Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 47

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 47

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On October 15, 1893, Willard S. Maloney was married to Catharine R., daughter of Thomas and Catharine Roberts. Their chil- dren are: I. Catharine May; II. Sarah Mand.

WILLIAM R. DAVIS, P. O. Milford, Kent county, Del., son of Brinkley and Hester (Samuels) Davis, was born in Sussex county, Del., in what was then Broadkiln hundred, in January, 1818.

Brinkley Davis was a native of Sussex coun- ty and a prosperous farmer. He was promi- nent in the community, and served as Levy Court commissioner. He married Hester Samuels, of Sussex county, and had children as follows: I. William R .; II. Sarah ( Mrs. John Conway); III. Joshua, deceased; IV. Brinkley, 2; V. Caroline (Mrs. Josiah Pretty- man); VT. ITester Ann. Mr. and Mrs. Davis died on their farm near Georgetown, Del.

Their eldest son, William R. Davis, passed his early years in Sussex county; he attended the district schools, and for three years after was engaged in teaching. The summer months he spent with his father, and assisted him on the farm. After his marriage he farmed near Georgetown for several years, and then ro- moved to the farm near Milford now owned by Isaac Simpson. Afterward he ocenpied farms in Kent county, and in 1889 leased the

Red House farm, which he now cultivates. Mr. Davis is a man of affable manners and upright character and is happy in the esteem of all who know him. In his political views he is a Republican.

William R. Davis was married in 1843 to Donovan, of the vicinity of George- town. Their children are: I. Sarah E., wife of Sheriff Johnson, formerly of Sussex county, died near Milford; II. Rowland, died near Smyrna, Del .; III. Willard S., of Philadel- phia, Pa .; IV. Charles, farmer, near Dover, Del .; V. Erasmus, farmer, at home; VI. Theodore; VIT. Laura; VIII. Mary C .; IX. George. Mr. Davis is a member of the M. E. church.

WILLIAM BERT WALLS, P. O. Mil- ford, Kent county, Del., was born in Milford, Kent county, Del., September 18, 1858.

He was reared in the vicinity of Milford. When he was five years old, his mother died; his father marrying a second time, the boy was left to follow his own inclination with re- gard to attending school and naturally decided against it. While he was yet young, his father secured work for him among the farmers of the neighborhood; he continued, however, to reside at home until he was nineteen. When he married, after he had procured his license, and feed the minister who performed the ceremony, he had but fifty cents remain- ing. He knew how to work, however, and was industrious, so that this small beginning was not a source of annoyance or despondency. He secured employment by the day, and soon saved enough to begin farming on his own ae- count. For a number of years he was a "eropper" and occupied farms as follows: farm of William Watson for three years; of Dr. Purnell for one year; Thomas Da- vis for one year; of J. Davis for five years; of John C. Hass for ten years; of Robert Williams for seven years; on this farm he met with his greatest success; from the Williams farm he came to the traet which he Row ocenpies near Milford. Mr. Walls is an energetie, honorable man, and enjoys the re- speet of the communities in which he has lived. He is a Democrat.

William Bert Walls was married in 1877 to Lydia E., daughter of the late James Scott.

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Their children are: I. William; II. Edward; III. Ella; IV. Harry; V. Elizabeth; VI. Bert; VII. Roland.

GEORGE W. BENNETT, P. O. Milford, Kent county, Del., son of Joshua and Ruth Jane ( Houston) Bennett, was born in Milford Neck, Kent county, Del., June 24, 1866.

Ilis ancestors have resided in Delaware for more than a century. His great-grandfather was Joshua Bennett, whose children were: I. George, died in Cedar Creek hundred, Sussex county, Del .; II. Mary (Mrs. Purnell Town- send), died in Sussex county; III. Leah, de- ceased; IV. John, died in Sussex county; V. Joshua, 2.

Joshua Bennett, 2, was born in Sussex county, Del., in 1791. His parents could af- ford him few educational advantages, but during his short period of attendance at school, be became qualified to conduct his business affairs intelligently and successfully. With funds borrowed from his brother, he purchased a farm in early manhood, and set about the work of cultivating it. Prospering in this undertaking, he gradually added to his real estate until he became an extensive land owner. He was an earnest, God-fearing man, and was much respected. Politically he was a Democrat. Joshua Bennett married Mary, daughter of William Molloy, of Sussex coun- ty. They had children: I. Eliza (Mrs. Rob- ert Campbell), of Philadelphia; II. John, married Ann Houston, sister of his brother's wife, and died in Milford Neck during the war of the Rebellion; III. Joshua, 3; IV. Nancy (Mrs. Elias Russell) died in South Mur- derkill hundred; V. Mary B., first married to John Townsend, and afterward to James M. Cain, deceased; VI. Nehemiah, of Mil- ford Neck; VII. Leah, married first to Thomas Townsend, afterwards to James Cal- loway, and thirdly to John Davis. Joshua Ben- nett, 2, died on his farm in Milford Neck in 1846, and his wife on the farm which she had received from his estate, in Slaughter's Neck, Sussex county; both were faithful attendants upon the services of the M. E. church.

Joshua Bennett, 3, father of George W. Bennett, was born in Cedar Creek hundred, Sussex county, August 25, 1823. ITis birth- place was his father's farm, now owned by Milan. There he resided until he

was nineteen years of age, attending first sub- scription schools, and later the public schools of his district. His parents' means being still limited during his youth, his attendance at school was unavoidably irregular, as his as- sistance was often in demand for the culti- vation of the farm. During some years, he was not in school at all; at other times, he at- tended for about two and a half months of the winter, and passed the remainder of the season in the woods, felling trees. When he was nineteen, the family removed to a large farm which his father had purchased of Gov- ernor Peter F. Causey, in Milford Neck. This land was very unarable, and required the joint labors of father and sons to bring it into pro- ductive condition. Four years later, when the father died, Joshua Bennett, 3, and his brother, John Bennett, purchased this farm at its appraised valuation, and for a year cul- tivated it together. When Joshua Bennett was married, in 1847, the tract was divided, each brother receiving one-half of it. Of his portion Joshua Bennett made two farms, on one of which he erected a dwelling for him- self. He afterwards leased both farms, and bought 200 acres of the Nathaniel P. Lutf tract, on which, having built another house, he lived until 1886. In that year, he pur- chased a dwelling in Milford, in which he has resided for the past twelve years, continuing, however, diligently to supervise the manage- ment of his farms. In his earlier days, Mr. Bennett received some pecuniary aid from his father's estate, and some from his father-in- law; but his present position of honor and affluence has been achieved principally by his own industry, good judgment and sound busi- ness methods. The last farm he purchased he brought from a very poor condition to a high- ly productive state. ITis energy and intelli- gence are displayed not only in his business affairs; his fellow-citizens have availed them- selves of his abilities in the capacity of a legis- lator. He served during part of a term in the Delaware Legislature, fillling the vacancy caused by the retirement of Governor Wat- son from that body. For many years, Joshua Bennett was an active worker for the Demo- cratie party, but some time since, he retired absolutely from the political field. To his abandonment of the use of tobacco in carly life, Mr. Bennett ascribes, in great measure,

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the robust health which he enjoys. Joshua Bennett was married, June 29, 1847, to Ruth Jane, daughter of Clement and Mary (Shock- ley) Houston, born November 1, 1826. Their children are: 1. Mary A., born July 5, 1848, died in infancy; Il. Eliza Jane, born in 1850, married first John M. Webb, afterwards John Andrew; IHI. John II., born May 22, 1552, farmer, married Elizabeth Mills; IV. Joseph C., farmer, born in April, 1854, married Eine- line Macklin; V. Joshua, 4, born January 24, 1856, married Anna Parsons; VI. Anna M. (Mrs. Edward Atkins), born July 29, 1858; VII. Mary L. (Mrs. Albert Webb), born May 9, 1860; VIII. Ruth J., born April 12, 1862; IX. William II., farmer, born April 24, 1864, married Sarah MeCauley; X. George W. Mrs. Joshua Bennett died July 16, 1893, aged sixty-six years, eight months and fifteen days. Mr. Bennett has been for a half-century a member of the M. E. church, and active in its work; he is now a trustee of the Milford Neck M. E. church, and president of the board.

George W. Bennett resided on his father's farm, where he was born, until he was nine- teen years old; he attended a select school in Milford during one term, but received his edu- cation principally in the public schools. At the age of nineteen, he began learning black- smithing with Edward Atkins, and having thoroughly acquired the trade, engaged in business for himself at Lebanon, Del. He was prosperous and remained at Lebanon for six years, after which he returned to his carly home, and purchased the shop of Mr. Atkins. together with his dwelling and a small tract of land. With his original trade he has com- bined the business of a wheelwright, and car- ries on a flourishing business in both branches. Mr. Bennett is not only regarded as a good business man, but is esteemed for his worthy character. He is a member of the I. O. II. In polities he is a stanch Democrat.

George W. Bennett was married in May, 1890, to Harriet A., daughter of John and Emma (Jackson) Short. Their children are: I. Mabel; IT. George Carson; III. Cora. Mr. Bennett is a member of the M. E. church.

JOHN A. BICKEL, P. O. Milford, Kent county, Del., son of Daniel and Catherine

(Appel) Bickel, was born in Springfield town- ship, Bucks county, Pa., in May, 1822.

The forefathers of Mr. Bickel came to this country from Switzerland, and settled in the southeastern portion of Pennsylvania, a see- tion largely peopled by Swiss and Germans. His father, Daniel Bickel, was born in Le- high county, Pa., and was a miller and farmer. During the war of 1812, he was a sollier in the American army, and was stationed at Lewistown, Pa. Daniel Bickel married Cath- erine Appel, of Lehigh county; their chil- dren are: I. John A. ; II. William, artist, and owner of a plantation at Tampa, Fla., died while on a visit to his elder brother; III. Cath- erine (Mrs. Young); IV. Elizabeth

(Mrs. - Brown). Mr. Bickel died in Philadelphia at the age of eighty years; Mrs. Bickel died in Allentown, Pa., aged about eighty-five years.

During his early life in Lehigh county, Pa., John A. Bickel attended schools in which the instructions were given in the German lan- guage; this was his earliest tongue, and he acquired the English language later in life. He spent two years at the Friends' boarding- school in Gwynedd township, Montgomery county, Pa., and at the age of twenty-five completed his course of study at Lafayette College, Easton, Pa. His vacations he spent at home, assisting his father in his mill. At the time of his graduation from college, the family had been for some years settled in Montgomery county, about twelve miles north of Philadelphia; after that event, he went to Philadelphia, and engaged in the grocery business at Third and Tammany streets, in partnership with William Bonner. But two years of business experience in the city sufficed Mr. Bickel; at the end of that time, he dissolved his partnership, and re- moved, about 1848, to Milford, Del., where he engaged in milling, with profitable results. While he was established here, the great fam- ine in Treland was at its height, and he ground into meal large quantities of kiln-dried corn, to be sent to the relief of the starving Irish. At the end of three years, Mr. Bickel removed to a farin of 325 acres which he had purchased in Milford hundred. The land was a wild tract, but he speedily cleared it, erected neces- sary buildings and began the cultivation of small fruits. In this business he was among

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the pioneers of the state, and was very suc- cessful. From the manufacture of sorghum syrup, also, and from fruit-drying, Mr. Bickel has realized substantial profits. During the war of the Rebellion, he was captain of a company of home guards. Ile is an influen- tial citizen, intelligent, progressive, and much esteemed. His success has been due in the main to his own efforts. Mr. Bickel has been active in political life, as a member of the Re- publican party.

John A. Bickel was married to Mary A., daughter of Michael Everett, of Philadelphia. Their children are: I. William, married Cole; II. John D., died in Wilming- ton, Del., was married to Rachel Banks, who survives him; III. Samuel E., farmer, mar- ried Mary Maloney; IV. Milton, at home; V. Elizabeth, died at the age of twenty years; (Mrs. Willard Carson), Mrs. John A. Bickel died in 1888. Mr. Bickel has been for many years a faithful member of the Lutheran church.

VI. Mary (Mrs. William Hall); VII. Sarah . congregation.

WILLIAM HENRY RICHARDS, P. O. Milford, Kont county, Del., son of Clark and Richards, was born in Milford hun- dred, October 20, 1813.

Ilis grandfather was Henry Richards, a well-known farmer of Kent county. His father, the late Clark Richards, was born and always lived in Milford hundred, and was also a farmer. William Henry Richards is his only child. Clark Richards was a member of the M. E. church. His widow married Joseph Goodman, who also dying, she was again mar- ried, to George Fitzgerald. By this marriage she had three children: I. Ezekiel; II. George; III. Sarah Ann. After Mr. Fitz- gerald's death, his widow married Henry Davis.

William Henry Richards received a limited education, and was reared as a farmer's boy. He was very young when his father died, and he resided with his mother until she married her fourth husband, and removed from the homestead. Mr. Richards then assumed the charge of the farm, and cultivated it a-sidu- ously for twenty-five years. At the end of that time, he purchased his present farm of 76 acres. Mr. Richards is an estcemed citizen,

and an earnest advocate of Republican prin- ciples.

William Henry Richards was married to Sarah A., daughter of Henry Davis, of Mil- ford hundred. Their children are: I. Henry Clark, of Michigan, farmer; HI. Mary Eliza- beth ( Mrs. James Harrington); III. William John, of Maryland, farmer; IV. Robert George, at home; V. Sarah Ann ( Mrs. Wil- liam Abbott); VI. Caroline (Mrs. George Thomas); VII. James Curtis, was for twelve years a farmer in Kansas, then removed to Maryland, where he died on his farm; VIII. Eliza Ann (Mrs. John Clifton); IX. Jose- phine (Mrs. - Thomas). Mrs. William II. Richards died in October, 1894. Mr. Richards has been for forty years a member of the Milford Neck M. E. church, and has taken a prominent part in the affairs of the

BENJAMIN COVINGTON NEEDLES, P. O. Frederica, Kent county, Del., son of John P. and Mary (Covington) Needles, was Forn in Milford hundred, Kent county, Or- tober 27, 1851.

llis grandfather, John Needles, was a resi- dent of Kent county, Del. He was a black- smith, and when a young man owned a shop in Milford Neck. He afterwards purchased a farm, now the property of Benjamin ('. Needles, and made many improvements upon it, including a smithy, in which he worked very profitably at his trade. Mr. Needles was an old line Whig, and an influential man in lis hundred, where he held various elective offices. John Needles was married to Mary Poynter, of Sussex county, Del., and had chil- dren: I. Avery, a sailor, returned to his home ill with smallpox, and died; HI. Benjamin Poynter, born June 14, 1809, died May 23, 1889, married Nancy, daughter of John and Harriet (Harrington) Harris, and had one child, Avery, who died in infancy; III. Eliz- abeth, married first to Manlove Clendaniel, afterwardsto George Fowler, and died in Niles, Mich .; IV. John P., died on the homestead; V. Mary (Mrs. Sylvester Webb), removed to Michigan and died there; VI. Nancy (Mrs. Benton IT. Fowler), resided for some years in Michigan, removed afterwards with her hus- band to Kilbourne City, Wis. John Needles died on the farm mentioned above, at a com-

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paratively early age. Mrs. Needles survived him until she was about seventy-five years old. when she also died on the farm, in 1859. Mr. Needles was once an active member of the M. E. church, but left the denomination on account of some disputed points. He was a diligent reader of the Bible, and quoted from its pages with unusual facility and accuracy.

John Needles was accompanied to Kent county by his brother, Avery Needles, who was, like himself, a blacksmith and an ex- cellent and conscientious workman. Besides these qualifications, they had little or no vapi- tal; but these were sufficient to secure for them ample employment, and lay the founda- tion for competence in later life. Avery Needles purchased a tract of land at Berry- town, Kent county, Del., and erected upon it a smithy. He was an earnest and devout man, a local preacher in the M. E. church. Avery Needles was twice married; his second wife was Nancy Reed.

John Poynter Needles, third son of John and Mary (Poynter) Needles, was born in Kent county, Del., in 1827. His school edu- cation was limited, as were the circumstances of the family in his youth; but he became a successful farmer and an honored citizen. He was energetic and industrious, and endow- ed with characteristics which won for him the regard of all his acquaintances. For a mm- ber of years he operated a threshing outfit in Kent county, traveling with it throughout the county. He was a Republican. John P. Needles was married to Mary Covington; their children are: I. Benjamin Covington; II. Anna (Mrs. Harold Walker), of Class county, Mich .; III. Theodore, resides with his elder brother; IV. Elizabeth (Mrs. John Tarbott); V. William, of Michigan; VI. Emma. Mr. Needles died on the farm now owned by Benjamin C. Needles, in 1877, aged fifty years; his widow died in 1880. Mr. Needles was an active member of the M. E. church.

During about six weeks of each year, Benja- min C. Needles attended the public schools of Milford hundred. He began early to fa- miliarize himself with agricultural work, and afterwards learned masonry. His home was in his father's house until he attained his ma- jority; at that time he went to visit relatives in the west, and was employed as a mason for

two years and a half, in Milton township, C'ass county, Mich. Another year was spent in a brick-yard in Indiana, after which Mr. Needles returned home, and in connection with his brother Theodore, bought the home- stead, which his father had purchased in 1862, and has since cultivated it very profitably. The farm contains eighty aeres, and has been much improved. Mr. Needles is highly es- teemed by his neighbors, and is regarded as one of the most skilful farmers of that see- tion of Kent county. In politics, he is a Re- publican. He is a member of the Milford Methodist Episcopal church.

JOHN WESLEY COLLINS WEBB, P. O. Thompsonville, Kent county, Del., son of Sylvester and Sarah (Argo) Webb, was born in - hundred, Sussex county, Del., May 4, 1810.

His grandfather, Dorman Webb, was born in Sussex county, Del., before the Revolution- ary war, and was a member of a prominent and well-to-do family. His children were: I. Sylvester; II. Dorman, 2, died in Sussex county. Mr. Webb resided all his life in Sus- sex county, and died there.

Sylvester Webb, father of John W. C. Webb, was born on the old homestead in Sus- sex county, about 1784. He received a good education and had every opportunity for ac- quiring a high financial standing. From his father he inherited $1,300 and a farm, and after his marriage settled upon the homestead. Unfortunately his agricultural ventures prov- od failures, and he died a poor man. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Sylvester Webb was married to Sarah, daughter of Joseph Argo, born about 1794 in Sussex county. Their children were: I. John Wesley Collins; II. Rachel, deceased; III. Mitchell, died in Kent county; IV. Sylvester, 2, removed to Michigan at an early age and died there; V. Sarah ( Mrs. Isaac Jester), died in Milford hundred; VI. Mary, died in Prime Hook Neck, Del .; VII. Elizabeth (Mrs. Nathaniel Thomas), died in Milford hundred. Mr. Webb died on the home farm about 1826.

John Wesley Collins Webb lived with his parents until their death. When this occurred he was not yet sixteen years old, and had never been to school even for a day. After his parents' death he was bound out to his

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unele, Alexander Argo. Before the expira- tion of his term of indenture he was placed on the farm of his uncle's sister, Margaret Webb, where he was to manage the entire property and receive in compensation one-third of the crops. He remained there two years and saved some money. With this he pur- chased some hogs and a pair of oxen, and then began farming for himself. He leased the farm of Shadrach Postles and after a short time that of Solomon Townsend, of Frederica. On this latter farm he spent seven years. For the next five years, he leased land from Daniel Goodwin and these were for him unfortunate years. In 1843 he settled on his present farm, renting for a few years and afterward pur- chasing it. The tract consists of 200 acres of good land, which has been greatly improved by Mr. Webb. In the "sixties" he erected a comfortable dwelling house on the farm and has otherwise added to its value. Mr. Webb devotes his land principally to the raising of grain. IIe is energetic and progressive, but for a few years has lived retired. In political views he is a Republican. He thinks there is room for reform in politics and politicians, and has lent his efforts to its accomplishment. He served for a term in a minor office in his district. Mr. Webb has used tobacco continu- ally since he was sixteen years old, and has not experienced harmful effects from it.

John Wesley Collins Webb, on May 13, 1834, was married to Sarah Ann, daughter of Henry and Nancy (Spence) Davis, born Oc- tober 22, 1816. Their children are: I. James Henry, born March 29, 1835, married Annie E. Thompson; II. Margaret Ann (Mrs. Lyston Houston), born August 4, 1837; III. Sarah Elizabeth (Mrs. James Jester), born June 18, 1839; IV. John Mitchell, born October 18, 1841, married Jane Bennett, died in Milford hundred; V. Rachel Caroline (Mrs. Edward Short), born February 22, 1845; VI. Charles Alexander, born October 25, 1848, married Jennie Morris; VII. Sylvester, born April 23, 1850, died aged three years; VIII. Marv Maria, born November 18, 1852; IX. Amanda Ottilia Kelley (Mrs. David Isaacs), bora February 19, 1856; X. Francis Albert, born July 15, 1859, married Mary L. Bennett, has children, i. Ethel, ii. Arthur, iii. Francis Al- bert, 2. Mr. Webb has been for many years a member of the Milford Neck M. E. church.

He was one of the organizers of the congre- gation, and aided in the construction of the church edifice. Mrs. Webb is still living and in good health for her advanced age.

Francis Albert Webb, youngest son of John W. C. Webb, was born on the home farm and has always resided there. During three months of each year he attended the district school, assisting his father on the farm during the remaining nine. Until he was twenty-two years old he was employed by his father; he then married and took charge of the home farm. He has given much study to agricul- tural matters, and cultivates his broad aeres on scientific principles. He is intelligent and progressive, and is held in high esteem. Hle is a member of the A. O. U. W., and in poli- ties is a Republican. On February 22, 1883, Francis Albert Webb was married to Mary I .. Bennett. IIe is a member of the Milford Neck M. E. church.

JAMES S. HUDSON, P. O. Milford, Kent county, Del., son of Benjamin F. and Ann (Webb) Hudson, was born in Sussex county, Del., about 1830.

His father was a native of Sussex county, and was all his life engaged in farming there and in Kent county, to which he removed about 1838. IIe married Ann Webb, of Kent county. They had children as follows: I. Mary (Mrs. George Black), formerly of Mil- ford, Mrs. Black and her husband are both deceased; II. Elizabeth (Mrs. Peter Hol- stein), deceased, as is her husband also; III. James S. Mrs. Ann Hudson died about 1858, and Benjamin F. Hudson afterwards married Mary Webb, who was not of the same family as his first wife. Mr. Hudson died in Mil- ford hundred about 1860, aged sixty-tive vears.

James S. Hudson was born on a farm be- longing to Governor Ross. IIe was seven or eight years old when his parents removed to Kent county, and leased a farm in Milford hundred. Young Hudson attended the public schools of his vicinity during the winter months. Hle assisted his father on the farm from his boyhood until his marriage. After- ward he removed from farm to farm as a tenant, until he purchased the tract of land on which he now resides. It consists of 550 acres, on which he has made many improve-

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 47

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