USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > History of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the territory included within its limits to the present time > Part 45
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"Friends weep not for me, for all your tears are vain,
Prepare to meet the Lord, that we may meet again."
" His wife Christiana-died March 29th, 1815, aged 88 years & 7 months."
The earliest inscription noticed bears the date of 1724.
Since the division in the Society of Friends, a second Friends' Meeting-house has been erected in Middletown. The Methodists also have one in this township.
One of the most costly and imposing buildings in Delaware County is the " Pennsylvania Training School for Feeble Minded Children," located on an eminence one mile west of Media, in Middletown township. The last wing of the building, which is of stone, has just been completed, which enables the Managers to accommodate 160 pupils. The present number is 125, of whom 60 are beneficiaries of the State of Pennsylvania.
The farm and buildings have cost about $140,000, which has been furnished by private subscription and aided by the State.
The County House, for the support and employment of the poor, is also located in Middletown.
Glen Riddle, and other manufacturing villages on Chester Creek, are partly in this township.
The site of Knowlton, up to the year 1800, was a perfect wilderness. Near the head gates of the mill, there was formerly the mark of a grave, the occupant of which tradition named Moggey, and from that circumstance the crossing of the creek was named Moggey's Ford. As Moggey had the reputation of making her appearance occasionally, it required no little courage in the traveler in early times to cross the ford at night.
400
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
ASTON.
This township probably derived its name from Aston, a village of Berkshire, England, noted as the place at which a battle was fought in the year 871 between the Danes and the Saxons, in which the former were totally defeated by Ethelred and his brother Alfred. In 1686, Edward Carter, then a resident in what is now Aston, was appointed constable for Northley. The next year John Neal's (Nields) was appointed for the township of Aston, which may be regarded as the period at which the town- ship was organized as a municipal district.
The manufacturing villages of Rockdale and Crozerville are located in this township, and also parts of other manufacturing villages. In the former of these Calvary Episcopal Church, re- markable for its neatness, is located. It was built in 1836, on an eminence commanding a view of the village. Village Green is a handsome town, in which is located the successful seminary of J. Harvey Barton. Mount Hope Methodist Church is a mile from the village, and a new church of the same denomina- tion, has recently been erected within its limits. The Catholic Church of St. Thomas is also in Aston township. The old de- serted church known as the "Blue Church," was built about the year 1818, the chief part of the funds necessary for its erec- tion being furnished by the late James Lindsay The Rev. John Smith was the first pastor.
As late as 1770, a family of Indians had a wigwam on the Aston side of Chester Creek, opposite the farm of Jared Dar- lington, in Middletown, but did not remain there constantly. Their names were Andrew, Isaac, his son, and two women, sisters, Nanny and Betty, one of whom was the wife of Andrew. Andrew died about the year 1780, and was buried in the grave- yard of Middletown Friends' Meeting. These Indians also had a wigwam in the hollow north of Joseph Gibbon's, in Springfield, to which they sometimes resorted.
EDGMONT.
Joseph Baker, one of the earliest settlers in Edgmont, had a brother John, who died in Philadelphia in 1685. John, in his will, states that he was "late of Edgmont, in Shropshire, old England." We may presume, then, that Joseph came from the same locality. Hence the name of the township, which was frequently spelled Edgmond in early times. There was no ap- pointment of a municipal officer for Edgmont till 1687, though Joseph Baker, residing within the limits of the township, was appointed constable for Gilead in 1686.
There is a tradition that in laying out the road from Chester
·
Drawn by C P Tholey
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF ST THOMAS, IVY MILLS, ASTON.
Bowen & Co. lıth. Philada
Thr awn by B H Smith
CASTLE ROCK FROM THE NORTH.
Bowen & Co hth. Philada
401
1
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
to Edgmont, or more likely in a review of that road, Henry Hollingsworth, the surveyor, caused an apple-tree to be planted at the end of every mile. The surveyor happened to be at variance with Richard Crosby, who then resided in Middletown township. It so happened that one of the miles ended on Richard's land, but instead of planting an apple-tree the surveyor took an axe, and bent two saplings so as to cross each other at the spot, saying at the same time, " Richard Crosbie, thee crosses me, and I will cross thee." Henry Hollingsworth wrote to his friends in England, that he had planted an orchard nine miles in length. It is said that some of the apple-trees then planted were stand- ing till within a very recent period.
Castle Rock, in Edgmont, near Crum Creek, where it is crossed by the West Chester road, is often visited as a natural curiosity.
The Temperance Hall in this township has recently been pur- chased by a Methodist congregation, and will hereafter be used as a church.
THORNBURY.
One of the earliest and most influential inhabitants of this township was George Pearce. The native place of his wife Ann was Thornbury, in Gloucestershire, England. Hence we can readily account for the name of the township, and at the same time cannot fail to appreciate the tender affection that prompted this pioneer settler in its selection in preference to the name of his own native town. The township was organized in 1687, by the appointment of Hugh Durborow as constable, when not more than five or six families had settled within its limits. About three-fourths of the original township was retained in Delaware County, when it was separated from Chester, which still retained the name of Thornbury, as did the lesser part included in Chester County.
This township was enlarged about a quarter of a century since, so as to include a portion of the north end of Aston. The ex- tensive paper manufacturing establishment of the Messrs. Will- cox called " Glen Mills," is located in this part of the township.
The road in Thornbury passing the farm of Henry W. Brinton towards that of William D. Pennel, it is said, was laid out on an old Indian trail.
There are three Methodist churches in Thornbury, one of which is for colored persons.
26
402
HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
BIRMINGHAM.
The origin of this name for the township is not difficult to ac- count for. Its earliest settler, William Brinton, migrated from the neighborhood of the ancient English city of that name, and it is not wonderful that he should have selected for his wilder- ness home the name that would recall to his memory the earliest and most pleasing associations of his life. Birmingham was organized as a municipal district in 1686, by the appointment of John Bennett constable. Richard Thatcher served that office for Birmingham afterwards, although he at that time resided on the Thornbury side of the line that divided the two townships.
Birmingham was also one of the townships that was divided in running the line between Chester and Delaware Counties. Nearly two-thirds of the original township fell to the share of Delaware County.
In very early times a small company mill stood on Brinton's run near the site of the present mill of George Brinton. A little lower down was the "Town Pound," extending a little into the water. The miller's house belonging to the old mill is still standing.
There are many localities in Birmingham where events of in- terest occurred during the battle of Brandywine, that have been pointed out to me, but it is believed that those of most interest are embraced in the account of the battle already given.
Brandywine Baptist Church has already been noticed. The present church edifice is a substantial stone building situated more than a mile west of Chadds' Ford.
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DELAWARE CO
PENNSYLVA COUNTY
Drawn by BENJAMIN H SMITH, Delawa
Gneiss. R.L BARNES, Philadelphia for the Delaware County Inshifu of frienre.
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1862.
.Associated Rock.s.
Limestone. Talaslale.
Oder Dilnviun
Newer Diluvium
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est. The next in size is pal branches, designated nill streams. They unite ies into the Delaware at las its origin in two prin- Creeks. These unite at another principal branch, 'ord township. The main
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pide, unites its waters with Pestream, even larger than hem considerable streams Delaware Counties. They m each other from one to C O le creeks approach within the Delaware between the k rises about the dividing township, and afterwards d the consolidated city of
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NEWCASTLE
BRANDYWINE CRI
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o very limited in its ex- he details of its Geology 'e are a few, that when . to attract attention and 1,
v proper of the County of ced within its limits will
by five large creeks and she Delaware River, viz : e Brandywine, that forms :ek that empties into the cular line with that river. Creek, and a still smaller h discharge their waters 7
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other mill streams of less 'are above Marcus Hook ; short distance before that furby Creek; Naylor's Run, Booth'sCreek, branches of the west east branch of the same (* of the Brandywine. The besides those enumerated, ill powers.
1, and in some parts hilly general slope in the land
402
HIST
GLAVAING
The origin of this count for. Its earl the neighborhood of it is not wonderful 1 ness home the name and most pleasing organized as a mun of John Bennett con for Birmingham afte the Thornbury side
Birmingham was in running the line Nearly two-thirds of Delaware County.
In very early time run near the site o little lower down w into the water. The still standing.
There are many lo terest occurred durir pointed out to me, b are embraced in the Brandywine Bapt present church edifi more than a mile we
GEOLOGY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
IT cannot be supposed that in a district of country so very limited in its ex- tent as the County of Delaware, there will be found in the details of its Geology many facts to interest the general reader. Still there are a few, that when brought to the notice of an inquiring mind, cannot fail to attract attention and lead to further investigations, alike pleasing and useful.
As preliminary to the consideration of the Geology proper of the County of Delaware, a topographical view of the territory embraced within its limits will be presented.
The drainage of the County is principally effected by five large creeks and their tributaries, that traverse it in their course to the Delaware River, viz : Cobb's, Darby, Crum, Ridley, and Chester Creeks; by the Brandywine, that forms a part of our western boundary, and by Naaman's Creek that empties into the Delaware a short distance below the junction of the circular line with that river. A small part of Radnor township is drained by the Gulf Creek, and a still smaller part of the same township by Mill Creek, both of which discharge their waters into the Schuylkill.
Of these creeks the Brandywine is much the largest. The next in size is Chester Creek, which enters the County by two principal branches, designated " East " and " West." These branches are both good mill streams. They unite their waters at Crozerville, and the main creek empties into the Delaware at Chester. Darby Creek, the next in point of size, also has its origin in two prin- cipal branches, known as "Big " and " Little " Darby Creeks. These unite at the flour mill of Tryon Lewis in Radnor. Ithan Creek, another principal branch, also unites with it in the northwestern part of Haverford township. The main stream, thus formed, after passing Darby, the head of tide, unites its waters with those of Cobb's Creek, forming a large tide water stream, even larger than Chester Creek. Crum and Ridley Creeks are each of them considerable streams before they cross the dividing line of Chester and Delaware Counties. They pursue the same general course, and only distant from each other from one to two and a-half miles. A little above tide water, these creeks approach within a half mile of each other, but again diverge and enter the Delaware between the borough of Chester and Tinicum Island. Cobb's Creek rises about the dividing line of Radnor and Haverford, traverses the latter township, and afterwards forms the boundary line between Delaware County and the consolidated city of Philadelphia, to its junction with Darby Creek.
Besides the streams enumerated, the County has other mill streams of less note, as Hook Creek, which empties into the Delaware above Marcus Hook ; Little Crum Creek which unites with Crum Creek, a short distance before that stream reaches the river ; Mucanippates, a branch of Darby Creek; Naylor's Run, a branch of Cobb's Creek; Concord Creek and Green's Creek, branches of the west branch of Chester Creek; Rocky Run, a branch of the east branch of the same stream, and Beaver Creek and Harvey's Run, branches of the Brandywine. The Gulf Creek turns one mill in Delaware County; and besides those enumerated, there are several streams of sufficient size for light mill powers.
The surface of the County is decidedly undulating, and in some parts hilly As the direction of the streams indicate, there is a general slope in the land
404
GEOLOGY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
towards the river; the average courses of these streams being a little east of south. This slope is rather gradual till we approach within three or four miles of the river, or the marsh lands bordering it. Here may be observed on the high ground between the creeks, an abrupt fall in the general surface of the country. The line or direction of this sudden change of slope is nearly at right angles with the large creeks of the County, and preserves a general parallelism with the river and marsh lands, at about the distance that has been mentioned. It has been termed a " water shade," and for reasons that will be mentioned here- after, not inappropriately. This "water shade" can be traced beyond the limits of the County on either side of it, and though obscured by streams and ravines in many places, it is very distinct in others. Thus it may be seen below Booth's Corner in Bethel; at Mount Hope meeting-house in Aston, where it has the name of " Aston Ridge ;" at Harrison's Hill on the Edgmont road; near Hink- son's Corner on the Chester and Providence road ; above West Dale, Spring Hill, and Clifton stations on the West Chester railroad; between Kellyville and Garrett Ford, crossing the Garrett road near the toll-gate.
The abruptness of the fall in the land is in a great degree obliterated . in the beds of the several creeks that cross it; but the great fall in these streams, at and for some distance above their intersection by the "water shade," un- mistakeably indicate its presence. During ages they have been cutting their channels deeper upwards, thereby constituting a series of rapids, which in an early Geological period of this district of country, were concentrated into one of great abruptness, or even into perpendicular falls. This cutting back in the beds of our streams has been modified by the character of the rocks in different localities. Thus in Chester Creek it has been much greater than in those of Crum or Darby. Still each stream has its rapids at no very great distance from the crossing of the water shade, which in every instance is at a point where the stream has acquired its maximum size, thus affording very many of the best sites for manufacturing purposes, for which the County has become noted.
The " water shade " has served another valuable purpose. The land from its base gradually declines towards the Delaware, leaving nothing to obstruct the view from its summit of several miles of that river, and over a great extent of New Jersey, thus affording a vast number of building sites, unrivaled for health- fulness and the extent of the views they afford.
The elevation of the sources of the principal streams of the County above tide water has been ascertained with a reasonable degree of accuracy. That of Cobb's Creek is 392 feet, Ithan 399, Darby 440, Crum, 520, and Ridley the same. The elevation of the source of Chester Creek has not been ascertained with the same degree of accuracy, but that of its eastern branch may be safely set down at a somewhat higher figure than Crum or Ridley Creeks.
The only exception to the general slope of the surface of the County is in the small part of Radnor drained by the Gulf Creek. This stream at first has an easterly course, then suddenly turns to the north, and after having cut its way through the south valley hill, forming a narrow gorge known as the " Gulf," turns again easterly and empties into the Schuylkill.
The marsh lands bordering the Delaware would be inundated at every high tide, but for the artificial banks that surround them. Within the large scope of marsh between the Schuylkill and Darby Creek, besides the high part of Tini- cum, there are several parcels of land that would not thus be inundated. These were islands before the banks were made. Their number and general figure may be seen on the " Map of Early Settlements " accompanying this work.
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Having thus presented the general physical aspect of the surface of the County, it will be next in order to consider its Geology proper. The rocks of our County are relatively the lowest, and belong to the earliest formation known to Geologists. To those that are stratified, Mr. Lyell has applied the terms, Hypogene and Meta- morphic ; the former having reference to their position, as being nether-formed, and the latter to their altered structure from subterranean heat. The term Hypogene will apply equally well to any unstratified rocks within onr limits.
Of the magnificent series of deposits entombing the remains of a succes- sion of organized beings, found in other sections of our country, this County
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405
GEOLOGY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
does not present a single stratum. Our rocks were either formed before such beings were called into existence, or every trace of their remains has been effaced by the great subterranean heat to which they have been subjected. Resting uncouformably on these rocks, we have in some parts of the County, deposits of clay, gravel, or sand, formerly, though improperly, called diluvium, while in other sections they are covered with the earthy results of their own decomposition.
Professor Henry D. Rogers, our State Geologist, designates our rocks by the terms Hypozoic or Gneissic. Of these rocks he found three districts within the limits of his survey ; the first or most southern of which embraces substantially the whole of Delaware County, and " ranges from the Delaware River at Trenton, to the Susquehanna, south of the State line."
Mr. Rogers informs us, that "this most southern belt of our crystalline strata makes its first appearance at a spot in New Jersey, about six miles N. E. of Trenton, where it emerges from beneath the margin of the overlapping Mesoic Red Sandstone." Its lower or southern margin, he says, " crosses the Delaware River a short distance below the bridge at Trenton, and passes by Bristol, Phila- delphia, Chester, and Wilmington, being separated from the river by a narrow strip of diluvial and alluvial deposits, which only in a few places exceed one mile in width. The northern boundary commencing at the same point in New Jersey, crosses the Delaware about a mile and a half above Trenton, and ranges in a somewhat undulating line to Sandy Creek, about a mile east of the Wissahickon."
"W. of the Wissahickon, the northern edge of this zone of gneiss, ranges just S. of Barren Hill ; crosses the Schuylkill a little below Spring Mill, passes about a mile and a half S of the Paoli, and terminates near Boardsley's Run of the West Branch of the Brandywine, and not far from the Chester County Poor-House. W. of the Brandywine the gneissic rocks sink under the altered primal strata, in a succession of anticlinal fingers on slender promontories."
It will thus be seen that the whole County is included in the first gneissic district of Mr. Rogers, except a very small part of Radnor township, which ex- tends into the South Valley Hill, and which he includes in his next higher division of rocks termed Azoic. As this division is alike destitute of organic remains as the gneissic, and was established merely on the fact that it is less crystalline than the former, the difference between the two belts is of no practical importance, and the line of junction very frequently cannot be determined.
In describing our rocks in detail, Mr. Rogers has divided his southern Gneissic district into three subdivisions. I will not follow him in this, because his con- clusions were mostly drawn from examinations made on the Schuylkill, which frequently do not hold good when extended into our County, and because the accompanying map will suffice to show the location of each variety of rock much better than it could be given in words. It must be remembered, however, that our strata are not continuous for any great distances ; that they frequently alter- nate, and that the constituents of the same stratum will be different in its dif- ferent parts. It will therefore be understood, that the color adopted to indicate on the map the presence of any particular rock, is not intended to convey the idea that that rock is exclusively present in the particular locality represented by the color. It merely shows a predominance of the rock indicated by the color. This is the best that can be done, where the strata are so extremely variable.
The direction of the strata and their dip are also exceedingly variable. The general or average direction may be given as nearly north and south, and the dip a little towards the west. But frequently the strata are nearly vertical or an opposite dip is visible.
Commencing on what is known as the "Line road," at its junction with the old Haverford road, in the 24th ward of the City of Philadelphia, the presence of a trap dyke can be traced continuously for some distance into the township of Springfield. The gneiss rock on either side of this trap has undergone a striking metamorphism. It appears to have been originally constituted of the usual ingredients-quartz, mica, and feldspar, or sometimes with the mica re- placed by hornblende. The effect of the protruded trap has been, to aggregate
406
GEOLOGY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.
and recrystallize the feldspar in the adjacent gneiss without destroying its lami- nated structure. The effect of this re-crystallization on the durability of the feldspar has been very remarkable. It has now become the least destructible of the three ingredients of the rock; the crystals of feldspar appearing as a gravel in the soil resulting from the decomposition of this porphyritic gneiss. The fertility of this soil is unsurpassed-as it is constantly supplied with potash from the very slow but gradual decomposition of the feldspathic gravel. As another evidence of the increased durability of the feldspar in this metamorphic gneiss, I may mention that in the exposed boulders of this rock, the feldspar crystals are found standing in relief.
The trap composing this dyke varies greatly in its appearance, and doubtless somewhat in its composition. It generally has the aspect of coarse basalt. Its decomposition has been more rapid than that of the adjacent rocks, but still there are a sufficient number of spherical trap boulders on the surface to mark the course of the dyke and its branches, that yield but slowly to the weather, and scarcely at all to the sledge. The branches from the main trunk generally pass southerly, effecting a metamorphism of a wide belt of gneiss, or that meta- morphism is owing to other causes not apparent. Some of this metamorphic rock exhibits alternate lamina of light-colored crystalline feldspar, with dark fine- grained mica and quartz, affording a valuable building stone. In many other places the matamorphism has almost destroyed the rock for economical purposes, while in a few spots the gneiss has not been in the least affected. Large granitic veins presenting their usual coarse appearance, have had a share in changing the character of the rock a little further south and east. These veins are abun- dant about Kellyville. Below a line commencing at Cobb's Creek, near the Delaware County turnpike, and crossing Darby Creek some distance above the town of Darby, the gneiss becomes more micaceous, assuming the character of mica schist in some places, as may be seen on Church lane, near Cobb's Creek. On Mount Zion Hill, near Darby, this micaceous rock takes in as an ingredient a small portion of kyanite. These more micaceous strata, however, alternate with those that are less so, and in which the mica is dark-colored, or its place is sup- plied by hornblende. At Kellyville the gneiss rock in some of its strata is highly ferruginous, and at Darby still more so.
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