William's History of Frederick County
Henry
F. Maxell
Henry F. Maxell, a well-known miller of Emmitsburg
District No. 5, son of Samuel and Jane (Furgueson)
Maxell, was born at the Maxell Mill property, Emmitsburg
District, Frederick County, Md., January 5, 1850.
Samuel Maxell, father of Henry F. Maxell, was born near
Waynesboro, Pa., December 17, 1809. He was a miller and
spent his life in that business. This mill, which was
over one hundred years old, was in the Maxell family for
sixty-one years. It was built by Mr. Crabbs, and passed
through many different hands. The executors of Samuel
Maxell sold it to his son, Samuel, who sold it in 1895,
to the Charlotte Milling Company, which was succeeded by
the firm of Stonesipher and Stansbury.
The property next
passed into the hands of George C. Naylor, from whom it
was purchased by Howard K. Martin, the present owner.
The change from the old burr process to modern machinery
was made nineteen years ago. Samuel Maxell left
Pennsylvania in 1837, and removed to Frederick County,
Md. where he bought Crabbs Mill which has since borne
his name. He was the third Republican in Emmitsburg
District; his two comrades were Richard Gilsin and
David Gamble.
Mr. Maxell was a stanch Abolitionist, and
these three men were very influential in changing the
sentiments of the people with regard to slavery. Samuel
Maxell was a strong man physically and mentally, and was
highly esteemed in the county.
He was married, in or near Waynesboro, Pa., to Jane
M. Fergueson, who was born November 27, 1811. Their
children are: 1, Henry, died in youth; 2. William, died
in youth; 3, Ann Eliza (Mrs. Charles Rowe), of
Emmitsburg; 4, Samuel J., a member of Cole’s Cavalry
during the Civil War, married Miss Fleming, of West
Virginia, died in West Virginia; 4, Jane Maria (Mrs.
John Duckwall), removed to Ohio, where she died 5.
Francis A., married Miss White, of Greencastle Pa., died
in York, Pa.; 6, Thaddeus Augustus a member of Cole’s
Cavalry and was considered the bravest boy in the
considered the bravest boy in the command; killed by a
sharpshooter at Piedmont, Va.; 7, Margaret (Mrs. Ezra
Zimmerman), died in Emmitsburg, Md.; 8, Albert H., of
Charlestown, W. Va.. married Columbia Hockensmith; 9.
Henry F., 10. Mary A., married first to John Sumwalt,
and afterwards to Cronon Stausbury, of Emmitsburg, Md.;
11, Julia M. (Mrs. Robert Hockensmith), died in
Emmitsburg. Mr. Maxell was a member of the Lutheran
Church in Emmitsburg, and had served the congregation
several times as deacon and as elder. He died at Maxell
Mill, November 4, 1882; his widow died December 1, 1886.
Henry F. Maxell entered the Krise, now the Ridge school,
under Henry Six, when he was six years of age. He
continued his studies until he was twenty under the
guidance of Mr. Eby and his brother, James W. Troxell,
Joseph Davidson, Joseph Golding, now Congressman from
the State of New York, Mr. Zimmermen. and Mr. Damuth.
During vacations he took his share of farm work, and
remained on the home farm, caring for his parents until
the time of their death. He learned milling, as did all
of his brothers, except the one, who was killed in the
Civil War. Mr. Maxell is a Republican, active in public
affairs, and highly esteemed in the community. In 1887
he was elected county commissioner, and served for the
full term. He has served as judge of elections, and was
registrar of Emmitsburg for ten years.
Henry F. Maxell was married, May 27, 1875, to Jemima,
daughter of Nicholas and Amelia Stausbury, who was born
August 22, 1850. Their children are: 1, Thaddeus
Augustus, born June 14. 1876, resides in Emmitsburg,
married Miss Grace Baker; 2, Maud Amelia (Mrs. George
Macbeth Neely), of Fairfield, Pa., has one child, George
Macbeth, Jr.; 3. Roy F., at home, born September 30,
1883; 4, Frank Phillip, born September 17, 1898, died in
infancy. Mr. Maxell is a member of the Lutheran Church
in Emmitsburg, in which he is an elder.
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index on Emmitsburg names in
William's History of Frederick County
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