Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-06-03
FIRST EDITION.
WILMINGTON INDUSTRIES.


our wide extended domain, better opportunity
has been afforded for the development of man
ufacturing enterprise. which s the legitimate
outgrowth of free American institutions, than in
the immediate vicinity Of Wilmington.
The Brandywine, which lives in history, and
envens the pages OF romance and poetry. af-
fords one of the best streams for manufacturing
purposes to be found in the United States. Some
of the largest paper mills, powder, and cotton
mills in the Union are located on its banks, and
we have already devoted considerable space
OF the COMMERCIAL to a description Of the II RJck-
ford mills, we will in turn lay before the public
condensed sketch Of its near neighbor.
THE OLD PAPER MILLS.
These mills we're formerly noted throughout
the whole country as being the property of the
Gilpin family, name closely interviewer with
the history OF Wilmington, and its environs.
Here it was that the Gilpin paper mills were To-
Gated from the year 1887 up to 1888 period of
so years. Here it was, in 1917, that Thomas
Gilpin invented and put into operation the first
machine for manufacturing paper in the United
States. The old =" Kertmere " mansion, once
occupied by Joshua GIlpin aud which was for
many years the resort OF the g lie of those days,
is now used as q tenant house and aside from
its history, pales into insgniicance a. 1t hides
it's diminutive form beneath the shadows OF the
stately modern mansion OF WIN. M. Field Esq,
the SON law of James Riddle, the present pro-
prletor of the estate. Another mansion built OF
Brandywine blue granite, in olden times the
home of Thomas Gilpn has been preserved in
it's general outline, but with many modern i'm
provements is now occupied by MIR. Riddle.
The Gtpin estates, 80 noted from the close of
the Revolution down to 1922. for the mtuufae-
ture OF paper at the latter date suffered a re-
verse by an overwhelming Hood, followed by
fire ia 1925 and yet another flood In 1888, all of
which are distinctly rememoered by some of
our Oldest citizens. After these accidents the
manufacture of paper was discontinued and
with the large dam swept away one mill destroy
ed by ire aud the others damaged by the floods,
the estate after the lapse OF years, was sold TO
Riddle Il Lawrence for S40, 600.
TYPOGRAPHICAL eKErcu OF JAMES RIDDLE.
James Riddle the senior member of the firm
of James Riddle, Son Il Co. and proprietor OF
Riddles, Mills, was born at Belfast, ireland, in
1903 emgrated to this country in 1927. and
commenced the business of spinning, and man
ufacturing cotton goods, in Delaware county,
Pennsylvania where he laid the foundation Of
the large fortune which has crowned the labOrs
of liie time. Added to his perseverance, hon
esty and business attalnments, his moral aud re-
Igious principles made Mr.. Riddle useful
and influential member of society. Be-
fore leaving ireland, he had united with the
Methodist Episcopal church, OF which he
has remained a sincere and consistent mem-
Der to the present day, he having
been licensed as local preacher in 1881. He
has facetiously said he had two calls one to
manufacture cotton and the other to preach the
gospel and he il one OF the few instances OF
obeying both calls and being successful in each,
A year after Mr.. Riddles arrival on Darby Creek,
he formed a copartnership with his brother
Samuel, and the new firm commenced the man
ufacture of cotton goods at Springfield, in Della
ware county, about i've miles from Glen Riddle,
where his brother Samuel yet resides.
li,t. cup.I,n. rSun. i.:uJI- very successful,
was dissolved in 1855 when James Riddle en-
gagged in the manufacturing business at Avon
dale, ON Crum Creek, in Delaware county. His
usual success here attended him, and after re-
manning years, he formed a copartnersuip with
Henry Lawrence and coming to Wilmington in
1876, purchased tue Old Gllpln estate.
RIDDLES BANKS
The Gilpin estate, at the time of its purchase
by Riddle u Lawrence, included $50 acres of
rocky land, three old paper mills, partially de-
stroyed by the combined elements OF fire and
Hood. two mansion houses already described two
cottages, and number OF tenant houses For
some years after Messrs Riddle q Lawrence had
commenced operations upon the Brandywine.
Mr., Riddle individually carried on the manufac-
tory ut Avondale on Crum Greek, Delaware %.
The first action of the new firm, was to rebuild
the dam, and tho burned buildings, and now in
place of the three old clattering paper mills,
three large cotton manufactures have arisen
Phoenix like from the ashes of the past, and the
hum Of busy machinery ID welcome muele to
this ulilitaran age. The number OF tenement
houses has been greatly increased and beside the
old TX antmere" mansion, rises up IN graceful
proportions the elegant new residence OF Will
liam NJ Field, which, in general outline interior
arrangement, and architectural beauty, IL equal
to any residence in this State. The woodmans
axe has laid bare the gently undulating hill In
front of the old fashioned stone mansion, now
occupied by James Riddle and the stately forest
trees only remembered by those OF our Oldest
citizens, who have enjoyed their luxurious
shades Ia a semciTcle iii front OF the old man
sion, few representatives of the primeval
woods yet stand as lonely sentnelA OF the past.
IntermlngliDg with those giants, naples have
been planted in the open spaces, and within the
semicIcula yard, gravelled walks have been
laid out, and beautiful flower beds formed.
Not forgetting in the tide OF his success in
business one of the calls to duty already mem
toned Mr. Riddle has provided we'll for the
moral and religions welfare of his tenants. Up
on the brow of the hill with its gracefully
formed spire peOping ont above the tops OF the
trees is the village chapel, built in Gothic style
of architecture, with stained glass windows and
a tine toned bell.
For romantic and beautiful scenery Riddles
Banks" are unsurpassed, The shaded grove on
the top OF the hill has been the resort for many
years, of social parties and picncs free OF charge
but no associations except those OF moral or re-
ligious character are allowed to occupy the
grounds
curbing and other stones used in the city of
Wilmiegton, have been taken from these hills,
aud so vast is the supply OF this Brandywne
ue granite that it can hardly be exhausted
Not alone has Mr. Riddle been highly esteem
cd for his great business success and upright
character. but the Republican party, OF which
he has always been a member, mads him their
candidate for Governor of Delaware in 1866, in
which contest he was defeated by Cove Sauls-
bury the candidate of the Democratic party,
then in the zenith of its power, but in which
contest Mr. Riddle, owing to his extreme popu-
larity. ran considerably ahead of the ticket on
which he was placed ImbIbing the same busi-
ness tact moral religious aud political princi'
pies of his father Leander F., his son though
scarcely 30 years of agei the last political CAM
paign, was eleeted State Senator from New Cas-
| tie county. with large and complimentary ma
iority, and is now the only Republican member
In the Senate of Delaware.
THE LARGEST ''rIcKINGn MANUFAoToRY IN THE
COUNTRY.
James Riddle, Leander f. Riddle, and William
NJ. Field. compose the manufacturing hrm OF
James Riddle. Son d Co., and are engaged in
the manufacture of that particular article of
cotton goods called Ticking mostly OF the
higher grades They have in operation between
600 and IL 600 spindles, 800 looms, and en-
ploy about $50 hands, and their mills are with
out doubt the largest and most extensive manu-
factory OF that kind of goods in the United
States They lind ready market for all their
goods in the large commercial Cities San Fran
cisco being one of the cities to which a large
quantity OF their goods is shipped.
These mills have been driven entirely by
3OO.hoIse water power, no lack of water ever
| having been experienced until last summer,
| when Il became 80 low that the mills could not
/ fno ohv IN fl,a