Historical and biographical encyclopaedia of Delaware. V 2, Part 3

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Publication date: 1972
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Number of Pages: 776

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ILSON, WILLIAM, of "the Levels" near Middletown, was born at "Home- stead Hall," September 17, 1810, being the youngest child of Edward and Lydia R. (Rothwell) Wilson. Edward Wilson was an extensive farmer and land owner, and a man of prominence in his time. He died about 1820, at the age of fifty-seven. He had six children, viz : Thomas, Edward, Mary R., Sarah Ann, Lydia P., and William Wilson. Thomas died at the age of twenty- one, just after graduating from college. Ed-

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ward died, unmarrried, at the age of sixty ; Mary R., married Richard Lockwood, a mer- chant of Middletown, and first cousin of General Henry Lockwood of the United States Army. (See sketch in this vol- ume.) Sarah Ann married Dr. Stanert, by whom she had three children. After his death she married George Flintham, by whom she had two children. Lydia P. married John Whitby, a grain merchant of Odessa, her only daughter being Frances, wife of Columbus Watkins. William Wilson, the subject of this sketch, received. a good english education at the district schools and the Middletown Acad- emy. On attaining his majority he engaged in agriculture which vocation he followed through life with great success. He received a consid- erable landed estate from his father, but the system of farming then in vogue had worn out' the soil and rendered the land of little value. But Mr. Wilson was not satisfied to continue on in the old beaten track. Being a man of broad and advanced views, of unusual business and executive ability, he improved the soil, bringing it up to a high state of cultivation, and so increased his fortune, that years before his death he possessed about thirty-five hun- dred acres of the choicest land in Delaware, and just over the line in Maryland. This large estate consisted first of the "Mayfield," farm on which his son, John T., now resides ; the "Middlesex," "Homestead Hall," "Heath Mansion," "Brick Store Landing," and the "California" farms in Delaware ; and the "Barnes" tract, the "Foard" farm, "Painter's Rest" and "Oregon" farms, in Cecil county, Md. He also owned ten dwellings in Warwick, a carriage shop, machine shop, and vacant lots, valued at about $13,000. The "Brick Store" farm descended at the death of Mr. Wilson to his two sons, William N. and John T., through their mother Rachel (Naudain) Wilson, having been in possession of her family since the original patents were given them by Wm. Penn. Mr. Wilson's lands were chiefly devoted to the raising of cereals, but when the growing of fruit began to attract the attention of farmers of the state, he became early interested, and had as many as thirty five thousand peach trees in bearing at one time. The estate now has on it about forty thousand peach trees, and this inter- est has been profitable from the first. In pol- itics Mr. Wilson was an old line Whig, and in

early and middle life was very active in party affairs. He was indifferent to office, but was several times prominently mentioned as a can- didate for Governor: Mr. Wilson was first married to Rachel, daughter of Rev. Arnold S. Naudain, of whom see sketch. He had by her three children, Lydia R., William Naudain and John Thomas. Sketches of both these sons will be found in this book. Lydia R. married James P. Rothwell, of New Castle county, and had two children, one of whom died in infancy : the other, Delaware Wilson Rothwell, is now eight years of age. Mrs. Lydia Rothwell died in 1872. Mrs. Wilson died in August, 1862, and in 1863, Mr. Wilson married Miss L. Annie, daughter of Jacob V. Naudain. By her he left seven children ; Rachel R., Mollie L., Edward V., Annie Jessie, R. Alexis, Howard Groome and Bayard K. Wilson. Mr. Wilson died August 21, 1879. greatly regretted by the whole community, He was a man of great uprightness of charac- ter, faithful to every trust, and exceedingly kind to the poor and unfortunate.

OBINSON, ALFRED P. Sr., Lawyer, the youngest son of Judge Peter and Arcada (Robinson) Robinson, graduated at Delaware College, in Newark, and practiced law at Georgetown. He was appointed Secretary of State in 1851, by Gover- nor Wm. Ross, and served four years. He was a gentleman of fine culture and good ability, but not of great energy. He was universally re- spected for his amiable character and kindness of heart. He married Clara C. Porter, daugh- ter of Alexander Porter, of Wilmington, at one time Mayor of that city. They had three children, the eldest being George J. Robinson, an officer in the fifth Texas regiment, and dis- tinguished for his bravery during the war of the rebellion. He now resides at Corsicanna, Texas, where he is practicing Dentistry. The second son, Thomas Robinson, was Clerk of the Orphans' Court and Register in Chancery, for Sussex county, from 1860 to 1865. In the latter year he went to Texas, and settled in Houston, where he is now a practicing Dentist. A sketch will be given of the third son, Alfred P. Robinson, lawyer, of Georgetown, and Deputy-Attorney General of the State of Dela- ware. Mr. Robinson died May 4, 1866.

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RIGHT, WILLIAM, Capitalist, of Wil- | manent work and full remuneration. As soon, mington, was born in Philadelphia, April | however, as his health would allow, he came to Delaware, where he worked for some months as a journeyman, but embraced the first oppor- tunity to take a contract for himself. This was to build a house for Harman Tally, of Brandywine hundred, a member of the Dela- ware Legislature, for one hundred dollars. This money was the first that had ever been paid him for all his labor, and putting it at once at interest he made it the foundation of all his success. While earning it he pushed his work with the greatest energy and indus- try, going to it by four o'clock in the morning, through the snow more than knee deep, and doing it so thoroughly and well, as to attract general notice. On its completion he estab- lished himself in business as a builder, and had all the work that he could attend to with

IT, 1814. His father, Captain William Bright, was born near Swedesboro, New Jersey, and for many years, commanded the "Good Friend," a vessel owned by Stephen Girard. During the war of 1812, he, with his brother George, was captured by the British and detained in Dartmoor prison, sharing the suf- ferings of other American prisoners, until the close of hostilities. Mr. Bright had then just enough money left to pay his own passage home, and that of a fellow prisoner, who, how- ever, immediately deserted him on their arrival in New York, and never discharged his debt of gratitude. He then returned to a sea-faring life, which he followed till middle age. He married Miss Sarah Pratt of Philadelphia, who was noted for her intelligence and beauty She died when her son William, the subject of the assistance of apprentices and journeymen. this sketch, was in his eighth year. Her an- This he continued till 1839, when, having bought a farm in the vicinity-the same prop- erty on which his wife was born-he engaged in agriculture which he followed successfully for ten years. In the latter part of 1849, he was induced to purchase the store of John and Jacob Rice, prominent grocers in Wilmington, and was highly successful in the business, clear- ing several thousand dollars a year ; but dis- posed of it at the end of three years on ac- count of his health. In 1852 he engaged in the Real Estate business with success, buying and selling farms in Delaware and Pennsyl- vania, and houses and building lots in Wil- mington and vicinity. He retired in 1876. He is now the owner of a very large number of houses in Wilmington, and of farms in each county of the State, besides other property. His success has been but the natural outgrowth cestors and also those of her husband, were among the earliest settlers of the country. At the tender age of ten years, William Bright was put to work on a farm, under a hard master, with no one to protect his inter- ests. It was stipulated in writing that he should attend school six weeks in each year, but he was kept at home on every trivial pretext, and his whole attendance rarely amounted to more than three weeks annually. After he became a man, however, he attended night school, and has been all his life a care- ful reader, observer and thinker ; storing up a vast amount of knowledge and practical wis dom. His boyhood was full of hardship and he was often cruelly treated. When he was fifteen and a half years old he went to learn the house-carpentering trade with William Weaver, of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, of the qualities that have distinguished him all with whom he continued till he was within six these years. Prompt, energetic, fair and up- right in all his dealings, and possessed of ex- cellent judgment and great business capacity, that Mr. Bright will succeed in whatever he un- dertakes, is in the minds of most, a foregone conclusion. He was for eighteen years a di- rector of the Farmer's Bank in Wilmington. In 1875 he was elected President of the Re- hoboth Beach Association, in which position he continued till 1878, when he resigned. In July, 1881, he was again elected to this office, which he still holds. The object of the asso- ciation was to provide a popular summer re- months of his majority, serving out the full five years of his apprenticeship. His labors here were arduous, and he suffered many priva- tions, but he worked on patiently and indus- triously, sustaining himself with the resolve, and the assurance he felt within him, that the future should yet make him ample amends for the past. His fidelity so won the confidence and esteem of his employer that, when dis ibled by an accident, about two weeks before the end of his apprenticeship, he gave him a home until his recovery, and then offered him per-

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BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.

sort on the Delaware coast, in connection | Burney, died in March, 1878, leaving three with a camp meeting to be held each season children. The surviving children of Mr. and Mrs. Bright, are Mrs. Hannah E., widow of Henry Talley, late of the Farmers Bank of Wilmington ; George W., now in the real estate business ; Mrs. Laura A., wife of John A. Myers ; Mrs. Anna P., wife of Thomas H. Rile, all of Wilmington, and the Misses Ella D. and Lillie E. Bright, and Paul and O. Percy Bright, who are still under the parental roof. The lesson furnished us in the life of Mr. Bright, is one full of encouragement to every boy in Wilmington, and is a bright example of what the poorest may attain. As their own towns- man, whom they may meet any day upon the streets, his early struggles, his triumphs and his successes, seem a matter of personal pride and interest. He had his own way to make from childhood, commencing indeed, from the very bottom of the ladder, without friends, education or money. To-day he is one of our honored citizens, a man of wealth, intelligence and influence. at that place. In the winter and spring of 1876 Mr. Bright erected there the celebrated "Bright House," which, during the season is often insufficient to accommodate the large number of guests who apply for entertainment He takes an active interest in all public im- provements, and delights to use his means in promoting the best interests of the commu- nity in which he resides. Of this abundant proof has been given by his course as trustee of the Wesleyan Female College. This ex- cellent institution struggled on many years under the most discouraging burden of debt, finding, however, in all its trials a true and earnest friend in Mr. Bright. Finally,no other alternative presenting itself, the trustees per- mitted it to be sold, and Mr. Bright became the purchaser, his only object, however, being to re-dedicate it to the cause for which it was originally erected, and with new and better facilities and greater advantages than it ever before enjoyed. From this time his name, as its greatest benefactor, will be inseparably HITE, SAMUEL, U. S. Senator from Delaware, from 1801 until his death, which occurred in Wilmington, Nov. 4, 1809, at the age of thirty-nine years. Son of Judge White of Kent, and was buried in the graveyard of Old Swedes Church. connected with its career, which, no one can doubt, will be one of highest usefulness and honor. Mr. Bright has always been deeply in- terested in all national, state and city affairs, but has never been a politican, and though frequently solicited to do so, has always been reluctant to accept public office. He waselect- ed president of the city council in 1867 on the Democratic ticket, and re-elected on the same ticket the year following by a still larger majority, though the city was then in the hands of the Republican party. In 1874 he was a prominent candidate for the nomination as Governor of the State. He united in his boyhood with the M. E. Church, in which he has held office the greater part of his life. He is now a member of Grace church, in Wil- mington. He was united in marriage, Febru- ary 23, 1837, to Miss Sarah, daughter of Philip and Sarah Rodman, of Brandywine hundred. In this relation he has been eminently happy ; indeed, in all respects, his life, since he reached maturity, has seemed a compensation for his

LLEGOOD, DR. WILLIAM THOS., son of Joshua Adkinson Ellegood, of Concord, Sussex county, Delaware, was born March 17, 1837. He was edu- cated at Newark Academy and Dela- ware State College. After which he studied medicine and graduated M. D., from the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, in the spring of 1860. The expense of his education was generously borne by his brother, Dr.R. G. Ellegood. Soon after obtaining his medical degree he went to the West, settling for the practice of his profession in West Ely, Marion county, Mis- souri. In 1851 he was appointed Surgeon of the 23rd regiment of United States Infantry, of the State of Missouri, and shared in the many hardships and painful duties imposed by early trials Thirteen children have been born the several campaigns and engagements in to them. of whom three died in infancy. Also, which his regiment participated until it was a daughter, Victorine, died July 13, 1867, in : captured in the battle of Shiloh ; he, with his the twenty-first year of her age, and another assistants, escaped by retreating to the shelter daughter, Mrs. Sarah Jennie, wife of J. W. [ of the gun boats on the river. He had be-

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come eminent in his profession, and his skill | State. Mr. Simpson attended school during and admirable qualities as a man and a physi- cian, rendered him popular and won him many friends. After his return from the army he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Stilwell, of Hannibal, Missouri. He died, January 3d, . 1867, leaving one son, William Ellegood.

IMPSON, CLEMENT CECIL, Farmer of Harrington, was born in Milford hun- dred, March 29, 1809. His father, Thomas Simpson, was a cripple from an injury received in infancy. He was at first a farmer and afterwards a teacher, but such was the regard in which he was held, that he was nearly all his life kept in office. He was also noted for his piety. In 1829, he was elected to the Legislature on the Adams or Whig ticket, but he died before he took his seat, November 29, of that year, at the age of forty-five. He married first, February 28, 1805, Mary, daugh- ter of John and Elizabeth Cecil, of Queen Anne's county, Md. Two of her children grew to maturity ; Clement Cecil, the subject of this sketch, and Ezekiel Merrick, who died, August 24, 1875, in California. His wife having died in 1813, he married, the following year, Mrs. Mary, widow of Beauchamp Walton, and daughter of David and Susannah Harrington, by whom he had one child, William Walton. She died in 1817, and in 1820 he married Rachel, daughter of Solomon and Elizabeth Griffith, by whom he had three children ; Silas Asbury, Margaret Ann, deceased; and Thomas Simpson. The grandfather of the subject of our sketch, was John Simpson, born December 28, 1750, and died July 14, 1819. He married Mary, daughter of Matthew and Ann Milford. IBBS, BENJAMIN, a Farmer of New Castle, and late Recorder of Deeds for that county, was born in Appoquini- mink hundred, June 16, 1812. His father was Isaac Gibbs, who was born in Phila- delphia. A large landed estate was bequeathed to him by a paternal uncle, and he removed to Delaware to take possession of this tract, which was situated on the "Levels" near Mid- dletown. The progenitors of the Gibbs family in America were three brothers who came to this country with William Penn. Benjamin Gibbs, the eldest, became a resident of Phila- delphia. His son Benjamin Gibbs, Jr., was a well known merchant of that city, and his She was born January 15, 1748, and died April 19, 1826. Their children were, Esther, who died in 1840, aged sixty-three ; Nancy, born in 1773, was killed in young womanhood, by being thrown from a horse ; Clement, born in 1779, and John, born in 1781. The two last went to Ohio in 1818, where they lived to old age and left large families. The youngest child was Thomas, father of Clement Cecil, born November 26, 1783. The family is one of the oldest in Kent county, and the land titles in their possession, were among the first granted. Of Scotch Irish origin, they have always been a hardy, industrious people, worthy to stand among the representative men of the name is found affixed to the agreement or

the winter season, till he was fourteen years of age, when he was for three years in a black- smith's shop, but that business affecting his health, he went to farming. In 1852 he purchased a farm in Mispillion hundred, on which his son Alexander now resides. In 1857, he purchased an adjoining farm which he still owns, and in 1868, bought six acres, now part of the town of Harrington, which he divided, and sold most of it in village lots. In 1869 he purchased the farm where he now resides, and has since added two small tracts adjoining. Most of his lands are de- voted to grain, but he has also raised some fruit, and sold large quantities of ship and other timber. Mr. Simpson has succeeded by integrity and good management, and is a well-read and well informed man. He is widely known and respected as one of the most worthy and substantial citizens of Kent county. He joined the Republican party upon its or- ganization, having been formerly a Whig, and was during the war a staunch Union man. He was married in January, 1832, to Ann, daugh- ter of Jeremiah and Sarah Morris, then of Kent county, but formerly of Caroline county, Md. Six children grew to maturity ;- Alexander Simpson, a farmer, married Lydia, daughter of Henry and Rhoda Lewis, and has thirteen children; Mary; Ezekiel Henry, married Louisa Callaway, and died October 3, 1878, aged thirty-six years ; Richard John, residing in Kansas ; James Thomas, and Sarah Matilda, wife of Thomas A. Melvin. Mrs. C. C. Simpson died, February 28, 1880, aged seventy years.

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compact by which the merchants of Philadel- les, of that county, and connected with the phia bound themselves to import no goods subject to stamp duty. His name also appears as one of the founders of the Franklin Library of that city. Edward Gibbs, the second brother, settled in Delaware. He soon, how- ever, removed to Kentucky, and thence to the law partner of Hon. Willard Saulsbury, South Carolina, where the family name became prominent. Edward, the third brother, chose New Jersey as his home. Isaac Gibbs, father of the subject of this sketch, purchased a farm near Newark, to which he removed in 1815,

Custis and Wise families of the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Mr. Wright was educated at Princeton, and studied law in the office of Hon. Elisha Cullen. Admitted to the bar in New Castle, in September, 1862, he became then United States Senator from Delaware. In 1865 Hon. Gove Saulsbury, being speaker of the State Senate, became ex-officio Gover- nor of Delaware, upon the death of Governor William Cannon, and Mr. Wright was ap- because of the educational advantages its pointed Secretary of State. The duties of locality afforded, and his son, Benjamin, was this position he performed for six years, until educated in Newark under the supervision of the close of Governor Saulsbury's administra- tion, with great fidelity and ability. In 1872 he was nominated by his party as their candi- date for Congress, but the ticket was not successful. He now gave himself with renewed earnestness to his profession, in which he rose rapidly, and increasing business taxed all his energies, when in the midst of his bright and successful career he was stricken with illness which terminated fatally, November 29, 1874. Mr. Wright had many friends. He was a young man of great goodness of heart, and winning address, and his rare talents drew around him many warm admirers. The loss sustained in his death will long be felt. He was married in November, 1865, to Miss Emma R., daughter of Sam'l Rowland Paynter, and granddaughter of Samuel Paynter, for- merly Governor of Delaware. Mrs. Wright - with their two daughters, Maud and Mary, reside in Georgetown.

Rev. A. K. Russell, of the Presbyterian church. In 1833 they returned to the old homestead called " Danby" on the Levels, and here Mr. Benjamin Gibbs began farming. In 1842 he removed to Newark where he remained for four years and afterward purchased "Fairview," an estate of 205 acres, where he has since re- sided. Mr. Gibbs gave his attention chiefly to raising fruit and found it a paying interest. He had at one time 7000 peach trees in bearing. Mr. Gibbs acted with the Whig party so long as it existed : in 1854, he became a member of the Democratic party and was appointed Register of Wills, by Gov. Saulsbury in 1869, and served in this capacity for five years. He was reared in the Protestant Episcopal Church and was a vestryman from his early manhood. Soon after reaching his majority he was made a Mason and served in all the chairs of the Blue Lodge. He was mar- ried, January 22, 1845, to Miss Hannah, daughter of Justa Justis of Swedish ante- cedents. Six children were born to them ; Joseph Shewell. Amca Dale, Gustavus Justis, Isaac, Edward Cantwell and Catharine Justis. Blameless in his life, and honored and esteemed in all his public and private relations, Mr. Gibbs was an example of a christian gentlemen. He departed this life December 13, 1880.

RIGHT, CUSTIS WISE, (deceased,) Lawyer of Georgetown, was born in Millsboro, Sussex county, February I, 1840. His father, Colonel G. H. Wright, has been for many years Cashier of the Farmers Bank of Georgetown. His mother was the daughter of Colonel William D. Wap-

ILSON, REV. JAMES P., D. D. a cel- ebrated Clergyman and many years Pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Philadelphia, was born in Delaware about 1750. He resided at New Castle and first studied law, in the practice of which he became very distinguished. In early life for some years after the Revolution he was a strong Anti-Federalist, but never held office. He was a man of profound learning, with an acute and metaphysical mind, well suited to teach the truths of chrisianity, while his humble, and ardent piety, and most faithful dis- charge of his pastoral duties, won for him the warm regard and veneration of his people and the whole community.

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OHNSON, ALEXANDER, Farmer and ex-Senator, was born on the old home- stead in Mispillion hundred, Kent county, Aug. 15, 1812. His father, James John- son, lived on a large farm which he culti- vated, but his principal business was survey- ing. He had a high reputation in his profes- sion and was at one time surveyor for the county. Many of the records of Kent and Sussex counties show how large an amount of labor he performed. He died in February 1828, when in his fifty-ninth year. He mar- ried about 1797, Elizabeth, daughter of Rich- ard and Priscilla (Polk) Hayes, and sister of Manlove Hayes, father of Manlove Hayes of Dover, and . also father of Judge Alexander L. Hayes, who was forty years a Judge in Lancaster county, Penna. Mr. and Mrs. James Johnson had seven children ; William, a law- yer, died in 1861, at the age of sixty-three ; Charles Hayes died in 1821. at the age of twenty-one; James who was killed by an accident, December 25, 1821, at the age of twenty years; Mary Ann, born 1805, died in 1849, unmarried ; Manlove, a farmer, born in 1807, died in 1863; Elizabeth, born in 1810, married George Johnson, and died January 18, 1866, leaving a family ; and Alexander, the subject of this sketch. The grandfather of the last named was Samuel Johnson, a farmer, who was born August 16, 1737, on the old homestead, where, also, he died September 30, 1792. He married Miss Mary Ann Willey of Sussex county, who was born April 15, 1740, and died February 9, 1811. Their eleven chil- dren were Elizabeth, who married Nathan Davis of Kent county ; William who died un- married at the age of thirty years, a man of great ability ; Nathan, who died in 1835, leav- ing no issue ; Purnell, who died in 1829, aged sixty-two,-his daughter was the wife of Governor Tharp; James, mentioned above ; Sarah, born in 1771, married Thomas Brown, and died in 1827, her children all now de- ceased; Nancy, died young ; Mary, born in 1776, married Wlliam Willey ; Priscilla, born in 1780, married James Miller, and died in 1822 ; Nancy, the second, born in 1782 and died 1799, and Phoebe, born in 1785 and of Peace and Notary Public, the former of died in 1797. The great-grandfather of the which offices he resigned at the end of one subject of our sketch was John Johnson, year. In 1840 he was elected to the Legisla- who was born near Belfast, Ireland, about ture on the Whig ticket, and served with the year 1700. He came to America in credit in the session of 1841. In 1842, al-

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Historical and biographical encyclopaedia of Delaware. V 2, Part 3

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

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