History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 201

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534

USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania > Part 201

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Merion Square is located nearly in the centre of the township, at the intersection of several roads, and contains about thirty-five houses, two stores, two churches, school-house, several mechanic shops, and according to the census of 1880, two hundred and seven inhabitants. The post-office is called Lower Merion. The Methodist Episcopal Church was built before 1858, of which the Rev. A. W. Prettyman is the present pastor. The Presbyterian Church was built in 1877 ; is in charge of Rev. A. W. Long. Both have services twice every Sabbath and Sunday- schools attached. The Odd-Fellows' Hall is occupied by Merion Lodge, No. 210, of I. O. O. F., and Mont- gomery Encampment, No. 115. Merion Square Di- vision, No. 128, S. of T., also meet in the latter build- ing. This village in 1858 contained twenty-six dwellings.

Libertyville is a mile northeast of Ardmore on the old Lancaster road ; contains nine houses, two stores and a wheelright and blacksmith-shop.

Wynnewood, where a post-office has been estab- lished, is about three-fourths of a mile below Ardmore. The station and grounds are neatly kept. Fine country-seats abound in this vicinity. The name has been applied from the residence of the late Hon. Owen Jones, which is so denoted on Hill's map of 1809, as handed down from the first settlement.

Academyville is a mile southwest of West Mana- yunk; contains about ten houses. Lower Merion Academy, which had its origin in motives of benev- olence, is located here. In 1810, Jacob Jones de- vised a traet of land in charge of trustees, with a sum of money, to which was added other bequests " to be applied to the hiring or employing a tutor or tutors for as many poor and orphan children of both sexes living in the township as the issue and profits of said sum would allow." The trustees, therefore, erected a large building in 1812, which was opened as a boarding and day-school the following year. Keep- ing boarders was soon abandoned and the day-school

alone continued, which was then styled the Lower Merion Benevolent Institution. In 1836 the school was merged into and called a free school, and as such has ever since been continued. It is still controlled by trustees, in accordance with the requirements of the bequest, and has thus received its present name.

The General Wayne is the name of an inn on the ohl Laneaster road, said to have been so called in consequence of that officer having eneamped here with his command, probably in 1792, on his western expedition against the Indians. This inn was kept in 1806 by Titus Yerkes, and is noted on Hill's map of 1809. It was kept by Major William Matheys in 1824, and by David Young in 1838, in whose family it has remained until the fall of 1883. The elections of the whole township were continuously held here from 1806 until 1867,-a period of sixty-one years. The elections of the Lower District are still retained here. Before 1851 a post-office was established with this name, perhaps the first in Lower Merion, but it has recently been removed and its name changed to Academy. A plank-road for two tracks was made from here to West Philadelphia in 1855, but has been for some time worn out. The old Friends' Meeting- house here denotes a very old settlement, prob- ably the village of Merioneth, mentioned by Gabriel Thomas, in his "Account of Pennsylvania," published in 1696. Most probably from its being on the old Lan- caster road, the same is called Merion by Lewis Evans on his map of 1749. It contains, besides the hotel and meeting-house, some five or six houses and a smith-shop. Near this is Belmont Driving and Race-Course, containing a one-mile track, eighty feet wide between the railing, begun in 1876.

Flat Rock is about a mile above West Manayunk, and is a place abounding in interesting scenery and historical associations. Owing to the contracted and rocky channel of the river for half a mile, it is wonder- ful that persons in canoes and boats could venture to pass in safety, as we know they did before the eon- struction of the canal, in 1818. The name is de- rived from a bed of huge roeks extending across the river. At this spot a bridge was built in 1810, which was the first that spanned the Schuylkill within the limits of Montgomery County. In 1824, while several teams were crossing, loaded with marble, it gave way. On being repaired by the contractor, Lewis Wernwag, and requiring but two days for its comple- tion, the river, rose thirteen feet during July 29th of that year, bringing down a great quantity of logs, trees, boats and drift-wood, which swept nearly the whole of the structure away, occasioning a serious and heavy loss to the builder. However, by Sep- tember 10th he finished it to the satisfaction of the managers. In consequence of a great freshet, September 2, 1850, the Conshohocken bridge, four miles above, was swept away, and came down with such force as to take this bridge entirely away, and it has not since been rebuilt. What helped to

F.F GOIST DEL

REDLEAF. RESIDENCE OF WM. P. HENSZEY,

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LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP.

heighten the catastrophe was the holding of the Con- shohocken bridge firmly together by the railroad track that had been laid across it. From the western abntment of the bridge, which still remains by the road-side, a splendid view is obtained in a northwest- erly direction of the falls of Flat Rock dam and of the Schuylkill for the distance of three miles. Near by is Duck Island, covered with numerous willows, and it is a favorite resort of wild fowl. This is supposed to be the " Beaver Island," mentioned in the Upland court records of 1677 as being in the Schuylkill; if so, it must have been formerly the abode of this animal. Flat Rock dam was constructed about half a mile above the site of the bridge by the Navigation Com- pany, and was the means of furnishing much valuable water-power to the manufactories in Manayunk. By its raising the water above and thus by reducing his water-power from sixteen fcet to about twenty inches, a heavy loss was caused to John Shoburn, who was una- ble, in consequence, to continue the running of his cot- ton-mill, near the mouth of Mill Creek. A copper-plate engraving of this dam and adjacent scenery was pub- lished in Philadelphia in 1828, showing its attractive features, a reduced copy of which may be seen in the chapter on the Schuylkill. A writer of the time in speaking of Flat Rock, refers to it as "a spot, a few years ago, where the rambler was invited only by its singu- larly wild and romantic beauties." James Mease in his " Picture of Philadelphia," published in 1811, recom- mends it as well worth a visit. Just half-way between the site of the old bridge and the dain is the Flat Rock tunnel of the Reading Railroad, nearly one hundred feet below the surface of the hill.

The mouth of Mill Creek is also an interesting place for visitors, being only half a mile above the falls of Flat Rock dam. The highway and the rail- road pass over the stream by two bridges nearly ad- joining, and twenty feet above the water. Near by is a beautiful small island in the Schuylkill, which is quite a feature in the scenery, containing about half an acre, covered with buttonwood and willow-trees. From here up and by the side of the creek for a quarter of a mile to the paper mill is a good, level road, beautifully shaded, which with the surrounding scenery, makes a very attractive walk. The station here, so long called Mill Creek, has recently been changed to Rose Glen, and a post-office established in July, 1884, with Robert Chadwick, postmaster. A boat-ferry for the conveyance of passengers to Shaw- mont, on the opposite side of the river, has existed above twenty-five years.

West Laurel Hill Cemetery is situated half a mile northwest of the city line, and immediately to the rear of Pencoyd, which is opposite Manayunk. The com- pany was incorporated in 1869, when for the purpose two adjoining estates and part of another were secured, containing in all one hundred and ten acres The choice is stated to have been the result of a care- ful examination of the entire vicinity of Philadelphia.

Its surface is rolling and variegated, the highest point being two hundred and twenty-five feet above the waters of the Schuylkill. From it a fine view is afforded, particularly in a north and west direction. Since in their possession extensive improvements have been made to adapt it to the purposes for which it is intended. Numerous winding walks have been tastefully laid out and planted with shrubbery, neat buildings erected, as dwellings, lodge, receiving vanlt, stabling and sheds. Numerous monuments have been reared to the memory of the dead, the interments having reached in September, 1883, nineteen hundred. Two stations adjoin the grounds, one at Pencoyd be- longing to the Reading Railroad, the other on the Schuylkill Valley road. The latter road has been in operation since May, 1884, and the station is called West Laurel Hill. The cemetery is only four miles distant from Market Street bridge, and Belmont Avenne leads directly to the place. The office of the company is at No. 115 South Fifth Street.

In the northern part of Bryn Mawr, beside the New Gulf road, buildings have been erected for a female college, to be in charge of the Orthodox Friends. For this purpose Dr. Joseph W. Taylor, of Burlington, N. J., who died January 18, 1880, aged seventy years, left a handsome bequest. He had purchased here thirty-seven acres and had commenced the improve- ments a short time before his death, under the super- intendence of George W. Ott, who is still retained in charge. In June, 1884, Taylor Hall was nearly com- pleted, it being built of granite from Port Deposit, Md. It is one hundred and thirty feet long and about sixty feet in average width, with a square tower one hundred and thirty feet in height. The other will be called Merion Ilall, and is one hundred and seventy-five feet long by forty-six in width. Taylor Hall is designed for instruction while Merion Hall will be used for dormitories and household purposes. Both are sub- stantially built of dressed stone and threestories high, after designs by Addison Hutton, the architect. It is intended to have the buildings finished by March 1, 1885, and that the institution shall be ready for students in the following September. The amount left by Dr. Taylor was abont eight hundred thousand dollars, of which a considerable portion is invested and the income only applied to its use. Dr. James E. Rhodes, of Philadelphia, who was named in the will as one of the trustees, was elected president of the board in March, 1884. He has been a physician in Germantown for some time, and is now a minister among Friends and senior editor of the Friends' Review. Mathew Carey Thomas, of Baltimore, has been se- lected dean of the faculty and professor of English. It is intended to adopt and maintain a standard of admission and instruction equal to the best male colleges in the country. Dr. Taylor had been con- nected with the Haverford College, for boys, which is only a mile distant, and thus, no doubt, was induced to erect here also a somewhat similar institution for girls.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

himself a "practitioner of physick," and appoints Thomas Lloyd and Griffith Owen his executors, He died 16th of First Month, 1692, and was interred in Friends' burying-ground, in Philadelphia. Ilis resi- dence was on the site now occupied by the mansion of the late Colonel Owen Jones, which has thus led to the origin and perpetuation of the name of Wynne- wood.

The Roberts family is also an carly one, and has done much to advance the prosperity of the township, and probably has not been surpassed in energy by any other of Welsh origin in the county. John Roberts came from Pennychlawd, Denbighshire, North Wales, and settled on a tract of two hundred and fifty acres, in 1683, that he had purchased from John ap John and Thomas Wynne. He was married to Gainor, the daughter of Robert Pugh, of Merioneth- shire, by occupation a mill-wright, and is supposed to have erected the third mill in the province. This was near the present village of Pencoyd, which has re- ceived its name from the place ofhis nativity. A portion of this tract has never been out of the family. John Roberts, who carried on n grist-mill and two pa- per-mills on Mill Creek, before 1758, was his descend- ant; also the late Jonathan Roberts, of Upper Merion, United States Senator, Algernon S. and Percival Roberts, the founders and proprietors of the extensive Pencoyd Iron-Works, and George B. Roberts, presi- dent of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, who resides on his ancestral acres in this township. On the list of 1734 six of the name are mentioned as re- siding in Lower Merion. Hugh Roberts came from Llanvrawr, in Merionethshire, where he had suffered much for his religious principles previous to his re- moval to Pennsylvania. He was a minister among Friends, and visited their meetings in Maryland and New England, and made two journeys on this account to Great Britain. On his return from the latter country in July, 1698, he was accompanied by a number of immigrants from North Wales, whom he had encour- aged to come. Before the building of Merion Meeting- house meetings were frequently held at his house, as shown by the records of Radnor Monthly Meet- ing as early, at least, as in Fourth Month, 1684. He died 18th of Sixth Month, 1792, and was interred in Merion burying-ground. On the assessor's list for 1780 we lind the names of Algernon Roberts, rated for 224 neres; Joseph Roberts, 150; Hugh Roberts, 130; and John Roberts, 50 acres.

Rowland Ellis was a native of Bryn Mawr, near Dolgelly, Merionethshire, He arrived in 1686, bring- ing with him his eldest son, Rowland, then a boy. The ship brought besides about one hundred passengers from North Wales. After remaining here about nine months he returned, leaving his son with his unele, John Humphrey. In 1697 he enme back, bring- ing his family, besides a considerable number of his countrymen. He was a distinguished scholar, and for the Welsh he performed the important duties of a

translator and interpreter. He was commissioned a justice of the peace for Merion in 1707, continued one for many years, and also holding the office of county commissioner. He was the original seltler on Charles Thomson's property, now belonging to Naomi Morris. In 1720 he removed to Plymouth township, where he soon after translated from the Welsh Ellis Pugh's "Salutation to the Britains," which was printed by S. Keimer, of Philadelphia, in 1727, in a duodecimo of two hundred and twenty-two pages. While on a visit to his son-in-law, John Evans, in Gwynedd, in 1729, he was taken suddenly ill, and thus happened to die there in his eightieth year. A memo- rial concerning him was published by the Friends in 1787.

Benjamin Humphrey came over in 1683, was a use- ful man in the settlement, and was widely known for his hospitality, particularly to the newly-arrived immi- grants. lle died November 4, 1737, aged seventy-six years. David Humphrey was commissioned one of the judges of the County Courts November 22, 1738. In the list of 1734 are found the names of Benjamin and John Humphrey, and of 1780, Thomas Hum- phrey. It was from members of this family that Humphreysville received its name. Edward Edwards purchased of William Penn, in England, two hundred and fifty acres, which he located here and settled upon, and he was still living in 1734. Robert Owen came from Wales in 1690. He was a minister, and traveled much on this account, both in his native country and in America. He died in July, 1697, and was interred at Merion Meeting-house. Benjamin East- burn, who is mentioned in the list of 1734 as a resi- dent here, in 1722 married Ann Thomas, of Abington . lle was appointed to succeed Jacob Taylor as sur- veyor-general October 29, 1733, and continued in that office till or near his death, his successor being William Parsons, who was commissioned August 22, 1741. The part that he performed in the "Indian Walk" was not creditable. In his map thereof he has done his utmost to conceal and cover the transaction. With all his subserviency to the interests of Thomas Penn, the latter reflects severely on his character as may be seen in the Penn manuscripts. Griffith Llewellen was commissioned a justice of the County Courts in April, 1744, and con- tinned in the office for a number of years.

We herewith present a list of the land-holders and tenants residing in Lower Merion in 1734, copied from the original manuscript prepared by the consta- ble for Thomas Penn. It contains fifty-two names, and to their descendants cannot fail to prove inter- esting. Excepting about four or five names, the balance are probably all Welsh, which will show how extensively they were the original settlers here: John (son of Mathias) Roberts, Hugh Evans, Robert Jones, Robert Roberts, Robert Evan, Rees Price, Edward Jones, Abel Thomas, Benjamin Eastburn, Jonathan Jones, William Haward, Richard Inghs, Morris

"WYNNEWOOD"

- ------ ---.-

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LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP.

Lewellen, Benjamin Humphrey, John Humphrey, Joseph Williams, Rees Thomas, William Thomas, Peter Jones, Humphrey Jones, John Griffith, Catha- rine Pugh, Rees Phillip, Joseph Tucker, James John, Thomas John, John Lloyd, Griffith Lewellen, Robert Roberts, David Jones, William Walton, David Davis, Joseph Roberts, John Roberts, David Price, Issachar Price, David Price, Jr., Lewis Lloyd, John David, Robert (son of Peter) Jones, Thomas David, John Evans, Eleanor Bevan, Owen Jones' plantation, Evan Harry, Nicholas Rapy, John Roberts (carpenter), Evan Rees, Samuel Jordan, James Dodmead, Edward Edwards and Garret Jones. The list of 1780 shows a reduction to about thirty-five Welsh surnames out of a total of one hundred and eighty-five, at that date but little surpassing the German element. A study of Hopkins" farm map of the township, published in 1877, shows a great falling off' here of the nationality that for the first half-century of settlement were so largely dominant. John Oldmixon, in a visit here in 1708, mentions the Welsh and their tract as " very populous, and the people are very industrious; by which means it is better eleared than any other part of the county. The inhabitants have many fine plantations of corn and breed abundance of cattle, insomuch that they are looked upon to be as thriving and wealthy as any in the province."

During the Revolution, particularly while the British held possession of Philadelphia, from Septem- ber, 1777, to June, 1778, the inhabitants of Lower Merion, in consequence of their nearness, suffered severely from the raids of the enemy. Though no ' striking events of interest occurred here during the exciting struggle, yet it was compelled to bear some of the trials. Shortly after their departure an assessor was appointed to valne the damages, which amounted to £3212, or $8565 of our present currency. Michael Smith was the heaviest loser, to the extent of £451. During this period twenty-nine persons stood attainted with treason within the present limits of the county, yet only one of the number was a resident of Lower Merion, thus showing that the mass of the people here must have been generally disposed to independ- ence.

From the township assessment of 1780, as returned by Israel Jones, the assessor, we derive some interest- ing information. John Righter is mentioned as hold- ing a grist-mill and one hundred acres; Catharine Zolly, grist-mill and fifty-two acres; Anthony Lever- ing, grist and saw-mill and one hundred and fourteen acres; John Jones, saw-mill; Catharine Scheetz, two paper-mills and one hundred acres; Frederick Bick- ing, paper-mill and two hundred acres; Jacob New- house, paper-mill and fifty-two aeres; Benjamin Scheetz, Daniel Claus, Simon Claus, George Handbolt and Jacob Nagle, paper-makers; Daniel Burrell, oil- mill; William Stadleman, Abraham Streeper and David Briggs, inn-keepers ; Samnel Horten, Jonathan Robeson, Thomas Humphrey and Jesse Thomas,

smiths ; Lewis Thomas and John Whiteman, wheel- wrights ; John White, millwright; Robert Elliott, John Young, Thomas Robeson, Michael Kline and Henry Shulster, weavers; Robert Holland, tanner; John Robeson, clergyman; John Evans and Isaac Lewis, tailors ; John Smith, mason; Joseph Smith, Jacob Coleman, Rudolph Latch, James Nussel, shoemakers ; Daniel Briggs, Philip Pritner, Robert Elliott, Hugh Jones, Isaac Taylor, Frederick Bieking, Benjamin Scheetz, John Price, holding negroes, the first two having two each. The assessment of 1785 mentions 5 grist-mills, 4 saw-mills, 5 paper-mills, 2 tan- yards, 4 taverns, 245 horses, 298 cattle and 7 negroes, the latter number showing a decrease of three slaves in five years.

Charles Thomson, secretary of Congress, was long a resident of Lower Merion, where he died August 16, 1824, at the advanced age of ninety-four. Ile was a native of Ireland, and came to America in 1741, in com- pany with his three elder brothers. He first taught school and early formed the acquaintance of Dr. Frank- lin. At the first meeting of Congress, in 1774, he was called to keep the minutes of their proceedings, and was continued secretary till 1789, when he resigned. He married Hannah, the only child of Richard Har- rison, who had died in 1747. Her mother was the daughter of Isaac Norris and a granddaughter of Governor Thomas Lloyd. Mrs. Thomson was an heiress, by whom he acquired a considerable estate, taxed in 1780 for seven hundred and fifty acres, and extending southward nearly to the present Bryn Mawr. His wife having died September 6, 1806, in his will, made a short time before his death, he bequeathed the whole estate to his nephew and executor, John Thom- son, of New Castle, subject to the maintenance of his aged sister, Mary Thomson, " during the term of her natural life." The greater part of the estate in 1858 was owned by Levi Morris, who was then rated for five hundred and ninety-six acres. The estate is now held by Mrs. Naomi Morris, and is decidedly the most extensive tract owned by any one person in the town- ship. The mansion occupied by Charles Thomson has been carefully preserved, being a substantial, plain, two-story stone house in the prevailing style of the period in which it was erected.

On the Harrison estate, and about half a mile north of Bryn Mawr, is the cemetery of the Harrison family. It is in a secluded sitnation, being surrounded by woods, and not readily found by a stranger. It is in- closed by a substantial wall, whose dimensions are about ninety by forty-five feet. A stone in the inclo- sure states that "it is opposite the division between two rows of family graves, wherein are interred Rich- ard Harrison, died March 2, 1747, and a number of his descendants; also Charles Thomson, Secretary of Continental Congress," and Hannah, his wife. " Wherein are interred" the remains of Charles Thomson, looks very much like an intentional mis- take. He is buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery, his

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

remains having been removed from here several years after his death, contrary to the expressed injunction of his will, dated January 29, 1822, on file at Norris- town, which states, near its beginning, "and first I desire to be buried in the old Burying-ground at Har- rington," meaning, it is natural to suppose, where his wife had been buried more than fifteen years pre- vionsly. Hence we do not wonder that it made some excitement, and was the occasion of several pamphlets. Henry Woodman,1 of Buckingham, a respected minister of Friends, visited this cemetery in 1858 and wrote an account thereof, published at the time, wherein he states that there was a stone here at that date, in the wall, with this inscription,-

" In memory of Richard Harrison, the founder of this cemetery, who departed this life the second day of the First month, 1747, in the 78th year of his age. lle, with his wife and children, are buried here, some of whom had died previously, and some subsequently to his death. Be- ing members of the Society of Friends, no monuments were placed to mark their final resting-place. This stone is erected near the centre of tbem, to perpetuate their memory, in 1844."

It is apparent that the latter stone must have been since removed and the former one inserted. In the enlarged part are more recent stones, with inscriptions denoting the surnames of some six or seven families.

Few townships in the county possess better roads than Lower Merion. Of late years great quantities of cinder have been hauled and placed on them from the West Conshohocken furnaces, which, when worn down, make excellent and smooth roads, as may be witnessed on the Township Line road, extending southwestward from the latter place to Merion Square. Pains have also been taken to have them well graded and of good width, which tends greatly to improve the appearance of the country through which they pass. The Haver- ford road is probably the oldest in the township, hav- ing been laid out in 1703 as a public highway from near Haverford Meeting-house to Philadelphia. It enters Lower Merion a trifle over half a mile south of Ardmore, and proceeds directly on about a mile and a half across the sonthern corner of the township. The road from the meeting-house to Powell's ferry was confirmed in June, 1704. Report of a survey for a road from Merion to Radnor was confirmed in March, 1713. The road from Lancaster to the Schuylkill, at High Street ferry, was laid out November 23, 1741, and is now known as the old Lancaster road, passing through the township a distance of about six miles, and the villages of Merionville, General Wayne, Lib- ertyville, Ardmore and Bryn Mawr. This road is noted on Scull & Heap's map of 1750. Below the meeting-house is mentioned "Griffith's " and "Tunis," on opposite sides, and " Evans' " about a mile in an easterly direction. On the making of the turnpike, in 1792, this road was considerably straightened, and in consequence but a very small portion of the original

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 201

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1534

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534