Biographical Sketch of Edmund Simmons WHITAKER (1897): Cecil Co., MD Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . Copyright 2004. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/md/mdfiles.htm ********************************************************* Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record of Harford and Cecil Counties, Maryland.", New York, Chapman Publishing Co., 1897, pp. 184-5. "EDMUND S. WHITAKER. In the perusal of this volume the reader is doubtless impressed with the fact that it is not accident that helps a man in the world, but persistent energy, economy and industry. The life of Mr. Whita- ker affords another illustration of the fact that he who is quick to see an opportunity, and equally quick to grasp it, will attain, if not wealth, at least a goodly amount of all that goes to make life happy - the esteem of acquaintances, the affection of relatives, and a position among the influ- ential men of the locality. He is a hard-working, energetic man, and his life has been one of diligence and industry. Since early life he has been connected with the iron business, and is one of the well-known manufacturers of Principio Furnace, Cecil County. "The Whitaker family came to America from Wales about the time of the Revo- lution, and have since been loyal to our institutions and government. George P. Whitaker, the father of our subject, was born near Reading, Berks County, Pa., December 30, 1803, and was educated in the schools of his native place, where later he learned the business of an iron manufacturer. In 1832, with his brother Joseph, Robert Garrett, and others, he bought out the Elk Rolling Mills, near Elkton, Cecil County, and afterward, with the same partners, purchased the North East Rolling Mills; but these they sold in 1835, at the same time buying the mills at Principio Furnace. After they were remodeled, the company engaged in the manufacture of pig iron here. This property had been owned by the British government before and during the Revolution, and at one time Lawrence Washington, a relative of George Wash- ington, owned an interest in the furnace. During the war the British destroyed the works to keep them from falling into the hands of the patriots. In 1861 George P. Whitaker and his brother, Joseph, dissolved partnership, and the former incorporated the business under the name of the George P. Whitaker Company, of which he was the head until his death, December 31, 1890, at the age of eighty-eight. Upon the disintegration of the Whig party, which he had supported, he became an adherent of Republican prin- ciples and a stanch advocate of the policy adopted by the new party. At the breaking out of the Civil War he was a delegate to the state legislature. Both in public life and in business affairs, he was undoubtedly the most prominent man of his locality, and no one wielded a more vital influence in its upbuilding than he. For years he was a vestryman of St. Ann's Episcopal Church, and his wife was also identified with that congregation. Twice married, his first wife, who bore the maiden name of Eliza Ann Simmons, passed away in 1875. His second wife, Mrs. Mary Evans, is still living. The second union was childless, but by the first he had ten children, three now living: Mrs. Caroline Naudine, who lives near the old homestead; Edmund S.; and Nelson E., of Wheeling, W. Va. "At the place where he still lives, the subject of this article was born April 10, 1838. He was given good educational advantages, first attending the schools here, later becoming a student in West Nottingham, Md., and afterward prosecuting his studies in an academy at New London Pa., for two years. On leaving school in 1858, he became assistant manager of the Durham Iron Works, in Bucks County, Pa., but after two years in that posi- tion returned to Principio Furnace, where he has since been manager of the plant. A Republican in politics, he held the office of postmaster in 1862, but with that exception has never filled local positions. In religious belief he is identified with the Episcopal Church. March 4, 1862, occurred his marriage to Mary McFarland, of Philadelphia, and one child, Clifford C., was born of their union. The family is highly esteemed throughout this section of the county, where the members are well known."