Darlington was born in Pocopson Township, Pennsylvania on December 24, 1827, the son of son of Richard and Edith (Smedley) Darlington.[1] He attended the common schools and the Friends' Central School in Philadelphia.[1] He taught at Friends’ Central School for several years, and while teaching he made stenographic reports of sermons, lectures, and speeches for the newspapers of Philadelphia.[1] He established a school in Ercildoun, Pennsylvania.[1] First known as Ercildoun Seminary, it was later called Darlington Seminary, and Darlington operated it as an academy for boys during its first three years, then converted it to a school for girls.[1] Darlington Academy remained open for 12 years.
He enlisted in the Civil War as a private and was subsequently promoted to the rank of captain in Beaumont’s Independent Company of Cavalry, Pennsylvania Volunteer Emergency Militia.[1] He was discharged with the company on September 24, 1862.[1] He moved to West Chester, Pennsylvania, in 1864.[1]
After the war, Darlington became active in banking and investment brokering, and owned interests in several financial institutions and corporations.[1] He was an early entrant into the petroleum industry in the 1880s, and maintained an office in Oil City, Pennsylvania from which he managed his involvement.[1] In 1885, he founded the Chester County Guaranty Trust & Safe Deposit Company, and he served as its president until 1897.[1]
Darlington died in West Chester on June 24, 1899.[1] His funeral took place at his home, "Faunbrook" on June 26, and he was buried at Oaklands Cemetery in West Chester.[2]
In 1851, Darlington married Mary Edwards Baker.[1] They were the parents of 11 children, four of whom died in infancy.[1] Their daughter Isabel became the first woman to practice law in Chester County.[3] His daughter Maud became the wife of Thomas S. Butler, who also served in Congress,[1] and the mother of Marine Corps Major General Smedley Darlington Butler.[4] He was the second cousin of Congressmen Edward Darlington, Isaac Darlington, and William Darlington.[5]
Photos
Darlington's house in West Chester
Darlington's Grave at Oaklands Cemetery in West Chester, Pennsylvania
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