USA > Delaware > Historical and biographical encyclopaedia of Delaware. V 1 > Part 43
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49
246
HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
to assist young men of talent whose means would not afford them the benefits of scholas- tis training. Among those thus generously aided by him were names whose history adorned the annals of Delaware and shed lustre upon their profession.
BISHER, HON. GEORGE PURNELL, lawyer and ex-United States Judge of the Supreme Court for the District of Columbia, was born at Milford, October 13th, 1817. His father was General Thomas Fisher, of whom see sketch in this volume. His mother was Nancy, daughter of Robert and Sally Owens of Sussex county, a woman of great vigor of mind and one of the early and distinguished Methodists of the State. Judge Fisher was the only child of this union, but as both his parents had been married before, each of them had children by the first marriage.
He, after attending the schools of the coun- try from an early age, was sent to St. Marys College, Baltimore, Maryland, by his parents, when in his seventeenth year. At the end of one year spent in this institution, he went to Dickinson college, Carlisle, Pa., then under the direction of the distinguished and eloquent John P. Durbin, D. D. Entering the Sopho- more class, he graduated in regular course from that institution in July 1838.
He then having decided on his profession, entered the law office of Hon. John M. Clay- ton, at Dover, Delaware, who had married a distant relative of Judge Fisher. Mrs. Clay ton was Sally Ann, daughter of Doctor James Fisher, of Camden. Pursuing his legal studies he was admitted to the Bar of the Superior Court of the State, in April 1841, and settled in the practice of law in Dover. He met with marked success from the beginning, and, for a young man, had a large clientage. Upon the election of President Taylor, that gen- tleman gave to Hon. J. M. Clayton the port- folio of Secretary of State in his cabinet, and Judge Fisher was unexpectedly invited to take a position in the State Department of the United States. He was appointed by President Taylor to advocate certain claims of the citizens of the United States against the
Brazilian Government, which commission he fulfilled in such a manner as to elicit the warm commendation of Hon. Elisha Whittlesey at that time First Comptroller of the Treasury. After the completion of this service, he, in 1852, returned to Dover and resumed the prac- tice of his profession.
In March, 1855, he was appointed by Gov. Causey to the position of Attorney General of the State of Delaware, a position which he occupied with marked ability and advantage to the State, for five years. In 1860 much against his personal preferences he was nomi- nated by the Union Party as their candidate for Congress. Although the Democrats were largely in the majority in the State he suc -. ceeded in calling out more than the usual strength of his party in his support. In 1862 he was nominated on the ticket of the Repub- lican Party for a seat in the House of Repre- sentatives,and, as he claims, was elected, but by fraudulent returns was kept out of his seat in that body. His competitor did not live to. serve his constituents, having died before the assembling of Congress. At the close of the short session of Congress, March, 1863, without his knowledge or solicitation he was appointed by President Lincoln to the position of Asso_ ciate Justice of the Supreme Court of the D.s- trict of Columbia. After serving in this position with ability and credit until 1870 he resigned his seat on the bench and accepted the ap- pointment of United States District Attorney for the District of Columbia, tendered him by President U. S. Grant. This office he contin- ued to fill until the autumn of 1875, when he resigned and returned to his native State and is now engaged in the practice of law in Dover, Delaware. In the course of a life so greatly in the public eye, and with position and out- spoken convictions on all political questions, it is not to be wondered at that his political opponents have evinced great bitterness toward him. His has been the unpopular side in politics in Delaware since the death of the old Whig party, in the State : but if unselfish devotion to the interests of friends, and of helpfulness toward all of whatever political creed who have asked for his aid in obtaining position, be traits of character to be commended in those who occupy conspicuous position, then is George P. Fisher, indeed, one of a thousand.
Enerby C.Rather & Son Bklyn ITY
mus very lucky Geo. . Thishey
247
BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.
His patriotism at the beginning of the late civil war was conspicuous. He was deeply in- terested in having his State send her full quota of soldiers to the field, and was made Colonel of the Ist Delaware Cavalry, and gave his time and means to its being recruited and ·organized, and his Colonelcy was resigned only when President Lincoln appointed him to a position on the bench, of the District of Co- lumbia. To the soldiers of Delaware and other States who met him in Washington, he was an unfailing adviser, and friend ; and we know of no one after an acquaintance of thirty years who deserves a higher place in the esteem of those to whom he is intimately known.
In 1840, Judge Fisher married Miss Eliza A., daughter of Hon. and Rev. T. P. McColley of Milford, Del., whose portrait and sketch are in this volume. Four children survive, of this marriage.
HIPLEYS, The, of Wilmington. Wil- liam Shipley, the immigrant, was born in Leicestershire, England, in 1693. Married Mary Ann, daughter of Robert and Ann Tatnall ; had three children, Thomas, Ann and Elizabeth. He embarked at Bristol, England, early in 1725, arrived at Philadelphia in July, and settled at Ridley, Pennsylvania. His wife died soon after, and he married Elizabeth Levis, daughter of Samuel Levis of Springfield, Pennsylvania. A few years afterwards he purchased 12 acres of land in what is now the most populous part of the city of Wilmington, and removed there. He was a wealthy and enterprising man, and ex- erted his influence successfully to induce emi- grants to settle in Wilmington. He built the market house at the cornor of Fourth and Market streets, and was the first Burgess of the town. In the year 1740 he, with others, built the first vessel for foreign trade that sailed from that port. He died in the year 1768, aged 76. ,
Thomas Shipley, son of William and Mary Shipley, was born in Leicestershire, an inland county of England, in the diocese of Lincoln, 24th, 4th month, 1718. Married Mary Marriott, daughter of Thomas and Martha Marriott, 15th, 9th month, 1743. He settled in Wilming- ton, and purchased a part of the water-power
of the Brandywine, of which he and others recognized the value, and which for so long a time became a source of wealth to his family. He had nine children, of whom three died in infancy; the others were William, Mary, Joseph, Sarah, Ann and Anna. William, first son, was born 9th, 3d month, 1746; died 14th, 2d month, 1816, aged 69 years. Mary, second daughter, was born 2d, 2d month, 1750, married Phineas Buckley. Died in New York 9th month, 1795. Joseph, fourth son, was born 11th, 11th month, 1752. Married Mary Levis, daughter of Samuel Levis of Springfield, Delaware county, Penn- sylvania. Died in 1832, aged 80 years. He inherited the mill property on the Brandywine, and persued the business with energy and suc- cess, leaving an honorable name as a legacy to his children, who prized his memory to their latest days. His wife, Mary, died 11th, 12th month, 1843, aged 87 years. Sarah, fourth daughter, was born 6th, 9th month, 1755, Married Cyrus Newlin of Wilmington, Dela- ware, and died 1834, leaving two children, Mary and Thomas. Ann, fifth daughter, was born 29th, Ist month, 1758. Married John Jones. Died 1808, leaving two children, Cyrus and Lydia. Anna, the sixth daughter, was born 27th, 9th month, 1760. Married William Byrnes. Died 1805, leaving one son, Thomas, who married his cousin, Lydia Jones. The above are the children of Thomas and Mary Shipley.
The children of Joseph and Mary Shipley were as follows : Samuel, Mary, Thomas, John, Rebecca, (died in infancy,) Anna, Elizabeth, Sarah, Margaret, Joseph and Hannah.
Samuel, the first son of Joseph and Mary, was born 12th, 2d month, 1777. He married Elizabeth Jefferis, the daughter of Captain James Jefferis. He engaged in the milling business with his father, and continued it ac- tively and successfully, until the failure of his health obliged him toretire. He died in the year 1844, leaving two children, Thomas and Sarah. Mary, the first daughter, was born 27th, 12th month, 1778; married John Dixon, a respect- able Friend of Wilmington. Died 1844, aged 64 years, leaving six children, Joseph, Isaac, Samuel, Thomas, Mary Anna and Emma.
Thomas, the second son, was born 9th month, 30, 1780. He was engaged early in life, in the flour and shipping business, in Phila- delphia, and persued it with remarkable energy
248
HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
and ability. While making a visit, on business, [ neighboring farms which he had bought. The to the south of France, he was prostrated by reputation of the Liverpool house is a suffi- cient evidence of his character and ability, for his importance to the firm was shown not only in prosperous times, but in adverse and trying a sunstroke, from the effects of which he never recovered, and died at the age of 32 years, of apoplexy, regretted by all who knew him. He died in the year 1813. John Shipley, third | circumstances, and his worth as a merchant and a citizen, was recognized by the commu- nity in which he so long resided in England. Mr. Shipley never married. He died 5th month, 9, 1867.
son of Joseph and Mary Shipley, was born 25th, 12th month, 1782. He possessed excellent business ability, and was associated with his father in the milling business on the Brandy- wine for a number of years. He died 7th month, Ist, 1863, aged 80 years. Anna, the third daughter of Joseph and Mary Shipley, was born 26th, 7th month, 1788. Died in .1852. She never married. Elizabeth, fourth daugh- ter, born 10th, 6th month, 1789. Died July, 1865. She never married. Sarah, fifth daugh- ter of Joseph and Mary Shipley, was born 3 of 3rd month, 1791; died 27 of 8th month, 1872: Never married. Margaret, sixth daughter, was born 18th, 12th month, 1793; died, 1832 : Not married. Hannah, seventh daughter, was born 3d. 5th month, 1801. Resides at Rock- wood, Brandywine hundred, the residence of her brother, Joseph Shipley.
Joseph, fourth son of Joseph and Mary Shipley, was born 4th month, 12, 1795. At the age of 18, he entered the counting-house of Samuel Canby, in Philadelphia, and in the year 1819 he went to England on business for John Welch, the father of the late United States Minister to England. While there he was invited by William Brown, of Liverpool, to a partnership in the commission business Having obtained permission from John Welch, to leave his employ, he accepted the propo- sition of William Brown, and the firm took the title of Brown, Shipley & Co. In that business he continued thirty years ; the firm having meanwhile established a most honor- able name throughout the business world Finding his health failing, he resigned his in- terest in the company, and in the year 1851, returned to his native place, Wilmington. Having purchased a large property in Brandy- wine hundred, he built an elegant mansion, where he lived in quietude, contrasting strongly with his accustomed activity, but rendered necessary by the instability of his health. Here he spent his time in literary pursuits, in improving and beautifying his home, and in the converse of his friends and relations, several members of whom he invited to occupy
EYNOLDS, ROBERT W., late of Kent county, Delaware, was born on the old homestead, "Golden Ridge," December 5, 1803. This estate on which he spent his life, and where his remains now repose, descended to him from his father, Thomas Reynolds, who in turn inherited it from Michael Reynolds, the grandfather of the subject of our sketch. It was willed to the last named by his maternal grandfather, Michael Lowber, son of Peter Lowber, who came from Amsterdam, Holland, and died in 1698. Michael Reynolds was the son of Daniel Reynolds, who married Grace Lowber, daugh- of Michael Lowber, above mentioned. The father of Daniel Reynolds was John Reynolds, who came to this country from England about the close of the seventeeth century, and died in 1729. Robert W. Reynolds received but a limited education in the county schools. His natural taste inclined him to surveying, but in- surmountable difficulties seemed to lie in his way. He did not possess even the preliminary knowledge requisite for the accomplishment of his purpose, and an instructor could not be obtained. He grew to manhood still unable to gratify the desire of his heart, but, finally, de- . termined that he would succeed, he obtained the necessary books with which he shut him- self up for six weeks; at the end of that time he announced himself prepared to take the field as a practical surveyor, which he did with marked success. He remained through life enthusiastically devoted to his profession. As a man he possessed unusual ability, and was the acknowledged adviser of the com- munity in which he lived. At the early age of thirty years he was appointed by Governor Caleb P. Bennett, November 15. 1833, Sheriff of Kent county, to fill a vacancy that had oc-
.
:
Eny! avGather? Ser Bklyn MY.
249
BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.
curred. He was afterwards elected to the same office by the Democratic party, of which he was a member all his life, and to whose in- terests he was devoted. In his later years, on the fifteenth of March, 1853, he was appointed by Governor William H. Ross, Register of Wills in and for Kent county, which position he filled with great credit. The ability here displayed, together with his well known high character, suggested him as an eligible can- didate for gubernatorial honors. When the State convention met in 1862 to nominate a candidate for the office of Governor, upon counting the votes it was found that Samuel Jefferson of New Castle county had received seventy-six, and Robert W. Reynolds of Kent county sixty-seven ; the convention consisting at that time of one hundred and fifty mem- bers. Mr. Reynolds was a consistent member of the Methodist Church from his early man- hood. He was married, March 13, 1823, to Miss Sarah G., daughter of David Marvel. The date of her birth was June 25, 1803. Their children, six in number, all living at the time of his death, were Luther M. Reynolds, a leading member of the Baltimore bar ; Eliza- beth Carter ; Sarah G. Culbreth ; Frances Clough ; Thomas G. Reynolds, and Robert J. Reynolds. Mr. Reynolds was a man of fine appearance, being six feet and two inches in height, and well proportioned, his weight averaging two hundred pounds. He died, widely lamented, February 15, 1863.
RUBB, IGNATIUS C., Ex-Secretary of State, Wilmington, Delaware, was born April 12, 1841, at Grubb's Landing, Brandywine hundred, New Castle county, in the old homestead of his family, called "Stockdeals," which had been in the continuous possession of his paternal ancestors from the date of the original Penn patent con- veying the property. He was the son of a farmer whose ancestors were of English line- age, and had been prominent and influential landholders from the earliest colonial period. They were descended from John Grubb, who came from England and settled at Upland, now Chester, upon the Delaware river, in Dela- ware county, Pennsylvania, in 1679, two years before the arrival of Penn in 1681. He was a
farmer and member of the Church of England, and had severel sons from whom descended the Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey families of the name. His eldest son, Emman- uel, noted in the early histories of the colony, as the first male child of English parentage born in the Province of Pennsylvania, settled in Brandywine hundred about 1699, and was the first Delaware progeniter of the subject of this sketch. The latter removed to Wilming- ton with his parents, in 1848, and has since resided there. He received a classical educa- tion at the Delaware Military Academy, in that city, under the direction of Col. Theodore Hyatt, now President of the Pennsylvania Military Academy, at Chester, Pennsylvania. He there completed the course of study pre- scribed for the junior and preceding classes in Yale College, with the intention of entering its senior class, but abandoned that design and commenced the study of law under his guar- dian, Victor DuPont, Esq., a leading lawyer of Wilmington, and was admitted to the Dela- ware bar in 1863. Since that date he has been actively engaged in his profession, and also in political life and public affairs. As an ardent democrat, he has taken a zealous interest in the conduct and success of his party, and has been prominent both as a political speaker and party leader. In recognition of his political services, he has received several serviceable and honorable appointments. In 1865 he was appointed Notary Public to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Hon. George Read Riddle, upon his election to the United States Senate. In 1867 he was elected Clerk of the House of Representatives of his State. In 1869 he was appointed Deputy Attorney General of the State, for New Castle county, by Hon. John H. Paynter, Attorney General, and held the office until the resignation of the latter. February 15, 1875, he was commis- sioned Aide-de-Camp to Governor James Ponder, with the rank of Colonel. July 3, 1871, he was elected City Solicitor (Corpora- tion Counsel) for the city of Wilmington, to succeed Samuel M. Harrington, Esq., whose term had expired. June 30, 1875, he was elected a Fellow of the American Geographi- cal Society, New York City, and on February 17, 1879, was appointed a member of the National Democratic Campaign Committee of twenty-one, created to take the place of the
32
250
HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
National Democratic Congressional Commit- | December 17, 1828. He married Hannah tee. During the summer and autumn of 1874, ' he was prominent and influential in shaping the events which led to the nomination and election of Hon. John P. Cochran, Governor of Delaware. Accordingly, as an express recognition of his acknowledged services, he was appointed Secretary of State by Governor Cochran, January 19, 1875, and filled the office until the close of his term in January, 1879. Throughout this entire period he zealously and efficiently supported the Governor in the var- ious public measures which distinguished his administration. He especially evinced a warm interest in Delaware's proper and creditable participation in the centennial exhibition at Philadelphia ; in the success of the public school system of the State, as a member of the State School Board ; in the reduction of taxation and the decrease of the State debt; and, generally, in all public measures truly conducive to the real improvement and per- manent welfare of the State and its institu- tions. Since his retirement from office he has devoted himself to the practice of law in the city of Wilmington, where he continues to reside.
ESSICK, MILES, farmer of Nanticoke hundred, Sussex county, was born in Broad Creek hundred, Sept. 14, 1815, being the eldest son of Samuel Mes- sick, who was a farmer in independent circum- stances, owning over nine hundred acres of land. He was one of the leading men of his locality. He was born October 28, 1791, and died April 16, 1841. His wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Philip and Luranah (Wingate) Matthews. Eight of their ten children grew to maturity ; their names being, Miles; John; James; Luranah, who married Robert P. Barr, both now deceased ; Samuel T .; Sarah Eliza- beth, wife of Rev. William W. Morgan ; Julia A., widow of John C. Cannon, and Eliza Jane, who married Rev. J. Pastorfield, of the M. E. Church. She died in August, 1852.
The father of Samuel was Covington Messick, farmer, of Broad Creek hundred, and who occupied the old homestead, con- taining 600 acres of land, which has been in the possession of the family for over one hun- dred years. He was born in 1755, and died
Tindal, a woman of great physical strength and vigor. Their nine children all grew to maturity, their names being, Minos T .; Lovey, third wife of Adam Short ; Covington, Junior ; Miles ; Samuel ; Leah, who married John Mat- thews ; Nancy, who married Thomas Knowles, and moved to the West; Betsey, who was burned to death in early womanhood, and Holland, who married Matthews Penton, and went to live near Winchester, Illinois. Isaac Messick, also a large land . owner, was the father of Covington, and lived in the same neighborhood. By his first wife he had three children. By his second wife, a Miss Windsor, he had three sons and two daughters, who all lived to be over sixty years of age. Their names were, Covington, John, Isaac, Bethany, and another daughter, who married Hales Spicer. Isaac was the first of the family who settled in Delaware, his early home having been in Wicomoco county, Maryland. Miles Messick attended the public schools during the winter season, and worked on his father's farm till he was twenty-one. At the age of twenty-three, he attended, for one session, the academy in Laurel. He then superintended for three years the farm of his uncle, Kendall M. Lewis, near that place. This was followed by his marriage, and he began farming in the lower part of Nanticoke hundred, on land which he purchased of his father, and which was part of the estate of his great grandfather, Samuel Tindal, all of which consisted of about 1000 acres. Here twenty-seven happy and pros- perous years were spent. In 1858 he purchased the farm on which he now resides, called " Pleasant Plain," and to which he removed, December 24, 1867. It consisted at first of three hundred and twenty-three acres, but ad- ditions have been made, till now it numbers over one thousand acres, and is divided into five farms. Mr. Messick owns, beside, two other farms, which, together, contain two hun- dred and fifty acres. These lands he has, by unsparing industry aud good management, brought to a high state of cultivation, and he is one of the leading agriculturists of the county. It is worthy of mention that neither he nor any of the ancestors mentioned in this sketch, ever lived a day in a rented house, all owning their own rooftree and the soil on which it stood. His father and grandfather
-
Mitez Mefrick
251
BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.
were Federalists, and he adhered to that faith; | afterwards he became a Whig. Since 1860 he has acted with the Democratic party. When . a young man he was appointed Constable for two years. In 1864 he was elected, by a heavy majority, a member of the Legislature and served acceptably for two years. In 1870 he was appointed a member of the Board of Trustees for the Poor of Sussex county, and in 1875 was made Treasurer for two years. In 1876 he was again elected to the Legis- lature and served the following year. He was in. 1880, a United States Supervisor of Registration and Election. He has always been a temperance man, having joined one of the original Total Abstinence Societies in 1833. He has been a faithful worker in the Temperance cause, and to such good purpose that no liquor is now sold within ten miles of his home. While in the Legislature he la- bored to secure a strong temperance law, and was largely instrumental in procuring the amendment which works better in Delaware than the old law.
Mr. Messick is a man of high character, in- telligence and good judgment, and is in- fluential both in business and political mat ters. His immediate ancestors were devoted Methodists, and he united with that denomi- nation in 1841, and is nowa trustee. He was for many years a Steward of Asbury Church on Laurel circuit; also was for eighteen years superintendent of the sabbath school.
He was married, December 3, 1840, to Miss Sarah Eliza, daughter of William and Lavinia Bell of Sussex county, Broad Creek hundred. Only two of their six children, all sons, are now living ; Samuel Harrington and Albert Messick. The eldest child died in infancy, and the third, William Kendall, born, March 22, 1847, died, October 4, 1852, his death being occasioned by an accident. They lost two sons who had grown to man's estate ; Miles Edwin, born Septem 15, 1843, died June 23, 1863, and Willard Irving, born, January 14, 1855, died, August 22, 1876.
VANS, JOHN served as a Delegate to the Continental Congress from Dela- ware, from 1776 to 1777. He was a dis- tinguished citizen, a staunch patriot and a man of sterling integrity of character.
OCKWOOD, RICHARD THOMAS, a farmer of Middletown, was born on the 19th of February, 1838. He is a son of Richard Lockwood, Esq., late of Middletown, of whom there is a steel plate portrait and sketch in this volume. His mother was Mary, daughter of Thomas Lockwood. He, after attendance on the schools of Mid- dletown, was sent to Burlington college at Burlington, N. J., in his 15th year, and in 1854, entered the N. J. Conference Seminary at Pennington, devoting his attention to the mathematical course and particularly to surveying. This occupied two years and in all he was four years in this institution of learning. Desirous of becoming an engineer, he, on his return from the Seminary, placed himself under the instruction of E. Q. Sewell, engineer of the P. W. & B. R. Road for some time, and expected to take work on the Miss. & St. Joseph's R. R., but obstacles then inter- posed to his leaving home, and he began farm- ing on the estate now occupied by him and known as Kildee Lawn, near the old parish church of St. Ann. It consists of 160 acres of valuable land, being what is known as a "quarter section," and is rectangular in shape, and beautifully located. Mr. Lockwood had at one time as many as 9000 peach trees on this place, and has been a fruit grower ever since 1860. Has been successful to some ex- tent, but of recent years this interest, in his judgment, has not been a paying one. He joined with a number of others, among whom was Gov. Cochran, Dr. H. Ridgly, and Samuel Townsend, in the attempt to place peaches in the English markets by steamers from Phila- delphia; their preservation to be accomplished, while on the way across the ocean, by the pro- cess of refrigeration. Mr. Lockwood was se- lected to act as agent for the shippers and to accompany the experimental trip to Liverpool on the steamship Ohio, one of the American line of steamers from Philadelphia. He yet believes that the experiment would have been a success, the cargo of peaches being lost from not having a supply of ice needed for the re- frigerator. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. H, of the 5th Delaware Volunteers and was muster- ed as Lieutenant of that company. It is proper to say of this company that it consisted of drilled men who were uniformed by the
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.