USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > Chester > Historical sketch of Chester, on Delaware > Part 16
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The Morgan (Terrill) House.
The old building standing on the east side of Market street, the second structure south of Fourth street, now occupied by Maurice Beaver as a stove and tin store, was, I presume, built by Evan Morgan. The land was part of the twenty acres patented May 31, 1686, to James Sandelands, the elder, and was conveyed by John Crosby and wife, January 20, 1723, to Thomas Griffing, subject to a yearly quit rent of one shilling. This John Crosby was a son of Richard, the first of that name who came to Pennsylvania after Penn acquired title to the Province. The former is stated by Mar- tin to have first settled in Philadelphia, and was one of the original purchasers of town lots there, but that he shortly afterwards re- moved to Chester, for in 1684 he was appointed a collector with two others, " to gather the assessments," made by the authorities to build the Court House and Prison. His son, John, to whom San- delands conveyed the ground on Market street, married in 1719, and seems to have disregarded the observances of Friends on such occasions, for in that year he made his acknowledgment to Chester Meeting, stating that he is " hearty sorry and desire the forgive-
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Historical Sketch of Chester.
ness of God and of my Brethern." He was a Justice of the Peace. and in 1723-4, represented the county in the Provincial Assembly, He died in the fall of the year 1750. John Crosby sold the lot to Thomas Griffing at the time already mentioned, and the latter, March 24-25, 1725, conveyed the property to Evan Morgan, who built the dwelling house. Evan Morgan died seized of the premi- ses and they descended to his son, JJobn Morgan, who in the deed, February 12, 1783, conveying the estate to Jemima (Linard) Dasey and her sister, Mary Linard, is designated as of Philadelphia. I am told by an aged resident that, he thinks, subsequent to his fail- ure, Francis Richardson resided in the house. After it was pur- chased by Jemima Dasey and her maiden sister, they kept :. dry goods and trimming store there and continued in the business while they remained the owners of the property. Several of the older people hereabout can recall Mary Linard, an elderly woman, lame, and hobbling along leaning on a cane. October 11, 1809, Dr. Job H. Terrill purchased the house and residel therein until his death, January 20, 1844. The doctor was a man of fine conversational powers, possessing a ready vocabulary and was rapid in his utter- ances. He was a noted lover of horses, and always kept one of the best, if not the best in Chester. He would have his negro man, Ike, train his horses on Welsh street, and would stand and watch them speeding along from Edgmont road to the Porter House and back. He always rode in a sulkey, and in getting in one day his horse started, threw him against the vehicle and injured his thigh so severely that it brought on a disease which ultimately proved fatal. His premises were noticeable for the attractive ground to the north of the dwelling, where D. P. Paiste's store is now located. In the centre of the garden was an enormous box bush, and white violets grew thickly, mottling the grass plot, while fruit trees, well trimmed and cared for, were scattered here and there. In front of the house, on the sidewalk, was an old well and pump, which stood there until within a quarter of a century. Dr. Terrill's daughter, Anna Louisa, became the first wife of William Eyre, Jr., and the mother of the present Joshua P. Eyre, while Emeline, to whom the old homestead descended, married John Odenheimer Deshong. The latter was the son of Peter and Mary (Odenheimer) Deshong, and for many years carried on general merchandising in a building
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Historic Buildings in Chester.
which formerly occupied the site of Mortimer H. Bickley's drug store, and subsequently a lumber yard on the north side of Fifth street, above Welsh. He was an enterprising business man and acquired a large estate the largest ever accumulated by any resi- dent of Chester. He was quick in his decision and prompt in ac- tion, two characteristics to which he was greatly indebted for his success. He never sought political preferment, although solicited to permit his name to be used in connection with various offices, but steadfastly refused all positions other than that of Director of The Delaware County National Bank, the duties of which he discharged for many years previous to his death, which took place May 28, 1881. Mrs. Emeline Deshong now owns the old homestead.
After the death of Dr. Terrill, the late Hon. Y. S. Walter, a sketch of whom appears in " Notes Respecting Newspapers of Ches- ter," in this volume, occupied the house until the spring of 1845, when Dr. J. M. Allen leased it and altered the front part of the building into a drug store, where he soon secured a large and profit- able business. During the cholera season of 1845, the public were so alarmed that frequently he and his assistants could with diffi- culty wait on the persons who came to purchase Burgundy pitch plasters, which, when worn on the stomach; was believed to be an absolute protection from the disease. In 1851, Dr. Allen pur- chased the property where Bickley's large building now stands, and continued there until the breaking out of the war in 1861, when he was appointed Surgeon of the 54th Pennsylvania Volun- teers, and subsequently was Medical Director of the Department of Western Virginia, and Surgeon-in-Chief of staff; in which he served until late in the year 1864,when his health broke down, and he was honorably discharged from the service, after having been in the hospital several months. He is now Alderman of the Middle Ward, an office he fills most creditably. Dr. Allen was followed by Thomas Broughton, who kept in the old Terrill House a confection- ery store until 1852,when he sold the business to Denis Clark, who vacated the premises and was followed by Flood & Pullen, as a cigar store. The house is occupied at the present time by Maurice Beaver, as before stated.
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Historical Sketch of Chester.
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The Morris House.
On the south si le of Fifth street, the second house from the cor- ner, is the dwelling, now owned and occupied by Mrs. Josephine Lyons Garrett, which building was erected by her maternal grand- father, Jonathan Morris. The land was part of the twenty acres patented to James Sandelands, May 31, 1686, and was subsequently the property of Rev. Richard Backhouse, rector of St. Paul's Church, from 1726 to 1749, and afterwards that of Adam Grubb, who, dying seizel of the estate, his executors, John and Isaac Grubb, May 7, 1791, conveyed the premises to Elisha Price. The latter dying in 1798, of yellow fever, the lots vested in pro- ceeding in partition of his estate in his daughter, Abigail, who had intermarried with Aaron Musgrave, a Conveyancer, in Phila- delphia, and they, by deed, June 24, 1799, conveyed the property to Jonathan Morris. The latter, who was a blacksmith, built the present house in 1 >00, and erected on the south-west corner of Welsh and Fifth streets a forge, which stood there for many years. He died previous to February 14, 1814, for his will, dated January 17, of that year, was almicted to probate at the time first mentioned. By it he devised his house and lands to his six children, Hannah, Mary, Anna, Margaret, Samuel P., and Cadwallader, with a hfe es- tate to his wife, Rebecca, in one-third of the estate. All the children excepting Samuel P. Morris, Anna, who married James Burns, and Margaret, who married Crossman Lyons, died young and without children The survivors, May 24, 1825, released their interest in the estate to their mother and sister Margaret Morris.
The latter married Crossman Lyons, as before stated. He was the son of Jedediah and Mary Gorman Lyons. The former was a native of Elizabethtown, New Jersey, and a soldier in the Revolu- tion ; one of the men who marched with Washington in his retreat through that Colony, shared his triumph at Trenton, and whose feet were frozen during the dreary winter's cantonment at Valley Forge. He used to relate that the sweetest morsel he ever tasted was a piece of beef roasted on the end of his ramrod by the camp fire, which he had cut from a steer captured and slaughtered by a
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Historic Buildings in Chester.
foraging party of American troops who had had nothing to eat for more than twenty- four hours. His wife it was who dressed the wound of General Lafayette, as heretofore stated. Crossman Lyons, his son, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his daughter, Mrs. Garrett, now owns a siver medal having on one side the head of Lafayette, and on the other that of Washington, which he won at a shooting match of militia in the second decade of this century. Lyons had broken his right arm, and it was at that time in a sling ; some person present asked him laughingly if he was not going to shoot at the target. " Certainly I will," he replied, " if any one will load a musket for me." That being done he fired, using his left shoulder in place of his right, and fortunately the bullet from his gun struck the bull's eye directly in the centre, the best shot that day.
The old homestead has been occupied as tenants, by Dr. William Gerhart, George Baker, when first married, Mrs. Keziah West, mo- ther of the late John G. Dyer, by her first marriage, and Thomas Clyde. He was followed by Mrs. Hawes, who had married first Captain Isaac Engle and afterwards Charles Hawes, and, as the lat- ter's widow, occupied the house. John Green and Col. Alexander Worrall lived in the dwelling, to be superseded by Mrs. Josephine Lyons Garrett, to whom the property descended from her parents.
The Thomas Morgan House.
Midway of the block on the east side of Market street, between Third and Fourth streets, is the Thomas Morgan House, the front having been modernized as a store by John Brooks, the present occupant and owner. The title to the land, as with all other lots in that neighborhood, begins of record with the patent, May 31, 1686, to James Sandelands, the elder. The heirs of the latter con- veyed the premises to Thomas Morgan, who built the house and
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Historical Sketch of Chester.
died, In settling his estate the property was sold, August 18, 1756, by Jonathan Fairlamb, Sheriff, to William Eyre, of Bethel township, son of Robert Eyre, the first settler of that name in the Province. I have not learned who it was resided in the old house during the ownership of William Eyre, but he died seized of the premises, and by his will, August 7, 1763, he devised the property to his son, John Eyre, and the latter conveyed it, May 1, 1779, to Isaac Eyre, who in turn, June 7, 1784, transferred it to Davis Bevan, who kept a general store therein. The latter was a positive man, but a worthy citizen and ardent patriot. The brilliant illu- mination of his window-a tree of victory planted therein, glitter- ing with spangles and shining with lighted candles-in honor of the signal defeat of the British at New Orleans, is still recalled to memory by our older residents. Davis Bevan, by his will, August 30, 1814, devised the estate to his daughter Isabella, for life, with remainder to Matthew L. Bevan. Isabella Bevan continued the business after her father's death, but previous to the sale of the premises, March 15, 1833, by Matthew L. Bevan, to Henry L. Pow- ell, the house was occupied by Samuel Lamplugh, and afterwards by Major Samuel A. Price, who had his hat factory in the building. When Henry L. Powell acquired possession he kept a boot and shoe store there, as did also John Lloyd, to whom he sold the property, April 3, 1844. Two years subsequently, March 31, 1846, Lloyd re-conveyed the premises to Henry L. Powell, who, on November 18, of the following year, transferred it to Joseph Entwisle, who carried on a bakery there until November 4, 1851, wlien lie sold the property to John Brooks, and built a bleaching mill in the South Ward. Jolin Brooks is now the leading business man who has continued in one occupation and in oue locality for a greater number of years than any person at present in Chester, and has gathered during that period a large business and a competency.
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Historic Buildings in Chester.
The Birchall House.
The stone building at the north-west corner of Concord avenue andl Third street is an ancient dwelling, the date of its erection,- however, I am unable to give Many of our old residents can re- call it standing on an eminence surrounded with many large fruit trees. The side door, on Concord avenue, was divided so that the upper half could be opened while the lower part was closed, and the old roof was in many places covered with moss, which gave to it an exceedingly picturesque appearance The land on which it was located was part of the tract of ground conveyed to Robert Wade by Armgard Pappegoya, and by his heirs conveyed to John Wale, but to whom it belonged immediately previous to 1767 I have failed to learn, since the records at West Chester, about that date, so far as the Sheriff's deel book is concerned, have been mis- laid or lost. From the recital in a latter deed we know that John Morton, Sheriff, August 21, 1767, sold the premises to William Henderson, who, in turn, conveyed it, March 24, 1770, to Thomas Pedrick, a descendant of Rodger Pedrick, the settler of that name, whose daughter, Rebecca, born at Marcus Hook, September 14, 1678, according to Dr. Smith, was the first child born to English parents in the Province of Pennsylvania. The latter was seized of the estate at the time of his death, and under the power given in his will, his executors, James Shaw and William Graham, June 19, 1799, conveyed the property to John Birchall, who owned it at the time of his death, and his daughter, Elizabeth Birchall, September 29, 1820, sold her interest therein to her brother, James Birchall. The latter was a tailor by occupation, and during his latter days, retired from business. He resided in the old building until his death, and by will, November 11, 1829, devised the residue of his est ite to his sister-in-law, Sarah Birchall, widow of Caleb Birchall, in consideration of the latter's attention and kindness to him. He also instructed his executors to sell the premises for the payment of his debts, but that seems to have been unnecessary, and the dwelling house and garden passed to the devisce under the will. Sarah Birchall died seized of the premises, and in proceeding in partition of her estate, Samuel Hibberd, Trustee, appointed by the
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Historical Sketch of Chester.
Court to sell the property, conveyed it, September 11, 1845, to Frederick J. Hinkson, Sr., and several years subsequently Judge Hinkson conveyed it to Ann J. Dutton, wife of Aaron Larkin Dut- ton. The latter, now deceased, will be remembered for his activity in the Society of Friends, of whose property in this city, to the time of his death, he had entire care. January 25, 1865, Aaron L. Dutton and Ann J., his wife, sold the premises to Dr. F. Ridg- ley Graham, who still owns it.
The Francis Richardson House.
The ground on which the dwelling on the east side of Edgmont avenue, the third house from the south-east corner of Second street and Edgmont avenue, is located, was part of the tract acquired by David Lloyd, from the Church Warden of the Swedish congrega- tion at Wicaco, and by his will was devised to his wife, Grace. She in turn devised it to her nephew, Francis Richardson, hence the house cannot antedate 1760, the period of her death. Rich- ardson, as stated elsewhere, was ruined by his business speculations, and the premises were taken in execution and sold by Ezekiel Leonard, Sheriff, July 2, 1787, to William O'Neal, and he, Novem- ber 4, 1797, conveyed the property to Ephraim Pearson, who mar- ried Jane, a daughter of Samuel and Hannah Shaw. He it was who by indenture, May 6, 1816, in carrying out the Act of Assem- bly " making an appropriation for the erection of piers in the Delaware in the Borough of Chester," gave and ceded to the Com- monwealth "all that piece of ground known by the name of ' Rich- ardson's Lower Wharf,' lying on the river Delaware, between the mouth of Chester creek and Front street, continued and extending
from high water mark to low water mark, for the pur- pose of erecting and constructing wharves and piers, and for no other purpose." The State of Pennsylvania subsequently trans-
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Historic Buildings in Chester.
ferred the piers, thus ceded to it by Ephraim Pearson, known as the lower pier, and that ceded to it by Davis Bevan, June 20, 1816, known as the upper pier, to the Government of the United States, who still own and keep them in repair. 'Squire Pearson had a family of eight sons, all of whom left Chester and settled in dis- tant cities, while his wife, who survived him many years, removed to Philadelphia, where she died in 1862, in her eighty-eighth year, having outlived all her children. John E. Shaw, who administered to the estate of Ephraim Pearson, November 23, 1863, sold the premises to Jonathan Pennell, who repaired and renovated the an- cient dwelling after it passed into his ownership.
The Goeltz House.
The frame structure on the east side of Edgmont avenue, south of Fourth street, is not an ancient building. In all probability it was built about seventy years ago. It was formerly a stable, at- tached to the house which was subsequently erected on the lands donated previous to 1704, by Thomas Powell to the Parish of St. Paul, for the gift is mentioned in Rev. Mr. Nichol's letter to the London Society " For the Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts," and in 1718, Rev. John Humphreys, under date, October 24, al- ludes to it as containing the foundation of a parsonage (the front on Third street) which the congregation started to build, "but were not able to accomplish in & it remains as it has been these 3 years, just about 4 feet above the ground as a reproach to them and an infamous mark of their Poverty." The parish did erect a building on the premises many years afterwards, certainly subse- quently to 1762, which they leased previous to 1830, to William Kelley, as well as the stable on Edgmont avenue, which latter pro- perty I am now considering. Kelley resided in the house on Third street, wherein he kept a restaurant, and in the stable he had a
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Historical Sketch of Chester.
bottling establishment, the first business of that kind ever in Chester. The church wardens, however, were instructed to sell the premises on ground rent, and in compliance with that order George B. Lownes and Pierce Crosby, May 5, 1831, conveyed the premises to William McCafferty, subject to a ground rent of $97 yearly. The latter, March 25, 1839, sold the lot on Edgmont avenue, on which was the stable, to Ehrenreich Goeltz, subject to an annual rent of $19, payable to the wardens of St. Paul's Church. Goeltz changed the stable into a house, and on the rear of the lot erected a soap and chandlery factory, which business he carried on until his death. His widow married Henry Ott, and the latter, January 8, 1851, purchased from the wardens of St. Paul's, the church's in- terest in the ground rent of $19 reserved in the deed to Ehrenreich Goeltz. In the distribution of the latter's estate, the house and factory became the property of his son, George Goeltz, the present owner, who, February 3, 1863, purchased from Henry Ott and ex- tinguished the ground rent.
A peculiar circumstance connected with this building is, that several years ago when alterations were being made in the cellar, in excavating, at the depth of three feet below the then bottom, a perfect rubal pavement, similar to those in the roadway of many of our streets, was found, respecting which no person had the slightest information as to the reason why it was there, when it was laid, or by whom.
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COUNTY BRIDGES AT CHESTER.
T
THE first bridge erected over Chester creek where the King's road-the present Third street-crosses that stream, was a draw-bridge. In 1686, the Court ordered the building of a horse bridge over the creek, near Chester, as the King's road at that time did not pass through the Borough, but to the north of the town. There is no evidence that the order of the Court as respected that bridge, was ever carried into effect; indeed, the contrary seems to be negatively established, for at the December Court, 1699, Ralph Fishbourne presented a petition " for a convenient road from the west side of Chester creek, where the ferry is kept for to lead to the now King's road." The Court thereupon appointed six viewers to lay out " the said roadway in the most convenient place they can for the convenience of the inhabitants."
In 1700, the inconvenience arising from the round-about way became such an annoyance to the traveling public and the inhabit- ants of the Borough of Chester, that a determined and successful effort was made to change the route of the King's highway, so that it should pass through the town and nearer the river. To avoid in- terrupting the free navigation of the stream, it was determined that the creek be spanned by a draw-bridge. Accordingly, in that year, an Act of the Colonial Assembly was procured, which author- ized the erection of a bridge over the creek at Chester, and or- dered the Justices of the county Court " to lay out a road from the King's Road that leads to New Castle and Maryland to the in- tended place for a bridge over Chester creek." The Act required
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Historical Sketch of Chester.
that the bridge should have a draw to it ; provided for the employ- ment of a man to attend to it, and specified what his duties were- to draw it up when necessary to let sloops and shallops pass to and from the mills situated on the creek, and also designated that a space of twenty feet should be left clear between the timbers or stoneword for " the conveniency " of rafts and logs passing to said mills.
There is in our local annals little or no information respecting this bridge beyond that which can be gleaned from legislative en- actments. In the preamble to the Act of Assembly, approved August 14, 1725, which was intended to prevent the obstruction of the navigation of Chester creek, it is set forth that the draw-bridge which had been erected " is now gone to decay, and requires it to be rebuilt or repaired," and the act " direct the County Commis- sioners to repair the bridge within a period of twelve months." In the Act of September 3, 1778, it is stated that the draw-bridge which had been built in 1700, and repaired in 1725, " is decayed and ruined, and that public necessity, as well as the convenience of travelers on the highroad, requires that a good, safe bridge over Chester creek should always be maintained and kept in repair ; that the draw or engine to raise and lower the same is of no public utility and is attended with extraordinary expense and inconveni- ence to the public. In view of these facts the Act declares " that the Commissioners and Assessors, with the concurrence of the ma- gistrates of the county of Chester, shall, as soon as may be, cause a new bridge to be built at the place where the old bridge formerly stood, leaving at least twenty feet clear between the timber or stonework, and not less than eighteen feet in breadth, and eight feet headway at high water, for the easy passage for rafts, floats, shallops and other crafts, and the said bridge be made fast and close continued from one side of the creek to the other, without any draw or opening for a mast."
The bridge erected in obedience to this Act was a wooden struct- ure, which was supported by heavy wrought iron chains passing over iron columns located on either abutment. Each link of the chain, Martin says, was about two feet in length, and at either side of the bridge was a large plank cut to resemble an arch. Over
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County Bridges at Chester.
each arch was a sign, the body color white, and bearing the follow- ing notification in black letters :
" Walk your horses and drive not more than fifteen head of cat- tle over this bridge, under a penalty of no less than $30."
This structure was carried off its abutments by the water during the noted flood of August 5, 1843, and swept by the torrent against Eyre's wharf, where it remained held fast by one of the chains, which did not part on the eastward side of the creek. Isaiah H. Mirkil and Jerry Stevenson, for more than two months ferried horses, cattle, wagons, carriages and pedestrians across the creek in a scow. The County Commissioners raised the old super-struct- ure to its former position in the fall of 1843, at a cost of $2150. One of the links or staples to which the chain was attached is still to be seen standing in the roadway at the north-east side of the present bridge, in front of the store now occupied by F. C. Torpey, in Ladomus' block.
In 1850, Chester began rapid strides in material improvements and the old bridge being deemed insufficient to meet the public demand, early in 1853, John Edward Clyde prepared a petition for a new structure, and Isaiah H. Mirkil circulated the paper for sig- natures. The petition was met with a remonstrance by several citizens of the town, and so energetically was the matter pushed on each side that the good people of Chester were soon divided into new bridge and anti-new bridge advocates. It was a contest which in that day agitated the newly awakened Borough from centre to circumference.
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