USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > School history of Berks County in Pennsylvania : by Morton L. Montgomery > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18
OL JISTOU
FROM ISAAC F. CHRIST'S Book, & Wall Paper STORE, KUTZTOWN, PA.
Pa
n
a
VTMUO0 2XA38
BAG 3. ค ธยา,318
0
C
L
Y
L
K
I
U
ILDE
S
Shartlow, Je
UP
PER
po
& hubert
N
R
E
E
T
H
E
L
TULPEHO CKEN
Bethel
Soull's Hill
L
--
E
Shaeffastorgy
B
JEFFERSQ
P
E
N
N
A
T
E
BERNVILLE BOR
N
Mt. fetuc P.o. M
0
Host
PO!
N
O
R
TH
Mt Pleasant
N
·
A
R
I
N
HE
I
E
B
ER
G
Jouer Burg
Che
Mes era Mill Apa
PYOMELSDORF
O
Pa
HE ID
LBERG
Lebanon
Robesónia
Czcuost
N
W
P
R
T
Sinking
R E
L
B
R
HO
SPRI
Reading and
Congue
MAP
A
BERKS COUNTY
N
Kna
PENNSYLVANIA -1888-
Prepared by KENDALL BROS for dankgomange Schatting 1
Scale of Miles
T
c
Meckoutle Po
Mulleraburg
EN
rystoun
Ownth
Pest
Centreville Garfield
mnersville
L
UPPER
I
E
Sekwlle
H
Alban P
Stanykun Fa
H
LENHARTSVI
N
D
S OR
-
R
E
N
C
B
SEHAMBURG
Ea
Se
M
Break
E
R
A
Y
KUTZTOWN
OOR.
elem
R
I
C
NID
Mosoler 582
L
o
A
M
P
Maur
South, Zumnhu's
pom CH
MAIDEN
CREEK
Po.
R
O C K
L
A
D
ZŁcapore PONTELAUFEE
E
0
Randor
DISTRICT
R
U
S
B
La
Priceto
meny
charteville
MUHLEN
. C
WASHINGTON
Bart
Y
-
L
cek
LOWER
E
ALS
Land
COLEBROOKDALE
BOYERZA.
M
Yellow Hours 10
o
.
E
somer
Seny
Ants
A
I
T
N
0
PO
M
R O!
C
C
K
I
TER
A
RNARVOL
S
E
H
C
BrumPierville
G
Amintque
HUR PO.
DOUGLASS
T
monotona
RO
O
R
Maytan
A
T
TF
N
Bra
Virginssille
Maiden
SieskolensMe
PO
Enst
FLEETWOOD
Ney ACrusakem
E
E
Pally70
R
My
E
R
Lehigh
I
0
L
1
Y
L
K
I
U
PER
ILDE
S
hartono we
V P
ER
P
Sakubert
R N
BE
E
₸
E
L
TULPENO CRE N
Bethel
Soull's Hill
L
E
Po
Prystoton
JEFFERS
N
P
B
N
N
T
E
B
0 0 K
BERNVILLE BOR
certoville
Garfield
ME. AOPACH 7.0.
PO
0
N
0
R
T
H
Mt Pleasant
N
Ebola P.0.
.
A
R
I
M
HE
I
D
E
B ER
G
SCOLLE
Heesters Mill Pa
Dansune
PYOMELSDORF
0
BOR- BUK
LBERG
Robesónia
Caquos
N
W
2
R
T
Esmersville
Sinking
HE
B
E
R
G
PO.
PRI
L
Googlerlo
A
Kn
C
PENNSYLVANIA -1888-
Prepared by KENDALL BROS
for thankgermany School king 1
Scale of Miles
FRONT
B
atutte
6ª
Meckoullo
Melleriburg
EN
Schaefferstory
HOSE
PO
E
Lorde
Lebanon Ich
L
MAP BERKS COUNTY
UP
C
N
H
H
L
EMHARTSVILL
D
S
0
R
R
E
N
₩
C
R
FITHAMBURG
Y
L
I
U
II
C
S
Po
UPPER
R
₱
R
F
Y
KUTZTOWN
E
E
L
TULLPEHO CKEN
ME CENTREFOR
RI
c
NID
0
G
A
P
2
L
N
E
Frysteten
JEFFERSON
N
N
Deexport
Nesterussvem
YURTELAUREE
T
E
HO
CKEN
Centret
D 18
CT
U
OM
Prietoumy
0
N
R
TH
N
R H
M
HEI
D E
BER
G
MUHINE NEER
WASHINGTON
Barty
Grote TAAtury
Full
ien
PYOMELSDORF
O
L
HEIDE
LBERG
OWER
pa
A
COLEBROOKDADE
M
T
RE
L
A
G
E
bresciatie
APRING
Sullington
Po
A
I
L
Conguervilla
MAP
A
-
N
M
PENNSYLVANIA
5
NOCK
-1888-
Prepared by KENDALL BROS
Co
TER
R
NARVON
s
jorge
E
C
O
B
ROCK L
A
D
E
E
THANKS
BERNVIEL
A
N
R
Hos
OR
P
A
0
N
0
E
N
R
Sinhring Suring
will
0
Stone c
G
DOUGLASS
₸
Reading And
N
BERKS COUNTY
UPPER
EN
FJ
A
T
A
W
N
E
N
Virginazille
Zulaiden
Bethel Po
Fodt's Mill
Heur Pomi
Skack
MAIDEN CREEL
0
R
Illanon Ha
E
4
E
State of files
2
1
EL M
я о
E
О
Я
SCHOOL HISTORY
OF
BERKS COUNTY
IN
PENNSYLVANIA.
BY MORTON L. MONTGOMERY, AUTHOR OF "HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY."
PHILADELPHIA : J. B. RODGERS PRINTING. CO., 54 NORTH SIXTH ST. 1889.
.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1889, by MORTON L. MONTGOMERY,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.
. .
PREFACE.
T HE author of this book compiled "The History of Berks County," and in 1885 caused it to be published in a royal octavo volume of 1200 pages. Immediately afterward, certain teachers of our public schools suggested to him the utility of compiling a his- tory for the use of the schools, in order to enable the children of the county to acquire special knowledge of their own locality, in which they were mostly inter- ested, as well as general knowledge of this entire country and of foreign countries. It was believed that in this way they would be led to read of and investi- gate matters and things in the surrounding country with which they were now, or would shortly become, more immediately connected, and also to exercise their perceptive faculties in their daily school life, rather than their imagination ; from which they could then be led, as inclination or necessity might dictate, into larger divisions of territory and into more comprehensive knowledge, after their faculties had become sufficiently matured to be interested in them, and more especially to understand them ; and it was further believed that knowledge of this kind, thus acquired, would develop a tendency to acquire general historical knowledge.
3
4
PREFACE.
Being impressed with the importance of the sugges- tion, he accordingly prepared a "School History," and invited the most prominent educators of the county to meet him in the "Reading High School " for the pur- pose of criticising the arrangement and composition of the proposed work. A number of them kindly re- sponded, and, after considering the arrangement of topics and hearing portions of certain chapters read to them, they decided that it contained useful historical information which the children of the county should know, and that it was presented in a manner adapted for school purposes ; and therefore they recommended its introduction into the schools as a necessary book of instruction. With this recommendation the matter was laid before the "Committee on Text Books" of the Board of School Controllers of the Reading School District, and this committee then presented a favorable report to the Board, recommending the proposed publi- cation as a supplemental reader in the schools, which report was adopted by the Board unanimously. Re- ceiving such encouragement, the author caused the volume to be published, and he now presents it to the several school boards and educators of the, county for their approval.
August. 1889.
1
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
GEOGRAPHY
II-18
Situation and boundaries of County-Streams, valleys, and
mountains-Geology-Relative elevation-Latitude and
longitude.
CHAPTER II.
INDIANS
19-23
First occupants - Tribes - Clans - Manners - Departure- Relics-Glossary of local Indian names.
CHAPTER III.
EARLY SETTLERS
24-36
Swedes-Germans-English-Welsh.
CHAPTER IV.
ERECTION OF COUNTY AND ITS SUBDIVISIONS 37-40
Erection-Area-Name-Subdivision-Sections, townships, and towns-Boroughs-City.
6
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER V.
GOVERNMENT
Privileges-Officers, local, State, and National-Declaration of Independence-Constitution of United States and National Legislature-Constitution of Pennsylvania and State Legislature-Offices by special legislation- Minority officials-Election districts-Political parties- Conventions-Nominations for office-Electors - Vote for Governor-Vote for President-Party vote-Vote for Liquor-State Conventions at Reading-Mass Meetings -Political festivals.
41-62
CHAPTER VI.
EDUCATION 63-95
Churches : Lutheran and Reformed, Friends, Baptists, Dunkards, Moravians, Roman Catholics, Amish, Epis- copal, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Universalist-Ceme- teries.
Schools : Early encouragement-Common school education -School progress-County Superintendents-Origin of system-Common school system accepted by districts- Teachers' Institute-Pay schools.
Newspapers : Weekly and daily. Language. Manners and Customs.
CHAPTER VII.
LABOR AND INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS 96-123
Labor : Agriculture-Industries.
Internal Improvements : Advantages of river- Canals- Bridges-Freshets-Roads- Turnpikes- Stages - Rail- roads- Progress of locomotion - County buildings - Postal service-Post-offices in County-Stamps-Tele- graph-Telephone.
7
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VIII.
MILITARY PERIODS 124-165
French and Indian War, 1755 to 1763 : Cause-French and Indians unite-County entered-English victorious- Peace declared-Forts-Killed and captured.
Revolution, 1775 to 1783 : Stamp duty-Local patriotism- Companies from Berks County-Army supplies-Hes- sian prisoners-Duel at Reading-Conway Cabal-Con- tinental money-Peace-Return of soldiers.
Whisky Insurrection of 1795 : Cause-Call to arms-County Quota-Washington visits Reading.
House Tax and Liberty Poles, 1799 : Insurrection-Local ex- citement-Proprietor of Adler flogged.
Embargo of 1807.
English War, 1812-1815 : Cause-Declaration of war-Local patriotism-Companies from County-Peace declared- English families at Reading.
Mexican War, 1846-1849 : Cause-Declaration of war-Pa- triotism at Reading-Reading Artillerists-Departure for Mexico-Battles of Company-Return of company. Civil War, 1861-1865 : Cause-Lincoln elected-Secession- Call to arms-Riuggold Light Artillery-Patriotism of County-Partisan protest-Social excitement-Local en- terprise-Appropriations-Ladies' Aid Society- Reading Hospital-Draft in County-Companies from County- Confederate armies surrender-Summary of battles- Sacrifices of war-State banks-National banks-Na- tional currency.
Militia : Legislative provision-County battalions-State National Guard.
CHAPTER IX.
TOWNSHIPS 166-177
Organization-Development-Government-Sections.
Eastern Division : Manatawny Section. Ontelaunee Section.
Western Division : Schuylkill Section. Tulpehocken Section. Names of townships and derivation of names.
8
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER X.
BOROUGHS 178 -- 185
Organization-Government.
Western Division : Womelsdorf, Birdsboro, Bernville, Cen- treport. Eastern Division : Kutztown, Hamburg, Boyertown, Fleet- wood, Topton, Lenhartsville.
CHAPTER XI.
READING
186-289
Town, 1748 to 1783: Town proposed-Site selected-Location- Lots sold-District established-Ground-rent-Churches Schools-Taverns -- Occupations-No newspapers nor in- ternal improvements-Wells-Fuel, Light, and Enter- tainments-Hunting and Fishing-Pound Sterling- Calendar.
Borough, 1783 to 1847 : Charter-Election districts-News- papers- Post-office-Internal improvements - Ferries and Bridges-Fire companies, Banks, and Water Supply -Light-Public buildings-Streets, change of names. City, 1847 to 1889 : Review in 1847-Development by decades -1847 and 1889 contrasted. Labor and Internal Improvements. Schools and Churches. Associations. Government.
CHAPTER XII.
CENSUS 290-296 Legal provision-Rate of increase -Table, 1800 to 1880, show- ing population of County-Population of Reading-Con- clusion.
INTRODUCTION.
VERYTHING in the material world has a start- ing point. We grow into physical stature by a process of development through nourishment and exercise. So it is with the mind.
A babe knows nothing and is helpless ; but as time advances it gradually acquires strength. In the begin- ning it is given simple food, which is easily digested and assimilated. Its first ideas are obtained through sight, hearing, and feeling. Its first utterances are simple sounds; and from these it grows into language. The first familiar place is the room in which it was born, and there its observation begins. It advances thence from room to room, and from story to story, through the entire dwelling ; and from its residence it advances into adjacent territory, and then into the sur- rounding country. Its knowledge is thus extended from a few square feet to many square miles.
Reasoning in this manner, it would appear that our present system of teaching geography is too compre- hensive in the beginning, and requires too much exer- cise of the imagination instead of the perception. A child can comprehend a rock, a mountain, a valley, and a county, because it can see and overlook each respectively. But the earth comprises 197,000,000 square miles of surface, a great body of territory in the shape of a ball whose circumference is nearly 25,000
9
10
INTRODUCTION.
miles. Who can comprehend such a body in all its vastness? It is apparent that in speaking of the earth we must necessarily imagine it; and so of foreign countries and distant states. It is the same with our system of teaching history. We begin with foreign and remote things, and come down in the course of time to the present day, and endeavor to impress the mind by taxing the memory through the imagination, before either of these faculties are sufficiently developed.
In teaching the general branches, we pursue, how- ever, a different method; for, we begin with the alpha- bet in obtaining sufficient knowledge for reading, with simple numbers in mathematics, and with a point in geometry, and then proceed by a succession of easy steps. The teaching of geography and history should be pursued in a similar way, by starting at the place occupied and advancing into adjoining territory. A scholar, in a course of study thus directed, would be like a traveler on a journey whereby a succession of facts would be easily obtained, mostly through the perceptive faculties, just as the traveler obtains an ever- increasing knowledge of places and peoples.
It is the purpose of the author, through this publica- tion, to afford the children of Berks County an oppor- tunity of acquiring, in a simple and easy manner, by the exercise of practical perception rather than the imagination, knowledge of the geography and history of their own county where many, if not most of them, pass the greater part of their life-time. This knowl- edge can then, by a process of development, be gradu- ally extended into larger divisions of territory. It is believed that this method, if properly pursued, will facilitate the acquisition of general knowledge.
SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
GEOGRAPHY.
BERKS COUNTY is a body of territory situated in the southeastern section of Pennsylvania. It is bounded on the northeast by Lehigh County, on the southeast by Montgomery County and Chester County, on the southwest by Lancaster County and Lebanon County, and on the northwest by Schuyl- kill County. The surface is undulating, and in- cludes streams, valleys, and mountains.
Streams .- The prominent stream of water is the Schuylkill River, and this has tributaries or creeks which flow into it from the east and west as fol- lows: The Manatawny, Monocacy, Antietam, Bern- hart, and Ontelaunee from the eastern division of the county ; and the Hay. Creek, Allegheny, An- gelica, Wyomissing, and Tulpehocken from the western division. They are, figuratively speaking, like a tree, the river representing the trunk and the creeks representing the branches.
Springs are the sources of all streams. They rise mostly in the mountains and elevated portions
II
12 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY.
of country, and supply all the streams in the county. Almost the entire quantity of water in the county flows from springs which are situated within its borders. This is exceptional; for com- paratively little water is drained from the adjoining counties into this county, but a great quantity is drained from this county into all the adjoining counties, excepting Schuylkill County on the north. It indicates that the borders of the county are higher than the surrounding territory.
There are numerous large springs in the different sections of the county; mostly situated in the val- leys, though in elevated positions compared with the Schuylkill River. And the streams are also numerous. They irrigate every section and con- tribute much to the natural fertility of the soil. The most conspicuous feature of the water system is the Schuylkill River.
The Schuylkill River 1 rises in Schuylkill County. It flows generally in a southeasterly direction and traverses the State for a distance of 125 miles until it empties into the Delaware River, at Philadel- phia. It has many important branches which flow into it on the east and west from its source to its
1 The word "Schuylkill " is of Dutch origin. It means Hid- den Creek, or Skulk Creek. The Dutch named the river when they took possession of the land about its mouth. The outlet is very wide and deceiving. It appears to be a part of the Delaware River, instead of being a tributary. By some persons it is said to be of Indian origin ; but this is not correct. The name given to it by the Indians was " Ganshowehanne," which means a roaring or falling stream .- Haldeman. They also called it " Manajung," which means mother .- Rupp.
a
13
GEOGRAPHY.
mouth. They contribute much to the physical and productive welfare of the southeastern section of the State, and together drain a very large area of territory. These branches are the following : On the east, beginning in the north, -I, Main Branch : 2, Little Schuylkill (formerly called Ta- maqua); 3, Maiden Creek; 4, Manatawny; 5, Perkiomen ; and 6, Wissahickon ; and on the west, -I, West Branch; 2, Bear Creek; 3, Tulpehocken ; 4, Wyomissing; 5, French; and 6, Pickering. They are conspicuous for length and large flow of water ; and in a general way they are about equal in these respects. This harmony in their propor- tions is wonderful. The Schuylkill is not only the grand trunk of this system of water, but it occu- pies the central line of the territory in which this system is arranged.
In this magnificent arrangement, Nature would appear to have been Wisdom herself. The sub- division of this comparatively small portion of the earth's surface in such a perfect manner cannot have been the result of chance. Some great scep- tre marked out the courses for our streams, valleys, and mountains. It was the power of God ! It was He who indicated, by His wisdom, the ways which we should follow for our welfare and progress; and, fortunately for us, we have pursued these ways. Our roads, canals, and railways are laid, as it were, in paths especially prepared for them.
Valleys .- The arrangement of valleys in the county is not surpassed by that of any other county in the State. Its rolling character, interspersed with
14
SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY.
hills and mountains, and intersected by numerous irrigating rivulets and streams, renders it most ad- mirable for successful cultivation with ordinary labor. A depression in the central portion of the county extends from the Blue Mountain on the north to the boundary line on the southeast, a dis- tance of 32 miles. It resembles an L irregularly drawn. It is called "Schuylkill Valley," and takes its name from the river that flows through its bosom. It is not distinguished for width; above Reading it is rather open, below rather confined.
Valleys enter it on the east and west. The most conspicuous of the eastern valleys are the Onte- launee, the Bernhart, the Antietam, the Monocacy, and the Manatawny; and of the western, the Tul- pehocken, the Wyomissing, the Angelica, the Alle- gheny, and the Hay Creek. All take their names from the streams which flow through them. On both sides they begin at the extreme limits of the county, excepting the Bernhart, Antietam, and Monocacy, which begin in the central portion. Together, they present a remarkable conformation. Their depres- sion is from the limits of the county towards the centre, with a southerly declination. The principal valley has the lowest points of the county from the northern limit to the southern. The borders are water-sheds to a great degree; inside the waters flow inward; but at the lines, and outside, they flow out- ward-on the east into the Lehigh River and Perkio- inen Creek, and on the west and south into the Swatara Creek and Conestoga Creek. These valleys, therefore, gather all the waters within the county,
15
GEOGRAPHY.
and direct them into and through its territory for the great benefit of its industrious inhabitants be- fore they allow them to depart.
Berks County occupies the central portion of the large district, in area 4600 square miles, which lies between the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers. The plan of distribution of valleys and waters be- tween these rivers is marvelous; and the leaders in the movement for the erection of the county in this large body of land displayed remarkable foresight and knowledge in obtaining such boundary lines.
The Tulpehocken Valley forms the eastern sec- tion of the Lebanon Valley; the Swatara Valley (which extends westward through Lebanon and Dauphin Counties) the western section. These two valleys are together 54 miles long, and take the name of Lebanon Valley from the city which occu- pies the highest point midway. There are other valleys, but they have only a local character and take their names from the respective streams which flow through them.
The "Schuylkill Gap" in the Blue Mountain, where the Schuylkill River enters the county, is the only gap of marked features in the county.
Mountains .- The bordering elevations of the prominent valleys are called mountains. There are two principal chains, Blue Mountain and South Mountain ; and from these there are projecting hills. The Blue Mountain forms the northern boundary line of the county. It has an average elevation of 1200 feet above the sea, and takes its name from a blueish appearance observable at a distance. The
16
SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY.
South Mountain takes its name from its position south of the Blue Mountain, and comprises a suc- cession of hills in the central and southern sections of the county whose average elevation is 1000 feet above the sea. "Never Sink " and "Penn's Mount " are particularly prominent, and are well known from their proximity to Reading.
In the Blue Mountain several elevated points are noticeable, the most prominent being the "Pin- nacle " in Albany township and "Round Head " in Bethel township.
Round Head .- Over 1000 feet above the level of the sea, and overlooking the fertile valleys and rolling hills of Berks and Lebanon Counties for 600 square miles, it stands high above the surrounding country a monument of natural won- der, a witness of Nature's terrible convulsions, a mark of pre-historic times. Where is the mind that can penetrate its hoary history, where the pen that can portray its grandeur and glory ? How many times have the magnificent beams of the morning sun first crowned its towering head with a halo of light before reaching the rocks and trees below, as they flashed over Penn's Mount, across the Schuylkill and the rolling country far on to the West ! and how many times have the same beams left it last before they were drawn in behind the western hills! Thousands of years ago, when the waters under the heaven were gathered together and the dry land appeared, what a spectacle must have been in this locality! The first speck of earth-as upon Ararat's famous height-to feel the
17
GEOGRAPHY.
rushing of the mighty winds and to see the roaring waters assuage, what a witness of ages gone by ! And when the angry waves ceased to wash its rugged sides, and the great law of gravity was ex- erting itself to reduce all things to a common level, what a crashing and a thundering must have re- verberated in the valleys round-about, as the great rocks rolled from their primeval beds down into the gorge before it, 700 feet below !
Geology .- The geological formation of the coun- ty is comparatively simple. The northern section, or about four-tenths, is slate; the central, or three- tenths, is limestone; and the lower, or three-tenths, is sandstone. Many minerals have been found within its borders, numbering over seventy differ- ent kinds, and including gold, silver, and copper. The most prominent kind is iron ore, many thou- sand tons of it having been mined, which brought much wealth into our community. It was mined from the time of the earliest settlements. So was copper thus early mined here, but in small quanti- ties. In 1882 there were more than 100 iron mines in operation in the county, whose annual production exceeded 300,000 tons. In 1880 it was the third county in the list of ore-producing coun- ties in Pennsylvania, and seventh in the entire country.
Relative Elevation .- The relative elevation of the several sections of the county above the sea, as compared with Reading, is as follows :
2
18 SCHOOL HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY.
READING-265 feet above the sea.
North.
South.
Leesport
295
Geigertown · 429
Hamburg
372
Joanna
. 624
Northeast.
Southwest.
Fleetwood
446
Topton
. 482
East.
Boyertown 386
Barto
466
Sinking Spring 345
Southeast.
Birdsboro' 170
Douglassville
158
Latitude and Longitude .- The county of Berks lies in the lower central portion of the north tem- perate zone, between 40° and 41º north latitude, and between 12° and 11/2° east longitude, reckoning from Washington.
1
,
:
Fritztown . 469
Deep Cut 570
West.
Womelsdorf .
453
.
19
INDIANS.
CHAPTER II.
INDIANS.
First Occupants .- The Indians were the first oc- cupants of this territory. We know of none be- fore them. No marks of any kind have been found to prove previous settlements. When they first migrated here has not as yet been ascertained. It is supposed that they came from the West. They were seen by the first Europeans who landed on the Atlantic coast.
Tribes .- The Indians in this section were known as the Minsi (or Wolf) tribe. They were one of the three tribes known to the English as the Delawares, who took their name from the large river which forms the eastern boundary of Pennsylvania. The other two tribes were called Unamis (or Turtle), and Unalachtgo (or Turkey). It was the custom of the Indians to name themselves after streams and animals. The nation of Indians, of which these tribes in this section formed part, was known as Lenni Lenâpé.
Clans .- Each tribe of Indians was divided into clans ; and each clan had a chief. The clan which occupied this vicinity was called the Schuylkills, and its chief, for a time, was Manangy. Many families with their connections lived together. They
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.