Vincent Sebold comes from that class of German Ancestors whose energy and industry d so much to make Frederick County one of the first agricultural sections of the United State

His grandfather, Peter Sebold, emigrate from the Rhine Country in Germany to Pennsylvania, 1822, and, after spending sever; years at Reading, came to Maryland and settle near Taneytown, when that section was still part of Frederick County. After living here few years, on a small farm, he moved to a place near Emmitsburg, in the valley of Toms Creek where he spent nearly all of his remaining years.

As long as he was able to take an active part in life, he was characterized by his thrift an industry, and, while plain and substantial, he filled the office of a good citizen, by taking his part in the material developments of his own section and the advancement of his County.

He was married first to Miss Deitrick. The had four children, one of whom was Samuel the father of Vincent Sebold. His first wife died early in life, and he married again. His second wife, who also died young, bore him five children. Late in life, he married a third time, and when he died, at the age of ninety two years, his third wife survived him. She is now also dead. Some of his children die, in youth, while others went to Pennsylvania and Western Maryland.

Samuel Sebold, son of Peter Sebold, remained with his father until he was thirty years of age, when he married Miss Ann Miller, wit resided near Bruceville, Md., and settled near Sabillasville, in this County, where Vincent Sebold was born. Moving from Sabillasville to Mechanicstown District near Mt. St. Mary's, in 1860, Samuel Sebold began farming on a small farm which he had purchased from Abraham Sheets, but after some years, he moved from there to Wilkesbarre, Pa., which was then becoming important for its rapid development of the coal interests in that section. After residing there for some years, he moved to Latrobe, in Western Pennsylvania, where he lived until the death of his father, in 1880, when he returned to the Sebold homestead, in the Valley of Toms Creek, near Emmitsburg.

Both the grandfather and the father of Vincent Sebold were of the Roman Catholic faith; they were also regular and consistent Democrats, and, while they took no very active part in politics, they were greatly respected and highly esteemed as substantial and useful citizens. Plain and honest in their lives and dealings, they laid no claim to anything that they did not possess, nor to that to which they were not entitled.

Entering St. Vincent's College, near Latrobe, Pa., as a commercial student, Vincent Sebold completed the course in two years, but desiring to continue the study of the Classics, the following year he went to Mount St. Mary's College, near Emmitsburg, where he remained for several years. In 1881 he began to read law in the office of the Hon. Frederick J. Nelson, at Frederick, Md., and after two years' study, passed an excellent examination and was admitted to practice at the Frederick Bar. After completing his law course at Frederick, Mr. Sebold was married to Miss Annie I. Roddy, who resided near Thurmont, Md., and have these daughters: Louise, Vincemtia and Maysie. After his marriage he went to Richmond, Va., where he began the practice of law, but, owing to the death of his mother soon after, on account of his father, who was advanced in years, he abandoned the Richmond field, and returned to Frederick County.

About this time a change took place in the political affairs of Frederick County. The entire Democratic ticket was elected, and the office of deputy Collector of the County was offered to him which offer he accepted and served for two years in this office. When his term of office expired, he was again offered the Collectorship but declined, preferring to return to the practice of his profession, and was appointed counsel to the Board of County Commissioners of Frederick County. While he was counsel for the Commissioners, the celebrated Dr. Wagner tried to collect his $2,000,000 judgments against Frederick County, by suit in the United States District Court, which was effectually defeated and soon after, from the developments of this trial, the career of this famous litigant came to a close by a criminal prosecution and conviction.

Mr. Sebold's practice grew rapidly and extended not only to other counties in Maryland, and to the Court of Appeals, but also to portions of Pennsylvania and to the Federal Courts, his clientele including many of the principal corporations of Frederick County.

While his practice is large and requires close attention, he still finds time to look after and help to develop some of the most important industries and institutions of this county, and of Southern Pennsylvania.

When in 1897, after an heroic struggle for many years, the Emmitsburg Railroad went into the hands of receivers, Mr. Sebold formed a syndicate, chiefly of local capital, which purchased the road and formed a new company. He took charge of the property, developed it, and under his management it has become one of the best and most substantial short roads in the country. He is still general manager and treasurer of the road.

In 1900, Mr. Sebold with Samuel M. Birely, and some citizens of Gettysburg, Pa., organized the Citizens' Bank of Gettysburg, a State bank. which has since been changed to the Citizens' Trust Company, now one of the strongest financial institutions of Southern Pennsylvania. About the same time, with a few business, men of Thurmont, Md., he organized the Thurmont National Bank which is considered one of the most substantial banking institutions of the county. Not having the time to serve on the boards of both corporations, he resigned his position in the Gettysburg Bank, but is still director and counsel of the Thurmont National Bank.

With Mr. W. A. Himes, Mr. Sebold went into the purchase and reorganization of the East Berlin railroad, a steam road operating from East Berlin to Berlin Junction, in Adams County, Pa., and after Mr. Himes' death, succeeded him as President and General Manager of the road, which position he still holds. Mr. Sebold is also president of the Emmitsburg Manufacturing Company, and of other corporations organized for the purpose of developing local industries.

Although active and energetic in business enterprises, and busy with a large law practice, Mr. Sebold takes a keen interest and often an active part in county and State polities. Among the recognized Democratic leaders of the County, for many years he has served on the County and State Committees, and as a delegate from his County to Congressional, Judicial and State conventions. While he is liberal in his opinions, Mr. Sebold never fails to loyally support the principles of his party and its standard bearers, although associated in many ways with large number of his Republican friends in numerous business relations.

Return to index on Emmitsburg names in William's History of Frederick County

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