Caroline County—ROBERT M. MESSICK.

Robert Martin Messick was born in Sussex county,
Del., February 14, 1842. His parents died when lie was
12 years old. After the death of his parents Robert left
Delaware and went to Caroline county, Md., where lie
had an uncle at that time residing near Denton, who
hired him to a prosperous farmer near Andersontown, at
which place he rendered faithful service for two years.
He then entered the employ of B. G.. Stevens, of Willis-
ton. He was appointed postmaster at Williston under
Lincoln's administration, and in 1863 he married the
daughter of Col. A. J. Willis, of Caroline. He remained
with Mr. Stevens until 1865; he then went to Baltimore,
where he engaged in the hardware business. In 1869 lie
removed to his farm near Bethlehem, where he now
resides. In 1873 lie entered into the saw mill business
and carried it on, together with farming, until 1882, when
he constructed the present canning establishment near
Bethlehem. In the fall of 1881 Mr. Messick was nom-
inated on the Republican ticket for County Commissioner,
and was elected over his competitor, James A. Parrott,
by 272 majority, while the average majority of the rest
of the ticket was only 185. In 1883 lie ran on the Repub-
lican ticket for the House of Delegates, and was defeated
by the Democratic candidate, Col. Jas. H. Douglass, by
the small majority of 38 votes. In 1891 he engaged in
the mercantile business at Bethlehem, which he still
carries on in connection with the canning business.

Cecil County.-—AUSTIN L. CROTHERS.

Austin L. Crothers was born near the village of
Conowingo, Cecil county, May 17, 1860. He received
his primary education in the public schools and at West
Nottingham Academy. His first work was as a school-
master in the public schools in Cecil county, and while
filling that position his spare moments were devoted to
reading law. After a few years he resigned and entered
the law department of the University of Maryland.
Graduating from that institution, he was admitted to the
Elkton bar in 1890. Soon after entering upon active
practice he was elected to the office of prosecuting attor-
ney. As a lawyer he takes front rank at the Elkton bar.
He is a man of scholarly attainments.