Historical and biographical encyclopaedia of Delaware. V 2, Part 14

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

USA > Delaware > Historical and biographical encyclopaedia of Delaware. V 2 > Part 14

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).

ERGUSON, RICHARD, Esquire, of Blackbird, was born May II, 1832, at that village. His father was Bassett Ferguson, a farmer and merchant dur- ing the latter part of his life. His death occurred in November 1853. His mother was, before marriage, Miss Susan T. Weldon. She was a member of the M. E. Church, and was married when a widow, to Vincent O. Hill of Blackbird hundred. Richard Ferguson, the subject of this sketch, was the eldest of seven children. The others are, Martha, wife of Dr. J. A. Moore, of Felton; Colin, a farmer of New Castle county ; Susan, the wife of Charles B. Satterfield of Blackbird ; Mary Ellen, wife of Mortimer Ricords, a farmer living near Blackbird, Temperance, wife of Richard Brockson, a merchant of Blackbird, and Benja- min B. Ferguson, engaged in the Department of Pharmacy in the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Ferguson attended the public schools of his vicinity until his nineteenth year, but during the summer worked on the farm. He began merchandizing at Blackbird in 1853, and continued in the business for two years, and afterward devoted his attention to farming. He resides upon a well cultivated farm of seventy-five acres, contiguous to the village of Blackbird. His attention, as a farmer, has

stock and grain. His political sentiments have always been Democratic, and in 1856 he was elected to the State Legislature to fill the unexpired term of the session of 1857, the vacancy having occurred through the death of Bayman Deakyne. He was appointed Justice of the Peace by Gov. Burton, and served in this position for seven years. He was for six years Trustee for the poor for New Castle county. Mr. Ferguson is not a member of any | church, but was educated in the tenets of Methodism, and has usually attended the M. E. Church. He was united, in marriage to Miss Bathsheba H., daughter of Thos. Deakyne, of Thoroughfare Neck, the 15th of March 1864. Mr. Ferguson is the Postmaster at Blackbird, and has, for many years, competently held that office. He is highly respected in his vicinity, as an intelligent, honorable, and up- right citizen. He is the trusted adviser and helper of all who come to him for assistance ; his intelligence, sympathy, and knowlege of law, htting him admirably for such service.

ECK, COL. ISAAC AUGUSTUS, of Redden Station, Sussex county, was born at Catskill on the Hudson River, New York, April 9, 1828. His father was Ephraim M. Peck, who died in Ulster county, N. Y., in 1850, at the age of forty-five years. His mother was Eliza (Lowe) Peck, still living. Five children were born of this marriage. Colonel Peck was educated at the common schools of Ulster county, which he attended until thirteen years of age, when his father put him to work in his shop where he learned the business of carriage building, he contining in it until twenty years of age. He worked at his trade for a short time, when he removed to Rahway, N. J.,and took charge of the Union Carriage Works, and became President of the company. At the breaking out of the war he entered the United States service as clerk in the Quarter Master's De- partment. `After serving three months in the Quarter Master's Department, he was com- missioned by the Secretary of War as Colonel with authority to raise a regiment. He im- mediately proceeded to enlist men, and his regiment was mustered in as the "2d District of Columbia." His command was assigned to duty in the District, and continued to fill this

: 359

BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.

duty until the resignation of Colonel Peck, caused by ill health, late in 1863. He removed to North Carolina and sought to recover his health, and after a short time he engaged in the lumber business in Brunswick county, on the Wilmington and Manchester Railroad. Af- ter the war Colonel Peck took considerable interest in the re-organization of that State. His opinions being obnoxious to some of the citizens, he was attacked by ruffians and received considerable personal abuse, because he was a northern man and a Republican. He was appointed to the position of clerk in the United States Custom House at Wilming- ton. He then was made Sergeant at Arms of the Constitutional Convention in the autumn of 1867. He served in this capacity until the close of the Convention, when he obtained the contract to refit and re-furnish the Senate department of the Capitol Buildings. In 1869 he removed to Montgomery County, Penna., where he became superintendent of the Sash, Door and Blind Factory of Messrs. Barber and Henderson. In November 1873, Colonel Peck became interested in the lumber and bark business at Redden station where he now re- sides. In 1873 he purchased 203 acres of land at Reddins station, on the J. & B. R. R., and erected theron a large steam saw mill for the manufacture of flooring and a variety of turned work for the northern markets. He also saws large quantities of ship timber and building lumber. He is also engaged in the mercantile business which was started in June, 1880, and he has been successful both in his store and in mill enterprises. In 1876 he built his present comfortable residence, situated about half a mile from the station. He is a man of great en- terprise and business ability. He has been suc- cessful in building up and maintaining a large business, and enjoys the confidence of the citizens of his neighborhood. He married, first, Miss Mary E. Dumond, of Ulster N. Y., May 21, 1839. Of their six childrent, two sur- vive ; Clinton C., and Clara E. Peck. Mrs. Peck died February 1879. She left behind her a memory fragrant with the virtues of a chris- tian. The Colonel was again married, July 29, to Miss Abbey A., daughter of Benjamin Burton, Esq., of Sussex county. One child has been born of this marriage, Samuel S. Peck.

AVIS, SUSSEX DELAWARE, Attor- ney-at-Law of Philadelphia, Pa., was born at Delaware Place near Wilming- ton city, Delaware, on the 30th day of December, 1838. Delaware Place was the handsome residence of his father, Colonel Samuel B. Davis, of whom see a very fine steel plate and biographical sketch in this volume. His mother was Sally, daughter of Edward P. and Jeannette (Moore) Jones, of New Castle county. He is the second son of his parents ; his elder brother being Delaware Davis, Esq., of Virginia ; another brother, now deceased, was Kent Delaware Davis, Lieutenant in the U. S. Marine Corps, who died, January II, 1865, see sketch of Col. Davis for the family connections, page 322 of this volume Mr. Davis secured an excellent preparatory training at St. Mary's College, Wilmington, and in 1856 entered Nassau Hall, Princeton, graduating A. B, with honor, in June 1859. His inclina- tions and preferences were for the profession of the law, and soon after he left Princeton, he entered the law office of Hon. Geo. M. Whar- ton, so distingushed in the annals of the Phila- delphia bar. Mr. Davis was admitted to prac- tice, in Philadelphia in January, 1862, and im- mediately entered upon the duties of his pro- fession in that city. He has, by his recognized abilities, won an honorable place among the leading lawyers of Philadelphia. He was ap- pointed local counsel and Assistant Secretary of the Union Pacific Railroad in 1871, and served with eminent ability in that relation for three years. In 1872 Mr. Davis was appointed Register in Bankruptcy and continues to hold this position. In politics he is an Independent Republican, and while attached to the princi- ples of his party, is unwilling, blindly to be dominated by party affiliations. Upright in his dealings with all, his large clientage by his ability and frankness find themselves assured that their interests are perfectly safe in his hands. He is admirably adapted to some of the specialties of his profession, and in cases in Equity in the Circuit Courts of the United States has had large experience, having been appointed as Master in a number of such cases. His reports furnish evidence of the possession not only of a legal mind of great acuteness and force, but also of admir- able literary culture and taste. He was united in marriage on the 12th day of February, 1874,

360

HISTORY OF DELAWARE.

to Miss Mary Fleming Hare, daughter of and for many years has been one of its leaders Robert Harford and Mary (Fleming) Hare, of Philadelphia, Pa. Three children have been born to them of this marriage ; Samuel Boyer, Caroline Hare, and Robert Hare Davis.

---

ARTIN, HON. EDWARD LIVING- STON, Member of Congress from Delaware, was born in Seaford, Sussex county, March 29, 1837. He was the youngest son in a family of ten children, whose parents were Captain Hugh and Sophia (Willis) Martin. A sketch of his father will be found in this volume. He attended the public and private schools of Seaford till 1850, when he spent a year in the Newark Acade- my, followed by another year in Delaware Col- lege. He was next two years in the cele- brated academy of Anthony Bolmar, in West Chester, Pennsylvania, after which he entered the University of Virginia, graduating four years later, in 1859, from the school of law. Returning to Delaware he further pursued his legal studies in the office of Hon. Daniel M. Bates,in Wilmington, with whom he continued eighteen months. In 1863 he was elected clerk of the State Senate, which remained in continuous session till 1865. In 1866 he again returned to the University of Virginia, where he spent six months in the law school, and on his return was examined and admitted to the bar in Dover, in the fall term of that year. He opened an office in Dover, but was soon summoned home by the illness of his father, with whom he remained till his decease, in June, 1867. Himself and his eldest brother, Luther Martin, were left executors of the will, and the care of his mother and of the estate devolved upon him. She lived till No- vember, 1869. "Woodburn," the estate on which Mr. Martin now resides, fell to him and his brother Luther. The care of this property made it necessary for him to relinquish the active duties of his profession and devote himself to agriculture, in which he has since been engaged. The whole estate consists of about four hundred acrés, and is largely devoted to fruit, having about ten thousand peach trees and large quantities of the small fruits. In these Mr. Martin has been very successful. The rest of the farm is devoted to grain and stock. Mr. Martin was eared in the faith of th Democratic party

in the State of Delaware. He was a member of the National Democratic Convention in Chicago in 1864, in Baltimore in 1872, in St. Louis in 1876, in Cincinnati in 1880. In 1873 he was appointed a member of the board of commissioners by the Legislature to settle the boundary line between Delaware and New Jersey, Chief Justice Comegys and Hon. William G. Whitely being the other members from this State, and Cortlandt Parker, Abra- ham Browning and Albert Slape, the commis- sioners on the part of New Jersey. The com- mission was discharged in 1875, before a settle- ment was effected. In 1877 Mr. Martin was appointed by the Legislature, the commis- sioner from Sussex county to encourage the introduction and growth of the sugar beet interest. In 1878 he was nominated by the Democratic party and elected to the Forty- sixth Congress. He served on the Committee of Accounts, on the Committee of the Dis- trict of Columbia, and on the special commit- tee for the Centennial Celebration of the sur- render of Yorktown. Mr. Martin made so honorable a record in Congress that he was re-nominated by his party, and elected to the same office in 1880, his competitor being Hon. John Houston, one of the Judges of the Supe- rior Court of the State. Mr. Martin was married, March 17, 1869, to Miss Clara, daugh- ter of William W. Dulaney, of Sussex county. They have five children ; Woodburn, William Dulaney, Rosalie, Mabel Bayard, and Ed- ward Livingston, Jr. Mr. Martin is a communi- cant of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and has been a member of the Vestry of St. Luke's Parish, Seaford, for more than twenty years, and many times a delegate to the Diocesan Convention.

YGERT HERMAN S., of the firm of J. E. Tygert & Co., Phosphate manu- facturers, Smyrna, and of 42 South Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia, was born, July 30, 1848, in Guilderland, Albany county, N. Y. His parents were Frederick J. and Ellen M. Tygert, who were natives of that county. His grandfather was John Tygert, who in early life followed the business of saddle and harness making, but afterwards became a farmer. He was a native of Ireland and came with his parents at an

----

: i

----

---

361

BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.

early age to America, settling in Dutchess county, N. Y. He served a regular appren- ticeship and upon reaching twenty-one years of age received from his master a saddle in lieu of his freedom suit. After becoming free from his trade, he settled in Amsterdam and after- wards went to the town of Knox on Hilder- burg mountain. Here he reared a family of twelve children, of whom six were sons. The grandfather of Mr. Tygert was the second son of his parents,and both his great grandparents died at Guilderland in the home of their grand- son, the father of. Herman. Reared on his father's farm, he continued his attendance at school in winter up to early manhood, and had, besides these opportunities, a period of four months' instruction at Eastman's Busi- ness college in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. His older brother, John, having come to Delaware in 1865, left in his hands, to a good extent, the work on the farm, on which he continued until 1873, when he also removed to this state and began business with him, in the manufacture of Tygert's Star Bone Phosphate, a business so wisely and energetically conducted as to have attained its present large proportions. The Messrs. Tygert are both Methodists and are such by rearing and preference, but are of wide liberality in religious and political views. Herman S. was united in marriage to Fannie A., daughter of George Schell, of Guilderland, Albany county, N. Y., and their children are Nellie and George S. Tygert.

MERSON, GOVERNEUR, M. D., Physician and Author, was born in Kent county. His father, Jonathan Emerson, died in the boyhood of this son, and his mother, after several years of widowhood, married the late Manlove Hayes, of the same county. She was a most estimable woman, of remarkable intelligence, and under her care and the protection of a lib- eral-minded step-father, he received an excel- lent education. He spent some years in travel, including a voyage as surgeon on board a mer- chantman, to the Mediteranean, and thence to Canton and other Chinese seaports ; and re- turning to Philadelphia in 1820, he settled there in the practice of his profession. He here enjoyed a large share of the public con- fidence, his judgment and skill as a practi- tioner being universally acknowledged. Dur-

ing the latter part of his life, however, he withdrew from practice and lived in compara- tive retirement, giving much attention to farming, in which he availed himself of all modern improvements. All through his career he manifested decided literary tastes, and made many valuable contributions to the lit- erature of the period. His writings were prin- cipally upon scientific, statistical and agricul- tural subjects. To medical literature he added largely, chiefly through the American Journal of the Medical Sciences. Of these literary and scientific labors, the most remarkable was a series of tables exhibiting the rate of mortality in Philadelphia, from each and all causes, of the sexes at all ages, during thirty years, from 1807, when the first official bill of mortality was issued. These tables have always been recognized as possessing great value. Among his contributions to the literature of Agricul- ture, is the Farmers' and Planters' Encyclopæ- dia of Rural Affairs, an octavo of thirteen hun- dred pages, replete with most valuable infor- mation to the rural classes, and which long ago attained the rank of a standard work. Dr. Emerson carried out his theories by the prac- tical pursuit of agriculture, demonstrating, on a large scale the truths promulgated through the scientific investigations of Baron Liebig and many other eminent scientists. He was the first to introduce Peruvian Guano into the Atlantic States, and to recognize the great advantages of the phosphatic, and other concentrated fer- tilizers, proving their good effects on his ex- tensive farms in Delaware. Several of his addresses on the subject of agricul- ture were published in pamphlet form, and one delivered in 1872, before the Farmers' Club, of Kent county, on "Land drainage," as applicable to the wet and swampy lands of that county, is particularly valuable. His last work was a translation from the French, of De Play's remarkable treatise on the Organiz- ation of Labor, a production of profound interest. Dr. Emerson was a clear, easy, elegant and impressive writer, who succeeded in making interesting every subject that he handled. Even at an advanced age he pre- served wonderful vigor of mind and body. He was a member of many literary and scientific societies, among which was the American Philosophical Society, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the United States Agricultural So-

----

1 1

362

HISTORY OF DELAWARE.

ciety, the Philadelphia Horticultural Society, born to them of this marriage; Elma C. and the United States Pomological Society, the Lizzie Brown. Doctor T. A. Brown, a well- known and popular physician of Wilmington, is a younger brother of Mr. Brown. Franklin Institute, the Pennsylvania Agricul- tural Society, and several other less prominent associations. Dr. Emerson was quiet and unobtrusive in manner, and was exceedingly popular in a large circle of cultivated ac- quaintances, of both sexes. Though he esteemed highly the society and conversation of ladies, he never married. He died at his residence, on Walnut street, Philadelphia, July, 1874, in the seventy-ninth year of his age, sincerely regretted by his relatives and friends in that city and in Delaware.

ROWN, JOSEPH, Farmer, of South Murderkill hundred, was born January 24, 1839. Hisfather was Thomas Brown, a farmer of the same locality. His mother, who is still living in Frederica, was Mary, daughter of Armour and Elizabeth Lockwood. Seven children were born of this marriage, six of whom survive, Joseph being the eldest. The grandfather of Joseph was .also named Thomas ; he was a farmer and owned large tracts of land lying in the vi- cinity of Frederica, which he had inherited from his father, William C. Brown, who lived and died on the farm now occupied by the subject of this sketch. Joseph Brown attended the schools of Frederica, principally in winter, un- til he gained his majority. Upon the death of his father he assumed the management of the farm for his mother. He continued here for three years, when, in 1871, he began farming for himself, upon an estate of 287 acres. He devotes his land to stock and grain, principally, though he has cultivated peaches to some ex- tent. When he began farming he raised five hundred bushels of wheat and one thousand bushels of corn upon his farm ; his land being since greatly improved, he now raises one thousand bushels of wheat and one thousand five hundred bushels of corn on the same number of acres. Mr. Brown is a practical farmer, and by industry and push, has brought his land up to a fair state of cultivation. He is a man of character and intelligence, and has made his business a success. In politics he is a Democrat and has always acted with that party. He was married, December 28, 1871, to Miss Catherine, daughter of Frisbie B. Clark, of Camden. Two children have been

MITH, THOMPSON RIGGS, Manufac- turer and Lumber Dealer, of Lincoln, Del., was born in Sussex county, N. J., on the 17th of November, 1834. His father was Daniel Smith, a farmer of Sussex county, N. J., and now residing in Brad- ford county, Penn., at an advanced age. His mother was Elizabeth, daughter of Silas Riggs, of Sussex county, N. J., and is still living in her sixty-sixth year. The subject of this sketch is the eldest of eight children, who are all living. His only sister is Mrs. White, widow of John S. White, who died a soldier in the United States service at New Orleans in the late civil war, June, 1864. The brothers are Robert, Losey, William, Beamen, Theodore, and Au- gustus. Thompson Smith was educated at the public schools until fifteen years of age, when he was sent to the academy at Hamburg, N. J., where he remained for three terms. At the age of eighteen he went to work upon the farm of his grandfather, Nathan Smith, in Sussex, N. J .; in 1853 he went to Tompkins county, N. Y., and engaged in the book agency business, during which time his father removed to Bradford county, Penn., and he joined his family after a short time. At the breaking out of the war he enlisted in the 161st Regi- ment, New York Volunteers, under command of Colonel Kinsey, and served in the Red River Expedition under General Banks. He was in several engagements, and was in the actions of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill. He remained in service until 1865, when the regiment was mustered out. Upon his return home, in 1866, he came to Delaware and engaged in his pres- ent business in connection with Mr. White- head, under the firm name of Smith & White- head. At this time the manufacture of shin- gles engaged their attention, and they thought to make this a specialty. The business en- larged and they began the manufacture of fruit baskets, crates, &c., besides general house- furnishing lumber. In 1870 Mr. Whitehead disposed of his interest in the business to W. J. Hiscox, which firm continued until 1878, when they suffered a total loss of the mill by fire. Mr. Smith then became sole owner of the

Very truly to. J. J. Groves

---

363

BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.

land and all left from the fire. The mill was rebuilt by him and he has made the business very successful. He is independent in politics, and in religion is not a member of any denom- ination. He was united in marriage, in Novem- ber, 1869, to Miss Laura, daughter of David Rider, of New Bedford, Mass.

ROVES, JAMES HENRY, A. M. of Smyrna, State Superintendent of Free Schools, was born at Red Lion, New Castle county, May 17,1837. His father, Richard Groves, was a man of excellent christian character, universally esteemed, and was all his life a member of the Methodist church,in which,for many years,he held official position. He died in the city of Wilmington, September 18, 1879. His father was Benjamin Groves, also a farmer in New Castle county. The family are descended fron Hans Graff, who emigrated from Sweden ; the name hav- ing gradually changed to Grove and finally to Groves. 'The wife of Richard Groves was Ann Benson, daughter of Captain john Hen- derson of Cecil county, Md., who came from Ireland at the age of seventeen. He served as an officer in the war of 1812, and was twice a member of the Maryland Legislature. He was descended from the Stuarts of Scotland, the line of descent being carefully preserved. James Henry Groves attended the public school in his county till about fifteen years of age, when he spent one term at the Conference Academy in Charlotteville, N. Y. Returning home he worked on the farm during the follow- ing summer, but was now fully resolved to obtain an education, though well aware that he must rely entirely upon his own efforts. He entered Dickinson College in 1859, but left in seven months and went to Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn. He supported himself by working and teaching part of the time. In the fall of 1862 he commenced teaching a public school near Kirkwood, New Castle county. He taught five years, gradually rising in his profession and securing better compensation. In 1867 he taught seven months in a Friends' school in Bucks county, Penn., after which he was two years Principal of the Grammar school in Odessa. Following this he was Prin- cipal of a private school in the same place for two years, and next was Principal three years of the Friends' school above men-

tioned. He was then Principal of the Smyrna seminary for one year. On the passage of the present school law, providing for a state sup- erintendent, Governor John P. Cochran ap- pointed Mr. Groves superintendent of the free schools of the state of Delaware, April 13, 1875. Each year since he has been recom- missioned, his last appointment being made by Governor John W. Hall, April 11, 1882. Being the first to hold this office, he has had to or- ganize the educational system in the state, and establish it upon a sound basis, a work re- quiring great labor, and long continued effort, but in which he has been remarkaby suc- cessful, and has well commended himself to the people he serves by his devotion to his important and arduous duties. By his industry, talent, and generally acknowledged worth he has risen to the highest position in the educational interests of the state. Dela- ware college conferred upon him in June, 1879, the honorary degree of Master of Arts. Mr. Groves is a Democrat in politics. He has been a master Mason, since 1869. and from his child- hood a member of the M. E. church. He was married, October 15, 1874, to Miss Emma F., daughter of William and Mary P. (Kitchin) Flowers, and has two children, Alma Francis, and Stuart Chandler Groves.

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.

Historical and biographical encyclopaedia of Delaware. V 2, Part 14

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

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