USA > Delaware > Historical and biographical encyclopaedia of Delaware. V 1 > Part 49
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His father, Richard W. Skinner, was a
farmer of that locality. Mr. Skinner was
educated at Fort Edward Collegiate Insti-
the breaking out of the rebellion, he entered tute, in Washington county, New York. On
Company D, of the 77th regiment, New York
Volunteers, mustered at Saratoga, served with McClellan throughout the Peninsular cam- paign, and took part in all the great bat- tles before Richmond. He was also in the second battle of Bull Run, and at South Mountain and Antietam. In the last, Sep- tember 17, 1862, he received a severe gunshot wound which disabled him from further service. He enlisted as a private soldier, but in nine months rose to the rank of Second Lieutenant, and was, at the time of his injury, serving as commanding officer of company H. On re- turning to civil life, Mr. Skinner married Miss Anna Mast, of Lancaster county, Pa. and settled on a farm near Greensboro, Md. In 1866 he re- moved to Felton, and opened a seminary of learning. In 1875 he was called to the posi- tion of Vice-Principal of the Wilmington Conference Academy, at Dover, and in 1878 was elected Principal of the same institution. This school Mr. Skinner has made a decided success. He is popular with the students and the people, and is a man of high character and excellent executive and administrative ability.
ROWN, JOHN R., Dentist of Wilming- ton, was born in New Garden Town- ship, Chester county, Pa., April 16, 1839. His parents were Thomas H., and Martha Matilda (Ray) Brown. His father was a merchant-miller and country store-keeper for many years, in the village of Landenburg, and vicinity. His son, John R., received his early education at the public schools of that locality, spending some years at Hopewell Academy in the same county. His proficiency was not remarkable, in fact his mind, now so keen, ready and active, did not seem to wake up till brought into contact with the sharp competi- tions of life. Leaving school when past six- teen years of age he entered his father's store 36
went to learn his profession, paying one hun- dred and fifty dollars for his instructions, also paying for his board and purchasing his own material. His instructor was Dr. John Ander- son of Kennett Square. This gentleman, a blacksmith originally, was a natural mechanical genius. Taking up the art and science of den- tistry, he become very eminent and the teacher of many of the most celebrated professors, men who were the creators of dental science. He was the originator of the stamped plate, which was at that time generally adopted. Under his careful and thorough training young Brown, himself a natural mechanic, made rapid progress. He spent his time not so much in reading as in unremitting endeavors to acquire skill and dexterity in the art. Completing his course of study he settled, when only nineteen, in his native place, where, by hard work and faithful attention to business, he gained a good practice. After two years he concluded to seek a larger field and removed to New Cas- tie, Delaware, where he remained three years; gaining a good and lucrative practice. At the end of this time the confinement necessary to his business becoming irksome, he was induced to join his father in the milling business, to which his mechanical turn of mind seemed particularly well suited. After continuing in this for some years with varied success, he again took up his legitimate calling to which he now brought well formed business habits and a mind improved and awakened by con- tact with a sharp business community. He found that great advances had been made in dentistry, and that to take the position he desired would require much hard study. But determined to place himself in the very front ranks, he applied himself with unremitting zeal. He read the best journals and all the most valuable dental literature. His memory was retentive, and having thoroughly mastered the fundamental principles during the former years, he had a good foundation on which to build. He gave himself wholly to his work, not sparing any pains or trouble to please and satisfy his patrons, and gained his reward in an extensive practice. The beauty, strength and durability of his work was soon recog- nized, while his high character and genial manners made him hosts of friends. While he has no superior as an operative dentist, the
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
skill and success of Dr. Brown in the mechani- | cal department is unsurpassed. In that per- haps is his specialty. He keeps himself well 'abreast with every advance of dental science, and his success is a happy illustration of what years of devotion to a profession can accom- plish. Now in the ripeness of his manhood he is in the zenith of his popularity, and his pro- fessional standing is unquestioned in the city which he has chosen for his home. Such is his mechanical genius that he seems to be able to make anything however delicate or difficult in the most artistic manner. Dr. Brown was married, in 1859, to Miss Francis E., daughter of the late James Draper of New Castle, a lady of fine appearance, and of very superior social attainments. They have three children, Lulu Elma, Harry Elmer and John Draper Brown. .
LLMOND, JOHN PECKWITH, Mer- chant and ex-Mayor of Wilmington, was born in Brandywine village, now the ninth ward of that city, May 6, 1835. His ancestors, a hardy and long lived race, of French origin, have for many genera- tions been residents of this state, having set- tled early in the eighteenth century upon ex- tensive tracts of land along the Delaware river between Edgemoor and the Philadelphia turn- pike. His great grandfather attained the ex treme age of ninty-six, and his father, Wm. All- mond, is now living at the age ofeighty-six. His mother was Phobe (Jefferis) Allmond. He at- tended in his boyhood the village academy, and later the Friends' school, where he acquired a good English education. Having a great fond- ness for the sea, as soon as he was large enough to be so employed, he spent his summers in the coast service, continuing his studies during the winter. At the age of seventeen he bound himself for a four years apprenticeship to Mr. Gregg Chandler to learn the wood turning business. When he had served three years and mastered his trade, he bought the remain- ing year, and also purchased the interest and business of Mr. Chandler, and at the age of twenty-one commenced life for himself. He met with good success, but at the end of a year sold out and engaged in the grocery bus- iness, in which he has continued to the present time with constantly increasing prosperity.
Mr. Allmond is one of the most popular, en - terprising, and public spirited citizen of Wil- mington, and has acquired a wide influence in public affairs. In March, 1869, he secured the incorporation, by the Legislature, of the Bran- dywine Loan Association, the object of which was to enable men of limited income to secure for themselves a home by the payment of a small monthly stipend. The duration of the association being limited to ten years, it closed its existence in April, 1879. During the entire period Mr. Allmond was its president, filling the office with great credit to himself and ben- efit to the association, by whose beneficent oper- ations, many now possess homes who could not have secured them without its agency. Since 1856 Mr. Allmond has been a member of the ma- sonic fraternity and is Past Grand Secretary and Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge. He early became deeply interested in securing the erection of the Masonic Temple, laboring in- cessantly and with much influence for that result, till finally the efforts of himself and colleagues were crowned with success, and they now possess one of the most magnificent structures in the State. He was chairman of the committee on Plans, and also one of the Building Committee. In 1877 he was elected by the Legislature a member of the Board of Construction for the completion of the Cool Spring Reservoir, which is one of the great public works of the city and the pride of its people. In September 1878, he was elected Mayor of Wilmington by a larger majority than was ever given to an incumbent of that office since the city was incorporated. His popularity is well demonstrated in the vote for his nomination, which was more than one thousand over all his competitors. In the winter of 1881 his term of office and that of the other city officers, was extended by the Legislature to July, 1882. His administration was signalized by an able management of municipal affairs and by a firm adherence to the principles of his party. Mr. Allmond was married June 24, 1856, to Miss Sarah M., daughter of Moses and Mary Palmer of Bran- dywine village, prominent and highly respec- ted members of the Society of Friends. Mr. and Mrs. Allmond have had ten children, of of whom seven are now living : Mary, William Stewart, John P., Charles M., Hettie P., Sallie M., and Florence Allmond.
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BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.
ONDER, HON. JOHN, formerly a 'trust. In politics he was always a Democrat Merchant and Vessel Owner of Milton, and an enthusiastic friend and admirer of Gen. was born on the Ponder farm, one mile Andrew Jackson, and his administration. He northwest of that village, in August, served several times as Levy Court Commis- 1791. His father, James Ponder, was sioner of Sussex county, and in 1852 was a large farmer and land owner of Broadkiln elected State Senator from that county, serving hundred, Sussex county. He married Miss in the sessions of the four years following. Sarah Warren of Cedar Creek hundred. The He was a Vestryman and a Warden in the father of James Ponder was John Ponder, St. Matthews Protestant Episcopal Church in who patented the family estate, now in the Cedar Creek. In 1816 he married Miss Hester possession of Governor Ponder, and was the Milby, a niece of his partner in business, and first of his name who came to Delaware, daughter of Captain Nathaniel Milby of Indian removing probably from Virginia. He was River hundred, the master of a coasting of English origin. The subject of this sketch vessel, and who died of Yellow Fever at Ports- was the only son of his parents. He had mouth, Virginia, where he is interred. Mrs. three sisters ; Eleanor, who married John Ponder died in 1827, leaving an infant of less ยท Rowland, a farmer of Sussex county, whoes than a month-who also died-and two chil- sister was the wife of Governor Samuel Payn- dren, James, afterward Governor Ponder, and Anna, now Mrs. Chancellor Saulsbury. Mr. Ponder died of paralysis when in his seventy- second year. ter ; Elizabeth, who married Rev. S. Ferry of the Presbyterian church, and Mary, who married Mr. John Gray, and in 1842 re- moved to Iowa. Mr. Ponder received a good common school education, living on his father's farm until the age of eighteen, when he became a clerk in the store of Major John Hazzard, father of the late Governor Hazzard. In the war of 1812 he served the cause of his country, and received land warrants in reward for his services. After this he formed a partnership with Mr. Arthur Milby in the general merchandise business, connecting with it the purchase and shipping of iron ore. This ore was obtained at a dis-
AREY, ABSALOM HALLOCK, Far- mer and Fruit Grower of Camden, was born in Orange county, New York, July 30, 1831. His father, Absalom Carey, a farmer, was born in the same place in 1802. In January, 1832, he moved to Chemung county, in the same State, in which place his son grew to maturity. Absalom Carey married, in 1827, Elizabeth, daughter of Zebulon and Bethiah (Booth) Hallock. Zebulon was born in 1767, tance of from six to twelve miles from and his wife in 1765. His father, also named Milton, from which point thousands of tons Zebulon, was born in 1727, and his wife Eliza- were shipped each year, principally to the. beth, 1745. The Hallocks were originally from furnaces of Milville, Great Egg Harbor and England and among the early settlers of New England. General Hallock was from this stock. The paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, who also bore the name of Absalom, was a native of Orange county, N. Y., from which place he removed to Chemung, where he died at the age of eighty. He was a lineal descendant of Sir Robert Carey of England,as was also the father of Alice and Phoebe Carey the celebrated poetesses. Absalom H. Carey attended the common schools, and for two years the academy at Factoryville. In 1848 he went to work in a nursery, and was shortly other places in New Jersey. The firm of Mil- by and Ponder owned several vessels which they used in their trade. They dealt also in lumber, grain, wood and quercitron bark, used in tanning and coloring. This partnership, which continued for a number of years, was dissolved in 1830, after which Mr. Ponder con- ducted the business in his own name till 1843, when his son, afterwards Governor Ponder, was taken into partnership. This continued till Mr. Ponder's death, in 1863, a period of twenty years. He was very successful as a business man and accumulated a large personal made collector and financial agent of the busi- and landed estate. He was also a man ex- ness. In 1851 he visited the Western States in tremely popular with all classes, and was the interest of his employers, and purchased called to serve in various public positions of land in La Crosse, Wisconsin, with a view to
284
HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
establish a nursery there, but on his way back the best. He is very successful in his under- he was captivated with the wonderful accounts, takings ; is fair and upright in all his dealings, then just received, of gold discoveries in Aus- tralia, and embarked with three hundred and sixty-four others, on the second ship that ever sailed from New York for the Australian gold fields. Arriving in Melbourne, August 10, 1852, he spent a few months in mining at Ballarat, after which he opened a boarding house at the mines which succeeded well. The next year he, with another man, built the United States Hotel, then the largest and finest on the gold field, in which they were prospered ; but in 1855 it was burned, and all that he had made in the three years was swept away. Greatest kindness, however, was shown them; friends helped them most generously, and the house was rebuilt. This enterprise Mr. Carey con- siders the greatest success of his life, and the personal regard and consideration then evinced toward him is a source of great pride and pleasure with him yet to recall. But his health failed after three years more of hard work and confinement, and for two years he turned his attention to buying and exporting wool to England. During all this time he had still much to do with mining, and upon the discovery of gold in New Zealand, he disposed of his business and went to that island. Here he erected the Commercial Hotel and Amer- ican Bowling Saloon, and made money rapidly. In August, 1864, he sold out and started for home by the way of Sidney, New South Wales. Reaching San Francisco, he traveled some- time in California, and bought an interest in the celebrated silver mine, "Yellow Jacket." He arrived in New York by way of the Isth- mus, July 30, 1865, landing at the same wharf from which he had embarked, in March, 1852. Finding now that the climate of his native state was too severe, he removed to Delaware, and purchased the farm on which he has since resided, and which he has greatly improved and enriched. It is devoted to fruit, of which he has all the varieties in the greatest profusion. In 1865 he bought another large farm, which is also devoted largely to fruit, and he has be- side given much attention to the nursery busi- ness. He is, moreover, interested to a very considerable extent, in blooded cattle. He purchased Jersey stock at considerable cost, and has now a fine herd. He has all the im- proved dairy conveniences, and his butter is of
and highly esteemed. In politics he has always been a Republican, and in the war was deeply interested in the success of the Union cause. His father and three brothers were in the northern army. He was made a Mason in 1862, in Queenstown, New Zealand, and in 1860, had become a member of the Ancient Order of Foresters. When lie left the above country he was Past Chief Ranger, the highest office in the order. He brought with him a certificate, numerously signed, attesting the high esteem in which he was held as a member, and also as a citizen. Mr. Carey married at Ballarat, January 6, 1855, Miss Dorette Hahn, a native- of Hanover, Germany. They have had eleven children. The three eldest, one son and two daughters, born in Australia, died in New Zealand, of diphtheria, in March, 1861. Wilhelmina, Clutha and Matalana Elizabeth, were born in Queenstown. The others born in Delaware, are Albert, Marianna Dorette, Charles Otto, Fanny Julianna, Edith Eliza, and Robert Absalom. Mr. and Mrs. Carey united with the Baptist Church, in Wyoming, in 1872, and in 1875 Mr. Carey was elected a deacon.
MITH, CAPT. RICHARD E., of Mid- dletown, was born in Wilmington, Octo- ber 28, 1828. His father was John Smith, a member of Captain David C. Wilson's Company of Wilmington, and served jn the war of 1812; and died in 1840, aged 45 years. His mother, who is still living, now in her 78th year, was Miss Anna Maria, daughter of Richard and Anne Bradshaw. Anna Brad- shaw was the daughter of Wm. Short, who served in the Continental Army, and distin- guished himself for brave conduct in the battle of Brandywine. The father of John was Thomas Smith, who married Miss Hannah Kirk. His paternal ancestors were among the early settlers of this State: his maternal, among those first coming to Maryland under Lord Baltimore. The subject of this sketch, after attendance upon school, at 16 years of age learned the trade of coach and orna- mental painting. He married in August, 1855, Miss Emeline Brown of Woodstown, New Jersey. He continued to work at his trade
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BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.
until 1857, when, his health failing, upon the himself to secure his promotion to a higher recommendation of liis physician, he traveled rank. This letter is dated as above from through several of the western States. On Headquarters of First Separate Brigade and his return he located in Middletown, New was accompanied by a letter from Colonel Castle County. The Delaware Railroad was Crane, Chief Commissary of Subsistence, eighth then completed as far as Dover, and Mr. army corps, urging the claims of Lieutenant Smith started the railroad restaurant at Mid- Smith to the rank of Captain and Commis- sary of Subsistence. Such had been the ser- vice rendered by him during the trying times of the rebel raids, as to enlist the hearty efforts of his superior officers in his behalf as a tes- timonial of their appreciation. At the battle of Monocacy he served as volunteer aid on the staff of General Lew Wallace. He rejoined his regiment in November. 1864, then lying in front of Petersburg, and at the close of the war was mustered out, April 2, 1865. Cap- tain Smith on his return to civil pursuits be- came active in political affairs as an outspoken Republican. He was sent as a delegate to the soldiers and sailors' convention held in Chicago, which nominated General Grant for President. He served also as delegate to the National Republican Convention of 1872, held in Phila delphia. He is now (1882) a member of the Republican State Central Committee of Dela- ware, and also of the New Castle County Re- publican Committee. In 1869, he began to interest himself, as a land owner, in agriculture and in fruit-growing. He is the owner of 787 acres of valuable land in Chapel district, Tal-
dletown, which he has conducted successfully up to the present time. When the Rebellion commenced and Fort Sumpter was fired on in April of 1861, his patriotic feelings were aroused, and he took a decided and uncom- promising stand for the Government. He was the first man in his community to hoist the stars and stripes, and this act was one of great daring in a community, many of whose lead- ing men were out-spoken sympathizers with the South. Among these sympathizers were some of the baser sort, who, by threats and bravado, tried to suppress the exhibition of every patriotic declaration. They threatened with death any one who should rear aloft the ensign of the United States. Mr. Smith se- cured a suitable pole, had it set up before his door, and from it, hoisted by his own hands, floated the emblem of unity and freedom. Soon it was observed and crowds gathered to tear it from the flag-staff. Mr. Smith with his double-barreled gun, heavily charged, stood by the flag-pole, and with a face and manner that showed he was in deadly earnest, told the crowd that he defied them, and pointing to the bot county, Md., in three farms, devoted to flag said, "the man who attempts to haul grain and peaches. His farms are in a high it down, dies." By his previous gentlemanly ; state of cultivation, and he has found fruit- conduct he had become much respected, and
growing a paying interest and owing to care now by his firm stand he developed the latent and attention, his orchards and lands have not sentiment of Unionism in that community. failed to bring liim in a good income each No hand was found daring enough to attempt year. Mr. Smith is, in the best sense, a self- the work of removing from before Richard E. made man, and by uprightness and integrity in Smith's door the emblem of our nation's sov- his intercourse with all, has secured a place of ereignty. In the autumn of 1861, he com- high consideration in the esteem of the com- menced to recruit volunteers for the Govern-'munity.
ment. In April, 1862, was mustered into the three years' service as first Lieutenant in the 3rd Regiment of Delaware Volunteers, (Infan- try). He served in all the campaigns in which his regiment was engaged, until 1864, when he received an appointment on the staff of General E. B. Tyler. On the 15th of Sep- tember of that year, so great was hiis appre-'
ORSEY, HON. OUTERBRIDGE, a native of Delaware, was born in 1777. After completing his classical education, he studied law under James A. Bayard, and rose to eminence in his profession. He was for many years Attorney General of the ciation of the services rendered by him, that State, and was a Senator in Congress, from the General addressed a letter to Gov. Wm. Delaware, from 1810 to 1821. He died at Cannon of Delaware asking that he interest | Needwood, Maryland, June 9, 1842.
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