Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 90

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

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The father of Thomas Jefferson Moore was Vincent Moore, also a farmer and merchant, and a man of remarkable business enterprise and sagacity, who died in 1828, leaving a large landed estate. Dr. Moore was educated in the public schools under good teachers. He carly learned industrious habits, and did his share, as a boy, of work in the store and on the farm. After arriving at manhood, he was mainly engaged in teaching and in the charge of his father's store, until , January, 1848, when he was appointed by Governor Tharp clerk of the orphan's court and register in chancery, for Kent county, for the term of five years. He performed the duties of this office to the satisfaction of the court, the bar, and the community.

In addition to his own official duties, he as- sisted materially in the work of some of the other public offices, particularly in the office of the secretary of state. When the late Chancellor Bates, then secretary of state, re- moved from Dover to Wilmington, he left that office in his charge, during which time he completed a neat and elaborate index to the executive records, there having been none up to that time. During his term of office, he studied medicine with the late Dr. Gove Sauls- bury. In October, 1852, he resigned his of- fice to attend his second course of medical lectures (having already attended the course of 1851-2) at the University of Pennsylvania. Immediately on his graduation in the spring of 1853, he located in Smyrna, where he con- tinued in the successful practice of his pro- fession for nine years. In 1862, on account of failing health and his appointment as ad- ministrator of his father's estate, he removed to Felton.

In 1860 he was elected on the Democratic ticket a member of the House of Representa- tives, and served in those stirring times through the regular and extra sessions of the legislature. His course in that body was con- servative, and opposed to all measures of an extreme political, or sectional character.

Ile was from the first opposed to secession, and had the honor of offering the resolu- tion which was adopted, condemning that movement in the Southern states. He also wrote and delivered the valedictory address of the house of representatives. His whole course was characterized by the conscientious

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and faithful performance of his duties. In 1856 he married Martha A., daughter of Bas- sett Ferguson, of New Castle county. Of this marriage there were three children, of whom Jefferson, the youngest, a youth of re- markable promise, died in 1879, in the six- teenth year of his age.

POWELL ARON was born in West Dover hundred, December 19, 1824. His father, William Aron, also a farmer, was born and passed his life in the same locality. He died in 1858, at the age of sixty-nine. His first wife, was Mrs. Ann, widow of George Sew- ard. She died in 1840, leaving ten children, eight of whom grew to maturity.

Ile next married Hester, daughter of John Slay, by whom he had four children. He was a man of very excellent and decided char- acter; his word was his bond. He became a Christian in early life, and was for many years a class-leader in the M. E. church. Mr. Powell Aron attended the common schools during his boyhood. He became a well read man, largely self-educated, and was one of the most intelligent citizens of his locality. He remained with his father, assisting upon the farm, until he was twenty-three years of age, when he married and settled on a farm be- longing to his father-in-law.

In 1859, his father having died, he bought from the other heirs, one hundred and twenty acres of the family homestead, the Lockwood farm, as it was called, and some years later had under his control the whole estate, con- sisting of two hundred and six acres. He had at one time three thousand peach trees, which were profitable, also apples, pears, and small fruits. Most of his farm was devoted to wheat and corn. Ile was a successful farmer, and highly respected in the community.

Mr. Powell Aron was trained in the ranks of the old Whig party. During the war he was a stanch supporter of the Union cause. Hle enlisted in the Sixth Delaware Regiment, United States Volunteers, and was second lieutenant of Company G. He served with that regiment, guarding the Philadelphia, Wilmington, & Baltimore Railroad, and the Confederate prisoners at Fort Delaware, until mustered out of service. He was, in his lo-

cality, a leader in the Republican party, and was a candidate for the legislature, and also for the Levy Court of Kent county, but his party was in the minority. He was for sev- eral years a trustee, and president of the Sun- day-school board in the Methodist church, with which he united in 1856. He was mar- ried, in 1848, to Miss Martha, daughter of John and Hester ( Kersey) Green, by whom he had ten children: I. Hannah, wife of Wil- ilam Hallowell, of Bridgeville; II. John; III. William; IV. Mary; V. Hester; VI. Charles Henry; VII. James Powell; VIII. Emma; IX. Addie; X. Thomas; and Martha. Mr. Aron died, after a short illness, February 16, 1882. Ile met death with composure, and trustful and happy assurance.

JOHN E. TYGERT was born May 22, 1844, in Albany county, New York, the home of his family for several generations. His parents were Frederick J. and Ellen (Jewett) Tygert. Frederick J. Tygert was a farmer and leading citizen of Guilderland township, and held various offices of trust by the favor of his fellow-citizens. He was a prominent member and office bearer in the M. E. church and many years Sunday-school superintend- ent. Ile removed to Kent county, Delaware, where he joined his son John E., who had pre- ceded him, and died soon after, February 28, 1873, in his fifty-sixth year.

John E. Tygert received a good common school education, and from sixteen to eighteen years of age took the principal charge of the farm. In 1862 he enlisted in Company II, One Hundred and Seventy-seventh New York Volunteers, and served with General Banks on the Mississippi from the Gulf to Port Hudson, returning home at the expira- tion of his term of service with greatly im- paired health. When sufficiently recovered he traveled west through Illinois and Iowa. He returned home in 1865, still suffering greatly from an affection of his eyes, which from time to time gave him much trouble. In the winter of that year he came to Dela- ware and purchased a tract of woodland near Harrington, engaged in clearing it of timber and wood. He came into possession of a farm hear that town and there his father joined him

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and soon after died. John E. Tygert was twice married; first, in 1869, to Miss Mary Dunham, of Schuylerville, New York. She died in 1874, leaving one child, Edgar Tygert. On the 6th of March, 1878, he married Miss Mary Doughten, of Smyrna.

JOIIN CLARK STOCKLEY was born July 9, 1835. John C. Stockley was educated at one of the first select schools in Wilming- ton, and at Delaware College. He became, in 1855, a civil engineer on the Delaware Rail- road, and was thus engaged for about a year, after which he was a clerk in the Bank of Smyrna for four years.

Following this he was again for a few months a civil engineer on the Junction and breakwater Railroad. From 1860 to 1864 he was cashier of the office of Discount and De- posit of the Bank of Smyrna, at Milford, Delaware.

IIe then removed to Smyrna, and forming a partnership with his brother, Avers Hohnes Stockley, engaged in the grain commission business.

Mr. Stockley was elected a director of the Bank of Smyrna in 1864, and held the po- sition for ten years. He succeeded his father a> secretary of the Chesapeake and Delaware Bay Railroad, continuing in this office until 1876. For over twelve years he was presi- dent of the Smyrna Library Association, one of largest and most valuable libraries in the state.

Hle was married in 1875, to Miss Lucy Eleanor, only child of Dr. William Daniels, of Smyrna. They had one child, Margaret Caroline Stockley.

GARRETT L. HYNSON was born July 26, 1829. His father was Rev. Matthew M. Hynson, a distinguished Baptist clergyman, of Milford, who died in 1834. His mother, Ann (Beswick) Hynson, was a devout Chris- tian, and died in 1856. Three children of this marriage grew to maturity: Garrett L., George B., of Philadelphia, and Anna, now Mrs. George Plowman, of Philadelphia.

The Hynson family are natives of Mary- land, and are among the most influential citi- zens of Kent county, in that state.

Garrett L. Hynson was reared upon the farm and attended the schools of his vicinity principally in winter, until he gained his ma- jority. At the age of twenty-one he followed the sea for two years, trading from Philadel- phia to New England ports, He became mate of the schooner James R. Fisher in 1851, which was wrecked on the coast of New Jer- sey, January 3, 1852. The captain and stew- ard were lost and Mr. Hynson was saved by swimming ashore, after being in the rigging for over eight hours. From the effects of that exposure Mr. Hynson has never fully recev- ered.

In 1856 he began farming in Milford hun- dred, which he continued for two years, when he removed to Illinois, remaining for two years. l'pon his return home he became master of the schooner James S. Buckmaster, and was employed in the coasting trade until 1861, when he resumed the occupation of a farmer, and afterward took charge of a steam saw mill in Maryland. He ran this mill in connection with a farm upon which it was Imilt. In 1867 he removed to the home of his boyhood. This farm contains 165 acres, and is devoted to grain and stock raising. Mr. ILynson became a Republican in politics, and was a decided Union man during the war. He received the nomination of his party for the legislature (1874) but was not elected, his party being in the minority. He became a member of Excelsior Grange, No. 9, Patrons of Husbandry, and was elected its first mas- ter. He also became a member of the Laws' Methodist Episcopal church in 1874, and served as superintendent of the Sunday-school for three years. He was married JJanuary 3, 1854, to Mrs. Ellen P., widow of John T. An- derson, of Milford hundred, and daughter of Shadrach Postles. Their children are: 1. Henry L .; HI. Anna; III. Charles P .; IV. George B .; V. Margaret A .; VI. Garrett P. Ilynson.

EDWARD MeINALL was born at Sharps- town, Salem county, N. J., November 22, 1825. His parents, James and Rebecca Me- Inall, removed to Wihnington during his childhood. He enjoyed limited educational advantages, as he left the school at the age of twelve years to enter the drug store of Edward Bringhurst. In this position he de-

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voted himself assiduously to the acquirement of a thorough and practical knowledge of the business, which was to be his life-work. Ile continued with Mr. Bringhurst until Septem- ber, 1845, when he purchased, at Sheriff's sale, the drug store of Dr. Edward Worrell, then consul at Havana, and engaged in busi- ness on his own account.

Ile uniformly declined official position, but was induced to serve for some time as a mem- ber of the city council. He was married, Sep- tember 26, 1847, to Cecelia, daughter of the late James Fox, of Wilmington.

After his retirement from business he re- sided in Philadelphia about four years, but after the death of his beloved partner in life, December 12, 1875, he returned to Wilming- ton and spent the remainder of his life with his son. In early manhood he united with the Methodist Episcopal church, but later in life he embraced the doctrines of the Roman Catholic church, of which his wife was a de- vont member, and he died in that faith, Mav 12, 1877. He was gentle in his disposition and plain and unassuming in manners, but he was strong in his convicitons, upright in life, and was possessed of a sterling integrity that won the esteem of the community in which he lived.

EDWARD MeINALL, JR., son of Ed- ward MeInall, was born in Wilmington, De- cember 25, 1848. He was educated at St. Mary's College, and entered the store of his father in 1864, and in 1866 matriculated at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, where he graduated at the head of his class in 1868. After graduation he engaged in the study of medicine under the preceptorship of the late Dr. Heury Askew, of Wilmington, and was a student at Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia. In 1870, before the completion of his medical studies, he was called to succeed to the business of his father, and devoted himself energetically to its management. In 1871 he removed to the southeast corner of Second and Market streets, to secure better accommodations for his increasing trade, and there pursued a career of uninterrupted pros- perity until he retired from the business, March 25, 1879. Edward MeInall was mar- ried, June 13, 1879, to Miss Laura Ridgeway,

of Danville, Pennsylvania. After his retire- ment from active business he was occupied with the financial management of his estate, and with medical researches that were inter- rupted when he engaged in business. In the fall of 1879 he became an office student of Professor William II. Pancoast, the eminent surgeon and professor of anatomy in the Jef- ferson Medical College, of Philadelphia.

JOIIN LEE was born March 14, 1806, near Magnolia, Kent county. His father, Rev. John Lee, a local preacher of the M. E. church, was ordained by Bishop George. He was instrumental in building the Lee M. E. church, at Kenton, which derives its name from him. He was a highly respected citizen and Christian gentleman; he died at the age of sixty-nine. His mother was Sarah, daugh- ter of Jacob Smith, of Kent county.

John Lee grew up upon the farm, and his educational advantages were those afforded by the schools of his vicinity. The most of his life was devoted to merchandizing at Mil- lington, Kent county, Maryland. Mr. Lee went to reside at Kenton in 1872, where he lived in retirement from business cares and anxieties until his death, which occurred No- vember 18, 1881, and his interment occurred on the 21st.

In politics he acted with the old Whig party as long as it had an existence. He af- terwards became a Democrat. He was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention of Maryland in 1850, and served in the same capacity in the convention of 1863. He was a member of the M. E. church, which he joined in 1828, and was for many years a trus- tee and steward of his church. Hle was united in marriage in 1832, to Miss Sarah Orrell. One child was born of this mariage, a daugh- ter named Rebecca. He was again married, December 5, 1847, to Miss Margaret, daugh- ter of Mason and Sarah Bailey. One child, also a daughter, was born of this union.

GASSAWAY WATKINS, of MeDonough, New Castle county, was born in Kent county, Ma., July, 1802. Hlis father was Gassaway

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Watkins, of Maryland. His mother was Mrs. near the village of Bridgeville, in Sussex I'aul A. Smith, formerly Miss Mileah Hart, of New Castle county, Delaware.

This family of Watkins is of Welsh ances- try, and settled early in Maryland. Three sons, Gassaway, Robert and John, were the only children of Gassaway Watkins, Sr. Mr. Watkins was reared on a farm one mile above MeDonough. He engaged in farming soon after reaching his majority, and resided on farms in Delaware and Maryland until 1838, when he removed to MeDonough and there added merchandizing to his agricultural em- ployments, and continued in that place and business for nearly forty years.

Mr. Watkins was, in many respects, a re- markable man, wielding a large influence in social and political life. He was in sympathy with the Democratic party, and few men in his county possessed his power in controlling and fixing the political opinions of others. IIis deportment was quiet, cheerful and courteous. In the enunciation of his principles, and in their vindication, he was never at a loss either in argument or repartee. Although laboring under the disadvantage of a limited educa- tion, yet his extensive reading, large inter- course with the world, and the possession of great natural intelligence, made Mr. Wat- kins a man of mark in his community.

In 1848, Mr. Watkins was appointed col- lector of the Port at Port Penn, by President Polk. He was a member of the Levy Court of New Castle, and was elected county treas- urer in 1874, serving throughout his term with great satisfaction to all parties. Mr. Wat- kins had been reared in the doctrines of the M. E. church, but several years before his death connected himself with the Presbyterian church, in whose communion he died April 16, 1877.

He was united in marriage, in 1807, to Miss Hester MeDonough, a cousin of Comme- dore MeDonough, of the U. S. navy. Of this marriage were born the following children: Amanda, Columbus and Caroline Watkins.

WILSON LEE CANNON, son of Rich- ard and Hester (Fawcett) Cannon, was born in Mispillion Neck, Kent county, January 28, 1817. ITis father was a farmer, and a local preacher in the M. E. church. He was born

county, to which place his father emigrated from Scotland. Here, also, he married his first wife, Elizabeth Smith, January 30, 1799.

In 1811 he removed to Mispillion, where his wife died, and on the 5th of March, 1812, he was again married to Hester Fawcett, widow of George Beswick. He died, October 2, 1820, when his son, Wilson Lee, was only three years old. The latter lived with his mother till she also died, September 12, 1830. Hlis school advantages were of the poorest kind; all his education has been attained en- tirely by his own efforts. At the age of six- teen he went to learn the ship-carpentering trade with his brother-in-law, Manlove R. Carlisle, at South Milford, and served an ap- prenticeship of four years. He then worked twelve months at his trade near Paynter's Drawbridge, six months at Milford, and one year at Dover.

In his twenty-third year he went to Leip- sie, Kent county, where he commenced busi- ness for himself. His first vessel he built for John Reed, of Dover. IIe then built and sold vessels, and next built and run them for himself. He also engaged largely in the timber and lumber business, employing a great many men, and supplying immense quantities of ship timber for the eastern mar- kets. Mr. Cannon was for seventeen years in Leipsic, where he built up a fine business, and accumulated property. He invested largely in real estate, purchasing in 1842 a large farm on the road from Dover to Smyrna; in 1847, bought the Mount Farm, and another farm in 1556.

In 1858 Mr. Cannon was elected to the Senate of Delaware on the Democratic ticket for four years. In 1861 when the commis- sioners from the South, Dickinson and Camp- bell from Alabama, came to the Legislature, urging the members to secede or join the South, the Senate stood five Democratic and four Republican. Mr. Cannon had sworn to support the Constitution of the United States, and refused to vote for the measures and re- solutions offered. He held the balance of power, and the resolutions were killed, and he became strongly identified with the Union- loving and loyal men of the State, and with the Republican party.

Hle was married. September 16, 1841, to

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Miss Ann, daughter of James Scotten, of Lit- tle Creek hundred, Kent county. Their four children are: 1. Henry White, became editor and proprietor of the State Sentinel at Dover; Il. Ella, wife of Dr. S. D. Marshall, of Phila- delphia; III. Mary Elizabeth, and IV. Hattie.

Mr. Cannon lost his wife, August 23, 1859, and on the 14th of October, 1862, married Miss Mary E., daughter of Robert B. Jump, of Little Creek hundred. By his second wife he has three children: I. Annie J .; II. Wil- son Lee, Jr .; and III. Robert Barrett.

DOCTOR NATHAN PRATT, of Mil- ford, was born in Kent county, Del., Sep- tember 9, 1834. His father was Henry Pratt, a farmer of Kent county. His mother was Unity, daughter of John Lockwood, of Kent county. Doctor Pratt was the second child and first son of his parents, and one of four children.

Hle was reared on a farm until eighteen years of age, attending the schools of his vi- einity until this period, when he was sent to the school of Mr. William Sharp at Dover, where he remained for one year. He then engaged in the occupation of teaching for one season, when he entered the Seminary at Fairfield, N. Y., where he continued for one year. At the end of this time he returned home and resumed teaching which he followed for about one year, when he entered the office of Dr. John W. Sharp of Camden, and began the study of medicine. He matriculated at the University of ePensylvania, in 1838, and graduated from that institution in the class of 1860 in March of that year.

He began the practice of his profession April, 1860, in the town of Milford, where he continued for four years, when he was appointed Assistant Surgeon at the Filbert street hospital, Philadelphia, after which he was ordered to Winchester, Va., where he acted in the same capacity at Sheridan's Field Hospital.

In January, 1866, he returned to Milford and resumed the practice of medicine. Dr. Pratt was successful as a physician, being popular with the community, and influential in the state. He served as Auditor of the State, and Secretary of the State Board of

Education, from April 1875, to January, 1879, with much credit. He was President of the Board of Public Schools in Milford, and served in that office, much to the advantage of the educational interests of that town.

Dr. Pratt was united in marriage to Miss Mary, daughter of William Hill, a well known farmer, of Milford, November 7, 1861. Four children have been born to them; I. Mar- garet; II. John Lynn; III. William Burton; and IV. Louis Lockwood Pratt.

JOIIN JAMES JAKES was born in Kent county, November 20, 1833. The Jakes family are of French Huguenot extraction; the name was originally Jacques, and they are descended from Henry- Jacques, who was the immigrant. The mother of John T. was Nancy, daughter of William Anderson, a farmer of Kent county. At the time of her marriage to Mr. Jakes, she was the widow of Robert Hargadine, who left two children: William A., a leading merchant of St. Louis, and Julia, now the wife of Robert B. Wright, of Kent county. Mrs. Jakes was a most ex- cellent Christian woman, and died, July 17, 1863, at the age of sixty-nine years. John Thomas Jakes attended the school of his neighborhood until seventeen years of age, when he accepted a position as clerk in the store of Messrs. Luff and Green, at Camden, which he continued until 1849, when he form- ed a partnership with Mr. Prouse, and engaged in the business of merchandizing under the firm name of Prouse and Jakes. This busi- ness was carried on very successfully for two years, when Mr. Jakes disposed of his in- terests.

Ile was appointed Agent for the Delaware Railroad Company, at West Camden, now called Wyoming, in 1851, and filled this po- sition with credit for eleven years, when he resigned.

In 1858 he again embarked in mercantile pursuits at Wyoming, which he successfully conducted for many years. In 1866 he or- ganized and started the post-office, and was appointed Postmaster the same year. He act- ed in this capacity for over sixteen years. Mr. Jakes served as a Representative from Dela- ware to the Garnd Lodge of Good Templars at

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its session held at St. Louis, in 1866. lle became an Odd Fellow, which or- der he joined in 1854; occupied all the chairs except that of Grand Master, and in 1880, was Grand Representative from his State to the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the United States, also, in 1882. He became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in 1867, and has served his church in an official capacity for many years. Hle was made a life director of the American Bible Society in 1878, and became treasurer of the Kent County Bible Society in 1872. He was appointed agent of the Adams Ex- press Company in 1857, which position he filled for many years.

Mr. Jakes was one of the few men who voted for Abraham Lincoln for President in 1860. Three generations of this family voted for President Hayes, his father, himself and his son. Ile married Miss Mary B., daughter of Benjamin B. Townsend, of Camden, Feb- ruary 14, 1853. Five children have been born to them, four of whom are still living: I. William H .; II. Charles R .; III. Thomas W .; and IV. Maggie T. Jakes.

JACOB KINDER was born near Horsey's Crossroads, December 16, 1808. He attend- ed the schools of the vicinity, generally in the winter season only, being engaged on the farm during the summer, till he was about twenty-two years of age, and had acquired a very good education. In January, 1833, having married, he rented a farm and began life on his own account. In 1836 he removed to another farm, having purchased it the year previous. It was sold at a low price, the land being well worn out, but he commenced at once to improve it, and brought it up to a high state of cultivation. At different times Mr. Kinder owned other tracts of land, but disposed of them again.

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 90

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