Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 85

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 85

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Wilmer Reed was married March 11, 1868, to Richmon Wilton, daughter of George and Mary (Rodman) Carter, born near Red Lion, New Castle hundred, November 12, 1846. Mr. Garter came to this country in his nine- teenth year from England, where he was born April 4, 1815. He spent his life farming in New Castle county; died June 13, 1886. His wife was of German ancestry, born in New C'astle hundred March 16, 1819. The chil- dren of Wilmer and Richmon Wilton Reed are: I. Charles L., of Sparrow's Point, Md., who married Mary Miller, of State Road, Del- aware, has children, i. Leslie, ii. Clarence, iii. Raymond, iv. Mary Reed, died May 13, 1898; II. Mary, died young; III. Elmer W., at home; IV. Emma M., at home. Mr. Reed is genial and kindly, and his tastes are domestic.

ALFRED LOFLAND, P. O. Christiana, Del., son of Elias and Elizabeth (Morris) Lof- land, was born in Cedar Creek hundred, Sus- sex county, Del., May 12, 1825.

Among the frugal and industrious early English settlers of Delaware, the Lofland family held no mean place; they took an ac- tive and honorable part in the building up of the community in which they lived, and more than one of them lent a willing hand in the colonial cause, in Revolutionary days. Lit- tleton Lofland, grandfather of Alfred Lofland, was born in Delaware while that state still formed a part of Pennsylvania. He was a farmer and a large land owner of Cedar Creek hundred; he lived and died in Sussex county. He was a man of substantial build and great physical strength; he was well known throughout the surrounding country, and was much respected. Mr. Lofland and his family were members of the M. E. church.

Among the children of Littleton Loffand was Elias Loffand, born and educated in C'edar Creek hundred. His principal and life-long vocation was farming. He bought and im- proved a tract of land in Cedar Creek hun- dred, which he cultivated. He was a leader in the agricultural operations of his vicinity, and a promoter of progress and improvement in methods of business. He was esteemed for many good qualities, an industrious man, and of kind disposition. Mr. Loffand was for

several years justice of the peace in Sussex county. For some years, he kept a store in New Market. He was an active worker in the Democratic ranks, a warm admirer and sup- porter of President Jackson. Elias Loffand was married in Cedar Creek hundred to Eliz- abeth, daughter of Bivins Morris, a well- known ship merchant and land owner of Sus- sex county, Del. Their children are: I. Samuel, died in Sussex county; II. David, died at Milton, Del .; III. Elizabeth, widow of David Warren; IV. Susan (Mrs. J. P. Hud- son), died in New Castle county; V. Mary (Mrs. William Smith), deceased; VI. Elias; VII. Alfred; VIII. Sarah ( Mrs. Purnel Lynch). Mr. and Mrs. Loffand and their fam- ily were all members of the M. E. church. Elias Loffand died on his farm in Cedar Creek hundred in 1833, at the age of fifty-seven, leaving his family to mourn the loss of a kind husband and father. Mrs. Loffand also died on the farm, where she resided with her son Alfred.

The education afforded by the subscription schools, which Alfred Lofand attended in his early youth, was very meagre, as the schools were open for only three months of the year, and the teachers obtainable for them were by no means superior. His father dying when Alfred was only eight years old, the boy re- mained on the farm with his mother, and worked for her faithfully so long as she lived. At the death of Mrs. Loffand, the farm was sold, and the son, having a strong desire to visit the West, left his native state, and spent three years in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, where he found employment as a farmer. Re- turning to Delaware, he spent ten years in cul- tivating a farm which he rented in New Cas- tle hundred. In 1875 he bought the Ashton farm of 120 acres, on which he has since re- sided. He has greatly improved the place, adding barns and other facilities, re-building the dwelling-house, etc. In these improve- ments Mr. Loffand has expended over $5,000. He raises horses of a fine breed, and is a farmer of ripe experience and sound judg- ment, which, added to great diligence, have made him abundantly successful. He has al- ways been a stanch Democrat.

Alfred Lofand was married in Pencader hundred, New Castle county, September 7, 1854, to Cynthia, daughter of George and Sarah (Hukill) Toppin; she was born Novem-

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ber 1, 1834, in Chester county, Pa. Their children are: I. Alfred, was educated in the public schools of New Castle hundred, was for four years engineer on the ill-fated ship Eureka, and until she went down, is now en- gineer on the Brooklyn Bridge, New York, married Louisa Cottman, and has children, i. John C., ii. Julia, iii. Howard; II. Lillian C., wife of J. C. Clark, an employee on the P., W. & B. R. R., has children, i. Philip R., ii. Ethel L .; III. Sarah (Mrs. George W. Clark), was educated in the public schools of New Castle, studied and was graduated at the Wilmington Academy, taught school for sev- eral terms, died at the age of twenty-eight, leaving children, i. Norman, ii. Marion; IV. Irene B., educated in the public schools of New Castle hundred, has devoted much at- tention to musie and painting, for both of which, especially the latter, she possesses pe- culiar talent, mastering their difficulties with comparatively little instruction; she studied in Philadelphia and Wilmington, and has taken several first, premiums for painting on china at art exhibitions in Trenton, N. J .; she re- sides at home; V. Howard, educated in the public schools of New Castle county, is a graduate of 1891 from the Philadelphia Den- tal College, and is practicing dentistry in Ken- nett Square, Pa., married Caroline Wise, has children, i. Carl, ii. Margery, iii. Howard; VI. Cynthia, educated in the public schools of New Castle hundred, and the Newark Acad- emy, is a graduate in short hand and type- writing of Goldey's Business College, an intel- ligent and agreeable young lady; VII. Mary, educated in the public schools, resides at home; VIII. Elizabeth Morris, educated in the public schools and at Newark Academy; of which institution she is a graduate, at home; IX. Norman, died when fourteen months old. Mr. Lofland and his family are members of the M. E. church.

George Toppin, Mrs. Lofland's father, was born February 4, 1805, and, as usual in that day, educated in subscription schools. He was a farmer and land owner of Pencader hundred, and was also for several years a mer- chant at Toppin's Corner. In 1872, he re- moved to Wilmington, where he kept a store for ten years at Eighth and Lombard streets. Since his retirement from that business, he has lived at leisure; he is now eighty-two years of age, but still in possession of his physical and

mental faculties. He has always been an ar- dent supporter of Democratic views. He was at one time road commissioner of Pencader hundred, also supervisor, and several times a member of the election board. His wife, Sa- rah A. (Hukill) Toppin, was born near Mid- dletown, Del., her father being a farmer of that vicinity. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Toppin are: I. Sarah J., died ummarried; II. Cynthia (Mrs. Alfred Loffand); III. Susan, married John Hickey, both are deceased; IV. Amanda, died unmarried; V. Margaret, wife of Josiah Lofland, both deceased. Mrs. Sarah Toppin died at Toppin's Corner, and was in- terred in the cemetery at Red Lion. Mr. Toppin was afterwards married to Mrs. Julia (Sparks) Donnelly, a widow. Their children are: I. George, of Wilmington; II. Ellie; III. John, of Orange, N. J .; IV. Mary (Mrs. William Hoopes); V. Casper, of Wilmington. Mr. Toppin had always been a consistent member of the M. E. church.

JAMES M. CALLISTER (originally spelled McAllister), P. O. State Road, New Castle county, Del., son of Daniel and Mary E. (Sellitoe) McAllister, was born in Phila- delphia, November 30, 1851. Belonging to the Scotch-Irish stock, so numerously settled in the old Keystone State, the McAllister an- cestors were among the earliest immigrants. Mr. McAllister's grandfather, David Me Allis- ter, was born in Philadelphia, and after re- ceiving his school education, chose a sea-faring life, and was for many years a sailor, visiting principally the West Indies. He was for a long time captain of a vessel, and was well- known in Philadelphia as Captain Me Allister. In Delaware, he was known both as Captain and as 'Squire Mc Allister. After giving up the sea, he kept a hotel for several years in Philadelphia, and then settled in Red Lion, Del., where he spent the remainder of his life, and where he was for a number of years jus- tice of the peace. Captain MeAllister was well known and popular throughout the state. Kindly and cordial, he made friends among people of all classes, regardless of differences of political or religious opinion. He was a stanch Democrat of the Jackson type. C'ap- tain MeAllister and his wife had fourteen children, all of whom are deceased except John, an engineer, of Philadelphia, and Jane, widow of Stephen Hill, of Delaware. All the

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family were members of the M. E. church. Capt. MeAllister died in Philadelphia, while visiting one of his children, who resided in that city; he was buried in Mount Moriah cemetery.

Ilis son, David McAllister, 2, was also a native of Philadelphia, where he received a liberal education. He also learned carpentry there, which he made his calling during nearly all his life, extending his business to include contracting and building. After removing to New Castle hundred, Del., in 1853, Mr. Me- Allister engaged in farming, and carried on that industry until 1867, when he removed to Pencader hundred. There for several years he was constable of the hundred, and for three years tax collector. After this he returned to Philadelphia, and resumed his contracting and building operations. Mr. McAllister al- ways adhered to the Democratic party. Ile was an excellent man, and was much es- teemed. David McAllister, 2, was married in Philadelphia, to Mary E., daughter of Ed- ward Sellitoe, a contractor and builder of that city. Their children are: I. Annie, wife of William Knott, a farmer; II. Edward, farmer, of New Castle hundred; III. Margaret (Mrs. Thomas Fleming), of Wilmington; IV. an in- fant who died young; V. James; VI. Amelia, wife of A. J. Hunt, a music teacher, both are deceased; VII. David E., died in 1896; VIII. William, of Philadelphia; IX. Lucy B. (Mrs. L. B. Sherwood), of Brooklyn, N. Y. Mr. McAllister died in Philadelphia, and his re- mains were interred in Mount Moriah ceme- tery. Ilis widow still resides in that city; they, with their children, were members of the M. E. church, and both were of exemplary Christian character.

It was while James M. Callister was still a child that his parents removed to Delaware, so that his education was carried on in this state, in the New Castle county common schools and at the Elkington Academy, from which he was graduated in 1867. Hle then went to Philadelphia, and became a plasterer and mason, spending two years as learner and two years as journeyman at these trades. He then undertook contracts, and erected a num- ber of public edifices in Philadelphia, includ- ing churches and schools, besides many pri- vate residences. After sixteen years of pros- perity in this business, he was compelled to re- linquish it on account of ill health, by order

of his physician. He accordingly returned to farming, an occupation familiar to him in his early life at his parent's home, and with this object, settled upon the farm of 100 acres which he owns in New Castle hundred. On this place he has resided since 1890, and has made many judicious improvements. With characteristic enterprise, he purchased the creamery conducted by Messrs. Lyman & Little, and in 1892 engaged in the manufac- ture of creamery butter. It is the only cream- ery in that part of the hundred, and Mr. Callister has not only opened up a profitable line of business for himself, but afforded the neighboring farmers a market for their milk. Ilis honorable and sensible business methods command general respect. Mr. Callister is known as an "independent Democrat," voting always for the candidate whom he considers the best man for the place, without regard to political convictions or other differences of opinion. He was register of votes in New Castle for one year, and has also served as clerk of the school board, and as collector of the school tax. He was formerly a member of the I. O. O. F., of Philadelphia, and is now connected with the Blue Lodge, F. & A. M., New Castle.

James M. Callister was married in Philadel- phia, in 1883, to Annie, adopted daughter of James McCarthy, of that city. Their chil- dren are: I. Albert; II. Howard; III. Wal- ter; IV. Harvey; V. Mary E .; VI. Ethel. Mr. C'allister and his family are members of the M. E. church.

ABRAM FOX, P. O. Bear, New Castle county, Del., son of Abraham M. and Annie ( Poor) Fox, was born in Little Creek hun- dred, Kent county, Del., March 14, 1861.

Job Fox, grandfather of Abram Fox, was a farmer and hotel keeper of Little Creek hundred, Kent county, Del., where his son, Abraham M. Fox was born in 1831. Abra- ham M. Fox was educated in the public schools of Little Creek hundred. He has de- voted his life to the cultivation of the soil in Little Creek hundred and now resides on the homestead on a fertile farm of 200 acres, on which he has made many improvements, Mr. Fox is a member of the Democratic party, in- terested in the affairs of his district, and for some years served in the board of school com- missioners of Little Creek hundred. Abra-

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ham M. Fox was married in Kent county, Del., to Annie Poor, a native of Kent county. Their children are: I. Elizabeth ( Mrs. Ed- ward Pleasonton), deceased, mother of two children, Florence and Howard; II. Laura; IUI. Abram; IV. Mary, deceased; V. An- nie, deceased; VI. Susan; VII. Alice; VIII. Rebecca ( Mrs. E. Atkins); IX. Robert. Mr. Fox, his wife and family are members of the M. E. church.

Abram Fox attended the public schools of his native hundred and from boyhood worked on the homestead. Ile remained at home in- til he was twenty-six, when, having acquired a practical knowledge of husbandry, he began farming on his own account. For eight years Mr. Fox cultivated rented land, spending three years on a farm of 100 acres in Little Creek hundred; two years on a large tract in the same hundred, where he began raising fine cattle; two years on a farm of 200 acres be- longing to P. W. Adams, in St. George's hundred, New Castle county; and one year on a small farm near Middletown. Mr. Fox now found himself able to purchase land, and not very long after his marriage bought his pres- ent home, a farm of 144 acres, from J. T. Hayes, tax-collector of New Castle hundred. With characteristic energy Mr. Fox began im- proving his property, increasing the value of the land by careful cultivation and erecting comfortable and convenient buildings. His well-tilled fields have richly repaid his indus- try and liberal management by yielding abun- dant harvests. He is very successful in rais- ing live stock and has none but fine animals, all in excellent condition. Mr. Fox is a firm supporter of Democratie principles, an active worker for the success of his party, and has served as road commissioner of Little Creek hundred.

Abram Fox was married near Middletown, Del., March 28, 1894, to Minnie C., only child of C. J. and Sarah (Diehl) Vandegrift. Their only child, Nellie Vandegrift Fox, is living, born October 17, 1898. Mr. Fox and his wife are members of the M. E. church. Their genial'manner and real kindness draw many friends to their pleasant hospitable home.

C. J. Vandegrift, father of Mrs. Fox, is a successful farmer of Delaware, his native state. He is an active worker in the ranks of the Democracy. He owns and cultivates a

farm in St. George's hundred, New Castle county. Hle and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church.

ADAM MILLER, P. O. State Road, New Castle county, Del., was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, October 15, 1823, and is the only son of Jacob and Mary (Anstadt) Miller, both natives of Wurtemberg. Jacob Miller was 1 farmer. Both parents died in their native country; their two daughters, Rosanna and Barbara, died in early youth. All the family were members of the established church of Germany.

Having received the good education guar- anteed by law to every German child, Adam Miller continued to live with his parents until he was twenty-four years old, working on his father's farm. Then, deciding to seek his for- tune in this land of larger opportunities, he bade farewell to his parents, and sailed on the Hillington, a packet ship leaving Antwerp, and, after a rough passage of fifty-two days, landed in the city of New York. It was in the spring of 1847. The expenses of his voy- age had left him but little money, and he made his way as speedily as possible to Phila- delphia, where an uncle of his, John Miller, was established in the confectionery business. Not being able to secure employment in the city, Adam Miller pressed onward to Dela- ware, after a stay of only two days, and found in New Castle hundred a position as farm hand, with Mr. Lenden. With this employer he remained three years, earning twelve dol- lars per month. For the next eight years he worked on the farm of Mr. Burnham, in the same hundred, and during that time saved enough to buy nine acres of land, on which he began farming on his own account. Some time later, he added forty-five acres of the Grubb tract, which he improved, rebuilding both the dwelling and the barn. On this place, with true German industry and thrift, Mr. Miller has made a success of market gar- dening, and is still diligently carrying on the same business. He is regarded in the com- munity as an intelligent and reliable citizen, and has filled the office of school director of the hundred. Adam Miller's efforts have been faithfully aided by his excellent wife, Char- lotte M. (Kurd) Miller, whom he married in New Castle hundred, June 14, 1856. She also is a native of Wurtemberg, Germany,

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who came to this country at the age of twenty- two to seek employment. She found it in New Castle hundred, where she afterward met and married her worthy husband. Both are well known to the citizens of New Castle, where they have been attending the market for more than thirty years. Their children are: I. Sammuel B .; II. Mary, born in 1869, wife of Charles Reed, superintendent of the HIarlan & Hollingsworth iron works, Wil- mington, Del .; III. Katie, twin sister of Mary, died young. Adam Miller is a member of the Presbyterian church.

Samuel B. Miller, State Road, Del., son of Adam and Charlotte M. (Kurd) Miller, was born in New Castle hundred, February 25, 1865. He received a common school educa- tion in the same hundred, and has passed his life on the farm with his father. He began store-keeping at State Road in 1894. He is an active supporter of the Democratic party, and was elected on its ticket in 1893 to the office of road commissioner. He has fulfilled the duties entrusted to him with full satisfac- tion to his constituents. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being affiliated with St. John's Lodge, No. 2, of New Castle. Samuel B. Miller was married in New Castle hun- dred, April 29, 1890, to Jennie Clingh, of New Castle hundred; they have one child, Bessie. Mr. Miller is a substantial and re- speeted citizen.

WALTER S. BURRIS, Bear, New Castle county, Del., son of John W. and Adeline (Dennis) Burris, was born in Kent county, Del., November 28, 1867.

Mr. Burris' grandparents, Edward and Catherine (Emerson) Burris, were natives of Delaware. They died in New Castle county, Del., and are buried in Bethel cemetery, Cecil county, Md. Their son, John W. Burris, fa- ther of Walter S. Burris, was born near Do- ver, Kent county, Del. He was educated in Kent county, Del., and devoted his life to the cultivation of the soil. After farming for sometime on rented land, spending one year on a farm near Mount Pleasant, New Castle county; two years near Odessa, Del .; and sev- eral years in Pencader hundred, he bought a farm of 78 acres situated in New Castle hun- dred. In 1894 Mr. Burris removed to his present home, a farm of 140 acres in Red Lion hundred, New Castle county. He, how-

ever, still retained the property in New Cas- tle hundred. Mr. Burris is a member of the Republican party, interested in local affairs and has served acceptably on the board of school commissioners. John W. Burris was married at Middletown, Del., September 10, 1867, to Adeline, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Clifton) Dennis, born at Frederica, Kent county, Del. Their children are: I. Walter S .; II. Anna Mary, deceased; ILI. Catharine, deceased; IV. Edward, farmer ; V. Cornelia J. (Mrs. Powel S. Rhodes); VI. Adeline (Mrs. Irvin Leach), Christiana, Del .; VII. May A .; VIII. John M .; IX. James T .; X. Elizabeth P .; XI. Ida; XII. George P .; XIII. William. Mr. Burris, his wife and family are members of the M. E. church, and are earnest and efficient workers. Mr. Burris is superintendent of the Sunday school.

Walter S. Burris attended the public schools of the district during the winter ses- sjons, and remained at home, working with his father on the farm, until he attained his ma- jority. The quiet, uneventful life of a farmer had no attractions for Mr. Burris; he longed for the stir and bustle of a mercantile career. Knowing that his parents were un- able to assist him, he borrowed a sum of money, and began dealing in live stock. His first venture proving decidedly successful, he continued in the business, traveling through the states, buying and shipping to Philadel- phia, Pa., New York City, and other large markets. Mr. Burris is a thorough business man, energetic and enterprising; he is also a good judge of cattle and a conscientious dealer. In January, 1896, he opened a gen- eral store at Bear Station, New Castle county. This establishment, which is a financial suc- cess, is under the charge of his brother-in-law, James W. Maisey. In September, 1897, Mr. Burris was appointed postmaster at Bear Sta- tion, receiving his office from President Me- Kinley. His pleasant, obliging manner makes him a popular officer. Mr. Burris is a Repub- lican, an active efficient worker, but not an of- fice secker. He was a member of the Jr. (). U. A. M.

Walter S. Burris was married in 1891, near Red Lion, New Castle county, to Clara B., daughter of John and Mary ( Wright) Maisey, who was born near Red Lion. They have one child, Harry A. Mr. Burris and his wife are members of the M. E. church. Mrs. Burris'

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parents were natives of Yorkshire, England. Her father, John Maisey, died on his farm near Red Lion, New Castle county, Delaware.

JAMES FLINN, P. O. Wilmington, Del., was born in County Fermanagh, Ulster, Ire- land, August 6, 1830, and is a son of Patrick and Margaret (Monaghan) Flinn. Both his parents were born, lived and died in County Fermanagh. Patrick Flinn was a farmer. They had eight children, most of whom emi- grated to Australia, James Flinn only coming to America. Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Flinn be- longed to the Catholic church.

James Flinn received a fair education in the schools of his native country, and learned bookkeeping, double and single entry. He worked on the farm, remaining at home with his parents until he was nineteen years of age, when he formed the design of improving his condition by emigrating to America, the land of hope for so many of his countrymen. He embarked in 1849, at Londonderry, Ireland, in the sailing vessel Superior, commanded by Captain Boyle, a native of that city. His pas- sage cost him three pounds, five shillings, or about sixteen dollars. It took six weeks to make the voyage across the Atlantic; and when at length the boy of nineteen landed in Philadelphia, all his worldly wealth was a stout heart and a pair of willing hands, and sixty cents. He was first employed for a year and a half, at ten dollars per month, on the farm of Randolph Vernon, in Chester county, Pa. Ile then came to Wilmington, and found work in the foundry and machine shop of Harlan & Hollingsworth. Here he learned boiler making, and spent seven years in that department, receiving sixteen dollars and a half a week. By careful and economical management, he saved enough during that time to begin business as a market gardener, which he did in 1865, first renting a tract of fifteen acres, which he cultivated for two years, and then buying a farm of Anthony Williams. Here for the past thirty years, he has carried on a successful business, aided by his faithful and industrious wife, who attends market twice every week. The buildings and other improvements on the farm have cost over twelve hundred dollars. Thanks to their frugal and judicious economy, Mr. and Mrs. Flinn have been able to enjoy many of the pleasures and luxuries of life. Three years

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 85

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