Springfield Township.
where the dam was, and the thirsty animals had drank almost all the water.
The mill at a later period was changed to a cotton-factory, and in 1835 was in possession of the heirs of George B. Lownes. The factory then contained one picker, two carding-engines, one drawing-frame, one ellipse speeder, seven hundred spindles, two mules of two hundred and twenty-eight spindles each, and other machinery. It was sold at public vendue by the executors of his estate May 5, 1835. In 1849 and subsequent to that year Edward Lane & Co., of Philadelphia, manufactured carriages at this location, and subsequently ------ Pilkerton conducted a weaving-mill there for a few years. The mill having been destroyed by fire the real estate was conveyed to Thomas and Oliver Holt, who erected a large stone factory three stories in height. In 1853 an addition was built to the mill, which was well filled with machinery, and employment was given to nearly fifty persons. Oliver Holt having retired from the firm, the business was continued by Thomas Holt until May 18, 1882, when the mill was again destroyed by fire. Subsequently to this disaster Thomas Holt died, and the real estate is now owned by his estate.
Residence Of The Late Joseph Gibbons,
Springfield Township, Delaware Co., Pa.
Gibbons' Mill. - On Lownes or Whiskey Run, below the old Lownes Mill, Joseph Gibbons erected on his farm in 1832, a cotton-factory forty-five by sixty feet, three stories in height. It was leased to Simeon Lord and William Faulkner, who operated it until 1847, when Lord removed to Avondale. The factory was then rented for a short time to Thomas and Oliver Holtz, subsequently to George Wood and Joseph Barker, the last being in charge in December, 1865, when the mill was destroyed by fire.
Fell's Mills. - The land on which is the mill now known by the above name is on Crum Creek and the Providence road. The land was originally taken up by Bartholomew Coppock. His daughter married William Fell, and in 1766 the latter was assessed as half-owner of a saw-mill. The other half-interest was owned by William Paist, and in 1799, Edward Fell, a nephew of William, was in possession of the interest of his uncle, and also conducted a "pot-house" (pottery) on the farm now owned by Warren Lawrence. William Marshall was the potter. On the 12th of December, 1805, the property was purchased by Samuel Pancoast, who continued to operate the saw-mill, and between 1815 and 1817 erected a grist-mill; these were operated until March 15, 1828, when four acres of land, the grist- and saw-mill were sold to William Beatty, of Lower Providence, who erected on the property a blade-mill and forge, and commenced the manufacture of edge-tools. At a subsequent date he associated in the partnership his son, John C. Beatty. In 1843 the mill was washed away by the flood of August in that year, but was rebuilt. In 1850, William P. Beatty and Samuel Ogden bought the interest of John C. Beatty, and continued the business for some years, when William Beatty sold to the Ogden Brothers, who continued the business there for a short time, when they conveyed the property to J. Howard Lewis, who now owns it. The grist-mill and a bobbin-turning shop are at present conducted at "Beatty's Hollow."
Keystone Spinning-Mills. - In 1766, Samuel Levis was assessed in Springfield, on a grist-mill, which was located at the present Heyville, on Darby Creek. On the assessment-roll of 1790 this grist-mill does not appear. In 1799, Thomas Levis owned a saw-mill, and John Levis and Thomas Levis, Jr., were each assessed on a half-interest in a paper-mill, which was owned by Thomas Levis, Sr. Shortly after this date the saw-mill was operated by Samuel Levis. The mills were conducted under his management until 1825, when, on April 15th in that year, they were purchased by Oborn Levis, and were placed in charge of Stephen Pancoast. It was then a two-vat paper-mill, and manufactured about thirty-three reams of medium, and forty-eight reams of printing demy paper per week. Twenty-three hands were employed, and dwellings for eight families had been built. The mill continued under the management of Stephen Pancoast until 1838, when they were rented to Moses Hey, of Haddington, by whom they were changed to woolen-mills. In 1845, Hey purchased the property, and shortly after erected what are now known as Mills Nos. 2 and 3, together with other buildings. On April 1,1857, Moses Hey retired from active business; his son, Emanuel Hey, succeeded him, and now operates the factories. The old mill was rebuilt in 1874, and is now used for storage purposes. Mill No. 2 contains six sets of cords, one hundred looms, and two thousand spindles; No. 3 has six cords and two thousand spindles. At these mills yarns are manufactured. The mills have a capacity for manufacturing five hundred thousand pounds of wool and one hundred thousand pounds of cotton into yarns annually.
Other Mills. - In 1766, Job Dicks owned a saw-mill in Springfield, and Elisha Jones had a grist-mill. They were not in operation after 1780, having been abandoned. The location of these mills has not been ascertained. John Heacock also owned a grist-mill between 1780 and 1799, after which date it fell into disuse.
Oakdale. - The settlement now known as Oakdale dates back sixty years, when, in 1824, Jonathan and Morris Roberts established a store at that locality. They were succeeded in the business by Samuel Roberts, Samuel Hamson, William and John Ogden, Richard Ogden, and F. Hayden, who has the present store. A post-office was established at this place many years ago. F. Hayden is the present postmaster. Oakdale school-house and Lownes Church are in the vicinity.
Morton. - The thriving village, located on the Philadelphia and West Chester Railroad, which was named Morton, in honor of John Morton, the signer of the Declaration of Independence, has a history of about