The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-05-06

E.-PHoToGRAPHEp EY -. II. ANDERSON.
vorces. Afterwards, when in terrible Attic
ton by the desertion of his wife, he could
not consistently ask for himself what he
| had denied to all others similarly situated
| Col. Groome, without his knowledge pre-
| pared a Bill of Divorce and had it passed
, in the Legislature. The Bill provided an
alimony of six hundred dollars a year for
Mrs. Chambers, and constituted the late
Judge Eccleston trustee for its disburse-
ment. This annuity was regularly paid
| her duling her life time, although she after
wards married Philip 5. White, then a law
| yer in New Orleans. who afterwards re.
moved to Philadelphia and became extern
| sively known as temperance and political
orator. Judge Chambers assented to all
the proceedings in the case, and faithfully
carried out the provisions of the bill. In
| 1886, Col. Groone, with many other promi-
| nent Old Line Wings supported James
| Buchanan for the Presidency, and in 1857
of Maryland, advocated his nomination as
| Governor. The Democratic State Conven-
ton finding him unwilling to accept nomi-
nation at their hands, unanimously decided
to make no nomination, but recommended
| all opponents Of " Know Nothingism to
support Col. Groome as an independent
candidate. He thus ran in opposition to
| Thomas Holiday Hicks, the nominee of the
ties of the State, declaring his opposition
to the Know Nothing party, but affirming
his allegiance to the principles of the Old
Line Wings The State was carried by
he was defeated by the overwhelming vote
cast in that city for Gov. Hicks.
Col. Groome died in the Fall of 1866,
and his county and State mourned the loss
of one of her most valued citizens. And
SO well and so favoraby known and esteemed
was he in the adiourning States of Della
ware and Pennsylvania, that they too united
i'll - a common expression of sorrow at his
loss with those that wept.H He left il
widow: three daughters, one of whom mar
red Hon. VIM. NJ. Knight, the present
State Senator from Cecil; another the Hon.
Albert Constable, one of the ablest mem
beers of tine recent House of Delegates and
the third DR.. Black, prominent physician
of New Castle, Delaware: and one son, the
Hon. James Black Groome, the subject of
this sketch.
He was born in Elkton, on the 4th of
April, 1885 His early education was ob
tanned at the Eikton Academy. In 1854
lie, with his younger brother John, "a gifted
and promising youth, were sent to ten
nent School" Huntsville, Pa, to be pre-
pared for Princeton College. They were
both ambitious as students, and overtaxed
paired health, SO that, although John ell
tered college, he fell victim to consump-
ton before completing his collegiate course.
and James 50 injured his eye sight, that he
was compelled to suspend his studies and
was, for several years, under medical treat
ment. He was thus obliged to abandon
his intended collegiate course, and entered
student at law in his fathers office
After completing his legal studies, he was
admitted to the bar at Elkton in the Spring
of 1861, and soon attained credtable posi-
tion and remunerative practice. Like
his father, he has the reputation of high
;nl in,
personal intercourse, affabe in manner.
courteous and considerable to all. He has
always been general favorite in society.
and although he has not been in haste to
his brow, he has realized that it was not
good for man to be alone, and has recently
formed a matrimonial alliance with an ac-
complished lady of Baltimore, and having
made a protracted bridal trip through the
South, has returned to his home at Elkton
with the sincere wish of all his friends,
that their married lives may prove CON
tinnous honeymoon.
Politically Mr.. Groome has always been
a Zealous and consistent Democrat He
fully identified himself with that party at
the outbreak of the rebellion. was active in
keeping up and maintaining its organiza-
ton through all its defeats, until in the
Fall of 1866, it again secured a majority in
Cecil county.
AS early as 1861, his party recognized
his ability and activity, and elected him a
member of the Reform Convention called
to frame a new Constitution for the State
Being young man, and surrounded by
associates, many of whom were among the
haste to engage in debate, but was an
attentive and working member of that
body. His first speech was delivered upon
the subject of the Usury Laws, and was
generally considered, and so pronounced
by the press of the State, as an able and
mastery effort. His subsequent speeches
delivered during the sitting of the Conven-
ton, increased the reputat ion gained him
by his first effort.
From 1867 to 1871, Mr. Groome contin-
ued the practice of his profession, and
evinced no desire for political preferment.
but was always active i'll the canvass of
his county for the success Of his party. In
1871, he was nominated for the House of
Delegates and elected by II large majority.
When the Legislature met, although it was