USA > Delaware > History of the state of Delaware, Volume II > Part 21
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From Dr. Miller's death in 1791, to March 20, 1798, when the Rev. John C. Brush was called as minister the church was without a pastor. Mr. Brush, however, proved not to be ortho- dox and was removed by the church and Presbytery of New Castle in 1792. His teaching is said to have scattered the church and from the date of his removal 1825 the Dover Presbyterian Church was practically extinct again.
Rev. Alexander Campbell helped resuscitate the church in 1827, but in 1831 the convention which framed the new Con- stitution of Delaware of that year fitted up and cleaned the church building for use for its sessions, from November 9th to December 2d, after which the Legislature appointed three trustees to care for the property. Only two members could be found by the Rev. John Patton, who acted as stated supply there for a year, from 1834. From that date until 1843 the church had a nominal existence, but with the settlement and ordination of Rev. Thomas G. Murphy in June, 1844, down to the present time, the church has been a power in the com- munity.
Methodism found a foothold in Dover in the year 1778, when the Rev. Freeborn Garretson delivered a sermon from the steps of the old academy, in the southern part of the town, to an audience that had at first threatened his life as a Tory. The church was organized September 13, 1778, the day fol- lowing Garretson's famous sermon, and preaching services were conducted at the Hilliard home above Dover. The first M. E. church building in Dover was erected by Richard Bas- sett, afterwards Governor of Delaware, on the northwest corner of North and Queen streets. The ground was donated by Vincent Loockerman, June 1, 1782. The church was incor- porated, in 1799, as Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church. Bishop Whatcoat died in Dover, and was buried under the
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altar of the old church building. In 1850 the old building was torn down and a new building erected on State street, the present site. The church has grown steadily; a chapel has been erected, a parsonage bought, and a large membership is now in attendance at church and Sunday-school services.
The year 1832 may be said to be the beginning of the movement toward the establishment of a Baptist Church in Dover. Two families, the Stites and Parris families, requested the Baptist Home Missionary Society to send a missionary to labor there. From 1832 to 1847 the Rev. John P. Thompson labored there as missionary. He was succeeded by the Rev. John P. Walter. In 1850 a lot on the south side of the public square was bought and a church edifice erected, the dedication of which was had in January, 1853. From the time of its organization the building served the needs of the denomination until the erection of the large brick church at the northeast corner of Bradford and Division streets in 1892. The old building is now used by the Women's New Century Club.
The colored people of Dover erected their first meeting- house in 1852 on the southwest corner of the lot occupied by the first site of the Wesley M. E. Church. Prior to that time colored communicants worshiped with the white congregation of their faith, but that year a separate organization was secured, and the colored Methodists named the church " Whatcoat Methodist Church," taking the name from the famous Bishop Whatcoat, who is buried in the lot on which their edifice is built. The first building was in use until 1872, when it was removed and converted into a parsonage, and a new structure, more commodious in appointment, erected.
Following this movement by the colored Methodists, the Bethel African M. E. Church was organized in 1873, and a chapel erected on Kirkwood street. The colored Baptists, who were, it is said, largely recruited from the Methodists, met for worship in 1883 in private houses. By the aid of the Baptist Association and public-spirited citizens of Dover, in 1886, a
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lot was purchased for them, and Calvary Baptist Church organized. A frame building was erected on the lot at the corner of Queen and Fulton streets, and dedicated June 29, 1887.
The Catholic Church of the Holy Cross was erected in 1871 under the supervision of the Bishop of the diocese of Wil- mington, the Right Reverend Thomas A. Becker. Father Edward Taylor was the first priest in charge. The parish included Smyrna, Magnolia, Salisbury, Westover, Princess Anne, Berlin, Ocean City and Cape Charles City.
Numerous buildings of historie interest add to the beauty of Dover. The Capitol Hotel, on King and North streets, stands on the original site purchased by Thomas Wells on February 16, 1724. The Hotel Richardson, on the triangle formed by State and King streets, the State House, the Holy Cross Church, the old Academy, and the Wilmington Confer- ence Academy are all buildings of interest.
East Dover Hundred, like West Dover Hundred, depends upon its fertile soil for the prosperity of its population, and it is a great fruit shipping and canning center. Numerous old mills abound throughout the Hundred. The mill built by Charles Hilliard, in 1787, on St. Jones's creek, and known as Sipple's mill, and also as Cowgill's mill, has been in active operation as a grist mill almost continuously since it was built. William McIntire Shakespeare purchased this mill about 1870 and it has since been known as the Dover Flouring mill.
John Pennell built a saw mill on the Isaac Webb property, on Isaac's branch, in 1772. This was eventually turned into a grist mill, and a carding mill added later. The mill to-day is a flour mill. Another mill on Isaac's branch was the Howell mill and has survived as a full-fledged roller process flour mill. Judge Richard Cooper ran a saw mill on Puncheon run, in the Hundred, which was abandoned in 1820. A grist mill, fulling mill and distillery were operated by William Allaband, on what was known as Wharton's mill pond on the stream above Camden, in 1800. This was run in part as late as 1880.
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In the town of Dover the Dover Glass Works Company estab- lished a plant in 1883 and for a few years supplied quantities of window glass to the trade but the plant was destroyed by fire and not rebuilt. In 1871 Joseph M. Chambers erected a factory for the packing of hermetically sealed products, and this factory, in 1881, became the property of the J. M. Chambers Packing Company but ten years later ceased to do business. William G. Hazel and Caleb S. Pennewill estab- lished a sash, door, and blind factory, and planing mill, in 1868, and began the manufacture of fruit baskets under the name of Hazel & Pennewill. The business has been continued of late years by Caleb S. Pennewill alone. The E. H. Sellers Evaporating Works was for a number of years in active opera- tion at Dover. Because of its importance as the county seat of Kent County, and as the capital of the State, the families who have lived in and around Dover have figured more or less prominently in the history of the State. Samuel Dickin- son, Waitman Sipple, Nicholas Ridgely, John Richardson, Cornelius P. Comegys, Albanus Logan, Joseph Barker, Cæsar Knight, George Laws, John Patten, Manlove Hayes, Cæsar Rodney, Vincent Lookerman, John Clayton, Richard Wilson, Nathaniel Luff, Perrin Cooper, John Burton and their de- scendants founded families whose members have honored places in the history of East Dover Hundred.
The Farmer's Bank at Dover was incorporated February 4, 1807. The Act provided for a main bank at Dover and branches at Georgetown and New Castle. In 1813 a branch was established at Wilmington. The State of Delaware holds fifty-seven per centum of the stock of the bank. Originally the capital stock of the bank was $680,000, but in 1897 the capital was reduced to $500,000. The institution now has a surplus exceeding $500,000. It has always had strong financial standing, but within the past ten years has made very rapid strides forward.
The main bank at Dover has had but four presidents dur- ing its century of existence. Henry M. Ridgely served as
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president from its organization until 1847. He was succeeded by Jonathan Jenkins, who held the place until his death in 1848. As his successor, Henry Ridgely, son of the first presi- dent, was elected in 1848, and served until his death in Octo- ber, 1904. Caleb S. Pennewill was then elected, and still occupies the place.
The cashiers have been Peter Caverly, James Harper, Joshua G. Brinckle, Cornelius P. Comegys, John Manlove, James P. Wilds, and Walter Morris. The latter has been cashier since 1879.
The First National Bank of Dover was organized in 1865, with a capital of $100,000.00. Hunn Jenkins was elected president, and served until 1868, when he was succeeded by Dr. Isaac Jump. The latter continued until 1887, when Nathaniel B. Smithers was elected, and served until his death in 1896, when Harry A. Richardson became president, and still continues in the place. Charles Kimmey was the first cashier, serving from 1865 to 1868. His successor was John H. Bateman, who served until 1897, when John S. Collins became cashier, and still continues.
Among the industries of East Dover Hundred is the Rich- ardson & Robbins canning factory of Dover, the excellence of whose products have won international approval. This great industrial establishment, now occupying nine acres of ground, had its beginnings in Dover, in a tin and hardware business on Lockerman street, in 1856, conducted by Alden B. Rich- ardson and James W. Robbins. The business really began at Camden a year or so earlier, when Alden B. Richardson opened a small shop in that town for the making of tinware. Into some of the tin cans made by him he put peaches that at that time were beginning to attract the attention of growers, and then canned them upon the small stove that formed part of his tin-shop equipment, and in that primitive way began the great business of Richardson & Robbins that has now attained a world-wide fame.
In 1856 the canning business was started in earnest, and
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that year six hundred cans were put on the market. The excellence of the output created such a demand that it was found necessary to increase the business, and a larger building was purchased. In 1862 the output had grown to 40,000 cans, and a still larger building was required. The business continued to grow.
Mr. Robbins died in the summer of 1876, and by agreement the firm name remained unchanged, although Harry A. Richardson, son of the founder, stepped into the place of Mr. Robbins, and thereafter the business was conducted by the father and son under the old firm name during the lifetime of the father. In 1881 the present site of nine acres on King street was secured, and the present commodious buildings were planned and started. The old factory was demolished, and gave place to the handsome Hotel Richardson, built by Alden B. Richardson.
Alden Bradford Richardson, senior member of the firm, was born at Wakefield, Mass., September 27, 1825. His father was the noted New England physician, Dr. Nathan Richard- son, and his mother, a daughter of Simon Alden, traced her descent to John Alden, one of the arrivals in the Mayflower. Mr. Richardson spent his early life in Massachusetts, coming to Wilmington, Delaware, from New Bedford in 1850. He engaged in the hardware business in Wilmington until 1852, when he moved to Camden, from which place he removed to Dover in 1856, associating himself with James W. Robbins, under the firm name of Richardson & Robbins.
The business prospered, as noted above, and Mr. Richard- son amassed a fortune. He earned an enviable reputation for fair dealing, and always evinced a liberal public spirit. In 1882 he built the handsome hotel at the intersection of King and State streets, which has always borne the name of the Hotel Richardson, and during the remainder of his life he made the hotel his home. In 1888 he was elected State Senator, as a Republican, from East Dover Hundred, and served one term in that office. His short term in public life
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ALDEN B. RICHARDSON. 1825-1894.
HARRY A. RICHARDSON.
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won popular applause. It was through him that the Dover gas-works were securely established, and other modern im- provements introduced in the town. His death occurred September 14, 1894, and no man's departure could have been more sincerely mourned.
Harry A. Richardson was the only child of Alden B. Rich- ardson. He was born at Camden, Delaware, January 1, 1853. His mother, whose maiden name was Lucy Stetson, is a de- scendant of Elizabeth Penn, an aunt of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania. The mother is still living, and is a great favorite in the social life in Dover. Harry A. Richard- son was tutored, as a boy, by the Rev. Cyrus Huntingdon, the pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Dover, and a man of fine classical learning, and afterwards attended school at Norwich, Connecticut. He became an active partner with his father in the canning business on the death of James W. Robbins, in 1876, and became the sole proprietor of the business on the death of his father, in 1894.
Although a man of large wealth, he is most unpretentious in his manners and habits. A man of very few words, and unusually quiet and reserved, he has made a deep impression upon the business world, and has shown his ability to cope with the wisest and most astute of business people. His ad- dress is pleasing, and he is popular wherever known. His interest in young people has been shown in many ways. He has been, since its organization, the president of the Kent club, a social body including in its membership nearly all of the young men of Dover. Mr. Richardson ranks high in the busi- ness life of Dover. He is president of the Dover Gas Light Com- pany, of the First National Bank, of the Diamond State Tele- phone Company, and of the Delaware Insurance Company. The signal success of these many enterprises, is in no small measure due to the sagacity and good judgment of Mr. Rich- ardson.
While a pronounced Republican in politics, he has avoided the factional strife in the party that has waged so fiercely
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for many years, and has maintained the respect of both fac- tions, by his fair and independent course. In 1890, he was made the candidate of the Republican party for Governor, and although not successful, made a handsome poll, that led to the election of the Republican candidate four years later.
In January, 1907, he was nominated, almost unanimously, by the Republican majority in the General Assembly for the exalted position of United States Senator, and on the fifteenth of that month was triumphantly elected for the full term of six years, beginning March 4, 1907.
Mr. Richardson was married, in 1874, to Priscilla A. Walker, daughter of William Walker. There are three children of this marriage, Alden B. Richardson, William W. Richardson, and Lucy Richardson. Both sons are married, and engaged in business with their father. The home life of Senator Richard- son is ideal.
WEST DOVER HUNDRED.
The Hundred of West Dover was created February 7, 1877, when the East and West Dover election districts of Dover Hundred were, by Act of Assembly, made separate Hundreds. Gravelly run, a branch of the Choptank river, and the head- waters of St. Jones's creek, and Kenton Hundred, bound West Dover Hundred on the north ; on the east, East Dover Hun- dred ; on the south, North Murderkill and Culbreth's Ditch, and on the west Maryland, are its respective boundaries. In the western part of the Hundred is the highest plateau in the State, all the streams flowing either westward into the Chop- tank and Chesapeake, or eastward into Delaware Bay ; the plane forming a watershed.
Most of the land in the Hundred was in dispute as to its title for almost a century, Lord Calvert claiming it as his terri- tory, and William Penn as his, and in some instances both claimants gave patents for tracts within it. The boundary line between the two colonies was run in 1763 and confirmed in 1775, and it was not until the latter date that the greater
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part of West Dover Hundred was conceded to be Delaware territory. "Scotten's Outlet " was settled in 1737 by Richard Scotten, on a Maryland patent and survey, and is, perhaps, the earliest settled tract in West Dover Hundred. "Smith's Outlet " a tract of one hundred and two acres, situated near the Maryland line, in the western part of the Hundred, was patented April 2, 1746, by Samuel Robinson on a Maryland warrant. In July, 1770, it was resurveyed to Richard Smith, who in the next six years acquired title to tracts adjoining "Smith's Outlet " known as "Holly Island," "Smith's Ad- vantage" and "Long Ridge," and several others, near the Maryland line.
Penelope Freeman, February 14, 1745, took title to a tract of two hundred and twenty-four acres adjoining the Smith lands near the Maryland line and called the tract " Penelope's Advantage." On part of this tract is the site of Thomas' chapel. " Proctor's Purchase," on Heron Point, on which the town of Hartley is situated, was warranted to John Durborrow December 3, 1734, and transferred to Thomas Proctor. "Springfield," a tract of one hundred and forty acres on the north side of Culbreth's Ditch, of the Choptank river, was warranted to Hugh Durborrow in 1737, and " Burrowfield " and the " Home Tract " on the north side of the Tappahanna, were located by John Day in 1790. "Tappahanna," a large tract of six hundred acres on Tappahanna creek, was taken by Waitman Sipple in 1763. In 1800, the Tappahanna Ditch Company was incorporated, and the ditch opened on this tract soon afterwards. It adjoined the "Home Tract " and " Bur- rowfield."
" Beaver Swamp" tract, on a branch of the Choptank, known as Culbreth's Swamp Branch, was also warranted to Waitman Sipple. This tract was southwest of the present town of Hazlettville. All of the above tracts were in the western part of the Hundred, and most of them were granted under Maryland patents. In the eastern part of the Hundred the tracts were large ones, and extend into East Dover Hun-
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dred, where they have been mentioned. Adjoining the " Proctor's Purchase " tract were " Canterbury " and " Hope- well," the former of which was taken up by Benjamin Shum- mer, and contained over five hundred acres, extending into East Dover Hundred. The "Long Reach" tract of one thousand acres on Isaac's Branch contained the Allaband property and mill, and is spoken of under the head of East Dover Hundred.
Penelope Freeman, who became the wife of Owen Irons, donated a half acre of her tract, "Penelope's Adventure," December 24, 1779, to be used for religious purposes. Under the guidance of the Rev. William Thomas a log chapel had been built on this tract some time before this date, and the deed of gift gives "a half-acre, together with the preaching- house or chapel erected thereon," to the Rev. William Thomas. He conveyed the property to nine trustees the same day. This was in reality the first Methodist chapel built in Dela- ware. The chapel was known as the " Log Chapel," the logs being dovetailed together and without nails. Francis Asbury and Freeborn Garrettson were among the prominent expo- nents of Methodism who preached in this building. The first instance of a negro preaching to whites is recorded as having taken place in the " Log Chapel," May 13, 1781, when a negro, Harry, preached upon the " Barren Fig Tree," at the close of a sermon by Asbury. In 1798 the log chapel was replaced by a frame building, and in 1825 this was succeeded by a brick building, which was rebuilt in 1877. The old burying ground was open to bond and free, and many of the head- stones are unrecognizable from stress of the weather.
Union M. E. Church was probably in existence in 1847, as the headstone of a grave in the churchyard contains the in- scription, "John Seward, the first placed in this yard, and who died February 23, 1847." The first house of worship was frame, and was afterwards purchased by William Slay and removed to his farm in 1859, where it was used as a barn. A new frame building was erected that year on the old site, and
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is still in use. Asbury Chapel, known then as McElever's Chapel, was built by the Methodists in 1829. It derived its name from the minister who served the circuit at the time it was erected. It was built on land donated, October 10, 1829, by one Joseph Rash.
The earliest mention of the communicants of Methodist Protestantism in West Dover Hundred is, that about 1860, they were worshiping in the Tappahanna Marsh school house. In 1864 the Bethesda Church was erected on ground donated by Mrs. Annie J. Cox, daughter of Judge Joseph J. Rowland. The church was rebuilt in 1883. Hawkins M. E. Church, Hartley, was organized in 1840. Services were held in Jones' school house at first. In 1840 the members built a chapel, where services were held until 1886, when another chapel was built slightly east of the old one.
Wesley Chapel (Parker's) is the first of the two congrega- tions of colored people founded in West Dover Hundred. Joshua Parker donated the ground in 1880 on condition that it be used also for school purposes. This was done and a church and colored school were established that year. The other colored church is the Lockwood Church. The Metho- dist Episcopal Church, South of Marydel, was organized in 1868, and held services in Marydel school house. It did not retain its entity long and the members identified themselves with the old side church of Maryland.
But four of the settlements in West Dover Hundred have developed into towns worthy of mention. These are : Hazlett- ville, Marydel or Halltown, Hartley or Arthurville or Butter- pat, and Slaughters Station. About nine miles west of Dover is a hamlet once known as Sewardville, and Georgetown, which the Legislature, in 1854, named Hazlettville in honor of Governor Haslet who had been dead thirty years and more. The site of the village is on the tract once owned by John Kersey. A store was opened by James Bedwell in 1806, which is the first authentic mention of a settlement on the town site. Marydel, or Halltown, lies on the State line in the
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southwestern part of the hundred ; most of the town having grown over the Maryland live. William Hall, from whom the village got, its former name, was the first white settler there. He purchased over two hundred acres of ground and started farming in 1850. In 1865 the railroad was completed to that point, and Hall sold his land. After the advent of the railroad it became Marydel. An iron foundry was erected by Thomas Lockwood and John Slay, at Marydel, in 1843, but remained in operation but one year. A packing house was operated there in 1835 by Isaac Lockwood and in 1848, John S. Kersey established Kersey's Wagon Works. These works were in operation many years, and were at the time the largest of their kind in rural Delaware. In 1884 William George erected and put in operation a saw mill and lumber yard. A large canning establishment was established there in 1872. The factory is now running continuously and does a large business.
On a portion of the " Proctor's Purchase " tract, three miles north of Marydel, on the Delaware and Chesapeake Railroad, the town of Hartley is situated. It was first called Butterpat, afterwards Arthurville, and lastly Hartley. James Foraker built the first building on the town-site, being a log house, William Arthurs the next, and William Mallalien the next. Until 1882, there were but two houses in the village, but since the establishment of the railroad station, and the discontin- uance of Slaughter's Station, the town has grown rapidly. It is now the largest town in the Hundred. Slaughter's Station, a half mile south of Hartley, was named after William Slaughter, who built a store there in 1866. It is now only a flag station. "Dodd's Saw Mill" is the only industry con- ducted there.
Westville and Pierson's Crossroads are hamlets in the Hun- dred, containing but a few houses. Fruit raising and the canning and packing of the products raised on the fertile soil of the Hundred, constitute the main industries of the popula- tion of the Hundred. The Kerseys, Bedwells, Hubbards,
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Downs, Slays, Irons and Aarons families have been prominent in the affairs of the Hundred.
LITTLE CREEK HUNDRED.
Originally Little Creek Hundred extended from the Dela- ware bay westward between Little creek and Little Duck creek to the Maryland line. By act of Assembly in 1869 this Hundred was reduced to the smallest Hundred in Kent County by the formation of Kenton Hundred from all that part of the Hundred lying between the Delaware railroad and the Maryland line. Thus Little Creek Hundred now lies on Delaware bay between Little creek and Little Duck creek and has for its western boundary the Delaware Railroad.
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