CHESTER, - Delaware County PA History

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PENNSYLVANIA.
I-ION. JOHN LARKIN, JIL
No HISTORY of Chester would be complete without mention
of the above named gentleman. Although in his 85th
year, he is still hale and vigorous, with a mind as clear as most
men twenty years his junior. He was bom in Concord township,
this county, in 18°4, where he remained on the farm until
he attained his majority, when he followcd the watcr, and ultimately
becamc captain of a vessel. He was a disciple of
Neptune for seven years. In 1840 he was elected Sheriff of
thc county. He afterwards rcpresented his people in the State
Legislature, and when, in J866, the city was incorporated, he
became its first Mayor, and was re-elected again for another
term in 1869, and refused to accept an)' salary. He was on9
of thc prime movers in the establishment of the Rural Cemetery,
and was the first president of the Chester Mutual Insurance
Company, and for nearly or quite twenty years was presidcnt
of the First National Bank. Hc has done more for the improvemcnt
of the Second \Vard than any dozcn men, and many of
our citizens owe their start in life to his gcnerous impulses.
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