USA > Delaware > Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I > Part 40
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Albert B. Gillespie was married in the Cen- tral Presbyterian church, of Wilmington, May 2, 1870, by Rev. Charles D. Shaw, to Rebecca, daughter of and Elizabeth Wilson. Their children are: I. Elizabeth W. (Mrs. Walter L. Butler); II. Mary Eaves. Mr. Gillespie and his family are members of the Central Presbyterian church.
The Eaves family are, as has been shown, closely connected with the Gillespie family, through several intermarriages. The brothers John and William De Shane Eaves were born in New Castle, Del. John Eaves married, and had children, as follows: I. Susan, mar- ried Adam Alexander, a native of New Lon- don, Pa., who removed to Piqua, Ohio, and there died, leaving a large family; II. Mary (Mrs. Thomas Jefferson Gillespie), whose family is described above; III. Eliza Jane (Mrs. Franklin Gillespie); IV. John Eaves, Jr., died and was buried in St. Louis, Mo.
William De Shane Eaves, who resided in New London, Pa., was for many years a tan- ner. He first married Miss Ferris, of Glas- gow, Del. Their children were: I. Marga- ret, who married Dr. ---- Aiken, of New London, Pa .; HI. James E., married Martha
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Strawbridge, had children, i. William D., of II. James, married to Irene Williams, April New London, Pa., ii. James Strawbridge, M. 22, 1896, has one child, Eleanor. Mr. and Mrs. Williams attend Olivet Presbyterian church. D., also of New London; iii. Albert, died and was buried at New London, where James E. Eaves and his wife also died and are interred; III. Amos Ferris, married and died in Wil- JONES GUTHRIE, Wilmington, Del., son of Adam and Phebe (Jones) Guthrie, was born in Chester county, Pa., August 13, 1836. mington, Del., and was buried at Oxford, Chester county, Pa .; IV. Bertha Ferris, mar- " ried James Morrow, of Wilmington, where both died and were interred in the Wilming- ton and Brandywine cemetery, leaving sons, i. William Eaves, ii. Robert Du Bois, iii. James Cleland, iv. Louis Bush, all residing in Wilmington. The first wife of William D. Eaves died and was buried at New London, Pa. Ile afterwards married Mary Gillespie, daugliter of George Gillespie, as stated above. Both died in Wilmington, and were interred at New London, Chester county, Pa.
WILLIAM D. WILLIAMS, Wilmington, Del., son of William and Nancy (Burton) Williams, was born in Wheeling, W. Va., January 3, 1833.
His grandfather, John Williams, was a resi- dent of Ohio and a soldier in the Revolution- ary War. His father, William Williams, a steamboat engineer, was born and died in West Virginia. William Williams was three times married. Ilis first wife was Nancy Burton; they had three children, of whom William D. is one. The name of Mr. Wil- liams' second wife is not known. He was wedded the third time to Sarah Green; of their three children, two survive: I. Martha; II. John.
William D. Williams was educated in the private schools in Wheeling, and afterward learned tinsmithing in that city. In 1866 he came to Wilmington and worked at his trade, establishing himself in business on his own account soon after his arrival here. By care- ful attention and untiring energy he acquired a large business connection, and is now the head of the firm of Williams & Hopkins, dealers in stoves and tinware. His political views are liberal; he is not active in partisan contests, but votes for such candidates as he believes best equipped for the duties of the various offices to be filled.
William D. Williams married Margaret Hawthorne, in Utica, N. Y. They have two children, both residing in Wilmington: T. Martha, unmarried, born January 8, 1874;
Ilis ancestors on his father's side were Scotch-Irish, and on his mother's side na- tives of Wales. His paternal great-grand- father was a man of splendid physical devel- opment, over six feet in height. He lived for some time in Chester county and then went to the West, where he died. Mr. Guthrie's maternal grandfather, Moses Jones, was born in Chester county and lived there until his death. His home was about four miles from West Chester. He married Phebe Mercer, also a life-long resident of Chester county. Mr. Jones was one of the pillars of the M. E. church at the "Old Grove" in Chester county.
The paternal grandfather of Jones Guthrie was a native of Chester county, whose son, Adam Guthrie, was also born in that county, and there devoted himself throughout his life- time to agricultural pursuits. Adam Guthrie married Phebe, daughter of Moses Jones. They had thirteen children: I. Jones; II. Sarah, widow of Lewis Mendenhall; III. Phebe, widow of William Hill; IV. Annie, deceased, wife of George W. Vernon, editor of the Wilmington Republican; V. Jo-eph, deceased; VI. Mary, widow of Alexander J. Larabee; VII. Richard; VIII. John, killed in the war of the Rebellion; IX. William, of Wilmington; X. Emeline ( Mrs. Joseph David- son); XI. Hannah (Mrs. Bayard Shaladey). Two children died in infancy.
Jones Guthrie was a farmer's son, and his early life was a counterpart of that of nearly every boy born on a farin: he helped plough the ground, plant the seed, cut the grain and put away the harvest, and obtained as much education as he could in the unoccupied days of winter. He was not satisfied with this cir- cumscribed life, and in August, 1847, when he was sixteen years old, he left the homestead and came to Wilmington to learn carriage- trimming. By the year 1863 he had accu- mulated sufficient money to begin business for himself as a carriage manufacturer, and his venture was very successful. He is now one of the leaders of the trade in Wilmington.
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Mr. Guthrie is a Republican; he was elected to the school board of New Castle county, Del., and served several years. He is a mem- ber of Washington Lodge, No. 1, F. and _1. M.
Jones Guthrie was married, July 3, 1846, in Chester county, Pennsylvania, to Hannah Maria, daughter of Job and Susan Lowrie, of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. They have children: I. William T .; II. George C .; III. Mary A .; IV. Clara (Mrs. Joel Christy); V. Jennie (Mrs. Frank Cooling); VI. Idella, wife of Dr. W. B. Rowland; VII. Bertha (Mrs. Beaton Smith); VIII. Phebe, wife of Dr. J. II. Ryle; IX. Lillie E .; X. Grace (Mrs. Edwin Pierce); XI. Laura; XII. Willard. Mr. Guthrie and family attend St. Paul's M. E. church.
George C. Guthrie, second son of Jones and Hannah M. (Lowrie) Guthrie, was born in Wilmington, September 30, 1850. IIe re- ceived his educational training in the public schools of Wilmington and in a private school in Concordville, Pa. After leaving school he entered his father's carriage works, and has remained with him. He has been in the black- smith department for thirty years, and is bookkeeper for the establishment. Mr. Guth- rie is a past master of Oriental Lodge, No. 27, F. and A. M .; a member of St. John's Chap- ter, No. 1, R. A. M .; a past noble grand of Fairfax Lodge, No. 8, I. O. O. F .; a past chief patriarch of Reynolds Encampment, No. 3, I. O. O. F .; and has these titles in the I. O. R. M .: Past Sachem of Keokuk Tribe, Great Chief of Records of the Great Council of Delaware (second term), and Past Great Representative to the Great Council of the United States. He is a Republican. George C. Guthrie was married to Martha, daughter of Richard and Sarah Robinson, March 28, 1872. They have one son, Leonard K., born February 9, 1874, and now engaged in the plumbing business. Mr. Guthrie and family attend the M. E. church.
LINDLEY C. KENT, P. O., Wilming- ton, Del., son of the late Benjamin and Han- nah (Simmons) Kent, was born at Andrew's Bridge, Lancaster county, Pa., March 25, 1844.
When he was two years old his family re- moved to Chester county, Pennsylvania, where he was educated in the public schools and at
an academy taught by his brother. On Au- gust 13, 1862, at Wilmington, Del., he en- listed in Company F, Fourth Delaware Vol- unteers, Col. A. II. Grimshaw. He was rapidly promoted through the grades of non- commissioned officers until he reached the rank of sergeant of his company. On March 7, 1864, he passed a successful examination before the examining board at Washington, D. C., and was commissioned, on April 13, 1864, by order of the War Department, first lieu- tenant of the Thirty-second Regiment, United States colored troops. On June 28, 1864, he was honorably discharged. On September 15, 1864, he was again commissioned first lieutenant, and assigned to the Forty-fifth United States colored troops, of which regi- ment he was appointed adjutant. On Decem- ber 8, 1864, he was promoted to a captaincy in the same regiment, and on March 24, 1865, was advanced to the rank of major of the One Hundred and Ninth United States colored in- fantry, by order of General E. O. C. Ord. On February 6, 1866, Major Kent was mus- tered out of service with his regiment, at La- vaca, Tex., his regiment having been ordered to Texas soon after the surrender of Gen. Lee. He participated in a number of battles and skirmishes in Virginia in the great con- fliet, some of the most important of which were: Bottom's Bridge, Baltimore Cross- Roads, Deep Bottom, Fort Gilmore, Fort Har- rison, the siege of Richmond, the breaking of the Rebel lines in front of the Army of the Potomac, the fight near Hatcher's Run, the capture of Petersburg and the surrender of General Lee at Appomatox.
In 1866, Mr. Kent came to Wilmington, and for the greater part of the time since then has been engaged in the lumber business. During the last twenty-six years he has owned and successfully operated a large establish- ment. Mr. Kent has been pre-eminently a public-spirited citizen, foremost in educa- tional matters and prominent as a humani- tarian. That his labors for the advancement of his fellow-men have been appreciated is evidenced by the active and responsible posi- tions he has held in many beneficent organiza- tions. He was for two years a member of the Board of Education, is one of the mana- gers of the Ferris Industrial School, treasurer of the Minquadale Home for Aged Men and Couples, treasurer of the Delaware Society
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for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Home for Friendless and Destitute Children, a member of the Board of the African Society, and of the Boards of other charitable institutions. Ile is also a director of the Artisans' Savings Bank, a member of the Historical Society of Dela- ware, a member of the Board of Directors of the Wilmington Institute Free Library, and of the DuPont Post, No. 21, Grand Army of the Republic, of Wilmington. In politics he is a Republican.
Lindley C. Kent was married, in Wilming- ton, May 15, 1876, to Anna Grubb, dangh- ter of Adam and Rachel II. (MeGaw) Grubb. Their children are: I. Roland G .; II. Mary E. Mr. Kent is a member of the Society of Friends.
LAWRENCE J. BROMAN, Wilming- ton, Del., son of John Lawrence and Charlotte Wilhelmina Broman, was born in Stockholm, Sweden, June 28, 1852.
The paternal and the maternal ancestors of Mr. Broman all lived and died in Sweden. His parents were born in Stockholm; the father in 1824, died in 1868; the mother in 1822, died October 14, 1877. Of their fam- ily of nine children, but two survive: I. Law- rence J .; II. Charles F.
Lawrence J. Broman remained in his native land until he was twenty years old. He had received the advantages of a course in the national schools, and had been a salesman for a mercantile establishment, when, on April 23, 1872, he left Sweden and came to America, to find a broader and more re- munerative field for his energy. He landed in New York City and proceeded at once to Wilmington, Del. Here he worked, for about eight years, as a finisher of morocco leather, then engaged in the grocery business, made a year's venture in real estate operations, and in September, 1897, established a coal and ice depot, which he is now conducting. Mr. Bro- man is a member of Wilmington Lodge, No. 1, A. O. U. W., and is a Republican.
On September 4, 1875, in Germantown, Pa., by Rev. Mr. Farwell, Lawrence J. Bro- man was married to Caroline Wilhelmina Malmsten, who was born in Norke, Sweden. Their children are: I. Frank H., born January
17, 1876; II. William J., born August 8, 1880. Mr. Broman is a member of the Han- over Presbyterian church, and, at the same time, treasurer of the Second M. P. church. Mrs. Broman is a communicant of the Second Baptist church of Wilmington.
During the summer of 1897 Mr. and Mrs. Broman visited their native land, and spent more than two months with their friends and relatives. They left this country June 2, and returned to it August 20th.
WILLIAM H. ROBINSON, Wilmington, Del., son of George HI. and Mary G. (Mc- Donnell) Robinson, was born in Wilmington, September 24, 1845.
The Robinson family is of Swedish origin, and members of it were among the earliest settlers of Delaware. On the maternal side, Mr. Robinson's ancestry is Irish, his maternal grandfather having been a native of Belfast, Ireland. He married a lady who was born in London, England. They came to Delaware when the colony was in its infancy, and were among the first settlers of the city of Wil- mington. They were very closely identified with the founders of Methodism.
George II. Robinson was born in Wilming- ton in September, 1803. There he studied in the public schools and afterwards acquired his trade, that of coach trimming. IIe was em- ployed as a journeyman in both Wilmington and Philadelphia, and had his own establish- ment in the former place for many years. He was also engaged in the confectionery and ice cream business for fifty years, during which time his store was the most extensively patronized in Wilmington. He retired from business in 1870. George H. Robinson mar- ried Mary G., daughter of Margaret MeDonnell. Their children are: I. Samuel Weldon, died in early manhood; II. William H .; III. James Riddle, married Emma L. Brown, has one child, Mary Estelle; IV. George S. George II. Robinson died in Wilmington, November 7, 1882; his wife died in February, 1886.
William H. Robinson has always had his home in Wilmington. When a boy he at- tended the public schools and the Friends' School, and a few years later took a course in Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College. Subsequently he conducted a tobacco and cigar store for twenty-two years. In 1892,
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he was appointed deputy clerk of the Orphans' Court, and filled the office two years. He was afterward appointed deputy collector of in- ternal revenue and served in that position four years. On January 1, 1898, he engaged in the real estate and insurance business. Mr. Robinson is a member of Oriental Lodge, No. 27, F. and A. M .; of St. John's Chapter, No. 4, R. A. M., and of St. John's Commandery, No. 1, K. T. He is a staunch Democrat. ·
On January 17, 1883, in Chester, Pa., Wil- liam IL. Robinson married Mary R., daughter of Reuben and Caroline Hayes, and widow of Oliver Appleby. Mrs. Robinson was born in New Castle county, Del. By her first lius- band, she had children, as follows: I. R. Les- lie, married Jennie W. Logan, has one child, Iva Adele; II. Robert C., married Hannah B. Bradway; III. May Adele; IV. Blanche Dealva. Mrs. Robinson and her daughter, May Adele Appleby, are members of Grace M. E. church.
TITUS P. M. GRIFFITH, Wilmington, Del., son of Joseph and Mary E. (Mousley) Griffith, was born in Wilmington, May 9, 1842.
Joseph Griffith was born in Delaware coun- ty, Pa., in 1814. He removed to Wilming- ton, Del., about 1840, and engaged in the re- tail shoe business on French street. Joseph Griffith married Mary E., daughter of Titus and Mary Mousley, of New Castle county, Del. Their children were: I. William, of Chester, Pa .; II. Anna Mary (Mrs. Joseph McBride), of Wilmington, and III. Ann Jane, deceased, twins; IV. Titus P. M .; V. Olive (Mrs Samuel Drennau), of near New- ark, Del. Mr Griffith died in Delaware coun- ty, Pa .; Mrs. Griffith in Wilmington.
Titus P. M. Griffith removed with his par- ents to Centreville, Del., when very young, and at the age of twelve accompanied them to Delaware county, Pa., where he received the greater part of his education. In 1859 he returned to Wilmington and learned cabi- net making, afterwards working at the trade as a journeyman in Wilmington for several years; he then secured employment in the car- shops of the Jackson Sharp Co. For the past twenty-five years he has been in the service of the P., W. & B. R. R. Co., and is a trusted employee. Mr. Griffith is a member of Fair- fax Lodge, No. 8, I. O. O. F .; of Washington
Lodge, No. 1, K. of P., and of the P. R. R. Relief Association. He is a Democrat.
In Delaware county, Pa., in 1861, Titus P. M. Griffith was married to Susan L., daugh- ter of George and Elizabeth Pugh, the former deceased; the latter survives, having attained the venerable age of eighty years. The chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Griffith are: I. George W .; II. Edwin P .; III. Clarence E .; IV. Nel- lie M. (Mrs. Henry Sharp); V. Mary, de- ceased. Mrs. Griffith died in Wilmington, April 26, 1875. Mr. Griffith and family at- tend the M. E. church.
JAMES CLELAND MORROW, Wil- mington, Del., son of James and Bethia (Eves) Morrow, was born in Wilmington, September, 1855.
Ilis paternal ancestry was Irish; his ma- ternal ancestors descended from English and French stock. The Morrow family lived in County Down, Ireland, for the entire period of which there is a family record. William Morrow, grandfather of James Cleland Mor- row, was a farmer. He was married to Eliza- beth Cleland, and had children: I. Joseph; II. William (2); III. Jane; IV. Robert; V. James; VI. Ann; VII. John. William Mor- row died in New Castle county, Del., and was buried in Green Hill Cemetery, Christiana hundred, of that county.
Joseph Morrow died in his native land, and was buried in the Presbyterian graveyard in Killeleigh, County Down, Ireland. On com- ing to America, William Cleland (2), settled in Wilmington, Del., and was engaged in the grocery business there until 1858, when he disposed of his stock to his brother, John Mor- row, and retired to private life. He married Sarah A. Turner, of New Castle, Del., and had children: I. Henry W., of Wilmington; II. Elizabeth (Mrs. Mahlon Bryan), of Phila- delphia, and several who died in infancy. Wil- liam Morrow died in Wilmington, May 30, 1878, aged seventy-one years, and was buried in the Wilmington and Brandywine cemetery, Wilmington. Jane Morrow came to America with her father, her brother Robert and sister Ann, in 1849; they landed in Philadelphia, and made Wilmington their home. Jane mar- ried Robert MeFarland, of Stanton, Del., and survives her husband, being at this time eighty-four years old. John Morrow was en- gaged in the grocery business with his brother
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William until the retirement of the latter, when he assumed control and continued the business until his death in 1865. He was buried in the Green Hill Presbyterian grave- yard, Christiana hundred, New Castle county. Ann Morrow resided with her brother, Robert Morrow, who was a farmer, and who died July 4, 1891. The last mentioned chil- dren were buried in Green Hill cemetery.
James Morrow, father of James Cleland Morrow, was born at Ballyalgin, Killeleigh, County Down, Ireland, February 24, 1819. Ile emigrated to America July 31, 1835, landed in New York September 15, and on September 18 of the same year, arrived in Wilmington, where he entered the grocery store of his brother, William Morrow, as a clerk. A year later he was indentured to Dell Noblit as an apprentice at cabinetmaking. He completed his trade in four years, and when he was twenty-one years old, established him- self in business as a cabinetmaker and under- taker. Ile continued in this occupation only one year, and then engaged in the grocery business at No. 45 Market street, as the site was then designated. Here he conducted an extensive business until his death, or for a period of fifty-two years. He had greatly in- creased his establishment and occupied a store extending through the block from No. 211 Market street to 210 Shipley street. He was the oldest business man in the city and owned the largest building devoted to the grocery business in the state. Mr. Morrow also or- ganized, in 1869, the Wilmington Mills Manufacturing Co., for the making of yarns and twines from the jute fibre of India. His associate in this enterprise was John Whann. Mr. Morrow was chosen president of the com- pany and continued in that office until his death. Owing in great part to his business acumen and activity, the industry was profit- able from its inception. From a small estab- lishment the plant steadily expanded until it is now one of the largest jute factories on this continent. One hundred and sixty to one hundred and eighty persons are continuously employed. The product of the factory is sold chiefly in the United States, but finds its way to all parts of the world. Mr. Morrow was a director of the Wilmington and Brandywin" Bank. He was fond of travel, and took oe- casion in the intervals afforded him from the active supervision of his various business in-
terests to visit many European and American countries. In 1860 he made a trip to County Down, Ireland; in 1885 he made an extended tour of England, Ireland and Scotland, and the continent; in 1888 he went to Cuba, and in 1889, accompanied by his wife, he jour- neyed through the United States, going as far west as California and as far north as Alaska.
On April 28, 1847, James Morrow married Bethia, daughter of William Du Shane and Mary G. Eves, of New London, Chester county, Pa. Their children are: I. William E., dealer in groceries and confectionery at his father's old stand, in connection with his brother, Robert D., married Elizabeth Justus, on April 28, 1874, and had children, i. Bertha E., ii. John Byrnberg, iii. Elizabeth A .; II. Mary G., deceased; III. John F., deceased; IV. Robert D., married Anna Hodgson, of New London, Chester county, Pa., has chil- dren, i. Nellie HI., ii. Herbert S., iii. Robert II .; V. James Cleland; VI. Lewis B., secre- tary and treasurer of the Wilmington Mills Manufacturing Co., and member of the Wil- mington board of education, married Ella Young, of Utica, N. Y., who is deceased; VII. Thomas A., deceased; VIII. Joseph, deceased. James Morrow died March 28, 1896; his widow died July 23, 1896. Mr. Morrow was a life-long member of the Presbyterian church, had been a trustee for years, and was a steward and elder at the time of his death.
James Cleland Morrow received his rudi- mentary education in the public schools of Wilmington, and this was supplemented by a course in Prof. W. A. Reynolds' Academy. In 1875 he entered his father's grocery store as a clerk, and remained there until 1879, when he was engaged as clerk by the Wil- mington Mills Manufacturing Co. He ad- vanced from one position to another in the office of the company, and on the death of his father in 1896, was elected its president. Mr. Morrow in 1885 accompanied his father on his European tour. Among their excursions was one to Pompeii and Herculaneum, from whose reopened streets and disinterred houses they brought home many souvenirs of rare interest. Mr. Morrow was with his father also on his trip to the island of Cuba. In his political views Mr. Morrow is a Republican.
On April 26, 1881, James Cleland Morrow was married to Kate R., daughter of Benja- min C. and Anna J. (Reese) Pearce, of Wil-
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mington, Del. They have one child, James Morrow, Jr. Mr. Morrow long ago adopted the religious faith of his father.
JACOB SCHELLER, Wilmington, Del., son of Henry and Barbara (Huy) Scheller, was born in Zurich, Switzerland, November 12, 1828.
His parents were natives of Switzerland and never left its towering peaks and fruitful valleys. As a youth he received such educa- tional training as the public schools then af- forded. From early childhood he had a re- markable fondness for painting, and as soon as he was old enough he was apprenticed to the art for which he manifested so strong a preference. From his twelfth to his four- teenth year he was instructed in the decora- tion of chinaware. For the next five years he was taught general painting and frescoing, and at the same time acquired free-hand drawing and attended many scientific lectures, obtaining in connection with other informa- tion a knowledge of oils, gums and pigments of all kinds. He also learned the manufacture of japans, varnishes, etc. The apprenticeship of Mr. Scheller was a severe school for him, and was marked by serious, earnest work on his part. The time devoted by his fellow- apprentices to amusement was given by him to study, to experiment and to perfecting him- self in that which had been already taught him. The result was that when he had com- pleted his apprenticeship he was skilled above his companions and readily secured lucrative positions. For a year he worked for his pre- ceptor as a journeyman, and in 1848 deter- mined to come to America, where the field for the employment of his talents was greater. He left his home and went to Paris, reaching that city February 18, 1848, the day when Louis Philippe was compelled to abdicate and flee from Paris. A few days later, young Scheller went to Havre, and there took pas- sage on the Splendid for America. There were about eight hundred passengers on the vessel and the passage to New York City re- quired fifty-five days. Mr. Scheller landed here May 6, and soon afterward went to Phila- delphia and began coach-painting in that city. His stay there was brief, and in 1850 he enter- ed the employment of the P., W. & B. R. R. Co., at Wilmington, as ornamental coach- painter. For the past forty-nine years, he has filled the position of car painter of the road.
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