Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 96

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 96

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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II. Edward, farmer, at home; III. Laura (Mrs. Albert Speer), of Cecil county, Md .; IV. Leslie, deceased; V. Mary, at home; VI. Eva, deceased; VII. Sarah, at home; VIII. Harriet, at home. Mr. Gray and family are members of the M. E. church.

JOSEPH L. GRIFFITH, P. O. Mount Pleasant, New Castle county, Del., son of Irvin G. and Maria (Frazer) Gritlith, was born in the Second District of Cecil county, Md., September 6, 1862.

The Griffith family is of Welsh origin. Its members have resided in Delaware and Cecil county, Md., for many years and have been respected citizens and very extensive owners of land. Joseph Griffith, grandfather of Jo- seph S. Griffith, made his home in Newark, Del., and from there directed the cultivation of 1800 acres of land, some of them in Dela- ware and some in Cecil county, Md. He was practical, both as a business man and as a husbandman, and acquired much wealth. In polities he was to be found with the Demo- cratie party. Joseph Griffith and wife had the following children: I. Robert, of Sassa- fras, Md .; HI. William, deceased; III. John, deceased; IV. Elizabeth (Mrs. W. II. Lock- wood), of Warwick, Md .; V. Caleb, deceased; VI. Irvin G. Mr. Griffith died in Newark and was buried in the Iron Hill cemetery; his wife died in Newark, and was also buried in the Iron Hill cemetery. They were members of the Baptist church.

Irvin G. Griffith, father of Joseph S. Grif- fith, was born in 1832 in Newark, Del. In that town he was educated and there he re- mained with his father until he was twenty- five years old, assisting in the management of the paternal acres and learning the methods by which his father had made his business ven- tures so profitable. When he was twenty- five he removed to Cecil county, Md., and set- tled on a traet of 310 aeres, which he culti- vated for a quarter of a century, raising grain, live stock, etc. In 1883 he went to Chesa- peake City, Md., where he has since made his residence, enjoying the fruits of his early hard labor. He is still in good health. Ile is a Democrat. Irvin G. Griffith married Maria, daughter of Dr. John Frazer, of Sas- safras, Md. Dr. Frazer was a well-known medical practitioner of Kent and Cecil coun- ties. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith had children: I.

Caroline (Mrs. Clayton Ellison), of St. Augustine, Md .; II. Joseph S .; III. Irvin G., 2, farmer, of Cecil county, Md .; IV. Henry M., Pennsylvania railroad agent and telegraph operator of Marietta, Pa .; V. Elmira, at home. Mrs. Griffith is still living. Mr. Griffith and family are members of the M. E. church.

Joseph S. Griffith attended the public schools of Bohemia Manor, Cecil county, Md. His home was with his father until he attained his majority. Then he rented the home farm of 310 acres and tilled it until 1888, when he moved into Delaware and leased the Houston farm of 400 acres in St. George's hundred, New Castle county. He is still lessee of this large tract and is a pros- perous farmer, the worthy successor of his father, and grandfather, raises grain and live stock and in addition conducts a dairy. Mr. Griffith is genial and courteous, energetic, and of kindly disposition. He is a member of Summit Bridge Conclave, No. 105, I. O. II., and a Democrat.

On April 21, 1889, in Middletown, Jo- seph S. Griffith married Mary Louise, daugh- ter of Robert A. Cochran and grand-niece of ex-governor Cochran of St. George's hun- dred. She was born in St. George's hundred and is noted for her charms of person, her many attainments and her culture. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith have one child, Joseph Cochran. They are members of the Middletown P. E. church.

JAMES T. SHALLCROSS, Middletown, New Castle county, Del., son of Sereck and Ann (Fenton) Shalleross, was born in St. George's hundred, New Castle county, Del., July 15, 1847.

Three brothers of the name of Shalleross, Englishmen, and members of the Society of Friends, emigrated to America and settled in Pennsylvania early in the history of that colony; one in what is now Bucks county, another in Delaware county, and the third, Thomas Shalleross, in Oxford township in the northern part of Philadelphia county, where he spent his life in farming. His son, Thomas Shalleross, 2, grandfather of James T. Shalleross, was born on the homestead in Ox- ford township, in 1763. Thomas Shalleross owned and cultivated a farm of 100 acres in or near the old borough of Frankford and now ineluded within the city of Philadelphia.

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Like his father he was a Friend, and years. Mr. Shalleross has greatly increased a non-combatant. He therefore took no active part in the Revolutionary war, but was, as is usual under such circumstances, a sufferer from the depredations of both armies. At one time the Continental army under General Washington eneamped on his farm. Thomas Shalleross was married in his native county. flis children are: 1. Jacob; II. Benjamin; III. Mary; IV. Susan; V. Thomas; VI. Leon- ard; VII. Zeno; VIII. Charles; IX. Eliza- beth; X. Ann. After the death of his first wife he was married to Ann Kester. He died in 1856, aged ninety-three, and is buried in C'edar Hill cemetery, beside the Penn boun- dary stone.

Jacob Shallcross, grandfather of James T. Shalleross, was born March 4, 1791, on the homestead in Oxford township. This land was part of the original grant made to the Shalleross family by the original proprietor. Mr. Shalleross was a skilful husbandman and owned 110 acres of fertile land in Oxford township. He was noted as a sportsman and hunted successfully in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Jacob Shalleross was married, in Oxford township, to Margaret, daughter of Sereck and Ann (Crusin) Fox. Their chil- dren are: I. Sereck Fox; II. Ann Elizabeth, married Joseph Waterman, both deceased; III. Mary, married Edward Livezey, both de- ceased; IV. Catherine (Mrs. Richard Coch- ran), of Middletown; V. Sarah (Mrs. W. A. Cochran), deceased; VI. William, died in Kent county, Md .; VII. Thomas, died in Kent county, Md .; VIII. Fannie (Mrs. Jona- than K. Williams); IX. Henry, died in youth; X. --- , died in infancy. Mr. Shalleross, his wife and family are members of the P. E. church. He died at the homestead April +, 1874; his widow died in Philadelphia in 1879. Both are buried in the family burial place in C'edar Hill cemetery.

Sereck Shalleross, father of James T. Shall- cross, was born at Frankford, now a part of Philadelphia, Pa., March 27, 1816. Hle was carefully educated at home, and remained on the homestead working for his father until he attained his majority, when he began farm- ing for himself. In 1842 Mr. Shalleross re- moved to his present home, a farm of 500 acres, then owned by his father, situated in St. George's hundred, New Castle county, Del., which he has cultivated for fifty-six

the value of his property by careful cultivation and liberal management. In 1853, he erected the handsome brick dwelling in which he now resides, and also built the home in which his son, James, is now living. Be- sides his large crop of cereals, he raises fine cattle and is very successful in raising choice fruits. Ilis extensive peach . orchards are noted both for quality and quantity. Mr. Shalleross was a Whig and cast his first vote for William Henry Harrison. When, how- ever, the Republican platform granted full equality to the negro, he identified himself with the Democratic party and has ever since voted that ticket. In 1858 Mr. Shalleross was elected a member of the Levy Court of New Castle county. Like his father, Mr. Shalleross is a fine marksman and a skilful hunter; he is fond of sport and will track game over marsh and plain with the untiring zeal of a young man. Although he has passed his eighty-second birthday, he attends per- sonally to all the affairs of his farm and can do a full day's work. Knowing the value of education he has given to his children every opportunity that he could procure, and has taught them by precept and example to prize industry, honesty, and sobriety.

Sereck Shalleross was married in Phila- delphia in 1843, to Ann, daughter of James and Sarah Fenton, well-known citizens of Montgomery county, Pa, where their daugh- ter Ann was born. The children of Sereck and Ann (Fenton) Shallcross are: I. Jacob; II. James T .; III. Anna (Mrs. Israel Wil- liams); IV. Sereck, resides on the homestead; V. William, farmer in St. George's hundred. Mrs. Shalleross was a member of the Presby- terian church. She died at the homestead, December 7, 1891, and is buried in the ceme- tery at Drawyer's church, Odessa, Del. Mr. Shalleross was married in July, 1897, to Eliza- beth Robinson, widow of Samuel Robinson.

James T. Shalleross received a good educa- tion, attending the public schools of St. George's hundred, and the well-known Friends' Schools in Philadelphia, Pa., com- pleting his school course by a two years' term in the Peirce Business College, Philadelphia. He remained on the homestead working with his father and acquiring a practical knowledge of farming and horticulture, until he was twenty-five. In 1872 Mr. Shalleross re-

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moved to the farm on which he now resides, then owned by his father, and began farming for himself. Here he laid the foundation of his wealth by industry, enterprise and a care- ful, scientific study of the needs and adapta- tions of the land under cultivation. He has added acre to acre until he is now one of the largest land-owners of the county, and has untler cultivation 1,100 acres in St. George's hundred and a farm of 250 acres in Caroline county, Md. Besides general farming Mr. Shalleross is extensively engaged in raising live- stock of all kinds, and is very successful in this department. His animals are all of the best quality and in excellent condition, the result of his careful, liberal management. His horses are well-trained and valuable and from his large herds of cattle, sheep and hogs he supplies the Wilmington markets, killing twice each week. Mr. Shalleross has three hundred head of sheep, and is the first and only man in the hundred who has undertaken to raise "hot house lamb." He supplies the markets of Philadelphia and New York with this delicacy during the months of February, March and April, receiving a golden reward for his care and enterprise. ITis poultry also commands the highest prices. Mr. Shalleross is the largest fruit grower in New Castle coun ty having 100 acres of trees in bearing. He cultivates none but choice fruits, and having expended thousands of dollars in experiments has ascertained what varieties are best suited to the climate, and how to cultivate and to enrich the soil in order to secure the finest quality, as well as the largest yield per acre. Mr. Shalleross is the only fruit grower in the hundred who has paid any attention to pears. Ile has fifty acres in apples, and fifty acres in peaches besides pears and small fruits in St. George's hundred alone, and has planted ex- tensive peach orchards on his farm in Caroline county, Md. . In April, 1898, Mr. Shallcross added to his other industries a large grist and flour mill which he operates to its full capacity of fifty barrels per day. His enterprise and en- ergy have not only enriched himself but have blessed the entire community, affording to his numerous employees a healthful and profita- ble means of support. In 1888 Mr. Shalleross was made recorder of deeds for New Castle county, receiving his appointment from Gov- ornor Biggs, and filled the office acceptably for five years. He has also served as a mem-

ber of the board of school commissioners of St. George's hundred. His prudence and good judgment have made him influential in the county and his fellow-citizens have called him to fill many positions of trust and respon- sibility. Ile is a stock-holder, and a member of the board of directors of the National Bank of New Castle county, at Odessa, Del., a stock-holder and director of Cantwell's Fire Insurance Company, of Odessa, and president of the Building and Loan Association of Odessa. In 1894, he was foreman of the grand jury of New Castle county. Mr. Shall- cross was a Republican and cast his first vote for U. S. Grant, but like his father, was op- posed to the fifteenth amendment, and since it was passed has identified himself with the Democratic party. J. T. Shalleross was elected a member of the Delaware State Legislature in 1898.

James T. Shalleross was married in 1872, in the old Drawyer's church at Odessa, Del., to Mary E., daughter of Wilson E. and Mary (Downs) Vandegrift, who was born in St. George's hundred. Their children are: I. Mary A., attending the Friends' Central Col- lege in Philadelphia, in 1895, for three years an efficient teacher in her native hundred; II. James T., educated in the public schools of the district, and in the Friends' school at Wil- mington, Del .; III. Eugene; IV. Esther; V. Helen; VI. Edwin. Mr. Shalleross and his wife are noted for their hospitality, and friends are always welcome to share the de- lights of their cheerful happy home. Mr. Shalleross, his wife and family are members of Drawyer's Presbyterian church.

WILLIAM II. VOSIIELL, P. O. MeDon- ough, New Castle county, Del., son of Wil- liam and Hannah (Faulkner) Voshell, was born in Murderkill hundred, Kent county, Del., April 26, 1850.

His ancestors came to America from France and settled in Delaware in the early part of the eighteenth century. His father was born in Murderkill hundred in 1813. The par- ents of William Voshell died when he was very young and the youth was "bound out" to a farmer for whom he labored until he was twenty-one years old. His only remunera- tion was his clothing and boarding. Even the opportunity of attending the district school a short time during the winter months was de- nied him, and none in the farmer's household

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taught him to read or write. These primary accomplishments were left to be acquired af- terward. After leaving his task-master, Mr. Voshell rented a farm in the same hundred and set to work with a stout heart and strong arms to accumulate sufficient money to pur- chase a farm for himself. This purpose he accomplished in a comparatively short time. His home consisted of 100 acres in Murderkill hundred, which he improved, erecting a new dwelling house, barn, etc. He made his land very productive, and raised on it grain, peaches, apples and other fruits and found place, besides, for feeding live stock. On this farm he still resides. His political views are those of the Democratic party. William Voshell married Hannah, daughter of Rob- ert Faulkner, a farmer. She was born in Murderkill hundred. Mr. and Mrs. Voshell had children: I. Mary (Mrs. Joseph Wells), of Murderkill hundred; II. Martha, at home; III. Daniel, farmer, of West Dover hundred, Kent county, Del .; IV. Matilda (Mrs. Cap- tain G. Lolis), widow, her husband was lost at sea; V. William H .; VI. Andrew, on the homestead farm; VII. David, of Rochester, N. Y .; VIII. Ezekiel, deceased; IX. Susan, at home; X. Katharine, died when young. Mrs. Voshell died in 1892, and was buried in Canterbury M. E. graveyard, Kent county. She was a member of the M. E. church. Mr. Voshell is a communicant in the same church.

William H. Voshell was a pupil in the public schools of his native hundred. Until he was eighteen years old he remained on the farm at home, after which he spent three years in learning flour-milling with John Henson. When he had completed his appren- ticeship he worked as a journeyman for John Drummond, near Middletown, New Castle county. After a short time he moved to the Spring mills in St. George's hundred, and was manager there for Charles T. Smith for nine years, renting the mills for a short time. IIe: removed to the Dover mill for eighteen months, but in 1886 returned and purchased the Spring mills for $5,500. In the past twelve years he has expended more than $6,000 in improvements, re-equipping the mills with roller machinery and enlarging their capacity. He has also built a handsome and comfortable dwelling house near the mills. In 1897 Mr. Voshell leased the brick mills, St. George's hundred, and operates these

in connection with the Spring mills. He is the only miller in his hundred and has increased the business of his mills greatly by his thor- ough knowledge of his trade, and his industry and enterprise. He is a good citizen, whose worth is appreciated by his fellows. He is a member of Odessa Conclave, I. O. II., and was, at one time, an Odd Fellow. He has been inspector of elections and is a school com- missioner. He is a Democrat.

In April, 1882, William H. Voshell mar- ried, in St. George's hundred, Sarah C., daughter of Thomas and Martha (Morris) Moore, who was born in Sussex county. They have children: 1. Roy; II. William; III. Martha. Mr. Voshell and family are mem- bers of the M. E. church. Mr. Voshell is one of the stewards of the congregation and a teacher and was at one time superintendent of the Sabbath school.

BENJAMIN ARMSTRONG, P. O. Mid- dletown, Del., son of Benjamin Vance and Mary (Moore) Armstrong, was born at Arm- strong's Corner, St. George's hundred, New Castle county, Del., August 2, 1824.

The Armstrong family is of Irish descent and was among the first to settle in St. George's hundred. Benjamin Armstrong, grandfather of Benjamin Armstrong, of Middletown, was a native of New Castle county. By trade he was a carpenter and builder. He made his home principally in St. George's hundred and was a respected citizen. Hle married a Miss Vance and they had one child, Benjamin Vance. Mrs. Armstrong died in St. George's hundred and Mr. Arm- strong married a second time. He died in St. George's hundred.

Benjamin Vance Armstrong was born in St. George's hundred. His mother died when he was very young and he received but lit- tle education in the schools and nothing but harsh treatment from his stepmother. He did not remain at home long after her advent into the family but started out to make his own home away from her influence. He trudged as far west as Hagerstown, Md., and there bound himself to a shoemaker, with whom he remained until he was twenty years old. By that time he had mastered his trade and he continued his journey to the west and south. For several years he worked as a farm laborer during the sunnner and made and repaired

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STATE OF DELAWARE

boots and shoes during the fall and winter. Then he returned to the home of his boyhood and plied his trade at Armstrong's Corner until within a few years of his death. He also purchased and improved a tract of 70 acres of land in St. George's hundred. He was a good citizen and a well-liked neigh- bor. His first vote was cast for Thomas Jeff- erson for President in 1800, and he was a stanch supporter of that leader's politics until his death. Benjamin Vance Armstrong mar- ried Mary, daughter of Francis Moore, who was born in St. George's hundred. Mr. Moore was of Swedish descent. His ancestors were among the earliest settlers of New Castle county. Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong had chil- dren: I. Francis, died when young; II. Ma- tilda V., deceased; III. Joseph, deceased; IV. Mary Ann (Mrs. Thomas Williston), de- ceased; V. Benjamin; VI. Sarah (Mrs. Tim- othy C. Harbest), both deceased; VII. Mar- garet (Mrs. H. K. Hayes), of Baltimore; three other children died in infancy. Mr. Arm- strong died at the age of eighty-four years, his widow died at her home in St. George's hundred, at the age of ninety-four; both were buried in the old Forest Presbyterian church graveyard at Armstrong's Corner. Mrs. Arm- strong and family were faithful members of the Presbyterian church.

Benjamin Armstrong is one of the best in- formed men of his hundred and that he is such is due to his own efforts. In his youth- ful days schools were few and they had not the text books and supplies or the well equipped teachers of the present day. The school to which young Armstrong was sent was four miles from his home, and he was, it can readily be supposed, irregular in his at- tendance. His days unoccupied by school and the routine farm work were spent on his father's shoemaker's bench, and he worked at that trade and on the farm until he was twen- ty-eight years old. Then he leased the Wil- liams farm of 160 acres (now owned by ex- Governor J. P. Cochran) and has resided on it the past forty-eight years, growing grain, fruit and live stock and operating a dairy. AH this time he has been adding to his material pressions and he purchased the Walker fium of 120 acres which his son, Ben- jamin Vance now cultivates, and a 400 acre tract of land in Queen Anne county, Md. He ownsin addition, several houses at Armstrong's

Corner and for the past twenty years has oper- ated, at Price's Corner, the only brick manu- facturing establishment in St. George's hun- dred. The ground on which the Forest Pres- byterian church is erected was donated by Mr. Armstrong. Mr. Armstrong is a most companionable man, a good neighbor and pos- sessed of unusual business acumen. He is strictly temperate and never uses tobacco or liquors. His politics are of the Jackson school.

On December 31, 1863, Benjamin Arm- strong married Elizabeth, daughter of Wil- liam T. and Eleanor (Hendrickson) Stoops, who was born near Armstrong's Corner, and who is highly educated and a woman of much culture. They had children: I. Henry K., mechanical engineer, at home, married Estella Ginn, deceased, has two children, i. Ida, ii. Ellen Anna; II. B. Vance, farmer, of St. George's hundred; III. William H., farm- er, of Queen Anne county, Md .; IV. Ellen A., died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong are members of the Presbyterian church.

The grandfather of Mrs. Armstrong, Aaron Stoops, was of Swedish descent, a na- tive of New Castle county, a farmer and land- owner. He was a stanch Democrat. He mar- ried Elizabeth Thompson. They had chil- dren: I. Ann; II. George; III. William T .; IV. Albert; V. Mary; VI. Eliza; VII. Caro- line; VIII. Robert; IX. Samuel; X. Infant, deceased. Mr. Stoops died in 1877, at the home of his son, William T., in New Castle hundred; his widow died at Hare's Corner; both were buried in the Stoops family vault near Hare's Corner, New Castle hundred. They were members of the Old Baptist church.

William T. Stoops, father of Mrs. Arm- strong, was born in New Castle hundred in 1810. He received a good common school education and afterward learned carpentry. His trade acquired, he went to the west, in- tending to make his home there, but frontier life had no charms for him, and he returned to Delaware. He purchased 500 acres of land from Captain J. M. Smith. This tract was in St. George's hundred and Mr. Stoppe soon disposed of half of it and food the 250 aeres remaining. He erected what was then the finest residence in the country whereabouts. The structure was of brick burned on his own farm and was the first in the district composed

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of such enduring material. In1867 he sold his farm and removed to Hare's Corner, New Cas- tle hundred, his birthplace. There he bought 130 acres of land, which he improved by the building of a dwelling house, ete. He con- tinued on this farm until his death. He also owned 1,200 acres of land in Somerset county, Md., acquired by good business investments in his later years. William T. Stoops married Eleanor, daughter of Joseph Hendrickson, a farmer of Swedish descent. Mrs. Stoops was born near Wilmington. Mr. and Mrs. Stoops had these children: I. Alonzo, of Philadel- phia; II. Elizabeth (Mrs. Benjamin T. Arm- strong); III. Ann M., of Philadelphia; IV. Edward, A., farmer of Queen Anne county, Md .; V. William, died when young; VI. Franklin, died in infancy. Mrs. Stoops died at her home in St. George's hundred and was buried in the family vault at Hare's Corner. Mr. Stoops married, as his second wife, Mary DeShields, of French descent, and widow of John Messick. They had two children: I. William D., an insurance agent, of New Cas- tle; II. John D., a student of theology and local preacher. Mr. Stoops died at his home · in 1892 and was buried in the family vault. His death was due to a broken hip, caused by a fall. Mrs. Stoops died at Hare's Corner, and was buried in the Old Swedes' church graveyard, Wilmington. Mr. Stoops and his family were members of the M. E. church.

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 96

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