Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 6

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

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On January 3, 1881, John Behen married Mary A., daughter of John and Ellen Kearn, of Dover, Del. Their children are: I. John; II. James; III. Bernard. Mr. Behen is a member of the Holy Cross R. C. church.

PETER C. GRUWELL, P. O. Dover, Kent county, Del., son of John and Letitia (Cooper) Gruwell, was born at the old home- stead in South Murderkill hundred, Kent county, Del., May 28, 1832.

Mr. Gruwell's great-grandfather, John Gruwell, was a native of France. Sometime before the war of the Revolution, John Gru- well emigrated to America, and took up land in St. Jones' Neck, Kent county; but after

cultivating it for some years he bought land and settled in Murderkill hundred, how South Murderkill hundred. Ile had two sons, Jacob and John. Jacob's son, Peter Gruwell, was a soldier in the Continental army. Hle enlisted in Col. Haslett's Delaware regiment under Captain Caldwell. This regi- ment was stationed at Long Island, and was famous for its bravery in action. Captain Caldwell's company, which was accustomed to relieve the tedium of camp life by fighting Blue IIen's chickens, soon became known as the "Blue IIens' Chickens Company," a sou- briquet afterwards applied to all Delaware regiments. Peter Gruwell was killed in the battle of Long Island.

Mr. Gruwell's grandfather, John Gruwell, served in the Delaware militia during the Revolutionary war. John Gruwell's first wife was Miss Reynolds. They had two sons and one daughter. His second wife was Elizabeth Downham. They had three sons: James, Isaac and John; Isaac served in the war of 1812, and was stationed at Lewes, Del .; he married Mary Dawson. James Gruwell married Sarah Whitaker. John Gruwell, Sr., married as his third wife Mrs. (Meredith) Keys, a widow. Mr. John Gruwell was an old school Baptist; he died at the homestead in Kent county.

John Gruwell, 2, father of Peter Gruwell, was born at the old homestead in 1797. He grew up on the farm, and spent his whole life on the homestead, which he inherited at the death of his father. Mr. Gruwell was an old line Whig, but afterwards identified him- self with the Democratic party. He was in- terested in local affairs; was assessor of Mur- derkill hundred, and twice represented his district in the state legislature. John Gru- well was married to Letitia, daughter of Peter L. Cooper, who resided in Murderkill hundred. Their children are: I. Peter C .; II. Elizabeth, deceased; III. Susan (Mrs. John Gooden), of Felton, Del., deceased; IV. John C., the fourth of the name to be a resi- dent of the old homestead; V. Letitia; VI. Isaac Oliver, died at Fort Collins, Col., while prospecting for gold. Mr. Gruwell and his wife were members of the old school Baptist church; he died at his home in Kent county, in 1870.

Peter C. Gruwell remained at home, work- ing with his father, until he was twenty-one.

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He was an industrious lad, and for years be- fore leaving the farm, did a man's full share of labor. His educational advantages were very limited, as he could only be spared to attend the short winter sessions of the district schools. In 1843 Mr. Gruwell left home, and for two and a half years found employ- ment in stores in Denton, Md., and in Kent county, Del. Returning to the homestead, he assisted in the cultivation of the home farm until his father bought the old Cooper prop- erty. This farm was settled by his maternal great-grandfather, Thomas Cooper. Mr. Gru- well rented the place until his father's death, when he purchased it. In 1890 he received the appointment of state librarian, and re- moved to Dover, Del. Mr. Gruwell's intelli- gence and courtesy made him a favorite in his official capacity; after having filled the po- sition efficiently for six years, he was suc- ceeded by Thomas W. Jefferson. Mr. Gru- well has always been true to the principles of the Democratic party. He served as tax-col- lector of Murderkill hundred from 1872 to 1875. Mr. Gruwell has fine conversational powers, and delights in the comforts of his home.

Peter C. Gruwell was married in 1860 to Mary Justina, daughter of the late John C. Chambers, of Murderkill hundred. Their children are: I. Llewellyn, of Wilmington, Del., married Miss Natalie Frasher; II. Ella (Mrs. Willard S. Meredith), of Wilmington, Del .; III. Bertha, at home. Mr. Gruwell at- tends the old school Baptist church.

DENNIS CONNOR, Dover, Kent county, Del., son of Bartholomew and Ellen (Dee) Connor, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1854.

Bartholomew Connor, a native of Limer- ick, Ireland, emigrated to America with his wife and three children. They landed at New York City, and after a short time re- moved to Philadelphia, Pa. At first, Mr. Connor found employment as a day-laborer, but afterwards cultivated a farm near Dover, Del., and finally rented a tract of land four miles north of Smyrna, Del. Mr. Connor was an active member of the Democratic party. He was an honest, industrious man, beloved by his many friends, and honored by his fellow-citizens. Bartholomew Connor was married in Ireland. His first wife died leav-

ing three children: I. Margaret, widow, of Philadelphia, Pa .; II. Timothy, served in the Union army during the Civil war, and was never heard of after the war; III. Mary, died aged forty-two. Mr. Comor's second wife was Ellen Dee. Their children are: I. John, died in Philadelphia, Pa .; II. Dennis; III. Johanna, died in youth; IV. Ella, a milliner in Philadelphia, Pa .; V. Michael, married Catherine Kenin; VI. Morris. Mr. Connor was a devout member of the Roman Catholic church. He died at his home near Smyrna, in 1877, aged sixty-five; his widow died in Philadelphia, Pa.

Dennis Connor was a boy when his parents removed to a farm near Dover, Del. IIe attended the public schools of the district, but was kept at work so steadily that he was only able to go to school when the weather was so inelement that he could not work out of doors. Nine months after his parents set- tled on the farm near Smyrna, his father died. In the next month, he and his mother dis- posed of their stock, and removed to a farm on Jones' Neck. Mrs. Connor owned this farm, and for three years Dennis cultivated it for her. In 1880 Mr. Connor removed to Dover, and found employment on the rail- road. Four years afterwards he removed to Wilmington, Del., and opened a farmer's res- taurant at No. 12 East Second street. After doing a thriving business for ten and a half years, he lost this property by fire. Mr. Con- nor and his mother then removed to Philadel- phia, Pa., and opened a millinery store. Af- ter his mother's death, Mr. Connor returned to Dover. IIe opened his store in Dover, September 4, 1897. Hard work and patient efforts have brought their reward. Mr. Con- nor is a successful merchant, and has won the respect and esteem of the community. Like his father, Mr. Connor is an active supporter of the Democratic party.

Dennis Connor was married to Mary A. Reveraft, of Smyrna. They were the first couple married in the Roman Catholic church in Smyrna. Their children are: I. Mary; IF. Ella; III. Mattie: IV. Paul. Mr. Connor and his wife are members of the Church of the Holy Cross in Smyrna, Del.

HAROLD CATOR HEVERIN, Dover, Del., son of James IF. and Adelaide (Cator) Heverin, was born in Philadelphia, Pa.,

Jno. I Collins

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March 16, 1869. . The ancestors of Mr. Her- erin were very distinguished in professional life, and in social position were among the first families of Delaware, Pennsylvania and New York. William Heverin is the earliest ment- ber of his family of whom there is record. Before the Revolutionary war he came to Delaware from Maryland, and married, in this state, Matilda Hill. He died about 1783, in the prime of a vigorous life. Ile was a member of the M. E. church. Mr. Heverin had several children, of whom one was Wil- liam, 2, who in turn had a son, William 3. The latter was the great-grandfather of Har- old Cator Heverin. He married Charlotte Laws, a daughter of Outen Laws. The Laws family was prominent among the early set- tlers of Delaware, and Outen Laws was one of its most energetic and influential members. Ile became possessed of a tract of 1,150 acres of land on St. Jones' Neck, Kent county, which is now known as "Lawland," and erect- ed there, in 1760, a stately brick residence. The building was of large dimensions, hex- agonal in shape, and constructed of bricks im- ported from England. While all the appoint- ments of the mansion were rich, and in keep- ing with the huge structure, the spacious halls and their heavy, carved wainscoting were es- pecially imposing features of the architect- ure. Charlotte Laws inherited this estate, and great wealth in addition, and through her "Lawland" came into possession of the Hey- erin family. There William Heverin, 3, lived the life of a typical southern gentleman. He was courteous, hospitable, generous and of refined literary tastes. He owned many slaves. Mrs. Heverin was a famous beauty of her day, and was noted, also, for her wit and her powers of entertainment. She made her home the centre of the most intellectual people of the state.

James Laws Heverin, a son of William . ITeverin, 3, and grandfather of Harold Cator Heverin, was born on the mansion farm on St. Jones' Neck in 1824. He received a lib- eral education and became especially pro- ficient in Greek and Latin. His early train- ing, after his school days were over, was in the mercantile line, and he conducted a sue- cessful business at Little Creek Landing for a mimber of years. In 1863 he was appointed Register of Wills, and in 1888 re- ceived the same appointment at the hands of

Governor Biggs. He also served Kent coun- ty as a probate judge. He was a man of vigorous personality, much natural ability and many attainments. On July 23, 1839, James Laws Heverin married Priscilla Stites of Swedish descent. Their children are: I. Alphonsa (Mrs. Elias S. Reed), of Buena Vista, N. J .; II. William S., merchant, of Little Creek, Del., who married Mary Postles, born January 6, 1842, at Little Creek, edu- cated in the schools of Jones' Neck and at Village Green, near Chester, Pa., reared a farmer, and entered mercantile business at the age of twenty-one, at Little Creek, with William H. Hobson as associate; subsequently returned to the farm and managed it for six- teen years, while his father resided in Dover, and then returned to business at Little Creek; III. Charlotte Laws (Mrs. Eastman Carter), of Philadelphia; IV. Mary Stites (Mrs. Charles Denney), of Dover; V. Eliza (Mrs. William Shakespear), died in Dover, in 1891; VI. Emma, (Mrs. Benjamin Shake- spear), of Chester, Pa .; VII. Charles Laws, married Ella Kerr, and after her death, Ella ; VIII. Anna Priscilla (Mrs. James II. Shakespear), died in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1885; Mr. Shakespear is a well known attor- ney of Philadelphia; IX. Clara Beulah (Mrs. Thomas S. Clark), of Dover; X. Joseph Comegys, married Sarah Gildersleeve, was ac- cidentally drowned at "Lawland," in 1894; XI. James Henry. James L. Heverin died after a long and useful life at the age of sev- enty-four years.

James Henry Hoverin, Esq., father of Harold Cator Heverin, was born at Little ('reek, near Dover, April 21, 1844. He at -. tended school until he was twelve years old, when he entered the store of his unele Henry, in Little Creek. A short time afterward his unele died, and young Heverin took charge of the business and settled the estate. In September, 1859, he was sent to a boarding school at Village Green, Delaware county, Pa., and the next year entered Mt. Holly Seminary, N. J. In September, 1861. he matriculated as a member of the Sophomore class in Princeton College, and was graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1864. During his senior year, ho registered as a law student with the late Hon. Joseph P. Comegys, Chief Justice of the State of Delaware. In the autumn of 1864 he entered the Middle Class

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BIOGRAPHIICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

of the Harvard Law school, in Ma -- achusetts, and pur-ned his studies there one year, after which he completed his course in Boston, and in 1866 was admitted to the bars of the state of Delaware and of Philadelphia county, Pa. From January, 1867, to January 1865, he was in the office of John O'Bryne, Esq., in Phila- delphia, and familiarized himself with the forms of practice in Pennsylvania. He then established his office in the Public Ledger building and remained there until his death. One roem at first sufficed for the use of him- self and his clients, but subsequently he and his associate, James II. Shakespeare, Esq., oc- cupied four of the most eligible rooms on the ground floor of the building. Mr. Heverin's legal career was a brilliant one from its in- ception.

In 1869 the office of Assistant District At- torney became vacant and District Attorney Sheppard tendered it to Mr. Heverin. It was accepted, and Mr. Heverin filled the office until the expiration of the term, and then de- clined re-appointment. During the first month of his incumbency he disposed of over 700 cases, many of them of great import- ance and requiring a vast amount of labor. The remarkable energy, ability and learning displayed by Mr. Heverin in his conduct of these cases brought him into immediate prominence, and his reputation and success were from that time assured. His practice while connected with the District Attorney's office led him to a close study of criminal jur- isprudence, and when he retired from the of- fice he naturally drifted into practice in the criminal courts. There he stood alnost alone in his mastery of the law, and his success in conducting cases. He defended thirty-eight persons with capital offences, and not one of these suffered the extreme penalty of the law. Mr. Heverin was, on November 15, 1882, appointed assistant counsel to the Commis- sioners in the "Alabama ('laims." His pop- ularity was demonstrated on the only oc- casion on which he appeared before the poo- ple for their suffrages. In the autumn of 1571 he was nominated as a delegate at large to the convention to revise the constitution of the state of Pennsylvania. Many of the ablest and most influential lawyers were can- didates; but Mr. Heverin, although the youngest member of the nominating conven- tion and almost a stranger, was nominated by

a larger majority and elected by the greatest majority ever given a Democrat in Philadel- phia. In the Constitutional Convention. he took an active part in the debates, Was off set- fral important committees, and succeeded in having some of the most highly appreciated reform measures incorporated into the Consti- tution. Mr. Heverin was one of the busiest men in his profession. He was devoted to the law, which could not prove too "jealous a mistress" for him; possessed a clear, logical and fertile mind, a brilliant flow of language and impassioned cloquence. His practice was lucrative, and he was afforded the means of gratifying the generous impulses of his kind- ly heart to an unusual degree. He was en- dowed with great energy and force, and pushed forward whatever business he had in hand with vehemence that carried all before it. James Henry Heverin was married to Adelaide Cator, daughter of Dr. Henry II. and Miranda Adelaide (Cady) Cator. Their children are: I. Harold Cator; II. Ethel Cator. Mr. Heverin died April 13, 1893; his widow and children survive him.

The Cators, the maternal ancestors of Harold Cator Heverin, were members of a family prominent in England for many years. Two hundred years ago, some of them loft England and went to Holland, where they joined a colony and emigrated to America. They settled in Delaware county, N. Y., about 1692, and from one of them descended Gideon Keator (the name was thus spelled two centuries and less ago), who had a son Gid- con. This Gideon, 2, was maternal great- grandfatherof Harold Cator Heverin. He was born at Marbletown, Ulster county, N. Y., in 1775, and married Mary Kipp, who was born at Rhinebeck-on-the-Hudson in 1775, and was a niece of Chancellor Livingstone, of New York. Their children were: I. John (., born at Rhinebeck-on-the-Hudson, Janu- ary 15, 1796; II. Charity, born at Marble- town, March 23, 1798; III. Peter, born in Duchess county, N. Y., January 8, 1800: IV. Elizabeth, born at Marbletown, Devem- ber 25, 1502; V. George, born August 15, 1804; VI. Katherine, born in Roxbury, Dela- ware county, N. Y., December 11, 1806; VII. Harriet, born in Roxbury, January 13, 1809; V'HUI. Hiram, born in Roxbury, March 27, 1811; IX. James B., born February 14,

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1813; X. Harvey II., M. D., born July 15, 1×15; XI. William N., born March 18, 1817.

Dr. Harvey II. Cator and his brother Peter changed the orthography of the name from Keator to Cator. Harvey II. Cator at- tended the puble schools of his native place, Roxbury, and was afterwards graduated from Geneva College. He read medicine in Dela- ware county, N. Y., and received his diploma from an allopathie college. For three or- four years he practiced his profession ac- cording to allopathie tenets, and was then made homeopathist by a singular means. Mrs. Cator was taken very ill and Dr. Rob- inson, a homeopathic physician, was called in to prescribe for her. Ile asked of Dr. Cator that if he (Dr. Robinson) should bring about the recovery of Mrs. Cator he would embrace homeopathy. Dr. Cator consented; Mrs. Cator was healed and the erstwhile allopath be- came an enthusiastic prescriber of the "little sugar coated pellets." He studied home- opathy for a time with Dr. Robinson, and soon ranked as one of the most successful physi- cians in Central New York. In 1840 Dr. C'ator removed with his family to Syracuse, N. Y., at that time only a village. IIe re- mained there until 1860 and then went west to Rockford, Ill., where he was the first homeopathie physician. Soon afterward he returned to Svraense, and in a short time came to Delaware. His health was failing, and he believed that he would be benefited by the air of this state. He settled in Dover in 1865, and regained his health, after which he re- moved to Camden, N. J. In 1840 Dr. Harvey II. Cator was married to Miranda Adelaide, daughter of John and Fanny (Rob- orts) Cady, of Moravia. They had children: I. M. Adelaide; II. Minnie Chittenden (Mrs. James II. Heverin). Dr. C'ator died in Camden, N. J., in 18 -; his widow died in 1891.

Harold Cator Heverin, in his youth, at- tended the P. E. Academy, in Philadelphia, for three years, and, afterward, several pri- vate schools. When he was fifteen years old he entered Princeton College, N. J., and was graduated from the Academical department four years later. Since that time he has done much work for newspapers, and written for the leading magazines. IFe is an accomplished short story writer, and his efforts in that line have attracted much favorable comment. He

has, also, written a number of plays which have been produced with a success that must be gratifying to the young author. Two of these plays are A Colonial Dame and Tiger Lily. The latter was received with enthu- siastie approbation when presented at Prince- ton University, in May, 1897. Mr. Heverin writes under the signature "Cator Heverin." When he was eighteen years old, he gave to the public his first novel, Miss Marlowe, which obtained an extensive circulation. In addition to his literary work, Mr. Heverin has produced some exquisite decorations, de- signs and paintings. Mr. Heverin is now studying medicine at the University of Mary- land, in Baltimore.

IIENRY E. MOORE, P. O. Dover, Kent county, Del., son of Henry and Rebecca (Windett) Moore, was born at the old mill on the Wissahiekon, in Montgomery county, Pa., March 15, 1850.

Mr. Moore's great-grandfather, Marma- duke Moore, a descendant of a noble family, was born in Howes, Yorkshire, England. His children were: I. Frances, baptized December 26, 1746; II. Eliza, baptized March 4, 1748; III. John baptized September 9, 1751; IV. Thomas, baptized December 14, 1758; V. Hannah, baptized June 6, 1756; VI. Mary, baptized September 27, 1758; VII. Marma- duke, baptized February 17, 1761. Mr. Mar- maduke Moore died at his home in Howes, England.

Thomas Moore, second son of Marmaduke Moore, was born in Howes, England, where he grew up, and married. After his wife's death, Mr. Moore with his two sons, Marma- duke and Thomas, cinigrated to America. The voyage was half over when their vessel sprung a leak. The passengers manned the pumps and kept the ship afloat until a ship appeared which took them on board and car- ried them to America. Mr. Moore's son, Marmaduke, however, was in some way sepa- rated from his father, and no trace of him was over found. In 1790 Mr. Moore was employed at Hitner's marble quarry in Mont- gomery county, Pa. He afterwards re- opened an old marble quarry in Upper Marion, Montgomery county, and in a few Years removed to White Marsh, where he opened Pott's marble quarry. Thomas Moore was married in Upper Marion to Bar-

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bara Linnegar. Their children are: I. Thomas A., born January 27, 1795; 1I. Mary, born December 20, 1796; III. Bar- bara, born November 24, 1798; IV. William, born November 18, 1800; V. Catharine, born December 27, 1802; VI. Thomas, born Feb- ruary 3, 1805; VII. Henry, born June 30, 1807. Mr. Thomas Moore died at his home in White Marsh, March 30, 1807; his widow died November 2, 1814, aged forty-five.

Mr. Moore's father, Henry Moore, was born at Marble Hall, Montgomery county, Pa. Three months after his father's death Henry Moore was bound by his mother to a miller. Ilis intimate friend, Benjamin Harry, learned milling at the same time and place. Their friendship strengthened as they grew older, and lasted unbroken until death. After serv- ing his apprenticeship, Mr. Moore began business for himself at the Spring Mills in Montgomery county. He managed successive- ly a mill near the Buckingham Mountains; Detweiler's Mill, on the Wissahiekon, near Fort Washington; and a mill in Plymouth Valley, near Conshohocken. In 1859, he re- moved to Delaware and purchased the Mount Vernon Mills, near Dover, now owned by his son, Henry Ely Moore. Mr. Moore was at first a Democrat, afterwards a Whig, and finally identified himself with the Republican party. Henry Moore was married in Mont- gomery county, Pa., to Rebecca Windett. Their children are: I. William W., born March 11, 1842, died March 26, 1842; II. Barbara Ann (Mrs. George S. Hinkle), of Phil- adelphia, Pa., born April 12, 1844; III. Elizabeth Windrett (Mrs. Joseph P. Cox), of Chester county, Pa., born February 14, 1846; IV. Rebecca (Mrs. Augusta B. Conrad), of Kent county, Del., born June 15, 1848; V. Henry Ely; VI. Anna Jane, born September 30, 1852, widow of George E. Bell, of Dover, Del .; VII. Thomas Jefferson, farmer, born June 17, 1855, married Caroline B. Ware. In childhood Mr. Moore was instructed in the doctrines of the Society of Friends. He was a devout Chrstian, an active member of the M. E. church, and a kind loving husband and father. Towards the latter part of his life his health failed, and during the last few years he was an invalid. He died at his home near Dover, November 30, 1886.

Henry Ely Moore attended the public schools of Montgomery county, Pa., and of

Kent county, Del., and completed his educa- tion at Wyoming Institute, Kent county, Del. In early boyhood he began working around the mill, helping his father, and during the smuinmer assisting with the fam work. Mr. Moore not only manages the Mount Vernon . Mills, but has opened a flour and feed store in Dover where he disposes of the products of his mill. He is an intelligent citizen, es- teemed and respected in the community. Mr. Moore is not only a successful business man, but is interested in all that pertains to the wel- fare of the district. He is a member of the Republican party.

Henry E. Moore was married September 19, 1876, to R. Adelaide, daughter of David and Christiana (Irvin) Bice, a native of Cecil county, Md. Their children are: I. Mary, born August 22, 1881, died November 30, 1887; II. Alban, born October 2, 1884, died April 2, 1887; III. Ada, born June 14, 1888, attending school; and two who died unnamed. Mr. Moore is a member of the Wesley M. E. church.

Mrs. Moore's grandfather, Abraham Bice, married the widow of Mr. Bag. She was a native of Germany. Mrs. Moore's father, David Bice, was born in Pennsylvania. He removed to Cecil county, Md., where he was engaged in farming, and at times worked on the railroad. David Bice was married to Christiana Irvin. Their children are: I. Emma, died in youth; II. Sarah, died in childhood; III. Mary, died in youth; IV. Margaret Ann, deceased; V. Catherine, de- ceased; VI. R. Adelaide (Mrs. Henry E. Moore); VII. Jacob Lewis Cass, of Wilming- ton, Del., married Susan Clow; VIII. Isa- bella (Mrs. George Carrow), of Henderson, Md. Mrs. Bice died at her home in Cecil county, Md. Mr. Bice married his wife's sister, Sarah A. Irvin. Their children are: I. Franklin P., married Ada Harvey, of Bal- timore, Md .; II. Christiana, married the Rev. A. B. MeCurdy; III. James B., hardware merchant, in Dover, Del .. . married Minnie Ferguson, of Dover; IV. Edith O., died in youth. David Bice died at his home in Ox- ford. Md., his widow resides with Mr. Henry E. Moore, in Kent county, Del.

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 6

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