The Penn's Grove record., 1883-04-21
RENINrscENcE DE CHESTER.

"REMINISCENCES OF CHESTER.
In Chester at the time Of the great
panic of 81, when FORCES and furnaces,
mills and mines, were under a dread
paralysis and suffered all but total sus-
pension. The hitherto almost brilliant
career OF some Of this cities manufac-
turers had become shaky and old firms
tltmbled in the balance, and Only by
almost possible strain pulled through
/ the crisis and escaped the man ufactur-
ing interest of the country fairly gasped
for breath. Some property that was
nearly paid for was sold under fore
closure and many a strong mans
knees smote n against another like
Belshazzar. There was one man who
had risen from an humble weaver to an
honorable position among business
men and exercised the greatest pru-
dence and discretion, making every
step with caution. They was trying to
make up a preachers salary in the NJ.
T.. Church, but it was a failure, self
preservation seemed to loom up before
the faithful, but this man came forth
with tears and a beautiful little speech
and said he would risk fifty dollars and
trust in God. The salary was soon
raised and that man to-day is worth
! more than a quarter of a million, and
/ has long since learned that "Godliness
is profitable to all things 1t is
strange, but true, thatthe FIVE who paid
| the most have become very wealthy.
/ While the panic swept like a hurrican
over the country Frustrating trade and
| commerce and bearing on its wings
| ruin and bankruptcy, they stood with
their broad side to the storm and came
out with something more than the
bare polls and a sound hull. Some
splendid men though with firSt-class
executive ability and mechanical skill
never rose and could not even show
dignity in misfortune and maintain
self-respect in adversely, but sank still
deeper in the whirlpool of ruin. God
helps them who helps him, ard helps
themselves, fortune helps the brave
and it was not long in the midst of the
storm before they saw clear sky. Just
apout this time some old land owners
| li.l tt-hA mould tapar hnRra cal1 =, f,ol
of their grandfathers inheritance but
at their death a few hundred acres
came into market and Chester received
a wonderful impetus. Men soon scld
building lots with one hundred per
cent. profit. a young lawyer who did
errands, now pays tax for S350,000
while those who held on to property
have become rich without exertion.
| Lumber men were soon worth their
thousands. One young haberdasher
who by economy had paid for his little
store in a good business sight, soon
leaped into a large three story brick.
A little farther back in this history a
young man paid his addresses to a beau
tiful rich girl, it terminated in an en-
gagement and when lie attempted to
ask her fathers permission the old gen.
tleman jumped out of the window and
told a neighber Sallie had just lost
$50, 900, he ment to disenherit her.
The young man got his girl and died
worth about 81, 900, 900. After he had
a good foot hold in the manufacturing
business a freshet carried away both
his mills and all others on the stream.
lie got boats and gathered up enough
machinery to run ID mill, it was at
the time CT a very Zig tariff and he
cleared 500, 000that year. There was
a time in the history of Chester when
It's morals were questionable chicken
fighters, foot racers on Sunday, came
in with all the paraphernaha's of rum
drinking. Boys came home from
boarding school, engaged on the Sab
bath in the classical amusements OF
greasing a pigs tail and the hero was
the fellow who could catch and hold
il. OF course you must look back
through the vista of years for this
epoch. Then it was predicted if GA
Lriel should stop there they would swim
die him out of his horns. But Chester
has made grand strides towards piety
and temperance as sell as business and
mechanical research and the last me-
mento OF the c~isgraceful past, lisa dirty
old tavern and over the door is the
motto, God bless our home.