The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-11-20
Death of Francis s. oorkran-Record of

| Death of Francis s. Corkran-Record O.
| an Active Business Man.-Francis Spry Cork
| ran, whose death occurred at his residence, Lu
therville, Baltimore county, on Saturday evening
last, was born in Cambridge, Dorchester county
on the 18th day of November, 1914. When abou
| seventeen years of age he was apprentced to
halter in Baltimore, and after serving his time il
the same shop with the late Hon. Joshua Vansant
he began manufacturing on his own account, To-
eating on Baltimore street. He continued at tina
only short time, and then removed to his native
place. He there conducted the same business
and was also engaged in the lumber trade. Afte
| a few years he returned to Baltimore and EN-
barked in coal and lumber operations. While en-
| gagged in this business he bought some land very
| efgby located and built upon it for himself
| handsome dwelling at Lutherville, which place
| was then but little known. Taking deep inter.
est in the improvement of the village, he contrib
uted much to the advancement of its prosperity
and induced others to settle there who reared
many beautiful edifces.
Mr.. Corkran was man of very decided anti
slavery principles. His one of the Oldest
Methodist families in the section of the state
where he was born When nearly of age he join
ed the Society of Friends meeting Lombard
street, and was the only Quaker of his family. He
became very rigid in his religious views and SEN
tments; and fully embracing the principles and
doctrines of the Friends he became determined
anti slavery man. Having the Strongest sort of
prejudice against the iniquity of the slave trade,
he used every effort and exerted all his energies
to suppress that traffic in every way possible; ;
and by his indomitable perseverance in approving
and adopting every measure that was suggested
for the abolition of slavery he excited the malice
and hatred of many of his pro slavery felow-citi
zens, whose bitterness of feeling toward him often
prompted them not only to threaten him, but to
lay violent hands upon him. In defiance of the
abuse heaped upon him, he never wavered, how
in his purpose to carry cut to the extent of
his ability his anti slavery principles.
In 1860 he was elected delegate to the Chca-
go Republican Convention, which nominated Abra
ham Lincoln. He was appointed Naval Officer of
the Port of Baltimore in April, 1861, but after the
18th of April the excitement SO intense in the
city that the destruction of his property at Luther
vile was threatened by Southern sympathisers,
and he was advised by prominent citizens to look
for the safety of himself and family elsewhere. He
took his family by way of York and Columbia to
Philadelphia, where he remained till about May l,
when it was thought he might with safety return
to Baltimore and assume the duties of his office.
After entering upon his Office he had imposed upon
him by President Lincoln great amount of Gov
eminent business having relation to the rebellion
Many of the measures suggested by him proved
to be of the greatest value and importance to the
Government during the war, and the archives of
the Government and many of his fellow citizens
could testify to the faithfuness with which lie
performed every trust committed to him. Several
months after the assassination of President Lin
coin and the accession of Mr. johnson to the Pres
idency, Mr.. Corkran was removed from office, and
he returned to his former pursuits.
Mr.. Corkran was twice marred-frst to Miss
Sarah B. Gardner, of Baltimore, in November,
1887, who left two daughters and afterwards to
Miss Mary Louisa Swain, of Cincinnati, in 0cto-
Der, 1855, who, with his four sons, and his two
daugh by the first marriage, survive him.
For the last ten or twelve years he has been
greatly afflicted by the loss of his sight. His eyes
having been operated upon, the sight of one was
partially restored, but he has not since been able
to discern persons. His deprivation of sight has
been borne with remarkable patience. He suf-
fered much from nervous prostration, but the i'm
mediate cause of his death was pronounced by his
physicians to be congestion of the lungs.
The funeral services took place at his late resi-
dence on Tuesday, and addresses made by
Mrs. Elizabeth Plummer and Mrs. Sarah Jane
Dare. Interment made at the Friends bury
ing ground, Hartford road. The pail bearers were
B. w. Corkran, Jr., W. H. Corkran, r. L. Cork
ran. R. R. Battee, Ephraim Cover, F. Emerson
Lamb.