The Borough Of Media.

The Delaware County Mutual Insurance Company is one of Media's prominent institutions, and a brief sketch of its history will prove interesting to many readers. This organization had its origin, under the name of "The Delaware County Mutual Protection Company," as early as 1839, being incorporated by act of the Legislature dated June 12th of that year. The incorporators were James M. Wilcox, William Trimble, William Mendenhall, Richard S. Smith, Joseph Wilson, Eli D. Pierce, John Kerlin, Henry Myers, and William Beatty. They were incorporated for the purpose of "insuring their respective dwellings, houses, stores, shops, and other buildings, household furniture, merchandise, and other property against loss or damage by fire." No policy was to be issued until application had been made for insurance amounting to two hundred thousand dollars. The act was to take effect immediately after its passage, and remain in force twenty years. No successful effort at organization was made until the charter was extended by act of May 1, 1852, for a period of twenty years. The following persons were made incorporators by this act, and by virtue of their office were the first directors of the reorganized Delaware County Mutual Insurance Company, viz.: Dr. George Smith, William Eves, William Ogden, John M. Broomall, William Booth, Sketchley Morton, Levis Miller, Joseph Edwards, A. C. Eckfeldt, James Moore, Homer Eachus, John C. Beatty, Isaac Thomas, James J. Lewis, Joel Evans, Isaac M. Trimble, James Barton, John H. Andrews, Annesley Newlin, Walker Y. Hoopes, Minshall Painter, Eli D. Pierce, Nathan H. Baker, John Hill, and John Jackson.

The first meeting was held at Media, Thursday, Aug. 26, 1852, when the incorporators met and organized, adopting by-laws and dividing the county into districts. Another was held September 20th, but at the more important one of Monday, October 18th, sixteen members being present, the following offcers were elected: President, John M. Broomall; Secretary, Jesse Bishop; Treasurer, John C. Beatty. It was resolved that their term of office should continue for four years, or until 1856. The rates were fixed, additional by-laws and regulations adopted to those of their meeting of October 20th, when the whole machinery of the organization was fully set in motion.

By Jan. 1, 1853, insurances to the amount of three hundred thousand dollars had been effected. On June 15th of the same year, it was announced that the company had issued three hundred policies, covering property to the amount of six hundred thousand dollars.

An election for directors for the company was held on Thursday, Aug. 11, 1853, when John M. Broomall, Eli D. Pierce, Sketchley Morton, William Ogden, James Barton, Thomas Pratt, Charles Palmer, Levis Miller, and William Eves were elected for the ensuing year. Immediately after, and on the same day, John M. Broomall was elected president; Jesse Bishop, secretary; and John C. Beatty, treasurer.

Sketchley Morton was elected president March 10, 1856, and held the office until his death, in 1877. His successor was Thomas Pratt, elected Oct. 15, 1877. Mr. Pratt died March 3, 1883, and on March 12th the present incumbent, Levis Miller, was elected.

Edward A. Price assumed the duties of secretary on March 12, 1856, Jesse Bishop having first been elected, but resigning. On May 2, 1862, Mr. Price was chosen treasurer, and since that date to the present has administered both offices.

The first office of the company was where Squire Preston now does business, but on Oct. 18, 1873, the company took possession of the fine building it now occupies, on the corner of Front Street and South Avenue. This was built at a cost of more than twenty-three thousand dollars, and the lot on which it stands was bought of John M. Broomall for three thousand six hundred dollars. The only persons living who were members of the organization of 1852 are Levis Miller, John M. Broomall, John C. Beatty, and James Barton. The first policy issued by the company, bearing date Aug. 21, 1853, is still in existence. It covered the Penn Buildings, on the corner of Third and Market Streets, and was granted to George Broomall.

The whole number of policies issued since the organization up to May 5, 1884, has been eleven thousand six hundred and eighty-six, and the total amount insured to same date was $24,777,227.41. The whole cancellation since organization has been $14,400,431.12, leaving the present insurance $10,376,796.29. The amount of cash premiums and assessments received since the organization to Aug. 11, 1884 has been $312,471.92, and the total amount of losses paid during the same time $246,875.16. The assets of the company are $408,767.09, and the liabilities $10,142.

Media Cemetery. - About the middle of June, 1855, James R. Cummins and others took into consideration the project of establishing what is now known as the Media Cemetery, on a tract of eight acres of land, which Mr. Cummins had purchased. By the middle of the following December the cemetery had been surveyed, and extensive improvements made. A fine vault had been constructed, two thousand eight hundred burial lots marked out, walks and drives made, etc. Interments were made soon after. In 1858, Daniel McClintock was appointed superintendent, and held that position for eight years. He did much to beautify the cemetery, not only in landscape gardening, but, being a marble-cutter, the possessor of good taste, and the proprietor of extensive works, he erected a very large proportion of the hand-