248 MARYLAND MANUAL.

TALBOT COUNTY— Three Members.

WILLIAM COLLINS, Democrat.

Mr. Collins is a lawyer by profession and a farmer by
choice and occupation. He was born at Prankford, the
Collins homestead, near Trappe, which is now his residence.
He is a graduate of the Trappe High School. At 18 years
of age he taught school a year in Dorchester county. He
studied law in the office of Charles H. Gibson, and after a
few years' practice with the late I. G. W. Powell, he went
into agriculture as a business, and is regarded as one of the
most progressive and successful farmers in the county. He
was elected to the Legislature as a Democrat in 1890,1892
and 1894. He was on these committees: Judiciary,
Chesapeake Bay, Agriculture, Engrossed Bills and others.
Mr. Collins was one of the organizers of the Talbot Fair
Association, the Farmers' Alliance, the Farmers' Club, is a
member of the Sons of the American Revolution, and a
director in the Farmers and Merchants' National Bank ot
Easton.

WILLIAM C. DUDLEY, Democrat.

Mr. Dudley is a farmer and lives at Wye Landing. He
was born in Queen Anne's county. He commenced his
business career as a mercantile clerk in Centreville and in
Baltimore, but returned to Queen Anne's and went to
farming when 21 years old. In 1871 he was elected Sherift
of Queen Anne's. Previous to that, in 1866 and 1867, he
was Tax Collector. He came to Talbot in 1883. The
Wye Landing farm is a fine estate of 400 acres. In 1891
he was elected Judge of the Orphans' Court tor Talbot.
He was renomiuated in 1895, but the county went Repub-
lican that year. Judge Dudley is a gentleman who, by his
consistency of life and uprightness of conduct, adorns
alike the private station and public life.

WILLIAM WILLIS, Democrat.

Mr. Willis is a farmer, living in St. Michaels. Mr. Willis
was educated in the public schools. He taught school from
1858 to 1865. Prom 1873 to 1883 he was also engaged in
oyster, fruit and vegetable packing In 1878 Mr. Willis
was elected County Commissioner by the Democrats, and
was made president of the board. In 1898 he ran for
Congress as the candidate of the Chicago platform Demo-
crats against Col. John Walter Smith. Mr. Willis says: