Radnor Township.

county. All party distinctions became merged into it, and the most ultra politicians of opposite parties united cordially on a removal or anti-removal platform. Meetings were held, and nominations were made accordingly. The ballot-box showed the anti-removalists in the majority. George G. Leiper, of Ridley, and Abner Lewis, of Radnor, both anti-removalists, were elected to the Assembly. The anti-removalists, by the nomination of Mr. Lewis, had secured nearly the whole vote of Radnor, order the belief that the election of the anti-removal ticket afforded them the only chance of being annexed to Montgomery County. The test was not regarded by the removalists as satisfactory, and they petitioned the Legislature for redress, but certainly with but small hopes of success. In their memorial, which is very long, they set forth the fact of the effort of Radnor to be attached to Montgomery County; the dilapidated condition of the jail; the insalubrity of the air at Chester to persons from the upper parts of the county; the danger of the records from attack by an enemy; the badness of the water, etc. 'And, finally,' they say, 'to satisfy the Legislature that nothing is asked for by the petitioners which would throw any unreasonable expense on the county, assurances are given by one of the inhabitants, perfectly responsible and competent to the undertaking, that he will give an obligation to any one authorized to receive it, conditioned to erect the public buildings upon any reasonable and approved plan, for the sum of fifteen thousand dollars, to be paid in seven years, by installments, if the convenience of the county should require credit, and take the present buildings and lot at Chester at a fair valuation as part pay.'

"This petition was drawn up by Robert Frazer, Esq., then a prominent lawyer, residing in the upper part of the county, and was signed by 912 citizens. The number who signed the remonstrance is not known; but, as a matter of course, with both representatives opposed to removal, no legislation favorable to that measure was obtained, and it is only wonderful that the removalists should press the matter under such circumstances. What is also remarkable, the people of Radnor appeared to relax their efforts to obtain legislation to authorize the township to be annexed to Montgomery County.

"At the next election, John Lewis and William Cheyney, both removalists, were elected members of the Assembly, but from some cause they failed in obtaining the much-desired law authorizing the seat of justice to be removed to a more central situation. The question, after this effort, appears to have been allowed to slumber for a time. It was, however, occasionally discussed, and the removalists maintained a strict vigilance to prevent any extensive repairs being made to the public buildings at Chester."

On the 12th of May, 1838, Radnor Lyceum was organized by the election of the following officers: Hugh Jones Brooke, president; .John Pechin, recording secretary; Dr. James Jenkins, corresponding secretary; John Mather, treasurer; John Evans, Edward B. Wetherell, William Haskins, Alexander Kenzie, George Palmer, Mary Kenzie, and Adelaide Cornog, managers.

In 1847, when tile question of the removal of the seat of justice from Chester to its present location was submitted to the people, Radnor polled one hundred and fifty-two votes in favor of removal, and forty votes against removal. This would indicate a population of about eight hundred inhabitants at that time.

On the 3d of January, 1881, the line dividing Radnor and Haverford townships was determined to be as follows: "Beginning at the present line between said townships, at a point on the road from White Hall, Montgomery County, to Coopertown, Haverford, directly opposite the east corner of said road where it turns from said line into Haverford township; thence south 30 degrees 909 5/10 feet to a point; thence crossing said road, and keeping on the line between lands of R. K. Montgomery and lands of Joseph Lockwood, south 60 degrees and 6 minutes, west 1430 feet, to land of the Sheaff estate; thence through said land of Sheaff estate and land of John K. Valentine, south 60 degrees and 24 minutes, west 2992 feet, crossing a certain public road leading to Brooke's mill; thence following the southwesterly side of said road the following courses and distances: north 30 degrees and 6 minutes, west 36 feet; south 86 degrees 45 minutes, west 255 5/10 feet; north 54 degrees, west 432 3/10 feet; north 28 degrees 55 minutes, west 383 4/10 feet, to a point on the present township line."

Within the last decade, and especially during the four years last passed, vast improvements have been made in the township, particularly along the lines of the Lancaster turnpike and the Pennsylvania Railroad. Numerous costly country residences, inclosed by spacious, tastefully-arranged grounds, have been erected; new roads and streets have been laid out, new towns built, and, as a result, the population and the values of Radnor have increased in a wonderful manner. The town of Wayne presents a striking example of the rapid progress being made in this direction, and affords subject-matter for the following descriptions:

Town of Wayne. - In September, 1880, the readers of a Philadelphia newspaper were informed that George W. Childs, of the Philadelphia Ledger, and A. J. Drexel, of that city, had purchased a tract of land of about six hundred acres, three hundred of which is the Louella farm at Wayne Station, on the Pennsylvania Railroad, formerly owned by J. Henry Askin. It is the intention of the present owners to have the property laid out in the most attractive manner by an experienced gardener. Buildings will be erected, lots sold on the most advantageous terms, and money advanced to those who desire to build. There are several fine residences, two public halls, a church (Presbyterian), and gas- and water-works on a part of the Askin estate. The new purchase will be called "Wayne," and there will be about five hundred thousand dollars invested, including proposed improvements. The lots will be sold at private sale, it being the intention of the projectors to provide desirable residences for those of moderate means, who may desire to settle in that portion of Delaware County.

Thus was foreshadowed what has since proved to be the successful and praiseworthy enterprise in which Messrs. Childs and Drexel embarked. After the lapse of nearly four years another newspaper speaks of "Wayne's rapid growth" as follows:

"The beautiful suburban town which Mr. George W. Childs, of the Public Ledger, and the Messrs. Drexel, the bankers, are building at Wayne Station on the Pennsylvania Railroad, has just donned its summer garb; Louella Mansion, the larger of the two hotels there, having opened yesterday for the season. This, with the Bellevue, which pulled up its blinds a week ago, contributes over four hundred or one-third of the population of the place. In three years, forty-nine new buildings have been erected by these capitalists, a large hotel has been constructed, and another one very much enlarged; they have perfected a drainage system which is said to be unequaled by any resort in the United States, the designs having been furnished by Col. George F.