History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Part 152

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

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From 1842 to 1846 the church was dependent on supplies, but early in the latter year Rev. James W. Dale was called, and the dawn of better days came with him to Middletown. His eloquence soon gathered a congregation there, which had separated, and it was determined to repair and enlarge the church, William T. Cook, then a prosperous mannfacturer, under- taking personally to discharge the greater part of the expense. On Saturday afternoon, July 11, 1846, the corner-stone of the addition to the church was laid, Rev. Dr. Cuyler and Rev. Dr. Jones, of Philadelphia, making addresses on the occasion. It had been in- tended that the ceremony should have taken place on the 4th of July, but "the damp, drizzly, dull, disa- greeable day, the like of which could not be recalled by the oldest inhabitants as happening on a 4th in our history," compelled a delay in the services. Fif- teen feet was added to the length of the building and the alterations already mentioned in describing the old church were made, and three acres added to the graveyard.

Mr. Dale's ministry continued for over twenty-five years pastor of the mother Presbyterian Church of Delaware County, remaining there until 1871, when he resigned to take charge of Wayne Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Dr. Dale was a man of action as well as words, and for nearly thirty years he kept alive and nurtured into strength all the Presbyterian Churches in the county, and after they were able to care for themselves he never lost his interest in their

1 Life of John P. Crozer, p. 83.

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

welfare, and was ever earnest in their assistance when needed. He was the author of several standard theo- logical works, and had also published a number of sermons which had wide circulation. Dr. Dale died in April, 1881, at which time he was pastor .of the Presbyterian Church at Glen Riddle.

In 1871, Rev. Thomas Donaldson Jester became the pastor of Middletown Church. During the Cen- tennial year, 1876, at the request of the Presbyterian Church throughout the United States, every church of that denomination in the United States made an effort to collect the historical incidents connected with the church for preservation. In that year Rev. Mr. Jester preached an interesting and instructive ser- mon, presenting in an attractive form much of the historical matters connected with Middletown Church. On Saturday afternoon, Feb. 1, 1879, the janitor built fires in the stoves, and some of the pipes became hot, burst, and set fire to the roof. No chimney had ever been built in the church, but the pipes passed through the roof into a terra-cotta chimney-piece. A heavy gale was blowing at the time, which soon fanned the flames into a furious blaze, which in a short time en- veloped the building in a mass of fire. Nothing could be done to arrest the conflagration, and in less than two hours only the wall remained. Im- mediate steps were taken to rebuild the church, the old walls being utilized, and so rapidly was the work pushed that on Sunday, July 13, 1879, the church, a building sixty by forty feet, was dedicated, Rev. T. D. Jester, the pastor, conducting the ceremonies, as- sisted by Revs. J. W. Dale, D.D., P. H. Mowry, and Thomas McCauley. P. Frazer Smith, of West Ches- ter, also delivered an address. The rebuilding cost two thousand dollars, and as a little over that amount was subscribed, the church was dedicated free of debt. The church has at the present a membership of sixty persons, and is in prosperous condition.

The old God's acre, connected with the church, contains the mouldering remains of many generations of the Presbyterian families who made and supported the struggling congregation when it was located " out in the wilderness." The oldest gravestone whose in- scription can be deciphered is that of "James Cooper, deceased the 4th day of November in the Fear [or Year] of God, 1731." In point of time the next mor- tuary notice we desire to direct attention to is that of one of the Buchanan family, which, a century and a quarter later, gave a President to the United States. The old stone bears this inscription :

"David Buchanan, died Nov. 3, 1738. True to his frienda, to his promise just, Benevolent, and of religiona trust."

On another stone the inscription reads, --

"Samuel Crozer, died 1747. My glass is run, My work is done ; My body's under ground ; Intomhed in Clay Until the day I hear the trumpet sound."

On an ancient tombstone in that quiet burial-place can still easily be read the announcement,-

" Here lyeth the body of John, the son of Martha Moore, who de- parted this life the 17th day of December, 1754, aged 13 years and 8 months.

Death, thou hast conquered me, I by thy darts am alain, But Christ shall conquer thee Aod I aball rise agaio ;

Time hastens, and the hour The just shall rise and sing,

O grave where is thy power O Death where is thy sting?"

A noticeable tablet is that which marks the burial spot of a centenarian, -

" Here lieth the body of Bernhard Vanlser, M.D.1 Physsiasian in Physick, who departed this life, January 26, 1790, aged 104 years. Friende, weep not for me For all your tears are vain, Prepare to meet the Lord That we may meet again."

And beneath are the words,-

" His wife Christiana-died March 29th, 1815, aged 88 years and 7 months."

At the southwest corner of the church is the grave of Rev. James Anderson, the first pastor, who died Sept. 22, 1793, aged fifty-four years. When the alter- ation was made to the church, in 1846, this stone was temporarily removed, and in doing so was broken in the middle. Rev. Mr. Anderson was beloved by his congregation, and the stone informs us,-

" Modest thro' life, an humble path he trod, And passed his daye in service of his God; To guilty men he preached redeeming grace, Till death's unsparing scythe cut short his race ; Called by his glorious Master to the skies, He now enjoys, we hope, the immortal prize."

The stone which marks the resting-place of one who by his name should be a Presbyterian informs us that it was placed there

" In memory of Robert Calvin, died March 8, 1812, eged 69 years. Come, look on, my friend, And you'll drop a tear, For honest Robert Doth lie buried here."

Of Jane Calvert, who had died the preceding year, aged sixty-six years, we are told,-

" The Kind, good Jane, Ita bere she doth reat ; But her spirit's gone Among the blest."

Presbyterian Church at Glen Riddle. - On Oct. 19, 1880, a Presbyterian Church, with twenty members, was organized at Glen Riddle, delegates being appointed for that purpose by the Presbytery of Chester. Rev. James W. Dale, D.D., of Media, preached on that occasion. In the year preceding, 1879, Samuel Riddle had begun the erection of a handsome brick church, laid in black cement, with yellow trimmings, the windows being of stained glass

1 See ante, p. 256.

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MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP.

and memorials of various members of the Riddle family. The edifice was completed the following spring, at a cost of ten thousand dollars, and dedi- cated July 4, 1880. Dr. Dale, at the urgent request of Samuel Riddle, became the first pastor, until his death, in 1881, when Rev. John B. Rendall for a time was in charge of the churchi. At the present time the dean of Lincoln University supplies the pulpit. Forty members are now connected with the church, and a large and well-attended Sunday-school is maintained.

Lima Methodist Episcopal Church .- William L. Fox, Eleanor Fox, James Permar, John Pyle, and four other persons, in 1833, organized a Methodist society at Lima, which was placed under charge of James Riddle, a local preacher. For about six months meetings for worship were held at the dwell- ing of William L. Fox, now owned by John Porson, after which period the school-house then belonging to William Smedley, now owned by Mrs. Thomas Smedley, located at the forks of the road a quarter of a mile west of the Black Horse Tavern, was rented, and services conducted therein by the circuit preacher. On Aug. 19, 1835, in consideration of seventy-five dollars, John Rattew conveyed to Henry Permer, Charles McCally, John Pyle, Lewis M. Pike, John Daniels, Seth Rigby, William L. Fox, of Middletown, Caleb G. Archer, of Aston, and Joshua Smith, of Edgmont, trustees, one acre of land " forever, in trust, that they shall erect and build or cause to be built thereon a house of worship for Methodist Episcopal Church of United States of America." The trustees built on this lot, the present church site, a stone meeting-house, which, in 1873, was rebuilt and en- larged. The dedication of the new sanctuary took place on Sunday, April 6, 1873, and on March 23, 1874, the court of Delaware County incorporated Lima Methodist Episcopal Church. Among the pastors who have been in charge of the station are the following: Revs. James Ayers, John Edwards, John Morrison, A. Dotterer, John Jennings, Mr. Shepherd, George Burns, Mr. Grawley, A. N. Milli- son, and Mr. Turrentine, the present incumbent. The present membership of the church is sixty, and a Sunday-school of one hundred pupils, under the di- rection of William Turner, superintendent, is in a flourishing condition.

Honeycomb Methodist Episcopal Church .- About 1872 a Methodist society was formed by a number of colored people in Middletown, and a frame church erected near the Bishop Hollow road. The building is still used for a place of worship by the society.

Schools .- In Painter's manuscript " Reminiscences of Delaware County," in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, it is stated that "about 1740 there was a lot of land given by Thomas Yarnall and Thomas Minshall, equally, on each side of the line between them, for the use of a school-house. From

the trustees named, this school must have been in- tended to accommodate a large extent of country. It was at one time in the care of George Deeble, an Englishman, who had but one hand, yet, from what we have learned of him, he was quite competent for the situation."

On May 16, 1749, a plot of ground near the Presby- terian Church, on the Edgmont road, was conveyed to trustees for school purposes, and on this lot a stone school-house was erected, which stood until subse- quent to 1835, for at that time it was mentioned by the school directors as near "Middletown meeting- house," and designated as School No. 3. It was used only for a few years after the adoption of the school law by the directors, but N. Walter Fairlamb remem- bers being a pupil at the school kept there. As early as 1783, Friends of Middletown established a school at their meeting-house, and the old stone structure, now unused, still stands on the lot. It was main- tained for many years by the society until 1827, when the separation of Friends occurred, and it then, under the control of the Hicksite branch, was still con- tinued as a place of education. Jacob Smedley, now of Media, attended school in this old building from 1815 to 1820; John Hutton, Jacob Haines, and Jehu Broomhall were teachers during that time. James Emlin, at the time of the separation of the society of Friends, was teaching a private school in a house not far from the old Emlin mill, now Humphrey Years- ley's. At that house the Orthodox Friends held their meetings and kept their school. About 1836, soon after their meeting-honse was completed, they erected a stone school-house upon the meeting-house lot, in which school has been maintained with more or less regularity to the present time.

In the olden time, when a boy or girl was inden- tured, the agreement stipulated that a certain number of days' schooling should be given the apprentice in each year of his or her term of service. Hence, on the indenture of apprenticeship of Isabella Griffith, who was bound to John Rattew, appear the following indorsemients : " P. Wade certifies that he tanght Isa- bella two quarters and nine days at school in 1798-99 ; Daniel Bayle's, twenty-seven days in 1800; John Spencer, eleven days in 1802; John McClowghlin, one month in 1803; Caleb W. Matson, one and a half months in 1806-7."

A school-house is mentioned in the road docket in 1813 as "William Smedley's school-house." This was an old house in 1808. Jacob Smedley, now of Media, attended school there in that year, and for several years thereafter. Abram Johnson, John Turn- bull, John Hutton, and Joseph Taylor were teachers. It was located at the forks of the Rose Tree and Mid- dletown roads. The school-house was accepted by the school board in 1835, and designated as District No. 2, and was so known until discontinued in 1839. The lot is now owned by Mrs. Thomas Smedley.

On March 18, 1825, at an election held in the town-

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ship for the purpose of choosing school trustees, Jacob Hibbard, Robert Fairlamb, and Samuel Sharpless were elected. The school law passed in 1834, and William Fairlamb and Minshall Painter were ap- pointed by the court as inspectors until the school directors were elected under the law. The township did not accept the law until 1836, and on May 7th in that year the board of school directors appointed a committee from their number to make inquiry where a lot suitable for a school-house could be obtained. At the next meeting the directors made the following statement :

Appropriation from county and State for 1835. $215.87 Our share of $75,000 for 1836.

70.

Our share of $100,000 for 1836. 93,00

Amount receivable in the year 1836. $378 87 Our share of State and bank appropriation for 1837. 163.00

Our share of county appropriation of $7500 authorized by the delegate meeting. 462.60

Amount available in July, 1837, for school purposee. $1004.47

For building three new school-houses ... $800 For repairing old school-house .. 50

Amount necessary to be expended on school-housee. $850

The directors decided to borrow a sum of money sufficient to complete the school-house. On Dec. 6, 1836, the committee on site for school building re- ported " that such extravagant prices were asked for sites equitably distant that they did not feel warranted in purchasing." This report decided the school board to petition the Legislature, asking " that they in some way be relieved from vexatious negotiations and delay."

On April 29, 1835, the school directors purchased from Peter Hill, for fifty dollars, a lot containing half an acre, situate on the Pennsgrove road, near Riddle's factory, on Chester Creek (then Parkmount). The deed was delivered by George W. Hill to the board June 10, 1837, and at that meeting Nicholas Fairlamh agreed, for one hundred dollars, to sell half an acre of land on the lower part of his farm on the Edgmont road. At a meeting of the board, August 12th in the same year, it was decided to erect a school-house on the Fairlamb lot, which was completed during the sum- mer, and November 15th following it was determined that the Fairlamb school-house, " lately erected, shall be called No. 1;" the school-house near William Smedley, No. 2; the school-house at the Middletown meeting-house, No. 3, and the school-house " lately erected near Riddle factory" be No. 4.

On Dec. 1, 1837, the directors determined that the public schools be opened on the 19th of December of the same year. Public notice was given that four teachers would be employed. Five were examined, and engaged for three months, at twenty-five dol- lars per month. They were James M. Mullen, No. 4; George Waller, No. 1; William W. Smedley, No. 5; George Smedley, No. 2; and Joel Sharpless, No. 3. School No. 5 here mentioned was kept in a house near the Pitts farm, where later a house was built. On July 15, 1838, the following teachers were

employed for three months : Mary Dunlevy, at $45 per quarter, No. 5; William Webster, at $60, No. 1; Thomas Dawd, $60, No. 4; Samuel Darlington, $60, No. 3; and George Smedley, $60, No. 2.

At a meeting of the directors Aug. 12, 1837, a com- mittee was appointed to select lots for school pur- poses in the middle, western, and southeastern sec- tions of the township. On the 17th of May preceding a committee had been appointed to apply to the trus- tees of the school-house near Friends' meeting-house for the use of that house for public school purposes, but Friends declined to allow their house to be used by the directors, stating that they were occupying it for their own schools.

On the 28th of March, 1839, the directors purchased a lot, containing a half-acre of land, of Joshua Sharp- less in the western part of the township. Jared Dar- lington offered to erect a house on the site for four hundred dollars, which was accepted. The house was built and delivered to the directors October 26th in that year. On the 27th of April, 1839, the committee on sites reported that a lot could be obtained of George Smedley, at the Barrens. On May 28th in that year, a half-acre of land was puchased from Smedley, at that place, for fifty dollars. It was not until 1841 that a house was erected. At that date Thomas Reece built a house for three hundred and fifty-five dollars, which was used until 1868, and on April 15th in that year a contract was made with Isaac N. Flounders to build a school-house at that location for two thousand one hun- dred and ninety-three dollars, which is known as the "Barrens," or District No. 8. On Oct. 16, 1839, a lot was purchased from the Christian Pitts estate, on which to erect a school-house, to be known as No. 5. Thomas Shoemaker offered to build it for three hundred and ninety-eight dollars, which was accepted. He subse- quently declined to fulfill the contract, and on March 11, 1840, John Eves offered to build it for three hun- dred and seventy dollars, which offer was accepted, and the house was erected and completed in June, 1840. The numbers of the district were changed after 1842, and No. 3 was known as " near Riddle's," and No. 4 as " near Isaac Yarnall's."

On Oct. 11, 1848, No. 3 school-house was reported as too full for comfort, and a room was soon after rented for forty dollars per annum.

On July 16, 1849, School No. 6 appears in the rec- ords. In 1850 the following report was made of the schools of the township. Number of schools, 6; number of months taught, 7; number of male teach- ers, 4; female, 2; 192 male scholars, 228 female; average in each school, 70; amount of tax collected, $1015.43; cost of instruction, $1008.

On the 5th of June, 1850, a lot was purchased near Knowlton, and a house was erected during the sum- mer at a cost of five hundred dollars. This was des- ignated as No. 7; and the same time a hall was rented at Spring Hill for school purposes. In 1858 Samuel Riddle offered the use of a room in which to

RESIDENCE OF SARAH W., DAUGHTER OF THE LATE JONATHAN THOMAS, MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP, DELAWARE CO., PA .:

619

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP.

hold a school, which was accepted, and the school was called Glen Riddle School. This was later aban- doned, and the Knowlton lot was sold March 8, 1869, to Thomas McDermott for three hundred and thirty dollars.

In February, 1861, a lot of land was purchased for one hundred and twenty dollars, at Lima, of the di- rectors of the poor. A contract was made with Rob- ert P. Dunn for the erection of a house thirty by thirty-six feet for fifteen hundred and sixty dollars. This was completed and is now in use. It is known as No. 7. On Jan. 28, 1864, three-quarters of an acre of land was purchased of Samuel Riddle for one hun- dred and seventy-five dollars. Borell Williams con- tracted to erect a house there for two thousand three hundred and eighty-four dollars. It was completed and school was opened there Nov. 28, 1864. On April 16, 1866, the directors decided to remodel No. 1 school-house, and Simon Litzenberg was awarded the contract for the work for six hundred and seventy dollars.

On June 28, 1866, a contract was made with Joseph Yarnall to remodel school-house No. 4. On April 25, 1867, it was decided to move School No. 2 to corner of Thomas Pratt's land, between roads leading from Village Green to Glen Riddle (near the fair-ground). Three-quarters of an acre of land was purchased for three hundred and seventy-five dollars. Joseph P. Yarnall contracted to build a house for nineteen hun- dred and ninety dollars. The old lot at Park Mount was then sold to Elwood Malin for four hundred and seventy dollars.

On the 1st of June, 1868, the districts were renum- bered : No. 1, near Habbersett's; No. 2, near John- son's; Nos. 3 and 4 (two stories), at Parkmount; No. 5, Darlington ; Nos. 6 and 7 (two stories), at Lima ; No. 8, the Barrens.

On June 6, 1872, it was decided to erect a new school-house in place of No. 1, on the same plan as school-house No. 8. William Armstrong contracted to build a stone house for seventeen hundred dollars, which was done.

School Directors for Middletown .- The following list contains the names of the school directors of the township from 1834 to the present time :

On Oct. 1, 1834, the first election for school directors was held at the house of George Malin. The follow- ing persons were elected : Jonathan Thomas, Min- shall Painter, George Smedley, Abraham Pennell, Jr., David Thomson, and Edward Lewis. Subse- quent elections have resulted as follows :

March 30, 1835, William L. Lawia, James Pannell ; March 18, 1836, Humphrey Johnson, Samuel Sharpless; March 17, 1837, Minehall Painter, Jamea Barton ; March 16, 1838, William Smedley, Jared Darlington, Jonathan Paist; March 15, 1839, Samuel Hibbard, Jonathan Paist ; 1840, Nicholas Fairlamb, Iarmal Yarnall ; 1842, Minaball Painter, Samuel Sharplesa ; 1843, Thomas Pratt, Nicholaa Fairlamb, James Enos; 1844, Samuel Riddle, Jobu H. Fairlamb ; 1845, William S. Lawia, Jacob Paintar ; 1846, James Eves, Samual Riddla; 1847, John H. Fairlamb, Jarad Darlingtoo; 1848, William L. Lawia, John Williama; 1849, Pacoock Edwarda, Ezakial Nor-

man ; 1850, Joel Sharpleas, Joaaph Dutton ; 1851, Georga Callaghan, Joliu Williams; 1852, Abram Blakely, John Williams ; 1853, N. Walter Fairlamb, Jamaa Pennell ; 1854, Gaorga Rodabach, William Webstar; 1855, George Rodebach, Castor Gray ; 1856; Jamea Pao- nall, N. S. Yarnall ; 1857, John Williams, William Webster; 1858, Nathan S. Yarnall, Charlea Fairlamb ; 1859, Charles Jobnaon, Castor W. Gray ; 1860, John Williams, Thomas Williams ; 1861, Thomas T. Williama, Milton Edwards; 1862, Georga Callaghan, Jr., Charles Johnson ; 1863, Hiram Schofield, William Webster ; 1864, Nathan S. Yarnall, Gaorga W. Ormaby ; 1865, Charles Johnaon, Jeaae Hib- berd ; 1866, Owan W. Yarnall, John Pearson ; 1867, John McDnwall, Archibald McDowell; 1868, John Hoopea, Samual Duon ; 1869, John J. Hoopea, Owen W. Yarnall ; 1870, S. P. Duna, John R. Taylor ; 1871, Jesse Hibberd, Jared Darlington ; 1872, leaac W. Karlin, M.D., John J. Hoopea; 1873, Samuel P. Duan, Jamas Millar ; 1784, Thomas T. Williams, James M. Schofield ; 1875, John Hibbard, Thomas D. Jeatar ; 1876, T. Darlington Jaatar, William H. Pratt ; 1877, Thomas T. Williamson, Samuel DuDo; 1878, John Hibberd, Robert Fair- lamb; 1879, S. P. Duno, William Burnley ; 1880, Robert T. Aah, Charles R. Yarnall ; 1881, John Hibbard, Robert Fairlamb ; 1882, S. P. Duon, Samuel Riddla, Jr .; 1883, Jasse F. Smadley, C. R. Yarnall; 1884, Robert Fairlamb, Jobn Hibbard.

Mills on Chester Creek .- The industries located on Chester Creek, in Middletown, have an exceed- ingly interesting history, and the narrative will be told as the several mill-seats are reached, beginning at the southern end of the township and moving up the stream to its source. The like course will be followed on Ridley, the eastern boundary of Mid- dletown.

Forest Dale Mills .- At the court held at Chester 5th day of 1st week, Tenth month, 1686, Caleb Pusey, the partner with Penn and others, and then the man- ager of the Chester Mills, "Petitioned against Co- bourn for setting a water-mill above him on Upland Creek." The court, however, " considering the prem- ises, and finding it to be for the common good, dis- penseth therewith." Pusey was powerful and active in protecting his own and partners' interest, hence, after he obtained the intervention of the commis- sioners of property forbidding Cobourn to build his mill, the people determined to carry the matter before the Provincial Council, and at a meeting of that body on 17th of Sixth month, 1687, " The Petition of about threescore people, Inhabitants of Chester County, was Read, setting forth the great want of a Mill in their parts, and Requesting a Permission for Thomas Coebourne to goe forward with ye building and set- ting up of his mill on Chester Creek. The Council is willing to give Incouragmt to ye Procedure of Thom. Coebourne, in the finishing of his mill that he is now about, for ye urgent necessity of ye Con- terey, Reserving to ye Govt his Proprietary Ship."1

This petition was presented on behalf of the people of the county, because on the 30th day of the pre- ceding month, Caleb Pusey had induced William Markham and John Goodson, members of the Board of Commissioners of Property, to issue an injunction forbidding Cobourn proceeding with the erection of the mill. The order was as follows. The closing paragraph particularly was ordered to be read to

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History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Part 152

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