USA > Pennsylvania > Northumberland County > History of Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania. With illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories > Part 1
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HISTO
NORTHUMBERLAND CO.
PENNSYLVANIA
1876
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation
http://www.archive.org/details/historyofnorthum00phil
Frederia A. Godcharles Milten, I'mna
COURT HOUSE, SUNBURY, NORTHUMBERLAND CO., PA.
1751
HISTORY
OF
NORTHUMBERLAND CO.,
PENNSYLVANIA,
lith Alllustrationg
DESCRIPTIVE OF ITS SCENERY,
Palatial Fecsidences,
Public Buildings, Fine Blochs, and Important Manufactories,
FROM ORIGINAL SKETCHES BY ARTISTS OF THE HIGHEST ABILITY.
PHILADELPHIA: EVERTS & STEWART, 716 FILBERT STREET.
1876
CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTORY.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
introductory
CHAPTER II.
Boundaries of Northumberland-Description-Geographical-Geological, etc. 7
CHAPTER III.
lucidents in the Organization of the County-First Court, etc.
CHAPTER 1V.
Le Ahoriginals of Northumberland County
10
CHAPTER V.
Civil Wars of 1760 to 1784 13
CHAPTER VI.
Civil War of 1769-1784, continued 15
CHAPTER VII. The Centennial of Chemistry-Dr. Priestly 18
CHAPTER VIII.
Horse Racing-Benr Show-Foot Racing-Early Manufactures-Fourth of July
Celebration-Franklin's Letters-Domestic Tragedy-Shamokin and Mahanoy
-Eurly Times' Sebuelminster-Sunbury Court, etc. . . 20
CHAPTER IX.
War of Rebellion-Muster Rolls-Captains James Taggart, Wells, and Slater- Sanitary Commission, etc.
CHAPTER X.
The German Reformed Church-Lutheran Church
31
History of Sunbury
Sunbury Military Record
Turbnt Township: .
64
Delaware Township
60
Point Township
72
Dr. D. S. Hullenbach, Shumukin ( PInte XTI )
71
Lewis Township
75
Samuel John, Shamukin | Plate XVII.)
79
Upper Augusta Township
75
Malianny Township
96 Tahunny Town-hip
16
- G. W. Ziegler, Sunbury { Plute XVIII. i
79
ru olinnoy Township
Fax kous Town-big
17
Camcion Township
78
Zerby Township 78
78
78
Howet Carmel 'Township
78
Shamokin Borough
108
Trevortan
110
Mount Carmel
112
Milton
. 1:7
Watsontown .
. 120
MeEwensvillo
Turbutvillo . 136
Snydertown 137
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Cmirt-House, Sunbury facing title page facing page 1- Luw Building (Plate II.) .
St. Edward's Cutholic Church and Parochial Residence, Sbamo- kin (Plate III) 22.23
St Joseph's Cutbolic Church, Locust Gap (Plate IV.) 27
St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Trevorton ( Plate IV.) 2
Evangelical Lutheran Church, Milton (Pinte V.) 30
St. John's Church, Shamokin (Plate VI.) .
=
First Presbyterian Church, Shamokin ( Plate VI ]
51
Trimty Evangelical Church, Shamokin | Plate VII.)
Praruse School Building, Shumokin ( Plate VIII.) 38
Stevens School Building, Sbamokin ( Plute VIII.} 38
Central School Building, Shamokin ( Plate VIII.) 18
Ammulemy Building ( Plate VIII.) 3X
Sluunokin Iron Works, John Mullen & Co. ( Plate IX.i $2
Sterling Colliery, Fulton & Kendrick | Plate X )
Industrial Iron Works, Shamokin [ Plate X.) . 17
Residence of William Brown, Shantkin ( Plate X.| ..
47
Ature of W. R. Kutzner & Co , Sbamukin ( Plote XI.} 50
Residence and Property of William H. Dunty, Shamokin Plate XII 1 . 54
Residence of A. A. Heim, Shamokin | Plate XIII ) .
58
Property of Col J. W. Cuke, Sunbury | Plate XIV ) Residence of J. 1. Cake, Sunbury ( Plate XT.) .
62, 63
Firm Property af Col. J W. Cake, Sunbury | Plute XV.) Residence of G. W. Raver, Shamokin | Plate XVI.) .
61
Rush Township
=
Stephen Bittenbender, Shamokin ( Plnte XVII.) .
= Wm. A. Siber, Sunbury ( Plate XVIII.)
Dr. Chns. M. Martin, Sunbury (Plate XVIII.)
79 79
George W. Ryon, Shamokin (Plate XIX.) . Dr. C. W Weaver, Shamokin ( Plate XIX. )
82
Sture und Residence of Harry Denitis, Turbutville ( Plate XIX.) Hall, Store, etc., of Hull & Seiler, Shamokin | Plato XIX.) Eagle Hotel, Turbutville ( Plate XX. )
82
86
Residence of J. B. Limebuch, Lewis Township ( Plato XX )
= Geurgo Stuhl, Lewis Townsbip (Plate XXI.) 90
Christopher Raup, Lewis Township ( Plate XXI. )
90
John Ryster, Delaware Township ( Pinte XXII.) .
94
John Nicely, Delaware Township ( Plate XXII.) . 94
= Thomas Dearmond, " (Plate XXIII.)
98
Residence and Dairy Furin of J. H. Knse, Rush Township (Plato XXIII.} - 98
Residence of Wm. P. Dougal, Milton ( Plate XXIV )
Misses S. M and L. B. Unke, Point Township (PInte XXIV )
102
Grurgetown
138
South Danville 139
Herndon 139
Paxinos . . 139
River-ido
140
Elysburg
PAGE 138
= Jucub Shipman, Sunbury | Plate XVIII | .
89
Jordan Township .
82
C ml Township
Washington Township .
:8
. Northumberland
. 133
102
Shamokin Township
Chilli-quaque Township
Lower Augusta Township
CONTENTS.
Residence of Rev. M. J. Carothers, Milton (Plate XXV. )
. fueing page
10G
Clement, Iru T.
Homestead of David Marr, deceased, Milton ( Plate XXV.)
=
106
Cooper, Judge Thomas . Cummings, M.D., A. S.
160
Residence of Jobn Knouf, Milton ( Plate XXVI.)
=
118
Davis, Jr., J. K .. .
149
Dessinger, David C.
. 165
Douty, John B.
154
Durham, Joseph G
152
Eichholtz, J. E.
168
Hartley, Col, Thomas
154
Henrie, Harrison
127
Hill, George -
. 101
John, J. J.
127
Jordan, Hon. Alexander
. 147
Residence of T. H. Purdy, Sunbury (Plate XXIX ) .
=
184
MeCormick, J. Hammond
150 146
Malick, Hon. Solomon .
156
Muwry, Jucob
140
Packer, Hun. JJohn B. .
140
Packer, Hon. Samuel J.
. 112
Purdy, Hnn. T H
31
Rev W A. Leopold (J'Intr V1.)
=
Rev. A. C. Clarke ( Plate Vl. ) .
33
. 164
Rev. H C. Huithcox ( Pluto VII. )
138
. 141
Dr. C. I. Krickbaum / Plate XXX.) .
Rockefeller, David
141
. 142
Hon. Solomon Malick | Plato XXX1.)
Rockefeller, Wm. M.
148
Col. J. W. Coke ( Plate XXXI.)
Rohrback, L. T.
160
Schwartz, Daniel M.
152
Shipman, Jacob
160
Shipman, Prof. Sau)
. 150
Snyder, Hop. Jeremiah .
150
Strine, G. W.
. 148
The Cake Family .
. 146
Bourne, Jolin
. 152
Boyer, S. B. .
148
Brice, Ezq., A. N.
. 156
Brodhead, Gen. Daniel .
. 155
Zeigler, Hon. George W.
147
Cleaver, Kimber
= =
118
Property of Joseph Emrick, Lower Augusta Township (Plate XXVIII.)
Residenen and Mill, John Shipman, Hughes Station ( Plato XXVIII.)
131
Kase, L. H. -
J. J. Jobn und Jus, May, Shutnokin ( Plate XXIX. )
134
Residence and Store, Caroline Dulius, Sunbury ( Plate XXIX. ) Residence of O. H. Ostrander, Riverside ( Plate XXX. ) .
138
PORTRAITS.
. facing page
22, 23
Rev. Joseplı Koch (Plute III.) .
Pursel, Thomas H.
158 150
Reimensnyder, A M., Rev. John S.
Reitz, D. S. .
Hon. Jereminh Snyder ( Plntr XXXI.)
=
141
A. S. Cummings, Esq, '( Plute XXXI. |
41
145
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Aw), Dr. R. H.
. 160
Boel, Prof. William M.
The Dewart Family
150
The Shipman Family
153
Wilvert, Emanuel .
. 142
Wolverton, Hon. Simon P.
PAGE 147
. 168
6 161
Riverside Nursery, David Cliffe, Riverside ( Plate XXVI.)
110
110
Davis, Henry E.
155
Samuel Caldwell, Watsonville ( Plate XXV11.1 Residence and Ferry, Capt. John Bly, Watsonville | Plate XXVII.)
118
Residence and Business Block, D. C. Hogue, Watsonville (Plute XXVII.)
118
Hardware Store, I. N. Messenger, Watsonville (Plute XXVII.)
. 140
141
141
Hon. John B. Packer .
. 162
. 769
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SEALS OF THE STATES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
MAINE.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
UNITED STATES.
REEDOM
AND UNI
3383
TY
VERMONT.
MASSACHUSETTS
RHODE ISLAND
CONNECTICUT.
NEW YORK.
NEW JERSEY.
PENNSYLVANIA.
THE GREAT SEAL
SEMPER
TRA
SIC
UNIS
1854
CALLTITE ET MAJDLICEUL
MARYLAND
VIRGINIA.
STATE OF
VIRGINIA.
MONTANT SEMPER LIBERI
WEST VIRGINIA
NORTH CAROLINA
SOUTH CAROLINA.
GEORGIA.
FLORIDA.
HERE
ALABAMA
MISSISSIPPI.
DELAWARE
MARYLAND.
OF WEST
SEALS OF THE STATES, (Continued.)
JUSTICE
LOUISIANA.
TEXAS.
ARKANSAS.
VI
AGRICULTURE.
OMMERG
TENNESSEE.
WE STANO DIVIDED
UNITED WE
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KENTUCKY.
MOOCOXA.
MISSOURI.
FORWARD
ETOILE DU NORD
MINNESOTA.
ASTRA PER
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KANSAS
EUREKA.
CALIFORNIA.
...
STATE
THE UNION
ORECON
...
1857
OREGON.
POPULAR
SOVEREICA
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THSTITUTICAL
PROGRESS
NEVADA
NEVADA.
NEBRASKA,
STATE SOVEREIGNTY
TUEBOR
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CIRCUMSPICC
OHIO.
MICHIGAN,
INDIANA.
ILLINOIS.
PRIZ:
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JONTIE
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HISTORY
OF
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY.
THE object songht to be attained in writing u history uf Northumberland County, in this the Centennial year of our experience in self-government, and the one hundred and fourth of our existence as a County, is not to pro- vide un intellectual treat in classiend literature, nor by the verboseness of our diction, to inflict upon our readers a voluminous compound of nothing new; but to provide a compendium, which shall, in as succinct a manner ar possible, connect the living present with the extinct past ; that the experiences of those, who in the certain past struggled against adverse storms, until finally overcome and sepulchred within the dark veil of oblivion, with which the progressive present so readily enshrouds unpleasant memories, may guide us in the possible future. History will do this-plain unvarnished history -that alone keeps alive the burning embers, that fill with an intense heat, the hearts of patriots of every age! American history possesses an interest for Americans, but little appreciated by the denizens of the old nations of the earth. But a few generations have come and gone, since this fhir land was unknown, save to the Indians; so that every stroke of the axe, that hy its ceaseless blows has disemibowered the millions of arres that now blossom with the fruits of the husbandman's toil, possesses an interest to every child of America. The steady march of civilization that commenced its weary pilgrimage at Plymouth Rock, can be traced nt ench successive step, ns it wends its way toward the setting =un. So recently have we cummeneed our history as a people, that the echoes of the joyful sungs uf praise, that burst from the thronts of the storm-bound mariners, as they landed ujuin the dreary rock, have scarcely ceased to be heard. Every event of the struggle for existence, that followed, is fraught with interest to the descendants of those hardy and conscientious pioneers; nud it is the province of the historian to preserve them fresh in the minds of our people, as a stimulus to more earnest effort in the struggles uf the future. . Many years have passed since the first feeble attempt was made to establish homes for the persecuted on these shores. Two and a half eentu- ries have made their impress upon the fare of time, und now, as we stand upon the pinnacle, which a hundred years' Inhor as a nation has erected, and view the past, our hearts should swell with pride at the thought of what has been accomplished in so short a period. On every hand are scen evi- dleuces of wealth and prosperity, unparalleled among any other people on earth; from the weakest, we have strengthened until our claim as the strongest na- tiun is undisputed ; and all this has been accomplished in less than fifteen generations of man. We must not stop here; profiting by the experiences nf the past, ns held up to view by the faithful historian, we have hut to stride on, our steps becoming longer and stronger ns we progress. Such is the pro- vince and iluty of the writer of history ; show what has been done, and there will be no limit to man's achievements in the future. Without the light afforded by history, every step in advance would be experimental ; without the knowledge of what has been, the courage to try what is to be, would be wanting. The difficulties encountered here; the trials and sufferings of those who, one hundred and twenty-five years ago, let the light of civilization into the wilds uf Northumberland County, are analogous to the experiences of the pioneers of every hamlet on the Western Continent. It is to give the full meed of eredit to these hurdy, self-sacrificing men and women, whose labors have accomplished so much for future generations, to seenre for ourselves and those coming after, all the advantages guined by the lessons their self- denial and heroism have taught ns, that we enter upon the pleusing, but arduous task of resurrecting from the sepulchre of oblivion, a faithful record
of the nets of those modest but truly great, who were well content to retire behind the veil, so that others should enjoy the fruits of their labor. We, to-day, are living in the peaceful enjoyment of everything that a bountiful nature ran provide ; but do we reflect, that every foot of land that we now occupy, ere it could he made to yieldl its fruits, was moistened by the sweat, and in many instances, the blood of our ancestors! Northumberland County was the theater in which were enacted many trying scenes : probably no territory of like extent is richer in thrilling events; no section has cost a grenter expenditure of muscle and bloud, It is not expected to faithfully portray every event of interest; to give to each and all the full credit to which they are justly entitled; but it is expected to furnish as faithful & chronical of the leading men and incidents as can he obtained. Many gen- erations have passed since the first settler penetrated the unbroken wilder- ness that prevailed here. Many matters that would be profitable for us to know, bave been long since forgotten. The principal actors, after faithfully performing their part here, have gone to receive their reward, rendering it impossible to be as faithful in portraying the past as its importance demands ; but an earnest effort will be made to make our history truly represent the most important facts, from the time when the good Conrad Weiser preached glad tidings to Shikelime and his dusky followers, to the present. If we shall awaken in the mind of any future writer, a desire to penetrate deeper into the labyrinthian past; if we sball arouse in our people of to-day, an interest in their own local history ; we shall have accomplished all that is ex- pected, and shall leave it for the future historian to take up the work where we have left it, and complete what bas been so imperfectly begun.
.
CHAPTER IF
BOUNDARIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND -DESCRIPTION - GEOGRAPHICAL- GEOLOGICAL-ETC.
An let for erecting a part of the counties of Lancaster, Cumberland, Berka, Northampton and Bedford, into a separate County : Be it enacteil, that all and singularly, the lands lying and being with the boundaries following: that is to say, beginning at the mouth of Mahantongo Creek, on the west side of the river Susquehanna ; thence up the south side of said creek, by the several entrees thereof, to the head at Robert Metur's spring; thence west by north tu the top uf Turey's Mountain; thenve south-westerly along the summit of the mountain to little Juniata ; thence up the north-easterly side of the main branch of little Juninta to the head thereof; thence north to the line of Berks County ; thence north-west along said line, to the extremity of the province ; thence east, along the north boundary, to that part therof which is due north from the northern part of the Great Swamp : thence sonthi to the most northern part of the Swamp aforesaid: thence with a straight line to the hend of the Lehigh, or Middle Creek, thence down said creek so far, that a line run west-south-west, will strike the forks of Mabuntongo Creek, where Pine C'reek falls into the same, at the place called Spread Eagle, on the east side of Susquehanna ; thence duwn and across the river to the place of beginning ; shall be and the same is hereby erected into a County, henceforth to be called Northumberland.
The following nets conferred upon the people of the newly erected County, like privileges and guarantees as those possessed by residents of other coun- ties. The Net was passed March 21st, 1772. As will be observed, Nurthum- berland County originally comprised a large extent of territory, being most
8
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
of that acquired by purchase of the Indians by the Susquehanna Company, at Albany, in April 1754, and by the Proprietaries at Fort Stanwix, 1768. September 25th, 1786, a portion from the northern part was cut off, from which Luzerne County was organized. Aprd 13th, 1795, Lycoming County was erected. September 19th, 1789, Mitflin was taken off; and February 13th, 1800, Centre was organized.
Union and Columbia were erceted March 221, 1813, from Northumberland. By Act of the General Assembly, approved February 21st, 1815, the townships of Turbnt and Chillisquaque were taken from Columbia and annexed to Northumberland County, leaving the boundaries as now.
Northumberland formerly comprised a large extent of territory, out of wbich a large number of counties have been erected, as the needs of popula- tion and business required. The different counties organized within the territory originally embraced in Northumberland, were as follows :
Luzerne organized September 25th, 1786; Mifflin organized September 19th, 1789 ; Lycoming organized April 13th, 1795 ; Centre organized Feb- ruary 13th, 1800; Clearfield organized March 26th, 1804; Columbia and Union organized March 221, 1813. Nearly all of these have been subdi- vided, so that uut of Northumberland, twenty-six counties have been erected. As will be observed from above statistics, until 1786, all settlers in the north- west territory were compelled to come to Sunbury to attend to the legal business of the County. The expense and trouble were largely augmented by the difficulty of communicating with the settlements. Officials were com- pelled to journey a distance of fifty or one hundred miles to serve a suit, or summions a jury ; thuse jury-men, to travel the distance often on foot to attend the sittings of the Court. All of these hardships, as they were, by no means were the only difficulties enrouutered by our ancestors, a narration of which it is the purpose of this work to faithfully portray. The following bill of items exhibits the cost of defining the County boundaries :
SUNBURY 1st JUNE 1796
The County of Northumberland Dr.
To Philip Myer Johu Eckman & John Reese the Commissioners for Run- ning & Marking the Lines Dividing the Countys of Berks Northumber- land Northampton & Luzern.
To Expene of Chain Carriers Markers &e from L
Mabantongo & pine Creek to the Northampton County Line
59
16 11
From Northampton County Line to the Lehi and
55 13 9 up the same to Luzer C' For Expene of Chain Carriers Markers pek horses &e
Expene of provitions and other Necessaries To Ln- zern County Line
49 16 10
To Philip Myar on Duty 40 Days a & Dolls pr ) Day the one half Being 4 Dolls pr Day To Do going to nud Returning from the Lines
6
00 0
To Jon Eckman on Duty as above 60 00 0
To Do going to and Returning from the Lines 8
00
To Jobn ReeSe on Duty on the Lines as above 60 00 0
To Do going to and Returning from the Lines 6
00 0
To Traveling Expence to Mr Rees the one half 1 18 1
L367
4 91
PHILIP MYER ) Commissioners for Run- JOHN ECKMAN - ning the Lines as afore- JNO. REES said
It has been remarked by a celebrated historian, "that in the infancy of society, men are occupied with the business of the present, forgetful of the past and regardless of the future;" and the experiences of all ages and coun- tries furnish abundant testimony to the truth of this declaration. There are few territories, the early settlement of which afford a more forcible exempli- fication of the truth of this, than that embraced within the confines of Northum- berland County. The natural obstacles everywhere met; the dangers from toes without; the character of the people who constituted largely the pioneers into this then rugged and mountainous country, all tended to a condition of the mind of utter forgetfulnces of all but the important present ; and in- Iced the advance guards of civilization, in their trials, had abundant oppor- tunity to realize the force of Longfellow's immortal stanza. " Life is real, Life is carnest," content to "Let the dead past bury the dead," and avoid speculation as to the grave being the final resting place of the soul.
"In the world's broad tleld of battle, Iu the bivouac of life,
They were not dumb driven callle,
They were heroes In the strife."
The strife was one continued effort to implaut themselves upon the lands of their less fortunate fellows.
This County is peculiarly situnted, describing in its boundary a figure never yet kuown to the geometrician. As originally defined, it embraced an extent of territory never well understood, but certainly much larger than many states. The County as now defined, would form the nucleus of a small solar system ; the counties erected from old Northumberland, the planets ex- tending far in all directions but the south, which, twenty-six in number, learned their first lessons in local self-government, from the parent. Geographically, it presents the shape of an old-fashioned chair, the back lenning a little for- waril at the top. The general appearance of the surface is hilly, and not altogether inviting ; rocks forming precipitous cliff's are seen in all directions, in that portion lying south of the north branch of the river Susquehanna. Hills contending with ench other for supremacy iu altitude, dot the entire surface, forming the coufines of innumerable vales, fertile and very produc- tive, but limited in extent. Little rivalets are met in every direction, tergi- versations of which equal the twisting course of Mother Eve's mortal enemy, but affording a scenery and water-power, narivalled in the world. North of the Enst branch of the river, a different country is found. Montour's ridge, the dividing line between Northumberland and Montonr County, separates the broken hilly south from the rich alluvial plains that lie to the north. The four nothernmust townships present a surface of far different nature. From Montour's Ridge to Muncy hills the soil is fertile, the surface generally but moderately rulling. This entire country is densely populated by a class of people, whose reliance is upon the tillage of the soil. The western boun- dary is wasbed its entire length by the west branch and the mnin river Sus- quehanna. The flat lands nlong its borders extend back in some places to a considerable distance, and the entire distance from where the river crosses the southern boundary of Lycoming County, to its confluence with the east branch at Northumberland, farm houses and towns make up u pleasing pie- ture. South of this point, the hills or bluffs rise abruptly at places near the water's edge, leaving but a narrow passage way between their base and the river. The river, one braneb of which rises in the central part of Clearfield County, and by a circuitous route around the menntains, finds its way to Northumberland, meeting there the north branch which rises in Otsego Lake, New York, and by an equally tortuous course, meets nud joins forces with the Otzinachson, is appropriately named Susquehanna, or Crooked River. For commerce, this stream is useless, except so far as its waters are made availa- ble for feeding canals, and furnishing power for manufacturing purposes. Its tergiversations are inuumerable, iu many plnees within a distance of 8 or 10 miles, flowing towards every point of compass. By the Indians, it was sometimes called "shallow stream," which they claimed was the true interpre- tation of the term Susquebanna. This also would be quite appropriate, as there are not two consecutive miles of river navigation, from Harris Ferry to the hend of either branch, aside from that provided by artificial means, for a flat-boat. The bed of the stream is uneven, and very rocky, at places, the entire width being occupied by high bowlders, that rear their heads as a warn- ing to the venturesome lumberman, who would seek among them a passage for his products to a market. The scenery borders on the grand, offering every variety, from the beautiful little islets that form a pleasing landscape, to the rocky cliffs that perpendicularly shoot heavenward, as if contending in majesty with the clonds. What a home for the red man was here found ! Isolated from all that interrupted his enjoyment on earth, what ecstatic emotions must have enraptured his soul as he gazed upon the wondrous works of the God he adored, manifesting in the compilation, strength and wisdom, far beyond his crude imagination! It is easy for the dreamer to see a repro- duction of the scenes, that a hundred and twenty years ago were daily enacted here. The dusky hunter, scaling the cliffs, paddling o'er the bosom of the crooked river in quest of his game, rambling with the freedom of a child of nature, as he was, wherever inclination prompted. The dark hued maid, with step as lithe and limb as free as the beautiful gazelle, bounding over ravines, through the forest, or chanting her love songs to the roving bunter. All these are reproduced, as the eye wanders over the magnificent scenery, more grand, because art has never been able to deface the rugged lines traced by the finger of God. The consonance of the scenery, with the aboriginal inhabitants, is striking; impressing the mind with somewhat ton exalted opinion of those, who, by reason of being too susceptible, have imbibed many habits of their more enlightened brethren, and now are ready to be numbered with the things and people that were. The progress of civiliza- tion was very slow in this County, until the opening up of the grent arteries of wealth-the coal veins of the Mahanoy and Shamokin region, For eentu- ries, there had been accumulating in the bowels of the cartb, far removed
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