History of Newport, (New Castle County) Delaware United States of America

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Biographies:

William Thomas Croasdale, journalist, was born at Newport, Del., March 27, 1844, of Quaker parents. His ancestors settled in Pennsylvania in 1682. He attended the Friends' academy at Wilmington, Del., and remained in that city as a journalist until July, 1863, when he joined the Union army and served until the close of the civil war. He then returned to journalism and was later made city editor of the Wilmington Commercial. He founded the Every Evening, which was subsequently merged in the Commercial, and in 1882 removed to Baltimore, Md. , where he started the Day. In 1886 he went to New York city and accepted a position on the staff of the Star, and in January, 1891, after one year's work on that paper he became managing editor of the Standard, established in 1887 by Henry George. He was an unsuccessful candidate for representative in the 52d congress. He wrote The Collegiate Church and Shoemaker' s Field (1887); and Sailors' Snug Harbor and the Randall Farm (1887). He died in Merriewold Park, Sullivan county, N.Y., Aug. 9, 1891.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Oliver Evans, inventor, was born in Newport, Del., in 1755; a descendant of Evan Evans, the first Episcopal minister of Philadelphia, who died in 1728. He was by trade a wheelwright, and his first effort at invention was directed to the construction of a horseless carriage, which his limited means prevented him from fully developing. He invented a machine for making the teeth for weavers' cards in 1777. In 1779 he engaged with his two brothers in the milling business; his invention of the elevator, carrier, hopper-boy and other devices, revolutionized the manufacture of flour by water power, and he obtained from the legislatures of Pennsylvania and Maryland the exclusive right to use his inventions in flouring mills. Maryland also protected by legislative acts his plans for a steam carriage. He was not able, however, to construct a working model until 1800, and then his steam-engine constructed for propelling his wagon was patented, but he found it more profitable to use it in mills than on country roads. This first high-pressure steam engine which he had formulated and of which he had sent drawings and specifications to England in 1787 and again in 1794, was being built in that country and its invention claimed by Vivian and Trevithick who had had access to Evans's plans. He constructed a steam dredge mounted on wheels in 1803-04, and propelled it over a common highway from his shop to the banks of the Schuylkill, one and a half miles, the first land-carriage propelled by steam over ordinary roads in America. His faith in his idea of horseless carriages was stronger than ever, but poverty prevented his carrying out his plans. He published: The Young Engineer's Guide (1805); Miller and Millwright's Guide (1797); The Improved Merchant Flourling Mill, by C. and O. Evans (1853). His books were translated and published in France and passed through several editions. He died in New York city, April 25, 1819.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Henry Latimer, senator, was born in Newport, Del., April 24, 1752; son of James and Sarah (Geddes) Latimer. He was graduated from the College of Pennsylvania in 1770, and prepared for the medical profession in Philadelphia, and at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and received from Edinburgh the degree of M.D. He practised at Newport, Del., until 1777, when, with Dr. James Tilton, he was appointed hospital physician and surgeon in the Continental army, and attached to the "Flying Hospital." He was present at all the battles of the Northern department from Brandywine to Yorktown. He resumed his medical practice in 1783; was a representative in the Delaware legislature for several years, and a Federalist representative in the 3d congress, serving from Feb. 14, 1794, to Feb. 28, 1795, when he resigned to take his seat in the U.S. senate, having been appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of George Read. He served until March 3, 1801. He was married to Anne Cuthbert, of Philadelphia, Pa., and secondly to Nancy, daughter of Richard Richardson, of Delaware. He died in Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 19, 1819.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor