Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1926-10-30
Peoples Column
Washington, Oct. 10, 1926.
Editor Worcester Democrat:

was a citizen of your county, having
been to the "manor born" Pocomoke
City, formerly Newtown, and in Col
onial times called Stevens Ferry,
was even then thriving business
town. Agriculture, fruit, and truck
growing flourished in Worcester and
the adjoining county of Somerset, and
Pccomoke had been for years an i'm
portant mart for the products of the
surrounding country.
Later, when the writer became a
resident of your town, he was much
impressed with the industry and en-.
terprise of many of it's citizens and
possibly it will be of interest to some
Of your readers to have recalled some
of the citizens who at that time were
among its prominent people, and who
by their efforts and common sense
had contributed as individuals in Civ
ing tone to the place, and whose
standing as business men may still
be green in the memory of your
readers.
Among the merchants, w j. s..
Clarke stood out; but his interests
and undertakings were not confined
to merchandising, for he was engaged
in other enterprises, including lum-
bering, shipping, and I believe to
some extent in farming. One of his
characteristics was the interest he
manifested in younger persons who
manifested a disposition to enter
business for themselves. Besides the
quality mentioned, he possessed in
domitable energy, and continued
active in buiness, when younger men
had retired from the business world.
Another firm we'll known was that
of Dickinson, Merrill & Dryden, the
forerunner in manner of the mod
ern department store of the larger
cities, the senior member having
charge of the dry goods, Mr.. Merrill
giving his attention to shoes, ready
made clothing, etc., while Mr.. Dry
den, Frank" as his acquaintance
addressed him, managed the grocery
side.
Then there were Hall Bros, COM
posed of three brothers, Jerome, Fad
ok and Major, who dealt in general
merchandise. Smullin Bros, J. w.
Selby, also being dealers in the same
line and many others who kept small
Ter establishments.
Prominent physicians at that time
were, Drs. J. I. B. McMaster, D. j.
o. Truitt, S. S. Quinn, and 1. T. Co.'S
ton, the last named still surviving
when the writer last visited Pcomoke
City. These physicians all had ex-
tensive practice, and enjoyed the con-
fidence of the families among whom
they practiced their profession.
C. C. Lloyd and Edgar Fontaine
were well known druggists, and al
though the latter has long since re-
tired as an apothecary, learn that
he is still active in other business.
Among the ministers may be men,
toned Revs. Polk, Bowen, Crosdale,
Handy, Hanna and Hoblitzell, the
Catholics and Christian Disciples not
then having come into the commu-
lity.
A. ]. Merrill edited the Record, a
Mr.. Clarke who came from Ohio, be-
ing the first publisher, I believe, TO
.stablish a paper in the town.
T. ] Blaine was popular boot and
shoe maker, and Emerson Polk was
leading tailor.
There were skilled carpenters and
builders too, and goodly numbers of
other mechanics who industriously
piled their trades.
There were no banks then in POGO
moke and in fact, none in the county,
any of the merchants banking in Bal
timore and when the feasibility of
starting a bank in Snow Hill was
first discussed, the writer recalls that
one of the leading and most inf1uen-
tial citizens of the county, the late
U. S. Senator E. K. Wilson, of honor
ed name while agreeing to take stock
in the projected bank, expressed
Considerable doubt of there being e.
nough business in Snow Hill to make
such an undertaking success. There
are three banks in that town now, and
most of the towns and villages in the
county have those institutions, and
I believe that all of them are doing
a fair business.
An institution Of Pocomoke at the
time that this letter treats, was the
Clarke House, erected by and named
II, honor If w g Clarke II was q