ALTHOUGH Chester was the earliest of the counties organized in the Province of Penn, and has ever been deservedly ranked among the fairest and most prosperous and intelligent of those districts, she has nevertheless been somewhat strangely neglectful of her history and of the worthies within her borders, who aided in the noble enterprise of planting a Christian colony and establishing a home for human freedom, and who have brought her to her present high position. Many good men and true have lived among us, but they have nearly passed into oblivion for want of vigilant and faithful chroniclers. As nearly two centuries have elapsed since the establishment of the county, it is meet that such of her history as has escaped the ravages of time and can now be related should be placed on record for preservation and for the information of the people, so that they may know what manner of men their fathers were. The authors of this volume being "native here, and to the manner born," and having for some years a lively interest in the history of the county, and of her citizens who have devoted themselves to the public service and the cause of human improvement, have essayed to perform the laborious, but to them delightful, task thus indicated. How well they have succeeded it is not for them to say. They submit their work to the judgment of the good people of this ancient bailiwick, regretting that it is not more complete, and only asking that, in passing judgment upon it, the difficulties surrounding the preparation of such a history will be borne in mind. History and Genealogical/Biographical information.