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157 L8391+
CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
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BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND GIVEN IN 1891 BY HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE
Cornell University Library F 157L8 B81 + History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania,
3 1924 028 854 234
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Cornell University Library
The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library.
There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text.
http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028854234
HISTORY
OF
LUZERNE COUNTY,
PENNSYLVANIA,
WITH
BIOGRAPHICAL SELECTIONS.
"A stoic of the woods, a man without a tear." -Campbell's " Gertrude of Wyoming."
H. C. BRADSBY, EDITOR.
ILLUSTRATED.
CHICAGO: S. B. NELSON & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1893.
1
JOHN MORRIS COMPANY, . PRINTERS & BINDERS.
15514:13 14B 5
BOUND B
W. B. CONKEY COMPANY,
. . CHICAGO.
PREFACE.
" Like far-off chime Of half-heard bells in some forgotten clime, Pealed from the kingdom of the dead yesterdays."
T HE last written usually, though the first read by most intelligent bookmen, is this page. Therefore authors often use this privilege to fence against adverse criticism, or apologize for errors of omission and commission; singularly forgetful of the fact that nothing of man's work is perfect, and that the dear critics are not only busy pointing out the "Mistakes of Moses," but are eagerly exploiting the faults of creation itself. 'In faith, I would welcome them all, because the critics and doubters I esteem the salt of every civilization, and I will rest content in the one fact, namely, that everyone competent to know, after even a cursory examination, will realize that the whole has not been the work of "the idle singer of an empty day."
This book, with all its faults, is much of the story of the bloody defeats and the immortal triumphs of the pioneers, now running back one hundred and thirty years; that marvelous race of men, whose bared breasts and fearless hearts erected the only wall of defense against the cruelest adversity that ever so pitilessly struck a portion of the human race; the men and women, who, with the least resources, accomplished the greatest works. In the splendors about us behold their imperishable monuments!
The patriotic Mecca of this great State is in Luzerne county-focused at the base of Memorial Monument, that stands sentinel over the ashes of the great dead. This is pre-eminently the historical spot of Pennsylvania, and here have come the poets and historians to mingle their meed of praise with the patriotic tribute of the civilized world to the devoted band whose scattered bones bleached on Abraham's Plains.
From 1762 to the close of the year 1892 is the span of the quick told-off-years of the Beginning and the Now of the permanent settlement of Luzerne county-the fleeting years, as unheeded as the separate pulse-beat of lusty youth, yet here are their golden ripening fruits. To add something of the doings of the present age to the careful and well-told accounts of Isaac A. Chapman (1830); Col. William L. Stone (1841); Hon. Charles Miner (1845); Stewart Pearce (1866); Henry Blackman Plumb; Hendrick B. Wright; Sheldon Reynolds, George B. Kulp, Esq., and others, whose writings have been freely laid under tribute in preparing these pages, is the whole of the ambitious purpose of this publication. All of these able chroniclers, except Stewart Pearce, treat on special subjects, and the compiler hereof has found it his great pleasure to weave as well as he could, all their garnered facts into a con- nected whole and bring it down to the present hour. The late Hon. Steuben Jenkins
iv
PREFACE.
was the busy and able gatherer of historical data of this county, and the great mis- fortune is death has dropped the curtain and his matter remains inaccessible to the seeker for facts. To the old newspaper files of the late William Penn Miner, as he received them from his father and as they are in the care of his son, William B. Miner, are obligations for many valuable cullings; also to Dr. F. C. Johnson's " Historical Record" and the same to George B. Kulp's " Families of Wyoming." The quick-witted reader will readily recognize the paragraphs from the facile pen of Hon. C. Ben Johnson. To Rev. Horace Edwin Hayden, for the matter of the Protestant churches, and to Rev. M. J. Hoban, for that of the Catholic church, are obligations acknowledged; also to C. F. Hill, Esq., of Hazleton, for much valuable material of the Indians and early history. To the gentlemen of the press and to many others, are especial thanks cordially extended.
From all these as well as still other sources, will be found from cover to cover of this book more or less of over 25,000 of the dead and the living whose lives are linked with that of the county. A goodly contingent, and to them is handed this much of the unequaled story, for them to transmit in turn to their long-coming posterity. Here is a monument that will outlive the finest bronze or hardest granite.
The work is divided into Two Parts-Historical and Biographical, with a full analytical index, which will render easy reference not only to each name, but to every incident of interest in the work.
THE EDITOR.
CONTENTS.
PART I.
CHAPTER I. LUZERNE COUNTY. PAGE
As it Came from the Hands of God-First Viewed by Civilized Eyes-Festival of the Foliage -The River and the Valley-Mountains and Streams-The Unknown Races of Men- Indians-Mammoth and Mastodon-Glaciers-Geological-Coal Strata-Fourteen Veins, Containing Ninety Feet of Coal-The County's Drainage-The Increase in Pop- .17- 34 ulation-Statistics of Present. Population, etc ..
CHAPTER II.
1762.
The First Attempted Settlement-First White Men to Visit this Section-Character Devel- oped under Adversity-Old French War-Massacre of Settlers-John and Emanuel Hoover, Noah Hopkins-Capt. Lazarus Stewart-Again This is a Silent Desert-Next Attempt at Settlement 1769-First Pennamite and Yankee War-First Forty Settlers, List of-Four Times the Settlers Driven Off-Capt. Butler and Capt. Amos Ogden- List of the First Two Hundred Connecticut Settlers-Renewal of the Troubles Between Yankees and Pennamites-Effort to Form a New State-A House Divided Against .34- 67 Itself, etc
CHAPTER III.
HABITS AND CUSTOMS.
Those Who Came Peeping in the Wilderness-Old Michael, or " Old Pickle "-" Oh Sister Phebe "-The Ancient Dude-Severe Religion-A Preacher Tried for Drunkenness- The Prophesies and Grotesqueries-The Brush Hut and Log Cabin-A Typical Woods
67- 90 Pioneer, etc.
CHAPTER IV.
BATTLE OF WYOMING.
Westmoreland Town and County, of Connecticut-The People Quick to War for Inde- pendence-Reckless John Penn -- Plunket's Expedition-The Two Companies Sent to Washington-Steuben Jenkins' Historical Address-Massacre of the Hardings-The Fatal July 3, 1778-They Surrender and are Then Plundered-Conflicting Stories- The British Accounts-Pennites Called Tories and Many Driven Out-List of the Killed in the Battle-The Dorrances-Col. Franklin with Company Reached the Fort Just After the Battle-Butler Escaped to the Mountains-Denison Surrenders- Some Ancient Stories of the Battle Investigated-The Movement-The Centennial Day of the Battle, etc ..
90- 123
vi
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER V.
HARTLEY'S AND SULLIVAN'S EXPEDITIONS. PAGE
Following the Battle Washington Orders Hartley and William Butler to Form an Expe- dition-Sullivan Reaches Wilkes-Barre and Ascends the River-Extracts from Diaries of the Men in the Expedition-Importance of Sullivan's Movements-Indian Marauds in the Valley-Battle with the Indians at Frenchtown Mountain-King Nutimus. 123-134
CHAPTER VI.
YANKEE AND QUAKER.
The Seventeen Townships-Legal Aspects of the Subject-Address of Gov. Hoyt- Titles of Connecticut and Pennsylvania-Puritan and Quaker-Jurisdiction and Soil Considered-A Long and Bitter Controversy-Both Were Right, etc .. 134-168
CHAPTER VII.
WAR.
Whisky Insurrection-Threatened French War-Row with England-War of 1812-15- Mexican War-Civil War, etc .. 168-199
CHAPTER VIII.
SUGAR LOAF MASSACRE.
Destruction of Forts Rice, Bosley's Mills and Fort Jenkins-Capt. Klader's Company Ambushed-Burial Party-John Balliett-The Walk Purchase-Chief Nutimus-Peter Hess Massacred, etc 199-209
CHAPTER IX.
LUZERNE COUNTY CREATED.
Witchcraft-Westmoreland Town Erected-Interesting Items from the Records-Town- ships Within the Town-Prices Regulated by Law-Punishment of Evil Doers- Oldest Land Records-County Created-Courts and Lawyers-Resident Attorneys- Officials-Centennial, etc. 209-249
CHAPTER X.
ROADS.
Blazed Tracks-Express-Mails-Turnpikes-Stage Drivers-George Root and Conrad Teter-First Highway-River Navigation-Canals-Rafting-Railroads-Ship Build- ing-Bridges-Storms and Floods, etc. 250-269
CHAPTER XI.
COAL.
Vast Deposits Once All Over the State-First Shipped Down the River in 1807-Parties Who First Mined and Transported It-Jesse Fell-Canal Opened-Nicho Allen and Philip Ginter-Miner, Cist & Robinson Attempt to Mine and Ship Coal-Railroads and Transportation Companies-Value of Coal Lands-Eastern Middle Coal Fields-Coal Found-Ario Pardee-Eckley B. Coxe-Superior Hard Coal-George B. Markle-Tun- nels-Accidents, etc. .. 270-320
vii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XII.
THE DEAD THAT STILL LIVE. PAGE
A List of the Prominent Early Men Here-Those Who Stood in the Front-Hon. Charles Miner's List and Others Added, etc. 321-373
CHAPTER XIII.
SCHOOLS.
Education Considered-First Schools-Free Schools-Present Schools-Educational Insti- tutions, etc. 374-394
CHAPTER XIV.
THE PRESS.
The First Printers-Herald of the Times-Gradual Growth of Printing-Long List of Papers and Many Able Newspaper Men-Papers now Published in the County, etc .. 397-417
CHAPTER XV.
MEDICAL.
Salivation Army-Hot Water and Bleeding -- A Learned Profession-Medical Societies- - First Physicians-List of Registered Physicians-County Medical Societies, etc .. ... 418-422
CHAPTER XVI.
CHURCHES OF THE COUNTY.
First Arrivals of Churches, and Organizations-A Religious People Were the Pioneers- Moravians, Puritans and Catholics in Their Order, etc. .422-450
CHAPTER XVII.
SOCIETIES AND ASSOCIATIONS.
Anti-Masonic Politics- Modern Popularity of Secret Societies-Board of Trade-Early Debating Societies-Ninth Regiment-Halls-Library Associations, etc. .451-463
CHAPTER XVIII.
AGRICULTURE.
In the Valley Originally it was only Farmers- Time has Brought the Change-Now it is only Collieries-Fair Grounds and Associations-The Beginning and End of the Story -Some of the Early Manufacturing Industries, etc .. 463-470
CHAPTER XIX.
CITY OF WILKES-BARRE.
The Proud Queen of the North Susquehanna-Founded by John Durkee-First Settlers- First Improvements-First House was Abbott's, Corner of Main and Northampton Streets-Forts-Reminiscences of the Early People and Buildings-Banks, Factories and Industries-City Improvements, etc. 470-521
CHAPTER XX.
HAZLETON.
The New City in the County-Its Founding and Growth-Its Situation-Officials-Early Settlers-Drumheller, Davenport, Pardee and Others-Its Industries and Institu- tions 522-581
viii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXI.
TOWNSHIPS AND BOROUGHS.
PAGE
Ashley Borough
531-533
Laflin Borough
596-597
Avoca Borough
533-534
Lake Township.
597-598
Bear Creek Township.
534
Laurel Run Borough
600
Black Creek Township.
534-537
Lehman Township
598-600
Buck Township.
537-538
Luzerne Borough 600-603
Butler Township.
538-541
Marcy Township
.603-604
Conyngham Township
541
Miner's Mills Borough
604-605
Dallas Borough
542
Nanticoke Borough.
605-608
Dallas Township.
542-543
Denison Township.
543-544
Dorrance Township.
547-548
Dorranceton Borough
548
Edwardsville Borough
548
Pittston Township
615-618
Exeter Borough
549-550
Pittston Borough
618-626
Exeter Township
550-552
Plains Township
626-631
Fairmount Township
552-554
Fairview Township
554-558
Forty Fort Borough.
558-559
Ross Township.
641-642
Foster Township. 560-561
Salem Township
642-647
Franklin Township 562-563
Shickshinny Borough
647-649
Freeland Borough
563-566
Slocum Township
649-650
Hanover Township. 566-580
Sugar Notch Borough.
650
Hazle Township. 580-582
Sugarloaf Township
650-657
Hollenback Township. 582-583
Union Township. 657-658
658
Hunlock Township.
583-584
West Pittston Borough 658 659
Huntington Township .584-588
White Haven Borough 659-663
Jackson Township 588-589
561
Wright Township 664
Jenkins Township.
.589-590
Wyoming Borough 665-666
Yatesville Borough
666-667
Kingston Township
595-596
PART II.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Biographical Sketches in Alphabetical Order. 671-1489 Biographical Sketches Addenda. 1490
Wilkes-Barre Township 663-664
Jeddo Borough
Hughestown Borough. 583
Plymouth Borough .631-634
Plymouth Township
634-641
Nescopeck Township
608-612
New Columbus Borough
587
Newport Township
612-614
Parsons Borough .
614-615
West Hazleton Borough.
Kingston Borough 590-595
PAGE
ix
CONTENTS.
MISCELLANEOUS.
PORTRAITS.
PAGE
PAGE
Barton, A. A., M. D
.535
Mitchell, G. W.
495
Beaumont, Col. Eugene B
125
Neale, H. M.
.345
Butler, Edmund G. 545
Oliver, Panl A. 205
Cake, J. L ..
.609
Osborne, Edwin S 295
De Witt, A. McI
355
Pardee, A
35
Dills, John F
475
Parrish, Charles. 85
Dodson, John
105
Pettebone, Noah 315
Dodson, S. H.
165
Pettebone, Payne. 45
Dorrance, Col. Charles
25
Pettebone, Stephen H 245
Farnham, Alexander
.435
Pfouts, Benj'n F 155
Foster, Charles D
75
Quigley, T. F 627
Gilligan, P. M.
.395
Reichard, Geo. N
375
Harding, Garrick M.
195
Reichard, J.
175
Harsch, Claude G. 637
Reynolds, A. H.
565
Harvey, Jameson 185
Reynolds, John B
285
Hibbs, W. I. 583
Robinson, J. S.
415
Keck, Col. Morrison J
645
Robinson, R. P. 305 95
455
Kisner, William.
275
Search, Hendrick W.
385
Knapp, Charles P. 265
405
Shonk, Geo. W
215
Kulp, Geo. B
65
Shonk, John J
135
Law, Jno. B
619
Sprague, L. L.
.515
Lee, Conrad
573
Stark, John M. 335
Lenahan, John T
235
Swetland, William. 55
Lewis, G. Mortimer
663
Trimmer, S. W., M. D. 555.
Longshore, W. R.
485
Tripp, Isaac. 425
McGahren, John.
.365
Troutman, Geo. H.
601
McGroarty, John S
325
Tyrrell, J. C .. . 591
MacKnight, O. B
145
Van Wickle, A. S 505
115
Markle, Jno
255
The Wyoming Monument, View of. 119
Part I. Historical ..
17
Part II. Biographical
671
Index, Historical.
1491
Index, Biographical.
1495
Map of Luzerne County
12-13
Kirkendall, W. P 525
Rockafellow, F. V
Kisner, Elliott P .465
Sandel, John H., M. D.
Shoemaker, William S. 225
Kosek, John.
Woodward, Stanley
Markle, G. B 445
PART I.
HISTORICAL.
LUZERNE COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
LUZERNE COUNTY.
AS IT CAME FROM THE HANDS OF GOD-FIRST VIEWED BY CIVILIZED EYES-FESTIVAL OF THE FOLIAGE-THE RIVER AND THE VALLEY-MOUNTAINS AND STREAMS-THE UNKNOWN RACES OF MEN-INDIANS- MAMMOTH AND MASTODON-GLACIERS-GEOLOGICAL-COAL STRATA-FOURTEEN VEINS, CONTAINING NINETY FEET OF COAL-THE COUNTY'S DRAINAGE-THE INCREASE IN POPULATION-STATISTICS OF PRESENT POPULATION, ETC.
R ICH and beautiful Luzerne county! On thy face the hills swelling away in the blue distance at whose feet are the valleys where the bright waters for- ever sing their lullabies as the mountain brook joins the valley stream and both rush into the winding river in its merry, ceaseless race to the sea. When civilized man first clambered up the eastern incline of the Blue mountains and looked across toward the far-famed Pocono, and caught a glimpse of what was destined to be one of the most historical places in America, what grandeur and beauty of nature broke upon his vision! If in the spring with the fresh flowers and the new shining green leaves, the returning new life on every hand and the birds flitting from fragrant bower to bower and caroling to the limpid blue skies their joyous return from the south, or if, as is more likely, in "the mild September," when the nuts are brown, the grapes purple, the sumac flaming its red, and from the clear cold brook reflecting the images of the tall mountain top, this is the entrancing vision of the Festival of the Foliage; in either, or in any case, what a panorama of loveliness greeted his wondering eyes! He stops to breathe a moment and behind him, before him, to the right and left of him, bounded only by the limits of vision, what grandeur, what entrancing beauties! Here was nature's master effort of wide, peaceful and quiet beauty. Such rich coloring; such blending of rainbows, brawling brooks and forest-covered hillside; such billows of flame, from the dark gorge to the end of vision in one ever unfolding panorama, touched as is only possible by the master hand of God. Never was the face of the earth so beautiful, so restful, so witching to the human eye. Mountains, promontories and gently rolling hills and restful valleys, all crowned with flowers, brilliant foliage, birds of song and silvery streams.
The first view from the Pocono to the west-bound traveler presented the famed Wyoming Valley completely encircled with its everlasting hills, except where the Susquehanna river breaks through from the north near Pittston and winds along nearly through the center of its entire length. In the river can be seen many green islands slumbering in its embrace. Across there is " Prospect Rock" and from this lookout the entire valley can be viewed. The Pocono range extends an hundred miles nearly parallel with the Delaware and Susquehanna rivers-with
2
18
HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.
wild and rather desolate summits, but presenting on every hand the magnificent landscapes that constitute much of the glories of northern Pennsylvania. The Susquehanna river enters the valley at Lackawanna gap, coming in through a narrow defile in the mountain and passes out through a like narrow way below Nan- ticoke gap, traveling a distance of near twenty miles. The valley averages about three miles in width and the enclosing mountains are about 1,000 feet high on the eastern and about 800 feet on the western side. Then comes Wilkes- Barre mountain to the south, fronting its bold face and almost in articulate language saying, "Stop here!" And men simply passed along the river up and down, while the rugged hills covering all south and southeast of the Susquehanna were left to the wild forest denizens and the tireless hunters. But the white man was swarming from the old world and peeping all about the new. In due time he found the great anthracite coal field of southern Luzerne, and here, in the ragged sublimity of nature, he has penetrated the bowels of the earth and from its dark secrets has fairly enriched the world. The Eastern Middle coal field in due time came to bless the human race, and nature's most rugged and repelling face has proved to be one of the most interesting spots of our hemisphere. When the white man's eyes first beheld this favored spot of earth that is Luzerne county this was some- thing of its inviting wealth and beauties. The great valleys between the mountains were not only beautiful, but on their face told of the rich stores they contained for the future agriculturist. Had the beholder possessed the prophetic vision to see the incalculably rich mines beneath this fair surface-anticipated somewhat the change that one hundred years the magic touch of civilization had in store for this. wonderland, could he have believed his supernatural vision, think you? Let the youth of to-day simply attempt to picture in his mind the conditions and appear- ances of his surroundings of 150 years ago, and after the fairest efforts doubt- less he would draw the mental outline wide of the truth. The man who first looked upon this locality could he now revisit the glimpses of the moon, would find so little in appearance of what he really saw that he could not believe it was at all the same. The streams and the hills are still here, but even these are so changed, especially the latter. The pine trees no longer towering straight toward the clouds, but farms, and dividing lines, much like a piece quilt extending from the valley to the low mountain top. In the flat valley, often where once was the heavy timber so gracefully swaying in the breeze, are now equally high elevations, promontories, mounds and hills of culm that have been thrown behind the advanc- ing miners as they dug for the black diamonds.
Prehistoric Peoples .- We call our continent the new world, simply because it is new to us. Both geologists and archeologists tell us that it is a matter of much doubt, but that these appellations should be changed. Geology is the most ancient of all history- the history of mankind is the most modern, because of all life man was the last to appear from the womb of time. Evidences are scattered across the continent that there were peoples here before the native Indians. One certain and probably two other distinct races. They are lost to history, whether one or many. The Mound Builders must have been a numerous race that were dead or a dying people probably before the pyramids or the Sphynx were built. They covered this continent and to this day the works of their slave-lives are seen in the systems of great artificial mounds that we can trace from northern Canada, running southeast and along the whole of North America and the peninsula into South America. And of these innumerable hosts, with many evidences of considerable civilization, not even a trace of tradition has been passed down to us. Whether this numerous peo- ple so long held together by some form of organization-a form that had a controll- ing head that enslaved the masses, and finally broke up into warring factions and became the builders of the fortifications, with skilled engineers to plan and lay them out as we can dimly trace the remains, and thus hurried all to mutual destruction,
19
HISTORY OF LUZERNE- COUNTY.
or whether the uncovered cities and remains of public works and these extensive forts and places for military defense were from a new and distinct race succeeding the Mound Builders, we are wholly left to conjecture. History is but agreed fic- tion, but there is much realism in the fiction, while here all evidences of peoples, of civilizations, powerful society organizations that rose, flourished and passed away, concerning whom we have no tradition. All life is but swift change. The centuries chase each other as the ripples on the water; national life grows old and dies, plunging into the river of time like the snow-flake. Slowly and painfully civil- izations are builded, every step marked by the blood of its martyrs; every age by its wars for glory and for pelf. There is no day nor time with nature, while with all else it is but birth and death-the very change that is life itself.
In Luzerne county there exist some remains of ancient fortifications, which appear to have been constructed by a race of people very different in their habits from those who occupied the place when first discovered by the whites. Most of these ruins have been so much obliterated by time that their forms can not now be distinctly ascertained. That which remains the most entire is situated in the town- ship of Kingston, upon a level plain on the north side of Toby's creek, about 150 feet from its bank, and about half a mile from its confluence with the Susquehanna. It is of an oval or elliptical form, having its longest diameter from the northwest to the southeast, at right angles to the creek, 337 feet, and its shortest diameter from the northeast to the southwest 272 feet. On the southwest side appears to have been a gateway about twelve feet wide, opening toward the great eddy of the river into which the creek falls. From present appearances it consisted probably of only one mound or rampart, which, in hight and thickness, appears to have been the same on all sides, and was constructed of earth, the plain on which it stands not abounding in stone. On the outside of the rampart is an entrenchment or ditch, formed probably by removing the earth of which it is composed, and which appears never to have been walled. The creek on which it stands is bounded by a high, steep bank on that side, and at ordinary times is sufficiently deep to admit canoes to ascend from the river to the fortification. When the first settlers came to Wyoming this plain was covered with its native forest, consisting principally of oak and yellow pine, and the trees which grew on the rampart and in the entrenchment are said to have been as large as those in any other part of the valley. One large oak particularly, upon being cut down, was ascertained to be seven hundred years old. The Indians had no tradition concerning these fortifications; neither did they appear to have any knowledge of the purpose for which they were constructed.
The distinct traces of another fortification similar in many respects to the above were found in Jacob's Plains, near Wilkes-Barre, in the highest part of the low grounds. Seventy-seven years ago Mr. Chapman and Charles Miner carefully exam- ined these works, and while they were then but very dim, could be more readily traced than now and of their examination they inform us that its outlines could be best traced when the waters overflowed the flats, when it appeared as an island entirely surrounded by the waters.
The eastern extremity is near the line dividing the farms of John Searle and James Hancock, where, from its safety from inundation, a fence has long since been placed; and to this circumstance is to be attributed the preservation of the embank- ment and ditch. In the open field so entirely is the work leveled that the eye can not trace it. But the extent west is known, for " it reached through the meadow lot of Captain Gore" (said Cornelius Courtright) "and came to my lot one or two rods." The lot of Captain Gore was seventeen perches in width. Taking then these 280 feet, add the distance it extended eastwardly on the Searle lot and the exten- sion westerly on the lot of Esquire Courtright, we have the length of that meas- ured by Mr. Chapman so very nearly as to render the inference almost certain that both were of the same size and dimensions.
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