THE FLOOD OF 1843. 37 



branch of Chester creek, the first mill property in Delaware 

 county, belongs to Caleb Brinton. It is occupied as a grist 

 mill, saw mill and clover mill. His dam was broken, and his 

 race considerably injured. The next mill below, is the flour 

 mill of Matthew Ash. His dam was also broken, and his 

 race partly filled up. His loss, however, was not very heavy. 



Casper W. Sharpless, Esq., had his saw mill dam entirely 

 swept out, and his flour mill daras broken. The water, near 

 the flour mill of Mr. Sharpless, rose to the height of ten feet 

 above the usual level. At Jesse Myers' saw mill, which is 

 upon a south westerly branch of this stream, the water was 

 seven feet eight inches upon a cross section of sixty yards, 

 being three feet eight inches higher than ever before known. 



Next below the flour mill of Mr. Sharpless, is the cotton 

 factory of Joseph M. Trimble. His dam was broken and 

 his race partly filled. 



The paper mill of James M. Wilcox, Esq., is the next 

 below. A quantity of paper was lost from this mill ; his dam 

 was broken, and his race injured. A building which con- 

 tained a large quantity of paper was removed several feet, 

 but was not carried away. Proceeding down the main stream, 

 we must arrive at the mills of James S. Tyson. At this place 

 the flood exhibited its transporting and destructive powers in 

 no slight degree. Mr. Tyson's dam and race were swept out, 

 and a dwelling house occupied by a Mr. Kenworthy was 

 entirely carried away, together with much of his household 

 goods. The family, on the approach of danger, had removed 

 to a place of safety. The county bridge at this place was 

 completely carried away. The altered appearance of the 

 valley of the creek in this vicinity is very great. 



About one mile below Mr. Tyson's mills is John P. Crozer's 

 "West Branch" cotton factory, which is within about three- 

 eighths of a mile of the junction of the East and West 

 branches of the creek, near which point, at Crozerville, Mr. 

 C. has another Cotton factory, also propelled by the waters of 

 the West branch. Upon these premises the power of the 



