History of Frederick County Maryland United States of America

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John Prentiss Kewley Henshaw, first bishop of Rhode Island and forty-first in succession in the American episcopate, was born in Middletown, Conn., June l3, 1792; son of Daniel and Sally (Prentiss) Henshaw. His first ancestor in America, Joshua Henshaw, was brought to New England from England with his brother Daniel in 1644. John was graduated at Middlebury college, Vt., A.B., 1808, A.M., 1811, and S.T.D., 1830. He also received the degree of A.B., from Harvard in 1808. He was brought up in the Congregational church, but soon after graduating, during a visit to his native place, he was baptized by the Rev. Dr. Kewley and determined to study for the ministry in the Protestant Episcopal church. Bishop Griswold of the Eastern Diocese made him a lay-reader and he did successful missionary work in Vermont, at Marblehead, Mass., and in Bristol, R.I., while pursuing his theological coarse. He was ordained deacon, June 13, 1813; and was called to St. Ann's church, Brooklyn. N.Y., and was ordained priest, June 13, 1816. He was rector of St. Peter's church, Baltimore, Md., 1817-43, and while in that city was active in mission work outside the labors of his large and growing congregation. He was a candidate for bishop of Maryland before the diocesan conventions of 1828 and 1840, but failed of election, having received a majority, but less than the vote of two-thirds of the clergy. as required by the constitution. In 1843 he was elected first bishop of Rhode Island and also served as rector of Grace church, Providence, R.I. He is the author of: Usefulness of Sunday Schools (1833); Henshaw's Sheridan (1834); Communicant's Guide; Theology for the People (1840); Memoir of the Rt. Rev. Channing Moore, D.D. (1842); An Inquiry concerning the Second Advent (1842); The Work of Christ's Living Body (1843), and other works. While officially serving the diocese of Maryland in the absence of Bishop Whittingham, he died in Frederick county, Md., July 19, 1852.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John A. McMahon, representative, was born in Frederick county, Md., Feb. 19, 1833; son of John Van Lear and Elizabeth (Gouger) McMahon. His father was a graduate of the College of New Jersey, 1817; LL.D. St. John's college, Maryland, 1869; member of the Baltimore bar; author of "An Historical View of Maryland" (1831): removed to Ohio in 1855, and died in Maryland June 15, 1871. John A. McMahon was graduated at St. Xavier's college. Cincinnati, in 1849; studied law with C. L. Valandigham, and was admitted to the bar in 1854. He practised in Dayton, Ohio; was a delegate to the Democratic national convention at Baltimore, July 9, 1872, and a representative from the fourth Ohio district in the 44th, 45th and 46th congresses, 1875-81. He was practising law in Dayton, Ohio, in 1901.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

William Cost Johnson, representative, was born in Frederick county, Md., probably in 1806. He practised law in Jefferson, Frederick county, and was admitted to practice in the supreme court in 1831. He was a representative in the state legislature, both before and after his service as representative in the 23d, 26th and 27th U.S. congresses, 1833-35, and 1839-43. In congress he was a member of the judiciary committee and chairman of the committee on public lands. He was a Henry Clay Whig and president of the national convention of young men which met in Washington in 1844. He was a member of the state constitutional convention of 1851. He died in Washington, D.C., April 16, 1860.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

James McSherry, author, was born in Frederick county, Md., July 29, 1819; son of James and Anne Ridgely (Sappington) McSherry, and grandson of Patrick and Catharine (Gartland) McSherry. Patrick McSherry came from Ireland in 1745, settled in Lancaster county, Pa., and during the Revolution was chairman of the committee of safety of York county, Pa. James McSherry, St., was a representative in the 17th congress from Petersburg, Pa., 1821-23. James McSherry, Jr., was graduated from Mount St. Mary's college, Emmitsburg, Md., in 1838; was admitted to the bar in 1840 and settled in practice in Gettysburg, Pa. He returned to Maryland in 1841, and practiced in Frederick City, 1841-69. He was a contributor to the United States Catholic Magazine, and author of: History of Maryland, 1634-1848 (1849); P?re Jean, or the Jesuit Missionary (1849); and Willitoft, or the Days of James the First, a Tale (1851). He died in Frederick county, Md., July 13, 1869.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Frederick County Maryland

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