Historical and biographical encyclopaedia of Delaware. V 2, Part 12

Author:
Publication date: 1972
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 776

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OORE, JOHN ADAMS, Retired Phy- sician of Felton, was born in Fred- erica, Kent county, November 6, 1823. His father, Thomas Jefferson Moore, was a merchant and farmer, and filled positions of public trust and honor in his state, and was at the time of his death in 1859, a member of the State Senate. His mother's maiden name was Johnson. Her father was John Johnson, a man universally esteemed for

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resentatives His whole course was charac- | peach trees, which were profitable, also apples, terized by the conscientious and faithful per- pears, and small fruits. Most of his farm was formance. of his duties. In 1856 he married devoted. to wheat and corn. He was a suc- Martha A., daughter of Bassett Ferguson, of cessful farmer, and highly respected in the New Castle county. Of this marriage there community. Mr. Aron was trained in the were three children, of whom Jefferson, the ranks of the old Whig party. During the war youngest, a youth of remarkable promise, died . he was a staunch supporter of the Union cause. in 1879, in the sixteenth year of his age. He enlisted in the Sixth Delaware Regiment, Although far from being a robust man, Dr United States Volunteers, and was Second Moore has led a most industrious and useful : Lieutenant of Company G. He served with life. He has been zealous in his efforts to pro- mote the educational interests of his commu- nity, and was one of the most liberal founders and supporters of Felton Seminary. He is an active and official member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In all his business and pro fessional relations he has been closely and earnestly devoted to duty. He occupies a high place in the estcem and confidence of the community in which he was reared, and in which he has spent so large a proportion of an honorable life.

that regiment, guarding the Philadelphia, Wilmington, & Baltimore Railroad, and the Confederate prisoners at Fort Delaware, until mustered out of service. He was, in his lo- cality, a leader in the Republican party, and was a candidate for the Legislature, and also for the Levy Court of Kent county, but his party was in the minority. He was for several years a trustee, and President of the Sunday School Board in the Methodist Church, with which he united in 1856. He was married, in 1848, to Miss Martha, daughter of John and Hester (Kersey) Green, by whom he had ten children ; Hannah, wife of William Hallowell, of Bridgeville ; John; William ; Mary ; Hester : Charles Henry ; James Powell ; Emma ; Addie ; Thomas ; and Martha. Mr. Aron died, after a short illness, February 16, 1882. He met.death with composure, and trustful and happy assur- ance. His sudden removal is a great loss to his family, and the community.

RON, POWELL; Farmer near Hazlett- ville, was born in West Dover hundred, December 19, 1824. His father, William Aron, also a farmer, was born and passed his life in the same locality. He died in 1858, at the age of sixty-nine. His first wife, the mother of the subject of our sketch, was Mrs. Ann, widow of George Sew- ard. She died in 1840, leaving ten children, eight of whom grew to maturity. He next . YGERT, JOHN E., Phosphate Manu- facturer of Smyrna, was born May 22, 1844, in Albany county, New York, the home of his family for several genera- tions. His parents were Frederick J. married Hester, daughter of John Slay, by : whom he had four children. He was a man of very excellent and decided character ; his word was his bond. He became a christian in early life, and was for many years a class-leader in and Ellen (Jewett) Tygert. Frederick J. Tygert the M. E. Church. Mr Powell Aron attended was a farmer and leading citizen of Guilderland the common schools during his boyhood. He township, and held various offices of trust by became a well read man, largely self edu- the favor of his fellow citizens. He was a cated, and was one of the most intelligent prominent member and office bearer in the M. citizens of his locality. He remained with his E. church and many years S. S. Superintendent. father, assisting upon the farm, until he was Heremoved to Kent county, Delaware, where twenty-three years of age, when he mar- he joined his son John E. who had preceded ried and settled on a farm belonging to his him, and died soon after, February 28, 1873, in father-in-law. In 1859, his father having died, is 56th year. His widow is still living. John he bought from the other heirs, one hundred E. Tygert received a good common school and twenty acres of the family homestead, the education, and from 16 to 18 years of age took Lockwood farm, as it was called, and some the principal charge of the farm. In 1862 he years later had under his control the whole enlisted in Company H, 177th New York estate, consisting of two hundred and six volunteers, and served with General Banks on acres. He had at one time three thousand the Mississippi from the Gulf to Port Hudson,

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.

returning home at the expiration of his term of service with greatly impaired health. When sufficiently recovered he traveled west through Illinois and Iowa. He returned home in 1865, still suffering greatly from an affection of his eyes which from that time have given him much trouble. In the winter of that year he came to Delaware and purchasing a tract of wood- land near Harrington, engaged in clearing it of timber and wood. He came into possession of a farm near that town and here his father joined him and soon after died. About this time he engaged in the manufacture of Phos- phate and associated with him his brother. J.E. Tygert & Co., are now widely known as the manufacturers of the Star Bone Phosphate, an article which has obtained for them a wide reputation Of this industry, which was com- menced at Harrington and afterward removed to Smyrna, a sketch and an engraving will be found in this volume. John E. Tygert is a man of fine business talents, and has made a success of the industry to which he has devoted himself. He has been twice married ; first, in 1869, to Miss Mary Dunham, of Schuylerville, New York. She died in 1874, leaving one child, Edgar Tygert. On the 6th of March, 1878, he married Miss Mary Doughten of Smyrna.

| Chesapeake and Delaware Bay Railroad; con- tinuing in this office till 1876. For over twelve years he was President of the Smyrna Library Association, one of the largest and most valuable libraries in the state. These impor- tant trusts well indicate the estimation in which he is held by his fellow townsmen. He was mar- ried in 1875,to Miss Lucy Eleanora, only child of Dr. William Daniels of Smyrna. They have one child, Margaret Caroline Stockley.

YNSON, GARRETT L., Farmer of Milford hundred, was born July 26, 1829. His father was Rev. Matthew M. Hynson, a distinguished Baptist clergyman, of Milford, who died in 1834. His mother, Ann (Beswick) Hynson, was a devout christian, and died in 1856. Three children of this marriage grew to maturity. Garrett L., George B., of Philadel- phia, and Anna, now Mrs. George Plowman, of Philadelphia. The Hynson family are natives of Maryland, and are among the most influential citizens of Kent county, in that State. The subject of this sketch was reared upon the farm and attended the schools of his vicinity principally in winter, until he gained his majority. At the age of twenty-one he fol- lowed the sea for two years, trading from Philadelphia to New England ports. He be- came mate of the schooner "James P. Fisher" in 1851, which was wrecked on the coast of New Jersey, January 3, 1852. The Captain and steward were lost and Mr. Hynson was saved by swimming ashore, after being in the rigging for over eight hours. From the effects of that exposure Mr. Hynson has never fully recovered. In 1856 he began farm-

TOCKLEY, JOHN CLARK, Grain Merchant of Smyrna, was born July 9, 1835. The geneaology of the family,and a very interesting sketch of his father, Ayres Stockley, is given, previously, in this volume. John C. Stockley was educated at one of the first select schools in Wilming- ton, and at Delaware College. He became, in 1855, a civil engineer on the Delaware rail- road, and was thus engaged for about a year, ing in Milford hundred, which he continued for after which he was a clerk in the Bank of two years, when he removed to Illinois, remain- Smyrna for four years. Following this he was | ing for two years. Upon his return home he be- again for a few months a civil engineer on the | came Master of the Schooner "James S. Buck- master," and was employed in the coasting trade until 1861, when he resumed the occu- pation of a farmer, and afterward took charge of a steam saw mill in Maryland. He ran

Junction and Breakwater Railroad. From 1860 to 1864 he was cashier of the office of Discount and Deposit of the Bank of Smyrna, at Mil- ford, Delaware. He then removed to Smyrna, and forming a partnership with his brother, this mill in connection with a farm upon which Ayres Holmes Stockley, engaged in the grain it was built. In 1867 he removed to the home commission business, which he still continues. ! of his boyhood, where he has since continued His brother died, April 20, 1874. Mr. Stockley i to reside. This farm contains 165 acres, was elected a director of the bank of Smyrna and is devoted to grain and stock raising. Mr. in 1864, and held the position for ten years. Hynson is a Republican in politics, and was a He succeeded his father as Secretary of th decided Union man during the war. He re-

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Edward En Suces

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BIOGRAPHICAL, DEPARTMENT.

ceived the nomination of his party for the | Church, of which his wife was a devoted mem- Legislature (1874) but was not elected, his ber, and he died in that faith, May 12, 1877. party being in the minority. He is a member He was gentle in disposition and plain and unassuming in manners, but he was strong in his convictions, upright in life, and was pos- won the esteem of the community in which he lived. of Excelsior Grange, No. 8, Patrons of Hus- bandry, and was elected its first Master. He became a member of the Laws' Methodist | sessed of a sterling integrity of character that Episcopal Church in 1874, and has served as superintendent of the Sunday School for three years As an agriculturist he has been success- ful, and is a man of intelligence and character. He was married January 3, 1854, to Mrs. Ellen P., widow of John T. Anderson, of Milford hundred, and daughter of. Shadrach Postles. Their children are Henry L., of the "Peninsula News and Advertizer," of Milford ; Anna, Charles P., George B., Margaret A., and Gar- rett P. Hynson.

PcINALL, EDWARD, Apothecary, late of Wilmington, was born at Sharps- town, Salem county, N. J., November, 22, 1825. His parents, James and Re- becca McInall, removed to Wilming- ton during his childhood. He enjoyed limited educational advantages, as he left the school at the age of twelve years to enter the drug store of Edward Bringhurst. In this position he devoted himself assiduously to the acquire- ment of a thorough and practical knowledge of the business, which was to be his life-work. He continued with Mr. Bringhurst until Sep- tember, 1845 when he purchased, at Sheriff's sale, the drug store of Dr. Edward Worrell, then consul at Havana, and engaged in business on his own account. This store was located at No. 30 (now 124) Market street, and in it he con- tinued a successful business career until he was succeeded by his son Edward McInall, Jr., in 1870. He uniformly declined official posi- tions, but was induced to serve for some time as a member of the City Council. He was married, September 26, 1847, to Cecelia, daugh- ter of the late James Fox, upholsterer of Wil- mington, but of their several children, the son EE, JOHN, of Kenton, was born, March 14, 1806, near Magnolia, Kent county. His father, Rev John Lee, a local preacher of the M. E. church, was ordained by Bishop George. He was who succeeded him in business alone survives. After his retirement from business he resided in Philadelphia about four years, but after the death of his beloved partner in life, December 12, 1875, he returned to Wilmington and instrumental in building the Lee M. E. spent the remainder of his life with his son. |Church, at Kenton, which derives its name In early manhood he united with the Metho. from him. He was a highly respected dist Episcopal Church, but later in life he em- citizen and christian gentleman; he died at braced the doctrines of the Roman Catholic | the age of sixty-nine years. His mother was

CINALL, EDWARD, JR., son of the above, was born in Wilmington, December 25, 1848. He was educated at St. Mary's College, which then occupied the site of his present resi dence. He entered the store of his father in 1864, and in 1866 matriculated at the Philadel- phia College of Pharmacy, where he graduated at the head of his class in 1868 After gradu- ation he engaged in the study of medicine under the preceptorship of the late Dr. Henry Askew, of Wilmington, and was a student at Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia. In 1870, before the completion of his medical studies, he was called to succeed to the busi- ness of his father, and devoted himself ener- getically to its management. In 1871 he re- moved to the southeast corner of Second and Market streets, to secure better accommoda- tions for his increasing trade, and there pur - sued a career of uninterrupted prosperity until he retired from the business, March 25, 1879, and was succeeded by N. B. Danforth. He was married, June 13, 1872, to Miss Laura Ridgeway, of Danville, Pennsylvania. Since his retirement from active business he has been occupied with the financial management of his estate, and with medical researches that were interrupted when he engaged in business. In the fall of 1879 he became an office student of Professor William H. Pancoast, the eminent surgeon and Professor of Anatomy in the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia.

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Sarah, daughter of Jacob Smith, of Kent county. | wielding a large influence in social and politi- John Lee, the subject of this sketch, grew

cal life. He was in sympathy with the Demo- up upon the farm. and his educational advan: cratic party, and few men in his county pos- tages were those afforded by the schools of sessed his power in controlling and fixing the his vicinity. The most of his life was devoted political opinions of others. His deportment to merchandizing at Millington, Kent county, was quiet, cheerful and courteous. In the Maryland. Mr. Lve came to reside at Ken-I enunciation of his principles, and in their vin- ton in 1872, where he lived in retirement from dication, he was never at a loss either in argu- business cares and anxieties until his death, | ment or repartee. Although laboring under which occurred, November 18, 1881, and his the disadvantage of a limited education, yet interment occurred on the 21st In politics | his extensive reading, large intercourse with he acted with the old Whig party as long as the world, and the possession of great natural it had an existence. He afterward became a intelligence, made Mr. Watkins a man of mark Democrat. He was elected a member of the | in his community. In 1848, Mr. Watkins was appointed collector of the Port at Port Penn, by President Polk. He was a member of the Levy Court of New Castle, and was elected County Treasurer in 1874, serving throughout his term with great satisfaction to all parties. Mr. Watkins had been reared in the doctrines of the M. E Church, but several years before his death connected himself with the Presbyterian church in whose communion he died, April 16, 1877. He was united in marriage, in 1807 to Miss Hester McDonough, a cousin of Com- modore McDonough, of the U. S. Navy. Of daughter of Mason and Sarah Bailey; one |this marriage were born the following children ; Amanda, Columbus, (of whom also see record) and Caroline Watkins.

Constitutional Convention of Maryland in 1850, and served in the same capacity in the Convention of 1863. He held several political offices, which he filled with credit to himself and to his constituents. He was a member of the M. E. Church, which he joined in 1828, and was for many years a trustee and steward of his church. He was united in marriage in 1832, to Miss Sarah Orrell: one child was born of this marriage, a daughter named Rebecca. He was again married, December 5, 1847, to Miss Margaret, child, also, a daughter, was born of this union; Lana now the wife of Dr. James Temple, of Kenton, Delaware. If character makes destiny, a happy one has been entered upon by John Lee.

ATKINS, GASSAWAY, a Merchant and Farmer of McDonough, New Castle

was Mrs. Paul A. Smith, formerly Miss Milcah Hart, of New Castle county, Delaware. This family of Watkins is of Welsh ancestry, and settled early in Maryland. Three sons, Gassa- way, Robert and John, were the only children of Gassaway Watkins, Sr. Mr. Watkins, the subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm, one mile above McDonough. He engaged in farming soon after reaching his majority, and resided on farms in Delaware and Maryland

ANNON, WILSON LEE, Retired Ship- builder, Dover, son of Richard and Hester (Fawcett) Cannon, was born in Mispillion Neck, Kent county, Jan. 28, 1817. His father was a farmer, and a lo- near the village of Bridgeville, in Sussex

county. was born in Kent county Md., |cal preacher in the M. E. church. He was born July, 1802. His father was Gasway Watkins, of Maryland. His mother county, to which place his father emigrated from Scotland. Here, also,he married his first wife, Elizabeth Smith, January 30, 1799. In 1811 he removed to Mispillion, where his wife died, and on the 5th of March, 1812, he was again married to Hester Fawcett, widow of George Beswick. He died, October 2, 1820, when his son, Wilson Lee, was only three years old. The latter lived with his mother till she also died, September 12, 1830. His school advantages were of the poorest kind ; until 1838, when he removed to McDonough | all his education has been attained entirely by and there added merchandizing to his agricul- his own efforts. At the age of sixteen he went tural employments, and continued in that place to learn the ship-carpentering trade of his and business for nearly forty years. Mr .. Wat- brother-in-law, Manlove R. Carlisle, at South kins was, in many respects, a remarkable man, Milford, and served an apprenticeship of four

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years. He then worked twelve months at his | Miss Ann, daughter of James Scotten, of Lit- trade near Paynter's Drawbridge, six months tle Creek hundred, Kent county. Their four children are, Henry White, Editor and proprie- tor of the State Sentinel at Dover, of whom see sketch in this work ; Ella, wife of Dr. S. D. Marshall, of Philadelphia ; Mary Elizabeth, and Hattie. Mr. Cannon lost his wife, August 23, 1859, and on the 14th of October, 1862, married Miss Mary E., daughter of Robert B. Jump, of Little Creek hundred. By his second wife he has three children ; Annie J., Wilson Lee, Jr. and Robert Barrett. at Milford, and one year at Dover. In his twenty-third year he went to Leipsic, Kent county, where he commenced business for himself. His first vessel he built for John Reed, of Dover. He then built and sold vessels, and next built and run them for himself. He also engaged largely in the timber and lumber business, employing a great many men, and supplying immense quantities of ship timber for the eastern mar- kets. Mr. Cannon was for seventeen years in Leipsic, where he built up a fine business, and accumulated property. He invested largely in real estate, purchasing in 1842 a large farm on the road from Dover to Smyrna ; in 1847, bought the Mount Farm, and another farm in 1856. Besides these,he owns, in Leipsic, a ship yard and town lots, and built while there a handsome residence for his family. In 1862 he removed with his family to Dover, and erected the elegant mansion in which they have since resided. He also bought considerable property there ; and, in 1864, purchased the Penrose lands. Since that time he has found enough to occupy his time in the care of all this prop- erty, and in superintending the culture of his lands. though he has at times indulged in bus- iness ventures of different kinds, which being made with good judgment have generally proved successful. Mr. Cannon is a man of fine natural abilities, and whatever position he has been called upon to fill, he has always been found well fitted for its requirements He has, for twenty years, been commissioner of public schools for Kent county. In 1858 he was elected to the Senate of Delaware on the Dem- ocratic ticket for four years. In 1861 when the commissioners from the South, Dickinson and Campbell from Alabama, came to the Leg- islature, urging the members to secede or join the South. the Senate stood five Democratic and four Republican. Mr. Cannon had sworn to support the Constitution of the United States, and refused to vote for the measures and resolu- tions offered. He held the balance of power, and the resolutions were killed, and he has since been strongly identified with the Union- loving and loyal men of the State, and with the Republican party. He is a member of the M. E. Church, and has been a trustee for many years. He was married, September 16, 1841, to

RATT, DOCTOR NATHAN, of Mil- ford, was born in Kent county, Del., September 9, 1834. His father is Henry Pratt, a farmer now residing in Kent county, at the age of 77 years. His mother was Unity, daughter of John Lock- wood of Kent county ; she is still living at the age of 72 years. Doctor Pratt is the second child and first son of his parents, and one of four children now living. He was reared on a farm until eighteen years of age, attending the schools of his vicinity until this period, when he was sent to the school of Mr. Wm. Sharp at Dover, where he remained for one year. He then engaged in the occupa- tion of teaching for one season, when he en- tered the Seminary at Fairfield, N. Y., where he continued for one year. At the end of this time he returned home and resumed teach- ing which he followed for about one year, when . he entered the office of Dr. John W. Sharp of Camden, and began the study of medicine. He matriculated at the University of Penn- sylvania, in 1858, and graduated from that institution in the class of 1860 in March of that year. He began the practice of his pro- fession April, 1860, in the town of Milford, where he continued for four years, when he was appointed Assistant Surgeon at the Fil- bert street hospital, Philadelphia, after which he was ordered to Winchester, Va., where he acted in the same capacity at Sheridan's Field Hospital. In January, 1865, he returned to Milford and resumed the practice of medi- cine. Dr. Pratt has been successful as a phy- sician, being popular with the community,and influential in the state. He served as Auditor of the State, and Secretary of the State Board of Education, from April, 1875, to Januuary, 1879, with much credit. He is at

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present President of the Board of Public | has successfully conducted up to this time. In Schools in Milford, and has served in that 1866 he organized and started the post-office, and was appointed Postmaster the same year. He has acted in this capacity for the past six- office, much to the advantage of the educa- tional interests of that town. He has taken a large interest in the public schools of the teen years. Mr Jakes is a thorough business borough, and through his instrumentality there is in Milford an efficient public school of high grade. Dr. Pratt was united in marriage to Miss Mary, daughter of William Hill, a | well known farmer of Milford, November 7, 1861. Four children have been born to them; Margaret, John Lynn, William' Burton, and Louis Lockwood Pratt. man and an honorable, enterprising citizen. He is a Good Templar, and served as a Rep- resentative from Delaware to the Grand Lodge, at its session held at St. Louis, in 1866. He is also, an Odd Fellow, which order he joined in 1854 ; he has occupied all the chairs except that of Grand Master, and in 1880, was Grand Representative from his State to the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the United States, also, in AKES, JOHN THOMAS, Merchant and Land Owner, Wyoming, was born in Kent county, November 20, 1833. His father, Thomas W. Jakes, is still living in Kent county, in full possession of his mental and physical faculties, though eighty-one years of age. He is an active member and trustee of the Methodist church, an upright, honorable citizen and christian gen 1882. He became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in 1867, and has served his church in an official capacity for many years. He was made a life director of the American Bible Society in 1878, and became treasurer of the Kent County Bible Society in 1872. He was appointed agent of the Adams Express Company in 1857, which position he still re- tains. He is a Republican in politics, and has tleman. In politics he is a Republican, and been an active member of that party since its has always acted with that party. The Jakes organization. Mr. Jakes was one of the few men who voted for Abraham Lincoln for Presi- dent in 1860. Three generations of this family voted for President Hayes, his father, himself and his son. He married Miss Mary B., daugh- ter of Benjamin B. Townsend, of Camden, February 14, 1853. Five children have been born to them, four of whom are still living ; William H .; Charles R .; Thomas W, and Maggie T. Jakes. family are of French Huguenot extraction ; the name was originally Jacques, and they are descended from Henry Jacques, who was the immigrant. The mother of John T., was Nancy, daughter of William Anderson, a farmer of Kent county. At the time of her marriage to Mr. Jakes, she was the widow of Robert Har- gadine, who left two children ; William A., a leading merchant of St. Louis, and Julia, now wife of Robert B. Wright of Kent county. Mrs. Jakes was a most excellent christian woman, and died, July 17, 1863, at the age of sixty-nine years. The subject of this notice : attended the school of his neighborhood until seventeen years of age, when he accepted a position as clerk in the store of Messrs. Luff and Green, at Camden, which he continued the schools of the vicinity, generally in the until 1849, when he formed a partnership with Mr. Prouse, and engaged in the business of merchandizing, under the firm name of Prouse

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Historical and biographical encyclopaedia of Delaware. V 2, Part 12

Author: Publication date: 1972 Publisher: Number of Pages: 776

Author:
Publication date: 1972
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 776