Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Elwood MENDENHALL
Mendenhall, PA was named after Ellwood Mendenhall. It is located at the eastern edge of Kennett Township in Chester County. It is a railroad village that sprang up around a station of the Philadelphia and Baltimore Central Railroad. The station opened in 1853 and was first known as Fairville since it served the village of Fairville in Pennsbury Township about a mile to the south. But
another settlement grew up around the station and soon needed a name of its own to distinguish it from Fairville. In 1881, when the post office opened at the station, it was given the name Mendenhall. The train station was re-christened as Mendenhall in Apr 1902 and the name became official. There is a very popular restaurant and lodge located there called the Mendenhall Inn which was established about 1968. It stands on the site of a former lumber yard.
Ellwood Mendenhall was the son of Aaron Mendenhall and Sarah Ann Woolas. He was born 08 Jan 1808 in Pennsbury, PA. He died 02 Mar 1894 in Fairville, PA and is buried in the Quaker cemetery at Longwood, PA.
Ellwood and his wife settled on Springdale Farm and in 1836 built a fine stone house that is standing today with but few changes. Ellwood was very influential in the community of Fairville Station where he held many public positions and trusts and was Justice of the Peace for many years. He was a Knights Templar and was instrumental in closing forever the only bar in his township. He was
foremost in helping to get the Baltimore Central Railroad through the neighborhood. As a result of his civic activity, the town's name was changed to Mendenhall in his honor.
Dean Leonard-MFA
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