Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 94

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 94

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faithful member of the Society of Friends. Ile adhered to the Whig party. Mr. Shall- cross married in his own neighborhood, and had children as follows: I. Jacob; II. Benja- min; III. Mary; IV. Susan; V. Thoma -; VT. Leonard; VII. Zeno; VIII. Charles; IX. Elizabeth; X. Ann. His first wife dying, he married Ann Kester. He died in 1856, at the venerable age of ninety-three, and was interred in Cedar Hill cemetery, beside the Penn boundary stone. This family received their grants of land from the founder him- self.

Ilis son, Jacob Shalleross, was born on the homestead in Oxford township, March 4, 1791. He received a good education, and be- came a skillful and successful farmer. He was the owner of 116 acres of good arable land in Oxford township. Mr. Shalleross was noted as a sportsman; he was a good shot, and hunted with success in various parts of Penn- sylvania and in Delaware. He was originally a Whig, and afterwards became a Republi- can; was always a loyal supporter of his party, but sought no office. He served, how- ever, as director of the poor. Jacob Shall- cross was married in Oxford township to Margaret, daughter of Sereck and Ann (Cru- sin) Fox, natives of Oxford township, where Mrs. Shallcross was born in 1792. Mr. Fox was a farmer, and he and his wife were of German descent. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Shalleross were: I. Sereck Fox, farmer, of Saint George's hundred, New Castle coun- ty, Del., married Ann Fenton, of Montgom- ery county, Pa .; II. Ann Elizabeth, married Joseph Waterman, both deceased; III. Mary, wife of Edward Livezey, both deceased; IV. Catherine (Mrs. Richard Cochran), of Middle- town; V. Sarah (Mrs. W. A. Cochran), of Saint George's hundred, deceased; VI. Wil- liam, died in Kent county, Md .; VII. Thomas, of Kent county, Md .; VIII. Fannie (Mrs. Jonathan K. Williams); IX. Henry, died young; X. an infant, deceased. Mr. Shalleross, with his wife and family, were members of the Episcopal church; they held a position of respect and influence. Jacob Shalleross died on the farm, April 4, 1874; his wife survived him until 1879, when she also died, on the farm, and both were interred in the family burial place in Cedar Hill ceme- tery.

HIENRY AUGUSTUS NOWLAND, de- ceased, late of Saint George's hundred, Del., son of Augustus James and Mary (Sluyter) Nowland, was born on the Nowland home- stead in Bohemia Manor, Cecil county, Md., March 6, 1838.

The first of his name who settled in this country was Desmond Nowland, a native of Ireland, who came about 1680, and fixed his residence near the Warwick Catholic church, the land of which he took possession being granted to him by Lord Baltimore; it is still a part of the family inheritance. Dennis James Nowland, grandfather of Henry 1. Nowland, was born on the old Nowland home- stead in Sassafras Neck, October 12, 1750. Ile was a farmer, owning and cultivating 300 acres of land; his life was passed in the neigh- borhood in which he was born, and there he died in 1807, and was interred in the ceme- tery of St. Augustine's P. E. church, of which he and his family were members. He was a supporter of the Federalist party, but was not publicly active in politics, preferring to de- vote his attention to his home and vocation, rather than to take part in political contests, or shoulder the cares of office. Dennis J. Nowland was married, October 3, 1795, to Mary Mansfield Foard, daughter of Edward and Sarah ( Mansfield) Foard; she was born in Sassafras Neck, January 19, 1777. The Foards were of English descent, a Cecil coun- ty family of refinement and intelligence. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Nowland were: I. Margaret, born September 17, 1796; II. Ed- ward, and IFI. Mary Ridgeway, twins, born November 27, 1797, of whom the former died in early life, and the latter was married, first to Andrew Garretson, a merchant, and in 1837, after his death, to James C. Mansfield, son of Gen. Richard Mansfield, and she died in 1856; IV. George W., born October 1, 1799; V. Augustus James, and VI. Sarah, married March 13, 1826, to Benjamin Sluy- ter, twins; VII. Alfred C., of New Castle, Del., born February 15, 1803, married to Phebe Pennington, who died, in 1830 to Mary Amanda Biddle, who also died, and in 1835 to Ann JJemima, daugh- ter of General Mansfield; VIII. Lambert D., captain in the U. S. Army, born September 5, 1805, married Anna Maria, daughter of Dr. - - Foard, of Cecil county, Md .: IX. Lonisa II., born March 19, 1808, married

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November 28, 1831, to Samuel Staples, Esq., a prominent lawyer; X. Frisby M., and XI. Henry Neilson, twins, born May 11, 1810, the former was captain of a vessel, the latter was married, July 19, 1832, to Elizabeth O. Matthews. All of this family are now de- ceased. Their mother, Mrs. Mary M. Now- land, died on the homestead April 6, 1844, and was interred in the burial ground of the family. Henry A. Nowland has in his pos- session remarkably fine portraits in oil of these grandparents, painted more than a hundred years ago, of value not only as heirlooms, but as specimens of the spirited and artistic work of the portrait painters of the eighteenth cen- tury.

Augustus James Nowland, third son of Dennis J. Nowland, was born on the old farm in Sassafras Neck, September 11, 1801, and was afforded a good education in the schools of his vicinity, upon which he im- proved greatly by judicious reading and close study. He cultivated the homestead farm un- til 1849, when he sold it, and removed to Kent county, Md., and there purchased a farm on which he resided until 1865. In that year he went to reside on the farm owned at one time by Gen. 'Richard Mansfield, later by Mrs. Alfred Nowland, in Saint George's hundred, New Castle county; it is a tract of 380 acres, and here he lived a retired life dur- ing the remainder of his days. He was a life- long Democrat, a supporter of the doctrines of Presidents Jefferson and Jackson. He was elected commissioner of Cecil county, Md., and efficiently fulfilled the duties of his office. Augustus James Nowland was married, Feb- ruary 1, 1836, to Mary J., daughter of Henry T. and Francina (Wirt) Sluyter; the family is of Dutch descent, and Mrs. Nowland and her parents were born in Bohemia Manor, Md. The children of this marriage are: I. Henry Augustus; II. Mary Jemima, born May 11, 1840, died October 26, 1840; III. Dennis James, born March 12, 1842, a well- known farmer of Kent county, Md., married Ida Warfield, December 4, 1872; IV. a child that died in infancy. Augustus J. Nowland and his wife were faithful members of St. Augustine's Episcopal church. Mr. Nowland died on the farm in Saint George's hundred, February 5, 1879, and was buried in the ceme- tery attached to the church, his grave being in the southwest corner of the ground, in ac-

cordance with his last request. Mrs. Nowland died in 1885, and her remains repose beside those of her husband.

The first representative in America of the Sluyter family, from which Mrs. Nowland descended, was Dr. Peter Sluyter, who came in 1683 from Amsterdam, Holland. He was the founder of a colony of Labadists, and set- tled on Bohemia Manor, in Cecil county, Md. Ilis estate was very large, extending from the Bohemian river as far as to the pres- ent site of St. Augustine's church. The last of the family to occupy this domain was Ben- jamin Fletcher Sluyter, great-great-grandson of Henry Sluyter, nephew of the original owner, and proprietor of the tract in 1716; the farm is now owned by Frederick Brady. Mrs. Nowland's father, Henry Sluyter, was the son of another Heury, or Harry, Sluyter.

After the removal of the family to Kent county, Md., Henry A. Nowland attended the schools of his neighborhood, and after- wards studied at Washington College, Ches- tertown, Md., from 1853 to 1855. At the age of nineteen years, he became a teacher, and followed that vocation for four years, in the first district of Galena, Kent county, Md. To those years Mr. Nowland recurred as the happiest of his life, when hope and enthusi- asm were in their early glow and when the pleasure which he had always taken in serving his fellow-beings was as yet unalloyed by ex- periences of ingratitude and of failure. He took great delight in teaching. Among his pupils were such men as L. D. Gooding, now principal of the Conference Academy at Do- ver, Hon. W. A. Comegys, ex-speaker of the Delaware House of Representatives, Nathan- iel MeGinnes, and others, all of whom speak in the highest terms of Mr. Nowland's merits and qualifications as an instructor. In 1865, when the Gen. Richard Mansfield farm be- came the home of the family, Mr. Nowland relieved his father, now becoming enfeebled by advancing years, of the labor and care of farming, and continued to devote himself. to the welfare and comfort of his parents as long as they lived. Ever afterward he was engaged in the management of that farm, which became his property in 1892, being be- queathed to him by a member of the Mans- field family, who were relatives of the Now- lands. He also purchased the Brady farm, which contains 75 acres, so that he was the

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owner of more than 450 acres of land, on which he made many improvements. He was largely interested in stock, having over forty head of the best Holstein and short horned cattle, besides twenty head of horses. Mr. Nowland was a stockholder and director of the Middletown Creamery Co., and sup- plied milk to the creamery, the products of which amounted to $1,200 per annum. He was one of the founders and a director of the People's National Bank of Middletown, in which he was a stockholder. His business talent was utilized to a great degree in the service of the state. In 1892, he received from Governor Reynolds the appointment of trustee of the Delaware College, and that of trustee of the State Asylum for the Insane, but was compelled by ill health to resign these posts. Being also made trustee of the poor in Saint George's hundred, he served the board four years as president, and during that time was zealous and active in bringing about reforms in the management of the poor house and county hospital. Mr. Nowland was elect- ed in 1874 to the state legislature, and served during his term on several important commit- tees; of the Committee on Education, he was the capable and enthusiastic chairman, for no scheme for the better training of the rising generation ever appealed to him in vain. His best efforts were enlisted on behalf of the common school system; one of the first re- sults of his services on this committee was the "New School Law of 1875," which was a great advance from the law of 1829, operative up to that time. The new law provided for a state superintendent and board of education, and for more thoroughly prepared teachers, and accomplished much in placing the system upon a higher plane. As beneficial, if not even more so, was Mr. Nowland's advocacy of the education of the negroes of the state, for which he asked for an appropriation of $5,000, speaking earnestly both in the committee and on the floor of the House in support of his demand. Thus the seed was sown which ripened fully in later days, bear- ing fruit in the ample provision now made for the fulfilment of this part of the duty of the commonwealth. Mr. Nowland was also a member of the Committee on Divorce, which originated the last restrictive legislation on this subject. In 1885, at the solicitation of friends, Mr. Nowland allowed his name to be

brought before the Democratic convention as nominee for state treasurer, his opponent in the convention being Mr. Herbert; the vote was at first a tie, 14 to 14, but the nomination was afterwards given to Mr. Herbert. Mr. Nowland was always a consistent member of the Democratic party; he cast his first presi- dential vote for the "Little Giant," Stephen A. Douglass, and as a matter of principle, did not vote for Horace Greeley. In 1891, on ac- count of impaired health, he retired from ac- tive life, but still attended to business. He was well-informed on current topies, his in- terest in the welfare and progress of his coun- try, and, indeed, of the whole human race, being unabated.

Henry Augustus Nowland was married, October 25, 1876, in Middletown, Del., to Elizabeth, daughter of William HI. and Maria (Hepburn) Blackiston, of Kent county, Md. She was born in that county, and is of Eng- lish and Scotch ancestry. Their children are: I. Maria Hepburn; II. Augustus James; III. Mary B. Mrs. Elizabeth Nowland died in 1883. Her remains are interred in the burial ground of St. Anne's Episcopal church, at Middletown. In 1885, Mr. Nowland married her sister, Josephine Blackiston; she is, like her sister, a lady of culture and refinement. Mr. Nowland was junior warden of St. Anne's P. E. church, of which the family are es- teemed members. Mr. Nowland died at his home in Saint George's hundred, Del., April 21, 1898.

WILLARD H. HALL, P. O. Port Penn, New Castle county, Del., son of Alfred K. and Alice (Mustard) Hall, was born in Mil- ford, Kent county, Del., July 11, 1855.

The HIall family, one of the oldest in the state of Maryland, is of Scotch-Irish de- scent. The ancestors came to America with the first Presbyterians of the country, landing at New Castle, Del., about 1686. Mr. Hall's grandfather, William S. Hall, was born in Sus- sex county, Del., where he spent his youth, re- ceiving his education in the schools of the dis- triet. William S. Hall devoted his energies to mercantile pursuits, and spent his life at Hall's Store, now Ocean View, Del., of which he was the first postmaster. Mr. Hall's dili- gence, close attention to business, and oblig- ing disposition brought him financial success. ITe was, however, far too energetic and pro-

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gressive to confine himself entirely to one success; and in 1870 Mr. Hall together with a number of enterprising citizens of the county formed a stock company called the Milford Alden Fruit Evaporating Company. Of this company Mr. Hall was not only a stock- holder and a member of the board of direc- tors, but also secretary and treasurer. After thriving in business for three years, the com- pany lost heavily by fire and the enterprise was abandoned. Mr. IIall returned to the merchant's desk and soon built up an exten- sive and lucrative business, in which he was actively engaged at the time of his death. Al- fred K. ITall was in youth a firm advocate of the doctrines of the Whigs, but later identi- fied himself with the Republican party. He was an indefatigable worker, and was actively interested in politics. He was nominated for the state legislature, but was defeated by his opponent F. W. Causey. This defeat was in no respect owing to Mr. Hall's unpopularity, but due solely to the fact that the district was Democratic. Alfred K. Hall was married at Ocean View, Del., to Alice, daughter of John Mustard, of Cool Spring, Del. Their chil- line of business; and therefore invested in real estate, and at the time of his death owned two valuable farms. For many years Mr. Ilall was justice of the peace in his district. Hle was known through all the country side as "Squire Hall," one who dealt justly and decided fairly without fear or favor. By this course, Mr. Hall won not merely popularity, but the respect and confidence of the com- munity. Ile was a Whig, firm in his convie- tions, decided in expressing his opinions and an active, efficient worker for the success of the party. William S. Hall's first wife was Miss Tummell, a relative of Governor Tun- nell of Delaware. Their six children, all now dead, were: I. Alfred K .; II. Robert C .; III. Henry J .; IV. Alexander N .; V. Joseph I .; VI. Isabel, died in youth. Mrs. Hall died and is buried at Ocean View cemetery. Mr. Hall's second wife, Harriet Mustard, of Sussex county, Del., was a daughter of John Mustard, a sister of Mrs. Alfred K. Hall, and an aunt of D. L. Mustard, editor of the Lewes Pilot. Mrs. Harriet (Mustard) Hall, died at her home at Ocean View, in 1896, the . dren are: I. Edward, and II. Frederick, both mother of one child, May (Mrs. George Tun- nell). Mr. Hall, his wife, and all his family were members of the Presbyterian church at Ocean View, Del. Mr. Hall was an elder and an active worker in the congregation ; he gave the ground and built the church. He died at his home in Ocean View, and is buried in the cemetery there.

Alfred K. Hall was born at Ocean View, July 24, 1822. He received a good buisness education, and while still a boy went to work on one of his father's farms. But the quiet, uneventful country life was ill-suited to his bold, restless spirit. Love of adventure called him to the ever changing sea, and at the age of sixteen, he shipped on an Indian River vessel as cook, receiving four dollars per month. Naturally intelligent and observing, he was rapidly promoted from his humble position ; he served for a time before the mast, then as second mate, first mate, and finally as captain of a coasting vessel. His pleasant but decided manner and thorough knowledge of the coast, made Mr. Hall a very successful captain. At the end of sixteen years, he abandoned the sea; and about 1860 began business as a coal and lumber merchant at Milford, Del. This venture was a financial

died in infancy; III. Robert C., a merchant of Milford, Del .; IV. James Alfred, captain of a coasting vessel; V. Willard HI .; VI. Mary. died in youth; VII. Lydia M. (Mrs. R. D. Grier), of Salisbury, Md. Mr. Alfred Hall and his family are members of the Pres- byterian church, in which he was a deacon, and an earnest Christian worker.

ITis benevolence and integrity won for him the confidence and esteem of the community. Mrs. Hall died at her home in Milford in 1889; Mr. ITall died at the same place in 1892, and is buried beside his wife in the I. O. O. F. cemetery, at Milford, Del.

Willard II. Hall received his education in the public schools of Milford, Del .; and for a short time attended the high school of that place. At the age of fourteen he left school and was apprenticed for four years to S. C. Evans, watchmaker and jeweller, at Milford, Del. After serving his apprenticeship he re- moved to Frederica, Del., and began business for himself. ITis skill as a workman and his unremitting industry enabled him to build up a profitable business; but at the end of three years, the confinement so seriously impaired his health that he was compelled to seek some more active employment. In 1881 Mr. Hall

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secured a position as fireman on the D. M. & V. R. R. Fidelity and diligence brought their reward, and at the end of a year he was promoted to the responsible post of engineer. In 1883, during President Arthur's adminis- tration Mr. Hall received the appointment of Light House Keeper at Cape Henlopen Beacon Light. In 1885 he was transferred to the Breakwater East End Light, and after ten . years of faithful service, was again transfer- red to his present position as keeper of the Reedy Island Rear Light. Mr. Hall has proved himself an efficient employee of the government. He is careful, painstaking and faithful, and has given entire satisfaction by the manner in which he has discharged the duties of his responsible position. His genial pleasant disposition makes him popular with the light house staff, and a favorite with all classes of people. His habit of observation, love of study and his intercourse with the world have made him a well educated man, notwithstanding his limited educational ad- vantages. Mr. Hall is a stanch Republi- can, actively interested in local affairs. He is a member of Atlantic Lodge, No. 15, I. O. · VII. O. F. at Lewes, Del., and of Jefferson Lodge, No. 15, A. F. & A. M., of Lewes, and Marine Lodge, No. 26, A. O. U. W.

Willard H. Hall was married in Philadel- phia, Pa., in 1876; to Annie L., daughter of Robert Griffith, of Milford, Del. Their chil- dren are: I. Alfred; II. William N., died in youth; III. Mary S., died in youth; IV. Bes- sie M .; V. William, 2; VI. Katie L. Mr. ITall and his family are members of the Port Penn Presbyterian church. Mr. Hall is an active worker in the church. He is an elder, assistant superintendent of the Sunday-school, and leader of the Bible class. Mrs. Hall died at Lewes, in 1893; she is buried in the ceme- tery at Milford, Del. Willard H. Hall wasagain married June 2, 1898, at Port Penn Presby- terian church to Miss Henrietta Tilghman Dilworth, daughter of Thomas F. and Hen- rietta M. (Stewart) Dilworth, of New Castle county.

CITRISTOPHIER JOHN VANDE- GRIFT, P. O. Macdonough, New Castle county, Del., son of Leonard G. and Elizabeth (Janvier) Vandegrift, was born near Reedy Island Neck, in Saint George's hundred, Oe- tober 25, 1843.

The original ancestor of the Vandegrift family in America came to this country from Holland before the Revolutionary war, and was among the earliest settlers in Delaware. Christopher Vandegrift, grandfather of Christopher John Vandegrift, was a native of Saint George's hundred, and a life-long resident there. He was an extensive land owner, and for years cultivated a farm near Reedy Island Neck. He afterward removed to the vicinity of Port Penn. He was a cap- tain in the Light Artillery during the war of 1812, but was not in active service. For four years, he served with marked efficiency and fidelity as a member of the state senate. He was a close student both of history and of cur- rent events, and an eloquent orator. Politi- cally, he was a disciple of Jefferson and Jack- son, and was untiring in his efforts on behalf of his party. Christopher Vandegrift mar- ried Lydia (Aspril) Walraven, widow of Elias Walraven; she was a native of Saint George's hundred. Their children were: I. Leonard G .; II. Andrew Jackson; III. Christopher, 2; IV. Ruth Ann; V. Ellen; VI. Elizabeth; Mr. Vandegrift died on his farm near Port Penn, in 1856; Mrs. Vande- grift died at the same place in 1843; the re- mains of both were interred in the cemetery of Drawyer's Presbyterian church. Mrs. Vandegrift and family were members of the Presbyterian church.

Leonard G. Vandegrift, eldest son of Christopher and Lydia ( AAspril) Vandegrift, was born on the old homestead at Reedy Is- land Neck, in 1813. Ilis education was ob- tained in the public schools of Saint George's hundred, and at the academy in Mid- dletown. In the latter institution he learned surveying. He devoted his at- tention to the management of the home farm until 1858, when he purchased the Dale tract, comprising 150 acres, named Gerald- ville. On this farm he made many improve- ments, and resided upon it during the rest of his life. Mr. L. G. Vandegrift owned about 300 acres of land in Saint George's hundred, from which he annually obtained a large yield of grain; he also reared numerous herds of cattle and much other live stock. He was a man of culture, ability and sound judg- ment; like his father, he was elected to the state senate, and served his constituents well

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and faithfully. He was a Democrat, and gave party principles effectual support.

Leonard G. Vandegrift was married in 1844, to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Susanna Biddle Janvier, of Macdonough. Mr. Janvier was of French descent. Mr. and Mrs. Vandegrift had two children: I. Ellen, died in early life; II. Christopher John. Mrs. Elizabeth Vandegrift died on the farm in Reedy Neck. Mr. Vandegrift was again married; his second wife was Hester E. Dil- worth, daughter of John A. and Priscilla Dil- worth; she was born near Port Penn. Their children are: I. Leonard G., 2, farmer of Saint George's hundred; II. Charles, died in his youth; III. Du Shea, died in youth; IV. Lewis C., of Wilmington, attorney for the state of Delaware, was elected in January, 1898, to the presidency of the Netherlands Society, of Philadelphia, membership in which is restricted to descendants of Nether- landers, who emigrated to America prior to 1776; V. Newell, deceased; VI. Abraham, farmer, of the vicinity of Port Penn. Mrs. Hester E. Vandegrift died in 1873, and was buried in the graveyard of Drawyer's Pres- byterian church, of which she was a member. The third marriage of Leonard G. Vandegrift was with Rebecca G. Vandegrift, widow of his brother, Christopher. Mr. Vandegrift died at Geraldville, in 1896. He was a mem- ber of Drawyer's church, and his remains were buried in its cemetery. Mrs. Vande- grift now resides on the old Janvier farm, near Macdonough.

Christopher John Vandegrift was educated in the public schools of Saint George's hun- dred, and at the academy of Middletown, and remained on the home farm until 1865, when Le began farming on his own account, renting a tract of land near the homestead. This farm he cultivated until, in 1872, he pur- chased the Jefferson farm of 180 acres, on which he resided for a quarter of a century, improving the land in many ways, and greatly increasing its value. In the spring of 1897, Mr. Vandegrift removed to his fa- ther's farm at Geraldville, where he has a comfortable and happy home. He still ac- tively superintends the cultivation of 500 acres of productive land, and rears much live stock, of superior breeds. He is generous and hos- pitable, and delights not only in entertaining his friends, but in assisting worthy and indi-

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 94

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