Middletown Township near Media in Delaware County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Joshua Pusey

(1842-1906)

— Inventor of the paper matchbook —

Joshua Pusey Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith S Smith, February 17, 2014

1. Joshua Pusey Marker

Inscription. In 1892, inventor Pusey received a U.S. patent for the paper matchbook. Three years later he sold his patent to the Diamond Match Company, and soon millions of matchbooks were being produced each year. A Civil War veteran and longtime Philadelphia attorney, Pusey was awarded nearly 40 patents during his life. Descendant of an old Quaker family, he lived here at “Maple Linden” after 1889.

Erected 1993 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Industry & Commerce • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, and the Quakerism series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1892.

Location. 39° 55.441′ N, 75° 26.611′ W. Marker is near Media, Pennsylvania, in Delaware County. It is in Middletown Township. Marker is on North Middletown Road (Pennsylvania Route 352), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Media PA 19063, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. John J. Tyler Arboretum (approx. one mile away); The Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades (approx. 1.6 miles away); Parks are for People

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(approx. 1.9 miles away); Fussell Recreational Skating Area (approx. 2.1 miles away); The Media Waterworks (approx. 2.1 miles away); Aston and Middletown World War II Memorial (approx. 2.4 miles away); Aston and Middletown World War I Memorial (approx. 2.4 miles away); Glen Mills (approx. 2½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Media.

Also see . . .
1. Joshua Pusey - Wikipedia. (Submitted on February 21, 2014, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania.)
2. Explore PA History - the Story behind the marker. (Submitted on February 21, 2014, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania.)

Additional commentary.
1. Joshua Pusey - Brief Biography
Joshua Pusey was a Philadelphia patent lawyer with the soul of an inventor and a tinkerer. He was born into a wealthy Chester County, Pennsylvania family in 1842, and had the upbringing of a young man of privilege. He received a private-school education.

When he heard rumors of the impending civil war, Pusey wanted to sign up for military service, which was contrary to his Quaker

Joshua Pusey Marker - Roadside image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith S Smith, February 17, 2014

2. Joshua Pusey Marker - Roadside

heritage. His family persuaded him to take up farming at the family homestead near Coatesville, Pennsylvania, which he briefly did. Pusey soon enlisted in the Bucktail Regiment, in West Chester, Pennsylvania. The Bucktail’s first engagement was at the battle of Fredericksburg, it proved to also be Pusey's last battle. A musket ball pierced his throat and tore through his jaw, he was left for dead. At the end of the battle, under Confederate flags, a wounded and waterlogged Pusey pulled himself out of a ditch and crawled across the battlefield to a Union medic. He recovered with only a speech impediment that would last the rest of his life. He also wore a goatee for the rest of his life to hide the scars. He returned home and practiced law in Philadelphia for the remainder of his days.

— Submitted February 21, 2014, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Additional keywords. Inventors and Inventions

Joshua Pusey House image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Explore PA History

3. Joshua Pusey House

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 21, 2014, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,043 times since then and 127 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 21, 2014, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.