A gazetteer of the state of Pennsylvania : a part first, contains a general description of the state, its situation and extent, general geological construction, canals, and rail-roads, bridges, revenue, expenditures, public debt, &c. &c. ; part second, embraces ample descriptions of its counties, towns, cities, villages, mountains, lakes, rivers, creeks, &c. alphabetically arranged, Part 11

Author: Gordon, Thomas Francis, 1787-1860. dn
Publication date: 1833
Publisher: Philadelphia : Published by T. Belknap
Number of Pages: 584

USA > Pennsylvania > A gazetteer of the state of Pennsylvania : a part first, contains a general description of the state, its situation and extent, general geological construction, canals, and rail-roads, bridges, revenue, expenditures, public debt, &c. &c. ; part second, embraces ample descriptions of its counties, towns, cities, villages, mountains, lakes, rivers, creeks, &c. alphabetically arranged > Part 11

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 (link on the Part 1 page).

Adams' creek, Napier t-ship, Bed- ford co. a tributary of Dunning's creek.

Addamsville, p-o. Berks co. 152 ms. from W. C. and 61 from Harrisburg.

Addison t-ship, Somerset co. bounded N. by Turkeyfoot t-ship, E. by Elk- lick t-ship, S. by the state of Mary. land, and W. by Fayette co. Cen- trally distant from the town of Som- erset 20 miles, greatest length 10 miles, breadth 6 miles. Area 35,000 acres. Surface very hilly. Soil reddish gravel. Taxable popula- tion, 234. Taxable property in 1829, real estate $96,075, personal estate $6280. Rate of tax, 5 mills on the dol- lar. Negro mountain lies on the E. and

Youghiogheny r. on the W. boundary. The latter receives from the town-ship, Castleman's r. which runs along the N. boundary augmented by Negro Glade run, Jones run and Rogers run, which rise in the t-ship. The Cumberland or great national road enters the state in this t-ship, and upon it lies the post- town of Petersburg. Winding Ridge and Horse Hill are noted eminences. Coal is found on the E. bankof the You- hiogheny, near the Horse Shoe Bend, and lime at the head of Negro Glade run.

Agnew's Mills, Venango co. so call- ed after the Postmaster, I. Agnew. Distant 248 miles from W. C. and 203 from Harrisburg.

Air, t-ship, Bedford co. bounded N. by Dublin, E. by Franklin co. S. by the state of Maryland, and W. by Belfast, centrally distant from Bedford Borough 25 ms., greatest distance 11, breadth 41 miles. Arca 24,960 acres. Surface mountainous with rich lime- stone valleys. Pop. in 1830, 1517. Taxables 279. Cove mountain bounds it on the E. and Scrub Ridge on the W. The valley between is drained by Big Cove creek and near the head of the valley is the Borough of MeCon- nelsburg.

Alba, p-o. Bradford co. 241 miles from W. C. 129 from Harrisburg.

Albany, t-ship, Bradford co. bound- ed N. by Asylum, E. by Luzerne co. S. by Lycoming co. and W. by Mon- roe. Centrally distant 12 miles S. E. from Towanda. Greatest length 13, breadth 73 miles. Surface, hilly, soil, gravelly loam. Pop. in 1830, 284, taxables 64. It is drained N. W. by Towanda creek, and S. E. by the W. Branch of the Mahoopeny creek. The p-t. of New Albany is 227 miles N. W. from W. C. and 116 from Harrisburg.

Albany, a t-ship of Berks co. bound- ed N. E. by the county of Lehigh, N. W. and W. by the Blue mountains, S. W. by Windsor t-ship, and S. by Greenwich t-ship. It is drained by Mill and Pine creek and Stony run, tributaries of Maiden creek, which in-

ALL

ALE

tersects the t-ship into two unequal parts, running in a S. W. direction. 'There are mills on each of these streams, and on Pine creek several forges. Besides the hills on its north- ern boundary, there is a notable one on the South, known by the name of "Round Top." There are 2 Church- es near the Lehigh boundary line, one Presbyterian, the other Lutheran, an- other near Union Furnace. The sur- face of the country is hilly. Soil, grav- elly and poor. Pop. in 1810, 996, in 1820, 1182, 1830, 1129. Taxables, 284.

Aleppo, t-ship, Greene co. the ex- treme S. W. t-ship of the State, bound- ed N. by Richhill, E. by Centre and Wayne t-ships, S. and W. by the State of Virginia. Centrally distant from Waynesborough 15 miles. Greatest length 11 miles, breadth 10 miles. Area, 52,480 acres. Surface, very hilly. Soil, fertile loam. Pop. in 1830, 838. Taxables 134. The t-ship is drained N. E. by McCourt- neys fork of 10 mile Creek, S. E. by the head waters of Dunkard creek, N. W. by several forks of Wheeling creek, and S. W. by branches of Fish creek.

Alexandria, West, p-t. Donegal t-ship, Washington co. on the nation- al road, near the W. boundary of the t-ship, 15 miles S. W. of Washington borough, 245 from W. C. and 228 from Harrisburg, contains from 40 to 50 dwellings, 3 taverns, and 3 stores, a Presbyterian church. There is a Catholic chapel 3 miles E. from the town.

Alexandria, p-t. and borough, Por- ter t-ship, Huntingdon co. upon the turnpike road leading from the bo- rough of Huntingdon to Ebensburg, and upon the Frankstown branch of the Juniata r. 155 miles N. W. from W. C. and 97 S. W. from Harrisburg, 8 miles N. W. from the borough, contains 64 dwellings, chiefly brick and frame, 2 houses for worship, 1 school, 8 stores, 11 taverns, 3 smith's shops, 2 tanneries, 1 brewery, 1 dis- tillery and lapothecary. It was in-

corporated by act of 11th April 1827.

Alexandria, New, t. of Deny t-ship Westmoreland co. on the right bank of the Leyalhanna r. and on the turn- pike road leading to Pittsburg, 10 miles N. E. from Greensburg, 199 miles from W. C. and 171 from Harris- burg. It contains 25 dwellings, 2 tav- erns and 3 stores.

Allegheny creek, Robeson t-ship, Berks co. a tributary of the Schuyl- kill r. It is a mill stream and has a furnace on it near the mouth.

Allegheny Mountain Little, forms part of the boundary on the S. be- tween Bedford and Somerset cos. and the W. boundary of Londonderry t-ship of the former county.

Allegheny, t-ship Somerset co. bounded N. by Shade t-ship, E. by Bedford co. S. by Southampton, and W. by Brothers valley and Stoney creek. Centrally distant from Som- erset S. E. 15 miles, greatest length 14, breadth 6. Area, 55,200. Sur- face, very hilly. Soil, Reddish gravel. Taxable population 95- taxable property in 1829, real estate $19,717, personal, including occupa- tions, &c. 2,936, rate of tax, 5 mills on the dollar. The Little Allegheny mountain is on the E. and the great Allegheny on the W. boundary. It is drained on the S. by Wills' creek, and its tributaries, Rush creck and some minor streams; on the E. by the Rays-town branch of the Juniata r. The turnpike road from Bedford to Somerset runs, centrally W . through the t-ship north of which, near the E. boundary, are three salt licks which gave name to a run flowing northward to the river.

Allegheny, t-ship, Huntingdon co. boundedN. E. by Antes t-ship, S. E. by Frankstown t-ship S. W. by Bed- ford co. and N. W. by Cambria co. Centrally distant W. from the borough of Huntingdon 20 miles. Greatest length 10, breadth 7 miles. Area, 39,040 acres. Surface, mountainous. Soil, red shale, fertile in the valley. Pop. in 1830, 2,058. Taxables 190. It is drained by Beaver Dam creek,

ALL

which flows S. E. into the Franks- town branch of the Juniata r. The t-ship is chiefly covered by the Alle- gheny mountain, on which, in the S. E. angle runs the rail road portage ncar Blair's Gap and post office. Burgoon's Gap is on the W. side of the t-ship. Iron is found on the E. and a furnace has been erected near the beds. Franktown and Hollidays- burg are in the adjoining t-ship on the S. E. There were in this t-ship in 1828, 3 grist mills, 6 saw mills, 5 dis- tilleries, 1 furnace, 1 fulling mill, 1 oil mill, 2 tan yards.

Allegheny, t-ship, Venango co. bounded N. by Warren co. E. and S. by the Allegheny r. W. by Wind Rock and E. Branch t-ships. Central- ly distant N. E. from Franklin borough 20 miles. Greatest length 12, breath 6 miles. Area, 39,680 acres ; Surface hilly ; soil, gravel. Pop. in 1830, 596. Taxables 120. The t-ship is drained by Stewart's and Hickory creeks. The first flowing S. E. and the second S. into the river.

Allegheny Bridge, p-o. of Keating t-ship, Mckean co. 288 miles N. W. of W. C. and 215 from Harrisburg.

Allegheny Borough, Ross t-ship, AI- legheny co. on the point formed by the Ohio and Allegheny r. opposite to the city of Pittsburg, from which it is separated by the latter river, but connected therewith by a covered bridge, completed in 1819, of six arch- es resting on piers of dressed stone, and elevated above the level of the water 38 feet, length 1122 ft. breadth 38, cost $95,249, of which the state subscribed $10,000. The ballance was supplied by individuals who form an incorporated company. (For a description of this town see Pittsburg.) The Borough was incorporated 14th April, 1828.

Allegheny, t-ship, Westmoreland co. bounded N. E. by the Kiskimini- tas r. S. E. by Washington t-ship, S. W. by Pokctos creek which separates it from Plumb t-ship, Allegheny co. and W. and N. W. by the Allegheny r. Centrally distant from Greensburg

N. W. 22 miles. Greatest length 12, breadth 11 miles. Area, 43,520 acres. . Surface, hilly. Soil, loam, gravel and limestone. Taxable popu- lation, 291. Besides the streams above mentioned, the t-ship is drain- ed by Chartier's creek on the W. and by Pine run and some smaller streams on the East.

Allegheny, t-ship, Armstrong co. bounded N. E. by Crooked creek, dividing it from Kittaning and Plumb creek t-ships, S. E. by Indiana co. S. W. by the Kiskiminitas r. which separates it from Westmoreland co. and N. W. by the Allegheny river. Centrally distant S. from Kittaning bo- rough 12 miles. Greatest length 13, breadth 10. Area, 53,760 acres. Sur- face, hilly. Soil, gravelly loam. Pop. in 1830, 2,966. Taxables 602. It is drained by several small creeks and runs which flow into the great streams that surround it. Several salt springs are found near the Kiskiminitas river, and on Crooked creek, and several salt works are erected on their banks.

Allegheny, t-ship, Cambria co. bounded N. by Susquehannah t-ship, E. by Clearfield t-ship, S. by Somer- hill and W. by Cambria. Centrally distant N. E. from Ebensburg 6 miles. Greatest length 10, breadth 6 miles. Area, 32,000 acres. Pop. in 1830, 844. Taxables 200, valuation of tax- able property 1829, viz : seated lands $35,899, unseated $7,852, personal estate $7,467. Rate of tax 8} mills in the dollar. The t-ship is drained N. by Clearfield and Chest creeks.

Allegheny Mountains, sometimes called the Appalachian Mountains. This name is given by some Geo- graphers to the whole of the chain of mountains which traverse the conti- nent between the Ohio river and the lakes, and the sea coast, embracing the South mountains and the Kittatinny range. Of this system, within the State we have already given a genc- ral view in the first part of this work. But, the name of Allegheny is special- ly given to that range of hills which divides the waters of the States through

ALL

which it passes and directs their course East and West. The Allegheny proper, termed the back bone of the State, enters Somerset county from Maryland between Elk creek and Greenville. t-ships, and runs N. E. across the State into Lycoming co. where it appears to be broken into separate masses, and finally to subside in Susquehannah co. In its course, it separates Bedford from Som- erset co. and Cambria from Hunting- don co. But only for 60 miles of its course does it separate the sources of the streams of two great natural sections, the Atlantic slope and the Ohio valley. It is penetrated west- ward, near the southern boundary of the State by the sources of Castleman's river, and eastwardly in Lycoming co. by the west branch of the Sus- quehannah. Its average height in Pennsylvania may be stated at a- bout 1200 feet above the valleys, with a summit, which for the greater part of its course, can scarcely be said to undulate. In this State, grit or sandstone forms its nucleus. It may be remarked here, that, with few exceptions, in this and the other ranges of Pennsylvania the steep ascent looks to the west, whilst the eastern rises slowly and gradually. Not one acre in ten of this ridge is susceptible of culture, yet in some parts of it there is excellent land, and much of it is said from experiment to be favorable to the culture of the vine.

This superciliary ridge has present- ed an insurmountable barrier to the continuation of the line of canals in the State; and has compelled the en- gineers, who had overcome many oth- er chains, to resort to a rail-road port- age across its summit. This rail-road extends about 36 ms. from Hollidays- burg on the Juniata river in Hunting- don co. to Johnsontown on the Con- emaugh. The name Allegheny is of Indian origin, and is said on some au- thorities to mean endless ; but we ob- serve that others translate it when ap- plied to the river, "Fair Water."

Allegheny River, rises on the W.

|side of the Allegheny mountains in Lycoming co. Pennsylvania, within a few miles of the head waters of the Sinnemahoning creek, a navigable stream which falls into the Susque- hannah river, to which there is a port- age of 23 miles. Thence by a north- erly course it passes into the State of New-York, and winding to the N. W. about 20 miles, turns gradually to the S. W. and re-enters Pennsylvania ; and meandering the same direction 180 miles unites with the Monongahe- la river at Pittsburg. The lands on each side of this river for 150 miles above Pittsburg, consist of white oak and chestnut ridges, and in many places of poor pitch pine, interspersed with tracts of good land and low meadows. Few rivers, perhaps none, excel the Allegheny in the transparency of its waters. Its mean velocity is about two and a half miles an hour. In its course it receives many large tribu- tary streams, among which are the Kiskiminitas, Mohulbuekitum, Toby's and French creeks. The last is nav- igable to Waterford in Erie co. from which to lake Erie is but 14 miles. The trade by the Allegheny, with the lakes has heretofore been considerable. Several thousand barrels of salt, have annually passed from the Onandago salt works, and the quantity of boards and timber floated down the stream is immense. The Allegheny joining the Monongahela nearly at right angles, and its current being more rapid, gen- erally marks its course by the trans- parency of its waters contrasted with the muddiness of the other; and a separation is observable for three miles below their junction. The Al- legheny at its mouth is above 500 yards wide. This river and the Ohio, until it empties into the Mississippi, were alike called by the name Alle- gheny by the Indian tribes who once inhabited their banks, and that name literally translated means "Fair Wa- ter." The same sense is conveyed by the word "Ohio," the former being in the language of the Delaware, and the latter of the Seneca Indians. The

ALL

French name "Belle Riviere" is there- fore but a translation.

The facilities which this river pre- sented for connecting the metropolitan cities of the State, and for extending commerce with the northwest portion of the Commonwealth, could not be overlooked; and accordingly the great State canal enters its valley by an aqueduct which crosses the river near the mouth of the Kiskiminitas, and reaches Pittsburg by a course of 30 miles ; and an act was passed au- thorizing the connection of this river with the lakes, by means of French creek and the Conneaut lake. A navi- gable feeder between the Creek and lake, and connected with the river, has been completed.

But in this age of wonders, the rap- id current of this mountain river has been subjected to the dominion of steam. Boats of a peculiar construc- tion, invented by Mr. Thos. Blanchard of Connecticut, of an hundred tons burthen, but of light draught of water have ascended the river to Olean N. Hamilton, in Cataragua county, state of New-York, near the head of the river and 270 miles from its mouth, a point 600 feet above the level of the river at Pittsburg, 1400 feet above the ocean, and 2500 miles distant from it by the course of the river. Regu- lar trips are now made to and from Pittsburg and Franklin, the latter sit- uated at the mouth of French creek in Venango county, 125 miles from the former, in about four days, even at low stages of the river, when rafts pass with difficulty. And it is sup- posed, that with comparatively small expenditure, this navigation can be per- fected at all seasons, when the Ohio is navigable. One of the parties who made the first trip to Olean Point, in May, 1830, thus describes the coun- try along the river.

" The scenery along the Allegheny river affords the greatest variety, and is in many places truly sublime. It would be generally very much like the North river scenery if equally im- proved and cultivated, more particu-

larly so from Warren up to the Great Valley. There the hills rise higher and the river narrows. Its courses are in all directions, and its mountains in all shapes, dressed at this season of the year in its richest robes. The wild flowers along the shores, the beautiful evergreens and towering pines and hemlocks, interspersed with the lighter maple green, give to the whole scenery an indescribable beau- ty."

This river for the greater part of its course runs not in a valley like most other rivers, but in a deep bed, far be- low the general surface of the coun- try, making its way at the foot of pre- cipitous rocky steeps, which form ei- ther one shore or the other. There are few places in which the opposite shores are both rocky. One side gen- erally consists of hills covered with oak, and rising from the water's edge, at a slope of one or two hundred feet in 40 perches. In some places a mar- gin of two or three rods wide is low enough to be covered with floods, but these flats are rarely of great extent. The floods on this river rise from 20 to 30 feet above its low water surface. The steep rocky shores change sides frequently, seldom remaining on the same side for a length of two miles in any one placc. Rocks of immense size lie at the foot of these steeps, evi- dently "time fallen," having been dis- lodged from above by the power of the frost. Some have fallen into deep water,-a single rock of a size suffi- cient to build a lock is frequently seen, -- they are of sandstone and cleave readily in any direction. Of this stone the fine Pittsburg glass is made. It is most commonly taken from the mouth of Clarion river, where it is most free from impurities. Where a stream issues from a chasm in the shore, there is often a shallow place, and a fall in the river of three or four feet. A remarkable character of this river is, that it consists altogether of long sheets of deep still water, separat- ! ed by short shallows, seldom exceeding 20 or 30 rods in length. Wherever

ALL

the river washes the steep mountain base, it is, with few exceptions, deep ; and the same degree of steepness continues under the water, that is vis- ible above it. A beach, however, is formed by the debris of the mountains, in most places ; the pebbly shore on the opposite side is invariably shallow.

'These peculiar features of the riv- er render a side cut or canal along its banks very expensive, if not imprac- ticable, whilst they afford extraordi- nary facilities for improving the navi- gation by dams and locks. Judge Geddes, who surveyed the rivers in 1826 at the instance of the Canal Com- missioners, with a view to the con- struction of a canal from the mouth of French creek to the Kiskiminitas riv- er, reports the distance at 87 miles, 918 yards, and estimates the cost of a canal at $1,595,393, an average of about $18,380 per mile. Some miles of the route it is supposed would cost near $50,000 each. The fall in the river from the mouth of French creek to the mouth of the Kiskiminitas is 235 fect, something more than 2} feet to the mile.

About seven and a half miles above Kittanning, argillaceous slate is seen, composing part of the perpendicular shore in the cliffs of which plume al- um presents itself.

The mineral wealth of the Alleghe- ny country is important. Salt, iron and coal are obtained in many places on the part which has been surveyed. The salt water is found chiefly below the mouth of the Malioning creek ; and little coal is got above the mouth of the Clarion river ; but iron is found every where. Furnaces are in opc- ration at Bear creek, Scrub Grass creek and Sandy creek. The qual- ity of the ore on French creck is decmed suitable for bar iron, and a 4 forge has been erected near Franklin. Of the agricultural products of the country, little can be said, and not a great deal expected.

The river and its branches were de- clared public highways by acts 21st March, 1789, and 4th March, 1807.

Allegheny county, was taken from Westmoreland and Washington coun- ties by act of 24th Sept. 1788, which provided the following boundary. Be- ginning at the mouth of Flaherty's run on the South side of the Ohio river, from thence by a straight line to the plantation on which Joseph Scott, Esq. now lives, on Mouture's run, to include the same, from thence by a straight line to the mouth of Miller's run on Chartier's creek, thence by a straight line to the mouth of Perry's mill run, on the east side of the Monon- gahela river ; thence up the said riv- er to the mouth of Becket's run; thence by a straight line to the mouth of Se- wickly creek, on Youghiogheny river ; thence down the said river to the mouth of Crawford's run ; thence by a straight line to the mouth of Brush creek, on Turtle creek ; thence up Turtle creek to the main fork there- of; thence by a northerly line, un- til it strikes Poketos creck; thence down the said creek to the Allegheny river ; thence up the Allegheny riv- er to the north boundary of the State ; thence along the same to the western line of the State; thence along the same to the river Ohio ; and thence up the same to the place of beginning. And by the act 17th Sept. 1789, these boundaries were enlarged by an ad- dition from Washington county, under the following lines, " Beginning at the river Ohio, where the boundary line of the State crosses the said river ; from thence in a straight line to White's mill, on Raccoon creck ; from thence by a straight line to Arm- strong's mill, on Miller's run; and from thence by a straight line to the Monongahela river, opposite the mouth of Perry's run.

These very ample bounds, given 43 years ago, have been greatly curtail- ed by the establishment of the counties of Beaver, Butler, Armstrong, Venan- go, Mercer, Crawford, Warren, Erie, and the county of Allegheny is now bounded on the N. by Butler, on the E. and S. E. by Westmoreland, on the S. W. and W. by Washington,

ALL

and on the N. W. by Beaver counties.

This county has many historical re- miniseenees connected with it, or rather with Pittsburg, its metropolis, to which we shall append all that we propose to introduce into our work relating to it. (See Pittsburg.)

Allegheny belongs to the great sec- ondary formation which extends west- erly from the Allegheny mountain and abounds with bituminous coal. In the hills about Pittsburgh, along the Mo- nongahela and Allegheny rivers, and other parts of the county, this valua- ble mineral is found near the surface, in strata of from one ineh to six feet thick, generally bedded on schistose sandstone, and overlaid with black aluminous slate.

The surface of the country is gen- erally hilly ; but the river and creek bottoms, and indeed the sides of most of the hills, are exuberantly fertile.

The country consists principally of arable hills and alternate valleys, or as it is commonly called, rolling ground. Near water courses the hills are fre- quently too steep for cultivation, though having a fine soil, and elothed with the most luxuriant growth of timber. Such hills having the pro- per exposure would be well adapted to the culture of the wine vine.

In the valleys and along the water courses, ash, sugar-maple, cherry, elm, &e. abound ; the majestic sye- amore skirts the borders of most of the larger streams. Leaving the val- leys, the different species of oak are found to predominate. Black walnut abounds in some places, and indicates a soil of great fertility. The forest trees generally are of a large size, healthy and luxuriant in appearance. Wood is plenty and cheap. Fruit trees are abundant, and the soil and climate well adapted to their fruitful- ness. Grapes in great variety grow spontaneously, some of an excellent quality, well worth cultivation.

The county is well watered. It is divided from S. E. to N. W. by the Monongahela and Ohio rivers ; the latter being formed by the union of

the Allegheny river with the former, which approaches from the N. E. The Monongahela has a course by and through the county of about 35 ms. along its meanderings, before it meets with the Allegheny, and the latter winds by and through the county about 27 miles, to Pittsburg. It is the elearer, more rapid and stronger stream, and generally displays its character in the purity of its water, for a considerable distance after the union. The Mo- nongahela receives from the county on the east the Youghiogheny river, Turtle ereek and nine mile run ; and from the west, Peter's creek, Thomp- son's run and Sawmill run. The Al- legheny receives from the north, Bull, Deer and Pine creeks, and several smaller streams ; and from the south, Poketos, Plumb, and Sandy creeks, and some lesser branches. The Ohio river receives from the south, Chartier's creek, Mouture's and Flaherty's runs, and from the north Hawser's and Jones' run and Big and Little Sewiek- ly ereeks.

The great state canal follows the source of the Allegheny river from the mouth of the Kiskiminitas, about 30 miles, to the Ohio at Alleghany town, opposite to Pittsburg. It communi- cates also with the Monongahela river by a aqueduct across the river and a tunnel through Grant's hill and out- let locks. This tunnel is solidly arch- ed throughout with sand stone, laid in hammer-dressed range work. (See Pennsylvania canal in Part 1, Western division.)

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.

Author: Gordon, Thomas Francis, 1787-1860. dn Publication date: 1833 Publisher: Philadelphia : Published by T. Belknap Number of Pages: 584

Author: Gordon, Thomas Francis, 1787-1860. dn
Publication date: 1833
Publisher: Philadelphia : Published by T. Belknap
Number of Pages: 584