History of Luzerne County Pennsylvania, H. C. Bradsby, Editor, S. B. Nelson & Co., Publishers, 1893 - Chapter 19, Part B Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Ed McClelland Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/luzerne/ HTML file: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/luzerne/1893hist/ _______________________________________________ History of Luzerne County Pennsylvania H. C. Bradsby, Editor S. B. Nelson & Co., Publishers, 1893 CHAPTER XIX. CITY OF WILKES-BARRE. Went on - saw things which I shall never forget - returned to my lodgings sick - evening pleasant - many people came in, and as they poured down the whiskey they drowned out the politics. If they should drink less, talk less, and read more, won't they understand the subject better? Went up street - going by the courthouse heard a stamping, like that of a livery stable in fly time - made inquiry and found there was a dancing-school kept there." The Allen Jack brick storehouse, on Main street, was erected in 1813, and the G. M. Hollenback store and dwelling on the corner of Market and River streets, in 1816. Old Iron Mill. - That was a memorable time in Wilkes-Barre way back in 1842, when the town made a gala day of it to turn out and see the new rolling-mill start up. The canal then raged and the canal horn quickened the heartbeats of the people as the flying packet-boat, Capt. Wells commanding, would proudly come into port. A distinguished mark of a heavy man about town then was to be able to rush on board, shake familiarly the captain's hand and indulge in one of the boat's gorgeous meals for the sum of 25 cents. It is now fifty years to a day since that memorable day, October 1, 1842, and the whole country gathered in to see the iron mill start. There were two engines, one 100-horsepower, the other sixty, and all else was in proportion. Mr. Ellis was superintendent, and Capt. John Y. Wren, of Plymouth, had the proud satisfaction of starting one of the engines. The engines moved all right. The blast was finally turned on, but then the imperfections became palpable. The flames instead of going to the iron blew out of many crevices. The furnaces were a sad failure. They were remodeled, but it never would roll well; the rails being imperfect and badly finned and ragged all along. It was run, never to advantage, for some years and then dismantled. Capt. Wren thus speaks of his recollections of Wilkes-Barre fifty years ago: "Leaving the canal bridge toward the public square there were only green fields and blooming orchards. The two buildings that attracted the captain's eye especially were the armory of the Ninth regiment on Main, and Ely Post No. 97 building. He regards these as the two proud monumental buildings of the city. It is hardly necessary to state that Capt. Wren in the Historical Record gave the facts of the old mill. [p.499] C. E. Wright contributed to the Historical Record his recollections of some Of the leading business men of Wilkes-Barre, and pays the following glowing tribute to Jacob Cist, of whom he says the first time he ever saw him he was actinging postmaster. He was busy writing and seemed to be annoyed at the interruption. "No wonder," he says, "it was shameful that a man so far outstripping his fellow countrymen in science, art and philosophy, should be chained down to the routine of a menial clerkship. But he must make his bread like other men, though all the aspirations of his genius rose to the contemplation of grander things. * * * He should have been a companion of Humboldt in his voyages of scientific exploration; he was fitted for the task. From a bug or a butterfly up through the range of all the ologies to an iron mountain and the inauguration of the coal trade, he was in his proper sphere. When other men were groveling in the mud of De Witt Clinton's ditches and blocking the channels of our grand river with dams, Mr. Cist was foretelling the superior system of railroads as means of transportation. If the legislature had listened to him a great deal of blasphemy might have been saved to the raftsmen and our supply of shad escaped annihilation. But he knew and others did not. But a few months before his untimely death he made a day's visit to my father's house. Such was the delight his courteous manner excited in my boyish heart, that I forgave him the coolness of the postoffice scene, and to this day I esteem it a great privilege to have thus intimately met the most cultured man of the North." Of the first merchants Mr. Wright rambles along, and in his delightful way, says that G. M. Hollenback ranks first. Along the whole bank of the Susquehanna no man was better known. His amenity of address and winning expression of face were remarkable. He dressed with more taste than any man in the county; his manner was perfection. I was accustomed to regard Mr. Hollenback with an awe of deference and admiration never since bestowed on any man on earth. When I first knew the brick store on the corner at the bridge, Ziba Bennett was head clerk. He was certainly a model merchant. He was a paragon in the line of business, adopted in early life and continued through so many succeeding years. He was the idol of country customers for many miles around. Following Mr. Bennett came two other individuals who subsequently established successful careers - N. Rutter and A. C. Laning. It was their good fortune to begin life under the influence of such a man as Hollenback. Then there was another merchant located further down the river, and this was Jacob Cist, above referred to. * * * While less known was one of the great men that made Wilkes- Barre his home. First Brewery. - As an evidence that the teutonic element was well sprinkled among the early settlers is the fact that an attempt was made about 1823 to establish a brewery in Wilkes-Barre, by Thomas Ingham, on river below Union street. He carried it on, of course, in a most primitive manner, for some time, making what the few beer-drinkers then here swallowed and supposed it rough but the best they could do. In time he sold to Christian Reichard, who ran it until 1833, when he transferred it to Judge John Reichard, his cousin, who was fresh from Germany. When it is remembered everything about it, except the drinkers, had to be wagoned from Philadelphia, it is remarkable that he soon commenced enlarging the works and more than kept pace with the growing demands, and thus it was successfully operated with no very great changes until 1874, when the old building was dismantled, torn down, the machinery having been removed to the new and elegant plant. Here with all modern appliances and improvements it has continued to keep pace with a fast age. It is still in the possession and operated by Reichard & Co., composed of George N. Reichard and George Weaver. The Stegmaier brewery is a more modern build. Somewhere about 1825 Isaac A. Chapman, the first historian of Wyoming, erected on North River street, near Union street, what was at that time regarded [p.500] as one of the finest residences in the town. Eleazer Carey married Chapman's widow and lived and died in the house. In course of time Caleb E. Wright purchased the property and occupied it many years, but a portion of the lot had been sold. Then Benjamin F. Dorrance became its owner and made his home here until he moved to his Kingston farm. The old place became then a cheap boarding house, until purchased by the Jonas Long estate, when the old landmark was torn down and the present elegant residence, in 1888, was erected. What memories are in the story of even the old dumb buildings. In 1888 the old building on North Main, near the Record office, where Ziba Bennett commenced business was torn down. This was immediately after he had withdrawn from his connection with George M. Hollenback. By a singular coincidence this building and the old Hollenback store were demolished to make room for better ones, at the same time. At the Bennett place were chopped down some trees that had been planted forty years preceding by Mr. Bennett, a maple measured twenty-nine inches, perfectly sound. Old Bridge. - The first river bridge at Market street which succeeded the ferry at Northampton street was built for the Willkes-Barre Bridge company, incorporated in 1807, at a cost of $40,000. It was two years in building, and was completed in 1818. In 1819 the first pier was undermined and the first span carried away. The same was repaired by the State at a cost of $13,000. In the winter of 1824-5 a violent hurricane carried the bridge off the piers and deposited it some distance above upon the ice. It was again rebuilt by the aid of the State, which remitted $15,000 in State claims against the county by an act of the legislature, and appointed G. M. Hollenback, Garrick Mallery and Calvin Wadhams commissioners to rebuild the bridge. Andrew Beaumont was appointed by the commissioners to collect the money and let the work. The State claims against the bridge now amounted to $28,000, which were taken up by the company in after years. The Hollenback storehouse was built to accommodate the river traffic in salt, plaster, grain, etc., which was brought down from York state in arks during high water in the river. The salt was in barrels and the plaster in bulk, which was deposited upon the bank and weighed out to farmers in quarter or half tons, as required. The same was true of the "Arndt stone house," which stood opposite the Darling property. John Arndt kept the tavern, which stood upon the site of the Darling property, adjoining which was his store. Thomas Morgan kept the Stage house there in 1830, from which the Troy coaches departed for New York, Philadelphia, etc. As money was scarce in those days, most of the business was barter of produce for goods, and farmers brought grain in wagons many miles to trade. This grain was also deposited in these storehouses, taken from the wagons to the shoulders of the clerks and carried-up into the second story and deposited in the bins. It was in the Arndt stone house that "old Michael" lived alone for many years and died there. In the year 1846 John Myers, not being able to agree with the terms of the Bridge company, started a ferry immediately below the bridge and ran a flat and skiff until he brought the company to terms. The tolls were high, and many farmers and others tied up their teams on the west side and crossed on foot with light produce, and so many took advantage of the free ferry that it was kept going to its capacity. The trade in butter, eggs, etc., was never so great in the town. Butter was worth from 8 to 10 cents, and tons of it were brought in, showing what an advantage a free bridge would have been. Several attempts were made by our merchants to make the bridge free, but they never succeeded, except that they caused a reduction of tolls. Prominent Men, 1818, who were living in Wilkes-Barre. - For this list we are indebted to Dilton Yarington, who wrote a letter in 1888 to the Historical Record and recalled the past when he was a well-grown youth. In his letter he gave as he remembered them the business men in the borough in 1818, omitting himself. William S. Ross, Lord Butler, Jr., Charles Tracy, Washington Ewing, Jacob E. [p.501] Teeter, Chester A. Colt, David Conner, as he considered them only youths, not yet to be ranked among the "business men." Noah Wadhams and Joshua Green were not that year residents of the place. Rev. Ard Hoyt had gone as missionary to India and he did not mention the "great Indian fighter," Abram Pike, as he was not then engaged in business. A man of whom Historian Miner said: "No man then living had rendered greater service to his country in time of her greatest need." With this explanation we give the following as a valuable directory of Wilkes-Barre business men in 1818: J. P. Arndt, shipbuilder. Philip Abbott, farmer, Abial Abbott, carpenter. Nathan Allen, carpenter. H. C. Anhiser, merchant. Lloyd Alkens, carpenter. William Apple, carpenter. Ziba Bennett, clerk. John L. Butler, coal dealer. Steuben Butler, printer. Chester Butler, lawyer. Zebulon Butler, farmer. Pierce Butler. farmer. Eleazer Blackman, farmer. John Bettle, bank cashier. Nathan Barney, farmer. Andrew Bolles, farmer. Stephen Bowles, book-keeper. Jonathan Bulkley, sheriff. Eliphalet Bulkley, clerk. Anthony Brower, tailor. Thomas Brown, farmer. William Brown, distiller. Brittania Barnes, merchant. Aaron Batty, painter. Moses Beamer, ferryman. Isaac Bowman, tanner. Samuel Bowman, farmer and tanner. William L. Bowman, tanner. Gilbert Barnes, carpenter. Alex. H. Bowman, U. S. cadet. Horatio Bowman. James W. Bowman, lawyer. Ebenezer Bowman, lawyer. Andrew Beaumont, postmaster. Henry Barrackman, farmer. Job Barton, carpenter. William and George Blane, farmers. Thomas Bartlet, school teacher. Josiah Brown, butcher. Miles B. Benedict, hatter. Gideon Bebee, ferryman. William Bolton, carpenter. Elisha Blackman, cabinet maker. Oristus Collins, lawyer. Edward Chapman. Jacob Cist, merchant. Thomas J. Carkhuff, sheriff. Samuel Colkglazer, plasterer. John and Peter Conner, carpenters. Thomas Dyer, lawyer. John and Robert Downer, soldiers. Chester Dana, river pilot. Reuben and Daniel Downing, farmers. Eli and Aaron Downing, farmers. F. Dupuy, confectioner. Jacob J. Dennis, gunsmith. John Davis, farmer. Putnam Catlin, lawyer. Charles Catlin, lawyer. George Chahoon. carpenter. A. O. Chahoon, merchant. Daniel Collins, silversmith. Mason Crary, M. D. Edward Corill. M. D. Arnold Colt, justice peace. Henry Colt, surveyor. Harris Colt, United States soldier. John Carey, farmer. Eleazer Carey, J. P. George Clymer, merchant. William Cox, painter. John Covert, laborer. Richard Covert, stage driver. Joseph H. Chapman. Isaac A. Chapman, author. John Carkhuff. Daniel Colkglazer, school teacher. Hugh and Cornelius Conner, carpenters. George Denison, lawyer. James Dickens, soldier of Revolution. Anderson and Francis Dana, farmers. Jonathan and Bateman Downing, farmers. Jonathan and David Dale, shoemakers. Jesse Downing, farmer. James Decker. farmer. Thomas Davidge, shoemaker. Thomas Dow, farmer. Joseph Davis, carpenter. Louis Delamanon, merchant. Hiram Eicke, carpenter. John Ewing, court crier. [p.502] George Evans, lawyer. Samuel Fell, carpenter. Abel Flint, stone cutter. George Graves, laborer. Job Gibbs, carpenter. Gordon Groves, tailor. Dominick Germain, merchant. Mathias Hollenback, associate judge. Jonathan Hancock, landlord. William and John Hancock, farmers. John Hannis, farmer. George Hotchkiss, painter. William Hart. George Haines, county surveyor. Miller Harton, stage line. Mathias Hoffman, shoemaker. James C. Helmer, cabinet maker. Lewis Hepburn, lawyer. Jacob Hultz, hatter. Joel and Joseph Jones, teachers. Jehoida P. Johnson, miller. John M. Kienzle, constable. Jacob Kyte, laborer. Caleb Kendall, preacher. Gilbert and Grover Laird, shoemakers. James Luker, shoemaker. Lewis Du Shong, merchant. Benjamin Drake, blacksmith. George Eicker, teamster. Thomas, James and George Ely, stage line. Jesse Fell, associate judge. Edward Fell, blacksmith. Jabez Fish, farmer. James Gridley, constable. John Greenawalt, miller. Luman Gilbert, laborer. Hugh Gorman, laborer. G. M. Hollenback, merchant. James Hancock, farmer. Thomas Hutchins, harness maker. Joseph Hitchcock. farmer. Jacob Hart, sheriff. Abraham Hart, shoemaker. Isaac Hartsell, J. P. Jesse and Lewis Harton, stage line. Oliver Helme, landlord. Patrick Hepburn, saddler. Joseph Huckle, distiller. Lathan W. Jones, physician. Amasa Jones, manufacturer. John Jameson, Spring House hotel. Jacob Kithline, baker. Jacob Kutz, tailor. Lewis Ketcham, painter. George Lane, preacher. Josiah Lewis, surveyor. Elan Lawry, teamster. Peter P. Loop, merchant. Charles Miner, printer. Joshua Miner, stonemason. Garrick Mallory, lawyer. Shepherd Marble, nailmaker. William Miller, laborer. Felix McGuigan, laborer. Samuel Maffet, printer. Thomas Nutting, laborer. Thomas B. Overton, lawyer. Godfrey Perry, book-keeper. Titus Prime (colored). Nathan Palmer, lawyer. Archippus Parrish, landlord. Thomas Quick. William Ross, farmer. Francis Rainnow. Elijah Richards, farmer. Philip Rymer, cloth dresser. John Raymond, laborer. Peter and Jack Rafferty, laborers. David Scott, president judge. Jonathan Slocum, farmer. Henry and George Sively, farmers. Jacob and Joseph Suiton, merchants. Abram Tolls, wagon maker. G. W. Trott, physician. Henry Tillbury, farmer. Sidney Tracy, farmer. Henry F. Lamb, druggist. Washington Lee, lawyer. Thomas W. Miner, physician John Miller, sexton. Francis McShane, nailmaker. Thomas Morgan, hotel and stage. Joseph McCoy, cashier and poet. Abram Mock, landlord. Simon Monega, laborer. John Ogden. Abram Pike (Indian killer). Benjamin Perry, clerk H. of R. Thomas Price, cooper. Thomas Patterson, blacksmith. George Peck, preacher. William Russell, potter. A. H. Reeder, landlord. David and William Richards, farmers. George Root, stage driver. Samuel Raub, farmer. Joel Rogers, preacher. Jacob Rudolph, shoemaker. Joseph and Zebulon Slocum, blacksmiths. [p.503] Zura Smith, druggist. Benjamin St. John. Jacob Sills, farmer. Conrad Teeter, first stage to Athens. Stephen Tuttle, merchant. Peleg Tracy. Edwin Tracy, harness maker. Charles Taintor, painter. Edmund Taylor, harness maker. Philip Weeks, farmer. Andrew Vogle, hatter. Phineas Waller, farmer, distiller. Moses Wood, farmer. Asa C. Whitney, doctor. Thomas Wright, farmer. Joseph Wright, physician. Rosewell Wells, lawyer. Winthrop Wells, merchant. Peter and Luther Yarrington, blacksmiths. Henry Young, gunsmith. Abram Thomas, merchant. Barnet Ulp, hatter. Mr. Van Zeek, physician. Seth Wilson, tailor. Lewis Worrell, potter. Isaac Williams, basket maker. Josiah Wright, printer and editor. William Wright, teacher. Daniel White, wagon maker. Ranselear Wells, blacksmith. Conrad Wickizer, farmer. As an appendix to this list, a correspondent, "W. J.," sent to the Record in 1887 the following items, of great interest concerning some of the parties named above: Philip Abbott's son Philip went to St. Paul, Minn. H. C. Anhiser, father of Joseph Anhiser and Mrs. F. Koerner. Ziba Bennett, his son George S. and daughter, Mrs. J. C. Phelps. John L. Butler, father of Frank Butler and Mrs. Judge Woodward. . .Steuben Butler's children, C. E. Butler, Mrs. Alexander Shiras,. . .and the late William H. Butler. Pierce Butler, his son Pierce,. . . daughter Mrs. Mary Reynolds, of Kingston. Zebulon Butler, of these there are no sons or daughters now living. . .Jonathan Bulkley, his son C. L. Bulkley, daughter Mrs. A. R. Brundage. . .Anthony Brower, daughter Mrs. W. S. Parsons. . . Isaac Bowman, son Col. Sam; daughter Mary Bowman. . .Andrew Beaumont, his son Col. E. B. Beaumont, now retired officer of the United States army, and daughter Mrs. Julia Gloninger. . .Job Barton, sons C. P. Barton and Lehman Barton. . .Oristus Collins, son Rev. Charles Jewett Collins. George Chahoon, daughters Mrs. Josiah Lewis and Miss Anna Chahoon. Anning O. Chahoon, son Joseph Slocumb Chahoon. . .Daniel Collings, daughter Mrs. Julia Dougherty, Mrs. J. N. Davidson and Eliza. . .Henry Colt, son Henry Colt, of Allentown. . . Isaac Chapman, his son C. I. A. Chapman of Pittston. . .Jacob Cist, daughters Mrs. H. Wright and Mrs. C. T. McClintock. Frances Dana, daughters Mrs. J. R. Coolbaugh and Mrs. William T. Rhoads. . .Bateman Downing, Son Reuben. . . J. J. Dennis, son Capt. J. P. Dennis. . .John Davis, his son John, and daughter Mary Ann, deceased. James Ely, son Thomas Ely of Kingston. . .George Haines, daughter Mrs. V. L. Maxwell. . .James Hancock, son Maj. E. A. of Philadelphia, and D. P. of Peoria, Ill. . ..George Hotchkiss, daughter Mrs. T. W. Robinson. . .Dr. L. W. Jones, daughter Mrs. Thomas Wilson. . .J. P. Johnson, son William P. of Dallas, and Wesley Johnson, J. P. . .John Jameson, daughter Mrs. E. B. Collings, and Mrs. John Chahoon. Amasa Jones, sons Joel and Joseph of Philadelphia. . .Lewis Ketcham, son W. W. Ketcham. . .Gilbert Laird, sons J. D. and Grover, and Mrs. Joseph Easterline. Josiah Lewis, his son Josiah. . .H. F. Lamb, daughter Mary. . .Peter P. Loop, sons Edward Sterling and John Millard Loop. Charles Miner, son William Penn, and daughter Mrs. Jesse Thomas. Samuel Maffet, son W. R. Maffet. . .Simon Monega, son C. B., daughter Mrs. P. R. Johnson. . .Benjamin Perry, daughters reside on Northampton street. Archippus Parrish, sons Charles and George H., daughter Mrs. F. W. Hunt. . .Joseph Slocum, daughter Mrs. Abi Butler, deceased. . .George Sively, daughter Mrs. Judge Pfouts. . .Abram Thomas, daughter Mrs. Washington Lee. . .E. Taylor, sons John, Thomas and Edmund; daughter Mrs. E. H. [p.504] Chase. . .Phineas Waller, son Rev. David J. Waller of Bloomsburg. . .Luther Yarington, son Thomas O. of Reading. . .Peter Yarington, son Dilton Yarington of Carbondale. . .John P. Arndt and family removed to Green Bay, Wis., one son was drowned in the Susquehanna, another was shot by a fellow member, and died on the floor of the Wisconsin territorial legislature. . .Amasa Jones, sons Joel and Joseph. Amasa had lost a leg, and as corks were not then known he was called "Peg Leg." He was a broom-maker. His son Joel became a distinguished judge of Philadelphia, and Joseph a distinguished preacher. . . Jesse Fell (history given elsewhere.). . .Moses Wood, an Englishman, brought considerable money to this country, and a large family of sons. John G. and George B. Wood are grandsons. David Scott, surviving descendants E. Greenough Scott and Rev. Charles H. Skidder, grandsons. . .George Dennison had two sons, Henry M. and George; one married a daughter of Pres. John Tyler. . . Francis Du Puy of Pittston, is grandson of Ralph D. Lacoe. Anderson Dana, his grandson, Gen. E. L. Dana. . .Joseph Davis, never married, became crazy, and shot and killed a man on Hazel street; spent the remainder of his days in an asylum. Barnet Ulp, grandfather of the Misses Alexander. . .Gilbert Barnes, grandsons Stewart L. and Albert Barnes. . .Abraham Pike, daughter Mrs. Hannah Porter. . .Joshua Miner, grandson Dr. J. L. Miner. . .Dr. G. W. Trott, grandfather of Judge Stanley Woodward. This correspondent says that in the first list of the men of 1818 that in the upper part of Wilkes-Barre township there are many prominent names not mentioned. To the list he adds Benjamin Cortright, father of John M. and James Cortright; "Uncle Fritz" Wagner; near him James Stark, farmer and merchant; his sons, Henry and John M. Stark, of West Pittston; John Stark, of Mill Creek, father of John Stark, Mrs. G. M. Miller and Mrs. O. A. Parsons; Cornelius Stark, father of Col. B. F. Stark; Crandall Wilcox owned the place afterward the property of John Searl, and his son, Samuel Wilcox, worked in the mines. Then Thomas Williams owned the John Mitchell farm; his sons, Thomas, Ezra and George W. Williams. Then the next was Thomas Osborne, laborer, of "Punkin Hollow." He was great- grandfather of the Misses Wildoners, of Wilkes-Barre; Stephen Abbott, farmer, and his son, John Abbott, father of Cassie and Lucy Abbott; Benjamin Bailey, tanner and currier at the corners; Cornelius, or "Case," Courtright, shoemaker; Hiram Post, laborer; Thomas Joslyn, laborer. His son, Thomas, was the first man who lost his life in the mines in this region; Thomas Wooley, farmer, and his large family of sons and daughters; Mathias Hollenback, miller, called "Crazy Matt," who was insane for years; George Dickover, mason and plasterer; his son, William Dickover; Hezekiah Parsons, of Laurel Run, farmer and manufacturer; his son, Calvin Parsons; Stephen Gould, on the Lehigh on the road above Mr. Parsons' place. C. E. Wright pleasantly tells of the great old-time dancing masters in Wilkes- Barre, as follows: "I doubt if anything makes a deeper impression on the young than the glory of the first dancing school. If any exception be taken to this assertion, all I can say in return is, I am speaking for myself. "The first teacher I had the honor of performing under was a sedate gentleman by the name of Tobias, from Lancaster. That city had produced some distinguished men, but in my view none were equal to Mr. Tobias. He was a man of good presence, good manner, had the use of his heels and was a medium violinist. "I think it was in 1839 he opened his school at Morgan's, on the present site of Mr. Darling's dwelling in Wilkes-Barre. and another at Atherton's hotel in Plymouth. To get all out of the thing that was in it, I attended both. It was an easy matter, on a good horse, to ford the river at Plymouth, pass up through the Inman and Lazarus flats, and thence on to Morgan's. Dark nights or stormy ones, or even a slight freshet, was no hindrance to an ambitious youth of nineteen, in search of knowledge. All the young damsels of the county seat attended the school. This probably had some weight, for that class of young ladies has never been excelled. [p.507] "After this, probably the outcrop of Mr. Tobias' labors amongst us, there was the annual ball on February 22, at the Phoenix. To this came the notables of Berwick, Danville, Bloom, Tunkhannock and other outlying cities. "Porter, the memorable landlord of the Phcenix, had what was called a spring floor. It was over the long dining-room and supported only at the sides of the apartment. The combined tramp of many feet, in time with the band, produced a vibratory motion, something like the teeter of a buckboard. It always seemed a wonder to me the whole affair didn't crash down with its live freight. "This short history, pertaining to the subject of the dance, would be deficient without mention of Messrs. Morton and Jones. They were the successors of Mr. Tobias. Their school, very large and successful, was at the Dennis hotel, where is now the National bank. "Mr. Morton, from Philadelphia, was a very polite gentleman, short of build, yellow-haired, florid complexion and frolicsome on his legs as a young colt. I never look at the picture of Pickwick, in his oratorical attitude, but it reminds me of Morton. Mr. Jones, per contra, was a very slim young gentleman. Nature must have had a fiddler in view, when drafting the plans and specifications of his makeup. He had the most delicate of hands, with fingers like straws. How could he be else than a prime manipulator of the strings? "I suppose it would be proper to seek pardon for making reference to matters of such minor importance, knowing that the cotillion has gone down with many other barbaric usages of our ancestors. Our more favored lasses of the present day will scarce thank me for calling off their attention from the german, the polka, the waltz and other matters coming in on the tide of reform." Mrs. Jesse Thomas, on the occasion of dismantling the old house at the corner of Franklin and Union streets, in 1887, gave her recollections of the building and times of nearly seventy-five years ago that are very interesting. The house was built by her father, Hon. Charles Miner, about 1811, and under its roof she and her brother, William Penn Miner, were born. Mr. Miner sold the house in 1817 to the distinguished jurist, Judge Burnside, on the occasion of his removing to West Chester, to establish there the Village Record. The other corners of the streets, except the one afterward built on by Hon. Andrew Beaumont, were built upon prior to Mr. Miner's. The one on the southwest corner is the only one of the four left. This was the Evans house, its owner being quite a prominent citizen. On the northeast corner, where is now the Stickney block, was the old Palmer house, known latter as the "old Red house." The Palmers were a large family, afterward removed to Mount Holly. The Beaumont house was built in the approaching canal days and originally intented for a warehouse. She says when she can first remember, Franklin street ended at Union street and above Union it was called "Green lane" and was the favorite playground in the first and second decade of the century. The only house above Union was Capt. Bowman's, latterly the residence of Mrs. Col. A. H. Bowman. Mrs. Thomas' description of her father's printing office, as well as her account of how in this old office her father had used wooden type to teach his blind daughter the alphabet and finally how to read, and when the child was sent to a blind school she was the first ever admitted who could read, how this blind daughter in time became her father's amanuensis and his great aid in writing his History of Wyoming. She had a remarkable memory and would accompany her father and listen to the old pioneers tell over their stories of the past and then so readily and accurately recall them when wanted by the writer as he progressed with his history. This valuable history is now out of print and in the interests, if nothing else of the libraries and schools of the world, a new edition should be printed, and the invaluable work placed within the reach of all students of history. It will remain the history of Wyoming valley par excellence. Its correctness as history, its brilliance in every line, weaves the facts into a story of transcendent interest. If it has ever been [p.508] criticised adversely, that criticism has never gone farther than the alleged fault that a careful reading would disclose the fact that the author was a federalist. Charles Miner was a native of Connecticut, born in 1780, and came to Wyoming in 1799, and located in Wilkes-Barre, where his brother, Asher (great-grandfather of the present Asher Miner), had established the Luzerne County Federalist in 1801, which time the Wilkes-Barre Gazette, by Thomas Wright, ceased publication. Asher Miner married the only daughter of Thomas Wright, and Charles Miner married Wright's grand-daughter, Letitia, daughter of Joseph Wright. In 1807 Charles Miner was elected to the legislature, re-elected the following year. In 1810 he sold the Federalist to his two apprentices, Steuben Butler and Sidney Tracy. He resumed the office in 1811, sold in 1816 to Isaac A. Chapman, then located in West Chester. In 1824 he was elected to congress, reelected two years later. In 1825 he was joined by his brother, Asher, and they published the Village Record until its sale by them in 1834. Charles returned to the valley in 1832 and Asher in 1834, and they ended their days on adjoining farms at Miner's Mills. From old newspapers the following: "This line has commenced running regularly between Wilkes-Barre, Northumberland, Williamsport, Harrisburg and Philadelphia and intermediate places. The boat leaves Wilkes-Barre daily at 2 o'clock p.m., and arrives at Northumberland every morning at 7:30 o'clock and at Harrisburg the following evening at 9 o'clock, where passengers will remain over night and take the railroad cars next morning for Philadelphia, etc., through in 48 hours from Wilkes-Barre. Fare to Northumberland, $2; fare to Harrisburg, $4; fare to Philadelphia, $8. For freight or passage apply to P. McC. Gilchrist, Phoenix hotel, Wilkes-Barre, May 7, 1839." (In our days of "apprenticeship," cheap fuel and rapid transit such things seem very antiquated. Will the next half century bring the consummation, a new caloric and aerial yachts?) Runaway Apprentice. - In the Wilkes-Barre papers of that day such advertisements as the following appear, accompanied by a picture of a little fellow galloping off with a bundle tied to a stick and thrown over his shoulder: "Six Cents Reward. - Ran away from the subscriber on the 12th inst., James Pringle, an indented apprentice to the farming business; he was about fourteen years of age, of light complexion; he had on when he went away butternut colored pantaloons and frock coat. All persons are forbid harboring or trusting him on my account as no charges will be paid. Isaac Smith, Exeter township, April 9, 1836." Coal Fifty Years Ago. - (A card.) I am now ready to deliver coal to the citizens of Wilkes-Barre at the following prices, viz.: At the shute, lump coal per ton of 2,240 pounds, $1. 25; broken coal and raked, $1.12; fine coal without screening, 75 cents; lime burner's coal, per bushel, 1 1/2 cents, and 25 cents per ton additional for hauling. The Wilkes-Barre and Wyoming Valley Traction, Company. - President, B. F. Meyers; secretary and treasurer, John Graham. With the beginning of the year 1891 there were in Wilkes-Barre horse-car street railways to Kingston and Luzerne, to Ashley and the suburban road, when some enterprising gentlemen came here, and, in connection with some of the citizens, formed a stock company and purchased the franchises of these lines, and consolidated them under the name given at the head of this paragraph. The company commenced the work of converting the new line into electric roads in October, 1891, and have built and completed the road to Pittston, passing through Kingston, Dorranceton, Forty Fort, Wyoming and on to West Pittston; also have extended their electric line to Plymouth, Nanticoke, Ashley and Sugar Notch. This is one of the most extensive street railway lines by electric power in this country and the system, when complete will have from forty-five to fifty miles of trackage, operating within the immediate suburbs of Wilkes-Barre, making the valley practically a part and parcel of this city of 120,000 people. The immense patronage of all these lines well demonstrate the long-felt want of this the most [p.509] important improvement that has been added to the city in this generation, and the company find that it is nearly impossible to build and stock the road to keep pace with the public demand. There is but little doubt that next season the line will be extended on the east side of the river to Pittston. The incorporators of the company: John J. Patterson, John Graham, W. F. Sadler. G. Mortimore Lewis, Robert McMeen, J. Howard Neeley. As an evidence of the capacity of these lines it is estimated that at the recent Columbus celebration in Wilkes-Barre their trains handled 45,000 people, and the entire system is not yet completed. Upper Wagon Bridge was built in 1877-8 and opened to the public, September 1, 1888. The company built in fact three bridges - two of them over culverts connected with the main iron bridge by a heavy grade macadam road. The entire improvement cost $141,000. John B. Reynolds, president; Pierce Butler, secretary; directors: Stephen B. Vaughan, C. E. Stegmaier, T. F. Ryman, Dr. Ed Gumpert, E. R. Troxell, P. M. Gilligan, Liddon Flick, John P. Warwick. Banks. - A branch of the Philadelphia bank was established in Wilkes-Barre in 1810. It was on River street in a building of late owned by Mrs. Ulp. It was run until l820 and closed. Stewart Pearce said that the effect of this bank here was to drain the county of specie. At one time Steuben Butler and Col. Bowman, directors of the bank, took $40,000 in silver in wagons to Philadelphia. Philip Reed was the wagoner. After this bank closed the Wilkes-Barre and Easton turnpike issued "Shinplaster" notes, as much as $10,000 at one time being out. All received it, as this practically was the only money in the country. These convenient notes were signed by Lord Butler and Stephen Tuttle. This was an important recruiting station in 1812, and it is said that army officers issued their individual notes in $1 and $2 and these passed as money. In 1816 the Susquehanna Bank of Wilkes-Barre was incorporated; Joseph Sinton, president of the board. A wave of hard times, however, prevented the institution from ever opening its doors to the public. Wyoming National Bank was organized November 16, 1829, under its present name, except "National." Its charter is dated November 4, 1829. William Ross, Henderson Gaylord, John N. Conyngham, William Swetland, Isaac Bowman were commissioners to receive subscriptions. The directors were Benjamin Dorrance, William Ross, John N. Conyngham, George N. Hollenback, O. Collins, Ziba Bennett, William Swetland, H. Gaylord, James Nesbitt, Jr., Steuben Butler, Abraham Thomas and Miller Horton; officers: Col. Benjamin Dorrance, president; Ziba Bennett, secretary of the board until a cashier should be chosen; Edward Lynch, cashier. Benjamin Dorrance resigned the presidency May 18, 1831, but was re-elected and served until May 30, 1832; again resigned and George M. Hollenback was elected and served until his death, November 1, 1866. Gen. William S. Ross elected president and served until he died, June 11, 1868; succeeded by Hon. Ziba Bennett; resigned May 9, 1878; succeeded by Col. Charles Dorrance, who continued in the office until his death, January, 1892, when the present incumbent was elected to the vacancy. March 17, 1861, the bank moved into its present home, corner of Franklin and Market streets, which, with the adjoining building on Market street, is owned by the bank. It became a national bank January 19, 1865. Capital, $150,000; surplus, $210,000. Officers: Sheldon Reynolds, president; Charles A. Miner, vice-president; George H. Flanagan, cashier; directors: Sheldon Reynolds, Charles A. Miner, Henry M. Hoyt, George S. Bennett, Charles D. Foster, B. M. Espy, F. A. Phelps, Andrew H. McClintock and Irving A. Stearns. First National Bank, organized April 14, 1863; chartered July 21, following, and opened its doors to the public August 8, with a capital of $51,500. The first president and cashier were James McLean and Thomas Wilson, respectively. The capital has been increased and is now $375,000; surplus $130,000. Officers and directors: William S. McLean, president; H. H. Ashley, vice-president; P. M. Carhart, cashier; Samuel H. Lynch, M. W. Wadhams, C. Stegmaier, Jesse Beadle, Charles P. Hunt, George Loveland. [p.510] The Second National Bank, organized September 23, 1863, with a capital of $250,000, which has been increased to $450,000, and having a surplus of $145,000. First officers were Thomas T. Atherton, president; M. L. Everett, cashier; Present officers and board of directors: Abram Nesbitt, president; R. F. Walsh, vice- president; Isaac Everett, T. H. Atherton, R. T. Black, L. D. Shoemaker, E. H. Jones, George F. Nesbitt, John M. Ward; cashier, E. W. Mulligan. Anthracite Savings Bank. - Capital $100,000; surplus $19,000; deposits special and general, $621,632.37. Officers and directors: Benjamin Reynolds, president; Andrew F. Derr, vice-president; C. W. Laycock, cashier; A. N. Rippard, assistant cashier; Benjamin Reynolds, H. A. Fuller, A. H. Dickson, George N. Reichard, Andrew F. Derr, H. W. Palmer, Bernhard Long, William Stoddart, T. F. Ryman. Bankers. - F. V. Rockafellow & Co., one of the oldest and most reliable banking institutions of Wilkes-Barre. The Miners' Savings Bank was incorporated by an act of February 13, 1868, and was the first savings bank in the city, the purpose being to establish a savings bank and loan company with powers to transact any other business done by banks in Pennsylvania, and to act as executor or administrator of any deceased testator or intestate. The capital stock is $150,000; the surplus over $50,000. The first officers chosen were: A. C. Laning, president; Ziba Bennett, Walter G. Sterling and A. T. McClintock, vice-presidents; J. A. Rippard. cashier. Present capital, $150,000; surplus, $220,000; deposits, $1,560,465.99. Officers and directors: N. Rutter, president; David P. Ayars, cashier; N. Rutter, T. S. Hillard, A. H. McClintock, H. W. Palmer, Andrew F. Derr, W. L. Conyngham, William J. Harvey, Allan H. Dickson, John Laning. The Wilkes-Barre Deposit and Savings Bank was organized May 20, 1871, with an authorized capital of $300,000, $150,000 of which was paid in by the stockholders, and began business July 1, 1871. The first directors were Joseph Lippincott, C. L. Lamberton, Stanley Woodward, C. Brahl, J. McNeish, Jr., W. W. Ketcham, J. P. Williamson, A. J. Pringle and F. J. Helfrich; president, Joseph Lippincott; cashier, J. P. Williamson. Present capital stock, $150,000; surplus, $115,000; deposits special and general, $1,098,538.52. Officers and directors: President, A. H. Van Horn; vice-president, Christian Brahl; cashier, J. C. Bell; A. H. Van Horn, Christian Brahl, Joseph Birkbeck, Morgan B. Williams, Fred Ahlborn, W. W. Amsbry, Woodward Leavenworth, J. J. Roberts, Jr. The People's Bank was organized and commenced business July 1, 1872, with a capital of $250,000, with authority to increase the same to $1,000,000, $125,000 was called in immediately, and in 1874 the balance of the $250,000 was called in and paid up, since which time (with two exceptions), a regular semiannual dividend has been declared and paid free of all taxes. This institution moved into its new quarters in the summer of 1892. Capital, $250,000; surplus, $160,134.46; deposits, $718,525.73. Directors: J. W. Hollenback, A. J. Davis, H. B. Hillman, Isaac H. Thomas, Edward Welles, O. B. Macknight, Calvin Parsons, F. J. Leavenworth, Isaac P. Hand, Thomas H. Atherton, A. A. Sterling; J. W. Hollenback, president; F.J. Leavenworth, vice-president; A. A. Sterling, cashier. The Wilkes-Barre Water Company was incorporated by act of the legislature February 12, 1850. The corporators were: George M. Hollenback, Samuel P. Collings, Henry M. Fuller, W. J. Woodward, Lord Butler, Thomas W. Miner, Peter C. McGilchrist, Harrison Wright, Calvin Parsons, Ziba Bennett, George P. Steel, Samuel Puterbaugh, Oliver B. Hillard, Edward M. Covell, Sharp D. Lewis, Francis L. Bowman and Joseph Le Clerc; president, Hendrick B. Wright; secretary and treasurer, Isaac S. Osterhout; managers, Alexander Gray, John Orquhart, William Wood, Charles Parrish, John Reichard and Samuel R. Marshall. The original capital stock was $40,000, with the privilege of increasing it to $80,000. By subsequent amendments it has been increased from time to time, and in 1879 amounted to $220,000. The company has about thirty-five miles of cement and [p.511] wrought-iron pipe laid, the source of water supply being Laurel run and Mill creek. The Crystal Spring Water Company was chartered April 11, 1861. Its source of supply is a large pond of the same name in the northeast part of Wright township, south of Wilkes-Barre, one of the sources of Big Wapwallopen creek. The company has $80,000 in capital stock, and bonds to the same amount. Officers: J. R. Maxwell, president; Walter Gaston, secretary and treasurer; Elmer Lawall, manager; Ieorworeh Jones, superintendent and engineer. Laflin Water Company. - Charles Parrish, president; W. C. Allen, secretary; Walter Gaston, treasurer. Honey Brook Water Company. - J. R. Maxwell, president; E. W. Marple, secretary and treasurer; Elmer H. Lawall, manager. The Wilkes-Barre Gas Company was charted in 1854, and the works were constructed in 1856. The present capital stock of the company is $130,000. It has eighteen miles of main laid, and makes 20,000,000 cubic feet of gas per annum, furnishing gas for city lamps and lighting most of the leading business places and private residences. Officers: William S. Cunningham, president; A. A. Sterling, vice- president and treasurer; Marcus Smith, secretary and superintendent. Wilkes-Barre Electric Light Company. - The plant was built and started operations in 1884, and the first arc light ever lit in the city blazed out on the night of April 1, 1884. Officers: Sheldon Reynolds, president; Isaac Long, vice-president; H. A. Fuller, secretary and treasurer; T. W. O'Brien, superintendent. The Wilkes-Barre City Hospital was opened for the reception of patients October 10, 1872. There is also a board of visiting lady managers. Prior to the winter of 1874 the support of the hospital was derived entirely from voluntary contributions made by the people of the city. Since that time appropriations have been made by the State as follows: In 1885 a lot containing about four acres, on River street, near Mill creek, affording an elegant site for a hospital building, was presented by John Welles Hollenback. During the winter of 1875-6 the new hospital building was erected on this lot, and was occupied April 1, 1876, capable of accommodating from seventy-five to 100 beds. Officers: president, Hon, C. A. Miner; vice-president, J. W. Hollenback; treasurer, G. Murray Reynolds; secretary, E. H. Chase; directors: J. Welles Hollenback, S. J. Strauss, Irving A. Stearns, George S. Bennett, G. M. Reynolds, Charles A. Miner, Richard Sharpe, Jr., C. M. Conyngham, E. H. Chase, A. T. McClintock, Liddon Flick; executive committee: Messrs. Miner, Chase, Phillips, Reynolds and Sharpe; board of lady managers: Mrs. C. M. Conyngham, president; Mrs. J. V. Darling, vice- president; Miss E. W. Mayer, secretary; Mrs. S. L. Brown, Mrs. A. A. Sterling, Mrs. M. L. Driesbach, Mrs. A. J. Davis, Mrs. A. Farnham, Mrs. R. J. Flick, Miss. Laura G. Brower; resident physician, Dr. H. C. Masland; attending physicians: Drs. Murphy, Fell, Shoemaker, Guthrie, Davis and Harvey; consulting physicians: Drs. Ross and Crawford; registrar, Dr. W. S. Stewart; ophthalmologist, Dr. L. H. Taylor. Cost of maintenance per year (approximately), $15,000. Nearly 400 patients were treated during 1891; deaths, 20; 259 cured and 76 benefited. Of the whole number 245 were surgical cases. Less than one-fifth were pay patients. Home for Friendless Children is one of the noble charities of Wilkes-Barre. George B. Kulp, in his Families of the Wyoming Valley, expresses the fact that Mrs. Ziba Bennett (nee, Priscilla E. Lee) was chiefly the originator and founder. She had given very largely to her church and in many ways shown a most liberal Christian spirit of charity. March 22, 1862, a number of ladies interested in benevolent works met at the house of Mrs. Bennett. This meeting had a purpose, and resulted in the first steps toward building the present "Home" on South Franklin street, between Ross and Academy streets. This elegant and spacious edifice is one of the interesting objects of the city, and has indeed been a "Home" to many a [p.512] poor orphan that otherwise would have been a waif upon the uncertain charity of the world. At this meeting a board of lady managers was chosen and Mrs. Bennett was chosen treasurer, and the society was soon after incorporated. The management of this noble institution is in the hands of twenty-four women, who regularly meet once a month. For many years Mrs. Bennett has been the efficient president of the "Home," and to her guidance, council and aid much of its success is due. Officers: President, L. D. Shoemaker; vice-presidents, Richard Sharpe and J. W. Hollenback; secretary, John C. Phelps; treasurer, Francis A. Phelps; trustees, J. W. Hollenback, Richard Sharpe, Hon. L. D. Shoemaker, F. J. Leavenworth, John C. Phelps, Edwin Shortz, Andrew T. McClintock, Francis A. Phelps, Marx Long, Hon. Stanley Woodward, C. M. Conyngham, Charles Morgan; M. B. Houpt, A. H. Dickson, Isaac M. Thomas. Lady managers: President, Mrs. Ziba Bennett; vice-president, Mrs. E. G. Scott; secretary, Mrs. G. M. Reynolds; treasurer, Mrs. J. C. Phelps; Mrs. A. R. Brundage, Mrs. R. J. Flick, Mrs. T. S. Hillard, Mrs. F. W. Hunt, Miss Mary Ingham, Mrs. George B. Kulp, Mrs. F. J. Leavenworth, Mrs. M. B. Houpt, Mrs. Fred Mercur, Mrs. T. C. North, Mrs. Thomas W. Brown, Mrs. Susan Beach, Mrs. F. V. Rockafellow. Mrs. William H. Sturdevant, Mrs. Isaac M. Thomas, Mrs. Mathew Wood, Mrs. Stanley Woodward. Miss Hetty Wright, Mrs. Garrett Smith, Mrs. E. C. Wadhams, Mrs. J. C. Phelps. Average number of children, forty-five; a small annuity from an invested fund, about $800 per annum from paid boarders, and the balance from private donations, make up the $4,000 annually necessary to maintain the home. Telephone. - This important addition to modern civilization first received the attention of the people of Wilkes-Barre in the summer of 1877. Some of the good people had heard of the curious invention by which people could talk and distinctly hear each other, though a mile or more apart. A few had seen it in the city, but they were like the man's sign about touching it: "Don't monkey with the buzz-saw." But the movement was seriously set on foot by several of the enterprising men of the city, and it was resolved to establish the Wilkes-Barre Telephone exchange. William L. Raeder, aided by L. C. Kinsly, proceeded to get subscribers to the new enterprise, and their efforts were soon crowned with success, and the exchange office opened February 1, 1880. After it was well established, in 1882, the company was consolidated with the Scranton company and formed the North Pennsylvania Telephone & Supply company. The long-distance telephone is now reaching out from Wilkes-Barre to all portions of the county, recently making connections to reach all the principal cities of the East and Chicaoo by the line just completed from New York to the latter place. Board of Trade. - The Wilkes-Barre board of trade, after the usual abortive attempts to establish such an institution, was permanently organized in 1884, when a charter was granted and the following officers elected: president, C. M. Conyngham; first vice-president, S. L. Brown; second vice-president, Isaac Long; treasurer, F. V. Rockafellow; secretary, George A. Wells. The only change in the officers were the late J. K. Bogert became president; he was succeeded by Col. G. Murray Reynolds. Mr. Wells was succeeded as secretary by Leo W. Long. A committee consisting of Hon. C. Ben Johnson, G. Mortimer Lewis and Maj. C. N. Conyngham was appointed when the interest in the institution began to lag, and they gave it a fresh impetus, and since then it has been quite successful. Hon. C. Ben Johnson was made secretary, rooms fitted up, and the membership soon swelled to 300. Industries. - In 1810 there were in the township thirty-three hand looms, and during a year which included a portion of the one mentioned, 129 yards of cotton, 1,717 yards of woolen and 6,531 yards of linen cloth were manufactured. Francis McShane established a small cut-nail factory at Wilkes-Barre, using anthracite coal for smelting iron, and for several years conducted a successful wholesale and retail [p.513] business. There was in the early days of the borough the usual diversity of mechanics' shops, and the proprietors changed from time to time, rendering the tracing of the history of these common industries more than difficult. A large rolling-mill and nail factory was erected at South Wilkes-Barre by Thomas Chambers, E. R. Biddle and others in 1840, at a cost of $300,000. The firm became involved and the establishment was sold to satisfy a debt due the Wyoming bank; and, passing into the hands of the Montour Iron company, was removed to Danville, Montour county. In 1840 Lewis Le Grand opened a blacksmith and general jobbing, ironing and repair shop on South Main street. In 1859 he began the manufacture of wagons - his main shop having been erected in 1857. In 1871-3 D. R. Malvin was a partner in the concern. December 4, 1872, C. D. Le Grand, son of Lewis Le Grand, patented the well-known buckboard wagon, since so extensively manufactured at this establishment. November 11, 1878, the patent was renewed to cover recently perfected improvements. In 1842 H. S. & E. Renwick, of New York, erected an anthracite furnace, operated by steam power, and carried on the manufacture of pig- iron for about a year; but the furnace was subsequently permitted to lie idle until 1854, when it was purchased by John McCanley and the Messrs. Carter of Tamaqua, who enlarged it and began business on quite an extensive scale. The iron ore and limestone were brought from Columbia county by canal, and the works, under the supervision of Mr. McCanley, yielded six tons of iron per day. In 1856 the establishment was burned. Planing Mills. - In 1844 S. Y. Kittle established himself as a manufacturer of furniture on South Main street, below Ross. He introduced improved machinery from time to time, and putting in power planers about twenty years later, engaged quite extensively in the manufacture of planed lumber and moldings. He was the inventor of Kittle's patent carving machine. In January, 1854, Price & Wetzel established a planing mill at the corner of Canal and Union streets, where buildings were erected for that purpose. A year later the firm became Price & Haas. Ten years afterward C. B. Price became sole proprietor, and remained so until 1876, when the firm became C. B. Price & Son. About 1864 the original buildings were burnt and replaced by others, which were torn down in a dozen years, after the erection of the present commodious accomodations on Canal street, near Market. Operations at the planing mill on Canal street now the property of the estate of Stephen Lee, deceased, were begun about 1855. The establishment, after passing through the hands of several proprietors, became the property of Hamilton & Brew, of whom the late Stephen Lee purchased it in 1867. Since his death, in 1874, the business has been conducted by his sons, Conrad and Samuel N. Lee, executors of his will, and builders, furnishers and dealers in all kinds of lumber. Another leading establishment in this line of manufacture and trade, is that of J. E. Patterson & Co., on Canal street at the corner of Jackson, which has an extended trade and reputation, having received the Centennial medal for its doors, etc. The Vulcan Iron Works. - The Vulcan Iron works, one of the most important manufacturing interests in the city, were founded by Richard Jones in 1849, and successfully conducted by him until 1866, when a stock company was formed and incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000, of which Richard Jones was president and superintendent, and Robert T. Block secretary and treasurer. The company began at once to increase the capacity of the works by building a substantial brick machine shop 75x100 feet, and equipped with the most modern tools, and a three- story brick pattern house. The constant demand for heavy machinery manufactured at these works compelled the company to further enlarge their manufacturing capacity by the erection of a new foundry and pattern shop, 80xl65 feet, and a smith and boiler shop 66x130 feet, in 1873, when the capital stock had increased to $200,000. During the progress of these improvements Mr. Richard Jones died. He was [p.514] succeeded by L. C. Paine as president, and E. H. Jones, son of the former president, became superintendent. The works cover an area of about eight acres, fronting 400 feet on Main street and extending 634 feet back. Tracks and sidings run into the shops from the Lehigh Valley railroad, with a turntable by which cars can be directed into any department of the establishment. The company have four large buildings and two more being erected, a boiler shop and a new smith shop. Their product is all kinds of machinery and boilers; number of employes 250; output $500,000. The Wyoming shops on Hazle street are a branch and belong to the same company. They were built in 1872; employes 100, and the product is machinery and locomotives. Officers: E. H. Jones, general manager; Fred G. Smith, treasurer; H. B. Hillman, secretary. The charter members of this concern and directors were Richard Jones, Henry B. Wright, Thomas F. Atherton, Lewis C. Paine, George W. Woodward, Stewart Pearce, Nathanial Rutter, Stephen Bowles, Robert T. Black, Joseph Stickney, Lewis Landmesser. The company also have extensive shops in West Pittston. Thus from the very humblest beginning this has grown to be one of the largest and most important industries in the city. The Wyoming Valley Manufacturing Company. - In 1866 Jonathan Mooers & Son had a small foundry at the corner of Main and Dana streets. Mr. Milton Dana and others afterward becoming interested, the firm name was changed to Dana & Co. April 5, 1867, a charter was granted to William L. Stewart and others under the name of the Wyoming Valley Manufacturing company, and the following officers were elected: E. W. Sturdevant, president; E. Robinson, vice-president; F. Koerner, secretary and treasurer; Milton Dana, assistant secretary; William L. Stewart, superintendent. The company enlarged the capacity of the foundry and erected a frame machine shop, a car shop and other necessary buildings on the same location, but as the business increased it became necessary to secure more room. New brick buildings were erected on lands purchased of the Lehigh Coal & Navigation company, immediately adjoining the railroad and affording increased facilities for receiving material and shipping manufactured articles. At these works are manufactured every description of light and heavy machinery, including steam engines for shafts, slopes, planes, coal breakers, blast and rolling mills; double and single acting pumps of every variety for mining and other purposes; mills for powder making, locomotives, flue, tubral and cylinder boilers, of the best Pennsylvania charcoal boiler plate; forging of all kinds, and iron and brass casting of every description. The wire rope machinery of the Hazard Manufacturing company was made at this establishment. The Hazard Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of iron and steel wire ropes, is the outgrowth of a business in the same line established by Fisher Hazard, of Mauch Chunk, at that place in 1848. The growing demand for such a manufactory in the heart of the anthracite coal region led to its removal to Wilkes-Barre December 1, 1867. A stock company was formed, of which Fisher Hazard was elected president; E. B. Leisenring, treasurer, and T. C. North, superintendent and secretary. In 1868 the company was chartered, Charles Parrish, E. B. Leisenring and Fisher Hazard being the corporators. The ropes manufactured by this company are made of wire drawn at their own factory from the best brands of Swede and Norway iron and a superior quality of steel. All sizes of round and flat, coarse or fine, iron or steel wire rope, for the transmission of power and use on slopes, and capable of turning out 6,000 feet of three-inch wire rope in one piece. Officers: Charles Parrish, president; C. M. Conyngham, vice president; Walter Gaston, secretary and treasurer; Thomas C. North, superintendent. In the spring of 1860 Fred Ahlborn began the manufacture of soap and chandler's ware. The present factory was erected in 1874. In 1876 the firm became Ahlborn Bros. They are extensive manufacturers of soap and candles and dealers in tallow, sal soda and similar goods. [p.517] J. H. Brock began the manufacture of wire screens on Canal street about 1874. In 1876 he sold the establishment to Mr. E. H. Hunt, who is doing an extensive and constantly increasing business in the manufacture of woven wrought-iron screens for screening coal. C. A. Becker, manufacturer and dealer in all kinds of earthen ware, Rockingham and yellow ware, and a great variety of stove linings, terra cotta garden vases and flower pots, began business in 1874. Ladies' Underwear Factory, by Galland Bros. & Co., was established in 1881. This firm is one of the most extensive of its kind in the world. They make ladies' muslin underwear, and in addition to this plant has another in Pittston and a general office in New York. In the works here are 600 employes - using 400 sewing machines and an annual output of 90,000 dozen of their goods. Wilkes-Barre Pottery was established in 1873 by C. A. Becker, and is a strong and representative concern of the kind, having a two-story building 46x150. Terra cotta ware, stove linings and fire brick are among its specialties. Wyoming Brush Company was established in 1889. Their large two-story building is in South Wilkes-Barre and gives employment to over 100 hands. The proprietors are John Derby, Christian Walters and Grif. Lunger. Sheldon Axle Works were organized at Auburn, N. Y., 1867, by Sheldon & Co., as contractors of the Auburn prison convict labor. In 1885 the law of the State of New York prohibited the further employment of convicts. That year a company was formed in Wilkes-Barre and the business at Auburn was purchased and moved to Wilkes-Barre in 1886, the grounds purchased and the plant built that year, commencing operations in December. The company has fourteen acres of ground, about five acres of which are under roof and are supplied with 1,200- horse power steam engines and employs from 400, the minimum, to 700 workmen, being the largest concern of the kind in the world, the output being 350,000 sets per year, valued at about $1,000,000. The plant has a capacity of 1,800 sets per day, running at full force ten hours, cutting thirty tons of steel and using, fifty tons of coal per day. The chief product going mostly direct to carriage and wagon manufactories or of road vehicles. Their products consisting entirely of axles for carriages, wagons and road vehicles, making a few steel axles for mining cars. The pay-roll of the company runs from $15,000 to $30,000 per month. They recently added a forge shop 70x90 with 150-horse power Corliss engine; have their own track connecting with all railroads, giving them complete facilities for shipment. Their works are located in the north extremity of the city on Conyngham street, near the railroad. Officers - Charles L. Sheldon, president; N. P. H. Hugus, vice-president and general manager; C. H. Gillam, secretary and treasurer; directors: Charles L. Sheldon, William Brookfield, Edwin H. Jones, N. P. H. Huaus, Thomas H. Atherton, John W. Hollenback, George S. Bennett. Silk Factory. - By Hess, Goldsmith & Co., silk manufacturers. Plant was built in 1885; the building being erected by the city and leased to the company at a nominal rent. The main building is 200x60, and two stories; the annex is 140x60, one-story; the engine building is 60x60, with a 100-horse power engine. The company spin but a small portion of their thread for a special article; buying their material and weaving mostly dress goods; employ 275 persons. The members of the firm are Leon Hess, Max and Louis Goldsmith, H. J. Spillman, superintendent. The works are located in the extreme south end of the city. Wilkes-Barre Gun Company. - This institution was moved from Ithaca, N. Y., to Wilkes-Barre and the works built here in 1891, and commenced operation on January 14, 1892. In New York it was known as the "Perry Fire Arms company." The output is hammer and hammerless double-barrel-breech-loading shotguns. The building is 32x130, two-story. The engine-house, also two stories, is 15x30. Average employes, forty. It is a chartered company, and the officers and charter members are Isaac Long, president; George P. Loomis, secretary; Christ Walters, [p.518] treasurer; executive committee: Isaac Long, Jesse T. Morgan, Earnest Roth, J. W. Pattent and Moses M. Wadhams. The works are situated just outside of the south line of the city. Keystone Roller Mill, M. W. Morris and R. F. Walsh, proprietors. This is a merchant mill, and is the largest of the kind in the city; has the roller process and all modern improvements. The plant was built in 1854 by Horton & Richards, and came into the possession of the present owners in 1864. An addition was built in 1872 and many improvements added. Capacity, 125 barrels per day. Their engine is 125-horse power. Crescent File & Tool Company was built in 1889, having two buildings, each 150x25. Average employes, fifty. Makes exclusively files and rasps; has a capacity of 300 dozen pieces per day. The company was incorporated in 1889. P. S. Hillard, treasurer and manager; John Teasdale, president; and M. C. Andreas, secretary; Christian Henssler, superintendent; board of directors: John Teasdale, E. E. McCargo, Samuel J. Tonkin, T. S. Hillard, John A. Schmitt, C. E. Stegmaier. Wilkes-Barre Soap Company was organized and commenced operation in 1889. Employs fifteen men and two traveling salesmen. Officers: G. D. Harrington, president; S. C. Chase, secretary; E. H. Chase, treasurer; Mr. Troutman, superintendent. Sanson Cutlery Company (incorporated) manufacture table cutlery, knives, forks, etc. Capacity, 10,000 pieces a day. Works built 1887 and commenced business in March, 1888. Officers: Aaron I. Sanson, president; Josiah D. William, secretary; Abram Nesbitt, treasurer; Aaron I. Sanson, Jr., manager. The works are situated in the extreme south end of the city. Wyoming Boiler Company (limited). - A company formed and commenced operations here in July, 1892. The building is now in course of erection, and as soon as this is completed they will increase their operations largely. The company are making a specialty on a new patent boiler, patented this year by James Pollock. The improvement being extending the heating surface of cylinder boilers. The company also build steam boilers on another patent granted to the same party in 1892. It is anticipated that from a small beginning this will soon grow to be one of our most important industries. The firm is John A. Schmitt, chairman; Woodward Leavenworth, secretary and treasurer; James Pollock, engineer and superintendent. Wilkes-Barre Lace Factory. - The first industry of the kind started in the United States-the largest and most complete of its kind in the world. It is a chartered company; work was commenced on the plant in 1885; at first but a small building - a wing with two machines operated. In 1887 a large addition was built, 60x193, four-story, for finishing work; in 1888 a dry house, 100x60, was added, and the same year another was added, also four-story, the last 130x30 feet. They commenced with twenty-horse power, and now have 250-horse power. During the summer work was commenced upon an addition, building 245x93 feet, four-story, and a new boiler-house, 93x45. This will give nearly 1,000 added horse power and require 250 more employes to their already 400 men and women. Their output estimated nearly 1,000,000 pairs (curtains) for 1892. Among other of the advantages of the new addition is that of being prepared to take the raw cotton in the bail and turning out the perfect lace. Officers: President, L. D. Shoemaker; vice-president, J. W. Hollenback; treasurer, Clarence Whitman; secretary, H. A. Dunning,; superintendent, John W. Doran. The Wilkes-Barre Paper Manufacturing Company. - This institution commenced the manufacture of superior grades of straw wrapping paper, gray wrapping paper, butcher's paper, baker's paper, manilla paper, and all kinds of straw paper. It employs about twenty-five men, and is well equipped with first-class machinery, having two 800-pound beating engines, and one forty-eight-inch paper machine. Officers: J. R. Lines, president; J. G. Wood, treasurer, and J. Meeker, manager. Empire Brewery was started in 1885, by A. M. Bryden, on Canal street. A fine [p.519] four-story brick building with all modern appliances, and has already established an extensive trade, and is rapidly growing in public favor. Dimmick & Smith Manufacturing Company. - Capital, $10,000. The company occupies the old Charter house, on Hazle street. They manufacture as their specialty the celebrated D. & S. Patent wrought-iron safety boiler for steam heating. Officers: A. M. Dimmick, president; George Loveland, treasurer; F. C. Sturgess, secretary. Robert Baur & Son. - Printers, publishers, stationers and binders. This has grown from a small country printing office in 1842 to be one of the oldest and leading establishments of the kind in this section of the country. Robert Baur commenced a small bindery here when Wilkes-Barre had less than 3,000 people, and his concern, extending itself into a printing office also; has grown with the growth of the city. Blank Book and Bindery. - By J. W. Raeder. This is one of the largest institutions of the kind, outside of Philadelphia, in the State, and has grown from the smallest beginning, in April, 1881, to its present mammoth proportion under the supervision of this gentleman, occupying an entire floor of the great Coal Exchange building. Business. - The classified business of Wilkes-Barre is indicated in the following: Amusements: Grand Opera house (completed in 1892), Music hall (theater), and Wonderland. There are in the city 18 bakeries, 5 cracker factories, 1 turkish bath, 2 basket makers, 1 bedspring factory, 1 belting factory, 2 bird dealers, 26 blacksmiths, 2 blank-book makers, 3 boiler makers, 11 stationers, 22 boot and shoe dealers, 2 shoe jobbers, 62 shoemakers, 3 shoe factories, 2 brass and copper foundries, 3 breweries, 2 brickyards, 1 brush factory, 2 bus lines, 12 carpet weavers, 10 wagon and carriage factories, 3 china and glassware dealers, 36 cigar factories, 3 wholesale tobacco, 17 clothiers and merchant tailors, 6 clubs, 15 coal mines and handlers, 3 coal screen manufactories, 1 coffee roaster, 6 commission merchants, 75 confectioners, 3 wholesale confectioners, 20 dentists, 28 drug stores, 23 dry goods stores, 6 dyers, 4 dealers in electrical supplies, 3 engine and boiler factories, 2 engravers, 5 express companies, 10 fancy stores, 6 florists, 2 flour gristmills, 4 wholesale fruit dealers, 8 furniture stores, 3 galvanized cornices, 7 gents' furnishing, 37 general stores, 172 grocers, 9 wholesale grocers, 1 gun factory, 21 hardware stores, 8 harness and saddle shops, 5 hat and cap stores, 4 heaters and ranges, 52 hotels and restaurants, 8 house furnishing, 2 ice companies, 6 installment stores, 1 lace factory; 1 dealer in ladies' furnishings, 11 laundries, 119 lawyers, 2 leather and findings, 6 lime and plaster, 17 livery stables, 7 lumber yards, 3 mantels and tile, 4 marble and granite, 51 meat markets, 7 wholesale meats, 34 merchant tailors, 2 postal and messenger service, 16 milk dealers, 7 mill and mine supplies, 8 millinery goods, 7 oil dealers, 1 overall factory, 1 paper manufactory, 116 physicians, 6 piano dealers, 4 planing mills, 13 printing offices, 10 produce dealers, 2 soap factories, 8 stone dealers, 7 tea and coffee, 12 undertakers, 2 upholsterers, 17 jewelers, 2 wire rope factories, 5 variety stores. City Government. - Officers: Mayor, F. M. Nichols; president of council, W. H. McCartney; city clerk, Frank Deitrick; assistant clerk, Fred H. Gates; city treasurer, F. V. Rockafellow; city attorney, W. S. McLean; city engineer and superintendent of sewers, W. V. Ingham; street commissioner, M. Crogan; sanitary officer, Evan L. Evans; engineer of sewers, J. Byron Dilley; high constable, John J. O'Donnell; meat inspector, William O. Reilly; chief of police, B. F. Myers; sergeant of police, T. W. Farrell; house sergeant, James Hall; receiver of taxes, J. W. Gilchrist; chief engineer of fire department, T. S. Hillard; first assistant engineer and superintendent of fire alarm, E. F. Roth; second assistant engineer, A. Constine; city auditors: Wesley Johnson, H. F. Mooney and J. F. Becker; councilmen: Timothy Theophilus, John G. Wood, J. W. Patten, Robert W. Williams, Edward Welles, David P. Ayars, Christopher C. Jones, James F. Marley, C. [p.520] E. Stegmaier, I. M. Kirkendall, D. A. Fell, Jr., John Guinney, W. J. Harvey, Oscar Smith, Morgan B. Williams, W. H. McCartney, J. Gross Meyer, Fred Reutelhuber, W. W. Neuer, Luke French, W. F. Goff. Taxable property. - Total value $4,821,888. The public streets and highways of the city are lighted by 82 electric lights, 205 gas lamps and 307 naphtha lamps, furnished respectively by the Wilkes-Barre Electric Light company, Wilkes-Barre Gas company and the Pennsylvania Globe Gas Light company. There are over twenty miles of paved streets, six miles of asphalt, two and a half miles of chestnut blocks, one-half mile cedar blocks, ten miles of cobble and one mile of red sandstone. In the year 1892 the main drainage on Market street was rebuilt and that street converted into asphalt pavement. City of Wilkes-Barre. - Incorporated as a borough, March 17, 1806; incorporated as a city, May 4, 1871; area, 4.14 square miles; number of streets and avenues, 206; total length of accepted highways, 51.65; population, as per census 1890, 37,718. Burgesses of the borough of Wilkes-Barre. - May, 1806-11, Jesse Fell; May, 1811- 4, Lord Butler; May, 1814-9, Jesse Fell; May, 1819-20, Matthias Hollenback; May, 1820-3, Thomas Dyer; May, 1823-4, Ebenezer Bowman; May, 1824-7, David Scott; May, 1827-8, John N. Conyngham; May, 1828-9, Garrick Mallery; May, 1829-30, George Denison; May 1830-3, Josiah Lewis; May, 1833-4, Orlando Porter; May, 1834-8, John N. Conyngham; May, 1838-9, Hendrick B. Wright; May, 1839-41, Joseph B. LeClerc; May, 1841-3, Isaac Grey; May, 1843-4, Eleazer Carey; *May, 1844-5, Augustus C. Laning; May, 1846-8, Joseph B. Williams; May, 1848-9, Gilbert Barrows; May, 1849-50, Benjamin Drake; May, 1850-1, Sidney Tracey; May, 1851-2, Oliver Helme, Jr.; May, 1852-3, Charles A. Lane; May, 1853-5, H. Baker Hillman; May, 1855-62, W. W. Loomis; May, 1862-5, C. Bennett; May, 1865-6, E. B. Harvey; May, 1866-8, J. B. Stark; May, 1868, to September 1870, David L. Patrick; September, 1870, to October, 1870, William S. Doran; October, 1870, to June, 1871, Ira M. Kirkendall. *[In consequence of the neglect of officers whose duty it was to advertise time of holding borough election no election was held. Council of preceding year held over.] Mayors of City of Wilkes-Barre: June, 1871-4, Ira M. Kirkenhall; June, 1874, to February, 1877, M. A. Kerney; April, 1877-80, W. W. Loomis; April, 1880, to February, 1886, Thomas Brodrick; February, 1886, to April, 1893, C. B. Sutton; April, 1892, to - , F. M. Nichols. Presidents of the Council: May, 1806-8, Lord Butler; May, 1808-9, Ebenezer Bowman; May 1809-10, Jesse Fell; May, 1810-11, Joseph Sinton; May, 1811-14, Jesse Fell; May, 1814-6, Col. E. Buckley; May, 1816-8, Joseph Sinton; May 1818- 9, Joseph Slocum; May, 1819-20, Ebenezer Bowman; May, 1820-3, Jesse Fell; May, 1823-4, George Dennison; May, 1824-5, Benjamin Drake; May, 1825-6, Joseph Sinton; May, 1826-7, Arnold Colt; May, 1827-8, John W. Robinson; May, 1828-9, Arnold Colt; May, 1829-30, Joseph Slocum; May, 1830-1, William S. Ross; May, 1881-3, Thomas H. Morgan; May, 1833-4, Thomas Davidge; May, 1834-5, L. D. Shoemaker; May, 1835-9, E. W. Sturdevant; May, 1839-40, Thomas Davidge; May, 1840-1, E. W. Sturdevant; May, 1841-6, W. S. Ross; May, 1846-7, Joseph P. Le Clerc; May, 1847-8, John Reichard; May, 1848-9, E. W. Reynolds; May, 1849-50, John N. Conyngham; May, 1850-1, D. John Smith; May, 1851-5, Lord Butler; May, 1855-6, John Reichard; May, 1856-7, Jacob Bertels; May, 1857-8, L. D. Shoemaker; May, 1858-9, William S. Ross; May, 1859-60, N. Rutter; May, 1860-6, William S. Ross; May, 1866-71, Charles Parrish. Presidents of the City Council: June, 1871, to April, 1874, Charles Parrish; April, 1874, to December, 1874, Charles A. Miner; December, 1874, to June, 1875, Herman C. Fry; June, 1875, to April, 1880, G. M. Reynolds; April, 1880-1, Daniel A. Frantz; April, 1881-2, E. W. Sturdevant; April, 1882-4, E. L. Dana; April, 1884, to February, 1885, H. H. Derr; February, 1885, to April, 1885, Lewis S. [p.521] Jones; April, 1885-6, E. L. Dana; April, 1886-91, William J. Harvey; April, 1891 to - , W. H. McCartney. Summarized. - Last year a movement was made by the people, headed by Congressman G. W. Shonk, for the building of a new postoffice and to contain all the federal offices that government may need at this place. Mr. Shonk presented the matter to congress, but in the multiplicity and confusion of law-making at the capital the measure failed, in the face of the overwhelming facts in the people's petition, showing the urgent necessity for such improvements. The following may be said to be the substance of the grounds as made up by the people and presented to congress: The postoffice is now located in a rented building and is entirely too small for the purpose. The receipts of the office last year were over $42,000, an increase of $7,000 compared with the preceding year. The number of pieces of mail matter handled was 6,500,000, an increase of twenty per cent. over 1890. The internal revenue offices are widely separated and inconveniently located. The collections last year in Wilkes-Barre were $225,000, and in the district over $600,000. Wilkes-Barre is the center of the Wyoming coal field, the largest coal producing valley in the world, which in 1891 shipped over 23,000,000 tons of anthracite coal, or fifty-two per cent. of the total anthracite production of the world. There are over thirty-five coal companies, with a capital aggregating over $50,000,000. The production of anthracite coal in the Wyoming district has increased from 43,000 tons in 1830 to 23,000,000 tons in 1891. There was paid out as wages to employes in the mines of this valley, in 1891, over $30,000,000. The valley also now contains the largest tract of undeveloped anthracite coal in the country. This tract is now about to be developed, and within the next five years will be in operation, giving employment to additional thousands of people. The city of Wilkes-Barre has six separate competing trunk lines of steam railroads, connecting with it the whole valley, and an important new one being rapidly built; six separate and competing lines of steamboats; numerous horse car and electric street railroads; an electric street railroad, nearly completed, going up on one side of the Susquehanna river and down on the other, encircling the whole valley in a belt, with numerous cross connections, the capital of which road is $3,000,000. After enumerating the hotels, business houses and industrial establishments at Wilkes-Barre, it says: "By far the greater number of these industries have been commenced within the past three years, owing to the fact that the smaller sizes of anthracite coal, which have heretofore been considered worthless, have been found to be efficient and valuable steam producers, and can be obtained at the merest nominal figure, thus inducing manufacturers to locate in the Wyoming valley. As there are fully 50,000,000 tons of these small sizes of coal which were until recently worthless and now piled up in the said valley, there is enough to supply the needs of all new manufactories which may locate in the valley in coming years. "The 155 manufactories of Wilkes-Barre include the Hazard Wire Rope works, one of the largest in America; Nottingham Lace factory, the only one in the United States, and having a capital of $500,000, and the Sheldon Axle works, the largest in the United States, employing 800 hands, and the Vulcan Iron works with a capital of $1,000,000." The official reports by the United States census authorities for the city of Wilkes- Barre for 1890 contains the following, giving the reports for 1880 and 1890, which show the increase of industries in the city in a decade: 1880, number of establishments, 89; capital, $1,146,500; hands employed, 645. 1890, number of establishments, 155; capital, $3,237,253; hands employed, 3,039.