Smyrna times., 1901-03-27
GOVERNORS OF DELAWARE
GIVEN Bv SUSSEX COUNTY
ADDRESS OF W. T. SMITHERS ESQ, READ
BEFORE SONS OF DELAWARE.
Continuation of the Historical Sketch of Bel
mont Hall and the Governors of Della.
ware" Published Last Week.

the TIMES an historical sketch of "Bel-
mont Hall'' and the Governors of Del
aware given by New Castle County
and Kent County, read before the Sons
of Delaware of Philadelphia, at their
meeting on March the 7th inst. Owing
to lack of space we were obliged to
hold over the address of the William
L. Smithers, ESQ.,, of Dover, entitled:
1.-The Governors given by Sussex
County" until this issue. Mr.. Smith
ers was not present, but his address
was read as follows:
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen.
The sketches of the lives of the gov
ernors that Sussex county has given
to Delaware, which take very great
pleasure in reading to you on this oc-
casion, came from the graceful pen of
Charles W. Whitley, Esq, late consul
to Ettienne in France. They comprise
part of an address which Mr.. Viii
ley delivered at the formal presenta-
tion of the portraits of the Governors
of Delaware to the State on the 26th
of May 1898. One has but to walk
through the halls of Legislation at
Dover, and glance at the portraits that
adorn those walls, to determine that
Delaware has always chosen for it's
Governor a man of high intellect and
strong character.
Since 1897 the Executive chair of
this State has been filed by eighteen
men of Sussex. And when it can be
truthfully added that during that long
period not one of these eighteen men
has been found unworthy of his high
office, l scarcely think that 1 shall be
charged with an unwarrantable local
or county pride when [ call that list
roll of honor. They sprang from sturdy
stock-Anglo-Saxon for the most part
with here and there that wonderful
Scotch-Irish strain that has left its
mark and impress on every quarter of
the globe. And SO, old Sussex, proud |
of her sons, bids me unfold, hastily |
and inadequately though it must be, |
a brief record or their lives.
Governor Daniel Rogers.
On the death of Cunning Bedford
in 1897, Daniel Rogers, being then
Speaker of the Senate, became, by vir-
tue of his Office acting Governor. The
outlines are but shadowy of the first
figure that passes before us. AS far as
can gather, he was born in Accomac
county; Va, Jan. 8. 1854. He came
to Delaware some time prior to f77S,
settling in Cedar Greek hundred and
purchasing from Levin Crapper farm
of some SIX hundred acres with the
well-knOwn mansion which afterwards
passed into the possession of Lowder
Layton, and was subsequently pur-
chased by Governor Causey, and
which is now the residence of William
F. Causey Esq.
Governor Rogers, who must have
been an extensive landowner, built
what is knOwn.as the Brick granary on
Cedar Greek four miles from Milford
on the road leading to the draw bridge.
He also, and at his own cost built the
causeway at this point over Cedar
Creek. He died Feb. ., 1906, and was
buried on the home farm.
Governor David Hall.
David Hall, lawyer, soldier, Judge
splendid type of the man whom the
man wnom the call of duty finds always
ready. was chosen Governor in 1901.
He was born at Lewes, January 4.
1852. Admitted to the bar in 1773. he
was practicing his profession when the
struggle for independence began, and
he at once enlisted as private. [ like
TO dwell upon this fact. When the
storm bursts this born organizer and
leader steps into the ranks. There is
no thought of self here-no dreams of
personal advancement and distinction.
The call is sounded, the law books are
laid aside and the musket is shoul-
dered. A little later, recruiting com
pany which became a part of Hazlet's
regiment, he was commissioned cap
tain in the Continental service and led
his company in the battles of Long
Island and White Plains. In April.
1777, he was commissioned Colonel of
a Regiment, which, covering itself
with imperishable glory, has left a
name which is an inspiration still to
every patriotic heart in Delaware. |
And today, as our boys are answering
the call OF the nation that their father
made, they can have no greater incen-
tive to devotion and self-sacrifice than
the thought that they are doing what
those fathers did in the brave DAYS of
the Delaware line."
No need to trace the career of Colo |
mel Hall at the head of this renowned