The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-06-21
"REMINISCENCES
OF WILMINGTON
Notes About Wilmington
Fifty Years Ago. Reads
Like a Romance.

We now leave the Brandywine, cross
over tho small bridge and walk up he
"Old Kings Road" On the LETT is the ne W
cemetery, extending to the kennett turn
pike in which are many intermen's and
rome Improvements in trees and shrub.
berry. Yon new house at your right be-
longs to Mrs. Lowering, II daughter Of Jo-
seph Shallcross, who was Il true patriot in
tine days of Tho colntry's trial. A century
has passed since he bought this farm
for $500.
Here hills over hills arise; well i'm proved
farms, with good buildings. Entering the
town by the kenEett roSd as the sun de
scends beyond the western hills, with its
dazzling beams glittering on the windows
of houses towering over others, we have u
most magnificent Sight exceeding any H..
Elimination.
Yon stone edifice towering so high with
copse Of evergreen on the south side.
was once the mansion of Doctor James iii
ton. II was purchased by him from Ban
croft Woodcock, it was then called Ban.
Crofts or Federal hill. Long before the Rev-
olution he was noted silversmith here.
-. The stone house Oh the brow CT the hill,
called Cool Spring, was the county seat of
Caesar A. Rodney, name we'll known in
this State. as fixed to the Declaration of
Independence by being an uncle to this
ReDulGllluh VI NIO't We Spohh MI hUulCy
commenced his youthful career in this
town and was IL successful lawyer. He was
elected to congress, and afterward appoint
ed to higher honorS, He was appointed U
S General, attorney.
He was q prominent politician,
democrat OF the old school, and an advo.
cate for establishment aud prutec, ion OF
Domestic man anufacturos.
He was appointed on special mission
A ~.
Baldwin botanist and returned homo in
fow months having been successful in
his duties. His last commission was to
Buenos Ayrcs. He died wLilu at his last
mission
On the borders of cool spring, there ia
yet relicC of antiquity, log cabin built
by one of the early settlers. Hanco Naff,
from Switzerland, who died here in old
ago.
On the Kennott road opposite, was the
last earthly dwelling place Of his son
Hance Naff and wife, who lived a long
life together to a good old age.
The old time worn stone house below
was the Homestead Of Joseph Shallcross,
whom we before noticed. On this same
road near Rodney's gate l. an old shanty
occupied not many years ago by an Eng
lish woman, Mrs Russel, whose only com.
panions were her dog and COW. Many
ypVpttDlcS HOW ubcuI WCTc tutll II,
such rs the tomato. egg plant aud various
others introduced here since and raised by
the French cmigrants.
TIE white house on the hill was built by ,
Judge Way. 1t is beautifully situated I,
some distance from the Lancaster road;
on he right is stone house that was once |
tho re. idcnce Of Col. Louis Do TOusa rd a .
distinguished French officer, who served |
in our revolution and lost an arm. Ilo |
4 -,I t,N
1893.
The almshouse was built in 1192, the
land attached being presented by John
Staper friend. The first building was
about the size Of ono wing, and was burnt
down March %, 1904, then rebuilt and en-
larged Within few years two struc-
lures havo been added, one for tho insane
and another for the colored population
Frederick Craig MANAGED this house for
years. +
Hannah S!alcup, tho descendant of a
wealthy Swedo. A part Of hor part was
afterward purchased by Rev. s. NJ. Galley,
a Presbyterian clergyman, who called his
residence Mantua.
A little beyond this, on rising ground, a
property was purchased by john Warner
who built a fine mansion. which was sold
in an unfinished state and is now owned
by Col. SaInuel ID. DuNlS, VIM SOlIlIluEleu
Mt the defense Of Lewistowr, Delaware
1t is called Delaware Place.
The gate below Is the way to Tusculum.
This mansion was built by james NJ.
Broom for his residence. He was at an
early age elected q Representative to
Cong:css. His father was engaged in
Commerce for many years in Wilmington,
and Represented this Statei In framing tho
Constitution of the United Sta'es Tuscu.
lum was purchased by DR.. Martin most
estmable man.
The next farm Is called Quincy, this Is
beautifully situated. A large stone house
was built by joseph Robinson, deceased.
1t Is now the property OF J. T. Bid.
On tho Newport road nre many tlre
farms, hero arc the S!idhams, Lynams,
Brynbergs Wa!ravcns, Justises etc, all
descendants IF respectable nodish farm
Crs: then the Richard sons Of the Friends
Society, and of olden times, respectable
and wealthy. Hero is RIchardson's mill,
an old establishment. have heard Mayor
Jacuuett say that when a boy he used to
take wheat from his father farm there to
The ground, and always went In boat.
Then comes Richardson's hill long known
for Its rugged and steep ascent, though
now much improved and Richardson
woods, often tho haunts Of Troublesome
people sccrcted there to escape justice.
That house so handsomely situated on
the Chr'rtiana side was built BY William
Warner, 1t was purchased by Robert An ,
dcrson who expended much in improy- =
ing the grounds and sold by heirs to the
present owner John Il. Latimer, who has
wealth enough to crafty his tastes, 1t Ia
decidedly tho most improved OF any In
this section OF the country.
Ir Harry IIatimar WAS n surReOD In the