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 Extracts from Baltimore its history and its people - James Sullivan Gary

James Sullivan Gary

James Sullivan Gary was born in Medway, Massahucusetts, November 15, 1808. He was the son of John Gary, a farmer of Lancashire, England, who, with his brother, James, immigrated to this country in 1712 and settled in New Hampshire, James going to Massachusetts.  His father died in early manhood, leaving a large family.  His mother was Mary Witherell, and belonged to one of the oldest families in New England.  When but five years of age James went to work in the Medway Manufacturing Company's cotton mill, where he remained for seven years, acquiring in that time a thorough, practical knowledge of the details of manufacture.  His early educational advantages were necessarily limited, but, aided by a good mother, he availed himself of every opportunity for mental improvement.  Leaving the Medway Company with a view to more profitable employment, he engaged successively in a number of manufacturing establishments, ever gathering valuable knowledge of the business, which greatly contributed to his after success in life.  In these various changes he was prudent and economical withal, and by the time he was twenty-two years of age he had saved a few thousand dollars.  In 1830 he married Pamelia, daughter of Decon Ebenezer Forrest, of Foxboro, Massachusetts and removed to Uncasville, Connecticut, where he became a partner in a cotton factory.  That was a most unfortunate venture for him, as the agents of the factory became bankrupt and he lost his entire investment.  After that he spent some years in charge of one of the departments of the Lonsdale Manufacturing Company's mills in Rhode Island.  In 1838 Mr. Gary removed with his family to Maryland, where he took charge of one of the departments in the mills of the Patuxent Manufacturing Company, at Laurel, Prince George county.  In 1844, with three others, he established the Ashland Manufacturing Company of Baltimore county, and assumed the entire control of the works.  This company operated most successfully until 1854, when the buildings and machinery were destroyed by fire.  In addition to his control of the Ashland Mills, he undertook at the same time the supervision and control of the Patuxent Company's mills, at their invitation. About a year previous to the fire at the Ashland Company's mills he established, in connection with a partner, the Alberton Manufacturing Company, at Elysville, Howard county.  In 1859 Mr. Gary made the discovery that through the mismanagement of his associate, who controlled the financial affairs, the company had become disastrously involved in outside operations.  He at once arranged to assume the sole ownership of the mills, together with the heavy indebtedness.  The creditors, believing that Mr. Gary out not to be held responsible for what had been done without his knowledge, were generously disposed to agree to a very liberal compromise, but Mr. Gary declined the offer.  He however, accepted an extension of three years, promising to meet every claim in full.  That promise he fulfilled in half the time for which he had asked.

In 1861 his son, James Albert Gary was taken into partnership, under the firm name of James S. Gary and Son, with office and warehouse in Baltimore.  In 1863 a branch house was established in St. Louis, under the name of James S. Gary and Company, and both houses were very successful.  In 1866 the mills, dwellings, and the property at Alberton were greatly damaged by a freshet.  They were again damaged much more disastrously in 1868, when the whole valley of the Patapsco was suddenly swept by a torrent, which destroyed many lives and millions of dollars.  The waters had scarcely subsided when with his usual courage and energy he set about rebuilding his mill, having first relieved the immediate necessities of the sufferers around him.  The work of reconstruction was pushed vigorously forward; and though his mills had suffered more damage than others (with one exception), he was the first to resume operations by several weeks.  Many improvements were made and much extensive additions that the capacity for production was doubled.  Mr. Gary died at the age of sixty-two years from the effects of a carbuncle, March 7, 1870, and was buried at Alberton, the scene of his labors, and where the monuments of his energy and skill remain in the busy mills and their pleasant surrounds.  Mr. Gary was a man of rare ability and indomitable perseverance.  He had wonderful tact in managing men, securing their confidence and hearty cooperation and good will by his hearty kindness to all.  He was a Whig in politics, and during the Civil War a sincere and zealous Unionist.  As in religion, so in politics, he always respected the views of others.  He was not identified with any church but he was governed by the Golden Rule.  He left two children, James Albert Gary, a sketch of whom follows; and Pamelia A. who married Hart B. Holton, of Baltimore county, Maryland.

James S. Gary was of a generous, open handed and genial disposition, and his kind and considerate treatment of those in his employ, combined with his strict sense of justice, won for him the love and respect of all who came in contact with him.  He allowed no opportunity to pass him unused which could be turned to the comfort or advantage of those in his employ, whose welfare he considered one of his chief charges, and the sincere and unaffected grief evinced at the time of his death gave ample testimony to the affection which all born him.

James Albert Gary

James Albery Gary was born October 22, 1833, in Uncasville, Connecticut, and is a son of James Sullivan and Pamelia (Forrest) Gary, a grandson of John Gary and a great-grandson of John Gary who came, in 1712 from Lancashire, England, and settled in New Hampshire.  A sketch of James Sullivan Gary precedes this.  The son, James Albert Gary, has been, from the outset of his business career, associated with the cotton manufacturing enterprise of which his father was the founder, and in 1861 the well-known firm of James S. Gary & Son was organized.  In 1870, when the founder of the business passed away, Mr. Gary continued the business until 1897, when he relinquished the active duties to his son, E. Stanley Gary.  The firm's name has remained unchanged and the house maintains the position of leadership which it has o long held in the cotton manufacturing world.  Mr. Gary has also been associated with many local interests, having served as president of the Merchants' and Manufacturers' Association and the Citizens' National Bank.  He has been vice-president of the Consolidated Gas Company, and director in the American Fire Insurance Company, the Merchants' and Manufacturers' Insurance Company, the Baltimore Trust and Guaranty Company, the Savings Bank of Baltimore, and many other corporations.

Not only has Mr. Gary for a long period stood in the front rank of Baltimore's business men, but at the same time he has also occupied the position of a political leader, representing the truest ideas of Republicanism as understood by the founders of the old Whig party.  Mr. Gary's father was an old-line Whig, and the son, growing up under his influence, and himself an earnest student of political conditions, identified himself, by natural transition, with the Republicans.  In Maryland, at the early period, the organization was the reverse of popular, but Mr. Gary had the courage of his convictions.  In 1858 he was nominated for the State Senate, and, though defeated, was not daunted.  In January, 1861, he was a delegate to the Union Convention held in the Maryland Institute.  In 1872 he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention which nominated General Grant for President, and in the face of certain defeat, accepted the congressional nomination of his party.  In 1875 he worked hard for the Reform ticket.  In 1876 he was again a delegate to the National Convention, and in 1870 was nominated by his party for the governorship, but was defeated.  He was prominent in every National Convention up to 1900, and tin the campaign of 1896 did especially effective work, rendering to his party valuable service.  His record as a politician has been throughout a peculiarly honorable one and never has been regarded as an office-seeker, nor was he so regarded when President McKinley tended him the position of post-master-general.  On March 5, 1897, the nomination was confirmed by the Senate, and Mr. Gary's discharge of the duties of the office was marked by the high order of ability and the strict fidelity to every obligation which have characterized his entire career.  On April 21, 1898, he resigned this office on account of ill health, much to the regret of his cheif and his associates in the cabinet. 

Mr. Gary married in 1856, Lavinia W., daughter of James Corrie, and they became the parents of ten children, eight of whom survive.  Mr. Gary has ever given his influence and ability to all measures that he has felt conserved the interest of good government, and his record entitles him to be regarded as one of Maryland's most honorable and useful citizens.

James L. Gary

James A. Gary