Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 116

Author: Runk, J.M. & Co
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chambersburg, Pa.
Number of Pages: 1482

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Martin Hoffecker died early in life, leav- ing four children: I. Joseph; II. Henry D .; III. Elizabeth (Mrs. John Savin); IV. Rachel (Mrs. John Appleton). Joseph, the first son, and father of Robert D. Hoffecker, married Sabra Pennington Denney, their children being: I. Mary P. (Mrs Jesse S. Huffington); II. Sarah E. (Mrs. William R. Cahoon); III. Robert D .; IV. John S .; V. Joseph H .; VI. Albert T.

Robert D. Hoffecker was married De- cember 5, 1855, to Anna, daughter of Rev. Piner and Anna (MeCly- ment) Mansfield. Of their five children, Fanny and Carrie died at the age of nine months, and the survivors are: I. Bertha L .; II. Robert D .; III. Samuel M. Mrs. Anna Hoffecker died February 4, 1893, in the fifty- eighth year of her age.

Robert D. Hoffecker grew up in the viein- ity of Smyrna, where his father was a

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farmer, using what advantages the country schools afforded, teaching for a year, and then studying at Delaware College, Newark, Del., for the major part of two years. In March, 1854, he formed a partnership with Thomas 1. Poulson, now the Rev. Dr. Poulson, of New York East Conference, to engage in the newspaper publishing business, buying out Abraham Poulson, who had been running the Delaware Herald as a temperance organ for two or three years. This arrangement lasted but a few months, and in June of the same year Mr. Hoffecker bought out the in- terest of his partner, and changed the name to The Smyrna Times, under which title it made its first appearance July 4, 1854, Strengthening with the growth of years, the Times became the popular newspaper of Smyrna, and has the proud record of being the only paper that has stood from its start. The Smyrna Telegraph, edited by Samuel P. Jones, preceded it in 1848-49; the Delaware Herald in the early fifties, having reached the limit of its existence when it changed hands. It was the pride of the editor of the Times not to miss an issue, but the experience in making it a success was not different from that usually encountered in such enterprises. It fell to the lot of the pub- lisher to be cast into the troublous period of our Civil War, when communities and families were greatly divided on national issues; and in personal experiences and pub- lie events there were many thrilling incidents to record. Times, throughout the conflict of four years, was an uncomprising advocate of the whole country under one government.

While the editor was serving with the "Home Guards" near Baltimore, an incident occurred which showed the spirit of bravery actuating the women of that time. A young man from New Jersey, who had been with him a few weeks, was left in charge of the printing office. He had announced himself a Democrat, but claimed that he was for the Union, differing in this respect from the other Democrats of the place. When the editor left, this young man was seen to be in close conversation with some sympathizers with the Confederacy, but the thought had not been entertained that the conversation was for evil purposes. A night or two after, Mrs. Hoffecker, wife of the editor, awoke with a strong impression that something had hap-

pened, and calling her lady guest, they both made their way for the printing office, a few doors below. To their dismay they found the doors wide open, several cases and galleys of type mixed up in a pile on the floor, and everything about the room in a state of con- fusion. The young Jerseyman, who had evi- dently been persuaded to perpetrate the deed, had escaped that night for parts unknown and was never seen there again. This did not stop the paper, as was the intention. With the aid of F. W. Griffith, a printer, in mer- cantile business in this vicinity, the Times was issued weekly until the editor returned home. Because of impaired health, shortly after the close of the war in 1866, Mr. Hof- fecker disposed of the Times to his brother, Joseph II. Hoffecker. The latter, who had learned his trade in the office of the Smyrna Times was well qualified to conduct the busi- ness, and did so in a very popular manner for over eleven years. During this time the ex-editor was engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods with his brother, John S. Hof- feeker, at Milford, Delaware. They had not been running the plant for more than eight years when the factory was destroyed by fire; the firm subsequently dissolved, the ex-editor going to a farm near Smyrna, where he tilled the soil for three years.

Upon the failure in health of Joseph H. Hoffecker in 1877, which subsequently ended in his death, ex-editor R. D. Hoffecker again became the proprietor of the paper he had founded. When he assumed control, the Times continued as it had begun, free from Inoral and literary objections, and devoted to the best interests of the community. In 1897, the Hurlock property, adjoining the Fruit Growers' National Bank, was purchased and the Times which during the previous years of its existence had occupied the second and third stories of different properties in town, was moved to a permanent home, especially arranged in convenient compartments adapted to its purpose. IIere the Times continues to be published with increasing vigor as the years go on. Robt. D. Hoffecker, Jr., has been Associate Editor for several years, since his graduation from Delaware College.

Mr. Hoffecker never sought nor filled pub- lie office, prefering to give his undivided at- tention to his newspaper, near and dear to his heart. During the Civil War he was ser-

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geant major of a battalion of the Sixth Dela- ware Regiment, in command of Colonel Ed- win Wilmer, the head quarters being within four miles of Baltimore when the battle of Gettysburg was fought. For several years, he has been a trustee of the M. E. church.

WILLIAM ASHCRAFT, M. D., P. O. Smyrna, Del., son of John and Rhoda ( Fisher) Ashcraft, was born at Absecom, Atlantic county, N. J., July 25, 1825.

He is of English descent on the paternal side, while his mother's family is of German origin. But little is known of their ancestral history. The family of John Ashcraft, father of William, formerly resided in Con- necticut, but removed to New Jersey early in the present century. John Ashcraft was a shoemaker, and was at the same time engaged in farming. The latter part of his life he spent in Philadelphia, where, for some years, he was engaged in mercantile business, and where he died. The children of Mr. and Mrs. John Ashcraft were: I. Elizabeth Ann, of Philadelphia, married first to the late Charles Heritage, by whom she had one daughter, now deceased; she married secondly, Benja- min Heritage, who is also deceased; II. Keziah M. (Mrs. Christian Stanger), deceased; III. Sarah, deceased, married to the late Charles Shivers; of her two children Eliza- beth is still living; IV. Hannah L., deceased; V. Mary R. (Mrs. Henry Reading), deceased; VI. Amanda (Mrs - Savage), de- ceased; VII. William; VIII. Samuel M., deceased; IX. John II.

William Ashcraft's parents removed from Absecom to Gloucester county, N. J., when he was but three years old. He lived there about nine years and then went with his par- ents to Philadelphia. His rudimentary edu- cation was obtained in the public schools of Gloucester. On his removal to Philadelphia he attended the Crawford grammar school, and completed the course in that institution. Then he commenced the study of medicine as a student of Prof. Thos. D. Mutter, of Phila- delphia. Hle matriculated in 1843 at Jeffer- son Medical College and in 1846, received the degree of M. D. In the fall of that year, he went to Vincentown, N. J., where he began the practice of medicine. Six months later, ambitious for a larger field, Dr. Ashcraft removed to Cantwell's Bridge (now

Odessa), New Castle county, Del., there he ministered to the physical ailments of the people for thirty years. In 1878 Dr. Ash- craft came to Smyrna, and has remained here since that time, recognized as one of the lead- ing physicians of the community. Ile was for a number of years one of the trustees of the poor of New Castle county, accredited to St. George's hundred; is a member of the State Medical Society, of Harmony Lodge, No. 13, F. and A. M., of Smyrna, and of the I. O. II. Ife is a firm believer in the principles of the Democratic party. Although seventy-two . years of age, Dr. Ashcraft is hale and hearty, and his cheery voice and helpful skill are daily met with at the bedside of the sufferer.

Dr. Ashcraft was twice married. His first wife was Lydia L., daughter of Abner and Temperance Allston of Odessa. They had three children: I. William, of Philadelphia, married to Lydia L. Montgomery, has had seven children; II. Charles Ann, widow of William M. Vandegriff, had five cildren, four of whom are living; III. Henry T., deceased, married to Carrie Letherbury has three chil- dren. Dr. Ashcraft was married in Phila- delphia, October 2, 1879, to his second wife, Amanda M., daughter of Lowder T. and El- mira (Chindle) Layton, and widow of William J. Wharton. By her first marriage Mrs. Ashcraft had two sons, William W. and Charles M., both of Philadelphia. Dr. Aslı- craft is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

AUGUSTUS E. JARDINE, Smyrna, Del., son of General Edward and Ophelia (Kreemer) Jardine, was born in New York City, December 23, 1854.

The Jardine family is of Huguenot des- cent. On account of persecutions for their re- ligious belief, representatives of the family many years ago left France and settled in England. Of the present generation, the paternal ancestors are of English extraction, the maternal of German. The grandfather of Augustus E. Jardine was, like his immne- diate ancestors, a native of Kent county, England, where he died and was buried.

Edward Jardine, father of Augustus E. Jardine, and the most celebrated member of the family, was born at Seven Oaks, Kent county, England, November 2, 1828. While vet a very young man, he came to America with his mother and stepfather and set-

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STATE OF DELAWARE

tled in New York City, where he received the greater part of his education. After leav- ing school, he secured a clerkship in a down- town hardware store in New York, and con- tinued in that position until he was twenty years of age. Then he made his first busi- ness venture on his own account, establish- ing himself as a hardware merchant in Pearl street, New York City. Here he remained for some time, and then removed to Fort Lee, a small New Jersey town, where he conducted a hardware store until the Civil war. When President Lincoln issued his call for 75,000 volunteer troops, the patriotic spirit of the ancestral Jardines quickened within him, and he enthusiastically began preparations for contributing effectually to the preservation of the Union. He raised a company of young men at Fort Lee, and equipped them at his own expense. His soldiers unanimously elected him captain, and he proceeded at once with them to New York City, where on April 21, 1861, he applied for the enlist- ment of his company in the New York Zou- aves, afterwards known as the Ninth New York Regiment, Hawkins' Zouaves, which organi- zation had tendered its service to the govern- ment two days before. Captain Jardine and his men were gladly received. He had ac- quired a thorough training in military tactics, as a member of the famous Seventh Regiment, National. Guards of New York, and he im- pressed upon the regiment the value of disci- pline, and inspired an enthusiasm such as is rarely created by the presence and example of one man. Ilis efforts in these directions contributed greatly to the brilliant record of the regiment, and to the winning of its well deserved name, "The Fighting Ninth."

During his early connection with this regi- ment, Captain Jardine was particularly noted for his daring while on scouting parties. Especailly meritorious were his services as commander of a small detachment of the Ninth regiment in covering the retreat of the Union forces after the battle of Big Bethel, Va., June 10, 1861, and in bringing away the body of Lieutenant Greble, the first offi- cer of the regular army who fell. He was then serving under General Phelps, at New- port News, Va., and was under the direct command of General Butler. At the landing of troops at Hatteras Inlet, N. C., under the heavy fire of Fort Hatteras and Clark, in Au-

gust, 1861, he displayed great bravery. He led his company with conspicious ability dur- ing the attack upon and capture of Fort De- fiance. For his services as leader of the first storming party at the time of the capture of Fort Hatteras and Clark; at Camden Court liouse, where he was wounded, and at Win- ton and Elizabeth City, he was commended in the highest terms to General Grant by General Parke, then commanding the Ninth Regiment, and was accordingly breveted ma- jor of the regiment. Major Jardine took an active part in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged. At South Mountain he was assigned by Colonel (afterwards Gen- eral) Fairchild to the temporary command of the Eighty-ninth New York Volunteers, and this he retained until after the battle of An- tietam, in which decisivo engagement he was again wounded. As a mark of appreciation of his gallant conduct as commander of the Eighty-ninth, he was presented with a gold medal and a handsome sword by the officers and privates of the regiment. During the battle of Antietam, Major Jardine displayed a bravery that infused into his soldiers fight- ing enthusiasm. An interesting incident is related of the coolness and determination by which on that occasion he prevented his regi- ment from fleeing in disorder. His men had been under so deadly a fire from the enemy that the entire regiment broke, then hesitated and was about to retreat in a rout when the intrepid officer, who knew not the meaning of defeat, leaped upon a rock in face of a sweeping fusillade of shot and shell and with his sword waved high over his head and his voice sharp and ringing by desparation shout- ed: "What are you men about? Rally ! For- ward ! Charge !" His example and words had an immediate effect. The soldiers caught his defiant spirit, and dashed down the hill and against the rebels with such force that they drove before them in helpless disorder the opponents who only a few moments earlier had been so near to a victory. This is but one of many signal acts of almost reckless daring performed by Major Jardine during the war. After the battle of Antietam, Ma- jor Jardine rejoined his own regiment, the Ninth, and participated in the engagements around Suffolk, Va., and in the battle of Fredericksburg, Va. In the latter contest he received his third wound. At the expira-

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tion of his term of enlistment in the Ninth regiment, he returned to New York and was mustered out in 1863. He then reorganized the Ninth for service until the close of the war, and was chosen colonel of the regiment. While on duty in New York City, he was ordered by General Wood, then in command „of that department, to assist in quelling the draft riots of July, 1863. He was at the head of a small body of troops when he was met by the rioters at the corner of Second Avenue and Twenty-third street and a strug- gle ensued, during which he was struck in the thigh by a leaden slug, and received a wound which years afterwards caused his death. Being thus injured, he was removed to a private residence, and secreted in a cellar until the conclusion of the riots. During this confinement, the several regiments which were recruiting in New York, among them the Ninth, were consolidated with the Seven- teenth, and went to the front as the Seven- teenth regiment, Jardine, as ,colonel com- manding. Upon his return to New York, he was made a brigadier general of volunteers, and stationed in that city in command of the reserve corps. He was mustered out in 1865.

General Jardine was as good a citizen dur- ing times of peace as he was a brave soldier in the battles for universal freedom and the preservation of his country's government. He returned to civil pursuits when the war ended, with the same energy that had characterized his early life. In 1872, he was chosen clerk of the General Assembly of New Jersey, and upon the expiration of his term engaged in the newspaper business in Jersey City, N. J., publishing the Jersey City Daily Times and Bergen county Weekly Times. He subse- quently retired from journalism, and was ap- pointed United States weigher in the custom house at New York. Ilis was the first ap- pointment President Grant made after enter- ing upon his duties as chief executive. This office General Jardine held until his death.

General Jardine was a brave soldier, a good citizen and a noble man. It would be diffi- cult to exaggerate in pronouncing encomiums upon his life and character. As a soldier he was fearless, firm in the severest trials, always in the van when danger was to be met; be- loved by his subordinates and honored by his superiors. As a citizen, he rose from an hum-

ble place among his fellows to one of dignity; prompt to answer his country's call to arms, he was earnest afterwards in teaching through his newspaper the lessons of the war, and in counseling the measures and conduct best suited to effect the rapid and substantial de- velopment of the country under the new order of things. As a man, he was respected for his uprightness and ability, and loved for his genial and courteous manner. Perhaps the best eulogy of General Jardine may be ex- pressed in the language of Rev. Clark Wright, the officiating clergyman at his funeral. Ile said: "An honored man, a faithful comrade and chieftan, a devoted friend, a brother be -: loved has ended his pilgrimage, and we as- semble to participate in these last sad rites ere we give him a christian burial and place these remains beneath the sod of the state he loved so well." General Jardine was a man of entertaining conversation; his mind was stored with many interesting incidents of his varied military career. Although a great sufferer to the time of his death, he always wore a cheerful smile and had a pleasant word for all; his loss was deeply deplored. He was an active member of George Washington Post, G. A. R., Military Order of Loyal Le- gion, Hawkin's Zouaves' Veteran Associa- tion, of the Seventh Regiment Veterans, and of Chancellor Walworth Lodge, A. F. and A. M.

Edward Jardine married in 1846, Ophelia, daughter of Jacob B. and Susan S. (Brown) Kreemer, of New York. At the time of her marriage Mrs. Jardine was sixteen years old. ITer father was born in New York, November 10, 1802; her mother in the same city, April 18, 1801. Mr. and Mrs. Jardine had chil- dren: I. Marian S .; II. Charles Edward; III. Richard Hodge; IV. James D .; V. Augustus E. All but the last named are de- ceased. Mrs. Jardine died at Mystic Island, Conn., May 2, 1882, and was buried in Green- wood cemetery, New York. In 1890, Gen- eral Jardine married as his second wife, Mrs. Katherine Clark, of New York, who survives him. General Jardine died at Hotel Pomery, New York City, at noon of July 16, 1993. The funeral services were held in Scottish Rite ITall, Twenty-ninth street and Madison Avenue, where the body lay in state three days. The interment was in Greenwoo:l

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STATE OF DELAWARE

cemetery. General Jardine was a member of the Bedford street M. E. church, New York City.

Augustus E. Jardine was educated in the public schools of New York City, and at an early age entered the College of the City of New York. Before the completion of his course here, he left the institution to accept the appointment as cadet in the United states Naval Academy, at Annapolis, Md., tendered to him by President U. S. Grant. From the academy he was graduated in 1876, and was assigned to duty on the U. S. ships Fantic and Tennessee, on the Asiatic station. Ile served eight years as junior lieutenant in the navy, on the United States steamers Kearsage, Yantic and Tennessee, and during this period made a cruise around the world. On his re- turn home he was blinded by powder from a cannon at Mystic Island, Conn. Every ef- fort was made to restore his sight, but he con- tinued to be deprived of it for a number of months, and in 1884 was compelled to resign from the navy because of this affliction. His profession closed to him, he engaged in the railroad business in New York City, connect- ing himself with the Trunk Line Commis- sion, a Pool of all railroads. In 1885 he came to Smyrna as the secretary and treasurer of the Philadelphia & Smyrna Transportation company. This office he still holds. Mr. Jardine is one of the most popular and ener- getie citizens of Smyrna, a leader in all enter- prises that promise extension of the welfare of his adopted home. Ile is an efficient ex- eentive officer of the company with which he is associated. He is president of the Board of Trade at Smyrna, a director of the Phila- delphia & Smyrna Transportation Co., and a member of several societies of the town. He is a Republican, but not an office-seeker.

On November 21, 1894, Augustus E. Jar- dine was married to Mary B., daughter of William and Henrietta (Wilkins) Fell, of Philadelphia, but formerly of Delaware. They have one child, Edward Fell. Mr. Jar- dine attends the P. E. church.

Mrs. Jardine is a direct descendant of Joseph Fell, born August 19, 1668, at Long- land, Cumberlandshire, England. He was twice married and had twelve children, from whom the Fell family of the United States is directly descended.

CHARLES BELFORD DAILEY, Smyr- na, Del., son of James and Priscilla (Foster) Dailey, was born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1854.

His paternal ancestors were Scotch; those of his mother were English. Ilis grand- father, William Dailey, married Mary Me- Clellan, died in 1862, and was buried at Innesrush, Ireland. Their son, James Dailey, father of Charles B. Dailey, was educated in the public schools near Belfast, and learned harness-making at Ballymena, County An- trim. In 1848 he came to America, to seek his fortune in the land which held out so much encouragement to ambitious young men. He landed at Boston and went thence to Lynn, Mass., where he worked two months as a gardener, after which he returned to Boston and procured employment in a ma- chine shop. The longing for his Belfast home came over him, however, and he sailed back to Ireland in 1849. But there was slight promise of advancement in County Antrim, and in the latter part of the same year he sailed to Australia. Landing at Sydney, he immediately established a bakery. Soon af- terward the gold fever broke out, and with his cousin, William Godfrey, he hurried to the gold fields of Ballarat, where they select- ed and worked a claim and took out a great amount of gold. Mr. Dailey remained in Australia until 1852, when he returned to Ireland and for twenty years followed mer- cantile pursuits. Then he came once more to America, and landed from the City of Paris in New York City. He chose Newburg, N. Y., as his home, and was engaed in the grocery and liquor business there for about a year, after which he sold his stock and re- moved to Philadelphia. Mr. Dailey was in a number of trades and conducted many es- tablishments during the next quarter of a century. He learned ingrain carpet-weaving with David Graham, of Sargent street, Ken- sington, in nine months; went into business for himself; in 1876 moved to Bucks county, Pa., and leased a farm of 50 acres from Jolin Glam, after a year removed to a farm of 40 aeres belonging to John Hamsel, of Philadel- phia, remaining there two years; removed , to Blackbird hundred, New Castle county, Del., and purchased a farm of 50 acres from Owen Crowley; in 1880 came to Smyrna and engaged in carpet-weaving; a year later

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BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

bought a farm near Clayton, Del., from Francis Woodhull and began farming; in eighteen months tired of this and established himself in the carpet-weaving business in Germantown, Pa .; conducted this two years and came back to Smyrna to conduct carpet works; in 1886 went to Dover and engaged in a similar pursuit, having the only carpet factory in the place. He still resides there. Mr. Dailey is highly respected by all who know him. He is a Republican but not an office-seeker.

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 116

Author: Runk, J.M. & Co Publication date: 1899 Publisher: Chambersburg, Pa. Number of Pages: 1482

Author: Runk, J.M. & Co
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chambersburg, Pa.
Number of Pages: 1482