Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 9

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 9

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BIOGRAPHIICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

and of kind disposition, an active and effi- cient worker in the church and Sunday school.

WILLIAM F. MCKEE, P. O. Dover, Del., son of Andrew and Lydia (Scott) Me- Kee, was born on the old homestead in New Castle county, Del., May 30, 1827.

The MeKee family were loyal subjects to the Scottish kings, and for generations never failed the Stuarts in their long struggles for the English throne. When the last of that line left Scotland, the MeKees, quitting the heather clad hills of their native land, crossed to the north of Ireland. Some time afterward, they joined a party of emigrants, hound for the colony of William Penn in the New World. Andrew McKee, the founder of the American branch of the family, re- ceived from the Proprietor a grant of land in what is now New Castle county, Del., lying between the present Concord and Philadel- phia turnpikes. The city of Wilmington now extends beyond the boundary lines of the original grant. McKee hill, on the Concord Pike, north of the toll-gate, receives its name from this family. Andrew McKee's son, also named Andrew, is believed to have been the great-grandfather of William F. MeKee. In the absence of authentic records, it is impos- sible to determine this with certainty, but it is ascertained that Mr. McKee's great- grandfather was named Andrew; that he spent his life in farming on the homestead; that among his children were two sons, An- drew and Joseph; and that he died on the old home farm.

Mr. MeKee's grandfather, Andrew McKee, supposed the third of the name, was born on the homestead in New Castle county. On this farm a large stone barn was a prominent oljeet, and figures in a Revolutionary anec- dote. During that war, the English ocenpied Wilmington, making frequent foraging ox- cursions into the surrounding country. An- drew's brother, Joseph, was very much afraid of the English, and seeing from the barn the approach of a band of the dreaded red-coats, he hastened to hide in the briar patch, behind the barn. The sokliers began chasing the chickens, which, like Joseph, made directly for the thicket. The troopers following soon canght the fowls, and seeing the frightened boy began shouting, "Rebel in the briar

patch !" As nearly as can be ascertained, Mr. Andrew McKee's children are: I. An- drew; HI. Joseph, a soldier in the war of 1812, took part in the battle of New Orleans, was last heard of in Kentucky.

Andrew McKee, 4, father of William F. McKee, was born at the homestead in 1782. Hle assisted his father on the farm, learned tailoring, and for a short time sailed before the mast. Mr. MeKee served in the war of 1812, and for three or four months, the regi- ment to which he belonged was encamped on Penny's Hill, near Wilmington, Del. After his marriage, he removed to the MeKee farm in Brandywine hundred, New Castle county. Mr. MeKee was actively interested in local affairs, and was a stanch Democrat. Andrew McKee's first wife died a short time after their marriage. In 1820 Mr. MeKee was married to Lydia Scott, born in Philadelphia, Pa. Their children are: I. George; II. An- drew; III. William F .; IV. Marian Jane (Mrs. John B. Murphy), died in Wilmington, Del., in 1896; V. Alfred, left his home in 1855, aged twenty-three, was never heard of; VI. Hannah Mary (Mrs. George Dorsey), of Wilmington, Del. George MeKce, eldest son of Andrew MeKee, went to California during the excitement of 1850, taking the long route by the Isthmus. At the end of two years his expectations were realized, and he return- ed home a wealthy man. He married Miss -- , of Cape May, N. J., and built a home on Wharton street, Philadelphia. In their haste to occupy their new home they moved in before the plastering was dry, and Mrs. McKee took a heavy cold, which result- ed in her death. In 1856 the old MeKce property came into Mr. Mckee's possession. This he sold in 1865, purchasing a home near Newark, Del. Some time afterwards he re- moved to Wilmington, Del., and engaged in business as a carpenter and contractor. He died in Wilmington, November 30, 1895.

Andrew Me Kce, second son of Andrew and Lydia (Scott) MeKec, was educated at the old academy in what is now the ninth ward, Wilmington. In 1848 he left home for the gold fields of California, and barely escaped ship wreck near Cape Horn. The voyage lasted nine months, and years passed before his friends in the east heard from him. An- drew Mckee was married in California, to the daughter of a miner, and died in Oakland,

N.F. MIKKEL

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C'al., August 1, 1895. Mr. MeKee's father died at his home in New Castle county, Del., in 1860. His death was caused by his falling from a high stairway and striking his head on a stone. Mr. MeKee was a large, strong man, and although he had reached his seven- ty-eighth year, was in perfect health, and had never known sickness of any kind. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church. His widow died in 1894, aged ninety- seven; Mr. MeKee was buried in the Pres- byterian cemetery at Wilmington, and Mrs. MeKee in Brandywine cemetery.

William F. McKee takes pleasure in say- ing that his birthday, May thirtieth, is a legal holiday. He remained at home working with his father, and attending the old acad- emy in Brandywine village. _ He afterwards studied in Wilmington, Del., and at the pub- lie schools of Front street, Philadelphia, Pa., and returning to Wilmington, completed his education at the old academy. At the age of twenty, Mr. MeKee left home, and earned his living as a farm laborer in Bucks county, l'a., receiving from seven to eight dollars per month; he spent one year and a half working for farmers in different parts of Pennsylvania. In 1847 Mr. MeKee started to visit friends in the west, taking the railroad as far as Chambersburg, Pa., then the terminus of the road, and going thence to Pittsburg, Pa., by stage. After visiting friends in Cincinnati, Ohio, he pushed on to Wabash, Ill., where his relatives were living, making the journey partly by stage and partly on foot. For some time Mr. MeKee worked as a farm laborer in Illinois, and afterwards found employment in a brick yard in Indianapolis, Ind. When the season for brickmaking closed, he joined a company which was going to Lawrence- burgh, Ind. From Lawrenceburgh, Mr. Mc- Kee accompanied an old gentleman and his family to their home in the Ohio bottoms, where they owned 3,000 acres of land. The party made the journey on the Ohio river by flat boat, one boat carrying the whole family, as well as the horses, cattle and furniture. The boat jumped the falls of the Ohio, going at the rate of a mile a minute, and much to Mr. McKee's surprise, arrived in safety. During the autumn, he husked corn in the Ohio bottoms, and was afterwards employed by the same gentleman, to cut wood on Slim Island. Hearing that the island was subject

to inundations, and was sometimes covered with water to the depth of five or six feet, Mr. MeKee begged his employer to put him ashore on the Indiana banks, and made his way back to his relatives, walking the whole distance, more than a hundred and ten miles. Mr. MeKee remained in Wabash for some time, working as a laborer, and was finally employed by a Quaker, Aaron Halleck, to press out castor oil; afterwards, Mr. Halleck engaged him to carry this oil and other pro- duce down the Wabash on flat boats. When they reached the mouth of the Wabash, they found that heavy rains had flooded the Ohio river to such an extent that the current was flowing backwards in the Wabash. Unable to proceed, they were obliged to tie the boat to trees and wait for the waters to subside. They disposed of their cargo at Vicksburg, Miss., and returned to Evansville, Ind., on the old steamer Yorktown, making a fortunate escape, for on the next trip this steamer blew up, killing many of the passengers. On the return trip, the Yorktown had an exciting race with a rival steamer which had a start of twelve hours. The Yorktown gained rapid- ly, although some time was lost by running aground in the fog. At Paducah the steam- ers were only a mile apart, and passengers and deck hands were working "like Trojans." After his return to Wabash, Mr. MeKee was employed in felling timber. The next spring lie and a companion started to take a number of horses to Brooklyn, N. Y. They traveled on horseback as far as Evansville, and thence by boat to Wheeling, W. Va., intending to make the rest of the journey on horseback. At Bedford, Pa., the horse which Mr. Mc- Kee rode, a vicious animal, began kicking, stumbled and fell, crushing his rider's leg. Although suffering severely, Mr. McKee managed to reach the hotel at the fords of the Juniata, where he was obliged to remain for two weeks. Returning by stage to Cham- bersburg, Pa., he took the train to Philadel- phia, and went from that city to Wilmington by boat; he arrived at home in 1851, hav- ing gained nothing but experience.

Mr. MeKee now turned his attention to the cultivation of the soil, and after renting for one year in New Castle county, Del., bought part of the Day farm at Rocky Run, Del. For ten years he toiled on this farm, blasting

BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

rocks and trying to improve the land. Dur- ing the Civil War, Mr. McKee served as a private in the Seventh Delaware Volunteers, and was honorably discharged at the end of his term of service. In 1866, Mr. McKee sold his farm in New Castle county; and re- moving to Kent county, Del., purchased from Richard Griffiths his present home, a farm of 174 acres of arable land. He has greatly improved his property, and with the exception of two small houses, has erected all the build- ings on the place. IIe is an intelligent, seien- titie farmer, but has not confined his interest to agricultural topics. He is an extensive reader, a subscriber to eight or nine journals, and interesting in conversation. His kind, charitable disposition makes him a general favorite. Mr. MeKee is of fine phy-ique, tall and well-proportioned. His white hair adds dignity to his appearance, and although he has passed his seventy-first birthday, he is as active as a man of forty-five. Mr. McKee was at first a Whig, afterwards joined the Know Nothing party, and in 1836 voted with the Constitutionalists. In 1860, and again in 1864, he voted for Abraham Lincoln, and adhered to the Republican party until 1896, when he identified himself with the Prohibi- tionists. Ile is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, and at one time belonged to the Sons of Temperance, and to the I. O. O. F.

William F. McKee was married, December 29, 1833, at Chester, Pa., whither he and his affiancod bride, Ellen Day, had driven for that purpose in the height of a blinding snow storm. Their children are: I. Joseph, born January 25, 1855, died in infancy; II. Wil- liam TI., born September 11, 1856. married Annie Moore, resides in East Dover hundred: III. Helen F. (Mrs. Joseph Boyle-), of East Dover hundred, born December 30, 1858; IV. Edward S., born February 8, 1861, died August 18, 1867; V. Mary Scott ( Mrs. An- drew J. Harper), Milford, Del., born July 18, 1863; VT. Alice Eva, born November 5, 1865, died August 7, 1866. Mrs. Ellen Me- Koe was a native of Talleyville, Del., she died April 2, 1592, aged sixty-six. Mr. MeKee was married April 12, 1894, to Clementine, daughter of John C. and Eliza W. (Craig) Hargadine, born June 15, 1855. Mr. Mc- Kce is a member of the M. E. church, of which he i- a trustee.

JACOB S. COWGILL, P. O. Dover, Del., son of Charles and Mary ( Palmer) Cowgill, was born at Spruance's Neck, Duck Creek hundred, Kent county, Del., April 17, 1540.

The Cowgill family is of English descent. In 1682, Ellen Cowgill left her home in Yorkshire, England, and with her children, three sons and a daughter, sought a home and religious freedom in the "Forests of Penn," taking passage in the good ship Welcome, which was bearing William Penn himself to his colony in the new land. Ellen Cowgill settled in what is now Bucks county, Pa. Hler son, John Cowgill, took up land in Little Creek hundred, Kent county, Del., and from him all the branches of the family in Dela- ware are descended. Exiles for their faith, the descendants of the family are true to the belief of their ancestors, and are members of the Society of Friends. Mr. Coweill's grandfather, John Cowgill, of Duck Creek hundred, was married to Martha, daughter of Emanuel Stout and his wife Mary (Griffith) Leach, widow of - Leach. Mrs. John Cowgill was also a sister of Jacob Stout, gov- ernor of Delaware. The children of John and Martha (Stout) Cowgill are: I. Ezekiel; II. Charles; III. James; IV. Mary (Mrs. Warren Walsworth), of New York City; V. William; VI. Angelica (Mrs. Henry Cow- gill).

Mr. Cowgill's father, Charles Cowgill, was born in 1800. He attended the public schools, and completed his education at Wo-t- town Seminary, near West Chester, Pa. His life was spent in the cultivation of the Cow- gill homestead, on which he made many im- provements. Charles Cowgill was married to Mary Paliner, a native of Little Creek Indred. Her parents spent a few years in the west, but finally returned to Delaware, and settled on the old Rodney estate, where her father died. Mr. Charles Cowgill died at the old Cowgill homestead in 1854.

Jacob S. Cowgill spent his childhood on his father's farm in Duck Creek hundred, and received his early education in the public schools of the district. When he was four- teen his father died, and his mother removed to Philadelphia, Pa., where he completed his education at Fairbank's Business College. In 1858 Mr. Cowgill, with his mother and the family, returned to Delaware, and turned his attention to the cultivation of the soil. For

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eight years the family lived on his present farm, the Caesar Rodney estate, then owned by Mr. Cowgill's mother. This property has an interesting history; the old part of the house was built in colonial times by Caesar Rodney himself, and from it he set out on his memorable horseback ride to Philadelphia, Pa., to sign the Declaration of Independence. In 1866, the family removed to the Cowgill homestead in Duck Creek hundred, which Mr. Cowgill farmed for eight years. Several years after his marriage, Mr. Cowgill re- turned to the Caesar Rodney estate, which he received from his mother in exchange for the old Cowgill homestead. He is a success- ful farmer, and has greatly improved the property which he inherited, making it one of the most desirable farms in the state. Mr. Cowgill is a stanch Republican. IIe is an in- telligent man and a good citizen, interested in all that concerns the welfare of the com- munity.

Jacob S. Cowgill was married, October 12, 1871, to Martha Stout, daughter of Henry and Angelica Stout (Cowgill) Cowgill. They have one child, Angelica Stout. Mr. Cow- gill is a member of the Friends' Meeting at Camden, Kent ounty, Del. Mrs. Cowgill was born June 18, 1838, near Willow Grove, Kent county, Del., on a farm formerly owned by Warner Mifflin, who was the first man in America to give unconditional freedom to his slaves. Mrs. Cowgill's paternal grandfather was John Cowgill, of Duck Creek hundred. The two John Cowgills were distinguished as "Little Creek John," and "Duck Creek John."

JOIIN M. DOWNS, M. D., Hazlettville, Kent county, Del., son of John and Susan (Cubbage) Downs, was born on the old home- stead near Hazlettville, February 1, 1824.

His grandfather, Henry Downs, spent the greater part of his life in farming. Henry Downs' first wife was Rebecca Morton. Their children are: I. James, deceased, married Betsey Sherwood and settled near Kenton, Del .; II. John; III. Loderman, married Maud Carron, both deceased; IV. Jonathan, married Sarah Jackson, both deceased; V .. Margaret, deceased, was a deaf mute. Mr. Downs' second wife was Betsey Legear. The only child of this marriage is Daniel Downs,

who is married and resides near Marydel, Del. Mr. Ilenry Downs died at Thomas Chapel, Kent county, Del.

Joli Downs, second son of Henry Downs, was born at Tappahanna Marsh, near Hazlett- ville, Del., in 1786. John Downs was still a young man when he purchased the old farm, on which he spent the remainder of his life. Hle was careful and thrifty, and made many improvements on his property. He was a Whig, interested in local politics, and served for two years as a commissioner of the Levy Court. John Downs was married to Susan Cubbage. Their children are: I. William II., married Elizabeth Ruth, settled in Ken- ton Inindred, Kent county, Del., died in Wilmington, Del .; II. Elizabeth (Mrs. Thomas Purnell), of Queen Anne's county, Md., deceased; III. Rebecca, married John Purnell, of Queen Anne's county, Md., both deceased; IV. John M .; V. Susan, of Wil- mington, widow of Thomas Purnell, whom she married after the death of his first wife, her sister, Elizabeth; VI. George, died in boyhood. John Downs' second wife was Mrs. (Shaw) Greenwood, widow of James Greenwood, of Maryland. Their chil- dren are: I. Robert S .; II. David, married Miss Millborn, resides in Maryland. John Downs died at the homestead in August, 1849, aged sixty-three, leaving the home farm to his children unencumbered by debt. He was a devout member of Union M. E. church, in which he was a class leader for many years.

Dr. John M. Downs received his education in the common schools of the district, and re- mained at home assisting his father on the homestead until he was thirty-five. In 1859 Mr. Downs made an extended tour in the west, visiting various places in Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, with a view to making his home in that section of the country. Af- ter traveling for seven months, he changed his plans, and returning to the east, began to read medicine with Dr. Hubbard, of Haz- lettville, Del. He spent nearly three years with Dr. Hubbard, and afterwards entered the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa., graduating May 10, 1865. Dr. Downs immediately opened an office in Templeville, Md .; but after practicing for two years, removed to his present home in Hazlettville, Del., where he soon built up a lucrative practice. During Presi-

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rent Grant's first term, Dr. Downs was appointed postmaster of Hazlettville. Ilis administration has been so satisfactory that he has never been superseded. He has been offered several other positions, but has de- clined them, preferring to remain where he is thoroughly accustomed to the routine of the business. Dr. Downs has almost abandoned his profession, having relinquished his prac- tice to his son, Morton Edgar, who is thus en- abled to avail himself of his father's profes- sional experience. Dr. John M. Downs is a stanch Republican, always actively interested in local affairs. His agreeable manner has made him popular, while his intelligence and ability have won the respect and confidence of the community. Dr. Downs is a member of Castle No. 21, K. G. E., of Wyoming, Del.

John M. Downs was married to Mary Ann Nickerson, of West Dover hundred. Their children are: I. William, of South Carolina; II. Margaret (Mrs. Berrain Mount), of Ohio; III. Thomas P., of Georgia; IV. Susan (Mrs. Jolin Melvin), of Hazlettville, Del .; V. Elizabeth (Mrs. Morgan Rogers), of Han- over, Ohio; VI. Oliver, of Kent county, Del., married Annic B. Seward; VII. James F., practicing dentistry in Baltimore, Md., married Elizabeth Hetling, of Baltimore. Mrs. Downs died in 1862. Mr. Downs' sec- ond wife was Amanda Melvin. Their chil- dren are: I. Alberta (Mrs. Alexander Jack- son), of Wyoming, Del .; II. Dr. Morton E .; III. John Perley, at home. Dr. John M. Downs attends the M. E. church.

Morton Edgar Downs was born at Hazlett- ville, Del., November 28, 1867. Ile attend- ed the public schools of the district, and com- pleted his education at the Conference Acad- emy. Ilaving read medicine with his father, Mr. Downs entered the University of Mary- land in 1888, and afterwards attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Bal- timore, Md., graduating in the class of 1893. Returning to Hazlettville, he entered his father's office, and was associated with him in his practice. Dr. Morton E. Downs is now the active member of the firm. He is an able physician, a diligent student, and a member of the State Medical Society. Dr. Downs supports the Republican party. In 1896 he was elected to the state legislature on the Union Republican ticket, but was unscated.

Morton Edgar Downs was married to Irene C., daughter of Captain Thomas Draper, of Dover, Del. Mrs. Downs is a native of Hazlettville.

JAMES II. GREEN, Hazlettville, Kent county, Del., son of William and Charlotte (Hutchins) Green, was born on the Black- bottom farm, Kent county, Del., December 15, 1829.

Ilis grandfather, Nathan Green, farmer, was born in Kent county, Del .; and married Johanna Powell. The children of Nathan and Johanna (Powell) Green are: I. William; II. James; III. Jonathan; IV. Joseph; V. Susan, married first to John Jackson, and af- terwards to Joseph Foraker; VI. Nathan; VII. John. Nathan Green died at Hazlett- ville, Del. Ilis eldest son, William Green, was a native of Kent county, Del. He spent his life in farming, most of the time cultivat- ing the Blackbottom farm, a property which belonged to his father. William Green was married to Charlotte Hutchins. Their chil- dren are: I. Fanny; II. Charlotte, married John Moore, both deceased; III. Nathan, married Elizabeth Montague, died in Queen Anne's county, Md., where his widow resides; IV. James H. Mr. William Green died in the Blackbottom farm. Ilis wife survived him for several years.

James II. Green was only three weeks old when his father died. His mother's exer- tions kept her family together for seven years, when she too died, and James found a home with his grandfather. He grew up on the farm and was sent to the subscription school near ITazlettville. When his grandfather re- tired from the farm, James went to live with his uncle, Nathan Groen, assisting him and learning farming. At the age of eighteen, he secured work in a tan yard at Hazlettville; and afterwards becoming a wheelwright, found employment at that trade in Hazlett- ville. But Mr. Green had learned to love the freedom of country life, and abandoning his trade, returned to the cultivation of the soil. For four years he worked as a day laborer on the farms in the neighborhood, earning low wages, but carefully economizing every cent. By unremitting industry, he at length saved enough to purchase a farm of 70 acres near Hazlettville. „Ile was able to pay only a part of the purchase money, but

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by hard work and patient attention to small gains, in three years' time he had paid the whole amount, and had placed his foot on the first round of the ladder by which he was to climb to ease and competence. Mr. Green now devoted his energies to improving his property, and after cultivating it for four years, sold 54 acres of it, and bought 96 acres. This also he improved and made more productive, and at the end of ten years, sold the whole, and bought a farm of 112 acres, situated west of Hazlettville. Mr. Green im- mediately began making improvements on his new property. He was a progressive farm- er, and not content with raising large crops of grain, planted numerous fruit trees, and was well repaid for his labor and expenditure. Mr. Green spent twenty years on this farm, making it by his thrifty and liberal manage- ment one of the most productive in the coun- ty. In 1888 he removed to Hazlettville, where, although he has retired from active farm life, he devotes much of his time to managing his property. Mr. Green now en- joys the reward of his early toil and economy. The poor but intelligent boy, by his indomit- able energy and perseverance has become a successful man, and won the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens. Mr. Green has been a life-long worker in the ranks of De- mocracy. He served as tax collector of the hundred for eight years.

James II. Green was married in 1853 to Mary, daughter of Aaron and Elizabeth (Shaw) Kersey. Their children are: I. Eliza- beth (Mrs. Thomas Marvel), has one child, Stella; II. Powell, married Ella Hazel, re- moved to Fort Wayne, Ind., in 1894, and en- gaged in manufacturing hosiery.

ROBERT HENRY LEWIS, P. O. Dover, Del., son of William and Ann (Allaband) Lewis, was born on the homestead, January 1, 1844. William Lewis was a son of Thomas and Rebecca Lewis.

Robert Lewis began his education in the district schools, in a small school house situ- ated near the almshouse. Leaving this school, Mr. Lewis continued his studies at Dover, Del., under a private tutor, Professor William A. Reynolds, and afterwards graduated from Bryant & Stratton's Business College. Ilav- ing completed his education he secured a clerk- ship with the firm of Dyer & Hoffecker, and

afterwards with Shockley & Masten, at Dover, Del. At the end of four years, Mr. Lewis re- signed his clerkship to accept an agency for Dr. Jayne's Medical Company, of Philadel- phia, Pa. For seven years he traveled for the company, canvassing Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, Virginia, North and South Carolina. In 1876 Mr. Lewis resigned his agency, and engaged in business as a gen- eral merchant in Dover, on the ground now occupied by the Priscilla Block. At the end of three years he sold his stand to Thomas Gooden, purchased the homestead and turned his attention to husbandry. In 1882 Mr. Lewis sold the homestead and purchased the farm adjoining Dover, now owned by Henry Pratt; and in 1886 removed to Dover, and dealt in fertilizers. In 1892 he sold his busi- ness in Dover and returned to country life, purchased his present home, a farm of 252 acres in West Dover hundred, known as the old Babbitt place. Mr. Lewis is a scientific farmer, and has greatly improved his property, beautifying his home, and increasing the fer- tility of the land. ITis broad, well-tilled fields now yield abundant crops of grain. Intelli- gent and fluent in conversation, Mr. Lewis's genial manner has made him popular in the community, in which he is esteemed for his integrity and ability. He is a Democrat, and a strong advocate of the free coinage of silver.

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 9

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