In 1682; John Sharpless settled in Nether Providence Township on a 1;000-acre tract of land along Ridley Creek that had been granted to him by William Penn. Other settlers soon followed; establishing Nether Providence as a small; successful; farming community. Over the next two centuries; Nether Providence grew into a thriving manufacturing center with 14 operating mills along the township�s two creeks. At the turn of the 19th century; Nether Providence became a summer resort area rivaling the Main Line of Philadelphia; with such famous residents as Dr. Horace Howard Furness; a well-regarded Shakespearean scholar and the brother of architect Frank Furness; and Alexander Kelly McClure; the owner of the Philadelphia Times and an assistant adjunct general appointed by Pres. Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War. In 2007; Wallingford; the largest community in Nether Providence; was named by Money Magazine as the ninth best place to live in the United States.
#1984846 in eBooks 2008-09-22 2008-09-22File Name: B0099IRG0G
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. History with Wit and CharmBy Christopher LaneyI lived in Parsons for nine years. Though I moved away four years ago. reading this book reminds me of all the things I loved about the town (and shows me how many fascinating things I never knew about it!) The photographs dug up by the authors are a diverse collection of glimpses into the past. showing every conceivable stage of the towns growth and every layer of its surprisingly diverse social structure. And the accompanying captions and text are informative. witty. and charming. This book is invaluable to anyone who lives in or who has lived in Parsons. but I also recommend it to anyone who is interested in the history of Kansas. the plains. and especially railroad history.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Nice picturesBy Jeff LansmanVery nice historic pictures of Parsons Kansas. The town has made some drastic changes over the years. The pictures are as old as the 1860s2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Heritage in PicturesBy L. HoeflingFrom its founding in the early days of the Wild West Railroads. to the reconstruction of urban renewal. Mssrs. Mattox and Brotherton have brought together a fantastic collection of images that reflect the rugged determination of the time. Its a cant miss volume for anyone with ties to Parsons or the pioneering communities of Southeast Kansas.
