USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsylvania : comprising a historical sketch of the county, by Samuel T. Wiley, together with more than five hundred biographical sketches of the prominent men and leading citizens of the county > Part 20
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II. STATISTICS OF MANUFACTURE.
ESTABLISHMENTS AND EMPLOYEES.
l'ensus.
Establishments.
Employees.
1860
664
4,154
1870
996
6,548
1880
737
4,861
CAPITAL, MATERIAL AND PRODUCTS.
Census. Capital.
Material.
Products.
1860 ... 84,397,782
$3,977,316
$6,386,277
1870 ... 5,277,561
7,650,940
11,494,543
1880 ... 6,411,853
6,674,978 10,404,331
These tables include every mechanical or manufacturing establishment in Chester county, returned at the Tenth census as having had during 1880 a product of five hundred dollars. In comparisons of values of 1870 and 1880, it must be recollected that the values of 1870 were expressed in a currency which was at a great discount in gold, and for purposes of comparison the values of 1870 should be reduced one-fifth. Also, while capital, products and the num- ber of employees increased largely from 1870 to 1880, that there was not an appre- ciable increase of the number of establish- ments, on account of the concentration of labor and capital in large shops and factories. No United States census has ever embraced in its statistics of manufactures the full pro- duetions of the hand trades of mason, car- penter, blacksmith, cooper, painter, plumber, and several others of less importance.
SELECTED STATISTICS OF MANUFACTURE.
Agricultural implements. 10
11
Boots and shoes 54
... .. .
Brass foundings
1
1
.. .
Bread.
2
4
14
Briek
6
14
. . .
Carriages and wagons
45
32
10
Cars. ...
1
...
...
Cotton goods.
10
5
.. .
Flour and meal
144
90
107
Foundry and machine shops.
...
...
14
Furniture 19
0
1
...
Iron castings
7
...
Leather.
13
6
4
Lumber
36
2:3
62
Pottery ware
4
...
...
Stoves.
1
1
...
Ship and boat building
2
...
Spokes and wheels.
...
...
Tin, copper, sheet iron ware. 18
29
23
Woolen goods.
15
10
12
Wagons.
1 10
The results of the last census, taken nearly three years ago, are not yet published.
The methods used in taking the different census reports lack uniformity, some items being dropped and others taken up under the management of each succeeding super- intendent. The result is apparent in the preceding table, and elsewhere in these statistics, by the numerous gaps which oc- cur. No statisties have ever been gathered by the census officials regarding the number of dairies and ereameries in the county.
HI. STATISTICS OF AGRICULTURE.
In these tables, as in many other compil- ations in this work, no statistics for 1890 can be given, because the government has not yet (1893) issued those parts of the
19
19
Iron blooms.
168
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
census containing the required information. Strange as it may appear, it seems impossi- ble for the United States government to get one census completely issued until it is time to undertake its successor.
FARM AREAS.
Census. No. Farms.
Acres Improved.
Acres I'nimp'd.
1850
333,572
89,713
1860 5,145
. 353,434 89,609
1870 4,831
374,759
62,161
1880. 6,116 401,714 66,288
In 1880 of the 6,116 farms in the county, 4,662 were cultivated by their owners, while 869 were rented, and 585 were tilled for a share of their products. In the same year, of improved land, 41,649 acres were in per- manent meadows, pastures, orchards and vineyards. By a comparison of the aggre- gate of 423,285 acres of improved and unim- proved land reported in 1850, and the ag- gregate of 468,002 acres of the same lands returned by the census enumerators of 1880, it will be seen that there is a reported in- crease of 44,713 acres, or nearly sixty-nine square miles of land, for which we find no reason assigned. This would certainly in- dicate some error in one or the other of the two censuses referred to in the above con- parison. By the census of 1880 there were 360,065 acres tilled, 58,897 acres in wood- land and forest, and 7,371 acres in old fields not growing wood.
FARMS AND IMPROVEMENTS.
C'ensus.
Cash Value Farms.
Value Improvements.
1850 $25,425,957
$ 809,363
1860 37,243,640 1,133,424
1870 46,737,688 1,806,211
1880 39,217,513
1,620,567
Farms, as referred to in the last table, in- clude all considerable nurseries, orchards, and market gardens: and no tract of land
less than three acres in extent is considered as a farm, unless the value of its yearly pro- duct is five hundred dollars or more.
The cost of building and repairing fences for 1879 was $214,134, and the cost of fer- tilizers used during that year was $319,948, while the value of all farm products con- sumed, sold, or on hands, was placed at $5,970,229. The forest products of the county for 1879 were 33,440 cords of wood, the total value of which, either consumed or sold, was estimated at $120,659.
TRUCK FARMING.
Census.
Value Orchard Products.
Value Market Gardens.
1850
$ 39,689
$ 3,457
1860
59,055
12,229
1870
232,279
35,163
1880.
92,882
20,303
The census schedules prior to 1860 did not embrace orchard or market garden val- ues, and a thorough report of the subject was never made until 1880. An improve- ment might be made to the present report of value by adding the acreage.
CEREALS.
Ceusus.
Bush. Wheat.
Bush. Corn.
Bush. Oats.
1850
547,498
1,339,466
1,145,712
1860
800,663
1,589,844
1,226,658
1870
753,803
1,540,125
1,034,430
1880
775,312
1,964,532
1,137,089
In 1880 there were 43,235 acres of land in wheat, 47,097 acres in corn, and 33,283 acres in oats.
Census.
Bush. Rye.
Barley. Buckwheat.
1850
52,417
1,913 12,558
1860.
32,084
4,971 17,4.05
1870.
12,481
1,581 2,446
1880
19,694
871 5,067
In 1880 there were 1,466 acres of land in rye, 33 acres in barley, and 335 acres in buckwheat.
169
OF CHESTER COUNTY.
MEADOW PRODUCTS.
Census.
Tons Hay.
Bushels Clover Seed.
Bushels Grass Sved.
1850
96,315
9,775
8,122
1860
94,103
8,770
6,867
1870
114,898
4,832
5,523
1880
126,179
2,067
2,716
The grass crop is the greatest of all the crops of the county, and in addition to the pasturage the value of the hay crop exceeds that of the greatest of the cereals.
TOBACCO AND BROOMCORN.
Census
Lbs. Tobacco.
Lbs. Broomcorn.
1860
1,227
1870
1,217
1880
633,632
6,167
PULSE AND ROOT CROP.
Census.
Bus Peas and Beans.
Irish Potatoes. Sweet Potatoes.
1850
372
170,620
5,290
1860
1,302
271,328
13,453
1870
1,412
404,363
7,076
1880
1,055
408,176
7,791
In 1880 there were 4,354 acres of land in Irish potatoes, and 233 acres in sweet pota- toes, while of the 1,055 bushels of the pulse crop, 802 bushels were peas, and 253 bushels were beans.
DAIRY PRODUCTS.
Census.
Lbs. Butter. Gals. of Milk Sold
1850 2,092,019
33,012
1860 2,730,391
30,527
1870 2,848,243
1,597,892
8,526
1880 4,246,655
5,758,814
11,296
SUGAR AND MOLASSES.
Not a pound of maple sugar, and not a gallon of maple molasses, is given in any census from 1850 to 1880. Of sorghum molasses there were reported in 1860, 12,- 837 gallons; in 1870, 12,741 gallons, and in 1880, 1,169 gallons.
APIARY AND VINEYARD PRODUCTS.
Census.
Tbs. Honey.
Lbs. Beeswax.
Gals. Winc.
1850
..
..
389
1860
16,296
826
1,744
1870
4,835
295
1,598
1880
14,503
569
In 1850 there was no separate enumera- tion of honey and beeswax, and the aggre- gate given in that year of both was 10,815 pounds. POULTRY AND EGGS.
In 1879 there were 267,808 fowls in the county, of which 229,093 were barn-yard or common stock. The produet of eggs for that year was 1,174,630 dozen. The statis- tics of poultry and eggs were gathered, for the first time in the United States, by the eensus of 1880, which showed that there were over 125,000,000 fowls in the country in that year.
WOOL, HOPS AND FLAX.
Census.
Lbs Wool. Lbs. Hops. Lbs. Flax. Bus. Flaxseed
1850
22,738 2,364
2,974 131
1860
33,574 1,037
231 11
1870
31,776 497
4
1880
81,853
11
In 1880 there was reported 15,149 Heeees of wool as the spring elip of that year.
LIVE STOCK.
Ceusus.
Horses.
Mules. Milch Cows. Other Cattle.
11,830
76
19,604
30,244
1860
13,779
420 25,900
24,962
1870
14,086
708 32,670 18,545
1880
16,573
867
42,370 17,365
In the table given above, oxen are not in- eluded with other cattle. Of oxen there were in 1850, 5,228; in 1860, 4,952; in 1870, 3,371, and in 1880, 1,020.
Census. Sheep
Swine. Val. Live Stock. Slanght. Stock.
1850 ... 13,364 36,591 82,543,694 $ 495,190
1860 ... 11,666 31,515 3,534,983 783,811
1870 ... 13,069 28,165 5,192,517 2,181,799
1880 ... 15,149 33,959 Not given. Not given.
Lbs. Cheese. 1850
170
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
The number of sheep reported in 1880 does not include the spring lambs of that year.
The animals reported in the agricultural census are those which are found on farms only. The number of sheep and cattle thus omitted is so small as not to be worth con- sideration, while the number of milch cows is not inconsiderable, and the number of horses employed in trade and owned by profes- sional men, livery stable keepers and others not farmers, is large. The number of swine not kept by farmers exceed all other ani- mals kept elsewhere than on the farmn.
VALUATION -AGGREGATE.
Census. Real Estate. Personal Property. Total Valuation. 1860 .. $46,789,659 $20,174,639 $66,964,298
1870 .. 46,800,000 23,200,000 70,000,000
1880 .. 45,040,725 7,275,684 52,316,409
The eensus of 1870 gave an assessed val- uation of 827,075,534, as well as the true one of $70,000,000.
VALUATION - MINOR CIVIL DIVISIONS.
Towuship.
Real Estate. Personal Property. Total. Birmingham .. $420,381 $124,260 $544,641 Caln 539,900 66,207 606,107
Charlestown ... 568,091 72,525 ' 640,616
Easttown ...... 559,580 45,870 605,450
East Bradford 1,000,801
60,125 1,060,926
E. Br'ndywine 471,333 76,495 547,828
East Caln . .. 211,145
15,404 226,549
East Coventry 552,866
81,352 634,218
E. Fallowfield 720,940
66,837
787,777
East Goshen .. 608,285
248,070
856,355
E. Marlbor'gh 836,710
384,919 1,221,629
E. Nantmeal .. 616,624
63,676
680,300
E. Nottingh'in 620,300
52,627
672,927
E. Pikeland ... 587,652
86,530
674,182
East Vincent .. 747,477
111,145
858,622
E. Whiteland. 727,831 Elk
94,333
822,164
350,443
19,766
370,209
Township
Real Estate. Personal Property. Total.
Franklin 476,081 $ 69,095 $ 545,176
Highland. 597,950 35,135 633,085
Honeybrook ... 1,043,079
155,851 1,198,930
Kennett
936,369 136,250 1,072,619
London Brit'n 366,739
78,521 445,260
Londonderry .. 415,629 34,181 449,810
London Grove1,233,515
191,334 1,424,849
Lower Oxford 583,677
44,403 628,080
New Garden .. 935,087 228,236 1,163,323
Newlin.
547,687
49,520 597,207
New London .. 493,185
56,245 549,430
N. Coventry ...
582,845
101,530 684,375
Penn
387,610
30,865 418,475
Pennsbury.
640,894
196,796
837,690
Pocopson
415,796
46,700 462,496
Sadsbury
273,410
26,228 299,638
Schuylkill 604,867
41,655 646,522
S. Coventry.
220,120 33,438 - 253,558
Thornbury
264,374 20,194 284,568
Tredyffrin
.1,172,117
108,777 1,280,894
Uwehlan.
435,265
76,002
511,267
Upper Oxford
552,031
24,586
576,617
U. Uwehlan ...
616,854
125,551 742,405
Valley
378,103
16,205
394,308
Wallace
505,069
30,380
535,449
Warwick
632,278
47,191 679,469
Westtown
577,876
70,544 648,420
W. Bradford .. 733,836
139,213
873,055
W. Br'ndywine 512,532
58,736
571,268
West Caln ..... 605,308
47,263
652,571
W. Fallowfield 535,295
29,392
564,687
W. Goshen .... 809,263
84,693
893,956
W. Marlbor'gh 815,750
105,561
921,311
W. Nantmeal .. 569,594
90,002
650,556
W. Nott'gham 250,830
23,270
274,100
W. Pikeland .. 468,958
57,076
526,034
W. Sadsbury .. 407,186
38,451
445,637
W. Vincent ... 803,876
96,435 900,311
.W. Whitel'nd 645,463
105,713 751,176
Willistown .... 1,152,602 Borough.
142,567 1,295,169
Coatesville .... 1,171,041 182,819 1,353,860
171
OF CHESTER COUNTY.
Boroughs. Real Estate. Personal Property. Total. Downingtown8 534,005 $105,890 $ 639,895
Kennett Sq're. 433,960 129,020 562,980
Oxford
668,500 113,603 782,103
Phoenixville ... 2,089,430
49,185 2,138,615
Spring City ... 369,900
33,070 402,970
West Chester.4,932,300 1,856,605 6,788,905 Towns under
1,000.
502,270
41,560
543,830
Totals, 45,040,725 7,275,684 52,316,409
TAXATION.
Census.
State.
County.
Town.
1870
$24,046
$130,161
$286,283
1880
23,737
148,259
278,571
The aggregate tax for 1870 was $440,490 ; and for 1880 it was $450,567.
INDEBTEDNESS.
Census.
County.
Town. All Other.
1870
$641,972 $185,092 $12,265
1880
418,020 482,563 53,307
The total indebtedness for 1870 was $839,- 339; and in 1880 it was $953,890.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Since 1850 no county statistics of publie schools have been given in eensus reports, but the growth of the public school system in Chester county for the last forty years may be seen by a comparison of the follow- ing statistics, the first taken from the census of 1850, and the latter from the State su- perintendent's report for 1891 :
Year.
Number.
Teachers.
Pupils.
1850
251
265
11,360
1891
406
414
17,803
UNCLASSIFIED STATISTICS.
In 1850 there were 11,580 dwellings in Chester county, occupied by 11,859 families. In that year there were 1,453 white per- sons, and 1,011 colored, who could not read ; and 633 of the total number of 2,464 were foreign born. From June 1, 1849, to June
1, 1850, there were 1,701 births, 511 mar- riages, and 866 deaths in the county.
In 1860 there were 12,603 families in Chester county, but the number of dwellings was not reported.
In 1870 there were 3,708 persons who could not write, of whom 1,534 were of for- eign birth.
Miscellaneous .- Under this heading will be given some additional information that may be of interest to the citizens of the county.
Tobacco .- In 1881 J. B. Killebrew, special agent of the tenth census on the culture and enring of tobacco in the United States, reported as follows of tobacco in Chester county : "Tobacco is principally grown in those townships adjoining Lancaster county, and sandy loams are preferred, though lime- stone and slaty soils are employed in its production. Tobacco culture has increased very rapidly. In 1878 but little more than 100 acres were planted; in 1879 the returns show 487 aeres, yielding 633,632 pounds. The erop of 1879 far exceeded any other in quantity as well as quality, the varieties planted being the same as those ( Pennsyl- vania seed-leaf, Glessner and Connecticut seed-leaf) grown in Lancaster county. To- bacco barns are of a poor character, mere temporary make-shifts. The market for tobacco is Lancaster. The cost of prodneing an acre is variously estimatad at from $50 to $67, and the yield per acre is 1,301 pounds."
Lincoln University .- The following inter- esting description of this splendid eduen- tional institution was written for this work by Rev. Edward Webb, of Oxford, who, for a number of years, has been officially con- neeted with the university, and has done much for its advancement and success.
172
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
Lincoln University, in Chester county, Pennsylvania, had its origin in the heart and conscience of the christian church. The resolution to undertake it was passed by the New Castle Presbytery October 5, 1853. This resolution was introduced and warmly advocated by Rev. John M. Diekey, D. D., pastor of the Presbyterian church at Ox- ford, Pennsylvania. He was the living, moving spirit of the enterprise, and for twenty-five years, until his death, in 1878, continued with zeal and self-sacrifice to fos- ter it.
The university was planned and created to give a superior academic and professional training to Negro young men, carefully se- lected as to character and ability. It was the issue of an organized effort-the first in this or in any country-to provide for Negroes, here and in Africa, educated lead- ers and teachers from among their own kindred. In 1854 it was incorporated by the Pennsylvania legislature, with the name of " Ashmun Institute." Twelve years later, in 1866, when emancipation had opened a way for Christian love and philanthropy to four millions of freedmen, the charter of 1854 was amended. New and larger powers were given to the trustees, and the name was changed to Lincoln University. For four years more it remained under the con- trol of the New Castle Presbytery, but in 1870 its board of trustees became indepen- dent and self-perpetuating, and the control of its Theological department was trans- ferred to the General assembly of the Pres- byterian Church of the United States of America. Its relation to the assembly re- mains to the present time unchanged. Its board, of twenty-one trustees, has now on its roll fourteen clergymen and seven laymen.
There are three courses of instruction :
preparatory, academic, and theological. De- partments for both law and medicine were organized, and for several years maintained, and would be resuscitated if sufficient sup- port were assured. The preparatory de- partment is a feeder of the academic. Its graded course, which includes Latin and Greek grammar, with the English studies usually taught in our high schools, formerly extended over three years, but is now com- pleted in one. Good academies in the South, conducted by our graduates, enable us to raise the standard of admission to this department.
The Academie course, of four classes- freshmen, sophomore, junior, and senior years-includes the classics, mathematics, science and philosophy, taught in other eol- leges. It is the fixed purpose of the faenlty to advance the standard of this course of study. But caution is demanded lest, in view of the facilities of preparation accessible to the Negroes of the south, the grade become too high, and ability that should have its opportunity be thus excluded.
In the Theological department there is a course embracing all the studies of other sehools of theology. This is regarded as the very heart of the whole work, the nuelens and scope of all the instruction.
Including that of the president, Rev. I. N. Rendall, D. D., there are nine chairs of instruction. They are Greek, Latin, Math- ematics, History and Hebrew, Rhetoric and Homileties, Theology, English Version of the Bible, and Natural Science. The Fac- ulty consists of nine professors, assisted oc- casionally by non-resident leetnrers, and by a number of colored instructors.
In this year (1892) there are two hundred and forty-one students. In 1888 the number was one hundred and sixty-six. Every dor-
173
OF CHESTER COUNTY.
mitory is now occupied. Hereafter approved candidates waiting, and eagerly seeking ad- mission, must be refused, unless an additional dormitory is provided. Who will give the $20,000 needed for this building? These young men come from twenty-nine of our states and territories -sixteen southern states and thirteen in the north and west. They have come from Canada, from Liberia, and the Gaboon, in Africa; from Korea, South America, and several of the West In- dia Islands. In 1891 one hundred and sev- enty-two were southern Negroes, forty were from the north and west, and ten from for- eign countries. Three hundred and eighty- eight have been graduated from the full col- lege course. Two hundred and three of the theological students have received ordina- tion-one hundred and four of these in the Presbyterian church, ninety-nine as Metho- dists, Baptists, Episcopalians or Congrega- tionalists, and thirteen have gone as mission- aries to Africa.
Besides these academie and theological graduates, a large number of undergradu- ates and preparatory students are turning to good account in the southern States, and elsewhere, the partial instruction they have obtained. Including these, more than one thousand young men have received instruc- tion in this university-a culture of body as well as of soul, of heart and character, as well as of intellect.
It may very properly be asked what the life and service of these men has been. Where are they, what are they doing. and how are they doing it? Are they well re- ceived ? Do their own people love and prize their services? Are they respected and honored by others ? If' space were allowed here, replies could be given which would fully justify the time and labor and money
bestowed ou their training. The university is not ashamed of them. It looks upon their work with satisfaction and assured hope. From many prominent citizens in the south the testimony borne to the purity of their lives, to the wisdom and prudence of their deportment, and to the value of the service they are rendering, is clear and strong. Besides their direct evangelical work in the churches of the various denom- inations, they are leaders in all educational enterprises, presiding over academies, high schools, and State normal schools. In Columbia, South Carolina, and in Salisbury, North Carolina, they have organized and are successfully conducting well-equipped colleges.
The value of the real estate and invested funds, now held by the trustees, is abont $660,000. The real estate, including eam- pus and buildings, is estimated at $212.000. The fund for support of professors is $184,- 000; and for permanent scholarships, $94,- 000. There are seven public buildings and nine well constructed residences for the faculty. Four of the public buildings are chiefly occupied by students as dormitorios. There is one temporary frame structure to accommodate the large assemblies on commencement days. A beautiful chapel. dedicated in 1890, is the magnificent gift of Mrs. Mary Dod Brown, of Princeton, New Jersey. A new hall. of ample dimensions, completed and occupied in 1892, provides accomodation for all the classes and for the entire educational work of the university. It contains fifteen class rooms, an office for the president and a trustees' room.
This enterprise. now in its thirty-sixth year, is no longer tentative or experimental. It appeals confidently to the thoughtful in- telligence of all our citizens, and challenges
174
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
the hearty sympathy and cooperation of every friend of the Negro.
Chester Springs Soldiers' Orphan School .- Of the once large number of these schools but four remain, and one of the most pros- perous of them is the Chester Springs school. It was established in 1869, and after varying vicissitudes is now under the supervision of Prof. John H. Smith, one of the most progressive and successful educa- tors of the State.
Serpentine Beds .- Col. Joseph Wilcox, in a report on the serpentine beds of Ches- ter and Delaware counties, and their asso- ciated minerals, says :
"The origin of these (serpentine) rocks in Pennsylvania has not been satisfactorily determined. Though probably eroded to a considerable extent, they still exist in great thickness, having been penetrated to the depth of seven hundred feet, at the chrome mines in Lancaster county.
"Serpentine is now used extensively for building purposes, and it is acquiring popu- larity on account of its color, and its soft- ness, which permits it to be easily chiseled or sawed into blocks and other desirable forms.
"On account of its light weight, it is easily handled and transported. Its softness has sometimes excited a suspicion in regard to its durability. The proofs of its endurance are abundant. The walls of houses in Chester county, built with this stone, dur- ing the last century, manifest no indication of erosion or decay ; and in that respect it is superior to marble. In northern New York and Canada serpentine is often mixed with the white limestone.
" Among the products resulting from the decomposition of serpentine rocks in Ches- ter and Delaware counties, cellular quartz
and limonite may be classed as the most abundant. These minerals may often be seen in the different stages of alteration, and in various degrees of combination, from limonite to pure quartz.
" Limonite has been mined at several local- ities in Middletown township, in Delaware county, in the serpentine beds; but not with profitable results.
"Chromic iron is more or less to be found in the serpentine rocks. By the decompo- sition of these rocks a large amount of this ore has been liberated, chiefly in small crys- tals, which has been transported to the valleys below, and deposited in the gravel. Corundum is one of the most interesting, as well as valuable minerals, found in con- nection with serpentine.
" Until 1870, when corundum was found in considerable quantity, and of great beauty, in North Carolina, the crystals of that min- eral, from Chester and Delaware counties, were much prized by mineralogists in this country and in Europe. In Newlin, near Unionville, in Chester county, corundum has been found more abundantly.
" The extent of the serpentine bed, at this place, exceeds 100 acres. Corundum has been obtained in many places there, and fine crystals were found during many years be- fore its commercial value was known.
"From my friend, Mr. William W. Jef- feris, of West Chester, I have obtained the following history concerning this interesting locality :
"'Jolin and Joel Bailey claim to have dis- covered corundum at that place sometime between the years 1822 and 1825. The former person still preserves the original specimens. About that time William JJack- son also obtained specimens.
"Dr. Thomas Seal, of Unionville, also a
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OF CHESTER COUNTY.
collector of minerals, obtained specimens of corundum there about the year 1832.
" Mr. Jefferis states that his first visit to the locality was made in 1837 or 1838, and at that time large lumps of corundum coukd be seen in the fields and fence corners. 'In 1848 Mr. Lewis W. Williams sent to Liv- erpool a large lump of the mineral, which weighed more than 5,200 pounds.
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