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 23

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 23

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).

The county paid into the state treas- ury in 1831, for

Tax on writs, $100 00

Tavern licenses, 217 36

Duties on dealers in foreign

mdze. 99 50

$416 86

The value of taxable property in the county, by the assessment of 1829, amounted,

Seated lands to

$222,636

Unseated lands,

132,540

Personal estate, 50,576

$402,752

STATISTICAL TABLE OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

Townships, &c.

Greatest Lth. | Bth

Area in Acres.

Face of country.

Population. 1810. 1820./1830.

Taxa- bles.

Valuation.

Allegheny t-ship,

32,000

Level.

610 868

947 604

844 736

200

43,751

*Cambria

56,440 Rolling.

do. do.

639

513 807 |2088 116

326

76,989

Connemaugh town, or Johnstown,

Ebensburg bor.

168

270

Jackson t-ship,

Rolling.

440

40,751

Munster town,

107

Loretto town,

Summerhill t-ship, Susquehannah,

Rolling. do.

517

852

158

41,284

722

118

48,474

2117 3287 7079

1144

436

53,011

Conemaugh "

*Jackson t-ship has been lately taken from Cambria and Somerset t-ships, and Sus- quehannah and Clearfield from Allegheny, and as we have not the precise bounda- ries, we do not give the dimensions nor areas of the new or altered town ships.

Cambridge, a small village lying on | the line which divides Honeybrooke t-ship, Chester co. from Lancaster co. distant 17 miles N. W. of Westches- ter.

Canaan, t-ship, Wayne co. bounded N. by Mount Pleasant, S. by Salem, E. by Palmyra and Dyberry t-ships, and W. by Susquehannah and Luzerne cos. Its form is that of an L; its

200

50,915

Clearfield

CAN

greatest length 12 ms. breadth 8 ms. Lackawannock creek indents its eas- tern boundary, and branches of the Dyberry and Middle creeks, intersect it in various parts. The Moosic mts. are on the W. boundary. The Bel- mont and Easton turnpike road cross- es it centrally N. and S. and the Mil- ford and Owego S. E. and N. W. Surface, partly mountainous, partly level, covered with dense forests ; soil, white gravel and loam ; pop. in 1830, 1134; taxables, in 1828, 187. There is a p-o. at Mount Republic, 10 ms. W. of Bethany, and another at Clarks- ville, 8 ms. S. W. of the county town. Taxable property in 1829, scated lands $67,461, unseated 53,811 ; per- sonal estate, including occupations $13,189.

Canoe mountain, a ridge of Morris t-ship, Huntingdon co. which has its name from its shape, connected with Brush mtn. Upon its W. side lies Scotch valley, drained by Canoe creck, and on its E. Canoe valley.

Canoe creek and valley. (See pre- ceding article.) There is a p-o. here on the turnpike road 168 ms. N. W. from W. C. and 110 S. E. from Har- risburg.

Canonsburg, p-t. Washington co. on the road from Pittsburg to Washing- ton borough, and on Chartiers creek, 18 ms. from the former and 7 from the latter town, in the extreme E. angle of Chartiers t-ship, 236 ms. from W. C. and 219 from Harrisburg. The town contains about 70 dwellings, a Presbyterian church, 5 or 6 stores, and 3 or 4 taverns. It was incorpo- rated into a borough, 22d February, 1802.

Jefferson college was founded at this place by the legislature in 1802. An academy had existed here for many years previously, which formed the nucleus of the present institution. In the year 1806 the legislature granted to it $3000, providing at the same time for the admission of any number of poor children not exceeding four, who may at any time be offered in order to be taught, gratis, none to continue

longer than two years if others should apply for admission. By an act of 1821 the state made a further grant of $5000. The institution is chiefly in- debted to private benefactions and the exertions of its friends for its prosper- ity. The funds arising from tuition are the principal means of supporting the professors. Four thousand five hundred dollars have been bequeathed to the institution by individuals, to aid in educating poor, but pious young men, for the gospel ministry, and num- bers have already experienced the benefit of this bequest. The college possesses a philosophical and chemical apparatus, adequate to a practical il. lustration of these sciences. The col- lege library contains 1000 volumes, and that of the societies attached to the institution 1600. There are four academic instructers. In 1828, 259 students had graduated, of whom 245 are now living; 120 have been minis- ters, of whom 111 are living ; 29 gra- duated in 1827. There were, in 1828, 101 under graduates; 43 students professing religion, and 9 indigent stu- dents. The branches of learning taught are similar to those in the De- partment of Arts in the University of Penn. The whole expense incident to the education and support of a stu- dent here, does not exceed $125 per ann. The college edifice is of brick, 76 by 45 feet, and will accommodate from 150 to 200 students. Under the charter of this college a medical school was established in 1826, at Philadel- phia, which has received a considera- ble share of public patronage, and promises extensive usefulness. A Ly- ceum of natural science has lately been established in the college, with a view to collect and preserve the vari- ous objects of the natural history, and the Indian antiquities, in which the western states abound. The Alumni of the college, and the friends of natu- ral science generally, are invited to aid the labors of the society.

Canton, post t-ship, Bradford co. [bounded N. by Troy, E. by Franklin t-ships, S. by Lycoming co. and W.

CAN

CAR

by Tioga co. Centrally distant from Towanda, S. W. 20 ms .; greatest length 92 ; breadth 8 ms. Area, 85,- 444 acres ; surface, hilly ; soil, grav- elly loam. Pop. in 1830, 1175. The Towanda creek, enters the t-ship by the S. W. angle and flows N. E. through it, receiving many tributaries from it. The p-o. here is 249 ms. from W. C. and 138 from Harrisburg.

Canton, t-ship, Washington co. bounded N. by Mount Pleasant, E. by Chartiers, Strabane, and Amwell t-ships, S. by Morris t-ship, W. by Buf- falo and Hopewell t-ships; greatest length 10, breadth 5 ms. Area, 20, 480 acres ; surface, pretty level ; soil, loam, coal abundant. The borough of Washington lies partly in the t-ship, through which the national road con. tinues westerly. The t-ship is drain- ed by Chartiers creek and its tribu- taries, the chief of which is George's creek on the N. E. boundary.

Capous range, a continuation of the Shawnese range of hills, on the E. side of the Susquehannah, stretching thro' Exeter, Pittston, and Providence t- ships, Luzerne co. and forming in part the northern boundary of the Lacka- wannock valley. They rise in some places 1125 feet above their base, and abound in anthracite coal.

Capous creek, rises in the Capous range of mtns. in Providence t-ship, Luzerne co. and flows S. W. into the Lackawannock r.

Carbondale, t-ship, Luzerne county, was lately taken from Blakely t-ship, and is bounded N. and W. by Green- field t-ship, E. by Wayne co. S. by Blakely t-ship. It lies in the upper end of the Lackawannock valley, bounded by mountains, and includes the coal mines of the Delaware and Hudson company.

Carbondale, p-v. Carbondale t-ship, Luzerne co. on the Lackawannock creek, at the head of the Lackawan- nock valley, is one of the sudden cre- ations which have been effected by the coal trade. Distant from W. C. 247 and from Harrisburg 139 miles. The village commenced with the works of

the Hudson and Delaware canal and coal company, four years since, and now contains about 40 dwellings, 7 stores, 3 taverns. At its suburb, New Dublin, there are 130 shanties, occu- pied by the miners.

The coal mine here is one of the most extensive and best of the Lacka- wannock region, and a large quantity of coal is taken from it annually, and transported to the New York market by the rail road and canal, (for a de- scription of which see "canals of Pennsylvania, in the introduction.") Acts of assembly have passed for con- structing a turnpike and rail-road down the Lackawannock valley, and a rail-road to the mouth of the Che- nango river, on the Susquehannah, in the state of New York, and also for a canal along the Lackawannock creek to the Susquehannah, above Wilkes- barre, thereby to open a communica- tion from Carbondale to the S. and N. The coal mine here is situated in the front of a hill. The coal has been quarried in a continued line for sixty rods, and presents a front of good coal of twenty feet in thickness, besides several feet more of roof coal, stained and shattered by time and the weather. The miners have lately began to fol- low the bed, without removing the su- perincumbent materials, pillars of coal being left to support the weight. About 3; aeres of the bed have been remno- ved. The communication from Hud- son's river to Carbondale, the work of the Hudson and Delaware canal com- pany, is by a canal from the Hudson to the Delaware, near Carpenter's Point ; thence up the eastern bank of the Delaware to the mouth of the Lackawaxen ; thence crossing the De- laware by a pool formed by a damn across that river and up the Lacka- waxen to Honesdale, at the Forks of the Dyberry, where it terminates in an artificial basin, a distance of little more than 100 miles, thence by a rail-road across the Lackawannock mountain to Carbondale, 16 ms. The expendi- ture of the company on their road, ca- nal and mines, exceed two millions of

CAR

dollars. 'The coal fields of the com- pany contain about 3,500 acres. From the 20th March, 1831, to the 5th No- vember, there passed over the rail road 54,328 tons of coal. The com- pany have sold lots in their villages of Roundout, (New York,) Honesdale and Carbondale, to the value of $28,951 82, and at Roundout leases have been made producing an annual rent of $1,592.

Carlisle, p-t. borough and seat of justice, of Cumberland co. on the p-r. from Phil. to Pittsburg, 118 miles from the former, and 178 from the latter, and about 16 miles W. of Harrisburg and the Susquehannah r. in the centre of a rich and well watered limestone valley, and standing on rising ground, presents a rich and variegated land- scape, of mountains, woods, and culti- vated farms. It was founded in 1751 by the proprietaries, who purchased several farms for that purpose. In 1753 it contained 5 log houses, but being a border town, and military post, it throve rapidly. It now contains near 650 houses, and 3708 inhabitants. The principal streets cross each other at right angles, and are neatly paved. A large open space was originally left in the centre, which is in a great part occupied by two stone churches, a market house, and a commodious court house, and fire proof offices. Beside these the public buildings in the town are six other churches, pertain- ing to the English Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Lutherans, German Presbyterians, Methodists, Scotch Presbyterians, and Roman Catholics. Dickenson college, built of limestone, is situated on an elevated spot, on the west part of the town, erected on the site of an elegant brick edifice, which was burned in 1803. The present building is 150 feet in length, 4 stories high, and surmounted by a beautiful dome, from which there is an exten- sive view of the valley and the moun- tains by which it is bounded, and par- ticularly of the north mountain for about 80 miles of its range. This college received its name in memory

of the great and important services rendered to his country by John Dick- enson, and in commemeration of his liberal donation to the institution. It was established and incorporated by the legislature in 1783, but the funds then requisite were supplied by private munificence. But in 1786 the state gave to it the sum of $500, and 10,000 acres of land, and in 1791, $1500, and in 1795 the further sum of $5000. The building for the accomodation of students having been destroyed by fire, in 1803 the legislature authorized the treasurer of Cumberland co. to pay to the trustees of the college $6000, from the arrearages of state taxes due from the co. by way of loan ; and by an act of 1806 this loan was increased to $10,000. The amount received un- der these two acts, was but $8,400, and in 1819 the debt was remitted by the state. In 1821 a further dona- tion was made by the legislature of $6000, in consideration of a reconvey- ance to the state of the 10,000 acres of land, previously granted, which had proved a burthen rather than a re- lief to the institution, and a further sum of $2000 annually for five years, was also granted. After struggling for years, with difficulties, the result of deficiency in the active funds of the institution, the trustees were compelled to suspend its operations in the year 1816; in which prostrate condition it continued until revived by the aid af- forded in 1821. Since that period, it has been extensively useful. By the act of 1795 it was stipulated that there should be admitted into the college any number of students, not exceeding 10, who may be offered, to be taught reading, writing, and arithmetic, gra- tis. In 1828 the college had six ac- ademical instructers, 22 graduates, and 109 under graduates, and assisted six indigent students. The expenses of a student here for one year, with the exception of his books, candles and clothing, are estimated at $176. A little to the E. of the town there are extensive barracks .and other build- ings, erected in the revolutionary war,

CAR

for the accommodation of troops, and || The first or antechamber has a length preservation of public stores. The town was incorporated by act of as- sembly 13th April, 1782, by the name of the burgesses, and inhabitants of the borough of Carlisle, with two chief burgesses, five assistants, high consta- ble and town clerk. * Fairs are author- ized to be holden here on the fourth thursdays of May, and October, an- nually.

There are some springs and a lime- stone cave near Carlisle which merit attention. The sulphur springs, about four miles N. of the town, on a branch of the Conedoguinit creek, were for- merly much frequented, and there is here a large building for the accom- modation of visiters. In the centre of a large field, a mile and a half also N. of the town, is the " Hogshead spring," in a conical excavation nearly 60 feet in circumference hav- ing a lime stone wall on one side, and a gentle and regular descent upon the other. Six or eight feet be- low the summit is an arched opening, through which is a passage declining at an angle of 40°, and 10 feet deep, wide enough to admit a man stooping. At the bottom of this cavity is a pool of delicious water, apparently stag- nant, yet sweet, cool, and refreshing ; qualities which it always preserves, but there are no visible means by which the basin receives, or discharg. es it. Setart's spring, about 2 miles S. of the borough, is remarkable for sending forth a volume of water suffi- cient, at the source, to turn two mills ; the stream passes near Carlisle on its way to the Conedoguinit, and drives several other mills in its course.

On the banks of the Conedoguinit, about 1} miles from the town is the cave. The entrance is by a semicir- cular archway, seven feet high, in a limestone rock, of 20 feet perpendic- ular elevation. So true and finished is the curve of this portal, that the spectator is induced to believe it to have been perfected by art ; and such opinion is corroborated, by the appar- ently dressed surface of the interior.

of 90 yards, and is high enough to ad- mit the visiter to stand erect. Three passages branch from it. That on the right is broad and low, and from the moisture of the stones, frequently dif- ficult of access. It leads to a cham- ber as large as the first; this apart- ment bears the name of the Devil's dining room. Some persons as- sert, that there is a narrow and unexplored passage leading from it, which has been sought by others in vain. The centre passage from the antichamber is very narrow, and in di- rection, similar to a winding stair, and is impassable, after a progress of ten yards, and terminates in a perpendic- ular excavation. 'The left hand pas- sage, at the distance of three or four feet from the entrance, turns suddenly to the right, and extends nearly thirty yards, with sufficient breadth and height to permit a small boy to creep along it; but it becomes thenceforth, too strait for further progress. About seven feet from the entrance of this gallery are several small pools of wa- ter formed by the drippings of the roof, which have been mistaken for springs.

This cavern is dark and damp, and must be examined by torch light. An opinion prevails in the neighborhood that the Indians formerly made it a deposit for their spoils, and an asylum in seasons of danger, and it may pos- sibly have served as a tomb; but none of the articles usually buried with the Indians have been found here ; yet hu- man bones were formerly seen in it.

Carmichaels town, or New Lisbon, Greene co. p-t. 220 miles from W .C. and 210 from Harrisburg, contains about 60 dwellings, 3 stores, and 3 taverns, and about 300 inhabitants. There is an academy here called "Greene academy," incorporated by act of assembly 20 March, 1810, by which $2000 were given to it condi- tioned that a number of poor children not exceeding six should be taught annually therein.

Carpenter's mills, p-o. Lycoming co.

CAT

CED

204 miles N. W. from W. C. and 95 from Harrisburg.

Cascade run, a tributary of Spring creek, which rises in Providence t- ship, and runs S. W. into Pittston t- ship, Luzerne co.

Cascade run, a small stream rising in Exeter t-ship, Luzerne co. and flows S. W. into the river Susquehannah.

Cashes creek, Damascus township, Wayne co. flows by the village of Da- mascus, into the Delaware river near the Casheton falls.

Cash town, a small village of Frank. lin t-ship, Adams co. on the turnpike road from Gettysburg to Chambers- burg, about 8 miles N. W. of the for- mer, contains 12 dwellings, 1 store and 2 taverns.

Castleman's river, Somerset co. is formed by the union of the Little Yough- iogheny river with Cox's creek in Mil- ford t-ship. The Little Youghiogheny and Castleman's rivers may properly be treated as one stream, which, rising in Allegheny co. Md. between Meadow and Negro mtns. flows N. E. about 12 miles into Pennsylvania ; and curving through Somerset co. falls into the Great Youghiogheny, 11 ms. N. of the Maryland line, opposite the east foot of Sugar-loaf mtn. The fall in this stream is very great; where intersect- ed by the national road its bed is 1979 feet above the level of the ocean, and from thence to its mouth it falls 1000 feet.

Cattara creek, Rush t-ship, Schuyl- kill co. a branch of Locust creek, a tributary of the Little Schuylkill r.

Catawissa, p-t. Catawissa t-ship, Co- lumbia co. on the left bank of the Sus- quehannah r. about10 miles above Danville, 182 ms. from W. C. and 72 ms. from Harrisburg ; contains about 100 dwellings, 1 Methodist, 1 Luther- an and 1 Quaker meeting-house, 2 tav- erns and 4 stores. A project is en- tertained by the inhabitants of this town and its vicinity of connecting the Susquehannah r. here with the Schuyl- kill by a rail road uniting with that al- ready made along the valley of the Lit- tle Schuylkill. An act was passed

13th March, 1816, authorizing a com- pany to be incorporated for building a bridge across the Lehigh river, oppo- site or near the town, but the work has never been commenced.

Catawissa, t-ship, Columbia co. bounded N. by the Susquehannah r. E. by Mifflin t-ship, S. and S. E. by Schuylkill co. W. and S. W. by North- umberland co .; centrally distant S. E. of Danville 10 miles ; greatest length 131, breadth, 11 ms. ; area, 67,200 acres ; surface, hilly ; soil, clay and gravel ; pop. in 1830, 3130 ; taxables, 561. The Catawissa mtn. runs through the N. part of the t-ship, and the Lit- tle mountain through the southern ; between which lies the broad valley of Roaring creek. One branch of that stream girds the S. sides of Little mountain, and flowing round its W. end, divides this t-ship from Northum- berland co. Another branch of the creek flows through the valley, and unites with the first about 3 miles above its junction with the Susquehan- nah. Iron ore abounds in this t-ship, and there are 2 furnaces and 2 forges in it. The post town of Cattawissa is on the Susquehannah r. about 10 ms. above Danville.

Cattawissa mountain ; (see Catta- wissa t-ship, Columbia co.)

Cecil, t-ship, Washington co. bound- ed N. by Robeson t-ship, E. by Alle- gheny co. S. by Chartiers creek, which divides it from Peters and Stra- bane t-ships, and W. by Chartiers and Mount Pleasant t-ships ; centrally dis- tant from Washington, N. E. 10 miles ; greatest length 9, breadth 4} miles ; area, 24,960 acres; surface, partly level, partly hilly ; soil, loam ; coal, abundant. Miller's branch of Char- tiers creek passes S. E. through the middle of the t-ship, upon which there are 5 or 6 mills. There is a Presby- terian church in the t-ship.

Cedar creek, Lehigh co. rises from one large spring in Macungy t-ship, and turns a large flour mill about six perches below the fountain ; and after a course of 3 miles, falls into the Lit. tle Lehigh. The volume of this sin-

CEN

gular stream appears invariable, in such others as might be offered to wet or dry weather ; it never freezes, them, in trust to dispose thereof, one moiety in some productive fund for the support of an academy or public school in the county, and with other monies to be raised in the county, to erect public buildings for the county in the town of Bellefonte. and the grass, which grows to the wa- ter's edge, looks green at all seasons, and is always uncovered, the water dis- solving the snow of winter as it falls. Some distance N. W. from the foun- tain of Cedar spring, is a stream which, after a course of 3 miles, sinks into the earth. It is conjectured that this stream forms the Cedar creek fountain.

Cedar creek, p-o. Lamar t-ship, 208 miles from W. C. and 101 from Harrisburg.

Centre county, was formed from Mif- flin, Northumberland, Lycoming, and Huntingdon, by act 13th Feb. 1800, which gave it the following bounda- ries : beginning opposite the mouth of Quinn's run, on the W. branch of the Susquehannah ; thence a straight line to the mout of Fishing creek, where it empties into the Bald Eagle creek ; thence to the N. E. corner of Miles, late Haines, t-ship, including Nitta- ny valley ; thence by the N. E. boun- dary of the said t-ship, to the summit of Tussey's mtn., thence by the sum- mit of said mountain, by the lines of Haines t-ship in Northumberland co., Potter t-ship in Mifflin co. and Frank- lin t-ship in Huntingdon co. to a point 3 ms. S. W. of the present line be- tween Mifflin and Huntingdon coun- ties ; thence by a direct line to the head of the S. W. branch of Bald Ea- gle creek ; thence, a direct line to the head waters of Mushanon; thence down the same to the Susquehannah, and down the Susquehanah to the place of beginning. The county was at the same time fully organized. It is now bounded on the N. by Lycoming co. on the E. by Union, S. E. by Mifflin, S. by Huntingdon, and W. by Clear- field counties. Length 58, breadth 36 miles ; area, 1370 square ms. Cen- tral lat. 41º N. ; long. from W. C. 0° 20' E.

By the same act, the trustees there- in named were authorized to take as- surances for the payment of money and grants of land, stipulated for by James Dunlop and James Harris, and

Centre county lies wholly within the Appalachian system of mountains, and it belongs wholly to the great cen- tral transition formation. The soil partakes of all the shades of quality, from the most productive river alluvi- on, to the most sterile mountain sum- mits ; from the exuberant limestone to the unyielding silicious rock. There is here as great a portion of mineral wealth as is to be found in any portion of equal extent in the United States. Iron of the best quality is found in all parts of the county, and coal on the Allegheny mountain. Almost every variety of indigenous forest tree may be found on the mountains, the slopes and the valleys. And the scenery of the country is varied, often beautiful, sometimes sublime, and always pic- turesque. The editor of the Bellefonte Patriot, in speaking of his county, has given us the following spirited passage. " We will close our remarks with one word for our county in general ; most emphatically called Centre county ; and as it is the heart of the state by geo- graphical position, so it is the head by local advantages. We except none, unless Huntingdon and Mifflin. True, we have mountains, but we have plains, and our mountains are as valuable as valleys. First, they preserve health ; we have no fevers, nor chills; but many births and few deaths; second, our mountains abound with fine timber of every kind and quality ; and third, with mineral wealth; and fourth, when fruit is destroyed by frost on our valleys, it is preserved on our mountains. In short, for fertility of soil, mineral resources, manufacturing advantages, and every thing which can contribute to man's comfort and hap- piness, it is scarce equalled, certainly not surpassed, by any county in the

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