Area History: History of Schuylkill County, Pa: W. W. Munsell, 1881 Township and Borough Histories pp. 213 - 228 Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by R. Steffey. Typing and editing by Jo Garzelloni and Carole Carr. 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. ____________________________________________________________ HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers. New York: W. W. Munsell & Co., 36 Vesey Street, 1881 Press of George Macnamara, 36 Vesey Street, N.Y. ____________________________________________________________ ___________ EAST UNION TOWNSHIP. _________________________________________________ This township was formed from Union in 1867. The first set- tlers of any note came into the township about the year 1802, and among them may be mentioned Thomas Gootschall, who settled on what is now a part of Torbert; his brother, William Gootschall, who settled on the place where John Lorah now lives, and John Maurer on the Nelson Brandon place. Henry Gilbert, who purchased the Thomas Gootschall place in 1811, and who is the oldest pio- neer of the region now living, resided in 1880, at North Union, at the advanced age of ninety-two years, and in the full enjoy- ment of his mental faculties. The population of East Union in 1870 was 614, and in 1880, 591. BRANDONVILLE. This is a post village and station on the Catawissa Valley Railroad. It was laid out in 1864 by Nelson Brandon, who owned the land on which it is located. He built a hotel and store and sold them. The post-office was established, with Rudolph Breisch postmaster, in 1868. Mrs. B.F. Clayberger was postmistress in 1880. The village contains three hotels, one public hall, two stores, a blacksmith shop and twenty-five dwellings. B.F. Clay- berger is the proprietor of the hall and one of the merchants; the other store is kept by Samuel Cope. The M.E. church of Brandonville was organized in 1879. Preaching had occasionally been furnished by clergymen from the surrounding towns, and since the organization services have been held with some regularity. The union Sunday-school was started in 1876, with seventy members. Its first superintendent was a Mr. Medlar. It received a charter from the courts in June, 1880, and numbered at that time one hundred and fifty-five members, with D.R. Kauffman as superintendent. TORBERT. Torbert is a pleasant hamlet, portions of which were formerly named Girard Manor and Valencia. It is doubtless as well and favorably known from being the residence of Hon. William L. Torbert as from any other cause. The estate of Hon. William L. Torbert covers about seven thousand acres, comprising the eastern terminus of the Catawissa valley, along which it extends about eight miles from the summit of Mahanoy mountain westward. Near the eastern boundary of these lands a copious spring of water, possessing superior mineral qualities, forms a stream which almost imme- __________end page 213.__________ page 213a HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. _____________________________________________________________ diately is divided into two branches, one of which flows west, down the north slope of the mountain, into the Catawissa; the other, east to the Schuylkill. The Catawissa, a fine stream, has its course through the estate for several miles, and grist-mills, saw-mills and other manufactories, standing at intervals on its shores, are propelled by its water power, which is good. Tor- bert's Glenn, a wild, romantic and attractive pleasure resort, is visited during the summer and autumn by large numbers of people from various localities. Throughout the entire property, but more especially in those sections adapted to the production of grass, fruit and grain, large never failing springs abound, and the brooks, of which they are the sources, are abundantly supplied with trout, bass, sun- fish, whitefish, and Susquehanna salmon. The soil under cultiva- tion is excellent, producing crops of grass, fruit and grain of superior quality and abundant in quantity. The not far distant mining towns in the coal region contain a dense population of non-producing consumers of everything in the way of provisions, and afford the best of market facilities to the estate, while the large number of horses and mules used in and about the collieries cause a demand for hay and feed of various kinds, which can be advantageously supplied by the producers being enabled to furnish these necessaries and be exempt from the heavy freight tariffs at which they are brought from western Pennsylvania, New York and other distant sections. These advantages, together with the fertility of the land, most of which is newly cleared, combine to place the local agricultural interests of the future in the foremost rank of successful enterprises in this part of the State. The adjoining properties on the north, south and east are in the anthracite coal measures, and are owned by the city of Philadelphia, the Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Company, Hon. William L. Torbert and the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company. Torbert is proverbial for the good health of its citizens and the attractiveness of its surrounding scenery. It is noted for the generous welcome extended to strangers who tarry there for longer or shorter periods. Senator Torbert's homestead lands are in one body, located in Schuylkill, Carbon and Luzerne counties (a portion in each), Hazelton, Audenried, Delano, Tamaqua, Mahanoy City, Shenandoah and other prominent towns being distant from four to eight miles, while Ashland and Pottsville lie only about sixteen miles away. A part of this pleasant hamlet was formerly owned by the famous philanthropist, Stephen Girard, from whom its former name was derived. It came into the possession of his heirs, and in 1854 John A. Girard, John Fabricus Girard, and their sister, Stephanie (Girard) DeLentilhac, made a settlement. They came from France, brought mechanics with them and erect- ed buildings and mills. They opened a store in 1856, and con- ducted a somewhat extensive lumber business, but, owing to their lack of inclination to mix with the people of the adjacent coun- try, and their extreme dislike for the Pennsylvania Dutch patois, the commercial language of the locality, they made few friends, and in 1864 disposed of the entire property to William L. Tor- bert, of Philadelphia. One of the manor houses was erected by John A. Girard. It is tastefully built in the French Gothic style, covered, in the usual European manner, with a profusion of grape vines, and finely shaded by handsome trees. Colonel Wynkoop built the Valencia manor house, he being at the time United States marshal for the eastern district of Pennsylvania. Besides these there are nineteen tenant houses, occupied by the workmen's families, and six farm houses with the usual outbuildings. A fine brick school-house was erected in 1880, and it adds materially to the good appearance of the place. The religious advantages are good. The healthfulness of the locality is attested by the marked physical improvement of invalids who sojourn there temporarily. Torbert has convenient railways communication, the journey to New York and Philadelphia being made in four of five hours without change of cars, and to Williamsport, Baltimore and Washington in from four to eight hours, via the Philadelphia and Reading, the Lehigh Valley, the Central of New Jersey and the Pennsylvania railroads. Senator Torbert has charge of the Railway station, Telegraph and Express offices. The Post-Office was established in 1865, with Mrs. Hester Torbert in charge. Hon. William L. Torbert was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Octo- ber 24th, 1828, and was reared and educated in his native city, where he was prominent in the Masonic order, and in the Washing- ton Greys, a military company. James Torbert, Esq., his father, was born at Spring Mill, Montgomery county, Pa., February 19th, 1798, and passed his youth in Chester county, Pa., where his parents, brothers and sisters remained during life, and where their descendants are most of them engaged in farming. On Christmas day, 1827, he married Margaret A. Loag, of Chester county, Pa., at the old Brandywine Manor meeting-house. During the following year they removed to Philadelphia, where they lived until 1868, when they took up their residence in the Girard manor mansion, near the residence of Hon. William L. Torbert, their son. Mr. Torbert died there October 16th, 1880, at the age of eighty-two, and was buried in Laurel hill cemetery, Philadelphia. His widow, Margaret A. Torbert, eighty-one years old, survives him, and is living at the homestead with her daughter, Miss M. Louisa. Their children were: Hon. William L. Torbert, M. Louisa Torbert, Mary J. Torbert, Emma J. Torbert, Anna Eliza Torbert, Ellie F. Torbert, A. Caroline Torbert, James Torbert, jr. Emma J. is the wife of Charles Tete, Esq., of Spring Hill, Delaware county, Pa., an extensive land owner in Schuylkill county. Ellie F. is the wife of Frank A. Smith, Esq., of West Phila- delphia, Pa. Hon. William L. Torbert was married, in 1850, to Miss Hester Blatchford, also a resident of Philadelphia. Their children are: Mary C. Torbert, A. Caroline Torbert, James Franklin Torbert, Susan L. Torbert, Ida V. Torbert, William Stephen Torbert, Elizabeth F. Torbert Victoria Hester Torbert, Miss Ida V. married Mr. M.M. MacMillan, attorney, of Ann Arbor, Mich., September 9th, 1880. Miss Lizzie F. married Charles E. Titman, of Shenandoah, Pa., December 9th, 1880. James Franklin married Miss Sallie R. Burnett, of Spring Mill, Montgomery county, Pa., December 25th, 1880. Mrs. Torbert's parents were Stephen and Mary J. Blatchford, residents of Philadelphia, Pa., where their remains now lie in Woodland cemetery. The former died in November, 1865, at the age of seventy-one; the latter April 11th, at the age of eighty-one. From 1860 to 1865 Hon. William L. Torbert was located in Baltimore county, Md. Reference has been made to the purchase of the Girard manor property in 1864. Mr. Torbert subsequently bought Valencia and other additions to the original, being exten- sively interested in lumbering in Schuylkill, Columbia, Luzerne and Center counties, and having about two thousand acres of land ______________end page 213a.________________ page 214 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. ____________________________________________________________ under cultivation in the Catawissa valley surrounding his resi- dence. Senator Torbert is the most liberal employer of agricul- tural labor in Schuylkill county. Those of his employes having families are comfortably located upon the estate, enjoying common privileges, each family free from expense of any kind a dwelling with fruit and fuel and ground enough for garden purposes. The liberal policy which governs Mr. Torbert in his relations with his large number of employes is so well appreciated by them that probably no set of laborers anywhere regard their employer more highly than they do Mr. Torbert. His work is pushed forward month after month with- out jar of cessation, and he finds not only profit but happiness in endeavoring by all proper means to better the condition of his employes and their families. Always active in mercantile pur- suits and public duties, Mr. Torbert has been at the same time a successful business man and a hard worker for the public weal. Though never a seeker for official preferment, he has been re- peatedly called to positions of trust and responsibility by the voters of his township, county and district. The fidelity and earnestness which have characterized his administrations of public affairs marked him for steady advancement until the confi- dence of the people in his ability and integrity was manifested by his election the State Senate by a large majority in 1876, and as an independent member for 1877 and 1878, his fellow townsmen of East Union indicating that he was not "without honor" at home by casting for him the unanimous and solid vote of the township, which aggregated more than any previous vote, even during closely contested elections when every vote was supposed to have exer- cised his right of suffrage. In all good work for the advancement of the causes of en- lightenment and improvement, Senator Torbert has ever been quali- fied to lead and has been relied upon as a leader, but he has nevertheless, ever put his own shoulder manfully to the wheel, considering no necessary duty, however small, too insignificant for him to perform. It is this sturdy and stirring industry, coupled with an ever careful attention to details, that has made him one of the most successful men in this region. It is his regard for the rights of those dependent on him that has endeared him to those whose action he so ably directs. He is one of those helpful men through whose efforts the wheel of progress is made to move on, crushing obstructions and smoothing the pathway of general advancement. ______________ ELDRED TOWNSHIP. _______________________________________ Eldred was formed in 1848, from the old township of Upper Mahantongo. In this, as in other townships in Mahantongo valley, local developments were slow, and the scattered inhabitants were for many years content to look to adjacent neighborhoods for social and educational advantages. The first settlers within the present township limits were Casper Hepler, who settled the place now owned by Simon Helper; Jacob Reinart, an old Revolutionary soldier, on the A.F. Geist place; Peter Kluck, where D.S. Dunkelberger lives; Samuel Dres- chler, on the Isaac Hein farm, and John Bescher on the place now occupied by Samuel Wolf. These settlements were made between the years 1805 and 1808. John Bescher built the log house. The earliest road through the township was the mail road to Klingerstown. Casper Hepler was the first to die in the new settlement and his remains were buried in a graveyard opened at that time near the present resi- dence of S.H. Rothesman. The first school-house was built of logs, on the Helper place, and the first school was taught by a man named Besler. Caspar Helper kept the first hotel, and the earliest known mill was erected by Peter Kluck on Little Mahan- tonho creek, where Daniel Dunkelberger now resides. Of other earlier settlers Jacob Maurer and Peter Yoder were perhaps the best known. The farms settled by these two men now owned by the Maurer family. HELFENSTEIN. The Schuylkill basin touches this town to an extent that seemed to render the prospects of mining favorable, and in 1868 Judge William L. Helfenstein, of Pottsville, the owner of a tract of coal lands, induced the firm of Bittle, Gilerman & Robison to open a colliery at the point now known as Helfenstein. The first coal was shipped from here in 1870, over the Reading Railroad. The Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company purchased the interests of Judge Helfenstein in 1872, and continued to operate the mines until 1877, when work in them was suspended. During the management of this latter company the daily products of the colliery was two hundred and fifty tons. The only settlements of this place prior to the opening of the colliery were made by John Kluck and William Bickel; the former of whom built in 1830 the hotel that, up to 1877, was the best known house in the township. J.E. Fertig opened the Union House in 1868 and, in the same year, Joel Kohler established the first general store, which is now kept by John Purcell. The opening of the colliery led to an immediate and large increase of population, and to the local improvements necessary to meet their wants the liberality of Judge Helfenstein largely contributed. The suspension of coal mining has had a depressing effect on local interests, and caused the removal of a large number of those who were dependent upon this industry. Helfenstein comprises one hotel, kept by Jacob E. ________________end page 214.__________________ page 215 ELDRED AND FOSTER TOWNSHIPS. _____________________________________________________________ Fertig; one store, by John Pursell, doing a good business; one blacksmith shop, one church building, belonging to the M.E. denomination; and about a dozen dwellings. PITMAN contains a post-office and store kept by a man named Hass, an Odd Fellows' hall, shoe and cigar shops, one blacksmith shop, a church building, belonging to the Weinbrennarians, and thirteen dwelling houses. The settlement was formerly as Zimmermanstown, after an early settler. Its present title was given to it when the post-office was established. STATISTICS. The township contained in 1860 943 inhabitants; in 1879, 968; and in 1880, 1,159. In 1870 its agricultural statistics showed 6,879 acres of improved land, farms and farming implements valued at $403,750; live stock to the value of $56,614, and farm products valued at $145,300. The schools districts in 1880 were five in number; buildings five, condition poor. The township officers for 1880 were: Supervisor, John D. Hepler, Jesse Geist, Simon Helper; town clerk George H. Neisen- ger; auditors, Augusts Weizel, Lewis Bensinger, B.H. Hass; treas- urer, Frank Kehler; justices, E.H. Wetzel, M. Keefer. MANUFACTURES. A tannery was built on the Samuel Kehler place in 1850, by George Kehler and Philip Hass. D.Y. Hass started a small machine shop in 1860, four years later built the present works, and in 1868 added a foundry. He manufactures agricultural machinery, steam castings, etc. In 1879 he built the first steam engine ever constructed in the Mahantongo valley. It is rated at six horse power and was built for J. F. Geist's tannery. The tannery of J.F. Geist was built by him in 1852, and en- larged in 1879. It is doing a lucrative business, using only oak bark. The Henry Umholtz grist-mill was by a man named Yoder, from whom Mr. Umholtz purchased it in 1869. CHURCHES. M.E. CHURCH.-Occasional services were held by preachers of this denomination at Helfenstein as early as 1869, but it was not until April 12th, 1874, that a society was regularly organized with sixteen members-Thomas Dawson, Edmund Samuel, Mary Ann Samuel, Edmund W. Samuel, Margaret Werfield, Jane Werfield, William Werfield, Maria Werfield, Edward Grubb, Matilda Grubb, William Andrews, Maria Patton, Charles Patton, Louiza Shaeffer, Josephine Shaeffer and Lizzie Samuel. Its pastors have been K.B. Fortner, G. V. Savidge, J. N. Moorehead, N. B. Smith and H. N. Minnigh. The church edifice by Hon. William L. Helfenstein, and in- tended as a union church; but, this denomination being the only one taking a decided interest in the place, he donated it to this church on the 25th of March, 1879. It is a framed building 32 by 45 feet in size and is valued at $1,500. The first Sunday-school was organized May 16th, 1869 with William Brittle as superintendent, and 48 pupils. It was kept open a few months in each year until 1873, when it was reorgan- ized, with D. W. Frieze superintendent, and 34 scholars. The school numbered in 1880 eight teachers and one hundred and twelve scholars, with Thomas Dawson superintendent. The church of God in Eldred township was organized in 1847, with eight members: Isaac Hass and wife, John Helper and wife, George Hepler and wife, William Klinger, and a man named Traub. Iassc Hass was elected elder, and William Klinger deacon. The first baptism was in the mill pond of Elias Hepler, in the year 1845, Rev. Mr. Hoffman officiating. Elder Snavely was the first preacher of the denomination holding service in the township. The first Bethel was built in 1855, at a cost of $1,000, and it is still in use. The second was built at Zimmermanstown, now Pitman, in 1875, costing $1,200. The church numbers eighty members, with John D. Hepler and Emanuel Ganes as elders, and D. S. Smith and William Rodaberger deacons. There are two flourishing Sunday-schools, with an aggregate of 150 scholars and 37 officers and teachers. Benjamin Hass and Ephraim Neiswinder are superintendents. Rev. Israel Hay is the pastor, and resides at Valley View. _______ FOSTER TOWNSHIP. _______________________________________ This township was formed from portions of Butler, Berry, and Cass early in 1855. The first township election was held at the house of Mr. Heilner, in Monterey, the settlement known now as Mount Pleasant. The township lies in the mountains region be- tween the two coal fields and is very sparsely settled. The southern portion is in the southern coal field, and a somewhat extensive business in mining has been carried on at Mount Pleas- ant, Glen Carbon and near points. Foster is bounded by Barry, Bulter, Cass, Reilly, Frailey and Hegins. There are only two schools in the township. Who first lived within the present township limits is un- known. In 1831 widow Levan kept a tavern in an old log house on the site of Mount Pleasant. This village grew up under the impe- tus given to the neighborhood by coal operations in the vicinity by John Graham and _______________end page 215.________________ page 216 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY _______________________________________________________________ others. The buildings are mostly plain stone structures, and many of them are unoccupied. There is no church or post-office there. The principal merchant is Carr Phillips. The traveling public are more than amply provided for at Mount Pleasant by two taverns. For a time prior to 1871, when the mail was carried from Miners- ville through Mount Pleasant to Sunbury, there was a post-office there. Glen Carbon, in the southeast corner of the township, is a railway station and post village. It is a small settlement which grew up in consequence of coal operations there. Like Mount Pleasant it is built mostly of stone. Messrs. Crowe & Scott are leading business men and well-known merchants. COAL MINING. Many of the early workings in the township have been aban- doned. The colliery at Mount Pleasant was some years since vacat- ed, and purchased by the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. The Rohersville colliery was opened by Mr. Rohers, of Phila- delphia. He was succeeded by his sons William and James B. Ro- hers, who sunk a slope and built a breaker. They operated the colliery about three years, and were succeeded by Joseph F. Taylor, who worked the mine seven years. His successors were Wells & Detwiler. Later a Boston company operated the colliery, which has for some time been abandoned. East of Rohersville, on the Reed tract, Mr. Taylor, above mentioned, worked a small colliery for a time. John Stanton opened on the Mammoth vein at Glen Carbon, with drifts. He did a successful business for a time, and was succeed- ed by William and Thomas Verver, who built a breaker and operated ten years, mining 20,000 to 30,000 tons annually. Lucas & Denning leased the colliery and worked it five years, producing fully 50,000 tons annually. A son of William Richardson, owner of the land, succeeded them. Business soon suspended at this colliery, which was idle until it passed into the hands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. This colliery, known as the Richardson colliery, produced 8,301 tons in 1876; 62,238 in 1877; 75,353 in 1878, and 111,229 in 1879. The Glendower colliery was opened by Thomas Schollenberger, and subsequently sold to the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. In 1876, 24,479 tons were produced; in 1877, 58,497; in 1878, 56,450; in 1879, 50,698. A very small business was done at the Anchor colliery by the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company in 1876 and 1877. Some years ago Joseph F. Taylor sunk a slope on the south dip of the Mammoth vein, and built a breaker and a saw-mill to supply the colliery with lumber. He mined about 25,000 tons per annum and was succeeded by Thomas Atwood. The Forest Improvement Compa- ny were later operators. The present owners are the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. __________ FRAILEY TOWNSHIP. ___________________________________ This township was named in honor of the late Associate Judge Charles Frailey, and was formed in 1847 from Branch, Barry, Porter and Lower Mahantongo. It is bounded on the north by Hegins and Berry, on the east by Reilly, on the south by Tremount, and on the west by Porter and Hegins. Its length from east to west is about six miles, and its breadth about three miles. Through the northern part of this township from east to west extends what is known as the Broad mountain, which contains all the principal coal veins known in the Broad mountain range. SETTLEMENT. The first settler of this township was probably a colored man, known as Black Charley, who erected a log hut near Good Spring creek, about two and a half miles west of the site of Donaldson, and lived there a sort of hermit life. What became of him is not certainly known. About the year 1842 or 1843 the Swatara Railroad Company extended its road from what is now known as Lorberry Junction, through Tremont, to the mines at what is now Donaldson. During the construction of the railroad, the mines in and around Donaldson in this township were opened. Of the lessees or operators who worked these mines, the firm of Colt, Gaskins & Lomison were among the first. For the better accommodation of their workmen, this firm commenced building a stone boarding- house; but before its completion the original plan was charged and a larger building was erected. This house since the day of its completion has been occupied as a hotel and is known as the Franklin House. It was the first Hotel built in the township, and since its completion, with the exception of two years, it has been kept by David Lomison. Of the early settlers of this township it may by said that Major William Colt, Captain Samuel Gaskins, David Lomison, and Mahlon McColoughan, from Danville, Montour county, or its vicin- ity, and Adam Etien and Jacob Crone, from Dauphin county, were most prominent. The earlier marriages were those of David Lomison and Miss Caroline Youngman, Mahlon McCloughan and Miss Elizabeth Tobias, and Jacob Crone and Miss __________end page 216__________ page 217 MINES, ROADS AND SCHOOLS IN FRAILEY. _____________________________________________________________ Catharine Dinger. Of these Mrs. Elizabeth Umholtz, late widow of Mahlon McCloughan, and Jacob Crone and his wife are the only ones living. William McCloughan, son of Mahlon and Elizabeth McClough- an, was the first boy born in this township. Among the other early births were those of James M. and John L. Gaskins, twin sons of the late Captain Samuel and Elizabeth Gaskins; and John L. Gaskins, a resident of Donaldson and a talented school teach- er. COAL HISTORY. Among the other and earlier coal operators were: Henry Heil, Mr. Gardner, Clark & McCormick, Wertz & Strimpfler, Snyder & Bar, and a few others. The first openings of these mines were all by drift or tunnel on the water level. The first breaker was built by the firm of Colt, Gaskins & Lomison, and was driven by water power. The first openings, being so near the surface, were soon worked out and abandoned. Of the early operators it is believed there is now (1881) no one living. About 1850, Messrs. John and Rodger Horton leased the Mammoth vein, sunk a slope thereon, and erected what was then thought a large coal breaker, and for several years this firm carried on quite an extensive business in the mining and shipping of coal. Later these same veins were operated in succession by Griffith T. Jones & Co., Etien & Lomi- son, and Owen, Eckel & Colket. They are now owned and worked by the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. Marcus G. and Percival Heilner leased the veins at Middle Creek about 1848 and erected a large breaker, but not being successful in their business the colliery soon passed into other hands, and was subsequently worked by C. Garretson. It is now owned, but not at present operated, by the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. About 1874 this company sunk a shaft at Middle Creek, made very extensive openings, and erected anew and substantial breaker; but the coal not proving satisfac- tory, the colliery is idle. About 1855 Henry Heil leased and for many years worked the veins at Upper Rausch creek. His coal, excellent in quality, was known in the market as the East Franklin coal. The colliery, still known as the East Franklin colliery, is owned and operated by the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. In 1863 the Messrs. Eckert & co. opened a colliery about two miles of Donaldson, but owing to the ill health of the managing partner, Mr. Jonathan Eckert, it was sold to Lucas Jones & Co., who worked it a year ad sold it to Nulling, Lewis & co., who after several years, sold their lease to the Philadelphia and Reading Coal andIron Company, who at once dismantled and abandoned the col- liery. The Colket Colliery at Donaldson has a large hoisting power,immense pumping engines, working from eighteen-inch pumps a 30-horse power breaker engine and several smaller engines used to drive fans for ventilation. When this colliery is in full opera- tion about 130 men and boys are employed inside and 70 outside. The producing capacity is about 300 tons daily. The colliery is owned and operated by the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. The East Franklin Colliery, owned and operated by the same com- pany, is located at Strongsville. Its hoisting capacity is 100 and its pumping capacity 220-horse power. Several smaller engines are used to drive ventilating fans, and a large one to propel two air-compressers for inside hoisting. When worked to its full capacity this colliery employs about 120 men and boys inside, and 80 outside. The coal at this colliery is of a superior quality and highly prized for domestic use, for which it is perhaps excelled only by the famous Lykens Valley coal. The daily pro- duction is about 200 tons. PUBLIC ROADS. In 1845 the road from Donaldson over the Broad mountain to Pine Valley was surveyed by Kimber Cleaver. The road connects with the Lykens Valley or Gratztown road at the house of William A. Stutzman. It is one of the principal roads over which the surplus production and traffic of the northern and western town- ships have gone to market in the coal region. About the same time the road leading eastward from Donaldson via Middle Creek, and connecting with the road leading from Tremont to Pottsville at New Town, was made. In all probability the short piece of road leading from Donaldson to Tremont, a distance of only one mile, was the first road over which teams passed in coming into Fraily. Later the State road was made from Donaldson to the old Reading and Sunbury road. Over this road the greater part of the traffic from Lykens Valley passes. Branching off from the State road about two miles and a half west of Don- aldson is the Williams Valley road. The road leading from Donald- son to Strongsville branches off from the State road in Donaldson and connects with the old Reading and Sunbury road at the Broad- Mountain Tavern, in Porter. EDUCATIONAL. The first school was kept in a shanty or stable about two hundred feet south of where now stands the Franklin House, and was taught by Moses R. Young, who afterwards became one of the associate judges of Franklin county. The lower and upper Donald- son school-houses, erected in 1850, were the first in the town- ship. Both are well built of rough stone, two stories high, and accommodate two schools each. Among the best known teachers of these schools have Hon. Decius H. Wilcox, Prof. A. J. Werntz, Josiah Leinaweaver, Hon. S. C. Kirk, I. L. Gaskins and John D. Williams, the present teacher of the Donaldson high school. Later three more school-houses were built in the township, at Strongville, Middle Creek, and Eckertville. There are seven school in the township. The number of chil- dren of the school age is about 400. The average number attending school is about 250. __________end page 217.__________ page 218 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. _____________________________________________________________ STORES AND HOTELS. The first store was erected by the firm of Colt, Gaskins & Lomison. It was a commodious two-story stone building. The firm generally carried a heavy stock of assorted goods. The building is now occupied as a store by Opie & Long. John Harry erected a two-story stone building, forty feet square, which was occupied by Thomas J. Tobias as a store and dwelling. The Franklin House, the first hotel built in this township, and kept about thirty-five years by the late Daniel Lomison, is now kept by Jame Opie. Soon after the Franklin House was built, David, Michael & Nathaniel Bressler erected a large frame house in upper Donaldson, which since its erection has been kept suc- cessively by different occupants. It is now (1881) owned and occupied by William F. Trautman, the inventor and maker of the famous scriptural clock. PHYSICIANS-MAILS. Dr. Cameron, a nephew of Simon Cameron, formerly United States Senator, was the first resident physician of this town- ship. In a year or two after the doctor had made this place his home, his wife died, and he soon after left for other fields of labor. Succeeding physicians have been Drs. Alfred Jones, John W. Donges and Joseph W. Bird. Daniel Lomison was the first postmaster in Frailey. At his death, about two years ago, T.J. Tobias was appointed postmaster, and he has since served. In 1846 L.M. Gager drove the first stage from Pottsville to Donaldson, via Minersville, Llewellyn and Tremont, establishing the route which is still kept open, a daily mail being carried over it. The post route westward from Donaldson is to Gratz, via He- ginsville, Valley and Sacramento. In the earlier times of this route the mails were carried on horseback about twice a week; and Michael Brechbill (then a boy about fourteen years of age), a son of the late Michael Brechbill, for many years a justice of the peace in Donaldson, was the rider. At present the mail is carried three times a week by stage. VILLAGES. Donaldson is the only village of importance. It was so named in honor of William Donaldson, one of the associate justices of Columbia county, who was the owner of the land when the original part of the town was built. The village is situated nearly in the center of Frailey east and west, at the foot of the Broad mountain, and about half a mile from the southern boundary line of the township. As already stated, the Franklin House, erected in 1842 or 1843, was the first building in the village. Other structures soon appeared. Judge Donaldson was the land-owner. The first settlers (lessees and contractors), seeing that the mines prom- ised to yield coal in large quantities, believed that here was the proper place to locate a town, and prevailed upon the judge to survey and sell village lots, which Judge Donaldson offered to purchasers at low figures and on very easy terms. The Swatara Company, owning the land east of what is now Harrison street, laid out lots and made an addition to the town. Lots for a time were readily sold, and buildings sprang up rapidly. The town contains two churches, two school-houses, a large foundry and machine shop, three hotels, four general stores, a confectionery establishment, three boot and shoe stores, a furniture store and manufactory, and several small shops. The population in 1880 was 1,000. About two and one half miles southwest from Donaldson is Strongville, a mining village in which only about half the houses are now occupied. It has stone school-house, in which religious meetings were formerly held. Middle Creek is about two miles east of Donaldson. It was once a large mining town, but only a few of the houses in it are occupied. Eckertville, two miles west from Donaldson, was once a lively little mining village, but now only a few families reside there. MILITARY. In 1849 or 1850 the "Donaldson Rifle Company" was formed, with Adam Etien as captain. At the outbreak of the Rebellion the members of the company joined with the Llewellyn Rifles, and, with Hiram Chance as captain, offered their services to the governor and were accepted. Their history is elsewhere related. At the second invasion of Pennsylvania Captain Etien, with a company of fifty-four men, nearly all from this township, went to Harrisburg and offered their services to the governor. They were accepted and sworn into the United States service as Company I, 27th regiment Pennsylvania volunteer militia, to serve during the emergency. June 24th the regiment moved from Harrisburg to Columbia. On the 28th it was attacked by the enemy, and Company I did efficient service. The following list contains the names of those who from 1861 to the close of the war enlisted from this township in the regu- lar army, as members of different companies, attached to differ- ent regiments: Samuel Gaskins, James N. Gaskins, Nathan Dinger, Peter Greger, John Brinnen, Thomas Wilson, Emanuel E. Reedy, Daniel Wehry, Frank Wehry, Solomon C. Wehry, Bertram Trefsger, Anthony Trefsger, William C. Ward, Richard Fotheringill, Jacob Lehman, William Cooper, Doctor A. Jones, George Wilson, James Wilson, Edward Lawler, John Farrell, George Farrell, Patrick Fogerty, James Fogerty, Owen Brinnen, Martin Kelly, Philip Manly, John Manly, John Donly, Michael Cleary, John Cleary, William Angus, Patrick Quinn, John McIlhenny, William Madden, Elijah Horn, Charles Burk, Henry Achternacht, Alexander Thompson, Edward Purcel, William Ryan, Thomas Harrit, John Lawler, Joseph Kenady, John House, Charles Taylor, John Coffield, Thomas Wood, Patrick Fell, Bony Fell, James C. Wilson, John J. Tobias, Lewis Hummel, Calvin Wright, __________end page 218.___________ page 219 RELIGIOUS WORK IN FRAILEY-PIONEERS OF HEGINS ______________________________________________________________ William Smith, Thomas Angus, James Warr, Joseph Warr, Thomas Grant and James F. Dent. Posterity may look with pride over the above lists of brave men who were ready in the hour of need to respond to their coun- try's call. Deservedly has it been said of this township: "Little Frailey always filled her quota." CHURCHES. Rev. T.A. Ferhly, a Methodist, was the first who preached in the township. The first meetings were held in a warehouse, located about a hundred yards south of the Franklin House, in Donaldson. Rev. D. Cook, a Presbyterian preacher, for some years was a resident here, and preached to the people of that denomina- tion. There were others of different denomination. There were others of different denominations who visited the people as traveling preachers, and who held services in private houses, and sometimes in the hotel or the old warehouse. Mr. Lomison, many times, when the preacher came along shut up the bar and, taking the benches into the dining room, turned that part of his hotel into a church. In 1848 the German Reformed and Lutheran denominations joined and commenced building a church, but it was not finished until about 1850 or 1851. Rev. Rudolph Duenger was the first preacher who served the members of the German Reformed congregation, and Rev. E.S. Henry was the first and for many years the only one who preached for the Lutherans. At present (1881) Rev. Daniel Sanner, of Tremont, is the officiating Lutheran clergyman, and for sever- al years past Rev. Mr. Metzger has served the German Reformed branch of the church. In 1874 the members of the Church of God erected a church building. Rev. Mr. Smith was their first pastor, and Rev. Mr. Hay is in charge at the present time. SUNDAY-SCHOOLS. The first Sunday-school in Frailey was early organized in Donaldson, with Moses R. Young as its superintendent. Mr. Jacob Crone for many years afterward served the school in that capaci- ty. This was a union school and was not connected with any church as such. With successive superintendents and officers, it has continued to the present time (1881). The late Samuel Gas- kins was for a long time its staunchest friend and most earnest helper. The present membership is about 75. Reverend David Shop is the superintendent. Soon after the upper Donaldson school-house was built (about 1850), the citizens of the upper town organized a Sunday-school. This school has also ever been a union Sunday-school. Mr. Charles Long is at present superintendent and the membership is about 70. The members of the Church of God have a Sunday-school con- nected with their church. It has a membership of about 65 and George W. Tobias is its superintendent. ODD FELLOWS. July 3rd, 1850, Donaldson Lodge, No. 382, was organized under a charter granted October 1st, 1849. Peter O'Bressler, Peter Greger, sr., David Lomison, B.E. Reedy, Christian Lye, Samuel Gaskins, and Jacob L. Hassinger were the charter members. The present membership is about 100. May 18th, 1868, the Grand Encampment of Pennsylvania granted a charter to Adam Etien, B.E. Reedy, John W. Donges, John Wer- field, J.L. Gaskins, William H. Moore, Henry Graver, Peter O'Bressler, and William H. Ward, by authority of which Concord Encampment I.O.O.F. was not long afterwards organized. ______________ HEGINS TOWNSHIP. __________________________________ Hegins township was originally taken wholly from Lower Mahan- tongo, but after the establishment of Foster township a portion of it (which had been a part of Barry) was attached to Hegins, and confirmed by the court January 30th, 1858. The earliest settlement that can be traced was that of a half-breed Indian named Hager, who had a cabin on what is now the farm of Valentine Savage, in or about the year 1757. He removed to the Wyoming valley after the massacre, and his place was taken up by a German named Boyner. George Klinger, who was appointed a justice of the peace in 1800, is believed to have been the next to come. Mr. Klinger served as a magistrate for forty years. John Kuntzelman, who settled in 1804 on the Emanuel Dunkelberger farm; James Osman, his nearest neighbor, whose cabin stood near the site of the Dunkelberger grist-mill; Benjamin Bassoer, who took up the Joel Reed farm; Peter Dingler, on the Dingler homestead; Christian Stutzman, where William A. Stutzman now lives; Jacob Haberacker, on the Aaron Otto place; Michael Kessler, at the point known as Kessler's Mill; George Dedrich, where A.B. Kessler, now lives; Christian Kruns, on the Charles Gable place, and Peter Bizler, John Dietrich and Jacob Heberling were the best known of the pioneers of Hegins. The progress of the new settlements was slow, and its people were for many years dependent on their neighbors for local improvements, and often for the means of livelihood. A grist-mill was built by James Osman in 1801 on the site of the Dunkelberger mill; and in 1808 Peter Kones put up a saw-mill on Pine creek, where Peter Stutzman's mill now stands. In 1814 another saw-mill was built, by ______________end page 219.______________ page 220 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. ____________________________________________________________ Peter Stutzman, on the place now owned by William Stuzman, in the east end of the township. The first hotel was kept by Joseph Osman, a son of James Osman, where John Conrad now keeps a hotel. It was opened in 1827, and accommodated farmers and teamsters-the latter class usually bringing their own provisions with them and sleeping on the floor. To those who patronized the culinary and bar depart- ment the following rates were charged: meals, twenty-five cents; whiskey, three cents a glass; cigars, four for one cent. It is hardly supposable that, with the limited travel of those days, mine host Osman became more than moderately wealthy at those moderate rates, even by combining with his duties the emoluments of the post-office of Lower Mahantongo, which was established in 1827, and to the charge of which he was commissioned. The war of 1812 awakened the patriotism of this frontier settlement, and Peter Bressler, Jonathan Bressler, Peter Dinger, George Dinger, George Dedrich, John Schoup, and John Kessler took up arms to drive the British invaders from our soil. The first painted building in the town was that of Solomon Bressler, who, in 1814, sided up a block house with boards, and applied a coat of paint that was a source of admiration to his friends and neighbors, some of whom traveled long distances to see it. In 1827 Peter Stutzman put up the first framed building, which stood until it was destroyed by fire, in 1860, when a brick house was erected in its place. A log church was built in 1871, and an itinerant preacher, the Rev. Nicholas Hemping, was the first to hold services in it. The old building was taken down in 1874 to make room for the brick structure known as the Friedens Church. It is interesting to note that in some respects public im- provements were slow of adoption, while in others commendable enterprise was shown. For instance, although a church was built as early as 1817, it was not until fourteen years later, 1831, that the first bridge was built over Deep creek, near the Dunkel- berger place, and not until 1857 that a school was established in a log house near the brick church at Heginsville, with Valentine Savage as its first teacher. A tannery was built by Andrew Shael, about the year 1845, on the site of which E.G. Ressler built, in 1874, and carried on the tanning of slaughter hides up to 1878, when he suspended opera- tions. The population of Hegins in 1860 was 1,102; in 1870, 1,154; in 1880, 1,462. POST VILLAGES AND MAIL ROUTES. Heginsville assumed its present name in 1850, when the post- office here was established. It contains one hotel-the Hegins- ville House-kept by J.F.H. Long; a general store also by Mr. Long, and another, built in August, 1880, by John Reed; two churches, a school-house, an Odd Fellow's lodge, two blacksmith and repair shops, and about one hundred inhabitants. The village takes its name from the township, which in turn derived it from Judge Hegins, who was on the bench at the time the township was chartered. The postmaster is J.F.H. Long, who has been in charge since its opening. Mails are received, via the Kutztown and Tremont stage line, three times a week. Valley View was formerly known as "Osmantown," in honor of Joseph Osman, the pioneer hotel keeper. The post-office estab- lished here in 1827 under the name of Lower Mahantongo was subse- quently changed to the present name-a relief to letter writes as well as more euphonious and expressive. The Farmers' Hotel, kept by John F. Conrad, is the successor of the old log tavern kept by Osman in 1827. There are two stores, one kept by R. B. Dunkel- berger, who purchased the interest of Jacob Updegrave in 1878, the latter having opened the first store kept here in 1852; and one by George Greeber, who succeeded Nathan Bressler. The valley View Hotel is kept by Elias Dilfield, who opened it in 1879 Two churches, the Winebrenarian and United Brethren, a wagon shop, a tin store and about forty dwellings go to make up the village. Fountain post-office was established in 1872, with William A. Stutzman, the present incumbent, in charge. The little hamlet to which the office gives its name is situated in the extreme east- ern part of the township, on the Tremont and Kutztown road, and besides the post-office building, which was used by Mr. Stutzman as a hotel from 1863 until 1877, there is here a church, owned by the Lutheran denomination. Mr. Kutzman opened a hotel here as early as 1850. Rausch Gap.-A small colliery known as Rausch Gap is located about two miles south of Valley View, on lands of the Philadel- phia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, and operated by William H. Yohe. It has a level drift in the south dip of the Skidmore vein, and is mined for local market only. CHURCHES OF HEGINS. The Church of God was organized by Rev. John Hepler August 14th, 1856. Daniel Laudenslager was elected elder, and Jacob Krone deacon. The church numbered in 1880 about thirty members, with David Laudenslager and Jacob Shrop as elders, and Samuel Bohner and Joseph Wagner deacons. It has a promising Sunday- school of 75 scholars, with 19 officers and teachers. C.I. Laudenslager is its superintendent. The Bethel was built in 1856, in a lot about one mile east of town, and in 1871 was moved into Valley View. It is valued at $1,500. Rev. J. Hay is the pastor. The United Brethren Church, formerly a branch of Lykens circuit, was organized into a class in 1863. The building at Valley View was erected in 1862. The members most prominent in the church at that date were John Haldeman, John Haldeman, jr., Peter Hereing and Daniel Roessler. The Sunday-school was organ- ized in 1863, with Dr. J.H. Shope as superintendent. Friedens Reformed and Lutheran Church.-This church is the outgrowth of an organization of members belonging to the Reformed Church in America. It was first ___________end page 220.____________ page 221 CHURCHES IN HEGINS-ODD FELLOWS-HUBLEY PIONEERS. ____________________________________________________________ organized by Rev. William Reily in the year 1801. The place of worship was an old log school-house in deep Creek valley. Mr. Reily continued to preach at this place to a few members until 1816 or 1817, when this congregation and their Lutheran brethren agreed to build a union church. The site chosen for the new church building was Pine valley, about one and a half miles southwest from the place where the church was originally organ- ized. The church edifice was built of logs, 40 by 55 feet, in the usual style: the pews so arranged as to form a cross in front of the altar and pulpit. The building committee were Messrs. Michael Artz, Philip Artz, Michael Bressler, and Wilhelm Otto. The first pastor of the Reformed denomination was Rev. Henry Felix, who was called in 1818. He was followed in succession by Rev. Hartman G. Kneble, in 1820; Rev. John Hontz, 1827; Rev. Benjamin Boyer, 1830; Rev. Isaac Stiehle, 1831; Rev. Rudolph Duenger, 1837; Rev. Henry S. Bassler (supply), 1854: Rev. Jarde Fitzinger, 1855; Rev. Henry Bassler, 1870; and Rev. B.S. Metzger, the present pastor, 1877. In 1874 a new church edifice was erected, of brick, 45 by 65 feet, with a basement, and a steeple sixty feet in height. The corner stone was laid in August, 1874, and the house was dedicat- ed on Christmas of the same year. The building committee were Michael B. Bressler, Solomon B. Otto, David S. Artz, and Nathan D. Yoder. The building cost about $8,500. The congregation numbers about two hundred, nearly equally divided between the Reformed and Lutheran denominations. The Sunday-school of this congregation was organized thirty years since, and it now numbers, of officers, teachers and schol- ars, 150. Christ's Reformed and Lutheran Church.-This congregation was organized August 2nd, 1873, with about sixty members. The offi- cers were: William A. Stutzman, president; August Dinger, Peter Stutzman and Isaac Shadel were appointed building committee,. The building, which is a neat wooden structure, 34 by 44 feet, stands at the eastern end of Pine valley. The corner stone was laid May 24th, 1874, and it was dedicated November 22nd of the same year. The Reformed pastors of this congregation have been Revs. Henry S. Bassler and B.S. Metzger. The Lutheran pastor since the organization has been Rev. D. Sanner. The church has about 90 members and the Sunday-school about 115. ODD FELLOWS. Heginsville Lodge, No 726, I.O.O.F.-This lodge was instituted September 22nd, 1870, S.C. Schrope, E.G. Roessler, John Reed, Isaac G. Shadel, William B. Otto, Edward Bressler, Joel S. Ding- er, Solomon G. Bressler, Jonathan B. Stutzman, N.M. Bressler, Joel G. Roessler, N.B. Otto, N.S. Bressler and John Stutzman being the charter members. The first officers were: Solomon G. Bressler, N.G.; Joel S. Dinger, V.G.; Joel G. Roessler, secre- tary; Edward Bressler, assistant secretary; N.B. Otto, treasurer. The presiding officers have been Joel S. Dinger, Edward Bressler, Joel G. Roessler, N.D. Yoder, W.B. Otto, Harrison Wagner, M.P. Stutzman, Augustus Dinger, John Roessler, Elias Kessler, J.F.H. Long, Elias Dilfield, Ben. Yoder, C.I. Laudenslager, H.W. Bres- sler, Joel A. Dinger, Harrison Wagner, B.S. Metzger, and M.G. Bressler. The present officers are: N.G., M.G. Bressler; B.G., E.M. Dunkelberger; secretary, N.D. Yoder; assistant secretary, Elias Otto; treasurer, S.C. Schrope. The present membership is 49. The lodge meets every Friday evening inits own hall, which was erected in 1871 at an expense of $3,000. P.G.N.D. Yoder of this lodge has served two terms as D.D.G.M. The lodge is pros- perous. Ellsworth Lodge, No. 568, I.O.O.F. was organized May 24th, 1861. The charter members were Daniel Bohner, Solomon Anterline, Daniel Schucker, Henry Reedy, William Schwalm, George F. Wiest, George W. Moyer, Jacob D. Artz, John Stein and Jacob Umholtz. The first officers were: Daniel Bohner, N.G.; Henry Reedy, V.G.; George F. Wiest, S.; John Stein, A.S.; Jacob Umholtz, treasurer. The present officers are: William Schwalm, N.G.; Edward Osman, V.G.; William Lego, S; Jacob D. Artz, A.S.; Charles W. Tobias, treasurer. The lodge meets every Wednesday evening at Valley View. ______________ HUBLEY TOWNSHIP. ____________________________ This township, erected from Lower Mahantongo in 1853, has very little pioneer history that is not contemporaneous with that of her sister towns. The earliest settlement here was made in 1804 by Michael Beigert, who made a clearing on the place where Jacob Artz now resides. Following closely came Philip and Mi- chael Artz, and in the same neighborhood John and George Dietrich settled the farms now occupied by Paul Dietrich and William Stoney; Daniel Bixler, settling where Jonas Miller now lives; John and Henry Stoney, who settled the Stoney homestead and the Charles Tobias farm. John Haldemann and John Schmitz were Hub- ley's pioneers. Michael Beigert built the first log house, and for some years that style of architecture might be considered as the prevailing one. The first orchard was planted by ____________end page 221.___________ page 222 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. _______________________________________________________________ John Haldemann. The first saw-mill was built by John Stoney, on Deep creek, near the old homestead, about the year 1820; the first grist-mill having been built some two years earlier by Conrad Coil, where the Shortman mill now stands. The first public thoroughfare in the town was the stage road from Reading to Klingerstown. The old Indian trail running through this county into Northumberland passed through this township near the Pottsville road. John Coil taught a private school at an early day in a log house near the Sacramento Hotel. The township includes four school districts, each supplied with a building and teachers. Abraham Hoffa build the first hotel and the first store within the town limits. The tanning of leather was at one time an industry of some importance. John Stein in 1848 erected a tannery on the place now owned by Frederick Schwalm. Hiram Kimmel built his present works in 1866, and he is still operating them, using oak bark principally, and tanning upper leather. The residents of Hubley who participated in the war of 1812 were George Harner, John Kawl and David Maurer. The post-office of Sacramento was established in 1877, and kept in the building where Daniel Artz now trades. The population in 1860 was 538; in 1870, 547; in 1880, 747. UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST. This denomination has two appointments in Hubley. One is at Sacramento, where a church edifice was built in 1873, among the members being William Artz, John Kone, Jonas Miller, Cornelius Meyer and Cornelius Herner. The Sunday-school connected with this church was organized in 1874. Its superintendents have been A. Runkel, William Artz, S. Licht, C. Herner, F. Warfield and C. Moyer. The other appointment, which is at Schwalm's Church, in the west end of the township, was organized as a class in 1875 by George H.E. Hackman, the pastor at that time. These appointments belong to the Valley View circuit, which comprises classes in Hegins, Eldred and Hubley. Its pastors have been Revs. L.W. Cranmer, Davis Moyer, Jabob Runk, J. Shoop, William Dissinger, S. Noll and L. Fleisher. Rev. J. Shoop was in charge in 1880. ______________ KLEIN TOWNSHIP. ___________________________________ Up to 1873 Klein formed part of rush township. It received its name in honor of Jacob Klein, who was then associate judge of the courts of Schuylkill county. Nearly the entire population is engaged in coal industry. Coal forms the sole wealth of the township. The deposits are the Honey Brook basin and the Silver Brook basin. This township contains within its limits the highest land in this section of the State. A large part of the township is more than 2,000 feet above the level of the sea. EARLY SETTLEMENTS. The pioneer settlers of this township were principally of German extraction. The first settler was a man named John Stack- house, at a place now known as the "green fields," situated at the foot of the Spring mountain, on the south side, at a distance of about forty rods from the main road between Tamaqua and Hazle- ton. Two large apple trees and the ruins of an over mark the place where his log house once stood. It was built in 1815 or 1816. After his death, which occurred in January, 1846, it was occupied by Jet Scheiner, Weaver and others, who may be consid- ered as being among the early settlers. In 1841 or 1842 a German named John Simmers settled where the Tresckow railroad crosses the main road leading from Tamaqua to Hazleton. His house was partly of logs and partly framed, and he occupied it about four years. A German named Henry Betzenberger then occupied it until it burned down in 1852. The old well dug by Simmers at the side of the road, now used by the public, shows where the building stood. The third house was built in 1849, and stands near the road leading from Summit to Hazleton, in the little mountain village of Silver Brook. It is a framed build- ing, and it was first occupied by Herman Miller. It is now occupied by the wide of Henry Betzenberger, in possession of which family it has been since July, 1854. These were the only houses built in the township previous to the discovery of coal at Honey Brook in 1853. The only clearing in the township is a small field of about two acres in extent, called the "green fields." It was cleared by John Stackhouse more than sixty years ago, and he raised potatoes and green vegetables there. In 1856 and afterward Henry Betzenberger grew oats in this field-the only grain ever raised in this township. The first marriages of this township were those of Casper Brell in 1854, and John R. Sewell in 1859. Mrs. Sewell, now a widow, resides at Silver Brook. Henry Brell, son of Casper Brell, George Betzenberger and Ellen Betzenberger were the first children born. In 1839 or 1840 occurred the death of Mrs. Stack- house. John Simmers died about 1845, and John Stackhouse in 1846. John Stackhouse and wife were buried at Beaver Meadow, and John Simmers at Tamaqua. There is no graveyard within the limits of the township. ____________end page 222._____________ page 223 TRAVEL IN KLEIN TOWNSHIP-SCHOOLS. ______________________________________________________________ FIRST ROADS AND STAGE LINES. The oldest road is the main road leading from Tamaqua to Hazleton. It has been in existence more than a hundred years, and in early times it formed the main route of travel between Pottsville and Wilkes-Barre. Express teams, merchant teams, stage lines, and especially the many lumber teams conveying lumber from the valleys of the Susquehanna to Tamaqua, Hamburg, and other towns, tended to make this road a great highway. In 1855 it was turnpiked by Roland Jones, of Tamaqua. It was dis- continued as a turnpike in 1857, and has since remained a town- ship road. It was upon this road that the first stage line ran through this township, in 1841 or 1842. It was owned by David Moyer, of Tamaqua. It carried the United States mail between Tamaqua and Hazleton and Beaver Meadow. Edward Everet was the first stage driver. In 1844 or 1845, this line was purchased by Peters & Co., of Philadelphia, who extended it to Wilkes-Barre and carried the mail between that place and Pottsville. This line was known as the mail line. another line, known as the opposition line, owned by Adams & Co., ran over this road at the same time. both these lines were discontinued in 1854. The second road was opened between Summit and silver Brook. another road, connecting Honey Brook with the main road, was opened about the same time. In 1854 John Schiefly and Stephen Jones opened a stage line between Summit and Wilkes-Barre and carried the mail between those places. This road has ever since been a mail route. the mail is at present carried by Thomas Casselberry, of Hazleton, who runs a stage line between that place and Summit. EARLY TAVERNS. The first tavern was kept by John Stackhouse more than fifty years ago. The accommodations were exceedingly poor. Teamsters and travelers were obliged to sleep on the floor on blankets, there being no sleeping apartments. For many years this was the only house between Beaver Meadow and Lindnersville, and was a general stopping place for all travelers. It had a large amount of custom, and had stable capacity for ten or twelve horses. After the death of John Stackhouse, this stand was kept open for several years by Jet Scheiner. The other early taverns were those kept by John Simmers in 1841, Henry Betzenberger in 1845, and Jacob Gardner at Summit in 1854. All these stands had much custom. The accommodations at Summit and Betzenberger's were good. They were licensed taverns, and had stable room for ten or twelve horses each. the Summit Hotel is at present kept by Edward Cope. The other three have long been closed. Within the last seven years there have been four taverns opened at Silver Brook and vicinity. Their keepers are Patrick Carlin, Patrick Lafferty, James McBrarity and James Mullin. RAILROADS. The Catawissa Railroad was completed on the fourth of July, 1854. A branch about two miles in length was built from Summit to the Silver Brook colliery in 1865. The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company leased this road in 1873, and it now forms the Williamsport branch of that road. The Quakake Rail- road, intending to intersect the Catawissa Railroad near Summit Station, in 1839 graded an inclined plane about half a mile in length at a place called Switchback, nearly two miles east of Summit. Before the track was laid the project was abandoned. The Beaver Meadow Railroad was constructed to the mines at Honey Brook in 1855-6. All the coal mined in the Honey Brook basin previous to 1869 was transported over this road. The Tresckow Railroad was completed in 1869. Nearly all the coal mined in the Honey Brook basin goes over this road. SCHOOLS. The public school at Honey Brook was opened November 1st, 1858. It was held in a building rented of J.B.McCreary, situated at a short distance east of the town. The school was first taught by Charles Betzenberger, for $25 per month. His succes- sors up to 1865 were Abel Hotlicher, J.S. Longacre, James F. Hagerty and Mrs. Langdon, at salaries ranging from $20 to $35 per month. Mrs. Langdon was the wife of W.F.S. Langdon, dockage boss at colliery No. 1, who was murdered by the Mollies in 1860. jack Kehoe was the alleged murderer. Mrs. Langdon taught Honey Brook several years. This school was known as school No.6, being the sixth public school opened in rush township. The members of the school board in 1858 were: Henry Hauck, president; Isaac A. Blew, secretary; jacob Faust, Henry Betzenberger, Aaron Boughner and Daniel Kester. In November, 1865, a school building, containing two school-rooms, was erected in the eastern part of the town at a cost of $1,225. David Mulhall and Mrs. Langdon were the first who taught in this building, where the schools were held for nine years, when a new one, costing $2,700, was erected near the center of the town. it has three rooms, in which three teachers are employed. The second school was opened at Silver Brook in November, 1865. It was known as school No. 9 of Rush, and was first taught by W.B. Stauffer at a salary of $40 per month. it was afterwards taught by Richard Morris, Thomas M. Frause, Mary Murrin and others. In 1880 a new building, costing the township $1,115, was built. the school numbers about 75 pupils, and is taught by W.E. Malony. SUMMIT STATION. Summit Station received its name from its situation at the highest point on the Catawissa Railroad, 1,547 feet above the sea level. It is built upon the tract of Messrs. Stauffer and Lind- ner. a store was kept at this place by John Anderson, civil engineer for the Catawissa Railroad Company, to supply those employed in grading _____________end page 223._______________ page 224 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. _______________________________________________________________ the Catawissa Railroad and constructing the tunnel at Summit from 1835 to 1838, when it was closed. This was the first store kept in the township. In 1854 Jacob Gardner built the Summit Hotel. This was a very important stand in its early days. Previous to the completion of the Quakake Railroad, connecting with the Beaver Meadow and Hazleton roads, Summit was one of the most important points of travel on the Catawissa Railroad. Large quantities of freight were daily shipped at this station for Hazleton and vicinity. A large quantity of freight and coal transported over the Catawissa Railroad is weighed at this sta- tion. It contains the only post-office and store in the town- ship. The post-masters were A. Henrahan and Abraham Focht. The store was built by H.H. Roth, of Philadelphia, in 1879, and has quite a large trade. The most prominent and influential resi- dents are Abraham Focht and Frank Kentner. the former is the present land owner, and in 1879 built an addition to the village of a number of houses. SILVER BROOK. Silver Brook is built upon the tracts of G. Medler and oth- ers. The house of Mrs. Betzenberger was the only building there in 1864. It contained a company's store from then until 1871. The engine house and scale yards of the Tresckow Railroad are at this place. A large school-house was built in 1880. All the building there, except those belonging to the Tresckow Railroad, were owned by the operators of the Silver Brook colliery, and are now supposed to belong to the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company. They are fast decaying. One of these dwelling houses is a tavern stand kept by J. McBrarity. This place contained previous to 1877 a lodge of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Silver Brook Colliery.-This colliery is upon the tracts of A. Grove and others, afterward the estates of Messrs. Dilworth and Mitchel, and consists of a slope and shaft. The sinking of these and the building of the breaker were begun by Alexander Gray & Co. in 1864, and completed in 1865. In 1865 or 1866 A. Gray sold his interests to S.P. Longstreet, of Wilkes-Barre. This colliery was then known as that of Hosie & Longstreet. It was under the management of Longstreet, and was well conducted. It shipped from 50 to 60 cars of coal per day, and was in operation till November, 1871, when S.P. Longstreet ordered the workings of the colliery to be discontinued. Nothing has since been removed from the place. The breaker is in a dilapidated condition, and the engines and boilers are nearly ruined. The mines have become filled with water, which now flows out at the top of the shaft. Within the mine are an excellent pump-engine and large quantities of pipe and iron. There still remain in this basin large quanti- ties of coal. Only the south pitch of the veins has been worked. The north pitch, extending into the tracts of Messrs. Kelvey and Adders, remains unworked. There has been a dispute as to the ownership of this colliery since the time it ceased operations. It is now controlled and guarded by the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company. HONEY BROOK. Honey Brook is on the tracts of V. Lewis and J. Kunkle. The first buildings were erected in 1853, by J.B. McCreary & Company, lessees of the Honey Brook coal basin. The town is the property of the Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Company. All the collieries in the vicinity of Honey Brook are owned by this company. The only public building is a large school-house, built in 1874. The only shops are those connected with the different collieries. All the inhabitants are engaged in the collieries at Honey Brook and vicinity. Collieries Nos. 1 and 5 are situated at Honey Brook; colliery No. 4 at Audenried, a small portion of which village is in Klein. Honey Brook Collieries.-The Honey Brook coal basin, which ex- tends from Carbon county into Schuylkill, and unites with the Beaver Meadow basin, was opened in 1854 by J.B. McCreary & Compa- ny, lessees of the Honey Brook basin. There are six collieries in this basin in the vicinity of Honey Brook and Audenried, of which Nos. 1, 4 and 5 are in Klein township. They are upon the tracts of J. Kunkle, C. Kunkle and V. Lewis. These mines are extensively worked, and form the eastern limits of the coal works in Schuylkill county. All these collieries consist of slopes, the excavations of which, upon examination, have been found to extend into the adjacent counties. Colliery No. 1, or the Honey Brook colliery, was opened in 1854. The first coal was shipped in 1856 over the Beaver Meadow Railroad. Colliery No. 2 was opened on the same base as colliery No. 1, in 1860. These collieries were superintended by Messrs. Meyers and Mumper. J.B. McCreary & Co., lessees, consolidated with the land owners in 1862, and formed the corporation known as the Honey Brook Coal Company, with Meyers and Mumper as superintendents. In 1865 A. Fellows became superintendent of both collieries, and held the position till 1867. From 1867 to 1871, during which time collieries Nos. 3 and 4 were opened, all the works of the Honey Brook Coal Company were superintended by William Hopkins. Colliery No. 3 is situated in Carbon county. In 1870 colliery No. 2 was abandoned and No. 4 was opened in its stead the same year. The coal mined at this colliery was shipped over the Tresckow Railroad. The breaker is situated within 50 feet of the Carbon county line. It requires 1,140 foot of rope to reach to the foot of the slope. Colliery No 5 was sunk in 1872 and is situated at the western end of the basin. The first coal was shipped in May 1873. The Honey Brook Coal Company in 1873 and was merged in a corporation known as the Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Company with E.B. Leisenring as superintendent. This company in 1877 went into the hands of a receiver. Since then all the collieries have been worked by contract by E.B. Leisenrigh. There are at present mined at these colliers from 1,000 to 1,500 tons of coal daily. ___________end page 224.____________ page 225 BEGINNINGS IN MAHANOY TOWNSHIP INSTITUTIONS OF ST. NICHOLAS _______________________________________________________________ MAHANOY TOWNSHIP. _____________________________________________ The territory from which the old township of Mahanoy was formed was, until 1849, a part of Rush township, one of the original townships of Schuylkill county, and until 1811 a part of the great county of Northampton. At the latter date no general settlement had been made, and only here and there was an isolated log house, where hospitality was dispensed to the solitary horse- man, who, on his way from Reading or Easton to the older settle- ments of Columbia county, traversed the bridle paths of the wild mountain region, or sought pleasure and profit in the chase. Rush township was originally bounded on the northwest by Union township, northeast by Carbon county, south by West Penn township, and southwest by Schuylkill township. In 1820 this territory contained only 253 inhabitants; in 1830, 359; in 1840, 370. It now contains four townships and five boroughs, inhabited by about 35,000 people. The erection of the township of Mahanoy was rendered possible by the completion of the Mill Creek Railroad and the Mahanoy Plane, with the consequent opening of collieries and influx of population in the western portion of the old township. The earliest known settler in the township was a German named Reisch, who built a log cabin on the site of the large brick hotel known as the Mansion House, in Mahanoy City, about 1791. The family of Henry Ketner was one of the first to settle in the township. Within the next ten years the families of Henry Stauffer, Samuel May, John Eisenboth, Daniel Brobst and Erastus Williams came into the vicinity. Of these families H.H. Stauff- er, justice of the peace in Mahanoy City, was in 1880 the only representative residing in the limits of the old town, and to him, whose residence dates back to 1829, the historian is indebt- ed for many of the details of this sketch. The first saw-mill in the township was built about 1820, by John Eisenboth, on what is known as Eisenboth's run, a small tributary of the Mahanoy creek, near Mahanoy City; and was oper- ated on a small scale for many years. The occupation of the people was shingle making, chopping, farming and hunting. The Catawissa turnpike was the avenue of travel. The population of the township in 1860 was 573; in 1870 9,400, and in 1880, after West Mahanoy and Mahanoy City had been taken from it, 4,451. ST. NICHOLAS. This place includes the St. Nicholas, Wiggan's and Suffolk patches, as they were formerly called. It was settled in 1861, at which date Cake & Guise commenced mining operations here. While engaged in erecting the breaker Mr. Guise was killed by an accident. H.L. Cake, the surviving partner, named the place and colliery St. Nicholas, and the post-office, established in 1863, and kept by B.F. Smith, was given the same name. In 1864 Mr. Cake disposed of the colliery to a party of capitalists and operators, incorporated as the St. Nicholas Coal Company. Some of its prominent members were George Ormrod, C.F. Shoener, John Donneston and W.F. Donneston. This company operated the colliery until February, 1880, when the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company succeeded it. The first store in St. Nicholas was kept by Smith & Krebs, and opened about 1861. It is now kept by James Delong. The Union Church was built in 1874 by the united efforts of all who were interested in having Protestant services held in the place. Among its prominent supporters were Major Phillips, James Delong, Benjamin Jones and John A. Donneston. It is a neat framed structure and meets the wants of all classes of believers. Services are held by Primitive Methodist, Evangelical, Presbyte- rian, Lutheran and Reformed clergymen from the adjacent boroughs. St. Nicholas Colliery.-This colliery was opened in 1861, and it is now the property of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. Its breaker was built in 1861; has a capacity of five hundred tons daily, and its average annual shipments have been about 80,000 tons. Three hundred men and boys are employed. The slope is sunk to a depth of 720 feet below water level and workings opened in the Buck Mountain, two splits of the Mammoth, and, to some extent, in the Primrose. J.A. Donneston was super- intendent under the St. Nicholas Coal Company nearly sixteen years. St. Nicholas Division, No. 26, S. of T.-This division was instituted April 8th, 1879, with Richard Koons, John DeSilva, B.R. Jones, F.J. Smith, Thomas Metz, George Shafer, Charles Drum, William Jones, William Trevethyn, E.C. Koons and Owen Brown as charter members. At the first meeting Richard Koons was elected W.P., George Shafer secretary, and John DeSilva treasurer. Since that time the following members have passed the chair: George Shafer, John J. Reed, F.J. Smith, Thomas Metz and John DeSilva. The officers in position November 1st, 1880, were: W.P., E.C. Koons; W.A., Rachel Jones; R.S., John A. Trevethyn; F.S., Alexander McHale; T., Richard Koons; chaplain, W.C. Emory; cond. W.M. Gibson; assistant cond., Alice Gibson; I.S., Emma Koon; O.S., George Case. There are about sixty members. Meetings are held at Suffolk school-house Tuesday evenings. St. Nicholas Silver Cornet Bank was organized November 5th, 1878, with twenty members, and employed Jacob Brittz, of Mahanoy City, as teacher. Within a few weeks after organization J.C. Neuland was chosen lead- ______________end page 225._______________ page 226 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. _____________________________________________________________ er, and he still holds the position. Its officers in 1880 were: John J. Reed, president; Thomas Metz, secretary; Enoch Decker, treasurer; J.C. Neuland, leader. It is well equipped and a credit to the place. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The first public school was taught in 1859. From data kindly furnished by the superintendent of schools, M.J. Murphy, the following summary of the condition of the schools in 1880 is gleaned. There were at that time in the township fourteen school buildings; one at Hill's, with one school, containing fifty-four scholars; one at Bowman's, with two schools, containing in all one hundred and fourteen scholars; one at Suffolk, with two schools, and ninety-four scholars; one at Myersville, with one school, and thirty scholars; two at Yatesville, with three schools and one hundred and twenty-four scholars; one at Wig- gan's, with two schools and seventy scholars; one at Grantville, two schools and seventh scholars; one at New Boston, two schools and fifty scholars; one at Boston Run, with two schools and sixty-four scholars; one at St. Nicholas, with two schools and seventy-four scholars; one at Cole's, two schools and sixty-four scholars; one at Ellangowan, two schools and one hundred and three scholars; in all twenty-three schools and 913 scholars. The highest salary paid to teachers was $55 per month; the lowest $30. Thirteen male and ten female teachers were employed, of whom the greater number received their education in the public schools of the county, and seven held permanent certificates. The total monthly pay-roll for teachers' wages amounted to $985. COLLIERIES. North Mahanoy Colliery.-The first development here was made by Samuel and E.S. Sillyman as the firm of Samuel Sillyman & Son, and this was the first colliery opened at Mahanoy City. The first shipment of coal was made in 1861. The colliery continued in the hands of the Sillymans until 1869, when E.S. Sillyman sold it to Hill, Harris & Rumble, and in 1872 it became the property of the Philadelphia Coal and Iron Company, the present owners. The original breaker was destroyed by fire in 1869, and the present one built by Hill, Harrison & Rumble. It has a capacity of four hundred and fifty tons daily, and about the same average production. The workings consist of a slope about two hundred and twenty-five yards deep, with gangways driven west about one and one-half miles. Half a mile west of the foot of the slope is another, driven one hundred yards. Schuylkill Colliery was opened in 1863 by Abraham Focht, who commenced shipping coal in the spring of the following year. In 1865 the works were sold to the firm of Focht, Whitaker & Co., who operated the colliery until 1877, when it passed into the hands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, who are the present operators. The coal mined previous to 1870 was taken from the Five-feet and Seven-feet veins, above water level; but in that year a shaft fifty-seven feet deep was sunk to the Buck Mountain vein, from the foot of which a slope 636 feet in depth, with four gangways, has been driven. The vein now worked has an average depth of about fourteen feet, with a "dip" west of about six degrees. The capacity of the breaker is about five hundred tons daily, and the average production is nearly up to its capacity. Two hundred men and boys are employed. The power is supplied by four engines, with a total of 200 horse power. The Primrose Colliery was first opened in 1861, by Steele & Patterson, who operated it until 1866, when Caleb Kneavles pur- chased it, and he still operates it. The original slope was 125 yards, with a pitch of 40 degrees. The distance of the farthest heading from its foot is 900 yards. The veins worked are the Primrose, Mammoth and Skidmore. A slope was commenced in 1879, and it has been driven to the middle split of the Mammoth vein, and a tunnel to the Skidmore. Engines with a capacity of 310 horse power are in use. The present breaker was built in 1871, and has a capacity of 350 tons daily. The average daily product is fully up to its capacity. The total number of men and boys employed is 150. James Wynn is superin- tendent; William Wynn, outside foreman; William B. Harris, inside foreman; Frank Reed, shipper. The Tunnel Ridge Colliery was opened in 1863, by George W. Cole, who built a breaker and commenced shipping coal in Decem- ber. It was operated by him until 1879, when the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company bought it. The capacity of the breaker is nine hundred tons daily. The average production is about seven hundred tons. Six engines, aggregating 270 horse power, are in use, and 300 men and boys are employed. The depth of the slope is one hundred and sixty-six yards, and gangways have been driven fifteen hundred yards each way, east and west, from its foot. The veins worked are the Mammoth and Buck Moun- tain. John L. Shipman is the outside foreman. Glendon Colliery was opened in 1860, by Abraham Potts, who built a small breaker in 1862, and in 1863 sold it to Alfred Lawton, who built the present breaker two years later. Lawton sold it to James B. Boylan, who operated it until 1876, when the Delano land Company took possession of it and leased it to its present operators, J.C. Hayden & Co., which firm is composed of J.C. Hayden of Janesville, Pa., and Francis Robinson of New York. The capacity of the breaker is seven hundred tons daily, and the average production five hundred tons. The power is supplied by four engines, aggregating one hundred and eighty-five horse power. The veins worked are the Seven-feet, Buck Mountain and Skidmore. The slope is sunk one hundred and fifty-five yards, and gangways are driven two thousand yards from its foot. The total number of men and boys employed is ninety-five outside and one hundred and fifty inside. There are nine tenement houses on the property. The New Boston Coal Mining Company opened a drift and com- menced operating in 1864. They erected the breaker, from which the first shipments were made in ___________end page 226.____________ page 227 COLLIERIES IN MAHANOY TOWNSHIP. _____________________________________________________________ 1865, and continued operations until 1871. They were succeeded by the Broad Mountain and Lehigh Company, who operated until 1873, when a reorganization was affected under the name of the Middle Lehigh Company, who remained the owners until 1878, when the personal property and lease was purchased by Joseph Hitch, who still controls the colliery. The breaker has a capacity of 950 tons daily, and employs 425 men and boys. The depth of the slop sunk is 375 feet, with a pitch south of 22 degrees. The distance from the foot of the slope to the extreme eastern head- ing is one and three-fourths miles, and to the extremity of the western headings 1,500 feet. The vein worked is the Buck Moun- tain, with an average depth of fifteen feet. The company have also driven a tunnel one hundred feet south from the bottom of the slope to the Skidmore vein, on which a distance of 2,700 feet east has been worked. The engines used are two at the fans, of 20 horse power; one pair of hoisting engines, of 180 horse power; one pair of pump engines, of 530 horse power (capacity of pumps 1,200 gallons per minute), one pair of small pump engines of 45 horse power (capacity of pumps 300 gallons per minute), and one breaker engine of 45 horse power. Morgan W. Price is the present superintendent, John Goyne outside foreman, and Michael Murphy and Henry Kanute inside foremen. The Coply Colliery was opened by the Bowmans at an early day and is one of the oldest workings in the town. It was purchased in 1879 by L.F. Lentz. David Bowman became superintendent, J.L. Bowman assistant and outside foreman, William Davidson inside foreman. The colliery was formerly known as Lentz, Bowman & Co.'s. The number of men and boys employed outside is eighty, and inside one hundred and forty. Thirty-five mules are worked. The average production is 250 tons daily. The capacity of the breaker is 1,000 tons. One pair of 60 horse power hoisting engines, one 80 horse power breaker engine, one dirt and plane engine, of 15 horse power, and two 12 horse power fan engines supply the power. The shaft is one hundred and sixty feet in depth. The workings extend half a mile east and the same dis- tance west. The original workings were six drifts, now worked out. The colliery is still working one drift on the Seven-feet vein. The shaft is sunk on Buck Mountain vein, which here aver- ages ten feet in depth. The number of tenement houses is fif- teen. The colliery is free from fire damp. West Lehigh Colliery.-This mine was opened in 1864 by a man named Shoemaker, from Philadelphia, and is usually known among the residents of Mahanoy as the Shoemaker colliery. He built a breaker with a capacity of 200 tons daily, and commenced shipping coal in 1864. In 1870 he sold to Bedford & Co. The original workings were in a drift on the "Seven-feet" vein. The new firm sunk a slope two hundred and fifteen yards, with a pitch of 45 degrees, on the Buck Mountain vein. In 1874 Fisher Hazard became the owner, and built a new breaker, capable of turning out six hundred tons daily. This structure is on the main line of the Lehigh Valley road, north of the old one, which stood on the line of the Mahanoy City branch of that road, and which, when stripped of its machinery and valuable timbers, was destroyed by fire, as the best way of disposing of it. The average daily production is four hundred tons. Ninety-five men and boys are employed inside and twenty-five outside. The extreme headings are five-eighths of a mile east and three-eighths west from the foot of the slope. Thirty-two breasts are being worked, the average thickness of the vein being ten feet. Four engines, with an aggregate of one hundred and forty horse power, and two steam-pumps of one hundred and thirty horse power are in use. Twenty-four tenement houses are connected with the colliery. Bear Run Colliery was opened in 1863, by George F. Wiggan and C.H.R. Treibles, who built a small breaker during that years, and erected the present one in 1871. It has a capacity of four hundred and fifty tons daily, and the average out-put is about three hundred. The original slope was one hundred yards deep, and from it was worked the top split of the Mammoth and the Seven-feet veins. This slope is not worked, but is in a condi- tion to reopen at any time when the condition of trade will warrant. The present slope was sunk two hundred and twenty-five yards, with a pitch of 45 degrees, and workings extend west three-fourths of a mile, and east seven hundred yards, on the Mammoth vein. There are in use at this colliery one pair of hoisting engines of 120 horse power, one breaker engine of 20, one fan of 15, and three pumps of 150 each. The total number of men and boys employed outside is one hundred and twenty-five; inside, one hundred. The average thickness of the vein now worked is sixteen feet. The Suffolk Colliery was first opened in 1863 by Pliny Fisk, and in February, 1864 sold by him to the Suffolk Coal Company, which built, during that year, the present breaker to take the place of a small one built by Fisk. The capacity of this breaker is 750 tons daily, and the average production 600 tons. One hund- red and twenty men and boys are employed outside, and the same number inside. The slope is driven 193 yards, at a pitch of 20 degrees, and seven gangways are being worked in the Primrose and orchard veins. The power used is furnished by one hoisting engine of sixty horse power, one breaker engine of fifty, one fan of forty, one shop fan engine of eighteen, one pump-used for washing -of forty, and one tank pump engine of eight, with one mine loco- motive of twenty, besides a slope pump of one hundred and fifty. the head of the slope is about eighty yards east of the breaker. Ellangowen Colliery.-The name by which this colliery was first known was Maple Dale, or more commonly Lanigan's colliery, it having been opened by James Lanigan, the ordinal owner and operator. Mr. Lanigan sold his interest to a Mr. Star, of Bos- ton; he sold to John C. Scott & Sons, of Philadelphia, and the name was changed to Glenville. Subsequently it was purchased by the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company and named Ellangowen colliery. Under the control of this company, who are the present owners and operators, it __________end page 227.____________ page 228 HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY. ____________________________________________________________ has become one of the best equipped and most productive collier- ies in the anthracite coal region. It has one of the best con- structed breakers, with the latest improvements in hoisting machinery, and it is producing an average of twelve hundred tons of coal daily ready for market, which is its full capacity. This colliery requires the labor of two hundred and fifty men and boys inside to keep it in successful operation. It has two hoisting engines for the shaft, of ninety horse power each, and two en- gines for the slope, of thirty horse power each, besides breaker and fan engines. It has tow fans to regulate ventilation, of twenty-two and sixteen feet diameter respectively. The veins worked are the Primrose, about ten feet in thickness, and the Mammoth, in three splits, each from twelve to sixteen feet in thickness. There are about one hundred tenant houses belonging to this colliery, and occupied by employes. Knickerbocker Colliery.-This colliery was opened in 1864 by M.P. Fowler and Henry Huhn, and they made their first shipment of coal November 23d of the same year, having already expended $75,000 in its opening and partial development. In March, 1865, they sold the colliery to the Knickerbocker Coal Company, of which Isaac I. Hayes, of Arctic expedition fame, was president. The contract being unfulfilled the colliery was sold January 1st, 1873, to the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. Two hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars had been spent in de- veloping and running the colliery to the time of the last sale. Under the management of the present owners and their able foremen the average daily production is about 450 tons, the full capacity being 500. The colliery gives employment to 150 men and boys outside, and 180 inside. It has seven engines, with an average of forty horse power each, and one six-inch double-acting Griscom pump of six feet stroke. There are thirty-two double tenant houses, in which the employes reside. The slope is sunk on the south dip of the Primrose vein and the tunnel south to the north dip. The Mammoth vein is being worked, both top and bottom splits, which are here divided by about fifty yards of rock. Boston Run Colliery was opened in 1862, by Focht & Althouse, which firm was afterward changed to Althouse & Brother by the retirement of Mr. Focht. It is owned and operated by the Phila- delphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. The workings consist of a slope 235 yards deep, with a pitch of 35 degrees, and gang- ways on the Mammoth vein. The breaker has a capacity of six hundred and fifty tons, and about three hundred and fifty tons are shipped daily. A saw-mill and car and blacksmith shops are on the premises. One pair of sixty horse hoisting engines, one fifty horse breaker, one forty horse fan, a twenty horse engine at the saw-mill, and a five horse at the blacksmith shop furnish the power. Eighty-eight men and boys are employed inside and ninety-five outside. Thirty-six tenement houses are on the property. The colliery has been carefully managed and but five lives have been lost since its opening. John Skeath is the inside foreman and J.W. Madenforth the outside foreman. MURDERS. In 1796 a log tavern was built, by an old hunter named Reisch, on the spot where now stands the Mansion House of Mahanoy City. August 10th, 1797, two travelers spent the night together at this lonely hostelry; one a Jew peddler named Faulhover, the other a hunter from New Jersey, named Bailey. The latter on the follow- ing morning preceded the peddler to a place known as West House run, lay in ambush for him and shot him through the heart. He then robbed his saddlebags of the gold and silver they contained, carried the bags, still laden with a quantity of copper coins, to a point some distance from the scene of the murder, buried them and disappeared. Passers by buried the unfortunate peddler. A small mound marks the spot, which was pointed out for many years afterwards. Bailey was afterwards traced to New Jersey, arrest- ed, and captured, and was executed January 6th, 1798. august 6th, 1880, a party of five boys playing in a field near Lawton's Patch picked up a large number of old copper coins, some of them bearing a date two hundred years ago. The report of the discov- ery spread rapidly, hundreds repaired to the place to search for hidden treasure, and intense excitement pretiled until the story of Faulhover's murder was remembered, and the place where the coin was unearthed was found to correspond with the story of the buried saddlebags, which could never be found, although they were searched for at the time. Another cowardly murder was that of Jefferson F. Yohe, a farmer's boy, living in Columbia county, and aged about sixteen years. On the 27th of May, 1870, he was shot and robbed at a point near the old colliery on the Ringtown road. Several ar- rests were made, but no one was ever convicted of the crime. About three o'clock in the morning of Friday, December 10th, 1875, a party of masked men visited the house of Charles McAllis- ter at Wiggan's Patch and broke in the back door. McAllister went into the cellar, which was separated from the adjoining house by a board partition only, and, removing a board, went into the other house and escaped by the back door. Mrs. McAllister went toward the kitchen door, and, meeting the ruffians, was shot dead, and left in the doorway where she fell. The murderers then went up stairs, and, finding Charles O'Donnell, a brother of Mrs. McAllister, took him out and shot him; following him as he at- tempted to escape, to a point some fifty yards from the house, where he fell, riddled with bullets. James McAllister was also seized, and a rope put around his neck; but he managed to get loose from it and escape. James Blair, a boarder in the house, was seized, but on giving his name was released and warned to leave. So rapidly had these outrages been accomplished that when the neighbors, awakened by the firing, reached the spot, the perpetrators were not to be found. They have never been discov- ered. ___________end page 228._____________