Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 119

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


USA > Delaware > Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I > Part 119


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125


William F. Moor, was born in Leipsic, April 18, 1856, was educated in the common schools, and helped on the homestead farm until January, 1884, at which date he became a partner in the business now conducted by him and his brother, Albert S. William F.


ATE


f m bieniaT


i numotvdest


i bua ugr amint


rabi abel lonwo phon and gr intiba


it amill bowait Vinoo plian!


i byouit ioit


is labiayt Ivia


1 of yeim all


الد


740


BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA


Moor was married in Philadelphia, March 26, 1890, to Ella Melvin, who died April 11, 1891. They had one child, Ella Melvin, born April 11, 1891. Mr. Moor attends the M. E. church.


JOHN P. M. DENNEY, deceased, son of James and Matilda Denney, was born in Cam- den, Del., September 21, 1812. (For his- tory of John P. M. Denney's ancestors see sketch of Isaac M. Denney).


When John P. M. Denney was twelve years old his parents removed to a farm at Denney's Corner, Kent county, Del. There he was educated in the public schools and trained to farming pursuits. When a young man, he left home and leased different farmns until his first marriage, when he became a landowner. He was an industrious man, re- spected for his intelligence and kindly de- meanor and influential among his fellows. In his latter days he resided on a farm of 76 acres near Leipsic, which he had purchased in 1880 from Sammuel Hargadine. In his po- litical faith Mr. Denney was a Democrat; he was a stanch upholder of his party and its platforms.


Mr. Denney was twice married. His first wife was Anna Pratt, of Kent county, Del. Their only living child is Alice P. (Mrs. Joseph P. Moore). Mr. Moore is a farmer in Kent county. Mrs. Anna Denney died on a farm near Denney's Corners. On October 1, 1871, John P. M. Denney married Fannie, daughter of William and Celia (Foxwell) Berry. Miss Fannie Berry was born on a farm near Dover, March 31, 1841, and was first married to Dr. Hudson C. Yates, of Mid- dletown, Del. Mr. Denney died July 15, 1890, on his farm near Leipsic, aged seventy- seven years. He was a consistent member of the M. E. church.


Dr. Hudson C. Yates was a member of an old and prominent Delaware family. He was educated in Middletown, Del., and was grad- uate in medicine, but on account of ill health never practiced. He married Fannie Berry in 1862, and in 1864 settled in Decatur, Ill. There he died in 1868, at the age of twenty- seven years, and his widow returned to Dela- ware.


JOHN L. SMITHI, P. O. Leipsic, Del., son of Joseph J. and Eliza (LeCounte) Smith,


was born in West Dover hundred, Kent coun- ty, Del., July 7, 1826.


The Smith family was among the earliest to establish a home in Delaware; its first rep- resentatives here came from England. Lem- uel Smith, great-grandfather of John L. Smith, was a resident of West Dover hundred long before the Revolutionary War, and died in that hundred. One of his children was John Smith. Ile was born in West Dover and reared there as a farmer. After his mar- riage, he leased a tract of land in West Dover, and later purchased a farm two miles from Hazletville. This farm is now owned _ by David Marvel. John Smith married Ellen Jones, of Kent county, Del. They had chil- dren: I. David, married Nancy Rash, and after her death, Sophia Slaughter, died near Frederica, Kent county, Del .; II. Joseph J. John Smith died on his farm near Hazlet- ville about 1836, at the age of seventy; his widow lived to be eighty-four years old; she died on the homestead farm. Mrs. Smith was fourteen years old when the Revolutionary War began. One of her brothers, Stanford Jones, enlisted in the C'ontinental army, and was killed in battle. Ile was still a young man at the time of his death.


Joseph J. Smith, father of John L. Smith, was born near Hazletville, West Dover hun- dred, in 1804. The customary life of the farmer's boy was his. He worked on the farm and used the spare moments for obtaining an education. But, as he was kept employed ahnost constantly in the tilling of the soil and as the schools were poor and far from his home, his opportunities for acquiring knowl- edge from bouks were very limited. After Mr. Smith had married, he went to live upon his father's farm. Later, he inherited this tract, and sold it to David Marvel, his son- in-law. Then he purchased a small home at Mt. Mpsin, near Willow Grove, and after his wife's death, removed to the farm of his son, John L. Smith, and made his home there. He was a man of excellent qualities, and influen- tial in the community. He was a Democrat. Joseph J. Smith married Eliza, daugh- ter of James LeCounte. Mrs. Smith was born in Kent county. They had children: I. John L .; II. Sarah (Mrs. David Marvel); III. Eleanor (Mrs. Philip Marvel); IV. Louisa (Mrs. Avery Marvel), of the neighbor- hood of Magnolia; V. Joseph, of Frederica,


mall .M DAARI


Be e ff Bas 2007 119 709


741


STATE OF DELAWARE


Del., married Sarah Cook; VI. Henry, of Little Creek hundred, married Flora Fox, and afterward, Ella Moore; VII. Martha (Mrs. Craig Smith), of Md. Mrs. Smith's parents moved to the West after their daugh- ter's marriage, and died there. The marriages of Mr. Smith's daughters have more than the ordinary romance attached to them. The eld- est daughter, Sarah, was married to, David Marvel. Then Philip Marvel, father of David, wooed and won Mr. Smith's second daughter, Eleanor, and the younger thus be- came a step mother-in-law of the eldest sister. The third daughter's husband, Avery Marvel, i: a son of Philip Marvel. The fourth daugh- ter, Martha, married Craig Smith, but he was not a relative of the family. Joseph J. Smith died at the home of his son, John L. Smith, about 1868. Mrs. Smith died near Willow Grove in the "sixties." Mr. Smith was a member of the M. E. church.


John L. Smith was born on the old home- stead in West Dover hundred. He attended the public school, three miles from his home, during the winter months, and when not in school worked on the farm. As soon as he was strong enough to handle a hoe, his period of service in the cultivation of the land be- gan, and continued, under his father's direc- tions until he was twenty-three years old. Then he married, and managed a farm for his father in West Dover hundred for twenty years. In 1870, he removed to the Robert B. Jump farm, and has since resided there. Ile raises general farm produce and live stock; is a hard working husbandman, a good neighbor and an honorable man. Politically, he is of the Democratic household.


In 1850, John L. Smith married Hannah, daughter of Thomas and Susan (Stubbs) Downham. Mrs. Smith was born near what is now Felton, Kent county, Del. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have children: I. Anna (Mrs. Charles Accord), of Philadelphia; II. Emily (Mrs. James Morris), of Little Creek Land- ing, Del .; III. Charles, farmer, of St. Jones'


Neck, married Eliza Talbot; IV. Margaret, of Philadelphia, a dressmaker; V. Sarah (Mrs. John Farrow), of near Lebanon, Del .; VI. John D., of Philadelphia; VII. Walter, merchant, of Philadelphia; VIII. James, of Leipsic; married Nora Lawson; IX. Elwood A., of Philadelphia.


ISAAC M. DENNEY, P. O. Leipsic, Kent county, Del., son of James and Matilda ( Marshall) Denney, was born on the Raugh- lin farm in East Dover hundred, in March, 1828.


For many years the Denney family has not lacked representatives among the land owners of Kent county, Del. Thomas Denney, grandfather of Isaac M. Denney, a prosperous and influential farmer, owned several exten- sive farms at Denney's Corners. He had one brother, Philip, who also owned land near Denney's Corners. Thomas Denney was mar- ried twice; his first wife was Jane ( MeCle- ment) Torbert, widow of William Torbert. Their children are: I. James; II. John, mar- ried Mary Ennis, died near Dover, Del .; III. Harriet (Mrs. William Bishop), died at Bishop's Corners; IV. Mary (Mrs. William Noss), died at Elkton, Md. Mr. Denney died at his farm near Bethel Church, Kent county, Del.


Mr. Denney's father, James Denney, was born at Denney's Corners, Kent county, Del. For some time, Mr. Denney and his brother, John Denney, were partners in the firm of Denney Brothers, Camden, Del. Mr. Denney afterwards abandoned mercantile pursuits, and turned his attention to the cultivation of the soil. For several years, he rented a farm be- longing to his father-in-law, Mr. Marshall, situated near Snow Hill, Md. After his father's death, Mr. Denney removed to Den- ney's Corners, to a farm which was a part of his inheritance. Mr. Denney was a Whig, actively interested in the affairs of the county. He was a good citizen, highly esteemed in the community. James Denney was married to Matilda Marshall. They have one child, Isaac. Mr. Denney and his wife were mem- bers of the M. E. church. He died at his home in Kent county, in 1845, aged fifty-six; his widow died some years later.


Isaac Denney was a child when his parents removed to Maryland. He was educated in the old school house at Laws Mills, four and a half miles from his home. The old house was roughly built, imperfectly heated by an old fashioned ten plate stove, and furnished with long pine benches. At times the teachers were very strict, and made free use of the birch in helping their scholars onward. The session lasted all day, and Isaac bravely trudged the whole distance, mornings and


getmal com freefe


of'u redT lavislh Dua boow .bivaer I gotdyunh


milAlA ,191 mi adt an Lob altime


For Alimit as adal.


Bildung orld


ung anoit


sa Mint aid


Citront styrel


742


BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA


evenings. When he was eight years old he began working with his father on the farmn. After his father's death, which occurred when he was seventeen, he assumed the entire man- agment of the farm, cultivating it in his mother's interest until he attained his ma- jority. In 1850, Mr Denney began farming for himself on rented land. He spent two years on a place near Leipsic, Del., and eigh- teen years on another farm in the neighbor- hood. In 1870 he purchased, from Mrs. York, his present home, a farm of 170 acres of arable land, situated in Little Creek hun- dred. Mr. Denney is a kind friend and a good neighbor, genial and fond of domestic pleasures. He is also an able business man, industrious and thrifty, and although he has passed the three score years and ten, is still able to do a full day's work. Mr. Denney is a Democrat, interested in local affairs, but has never been willing to accept office.


Isaac M. Denney was married in 1849, to Sarah Taylor. Their children are: I. Emma (Mrs. Draper Voshell), of Wilmington, Del .; II. Elizabeth (Mrs. Henry Harper), of Little Creek hundred; III. James, married Lydia Harper; IV. Henry, married Mary Conway, both deceased. Mr. Denney and his wife are members of the M. P. church.


BENJAMIN F. HAMM, P. O. Dover, Del., son of Dr. Benjamin F. and Ann (Plea- santon) Hamm, was born in Camden, Del., on October 15, 1815.


The Hamm family is of German ancestry. In the Fatherland the name was spelled Hen- richam. Members of the family came to America early in colonial times, and after re- siding temporarily in various places, settled permanently in Delaware, taking up land be- tween Dover and Leipsic. This tract re- mained in possession of the family for many generations, but is now owned by Mr. Smick, of Philadelphia.


John Hamm, grandfather of Benjamin F. Hamm, 2, lived on the ancestral acres and cultivated their productive soil. He married Susanna Stout. They had children: I. John, 2; IT. Charles; III. Alexander; IV. Benja- min F .; V. Susanna; VI. Lorena; VII. Margaret; VIII. Mary; now all deceased. Mr. Hamm died on his farm.


John Hamm, 2, went to Zanesville, Ohio, when a young man, and became celebrated.


Ile was appointed Charge d'Affairs in Chili by President Jackson. He married, in Zanes- ville, Sarah, daughter of General John Van Horn. Mr. Hamm died in Zanesville. Charles Hamm occupied the homestead with his mother after his father's death. He mar- ried Miss Buckmaster, of Frederica, Del. Alexander Hamm read law in Dover under Attorney Ridgely, and when he had complet- ed his studies went to New Orleans, La., and practiced his profession in that populous city. HIe was stricken with yellow fever there and died. He was unmarried. Mary Hamm mar- ried Mr. Keith, and died on a farm in Kent county. She had one child, John HI. Keith, who went Zanesville, Ohio, and lived with his unele. He became a noted attorney-at- law, and when he removed to Chillicothe at a latter period, was made presiding judge over the courts of that district.


Dr. Benjamin F. Hamm was born on the mansion farm about 1791. He was well- educated, having attended a select school at Dover, and the Newark Academy. He read medicine in Smyrna with Dr. Ridgely, and after graduation, began the practice of his profession in Camden, Del. While playing ball one day he met with an accident by which his thumb was broken; lockjaw result- ed, and caused his death. Dr. Hamm mar- ried Ann, daughter of John and Susanna (Stevens) Pleasanton, of Little Creek hun- dred. They had children: I. Pleasanton; II. Susan (Mrs. Hiram W, MeCauley), of Mil- ford, Del., deceased; III. Benjamin F., 2. Dr. Ilamm died in Camden in 1815. Pleasan- ton Hamm, elder son of Dr. B. F. and Ann (Pleasanton) Hamm, went to Wilmington when he was fifteen years old, and learned printing in the office of the Delaware Gazette, afterward established the Camden Mail at Camden, N. J., a weekly paper, which he pub- lished for several years. Relinquishing the newspaper business he returned to Delaware and engaged in farming at Cowgill's Corner. Ile conducted, also, a general merchandise store at that place. Pleasanton Hamm mar- ried Abigail Sickles, of Camden, N. J. They had one child, Laura, wife of William F. Talbott, of the vicinity of Dover. Mrs. Abi- gail Hamm died, and Mr. IFamm married Sarah Porter, of Milford, Del. Their chil- dren are: I. Pleasanton, Jr .: II. Elizabeth (Mrs. Frank M. Brown), of Philadelphia; Mr.


1


latI bilgest ion sonla и по atnow


vorsa bar astedi ban Beraterbuti


Monself


743


STATE OF DELAWARE


Brown is a prominent attorney in that city. Pleasanton Hamm died about 1890 at Cow- gill's Corner.


After the death of Dr. Benjamin F. Hamm his widow married Colonel George Cubbage, an officer in the U. S. Navy. Their children are: I. George, went west when a young man and is now a farmer in Iowa; II. Eliza P. (Mrs. Robert H. Clark), of Milford, Del .; widow. Colonel Cubbage is deceased; but his wife survived him until 1876.


Benjamin F. Hamm, Jr., passed his fest days in Camden. He never saw his father, that worthy gentleman and able physician having died from lock-jaw (as above narrated) before his son's birth. Soon after his father's death, his mother removed with her children from Camden to Dover, where she resided for a short time. After her marriage with Colo- nel Cubbage, she removed to a farm near Cowgills Corner, where Benjamin F. ITamm began his school days. His first lessons were recited in a Friends' meeting-house which stood about a mile from Little Creek. This building was used for school purposes on week days, except during a portion of Thursday. On that day the members of the Society of Friends met there for prayer service, and while they were engaged at their devotions the pupils were dismissed and received per- mission to play about the school building and in the grove near by. Young Hamm attend- ed this school in the winter. During the sum- mer he worked on the farm for his step-father. The relations between the two, however, were not entirely cordial and one day when the lad had been punished by Colonel Cubbage, he ran away. He was ten years of age, and bent his steps toward the residence of his grand- father, John Pleasanton, on the old Stevens property, now owned by Mr. Hamm. There the boy found a home, and on the death of his grandfather, he assumed the management of the farm and has remained there ever since. Mr. Hamm is one of the most honor- ed men in his hundred. Intelligent, well- educated, generous, full of helpful actions and kind words, he has a friend in everybody who knows him. He is in his eighty-third year, but is still vigorous, mentally and physically. He is a stanch Democrat, and was elected to the State Legislature for one term.


Benjamin F. Hamm married, September 24, 1868, Ann Eliza, daughter of Isaac Car-


penter, of Milford, Del. They have three children: I. Elizabeth C .; II. Henry S .; III. Frank. All are at home. Mr. Hamm is a member of the M. P. church of Leipsic.


CHARLES R. VAUGHN, P. O. Cow- gill, Kent county, Del., son of Joseph B. and Jane (Lewis) Vaughn, was born near George- town, Sussex county, Del., February 5, 1828.


Among the first Englishmen to begin the cultivation of land in Delaware were mem- bers of the Vaughn family. They settled in Sussex county, and became prominent among the people of that part of the state. Charles Vaughn, grandfather of Charles R. Vaughn, was born in Sussex county before the Revo- lutionary War. He was a farmer. His wife was Penelope Waples; they had children: I. Nathaniel; II. Levin; III. Joseph B. Mrs. Vaughn died and Mr. Vaughn married secondly Tabitha Nichols. Their children were: I. Charlotte; II. Elizabeth; III. Jane; IV. Charles, 2, died in Sussex county. Mr. Vaughn died in Warwick, Sussex county.


Joseph B. Vaughn was born near Warwick, Sussex county, October 7, 1797. He became a stage driver in early life, and continued in this occupation for many years. Afterward he obtained a clerkship in a store at Warwick, and still later engaged in farming. Upon the death of his mother he fell heir to a tract of land of 450 acres near Georgetown. His moth- er left an estate of 900 acres which was divided between Joseph B. and his brother Nathaniel. Both tracts have been sold out of the family. Joseph B. Vaughn was a Democrat; he was elected recorder of deeds, and to several minor offices in his district. Joseph B. Vaughn mar- ried Jane, daughter of Jesse and Jane (Hall) Lewis, of the vicinity of Cool Springs, Sussex county. They had children: I. Mary, died young; II. Jane, died young; III. Nancy D. (Mrs. Edward P. McCauley), of Dover; IV. Charles R .; V. William, carpenter, of Wash- ington, D. C., Married Eliza Ann Hart; VI. Arcada (Mrs. James B. Coffin); Mr. and Mrs. Coffin died and were buried in Wilming- ton; VII. Ellen, died young; III. John Peter, died young. Joseph B. Vaughn died on his farm in November, 1863. He was a member of the Baptist church, and took an active part in the work of his congregation. Mrs. Vaughn belonged to the M. E. church. Charles R. Vaughn was born on his


How8 95 0085 drode, boil rateli


yourto 1 alligwo"? t zand zul anged 1200 broda boota Desu www poiblind boole & paper jeenh


w ns yount


HAM1989 1011


:11


744


BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA


-


father's farm, where he spent his youth. His education was limited. The paternal acres were many, and the lad was required to de- vote much time to their cultivation, so that he spent but few hours in the school room, and those only when rough weather prevented work on the farm. After he was fifteen years old, nearly all his time was occupied with farm duties and this condition continued un- til he was twenty-four, and married. After his marriage, he rented a tract of land from his brother. On a portion of the old mansion farm, he built a home for his family, and re- mained there until 1865, when he removed to Ridden X Roads for a year. Afterward he resided for four years on Hiram W. McCau- ley's farm near Milford, and then for four- teen years lived on another of Mr. McCau- ley's farms, in Little Creek hundred. Mrs. Vaughn became ill on this farm, and was taken to the home of her son, Joseph B. Vaughn, where she died. Mr. Vaughn re- mained an inmate of her son's house for a short time, and then married again. His wife died a few months after her marriage, and Mr. Vaughn went to Cowgill's Corner, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1888 he married his third wife. With the excep- tion of a year spent in Dover Mr. and Mrs. Vaughn have lived at Cowgill's Corner since their marriage. Mr. Vaughn was postmaster under President Cleveland, during that chief executive's first term, for three years. He was succeeded in his office by his son, Charles R. Vaughn, 2. He was a Democrat.


On December 23, 1852, Charles R. Vaughn married Sarah Ann, daughter of Sheriff James and Ann (Walton) Steel. Their son is Wil- liam L. Vaughn, M. D., of Leipsic. Mrs. Sarah A. Vaughn died in 1880. In 1884 Mr. Vaughn married Nettie Jones, widow of James Jones; she died several months after- ward. In 1888 he married Caroline A., daughter of Joseph T. and Mary (Cameron) Osborne, and widow of William F. Waller.


William L. Vaughn, M. D., son of Charles R. Vaughn, was born near Milford, Sussex county, Del., April 12, 1867. He attended the public schools until he was sixteen years old, working at the same time on the farm. Then he entered Conference Academy, Dover, and was graduated there two years later. For four years he taught school in Sus- sex and Kent counties, meanwhile reading


medicine. In the fall of 1889 he entered the Hahnemann College of Medicine, Philadel- phia, and received his diploma in the spring of 1892. Ife immediately began the prac- tice of his profession in Berks county, Pa., and after two years removed to Leipsic, Del., where he is now a popular physician, in good practice. Dr. Vaughn is a Democrat of firm convictions.


Joseph T. Osborne, father of Mrs. Charles R. Vaughn, was born in Baltimore, of Scotch parentage. Ile grew up in that city; at the age of nineteen he went to Milford, Del., and learned cooperage with John Tucker. This trade he followed until his marriage. Then he established a cooper shop at Middleford, Del., and for a quarter of a century conducted business there very successfully. He then removed to Millsborough, Sussex county, Del., where he made barrels for George W. Herring. Being taken ill there, Mr. Osborne was removed to the home of his daughter, Mrs. Thomas B. Spicer, of Seaford, where he died. Joseph T. Osborn married Mary Cameron, and had children: I. Susan (Mrs. William Rawlins), of Middleford, Del .; II. Catherine (Mrs. John Wooden), of Sussex county, Del .; III. Annie (Mrs. Thomas B. Spicer), of Dover; IV. Caroline A. (Mrs. Charles R. Vaughn), of Cowgill's Corner, born near Middleford, in 1844; V. Joseph T., 2,


of Laurel, Del .; five children are dead. Mr. Osborne died in 1865, aged sixty-two years; Mrs. Osborne died in 1858, at Millsborough. They were members of the M. E. church. Alexander Cameron, the maternal grand- father of Mrs. Vaughn, was born in Scotland. After coming to America he taught school for many years, chiefly in Delaware. He mar- ried Miss Murphy.


CHARLES F. HARPER, P. O. Leipsic, Del., son of Andrew and Annie (Keith) Har- per, was born in Little Creek hundred, Kent county, Del., October 6; 1837.


His grandfather, Charles Harper, was a farmer and lived in Kent county, Del. He was a man of prominence and an active Whig politician. He married Rachel Barber, and had children: I. Francis, married Lydia Pal- mer, lived on a farm near Leipsic, served at least one term as a member of the State Legis- lature; II. Andrew; III. Charles, 2, married Martha Hardcastle, settled in Leipsic and en-


HASIDOYO IL


081 10


0 010V jenter viny Seeds bare


nu houndans noitibons gida bon saitul urent


De 70.25


Grand un


Robert, Clay Justis


747


STATE OF DELAWARE


gaged in mercantile pursuits.' Charles Har- per died on his farm near Dover. His widow survived him several years.


Andrew Harper was born May 1, 1811, on his father's farm near Leipsic. This farm is now owned by J. R. Nicholson and is called the "Wheel of Fortune" farm. There young Harper passed his youthful years. He was very desirous of obtaining a thorough educa- tion, and permitted no opportunities for ad- ding to his store of knowledge to go unim- proved. After attending the public schools, he completed his school course at the Dover Academy. Returning home, he took up for a while the routine of farm life, but soon ob- tained a position as clerk in a store. Then he married, and established his household on his farm, now owned by his son, Charles F. For five years, he was engaged in mercantile pur- suits in Leipsic, after which he again resided on the farm and gave it his personal attention. For the last twenty years before his death he lived retired. Mr. Harper was a an able man, and was chosen Levy Court commissioner for one term. He was an inflexible Republican. An- drew Harper married Annie, daughter of Wil- liam and Elizabeth (Collins) Keith, of Kent county, Del. They had children: I. William, died young; II. Charles F .; III. Mary Eliza- beth, died young; IV. Mary Annie, died young; V. Henry, farmer, near Leipsic; VI. Lydia (Mrs. James Denny), resides near Leip- sie. Andrew Harper died March 12, 1892; Mrs. Harper died about 1886.


Charles F. Harper was born on the farm he now owns, and was reared a farmer. Until he was about seventeen years old, he attended the Leipsic public schools, doing, meanwhile, a portion of the work on his father's farm. He remained at home until his marriage. Then he enlisted in Company F, Sixth Regi- ment, Delaware Volunteer Infantry, or home guards, for six months, and was stationed at Brush River when General Lee threatened the state of Delaware. He afterwards resumed farming, and has continued in that oecu- pation. He is a progressive citizen and held in much esteem in his community. He is a Prohibitionist, but was formerly a Whig.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.