James E. Ellegood

In the record (2)

1. 1902 · 1902-09-04

   Both parties nominated their First District congressional candidates at Ocean City in 1902, a week apart — Republicans on 28 August, Democrats on 4 September.

   The Republicans of Maryland's First Congressional District met at Ocean City on Thursday 28 August and renominated Congressman William H. Jackson. The Messenger, a Democratic paper, was sour about it: "It was a very large and enthusiastic convention, made so by the leaders in the various counties, who were instructed that it would be necessary to make a big showing at Ocean City to impress the people of the First Congressional District of the popularity of their candidate ... The colored delegate was very much in evidence, as he always is." The Democratic convention followed at Ocean City on Thursday 4 September, called by district chairman Col. John P. Moore of Snow Hill; Worcester's delegates (Edgar W. McMaster, Clayton J. Purnell, W. Lee Carey and Samuel J. Twilley) were instructed for Moore, who declined at the county convention and asked to be sent unpledged. The Ocean City convention nominated James E. Ellegood of Wicomico County, and Salisbury turned out with a band that night to congratulate him at his house on Division Street. EXPANDED: the Republican convention is confirmed to 28 August 1902 by the Delaware Gazette's Ocean City dispatch — renominated "with a standing vote, after which three cheers were given," the convention "practically a cut and dried affair" since every county had instructed its delegates.

   Clayton J. PurnellW. Lee Carey

   Source · checked 2026-08-06

2. 1902 · 1902-09-04

   Ellegood took the Ocean City convention on the second ballot, after ex-Governor Elihu E. Jackson was offered the nomination and declined it.

   The Midland Journal of Rising Sun, 12 September 1902, gives the Democratic First District convention at Ocean City in detail the county paper did not. The nomination went to James E. Ellegood of Salisbury on the second ballot; Talbot was the first county to change its vote, then Kent, then the rest, until a motion carried to make it unanimous, "which was done with cheers." Ex-Governor E. E. Jackson was "practically offered the nomination, a delegation being appointed to wait upon him," and declined on account of his health. John H. Kimble of Port Deposit held Cecil's four votes until she fell in line. Ellegood ran as "a champion of anti-bribery," against what the paper called the Republican nominee's "barrel." Der Deutsche Correspondent of 5 September adds the convention's officers: State Senator John P. Moore opened it, with Col. Edward Lloyd of Talbot as temporary chairman. The Cecil Whig's primary notices show why Cecil was there at all — the Legislature had just added the county to the First District, and 1902 was the first time in years its Republicans took part.

   An anti-bribery platform adopted at a seaside hotel because, as the Baltimore Herald put it with some relish, the Eastern Shore leaders had found the only candidate who could give them an excuse not to spend money.

   Source · checked 2026-08-06