Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 66

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

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Jolm Cummins was the ninth child of a family of six sons and six daughters, born to Daniel Cummins and Frances, his wife. Bo- fore he attained the age of twenty-one years, he was admitted to partnership with George Kennard, the leading merchant of Smyrna,

in whose employ he had been. In 1801, four years from that time, he bought out the inter- est of Mr. Kennard, and started in the mer- cantile business for himself. Being possessed of great natural ability and excellent judg- ment, John Cummins was so successful that in a very few years he amassed a large fortune for that time. By indomitable energy he ex- tended his business, until it included not only lis store in Smyrna, but general trade in grain grown in Kent county, and in a large portion of the Eastern Shore of Maryland. He thus made Smyrna the greatest grain market, ex- cept Wilmington, in the State of Delaware. Ile built a muuber of large granaries at Smyrna Landing, and owned several large vessels, by means of which he shipped his grain to Philadelphia, Wilmington, New York and Boston. These vessels brought back merchandise, and a great munber of the mer- chants on the Peninsula were supplied with their goods from Smyrna by the wagons of John Cummins. His business interests con- tinned to increase, so that by the time he at- tained middle life he was the most extensive individual grain-dealer in Delaware. He pur- chased a large mill on the Brandywine at Wil- mington, which was superintended by Samuel Shipley for many years. Corn-meal ground at this mill was shipped to the West Indie-, and Hour to Liverpool, England.

John Cummins, being an excellent finan- vier, was elected president of the Commercial Bank of Smyrna, but at the expiration of the charter of that institution he declined to take an interest in the Smyrna Bank, but opened a private bank in connection with his mercan- tile, milling and real estate interests, and con- ducted it successfully until his death. He owned lime kilns at Smyrna Landing, and was the first in this region to introduce lime as a fertilizer for worn-out soils. Within twenty years from the time he began business for himself John Cummins had acquired about twenty-five farms in Kent county and the sec- tion of Maryland adjoining it, a large amount of valuable town property and bank stock, ag- gregating in valne a quarter of a million of dollars; he was without a doubt the wealthiest man of his time in the state.

In religion, John Cummins, like his ances- tors, was an Episcopalian. He was the chief founder and supporter through his life of the Protestant Episcopal Church at Smyrna, as

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the memorial chancel window of this church, given by his youngest son, Alexander G. C'um- mins, expresses. He was a delegate, so long as helived, tothe General Convention of the Pro- testant Episcopal Church of the United States. For political preferments he had no aspira- tions, and with the exception of serving one term as a member of the State Senate, steadily refused to accept any office which would di- vert attention from his large and increasing business interests. John Cummins was a man of liberal ideas in both church and state rela- tious. Ile commanded the fullest contidence of a very large part of the community in which he lived, of the Eastern Shore of Mary- land, and of all with whom he dealt. Many people would leave large amounts of money in his possession without taking receipts. Ilis honesty and integrity were never questioned. Ile was given to great hospitality, and his house, now occupied by his son, David J. Cummins, was open for the entertainment of the clergy of the Episcopal Church of his own and adjoining states, and of his numerous friends in Delaware, Maryland, Philadelphia and elsewhere. As a gentleman of the old school, he was punctilious, regular in his habits, and of courtly bearing. In the domestic circle he was highly exemplary as a linsband and father, educating and guiding his chil- dren in the path of morality, and offering them the best advantages that the schools and colleges of that day afforded. He was a gen- erons and liberal supporter of the church and all religious objeets, and foremost in all the public enterprises of town and county. He was a man of indomitable will, energy and perseverance, an indefatigable worker and possessed great mental strength. His mental powers were such that many of those who knew him best believed him capable of tilling, with eminent ability, the most exalted position of honor and trust in the gift of the people.

Jolm Cummins married Susan, daughter of George and Susan Wilson, June 17, 1806. Their children were Susan IL., married to Dr. Samuel Fisler, deceased, of Smyrna; George W .: John H., deceased; Alphonsa, married John G. Black, deceased; Dr. Willian, de- ceased: Martha A., deceased; Mary, deceased, married to D. B. Cummins, president of the Girard National Bank of Philadelphia: Dan- iel, deceased; Rachel W., deceased; David J., president of the National Bank of S myrna;

Anna W., deceased; Martha, (Mrs. Alfred Barratt ), deceased: Robert H., and Alexander Griswold Cummins.

George Wilson Cummins, eldest son of John and Susan H. ( Wilson) Cummins, was born in Smyrna, January 15, 1809. He ob- tained the rudiments of his education at the Smyrna Academy, an institution which his father founded and supported. From the age of thirteen, he was for three years a pupil of the famous scholar and mathematician, Enoch Lewis, who then conducted a school in Wil- mington. At the end of this period his father assigned him to a position in his store, thus giving his son at an early age an excellent op- portunity of acquiring a knowledge of mer- cantile business. He was put under the charge of the chief clerk in his father's large store, in- structed to obey him implicitly, and to per- form faithfully and thoroughly every duty as- signed. In 1830, George Cummins was taken into partnership in the extensive business which his father was then conducting at Smyrna. In March, 1834, soon after the death of his father, he assumed charge of the business, with his brother as partner, under the firm-name of George W. Cummins & Brother, afterwards as Cummins & Brother. They bought large quantities of grain, which they shipped in their own vessels to Wihming- ton, Philadelphia, New York, Providence and Boston. They also bought and shipped bark, wood-staves, quercitron and other products in large quantities. From 1556 to 1859 George W. Cummins was in business by himself ; dur- ing the last-mentioned year he sold out to Col. Edwin W. Wihner, and from that time de- voted his attention to his large land interests, having two thousand five hundred acres of val- vable farming land in Kent county. His res- idence, "Woodlawn," is a delightful home one mile south of Smyrna. Mr. Cummins's peach orchards have viekled immense crops of that valuable fruit. He was one of the first per- sous in Kent county to cultivate the peach on a large scale, and also one of the first to use lime with success as a fertilizer in the region of country around Smyrna.

Mr. Cummins was elected by the Demo- cratic party to represent Kent county in the State Legislature during the years 1856 and 1857. He served in that position to the satis- faction of his constituents, but never after - sought or desired any political office, prefer-

John Fehrenbach.

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ring to devote his time and attention to his bus- iness operations, which brought him a larger income and greater comfort. On account of his rare excentive and administrative ability, in 1868 he was elected president of the Kent County Mutual Insurance Company, and con- tinned to hold that office with the greatest ac- ceptability until 1886, when he resigned. He was one of the first directors of the company when organized. He served as director in the Bank of Smyrna, and was for many years a director in the Farmers' Bank of Delaware, at Dover. He has been for many years a ves- tryman of the Protestant Episcopal Church of his native town.

George W. Cummins was married June 6, 1837, to Evelina M., daughter of William and Ann Denny, of Kent county. His wife's mother died in 1881, at the advanced age of one hundred and four years, retaining to her last year full possession of her mental facul- ties.

Reverend Alexander Griswold Cummins, youngest son of Jolm and Susan HI. Cummins, was born in Smyrna, November 12, 1833. After obtaining a good preliminary education, he entered Trinity College, at Hartford, Con- neetient, and graduated with the first honors of his class in 1852. He studied law for three years in the office of Henry J. Williams, then the leader of the Philadelphia bar, and im- mediately after his admission to practice sailed for Europe, and spent two years in study and travel. On his return, he began the practice of law in the office of his preceptor. At the expiration of five years, in fulfilment of the last request of his father, that he would study for the ministry, he relinquished the legal pro- fession and entered upon the study of the- ology. He was ordained by Bishop Williams, at New London, Connecticut, in 1861. In the same year, at the invitation of Bishop Alonzo Potter, he was called to the rectorship of Christ's Church, Reading, Pa., where he successfully administered the affairs of the parish for six years. During that period he had a commodious Sunday-school building erected in the rear of the church, and rebuilt the church edifice at a cost of forty thousand dollars. It is a handsome building, with a tower and a spire two hundred and ten feet high, and is ornamented with carved foliage, ball-flowers, beautiful stone tracery and many life -sized dragons, bearing shields with the in-

signia of the apostles and evangelists. It was made the cathedral church of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania. In 1867 Mr. Cum- mins received, at the instance of Bishop Whitehouse, of Illinois, an urgent call to the cathedral church of Chicago, at a salary of three thousand dollars a year, with four assist- ants, but was compelled to decline on account of the debt of ten thousand dollars remaining on Christ's Church, Reading, which he had pledged himself to cause to be liquidated be- fore leaving the parish. At the expiration of six years in the ministry, and after a second visit to Europe, Mr. Cummins returned to his native town to look after his agricultural in- terests.

Rev. Alexander G. Cummins was married to Louisa, daughter of Alexander Hayes, late president judge of the court of Lancaster County, Pa.

GOUVERNEUR EMERSON, M. D., was born in Kent county, Del., and was a son of Jonathan Emerson, who died during the doc- tor's boyhood. His mother, several years af- ter, married the late Manlove Hayes, of the same county. She was a woman of remarka- ble intelligence, and under her care and the protection of a liberal-minded step-father, the youth received an excellent education. He made a voyage as surgeon on board a mer- chantman, visiting the Mediterranean, also Canton and other Chinese seaports; returning to Philadelphia in 1820, he settled there in the practice of his profession. Here he en- joyed a large share of public confidence, his judgment and skill as a practitioner being uni- versally acknowledged. During the latter part of his life, however, Dr. Emerson with- drew from practice and lived in comparative retirement giving much attention to farming, in which he availed himself of all modern im- provements. His tastes were decidedly liter- ary, and his ability as a writer made his con- tributions to the literature of the period valu- able. His writings were principally upon scientific, statistical and agricultural subjects. To medical literature he added largely, chicty through the American Journal of the Medical Sciences. His most remarkable labor in this direction was a series of tables exhibiting the rate of mortality in Philadelphia, from cach and all canses, of the sexes at all ages, during thirty years, from 1807, when the first official

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bill of mortality was issued. These tables have always been recognized as possessing great value. Among Dr. Emerson's contribu- tions to the literature of agriculture. is the Farmers' and Planters' Encyclopedia of Rural Affairs, an octavo of thirteen hundred pages, replete with most valuable information. Dr. Emer-on tested his theories by the practi- cal pursuit of agriculture, demonstrating on a large scale the truths promulgated through the investigations of Baron Liebig and many other eminent scientists. He was the first to intro- duce Peruvian guano into the Atlantic States, and to recognize the great advantages of the phosphatie and other concentrated fertilizers, having proved their good effects by experi- ment, on his extensive farms in Delaware. Several of his addresses on the subject of agri- culture were published in pamphlet form, and one delivered in 1872, before the Farmers' Club, of Kent county, Del., on "Land Drain- age," as applicable to the wet and swampy lands of that county, is particularly valuable. Ilis last work was a translation from the French, of De Play's remarkable treatise on the Organization of Labor, a production of profound interest. Dr. Emerson's literary style was clear, easy, elegant and impressive, giving interest to every subject that he han- dled. Even at an advanced age he preserved wonderful vigor of mind and body. He was a member of many literary and scientific so- cieties, among which were the American Phi- losophical Society, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the United States Agricultural So- siety, the Philadelphia Horticultural Society, the United States Pomological Society, the Franklin Institute, the Pennsylvania Agricul- tural Society, and several other less prominent associations. Dr. Emerson, quiet and unob- trusive, possessing the courtly and dignified manner of a "gentleman of the old school," was exceedingly popular in a large circle of cultivated acquaintances of both soxes. Ile highly esteemed the society and conversation of ladies, but was never married. Dr. Gouver- neur Emerson died at his residence, on Walnut street, Philadelphia, July, 1874, in the seven- ty-ninth year of his age.

JOSEPH BROWN, farmer, of South Murderkill hundred, was born Jannary 24, 1839. Ilis father was Thomas Brown, a

farmer of the same locality. His mother, who is still living in Frederica, was Mary, daugh- ter of Armour and Elizabeth Lockwood. Seven children were born of this marriage, six of whom survive, Joseph being the oldest. The grandfather of Joseph was also named Thomas; he was a farmer and owned large tracts of land lying in the vicinity of Frede- rica, which he had inherited from his father, William C. Brown, who lived and died on the farm now occupied by the subject of this sketch. Joseph Brown attended the schools of Frederica, principally in winter, until he gain- ed his majority. Upon the death of his father he assumed the management of the farm for his mother. He continued here for three years, when, in 1871, he began farming for himself, upon an estate of 287 acres. devotes his land to stock and grain, principally, though he has cultivated peaches to some ex- tent. When he began farming he raised five hundred bushels of wheat and one thousand bushels of corn upon his farm; his land being since greatly improved, he now raises one thousand bushels of wheat and one thousand five hundred bushels of corn on the same number of acres. Mr. Brown is a practical farmer, and by industry and push, has brought his land up to a fair state of cultivation. He is a man of character and intelligence, and has made his business a success. In politics he is a Democrat and has always acted with that party. He was married, December 28, 1871, to Miss Catherine, daughter of Frisbie B. Clark, of Camden. Two children have been born to them of this marriage; Elma C. and Lizzie Brown. Doctor T. A. Brown, a well- known and popular physician of Wilmington, is a younger brother of Mr. Brown.

JOHN MITCHELL, farmer, was born in Delaware in 1818, son of Joseph and Sarah Harlan Mitchell. The family is of English descent and are all mem- bers of the Society of Friends. John Mit- chell's grandfather, Thomas Mitchell, was born in Bucks county, Pa., Fourth Month 7. 1750, and on arriving at the age of manhood married Lucy Headley, of the same county. They had two children, Joseph and Hannah, and in 1797 they removed to Mill Creek hun- dred, New Castle county, Delaware, where he became a land-owner. Hannah married Wil-

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liam Chambers, of Chester county, Pa., while Joseph, father of the subject of this sketch, married Sarah, daughter of Stephen and Eliza- beth Harlan, of Chester county, Pa. To them were born eleven children as follows: Elizabeth, who became the wife of Daniel Gawthrop, of Chester county, Pa .; Thomas, who married Sarah Greenfield, of the same county; Stephen, who married Elizabeth Taylor, of his native hundred; Hannah, who became the wife of Samuel Cranston, son of Simon and Hannah Cranston, of Stanton, Delaware; John, the subject, who married in succession, Sarah and Margaret, daughters of David and Elizabeth Eastburn, of New Castle county, Delaware; Harlan, Joseph and Harlan (2d), all of whom died in child- hood; Abner, who married Jane, daughter of Daniel and Jane Thompson; Joseph, who married Hannah, daughter of William and Elizabeth Cloud; Sarah, who became the wife of Stephen, son of David and Sarah Wilson, of Hockessin, Delaware.

Sarah Mitchell, the mother of these chil- dren, died Fifth Month 14, 1834, at the age of forty-two years. On the 17th of Third Month, 1836, Joseph Mitchell was married to his second wife, Martha, daughter of Ephraim and Susan Jackson, of Hockessin, Delaware. Ile was the owner of three hundred and seven- ty-acres of land and lived to see all five of his sons who reached the age of manhood engaged in agricultural pursuits on adjoining farms. He was a consistent Friend, held high offices in the meeting and died Fourth Month 22, 1876, in the ninety-third year of his age.

John Mitchell married, Third Month 17, 1847, Sarah, daughter of David and Elizabeth Eastburn. Of this union came seven children as follows: Elizabeth, who died in the four- teenth year of her age; Thomas C .; Stephen II., who married Mary T., daughter of Sam- uel P. and Mary Dixon; William J .; Anna M., who married Irwin D., son of Matthew and Susanna Wood; Henry E., who died in the twenty-sixth year of his age; and Mary R., who died at the age of three months. In 1861 the wife and mother was removed by , granddaughter of Daniel Pecker, of New Jer- death and the little flock of children was left to the father's care. In 1864 he married Mar- garet Eastburn, a sister of his former wife, by whom he had two children, -- Sarah E.,

who died in the fifteenth year of her age; and John C. He has also three grandchildren -- his daughter, Anna M. Wood, has two, named Wilmer and Sarah, and his son Stephen II. Mitchell, has a daughter named Alice. All his sons are farmers making four successive generations engaged in agricultural pursuits. No member of the family ever uses tobacco or intoxicating drinks.

JOSEPII WEBB MARSH, M. D., of Sus- sex county, Del., son of Erasmus D. and Susan Blackford (Cox) Marsh, was born on the home- stead in Lewes and Rehoboth hundred, Sus- sex county, Del., December 6, 1839.

Three brothers named Marsh, immigrants from England, settled in the United States, one in the north, probably in Massachusetts, one in the south, and the third in Delaware. The various families of the name in Delaware trace their descent to this third brother. Among his descendants were Captain Hugh Marsh and Erasmus D. Marsh, father of Joseph Webb Marsh. Erasmus D. Marsh was born in 1806, in Lewes and Rehoboth hun- dred, Sussex county, Del. He was educated in the subscription schools of the hundred, studying under Miss Strong, and Daniel Drain, one of the finest scholars of that day. The descendant of a long line of physicians, his mind naturally turned towards that pro- fession, and on attaining his majority he be- gan reading medicine with his father. After passing a satisfactory examination before the state medical board he opened an office in Lewes and Rehoboth hundred. Dr. Marsh was an eminent physician of the old school, an enthusiast in his profession, and entirely ignored public life. After his father's death, he removed to the homestead, where he con- tinued to practice until the time of his death. Dr. Marsh was an old line Whig; he voted for Bell and Everett, but afterwards identified himself with the Democratic party. Erasmus D. Marsh, M. D., was married in Philadelphia, Pa., to Susan Blackford Cox, of New Jersey. Mrs. Marsh, who was born in 1802, was a sov. The children of Erasmus D. and Susan Blackford (Cox) Marsh, are: I. Hugh C., of Philadelphia, Pa., married - Robinson ; II. Mary E. (Mrs. James Martin, Jr.), of Cool

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Spring, Del .; III. Emily B., married Captain Samuel C. Poynter, of Nassau, Del .; IV. Joseph Webb; V. Thomas P., drowned in Delaware Bay; VI. Theodore W., of Nassau, Del .; VII. Erasmus W. W., M. D., of Lewes and Rehoboth hundred, married Ida Hopkins. Mrs. Erasmus D. Marsh was a member of the Presbyterian church. Dr. Marsh died at the homestead in September, 1866; his widow died at the same place in 1890. Both are in- terred in the family burial place on the home farm.

Joseph Webb Marsh attended the public schools of Lowes and Rehoboth hundred, the private school of Moulton Wrench, at George- town, Del., and the private school of the Rev. John L. McKim, at Lewes, Del. In his eigh- teenth year he began the study of medicine, and after reading with his father for one year entered Jefferson Medical College, at Phila- delphia, Pa. After his graduation in 1861, Dr. Joseph W. Marsh entered his father's office and practiced with him until his death in 1866. Ile is a skilful physician and sur- geon and is highly esteemed in social as well as official circles. Since 1888, he and his brother, Erasmus. W. W. Marsh have been practicing together. Both are members of the Delaware State Medical Society. Dr. Joseph W. Marsh is a stanch Democrat; he has al- ways declined public office.

ERASMUS WILLIAM WOLFE MARSHI, M. D., of Lewes and Rehoboth hundred, Sussex county. Del., son of Eras- mus D. and Susan Blackford (Cox) Marsh, was born on the Marsh homestead in Sussex county, Del., September 12, 1848.

Erasmus W. W. Marsh attended the private and public schools of Lowes and Rehoboth hundred, and completed his scholastic course at Milton Academy, under Profs. Hicks and Wood. At eighteen he began reading medi- cine under his brother, Dr. Joseph W. Marsh, and one year later entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa., and was graduated in the class of 1871. After leaving his Alma Mater, Dr. Marsh opened an office in Milton, Del., but at the end of one year abandoned his profession and hired as a deck hand on a roasting vessel. During the ten years which he spent on the water, he was engaged on boats belonging to the Beard or to the Clyde line,

plying between Philadelphia, Pa., and New York City, and acted as mate and as pilot. After leaving the sea, Dr. Marsh returned to Sussex county and began farming on a part of the homestead. Ile has a comfortable home and a valuable farm of 75 acres. Since 1sss, Dr. Marsh has been practicing with his brother, Dr. Joseph W. Marsh, and now de- votes his whole time to his professional duties. He is a Democrat.

On January 15, 1880, Erasmus W. W. Marsh, M. D., was married to Ida S., daugh- ter of William and Nancy (Carey) Hopkins. Their children are: I. Emma HI .; II. Eras- mus D., died in infancy.

JAMES WAPLES BLIZZARD, P. O. Lewes, Del., son of Levin and Sarah S. (Hill) Blizzard, was born on the Blizzard homestead, June 24, 1833.

James W. Blizzard attended the schools of the district and assisted his father on the farm until he was eighteen, when he was appren- ticed to Myers & Bailey, carpenters and build- ers, New London, Conn. After spending one years as foreman for Bennett and Currier, Mr. Blizzard returned to Delaware where he built the Ebenezer M. P. church in Lewes and Rehoboth hundred, the Samuel ITull M. E. church, near Georgetown, and after work- ing for ten years as foreman for Mr. Highman, was employed by the day in different parts of the state. In 1896 he purchased from Bailey and Jane Wolfe, the Wolfe farm, of 80 acres. He also owns several fine properties in Lewes. Mr. Blizzard is a Democrat, and is highly re- spected.

On January 17, 1860, James Waples Bliz- zard was married to Anna Mary, daughter of John and Jane (Wolfe) Burton. They had one child, William A., married Georgiana Beebe, has three children, I. William, II. Eu- gene, III. Elizabeth. Mrs. Annie M. Blizzard died in 1865. In 1870, James W. Blizzard was married to Mary, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Lank) Prettyman. Their only child, Elizabeth, died in infancy.

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 66

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