Milford chronicle., 1905-12-01

HlA. y -DOil WAS DUlu III HllilUIu Oh
poor but very respectable parantage,
and in early boyhood gained the meagie
education afforded by the public schools
of that day but undeterred by han.
dieap of that kind, he persisted in study
at each opportunity; earning his way
early In life by clerking in stores but
soon reached out for broader fields. He
went to Newark, New Jersey, where
for ten years he devoted his attention
to a thorough mastering of the business
of wholesale manufacture of shoes and
the methods of selling them. For nine
years he acted as salesman with his
finn, and then was taken into partner.
ship; where he remained ac lively in
the business for six years, and only
withdrew to come to Delaware to look
after an aged father and his remaining
family. His mother and four brothers
and sisters having rapidly died from
pulmonary diseases.
This is the bright spot in the whole
life of Mr.. Abbott, and it is fitting that
his devotion to a christian father and
the care of younger brothers and sisters
should be recognized by honors in latter
life; such as have just come to him.
The devotion of a successful son, min
istering to the bodily comforts of those
who did all for him by instilling the
principles of integrity and moral worth,
is seldom seen in these days so all
honor to Senator Abbott.
After retiring from active business he
became interested in fruit culture, and
to day has large interests in Sussex
county. He always took an active in.
lterest in the political and social affairs
of his State and town, and his first ac-
tive work in politics was ten years ago,
when he was chosen as a member Of {
the State Central Committee of the ,
Union Republican party; a place he {
retains yet, and in which he is a strong s
and aggressive member.
/ In 1898 he was elected a State Senator {
from the Fifth Senatorial District of 8
Kent county and at once became the t
door leader for his party in the sessions c
Of 1899 ana 1901 laboring hard for the
legislation which has since been respon-
sible for the reforms in county and State b
government. L
While in the Senate he made fight d
for the legislation which made the con- l
Of the public schools Of Mil
ford possible, and the erection Of the
present magnificent school building,
the finest of its kind in all Delaware
and, to the credit of the Board Of Edu- 4 4
cation it made him its president, a po. =
sition which he now holds.
Mr.. Abbott has been always an active :.
worker He hes been interested in :
which was Of public interest !
,r benefit. He, while large stock. =
holder in the First National Bank of :
Milford, assisted in organizing the Mil :, -
ord Trust Company, and is now its e (;
ice president. He is a stockholder and -,
Interested in the Milford Lumber Com
,any also in the Milford and Philadel-
,hia Transportation Company =,
With his younger brother he started,
nd is now the senior partner of the -,
clothing business in lower Della. -.
rare. In addition to this in the past =, -
ew years, they have opened up large r,
apartment store, in which business -
hey have made great success.
In all Of his active business and po.
tical career he has made few bitter
nemies, but many friends; while
w of smaller mind than he, look at
ne successful life of s. John Abbott thu
trough eyes Of jealousy. The com. at
.unity in which he lives feel glad that Nc
elfmade man has been so signally 10y
onored and recognized, and hope that gal
iture honors may yet be in store for Tn
i'm. pu