Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Samuel Lewis DENNEY
Samuel L. Denney was born in Sadsbury township Nov. 3, 1820. He received only a common school education, and in early life learned the general principles of mechanics with his father. Soon after becoming of age he carried on the machine business in a small way near Christiana, and remained there until July 20, 1846, when he purchased of William Noble twelve acres of land, including residence, foundry, and machine-shop, at Noble's Foundry (now Christiana), and removed there. This business had been established in 1833, but was in a depressed condition when purchased by Mr. Denney. The latter immediately began the manufacture of machinery, and by January 1st following had erected a car-shop in addition, taking in Edward Lammey as a partner, and employing sixteen men. The firm of Denney & Lammey continued together until the following spring, when Lammey took the foundry, and Denney the machine-shops. Here he remained until 1851, when he purchased a farm and erected a machine-shop one mile farther up the creek, and there remained until 1868. He then purchased a farm near the Quaker meeting-house, Sadsbury township, and in 1870 removed to the Gap, where he remained ten years attending to the manufacture and sale of his inventions on royalty. He then took the Valley Machine-Shops, about one mile southeast of Strasburg borough, where he is now engaged in perfecting his inventions. He has taken out twenty patents on various machines relating to agriculture and railroad affairs, and is now perfecting a combined horse-rake and hay-tedder.
Nothing was known of the village of Christiana prior to Mr. Denney's location there in 1846. While at Noble's Foundry he bought four acres of land in the present heart of the town, for lots and houses for mechanics, and in connection with Noble laid out Chestnut Street, connecting with the main road from Newport turnpike to Noble's mill. He sold the foundry to Philip T. Boon in 1849, the car-shop to William Huyey, and to Moses Pownall and Joseph C. Dickinson a lot for a store and warehouse. He established the railroad station, the post-office, and made a public-house of his dwelling. He may thus be said to have been the founder and projector of Christiana.
He married, March 20, 1851, Sarah, daughter of John and Margaret Linvill, of Salisbury township, who died April 20, 1873 The children are William, foreman of the machine department of the Lancaster Watch Company's Works; Harmer, a superior mechanic, of New York City; Margaret, wife of Harry K. McClelland, of Minneapolis, Minn.; Mifflin, who resides in New York; Samuel L., Jr., in Philadelphia; Sarah; Edith, wife of Charles Heston, Brooklyn; Thaddeus S., Alice, John, and Edward S. Denney.
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