Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 92

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

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Henry II. Me Mullen was married, May 22, 1861, to Eliza W., daughter of Joseph S.

Atkinson, Esq., of Philadelphia. From his youth he took an active interest in public affairs, and upon attaining his majority was elected Road Commissioner of his hundred, which position he held for four years. In 1869, he was appointed Assistant Assessor of Internal Revenue, by President Grant, and continued to exercise the functions of that office until it was abolished in 1871. He was the Republican nomince for Sheriff of New Castle county, in 1876, but shared the gen- eral defeat of the ticket.

April 27, 1878, he was appointed United States Marshal, and in 1882, was re-appointed by President AArthur. He discharged the duties devolving upon him with rare fidelity, and without fear or favor, securing the just commendation of the entire community. Al- ways a Whig and Republican, he was an active and zealous partisan, but never failed in gen- tlemanly courtesy towards his opponents. He became one of the leaders of his party in the state, and his keen foresight and superior judg- ment were fully recognized by all.

WILLIAM SHARP PHILLIPS was born in Dagsborough hundred, Sussex coun- ty, July 27, 1836, being the eldest son of Joshua Phillips, who was occupied through life as a farmer, mill-owner and manufacturer of lumber, accumulating considerable pro- perty. His father died September 17, 1857, in the fifty-eighth year of his age. His wife was Betsey, daughter of Wingate and Naney Short. They had six children who grew to maturity: 1. William S .; II. Elizabeth S .; III. Joshua; IV. Spencer A .; V. Louisa; VI. John W. Phillips.

Spencer Phillips, grandfather of William Sharp Phillips, was a farmer, and a leading citizen of Sussex county. He was several times a member of the Legislature, and served also two terms as Justice of the Peace, and was twice a member of the Levy Court of Sussex county. He possessed an estate of seven hundred acres of land. He died Decom- ber 27, 1851, when in his seventy-ninth year. His first wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Wil- liam and Betsy Sharp, of Dagsborough hun- dred. They had four children, who grew to maturity: I. Joshua; H. Nathaniel, a farm-

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er, who died in 1880, on his seventy-seventh birthday, leaving issue; III. Elizabeth, who married Philip Truitt, and is now deceased; IV. Spencer, a farmer and merchant of Phil- lips Hill, Dagsborough, who died in 1815, at the age of thirty-eight.

Spencer Phillips married, secondly, Eunice Givens, who lived to be about ninety-five years old. By her he had two sons and four dangh- ters. Ilis father was John Phillips, a farul- er, also born in Sussex county.

According to the family tradition two brothers came from England and settled in North Carolina, but one of them afterwards removed to Sussex county, Delaware, and from him are descended the families there who bear his name. John Phillips, the great- grandfather of William Sharp Phillips is be- lieved to be the son of the original emigrant to Delaware.

William S. Phillips received a good English education in the public schools of his neigh- borhood, which he attended regularly until he was twenty years of age. Hle afterwards studied surveying under William B. Ewing, at Georgetotwn, and followed this vocation for several years. He was also at the same time, from 1847, engaged in teaching. In 1555 he entered the store of Levin and Sam- uel B. Hitch, at Laurel, with whom he re- mained till the death of his father.

Ile then returned home and took charge of the estate, remaining till 1867. In 1563, Mr. Phillips opened a store for general mer- chandise at Phillips' Hill, half a mile from the old homestead, in which he did a pros- perous business till 1869, when he sold it out. At the same time he was largely engaged in the manufacture and sale of lumber, having a mill on his land. The estate left by his father comprised twenty-five hundred acres of land, which at the time of his death was a forest. Mr. Phillips and his brothers cleared, drained and improved this land and brought it into a good state of cultivation. Mr. Phil- lips was always an enterprising and leading agriculturist of Sussex county. He owned six farms, aggregating eight hundred and eighty- two acres of land, in Dagsborough hundred, which he kept well improved, devoting them mostly to wheat and corn. Mr. Phillips was reared an old time Whig, but became a Re- publican on the organization of that party in

Delaware. He strongly supported the govern- ment during the war and was active and influ- ential in public matters for many years. He was elected to the Legislature in 1860, and served during the regular session of 1861, and the called session of 1862, with great credit to himself and satisfaction to his con- stituents. In 1863 he served as enrolling offi- ver of Dagsborough hundred. Mr. Phillips was elected a director of the Breakwater and Frankford railroad in 1872, and held that posi- tion for several years. The family are at- tached to the Protestant Episcopal church.

SAMUEL LYMAN PECK was born in Coleraine, Franklin county, Massachusetts, November 28, 1817; being the eldest child of Sammel and Sarah ( Wilson) Peck. His father was brought up on a farm, but was a natural mechanical genius, an inventor, and was the originator of many devices and patents that came into general use.

Sammel L. Peck was a lieutenant in the war of 1812, and was three times married. By his first wife, Sarah Wilson, he had four sons and five daughters, by his second wife one son; also by his third wife one son. Ilis father was Abraham Peck, born in Coleraine, and also died there at the age of sixty-four. Ilis wife was Arathusa Bullard, of English origin. The father of Abraham Peck lived to be over ninety years of age. He was one of three brothers who came from England early in the eighteenth century, and settled, one in Massachusetts, one in Vermont, and one in New Hampshire.

Samuel L. Peck had in his childhood the ad- vantages of the good common schools of his na- tive State, but the family removing when he was eleven years old, to Luzerne county, Pen- sylvania, his opportunities after that were few. On reaching manhood he engaged in the flour- ing-mill business. He was also interested in a sash factory, and later owned, conjointly with his brother, two stores one at Peckville, and one at Oliphant, Pennsylvania.

He was very enterprising, a man of large business views, and conducted his affairs with so much judgment as to make them all success- ful. In 1866 be sold out his interest in his various line- of business, retaining his land-

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edl property, and moved to the vicinity of Felton, Del. There he purchased a farm of four hundred acres, on which he settled. It was then worn out land, a desert sand forest. He at once commenced to enrich and improve it, setting it in a good state of cultivation. He Had ten thousand peach trees at one time.

Mr. Peck was never very active in political matters. He came of a Whig family, became a Republican, and a strong Union man. For sometime he was master of the County Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry; was one of the leading farmers of his county, and active and influential in all measures to advance the agri- cultural interests of the state.

Hle united with the Presbyterian church in 1833, but his parents were Congregationalists. Ile was ordained a ruling elder in 1549, and was a trustee of the Presbyterian church in Felon for ten years.

Samuel Lyman Peck was married in 1848, to Miss Harriet Wilson, of Coleraine, Massa- chusetts. Of her three children, only one, Charles Wilson Peck, survived. She died January 1, 1865. Mr. Peek was married again, March 22, 1866, to Miss Hester A., daughter of Joshua and Theresa (Tilberry) Pugh. There are three children of this mar- riage: I. John Lyman; II. Robert; III. Mary Lillian.

REV. DANIEL GREEN, was born in Kent county, December 5, 1838. His father was James P. Green, a farmer of that county; he died January 7, 1855. His mother, before marriage, was Hester Ann, daughter of Tilghman Conley, of the same county. The family on both sides were among the carly settlers of the State, and both grandfathers were leading and official members of the Me- thodist Episcopal Church.

Daniel Green received his early education at the common schools of his vicinity. In the spring of 1837 he entered the Fairfield Semi- nary, Herkimer county, New York, where he continued for three years. After leaving school in 1861, he engaged in teaching at Moorton. In June of 1862, he enlisted in the Fourth Regiment, Delaware Volunteers, un- der command of Colonel A. II. Grimshaw. He was known as a brave man and an excel- lent soldier. He was in the battles of Chick-

ahominy in 1863, at Bethesada church, and C'old Harbor, and was severely wounded by the loss of a limb in the action before Petersburg, June 19, 1864. He was mustered into the service as sergeant of Company G., Captain W. II. MeGary, commanding, who was killed in action about the close of the war. Ser- geant Green was taken to the hospital where he remained for one year, and was urged to become chaplain of his regiment after his dis- charge from the hospital. Mr. Green was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since his eighteenth year, and was an office- bearer a great portion of the time. He was ordained a Local Minister and Deacon of the Methodist Episcopal Church by Bishop Scott, at the Conference at Dover, March 18, 1871.

Rev. Green was appointed Teller of the Newport National Bank, August 28, 1865, and acted in that capacity with much credit and success for many years. His services were greatly sought after as a preacher, and his life was one of marked usefulness in the community.

Rev. Daniel Green was married September 13, 1870, to Miss Mary Drusilla, daughter of Joseph Kilgore, Esq., and a sister of Rev. Dr. Kilgore, of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

SAMUEL PAYNTER GODWIN was born in Milford on the 16th day of October, 1828. Delaware has sent many of her sons to other States, and the story of their lives, were they written, would show a record of which the State would be justly proud. Samuel Paynter Godwin is one among a mul- titude of such now beyond her limits, reflect- ing credit on the State in which they were born.

ITis father, Rev. Daniel Godwin, a local preacher of the Methodist Church for over half a century, died in Milford, in the ninety- second year of his age, was a man of genial, christian character, and widely known and re- spected, having, during a long life, won and retained the high appreciation of a large cir- cle of friends. The mother, Elizabeth, daughter of Nehemiah and Rachel Davis of Prime Hook, early Methodists of Delaware, died in the 80th year of her age.

The grandfather of Samuel Godwin, was

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a Marylander by birth and came from Talbot county to Delaware in early life.

Samuel Paynter Godwin's early education Was received at the old Masonic Academy in Milford, under the direction of Rev. Orin R. Howard and Alfred Emerson, but his attend- ance was discontinued at twelve years of age.

Early inclined to mercantile pursuits, he at that early period went to Philadelphia and entered the store of Messrs. MeNeil & Moore, and continued with this firm four years, until their retirement from the business. At the age of sixteen years he was employed by the firm of Vogel & Virden as book-keeper, con- tinuing with them until 1848, when he re- turned to Milford, Delaware, and entered into business with his father and brother Daniel. Mr. Godwin here joined the order of Odd Fellows, and the organization, con- scious of his worth and abilities, successively elected him to high positions of honor and trust until he filled the position of Deputy Grand Master of the State of Delaware. He also attached himself to the order of Masons and was made a member of Temple Lodge A. Y. M., Milford.

In the spring of 1851, releasing himself from business in his native town, he returned to Philadelphia, and connected himself with the firm of Hannan, Snyder and Co., where he remained until 1857, when he entered the old and well known house of Atwood & Co., and in the autumn of 1861, became connected with the oldest wholesale dry goods house in Philadelphia. It was then known as Wood, Marsh and Hayward, and since then, as Wood, Marsh & Co. Mr. Godwin, though known as a leading business man, was more widely known for his philanthropy. A man of wide christian and humanitarian sympathies, and his readiness to afford counsel and substantial help to the inebriate, the poor, and even the onteast, occasioned his being prominent in many of the eleemosynary institutions for which Philadelphia is famed. In the cause of temperance, as identified with christianity, he was an able, eloquent and successful worker. By addresses delivered on this sub- jeet in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, as well as in Pennsylvania, he became very widely known. In 1872. being deeply impressed with the thought that a home for those who wished to reform and abandon intoxicating drinks, would greatly

assist these unfortunates, he joined with others in providing the Franklin Reforma- tory Home, of Philadelphia. This institu- tion, of which Mr. Godwin was its first Presi- dent, cared for more than 2,600 unfortunate ones and their families.

Beside these, Mr. Godwin held official posi- tion in many other societies and churches. Hle was one of the Vice Presidents of the Bedford Street Mission, of Philadelphia, whose work is among the miserable outcasts of the city, and was also Vice President of the Philadelphia Society for the suppression of the Sunday liquor traffic, and Vice President of the society to prevent cruelty to children. The motto of the Franklin Reformatory Home, "By the Grace of God I am what I am," seems not less the sentiment of Mr. Godwin's experience than that of his personal history.

At twelve years of age he joined the Metho- dist Episcopal Church in his native town, and on going to Philadelphia, became a member of the class led by Solomon Townsend, in the Union Methodist Episcopal Church.

In 1859, he felt it his duty to connect him- self with St. Andrew's Protestant Episcopal Church, and was a member of its Vestry for many years, as well as a teacher of a young man's Bible class numbering at one time as many as 240 members. He took great pleas- ure in serving as a vestryman in many of the humbler churches of Philadelphia, among the colored people as well as those of the whites. Ile became a member of St. Luke's Church, and to its services himself and family were greatly attached; he being what is known as a Lay-reader in that communion.

In politics, though possessed of positive opinions, he was conservative, not a strong partisan. Samuel Paynter Godwin was united in marriage with Miss Emma G., daughter of the late John Eisenbry, Esq., of Philadelphia, December 16, 1857, the cere- mony being performed in Grace Presbyterian Episcopal Church, Philadelphia. Two chil- dren have been born to them of this marriage, 1. Annie E. and IT. W. Harrison Godwin.

AARON MARSHALL, born at Lowes, December 30, 1790, was a merchant in the village of Milton, Sussex county. He was

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also extensively engaged in shipping, princi- pally grain and iron ore to Philadelphia and New York. The bog ore of Sussex county was the best found in the United States, the mining of which from the early settlements to the first part of the nineteenth century con- stituted a large and important industry.

Mr. Marshall was a light horseman in the war of 1812, and assisted in the defense of Lewes. In polities he was an Old Line Whig. During the Reform movement, in 1838, he was a member of the Legislature. Later in life he joined the Republican party, and voted for Mr. Lincoln. He owned slaves but man- mmitted them at the commencement of the troubles in 1861, making the sacrifice freely from love to his country. Mr. Lincoln ap- pointed him Collector of Customs at Lewes, in 1862. Mr. Marshall was brought up among the Methodists, but became a Presby- terian and was an Ekler in that church. Ile was a true christian, an honorable man and mmiversally respected. He married Jane Paynter. Mr. Marshall died February 28, 1865, at the age of seventy-five.

ROBERT H. SKINNER was born Oeto- ber 23, 1837, in Queen Anne's county, Md. Ilis father, Richard W. Skinner, was a farmer of that locality. Mr. Skinner was educated at Fort Edward Collegiate Institute, in Wash- ington county, New York.

On the breaking out of the rebellion, he en- tered Company D, of the 77th regiment, New York Volunteers, mustered at Saratoga, served with MeClellan throughout the Penin- sular campaign, and took part in all the great battles before Richmond. He was also in the second battle of Bull Run, and at South Mountain and Antietam. In the last, Sep- tember 17, 1862, he received a severe gunshot wound which disabled him from further ser- vice. Mr. Skinner enlisted as a private sol- dier, but in nine months rose to the rank of Second Lieutenant, and was, at the time of hi- injury, serving as commanding officer of company 11.

On returning to civil life, Robert H. Skin- ner married Miss Anna Mast, of Lancaster county, Pa. and settled on a farm near Greens- boro, Md. In 1866 he removed ta Felton

and opened a seminary of learning. In 1875 he was called to the position of Vice-Principal of the Wilmington Conference Academy, at Dover, and in 1878 was elected Principal of the same institution. This school Mr. Skin- ner made a decided snecess. He was popular with the students and the people, and a man of high character and excellent executive and administrative ability.

JOHN R. BROWN was born in New Garden township, Chester county, Pa., April 16, 1839. His parents were Thomas HI., and Martha Matilda (Ray) Brown. His father was a merchant-miller and country store- keeper for many years, in the village of Lan- denburg, and vicinity.

John R. Brown received his early educa- tion at the public schools of that locality, spending some years at Hopewell Academy in the same county. His proficiency was not remarkable, in fact his mind, afterwards so keen, ready and active, did not seem to wake up till brought into contact with the sharp competitions of life.

Leaving school when past sixteen years of age he entered his father's store and remained till he was eighteen, when he went to learn his profession, paying one hundred and fifty dollars for his instruction, also paying for his board and purchasing his own material. His instructor was Dr. John Anderson of Kennett Square. This gentleman, a blacksmith ori- ginally, was a natural mechanical genins.

Taking up the art and science of dentistry, Mr. Anderson became very eminent and the teacher of many of the most celebrated pro- fessors, men who were the creators of dental science. He was the originator of the stamped plate, which was at that time gener- ally adopted. Under his careful and thor- ough training young Brown, himself a nat- ural mechanic, made rapid progress. ITe spent his time not so much in reading as in unremitting endeavors to acquire skill and dexterity in the art. Completing his course of study John R. Brown settled, when only nineteen, in his native place, where, by hard work and faithful attention to business, he gained a good practice. After two years he concluded to seek a larger field and removed

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to New Castle, Delaware, where he remained three years, gaining a good and lucrative prae- tice.

At the end of this time the confinement necessary to his business becoming irksome, he was induced to join his father in the mill- ing business, to which his mechanical turn of mind seemed particularly well suited. After continuing in this for some years with varied success, he again took up his legitimate call- ing to which he now brought well formed business habits and a mind improved and awakened by contact with a sharp business community. Mr. Brown found that great ad- vances had been made in dentistry, and that to take the position he desired would require much hard study. But determined to place himself in the very front ranks, he applied himself with unremitting zeal. He read the best journals and all the most valuable dental literature. His memory was retentive, and having thoroughly mastered the fundamental principles during the former years, he had a good foundation on which to build. He gave himself wholly to his work, not sparing any pains or trouble to please and satisfy his patrons, and gained his reward in an exten- sive practice. The beauty, strength and dur- ability of his work was soon recognized, while his high character and genial manners made lii hosts of friends.

Dr. John R. Brown was married, in 1859, to Miss Francis E., daughter of the late James Draper of New Castle.

JOIN PECKWITH ALLMOND was born in Brandywine village, now the ninth ward of Wilmington, May 6, 1835. His ances- tors, a hardy and long lived race, of French origin, have for many generations been resi- dents of Delaware, having settled early in the eighteenth century upon extensive tracts of land along the Delaware river between Edge- moor and Philadelphia turnpike. His great grandfather attained the extreme age of ninety-six, and his father, William Allmond, over eighty-six. His mother was Phoebe (Jefferies) Allmond.

Ile attended in his boyhood the village aca- demy, and later the Friends' school, where he acquired a good English education. Hay-

ing a great fondness for the sea, as soon as he was large enough to be so employed, he spent his summers in the coast service, continuing his studies during the winter. At the age of seventeen he bound himself for a four years' apprenticeship to Mr. Gregg Chandler to learn the wood turning business. When he had served three years and mastered his trade, he bought the remaining year, and also purchased the interest and business of Mr. Chandler, and at the age of twenty-one com- menced life for himself. He met with good success, but at the end of a year sold out and engaged in the grocery business.

Mr. Allmond was one of the most popular, enterprising, and public spirited citizen of Wilmington, and acquired a wide influence in public affairs. In March, 1869, he se- cured the incorporation, by the Legislature, of the Brandywine Loan Association, the ob- jeet of which was to enable men of limited income to secure for themselves a home by the payment of a small monthly stipend. The duration of the association being limited to ten years, it closed its existence in April, 1879. During the entire period Mr. All- mond was its president, filling the office with great credit to himself and benefit to the as- sociation, by whose beneficent operations, many now possess homes who could not have secured them without its agenev.

Abont 1856 Mr. Allmond became a mem- ber of the masonic fraternity and served as Past Grand Secretary and Past Grand Mas- ter of the Grand Lodge. He early became deeply interested in securing the erection of the Masonic Temple, laboring incessantly and with much influence for that result, till finally the efforts of himself and colleagues were crowned with success, and they now possess one of the most magnificent struc- tures in the State. He was chairman of the committee on Plans, and also one of the Building Committee.

In 1877 he was elected by the Legislature a member of the Board of Construction for the completion of the Cool Spring Reservoir, which is one of the great public works of Wilmington and the pride of its people. In September, 1878, he was elected Mayor of Wilmington by a larger majority than was ever given to an incumbent of that office since the city was incorporated. His popu-

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larity was well demonstrated in the vote for his nomination, which was more than one thousand over all his competitors.

In the winter of 1881 his term of office and that of the other city officers, was entended by the Legislature to July, 1882. Ilis ad- ministration was signalized by an alle man- agement of municipal affairs and by a firm ad- herence to the principles of his party.

John P. Allmond was married June 24, 1856, to Miss Sarah M., daughter of Moses and Mary Palmer of Brandywine village, prominent and highly respected members of the Society of Friends. Mr. and Mrs. All- mond had ten children.

COL. HENRY B. FIDDEMAN was born February 3, 1807, in Mispillion hundred, Kent county, son of Philip D. and Mary (Anderson) Fiddeman. Ilis father was elected several times to the State Legislature. Hle died in 1840 in the sixty-eighth year of his age. Philip Fiddeman married Mary, daughter of Major Anderson of Kent county, a real estate owner and a Justice of the Peace. Mrs. Fiddeman was a christian lady; and a devoted wife and mother. She died in 1817, at the age of twenty-five years.

Col. Henry B. Fiddeman was reared upon the farm and received a fair business educa- tion. At the age of seventeen he entered a store as clerk at Cannon's Ferry, Sussex county, where he remained until he reached his twenty-first year, when he became an equal partner, and the firm was long and fay- orably known as Powell and Fiddeman. They commanded an extensive trade and operated largely in vessel property, humber and grain. In 1838 they removed to Wye Landing, Talbot county, Md., where they successfully embarked in a like business. In consequence of a partial failure of his health, Mr. Fiddeman sold out Tis share of the busi- ness in January, 1845, and removed with his family to the farm of hi- boyhood near Ver- non, Del.

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 92

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