Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 92

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

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of the company. Mr. Townsend is actively interested in state and national politics, as a member of the Republican party, but keeps aloof from party strife and the squabbles of factions. Ile has been chairman of the Re- publican county committee. In 1880, he was elected to the state legislature, and served with credit. Hle was appointed in 1892, under the administration of President Harrison, to the office of collector of the port of Wilmington, and fulfilled its duties efficiently. While in this office, Mr. Townsend succeeded in getting the Oil Works at Marcus Hook within the jurisdiction of the state of Delaware, a meas- ure which was strongly opposed. His ambi- tion is not merely to promote the success of his own party, which, however, he does with the courage of his convictions, but to act for the best good of the community, the state, and the whole country.

George Lybrand Townsend was married December 12, 1866, in Appoquinimink hun- dred, to Cornelia Janes, daughter of Rev. Levi Scott, A. M., D. D., Bishop of the M. E. church, and his wife Sarah A. (Smith) Scott, the marriage ceremony being performed by the father of the bride. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Townsend are: I. Levi Scott, edu- cated in the public schools of the neighbor- hood, and under the private tuition of Pro- fessor Thomas, now of California, and at the Conference Academy, of Dover, Del., from which he was graduated, is in the employ of the Trust Company, Wilmington, married Nellie Dure, and has one child, Julia; II. Sylvester D., also educated in the public schools, at Mr. Thomas's excellent school, and in the Conference Academy, is teller of the National Bank of Delaware City; III. George L., Jr., education similar to that of his brothers, is a graduate of Delaware College, now a student of law and principal of the pub- lic schools of Odessa; IV. Cornelia; V. Mar- tha; VT. William S., and VII. Henry Scott, are twins; VIII. Mary W .; IX. Helen G. Mr. Townsend and his family are members of the M. E. church; he was for years a teacher in the Sunday-school, and is at present its superintendent ; is a steward of the church, and has filled many other congregational of- fices.

HON. COLUMBUS WATKINS, Odessa, Del., son of Gassaway and Hester (MeDou-

ough) Watkins, was born on a farm in Saint George's hundred, September 17, 1829.

The Watkins family is of Welsh descent, and was known among the settlers of Mary- land at an early date. Mr. Watkins' grand- father, Gassaway Watkins, Sr., removed from that state to Delaware, and was a resident and farmer of New Castle county. Ile married Mrs. Mileah (Hart) Smith, widow of Paul A. Smith, of that county. Their children were: 1. Gassaway; II. Robert; III. John. Gassa- way Watkins, 2, was born on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in 1802; he was reared as a farmi- er, and on becoming of age, he elected to con- tinue in that vocation, and rented a farm in Saint George's hundred, which he cultivated perseveringly and successfully for many years. In 1839, he added a mercantile enterprise in MeDonough to his agricultural business; the undertaking prospered, and Mr. Watkins car- ried it on throughout the remainder of his life. Ile was the first postmaster of MeDonough, and held that position for many years. His political opinions were Democratic, of the "Jefferson type," and as he was a man of keen and active intelligence, never at a loss in argument, and withal courteous and winning, he wielded much influence, and accomplished much for the success of his party. His educa- tional advantages had been somewhat limited, but he was a reader and observer, and thus more than compensated for that drawback. Mr. Watkins received from President Polk. in 1848, the appointment of collector of the port at Port Penn, Del. He was a member of the Levy Court of New Castle. In 1874, he was elected treasurer of New Castle county, and served so efficiently as to afford general satisfaction. Gassaway Watkins, 2, was mar. ried to Hester, daughter of Patrick MeDon- ough, and cousin of Commodore Me Donough, of the U. S. Navy. They had these children: I. Amanda, resides in Philadelphia; II. Co- lumbus; III. Caroline, also of Philadelphia. Some years before his death, Mr. Watkins, who had been reared in the Methodist church, became a member of the Presbyterian commu- nion. ITe died April 16, 1877; his wife died in 18 -; both were interred in the burial ground of Drawyer's church. Mrs. Gassaway Watkins was a lady of superior intellect and attainments, who not only superintended the education of her children, but herself impart- ed to them instruction in the higher branches.

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Columbus Watkins, therefore, although his school advantages were only such as were afforded by the public schools of his neighbor- hood, became through his mother's exertions and his own, a well educated man. Before he was sixteen years old, he had assisted his father in his store; at that age he obtained a position as clerk in the general mercantile es- tablishment of Polk & Beaston, of Odessa. He entered their store in April, 1846, and continued in their employ until he attained his majority, in 1850, when he purchased the interest of Mr. Polk, and the firm name was changed to Beaston & Watkins, general mer- chants and grain dealers. This connection lasted until 1865; Mr. Watkins then bought Mr. Beaston's interest in the business, and continued it in his own name until 1880, when he sold it to his son, Frank B. Watkins, who is still sole proprietor. Messrs. Beaston & Watkins were the owners of several sloops and other vessels which conveyed grain, lumber, staves, coal, etc., to Philadelphia, New York and Boston, returning with cargoes of mer- chandise. Their trade in grain was especially large, even for Odessa, which was then one of the principal shipping ports for grain on the middle Atlantic coast. In 1880, in part- nership with his sons, Mr. Watkins embarked in the canning business; it was the first enter- prise of that nature begun in Odessa, and the plant cost over $4,000. In this establishment, known as the Watkins Packing Co., all kinds of fruit are put up, besides tomatoes, corn, etc. Since 1882, Mr. Watkins has given the busi- ness his personal supervision. He was the first to introduce regular communication by steam between Odessa and Philadelphia; the Clio, an Ericsson steamer of 117 tons burden, was built by his orders in 1878, at a cost of $15,000, and has ever since plied between this city and the great Pennsylvania port, con- veying both passengers and freight, and great- ly promoting the business interests, not alone of Odessa, but of all the surrounding country. The Odessa National Bank owes its establish- ment largely to Mr. Watkins' efforts; he is a stockholder, and for twenty years has been a director of the bank; he is now its vice-presi- dent. He is also one of the promoters and stockholders of the Odessa Creamery Co. Mr. Watkins, as a keen and progressive business man, has been identified with all schemes for the improvement of the town and the hun-

dred. Ile has always been a Democrat, is a believer in sound money, and utterly opposed to "free silver." In 1893, he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the state legislature, and served faithfully and well, acting on sev- eral important committees.

IIon. Columbus Watkins was married, May 29, 1855, to Frances B., daughter of John Whitby, a merchant of Odessa, Mrs. Watkins' native town. Their children are: I. Lydia I'. (Mrs. Richard J. Foard), whose husband is a commission merchant of New York and Baltimore; II. Frank Blackiston, general mer- chant, Odessa, married Mary Brady; III. Columbus, Jr., of Philadelphia; IV. John Whitby, manager for the Brady Steamboat ('o., of Smyrna, Del. Mr. Watkins and his family are members of the Presbyterian church.

HENRY CLEAVER, Port Penn, Del., son of Joseph and Catharine (Biddle) Cleaver, was born in Port Penn, St. George's hundred, New Castle county, Del., December 19, 1847.

His ancestors were of the Society of Friends, and came from England many years ago. They were among the earliest settlers of Port Penn. Peter Cleaver, great-grand- father of Henry Cleaver, was born in Penn- sylvania; in his later life he removed to Sa- lem county, N. J., and in the beginning of the eighteenth century came to Delaware with his son William and settled on a farm near Port Penn, where he died. He was engaged in ag- ricultural pursuits his entire life. Mr. Cleaver because of his religious belief, took no part in the colonial wars, but strove to promote peace. He was an upright man and a friend to all who needed material assistance or asked for counsel. He was buried in the Friends' Hickory Grove cemetery.

William Cleaver, son of Peter Cleaver, was a native of Pennsylvania, and removed with his father to Salem county, N. J. Later he purchased a tract of land near Port Penn and began farming there. Ile remained on his farm until he was advanced in years, and then became a resident of Port Penn, where he spent his remaining days quietly. He was a man of large and impressive presence, of un- assuming disposition, upright character and much popularity. He was a Whig, but never sought office. William Cleaver was twice married. His first wife was Ann Grier, of

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Salem county, N. J. They had children: I. John; II. Joseph; III. George; IV. William; V. Isaac; VI. a daughter, who died in in- fancy. All the children are deceased. Ilis wife died on the farm near Port Penn, and was buried in Hickory Grove cemetery. Mr. Cleaver's second wife was Elizabeth Grier, sister,of his first spouse. They had one child, Thomas, who is dead. Mrs. Cleaver also died on the farm and was buried in Hickory Grove cemetery.

Joseph Cleaver, father of Henry Cleaver, was born on the farm near Port Penn, Sep- tember 19, 1797, and received a fair educa- tion. He was essentially, however, a self-edu- cated man and was a mathematician of more than ordinary skill. He was reared on the farm, and when he attained his majority began a successful mercantile business in Port Penn. He continued in this for nearly forty years, dealing largely in grain, lumber, etc., and chartering vessels for the shipment of his merchandise to the New England markets. His time and energies were always actively employed. In 1835 he erected a fine brick dwelling house and store in Port Penn; he owned a farm of 400 acres in St. George's hundred, on which he made many improve- ments; was one of the founders and charter members of the Delaware City National Bank, a large stockholder and a director in that insti- tution, and a promoter of and stockholder in the Odessa (now Cantwell) Insurance Com- pany of Odessa. He was postmaster of Port Penn for several years and gave general sat- isfaction by the administration of his office. Ile was universally respected for his integrity of character, his upright dealings, straightfor- wardness, kindly disposition and well-trained business instinct. He was a Whig but never participated in political controversies or con- tests, giving his time wholly to business af- fairs. Joseph Cleaver married, in St. George's hundred, Catharine, daughter of Samuel Biddle. Mrs. Cleaver was born near MeDonough, St. George's hundred. ITer fa- ther was a native of Maryland and a well- known farmer and stock grower. Mr. and Mrs. Cleaver had children: I. Charles, died in boyhood; II. Ann, died in childhood; III. Samuel, died in 1887; IN. Charles, died in boyhood; V. Joseph, 2, farmer of St. George's hundred; VI. Angelina (Mrs. James M. Van- degrift); VII. Sarah B .; VIII. Eliza (Mrs.

llenry D. IIall), of Philadelphia; IX. Julia F., widow of Charles S. Boyd, of Philadel- phia; X. Henry. Mr. Cleaver was a member of the Society of Friends. He died June 23, 1858, in Port Penn and was buried in Hickory Grove cemetery. His wife and children were members of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Cleaver died in Port Penn, June 23, 1858, and was buried in Hickory Grove cemetery.

Henry Cleaver attended the public schools of Port Penn, the Delaware City Academy, and a private school in Philadelphia. After completing his education in these institutions he engaged in the mercantile business, and in 1869 after the death of his father and brother Samuel Cleaver, succeeded to the manage- ment of their extensive enterprises. For nearly thirty years, he has dealt extensively in grain, coal, etc., and has conducted all his ventures with fair success. In 1873 Mrs. Cleaver was elected a director of the Delaware City National Bank, and in July, 1889, was chosen president of that institution, which im- portant position he has filled with much credit to himself and profit to the bank. , Ile was appointed postmaster of Port Penn in 1872, and for the past quarter of a century has given entire satisfaction to all the patrons of the office and to the government. Mr. Cleaver is a Republican, and a sincere believer in his party and its platforms. He has never mar- ried. Ile is a member of the Presbyterian church, and librarian of the Sunday school, and devotes much of his time to church work. Ile is of unassuming manner, but is honored by all for his excellence of character, a herit- age well maintained, which descends from a long line of worthy ancestors.

GEORGE W. DUNCAN, Port Penn, Del., son of James and Susan ( Kelly) Duncan, was born in New Castle, New Castle county, Del., August 18, 1849.

His parents were born in Ireland, and were of Scotch-Irish descent. His father was a na- tive of Tyrone, Ireland, where he was born October 19, 1816, and where he received his early education. James Duncan came to America in a sailing vessel in 1832, and land- ed in Philadelphia. He learned carpentry under William MeArthur, and remained with him until he attained his majority. After working at his trade for several years in Phil- adelphia, he removed to Wilmington, Del. 1

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few years later he became proprietor of the Green Tree Hotel, at Rising Sun, on the Brandywine creek, and later took charge of the Market Street hotel, on Market street, New Castle. Mr. Dunean relinquished the hotel business after a time, and returned to Wilmington, where he resumed his trade, and carried it on for eight years. In 1857 he went - back to New Castle and helped in the con- struction of the county jail. In 1858 he was employed on Fort Delaware under General Newton, and was the last workman dis- charged. His work there done, he once more made New Castle his home, and resided there, -actively engaged all the while,-until his death, October 1, 1896. He was a highly re- spected citizen, was well posted on the leading questions of the day, and was remarkably well versed in Bible history. He was a member of the A. F. and A. M. Mr. Duncan's first vote was cast in 1840 for Van Buren, and he was always afterwards a consistent Democrat and an able exponent of the party's principles. It was a matter of much regret to him that he could not live to vote for W. J. Bryan ("the poor man's candidate," he delighted in calling him) for president, in 1896. James Duncan was married at the United States hotel, in Wilmington, to Susan, daughter of James and Mary Kelly, of Frankford. Mrs. Duncan was born in Donegal, Ireland. They had nine children: I. Jane (Mrs. Henry MePike); II. Maggie, died young; III. George W .; IV. James, plasterer, died in 1895; V. Mary, died in 1882; VI. John, plasterer, of New Castle; VII. Maggie; VIII. William, brick-mason ; IX. Agnes, at home. Mrs. Duncan is still living at New Castle. Mr. Duncan was in his early life a Presbyterian, but later became a member of the Catholic church. His body was buried in St. Peter's R. C. churchyard, New Castle.

George W. Duncan was educated in the public schools of Wilmington and New Castle, in the latter by W. F. Lane. He early secured employment and worked first for the P., W. & B. R. R. for a short time. At the age of seventeen he shipped as a sailor on the revenue cutter W. II. Seward. After eigh- teen months' trial, he gave up a sea-faring life, and learned carpentry under Capt. G. II. Jameson, with whom he remained until he was twenty-one years of age, after which he continued for eighteen months to work at his

trade. In 1879 he obtained a berth on the receiving ship Frankfort, at Newport News navy yard, and was afterward transferred to the tug-boat Fortuna. On this vessel, how- ever, he did not remain long, but returned to his trade, and continued at it until 1885. In that year he was appointed by Charles S. Fairchild, secretary of the treasury, as keeper of the Front Range light-house at Port Penn. Ile still retains that position, which he has filled to the greatest satisfaction of the gov- ernment and of sea-faring people.

Naturally a mechanical genius, possessing a personal knowledge of the dangers that are always near those who "go down to the sea in ships," an energetic and conscientious em- ployee, he takes keenest pleasure in making improvements to his station and in having his beacon always burning brightly when it is needed for the guidance of the mariner. IIe is an unfailing supporter of the Democratic party.

On October 27, 1870, George W. Duncan was married to Annie P., daughter of James and Emma (Chase) Duncan, of New Castle. Their children are: I. Thomas P., inspector of dredges in the Delaware river; II. Alfred, died young; III. Emma (Mrs. John Gam), of Augustine Pier; IV. George, at home; V. Malloy, died young; VI. Susan A .; VII. Wil- liam Herbert; VIII. James; IX. Irwin S. B .; X. William Horsey, died in 1882.

JOHN COWGILL CORBIT, P. O. Odessa, Del., eldest son of Daniel and Eliza (Naudain) Corbit, was born in Odessa, Jan- uary 20, 1836.

ITis great-great-grandfather, Daniel Corbit, was a very early settler in the state of Dela- ware. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in the seventeenth century. On his arrival in America, he went first to West Chester, Ches- ter county, Pa., where he became engaged in farming. He married Miss Brinton, and about 1710 or 1715, removed to Delaware, and resided near Odessa, on the banks of .Ap- poquinimink creek, where he bought and im- proved a very extensive tract of land; it meas- ured about 1,000 acres. He had several chil- dren, Rev. William P. Corbit, a learned and eloquent preacher of the M. E. church in New York was his grandson. A son, Daniel, 2, was the great-grandfather of John C. and Daniel W. Corbit, of Odessa. The first Daniel Cor-

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bit was buried in the Friends' cemetery at Odessa, then Cantwell Bridge, he being a member of that Society.

Daniel Corbit, 2, was born at the home- stead on the banks of the Appoquinimink, and followed the same calling as his father's, be- ing a large land owner, and not only cultivat- ing the soil, but raising cattle and other stock. Like his father, he was a Friend, and dying on the farm, was buried in the cemetery of the Society at Odessa.

His son, William Corbit, was born on the banks of the Schuylkill, near Philadelphia, November 10, 1745. Ile received a good edu- cation in Philadelphia, and first became a farmer, but later removed to Odessa, where he opened one of the first tanneries in that viein- ity. In 1773, he built in Odessa a fine brick mansion of the English, now called colonial, style; the work on this dwelling was done by an English contractor, named Robert May, at a cost of 1500 pounds sterling. This substan- tial building, still in good preservation, is now the residence of Daniel W. Corbit, grandson of its original proprietor. William Corbit was an active man of business, and added a mercantile enterprise to his other occupations. Ile was three times married. His first wife was Mary Pennell, a lady of English descent; their only child, Pennell Corbit, married a daughter of Governor Clark. The first Mrs. ('orbit died, and was interred in the Friends' burial ground at Odessa. The second wife of William Corbit was Sarah Fisher, also of Eng- lish ancestry, who was a relative of Hon. John M. Clayton and of Judge George P. Fisher. The only offspring of this marriage was Wil- liam F. Corbit, who became prominent as a merchant of Odessa. After the death of Mrs. Sarah Corbit, Mr. Corbit married Mary, daughter of John Cowgill, "the Martyr Quaker of Little Creek." Their children were: I. John C .; II. Daniel; III. Thomas, deceased; IV. Mary, deceased; V. Sarah, married Presley Spruance, of Delaware, U. S. Senator, and father of Judge Spruance. William Corbit died August 1, 1818; his re- mains and those of his wife were interred in Odessa.

Their son, Daniel Corbit, born on the banks of the Schuylkill river, October 2, 1796, was about five years old when his father removed his family to Cantwell's Bridge, now Ode-sa. The youth received a thorough education in

the school under the auspices of the Society of Friends, in Smyrna, Del. At the age of sixteen, he became a clerk in the store of his brother, William F. Corbit, of Odessa, with whom he remained until he was twenty-one years of age. He then purchased the tannery at Cantwell's Bridge, and conducted it pros- perously until 1850. Having bought 800 acres of land in Appoquinimink and Saint George's hundreds, he relinquished his tan- ning business, and devoted his attention to agriculture, but more particularly to raising peaches, in which he was very successful; he is counted among the pioneers in peach culture in that section of the state. Mr. Corbit's sound judgment and intelligence, coupled with what is called "good common sense," ren- dered him very serviceable to his neighbors and friends in matters of business. He was frequently consulted, and was usually called upon to write such legal documents as were needed by the townsmen, which he did in a clear, lawyer-like style. For many years he was director of the Bank of Smyrna. He was first a supporter of the Federalist party, was afterwards a Whig, and later a Republican. Ile was a member of the constitutional con- vention of 1852, and several times represented his district in the state legislature. The nom- ination for governor was several times ten- dered to him, but always absolutely refused. Daniel Corbit was married in 1833 to Eliza, daughter of Andrew and Rebecca (Snow) Naudain, and sister of Hon. Arnold Naudain, M. D. She was born in Leipsic, Kent county, Del. (A sketch of the Naudain family ap- pears elsewhere in this work.) Their chil- dren are as follows: I. John Cowgill; II. Louisa A., widow of Captain Charles Corbit, of the Delaware Cavalry, who was a distant cousin; III. Daniel, died when four years old; IV. William Brinton, M. D., graduate of Jef- ferson Medical College, was for a long time in the Surgeon General's Department, in Wash- ington, D. C., and died in that city in July, 1882; V. Daniel Wheeler, of Odessa. Mrs. Eliza Corbit died in Odessa, in December, 1844. Her character was one of peculiar love- liness, and she was equally admired for her re- finement and her intellectual acquirements. Mr. Corbit, in April, 1847, married his dis- tant cousin, Mary Wilson, daughter of David Wilson, a prominent merchant of Odessa. Their only child is Mary, wife of E. Tamnall

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Warner, of Wilmington, Del. Mary Corbit survived her husband three years, dying March 21, 1880; she was one who inspired af- fection in all who came in contact with her, by her gentleness and kindly consideration, even for strangers. She was at the same time unusually intelligent and cultured. Daniel Corbit's death took place in May, 1877. Ile was a strict adherent to the doctrines and eus- toms of the Friends, and a man of great benev- olence and of very noble character.

John C. Corbit, eldest son of Daniel Corbit, was educated in a private school in Odessa, taught by Miss Cowgill ; at Westtown Friends' School, in Chester county, Pa .; and at Haverford College, Montgomery county, Pa. His education completed, he devoted his attention to farming and fruit culture, with abundant success. He is a very large landed proprietor, owning about 1500 acres in Appo- quinimink and Saint George's hundreds, on which he has made extensive improvements. ITis possessions include the tract originally owned by Daniel Corbit, the pioneer of the family in Delaware, on the banks of the Ap- poquinimink creek. A farmer who, like Mr. C'orbit, brings science and intelligence to bear upon agricultural methods, cannot fail to be of the greatest service to the neighborhood in which he lives; and the examples of the value of improved modes of cultivation introduced by him, have done much to increase the pro- ductiveness of the county. Mr. Corbit is a director and stockholder of the New Castle County National Bank, and was elected pres- ident of the board, October 26, after many years' service as vice-president. He is also president of the Cantwell Mutual Insurance Company; he has an interest in both compan- ies. Mr. Corbit is a worthy successor of his respected ancestry, a man of strong moral con- victions, of blameless life and of great ability. He is of a kindly and generous disposition, ge- nial and courteous. Without seeking or desir- ing office, he is a decided Republican.

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 92

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