Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 87

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 87

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A lifelong Democrat, Mr. Toman has al- ways been more or less active in political af- fairs. At the desire of his political friends he offered himself for nomination as sheriff in 1894, but was defeated in the convention. In 1896, however, the nomination was his, by a unanimous vote; but this time he lost the elec- tion by a small majority at the polls. From 1884 to 1888, he was a member of the city council of New Castle. He was elected trus- tee of the Commons in 1891, receiving two- thirds more votes than all the other candidates. Ile was one of the originators and promoters of the county hospital, of which he is a trus-

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tee; is also a member of the New Castle Fire Company, and has been its treasurer since its organization. Mr. Toman is always heartily and actively interested in whatever tends to the improvement of the city or county of New Castle, and is ready and willing to assist with his counsel or his means any scheme which his judgment approves as being really beneficial. He takes especial interest in any movement which appears to favor the laboring man.

James B. Toman was married in New Cas- tle, July 5, 1879, to Mary E., daughter of the late Jeremiah Reedey, who was drowned in Philadelphia in 1860. Mrs. Toman is a native of Philadelphia. Six of their children died in infancy; those surviving are: I. Bessie; II. Mary; III. James B., Jr .; IV. John J .; V. Maggie; VI. Andrew. Mrs. Toman is a lady of kindly disposition and manner. All the family are members of the Catholic church at New Castle.

GEORGE M. RILEY, New Castle, Del., son of Thomas and Bridget ( Rafferty) Riley, was born in County Caven, Ireland, August 5, 1842.

Thomas Riley was a native of the same county, where he received his education in the national schools, and learned weaving. In 1841, he emigrated to America, partly to im- prove his fortunes, and partly to escape Tory rule; he sailed on the ship Saranac from Liv- erpool, and after a voyage of seven weeks, landed in Philadelphia. There, having found employment at his trade, he spent the remain- der of his life. Mr. Riley served his adopted country faithfully and well, not only giving three sons for the defense of the Union, but also enlisting himself, although well advanced in years, in the Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers; he was wounded at Lookout Mountain and at Gettysburg, and spent some time in a hospital. Mr. Riley was a Demo- erat by political instinct. His wife, Bridget (Rafferty) Riley, was a native of the same county in Ireland as himself; she came to this country with her family in 1844, and joined her husband in Philadelphia. They had the following children: I. James, an employee of the Morris, Tasker & Co. iron works, Phila- delphia, was a soldier in the war of the Re- bellion; II. Thomas, deceased; III. Anna, wife of Thomas McKenna, who was a soldier in the late war, both are deceased; IV. John,

a merchant in Philadelphia; V. and VI. Wil- liam and Charles, both died young; VII. George M. Mr. and Mrs. Riley were men- bers of the Catholic church. Both died in Philadelphia, the former in 1879, the latter in 1884.

At the age of only two years, George M. Riley was brought by his mother to America. He was educated in the excellent public schools of Philadelphia, and learned the art of gold and silver plating, at which he worked for about six years. At the age of nineteen, he enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps; he was in service at Charleston, Washington, Brook- lyn and Port Royal, and also in South Caro- lina. He was wounded in the knee at the first battle of Bull Run, and was in the field hos- pital for six weeks after. He was again wounded at Charleston, S. C., by a shell, and was taken from the field hospital to the marine hospital at Philadelphia and Brooklyn, Mr. Riley was mustered out at Brooklyn, August 8, 1865. Mr. Riley continued for about two years to work at his trade in Philadelphia, after which he obtained employment in the Morris, Tasker & Co. iron works, in the same city, as pipe and flute cutter. He remained in that position until 1873, when the company esablished works of the same nature in New Castle. Mr. Riley was one of the first of their workmen to be transferred to this place. In 1890, being compelled to give up physical labor on account of injuries received in mili- tary service during the war, Mr. Riley built the hotel in Dobbinsville which he has ever since satisfactorily and prosperously conduct- ed; the first cost of the building was $4.000. Mr. Riley is Past Commander and trustee of Capt. Evan S. Watson Post No. 5, G. A. R., of New Castle. He has always been a promi- nent and energetic worker in the Democratic ranks. For sixteen years he was a member of the board of education of New Castle, and on account of his warm interest in educational affairs, was a very popular momber. With the same ardent interest he devoted himself to municipal concerns as a member of the city council. His position in the community is one of respect and influence.

George M. Riley was married in Philadel- phia, in 1867, to Catherine, daughter of Daniel and Jane (Barclay) MeKeldoon; she is a native of County Londonderry, Ireland. Their children are: I. Elizabeth, wife of

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STATE OF DELAWARE

James T. Weldon, employee at the Delaware Iron Works, New Castle, Del., had three chil- dren, of whom two died in infancy; II. George M., Jr. Three of Mr. and Mrs. Riley's children died very young. They are faithful members of the Catholic church of New Castle.

HENRY H. MOOR, P. O. Farnhurst, New Castle county, Del., son of Abraham and Nancy (Hopkins) Moor, was born in Little Creek hundred, Kent county, Del., June 8, 1826.

Abraham Moor was born and educated in Delaware, and in the same state carried on his lifelong business of farming. Ile cultivated more than 500 acres of land in Little Creek hundred, 19 acres of which were devoted to peach culture. Mr. Moor was an "old line Whig," and later voted with the Republican party. His first marriage was with Susan Hop- kins; they had the following children: I. Robert, deceased; II. Ann (Mis. Joab Fox), of Little Creek hundred; III. Elizabeth (Mrs. David Pleasanton), of Little Creek hun- dred. Mrs. Susan Moor died, and her remains were interred in the family burying ground in Little Creek hundred. Mr. Moor afterwards married her sister, Nancy (Hopkins) Ennis, widow of Samuel Ennis. Their children are: I. James, retired, lives at Dover, Del .; II. Abraham, resides at Leipsic, Del .; III. Henry II .; IV. Nancy L., widow of Timothy Carrow; V. Samuel, deceased; VI. Emily, deceased; VII. Joseph, retired from business, resides in Dover, Del .; VIII. Charles, died young. Mrs. Nancy Moor died November 29, 1885, and her remains repose in the family burying place. She was a member of the Presby- terian church. Her children by her first mar- riage with Mr. Ennis were: I. Eliza Ann (Mrs. Elihu Jefferson), deceased; II. Isabelle (Mrs. Samuel Hall), deceased; III. Susan (Mrs. John W. Selby), of Philadelphia, de- ceased. Abraham Moor died on the farm in Little Creek hundred, and was interred in the family burial ground.

Henry II. Moor attended the public schools of C'owgill's Corners, after which he worked on his father's farm until he reached the age of twenty-two. He began to make his own way in the world by hiring himself out as a farm laborer, which he continued to do for eight years in Little Creek and Duck Creek

hundreds. He received from eight to ten dol- lars per month, with board. In 1854, he rented a farm of 133 acres in Duck Creek hundred, and began farming on his own ac- count. This farm was at Raymond's Neck; after cultivating it for a year, Mr. Moor rented a larger one, comprising 220 acres, in the same hundred, and later, removed to Mur- derkill hundred, where he renteda tract of 300 aeres; he carried on various branches of agri- cultural business, including the raising of live stock, as well as the cultivation of grain and other products. From the last-named place, Mr. Moor removed to his father's homestead, which he rented and conducted for seventeen years. He then enlisted for nine months in the Home Guards, Sixth Delaware Volunteer Infantry, Company F, Col. Jacob Moore, Capt. Joseph Snow, and served well and faitlı- fully; he was principally employed in doing guard duty. Mr. Moor has never solicited or received a pension. In 1877, Mr. Moor re- moved to New Castle county, where he culti- vated the Taggart farm for one year, and af- terwards rented a farm of 340 acres, owned by Hon. Thomas Holcomb, on which he has ever since resided. Here he has added the management of a dairy to his former agricul- tural pursuits, and conducts his various lines of business with diligence, good judgment, and consequent success. Mr. Moor and all his sons are members of the Republican party; he is deeply interested in the welfare of his coun- try and of his native state, but seeks no politi- cal "loaves and fishes" for himself.

In Little Creek hundred, on January 24, 1855, Ilenry H. Moor was married to Rachel A., daughter of Levin Ennis, a carpenter of Little Creek hundred. Their children are: I. Mary Elizabeth, at home; Il. Abraham, farm- ing on the farm known as Cherry Hill in New Castle hundred, married Margaret, daughter of Jesse Sherwood; III. Samuel E., at home; IV. Sallie B., at home; V. Lydia Naudain, at home; VI. Henry, farmer of Mount Cuba, Del., married Jennie, daughter of Thomas Slack, has children, i. Maud E., ii. Alice B., iii. Rachel 1. The family are all members of the M. É. church.

JAMES T. MORRISON, P. O., New Cas- tle, Del., is a son of Robert and Isabella ( Wadsley) Morrison.

The Morrison family is of Scotch-Irish de-

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BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

scent. The great-grandfather of James T. Morrison was a native of Scotland, who settled in Londonderry, Ireland, where his son James Morrison, grandfather of James T. Morrison, was born. Mr. James Morrison emigrated to America and settled in Philadelphia, Pa., where he learned to roll iron; later he ob- tained a situation in Baltimore, Md. Ile af- terwards removed to Wilmington, Del., where he was employed in Wood's Iron Roller Mills. IIe rolled the plates for the boiler of the first steamer which plied on the Delaware, and also manipulated the steel from which the first steel pens were manufactured. Abandoning his trade, he engaged in teaming, hauling goods from Baltimore to Philadelphia before the establishment of railroads. He afterwards turned his attention to the cultivation of the soil, purchasing Dr. Delany's farm in New Castle hundred, and two years later removed to a farm in Pencader hundred, where he re- mained for some years. He finally opened a hotel at Hare's Corner, Del., where he re- mained for nearly a quarter of a century. Mr. Morrison was well known and respected in the county; a member of the Democratic party, but not an office seeker. He was married in Wilmington, Del., to Maria Griffin, of Phil- adelphia, Pa. Their children are: I. Martha, died in youth; II. Mary, widow of Jesse James, of Mill creek hundred; III. John, died in Chester, Pa .; IV. Thomas, deceased; V. George, a farmer of New Castle hundred; VI. James, of Wilmington; VII. Robert; VIII. Henry, died in youth; IX. Maria, died in youth. Mr. Morrison was a member of the Presbyterian church, always an active worker and interested in the affairs of the congrega- tion. He died at his home in Hare's Corner; his wife died in 1888, both are buried in Bran- dywine cemetery.

Robert Morrison was born in Wilmington, Del., November 27, 1830. He was educated in the public schools of New Castle hundred, and remained at home until he was twenty, when he began farming on his own account. ITe spent one year on a farm near Hare's Cor- ner, New Castle hundred; eighteen months on the Glazier farm in the same hundred; six years in Red Lion hundred; one year in Cecil county, Md .; one year in Kent county, Del .; three years in Mill Creek hundred, New C'astle county ; two years in White Clay Creek hundred; and seventeen years on the Com-

mons farm in New Castle hundred. While at the last named place he began building bridges, and became a wharf and bridge con- tractor; for the last twenty-five years he ha ; devoted all his attention to this business, work- ing in his own and adjoining states. In 1892 he removed to New Castle and purchased a home; although quite deaf, he is still actively - engaged in business. Mr. Morrison's honesty and business ability have won the respect and confidence of the community. He was a member of the Levy Court of New Castle county, and also for many years, one of the trustees of the Commons of New Castle, thus using his business knowledge and experience for the benefit of his fellow-citizens. He is a Democrat, "dyed in the wool," and has al- ways upheld the principles of his party, never failing in what he considers his duty to it. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., St. John's Lodge, New Castle, Del.

Robert Morrison was married in 1853, in New Castle hundred, to Isabella, daughter of Robert and Theresa (Bowman) Wadsley, a na- tive of New Castle hundred. Their children are: I. James T .; II. Maria T. (Mrs. John Megginson), of New Castle hundred; III. Al- vin, president of the Delaware Construction Company, Wilmington, Del .; IV. William, a traveling salesman of St. Louis, Mo .; V. Mary E., married John T. Stoop, prominent hardware merchant of New Castle. Mr. Mor- rison is a member of the Presbyterian church, actively interested in Christian work.

James T. Morrison' attended the public schools of New Castle hundred. He remained at home, working with his father until he was twenty-eight, when he rented the county farm of 104 acres in New Castle hundred, and opened a dairy, carrying his milk to Wilming- ton. Three years later he rented one of the Commons farms of 110 aeres, where he con- tinued his dairy and also raised grain. In 1889 he removed to his present home on the DuPont place, a farm of 150 aeres, where he raises grain and live stock in connection with his dairy. Mr. Morrison is particularly inter- ested in his stock, always keeps fine cattle, and the best of cows. Hle finds a market for his milk in New Castle. Mr. Morrison is a pro- gressive farmer, interested in all that pertains to the improvement of his cattle, his dairy and his farming. He is an intelligent citizen and a firm supporter of the educational interests

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STATE OF DELAWARE

of the community. He is a member of the Democratic party, and of the A. O. U. W., of New Castle.

James T. Morrison was married in New Castle, in 1882, to Mary E., daughter of John Eckels, a farmer of New Castle hundred, and a sister of John W. Eekels, who was major of the First Delaware Volunteer Infantry during the late war. Their children are: I. Eliza- beth; II. Frank, died in youth; III. Mary B. Mr. James T. Morrison and his family are members of the M. E. church.

HENRY STAFFORD, P. O. Wilming- ton, Del., son of John and Amanda (Boyd) Stafford, was born near Smyrna, Del., March 8, 1857.

John Stafford, a native of Maryland, was. of English descent. In early manhood he came to Kent county, Del., where he engaged in farming, milling and raising cattle. In 1865 he removed to New Castle hundred, New Cas- tle county, Del., and rented a farm from Mr. J. M. Clayton, where he spent the remainder of his life in farming and raising cattle. Mr. Stafford was a Whig in youth, but died a Re- publiean; he was actively interested in poli- ties, but never sought office. He was married in Kent county, to Amanda Boyd, a native of Philadelphia, Pa. Their children are: I. Henry and II. William, dairy farmers in New Castle hundred; III. Thomas, a farmer of New Castle hundred. John Stafford's second wife was Rachel, widow of Mr. Abraham Moore; she died in Wilmington, Del .; her children were: I. Amanda, wife of William Lewis, baggage master of the P. R. R. at Chester, Pa .; II. Florence, died in youth. Jolin Stafford and both his wives were mem- bers of the M. E. church; his first wife died in Leipsic, Kent county, in 1861; he died in 1885, at his home in New Castle county, and is buried in the cemetery of the Red Lion Methodist church.

Henry Stafford was educated in the public schools of Kent and New Castle counties. He learned farming and remained at home, work- ing with his father, until he was twenty-three, when he rented three hundred acres of the B. S. Booth property near Hare's Corner, New Castle county; here he farmed, raised stock and carried on a dairy. Nine years after, he rented the Lobdell farm, where he spent six years. This place is now occupied by a

Home for Aged Men. In 1894 he removed to his present home, a farm of 300 acres at Eden Park, Del., where he has established a large dairy; he is also engaged in teaming for the Lobdell Car Wheel Company, Wilming- ton, Del. Mr. Stafford is a genial, whole- souled gentleman, interested in all that con- cerns the welfare of the community. He is a member of Temple Lodge No. 11, A. F. & A. M., Wilmington, Del., of the A. O. U. W., and the I. O. II., of Wilmington. He is a Re- publican, an active worker, but not an office seeker.

Henry Stafford was married in Newark, Del., in 1880, to Laura, daughter of W. H. Faulkner, a farmer of Newark, Del. She is a native of Kent county, Del. Mr. Stafford is a member of the M. E. church.

GILES LAMBSON, P. O. Wilming- ton, Del., son of Giles and Catherine ( Haman) Lambson, was born at "Pleasant Point," the homestead near Wilmington, January 10, 1833.

The Lambson family were among the early settlers of New Jersey. Mr. Lambson's grandfather, Moses Lambson, was born in Salem county, N. J., where he spent his whole life, inheriting from his father the farm, on which he died aged eighty-three years, leaving a large estate. He married a daughter of Major Giles, of Salem county, N. J.

Giles Lambson, Sr., born in Salem county, N. J., receiving a liberal education, remained on his father's farm until his marriage with Catharine, daughter of Edward Haman, of Salem county. Crossing the Delaware he pur- chased one hundred acres of the Stidham farm, between Wilmington and New Castle on the Delaware river, creeting thereon a hand- some brick dwelling, where he resided until his death in 1860. Mr. Lambson was a sue- cessful farmer, greatly improving and increas- ing his property. He was actively interested in local affairs, was a member of the Levy Court, and held various other minor offices. Hle was a prominent Democrat and used his influence for the success of his party. A genial hospitable country gentleman of strict integ- rity and upright manliness, he died lamented by a large circle of friends, one of the wealthy men of the county. Giles Lambson and his wife were members of the M. E. church. They are buried in the Wilmington and Bran-

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BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

dywine cemetery, where a monument marks their resting place. Besides his homestead, he left four large fertile farms. Eight children survived him: I. Mary, widow of Solomon Townsend, of Camden, Del .; II. Moses, a farmer of Kent county, Md., deceased; III. Sarah, widow of James Crippen, a merchant of Wilmington, residing in Philadelphia, Pa .; IV. Charles, a lumber merchant of New Cas- tle, deceased, leaving a widow, one son, John R., doing business in Wilmington, and a daugh- ter residing in New Castle; V. Giles; VI. John Reed, a promising young lawyer, gradu- ated from Poughkeepsie law school in 1859. Ile returned to Delaware and entered the law office of the late Hon. Thomas F. Bayard, was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 1862. Wounded while serving in the Confederate Army, he died while practicing his profession in South Carolina; VII. William H., succeed- · ed his father in the possession of the home- stead, living there until elected sheriff of the county. After discharging the duties of the office he purchased a home in New Castle, and entered into the lumber business in which he was engaged until his death, October 21, 1878, leaving a widow and one son, Giles II., super- intendent of the U. S. Fisheries in Northern California, and three daughters all residing in California; VIII. Eliza, youngest child, married Thomas Nelson Fraiser, an architect of Philadelphia, residing in that city.

Giles Lambson, third son of Giles and Cath- erine (Hamon) Lambson, graduated from the Charlottesville, N. Y., Academy in 1854, af- ter which he engaged in farming until 1866, when he removed to New Castle to engage in the lumber business. He is an active Demo- crat, and in 1878 was elected to represent New Castle hundred in the Legislature. He was elected a member of the New Castle City Council on the incorporation of that city, serv- ing one term. In 1886 he was elected sheriff of New Castle county, and at the expiration of his term, returned to the old 'homestead, where he now resides.

Giles Lambson, 2, married, in 1866, Kate Charleton, daughter of the late Col. John Oakford, of Philadelphia. Their children are: I. John Oakford; II. Bertha Armytage; III. Matilda Prudence. One son, Charles How- ard, died in infancy.

JAMES WILSON, P. O. New Castle, New Castle county, Del., son of Peter and

Mary Eliza (Leager) Wilson, was born in Lit- tle Creek hundred, Kent county, Del., Oeto- ber 10, 1852.

Peter Wilson, farmer and fruit grower, was of Scotch descent. He was born January 3, 1809, near Denton, Caroline county, Md., where he grew up on the farm. When he reached manhood he removed to Little Creek hundred, Kent county, Del., and thirty-two years later to a farm of 160 acres situated near Clayton, Del., where he turned his atten- tion to raising grain and fruit. He improved this property, and became a fruit cultivator on a large scale. In his youth, Mr. Wilson was a Whig, but he afterwards became a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and al- though he never desired office, was always actively interested in party affairs. He was appointed tax-collector of Kenton hundred, and gave universal satisfaction; his duties to both the hundred and the tax payers were so faithfully discharged that he was obliged to take $2,000 from his own pocket to make up for delinquents. Mr. Wilson's first wife was Deborah Swiggett, a native of Kent county, Del. They had seven children, all of whom are dead: I. Henry; II. Mary; III. Elisha; IV. Emily; V. William; VI. Deborah; VII. an infant unnamed. Mrs. Wilson died in Lit- tle Creek hundred, and is buried in the Friends' burying ground. Mr. Wilson's see- ond wife was Mary Eliza Leager, a native of Kent county, Del. They had five children: I. James; II. John, died in infancy; III. John, farmer of Clayton, Kent county, Del .; IV. Thomas, residing in Smyrna, Del .; V. Charles, died in youth. Mrs. (Leager) Wilson died in Kent county, and is buried in the Friends' burying ground. Mr. Wilson's third wife was Patience (Minner) Woodall, widow of Henry Woodall; their two children died in infancy. Mr. Peter Wilson was well educated, intelli- gent and honorable. He was of a Quaker fam- ily. He died at his home near Clayton, Del., April 10, 1883, and was buried in Brin Zion Baptist cemetery near Kenton, Kent county, Del.

James Wilson was educated in the public schools of Little Creek and Kenton hundreds, Kent county, Del., and remained at home, working with his father on the farm until he was twenty-two, when he began farming on his own account. He spent three years on the Benjamin Carmen farm of 112 acres in Black- bird hundred, New Castle county; one year-

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STATE OF DELAWARE

on the Mitchell farm of 165 acres in Appo- quinimink hundred; one year on the Roberts farm of 300 acres in the same hundred; three years on the Cleaver farm of 240 acres in St. George's hundred; two years on a farm of 400 acres in Cecil county, Md., raising grain prin- cipally; seven years on Jacob P. Dixon's farm of 180 acres in Kenton hundred, Kent conn- ty, raising grain, fruit and live stock, and three years on the Sergeant farm of 180 acres, raising grain. In 1894 Mr. Wilson removed to the old Me Williams farm of 300 acres in New Castle hundred, where he raises grain and carries on a large dairy, having more than thirty fine Holstein cows. He is very succes- ful, and finds a market for the products of his farm and dairy in Wilmington, Del. The house in which he resides is a Revolutionary relie, having been built in 1776. Mr. Wilson is a Democrat; he is interested in local affairs and in the cause of education. He was a member of the Shield of Honor of Clayton, Del., was at one time chaplain and passed through all the chairs.

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 87

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