Northampton County PA Archives History - Books .....The First Half Of The Nineteenth Century 1920
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  Book Title: History Of Northampton County
  
  CHAPTER XVI 
  THE FIRST HALF OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
  
      The opening of the nineteenth century found Northampton county fully
  restored from the sufferings and disasters of the Revolutionary War. The
  population of the county was at this time 30,062; the era of manufacturing had
  not commenced within her boundaries, her citizens were busily engaged in
  agricultural pursuits. The era of strife was for a time closed, the Indians who
  had been troublesome during the preceding century were now far removed beyond
  the western boundaries of her limits. The first decade of the century was passed
  in peaceful content and happiness, and with nothing to mar the regular routine
  of home and business life except the strife of political parties. The second
  decade of the century was not so harmonious, though none of the stirring events
  of the War of 1812-15 with Great Britain occurred within the boundaries of
  Pennsylvania and no body of hostile troops gained a foothold on her soil. What
  was true of the State in this particular was also true of the county of
  Northampton. There was, however, the old military ardor which was manifested in
  the Revolutionary period and there was no lack of volunteers who were ready to
  administer another blow to the British lion. When the enemy's movement up the
  Chesapeake bay was thought to have for its objective point the city of
  Philadelphia, there was no more than this needed to rouse the patriotism of
  every Pennsylvanian.
  
      It was on July 14, 1814, that President Madison issued his call for 93,500
  militia, of which the quota of Pennsylvania was 14,000, and before a day had
  passed the intelligence had reached the furthest parts of the county, and men
  came freely forward to enroll themselves in the companies which were already
  forming and in some cases were already filled. Captain Abraham Horn's company
  was raised to a strength of sixty men in Easton in a single day. A great portion
  of the volunteer soldiers was encamped at Marcus Hook, on the Delaware, below
  the metropolis. The designs of the British were not on the city of Philadelphia,
  but the excitement was not allayed when it was found that the National Capital
  was to feel the weight of the enemy's wrath; and when the torch was applied to
  Washington, the indignation and patriotic anger of the people was intense. The
  military records at Harrisburg. Pennsylvania, are incomplete, and a thorough
  search has only resulted in a partial list of those who volunteered from
  Northampton county:
  
      First Company, First Rifle Regiment, at Camp Dupont, Nov. 13th, 1814: 
  Capt.—Abraham Horn, Jr. 
  1st Lieut.—J. Horn; 2nd, J. Dingler. 
  Ensign—J. Biglow. 
  Sgts.—M. Horn, F. Mattes, C. Hay. 
  1st Cpls.—S. Moore, E. Fortner, J. Ship, J. Dill. 
  Musicians—W. Thompson, J. Horn.
  Pvts.—J. Luckenbach, C. Bowers, W. Mexsell, W. Evans, G. Lottig, J. Bossier, F.
  Miller, N. Dealy, H. Miller, J. Doan, T. Shank, F. Warmkessel, F. Jackson, J.
  Hartly, J. Mesene, G. Shewell, J. Bossler, D. Roth, J. Seiple, W. Berlin, H.
  Wilhelm, J. Smith, A. Keyselback, C. Carey, J. P. Breidenbach, P. Storker, J.
  Grub, A. H. Rarthold, I. Keider, J. Kelso, A. Grub, J. Falkner, H. Pine, W.
  Shick, E. Mettler, J. Barns, J. L. Jackson, J. Killpatrick, A. Flag, C. Genther,
  A. Ward, G. Dingler, J. Shipe.
  
      Complete muster-roll of the Fourth Company of 2nd Regiment Volunteer Light
  Infantry, command of Col. Louis Buch, Aug. 27, 1814:
  Capt.—Peter Nungesser.
  1st Lieut.—C. Lombeart; 2nd, H. Sitgreaves.
  Ensign—W. Barnett.
  1st Sgt.—Andrew Pursol; 2nd, J. Mush; 3rd, C. Hickman, 4th, J. Nagle.
  1st Cpl.—L. Geno; 2nd, B. H. Arndt; 3rd, J. Osterstock; 4th, G. Reichart.
  Drum-Major—C. Horn.
  Fifer—G. Stroap.
  Pvts.—T. Arnold, W. Schooley, P. Bishop, S. Barnes, S. Bachman, J. Bachman, I.
  Cary, V. Ditly, John Dehart, P. Reichart, J. Reichart, J. Yohe, G. Hawk, J.
  Skilley, R. Wallace, J. Otto, J. Morgan, W. Garron, J. Simmons, M. Trocell, C.
  Hutter, S. White, W. Levers, J. Inman, J. Iarman, J. Stucker, S. Frantz, P.
  Everhart, J. Ludwich, S. Swan, J. Newhart, L. Easterwood, J. Young, J. Bellows,
  W. Snyder, J. Faren, E. Genning, P. Drumheller, S. Erwine.
  
      Roll of Capt. John Dornblaser's Company, belonging to a detachment of
  Northampton, Lehigh and Pike Counties' militia, commanded by Lieut. C. J. Hutter:
  Capt.—John Dornblaser.
  1st Lieut.—J. V. Bush; 2nd, J. Winters; 3rd, F. Fenner.
  Ensign—D. Smith.
  1st Sgt.—J. W. Morrison; 2nd, John Hartzel; 3rd, Jacob Hartzel; 4th, F. Fenner.
  1st Cpl.—N. Tell; 2nd, H. Barret; 3rd, S. Stocker; 4th, W. Brady.
  Drummer—J. Saylor.
  Fifer—J. Hickman.
  Pvts.—J. Dietz, G. Rape, P. Snyder, J. Ward, J. Osterstack, J. Young, J. Shafer,
  G. Nolf, S. Hoffert, J. Bunstein, C. Walter, A. Young, D. Stocker, G. Willower,
  A. Miller, J. Wimmer, F. Price, L. Kehler, J. Hertmacher, D. Kehler, C. Windan,
  J. Staufer, J. Stocker, J. Gangwehr, J. R. Holman, L. Nye, A. Nye, J. Steiner,
  D. Miller, P. Hahn, G. Hahn, G. Meyer, P. Shick, J. Keyser, F. Yeres, J.
  Swartwood, J. Minner, P. Fisher, J. Crawford, J. Baird, D. Sheperd, J. Lowman,
  D. Evans, J. Stine, J. Barr, J. Cooper, W. Davis, J. Clark, W. Bureau, Jacob
  Arndt, S. Snell, C. Ihrie, J. Gower, H. Meyer, G. Serfas, D. Fisher, J.
  Christman, J. Klinetrap, J. Mach, T. Postens, G. Miller, J. Swenk, J. Brewer, C.
  Smith, J. Merwine, J. Huston, G. Rinkle, S. Reese, A. McGammon, P. Strunk, J.
  Foulk, G. Coolbaugh, P. Jayne, B. Bunnell, J. Place, J. Adams, F. Herman, S.
  Winans, S. Kinkaill, P. Vandermark, A. Vanetten, J. Howe, R. Simpson, W. Van
  Sickle, I. Stell, C. Cartright, G. Watson—1814.
  
      Camp Dupont, Nov. 13-14. List of Capt. John Ott's Rifle Company of the
  command of Col. Thomas Humphreys:
  Capt.—John Ott.
  1st  Lieut.—Joseph Wild.
  Ensign—Casper Livingwood.
  1st Sgt.—F. Whitman; 2nd, J. Knipply; 3rd, M. Ox; 4th, P. Wind.
  1st Cpl.—T. Gennes; 2nd, E. Hallan; 3rd, M. Hearline; 4th, W. Fogel, H. Weber.
  Drummer—P. Jacoby.
  Fifer—E. Weber.
      Pvts.—P. Shafron, P. Hager, P. Jacoby, J. Brown, J. Gangwer, F. Stoll, J.
  Hoffman, M. Detra. S. Paul, J. Trapp, P. Bachaker, D. Romig, H. Myer, J. Henn,
  J. Gain, D. Gongwer, J. Laskerg, L. Pigenback, P. Buchacker, S. Shafer, H.
  Mastaller, H. Bouten. G  Trapp, P. Herline, P. Weber, P. Wild.
  Digitized by Microsoft ®
  
      Capt. Shafer's Company—Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division:
  Capt.—Adam Shafer.
  Lieut.—Jacob Keller.
  Ensign—J.  Katenbach.
  1st Sgt.—J. Drumheller; 2nd, C. Sellers; 3rd, A. Rrunncr; 4th, J. Rumfield; 5th,
  J. Dotterer.
  Cpls.— J. Hess, J. Unangst, P. Lynn, G. Weaver.
  Pvts — J. Sigfried, P. Unangst, P. Heagcr, A. Engelman, S. Hartman, J. Jacoby,
  J. Zeigler, G Kleiner, P. Klik, J. Miller, J. Welsh, R. Laubach, D. Rcigh, H.
  Hoffman, J. Cooper, J. Christman, T. Weaver, J. Freeman, P. Roth, J. Bridleman,
  M. Loyd, J. Hess, H. Bett, C. Ruch, L. Blaylor, M. Ruth, J. Uause, H. Reigle, A.
  Fehr, M. Lutz, J. Lantz, P. Peyfer, J. Stein, S Hartzel, S. Waldenslager, G.
  Laugbach, G. Jacoby, J. Woodring, H. Grotz, J. Peyfer, J. Stein, F. Miller, J.
  Miller, H. Frankenfield, W. Raub, J. Raub, J. Brotzman, L. Walter, P. Mittig, P.
  Transu, D. Rauch, G. Sander, I. Rauch, G. Falich, S. Rauch, S. Mest, J. Rex, J.
  Hausman, J. Best, A. Hartzel, F. Garis, F. Spangleberg, J. Raub, J. Spangleberg,
  H. Stein, J. Peter, J. Lauchner, A. Ranckle, V. Silger, D. Deibert, D.
  Gensenger, A. Klotz, L. Hann, J. Harlan, J. Hann, G. Sterwald, D. Archer, D.
  Acker, C. Magus, A. Fry, S. Boyer, J. Milton, C. Heller, J. Hadler, G.
  Dapbieder, G. Breiner, G. Hedler, A. Miller, J. Frantz, M. West, J. Rex, P.
  Natslove, P. Sell, M. Farrow, J. Kramlich, J. Heidard, G. Hop, P. Hartman.
  
      Rifle Company, ____ Regiment, Col. _____. 1st Brigade, Gen. Spring; 2nd
  Division, Gen. Shirtz, Oct. 14th, 1814:
  Capt—Abraham Gangaware.
  1st Lieut.—Da'l Moyer; 2nd, J. Newhart; 3rd, J. Stein.
  Ensign—O. Weller.
  1st Sgt.—J. Dull; 2nd, P. Minor; 3rd, D. Quier.
  1st Cpl.—A. Keisser; 2nd, J. Long; 3rd, D. Bickle; 4th, J. Mogler.
  Musicians—J. Weiper, D. Quear.
  Pvts.—J. Pryor, D. O'Daniel, J. Rose, J. Swenk, J. Frain, D. Keik, N. Moyer, J.
  Keidler, D. Rhoads, S. Boardgt, J. Ott, J. Rhoads, S. Yunt, G. Leitzcnberger, B.
  Shoemaker, P. Kuntz, D. Stileman, C. Slamy, Kinhinger, P. Sloffmore, H. Brobert,
  H. Hartman, G. Fisher, G. Hoats, H. Good, G. Kentz, J. Song, M. Eline, H.
  Kemery, P. Laudenslager, J. Loudenslagcr, C. Fought, G. Henry, T. Gangwere, D.
  Valentine, H. Ocher, G. Beck, J. Sherry, J. Deal, A. Schriven, J. Beck, G.
  Woodring, M. Good, J. Flexer, J. Richenbach, J. Hamer, M. Dornhamiler, J.
  Miller, J. Nerfor, J. Frack, J. Nagle, J. Schantz, J. Miller, J. Guilher, C.
  Reinhole, G. Hill, W. Stover, M. Fryman, F. Rider, R. Rovenholt, P. Kuntz, A.
  Highleager, H. Rich, F. Heller, P. Minic, G. Sterner, H. Rice, P. Seip, G.
  Broab, P. Elinsider, J. Trexler, J. Koch, J. Clawell, J. Eret, H. Fadsinger, E.
  Keafer, J. Enhard, J. Slower, H. Herwig, J. Mushtitz, M. Poe, M. Sendle, G.
  Lehr, P. Nogle, C. Race, C. Wile, A. Loudenbach, J. Hillegass, J. Shontz,
  J. Heller. G. Whitzal, S. Good, J. Ott, J. Stower, J. Snider, H. Shontz.
  
  Third Company, ____ Regiment, and  Brigade, 2nd Division.
  Capt.—William Fisher.
  1st Lieut.—D. Roth; 2nd, J. Lamb; 3rd, A. Keller.
  Ensign—J. Knecht.
  1st Sgt.—J. Walp; 2nd, I. L. Johnston; 3rd, J. Heyney; 4th, M. Morris.
  Cpls.—T. Shich, H. Karney, S. Ziegler.
  Musicians—G. Hess, P. Sichfried, E. Kronkright.
  Pvts.—W. Major, D. Ross, G. Emmor, G. Albert, H. Pysher, D. Lamberson, C. Hess,
  A. Fleming, E. CarkhufF, P. Reimcr, G. Reimcr, C. Wagner, J. Knacht, Jr., C.
  Junken, J. Biggle, J. Kister, M. Teal, M. Itterly, P. Flory, H. McCormel, D.
  Shoren, A. Hilliard, J. Emrich, J. Keim, J. Walker, M. Ernst, J. Bloof, S. Weed,
  O. Lester, G. Walter, W. Eysenbeiger, J. Shelly, P. Kellian, D. Wanaher, J.
  Henry, W. Westfall, R. Galloway, J. Houch, J. Jones, D. Grube, J. Miller. H.
  Hess. J. Miller, Jr., H. Strause, A. Wanner, J. Roth, F. Mapes, J. Miller, P.
  Steinmetz, C. Ziegler, J. Flick, C. Kreidler, J. Krutzer, W. Edmond, J Kintz, C.
  Menzer, J. Flory, P. Weygant. G. Gross, A. Houch, G. Gerhart, C. Muffley, I.
  Albert, L. Shannon, J. Pensyl, S. Hopple. C. Fell, L. Bartholomew, J. Miller, J.
  Michen, J. Smith, D. Labur, W. Freitchey, S. Yod, J. Johnston, J. Nichum, J.
  Eylenberger, S. Claywell, J. Russell, A. Grotzman, J. Williams, J. Gouley, W.
  Williams, J. Long, J. Snyder, B. Fort, G. Kratzer, J. Strouse, P. Keller.
  
      Roll of Seventh Company, First Rifle Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, in
  the command of Col. T. Humphreys. 
  Capt.—Jacob Shurtz.
  Sgts.—J. Ettwein, J. King, J. Humel, J. Wagner. 
  Cpls.—J. Wolf, H. Wolf, J. Buss, N. Kaemeres. 
  Musicians—A. Stehe, M. Lawall, P. Lawall. 
  Pvts.—J. Kocher, J. Beil, D. Fry, M. Fry, John Blum, J. Clayder, S. Gross, C.
  Beker, J. Coleman, J. Colver, G. Engel, J. Flick, J. Handsher, L. Cutting, J.
  Dorwart, F. Dreher, J. Huber, J. Hinkel, P. Junken, I. Kinart, J. Kirkenthal, J.
  Moser, D. Kreidler, C. Roth, Jacob Roth, John Roth, George Lawall, J. Santee, W.
  W. Swain, M. Transee, J. Unangst, G. Wagner, G. Young, G. Heberling, C. Fry, D.
  Oberly, J. Ziegnfuss; made at Camp Dupont, November 13th, 1814.
  
      Fourteenth Company, 1st Rifle Regiment, Camp Dupont, September 14th, 1814:
  Capt.-—George Hess, Jr.
  1st Lieut.—I. McHose; 2nd, J. Steaver.
  Ensign—S. Meyer.
  Musicians—J. Weaver, W. Hinkel.
  Sgts.—P. Boehm, D. Beaver, C. Bashman, W. Lynn.
  Cpls—W. Lersh, I. Eckert, G. Rush, J. Henn.
  Pvts.—A. Braun, M. Moser, J. Freeman, J. Sherer, S. Emery, C. Laubach, J.
  Bashman, T. Seiphert, J. Mann, H. Lee, M. Shleyer, J. Kneshel, F. Siegle, John
  P. Beyl, J. Leidish, W. Long, D. Shleyer, A. Reish, Jr., P. Ohl, J. Leidish, G.
  Dany, H. Rasmy, J. Mill, J. Henn, J. Beyl, P. Beaver, Y. Miller, A. Emery, G.
  Weaver, J. Klau, M. Biesaker, F. Fogel, J. Klau. J. Bast, L. Derr. W. Graham, J.
  Lynn, Jr.
  
      Captain Hawk's Company, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, command of Lieut.-Col.
  Christian J. Hutter.
  Capt.—Adam Hawk.
      1st Sgt.—J. C. Schock; 2nd Sgt., J. Trokel; 3rd, J. L. Knauss; 4th, Peter
  Belles; 5th, Wm. Fitzrandolph.
  1st Cpl.—Samuel Walter; 2nd, F. Wilhelm; 3rd, J. Lowry; J. Roher, n. c.
  Pvts—John Rolh, Thos. Pigg, H. Burlinger, N. Gruber, F. Price, J. Kriedler, D.
  Sirick. J. Rausbury, B. Price, G. Brodhead, S. Beech, A. Neiterhour, J. Jones,
  H. Rugs, P. Kegs, J. Walter, I. Snell, H. Emech, A. Hickman, G. Kuline, J. Kern,
  J. Kuhn, A. Wilhour, P. Walter, J. Hilliard, J. Kitter, F. Meksho, N. Duwalt, T.
  Plotts, R. Arnold, M. Swartz, J. Roup, J. Stocker, A. Jumper, J. Winner, J.
  Daniels, G. Fry, M. Kouhbine, W. Hulfish, J. Jintry, H. Coffin, J. Bander, P.
  Odenwilder, W. Walter, J. Caplin, J. Walter, C. Midsker, W. Koup, C. Stocher, M.
  Naumore, J. Singlin, J. Nagel. G. Shoop, T. Delher, J. Fushamer, J. Putz, A.
  Remel. S. Strong, J. Wismer, B. Mantania, A. Gordon, J. W. Drake, W. Sayre, J.
  Lee. P. Hawk, J. Storme, H. Wergs. G. Kittz, A. Andrew, A. Arnold, M. Smith, D.
  Burrow, J. Frong, A. Depew, J. Strole, G. Hanzsor, J. Price, J. Kentry, J. Bush,
  A. Tell, J. Prichard, A. Dennis, J. Raush, J. Smith, J. Targen, D. Lee, S. Pugh,
  P. Klinelup, P. Putz, A. Kailor, J M. Carr
  
      The foregoing is a list of the names of soldiers from Northampton county;
  some of the companies were entirely from the county, while others were only
  partially so. At the Easton library there is preserved a company color that was
  presented by the ladies of Easton by Miss Rosina Beidelman to Captain Horn's
  company on the morning of their departure from Camp Dupont. At the time the
  Declaration of Independence was promulgated at Easton, July 5, 1776, a flag
  representing the Thirteen States was displayed at the conclusion of the reading
  of that famous document, and the court-house bell rang forth the glad tidings to
  the assembled people. Just who retained possession of the flag is of course only
  traditional. Naturally, it may be presumed it was either Colonel Robert Levers
  or Lieutenant Valentine Beidelman, both of whom were trusted custodians of local
  affairs of the new government. The probability is that the flag presented to the
  emergency company was the original Revolutionary flag, on account of the
  presentation being made by a descendant of the trusted lieutenant of the county.
  In the year 1821 the remnant of this flag was placed in the Easton library,
  where it can be seen to this day. After these volunteers entered the field the
  war receded and no longer menaced their State. It was fought out on other
  ground—in the lowlands of Louisiana, the Canadian plains, and on ocean and lakes.
  
      War always brings with it an increased price of necessary living
  commodities. The War of 1812 was no exception to this inflexible consequence.
  Sugar reached thirty-five cents a pound, coffee was forty cents, and all classes
  of cotton and woolen goods commanded prices as high in proportion. This state of
  affairs was not, however, ruinous to the people, as the lesson was taught to do
  without luxuries. There was scarcely an article produced, excepting salt, that
  was necessary to their comfort and health but was produced within the limits of
  the county. Rye was a passable substitute for coffee, while roots and herbs were
  gathered in the forests to take the place of tea imported from China, which
  retailed at four dollars a pound. The spinning-wheels and handlooms, by the
  industry of wives and daughters, furnished broadcloths, silks and calicoes,
  which were as warm and durable as those of foreign manufacture. Incomes did not
  suffer a corresponding diminution, for the agricultural products advanced as
  rapidly as foreign articles. Wheat reached three dollars a bushel, corn a dollar
  and a half, and oats eighty cents; so that while necessary expenses of a family
  were increased, incomes were fully doubled. Thus, while the war brought disaster
  and impoverishment to the country at large, particularly to the mercantile
  interests of the larger cities, it wrought no such immediate result in
  Northampton county.
  
      The era of speculation, however, was abroad through the country, the
  extremely high prices received by the farmers for their products added to the
  great abundance of paper money issued by corporations, and individuals all
  attended to promote "get rich" schemes, to which the people fell easy victims.
  In Northampton county the land speculations of Nicholas Kraemer, who resided at
  Nelighsville, in Allen township, gained a wide field of prominence. He inflated
  the value of lands from thirty dollars an acre to one hundred dollars an acre,
  and so successful were his operations that many of the steady-going East
  Pennsylvanians paid for a lot of land three times the price their own judgment
  would approve. Swamplands and mountain lands were disposed of at fancy prices,
  and so gullible were the people that Kraemer carried on successful operations
  from 1802-16. The boom at last reached its height, then came the time when
  Kraemer failed to appear at his headquarters at the Sun tavern in Bethlehem,
  where he had dispensed his hospitality with the mighty punch-bowl. The sheriff
  now became the presiding genius. Kraemer's fortune, if he ever had one, was
  swept away, his land holdings were sold for one-sixth of the value so recently
  placed upon them, and its promoter became an outcast from the business world.
  
      The amazing hallucinations of the hitherto sensible people of Northampton
  and adjoining counties are hard to understand; the purchase of lands, often wild
  and worthless ones, at five times their valuation was probably due to the
  prosperity of the times and superabundance of paper money. This enabled Kraemer
  to prosecute his schemes successfully, and the tightening of the money market,
  which reached its climax in the panic of 1817, was the hurricane that capsized him.
  
      There was another form of speculative madness which had its day in eastern
  Pennsylvania between 1810-14: this was known as the "Merino Sheep Fever," which
  spread over the northern and middle states. The merino sheep had been introduced
  from Spain into the United States in 1802 and the fabulous reports of the value
  of their fleece and the corresponding results to be obtained were spread
  throughout the country. Northampton county felt much less of this excitement
  than the adjoining counties in New Jersey and Pennsylvania; still, she did not
  wholly escape. There were many instances in which the fleecy fraud was
  perpetrated on its citizens. The price of fullbloods ranged from two hundred to
  eight hundred dollars, and there were instances when as high as two thousand
  dollars were paid for a merino ram. The half-blooded sheep seldom brought more
  than fifty dollars as an extreme price. When the season of folly was over, a
  merino sheep that had cost an entire year's crop could be purchased for five
  dollars. In some localities there were people who brought ruin upon themselves;
  no such extreme cases are known to have occurred in Northampton county, but
  still there were parties who had parted with their wealth, for which the returns
  were very meagre.
  
      An important event in the history of Northampton county was in the year
  1820, which marked the passage of a fleet of boats down the Lehigh river, laden
  with three hundred and sixty-five tons of anthracite coal. The shipment was made
  by White and Hazard, and was bound for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This was the
  first utilization of the river improvements which had just been completed by the
  Lehigh Navigation Company, who had adopted a system of wing-dams and
  sluice-gates, combining the principles of the splash dams of the lumberman. The
  required depth of water between Mauch Chunk and Easton had been obtained the
  previous autumn. There had been, previous to this, small lots of coal floated
  down over the rocks and through the eddies of the Lehigh, but they were,
  however, only experiments, and this shipment was the inauguration of a regular
  traffic. Even before the Revolution there were traditions of the existence of
  coal in the mountains, but they were vague, shadowy and indefinite. That there
  was exhaustless wealth in the mountains was revealed in 1804 to Philip Ginter, a
  humble hunter. In the pursuit of game he reached the summit of the Mauch Chunk
  mountain, the site of the quarry of anthracite coal, and, stumbling over a rock
  in the pathway he examined the obstacle, decided it was the "stone coal" of
  which he heard tradition. Taking the black stone next day to Colonel Jacob
  Weiss, residing at what was then known as Fort Allen, the latter, who was alive
  to the subject, took the specimen to Philadelphia to be inspected by John
  Nicholson, Michael Hillegas and Charles Cist, to ascertain its nature and
  qualities. They immediately authorized Colonel Weiss to satisfy Ginter for his
  discovery upon his pointing out the precise spot where he found the coal. They
  immediately formed themselves into what was called the Lehigh Coal Mine Company,
  but without a charter of incorporation, and located about eight thousand to ten
  thousand acres of unappropriated land, including the Mauch Chunk mountain. There
  is, however, no evidence that thev ever worked the mine. Thus stone coal
  remained in a neglected state, except an attempted use by blacksmiths and people
  in the immediate vicinity.
  
      In 1806 William Turnbull constructed an ark and delivered two or three
  hundred tons to the manager of the water-works at Philadelphia. The coal proved
  unmanageable, for instead of feeding the fire it had the effect to extinguish
  it. The first successful attempt to burn anthracite coal for manufacturing
  purposes in furnaces was in 1812 by White and Hazard, who operated a wire mill
  on the Schuylkill. They had made several unsuccessful attempts to raise a heat,
  when one of the disgusted workmen slammed the furnace door shut, and left the
  mill. About half an hour later one of the party returned for his jacket he had
  left behind, and was amazed to find the furnace at a white heat. This amazing
  intelligence he communicated to his companions, who returned to the mill, heated
  and rolled several lots of iron before replenishing the fire with more of the
  black stones, for which they now began to feel a greater degree of respect,
  finding it necessary to leave it alone to produce a fire as hot as could be made
  from charcoal.
  
      The experiment of floating coal to the market was again attempted in the
  summer of 1814 by Charles Miner and William Hillhouse. The barges used were
  about 65 by 14 feet in dimension which took a cargo of twenty-four tons. The
  first barge, after encountering many mishaps, reached Philadelphia in a five
  days' passage. In other attempts three out of four barges were wrecked, and,
  peace being proclaimed with England, Liverpool and Richmond coal was imported in
  abundance and the price of hard-kindling anthracite fell below the cost of
  shipment. It is needless to say the enterprise was abandoned, and no further
  progress was made until 1820. In 1820 White and Hazard, having by mere accident
  learned the great value of anthracite coal, were desirous of obtaining a supply
  for their Schuylkill mills. Josiah White and George F. H. Hauto visited the coal
  mines in Northampton county, and, ascertaining that the representations made
  were true, they immediately obtained a twenty-year lease of the mine from
  Colonel Weiss and his associates at the annual rental of one ear of corn. At the
  time this was considered not as a gift to White, Hauto and Hazard, but they were
  objects of pity more than envy, as it was deemed that the project would be more
  ruinous than profitable. The concession having been obtained from the Lehigh
  Coal Company, the legislature was petitioned for incorporation of a company to
  improve the navigation of the Lehigh river. The wise lawmakers considered the
  scheme as wholly visionary, but at last, on March 20. 1818, granted the
  incorporation of the Lehigh Navigation Company. The corporators planned to build
  a channel by the means of wing dams and channel walls in the center of the
  river, which had a fall of three hundred and sixty-five feet between Mauch Chunk
  and Easton. This improvement was based on the fact that droughts did not
  materially affect the depth of the river. While working on the construction, the
  drought of 1818 occurred, which reduced the depth of the river twelve inches
  below any previous low water mark. The corporators, though disturbed by this
  evidence, which in time of low water would make their channel valueless,
  instantly decided on a new system. Neither the wing dams nor the channel walls
  would flood the ripples in time of droughts, so artificial pools and
  sluice-gates were adopted. This method required the construction of stone-filled
  cut dams across the river at necessary points, building in each dam a
  sluice-gate of sufficient size to pass the boats. When the dam became full and
  had overflowed for a sufficient length of time to fill the river below to its
  natural stage, the sluicegates were thrown open, producing a flood in the river,
  on which the boats floated smoothly over the rapids and then onward to the next
  dam, where the same process was repeated. This was simply applying what in a
  rude fashion had been used in the lumbering districts for floating logs, and
  even dated back to the summer of 1779, when General Clinton, in an Indian
  campaign, constructed a dam at the outlet of Otsego lake to float his boats,
  which had grounded on account of the shoal waters of the north branch of the
  Susquehanna river.
  
      The first year's shipment of anthracite coal was three hundred and
  sixty-five tons; every means was taken to introduce it to the public, who still
  persisted in using the sooty Virginia or Liverpool coal. Handbills were printed
  in both the English and German languages and freely distributed; a model of a
  coal stove was patented; blacksmiths importuned to give it a trial, but the
  first shipment was a drug on the market. Another drawback was that the arks or
  boats used in transportation could not be returned for future loads, but had to
  be demolished, and the timber, owing to the discoloration of the coal, brought a
  very low figure. The first shipment was finally exhausted, and in 1821 one
  thousand and seventy-three tons were shipped. The increase in the Lehigh coal
  traffic increased to such extent that 690,456 tons were shipped in 1850. The
  establishment of slackwater navigation on the Lehigh river and traffic
  improvements on the Delaware river were largely the cause of the increased
  tonnage that was sent to market.
  
      There was in 1838 another recurrence of an agricultural speculation in
  Northampton county, though she suffered less from it than other localities. It
  was called the fever of Morus Multicaulis. The Multicaulis was a silk producing
  tree so-called; it was a mulberry tree, the leaves of which were the proper food
  of the silkworm. It was by the cunning intrigues of the speculators that the
  production of these trees could be made the cause of excessive profit. In the
  fevered speculation of 1838-39, the honest principle of production had no place;
  the actual growing of silk, or even silkworms, was never entertained. The buying
  and selling of trees was the only object; newspapers were full of flaming
  advertisements, showing the profit that would accrue from ten to twenty acres
  planted with the Multicaulis trees. The mania was not confined to any one
  locality; it ranged from the Carolinas to Massachusetts Bay. More than three
  hundred thousand trees were sold in a single week, the price varying from twenty
  cents to a dollar for a tree. Farmers planted acres, and mechanics and small
  householders filled their yards and gardens. Within three years from the time of
  the bubble's bursting, the trees, which a short time before had been purchased
  at extravagant prices and planted out with tender care, were dug up or cut away
  and thrown among brush and rubbish and given to the flames.
  
      This was not the first attempt at silk culture in America; as early as 1732
  this enduring bubble was first launched. One of the earliest planters was
  Governor Jonathan Law of Connecticut, who introduced the raising of silkworms on
  his extensive farms at Cheshire in that province. He appeared in public in 1747
  in the first coat and stockings made of Connecticut silk. The following year
  Ezra Stiles, at the commencement of Yale College, was appareled in a gown of the
  same. As early as 1750 there were a great number of mulberry trees in the
  neighborhood of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and the Moravians were feeding the
  foliage of these to the silkworms. They were removed in 1762 to Christian
  Spring, where the mulberry tree seemed to have abounded. At the time of the
  Revolutionary War all efforts were abandoned in silk culture, but in 1788 Dr.
  Nathaniel Aspinwall in Mansfield, Connecticut, laid the foundation for one of
  the great industries of the country. Among the early pioneers was Colonel
  Elderkin, who owned an extensive mulberry orchard in Windham, Connecticut, which
  produced about ten thousand pounds of silk annually. This was manufactured into
  the fashionable long stockings of the day, handkerchief and vest patterns were
  also successfully fabricated, and several pieces of dress silk were produced
  with which the daughters of the proprietor adorned themselves. After the death
  of Colonel Elderkin the property passed into the hands of Rodney Hanks and his
  nephew Horatio, of Mansfield, Connecticut, who in 1810 invented and built a
  machine for spinning silk by water-power. It was several years, however, before
  a silk factory was established, and the early attempts were not profitable.
  
      In the fourth decade of the nineteenth century occurred the war against
  Mexico, which was fought to a successful issue; but with the struggle
  Northampton county can hardly be said to have been identified. It is true that
  individual volunteers among her people fought under Scott and Taylor, but they
  did so either by enlistment in the regular army or in other organizations
  outside of Northampton county, as no regiment or company was raised within her
  limits for service in Mexico. This being the case, no correct list of their
  names or record of their services can be given.
  
      In the great political duel between the North and the South preceding the
  Civil War, the people of Northampton county took a conservative stand. At the
  time of the holding of the convention at Baltimore in 1852, the founder of the
  party, Henry Clay, lay on his death bed, and a few months later occurred the
  death of his noble colleague, Daniel Webster. The Democratic administration was
  hardly seated when the South commenced efforts to repeal The Missouri
  Compromise, which had satisfied the people of the North as a final settlement of
  the slavery question so that they had become quiescent on the Fugitive Slave
  Laws. Stephen A. Douglas, to further his presidential ambitions with the South,
  was an avowed supporter of the repeal of the Missouri Compromise and brought
  forth as a substitute the Kansas and Nebraska Bill which made the Northern
  politicians stand aghast. The press and pulpit denounced it. Northern State
  Legislatures recorded their disapproval, and Douglas was denounced on every hand
  as the betrayer of his country. It was plainly to be foreseen that if it was
  left to the people of the territory to decide whether it should be slave or
  free, each aiming to gain the mastery, there would be a clash of arms, and by
  the law Congress had bound itself not to interfere. The rising storm of
  indignation in the North threatened to become a hurricane; thousands of the
  followers of Jeffersonian Democracy who frowned on Abolitionism, who made no
  quarrel with the Fugutive Slave Laws, found the Kansas-Nebraska Law unendurable.
  These, with the Northern Whigs and members of American or Know-Nothing party,
  were ripe for the formation of a new party. This eventually gave birth to the
  Republican party.
  
      The struggle for Kansas now became a national cause. Scarcely had the
  Kansas-Nebraska Bill become a law when the people of Missouri began pouring in
  the territory with the avowed purpose of making it a Slave State. This was
  resented by the people of New England and the Middle States, and the appointment
  by President Pierce of Andrew Reeder of Easton, Pennsylvania, as the first
  territorial governor of Kansas, only helped to inflame the indignation of the
  people of the North. Reeder was a positive Democrat, in full sympathy with the
  Kansas-Nebraska Law, and a strong friend of the South. The interests of slavery
  were thought to be safe in his hands.
  
      Andrew H. Reeder was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, July 12, 1807. His
  great-grandfather, Charles Reeder, was a native of England, who came to
  Pennsylvania in 1713, when he was twenty years of age. He settled in Bucks
  county and his son, Joseph, crossed the Delaware river and became a resident of
  Mercer county, New Jersey, afterwards removing to along the head waters of the
  Delaware river. Here in 1760 was born Absalom Reeder, the father of Andrew H.
  Reeder. Shortly after the termination of the Revolutionary War, Absalom Reeder
  came to Easton, Pennsylvania, and married in 1788, Christina Smith. Young Andrew
  received a liberal education at Lawrenceville High School at Lawrenceville, New
  Jersey; after his graduation he was admitted to practice law in 1828. Soon after
  his admission to the bar, by his industry and talent he assumed a high position
  among his professional brethren. He devoted much of his spare time to politics;
  his rare power as a public speaker and debater acquired him an influential
  position in the counsels of the Democratic party in Northampton county and
  throughout the State. His career in Kansas made his name a household word in the
  county. He was honest, and when he reached Kansas and witnessed the violence of
  the Missouri people and their determination to make Kansas a Slave State by fair
  means or foul, he resolved to see fair play. The election of the Territorial
  Legislature brought matters to a crisis. The territory was invaded by five
  thousand Missourians armed with muskets, bowie knives and pistols, and led by
  United States Senator David R. Atchison. The acts of the Legislature were vetoed
  by Governor Reeder and passed over his veto. This was wholly displeasing to the
  pro-slavery party, who demanded that the President should recall him, and he
  being subservient to the slave power dismissed Reeder. The latter did not return
  East but became a resident of Kansas and joined the Free State party. He was
  unanimously elected by the people as their delegate to Congress, afterwards was
  first United States Senator from Kansas. The new constitution of the State
  failed of ratification, hence he did not take his seat. Upon his return from
  Kansas he resumed the active practice of law, associating himself with Henry
  Green, and resolved never again to accept political office. He was delegate at
  large from Pennsylvania to the Chicago Convention that nominated Abraham Lincoln
  and always thereafter remained actively engaged in the service of the Republican
  party. At the outbreak of the Civil War, the first military appointments made by
  the President were Nathaniel Lyon and Governor Reeder to be brigadier-generals
  in the regular army. Owing to his age he declined the appointment. In 1863 he
  was appointed by the President as chairman of the commission to investigate the
  accounts of Surgeon-General Hammond, charged with irregularities and peculation.
  While engaged in this task he brought upon himself the ailments which, on July
  5, 1864. terminated in his death.
  
      Events followed each other in rapid succession; the Dred Scott decision of
  the Supreme Court of the United States; the Lincoln and Douglas Debates; the
  John Brown Raid; and the political campaign of 1860. Then South Carolina's first
  step towards dismembering the Union; the alignment of slave States against the
  free States; the inauguration of President Lincoln. Then on April 12, 1861,
  before the break of day, the cannons booming in Charleston Harbor heralded the
  attack on Fort Sumter and the oncoming of war and strife, that was to deluge the
  land.
  
  
  Additional Comments:
  
  Extracted from:
  
  History of Northampton County
  [PENNSYLVANIA]
  and
  The Grand Valley of the Lehigh
  Under Supervision and Revision of 
  WILLIAM J. HELLER
  
  Assisted by AN ADVISORY BOARD OF EDITORS
  VOLUME II
  1920 
  THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
  HOSTON    NEW YORK     CHICAGO
  
  
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