Historical and biographical encyclopaedia of Delaware. V 2, Part 17

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

USA > Delaware > Historical and biographical encyclopaedia of Delaware. V 2 > Part 17

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).

375

BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.

mained for three years, and at "Claremont," near Frankford, Philadelphia. On the 5th of February, 1849, he went to California in com- pany with his brother Luther, of whom see plate and sketch. They took passage in the steamer Crescent City to Aspinwall and ar- rived safely in California the following July, on the 5th day of the month. Dr. Martin was a member of the "William Penn" Mining Com- pany of Philadelphia, and operated for three months on the Sacramento River. He was compelled to return home with his brother, who had fallen sick, and arrived in Seaford at his father's house, April, 1850. Dr. Martin began the study of medicine in 1850 in the office of Dr. J. P. H. Shipley, matriculated at the Uni- versity of Maryland in the city of Baltimore, and graduated in the class of 1853 from that time-honored institution. He was a student in the office of Professor Chew, of Baltimore. He returned to his native town and entered upon the practice of his profession, in which he has been employed most of the time since. He has had a large practice and has been a successful physician. Dr. Martin has al- ways been a Democrat in politics. In 1856 he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the State Legislature, and served in the ses- sion of 1857 with great credit to himself and constituents. During this term he served on several committees, and was made chairman of the Committee on Education. In April, 1858, he was appointed by President Buchanan consul to Matanzas, succeeding Mr. Garesche in that position. He served in this capacity for three years when, in 1861, he resigned and returned to the United States, and in 1864 re- sumed his profession in Seaford. He was again elected to the State Legislature, serving in the session of 1873. In 1876 he was elected far the third time to the General Assembly, and served in the session of 1877 as Speaker of the House. His public services have been exceedingly gratifying to his friends and con- stituents. Dr. Martin is a State Director of the Farmers' Bank, at Georgetown, having been elected to that position by the Legis- lature during its last session. In Septem- ber, 1878, he was appointed as one of the trustees of Delaware College by Governor Cochran, and he still retains that position. He was united in marriage on the 11th of June, 1866, to Miss Sallie C., daughter of Edward

Richards, Esq., of Sussex county. Mrs. Mar- tin is a lineal descendant of John Richards, of England, who upon emigrating to this country, patented large tracts of land in Northwest Fork hundred, Sussex county, and in Dor- chester county, Md. The patents for these lands are still in existence, and were obtained from Lord Baltimore. They bear the scals of the first King Charles, Lord Baltimore and Governor Ogle; the dates of 1622, 1633, 1640, and 1648. Three children are the fruit of this marriage, Edward Richards and Hugh, who are twins, and Samuel Kirkwood Martin.

DUPONT, REAR ADMIRAL SAM'L FRANCIS, was born at Bergen Point, New Jersey, September 27, 1803. His parents, Victor DuPont and Gabrielle Josephine Lafitte de Pelleport, were natives of France, who emigrated to America in 1799, and in 1809 removed with their family to the State of Delaware. Mr. Madison and Mr. Jefferson were both warm friends of Pierre Samuel DuPont de Nemours, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, and he was ap- pointed by Mr. Madison, a midshipman in the navy, December 19, 1815. About the same time, he received an appointment to West Point, but preferred the navy. Mr. Jefferson wrote at the same time to Mr. DuPont in the most complimentary and affectionate terms, expressing the hope that his grandson would become one of our high Admirals, and bear a distinguished part in the defence of his country. It is pleasant to reflect that the boy of twelve lived to more than fulfill the fondest hopes of his illustrious friends. His first cruise was in the Franklin, seventy-four gun-ship, under Commodore Stewart, (whose youthful aid he was,) on the Mediterranean station. Towards the end of his cruise he joined the Erie, and in these two ships saw three years' service. His second cruise was in the frigate Constitution, also on the Mediterranean station, and he next served in the old Congress frigate on the West India station and on the coast of Brazil. His fourth cruise was under Commo- dore John Rodgers, in the North Carolina, seventy-four, on the Mediterranean station. On that ship he was soon promoted to be sailing master, and in April, 1826, was com- missioned as a Lieutenant. He again served three years in the Mediterranean,on board the

376

HISTORY OF DELAWARE.

sloop of war Ontario, and in 1835, in the Gulf| of Mexico on the Warren and Constellation during the Florida war. From 1838 to 1841, he served on board the United States ship Ohio in the Mediterranean. He was promoted to the rank of Commander in 1842, and in 1843 sailed in command of the brig Perry for China, but severe illness compelled his return after reaching Rio Janeiro. In 1845 he was appointed to command the frigate Congress, flag-ship of Commodore Stockton, bound to the Pacific, and arrived on the coast of Cali- fornia at the first outbreak of the Mexican War. On arriving at Monterey he was im- mediately transferred to the command of the sloop of war. Cyane. The limits of this sketch forbid the recapitulation of his brilliant ser- vices in that war, but they are preserved in the history of his country. In 1855 he was pro- moted to the rank of Captain, and in 1857 was sent on special service to China and Japan, in command of the steam frigate Minnesota, con- veying the United States Minister, Mr. Wil- liam B. Reed, to ratify important treaties with those countries. In December, 1860, Captain DuPont relieved his first commander, the distinguished veteran, Commodore Stew- art, in the command of the Philadelphia Navy- yard. Just preceding the outbreak of the re- bellion, in 1861, when the travel to Washing- ton was interrupted and all communication with that city cut off, he, on his own authority, sent officers, men and artillery to the Susque- hanna, and an armed steamer to the Chesa- peake, to protect the transit of troops to Annapolis. In June he was called to Wash- ington, and made President of a board, which, after laborious examination and study of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, by means of the archives of the coast survey, made elaborate reports and memoirs, which became the basis of naval operations during the war. In Sep- tember he was appointed Flag Officer of the South-Atlantic blockading squadron, and in October sailed from New York in command of the naval part of the joint expedition, which captured the Port Royal forts and harbor on the 7th of November, 1861. That combat was one of the most brilliant, sustained and fruitful actions of the navy during the war, and one of the most striking successes of ships over forts of equal power. This was fol- lowed by active operations and many suc-

cesses on the sea coast and inland waters, and an ever increasing stringency in the blockade of the coast. On the 16th of July, 1862, Cap- tain DuPont was appointed a Rear Admiral in the navy. The attempt to take Charleston, on the 7th of April, 1863, failed, because the army could not co-operate ; and to insure suc- cess in such an attempt, as the Admiral had informed the Department, troops were neces- sary. The naval attack with thirty-two guns against between two and three hundred, and amidst formidable obstructions of the chan- nels, was heroically made and persisted in un- til one half the guns were silenced, and it be- came evident that, to renew it, would only be to destroy the iron-clads, or risk their falling into the hands of the enemy. Admiral du Pont's decision was approved by the gallant and ex- perienced commanders of the monitors, and he withdrew from the harbor, having received or- ders from the President and Navy Department to send the iron-clads immediately to the Gulf of Mexico, where they were greatly needed. His judgment on this occasion was not ap- proved by the Navy Department, but was fully confirmed by subsequent events. Charleston fell, not by any naval attack, but by the ad- vance of General Sherman's army. Admiral du Pont was recalled from his command on June 3d, 1863, although, through the delays in the arrival of his successor, he was not re- lieved till the 3d of July. The capture of the Atlanta by Captain John Rodgers, whom the Admiral had sent to intercept her, shed a parting halo round the close of his active career. When not engaged in sea service, Captain du Pont was employed by the Navy Department on boards, commissions, court- martials and courts of inquiry, without num- ber. He was on the commission authorized by Congress to examine into the Light House es- tablishment of the United States, with a view to its improvement, and was a member of the permanent Light House Board, which intro- duced the present admirable system of light- ing our coast. He was one of two officers appointed by Secretary Bancroft, in 1844, to consider and draw up a plan for the organiza- tion of the Naval Academy, afterwards estab- lished at Annapolis, and was frequently a member of the Board of Examiners at that in- stitution. In the strength of his manhood he made open profession of his religious belief

Consul Seul. Havana.

1 !

377

BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.

and during the intervals of his naval duties, Montgomery, September, 1861, he was placed warmly interested himself in the affairs of the Protestant Episcopal Church, of which he was a communicant. He was a member of the State and General Conventions, and on the floor of the latter, poured out, in unstudied elo- quence, his wide experience and deep convic- tions of the value of Foreign missions. His well-known interest in this work led to his election to the position of President of the American Church Missionary Society. Some months after his return from the South Atlan- tic Squadron, his health, which had been im- paired since his cruise in the China seas, began seriously to fail. Travel in Europe was recom- mended, but he could not be prevailed on to leave his country in time of war. He died in Philadelphia, (whither he had gone for a brief visit,) on the 23d of June, 1865.

CORBERT, BREVET MAJOR GEN ALFRED, T. A., late of the U. S. Army, was born at Georgetown, July 1, 1833. His father was Jonathan R. Torbert, a farmer of Sussex county, a local minis- ter of the M. E. church, and cashier of the bank at Georgetown. He died in 1853. His mother was Catherine, daughter of Arthur Milby, Esq., of Sussex county, and is still living. Alfred Torbert attended the academy at Georgetown, until seventeen years old, when he entered West Point Military Academy, from which he graduated July 1, 1855, and was promoted as Brevet Second Lieutenant of Infantry. He was immediately ordered to the frontier for duty, conducting recruits to Fort McIntosh, Texas, and scouting against the Lipan Indians. He was promoted to the rank of Second Lieuten- ant Fifth Infantry, July 19, 1855. In 1856-7 he served in the Florida hostilities against the Seminole Indians, and in 1857, served in Utah, under Gen. A. S. Johnson, up to 1860. He re- turned home in 1861 on his first leave of ab- sence, remaining ten days, when, at the break- ing out of the war, he was ordered to New Jer- sey, for the purpose of mustering into the U. S. service, the troops from that State. He had, in the meantime, been promoted to First Lieutenant. By his efficient service and sold- ierly bearing while engaged in New Jersey, he won the regards of all with whom his duties associated him, and especially of Governor Olden, and upon the promotion of Colonel : 48

in command of the First New Jersey Volun- teers by the War Department, through the influence of Governor Olden. He immediately reported at Alexandria and took command of his regiment. On the 25th of the same month his rank in the regular army was advanced to that of Captain. Colonel Torbert's regiment was attached to the First New Jersey Brigade, which, at that time, was commanded by the gallant General Kearney, who gave the Colo- nel a hearty reception. While in command of this regiment he served through the Viginia Peninsula campaign, and engaged in the siege of Yorktown in 1862, also, in the campaign of Northern Virginia, being engaged in the bat- tle of Manassas, August 29 and 30. In this engagement the Brigade lost heavily in killed and wounded, and it was kept some time in re- serve. By the death of General Taylor Colo- nel Torbert became commander of the Brigade, and it was not brought into action until the battle of South Mountain, September 14, 1862. Here occurred one of the most brilliant affairs of the campaign, which doubtless placed the star on the shoulders of Torbert. The enemy were strongly posted, and commanded the pass, which it was necessary to carry at any hazard. Repeated attempts had been made to dislodge the enemy, posted behind stone walls at the foot of the slope ; each attack had been repulsed, and the ammunition of those in front had been spent. At this critical mo- ment the general in command (Newton) came to Torbert and asked him whether he thought his men would storm the pass With full con- fidence in the courage of his men, and a little piqued by the question, he quickly replied, "My men will storm h-1, sir, if I give the com- mand !" -- " Go ahead, sir !" said the general ; and it was not long before the pass was won. He was promoted to Brigadier-General, vol- unteers, November 29, 1862, directly after the battle of Antietam, where the First New Jersey Brigade distinguished itself under his command. General Torbert served in the principal battles in which the Army of the Potomac was engaged, until assigned to duty as Chief of Cavalry under General Sheridan, in 1864, having three divisions under his com- mand. The services of his command here are well-known in history, and were of the highest importance, being engaged in the action of

1 1 1 1 1

378

HISTORY OF DELAWARE.

Winchester, August 17; action of Kearnys- [ in the field, mounted on one of his splendid ville, August 25; battle of Opequan, Septem- horses, and directing one of his impetuous charges as he launched his squadrons against the formidable ranks of the brave enemy. In 1868 he ran for Congress on the Republican ticket, but as the Democratic party was in a large majority in the State, was defeated. April 1, 1869, he was appointed Minister Resi- dent of the Republic of Salvador, and made Consul General of Havana, July 10, 1871. He was appointed Consul General at Paris, No- vember 7, 1873, and filled this position as he had done every other in life, with honor to his country. In the diplomatic service ren- dered by General Torbert, he was remarkably popular and won the highest consideration as well in Paris as in Mexico and Salvador, mak- ing many friends among the noted men of each of these countries, to whom it was a cause of perpetual wonder that the calm and finished gentlemen, whose youthful face and grand per- son, as first seen by them, could be the hero of so many battles, and whose deeds as a leader in both arms of the service, infantry and cav- alry, had made him known to the world, in connection with the "Great War of the Re- bellion." Upon his return from Paris, he, in 1878, was engaged in looking after his landed estate, and took great interest in his thoroughbred stock. He was always an adept in the man- agement of horses, and the kindliness of his nature was evinced alike by the admiration he had for them, and the care and gentleness with which he treated them. But who can measure the calamity of his sad end ! The wreck of the Vera Cruz, August 29th-the last struggle with engulphing waters-then all that could die of the gallant Torbert was cast cold and un- resisting on the coast of Florida. His remains arrived in Milford, and, on the 30th of Septem- ber, 1880, were followed by a multitude from many of the states of the Union, in sad pro- cession to the grave ; feeling all too truly that "He sleeps his last sleep, He has fought his last battle, No sound can awake him to glory again." ber 19; of Milford, September 22; Luray, September 24; Waynesboro, September 28; Mount Crawford, October 2; and Tom's Run, October 9; battle of Cedar Creek, October 19; actions near Middleton, November 12; Liberty Mills, December 22, and Gordonsville, Decem- ber 23, 1864. For his distinguished services during the rebellion he was made Brevet Major-General United States Volunteers, September 9, 1864; and for gallant and meri- torious services at the battle of Winchester, Virginia, he was made Brevet Colonel in the regular army, September 19, 1864. He was then placed in command of the Army of the Shenandoah, with his headquarters at Winches- ter, and continued in that position from April 22 to July 12, 1865. The war of the rebellion being ended, he, by a firm yet kind adminis- tration of affairs in the Valley; endeared him- self to the people, and did much to conciliate those who had but lately been in arms against the Government. He was further promoted to the rank of Brevet Brigadier-General United States Army, March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia, and, from the same date, Brevet Major-General United States Army, for gallant and meritorious services in the field during the rebellion. He was in command of the District of Winchester from July 12, to September 1, 1865, and of the Dis- trict of Southeastern Virginia from September I, to December 31, 1865. He was mustered out of the volunteer service, January 15, 1866, and re- signed from the regular army, October 31, 1866, settling at Milford. On the 17th day of January, 1866, he was married at Milford, to Miss Mary E., only child of the late Daniel Curry, who, in his lifetime was one of the prominent and leading men of the State. At this wed- ding were assembled many of the army officers, some of them of highest rank, the late companions-in-arms of General Torbert. Gen- eral Torbert's military history is thus out- lined, but his dash, vigilance and prompti- tude, his magnetic force as a leader, and stra- tegic ability as a general officer would re- quire more space than we can command merely to instance. Adequately to set forth his merits as a soldier, one would need to have witnessed his handling of his divisions

OOK, REV. RICHARD BRISCOE, D. D., was born in Baltimore, Novem- ber II, 1838, son of Columbus E. and Catherine (Grafflin) Cook. They had beside, five daughters, and two sons, Samuel G. B. and J. Glenn Cook, now con- ducting a large commission hardware business

----

Israel Puedey

- ---

BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.

379

under the firm name of Samuel G. B. Cook & Co., Baltimore. One of the daughters, Louisa Presbury, is the wife of Rev. George Bowen, of Vineland, N. J. Richard B. Cook attended the schools of Baltimore, and was for five years engaged in commercial life. He was converted, and united, April 12, 1857, with the Seventh Baptist Church, of Baltimore, in which he be- came very active. Being urged by his pastor, Rev. Richard Fuller, D. D., he decided to de- vote himself to the Christian ministry, and giving up his position in a wholesale house, entered Columbian College, (now University,) Washington, D. C. He took the Davis prize medal for elocution in his junior year, and graduated A. B. in 1863. He studied theology with the President of the College, in which he was at the same time tutor in the Greek lan- guage. He received from his Alma Mater the degree of A. M. in 1868, and in 1882 the hon- orary degree of Doctor of Divinity. He was licensed to preach, August 5, 1862, and or- dained in October, 1864. From the 14th of that month he supplied the Holmesburg Bap- tist Church, of Philadelphia, for eleven years. Their house of worship, which was a small and very plain building, was destroyed by fire in the spring of 1865. In about two years they dedicated, on the same site, a large and handsome two-story brown stone structure, costing about $22,000, and free of debt. A few years later they purchased a lot in Byberry and erected a chapel, which was also dedicated free of debt, having cost about $4,000, and started a Sunday school and mission station. Also during these eleven years, 100 persons were baptized, a large amount of money raised for benevolent and missionary purposes, the Sab- bath school was greatly improved in member- ship and efficiency, and the pastor's salary was tripled. In 1871 Mr. Cook received a call to the Second Baptist Church, Wilmington, which he declined at the earnest solicitation of his Holmesburg charge. He became, how- ever, pastor of the Wilmington church, De- cember 1, 1875. In about one year after his settlement, 172 persons, mostly adults, had been added to the membership of the church. 147 of whom were by baptism. The Sabbath school was also greatly increased, and a large Bible class of both sexes was formed and taught by the pastor. The total additions to the church now number 287, the net increase

being 150. During the past six years the church has contributed annually an average of $1,000 for benevolent and missionary purposes. Under the care of Dr. Cook it continues in a į very prosperous condition. He was moderator for one year of the Central Union Association, Pennsylvania, and was elected President of the Philadelphia Conference of Baptist ministers in 1874. Over that body he presided a year, having previously been vice-president for the same length of time. He is the author of " The Early and Later Delaware Baptists," a history of the denomination in the State from 1701 to 1880. It forms a book of 150 pages, illustrated, and is published by the American Baptist Publication Society, 1420 Chestnut street, Philadelphia. Nearly 1,000 copies have been sold. Dr. Cook is also the author of sev- eral articles in " The Baptist Encyclopedia," and of the sketch of the Baptist Church in Delaware, contained in this volume. He was married, February 15, 1866, to Miss Louisa Love, daughter of Daniel S. and Maria (Carr) Kerfoot, of Kerfoot, Fauquier county, Va. Their five children are, Florence Edith, Edward Glenn, Ida Walter, Catherine Grafflin and Mary Dorsett Cook.

USEY, ISRAEL, Morocco Manufac- turer and Capitalist, of Wilmington, was born in London Grove Township, Chester county, Pa., August 21, 1811, and died in Wilmington, May 7, 1879, aged 68 years. After reaching manhood he engaged in the business of tanning and curry- ing, at London Grove, which he continued until 1838, when he removed to Wilmington. He bought the property at Fourth and Orange streets and began the leather and currying business, which he conducted successfully until 1845. He formed a partnership with Messrs. Scott & Marr, morocco manufacturers at Third and Tatnall streets. Later on, the firm became Pusey, Scott & Co. The quiet, yet strict and upright business habits of Mr. Pusey, joined with economy and prudence, and the thorough practical mastery of the business of manufac- turing morocco possessed by his partner, Mr. Scott, soon placed this firm among the fore- most in their line. In 1866 they removed to their new factory at Third and Madison streets, a large structure suited to their growing trade, and where they acquired a reputation which

-----

380

HISTORY OF DELAWARE.

is yet retained for the manufacture of superior ried Hannah, daughter of Henry and Rachel goods. He retired from this firm in 1874, hav- ing an interest in the iron business of D. H. Kent & Co., of which he had been a special partner since 1872, and in which he continued until his death. He assisted in organizing the First National Bank of Wilmington, and was a director of this successful institution for a period of fifteen years. Mr. Pusey was a con- sistent member of the Society of Friends and a regular attendant at their meetings. He was greatly esteemed in the community in which he lived; was of a retiring and unambitious disposition, and successful in all his business enterprises. His more marked characteristics, socially, were his charity and kindness, which seemed spontaneous and from the heart ; and these won the hearts of all who were favored with intimate or even business relations with him. Now that his career has closed on earth, those who knew him will find in their remem- brance of his beneficent life, much to admire, and, we trust, much which they may properly emulate. Mr. Pusey married Mary Ann, daughter of Levi Hayes, of Chester county, Pa., December 29, 1836. His widow survives him, and their three daughters, Mary E., wife of Colonel D. H. Kent ; S. Ellen, wife of W. Y. Warner, and Emeline K., widow of Samuel Middleton, are still living.

ENT, BENJAMIN, who died in the city of Wilmington, November 29, 1881, was the representative of that family of Kents who have long had their homes in Chester County, Penna. The founder of the family in Pennsylvania was Daniel Kent, a cutler by trade, who emigrated from Ireland in 1785. He was married at Brad- ford meeting, April 28, 1791, to Esther, daugh- ter of Joseph and Elizabeth Hawley. He pur- chased a farm in East Fallowfield township, Chester County, where most of this family were born. Seven children were of this mar- riage, viz .: William, Joseph, Elizabeth, Anne. Mary, Daniel, and Benjamin, the subject of this sketch. The elder Daniel Kent, was a Justice of the Peace in and for Chester County, by appointment of successive Governors of Penn- sylvania, for about twenty years. Benjamin was the youngest child of his parents, and was reared upon the farm of his father. He mar-

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 17

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

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