Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 31

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

USA > Delaware > Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II > Part 31

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He is a member of the I. O. O. F .; of Sus- sex Encampment, No. 2, Jr. O. U. A. M .; of the I. O. R. M. and the I. O. II. Harley O. Riggin was married in Laurel, December 27, 1893, to Kate J., daughter of Rufus E. and Julia E. Elliott, of Laurel, Del. They have one child, Carrie O., born November 10, 1894.

OBED W. MARVEL, Laurel, Sus ex county, Del., son of the late Levin J. and Sa- rah A. (Crokett) Marvel, was born at Laurel, Sussex county, Del., December 29, 1866.

Mr. Marvel's grandfather, Obed Marvel, a native of Little Creek hundred, Sussex county, Del., was of Scotch Irish descent. He was a sailor, and became captain of an ocean

vessel, was an able seaman and a man of wide experience. Obed Marvel married Charity -; their children are: I. Collins, de- ceased; II. Emeline, married first to David Knowles, and after his death to Washington Hopkins, deceased; III. Levin J. Obel Mar- vel died aged forty-one. His younger son, Le- vin J. Marvel, was born in Little Creek hun- dred, Kent county, Del., January 31, 1833. HIe attended the public schools of the district, and at the age of fourteen began to learn cabinet-making, serving an apprenticeship of seven years in Laurel, Del. Mr. Marvel worked as a journeyman at cabinetmaking and carpentry until 1871, when he began business for himself as a cabinetmaker and undertaker. He retired from business a short time before his death. Levin J. Marvel was married in Laurel, in 1862, to Sarah A. Crockett. They had four children, two of whom died in infancy. Those surviving are: I. Mary E., widow of George P. Short; II. Obed W. Mr. Levin J. Marvel died May 23, 1897; his widow is still living.

Obed W. Marvel received his education in the public schools of Laurel, Del., and was af- terwards associated with his father in his busi- ness, of which Mr. O. W. Marvel finally as- sumed the entire management. After his fa- ther's death in 1897, having rebuilt and re- modeled his place of business, Mr. Marvel formed a partnership with Menelaus Ellis. The firm of Marvel and Ellis is doing a large and profitable business. Mr. Marvel is pro- gressive, and is well read and thoroughly in- formed on all subjects pertaining to his pro- fession. He is a graduate of Champion C'ol- lege of Embalming, and is a skilful under- taker. Mr. Marvel is a member of Charity Lodge, No. 27, I. O. O. F .; of Laurel Lodge, No. 14, A. O. U. W .; and of Vigilant Coun- cil, No. 19, Junior O. U. A. M.

Obed W. Marvel was married at Delmar, January 27, 1897, to Cora E., daughter of William C. and Laura A. Truitt; they have one daughter, Anna L., born January 28, 1898.

COLUMBUS W. KENNEY, Laurel, Sus- sex county, Del., son of John and Elizabeth Jane (Layfield) Kenney, was born December 6, 1866.

Joseph Kenney, grandfather of Columbus W. Kemey, was a farmer and mill-owner. He

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was a member of the Methodist church. His son, John Kenney, father of Columbus Ken- ney, was born at Laurel, Del., July 13, 1833. Hle is a Democrat. John Kenney was mar- ried to Elizabeth Jane Layfield, of Salisbury, Md. Their children are: I. Columbus W .; II. A. J .; III. C. IL .; IV. V. W .; V. Mary Elizabeth ( Mrs. James D. Spicer). Mrs. Ken- ney was a member of the Methodist church; she died December 28, 1878. Mr. Kenney be- longs to the Methodist Protestant church.

Columbus W. Kenney attended the public schools of Laurel, Del., until he was fourteen years old. He began his business life as a newsboy and telegraph messenger, and be- came successively telegraph operator, reporter, editor, and publisher. Mr. Kenney was on the staff of Governor Biggs from 1887 to 1891; clerk of the Legislative Committee in 1891; official telegraph operator of the U. S. Senate from 1893 to 1897; colonel and quar- termaster general on the staff of Governor Reynolds from 1891 to 1895; and was elected secretary of the state senate January 3, 1899. Mr. Reynolds is a Democrat. He is Grand Chief of Washington Brotherhood of the Union of the state; past officer of the Red Men; a member of the Jr. O. U. A. M., Poca- hontas; and of the American Fraternal Union.

On February 14, 1888, at Bethel, Kent county, Del., Columbus W. Kenney was mar- ried to Maggie Lee, daughter of Thomas E. and Sarah Emily (Callison) Morris. Their children are: I. Emma Elizabeth; II. George Gray. Mr. Kenney and his wife are members of the Methodist Protestant church.

Mrs. Kenney's father, Thomas E. Morris, retired farmer, resides at Greenwood, Del. He was married to Sarah Emily Callison, of Farmington, Del. Their daughter, Mrs. Ken- ney, was born at Dover, Del., May 26, 1866. Mr. Morris, his wife and family are members of the M. P. church. Mrs. Morris died in 1893.

JOSIIUA DALLAS MARVIL, Laurel, Del., son of Joshua H. and Sallie A. (Siman) Marvil, was born in Laurel, Del., June 20, 1856.

Hlis family is of English and Scotch de- scent, and has been prominent in Delaware for many years. His paternal grandparents were Joseph and Sarah (Hopkins) Marvil, of Laurel. They had these children: T. Wil-

liam; II. Washington; III. Nancy; IV. Mar- tha; V. James; VI. Joshua II .; all are de- ceased.

Joshua Il. Marvil, youngest son of Joseph Marvil, was born in Laurel, September 8, 1825. He was one of the foremost business men of his day, and was both enterprising and philanthropic. The prosperity of Laurel is due in great part to his public spirit and his sagacity. He was extensively engaged in man- ufacturing and in mercantile pursuits; his career was long and active. During the Civil War he was government enrolling officer at Laurel. He was a Republican, and was untir- ing in his efforts in behalf of his party; he was the leading Republican of his county. Joshua II. Marvil was elected governor of Delaware, November 4, 1894, but lived to fill the office only a few months. He died February 8, 1895. Joshua II. Marvil was married to Sallie A., daughter of John and Sallie A. Sirman. Their children were: I. Jos- eph F., of Laurel, born May 3, 1851; II. Van- dreth S., born November 2, 1853, died No- vember 12, 1891, married Mamie H. Story, of Philadelphia, had one child, Joshua II .; III. Joshua Dallas.

Joshua Dallas Marvil attended the public schools of Laurel when a boy, and in 1877 be- gan business as a manufacturer of crates and baskets. Ile is still engaged in that business, which has greatly increased and flourished un- der his control. He is a member of Hope Lodge, No. 4, F. and A. M., of Laurel; of Delta Chapter, No. 2, R. A. M., of Winning- ton, and of the I. O. O. F. He is an active supporter of the Republican party.

Joshua Dallas Marvil was married, in Laurel, September 3, 1888, to Sallie L., daughter of John A. D. and Amanda Collins, of Laurel. Their children are: I. Sirman D., born November 15, 1890; II. Joseph V., born October 6, 1892, died July 28, 1893; III. Joseph II., born February 9, 1894; IV. Sallie C., born August 9, 1896; V. Fred. Linwood, born September 8, 1898. Mr Marvil is a member and trustee of the M. E. church.

GEORGE E. SMITHI, Laurel, Del., son of Joseph and Lydia (Earl) Smith, was born in Laurel, Del., Angust 4, 1850.

ITis grandfather, Joseph O. Smith, came to America from England and settled in Sussex

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county, Del. He was an ardent patriot, and gave his services to the colonies in their strug- gle for release from the tyranny of the govern- ment under which he had been born. He was a brave soldier and attained the rank of cap- tain in the Continental army. He had two children: I. William; II. Joseph, who was born near Seaford, Del., in 1782. Hle studied medicine and practiced his profession success- fully in Laurel for many years: Inheriting his father's patriotism, he enlisted for the war of 1812, in which he was in command of a regiment. Col. Joseph Smith was twice mar- ried. His first wife was Elizabeth Wingate of Laurel, Del. After her death he married, in . 1847, Lydia Earl, of Bridgeton, N. J. Their children were: I. Elizabeth, born in 1847, wife of Isaac II. Calloway, farmer of near Whitesville, Del .; II. George E .; III. Joseph F. P., hardware merchant of Harring- ton, Del., born in October, 1852, married first to Mary E., daughter of Joseph Moore, of Bethel, who died in 1886, had five chil- dren, married secondly Ida Ward, of Harring- ton; IV. Samuel T., born September 27, 1854, married first Nancy Parker, of Salisburg, Md., who died of typhoid fever seven months after marriage, and he afterward married Henrietta Melson, of Delmar, Del. They have two chil- dren.

George E. Smith was educated in the public schools of Laurel and at Laurel Academy. When sixteen years old, he began the study of pharmacy with a local druggist, and continued with him until 1871. In 1873 he engaged in the drug business for himself in Laurel and has since condneted it successfully. Mr. Smith has been a member of the town council for three terms, and a member of the school board, besides holding various other local offices. He is a member of Hope Lodge, No. 4, F. & A. M. He warmly espouses the cause of the Re- publican party, and has been very active in county and state politics. Mr. Smith has been a member of the Sussex county committee for eighteen years and of the state committee for twelve years. He was appointed postmaster at Laurel in 1882, re-appointed in 1892, and still holds the office.

George E. Smith was married, June 10, 1875, to Mellie, daughter of Benjamin F. and Mary E. Shepherd, of Cedarville, Del. Mrs. Mollie Smith died August 15, of the same year, of typhoid fever. On December 12,

1878, Mr. Smith was married to Loletta MI., daughter of Dr. William J. and Mary E. Ilitch, of Laurel, Del. Two children by this marriage died in infancy. The only one liv- ing is Joseph Chandler, who was born Octor ber 31, 1879, graduated from the academy at Easton, Pa., in 1895, and entered the class of 1900 in Princeton University, but on account of ill health remained only one year at Prince- ton. He is now a student in the medical de- partment of the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Smith attend the M. E. church. Their son is a member of the P. E. church.

MRS. MAMIE II. MARVIL, Laurel, Del., daughter of William A. and Elizabeth P. (Morgan) Story, and widow of Vandreth S. Marvil, was born in Philadelphia, July 20, 1851.

The ancestors of Mrs. Marvil were English, and the date of emigration of the pioneers of the family in America is far back in the his- tory of the country. Her grandfather, Geo. W. Story, came to the United States from Nova Scotia, and settled in Philadelphia, where for many years he was employed in the United States Navy Yard, and died in that service. His son, William A. Story, was born in Philadelphia, September 6, 1820. The Morgan family have been residents of Phila- delphia for so many generations that there is no authentic record of the arrival of the first of the name in that city. William A. Story was married to Elizabeth P. Morgan, January 10, 1845, by the rector of Trinity P. E. church, of Philadelphia. They had children : I. George W., born July 19, 1846, died June 3, 1890, married and had four children, lived all his life in Philadelphia; II. Elizabeth died in infancy; III. Elizabeth ( Mrs. James El- liott), of Philadelphia; IV. William A. died in childhood; V. Mamie II .; VI. Anna, died in childhood; VII. Anna (Mrs. John M. Me- Donald), died in 1889, had one child; VIII. William 1., 2, of Philadelphia, born Febru- ary 17, 1865, married and has four children; IX. Howard, born in May, 1869, died in child- hood.

Mary II. (Story) Marvil attended the pub- lie schools in Philadelphia and remained an inmate of her father's home until her mar- riage to Vandreth S. Marvil, of Laurel, Del., a son of ex-Governor Joshua HI. Marvil, de- ceased, of Delaware. This occurred March 8,

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1877, at Soudertown, Pa., where Mr. Story had his summer residence. Vandreth S. Marvil was born November 2, 1853, and was educated in the public schools of Laurel and by private tutors. When he had com- pleted his studies, he entered his father's of- five as book-keeper and continued as his asso- ciate in business until he died, four years be- fore his father. He was an active, energetic and sagacious business man, and devoted all his time and attention to the rapidly growing interests under his care. His death occurred February 12, 1891. He was a Republican and a member of the M. E. church.

Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Mar- vil has resided in Laurel, giving her personal supervision to the education of her only child, a son, who bears the name of his distinguished grandfather, Joshua H. This son was born November 11, 1880. Mrs. Marvil, following in the foot-steps of her ancestors, is a member of the Baptist church.

WILLIAM FRANKLIN KING, Laurel, Del., son of William C. and Anne M. (James) King, was born in Little Creek hun- dred, Sussex county, Del., August 18, 1861.

Ilis ancestors were of English descent, and have resided in Delaware for so many years, that they cannot be accurately numbered. The first entry in the family record is of Kings who had been born in this state.

William C. King was a farmer all of his life as was his father before him. He was twice married. His second wife was Annie M. James, who was born in Sussex county. They had children: 1. George E., who is married and lives on a farm in Little Creek hundred; II. Hettie .A. (Mrs. James II. German), has two children; III. Mary E., married James A. West, farmer of Little Creek hundred, has two children; IV. Sarah C. ( Mrs. Warner Hern), of Little Creek hundred, has two chiklren; V. William Frank- lin; VI. Ida (Mrs. J. W. Oliphant), of Little C'reck hundred, has four children; VIT. Ma- tilda A. ( Mrs. S. L. Parker), widow, has one child; VIII. Fannie V. (Mrs. Thomas B. Ward); IX. Charles W., of Laurel. William King died in February, 1887. His widow re- sides in Laurel.

William Franklin King was reared on his father's farm in Little Creek hundre l. His carly colocation he obtained in the public

schools of his neighborhood. His first business venture was as a commission merchant in Wil- mington, Del., during the year 1887. Re- linquishing this, he went to Laurel and estab- lished a shoe-store, which he conducted for two years. Then he formed a partnership with ex-Governor Joshua HT. Marvil; the clothing business was united with the shoe eu- terprise, and a profitable trade was built up and continued until the death of the ex-Gov- ernor in 1895. Mr. King then purchased the Marvil interest in the store, and has since been sole proprietor. He has been very successful, and is regarded as one of the most substantial business men of Laurel. He is a member of Vigil Lodge, R. A. M .; of the Fraternal In- surance Union; of Lodge No. 61, A. O. U. W., and other sceret and beneficial organiza- tions. Ile believes in the principles of the Democratic party, and always gives active sup- port to its ticket. Mr. King belongs to the M. E. church, and has held the offices of steward and secretary in his congregation.

HENRY HOLMES LUCE, M. D., Laurel, Del., son of AAlphonso D. and Jane HI. (May- hew) Luce, was born in Tisbury, Martha's Vineyard, Mass., September 15, 1843.

His ancestors lived on the historie island for many generations, and have always been prominent in its government and in its social life. The Luce family traces its descent to Major Luce, who was one of the earliest to find a home on the island, where his descendants are now very numerous. Among those who have borne his name are many who figure ex- tensively and honorably in the annals of Mass- achusetts and of their insular home. Stephen Luce, grandfather of Heury Holmes Luce, was probate judge for many years; Admiral Luce, of the United States Navy, is a member of the family. On the maternal side, Mr. Luce's ancestry is equally distinguished. Thomas Mayhew, a missionary to the Indians, was one of the first, if not the first, to settle on the island. From him descended the large Mayhew family, many members of which have filled local and state offices. Alphonso D. Luce, father of Henry Holmes Luce, mar- ried Jane HI., daughter of William and Deney Mayhew, in West Tisbury, in 1842. Their children were: 1. Henry Hohes; II. Ellery D., died in early manhood; III. Anson M1., Jern October 16, 1559, is married and culti-

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vates the ancestral farm in Martha's Vineyard island.

Henry Holmes Luce attended the town schools and the Duke's County Academy. In Istt he took up the study of medicine with Dr. E. Maybury, of Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, and in 1871 was graduated from the medical department of the University of the City of New York. He immediately be- gan the practice of his profession in Marion, Plymouth county, Mass., and remained there for twenty years. His services were in con- stant demand and his health, which had never been robust, was broken to such an extent by his exacting duties that it became imperative upon him to seek a new home where the eli- mate was less rigorous. He spent some time in travel, seeking a climate which might re- store his strength, and in the winter of 1892-3 found it in Laurel, Del., where he settled and has resided ever since. Dr. Luce is an enthus- iastie musician, and much of his leisure time has been devoted to the study of the masters and their compositions. For fifteen years he was chorister of the Congregational church of Marion, Mass. He is a Republican but has never sought office nor held any, except that of school-committeeman. He is a member of the Congregational church, and was clerk and treasurer of the congregation at Marion.

Henry HI. Luce, M. D., was married to Eu- nice G., daughter of Timothy and Velina Cof- fin, in Edgartown, Mass., January 15, 1872. Timothy Coffin, who is deceased, was one of the prominent merchants of Edgartown. His ancestors were the first settlers of Nantucket, sister island to Martha's Vineyard, and in the marriage of his daughter to Dr. Luce, the two oldest families of these two long-inhabited and famous islands have been united. The Coffin family is a leading one in Nantucket, in both social and business life, and its members have long been eminent, in the legal and the musical circles of Massachusetts.

ANDREW JACKSON HORSEY, Laurel, Del., son of Nathaniel and Eliza T. (Philips) Horsey, was born near Laurel, in Little Crock hundred, Sussex county, Del., May 6, 1528.

The Horsey family is an old one, of English origin, and settled first in Somerset county, Md. Nothing is known of the first of the name who set up his household goods in Del- aware. The paternal grandparents of Andrew

Jackson Horsey were Nathaniel and Nancy Horsey, of Sussex county. Their son, Nath- aniel Horsey, 2, was born in 1792 and was of high standing in Sussex throughout his life. He cultivated a farm, operated a mill and con- dueted a store and was successful in each of his ventures. He was a Levy Court commis- sioner, bat held no other public office. He was always a leader in the political party to which he belonged, a shrewd counsellor and very effective in campaign work. Before the Civil War Mr. Horsey was a Whig. When that party was disrupted, he cast his political fortunes with the Democracy. An evidence of his great influence as a leader is the fact that Little Creek hundred, his home, was evenly divided politically until he joined the Democratic party, after which the hundred uniformly gave a Democratic majority. Na- thaniel Horsey, 2, was twice married. His first wife was Charlotte Kenney, great-aunt of United States Senator Kenney of Dover. They had children: I. Thomas Clayton, de- ceased, left one son, Thomas Clayton, of Laurel; II. William G., of Caroline county, Md., deceased, had four children; III. Samuel Henry, deceased, had three children, one of whom is deceased, one lives in Caroline county, and one in Philadelphia; IV. Sarah (Mrs. Temple Moore), deceased, had two chil- dren, both deceased. Mr. Horsey was mar- ried, the second time, to Eliza T. Philips. They had chiklren: I. George W., born in March, 1825, died 1890; II. Nathaniel, 3, born in April, 1827, died in 1892, had five children who reside near Laurel; III. An- drew Jackson.

Andrew Jackson Horsey was a student in the Sussex county schools and for one year in the Newark Academy. He remained with his father and worked on the farm until he was twenty-one years old, and then began the cultivation of a large tract of land on his own account. He soon added to this the own- ership and management of a mill and a gen- oral merchandise store in Sussex county, and, for three years, in Wicomico county, Md. IIe also manufactured fruit-crates and baskets. Not content with these various enterprises, Mr. Horsey purchased a fleet of vessels and engag- ed in the coast and West Indies trade. Of late years he has given up active business, and now devotes his time to the general supervision of his extensive interests. Mr. Horsey has been

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as prominent in political as in business affairs. Ile is a Democrat, and was appointed a Levy Court commissioner by Governor James Pon- der. In 1880, he was clected a state senator for one term, and was chosen a member of the state constitutional convention of 1896-7. An- drew Jackson Horsey married, in June, 1858, Mary E., daughter of Joseph and Mary E. Philips, of Little Creek hundred, Sus-ex coun- ty. He is a member of the M. P. church, in which he has been a trustee and a steward.

Joseph Phillips, father of Mrs. Horsey, comes of English stock. His family has long been among the leaders of the business and social life of the community. Mr. Philips was a large slave-holder at one period of his business career, but did not barter or sell these human chattels, although he might have prof- ited materially by so doing. He was an exten- sive land owner, and conducted a lumber mill. Joseph Philips died in 1866, and his wife in 1881. Their remains are interred on the homestead farm in Sussex county, Del.

WILLIAM FISHER HAINES, M. D., Seaford, Sussex county, Del., son of Allen and Catherine J. (Fisher) Haines, was born at Camden, Kent county, Del., May 12, 1862. Ilis parents were natives of Pennsylvania. Ile attended the public schools of Seaford, Del., and after completing his course there, secured a position as clerk in a drug store. Mr. Haines soon after purchased a half interest in the store, and began reading medicine with Dr. Hugh Martin. He matriculated at the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa., graduating in the class of 1888, and imme- diately began the practice of his profession in Seaford. Dr. Haines still retains his interest in the drug store in which he has opened his office. He is a skilful surgeon and an able physician, whose services are in constant requisition. Dr. Haines is interested in all that concerns the welfare of the community. Hle belongs to the American Medical Society as well as to the Medical Society of Delaware, and is a member of the F. and A. M., and of the K. of P.

REV. PHILIP HENRY RAWLINS, Seaford, Sussex county, Del., youngest son of Lot and Ann (Brown) Rawlins, was born at Middleford, Sussex county, Del., September 15, 1834.

The Rawlins family is numerous in Eng- land, and very ancient, the surname having been well-known in that country for more than five hundred years. It is an old family in Cornwall, and more ancient still in Hertford- shire, where persons of the name were for many generations officially connected with the principal city of the county; and they have spread into almost every shire in Eng- land, as well as into Ireland, Scotland and America. The name is doubtless of Scandin- avian origin, afterwards becoming Norman, and then English. The earliest member of the family in England of whose name any record is extant, was Gilbert Rawlins, vicar in A. D. 1563 of Marsworth, Buckinghamshire.

In 1710, Walter, John and Charles Raw- lins emigrated to America. Walter settled on the Delaware peninsula, John in one of the northern states, and Charles in Virginia or North Carolina. Walter left a son named Charles; the two sons of Charles, 2, were: I. Windsor, born in 1744, died in 1819, leaving several children; II. Charles, 3, born in 1749, died of paralysis in Sussex county, July 21, 1813; married to Mary Layton, of Sussex county, in 1780; their family consisted of four sons and three daughters, two of the lat- ter dying in early life. Mary (Layton) Raw- lins died January 26, 1806, after which Mr. Rawlins was again married. The children of the second marriage were a little girl who was drowned in her childhood, and a son, name.l Philip, who was drowned when about twenty- four years of age. Charles Rawlins was a man of excellent education, and was for many years a teacher of navigation, surveying and vocal mmsie. He was prominently identified with the Methodist Episcopal church, and was an exhorter.

The surviving children of Charles, 3, and Mary (Layton) Rawlins were as follows: I. John, Forn in Delaware February 6, 1781, was married February 6, 1806, to Ellen Smith, of Sussex county, Del., who died with- in a year after. Mr. Rawlins afterwards mar- ried Martha Morris, of Sussex county. In 1809, he went west, and settled in Scott county, Ky., where he engaged in business, His second wife dying in 1548, he afterward married the third time. He and nearly all his family were members of the M. E. church. John Rawlins died in 1851, leaving several children ;

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 31

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