Historical and biographical encyclopaedia of Delaware. V 2, Part 21

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Publication date: 1972
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 776

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BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.

of Boaz Bell. of Broad Creek hundred. Of | following May, he devoted himself with ardor their nine children three only survive. Mrs. Adams died in August, 1869, and Mr. Adams was again married, in 1870, to Miss Margaret Bell, a sister of his first wife.

MYTH, BRIGADIER GENFRAL THOMAS A, was born December 25, 1832, in Ballyhooly, county of Cork, Ireland. His parents were Thomas and Margaret Smyth : his father was a farmer in which business the son assisted, after leaving school. His educational advan- tages were limited, but by means of travel through England and Scotland, and a consid- erable stay in London and Paris, he gained a knowledge of life, and his habits of close observation, and his faculty of readily compre- hending, supplied in great measure, every defi- ciency. He came to this country in August, 1854, and settling in Philadelphia followed the business of wood carving. Soon after, he was influenced to join Walker's forces in Nica- raugua. Little is known of his experiences there. Early in 1858 he made Wilmington his home, and in July of that year was married to Miss Amanda M. Pounder. In April, 1861, he raised, in Wilmington, a company for the three months' service, and impatient of the delay in these matters in Delaware, took it to Philadelphia, where it was accepted as Com- pany H, in the 24th Pennsylvania Volunteers. The regiment, much of the time, was encamped in Maryland or Virginia. His commanding offi- cer remarked, long after, that he was always in- fluenced by the bravery and prudence of Captain Smyth, to send him out on any expedition where danger was likely to be encountered, and that he had no doubt, he had sometimes imposed upon him labors that others should have shared. His great powers of physical endurance enabled him to bear. uncomplain- ingly, fatigue, exposure and privations. His physique was splendid, indicating vigorous mington to enjoy a thirty days' furlough.

to the drilling of the men, and to the study of military science. In the battle of Antietam he displayed great personal bravery, and laid the foundation for that confidence which the First Delaware ever afterwards reposed in him. At Fredericksburg he added ma- terially to this reputation, and special men- tion was made of the regiment in the official report. On the 18th of December, at a meeting of the officers of the Regiment, he was unanimously elected Lieutenant Colonel to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resig- nation of Colonel Oliver Hopkinson, and on the 30th was commissioned by the Governor. On the 7th of February, following, he was commissioned as Colonel. At Chancellorville, also, he displayed his great ability as a com- mander: For an account of his participation in these battles, the reader must be referred to his published memoir, by Dr. D. W. Maull, which is written in captivating style and is full of interest. It contains, also, the reports of Colonel Smyth, with full details. To him the First Delaware owed much of the morale which distinguished it in its entire service ; he imparted to it zeal and confidence, and inspired it with his own gallantry. He was the idol of his men, and every promotion he received was hailed by them with enthusiastic delight. Shortly after the last mentioned campaign he was assigned to the command of the Second Brigade, Third Division, Second Army Corps. Gettysburg was the first engagement in which he commanded a brigade. There he was con- spicuous for bravery, exposing himself at all points, where he thought his duty called him. He seemed rather to court than avoid dan- ger. On the last day of the fight he was wounded on the nose and head by frag- ments of shell. At the close of December, 1863, he re-enlisted with the regiment as a veteran, and the command returned to Wil- While there he was the recipient of many marks

health, and every action denoted the highest state of vitality. He was military in his bear- of favor from his fellow-citizens, who were be- ing, and looked the perfect soldier. After the coming very proud of him. In April, 1864, he muster out of the Regiment, Captain Smyth was assigned to the command of the Irish derness and Spottsylvania. In the accounts lant Colonel Smyth, whose name is already

returned to Wilmington where he organized Brigade, and led it in the battles of the Wil- the First Delaware Volunteers for three years' service, and he was, October 22, chosen Major. of the last, he is called "the intrepid, the gal- During the stay of the Regiment at Fortress Monroe, embracing most of the time till the written in letters of gold on the scroll of mili-

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.

tary fame." The affection he inspired in these | Burton, served in the State Legislature, from men of his own nationality, was unbounded. He was their ideal of a hero. He could sway them as he willed, and some of the poetry they wrote him-transcribed in the work above mentioned-is fine indeed, and thrills the heart of the reader with sympathetic enthusiasm. No possible justice can be done to the brilliant record of such a man in a brief sketch. Dela- ware, otherwise, preserves his fame in fitting form. In front of Petersburg all his energies were called into play : he was ceaseless in his efforts to keep his command up to the highest point of discipline and efficiency. October 1, 1864, he was commissioned Brigadier General. The cheering, when the news reached the camp, lasted nearly an hour, and so loud and hearty was it that the enemy inquired the cause. He was made the recipient of elegant presents, and officers and men were alike proud of him. In the engagement at Hatcher's Run he "led his command in the most dashing manner." On the morning of April 7, 1865, the skirmish began at "High Bridge." The General was riding in advance with the skirm- ish line, with his staff about him, when he was mortally wounded by a rebel sharpshooter. He died on the day of Lee's surrender, and was the last General officer on the Union side killed in the war. The sad event marred the general joy over our victories. He died as he had lived-a hero. Not a groan or complaint escaped him, but he talked calmly of his situa- tion, and said : "I am not afraid to die." His body was embalmed and is interred in the cemetery at Wilmington.

URTON, BENJAMIN, of Georgetown, was born near Lewes, in 1810. His pa- rents were Daniel and Polly (Wolf) Burton. His father was a farmer ; he died in 1822. His mother was the sister of Dr. Jacob Wolf, of Lewes, who was killed by lightning in Georgetown. She died in 1834. Early in the history of the colonies, three brothers came from England, one settling in Pennsylvania, one in New England, and one, William Burton, in Accomac county, Va. In 1700 the last named came to Delaware and patented many tracts of land on Indian River, which were at his death divided among his eleven sons. One of his descendants, Joshua

Sussex county, for thirty-two consecutive ses- sions. From William Burton also descended the subject of our sketch, who early attended the schools of his locality, and at the age of fifteen was sent to boarding school in Wil- mington, where he remained three years. He then, till his majority, was a clerk for his uncle and guardian, Myers Burton. At twenty-one he commenced mercantile business on his own account, which he continued until .1860. In 1867 he removed to Georgetown, where he still resides. He is largely interested in mill prop- erty, owning Burton's Mill, near If wes, also Burton's Upper Mill, and has an interest in the Millsboro Mills. He owns fifteen hundred acres of land in the county, one thousand acres of which lie in one tract near Millsboro. By appointment of Governor David Hazzard he was made a justice of the peace in and for the county of Sussex. In 1842 he was elected, on the Whig ticket, a member of the State Legislature, and again elected to the same position in 1851. Mr. Burton has always taken a deep interest in the State and National wel- fare. He was in early life a Whig, and since the breaking out of the late war has acted with and been prominent in the Republican party. At the beginning of the war he was considered in his county a large slave-holder, but his patriotism was superior to all personal or monetary interests, and, from the first, he stood forward as a friend and supporter of the Union. His political influence has been very great, and is justly recognized by the Repub- lican party. He has been three times mar- ried : first, in December, 1830, to Miss Sophia, youngest daughter of Colonel William D. Waples, of Sussex county. She died in 1832, leaving one child, who survived her but a short time. He next married, in November, 1833, Miss Adaline, daughter of Myers Burton. She died in 1835, leaving one child, who also soon followed her. February 28, 1838, he married, for his third wife, Miss Catharine, daughter of General Green, of whom see sketch in this volume. . Mrs. Burton was the eleventh child of her parents and the young- est daughter. They have six surviving chil- dren : Daniel, residing in Millsboro ; Edward, his partner in business ; George H., Captain in the United States. Infantry, of whom see sketch ; Kate, Julia, and Clara Burton.

HagShy GBather & Co. Edy WY.

Odwo & Formal

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BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.

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he is independent. In common with all his father's family he is a member of the Prot- estant Episcopal Church. He was married in 1866 to Miss Susan P., daughter of Isaac Hall, of Pennsylvania. Only one of their three children survives, Mary Louisa Fennimore.

ENNIMORE, EDWARD COLLINS, National Bank of the above place. In politics Farmer of Appoquinimink hundred, was born in New Jersey, April 17, 1830. An account of the family is given in the sketch of his father, Joshua B. Fenni- more. He attended the schools of his locality till his twentieth year, after which he was asso- ciated with his father in agriculture and in raising fruit. In 1845 his father sold his farm ONRAD, AARON, Capitalist, late of Wilmington, was born near the Blue Bell, in Montgomery county, Pa, De- cember 25, 1805. His opportunities of education were limited, but were well supplemented in after life by careful observa- tion, reading, good common sense and excel- lent judgment. He learned the milling busi- ness, which he followed for a few years, then went to farming, in which he was quite suc- cessful, but left it about 1845, and started the coal business at Nicetown, one of the nu- merous small towns lying in the suburbs of Philadelphia. In comparison with its present gigantic proportions, the coal trade was then in its infancy, but by dint of perseverance and energy, he built up a large and prosperous business. While thus engaged he resided at Nicetown and Bridesburg, and on disposing of the business, removed to Germantown, and in 1856, to Wilmington. Here he invested con- siderable capital, buying twenty acres of land on the outskirts of the city, and building, upon a portion of it, a large and commo lious dwelling for his own occupation. He also built, on this tract, several rows of houses By the growth of the city this land greatly increased in value, and he sold it off in lots at a material advantage. After parting with most of it, and also selling his residence, he removed, in 1869, to West street, in the heart of the city, where he continued to reside until the time of his death. Besides the above, he invested quite entensively in farms in Caroline county, Md., which he greatly improved. All his investments in land were, for the most part, successful. He was a man of equable temperament, of quiet, but pleasant manner, and was particularly successful in winning the confidence and good-will of all with whom he was brought in contact. Being of a reserved tendency he rather avoided anything like public life. In 1877 he was elected a member of the Wilmington City Council, to represent the Fifth Ward, and served most acceptably as a in New Jersey, and removed to one they had purchased near Odessa. They_there conducted a large nursery, from which they sold annually, in different parts of Delaware and Maryland, 35,000 trees. They were also very successful in the culture of peaches, in which they have now been engaged thirty-six years. Mr. Joshua B. Fennimore brought with him from New Jersey 3000 peach trees, and every year increased the number till he had on his two farms of 1400 acres,400 acres covered with this fruit. In 1858 Edward C. Fennimore commenced farm- ing by himself on a place called " Rockland,' about four miles from Odessa, comprising 800 acres of land ; and the following year set out, on another farm, 11,000 peach trees. From 1860 to 1870 he sold from "Rockland," 183,650 baskets of peaches, the gross receipts from which were $157,224,37. He became the larg- est fruit grower in the State, and has realized in a single year over $29,000 from the sale of the different varieties. He has now 2500 trees in bearing in Delaware, and 7000 on his farms in Kent county, Md. These last contain 360 acres, 100 of which are devoted to wheat. The other cereals are also raised to a more lim- ited extent. He has about 4000 grape vines which, under his management, have proved very successful, and has been much interested in the cultivation of the sugar beet. He re- ceived the first premiums of one hundred dol- lars each, offered by the Delaware State Beet Sugar Company in the years 1879 and 1880. Mr. Fennimore bought, in 1867, eighty-six acres of land adjoining Middletown, for $20,000. These he divided into town lots, and in six months had realized from the sale of them the sum he had expended, and had still eight- teen acres remaining. To his enterprise Mid- dletown owes, largely, its growth and improve- ment. He is far-seeing, energetic, thoroughly reliable, and highly regarded as a man, and is one of the most successful agriculturists in the State. He is a director of the Citizens'

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member, and as Chairman of the Street Com-| mittee. Re-elected in 1878, he was thus serv- ing the city at the time of his death. He was a birth-right member of the Society of Friends, and retained that membership through life, al- ways in the quiet, unassuming manner which was natural to him. In his home-life he was an exemplary husband and father. He was married three times, and left, at his death, four children. His last marriage took place in 1858. He lived to the ripe age of three-score years and ten, closing his long and successful career, December 31, 1878. The City Council and both political parties united in paying appro- priate honors to his memory, testifying to his many virtues and the respect and regard his character inspired.

East Marlboro, Chestercounty, Pa., where, with only $94 in hand, he commenced life on his own account. August 24, 1834, he was mar- ried to Miss Rhoda Jane Morrison, of Wil- mington, by Richard Bayard, the first Mayor of that city. He remained in East Marlboro till 1839, when he removed to New London, in the same county, remaining in this place nearly twenty years. He succeeded in business ; was for ten years a justice of the peace, and was urged to accept the nomination for Sheriff of Chester county, but declined. In 1858 he re- turned to Wilmington, bringing with him suf- ficient capital to open business on a larger scale, and rented the eligible property at 237 Market street, where he from that time con- tinued, purchasing the same in 1878 This ONNER, JAMES, Saddle, Harness and Trunk Manufacturer, Wilmington, was "the oldest son of James and Elizabeth :(Browning) Conner, and was born, Sep- tember 21, 1813, near "Masseys," Kent county, Md. His parents had three other children ; Mary Eveline, who married John R. Wilkins ; Joshua Browning, who died in 1861, leaving six children ; and Martha Elizabeth, who married William Bayard, and died in 1840 When James Conner was four years of age. the family removed to a farm owned by his mother in Virginia, eighteen miles above Harper's Ferry, on the Potomac river, and his childhood was passed amid the beautiful scenery of that locality. In the winter he at- tended the country school, and in summer as- sisted on the farm. When he was twelve years of age his father died, and they returned to their old home in Kent county. At the age of fourteen he closed his school days and came to Wilmington as an apprentice to Mr. Stephen Boddy to learn his trade. His stature was unusually large for his years, his bearing manly and his countenance open and honest. Also his ability and fidelity soon so won the esteem of his employer that in the second year of his apprenticeship he made him his clerk and bookeeper, and during his frequent absences entrusted him with the general man- agement of the business. In his will he ap- the pointed him the executor of his estate. At became one of the leading houses in the State in the manufacture of saddles, harness and trunks, and Mr. Conner accumulated a hand- some property. He built, after plans of his own, the tasteful and commodious residence on Jefferson street, still occupied by his family. Wherever he lived he exhibited great enter- prise and public spirit, and greatly promoted the best interests of the community and of the church he attended. He was disinclined to official position, yet served the people of Wil- mington in almost every capacity but that of Mayor, which office was several times urged upon him, but he would not accept the nomi- nation. He was appointed by the Levy Court one of the trustees of the poor for New Castle county for a term of three years, and was President of the Board during the third year. He afterwards filled an unexpired term of three months. In every position of trust his ability and integrity were conspicuous and unques- tioned. He united with the M. E. Church in Wilmington in 1832, and shortly before leav- ing New London was chiefly instrumental in organizing and building there a house of wor- ship for his denomination. His connection after returning to Wilmington was with Grace Church. In 1879 he became a member of the Order of Odd Fellows. He had four chil- dren, the eldest, James Armstrong Conner, born in 1837, is in business. in Wilmington ; Anna Maria is the wife of John A. Wilson, of Wilmington, and Joshua now conducts the bus- age of twenty Mr. Connor closed his connection iness left by his father, and Charles Duffield with Mr. Boddy, and after four months spent Conner. Mr. Conner was a man of fine appear- in learning saddle-making, went, in 1833, to [ ance, and was hale and hearty almost to the

yours truly Paynter Grame

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BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.

last. He died October 30, 1880. His widow is a lady of unusual refinement, intelligence and culture.

RAME PAYNTER, Farmer, and ex- member of the Legislature, was born in Indian hundred, in the house where he now resides, October 21, 1826. His father, George Frame, was a farmer and owned over 1500 acres of land. When a boy, he learned cabinet making in Philadelphia, and after a trip to Havana, in 1819, he com- menced improving the 400 acres of land he in- herited. He was industrious and accumulated a large estate. He was a member of the Leg- islature in 1831 ; elected sheriff in 1834, and a strong candidate for Governor in 1840. He died, September 13, 1845, being then in his 49th year. His wife was Elizabeth Jefferson, daugh- ter of Joseph and Ann (Jefferson) Warrington. An account of this family will be found in the sketch of Captain W. T. Warrington. Mrs.

Warrington was related to President Thomas Jefferson. Eleven of the twelve children of Mr. and Mrs. George Frame grew to maturity ; Robert, Mary Vaughan, wife of Manlove Wil- son ; Paynter ; Ann J., wife of R. H. Davis; Henry Clay ; Elizabeth West, wife of Nathan- iel Williams ; George W., deceased ; Rev. Clement T., of the Baptist church ; Jennie W., and Thalia H. M. Frame. Mrs. Frame was a most excellent christian woman, noted for her intelligence, hospitality and executive ability She read the bible through thirty times She died Jan. 5, 1879, in her 77th year. The first Amer- ican ancestor of the family was Robert Frame, who came from England and patented seve- ral thousand acres of land in Dagsboro and In- dian river hundreds. Several of his children were

- among the earliest settlers of Pickaway county Ohio. His son, George Frame, married Eliza- beth Paynter, aunt of Gov. John Paynter. By her he had two sons, Robert and Paynter Frame. Robert Frame was a man of intelli- gence and character; he died at the age of thirty-four. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Vaughan, was first married to Mr. West, by whom she had one child, Elizabeth. After his death she married William Burton, by whom she had three children ; Dr. William Burton, late governor of Delaware ; John Ham- mond, a noted surveyor, and Lydia. Mr. Bur- ton also died and she married Robert Frame.

Their three children were Elizabeth Paynter, who married James Anderson, many years President of the Farmers bank, at Georgetown; George, the father of the subject of this notice, and Robert Frame, who became Attor- ney General of the State. Mrs. Frame died soon after her husband, and these chil- dren were brought up by their uncle, Paynter Frame, who had no children of his own. The subject of this sketch attended the public schools until fourteen years of age, and after that, the academies of Georgetown, Seaford and Millsboro, until past the age of twenty. The last year he paid his tuition in gold, which he had earned by catching rabbits. He was a good scholar, eager for knowledge, which he acquired with facility, and has always been one of the most intelligent citizens of his county. His mother chose him to remain with her after the death of his father, and take care of the undivided estate, which he did till her death. He has devoted his life to farming and fruit growing, paying special attention to the grafting and improving of fruit. He has 2,000 peach trees, also apples and pears and small fruits in all their varieties. The road . passing his estate he has lined with the finest grapes grown. He owns, beside, a great deal of land, which is devoted to wheat and corn, and also raises tobacco. In 1876 he was one of the nine commissioners appointed to repre- sent Delaware in the Centennial Exhibition, into the interests and success of which he en- tered heartily. He served effectively as mem- ber of the Committee on Agriculture, and as Chairman of the Committee on Horticulture. He was also appointed by Governor Hall a delegate to represent Sussex county in the National Agricultural Convention, which met in New York city, in December, 1879. At that meeting he assisted in organizing the " Ameri - can Agricultural Association," of which he is a member. He is part owner of a vessel trad- ing from Milton to Philadelphia and New York. Mr. Frame was appointed executor of the estate of his uncle, Peter Warrington, and has held other trusts. He is a member of the Democratic party, in which he has long been prominent. In 1854 he was nominated to the Legislature, but his ticket was defeated. He was elected, however, in 1856, and served with great credit ; and again in 1866 and in 1874. He has, with but one exception, been a delegate

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.

to every convention of his party in the county for the last twenty-five years. He has been a member of the M. E. Church for many years, and much of the time has acted as trustee and steward. Hewas a delegate to the Peninsula Convention of all denominations in 1860, and since its organization, has been President of the Sussex County Bible Society. He became a strong temperance man when quite young,and a Son of Temperance in 1847. He was made an Odd Fellow in 1850; a Mason in 1852 ; Master of the Lodge in 1854, and a member af the Royal Arch in 1858. He was a dele- gate to the General Grand Convocation of Royal Arch Masons, in Baltimore, in 1872, and is Past Deputy Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of the State of Delaware: Mr. Frame is well known throughout the State, and is popular and highly respected. He was a prominent candidate for Governor in 1870, and again in 1872, when it was the turn of Sussex to furnish the candidate.

LARK, HENRY, Farmer, of Frederica, was born in Camden, Kent county, February 17, 1827, being the fifth child of Frisby Bewly and Maria (Sharp) Clark. His father was born in Queen Anne county, Md., in 1799. He was a man of limited education, but intelligent, and re- markable for his energy and enterprise. Re- moving to Camden, when very young, he spent his life there in the carriage building business, and died in christian hope, in 1846, when in his forty-seventh year. He had, the previous year, united with the M. E. Church. His wife, to whom he was united in 1820, was the daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Sharp, of Caroline county, Md. Nine of their eleven children grew to maturity : Elizabeth, who married John P. Coombe, of Camden, and died in January, 1872, leaving one child, Elizabeth Coombe ; William Bewly, Frisby Bewly, Ju- nior, both in the carriage business in Camden ; Henry, the subject of this sketch ; Ann Maria, widow of Ezekiel B. Fleming ; Sarah, who married Dr. E. Dawson, of Frederica, and died May 27,. 1868 ; Jemima, married William F. Prouse, of Federalsburg, and died in 1861, leaving two children, only one of whom, Wil- liam Louden Prouse, is now living ; Mary and Catherine, wife of Joseph Brown, of whom see sketch in this volume. Mr. Clark attended,

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Historical and biographical encyclopaedia of Delaware. V 2, Part 21

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

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