Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1883-02-02
A Good Man. Dead.-We are c

A Good Man Dead.-We are called
upon to chronicle the death of another aged
and prominent citizen in the person of Major
John G. England, at his late residence, near
this place, on Tuesday morning, the Both
ultimo, in the 10th year of his age
Major England was born in Frederick
county, Nd, whence lie removed in early
manhood to Montgomery and was shortly
thereafter admitted to the Bar. In the fol-
lowing year he married Emily Howard,
daughter of the late Thomas Worthington
Howard, ami granddaughter of General
jeremiah Crabbe, by whom he became the
father of large family Of children, all of
whom survive him, and have contributed,
during his long widowerhood, much to his
comfort and happiness.
The Majors entrance into professional
life was at time when, in point of ability
and talent, the Bar of the county would COM
pare favorably with any other in the State.
Endowed with an intellect of unusual power,
subtle and discriminating, brilliant imagi-
nation, command of forcible language,
graceful and pleasing delivery, he soon rose
10 prominence as an advocate. Had he
confined himself strictly to the practice OF
the law, he would doubtless have achieved
prominence and have amassed wealth, but
fascinated with the allurements of political
life, he was early drawn into its vortex.
This was at period when the political
arena was occupied by master spirits, and
when untried experiments were forcing
themselves upon the consideration of the
public mind. Stimulated by the flattering
success which had attended his professional
labors and encouraged by the solicitations
Of party friends, he was induced To believe
that he possessed the elements which con
sttute political leader.
In 1896, the beginning of an era made
memorable by the agitation of the question
of extending the Baltimore g. Ohio Rail
road to the Ohio River and the completion
of the chesapeake & Ohio Canal to the
vast coal fields Of Allegany county, Major
England came prominently before the peo-
pie. These momentous questions were cal
culated to call into requsition the best tai
stones OF that great structure which en-
bodies the finances OF the State. Pending
the consideration of these grave matters,
the Major became u candidate for popular
favor, and was elected to the House of Dele.
gates, serving two terms with marked ability,
and during one term acting as chairman Of
the committee ON the completion Of the
canal and reporting the bill for the same
Subsequently Major England became a
candidate for the State Senate, his opponent
being the late Gen. William Lingan Gather.
This IS said to have been one of the most
animated political contests in the history of
the county, resulting in the Majors defeat
by few votes, which was attributed by
his friends 10 the wealth and large family
connexion OF Gen. Gather After this event
the nomination for the State Senate was
each time, continuing, however, u prominent
member Of his party, which he aided by
his counsel to the close of his life, and
evinced lively interest in every thing that
pertained to the welfare of his adopted coun-
ty, particularly in the Rockville Academy,
of which he was for many years and at the
time of his death an efficient member of the
Board of Trustees.
In the walks of private life Major Eng
land was Of manly bearing, genial, hospi-
table and possessed OF varied information
He lived to be regarded as one of the few
surviving landmarks of the past, and in
his death he will be lamcnted by Il large
circle of friends and admirers.