"C" is for Carty

A very interesting figure in Frederick's past had a virtual run on the letter "C" as he boasted the initials C.C.C. His name was Clarence Clarendon Carty, and he lived in a time long before the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930’s. This gentleman was never in need of government employment as his life's work (and that of his future descendants) had an incredible connection to death and local cemeteries, especially Mount Olivet.

I thought of C.C. Carty the other day as I walked past his gravestone in the cemetery’s Area A, located directly across the road from the Key Chapel and large obelisk of Gen. James C. Clarke. It just so happened to be the 107th anniversary of Mr. Carty’s death on August 30th, 1911.

I had first heard of Clarence C. Carty nearly three decades ago when I worked for Frederick Cablevision. Mr. Carty was the maternal grandfather of my employers George B. Delaplaine, Jr. and sister Frances “Frannie” (Delaplaine) Randall. Many know that George and Frannie’s paternal grandfather, William T. Delaplaine, founded the Frederick News in 1883—a business that was handed down multiple generations before being sold in 2017 to Ogden Newspapers, Inc. Likewise, C. C. Carty started a business in the late 19th century that would be continuously operated by his descendants well into the next century.

I knew Mr. Carty started a highly successful furniture and undertaking business on E. Patrick Street. His son, Charles Clarendon Carty, would take the reins, eventually turning this over to his son, James Walker Carty.

Carty Family Plot in Mount Olivet's Area A/Lot 64. (C.C. Carty's gravestone is in center)

For the last several years, I have taken participants of our annual, fall-time Candlelight Cemetery Tours to Mr. Carty’s grave, pointing out that this former resident had started in business at a relatively young age, and is buried between both his first and second wives. I usually spellbind my audiences by stating the fact that due to his profession as a local undertaker, C.C. Carty passed his future eternal resting place on a daily basis—hundreds of times. I then ask the question: “How do you think he felt about his own impending death? Did he know too much?”

A Family Tradition
The son of Joseph William Leonard Carty and Margaret Catherine Hardt, Clarence Clarendon Carty was born in Frederick on January 8th, 1847. His father was a tobacconist and later served as clerk of the Frederick County Circuit Court in the waning years of the American Civil War. The elder Mr. Carty was also credited as an organizer and director of the Lincoln Building Association and a director of the Farmers & Mechanics Bank. William’s History of Frederick County refers to him as “a public-spirited” citizen and consistent member of Frederick’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.”

Joseph W. L. Carty family in 1850 US Census living in Frederick

By 1850, three-year-old Clarence Clarendon was the second of three young brothers which also included Charles Proctor (b. 1844), and Arthur Alexander (b.1849). He would soon have to deal with death with the tragic losses of immediate family members. His mother, a niece of famous Frederick diarist Jacob Engelbrecht, died in October, 1850 at the age of 25. Two months later, C.C.’s baby brother (aged 2) would pass. (Both mother and son were originally laid to rest in the Lutheran cemetery of town, but would be removed to Mount Olivet in November 1886).

Clarence Clarendon’s father eventually re-married (Mary M. Lugenbeel) and three step-siblings would come from this union. C.C. Carty grew up on S. Market St. and would receive his education from the public schools of Frederick City. In 1863, he was awarded a clerkship at the Post Office, but clerical work was not his thing as he resigned a year later to pursue an interest in becoming a professional cabinet-maker.

Here’s the story, as I heard it, about what happened next to young Clarence. He was working as a cabinet-maker on E. Patrick Street. Apparently, C.C. came to idolize James C. Whitehill (1798-1874), a gentleman who ran the leading furniture store in town (located across the street from his employer).

Whitehill, a self-made man, had opened his establishment in 1832 and had become even more successful during the American Civil War when he began building, and selling, coffins. These objects were in high demand based on Frederick’s role as a hospital center where men of both armies died on a daily basis from combat wounds and disease.

Artist Richard Schlecht's depiction of Confederate soldiers being buried in Frederick's Mount Olivet Cemetery during the fall of 1862 after the nearby battles of South Mountain and Antietam.

I guess you could say that Mr. Whitehill “made a killing” during the Civil War with this product focus. He hired a controversial embalmer as a necessary “value add” for his customers, especially those desiring to transport their fallen military loved-ones back to hometown cemeteries. Mr. Whitehill, himself, was also no stranger to Mount Olivet as he was one of the original founders of the town’s new burial ground back in the early 1850’s.

Apparently, James Whitehill served as a mentor of sorts to young Carty. The local lore says that Carty asked Mr. Whitehill to consider him as a successor for the prosperous E. Patrick St. furniture and undertaking establishment when it came time for retirement.

C.C. Carty’s big break eventually came in 1869 when Mr. Whitehill granted his request. Joseph W. L. Carty had died in March 1867. Perhaps, C.C. received some inheritance money which allowed him to enter into such a venture? Regardless, at 22 years of age, C.C. Carty became owner of his own business, one that originally opened on the north side of East Patrick near Middle Alley.

Monument to Joseph W. L. Carty (father of C.C. Carty) and also includes panels at base for his grandparents, mother and brother who were reinterred to this plot from Frederick's Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery

On the personal life level, I find it interesting that both of Joseph W. L. and Margaret Carty’s sons married  in late October, 1867. Charles married Lucy C. Keneaster of Indianapolis on October 29, 1867. The very next day, Clarence Clarendon married Joanna Fox, daughter of C. F. Adolphus Fox, a noted watchmaker from Germany. Charles and Lucy moved to the Midwest. Of the latter pairing, C.C. and Joanna would go on to have five children: Margaret A. (b.1868), William A. (b. 1870), Charles Clarendon (b. 1872), Arthur Clarence (b. 1876), and Harry Edwin (b.1878).

1880 US Census

Over the first decade of his business ownership, Charles Clarendon Carty manufactured most of the fine furniture sold at his shop. He also built on Whitehill’s acumen as an undertaker. A humble cabinet shop eventually morphed into C.C. Carty’s Furniture Store and necessitated a move across the street to a larger warehouse facility. Soon Carty’s became the largest outlet of its kind in Maryland, outside Baltimore.

The term “undertaker” refers to the person who “under took” responsibility for funeral arrangements. Many of the early undertakers were furniture makers because building coffins, and later caskets, was a logical extension of their business. For them, undertaking was a second business rather than a primary profession. C.C. Carty soon became widely prominent in furniture circles and the undertaking business “as one of the ablest and most representative men identified with that branch of the industry.”

Frederick News (Feb 29, 1884)

Frederick News (March 19, 1889)

C.C.’s family lived above the business establishment on the upper floors of his building. The furniture showroom was towards the front of the first floor, and the funeral operations occupied the rear of the ground level floor. Not as much room was needed for the latter as compared to today’s more extensive funeral home operations. Funerals, or more so wake services, were held in the decedent’s home. Bodies were either picked up by the undertaker, or brought to him by horse and wagon. The body would be embalmed here, and then returned to the home or church for “viewings” and memorial services. In other cases, undertakers delivered the body directly to the cemetery for burial.

Funeral summary as it appeared in the Oct 22, 1884 Frederick News. (Note the fact that another undertaking firm was employed to handle the funeral)

Mr. Carty suffered another major blow in October of 1884 as his wife Joanna died in her 37th year. With five children and a flourishing business, C.C. was quick to remarry a year later as he took Ann “Nannie” Catherine Keefer as his second wife on November 4th, 1885. He would go on to father four more children: Frank (b. 1884), Cora (b.1888), Eleanor (b.1890) and Ruth (b.1892 and future mother of George B. Delaplaine, Jr. and Frannie Randall).

1910 US Census

Williams’ History of Frederick County (1910) says of Mr. Carty:

“He is recognized as one of the foremost and most prominent merchants of Frederick, and is held in high esteem by all with whom he has come in contact. Mr. Carty has directed the affairs of his establishment with a foresight and sagacity that stamp him as a man of superior executive ability. To his forceful personality is due much of the prosperity and prestige attained by him.”

Ch-Ch-Changes
In 1895, the existing buildings comprising the furniture store and undertaking business were demolished to make way for a new home for the downtown operation. At this point, the family moved their living quarters to 54 E. Patrick St., a few doors to the east on the corner of Middle Alley. This is one of the oldest structures in Frederick City dating to the mid 1700’s. Some say it is one of the oldest brick built structures in town. It would eventually be utilized as one of the first funeral homes in town, owned by the Carty’s. Today this is the home of Brainstorm Comics.

Charles C. Carty

In 1905, sons Charles and Harry became involved in the family business as the boys inherited the establishment from their father upon his semi-retirement. Charles headed up the furniture endeavor, while Harry took the undertaking side.

Meanwhile, C.C. had become an officer with the Frederick Brick Company, and took on extra responsibilities of representing the firm in Baltimore and other cities.

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1908 Packing slip from the old Middletown & Frederick Railroad (trolley system) showing that a Mr. P. T. Horine of Middletown received a new couch purchased from C.C. Carty's furniture store

1910 US Census

C.C. Carty enjoyed a few years of retirement before his death on September 1st, 1911. He would be buried next to first wife Joanna, and in the morning shadow of his parents’ beautiful monument, capped with a hand with a finger pointing toward heaven. His second wife, Nannie would be buried to the right of C.C. Carty upon her death in 1931.

Frederick Post (August 30, 1911)

Frederick News (August 30, 1911)

Frederick News (Sept 2, 1911)

Throughout the years, many changes were instituted to keep the business location of 48-52 E. Patrick St. modern and up to date. The building was expanded once again in 1922. For decades Carty’s served as the largest retail store in Frederick. In 1930, the partnership between the brothers was dissolved as Charles took over the furniture business as sole owner, and Harry received the undertaking and funeral home operation.

Early 1900's furniture delivery truck

1930's "Name Your Price" advertisement in the Frederick News

Once again, the furniture business sole owner had the initials C.C. Carty. However, this would be short-lived as Charles Clarendon Carty would die suddenly at the age of 60 from Angina on March 4th, 1932. This came as a shock and surprise to the entire community. The family must have found some degree of solace as the Carty Furniture Store would now be run by grandson James Walker Carty (1908-1975), son of Charles Clarendon Carty. “Walker” Carty was attending college at Princeton at the time. He returned home to Frederick and provided leadership until his own retirement in 1975. Walker’s wife, Janice, had taken an active role in the business by creating an interior design service sector.

James Walker Carty

Harry E. Carty died in 1934 and was succeeded by his son, Clarence Clarendon Carty, Jr. Another grandson of the founder ran the funeral home business until his retirement in 1964, at which point he went to St. Petersburg, Florida, while is cousin (Walker) continued with the furniture operation for well over another decade.

After 109 years, the business closed its doors for good on July 19th, 1978. It was a great run, and truly “a family affair.” A builder from the beginning, C.C. Carty had certainly “undertaken” an endeavor that not only served his neighbors, but certainly established his place in the annals of Frederick history. Each year, thousands of visitors continue to explore the site of the former Carty business location, as one can see antique furniture from the 1800’s and actual coffins, all the while learning about early embalming practices. It was the Carty family, in the early 1990’s, who were kind enough to donate their former commercial building to serve as the home to the National Museum of Civil War Medicine.   

Frederick News (June 13, 1884)