Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 72

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

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In 1823 he married Hester, daughter of Caleb and Betsy Rodney. Their children

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were: Elizabeth; Margaret F .; Joseph R .; David; Eliza L .; Mary D .; Rebecca B .; and Henry R.

RICHARD ROLLAND KENNEY, was born in Little Creek hundred, near Laurel, Sussex county, September 9, 1856, attended schools of Sussex county, and Laurel Acade- my, and graduated from Hobart College, Geneva, N. Y., June 1, 1877. He is the son of Samuel and Hettie Kenney, descendants of the earliest settlers of Sussex county. Inmedi- ately after his graduation he went to Texas, but shortly after returned and taught school in Accomac county, Va., until January, 1878, when he came to Dover and entered upon a course of legal study with Chancellor Sauls- bury. In January, 1879, he was elected State librarian to succeed George O. Shakespeare, and was admitted to the bar October 24, 1881. In 1881, the Legislature re-elected him libra- rian, to serve until April, 1883. He compil- ed the first catalogue ever prepared of the nine- teen thousand volumes in the library.

He was appointed adjutant-general of the Delaware National Guard, January 29, 1887, by Governor Biggs, and by his energy has suc- ceeded in increasing the number of campan- ies from six to ten. To his efforts is due the first annual encampment that was held at Re- hoboth in August, 1887. His ability as a law- ver has enabled him to acquire a large prac- tice.

REV. LEVI SCOTT, A. M., D. D., late senior Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States of America, was born near Odessa, New Castle county, Dela- ware, October 11, 1802, and on the farm where he resided at the time of his death, JJuly 13, 1882.

This was Bishop Scott's home after 1862; he left it in 1826 to begin the life of a Metho- dist itinerant preacher. He was the youngest of three children of Rev. Thomas and Ann (March) Scott, who were from early life mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Thomas Scott, after serving as a local preacher, joined the itinerant ranks and trav- eled Queen Anne's Cireuit, Ma., in 1803, and

departed this life June 11, of the same year, in the thirty-first year of his age. Rev. Thomas Scott was remarkable for his zeal and devotion to Christ's cause, and was a most use- ful minister of the M. E. Church. Ilis ashes repose, as it is believed, under the present church, Centreville, Md. He was united in marriage to Mrs. Anne (March) Lattomus, widow of John Lattomms, March 22, 1796. Their children were: Thomas, who died in 1574, in his seventy-fourth year; Sarah, who died in early childhood; and Levi, afterwards Bishop Scott. The Scotts were of Irish line- age, the grandfather and grandmother of the Bishop were emigrants from that country. Their names were Thomas and Lydia. His maternal grandparents, named March, were emigrants from England, who settled in Kent county, Md.

The mother of Bishop Scott was a woman of uconnnon endowments. When widowed a second time, she undertook the management of the farm, freed it from a debt, bought more land, and reared her children carefully and respectably. She was a woman of great energy of character, of large business capa- bilities, and a faithful Christian. She died August 20, 1848, and is interred in the burial ground of the Union M. E. church, a short distance from her home of over half a cen- tury. Levi grew up on the farm and had, when a boy, very limited opportunities for obtaining an education, attending school but a short time in winter, and working on the farm in other seasons of the year.

At the age of sixteen years he began, much against his inclination, to learn the business of tinning with a cousin, but after four months, was induced by a relative to go to Georgetown, D. C., and learn house carpentry. This oreu- pation proving too great a tax on his strength, by the advice of his physician he abandoned it and returned home. Being fond of me- chanical pursuits, soon after his return he on- gaged in cabinet-making with John Janvier, in Odessa, with whom he continued until of age.

The event upon which Bishop Scott's life turned occurred when he was twenty years old; this was his conversion, which took place at a meeting under the supervision of Chris- tian women, held October 16, 1821, in the

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house of a colored man named Isaac Carter, at Fieldsboro. This event loosened his attach- ment to mechanical employment, as well as to worldly pursuits. He no longer evinced his former enthusiasm for his trade and for merely worldly gain, and although he fol- lowed his business until 1824, his ardor had taken a new direction. Soon after his conver- sion, he felt impelled to husband his time and resources for the purpose of mental improve- ment. In 1825, he engaged in teaching near Middletown. At this period he was the sub- jeet of peculiar trial resulting from a convic- tion which had followed him from the first year of his conversion; that of the duty of de- voting himself to the work of the holy minis- try. Ilis struggles arose from his sense of the high mental and spiritual attainments re- quired of one engaged in the work of the Christian ministry. His modesty and humil- ity, characteristics which accompanied the Bishop through life, caused him to shrink from obtruding himself upon the church. The church, however, recognized his abilities, and the Quarterly Conference of Smyrna Cir- cuit recommended him in the spring of 1826, to the Philadelphia Annual Conference "as a suitable person" to be received into the itiner- ant ministry. He was so received, and ap- pointed with Rev. Charles Reed, to Talbot Circuit, Maryland. In 1827, he was sent with Rev. James Bateman to Dover Circuit; was admitted into full connection in 1828, or- dained deacon by Bishop George and appoint- ed with three others to the St. George's Charge, Philadelphia. This charge then con- sisted of four white and two colored churches. Here he had better opportunities for study. He diligently pursued, under competent in- struetors, his Latin and Greek in connection with theology and other scientific and classical studies, acquiring those habits of thought and reflection which he perseveringly continued until he was more than fifty years of age. But all this was too much for a constitution which had never been robust; and although he was greatly enfeebled, St. George's Charge, the next year, asked for his return, kindly saying that inasmuch "as Brother Scott's health has become impaired in serving us, we want him returned that we may nurse him back to health." He was so returned in 1829, and was given a vacation from April until August.

In 1830 and 1831 he was in charge of West Chester and Marshalton. In the year 1830, Rev. Levi Scott married Sarah A., daughter of Ralph HI. and Grace (Hancock) Smith. During this period, great success attended his ministry; among others brought into the church during these two years, who have be- come well known to Methodism, was Rev. John S. Inskip. His successive labors and study, however, told on his health, and he was compelled to ask for a supernumerary rela- tion. This, however, lasted but nine months, for the health of Rev. James Nicholls, of Smyrna Circuit, having failed, Mr. Scott was induced by Rev. Lawrence MeCombs, P. E., to take his place, having for a senior colleague Rev. R. M. Greenbank. At the Conference of 1833, he made a request for light work for one year, the only request he ever made of the appointing power. He was placed on Kent Circuit, Md., a charge with eleven ap- pointments, and had for junior colleague, Rev. Benjamin Benson. Here he remained but one year, being made Presiding Elder of the Delaware District in 1834, and serving for two years. This was most unexpected, as only the older preachers were then given such a charge, and Mr. Scott was at this time re- garded as still a young man. In 1836, Bishop Hedding removed him from the district, and appointed him to Franklin street, Newark, N. J.

In this year the Conference, then embrac- ing Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Dela- ware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia, was divided, and the New Jersey Conference was created; Mr. Scott then asked to be returned to the Philadelphia Confer- ence. This was granted, and he was appoint- ed pastor of the old Ebenezer Church, Phila- delphia, and re-appointed the second year. During his pastorate, the church building was thoroughly modernized. In 1839 he was ap- pointed to St. Paul's charge, Philadelphia, and in the spring of 1840, at the earnest solicita- tion of Rev. Dr. Durbin, then President of Dickinson College, he was appointed Princi- pal of Dickinson College Grammar School. Here he served with great acceptance for three years; during the last one he was as- sisted by Rev. George R. Crooks, D. D., and during the preceding two years by Thomas, afterward, Bishop, Bowman. In 1840 the de-

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gree of A. M. was conferred by the Wesleyan University, and in 1846 the College of his native state (Delaware), conferred on him the deserved honor of Doctor of Divinity. In 1843, Rev. Levi Scott became pastor of the Union Church, Philadelphia, serving for two years. At the close of his term, in 1845, he was appointed Presiding Elder of the South Philadelphia District, and after three years, at the General Conference of 1848, was elect- ed by that body assistant Book Agent of the Methodist Book Concern, New York.

Bishop Scott was first sent as Delegate from the Philadelphia Annual Conference to the General Conference of 1836, and was at every General Conference in the capacity of either delegate or bishop to the time of his decease. This is a unique historical fact, and illustrates how greatly he was beloved and honored by his brethren in the ministry. In 1852 the General Conference met in Boston, and Dr. Scott was elected to the most revered position of the church -- that of the Methodist Episco- pacy. Soon after, Bishop Scott made the first official Episcopal visitation to the Church in Liberia, Africa, appearing in its conference as the first of the Board of Bishops of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. From that period be presided in the Annual Conferences, North and South, as well as on the Pacific Coast, and until 1878 performed his full share of the la- borious duties of the office he so long and so honorably adorned, by a wisdom and purity which the Church has never questioned.

On November 25, 1879, Mrs. Scott died, after three weeks' illness. She had been for nearly half a century the sharer of his labors and successes. Bishop Scott and his wife had children: Rev. Alfred T. Scott, Professor in the Wesleyan Female College, Wilmington; Emma Irving, who became the wife of Rev. Dr. Mitchell, of the Georgia Conference, and who died August 21, 1871, and Cornelia Janes, wife of George Lybrand Townsend.

On the 20th of May, 1880, Bishop Seott had a stroke of paralysis, which disabled one of his arms, but his general health continued good, and although unable any longer to fill his place as leader, he stood to the last, looking on and cheering, by his words and example, those who go forth to the conflict for the Mas- ter and for victory. He was interred in the graveyard of the Union Methodist Episcopal

church, near his home, and sleeps beside the mother whom he honored, and the wife of his affection.

Bishop Scott's knowledge of theology was wide and profound, and his knowledge of church history extensive; in the department of Greek, all that related to sacred literature was critically and profoundly appreciated; but above all his rare and amiable characteris- ties and acquirements, was his rare spiritual insight and experimental knowledge of the word of God. Ile was indeed a master in Israel, and his exegesis of texts teaching a re- ligion of experience, however profound or difficult to others, seemed to him familiar and easy by reason of his own deep Christian ex- perience. It was this that gave him his great- est power in the pulpit, and for this he will be longest remembered by the Methodist Episco- pal church.

JOHN PONDER SAULSBURY was born at Georgetown, Sussex county, August 27, 1853, and is the son of Chancellor Williard Saulsbury.

His early education was secured at George- town Academy and Professor William Rey- nolds' school, at Wilmington. He prepared for college at Phillips Exeter (New Hamp- shire) Academy, and entered the University of Harvard in 1873, but the next year was compelled to abandon a college course on ac- count of ill health. In 1874, upon his return from college, he began to read law with his father, and the same year moved to Dover, Del. He was admitted to the bar at George- town at the spring term, 1877, opened an office in Dover, was appointed attorney for the Levy Court in 1879, and continued to act in that capacity until 1884. In January, 1886, he was appointed Secretary of State by Governor B. T. Biggs for the term ending January, 1891.

SAXE GOTHIA LAWS was born in Kent county in the year 1800. He received a lib- oral education, studied law with Robert Frame, Esq., and was admitted to the bar at Dover, in 1833. In polities he was originally a Whig, but became a Democrat in 1836, and in January, 1839, was made clerk of the Sen-

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ate by the Reform party. He had very little taste for the profession of the law, and devot- ed most of his time to politie-, mathematics and other scientific studies. There was prob- ably no man in the state more learned in the exact sciences. He never married and in the latter years of his life became almost a recluse. He died in the summer of 1876, on his farm in Jones' Neck, after a short but very severe illness.

JOIIN CLEMENT CLIFTON, of Mil- ford hundred, Kent county, Del., son of Daniel and Mary Ann (Cathel) Clifton, was horn in Milford hundred, Kent county, Del., April 21, 1851.

('lement Clifton, farmer, grandfather of John Clement Clifton, lived and died on his farm in Kent county, Del. ITis son, Daniel Clifton, was born in what is known as the "Forest," Kent county, October 22, 1811. He grew up on his father's farm, and was edu- cated in the subscription and public schools of Kent county. In 1845 Mr. Clifton pur- chased the homestead, and devoted the remain- der of his life to its cultivation and improve- ment. Ile was a Republican, interested in all the affairs of the hundred. Daniel Clifton was married to Mary Ann, daughter of John and Priscilla (Ward) Cathel, who was born in 1809. Their children are: I. Sarah (Mrs. Nathaniel Cole), of Milford hundred; II. Angeline (Mrs. James H. Kirby), of Milford hundred; III. John Clement. Mr. Clifton was an intelligent reader and a diligent stu- dent of the Bible; he made the Golden Rule the law of his life, and was esteemed and be- loved in the community. He died at the homestead in 1884.

ITis only son, John Clement Clifton, grew up on the homestead, and until his nineteenth vear attended the Pine Grove school. John Clement was an intelligent lad, and early chose teaching as his profession. The schools were poorly equipped and the pupils were obliged to work out problems without assist- ance, the elder often teaching the younger; this state of affairs served at least to develope habits of self-reliance. As his parents were unable to assist him, Mr. Clifton was obliged to earn every advantage which he enjoyed. After spending one term at a private school in

Milford, Del., he began teaching, in 1871, in the Pine Grove school-house: For twenty- five years he was a successful teacher in Kent county, and during that time had charge of various schools. He taught the Pine Grove school for eight years; the Oak Grove school for several years; Milwood school; the Ben- nett's Gate school; a second Oak Grove school; and the school in the Cedarfield dis- triet. While teaching, he spent his vacations in assisting his father on the home farm. At his father's death, Mr. Clifton began farming on the homestead, which he purchased in 1886. He is very successful as a market gar- dener, and also raises large crops of grain. Ilis home is built on the site of the house in which he was born. He is a stanch Republi- ean, and is highly esteemed in his native county.

On May 31, 1876, John Clement Clifton was married to Eliza Jane, daughter of Wil- liam Henry and Sarah Ann (Downs) Rich- ards, who was born in Milford hundred, Kent county, Del., September 22, 1854. Their children are: I. II. D .; II. William Howard; III. Elizabeth; IV. John W .; V. James Ira; VI. Josephine; VII. Kenneth Richards. Mr. ('lifton and his wife are members of the M. E. church in Milford Neck, Kent county, Del.

HENRY F. ASKEW, M. D., of Wilming- ton, born 1805, died 1876, was one of the oldest citizens of Wilmington, and a descend- ant of one of the oldest families of the state. One of his ancestors was Sergeant John Askew, who, after the surrender of New Am- sterdam, in 1664, accompanied Sir Robert Carr's expedition against Fort Casimir. IIe was present at the storming of the fort, and for his services received a grant of a tract of land near where it was destined that the city of Wilmington should arise and grow, and here his descendants lived and still live. IFenry F. Askew was born June 24, 1805, in a house which was afterwards a part of St. Mary's College. He read medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. William Gibbons, and subsequently attended the Medical Depart- ment of the University of Pennsylvania, from which he graduated at the age of twenty-one, in 1826. He had a strong inclination to prac-

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tice his profession in the West, and removed to Ohio for that purpose, but soon came back as far as Centreville, Del .; and it was not long before he returned to his native place, which proved to be a wise step, for here he attained a great success, not only profession- ally, but socially. His practice soon became extensive. He was as ready to answer a call from the poor as the rich, and, in addition to his purely professional ability, he had a charm and cheeriness of manner and a subtle feeling and tact which go further in the sick-room than medicine. At the time of his death, his practice was not only the largest in the city, but in the state. Dr. Askew was an active and influential member of the Wilmington and the State Medical Societies, and the Amer- ican Medical Association. He was elected president of the last-named society, filled the same position in the state organization, and also for several years that of treasurer. As these honors indicate, he was held in high re- gard not only in the place of his residence, but by the members of his profession everywhere, and that high estimation was apparently won and held by the sterling qualities of the man ahnost as fully as by the acknowledged abili- ties of the physician.

Dr. Askew was of strong constitution, active habit of mind and body, and an exceedingly sympathetic and social nature. Large as was his professional practice and as exacting as were its duties, it could not exhaust his energy nor satisfy his desires, and thus the former found activity and the latter satisfaction in many employments entirely outside of medi- cal study and practice. Close as was his ap- plication to his profession, he took a deep in- terest in politics, and in that close-knitting of the interests of mankind to be found in some of the secret and benevolent orders; nor was he for all of this less admirable in domestic re- lations, for he was a model husband and father. Politically, he was a Democrat, and when in his prime took a leading part in the management of the party, and had marked in- fluence. His devotion to his profession and its exacting demands made it well-nigh impos- sible for him to accept any office which would remove him from home or engross his time. He was a member of the council from 1845 to 1847; was postmaster of Wilmington

during the last year of President Pierce's and the whole of President Buchanan's adminis- tration; was several times port physician and physician to the almshouse; was prominently talked of for Governor and United States Senator, and in 1876 was appointed State Centennial Exposition commissioner. Had he chosen to enter upon a political career, almost any place at the disposition of the state might have been his. He was an active member of the I. O. O. F., holding in succession the prin- cipal offices of the order, and at the time of his death was the oldest Past Grand Master in the state. A member of the Delaware His- torical Society from its inception, he became its president and held that office for several years, being made upon his retirement presi- dent emeritus. He was a charter member of the Savings Fund Society, founded over fifty years ago; was prominently connected with the founding of the Wilmington and Brandy- wine cemetery, and took a leading part in the movement which resulted in the erection of a monument to Dr. James Tilton. . He be- came a member of the Methodist Episcopal church during the year before he died.

Dr. Askew died March 5, 1876, after a long illness which his indomitable spirit concealed from the general public, and from every one except those nearest to him.

CHARLES II. B. DAY, born in West Dover hundred, near the state line, May 25, 1828, is the son of Matthias Day. Mr. Day was educated in the common schools of the district, and until he was thirty years of age was engaged in farming. He then entered upon the study of law with Hon. N. B. Smithers, and was admitted to the bar October 29, 1861, and entered into partnership with the Hon. George P. Fisher at Dover. The firm con- tined until August, 1862, when he was ap- pointed collector of internal revenue by Presi- dent Lincoln, which office he held until May 1, 1869. He was a Republican, but in 1870, be- came a Democrat and was elected clerk of the House of Representatives of the session of 1877. Ile was one of the first to aid in the establishment of the Conference Academy, and has been president of its board of trustees

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since its organization. With the exception of one term he has been president of the town council its re-incorporation.

MAJOR S. RODMOND SMITII, born in Wilmington, April 20, 1841, was a son of Al- bert W. Smith, who was of Quaker descent. Hle began the study of law in 1860 with E. G. Bradford, but his studies were abandoned in July; 1862, when he began to recruit men for the Fourth Delaware Infantry. He was commissioned first lieutenant, was promoted to the captainey, and after the battle at Row- anty Creek, Virginia, in which, as senior captain, he had command of the regiment, was breveted major. He shared in some of the most important battles of the war, and in the final struggle at Appomattox had com- mand of the Third, Fourth and Eighth Dela- ware Regiments, and proved a skillful officer. After the close of the war he returned to Wilmington, resumed the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1867. After re- siding in Wilmington for a year he removed to Carroll county, Md., where he lived until 1869, when he again returned to Wilming- ton to fill the position of secretary and treas- urer of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Com- pany, of Delaware. He severed his connee- tion with that institution in 1873, to enter upon his duties of United States commissioner and clerk of the United States District and Circuit Court for Delaware, which offices he still holds.

GENERAL PHILEMON DICKINSON, a daring officer of the Revolutionary army, was born near Dover, April 5, 1739.

General Dickinson was educated under Dr. Allison, in Philadelphia, and became a small farmer near Trenton, N. J. In 1775 he en- tered the army and was placed in command of the New Jersey militia. On January 21, 1777, with a force of only four hundred men, he attacked and defeated a large foraging party of the enemy. He commanded the militia at the battle of Monmouth. General Dickinson represented Delaware in 1782-83 in the Continental Congress, and in 1784 was a member of the commission to select a site

for the national capital. From 1790 to 1793 he was a United States Senator. Ile died near Trenton, February 4, 1809.

JOIIN HI. HUGHES, P. O. Sandtown, Kent county, Del., son of Alexander N. and Lydia ( Harrington) Hughes, was born near Hollandville, Kent county, Del., March 12, 18-

John H. Hughes grew up on his father's farm, situated in Kent county, Del., between Whitelysburg and Felton, and received his education in the public schools of that district. Ile remained at home until after his marriage, when he began farming for himself. For seven years he cultivated rented land, and after one year managed a general store in Hollandville. At the end of the year he sold his store and purchased his present home at Sandtown, where he has opened a store and established a postoffice. Mr. Hughes is a Democrat.

On February 7, 1884, John H. Hughes was married to Mary E., daughter of John S. and Sarah (Wyatt) Brown. Their children are: I. Elmer; II. John B .; III. Sarah C .; IV. Alexander W .; V. Nellie.

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 72

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