Person Page 3,290

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - The New York Times (New York, NY), August 20, 1887

BROKER ROBERTS IN CANADA.

CREDITORS SEIZING UPON THE MISSING SPECULATOR'S EFFECTS.

Baltimore, Aug. 19. - There is now no doubt that Stock Broker William Lorman Roberts is in Canada, and has no immediate notion of returning. Business circles continued full of rumors to-day, and gradually the facts in the case are coming out. The attachment of James Little, served yesterday, was followed to-day by a large number which were placed in the hands of Sheriff Fledderman, who, with his deputies, was busy all day trying to find the property of the absentee, so that it could be levied upon. Attachments, it is understood, were laid upon some vessel interests of Mr. Roberts, and also upon other property. The Sheriff would not say much about the attachments, as he said he feared it might interfere with the end in view. Mr. Little is the Superintendent of the Pygmalion Coal Company, of West Virginia, of which Jacob H. Taylor, of this city, is President.

Mr. Little, who resides at Piedmont, West Va., had saved up $1,365, and wanted to invest it so that it would bear good interest. He sent the money to Mr. Roberts to invest for him. Hearing nothing of the investment, and reading about two weeks ago the suspension of Mr. Roberts from the New York Stock Exchange, he came on to Baltimore to investigate matters. He laid the attachment in the hands of the Bank of Baltimore, and through Thomas & Bouldin, attorneys, the case was prosecuted.

As stated in a special to THE TIMES last night Roberts is the sole Trustee of the estate of Alexander Lorman, which is estimated to amount all the way from $200,000 to $400,000. Mr. Edward Roberts, the father of the absent Mr. Roberts, was the former Trustee, and according to the will upon his death the trust devolved upon his son. William Lorman, the father of the testator, made a great fortune in the merchant marine business. He lived in a large mansion on the corner of Charles and Lexington streets, where the Central Savings Bank now stands. The mansion was surrounded by a handsome lawn, and the location at the time was the most select in the city. Mr. Edward Roberts was one of Mr. Lorman's clerks. Mr. Lorman bequeathed to him considerable money when he died.

Mr. Lorman, who had married a Miss Fulford, of Hartford County, left one son, Alexander. He remained single and in his will he appointed Mr. Roberts Trustee, and also made provisions that upon his death the trust would devolve upon William, the son. When William took up the trust, in 1880, he gave a bond for $360,000, and his bondsmen were his mother, Mrs. Roberts, and the Baltimore Safe Deposit and Trust Company. Mr. Otis Hinkley, counsel for Chancellor Bailey, of Spottsylvania, Va., who is one of the heirs of the Lorman estate, filed a petition in the City Curcuit Court asking for a Receiver on the ground that Mr. Roberts, the Trustee, had defaulted. Mr. Hinkley is also the councel of the Baltimore Safe Deposit and Trust Company.

The petition was granted, and John W. Marshall, Secretary of the Safe Deposit and Trust Company, was appointed Receiver. William T. Walters, Vice-President and acting President in the absence of Mr. B. F. Newcomer, and Mr. W.A. Wisong, Treasurer of the Safe Deposit and Trust Company, went on his bond in the sum of $300,000. Mr. Walters stated that, according to the order of the court, the box of Mr. Roberts was opened and the securities of the Lorman estate were found therein. He said there was about $300,000 in the estate.

There was very little left to-day in Roberts's handsomely furnished office in the Chamber of Commerce building. The Deputy Sheriff had all the effects removed to the auctioneer's. The last thing taken out was a small safe, which had nothing of value in it. The books, papers, and a number of other small things were left in the office and Mr. C. Goodwin, a clerk of Mr. Roberts, had these things placed in a box and, by the advice of Mr. Roberts's attorney, had them sent to his home. Mr. Goodwin stated that the office was very elegantly fitted out, and another gentleman present said that while many of the brokers' offices in New-York were larger, none were better or more finely furnished. There were three telegraph wires. The firm at one time had four wires.

Mr. Goodwin did not think that Mr. Roberts was at times accountable for what he did. He would frequently dictate matter to him, and after asking him to read over what he had said claimed that he had said nothing of the kind, but the clerk said he had taken down the statements as made by him. He said it was pretty well known that Mr. Roberts was loosing in his business transactions, but neither he nor others expected the crisis, because they believed Roberts to be a very rich man.

The young man thought that at times the transactions amounted to nearly $2,000,000, and not very long ago, he said, he was carring about a million bushels of wheat. He gave it as his opinion that the fall was caused by heavy transactions, as recently he had plunged into speculation very heavily. Mr. Goodwin said he had no idea what Mr. Roberts's indebtedness in Baltimore was, nor did he know of the creditiors.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA), August 20, 1887, page 5

A BOLD SPECULATOR

BROKER WILLIAM LORMAN ROBERTS GOES INTO EXILE.

A Fortune of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars Staked and Lost in One Year - Heavy Debts.

BALTIMORE, August 19, - Dashing William Lorman Roberts, who had a seat in the New York Stock Exchange, but did his principal business here, where his office was at room No. 21 Chamber of Commerce building, had disappeared. The impression prevails that he is in Canada. He has been financially embarrassed for some time and only a few days ago was suspended from the New York Stock Exchange. It was not known generally, however, until today in what a serious plight he was, although a year of two ago he was worth $300,000.

He has lost it all, besides using a large sum of his mother's estate and appropriating to his own use $50,000, it is said, of securities of the Lorman estate, of which he was co-trustee with the Safe Deposit Company of this city. Besides this he owes $27,000 to Baltimore parties and $30,000 more to parties in New York.

Roberts has been an unusually bold speculator. He bought and sold everything that was in the market. He did not confine himself to stocks, but went extensively into wheat, pork, lard, cotton and oil as the fancy struck him. He has been known frequently to carry as high as 160,000 bushels of wheat, and within a few weeks he informed a friend that he was carrying 27,000 shares of stock, representing between two and three millions of dollars.

The more he lost the bolder he became until every penny of his fortune was sunk. Last Tuesday morning, it is thought, just before he disappeared, he said to a friend, "I haven't a dollar in the world, except what I have in my pocket. "How much is that?" inquired the friend, who could hardly realize that Roberts was not joking. "Twenty-seven dollars and a half." he replied.

Roberts had been for eight years, until last January, with the firm of Alexander Shaw & Co., the large coal operators. One reason why he retired from this firm was because the Shaws were not willing to let his name be put in the firm name. He had an unknown amount of self-confidence, and he decided to start out for himself, which he did by buying a seat in the New York Stock exchange for $35,000.

He is only 35 years old, tall and handsome, with dark hair, and looks like a Spaniard. He is a son of the late Edward Roberts, who died six years ago, leaving an estate of $1,000,000, the only heirs being a son and widow.

His father also left him the trusteeship of the Alexander Lorman estate, but he divided the trusteeship with the Safe Deposit Company, as he could get no one to go on the bond for the large sum required.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - Springfield Republican, August 20, 1887, page 5

A BALTIMORE BROKER MISSING.

The Mysterious Disappearance of William L. Roberts.

William L. Roberts, the Baltimore broker, suspended last week by the New York stock exchange, has disappeared and left no trace as to his whereabouts. He is trustee of the Alexander Lorman estate, which is rated all the way from $400,000 to $500,000, but this money, it is said, is held by the safe deposit company as co-trustee. The sheriff, on behalf of the bank of Baltimore, which is acting for James Little, a mine owner, levied an attachment Thursday against all of Robert's visible property to satisfy a debt of $1375. Robert's office is one of the most elegantly appointed rooms in the Baltimore chamber of commerce building. With the exception of a few mining shares which have no market value, he left nothing in his office that looked like money. The safe was empty. His check books, which were lying on his desk, showed that no banking business had been done since August 1. The last seen of Roberts by his clerk was on Saturday. His life was insured for $110,000.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - New York Tribune (New York, NY), August 26, 1887

HEIRS PLUNDERED BY A TRUSTEE.

Baltimore. Aug. 25 (Special). - The heirs to the estate of Alexander Lorman, of which Broker William Lorman Roberts, now in Canada, was the trustee, are flocking to the city to look after their interests. It is stated that Roberts's indebtedness amounts to about $150,000, of which about $65,000 is due the trust estate. Alexander Lorman left a fortune of $1,000,000. There were originally two branches of heirs the Fulfords of Maryland, and the Chancellors of Virginia. The Fulfords' share of the estate was distributed about eight or ten years ago. The Chancellors' share was subdivided into nine parts. Four of these parts have been settled. There was about $200,000 in the rest of the estate for the other heirs. Of the heirs with whom a settlement was made one was induced to let his money stay in Mr. Robert's hands. This heir loses $15,000. In January a year ago Mr. Roberts took of his money $9,200 under the plea that he was going to invest this amount in mortgages. A rigid search of the records fails to bring to light the entries of any such mortgages. Of the securities of the unsettled estate there is, it is stated, about $50,000 missing, making with the $15,000 of the settled part $65,000 for which Mr. Roberts is criminally liable. Roberts is in Montreal, living at the Windsor Hotel.

LEGAL NOTICE - Sun (Baltimore, MD), February 27, 1888, page 4

CIRCUIT COURT FOR BALTIMORE COUNTY

Towsontown, Feb. 25. - The President and Directors of the Franklin Bank of Baltimore vs. William Lorman Roberts: Motion to strike out judgment and quash attachment argued and held sub curia. Mordecai J. Fowler vs Milton W. Offcter al., garnishees of Wm. Lorman Roberts: motion to quash attachment sustained. Frederick Mertens vs. Wm. Lorman Roberts: motion to quash attachment overruled. Elizabeth Flaherty vs. James H. McNeal: motion to strike out judgment overruled. Assignment for Monday: Nos. 256, 260, 266, 267, 268, 269, 271, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284 and 285.

DEATH NOTICE - Sun (Baltimore, MD); Thursday, January 3, 1889; Volume: CIV, Issue: 41; Page: 2; (GenealogyBank.com):

ROBERTS - On January 2, at 9:30 o'clock P. M., at the residence of L. Passano, No. 261 Roberts street, W. LORMAN ROBERTS, aged 39 years.

Due notice of the funeral will be given.

OBITUARY - Cincinnati Commercial Tribune (Cincinnati, OH), January 4, 1889, page 4

WILLIAM LORMAN ROBERTS

Death of a Dashing Broker Recalls Remarkable Career.

Baltimore, MD, January 3 -[Special]- William Lorman Roberts, at one time a well-known stock broker of this city, and a former member of the New York Stock Exchange, died last night at the residence of his father-in-law, Leonard Passano. He was but thirty-nine years of age, and while the immediate cause was pneumonia, his nervous system had been shattered by the trouble he had brought upon himself and family by his unfortunate speculations. He was a son of the late Edward Roberts, a wealthy citizen, and the young man began his business career with Shaw Bros. of Baltimore. About three years ago he went into the stock brokerage and his career in the financial world, though but brief, made him notorious. He was the trustee of the Lorman estate, valued at over one hundred thousand dollars. Not only the ???? portion of his mother's fortune and his own but many thousands of the funds of the Lorman estate he lost in speculation. He plunged in wildly, thousands followed thousands, and in a short time he had not only ruined himself but nearly everybody connected with him. The heirs of the Lorman estate lost in the aggregate about $40,000. Roberts went to Canada where he became engaged in a bucket-shop business in Montreal. He was associated with a New Yorker, and in this venture he lost the remainder of his widowed mother's fortune. His entire losses amounted to upwards of $200,000.

Their magnificent home on Fotaw Place containing one of the handsomest private art collections in the city was sold out at auction. When by a partial settlement of the Lorman estate by his bondsmen, Roberts was permitted to return home, he was broken down in health and opened a laundry establishment but a short distance from where his broking office had been, and working hard to regain a business footing when attacked with his final illness.

OBITUARY - New York Tribune (New York, NY), January 4, 1889, page 3

Baltimore, Jan. 3 -(Special).- William Lorman Roberts, at one time a well-known stock broker of this city, and a former member of the New-York Stock Exchange, died last night at the home of his father-in-law, Leonard Passano, in this city. He was but thirty-nine years of age. The immediate cause was pneumonia, but his nervous system had been shattered by the trouble he had brought upon himself and family by his unfortunate speculations. He was a son of the late Edward Roberts, a wealthy townsman. The young man began his business career with Shaw Brothers, of Baltimore. About three years ago he went into stock brokerage, and his career in the financial world, though brief, made him conspicuous. As a result of his unsuccessful operations, Mr. Roberts went to Montreal, and there he became engaged in a brokerage agency, being associated with a New-Yorker. The result was again unfortunate. His entire losses amounted to upward of $200,000. When Mr. Roberts returned home he was broken down in health. He opened a laundry establishment a short distance from where his banking office had been, and was working hard to regain a business footing when attacked with his fatal illness.

LEGAL NOTICE - Sun (Baltimore, MD), March 26, 1890

Demurrer Sustained by Judge Dennis. Judge Dennis, in the Circuit Court, yesterday sustained the demurrer to the bill of complaint of Xanthus X. Chartters, Lucy P. Guy and Chas. B. Guy, her husband, against Lorman E. Roberts, infant, and the Mercantile Trust and Deposit Company of Baltimore City, as guardian. The bill set forth that Wm. Lorman Roberts was trustee of an estate in which Susan P. Chartters had a life interest, with remainder to two of the plaintiffs, her children; that the amount to which each of the children was entitled was $8,100; that Roberts sold certain stocks and securities of the trust estate, which he pretended to invest, but misappropriated to his own use, except $2,000 paid to Lucy P. Guy; that while so indebted Roberts effected life insurances in three companies for the benefit of his infant son, Lorman E. Roberts; that the premiums were paid out of funds while he was thus indebted, and that a year ago Wm. Lorman Roberts died intestate, and the proceeds of the insurance policies, $4,325.17, have been paid to the defendant guardian of Lorman E. Roberts. The court was asked to order the amount of the policies to be paid by the defendant company to the complainants. To this the defendant demurred, and the court decided that on the facts presented in the bill the court could not pass the order asked for. Leave to amend the bill was granted, if done in a limited time.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - Sun (Baltimore, MD), February 18, 1901

Schooner W. L. Roberts Sold.

Captain Thibrdean, of the schooner William Lorman Roberts, which sailed yeasterday for Fall River, has been notified that the vessel has been sold. The names of the new owners were not given. The Roberts belonged to the Staples Coal Company, of Fall River, Mass. The vessel has recently been thoroughly repaired by Booz's shipyard.

Marriage Notes for DOROTHY ROBERTS and DAVID DUFF:

WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT - Sun (Baltimore, MD); November 25, 1909; Volume: CXLVI, Issue: 9; Page: 7; (GenealogyBank.com):

MRS. DAVID E. DUFF (nee Roberts )

Miss Dorothy Roberts, daughter of Mrs. Rosamond Roberts, of Roland Park, was married yesterday at noon to Dr. David Edward Duff, formerly of South Carolina, but now of Baltimore.

The ceremony took place at Tremont, the country place of the bride's uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. William Baker, Jr., on the Frederick road, near Catonsville. It was performed by Rev. Percy Foster hall, rector of St. Timothy's Protestant Episcopal Church, Catonsville, assisted by Rev. Donald Guthrie, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Baltimore.

The bride entered the drawing room on the arm of her uncle, by whom she was given in marriage. She was attended by her little nephew, Sidney S. Zell, as page. The bridegroom was attended by Dr. C. J. Grives. The room was decorated with white chrysanthemums and palms.

The bride wore white satin, ornamented with old point lace, and also wore a tulle veil. She carried a shower bouquet of orchids and lilies of the valley.

During the ceremony a stringed orchestra played, and also during the wedding breakfast, which followed. Later in the afternoon Doctor and Mrs. Duff left on a wedding trip. They will live at the Sherwood.

Article - "Baltimore Girl In Danger Zone Miss Dorothy Roberts Saw Eruption Of Vesuvius. Was at Naples," Baltimore American (Baltimore, MD); Friday, April 27, 1906; Page: 18; (Genealogy.com):

Baltimore Girl In Danger Zone

Miss Dorothy Roberts Saw Eruption Of Vesuvius. Was at Naples .....

Mrs. Rosamond Roberts, 503 Hamilton Terrace, has received a letter from her daughter, Miss Dorothy Roberts, now traveling in Italy, describing the recent eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Miss Roberts and a company of young ladies from Baltimore have been touring Europe since last October. According to the letter, which was written from Rome, they were at Naples on the day of the eruption.

In the party are Miss Mary Willis, daughter of Police Commissioner Willis; Miss Eda Buddeke, of Bryn Mawr, and Miss Elizabeth Atkluson, of Richmond, Va. The party are now in Spain, and will leave Gibraltar next Monday for New York. The letter follows:

Rome, April 9, 1906

My Dear Mother: I can see your surprise when you receive this letter from Rome, after getting one from Naples. To express it in a few words, we fled from the eruption of Vesuvius. My last letter told you the alarming condition of affairs in the vicinity of the volcano. The huge volumes of thick black smoke grew worse every moment, and hung over the city like a great pall, while the fall of ashes and black sand made everything awful to behold. Night before last we were awakened about 1 A. M. by a loud explosion, closely followed by another more terrifying that shook the hotel. Everything was quiet for a few moments, when rumblings like heavy thunder were heard at intervals until morning, when it became quiet. In the morning we attended church, where prayers were offered to the people of Casa, a small village near Pompeii.

We asked more in detail after the service, and learned that the town had been destroyed, but were assured that Naples was in no danger; and of course, we were much relieved.

Towards evening, when it grew dark, we looked out and saw, to our horror, that the places where the smoke had been thickest were like fire, as if the flames would burst forth every moment. We went to the roof of the hotel with the porter, but upon opening the door found the air so stifling with sulphur that we could not breathe. We were all very much alarmed, but upon being assured that the city was in no danger we returned, but could not sleep. Crashes like thunder were heard all the time, and right over the mountain terrific lightning flashes were seen every moment.

At 4 A. M. our chaperone told us to pack our trunks; that we must leave at once. Never while I live can I forget today. We were positively ill from fright. The employes of the hotel while trying to attend their duties were so terrified they scarcely knew what they were doing.

The ride to the station was one never to be forgotten. The ashes were being shoveled off the pavements like snow in our country. The people had their faces covered to protect them from the sand and ashes. What terrified us most was that inky cloud that hung down to the ground on the edge of the city and seemed to draw nearer every moment. Oh! that awful sight. It surely did strike terror to our hearts, and added to that were the rumblings that never ceased. When we reached the station, it was packed, the people fleeing from the towns to Naples seeking safety, many with all they possessed tied in a handkerchief.

Four towns were entirely destroyed last night. It seemed that everyone in Naples was hurrying away - it was perfect pandemonium. The managers of the road were directing matters, and told us that every engine they had was in service. You know how desperate it was to get places when I tell you that we gave $5 to the porter to get us seats. He took us to a fast train supposed to leave at 9:45. It was then sidetracked, and we we obliged to crawl in between other cars. The rush to get the trains off was fearful, but the officials did work hard.

The lava is rushing now 25 feet a minute. Two new craters have opened on the side of the mountain.

I could never express by writing all we passed through, but it will have to wait to tell you all about it when I see you. It certainly has been an experience I never want to have again.

We are safe at last, and thank the Good Lord for that.

Dorothy Roberts.

Note: The eruption of April 7, 1906 killed over 100 people and ejected the most lava ever recorded from a Vesuvian eruption. Italian authorities were preparing to hold the 1908 Summer Olympics when Mount Vesuvius erupted, devastating the city of Naples. Funds were diverted to the reconstruction of Naples, so a new location for the Olympics was required.

PROPERTY TRANSFERS - Sun (Baltimore, Maryland); Saturday, April 10, 1915; (GenealogyBank.com):

Power yacht Achelous, 34 tons, from E. P. Lawson to Arthur Stanley Zell, $1

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - Sun (Baltimore, MD); May 10, 1916, Volume: CLVIII , Issue: 151; Page: 16; (GenealogyBank.com):

ARTHUR STANLEY ZELL WEDS

Married to Miss Gertrude Lamb at Flushing. N. Y.

Miss Gertrude Lamb, daughter of Mrs. William Lamb of Flushing, N. Y. was married to Arthur Stanley Zell, of Baltimore, yesterday, at the home of the bride's mother, according to a dispatch from New York.

The Rev. Dr. George Drew Egbert, pastor of the First Congregational Church of Flushing, officiated.

After a wedding breakfast at Sherry's Mr. and Mrs. Zell started for Asheville, S. C., and Hot Springs, W. Va. They will live in Baltimore.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - Sun (Baltimore, MD); January 21, 1917; Volume: XVII, Issue: 3; Page: 6; (GenealogyBank.com):

PIONEER IN BALTIMORE

Arthur Stanley Zell is One of the Oldest Baltimore Automobile Dealers

Arthur Stanley Zell, local distributor of Chalmers motorcars, has the reputation of being probably the 1st man to take up the sale of automobiles on a large scale in the city of Baltimore.

Back in 1904, the year of the first Vanderbilt Cup Race on Long Island, the automobile was still a new fangled creation, used for the diversion of a few speed mau.... Just at this time Mr. Zell was endeavoring to collect a long standing debt from one of his business associates. In order to close the deal quickly he took an automobile as part payment. He was quickly inoculated with the gasoline bacillus, and it was not long before he had set himself up in business as a motorcar dealer.

In 1905 the increase in his business warranted an expansion of his sales and service facilities. He therefore rented the second floor of a livery stable on a prominent alley for which he paid $50 a month rent.

The handsome new Zell establishment at 11-13-15-17-19 East Mount Royal avenue, containing close to 50,000 square feet of floor space devoted to sales and service, represents the tremendous advance made by Mr. Zell in the last 12 years.

The new Baltimore home of Chalmers cars is one of the handsomest to be found outside of new York or Chicago, and typifies the tremendous growth in importance of the automobile industry. Mr. Zell ranks as one of the largest Chalmers distributors in the country, and is making preparations for a record year's sales.

FROM TERCENTENARY HISTORY OF MARYLAND, 1925

ARTHUR STANLEY ZELL

Arthur Stanley Zell is a representative of a family whose members have long figured prominently in business affairs of Baltimore and displays in his life the spirit of initiative and those sterling qualities which are strongly marked characteristics of the race from which he sprung. He began his independent career at an early age and is now at the head of one of the large automobile concerns in the city, having been connected with the business for the past twenty years. He has also directed his efforts into other channels and is a successful stock breeder. He is one of Baltimore's native sons, and was born February 29, 1880, of the marriage of Oliver Carroll Zell and Fannie Haws, in whose family were four sons and four daughters, one of whom died in infancy. The family came originally from Zell Town, Holland, and Peter Zell, the grandfather of Arthur Stanley Zell, was a veteran of the Civil War, serving in the Confederate army. He was the father of Oliver Carroll Zell, who was reared and educated in Baltimore and became president of the Zell Guano Company, the pioneer dealers in fertilizer in the city. The business was founded by Peter Zell, who conducted it under the name of Peter Zell & Sons, and it was continued by Oliver C. Zell, who remained as its president until his death, which occurred in 1884, when he was forty-eight years of age. The mother is also deceased, having been called to her final rest in 1882.

Arthur Stanley Zell attended a private school and for two years was a student at the Pennsylvania Military College at Chester, completing his education in Cloyne's House School at Newport, Rhode Island. At the age of sixteen he entered the employ of Zell & Merceret, stock and bond brokers, and for two years was a clerk in their establishment. He next became interested in the insurance business and was connected with the firm of Zell & Perkins until 1904. He then turned his attention to the automobile trade, purchasing a half-interest in a firm which had the agency for the Ford, Stevens-Duryea, Buick, Thomas Flyer and Peerless cars. He sold his interest in that concern in 1907 and went to Washington, D. C., where he formed the Zell Motor Car Company, becoming president upon its incorporation. In August, 1908, Mr. Zell incorporated the Zell Motor Car Company of Baltimore and conducted both firms until 1915, when he discontinued the Washington organization. He has since devoted his time to the Baltimore business, which was started in a small store, sixteen by eighty feet in dimensions, and it now occupies more than fifty thousand square feet of floor space. For seventeen years the company were agents for the Peerless cars and for fifteen years they handled the Chalmers, but since September, 1922, have held the local agency for the Packard automobile. They are numbered among the best known dealers in the city and their business is a large and growing one. Mr. Zell has been watchful of every detail of the business, knowing that in this age of strong competition every point must be carefully guarded, and gives to his patrons the highest standard of service. He is also the owner of Thornton Farm, situated in Riderwood, Maryland, and managed by A. R. Maddox. It is devoted to the raising of pedigreed Duroc-Jersey swine and Guernsey cattle. The Thornton farm herd has been constructively bred for generations, offering to the purchaser the best foundation stock for herd material, show purposes, and for economical pork production. One of its herd, Thornton's Lord Baltimore, is the only Sensation bred boar in the east that has been a winner at the National Swine Show. Mr. Zell is also a director of the Celestine Oil Company of Tulsa, Oklahoma, a member of the discount committee of the Charles Street branch of the Commercial Bank of Baltimore, and was formerly a director of the Seaboard Bank of this city. He is a sagacious, farsighted business man, quick to perceive and grasp an opportunity for advancement, and has been uniformly successful in his investments.

Mr. Zell has been married twice, his first union being with Miss Eleanor Roberts, a daughter of William Lorman and Rose (Passano) Roberts. They were married August 28, 1899, and became the parents of a son, Sidney Stanley Zell, who was born July 30, 1900, and married Miss Munnekuysen. On May 9, 1916, Mr. A. S. Zell was married to Miss Gertrude Lamb, a daughter of William Lamb, deceased, who was a member of an old family of Brooklyn, New York. They were married in Flushing, Long Island, and reside at Thornton Farm, which comprises one hundred and fifty acres and was formerly known as the old Blackstone place, also as the Stevenson place.

Mr. Zell is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church and in politics is a democrat but is not restricted by party ties, voting for the man whom he considers best qualified for the office to which he aspires. He is a member of the board of governors of the Automobile Trade Association and also belongs to the Merchants and Manufacturers Association, the Automobile Club of Maryland, the Baltimore City Club and the Maryland Club. He finds diversion in agriculture and stock raising and believes in scientific methods, keeping abreast of the times in every way. He possesses an aptitude for successful management and the strength that he manifests in business affairs has its root in an upright, honorable manhood that has established him high in public regard.

From TAVARES MOTORSPORT AUCTION

ARTHUR STANLEY ZELL

DOCUMENTED EARLY RACE TROPHIES

ELECTRIC PARK - BALTIMORE - 1903 - 1904

Three early race trophies awarded to Arthur Stanley Zell in 1903 and 1904 for victories in two and five mile automobile races at Electric Park in Baltimore, Maryland. Accompanying these trophies are copies of period Baltimore newspaper articles, obtained from the Baltimore Historical Society, that reference Zell, the Electric Park races, and photos of Electric Park and Zell's Mt. Royal garage.

From WELLS GENEALOGY

Arthur Stanley Zell, born 29 February 1880, died 10:20 p.m., 25 April 1935, at “Thornton Farm,” his Riderwood estate in the Green Spring Valley, Baltimore County; from 1902, pioneer Maryland

automobile dealer and sportsman; president of the Zell Motor Car Company and of Stanley Zell, Inc.; he was the first automobile distributor in Maryland and one of the first to own a car; he was also a member of the Baltimore Automobile Dealers’ Association, which sponsored the first automobile show in Baltimore in 1906; in the early days of the automobile, he was a race-car driver and held numerous records throughout the east; his interest extended to motor boats and yachting in general; one of his many other interests was his farm at Riderwood, where he raised pure-bred Guernsey cattle and Jersey Duroc hogs; at one time he raised dogs for show purposes. According to Ellis Island records, he sailed from Cherbourg, Manche, France, on the Kronprinzessie Cecile, arriving in New York on 16 March 1909 (a U.S. citizen and resident of Baltimore, so he was traveling as a passenger, not an immigrant). Married Gertrude Lamb, died 14 December 1947 at New York City, left an estate valued at $184,038; buried at Druid Ridge Cemetery; one son.

This relationship is not yet documented, but is inferred based on the following facts:

1. Lorman Roberts, widowed, is listed as the son in-law of Milan E. Baird in the 1920 census, Manhattan. A married daughter Ivy and her husband and children were also in the household.

2. The Milan E. Baird family is listed in 1900, Manhattan, showing a daughter Luella T. Baird, born DEC 1886. A matching Luella T. or B. is not found in the 1920 census of New York City.

Marriage Notes for DOROTHY ROBERTS and DAVID DUFF:

WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT - Sun (Baltimore, MD); November 25, 1909; Volume: CXLVI, Issue: 9; Page: 7; (GenealogyBank.com):

MRS. DAVID E. DUFF (nee Roberts )

Miss Dorothy Roberts, daughter of Mrs. Rosamond Roberts, of Roland Park, was married yesterday at noon to Dr. David Edward Duff, formerly of South Carolina, but now of Baltimore.

The ceremony took place at Tremont, the country place of the bride's uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. William Baker, Jr., on the Frederick road, near Catonsville. It was performed by Rev. Percy Foster hall, rector of St. Timothy's Protestant Episcopal Church, Catonsville, assisted by Rev. Donald Guthrie, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Baltimore.

The bride entered the drawing room on the arm of her uncle, by whom she was given in marriage. She was attended by her little nephew, Sidney S. Zell, as page. The bridegroom was attended by Dr. C. J. Grives. The room was decorated with white chrysanthemums and palms.

The bride wore white satin, ornamented with old point lace, and also wore a tulle veil. She carried a shower bouquet of orchids and lilies of the valley.

During the ceremony a stringed orchestra played, and also during the wedding breakfast, which followed. Later in the afternoon Doctor and Mrs. Duff left on a wedding trip. They will live at the Sherwood.