Upper Providence Township.

logical collection of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences was largely gathered and classified by him. He was also a constant contributor to scientific journals, and was the author of "Birds of California and Texas;" "Synopsis of the Birds of North America;" "Ornithology of the United States Exploring Expedition;" "Ornithology of the Japan Exploring Expedition;" "Ornithology of Gillis's Astronomical Expedition to Chili;" and the chapters on the rapacious and wading bird in "The Ornithology of the Pacific Railroad Expedition and Surveys." He came of a Quaker family, which, strange as it may seem, have been distinguished in the military and naval history of the United States. His great-uncle, John Casin, was an officer in the war of 1812, and his uncle, Stephen Casin, served under Preble in the Tripoli war, and for his bravery in action on Lake Champlain, in 1814, under command of Commodore McDonough, received a gold medal from Congress. John Cassin died in Philadelphia, Jan. 10, 1869.

Library at Bishop's Mill. - In September, 1813, a library company was formed at Bishop's Mill, and in the following year a building located about one hundred feet above the grist-mill was erected. It was a stone structure, two stories in height, the floor laid in mortar, and the roof sheet-iron, - a fire-proof building. The second story was used for a library, and the lower floor was the office of Amor Bishop. In May, 1817, the association was incorporated as the Union Library Company. In 1834 it had eight hundred volumes on its shelves, forty-eight members, and the shares were valued at five dollars, the annual dues being one dollar. In 1843 it was said to have eleven hundred and fifty volumes.¹ In 1862 the number of books had increased to fourteen hundred.² In July, 1867, the remaining volumes were sold by the sheriff. At that time there were only four hundred books, which were purchased by the Delaware County Institute of Science for twenty-five dollars.

² Smith's "History of Delaware County," p. 560.

Deaths by Lightning. - On Aug. 11, 1838, Eli Baily, a young man in Upper Providence, was seated on a wall near a plum-tree during a storm. The tree was struck, and the fluid passing to Baily, ran from his head to his feet and thence to the ground. His dog lying at his feet was also killed, and a watch in his pocket was melted. On July 6, 1855, the dwelling of Joseph Super was struck, and his sister instantly killed. The lightning struck the house a short distance from the ground, passing through the door-frame and shattering it. The girl was standing in the door at the time. Lewis Super, another brother, was rendered insensible for several hours by the shock when the house was struck.

Noticeable Incidents. - On Oct. 25, 1838, a young daughter of Joseph Cloud was standing near her father while he was felling a large white-oak tree, and it fell in a contrary direction to that which he expected. In descending it bore with it to the ground a large chestnut tree, which fell on the girl, forcing her body several inches into the ground. Joseph Cloud could not extricate her, and calling for assistance, the earth around her had to be removed before she could be freed, for the oak had fallen across the chestnut and the weight was enormous. More than half an hour was consumed before the girl was released from her perilous situation. No bones were broken nor any permanent injury sustained, although it was nearly a week before she recovered the use of her limbs. On the night of Feb. 13, 1845, the barn on Joseph Paschall's farm was entered by unknown parties and four horses killed, the animals' throats being cut. A reward of one hundred dollars was offered for the conviction of the offender, but the guilty party was not apprehended. In 1876, William Baker, a lad of twelve years of age, died from hydrophobia. In December of the preceding year the boy was sitting by the fire warming his feet before going to bed, when the cat belonging to the family suddenly bit him on the heel. A poultice was immediately applied to the wound, and the circumstance forgotten until nearly a year thereafter, when the lad exhibited all the symptoms of hydrophobia, and died in violent spasms. The cat at no time showed any indication of rabies.

Societies. - On Oct. 18, 1847, Rose-Tree Lodge, No. 275, Independent Order of Odd-Fellows, was instituted at the Rose-Tree Tavern; its first officers being John C. Beatty, N. G.; Caleb Hoopes, V. G.; James A. Malin, Sec.; Jonathan G. Farra, Asst. Sec.; and George Dunn, Treas. In 1850 the lodge erected a brick hall three stories in height, near the building of the Delaware County Institute of Science, which was dedicated October 12th of that year, with imposing ceremonies.

In April, 1849, General Marion Encampment was instituted at the Rose-Tree Tavern, and in 1853 its meetings were held at Rose-Tree Hall. The encampment was subsequently removed to Sugartown, Chester Co.; but in April, 1883, returned to Rose-Tree Hall, where it is now located.

The Cassins are of both English and Irish lineage, Joseph, the progenitor of the family in America and the great-grandfather of Isaac S., having emigrated from Queen's County, Ireland, in 1725, and settled in Philadelphia. Among his sons were John and Luke, the former of whom attained high rank in the navy, and figured prominently in the war of 1812. Luke, the grandfather of Isaac S., a native of Philadelphia, was born in 1763, and acquired the trade of a silver-