Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 99

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

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In 1804, when only seven years of age, he lost his father, Benjamin Crippen, who was also a farmer, and was brought up from that time partly by William Townsend, of that place, and partly by Zodac Townsend, who were brothers, and relatives of his mother. He married about the year 1818. Ilis oldest child was James Crippen. The third child was Joshua D. Crippen, who went to California in 1849, and after spending some years at the gold mines, was elected sheriff of Mariposa county in 1858, and was re-elected every two years for a period of fourteen years. He died, while still holding that office, in 1872, leaving a widow and three children. Sarah Jane Crippen was the fourth child and only daughter. She died unmar- ried in Newark, at the house of her brother Edward. The wife of Silas Crippen had pre- viously been married to a Mr. Townsend, by whom she had two daughters, both now de- ceased. She died in 1835, and her husband in 1841.

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The family were originally from Scotland, and came to Delaware, it is supposed, with the early settlers. By the early orphanage of Silas Crippen, the family Bible and much that is of great importance in their history, has been lost trace of.

Two brothers, James and Benjamin Crip- pen, first came to this state, leaving John, an elder brother, in Scotland, who inherited the family estate. This estate, now of innnense value has, within the last forty-five years, been left without an heir. Undoubtedly the Crippens of Delaware could be proven the rightful owners, but for the difficulty of re- covering the lost links in their history. They have always borne an excellent name, and have been highly estemed in the communi- ties where they have resided.

His mother dying when he was only nine years of age, Edward J. Crippen was brought up in the family of John Peach, Esq., the husband of his half sister. He was sent regu- larly to school and received, for that time, a good English education. With this for a foundation, and indulging through life a nat- ural fondness for books and reading, he at- tained a more than usual degree of culture.

In 1842 he went to live with his elder brother, James, in New Castle, and was clerk in his store. Ile first commenced business for himself by opening a store in Newark, where he remained three years. In 1853 he removed to Philadelphia and entered into partnership with his father-in-law, W. S. Maddock. This gentleman was the proprietor of the oldest grocery house in Pennsylvania, located at 115 South Third street, Philadelphia, and which has been in continuous business, and in the same family, from the time of its establish- ment in 1805. The founders were W. S. and E. Maddock, who continued it till 1826, when it was taken in charge by W. S. Mad- dock, of the second generation, till 1853. By the admission of Mr. Crippen at that time, the name of the firm was changed to W. S. Maddock and Company. Mr. Maddock died in 1867, and his son, John B. Maddock, of the third generation, continued the business with Mr. Crippen, the firm bearing the name of Crippen and Maddock. John B. Maddock retired in 1873, and William Maddock Crip- pen, the oldest son of Edward J. Crippen, was admitted to the firm, which then assumed the name of E. J. Crippen and Company.

Edward J. Crippen was married in 1850, to Miss Mary Maddock, daughter of W. S. Maddock, and granddaughter of the first W. S. Maddock, who, with his brother, founded the business. William M., mentioned above, was the oldest of their three children. The sec- ond child was Elizabeth Maddock Crippen, and the youngest James Edward Crippen. Mrs. Crippen died in March, 1882.

JOIIN A. REYNOLDS was born near Middletown, December 4, 1813. His father was William Reynolds, a farmer, who was born in Appoquinimink hundred and died in his forty-eighth year. His grandfather was Thomas Reynolds, also a farmer of the same hundred. The family is of English ancestry and were among the early settlers of the county. His mother was Elizabeth, daughter of Arnold Naudain, an uncle of Dr. Arnold Naudain, U. S. senator from Delaware. At the age of eight years, shortly after the death of his father, John was sent first to the pay school, then to the Middletown Academy, where he remained until he was fifteen years of age. He then entered the store of Mr. John McDowell, at Dover, where he contin- ued for one year, when he accepted a clerk- ship in the store of Mr. William B. Janvier, where he remained until he was eighteen years of age, when he returned home.

Ile began the business of agriculture at the age of twenty-two. At first he rented the land which he cultivated, when, after four years, he became the owner of a farm known as "Glenwood," lying two and a half miles from Newark and containing 165 acres, Soon after this he purchased another farm of 100 acres, being assisted by his friends to make the payments thereon. This kindness was the result of his integrity and the confidence re- posed in him by his friends. Mr. Reynolds was very successful as a farmer, which busi- ness he followed until 1861, when he began merchandizing in the town of Newark, where he remained for three years. He then re- moved to Middletown, and in connection with his two younger sons, engaged in the general mercantile business, which he continued until 1868, when he retired from business. John D. Reynolds was nominated on the Whig ticket in 1552, and was one of the three

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Whigs who were elected from New Castle county to the state legislature, serving in the session of the General Assembly of 1853.

Mr. Reynolds was appointed by Governor Saulsbury in 1867, one of the trustees on the part of the state for Delaware College.

John A. Reynolds has been twice married; first to Miss Mary G., daughter of Samuel Moore, of New Castle county, Del. She died in April, 1858, leaving four children, three of whom are yet living: I. Joli A., Jr .; II. Edward; III. Samuel M. He was again united in marriage to Miss Caroline C., daughter of Joshua B. Fennimore.

DR. WILLIAM WELLS WOLFE, of Milton, who died in that town in May, 1866, was born in 1800. His father, Dr. Jacob Wolfe, was also a physician of Milton. Dr. William W. Wolfe, after careful literary training, entered on the study of medicine, and after graduating from the University of Maryland, settled for the practice of his pro- fession, in Milton, where he spent his life. His brothers were Jacob and Erasmus Wolfe, merchants of Philadelphia.

Dr. W. W. Wolfe married Ann, daughter of Governor Hazzard. Himself and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. She died in July, 1866, her honored husband preceding her by only a few months. For forty years Dr. Wolfe was engaged in a large and extensive practice and left behind him a name for skill in his profession, and for great uprightness of life. Two sons and one daughter survived their parents: I. Dr. David Wolfe; II. Dr. William Wolfe; III. Mrs. Charlotte, who married John R. MeFec, of Georgetown, Delaware.

JOSEPHI R. TANTUM was born in Mon- mouth county, New Jersey, on the 12th day of April, 1834, son of James Tantum, a wealthy farmer of that county. Ile was edu- cated in the best schools in that section of the country. At the age of twenty-one years he engaged in mercantile business, which he prosecuted successfully for several years, but finally disposed of it and engaged in the

drug and apothecary business. In a few years he decided to relinquish that occupation and to prepare himself for the duties of a physician, for which he believed he was espe- cially called.

Immediately after the disposal of his inter- ests in the drug and chemical department he commenced the study of medicine. While thus engaged events occurred that deeply im- pressed him with the probable truth of home- opathy, and he decided to examine it carefully, and at once entered the office of Prof. O. B. Gause, M. D., of Philadelphia. Here the same characteristics exhibited themselves that had marked his early life, viz: An indomita- ble will and a determination to succeed in all that he undertook. He was a faithful and diligent student, being absent from lectures but two hours during the last year's course at college. After the completion of a thor- ough course of instruction, he graduated from the Homeopathie Medical College of Penn- sylvania.

In the spring of 1865 he moved to Wil- mington and commenced practice. His suc- cess in building up a large practice in a short time was almost unprecedented in the his- tory of his profession.

THOMAS ELLIOTT RECORDS was born three miles from Lewes, January 7, 1828. His father, Isaac Records, was a farm- er and also a builder, an industrious thrifty and upright man, highly regarded in the com- munity, and a member of the Methodist church. He died, September 29, 1843. His wife was Temperance, daughter of John Elliott, of Little Creek hundred. Seven of their eight children grew to maturity: I. John; II. Anna; III. Sarah; IV. Mary; V. Rufus; VI. Thomas E .; VII. Margaret L.

The father of Isaac Records was also a farmer near Lewes, and the family, which is of French origin, is one of the oldest in the county. Mr. Records received a good com- mon school education which he supplemented by reading and study.

At the age of eighteen he became a clerk in Lewes, and continued in this employment until 1852, when he went to Madison county, Missouri, as Look-keeper for the mining com-

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pany of R. F. & T. F. Fleming, of Phila- delphia. In this position he remained until March, 1856, when he returned to Delaware and was for some years in mercantile business, in company with Henry Wolfe, Sr., in Lewes. Ile disposed of his share in the business in the spring of 1858, and in the following spring opened a store in his own name, which he con- ducted with uninterrupted success Mr. Records in 1864 was elected a member of the Levy Court of Sussex county for four years. In 1870 he was elected to the state senate, serving with great eredit in the sessions of 1871 and 1873. He was on the finance com- mittee, and was instrumental in defeating the attempt to change the usury laws of Dela- ware which would have unsettled all the in- vestments in the state. He was also influen- tial in securing the passage of the present tax law which has not since been materially modified. In 1876 he was a delegate to the Lay Electoral Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church at Wilmington, and to the same body in Dover in 1880. He joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in 1849.

His marriage with Miss Esther Rebecca, daughter of Rev. John T. and Mary (West) Hazzard, of Lewes, took place in June, 1860. They have had three children: I. John Haz- zard; 11. William Thomas; III. Mary Haz- zard Records.

KENDAL RICKARDS, ESQ., was born August 8, 1816, being the youngest son of Eli and Rachel (Derrickson) Rickards. His father was a farmer in independent cireum- stances, an industrious and respected citizen, and a member of the Methodist church. His first wife lived but a few months after their marriage, and he was next married to Miss Evans, by whom he had four sons and one daughter. She also died, and in 1810 he mar- ried Rachel, daughter of John Derrickson. Their four children grew to maturity: I. Isaac; IT. Stephen; III. Kendal; IV. Mary, who married J. D. Lynch, and died in 1850, leaving two children.

Eli Rickards died November 12, 1833, in his sixty-sixth year. His father was Jones Rickards, also a farmer, who owned the prop- erty on which his son resided when Kendal Rickards was born. He died in 1790, at the

age of fifty. Esquire Rickards was favored with but few educational advantages, all his school days amounting to no more than nine months, There were almost no schools in that part of Delaware during his childhood and youth. He grew up on the farm, and his father dying when he was seventeen years of age, he assisted for one year afterward in the care of the estate. He then followed the sea five years, being engaged in the coasting trade, and spending his winters at home.

In 1840, having married the year previous, he purchased two small tracts of worn-out- land, containing 48 acres, for which he paid four hundred and fifteen dollars, and com- menced farming.

Kendal Rickards was made constable in the three years following 1842, and also in 1853-54. In 1854 he was appointed justice of the peace and notary public, the duties of which office he discharged with so much ability and acceptance, that he was twice re- appointed, holding the office for three full terms of seven years each. In this position he won the respect and esteem of all who knew him, and gained a wide reputation as a just, fair and honorable officer.

In 1876 he was elected, on the Democrat- ic ticket to the popular branch of the Gen- eral Assembly and served with credit during the session of 1877. He was always deeply interested in educational matters, and active in promoting the interests of the public schools of his locality. For seventeen years he was clerk of the local board of school trus- tees.

In 1839 Kendal Rickard married Eleanor M. Carey, by whom he had seven children: I. Ann M. T .; II. Mary C .; III. Elizabeth L .: IV. James K .; V. Charles S .; VI. Sarah E .; VII. George Washington Rickards. Ken- dal Rickards had the misfortune to lose his wife November 23, 1875. In January, 1876, he married Elizabeth S., widow of David II. Derrickson, and daughter of Lemuel Lynch, and had by this marriage: I. Minerva W .; II. Mattie Rickards.

STEPHEN POSTLES was born between Frederica and Milford, in Kent county, Sep- tember 29, 1811, being the fifth and young-

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est child of Zadoc and Eleanor (Paker) Postles. Ilis father, a farmer, a most rx- cellent man, and a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, died in 1812, when his son, Stephen, was only six months old.

The grandfather of the latter was Shad- rach Postles, who, with his brothers, Thomas and John were the first of the name who came to America. They settled in Sussex county, and in the year 1800 Shadrach and all his children, with the exception of Zadoc, who had married, removed to Franklin county, Ohio, where he died and his descendants are scattered throughout the West.

Stephen Postles grew up at the old home- stead. A very poor school kept only about two months in the winter, was all he had any opportunity of attending. At the age of six- teen he left home, and for nearly two years worked for Jehu Reed on the old Hewston farm, in Murderkill Neck, receiving only $3.50 per month, or a shilling a day for tif- teen hours labor. In the fall of 1829 he be- came a clerk in the store of his cousins, Job and Solomon Townsend, of Frederica, with whom he remained four years, receiving but thirty dollars a year, but he learned how to conduct business, and was introduced to a course of life which held before him the promise of better things.

Leaving his cousins, he formed a partner- ship with Thomas Lockwood in the general merchandise business, in Frederica. The firm of Lockwood & Postles dissolved after three years, by mutual consent, and Mr. Postles purchased, in the fall of 1837, the Hardcastle farm, one mile from Camden. On this he worked hard, and also, after a year, established a small foundry and plow manu- factory for the supply of the surrounding country. This, after continuing with success till 1850, he sold to Nock and Dickson, of Camden, but continued farming.

In the spring of 1853 he was urged by Mr. Thomas II. Bayard, uncle of his wife, to re- move to Wilmington, and engage in the man- ufacture of morocco. This he at first de- clined to do, but in the fall of that year, part- ly in consideration of better schools for his children, decided to take the step. The change was made in November. He entered into partnership with Mr. Bayard, and set

himself to work to learn the business. Not- withstanding the closest application, he scarce- ly made enough the first year to support his family, but they did make some reputation. The establishment had before been in bad re- pute, and was sadly run down. The second year they began to prosper, and in 1856 built a new brick factory on Fourth street, between Orange and Tatnall, in which his son, Gen- eral James Parke Postles afterwards con- ducted the business. The financial distress of 1857, they foresaw and were prepared to meet. In January, 1858, Mr. Postles bought out his partner, and after that owned and con- ducted the business in his own name. The two years following were successful; 1861 was not so profitable, and in 1862 the factory was stopped, the men discharged, and ruin seemed inevitable. As the war progressed, he was enabled to renew business in a small way; credit and cash were gone, but he had never lost his credit for integrity. By degrees prosperity returned, and in 1866 he took his two eldest sons into the business, the firm tak- ing the name of S. Postles & Sons.

After two years of continued success his eldest son, William R., retired from the firm, which then bore the name of S. Postles & Son. In 1873, just twenty years from the time he left his country home, Mr. Postles bought the fine residence in Camden owned by Hon. John Glancey Jones, which he from that time occupied, though he did not with- draw from the business in Wilmington until 1875, when he sold out to his son and retired.

Stephen Postles' first wife, to whom he was married, April 15, 1834, was Elizabeth, daughter of William and Elizabeth Roe, of Kent county. Their children were: I. Thomas; II. William Roe; III. General James Parke Postles; IV. Eliza Melissa; V. Elizabeth, who died in infancy. Mrs. Postles died January 21, 1848.

On the Sth of January, 1850, Mr. Postles married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Casson, by whom he had three children : I. Elizabeth Casson; II. Mary An; III. Laura Bayard Postles.

THOMAS ROBINSON, the Loyalist, brother of Judge Peter Robinson, was a gen-

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tleman of high character, of superior educa- tion and of great talents and influence. The following account of him is found in "Sa- bine's Loyalists of the Revolutions, Vol I:" "In July, 1775, the Sussex county committee took him in hand for his aets and words, and unanimously declared that he was an enemy to his country and a contumacious opposer of liberty and the natural rights of mankind! Ilis offences were various. Peter Watson swore that being at Robinson's store, he saw his clerk, John Gozlin, weigh and sell two small parcels of bohea-tea, one of which he delivered to a girl and the other to Leather- berry Baker's wife. Robert Burton testified that Robinson said to him that the Whig committees were a pack of fools for taking up arms against the King, that our charters were not annihilated, changed or altered by the late acts of Parliament, etc., Nathaniel Mitch- ell testified that Robinson had declared to him, the present Congress were an unconsti- tutional body of men, and also that the great men were pushing on the common people be- tween them and all danger. After hearing this evidence the committee summoned Rob- inson to appear before them to answer. But he returned word that he desired his com- pliments to the gentlemen of the committee and to acquaint them that he did not nor could think of coming before them unless he could bring forty or fifty armed men with him. These 'compliments' were voted to be 'insulting and imperious,' and a resolution pronouncing his defection from the Whig cause followed." He was fined one thousand pounds and his property was confiscated, and he took refuge in ('anada. He afterwards re- turned to Sussex county, and died, and was buried at St. George's Chapel.

HIRAM T. DOWNING was born near Cannon's Ferry, in Sussex county, October 11, 1833. ITis father, James Downing, was a merchant in that village. He died in 1862. His mother was Margaret, daughter of James I .. Wallace, a local minister of that county. Mr. Downing was well educated in the pub- lie schools, attending until 1853, when he spent a year at the academy in Zanesville, Ohio. After that he was a clerk in Laurel,

in his native state. In 1856, he went to Dan- ville, Ill, where he was enaged as mail and station agent on the Wabash Valley Railroad, until 1860.

Returning to Delaware he was engaged in farming for three years, on the former estate of his grandfather on the Nanticoke river, af- ter which he was again a clerk in Laurel. In November, 1865, he was appointed by Gov- ernor Gove Saulsbury clerk of the orphans' court and register in chancery for a period of five years, at the expiration of which he was re-appointed a second term of five years. Hiram T. Downing became a Mason in 1854, and pssed all the chairs of the Blue Lodge and the Chapter and Council degree.

In 1860 H. T. Downing was married to Martha, daughter of Nathan Cannon, Esq., of Concord, Sussex county, and had issue: I. Jennie Vernon; II. Lizzie Ellegood; III. Hugh Turpin Downing.

JOHN PILLING was born at Chowbent, Lancashire, England, March 6, 1830, son of Richard and Susan (Bradshaw) Pilling. His father, a silk weaver, was in limited circum- stances, and his son John was obliged to leave school before he was eight years of age, and afterwards, for many years, his teachers were the stern necessity of a life of toil. Be- fore his eleventh year he had served out a boys' apprenticeship at making sparables or shoe nails, a day's work being 4,000 at six cents per 1,000, one-half going to his em- ployer for the use of the shop.

In 1841 he came with his parents to Amer- ica, settling in Philadelphia, where both father and son worked in various woolen and cotton mills. The next year they came to Broadbent's carpet mill in Brandywine hun- dred, following him to Mill Creek hundred and remaining until 1845. They were em- ployed in various mills until 1848, when they entered the mills of Joseph Dean & Son. John Pilling was then eighteen, and his wages $4 a week.

After several years of faithful service, be- ing advanced by slow stages to a salary of $10, he relinquished his position, accepting that of a man of all work at $5 a week, as the only means by which he could learn all

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the details of the business. This step he con- sidered the turning point in his business life. In 1857 he became the superintendent of a department in the mills of Robert Kershaw, in Philadelphia, which were soon stopped by the panie of that year. From 1858 to 1860 he managed the mills of Shaw & Armstrong in that city.

Hle then returned to Newark and became the partner of William Dean, which contin- ued till 1882, when they organized a stock company, with Mr. Pilling as president and Mr. Dean as treasurer. This business, man- aged with great ability and prudence, proved very successful. and Mr. Pilling finally at- tained to wealth and honorable position.

In 1867 he made the tour of Europe, visit- ing the most celebrated mills of England, Belgium, Holland and France, to inform him- self of the best methods and processes inci- dent to their business, resulting on his return in introducing great improvements into their works, and during the long period of depres- sion following the panic of 1873 their mills never stopped, except for repairs. In 1880 Mr. Pilling made a second visit to Europe for his health, which had become impaired by his long and close application to business.

IIe became an honored and trusted Repub- lican leader, and in 1866 and again in 1880, was elected a member of the legislature, where his course was so honorable and marked by such good judgment as greatly to increase his reputation. Ile secured the passage of the bill giving additional aid to Delaware College; the charter of the Pennsylvania and Delaware Railroad, and other important leg- islation.

John Pilling was married in 1851 to Eliza- beth B. Kelly. Their children were: I. Kate, who died December 17, 1872; II. Isa- bella, wife of S. J. Wright, of Newark; III. Susan Estella; IV. John Pilling, Jr. His wife died December 21, 1873, and October 4, 1877, he married Miss Ellen Glenn.

ROBERT SHIELDS GRIFFITHI was born near Newark, August 13, 1828, and was the fifth son of Joseph and Agnes (Adams) Griffith.

Robert S. Griffith grew up on the farm,

and attended what was called Jones' school house until he was fifteen years of age, when he spent two years at the celebrated school of Rev. Samuel Aaron, at Norristown, Pa. IIe then returned to the home farm, where he lived and labored till 1851, when his father having purchased the farm known as "Rich Hill," at Sassafras, Kent county, Md., he re- moved thither and made it his home.

The house on the farm is a two-story brick building, erected in the most substantial man- ner about 1775, by Alexander Beard, who then owned the property. He brought the bricks from England, probably in his own ves- sel. The proptrey was afterwards owned by Hon. Charles Thomas, ex-governor of Dela- ware, of whom Mr. Joseph Griffith made the purchase in 1840.

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II, Part 99

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