38 MARYLAND MANUAL.

eloquence won the warmest applause and placed him in the front
rank of the speakers of the House.

He is a member of committee on militia, chairman of com-
mittee on contingent fund, member of committee on corpora-
tions.

Frank Porter.

Frank Porter, Republican, was born July 2nd, 1866, on a
farm on one of the highest spurs of the Allegany mountains, in
Western Maryland. His parents were Wm. E. and Elizabeth
Porter. He was the youngest of a family which consisted of
father, mother and two sons. Belonging to one of the oldest
families in Western Maryland, and one in which the "abolition"
sentiment was very pronounced, he was placed at a great disad-
vantage in acquiring even a rudimental education; never seeing
the inside of a school house until twelve years of age, and then
could only be spared from the farm during the inclement winter
months. The young school-boy had to walk six (6) miles a day
over mountain roads when he did attend school. He has a love
for good reading and study. Mr. Porter has always taken an
active interest in local politics and local reforms. He came
before the people of his county last fall for the first time as a
seeker after political honors, and was elected over his Democratic
opponent by nearly 1, 600 majority. He is a faithful admirer and
supporter of United States Senator-elect George L. Wellington.
Mr. Porter was married June 30th, 1892, to Jean Williamson, of
Eckhart Mines. He has one child, a daughter.

He is a member of the committee on loads and highways and
on agriculture, member of committee on expiring laws, member
of committee on amendments to the Constitution, member of
committee on library.

David Robertson.

David Robertson, of the House of Delegates, was born in
Scotland in 1834.

When nine years of age, he went to work in the mines of his
native country. He continued to mine coal in Scotland until
1865, when he came to the United States and settled at Ocean,
in Allegany county. He went to work in the mines there, where
lie has been employed ever since. Mr. Robertson raised a large
family. He has five sons engaged at various occupations in
Allegany county.

Mr. Robertson has been trustee for several terms in the public
schools of his county, and was road supervisor of his district for
six years. His effort in his last office was to keep in good repair