USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume I > Part 49
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On Ithan creek in Radnor, a mill seat, on land of the heirs of Andrew Steel, deceased. On Ithan creek, in Radnor, a grist-mill and saw-mill, head and fall about twenty-three feet, owned and occupied by Jolin and David Evans. Near the head of Ithan creek, in Radnor, a grist mill and saw-mill, head and fall about sixteen feet, grinds from eight to ten thousand bushels of grain per annum, and about fifty tons gypsum per annum, saw-mill employed occasionally, owned and occupied by Jesse Brooke. On Darby creek, above Ithan creek, in Radnor, a mill seat, head and fall fourteen or sixteen feet,
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owned by Samuel Kelly and others. On a westerly branch of Darby creek, in Radnor, a saw mill, head and fall about eighteen feet, owned and occupied by Levi Lewis. On Darby creek, in Radnor, an old grist mill, head and fall about ten feet, owned by Levi Lewis, occupied by John Weaver, grinds from ten to twelve thousand bushels of grain per annum. On easterly branch of Darby creek, in Radnor, a mill seat, on lands of Levi Lewis. On the same branch, in Radnor, a mill seat, on lands of Elizabeth Matlock and others. On the same branch a clover-mill and a saw mill owned by William Siter, and occupied by William Wilfong, junior.
In 1829-30, the mills and owners were mentioned: Brooke's grist and saw mills : John and David Evans' grist and saw mills ; Edward Siter and Yo- cum's tanyard, and William Siter's saw mill. In 1829 Eber James erected an earthenware pottery kiln on the old Lancaster road, near the 15th mile-stone, operating the same until his death in 1845, when Benjamin Jones became man- ager of the works, being succeeded by L. G. James, a son of Eber. Isaac Hoopes subsequently conducted the business for several years.
Thornbury Township Mills .- Early in 1850 the English Parliament en- acted a law "to encourage the importation of pig and bar-iron from his Maj- esty's Colonies in America, and to prevent the erection of any mill or other en- gine for the slitting or rolling of iron, or any plating forge to work with a tilt hammer, or any furnace for making steel in any of the said Colonies" and in- structed the governors in the American colonies to certify the number, as well as "a particular account" of such establishments in the territory under their jurisdiction. In compliance with this act of Parliament, Lieutenant Gover- nor James Hamilton, in his proclamation of August 16, 1750, required the sheriff of the Pennsylvania counties to report by September 25 of that year apon all such places of business "within their several and respective counties." The report of John Owen, sheriff of Chester county, taken from the Pennsyl- vania Archives, ist series, volumes 2, page 57 :
To the Hon. James Hamilton, Esqr., Lieutenant-Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of Pensilvania and Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, on Dela- ware.
I, John Owen, sheriff of the County of Chester, in the said Province, do Certify and make known, That, there is but one mill or engine for slitting and rolling Iron within the County aforesaid, which is situate in Thornbury Township, and was Erected in the Year One thousand Seven Hundred and forty-Six, by John Taylor, the present Pro- prietor thereof, who, with his Servants and workmen, has ever since, untill the twenty- fourth day of June last, Used and Occupied the Same. And I do hereby further certify that there is not any Platering fforge to work with a Tilt-Hammer, nor any ffurnace for making of Steel within the said County of Chester. In Witness whereof I have here- unto set my hand and Seal, this Eighteenth day of September, in the Year of our Lord, one thousand Seven Hundred and fifty.
JOHN OWEN, Sheriff (L. S.)
It is probable that there is an error in this report of the sheriff, for there are almost certain indications that the forge was erected at least three years and probably more prior to 1746. In 1742, John Taylor owned a store on Chester creek, and the following order, found among his business papers. points to the fact that he was using iron at that time :
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Son Isaac: Let Sister Mary (Brogdon) have goods to the value of three pounds five shillings being for half a tun of Pig Iron. Charge it to account.
JOHN TAYLOR, July 22, 1742.
The first absolute proof that the forge was erected is the petition of Obadialı Bonsall for license to keep a tavern in Thornbury, dated August 31, 1743, on "the road leading from the French Creek Iron Works to Thorn- bury Forge," in which he uses as his argument for the erection of the inn at that place the fact that there were "many people resorting to and working at and near to the sd Forge." Another indication that the forge was erected pre- vious to 1746 is that on January 18, 1745, John Taylor made an agreement with Thomas Wills, forgeman and finer, to work in the forge for two years in making anconits at 22. 6d. per ton. The only way to effect a partial agree- mment between the statements that John Taylor was an iron worker in 1742 and that the sheriff of Chester county reported that he built the rolling and slitting-mill in 1746, is to assert that his forge was his means of livelihood in 1742 and at that time designated by the sheriff the rolling and slitting mill was erected. James M. Swank, in his volume, "The Manufacture of Iron in all Ages," states that the enterprises conducted by John Taylor
"were upon an extensive and varied scale, and included the manufacture of nails as well as nail rods. The tradition is preserved by his descendants that soon after the erection of the slitting mill, his store-keeper, in making one of his periodical visits to England to replenish his stock, surprised the Liverpool merchants by telling them that he could buy nails at Taylor's mill at lower prices than they quoted,-a revelation which added weight to the clamor then prevailing in England for the suppression of slitting-mills and similar iron establishments in America, and which agitation resulted in the passage in 1750, of an act of Parliament, which prohibited the further erection of such works."
Peter Kalm, the Swedish naturalist, in the fall of 1748 visited Marcus Hook, and stated that "from an iron works, which lies higher up in the county, they carry iron bars to this place ( Marcus Hook) and ship them." Acrelius, in his "History of New Sweden," writing of the period 1756, refers to the works as follows: "Sarum belongs to Taylor's heirs, has three stacks, and is in full blast." In that year John Taylor's death occurred, and his son John conducted the business of the plant for some time. It is recorded that in 1766 John Chamberlain operated Sarum Forge, also owning the four acres of land upon which the mill stood. John Thomson succeeded Chamberlain in ownership of the plant, becoming possessor thereof in 1770. Five years later, Anthony Wayne, who had not yet earned his title of "Mad Anthony," but was following his profession of civil engineer, surveyed the property preparatory to a partition among the heirs of John Taylor. On March 13, 1775, a partition deed was given in which Joseph Potts and Ann, his wife, of the first part, James Thomson and Sarah, his wife, Persifor Frazer and Mary, his wife, of the second part, and Thomas Bull, of East Nantmeal, Chester county, of the third part, divided 169 acres and 34 perches, "on which are erected an iron Forge, slitting mill, grist-mill, and saw-mill, with other valuable improvements."
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When the survey was made, the slitting mill, grist-mill, saw mill, and forge were on land in Aston township, but by the act of July 30, 1842, annex- ing part of Aston to Thornbury, it came into Thornbury township. The deed to Joseph Potts shows that the slitting mill was then unused and out of repair. but he was careful to have an insertion giving him the right to rebuild the old slitting mill-dam, a permission of which he later took advantage, as well as repairing the works. From 1770 to 1775 it is probable that Persifer Frazer was in charge, but in the latter year his connection therewith ceased, for he became a soldier in the Revolution, was raised to the rank of colonel, and after the war held political positions until his death. In 1779 the old slitting mill was rebuilt, and that year Morris Jones became its operator, a position he held two years in partnership with Abraham Sharpless. In 1784 Morris Jones had withdrawn from the firm, which continued business as Sharpless & Lloyd, controlling the slitting mill, grist mill and saw-mill, as well as the forge. In 1780 Lloyd and Hill rented the slitting-mill. and ten years later Sharpless & Lloyd operated all the mills at Sarum. On February 14. 1794. Abraham Sharpless purchased of Josiah Potts the slitting-mill, grist, and saw-mill prop- erty, and about 1805 the forge and four acres of land. In 1807 Sharpless, in partnership with Francis Wisely, conducted the mill business at the upper seat. from which date the forge disappears from the records, probably being aban- doned and falling into decay. From 1810 to April 2, 1836, Abraham Sharp- less conducted the rolling and slitting mill, and nearly all that time the grist and saw mills also. On the latter date the mills were sold to Wilcox, changed to paper mills, and became known as the Glen Mills.
Another forge in Thornbury was that of John Edwards, who in 1788 was assessed for 190 acres of land and a forge. It is mentioned in the report of the road commissioner in 1791, when "the road from Edgemont road to the slitting mills on Chester creek was laid out, the road passing between John Edwards' forge and dwelling house." After this, but prior to 1799. John Lewis and Wills Hemphill operated the forge, but Lewis retired from the firm, and in 1807 Wills Hemphill, -- Pennock and Nathan Edwards, were conduct- ing the business. From 1811 to 1816, Nathan Edwards appears to have oper- ated the forge, and at the latter date he owned a saw mill on the premises. The same year he built a slitting mill. and in 1826 his son, John Edwards, a lawyer and politician, owned the works, conducting the business under the name of Edwards & Kelton, at which time the annual product was from eighty to one hundred tons of sheet iron. Until 1829, both the forge and saw mill were in use, but that year the former was changed to a nail factory and the property is mentioned in the assessment roll as a rolling-mill and "one build- ing said to be intended for a nail mill." The manufacture of nails was con- tinued several years, and about 1835 the rolling mill was abandoned and the building entirely demolished in the flood of 1843.
Richard Cheyney in 1766 owned a saw mill on Chester creek, which he operated until he sold it, with eighty acres of adjoining land, to Henry Meyers. May 27, 1794. Meyers later purchased of Eli D, Peirce, agent for the estate of
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Col. Persifor Frazer, a large tract of adjoining land where Mrs. Mary Frazer had operated a saw mill during the Revolutionary war, while her husband, Colonel Frazer, was at the front. About 1867 Daniel James purchased the property.
The Brinton family of Thornbury township owned a mill on the west branch of Chester creek, a short distance above the Concord township line, as early as 1770, when William Brinton was owner of the land upon which in 1788 Joseph Brinton had a saw-mill, malt-house, and brewery. In 1802 his son John and his grandson Joseph were operating a grist mill built five years before. In 1815 the grist mill was converted into a woolen factory, and was operated by the same two. William Marshall was operator of the mill in 1826, later purchasing the business and continuing until 1835, when the building was destroyed by fire. The ground upon which it had stood was bought by Caleb Brinton, who erected thereon a stone grist mill. In 1826, under the manage- ment of William Marshall, the report of the mill was as follows: one pair of stocks, two carding engines, twenty-four and thirty-six inches, one billy of forty spindles, two jennies, of sixty and seventy spindles, with an output of from four to five hundred yards of satinets per week.
Springfield Township Mills .- The connection of the Lewis family with mills in Springfield township begins in 1779, when John Lewis' name appears on the assessment roll as being taxed for a grist mill. Nine years later a saw mill was added to his possessions, and from then until 1817 he was owner of the two. The rolls of 1811 name John Lewis, Jr., as the owner of a paper mill, and in 1817 George Lewis was interested with him in the same business. In 1835 James Ogden rented the establishment, which had that year been changed from a grist mill into a cotton factory, and was succeeded by John Reese and Mordecai Lewis, sons of George Lewis, who operated the mill, like- wise changing the old paper mill into a cotton factory. About 1854, John Reese Lewis died, the victim of a dreadful accident in which two children were drowned and his own health severely impaired. The mills were conducted by Mordecai Lewis until his death, October 14, 1870, when the business was con- tinued by his three sons, Isaac, Albert and Reese.
George Lownes in 1779 was operator of a blade mill for the manufacture of small cutlery on Lownes run, a small stream tributary to Crum creek on the Springfield road. Twenty years afterward Curtis Lownes was the posses- sor of the above property, as well as owner of a stone tilt-mill. The former he discontinued before 1807, operating the latter until after 1812. In 1816 it was changed into a carding-mill, a building 17 feet by 26 feet, and three stor- ies high. Soon after this change, George Bolton Lownes became proprietor, operating it until 1827, when Samuel Riddle rented it, continuing for two years, when he moved to a site on Chester creek, building the Parkmount Mills. In 1835 the property was in the possession of the heirs of George B. Lownes, having been previously converted into a cotton factory. It was dis- posed of at public sale May 5, 1835, its equipment being advertised as one
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picker, two carding-engines, one drawing frame, one ellipse speeder, 700 spindles, two mules of 228 spindles each, and other machinery. In 1849 and later, Edward Lane & Company, Philadelphia carriage makers, occupied the property, and subsequently a Mr. Pilkerton conducted a weaving mill there. After the destruction of the mill by fire, conveyance of the real estate was made to Thomas and Oliver Holt, who erected a three story stone factory. In 1853 an addition was made to the mill. machinery installed, and about fifty persons employed. After the retirement of Oliver Holt from the firm, Thomas Holt continued the business until May 18, 1882, when fire again destroyed the mill. The property passed to Thomas Holt's estate after his death.
Below the Lownes mill, on Lownes or Whiskey run, in 1832, Josephi Gibbons erected on his farm a three-story cotton factory, 45 by 60 feet. Simeon Lord and William Faulkner leased it until 1847, when the former moved to Avondale, dissolving the partnership. Previous to its destruction by fire in 1865, the mill was rented to Thomas and Oliver Holtz, and afterward to George Wood and Joseph Barker.
What came to be known as Fell's mills were situated at the junction of Crum creek and Providence road, where in 1766 William Fell was assessed as half owner of a saw mill, and where in 1799 Edward Fell conducted a "pot-house" (pottery ), with William Marshall as potter. Samuel Pancoast purchased the property December 12, 1805, and between 1815 and 1817 erected a grist mill, continuing the operation of the saw mill. These he operated until March 15, 1828, when William Beatty, of Lower Providence, bought four acres of land, the grist and saw mill, and built on the property a blade mill and forge, commencing the manufacture of edge-tools. John C. Beatty, his son, later came into partnership with him. The mill was washed away in the flood of the summer of 1843, was rebuilt, and in 1850 John C. Beatty sold his interest to William P. Beatty and Samuel Ogden, who continued in the business a number of years, William Beatty finally disposing of his interest to the Ogden Brothers. They shortly after conveyed the property to J. Howard Lewis.
Samuel Levis in 1766 was assessed for a grist-mill in Springfield, on Darby creek. By 1790 this mill had disappeared from the assessment rolls, but in 1799 the name again appears, when Thomas Levis owned a saw mill. and John Levis and Thomas Levis Jr., were each assessed as having half inter- est in a paper mill owned by Thomas Levis Sr. Samuel Levis was operator of the saw mill soon after 1799, conducting the same until April 15, 1825, when Osborn Levis purchased them, placing them under the management of Ste- phen Pancoast. The mill contained two vats, manufacturing about thirty- three reams of medium and forty-eight reams of printing demy paper a week. It employed twenty-three hands, and accommodations for eight families had been erected. In 1838, Moses Hey, of Haddington, rented the property, dis- placing Stephen Pancoast and changing the product of the mill from paper to wool. Seven years later he purchased the property, erecting two more mills. as well as other smaller buildings. Upon the retirement of Moses Hey from active business, on April 1, 1857, his son Emanuel succeeded him. The mills
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had twelve sets of cords, 100 looms and 4000 spindles, with an annual maxi- mumi of production of 500,000 pounds of wool and 100,000 pounds of cotton yarı1.
There were three mills in Springfield township which never survived the eighteenth century. One was a saw mill owned by Jacob Dicks, another, Elisha Jones' grist-mill, neither of which were in operation after 1780. John Heacock also owned a grist-mill from 1780 to 1799, but in the latter year it was abandoned and fell into decay.
Ridley Township Mills .- A grist-mill had been erected on Crum creek in 1764, near the site upon which the locks of the Leiper canal were subsequently located, and was owned and operated by John McIlvain. This continued in active use until 1794, when a saw-mill was built, and sold in 1827 to George G. Leiper. Jeremiah McIlvain established a tanyard in 1794, which was contin- ued by him until his death, and thereafter by his sons John and Jeremiah until subsequent to 1835. In this year the property and a bark mill which they had erected was purchased by George G. Leiper, who enlarged the bark mill by adding one and a half stories to the old structure, and leased it to James Camp- bell in 1837. He was very successful in its operation, and in the fall of 1826 the pressing need for room to accommodate the increasing demand for his product compelled him to erect a three-story stone factory, extending along the canal. Thomas M. Smith was at this time operating the saw mill, and was employed in cutting ship timbers under contract with the United States government. On December 8, 1848, the dry-house at Campbell's mill was de- stroyed by fire, and, after being rebuilt was again destroyed by the same agency, October 23, 1850. James Campbell purchased the old jail in Chester and used it as a cotton mill, continuing to operate it until 1855, when the ma- chinery was removed. In 1848 George G. Leiper erected an axe factory below the saw mill, which William Beatty operated for some time, the canal supply- ing the tilt mill with power. This was finally sold and the power it used being placed to better advantage at the cotton-mill. Michael Buggy rented the mill after Campbell moved to Chester, and until it was purchased by Daniel Lees. August 2, 1869, from the executors of George G. Leiper, operated it. Daniel Lees conducted it until July 21, 1883, when Frank J. Taylor and Oliver Holt purchased a two-thirds interest. On February 19, 1878, the mill was destroyed by fire, with a loss of $35,000, and was rebuilt in 1880. The new mill, a stone structure 104 by 50 feet, was once more burned to the ground in 1881, and a third time rebuilt.
Near the Springfield road and Little Crum creek, about a mile to the northward from Leiperville, Isaac Davis had a grist mill in 1774, which be- came the property of Peter Hill, the flour at the mill and the teams of the mil- ler being impressed for the use of the colonial army, the United States govern- ment making full payment after the war by granting a patent for 5000 acres of land in Lee county, Virginia. The mill must have been destroyed by some of the foraging parties which swept Ridley township with much disastrous re- sults, for in 1795 Peter Hill was only taxed for a saw mill, and four years
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later was assessed for 330 acres of land, a grist and saw mill. In 1808 the lat- ter was abandoned and fell into decay. The stone grist mill was 48 by 36 feet. and in 1826 was changed into a cotton factory, but was not immediately used as such. In 1842 Henry Burt occupied it as he had done prior to 1826, at which later date the building had been added to, its size being 50 by 38 feet. three and a half stories high. It contained seven carding engines, one drawing frame, 480 wadding frames, go cards, 21 Patterson speeder, and other smaller machinery. Henry Effinger was owner in 1844, and rented it to James Camp- bell, who conducted it as a spinning mill until 1846, when Charles F. and Jo- seph W. Kenworthy rented it, installing steam power. In 1847 the mill oper- ated 468 throstle spindles, 300 mule spindles, and thirty looms. Thirty hands were employed, manufacturing 4500 yards per week, with ten looms employed on Canton flannel and the remaining twenty on bagging. The engine house was burned December 19, 1848, and the mill narrowly escaped. After the Kenworthy Brothers moved to Bridgewater, the mill was idle for a short time, Samuel Hickman purchasing it and converting it into a grist mill.
The Eddystone Manufacturing Company, limited, was founded in 1844 by William Simpson, at the Falls of the Schuylkill, Philadelphia, and in 1860 the sons of the founder were admitted to the firm, which then took the name William Simpson & Sons. In 1774 the works were moved to Eddystone, and three years later the Eddystone Manufacturing Company, ( limited ) was incor - porated, in which company the members of the old firm were the chief owners of stock. At this latter date the plant was enlarged and the finest machinery obtainable for making colored prints, was obtained. The works included fif- teen buildings, consisting of engraving and color-rooms, 202 by 82 feet, one .. story high : bleaching-room. 244 by 90 feet, one-story; boiler-house, 112 by 72 feet, one-story ; cloth store-house, 112 by 50 feet, one-story; white-rooms, 107 by 84 feet, one-story, with boiler house, 202 by 72 feet, one-story ; south: dye-house, 202 by 92 feet, one-story; north dye-house, 223 by 93 feet, one- story : finishing-house, 300 by 60 feet, two stories; print works, 300 by 85 feet, three stories ; retort-house, 90 feet square, one-story ; machine shop, 150 by 60 feet, one-story, planning-mill, 100 by go feet, one-story ; pumping-house, 60 by 35 feet, one-story ; stable, 114 by 92 feet, one-story. The buildings cov- ered nearly five acres of ground, and contained fifty-four engines, with thirty- seven boilers, consuming 25,000 tons of coal per annum. About 500 men, 60 women and girls, and 160 boys were employed, with a weekly production of 30,000 pieces of cloth of forty-eight yards each. About this manufactory as
a center, quite a thriving village grew up. Eighty-five brick tenant houses were erected on the property, and many improvements made for the comfort and convenience of the employees. In 1880 the company erected a library building known as the "Eddystone Light-house," with a view to fostering the intellectual welfare of its people, as well as providing physical comfort. There was a play-ground for the use of the children of the little community, and great was its popularity among the little ones. The ideal conditions existing at Eddystone at the time made it a most desirable place to be employed, and
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contentment and satisfaction were the keynotes among the workingmen. This company has continued in successful operation until the present, and in its enlarged form has been and is the principal industry of the now borough of Eddystone.
Another large and important addition is the immense works of the Bald- win Locomotive Company, who in recent years have erected works, and now do a great deal of their business at the new plant.
The mills in Ridley township whose location is uncertain, are the saw mill for which John Lewis was assessed in 1766; James Hannum's grist-mill. appearing on the assessment roll of 1779, and the saw mill of Caleb Church- man, taxed in 1817.
Haverford Township Mills .- On Cobb's creek, near where the road passes Haver ford meeting house, there was a small grist mill as early as 1688, although its original owner is unknown. It is mentioned in the records of 1700 as follows: On 4 mo. 12th, 1700, Richard Hayes, attorney for William Howell, acknowledged a deed to David Lloyd, attorney for Rowland Powell, for 97 acres of land, with a mill called Haverford mill, and all other appurtenances and improvements thereunto belonging. In October, 1703, Daniel Humphrey acquired 241 acres of land, including the mill property, and subsequently his son Charles, a member of the Continental Congress at the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, together with his brothers, became owners of the property, which included grist, fulling, and saw-mills. In 1766 Edward Humphrey was recorded as owner of the full-mill, and Charles Humphrey of the grist and saw-mills, the latter in 1782 owning the grist and fulling mills. The property remained in the Humphrey family until 1826, when it was pur- chased by Dennis Kelly and changed into a cotton and woolen manufactory. named Castle Hill mills.
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