Upper Darby Township.

foundry and machine-shop was erected on Cobb's Creek, above Naylor's Run, by Coleman Sellers, the water being brought from Naylor's Run and from the dam of the old Sellers' saw-mill. The latter was a man of considerable inventive genius, and in 1822 received from the corporation of Philadelphia, under the clause of John Scott's will (of Edinburgh, Scotland), which provided a fund of four thousand dollars, the interest of which was annually to be expended in "premiums to be distributed among ingenious men and women who make useful inventions," a medal and twenty dollars "for a simple and effectual cupping instrument," which he had invented. In this machine-shop locomotives were built, one of which was used on the Columbia and Philadelphia Railroad, now part of the Pennsylvania Central. In February, 1842, the estate was purchased by John Wiltbanks, who sold the machinery and materials to Nathan H. Baker, and changed the building into a cotton-factory, which was for a time operated by Benjamin Gartside. In 1856 the property was sold by Wiltbanks to Whiteley Brothers & Co., who enlarged the buildings and carried on therein the manufacture of cotton and woolen goods until 1881, when the mills were purchased by Wolfenden, Shore & Co., who operate them in connection with their other factory, which adjoins the old Sellers' Locomotive-Works.

Sellers' Saw-Mill. - On Naylor's Run, which empties into Cobb's Creek, in the last century, was a saw-mill owned by Nathan Sellers, whose name appears for the first time on the assessment-roll of 1799, when he, with David Sellers, was taxed on grist-, cotton-, and saw-mills. The latter mill was at the location designated, and was operated for many years by Jesse Hayes, when finally it was abandoned.

Millbank Mill. - Farther up Naylor's Run is the Millbank Grist-Mill, which was erected in the latter part of the last century, it appearing for the first time on the assessment-roll of 1799. The mill was owned by John Sellers, who devised it in 1804 to his sons, Nathan and David Sellers. On Hill's map, drawn from surveys made in 1801, although the map was not published until 1807, this mill appears. Nathan Seller, Sr., conducted the business of this mill, and in a division of the real estate left by his father Nathan acquired absolute title to it, and at his death it passed to his son, Nathan Sellers, Jr. The old mill was rebuilt in 1833, and the business was conducted by Lewis Watkins, who, Dec. 31, 1853, purchased the mill, which is now owned by his son, William Watkins.

Levis' Blade-Mills. - Above the Millbank Mill, on the same stream, Samuel Levis was operating a blade-mill in 1807, which later was conducted by William Rowland until after 1812, and by Samuel Levis until subsequent to 1848. The property afterwards passed to David Sellers, and is now owned by Edward McGrath.

Powell's Saw-Mills. - Above the Samuel Levis Blade-Mill, on Naylor's Run, and above the Garrettford road, Joseph Hibberd owned a tract of land, on which, in 1800, was a school-house, which still remains. In 1840 a saw-mill was on the stream at this location, owned by Abraham Powell, and subsequent to 1848 a grist-mill was also erected. After Powell's death the property was purchased by Lewis Watkins, who operated the mills until 1854, when he sold to Edward Thowley; the latter rented the mill to William Pyle, under whom it was discontinued in 1858. It is now part of the estate of Charles Yarnell.

Cardington Mills. - On Cobb's Creek, above the mouth of Naylor's Run and in close proximity to the Whitely Mills, is a mill-seat which was occupied in 1798 by a cotton-mill operated by Nathan and David Sellers. It was the first cotton-mill of which we have record in the county. Prior to 1810 it was changed to a paper-mill, which, in 1815, was destroyed by fire. On the ruins was built a tilt-mill, which was owned by David Sellers and operated by ------ Sontag. In 1826, David Snyder was the lessee, and in that year, made twelve hundred dozen spades and shovels. At a subsequent date it was operated by William Howell, James Wormsley, and others, and in 1845 by Charles Cadwalader, by whom the mill was rebuilt and run until 1857, when it was rented to Wolfenden, Shore & Co. The old tilt-mill was standing when the latter firm leased the premises, and they immediately placed therein machinery for manufacturing woolen yarn. Although Wolfenden, Shore & Co. did not acquire title to the property until 1863, yet three years prior to that date they erected a stone mill, one hundred and sixty by fifty-four feet, one story in height, which is known as No. 1 Mill. In 1863 the firm built a second story upon Mill No. 1, and also erected Mill No. 2, inclosing within its limits the old tilt-mill, which, in 1865, was raised four stories in height. In 1870 a stone picker-house, sixty by forty-five feet, four stories in height, and a doubling- and twisting-house, also of stone, sixty by forty-five feet, four stories in height, were erected. In September, 1871, a fire originating in the picker-room caused a loss of eight thousand dollars. The mills of Whitely Brothers & Co. adjoining were also damaged to the amount of thirteen thousand dollars. In December, 1880, a fire again occurred, starting in the picker-room, occasioning a loss of thirty thousand dollars. In 1881, Wolfenden, Shore & Co. purchased the cotton- and woolen-factories of Whitely Brothers & Co. The mills at present contain eight thousand three hundred spindles, two hundred and fifty looms, thirteen set of cards, which are run by two Corliss engines (one of three hundred horse-power, the other of one hundred horse-power). Thirteen thousand pounds of raw material are used, from which five thousand four hundred pounds of yarn and thirty thousand yards of cloth are made weekly, which requires the labor of two hundred and fifty employés.