Evening journal., 1897-11-05
DEATHS NEW VICTIM.
Ex-Governor Jas. Ponder Sue
cumbs at His Milton Home.
LONG AND HONORABLE CAREER

BESIDES THAT OF GOVERNOR.
WAS rs YEARS OLD, AND ONE OF
THE wEALTHfEST MEN IN sUs-
SEX COUNTY.
Special Dispatch Evening Journal.
Milton, via Ellendale Nov. 5.-Ex-
Governor James Ponder died suddenly
of paralysis at his home. in Milton, this
morning. He was the oldest in point
of office Of all the ex-governors, and
probably the wealthiest man in Sussex
county.
Ex-Governor Ponder was born in
Milton, October 81, 1919, and had Just
passed his 18th birthday He was of
English extraction, his ancestors hav-
ing settled in Virginia, whence his
great-grandfather, John Ponder, came
to Delaware and took out a patent for
the family estate still owned by the ex-
governor up to the time of his death,
and now occupied by his son, John Pom
der, fifth in descent from the original
patentee. The deceased was educated
in the best schools Of his native coun-
J ty and in 1888 became a clerk in his
fathers store, in Milton. He was ad-
mitted to partnership in 1S43, and he
and his father engaged in the building
purchase and sale of vessels. After the
death of his father, in 1868, he gave III
the store and gave his attention tC
ship-building and the shipment oi
grain, lumber, ship-timber and bark
Several of his vessels engaged in trad,
with the West Indies.
Since his majority he was an activ,
member of the Democratic party. II
1857 he was a member of the Legisla
ture that elected James A. Bayard anC
Martin w. Bates United States senators
the latter to fill the vacancy caused b!
the death of John NJ. Clayton. During
that session he introduced the bill in
{. cooperating the Junction and Break
water railroad, now known as the ID.
NJ. & ", operated by the Pennsylvania
: Railroad Company. Having been elect
, ed to the State Senate for four years
! in 1864, he served as speaker of tina
body during the session of 1867. In 1877
he was the Democratic candidate 10
governor and was elected by hand
! some majority over his Republican OF
pOnent, Thomas b. Coursey, of Ken
county. He was inaugurated at Dover
in January, 1871, and during the fOu
years of his term, exercised the funC
I items of his Office with dignity and fide
{ ity.
Mr.. Ponder was connected with tn
i Kent County Mutual Insurance Con
: pany since its Incorporation, in 1874
I and was a director for twenty year
: For about thirty years he was dire
n tor of the Farmers Bank of Delawar
? and for several years prior to his r.
moval to Wilmington, in 1875. Wa
president of the Georgetown brancl
,. From 1875 to 1879 was a director of ii
Wilmington branch, and on his retuT
to Milton in the latter year, declined
serve as director of the Genrgetow
a branch. From boyhood Mr.. Pond'
r was a member of the Protestant Epi
copal Church, and was a warden Of
!, John the Baptist Church, at Milto
i which was the parish Of his ancesto
from the time of their settlement theT
Since 1S43 he was a member Of the NJ
sonic order, and about twenty years az
" served as deputy grand master Of Il
e Grand Lodge of Delaware.
'4e In July, 1851, he was married to Mi
n Sallie NAPLES, daughter of Gideon w
se pies, of Milton. They had five childre
le of whom three are living. They a
" Ida, who is at home; John. the occ
pant of the ancestral farm, and Jam
r W., a member OF the New Castle cOun
y bar.