DAGSWORTHY DERICKSON BURTON ANGOLA POSTMASTER

ANGOLA POSTOFFICE

TO CLOSE

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1937

When the post office at Angola, Sussex county, Delaware, is discontinued Wednesday, Dagsworthy Derickson Burton, age 86, can look back on a half century of faithful service to the public. Since 1886 Mr. Burton has been the postmaster there. The fact that he has been in office over all there years attests his ability and faithfullness.

Angola is not a large town but the community depended on reliable mail service when the post office was established, more so then than now. Good auto roads and the automobile have seen to that. Both Angola and neighboring Holleyville will now be served by the Harbeson

post office.

Postmaster Burton of Angola has given the better part of his life to public service and leaves as the dean of postmasters in Delaware with satisfaction knowing he has earned that honorable distinction.

[Wilmington New Journal, Saturday , September 11, 1937]

Dagsworthy Derickson Burton was born April 17 1851, in Indian River Hundred, Sussex, Delaware to Willian C. Burton, who lived between 1822-1910, and his wife, Anna Eliza Derickson Burton, who lived between 1826 and 1903, and married in Sussex county the 10^th of May 1848. He was first born to family of seven children, he and three brothers and three sisters. His mother died in 1903 and father in 1910. His father, william C., was a Civil War Veteran of the Union .

Anna Eliza Derickson was born in Indian river Hundred to Dagworthy Derickson who lived between 1799 and 1860 and his wife, the former Priscilla Marvel, born 1800.

Dagsworthy married Mary Prudence Burton, daughter of Peter Robinson Burton , 1821 – 1891, and Mary Prudrnce Hunter, 1821 – 1860, born the middle of a ten member family, four of which died as infants. Both Dagasworthy and Mary are buried in Saint Georges Chapel Grave Yard.

Dagsworthy and Mary Burton had one son, Clifford E., born 28 December 1876, Sussex County, and died November 2 1956, and buried at St. Georges Chapel. Clifford remaid at home and farmed the family lands around Angola and Burton's Pond. Clifford was married to Margaret Short and had son Leland Sipple Burton, born 1904 and died 1977 at Lewes. Leland became a Delaware Bay and River Pilot, married Mary Elizabeth Townsend on 23 April 1930, had a son Leland, Jr. born 1936 and daughter Charlotte Townsend Burton, born 1940. Leeland, Jr.. married Jeanne Elisabeth Schaffner and Charlotte married Vernon Noel Helmly.

2016 July 7, HARRISON HOWETH

HENRY FORD BUYS ANGOLA'S BURTON GRIST MILL

ANGOLA'S GRIST MILL

ON

BURTON'S POND.

The interior equipment, a grain grinding apparatus at least 130 years old, of a grist mill of Burton's Pond near Angola and Love Creek, has been purchased by an agent of Henry Ford and is being shipped to Detroit to be erected at a Dearborn museum of the auto manufacturer. The mill known as Burton's Mill had been in operation continuously for more than 130 years until three years ago.

While there is no name given as to the buyer it is reported that the mill equipment has been purchased “for a prominet resident of Detroit who intends to set it up in a Dearborn Museum “. The agent bought it as is, with no practical value and it's useful only as an interesting museum piece.

As of this date, Friday, September 25, 1931, the mill has been dismantled and is being cased and shipped by railroad from Sussex county to Detroit. Some state residents are said to be highly indignant at the removal of the historical article, however, there is no museum in Delaware of adequate size to accommodate it.

Persons who have examined the equipment, told it was water driven and never modernized, there are two separate grinders, one for coarse grinding and one for fine grinding. They say the equipment was constructed between 1790 and 1800 and has out last three buildings, the first of which was all log built. Today the road to it had grown over and only a small foot path led to it.

The same 'agent' had also tried to buy a historic New Castle store from William Laird who refused to consider the sale.

Source: Wilmington News Journal, Friday September 25, 1931

OVERBROOK NATIVE

COGRESSMAN

ROBERT GRIFFITH HOUSTON

In 1930 Robert G. Houston was living in Georgetown, Delaware, with the distinction of being the only man in the history of the State of Delaware to be elected for three terms in the Lower House of Congress, serving from 1925 to 1933.

Robert Griffith Houston was born in Milton, Sussex County, the 13^th of October, 1867, the son of Dr. David Henry Houston and Comfort Tingle Hitchens Houston. During the Civil War, his father was the Sergeant in Chief, First Division, Second Corps, U.S.V., from 1863 to 1864.

R. G. Houston attnded public schools in Lewes from 1872 to 1882, then read law with his uncle, Judge John W. Houston. In 1888, he was admitted to Kent County Bar during the October term of court. That same year he moved to Georgetown where he opened an office to practice his profession.

He was; Attorney for Sussex Almshouse, captain in Delaware National Guard, commander of Georgetown's company G, and was also assistant Adjutant General, owner of Georgetown weekly 'The Sussex Rebublican', as a Republican was nominated for several offices but lost to Democrat's, chairman of the County Republican Committee, 1901 collector of customs, president Delaware Sunday School Association, served on Governor Joshua Marvil's staff as adjutant general, Sussex county Assessment board member, helped establish 'Farm Bureau', secretary Georgetown Board of Education, member of town council, 1921 deputy attorney general. He was a Presbyterian, member A.F. & A. M., Royal Arch Masons, and many other local organization s.

1925 he served as a member of of the House in the 69^th Congress, then the 79^th and 71^st Congress.

On the 20^th of December, 1888, he married Margarete Burton White, daughter of Henry H. and Mary White of Overbrook, near Lewes, and had three children, Mrs Julian Thomas Robinson, Miss Elizabeth Houston, living in Georgetowm and a son , John W. Houston, prominent farmer of Overbrook, Sussex county.

Robert Griffith Houston, died in Lewes, 29 January 1946. and is buried in the Lewes Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

1890 PROPER SWIM ATTIRE FOR REHOBOTH BEACH

: Proper Surf Bathing Attire For Rehoboth Beach in 1890

Coast Press Newspaper published in: Rehoboth Beach

Source: newspapers

Page/Column: Michael Morgan Delaware Diary

Rehoboth Beach 1890

Some vacationers at Rehoboth Beach did enjoy an ocean bath, between 11 am and 2 pm, the beach being clean, free from stone and rough shell, and the surf had no dangerous undertow. To do so the bathers needed to shed most of their clothing, without the discard of Victorian modesty.
Early bathing suits were made of bark blue or black flannel, female versions had elbow length sleeves, were worn with stockings and bloomers which covered the body from knees to shoulders. Men were able to forgo the stockings. When wet and sandy the bathers suits were wet and heavy, making it near impossible to wade, let alone swim. The town commissioners decree made this the legal way so as not to appear vulgar when wet

LEWES PILOT CAPTAIN THOMAS J. VIRDEN .

May 6, 1939 Capt. Thomas J. Virden becomes president of the Delaware River and Bay Pilots Association which pay tribute to a member, and a family,  who merits the honor. The Virden family of river pilots have been an influence in the direction  of the pilot group since the beginning.  Historical names confined to this occupation are Connell, Clampitt, Rowland, Maull, howard, West, Marshall, Wesley, Chambers and Virden, all of which lived in Lewes.

DELAWARE RIVER BRIDGES AND CROSSINGS

THE LOWER TRENTON BRIDGE  1806

The Delaware River at Trenton runs across sharp rapids by name of Trenton Falls and below these rapids the Delaware runs into the tidewater section on it's way to Philadelphia and the ocean.  In the mid 1600's Trenton had two ferry crossings, the Upper Ferry and the Lower Ferry , both which traveled between Trenton, New Jersey and Morrisville, Pennsylvania, owned by James Trent. Later owners and operators, up into the 1770's there were Thomas Hooten, Robert Hooper and William Richards.
The first bridge to Trenton was at Lower Ferry, between Morrisville  on the Pennsylvania side.  This 1008 foot long wooden structure was open to traffic January 30, 1806 and cost $180,000. Theodore Burr, the foremost American bridge builder of that time, was the designer and builder.  The Trenton Bridge was owned by a private company whose president was John Beatty. This bridge had two 11 foot wide horse and wagon lanes and two 4 foot wide walking lanes, a total of 31 feet wide, it was covered by a cedar shingled roof with partially covered sides. The support abutments were designed to be high enough to avoid all known flood levels.
In 1842 this bridge became the first American bridge to be used by a railroad, and in 1848 was widened for the Philadelphia - Trenton Railroad.  The  use of this bridge by the railroad let to its demise and was torn down in 1875 and replaced by an iron bridge, known as the Lower Trenton 
Bridge which used the same support foundations.

Abstract from Bridges over the Delaware River by Frank T. Dale

Will Rogers & Wiley Post arrive Alaska

The Morning News
Contributed by Harrison

Description: Wiley Post and Will Rodgers Arrive in Alaska for Vacation Trip
Date: August 7 1935

Newspaper published in: Wilmington Delaware

Source: newspapers

Juneeau, Alaska,, 7 August 1935:

After an eight hour and fifteen minute flight from Saettle, Wiley Post and Will Rogers, landed in Gastinau Bay off Juneeau, Alaska. Both Post and rogers declined to comment on where they would go next, except that they might fly into the interior of the Territory. Post said " we will stay here until we take off for some place". Post had intention of meeting his wife, at some point, who was traveling north by ship.
A large group of people lines the water front to greet the pair. Post, who had flown over and through Alaska several time before, left the red pontoon monoplane to greet the Alaskans in his shirt sleeves, with Will Rogers, in grey suit and overcoat , emerged a bit later, with a smile, telling the crowd he had enjoyed the trip immensely and he was glad the weather had been ideal for flying.
Greeted by Posts' old friend and another veteran aviator, Joe Crosson, the group were driven to the home of Governor John Troy for the evening. .