by George M. Harding
geo621nf@hotmail.com
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Samuel Mitchell Garrigues
(b. November 28, 1845 - d. August 14, 1904)
748 Millbrook Lane house was built between 1882 and 1887, according to local maps
Samuel was the eldest son of Haydock Garrigues and Sidney Sharpless and the grandson of Samuel Garrigues (d. 1852). In 1870, Samuel M. (age 25) lived with his brothers and sisters under his father's roof at 620 College Avenue, according to the 1870 Census. He owned no real estate during this timeframe. However, Samuel M. had accrued $3,500 in personal assets, such as horse and carriage. (1).
Samuel Mitchell Garrigues - Photo 1881 - Provided by Vivien Garrigues
Samuel M. was one of the five founders of Merion Cricket Club. The club was organized in 1865 and was initially located in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. On March 4th, 1871, Samuel was elected as the club's president, and he was re-elected on March 14th, 1872 (2) (3).
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The original Merion Cricket house
Samuel got married to Ella Gilbert Crawford on June 5, 1872. The couple was blessed with a daughter named Mary on October 20, 1873. Unfortunately, their little girl passed away three days later and was laid to rest at the West Laurel Hill Cemetery (4). Ella, aged 26, passed away a year later, on September 18, 1874, in Haverford, Pennsylvania. She was buried next to Mary.
The birth and death dates of baby Mary are according to the old 'Garrigues family Bible. Infant Mary is interred with her mother who died a year after Mary. Source: Vivien Garrigues on Findagrave.com
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In 1874, Samuel Mitchell Garrigues, a civil engineer for the Pennsylvania Railroad, left his job and began a civil engineering and surveying company with his younger brother John. They named their firm "S. M. Garrigues and J. S. Garrigues, Civil Engineers" and started doing business next to the Bryn Mawr Post Office. The brothers likely saw a lucrative opportunity in surveying large pieces of land after the Pennsylvania Railroad relocated their tracks a half mile to the Northeast. Their father had already started selling off pieces of land to the public (5).
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On June 9, 1880, Samuel (age 35) married his second wife, Sallie Francis White, at the Radnor Methodist Church in Rosemont, Pennsylvania. At that time, Samuel was residing with his mother, Sidney, and his siblings in his mother's newly constructed house at 501 Oakley Road, in the northeast section of Millbrook Farm. (6).
Sallie passed away on December 24, 1884, just four years after marrying Samuel (7).
1881 G.M. Hopkins Map - Plate 10
1887 Overbrook to Malvern Published by, J. L. Smith - Plate 12
On November 12, 1881, Sidney Garrigues sold nine acres of land to her son Samuel for $4,486.32. The land stretched from the corner of Haverford Road and Buck Lane to what is now 747 Buck Lane, then over to land previously deeded to her other son John S. Garrigus, and finally to Haverford Road (8). Samuel constructed his house at 748 Millbrook Lane sometime between 1882 and 1887, and it remains a magnificent dwelling to this day.
Sources:
1. 1870 Census record
2. The Philadelphia Inquirer published on March 8, 1871, an article referring to Samuel's election as President of Merion Cricket Club on Saturday, March 4, 1871. This information was found through Newspapers.com.
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3. The date Samuel was re-elected as president of Merion Cricket Club. Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, published on March 18, 1872. The article said Samuel was elected the previous Thursday, which would have been March 14, 1872. This information was found through Newspapers.com.
4. The birth and death dates of baby Mary are according to the old 'Garrigues family Bible. Infant Mary is interred with her mother who died a year after Mary. Source: Vivien Garrigues on Findagrave.com
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5. This information was found in a brochure on the history of Yerkes: "Since 1874 Yerkes Engineering Co." There was no publish date or copyright notice.
6. The 1880 census shows Sidney Garrigues, Haydock's wife (age 65) and her seven children including Samuel M. were all living with her as head of the house. The property eventually became 501 Oakley Road, Haverford PA. This exact location can be verified because the 1881 G.M. Hopkins Atlas and the 1880 census show the same neighbors.
7. The Philadelphia Inquirer, published December 27, 1884, page 4 shows Samuel's wife Sallie White Garrigues died at age 28, and, where they were living at the time.
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8. Sidney Garrigues sells 9 acres to her son Samuel M. Garrigues: The indenture was found online: book 0D05, page 555, and is recorded at the Deeds office, Delaware County Courthouse in Media, PA.
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