Uncle Cy
The photo is captioned
"Uncle Cy Chambers the man who operated the first telegraph in Pennsylvania in 1844, on his farm on the outskirts of Kennet Square. This picture taken about 1900."
The mention of the first telegraph is an error, the credit goes to Uncle Cy's nephew Cyrus Chambers Jr.
The Chambers farm (see map) was located on Baltimore Pike to the east of the Plankington farm (possibly visible in the background of the picture above)
Daily Local News (West Chester, Pennsylvania) · Mon, Apr 11, 1887
There are in this vicinity a number of people whe have long since passed the allotted three score and ten years, who are yet active members of society and continue to contribnte to the welfare and happiness of the community.
CYRUS CHAMBERS, the who lives on West State street; is, however, best preserved man of his years in the community. He was born in 1780, and he bears the burden of eighty-seven years lightly as a man of forty. To all outward appearances Cyrus Chambers is as hale and as sound as he was on the day he attained his majority. He is able to walk twenty miles a day with case and has done it within a year or two. Intellectually he is as strong as he and ever was, reads the newspapers with interest, possesses the same enjoyment in mechanical studies that characterized him terms of three quarters of a century ago, and the annual exhibitions of the Franklin Institute have no more interested visitor than Cyrus Chambers.
Obituary in The Jeffersonian (West Chester, Pennsylvania) Sat, Nov 18, 1893
Cyrus Chambers, aged 93 years, died at his residence in Kennett Square, Thursday, of a heavy cold, which he contracted a few days ago, and, although so far advanced in years, when his last illness came it found him a hale and hearty man. The deceased's remarkable activity of mind and body were attributes which few of his years possess. Yet these he retained close up to the hour of his demise, going regularly to the post office, twice daily, for his mail, bidding each and all of his old and new acquaintances, as he passed along, a pleasant good-day. Up to within a few days ago he was well usual, but a heavy cold set in, which terminated in grip, causing death.
The Kennett Republican has the following relating to the deceased: Uncle Cyrus was taken ill about ten days ago with a heavy cold, which developed into grip and he was unable to leave the house. The disease had a firm hold on him and despite the efforts of Dr. I. D. Johnson, death resulted on Wednesday, shortly before midnight.
Cyrus was the son of William and Susanna Pusey Chambers, and he was born at the old homestead, now the farm of James M. Worrall, in this borough, on the 23d September, 1800. At the age of six years he attended school in the old log school house near by where now stands No. 1 school house, east of this place, and received there all the teachings of those primitive days. In his manhood days he was a weaver cloth and also worked on his father's farm.
About thirty years ago he purchased the little farm on the western limits of the borough, where his death occurred, and he farmed it successfully up to the time of his death. was the possessor of a keen, bright mind, jovial disposition, and was endowed with a fund of knowledge of affairs. His habits were always in strict keeping with his demeanor-non-assuming, quiet and orderly. He was a Friend and a strict attendant at East State Street Meeting. Being fond of exercise, he often took forty-mile jaunts on foot without fatigue.
In 1870, on the 15th September, he married Susanna Scarlett, of this borough, and she survives him. The funeral will take place on Monday, to meet at East State Street Friends' Meeting House at 1 o'clock. Interment at London Grove.
HIS WIFE VERY ILL. His wife, who is but two or three years his junior, is also very ill, and her death is hourly expected. The two were married when Mr. Chambers was about 72 years of age. They had been lovers in their youth, but circumstance intervening they did not marry until they had passed the allotted time of man, but when they were united at last the occasion was made a memorable one by all their friends and neighbors.