Marple Township.

of the church for nineteen years, and died in the Presbyterian Hospital, Philadelphia, on Sunday the 13th of October, 1878, his death resulting from injuries received the preceding August, when he had been knocked down by a runaway horse. He was extensively known among the people of his denomination, being connected with the Presbyterian Board of Education and Ministerial Association, a trustee of the Lincoln University, the Philadelphia correspondent of the New York Evangelist, and highly esteemed by his congregation, his ministerial brethren, and all who knew him. His remains lie in the graveyard beside his wife, and cut upon his tombstone are these words, "A morning without clouds."

The Rev. William Patterson was called to the vacant pastorate, and was installed on Nov. 13, 1879. By order of the Presbytery of Chester the Rev. R. M. Patterson, D.D., of Philadelphia, preached the sermon. President Rendall, of Lincoln University, charged the pastor; Rev. Mr. Miller, of Bryn Mawr, charged the people; and Rev. Mr. Robbins, of Media, presided and put the constitutional questions. Mr. Patterson is the present pastor of the church, which has a membership of one hundred and thirty-two.

Union American Episcopal Church. - On the road from Springfield to Providence, and near the southern line of the township, in the year 1838, a frame church building was erected by this religious body. On February 26th of the following year, the plot of ground on which the church had been erected was purchased of Charles Brown by William Fadler, Absalom Lockwood, Robert Warwick, and Selby Howard. A church organization had been perfected prior to the erection of the sanctuary, and services were held in private houses. The frame building was used until 1865, when the church purchased a plot of ground adjoining that building and erected the present stone edifice, which is forty by sixty feet. The church now numbers twenty-eight members, and is in charge of the Rev. Edward Brown.

Mills and other Industries. - In 1779, Isaac Maris owned a saw-mill on Darby Creek, at the mouth of Whetstone Run. In 1810 a plaster-mill was located there, and was operated in connection with the saw-mill. In 1826 it was in charge of George Maris, in 1829 it was operated by Edward Parker, and at the present time carried on by H. Maris.

In 1766, Joseph Heacock owned a half-interest in a saw-mill in Marple, after which date the name does not appear on the assessment-rolls until 1811, when Enoch Heacock was operating a saw-mill. After that year all trace of this mill disappears from the records.

In 1820, John Hunter erected a saw-mill on Darby Creek, above Ithan Creek, which was operated by John Wright, who purchased it prior to 1848. This mill has for many years ceased to be used in the manufacture of lumber.

In 1779, Joseph Burns owned and operated a saw-mill in the township, but the locality of this mill has not been ascertained.

On the lands of Dr. Bernhardus Van Lear, on Trout Run, in 1820, was a mill-seat and a whetstone quarry. The water-power was at a more recent date used by Willett Paxson, who erected thereon a grist-mill, and lower down the same stream a cotton-factory, which was operated by a Mr. Blimder. On Aug. 22, 1848, the cotton-factory was partially destroyed by fire. Both mills are no longer in use. Abraham Jones, in 1800, erected a saw-mill in Marple, on Crum Creek, and in 1826 was operating at that locality a grist-mill and saw-mill. In 1848 the mills were owned by his widow, Ruth Jones. The saw-mill was located in Marple, while the grist-mill was in Upper Providence. They are now owned by Lewis Palmer. In 1810 a tan-yard was operated by Lewis and Abraham Morris on the farm now owned by James Williamson. In 1829 it was owned by Rebecca Fawkes and James Lewis and operated until about 1865, after which date the business was abandoned.

Thomas Pratt, in 1809 or '10, established a tan-yard in Marple, which he continued for a few years, when he relinquished the enterprise. In 1805, Joseph Rhoads located a tan-yard on the Rhoads farm, and in 1810 he associated George Rhoads in the business, which was continued until about 1850 and was abandoned.

In 1841, Benjamin Jones erected a pottery at the ninth mile-stone on the West Chester road, near the Buck Tavern. A few years ago, the pottery, proving unremunerative, was permitted to fall into disuse.

Schools. - About 1785 a school was established in Marple, but beyond that fact nothing has been learned of its location or how long it was maintained. Enoch Taylor and wife, on May 31,1791, conveyed to Joseph Rhoads and David Hall one-quarter of an acre of land, on the west side of the Marple road, in trust for use of a school to be kept under the direction of the Chester Meeting of the society of Friends. On December 20th, the same year, David Hall and wife conveyed to Edward Fell, Joseph Rhoads, and Samuel Pancoast another lot, adjoining the above, for the same purpose. On these lots a school-house was erected and used many years, but was finally abandoned about 1836. On December 24th in that year, the school directors of the township purchased of John Grim forty square perches of land on which they erected a school-house, which was used in place of that on the Taylor lot.

In 1857 the directors sold the second school-house to Nathan W. Latcher, and a new building was erected on the old site and used until 1877, in which year the present brick house (known as No. 2) was erected.

On Aug. 28, 1877, the court authorized Chester Friends' Meeting to sell the old lot, which was purchased by Malachi Stone for one thousand dollars.

On March 21, 1818, John Craig, in consideration of one dollar and that a school-house should be erected on the lot, conveyed to Lewis Morris, John N. Moore, and George Thomas, trustees to carry into