Historical and biographical encyclopaedia of Delaware. V 2, Part 39

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Publication date: 1972
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Number of Pages: 776

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ONES, MAJOR JOHN, late of Middle- town, was born in Appoquinimink hun- dred, May 7, 1790. His parents were Griffith and Phoebe (Offley) Jones. Griffith Jones was a soldier in the revo -. lution, and a prisoner on board the Roe Buck. His father and grandfather both bore the name of Griffith Jones, and, like himself, were farmers The first Griffith Jones and Michael Offley, the grandfather of Mrs. Jones, came over with William Penn, in 1682, the first being from Wales and the other from England. Griffith Jones was one of the members of Penn's first Legislature, and some time afterwards settled in Appoquinimink, south of Blackbird creek. Michael Offley settled soon after his arrival, near the same place. His greatgrandson, Major Jones, lost both his parents when he . was quite young, his father dying in Septem- ber, 1797, and he had few opportunities of education, but was observant and thoughtful, and possessed always a retentive memory and uncommon powers of mind. The practical knowledge that he acquired, even in youth, was remarkable. He lived with a farmer till his twentieth year, when he went to Philadelphia and apprenticed himself to a brick mason for three years. There he often worked at night to obtain money to purchase books, which he carefully studied. In 1814, during the last 63

| war with Great Britain, he was for three months a volunteer in defence of Philadelphia. He worked two years at his trade in Marietta, Pa., then went to St. Louis, remaining five years, when he visited St. Domingo, Washing- ton, New York and other places, returning to Delaware in 1825, where he had much to do with founding Delaware City, and building Fort Delaware. A superior workman, and full of resource and energy, and much liked by every one, he made considerable money, but met with frequent losses, and, finally, in 1834, purchased the farm called "Wheatland," Bo- hemia Manor, where he lived for twenty-three years. Here he was a man of much note, and was a leader in every enterprise, having for its object the general good. This was the key-note of his life, and that he had been able to accomplish something for others was cause of thankfulness in his dying hours. He was one of the first to introduce the drill in sowing, and machinery in mowing and reap- ing; to test the value of lime; and offered freely his money, his land, and his co-operation to secure railroad transit through the State. He was one of the club of twelve farmers, meeting monthly, from house to house, out of which grew the New Castle Agricultural Society. In 1856, he was made a life member of the National Agricultural Society, and was after- wards Vice President. He ever took the deep- est interest in education, and it was through his influence that a large donation of land was obtained from government for an Agricultural college, He was one of the first to propose the grant of land by Congress for the several states for agricultural colleges, and the measure was carried through, largely, by his personal efforts. In 1857, he left "Wheatland" for Middletown, where he resided the remain- der of his life, spending most of his time in making statistical reports on the tariff, making diagrams, etc. He was long regarded as having no superior as a statistical writer. As a public man he was intimately associated with Heads of Departments at Washington, as well as the most prominent Senators and Representatives in Congress. At the begin- ning of the late rebellion, the patriotism that had aroused him to activity in his youthful days, was no less conspicuous, despite his seventy-one winters. It was a matter of pride with him and with his friends, that he was the

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first man to cross Mason and Dixon's line to defend the capital of the nation from threat- ened invasion. On the perilous night of April 16. 1861, he helped to guard the White House, and, as sentinel at the outer front gate, walked from ten o'clock in the evening till three in morning, without once sitting down, or lean- ing against anything for rest. The block furnished for the National Monument at Wash- ington, by Delaware, was, in fact, furnished by Major Jones, who secured it at his own ex- pense, and superintended the placing it in po- sition, that Delaware, in coming generations, might not be charged with not doing her part. Always watchful for the interests of all about him, the school house, the church, and what- ever affected the welfare of the people, re- ceived his careful attention. He was identified with the Forest Presbyterian church of Mid- dletown, from the beginning of its present or- ganization ; was Chairman of its Building Com- mittee, and first President of its Board of Trus- tees, and was one of the most prominent and useful citizens of the place, foremost in every good work. He was married, in 1826, to Lydia Craven, who survives him. Their three children are Thomas Jefferson, Philadelphia ; John A., of York, Pa .; and Lydia A., wife of D. L. Dunning, postmaster at Middletown for the last twenty years. Major Jones departed this life, Aug. 29, 1869, in his eightieth year. The funeral services were conducted in the church he had so long attended ; an able and eloquent sermon being preached by his pastor and friend, the Rev. Dr. Patton, before the large assemblage gathered to pay their last re- spects to one so loved and revered.

HILD, MAHLON MOON, Real Estate and Insurance Broker of Wilmington, was born at Le Raysville, Jefferson county, N. Y., March 19, 1835. His father, Moses Child, a farmer in good circumstances, was a prominent member of the orthodox Friends, a man most amiable, conscientious and faithful. He died, Feb. 2, 1867. His wife, Nancy (Burdick) Child, was a most exemplary and lovely christian wife and mother. She died in 1859, at the age of fifty- five. They had seven children ; Amos and Lydia died unmarried ; James, married, and is now living at Henderson, Jefferson county, N. Y .; Amos, died unmarried ; Hannah, mar-

ried Daniel B. Price of Bucks county, Pa., and died in 1880, leaving three daughters ; Moses, married and is living in the west, and Mahlon M. Moses was the youngest son of Joseph Child, a Friend, and a man of the same excel- lence of character, one of the first settlers of the John Brown tract in Jefferson county N.Y., making the journey thither in 1804, when his youngest son, Moses, was sixteen years of age. They went in wagons from Bucks county, Pa., and from Utica made their own roads, eighty miles into the wilderness ; Utica, being their nearest post office. Joseph Child married Hannah Burgess and had four children ; Daniel, Samuel, Joseph Jr. and Moses. They all lived near together on their own farms, and were prosperous. Their father, an original aboli- tionist, carefully trained them in the same faith. He died in his seventy-fourth year, and his wife in her seventy-fifth year. The father of Joseph, was Henry Child, a native and resi- dent of Plumstead, Bucks county, Pa., son of Henry Child Sr., who came to this country with William Penn and settled in Bucks county. He had several children, all of whom remained Friends through life, and some removed to Maryland. Mahlon M. Child was instructed by a private tutor, and when eleven years old attended the Friends' school near Poughkeepsie. At sixteen he left home and has since made his own way in the world. He taught school for two years, after which he was, for three years, purser on the steamer John A. Morgan plying between Philadelphia and Bristol. Sept. 3, 1856, he came to Wilmington, which has since been his home. For two years he was a clerk at Tatnall & Lea's flour mills, and three years with Ferris & Garrett, plumbers. In 1861 he went into the dry goods business in partner- ship with Granville Worrell, under the name of Worrell & Child, which was very success- ful till 1867, when supposing he had consump- tion, he sold his interest to his partner. He is six feet tall, but then weighed only 125 pounds. He engaged in surveying, but was soon after very ill with diphtheria and measles. On re- covering, he gained 75 pounds in a few months and has since enjoyed perfect health. He was during that time acting as agent for parties in real estate transactions, and soon adopted the business of real estate and insurance, which he has followed with success to the present time. Mr. Child is a man of enterprise, and by money

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and influence has aided the Wilmington and Northern, Wilmington and Western railroads, the City Passenger railway, and many other enterprises in their infancy, in some of which he lost heavily. He was married in Oct., 1856, to Mary W., daughter of Charles and Agnes (Knight) Burton, of Bucks county, Pa. They have two children ; William Lea and Lucy B. Child.

AYNTER, HON. JOHN HENRY, of Georgetown, Lawyer, ex-Secretary of State and ex-Attorney General, was born, Feb. 26, 1838, in New York city, where his father, Samuel R. Paynter, was then a grain and commission merchant, the predecessor of the present firm of B. N. Fox & Co., having removed with his family from Delaware in 1835. He returned in 1842 to Paynter's Drawbridge, in Sussex county, and spent the remainder of his life on the estate which has now been in the family nearly eighty years. He was of Quaker parentage. An account of his ancestry is given in the sketch of his grandfather, Colonel Samuel Paynter, who was Governor of Delaware in 1824-7. From 1846 to 1850 he was a mem- ber of the State Senate. He died in 1851, at the age of fifty. His wife was Sallie Ann, daughter of Caleb Ross and sister of Gov. W. H. Ross of Delaware. She survived him till 1866. She was a member of the P. E. Church. Her son, John Henry, attended school from the age of four years. In 1854 he entered Delaware College and the following year the Sophomore class of Union College at Schenec - tady, N. Y., from which he graduated A. B. in 1858. He pursued his legal studies with Judge Wootten, in Georgetown, where, after being admitted to the bar in the spring of 1861, he settled in the practice of his profession in partnership with his brother, Edwin R. Payn- ter. In the same year he received the appoint- ment of Deputy Attorney General, which posi- tion he held for three years. In 1866 he was nominated and elected to the State Sen- ate for four years on the Democratic ticket During both sessions he was a member of the Finance Committee, of which also he was Chairman during the last session. He was a hard worker and few members of that body spoke more frequently, or exercised a more controlling influence in its deliberations

during that important period of our history. It was during this period that he was appointed Attorney General of the State by Governor Gove Salsbury, but his term as Senator had not expired, and finding that in consequence there was some legal doubt of his eligibility to the office he resigned after a few weeks' service. In 1871 he was appointed Secretary of State, under Governor James Ponder, which office he held for four years. It was during this time that in company with James L. Wol- cott, the present Secretary of State, he was employed by the Legislature to draft the tax laws of the State, which were passed and are now in force. In 1871 he was appointed by the Legislature to codify and publish the laws of the State. This was a great labor, as no at- tempt of this kind had been undertaken since 1850. It required great legal acumen, and years of patient toil. It was completed in 1874 and published under his supervision, and is said to be one of the most accurate and valuable compendiums of statute law possessed by any State. He was a delegate to the Democratic national convention in Baltimore, in 1872, and opposed the nomination of Horace Greeley. Mr. Paynter stands in the front rank of his profession in Delaware, and has the ability to fill any position to which his party might call him. He was married in 1872 to Miss Sallie Custis, daughter of Col. Gardner H. Wright of Georgetown. She was a relative of the family into which Washington married. She died, Dec. 16, 1876, leaving one son, Row- land Gardner Paynter.

AYNTER, EDWIN ROWLAND, Law- yer, of Georgetown, was born in New York city, August 27, 1839. His par- ents were Samuel Rowland and Sallie Ann (Ross) Paynter. An account of the family will be found in the sketch of his brother, Hon. John H. Paynter. They returned to Delaware in 1842, and Edwin R. attended the Academies of Georgetown, Milton and Newark, till 1853, when he spent one year in Delaware College, and in 1855, entered the Sophomore class, at Union College, Schenec- tady, N. Y., from which he graduated in 1858, at the age of nineteen. He then commenced reading law with Judge Wootten, of George- town, and in 1861, was admitted to practice in the Superior Court, opening the same year an

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office in Georgetown, in partnership with his brother, Hon. John H. Paynter, which con- tinued till 1870, since which time Mr. Edwin R. Paynter has practiced alone. He confines himself mostly to civil and real estate prac- tice, on all points of which he is thorougly in- formed, and is high authority. He has been very successful, and has a large and respecta- ble clientage. Although a fluent and forcible speaker, he prefers office practice and the preparation of cases rather than their present- ation in court. A Democrat in politics, he has, in many campaigns, been one of the prom- inent speakers of his party throughout the county and State, yet has never sought or ac- cepted any public office. He is a director of the Farmers' bank, at Georgetown, and is a member and senior warden of the Episcopal church. Conscientious, upright and honorable, the ability and character of Mr. Paynter com- mands a just and hearty recognition through- out the State.

ANNON, GOVERNOR WILLIAM, son of Josiah Cannon, was born near Bridgeville, in Sussex county, March 15, 1809. His opportunity for the ac- quirement of an education was confined to the rudimentary instruction imparted in the country school. At the age of nineteen he en- gaged in mercantile business at Bridgeville, in partnership with his brother Henry, after whose death he conducted it alone for several years. He subsequently became connected with George P. White, and after the dissolution of that firm, continued in the traffic. Endowed with extraordinary force of character and with great aptitude for business, despite the want of early mental culture, it soon became mani- fest that he was a remarkable man, and he rapidly attained the position to which he was justly entitled, as a leader among those with whom he associated. He entered largely into the purchase of grain and lumber, bought lands and planted orchards, engaging extensively in the then experimental culture of the peach, and with restless activity took advantage of every avenue which seemed open to enter- prise. Perceiving the utility of internal im- provements as affording speedier access to markets and conducing to the development of an agricultural region, he was an ardent ad- vocate for the building of the Delaware Rail-

road, and lent to its completion the earnest efforts of his vigorous intellect. So successful were his operations that he accumulated a large estate, and as well to illustrate his dili- gence and capacity, as to afford encourage- ment to those who, like him, begin the struggle of life without the adventitious aid of fortune, it may not be inappropriate to state, that com- mencing business with a capital of only nine hundred dollars, he was the owner, at his death, of sixteen farms in Sussex county, com- prising thirty-eight hundred acres of land. But not only as a successful merchant was his ability manifested. At the time of his entrance into active life the political management of his county was in the hands of a few promi- nent citizens, who were recognized as heredi- tary leaders. William Cannon was not of this class. He was a plebeian, and his heritage was poverty. A Democrat by education and conviction, his manhood revolted against the domination of an oligarchy, and he deter- mined, by the aid of other active and aspiring young men, to throw off the bondage to which they had been subject, and to assert the rights which belonged to individual worth. With his accustomed energy he devoted himself to the work, and in co-operation with these new men, who were possessed of like ambition, he accomplished his end, and established himself as an acknowledged power in his party. At the successive elections of 1844 and 1846, he was chosen as a Representative in the General As- sembly. In 1851 he was appointed State Treasurer, and in 1861, was selected as one of the delegates to represent the State in the convention held in Washington, to devise, means for the preservation of the Union. In the discharge of the duties of this position he was placed in contact with distinguished citizens, entertaining different sentiments and representing all shades of pop- ular opinion. He was not the man to sit in such a school without learning something, and his eminently practical mind soon discovered the hopelessness of accomplishing the object for which he had been sent. When the crisis came and the necessity for decision was on him, he was not unmindful of his duty nor negligent in its performance. His courage went hand in hand with his convictions. Unhesitatingly he declared himself in favor of the suppression of rebellion by the use of all the means within

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Milliano Cammino elliane Camino

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BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.

the power of the National Government. Know- | ing his unflinching devotion to the sense of right and his indefatigable energy in carrying out the purposes of his will, the Union party gladly took advantage of his accession and nominated him as its candidate for Governor of Delaware. He was elected, and in January, 1863, inaugurated at Dover. Upon assuming the office he delivered an address, clearly an- nouncing his sentiments and pledging himself to support the authorities at Washington in the struggle to perpetuate the National exist- ence. Faithfully he kept this promise and brought to the discharge of executive func- tions the same indomitable zeal which charac- terized the management of his private affairs. Observing fidelity to the civil government and actuated in his conduct by the conscientious desire to discharge his duty towards his fellow men, it is but reasonable to expect that he should have lived in recognition of the higher obligation which he owed to his God. The in- ference is just. From his eighteenth year he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and filled actively and acceptably the various religious offices to which he was called. In the midst of his usefulness and in the ma- turity of his powers, William Cannon died sud- denly at his home on the morning of the first day of March, A. D., 1865, during his incum- bency of the executive office to which he had been elected. and lies buried in the grounds of the village church, of which during life,he was, under Providence, the chief support. He was married. November 11, 1832, to Margaret N. B., daughter of William Laws, of Sussex County. His surviving children are Lizzie A , who married Dr. L. M. Cahall ; Sallie P., who became the wife of Captain Charles Heydrick ; Ellie S., now Mrs. F. S. Buckalew, of James- burg, N. J .; Henry P., and Philip L., whose sketches are in this volume.

ANNON PHILIP LEONIDAS, Merchant of Bridgeville, was born in that town, June 28, 1850. A sketch of his father, Governor William Cannon, with the family history, has been given. He pursued his preparatory studies in his native town, and entered Dickinson College in 1866 In 1868, in the middle of his sopho- more year, his health became so seriously im- paired that to his great regret he was obliged

to relinquish his studies and return home. He soon after took general charge of the estate and business left by his father, although the nominal head was the gentleman who held the power of attorney. The following year, the estate having been nearly settled, Mr. Cannon, then only nineteen years of age, became the business head of the family, only relinquishing his trust on the return of his brother Henry from college. In the spring of 1870, he, with Mr. James Ward, formed a partnership, under the name of J. Ward & Co., and followed the same business in the store which his grandfather had built in 1816, and where both his father and grand- father had been so successful. This store is still the property of the brothers Cannon. In 1872 the firm took possession of the store on the opposite side of the street, now occupied by the latter firm, H. P. & P. L. Cannon. In 1873 Mr. Cannon sold out his interest in the firm, and in 1874 entered into partnership with his brother, forming the present firm of H. P. & P. L. Cannon. The following year they bought out Mr. Ward,adding his store to their other business, for an account of which the reader is referred to the sketch of Henry P. Cannon. Mr. Cannon is steward of the M. E. church in Bridgeville, of which he is an influ- ential member, having united in 1871. He is a member of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, and finds the expression of his political views in the Republican party. He is not a politician, but still takes a warm and hearty interest in all public affairs. He married, June 25, 1874, Miss Hester Polk, daughter of Curtis William Jacobs, a wealthy agriculturist and business man of St. Martins, Worcester county, Md. They have one child, William Cannon

ISHER, DANIEL G., Physician, late of Seaford, was born, Nov. 25, 1823. His father, Alexander Fisher, a farmer of Sussex county, served in the war of 1812, and was in the action at Lewes. He was a worthy member of the society of Friends, and died in 1850, in his sixty-fifth year. His wife was Mary, daughter of George Newbold, of the same county, who removed west in 1819. She was also a Friend. She died, July 4, 1879, aged eighty-four years. Daniel G. Fisher attended the schools of his neighborhood till his eighteenth year, after

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.

which he taught eight years. Having thus | pletely gave way and he was compelled to obtained the necessary means, he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. W. L. Atlee, a distingished surgeon of Philadelphia. Enter- ing in 1849, he graduated in 1852, from the University of Pennsylvania. He then settled in Seaford, where he remained till 1863, when he accepted the post of Surgeon of the Board of Enrollment for Delaware, and was for some time in Smyrna, and afterward in Wilmington. Returning to Seaford at the close of the war, he continued there the remainder of his life. His large practice extended over an area of sixteen miles. He was a skillful physician,and his kind, sympathetic disposition endeared him to many. In his early life, Dr. Fisher voted the Democratic ticket, but after the breaking out of the war he acted with the Republican party. He paid much attention to the educa- tional interests of the State, and served several terms as School Commissioner for his town and district. He died at Seaford in 1881, greatly regretted.

ALKER, MARTIN EDWARD, Far- mer, of Armstrong's Corner, near Mid- dletown, was born, Feb. 25, 1829, in Thoroughfare Neck, where, also, his father, Isaac Walker, a farmer, was born in 1776, and spent his life. He was an excellent man, a steward for many years in the M. E. Church, of which his wife, Ann Brattan, of the same locality was also a member, and both were devoted christians. She died, April 25, 1837, and her husband, Jan. 4, 1845. Her mother, whose name was also Ann Brattan, died in 1846, at the age of eighty-one. The family were of Irish origin and have lived in Delaware for many generations. Martin E. Walker grew up on the farm, attending school, four miles distant, in the winter season only. When he was fourteen his father died, after which he went but one more winter. He made his home with one of his brothers, and worked for his board and clothes till he was twenty- one. În 1852 he became a clerk at Summit Bridge and continued in this occupation at different stores for five years. He then com- menced a store of his own in Middletown. · Steady, industrious, careful and upright, his enterprise was attended with yearly increas- ing success, but the confinement and care were prejudicial to his health, which in 1865 com-

dispose of the business. After two years, hav- ing sufficiently recuperated, he decided to de- vote himself to an out door occupation and commenced farming in Middletown. In March 1868, he purchased the farm "Bell Plain," containing 260 acres, on which he now resides. It was then a wilderness, none of it under good Cultivation. He soon had it cleared, and has wonderfully improved the whole property, till it is now one of the finest farms in that lo- cality. His-peach orchard of 3000 trees, has been a paying investment. The rest of his farm is devoted to grain and stock, and he has taken much interest in improved breeds of cattle. In 1873 Mr. Walker erected a fine brick residence for his family. He has been a director of the bank of Middletown since 1876. Educated a Whig he voted for Abraham Lin- coln, but since that time has acted with the Democratic party, and has held several local offices. He has been an Odd Fellow since 1856. In Jan. 1866, he united with the M. E. Church, in which he has been steward. He married, May 12, 1858, Miss Maria, daughter of Philip D. and Priscilla Riley, and has three children ; Horace Maurice, a graduate of Oak- land Seminary, California. Washington Irving and Martin Edward Walker, Jr. Mr. Walker is highly regarded as a neighbor and a citizen, and the prosperity which attends him is con- ceded as fitly crowning a life of industry and merit.

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Historical and biographical encyclopaedia of Delaware. V 2, Part 39

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

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