P 3 PC?. 11 V 36. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2018 with funding from This project is made possible by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of Commonwealth Libraries https://archive.org/details/pennsylvaniacoun36unse MARK TWAIK’S SCRdP BOOK. PATENT 281,657. TRADE MARKS: UNITED STATES. GREAT BRITAIN. Registered No. 5,896. Registered No. 15,979. DIRECTIONS. Use but little moisture, and only on the gummed lines. Press the scrap on without wetting it. DANIEL SLOTE & COMPANY, NEW YORK. IS iisriDiEix:, ' uv w w XYZ arr These donations were accepted with tffife thanks of the society. An election for officers of the society (for the ensuing year resulted in the 'Selection of A. Lewis Smith, as pres¬ ident; Dr. Joseph Vance, First Vice President; A. 'G. C. Smith, Second vice President; H. G. AShmead, Recording Secretary; Horace L Clheyney, corres¬ ponding Secetary; Edward H. 'Hall, Date roL Z7.. j Treasurer, and the f ollowing board of ('directors: Mrs. J. Nowlin Trainer, (Morgan Bunting, Edward A- Price, I ^ ^ t ft A A,*-* f ■« Henry L. Broomall and Hon. John B. Hinksom At the conclusion of the regular bus¬ L iness of tbe meeting, the president in¬ troduced Hon. John B. Hinkson, wlho read an admirably prepared and valua¬ ble papier on “iSamuel Edwards and the A Brief But Comprehensive Court House.” At the conclusion of Sketch of His Life. Mr. Hinkson’s address, Thomas H. tSpeakman, Esq., related some interest¬ ing personal reminiscences of Samuel Edwards, as well as (his own personal READ BY HON- JOHN B. HINK80N recollection of the gentlemen of the profession and 'the old Court House in Ghester, when he, Mr. Speakman, Before ihe Delaware County Histori¬ was first called to the bar. Edward A. Price, Esq., spoke in a like strain, cal Society Last Evening; — .Hueft giving his recollection of Mr. Edwards Valuable Information Present d and the old Court House, as they had made an impression On' a boy in his Respecting a Prominent Han. middle teens. On motion of Edward H. Hall, Esq., a vote of thanks was extended to Mr. The regular annual meeting of the Hinkson for the exceedingly interest¬ ^Delaware County Historical Society ing paper, and also to the management was held at Media last evening, in the of the Delaware County Institute of hall of the Delaware County Institute Science for permitting the use of that of (Science. There iwas a fairly good lhall for the meeting of tlhe Delaware attendance, although many persons County Historical Society. who had signified their purpose to he Mr. HinJkson’s paper was as follows: present were 'doubtless prevented from Samuel Edwards wa3 horn in Dela¬ doing so 'by reason of the rain iu the ware county on March 12, 1785. He early evening. died in the city (then borough) of Second yice President A. G. C. Smith Chester on November 21. 1850. He was in the chair A number of dona¬ was of Welsh descent. His father's tions were made to the society, among name was Abner. He read law with wihich were two pamphlets, a sketch of William Graham, at Chester, and Was Captain William Crispon, and letters admitted to the bar of Delaware of Captain Johann Hiearricks, present¬ county on April 30, 1806. He devoted ed by John W. Jordan, three pamphlets, hlis time to his profession, but did (Henry Arm etit Brown’s oration at Val¬ not neglect those duties which every ley Forge, Description of the Mexican citizen owea to his fellows. He was War Battle Flags, presented to the not a politician: by profession nor did Pennsylvania Historical Society, and he make public preferment Ms chief Frederick Stone’s istory of the Battle aim, but When entering into public of Brandywine were presented by Miss affairs seemed to be his duty he was not Francis OK. waiter; the Bi-Centennial disobedient to the peoples’ call and Anniversary of Mlerion Friends’ Meet¬ gave to the community the benefit of ing House, presented by tbe Commit- those sterling qualities which he evi¬ jtee of Arrangements, pictures of the denced in his profession end In Ms West (house before and after the tablet, private life. Though he was opposed erected by the Delaware County His¬ to the beginning of the war of 1812, yet torical 'Sosiety, was unveiled, were pre¬ when the war was begun, Ms love of sented by (Mrs. J. Edwards Woodbridge, country induced him not only to sup¬ and a number of engraved copies of port the government by his words but Benjamin West’s paintings were pre¬ constrained Mm to enter into tbe con¬ sented by IDr. Hlanry Smedley, of (Media. test personally. And in tMs he evinced that character of retirement and mod- esty which "was notlioeaW© to him all gling mass of humanity all fightTHg] j through- Ma life. Seeking no promi¬ men climbing upon the backs of the. nence, buit only desiring to perform crowd, tearing off each others clothes Ma duty, he became a private in the and pummelling one another. On Inde¬ 16th Company, of Mifflin Guards, of pendence days it was usual for boats which Samuel Anderson Was captain to come from Philadelphia loaded with and waa to active service during the rough fellows out for a “celebration latter part of 1814. In politics he wa* and dressed in fancy costumes. These a Democrat and yas elected to the men would land at the wharf and State Legislature in 1814, while he was march up Market street and it was not away in the military service. He served well for any one to oppose their pro¬ during the session of 1814 and 1815 and gress. The day never passed off with¬ was re-elected for the session of 1815 out sundry rows. I do not know that end'1816. He was a member of don Chester Is yet to be taken as a model gr S3 from Telaware county during the of civic propriety, but its deportment term 1819-1821 and again during the does not now assume such vigorous term 1825-1827. His services in Con¬ style as in those days. gress were of such a character as to From 1838 until his death Mr. Ed¬ bring him into much public notice and wards was a director of the bank of his advice and counsel on public af¬ Delaware County; he was also a di¬ fairs were thereafter much sought and rector of the Delaware County'Mutual le v.as ere it d w th ha-ring great in- Insurance Company. From 1838 to fl ue with s veral subsequent admin- 1842 he was inspector of custom® at ist at ons. Prom nent men in National Chester. An old gentleman told me affa rs were visitors to his home to the other day that while he held this Chester. He was one ot the commit¬ office a petition was circulated to de¬ tee appointed tr reee ve General Lafay¬ pose him and give the office to a Whig. ette on his visit here in 1825. In 1832 My informant was at that time a Whig, he var Chie" Eurg ss of Che ter. While and so of the opposite party to Mr he held this office an incident occurred Edwards, yet, when he was requested which showed both his courage and the to sign the petition, he refused. It respect which he commanded from a 1 appears that even in those days party classes. On July 4th the ladies were spirit did not always rule and that there holding a fair for some charitable ob¬ were then, as now, men who were act¬ ject and the quarrymen from ihe Let.er uated by a higher motive. This old and Crosby quarries in Ridley town¬ gentleman made the remark that “Mr. ship, who had come to Chester to "cele¬ Edwards was very much respected;, brate the day" and were inflamed by was a good counsellor and mild man-, the whiskey, which in those days flowed nered.” Another gentleman said to me freely in the Old Town on Independ¬ that “Mr. Edwards was tall, straight,' ence Days, tMnklng it was a Donny- easy of manner, with no pretention to; brook Fair and being thereby reminded oratory; he addressed the jury in a| of the good times they used to have mild conversational manner that im-l in the "Old Country" when they went pressed all hearers with the truth of to the "Fair” With their "Shillalles,' what he was saying. When contend¬ broke Unto the hulldling Where th* ing with Ben Tilghman, fluent and ladies were assembled and began to fiery Edward Darlington and others of that time, he never allowed himself1 make things exceedingly lively. STr! to become excited. He was always cool, Edwards heading a party of gentlemen and deliberate. No man of Ms day) with whom he was holding a social had more power with a jury than chat, went to the scene of action and Samuel Edwards. In private life he by his presence and command quieted I was very retiring. He made no stir in the excited crowd and saved the ladies j society. from further annoyance and the Fair I met an old colored man, Samuel from being wrecked. Speaking ot Brown, a week or so ago, who was a these quarrymen and the Fourth ofj servant in Mr. Edward's family from July, reminds me of the election scenes j 1840 to 1847. From Mm I learned much we used to have even in | my time-— about Mr.