Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 78

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

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Dr. Bates took an active part in politics; he was a Federalist so long as that party existed, and afterwards a Democrat. He was a mem- ber of the sate legislature in 1826, and a very active participant in the Constitutional Con- vention of 1853. He strongly advocated the right of the convention to act, and his speeches on that subject presented with great force the inherent right of the people, in an orderly way, to revise and amend their own consti- tution. During the time when his party was in a minority, he was an acknowledged leader in its counsels and was three times -- 1832, 1834 and 1836-the candidate of his party for Congress. It has always been understood that his sagacious leadership contributed very largely to the final triumph of the Democratic party in 1852. In 1857 Dr. Bates waselected to the United States Senate to fill the unexpired term of the Hon. John M. Clayton, who had died in the latter part of the previous year. On his way to Washington to take his seat in the senate, Dr. Bates had a fall upon the ice in Wilmington, which caused a fracture of the thigh and compelled him to use crutches the remainder of his life. Both his tastes and his mental characteristics were such that had he been able to remain in the senate he would undoubtedly have become an influential mem- ber of that body; but his spirit was much broken by his physical infirmities, which in- cluded, not only the lameness referred to, but also partial blindness, resulting from

cataract, from which, during the latter part of his life, he was partially relieved by an operation on one of his eyes. Ile retired to private life in 1859, and from that time resided quietly in Dover until his death, which occured January 1, 1869.

Dr. Bates' history indicates that he was a man of unusual force of character. Foiled in his original scheme of life, and obliged to abandon his chosen profession, he resolutely turned into a new course and presed forward with energy in the totally different pursuit which opened for him. His situation at the time of his business failure was sufficiently grave to disturb the equanimity and discour- age the energy of even a more than ordinar- ily capable man. IIe was about thrity-five years of age, and had a family; debts were hanging over him, and he had failed already in two distinct lines of life. Even a stout- hearted man might have faltered under such depressing circumstances; not so with Dr. Bates. Turning his back upon his failures, he took up the burden of life anew and reso- lutely entered, in his thirty-eighth year, upon what proved to be a singularly successful career. He had inherited from his New Eng. land ancestry a remarkably self-reliant char- acter and a well-balanced mind, which was not discouraged by continual conflict with ad- verse circumstances. Neither in his profes- sional success, nor in his reputation as a lawyer, among his contemporaries has he been surpassed by any of the able men who have adorned the legal profession in Delaware. No man could have attained to his position in the profession without a thorough aptitude for it.

Mr. Bates' political convictions were not hastily formed, but when formed, they were not likely to be abandoned, resting as they did upon his idea of true basis of free govern- ment. He adhered devotedly to the fortunes of the Democratic party at a time when mere expediency would have led men into the ranks of the Whigs. The fact that his party was in the minority had no terrors for him; and even when many leading men in Delaware left his side in the Democratic ranks upon the issues raised during Jackson's administration, Dr. Bates continued his support of him and fought, campaign after campaign, until what had

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seemed a hopeless minority became a vic- torious majority.

In his personal habits Dr. Bates was very economical and his prudence in his own ex- penditures enabled him, from the compara- tively small professional income of a lawyer in a country county at that day, not only, as already stated, to pay all his debts, but also to exercise an unusually judicious charity in the most systematic manner. To the end of his life he resolutely set apart for charitable and religious purposes a tenth part of his in- come; and to sneh an extent did he carry this principle that, by his will, he devoted the same proportion of his estate to the like uses. Not long before his death he made a codicil to his will increasing his bequests for eleemosynary purposes, stating at the time that he did so, that he was afraid that his estate might prove to be larger than he had anticipated, and that his hequests for such purpose must be in- creased, in order to amount to the proper pro- portion. Starting late in life, under some dis- advantages, he nevertheless accumulated what was, for his day, a moderate fortune. This he used very largely for the benefit of the neigh- borhood in which he lived. He in many in- stances releived men from executions in the hands of the sheriff by loaning them money, which gave them encouragement and hope; such loans were almost always repaid. One of his most striking characteristics was his keen sense of humor. This faculty, coupled with his other mental characteristics, made him an unusually able debater and distinguished him among his fellows in every stage of his career.

Ilis death evoked a general expression of regret from the people of the state. The Gen- eral Assembly convened on the day appointed for his funeral, and immediately upon their organization, both Houses adjourned out of respect to his memory.

THE HION. THOMAS JOHNSON, of Sussex county, Del., son of Elisha and Emily (Marsh) Johnson, was born in Wilmington, Del., April 16, 1845.

Mr. Johnson's grandfather, Thomas John- son, baker and merchant, was a native of North Carolina. In early manhood he re- moved to Wilmington, Del., and married

Mary Bailey, a native of that city. Of their children, all except Elisha, died in infancy. Thomas Johnson and his wife died in Wil- mington. Their only son Elisha Johnson, tin- smith and merchant, was born at Wilming- ton, and was married to Emily Marsh, also a native of Wilmington. Their children are: I. Thomas; II. - (Mrs. George Henry), of Wilmington, Del .; III. William, died at Wilmington; IV. Alfred, of Wilmington; V. George, also of Wilmington, married Sarah . Elisha Johnson and his wife died at their home in Wilmington, Del.

Thomas Johnson attended the public schools of Wilmington, and during the three years spent with his maternal grandfather,

Marsh, was a pupil in the school at Rehoboth. Returning to Wilmington, he became a ma- chinist, serving a three years apprenticeship with the firm of E. & A. Betts, and afterwards working as a journeyman in the same estab- lishment. After his mariage, Mr. Johnson purchased his present home in Indian River hundred, Sussex county, and has devoted him- self exclusively to its cultivation and improve- ment. He is a Democrat, and in 1896 was elected to represent his district in the state legislature.

The Hon. Thomas Johnson was married to HTester, daughter of John M. and Jane C. (Hopkins) Perry. Their children are: I. M. Clarence; II; Emma; III. Eugene; IV. IIe- lena.

DR. JOHN BRINKLE was born in Kent county, Delaware, September 1, 1764, son of John and Elizabeth (Marian) Brinkle.

One of Dr. Brinkle's ancestors, Edward Brinkle, in the reign of Edward VI. advocated the transfer of the confiscated monistic es- tates to the Protestant church. A later one was a member of Penn's Council, and on one occasion, considering that the Quaker pro- prietor was assuming too much power, he with- drew from the Council. Dr. Brinkle's father, John Brinkle, of St. Jones' Neck, was a farmer and captain in the Continental army; his mother Elizabeth, was a daughter of John Marion, of Kent county.

John Brinkle, 2, was educated at Newark, and at the University of Pennsylvania. His medical studies, begun in 1787, were com-

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pleted under Dr. Shippen, and he was elected a member of the Delaware State Medical So- ciety in 1811, resigning in 1828, when his name was placed on the honorary roll. He settled in Kent county, where he practiced his profession and managed his farms; was also engaged in shipping wheat, in which business he was interested with John Welch, father of the late William Welch, of Philadelphia. In 1830, Dr. Brinkle retired from practice and re- moved to Wilmington. He was identified with the Episcopal church from about 1-16, and was active in building St. Andrew's church, Wilmington, and Grace church, Philadelphia, he and his wife being among the original com- unmicants of the former. ITe died, January 9, 1535, of heart trouble. When the fatal at- tackcameon he got up and looked at the clock, and then sat with his finger on his pulse for a few moments, until death interven. l. His remains were deposited in a vault at Grace church, Philadelphia.

Dr. Brinkle was married to Elizabeth Gor- don, daughter of Joshua Gordon, and niece of Judge Thomas Rodney and Caesar Rodney. a signer of the Declaration of Independence. She spent much of her youth with the last named until married, on January 6, 1790. Dr. Brinkle had eight children: Mary, who died in infancy; Joshua, who studied law with C'aesar A. Rodney and practiced in Dover; John Rodney, a manufacturer and merchant; Sammel Crawford, a minister; Wm. Draper, who studied medicine; Charles Marion, died in infancy; Henry Marion, died aged twenty- two; Thomas Rodney, who studied medicine.

Elizabeth (Gordon) Brinkle was a lineal de- seendant of Sir Henry Seymour, the grand- father of Edward VI. Her grandmother Gordon was the daughter of the Rev. Thomas Crawford, a native of Scotland, but a mission- ary of the Church of England to this colony. Hle was the first elergyman sent our by "the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts" after its organization in 1701, and the first rector of Christ church, Dover. Ilis wife was the only daughter of Arthur Meston, of Kent county. He was buried in the chancel of his church.

ROBERT MONTGOMERY BIRD, M. D., was born in New Castle, February 5, 1805, and died in Philadelphia, January 23, 1554.

He was of an old Delaware family ; his carli- est progenitors in America settled in New Cas. the about the year 1700. He was educated at Mount Airy College, Germantown, and af- terward graduated from the Medical Depart- ment of the University of Pennsylvania. He engaged in the practice of his profession for one year in Philadelphia, and then gave it up fer literary pur-nits. His first published pro- ductions appeared in tres, in the Philadel- phia Monthly Magazine; they were tales, en- titled "The Ice Islands," "The Spirit of the Reeds," and "Phantom Players," and the poem entitled "Saul's Last Days." Dr. Bird wrote several comedies, but excelled in tragedy. Edwin Forrest was the means of in- troducting Dr. Bird's plays to the public, and they, especially the "Gladiator," were writ- ton for him, and with reference to his peculiar powers. The "Gladiator" laid the founda- tion of Forrest's fame and fortune, but was of comparatively small pecuniary advantage to the author. Other plays written by Dr. Bird were "Oralowsa." "The Broker of Bo- gota," and "Pelopidas," a play never pro- duced. Dr. Bird was that unfortunate being, a universal genius. Had his talents been less varied, doubtless they would have made a deeper mark. As it was, he attained succes> in the drama and in fiction, and later in jour- nalism. In early years he wrote poetry; but verse-making was his amusement rather than serious pursuit. The treatment he received at the outset of his career did him irreparable harm. Always a thinker and a brain-worker, he was not fitted for the battle of life. No business education checked the fastidiousness of an intensely poetical temperament, or en- alled him to seek and hold his own. Guileless, generousness, the soul of honor, truth and un- selfishness, he was more than once the victim of false or ill-judging friends. His novel- ap- peared in the following order: "Calvar," 1834; "The Infidel," and "Hawks of Hawk Hollow," 1835: "Sheppard Les," 1836; "Nick of the Woods," 1587; "Peter Pilgrim," 1995: and " Robin Day," 1839. Most of them ware reprinted at the time in London.

In July, 1837, Dr. Bird married Mary Eliza, daughter of Philip F. Mayer, D. D., gator (1805-57) of St. John's Lutheran church, Philadelphia. They had but one child, Frederic Maver, who became chaplain and professor at the Lehigh University. In

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1$39, ill health caused Dr. Bird to retire to a farm on the Elk river, in Cecil county, ML., and he shortly after removed to his native town, New Castle. There for some years he was occupied with scientific, literary, and po- litical writings; being active in Whig politics, and very intimate with Hon. John M. Clay- tom. In 1541-8 he was professor of Materia Medica in the short-lived Philadelphia Medi- cal College, in which he was associated with the MeClellans, Dr. Morton and other cmi- ment men. In 1547, Mr. Clayton desired to consolidate the North American and the United States Gazelle and make a great Whig paper. Hle arranged with Dr. Bird to pur- chase a one-third interest, and he removed to Philadelphia. For the next six and a-half years his life was very retired and laborions, and his editorials gave the paper rank and weight. In January, 1854, worn out, not so much by work as by the care of business, a brain fever carried him off within ten days. Dr. Bird never wrote an inmire line, con- sciously uttered an untrue word, or did a mean or selfish act. Ilis gravestone in Lanrel Ilill bears simply his name, date of birth and death, and the text, "He giveth His beloved sleep."

BREVET MAJOR GEN. ALFRED T. A. TORBERT, late of the U. S. army, was born at Georgetown, July 1, 1833. Hisfather was Jonathan R. Torbert, a farmer of Sussex commity, a local minister of the M. E. church, and cashierof the bank at Georgetown. Hedied in 1853. Ilis mother was Catherine, daugh- ter of Arthur Milby, Esq., of Sussex county, and is still living. Alfred Torbert attended the academy at Georgetown, and at seventeen entered West Point Military Academy, from which he graduated July 1, 1855, as brevet second lientenant of infantry; and he was im- mediately ordered to the frontier for duty, conducting recruits to Fort MeIntosh, Texas, and seonting against the Lipan Indians, and was promoted to the rank of second lieu- tenant Fifth Infantry, July 19, 1855. In 1:56-7 he served in the Florida hostilities against the Seminole Indians, and in 1857, in Utah, under Gen. A. S. Johnson. Return- ing to his home in 1861, on his first leave of absence, he spent ten days there and at the

breaking out of the war was ordered to New Jersey, for the purpose of mustering the troops of that state into the U. S. service. He had, in the meantime, been promoted to first lieutenant. By his efficient service and sol- dierly bearing he won the regards of all with whom he was associated, and especially of Governor Olden, through whose influence he was placed in command of the First New Jer- sey Volunteers by the War Department, on the promotion of Colonel Montgomery, in Sep- temler, 1861. Hle immediately reported at Alexandriaand tookcommandof his regiment. On the 25th of the same month his rank in the regular army was advanced to that of captain. Colonel Torbert's regiment was at- tached to the First New Jersey brigade, which, at that time, was connuanded by the gallant General Kearney, who gave the colonel a hearty reception. While in command of this regiment he served through the Virginia Peninsula campaign, engaged in the siege of Yorktown in 1862, and in the campaign of Northern Virginia, being present at the bat- tle of Manassas, August 29 and 30.

By the death of General Taylor Colonel Torbert became commander of the brigade, which having lost heavily in the battle of Man- assas, was not brought into action until the battle of South Mountain, September 14, 1862. Here occurred one of the most bril- liant affairs of the campaign, which doubtless placed the star on the shoulders of Torbert. The enemy were strongly posted, command- ing a pass, which it was necessary to carry at any hazzard. Repeated attempts made to dis- lodge the enemy, posted behind stone walls at the foot of the slope, had been repulsed, and the ammunition of those in front was ex- hausted. At this critical moment the gen- oral in command (Newton) coming to Tor- bert asked whether he thought his men would storm the pass. Confident of the courage of his men, and a little piqued by the question, he quickly replied, "My men will storm h-1, sir, if I give the command!"-"Go ahead, sir!"' said the general; and the pass was wohl. He was promoted to brigadier general, volun- teers. On November 29, 1862, directly after the battle of Antietam, where the First New Jersey Brigade distinguished itself under his command, Colonel Torbert was made briga- dier general of volunteers. General Forkert

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served in the prinicipal battles in which the Army of the Potomac was engaged, until 1864, when he was assigned to duty as chief of cav- alry under General Sheridan, having three di- visions under his command. The services of his connuand here are well-known in history. Hle was at Winchester, August 17; Kearneys- ville, Angust 25; Opequan, September 19; Milford, September 22; Luray, September 24; Waynesboro, September 28; Mount Craw- ford, October 2; Tom's Run, October 9; Ce- dar Creek, October 19; Middleton, November 12, Liberty Mills, December 22, and Gordons- ville, December 23, 1864. For his distinguish- ed services during the Rebellion he was made brevet major-general United States Volun- teer, September 9, 1864; and for gallant and meritorions servicesat the battle of Winchester, Virginia, he was made brevet colonel in the regular army, September 19, 1864. He was placed in command of the Army of the Shenandoah, with his headquarters at Win- chester, and continued in that position from April 22 to July 12, 1865.

The war of the Rebellion being ended, by a firm yet kind administration of affiars in the valley, Gen. Torbert, endeared himself to the people, and did much to conciliate those who had recently been in arms against the government. He was further promoted to the rank of brevet brigadier general United States army, March 13, 1865, for gallant and meri- torions services at the battle of Cedar ('reek, Virginia, and, from the same date, brevet major-general United States army, for gallant and meritorious services in the field during the Rebellion. He was in command of the District of Winchester from July 12, to Sep- tember 1, 1865; of the District of South- eastern Virginia from September 1, to Decem- ber 31, 1865; was mustered out of the vol- unteer service, January 15, 1866, and re- signed from the regular army, October 31, 1866. On the 17th day of January, 1866, he was married at Milford, to Mary E., only child of the late Daniel Curry, one of the leading men of the state. At this wedding were as- sembled many of the army officers the late companions-in-arms of General Torbert. General Torbert's vigilance and promptitude, his magnetic force as a leader, and strategic ability as a general officer are well known. To appreciate his merits as a soldier it would

be necessary to see him handling his divi-ion in the field, directing one of his impetuous charges against the formidable ranks of a brave enemy.

In 1868 he was nominted for Congress on the Republican ticket, that party being in the minority, he was defeated at the polls. On April 1, 1869, he was appointed minister resi- dent of the Republic of Salvador, and on July 10, 1571, consul-general of Havana. He was appointed consul-general at Paris, November 7, 1873, and filled this position with honor to his country. General Torbert was remarkably popular in the diplomatic service and won the highest consideration in Paris, Mexico and Salvador, making many friends among the eminent men of these countries. It was hard for them to accept that the calm, finished gen- tleman as the hero of so many battles, whose deeds as a leader of infantry and cavalry had made him known to the world. Upon his return from Paris, in 1878, he was engaged in looking after his landed estate, and took great interest in his thoroughbred stock. IIe was an adept in the management of horses, and the kindness of his nature was evinced alike by his admiration for them and by the care and gentleness with which he treated them. But who can measure the calamity of his sad end after the wreck of the Vera Cruz, August 29, all that could die of the gallant Torbert was cast upon the coast of Florida. Ilis remains arrived in Milford, and on Sep- tember 30, 1550, were followed to the grave by a crowd of sorrowing friends from many of the states of the Union.

LEONARD KITTINGER, M. D., son of Henry C. Kittinger, Esq., and his wife An Eliza (Dixey) Kittinger, was born in Phila- delphia, April 27, 1834.

Dr. John Kittinger, his paternal ancestor, came to Germantown, Pa., from Germany, prior to the Revolutionary War, and became a large landholder in that place. His son, Leon- ard Kittinger, was a merchant in Philadelphia. Ilis first wife was Sarah Cress, of German- town and their only child, Henry C. Kit- tinger, married Ann Eliza Dixey, and prac- ticed law for a number of years in his native city. He afterwards removed to Trenton, N.

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J., where he became judge of the Court of Common Pleas two terms of five years each, by appointment, and the last term, owing to a change in the Constitution, by election, --- making a period of fifteen years that he served on the bench. Originally a Democrat, he be- came a Republican at the breaking out of the war, and was a warm friend and supporter of President Lincoln. He was a man of sterling worth and commanded the respect of those who knew him. Ile removed to Washington in 1864, where he died in 1879, aged sixty- six. His children were Dr. Leonard Kittinger and three daughters.

DR. JOHN KINTZING KANE was born in Philadelphia, December 18, 1833, son of HIon. John Kintzing Kane, a native of Al- bany, New York, whose father was Elisha Kane, son of John and Sybil Kent Kane, and whose mother was Alida Van Rensselaer, daughter of General Robert Van Rensselaer.

John Kintzing Kane, the elder, was a resi- dent of Philadelphia, a lawyer and judge of the United States District Court for Pennsyl- vania; he married Jane Duval, daughter of Thomas Leiper.

Dr. John K. Kane was educated at the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania. He spent a year in Maine with AAlexander Dallas Bache, superin- tendent of the Coast Survey, and read medi- cine with Dr. John K. Mitchell and Dr. S. Weir Mitchell, graduating at the Jefferson College. After passing an examination be- fore the Naval Commission at Washington, he sailed on the polar expedition sent out in 1854 to search for Dr. Elisha Kent Kane, his brother. The expedition used the government vessel Rescue, in connection with the Arctic, and after an absence of a year, returned with the celebrated explorer. Dr. John K. Kane, on their return, accompanied his brother Elisha to Cuba, and remained with him until he died. Ile then went to Paris to pursue his medical studies, and returned to Philadelphia to practice. In 1861 he was appointed army surgeon at the Cairo, Ill., Hospital, and sub- sequently surgeon at the Goverment Hospi- tal at Chester, Pennsylvania, where he re- mained a year, attending to a private practice at Wilmington at the same time. In 1868 he was appointed surgeon of the Philadelphia,

Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad Com- pany; in 1876 was a commissioner to the Cen- tennial Exhibition; and in 1879 was elected president of the Delaware Medical Society. Dr. Kane was highly educated, a finished lin- guist, very literary and domestic in his tastes, and possessed considerable talent in music and art. Ile was greatly esteemed as a physician and citizen. lle died at Summit, New Jer- sey, March 22, 1886, after ten days' illness from erysipelas. At the time of his death he was on a visit to a sick daughter. Dr. Kane was buried in the cemetery of the Old Swedes' Church.

Dr. John K. Kane was married, October 1, 1863, to Mabel, daughter of Hon. James 1. Bayard. Their children were: Annie Frances; John Kintzing; Jean Duval Leiper; Florence Bayard; Elizabeth Bavard; James A. Bavard; John Kent; and Robert Van Rensselaer.

HON. SAMUEL TOWNSEND, of Town- send, son of Sammel and Hannah (Humph- ries) Townsend, was born in St. George's hun- dred, October 31, 1812.

Samuel Townsend, a birthright member of the Society of Friends, was a farmer and coach maker. He married Hannah, daughter of Richard Humphries, of St. George's hun- dred, and had ten children, of whom Samuel was the fifth. Samuel Townsend, Sr., died February 5, 1849, in his sixty-eighth year. Ilis wife died May 23, 1829, in herfifty-second year. Ilis father, John Townsend, was born in Sussex county, and went in early life to Germantown, where he learned the business of coach making. Returning to Delaware, he became the owner and captain of a vessel sail- ing from Liston's Landing, near Odessa. IIe married Sally Liston, who inherited the farm known as Liston's, and afterwards as the old Townsend estate. John Townsend lived to the age of ninety. Ile and his wife died about the same time, and are interred at the Friends' meeting house at Odessa.

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 78

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