54 MARYLAND MANUAL.

department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1870, and has
been a practicing physician ever since. Dr. Birnie has never
married. He is vice-president of the Medical and Chirurgical
faculty of Maryland, a member of the Historical Society, also of
the Anthropological Society of Washington and of the Alumni
Association of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Birnie never
held any office in his life, and says that if he had thought there
was any chance of his being elected in 1895, he would not have
gone on the ticket. He is a leading member of the House, and
was the father of the House free school book bill.

He is a member of the committee on rules, chairman com-
mittee on ways and means, chairman of committee on public
hygiene.

Charles J. H. Ganter.

Charles J. H. Ganter, Republican, was born January 6, 1851,
in Manchester. He received his early education at the public
schools of Manchester and in the Manchester Academy, and his
early occupation was that of a printer, but he gave that up and
studied pharmacy, and has been engaged in that business since 1878.
He is also extensively engaged in the manufacture of cigars.
Mr. Ganter was a candidate on the Republican ticket for county
treasurer in 1885. He is now the Mayor of Manchester and
chairman of the executive committee of the Maryland State Fire-
men's Association. Mr. Ganter was assistant postmaster of Man-
chester for twenty years, and on December 10, 1888, was ap-
pointed postmaster, holding the office during Harrison's adminis-
tration. Mr. Ganter married Miss Sue Chew, a daughter of Wm.
H. Chew, formerly of New Windsor, and has one child, Mrs.
John F. Miller, of Westminster. Mr. Ganter is also the local
editor of the Telephone Messenger, published in Manchester.

He is a member of the committee on revaluation and reassess-
ment, on public hygiene, on corporations, on education.

William F. Cover.

Wm. F. Cover, Republican, was born March 22, 1860, near
Sabillasville, Frederick county, but went to Double Pipe Creek,
where he resided until the spring of 1892, when he moved to
York Roads, Carroll county. He was a farmer until four years
ago, when he engaged in the general warehouse business at York
Roads. After leaving school he learned the milling business
with his uncle, Mr. Thomas F. Cover, but not liking that occupa-
tion gave it up and took up bookkeeping. He was married
September 24, 1879, to Miss Jennie E. Newman, and has a family
of four girls and two boys. August 13, 1893, he was appointed
postmaster under a Democratic administration at York Roads,