Historical and biographical encyclopaedia of Delaware. V 2, Part 30

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Publication date: 1972
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Number of Pages: 776

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ARRINGTON, PURNEL FREDER- ICK, Commander in the United States Navy, and head of the department of astronomy, navigation and surveying, at the Naval Academy, Annapolis, is the second son of Samuel Maxwell Harrington, late Chancellor of Delaware, and was born in Dover, June 6, 1844. At the age of seventeen he entered the United States Naval Academy, and was graduated, September, 1863, third in a class of thirty members, having accomplished

the regular course of four years in half that period. Promoted to the grade of ensign in the Navy upon graduation, he joined the sloop of war, Monongahela, of Farragut's squadron, and commanded a division of guns on board that ship at the battle of Mobile Bay, and in her celebrated contest with the rebel ram Tennessee. Subsequently he partic- ipated in all the operations against the city of Mobile, the capture of Fort Morgan, and the blockade of the Texas coast. At the close of the war he remained in the Monongahela as navigator and ordnance officer, and while on this duty was promoted to the grades of Master and Lieutenant, and in March, 1868, to that of Lieutenant Commander. While in this ship he twice passed through an epidemic of yellow fever, in which more than thirty of the officers and men were lost. During the earthquakes of November, 1867, the Mononga- htela was thrown on shore by a tidal wave at the island of Santa Cruz, West Indies, on which occasion he contributed by his presence of mind and prompt orders to the safety of the ship. From 1868 to 1870 Lieutenant Com- mander Harrington was employed at the Naval Academy as assistant professor of Mathemat- ics, and, subsequently, from 1873 to 1876, as instructor in astronomy, navigation, and hy- drographic surveying. In the interval between these academic employments he served as ex- ecutive officer on board the Pensacola, flagship of the South Pacific squadron. In May, 1873, he commanded the Naval Battalion at Pana- ma, during the revolution, and preserved the railroad and the property of foreign residents, for which service he received the thanks of the Commander in chief and of the President of the State of Panama. In 1877 he went to Brazil in the flagship Hartford, in which ves- sel he occupied for three years the difficult po- sition of executive officer, and for more than a year performed the duties of Captain and Chief of Staff, imposed upon him by the illness and death of the late Captain Henry A. Adams. Since his return to the United States, in the spring of 1880, Commander Harrington has been employed as head of the department of -astronomy, navigation and surveying at the Naval Academy at Annapolis and in command of the practice ship for cadets. In May, 1881, he was commissioned Commander in the Navy.

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.

New Castle. His classical studies were pur- sued in Newark with Rev. Francis Hindman, and completed at New Garden, with Enoch Lewis, the eminent mathematician. In 1824 he was graduated M. D. from the University of Pennsylvania, having been a student in the office of Dr. George Mcclellan. He com- menced practice near Downingtown, Chester

county, Pa., but soon returned to New Castle, where he absorbed the chief professional busi- ness of the place and neighborhood, earned by the confidence of the community in his conscientious and sound medical judgment. Dr. Couper was one of the original members of the American Medical Association, and chairman of the committee who made the first report on Preliminary Education. That re- port evinced the clearness of comprehension. and the terseness and propriety of expression which characterized him ; it embraced all the main points required to be included in such a report, and although very much amplified by subsequent committees has been but little im- proved. In the progress of medical science in our State, and in its honorable upholding, he was always greatly interested, which was evinced by his presence at the meetings of the Delaware State Medical Society, and his active and efficient participation in its exercises. He was repeatedly a delegate to the American Medical Association, and was one of its Vice- Presidents. He united with the Presbyterian Church early in life, and continued a devoted member while he lived. His death occurred after a very brief illness from disease of the heart. His loss was lamented by a large cir- cle of professional friends, as well as by the whole community in which he had so long, so assiduously and so successfully cultivated his profession. His death created a great void, and his many friends long deplored the absence of his kind and sympathizing presence, which | had cheered and encouraged them in hours of sickness and sorrow, and smoothed the As he had no children, and lived elegantly, but without extravagance or ostentation, his last days might have been spent in ease and free-

OUPER, DR. JAMES, was born in the dom from the cares and anxieties incident to village of Christiana, Del., October 3, his profession, but in the failure of the Bank of

1803. He was the son of Dr. James the United States he, with many others, found Couper, who then resided in that place, himself despoiled of much of the earnings of but a few years afterwards removed to his life, and his efforts for the rest of his days were to repair the wreck in which he was so unexpectedly involved. His remains were placed in the cemetery of the Presbyterian Church at New Castle. Dr. Couper married Miss Mary, the daughter of Hon. James Black, of New Castle, July 24, 1832, a lady endowed with the graces of the christian, combined with the culture fitted to adorn her brilliant mind.

EIGWIN, REV. ALBERT NEWTON, pastor of the West Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, was born in Jeffersonville, Ind., February 20, 1840. His father, James Keigwin, descended from a Cor- nish family, of Welsh origin, the first of whom any authentic record now exists, being Capt. Jenkins Keigwin, of Moosehole, who was killed in an attack by some Spanish gallies on the towns of Moosehole, Newlyn, and Penzance in 1595. The family crest was a white dog, which is the meaning of the word Keigwin. Their shield is now quartered with that of the family of Lord Nichols. Over two hundred years ago, a branch of the family came to Con- necticut, where some of their descendants now reside. In early life James Keigwin went to Louisville, Ky., where he married Jane, daugh- ter of John Christy, who, in 1815, was a Swiss refugee from Geneva to Delaware. He was a gentleman of birth and fortune, and a man of courage and ability. During the reign of Louis XVI he belonged to the Swiss Guard and was one of the defenders of the palace when the Touleries were attacked by the Rev- olutionists in 1791. He was among the twenty who survived that desperate encounter. Na- poleon placed him on his staff, where he re- mained several years, and for a time, while Switzerland was under the French protector- ate, he was Treasurer of Geneva ; but when the Cantons became free he was obliged to flee for his life, for the crime of having held posi- tion under the French Government. He remained in Delaware several years and bed of death. Dr. Couper never became wealthy. | removed to Louisville, Ky., where he died. Mr. James Keigwin soon after his marriage re- moved to Jeffersonville, Ind., where he be- came the lessee of the State Penitentiary. In

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this place he made a fortune of over a quarter of a million dollars, largely invested in real es- tate. When his son Albert was three years of age, he again removed to Louisville. It had long been the practice in the family for every son to acquire a trade, and on arriving at a sufficient age, the young Albert learned that of a practical printer. When he had mastered the business he entered Hanover College, Ind., completing his course about the time of the outbreak of the civil war. He then enlisted in the Union army, receiving a commission as Captain of Company D, Twenty-sixth Regi- ment, Kentucky Volunteers. After being. in command of his company for one year, he was detailed and appointed Assistant Adjutant General, on the staff of General Stephen Bur- bridge, of the Thirteenth Army Corps. The military record of Captain Keigwin is a bril- liant one. He was in thirteen engagements, the siege of Corinth, the battles of Champion Hills, Ky .; Big Black River Bridge, Arkansas Post, the siege of Vicksburg, and others. At the battle of Big Black River Bridge, Col. James Keigwin, brother of Captain Keigwin, . was in command of General Osterhause's Bri- gade, and in the act of flanking the enemy in a splendid charge, when his brother, seeing . with quick eye, his certain victory, and resolv- ing to share in its honors, rode with Lieuten- ant Robert Conover, of Indiana, considerably ahead of his men, directly upon the confeder- ate forces. The Colonel of the Sixtieth Ten- nessee Regiment discovering the flank move- ment, immediately surrendered to Capt. Keig- win his sword and flag. At the capture of Arkansas Post, one of the most desper- ate contests of the war, he was one of three men who together rode over the rampart and were the first to enter the fort the moment the white flag floated. Immediately after the surrender of Vicks- burg, he resigned his commission and com- menced his theological studies at Princeton, where he remained a year, spending another year at the Theological Seminary, at Danville. Ky. He studied the third year at Haverhill, Massachusetts. The Presbyterian Church at Fulton, Illinois, was his first charge, and during the two years of his labors there it was greatly prospered. After this he was one year at Lyon's, Iowa, and for two years at Cedar Rapids. His health was the cause of these 57."

frequent changes. In 1871 he accepted a call to the Southwark Presbyterian Church, Phila- delphia, where he was very popular, and where his labors during a pastorate of seven years were greatly blessed. In November, 1878, in response to an urgent call from the West Presbyterian Church, of Wilmington, he set- tled in that city. He is a clear and logical thinker, and a fluent and eloquent speaker. His people are devoted to him. He was married in 1864 to Miss Amanda L. Bullock, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, a lineal des- cendant of Sir Chauncey Bullock, of Corn- wall, England, who removed from thence to Canada. They have two sons, Albert Edwin and Earnest Farewell Keigwin. Their only daughter, Blanch Annie, died in early child- hood.

AILEY, THOMAS EMORY, Farmer, near Kenton, was born February 12, 1838, being the third son and eighth child of Mason and Sarah (Smithers) Bailey. His father was a wealthy farmer and land owner. He died May 21, 1872, in the seventy-ninth year of his age. His widow, who was the daughter of John and Ruth Smithers, is now in her eightieth year, and in the enjoyment of good health. Mr. Thomas E. Bailey attended the schools of his native place till he was about eighteen years of age, after which he was a clerk in Philadelphia for three years. Returning to Delaware in 1860, he thenceforward devoted himself to agricul- ture, the first farm of which he took charge being half a mile west of Kenton; but in 1866 his father purchased for him the farm on which he has since lived, called the " Seven Hicko- ries," and containing 400 acres of highly im- proved land. He has upon it a fine residence, built mostly by himself, and large, commodi- ous and substantial barns and out-buildings ; besides six tenant houses. He has also pur- chased two other tracts of land adjoining, making 125 acres additional. A few years ago he had 150 acres in peaches, but has now only 6,000 trees. His fruit has some years realized him a profit of $5,000. He has also 600 apple trees, 1, 100 pear trees, and 500 grape vines, all of which are profitable. He raises wheat ex- tensively, and in 1880 produced 2,200 bushels on one hundred acres of land. He is one of the most industrious, enterprising and success-

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ful farmers in Kent county, and is one of the substantial men of the State. Mr. Bailey is a Democrat in politics, but has never been active in public affairs. He was married February 12, 1867, to Miss Clara E., daughter of William and Hannah (Palmer) Hutchinson, of St. Jones' Neck, Kent county. They have five childen : Sarah Smithers, Linda, Bertha, Ma- son William, and Etta Bailey.

YERS, REV. THOMAS OLIVER, Pastor of the M. E. Church at East New Market, Md., was born May 27, 1838. He was the eighth child of a family of nine. His parents were James and Nancy (Harwood) Ayers. His father was of English descent ; his mother, on her father's side, was of Irish extraction. She .was married in her eighteenth year, and died, aged forty-eight, in 1850. James Ayers died in 1842, in his forty-second year, when his son Thomas was only four years old. Thomas had few advantages of education. He commenced attending school at eight years of age, but went only at intervals. After the death of his mother he was employed on a farm. When seventeen years of age he went to Smyrna, and served three years as an apprentice at harness making. He became a good workman and was employed by Mr. Ruth for a year after his apprenticeship with him expired. At the end of this year, he bought out his employer and began business in his own name, at which he continued until 1861. During all these years he employed all his leisure time in study. When the civil war broke out he became an earnest patriot and Republican, and October 25, 1862, entered as a private the Sixth Regi- ment, Company A, Delaware Infantry. When the company was organized he was made Or- derly-Sergeant and served during the entire term. Here-enlisted and entered the Seventh Regiment, Delaware Infantry, July 27, 1864, and served as First Lieutenant of Co. F. After his muster out he again volunteered, and was made First Lieutenant of Co. F, Ninth Regiment, Delaware Infantry ; was detailed and made Adjutant. December 15, 1864, he was commissioned Captain of Co. H., and was mustered out with his Regiment at the expira- tion of its term of service. He resumed his busi - ness at Smyrna, but under the strong convic- tion that this was not to be the business of his

life. In 1859 he became a member of the M. E. Church at Smyrna, During the next nine years he was successively a class-leader, exhorter and local preacher, and while giving all needful attention to business, was still earnestly applying himself to preparing for the ministry of the gospel. He first served the church occasionally on Smyrna Circuit, and was received into the ranks as a trav- eling preacher in 1870. He was appointed to Millsboro, and served as pastor of that charge for three years, after which he was sent to Frankford for three years, and in 1876 was appointed to the Pocomoke City M. E. Church for two years; then became pastor of Asbury M. E. Church, Crisfield, Maryland, for two years. He is now pastor of the M. E. Church, at East New Market, Maryland. Mr. Ayers is an original thinker, and as a speaker is forcible and popular. He has been very successful as a financier in church mat- ters, and largely engaged in building and fit- ting up churches and church property. He has been very active in the temperance cause, and has been a bold and fearless worker in be- half of local option. He joined the Good Templars in 1868, and in September, 1869, was made Grand Worthy Chief Templar of the State of Delaware, for one year. As an Odd Fellow he has passed all the chairs, and has been a delegate to the Grand Lodge of the State. Mr. Ayers was married April 18th, 1861, to Miss Rebecca T., daughter of Joseph and Phoebe A. Disch, of Smyrna. They have had nine children, of whom only three survive.

EYNOLDS, HON. ROBERT JOHN, Farmer and State Treasurer, was born in Smyrna, March 17, 1838. He is the youngest child of Robert Wright and Sallie Gilder (Marvel) Reynolds. Mr. Reynolds came with his parents in early child - hood to "Golden Ridge," the family home- stead near Petersburg on which he still re- sides. . He attended the schools of that vicin- ity till his fourteenth year, after which he was sent for two years to the academy at Middle- town. He then became a student for three years in the Fairfield Seminary, Herkimer county, N. Y., pursuing the higher English branches, mathematics and the languages. In 1860 he entered upon . the practical duties of life as an agriculturist on the

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farm "Golden, Ridge." The following year, [ in the war of 1812. He died in 1821. The June 18, 1861, he was united in marriage with Miss Lovenia Latchum, daughter of William. E. and Sarah M. (Sevil) Riggs, of Smyrna. Soon after he built the commo- dious residence, in which he has since resided. His father died, February 14, 1863, and his mother continued to occupy the old home- stead till her decease, which occurred March 15. 1874, when Mr. Reynolds came into possession of the above estate. It con- tains about 400 acres of well-improved land, under a high state of cultivation, and located in one of the best grain and fruit sections of the State. Mr. Reynolds has not made a specialty of fruit raising, although, he has in bearing 2500 peach, 500 apple and 400 pear trees, besides small orchards of other fruits. The remainder of the farm is devoted, princi- pally, to cereals. Mr. Reynolds has devoted his life assiduously to his vocation, and stands as one of the foremost farmers of Kent county. He has always taken a deep and active inter- est in public affairs, and exerts a wide influ- ence in the counsels of the Democratic party of the State. In 1868 he was elected to the lower House of the State Legislature, serving with credit in the session of 1869. He was elected by the Legislature, in January, 1879, to the office of State Treasurer, which he now holds, and the responsible duties of which he has discharged with ability and general satis- faction. Besides these public trusts he has been foremost in all matters that tend to the improvement and advancement of the commu- nity in which he lives, among which we may mention that he has been clerk of the School District for about twenty years. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have but one child, Byron Reynolds, a young man eighteen years of age and of much promise. He is at present a student at the University of Virginia, and contemplates entering the legal profession. Mr. Reynolds is a gentleman of intelligence and worth, and greatly respected as one of the substantial citizens of the State.

AHOON, HON. WM. RICKETTS of the firm of William R. Cahoon & Son. Manufacturers of Carriages, Dover, was born October 1, 1813. His father, Captain Samuel Cahoon, a well known farmer of Kent, was in command of a company

relatives of his wife, Rachel Ricketts, were formerly residents of the same county, but are now of Cecil county, Md. She died in 1866. They had five children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third. His grandfather, William Cahoon, and also his father before him, lived and died on the estate known as "Pearman's Choice" one and a half miles south of Smyrna. The family were from Scotland, and were among the early settlers of Kent. William R. Cahoon attended a sub- scription school till thirteen years of age, after which, until reaching his twenty-second year, he was a clerk, first at Cowgill's Corner, and afterward at Smyrna. At the former place he commenced mercantile business for himself, but was not successful, and next took up the occupation of teaching, having always had a de- cided literary taste. He taught first in the vicin- ity of Smyrna, until 1833, where he was appoint- ed Justice of the Peace and Notary Public by Gov. Comegys, and removed to Kenton, where, also, he taught the village school, remaining in that place five years. Leaving Kenton he became, in 1844, a member of the firm of B. Benson and company, of Smyrna, with whom he was connected until 1862. In February, 1863, he was appointed by Gov. William Can- non, Clerk of the Orphans' Court and Regis- ter in Chancery, serving with credit until 1868. In 1863 he, with his son, William R. Cahoon, Jr., commenced the carriage business in Dover, which, to the present time, has been largely successful. Mr. Cahoon has served in several sessions of the State Legislature, having been elected on the Whig ticket. He was an orig- inal anti-slavery man, and gave to the bill for the gradual abolition of slavery, his vote and influence, but the bill was defeated. His par- ents were both Presbyterians, his mother a most saintly woman. He was, however, converted in the M. E. Church, with which he united in 1829. He has been steward, class-leader for twenty years,and superintendent of the Sunday School. In. 1852 he was licensed to preach, and has been solicited to accept ordination. He is secretary and treasurer of the Local Preachers' Association of the Wilmington An- nual Conference and one of the curators. Mr. Cahoon was married, April 20, 1834, to Louisa, eldest daughter of Benjamin Benson, of Smyr- na. She died May 11, 1851, leaving eight

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children. December 28, 1853, he married Sal- lie E., daughter of Joseph and Sabra P. Hof- fecker, of Smyrna. She died, December 4. 18/8, at their farm called "Home Nook," on which they had resided for fourteen years. Her children were also eight in number. Both these ladies were remarkable for their lovely christian character.

UPONT, CHARLES IRENEÉ, was born at Charleston, S. C. March 29, 1797, the eldest son of Victor DuPont and Gabrielle Josephine Lafitte de Pelleport. His father was then the French Consul at Charleston, where he had been sent through the influence of his father, DuPont de Nemours, to remove him from the troubles of the French Revolution. The whole family emigrated to the United States in 1800, and eventually settled on the Brandy wine. Charles I. DuPont was known through the entire community and state, as an energetic, industrious, and eminently public spirited man. He was, for the greater part of his life, largely engaged in manufacturing on the Brandywine, but gave also great attention to agriculture, and some of the most beautiful and valuable property of the State, in New Castle and Kent counties, attest his skill. He also found time during his active and un- selfish life to further other objects and pur- poses. In 1841 he was a most active member of the State Senate. and was elected and re-elected to represent New Castle county in the Legislature. He was always found most active in advocating the passage of any law for the public good. One of the originators of the Delaware railroad he was unremitting in his efforts to effect the passage of any bill for its benefit, and his influence in the Sen- ate, Feb. 27, 1855, carried the bill through that body which gave aid from the State towards the erection of this road. He also gave his time and the most untiring in- dustry in soliciting and obtaining subscriptions to the stock. He was a director in the P., W. & B. railroad, and exerted himself to influ- ence this company to take hold of the Dela- ware railroad, believing it would be to the ad- vantage of both, and without great delay could not otherwise be built. Having, with others, thus accomplished the building of this road, he consented to serve as one of the di-

rectors of the company, which position he held till his death. He was married at New Castle, October 5, 1824, to Dorcas Montgomery, daughter of the Hon. Nicholas Van Dyke, of Delaware ; three children of this marriage survive their father. He was for many years one of the directors of the Farmers Bank of Delaware, in Wilmington, and until a short time before his death, its President. This office he resigned in consequence of declining health. Having lost his first wife in 1838, he married a second time, Ann Ridgely, daughter of the Hon. Henry M. Ridgely, of Dover. His widow, and two children of this marriage survive him. Elected on the Whig ticket, and firm in his adhesion to his party, he was never a bitter or boisterous politician, but by his dignified course, secured the esteem of all parties, and without effort, unconsciously be- came extremely popular with his fellow-citizens. He was never deaf to the cry of distress or wearied in helping others. His very kind, social, and communicative manner, won friends wherever he was known ; his high prin- ciples, and pure moral character, secured for him the esteem of every one, and gained the confidence of all who approached him. When the war broke out, he was, like his lamented brother, Admiral DuPont, "ardent in his de- votion to the Union, and gave as liberally of his means, as the brave soldier did of his services and valor, to the cause of Union and Peace." Though interesting himself in every matter of importance with unabated ardor, he retired from an active business life some years prior to his death. He died January 31, 1869, peacefully and calmly, without an enemy, his character without a stain, "and the lustre of his historic name untarnished and undimmed."

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Historical and biographical encyclopaedia of Delaware. V 2, Part 30

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

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