Elias Frederick Valentine was born February 10, 1832, in Creagerstown, Frederick County, Maryland, the son of William and Lydia Mehring Valentine. He was married 3 times. The first marriage was in Frederick County on December 16, 1856, to Ann Enah Munshower, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Munshower, who passed away less than two years later. They evidently had no children. He married 2nd on April 13, 1859, in Frederick County, to Mary Susan Wetzel, daughter of William and Lucinda Wetzel. They were the parents of 3 sons: Henry Albert, William Jacob and Charles Edward Valentine. Mary Susan passed away in May of 1863, likely from the effects of childbirth. Elias married 3rd on October 11, 1864, in Frederick County, to Anna Maria Wetzel, sister to Mary Susan. They were the parents of 12 children: Martin Elmer, Dora Bell, Rosa Ann, Ella Frances, Harvey Edgar, Irvin Frederick, Nathan Luther, Susan Adeline, Clarence Leander, Ellsworth Curtis, Bertha Laura and Ethel Lavada Valentine. Elias passed away on September 14, 1910, in Rocky Ridge, Frederick County, Maryland and was buried in Mt. Tabor Church Cemetery there.


From Williams's History of Frederick County, Maryland:

"Elias T. Valentine, son of William and Lydia (Metering) Valentine, was born on the parental estate in Creagerstown District, February 10, 1832. He received a common school education and worked on the home place until he went to learn the trade of a mason. This occupation he followed for three years, but having no liking for his trade, returned to his father's farm. Here he was employed until his father's retirement, when he assumed the management of the farm. He was thus occupied for seven years, and then bought from Edward Biggs a farm of 100 acres, where he remained for five years. Mr. Valentine then purchased another farm from his brother, G. H. Valentine. Shortly afterwards he bought still another, containing 254 acres, and situated in Carroll County, whither he removed. For fifteen years he made his home there, meeting with much success. He then secured the Miller farm in Creagerstown and returned to Frederick County. Here he has ever since remained, although he retired from active work in 1899. He is one of the highly respected men of the district. He was a hard worker and made a success of his various undertakings. Mr. Valentine votes the Democratic ticket. He is connected with the Lutheran Church at Rocky Ridge, in which he has filled the offices of deacon and elder. Mr. Valentine was thrice married. His first wife was a Miss Munshower, by whom he had no issue. He was married secondly to Susan Wetzel, daughter of William Wetzel, by whom he had three children, two of whom grew up: Albert,a farmer of Emmitsburg District; and William. Some time after the death of his second wife, Mr. Valentine was married to Maria Wetzel, a sister of his second wife. By this marriage there were twelve children, as follows: Martin E., a farmer of Emmitsburg District; Dora, the wife of Charles Nogle, of York, Pennsylvania; Rose, the deceased wife of Edward Harmon; Frances, married to David Wetzel, of Emmitsburg District; Harry E., engaged in agriculture in Emmitsburg District; Frederick E., also farming in Emmitsburg District; Nathen L., lives in Carroll county and is a farmer; Susan A., the wife of Harry Knipple, an agriculturist of Emmitsburg District; Clarence L., whose name heads this sketch; A. Ellsworth, a stock dealer of Rocky Ridge; Bertha, the wife of James Shriner; and Ethel L. V., married to Charles Wood, an agriculturist of Creagerstown District."


From the Frederick News of Thursday, March 27, 1980, an article on Rocky Ridge, Maryland:

"...Another name that permeates Rocky Ridge history is 'Valentine.' The earliest known deed for the Swan's Harbour tract lists the name Jacob Valentine as one of the co-owners. Later in the 19th Century, it was another Valentine [note: Sylvester Valentine] who manufactured and sold apiaries (beehives used by beekeepers for the production of honey) and related equipment in the town. But the most famous of that family, perhaps the town's most famous character, was a man by the name of Elias Valentine, whose life was a real rags to riches to rags story. Most of the older residents of Rocky Ridge know his story. And after hearing it, you don't know whether to envy the man or pity him. Do you know what these things have in common: the threshing machine, the pedal-driven dentist drill, the manual switching device for railroad trains and the steamship? They were all first invented by Fredericktonians. That's a fact. Unfortunately, the inventors of those devices never received a dime for their labors or credits for their ingenuity. Such was not the case with Elias Valenitne. During the 1930s, the big push was on by the federal and state governments to pave all the country's roads and make Americans mobile. After all, there were tax dollars flowing out of those gas pumps. First there was the macadamization process whereby a layer of small stones were bound by either tar or asphalt over the former dirt road's surface. Although a definite improvement over scraped dirt roads, the macadam topping was anything but permanent requiring fresh layers of regular intervals. Next, there were concrete roads, more durable than macadam, but much more expensive and prone to cracking and huge gaping pot holes. Then came Valentine's invention --black topping-- using a processed bituminous substance such as asphalt to pave the roads. Valentine's process was a success, and so was he. Unlike other Frederick County inventors, he received the full fruits of his labors. With his newfound wealth, Valentine built the largest general store in Rocky Ridge for $5,000, a price everyone agreed would never be recouped. The building stands today as the Rocky Ridge Post Office. Since the rich don't live like you or me, Valentine purchased the mansion at 1201 North Market Street in Frederick, currently the R. E. Dailey Funeral Home. Valentine was definitely living life in the 'fast lane,' according to all who knew him. 'He would spend most of his time in Florida and spend money as fast as he could on women and whiskey,' recalled Ethel Mumma, Valentine's niece. 'When he was in the money, he was the most generous man there was. He just lived from day to day, never worrying about tomorrow,' said Charles W. Mumma, Ethel's son. 'That Valentine just lived for today,' said Franklin Stambaugh. By the mid 1940s, Elias Valentine was still travelling in the fast line, unfortunately he was running on empty. Finished were his regular pilgrimages to Florida's sunny beaches. His Market Street mansion was sold to cover his debts. And he returned to Rocky Ridge as a pauper. The fortune he had amassed by selling the rights to his invention was gone. When he died, the financial burden of the burial fell to his relatives. The only physical reminder of Elias Valentine, besides the blacktop roads and parking lots which cover the country, is a two foot by one foot moss covered granite marker in the Mt. Tabor Cemetery. His name and dates of birth and death are completely indistinguishable..."


Maryland, Marriages, 1666-1970:

groom's name: Elias Valentine
bride's name: Susan Wetzell
marriage date: 13 Apr 1859
marriage place: Evangelical Lutheran Or Lutheran Congregation Of Middletown, Middletown, Frederick, Maryland
indexing project (batch) number: M50770-1
system origin: Maryland-ODM
source film number: 13934


Maryland, Marriages, 1666-1970:

groom's name: Elias F. Valentine
bride's name: Ann Maria Wetzell
marriage date: 11 Oct 1864
marriage place: Evangelical Lutheran Or Lutheran Congregation Of Middletown, Middletown, Frederick, Maryland
indexing project (batch) number: M50770-1
system origin: Maryland-ODM
source film number: 13934


From the Frederick Daily News of Friday, September 29, 1910:

"ORPHANS' COURT. Letters of administration in the estate of Elias F. Valentine, deceased, granted to Maria Valentine, administratrix, c. t. a., Elsworth C. Valentine, agent."


From the Frederick Daily News of Monday, October 3, 1910:

"MR. VALENTINE'S WILL FILED. Bequeaths Farm to Wife and Other Money to Children. The will of the late Elias F. Valentine, of Rocky Ridge, has been filed for probate in the Orphans' Court. He bequeaths to his wife, Marie Valentine, the farm on which he lived at the time of his death, and all his personal estate. At her death, the farm and personal effects are to be sold and the proceeds divided among his children, share and share alike. The farm and personal property in Carroll County is bequeathed to his children to be sold by them and divided among them, share and share alike. He bequeaths to the three children of his son, William Valentine, $100 each at the age of 21, to be held in trust by his son, Elmer Valentine. To his grandson, Roland Harman, of his deceased daughter, Rosa Harman, he gives $500 upon becoming 21 years of age, to be held in trust by his son, Henry Albert Valentine,until that time. In a codicil, he excluded William J. Valentine and children, and also his grandson, Roland Harman, from participation in the provisions of his will, they having already been paid all they are entitled to."


From the Frederick Evening Post of November 28, 1911:

"First and final account of Maria Valentine, administratrix c. t. a., of Elias F. Valentine, deceased, filed, and distribution made."