Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 122

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 122

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Isaac S. Lapham, sixth son of Isaac and Mary (Smith) Lapham, was reared upon that farm, acquired a good English education, and Jearned surveying, to which occupation he de- voted himself for some time. After his mar- riage, he settled on the homestead, but later sold it, and removed in 1865 to Kent county, Del., where he purchased from Joseph Farris the farm now owned by his son. The estate was known as Sevil Place. Mr. Lapham im-

mediately began improvements on an exten- sive scale, in preparation for raising small fruits. Here he was largely and actively en- gaged'in fruit culture until 1880, when he re- tired, transferring the control of his property to his son. In his political views Isaac L. Lapham was a Republican. Mr. Lapham's first wife was Anna, daughter of Wilmarth Smith, of Ontario county, N. Y. They had one child, Edward W. Mrs. Anna Lapham died in January, 1843. Isaac S. Lapham af- terwards married Hannah T. Hoag, of New York. He died on his farm, October 11, 1895.

Edward W. Lapham attended common schools and afterwards select schools in On- tario county, and completed his course at the age of eighteen at the Macedon Academy, in Wayne county, N. Y. For seven years after- ward he was engaged as a salesman; in 1867, he joined Mr. and Mrs. I. S. Lap- ham in their new home in Delaware, and became his father's active assist- ant in his farming and fruit-raising interests. Since assuming the entire charge in 1880, Mr. Lapham has acquired ad- ditional property, and largely increased his business connections. He now owns two very productive farms, judiciously laid out, and comprising more than 700 acres. From these he has sold fruit to the value of $10,000 in one year; his net annual profits range from $4,000 to $8,000. ITis residence is on the farm of 200 acres, near Clayton, which his father originally purchased. It is a place of more than ordinary beauty, having upon it a large dwelling, with well-equipped barns and other receptacles; the spacious grounds sur- rounding the mansion have received the care- ful attention of a competent landscape gar- dener. Mr. Lapham has studied fruit culture scientifically, and is considered an authority on that subject in the state. He is much es- teemed for his personal traits as well as for his business knowledge and methods. He is a stanch Republican.

Edward W. Lapham was married May 20, 1867, to Elizabeth A., daughter of John W. and Louisa Fry, of Michigan. Their chil- dren are: I. J. Spencer, farmer, of Goldsboro, Md., married Harriet Bridgeman, of Chica- go, Ill., has one child, Edward W. Lapham, born December 15, 1897, at Goldsboro, Md .; TI. T. Luther, at home.

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STATE OF DELAWARE

John Lapham, brother of Isaac Lapham, and granduncle of Edward W. Lapham, mar- ried Zinerhoda Smith, sister of Mrs. Isaac Lapham. IIe was probate judge of Ontario county, N. Y., for several years. One of his sons was Hon. E. G. Lapham, successor to Hon. Roscoe Conklin in the United States Senate.

ROBERT RAWLEY, P. O. Clayton, Del., son of James and Rachel (Cohee) Raw- ley, was born near Willow Grove, Kent coun- ty, Del., July 27, 1827.

The Rawley family is of English descent. There is a difference in the orthography of the name. Some of the family now living in Del- aware spell it Rawley, others Raughley, and still others have adopted other forms. James Rawley, father of Robert Rawley, was born in Kent county, Del., was reared on a farm, and always devoted himself to the cultivation of the soil and the raising of fine live stock. He prospered greatly, and while yet a young man had attained affluence. James Rawley married Rachel, daughter of Vincent and Marian Cohee, of Kent county, Del. They had children: I. Henry, died in Smyrna, was married first to Lydia Slaughter, afterward to Sarah Hale, of Philadelphia; II. Robert; III. Mary (Mrs. Alexander Pleasanton), died in Raymond's Neck, Kent county, Del .; IV. Rachel (Mrs. Robert Jones), died in Leipsic, Del .; V. Eliza, deceased; VI. Ann (Mrs. William D. Hoffecker), of Kenton hundred, Kent county, Del .; VII. James, 2, died in Raymond's Neck; VIII. John, of Smyrna, was married, first, to Sarah J. Wrench, after- ward to Rebecca Smith, widow of the late John Williams; IX. William, of New Castle county, married Lydia Heckman. James Rawley died in Little Creek hundred, Kent county, Del., about 1853, aged about forty- seven years; Mrs. Rawley died about 1846.

Robert Rawley's parents removed from the neighborhood of Willow Grove to that of Clayton, in the northern part of Kent county, when he was but twelve years old. During the winter months he attended the public schools; in summer he took his place among the laborers in the field. He was early trained in the calling of his father, and at the age of ten years, when it was necessary for him to raise his hands as high as his head to reach the plow handles, he was given his allotment

of the plowing to be done for sowing time. In 1851 he married, and sometime afterward leased a farm in Raymond's Neck from Alex- ander Peterson, of Philadelphia. At the end of two years he purchased a farm in Ray- mond's Neck, which he tilled for thirty years. In October, 1886, he bought the tract of land he now occupies, to which he removed in Jan- uary, 1887. On this farm he raises many varieties of small fruits, besides the usual grain crops. He served for two years as tax collector of Little Creek hundred. Mr. Raw- ley is an ardent Democrat.

On January 30, 1851, Robert Rawley mar- ried Amanda Sayr, daughter of John W. and Jane (Stretch) Wilson, born in Salem coun- ty, N. J. Their children are: I. John Wes- ley, commission merchant, of Philadelphia, married Elizabeth Clark, of Philadelphia; Il. J. Frank, ice dealer, of Chester county, Pa., married Sarah Wingate, of Kent county, Del., has children, i. Althiea, ii. May V., iii. Neva; III. Laura B. (Mrs. George Elliott), of Leip- sie, Del., has children, i. Beulah, ii. Bessie Ray; IV. Georgiana (Mrs. John L. Scotton), of Leipsic, has one child, John M .; V. Wil- mer I)., at home, was married, first, to Anna Marvel, had children, i. Bertha, ii. Ethel, and married afterward, Katie Ellis; VI. Eva (Mrs. John Whitlock), of Clayton, Del .; VII. Roscoe D., of Clayton, married Lulu Ander- son, has one son, Mervin L .; VIII. Ehna Wilson, milliner in Philadelphia. Five chil- dren are dead. They were Robert Emmett, Amanda J., Robert Wilson, Gardener and Arthur.

JOIIN W. MYERS, P. O. Blackiston X Roads, Kent county, Del., son of William and Anna (Myers) Myers, was born near Millington, Kent county, Md., January 8, 1824.

Ilis paternal great-grandfather, Luke Myers, was a British subject, and came to America from England or one of the small islands along its coast. Luke Myers, 2, grand- father of John W. Myers, was a resident of Maryland for many years and died in Kent county, Md. He had children: I. William; II. Lydia.

William Myers was born in Kent county, Md. He spent his entire life there, and be- came an affluent farmer and an esteemed citi-

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BIOGRAPHIICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

zen. In his political views he was a Federal- ist. William Myers was married to Anna, widow of Samuel Lewis; by her first marriage she had one child, who died young. Mr. Myers had children: I. John W .; II. Wil- liam, 2, of Maryland, married Wood; III. Thomas Frisby, of Smyrna, Del., married Irene Jackson, half sister of Mrs. John W. Myers. William Myers died in 1844; his widow died at the home of her son, near Townsend, Md.

John W. Myers was reared on the farm. He was fond of farm duties and the pastimes of the farmer's boy. When the grain was in the barn and the corn on the shock, he spent the greater part of his time in hunting, and became a skilled shot. All this interfered seriously with his education, but in later years he made amends by hard work at his books. When he was nineteen, his father died, and he took charge of the home farm, where he lived for many years. Then he dis- posed of it, and purchased his present tract of sixty-four acres in Kenton hundred, Kent county, Del. On this he erected substantial buildings. In politics Mr. Myers is a Demo- crat.

John W. Myers was twice married. His first wife was Emily Reed; they had children: I. William, died when sixteen years old; II. John Reed, born February 4, 1855, was edu- cated in the district schools of Kent county, Del., worked on the farm until he was nine- teen, learned telegraphy and followed that oc- cupation for two years, served as deputy sheriff for a year, read law in Baltimore, Md., and is now an attorney-at-law in good practice in St. Louis, Mo., is married, and has three children. Mrs. Emily Myers died in Kent county, Md., in 1857. On August 2, 1859, John W. Myers was married to Elizabeth, daughter of John A. and Elizabeth (Speer) Jackson, born in Kenton hundred. Her mother was the widow of James Hurlock. By his second marriage John W. Myers has children: I. Mary L. (Mrs. Grandon Reed), of near Middletown, Md .; II. James F., of Chester, Pa .; III. Anna E. (Mrs. William J. Ketley), of Wilmington; IV. Emily R., of Wilmington; V. Walter (., at home; VI. Margaret (Mrs. Grayson), of New Castle, Del .; VII. Hermann H., of Philadelphia. Mr. Myers attends the M. E. church of Black- iston X Roads.

WILLIAM SHAWN JONES, P. O. Ken- ton, Kent county, Del., son of James and Anna (Crockett) Jones, was born at Brenford, Kent county, Del., January 30, 1830.

His grandfather was John Jones, who was born in Delaware, followed agricultural pur- suits, and married Rebecca Among his children were: I. Josiah, married and died in Pennsylvania; II. Isaac, married Ellen Pierce, and died near Kenton; his widow reached the age of ninety-eight, and died in Smyrna; III. James.

James Jones was born at Sandtown, in Sus- sex county, near Milford, May 10, 1800. There he spent his youth. While he was vet an infant his parents died, and he was placed in the care of strangers, until he was old enough to be bound out. Ilis lines fell in hard places; his master was severe, and whipped the little fellow without reason or mercy, and his mistress was unfeeling. When some of the friends of his parents learned of this cruel treatment, they found another home for him. With such early surround- ings, it is not surprising that James Jones did not attend school, and he had attained man- hood before he learned to read and write. 1s a boy, he was a very capable farin laborer, and received the wages usually paid to a man, $6 per month. For a number of years he worked for "Aunt Polly" Farsons, near Bren- ford. After his marriage he leased the Sever- son farm, of that vicinity, and later purchased the farm on which William S. Jones now re- sides. James Jones was highly esteemed in his community, and was familiarly called "Uncle Jimmy." He was a Whig, and after- ward a Republican, and was elected to a num- ber of offices in Duck Creek hundred. James Jones married Anna (Crockett) Train, widow of James Train; their children were: I. John (., married Elizabeth Bailey, widow of an unele of Mrs. William Shawn Jones, and died on the Bailey farm, near Kenton; II. James E., married Mary Jones, a cousin, and re- sides in Philadelphia; III. William Shawn; IV. Isaac, married Henrietta Attix, resides in Philadelphia; V. Joseph, died when a youth; VI. Eliza (Mrs. John Parker), widow, of Hartly, Kent county; VII. Edward F., married Martha Lofland, resides in Kenton hundred. Mrs. Anna Jones died March 5, 1859, aged sixty-one. James Jones after- wards married Catharine A. Purse, of Kenton,

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Del. Mr. Jones died on his estate in 1873, in his seventy-fourth year; his widow died in Kenton hundred. Mr. Jones was a member of the M. E. church.

When William Shawn Jones was but a month old, his parents. removed to the Need- ham farm, on which he now lives, and which his father afterwards bought. When old enough for work, he had time for only the winter sessions of school; but every day in the schoolroom was profitable to him. He attended the old "Alley" school, the Nelson school, and one in Kenton. He was profi- cient in all his branches, and fond of all, ex- cept English grammar, which he disliked, and, possibly for that reason, could not master its rules and forms. But, notwithstanding this, he wrote English correctly and spoke it well, and his school compositions were always very satisfactory to his instructor. Sixty years ago, the conditions of the farmers' life differed much from those of to-day, and Mr. Jones takes pleasure in recalling them. His mother spun the wool for his winter garments, and the flax for his summer suits, wove the cloth, and made his raiment. One of the institutions of the period was the "flax-pulling" at the various houses, and those presided over by Mrs. Jones were events long remembered. From miles around gathered the lads and lasses to help in the work and to spend a jolly time, the jollier for the anticipation of the rich puddings and other good things Mrs. Jones had prepared for them. William Shawn Jones was not of large stature, but he was muscular and of strong will, and while still a boy, took his place with the men in the fields. He guided wooden plows through the furroughs and drove the scythe through the grain in company with his elders. Particu- larly skilful was he as a cradler, and he was never left behind by the swinging rows of men in their journeys about the fields. His father was naturally a good singer, but in early life, William did not appear to inherit his talent.

Until he was twenty-one years old, William Shawn Jones continued in the employ of his father on the farm; then he leased his father's farm in "the Forest" for several years, and afterward occupied the George W. Cummings farm for sixteen years. After the death of Ins father, in 1873, William Shawn Jones ad- ministered on his estate and purchased the

homestead, to which he has since added a number of acres. He raises grain and fruit, and has been a successful farmer. In politics he was first a Whig, then a Republican, and is now a Prohibitionist.

In 1851 William Shawn Jones married Frances A., daughter of James Sipple. Their children are: 1. Alfred, a railroad employee, married a daughter of John Young; II. Charles, ranchman in the west, married there. Mrs. Frances A. Jones died in 1855. In 1857 William Shawn Jones married Sarah Ellen, daughter of William W. and Ann (Bailey) Nelson, of Kenton hundred, and had children: I. William W., farmer, of Kent county, mar- ried Anna Underwood; II. George F., piano dealer, Dover, married Anna Lofland; III. John, at work in a factory in Dover, married Lydia Voshell; IV. Anna, married Henry Ross, farmer, of Kent county; V. Mary (Mrs. William S. Hardcastle), of Cheswold, Del .; VI. Elizabeth F., at home; VII. Ella (Mrs. David (. Hoffecker), of Clayton, Del .; VIII. Sarah Bailey (Mrs. James D. Pratt), of Ken- ton, Del. Mr. Jones is a member of the M. E. church of Kenton, and a steward and trustee of the congregation. He was converted when he was twelve years old, and for fifty-four years has been connected with the church as an active, faithful member.

ROBERT T. J. BARBER, M. D., Har- rington, Del., son of Robert T. and Dorsey A. (Penn) Barber, was born near Chaptico, St. Mary's county, Md.

Ile is a descendant of families which contrib- uted much to the history of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. His great-grand- father, Luke White Barber, was a resident of Virginia and died there. He was married to Diana, daughter of Robert and Judith (Wood) King. Mrs. Barber died in Virginia at the age of eighty-six years. Walter Barber, son of Luke White Barber, and grandfather of Robert T. J. Barber, was born in Virginia, lat removed to St. Mary's county, Md., when a young man. There he engaged in the culti- vation of tobacco, and owned a large number of slaves. Ile was married first to Mary Wain- wright; they had two sons: I. George, who died in Warsaw, Mo., in 1888; HI. Luke, who died in South Carolina. Walter Barber's second wife was Maria Thomas, of St. Mary's county, Md .; their children were: I. Robert

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T .; II. Philip, who died young; III. Walter, 2, of Philadelphia; IV. Elizabeth (Mrs. James T. Cox), died in St. Mary's county, Md. Walter Barber, Sr., died in St. Mary's county, Md., in 1832. His widow married William St. Clair, of St. Mary's county; they had four children: 1. Marion; II. Chapman; III. Lewis; IV. Edward.

Robert T. Barber was born on the old home- stead in St. Mary's county, Md., in 1824, and received a good education in the district schools and at Charlotte Academy. Ile was reared a farmer, and devoted much of his land to the cultivation of tobacco. Like his father, he possessed many slaves. Robert T. Barber was married first to Mary Mattingley, of St. Mary's county, Md. Their children were: I. Josephine (Mrs. Noble L. Penn), died in St. Mary's county, in 1896, leaving a large family; II. Maria (Mrs. H. T. Rowe), of Charles county, Md., has three children, i. Jesse, a minister of the gospel, ii. H. W. B., physician, iii. Thomas, a teacher; III. Jennie (Mrs. J. W. Simpson), of Baltimore, has four sons. Mrs. Mary Barber died in 1855, and Mr. Barber married, secondly, Dor- sey A., daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Johnson) Penn, born in St. Mary's county, in 1831. Their living children are: I. Chloe Rebecca Ophelia (Mrs. Prof. C. Bruce Bar- ber), of Virginia, has three children; II. Ly- dia C. K. (Mrs. Vestor Golden), of Charles county, Md., widow; III. Caroline (Mrs. J. T. Wampler), died in Front Royal, Virginia, in 1880; IV. Robert T. J .; V. Effie E. (Mrs. B. W. Burroughs), of St. Mary's county; VI. Martha M. (Mrs. Z. M. Fowler), resides on the homestead. Other children died young. Mr. Barber's children numbered seventeen. Robert T. Barber died April 7, 1896, aged seventy-two years. He was a member of the M. E. church south, an active Christian work- er, a deacon in the congregation, and super- intendent of the Sunday-school.

On the maternal side Dr. Barber is des- cended from William Penn, who was his great-great-grandfather. Mrs. Robert T. Bar- ber's full name was Dorsey Ann Elizabeth Jane Yates Penn, her grandfather was John Penn, a grandson of the first proprietor of Pennsylvania. He was married to Eleanor Hutton, of Charles county, Md. They had twenty-one children. One of these children was Henry Penn, who was born in Pennsyl-

vania, but removed to St. Mary's county, Md., in early manhood. In that county he became an extensive planter. Henry Penn married Elizabeth Johnson, of Virginia, a relative of President Jolmson. They had children: 1. Charles, a soldier in the Mexican War, died in 1896 near Budd's Creek, Md .; HI. Dorsey Ann (Mrs. Robert T. Barber). Henry Penn died on his plantation near Port Tobacco, Charles county, Md.

Robert T. J. Barber attended the public schools of St. Mary's county, Md., until he was fifteen years old. In the succeedingyear, he was a pupil in Bethel Military Academy in Fa- quier county, Va., and proved especially apt in military tactics. Afterward he entered the Charlotte Hall State Military school and con- pleted a three years' course in that institution, ranking high in his class, and being graduated in 1881. In addition to the curriculum of that school, studied Greek, Latin, German, chemistry and other special branches. During the latter portion of his school term, he was captain of Company A, of the school batta- lion. After his graduation, Dr. Barber spent one year at home, and then matriculated in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Balti- more, where he took four general courses and one special course in surgery. In March, 1886, he obtained his degree of M. D. Dr. Barber began the practice of his profession in Farmington, Del., and afterwards established himself in Harrington, where he has for a number of years found a wide field for his talents. He has always taken an active interest in military affairs, due in part to his academi- cal training. He was orderly sergeant of Com- pany G, First Regiment, National Guard of Delaware, of Harrington, and in April, 1895, was appointed assistant surgeon of the regi- ment. Dr. Barber is a member of the follow- ing organizations: Farmington Lodge, I. O. O. F .; Harrington Council, No. 4, Jr. O. U. A. M .; Mispillion Conelave, No. 33, I. O. H .; Harrington Lodge, No. 15, A. O. U. W .; Mingo Tribe, No. 31, I. O. R. M., and Har- rington Lodge, No. 65, Home Forum. He is a supporter of the Prohibition party and a hearty advocate of its doctrines.

On January 10, 1855, Robert T. J. Bar- ber was married to Lucie, daughter of Jona- than and Mary E. (Bond) Hayden, born Octo- ber 27, 1861, near Chaptico, Md. Their chil- dren are: I. Violet I., born December 30,

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STATE OF DELAWARE

1887; II. IIelen E., born March 10, 1890; III. Mary, born June 22, 1894, died July 2. 1894. Mrs. Lucie Barber died July 7, 1894. In 1895 Dr. Barber married Mary A. Hayden, a sister of his first wife. Dr. Barber is a member of the M. E. church.

JAMES D. WEST, M. D., Harrington, Del., son of Isaac Collins and Nancy Hill (Derickson) West, was born in Frankford, Baltimore hundred, Sussex county, Del., No- vember 10, 1838.

On the paternal side Dr. West is of English descent. His great grandfather was born in Virginia, and came to Delaware when a young man. Ilis grandfather was Ezekiel West, a farmer of Baltimore hundred, Sussex coun- tv, who married Eliza Tunnell, of Baltimore hundred. Their children were: I. Ezekiel, 2, was for several years a sailor, and then settled in the west; II. Elizabeth (Mrs. Wharton), died in Iowa; III. Isaac Collins. Mr. West died in Baltimore hundred while compara- tively young. His widow married Mr. Evans, of Baltimore hundred. They had one child, Jolm, deceased.

Isaac Collins West, younger son of Eze- kiel West, was born in Baltimore hundred in 1805. In his youth he learned blacksmithing, and carried on that occupation for many years. He was well known in his trade, and highly esteemed as a citizen. Isaac Collins West was married to Nancy Hill Derickson, born in Sussex county in 1812. Their chil- dren are: I. Sarah (Mrs. Rev. James Mc- Laughlin), died in Maryland; II. George Il., farmer of Ocean View Del., mar- ried Annie E. Tunnell; III. Elizabeth L., died in Baltimore hundred; V. James D .; VI. Isaac D., M. D., of Dallas, Texas, mar- ried Mollie Slay; VII. Ezekiel, deceased. Isaac C. West died in Baltimore hundred in 1877; his widow died at Ocean View in 1885. Ile was an active member of the M. E. church.

Until he was eighteen years old, James D. West remained at home, assisting his father in his blacksmith shop and on the farm, and attending the district schools a portion of cach year. The story of his life is the old one of the ambition and perseverance of the Ameri- can boy, and his ultimate triumph over seem- ingly unconquerable difficulties. Though poor, he was determined to study for a pro- fession, and while he worked on his father's

farm and in the forge, he was devising means to gratify his desire. At night he pored over such books as he could obtain, and taught him- self the rudiments of medical science. Then he secured a position in a drugstore in Mil- ford, and after a time entered the Eclectic Medical College in Philadelphia. From this institution he was graduated in 1865, after having earned every cent of money required to support him while he pursued his studies. He began the practice of his profession in Centreville, Sussex county, Del .; later he removed to Roxana, Del., and in 1881 came to Harrington. Here he has resided for the past seventeen years, has acquired a large practice, and won the lasting esteem of his neighbors as a skilled physician and a kindly, Christian gentleman. Dr. West is active in the cause of Prohibition, and was the candidate of the Prohibition party for the Delaware legislature in 1896.

On July 1, 1868, Dr James D. West was married to Annie Rickards, widow of his brother, Ezekiel L. West. Their children are: I. Edith (Mrs. Henry Matthews), of Phil- adelphia; II. Isaac C., of Dallas, Texas, trav- cling salesman, married Clarinda A. Carter; III. James D., Jr., died in 1897, aged twen- ty-four years. Dr. West is a member of the M. E. church.

TERRENCE GUSTAVUS RILEY, M. D., Harrington, Del., son of Terrence Weed and Emily A. (Elgin) Riley, was born in Washington, D. C., November, 1865.

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 122

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