Charles H. Stanley
Encyclopedia
Charles Harvey Stanley was a Prince George's County, Maryland
lawyer and Democratic Party
politician.
, was born on November 20, 1842, in Saybrook, Connecticut, to Rev. Dr. Harvey Stanley and Mary Anne (Kinne) Stanley of North Carolina. In 1851, he moved to Prince George's County, Maryland
with his parents, where he attended local schools and received private tutoring. He was a Confederate
American Civil War
veteran, having served as a private in Company B of the First Regiment, Maryland Cavalry from 1862 to 1865. After his military service, Stanley taught school and studied law under General Thomas Bowie; he was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1869.
Stanley married his first wife, Ella Lee Hodges (January 1841 – October 1, 1881) on November 26, 1871; the couple had no children. Margaret Snowden became Stanley's second wife on September 11, 1884. Nine children were born of this marriage, six of whom survived to 1907: Harvey; Charles H. Stanley, Jr.; William; John Snowden; Margaret Snowden; and Elizabeth Hopkins.
Farmers' Club of Prince George's County. He also worked as a banker, including roles as founder and president of Citizen's National Bank of Laurel from March 1890 to 1913. Stanley was director of the B&O Railroad
from 1883 to 1886 and a member of the Board of Trustees for Maryland Agricultural College, the original chartered name of the University of Maryland
, from 1882. In 1906, he was elected to the office of first vice-president by the Association of School Commissioners and County Superintendents of Maryland.
from 1880 to 1882, a member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from 1883 to 1885, and mayor of Laurel from 1891 to 1893. In 1911, Stanley was appointed by Governor Austin Lane Crothers
as the Comptroller of Maryland
to complete the term of William B. Clagett, who died in office after his own appointment to complete a predecessor's term.
in Laurel. The Laurel branch
of the Prince George's County Memorial Library System is named after Stanley.
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation....
lawyer and Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician.
Early life and family
Stanley, a descendant of James Stanley, 7th Earl of DerbyJames Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby
James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby KG was a supporter of the Royalist cause in the English Civil War.Born at Knowsley, he is sometimes styled the Great Earl of Derby, eldest son of William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby and Lady Elizabeth de Vere. During his father's life he was known as Lord Strange...
, was born on November 20, 1842, in Saybrook, Connecticut, to Rev. Dr. Harvey Stanley and Mary Anne (Kinne) Stanley of North Carolina. In 1851, he moved to Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation....
with his parents, where he attended local schools and received private tutoring. He was a Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
veteran, having served as a private in Company B of the First Regiment, Maryland Cavalry from 1862 to 1865. After his military service, Stanley taught school and studied law under General Thomas Bowie; he was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1869.
Stanley married his first wife, Ella Lee Hodges (January 1841 – October 1, 1881) on November 26, 1871; the couple had no children. Margaret Snowden became Stanley's second wife on September 11, 1884. Nine children were born of this marriage, six of whom survived to 1907: Harvey; Charles H. Stanley, Jr.; William; John Snowden; Margaret Snowden; and Elizabeth Hopkins.
Career
Stanley was a farmer, farm investor, and charter member of the VansvilleVansville, Maryland
Vansville is an unincorporated community in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. For statistical purposes, it is part of the Beltsville census-designated place ....
Farmers' Club of Prince George's County. He also worked as a banker, including roles as founder and president of Citizen's National Bank of Laurel from March 1890 to 1913. Stanley was director of the B&O Railroad
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
from 1883 to 1886 and a member of the Board of Trustees for Maryland Agricultural College, the original chartered name of the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, from 1882. In 1906, he was elected to the office of first vice-president by the Association of School Commissioners and County Superintendents of Maryland.
Political service
Stanley served as a city commissioner for Laurel, MarylandLaurel, Maryland
Laurel is a city in northern Prince George's County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County, Maryland, United States, located midway between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Incorporated in 1870, the city maintains a historic district including its Main Street...
from 1880 to 1882, a member of the Maryland House of Delegates
Maryland House of Delegates
The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...
from 1883 to 1885, and mayor of Laurel from 1891 to 1893. In 1911, Stanley was appointed by Governor Austin Lane Crothers
Austin Lane Crothers
Austin Lane Crothers , a member of the United States Democratic Party, was the 46th Governor of Maryland in the United States from 1908 to 1912.-Early life and career:...
as the Comptroller of Maryland
Comptroller of Maryland
The Comptroller of Maryland, United States, currently Peter Franchot, is the state's chief financial officer and is also elected by the people for a four year term. The comptroller is not term-limited. The office was established by the Maryland Constitution of 1851 due to concern about the...
to complete the term of William B. Clagett, who died in office after his own appointment to complete a predecessor's term.
Death and legacy
Stanley died on December 20, 1913 in Laurel, Maryland; his burial site is in section E. 108 of Ivy Hill CemeteryIvy Hill Cemetery (Maryland)
Ivy Hill Cemetery is on the north side of Old Sandy Spring Road across from its intersection with Nichols Drive in Laurel, Maryland, United States. Burials began in the 19th century and the cemetery is within Laurel's historic district...
in Laurel. The Laurel branch
Stanley Memorial Library
Stanley Memorial Library is the Laurel, Maryland branch of the Prince George's County Memorial Library System, located at the intersection of Seventh Street and Talbott Avenue. The library is named after Charles H. Stanley, a city commissioner , mayor , and state comptroller .The library opened in...
of the Prince George's County Memorial Library System is named after Stanley.