USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume I > Part 42
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Friend and Gabriel -, Amos Nicholas, Enoch Enochsen, George Brown, Andrew Hendrix, George Vanculine, Andrew Torton, Hance Torton, Andrew Morton, John Hendrick, Andrew Morton, Jr., John Orchard, Israel Taylor, Jonathan Hood, Obadiah Bonsall. The population has steadily increased, and in 1910 was 2945, exclusive of the boroughs within its borders. In 1809-10, Thomas Leiper constructed the first railroad in Pennsylvania and the second in the United States. It was three-fourths of a mile in length, and used in trans- porting stone from his quarries in Springfield to tide water at Ridley creek. The survey and draft of the road was made by John Thompson, and in 1873 the original map drawn by him was presented by Dr. Joshua Ash to the Delaware County Institute of Science. The road continued in use nineteen years. The cars were drawn by horses, the rails were of wood, the gauge four feet, and was a practical success for drawing loaded cars over.
Thomas Leiper, son of Thomas and Helen (Hamilton) Leiper, was born in Strathaven, Scotland, and came to America in 1764, settling in Virginia, later in Philadelphia, where he made a fortune in the tobacco business. He was an ardent patriot, and is said to have been "the first man in Pennsylvania to advocate a rupture with the mother country." He raised a fund to prose- cute the war, and as treasurer of the First Troop bore the last subsidies of the French to the Americans at Yorktown. He was orderly, treasurer and secre- tary of the First City Troop, and later president of the common council of Philadelphia. He was often chosen presidential elector; was an intimate per- sonal friend of Thomas Jefferson, and was alluded to as the "patriarch" of the Democratic party. He made it a rule of life never to accept an office of pay or profit ; hence while he served as director of the Bank of Pennsylvania and of the United States, and was commissioner for the defense of Philadelphia in 1812, he drew no salary. He used his private fortune to prosecute the war, and in the darkest hour gave £5000 to the North America Bank fund. He subscribed $100,000 to various public improvements in Pennsylvania, intro- duced machinery for breaking and grinding plaster and oyster shells, for sawing stone, threshing grain and making cider, all of which he had in opera- tion on his Ridley estate. He tried to secure an appropriation from the state to build a canal to lessen transportation cost from his quarries, but not stic- ceeding, built the railroad previously mentioned.
The canal, which was about a mile in length, not only was used to trans- port stone to the creek below Leiperville, but the water was led by it as by a race to supply power to the mill at Leiperville. (See "Manufacturing," for the great mills of Ridley township and borough).
Aldan .- Alphabetically considered, Aldan borough heads the list of muni- cipalities created in more recent years in Delaware county. Aldan was incor- porated a borough, September 22, 1893, James E. Dougherty being the first elected burgess. It is strictly a residential community, having a fine school house and grounds. The present burgess is Samuel M. Simins. Population in 1910, 661.
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Clifton Heights .- This borough, situated eight miles west of Philadelphia, on the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore railroad, was created a borough June 1, 1885, the first burgess being Dr. Samuel P. Bartleson. Extensive cot . ton, woolen and knitting mills are located here, the more important being : The Kent Manufacturing Company, the Nelson Kershaw Towel Works, the Caledonian Mills, the Colonial Manufacturing Company and Columbia Mills. Presbyterian, Methodist, Episcopal, Greek Catholic and Polish Catholic churches are located in the borough, the English speaking Catholics having their church just across Darby creek, in Upper Darby township. Lodges of the Improved Order of Red Men, Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, United Order of American Mechanics and For- esters of America, are maintained, as well as the Carpenters and Plaster- ers Union. Two fire companies, the Fire Protective Association No. 1, and Clifton Heights Hose, Hook and Ladder Company, provide an efficient fire department. A public library is a feature of the borough, as is a fine school and grounds costing $37,000. The present burgess is Nathaniel S. Keay, exercising authority over a population of 3155, according to the census of 1910, having increased in a decade from 2330.
Collingdale .- This borough, incorporated in December, 1891, is situated six miles southwest of Philadelphia, extending from Aldan to the line of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, which is the dividing line from the borough of Sharon Hill. Springfield road is the dividing line from Darby borough. This is also a residential borough, having in 1900 a population of 603, which had increased in 1910 to 1361. Trolley lines connect the borough with Philadel- phia and Chester, the Baltimore & Ohio railroad furnishing steam railroad ad- vantages. The Collingdale Building and Loan Association is one of the im- portant factors in the borough's prosperity. The Collingdale Mill Work Com- pany operates a modern planing mill within the borough, its only mill industry. Churches have been erected by the Baptist, Protestant Episcopal and Re- formed Episcopal denominations, and are well supported. Fire protection is furnished by the Collingdale Fire Company. The first burgess of the borough was M. F. La Roche; the present incumbent is William M. Joyce; borough secretary, Justus J. Arnold.
Colwyn .- South of the borough of Darby, in the pointed tract of land formed by the junction of Darby and Cobb's creeks, is the borough of Colwyn. In 1900 the population was 1226; in 1910, 1584. The first burgess was S. Drewes, the present incumbent is H. F. Potter. Presbyterian and Baptist churches have been erected in the borough. The principal manufacturing con- cerns are the G. Woolford Tank Works and Morrison's Auger Works. An efficient volunteer fire company, the Colwyn, well equipped with a chemical engine and ladder trucks constitute the borough's fire protection. The Colwyn Athletic Club is a prosperous organization.
Eddystone .- Lying along the Delaware river, between Crum and Ridley creeks, Eddystone extends inland to the line of the Chester turnpike. It has rail communication with cities north and south by the Philadelphia, Wilming-
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ton & Baltimore and the Philadelphia & Reading railroads. A village built up around the print works of the Eddystone Manufacturing Company, Eddy- stone grew and prospered until 1889, when it took on the dignity of a borough, William P. Hood being the first burgess, William H. Berry, former state treas- urer, now collector of the port of Philadelphia, the second. The present bur- gess is Hugh Blair ; governing a population in 1910 of 1167. The borough has two churches,-Methodist Episcopal and Protestant Episcopal; a good school system (Simpson School) and a volunteer fire department, the Eddy- stone Fire Company. The manufacturing plants to which Eddystone owes its progress, are: The Eddystone Manufacturing Company (limited), textile manufacturers, formerly William Simpson & Sons, of Philadelphia; the Bald- win Locomotive Works, a branch of the great Baldwin Works of Philadelphia ; the Tindel-Morris Company ; the Belmont Iron Works, and the Pennsylvania Iron Works.
Glen Olden .- This borough was incorporated in 1894. In 1900 it had a population of 873, which in 1910 had increased to 1157. The borough lies be- tween Sharon Hill and Norwood, eight miles southwest of Philadelphia on the Philadelphia, Baltimore & Washington railroad. The borough is the home of the H. K. Mulford & Co. chemical laboratories, the chief manufacturing in- dustry of the borough. There are two churches in the borough, Presbyterian and Congregational ; also, a good public school system is maintained. Glen- olden Fire Company No. I is the borough's defense from fire, and has proved efficient whenever called upon. The first burgess was George K. Cress; the present incumbent is William H. Harrison, Jr.
Lansdowne .- Lansdowne, located on the Philadelphia, Baltimore & Wash- ington railroad, five miles from Philadelphia, was created a borough in 1893, William H. Barker being the first burgess; Benjamin W. Carskaddon is the present incumbent of that office. Banking facilities are furnished by the Lansdowne and Darby Savings and Trust Fund Company. The Protestant Episcopal, Methodist Episcopal, Roman Catholic, and African Methodist Episcopal congregations have houses of worship. The Lansdowne Fire Com- pany, equipped with an auto-truck, is an efficient body of fire-fighters. The Lansdowne Country Club has handsome grounds and a large membership. Lansdowne is a purely residential borough, there being no manufacturing.
Millbourne .- Youngest of all the municipalities, Millbourne dates its birth as a borough from October 12, 1909. The first and present burgess is George Bertram Regar, whose term expires January 1, 1914. The Millbourne Flour Mills are located within the borough, constituting its principal manufacturing industry. The city is guarded from fire by the Millbourne Fire Company. The population of the borough in 1910 was 322. The terminal station of Philadel- phia's elevated railroad system and of the Philadelphia & Western trolley lines is within the borough. The Market street surface electric line also has its terminus in Millbourne. These roads give constant communication with Phila- delphia, and half-hourly service to many Delaware county points, also to other localities outside of the county.
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Morton .- Morton, created a borough June 6, 1898, reported in 1900 a population of 889; in 19to the census report shows 1071. Morton lies in the southern part of Springfield township, nine miles southwest from Phila- delphia, on the Philadelphia, Baltimore & Washington railroad. There are no important manufacturing plants in the borough, it being purely a residential centre. The original village was named in honor of John Morton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The first burgess was J. Frank Beatty, George H. Alexander being the present incumbent. Three churches are located within the borough,-Kedron Methodist Episcopal, the First Baptist and Shorler African Methodist Episcopal. The fraternal orders are: Washing- ton Camp, No. 634, Patriotic Order Sons of America ; Faraday Lodge, Knights of Pythias; and Hauka Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men. A prosperous building and loan association is one of the borough's valued institutions ; also a good public school building and system ; others are a public library, a men's club and a women's club, providing educational and literary advantages of a high order. The Chronicle, an independent weekly newspaper, established ir 1880, is edited by George W. Whitaker.
Norwood .- Norwood, with Darby creek for its eastern boundary, extends back to the line of the Philadelphia, Baltimore & Washington railroad. be- tween the boroughs of Glenolden and Prospect Park, located eight and three- fourth miles southwest of Philadelphia ; it has become a prosperous residential community. Norwood was created a borough in 1893. reported a population of 1286 in 1900, and in 1910 had increased to 1668. The first burgess was Wil- liam Hamilton : the present is William J. MacCarter. There is no important manufacturing plant in the borough, it being a community of homes. The Methodist. Lutheran, Episcopal and Roman Catholic denominations have places of worship, and a good school system is maintained. The fraternal and other organizations of the borough are: The Artisans' Order of Mutual Pro- tection : the Order of Foresters: Sons of Temperance; Grand Army of the Republic, Sons of Veterans, Boy Scouts, and the Century Club. Fire protec- tion is delegated to Norwood Fire Company No. 1, a fully equipped and effi- cient company of fire-fighters.
Prospect Park .- This borough was created in 1894. It is located nine miles southwest of Philadelphia, on the Philadelphia, Baltimore & Washing- ton railroad, which forms its northwestern boundary, its eastern line being the borough of Norwood. Ridley Park, and Ridley township join west and south, and Darby creek forms the extreme southern boundary. Prospect Park, as originally founded in 1874. consisted of 103 acres of the estate of Joshua Pierson, which John Cochran purchased and laid out in villa lots. He later sold an interest to John Shedwick & Son, of Philadelphia, who later pur- chased Pierson's interest. The village attracted a good class of residents, and has had a prosperous career, reporting in 1900 a population of 1050, increased in 1910 to 1655. There are no manufacturing plants, it being purely residen- tial in character. The Methodist Episcopal. Baptist and Presbyterian denomi- nations have houses of worship ; the Masonic order maintains a lodge. Pros-
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pect Park Fire Company No. I, is reliance in event of fire. A good school sys- tem is maintained. The first holder of the office of burgess of the borough was John L. Galloway ; the present holder, Ellis C. Abrams.
Ridley Park .- In 1870, the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore rail- road determined on a change of its route between Philadelphia and Chester. The new line opened up a new region for settlements, and several new thriv- ing communities were inaugurated on the "Darby Improvement," as the new line was at first termed, Ridley Park, near the centre of Ridley township, being one point selected. The site was selected by Robert Morris Copeland, a capable landscape gardener of Boston, who saw in the rolling land. the creeks, woodland, river view and nearness to Philadelphia, an ideal site. On May 26, 1871, Lindley Smith, Samuel M. Felton, Isaac Hinkle and William Sellers entered into partnership as the Ridley Park Association. On the land pre- viously secured, improvements began under Mr. Copeland's supervision. The new road was opened for travel in November, 1872. Ridley Park has had a continuous career of prosperity, reporting in 1880 a population of 439; in 1900, this had grown to 1234, and a decade later the enumeration showed a resident population of 1761. The village was incorporated a borough in December, 1888, H. F. Kenney being elected the first burgess; John H. Devine at present ( 1913) holding that office. A live Civic Association keeps constant vigil over borough interests and improvements; a golf, men's and women's clubs flourish, that give direction to the borough's social life. There are no manufacturing plants in the borough, it being a community of homes. An efficient fire company protects the borough.
The religious sentiment of the borough is marked, houses of worship being maintained by the leading denominations :- Baptist, Presbyterian, Epis- copalian, Methodist and Roman Catholic. An excellent public system, includ- ing a high school, provides educational advantages of a high order. The borough is located ten miles southwest of Philadelphia, and joins Prospect Park borough on the north.
Rutledge .- Rutledge is located in the northwestern part of Ridley town- ship, touching the Springfield line at Morton, at its southernmost corner. Rut- ledge was incorporated a borough June 10, 1885, and in 1900 reported a popu- lation of 369. The same authority gave the borough in 1910 a population of 523. There is no manufacturing in the borough. The Presbyterians have a house of worship, other denominations not being so represented. Rutledge Fire Company No. I, have a house and apparatus that affords protection in event of fire. Communication by rail is by trolley, the steam railroad nearest being across the line in Morton. The first burgess of Rutledge was J. Rugan Neff, the present being Samuel C. Burton.
Sharon Hill .- Located six miles southwest of Philadelphia, on the Phila- delphia, Baltimore & Washington railroad, and adjoining the boroughs of Collingdale, Darby and Colwyn, is the borough of Sharon Hill. Darby creek, its eastern boundary, separates the borough from Colwyn. The manufactur-
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ing plants of George K. Goodwin, Frank P. Smith and the Corona Chemical Company, are located in the borough, all prosperous concerns.
Sharon Hill was incorporated a borough, July 14, 1890, William G. Doug- lass being elected the first burgess. In 1900 the population was 1058; in 1910, 14401. The present burgess is William E. Wallace. Churches have been erected by the Methodist Episcopal. Presbyterian and Roman Catholic denomi- nations. The Convent of the Holy Child Jesus is located within the borough. Other educational advantages, are an excellent public school and a parochial school, the latter maintained by the Roman Catholic church. The fraternal so- cieties are : Independent Order of Americans, Improved Order of Red Men, and Daughters of Liberty. The Sharon Hill Fire Company, an efficient or- ganization of fire-fighters, has an auto fire engine and other necessary appar- atus.
Swarthmore .- In the southern part of Springfield township, twelve miles from Philadelphia, on the line of the Philadelphia, Baltimore & Washington railroad, is Swarthmore, the seat of Swarthmore College (of the Society of Friends)-an institution founded in 1864 (see special mention). The pop- ulation of Swarthmore in 1900 was 903, increased in 1910 to 1899, having doubled its population in a decade.
The location of the borough is ideal, while its many splendid streets and modern homes, with spacious grounds adorned by the landscape gardener's art, constitute with nature's aid a beautiful rural municipality. Houses of worship have been erected by the Society of Friends, the Methodist Episcopal. Protestant Episcopal and Presbyterian denominations. Banking facilities are furnished by the Swarthmore National Bank, Edward B. Temple, president, C. Percy Webster, cashier. The Swarthmore Building Association, Edwin J. Darnell, president, is a helpful, prosperous aid to the upbuilding of the bor- ough, the assessed valuation of which in 1913 was in excess of $2,000,000. The Swarthmore Fire Association, a well equipped volunteer fire company, constitutes the borough's protection from fire. The present chief burgess is Carroll Thayer; secretary, Dr. Charles Varell.
The Delaware County Republican, a weekly newspaper, is edited by J. Scott Anderson; The Phoenix, a monthly publication is edited and pub- lished by the students of Swarthmore college.
Y'cadon .- Alphabetically the last. Yeadon is not the youngest or the least of Delaware county boroughs. Its eastern boundary line is Cobb's creek, which separates it from Philadelphia county. Its southern limit is Darby bor- ough, whose irregular line Yeadon follows to Darby creek, thence along that creek to Lansdowne borough, thence a northeast course to Cobb's creek. Three great silent cities of the dead are included within these limits,-Holy Cross, Mount Moriah and Graceland cemeteries. Yeadon was constituted a borough April 23, 1894, H. D. Cooke being the first burgess. Brick manufacturing is the only important industry of the borough; a Baptist church has been erected, and a public school building. In April, 1904, Yeadon Fire Company was organized, now an efficient organization of firemen. In 1900 the population
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was 689. In 1910, it had increased to 882. The present chief burgess is Frederick J. Petry. The boroughs (Darby, Marcus Hook, and Media) will be found in the histories of the townships in which they are located.
THE CITY OF CHESTER.
Chester is located on the Delaware river, fifteen miles below Philadelphia, and fourteen miles from Wilmington, Delaware. As Upland it was settled by the Swedes in 1643, and is the oldest town in the state. In 1644 the present site of the city was a tobacco plantation occupied by servants in the employ of the Swedish company. The Swedish government granted to Jörankeen a patent for land one and a half miles inland, following the right bank of Chester creek above its mouth and extending along the Delaware as far as Ridley creek. The land on the west bank of Chester creek, extending along the river to Marcus Hook, was granted by Queen Christina of Sweden to Captain John Amund- son Besh, "his wife and heirs," by patent dated August 20, 1653, Captain Besh, however, never entered into possession, as the land included in this vast tract seems to have been claimed and held by Armgart Papegoya, daughter of the first Swedish governor Printz. In 1645 Upland is still reported a to- bacco plantation, but prior to 1648 was a settlement of some importance and is mentioned by Campanius as "an unfortified place but some houses there." The Indian name of the present city was Mecoponacka ; the Swedish, Upland : the Dutch called it Uplandt, while the English alternated between Upland and Chester. Dr. Smith thus describes the naming of Chester by Penn, on his first arrival :
"He landed at Upland but the place was to bear that familiar name no more forever. Without reflection, Penn determined that the name of the place should be changed Turning around to his friend Pearson, one of his own society, who had accompanied him in the ship 'Welcome,' he said : 'Providence has brought me here safe. Thou hast been the companion of my perils. What wilt thou that I shall call this place?' Pearson said 'Chester,' in remembrance of the city from whence he came. William Penn replied that it should be called Chester, and that when he divided the land into counties one of them should be called Chester. Thus for a mere whim the oldest town, the name of the whole settled part of the province, the name that would have a place in the affections of a large majority of the inhabitants of the new province, was effaced to gratify the caprice or vanity of a friend. All great men occasionally do little things."
This explanation of the change of name has been strongly refuted. and the name stated to have been changed to Chester because most of its English inhabitants came from Cheshire in England. A letter written by Penn, No- vember 1, 1682, is dated Upland, but one written December 16, 1682, states : "An assembly was held at Chester, alias Upland." This is the first record of the name Chester as applied to the old Swedish settlement at Upland. Penn when he landed resided temporarily at the house of Robert Wade, but during the winter of 1682-83 was a guest at the "Boars Head Inn," a noted public house of Chester, destroyed by fire March 20, 1848. The first meeting of the General Assembly was held in Chester, beginning its session December 4, 1680.
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Penn, shortly after his arrival, sent for James Sandelands, the elder, to confer with him, for it was "talkt among the people, that it was Intent to build a city." Seemingly the chief owner of land in Chester demanded too much. if it had been Penn's intention to make of Chester a "Great town." The first street in Chester laid out by authority, was now Edgemont avenue, ordered by the grand jury in 1686. In November, 1699. William Penn granted a char- ter to the borough of Chester. In 1708, the borough contained "one hundred houses." In 1758, Acrelius says "it had 120 houses," which indicates a very slow growth. Between 1761 and 1770, Francis Richardson built extensive warehouses and two piers known as Richardson's Upper and Lower Wharf. believing Chester could be made a rival of Philadelphia as a shipping point, but the Revolution ruined him. After the Revolution, Chester was incorpor- ated by act of assembly, March 5. 1795, with all the rights and privileges of a shire town, and was the capital of Chester county until the erection of Dela- ware county, then continuing as the county seat of the new county. In 1840 the borough had only increased to a population of 740. In 1848 the Supreme Court decided that the act under which Media had been chosen the new county seat of Delaware county was constitutional, and in the summer of 1851. new buildings having been erected, court records and all movable county property were transferred to the new court house and jail in Media. This was consid- ered a fatal blow to Chester, but was in reality the beginning of its advance- ment. The advantages it offered to manufacturers became apparent, and the farms around the borough held by old men in easy circumstances that could not be bought at any price, began on the death of their owners, to come on the market, clearing the way for expansion. Tracts were laid out in streets and squares, manufacturers came in, and Chester began an onward march that has never been checked. The history of its past and present churches, schools and manufacturing is told in separate chapters.
In 1724 the present city hall was built for a court house, and was so used until the removal of the court of Chester county to West Chester. In 1789 an act was passed dividing the county, and creating Chester the capital of the new county of Delaware. The old court house was again made headquarters for the county officials and courts, continuing until the removal of the county seat to Media. The building is now used as the city hall, the old court room on the lower floor being the offices of the mayor, chief of police and city surveyor, while the old grand jury room is now used as the common council chamber.
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