Bethel Township.

1840, Nathaniel Pratt, Nathaniel Cloud; 1842, Foulk Cloud, Nelson Clayton; 1843, Moses Pyle, Thomas Zebley; 1844, Samuel Regester, Nelson Clayton; 1845, John Clayton, Jonas Eyre; 1846, Moses Pyle, Albin Baldwin; 1847, Nelson Clayton, Nathaniel Williams; 1848, Wesley Poole, John Clayton; 1849, Albin Baldwin, Thomas Booth; 1850, Foulk Cloud, Wesley Poole; 1851, Wesley Clark, Benjamin Larkin; 1852, Samuel F. Larkin, Albin Baldwin; 1853, Thomas Booth, Sharpless Green; 1854, Benjamin Larkin, Thomas S. Philips; 1855, Albin Baldwin, Owen Zebley; 1856, Robert W. Barton, John H. Cheyney; 1857, Nathan L. Eyre, Reese Baldwin; 1858, no report; 1859, Samuel Goodley, Robert Logan; 1860, J. W. Hance, Robert H. Barlow; 1861, Albin Baldwin, Sharpless Green; 1862, Robert Logan, Wesley Poole; 1863, Robert H. Barlow, Benjamin Worrilow; 1864, Clarkson Way, J. J. Shields; 1865, Charles M. Cheyney, Samuel Dalton; 1866, James S. Peters, Robert H. Barlow; 1867, Albin Baldwin, Benjamin Worrilow; 1868, William S. Goodley, Joseph Larkin; 1869, Charles W. Poole, Reece Baldwin; 1870, Charles M. Cheyney, Sharpless Green; 1871, William S. Goodley, Joseph Larkin; 1872, C. W. Poole, R. Baldwin; 1873, Nathan Cloud, Wesley Poole; 1874, William S. Goodley, Joseph Larkin; 1875, Thomas Talley, James Booth; 1876, Thomas Booth, George Ebright; 1877, Charles M. Cheyney, Charles Young; 1878, C. W. Poole, A. Pierce; 1879, Thomas Hinkson, Charles Young; 1880, Charles M. Cheyney, Charles Young; 1881, C. W. Poole, Alban Pierce; 1882, Thomas Hinkson, Clark W. Baldwin; 1883, Charles M. Cheyney, William Mathews; 1884, C. W. Poole, Alban Pierce.

Nearly a mile west of Chelsea, on the Bethel road, is the "Lancaster" farm, where are now the noted garnet-mines. About 1873, Charles Williams, who then owned the estate, directed considerable attention to the garnet sand found on the far, but his object was more to have the larger pebbles set in gold as personal ornaments than for use in industrial pursuits. John H. Smedley, of Middletown, a noted geologist and mineralogist, believing that the large deposits of garnet in Bethel could be utilized in all trades in which emery was used for grinding, shaping, and burnishing of metal goods, early in the following year urged upon several firms in Philadelphia the development of the mines to that end, but without success. Five years after this discouraging attempt to utilize the deposits of garnets in Bethel, an agent of a New York firm, largely engaged in the manufacture of sand-paper and emery, visited Mr. Smedley to consult with him respecting the corundum of Delaware County and its use in their business. Smedley informed him that he believed the garnet sand would be of much greater value to them than corundum. The result was a visit to the "Lancaster" farm, and its ultimate purchase by Herman, Behr & Co., of New York, of the forty-seven-acre tract, at a cost of one hundred dollars an acre. In the fall of the year 1879 the work of digging was begun, and has been prosecuted with success. The value of the garnet-sand varies from thirty to one hundred dollars a ton. The first quality is used in making emery-wheels, the second in sand-paper, and the third is sold to stone-cutters for polishing marble.

Bethel Lodge, No. 191, Knights of Pythias, is located at Booth's Corner.

Mr. McCall is of Scotch lineage, and the grandson of Thomas McCall, who resided in Concord township. The children of the latter were seven in number, of whom George, the youngest, married Margaret McKay, daughter of Robert McKay, and had children, - William, Joseph, Rebecca, Robert, Mary, Thomas, and Margaret. Robert, the third son, was born on the 14th of July, 1802, in Concord township, and during the period of his early life resided in the county of his birth. He improved the slight advantages of education offered, and on attaining his majority developed the exceptional business capacity which has since made his career a successful one. Opening a general store at Thornton, Delaware Co., he remained six years in that locality, and then removed to another location in Thornbury, where he also became the proprietor of a similar store, and founded an extensive trade. In 1834 he came to Chelsea, Bethel township, erected a store, and conducted a thriving business until 1862, when he retired from mercantile ventures, and purchased a farm to which for a brief period he devoted his energies. He, however, continues to occupy the residence in Chelsea he erected fifty years ago, having relinquished the care of business. Mr. McCall during his extended life has maintained a reputation for integrity and scrupulous honesty, while his judgment and keen perceptions have aided greatly in the success which has attended his mercantile pursuits. He married, March 13, 1834, Mrs. Anna M., widow of Dr. Jesse Hamer, of Thornbury, and daughter of Dr. John H. Cheyney, of Delaware County. She died in April, 1875, and he was again married to Mrs. Lydia P., widow of Thomas P. Powel, of Concord. Mr. McCall was formerly a Democrat in his political predilections, but later espoused the principles of the Republican party. He has not been the recipient of any distinguished political honors from the fact of his indifference to such marks of deference. He is a member and rector's warden of St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church of Concord.

Charles M. Cheyney, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Delaware County in 1781, and married Prudence Dutton, the birth of whose only child (a son), David R., occurred June 1, 1809. He early engaged in teaching and subsequently entered the counting-house of a Philadelphia firm, for whom he was a book-keeper. He was not active as a politician, and the incumbent of no official positions other than those connected with the township. He was married to Elleneanor B. Kenney, whose birth occurred in the State of Delaware in 1804, and had