USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > A history of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and its people; Volume II > Part 17
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Directors of the Poor .- The early settlers cared for the bodily wants of their poor, infirm, and destitute, but accompanied their charity with the act of May 31, 1741, requiring that all persons receiving public assistance, the wives and children of such paupers, "shall. upon the Shoulder of the right Sleeve of the upper Garment of every such Person, in an open and visible manner, wear such a Badge or Mark as hereinafter mentioned and expressed, That is to say, a large Roman letter (P) together with the first Letter of the Name of the County, City, or Place whereof such Person is an Inhabitant, cut either in red or blue Cloth, as the Overseers of the Poor, it shall be directed or ap- pointed." The failure of "any such person" to comply with this barbarous provision was to render him or her liable to be brought before a justice of the peace, he having it in his power to deny them further county aid or to commit them to the House of Correction, "there to be whipped and kept at hard labor for any number of Days, not exceeding twenty one." as the justice saw fit. Truly Chester county had a "Scarlet Letter" law equalling the statute made famous by Hawthorne. The following are the present directors of the poor for Delaware county : William H. Jones, Clark W. Baldwin, and Arthur Mar- tin.
County Commissioners .- The office of County Commissioner was estab-
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lished about 1820, the duties having been performed prior to that time by the justices, grand jury, and the assessors. The board consists of three members, and, beginning with the year 1882, has been as follows :
1882-Owen W. Yarnall, Benjamin F. Pretty, Jesse Brooke. 1885-William Armstrong, Benjamin F. Pretty, Andrew Armstrong.
1888-William Armstrong, William Quinn, Daniel M. Field.
1891-Harry L. Hipple, W. Lane Quinn, Robert M. Ilenderson. 1897-C. Harry Marshall, William P. Hipple, W. Frank Cutler. 1903-A. A. Sellers, C. H. Marshall, Sidwell B. Green. 1906-A. A. Sellers, Thomas B. Allen, George J. Johnson.
1909-George W. Allen, Vanleer E. Bond, E. Lewis Barlow.
1912-George W. Allen, Jesse D. Pierson, Thomas F. Feeley.
Sheriffs .- On May 17, 1672, Governor Lovelace and Council decided "that the office of Schout to be converted into a Sheriff for the Corporation and River, and that he be annually Chosen." In the early days the electors named two persons for the office of sheriff, the governor making a selection of one of them. This custom, begun by Penn, prevailed under the constitutions of 1776 and 1790, and not until the constitution of 1838 were the people given the right to elect their own choice of but one person. The following is a list of sheriffs since the erection of the county with the year of their election :
Nicholas Fairlamb, 1789: Nicholas Fairlamb, 1790; James Barnard, 1792; Abraham Dicks, 1795: John Odenheimer, 1798; Matthias Kerlin, Jr., 1801; John Odenheimer, 1804; Richard P. Floyd, 1807; Isaac Cochran, 1810; Daniel Thomson, 1813; Robert Fairlamb, 1816; Samuel Anderson, 1819: Joseph Weaver, Jr., 1822; John Hinkson, 1825: Jehu Broomall, 1828; William Baldwin, 1831: Charles Baldwin, 1834; Samuel A. Price, 1834; Evan S. Way, 1837: John Larkin, Jr., 1840: Samuel Hibberd, 1843; Robert R. Dutton, 1846: Jonathan Esrey, 1849; Jlenry T. Esrey, 1851: Aaron James, 1851; John M. Hall, 1854: Jonathan Vernon, 1857; Morris L. Yarnall, 1860; Abraham Vanzant, 1863: Caleb Hoopes, 1866; Evan C. Bartleson, 1860; Charles W. Matthew, 1875: John J. Rowland, 1878; William Armstrong, 1881: William F. Matthues, 1884: G. Leiper Green, 1887; John D. Howard, 1800: Elwood T. Carr, 1893; J. Humphreys Marshall, 1896; Edmund Oliver, 1899: William E. Iloward, 1902: David B. McClure, 1905: Charles H. Wolfe, 1908, ( Mr. Wolfe died before taking office, Mr. McClure continuing another year) ; S. Everett Sproul, 1909.
Prothonotaries .- The offices of prothonotary, recorder of deeds, and reg- ister of wills, were held by one person from 1707 until the act of Assembly, February 19, 1860, when the offices of prothonotary and recorder of deeds were separated and ordered filled by different persons. By act of March 20, 1873. the office of register of wills and clerk of the Orphans Court were sepa- rated. The office of prothonotary, clerk of the Court of Oyer and Terminer and General Jail Delivery, and Clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions has been filled since 1875 as follows :
1875. Isaac Johnson: 1804. Morris P. Hannum; 1887, William D. Thomas; 1892, William 1 .. Matthues: 1004. Andrew J. Dalton, the present incumbent.
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RECORDERS OF DEEDS.
1863, Frederick Fairlamb; 1872, Frederick R. Culler, whose unexpired term was filled .ont by Canby S. Smith; 1876, Charles P. Walter; 1881-84-87, Edward Blaine; 1890-93, John H. Kerlin; 1896-99, Thomas D. Young; 1902-05, Richard J. Baldwin; 1908-12, J. Lord Rigby.
Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court .- The first incumbent of this office under the act of March 20, 1873, was Thomas Lees, who held it for four terms, his first commission dating December 13, 1874, his last term expiring in December, 1886. He was succeeded as follows :
1887, Gilbert A. Hazlett; 1893, William H. Hall; 1899, George G. Patchell; 1905, William J. Tazwell; 1912, Theodore F. Kreeger.
Coroners .- This office, first mentioned in Chester county records in 1684, has been held since 1880 in Delaware county by the following :
1881, Abram J. Quinby; 1884, Horace W. Fairlamb; 1890, L. M. Bullock; 1893, Joseph E. Quinby; 1896, Thomas H. Marshall; 1899, Edward S. Fry; 1905, William B. C. Gilmour ; 1908, Barney F. Carr, the present incumbent.
Present Officials and Representatives (1913) .- Congressman-Thomas S. Butler (Chester county) ; State Senator-William C. Sproul ; Assembly-R. J. Baldwin, Harry H. Heyburn, William T. Ramsey; President Judge-Isaac Johnson ; Judge-William B. Broomall; District Attorney-John B. Hannum, Jr .; Prothonotary-Andrew J. Dalton ; Recorder of Deeds-J. Lord Rigby ; Register of Wills-Theodore F. Kreeger; Treasurer-Walter S. Westcott ; Sheriff-S. Everett Sproul; County Commissioners-George W. Allen. Jesse D. Pierson, Thomas F. Feeley; Jury Commissioners-Jacob Wise, William Stewart ; Directors of the Poor-William H. Jones, Clark W. Baldwin, Arthur Martin ; Coroner-Barney F. Carr; County AAuditors-Charles Gallagher, Ja- cob Somers, Harry Sheldon : Surveyor-A. Yocum.
DELAWARE COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAR.
When on Saturday, April 13, 1861, the American flag was shot from Fort Sumter, in Charleston Harbor, and the little band of men who had so gallantly held out in the face of certain defeat marched out and Major Anderson offi- cially surrendered, the first episode, in what was destined to be the greatest sectional conflict the world had ever seen, was completed. Northward the last echoes of the firing rolled, and in their flight aroused the passions which had been slumbering for forty years. Over North Carolina, Virginia and Mary- land they came, leaving in their wake, martial alarm and a wild unreasoning excitement. Reaching Pennsylvania, they transformed a peaceful, industrious farming and manufacturing community into a place of excited madmen, drunk with patriotic fervor. In Chester, Media, Darby, Rockdale, Kellyville, and in every town, borough and hamlet in Delaware county, the pent-up feelings of the people broke all restraint. Merchants closed their shops, farmers left their plows, and everywhere were groups of men discussing the engrossing news. Patriotism was at its highest pitch, and from the top of every store, factory, publie building and private dwelling the Stars and Stripes floated in the breeze. Many were the theories advanced as to the probable course of the Federal government, and great the speculation regarding the outcome of the struggle which all saw was inevitable. The following day was Sunday ; every ear was strained for intelligence from Washington, and in its absence the sus- pense became unendurable. Monday morning, April 15, 1861, the public ex- citement was given direction, when President Lincoln issued his first call for seventy-five thousand volunteers to serve for a period of three months, unless sooner discharged.
In Media, that morning, the tolling of the court house bell summoned the people thither, and after patriotic speeches had been delivered, it was deter- mined to form a rifle corps immediately. . \t Chester, on the evening of the same day, the old town hall, which had witnessed the formation of companies to take part in the Revolution, saw again a like scene which equalled in stern- ness and decisiveness of purpose that former one. To the present generation the issue of the preservation of the Union was as vital as that of obtaining lib- erty had been to their forefathers, and there were as many who were glad, nay anxious, to offer their lives to maintain the unity of their country. Theirs was a sterner duty, for here was no invader or oppressor to be fought, but brother would meet brother ; father, son ; and the wound of bullet could never equal the wound of heart caused by the thought that perchance a speeding shot had found a resting place in the body of a loved one.
On Wednesday night, at Media, a meeting was called in the court house ; Edward Darlington was chosen chairman, with Charles D. Manley, Charles R. Williamson, James R. Cummins, John R. Roland, Robert Playford. and J. Crosby Fairlamb, vice-presidents : O. F. Bullard and Thomas V. Cooper, sec- retaries. The speakers were John M. Broomall, Joseph Addison Thompson and Ilugh Jones Brooke. The many rumors of Confederate preparation for
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attack had keyed the feelings of the populace to a higher point, if such were possible, and no historical or oratorical goad was needed to spur them on to en- listment. Name after name was rapidly handed in, and in a short time the ranks of the Delaware County Union Rifles were filled, with many disap- pointed applicants, clamoring for a place in line with the fortunate ones who had been chosen. One Friday morning. April 19, the men assembled before the court house, and after a prayer by Rev. Gracey, in which he commended the company to the care of an allwise and omnipotent Providence, they marched to the cars and left for Philadelphia. In the afternoon they reached Harrisburg, encamping on the capitol grounds, and the next day, April 20. 1861, were mustered into service for three months. as Company F. 4th Regi- ment Pennsylvania Volunteers. The officers were :
Captain, George Dunn ; first lieutenant, T. V. Cooper ; second lieutenant, A. McMuron ; sergeants : William Callum, Richard Stiles, Thomas J. McMillan, J. L. Woodcock; cor- porals : Caleb Hooper, James Mulholland, John B. Sully, William Durell; musicians : William Quail, Henry Carnay. Privates : Henry J. Baker, Thomas Broomall, John Baggs, Peter Brantz, William Baggs, John Britton, Matthew Blair, Robert Coppock, John Cot- tingham, John Clowney, Thomas Coulter, James Conner, John B. Davis, Thomas Dyson, John M. Davis, William Eekil, James Evans, Abel Ford, Allen Ford, Lorenzo D. Farra, William Farra, David Grubb, Thomas Griffen, James Gorman, John W. Glen, Benjamin Graden, George W. Glen, Harry Greenwood, Hamilton Gillon, Robert Henderson, John Hollingsworth, Patrick Hughes, Daniel Harigan, Robert Johnson, Stephen Johnson, Jere- miah Ketzler, Thomas Kelly, Thomas Laden, Benjamin H. Magee, Michael Monahan, Michael Martin, John McCuen, William McGinnis, Richard J. Nuttle, John Palmer, John P. Potts, Joseph Parker, William Roberts, Amos R. Rap, Franklin Redmond, Antrim Redmond, Ephraim Stirk. George Stikes, Samuel N. Techton, William Townsend, John Yeehton. Baker E. Wright, James W. G. Weaver, James Walters. James Worrell, John Williams, Lee L. Yarnall.
The 4th Regiment, commanded by Col. John F. Hartranft. was ordered on the following day, April 21, to proceed to Philadelphia, where, under com- mand of Col. Dare, of the 23rd Regiment, acting brigadier, it was dispatched to Perryville, Maryland. The next day it embarked on steamers for Annapo- lis, thence to Washington, a direct route. having been abandoned for fear of delay and possibly riots at Baltimore. The regiment had been rushed for- ward so rapidly that it had been impossible to uniform the men, but all were provided with muskets and carried ammunition in their pockets. Many of the men were taken ill, and the regiment encamped about two miles from the city. toward Bladensburg. On June 24 the regiment received marching orders and proceeded to Alexandria, where on Sunday, June 30, its pickets for the first time were engaged with a small detachment of the enemy. The 4th, in Me- Dowell's army, formed part of the Ist Brigade, 3rd Division. Its term of en- listment expired Sunday, July 31, 1861, and McDowell, planning an attack, desired the regiment to remain until the battle, now known as the First Bull Run, was fought. The men differed as to what course to pursue, but the regi- ment finally marched to Washington and thence by rail to Harrisburg, where it was mustered out of service. Gen. McDowell, in his report after his crush-
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ing defeat, censured the 4th Pennsylvania severely. The records show that in the majority of cases the men performed their duty well on many a bloody field in the following four years, when their valor and patriotism were tested to the full and they were not found wanting. The Delaware County Rifles, however, had been discharged from duty the day before, and were thus re- lieved from MeDowell's unfavorable criticism.
In Chester, also, steps for the organization of a company were immediate- ly taken. On Wednesday following the call for volunteers. more than a suf- ficient number had been enrolled to form a company, and the name Union Blues was adopted. An election of officers was immediately held, Henry B. Edwards being chosen captain, and to him Rev. Talbot presented a sword he had worn when chaplain in the United States navy. The company, in order to be ready to respond to orders at a minute's notice, began to drill and to equip. On Saturday morning. April 20. 1860, the Union Blues were ordered to Har- risburg, and on the evening of that day gathered in front of the Washington House in Chester, where they were addressed by Frederick J. Hinkson. He assured the volunteers that the citizens of the borough would see that their wives and families should suffer in no way during their absence. Several oth- er addresses were made by prominent clergymen, among them Rev. Talbot, Rev. Sproul and Rev. Father Haviland. The latter divine contributed largely to a fund for equipping the soldiers and for maintaining their families, besides personally soliciting subscriptions. Toward evening, as the time of departure approached, crowds of people from the outlying districts came into town to witness the leavetaking of the "Boys in Blue" for the front. At the time there was a general feeling in the North that the trouble would be settled in a month or so, and at this first leavetaking there was not the air of gloom and depres- sion that came in later years of the war, when families had been drawn upon until only the youngest son remained, leaving entire towns empty and cheer- less.
The Union Blues reached Camp Curtin at Harrisburg the following day, and on Monday, April 22, were mustered into the 9th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, for three months. On May 4, the regiment moved to West Ches- ter, arriving there in the midst of a blinding snow and sleet storm, and quar- tered in the old depot. The next day Col. Longnecker selected a location for camp, calling it Camp Wayne, in honor of "Mad Anthony" Wayne of Revolu- tionary fame. On May 26, 1861, the 9th was ordered to Wilmington, Dela- ware, to prevent the organization of Confederate companies there, and camped at Hare's Corners, between Wilmington and New Castle. The regiment was ordered to Chambersburg June 6, to join Gen. Patterson's command, and was attached to the Ist Brigade, ist Division, under Coi. Miles. On Sunday, June 16. Col. Miles' brigade crossed the Potomac, the gth regiment on the right of column, the troops wading the stream breast high. They were later ordered to recross and take a position covering the ford. On July I the brigade again crossed over in the direction of Martinsburg, and a week later Gen. Patterson ordered a movement in the direction of Winchester and Bunker Hill, but the
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order was countermanded. On the 17th of July, Longnecker's brigade marched toward Charlestown, encamping there and remaining until the 21st, when it marched on to Harper's Ferry. On the 22nd the 9th Regiment proceeded to Hagerstown, thence to Harrisburg, where it was mustered out of service, the term of enlistment having expired. The roll of Company I, 9th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, is as follows:
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Captain, Henry B. Edwards; first lieutenant, James G. Stacey ; second lieutenant, William Blakeley; Sergeants : William B. Stevenson, John Beck, James Williams, William Eves; coroprals : Isaac Weaver, William R. Thatcher, Charles Storey, Jesse Cummings ; musicians : Ezra Dransfield and Alexander King.
Privates : John Booth, Joseph Barker, Joseph Brewster, Lewis Benner, John C. Bar- rowclough, Thomas Blythe, Isaac F. Badden, William H. Brown, David Burke, George Booth, Thomas W. Bruner, Edward Crowther, Edward Collison, Samuel Cross, Daniel Crowther, James Cliff, Allen Carr, Frederick Cutler, Frederick Crider, Simeon Davis, John John Doyle, William Elliott, Theodore Ettienne, Robert Fogg, John Farraday, Joseph Grooves, William P. Huff, James Hewes, George Helms, William F. Jester, James P. Kel- ley, Edward Kay, Jonathan Kershaw. Edward Lilley, Edward Lyons, Thomas McNamee, William McNeil, John Marshall, William Marlor, Samuel McDaniel, George McAffee, John C. Morton, John Phillips, Daniel Pithie, Thomas F. Pierce, Anthony Quinn, Francis Rodrigos, Robert Reaney, Samuel Shepherd, Francis Scott, Edgar Stevenson, William V. Shellinger, John Smith, Samuel Smith, Thomas Toy, Joseph Taylor, junior, Richard Turner, George W. Wilson, Joshua L. Wilson, John Wagner, Robert Wright, Alfred Woodhead, George Weigan, Reed L. Weaver.
While the Delaware County Rifles and the Union Blues were the two. - largest companies formed in the county, the citizens immediately formed oth- ers, so that in case of another call they could take the field at once. All through the county, Home Guards were formed and drilled-at Chester, Media, Rockdale, Darby, Linwood, Kellyville, Wildeville, Glen Mills, Village Green. Upland, and other towns. So rapidly did these organizations become proficient in the handling of arms and in drill, that at Chester, on the Fourth of July, the Wayne Guards, Captain W. C. Gray ; the Home Guards, Captain H. B. Taylor : Company A, Captain George E. Darlington ; and the Upland Guards, Captain George K. Crozer, held a parade, while at the county seat, on the same day, the Village Green Guards, Captain Barton : Glen Mills Guards, Captain Willcox : Manchester Rifles, Captain Ballentine: and Upper Darby Home Guards, Captain Buckley, joined with the Media Home Guards in a parade.
A meeting, at which were present people from all over the county, was held at the Media court house on Tuesday afternoon, April 23, 1861, under charge of H. Jones Brooke, for the purpose of raising money to equip troops and for the maintenance of those dependent upon the volunteers then in ser- vice. The response was generous and hearty, $2500 being contributed that day. Moreover, the county was divided into seven districts for the purpose of making a house to house canvass in the solicitation of subscriptions. The first district was composed of Chester, Ridley and Tinicum ; the second, of Media, Nether and Upper Providence ; and all of Middletown east of Edgemont road ;
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the third, Marcus Hook, Linwood, Lower and Upper Chester, Bethel, and all of Aston south of Concord Road; the fourth, Concord, Birmingham, and Thornbury ; the fifth, Aston, east of Concord Road and Edgemont ; the sixth, Darby, Upper Darby and Springfield; and the seventh, Haverford, Marple, Newtown, and Radnor. Since all present were taxpayers, they called upon the county commissioners to appropriate at once $5000 and $20,000 later, for the support of the families of those who should enlist. The activity of the several committees was remarkable, for in two days they collected $2,700 in addition to which Samuel M. Felton, president of the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Bal- timore Railroad Company, contributed $1000, a company gift. Further evi- dence of the generosity of the company, as well as of the patriotic spirit of the directors, was given, when Mr. Felton informed the clerks in the employ of the road that in the event of any of them leaving to go to the front, their salaries would be paid during their absence, and that their positions would be open upon their return.
It would be difficult to pay a fitting tribute to the courage and fortitude of the women of the county, who, in stoical silence, watched their loved sons, hus- bands and fathers, march away with the possibility that the present would be the last farewell. We may admire and honor the soldier at the front for his dauntless courage, his uncomplaining endurance of hardships, his faithfulness to his cause, but, in all justice, we must grant the same measure of admiration and honor to his wife or mother, who, in the silent desolation of her home, waits for intelligence from the battle, longing for, yet dreading, the news that may either break her anxious heart, or consign her once more to ceaseless wait- ing for the unknown. There was no more suffering at the front during the terrible years from 1861 to 1865, than there was by many a hearthstone at home.
Twenty-sixth Regiment .- On May 31, 1861, a company recruited by Wil- liam L. Grubb, from Chester and vicinity, for three years, was mustered into service as Company K, 26th Regiment. Immediately after, it was ordered to Washington, where the main body of the regiment was on guard over the quartermaster-general's stores, the arsenal, and the flying bridge at George- town. As the company's train passed through Chester, the great throng at the station cheered wildly until it passed out of sight. The 26th was assigned to Gen. Hooker's division, and in April, 1862, was transported to the Peninsula, engaging in the siege of Yorktown, and on May 5th, in front of Fort Magrud- er, at the battle of Williamstown, drove the enemy from the riflepits into the works, and held its position for eight hours, until reinforced by fresh troops, when the fort was taken. The regiment was engaged in the battle of White Oak Swamp from noon till night, and just before dusk broke the enemy's lines with a gallant bayonet charge, compelling them to retire, and the following day took part in the battle of Malvern Hill. On August 20 it was dispatched to the support of Gen. Pope. with Heintzelman's corps. During that campaign it was engaged at Bristoe Station on the 26th, and the following day connected the army with its base of supplies. On the 29th it marched to the battle of
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Bull Run, where Captain Meekins, of Company K, was killed, and the whole regiment suffered severely. The next day the 26th supported three different batteries, which kept them continually on the march, repelling charges at dif- ferent points. When Burnside was defeated at Fredericksburg, it was in the front line of battle, engaged with the enemy for thirty hours, with slight in- termission. At Chancellorsville, on May 2, 1863, the regiment was ordered to reconnoiter in front of Hooker's headquarters to feel the enemy, and on the 3rd was held as a support to batteries after it had fallen back to the intrench- ment, a movement caused by the 72nd New York's breaking and leaving the flank of the 26th exposed to a heavy fire by which it lost one hundred men. In the Gettysburg campaign the regiment was under Gen. Sickles, and was on the field when the battle started on the extreme right of the division, suffering severely. Toward evening it sustained the attack of a Florida brigade, which it checked, and, charging, drove the latter into confusion, capturing many pris- oners. The 26th entered the battle with 364 men; its loss was 216 killed and wounded, a terrible slaughter. The regiment was in Grant's campaign, on May 5, 1864, in the battle of the Wilderness, and held an exposed position on the left, although repeated efforts were made to dislodge it. On the 12th it took part in Hancock's memorable charge with the 2nd Corps at Spottsylvania Court House, capturing two Napoleon guns. It was engaged at the crossing of North Anna river ; on the 27th of May crossed the Pamunkey river at Nel- son's Ford, thence marching to Philadelphia, where its mustering out on June 18, 1864, in front of Independence Hall, saw the end of a career of glorious service and the hardest kind of fighting.
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