Area History:History of Schuylkill County, Pa: 1843 History of Schuylkill County by Sherman Day; reprinted by the Southwest Pennsylvania Genealogical Services Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Elizabeth Del Valle USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file 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. ______________________________________________________________________ NOTICE: This work was reproduced from the original edition by the photo-offset process. The uneven image evident in the reprint is characteristic of the original typography. This shortcoming notwithstanding, our printer has made every effort to produce as fine a reprint of the original edition as possible. SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA GENEALOGICAL SERVICES PO Box 253, Laughlintown, Pennsylvania 15655 ----------------------------------- SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. SCHUYLKILL COUNTY was separated from Berks and Northampton, by the act of 1st March 1811 Length 30 miles, breadth 20; area 745 sq. miles. Population in 1820, 11,339; in 1830, 20,744; in 1840, 29,053. The surface of the county is very mountainous and rugged. A pleasant and fertile red- shale valley lies between the Kittatinny and Second mountains; but the region beyond, with the exception of the narrow val. leys of the streams, is of little value, comparatively, for agricultural purposes-the great wealth of that region consisting in its coal-mines. There are farms there, it is true, and more will be opened, stimulated by the excellent market in the immediate vicinity; but, as a general rule, the coal- region of Schuylkill county must look below the Second moun. tain, or even below the Blue mountain, for its agricultural supplies. The mountain ranges ran from southwest to northeast: the leading chains are the Kittatinny, or Blue mountain, which forms the southeastern boundary of the county; the Second mountain; Sharp mountain, which is the southeastern limit of the coal measures ; Mine hill, and Broad mountain, which contain the principal veins of coal; and the Mahantango and Mahanoy mountain, the northwestern boundary of the county. The Schuylkill, with its branches, Little Schuylkill, Norwegian, and Mill Cr., is the principal stream of the county. The Swatara, the Mahantango, and Mahanoy creeks drain the southwestern end; and the sources of Catawissa Cr., Lizard, and Mahoning creeks are also within the county The great southern anthracite coal-field is about 65 miles long, extending from the Summit mine of Mauch Chunk to the neighborhood of Pine Grove, where it divides into two branches: the northern one, under the name of Wiconisco mountain, extending westwardly beyond the county line to Lyken's valley, in Dauphin county; and the other embraced between the Stony mountain and a continuation of the Sharp mountain, reaching nearly to the Susquehanna. This coal-field is about five miles in width, between the northern slope of Sharp mountain and the southern slope of Broad mountain; and is divided by low ridges, or anticlinal axes, caused by subterranean forces, into the minor basins of Broad mountain, Mine hill, and Pottsville. Professor Rogers, the state geologist, remarks: From geological evidences, too numerous and striking to be -----page 603----- questioned, we infer that all the coal deposits of our anthracite region owe their more or less inclined posture, and their limits, to the influence of two grand causes, namely subterranean elevation, and the superficial denuding action of a deluge." "Connected with this violent upheaving action of the coal strata, outside of the coal basins, enormous parallel wrinkling of the coal measures themselves have taken place, causing great intricacy in the internal structure of many parts of these regions. This is augmented by the existence of great dislocations, the results of the same subterranean movements." To the same cause Prof Rogers attributes the peculiar phenomena discovered in Sharp mountain, throughout an extent of probably thirty miles, indicating that the coal measures of that mountain have been tilted over backwards, or towards the north, breaking the coal up into small flakes, and giving to its strata a dip contrary to that which they should naturally have on the Southern side of the basin Broad and Sharp mountains, the boundaries of the basin, are cut down at various places, by the different streams that take their rise in the coalfield, or pass through it. It is penetrated by the Little Schuylkill, at Tamaqua, by the river Schuylkill at Pottsville, by the West Branch at Minersville, and by Swatara creek at Pine Grove; and at the west by the Wiconisco and Stony creeks. The northern boundary is also cut through by Roush's creek, a branch of Mahantango. These creeks, or passes through the mountains, afford outlets for the coal, and favorable sites for the location of canals and railroads. The principal of these improvements are the Schuylkill Navigation, penetrating the first coal-field at Pottsville, and terminating at Port Carbon; the Reading railroad, terminating, itself, at Pottsville, but connecting there with another railroad up the Schuylkill valley, ten miles-with the Danville and Pottsville railroad, and several other small roads diverging from Pottsville-and with the West Branch railroad at Schuylkill Haven, and the Little Schuylkill railroad at Port Clinton. The Union canal reaches near to the coal-field at Pine Grove, from which railroads diverge to the mines. These larger railroads have innumerable lateral branches, communicating with each different mine. Besides these improvements, there is an excellent stoned turnpike leading from Reading, through Orwigsburg and Pottsville, to Sunbury. Iron-ore of good quality has been found at a number of the coal-mines, and a successful attempt has been made, at Pottsville, in reducing iron-ore with the anthracite; but hitherto the coal business has been found the most profitable. The original population of the lower part of the county consisted of German farmers from Berks county; the greater part of the miners are Welsh and Irish, with a sprinkling of Scotch and Germans; and the trading classes in the coal-region are from Pennsylvania, New York and New England, and Ireland. As early as 1790, a few quiet German farmers, among whom was the founder of Orwigsburg, had ventured up from the more thickly settled parts of Bucks county, into the red-shale valleys between the Kittatinny and Second mountain. These settlements increased, as all German settlements do, very slowly and surely, until the establishment of the county, in 1811, aided to build up the county town, and infused a more vigorous growth in the settlement. Still the region above Second mountain remained a desolate wilderness: a lonely road ran through the wild gorges, and over the Broad mountain, to Sunbury; and here and there was the -----pg 604 ----- cabin of some daring backwoodsman, or hardy lumberman, who kept an humble house of entertainment for the few who were compelled to go over the road. As for the lands that now sell for their $100,000, for a small tract, and pour forth annually their thousand tons of coal, if they had the honor of being owned at all, they were known only as the valueless property of some venerable German, or lone widow, who esteemed it a burden to pay the taxes. Some of them had been taken, and some of them had been refused, by city merchants, in payment for desperate debts. The following history of the discovery and introduction of the coal of this region into notice, is from a report made, in 1833. to the Coal Mining Association; and from a report to the state senate, in 1834, by Samuel J. Packer, Esq. -.- So early as 1790, coal was known to abound in this county; but, it being of a different quality from that known to our smiths as bituminous coal, and being hard of ignition, it was deemed useless, until about the year 1795, when a blacksmith, named Whetstone, brought it into notice, by using it in his smithery. His success induced several to dig for coal, and, when found, to attempt the burning of it; but the difficulty was so great that it did not succeed. About the year 1800, a Mr. William Morriss, who owned a large tract of land in the neighborhood of Port Carbon, procured a quantity of coal, and took it to Philadelphia; but he was unable, with all his exertions, to bring it into notice. He abandoned all his plans, returned, and sold his lands to Mr. Pott, the late proprietor. From that time to about the year 1806, no further efforts to use it were made. About that time, in cutting the tail-race for the Valley Forge, on the Schuylkill, they struck on a seam of coal, which induced David Berlin, a blacksmith in the neighborhood, to make trial of it. His success was complete; and from that period it has been partially used. In the year 1812, our fellow-citizen, Col. George Shoemaker, procured a quantity of coal from a shaft sunk on a tract he had recently purchased, on the Norwegian, and now owned by the North American Coal Company, and known as the Centreville mines. With this he loaded nine wagons, and proceeded to Philadelphia. Much time was spent by him in endeavoring to introduce it to notice; but all his efforts proved unavailing. Those who deigned to try it declared Col. Shoemaker to be an impostor, for attempting to impose stone on them for coal ; and were clamorous against him. Not discouraged by the sneers and sarcasms cast upon him, he persisted in the undertaking; and at last succeeded in disposing of two loads, for the cost of transportation. The remaining seven he gave to persons who promised to try to use it, and lost all the coal and charges. Messrs. Mellon and Bishop, at his earnest solicitation, were induced to make trial of it in their rolling-mill, in Delaware county; and finding it to answer fully the character given it by Col. Shoemaker, noticed its usefulness in the Philadelphia papers. From that period we may date the triumph of reason, aided by perseverance, over prejudice. At this period the mountains were but partially explored, and the scant but hardy population of the county depended, in a great measure, on hunting, for their immediate wants; and on lurnber for supplying those articles of foreign product that were required for their comforts or necessities. The lumber procured during the winter was formed into rafts, and sent down when spring freshets rendered the river navigable. By this uncertain and, at all times, precarious mode of conveyance, the product of this county was conveyed to market, until the canal was completed, in the year 1825. In the year 1814, a few of the most enterprising of the citizens projected a canal from Philadelphia to this place, under an impression that the lumber of Schuylkill county, and the grain of the counties bordering on the Susquehanna, would find a vent, and ultimately aff'ord a dividend to the stockholders. At that period there were a few who looked forward to a time when the coal from this county would be the principal article of export, and would become an article of general use; but the number was small, and a vast majority looked on the formation of a Canal, through this wild and mountainous region, as a chimerical scheme, more fitted for speculators in a stock-market, than from any benefit that might result to the stockholders or the public. In the year 1813, several small openings were made, in different, parts of the county, by sinking shafts ; and the coal taken out was vended to the smiths, and others in the neighborhood, at twenty-five cents per bushel, or $3 50 per ton, at the pit's mouth. These shafts were sunk but a few feet, in the crop of the vein, and the coal raised by means of the common windlass and buckets; and, so soon as they attained a depth where the water became troublesome, (which seldom exceeded thirty feet,) the shaft was abandoned and another sunk, and the same process undergone. In the year 1823, an improvement, was made in the mode of working, in substituting horse power, by the gin, for the windlass heretofore used; by which they are enabled to clear the water ------pg 605----- from the shafts with greater facility, and to sink further on the veins. But with this (as it was then conceived) great improvement, they were only enabled to run down the vein for a short distance; and the coal, in point of comparison, was inferior-as experience has since taught that the crop is not equal to the coal that is taken out lower, and when the roof and door have attained the regularity and hardness so necessary to ensure good coal. As far back as 1814, drifts had been run on the heads of veins, in several places. and the coal brought from them in wheelbarrows; but it was not until 1827 that the railroad was introduced into drifts. From that period to the present, drifts have been the universal mode. Improvements have been making from that to the present time; and it is believed thev have attained that degree of perfection which has so long been desired, and such as to enable thc miner to work on the beat and cheapest plan. The Schuylkill, Navigation Company were incorporated without mining and trading privileges; and hence it was, and of consequence must continue to be, their interest to invite tonnage from every quarter, and from every source. Ths valuable improvement, 108 miles in length. was commenced in 1815, and completed at an expense of $2,966,480. Tolls were first taken in 1818, amounting to $233 ; and from that time until 1825, it does not appear, from the annual reports of the company, that any account was kept of the tolls on the separate articles of tonnage, but that the whole amounted, for the ycar 1824, to $635. The next vear, 1825, at which period may be dated the commencement of the coal-trade on the Schuylkill, the tolls increased to $15,775. Of this sum $9,700 were received from coal. Having a free navigation, open to all who chose to participate in its facilities, and entering the first coal-field at its centre, individuals of capital and enterprise were attracted to the scene, and railroads constructed, diverging in all directions to the mines. Laborers and mechanics, of all kinds and from all nations, thronged to the place, and found ready and constant employment. A new era. seemed to have dawned in the mountains. The wilderness was subdued. The coal basin seemed to be literally running over with active and resolute adventurers; a rapidly growing population became established : the wild animal was driven back to give place to a host of miners, who now pierce its thousand hills. Houses, many of which are costly and splendid, and towns, the principal of which is Pottsville, sprang up in various parts of the region. Coal-lands, the basis of all this promising superstructure, grew rapidly in value. Being owned by numerous individuals, or yet remaining the property of the state, and considered until now scarcely worth the taxes, they were eagerly sought after, and presented strong inducements for the investment of capital. Sales were made to a large amount ; it being now estimated that four millions of dollars have been invested in lands in the first coal district. Many individuals purchased lands and removed upon them, with their families, designing to convert them into permanent residences ; and, as the farmer cultivates his farm, to prosecute the mining business with their own hands, and their own means. Other lands are held by capitalists, some residing in the district, and some at a distance; the mining operations being carried on by tenants. Associations of individuals, forming joint-stock companies, having obtained charters for the mining of coal, from the legislatures of other states, also purchased lands, which, to evade the statutes of mortmain, declared to be in force in Pennsylvania, were held in virtue of deeds of trust, and were used and occupied by those companies. Two of them, viz. the Delaware Coal Co. and the North-Arnerican Coal Co., were incorporated [in 18331 for the term of five years. Capital was thus introduced, and important public improvements made. The country has grown and flourished beyond example. The farmer shared alike the general prosperity, in the now, convenient, and certain market for all his produce. In the midst of this hum of industry, this tide of prosperity, and flow of capital, it was not to have been expected that a spirit of speculation should have remained entirely dormant, or all who purchased lands did so with the bona fide intention either of occupying them themselves, by actual resident settlement, or of realizing their expenditures from the product of the mines. Hence a fictitious value was sometimes given to coal-lands. Calculations beirig made to ascertain the number of square yards of coal contained in an acre of land, and its value ; and some calculating also the quantity that each acre was capable of producing, without either knowing that it contained coal at all, or counting the cost, labor, and expense of producing it; the adventurer considered the sum of one, two, or three thousand dollars per acre a very inadequate price. The few who thus ran into error and extravagance, and purchased lands under these impressions, and with these expectations, (and is rather a matter of surprise that the number was not greater,) were coniliciled either to lose money themselves, or impose their losses upon others. They were therefore interested in producing fluctuations and uncertainty, rather than steadiness and certainty, in the coal market. Their fortunes could not be injured by the most sudden change, but might possibly be benefited; and if a supply of coal were one year withheld, in order that the price might advance to ten, twelve, or fifteen dollars per ton, data would be afforded for another estimate of the value of their lands, by the square yard of coal, and the owner again realize, and perhaps double, the amount of his purchase money. These, however, are of the things that have been, and it is believed have now passed away. It is not now in the power of the speculator seriously to affect, nor of the Monopolist permanently to control, the coal- trade of Pennsylvania This mineral is happily too vast, -----pg 606----- and the facilities for transporting it to market too numerous and diversified, to be grasped by the hand of one or the other. At one time, and but a few years since. this might have been done, had the localities of our coal deposits been accurately known. But this knowledge was imparted in proportion as the interest or ambition of one impels him ahead of another, and as necessity leads to invention and discovery; and it is not now probable that such a state of things will ever occur. The following table exhibits the quantity of coal shipped for the different mining regions of Pennsylvania, from the commencement of the trade; together with the annual amount of increase and consumption, and quantity remaining over unsold, and disposed of on the line of the canal :- Year. Schuylkill. Lehigh- Pine Grove. Shamokin. Wilkesbarra. Lackawanna. Aggregate. Tons Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons Tons. tons 1820 365 365 1821 1,073 1,073 1822 2,240 2,240 1823 5,523 5,523 1824 9,541 9,541 1825 6,500 28,393 34,593 1826 16,776 31,280 48,047 1827 31,360 32,074 63,434 1828 47,284 30,232 77,516 1829 79,973 25,110 7,000 112,083 1830 89,984 41,750 43,000 174,734 1831 81,853 40,966 54,000 176,520 1832 209,271 70,000 84,600 363,871 1833 252,971 123,000 111,777 487,749 1834 226,692 106,244 43,700 376,636 1835 339,508 131,250 90,000 560,758 1836 432,045 146,522 103,560 682,428 1837 523,152 225,937 17,000 115,387 881,476 1838 433,875 214,211 13,000 78,207 739,293 1839 442,608 221,850 20,639 11,930 122,300 819,327 1840 452,291 225,289 23,860 15,505 148,470 865,444 1841 584,692 142,841 17,653 21,463 192,270 958,899 1842 540,892 272,129 32,381 10,000 47,346 205,253 1,108,001 Total,.- 4,791,719 2,128,099 127,533 58,898 47,346 1,399,825 8,550,420 Annurd Unsold Sold on Annual Umold Sold on Yaw Iswres Consumed. April I' Canal. Your. Increase. Consumed. April Canal. Tons. TOOL Tona. Tons. Too& Tons. Torm Tons. 1820 1832 187,051 298,871 None 13,42 1821 708 1833 123,877 434,986 65,100 19,429 1822 1,167 1834 Decr'se 415,186 117,762 18,571 1823 31,598 1835 184,122 635,935 79,212 17,863 1824 3,718 1836 121,670 632,428 4,035 21,749 1825 25,352 1837 199,048 680,441 54,035 28,775 1826 13,154 3,154 1838 Decr'se 788,968 255,070 30,390 1827 15,837 3,372 1839 80,034 867,000 205,395 28,924 1828 14,082 3,322 1840 46,087 973,136 157,622 41,223 1829 34,567 5,321 1841 93,485 958,899 100,000 40,584 1830 62,651 6,150 1842 149,102 100,000 34,619 1831 2,086 177,000 10,048 Although mining coal for shipment was commenced in the Schuylkill region in 1825, five years later than the Lehigh, there has been 1,080,552 tons more sent to market from this region than from all the other anthracite regions in the state combined. The magnitude of this trade well corresponds with the amount of capital invested in the different improvments of the region. Upwards of four millions of dollars have been invested in the following manner: 65 miles of incorporated railroads, 40 miles of individual railroads, 50 miles do. under ground ; 2000 railroad cars, 1500 drift cars ; 17 collieries below water level, with steam. engines, pumps, &c; 100 collieries above water level ; 80 landings; 850 canal boats ; 900 boat horses, &c. There are thirty-one steam-engines in the county, including colliery engines,amunting to upwards of one thousand horse power. Twenty-three of these engines were manu. factured in Schuylkill county. Previous to 1841, the horse-power was only 350 ; during the last two years there was an addition of 370 horse power, making, in the aggregate, 720 horse power engaged in collicrics. -----pg 607----- ORWIGSIBURG, the county town, is a rural village, situated on the Reading and Sunbury turnpike, in a pleasant valley about five miles east of Schuylkill Haven, and five miles southeast from Pottsville. The town contains a courthouse and other public offices, situated on a spacious square in the centre, an academy incorporated in 1813, and a Lutheran church, of stone, erected about the year 1831. Orwigsburg was laid out by Peter Orwig in 1796, but was not much settled until after the separation of the county from Berks, when it was made the county seat. It was incorporated as a borough 12th March, 1813. The population was, in 1820, 600 ; in 1830, 773 ; in 1840, 779. The citizens are chiefly of German origin, and speak that language. The public and private edifices are well built, and the village has a neat and quiet appearance ; while the smiling farms and verdant orchards around it denote the thrift of the German farmers. The history of such a people is soon told. They have cleared and cultivated their lands, attended to their own business, begotten sons and daughters, and been gathered to their fathers. Speculation has rattled and roared among the mountains beyond them, but has not seduced them from their persevering industry and frugal habits. Although the population of Pottsville and its vicinity far outnumbers that of the townships around Orwigsburg, yet the latter still retains its dignity as the county seat, in consequence of the balanced state of political parties. It is said that at the junction of the little creek that winds around Orwigsburg with the Schuylkill, was an ancient Indian village, on or near Scollop hill. No vestige of it now remains. POTTSVILLE, the principal town of the county, and the great mart of the coal trade, is situated just above the gorge by which the Schuylkill breaks through Sharp mountain. The main branch of the river here comes in from the cast, and, receiving Norwegian creek from the north, turns suddenly to the south and flows away through the gorge. Pottsville proper, as seen in the accompanying view, occupies the northern slope of the mountain, and the valley of Norwegian creek. Immediately below it, on a narrow neck. along the turnpike, is Morrisville; near the junction of the streams, to the left of the point, is Greenwood ; and below the junction immediately in the gorge, is Mount Carbon. All these were incorporated on the 19th Feb. 1828, in the borough of Pottsville, which also includes what were once known as Bath, Salem, and Allenville. Pottsville is famous for its rapid growth, and the speculations that accompanied its origin. In 1822, the house since known as the White Horse tavern was kept by Mr. John Pott, who owned land in the vicinity, as a sort of watering-place for the stages on the Sunbury road. In 1824, we hear of five scattered dwellings in the vicinity. The causes which led to the influx of miners and speculators about the year 1825, have been described above. The town was soon laid out-or rather several towns for each prominent adventurer had his favorite location; and as each successive arrival of greedy adventurers tended to fan the flame of speculation, town lots and coal tracts (some with coal and many whose coal -was but imaginary) doubled, trebled, and quadrupled in value, and passed from hand to hand like currency. Houses were rapidly constructed to accommodate the immense crowds that came to search for lots and lands, and in 1828 we hear of several excellent stone houses and storm