USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > Bristol > A history of Bristol borough in the county of Bucks, state of Pennsylvania, anciently known as "Buckingham"; being the third oldest town and second chartered borough in Pennsylvania, from its earliest times to the present year 1911 > Part 14
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Bristol Newspapers .- Bristol has been the birthplace of several newspapers. In June, 1849, William Bache, greatgrandson of Franklin, commenced the publication of the Bristol Gazette, a small weekly. It lived through fifty-two issues, and met its death some time in 1850, for want of adequate support. In 1854, a new paper came into life in the borough, being published in the interest of the Know-nothings, a political party just entering into power. It was called the Bucks County American and made its appearance on the Fourth of July. In its sec- ond year it was wedded to the Burlington American, making a twenty-eight column paper. There was no
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union of interest between the publishers, in business or otherwise, the object being to furnish the patrons on both sides of the river with a more readable newspaper. There was a double issue. The proprietor at Burlington was Samuel C. Atkinson, while that at Bristol was William Bache, a newspaper pioneer along the Delaware. Both papers were printed on the same forms, taken back and forth across the river. The Bucks County American died with the decline of the party it was started to sup- port. Following the death of the Bucks County Ameri- can Wm. Bache established a paper called Bache's Index, which existed for about one year and was discontinued in 1861. In April, 1871, the Bristol Observer was estab- lished by James Drury, a graduate of the Doylestown Democrat. It was continued until a few years ago, when the failing health of its proprietor caused its withdrawal. In August of 1873, Jesse O. Thomas, of Ohio, began the publication of the Bucks County Gazette, of thirty-two columns. Its first issue was on August 14, and it has continued without intermission ever since. In July, 1888, the Evening Journal was published by William C. Wat- son. It was the first daily newspaper started in Bristol. It continued for five months, when it was supplanted by the Weekly Journal. The latter paper was merged into the Every Evening in 1889. The Every Evening ceased its publication in August, 1891 for want of patronage. In 1906 the Weekly Courier, a forty-eight-column paper, was established by Wm. C. Watson, and has since built up a large circulation. The Bristol Republican, which was run as a local adjunct to the Doylestown Daily Repub- lican, and later the Doylestown Daily Intelligencer, was started in the spring of 1908, and discontinued December 10, 1910. The Daily Courier began its career on Monday, October 3, 1910.
Downing's Flour Mill .- About 1850, a flour mill was erected on the north bank of Adams' Hollow Creek, near the river, by Joseph M. Downing, the grandfather of George and Wm. M. Downing. The building was two stories in height, was equipped with the latest improved machinery and was operated by steam power. It was
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started as an active competitor of the Bristol Mills. Upon the death of Joseph Downing, the business was con- tinued by his son, Allen Downing, and he, in turn, was succeeded by a man named Van Dyke. Later the busi- ness was discontinued and the building converted into a snuff mill by Alexander Ralph & Co. About 1870, it was destroyed by fire. Ralph removed to Philadelphia, where he continued in the snuff business and amassed a for- tune. During his residence in Bristol, Mr. Ralph was an active member of the Presbyterian Church.
Pleasing Reminiscences by C. Wesley Milnor .- Among the many aged citizens of Bristol, is C. Wesley Milnor, a native Bristolian, and one whose splendid memory, combined with his affable manner, make him a pleasing conversationalist. At the request of the author, he cheer- fully contributed the following reminiscences of that im- portant period in the town's history, 1850 to 1860, when Bristol reached the zenith of its prosperity as a coalport town.
"The chief industry in Bristol at this time was the shipping of coal. The coal was brought from the mines in canal boats down the canal and after being unloaded on the coal wharves, which were located along the river front, was reloaded into vessels and shipped to New York and other points. The coal wharves owned by the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Co., extended from Mill Street to the 'mouth of the apron,' and were the largest in town. Asa Packer & Co.'s wharf was just north of Market Street. The wharf of the Hazleton Coal Co. was located where the waterworks now stand. Between Franklin and Penn Streets was the wharf of Gilbert Tomlinson, and back of the residences of the late J. K. Wildman, F. F. Bell and H. B. Beatty, were wharves operated by Lewis Audenreid & Co.
"The Buck Mountain Coal Co. had wharves above the Hollow Creek. The old Beaver Meadow House, which stood on the site of the present Elks' Home, was a board- ing house, kept by Mrs. Thomas Crooks, for the men who worked on the wharves.
"Canal stables for the accommodation of the horses
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and mules used on the canal, extended from Lock 2, back of Mill Street, to Lock 4, opposite the Pennsylvania Railroad freight station, and also along the southwest side of the canal basin. A large stable stood near the overflow, back of the old forge, and was destroyed by fire. These stables created a large business for the farm- ers who sold their grain and hay and straw to the owners. The large number of boatmen in the town, as well as the large number employed on the coal wharves, contributed to the prosperity of the community and gave to the town an air of thrift. Among the important stores may be noted the following: James V. Foster, James Brudon, John Wright, Allen Brothers, Robert Booz, Israel Allen, Jackson Hibbs, Bostwick & Cabeen and Pierce & Scott. Most of these men, who engaged in business in that day, amassed small fortunes and are remembered today as honored citizens. Labor was cheap and food was also cheap.
"An important industry in the town, besides the old forge spoken of elsewhere, was a foundry on Wood Street near Mulberry. It was originally operated by James Phillips. His successor was John McNeal, father of Andrew McNeal, who later was at the head of the large pipe works located near Burlington. Kelly & Ayers succeeded McNeal, and later Ayers retired and the business was conducted by William Kelly. About 1869 the foundry was destroyed by fire.
"Pond Street, in those days, was opened as far up as Dorrance Street and was called 'Highty Lane.' Only two houses had been built on the west side above Walnut Street, one of which was occupied by Charles Johns and the other by Joseph Teneyck, both of whom were col- ored. Where De Witt's house now stands was a building occupied by William Wright, the father of our respected townsman, the late Jonathan Wright. Franklin and Penn Streets had been cut through as far as Wood Street. The Friends owned the land above their present graveyard, up as far as the alley back of Dorrance Street. Both Penn and Franklin Streets contained but half a dozen houses each, occupied by men engaged in the coal trade. At the southwest corner of Penn and Cedar Streets lived
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William Tyrol, the father of John Tyrol. Above Penn Street was a farm, which extended up to the Bostwick property above Lafayette Street and west from Rad- cliffe Street to Pond. This farm was purchased by John Dorrance, Sr., and Henry M. Wright, who divided the land up into building lots and opened Dorrance, Washington and Lafayette Streets. The farmer who lived upon this plot of ground was named James John- son. His house stood at the intersection of Dorrance and Radcliffe Streets and was torn down when the former street was opened. The old barn connected with the farm, stood at the corner of Cedar and Lafayette Streets for many years afterward. The farm above and adjoining this land was owned by Cyrus Pierce, the father of Joshua Peirce. Following his death, the sons developed the land and opened up Jefferson Avenue.
"On the west side of the railroad in what is now called the mill district, and extending from Beaver Dam Road to Jefferson Avenue, the land belonged to Captain Hutchinson. It contained three large ponds, on which the boys skated in winter. Captain Hutchinson at one time occupied the house on Radcliffe Street, now the home of Jos. R. Grundy. While living there he built the large mansion on west Jefferson Avenue now occupied by the German Club, and resided there until his death. "Buckley Street had been opened, but few houses had been erected. A rope manufacturing industry was located on the street just above the mill race. The building was 125 feet in depth and one story high. The methods used were crude. The rope walker carried a circle of hemp around his waist. One end was attached to a large wheel which was turned by hand and made the twist. While the rope walker stepped backward he manipulated the threads of hemp and with the assistance of the man at the wheel twisted them into a rope. This business was conducted by W. J. Jeffries. Snedeker's machine shop also stood on Buckley Street near Bath. It was built for repairing agricultural machinery used on the farms near Bristol.
"Bath Street and Otter Street were important highways leading into the town but contained very few houses.
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On the west side of Otter Street there was not a house from near the corner of Bath Street, down to below Schmidt's greenhouses. Walter Laing and Samuel Swain had purchased the lower end of the field and had projected the laying out of streets and building lots.
"One of the smaller industries in the town was that of shoemaking. Making shoes by machinery was un- heard of and the wholesale stores in the larger cities placed their orders for hand-made shoes with the work- men in the surrounding towns. Bristol's close proximity to Philadelphia encouraged the industry here, and many of our citizens engaged in the business. Most manufac- turers employed a number of apprentices, and in this way the shoe business gave employment to a large number of citizens. Among the many who engaged in the business, the following can be remembered : Clayton Pope, Alexan- der Morrison, Nathaniel Brodnax, Lewis Holt, Charles Banes, Henry Gear, Jacob S. Young."
Bristol's Forges .- In 1852 a stock company, with a capital of $12,000, built the Bristol forge for the manu- facture of heavy shafting and other large pieces of wrought iron. This business was fairly successful. When the demand for armor plates for government warships created a market for their products both active and profit- able, the capital stock was increased to $125,000, and the capacity of the works greatly enlarged ; but, unfortunate- ly, too late to reap the anticipated advantage therefrom. The large amount of iron-working machinery put into operation all over the country during the war, and the sudden withdrawal of demand for the products conse- quent upon its termination, created a depression in the business, from which this company never recovered. The plant was subsequently entirely removed. It was in this forge that the iron plates were made for the hull of "New- Ironsides," a man-of-war, which gained prominence in the Civil War, and was burned at the old Philadelphia navy yard.
Stimulated by the large profits of the Bristol Forge and Iron Company during the brief period of its pros- perity, a second organization was formed under the name
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and title of the Keystone Forge Company, with a capital of $87,000. An extensive plant was erected on the east- ern side of the old railroad, south of Mill Street, but too late to receive any profitable business. Losses thus in- curred absorbed nearly the whole capital. The old build- ing was used by the Democratic pioneer corps, to drill in, during the Hancock-Garfield political campaign in the fall of 1880, and was removed about the year 1882, when the Pennsylvania Railroad changed the course of its road- bed south of Mill Street.
Landreth's Machine Shop .- A machine shop was established at the corner of Pond and Mulberry Streets in 1852, for the manufacture of Allen's Swift-Sure Mow- ing Machine, Corn Sheller, Plows and other agricultural implements. The business was conducted by David Landreth & Sons, of Bloomsdale, and was run as an ad- junct to their Philadelphia business. The output was sold mostly at Peoria, Ill .; St. Louis, Mo., and Charles- town, S. C., where the manufacturers maintained exten- sive sales rooms. This manufacturing business was dis- continued in 1862 and the building was leased by John Bardsley, who later became city treasurer of Philadel- phia, and fitted up as a woolen mill. Bardsley retained possession for five years, and on the evening of October 16, 1876, the building was burned to the ground. (Con- tributed by Captain Burnet Landreth.)
The Temperance War .- Back in the early fifties, the temperance question agitated the minds of our citizens and the movement became a popular one. Meetings were held in Institute Hall, which stood on the site of the present postoffice building at the corner of Radcliffe and Market Streets. Thomas P. Hunt was one of the promi- nent orators of that day. Meetings were also held in a tent on Radcliffe Street, where the Algonquin clubhouse is located. Wanger, the Poughkeepsie blacksmith, charmed the people with his eloquence. Twenty-five years later the "old grove," which stood on Pond Street, above DeWitt's greenhouses, was the scene of many meetings held in the interest of the temperance cause.
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An orator named William A. Lafferty was active in the work.
In the winter of 1885-6, the temperance cause de- veloped its greatest strength. The W. C. T. U. brought suit against a citizen for illegally selling liquor, and he was promptly convicted. While giving attention to the prosecution of this suit, the ladies were apprised of the applications for license on file from other parties, against three of whom they had evidence of violation of the law, and promptly had the proper remonstrances prepared and presented to the court.
It being apparent that the court was inclined to deal harshly with those found guilty of violation of the liquor laws, the hotel and saloon keepers, through their attor- ney, B. F. Gilkeson, Esq., solicited the consideration of the ladies, to a proposition in the shape of a pledge of the saloon keepers to obey the law, in consideration of which the remonstrances were asked to be withdrawn and no further prosecutions instituted for past offences. Fol- lowing is a copy of the pledge :
"We, the undersigned licensed dealers in spirituous, vinous, malt and brewed liquors, in the Borough of Bristol, County of Bucks, and State of Pennsylvania, do hereby agree as follows :
First, That we will close and keep closed our respective bar- rooms and saloons on Sunday, and will sell no liquor of any kind whatever to any person or persons, nor suffer the same to be sold or given away upon our respective premises to any persons on Sunday.
Second, That we will sell no liquor, either spirtuous, vinous, malt or brewed, to any person under 21 years of age, nor suffer or permit any such person to be given any of the said liquors upon our respective premises.
Third, That we will close our respective places of business every night at 12 o'clock and not permit the same to be opened until sunrise the next day.
Fourth, That no pool table shall be permitted upon our re- spective premises, nor shall any game of chance be played either for drinks or otherwise in our respective places of business.
Fifth, That those of us who do buisness under a restaurant license will sell no whiskey, gin, brandy, or other spirituous liquor to any person or persons nor permit the same to be sold or given away at our places of business.
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Sixth, That we shall sell no liquor of any kind to any person visibly intoxicated, or of known intemperate habits, nor will we sell liquors of any kind to any person after receiving notice not to sell from such person or persons who by law give such notice.
Seventh, That in all other respects we will faithfully obey the laws relating to the sale of liquor.
Eighth, That any violation of this agreement upon the part of any one of us, which shall come to the knowledge of any of the subscribers hereto, shall be at once reported to our attor- ney to be dealt with according to law.
In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this sixth day of February, A. D., 1886.
This pledge was signed by all the proprietors of licensed places in the borough, except three, one of whom was tried before the court, and being found guilty, the license was transferred to another person. The ladies of the W. C. T. U. were reluctant to entertain the propo- sition, but upon the advice of their attorney, Henry Lear, of Doylestown, finally decided to do so, upon the ground that it secured them all they could hope to obtain, if the cases were continued, and would place them in a strong position for the future, without compromising anything.
In more recent years the temperance question has be- come a political issue, and has injected itself into the elec- tion of state assemblymen, who favor the passage of a local option law.
A History of Bristol's Physicians Down to 1854 .- From writings by the late William Kinsey, we are able to obtain some interesting information about Bristol's old- time physicians. Mr. Kinsey, in a newspaper article of long ago, says :
"There is no record that gives any account of the names of the first physicians who practiced medicine in Bristol. I have heard my grandparents, who were amongst the early settlers, speak of Dr. John Abraham de Normandie practicing in their early days, and said he was their family physician. They spoke of him as a man of dis- tinguished ability. He emigrated with his father from Geneva, in the year 1706, and settled in Bristol. They were descendants of a distinguished family in France,
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and being Huguenots, fled to America to escape perse- cution. Their remains lie in the Episcopal graveyard, Bristol. An interesting account of the family is given in Davis' History of Bucks County. He was supposed to be the first regular physician that settled in the county.
"Dr. William McIlvain practiced as early as 1748. He was a brother of Bishop McIlvain and had an extensive practice ; he also had a brother Joseph, who held a com- mission in the army. His father sent him to Edinburg to finish his education. His remains lie in the Episcopal graveyard, Bristol.
"Dr. Wm. Hewston practiced previous to the Revolu- tionary War, removed to Philadelphia, and became one of the prominent physicians of the city.
"Dr. Joseph P. Minick practiced as early as 1770. He was the founder of the Bath Springs, and built the large bath house in 1807, for the accommodation of his patients who came from all parts of the country for the benefit of the chalybeate water, which in that day was considered the best for curing diseases of any mineral water that had yet been discovered in the country. Bristol in that day became a great resort for invalids from all parts (even from the West Indies), who professed to have been cured by the use of the waters. The doctor sold the property and removed to Ohio.
"Dr. Amos Gregg came to Bristol from Middletown previous to the year 1785. He was considered a reliable physician and had an extensive and successful practice. He built the house now belonging to R. Trudgon, in Mill Street, which was then the largest and finest mansion in the borough. He was several times elected to the office of councilman and chief burgess, and filled many offices of trust and responsibility. His practice amongst Friends, of which society he was a member, was very extensive. He died in 1817, having accumulated a large amount of property.
"Dr. John S. Mitchell studied medicine under Dr. Wil- son, of Buckingham; came to Bristol in 1817, married a Bristol lady and practiced about a year, and then moved to Hulmeville, where he had a large practice. He was frequently called upon to consult with physicians in the
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neighborhood in extreme and dangerous cases. He was looked upon as a man of more than ordinary abilities ; though slow in his movements he was generally success- ful in his practice. In 1840, he moved to Cape May Coun- ty, N. J., and shortly after died there.
"Dr. Henry Desborough came to Bristol from Philadel- phia about the year 1800. He brought testimonials from the Humane Society of having restored to life a boy who was drowned in the Schuylkill after being in the water three-quarters of an hour. He was a man of fine appear- ance and of excellent elementary education, was consid- ered the best surgeon in the county and had nearly all the practice in that line. He was fond of good horses, kept a pack of hounds, and was prominent in the sports of his day. He was fond of a good joke and played many on the boys who came under his treatment whom he sus- pected of robbing his fruit trees. On one occasion a boy suspected of stealing his plums went to his office to have a tooth extracted. The doctor seated him, applied the forceps, then with his arm around his head to keep him from getting away he gave them a twist, when the boy gave a yell-another twist and another yell, the boy struggling to get away. The doctor said: "You are the boy who stole my plums." When he promised to do so no more, he drew the tooth and the boy went out of the office breathing threatenings against the doctor. He re- mained unmarried until about two years previous to his death, which took place in 1823. He was greatly respect- ed by the people for his liberality towards the poor.
"Dr. John Phillips was born in Lawrenceville, N. J., in 1790, studied medicine with Dr. Smith in New Bruns- wick, graduated at the University of Pennsylvania, and came to Bristol in 1812 and began the practice of medi- cine. He was a man of fine personal appearance, being over six feet in height. He married Deborah, daughter of Dr. Amos Gregg, who for many years was one of the leading physicians of the borough. She was a lady of refinement and noted for her benevolence. Dr. Phillips was highly educated in the science of medicine and was eminently successful in clinical practice. As a physician, he obtained great distinction, devoting himself with un-
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remitting zeal for nearly a half century to the duties of a very extensive practice, during which he was called upon to treat cases of unusual character. During the epidemic that prevailed in Bristol and vicinity in 1823, which baffled the efforts of physicians in their treatment of its victims, so alarming was its effects upon the people that the Board of Health, with many physicians from Phila- delphia, visited Bristol to make examinations into the character and effects on its victims. During the preva- lence of the disease, for upwards of four weeks, the doc- tor's practice extended into the townships of Bensalem, Middletown, Falls, Morrisville and Bristol. Great was the joy of the people when the epidemic passed away, the cause of which was never satisfactorily accounted for. The doctor made as many as sixty visits in twenty-four hours. He was frequently called upon to consult with physicians in extreme cases. He was positive in his con- victions, and had no sympathy with any man who prac- ticed medicine under any other diploma than that issued by the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania. He held many offices of honor and trust in the borough and under the general government, succeeded in securing a large amount of property from his practice, and died in 1861 in the seventy-second years of his age, greatly lamented. The doctor treated a case during his practice that gave him great prominence in the higher circles of society. Joseph Bonaparte, the brother of the great Napoleon, who possessed successively the crowns of Naples and Spain, whilst living in his splendid mansion at Point Breeze, N. J., in making a visit to his friend, Major Lenox, residing in Bristol, was accidentally thrown from his carriage opposite the Coates' farm (now D. Landreth & Sons), and was seriously injured. The doctor had been visiting his patients near Tullytown, and returning he overtook the ex-king, who was sitting by the roadside unable to rise. He lifted him into his buggy and drove to the Delaware House. Under the doctor's treatment he recovered so as to be able to return home the same eve- ning. A day or two afterwards the doctor received a let- ter from the count in which was enclosed a $100 note, with thanks for the kindness he had received. Shortly
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after another remembrance came-a beautiful steel en- graved likeness of the great Napoleon, handsomely framed, which is now in the possession of one of the doc- tor's grandchildren.
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