public service was long and creditable. In 1878 he was appointed a justice of the peace by Gov. John Lee Carroll, and two years later he was reappointed by Governor Hamilton, serving until 1882, when he was dropped because of the reduction of the number of justices, the senior office-holders being retained. That year he was appointed tax and water collector by the city council, and so revolutionized the system in that department that his work was recognized by reappointment in 1883. His methods and results set a standard which has never been excelled. In 1885 he was again appointed a justice of the peace, to fill a vacancy, and served eleven successive years through reappointment, in 1886, 1888, 1890, 1892 and 1894, being defeated in the Republican landslide of 1896. He was always an uncompromising Democrat, and did valuable work for the party during a long political career. His faculty for "doing things" was recognized in every association of his well-rounded life. He was a member of Potomac Lodge, No. 100, A. F. & A. M., and filled all the chairs, was chosen a trustee of the Presbyterian Church, and took an active part in the furtherance of every movement with which he allied himself.
On March 12, 1872, Mr. King married, Miss Matilda Russell, daughter of Abram Russell, of Cumberland, and she died October, 1892, the mother of six children, only two of whom reached maturity, Robert E. and Eloise. The latter is now also deceased. On February 14, 1894, he married, as his second wife, Mrs. Louisa (Rawlings) Cresap.
Capt. Alexander King, son of Col. Alexander King, was born in Virginia, February 11, 1810, and lived there up to the age of twenty years, engaged in farming with his father and also learning the trade of tanner. Then he came to Cumberland, Maryland, and entered business life, beginning as a clerk with Richard T. Lowndes, a merchant (father of. Gov. Lloyd Lowndes). Within a few years, in 1834, he engaged in business on his own account, in partnership with William 0. Sprigg, with whom he was associated for some time. In the early forties he returned to the home farm in Virginia and resumed farming, to which he devoted all his energies until 1853, from that time also carrying on a mercantile business in connection with his agricultural work. Meantime he had also become interested in local public affairs, originally as an old-line Whig, later as a Know-Nothing, by which party he was nominated in 1856 for Judge of the Orphans' court. Though the county at that time had a normal Democratic majority of eight hundred, he was elected, and served so satisfactorily that he was honored with reelection in 1859. He was occupied with his official duties, and with his farming and mercantile enterprises, until the outbreak of the Civil War. He was captain of an infantry and cavalry volunteer company, and at the time of the riots which occurred during the construction of the canal was called out for service, to restrain the rioters. In religion he was a faithful member of the Presbyterian denomination, and it was largely through the work and influence of himself and his two sisters that the First Presbyterian Church was erected. He served it as a trustee also.
On March 28, 1839, Captain King was married to Lavinia Martha Collins, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Tomlinson) Collins, and to their union were born twelve children, namely: Mary Tomlinson, who married James W. Wilson, and died in November, 1890; Sarah Jane, who became the wife of John B. Lownsburg, of Toledo, Ohio, and died in May, 1886; Lavinia McAllister, who became a resident of Toledo; Alexander, father of Robert E. King; Ella Lynn, who married James Tavner, of Parkersburg, West Virginia; Clarence McAllister, at one time sheriff of Allegany county and later superintendent of the Maryland House of Correction; Abram Baker; Kinzie, deceased in 1882; James Carr, attorney, of Clifton Forge, Virginia; Emma Marshall, who married Joseph B. Frost, of Allegany county, Maryland; Harry Eldridge, who became a prominent lawyer of Toledo, Ohio; Bessie Collins and Louisa Ormsby, also of Toledo.
ROBERT E. KING, of Cumberland, Maryland, though one of the younger business set, occupies a substantial position among the successful real estate dealers, his opinions on local property values and conditions being regarded as authoritative. A number of the most important transactions of recent years in the city and Allegany County have gone through big hands, and as the head of one of the strongest real estate concerns in this part of the State he is intrusted with operations involving the manipulation or exchange of the most desirable holdings in Cumberland. Mr. King is also distributor for Allegany County, Garrett County, Maryland, Hampshire and Mineral Counties, West Virginia, for the Kelly-Springfield Tire Company. Like the Kings, generally, he has also figured in the political life of the community as a Democrat, and his influence and worth to the party is acknowledged, also as a leader in representative social activities. His ancestors, paternal and maternal, have been distinguished residents of Western Maryland since Colonial days, the King family having been founded here by Col. Alexander King, great-grandfather of Robert E. King, who came to this country when young and settled in Virginia. He was extensively interested in agriculture there for many years, and became one of the prominent citizens of that section, serving long and ably as a local magistrate. In fact, when he withdrew from the office at the time of his retirement, he was the I oldest man serving in that capacity in Hampshire county. When he relinquished his active obligations he came to Cumberland, Maryland, where he had two daughters engaged in teaching and a son in business, and here spent his closing days, dying at the age of seventy-four years. His wife's maiden name was McAllister, and they were the parents of seven children.
Robert E. King was born in Cumberland May 19, 1886, and was reared in his native city. His education was acquired in the public schools. Mr. King spent eight years of his youth and early manhood in California and New Mexico, because of ill health, returning to Cumberland in 1912. He has since devoted himself to the real estate business in Cumberland, as President of the King & Dingle Park Land Companies of Cumberland and Allegany County. His business offices are in the King Building, 20 Baltimore street. Soon after his return to the city Mr. King became interested in politics, as an ardent worker in the Democratic party, when he ran for County Treasurer, in 1915, drew a flattering vote. He is a member of the Democratic Club, and his strictly social affiliations include membership in the Cumberland Club and the Allegany County Assembly Company, both of which organizations he served as treasurer. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church, of which he is a trustee.
By his marriage to Miss Caroline Shaffer, April 24, 1912, Mr. King has one son, Robert McAllister, and a daughter, Mary Jane.
In July Mr. King went to France with the Y. M. C. A. There he drove a truck for seven months. He caught the flu and was sent home in January, 1919, in rather bad health.
In March 1920, Mr. King became the owner of the Cumberland Tire Company, 26 North Mechanic street. This company is the distributor for the Kelly-Springfield Tire Company for Alleganv County and for several counties in West Virginia. Mr. King lives in a handsome residence at 801 Washington street.
W. R. E. KING is an energetic young business man of Cumberland who has made his way to prosperity by dint of hard work and close attention to his interests, which are gaining steadily in extent and value under his competent management. He is a self-made man, and fully entitled to the respect of all his associates, both for his substantial position and the commendable means through which he has attained it.
Mr. King has lived in Cumberland from the age of three years. He is a native of West Virginia, born April 3, 1882, in Morgan county, son of William and Catherine Elizabeth (Moxley) King and grandson of William King, the latter born, in Pennsylvania. W. R. E. King is one of a family of ten children, viz: Elizabeth, wife of William H. Smith, of Cumberland; Laura, wife of Chandler Schilling, of Cumberland; W. R. E.; Sinia, wife of Martin Bittinger; Effie, Gladys, Alice, Dorothy, single, and two deceased. The father, now sixty-six years old, is still a resident of Cumberland.
W. R. E. King was reared and educated in Cumberland, attending the public schools until he went to learn the trade of cooper with William Heiser. After serving a three years' apprenticeship he found work as a journeyman at Hancock, Maryland, and for several years was so engaged in various parts of Virginia, West Virginia, New York and Pennsylvania, until he settled down in Cumberland in 1911 to try business on his own account. He is now located on North Center street, where, in connection with the manufacture of barrels, he carries on a coal and wood trade which has reached a profitable proportion, being busily occupied with the several branches of his enterprise. Being a skilled mechanic and a good manager, Mr. King has been able to conduct his establishment economically and systematically, making the most of his opportunities, and his affairs are on a sound basis with a promising outlook for the future.
Aside from business Mr. King is particularly interested in Masonic work, being a member of Fort Cumberland Lodge, No. 211, A. F. & A. M.; Lebanon Chapter, No. 2, R. A. M., of Martinsburg, West Virginia; Palestine Commandery, No. 2, K. T., of Martinsburg, West Virginia; West Virginia Consistory, thirty second degree, Scottish Rite Masons, and Osiris Temple, A. A. 0. N. M. S., of Wheeling, West Virginia, and B. P. 0. E., NO. 63, Cumberland, Maryland.
On April 5, 1910, Mr. King married Miss Lillie L. Crawford, of Cumberland, daughter of Charles P. and Alpharetta (Hersman) Crawford, the former a passenger conductor on th Western Maryland Railroad and a resident of Cumberland. Three children hav been born to Mr. And Mrs. King: Alpharetta, Virginia L. and W.R.E., Jr.
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