Historical and biographical encyclopaedia of Delaware. V 2, Part 32

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Publication date: 1972
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 776

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He was married, Sept. 30, 1800, to Miss Hannah McIntire, a lady of Irish descent, by whom he had four sons and three daughters. The death of Dr. Couper, Sept. 1, 1839, when in the sixty- third year of his age, occasioned the most heartfelt sorrow throughout the com- munity. Sketches of his sons, Dr. James, William and John Edwards, all deceased, may be found in this volume. Samuel is still resid- ing in New Castle. His eldest daughter, Ann Jane, married George Kerr, a native of Scot- land. Mr. Kerr died, Jan. 4, 1860, and his wife, June 14, 1877, leaving one son, James Couper Kerr. The second daughter, Mary, is still living. Her husband, James Logan Smith, of Philadelphia, died March 6, 1843. Their chil- dren were three daughters : Annie Couper, Esther and Ellen Logan Smith, the eldest of whom married Rev. Alexander Proudfit, of the Presbyterian church, and whose three chil- dren are John, Mary Couper and Alexander Couper Proudfit. Elizabeth Riddle, the third daughter of Dr. Couper, is also still living. She married Dr. Lewis A. Edwards, a surgeon curred Nov. 8, 1877. They had three sons, the eldest of whom, James Lewis Edwards, died August 16, 1867. The remaining sons are John Couper and George Kerr Edwards.

and a colonel in the Union Army during the in the United States army, whose death oc- late war. They have three children; Min- nie Norton, Leila Ford and Catherine Green Burton.

OUPER, DR. JAMES, son of James and Jane (Eaken) Couper, was born Jan. 18, 1778, in Christiana, in which place his father settled in 1763. An only child, his parents early decided to give him every advantage in their power. On the completion of his literary course he stu-

ULLEN, JOHN WESLEY, Farmer and Merchant, Dover, was born in Kent county, Nov. 1I, 1809. His father, Hezekiah Cullen, was a large land- owner, of Murderkill hundred, and was distinguished for his piety and honorable char- acter. He died in 1824, in his fifty-fifth year. His wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Edmond and Rachel (Primrose) Bailey, of Milford. They had nine children, viz: Ann ; James ; Gideon; Rachel; George; John Wesley; Sarah; Elizabeth; and Mary. Mr. Cullen's grand-

was died for the medical profession and licensed to practice. In 1809 he was appointed Cashier of the Farmer's Bank at New Castle, to which town he removed during that year. In 1835 he was made Secretary and Treasurer of the New Castle and Frenchtown Turnpike and Railroad Company, which position he held father was John Cullen, a farmer of Kent, who, the remainder of his life. Dr. Couper is still with his wife, was drowned by the falling in of remembered by the more aged members of a bridge at or near Frederica. They had three the community in which he lived, as a man of children, a daughter and two sons, Gideon, a great integrity and uprightness of character. , distinguished surveyor of his day ; and Heze- Thoroughly trusted and respected by every |kiah. The family, which is of Swedish origin, one, he was very frequently appointed a guar- have been worthy citizens of the State from

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early colonial times. Mr. Cullen grew up on | in 1834 to Miss Mary Barrett, who died in his father's farm, where he was trained to hab- | 1855, leaving six children ; John ; Hezekiah ; its of industry, and was in a christian home James; Elizabeth, wife of William H. Wallace, surrounded by the best influences. His educa- , of Dover ; Mary, wife of Joseph Root of Phila- tional advantages, only such as were offered delphia ; and William. In August 1856, Mr. Cullen was married to Miss Sarah Elizabeth, daughter of William and Sallie (Martindale) Wallace, a farmer near Camden. Their chil- dren are, Harry Wallace ; Charles Wesley, who died in 1867 aged eight years; Edward Everett of Philadelphia ; Franklin Martindale, Sallie Meads, Clarence Wesley, and Katie Shakespeare Cullen. Mr. Cullen took a just pride in his family, and has given his children liberal educational advantages. He made life a success by an honorable course, and close attention to business, and enjoyed the confi- dence and esteem of all who knew him. Mr. Cullen died, greatly regretted May 25, 1882. in the subscription schools of that day, he eagerly improved. At seventeen he left home and became an apprentice to a wheelwright, till his majority, when he built up a successful business in Frederica. In 1835 he entered into partnership with William Townsend at Fork Landing, where they enjoyed a large trade, and owned a vessel which they run to Phila- delphia, till 1841, when Mr. Townsend with- drew and located in Frederica; Mr. Cullen continuing the business till 1846. He then for two years conducted a large and prosper- ous mercantile and shipping business. at Odessa. Deciding to engage in agriculture, he purchased, in 1848, "Cherbourg," the old homestead of Governor Comegys, in St Jones' ICKMAN, HARBESON, Capitalist of Lewes, was born in that town, Sept. 6, 1818. His father, George Hickman, was born, Jan. 14, 1779, on the old family homestead, at Hackley Barney, five miles from Lewes. He was for several years a merchant in Philadelphia, but returned to Lewes during the war of 1812, continuing the same vocation successfully till 1844 when he retired. He died in 1851. He married Mary W. Mariner, of Lewes. They had four- teen children, eleven of whom, eight sons and three daughters, are still living in 1880. The father of George Hickman was Nathaniel Hick- man,a farmer who died about 1790. He had two brothers, Richard and Selby. Their father, whose name has been lost, came from England, settling in Delaware early in the 18th century. The family tradition is that three brothers came from England to America, one settling in Virginia, one in Pennsylvania and the other in Delaware, and that their descendants are now scattered all over the country. Mr. Hickman attended the best schools of Lewes, which, at that time, were noted for their excellence, till he was fourteen years of age, when he was sent for two years to an academy in Philadel- phia. After four years spent in his father's store he, in 1839, entered into partnership with his brother, Nathaniel W. Hickman, in the wholesale hardware business, which they con - ducted prosperously in Philadelphia for. ten years. In 1849 he sold out to his brother and Neck, near Little Creek landing, containing 374 acres of good land, but in a dilapidated state. Taking up his residence there he de- voted himself to its improvement, adding lime and fertilizers in large quantities. The same year he built a vessel of eighty tons burden, which he kept employed for ten years. About 1850, in connection with Thomas Wilson, he brought the first reaper into Kent county. In 1856 he rented his farm and resumed mercan- tile life in Dover, and also became a large dealer in grain. In 1861 he returned to his farm, but continued buying and shipping grain. He at that time planted 1,600 peach, and 400 apple and pear trees, which interest was successful. In 1868 he bought the "Bald- win" farm, a part of the old Loockerman estate near Dover, on which he afterwards resided. The farm contained 135 acres in a high state of cultivation. Mr. Cullen was brought up an old line Whig, was next a Republican and a staunch and loyal Union man during the war. In 1840 he was elected a member of the Levy court for Kent county on the Whig ticket, and was re-elected in 1844, serving very ac- ceptably for eight successive years. He also served two terms of two years each as Com- missioner of the Poor, and during his term of office, and mainly through his influence, the building for the insane was erected. He joined the M. E. Church in 1854, and became stew- ard, trustee, and treasurer. He was married

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was one of those, who, in that eventful year, -

made their way to the Golden Gate. After remaining a few months in San Francisco he went to Stockton, where he entered again into commercial life. He launched out boldly in business, and was rewarded with immense success. Although, in 1851, his store and stock were destroyed by fire, a disaster which involved him in a loss of $100,000, he was not disheartened, but soon had a new fire- proof brick building completed and his busi- ness again in successful operation. In 1855 he sold out and retired from mercantile life. He remained a few years longer in California, operating largely in real estate, bonds, stocks, etc., when, in 1859, he returned to his native town, where he has since resided. Besides his large landed estate in California he owns about twenty farms in Sussex county. He has taken much interest in improved methods of agriculture, and most of his lands are under a high state of cultivation. He also owns about twenty vessels, most of them sailing to the West Indies and South American ports, although some of them are engaged in the European trade. Mr. Hickman has always been identified with the Democratic party, and is now a member of the National Executive Committee of that organization. He was married, April 19, 1859, to Miss Elizabeth Causin, daughter of Benjamin and Marion Lee (Slater) Dickinson. Their surviving children are Harbeson Hickman, Jr., Vir- ginia Lee Hickman, Maria Dickinson Hick- man, and Henry Beers Hickman.

AINWRIGHT COL. JOHN, Merchant and Soldier, Wilmington, Inspector General on the Staff of the Comman- der in Chief, General Geo. Merrill, and Commander of the Department of Del- aware, Grand Army of the Republic. Col. Wainwright was born in Syracuse, N. Y., July 13, 1839; and is descended from the Wain- wrights so long settled in Monmouth Co., N. J. This name and stock has long been known as having had its representatives in the Army and Navy of the United States, and had a his- tory as patriots and soldiers in our Revolu- tionary struggle for Independence. Colonel Wainwright was educated in the public schools of New York city, to which place his parents had removed in his early boyhood. He

came with a widowed mother and two other children, younger than himself to this State when in his thirteenth year. He spent in New Castle and Wilmington the years inter- vening until his twentieth year, when he lo- cated in West Chester, at which place he was temporarily residing at the breaking out of the war of the rebellion, 1861. His tradi- tional soldier blood made him a private in the earliest organized company from that town, and it became a part of the 2nd Penna. Vols., three months service. He was with his company and regiment through the period of its enlistment ; was mustered out at Harris- burg, receiving an honorable discharge ; re- turned to West Chester and re-enlisted as a private in Co. F, 97th Pa., Vols., three years service. Now began the wonderful history of appreciation and promotion, which has had no parallel, perhaps, in the history of the late war. John Wainwright the private of Co. F., passed through each intermediary grade, non commissioned, commissioned and field officer, until he closes his military career as Colonel, commanding the same regiment that received him but a few years before a private in the ranks of one of its companies. While the fearful casualties of war opens the path to promotion in many instances, yet it is only just to say his advancement was a result achieved by soldierly qualities, and earned by the heroic performance of duty in battle, and regard to discipline in the camp. The following are the dates of promotion : from first Sergeant to second Lieutenant, June 10, 1862: to first Lieutenant, May 1, 1863 : to Captain, Nov. 1, 1864 : to Major, Dec. 1, 1864 : to Lieutenant Colonel, March 14, 1865, for gallant and meritorious conduct at the storm- ing of Fort Fisher : and Colonel, June 15, 1865. The actions in which he was a participant were in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia, and even to name them would requuire space which we have not at command. He was twice wounded, at James' Island and at Fort Fisher, but while hundreds of his command fell he escaped and yet lives apparently in excellent health, look- ing no older than his portrait. He was mus- tered out, with his regiment, August 28, 1865. He was present and engaged in twenty-three battles and sieges, and besides these his regi- ment has a record of nearly a score of others

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John Wainwright

الطابعات

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BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.

in which it participated. Since the war he has | been a prominent merchant in Wilmington and a valuable citizen of the State. Colonel Wainwright has always taken an active inter- est in army affairs, particularly in connection with the Grand Army of the Republic, having joined the first Post ever organized in the State, which was disbanded and the Colonel became a member of Du Pont Post, No. 2, of which he served as surgeon for two terms. He was appointed Senior Vice-Commander of the Provisional Department of Delaware, also Assistant Inspector-General on the Staff of Commander-General Louis Wagner, and to the same position on the Staff of Commander- General George Merrill. On Jan. 11, 1882, at the Annual Department Encampment he was unanimously elected Commander of the De- partment of Delaware, an honor which could come to none but a truly gallant and meritori- ous soldier. Colonel Wainwright was united in marriage to Miss Emma M. Edwards, of Coatesville, Chester county, Pa., April 18, 1864, and their children are Blanche J., G. Maud, and John Drayton Wainwright.

ART, BURTON JACKSON, late a Farmer of Broadkill hundred, Sussex county, was born in that county, at Sp ingfield Church, Oct. 17, 1802. His father, Zachariah Hart, a blacksmith was born in Indian River hundred in 1759. He was noted for his integrity. and was an indus- trious and respected citizen, following his trade till his death, in 1809, he being then fifty years of age. His widow, Nancy (John- son) Hart, died in 1819. Their children were Naomi, m John Godding, and died about 1860, leaving two children, Lizzie and Charlotte Gooding ; Nancy, m. Christopher Stockrider, and died about 1850, leaving two children, James and John Stockrider ; Burton Jackson, and Isaac. who succeeded to the trade and business of his father. He married Miss Rhoda Johnson, and died in 1853, at the age of forty-eight, leaving four children : Peter R., William, John and Eliza Ann. Zachariah Hart was the only child of Zachariah Hart, Sr., who came to Delaware from Ireland, and married Miss Nancy Burton, of Sussex county. He was a Protestant, and by trade a vessel builder on the Indian River. He died about 1786, at about fifty-three years of age. Burton Jackson

Hart received no education, except what he acquired himself, but was a man of good judg- ment, industrious and upright. He lived for many years on a farm belonging to Dr. Peter R. Jackson, of Milton, which he kept in a high state of cultivation, and which still bears the name of the "Burton Hart Farm." In 1850 he purchased a small farm of 30 acres in Georgetown hundred, where he lived the re- mainder of his life, and which is now owned by his son, Peter J. Hart. He married, Jan. 15, 1823, Miss Eliza F., daughter of Absalom and Hester (Warrington) Dodd. She was born, Oct. 16, 1804. They had eleven children : Sarah Emeline, born, Oct. 17, 1825, m. John Bowers, and died in 1875, leaving one child ; Cornelius Coulter, born, Dec. 12, 1827, in. Eliza- beth Greenley, and died in 1869, leaving five children ; Hetty Jane Stokely, born, Nov. 27, 1828, m Edward B. Davis, and died in Wil- mington, June 11, 1863, leaving seven chil- dren : James Dutton, born, Jan. 12, 1831, m. Eliza Jane Willey, and has four children ; Eliza Ann, born, March 20, 1834, ii. William II. Vaughn, and died in May, 1871, in Milford ; Matilda Adaline, born, Feb. 25, 1836, wife of Kenzie J. Jones, and has three children ; Peter Jackson Hart, proprietor of the Ponder hotel, Milton, born, June 7, 1838, and m., March 9, 1865, Miss Hannah, daughter of James G. and Martha (Potter) Ford, of Vineland, N. J .; Al- fred Burton Hart, born, July 7, 1810, m. Cathe- rine Dickerson, and six months after his mar- riage met his death by an accident, June 25, 1869. He was a man of great physical strength, amiable in disposition and was greatly lamented. The remaining children are Mary Elizabeth, born, April 22, 1842, wife of Oliver E. Greenley, and has three children; Clement Fowler Hart, born, Dec. 17, 1844, 2. Sallie Davis, and Leah Ellen Hart, born Dec. 17, 1848, now the wife of William B. Pretty- man, of Willmington. They have three chil- dren : Burton Jackson Hart, died, July 9, 1859, at the age of fifty-seven, leaving to his family and the community the grateful recollections of a good and useful life.

TAATS, ISAAC, Farmer of Thorough- fare Neck, was born, June 27, 1809. His father, Peter Staats, also a farmer, was a man of limited education, but his native force of character gave him prom-

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.

inence. He died at the age of 50, in 1826. His | to maturity, viz .: Elizabeth, married H. H. first wife was Jane, daughter of Jacob Ryall, a Woodkeeper ; John Wesley ; Sarah Jane, mar- ried Charles W. Jarrell, and died in 1870; Isaac Ryall, a farmer, and during the war a sergeant for three years in the First Delaware Cavalry ; Mary ; Emily, second wife of Charles W. Jarrell ; James Henry, a farmer ; Frances ; Abraham, merchant and postmaster at Taylor's Bridge, and George Staats, residing at the home farm with his sisters Mary and Frances. The wife of Mr. Isaac Staats died May 5, 1873. March 12, 1874, he married Mrs. Catharine H., widow of Morris Collins and daughter of Samuel and Frances (Crawford) Armstrong, since which time he has resided on his wife's property, one mile south of Taylor's Bridge. She has three children by her first marriage- Morris Armstrong, Samuel Alexander and John Peter Collins. Mr. Staats has fourteen grandchildren living. He has been through life a great reader, and his powers of memory are remarkable. He is a man of character and standing, well preserved in his appearance, and prominent both in the Church and com- munity. native of Scotland. Isaac was the youngest of their ten children, of whom seven grew to ma- turity. In 1816 his mother died, and two years later his father married Mrs. Jane, widow of Robert Naudain and daughter of Dr. W. T. Johnson. The father of Peter Staats was Capt. Abraham Staats, a farmer. His ancestor, Abraham Staats, from Holland, was one of the first settlers of Manhattan Island. On the in- vasion of that settlement by the English, the Staats removed to Staten Island, which received from them its name. When the Dutch con- quered the Swedish settlements on the Dela- ware, they moved again to the locality now known as Thoroughfare Neck, where they pur- chased large tracts of land of the Indians. The original deeds, in the Dutch language, are still in the possession of the family. The names, Peter and Abraham, have descended regularly in all their generations, each of which has pro- duced the same hardy, industrious, economical, and highly respectable race of people. They were Protestants and Presbyterians till the latter part of the last century, when most of them became connected with the M. E. Church ANNON, HENRY WHITE, Editor and Proprietor of the State Sentinel, at Dover, was born in Leipsic, Oct. 28, 1844. A sketch of his father, Wilson L. Cannon, and of the family and an- cestry has been given. He enjoyed the best educational advantages that the neigh- They have been the pillars of the Friendship Church in the Neck. Mr. Staats received a good common school education, and on his marriage, in 1832, went to live on the "Tide Mill Farm," where he resided 42 years. On this farm before the Revolution, was a tide grist mill in successful operation. One-half of borhood afforded. At fifteen he had the misfortune to lose his mother, and the year following went to school at Fairfield, Herki- mer county, N. Y. After an absence of two years he returned, and till 1873, devoted him- self to farming. This was not lost time ; he found abundant opportunity for thought, dis- cussion, reading and study, and finally his ri- pening powers demanded a different field of ex- ercise. Having decided to become an editor Mr. Cannon' encountered the usual amount of opposition ; friends were fearful that he might fail, and being an ardent Republican, the op- posite party were especially anxious to per- suade him that the path of duty and success lay in some other direction. But he was not

this property, consisting of 72 acres of upland and 62 acres of marsh, he inherited from his mother. He has been very prosperous, now owns over 500 acres. and has one of the best stock farms in the county. His peaches also . have brought him handsome returns. Mr. Staats was reared a Whig, was strongly opposed to slavery, and, although his father had slaves, he refused to own property in his fellow men. He voted for Lincoln in 1860 and is an ardent Republican. He was for ten years a Trustee of the Poor, has been nearly all his life a clerk and commissioner of the school district, and has held other local offices. He joined the M. E. Church, August 15, 1830. Since 1844 he has been a trustee, and since 1861 a steward | to be deterred. Settling with his family in of the Friendship Church. He was married ! Dover, he issued the first number of the State March 22, 1832, to Ann, daughter of Jesse Sentinel, May 15, 1874. This paper, the organ VanPelt. Of their twelve children ten grew of the Republican party in his county, and the

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first Republican newspaper ever published in | daughter of Robert Frazier, Esq., of Kent Dover, has, from the first, advocated, fear- county. They have but one child, Anna lessly and with telling effect, the principles of Lavinia Wilkinson. that party. In one year it was found neces- sary to enlarge it, and it continues to be a growing success. Mr. Cannon soon proved his talent for journalism to the entire satisfac- tion of friends and foes ; he also convinced them that he was a man of business and exe- cutive ability. His enthusiasm in advocating the principles of his party makes his editorials | lively and interesting reading for people of whatever political faith ; and his future is full of promise, both for himself and his paper. He was chairman of the State Central Committee from 1880 to 1882. He was united in marriage in January, 1869, to Miss Ella, daughter of Emory Green, Esq., a merchant of Philadelphia ; and has two children ; Mary G., and Henry W. Cannon.

ILKINSON, JOHN MARION, M. D., of Willow Grove, was born in Hillsboro, Caroline county, Md., Oct. 4, 1850. His father, William Wilkinson, is engaged in milling in Baltimore county in that state, and is the owner of the Milford Mills. He married Mahala, daughter of Joshua Ship- ley of Caroline county. The family are de- scended from Rev. Ephraim Wilkinson who was sent as a missionary from England, and was rector of a church in Queen Anne's county for many years. John M. Wilkinson is the second son and fourth child in a family of seven. His early instruction was under a private tutor, and at eighteen he entered St. John's College at Annapolis, taking a partial course. He commenced the study of medi- cine at Hillsboro, and after attending three courses of lectures in the University of Mary- land, graduated with the class of 1874. He settled at once at Willow Grove, where he has been very successful, his large and increasing practice extending over an area of ten miles. Always a hard student and enthusiastically devoted to his profession, he enjoys a reputa- tion not often attained. His success is the re- ICHARDS, CHARLES FLEMING, Lawyer, of Georgetown, was born in North West Fork hundred, Sussex county, June 15, 1846. His father, John Richards, was a farmer in inde- sult of his own unaided efforts, good sense and worth. Being also a gentleman of culture and refinement his society is valued aside from his j professional skill ; Dr. Wilkinson is a Demo- crat in politics and a firm friend of his party. ; pendent circumstances, a man of intelligence, He was married Oct. 4, 1876, to Miss Mary E., and much esteemed in the community. His

ONES, DOCTOR AND REV. JAMES, Surgeon in the Continental Army, was born near Newark, April 6, 1756. His parents were James and Susanna Jones. The father of the first James and grand-father of Dr. Jones came from Wales, settling on the Welsh tract, when the first James was two years old. Dr. James Jones entered the Army at Valley Forge as Surgeon, and experienced untold hardships and danger in his profession with the army until the close of the struggle. He was an honored member of the "Order of the Cincinnati." He settled in the practice of his profession at Duck Creek, now Smyrna, and there married Mary Creigh- ton, in April, 1783. Twelve children were born to them, of whom six died in infancy. Sarah married Major John Wilds ; of this marriage was Mary, mother of A. Price Griffith, whose sketch is found in this volume. Mary married George Walker, and was the mother of Mary and Susan Walker. The former resides in Smyrna, and Susan marrried Thos. W. Eliason, Esq., of Chestertown, Md. Lydia was the wife of Maj. Elias Naudain, of whom see sketch ; of this marriage the only surviving child is Rebecca, wife of Robert H. Moor, Esq., of Philadelphia. Esther married Daniel Magear, and four children of this marriage are residents of Smyrna. Susanna died unmarried and James is still living. Doctor Jones mar- ried his second wife, Margaret Simpson, on the 16th of June, 1818, whom he also survived. He, in 1792, bought a large tract of land near "Bryn Zion " Baptist meeting house. He was physician, farmer and Baptist minister, having been ordained April 8, 1789. For his minis- terial services he would not receive compensa- tion. He was equally distinguished in both the ministry and medicine. He was one of the able and excellent men of Delaware.

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Historical and biographical encyclopaedia of Delaware. V 2, Part 32

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

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