The daily gazette., 1875-02-03
historical Society of DeiasOare.
PROCEEDINGs OF THE MEETING HELD
JAN. 14TH, 1875.

Historical Society has been delayed |
on account of the illness Of the iecre-
tary.
The Society held stated meeting |
January 14th, 1875, Rev. John Wilson, |
in the absence of the President, was
called to the chair.
The minutes of the Literary meeting,
held December 10th, 1874, were read
and adopted.
DR.. l.. p. Bush, from the Committee
on Acrelius History of New Sweden,
reported that additional copies of the
work had been sold since the last re
port.
DIR. II. p. Johnson, Librarian, re-
ported that the book cases had been
enlarged according TO the instructions
Of the Society.
The report was accepted and general
satisfaction with the improvement ex
press ed,
Hon. Leonard +. Wales, Chairman
of the Standing Committee on BiOgra
ply, read the following memorial
sketch of the late James G. Douglass,
Esq:
"Since its last meeting This Society
has lost one of its ,lost prominent
members in the death of James G.
Douglass, Esq, and it is proper that
our records should contain some no
tice, however brief and imperfect, of
his life and character.
"Mr. Douglass was born at Nor
dington Mills, Kent county, Del, on
| the 18th of November, 1877, and died
at Buena Vista, New Castle county,
| Delaware, on the 18th of December,
1874.
"He was descended on the side of
his father, Walter Douglass, from that
portion of the family in Scotland, sur
named 'the Red, who cmigrated to
America at the close of the rebellion
of 1745, and settled in Bucks counsy,
Pennsylvania. They became hero
OI -ma ,.e"s, and, while engaged in
smelling ore in Caroline, county, Md,
on the Delaware border, James, the
grandfather, when lad of 16, was
sent to Eucks county to superintcnd
he manufacture of blooms at a place
this day called the 'Bloomery.' Here
he grew to manhood and Miss Mary
ISlcvols, whose sister became Mrs.
lWhiteley, and mother of the late Will
liam Whiteley, of Kent county, Del
Henry Whiteley, of Wilmington, and
lother children. Mis-. Douglass had
| til ee children, Walter, William and
Margaret the last two died youngand
Unmarried James Douglass was al
Intimate friend of the celebrated John
Dickinson as appears from letters Ill
the possession of ,his grandson, the
subject of his memoir After his mar
riage he removed to Kent county, Del
aware, and became the owner of one
of the best mill seats in The State, ant
there erected large brick merchant ant
flour mills and manufactured whea
flour and corn IAeal extensively, fOl
foreign markets. Walter Douglas
[ succeeded to this business at the deatl
: of his father-which occu red in tht
carly part of this ccntury-and con
Ilnued it until the time OF his death
being distinguished, as was his fat he
. before him, for his intelligence, grea
+ natural mech inical ability ,uprightncs
and probty in all his dealings acc
= transactions
a "In 1914 Walter Douglass married
I Harriet CLAYTON, daughter of Jane
d Clayton and Sarah Middleton, and SIS
G ter of the late Hon. John Nj. Clayton
and died in 1926, leaving two children
IA a daughter Margaret, the wife OF Hor
l. Joseph p Comegys, of Dover, and
IS son, James c.; the subject OF thl
d sketch.
|, "Jas. C. Douglass acquired his edl
l. cation at Dover and in Wilmington
In the latter place he attended th
schools of the late John Bullock, a
academy of high ard widespread II
pute in its day, where he was traine
l. in those habits of mental discipllr
/ and of we'll regulated conduct whlc
constitute the best capital for ever
e. beginner in the practical business {
rs life. At the age of 16 he determine
RS TO work his own way in the world an
embarked mt Lewistown, Delawar
m for Georgia, with the necessary mono
~ for his passage which he lost ovcrboal
ne before leaving the Breakwater. /
worked his way to Savannah and sa
inc the few dollars in his possessio
III walked to Macon, distance of 1
iu miles. Here he taught school for
~ wear when he was recalled by Il POI
" ton secuted for him III the Corps
Engineers, then being organized
John Randel, Jr., for the survey al
continuation of the Georgia Cent?
,o Railroad. He remained in Georg
a,' until Randel broke mp his party IA
,,a came North. Douglass returned wi
= -, him and soon afterward obtained G
M m ployment in thew est, and was attach
~ ~ to the Engineer Corps that laid out a
u" ,'o built the Illinois Grand Central Rf
m ro road, and distinguished himself
~ his $ skill in bridge architecture, h;
-. ing planned and superintendent
III erection of one of the most importi
at bridges on the route of that roa l.
as as was finally compelled to give up
NY employment in Illinois by three S
us cessive attacks of malarious feve
ich the climate mt that time being aim
fatal to strangers. He returned
Delaware in 1912, and was appoint
ntw ,esv by President Taylor, as soon as
rb5 ntb health would allow him to enter
'65 service, n Purser in the Navy, Il
by held the position over ten years,
un- signing in 1858.
the lie served at sea in the St. Louis,
om- hor oru;aa arounl the world, in