USA > Delaware > History of the state of Delaware, Volume I > Part 29
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1876-1878
Charles L. Welde
1896-1898
William McCrea
1878 -- 1880
George W. Sasse
1898-1900
Samuel G. Tazewell
1880-18S2
John P. Welsh
1900-1902
Patrick F. Murphy
1882-1884
Michael T. Conway
1902-1904
David S. Reader
1884-1886
William H. Stilley
1904-1906
Hugh F. Sweeney
1886-1888
William M. Ward
1906-
William McCracken
1888-1890
The following extract from the report of Chief Engineer Stilley for the year 1905 gives the summary of the Fire De- partment for the years 1904 and 1905 :
Value of Real Estate.
Value of Personal Property.
Feet of 1st Class
Active Members.
Honorary Horses. Members.
Friendship
$21.000.00
$10.250.00
1,600
60
50
3
Reliance
10,000.00
10,000.00
1,500
65
3
Delaware
12,000.00
8,500.00
28
25
4
Phoenix
11,000.00
12.000.00
1.000
63
80
6
Water Witch
11,800.00
7,500.00
600
92
130
4
Fame
15,000.00
9,000.00
1,000
75
3
Washington
15,000.00
8.440.00
1,500
82
5
Weccacoe
12,000.00
11.550.00
1,800
89
20
5
Liberty
10,000.00
7,175.00
1,000
31
3
Brandywine
11,000.00
5,000.00
500
75
2
Union
4,500 00
1,000
93
2
-
$128,800.00 $93,915.00 11,500
753
285
40
One Chief's horse, buggy and harness.
Value $369.50.
RECAPITULATION.
Steam Engines
8
Chemical Engines
2
Chemical Extinguishers
13
Combination Chemical and Hose Wagon
3
Combination Truck and Chemical
2
Hose Carts
5
Hose Wagons
3
Ambulance
1
Feet of Ladders
528
Gallons Capacity .
542
Hose.
٠٠.
335
HISTORY ' OF THE COUNTIES AND HUNDREDS.
FIRE INSURANCE COMPANIES.
In 1825 the Delaware Fire Insurance Company was organ- ized, with a capital of $100,000. William Seal, George Jones, and William Canby served as presidents during the existence of the company. The company continued in business until 1884, when by vote of the directors it was determined to dis- continue, which was done without any loss to the stockholders.
In 1833 the Wilmington Insurance Company was incor- porated, with a capital of $150,000. James Canby and Stephen Bonsall acted as presidents. The company, how- ever, was not satisfied with the profits made, and discontinued business about 1850.
The Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Mill Creek Hundred was organized June 12, 1839. In 1847 the company was reincorporated as "The Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company of the State of Delaware." At first the business of the company was restricted to Mill Creek Hun- dred, but under the new charter of 1847 the company was allowed to do business in the whole of New Castle County, and later, authority was given to do business throughout the State of Delaware and the bordering counties of Maryland. At its organization, the Mermaid Tavern, in Mill Creek Hundred, was the place of the regular business meetings. Afterward an office was secured in the Odd Fellows Hall in Wilmington, and in 1865 the company erected a building at No. 833 Market street, where the business has since been conducted. The business of the company has grown from year to year until now it is the largest and most substantial home insurance com- pany in the State. Following is a list of the presidents of the company, with the length of time each has served :
James Thompson
1840-1841
Evan C. Stotsenburg
1874-1882
Thomas Baldwin
1841-1844
Victor DuPont
1882-1888
Aquilla Lamborn
1844-1849
Christian Febiger
1888-1892
Maxwell B. Ocheltree
1849-1851
William T. Porter
1892-1901
Samuel Hilles
1851-1857
William H. Swift
1901-
Jesse Sharpe
1857-1873
336
HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES AND HUNDREDS.
The New Castle County Mutual Insurance Company is ten years younger than the Farmers' Company, having been in- corporated February 6, 1849. The company had its first office on the east side of Market street, four doors below the City Hall. For some years the office of the company was in the Institute building, at No. 809 Market street, and in 1874 the office was moved to 602 Market street, where, some years later, the present commodious building was erected for the company's use. The following is a list of the presidents :
James Canby
1850-1852
William Canby
1885-1897
Jacob Pusey
1852-1857
Edward T. Bellah
1897-1899
William Canby
1857-1871
Mark M. Cleaver
1899-
William Tatnall
1871-1885
GAS COMPANIES.
With the growth of the population came the necessity for gas lighting instead of the antiquated methods used by our forefathers. The Wilmington Gas Company was organized in 1833 with a capital of six thousand dollars. James Canby served as the first president and William H. Naff as secretary. The office was at No. 1 West Fourth street. The first works were situated on Orange street below Water, and the first pro- duct of the company was furnished at the rate of eighty cents per hundred cubic feet of gas, but two years later was reduced to seventy cents. The new commodity proved popular with the inhabitants, and in 1847 it was found necessary to enlarge the plant.
In 1851 the Wilmington Coal Gas Company was incorpor- ated, and it took over the business effects of the first Wilming- ton Gas Company. The new company had a much larger capital stock and was prepared for a much more extensive business. Stephen Bonsall served as president from 1851 to 1864, George Richardson from 1864 to 1888 and Edward Betts from 1888 to 1901.
The new company bought a lot at the corner of Read and Madison streets, where its first works were erected. Additional
:
337
HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES AND HUNDREDS.
land adjoining has been purchased from time to time, accom- modating the large and valuable plant controlled by the suc- cessor of the company at the present time. Originally there were but fifty consumers, and when the gas was first turned on in 1851 but seventy-two hundred cubic feet were consumed during the first night.
The business office of the company for many years was at No. 300 Shipley street, but in 1893 the company purchased the property of No. 827 Market street, where they erected a building in which their office has since been located. Thomas J. Mahaffy served as superintendent from 1851 to 1867, when he resigned and was succeeded by Thomas Curley who acted as superintendent until 1901
In December 1901 the Wilmington Coal Gas Company was merged with the Universal Conduit, Light, Heat and Power Company under the corporate name of the Wilmington Gas and Electric Company, and the latter has since controlled and extended the business. The present officers of the Wilming- ton Gas and Electric Company are : James Dobson, president ; Edmund Mitchell, vice-president; William P. Taylor, secre- tary and treasurer, and Edward J. Curley, superintendent. Thomas Curley, who had served as superintendent of the Wil- mington Coal Gas Company for thirty-four years, was on the organization of the new company made supervising engineer, in which position he served until his death in 1905.
ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANIES.
The first company organized in Wilmington for the light- ing of houses and streets by electricity was the Arnoux Elec- tric Company, incorporated October 31, 1882. The company had a paid-in capital of thirty thousand dollars, with John R. Flinn as its first president. The company established its first plant on Third street near Spruce, and began operations Jan- uary 1, 1883, with a patronage of thirty-five arc lights. Three years later the first incandescent lamps of the Edison system were installed, and on September 6, 1886, a charter was granted
22
338
HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES AND HUNDREDS.
to the Wilmington City Electric Company, who succeeded to the franchises of the original Arnoux Company.
In order to increase facilities, and to furnish power as well as light, the new company purchased a lot on the north side of Fifth street, between Orange and Tatnall, and on this site erected a large station equipped with power sufficient to ac- commodate the promising increase in business. This com- pany continued in business until July, 1898, with Samuel N. Trump as president and F. L. Gilpin as treasurer, and estab- lished a large and successful business. In the summer of 1898 a syndicate, composed of capitalists largely from Phila- delphia, purchased a controlling interest in the Wilmington City Electric Company, and at the same time the same parties obtained control of the Wilmington City Railway Company. Since this time both of these corporations have been controlled by capital outside of the City of Wilmington. The present officers of the Wilmington City Electric Company are Jolin A. Rigg, president, Kurtz A. Fichthorn, secretary and treasurer.
STREET RAILWAYS.
The Wilmington City Railway Company was incorporated February 4, 1864. The leading spirit in the movement was Joshua T. Heald, who served as the first president of the com- pany. The company organized at once, and with but little effort succeeded in having one hundred thousand dollars of its capital subscribed, whereupon a contract was made with Wil- liam Wharton, Jr., of Philadelphia, to build a line of street railway froin the railroad station at Front and French streets along Front street to Market, up Market to Tenth, along Tenth to Delaware avenue, and from thence to Du Pont street, a distance of two miles. The stable and car-house of the com- pany were built at the corner of Delaware avenue and Du Pont street. Before the completion of the original line, it was de- cided to extend the road to Rising Sun village. The first cars were run over the road June 29, 1864, and the occasion was made a festive one, the officers of the city and many in-
339
HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES AND HUNDREDS.
vited guests joining with the officers of the company in cele- brating the event.
At first horses were used as the power for running the cars; and the use of horses, with mules substituted the latter part of the time, was continued until about the year ISSS, when electricity was introduced, and since the latter date the whole system has been operated under the most approved plans of an electric trolley system.
The one line from the railroad station at Front and French streets to Rising Sun village constituted the only street rail- way in the city until 1SS1, when the Front and Union Street Railway Company was incorporated, and a new line con- structed along Front street from Market to Union streets. This company was maintained as a separate organization for several years, when it was combined with the Wilmington City Railway Company.
In 1881, also, the Wilmington City Company constructed a line along Fourth street from Market eastward to the Christi- ana River, with a branch running northward from Fourthi street on Spruce street. Six years later, in 1887, an additional line was built from Tenth and Market streets northward along Market street to Riverview Cemetery, and on the completion of this line late in the year 1887, electricity, through the use of the Sprague Electric Railway System, was introduced, serv- ing as the forerunner of the introduction of electricity by all the lines in the city.
The line on West Eighth street was opened in 1889, and the West Fourth street line followed in 1891. Early in 1892 an additional branch was opened, running on East Eighth street from Market street, and over the Eleventh street bridge. The extension of East Third street and beyond Third street bridge was opened in 1897. The line from Delaware avenue northward on Wasnington street came into operation in July of 1901, and in September of the same year the Maryland avenue line was extended to Newport, and in April, 1902, the same line was continued to Stanton. At the present time
340
HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES AND HUNDREDS.
(1906) the Wilmington City Railway operates twenty-seven miles of trolley lines within the limits of the City of Wil- mington, and adding the lines controlled by that company which extend to Stanton and towards Chester, it makes a total of forty miles of railways operated by the company.
The Wilmington and New Castle Electric Railway Com- pany was incorporated by the General Assembly of 1893. The company was organized two years later and at once began the construction of an electric road to connect the cities of Wilmington and New Castle, and cars began running on the same in March, 1897. The New Castle and Delaware City Railway Company was organized in 1900 and the same year an electric line was established between New Castle and Delaware City, the first car being run in August. The two companies, as above, were in May, 1904, merged into one company called the Wilmington, New Castle and South- ern Railway Company, and both lines have since been under its direction. Authority has been granted to the company for terminal facilities in Wilmington. Heretofore the lines of the company have only come to the city limits and by arrangement the cars of this company have been run over the tracks of the Wilmington City Railway Company to Fourth and Market streets.
THE PEOPLE'S RAILWAY COMPANY.
The General Assembly of 1897 incorporated the Wilming- ton and Brandywine Springs Railway Company with author- ity to occupy certain streets in the City of Wilmington, and to construct a trolley line to Brandywine Springs in Mill Creek Hundred. The charter specified that the line should be cou- structed from the Springs to the city before January 1, 1898. Work was begun in earnest, and on December 12, 1897, the directors of the company and a few invited guests were able to make an inspection trip over the tracks of the company, which at that time were laid, in a more or less unfinished con- dition, from the Springs to the corner of Lancaster and Green- hill avenues in the City of Wilmington.
341
HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES AND HUNDREDS.
The Wilmington City Railway Company resisted, with much vigor, the entrance of the new company into the city, claiming that under its charter an exclusive right had been given to it to run "street cars" in the City of Wilmington. The old company also opposed, strenuously, the granting, by the directors of the Street and Sewer Department, of authority to the new company to occupy the streets of the city. Pro- ceedings were taken before the Chancellor to prevent the new company from operating within the city limits, and numerous rules and restraining orders were issued, all of which proved harassing and delayed the completion of the road.
After fighting in the Court of Chancery for nearly three years, the parties interested in the Wilmington and Brandy- wine Springs Company obtained a charter for a new company, called the People's Railway Company, and this action greatly simplified the problem, as clear authority was given in the new charter for the occupancy of the streets, and for the con- duct of a rival street railway in the city. Operations began at once for the laying of tracks on certain streets of the city, authority to use the same having been granted by the direc- tors of the Street and Sewer Department, and on May 30, 1901, the road to Brandywine Springs was formally opened.
That day being a holiday, Decoration Day, vast throngs of people patronized the new line, and the cars were taxed to their full capacity. Late in the evening one or more of the cars, loaded with passengers, running eastward on Sixth street, became unmanageable when starting on the down grade at Broome street, and the outcome was that at least three of the cars collided at the foot of the hill near Monroe street. Several lives were lost and many passengers were injured, resulting in many claims for damages against the company, and proving to be a most unfortunate beginning for a new enterprise.
The line to the Springs has been in continuous service since 1901. A line to Eastlake was opened in 1903, and in 1906 an extension of the Rockford branch was made, through the park and along the Brandywine to the Hagley yard at Henry
342
HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES AND HUNDREDS.
Clay. The moving spirit in this whole enterprise lias been Richard W. Crook, who has served as general manager of the People's Railway Company since its organization. Without the efforts of Mr. Crook, who labored early and late, and who never wavered in his faith as to ultimate results, the venture could not have succeeded. The present officers of the People's Railway Company are Spottswood Garland, President, John P. Alimond, Vice-President, Thomas F. Barry, Treasurer, and L. Heisler Ball, Secretary.
BANKING INSTITUTIONS.
The first public bank organized in Wilmington was the Bank of Delaware which was incorporated February 9, 1795, under the name of "The President, Directors and Company of the Bank of Delaware." The capital stock was fixed at one hundred thousand dollars. At the first meeting of the stockholders, held June 5, 1795, the following board of direc- tors was chosen :
Joseph Tatnall
Samuel Canby Samuel Hollingsworth
Wm. Hemphill
Isaac Hendrickson
Joseph Warner
Eleazer Macomb John Ferris Thomas Mendenhall
Joseph Tatnall was chosen the first president.
The bank was at first located at the northwest corner of Fourth and Market streets, and opened for business on August 17, 1795. John Hayes was the first cashier. The bank pros- pered from the beginning, the first semi-annual dividend being five dollars on a share.
Business was conducted at the first location until 1816, when a new site was purchased at the northeast corner of Sixth and Market streets, on which the present banking house was at that time erected. The old bank building and site were sold in 1815.
The conservative management sliown by the directors, who have always been men of the strictest integrity and highest character, guided the institution safely through the panics of
343
HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES AND HUNDREDS.
1837 and 1857, and the bank has proved a money-maker from the start.
After the establishment of the national banking system, on July 29, 1865, the old company ceased to do business, and in its stead was organized "The National Bank of Delaware," under the control of the national banking system.
The prosperity of the institution increased after the change, and the stock of the bank sold as high as $795, although the par value of the stock was but $200 a share. According to the latest official statement the surplus and undivided profits amount to $130,862.04 and the present deposits reach $642,- 088.01.
The following is a list of the presidents, with their terms of service :
Joseph Tatnall
1795-1802
Henry Latimer
1841-1872
Thomas Lea
1802-1810
Henry G. Banning
1872-1905
Joseph Baily
1810-1841
John Richardson, Jr.
1905-
The following have served as cashiers :
John Hayes
1795-1810
Samuel Floyd
1844-1873
Edward Worrell
1810-1830
Richard H. Ewbanks
1873-1885
William Paxson
1830-1839
Henry Baird
1885-
Henry Warner
1839-1844
Joseph Tatnall, the first president of the Bank of Delaware, was born in Wilmington, September 6, 1740, and died August 3, 1813. His father was Edward Tatnall, who was a descend- ant of Robert Tatnall, of Leicestershire, England. Edward's wife was Elizabeth Pennock, of Chester county, Pennsylvania, and soon after their marriage Edward Tatnall settled in Wil- mington, where he spent the remainder of his life.
Joseph Tatnall was for nearly forty years a miller on the Brandywine, and he was not only a successful business man, but through his patriotism and public spirit impressed himself upon the community, and was for many years one of the most influential citizens of the town. He gave strong adherence to the cause of independence during the Revolution, and enjoyed
344
HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES AND HUNDREDS.
the friendship of Washington. When but thirty years of age, in 1770, he built the large stone mansion-house now known as No. 1803 Market street, in which he lived for the remainder of his life. It is claimed that Washington and Lafayette dined with Joseph Tatnall in this house, and that prior to the Battle of Brandywine, General Wayne had his headquarters there.
Joseph Tatnall not only conducted a successful milling business, but was largely engaged in the shipping trade, suc- ceeding in both enterprises in the accumulation of a handsome fortune. In 1798 he purchased a clock and bell in Europe and presented them to the City of Wilmington for use in the new City Hall, built at that time. The bell remained on the City Hall until 1866, when it was turned over to the His- torical Society, and in 1878 it was given to the Phoenix Fire Company, and has since been used by that company on the belfry of the engine house.
Many descendants of Joseph Tatnall are still living in the City of Wilmington. He was a strict member of the Society of Friends.
Henry Latimer, who for thirty-one years served as presi- dent of the Bank of Delaware, was a son of Dr. Henry Lati- mer, and a grandson of James Latimer, both of whom bore a conspicuous part in the Revolutionary struggle in behalf of the independence of the colonies. Henry Latimer inherited large means from his father, and after receiving a liberal edu- cation, lived at " Woodstock," a handsome estate on the New- port turnpike, just beyond the city limits. He became a director of the Bank of Delaware when but twenty-four years of age, and continued as such by annual election for a period of sixty-two years. Under his administration the bank was most successful and prosperous, and he was recognized throughout the community as a most useful citizen.
Henry G. Banning, who served as president of the National Bank of Delaware from 1872 to 1905, was born in Talbot County, Maryland, March 8, 1816. He came from distin-
HENRY G. BANNING. 1816-1906.
345
HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES AND HUNDREDS.
guished parentage. His father, Freeborn Banning, was for many years a lieutenant in the United States navy, and his mother, Sarah Geddes, was a daughter of Captain Henry Geddes, who held a commission in the British navy, and who, on the breaking-out of the Revolution, joined the forces of the Colonies, and rendered distinguished service in the struggle for independence. The father of Henry G. Banning having lost his father in his early years, his mother removed with her family to Wilmington, where the son lived ever after. He was for years engaged in the hardware business, first with George Richardson and later by himself. For thirty years preceding his death he lived retired in the old mansion-house an South Broome street near Oak. Mr. Banning married in 1847 Miss Emily Eschenburg, a great-granddaughter of Caesar A. Rod- ney. Mr. Banning was always a courtly gentleman, and his death removed from the life of the city about the only sur- vivor of the old school gentlemen. His business life had been exemplary and no man in the community stood higher in point of integrity and business honor. As the head of the Bank of Delaware he made an enviable record. With the full measure of years upon him, which he bore with unusual grace and dignity, his life ended on March 12, 1906, he having just completed his ninetieth year. Mr. Banning is survived by one son, James L. Banning ; a younger son, John H. Banning, having died a few years ago.
NATIONAL BANK OF WILMINGTON AND BRANDYWINE.
On April 16, 1810, the second bank enterprise was started in Wilmington and called "The Bank of Wilmington and Brandywine." The bank opened for business on June 21, 1810, the following serving as the first board of directors : John Way, William Poole, Daniel Lowber, Robert Hamilton, Joseph Robinson, Jeremiah Woolston, James Jefferies and John Torbert. The first president was William Poole.
Within a few weeks one-half of the capital stock, or $100,- 000.00, was paid in. For the first six months a dividend of
346
HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES AND HUNDREDS.
eight per cent. was declared. At first the bank occupied rented quarters a few doors above the corner of Second and Market streets, and in 1812 the property was bought at the northwest corner of Second and Market streets, upon which was erected a bank building that has since accommodated the bank, it being first occupied in March of 1813.
On May 22, 1865, it became a member of the national banking system as the "National Bank of Wilmington and Brandywine," with a capital stock of $200,000.00, the direc- tors at that time being John A. Duncan, Jacob Pusey, Leonard E. Wales, Washington Jones, George W. Sparks, William Richards, Thomas W. Bowers, Joseph Mendenhall and Joseph T. Bailey.
The banking house was greatly enlarged and improved in 1885.
The last report of the bank shows surplus and undivided profits of $312,691.27, and present deposits of $1,341,353.49.
The following is a list of the presidents in the order in which they have served :
William Poole April 16, 1S10, to April 28, 1810
John Way
1810-1819
George Bush
1842-1863
John Torbert
1819-1S24
John A. Duncan
1863-1868
John Wales
1824-1829
Washington Jones
1868-1888
William Seal
1829 .1842
George S. Capelle 1888-
The following have been cashiers :
Daniel Byrnes
1810-1823
Evan Rice
1862-1879
Evan Thomas
1823-1825
George W. Sparks
1879-1882
Joseph P. Wollaston
1825-1837
Otho Nowland
1882-1889
George W. Sparks
1837-1856
Caleb M. Sheward
1889-
William S. Hagany
1856-1862
Washington Jones, who served as the president of the bank for a term of twenty years, was a gentleman of unusual per- sonality, and a man who made a decided impress upon the business community. His father, William G. Jones, was for years a leading cabinet-maker in the town, and lived to a
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