Haverford Township.

it was owned by Humphrey Ellis, a son of Humphrey Ellis first mentioned by a second marriage.

Brown's (Garrigues') Mills. - About the year 1800, Peter Brown became the owner and operator of grist- and saw-mills, which stood on the head-waters of Cobb's Creek. On Feb. 11, 1802, he sold this property to William Hill, William White,¹ and Miers Fisher. It then consisted of one hundred and thirty acres of land, with grist- and saw-mill. On the 1st of July, 1807, the parties above mentioned transferred the mills and property belonging to Samuel Garrigues, "House Carpenter." The mills were run by the latter for a few years, but by reason of a scarcity of water were finally abandoned. In 1826 this mill property was mentioned, by a Delaware County committee, on the subject of manufactories, etc., as "an old stone grist-mill, which has been out of use for several years past." On the 26th of July, 1834, Samuel Garrigues sold two acres of this tract to the Haverford School Association, and the same are now included with the lands owned by Haverford College.

There are some, doubtless, who will question the existence of the Brown Mills. Indeed, Abram C. Lukens, for a time, stoutly maintained that such mills never existed, but finally remembered having seen the ruins of an old mill there. The volume of water in these small streams was much greater eighty years ago than it is now.

Lawrence's Mills. - A saw-mill, owned at various times by Henry Lawrence, and his sons Thomas, Mordecai, and William, was erected about the beginning of this century on Darby Creek, near where that stream is crossed by the West Chester turnpike. Prior to that time, however, an old fulling-mill had occupied the same mill-seat (standing on the north side of the present. turnpike), which, probably, was the one owned by Humphrey Ellis in 1790. In 1832 a stone grist-mill (the present one) was built by William Lawrence, just below the saw-mill. These mills have since been in the possession of members of the Lawrence family, and are now owned by Thomas D. Lawrence. They have been leased and operated by John E. Stanley and his father for the twenty-two years last passed.

Miller's Mills. - About the year 1810, Jonathan Miller built grist- and saw-mills on Cobb's Creek, just above the mill privilege, soon after utilized for the manufacture of gunpowder. A few years later David Quinn became associated with him in the business and served as manager. In 1827, Samuel Leedom took charge. For a number of years prior to that time the latter had operated Joshua Humphrey's mill, which was situated a short distance above Miller's, on the same creek. In 1844, Mr. Leedom purchased the Miller Mills, and lived there till his death, which occurred some twelve years ago. Augustus B. Leedom then became the owner, to be succeeded in a few years by one Lombert. The latter was in turn succeeded by the present owner, George Dickinson, who purchased the property in February, 1879, and came here to reside in April of the following year.

Nitre Hall Mills. - These mills, used for the manufacture of gunpowder, began operations prior to the beginning of the war of 1812-15. They were owned and managed by Israel Wheelen and William Rogers, Jr., until about 1825. Rogers alone then conducted the business until his death, which occurred about 1840, when Dennis Kelly purchased the property and converted the principal building into a woolen- and cotton-factory. It remained in the possession of Kelly and his heirs until March, 1880, when George Callahan became its owner by purchase. John and Thomas Burns, the present managers, have been identified with these mills for seventeen years. Fifteen hands are now employed, and about seven thousand pounds of cotton and woolen yarns are manufactured per month.

Kelly's Woolen- and Cotton Mills. - About 1814, Dennis Kelly, with borrowed capital, purchased a mill-seat on Cobb's Creek from Isaac Ellis, and erected thereon a small stone woolen-factory, now known as the "Clinton Mills." His venture proved to be highly successful, and soon after, with George Wiest as a partner, the remainder of Ellis' lands were bought, and the capacity of Clinton Mills considerably enlarged. Not a long time elapsed, however, before Mr. Kelly was again conducting his business alone. He furnished the United States government, per contract, large quantities of goods for the use of the army and navy. His mills were worked to their greatest capacity, and he accumulated wealth rapidly. About 1826 he purchased Joshua Humphrey's grist-mill, and changing it to a cotton- and woolen-factory, gave it the name of "Castle Hill Mills." Samuel Rhoads, as lessee, occupied this mill for a number of years. On the 20th of February, 1834, it caught fire from the picker, and was entirely consumed, the insurance of ten thousand dollars covering but a small part of the loss. After this mill was rebuilt it was leased for some ten years to John Hazlitt. George Burnley, James Howorth, Boyle, and Calleghan were also prominent lessees and operators at different times of Kelly's mills. Up to the time of his death Mr. Kelly was widely known as one of the most successful manufacturers of cloths in the State of Pennsylvania. He died in July, 1864, worth nearly one-half million dollars.

Boyle's Mills. - About fifteen years ago John Boyle erected the large four-story building located just above Castle Hill Mills, which yet stands as a monument to his name. Intended for the manufacture of cotton and woolen goods, they are inactive, and have been so for some five or six years.