Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 68

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 68

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THIE HON. JOHN P. COCHRAN, ex- governor of Delaware, son of Robert and Re- becca (Ryland) Cochran, was born on the Cochran homestead, St. George's hundred, New Castle county, Del., February 7, 1809.

The Cochran family, one of the oldest and most influential families of Delaware, is of Scotch-Irish descent. John Cochran, grand- father of John P. Cochran, was a land-owner, and an influential citizen of Cecil county, Md., where his life was spent. His son, Robert Cochran, father of ex-Governor Cochran, was born and educated in Cecil county, Md. In carly manhood, Robert Cochran removed to Delaware, where he owned large tracts of land in St. George's hundred, New Castle county. Mr. Cochran devoted himself to agri- culture and spent his whole life in cultivat- ing and improving his property. He was a life-long Democrat, an enthusiastic disciple of Thomas Jefferson. Robert Cochran Was married to Rebecca Ryland. Their children are: I. John P .; II. Alice (Mrs. Samuel Lord), deceased; III. Robert Thomas, of St. George's hundred; IN. Margaret, died in youth; V. William A., of St. George's hun- dred; VI. Richard, of Middletown, Del. Mrs. Cochran was a devout Christian woman. Both died at the homestead in New Castle county, Del., and are interred in Forest conte- tery.

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The late John P. Cochran was one of the oldest residents of St. George's hundred. Hle was a man of intelligence and culture, promi- nent not only in the affairs of his native coun- ty, but of the entire state. His large estates were in excellent condition and his farms were always in demand. He was considered one of the best landlords in Delaware; some of his tenants had farmed his land for fifty years. He was not only just and honorable in all his dealings, but kind and considerate towards all. He was a Democrat, actively interested in public affairs, and one of the leaders of the party. In accepting the nomination for gov- ernor, he said that if elected, he would not give the appointment to his sons, his relatives or to any one endorsed by members of his own family. To this rule so plainly stated, Governor Cochran faithfully adhered. His talents and executive ability were used only to advance the interests of the state.

On April 4, 1833, at Cantwell's Bridge, now Odessa, Del., John P. Cochran was mar- ried to Eliza, daughter of William and Eliza (Tatman) Polk. Mrs. Cochran's parents were uld residents of New Castle county; she was born at New Castle, Del., April 1, 1812. The children of John P. and Eliza ( Polk) Cochran are: I. William R., of Middletown, Del., born July 26, 1834; II. Rebecca, born No- vember 2, 1836, married Dr. T. R. Gilpin; III. Charles P., of Middletown, Del., born March 27, 1839; VI. John, deceased, born June 28, 1841; V. Eliza, widow of William Green, of Middletown, Del., born October 5, 1843; VI. Juliana, born December 17, 1848; VII. Cyrus, born December 25, 1852, ‹lied June 24, 1853. Mrs. Eliza Cochran died July 24, 1855. John P. Cochran was mar- ried in St. George's hundred, January 6, 1558, to Mary A., daughter of James and Mary C. Lumlin, of New Castle county, Del. Governor Cochran was very active and spoke and acted with the energy of a man of fifty. His death was deeply regretted by all classes of citizens.

HENRY OSBORNE BENNUM, of In- dian River hundred, son of Henry O. and Ellen C. (Walls) Benmum, and grandson of Ileury O. and Naomi (Osborne) Bennum, was born on the okdl homestead near Gravel Hill, Broadkiln hundred, Sussex county, Del., October 14, 1-35.

Henry O. Bennum's parents gave him every advantage that they could command. He was obliged to walk three or four miles to reach the school house, but attended two terms in each year, and completed his course under his cousin, Gilley S. Walls, at Pine school in Indian River hundred. In his nineteenth year he taught for one term; with this excep- tion, he remained with his father on the farm until he attained his majority. In 1864, Mr. Bennum began farming, and in the winter of the same year secured a school near Milton, Del. With the exception of the time spent in the army, he continued teaching and farm- ing alternately until 1866. Henry O. Ben- num enlisted first at Georgetown, Del., in the Sixth Delaware Home Guards and was sta- tioned at Bush River at the time of General Lee's invasion of Maryland. On September 2, 1864, he re-enlisted for one hundred days in Company A, Ninth Volunteer Infantry, under Captain William T. Warrington, and was discharged at Wilmington, Del., June 23, 1865. Part of this time was spent at Camp Brandywine, and the remainder in garrison duty at Fort Delaware. While serving in the home guards, Mr. Bennum had an attack of dysentery and was under the care of Dr. William Marshall. After Dr. Marshall had removed his headquarters to Havre de Grace, he came to the camp at Bush river, and find- ing Mr. Benmum still weak and ill, offered lin a position as hospital steward; in this situ- ation Mr. Bennum remained until he was discharged. At the close of the war he returned to the farm which he had rented previous to his enlistment. In 1869, Mr. Ben- mum removed to his present home, a farm of 208 acres, and after renting it for twelve years, purchased the place from Gideon Burton, of Cincinnati, Ohio. This farm was formerly owned by Robert Burton, who it is said raised on it 1,000 bushels of corn. All the labor was done with one ox. Mr. Burton had a yoke of oxen, but after the first plowing lent one of his animals to a neighbor who had lost his team. His beginning was an humble one, for years he lived in what is now the stable, but in 1852, he was abde to purchase the Bommm homestead, near Gravel Hill, and in 1887 erected a large and comfortable house. From boyhood Mr. Benmmmm has been interested in political affairs. At sixteen he was secretary of a Know Nothing club, although his father

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was a Whig. In 1872, he was elected as- sessor, and at the end of his term of six years, became still more engrossed in politics. In the autumn of 1878, he was nominated on the Republican ticket as a commissioner of the Levy Court, but was defeated. In 1894 he was again a candidate for the same office and was elected by a large majority. Mr. Bennum has been offered the nomination for other offices but has invariably declined.

On November 5, 1856, Henry Osborne Bennum was married to Sarah Hester, daugh- ter of Absalom and Sarah (Jeffers) Dodd. Mr. Dodd was a native of Milton, and his wife, of Lewes, Del. The children of Henry Osborne and Sarah HI. (Dodd) Bennum are: I. Wil- liam A., of Philadelphia, Pa., married Mary E. Green; II. Henry O., of Indian River hun- dred, married Mary H. Stevenson; III. Sarah Ann (Mrs. John F. Perry), of Indian River hundred, has three children, i. Elizabeth II., ii. John M., iii. George F .; IV. Elizabeth E. (Mrs. William S. Truitt), of Rehoboth, Del., has two children, i. Ethe Mary, ii. Sarah Blanche; V. George Washington. Since he was fourteen, Mr. Bemam has been an active member of the M. E. church. He belongs to the congregation of Unity M. E. church.

REV. SAMUEL DAVIES, D. D., a promi- nent Presbyterian divine and scholar, was born in New Castle county, November 8, 1723.

Ilis father, Davis Davies, a pious Welsh farmer, gave him a careful religions educa- tion, and he was afterwards sent to Mr. Blair's school at Fogg's Manor. He was licensed to preach July 30, 1746, and ordained February 19, 1747. Ile officiated at various points in Hanover county, Virginia, where dissenters from the Episcopal church, established in that section, were not acceptable to the civil au- thorities. Dr. Davies' success led to a con- troversy with the King's attorney-general, as to whether the English act of toleration ex- tended to Virginia, which question was subse- quently decided in the affirmative.

In 1853, Dr. Davies was sent with Gilbert Tennent to England, to solicit aid for the C'ol- lege of New Jersey, in which labor he was successful, and preached with much accept- anee in England and Scotland. He returned

in February, 1755, and resumed his minis- terial work. In the same year the First Vir- ginia Presbytery was established, mainly through his efforts. On July 26, 1759, he succeeded Jonathan Edwards as president of New Jersey College. Ilis sermons were pub- lished in London, in 1767, in five volumes, and ran through several editions in Great Britain and this country. Dr. Davies was an excellent preacher, and also wrote poetry of considerable merit. He died in Princeton, N. J., February 4, 1761.

Col. William Davies, son of Rev. Dr. Davies, left New Jersey College in 1755, and entered the army as an officer, enjoying the esteem of General Washington. He was a efficient sub-inspector under Baron Steuben in 1778. Col. Davies was afterwards in the auditor's office, Richmond, and removed to Sussex county, where he died.

DR. TYMAN STIDHAM was doubtless the pioneer physician within the territory now embraced in the state of Delaware. Ile was born in Sweden, and seems to have come here with Governor Rising, sailing from Gotten- berg, February 2, 1654. The vessel in which he arrived landed at Fort Cassimer; now New Castle, May 21, 1654. Dr. Stidham after- wards settled at Fort Christina, now known as "The Rocks," within the present limits of Wilmington. When the Swedish rule on the Delaware was overthrown by the Dutch, in 1655, he, with others, took the oath of alleg- iance to the government of the New Nether- lands. He acquired a large tract of land under Dutch patents, which were confirmed by Governor Francis Lovelace, May 23, 1671. A portion of Wilmington occupies the site of the original grant.

Dr. Stidham made affidavit, January 4, 1656, of the cure of some soldiers, under C'ap- tain Smetz, at Fort Christina. On Febru- ary 20, 1662, William Beekman, vice-director of the West India Company, wrote from Christina that Jacob De Commer, the city surgeon, sent here from Amsterdam, Holland, had been discharged. He recommended the ap- pointment of Tyman Stidham to the position. In a letter dated September 11, 1662, Beck- man mentions him as Tyman Stidham, the

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surgeon. During the progress of a court trial in the fort, April 7, 1663, the record men- tions the fact "Tyman Stidham was called to bleed a man." Dr. Stidham died in 1686. Ile was twice married, and had several chil- dren, whose descendants are in Delaware and other states.

ENOCH S. DOWNS, P. O. Kenton, Del., son of James M. Downs, was born on the Downs homestead, at Down's Chapel, Kent county, Del., March 28, 1846.

In his early life he attended the schools of the vicinity and helped cultivate the farm. Ilis father died when he was four years old, but that loss was made up to him by his mother, who devoted herself assiduously to the training of her son. She inspired him with ambition to rank high in his classes at school, and always heard him recite his lessons before he went to the schoolroom. There he was drilled principally in arithmetic, orthog- raphy and grammar, and was a diligent stu- dent, manifesting especial fondness for arith- metic. He remained at home with his mother until he was married. For a year after his marriage Mr. Downs resided in Queen Anne's county, Md., and then returned to Kent coun- ty, Del., and has ever since lived in the vi- cinity of Kenton. On the death of his mother in 1884, he inherited a portion of the old Downs farm. He is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and takes an active part in its campaigns.

On October 27, 1868, Enoch S. Downs married Annie E., daughter of Edward C. and Elizabeth (Taylor) Coppage, of Queen Anne's county, Md. Their children are: I. Lula A. (Mrs. Charles W. Moyer), has chil- dren, i. Jennie E., ii. Maud, died in infancy; II. Emma (Mrs. Reuben Hobbs), of Glovers- ville, N. Y., has children, i. Bertha, ii. Mabel; III. Howard C., of Philadelphia, married Annie Milligan, has one child, Martha Wash- ington; IV. John T., resides with his father, married Elizabeth Grady.

The ancestors of Mrs. Enoch S. Downs were for a number of generations natives of Queen Anne's county, Md. Her grandfather was Benjamin Coppage. He always resided in Queen Anne's county, and was an extensive

slave owner. He married Miss Dudley, and had children: I. John, of Queen Anne's county, Md., died at eighty-four years of age; 1I. Mary ( Mrs. - Nickerson), of Queen Anne's county, deceased; III. Benjamin, died in Queen Anne's county; IV. Emily ( Mrs. Benton), of Queen Anne's county; V. Martha ( Mrs. - Goodwin), died in Baltimore county, Md .; VI. Edward C.

Edward C. Coppage, father of Mrs. Downs, was born in Queen Anne's county, March 19, 1822. Ile received a common school educa- tion and performed his share of the duties on the farm. He had much natural ability, which he developed by diligent study; his ad- vancement was continuous and gratifying. He lived for many years on his own farm in Queen Anne's county, but since the death of his wife, in 1895, has resided with his dangh- ter, Mrs. Downs. Ile is a Democrat. Edward (. Coppage was twice married. His first wife was Harriet Downs, a half sister of Enoch S. Downs. They had one child, Mrs. Fanny Thompson, who resides near Clayton, Del. Mr. Coppage married secondly, Elizabeth Taylor, who lived near Downs' chapel, Kent county, Del. Their children are: I. Amie E. (Mrs. Enoch S. Downs); II. Charles E., resides near Charlestown, Md .; III. John T., of Clayton, Del .; IV. Enna (Mrs. William ITazel), near Kenton; V. Engene, resides on the home farm in Maryland.

GEORGE T. JONES, P. O. Smyrna, Kent county. Del., son of Jolm J. and Dorcas (Slaughter) Jones, was born in Little Creek hundred, Kent county, Del., February 9, 1843.

John Jones, grandfather of George T. Jones, was a well known farmer and pursued his calling at different times in New Castle and Kent counties. He married Elizabeth Maloney, of Milford Neck, Kent county. He died about 1854, on the farm then owned by William Shannon, and now in the possession of Samuel Cutts.

John J. JJones, son of John Jones and father of George T. Jones, was born in the southern part of Kent county in 1819. He assisted his father on the farm during the busy seasons and in the winter months attended the select

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schools. While he was still young, he was employed by neighboring farmers, at the com- pensation of six dollars per month; small as the amount was, he saved a portion of it. Af- ter his marriage he made his residence in Duck Creek hundred. He became a prosper- ous farmer and a man of influence, by reason of his industry, intelligenceand accurate judg- ment. He was a Democrat, and active in pro- moting the cause of his party. He was fre- quently impaneled on grand and petit juries. John J. Jones married Doreas, daughter of George and Amelia Slaughter, and sister of Timothy Slaughter. Their children are: I. George T .; II. William Henry, merchant, of Chester, Pa., married Sarah Vineyard; III. Theresa ( Mrs. John R. Logan), widow, of Chester county, Pa,; IV. John Perkins, farm- er, of Duck Creek hundred, married Mary E. Frazier; V. Sarah, died young; VI. Lydia (Mrs. Henry Andrews), of Seaford, Del .; VII. Elizabeth (Mrs. George Hurd), of New Castle county; VIII. Alonzo, employed in a cannery at Leipsic, married Lilian Archer. John J. Jones died on the Cook farm, near Smyrna, in 1890. He was a member of the M. E. church. Mrs. Jones still resides in Smyrna, aged seventy-eight years.

George T. Jones was born near the old Friends' meeting-house, on the farm owned by the heirs of the Stout family. When he was a year old his parents removed from Lit- tle Creek hundred to Duck Creek hundred, where he acquired his training in farming and his education in the common schools. He re- mained with his father until he was twenty-five, and then leased the farm in Duck Creek hun- dred owned by Rebecca J. Collins, which he still occupies. The farm is a productive one, and Mr. Jones has cultivated it with much skill. He is an active and respected citizen. Mr. Jones is a member of Smyrna Conclave, No. 45, I. O. HI. He has been an active worker in the Democratic party.

On January 29, 1867, George T. Jones was married to Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Ann (Thompson) Fennimore, born in Blackbird hundred, New Castle coun- ty. Their children are: I. Howard, farmer, of Duck Creek hundred, married Ollie Frazier, has children, i. Lloyd, ii. Clifford, iii. An- netta; II. G. Franklin, farmer, of near Smyrna, married Ella M. Wheatman; III.

Martha A., at home. Mr. Jones is a faithful member of the Severson M. E. church.

DR. THOMAS B. WILSON, the distin- guished naturalist and scientist, was born in Philadelphia, January 17, 1807, died at New- ark, Del., March 15, 1865.

He was educated at Friends' Schools in Philadelphia and in England. In 1822 he studied pharmacy, and after devoting several years to this science, applied himself to ge- ology. In 1828 he adopted medicine as a pro- fession, and after graduating, in 1830, went to Paris and continued his studies, taking up also zoology, botany and geology. He after- wards attended a medical course in Dublin, and returned home. On account of his fail- ing health, Dr. Wilson soon applied himself to botany and ornithology as a means of relax- ation and recuperation. In 1832 he removed to Chester county, remained there with his brother several years, and subsequently bought a farm in that section. Ile devoted himself assiduously to natural sciences, and se- cured at home and abroad the valuable col- lections of plants, birds, insects, etc., which make him justly celebrated.

In 1841, Dr. Wilson removed with his brother to Newark, Del., where he settled permanently, continuing his scientific re- searches and devoting both time and money to them. He was one of the principal bene- factors of the Academy of Natural Sciences and the Entomological Society, of Philadel- phia, and was chiefly instrumental in provid- ing their collections, library and building -. Ilis contribution of birds to the Academy of National Sciences aggregated twenty-eight thousand specimens, nearly all of which were mounted. He also gave to the same institu- tion extensive collections of minerals and fo- sils. Of the fifty thousand insects in the En- tomological Society, the majority were dona- tions from Dr. Wilson.

Dr. Wilson contributed largely to the Epi -- copal church building in Newark, Del. His remains were taken to Philadelphia for inter- ment, and his funeral was attended by some of the leading scientists of this country. He was one of the most prominent naturalists of his day, laboring zealously to advance the pe-

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culiar branches in which he was so deeply interested, and expending liberally of his ample means in prosecuting the work and in assisting the institutions founded to perpetu- ate its results.

REV. JAMES HARDY MOORE, D. D., Middletown, Del., son of the late Sam- uel and Marion Green (Hardy) Moore, was born in Philadelphia.

After leaving school, Mr. Moore entered the Baldwin locomotive works, Philadel- phia, as as apprentice, with the purpose of preparing himself in a practical manner for the management of a manufacturing enter- prise, of which he was to be the head. While thus engaged, he felt that he was called to the Christian ministry and abandoning all thought of mercantile success, entered the Sophomore class of Lafayette College in 1874. There, by brilliant scholarship he won the Douglas Christian Greek and Latin prizes and was one of the successful competitors in the Junior oratorical contest. He was graduated in 1877, studied theology and was ordained deacon in the M. E. church in 1879, and older in 1881. In 1887 he went into the Presby- terian church and in 1898 received a call to the pastorate of the First Presbyterian church of Middletown, Del., which he still fills. Rev. Moore was elected moderator of New Castle presbytery in 1896. In 1897 the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by Lafayette college.

JAMES CRAIG, Wilmington, Del., son of William and Rachel (MeCarter) Craig, was born in New Castle, Del., November 21, 1553.

His ancestors were Scotch-Trish. His father was the first member of the family to settle in Delaware. Ilis first residence in this state after his arrival in America was in Wilming- ton. Ile remained there but a short time and then removed to New Castle, where he resided about a year; he then returned to Wilming- ton, and lived here until his death. He mar- ried Rachel MeCarter; they had children: I. Jane; II. Eliza: III. Martha (Mrs. John Walker), of Wilmington; IV. James. Mr. Craig died Angust 13, 1872: his widow re- sides in Wilmington.

James Craig was educated in the public

schools of Wilmington. He learned the trade of machinist with the Lobdell Car Wheel Co., and has followed that occupation since he com- pleted his apprenticeship. On December 1, 1893, he became a partner in the firm of F. F. Slocomb & Co., builders of leather working machinery, and is its junior member. The firm devotes its attention exclusively to the manu- facture of machines for leather working, and employs twenty-five persons in its shops. Mr. Craig is a member of Corinthian Lodge, No. 20, F. and A. M .; and of Lenape Tribe, I. O. R. M., of Wilmington. His political views are those of the Democratic party.

On April 26, 1882, in Wilmington, James Craig was married to Hannah Matilda, daugh- ter of Robert and Lydia 1. (Warrington) Burns. They have children: I. William Ro- bert, born January 30, 1883; II. James Nor- man, born November 21, 1886; III. Harry Raymond, born January 8, 1898. Mr. Craig and family attend the Presbyterian church.

GEORGE W. HUMPHREY, formerly editor of Every Evening, was one of the best- known newspaper men in Delaware. He was born in Baltimore in 1842, and when he was young his parents removed to Delaware. His childhood was spent in New Castle.

Whe he was eleven years of age, Mr. Hum- phrey left school to work on a farm. From that time he became a diligent student, study- ing at night after the work on the farm was finished. In 1860 he came to Wilmington and learned carriage painting. While learn- ing this he became a elever artist. IIe later conducted a grocery store; then he was sailor on a whaling ship, teamster in Nebraska, drug- gist and stenographer. From this he drifted into the newspaper business, in 1877, and con- tinned to rise from reporter until he became editor of Every Erening, which position he retained for ten years. He resigned about 1895 and went to Florida to spend the rest of his life. He died at his home, Bloomland, near Eustis, Fla., in March, 1899, of paralysis.

WILLIAM HENRY WEEKS, P. O. Wil- mington, Del., son of Leonard K. and Annie M. (Matthews) Weeks, was born in New York City, April 5, 1838.

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In his ancestry three nationalities were united, English, Irish and Dutch. One of his great-grandfathers on the paternal side, was a Throne, who was of English de-cent, and whose predecessors of the same name were among the early settlers of Manhattan Island. Ilis maternal ancestors were Irish and Dutch, and came to America before the Revolutionary War. Both paternal and maternal ancestors were among the largest landowners in West Chester county, New York. Mr. Week's great-grandparents were born in the state of New York, and continued their residence there throughout their lives. They were mem- bers of the Society of Friends.

Leonard K. Weeks, father of William Henry Weeks, was born in 1806 in West Chester county, New York, and until he was about thirty years old, his occupation was that of his ancestors; he tilled a section of the many acres of land in the possession of his family. Then he went to New York City, and engaged in the wholesale grocery business. This he subsequently relinquished and return- ed to his farm in West Chester county, where he died in 1863, at the age of fifty-seven years. Hle had five children: I. Benjamin, who died in infancy; II. Sarah E., widow of George F. Starbuck; III. Sanford II .; IV. Mary E. (Mrs. Eugene Clarn); V. William Henry.

William Henry Weeks was educated in the public schools of New York City, and after- wards became a salesman for a wholesale tea, coffee and spice house. In 1873, he invested his capital in the lumber business, and is now the junior member of the firm of Kent & Weeks, lumber merchants, Wilmington, Del. Ile served a short time as a member of the Board of Education in Wihnington. His poli- tical views are Democratic.

William HI. Weeks was married, in New York City, in November, 1864, to Ella Quin- by, daughter of Azariah and Mary Montgom- ery. They had one child, who died in infancy. They attend the Baptist church.

Sanford IT. Weeks, uncle of William Henry Weeks, and the youngest of a family of ten children, still resides in the house in which he was born in 1819. This property has been in the possession of the family for one hun- dred and one years, and is in West Chester county, New York, within three miles of his great-grandfather's birth-place.

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 68

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