Person:Waldo Newcomer (1)

Waldo NEWCOMER, was born in Baltimore, September 14, 1867, the son of Benjamin Franklin and Amelia Louisa (EHLEN) NEWCOMER. His father, who was long among the foremost citizens of Baltimore, commenced his business life as a flour and grain commission merchant. He afterwards became president of the Safe Deposit and Trust Company, and a railroad financier of great ability. His courage and determination did much to build up the commerce of Baltimoe and to add to her transportation facilities. His son has paid a deserved tribute to the father, to whom he owes so much, in a memorial volume.
The Newcomers trace their ancestry in the United State to Henry NEWCOMER (Heinrich NEUKOMMER) who emigrated from Switzerland about 1724 and settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania; John H. EHLEN and his wife, the maternal grandparents of Waldo NEWCOMER, came from Hesse Darmstadt in the early part of the nineteenth century.

Waldo NEWCOMER was a delicate child, but his health improved steadily after his fifteenth year. He devoted much of his time during youth to reading and study at his home, where the influence on him of both his parents was strong and most helpful. The summer months were spent in the country, but during the winter he lived in the city. He received his primary schooling at the Friend's Academy and at Carey's School. Later he went to St. Paul's Preparatory school at Concord, New Hampshire and, after completing his studies there, he matriculated at Johns Hopkins University. At Johns HopKins, Mr. Newcomer pursued the academic course holding a competitive scholarship for two years and received his Bachelor's degree in 1889. He chose, however, to follow a business career, and in September 1889, he entered the employ of the Baltimore Storage and Lighterage Company as a clerk in the office.

This company subsequently became the Atlantic Transport Company; but the connection formed by Mr. Newcomer with it in 1889 continued unbroken until 1901. In 1894, he was appointed secretary of the corporation, a position which he filled until 1901. In that year, Mr. Newcomer accepted the treasurership of the Atlantic Coast Line Company; and in 1903, he was elected second vice-president of that company. In 1906, he entered the list of Baltimore bankers, being chosen president of the National Exchange Bank of Baltimore. He is also a director of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, the Safe Deposit and Trust Company, the Savings Bank of Baltimore, the Terminal Warehouse Company and the Board of Trade. In charitable work and enterprises for the public good, Mr. Newcomer is closely identified with the Federated Charities, and is treasurer of the Maryland School for the Blind and of the Mercantile Library.

On the 7th of October 1897, Mr. Newcomer married Miss Margaret VANDERPOEL, of Kinderhook, New York. They have had three children. He printed privately in 1902 a memorial of his father, Benjamin Franklin NEWCOMER.

Mr. Newcomer is a member of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, the Baltimore Geographical Society, the American Archaeological Society and the Maryland, Maryland Country, Baltimore Country, Merchants, Baltimore Yacht, Elk Ridge Fox Hunting, Baltimore Athletic, and John Hopkins Clubs.

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Waldo Newcomer is a well-known resident of Baltimore, who has for many years been one of the leaders in any movement for the public good of the community, and to such an extent has this been the fact, that his name has come to be accepted as a stamp of excellence, and his endorsement of a public or private enterprise is regarded as an evidence of its merit and honesty. His father, Benjamin Franklin Newcomer, was closely identified with the business life of the city as a grain and flour commission merchant, later becoming a railroad financier and president of the Safe Deposit and Trust Company. He married Amelia Louisa, daughter of John H. Ehlen, who, with his wife, came from Hesse-Darmstadt, in the early part of the nineteenth century. The Newcomers trace their descent to Heinrich Neukommer, who came to this country from Switzerland about 1724, and settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania.

Waldo Newcomer was born in Baltimore, September 14, 1867. As a young child his health was delicate, but it improved as the years passed by. During these early years, much of his time was spent in home reading and study under the wise help and direction of his parents, a course which had a great influence on all his subsequent life. The summer months were invariably spent in the country, but during the winter the family resided in the city. The Friends' Academy and Carey's School were the mediums which furnished his primary education, and he then prepared for entrance to college at St. Paul's School, Concord, New Hampshire. He entered Johns Hopkins University, and was graduated from this institution in 1889, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, having held a competitive scholarship for a period of two years. Although ably equipped to enter upon a professional life, Mr. Newcomer preferred to follow a business career and accordingly, in September, 1889, accepted a clerkship with the Baltimore Storage & Lighterage Company. This later became the Atlantic Transport Company, and Mr. Newcomer remained with it until 1901, during the last few years filling the office of secretary of the company. The Atlantic Coast Line Company then offered him the position of treasurer, which he accepted, and in 1903 he was elected second vice-president of the company. Three years later he engaged in the banking business and was elected president of the National Exchange Bank of Baltimore, an office he still holds. In addition to these interests, Mr. Newcomer is a director in the Safe Deposit and Trust Company, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, the Terminal Warehouse Company, the Board of Trade, the Savings Bank of Baltimore, and one of the trustees of Johns Hopkins University. All the important charitable undertakings of the city, and all steps taken for its improvement in various directions, have had a faithful and ardent supporter in Mr. Newcomer. He is treasurer of the Maryland School for the Blind, and of the Mercantile Library. He was appointed by the mayor as a member of the commission to revise the charter of Baltimore City, and is personally identified with the Federated Charities. His fraternal affiliations are with the following organizations: Maryland Historical Society, Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, the American Archaeological Society, the Baltimore Geographical Society, and the Maryland, Baltimore Country, Maryland Country, Baltimore Yacht, Merchants', Baltimore Athletic, and Johns Hopkins clubs. He is not unknown in the literary field, and in 1902 printed, for private circulation, a memorial volume of his father, which is a splendid tribute to filial love as well. In business as well as in social life, Mr. Newcomer has numerous friends, and large as are his public benefactions, they are at least equaled by his private contributions to worthy objects. He is considered one of the foremost citizens of Baltimore, and has done a great deal to uphold and extend the commerce and transportation facilities of the city. His energy and persevering efforts to further all the enterprises in which he has been engaged have set an example worthy of emulation by those of the younger generation.

Mr. Newcomer married, October 7, 1897, Margaret Vanderpoel, of Kinderhook, New York, and they have had three children.