Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 84

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 84

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Paul Gillis was married in 1870, near New- ark, Del., to Annie, daughter of Ferguson Wilson, a farmer and carpenter of Newark, which is her native place. Their children are: I. Ellie, at home, is a graduate of the Newark high school, and has taught in the public schools of the county for several terms; II. Harry, at home; III. Laura; IV. Osie. Mr. Gillis and his family are members of the M. E. church.

BANKSON T. HOLCOMB, P. O. New Castle, New Castle county, Del., son of Chauncey P. and Rebecca (Taylor) Holcomb, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., November 6, 1839.

The Holcomb family is of English ances- try, and its representatives are found among the earliest settlers of the New England States. The name occurs frequently on the muster roll of the Continental army, for many of its members served their country bravely in the long struggle for independence. Thomas Holeomb, grandfather of Bankson T. Holcomb, was born in Hartford county, Conn., where he spent his whole life. He was educated in the schools of his native state, studied law, and practiced at the bar in Con- nectient. He also owned and managed sev- eral farms in Hartford county, Conn. Mr. Holcomb was an old line Whig, actively in- terested in the affairs of the county. Thomas Holcomb was married in Connecticut, to Clara, daughter of Colonel, afterwards Gen- eral Pettibone, of the Continental Army. Mrs. Holcomb was a native of Connecticut. Their children are: I. Chauncey; H. Thomas; III. Henry; IV. Franklin; V. Richard, a brigadier general in the war of the

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Rebellion, was killed at Fort Hudson; VI. Clarinda. Mr. Holcomb and his family were members of the Episcopal church.

Chauncey P. Holcomb, eldest child of Thomas and Clara (Pettibone) Holcomb, was born in Hartford county, Conn., where he re- ceived his primary education. When he at- tained his majority, Mr. Holcomb removed to -Ohio, and after reading law with his uncle, Judge Pettibone, was admitted to the bar. Returning to the east, Mr. Holcomb opened an office in Philadelphia, where he practiced successfully for many years. Removing af- terwards to Delaware, he purchased a large tract of land in New Castle county, and from this time devoted his energies to husbandry. Ile was deeply interested in the cultivation of the land, and exerted all his influence to ad- vance the agricultural interests of the state and county. Mr. Holcomb was a Whig, and was throughout his life actively interested in local politics. Chauncey P. IIolcomb was married in Philadelphia, Pa., to Rebecca, daughter of Bankson and Esther (Me Wil- liams) Taylor. Their children are: I. Bank- son T .; II. Thomas, a lawyer of Wilmington, Del .; III. Chauncey, died in youth; IV. Clara, died in youth. Mr. Holcomb and his family are members of the Episcopal church. Hle died in 1855; his widow died in New Cas- tle hundred.

Bankson T. Holcomb attended the public and private schools of New Castle county, and Delaware College, and for several terms was a student at Trinity College, Hartford, Conn. He inherited his father's love for country life, and chose farming as his vocation. In 1887, during President Cleveland's administration, Mr. Holcomb was appointed keeper of the light house at New Castle, Del., a position which he still holds. He is prompt and effi- cient in the discharge of his duties, and is not only popular, but respected and esteemed in the community.

Bankson T. Holcomb was married in 1868, in New Castle hundred, New Castle county, Del., to Edith M., daughter of Joshua E. Driver. Mrs. Holcomb was born in Wilming- ton, Del. Their children are: I. Mary D .; II. Chauncey P., a manager of the Frankford & Tacony trolley line, of Philadelphia, Pa., and first lieutenant in the First Regiment, Delaware Volunteer Infantry, married to Louise Rodney, of New Castle, Del .; III.

Bankson, electrical engineer, on the Wilming- ton & New Castle Electrical Railway, and sergeant in the First Regiment, Delaware Volunteer Infantry. Mr. Holcomb and his wife are members of the Episcopal church.

Thomas Holcomb, second son of Chauncey P. and Rebecca (Taylor) Holcomb, was born in New Castle county, Delaware, July 13th, 1843. He received his education at the schools in New Castle and at Harvard Col- lege, studied law with Hon. George B. Rod- ney of New Castle, and was admitted to the bar. He was elected to the State Legislature on the Democratic ticket in 1875, and re- elected in 1877, when he was chosen speaker of the House; was Recorder of Deeds for New Castle county for two terms, from 1879 to 1889; was fifth auditor of the U. S. Treasury from 1893 to 1897, during President Cleve- land's second administration. He has since practiced law in Wilmington. Thomas Hol- comb was married in 1868 to Bessie N. Bar- ney, daughter of Captain Nicholas Barney, U. S. N. They have four children, a daugh- ter and three sons.

WILLIAM H. McCOY, P. O. New Cas- tle, Del., son of the late James and Elizabeth (Morrison) MeCoy, was born in Mill Creek hundred, New Castle county, October 11, 1850. Hle is a brother of David McCoy.

William II. MeC'oy attended the public schools of New Castle county, completing his course in the high school. Passing his boy- hood on the homestead with his father, he ac- quired a 'practical knowledge of farming, which vocation he has followed continuously ever since. At the age of thirty-two, he rented a farm in White Clay Creek hundred, which he cultivated for several years. He after- wards rented a farm in New Castle hundred until 1889, when he bought his father's farm of 180 acres. On this fine place Mr. McCoy has made many judicious improvements, add- ing a barn and other convenient buildings. He is largely engaged in the cultivation of cereals, and is a practical and successful farmer, substantial, reliable, and much re- spected by his neighbors and acquaintances. Mr. McCoy is a Democrat. He is a school di- rector of New Castle hundred.

William II. McCoy was married in Mill Creek hundred in 1882, to Georgiana, dauglı- ter of Robert Walker, a farmer of Mill Creek

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hundred. Their children are: I. John W .; II. George Douglass, died young; III. Ellie, died young; IV. Alice E. Mr. MeCoy is a member of the Presbyterian church, and serves his congregation acceptably as trustee.

IION. DOUGLASS McCOY, P. O. New Castle, Del., son of the late James and Eliza- beth (Morrison) McCoy, and a brother of Da- vid and William HI. McCoy, was born in White Clay Creek hundred, February 9, 1837. He was educated in the public schools of New Castle county, and at the academy of Newark, Del. His vocation is that of a tiller of the soil; he farmed on his own account for twenty years in New Castle hundred, and is now with his brother, William H. McCoy, on the homestead. In 1886, Mr. McCoy was elected on the Democratic ticket to the legis- lature of Delaware, in which he served etti- ciently for one term, acting on several com- mittees; he was chairman of the Committee on Divorce. He has always supported Demo- cratic views. Douglass McCoy is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. McCoy died in October, 1897, after the above was written.

CAPT. JOSEPII COFIELD, Front Range Light-house, New Castle, Del., was born in the city of New York, August 15, 1849, son of Peter Cofield, a native of that city, and a carpenter. Mr. Cofield was the youngest of four children, two daughters and two sons; his mother died while he was still very young. She was succeeded in the home by an unsympathetic step-mother, and the boy left the house when he was only seven years old, and found his way to Randall's island, where he spent two years at the Home for the Friendless, during which time he attended school. He was then taken into the family of Charles B. Harmer, of Salem county, N. J., for whom he worked as a farm laborer until he reached his majority, receiving only his board and clothing as compensation for his work; so that when he set out at the age of twenty-one, to seek his fortune in the world, he was entirely without money. In 1872, he found employment in a rolling mill at Wil- mington, Del., where he not only toiled stead- ily and faithfully at his business, but also de- voted many of his leisure hours to supplying the lack of early education. At the end of two years, Mr. Cofield left the mill for the

bay, being engaged on the boats running be- tween Penn's Grove, N. J., and Wilmington. He became captain of the Mary Ellen, and continued to navigate the Bay for eight years in this responsible position. During this per- iod, by frugal management, he saved enough to purchase a boat, and gradually became the owner of two sloops, the Black Bass and the Ann, and a schooner, the Sarah. These ves- sels were employed in carrying passengers and freight between Philadelphia and Wilming- ton.

But a misfortune led to Captain Cofield's abandoning the water. The Black Bass was run into and sunk by the steamer Samuel Ful- ton, and the sloop not being insured, he lost more than $1,500, so large a part of his savings that he was compelled to relinquish the carry- ing trade, and turn his attention to contract- ing and teaming in the city of Wilmington. But the tough, self-reliant spirit with which, - from his lonely boyhood on through life, he had met and conquered difficulties, was to meet with a reward in a favorable change. In 1883, Capt. Cofield received from the U. S. Government the appointment of second as- sistant on the ship John Light, on which he spent four years. IIe was then transferred to the Cohansey light, on the New Jersey coast, and thence, in 1888, to his present important position as keeper of the Front Range Light- house, at New Castle, Del. In this valuable and humane branch of public service, his steady and temperate habits, as well as his in- telligence, render him very acceptable. He has many warm personal friends. Capt. Co- field is a member of the A. O. U. W., and for- merly belonged to Washington Lodge No. 13, Junior O. U. A. M.

Joseph Cofield was married in Philadel- phia, in May, 1876, to Margaret Morris, daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Morris) Melvin. Mr. Melvin was of English descent, and was a contractor and builder; he died in 1881, but Mrs. Melvin still resides in Wil- mington. Their daughter, Mrs. C'ofield, was born near Harrington, Kent county, Del .; she is of a genial and kindly disposition. The children of Capt. and Mrs. Cofield are: I. Walter J., born September 12, 1879, edu- cated in the public schools, and graduated from the high school of New Castle, is now reading medicine under J. HI. Morgan, M. D., of Wilmington; IT. Bessie M., born May 2.

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1883, is attending school. Capt. Cofield and his family are members of the M. E. church.

SAMUEL T. LANDERS, P. O. New Castle, Del., son of John and Anna ( Doyle) Landers, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., June 12, 1860.

Obtaining his education in the public schools of New Castle hundred, Samuel T. Landers passed his boyhood and youth with his father, and acquired a thorough knowl- edge of every branch of the latter's business. After the death of John Landers, Samuel T. Landers embarked in the culture of grapes and hothouse plants on his own account, has made many improvements in the establish- ment, and meets with deserved success. Good taste, sound judgment and diligence fit him abundantly well for his interesting vocation. Like his father, he supports the Democratic party; in 1889, he was elected on the ticket of that party to the office of Road Commissioner of New Castle hundred, and has made an ef- ficient and popular official.

Samuel T. Landers was married in New Castle hundred, in April, 1893, to Ellen,

daughter of Thomas and Mary (Barry) Barry, both of Irish descent. Mrs. Landers was born in Christiana hundred, where her father was a farmer. Their children are: I. Mary; II. Helen; III. Samuel T., died young. Mr. Landers and his family are members of the Roman Catholic church.

John Landers was Irish by birth, received a fair education in his native land, and took up HENRY M. WHITE, P. O. State Road, New Castle county, Del., son of William and Isabella (Lancaster) White, was born in New Castle hundred, November 25, 1845. the business of landscape gardening, at which he spent several years in London, England. Hle was married in Ireland, and set out with his bride in a sailing vessel for America. IIe Having been educated in the public schools of New Castle hundred, Henry M. White con- tinued to live on the homestead until after, the death of his father, when he rented the farm belonging to Miss Dinninger, in the same hun- dred. He cultivated that farm until 1892, landed in Philadelphia, and there found eni- ployment at his calling until 1865, when he came to Wilmington, Del., and was for sev- eral years employed as gardener by Dr. G. P. . Morris. He afterwards purchased land in New Castle hundred, on which he erected . when he rented the MeComb farm of 315 several hothouses, and began the cultivation acres, also in New Castle hundred, which he still cultivates on a large scale, employing five men constantly in his agricultural operations. stock raising, etc. Mr. White was elected commissioner of the Levy Court of New Cas. tle county on the Democratic ticket, in 1892. Ilis administration of the office was such that he was re-elected for a second term of four years, in 1896. of hothouse plants and grapes. He was the first florist in that part of the country, and was very successful; he continued in the same business for the remainder of his life. Mr. Landers was a Democrat, but never sought public office. He and his wife were members of the Catholic church. Both died at their home in New Castle hundred, Mrs. Landers in 1880, and Mr. Landers in 1894; they are interred in the burying ground belonging to their church in New Castle. Their children are: I. Francis C., resides with his brother, Samuel T. Landers; II. William, of Chester, Pa .; III. John, died in early life; IV. Thomas, also died young; V. Samuel T.

Henry M. White was married in New Cas- tle hundred, in 1868, to Martha Starley, of the state of Maryland. Their children are: I. Clarence, motorman on the Wilmington & New Castle Electric R. R .; II. Percy, at home; III. Louisa, died young. Mrs. Martha White died on the farm in 1889. Mr. White was married in 1892, to Lydia, daughter of Alexander Davidson, a farmer. She was born in New Castle hundred. All the family are members of the Episcopal church.

WILLIAM WHITE, New Castle, Del., son of William and Isabella (Lancaster) White, was born in New Castle hundred, July 3, 1832.

William White, Sr., and his wife, were both natives of Yorkshire, England, the for- mer born in 1800, the latter in 1812. Mr. White was educated and became a farmer in his native country, from which he emigrated after his marriage. His first twenty-five years in this country were spent on the Tatnall farm, in New Castle hundred, of which he was the overseer. He afterwards rented of Col. Andrews a farm in the same hundred,

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which he cultivated up to the time of his death, in 1869. He was a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, but was not ambi- tious for office. Mrs. White died in Wilming- ton in 1884, and both were interred in the Brandywine cemetery. Their children are: I. William, Jr .; II. Mary (Mrs. Samuel Eckles), of Silver City, New Mexico; III. Henry M., commissioner of the Levy Court of New Castle county; IV. George; V. Robert; VI. John; VII. Thomas; VIII. James; IX. Hannah. The last six all died after arriving at mature years. The parents and family were all members of the Episcopal church.

Their eldest son, William White, Jr., was born on the Tatnall farm; he has been all his life a dweller in New Castle hundred. His school education was obtained during the win- ter months, in the public schools; his training for his vocation, that of farming, was carried on by his father during the summer season. Mr. White resided with his parents until 1860, when he rented a small farm belonging to Col. Andrews, upon which he spent a few years. His next farm was the John A. Griffen farm, which he cultivated for twenty-three years. His third and last place was a farm near the present site of the New Castle county hospital; on this farm he resided until 1893, when he retired from business, and removed to New Castle, to enjoy a life of leisure. Mr. White was a thoroughly practical farmer, and was very successful in raising both abundant crops and live stock of excellent breeds. He is an earnest and progressive man, and since his residence in New Castle, has actively pro- moted the welfare and improvement of that city. He has built two fine dwellings within its limits, and bought two others, one of the latter being the brick mansion in which he how resides. Like his father and brother, Mr. White has always been a firm supporter of Democratic principles. He was road commis- sioner of New Castle hundred for over eight years, and was elected to the City Council of New Castle in 1897; to both of these offices he has given the benefit of a habit of diligent attention to business, and of a sound and ma- ture judgment.

William White, Jr., was married in New Castle in 1860, to Sarah, daughter of Fred- erick and Hannah (Bolton) Riding, both of whom were born in Bolton, England. Mr. Riding was well-known as a machinist in New

Castle; his family comprised three sons and three daughters. The children of Mr. and Mrs. White are: I. IIenry, a farmer of New ('astle hundred; II. Isabella, wife of E. H. Jamison, of the Treasury Department, Wash- ington, D. C .; III. Leslie, farmer, of New Castle hundred, married Annie MeNally; IV. Edith, wife of James Edwards, a farmer of New Castle hundred; V. Robert, a plumber of New Castle; VI. Bessie, at home; besides three children who died in infancy. Mr. White and his excellent wife, a lady who pos- sesses many friends, are members of the Epis- copal church, to which their children also be- long.

CHARLES HI. CLEWELL, New Castle. Del., son of Henry and Elizabeth (Peysart) Clewell, was born in Nazareth, Northampton county, Pa., December 7, 1860.

Northampton county was largely settled by emigrants of German descent, and of these the Clewell family was among the earliest. Ja- cob Clewell, grandfather of Charles II. Cle- well, was born in Nazareth in 1800. He at- tended subscription schools, which in those times imparted instructions in both the Eng- lish and the German languages. Mr. Clewell afterwards learned cabinet making, and car- ried on that business throughout life. A part of his manufacture consisted in making from the rough timber various parts of articles of furniture, which were shipped to other places to be put together. Mr. Clewell was also an undertaker. He was a steady and useful cit- izen, Democratie in his polities, and an active member of the United Brethren church (Mor- avian). His family adhered to the same de- nomination. His son, Henry Clewell, was born in 1826, in the same town. He also re- ceived an English and German education, at- tending both subscription and public schools, the latter being then a new institution in Pennsylvania. Henry Clewell acquired all branches of his father's business, but made that of undertaking and embalming his spe- cialty; he still follows that vocation in Naza- reth, where he built a home for his family, besides other dwellings. Like his father, he is a Democrat. His wife, Elizabeth (Peysart) Clewell, was born in Bethlehem, Pa., in 1828; they were married in Nazareth. Their children are: T. Caroline (Mrs. Fred. J. Rice), of Bethlehem; II. Eugene, engaged in

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the manufacture of furniture in Nazareth; III. Frederick, deceased; IV. Charles II .; V. Robert, deceased; VI. Henry, real estate agent and notary public, Nazareth, Pa. Both parents are still living; they are members of the Moravian church. After having received his education in the public schools of Naza- reth, Charles H. Clewell learned thoroughly the undertaking and embalming business, un- der his father's instructions. He did not leave his father's office until he was nineteen years of age, when he became manager of the estab- lishment of Wickham M. Clark, undertaker and embalmer, of Hackettstown, N. J., for which position although so young, he was al- ready quite competent, having given careful attention to all branches of the business. He remained in Mr. Clark's employ for four years, after which he became assistant to J. A. Wilson, undertaker, of Wilmington, Del., and continued two years in that position. In February, 1885, Mr. Clewell removed to New C'astle, and began business on his own account as undertaker and embalmer; he was the first to establish the latter branch in this city. Mr. Clewell manufactures his own caskets. ITis enterprise and industry, his good taste and propriety in the performance of his duties, have been rewarded with financial success. Mr. Clewell's political views are Democratic; he was elected in 1897 to the City Council of New Castle. He is a member of St. John's Lodge, F. & A. M., New Castle, and of the A. O. U. W .; he was formerly connected with the I. O. O. F.

Charles II. Clewell was married in Hack- ettstown, N. J., in 1883, to Jennie, daughter of Abraham Gutrick, a miller of that town, which was Mrs. Clewell's birthplace. She is of English descent. Their children are: I. Caroline; II. Ethel, died young; III. Mabel; IV. Pearl. Mr. Clewell and his family are members of the M. E. church.

WILMER REED, State Road, Delaware, son of Osborn and Mary (Burk) Reed, was born December 4, 1848, near Doylestown, Pa. Osborn Reed was a native of the same place, born April 18, 1811, of Scotch-Irish an- cestry.

After attending the subscription schools of Bucks county, he began business life as a farmer's boy and continued to follow the same vocation in his native county until 1855, when

he removed to Cecil county, Maryland. Here he farmed for six years, and then removed again, to a farm which he rented in Pencader hundred, New Castle county, Delaware. Several years later Mr. Reed abandoned farm- ing, and from that time led a life of leisure, residing in his latter days with his son, Wil- mer Reed. He originally was a Whig, and on the change of party lines became a Republi- can. He served as tax collector for Bucks county, Pa. His wife, Mary (Burk) Reed, to whom he was married in her native place, Bucks county, Pa., was of Irish ancestry, born December 11, 1811. Their children are: I. Lucy A. (Mrs. John Rupp), deceased; II. Charles, who while serving in the Dela- ware Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War was taken a prisoner and died in the Confed- erate prison at Andersonville, Ga .; III. Cath- arine (Mrs. John Wiswell), of Chester county, Pa .; IV. David, of Newark, Delaware; V. Wilmer; VI. Albert, a blacksmith; VII. Dan- iel, of Newark, Delaware; VIII. Anna, (Mrs. Frank Hughes), of Wihnington, Delaware; IX. Emily (Mrs. Robert Smith), of Philadel- phia, Pa .; and three who died in infancy. The family were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. While on a visit to one of his grandchildren in Newark, Delaware, Os- born Reed died December 4th, 1890, and was buried in the Methodist burying ground at that place, by the side of his wife, who died also at Newark, December 14, 1872.

For a limited time, Wilmer Reed attended the public schools of Cecil county, Maryland; afterwards devoting his attention to farming at home with his father until his fifteenth year. For the next ten years he was em- ployed as a farm hand at various places in New Castle hundred. The next twelve were spent in the employ of the Philadelphia, Wil- mington and Baltimore Railroad Company. In March, 1886, he returned to farming, his chosen vocation, in which he always took great pleasure, by renting the Locust Grove farm in New Castle hundred, formerly a part of the "Johns" estate. Remaining there ten years, he moved to the Grubb farm adjoining the P., W. & B. R. R. at State Road, same hundred. In March, 1898, he moved to "Sunny Side" farm, located on the eastern side of the "old state road," about one mile south of State Road Station, New Castle hundred, New Cas- tle county, which he had purchased in 1896.

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ITis success at farming has been due to his dil- igence and perseverance, combined with the faithful, unremitting industry of his wife.

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 84

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