Historical and biographical encyclopaedia of Delaware. V 2, Part 1

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Publication date: 1972
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 776

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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION

ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02256 1721

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HISTORICAL

AND

BIOGRAPHICAL

ENCYCLOPÆDIA

DELAWARE.

V.2

WILMINGTON, DEL. : ALDINE PUBLISHING AND ENGRAVING CO. MDCCCLXXXII.

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286

HISTORY OF DELAWARE.

TEVENSON, M. MORRIS, Apothe- | church. He was married September 20, 1865, cary, Felton, Delaware, was born in to Miss Lydia Walton, youngest daughter of David Walton, late of Milford. Mr. Walton was a man of remarkable christian character. He died in 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson have had four children, of whom three are liv- Dover, February 26, 1840. His parents were James H. and Temperance A. (Morris) Stevenson. His father was a builder in his early life but became a mer- chant in 1846. He was a man of honor and ing; Lucretia M .; Fannie B., and Grace Walton

uprightness, with great energy and enter- prise, and enjoyed the full confidence and respect of the community. He died in 1849, at the age of thirty-eight. Mrs. Stevenson is still living and resides with her son, the subject of this sketch. She was born in 1809. The grandfather of Mr. M. Morris Stevenson, Thomas Stevenson, was born in Smyrna, (then called Duck Creek Cross Roads,) February 25, 1787. He was a promi- nent member of the M. E. Church for half a century, and for many years was a Justice of the Peace in Dover. He died in' that place in the triumphs of the christian faith, November 10, 1865, when in his seventy-ninth year. He was the son of James Stevenson, who came to this country from England, some- time prior to 1774, and settled at Duck Creek Cross Roads. He married Margaret Denny, February 14, 1775. He was an Episcopalian and highly esteemed as a citizen. His descen- dants have ever since been residents of the same locality, living mostly in Smyrna and Dover. Mr. M. Morris Stevenson attended in his boyhood the public schools of his native place, and for three years the private school of Prof. William Sharp. At the age of four- teen he entered as a clerk the drug store of D F. Barton, with whom he remained six years. In May, 1860, while still under age, he removed to Felton, and embarked in the drug business on his own account. In this he has been from that time successfully engaged, and has be- come the leading apothecary of that part of the state. He is one of the most prominent business men of Felton, and one of its most highly respected citizens. For four years he has been one of the commissioners of that town, and a trustee of the Felton Seminary since 1874. He was postmaster from 1866 to 1868. He connected himself with the Masonic order of his town in May, 1872, since which time he has been treasurer of the Lodge. He joined the Odd Fellows in March, 1861, and is treasurer also of that Lodge. Mr. Stevenson is a member of and an elder in the Presbyterian

Stevenson.

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OBINSON, ALFRED P., of George- town, Ex-Deputy-Attorney General of the State of Delaware, was born in Georgetown, Feb. 17, 1842. An account of his ancestry is given p. 237. He received a good English education in the schools of his native place, and leaving the academy at the age of seventeen and a-half, he at once com- menced reading law in his father's office. He was admitted to the bar in April, 1863, when he was twenty-one years of age, and began the practice of his profession as his father's partner. His success was marked from the first, and after the death of his father, May 4, 1866, he continued alone the professional busi- ness of the firm. He now stands in the front rank of the members of the bar in Delaware, practicing in the civil, criminal and chancery courts, in each of which he is dintinguished. He has a large and lucrative practice, and has been engaged in many of the most celebrated cases, which have been tried in Sussex county 'since he came to the bar. He has a fine intel- lect, and is devoted to his profession, throw- ing his whole strength and power with ve- hemence into every case entrusted to his care. Engrossed in his duties, he remains quietly at home, finding there more than enough to engage all his time and thoughts. He is, moreover, a gentleman of high social standing, and the warm regards of his fellow- townsmen still further attach him to the home of his fathers, and the place where he has spent his life. In 1875, he was Clerk of the State Senate, and the same year was appointed Deputy-Attorney General, by Hon. John B. Pennington, then Attorney General for the State. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, held in Cincinnati in 1880. Mr. Robinson is a member of the Masonic order. He is also a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church.

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BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.

Jacob H. and Catherine (Hasbrouck) Rosa. Jacob H. Rosa was a farmer all his life, an enterprising, prosperous and popular man, greatly respected by the community. He died in June, 1877, at the age of eighty-one. He was the eldest son of Herman and Catherine (Sleight) Roosa, and the name was changed by him to Rosa. Herman Roosa was one of the early settlers of Ulster county, and the land he took up is now in possession of the fourth generation of his descendants. He was the son of Herman Roosa, the elder, who emigrated from Holland to New York. According to the family tradition the Roosas were originally French and the name was Rossian, and they removed to Holland, probably to enjoy relig- ious freedom. The mother of the subject of this sketch was the daughter of Rocliff Has- brouck, who belonged to one of the oldest Huguenot families in Ulster county. The old Hasbrouck house was built of stone in 1705, and the port holes in the parlor, from which the inmates defended themselves against the Indians, are still to be seen. In 1836, when he was only three years of age, Mr. Rosa's parents removed to Cayuga county, Central New York, where his father continued farming till 1870. Mr. Rosa enjoyed the advantages of a good english and business education in the schools of Cayuga county, till the age of sixteen, after which he attended only during the winter season till the age of twenty. He continued to live with his parents, taking the burden of care at the farm, till he was mar- ried, in 1860, when his father retired, and he assumed entire charge. This he continued till 1870, when he removed to Milford, and then purchased of Joseph Yardley, the farm on which he now resides, and which has become famous throughout the United States as the J. J. Rosa Fruit Farm. It consists of ninety acres in the suburbs of Milford, and is excellently located for the purpose to which it is devoted. Mr. Rosa has been very successful with his peach trees, of which he has two thousand, and the same number of fine pear trees. His eight and

OSA, JOHN JAMES, Master of Dela- 'a-half acres of strawberries have paid well, ware State Grange, Patrons of Hus- also, his ten acres of Wilson blackberries bandry, Farmer and Fruit Grower, of and seven acres of black raspberries. Besides Milford, was born in Ulster county, New these he has plums, apples, grapes and aspa- York, April 10, 1833. His parents were ragus, which have been profitable. His fruit raising has not only been a success, but has attracted attention throughout the State and many portions of the United States. He erected an Evaporator in 1876, principally for the pur- pose of saving his own fruit. It has a capacity of two hundred and fifty baskets in twenty- four hours. Mr. Rosa evaporates only the best fruit, of all kinds, excepting strawberries. His evaporated fruits have a high reputation on the market. He was an active member of the Fruit Growers' Association till it ceased to exist, when, in 1876, he was largely instru- mental ih organizing the Milford Grange, No. 6, Patrons of Husbandry, of which he was made Master for the first three years. On the organization of the Delaware State Grange, in 1877, Mr. Rosa was made Master, which hon- orable and responsible position he has held ever since, having been elected for four succes- sive terms. He has attended six annual ses- sions of the National Grange, as a representa- tive from Delaware. These were held in Louisville, in 1874, in Chicago, in 1876, in Cin- cinnati, in 1877, in Richmond, in 1878, in Can- andaigua, New York, in 1879, and in Wash- ington. in 1880. He keeps some stock on his farm, all thoroughbred Jerseys, in which he takes a pardonable pride. Mr. Rosa is not a politician, and is independent in his views and sentiments. He was brought up in the Pres- byterian Church, and still attends and aids in maintaining that denomination. He was mar- ried in 1860, to Miss Sarah M., daughter of Alexander and Magdalen (DuBois) Elting. This family is also of French Huguenot ex- traction, long settled in Ulster county, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Rosa have three children; Alexander Elting, Ida Elting, and Jacob Herman Rosa. Mr. Rosa is a gentleman of large intelligence, broad, liberal and practical views and great enterprise. These qualities have made him conspicuous in the agricultural interests of the State, to which he is devoted, and with a physical and mental organiza- tion, which has thus far enabled him to do a large amount of work for one no older than is J. J. Rosa.

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.

RIPPEN, EDWARD JOHN, Whole- la good English education. With this for a sale and Retail Grocer, Philadelphia, foundation, and indulging through life a natural was born in Milltown, near Stanton, fondness for books and reading, he has at- New Castle county, May 26, 1826. He tained a more than usual degree of culture. was the second son of Silas and Maria (Rodgers) Crippen, who were both from Kent county. Silas Crippen was a farmer, and was born in Frederica in 1797. In 1804, when | self by opening a store in Newark, where he only seven years of age, he lost his father, Benjamin Crippen, who was also a farmer, Philadelphia and entered into partnership with and was brought up from that time partly by Mr William Townsend of that place, and

partly by Mr. Zadoc Townsend, who were house in Pennsylvania, located at 115 South brothers, and relatives of his mother. He He married about the year 1818. His oldest child was James Crippen, now engaged in mercantile business in Wilmington. The third child was Joshua D. Crippen, who went to California in 1849, and after spending some years at the gold mines, was elected sheriff of Mariposa county in 1858, and was re-elected every two years for a period of fourteen years. He died, while still holding that office, in 1872, leaving a widow and three children. Sarah Jane Crippen was the fourth child and only daughter. She died unmarried in Newark, at the house of her brother Edward. The wife of Silas Crippen had previously been married to a Mr. Townsend, by whom she had two daughters, both now deceased. She died in 1835, and her husband in 1841. The family were originally from Scotland, and came to Delaware, it is supposed, with the early set- tlers. By the early orphanage of Silas Crippen, the family Bible and much that is of great importance in their history, has been lost trace of. Two brothers, James and Benjamin Crip- pen, first came to this state, leaving John, an elder brother, in Scotland, who inherited the family estate. This estate, now of immense value has, within the last forty-five years, been left without an heir. Undoubtedly the Crip- pens of Delaware could be proven the rightful owners, but for the difficulty of recovering the lost links in their history. They have always borne an excellent name, and have been highly esteemed in the communities where they have resided. His mother dying when he was only nine years of age, Edward J. Crippen was brought up in the family of John Peach, Esq., .

the husband of his half sister. He was sent regularly to school and received, for that time,

In 1842 he went to live with his elder brother, James, in New Castle, and was clerk in his store. He first commenced business for him- remained three years. In 1853 he removed to his father-in-law, W. S. Maddock. This gen- tleman was the proprietor of the oldest grocery Third street, Philadelphia, and which has been in continuous business, and in the same family from the time of its establishment in 1805 The founders were W. S. and E. Maddock, who continued it till 1826, when it was taken in charge by W. S. Maddock, of the second gen- eration, till 1853. By the admission of Mr. Crippen at that time, the name of the firm was changed to W. S. Maddock and Company. Mr. Maddock died in 1867, and his son, John B. Maddock, of the third generation, continued the business with Mr. Crippen, the firm bear- ing the name of Crippen and Maddock. John B. Maddock retired in 1873, and William Mad- dock Crippen, the eldest son of the subject of our sketch, was admitted to the firm, which now assumed the name of E. J. Crippen and Company. This name it still retains, but this cherished son, the idol of his parents and of his many friends, was removed by death, May 28, 1882, when in the thirtieth year of his age. Mr. Crippen has now taken in his place his younger and only son, J. E. Crippen. The large grocery business which they conduct is both wholesale and retail, and has been sound and successful from the time of its first establishment in 1805. There has never been, during all this length of time, any variation in its strength or credit ; it has never paid less than one hundred cents on the dollar, and its condition was never more flourishing and sub- stantial .than now. As an old, reliable busi- ness stand, it has been for generations one of the landmarks of the city, and bids fair to hold its place firmly amid all the changing scenes around it for generations to come. Mr. Crip- pen has long been known as one of the solid men of the city, as sound in character and all the essentials of a noble manhood, as in credit. Heis a trustee in the Tabernacle Baptist church,

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BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.

Chestnut street above Eighteenth. He was married in 1850, to Miss Mary Maddock, daugh - ter of W. S. Maddock, and granddaughter of the first W. S. Maddock, who, with his brother, founded the business of which we have given an account. William M., mentioned above, was the eldest of their three children. The second child is Elizabeth Maddock Crippen, and the youngest is James Edward Crippen. Mrs. Crippen died in March, 1882. In her loss and that of his son, so soon succeeding, Mr. Crippen has experienced a sorrow which has elicited the deepest sympathy of his friends and acquaintances.

EYNOLDS JOHN A., Retired Merchant and Farmer of Middletown, was born near that town, December 4, 1813. His father was William Reynolds, a farmer who was born in Appoquinimink hundred and died in his 48th year. His grandfather was Thomas Reynolds, also a farmer of the same hundred. The family is of English ancestry and were among the early settlers of the country. His mother was Elizabeth, daughter of Arnold Naudain, an uncle of Dr. Arnold Naudain, U. S. Senator from Delaware. At the age of eight years, shortly after the death of his father, John was sent first to the pay school, then to the Middletown Academy where he remained until he was fifteen years of age. He then entered the store of Mr. John McDowell, at Dover, where he continued for one year, when he accepted a clerkship in the store of Mr. William B. Janvier, where he remained until he was eighteen years of age, when he returned home. He began the busi- ness of agriculture at the age of twenty-two. At first he rented the land which he cultivated, OLFE, DR. WILLIAM WELLS, of Milton, who died in that town in May 1866, was born in 1800. His father, Dr. Jacob Wolfe, was also a physician of Mil- ton. Dr. Wm. W. Wolfe, after careful literary training entered on the study of Medi- cine, and after graduating from the University of Maryland, settled for the practice of his profession, in Milton, where he spent his life. His brothers were Jacob and Erasmus Wolfe, merchants of Philadelphia. Dr. W. W. Wolfe, married Ann, daughter of Governor Hazzard. Himself and wife were members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church. She died in July 1866,her when, after four years, he became the owner of a farm known as "Glenwood," lying two and a half miles from Newark and containing 165 acres. Soon after this he purchased another farm of 100 acres, being assisted by his friends to make the payments thereon. This kindness was the result of his integrity and the confi- dence reposed in him by his friends. Mr. Reynolds was very successful as a farmer, which business he followed until 1861, when he began merchandizing in the town of Newark, where he remained for three years. He then removed to Middletown, and in connection with his two younger sons, engaged in the | honored husband preceding her by only a few

general mercantile business, which he contin- ued until 1868, when he retired from business. Mr. Reynolds was reared in the Whig party and voted with it while it lived; he now is a Democrat in politics. He was nominated on the Whig ticket in 1852, and was one of the three Whigs who were elected from New Cas- tle county to the State Legislature, serving in the session of the General Assembly of 1853. He has never desired political office, and with the exception of the above single term of ser- vice in the House, has declined to serve in public life. Mr. Reynolds was appointed by Governor Saulsbury in 1867, one of the Trus- tees on the part of the State for Delaware col- lege, which position he still holds. He has been a director of the Citizens National Bank of Middletown since 1873, and also occupies the position of Notary Public for New Castle county. Mr. Reynolds has been very success- ful in life, and by industry and self-dependence from an early age, he has achieved success. He is universally esteemed as a citizen, is a member of the Presbyterian church, and in the past has been an elder and trustee of his church. Mr. Reynolds has been twice mar- ried, first to Miss Mary G., daughter of Samuel Moore, of New Castle county, Del. She died April 1858, leaving four children, three of whom are yet living: John A. Jr., farmer; Edward, merchant at Dover, and Samuel M., a merchant at Middletown. He was again united in marriage to Miss Caroline C.,daugh- ter of Joshua B. Fenimore. He has won a high place in the esteem and confidence of those who know him by his genial disposition and un- questioned integrity.

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months. For forty years Dr. Wolfe was en- gaged in a large and extensive practice and left behind him a name for skill in his profes- sion, and for great uprightness of life. Two sons and one daughter survived their parents; , Dr. David Wolfe, a farmer near Milton, Dr. William Wolfe, of Laurel, and Mrs. Charlotte, wife of John R. McFee, attorney at law, Georgetown, Delaware.

ANTUM, JOSEPH R., M. D. of Wil- mington, was born in Monmonth county, New Jersey, on the 12th day of April, 1834. He is the son of James Tantum, a wealthy farmer of that county, and was educated in the best schools in that sec- tion of the country. At the age of twenty- one years he engaged in mercantile business, which he prosecuted successfully for several years, but finally disposed of it and engaged in the drug and apothecary business. In a few years he decided to relinquish that occupation and to prepare himself for the duties of a physi- cian, for which he believed he was especially called. Immediately after the disposal of his interests in the drug and chemical department he commenced the study of medicine. While thus engaged events occurred that deeply im- pressed him with the probable truth of homeo- pathy, and he decided to examine it carefully, and at once entered the office of Prof. O. B. Gause, M. D., of Philadelphia. Here the same characteristics exhibited themselves that had marked his early life, viz : an indomitable will and a determination to succeed in all that he undertook. He was a faithful and diligent student, being absent from lectures but two hours during the last year's course at College. After the completion of a thorough course of instruction, he graduated from the Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1865 he moved to Wilmington and here commenced practice. His success in build- ing up a large practice in a short time is almost unprecedented in the history of his profession. He is a kind and courteous gentleman, a skill- ful surgeon and an accomplished physician ; strong in his conviction of right. Homco- pathy has in him one of its strongest and firmest advocates and supporters. Euthusi- astic in the faith of its beneficent and scientific provisions for relieving the sick and restor-

ing to health, he has labored as hard to advance the system as for his own personal benefit.

ECORDS, THOMAS ELLIOTT, Mer- chant of Lewes, Delaware, was born three miles from Lewes, January 7, 1828. His father, Isaac Records, was a farmer and also a builder; an industrious, thrifty and upright man; highly regarded in the community, and a member of the Metho- dist church. He died, September 29, 1843. His wife was Temperance, daughter of John Elliott of Little Creek hundred. Seven of their eight children grew to maturity ;- John, a leading lawyer of Pendleton county, Ken- tucky, died, unmarried, February 1, 1869,- Ann, married Mr. James Magee and died September 10, 1869, leaving one child, Temper- ance J. Magee,-Sarah, widow of Wm. Massey of Kent county ; Mary died unmarried; Rufus, also, at the age of twenty-two. Thomas E., the subject of this sketch, and Margaret L. who married James II. Davidson, of Indian River hundred. The father of Isaac Records was also a farmer, near Lewes, and the family, which is of French origin, is one of the oldest in the county. Mr. Records received a good common school education which he has sup- plemented by reading and study, and is well in- formed and conversant on all the leading topics of the times. At the age of eighteen he became a clerk in Lewes, and continued in this employ- ment till 1852, when he went to Madison county, Missouri, as bookkeeper for the mining company of R. F. & T. F. Fleming, of Phila- delphia. In this position he remained till March 1856, when he returned to Delaware and was for two years in mercantile business, in com- pany with Henry Wolfe, Senior, in Lewes. He disposed of his share in the business in the spring of 1858, and in the following spring opened a store in his own name, which he has conducted to the present time with uninter- rupted success. He is a wholesale and retail dealer in grain, fertilizers, flour, wood and all kinds of produce. He is the owner of two farms,-the "Bay Side," near Lewes, and "St. George's Chapel," in Indian River hundred. Mr. Records has been a life long Democrat, and in 1864 was elected a member of the Levy Court of Sussex county for four years. In 1870 he was elected to the State Senate, serv-

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ing with great credit in the sessions of 1871 | favored with but few educational advantages, and 1873. He was on the Finance Committee | all his school days amounting to no more than and instrumental in defeating the attempt to | nine months. There were almost no schools change the usury laws of Delaware which in that part of Delaware during his childhood would have unsettled all the investments in | and youth. He grew up on the farm, and his the State. He was also influential in securing the passage of the present tax law which has not since been materially modified. Mr. Records has also been kept almost constantly in office in Lewes in connection with its educa- tional interests or local government. He was elected Chairman of the Democratic County Central Committee in 1878, which position he still occupies. He is steward and trustee in the Methodist church, of which he is one of the leading members. In 1876 he was a delegate to the Lay Electoral Conference at Wilming- ton, and to the same body in Dover in 1880. He joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in 1849. . His marriage with Miss Esther Rebecca, daughter of Rev. John T. and Mary (West) Hazzard, of Lewes, took place in June, 1860 They have had three children ; John Hazzard, William Thomas, died August 7, 1868, and Mary Hazzard Records. Mr. Records is a gentleman of high character and a worthy representative of the self-made men of Delaware.

ICKARDS, KENDAL, ESQ., Farmer, of Baltimore hundred, Sussex county, was born in that locality, August 8, 1816; being the youngest son of Eli and Rachel (Derrickson) Rickards. His father was a farmer in independent circumstan- ces, an industrious and respected citizen, and a member of the Methodist church. His first wife lived but a few months after their mar- riage, and he was next united to Miss Evans, by whom he had four sons and one daughter. She also died, and in 1810 he married Rachel, daughter of John Derrickson. Their four children grew to maturity ;- Isaac, a farmer, who died in March, 1878, leaving one child ; Stephen, a farmer and a man of family ; Ken- dal, the subject of this sketch, and Mary, who married J. D. Lynch, and died in 1850, leaving two children. Eli Rickards died November 12, 1833, in his sixty-sixth year. His father was Jones Rickards, also a farmer, who owned the property on which his son resided when Kendal Rickards was born. He died in 1790, at the age of fifty. Esquire Rickards was

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Historical and biographical encyclopaedia of Delaware. V 2, Part 1

Author: Publication date: 1972 Publisher: Number of Pages: 776

Author:
Publication date: 1972
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 776