Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 33

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 33

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William Neal. She died at the homestead, June 10, 1876, and is buried in Bethel M. E. cemetery. On October 30, 1878, at Laurel, Del., Mr. Neal was married to Matilda, daughter of William Parsons.

JESSE W. OBIER, P. O. Seaford, Sussex county, Del., son of Isaac and Mary J. (Can- non) Olier, was born on the farm on which he still resides, in Seaford, then Northwest Fork hundred, October 3, 1841.

The family is of Irish origin, and was rep- resented among the early settlers of the lower part of the state of Delaware. Perry Obier, grandfather of Jesse W. Obier, was a well- known citizen of the hundred, and was all his life a farmer; most of his years were passed on the Rodgers farm, near Seaford, which he rented and cultivated for a long time. IIe died in the hundred, and is buried on the farm now occupied by his grandson, Mr. J. W. Obier. He voted with the Whig party. Perry Obier married Elizabeth Miers, and had children as follows: I. Isaac; II. Joshua; III. Jesse; IV. Elizabeth (Mrs. James Can- non). Mr. Obier was a member of the M. E. church.

Isaac, eldest son of Perry and Elizabeth (Miers) Obier, was born in the hundred and educated in subscription schools, learned farming, and continued all his life in that oc- cupation. In 1833, he bought the farm of 240 acres on which his son, Jesse W. Obier, resides; he made extensive improvements upon this property, and passed there the re- mainder of his life, engaged in general farm- ing and in fruit culture, in both of which branches he was very snecessful. His indus- try, combined with judicious and honorable management of his affairs, enabled him to be- come the owner of another farm in the hun- dred. He died October 3, 1862, and was in- terred on the place where he had lived. At first a Whig, he afterward became a Republi- can. At one time he served as overseer of roads. Isaac Obier was married in Northwest Fork hundred, to Mary J., daughter of Jacob Cannon; their children are: I. Mary Cather- ine (Mrs. Warren Frantam); II. Jacob Pary, now of Pocomoke City, Md., was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion; III. Isane C., resides with his brother Fosse: IV. Jesse W .; V. An- enstus (., farmer of Seaford hundred. Mrs. I-aac Olier died in 1873, and was buried on

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the farm; she was a member of the M. E. church, and her husband of the M. P. church.

Jesse W. Obier received his education in the public schools of his hundred, attended the old Neal school, and lived on the farm with his father until, on September 3, 1562, he enlisted for the defence of the Union, at Wilmington, Company B, First Delaware Cavalry, Colonel Knight and Captain C'an- non. Ile spent two years and nine months with the Army of the Potomac, taking part in many of its hard-fought en- gagements; among others, those of Peters- burg, of the Weldon railroad, and the great, decisive battle of Gettysburg. Mr. Obier was never wounded, nor ill enough to be in the hospital; yet his health still suffers from the effects of the hardships and exposures of army life. He was mustered out at Relay House, Md., in June, 1865, and participated in the grand review at Washington, D. C. This pa- triotie service rendered, he returned to his lome, and to the familiar labor of more peace- ful fields. In 1870, he settled on the home farm, a tract of 100 acres, which he has greatly improved by erecting new buildings, planting thriving orchards, ete., and especially by the careful, untiring attention and labor which he has bestowed upon it. Mr. Obier is a cheerful and companionable man; his af- fable manner prepossesses every one in his fa- vor, and he is accordingly popular with all classes. Ile adheres to the Republican party from conviction, without seeking profit from his connection with it; has been school com- missioner for a number of years. Hle is a member of Cannon Post, No. 17, G. A. R., of the K. of P., and P. O. S. of A .; and of the Brotherhood of Union of Seaford hundred.

In 1874, Jesse W. Obier was married in Seaford hundred to Sophronia E., daughter of William and Mary ( Ralph) Ellis; she was born in Wicomico county, Md. Their chil- dren are: I. William Isaac; II. Joseph Joshua; IIT. Milton Jesse; IV. Maria Etta; V. Frank; VI. Sarah Elizabeth; VII. George E. The family are respected members of the M. P. church.

HIENRY WILKINSON, Milton. Del., was born at Denton, Caroline county, Md.

Henry Wilkinson received his education at St. John College, Maryland. He learned printing and is now the editor of the Milton

Times. This journal, which is independent in politics, was started by Mr. Wilkinson, April 17, 1897. He is the youngest news- paper man in the state of Delaware, being twenty-two years old. Mr. Wilkinson is a member of the Jr. O. U. A. M. He is a Methodist.

SAMUEL J. WILSON, Milton, Sussex county, Del., son of Captain John P. and Sarah A. (Calhoun) Wilson, was born in Mil- ton, Del., August 15, 1850.

Mr. Wilson's paternal grandfather, Reuben Wilson, was a farmer of Broadkiln hundred, Sussex county, Del. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. His maternal grandfather, Levi D. Calhoun, wheelwright and miller, re- sided near Milton, Del. Captain John P. Wilson was born in Broadkiln hundred, July 23, 1824. ITis boyhood and early youth were spent on his father's farm. He was active and ambitious, and at eighteen left his quiet country home to try his fortune on the sea. A taste for adventure ripened into a sailor's love of the deep; rising step by step, Mr. Wil- son became captain, and devoted his life to his profession. Captain John P. Wilson was married to Sarah A., daughter of Levi D. and Phoebe (Prettyman) Calhoun. Their chil- dren are: I. John A. B., born in September, 1848; II. Samuel J .; III. William W., born in October, 1852. Two of the family are hon- ored ministers in the Methodist church, Rev. John A. B. Wilson, D. D., of the Howard Street church, San Francisco, Cal., and Rov. W. W. Wilson, of the congregation at Free- port, Long Island, N. Y.

Sammuel J. Wilson received his education in the public schools of Milton, Del. At the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to a ship carpenter of Milton. After working at his trade for four years, Mr. Wilson became a house carpenter. Two years afterwards, in January, 1871, be formed a partnership with John HI. Davidson, house carpenter. The firm of Wilson and Davidson prospered, a new department was added January 1, 1873, and they continued their partnership as cabi- netmakers and undertakers. The firm dis- solved March 29, 1876, Mr. Wilson retaining the undertaking and Mr. Davidson buying the other department. In 1881 Mr. Wilson added a department for the sale of furniture. His undertaking establishment and furniture

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rooms are situated in a large and handsome building on the corner of Front and Federal streets. Mr. Wilson is an energetic and pro- grez-ive business man; well-read, and always abreast of the times, he is quick to see and avail himself of any discovery or invention that may prove serviceable in his business. Both he and his son John are graduates, hold- ing diplomas from the Massachusetts College of Embalming. In 1880 Mr. Wilson built the first modern hearse in Sussex county; and in 1585 brought to Milton the first white hearse ever seen in the county. Mr. Wilson is a member of the Democratic party. In No- vember, 1878, he was elected coroner of Sus- sex county; and in 1890 was appointed aide- de-camp, with the rank of colonel, by Gover- nor Reynolds. Mr. Wilson's quiet manner, sympathetic kindness and thorough knowl- edge of his business have made him very pop- ular in the community. He is a member of Milton Council, No. 14, Senior O. U. A. M .; of Milton Conclave, No. 44, I. O. II .; and of Chippewa Tribe, No. 28, I. O. R. M .; also of Enterprise Council, No. 16, Jr. O. U. A. M., of Milton, and of Endeavor Lodge, No. 17, A. F. and A. M., of Milton, Del.

Samuel J. Wilson was married in Milton, Del., December 24, 1871, to Martha J., daughter of Peter and Hetty Donovan. Their children are: I. Fannie H., born Sep- tember 30, 1872, died February 7, 1875; II. Ida J., born November 15, 1873, married January 1, 1890, to William II. Fox, of Mil- ton, Del., has two children; III. Margaret P., born February 7, 1877, married July 29, 1896, to Frank B. Carey; IV. John P., born November 19, 1878, assists in his father's business. Mr. Wilson has been a member of the M. E. church since August, 1871, and now holds the office of steward.

ROBERT IL. T. WILSON, M. D., Milton, Sussex county, Del., son of William R. and Aletta M. C. (Tilney) Wilson, was born in Milton, Sussex county, Del., February 28, 1865.

Mr. Wilson's grandparents, Riley and Jane ( Richards) Wilson, had four children: I. Thomas R., born in 1818, died in 1894, leaving four children, i. Riley C., ii. Eliza, iii. Annie, iv. Thomas R .: II. George, born in 1820, died in 1895, leaving three children, i. Jane, ii. George, iii. Robert; III. Eliza Jane,

died in early womanhood; IV. William R. Wilson, who was born near Milton, Sus-x county, Del., January 16, 1828. He spent his childhood on his father's farm, and at- tended the public schools of the district. When he was eleven years old, his parents re- moved to Milton, where his education was completed in the public and private school -. In 1851 Mr. Wilson began business as a mer- chant in Milton, and in 1888 removed to Phil- adelphia, Pa., where he opened a mercantile house. Close attention to business, together with the exactions of city life, so injured Mr. Wilson's health, that after one year's trial he was obliged to leave Philadelphia, and return- ing to Milton, opened a store there. In 1893 Mr. Wilson retired from business; but his ac- tive disposition would not permit him to re- main unemployed. At the end of three years he reopened his store in Milton, where he is doing a profitable business. Mr. Wilson is a member of the Democratic party. William R. Wilson was married in Milton, October 23, 1851, to Aletta M. C., daughter of Jolm and Lydia (Clark) Tilney. Their children are: I. Virginia, born October 16, 1852, widow of Zadoe Lynch, of Kent county, Del .; HI. Lydia J., born February 22, 1855, married David M. Conwell, residing near Milton, has three children; III. Willie M. (Mrs. Horace 1. Warring), of New York City, N. Y., born May 28, 1857, has one child; IV. Robert II. T., M. D .; V. Elizabeth, born June 21, 1869. at home. Mr. Wilson is a member of the M. E. church, in which he is a trustee.

Mrs. Wilson's maternal ancestors were of English descent. Her paternal grandfather, Stringer Tilney, was born May 11, 1769. II .. was married to Nancy Williams. John Til- ney, son of Stringer and Nancy (Williams) Tilney was born August 2, 1804. He was married to Lydia, daughter of Miers and Aletta (Clows) Clark. The Clark and Clows families are of English descent. Judge John Clows, grand-unele of Mrs. William R. Wil- son, owned a tract of land known as Goshen Land, situated on Long Island, N. Y., which he sold to Miers Clark; the title to this land is lost .

Robert II. T. Wilson attended the public schools of Milton and Milton Academy. Af- ter a preparatory course under a private pre- ceptor, he entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa., in 1883, and graduated

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from that institution April 2, 1886. Dr. Wil- son immediately began the practice of his pro- fes-ion at Milton, Del. One year later he re- turned to Philadelphia, and practiced medi- cine in that city for sixteen months, at the same time taking a special course of one year in a hospital in that city. During his resi- dence in Philadelphia, Dr. Wilson received from Thomas M. King, president of the Schuylkill River East Side Railroad, the ap- pointment of physician for the B. & O. R. R., and was stationed at Delaware River Freight depot. Returning to Milton, he again opened an office there. Dr. Wilson's ability as a physician and surgeon has made him promi- nent in the county, where he has a large and constantly increasing practice. Ile is a mem- ber of Conneil No. 14, O. U. A. M .; of Chip- pewa Tribe, No. 28, I. O. R. M .; of Endeavor Lodge No. 17, F. & A. M .; and of Conclave No. 44, I. O. II., of which order he is exam- ining physician.

Robert II. T. Wilson was married in Phil- adelphia, Pa., January 9, 1877, to Emma II., daughter of Joseph S. Messick, a contractor and builder of Philadelphia. They have one child, Grace, born March 24, 1888.

MRS. MARTHA HUDSON WILT- BANK, Milton, Del., widow of John HI. Wiltbank, and daughter of John Polk and Susan (Lofland) Hudson, of Sussex county, Md., was born January 21, 1332.

Mrs. Wiltbank's great-great-grandfather, John Hudson, left his native country, Eng- land, for the "New World," with his brother, William Hudson, about the year 1740, and they both became settlers in Sussex county, Delaware, and large land owners. Richard Hudson, son of John Hudson, was, like his father, a farmer of Sussex county, and fought in the war of the Revolution. He married Miss Deputy. Richard Hudson lived to see the second war with England, dying at the age of sixty-two, in 1815. ITis son, James Hudson, grandfather of Mrs. Wilthank, left the homestead in Sussex county during his early married life, but after ten years' resi- dence in New Castle county, returned to it, and spent in his carly home the remaining years of his life. He married Sarah, daugh- ter of John Polk, of Sussex county. Those of their children who reached adult age were: T.

William, who died in the west; II. John Polk; III. Moulton, of California; IV. Kalita, went west many years ago; V. Sarah (Mrs. Payne Prettyman); Amelia (Mrs. Nehemiah Dicker- son), of Illinois. Mrs. James Hudson died May 2, 1837, aged sixty-two; her husband survived her until May 18, 1852, reaching his seventy-first year.

Their son, John P. Hudson, owed his suc- cess in life mainly to his own industry and ju- dicious management. He attended school when a young child, but as his strength in- creased, his time became more and more chi- grossed by work, usually upon his father's farm. By the time he arrived at the age of twenty-four, he had accumulated three hun- dred dollars, and began farming on his own account. He remained near his early home until 1841, when he removed to a rented farm near Saint George's. The fine farm which has been his home during the greater part of his life, he bought in 1847. He has been very prosperous as a farmer, but was par- ticularly successful in raising peaches. His property includes two other farms, besides several dwellings in Philadelphia and in Saint George's. In 1876, Mr. Hudson be- came a director of the Delaware City Na- tional Bank. IIe was a Whig in early life, and later became a Republican; during the war of the Rebellion, he was noted for his generons devotion to the Union cause. In 1829, John Polk Hudson married Susan, daughter of Elias and Elizabeth (Morris) Loffand; she died November 20, 1848, hav- ing been the mother of six children, three of whom died in early childhood. Those surviv- ing are: T. Alfred, born in 1830, is a farmer near Smyrna, Del .; II. Martha (Mrs. John HI. Wiltbank); TIT. John P., of Smyrna.

Martha Hudson was educated at Saint George's, New Castle county, Del., and resid- ed on her father's homestead in that county until her marriage to Mr. Wiltbank, June 3, 1857. John HI. Wiltbank was a farmer of Broadkiln hundred, Sussex county. In 1864, they removed to Milton, where Mr. Wilt- bank was for a few years engaged in shipping grain. After his retirement from business, he devoted his time to the management of his farın. He died March 29, 1897. Mr. Wilt- bank was a Republican. He was a man of strong principles and decided character, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

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NATHANIEL WALLACE WHITE, Milton, Sussex county, Del., son of Robert C. and Elizabeth A. (Willey) White, was born in Milton, Sussex county, Del., September 23, 1850. Mr. White's paternal grandfather was Philip Willey.

Ilaving received his education in the pub- lie schools of Milton, and upon attaining his majority, Mr. White began business for him- self as a painter and carriage builder; and six or seven years later opened a general store for merchandise in Milton. He was very sue- cessful, and at the end of eleven years had built up an extensive and profitable business, when his health failed and he was compelled to find some more active employment. Mr. White soon after secured a position as travel- ing salesman for a shoe factory, and held the ageney until the fall of 1897. In 1895 he formed a partnership with Thomas II. Doug- las for the manufacture of shirts. The firm opened their establishment in Milton; and the venture was so successful that Mr. White resigned his agency, and now devotes his whole time to his business. The firm of Douglas & White disburse from $700 to $800 per month; and as all their employees are citi- zens of Milton, their success has contributed largely to the prosperity of the community. Mr. White is a Republican, and is actively interested in local affairs. He is a member of Endeavor Lodge, No. 17, A. F. and A. M .; of Council, No. 14, O. U. A. M .; and of the ITeptasophs; he is also an active member of the Town Council of Milton.

Nathaniel Wallace White married in Mil- ton, February 17, 1870, Sarah C., daugh- ter of Greensbury P. Johnson, a farmer of Broadkiln hundred. Their children are: I. Maggie, married R. M. Collins, a merchant, of Denton, Md .; II. Emma; III. Carrie; IV. Wilford. Mr. White is a member of the M. P. church in which he is a trustee and steward.

DAVID HAZZARD, Milton, Sussex county, Del., son of John A. and Sarah R. (Sipple) Hazzard, was born in Milford, Del., September 25, 1841.

It is not certainly known when the Hazzard family, which is of English origin, first came to America. The first of the name on record here, was named Coard Hazzard, who came to Delaware, as is supposed, .about 1700; the date of his birth is not known, and that

he came to Virginia from England is merely a matter of tradition. He had six sons, the second of whom, Joseph Hazzard, was born July 19, 1728. Coard and Rachel Hazzard, his wife, were members of the Episcopal church. Their son Joseph and his wife Mary Hazzard were the parents of Coard Hazzard, 2, first sheriff of Sussex county after the Re- volution, who was born January 27, 1750, and of John Hazzard, born April 28, 1754.

John Hazzard resided near Milton. In 1794, he received from Governor Joshua Clayton a commission as major of state mili- tia; he had previously seen service as a sol- dier in the war of the Revolution. In early life, he took holy orders in the Episcopal church, but later he became a member of the M. E. church, and was among the earliest Methodists in Delaware. Major Hazzard had owned and cultivated a farm, but after his removal to Milton, late in the eighteenth con- tury, he engaged in mercantile and shipping enterprises, and in the construction of trading vessels. John Hazzard married Mary Hous- ton; they had children, as follows: I. David; II. Ann, wife of Rev. Hugh MeCurdy; III. Mary, married first to Rouse Young, after- wards to Henry P. Fisher, half-brother of Hon. George P. Fisher. Mrs. John Hazzard died while her children were young. Mr. Hazzard married twice afterwards, first Miss Hannah Horseman, and after her death, Mrs. Elizabeth Wolf. He died in 1826.

Ilis son David, afterwards best known as Governor Hazzard, rendered various public services. During the war of 1812, he was en- sign in Capt. Wright's company, afterwards captain, and served in his native state, being stationed at Lewes, Del. He was still a young man when he was appointed justice of the peace, but he displayed in that office the im- partiality and sound judgment of riper years. As governor of Delaware, to which office he was elected in 1829, he was distinguished by a rare combination of firmness and decision in the administration of the laws with kind- ness and generosity towards those who suffered innocently through their execution. In pri- vate life, he was a merchant in Milton; he was kind and liberal in his dealings, especially towards the unfortunate. He was elected state senator in 1834, and from 1844 to 1817, was Associate Judge of the state of Delaware. He served most efficiently in the constitutional

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convention of 1852. Governor Hazzard was a man of rare strength and clearness of mind, and possessed a retentive memory. He was married July 12, 1803, to Elizabeth, dangh- ter of Captain John and Sarah (Houston) Collins. Their children were: I. Ann, wife of William W. Wolf, M. D., of Milton; II. Maria ( Mrs. Erasmus D. Wolf), of Philadel- phia; III. John AAlexander, of Milton; IV. William Asbury, of Milton; V. Henry Har- ri-on; VI. David Worley; VII. Erasmus; VIII. Sarah Jane. After a long and happy married life, Mrs. David Hazzard died Febru- ary 25, 1854; Governor Hazzard died July 8, 1864, and was buried from the Methodist church in Milton. His death occasioned sin- cere and wide-spread mourning. From the vear 1802 until the elose of his life, he was a faithful and consistent member of the MI. E. church.

Ilis son, John Alexander Hazzard, born in Milton in 1810, was at first engaged in mer- cantile business with his father; later, he re- moved to Milford, where he carried on busi- ness for himself. He was ensign in Captain Cornelius Coulter's Militia Company in 1829 and 30.

He lived in retirement in Milton during the latter part of his life. Although a gentle- man of unassuming manners and retiring dis- position, Mr. Hazzard performed many valu- able public services. In 1843, he was appoint- ed magistrate and notary public, by Governor Cooper. He was elected state senator from Sussex county in 1834, on the American ticket, and served until 1858. His second ap- pointment as justice of the peace was made by Governor Saulsbury, in 1870; in 1877, he was reappointed by Governor Cochran. In his earlier years, Mr. Hazzard voted the Whig ticket; when that party passed out of exis- tence, he east his vote with the American party. He was, during the Rebellion, a de- voted supporter of the Union cause. Mr. Haz- zard was a man of classic education and re- fined tastes; his sympathies and his best of- forts could always be counted upon for any movement for the welfare and advancement of the community. John Alexander Hazzard was married in Milford, November 20, 1833, to Sarah R., daughter of Walker and Rachel Brown (Radcliff) Sipple; she was born in Mil- ford June 19, 1814. Their children are: 1. Rachel E. (Mrs. George W. P. Coates), of

Coleridge, Neb., born September 15, 1534; II. William Walker, born June 18, 1837, was Commissary Sergeant in First Regi- ment, Delaware Cavalry, from 1863 to '65, died in Kansas in 1867, while a member of the Seventh U. S. Cavalry; III. David; IV. Alice Walker, born Septem- ber 26, 1844, widow of J. M. Hafleigh, a mer- chant of Philadelphia, resides at Lansdowne, Pa., has children, i. Gertrude (Mrs. Edward Davis), of Lansdowne, and ji. Horace; V. Ger- trude Draper (Mrs. Adrian S. Clark) of Glen Olden, Delaware county, Pa., has childre .. , i. Alice, ii. Milton, iii. Sarah. John A. Haz- zard closed a life of usefulness, August 23, 1888.

Ilis son, David Hazzard, 2, resided in Mil- ford until he attained to his eighteenth year. Ile was educated at private schools. "At his country's call," he enlisted December 5, 1861, as a private in the Eleventh U. S. Infantry. That his duty as a soldier and a patriot was thoroughly and courageously performed may he gathered from the promotions with which he was rewarded. On February 19, 1863, he was commissioned second lieutenant; in Jan- ary, 1865, first lieutenant; he resigned from the army, May 28, 1866, with the rank of captain. Captain Hazzard took part in all the battles of the Army of the Potomac, from Bull Run to Petersburg. He was recruiting officer as Buffalo, N. Y., during March and April of 1865; was then stationed at Ogdens- burgh, N. Y., until September of the same year; then successively at Springfield, Ma-s., and at Fort Independence, Boston Harbor, until he took a company from that fort, and joined his regiment at Richmond, Va. Re- turning at the end of the great struggle to the employments of private life, Mr. Haz- zard took up his residence upon his farm, to the management of which he has since devoted his attention; he now resides in Milton. He has taken much interest in polities, and has served the borough as school commissioner and as councilman. Mr. Hazzard is a Repub- lican and at the present time, February, 1899, is a representative in the Delaware ligi-la- ture. The family are of the M. E church.

The Houston family, maternal ancestors of Governor Hazzard, are descended from a French nobleman who went to Scotland in 1160. Robert Houston, one of his descend- ants, came to America in 1664, and was the

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 33

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