Historical and biographical encyclopaedia of Delaware. V 2, Part 9

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Publication date: 1972
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 776

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.

July last sailed with his wife for Europe. I ward, and again from the sixth, under the Mr. Adams has always strongly advocated new arrangement of wards. He was, also. a protective tariff of - discriminating duties for several years, a member of the Board of and believes in it as a question which touches Public Education, in which capacity he was the very life of the nation. As next in im- | very decided in the expression of his views in portance to this he urges a currency of regard to the education of the masses, believing which gold is the basis, and maintains that it indispensable to the permanency of a popu- every dollar, whether of gold, silver or paper, lar government, and strongly advocated the should be of equal value. The advent of study of Latin in the High School. In 1873, the Republican party in 1856 first wakened in he gave two gold medals, worth about thirty him an interest in politics, its principles meet- dollars each ; one for the male and one for the ing in him a full and hearty response, with the female department of the High School as prizes manhood and courage to avow and uphold for those who passed the best examination in them. During the memorable winter of 1859- English grammar. He offered the same prizes 60, he was President of the Club of the People's the succeeding year, and has continued to Party in Wilmington. One of the first great do so each year since. The occasion of the meetings held after the Convention, in Chicago bestowal of the "Adams Prizes," as they are in May, 1860, to ratify the nominations, was called, is given special prominence ; the first that in the City Hall in Wilmington, in June, men of the city being asked to present them 1860. It was exeeedingly large and enthu- | with appropriate addresses. Mr. Adams is a siastic, and was the first meeting, in a slave member of the Presbyterian church. . He was married in 1844 to Mary Anna, daughter of Sam- State, to applaud and uphold the nomination of Mr. Lincoln. Of this meeting Mr. Adams uel McCleary, late of Wilmington, one of the was chosen chairman. He was President of pioneers in the manufacture of improved cot- one of the divisions of the Union League dur- ton, woollen and paper machinery, in this sec- ing the dark days of war, and spared neither tion of the country. Mr. Adams has been un- usually favored and happy in his domestic life. The children of the family have numbered but two; the eldest, Maggie Hyndman Adams is means nor effort to aid the Government in the struggle. In 1866, Mr. Adams, for New Castle county, Hon. N. B. Smithers, of Kent county, and Jacob Moore, Esq., of; now the wife of Alexander Clark, of Cincinnati, Sussex county, were appointed delegates to Ohio, and has three children ; John H. Adams Clark ; Ralph Ewing Clark, and Winthrop Alexander Clark. The younger daughter, Susie Springer Adams, married Henry L. the Loyalist National Convention, held that year in Philadelphia, the object of which was to bring together, for fraternal greetings, the Union men of all sections of the country. Townsend, of Germantown, Penn., and has Mr. Adams was also appointed a delegate one daughter, Marian Adams Townsend. The to the National Convention called by the residence of Mr. Adams on Delaware avenue National Board of Trade, which was held is one of the most elegant in the city. To the in Boston in February, 1868; and was active young people of the place, whose benefit he and prominent as a member of the committee has so much at heart, the lesson of his life is appointed by that body, to take into consid- of inestimable value, and with all its sugges- eration the question of "Taxation," which was tions and inspiration is kept constantly before then weighing heavily on the industrial and them by his personal presence.

commercial interests of the country. Also, in that year, he was nominated for State Senator ARKLEY, SAMUEL, one of the pro- prietors of the Cake and Cracker Bak- ery of Barkley & Brother, Wilmington, was born in Ireland, May 14, 1844. His parents came to America and settled from New Castle county, on the Republican ticket, but the strong prejudice then existing against the extension of the right of suffrage to the colored people, caused the defeat of the ticket. In 1867 he was elected a member of in Wilmington before his recollection. In 1848 the City Council of Wilmington, and after he commenced his attendance at the public serving two years, was chosen President. He ! schools which he continued till he was sixteen was for a second time elected from the fourth | years of age, at which. time he was appren-

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ticed to J. Morton Poole & Company to learn i soon after the arrival of William Penn. Los- the machinist business. He faithfully served | ing his father at the age of six years, the sub- out the term of his apprenticeship, winning golden opinions from his associates and em- ployers, with whom he remained as a journey- man until he reached the age of twenty-two years. He then spent two years in the Tool works of William A. Betts, also of Wilming- ton, after which being solicited by his brother to join him in the new enterprise he had in view, he became partner with him in the Cake and Cracker Bakery and Candy Works,, first established by them on the corner of Sixth and Spruce Streets, and of which a full history and account is given in the Industrial depart- ment of this work. This flourishing business the brothers have built up by their own unaided efforts, by fair dealing, enterprise, and originality in ideas and ways of working ; and the steady increase of their success and popu- larity seems likely to know no diminution. Mr. Samuel Barkley is a man of remarkable energy, and the foundation of his prosperity is laid in character and principle. He is a member of the Episcopal Church.

ARIS, JOSHUA, Lawyer and Ex- Mayor of the city of Wilmington, was born in Willistown township, Chester county, Pa., April 7, 1832. His parents, Caleb and Ruth (Bennett) Maris, were Friends, and possessed, in a marked degree, the characteristic excellencies of that society. Caleb Maris was a miller by vocation, devoted to the interests of religion, and his pure and upright life gave him a wide influence. He died in September, 1838, at the age of fifty, and his wife, in 1864, at the age of sixty-eight. They had six children ; Jacob Bennett; Phoebe, who married Edward Pray, both of whom are now deceased-they left one daughter-Joshua; Thomas, who died at the age of sixteen ; Barclay, who died in 1853, and George C., a Conveyancer, in Wilmington. The grandfather of the subject of our sketch, also named Caleb Maris, was a large and pros- perous farmer, of Chester county, Pa. He owned four large farms. He died in 1838, at the age of ninety-four, and his wife, Ann (Fawkes) Maris, the same year, at the age of ninety. They had eleven children, of whom Caleb was the ninth. The Maris family were English Friends, who came to Pennsylvania dred and eighty-three votes to the office of

ject of our sketch had but limited opportuni- ties of education. He lived part of the time with a relative, and the residue with a stranger, till he was sixteen and in 1848 was apprenticed by his guardians to learn the cabinet making business. But he thirsted for knowledge, and becoming free at twenty, determined to obtain an education. He attended the academy at Newark, Del., for one term, and afterwards the schools of Wilmington, and received private instruction till he was fitted for college. He entered the Freshman class of Dickinson College, at Carlisle, Pa., in 1854, but, after attending one year, sick- ne'ss, family duties, and other circumstances, obliged him to abandon his cherished hope of a full. collegiate course. He taught for one year, and in 1856 commenced his legal studies with the late Chancellor Daniel M. Bates, in Wilmington. In that city he settled in the practice of his profession immediately on his admission to the bar, in 1859, and, from the first, achieved a decided success. He has proved a safe and judicious counsellor; a legal adviser in whose character, wisdom and judg- ment implicit reliance can be placed. These sterling qualities met with speedy recognition, an i he was early and repeatedly called upon to assist in public affairs. He was a member of the old Whig party during its continuance, then of the American party, and united with the Republican party soon after its organiza- tion in Delaware, proving ever since one of its most able and consistent friends. In 1859 he was elected clerk of the City Council, and was twice re-elected to the same position, making three terms of one year each. He then declined an election to a fourth term in order to give himself more exclusively to his profession. In 1863 he was nominated for the office of Mayor of Wilmington, and elected by a majority of four hundred and forty seven votes. His administration was popular and successful, and at the conclusion of his first term, which was only one year, he was re- elected by a majority of four hundred and ninety-five votes. A nomination for a third term was tendered him which the requirements of his private business led him to decline. In 1871 he was elected by a majority of four hun-

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.

President of the City Council for a term of two | years. He discharged its duties with his usual fidelity and success, and his party insisted upon his accepting the position for a second term to which he was elected by a majority of eight hundred and thirty votes. Accordingly he was for four years in this responsible office. In 1872 he was elected to the Legislature from New Castle county, and served ably as a member of that body. He was on the com- mittees of Education and Ways and Means, and was Chairman of the Joint Committee from the House for the codification and revi- sion of the laws of the state. Mr. Maris has given much attention to the subject of Building and Loan Associations, several of which have been organized by his own efforts. In many of them he has served as president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, or a member of the board of directors. At the present time he is a mem- ber of seven such organizations, being president of two, vice president of one, treasurer of another, and a director in others. He has also been connected with several benevolent and secret societies, and is a member of the Masonic or- der, of the Independent order of Odd Fellows, the Improved Order of Red Men, (at present Great Chief of Records of the G. C. W. S.) and the order of United American Mechanics, having held in the latter two of the highest offices in their gift, and in the I. O. O. F, the highest position in the State and represented the Grand Lodge of Delaware in the G. L. U. S. for three terms. Mr. Maris was married January 12, 1870, to Miss Martha A., daughter of David and Harriet I. Howell, of Yardley- ville, Pa., and has three children : Bertha H .; Dela H., and Elma Howell Maris. He was a birthright member of the Friends' Society, but after his marriage he, in 1873, united with the St. Andrew's Protestant Episcopal Church, of which Bishop Lee is the Rector, and of which church his wife is also a member.

seventy-first year. His mother, before her marriage, was Miss Diana Bell, of New Castle county, a lady of great intelligence and many virtues. She died, December 14, 1877, at the age of seventy-eight years. The subject of this sketch is the youngest of four sons, and of six children, who grew to maturity, whose names are as follows: Hon. Benjamin Thomas, of whom see sketch in this volume ; Sewell Chambers, Register of Wills, New Castle Co., a sketch of whose life and portrait will also be found in this work ; Jane Elizabeth, wife of the late Rev. W. H. Brisbane, of the Philadelphia Conference of the M. E. Church; Joseph, a farmer, now residing in Cecil county, Md .; Mary Anna wife of Rev. Theodore Stevens of the Philadelphia Conference of the M. E. Church, and William Pierson. The last named attended the district school until seventeen years of age, when he was sent to the New Jersey Conference Seminary at Pennington, where he continued for three years. At the expiration of this time he returned home and engaged in farming on an estate owned by his father, known as "Locust Grove," one and a half miles west of Summit Bridge .. He re- mained upon this farm until 1870 when he removed to the farm on which he now resides, known as "Sunny Side," and containing 230 acres of land, one half mile north of Summit Bridge. Upon this farm Mr. Biggs has planted 12000 peach trees which have been very remunerative. He also cultivates corn and wheat to a large extent and has been very successful. In addition to "Sunny Side," Mr. Biggs owns a farm of 212 acres, two and one- half miles south of Bohemia Bridge, upon which he has a fine orchard of 10,000 trees. This orchard has been very productive, and in the 15 years of his ownership there have been but two years of failure in peaches. For 15 years he has been extensively engaged in a peach nursery, and has been very successful. In politics Mr. Biggs has always been a Demo- crat, and in 1874 was elected to the Legisla- ture of the State, serving in the session of 1875. He served as chairman of the Commit- tee on Corporations, and made an efficient member of the body. He is a trustee and steward of Bethel M. E. Church, at Pivot Bridge, having attached himself to that de- nomination in 1861. He was united in mar-

IGGS, WILLIAM PIERSON, Ex-Leg- islator and farmer, of New Castle county, was born, January 22, 1838. His father was John Biggs, a farmer of Pencader hundred, a man who achieved success in life by industry and integrity. He was a prominent member of the M. E. Church, and for many years was connected with its official board. He died, January, 5, 1860, in his | riage, January 17, 1865, to Miss Fannie,

yours Only Millis

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daughter of James Boulden, of Pencader hun- [ early life, members of the Methodist Epis- dred. They. have two children, Clara May and Mellie Boulden Biggs.

ILLIS, REV. JONATHAN SPENCER,

copal Church. He was the oldest of nine children, and was reared on "Long Point," a large farm, near Oxford. He attended the district school in Oxford Neck until he was

of Milford, a well known Minister of' fourteen years of age, when he spent a year in

the Gospel, was born April 5, 1830, in Oxford, Talbot county, Md. His fa- ther was William Barnaby .Willis, who was sheriff of Talbot county for several years, and represented that county in the Legislature of Maryland for four terms. He was a large his uncle's store, (Mr. Jewell,) at Georgetown, D. C. Returning home he spent two and a half years under the tuition of Lyman Gris- wold, where he was taught the higher mathe- matics, and obtained the rudiments of Greek and Latin. Before the completion of his land owner, and a very successful agriculturist. seventeenth year he was appointed teacher The father of William B. Willis, was John in one of the district schools of Talbot county Willis, known as "Oxford John." He served and continued this profession for seven years, as officer of Customs at Oxford, for thirty part of which time he was principal of the years, and was remarkable for his general 'academy, at Trappe, in the same county. He | joined the M. E. Church at seventeen years of age. During the years intervening, his mind | had been drawn to the ministry as his life- work, perhaps, instrumentally, through the in- fluence of his mother. He was licensed to preach as a local minister of the M. E. Church at the age of twenty years, and his friends and the church were the agents in bringing about from the first, his assuming the duties of this holy calling. In the spring of 1854, at the age of twenty-four years, he was ad- mitted to the Philadelphia Annual Conference, whose session that year was held in the city of Reading, Pa., and was appointed to fill the charge of Centreville, Maryland, in 1854, Camden, Delaware, in 1755. Dover, in 1856, Frederica, in 1857-58, and Odessa, in 1859. In 1860-61 he was in charge of Tabernacle Church, Philadelphia. He was ordained Deacon by Bishop Waugh, in 1856, and Elder by Bishop Scott, in 1858. He served as pastor of the Mt Vernon, now Spring Garden M. E. Church during 1862-63, which church he built and organized, beginning with forty-five members and closing his pastorate with two hundred and eighty communicants. In the winter of 1864 he accepted a call from the Western Presbyterian Church, of Philadelphia, but resigned after one year, and retired from the active ministry, until the spring of 1867, when he returned to the M. E. Church, and took charge at Harrington, where he con- tinued until 1859, when he received a call to the Seventeenth Street . M. E. Church, of New York city. and was transferred to the New York East Conference. He remained in knowledge, wit and large hospitality. He was the grandson of John Willis who removed from Virginia in the latter part of the 17th century, settling at Snow Hill, now Preston, Md. His grandfather was Sir Richard Willis,an English nobleman who came to Virginia with the early colonists and took up extensive land grants near Norfolk. The mother of Rev. J. S. Willis, was Mary, daughter of Captain Jonathan and Eleanor (Robinson) Spencer. Captain Spencer was an officer in the war of 1812, and served under General Benson, in the affair of St. Michaels. He died in 1822, at the age of thir- ty-eight years. Captain Spencer was the son of Perry Spencer, of "Spencer Hall," who made a large fortune in ship building. He was the uncle of Rev. Joseph Spencer, D. D., of the P. E. church, Professor Matthew Spencer; Henry, Edward and Robert Spencer, well known in Law, Theology and Letters in the history of the State of Maryland. Captain Spencer left three daughters, of whom Mrs. Willis was the eldest. The second daughter married John Willis, uncle of Rev. J. S. Willis. He resided near Carrollton, Mo., and died in 1881. The other daughter married Thomas Jewell, Esq., of Georgetown, D. C. Mrs. Willis' ancestor, Robinson, who was the immigrant from England, was a man of wealth, and married late in life. He loaned the Govern- ment large sums of money for the prosecution of the war. He was a true patriot and a staunch friend to the Government. Mr. Willis, the subject of this sketch, was carefully reared in the morals and discipline of christi- anity, both his parents having been, from

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE.

charge of this church for three years. He was | ried Miss Annie, daughter of Hon. William then pastor for three years of the M. E. Townsend of Frederica. Two children were Church at Stamford, Connecticut: here he born of this marriage, William Townsend who died in his second year, and Elizabeth Town- send Willis. was eminently successful, having had great temporal and spiritual prosperity. He was returned to New York, where he took charge of the Seventh Street M. E. Church, remaining there for three years. He acted as president of the Preachers' Meeting, in New York, for one year, with much acceptance to that body. In consequence of the poor health of Mrs. Willis, he in the spring of 1878 re- turned to Delaware, and for a year was em- ployed in looking after the interests of his lan led estate. In the spring of 1879 he was made pastor of the Felton charge of \Vilming- ton Conference, where he resided until March 1882, when he was appointed to his present charge at Milford. Besides being an able and eloquent minister, Mr. Willis has the endow- ments of a poet of a high order, and has written a number of poems of rare literary

HURCHMAN, HENRY LAWRENCE, Farmer and Grazier of Stanton, New Castle county, was born in Ridley town- ship, Delaware county, Pa , March 20, 1821. His father, Caleb Churchman, was a farmer and grazier of that county, a birth- right member of the Friends' Society, but was dismissed for the offence, it was said, of joining a company of light horse cavalry during the last war with Great Britain. He died in Chester, Pa., in. 1863, being in the 8Ist year of his age. His wife was Martha, daughter of John Shelly, a farmer of New Castle county. She died in 1827. Mr. Churchman was sent to the Friends' School at West Chester, and also that at Burlington, New Jersey. After his return

merit. He wrote a series of War Lyrics for | he assisted his father until he reached his 22nd Forney's " Press " during the late war, which year, when he commenced farming and grazing upon his own account, on his father's farm in Philadelphia county, Pa. Dec. 1, 1842, he came to New Castle county and purchased "Spring Garden," a farm which he greatly improved, residing thereon until 1852, when he returned to the old homestead known as the "Marsh were widely quoted in the periodical literature of that time. He was also the author of a centennial poem which received high praise from William Cullen Bryant. In 1877 he was the poet for the commencement occasion of Dickinson College, the poem being of the highest order and well received. The world |Farm,' in Philadelphia county. Here he built may soon hear of him in a volume of his poems. a commodious residence and outbuildings, and He is widely and favorably known as a lecturer. continued to improve it until 1856. In June, 1859, he purchased what was known as the "Cripple Farm," the estate on which he now |resides, situated in White Clay Creek hundred. He is the owner of 600 acres, and devotes his attention to stock raising, consisting of sheep, cattle, and horses. In addition to this large farm, he is also the owner of a farm near Ox- His " William the Silent," The First Woman," and others have been delivered to charmed audiences in many states. Mr. Willis is the owner of between four and five hundred acres · of land, half of which is devoted to the culture of fruit of all varieties. He is a Republican in politics and though not a politician in any sense, he still takes deep interest in the wel- ford, Chester county, Pa., consisting of 80 acres fare of his country. His family record is a of valuable land, now occupied by his brother- grand one as to loyality to the republic in all | in-law Benjamin W. Oakford. He takes a her wars. He furnished a substitute during large share of interest in public affairs, and the late war though he was not drafted, and has served as School Commissioner for his dis- was busy in hospitals and devoted himself to trict, as well in Pennyslvania, as since his re- alleviating the sufferings of the soldiers. He turn to Delaware. Reared in the old Whig has been twice married, first in 1851 to Miss party, he continued to act with it while it con- Annie S, daughter of Hugh Vallaint, Esq. of tinued to exist, and since the advent of the Ferry Neck, Talbot county, Md. She died Republican party he has identified himself in 1862, and was interred with the three with its purposes, aims and measures. Mr. children of this marriage in the family burial Churchman is a man of great uprightness in ground in Ferry Neck. He afterwards mar- business, possessing a geniality and intelli-

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M. Hayes.

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BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.

gence which render him greatly respected | present residence, just without the town wherever known. In business circles he is | limits of Dover. In 1846, and for several highly valued for accurate judgment, and years afterward, he was associated with the possesses administrative qualifications of a late Chancellor Harrington and Caleb H. Sip- ple, Esq , of Dover, in establishing a steamboat line to Philadelphia from Dona Landing, seven miles from Dover,and superintended the build- ing of the wharf, hotel, and other structures at that place. In 1848 he was chosen clerk of

high order. As the President of the National Bank of Newport, and in other financial posi- tions, his discharge of the duties imposed on him has been eminently satisfactory. His in- dustry, economy, and habits, have rendered have engaged his attention. He was married on the first day of December, 1842, by Rev. Albert Barnes, to Miss Sarah, daughter of Alexander Reed, Esq., of Philadelphia. His eldest daughter is the wife of Mr. John Crans -. ton of Newport, his eldest son died in Chicago, and his second son, a soldier of the 20th Pennsylvania Cavalry, was killed in the action at Ashby's Gap, Va.

him successful in the several pursuits which the State Senate and was a member of the last Whig Legislature, elected in 1852. During the important session of 1853, he was identified with the legislation by which power was granted the Delaware railroad company to extend their road north from Dover and connect with the New Castle and Frenchtown, and Phila- delphia, Wilmington and Baltimore railroads, thus securing to the people of the Peninsula a line by rail to Philadelphia and Baltimore. He was elected a director of the Delaware AYES, MANLOVE, Dover, Secretary and Treasurer of the Delaware railroad, was born in Kent county, May 5, 1817. He is the second son of the late Man- love Hayes, farmer and merchant, who died in 1849, past eighty years of age. The family record and ancestry is given in the sketch of Judge Alexander L. Hayes. The youth of the subject of our sketch was spent on his father's estate, a few miles east of Dover. In 1832, he entered the academy at Newark, then at the height of its prosperity, under the management of Rev. A. K. Russell, and con- tinued in the academy and college till the win- ter of 1836, with the exception of one year spent at school in York, Pa. In December, 1836, he left college to accept a situation as assistant in John C. Trautwine's corps of civil engineers, and was engaged in locating the East Tennessee Railroad from Knoxville to the Georgia state line near Chattanooga. The surveying for this road was made through the Cherokee country, at the time the government was removing the Indians to the reservation west of the Mississippi river. He remained in charge of a division of the railroad until 1840, when, by reason of financial troubles, work was suspended and the engineer corps dis- banded. Returning to Delaware in 1840, Mr. Hayes soon afterwards engaged in farming and continued to live on his farm, "York- Seat," until 1864, when he removed to his railroad company in 1864, and has been secre- tary and treasurer of the company since 1870. Mr. Hayes is also a member of the Historical Society of Delaware, and a trustee of Dela- ware College. He is also President of the projected Bay Shore railroad, and is a mem- ber of the boards of several other public enter- prises in the state. Evidently the value of his services are too well understood and ap- preciated to leave room for hope that an ex- acting public will allow him any opportunity of leisure or inactivity. He assisted in the organization of the First National Bank of Dover, in 1865, and is still a director. Always greatly interested in agriculture and in the progress of that industry in Delaware, he has participated in every movement in his county for its promotion. He has been since its organization the correspondent from Kent county to the Agricultural Department at Washington, and is corresponding secretary of the State Board of Agriculture. He was one of the first in his county to engage largely in the cultivation of fruit, and his agricultural pursuits, which absorb a very consideable por- tion of his time, have always been to him a great source of pleasure as well as of profit. Since 186t he has acted with the Republican party, and has been strong and decided for the Union. His mother was a Friend, and also his wife,and he inclines to the faith of that society, but is not a member of any church. He was married, February 17, 1851, to Miss Rebecca

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Historical and biographical encyclopaedia of Delaware. V 2, Part 9

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

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