Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 71

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

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ly qualities, and is a member of the Presby- terian church.

Harvey T. Baldwin attended the public schools of Mill Creek hundred and Chester county, Pa. Until he was eighteen years old he remained with his parents on their farm. Then he apprenticed himself to J. II. Webb, miller, of Doe Run, Chester county, and com- pleted his course of training in the West Grove mills, owned by Isaac Martin. As a journeyman, he was employed in the Gum- tree Mills, and at the age of twenty-two, he leased the mill owned by Richard Lamburn in Chester county. A year later he went to. the Gumtree Mills for two years, and in 1885, he purchased the Lamburn Mills, in which he made a number of improvements; for three years he operated the mills successfully, and then disposed of them. Mr. Baldwin then re- moved to Newark, and afterward to Wilming- ton, where he was employed as miller in Lea's mills for five years. Having a desire to be- come a locomotive engineer, he secured a po- sition as fireman on the P., W. & B. R. R., but after six months relinquished it, and re- turned to milling. For three years he oper- ated the Greenbank mills and in 1897 leased the Milltown mills. A year later, he pur- chased the Red mills and is now engaged in making many improvements in them. Mr. Baldwin is a member of Delaware Lodge, No. 5, A. O. U. W., of Wilmington. He is a Democrat, and in 1897 was appointed tax col- lector for Mill Creek hundred by the Levy Court.

On November 19, 1891, in Wilmington, Harvey T. Baldwin was married to Ella R., daughter of Peter A. and Rachel A. (Nichols) Chandler, born in Centreville, Del. Her father is a well-known farmer of Christiana hundred. Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin have chil- dren: I. William C .; II. H. Lewis; III. Rachel E .; IV. Louisa A. M.

THOMAS JEFFERSON MOORE, son of William and Rachel (Boulden) Moore, was born on the Moore reserve, in Mill Creek hun- dred, New Castle county, Del., October 17, 1809. Ile was educated in the subscription schools of the hundred, and at the age of soy- enteen was apprenticed to William Baldwin, blacksmith. He became a skilful workman and for fifty years the forges in the Moore shops were never idle. Mr. Moore was also .

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a successful farmer. Having by prudence and close attention to business acquired a compe- tence, he retired from active life in 1880. Mr. Moore is one of the oldest citizens of Mill Creek hundred, where he is highly esteemed. Ilis fellow citizens, appreciating his good judgment and business ability, have called upon him to fill various offices. He has served as census enumerator of Mill Creek hundred .1870; as tax collector of the hundred for two years; and as treasurer of New Castle county from 1850 to 1852. Mr. Moore cast his first vote for General Jackson, and his last vote for William McKinley. Thomas Jefferson Moore was married, at New London, Chester county, Pa., April 18, 1833, to Lydia C., daughter of William and Eliza- beth (Mansel) Besson, who was born in Mill Creek hundred, May 16, 1813. Their chil- dren are: I. Jacob, born April 16, 1834; II. Louise, born December 14, 1835, widow of William Baldwin, Wilmington; III. Sarah Ann, widow of Henry Whiteman, born No- vember 6, 1837; IV. Mary E., deceased wife of Andrew J. Whiteman, born January 6, 1840, died November 25, 1866; V. Thomas Jefferson, born September 18, 1841, died April 20, 1842; VI. Lydia, born March 27, 1843, married first to James Alcorn, and after his death to - Kirkpatrick, of Illinois; VII. Rachel J. (Mrs. Joseph Chambers), born September 30, 1845, died September 5, 1874; VIII. Harriet Frances Ann (Mrs. Charles E. Lewis), born April 30, 1848; IX. Susan (Mrs. Andrew J. Whiteman), born May 8, 1850; X. John Thomas, farmer, born March 12, 1852; XI. and XII. twins, Ida (Mrs. William Little), of Mill Creek hundred, and Eva (Mrs. William Chandler), of Stanton, Del., born January 25, 1854; XIII. Essie Elma (Mrs. James Little). Mrs. Moore died in 1881 and is buried in the cemetery of the Presbyterian church in White Clay Creek hundred. Mr. Moore resides with his son J. Thomas Moore; he is surrounded by his family and en- joys the presence and affection of his forty grandchildren, and thirty-three great-grand- children.

JOSEPH C. RANKIN, P. O., Newark, Del., son of Joseph and Sarah (Crawford) Rankin, was born in Mill Creek hundred, New Castle county, Del., in October, 1824.

The history of the White Clay Creek and

Mill Creek hundreds in New Castle county begins with the advent of the Rankin family, many years before the Revolutionary war. That history would lose many of its salient features by the omission of the story of the fructifying of the wilderness, and the intro- duction of Christian preaching and Christian living by the earliest immigrants of the Ran- kin name. Joseph Rankin was the first of his family to settle in New Castle county. He came from his birth place near the Clyde, in Scotland, to Delaware, and brought with him his wife and children, a rugged constitution and an indomitable will, his Bible and the memory of the teachings of John Knox. He was one of the earliest white settlers of White Clay Creek hundred, and chose for his habita- tion a pleasant spot near the Head of Chris- tiana. Here he became the owner of a large "tract of land, and immediately began its im- provement. As that section of Delaware had not been invaded by the colonists before, Mr. Rankin's undertaking was of great mag- nitude, but by indefatigable labor he cleared the greater part of the land and made it pro- ductive. Where the sound of his ax was heard went up also the music of the psalm; Mr. Rankin was one of the founders of the Head of Christiana Presbyterian church, to which he was a liberal contributor, for to his mind, civilization advanced in a halting manner, if not directed by Christian thought and prin- ciples. Mr. Rankin possessed much force of character, and impressed his upright manner of life and his solicitude for the advancement of the Christian religion upon those who were in close fellowship with him. His descend- ants furnished many pioneers in the settle- ment of the Great West, and with them they always carried their religion. Many of them have been ministers in the Presbyterian church. Mr. Rankin died on his farm about 1760, and was buried in the graveyard at the Head of Christiana creek.

Thomas Rankin, son of the pioneer Rankin in Delaware, and grandfather of Joseph (. Rankin, was born on the Rankin homestead in White Clay Creek hundred. He was a farmer, and owned a tract of 300 acres of land near the Mill Creek line. During the Revo- lutionary war he organized a company of Delaware soldiers, whose services were ac- cepted by General Washington. Mr. Rankin was captain of the company, and he and his

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BIOGRAPHIICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

men distinguished themselves in the struggle for liberty. In the Revolutionary annals of Delaware, the name of Captain Thomas Ran- kin has a well earned place. At the conclu- sion of the war he returned to his farm, where he died. Captain Rankin was a stanch sup- porter of Jefferson, and was nominated by the . early Republican party for the Delaware legislature, but was defeated at the polls. Thomas Rankin married, in Mill Creek hun- dred, Miss Montgomery, a native of New Castle county. They had children: I. Joseph, 3; II. Hannah; III. Montgomery, died in New York; IV. Margaret; V. Thomas, mar- ried Sarah Crawford, and had nine children. Captain Rankin was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church, and was buried with military honors in the grave of his father in the Head of Christiana graveyard. His widow died on the farm, and was buried in the same graveyard.

Joseph Rankin, 3, father of Joseph C. Ran- kin, was born at Rankin's Mills now known as Tweed mills, in White Clay Creek hundred. When he was ten years old, his, father died, and for years after Joseph's home was with his uncle, Joseph Rankin, 2, on the 300-acre farm which is now owned by Joseph C. Ran- kin; here he remained until his uncle's death. Ile then continued to direct the farm, and made extensive improvements upon the prop- erty, including a fine stone dwelling house, erected in 1830, substantial barns, etc. Joseph Rankin, 3, was a successful farmer, and raised much live stock; he also experimented in fruit culture on a large scale, with gratifying re- sults. Mr. Rankin was a private in the war of 1812, and was stationed at New Castle. IIe was a diligent student of books, and kept himself well informed as to current events. Hle was a Democrat. Joseph Rankin, 3, mar- ried in Mill Creek hundred, Sarah, daughter of Robert Crawford, a native of Delaware and a prominent farmer and Presbyterian of Mil! Creek hundred. Their children are: I. Elizabeth Ann, deceased; II. Rebecca, de- ceased; III. Robert T., deceased; IV. Sarah (Mrs. James Springer), of Newark, widow; V. Joseph C .; VI. Margaret, who resides with Joseph C. Rankin as his housekeeper. Mr. Rankin died on his farm in 1866, and was buried in the Head of Christiana churchyard. He was an active lavman in the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Rankin died in 1842 and was

interred in the same burial ground. She was a faithful member of the White Clay Creek Presbyterian church.

Joseph C. Rankin was educated in the pub- lie schools of Milford X Roads and in Newark Academy, under Professor Graham. Hle has always been a farmer, and has never lived elsewhere than on the farm he now owns. Until his father's death he resided with him, and after his death acquired the title to the property. He devotes much at- tention to stock raising and fruit culture. He is an unassuming man, but highly respected for his sterling character. In polities he is a Democrat, but has never sought office, nor would accept one. He is a member of the Grange. Mr. Rankin has never married and his household is cared for by his sister, Miss Margie, who with kindly activity, devotes her- self to her brother's interests. Both attend the Presbyterian church.

PHILIP CHANDLER, P. O. Hockessin, New Castle county, Del., son of Spencer and Eliza HI. (Wilson) Chandler, was born in Mill Creek hundred, New Castle county, August 30, 1847.

The Chandler name is of English origin, and signifies Handler, or dealer. It was not an unusual patronymie in England; and many of the name were Friends, who bore most noble testimony to the fervor and depth of their religious convictions during the perse- cutions which arose against them in the lat- ter part of the seventeenth century. It is not positively known whether these disturbances influenced George and Jane Chandler, the an- cestors of the wide-spread family to which Philip Chandler belongs, to expatriate them- selves or whether they simply sought the New World as a place of wider opportunities, more promising for the future of their children. Be that as it may, it is well established that they left their home, Greathodge, Wiltshire, Eng- land, in 1687; that in the neighboring parish of Wileott, there are records by which the his- tory of their family may be traced back to the year 1568; that these pioneers embarked for America with their personal effects, and accompanied by eight children, and most probably by the elder brother of George Chandler, whose name was John; and that George Chandler died during their ocean voy- age, December 13, 1687. There is a tradi-

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STATE OF DELAWARE

tion that Jane Chandler and her children, landing on the spot where William Penn was about rearing his city of brotherly love, occu- pied for some time a cave in the vicinity, and that she received from the neighboring In- dians not only sympathy, but such simple and kindly offerings of venison, fruit, etc., as aided materially in supplying her frugal larder. An- other and perhaps more probable tradition is, that a settler kindly allowed her the use of Is dwelling, until he was able to bring his family from the mother country. But the first permanent residence of the family was in Chichester township, then of Chester, now of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, where they bought land in the March following their arrival in America.

Of the children of George and Jane Chand- ler, the eldest, George, was apprenticed to Edward Bezer in March, 1690, for a term of two years and five months; he subsequently married Ruth, sister of Edward Bezer, and continued to reside on the homestead until his death in 1715; II. Jane, the elder daughter, was married in 1693 to Robert Jefferis, re- sided for about eight years in Chichester, and afterwards in East Bradford township, Ches- ter county; their daughter, Charity, was mar- ried to - Cope, and she and her hus- band became the ancestors of a numerous and honorable posterity; III. Swithin, born June 24, 1674, the only member of the family whose date of birth is now known, married a lady whose family name is not recorded, but whose Christian name was Ann; he resided be- fore the year 1733 in Birmingham township, Chester county, Pa., and was in 1710 consta- ble for the township; he died about 1742, leaving several children, and has many de- scendants; IV. Thomas, who married Mary, daughter of Richard Mankin, of New Castle county, Del., bought land in connection with his brother Swithin, just within the northern boundary of Delaware, and resided there, owned in partnership with the same brother a mill property on Beaver creek, was for about twenty years a member of the provincial leg- islature of Pennsylvania, lived to a venerable age, dying in the year 1761, and leaving no children, but. was survived by his wife; V. William, the youngest son, married in 1712 Ann, daughter of John and Frances Bowater, of Middletown township, was a shoemaker, and owned land in Chichester township, near

the original homestead, but removed about 1792 to an estate of 100 acres which he pur- chased in London Grove township, and died in 1746, leaving several children; VI. Charity; VHI, Ann, the youngest child of George and Jane Chandler, married first Samuel Robins, of Philadelphia, and after his death, married George Jones, as is supposed, in 1728, died August 10, 1758, leaving the following chil- dren by her first marriage, i. Samuel, who died before 1760, ii. (Mrs. Blaith- waite Jones), iii. Sarah (Mrs. Abraham Mitchell), iv. Mary (Mrs. Thomas Stretch). A daughter, Anne (Mrs. Henry Chads), mar- ried in 1738, was deceased and left a son, Henry Chads, Jr., who became an officer in the British navy. Jane Chandler, the widowed mother of the above family, was twice married after settling in America, first to William Hawkes, and after his death to James Bayliss. The numerous descendants of George and Jane Chandler are scattered throughout the several states, and widely con- nected; besides the families above mentioned as having intermarried with them, we may name the Parrish family, to which the late Joseph Parrish, M. D., and his son Dillwyn Parrish, of Philadelphia, belonged, the Har- veys, the Shortlidges, Craigs, Yarnalls, Dar- lingtons and others.

Inheriting the moderation combined with decision that characterizes Friends, the Chand- lers have always maintained a dignified and in- fluential position in society, through their cult- ure and intelligence. Many of them have been distinguished professional men. One of the family, Elizabeth Margaret Chandler, who died in early womanhood, was endowed with poetical talent which, had her powers reached their full development, would doubt- less have placed her among the most distin- guished writers of America. She was born near Wilmington, Del., December 24, 1807, daughter of Thomas Chandler, and was edu- cated at the Friends' school, in Philadelphia. A collection of her works was published in that city in 1836, two years after her death, which occurred in 1834, November 22, at Te- euiseh, Mich., after a residence of four years in that place. Her warm heart and keen sense of honor and justice led her to employ her gifts largely in aiding the anti-slavery cause.

The lines of descent from George, second child, and Swithin, third child of George

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BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

and Jane Chandler, were united in the chil- dren of Isaac Chandler, great-grandfather of Spencer Chandler. His parents were George, 3, and Esther (Taylor) Chandler, who were married in 1724, and his paternal grandpar- ents were George 2, and Ruth (Bezer) Chand- ler, married in 1698. Isaac Chandler was born in Mill Creek hundred October 30, 1732, - and married Esther, daughter of Swithin, 2, and Ann Wilson Chandler; she was born July 4, 1740. Swithin Chandler, 2, born October 1, 1715, was the sixth child of Swithin and Ann Chandler. Isaac and Esther (Chandler) Chandler were accordingly both great-grand- children of the original emigrants. Their children were: I. Spencer; II. Susanna (Mrs. Abraham Darlington), born October 10, 1760, was the mother of Judge Darlington; III. Esther, born November 6, 1762, died Oc- tober 30, 1764; IV. George, born October 21, 1764, died in Ohio, September 10, 1823; V. Jonathan, born February 21, 1767, date of death not known; VI. Swithin, 3, born April 1, 1769, died March 18, 1839, married An, daughter of Abram and Mary (Heald) Gregg, had eleven children, among whom was Abraham Chandler, of Milltown; VII. Joshua, born March 23, 1771, died July 11, 1798; VIII. Jacob, born June 26, 1773, re- moved to the south; IX. Ann (Mrs. George Smith), born July 13, 1775, date of death un- known; X. Hannah (Mrs. John Woodward), born March 21, 1779, died October 4, 1820; XI. Phebe (Mrs. Levis Lamborn), born Decem- ber 15, 1781, was the mother of Chandler Lamborn, died October 13, 1864; XII. Mar- garet (Mrs. John Gray), bern January 15, 1785, died in Pennsylvania. Isaac Chandler died on his farm near Hockessin, where he had resided throughout his life, prosperously engaged in tilling the soil; his death occurred April 9, 1802; his remains, and those of his wife were interred in the Friends' burial ground at Hockessin. They were members of the Society of Friends; Mrs. Chandler, who was endowed with rare force of character and intellectual powers, was a speaker in its meet- ings.

Their eldest son, Spencer Chandler, was born in Mill Creek hundred, January 23, 1759. Ile was educated in the Friends' school, the best institution of its kind in that section of Delaware, and was afterwards apprenticed to Robert Lamborn, blacksmith, of Kennett

Square, Pa. Ile became expert in nail-mak- ing, and made that branch of the business his specialty. During the Revolution he re- mained in the smithy, being conscientiously opposed to the war, but his services were fre- quently called into requisition by the Conti- nental soldiers. Many years after the war, Mr. Chandler relinquished his trade, and pur- chased from Jacob Way a farm of 127 acres near Hockessin, the same land upon which his grandson, Spencer Chandler, 2, now resides; upon this farm he made many improvements, erecting a stone dwelling in 1801, a barn, and other buildings. He was prosperous in farm- ing and raising stock. Mr. Chandler was a Federalist in the early days of the Republic,

and later supported the Whig party. Spencer Chandler was married, on his own farm, to Ruth (Tate) Dixon, born January 30, 1759; she was the widow of Isaac Dixon. Their children were: I. Philip; II. Esther, and III. Isaac, both of whom died young. Mrs. Chandler died May 13, 1828; her husband survived her until August 26, 1841, when he, too, died on the farm; they were Friends and were buried in the family lot in the graveyard of Hockessin meeting.

Philip Chandler, the eldest of their fam- ily, was born August 6, 1784, and was edu- cated in the Friends' school at Hockessin. IIe resided on the homestead, and was an exten- sive stock raiser and cultivator of grain. IIe was a director and stockholder in the Newport and Gap turnpike. Philip Chandler was mar- ried to Hannah, daughter of John E. Dixon, born at Ashland Mills, Mill Creek hundred. Their children were: I. Ruth Anna, de- ceased; II. Mary Dixon (Mrs. Marshall Yeat- man); III. Spencer, 2; IV. Esther, died in infancy. Philip Chandler died on his farm, July 30, 1842, and his wife died September 7, 1857; they were members of the Society of Friends, and were interred at Hockessin, in the Society's burial ground.

Spencer Chandler was educated in the pub- lic schools of Hockessin and the Friends' school at Gwynedd, Montgomery county, Pa., of which Joseph Foulk, a Quaker preacher, was then principal. Ever since he left school, Mr. Chandler has resided upon the homestead. Upon the death of his father, which occurred when Spencer was nineteen years of age, the charge of the farm and the care of his widowed mother devolved upon him. In

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STATE OF DELAWARE

1846 he remodeled the mansion house and added many improvements to the farm. Mr. Chandler has always been active and indus- trious. In addition to the management of his farm, he has operated the Ashland flouring mills for four years, conducted a store in Hoekessin, and attended to his mining inter- ests in Chester county, Pa. He is president of the Farmers' National Fire Insurance Co., of Mill Creek hundred; was school commis- sioner of the hundred, and was a commission- er of the Levy Court from 1858 to 1862. After many years thus diligently, honorably and usefully employed, Mr. Chandler has re- tired from active participation in business life, and, with his excellent and hospitable wife, is enjoying well-earned leisure, sweetened by the esteem and respect of a large circle of friends and neighbors. Originally a Whig, Mr. Chandler transferred his support to the Republican party, at the time of its organi- zation.

On November 18, 1846, Spencer Chandler was married to Eliza H., daughter of David and Sarah (Hadley) Wilson, of Mill Creek hundred. Their children are: I. Philip, born August 30, 1847, educated in New Cas- tle county, now cultivates the home farm, was elected a road commissioner on the Re- publican ticket, is energetic and influential; II. Sarah W. (Mrs. George Lacy), of Kansas, has five children; III. Anna R. (Mrs. Thomas Jackson), of Fort Wayne, Ind .; IV. Phebe II. (Mrs. Norwood Palmer), died in Hockessin; V. Spencer P., 3, general merchant and post- master at Hockessin, married Phebe II. Sharpless, has two children, i. Mary R., ii. Celia Margaret. All the family belong to the Society of Friends.

Mrs. Eliza H. (Wilson) Chandler is a de- scendant of Christopher Wilson, an early set- tler of Mill Creek hundred, whose farm was situated near Hockessin. There he led the tranquil life of one devoted to agricultural pursuits, and at his death was interred in the burial ground at Hockessin meeting. His son James Wilson, succeeded him in the posses- sion of the farm, and in the even tenor of a well-ordered, upright and industrious life. Stephen, son of James Wilson, was born on the same farm, September 30, 1762, passed his life in the same occupation as that of his forefathers, died on the homestead August 28, 1820, and was interred in the same time-hon-

ored place of burial. ITis first wife was Lydia Pusey, who was born November 6, 1772, and died November 1, 1810; they had five children, as follows: I. David, born Oc- tober 20, 1795; II. Jonathan, born May 13, 1798; III. Pussey, born September 13, 1800, was killed by the kick of a horse April 25, 1818; IV. Sarah (Mrs. Jacob Heald), born September 5, 1803; V. James, born Septem- ber 28, 1806. Stephen Wilson's second mar- riage was with Alice (Jackson) Chandler, widow of Jesse Chandler, born June 26, 1775, died December 13, 1856.

David Wilson, eldest son of Stephen Wil- son, was the father of Mrs. Eliza HI. Chand- ler. Born on the Wilson homestead, and well educated in the Friends' school at Hockessin he followed the quiet and dignified way of liv- ing that characterized his ancestors, cultivat- ing throughout his life his patrimony of 175 acres, and dying on his farm, full of years and of honor, June 25, 1869. He was first mar- ried in Chester county, Pa., to Sarah, daugh- ter of Simon Hadley; she was a native of New Castle county. Their children are: I. Stephen, born August 19, 1822, resides on the homestead; II. Phehe H., born March 16, 1824, died in 1870; III. Eliza A. (Mrs. Spen- cer Chandler), born February 28, 1826; IV. Lydia (Mrs. John Lee Cowgill), widow, born August 15, 1828; V. Hadley, born April 7, 1831, died January 24, 1832. Mrs. Sarah Wilson died February 8, 1844. The second wife of David Wilson was Eliza Ridgway, of New Jersey. Mr. Wilson adhered to the Whig party.

TAYLOR S. MITCHELL, M. D., Hoekes- sin, Del., son of Stephen and Elizabeth (Tay- lor) Mitchell, was born in Mill Creek hun- dred, New Castle county, Del., January 26, 1853.

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 71

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