USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume I > Part 50
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51
On1 4th mo. 14, 1698, Richard Hayes, the attorney previously mentioned, acquired 160 acres of land on the east side of Darby creek. Here in 1707, he. in partnership with David Morris, and Samuel Lewis, erecteu a grist-mill which he conducted until his death in 1738. In 1802 this property, as well as a saw mill thereon, was possessed by Maris Worrell, and was owned by him for eighteen years. Elisha Worrell had it in 1826, but it was operated by Thomas Steel. Four years later it had once more changed tenants-Joseph Leedom. In 1875 Maris W. Leedom was its proprietor, and upon his death it passed to his widow. Humphrey Ellis, 10 mo. 2, 1694, purchased 220 acres on the east bank of Darby creek, thereon erecting a fulling mill, which he suc- cessfully operated, conveying it to his son Humphrey in 1790. Peter Brown about 1800 became owner and operator of grist and saw mills on the head waters of Cobb's creek. On February 11, 1802, the property consisted of 130 acres, with a grist and saw-mill, and this he sold to William Hill, William White and Miers Fisher, who, July 1, 1807, conveyed the same to Samuel Garriques, house carpenter. He operated them several years, but lack of power caused their abandonment, and they are mentioned in the report of a Delaware county committee on manufactories, submitted in 1826, as "an old
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stone grist-mill which has been out of use for several years past." Part of this tract was sold July 26, 1834, to the Haverford School Association, and is now embraced in the Haverford College property.
A saw mill was built about the beginning of the nineteenth century, on the spot probably once occupied by Humphrey Ellis in 1790, and at different times was a possession of Henry Lawrence and his sons, Thomas, Mordecai and William. In 1832 William Lawrence erected a stone grist-mill on Darby creek, a little down stream from the saw-mill, which for many years was a possession of the Lawrence family.
About 1810, Jonathan Miller erected grist and saw mills on Cobb's creek, soon after devoted to the manufacture of gunpowder. In 1827 Samuel Lee- dom was engaged as manager, and in 1844 purchased the mills and remained until his death, about 1870. Augustus Leedom was the next owner, succeeded by a Mr. Lombert, who, was followed by George Dickinson, who purchased the property in February, 1879.
Mills known as the Nitre Hall mills, devoted to the manufacture of gunpowder, were established in Haverford township just prior to the war of 1812, and were owned and operated by Israel Wheeler and William Rogers Jr., until 1825. From this time until his death in 1840, Rogers conducted the business alone. At this later date Dennis Kelly purchased the property, using the principal building as a woolen and cotton-factory. For the next forty years it was the property of Kelly and his heirs, George Callahan then be- coming its owner, employing John and Thomas Burns as managers. About 1814, Dennis Kelly, with borrowed capital, purchased Isaac Ellis' mill-seat on Cobb's creek, erecting a small stone woolen factory named the Clinton mills. The speculation was a great success, and soon after, in partnership with George Wiest, the remainder of Ellis' property was bought and Clinton mills considerably enlarged. Mr. Kelly, however, was soon alone in the business, and under his skillful management it developed rapidly, large quantities of goods being furnished to the United States government for use in the making of army and navy uniforms. In 1826 Joshua Humphrey's grist-mill was pur- chased and its manufactures changed to cotton and woolen goods, being named Castle Hill Mills. Samuel Rhoads occupied the latter mills for several years, and February 20, 1834, it was utterly destroyed by catching fire from the picker, the $10,000 insurance being entirely inadequate to cover the loss. After its rebuilding, John Hazlitt, George Burnley, James Howorth, Boyle and Calle- ghan, were among its leases and operators. John Boyle about 1865 erected a large four-story building above Castle Hill mills, intended for the manufacture of woolen and cotton goods, but the venture was not successful.
Names identified with the milling interests of Haverford township, in con- nection with fulling-mills, grist-mills, saw-mills, powder-mills, tanneries and paper mills, between 1766 and 1830, and not previously mentioned with a de- tailed account of the mills, are as follows: Isaac Davis, Elisha Worrall, Fran- cis Lee, John Moore, Philip Sheaff, Thomas Brooke, Joseph Davis, James
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'Tyson, Enoch Watkins, John Dolen, Joseph Mathews, Francis Goucher, Man- uel Eyre, Clermont Lawrence.
INDUSTRIES.
Chester .- Much of the territory embraced within the present city of Ches- ter was included in the township area of Delaware county, and not until 1866 did it take on the form of a city government, although created a borough in 1703. Many great industries have existed here, and the city is the present seat of many plants of great importance. The census of 1910 gives the number of manufacturing plants as 128, engaging the service of 7867 persons. The metal working industries are the most important. As combined, they reported (census of 1910), one-third of the total value of the city products. Next in importance are the textile industries, particularly cotton, woolen and worsted goods, the total output for the two classes of goods being more than one-fourth of the total value of all manufactured products reported for the city. The slaughtering and meat packing, pottery, terra cotta and fire clay, and leather (tanned, curried and finished) industries, rank in the order named. An abstract from the census report of 1910 shows : Plants, 128; persons engaged, 7867 ; proprietors and firm members, 102; salaried officers, superintendents and managers, 243; male clerks, 436; female clerks, 100; operatives, 6986, of whom 5262 were males, 1488 females, and of these 236 were under six- teen years of age. The value of the manufactured products was $19,373,314, of which about $7,000,000 was in excess of cost of raw materials and expense of manufacturing.
Among the great industries of Chester, now past and gone, was that of shipbuilding, and the greatest of these, The Delaware River Iron Ship Build- ing and Engine Company, commonly known as Roach's Ship Yard. Ship- building was begun at that yard in 1859 by Thomas Reaney, a former member of the firm of Reaney & Neafie, of Philadelphia. He established an extensive shipyard in connection with William B. Reaney and Samuel Archbold, the firm name being Reaney, Son & Archbold, the plant being known as the Pennsylvania Iron Works. The first did a large business, erected costly build- ings, filled in a large area of river front, and put in a great deal of valuable machinery. During the Civil War they did a great deal of work for the gov- ernment, building the war vessels "Wateree," "Suwanee" and "Shamokin," double enders ; the monitors "Sagamore" and "Lehigh ;" the light draught mon- itor "Tunxis ;" and other boats for various purposes, including the river steam- boat "Samuel M. Felton." In 1871 the firm made an assignment and the yard was purchased by John Roach. Under the firm name, The Delaware River Iron Ship Building and Engine Company, there was constructed at these yards, many vessels of size and speed, including the first vessels for the new navy begun by the government after the wooden type of war vessel passed away. The steamers for the merchant service included "The City of Peking" and "City of Tokio," the largest vessels ever built in this country up to that date. 1873-1874; the "City of Para," launched April 6, 1878, in the presence of the
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President of the United States, hundreds of invited guests from all over the country and thousands of spectators; the "City of San Francisco," "City of New York," "City of Sydney," "San Jose," "San Juan," "San Blas," "City of Panama," and "City of Guatemala." In 1873 the iron-clad sloops-of-war "Alert" and "Alliance" were built for the government : in 1875. the monitor "Miantinomah," and there was begun the then new type of war vessels the cruisers "Boston," ".Atlanta." "Chicago." the monitor "Puritan," and the dis- patch boat "Dolphin." On May 22, 1877, the steamship "Saratoga" was ready for launching, but before reaching the water, caught several workmen in the timbers underneath, killing seven and wounding others. In 1877 a sectional dry dock was built at the yards for the government, in four sections, this was shipped to Pensacola. Florida, and placed in service there. Great activity ex- isted at the yards under the Roaches, father and son, but its glory has de- parted, and but little remains to speak of the former greatness.
William Frick and William Wilson, came to Chester in 1860 and estab- lished a yard for the building of canal boats. They expended a great deal of money in erecting piers and filling in the low and marshy ground, and did a large business, but eventually failed.
Charles A. Weidner, at the Chester Iron Works, also built several steam- boats and other vessels, including the United States revenue steamer "Man- hattan," pronounced by government inspectors the best vessel in the revenue service. Other builders conducted marine building, but nothing beyond the building of pleasure yachts, launches and small crafts is now carried on.
Chester Mills .- The Broad Street Mills, at Broad and Crosby streets, for the making of bedticking, warps and copse, was originally a sash and blind fac- tory, but in 1856 were used by James Campbell for the manufacture of cotton goods. He died in 1862, the mills passing into the hands of Gen. Patterson and were purchased by James Stevens in 1882. The Keokuk Mills were es- tablished in 1852 by Benjamin Gartside, who later admitted his sons, James and Amos to partnership. The Arasapha Mills were established in 1854 by Abraham Blakeley for the manufacture of tickings, denims and stripes. The mills after a successful career, are now consolidated with the Aberfoyle Man- ufacturing Company. The Phoenix Cotton and Woolen Mills were built by Spencer Mellvaine and operated by John Green as the Continental Mills, later passing to the ownership of Ashforth and Downey of Philadelphia. The Mohawk Mills, operated by Robert Hall in 1872, was originally a machine shop built by John M. Broomall, and passed through various hands and ex- periences before becoming a cotton and woolen mill.
The Irving and Leiper Manufacturing Company, still an important Ches- ter enterprise, was founded in 1859 by James and David Irving, in partner- ship with Thomas I. Leiper, trading as Irving & Leiper. In 1878 the Irving and Leiper Manufacturing Company was incorporated. The Victoria Mill was established by John Gartside in 1860, when the building was erected, four stories in height, and in 1873 was enlarged and later other buildings erected, devoted to the manufacture of woolen cassimers and cloakings. These
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mills are now known as the Lenni Mills, manufacturing plush goods. The Chester Dock Mills was founded in 1853 by Phineas Lownes and J. William Lewis, at Knowlton, Middletown township, who continued there until 1864. when they moved to Third and Garfield streets, Chester, to a three-story stone building, they there erected. Later the firm consisted of J. William Lewis and Albert A. Roop, engaged in the manufacture of cloth and yarn. The Patterson Mills were erected in 1866 by Gen. Robert Patterson, and devoted to the manu- facture of cotton goods. After the General's death the mills were operated for his estate until sold. The Sunnyside Mills, at the corner of Morton avenue and Ledyard street, were erected in 1865 by Henry McIlvaine and John Hink- son, sold to John Ledyard, who operated them until 1882, when the plant was totally destroyed by fire, but were rebuilt and have passed to other hands. The Algodon Mills were established in 1866 by James Barton Jr., and Simeon Cotton, the latter retiring in 1876. Barton continuing until 1881.
The Yeadon Mills were erected in 1867 by McCrea & Company, of Phila- delphia, for the manufacture of denims and tickings, and were known as the Fulton Mills. They were operated by Jolin Brewster, who in May, 1870, saw his mills consumed by fire. The ground was purchased and the mills rebuilt by William Bullock, who changed their name to the Yeadon Mills. In 1870 they were purchased by G. P. Denis and operated for the manufacture of fancy cassimere. The Lilley Manufacturing Company, incorporated January 3, 1880, was founded August 1, 1873, as John Lilley & Son, on Front street, for the manufacture of cotton and woolen cloth and cotton yarn. The Chester City Mills were established in 1877 by Branagan & Lamb, at the corner of Front and Parker streets, for the manufacture of woolen yarn and jeans.
The S. A. Crozer & Son cotton mills, erected in 1880, stand on ground on Edgemont avenue, on which in 1837 Jacob G. Kilts established the first foun- dry in Delaware county. In his advertisement in the Delaware County Re- publican of September 29. 1837, he states: "The subscriber having established an iron foundry at Chester, is now ready and prepared to receive orders for iron castings of all kinds and descriptions, such as mill gearing and machinery for flour and paper mills-mills' horse-power for thrashing machines, wheels for railroad cars, axles, etc. All of which will be made and fitted to order." In 1837 Kilts & Kerlin carried on the business and erected the first stationary engine and steam boiler ever erected in Chester. In 1840 they made the sec- ond engine and boiler used in Chester, for the William Brobson tannery. In 1841 "Brass and Bell Foundry" was added to their title. Kilts failed in 1844, and the business was carried on by others, and work turned out by the plant was regarded as wonderful and marvelous in that day. In 1880, S. A. Crozer & Son erected their cotton mill, which still continues under the same name as does their plant at Upland.
The Lincoln Manufacturing Company was organized in Chester in 1881, for the purpose of manufacturing cotton yarns in the mill erected for that purpose on Morton avenue. The Stotesbury Mill at Fourteenth street and Edgemont avenue was built in 1874, by J. Lewis Crozer, and the manufacture
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of cotton yarn there begun in that year by James M. Stotesbury, who contin- ned until 1883.
In 1873. James Bowers & Son began business in Waterville as manufac- turer: of shoddy. In 1877 they moved their machinery to a building at the corner of Sixth and Madison streets, Chester, where in 1884 they erected a new building of brick and stone devoted to the manufacture of assorted waste. This business is continued as James Bowers & Sons, limited.
Morton & Black's saw mill and sash factory was established in 1865 at the foot of Morton avenue, by Crosly P. Morton and J. Frank Black.
The Chester Edge Tool Works, operated for the estate of John B. Black, was established in Chester in 1871, by John C., son of William Beatty, and passed into the Black family in April 1875.
The Riverside Dye Wood Mills, now the American Dye Wood Company, is the outgrowth of a business started in 1835 in Waterville by Smith & Harts- horne. In 1878 John M. Sharpless & Company purchased the site of Frick's old shipyard on the Delaware river, adjoining Roach's shipyard, and erected suitable buildings to carry on the business.
The Combination Steel and Iron Company was founded in 1880, with John Roach, president, for the production of bar and angle iron.
The Eureka Cast Steel Company erected buildings and commenced busi- ness in 1877, doing a large business in their ample buildings, the first president of the company being John A. Emick.
The firm of Robert Wetherill & Company began in a partnership January 1, 1872, between Robert and Richard Wetherill. Their plant, consisting of foundry machine shops, boiler rooms, located at Sixth, Upland and Seventh streets, is devoted to the manufacture of Corliss engines, boilers, shafting, gearing, etc. The business is large, and conducted under the firm name of Robert Wetherill & Company, (incorporated).
The Chester Steel Casting Company, another of the important industries of Chester, was organized in 1870 and in 1871 erected a foundry at Sixth and Norris streets. Their business, as manufacturers of steel castings, is con- clucted at Seventh and Broomall.
Ocheltree's Carriage Works were established on Edgemont avenue in 1877. As busiess increased, new buildings were erected on a site not far removed, where the business is now conducted.
Price's Brick Yard was established in 1854 on the site of the Yeadon Mills, at the corner of Tenth and Upland streets. About 1864 seven acres were purchased on Fifth and Parker streets, and business continued.
The manufacture of paper from straw was carried on in Chester as early as 1829, the mill being one of the first in this country where straw paper was made.
In South Chester borough, now part of the city of Chester, many import- ant industries existed. The Auvergne Mills began business at the foot of Flower street in 1868, but October 3, 1873. was destroyed by fire. The plant was rebuilt, and the manufacture of cotton and woolen goods resumed in 1874.
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D. Trainer and Sons began the manufacture of fine yarns in 1872. The Wy- oming Mill, devoted to the manufacture of cotton cloth, began business in 1873, being operated for several years by Samuel Montgomery and his sons, finally passing to Joseph Byram. The Continental Mill, established by Simeon Cotton in 1876, was devoted to the manufacture of cotton warp. Cotton yarn was manufactured at the Garfield Mill and oil-cloth at the works on Telgham street.
The Chester Rolling Mills were incorporated March 10, 1875, with John Roach, as president ; a large business was transacted for several years. The Chester Pipe and Tube Company, was incorporated in 1877. The Standard Steel Casting Company, was incorporated June 22, 1883. The Chester Oil Company was organized in 1880, and began the refining of oil, shipping their product to all parts of the world. The Seaboard Oil Company (now the Crew Levick Company) was organized in 1881, and became refiners of oil and man- u facturers of lubricating oils, parafine oils and wax, gasoline and naptha. They have won a commanding position in the market, and are one of Chester's strong institutions.
The Irvington Mills, at Irvington, are located on an old mill property on which saw and grist mills existed from an early date. In 1843 James Riddle and Henry Lawrence changed them to cotton mills, which they operated until 1845. In that year James and David Irving leased the mills of Pierce Crosby until 1857, when they purchased the property. In 1860 an additional mill was erected; in 1862 David Irving continued business, Washington Irving being admitted January 1, 1866, the firm name becoming James Irving & Son. The latter died the following September, the firm name remaining unchanged. In 1879 another son, William A. Irving, was admitted to an interest. In 1880 the old grist mill was removed and Mill No. 3 erected. The business, wonder- fully enlarged, is continued under the firm name James Irving & Son (limited).
The Powhattan Mills in North Chester (Irvington), formerly known as the Pennellton Mills at Bridgewater, were purchased from Patrick Kelly in 1863 by Hugh Shaw and D. Reese Esrey, operating as Shaw & Esrey. They purchased the personal property and machinery of the Pennellton Mills, together with Kelly's interest in the brand of goods known as "Powhattan." In the spring of 1866 they bought lands at Powhattan, near Chester, and erected Powhattan Mill No. I, fitting it with machinery from the Pennellton Mill and with new woolen cloth manufacturing machinery ; Mill No. 2 was erected in 1871, and much additional machinery installed. In 1877 a third mill was erected, devoted to the manufacture of a finer grade of goods. In January, 1878, the firm of Shaw & Esrey was changed under an act of assembly to a limited com- pany, and the firm members then being Hugh Shaw, D. Reese Esrey, John Shaw, H. C. Esrey and William Shaw.
Many other firms and companies have operated in Chester and vicinity, their lines of manufacture covering a wide range. Some have passed away forever, others exist under new names, but all in their day contributed to the upbuilding of what is now a most healthy, prosperous manufacturing city. The
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following are the leading present-day manufacturers of Chester: Aberfoyle Manufacturing Company, textile fabrics: American Dyewood Company; American Steel Foundries; Arasapha Manufacturing Company, cotton goods ; Atlantic Refining Company, refining: Beacon Light Company: W. M. Boulden and Sons, iron rails ; Chessanqua Silk Company : Chester Lace Mills : Chester Milling Company : Chester Paper Company, toilet paper : Chester Spinning Mills, cotton yarns; Chester Steel Casting Company, steel castings : Robert E. Clark, thread: Columbia Worsted Company : Consumers Ice Manufacturing Company : George Coyne, chencal works : Levick Crew Company, oils ; Crown Smelting Company, brass castings: S. A. Crozer and Sons, cotton goods ; Delaware River Steel Company: Duplex Metal Company; Economy Iron Works: Emmott Worsted Spinning Company : Empire Grate Company, foun- dry castings; Federal Steel Foundry Company: E. Garrett, paper : General Chemical Company ; Stacy G. Glauser and Son, lumber and mill-work ; Grove Worsted Mills: James M. Hamilton, planing-mill : Harbison-Walker Re- fractories Company : Harper Manufacturing Company, metallic packings and machinists : George C. Hetzel and Company, worsted goods ; Huston Manufac- turing Company, comfortables : James Irving and Son ( Limited), woolen goods : Irving and Leiper Manufacturing Company, cotton goods : D. B. Ken- nedy, pattern-maker; Keystern Bitumen Enamel Company ; Keystone Cabinet Company, furniture : Keystone Drop Forge Works: Keystone Fibre Com- pany : Keystone Plaster Company: Keystone Steel Castings Company : Key- stone Type Foundry ; J. B. King and Company, plaster and cement : A. Knabb and Company, barrels; J. K. Lamb Textile Machinery Company ; Manufac- turers Paraffine Company : William J. Morgan, wall paper and paints : Charles L. Moser, oils and cooperage ; Nelson Spinning Company, yarns : New Farson Manufacturing Company, furniture and refrigerators; M. Ochetree, car- riages : Paraffine Manufacturing Company: Penn Ice Works, incorporated : Penn Pattern Company : Penn Steel Casting and Machinery Company ; Phila- delphia Quartz Company, Philadelphia Suburban Gas and Electric Company : Plitt and Company, iron and steel: Rawleigh Medical Company; Riverside Machine Company : S. and L. Rubber Company ; Scott Paper Company, toilet paper : Seaboard Steel Castings Company; W. T. Seth, paper and twine; Smedley Brothers, paper and metals; Solid Steel Casting Company; South Chester Tube Company; Thompson Worsted Company: Trainer Spinning Company, cotton yarn ; \. P. Whitman Company, forgings : Daniel Lees Es- tate, plushes : Lenni Quarry Company, stone.
Other mills and industries of the county worthy of especial mention : The Pennsylvania Iron Works Company, Eddystone ; The Columbia Worsted Com- pany of Wallingford. Wallingford: The Eagan-Rogers Steel & Iron Company. Crum Lynne: O. W. Ketcham Architectural Terra Cotta Company, Crum Lynne : The Providence Worsted Company, Irvington; Protoxide Manufac- turing Company, Marcus Hook ; Ridley Park Brick Company, Crum Creek : The Sun Oil Company, Marcus Hook: United Roofing and Manufacturing Company, Marcus Hook ; 1. Wallworth & Sons, cotton and wool manufac-
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turers, Upland ; The Penn Tapestry Company, Glen Riddle ; The Lenni Quarry Company, Lenni; Yorkshire Worsted Mills, Lenni; The Brandywine Summit Kaolin & Feldspar Works, Brandywine Summit ; The Griswold Worsted Mills, Darby; Caledonia Woolen Mills, Clifton Heights; Colonial Manufacturing Company, Turkish towels, Clifton Heights; Columbia Worsted Company, Scottdale Road; Crucible Steel Casting Company, South Union avenue and Pennsylvania railroad, Lansdowne : Nelson Kershaw Mills, Turkish toweling, Clifton Heights ; Primos Chemical Company, Primos; Media Cold Storage and Ice Company, Media; Schoen-Jackson Company, Rose Valley Road, Moylan ; Victoria Plush Mills, Swarthmore : Delaware County Electric Company, Pow- er House, Morton ; Essington Machinery and Brass Works, Essington ; Es- sington Ship Building Company (Limited), Essington; Ridley Park Brick Company; H. K. Mulford Company, vaccine and anti-toxine (laboratories South Avenue and Chester Pike), Glen Olden; Roberts Filter Manufacturing Company, Darby : The Dairymen's Supply Company, manufacturers of dairy machinery and supplies, Baltimore Avenue and Pennsylvania railroad, Lans- downe.
EARLY TRANSPORTATION AND RAILROADS.
In these days of the twentieth century, when the first requirement of any innovation or invention is that of time saving; when man is progressive along scientific lines at such a rate that his power seems to be almost limitless; when automobiles, steam and electric trains and power driven bicycles think nothing of sixty miles an hour; when steamships breast the mighty Atlantic in four days; when rivers are tunneled under instead of crossed over; when railroads travel for miles under ground to avoid the delay incident to conges- tion above ; and when aeroplanes dip, swerve, and outfly the bird thousands of feet above us, it is almost appalling to think of the methods of travel employed by those hardy pioneers, the John the Baptists of our modern civilization. For then no express train panted and puffed in a magnificent and spacious ter- minal; it was their lot to saddle the horse, pack food for man and beast, tra- verse the country road and forest trail, and endure the rigors and hardships of that mode of travel for two or three full days. It was not for them, if a wife or daughter wished to visit a relative, sixty or seventy miles away, to place her in a velvet upholstered parlor car and to commend her to the courteous care of an immaculate conductor for an hour and a half, but a pillion must be strapped behind the husband's or father's saddle, a mounting block placed, and the maid or matron seated behind her escort, there to have her less hardened frame racked for several days by the ceaseless lurching and swaying of the faithful animal as it climbed the hills, descended into the valleys and traversed the plains. To cross an intervening river was not the unimportant feature of the journey it has now become. Then, a ford must needs be found where the horse could wade; or, if he were well trained and capable, and the current not too swift, horse and rider might swim the stream. At best it was an uncom- fortable proceeding.
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