city editor of the Herald and Times. He became city
editor of the Cumberland Times in 1889, and reported
subsequently on the Philadelphia Times and Baltimore
Sun. In 1891-92, he was managing editor of the Harris-
burg (Pa.) Call. He devoted every leisure hour to the
reading of law, under the preceptorship of Judge Edward
Stake, who himself had read law with Mr. Syester's
father. In February, 1893, he was admitted to the bar
of Washington county, where his rise as an active, ag-
gressive young counsellor has been marked. He is also
vice-president of the Antietam Fire Company, Hagers-
town, and quartermaster-sergeant of the First Regiment
of Maryland.

B. ABNER BETTS.

B. Abner Betts was born at Chewsville, Washington
county, Maryland, January 8, 1852, and received his edu-
cation in the common schools of that village. At 16 years
of age he began to clerk in his father's store, and at the
age of 20 he became a full partner with his father. He
still keeps a store at the old stand. He also owns and
operates four large grain elevators at Chewsville, Fair-
field, South Hampton and Shippensburg. He was elected
to the office of County Commissioner in 1889, and was
the only Democrat elected that year in Washington
county. He was nominated for the House of Delegates
last September and was given the largest majority of any
candidate on either ticket, except the Register of Wills
and the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

NEWTON E. FUNKHOUSER.

Newton E. Funkhouser was born near Winchester, Va.,
in 1861, and was educated at Shenandoah Institute, Day-
ton, Va., and taught school for two years in Georgia. He
located at Sleepy Creek, W. Va., and engaged in the mer-
cantile and lumber business. After seven years of suc-
cessful business, the firm dissolved and Mr. Funkhouser
removed to Cherry Run the same, year and engaged in
business for himself. Mr. Funkhouser built up a large
trade at that point, but, having a desire to cast his lot in
Maryland, the opportunity came in 1894, when he pur-
chased a tract of land at Big Pool, in Washington county,
from the Western Maryland Railroad Company, and
erected there two large dwellings and a commodious store
room and hall. He is at present doing business in the