Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 12

Author: Runk, J.M. & Co
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chambersburg, Pa.
Number of Pages: 1500

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Robert. a. Black

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"read and write and figure," and with this as a basis, obtained by his own efforts, for use in after years, a large amount of valuable knowl- (dge. His boyhood was spent in the vicinity of Dover. When he was twenty-one he left home and engaged himself as a farm hand to James G. Waples. The first wages received from this gentleman were thirty-three cents a day. His regular compensation was then fixed at six dollars per month. After his marriage, Mr. Wheatly lived on leased farms, and for seven years in Wyoming. During his resi- dence in Wyoming, he was engaged as a wheelwright, having acquired a knowledge of this trade four years before relinquishing farm life. In 1890, he removed to Lebanon and has continued in business as a wheel- wright there. Mr. Wheatly is a Democrat.

William B. Wheatly married, August 5, 1852, Mary, daughter of Samuel and Ann (Moffett) Sherwood. Mrs. Wheatly was born in Kent county, Md., May 1, 1831. They have children: I. Henry K., of Lebanon; II. William II., of Lebanon; III. Mary (Mrs. John White), of Philadelphia. Mr. Wheatly i- a consistent member of the M. E. church, with which he connected himself thirty-four years ago. Ile filled the office of class leader and trustee for over twenty years in the church at Wyoming.

TIMOTHY SLAUGHTER, Lebanon, Del., son of George and Millie (Whittaker) Slaughter, was born near Willow Grove, Kent county, Del., in December, 1823.

The Slaughter family has resided in Dela- ware for many generations. John Slaughter, grandfather of Timothy Slaughter, was a well- known citizen of Kent county. He was born near Willow Grove, lived there for more than a century and died there when he had reached his one hundred and third year, venerated for his age and character. Ilis son, George Slaughter, was born on the home farm near Willow Grove, and resided in that vicinity throughout his life. He was reared on the farm, worked hard in the furrows and over the grain-strewn ground, and obtained a lim- ited education by infrequent attendance at the public schools of his district. He married Millie Whittaker, who resided near Willow Grove. They had children: I. James, of Kent county, deceased; II. Timothy; III. Dorras (Mrs. John Jones), of Smyrna, widow; IV.

Lydia ( Mrs. Henry Raleigh), deceased; V. Ann (Mrs. William Hoffecker), of Smyrna. George Slaughter died about 1878, aged fifty- six years. His wife had died several years carlier.

Timothy Slaughter grew to manhood on his father's farm near Willow Grove. His oppor- tunities for acquiring an education were scanty, as the schools were at a great distance from his home, and he was nearly always oc- cupied in farm labor. When he was twenty- three, he married and leased a farm on St. Jones' Neck. He was industrious and desir- ons of improving his condition, and gave to the cultivation of his farm careful study and untiring energy. Prosperity was the result, and since leaving his father's home, Mr. Slaughter has purchased three farms. In 1889, he removed to Lebanon where he now resides, still, however, superintending the management of his farms. His political prin- ciples are Democratic.

Timothy Slaughter was married in Jan- uary, 1846, to Ann, daughter of Stephen and Nira Taylor, of Little Creek, Del. Their chil- dren are: I. Thomas, of St. Jones' Neck, farmer; II. Stephen, of Dover, merchant; III. James, farmer; IV. William, farmer; V. Mary (Mrs. Joseph Demer), of Caroline county, Md .; VI. Willis, farmer, deceased; VII. Almeda (Mrs. Edward Clendaniel), de- ceased. Mrs. Slaughter died in 1885. Mr. Slaughter married in 1889, Priscilla, daugh- ter of Elias and Margaret Taylor. IIe is a member of the M. E. church.

EZEKIEL COWGILL, P. O. Woodside, Kent county, Del., son of Henry and Angelica S. (Cowgill) Cowgill, was born near Willow Grove, Kent county, Del., November 21, 1842.

He is descended from John Cowgill, of Yorkshire, England, who came over in the Welcome with Penn, in 1682, and settled in Bucks county, Pa. His father, Henry Cow- gill, was born in Chester, Pa., in 1812, son of John and Mary Ann (Cowgill) Cowgill. John Cowgill was a tanner and conducted a large establishment for many years in Ches- ter. When Henry was three years old, John Cowgill removed with his family to an estate in Little Creek Neck, Kent county, Del., called "Willingbrook," inherited according to the English law of primogeniture from Henry

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Cowgill's great-grandfather, Joshua Clayton, who also came from England with Penn. Af- ter Henry Cowgill's marriage he went to one of his father's farms at Little Creek Neck, spent two years there, and then purchased and removed to the Warner MitHin farm (Long- wood), near Willow Grove. This farm was a large one, consisting of 600 acres of land, half of it covered with timber of fine quality. It was not very long before he had the timber practically cut away, and had made of the cleared land two valuable farming tracts. In 1867 he entrusted these farms to the care of his son Ezekiel, and made his home on his farm at Woodside. Mr. Cowgill had been instru- mental in securing the establishment of the railroad station at that place in 1864. The station was first called Willow Grove, after- wards Fredonia, and finally received the name it now bears, Woodside. When Mr. Cowgill moved there he was made station agent, and continued as such for fifteen years. He was also an extensive dealer in fruits, grain, phos- phate, coal, oil, lime, etc. He was active and publie spirited, and did much for the advance- ment of his community.

In 1835 at the age of twenty-one, Henry Cowgill married his cousin Angelica, born December 22, 1811, daughter of John and Martha (Stout) Cowgill, of Duck Creek hun- dred. Of Mrs. Angelica Cowgill "it was said at the close of her life, by one who knew her well, that Heaven was made richer and earth poorer by her decease. An intellectual char- aeter of pure type, and a nature endowed with broad possibilities of culture were hers. Her reading was immense, and she seemed to di- gest all that was of value. Biographical his- tory was her delight, and so acute was her an- alysis of character that her intimates felt that she estimated at their true worth the noted ones of all ages. Her employees and the poor ever found in her a warm-hearted and self- sacrificing friend, and that without regard to nationality, color or condition. She was the cherished idol of the home circle from her birth to her departure from earth. Henry Cowgill was always a Quaker of the purest and strongest type. Before the Civil War, he was a warm anti-slavery man, ever ready when called upon to direct fugitives in their flight from bondage to freedom, his home being called a depot on the underground railroad from the slave to the free states. After the

war, he was a stanch Republican, always noted for his honesty and integrity of char- acter. Truly were these two shining lights for their descendants."

The children of Henry and Angelica Stout (Cowgill) Cowgill are: I. John II. C., died at the age of thirty-four years; II. Charles, in the employ of the Standard Oil Co., at Oil City, Pa., married Lucretia M. Phillips, served four years in the Civil War, in the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, was wounded three times, at Ball's Bluff, Antic- tam, and Gettysburg, was a captain at the close of the war; by his comrades he was called "the bravest of the brave;" III. Martha S. (Mrs. Jacob S. Cowgill), of East Dover hun- dred; IV. Edward D., deceased, enlisted in the. Sixth Regiment, Delaware State Militia, during the Civil War; his health failed during his service in the field and his death resulted; V. Ezekiel; VI. George Fox, died when two years old; VII. Florence, died when an infant. Henry Cowgill died in Woodside in the fall of 1881; his wife survived him until April, 1897.

Ezekiel Cowgill was born on what was known as the Warner MitHin farm, and there passed his youth and early manhood. He was educated in the public schools, at the Friends' School in Montgomery county, Pa., and by Professor William A. Reynolds, of Duer, Kent county, Del., with whom he finished his course. He had ample opportunity for ac- quiring a liberal education, but he preferred the practical work of the farm, on which he spent all his vacations, and for which he had great fondness. He resided with his parents until he was twenty-two years old, and then assmed the management of a part of his fa- ther's large farm. Soon afterwards he was ap- pointed agent for his father. After his mar- riage, in 1865, he resided for two years on one of his father's farms near Woodside, and then returned to the old homestead, which he leased for five years. In 1872, he returned to the farm near Woodside: in 1876 he pur- chased it and has since resided there. He was the first railroad agent at Woodside, and for a number of years has been one of the largest shippers of fruit from that profitable fruit producing section of Delaware. He is a stanch Republican, and has served as town- ship assessor and in other local offices. He was also once a candidate for the legislature,

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but has never been a seeker after offices. Mr. can. Samuel G. Fluke married Lavinia, Cowgill was one of a trio of brothers who daughter of Joseph and Catherine Cramer, of Point Pleasant, Bucks county, Pa. They had children: I. J. Ervin; 11. Loman, deceased : III. William Edgar, of Philadelphia; IV. Levi A., of Camden, N. J. Mr. Fluke died in Frenchtown, N. J., in 1861. He was a mom- ber of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Fluke resides in Camden with her son, Levi .1. Fluke. went into the service of the Union during the Civil War. He enlisted in the fall of 1862, in the Sixth Regiment, Delaware State Guards, for nine months, and was employed in guarding bridges during the invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania. At the end of his period of enlistment he was honorably di -- charged.

Ezekiel Cowgill married, on January 24, 1865, Sarah E., daughter of John S. and Mary ( Berry) Caulk, who was born October 20, 1847, in Sussex county. They had chil- dren: I. Angelica, died in infancy; II. John C., born in 1869, died in infancy; III. Mary B. (Mrs. John Arnold Barnard), born in 1878, educated in public and select school-, Conference Academy, of Dover, Darlington Seminary, of West Chester, Pa., and Mme. Clare's select school, Philadelphia; resides with her father; has one child, Ezekiel, 2. Mr. Cowgill is a member of the Society of Friends.

J. ERVIN FLUKE, Woodside, Kent county, Del., son of Samuel G. and Lavinia (Cramer) Fluke, was born at Norristown, Pa., October 2, 1850.

The ancestors of Mr. Fluke came to Amer- ica from Germany and Holland. The Fluke family settled in Bucks county, Pa., about 1710, and tilled the soil there for many year -. The great-grandfather of J. Ervin Fluke was a soldier in the Continental army; his son John was Mr. Fluke's grandfather. John Fluke was born in Tinieum, Bucks county. He had children: I. John; II. Levi; III. Samuel G .; IV. Frank; V. William; VI. Sarah; VII. Maria. John Fluke died on his farm near Doylestown, Pa. His third son, Sammel G. Fluke, was born in 1826 near Doylestown, and was educated in the schools of that place. In 1848 he removed to Norris- town, Pa., where he engaged in the real estate business, building and selling houses on an ex- tensive scale. In 1851 he transferred his op- erations to Philadelphia, but after a short time relinquished them altogether. His health be- coming impaired, he removed from Philadel- phia to Frenchtown, N. J. When the Whig party was one of the great political organiza- tions of the United States, he was one of its supporters; he afterwards became a Republi-

J. Ervin Fluke was born in Norristown, but did not long remain there. When he was a year old, his father removed to Philadelphia, where the boy was educated. He attended the public schools until he was nineteen years of age, and then entered into a partner-hip with his brother, Leman Fluke, in the manu. facture of carriages. In this business he con- tinued to be successful until 1880, when the depression in trade circles forced him to re- linquish it. Believing there was better op- portunity for profitable business engagements in the west, he went to Chicago, Ill., and es- tablished a carriage factory there. Mr. Fluke remained in that city until 1886, and then came cast again and settled in Woodside, Del .; here he has since devoted his energies to mr- cantile business. He is very active in promot- ing the welfare of his town, and always fore- inost in measures for its advancement. He is a local leader of the Democratic party, and an eficient political worker. President Clove- land appointed him postmaster of Woodside in 1893. Ilis term expired July 12, 1897.

J. Ervin Fluke was married in Philadel- phia, October 9, 1880, to Eleanor, daughter of John W. and Mary A. Massey, and grand- daughter of Philip Massey, who became a re -- ident of Canterbury, Del., in 1790. Mr. and Mrs. Fluke have one child, J. Ervin, Jr.

JAMES T. MASSEY, M. D., Canterbury, Kent county, Del., son of James and Sarah (Reynolds) Massey, was born near Canter- bury, Del., October 3, 1845.

The ancestors of the Massey family in this country came from France, where their name was spelled Massie. The first member of the family who settled in America was Philip. who went with many others to Louisiana, and became one of the colonists of that rich French province. Ile was a man of wealth, of social and commercial distinction, and his house in New Orleans was the centre of a large circle of

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eminent men of the day. He was married in France, and his wife accompanied him to the new land of promise. Mr. Massey had chil- dren: I. James, settled near Richmond, Va .; II. , went to Ohio, and became gov- ernor of that state; III. -, made a home for himself at Massey's X Roads, Md .; IV. Philip, 2, grandfather of James T. Mas- sey, established himself at Canterbury, Del., then a flourishing village. Philip Massey, Sr., died in New Orleans.

Philip Massey, 2, was a cabinetmaker, a man of more than ordinary skill at his trade and of wide knowledge. He was married three times. His first wife was Hannah George, and their children were: I. James, father of Dr. James T. Massey; II. Philip, 3; III. George; IV. Hannah (Mrs. James Bil- lings), died soon after marriage; V. John W., father of Mrs. James T. Massey. Philip Mas- sey's second wife was Anna Willoughby. Their only child, Annie ( Mrs. William Rose), had sons, i. James, ii. William, iii. John. The third wife of Philip Massey was Elizabeth Porter, a widow. Her first husband, Mr. Por- ter, was the private secretary of President Mil- lard Fillmore. Philip Massey, 2, died in Can- terbury.

James Massey, father of James T. Massey, was born in the old brick homestead at Canter- bury, October 3, 1805. Ilis educational ad- vantages were such as the local public schools afforded. IIe was reared a farmer, and spent most his life in the cultivation of the soil, but for a short time was in the commission busi- ness in Philadelphia. James Massey married Sarah, daughter of Thomas J. and Mary (Emerson) Reynolds, of Kent county, Del. They had children: I. Hannah; II. James T .; III. William, minister of the M. E. church of Camden, N. J. James Massey died in Canter- bury, June 24, 1864; his widow died Febru- ary 3, 1895, aged eighty-five years.

Philip Massey, 3, married Jane Porter, a strikingly handsome daughter of Mrs. Porter, third wife of Philip Massey, 2. They went to Indiana and settled in Connersville. His brother, George Massey, also married a Miss Porter. They resided in Philadelphia for a time, and afterwards removed to New Or- leans. Mr. Massey married several times af- ter the death of his first wife. His death oc- curred in New Orleans, the home of his an- cestors.

John W. Massey, father of Mrs. James T. Massey, was born at Canterbury, in 1810, in the old brick house erected by his father in 1790. He spent his youth in Canterbury, and attended school there and in Philadelphia. When he was eighteen years old, he formed a partnership with Sanmel Neal in the printing business. After a short time they dissolved partnership, and Mr. Massey entered the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, . where he took a course in dentistry. Upon the completion of his studies he began prac- tice in Philadelphia, and was very successful for many years. He had a number of students who became very distinguished. They in- cluded William Eastlack, who became dentist to the Emperer of China, Samuel H. Linn, dentist to the Czar of Russia and Dr. W. Evans, who was dentist to Napoleon, and who lately died in France. Dr. Massey retired to Canterbury and remained there until his death. Ile was prominent in Masonic cireles, and in 1858 made the journey to London, England, to receive the highest degree in the order. In 1862, Dr. Massey was U. S. consul at El Paso del Norte. John W. Massey mar- ried, June 18, 1834, Mary A., daughter of Barnabas and Am (Lawrence) Coulston, of Philadelphia. They had children: I. Jose- phine (Mrs. T. II. Sherwood), died in Wash- ington, D. C .; II. Anna E. (Mrs. James T. Massey), born in Philadelphia, November 7, 1848; III. Eleanor M. (Mrs. J. E. Fluke), of Woodside, Del. John W. Massey died sud- denly in his bed on the night of February 6, 1884. Mrs. Massey died in Canterbury in 1879, aged sixty-five years. She was of fine Christian character, and was especially happy in her home relations, lovingly careful as a mother and invaluable as a counselor. John W. Massey was a member of the Society of Friends until his marriage, when he allied himself to the M. E. church, to which denom- ination his wife belonged.

Mrs. Massey's father, Barnabas Coulston, was a wealthy resident of Philadelphia. The Lawrence family, from which Mrs. Massey was descended on the maternal side, was con- nected with the Lawrence family of Massa- elmusetts and New York. The founder of the Philadelphia branch was William Lawrence, great-grandfather of Mrs. Massey. He owned a country residence at what is now Franklin and Vine streets, Philadelphia, and gave to.

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one of the Moravian congregations of that city the lot of ground on which its house of wor- ship was erected. Their winter home was next door to Gen. Washington, whose descen- dant bears the Lawrence name.

James T. Massey was born on the old home- stead at Canterbury. He attended public and select schools there, and when eighteen year- old entered Fort Edward Institute, Fort Ed- ward, N. Y. Completing his studies there at the age of twenty, he matriculated in the med- ical department of the University of Pennsyl- vania, from which he was graduated in the class of 1872. He immediately began prac- tice in Philadelphia, but in February, 1874, removed to Canterbury, where he has since resided. In 1895 he was elected president of the Delaware State Medical Society. Dr. Massey is a member of the American Medical Association. Politically he is a Re- publican. Dr. James T. Massey was married February 13, 1873, to Anna E., daughter of John W. Massey. They have no children. Mrs. Massey is a member of the Century Club of Dover, and of the M. E. church.

JONATHAN D. HARRINGTON, Viola, Kent county, Del., son of William and Sarah (Downham) Harrington, was born near Viola, Kent county, June 4, 1845.

William Harrington was twice married. His second wife was Mrs. Sarah White, a widow whose maiden name was Downham. They had children: I. Jonathan D .; II. George M., of Harrington, silversmith. Mr. Harrington died in Canterbury, Del., in 1862. Mrs. Ilarrington died about 1890, aged eighty- six years. For a fuller account of William Harrington, and of his father, Richard Har- rington, see sketch of Samuel Harrington, in this volume.

Jonathan D. Harrington was born on a farm between Viola and Felton. He attended the public schools there, and entered Fort Edward Institute, Fort Edward, N. Y. On February 13, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, Third Regiment, Delaware Volunteer Tu- fantry, as a private, for a term of three years or during the war. At the end of two years he re-enlisted as a veteran for three more years, or during the war. After his first en- listment his company was moved from Camp Fisher, Camden, Del., to Harper's Ferry, W.

Va., and Private Harrington was put on guard duty there. He was engaged in a number of skirmishes in 1862. His first battle was at Antietam. In the battle of Petersburg he was slightly wounded in the left shoulder by a spent ball. At the battle of Peebles' Farm he sustained a more serious injury, the thumb of his right hand being shot off. He was con- pelled to go into the hospital there only a short time, insisting, against the protest of surgeon and nurses, that he should be allowed to rejoin his company. He participated also in the on- gagements of Cold Harbor and Weldon Rail- road, besides many others of less importance. Hle re-enlisted for the second time at Relay Hlouse, Md. On July 28, 1865, Mr. Harring- ton was mustered out of service at Trenton, N. J. During the latter part of his term in the army he was on escort duty. Hle was a gal- lant soldier, and his war record is a most creditable one.

At the close of the war Mr. Harrington still lacked a year of his majority and he returned Home, and a year later entered Fort Edward Institute and completed his course of study. On May 14th, 1871, he took charge of the Canterbury station (now Viola) as agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. For twenty-seven years he has served this great corporation faithfully. He is a member of General A. T. A. Torbert Post, No. 3, Grand Army of the Republic, of Dover. Mr. Har- rington is a Republican; he has been postmas- ter of Viola for several terms.

Jonathan D. Harrington was married, March 22, 1877, to Mary, daughter of Horatio and Elizabeth W. Vernon, of Philadelphia. They have one child, II. Millie, who resides at home. Mr. Harrington is a member of Viola M. E. church, and takes an active part in church matters.

Mr. Harrington had three half brothers who enlisted in the Civil War and who were wounded or killed, and a brother, George M., who served eighteen months. Of the half brothers, John Virden Harrington was killed at Cold Harbor, Samuel Harrington was wounded at Gaines' Mill, and Thomas White, son of Mrs. Harrington by her first husband, was wounded at Gettysburg. He was carried off the field as dead, but partially recovered; he afterwards died from the effects of the wound. Thomas White was a member of " Company D, First Regiment Delaware Vol-

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unteer Infantry, commanded by General Thomas A. Smyth, who was killed in one of the last engagements of the war.

SAMUEL HARRINGTON, Viola, Kent county, Del., son of William and Elizabeth (Virden) Ilarrington, was born near Viola, Kent county, Del., October 26, 1833.

His grandfather, Richard Harrington, was a native of Delaware, his birth place being near Harrington. He was familiarly known as "Black Dick," because of his very dark complexion. He died on his farm south of Harrington. William Harrington, father of Samuel Harrington, was born near Harring- ton, and educated in the public schools. When bis term as a pupil was ended, he became a teacher, and for several years had charge of schools at Clark's Corner and other places. He married and removed to a farm between Viola and Felton, South Murderkill hundred. He was skilful at any kind of handicraft, and was at different times a butcher, brick mason and plasterer. He was, however, better known as a justice of the peace. He was popularly called throughout Kent county, "Squire Harring- ton," and for many years had magisterial jur- isdietion over several small towns. He traveled from one to the other as did the earlier judges and magistrates generally, riding a faithful and safe-going horse whose broad back was ca- pable of bearing the representative of the law and also his legal books, documents, records, ete., the latter securely packed away in his saddlebags. His visits to the different towns were not very many but were at stated times and there was usually found accumulated a sufficiency of legal business for his adjudica- tion. All of this he dispatched promptly and to the general satisfaction of the interested parties and the public. In addition to his oc- eupaney of the magisterial office, he was also at different periods, tax collector and con- stable and held other positions of trust. Dur- ing the war of 1812, "Squire Harrington" or- ganized and commanded a company of sol- diers. Ilis men often marched spiritedly to the words and music of a song the first two lines of which were:

"General Barrisford and all his men Killed a cock and crippled a hen."

· General Barrisford was a British officer, and the patriotic American soldiers created both

amusement and enthusiasm as they chanted their martial music.

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 12

Author: Runk, J.M. & Co Publication date: 1899 Publisher: Chambersburg, Pa. Number of Pages: 1500

Author: Runk, J.M. & Co
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chambersburg, Pa.
Number of Pages: 1500