USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume I > Part 46
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In 1766, John Pearson, later an officer in the Revolutionary army, was operating a tannery at Darby, continuing until 1810, when Charles Pearson succeeded him. In 1842, James Bunting was operating a bark mill at the same place.
Marple Township Mills .- Isaac Morris, in 1779, owned a saw mill on Darby creek, at the mouth of Whetstone run, near which in 1810 a plaster mill was located and conducted in connection therewith. In 1826 it was under the management of George Maris, in 1829 operated by Edward Parker, and later H. Maris. In 1766, Joseph Heacock was half owner of a saw mill in Marple, after which time the name disappears from the records until 1811, when Enoch Heacock was a saw-mill operator. In 1820, John Hunter erected a saw mill on Darby creek, which was operated by John Wright, who purchased it prior to 1848. Another saw mill was owned in 1779 by Joseph Burns, but its exact location is unknown. On Front Run, in 1820, on the grounds of Dr. Bernhardus Van Lear, was a mill seat and whetstone quarry, although the water power was used at a later date by Willett Papson, who erected thereon a grist mill and lower down the water course, a cotton factory. operated by a Mr. Blimder. On August 22, 18448, both mills were destroyed by fire.
Abraham Jones, in 1800, erected a saw mill in Marple, on Crum creek, and in 1826 was operating a grist-mill in connection therewith. The saw mill was in Marple, the grist mill in Upper Providence, and in 1848 both were owned by his widow, Ruth Jones, later by Lewis Palmer. In 1810 a tanyard
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was operated by Lewis and Abraham Morris on the farm later owned by James Williamson. Until 1865 it was owned and operated by Rebecca Fawkes and James Lewis, who became possessors thereof in 1829. In 1809-1810, Thomas Pratt established a tanyard, but after a few years abandoned his pro- ject. From 1805 until 1850 Joseph Rhoads conducted a tanyard on the Rhoads farm, in 1810 admitting George Rhoads to a partnership in the business.
A pottery was established in 1841 by Benjamin Jones, at the ninth mile stone on the West Chester road, near Buck Tavern, but the entire enterprise proved a failure and was discontinued.
Upper Darby Township Mills .- The mills and factories of Upper Darby were located along Darby and Cobb's creeks, streams that have and are furn- ishing power to many of the busy plants along their banks. Just above the line dividing Upper and Lower Darby townships, on the west side of Darby creek, the Upper Darby paper mills are located. In 1747 Joseph Bonsall sold the Darby mills, previously mentioned, to Richard Lloyd. Bonsall and his descendants owned and operated saw and grist mills in this neighborhood, the last piece of property passing from them November 24, 1852, to Joseph Palmer. On March 31, Christopher Palmer bought the mills, and by will dated May 25, 1868, de- vised them to his son, Robert Palmer. The latter in 1872 sold the property to Edwin T. Garrett, who changed the grist mill to a paper mill.
On Darby creek, south of Kellyville, are located the Matthews paper mills, later known as the Bee Hive mills. On March 31, 1777, Morris Trueman and Joseph Cruikshank purchased six acres of Joseph Bonsall, their deed giving the right to build a dam and erect a mill. The next year a two-story stone paper mill was erected, which the partners operated until May 16, 1785, when Trueman bought his partner's interest and operated the mill until 1788, when he admitted Evan Trueman as a partner. April 6, 1799, John Matthews bought the property and conducted the paper making business until his death, when he was succeeded by his two sons. In 1859 Thomas Matthews sold the mills to J. Howard Lewis, who sold it the next year to his brother Samuel, who changed it into a cotton factory. In 1868 a new factory was erected on the site of the old paper mill. In April, 1876, this was destroyed by fire. Al- though the mill was not then in use, stock had been taken out and in another week the machinery would also have been removed. The mills were rebuilt and cotton manufacturing continued until March, 1884, when the buildings were again burned. They were again rebuilt, using the old walls as far as practicable, and the manufacture of asbestos goods established.
The land on which Kellyville is located and extending up the creek to in- clude the Union mills, was the tract of 655 acres surveyed to George Wood, November 6, 1682. A century later Isaac Lobb owned 380 acres in the same locality, and in 1812 sold to Asher Lobb the right to build a dam across Darby creek, which the latter did and erected a saw mill. Between 1822 and 1826. Lobb erected a stone cotton factory, four stories high, which in the latter year was operated by Bernard McCready, and spinning 3300 pounds of cotton yarn weekly. He held the mills until November 28, 1836, when Lobb leased the fac-
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tory to Dennis and Charles Kelly for a period of ten years. The following year Lobb died and by will directed the sale of the mill at the expiration of Kelly's lease. Under this clause Charles Kelly purchased the property, March 5, 1845. In 1847 the main building of the Kellyville mills, was 160 by 52 feet, five stories high, employed two hundred operatives and produced weekly 35,- 000 yards of ticking, cotton flannel, and plantation used goods, using 40,000 pounds of raw cotton monthly. The mills were operated by Dennis and Charles Kelly and their heirs until 1877, when on September 21, they were sold to George Campbell. On March 2, 1875, he sold the estate to Sellers Hoffman. The Modoc mills were erected a short distance above the Kellyville mills, in 1873, by Daniel Sharkey and William Weidbey, and devoted to the manufacture of cotton yarn.
The Garrett mills date from 1744, when William Garrett was assessed on a "fulling mill" and a "blade mill;" in 1766, on a "leather mill" and a "blade inill." In 1782, Aborn Garrett was assessed on a fulling mill, and in 1788 on a "skin mill out of repair," and also on a "plaster mill." No further mention of a Garrett in connection with manufacturing assessments appears until 1798, when Thomas Garrett owned a tilting mill at the site of the later Union mills, owned by Thomas Kent. There Thomas and Samuel Garrett conducted a tilt mill, oil mill and cotton factory. At the site of the Union mills, Thomas Garrett built his tilt mill in 1805, and on July 27, 1808, he purchased of Sam- uel Levis the right to place the abutment of a dam across Darby creek, for any purpose excepting for a grist or paper mill. He built the dam, enlarged the works, and there he and his brother Samuel conducted the Garrett mills, of previous mention. The latter also conducted, as an individual enterprise an oil mill at the same locality, until about 1830. In 1822 Thomas Garrett built a three-story stone cotton mill, which in 1826 was rented to John Mit- chell. It was known as the Union mill, and was devoted to the making of cot- ton yarn. In 1830, James Robinson succeeded Mitchell and manufactured there for several years. Charles Kelly leased the mill in 1839 and operated it until April 1, 1845, when it was sold to James Wilde. The locality then be- came known as Wildeville, and November 16, 1846, Wilde sold the mills to Thomas Kent, who operated the mills until his death in 1887. In 1850, Mr. Kent built a large addition on both the north and south ends of the original mill, also built a dye house and a fire proof picker house, and greatly increased the output.
Before purchasing the Union mills, Thomas Kent, an Englishman, born in Lancashire, March 27, 1813, had in 1844 rented the Rockbourne mills. This mill, located on west side of Darby creek, was the property of Samuel Gar- rett until 1837, when he assigned it to Oborn Levis and William Garrett, who conveyed it April 1, 1838, to Edwin Garrett. This mill, located near the oil mill of Samuel Garrett, which was washed away in the flood of 1843, was first rented to Jonas Cowan, who made cotton laps until 1842, when Jame- and John Wilde succeeded him, remaining until the fall of 1843, when they moved to Oborn Levis' mill, further up the creek. On January 1, 1844, Thomas
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and John Kent, rented the factory and began the manufacture of woolen goods. On April 1, 1845, Thomas Kent purchased the mill and in 1850 built an addi- tion. In 1868 the old part of the building was taken down and a large stone four-story factory erected, devoted to the manufacture of woolen cloths. The partnership that existed between Thomas Kent and his brother John was ter- minated in 1852, after an existence of nine years. They were greatly embar- rassed by the disastrous flood of 1843, and by a fire which occurred the same year, but rebuilt, and as narrated, Thomas Kent bought the Union mills in 1846, and in 1852 bought his brother's entire interest. In 1852 he began the manufacture of Kentucky jeans at the Rockbourne mills, and continued to supply the market with that then much used cloth until 1861, when the mills were entirely given over to the manufacture of cloth for the United States government to be used for soldiers' and sailors' uniforms. In 1867 the old mill was torn down and an immense plant substituted, which has still further been enlarged. In 1877 the production of cloth gave way to the manufacture of flannels, still the specialty of this mill. After the death of Mr. Kent, his mill interests were incorporated by his heirs under the name of The Thomas Kent Manufacturing Company, the immense plants of this company being within the limits of the borough of Clifton Heights. At the head of the com- pany is Henry Thomas Kent, eldest son of the founder, Thomas Kent.
On the site of the Clifton mills, a paper mill was in operation in 1782, then owned by Samuel Levis, but conducted by William Levis, to whom it was devised by his father's will, August 22, 1793. In 1795, William Levis, also bought of John Lungren, a paper mill on Ridley creek, which in 1822 was changed to a cotton factory. After the death of William Levis, the mill on Darby creek was sold by Oborn and William Levis, on February 24, 1825, to Samuel Eckstein, together with eighteen acres of land and the use of water in the creek from the dam and race of the Upper mills, now Glenwood mills. William Ames & Co. rented from the new owner, and in October, 1842, the property came into the possession of the Pennsylvania Hospital, and shortly after was sold to Oborn Levis. At that time it was a two vat paper mill, 92 by 32 feet, three stories high, and known as the Lamb mill. Oborn Levis operated this mill until his death, when he willed it to his son Oborn, who in 1867 changed it to a cotton factory, and so operated until his death. In 1881 his administrators sold it to William Longstreth, whose estate owned and oper- ated the mills, known as the Clifton mills.
The Glenwood mills stand on ground purchased of William Penn before leaving England, by Samuel Levis, a maltster of Leicester, England. At the death of Samuel Levis, the land at the bend of the Darby creek, just south of the Garrettford road, descended to his son Samuel who is said to have erected at this location the first mill erected by the Levis family. It was a scythe or tilt mill, and must have been built later than 1750. In 1799, Samuel (2) Levis had a grist mill and an oil mill at this site, therefore a tilt mill could not have been a success, as prior to the Revolution the building had been used as a paper mill. Samuel (2) Levis, had several sons, among them Samuel (3),
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William and Isaac Levis, all manufacturers. Isaac in 1775 moved to Ridley creek, where now the Media water works are erected. William had mills near the Glenwood mill site : Samuel (3) died in 1793, and the Glenwood mill site descended to Samuel (4) Levis, who died in 1813, the estate passing to his sons, William. Samuel (5) and Oborn. To William came the mills which later became the Eckstein mills, to Samuel (5), the present Glenwood mills, and to Oborn the Oborn Garrett mills. Samuel (5) and Oborn later exchanged properties and Oborn Levis came into possession of the Glenwood mills. They were operated by Thomas Amies & Son from 1828 to 1838, later by Israel Amies and Benjamin Gaskill until 1840. From that time Oborn and Samuel G. Levis conducted the mills until the death of Oborn, when they passed to the sole control of Samuel G. Levis. In 1862 the paper mill was torn down, and a cotton and woolen mill erected of large proportions, turning out many thou- sands of yards of goods daily.
The Tuscarora mills are located at the bend of Darby creek, where the line of Springfield township unites with the creek. Prior to the Revolution a grist mill was here located, where a paper mill was later erected by Samuel Levis. This paper mill was owned and conducted by Samuel Levis until his death in 1793, when it passed to his son William, who dying in 1818, the mills were sold to William Palmer and Jonathan Marker. They continued paper making until 1830, when Frederick Server, a son-in-law of William Palmer, succeeded. The paper made was a coarse card board, and business was continued success- fully until the flood of 1843 washed away a part of the building. In 1844 George Burnley purchased the property, and the same year erected the two and a half story stone cotton mill known as the Tuscarora mills, the noted packet- ship of that name having brought Burnley from England to America. In 1860, Charles and John, sons of George Burnley, succeeded to the business until about 1865, when the mills were leased to Samuel Levis, who operated them until 1870, since when they have passed through various hands. Other mills of small proportions and long ago gone from even recollection, have existed on Darby creek, but the above include all of importance, that have a history of interest.
The first mill seat on Cobb creek, within the limits of Upper Darby, was on the present grounds of Fernwood cemetery. This site was occupied by Benjamin Bonsall, who erected a saw mill there soon after 1822. This mill is mentioned on assessment rolls from 1825 until 1848, when it disappears. The same dam that furnished water for Bonsall's saw mill also furnished power for a snuff mill located on the east side of the creek, in Philadelphia county. In 1807 this snuff mill was owned by Gavin Hamilton, and was continued in operation until 1826.
About 1831 a foundry and machine shop was erected on Cobb's creek above Naylor's Run by Coleman Sellers, the water power coming from Nay- lor's Run and from the old Sellers' mill dam. Coleman Sellers was an inventive genius, who had received a medal with $20 from the corporation of Philadelphia "for a simple and effective cupping instrument" which he had
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invented. At this machine shop, locomotives were built, one of which was used on the Columbia & Philadelphia railroad. In February, 1842, the shop was sold to John Wiltbanks, who sold the machinery and material on hand to Nathan H. Baker and changed the building into a cotton factory, which was operated for a time by Benjamin Gartside. In 1856 the building was bought by Whiteley Brothers & Company, who enlarged it and carried on woolen and cotton manufacturing until 1881, when it was bought by Wolfenden Shore & Company, who continued to operate it in connection with their other factory, adjoining the old Sellers Locomotive Works.
On Naylor's run, which empties into Cobb's creek, there stood in 1799 a saw mill owned by Nathan Sellers, who that year was taxed on the assessment roll with David Sellers, on grist, cotton and saw mills. The latter, at the loca- tion named, was operated by Jesse Hayes for many years, then abandoned. Farther up Naylor's run is the Millbank grist mill, which was erected and first assessed in 1799, as owned by John Sellers, who devised it in 1804 to his sons, Nathan and David Sellers. Nathan later acquires sole title and at his death it passed to his son, Nathan (2) Sellers. The old mill was rebuilt in 1833 and conducted by Lewis Watkins, who December 31, 1853, purchased the mill, which later passed to his son, William Watkins. Above the Millbank grist mill, on the same stream, Samuel Levis was operating a blade mill in 1807, which until after 1812 was conducted by William Rowland, and by Samuel Levis until about 1848. This property afterward passed to David Sellers, then to Edward McGrath. Above this Samuel Levis blade mill and above the Garrettford road, there stood in 1840, on Naylor's run, a saw mill owned by Abraham Powell, and later than 1848 a grist mill was also erected there. After Powell's death the property was sold to Levis Watkins, who operated the mills until 1854, when he sold to Edward Thornley. The mills were rented to William Pyle until 1858, when they were discontinued.
The Cardington mills stand on an ancient mill site occupied in 1798 by a cotton mill owned by Nathan and David Sellers, the first cotton mill of record in Delaware county. Prior to 1810 it was changed to a paper mill, which was destroyed by fire in 1815. On the ruins was built a tilt mill, owned by David Sellers and operated by a man named Sontag. In 1826, David Snyder was the lessee, and that year the plant turned out 1200 dozen spades and shovels. The plant was operated by different parties until 1845, when James Cadwalader rebuilt and ran the mill until 1857, when it was leased to Wolfenden Shore & Company. The old tilt mill was standing when the latter firm leased the premises, and they at once converted it into a woolen yarn manufacturing plant. In 1863 they erected a stone mill one story in height, known as mill No. I. In 1863, they bought the property, added a second story to mill No. I, and built mill No. 2, enclosing within its limits the old tilt mill. In 1870 they built a stone picker house and a doubling and twisting house, also of stone. In 1871 a fire in the picker room caused serious loss, but a greater one to the mills of Whiteley Brothers & Company adjoining. In December, 1880, a fire again occurred in the picker room, causing a severe loss. In 1881, Wolfenden Shore
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& Company purchased the adjoining woolen and cotton factory of Whiteley Brothers & Company, and have since operated both as the Cardington mills manufacturing yarn and cloth.
Prior to 1750 and in 1766, the Marshalls-John, Thomas and again a John Marshall-operated and owned saw, fulling and grist mills on Cobb's creek, above Naylor's run, drawing water through a race way from higher up Cobb's creek, that later formed part of the Cardington mills race way.
The Milbourne mills, yet owned in the Sellers family, stand on land pur- chased and located on by Samuel Sellers in 1682, although not surveyed to him until 1690-1691. He came from Derbyshire, England, in 1682, and later made additional purchases in the neighborhood, as did his sons and grandsons. He was a weaver by trade and is credited with having erected the first twisting mill in this country. His grandson John, born 1728, died 1804, invented the process of weaving wire cloth, and also manufactured Dutch fans. He was much interested in utilizing the water power of Cobb's creek and developed six of the sites along that stream and Naylor's run, which were afterwards used by his descendants. He owned grist and saw mills built prior to 1749 and operated in 1766 by James Steel, who continued their operation until 1805, when he was succeeded by his son, Thomas (2) Steel, who in 1814 purchased the Darby mills and moved there. In 1814 John (2) Sellers, who had inherited the mills, built the old part of the present mill and his son, John (3) Sellers, who had Icarned the trade of miller with Thomas Steel, took charge of the new mill, which was fitted with all the improved machinery of the time. John (2) Sell- ers in 1782 also owned a tannery on the Wayside farm. An oil mill also stood on the banks of a little stream which empties into the Milbourne mills race way, that was in operation from before 1800 until after 1848. The old grist mill stood above the present mill, and in 1820 was used for grinding gypsum. As late as 1830 Augustus C. Jones was operating the old mill, grinding logwood and spices. The new mill, under John (3) Sellers, in 1820 ground 8572 bushels of merchant wheat; 3366 bushels of grist wheat; 4367 bushels of rye : 3784 bushels of corn; 1168 bushels of buckwheat; and 843 of oats, mak- ing a total of 22,100 bushels of grain. In 1825, 12,000 bushels of merchant wheat were ground. In 1868 a large addition was made to the mill, and in 1876 auxiliary steam power was added to the turbine wheel. In 1878, John (3) Sellers died, his sons having been in charge of the mill some time prior to his death. In 1879 "roller process" was installed, and the output greatly increased. The year's output of 22,100 bushels in 1820 became in 1883 the great amount of 256,663 bushels of wheat purchased, and 53,125 barrels of four made. The mills yet continue in the family, owned by grandsons and great-grandsons of the John Sellers who built the mill in 1814.
The Keystone paper mill stands on a tract taken up by John Blunston, November 18, 1683. No record exists of a mill on the property until 1807, when George Sellers, owned a saw mill there, which had been built before 1803 and was conducted by him until 1830. The mill was located on Cobb's creek, above Indian creek, with a mill race one and a half miles long. From 1830
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to April 1, 1854, it was used as an oil mill by Samuel Hantraft, who sold his lease to C. S. Garrett, wlio removed the oil making machinery and installed a paper making plant. He continued in the paper business there until 1866, when, having purchased the water privilege, he erected the Keystone paper mills, on land owned by him about half a mile above the old mill. The several buildings are of stone, the machinery of the best modern type, the product, card paper of various kinds.
Other mills in the township of Upper Darby, variously located, were the Abraham Johnson grist and saw mills; John Evans, John Tyson, Jacob Lobb and the Thomas Pilkinton grist mills, which flourished from 1766 to 1804. In 1779, William Davis and Benjamin Brannon owned and operated distilleries. In 1870, William Hall & Company erected at Fernwood a shoddy and waste wood mill, removing their business there from Darby borough.
Edgemont Township Mills .- The first mention of a mill in Edgemont is on the assessment list of 1799, when Thomas Johnson appears as owner of a saw mill. In 1802 George Antricum is also assessed on a saw mill, probably the same mill, as Johnson's mill is not named on the lists of that year. In 1807 there was still a mill at the same point, and two distilleries are named in 1812. all owned and operated by Antricum until 1825. In that year they were sold to Jonathan N. Hatch, who enlarged and began the manufacture of cotton yarn. He operated successfully until 1838, when the mill was destroyed by firc. The building remained in ruins until about 1855, when Joseph Shimer fitted up a portion of it and began the manufacture of cotton laps, remaining several years, then built a mill lower down on the opposite side of the creek in New- town, where he continued in the same business. In 1870, the old Hatch mill was used by Alfred Hatch, as a factory for the manufacture of cotton laps.
In 1799, Joseph, a grandson of Robert Pennell, who came in 1691, owned a tannery near Howellville, which later passed to Thomas Evans and about 1830 became the property of Israel Howell, a leather merchant of Philadel- phia, for whom Howellville was named. The tannery was discontinued many years ago. On Green's run may vet be found the ruins of a saw mill built by George Green in 1807 and operated until 1820, and later by Isaac Green. In 1817, Robert Green had a fulling mill on Rocky run, which in 1826 was operated by William Owens & Company. This mill continued in use until about 1864, when it was burned, having been used for a few years by James Campbell for carding and carpet weaving. In 1870 a cotton lap factory was owned at the same locality by James Gamble. About 1815, James Yarnall built a grist and saw mill on a branch of Ridley creek, which in 1829 was owned by Reuben Yarnall.
Middletown Township Mills .- Caleb Pusey, manager of the Chester Mills, partner with William Penn and others, at the court held at Chester, 5th day, first week, 10th month, 1686, "Petitioned against Cobourn for setting a water mill above him on Upland creek." The court, however, "considering the prem- ise, and finding it to be for the common good, dispenseth therewith." There was much litigation about the matter, it being carried to the Provincial Council
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by the friends of Cobourn in a petition which the council sustained, and the mill was erected, in spite of Pusey's efforts to the contrary. The mill thus built was at the site later occupied by the Forest Dale or Dutton's mills, and until 1829 was within the limits of Chester, when by a change of the township line it was placed within Middletown. On November 28, 1682, 300 acres of land abutting on Chester creek were surveyed to Thomas Cobourn, where in the summer of 1687 he was erecting his gristmill, and after the council justified his right of so doing he speedily completed it. The mill was a log structure, and old Thomas Cobourn, a carpenter, assisted by his sons William and Joseph. did the greater part of the work of erection. In 1695 the mill was appraised at £50, when the assessment for the county levy was made by the grand jury and justices. In 1750 a new stone mill was built, and the log structure aban- doned. At a subsequent date the mill and land title passed to a Lewis, whose heirs, Mary Cox and John Lewis, conveyed the premises to Nicholas Fair- lamb, February 14, 1775, the deed designating that there was then on the tract "a water corn-mill or grist mill, bolting mill, and saw mill. On November 12. 1792, Jonathan Dutton, became owner of the mills by sale, and his son John was placed in management when he became of age. At the death of his father in 1820, John became owner. In the great flood of 1843 the mills were com- pletely destroyed, and Jonathan (2) Dutton narrowly escaped drowning. The mills were rebuilt in 1844. Upon the death of Jonathan (2) Dutton in 1880. George G. Dutton fell heir to the property, thus being the fourth generation in a direct line to own the mills. He operated a grist, saw, and turning mill.
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