Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 72

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 72

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The Mitchell family is of English descent, of the Quaker faith, and one of the oldest and most prominent in Mill Creek hundred. Thomas Mitchell, great-grandfather of Dr. Taylor S. Mitchell, was the first of the family to settle in Delaware. He was born in Bucks county, Pa., where he received a good Eng- ish education, and came to this state in 1796. He purchased a tract of one hundred acres of land near the North Star school house in Mill Creek hundred, and spent the remainder of his days in its cultivation. He made many

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improvements upon his farm, creeting a large stone house in 1804, a barn, ete. Ile pros- pered in his Delaware home and became an influential citizen. In politics he was a Fed- eralist. Thomas Mitchell married, in Bucks county, and had children as follows: I. Han- nah ( Mrs. Joseph Chambers), of New Garden „township, Chester county, Pa .; H. Joseph. Mr. Mitchell died on his farm and was buried in the Friends' graveyard in Hockessin. Ile was a member of the Society of Friends.

Joseph Mitchell, grandfather of Dr. Mitch- ell, was born in Bucks county, Pa., in 1783. Hle was thirteen years old when his father re- moved to Mill Creek hundred, and the boy re- ceived a comprehensive education in this hun- dred. He devoted himself to the cultivation of the soil, and became an extensive land owner. At the time of his death he was in possession of more than three hundred acres. He was highly esteemed for his industry and his many other good qualities. Joseph Mitch- ell married Sarah Harlan, of Mill creek hun- dred. Their children were: I. Elizabeth (Mrs. Daniel Gawthrop), deceased; II. Thomas, deceased; III. Stephen, deceased; IV. Hanna (Mrs. Samuel Cranston), died in Stanton, Del .; V. John, deceased; VI. Abner, deceased; VII. Joseph, 2; VIII. Sarah (Mrs. Stephen Wilson); three children died young. Mrs. Sarah Mitchell died May 14, 1834, and Mr. Mitchell married, as his second wife, Martha Diekson, of New Castle county. Mr. Mitchell died April 26, 1876, aged ninety- three years; Mrs. Mitchell died in 1866. Both were members of the Society of Friends, and were buried in the Friends' graveyard at Hockessin.

Stephen Mitchell, father of Dr. Taylor S. Mitchell, was born on the homestead farm in Mill Creek hundred, January 26, 1814. He acquired his rudimentary education in the public schools of the hundred, and assisted his father on his farm until his marriage. Then he began farming for himself on a tract of ninety-seven acres, a portion of the homestead, and remained there nearly all his life. In his latter years he removed to the neighborhood of Hockessin, purchased the Caleb Heald place, and there died. He was a well-to-do farmer and a respected citizen. In his early political views he was a Whig, and was after- wards a Republican, and was never a seeker after office. Stephen Mitchell married, in

Philadelphia, Pa., Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Cloud) Taylor, born in Mill Creek hundred. They had one child, Taylor S. Mitchell. Mrs. Elizabeth Mitchell died in 1855 and was buried in the Friends' graveyard in Hockessin. Mr. Mitchell after- ward married Lydia Taylor, a sister of his first wife. They had one child, Mary E. ( Mrs. Harvey Flinn), of Mill Creek hundred. Mr. Mitchell died on January 16, 1895, and was buried in the Friends' cemetery in Hoekessin. He was a member of the Society of Friends. Mrs. Mitchell is still living in Mill Creek hun- dred.

Taylor S. Mitchell attended the North Star public schools of Mill Creek, and afterward T. Clarkson Taylor's academy in Wilmington. He began the study of medicine with Dr. D. W. Maull, in Wilmington, and, in 1872, en- tered Jefferson Medical College, in Philadel- phia, from which institution he was gradu- ated with honor in 1875. He returned to his home and practiced his profession there for eighteen months, after which he removed to Kennett Square, Chester county, Pa. In 1879 he came to Hockessin and during the past nineteen years has built up a large prac- tice here and in the vicinity, extending into Chester county. Dr. Mitchell is a skilful physician, well read, cultured, and of agree- able manners. Ile has erected on his property one of the finest mansions in the county. It is constructed of cut stone, fitted up with all modern improvements and conveniences. He is interested in farming, and cultivates the old home farm, which is now in his possession. Dr. Mitchell is a member of the Delaware State Medical Society and has been a school commissioner of Hockessin for seventeen years. He is a Republican.

Dr. Taylor S. Mitchell married, in Kennett township, Chester county, Pa., Mary, daugh- ter of Thomas S. and Mary (Way) Marshall. Her parents were natives of Chester county, and members of the Society of Friends, and her father was a farmer. Dr. and Mrs. Mitch- ell have children: I. Elizabeth T., a student in the Friends' School at Wilmington; II. Edith, also attending the Friends' School; IHI. Ella M., at public school. Dr. Mitchell and wife are members of the Society of Friends.

WILLIAM BAILEY JACKSON, Hock- essin, New Castle county, Del., son of John

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G. and Elizabeth (Bailey) Jackson, was born at Maple Lawn farm, Mill Creek hundred, New Castle county, Del., July 13, 1843.

The armorial bearings of the Jacksons, "the greyhound and the dolphin, swiftness by land and sea," indicate the position held by the family in the age when this crest was won. The Jacksons were noted as men of strong re- ligious convictions and independence of char- acter. Soon-the sword was laid aside, and the name occurs again and again on the roll of the preachers and prominent leaders in the So- ciety of Friends. Nor was it only as Friends that they suffered in the cause of religious liberty, as witness Ralph Jackson, burned at the stake during the reign of Queen Mary of England, and John Jackson who "withstood priestly dictation in matters of faith."

William Bailey Jackson traces his descent through eight generations to Anthony Jack- son, a native of Lancashire, England, who em- igrated to Ireland in 1649. His son, Isaac Jackson, was married to Ann Evans, and in 1725, left Ireland to bring his bride to this western land of hope. They settled at Ilar- mony Grove, Chester county, Pa., where many of his descendants still reside. William Jackson, son of Isaac and Ann (Evans) Jack- son, had a son, William, whose son James was the great-grandfather of William B.

Thomas Jackson, son of James and Mary Jackson, and grandfather of William B. Jack- son, was born in Mill Creek hundred, New Castle county, Del., May 3, 1777. Ile owned and cultivated large tracts of land in his na- tive hundred, where he was esteemed and re- spected by his friends and neighbors. Thomas Jackson was married to Jane, daughter of John and Rachel Griffith, natives of Quaker- town, Bucks county, Pa., where their daugh- ter, Jane, was born in 1784. Mrs. Jackson was a lineal descendant of Llewellyn Griffith, who is said to have been one of the last of the native princes of Wales. Ilis home was a castle on the coast of County Cardigan. Among her ancestors were many who were distinguished as preachers and leaders of the Society of Friends, and many who sealed their testimony with their blood. The chil- dren of Thomas and Jane (Griffith) Jackson are: I. James C., farmer, resides in Delaware county, Pa., born July 13, 1816; II. John G .; Thomas Jackson and his wife walked in the path trodden by their forefathers and were

members of the Society of Friends. He died at his home in New Castle county, in 1861; his wife died July 20, 1853; both are interred in the Friends' burial place in Hockessin.

Mr. Jackson's father, John G. Jackson, as- tronomer, surveyor and civil engineer, was born in New Castle county, Del., September 8, 1818. He received his primary education at home, his parents being his teachers, and afterwards attended the school of Hockessin, Del. In the neighborhood was a good library, to which the boy had access, and from the works of Robert Ferguson, drawn from this library, he acquired a taste for the study of astronomy. It is said that while still a child he declared that he would be an almanac- maker when he was a man. In 1832 Mr. Jack- son was sent to Westtown Boarding school, Chester county, Pa., and became a pupil of the celebrated mathematician, Enoch Lewis. After spending several terms as a student, he became an assistant and in 1838 received the appointment of teacher and lecturer on as- tronomy. Failing health soon obliged Mr. Jackson to abandon his profession and lead a more active life; he did not, however, give up study, and has made more than one contribution to his beloved science. In 1839, after reading Blackstone, and serving a short apprenticeship with Thomas Williamson, of Philadelphia, Pa., Mr. Jackson began business as a surveyor and conveyancer. In 1841, in company with a fellow student, he made a lecturing tour through the southern counties of Ohio. No difficulty was too great to be overcome by the enthusiastic scientists; pa- tiently they labored, hauling their electrical machine and other apparatus for experiment through the deep spring mud. Unfortunately the pleasure of teaching was almost their only reward. Mr. Jackson afterwards purchased land and devoted himself to its improvement. At the time of the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, he had an extensive saw mill in operation, and although he was too old to serve his country in the field, furnished the government with large quantities of lumber for building bridges and cars. In 1857 Mr. Jackson was appointed notary public by Gov- ernor Peter F. Causey, and discharged the duties of the office so satisfactorily that he was re-appointed by Governor Cannon, March 12, 1864. Shortly after his re-appointment, he resigned his position to take his seat in the State Legislature, to which he was elected on

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the Republican ticket. Mr. Jackson was afterward elected state senator and served four years. Although one of the mino- rity in both houses, he was active and in- fluential, especially in matters connected with railroad corporations. Hle assisted in the or- ganization of the Wilmington and Western Railroad Company, of which he was a stock- holder, and for many years chief engineer. Mr. Jackson thoroughly endorsed the plat- form of the Greenback party, and in 1878 was nominated for Congress on that ticket. There being no Republican candidate in the state, he received about one-fourth the vote in the state. This he considered a special honor, re- garding it as an expression of the confidence reposed in him by his Republican friends. John G. Jackson was married at the Friends' meeting house in Parkersville, Chester coun- ty, Pa., September 16, 1842, to Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Parker) Bailey, who was born at Parkersville, March 10, 1817. Their children are: I. William Bailey; II. Thomas, engineer, residing in Fort Wayne, Ind., born March 21, 1845, married Anna R., daughter of Spencer Chandler, of Hockessin, has four children, i. Bertha Eliza, ii. Elsie May, iii. Helen HI., iv. Ralph. Mrs. John G. Jackson was a member of the Society of Friends. She died January 18, 1894, and is interred in the Friends' burial place in Hockessin.

William Bailey Jackson attended the Friends' school of ITockessin, Del., Westtown Boarding school, and Clarkson Taylor's school at Wilmington, Del., and graduated from the Eastman Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. T. He studied civil engineering, and was under his father in the engineering depart- ment of the B. & O. branch of the Landis- - burg railroad; afterwards, in connection with Mr. Spencer Chandler and his son Philip Chandler, obtained the contract for the con- struction of the bridges on that branch. Some time after this, Mr. Jackson assisted his father in building bridges on a railroad in Sussex county, Del. His attention is now given to the cultivation of the soil. He is a successful farmer, intelligent and thrifty, and keeps his property in excellent condition. Mr. Jack- son is deeply interested in the financial prob- lem, and has studied the subject in all its bearings. Ile is a stanch supporter of W. J.

Bryan, and an enthusiastic advocate of the free coinage of silver.

William Bailey Jackson was married in Germantown, Pa., to Hannah, daughter of Joshua and Tabitha Clendenon, who was born in Philadelphia, Pa. Their only child died in infancy. Mrs. Hannah Jackson died January 18, 1884. Mr. Jackson was married in Philadelphia, November 11, 1890, to Catherine (Dennler) Irvine, daughter of Daniel and Jane Dennler, and widow of David James Irvine, a merchant of Wilming- ton, Del., and a native of Ireland. He died in Wilmington, Del. Their only child, David James, Jr., died aged three years and eight months.

Mrs. Jackson's father, Daniel Dennler, blacksmith, was a native of Germany, who emigrated to America and settled in Wil- mington, Del., where he was married to Jane L. Bowers, a native of that city. Their daugh- ter, Catherine (Mrs. William B. Jackson), was born at Wilmington.

WILLIAM PAUL PEACH, P. O. Mer- maid, Del., son of John and Emeline (Haw- thorne) Peach, was born in Mill Creek hun- dred, New Castle county, Del., May 10, 1857.

For more than one hundred and twenty- five years the Peach family has resided in New Castle county, Del. The first to settle there was John Peach, an English farmer, who came to America with his family in the latter part of the eighteenth century. The voyage across the Atlantic ocean was made in a sailing vessel, and their port of entry is supposed to have been New Castle, then the "Castle Garden" of America. Mr. Peach im- mediately began the cultivation of land in Brandywine hundred, but in 1797 he removed to New Castle hundred and purchased the farm now occupied by his granddaughter, Mrs. Robert MeFarland, and on it John Peach made many improvements. He gave his individual attention to the cultivation of the land and to raising live stock, and became a very well-to-do citizen. John Peach mar- ried in England, and had children: 1. Paul; II. John, 2, remained on the homestead, was the father of Mrs. Ann MeFarland, wife of Robert McFarland, now living on the old home place; III. William, farmer, grand- father of William Peach, M. D., deceased; IV. Mary (Mrs. Hogg), of Maryland,

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mother of Colonel Hogg; V. Phebe (Mrs. Pogue). Mr. and Mrs. John Peach died on their farm, and were buried side by side in the Old Swedes' churchyard in Wil- mington. They were members of the P. E. church.

Paul Peach, grandfather of William Paul Peach, was born and educated in England. Hle was eighteen years old when he came to America with his parents. For several years he labored on the home farm and then marry- ing, removed to Wilmington, where he en- gaged in mercantile business. He was a Re- publican. Paul Peach married Margaret, daughter of James and Mary McDaniel, of Mill Creek hundred, and of Scotch-Irish descent. James McDaniel was the owner of a great extent of land in Mill Creek hundred, chiefly along Pike Creek. During the Revolutionary war the British were en- camped in Mill Creek hundred, and it soon be- came apparent to Mr. McDaniel that it would be prudent for him to remove temporarily from the vicinity. So with his wife and chil- dren and cattle he hurried into Pennsylvania. Ile made his journey none too soon. The Brit- ish soldiers forced an entrance into his house, broke into kindling wood all of his furniture, cut up the beds in their search for hidden treasures and destroyed every piece of crock- ery found in the mansion except one plate which is now a valued heirloom in the pos- session of Miss Margaret Peach, sister of Wil- liam Paul Peach. The children of Paul and Margaret Peach were: I. John; II. Hannah (Mrs. John Ruth), Mr. and Mrs. Ruth both died in Ogleton, Del .; III. Mary (Mrs. William Robinson). Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are both deceased. Mr. Peach died in Wil- mington and was buried in the Old Swedes' churchyard. He was a member of the P. E. church. His widow removed to Newport, Del., and with her children lived there several years. She afterward returned to the old home, the MeDaniel farm, and died there. ITer, remains were buried in the White Clay C'reck Presbyterian graveyard. She was a member of the Presbyterian church.

John Peach, father of William Paul Peach, was born in Wilmington, November 28, 1803. ITis father died when he was very young, and he and his sister removed with their mother to Newport. There John Peach received a good common school education, and was after-

wards apprenticed to a blacksmith. He com- pleted his term of indenture, but, having no. liking for the trade, turned his attention to. farming. Ile leased, first, the Banks farm in Brandywine hundred, and after that the Lati- mer tract, remaining on each several years. Then he purchased the MeDaniel homestead of 115 acres and developed it to a high state of productiveness. Mr. Peach was a trustee of the poor for several years. He was a Demo- crat and very active in his party, but was not an office seeker. IIe was widely known as a man of strict integrity, of warm friendship and of charitable deeds. John Peach married, near Stanton, Mill Creek hundred, Emeline, daughter of William and Jane (McCoy) Haw- thorne, born near Stanton and of English and Scotch-Irish descent. They had children: I. Margaret; II. Mary E. (Mrs. Lewis Derrick- son), of Mill Creek hundred; III. John Haw- thorne, merchant of Wilmington; IV. Wil- liam Paul; V. Edmund Monroe, business as- sociate of William Paul. John Peach died on his farm, September 25, 1862, and was buried in the White Clay Creek Presbyterian church graveyard. He was a member and trustee of the White Clay Creek church. After her husband's death, Mrs. Peach resided with her sons, John II., William Paul, and Edmund M .; she died October 13, 1889, and her remains were buried in the White Clay Creek Pres- byterian churchyard. She was a good Chris- tian, liberal to the poor and held in high esteem by all who knew her.

William Paul Peach attended the public schools of Mermaid, in Mill Creek hundred, and later spent two years in a private school in Wilmington, taught by Professor W. Rey- nolds. After completing his course in school he returned to his home and, his father having died some years previously, assisted in the management of the property. In 1893, kao- lin was found on the farm and William Paul and his sister and brothers formed a company for the development of the valuable clay banks. A plant costing about $12,000 was erected along Pike Creek, and a force of thirty-five men is employed in excavat- ing the kaolin and preparing it for mar- ket. The company is known as the Peach Kaolin Company, of Mermaid, and is meeting with much success. Its product is shipped to all points south, east and west. The yearly output, already large, will be very much in-

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creased in the near future. William Paul Peach is superintendent, as well as secretary and treasurer of the company and devotes all his time to the promotion of the industry. Mr. Peach is progressive and keenly alive to the fact that success comes only to him who is industrious and keeps abreast of the times. Hle is a member of Valley Lodge, No. 13, A. O. U. W., of Hockessin, and Past Master "of Harmony Lodge, No. 12, Delaware Grange. He is an active Democrat, but not a seeker after office.

William Paul Peach married in Camden, Kent county, Del., Nellie Eloise, daughter of Edgar H., and Lucy C. (Langworth) Ban- croft, born near Camden, and of English des- cent. They have children: I. Nellie Eloise; II. William Paul (2). Mr. Peach is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church.

KENNARD S. CHANDLER, Hockes- sin, Del., son of Jacob and Hannah (Kettle- wood) Chandler, was born at Mount Pleasant, Del., January 16, 1860.

Ilis father, Jacob Chandler, was also a na- tive of Mill Creek hundred. He was educated , in the Friends' school at Hockessin. After completing his education he learned the trade of carpenter and followed that occupation for many years, being a part of the time employed by the firm of Harlan & Hollingsworth of Wilmington, Del. In his latter years he de- voted his time to farming and market garden- ing, cultivating a farm of 112 acres in Mill Creek hundred near Mount Cuba, which was his home at the time of his death. Jacob Chandler died May 26, 1890, from heart failure, while in his wagon on his way home from market. His remains were buried in the cemetery of the Lower Brandywine Presbyter- ian church, of which he was a consistent mem- ber. Mr. Chandler was a man well known and highly respected for his upright character. He married Hanna Kettlewood, born near Glas- gow, New Castle county, daughter of Mat- thew Kettlewood, an old settler of that sec- tion, and late of Mill Creek hundred. They had nine children: I. Dewees W., a lumber and coal merchant, of Oxford, Pa .; IT. Annie (Mrs. William Wilson), of Kings Mills, War- ren county, Ohio .; III.Filmore G., farmer, of Kennett township, Chester county, Pa .; IV. Harvey, farmer, of Chester county, Pa .; V. Lewis, farmer, of Brandywine hundred; VI.

George J., residing on the homestead near Mount Cuba; VII. Ilda, (Mrs. George That- cher), of Chester county, Pa .; VIII. Kennard S .; IX. Frank, of Centreville, wagon manufac- turer. Mrs. Chandler resides with her sou, George J. Chandler. She is a most estimable lady and a member of the Presbyterian church.

Kennard S. Chandler attended the Diamond school in District 29, and also the Friends' school of West Wilmington. He learned the trade of blacksmith and carriage builder, and subsequently became a clerk in the general store of his brother, with whom he remained for one year; he then bought his brother's business, and conducted a general mercantile trade for eight years. In 1890, Mr. Chand- Jer sold his store in Hockessin, and purchased the shops of Jacob Polk, where he has since carried on a general blacksmith and carriage building business, employing at this time five men. Mr. Chandler is a member of the A. O. U. W .; Past Master of Valley Lodge, No. 13, K. G. E .; Past Chief of Hockessin Castle, No. 15. Ile is a Republican, and is highly re- spected.

In 1884, Mr. Chandler married Margaret Durham, a native of Christiana hundred, daughter of Israel Durham, superintendent of snuff mill. They have children: I. a IIelen D .; II. Margaret; III. Kennard S .; IV. George Donald; V. Grace, deceased; VI. Har- rison, deceased. Mr. Chandler is a member of the Presbyterian church.

JOIIN THOMAS DEMPSEY, P. O. Union, New Castle county, Del., son of John and Asenath (Gordon) Dempsey, was born in Wilmington, Del., January 31, 1850.

John Dempsey, father of John Thomas Dempsey, was born in New Castle county, Del. Ile learned carpentry in his youth and worked at his trade for many years in Wil- mington. Afterward he turned his attention to farming, and cultivated leased lands in New Castle county, until his death. He resid- ed in various parts of the county; the last few years of his life were spent in Mill Creek hun- dred. He was a Democrat, and was elected school commissioner, but was never an office seeker. John Dempsey married Asenath, daughter of Archibald Gordon, born in New Castle county, and of English descent. Their children were: I. Milton, a railroad man, of

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Philadelphia, Pa .; II. Archibald, farmer, of Pencader hundred, New Castle county; III. John Thomas; IV. Alida (Mrs. Charles Thompson); V. Charles G., member of the Delaware Legislature; VI. Archibald, who died in infancy. Mr. Dempsy died in 1884; his widow died in February, 1898; both were buried in the Glasgow M. E. graveyard. Mr. Dempsey and his wife were faithful members of the M. E. church.

John Thomas Dempsey attended public schools in Glasgow, Red Lion and Salem. Until he was twenty-six years old, he assisted his father in his farm work; afterward he made his own venture as a merchant and farmer at Iron Hill, Pencader hundred. In 1884, he re- moved to Mill Creek hundred and established himself in the mercantile business at Corner Catch, succeeding Joel McCammon. During his fourteen years of residence there, he has built up a profitable business. In addition to his store, he owns and cultivates a productive farm. In 1895, Mr. Dempsey established the postoffice at Corner Catch, to which the name of Union has been given, and, as its first post- master, served two years. He is a quiet and unassuming man, upright, genial and much respected. At one time he held the office of school commissioner. Mr. Dempsey is a mem- ber of National Lodge, No. 32, I. O. O. F., of St. George's, Del., and of the Junior O. U. A. M., of Strickersville, Pa. He is a Democrat, but not a seeker after office.

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 72

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