History of Luzerne County Pennsylvania, H. C. Bradsby, Editor, S. B. Nelson & Co., 1893 - Chapter 21 - Shickshinny Borough - Yatesville Borough 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 XXI. SHICKSHINNY BOROUGH. The population of this borough in 1870 was 1,045; 1880, 1,068; 1890, 1,448. It is one of the thrifty and beautiful villages along the banks of the Susquehanna river, and is at the lower end of the Wyoming valley coal deposit, the Red Ash vein across the river at Mocanaqua being one of the successful collieries it the county. The mine on the Shickshinny side was worked for some years, but is idle, with only surmises as to whether it will be again opened. About the borough on every hand evidences of thrift and many elegant houses, residences and storerooms, with others in the process of building, are to be seen. It has none of the forbidding appearances of a mining camp, with streets lined with foreigners who can not speak the English language, or their mangy dogs and universal goats laying waste every green thing as well as tin cans and such light dishes "on the side." It is patronized by farmers, and on circus day the belles and beaux are always on hand to laugh at the clown and drink circus lemonade. After all a good circus town makes a desirable place to rear your children. It indicates a strong, healthy, clean agricultural community, where your children are not so liable to contract the "polink" habit. Such a community is good for camp-meetings as well as shows and each in turn is welcome. Such a community does not "rush the growler" on Sunday, nor is it an every-day occurrence at weddings, funerals and baptisings for a general free fight and a murder to follow. A man hunting a home, looking about for "a sweet Auburn of the vale" would pass Shickshinny and fare worse. The most prominent thing against the place is its name; the Chocktaw of it is said to mean the meeting of five mountains - to play shinny probably. Be that as it may, the five great old fat porker looking fellows that have stuck their noses together here are the mountains respectively, Newport, Lee's, Rocky, Knob and River mountain. There were many reasons why in the days of panthers, bears and Indians this was an early rendezvous for all of them. A sweet little valley nestled here at the foot of the bold and picturesque hills. Then too here is a remarkable gap in the mountain giving an easy and natural outlet to the splendid agricultural country back of it. Mr. Lot Search informs us that over thirty years ago in studying the situation, he computed that Shickshinny was the natural trading, shipping and business point for over 10,000 agriculturists back of the mountain, and for sixteen miles up and down the river there was no "gap" offering to all these people such easy access to the river, the canal and the railroad. Its surroundings were most favorable to build here a great trading and business point. Two creeks cut their way through the mountain and fall into the Susquehanna within the borough limits. The main stream rises in Ross township, runs southeast through Union township, and the branch stream rises in the west side of Salem township and they join within the borough limits. These streams are the open doorway to the people of Salem, Huntington, Union, Ross and Fairmount townships. Here all these people naturally come to export, import, trade and traffic. The original proprietor of the soil, including all the valley and reaching back on the hills, was Ralph Austin, who was the first permanent settler. His remains rest on the hill overlooking the town. It is said there was a family named Crossley accompanying Austin, who fled back to Connecticut after the massacre. Austin and family returned as soon as it was at all safe to do so and rebuilt their log house, opened a little farm and the situation compelled the keeping of travelers and strangers on their way - a farmer and hotel-keeper. In some way Austin was juggled [p.648] out of his land in the terrible days of contention between the Connecticut and Pennsylvania people. Much of what is now the wealth of Luzerne county was often purchase and deeds received when they would have to be again and again bought, and sometimes a man would first find out he did not own the place he had paid for and improved by a third party's sudden appearance with a posse to dispossess him. Mathias Hollenback in time came into possession of the Austin lands under the Pennsvivania claim, and by descent it became the property of his daughter, Mrs. Cist. Chester Butler married Mrs. Cist, and after her death, 1857, the property was sold to Nathan B. Crary, G. W. Search, Lot Search and Nathan Garrison, who plotted and laid off the village. The members of that firm survive to-day except Garrison, who died in 1862, survived by Mrs. Rachel Garrison and her children. The opening of the farm by Austin and his little old hotel were simultaneous. The occupants, in their order, were: Austin, William Bellas, George Muchler, - Coates, William Hoyt, Headly and Wilson. In 1850 William Koons, B. D. Koons, Edward Barman, Jacob Laycock, William A. Tubbs and H. J. Yaple. There was but one family in the place when the village was laid out. William Shoemaker was a long time one of the prominent business men of the place. When the village was laid out there was in it the hotel and store where is now the drug store. The store was Jacob Cist's, but the manager was Stephen Bond. The beginning of the town was the beginning of the "hard times" of 1857. A colliery and breaker were in operation on the mountain side just below town. This was diagonally across the river from the Mocanaqua mine, where the "red ash" vein has proven so profitable; but it seems that in crossing the river and striking the mountain it had reached its end, or where the geological disturbances had resulted in carrying away the coal deposits. The mine ceased work years ago, and the "plane" built to let coal down the mountain side, not to haul it up as is usual, went to ruins. Recently there was considerable work done there for the purpose of reopening the mine, but numerous causes combined to stop it again. In 1859 a bridge was built across to Mockanaqua - still a toll bridge. In 1877 a turnpike was made along the Shickshinny creek gap, six miles, and crossed to Huntington. An old iron furnace that made at one time considerable very good charcoal iron was operated for years. It was established by Headley & Wilson; then became the property of William Koons, who ran it for some time, but entered into large iron operations elsewhere, bankrupted and the furnace fires here went out in 1857. Years ago there was a sawmill a short distance from the village. Considerable lumbering is still carried on at this point. A water sawmill three-quarters of a mile, on the creek, stopped running in 1885. The present gristmill of G. W. and Lot Search, water power, was built in 1865 - flour, buckwheat and feed - and is a valuable property. At this point is in operation the old canal which is still in esse up to Nanticoke, thus giving Shickshinny the advantages of a railroad and canal, and across the river is its second railroad. The old Berwick & Elmira turnpike passes through the town, and was the first marked improvement in this section. It was built and on it was the old stage line in 1810. The water supply for this and the other side of the river is of the fine water from the mountain side of the west branch of Shickshinny creek. The company and works came into existence in 1884. Officers and directors of the company: G. W. Search, president; Dr. M. B. Hughes, secretary; Jesse Beadle, treasurer; Dr. Briggs, John Teasdale, Lot Search and B. D. Koons. The canal was built through this point in 1828. Mr. Lot Search informs us that when they were building the canal he went to school at a little schoolhouse about a mile below town; William Robinson taught. Other teachers he remembers were Mathias Blocher and Henry Whitaker. He informs us also that in 1858 he built for Union township the schoolhouse that stands opposite the Presbyterian [p.649] church, and is still in use. H. S. Clark, of Shickshinny, married a great-granddaughter of Ralph Austin. Mr. Clark came here in 1839. His recollection is that Cretty & Bro. were the storekeepers then, and that Lot Search had a small grocery store about three-quarters of a mile above the town on the river and turnpike; his principal trade being with the canal boatmen. The postoffice was first established at Search's place, and was moved down in the late fifties. Shickshinny borough was organized November 30, 1861. First officers: Burgess, Jesse P. Enke; council: G. W. Search, B. D. Koons, N. B. Crary, John F. Niceley and Thomas Davenport; secretary, G. W. Search; supervisor, Samuel Slippy; second burgess, W. R. Tubbs; third, Hiram Knor; fourth, G. W. Youlls; fifth, Daniel Baer; sixth, T. Post; seventh, M. B. Hughes; eighth, L. T. Hartman; ninth, J. W. Bulkley. Present officers: Burgess, F. W. Briggs; council, S. B. Adkins, president; M. M. Sutliff, W. B. Poust, B. R. Switcher and James Kester; secretary, L. T. Seward. The borough is taken from Salem and Union townships; about two-thirds from Union, and the remainder from Salem. In the borough are 3 hotels, 14 general stores, 2 furniture stores, 2 drugs, 2 hardware, 3 confectioners, 1 clothing, 1 novelty, 1 books, 3 livery stables, 1 gristmill. 2 quarries, 3 millinery, 1 undertaker, 1 laundry, 1 planing-mill, 1 agricultural implements, 1 cigar factory, 2 harness shops, 1 select and public schools. The quarries are in the north part of town; they work about fifty hands each. SLOCUM TOWNSHIP Is one of the small townships in surface area; is rugged and mountainous. Stewart Pearce in his Annals says of it: "Slocum township was separated from Newport in 1854, and was named in honor of Joseph Slocum, Esq., late of Wilkes-Barre. The first settlement in Slocum was made by two brothers, named Lutsey, about the year 1785, at what is known as the Lutsey settlement. They were great hunters, and the mountains abounding in game, their location was peculiarly suited to their love of adventure. Its area is sixteen square miles, one-fifth of which is cleared land. It is a mountainous section of country; but rye, corn, oats and buckwheat do well. The timber is mainly oak and hemlock. This township contains two sawmills and two stores, but, has no gristmill, no church and no tavern." In 1870 it had a population of 317; in 1880, 377 and in 1890, 409. Its entire population is agricultural. John Lutsey settled in the township about 1785 near William Lutsey's. His sons, William, Henry and Joseph, came with him. William Lutsey, grandson of John Lutsey, lived in the township to an advanced age. The Lutseys were soon followed by others, and in 1799 the following persons were rated as taxables in the township, then Newport, viz.: John Alden, John Lutsey, James Millage, Jacob Mullen, James Mullon, James Mullen, Jr., Henry Fritz and Jeremiah Vandermark. Soon after the year 1800, Ira Winters, John Ogin, Jacob Weiss, Jacob Paine, Richard Paine, Jacob Finks, John Rosencrans, one Fredericks and one Delemater moved into the township. The early settlers were compelled to go to Newport and Wapwallopen to do their trading and milling, going one day and returning the next. In many cases the men were compelled to carry the grain on their backs. A sawmill was built by John Rosencrans about 1836. Since that time there have been several small water- mills, and one steam mill, owned by Aaron Boyd. There are no mills in operation in the township at the present time. Slocum Village. - Silas Alexander opened a small store near Mr. Stackhouse's about 1848. This was the first store in the place. Mr. Alexander was followed in a few years by B. Lear, who moved into the town from Bucks county. He was [p.650] followed by P. J. Myers, who kept the only store. At an early day a postoffice, called Lutsey, was established with John Rosencranz as postmaster. The name of the office was afterward changed to Slocum. Mails were formerly brought from Nescopeck once a week. A building was erected just below the residence of P. J. Myers, Esq., in 1838, to be used as a meeting and schoolhouse. Mr. Myers gave the lot. John Rosencrans was the first teacher, and many of the older people speak of that as the first school they ever attended. The first frame house was built by William Lutsey about 1837. Hiram Rosencrans was the first blacksmith. B. Lear is the only one in the township now. The land for the cemetery was left to the town by John Ogin in his will. His wife was the first person buried in Slocum township. She died about 1836, and was buried on a knoll west of the cemetery; but Mr. Ogin, not liking the location, had her body removed to the present site, where he was himself buried in 1844, being the second person to be buried in the cemetery. SUGAR NOTCH BOROUGH Was taken from Hanover township territory and became an incorporated burough April 3, 1867. The charter included the two former hamlets or mining towns - Sugar Notch and Warrior's Run. The latter was about two miles west of Sugar Notch, on the Warrior path. The industry of the place is mining coal. The borough, therefore, is long in the waist and has two postoffices to keep up competition, it is supposed. A pretty place clinging along the mountain side, originally attracting people as a good place to make sugar from the maple trees in the vicinity. Without the saying, this industry gave the name to the place. George H. Parish was the first burgess. The first council: H. B. Plumb, David Caird, Samuel Roberts, Adam Schiedel and George Cyphus; David Caird, president; and Austin Gallagher, clerk. The Sugar Notch shaft was sunk in 1866, and the new breaker commenced operations. Then the growth was rapid. The Lehigh valley and the New Jersey Central railroads passed through the place, and it became an important shipping coal point. No. 9 of the Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal company and the Hartford mines are located here, and the New Jersey breaker No. 2, on the formerly Knock property, that was sold to the Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre company. The Germania company opened a mine in 1864, about half a mile east of the Hartford - on the "back track" of the Lehigh valley road. The mines at Warrior Run were opened in 1837, on the George Crocker land, by Holland & Hillman, but after three or four years the mines were abandoned - no transportation. There is a railroad station called Warrior Run, once known as Plumbton. This was the old Blackman homestead. The postoffice name is Peely. The clever burgess of Sugar Notch. A. B. Caffrey, says he has but slight acquaintance of the Warrior Run end of the burough. The two ends of the long, slim borough are undermined, but there are no fears of "cave in" because of the great solid rock roof that overlies the coal beds. In the borough are 10 hotels and restaurants, 6 general stores, 5 small fancy stores. The postoffice was for years kept in the Sugar Notch end in the company's store. In 1885 Peter T. Riley, who had lost his eyes in the mines, was appointed postmaster and moved it to the building where it is now kept. Sugar Notch is supplied with water by the Hanover Water company; chartered in 1887. Since the foot of the mountain has been undermined, all the wells and springs have dried and now the water flows out through the mines. This caused the building of the present reservoir and conducting water by pipes. SUGARLOAF TOWNSHIP Is one of the rich agricultural townships of the county and is twenty miles nearly in a square. Its population in detail is given in another chapter. It was carved [p.651] out of Nescopeck township in 1809 and gets its name from the beautiful Sugarloaf mountain that rises, cone-shaped, 500 feet high, in the valley, like a sentinel's tower, watching over the sweet vale that surrounds its feet and stretches away to the west and east along Nescopeck creek that runs nearly through the center of the township. The large part of the township is the rich valley, which fairly bewilders the eye of the traveler as he descends Buck mountain, in going from Hazleton to Conyngham village. The vision is beautiful in the extreme and the writer halted and lingered long upon the mountain side, enjoying "the dream" spread out beneath him. This rich valley was the "honey plate" that drew here the old-time home-seekers, who had heard from the returning soldier parties about this desirable place to make a home and improve a farm. The world first heard of the valley in the bloody details of the slaughter of Capt. D. Klader and his company by the Indians in 1780, and then by the reports of the party sent up to bury the slain. While there is a full account in another chapter of this bloody day, in the now sweet and peaceful valley, it will not be out of place to here mention the fact that the writer, in company with C. F. Hill, of Hazleton, in a visit to Hon. G. W. Drum, was shown a relic of great interest plowed up in long after years on the slaughter grounds - the lock and rusted barrel of a gun, evidently of English make, that Squire Drum has in his possession. It is nearly proof positive that the English were aiding the Indians and supplying them with arms in their raids on the whites in this section at that time. Another item relating to the massacre may be here mentioned as it relates to the early settlement of the locality. A tradition that found its way into history is that the Osterdock family had settled near where is the old toll-house, near where the massacre occurred, and were living there at the time of its occurrence. All the circumstantial evidence in the case challenge this statement; it is doubtless a fiction. Another statement is that the Shaffer family were then setttled on their place, further south, along the foot of the mountain. Still another is that there was a Scotch settlement near Nescopeck and they had made clearings in this part of the valley, and when the soldiers reached the open meadows they were rejoiced after their hard long march over the mountains and in the dense forests, and like children just out of the schoolroom, they stacked arms and scattered to enjoy themselves. It is difficult to get authentic facts of what was the real situation here 112 years ago. All this part of the county was then Newport, and of the original townships under Connecticut jurisdiction. The first settler in Newport township was Maj. Prince Alden and he came in 1772 - eight years before the massacre - and he settled up the river not far from Nanticoke and all this part of the county was then an unknown wilderness. In 1799, nineteen years after the massacre, Newport, then including Slocum and Dorrance townships, had but forty-nine taxables. There were two burial parties sent here after the massacre, and not the slightest mention is made by any one of them of any settlers living near the place. Again, when the burial party returned and told John Balliet of the rich and beautiful valley and gave him some idea of how to go there, it is highly probable that they would have directed him to the point where were the two families mentioned. Instead of Balliet proceeding directly there he entered the valley and located further up, in what is now Butler township. Stewart Pearce, in his Annals, mentions George Easterday as the first settler in what is now Sugarloaf township. He built his log cabin near the Indian path as it came over the mountain, striking the valley not a great distance from the old tollhouse. Following Easterday came Christian Miller, Anthony Weaver, Jacob Mace, Jacob Rittenhouse, Jacob Drumheller, Sr., Jacob Spade, Christian Wenner - all from Northampton county. As stated, Sugarloaf was formed in 1809 - then covering what is now Black Creek, Hazle and Butler townships. The oldest document giving us information of who were in the township at that time was shown us by Hon. G. W. Drum, of Conyngham - [p.652] a list of road work for the year 1810. It seems Michael Bisline was the road supervisor, and kept the record. He was evidently a good old-fashioned Pennsylvania Dutchman, and some of his spelling of names makes it difficult to translate into modern English. It is written on an old-fashioned double sheet of coarse paper, and is headed: "Work tone on the roth - gretet - Received." Then follows the names and amount of work done by each, as near as we can now read them: Philip Roth, George Drum, Henry Aplinger, Peter Schitey, Jacob Spath, Philip Wattering, Nichols Wottering, John Schavan, Michel Bishline, William Betterly, Joshiph (Joseph) Parke, Retman (Redmon) Conyngham, George Foltz, Jacob Drumheller, Andrew Manners, Roger Parke, George Easterday (spelled with an O), Christian Wenner, Michel Knouse, Michel Mackey, Jacob Cooper, Jacob Rittenhouse, John Gedding, Abraham Schrader, Jacob Loose, Abraham Ballied, John Walk, Nicholas Coner, David Steal, Constans Conyngham, Stephen Ballied (these are of course the Ballietts); on the next page it would seem that Valentine Halshiser was the supervisor, and he spells credit "gretit" and gives the following list: William Dornbach, Christian Miller, Joseph M. Mottery, Philip Schilhamer, Andrew Wolf, Andrew Weaver. The paper at the foot is marked: "Aproved by the audetors. (Signed) GEORGE DRUM, PHILIP WOTTERING." In 1810 there was sixty-seven taxables in the township; so this road list embraced nearly every one of the able-bodied young men. In 1812, John Wolf was the supervisor, and a part of his list for work on the roads that year gives us the following: Jacob Maess, Andrew Wolf (after each name he writes, "workt on the road or bridg"); Sam Dornbach, Peter Oxrider, Joseph Macmurtrie, Fines Smith, George Hoffman, Philip Shellhamer, Bernt Huntsinger, Carls Rubert, John Laus, John Spate (Spade), Christian Weaver, John Calli, Anthony Weaver. The next oldest paper giving the names of the township is the following copy of the poll-list kept at a general election held in the schoolhouse at Conyngham, October 13, 1818, when the township included Sugarloaf, Black Creek, Butler and Hazle. Valentine Seiwell, Henry Gidding, John Wolf, John Gidding, Jacob Drumheller, Jr., Conrad Harman, Casper Horn, Henry Winter, Jeremiah Heller, Jacob Keifer, Philip Woodring, James Lormison, Archibald Murray, Jacob Drum, Richard Allen, Andrew Decker, George Drum, Jr., Joseph McMertrie, George Drum, Sr., Abraham Smith, Daniel Shelhamer, Samuel Harman, Phineas Smith, James Smith, Andrew Wolf, John Merrick, Michael Funton, Henry Yost, Michael Boesline, Jacob Spaid, Henry Boesline, Jacob Boesline, Daniel Maurer, Jr., George Fenig, Sr., Christian Weaver, George Clinger, Anthony Weaver, Andrew Oxrider, Philip Yost, Michael Markley, Peter Stoehr, Michael Frous, Samuel Yost, George Wener, Valentine Line, John Cool, Philip Drum, George Thresher, Michael Shrieder, Archibald Murray, Jacob Foose, Peter Claiss, Jacob Thresher, Conrad Bellasfelt, Abraham Miller, Philip Root, George Hoofman, George D. Strain, Solomon Stroam, Jacob Taffecker, Abraham Steiner, John Adam Winters, David Seickard, Jacob Drumheller, Sr., Christian Wenner and John McMertrie. Total, sixty-six. In 1835 there were 158 voters in the same territory. The justices of the township, with the years of their election, have been as follows: Jackson S. Harrison, 1840; Jacob Drumheller, 1840, 1845, 1850; Jesse Hart, 1843; John Andreas, 1851; George H. Gardner, 1855; William Engle, 1855; Robert F. Brown, 1859; Daniel Brown, 1860; George W. Drum, 1860, 1865, 1870, 1875; Oliver P. Kester, 1866, 1871; William S. Miller, 1876; N. D. Smith, 1879; G. W. Drum, present justice. From the first records of Christ church, jointly built by the Reformed and Lutheran congregations, organized about the year 1800, a deed was given to the [p.653] church lot by Redmond Conyngham to Peter Stahr, Philip Woodring, Stephen Balliett, Samuel Yost and Valentine Sewell. Their old log church was built in 1826; the elders then were John A. Winter, Jacob Getting. Deacons; Peter Klees, Peter Oxrider, John Seiwell. Building committee: Henry Yost and Jacob Drumheller. The members of the church were: Abraham Minig, Jacob Oxrider, George Koenig, George Drum, Jr., Casper Horn, Charles Keck, John Bergy, Peter Beisel, Abraham Klatz, Peter Stahr, George Hoffman, Conrad Fisher, Henry Oxrider, John Yost, John Smith (2d), Jacob Speth, Michel Kuns, Jr., George Diter, Andrew Maurer, Valentine Seiwell, Samuel Yost, George Stahr, Jacob Bilheimer, Michel Koontz, Sr., Christian Henry, Christian Shadle, John Charles, John Miller, George Shadle, Benjamin King, Jacob Mahs, Jr., John Turnbach, Jacob Kleahs and Abraham Miller, Jr. In 1822 Joel Rogers and Samuel Yost were counnty commissioners, and they sent greeting to Richard Allen his commission as tax collector for Sugarloaf township, with a list of the taxpayers from whom he was to collect the amounts set opposite their names, and if one failed to pay them he was to seize and sell his property, and if this failed then he was commanded to arrest the delinquent, send him to "goal" until cost and taxes were paid. The amounts were not large, or would not be so considered now, yet their measures for the enforcement of payments were decidedly heroic. The following is the list: Richard Allen, John Andreas, Peter Andreas, Samuel Balliett, Conrad Bellas, Nicholas Balliett, Nathan Beach, William Bears, Christian Beach, John Bishline, Stephen Balliett, George Biseline, John Barnes, George Bitterly, Jacob Bishline, George Butterbach, Abraham Balliett John Balliett, Jr., Daniel Balliett, Jacob Balliett, William Bryan, Samuel Bowman, Adam Bowman, Henry Beers, John Bracht, Moses Brundage, Elias Bartlet, Michael Best, Remond Conynham, John Cawley, Eleazer Corps, George Klinger, Peter Close, John Charles, John Cunies, Andrew Decker, John Dornbach, William Dornbach, Samuel Dornbach, Philip Drum, George Drum, Jr.. Jacob Drum, George Drum, Jacob Drumheller, Jr., Jacob Drumheller, Abraham Drum, John Engle, Jacob Ero, Jacob Fetter, Amos Foster, Margaret Foltz, George D. Frane, James Gilmore, Jacob Getting, Henry Getting, John Girt, James Getting, George Hoffman, S. and C. Harman, Jeremiah Heller, Jr., Ludwick Keller, Jacob Hoffecker, Casper Horn, Barney Hunsinger, Peter Hunsinger, Paul Hunsinger, Solomon Hunsinger, John Hunsinger, Mordeca Hutton, Jesse Hutton, Christian Henry, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Jackson, Michael Kuntz, M. Kuntz, Jr., Michael Knouse, George Koker, Abraham Klotz, George King, Jr., George King, Jacob Klase, John Klase, Conrad Kester, John Kool, Nicholas Kester, Nicholas Kester, Jr., Jacob Kiper, Jacob Kiper, Jr., John Kiper, Fredrick Krouse, Benjamin King, Valentine Lines, John Lantz, Fred Lavenbergh, James Lomeson, Andrew Miller, Michael Mackley, heirs of Ludwic Mackley, Andrew Mower, Peter Minich, Henry Mower, Andrew Mower, Jr., Archibald Murry, Archibald D. Murry, Abraham Minich, Joseph McMurtrie, John McMurtrie, Richard McMurtrie, John Minich, Abraham Miller, A. Miller, Jr., Jacob Mase, Jr., Jacob Mase, John McNeil, John Mayhammer, William Miller, James McCarter, John Mill, Christophel Moore, Fred Nicholey, Charles Nause, Peter Oxrider, Andrew Oxrider, Jacob Oxrider, Mary Osterdock, Henry Oblinger, Redmond Owens, George Obets, George Osterday, Joseph Park, Roger Park, Nicholas Puff, Jacob Philmon, Philip Root, Charles Rupert. George Rupert, David Richards, Martin Rittenhouse, Jacob Rittenhouse, Peter Shida, Peter Shida & Co., Peter Shida, Jr., Sebastian Sybert, Philip Shelhammer, Phineas Smith, David Steele, Daniel Shelhammer, George Shelhammer, John Sewell, John Spayde, Valentine Sewell, Peter Stohr, Isaac Sine, Philip Sine, Jacob Spayd, John Santee, Solomon Strome, Henry Seiwell, Abraham Slichter, Andrew Shiner, James Shiner, John Smith, Samuel Smith, Christian Shadell, John Shover, Charles Scott, Abraham Starner, James Smith, George Shellenberger's heirs, Abraham Sheridan, John Troy, George Thrash, Thomas Troy, [p.651] Jacob Thresher, John Tharp, John A. Winters, Anthony Weaver, Christian Weaver, Philip Weaver, Andrew Wolf, Andrew W. Wood, Christian Wenner and Charles Rittenhouse, George and Daniel Wenner, George Wenner, Jr., George Nicholas Wenner, Nicholas Woodring, John Wolf, Jacob Williams, John Winters, Philip Woodring, Samuel Woodring, John Wambold, Jacob C. Wykoff, Daniel Weaver, George Weaver, George Woodring, James Winterstein, Philip Winterstein, William Winterstein, Henry Young, Philip Yost, Henry Yost, Samuel Yost, James Youles. It should be kept in mind that Sugarloaf was still all of its present territory, and also Black, Butler and Hazle townships. These names were all in the valley, and were the early settlers, therefore, of Butler township as well as this. The poll list of an election held in Conyngham, March 20, 1835, (still including the three other townships named) is the following list of voters: Jacob Bilhimer, Jacob Lintner, George Sine, Abraham Minich, Jr., Abraham Cole (spelled Coal), Arch D. Murry, John Machiner, Reuben Mill, John Spayd, Jr., Charles Minich, James Gilmore, John Santee, William Beers, George Crecy, Jacob Minich, Philip Wolf, Abraham Drum, Jacob Oxrider, Christian Moss, Christopher Kneely, Thomas M. Dennis, George Eberly, Joseph Miller, Abraham Mowrey, William Bryant, Peter Beisel, Martin Smith, Charles Spade, John Wolf, Joshua Biterby, Joseph Houseknecht, Philip Winterstein, John Strunk, Henry Benner, Abraham Smith, John Minich, Daniel Spade, Andrew McNeal, William Jovill, Michael Best, James Youles, Henry Seybert, Thomas Krouse, John Andreas, Simon Charles, Jacob Getting, Archibald Murray, Leonard Wenne, John Walk, Daniel Wenne, Solomon Strome, John Geand, John Engle, Abraham Mills, Christian Shadle, Philip Shelhammer, George Clowell, Solomon Hunsinger, Philip Huffman, John Troy, Andrew Oxrider, George Shelhammer, John Cummins, John Fritzinger, Samuel Woodring, Conrad Kester, Jacob Minich, Samuel Youet (2d), Nicholas Bass, Peter Stahr, Christian Benner, Benjamin Fritz, John Miller, Valentine Lyon, William Davenport, Mordica Hutton, Thomas Gross, George Woodringer, Henry P. Youet, Henry Youet, Emanuel Shelhammer, Andrew Wood, John C. Troy, George Hoffman, Philip Woodringer, Usual Bernes, Andrew Wolf, Jacob Bocker, Arkelius Sine, Solomon Youet, Mathias Troy, Philip Sine, Henry Oxrider, Samuel Sevill, Benjamin King, Philip Drum, Roger Park, Jonathan Winters, James Troy, Abraham Klotz, Daniel Roth, George King, Jacob Brisline, Philip Youet, Daniel Santee, Samuel King, Jeremiah Hess, John Stover, Simon Roth, Joseph Keister, Martin Rittinhouse, Daniel Shelhammer, Daniel Hendbach, Thomas Jefferson, William Engle, John Whitney, John Woodringer, Conrad Horn, Amos Rittenhouse, William Woodringeor. Philip Cole, John Smith, Mathew Sine, George Stoker, James Winterstern, Jacob Hughs, Thomas Hughes, Andrew Decker, Jacob Hafecher, Andrew Miller, A. G. Broadhead, Joseph W. Greil, George Easterday, Michael Brisline, Jr., John Balliett, McVey Troy, Michael Kurtz, Jr., John Kluge, Jacob Dasher, Jacob Benner, William Fowler, David Heller, Abraham Close, James Jouet, Samuel Mosher, M. S. Brundage, Henry B. Youet, John Munsaw, Peter Konick, Joseph McMurtrie, William Drum, Peter Roth, Joseph Engle, Silas Jacobs, Lawrence Smithers and John Spayd. This is a pretty full directory of all the heads of families in Sugarloaf township during the first quarter of a century of its existence. The children and grandchildren of the most of these names are to-day in the valley. This is as true of Butler township as of Sugarloaf. Returning a little in our account we find the roster of the Sugarloaf Rifle company, dated May 6, 1822, and bearing the following names: Captain, Jacob Drumheller; first lieutenant, John Balliet; second lieutenant, George Klinger; privates, George Drum, Jr., George Betterly, Abraham Stanner, Archibald D. Murray, Samuel Balliet, Abram Miller, George Stahr, George Wenner, Jacob Fether, Leonard Wener, John Henry, Marthen Smith, John Dombach, Jacob More, Abraham Balliet, George Earo, John Smith, Jeremiah Heller, Peter Minig, William Heller, Ludwick [p.655] Heller, Jacob Keifer, Andrew Miller, John Keifer, Charles Rittenhouse, Salmon Staahr, Amos Foster, John Clear, Abraham Maurer, John Wintersteen, George Beesline, Jacob Earo, Jacob Drum, Andrew Maurer, Abraham Drum, William Wintersteen, Ira Heemans, Alexander Klinger, Peter Scheitz, Christian Henry, John Miller, Philip Drum, Daniel Wenner, Jacob Minig, Philip Weaver, Jacob Oxrider, Daniel Weaber, Philip Seine, Henry Maurer, Jacob Geiting, Frederick Neisley, Thomas W. Troy, John Beesleine, James Smith, Jacob Kocher, Benjamin King, John Andreas, James McCarty, Stephen Balliet, John Bright, George Schadle and Jacob Schaver. The first road through the township was the old blind way, known to be used as far back as 1800 and called the Owens road, built by Evan Owens in 1786 from Berwick to Mauch Chunk, which passed through William Seiwell's farm. Soon after 1804 a force was at work building the old Lehigh & Susquehanna turnpike, that is now the road passing through the village of Conyngham. In its day this was an important internal improvement, and the old four-horse Concord coaches, with the great stage driver, his whip and horn waking the echoes that had so long slept on the surrounding mountain sides, were an era that must have thrilled the very souls of the early settlers. And then along the turnpike farms and taverns "entertainment for man and beast" sprung up at frequent intervals. When lots were sold in Conyngham they were laid out with reference to the turnpike. Richard Allen, the largest taxpayer in the township in 1810, in 1815 built a sawmill on the Nescopeck near Seybertsville. John Cawley erected the first sawmill, an early necessity in helping cut away the dark old forests. It was built in 1810 on Nescopeck creek. The first gristmill was erected in 1820 by George Koenig. Ten years previous to this (1815) they had built a church in the village of Conyngham. Benjamin Koening built a gristmill at Seybertsville (called Frogtown) in 1815. The first bridge was the one crossing Nescopeck. Jacob Mace was the first blacksmith; he lived and had his shop on the William Seiwell farm. A man named Law soon after had a blacksmith shop on the Black Creek road; George Rupert was the first shoemaker. His place was near the west line of the township. Daniel Brown built the first brick house in the township. Stephen Yost built the first steam mill in 1865. It is now being repaired, rebuilt, and will be a first-class mill, with the patent- roller process. The land in the William Seiwell farm was the first tract deeded by the Penns in the township. The deed called for 311¾ acres, and is dated August 3, 1769; grantee, John Foreman. The abstract of title to the tract is as follows: Penns to Foreman; Foreman to John Maxwell Nesbitt, and Nesbitt to Redmond Conyngham, and he to Valentine Seiwell. The latter located on and improved the place in 1811. George Easterday's land, whose house was near the old toll-gate, was seated by James Jenkins. One of Easterday's great-graddchildren is now living on the old homestead place. There is little doubt but that Easterday's cabin was the first in the township. When this first cabin had rotted down another was built by Samuel Winters, who had married an Easterday - a grandchild - and long lived at the old homestead. Conyngham village was laid out on the Benjamin Rush tract, and was originally called "Venison market." Within what is now the village was first settled by George Drum, and then came George Woodring. This George Drum was the grandfather of Hon. G. W. Drum. at present a justice of the peace in the place, and to whom we are indebted for the lists of early settlers given above, found among his father's old documents and papers. The village was named for Capt. Gustavus Conyngham, who commanded a privateer during the Revolution, who first carried the American flag into the English channel. At present it contains about 400 people, 2 hotels, 2 general stores, 1 grocery and 1 confectionery, 1 furniture and undertaking store, 1 planing mill, and a number of small concerns and millinery stores. Years ago Hess & Robbins' distillery [p.656] was a flourishing concern. It closed out about 1875. A large tannery was once here. At one time Drumheller's windmill factory was quite an important item. The work was all done by hand, and for neary forty years it flourished, but finally succumbed to the modern way of making everything by machinery. Billheimers and William Engle had gristmills. The latter was recently purchased by Henry Dryfoos, of Hazleton, who is putting in all modern improvements, and will make a first-class modern gristmill of it, and then again the farmers of the valley will have a market for their wheat. This mill is on the big Nescopeck near Seybertsville. The McMurtrie family are reckoned among the very early settlers here, Joseph McMurtrie a couple of miles from Squire Drum's. William Seibel, son of Valentine, who came in 1810, is living on the old home farm, past eighty years of age. Nathan Snyder now living in this village, still hale and cheery, came with his parents in 1826, when he was ten years old. His boyhood memory is that Abram Klutch kept the hotel in Conyngham when he came; that A. G. Broadhead kept a store in the place; Moses Brundage was running the tannery; he thinks the windmill factory was started about 1838, and that Godfrey carried it on some time; a schoolhouse was where the church now stands, and in it church meetings were held; he remembers Joseph McMurtrie was living where his son now lives; Henry and Philip Yost lived a short distance below him; Jacob Drumheller lived in the village of Conyngham; the Conynghams lived in what is now Butler township, two and one-half miles above the village. Where Peter Stahr lived was a sawmill in 1826. At that time the farms were all situated along the turnpike, and back of this were the great, dark forests. In the many other efforts at city airs in Conyngham was the one by Broadhead, who once brought here a printing office, and amazed the natives with the proposition to start a great metropolitan newspaper. He got out a few circulars during a campaign, and after the election the office was sold and quietly shipped away. Samuel Benner thinks that Preacher Shaffer was the first settler in the valley. Jacob Drumheller was the first surveyor, and surveyed all this part of the county. He settled on the lot now occupied by Squire Benner. Samuel Harmon was one of the early settlers in the place; he leased the ground and the springs in the village. Samuel Benner is a son of Henry Benner, with whom he came here, and is still actively surveying, and as sprightly as a youth. The family came in 1825. He says Redmond Conyngham left here the next year after he came. His memory is that the old Koenig mill was the first in the valley; that Richard Allen's mill was in the village, or just above Conyngham, and not near Seybertsville, as other historians have put it. John Cawley had several sawmills-one below and one just above Conyngham. He doubts the story of Mace having the first store here, and thinks probably George Wenner was the first blacksmith. Brown's first brick honse in the place is now the property of Charles Kerbaugh. Yost built a steam sawmill. The first postoffice in the village was kept by William Drum in 1826; Charles Kenelly owned the planing- mill. A foundry was built by Mordica Hutton, where is now a greenhouse. Samuel Benner owned the property some time, and sold to Jacob B. Getting. A great advantage as a market-place for the people of the valley was the opening of the mine and building of a breaker at Black Ridge. It was run successfully a number of years, when the mine inspector notified the company that it was dangerous, and mining was stopped and the building and machinery removed. Conyngham has an excellent system of waterworks, chartered January 3, 1880, and the village is amply supplied with the best of mountain-spring water. The officers are: President, G. W. Drum; secretary and treasurer, Samuel Benner; superintendent, Jacob B. Getting. Seybertsville is the other village in Sugarloaf township. It is on the old turnpike, a little over two miles northwest of Conyngham. There is a hotel, store, blacksmith shop, wheelwright and two churches in the place. A tavern was put up in 1825, by Benjamin Koenig; it stood where Henry Dryfoos has a residence [p.657] The old tavern was removed and rebuilt in 1835. In 1836 an old-time subscription schoolhouse was built in the place where the present school stands. In 1833 Henry Seybert opened the first store, and the people would "go to Seybert's" to trade, and in this way it was named. He was appointed the first postmaster, and kept it in his store as a convenience to his customers. W. Santee kept store of recent years in the place; Jacob Billheimer built his gristmill in 1861. UNION TOWNSHIP Was formed in July, 1813, of territory taken from the original township of Huntington. It lies on the river, and two creeks force their way through the mountains to the river, and make the gaps for the farmers to follow in building their roads to the trading and shipping point, Shickshinny. The first settlement, outside of what is now Shickshinny borough, was made in the northwest of River mountain, in 1790, by Peter Gregory and George Fink. These men had married each other's sisters, and had come from the valley of the Delaware. Where they located was a rich and beautiful valley, on the east branch of Shickshinny creek. The creek at this point furnished good mill power, and was soon utilized, as the first sawmills in the township were built on the claims of Gregory and Fink. Soon after the coming of these men, two other brothers- in- law, Stephen Arnold and Moses Derby, settled where is now Muhlenburg. They opened their farms, and soon other friends heard of this excellent place for farmers, and the stream began that has given the county some of its best farming communities. Commencing in 1793 was the heavy immigration to this and on to Huntington valley, by the people mostly from Connecticut. The early settlers came mostly on sleds, and at the season of the year when they could cross the many streams on the ice, following the old Indian paths and after the "blazed" roads. In 1797 Stephen Roberts settled about midway between the above-named settlements, and shortly Marvins, Culvers and Shaws were making pleasant homes in the wilderness. About the same time the families of James Van Scoter (now called Benscoter), and his sons Anthony and John, also three then unmarried sons, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, were added to the Dutch settlement; all left numerous descendants. About the same time also the Bellas, Davenport, Hans, Muchler, Huff and Cragle families were added. In 1799 William Moore, an Irishman from Maryland, with a large family, settled at the place known as Mooretown. His descendants still own the farm. A grand- daughter, Mrs. John Harned, remained there. The Huffman, Harned, Post, Bonham, Wolfe, Johnson and Santee families came soon after 1800, and nearly all homes then formed are still retained in the families of descendants. December 24, 1801, Shadrach Austin, a son of the first occupant of Shickshinny, married Mary Gregory, daughter of Peter Gregory, Sr., and bought the present Austin homestead, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a teacher and a leader among his neighbors, and during a long, active life "Uncle Shadrach" was almost universally spoken of as an exemplar worthy of imitation. He was born July 12, 1770, and died December 26, 1850. In 1815 John Hartman bought a farm and moved into a house where Samuel Huff had lived several years, which is owned by his son, Stephen Hartman. As the land could be bought at a low price and proved very productive, other old neighbors from Northampton and Lehigh counties soon followed, and a German settlement was formed, as the Masters, Hobbes, Baer, Adelman and Neville families all obtained land near the Hartmans, and long retained many of the customs and characteristics of the German population of the Lehigh valley. Peter Gregory, Jr., and Richard Gregory, sons of the first settler, bought and occupied farms. Richard lived nearly 100 years. Joseph Gregory and John Gregory, sons of Peter, own and occupy parts of the old homestead. In 1813 James Search bought of Philip and Margaret Hann the place near [p.658] the river now known as the Jessup farm, where he raised his family. His son Lot married Christina Fink, and settled just above Shickshinny, where is the quarry now, and where Lot Search's store was once kept. Muhlenburg, as seen above, was one of the very early settlements, and has long been a postoffice, and has a store, hotel, church and blacksmith shop. Reyburn is a postoffice and gristmill all in one, and a little store. Koonsville is one mile from Shickshinny. A general store and toll-gate, and the Kester Brothers have their mine furnishing factory, and deal extensively in lumber. Town Line, where is a postoffice and store, gets its name by the road at that place being on the dividing town line. WEST HAZLETON BOROUGH Was made a separate municipality in 1889. It adjoins Hazleton on the west, is one of the growing towns of this vicinity and is laying off new additions and grading and fixing its streets in fine order. A bus line, making half-hourly trips to and from the city, is one of its convenient institutions; has two hotels, five general stores. There is no danger of this place indulging, as a town, in one of those modern "squeezes" and hence it is destined to become a fashionable residence. There being no coal under the town there is therefore no danger of its ever being undermined. WEST PITTSTON BOROUGH, An elegant suburb of Pittston, or more properly an elegant residence spot of some of Pittston's wealthiest people, where it is a mere step across the river over either of the two elegant bridges spanning the same, and is reached by one of the most inviting residence boroughs in the county. The land is but gently rolling, and the wide streets and straight and shaded avenues that are lined with residences giving every evidence of wealth and refinement. The stranger first visiting the place is delighted to walk and enjoy the natural and artificial beauties of the place. The river just above this breaks through the mountain and as it sweeps past the place is yet practically untainted with the mine drainage that further down so disfigures it. Across is Pittston crowning its many hills and to the north is Campbell's ledge and to the west are the low rising mountains, sweeping away to the west and south and at your feet and further than the ken lies the rich and beautiful Wyoming valley. Commerce and manufactures have practically been kept out of West Pittston. Its entire territory was originally in Exeter township and its first occupation was as that of the "Silent City of the Dead." The Hardings who had been so cruelly massacred July 1, 1778, were buried in the little graveyard that was so long known as the Harding-Jenkins graveyard. Judge Jenkins had given the ground, and here too he and his good wife (Lydia Gardner) were laid side by side as well as their sons, John, Stephen and Thomas Jenkins, and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Capt. Stephen Harding and Judge Jenkins were brothers-in-law. Here were buried Benjamin and Stukely Harding. The recent finding of the bones in digging in the street of West Pittston of one of the massacred Hardings is given on another page. Fort Jenkins was within what is now the borough. This was the most northern of the stockades and of course was the first to feel the coming of the northern invaders. The fort was simply a log house surrounded by a stockade as all these early buildings were at that time. It was situated about fifty yards above the west end of the bridge, but the ground where it stood has since been washed away. An orchard once stood above the West Pittston end of the depot bridge, but the gradual encroachments of the river have uprooted nearly all of it. A few old landmarks are still left. The residence of Mr. Carr, corner of Wyoming and Luzerne avenues, is one of the old original farmhouses built when this was a part of Exeter township. J. W. Miller's house, the old ferry-house and John S. Jenkin's residence are also points of historic interest. [p.659] The place was known in early times as Fort Jenkins, and the name was applied to the town until it was incorporated as a borough. West Pittston was incorporated as a borough in the autumn of 1857. The first election was held January 7, 1858, at the Vine street schoolhouse. Samuel Price was appointed judge and Miles C. Orr and Thomas Ford inspectors of the election, which resulted in the choice of Armherst Wisner, burgess; A. J. Griffith, William Apple, Cornelius Stark, Bradley Downing and Theodor Strong, councilmen; Isaac W. Moister, clerk, and Peter Polen, treasurer. Since then the burgesses elected have been: 1859-61, William Apple; 1862, Peter Polen; 1863, A. J. Griffith, 1864, J. H. Jenkins; 1865, R. J. Wisner; 1866-7, David T. Bound; 1868, Ralph D. Lacoe; 1869-70, J. C. F. Rommel; 1871, 1872, B. D. Beyea; 1873, Samuel Price; 1874, Barnard Sharkey; 1875, W. H. Cool; 1876-7, Bradley Downing, 1878, B. D. Beyea; 1879, George Corey; 1880, James Mantayne. Clerks: 1859-61, Smith Sutherland; 1862, until August 10, 1863, Samuel Price; August 10, 1863, A. J. Loomis appointed; 1864, J. B. Hoyt; 1865, G. M. Richard (acting); 1866-7, Smith Sutherland; 1868-70, October, Charles H. Foster; 1870, October, 1872, R. J. Wisner; 1873-4, William R. Sax; 1875, B. D. Beyea. 1876-7, S. P. Fenn; 1878-80, J. B. Hoyt. Two railroads and the Wyoming Valley Traction street car line all have offices and depots in West Pittston. The streets are lit by the Pittston Electric Light company. Splendid water is abundant from the Spring Brook Water company; the streets are handsomely sidewalked and paved and graveled. The area of the borough contains 323 acres. Present officers: Burgess, William C. Brenton; vice-burgess, S. K. Barber; council: president, burgess; John Struthers, J. S. Jenkins, S. K. Barber, Evan J. Evans, F. B. Sanders, O. C. Foster; assessor, John A. Stone; treasurer, Lewis Jones; collector, Chandler H. Williams; high constable, George W. Walker; street commissioner, William C. Smith; poor directors: John Courtright and P. K. Richards; auditors: Eugene Spencer, John Hughes Blackman and E. W. Stark; attorney, George S. Ferris; chief police, Thomas Williams. West Pittston Hose company No. 1 has hose house 216 Spring street; president, Thomas B. Mitten; vice-president, George N. Lewis; secretary, Benjamin S. Emory. It has 4 bakers, 5 blacksmiths, Vulcan Iron works, 1 bookbinder, 4 cabinet makers, 6 carpenters, 2 carpet weavers, 1 cigar dealer, 2 confectioners, 2 contractors, 4 druggists, 1 fancy goods, 1 fish and oysters, 1 florist, 1 plumber, 2 general stores, 7 grocers, 1 furniture, 1 hay and feed, 1 house furnishing, Luzerne Knitting mills, 1 cracker factory, 1 lime and plaster, 7 meat markets, 4 milk depots, 1 miner supplies, 1 private school, 1 livery stable, 1 stoves and tinware, 3 wagon makers. WHITE HAVEN. John Lines was the first settler of the place in 1824, who came with his family on a sled in April of that year from Hanover township just below Wilkes-Barre. Where he squatted was called "Linesville" many years, just over the hill back of White Haven. He built his log cabin and in time this was destroyed by fire, when he built the first hewed-log house and the first tavern, which in time became the property of the Lehigh Navigation & Coal company. Its name is in honor of Josiah White, who was the first of the most prominent men here in the early days of canal building. He was the builder of the old "bear trap" locks in the Lehigh river that made it navigable and started the wonderful developments that have gone on above Mauch Chunk and up to old Stoddardsville, and this mode of transportation and this style of locks in the river continued in active use until 1860. The first business here being lumbering, of which this became a noted point and that in time was divided and when the forests were gone, was swallowed up by the coal business that is now a part of the famed Upper Lehigh region. The old Lehigh & Navigation Coal company is the essence of the history [p.660] of the developments of this part of the State. The canal was built to White Haven. The Lehigh Valley canal was built from Easton to Mauch Chunk and opened in July, 1829. In 1835 the canal was commenced at White Haven. A basin was constructed along the bank of the river at the upper end of the town, with a lock and a dam across the river at the upper end of the basin. This basin, lock and dam still remain intact, as a monument to the indomitable perseverance and enterprise of Mr. White and the Lehigh Navigation & Coal company. This dam and lock were designated as dam No. 1, the numbers increasing down stream. At that time the hills on either side of the river at this place were thickly covered with pine timber, that would now be considered very valuable. The company as soon as possible, and even before the canal was finished, built a sawmill near the upper end of the basin, on the river side, and cut out the lumber necessary in building the original dam across the river a little above where the Lehigh Valley railroad crosses. Other sawmills were soon built, and in a short time White Haven was one of the busiest lumber depots in the State. It continued so long as plenty of logs were within a reasonable distance, and as late as 1860 there were ten large sawmills at this place, cutting out annually an aggregate of 20,000,000 feet of lumber. White Haven at that time was an interesting place, both on account of the gigantic series of dams and locks and the magnificent wildness of the natural scenery. This also became the great depot for the sale of the immense amount of lumber manufactured at the then numerous mills on the river above, between here and Stoddartsville, as the navigation company ran their boats up through the old bear-trap locks to that place. The second sawmill at White Haven was built in 1836 by Stenson Crouse, a little further down the river. The old canal locks and dams were swept away by the great freshet of 1862. The fast canal packet, "Washington," commanded in l835 by Capt. Hillman, is superseded by two first-class lines of railroad. The little old schoolhouse and church combined has given place to a fine large school building, and five churches of modern size and architecture, and the three or four houses have so multiplied as to contain a population of 1,634. The single old road that lay along the bank of the river has become the main street of a flourishing town, and the little old tavern has been superseded. In that house Mr. Lines kept the first tavern in White Haven. The next tavern in the borough was where the White Haven house now stands, on the corner of Wilkes- Barre and Railroad streets. The first plank house in the borough was built by John Fordsman in 1837, on the corner opposite the White Haven house, and it is now owned by James Trimmer. The first schoolhouse in the borough was built in 1838, of rough logs, and stood in the rear of Kleckner's store on Basin street. The site is occupied by the track of the Lehigh Valley railroad. The iron foundry and machine shops at White Haven were built in 1859 by the Lehigh Navigation & Coal company, and Miner & Lippincott were the operators. The concern originally stood about half way up the basin, and in 1866 or 1867 was moved to where it now stands, between the lower end of the basin and the river. It is now owned and operated by Samuel Wallace, and is one of the prosperous and important institutions of the place. It is run by water; its output is 100 tons a month, and employs forty men. The pioneer store was kept by A. O. Chahoon. It was of rough logs, built in 1835, and stood at the lower end of Susquehanna street, near where the Lehigh Hotel formerly stood. The nearest trading points at that time were Wilkes-Barre, Berwick and Mauch Chunk. The pioneer physician in this place was Dr. Boyd. He came from Wilkes- Barre, and was employed by the Lehigh Navigation company on a salary raised by [p.661] assessment upon the men employed by the company. The first resident lawyer here was Gaius Halsey, a native of the borough. He commenced practice in 1870. The postoffice was established in 1835, with William Hoven as postmaster. It was kept in the old log store at the foot of Susquehanna street. The mails were brought on horseback once a week from Wilkes-Barre. The first sawmill was built by John Lines in 1826 or 1827, on Lines creek, near where he built his house. He had in connection with his mill a turning lathe for making posts and rounds for old-fashioned splint bottom chairs. The market for them was at Wilkes-Barre, Berwick and Allentown. They had to be hauled to those places with an ox team, and the boy John, who lived here to be an old man, was the teamster on those long trips. The journey to Wilkes-Barre and back took three days, to and from Berwick four, and to Allentown and return, six days, provided the roads were passable, and the "chair stuff" found a brisk market in exchange for such things as were necessary for the sustenance of the family. The first brick building in the borough was built in 1851, by the Odd Fellows' Hall association. The Lehigh Boom Company was organized May 7, 1868; John Brown, president and Charles L. Keck, secretary and treasurer. Their "booms" were on the river in the immediate vicinity of White Haven. This was then the rising point in the lumber trade and the town was a necessary outgrowth thereof. The rapid rise, the vast importance and the passing away of the lumber trade are a part and parcel of White Haven, commencing away back in the early part of the century and only closing its books in the year of our Lord 1892. A recent issue of the Wilkes-Barre Record gives the following as the closing scene in the eventful story: "A view of what is claimed will never be seen again on the Lehigh river was presented on Saturday last at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon as a long raft of logs, manned by two stalwart lumbermen, gracefully swept from the lock at White Haven dam and floated down stream toward Tannery, where the last of the lumber- mills in this once flourishing lumber country are situated. "A Record man stood looking upon the scene when he was approached by an old resident, who was armed with a pikepole and evidently an authority. A commonplace remark opened a reminiscent vein of thought in him and he said: 'You behold there the last raft that will ever float down the Lehigh river, for the logs that compose it are the gleanings of the lumber-camps along the Tobyhanna. The men have loosened all the dams between here and Tobyhanna to float these logs into the Lehigh, and now nothing remains for us to do but remove the boom logs and the chains that hold them in place and wait for decay and dryrot to wipe out all evidence of what was once a great industry. I remember the time when White Haven was the headquarters for over a thousand hardy lumbermen. Many of their descendants live here still, but the old stock is rapidly passing away. How much lumber did we handle on this river every year? No two years were alike, so near as I can remember, and varied in amounts from 20,000,000 to 35,000,000 feet. You ought to go up and take a look at that dam and lock if you have never seen them. The ruins of the old mills and their wheels will soon be torn down and removed,' said our informant, Mr. Albertson, as he moved onward toward the town." The busy banquet hall of White Haven's lumbering business has departed - put out the lights. White Haven Savings Bank was organized under the State law January 2, 1872, with a capital of $25,000 and authority to increase this to $50,000. Officers: President, A. F. Peters; vice-president, C. L. Keck; cashier, S. Maguire. Directors: A. F. Peters, C. L. Keck, Samuel Wallace, Charles Kleckner, G. L. Halsey, R. P. Crellin, Albert Lewis and R. C. Albertson. [p.662] White Haven Water Works were commenced in 1856 under borough auspices, simply piping from the two springs in the North ward. These gave enough water until 1863, and then a company was organized and stock to the amount of $7,500 subscribed for the purpose of giving better facilities, the stock being increased to $19,000. Pipes were laid to the brook and for two years water was thus obtained. This was in addition to the two springs. Then a pipe line was run to Santee spring, nearly a mile in distance, and afterward terra-cotta pipes were extended 1,600 feet to a spring on Santee farm. All this piping practically failed and most of the water wasted through leaks, and the head was not high enough to supply houses on ground the least elevated. In 1875 the company built a reservoir further up the mountain and thus is enabled to keep any required amount in store and with a head that can throw water to the top of the tallest houses. To meet any emergency the company has a pump connecting the river with their works simply as an additional precaution to meet any possible case. Officers: President, C. L. Keck; treasurer and secretary, S. Maguire; superintendent, H. J. Myers, who has been in charge from the beginning. Mr. Myers came here in 1848, when the population of the place was about 600. He was conductor that took the first engine that ever went north from this place over the mountains, which occurred the year of his coming. This was the southern terminus of the railroad, where water transportation commenced, until 1862. Mr. Myers commenced merchandising here in 1851 on the spot where is now Joseph Jonas' store, at the corner of Railroad and Northumberland streets. Mr. Taylor then had a store on the corner of Berwick and Railroad streets, and there was a store in the stone building; another was by Lockwood, where is now Widow Kane's saloon. In 1848 coal commenced being run from the head of Plains to White Haven, and was there transferred to canal boats. Fire Department of White Haven was organized January 2, 1872. Directors: R. I. Westover, Henry Kaiser, John Fisher, Samuel Wallace, Bradley Childs, John Fiel, S. Maguire, Benjamin Jacoby and James Ray. A steam fire-engine was purchased by the borough. The borough built an electric light plant in 1892. Its power is furnished by Mr. Wallace's foundry, and the place is well lighted. Shoe Factory is an important White Haven industry; established in 1888, and when in full operation employs forty hands. Grist Mill. - The large and all-modern fixtures and facilities of gristmill, encased in iron on its entire outside, is not operated at present. It has fine water power. Hosiery Factory was built in 1889; a successful enterprise, and employs sixty persons. Brickyard. - In the west part of town, by George W. Koons, was established in 1891 on the discovery of a fine deposit of clay, and its product is extensively shipped north and south after filling the home demand. In the borough are 9 general stores, 2 drug stores, 6 grocery stores, 2 furniture stores, 1 livery stable, 3 butchers, 2 millinery, 2 shoe stores, 4 hotels, 3 halls, 5 doctors and 2 lawyers. Borough of White Haven. - The act of the general assembly of 1843, by which this borough was incorporated, stipulated that the place of holding the borough elections should be "the house of Isaac Ripple," and that the first election for borough purposes should be on the first Monday of September following, and others annually thereafter on the third Friday in March. The first annual borough election took place March 17, 1843. George W. Butler was elected judge for the occasion, George Straub inspector and Edward P. Tuttle clerk. Offices of the borough: Burgess, Joseph Yardley; councilmen, Abiathar Tuttle, John Shefferstine, Jacob Zink, Samuel Hunter, Jonathan Brock and David Dean; constable, James B. Weller; street commissioner, John Wasser; overseer of the poor, Lucius Blakeslee. The election held March 17, 1843, having been declared null and void by the [p.663] court, the legislature authorized a special election for the third Monday of May, 1848. An election was accordingly held "at the house of Samuel House," when the following officers were elected: Burgess, Joseph Yardley; councilmen: David H. Taylor, Edward Lockwood, Horatio G. Hoven, David Dean, Daniel Wasser and I. Cowley Past; street commissioner, George Arnold; high constable, Wayne Sprowl; director of the poor, David Dean. I. Cowley Past was appointed clerk of the council for the ensuing year. The following persons have served since as burgesses, and for the years named: 1849-51, Edward Lockwood; 1852, Frederick H. Bund; 1853, John H. Nace; 1854, David H. Taylor; 1855, Washington Torbert; 1856, Josiah W. Enbody; 1857, Stephen Bolles; 1858, 1860, 1863, Jacob Wirtler; 1859, Samuel Hunter; 1861-2, Robert R. Morgan; 1864, S. W. Trimmer; 1865, George R. Crellin; 1866, Lucius Blakeslee; 1867, 1870, Theodore Smith; 1868-9, 1872, Bradley Childs; 1871, Otto Kaiser; 1873, Edwin Shortz; 1874, Daniel Steele; 1875-7, Henry Kaiser; 1878-9, Charles Kleckner, the present burgess. Present officers: Burgess, H. J. Laird; treasurer, John J. Baker; secretary, S. Maguire; council: president, A. C. Snyder, Alvin Arnold, Charles H. Hyndman, George W. Moyer, Theodore Ruhnke and George Kneiss; street commissioner, Henry Dandt; chief of fire department, J. N. Gettle. WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP. There is not much to be said of this township outside of what naturally must be said in the story of the city which has absorbed about all there is of it except the coal industry, which is both within the city limits and outside of them. This was one of the original townships of the Susquehanna company, and was one of the eleven townships into which Luzerne county was formed in 1790. The name is a compound, and, unfortunately, the pundits have concluded to keep up the double capitals and the hyphen in the name, instead of simply spelling it, as a man otherwise would naturally write it without raising the pen, for instance "Wilkesbarre" instead of "Wilkes-Barre." In writing several million of times only think of the waste energy in that hyphen and second capital letter, and then the first way of writing it even looks better than the one fixed upon. The names of John Wilkes and Col. Barre, "distinguished advocates of liberty," is given as the all-sufficient reason for the name. The first dwellings built in the county were on the flats just below the old borough limits in 1758. These were not for white men, but were built by authority of the proprietaries of Pennsylvania for the use of the Delaware chief and his followers, Teedyuscung. Fort Durkee stood on the bank of the river, also below the old borough line. As stated in the preceding general history the first massacre occurred in this township in 1763. In 1782 James Sutton built a gristmill near the mouth of Mill creek. This was the first within Wilkes-Barre township. It was built of logs, and on the top was a sentry-box, from which to look out over the valley and be on guard for the approach of the enemy. The end and finish of this mill was in the great Pumpkin flood of 1786. In 1799, including the village of Wilkes-Barre, Covington, Buck and a large portion of Plains and Bear Creek townships, there were 121 taxables and 112 horses. The names of the taxables are as follows: Charles Abbot, Stephen Abbot, Edward Austin, Christopher Avery, Thomas A. Alkin, William Askam, John Alexander, Asa Bennett, Charles Bennett, Wilbur Bennett, Eleazar Blackman, Cain Billings, Timothy Beebe, Clark Beebe, Isaac Bowman, Stephen Barnes, John Carey, Hugh Conner, Arnold Colt, Mathew Covell, Putnam Catlin, Cornelius Courtright, Henry Courtright, John Courtright, James Conlin, Peter Corbit, Nathan Draper, Isaac Decker, Daniel Downing, Daniel Downing, Jr., [p.664] Reuben Downing, Joseph Davis, Aziel Dana, Anderson Dana, Sylvester Dana, Thomas Duane, James Dixon, William Dixon, Arthur Eiek, Jacob Ely, Jabez Fish, Jesse Fell, Daniel Foster, Daniel Gore, Timothy Green, Willard Green, William Augustus George, Daniel Gridley, Matthias Hollenback, Jonathan Hancock, Godfrey Hitchcock, Oliver Helme, Jacob Hart, Lewis Hartsouff, Solomon Johnson, Jacob Johnson, Jehoida P. Johnson, Christiana Johnson, John Johnson, Jacob Jenong, Luther Jones, Reuben Jones, John Kennedy, Jr., James Kennedy, Daniel Kelly, Joseph Kelly, James Morgan, Richard Maybury, Thomas Marshal, Enoch Ogden, Jacob Ossencup, Samuel Pease, Nathan Palmer, Benjamin Perry, Benjamin Potts, John Potts, Mary Philips, John Pooder, David Richards, William Ross, Eleph Ross, John Rosecrans, Jacob Rosecrans, the Widow Rosecrans, Thomas Read, William Russel, John P. Schott, William Slocum, Joseph Slocum, Benjamin Slocum, Ebenezer Slocum, Jonathan Slocum, Eunice Sprague, Polly Stevens, Obadiah Smith, Paul Stark, Henry Stark, William Shoemaker, Joshua Squire, Henry Tilbury, Stephen Tuttle, Benjamin Truesdale, Daniel Truesdale, Elias Vandermark, Nathan Waller, Phineas Waller, Eliad Waller, Andrew Wickeizer, Conrad Wickeizer, Joseph Wright, Thomas Wright, Philip Weekes, Thomas Weekes, Jonathan Wildman, Henry Wilson, James Westbrook, Richard Westbrook, Justice Woolcott, Crandal Wilcox, Isaac Wilcox, William Wright, Rosswell Wells. WRIGHT TOWNSHIP Was formed in 1851; was taken from old Hanover township and named in honor of Col. Hendrick B. Wright, of Wilkes-Barre. Conrad Wickeiser was the first settler in 1798; his place was near where James Wright made his tavern-stand. The last named gentleman opened the first tavern and built the first sawmill. These are all now in Fairview township. In what is now Wright proper the first settler was probably Cornelius Garrison, in 1833 or 1834. He built his sawmill on the Big Wapwallopen creek in the southwest part of the township. This mill was the longest to continue to run in the township. Mr. Garrison made the first little farm improvement, planted the first crop and set out the first orchard. The settlements and most of the industry, to the time of the recent division of the township, were in what is now Fairview township. It is now left with its 152 inhabitants, without a postoffice, without a railroad station though two roads pass through it, and the few in-habitants are on the little patch farms, scattered sparsely on the few level places or clinging to the hillsides. The pioneer postmaster was William G. Albert. His office was where J. Shafer lived on the west side of the township. The mails came at first once a week, on horseback. Afterward Horton & Gilchrist, of Wilkes-Barre, started a stage line between Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton, and then the mails were received three times a week. At the first town meeting Eleazer Carey was elected assessor. He held the office for eight years. The rise, decline and present condition of this township that was purely a lumber district is told in the cold figures of the census reports. In 1860 it contained a population of 278; 1870, 603; 1880, 881; 1890, 152. These figures tell the story, but not the whole story. There was not as the figures would seem to indicate a general running away of the people when the lumbering business had completed its work. The fact is the territory that constituted old Wright township shows an increase of nearly 150 inhabitants in the last decade, but the most of them are now in the new township, Fairview, since February, 1889. This divided Wright township on the school line between districts 1 and 2; the north part, containing much the larger portion of the township, was given the new name, Fairview, and the lower part retained the old name of Wright. The only village or the Only hamlet and place of any industry at all was a part of the new township and hence there is but a nominal population of 152 in the present Wright township. WYOMING BOROUGH, [p.665] In superficial area, is one of the largest boroughs in the county. In historical fame there is no spot on the continent so well known throughout the civilized world. Wyoming! The inspiring theme of historians and poets. It was chartered a borough in June, 1885, and July 15 the first election for officers was held, resulting as follows: Burgess, William Hancock; council: John P. Smith, president; John A. Hutchins, John Sharp, J. I. Shoemaker (still in the board), Dr. C. P. Knapp, John Daugher. The secretary was H. C. Edwards. Second burgess, John J. Breese, resigned and his term was filled out by H. J. Best. The next burgess was the present incumbent. Present officers: Burgess, Charles Crouse, was re-elected. Council: Wilber Rozelle, president; J. I. Shoemaker, A. J. Crouse, W. W. Stocker, Fisher Gay, James E. Sanders; secretary, Merritt Sax; chief police, Benjamin Bunn; superintendent streets, J. R. Lefrance. The many improvements going on mark the growing importance of this young borough. One firm has now in the course of building forty houses, and many others are following these closely. Business men in Wilkes-Barre are now looking along the line of the electric road all the way to Pittston for family residences, and the most of them find they can buy and build at a material saving to pay the city rents; and then their delightful healthy homes will possess all the double advantages of rural and urban life. Wyoming avenue passes through the length of the borough. It is substantially the old road from Wilkes-Barre to Pittston, called the Wyoming road, passing in front of the monument, that tribute in lasting granite to the sacred memory of the patriots who fell on the battle-field July 3, 1778, of which are full details elsewhere. As soon as peace had been assured after the Revolution settlers began to return and others to migrate hither, and about 1780 the vicinity of Wyoming began again to show signs of life. "New Troy" was the name by which the place was known up to within the memory of many living. As early as 1780 or 1781 Benjamin Carpenter, from Connecticut, located on Abram's creek, at the lower end of the gorge where the creek breaks through the Kingston mountains. Here he built a gristmill on the site of the present one, also a house, which is still standing, occupied by Mrs. Riley. The west wing of what is now the Pollock house was built by Mr. Carpenter, and in 1829 the main part of the hotel was built by a Mr. Allenbach. Mr. Carpenter also built the woolen factory at this place, and the Carpenter family sold it to Mr. Anibal, and he to Jacob I. Shoemaker, Sr. This locality was known as Shoemaker's Mills, and was for many years known as Carpenter's Mills and Carpenter Town, which latter name it retained long after it came into the possession of the Shoemakers. In 1807 Mr. Carpenter sold out all his interests to Isaac C. Shoemaker and moved to Ohio. There was about that time an ax factory farther up the creek, the foundation of which is still visible. There was a small foundry a little below the gristmill. The gristmill was rebuilt in 1840 by Jacob I. Shoemaker, Sr., when all the improvements invented up to that time were added. Other improvements besides steam power have since been introduced. In 1820 John Jones located here and engaged in the blacksmithing business, and the same year Thomas J. Halsey, M. D., located in this vicinity, where he practiced several years. Dr. John Smith was also one of the early resident physicians. In 1802 or 1803 Mrs. Gordon, mother of James A. Gordon, of Plymouth, taught school in an old schoolhouse on or near the corner were Laycock's Wyoming house now stands. William Swetland, who was postmaster in 1830, was also one of the early merchants. He kept his store a little below the family residence of Payne Pettebone, on the main road from Kingston to Wyoming. John Gardner was the pioneer [p.666] cabinet-maker at Carpenter Town, locating there as early as 1820, now a dwelling on the corner opposite the Pollock house, known as the "old storehouse;" and he was succeeded in 1830 by Charles Barney. The "old storehouse" was occupied as early as 1820 by Charles Tuttle, who was among early merchants. The property became Daniel Van Scoy's. As late as 1830 the flat between Shoemaker's Mills and Wyoming was a dense wilderness. The topography of the ground along the river where is Susquehanna avenue has been taken advantage of and the rise is made a street and the lots face on a boulevard of natural old forest trees toward the river. The time is not distant when this must be one of the most favored residence streets in the world. The boulevard and the Susquehanna in front; the grand future mansions, flanked on either side with others of its kind and the gently rising mountains in the distant rear. The time is not distant when the river on both sides will be solid town, very nearly so now, from Pittston to Nanticoke. The principal or central trading and business stands now are on Wyoming and Eighth streets in the vicinity of Laycock's hotel, but with a place in the very first steps of a remarkably quick growth these conditions are liable to change at any time. The cause of this spurt in suburban improvements is first the electric street line that became a road in operation August 18, 1892, the car making its first business trip from the public square in Wilkes- Barre and then to Pittston that day. The cars had been running regularly to Wyoming, stopping in front of Laycock's hotel since May of this year. In the borough are two hotels - the old Pollock and Laycock's; a steam gristmill, by James Fowler & Sons; a foundry; shovel works, by Payne Pettebone & Sons. This was at first, 1872, a company concern. The terra cotta works, by J. Hutchins & Co., who also operate the breaker across the hill; two breakers within the lines and one just outside the limits; the iron fence works, by John Wilder are situated on Sixth street, opened in 1776. James Eagan's mining drill factory is a growing industry as is the Laycock & Crouse carriage factory; 4 general stores, 1 confectionery, 1 undertaking, 1 boots and shoes, 1 hardware and tin store, 3 builders, 2 shoemakers, 2 livery stables, and several small trading places. The borough line extends on the mountain to the second tier of lots in the original division. The borough is bountifully supplied by the Spring Brook Water company. The same mains that supply Forty Fort, Dorranceton and Kingston pass through Wyoming. YATESVILLE BOROUGH Was formed from Jenkins township, May 20, 1878. The first borough election, June 1 following, resulted as follows: Burgess, T. T. Hale; council: George Faircloth, president; Thomas Nattrass, secretary; John Shields, William Learch, Alexander Frazer, Alfred Day; street superintendent, John H. Monk; chief police, Mathew Harrison; collector, W. D. Hale. T. T. Hale was re-elected burgess. Present officers: Richard Bostock, burgess; council: John Harding, John Pierce, John T. Reid, William Carpenter and Leopard D. Schooley. Secretary and assessor, Edwin S. Monk; treasurer, Charles Hale; tax collector, Thomas W. Haines; street commissioner, Thomas Lloyd; chief police, Jasper S. Pierson. Joel Hale, in 1809, built the first frame house in Yatesville, occupied by John Monk. Mr. Hale owned most of the borough site. The settlers following Mr. Hale were H. Fredrick, George Day, David Reese, James Cooper, Isaac and George Naphus, Joseph and John Stout and James Thompson. These came in 1809 or 1810. William D. Hale built the first tavern in the place on the corner of Main and Stout streets, in 1859, afterward kept by John H. Monk. The first store was opened in 1855. A schoolhouse was built in 1851. From 1812 to 1825 the added families were, John and Isaiah Hale, John Yates, Asa and Morris Naphus and Francis Yates, Sr. The borough was named for this Francis Yates, an Englishman who came to America in 1817. When he came here he bought ninety acres of land of [p.667] Theophilus Brooks, on which was a log cabin. His widow survived to a great age. It is believed that Francis Yates and the Hale brothers were the first to mine coal. They found an outcrop and then by stripping they pursued the business of taking out coal with a sled and ox team. Two railroads have depots at this place; three stores and a water reservoir of the Pennsylvania Coal company for the supply of their works and the town. Population 437, domiciled in ninety dwellings. The people are engaged in mining.