USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume I > Part 39
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The Queen's Highway, the Southern post road from Darby to Chester, was laid out in 1706, and caused a great deal of bitter feeling against the com- missioners for the manner in which it was surveyed. One of these men, Jas- per Yeates, was accussed of having the road enter Chester at the point it did,
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to the benefit of his own and his father-in-law's estate. "God and Nature," it was asserted, "intended the road to cross directly across the creek, but the Devil and Jasper Yeates took it where it was located." On this highway Washington marched his army on Sunday. August 24, 1777, moving south- ward to give battle to Howe at Brandywine, and over it on the following September 12 the beaten Americans "poured through Darby on their way to Philadelphia." On December 22, Howe with 7000 troops camped on Darby Heights, and during the entire time the British remained in Philadelphia, Dar- by township suffered excessively from the spoliation of the soldiers foraging, especially the Friends. The latter never made claim for their losses, so they cannot be stated. Other claims from the inhabitants of both Upper and Low- er townships aggregated £1475. The population of the township in 1910 was 1763.
Darby Borough .- After the establishment of mills, Darby soon became a centre. although there is no direct mention of Darby Village until 1773, although Darbytown is mentioned in 1698. About the year 1800, the place is thus described : "Darby is situated about seven and a half miles from Phil- adelphia, on the east side of the creek of the same name that empties into the Delaware a little above Chester. It contains about fifty or sixty houses, and has a Friends' meeting house." In 1836 the Upland Union, published a des- cription of the borough and villages of Delaware county: "Darby is next in importance to Chester. It is on the southern great road about seven miles from Philadelphia by a good turnpike. It contains a Friends' Meeting House, Mt. Zion Methodist Church, a lyceum, a library company, a printing office, four public houses, three stores, a cotton factory, a post office and about sixty dwelling houses, and many elegant dwellings on the Haverford road." The village prospered and grew, retaining its village government until May 3, 1853, when it was incorporated a borough. On the third Friday in May fol- lowing the date of incorporation, an election was held, William Jones being elected the first burgess.
An institution of which special mention is a pleasure, is the Darby Library Company, founded May 1, 1743. Twenty-nine persons founded the library by signing articles of agreement and effected an organization. These articles required each person in the copartnership to pay on becoming a member, twen- ty shillings to a person who should be appointed to receive the money and pur- chase books for a library, and also annually thereafter to pay five shillings "for and towards the purchasing of such books and the necessary expenses of the Library as two thirds of the Company shall direct." Proper rules and regulations were provided, and the Library started on its useful prosperous career. Many valuable books were donated and many purchased, the earlier purchases being made in England. No effort was made to erect their own library building until January, 1795, when a committee was appointed, their report being that they could not obtain a suitable lot "at a price that would possibly do." In 1872 a successful effort was made to purchase a lot and
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erect a suitable building. The cost of lot and buildings was about $10,000, and on March 29, 1876, the building was dedicated.
Another ancient association is Darby Fire Company, organized January 27, 1775, by the active male adults of the village. It is set forth in the articles of association that each subscriber, "for the better preservation of our own and neighbors' houses, goods and effects from fire, would at his own proper charge provide two leathern buckets, to be marked with his own name and respective Company, and shall be kept ready at hand and applied to no other use than preserving our own and neighbors houses, goods and effects." Any neglect of this agreement subjected the member so offending to a fine of five shillings. A sufficient sum was contributed to purchase ladders that were for- bidden to be used for any but fire purposes, and only then by members of the company. A fine of five shillings was imposed on all members who failed to attend at a fire occurring on the premises of one of the company, unless a rea- sonable excuse could be given ; a member refusing to pay his fines, his name was erased from the roll and he was excluded from all rights and forfeited all interest in the ladders and other property of the company. The articles of agreement. "presented by Zachariah Poulson Jr., 106 Chestnut street, Phil- adelphia, 1796," concluded: "XI. Lastly, that upon the death of any of our company, the survivors shall, in time of danger as aforesaid, be aiding and assisting to the widow of such deceased, during her widowhood, as if her husband had been living, she only keeping the buckets in repair and causing them to be sent to every fire as aforesaid." The company existed as a volun- teer company until 1871, ninety-six years, when it gave way to a paid fire department instituted November 6, 1871, by the borough officers, who elected Enos Verlenden chief engineer. On January 1, 1871, a room was rented at the mills of Verlenden Brothers, and the "old Machine" laid away after a half century of service.
Darby's banking institutions are the First National Bank, established in 1870, of which W. L. Verlenden is president, and G. W. Dwier, cashier; the Darby Trust Company, established 1912, Charles R. Lee, treasurer, O. L. Skilton, secretary. The Progress, a semi-weekly newspaper, Republican in politics, is edited by M. H. Magnin.
Famous old inns of Darby include: "The Ship," just licensed in 1735; "The Market Wagon" licensed in 1739; "The Blue Anchor," licensed in 1747.
Orphans' Rest Lodge No. 132, I. O. O. F., was instituted October 20, 1845. General Taylor Encampment, I. O. O. F., was chartered, January 29, 1847. Other modern fraternal orders also flourish in the borough. The population in 1910 was 2412.
Upper Darby Borough .- Upper Darby was created a separate township in 1786. Its northern boundary is Haverford township, Cobbs creek its eastern line, separating it from Philadelphia county, Darby creek, its western, Darby township its southern boundary. Settled originally by Friends, its history is one of prosperity and peace. At the southwestern limit of the township a tract of 150 acres was surveyed to John Blunston, July 12, 1683, to which
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the name "Primos" was given. The name is still preserved in Primos sta- tion and post office, on the Baltimore Central railroad. Kelleyville was lo- cated on ground acquired by Richard Bonsall, March 1, 1697-1698. Gar- rettford, Fernwood, Arlington, Cardington, Pembroke, are also stations or post offices in the county, and several boroughs have also been formed on lands formerly owned by the old families of the township. Within its limits are also located: The Flower Observatory, Burd Orphan Asylum, Mont- rose, Arlington and Fernwood cemeteries. The township is traversed by steam and electric railways, and good wagon roads are the rule. The many mills, churches and schools of the two Darby townships, are fully described elsewhere.
The first society formed in the township was an abolition society or- ganized prior to May 4, 1830, on which occasion George Sellers, Abram Powell, Dr. Caleb Ash, James Rhoads, Joseph Fussell, Joseph Rhoads, Saul Sellers Jr., Lewis Watkin, Nathan Sellers, John Sellers Jr., J. Morgan Bunt- ing and William H. Bunting were appointed a committee to attend the all- nual meeting of the Pennsylvania State Anti-Slavery Society at Philadel- phia, May 17, 1830. The few members of the society continued to meet occasionally until the Emancipation Proclamation of President Lincoln ac- complished the object of its existence. Thomas Garrett, with pronounced anti-slavery views from his youth, was a fearless advocate of abolition not only in words but deeds, he having aided between three and four thousand slaves to escape. In May, 1870, at a great parade of colored people in Wil- mington, Thomas Garrett, then eighty years of age, was taken in an open barouche through the streets of the city, a guard of honor bearing banners inscribed "Our Moses."
It is noted that the first use of gas in Delaware county for illuminating purposes was in 1853, in the spacious mansion erected by Christopher Fal- lon, on the south side of Garrettford road. west of the Darby and Haverford roads.
A remarkable case of longevity is cited in the case of Mrs. Mary Ash, who died March 24, 1862, aged ninety-seven years. She was the mother of sixteen children, surviving them all except two, her eldest and youngest, the latter being over sixty years of age at her mother's death. Mary Ash was twelve years of age when the battle of Brandywine was fought, and could remember that some of the American soldiers on the retreat to Phil- adelphia stopped at her father's house, there obtaining food and drink. She had lived in the house in which she died seventy-five years, and re- tained all her faculties until three days prior to her death. Population of Upper Darby in 1910 was 5385.
Edgemont Township .- Bordering on Chester county, encircled north, east and south by Newtown, Upper Providence. Middletown and Thornbury town- ships, Edgemont is almost entirely an agricultural community. Although pos- sessing good water power on Ridley and Crum creeks, it was never developed to any extent. Good roads pass through the township, which possesses no large
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villages or boroughs. The population, according to the census of 1910, was 525. The post offices of the townships are Gradyville and Edgemont. "Edge- mont Great Road," the early name of the highway from Chester, crossing the township in a northwesterly direction, was laid out in 1687. There is a tradition that Henry Hollingsworth, the surveyor, caused an apple tree to be planted at the end of every mile; being at odds with Richard Crosby, he planted no tree at the mile end opposite the latter's farm. During the Revo- lution the township suffered repeated losses from the scouting parties of both armies, the losses as filed in a claim against the government, amounting to £504.
On Crum creek, where the West Chester road crosses, was the tract of 240 acres laid out to Samuel Bradshaw, April 10, 1682. Part of this estate is known as "Castle Rock," because of the cluster of peculiar rocks, rising in confusion, boulder upon boulder, to the height of two hundred feet. This rocky formation, pierced through and through with fissures and caverns, is a remarkable natural curiosity.
Among the early landowners were Joseph and Mary Baker, whose descend- ants are numerous in Delaware and Chester counties. He represented Dela- ware county in the Provincial Assembly, and died in 1716. Philip Yarnall, with his brother Francis, came from Worcestershire, England, first settling in Springfield township, and for several years they were members of Darby Friends' Meeting. Francis married Hannah Baker, of Edgemont, and pur- chased 510 acres adjoining Edgemont line in Chester county. He was a mem- ber of the Provincial Assembly, and died in 1731. His son Mordecai was a noted preacher among Friends; Peter, a grandson, studied medicine, entered the army and sailed as surgeon's mate on the privateer "Delaware" during the Revolution. He subsequently became a noted Quaker preacher. Philip Yar- nall married Dorothy Baker, in 1694, and purchased 480 acres in Edgemont, where he died in 1734, his wife in 1743, leaving ten children, founding the influential numerous Yarnall family. Ephraim Jackson came from England in 1687 and bought land south of Philip Yarnall. Robert Pennell, in 1691 and 1705, bought 500 acres north of Philip Yarnall. Other noted families of the township are the Lewis, Smedley, Eachus and Mendenhall.
Haverford Township .- This township, bordering Montgomery county joins south and west Upper Darby, Marple and Radnor townships, and lies wholly within, the limits of the original "Welsh Tract." It was the second township settled by the Welsh in this tract, Merion in Montgomery being the first. Under a warrant from Penn, the Welsh Friends contemplated having their settlements together, intending them to constitute one municipal dis- trict, allowing them to manage their public affairs in their own way. Con- sequently, when the division line was run between Philadelphia and Ches- ter counties, directly through the "Welsh Tract," thus separating the set- tlements of Haverford and Radnor from Merion, great dissatisfaction arose. No notice was taken of their complaint to Penn, but they steadfastly continued their refusal to recognize a division, and in the Provincial Coun-
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cil and in the courts of Chester county, unsuccessfully battled for their rights. At the June court of 1689 the commission of William Howell, of Haverford. as a justice, was read and published, and "he did afterwards sub- scribe to the solemn declaration prepared by the 57th chapter of the great law of this province." At the same court, William Jenkins, of Haverford, served as a juror, and at the December court John Jerman was attested con- stable for Radnor. This was the first official recognition by the inhabitants of these townships that they were subject to the jurisdiction of Chester county, both of which later became part of the county of Delaware. The original lists of taxables in Haverford in the year 1693 is preserved, con- taining the names of John Bevan, William Howell, Morris Llewellin. Thomas Rees, William Lewis, John Richard, Humphrey Ellis, Ellis Ellis, Ralph Lewis, William Jenkins, Daniell Humphrey, David Lawrence, Lewis David, John Lewis, Henry Lewis, John Lewis, Junior, Richard Hayes, Ben- jamin Humphrey, William Howell for Tho. Owen, Richard Hayes for Da- vid Lewis, John Bevan for Evan Williams.
Haverford street or road was laid out in 1683, the Haverford and Dar- by road in 1687, and other roads later, as needed. The men who controlled the township in early days were the most prominent in the Tract and county, and are thus culogized by Dr. George Smith :
"It is even still more wonderful to see the large amounts that were appropriated to charitable purposes. This was particuarly the case among Welsh Friends. Every reasonable want was attended to. If a newly arrived immigrant or a 'poor friend,' stood in need of a house, it was built for him; of a plow or a cow, he was provided with one. The fields of the sick and the weak were not allowed to remain uncultivated and their pecuniary wants and other necessities were liberally supplied. Nor was their care in these respects confined to their own little communities. Wherever suffering humanity was found, our Quaker ancestors were ever ready to contribute liberally to its relief."
The religious obligations of the Friends, composing the greater part of the population of the township, forbidding taking part in the war, did not prevent their actively aiding in the care of the sick and wounded sol- diers or in performing many acts of kindness to the soldiers, and in some cases the saint was sunk in the patriot, and the term "fighting Quaker" was often correctly applied. In each succeeding year the population showed a goodly increase ; improvement continued its steady march, the township ever maintaining a leading position in all departments of civil, business, religious and educational life. The population in 1910 is given as 3989, liv- ing in the many beautiful villages and on the fertile farms of the townships. Haverford College, founded, erected and controlled by Friends, is of spe- cial mention elsewhere. The principal post villages and stations of the township are: Llanerch, Beechwood Park, Grassland, Haverford, Ard- more Junction, Brookthorpe, Coopertown and Manoa. Steam and electric railroads traverse the township, bringing the rural population within easy and frequent communication with Philadelphia, a fact that has caused a wonderful increase in population and land values. In the southern corner
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of the township the grounds of the Delaware County Country Club are lo- cated. The churches, schools and manufacturing of Haverford will be found in the chapters treating these subjects.
Marple Township .- This township adjoins Haverford on the west, sepa- rated from it by Darby creek. It is further bounded east, south, west and north by Springfield, Upper Providence, Newtown and Radnor townships. Marple is almost exclusively an agricultural township, its milling industries being principally the saw and grist mills, located on Darby and Crum creeks. The first mention of Marple occurs in the records of a Chester county court held "5th day of the Sixth month 1684." at which time Jonathan Hayes and James Stamfield were appointed tax collectors "for the publick aid of Mar- ple," and at the same time Thomas Pearson was appointed "constable and supervisor for the highway for Marple." The great road of Marple, which enters the township at its southern boundary just above the Springfield meet- ing house, was laid out in 1683, and ran almost due north through the centre of the district, uniting with the West Chester road a short distance south of Newtown line. A list of the taxables of Marple in 1693, contains fifteen names-Jonathan Hayes, Peter Worrall, James Stamfield's estate, William Huntley, John Person, Thomas Person, Ralph Dralcutt, Geo. Williard, Thomas Marcy, John Howell, Josiah Taylor, David Morris, Henry Cadman, John Shaw and John Hoopes. Thomas "Person," mentioned in the list, is the Thomas Pierson (Pearson) who tradition states came in the "Welcome" with Penn, and on whose suggestion the name Upland was changed to Chester. Margaret, wife of Thomas Pierson, John, his brother, and Mary Smith, his sister, came from England in the "Endeavour" in September, 1683, nearly a year after Penn's arrival. Sarah Pierson, daughter of Thomas, married John West, they becoming the parents of Benjamin West, the famous American artist. Peter Worrall (Worrell, Worrall) was a tanner from Berkshire, Eng- land. Jonathan Hayes, the largest land owner in the township, was a member of assembly in 1689, and a justice in 1703-1I. In 1715 he was murdered by Henry Pugh, a millwright, and Lazarus Thomas, a laborer. The trial of his assassins is the first case of homicide known in the records of Chester county. Although Marple during the Revolution was removed in a great measure from the din of war, British foraging parties and their Tory allies caused a loss to the residents that is partly shown in the bill for damages, amounting to £217.
A small settlement known as Marple post office is on the line of Marple and Springfield townships. Prior to 1831 a store was kept there by William Edwards, and in 1849 E. R. Curtis, who established a store there in 1831, was appointed postmaster, a position he was still holding thirty-five years later. Broomall post office, in the northern part of the township, contains a stone dwelling built in 1798 by Hugh and Rebecca Lownes. It was a licensed house in 1800, known as the "Drove Tavern," kept by David Reed. About 1832 a store was established at the crossroads by Isaac Haldeman. In 1868 a post office was established and named Broomall in honor of John M. Broomall,
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then member of Congress from the Seventh District. George Essey was the first postmaster. Foxcroft, a station on the Philadelphia & Delaware County railroad, is in the extreme northern part of the township on the Haverford line. The population of Marple in 1910 was 895.
Borough of Media .- One hundred and sixty-eight years prior to the lo- cation of the village of Media, Peter and William Taylor, brothers, bought of William Penn, yet in England, 1250 acres of land in the province of Penn- sylvania at a price averaging ten and a quarter cents per acre ; 700 acres of this land was taken up on the exact location of Media, Peter taking 400, and Wil- liam 300 acres, the balance of their purchase being located elsewhere. The brothers came from England early in 1682. William lived upon his estate until his death, January 6, 1683, surviving his wife's death but three days. Peter Taylor married Sarah, daughter of John Houlston, a neighboring settler. and moved to East Caln township, Chester county, where 500 acres of their original purchase had been located. The Taylor land passed to other hands and was used for agricultural purposes, although at the time of the removal of the county seat from Chester in 1848 there were twelve buildings included in the present borough, including the old almshouse and the house of Peter Wor- rall, which was a tavern. The original name of the village, Providence, was changed to Media at a meeting held at the Providence Inn, January 10, 1850. It is an interesting fact that Gen. Zachary Taylor, hero of the Mexican war, and president of the United States, was a lineal descendant of Peter Taylor, original owner of the land upon which Media stands.
The agitation over the removal of the county seat began at a meeting held at "Black Horse Tavern," in Middletown township, and continued with bitter- ness in the county and legislature until the signature of Gov. Shunk was finally affixed to a bill authorizing the removal. passed by the house January 19, 1848, by the senate March 30, and signed by the governor April 7, following.
The first sale of building lots in Providence (Media) of which Joseph Fox had completed the survey and plat July 26, 1849, was held by the county commissioners, Monday, September 17, 1849, they having purchased a tract of forty-eight acres from Mrs. Sarah Briggs. Seventy lots were sold. realiz- ing a suin of $7580, but $180 less than the sum they had paid Mrs. Briggs for the entire forty-eight acres, leaving one hundred and thirty-four lots still in their hands. The commissioners making the purchase and conducting the sale were Edmund Pennell, Mark Bartleson and Caleb J. Hoopes. The purchaser of lots Nos. I and 2 was Dr. George Smith, the price paid $3 per front foot. Other purchasers in rotation were Gideon Miles, one lot : Jacob Smedley, three ; William Jones, two; J. Morgan Hunter, two; Minshall Painter, eight : Joseph Hood, one; Capt. William Apple, two; Isaac Taylor, one; Isaac Haldeman, three: Geo. Smedley, two; John Miller, three : James Edwards, two; J. T. Hawkins, one, and John C. Beatty, one. Other buyers recorded were : John Hardcastle, William Smedley. Phelin Campbell, Abram Pennell. James Smith. Thomas Pratt, Isaac C. Malin, Charles Palmer, Henry Bowen, Thomas Inman. Isaac S. Williams, Jabez Lawson, James Pennell and John
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Hill. Large reservations had been made for the court house, jail and a market house. The lots were twenty feet front, one hundred and seventy feet in lengthi. At a second sale, October 15, forty more lots were sold, and the same day the Briggs farmhouse and barn were purchased. After the first and second sale of lots, the increase in the value of surrounding prop- erty was so marked that it became expedient to sell the ground upon which the old almshouse stood, particularly as the buildings were old and not well adapted to their purpose. The old structure was bought by a Mr. Primrose, of Philadelphia, who sold it to David Milne, another Philadelphian, who converted it into lodgings for a large number of colored families. The place soon became known as the "Continental."
The first building erected after the act of removal, was a fine brick store, located at the northeast corner of State street and South avenue, built by John C. Beatty, who commenced it in the fall of 1849, finishing it early the following spring. The lower story was occupied as a dry goods and grocery store by Ellis Smedley ; the upper story, finished as a hall, was dedicated to the cause of temperance, February 16, 1850. Other buildings were in course of erection before the Beatty store was finished, and soon the Jocality began to take on the appearance of a busy town. On Friday. June 20, 1851, the first fire occurred in the infant village, Peter Hill's shingle factory, which stood not far from the bridge over Ridley creek, on the Black Horse road, being destroyed, with a considerable quantity of lumber.
Early in the history of the borough, stage lines to outside points were estab- lished, and in August, 1851, Walter C. Brodhead thus advertised in the Dela- ware County Republican. "For Media-Mr. Brodhead, the accommodating proprietor of the line of stages between this borough and Media, will place extra coaches on the route during the session of court. A capacious four- horse omnibus will leave the depot at half past eight o'clock in the morning." This line was continued until the opening of the West Chester & Philadelphia railroad. In August, 1852, a telegraph line was run through Media, although a local office was not at once established.
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