The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-06-09


in every essential respect State fair
but dependent upon county revenues
only, 10 many lines, it's exhibits, being
superior to those OF State exhibitions .t
which all the counties of State con-
| tributod.
While III one sense this was fatterins
to the management of the Elkton Fair
the result was inevitable, that the
premium lists and annual expenses
should outgrow the aggregate annua
receipts. This rapidly accommodating
Indebtedness, incurred through too lib
eral premium lists, eliminated in the
serious embarrassment of the society
after the fair of 1890, when the aggre.
gate Indebtedness amounted probably tt
$4,000, of which $4,000 were unpaid
| premiums for that year.
1t was at this unpromlsiDg period in
the society's history, with depleted
treasury, and final bankruptcy staring il
in the face, that Mr.. Woolley was called
to its presidency in 1891.
IL is 4 simple fact and it is only fair tG
say it, that by his activity and good bust
ness management, the better fortunes oil
| the society have been retrieved, and the
Elkton Fair put again upon solid legs,
with the present promi Use of long ruu
of annual exhibitions.
Upon his election Mr.. Woolley saw
there WAS no promise Of success fol
future Elkton Fairs, with the just claims
| of premium takers, and other cred itors
of previous years unpaid, and the first
successful step tow ards the settlement oil
| these claims, was the offer of the society
at his suggestion to liquidate these
claims upon cash payment of 25 pei
cent. THIS offer was accepted in many
society was taken III payment. This dis
position to meet them, and all Other
creditors of the society literally, was
generally responded to cordially, many
small premium takers donating to the
society the amount due them, so genera
was the desire to see the Elkton Fair &C
| on.
| BY the sale through personal solicite-
tion largely of $1,000, of the unsold stocl
in 1891, and the profits of tue successful
exhibition of 1892, the society was able t,
pay all its floating indebtedness, accumu
lated interest on mortgage, &c., aud hat
| left sufficient balance to open success
fully the fair of 1898.
In the meantime, the new presiden
set himself industriously to work, to re-
duce the mortgage Indebtedness of thu
society which in 1891 amounted prin
cipal and interest to about $l5, 600, which
amount has since been reduced to some,
thing over $4,000, or more than one thirt
of ITS entire amount in 1891.
Mr.. Woolley is a native of this count,
and Was born at Zion on October IS, 1912
He is tie fourth son of George Z
| Woolley, during his lifetime merchan
of North East, ard who died in 1854
being at the time the agent of the P. W
& B. railroad at that place. HIS grand
father was Rev. George E. Woolley ;
devout Methodist minister of the Pnila
delphia conference. a pioneer preache
in this county of the Bishop Ashur
type, who travelled many circuits in hi
aud the adjoining counties of Peunsyl
vania, and who died while on Zion CIT
cult, his body being buried there.
After the death OF his father at Mort
East, Mr.. Woolley then q boy of ten. wit
the family removed to Philadelphia
where be as a youth learned the dru
business.
Before he attained his majority, h
left Philadelphia and joined Geners
Robert Z. Lees's army after the men
orable seven days fight before Richmond
and he remained there until the surrer
der at Appom attox. At tina conclusio
of the war, he became a member of th
firm OF Peters & Woolley in Wilmington
Del, manufacturers of hoop skirts an
t white goods, where he remained unit
1877, when he returned TO his nati1
= county and located in Chesapeake Cit
, engaging in the drug business, in whic
, he continued until 1888, when he engage
, in the coal and lumber business with b
1 brother in law Mr.. George n. BeDnet
f having married in 1877, Miss Lizzie
t Bennett, the only daughter of the la
i George W. Bennett prominent and 81
II cessiul business man of this count
y whose widow still resides in Chesapeal
a City. The fact is universally recognize
o that Mr.. Woolley's business JudgmeI
y ard activity have contributed material
7. to the enhancement of the value of t
p estate of Mr.. Bennett which even at t
+ time of his death was a handsor
u accumulation.
n MIR. Woolley was one the princiI
e organizers of the Chesapeake CT
G branch of the Baltimore City Buildi
'e and Loan Association which has go
4 membership, and is in tiourishing &C
le dition. He has been Town Commission
le several times, and has always been ide
d titled with the progressive, and pub
10 spirited men of that town. lie has be
lg a jealous advocate of the necessity Of
al local railroad through the lower distri
of this county for years past, and ACTIVE
looked after the interests of thu county
y that line while in the recent Legislatl
- Of the State, to which he was elected
W delegate in the fall of 1898, Mr. Wool
has always been pronounced Democr
=, mau of robust partizanship,
III has never allowed partizan politics
interfere either with his friendships
his business. The only other pub
position he has filled was that of trus
lily of the Poor and Insane to which he
o. appointed in the fall of 1889.
pi Mr.. Woolley has always been known
of lover and admirer of blooded ST
ID, both horses and cattle, and has enga
on privately in breeding some of the
he horses in Cecil county, his farming OF
mo atoms having been continuous and ext
sive for the last ten or twelve years.
MIR. Woolley is now in his phys
prime, actively interested in the prog
and development of his section of