Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 98

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

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cember; fighting, burning bridges, cte., and in other engagements, thirteen in all.

In one of the actions before Petersburg one half of his regiment was killed or wounded, and in that of the Weldon Railroad his brigade captured seven stands of colors from the enemy. In the burning of the outhouses, after the main building of the "Davis House" was destroyed, of the detail accompanying him, as they advanced under fire of the enemy, every man was either killed or wounded but himself.

The good fortune which in many previous engagements had brought him through un- harmed, deserted him in the battle of "Ro- wanty Creek," February 6, 1865, where, after endeavoring to lead his men to a better cross- ing than was at first attempted, he, while in advance of his regiment, was a too conspicuous mark for the enemy, and a minnie ball shat- tered the elbow of his right arm. The gal- lantry displayed on this occasion made him lieutenant colonel of the regiment. His wound was most painful and he unfit for further duty, yet he recovered sufficiently to be pres- ent and take part on the staff of Gen. Gwinn, in the Grand Review in Washington, at the close of the war.

His return to civil life was marked by his entrance into the firm of Garrett & Sons, his old friend, into whose house he was received when a lad from the country, advancing him the sum of $15,000 therefor, and the firm name was changed to Garrett, Kent & Co., hardware and iron merchants, Wilmington. This firm extended their business until its transactions embraced most of the southern and middle, as well as the western states of the Union.

In 1872 the firm of D. H. Kent & Co. suc- ceeded that of Garrett, Kent & Co., and in 1878 established a branch house in Philadel- phia, and in 1879 the interests were merged into a stock company.

On the 17th day of October, 1867, Col. Samuel HI. Kent was married to Miss Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Israel Pusey, of Wil- mington. This estimable woman has been the founder of his quiet and happy home in Wil- mington.

WILLIAM KIRKLEY LOCKWOOD was born in Delaware, March 31, 1828.

William, the fifth child of his parents, was reared upon the farm, attending school until he was ten years of age, at which time his parents removed to Middletown, where his education was conducted for six years. He was then sent to the New London Academy, Chester county, Penna., where he continued for two years.

At the age of eighteen he went to Philadel- phia, and was engaged as a clerk, but after a short time returned to Middletown and as- sisted in his father's store. He remained in this business for two years, when he began the pursuit of agriculture. He had the care of the home farm, the property of his father, for one year, when he removed to the farm called "Heath's Range."

William K. Lockwood was united in mar- riage December 2, 1851, to Miss Elizabeth W., daughter of Joseph Griffith, of Newark. Upon their bridal trip they visited Washington, and dined with the distinguished Henry Clay, at his invitation. Seven children have been born of this marriage: I. Richard; II. Ida; III. Mollie W .; IV. Lizzie; V. Mattie; VI. Wil- liam G .; VII. Agnes Irving Lockwood.

EZEKIEL FLEMING was born March +, 1836, in Kent county. He was reared on a farm and attended the country schools very irregularly during the winter terms.

At twenty-one years of age he began work- ing upon the Delaware railroad, which he fol- lowed for eight years. At the end of this time he began the business of furnishing ties to the railroad company, from a tract of timber which he had previously purchased. He continued buying and selling lumber and railroad ties until 1872, when he bought an interest in a steam saw mill, which was destroyed by fire in 1875. The insurance on this property being only partial, Mr. Fleming's loss was considera- ble. He had contracted for large quantities of lumber , and had to employ other mills to do the sawing. He purchased the "MeCleary mill," at Farmington, in 1875, and in 1876 he erected a steam saw mill at Felton, and after the contiguous timber was eut, removed it to Harrington.

In 1878, Mr. Fleming built a steam grist and custom mill at Harrington, running four sets of burrs, and turning out large quantities of four, meal, ete. In 1871 he bought the

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stock and fixtures of a general store and began merchandizing.

Ezekiel Fleming was married in 1861, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of William Booth, a farmer of Kent county. Of this marriage there were seven children, three daughters and four sons.

WILLIAM WALKER SHARP was born October 2, 1821. Ilis father, Clement Sharp, Sr., was a farmer and large land owner of Nanticoke hundred, who died at the age of seventy-six years, in 1854, leaving a large es- tate. Ile was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church, and an upright, honest, self- made man. His mother was Sallie, daughter of Thomas Lindale, of Sussex county. She died in 1850, at the age of seventy-five years, leaving seven children.

The grandfather of William was Jolin Sharp, a wealthy farmer and prominent citizen of Sussex county; he died in 1816. The Sharps came from England and settled in Sus- sex county, early in the eighteenth century.

William W. Sharp is the fourth generation from John Sharp, the emigrant. Ile at- tended the public schools of his neighborhood until he was twenty years of age, when he was sent to the academy at Milford for one year. Upon reaching manhood he began teaching, and followed that vocation for three years, teaching only in the winter season. He then began farming and merchandising. He con- tinned merchandising for five years, when he gave it up and devoted himself to farming and to the culture of fruit.

He was an avowed Unionist during the war, and stood up for the preservation of the con- try. He joined the Methodist Episcopal church in 1837 and became an exhorter, class- leader and trustee. Mr. Sharp interested him- self in public education, and held the position of clerk of the school board of his district for thirty years. Ilis life is his best eulogy. IIe was united in marriage, on the twenty-fourth day of December, 1843, to Miss Leah, a daugh- ter of George and Mary (Laws) Polk, of Sus- sex county, Del.

EDWARD CARTER was born November 3, 1524, son of Edward Broadaway and Mary

(Register) Carter, of Kent county, Md. Three children of this marriage grew to maturity: I. Edward J .; II. Mary A .; III. Lydia B.

The Carters are of English descent, and first settled in Virginia, afterward removing to Delaware. Edward J. Carter attended the schools in the vicinity of his home until his six- teenth year, when he attended for one year the Academy at New Castle, Del. In 1845 he became a farmer at "Tonton Field," the place of his birth, which is the name of a large tract of land comprising more than one thousand acres, which has been in the possession of the Carter family since 1820.

In 1854 he began peach-growing, and es- tablished his nursery. In 1856 he set out fif- teen hundred peach trees. Each succeeding year he added to the number, and in 1880 had seven thousand peach trees in bearing. Mr. Carter found fruit growing a paying interest. During one year his sales amounted to $3,000.

Edward Carter was united in marriage April 20, 1847, to Miss Elizabeth Reynolds, daughter of Robert W. Reynolds. Ten chil- dren were born to them.

SAMUEL MILBY HARRINGTON was born at Dover, October 31, 1840, being the eldest son of Chancellor Harrington, of hon- ored memory. It has been the fortune of Del- aware to have a succession of able men, whose usefulness has been perpetuated in the virtues and talents of their sons. Of this Samuel M. Ilarrington was a striking example. A life closed too soon as it seemed to human judg- ment, and yet so singularly fruitful of results, presents to the thoughtful and attentive mind a most interesting study. His earliest boy- hood gave promise of the future man. His elementary education was obtained in the town of his birth, and he was graduated from Dela- ware College with the first honors of his class ir. 1857, being then in his seventeenth year.

At once the young graduate commenced the study of the law, first under direction of his father, and then of Ilon. D. M. Bates, and was admitted to practice, November 18, 1861, hav- ing less than a month before completed his twenty-first year. At this time the cloud of civil war had overshadowed the land, and soon after it became the subject of all absorbing

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anxiety and attention. His earnest and sym- pathetie nature responded to the sense of pub- lie peril, as it did to every generous impulse, and he speedily became active in political af- fairs. In several capacities he gave his ardent support to the cause of the Union, and was in polities an active member of the Republican party, in which, even at so early an age, he became a recognized influence.

In 1862 he was appointed Adjutant Gen- eral of this State, in which capacity he ren- dered efficient service in raising, organizing and equipping troops. In the following year (1863), upon the election to Congress of Hon. N. B. Smithers, then Secretary of State, Mr. Ilarrington was appointed to that office. Ilis new duties were discharged with characteristic industry and ability, and his administration thereof won the admiration of friends, and the respect of all. At this time, his interest in public affairs was unflagging. He came at once to the front rank as a leader of his party, and wielded a large influence in shaping its policy and guiding its action, so long as it held power in the state.

The death of Governor Cannon terminated his official life early in 1865, but his interest in public affairs continued till the election of 1866. After earnest but unsnecessful efforts a> chairman of the State Central Committee of that year, in behalf of his friend, Mr. Rid- die, as a candidate for Governor, he quitted the field of active polities, and thenceforth de- voted himself untiringly to the practice of his profession.

Shortly after the death of his father left him, at twenty-five, the head of his family and stay of his mother and younger brothers and sister. This sad event decided his future course. He subsequently held two public of- fices, strictly in the line of professional duty, having been Deputy Attorney General during a portion of the term of Attorney General Wootten, and July 1, 1872, being elected city solicitor of Wilmington, a position to which he was also re-elected for a second term. He was also a member of the Republican National Executive Committee from 1874 to the time of his death.

Mr. Harrington's professional career, which absorbed all of life which remained to him, was unique, both in the brillianey of his sue- cess and the rapidity with which it was achicy-

ed. The universal confidence of the bar and the public which his father had enjoyed, was no mean inheritance; but the son, unaided, would have commanded success in any forum. He combined all the qualities of a true lawyer in a symmetrical development as rare as it was admirable. As a counsellor he was patient to hear facts, and indefatigable in verifying them, clear and accurate in legal judgment, fixed in his matured opinions, and frank in their statement. He left nothing to chance. Ile went into court, master of the situation, and tried his case with a brilliancy and dash surprising to one not in the secret of the la- borious preparation. Endowed with singular versatility and readiness of resource, alert, courteous, indefatigable, his success was inevi- table. If he had been less brilliant in advo- caey, he would have secured a reputation for acenracy of detail and industry in the dispatch of office routine, or, if his facility in all that pertains to the attorney had been less marked, he would have impressed himself as one born to win distinction as a barrister.

The union of distinct and well defined ea- pacities which generally distinguished two classes of lawyers, was of itself a source of power, even if either had been less marked in him. Indeed there was no duty of the pro- fession to which he did not bring the faculties of a master. Not unworthy of note was his considerate, courteous punctuality, which would not waste for others the time which he himself so well employed. While he thus dis- played all these gifts which enriched his client, his exemplary bearing towards the bench ful- filled to the utmost his professional oath, and his uniform courtesy made him the favorite of the bar. Mr. Harrington always maintain- ed that high professional standard so essential to the welfare of the bar and of society. To be a lawyer meant not merely the means of personal advancement, but he felt that he ex- creised a public function involving a lofty range of duties and responsibilities. In all that tended to elevate the tone and promote the esprit de corps of the bar he was facile princeps.

The Bar Association and Bar Library of his county owe their existence to his energy and their growth to his fostering care. Courteous, self-forgetful, publie spirited, he was pre- eminently helpful and encouraging to younger

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men, and his brethren of every age arose at his death and blessed his memory for the kindly influence of his life.

S. M. Harrington was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and at every point, where it was possible, he touched so- ciety, and it seemed always brightened by the contact. llis fondness for children was -0 marked as to surround him with them on every possible occasion. No public interest came within his reach which did not receive his hearty co-operation and before others had ceased to plan he had begun to act, always bearing the burden of the common labor. But the physical was not equal to the mental. Sil- ent and unregarded, the forces of life had been given way. More and more had the work absorbed the man, quite crowding out that social life in which he could be preeminent. The end came on the 10th of September, 1878, and he was not quite thirty-eight years old.

EDWARD COLLINS FENNIMORE was born in New Jersey, April 17, 1830. Hle attended the schools of his locality until his twentieth year, after which he was associated with his father in agriculture and in raising fruit.

In 1845 his father sold his farm in New Jer- sey, and removed to one they had purchased near Odessa. They there conducted a large nursery, from which they sold annually, in different parts of Delaware and Maryland, 35,000 trees. They were also very successful in the culture of peaches.

Joshma B. Fennimore brought with him from New Jersey 3000 peach trees, and every year increased the number till he bad on his two farms of 1400 acres, 400 acres covered with this fruit.

In 1858 Edward C. Fenimore commenced farming by himself on a place called "Rock- land," about four miles from Odessa, com- prising 800 acres of land; and the following year set out, on another farm, 11,000 peach trees. From 1860 to 1870 he sold from "Rockland," 183,650 baskets of peaches, the gross receipts from which were $157,224.87. He became the largest fruit grower in the State, and realized in a single year over $29,- 000 from the sale of the different varieties.

Edward C. Fennimore bought, in 1867, eighty-six acres of land adjoining Middle- town, for $20,000. These he divided into town lots, and in six months had realized from the sale of them the sum he had expended, and had still eighteen acres remaining. To his enterprise Middletown owes, largely, its growth and improvement. Edward C. Fenni- more was married in 1866 to Miss Susan P., daughter of Isaac Hall, of Pennsylvania. Only one of their three children survived, Mary Louisa Fennimore.

AARON CONRAD was born near the Blue Bell, in Montgomery county, Pa., De- cember 25, 1805. Ilis opportunities of educa- tion were limited, but were well suplemented in after life by careful observation, reading, good common sense and excellent judgment.

He learned the milling business, which he followed for a few years, then went to farm- ing, in which he was quite successful, but left it about 1845, and started the coal business at Nicetown, one of the numerous small towns lying in the suburbs of Philadelphia. In comparison with its present gigantic propor- tions, the coal trade was then in its infancy, but by dint of perseverance and energy, he built up a large and prosperous business.

While thus engaged he resided at Nicetown and Bridesburg, and on disposing of the busi- ness, removed to Germantown, and in 1856, to Wilmington. Here he invested consider- able capital, buying twenty shares of land on the outskirts of the city, and building, upon a portion of it, a large and commodious dwell- ing for his own occupation. He also built, on this tract, several rows of houses. By the growth of the city this land greatly increased in value, and he sold it off in lots at a mate- rial advantage. After parting with most of it, and also selling his residence, he removed, in 1869, to West street, in the heart of the city, where he continued to reside until the time of his death.

Besides the above, he invested quite exten- sively in farms in Caroline county, Md., which be greatly improved. All his investments in land were, for the most part, successful. Ile was a man of equable temperament, of quiet, but pleasant manner, and was particularly

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successful in winning the confidence and good will of all with whom he was brought in con- tact.

Being of a reserved tendency he rather avoided anything like public life. In 1877 he was elected a member of the Wilmington City Council, to represent the Fifth Ward, and served most acceptably as a member, and as Chairman of the Street Commitice. Re- elected in 1878, he was thus serving the city at the time of his death. .

Hle was a birth-right member of the Society of Friends, and retained that membership through life, always in the quiet, unassumi- in manner which was natural to him. In his home-life he was an exemplary husband and father. Ile was married three times and left, at his death, four children. His last mar- riage took place in 1858. He lived to the ripe age of three-score years and ten, closing his long and successful career, December 31, 1878. The City Council and both political parties united in paying appropriate honors to his memory, testifying to his many virtues and the respect and regard his character in- spired.

JAMES CONNER, was the oldest son of James and Elizabeth (Browning) Conner, and was born, September 21, 1513, near "Mas- sevs," Kent county, Md. His parents had three other children: I. Mary Eveline, who married John R. Wilkins; II. Joshua Brown- ing, who died in 1861, leaving six children; III. Martha Elizabeth, who married William Bayard, and died in 1840.

When James Conner was four years of age, the family removed to a farm owned by his mother in Virginia, eighteen miles above Har- per's Ferry, on the Potomac river, and his childhood was passed amid the beautiful sven- ery of that locality. In the winter he attend- ed the country school, and in summer assist- ed on the farm.

When he was twelve years of age his father died, and they returned to their home in Kent county. AAt the age of fourteen he closed his school days and came to Wilmington as an apprentitee to Mr. Stephen Boddy to learn his trade. Ilis stature was unusually large for his years, his bearing manly and his eoun- tenance open and honest. Also his ability and fiedelity soon so won the esteem of his

employer that in the second year of his ap- prenticeship he made him his clerk and book- keeper, and during his frequent absences en- trusted him with the general management of the business. In his will he appointed him the executor of his estate.

At the age of twenty James Connor closed his connection with Mr. Boddy, and after four months spent in learning saddle-making, went, in 1833, to East Marlboro, Chester county, Pa., where, with only $94 in hand, he comeneed life on his own account. August 24, 1834, James Conner was married to Miss Rhoda Jane Morrison, of Wilmington, by Richard Bayard, the first mayor of that city. Ile remained at East Marlboro until 1839, when he removed to New London, in Chester county, remaining there nearly twenty years.

He succeeded in business; was for ten years a justice of the peace, and was urged to ac- cept the nomination for Sheriff of Chester county, but declined.

In 1858 he returned to Wilmington, bring- ing with him sufficient capital to open business on a larger scale, and rented the eligible pro- perty at 237 Market street, where he from that time continued, purchasing the same in 1878. This became one of the leading houses in the State in the manufacture of saddles, harness and trunks, and Mr. Conner accumu- lated a handsome property. Hle built, after plans of his own, the commodious residence on Jefferson street. Wherever he lived he exhibited great enterprise and public spirit, and greatly promoted the best interests of the community and of the church he attended.

He was disinclined to official position, yet served the people of Wilmington in alnost every capacity but that of Mayor, which office was several times urged upon him, but he would not accept the nomination. He was ap- pointed by the Levy Court one of the trustees of the poor for New Castle county for a term of three years, and was President of the Board during the third year. He afterwards filled an unexpired term of three months. In every position of trust his ability and integrity were conspicuous and unquestioned. He united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in Wil- mington in 1832, and shortly before leaving New London was chiefly instrumental in or- ganizing and building there a house of wor- ship for his denomination.

His connection after returning to Wilming-

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ton was with Grace Church. In 1879 he be- came a member of the Order of Odd Fellows. He had four children: I. James Armstrong Conner, born in 1837; II. Anna Maria; III. Joshua; IV. Charles Duffield Conner.

JOHN JAMES ROSA was born in Uls- ter county, New York, April 10, 1833. His parents were Jacob II. and Caroline (Has- brouck) Rosa. Jacob II. Rosa was a farmer all his life, an enterprising, prosperous and popular man, greatly respected by the comminmity. Ile died in June, 1877, at the age of eighty-one. Ile was the eld- est son of Herman and Catherine (Sleight) Roosa, and the name was changed by him to Rosa. Herman Roosa was one of the early settlers of Ulster ovunty, and the land he took up is now in possesion of the fourth genera- tion of his descendants. He was the son of Herman Roosa, the elder, who emigrated from Holland to New York. According to the family tradition the Roosas were originally French and the name was Rossian, and they removed to Holland, probably to enjoy relig- ious freedom. The mother of John James Rosa was the daughter of Rocliff Hasbrouck, who belonged to one of the oldest Huguenot families in Ulster county. The old Has- brouck house was built of stone in 1705, and the port holes in the parlor, from which the inmates defended themselves against the In- dians, are still to be seen.

In 1836, when he was only three years of age, Mr. Rosa's parents removed to Cayuga county, Central New York, where his father continued farming till 1870. Mr. Rosa en- joved the advantages of a good english and business education in the schools of Cayuga county, until the age of sixteen, after which he atended only during the winter season until the age of twenty. Ile continued to live with his parents, taking the burden of care at the farm, until he was married, in 1860, when his father retired, and he assum- ed entire charge. This he continued until 1870, when he removed to Milford, and pur- chased of Joseph Yardley the farm which has become famous throughout the United States as the J. J. Rosa fruit farm. He was an active member of the Fruit Growers'

AAssociation until it ceased to exist, when, in 1876, he was largely instrumental in organiz- ing the Milford Grange, Patrons of Hus- bandry of which he was made master for the first three years. On the Organization of the Delaware State Grange, in 1877, Mr. Rosa was made master, which honorable and re- sponsible position he held for four success- ive terms. He attended six annual sessions of the National Grange, as a representative from Delaware. These were held in Louis- ville, in 1874; in Chicago, in 1876; in Cin- cinnati, in 1877; in Richmond, in 1878; in Canandaigua, New York, in 1879, and in Washington, in 1880.

John James Rosa was married in 1860, to Miss Sarah M., daughter of Alexander and Magdalen (DuBois) Elting, and they had three children: I. Alexander Elting; II. Ida Elting; III. Jacob Herman Rosa.

EDWARD JOHN CRIPPEN was born in Milltown, near Stanton, New Castle coun- ty, May 26, 1826. He was the second son of Silas and Maria (Rodgers) Crippen, who were both from Kent county. Silas Crippen was a farmer, and was born in Frederica in 1797.

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 98

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