Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1872-03-15

'a2a From the Baltimore American
DEATH OF BENJAMIN C. HOWARD
In the last year death has been busy
among the famous men Of Baltimore.
John P. Kennedy. Jerome Bonaparte.
Jonathan Meredith, Thomas H. Morris.
Archbishop Spalding. and others of scarce
ly less note, have one by one dropped
from the ranks of the living and Joined the
silent army of the dead. With their pass
ings away there have been broken many
golden links between the present and the
by-gone, but to the general public not one
was more closely associated with the me-
mories of the past than he whose death we
record to-day.
BENJAMIN CHEW HOWARD was born
November 5, 1871, at Belvidere. Balti-
more city, and died March 6, 1872, at
his residence, 220 North Charles street.
Baltimore. He was the third son of Col
onel John Eager Howard. of Revolution
ary fame, who commanded the Maryland
Line in the war, and was the hero OF
Cowpens, afterwards Governor of Mary
land. &c. Of him General Greene said
in his official report: 'He deserves q
statue of gold no less than Roman and
Grecian heroes" He was an intimate
friend, as we'll as one of Washington s
most trusted lieutenants. Colonel Howard
built the princely establishment known as
Belvidere,. at the head of Calvert street,
which was inherited by the deceased, al
ways the seat of the most generous and
refined hospitalities The grounds attach
ed to Belvidere. including handsome
park. embraced nearly all the upper
portion of the city. Among his Colonel
John Eager Howard's) donations to the
city may be mentioned Washington Monu-
ment Square. the Richmond Market and
Liberty Engine House. He also gave
St. Paul's Church, parsonage and burying
ground where the family vault of the
Howards now is.
The name of Howard has always been
especially dear to the people of Maryland,
aud perhaps more thoroughly identified
with its honor and chivalry than any 9th
er. They have always been leaders in the
counsels of the nation as well as on its
battle. fields. and have blended at the same
time the highest social amenities and cul-
ture with strong character and intellectual
endowments. Tbs deceased was brother
/ of Governor George Howard. who was
y II fafbSard lpsR q d'-s VIII 5 e also OF d
three years ago, and DIR. Wm. Howard.
celebrated chemist in his day.
Benjamin Chew Howard graduated at
Princeton with high honors. and at the
time of his death was the Oldest alumni
living. He was Captain of the Mechani-
cal Volunteers at the battle of North
Point in 1914. Just prior to this engage
ment it was proposed by most OF the
wealthiest citizens of Baltimore to surren-
Ider the city, when old Col. John Eager
Howard declared that be would rather lose
Iall his property, which then embraced
nearly half the city, and have bis four
sons, all of whom we're in that fight
slaughtered in the trenches. The deceas.
ed was by profession a lawyer. but being
possessed of princely fortune, he yielded
the high position at the Baltimore Bai
which he had earned for political honors
He commenced political life in 1920 II
the First Branch of the City Council. was
sent to the Legislature in 1924. and after
wards to the Senate, and the same yeal
connected himself with the Masonic fra
ternitv. and was before he died the eldes
iP. g.. NJ living.
i On February 81, 1927, at meeting
I of number of citizens to take into con
lsideration the best means of restoring t.
the city that portion of the Western trade
which was diverted by the introduction o
steam navigation and other causes. he wa
appointed one Of committee whose re
port ..for direct railroad from Baltimore
to some point on the Ohio river wa
unanimously adopted. Of committe
he was the last survivor, and of the twenty
five members Of the committee whose dut
it was subsequently, to prefer an appllca
ton to the Legislature of Maryland for al
act of Incorporation Mr.. John B. Morri
is alone now living. The committee
, which will be to many of our old citizen
to remember source of pleasure, consis
! ted of Charles Carroll of Carrolltou
] William Patterson, Isaac Mckim, Re
bert Oliver, Charles Ridgely of Hampton
Thomas Tenant. Alexander Brown, job
9 Nc Kim, jr Talbot Jones, james Wilson
I Thomas Ellicott, George Hoffman, vii
0 liam Stewart, Philip E. Thomas. Willial
0 Lorman, George Warner, Benjamin {
I Howard, Solomon Etting. w. w. Taylor
t Alexander Fridge, James l.. Hawkin'
: John B. Morris, Luke Tieruan, Alexar
s der Mcdonald, Solomon Birckhead, Wi
J, liam Patterson, Chairman; David VIII
't chester, Secretary.
> Up to the time Of Gen. Howard
II election to Congress he was prominent
identified with the State military organ
y cation, having on return from the bait
= e of North Point been promoted to Il
E Colonelcy of the Fifth Regiment, ar
= = afterwards to Brigadier General.
! 1880 he was sent to the United Stat
Congress, and was leading member
10 that body for about ten years.
se Among the marks Of distinction confe
red upon Gen. Howard was the Missi'
,e to Russia, by President Van Bure
which he declined. He was Chairman