USA > Delaware > Historical and biographical encyclopaedia of Delaware. V 1 > Part 34
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for which, judging by the reception of those above named, there is every reason to expect an unlimited demand. He has also invented and had constructed, intricate machines for preparing various articles, which does the work that would otlierwise require from fifty to seventy-five persons to do by hand. These machines and the specialties he has manufact- ured, as well as those in contemplation, will be patented and copyrighted. Being desirous of enlarging the business as the increasing demand for his goods required, he was granted a charter from the State Legislature in 1881, and is now about to merge into the Corpora- tion under the corporate title of The "J. M. Chambers Packing Company." These goods cannot be too highly praised ; they must be tasted to be appreciated, and the beauty of their appearance is also a feast to the eye. They are well known and received with the highest favor in every part of the United States and throughout Europe, and also in nearly all other countries, including China, Java and Egypt.
HUXFORD AND COMPANY'S VENEER, BOX AND BASKET FACTORY, FRANKFORD, DEL.
N 1877, Mr. Charles H. Treat came to Delaware and leased in the above place the Gum Steam Mill, which he stocked with the most approved ma- chinery for making a patent ventilated produce barrel, and which he ran successfully for 18 months. But very soon after coming, the native woods of the State, the sweet Gum, the Holly, the Laurel, the Maple, etc., attracted his attention as remarkably adapted for the making of veneer boxes ; especially the Sweet Gum, a wood entirely unknown to northern manufacture, and which had previously never been profitable for any purpose. He made numerous experiments which all proved suc- cessful, and soon decided to engage in his present business. Associating with himself Messrs. James M. and Norman B. Huxford, under the firm-name of Huxford and Company, the foundation of the factory was laid in Feb- ruary 1878. Within five weeks after breaking
194
HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
ground the main Basket Factory building was | They have on their pay roll in the busy season constructed, furnished with steam works and as high as one hundred and thirty operators. Their veneer boxes, in cheapness, beauty, strength and durability, far exceed the paste board box so universal in all departments of commerce and business, and can be made in all sizes from the tiny jewelers case to the largest box. They can also be made most beautifully of fancy woods and highly polished. To enable them to fill their orders the com- pany will soon commence manufacturing on a larger scale. This factory is an important in- dustry in the town, affording constant busi- ness and employment to many people, and is also important to the State, giving impulse to business in many directions, and drawing at- tention to-this Peninsula from all parts of the world. The proprietors contemplate soon add- ing a reading room and library for the use of the operators. In the summer of 1882 C. H. Treat & Co. purchased the Fruit Packing and Evaporating Establishment, at Georgetown, which it is operating with success as a Plaque, Basket and Venering Factory. machinery, and in successful operation. Two other large and strong buildings were added the following autumn, one being a saw and planing mill, and the other used as a box fac- tory, and equipped with the latest inventions of small wood working machinery. In De- cember they began the manufacture of Veneer boxes and plates for grocers' use, known as Butter and Lard dishes, which articles have now become almost as universally used and as indispensable as the paper bag. This factory turns out more of these than all other estab- lishments in the United States. In the spring of 1880 the company engaged with the Smith and Stevens Manufacturing Company, New York, to make, exclusively for them, a patent single and three-ply wooden plaque made from their veneer ; the first being for grocers' and bakers' use, and the three-ply-made of the rarest selected woods, the black walnut, holly, bird-eye maple and ash, all finished and polished to the highest artistic point-are used exclu- sively for artistic purposes. They possess great strength and are in high favor with amateur and professional artists, and have THE DIAMOND CROWN PHOSPHATE WORKS, SMYRNA, DEL. given an impetus to art - culture super- seding to a. considerable extent the rage for pottery and porcelain. The demand for these goods has largely exceeded the supply. They are eagerly sought for, not only in America, but large and repeated orders come from Italy and Germany, as well as France and England. The plaques are made of different sizes, from six and a half to ten inches in dia- meter, and one should visit the sales-room of
HIS industry was established in 1878 by A. Lee Cummins, the present proprietor. The works were first started in the fall of that year at Smyrna Landing, one and one half miles from the town of Smyrna, by Mr. C. erecting a small building, twenty by forty feet, and commenc- ing the manufacture of super-phosphate, of the Company at 176 Fulton street, N. Y. to which in the first season he sold one hundred see the variety of artistic uses to which they are adapted. The factory buildings cover ten thousand square feet under cover and are of the strongest and most substantial character. They have a sixty horse-power engine and three boilers with one hundred and twenty- five horse-power capacity. They have one hundred and twenty machines besides their two large veneer machines, and all their equip- ments are most complete, and do exquisite work. Besides their berry baskets, attaining a product of three-quarters of a million yearly, and their peach and grape baskets, they make immense quantities of splints, used for fancy and ornamental purposes and cigar lighters. and twenty tons. In the summer of 1879 he erected buildings at Clayton, near the Rail- road depot, and his sales in the autumn amounted to six hundred and twenty tons. The fact of this great increase in the demand, amounting to five hundred tons more in one year, fully attests the great popularity, so quickly attained, of The Diamond Crown Phosphates, and their immense value to the agricultural community. The Diamond Crown Phosphate works manufacture two kinds of fer- tilizers, viz: "The Diamond Crown Super- Phosphate for wheat," and "The Diamond Crown Nitro-Phosphate for corn ;" the former containing ingredients which have proved the
1
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PHOSPHATE FACTORY
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OFFICE. 1
SAVONA DEI
A. LEE CUMMINS THE MOND GROWN PHOSPHATE WORKS. CLAYTON. DEL.
195
HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
best food for wheat, and the latter, besides food for corn, containing elements which retain the moisture of the ground even through the se- verest droughts. In every place in which these fertilizers have been used, they have produced excellent results, and their popularity has be- come established. They are made of only first-class materials and are standard in the market, the demand for them being large and constantly increasing.
ADAMS & BROTHER, VARIETY STORE, WILMINGTON.
R. JOSEPH K. ADAMS, in 1858 came to Wilmington and entered, as Clerk, the Variety Store, 506 Market Street, in which also his brother, ยท William B. Adams, became a Clerk in 1860. An account of both these gentlemen will be found in our biographical department. Steady, upright and industrious, they applied them- selves diligently to master all the details of the business, and by their prudence and economy were enabled, in September 1866, to purchase of their employer the fixtures of the store for $700. With this as a capital they continued the business in their own name. Their upward progress was steady and sure, and in time needing greater room to accom- modate their increasing tr. de, they purchased the adjoining building, four stories in height and twenty-four feet wide, by one hundred and seventeen feet deep. This they re- modeled, and have made of it now the largest wholesale and retail Variety Store in Dela- ware. The first floor, which is lighted by three skylights, seven by ten feet, making it the lightest store in the city, is used for dry- goods, floor and table coverings, and almost every kind of articles for household use too varied and numerous to mention; while the second story is equally crowded with every variety of foreign and domestic toys, besides children's carriages, etc., etc. The proprietors claim that any kind of toy known can here be found. Every child in Wilmington knows the place ; it is the very first place outside of home that they learn to year. This business is yet in its infancy but talk about, and its wonders are a subject of daily rehearsal in the ears of parents and friends.
Adams & Brother are the acknowledged leaders of the toy trade in Delaware. They do a large jobbing trade in this and every line of their goods. The second story is reached by a large closed stairway, about seventy-five feet back from the main entrance. The base- ment, which runs the entire length of the building, is of great use in such an establish- ment as a place for general storage, and for lamp chimnies. Mr. Joseph K.Adams attends to the finances, while his brother devotes him- self to the general management of the busi- ness, which, together, they have made a grand success. Their fine place of business, costing about $23,000,is all paid for, they owe no one, and are always ready and willing to meet all their obligations.
TH! WILMINGTON DENTAL MANU- FACTURING COMPANY.
BOUT fifteen years ago this industry was originated by Dr. E. Shelp, and was located on the corner of Ninth and Market streets. It passed into the hands of Dr. Tantum, who had his factory at No. 10 Girard street, and conducted it alone till 1870, when Dr. J. F. Frantz became his partner. The growth of the business was from that time very rapid, and the capacity of the building was twice enlarged, and a third story added. The work was sent to all parts of the world. In 1881 they erected their large building on King street above Tenth and opposite the Court House.
In January 1882 Dr. Tantum disposed of his interest to H. C. Robinson and S. J. Willey, and the Company was incorporated by charter under the title at the head of this notice. They have all the needed machinery and appliances, and have greatly increased their business, which is the third largest of its kind in the country. It is carried on with great enterprise and success, giving employment to nearly sixty hands, and has a capacity of manufacturing two million artificial teeth a
is destined to be one of the important indus- tries of the city.
196
HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
JOHN A. WILSON'S AGRICULTURAL | into general use. They sell the Syracuse WAREHOUSE, WILMINGTON, DEL.
N all ages of the world the human family has chiefly depended for its maintenance upon the cultivation of the soil ; and no department of indus- try has made greater advancement, or been the recipient of larger benefits from the inven- tive genius of the age than agriculture. Men are still living who can remember when the harvests were gathered with the primitive sickle, and the only plows, hoes and forks in use were made at the neighboring blacksmith shop. No wonder this slow, laborious and clumsy system required almost the entire laboring force of the population to produce the necessary supply of bread. The revolution that has been effected in the methods of tilling the soil can hardly be conceived till one goes through a first class establishment like that of Mr. John A. Wilson, in Wilmington. There he will find the evidences of improvement in every step and process of agriculture, from the preparation of the soil to the final disposi- tion of the crop.
This house is the oldest of its kind in the. city, having been established by S. and M. Pennock in 1850. After undergoing several changes it was purchased October 7th, 1867,by John A. Wilson and Howard P. Walton; being conducted under the firm-name of Wilson and Walton till 1872, since which date Mr. Wilson has been the sole proprietor. Under his able and enterprising management the business has greatly increased till it extends not only over the state of Delaware and the Peninsula, but also into Maryland and Pennsylvania.
His stock is so full and complete that every farmer in the range of his trade can find there whatever he desires, and of the latest and most desirable improvements. To enumerate all his articles, embracing engines, machines, implements and tools for farm use would re- quire space far beyond our limits ; but for the interest of the present and the curiosity of the future we will mention a few of the more prom- inent. Westinghouse's steam threshers and cleaners have been sold by this house for twenty-five years and still holds the. first rank. They also sell the Westinghouse agricultural steam engine, invented by the same family whose Air Brake for railroad cars has come
Chilled plow in immense numbers ; the Iron Age cultivator ; the Keystone corn planter ; Buckeye Riding or Walking cultivator ; Wheeler No. 6, mower and reaper, combined ; Osborne's self-binding harvester ; Osborne's single reaper, also his single mowers, front or rear cut; Tiger hay rake; Bullard's hay tedder; new Buckeye lawn mower; Faust's hay loader; Pennock's double harpoon horse hay forks ; the Van Wickle grain fans ; Buckeye iron turbine wind engine ; the Buckeye force feed grain drill with fertilizer attachment ; the Pennock corn-sheller ; the Silver and Denning feed cut- ter ; the Buckeye force pump; besides the best farm wagons, tools and agricultural hard- ware of all descriptions, and seeds of all kinds required in this latitude. He also manufactures John A. Wilson's Delaware Super-Phosphate, a standard fertilizer of which he sells several hundred tons annually. Mr. Wilson has two large warehouses, one at Front and Market, and the other at Tatnall and Front Streets. He keeps traveling salesmen constantly em- ployed, and his personal popularity and well- known character for fair and liberal dealing have secured for him an extensive trade and deserved prosperity.
JOSEPH BANCROFT & SON'S COTTON MILLS AND BLEACHING WORKS,
RE located on the west side of the Brandywine, about one and one half miles north of Wilmington. They date from 1831, when Joseph Bancroft pur- chased the water-power, and land adjacent, of the Rockford Manufacturing Company. There was at that time an old building which had been used first as a grist-mill and after- ward as a machine-shop. In this building Mr. Bancroft commenced the manufacture of cotton goods in a small way.
In 1848 he made an addition to the building and put in a number of improvements.
The works were several times enlarged, and in 1860 he added Bleaching and Dyeing to that of manufacturing. In 1865 he took into partnership his two sons, William P. and Samuel, and the firm-name became Joseph Bancroft & Sons.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
The works were greatly extended in 1874-5. | lectors .- J. B. Clarkson, Wilmington ; John C. Joseph Bancroft died in 1874, but the business Higgins, Delaware City. Inspectors .- Benja- min T. Bye. Wilmington ; W. W. Hoopes, New Castle ; N. H.' Brown, Seaford ; H. R. Burton, Lewes. has been continued under the name of Joseph Bancroft & Sons. It has enjoyed great pros- perity, and has in operation 5600 spindles, and a capacity of Bleaching and Dyeing 50 tons of cloth a week, equal to from 500,000 to 600,000 yards. A large part of the cloth is bleached for window-shades.
Their buildings are of the most substantial character being mostly of granite, which they have in abundance on their own property. Besides their water-power which is about 350 horse-power, they have steam engines aggre- gating 200 horse power.
They reside on the high banks of the Brandywine near the Works, and their neat cottages for their workmen and mill hands constitute a considerable village, which is known by the name of "Bancroft's Banks." The proprietors have the respect and confidence of the community. In conversation with the foreman of one department of their works, he | remarked, "I have been with them nearly thirty years, and have never yet heard an unpleasant word from either of them ; better men to work for I never knew."
PUBLIC OFFICERS IN DELAWARE.
UNITED STATES SENATORS .- Eli Saulsbury, term expires 1883 ; Thomas F. Bayard, term expires 1887. United States Representative, Edward L. Martin.
U. S. CIRCUIT COURT .- Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and Justice of the Circuit. Court .- Joseph P. Bradley. Circuit Judge .- William McKennan. District Judge .- Edward G. Bradford. Clerk .- S. Rodmond Smith. Court room in the Custom House, Sixth and King streets, Wilmington. Terms commence . on the third Tuesday in June and October.
U. S. DISTRICT COURT .- Judge .- Edward G. Bradford. Clerk .- S. Rodmond Smith. Crier .- John R. Gallaher. District Attorney. -John C. Patterson. U. S. Marshal .- H. H. McMullen. Court room in the Custom House, Sixth and King streets, Wilmington. Terms commence the second Tuesday in January, April, June, and September.
U. S. CUSTOMS .- Collector of the Port of Wilmington .- Lewis Thompson. Deputy Col-
U. S. INTERNAL REVENUE .- Collector .- J. McIntire ; office, No. 9 E. Fifth street, Wil- mington. Chief Deputy Collector and Cashier. -C. M. Leitch. Clerk .- J. P. Belville, Wil- mington. Deputy Collectors .- I. Leonard Adkins, Wilmington, New Castle and Kent counties ; James F. Anderson, Milford, Sussex county.
DELAWARE STATE GOVERNMENT.
Governor .- John W. Hall, Frederica. Sec- retary of State .- James L. Wolcott, Dover. Treasurer .- R. J. Reynolds, Petersburg. Audi- tor .- James F. Staats, New Castle. Librarian. -R. R. Kenney, Dover. Chancellor .- Willard Saulsbury, Dover. Chief Justice .- Joseph P. Comegys, Dover. Associate Justices .- John W. Houston, Dover ; Edward Wooten, George- town : Leonard E. Wales, Wilmington. At- torney-General-George Gray, Wilmington. Deputy Attorney-General .- Alexander B. Cooper, New Castle. Insurance Commissioner. -John R. McFee, Georgetown. Superintend- ent of Schools .- James H. Groves, Smyrna .- Assistant Superintendent .- H. C. Carpenter, Lewes.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
NEW CASTLE COUNTY .- County Treasurer. -- William Herbert. Sheriff .- Philip R. Clark. Deputy Sheriff .- George Clark. Coroner .- Rayworth Weldin. Prothonotary .- George A. Maxwell. Recorder of Deeds .- Thomas Hol- comb. Register in Chancery and Clerk of Orphans' Court .- Jas. M. Houseman. Register. of Wills .- S. C. Biggs. Clerk of the Peace .- E. R. Cochran. Jail Commissioners .- Israel H. Fols, Robert Sutton, vacancy. Jail Physi- cian .- John J. Black Levy Court Commis- sioners .- Wm. R Bright, (chairman), Amos Sharpless, L. Frank Ellison, Henry C. Mahaffy, Samuel Silver, Christian Febiger, Wm. A. Morrison, Wm. Polk, Wm. L. Wier, Jas. T. Taylor, Henry H. Wells. Trustees of the Poor. -Thos. G. Bird, chairman; W. F. Lane, treasurer ; J. W. Cooch, clerk. Trustees .- C. Hill Brinton, S. Springer, M. Lackey, J. W. Cooch, H. D. Hickman, D. Farra, J. P. Arm- strong, G. L. Jemison, Columbus Watkins, S. A. Armstrong, James H. Ray, Thomas G.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
Bird. Attorney .- Walter Cummins. Superin- [ tendent of Alms House .- M. Barlow .- Physi- cians,-Drs. Howard O. Ogle and Willard Springer. Matron .- Mrs. Annie D. Barlow. Matron Insane Department .- Mrs. R. Emer- son. Superintendent Small-pox Hospital .- Charles C. Fisher.
KENT COUNTY -Levy Court Commission- ers .- David S. Wilds, (President,) John Farrell, Peter E. Lowber, Geo. N. Collins, Daniel V. Hutchins, Jos. S. Burchenal, Peter K. Mere- dith, John P. Curtis, Silas T. Jenkins. Trustees of the Poor .- John N. Fenimore, (Treasurer,) Wm. M. Jones, Chas. M. Wharton, Abner Dill, John C. Stockley, Martin R. Ford, Wm. H. Harrington, Joshua Bennett, Peter K. Meredith. Sheriff .- Thomas T. Lacy. Deputy Sheriff - John Reynolds. Coroner .- J. W. Jackson. County Treasurer .- David Rees. Prothonotary. Joseph Burchenal. Recorder of Deeds .- John C. Gooden. Register in Chancery and Clerk of Orphans' Court .- Henry Todd. Register of Wills -John C Pennewill. Clerk of the Peace -Robert Raughley. Jail Commissioners .- A. J. Wilson; Robert B. Jump, James L. Smith. Jail Physician .- L. H. Bishop. Superintend- ent of Alms House .- Eli Layton.
SUSSEX COUNTY .- Levy Court Commis- sioners .- Geo. H. Draper, (President,) John J. Morris, Wm. P. Thompson, Joseph B. Lingo, Joshua J. Derrickson, Wm. E. Davis, Nathaniel H. Watson, Edward Owens, James T. O. Day, Nathan J. Barwick, Wm. T. Moore, Samuel Bacon, Elijah Hudson. Trustees of the Poor .- Thomas Dukes, President ; Nehemiah M. Stay- ton, Clerk ; Isaac Connaway, Treasurer. Trus- tees .- Marshall Smith, Joseph Waples, Hosea Dawson, Edward Burton, James H. Willey, Robert B. Robinson, John E. Hazzard, An- drew J. Holland, Zachariah Deputy, Ezekiel Timmons, Jacob W. Cannon. Physician .- Charles H. Richards. Overseer .- John Stock- ley. Sheriff .- Samuel J. Martin. Deputy Sheriff .-- Levin T. Saulsbury. Coroner .- George W. Hatfield. County Treasurer .- Cyrus J. Wood. Prothonotary .- Joseph T. Adams. Recorder of Deeds .- W. H. Boyce. Register in Chancery and Clerk of Orphans' Court .- Philip C. Penuel. Register of Wills .- William A. Polk. Clerk of the Peace .- Wil- liam B. Tomlinson. Jail Commissioners .- Jos. T. Adams, Kendal B. Wingate, James Jones. Jail Physician .- Joseph B. Waples.
CENSUS STATISTICS.
Area in square miles.
New Castle 430
Kent
630
Sussex
.900
Total 1960
POPULATION IN 1880 BY COUNTIES AND HUN- DREDS.
NEW CASTLE COUNTY.
Appoquinimink Hd 2,35I
Blackbird Hd 1,778
Brandywine Hd 3,549
Christiana Hd 6,149
Mill Creek Hd. 3,474
New Castle Hd 5,268
Pencader Hd 2,350
Red Lion Hd . 2,480
St. George's Hd 5,073
White Clay Creek Hd 2,775
Wilmington Hd. 42,496
Total 77,749
KENT COUNTY.
Dover Hd 7,594
Duck Creek Hd
4,241
Kenton Hd 2,817
Little Creek Hd
1,878
Milford Hd
3,429
Mispillion Hd
4,334
North Murderkill Hd
4,078
South Murderkill Hd. 4,506
Total
32,877
SUSSEX COUNTY.
Baltimore Hd 3,752
Broad Creek Hd 2,772
Broadkiln Hd 2,677
Cedar Creek Hd 4,198
Dagsborough Hd. 3,021
Georgetown Hd. 2,273
Gumborough Hd 1,51I
Indian River Hd. 1,813
Lewes and Rehoboth Hd. 3,103
Little Creek Hd 3,457
Nanticoke Hd 2,100
North West Fork Hd 2,193
Seaford Hd
3,161
Total 36,031
GREYSTONE 1 NEAR WILMINGTON, DEL Pasidenon of William Bush
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
WILMINGTON
S situated above the junction of the Christiana and Brandywine, and three miles from the waters of the Delaware Bay. The eastern portion of the city now occupies the ground on which the early Swedish colonists erected their first village west of Fort Christina, and called it Chris- tinaham. West from Christinaham, Thomas Willing laid out streets at right angles, with a view to the erection of a town. From him it came to be called Willing Town and in 1735 when William Shipley removed from Ridley. Pa., with his wife Elizabeth Shipley, it con- tained about twenty houses. To Mr. Shipley it was indebted for rapid growth until, in 1739, the inhabitants asked for a town charter of Governor Penn. The first ordinance passed by the authorities was dated March 3Ist, 1740. It had a Chief Burgess and High Constable, and Town Clerk, and was known as the Borough of Wilmington. It contained 2,500 inhabitants in 1793. The City Hall was erected in 1798. In 1832 a charter constituting Wil- mington a city, was obtained from the Legis- lature; and ship-builders, iron and paper manu- facturers began to multiply. Its population now (1882) is probably 47,000 for the city pro- per, and for the suburbs 5,000 making 52,000 in all.
The capital employed in the various manu- factures may be put at fifteen millions of dol- lars, and the value of articles manufactured, annually, at twenty-five millions, distributed as follows :
Articles Manufactured. Value.
Powder and chemicals $1,200,000
Paper
1,400,000
Cotton goods, 1, 100,000
Railroad cars, 1,900,000
Iron ships, 1,200,000
Machine work, 2,300,000
Morocco, 2,100,000
Carriages, 1,400,000
Flour, corn meal, &c., 1,200,000
Leather, other than morocco, 300,000
Iron, .
1,700,000
Foundry work and car wheels, 1,600,000
Tobacco, snuff, spices and parlor
matches,
900,000
Sash, blinds, &c.,
300,000
Bricks,
300,000
Boots and shoes, -
150,000
Barrels, cooperage, &c., 150,000
Fertilizers,
550,000
Miscellaneous, (not above enum- erated,) 5,250,000
$25,000,000
The enumeration of the various articles manufactured gives an idea of what the indus- tries are which employ the 52,000 people residing in the city and suburbs.
In 1880 the city of Wilmington became the seat of Justice for New Castle County, being removed from New Castle by the action of the proper authorities. New Castle which had so long been the Shiretown of New Castle County obtained its present name on the con- quest of the Delaware Colony by the English in 1664.
Before this it was called New Amstel by the Dutch who founded it, and the point of land on which it was located had been called by the Swedes Sandhuken. It is now a city and is the only one beside Wilmington in the State of Delaware.
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