Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 60

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 60

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).

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children were: I. Richard; II. Isaac; III. Samuel; IV. Mary; V. Elizabeth; VI. Re- becca. All are now dead. Mr. John . Wright was a hardworking, honorable man. He died at his home in New Castle, in 1860. His widow was an earnest Christian; she died in New Castle, one year after her husband's death; both are buried in the cemetery at Salem church.

Samuel Wright, father of J. Thomas Wright, was born and educated in New Jer- sey. When he was a young man his parents removed to Delaware. Samuel went with them and remained at home assisting his father on the farm. After his marriage, Mr. Wright removed to his wife's property, a farm of 148 acres in Pencader hundred, where his son, J. Thomas Wright, now resides. Here he spent the remainder of his life, cultivating and improving the property. Ile was not only a successful farmer, but also raised fine cattle. Mr. Wright was an old line Whig, and afterwards a Republican. He was inter- ested in political affairs, and held various local offices. Samuel Wright was married to Ann MeCaslin, a native of Maryland. Their chil- dren are: I. William, died in the prime of life; II. Anna Eliza, deceased, married John W. Davett, miller; III. Abraham, a farmer of Brandywine hundred, New Castle county; IV. J. Thomas; V. Caleb, resides with his brother, J. Thomas; VI. Samuel W., New- port, Del .; VII. Amanda (Mrs. William Col- lins), of Wilmington, Del .; VIII. Franklin, Wilmington, Del .; IX. George E., resides with his brother, J. Thomas. Mr. Wright died at his home in Pencader hundred, in 1868, and is buried in the cemetery at Salem church. His widow died on the farm in 1880, and is buried beside her husband.

J. Thomas Wright attended the public schools of Glasgow, Del., in winter, and spent the summer months working with his father on the homestead. After his father's death in 1868, he assumed the entire charge of the farın, and cultivated it for his mother until her death. In 1880, having bought the in- terests of the other heirs, Mr. Wright began farming for himself, and for the past eighteen years has been improving his property. He is a very successful farmer and pays particular attention to his live-stock, raising none but fine cattle. During the war of the Rebellion he enlisted for thirty days' service, in the Sev-

enth Delaware Volunteers, Company B, Cap- tain Henry, and was detailed for guard duty. Mr. Wright is a Republican, a life-long worker, and a firm supporter of the party ticket. Ilis fellow-citizens have recognized his ability and integrity, and have elected him to various local offices. For six years he was a member of the board of school commission- ers, and for two years was assessor of Pen- cader hundred. In 1896, Mr. Wright was elected coroner of New Castle county, Del., by a majority of one thousand, receiving not only Republican, but the popular vote. He has discharged the duties of his office promptly and efficiently, giving general satisfaction. Mr. Wright is a member of the I. O. O. F., of New Castle.

J. Thomas Wright was married at Wil- mington, Del., in 1881, to Mary E., daughter of Thomas J. and Harriet Moore, who was born in Pennsylvania. Mrs. Wright's father was a blacksmith; he died on the Wright farm, Pencader hundred. The children of J. Thomas and Mary H. (Moore) Wright are: I. Lola, at school; II. Samuel E .; III. Dela- plain; IV. Raymond; V. Myrtle. Mr. Wright is a member of the M. E. church.

Mrs. Wright's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Moore, died within twelve hours of each other and were buried on the same day in the graveyard at Salem church.

JOHN BARBER, P. O. Iron Hill, Md., son of Ezekiel and Hannah (Pollett) Barber, was born in Manchester, Lancashire, England, July 19, 1842.

His father, Ezekiel Barber, was born at. Boulton, Lancashire, England, September 4, 1818. There he learned nail, nut and bolt making, and for a number of years was an extensive manufacturer in Manchester and Boulton. He was successful in his business until the great panic of 1842, when he shared the harsh fate of many and was financially embarrassed. In

1846 he disposed of his business and sailed for the United States on the Monongahela. His wife, his son, John, and his daughter, Mary Hannah, accompanied him. On the trip across the Atlantic a dangh- ter was born to him. Four weeks after leav- ing Liverpool Mrs. Barber died and her body was buried at sea. Three weeks later Mr. Bar- ber arrived in Philadelphia, without his faith-

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ful helpmate and with two orphaned children, one four and the other two years old. He quickly found employment as a machine smith and after remaining for six years in Philadelphia, removed to Newark, Del., and for ten years worked in the machine and agri- cultural implement shops of William John- son & Co. While a resident of Newark he purchased from William Slack, a tract of land in Pencader hundred. This place is now owned by his son. After cultivating his farm until 1872, he went to Philadelphia, where he re-established himself in the manufactur- ing business, which he continued until his death. He was a man of untiring energy, and was fairly successful in his American business ventures. Mr. Barber was a Democrat but never an aspirant for an office at the hands of his party. Ezekiel Barber married, at Stop Port, near Manchester, England, Hannah Pollett, who was born at Stop Port. They had children: I. John; II. Mary, married Edmund Butterworth, of the Kiamensi wool mills, Delaware. Mrs. Hannah Barber died at sea in 1846. Mr. Barber married the sec- ond time, Mary Pilling, a sister of the Hon. John Pilling, of Newark, Del. Their chil- dren were: I. Jonathan, died young; II. William, manufacturer, Bridgeport, Pa .; III. Ann; IV .. Ezekiel, 2, of West Chester, Pa .; V. Ella (Mrs. Spencer Swain), died in Phila- delphia; VI. George, of Philadelphia; VII. Susan (Mrs. Andrew Smith), of Philadelphia; VIII. Jonathan, deceased; IX. Charles, de- ceased. Mr. Barber died in Philadelphia in 1875. ITis body was buried in the graveyard of the M. E. church at Newark, Del. Mrs. Mary Barber is a resident of Philadelphia. She is a member of the P. E. church and an estimable woman.

John Barber attended the public schools of Philadelphia until he was ten years old. Then his father removed to Newark, where the boy completed his studies. Afterward he learned iron-rolling at Conshohocken, Montgomery county, Pa. He spent four years there, and then worked in Easton, Pa., for three years, after which he returned to Pencader hundred, New Castle county, and purchased the "Chestnut" farm owned by his father. There he has resided for the past twenty-five years, cultivating his land and giving particular at- tention to growing of fruits and market pro- duce. In fruit growing, especially, he has

achieved gratifying success. Mr. Barber owns, also, a farm of 100 acres in Cecil coun- ty, Md., near the Pennsylvania state line, considerable real estate in Wilmington, and a large amount of personal property, all ac- quired by his industry and economy and clear perception of the marketable value of certain farm products. He gave his undivided atten- tion to his business and made each venture profitable. Mr. Barber has been clerk of his school district for fifteen years. He is a Re- publican and has voted his party's ticket since he cast his first ballot for Lincoln for presi- dent.

On July 31, 1874, at Kemblesville, Ches- ter county, Pa., John Barber married Ella, daughter of John and Jane (Bucher) Benge, born in Chester county. They had children: I. Emma (Mrs. William McCluskey), of New Castle county, has two children, i. William, 2, ii. Ralph; II. Lilly, student at Newark Academy, a talented elocutionist, with a promising future, and a very clever imitator of birds' notes. Mr. Barber and family are members of the Disciples' church.

John Benge, father of Mrs. Barber, was born near London, England, August 23, 1805, the son of William Norton Benge, M. D., of Kent county, England. He was a store-keeper of Tunbridge Mills until 1840, when he came to America and settled in Cecil county, Md., near Kemblesville, Pa. He was engaged in farming there until 1873, in which year he removed to White Clay Creek hun- dred, New Castle county, Del. A year later he took up his residence in Newark and lived there until his death. Until the Civil War, Mr. Benge was a Democrat; afterward he voted with the Republicans. John Bengo married, in Tunbridge Wells, England, Jane Bucher, born in that place. They had children: I. Sarah (Mrs. Thomas Stray- horne), of Virginia; II. Jane, died at the age of 18; III. William, of Kemblesville, Pa. Mrs. Jane Benge died in Wilmington. Mr. Benge afterwards married Mary A. Woodhoms. Their children are: I. Henry, of Chester county, Pa .; II. James; III. Mary (Mrs. Dr. Geo. Simmons), of Belle Centre, O .; IV. Eliza- beth (Mrs. Charles Berger), of Philadelphia; V. Ella (Mrs. John Barber); VI. Rachel (Mrs. Charles R. Sharer), of Philadelphia; four children died in infancy. Mrs. Bengo died in Newark, 1886; Mr. Benge died in

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Newark in February, 1887; both were buried in the Union cemetery of that place. Mr. Benge was a member of the Disciples' church.

GEORGE L. BATTEN, P. O. Porters, New Castle county, Del., son of Mahlon and - Harriet A. (Mereer) Batten, was born near Batten's Mills, in Pencader hundred, New Castle county, Del., February 7, 1856.

He attended the public schools of Pencader hundred, and there prepared himself for en- trance to Delaware College, at Newark. In that institution he pursued the general course of studies, under Dr. Purnell, and was gradu- ated in the class of 1877. After leaving col- lege he turned his attention to farming and milling, and was his father's assistant until the death of the latter in 1889, since which time he has operated the flouring mill, and cul- tivated a farm of 100 acres. He has made improvements in the long established mill and upon the farm. He is a scholarly man, of genial manner, and thorough in his business methods. Ile devotes his time to his books, his mill, his live stock, and his dairy. He is a member of the K. G. E., of Christiana and has filled all the chairs. In politics he is a Republican, and has rendered his party good service.

Mr. Batten is unmarried, and his household is cared for by his sister, a lady of much force of character and refinement. He is a brother of James Batten, of Red Lion hundred, New Castle county.

HON. CHARLES WALTON, P. O., Iron Hill, Md., son of Elijah and Rosanna (Kleisz) Walton, was born in Philadelphia county, Pa., November 27, 1840.

Members of the Walton family settled in Pennsylvania more than a century ago, and their descendants have been prominent in po- litical and commercial affairs in the "Key- stone State" during the many intervening years. Three brothers Walton came to this country from England and selected Philadel- phia county as their home in 1760. In their English home they had attained distinction as able, progressive men, and as members of the Society of Friends. Charles Walton is a descendant of one of these pre-Revolutionary settlers.

Elijah Walton, father of Charles Walton,

was born in Philadelphia county, in 1810. Ile attended subscription schools there and afterwards engaged in farming. In 1854, he sold his property and removed to Pencader hundred, New Castle county, Del., where he purchased a large traet of land, and cultivated it until his death. He was first a Whig and in his later years a Republican, but never sought office. In 1833, Elijah Walton married Rosanna Kleisz, a native of Philadelphia county. They had children: I. Mary ( Mrs. William A. Bache), widow; II. Charles; III. Margaret (Mrs. Henry L. Connor), her hus- band was wounded in the civil war; IV. John E., died in middle age; V. Caroline (Mrs. Na- thaniel Davis), of White Clay Creek huu- dred, New Castle county; VI. Stephen, of Indiana; three children died in infancy. Mr. Walton died on his farm in 1872, and Mrs. Walton in White Clay Creek hundred, in 1889; both were buried in the M. E. grave- yard at Newark, Del. Mr. Walton died a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Charles Walton was twelve years of age when his parents removed from Philadelphia county to Delaware. He had attended the public schools in Pennsylvania, and com- pleted his school term in Pencader hundred. Mr. Walton was married in 1862, then culti- vated the farm on which he now lives, and which was then owned by Mr. Fletcher Wil- liamson, of Newark. For four years he was tenant there "on shares." From that place he went to the Ott farm for a year, and then to the Jones farm for two years, and in 1870, he was able to purchase his present farm of 100 acres in Pencader hundred, near the Maryland line. During the past twenty-eight years he has made many improvements upon his land, erecting a large house, fitted out with modern comforts, such as steam heat, etc .; a barn and other buildings, at an expenditure of more than $5,000. He also purchased another farm in Pencader hundred, containing 150 acres, and this has been developed under his personal supervision. Since 1862, Mr. Walton has given much attention to the raising of live stock and to the dairy business. He has a large herd of Jersey cattle on his farm and the output of milk and butter from his dairy is large. Ilis homemade butter is consid- ered by many as the most palatable in the state of Delaware. Mr. Walton is a self- educated and self-made man, and stands high

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in the esteem of his community, for his life has been marked by vigorous labor, temper- ate habits, and strict regard for his word and the rights of other people. Mr. Walton has been a consistent and zealous advocate of temperance. From his youth he has not used liquors and tobacco, and he has been foremost in the endeavor to abate the rum evil. Hle has always been an active supporter of the Republican party. In 1890, he was elected to the State Legislature and served his con- stituents faithfully. He was made chairman of three committees, and was a member of several of the most important. Mr. Walton is a member of the Hiram Lodge, No. 25, F. & A. M., of Newark, and was a trustee of the organization; is a member of Oriental Lodge· No. 12, I. O. O. F., of Newark, and a Past Grand of that order; a member of Newark Lodge, No. 5, K. of P., of Lodge No. 4 A. O. U. W., of Newark, and of the Grange.

On December 31, 1862, Charles Walton was married to Margaret Jane, daughter of Rev. Stephen and Jane (Krewson) Ott, born in Philadelphia county. They had children: I. Lewetta May (Mrs. Wilbert Layton), of Bridgeville Del .; II. William B., merchant and postmaster at Iron Hill, Md .; III. Alice L. (Mrs. Thomas S. Smith), of White Clay hundred; IV. Mary L., at home, a woman of culture and education; V. Charles E., farmer of Pencader hundred; VI. Edward O., at home; VII. Irvin K., at school; VIII. Herbert, died young. All these children re- ceived a good public school and academic education and are esteemed in their communi- ties. Mrs. Walton is a woman of refinement an entertaining in conversation.

The Ott family is well-known in Pennsyl- vania, Maryland and Delaware. The first of the name to come to America was Andrew, who was born in Germany and settled in what is now Philadelphia county, Pa., before the Revolution. He became an ardent advocate of the revolt of the colonies from the tyranny of King George's rule and was aide-de-camp to General Washington, during the Revolu- tionary struggle. He suffered the same pri- vations that made the fight for freedom so sore a trial for the soldiers of the file, and his enforced diet of black snake's flesh at one time during the war, to save himself from starvation, tells how enormous was the dis- tress of the gallant Continental army. Mr.

Ott died in Philadelphia county, Pa., at the age of one hundred and two years and was buried in the Pennypacker church yard. His death was mourned by many, for he had al- ways been a valued adviser and a helpful friend to those who applied to him. He had several children, one of whom was Leonard Ott, grandfather of Mrs. Charles Walton.

Leonard Ott was born in Philadelphia county, Pa., and there he died. He received a good English education. His life was de- voted to the cultivation of his farm. In his political views he was a follower of Jefferson and Jackson. He was twice married. His children were: I. Edward; II. Augustus; III. Andrew; IV. Stephen; V. William; VI. Ann; VII. Elizabeth; VIII. Leonard (2); IX. James; all of whom became useful citi- zens. Mr. Ott was buried in the Pennypacker churchyard. He was a member of the Bap- tist church.

Stephen Ott, father of Mrs. Charles Wal- ton, was born in Philadelphia county Pa., in 1819. He received a good English education, and assisted his father on his farm until he reached his majority, when he learned brick and stone masonry. That trade he followed in the city of Philadelphia until 1852, when he removed to Pencader hundred, New Cas- tle county, Del., and purchased a tract of 130 acres near Iron Hill, Cecil County, Md., from Corgus Maney. The land was a wilder- ness. Mr. Ott was a pioneer in that section, and he proceeded to clear off the timber, cultivate the ground, and gather abundant crops, that yielded large money returns. He was the first to introduce into his section the growing of fruit. As for his aeres, he plant- ed them chiefly in small fruits, and he was the first man to sell a wagon load of strawberries in the Wilming- ton markets. Mr. Ott was a pioneer in the profitable development of the soil of Pen- cader. He was zealous in the cause of re- ligion; full of missionary spirit, and an ef- fective preacher. In his early days he was a member of the M. E. church, and for a long time was an exhorter and local preacher. Afterwards he became identitied with the Christian church, and having been ordained a minister of that denomination labored carnestly for it throughout the rest of his life, preaching from its pulpits week after week without remuneration. He was the

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first to move for the erection of a church edi- fice known as the Ott chapel, in Pencader hundred, was the largest contributor to it, and preached in it for many years. Mr. Ott was the first to agitate the temperance ques- tion in Pencader hundred. Ile gave freely of his means for the promotion of this cause, , and brought many orators into the hundred to plead for its adoption by the people. He or- ganized a temperance society for the adults of the neighborhood and a band of hope for the young, and for a quarter of a century was president and spiritual adviser of the former. He was widely known because of his activity in the church and the temperance cause. In his political views he was originally a Demo- crat, but during the Civil war he became a Republican, and continued to support that party until his death.

Stephen Ott married Jane Krewson, who was born in Philadelphia county, Pa. They had children: I. Catharine (Mrs. Stephen Ash); II. Sarah A., died young; III. Mary A. W., married Rev. D. J. R. Strayer, a Baptist minister of Philadelphia; IV. Mar- garet J. (Mrs Charles Walton); V. Elizabeth (Mrs. Thomas Gentry). Mr. Ott died in 1875 and was buried in the Ott chanel grave- yard; Mrs. Ott died in Wilmington in 1881; she also was buried at Ott's graveyard. Mrs. Ott was a very capable help mate to her hus- band in his church and temperance work, and was a good wife and mother.

DANIEL SLACK, P. O. Iron Hill, Md., son of William and Mary Ann (Fisher) Slack, was born at Chestnut Hill, Pencader hundred, New Castle county, Del., November 6, 1839.

Uriah Slack, grandfather of Daniel Slack, was born in Bucks county, Pa., March 19, 1761. He was a soldier in the American army during the Revolutionary war and par- ticipated in a number of battles. After the war he came to Delaware and settled at Chestnut Hill, Pencader hundred, where he purchased a tract of 150 acres of land and where he resided until his death. He made his farm one of the most productive in the hundred, and erected substantial buildings upon it. In his political views he was a Federalist. Uriah Slack married in Bucks county, Pa., Jane Job, born in Bucks county, April 6, 1761. They had children: I. Amos,

born February 3, 1780; II. Mary, born Jan- uary 29, 1782; III. James, born April 1, 1784; IV. Enos, born June 21, 1786; V. Re- becca, born July 26, 1788; VI. John, born February 16, 1791; VII. Uriah, 2, born No- vember 11, 1793; VIII. Daniel, born Sep- tember 9, 1796; IX. Lewis, born January 2, 1799; X. Richard, born July 2, 1801; XI. William, born June 23, 1804. Mr. and Mrs. Slack died on their farm, and were buried in the Welsh Tract Baptist churchyard; they were members of the Baptist church, kindly and respected people.

William Slack, father of Daniel Slack, was born at Chestnut Hill, Pencader hundred. He attended subscription school and assisted his parents on the home farm until he reached his majority, when he learned augermaking. That trade he followed for several years in in Pencader hundred. As he was the young- est member of the family he took charge of the homestead farm on the death of his parents and cultivated it until his own death. He devoted much of the land to peach culture, and became one of the most successful grow- ers in the county. He paid much attention, also, to market gardening and made it pro- fitable; in these lines he was a pioneer. The large returns which he obtained leading many others to follow his example, served in a great measure to give prominence to peach culture and market gardening in northern Delaware. Mr. Slack was esteemed for his enterprise and for his attractive personal qualities. He was for three terms a commissioner of the Levy Court for New Castle county, and was also road commissioner, school commissioner, assessor, etc., in Pencader hundred. He was originally a Whig, but in his later years was a stanch Republican. William Slack mar- ried Mary Ann Fisher, a native of Chest- nut Hill, and a member of an old Delaware family. They had children: I. Joseph, died young; II. Sarah J. (Mrs James Miggett), deceased; III. Daniel; IV. John; V. Uriah, died young; VI. Elizabeth (Mrs. James Me- Cullough), deceased; VII. William, and VIII. Zachariah, twins, died young; IX. Samuel, of Chester, Pa. Mrs. Slack died on the farm in 1879; Mr. Slack died in 1882, both were buried in the family lot in the Welsh Traet Baptist churchyard. They were members of the Welsh Tract church.

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of Pencader hundred and remained on the home farm until he was twenty-two years old. Then he secured employment as brakes- man on the P., W. & B. R. R., and was shortly after promoted to fireman. 'Two years later he was made engineer, and for twelve years piloted passengers and freight on the tracks operated by the P. & R. Co. After sixteen years of railroad work he relinquished it and in 1888 returned to the homestead. For the past ten years he has devoted his time and energy to raising stock and growing fruit, grain and garden produce. He is a very in- dustrious man and this in a great measure accounts for his prosperity. Mr. Slack was a road commissioner in Pencader hundred. Politically he is a Republican.

On May 15, 1870, in Philadelphia, Daniel Slack was married to Alice Buckley, of Phila- delphia, a native of Cheshire, England. Their children are: I. Harriet, died 1872; II. Mary (Mrs Charles F. Walton), of Pencader hundred; III. Elizabeth, deceased; IV. Alice; V. Mary H .; VI. Sarah, died young; VII. Ben HI., at school; VIII. Daniel. Mr. Slack and his family are members of the Baptist church.

Mrs. Daniel Slack is of English descent. Her father was John Buckley, a stone-cutter, who was born in Brickton, Cheshire, England, came to America in 1854 and worked at his trade in Philadelphia. In 1856 he was em- ployed by the United States government at Fort Delaware, and was drowned there. He was a member of the P. E. church. John Buckley was married in his native shire, to Ann Howard. They had one child, Alice, also born in Brickton, Cheshire, England. Mrs. Buckley came with her child one year before her husband's death. She afterwards married Ben Hanson, a native of England. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson had children: I. Anna, died young; II. Mary, died young; III. (Mrs. George Webb), of Philadelphia, Mrs. Ilanson died in Philadelphia.

John Slack, P. O. Iron Hill, Md., son of William and Mary Ann (Fisher) Slack, was born in Pencader hundred, New Castle coun- ty, Del., November 30, 1841.

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 60

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