History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Part 110

Author: Ashmead, Henry Graham, 1838-1920
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1150

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By act of March 14, 1873, that part of Chester township hereinafter described was incorporated as the borough of North Chester.

" Beginning at a point in the middle of the public road leading from the borough of Upland to Edgmont Road, being at the intersection of the boundary lines of the city of Chester, the borough of Upland, and the township of Chester; thence along the northeastern boundary of the said borough of Upland to the line dividing the properties of A. C. Lukens and John Wetherill; thence along the ssid line to the southern side of Edgmont Road; thence along the said southeru side to a point opposite the line dividing the properties of Mary Kelly and Isaac Engel Cochran; thence crossing the said road and along the said line to Rid- ley Creek ; thence down the said creek to the northern boundary of the said city of Chester; and thence following the said boundary to the place of beginning; said limits including the town or villages of Paul- town, Powhattan, Waterville, and Shoemakerville."

The borough elections were directed to be held the third Friday in March of each year at the Oak Grove school-house. The act also created North Chester a separate school and election district. At the time of the erection of the borough the Powhattan Mills and Irvington Mills were located within the municipal district, and were then in successful operation. The Chester Rural Cemetery was within its limits, and the

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NORTH CHESTER BOROUGH.

little hamlets that had in former years gathered around the early mills were stationary or had lost the vitality to increase. What was known as Shoemakerville was laid out about 1830 by William D. and R. Shoemaker, and in 1833 there were at the place a store, blacksmith- and wheelwright-shop, several stone and frame dwell- ings. Hopes were entertained that it might grow to be a town of some importance, but it did not thrive, and is now but little larger than it was three years after it was begun. In 1842, Robert E. Evans kept store in Shoemakerville, and in 1850, John C. Murray had a coach-factory at that place.

On Aug. 23, 1847, at Burk & Powell's quarry, a ledge of rock weighing about eighty-six tons which had been displaced by a sand-blast fell. Burk was under it at the time, and hearing a noise above him attempted to escape, but his foot was caught by the falling rock and literally crushed into a mass. He was taken to his home in Shoemakerville, but bled to death before a physician conld be summoned. The blood-stains on the floor of his then dwelling are visi- ble to this day, and for many years the owner of the house had difficulty in obtaining tenants who would remain over a day or two in the building.

The first election for burgess and Council was held on the 29th of March, 1873. John M. Sharpless was elected burgess, but declined to serve, and at the or- ganization of Council, on the 7th of April, 1873, Henry L. Powell, of the Council, was chosen to act as chief burgess, since which time the burgesses elected have been as follows :

1874, Staphan Paraon; 1875, Hugh Shaw ; 1876, Adam C. Eckfaldt ; 1877, Thomaa Coulter; 1878-79, Henry Greaowood ; 1880, Anthony Mc- Muon ; 1881-84, John W. Martin,

MEMBERS OF BOROUGH COUNCIL.

1873 .- Joseph G. Fall, Heory L. Powall, Hugh Shaw, John Wetherall, Jamea Irving, Daniel McCurdy.

1874 .- Joseph G. Fell, Hanry Greenwood, Hugh Shaw, Edward S. Wor- rell, John Walker, John Wetharall.

1875,-John Farmer, Henry Greenwood, James Tongne, Joho Walkar, Edward S. Worrall, John Watherall.

1876,-Nathan Barry, Henry Greanwood, J. Harlao Millar, Hugh Shaw, John Wetharell, Jamea Tongua.

1877 .- Nathan Barry, Haory Greenwood, James Morgan, Abram Taylor, Hugh Shaw, John Wetharell.

1878 .- Samuel L, Wood, Isaac Paraoo, Jamiea Wall, Edward S. Worrell, William H. Brangao, Theodora Dranafield.

1879 .- Hugh Shaw, John W. Martio, leaac Parsoo, John H. Evana, William Neala, William Hunter.

1880 .- Hugh Shaw, John W. Martin, James Elder, Edward S. Worrall, Coroelius Allison, Capt. Randla.

1881 .- Hugh Shaw, Henry Beanmont (three years), Edward S. Worrell, Alexander McFate (two yaara), W. W. McNutt, Thomas Cook (one year).

1882 .- W. W. McNutt, Theodore Draoafield (three years), John Robin- 800 (ona yaar).

1883 .- Edward Bucklay, C. S. Esrey (three years).

1884 .- Henry Beaumont, John Robinaon (thraa yeara).

TREASURERS.

D. R. Earey, from 1873 to 1879; C. W. Andrews, from 1879 to 1885.

CLERKS.

Charlea Worthington, 1873-74; C. W. Andrawa, 1875-77 ; David Aarona, 1878-84; Wright Sntcliffa, 1884.

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.

Robert E. Hannum, March 13, 1875; March 30, 1880.

Friends' Meeting-House at Shoemakerville was built by the members of the Orthodox branch of the society in 1828, on land donated for that purpose by Enos Sharpless. It is a stone building, forty by sixty feet, and stands on a large plot of ground well shaded by forest trees, and adjoins the Oak Grove school- house. The prominent members of the society were Enos, John, Henry, Isaac, George, Daniel, and John M. Sharpless, Jesse J. Maris, Stephen M. Trimble, Richard Wetherell, and Gideon Smith, the last a ministering Friend. The present membership of the society attending this meeting is about fifty persons.

The North Chester Baptist Church was founded April 26, 1873. At that date a few persons favorable to the establishment of a congregation, and the erec- tion of a place of worship for the Baptist denomination in the borough, met at the residence of James Irving, where, after some informal agreement and understand- ing, the congregation was organized by the appoint- ment of James Irving chairman, and E. Mills clerk. At this meeting it was decided to erect a church edi- fice in North Chester borongh, ten members of regular Baptist churches registering their names as an earnest of their purpose. Invitations were sent to the Union Baptist Church at Media, the First Baptist Church at Chester, the Baptist Church of South Chester, as also that of Ridley, and Mantua Baptist Church, Phila- delphia, to meet in council with the organization in North Chester borough. On May 9, 1873, this conn- cil met and organized by the appointment of Rev. Dr. J. M. Pendleton, of Upland, to preside, and William R. McNeil, of South Chester, secretary. The visiting brethren were requested to take part in the exercises. The recognition services being concluded, Rev. Ed- ward Wells was called to the pastorate of the church. In the eleven years which have intervened since its or- ganization the church has had three pastors : Rev. P. S. Vreeland, who assumed pastoral charge Oct. 1, 1876; in January, 1879, Mr. Vreeland resigned, and on Aug. 31, 1879, the present pastor, Rev. John Brooks, was called, being ordained Oct. 2, 1879. The congregation has grown rapidly, largely composed of the operatives in the mills,-the present membership being about sixty. Pecuniarily the church has been sustained largely by the liberality of James Irving, who built the present sanctuary, and donated it and the lot on which it stands to trustees for the use and benefit of the congregation. The date stone has the figures 1872 cut upon it, which is clearly an error. No organization was effected looking to a church con- gregation there until April, 1873. It was recognized in May, and the church dedicated in June of that year, 1873.

Schools .- The first school-house erected in what is now North Chester was on a lot which was sold by Daniel Sharpless, March 18, 1813, to William Davis, Pierce Crosby, and Enos Sharpless, who were chosen trustees by the inhabitants in that part of Chester township. The lot had twenty-three square perches,

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

and thereon a one-story stone school-house was soon erected. This building was used for school purposes until the erection of the present Oak Grove school- house, in 1860. In 1836 the Sharpless school-house passed into the control of the directors of Chester township, and in 1873 was transferred by authority of the act erecting the borough to the directors of that municipal district.

In 1830, two years after the building of Friends' meeting-house, that society built a small frame struc- ture below the meeting-house, on the road to the Waterville Mills, wherein Miss Ann McGill (after- wards Mrs. Richard Wetherell) and Miss Amy Grif- fith were early teachers. The pupils in that school had a small plot of ground on which they vied with each other as to who could raise the best roses, vio- lets, and other flowers, as also beets, parsnips, and various kinds of vegetables. This piece of land was fenced and guarded with jealous care, being carefully locked when school was not in session. School has been kept in this house from 1830 to the present time, but not with any degree of regularity. After the erection of North Chester borough, the two-story brick school-house on Twenty-second Street was erected, and is now used for that purpose. The first directors of the borough were elected in March, 1873, and were Josiah Berry, H. Greenwood, Nathau Berry, H. L. Powell, D. R. Esrey, and Daniel Mc- Curdy.

The directors since that time have been as follows :

1874, Hugh C. Sample, Jonas Tongue, E. Wells ; 1875, John Shaw, Ed- mund Wells, Henry L. Powell; 1876, D. R. Esrey, Heory Besu- mont ; 1877, Robert Campbell, James Moss ; 1878, George W. Gilton, A. P Garfield; 1879, D. R. Esrey ; 1880, John Wetherell, Adam C. Eckfeldt; 1881, Rev. John Brooks, James Moss; 1883, D. R. Esrey ; 1884, William H. Floville, H. L. Powell.

Chester Rural Cemetery .- This association was organized in 1863, and incorporated by act of Assem- bly March 18, 1863. The preamble of the act set forth :

" WHEREAS, The following named citizens of the Borough and Towo- ship of Chester, in the connty of Delaware, have agreed to subscribe the sum of one thousand dollars each, for the purpose of providing & public cemetery, to be located within the limits of said horough or towoship; therefore,

"Sec. 1. Be it enacted, dc., by the Senate and House of Representa- tives of the Commonwealth of Peoosylvania in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That Benjamin Gartside, Frederick Fairlamb, Joshua P. Eyre, Abraham Blakely, Joha Larkin, Jr., Raney, Son sod Archibold, John H. Baker, George Wil- B00, Joseph Taylor, Samuel M. Felton, Samuel A. Crozer, Mortimer H. Bickley, John P. Crozer, sod snch other persons as may hereafter sub- scribe and contribute each & like sum, sod their succossore, be and they are hereby created aod declared a body politic and corporate, for estab- lishing a public cemetery, to be located io either the borough or towo- ship of Chester, by the name, etyle, and title of the Chester Rural Cem- etery Association."

The stockholders at their first meeting, March 21, 1863, elected Joshua P. Eyre president, and John H. Baker secretary of the company. A tract of forty acres, belonging to I. Engle Hinksou, a short distance north of the limits of the borough of Chester, the land extending from Edgmont to Upland road, was pur-

chased, the price paid being two hundred and fifty dollars per acre. The plot was immediately laid out for the purposes of a cemetery, the first interments within its lines being the Confederate soldiers who died at the United States Hospital (now the Crozer Theological Seminary). Over one hundred and fifty of these men were buried within the grounds. The first lot was purchased by Bennett Dobbs, Sept. 26, 1863, and his wife, Nancy, was buried therein two days afterwards, September 28th. No deed was given for this lot until two months had elapsed, the first conveyauce bearing date Dec. 7, 1863. Nearly in the centre of the cemetery an artificial lake was made, the water being supplied by a run which passed in a northwesterly course through the grounds. On Dec. 10, 1869, a sad accident occurred at this lake, on which Herman L. Cochran, son of John Cochran, and Mat- tie H. Irving, daughter of James Irving, both about sixteen years, were skating when the ice broke and they were drowned. "The Soldiers' Monument," a tribute to the soldiers of the civil war enlisted from Delaware County, stands on the highest point of land in this cemetery. Although this testimonial was erected in the name of the citizens of the county, the funds necessary to procure and put it in place were contributed by a few persons. Much credit was due to Mrs. Mary B. Leiper, who was untiring in her efforts to procure the meaus required. The Soldiers' Monument, a bronze figure by Martin Millmore, rep- resenting a private soldier standing at rest, and ele- vated on a massive granite pedestal, was dedicated Sept. 17, 1873, with appropriate ceremonies. Col. W. C. Gray read a history of the Soldiers' Monument Association, Col. John W. Forney delivered an ad- dress, and after the procession returned to Chester the very creditable work of the artist was committed to the seclusion of a burial-ground, whence only the corroding hand of time is likely to remove it.

Irvington Mills .- The site of these mills is on the tract surveyed to Thomas Brassey in 1685, and of which one hundred and seventy-six acres, ou Aug. 20, 1705, became the property of Caleb Pusey. It has been generally accepted that the report of the road laid out in 1713 "from Providence Lower road by Richard Crosby's mill to Edgmont road" had refer- ence to the mill erected at Crosbyville, and that it had been built prior to that date. In reading the report of the jury carefully it seems clearly to point to the Jarvis or Crosby mills farther up the creek, where now is located the Media water-works. When the mills at the preseut Irvington were erected we have failed to learn, but prior to 1767 grist- and saw-mills were located there which previous to 1790 came into the ownership of the Crosby family. In 1799 the saw-mill had fallen into disuse. The stone grist-mill must have been an expensive building, for in the year last men- tioned the mill was assessed at four thousand dollars, while the same year the Flickwi house, on Third Street, now being removed, was rated at two hundred

Jannes Arving

SHAW, ESREY & CO. (LIMITED), COTTON AND WOOLEN MANUFACTURERS,

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NORTH CHESTER BOROUGH.

and fifty dollars, by which we can form an opinion as to the value of the mill property at that day. In 1826, Pierce Crosby had not only the grist-mill, which was making thirty to fifty barrels of flour a day, but there was a saw-mill on the estate which cut between two and three hundred thousand feet of lumber per annum. In 1843, Crosby leased the mills to James Riddle and Henry Lawrence, who changed them to a woolen fac- tory, which they continued to operate until 1845. In that year James and David Irving, who had estab- lished the Irvington Mills in Philadelphia in 1842, leased the Crosbyville Mills and removed their busi- ness to that location, where they remained as tenants of the Crosbys until 1857, when they purchased the property. The business had so increased that in 1860 the firm erected Mill No. 2, a building one hundred feet in length by forty feet in width. In 1862, David Irving died, and his interest in the business was pur- chased by James Irving, who continues manufacturing at Irvington, the old mill seat being now known by that name. On Jan. 1, 1866, Washington Irving was given an interest in the business, the firm being James Irving & Sou. The son, however, died the fol- lowing September, but the firm remained unchanged in title, and in 1879, James Irving's son, William A. Irving, was admitted to an interest in the mills. In 1873 the old grist-mill building was removed, and a four-story stone structure one hundred and seventy- two by fifty feet erected on its site by James Irving, and Mill No. 3, a stone factory forty by fifty feet, two stories in height, was built in 1880 by James Irving. The machinery in these mills consists of one hundred and six looms, two thousand one hundred spindles, and six sets of cards, the goods manufactured being woolen doeskins and tweeds.

James Irving, the subject of this biographical sketch, was born in 1817 in New York, where his parents, John and Jeannie B. Irving, emigrated from Glasgow, Scotland, and settled in the year 1811. The family subsequently removed to Montgomery County, Pa., where the two sons, James and David, were apprenticed to Bethel Moore, then one of the largest woolen manufacturers in the State, and with him learned the trade of which he was master. In 1842 they began business in Philadelphia County, and remained until 1846 in that locality.

James Irving the year previous removed to Dela- ware County and established woolen-mills at Irving- ton, under the firm-name of J. & D. Irving, which continued until the death of David Irving, in 1862, when James Irving & Son succeeded to the business. James and David Irving and Thomas I. Leiper also es- tablished in Chester, Pa., a mill for the manufacture of cotton yarns, under the firm-name of Irvings & Leiper, now the Irving & Leiper Manufacturing Company.

James Irving, in May, 1839, was married to Chris- tiann, daughter of John Berry, of Chester County, Pa. Their children are Jeannie M. (wife of Hugh Lloyd, of Darby, Pa.), E. Matilda (wife of William H. Star-

buck, of New York), William A., and D. Edwin. Both the sons are interested with their father in busi- ness. Mr. Irving was in politics formerly a Henry Clay Whig, and actively participated in the political issues of the day. He later became a conservative Republican, and indorses the platform of the party in general. He is a director of the First National Bank of Chester, and has heen for a long time one of the active trustees of the University of Lewisburg, Union County, Pa., one of the best educational in- stitutions of the State. He is in his religions views a Baptist, and member of the North Chester Baptist Church of Chester, Pa.

Powhattan Mills .- In the fall of 1863, Hugh Shaw and D. Reese Esrey entered into partnership as Shaw & Esrey, and purchasing from Patrick Kelly the machinery and personal property in the Pennell- ton Mills, at Bridgewater, together with his interest in the brand of goods known as Powhattan jeans, began the manufacture of cotton and woolen jeans and all- wool jeans at those mills, employing sixty hands and producing four hundred thousand yards of goods an- nually. In 1865 the firm bought a plot of ground on Green Street, Chester, from Spence McIlvain, design- ing to erect a mill thereon ; but early in the spring of 1866, D. R. Esrey purchased from John Cochran six acres of ground and the mansion on the Engle prop- erty at Powhattan, near Chester, and the firm con- cluded to buy other lands adjoining, consisting of three acres. On this plot they immediately erected the building now known as Powhattan Mill, No. 1, removing from the Pennellton Mills the machinery purchased from Kelly and adding a new set of woolen machinery. In September, 1866, operations were begun at the new location. To the machinery in this mill a set of woolen machinery was added in 1867, and another set in 1872. Besides the mill building the firm erected four tenement houses. At first the basement of Mill No. 1 was rented to Joseph G. Fell, who, in one part, was engaged in weaving cotton cloths, and the remainder of the basement to Joseph Monroe for the manufacture of warps. In 1871 the business of Shaw & Esrey had so increased that, to keep pace with the demand for their goods, another lot of ground was purchased and Mill No. 2 was erected. In this building, in the fall of the year, four sets of woolen machinery were placed, in 1872 two other sets were added, and again in 1874, making a total iu both mills of fourteen sets and two hundred and twenty-eight roller and clipper-looms. The power in each mill is furnished by an eighty horse-power Corliss engine, receiving steam from six boilers, of one hundred and fifty horse-power. Mill No. 1 is one hundred and seventy-eight feet in length by fifty- five feet in width, and three stories in height. To it is attached a two-story dye-house thirty-two by fifty- five feet, and a one-story dye-house twenty-five by fifty- five feet. There is also attached to this mill a boiler- house thirty-two by sixteen feet, and all necessary

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

buildings. Mill No. 2 is one hundred and fifteen feet in length hy fifty-eight feet in width, three stories in height. To it are attached an engine-, boiler-, dry- and dye-houses, forming a wing one hundred and fifty by thirty-three feet, and directly at the other end of the main building is a weave-shed, one hundred and six- teen by forty feet, one story in height. There is also detached a spreader and a mixing-room, seventy by thirty feet, two stories in height, and other ne- cessary buildings. Connected with these mills are thirty-five comfortable dwelling-houses, two- and three-storied buildings, erected by the firm for the convenience of the operatives. The grounds con- nected with the Powhattan Mills comprise twenty acres. The goods manufactured in these mills are known in the market as Powhattans, Covingtons, Provident, and all-wool jeans.

In the spring of 1877, Shaw & Esrey decided to erect a third mill, to be used exclusively for the manufacture of a finer class of goods. This building is one hundred and thirty-eight by fifty-five feet, three stories in height, with engine-, boiler-, dry-, dye-, and store-houses attached. In January, 1878, the firm began operations in this mill with four large sets of the best and latest-improved machinery, and in 1880 added two more sets of the same kind of machinery. In January, 1878, the firm of Shaw & Esrey was changed under the act of Assembly to a limited company. At that time the property owned by the company consisted of three mills, out-building, and machinery, fourteen dwelling-houses, and a tract of land, in all, with a capital of three hundred thou- sand dollars. The company consisted of Hugh Shaw, D. Reese Esrey, John Shaw, H. C. Esrey, and Wil- liam H. Shaw. In 1879 the stock of H. C. Esrey, deceased, was transferred to C. S. Esrey, and he was admitted to the company. In 1878 the firm having occasion to use the basement of No. 1 mill, required Joseph G. Fell and Joseph Monroe to vacate it, and fulling and finishing machinery for finishing the wool doeskins, cashmeretts, and cassimeres made at No. 3 mill was placed therein. An admirable system pre- vails in these mills. Everything that can contribute to the progress of the business or the welfare of the employés is secured, without regard to the trouble or expense it may occasion. Many of the dwelling- houses are owned by the operatives, the firm having always striven to aid their hands to that end. The arrangements for extinguishing fires are unsurpassed, water and steam being introduced into each room by an automatic process, and an automatic alarm is also attached to give warning should any fire occur in the buildings. Each mill is provided with a steam pump in constant readiness, and each and all pumps are connected, so that should a fire occur in one mill, where by any accident the pump could not be worked, either of the other pumps could be used in its stead. Detached from each mill is a large build- ing for storage of wool, cotton, and other materials.

The Powhattan Mills at the present time contain twenty sets of cards, seven thousand one hundred and thirty-four spindles, and three hundred and thirty looms. The yearly production is about two million five hundred thousand yards, and three hundred hands are employed in the mills.

Hugh Shaw is of English parentage, his paternal grandfather having resided at Grotten Head, York- shire, England, where he was a successful weaver. His children were James, Alice, Betty, and Ann. James was born in the year 1800, in Saddleworth, Yorkshire, England, and learned the trade of a spinner, which he followed for many years. He mar- ried Betty, daughter of Daniel Andrew, of Shelders- low, Saddleworth, Yorkshire, and had children, -- Samuel (deceased), Hugh, William, John, Andrew (deceased), James, and Elizabeth. His son, Hugh, was born Dec. 2, 1823, in Lees, near Oldham, Lancashire, England. Having entered the mills at an early age, he enjoyed but limited advantages of education, ob- taining instruction principally in night-schools, from contact with others, close observation and research. He continued as a spinner until 1843, when on emi- grating to the United States he entered the mills of W. T. Crook, at Crooksville, Delaware Co., Pa. Here he subsequently became foreman, and continued so until 1854, when he engaged in farming in Chester township. He remained thus employed until 1863, when forming a copartnership with D. R. Esrey, the interest in the mills of Patrick Kelly, of Aston town- ship, was purchased, and the firm embarked in the manufacture of Powhattan jeans. In 1866 a mill was erected near Chester; in 1871 the increase of business warranted the building of another mill, and in 1877 a third was erected, doeskins and cassimeres having been meanwhile added to their productions.

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History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Part 110

Author: Ashmead, Henry Graham, 1838-1920 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L.H. Everts Number of Pages: 1150

Author: Ashmead, Henry Graham, 1838-1920
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1150