AREA HISTORY:  Iron Ore Mines, Carroll Township, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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IRON ORE MINES OF CARROLL – Page 650

Iron ore was discovered in Carroll Township by Abraham Mumper, about the year 1847, and very 
soon afterward by John Mumper.  These were the first known deposits of magnetic ore west of 
the celebrated Cornwall Mines in Lebanon County, Penn., and they are supposed to be 
continuations of the same iron belt.  The Mumper farms lie directly east of the town of 
Dillsburg, and the mines are but one mile from the town.  The early discoveries consisted of 
large deposits lying very close to the surface of the ground; in fact, one of the very best 
pockets was only covered by about two feet of sand or gravel.  These beds, or pockets of ore, 
were worked very successfully by the Messrs. Mumper and their sons for a number of years, and 
the ore hauled on wagons to Mechanicsburg, Penn., a distance of eight miles, that being the 
nearest railroad station, and in many instances it was hauled much farther.

Mining operations were conducted with varying success by other parties in the township and a 
great influx of prospectors followed, but with the exception of beds of ore just mentioned, 
nothing of any magnitude was discovered, except a mine on the farm of Martin Smyser, adjoining 
Messrs. Mumper, and a deposit near the Yellow Breeches Creek in Monoghan Township, near the 
present mine of Mr. Landis.  Subsequently Henry Sidle made a discovery on what is now known as 
the Price farm, near the mines now worked by Mr. D. W. Cox.  The hematite mines west of 
Dillsburg were of a much more recent date, and the deposit much more extensive and the late 
developments have clearly shown that they are practically inexhaustible.  Dr. Lewis Heck, of 
Dauphin, Penn., who, bought the Knaub Mine some ten years ago, has proved, beyond doubt, that 
the hematite ore on the south side of the South Mountain, is both much richer and very much 
more abundant than was at first supposed, and the McCormick Mine and the Wolf Mine now 
operated by Maj. H. D. Markley are both showing up rich and abundant deposits of a very 
superior variety of hematite ore, and the best territory is yet supposed to be untouched.  
These mines are situated about three miles west of Dillsburg.

But to return to the Magnetic Mines referred to in the beginning of this article.  The panics 
in the iron trade variously effected them, and although the Messrs. Mumpers worked very 
successfully, they had many obstacles to overcome, and after mining thousands of tons of the 
surface ore, and reaping handsome fortunes, finally abandoned the mines, believing the paying 
ore had all been taken out, and that the cost of further search, and the long haul upon wagons 
would eat up all the profits.  Little mining was done for a number of years, and Messrs. 
McCormick & Co., of Harrisburg, Penn., did the most of it.  In 1867 Alexander Underwood, Esq., 
a son-in-law of Abraham Mumper, bought the Abraham Mumper farm, Messrs. McCormick & Co., 
having become the owners of the John Mumper ore lands.  Mr. Underwood, with his characteristic 
energy, determined to investigate the property more fully, and sunk a shaft through the “Trap 
rocks,” and was rewarded by the discovery of the magnificent mine now owned and worked by him.  
This was a wonderful event in the mining history of the country, and exploded all former 
theories regarding the finding of ore in this region.  Whilst the building of the Harrisburg & 
Potomac and the Dillsburg & Mechanicsburg Railroads afforded a much needed outlet, by way of 
transportation to market, for the ore.  Mr. Underwood’s principal find was made in the fall of 
1872, and was succeeded the next year by the important discovery made by John N. Logan, Esq.  
Mr. Logan had inherited from his father, Col. Henry Logan, a tract of land known as the 
“Cotton farm,” lying directly east of the Mumper farms, but sold it at a very ordinary price, 
as the land was not supposed to be worth much, and the “practical miners” thought there was no 
ore on it.  But as soon as he learned of the find of Mr. Underwood, he at once set to work to 
make a very careful survey of the surrounding country, and came to the conclusion he had sold 
the best iron land in the township, and that the great body of the Underwood vein of ore would 
be found on that tract.  He at once determined to buy it back, and paid to Mr. Hafner, what at 
that time was considered a most fabulous price, and became the laughing stock of the country 
for being such a fool as to throw away his money on so hazardous an investment.  But Mr. Logan 
was not to be driven from his purpose by any such impediments, but went immediately to work, 
and after what at that time seemed almost insurmountable difficulties, sunk his shaft on a 
line directly east of Mr. Underwood, and at a depth of thirty feet, found the same vein of 
ore, and proved to the country that his opinions were well founded, and that he had not worked 
on a mere speculation.  This was the advent for a wholesale influx of prospectors, and almost 
every piece of land that was supposed to contain ore, was leased by some party.  But the 
terrible financial panic of September, 1873, struck a severe blow to the iron business, and 
the numerous failures that followed delayed greatly the development of the iron interests.  
But the advent of better times, revived business, and an industry of so much importance, could 
not lie dormant.  Messrs. McCormick & Co., leased Mr. Logan’s mine, and have worked it for ten 
years, and improving the mines of both of Mr. Underwood and Mr. Logan, have shown a deposit or 
ore varying from five to fifty feet in thickness.  After these discoveries the Smyser Mine was 
opened, then the Bell, next the McClure, the Price (which was operated by Mr. Cox,) and last 
and most important of all the mine opened, and the prospecting of Mr. G. A. Longnecker.  Mr. 
Longnecker leased a considerable tract of land from Messrs. Underwood, Fleming and Logan, and 
after thoroughly developing the mine on Mr. Underwood’s land, proceeded to drill down on Mr. 
Fleming’s land with a “Diamond Drill” to a depth of more than 1,000 feet, and although the 
results of his operation have not as yet been made public, sufficient is known to warrant the 
statement that an immense deposit of ore has been found at great depth, and that the quantity 
is supposed to be inexhaustible.  And we are now led to believe that our mining interests are 
after all only in their infancy.  The quality of the ores have been given by other parties; 
suffice it to say, they are very rich in metallic iron and quite free from impurities, thus 
proving their great value.

It is learned that during the last twelve years, more than 120,000 tons of magnetic iron ore 
have been shipped from the mines referred to, and the amount of money paid out for labor 
alone, during that time, will exceed $250,000.  There is no doubt very much more territory 
containing valuable deposits of both varieties of iron ore, as yet untouched, and all that is 
wanting is increased railroad facilities and more capital and energy to develop the untold 
wealth that must at some day return remunerative profits to the diligent investors.