Area History: Bell's History of Northumberland County, PA - Contents File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Tony Rebuck. USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. _____________________________________________________ HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, INCLUDING ITS ABORIGINAL HISTORY; THE COLONIAL AND REVOLUTIONARY PERIODS; EARLY SETTLEMENT AND SUBSEQUENT GROWTH; POLITICAL ORGANIZATION; AGRICULTURAL, MINING, AND MANUFACTURING INTERESTS; INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS; RELIGIOUS, EDUC- ATIONAL, SOCIAL, AND MILITARY HISTORY; SKETCHES OF ITS BOROUGHS, VILLAGES, AND TOWNSHIPS; PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF PIONEERS AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS ETC, ETC. EDITED BY HERBERT C. BELL. ILLUSTRATED. CHICAGO, ILL.: BROWN, RUNK & Co., PUBLISHERS. 1891 ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ NOTE: If file name listed indicates on-line. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I THE COLONIAL PERIOD. .............................. 17-42 bell0001.txt General Topography - Drainage - First Exploration of the Susquehanna - Indian Tribes - The Susquehannocks - Delawares - Allumapees - The Shawanese - The Iroquois - Shikellimy - Indian - Traders - Conrad Weiser - Missionary Effort CHAPTER II THE COLONIAL PERIOD (Concluded)................... 43-98 bell0002.txt bell0003.txt bell0004.txt Purchase of the Susquehanna - Alienation of the Delaware Indians - Hostilities Inaugurated - Rumors of French Invasion - Defensive Measures Adopted - The Augusta Regiment Organized to Build a Port at Shamokin - Progress of the Expedition-Construction of Fort Augusta - Principal Events of Colonel Clapham's Administration - Extracts and Incidents from Major Burd's Journal - Subsequent Commanding Officers - The Magazine and Indian Store - Operations In 1763 - Strength of the Garrison and Armament - The Flag - Doctors and Chaplains - Plan and Description of the Fort - Close of The French and Indian War - Purchase of 1768 - Early Survey - Lists of Pioneers - Fithian's Journal - The Yankee and Pennamite War CHAPTER III. THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. ...................... 99-142 bell0005.txt bell0006.txt Close of the Provincial Regime - The County's Representation in the Continental Army - Companies of Captains Lowdon, Parr, and Weltzel - Twelfth Pennsylvania Regiment - Committee of Safety - Militia Organization - Indian Outrages - Defensive Measures Instituted by Colonel Hunter - "The Great Runaway" - Colonel Brodhead Temporarily Stationed on the Frontier - Colonel Hartley's Military Administration - Fall of Fort Freeland - The German Regiment -General Potter's Expedition - Events of Colonel Hunter's Accounts CHAPTER IV. ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION. ............... 142-198 bell0007.txt bell0008.txt Erection of Northumberland County - Disintegration of its Territory - Present Boundaries - Internal Subdivision - Original Townships - Formation of Present Subdivisions -Statistics of Population - Public Buildings - Early Fiscal Affairs -Inauguration of the Public School System - Roster of County Officers - Representation in Constitutional Conventions, etc. - Legislative Representation - Early Township Officers CHAPTER V. THE BENCH AND BAR. ...............................201-260 bell0008.txt bell0009.txt First Courts and Cases - The Quarter Sessions - Early Administration of Penal Justice - The Orphans' Court - The Common Pleas - Rules of Court - The Bench - Roster of Justices of President Judges -Associate Judges - The Bar of the Past and Present - The Supreme Court CHAPTER VI. THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. .........................261-273 bell0010.txt List of Sunbury Physicians, by Dr. R H. Awl -Biographical Sketches of Physicians Throughout the County - Medical Societies - Roster of the Medical Profession CHAPTER VII. THE PRESS. .....................................273-296 bell0010.txt Journalism at Northumberland - Sunbury Papers - The Press of Milton - Shamokin Newspaper -Journals of Mt. Carmel - McEwensville and Locust Gap Papers CHAPTER VIII. INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS .........................297-328 bell0011.txt Relation of Highways of Travel to Civilization - Public Roads - The Tulpehocken Road - The Old Reading Road - Early County Roads - Turnpikes - River Navigation - Canals -Railroads - Pennsylvania - Danville and Pottsville -Philadelphia and Reading - Northern Central - Sunbury, Hazelton and Wilkesbarre - Sunbury and Lewistown - Lewisburg and Tyrone - Philadelphia and Reading - Mine Hill and Schuylkill Haven - Mahanoy and Shamokin - Enterprise -Shamokin and Trevorton - Trevorton, Mahanoy and Susquehanna- Catawissa - Shamokin, Sunbury and Lewisburg - Delaware, Lackawana and Western - Lehigh Valley - Wilkesbarre and Western CHAPTER IX. AGRICULTURE..................................... 329-346 bell0012.txt Preparation of Soils the Result of Remote Rather than Immediate Agency - Geological Structure - Anticlinals and Synclinals - Subdivisions of the Paleozoic System - Location and Characteristics of Each Stratum - Development of the Farming Industry - Condition of the Farming Interests in 1845 - Agricultural Societies CHAPTER X. THE SHAMOKIN COAL FIELD.......................... 347-357 bell0012.txt By Dr. J. J. JOHN. Importance of Coal - Its Location - Names of the Veins - Their Position and Character - A Walk from the Weigh Scales to the Cameron Colliery - Ascent of the Great Culm Bank - A Talk with the Inside Foreman About the Coal Formation - Further Description of the Sixteen Veins Found in This Region - A Section of the Measures - Depth of the Shamokin Coal Basin - A Short Description of the Districts and Basins - Production of the Three Districts - The Question, "How Long Will Our Coal Supply Last?" Answered CHAPTER XI. DEVELOPMENT OF THE SHAMOKIN COAL FIELD. .........358-391 bell0013.txt BY DR. J. J. JOHN Discovery of Anthracite In This Region - First Application to General Uses -First Shamokin Coal Taken to Market - Opening of the first Mines at Shamokin, Coal Run, and Trevorton - First Coal Shipments Down the Susquehanna -Speculation In Coal Lands - The Danville and Pottsville Railroad - Pioneer Coal operations - The Disastrous Year of 1842 - Revival of 1850 - Judge Helfenstein's Developments - Original Coal Breakers - Marshalls letter - New Collieries and Outlets - Coal Shipments to Elmira in 1855 - Other Collieries Started and Breakers Erected - Tonnage of This Region for the Years 1857 and 1889 - Total Production for the Past Fifty-one Years. CHAPTER XII. WAR OF 1812. ...................................391-396 bell0014.txt Mobilization of the Militia - Companies of Captains Robert McGuigan, William McGuire, William F. Buyers, and Jacob Hummel, and Lieutenant Joseph Dreibelbies CHAPTER XIII. THE CIVIL WAR. ................................396-444 bell0014.txt bell0015.txt State of Public Sentiment at the Outbreak of the War - Mass Meetings and Resolutions - The Sanitary Commission - Regimental Sketches - Eleventh - Eighth -Thirty fourth - Forty sixth - Forty seventh - Fifty first - Fifty-third - Fifty-Sixth - Eightieth - One Hundred and Twelfth - Fifty eighth - One Hundred and Thirty first - One Hundred and Fifty second - Seventy fourth - Militia of 1862 - Militia of 1863 - Soldiers' Monuments CHAPTER XIV. SUNBURY. .......................................444-514 bell0016.txt bell0017.txt The Town Plat - Early Residents - Sunbury in 1805 - Reminiscences of Dr. R. H. Awl - Prominent Merchants, 1772-1850 - Early Hotels - Municipal Organization and Government - Facilities of Travel and Transportation - Industrial Activity - Banking Institutions - Gas, Electric Light, and Water Companies - Local Papers - The Post office - Secret and other Societies - Educational Interests - Churches - Cemeteries - Borough of East Sunbury CHAPTER XV. NORTHUMBERLAND. .................................515-545 bell0018.txt The Town Plat - Early History - Prominent Early Residents - Early Merchants and Hotels - The Postoffice - Bridges, Canals, and Railways - Borough Organization and Government - Industrial Activity - Schools - Local Journalism - Secret and other Societies - Churches - Cemeteries CHAPTER XVI. MILTON. ........................................545-591 bell0019.txt bell0020.txt Pioneer History - The Town Plat - Inhabitants from 1804 to 1808 - Taxables in 1815 - Borough Government - The Postoffice - Facilities of Travel and Transportation - General Business Interests - Industries of the Past and Present - floods and Fires - Secret and Other Societies - Churches - Sunday Schools - Miscellaneous Moral and Humanitarian Organizations - Educational Interests-Local Papers - Cemeteries. CHAPTER XVII. SHAMOKIN. .....................................591-655 bell0021.txt bell0022.txt Brief of Title - The Town Plat - Pioneers - Shamokin in 1839 - Subsequent Growth Summarized - The First Stores and Hotels - Early Physicians and Lawyers - Municipal Organization and Government - The Riot of 1877 - Facilities of Travel and Transportation - The Shamokin Coal Trade - General Industrial Interests - The Postoffice - Banks - Water, Gas, and Electric Light - Board of Trade - Secret and Other Societies - The Press - Churches-Educational Interests - Cemeteries CHAPTER XVIII. MT. CARMEL. ..................................655-676 bell0023.txt Old Hotels - The Town Plat - First Improvements and Subsequent Growth - The First Merchants, Physicians, and Lawyers - The Postoffice - Railroads -Municipal Organization and Government - The Mt. Carmel Coal Trade - General Industrial Interests - Financial Institutions - Water and Electric Light Companies - Secret and Other Societies - The Press - Schools - Churches -Cemeteries CHAPTER XIX. WATSONTOWN. ....................................677-692 bell0023.txt Pioneer History - The First Surveys - Early Industries, Stores, and Hotels -The Town Plat - Railroads - The Postoffice - Manufacturing, Past and Present -Banks - Electric light and Water Companies - Borough Organization and Government - Secret and Fraternal Societies - Educational and Literary Effort - Churches - Watsontown Cemetery CHAPTER XX. TURBUT TOWNSHIP. ................................692-697 bell0024.txt Erection and Original Boundaries - Subdivision and Present Area - Pioneers - Mills - Churches -Schools -Cemeteries CHAPTER XXI. UPPER AUGUSTA TOWNSHIP. ........................698-705 bell0024.txt Erection of Augusta Township and Development of its Subsequent Boundaries - Formation of Upper and Lower Augusta - Pioneers - Roads and Streams -Industries - Schools - Churches CHAPTER XXII. LOWER AUGUSTA TOWNSHIP. .......................705-707 bell0024.txt Territorial Development - Topography - Fisher's Ferry - Mills - Schools -Churches CHAPTER XXIII. UPPER MAHANOY TOWNSHIP. ......................708-710 bell0024.txt Proceedings for the Erection of Mahanoy Township - Disintegration of its Territory - Organization of Upper Mahanoy - Pioneers - Hotels - Mills - Secret Society - Schools - Churches CHAPTER XXIV. LOWER MAHANOY TOWNSHIP. .......................711-714 bell0024.txt Organization - Drainage - Early History and Present Business and Industrial Interests of Georgertown - Malta - Industries - Schools - Churches CHAPTER XXV. POINT TOWNSHIP. ................................714-716 bell0024.txt Proceedings for Its Erection - First Township Officers - Pioneers - Industries CHAPTER XXVI. CHILLISQUAQUE TOWNSHIP. .......................716-726 bell0024.txt Area and Topography - Erection and Subdivision - Pioneer Industries - Pottsgrove - Montandon - Sodom - Chillisquaque - Schools - Churches CHAPTER XXVII. SHAMOKIN TOWNSHIP. ...........................726-734 bell0025.txt Formation of Ralpho Township and Description of its Original Boundaries - Change of Name to Shamokin - Physical Features - Pioneers - Taxables in 1755 - Industries - Early Settlement, Present Business, and Municipal Government of the Borough of Snydertown - Villages - Schools -Churches CHAPTER XXVIII. LITTLE MAHANOY TOWNSHIP .....................734-736 bell0025.txt Boundaries - Organization - Pioneers - Mills - Schools -Churches CHAPTER XXIX. RUSH TOWNSHIP. ................................737-742 bell0025.txt Successive Movements for the Division of Shamokin Township - Formation, Origin of Name, and First Township - Officers of Rush - Pioneers - Industries - Rushtown - Schools - Churches CHAPTER XXX. JACKSON TOWNSHIP. ..............................743-748 bell0025.txt Original Boundaries - Pioneers - Industries - Early History and Growth of Herndon - Mahanoy - School - Churches CHAPTER XXXI. COAL TOWNSHIP. ................................749-751 bell0025.txt Suggestiveness of the Name - Organization - Streams and Roads - Industries - Villages - Coal Poor District - Churches CHAPTER XXXII. DELAWARE TOWNSHIP. ...........................752-764 bell0025.txt Organization and Boundaries - Pioneers - Early Industries - Early History, Growth, Industries, and Borough Organization of McEwensville - Dewart - Churches - Schools - Cemeteries CHAPTER XXXIII. LEWIS TOWNSHIP. .............................765-769 bell0026.txt Topographical Features - Political Organization - Freeland's Mill - Settlement, Growth, Present Business Interests, and Municipal Government of the Borough of Turbutville - Churches - Schools - Turbutville Cemetery CHAPTER XXXIV. CAMERON TOWNSHIP. ............................769-772 bell0026.txt Extent -Organization Drainage - Villages of the Past and Present - Schools - Churches. CHAPTER XXXV. JORDAN TOWNSHIP. ..............................772-777 bell0026.txt Erection and Organization - Drainage - Roads - Post-Villages - Industries - Schools - Churches CHAPTER XXXVI ZERBE TOWNSHIP. ...............................777-783 bell0026.txt Organization and Boundaries - Pioneers - Origin, Growth, Present Business Interests, and Secret Societies of Trevorton - Schools - Churches CHAPTER XXXVII. MT. CARMEL TOWNSHIP. ........................784-786 bell0026.txt Organization - Drainage and Roads - Collieries - Mining Villages - Churches CHAPTER XXXVIII. WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. .......................786-790 bell0026.txt Original Boundaries - First Township Officers - Pioneers - Industries - Rebuck - Schools - Churches. CHAPTER XXXIX. ROCKEFELLER TOWNSHIP. .......................790 -796 bell0026.txt Organization and Boundaries - Drainage and Roads - Villages - MllIs - Schools - Churches. CHAPTER XL. RALPHO TOWNSHIP. ................................796-800 bell0026.txt Successive Steps in the Proceedings by Which the Township was Erected - Line of Division from Shamokin - Drainage and Roads Pioneers - Early History, Growth, and Secret Societies of Elysburg - Industries - Schools - Churches CHAPTER XLI. GEARHART TOWNSHIP. .............................800-803 bell0026.txt Erection and Organization - The Founding, Growth, and Municipal Government of the Borough of Riverside - South Danville - Schools -Churches - Cemetery CHAPTER XLII. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Sunbury ................804-860 bell0027.txt bell0028.txt CHAPTER XLIII. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Shamokin ..............860-967 bell0029.txt bell0030.txt bell0031.txt bell0032.txt CHAPTER XLIV. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Milton ................967-1013 bell0033.txt bell0034.txt CHAPTER XLV. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Mt. Carmel ............1013-1067 bell0035.txt bell0036.txt CHAPTER XLVI. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Watsontown ...........1068-1092 bell0037.txt CHAPTER XLVII. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. bell0038.txt Northumberland Borough and Point Township ..............1093-1106 CHAPTER XLVIII. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. bell0039.txt Turbut and Chillisquaque Townships .....................1106-1141 CHAPTER XLIX. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. bell0040.txt Lewis and Delaware Townships and Boroughs of Turbutville and McEwensville ...........................1141-1160 CHAPTER L. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. bell0041.txt Upper Augusta, Lower Augusta, and Rockefeller Townships .................................1160-1175 CHAPTER LI. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. bell0042.txt bell0043.txt Shamokin, Ralpho, Rush, and Gearhart Townships, and Boroughs of Snydertown and Riverside ..............1175-1217 CHAPTER LII. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. bell0044.txt Zerbe (Trevorton), Cameron, Little Mahanoy, Jackson, Lower Mahanoy, Washington, Jordan, and Upper Mahanoy Townships ...........................1217-1239 INDEX...................................................1241-1256