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 84
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Williamsburg, p-t., Northampton co., on the main road from Easton to the Delaware Water gap, about 16 ms. from Easton, and about 3 ms. W. from the Delaware r. in Upper Mt. Bethel t-ship. It contains 10 dwellings, 2 stores, 1 tavern, and 80 inhabitants.
Williamsburg, village, Bloom t-ship, Columbia co., on Fishing creek, 3 ms. above Bloomsburg, and 13 N. E. from Danville ; contains 1 store, 1 tav- ern, 8 or 10 dwellings, and a Metho- dist church.
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Williamsport, a small village in of the martyrs of American liberty, Williams t-ship, Northampton co., at the S. fork of the Lehigh and Dela- ware rivers, opposite to Easton, con. taining 12 dwellings, and 1 tavern. The Delaware canal passes between the town and the river.
Williamsport, formerly Parkinson's ferry, Fallowfield t-ship, Washington co., at the confluence of Pigeon creek with the Monongahela r., 18 ms. E. of Washington borough, 214 from W. C., and 192 from Harrisburg ; contains from 80 to 100 dwellings, 5 or 6 stores, 4 taverns, and a manufac- tory of window glass.
Williamsport, p-t. borough and seat of justice of Lycoming co., in Loyal- sock t-ship, on the N. side of the W. Branch of the Susquehannah r., 87 ms. N. W. of Harrisburg, 65 miles S. of Tioga, 36 N. by W. from North- umberland, and 160 N. W. from Phil- adelphia. The state canal is designed to run through this town. Value of taxable property in 1829, real estate, $26,034; personal, 14,744. An acad- emy here, incorporated by act 2d April, 1811, by which $2000 was granted to the institution, on condition that a number of poor children, not exceeding 5, should be taught therein annually, gratis. There are in the t. about 150 dwellings, 1 German Lu- theran, and 1 Methodist church, a spacious and neat court house and county offices of brick, 8 stores and 8 taverns.
Willistown, t-ship, Chester county, bounded N. by Tredypin, E. by East- on and by Delaware co., S. by Del. co., and W. by West town and East Goshen t-ships. Centrally distant from Phil., 20 ms. N. W .; from West . Chester, about 6 ms. N. E .; length 5% ms., breadth 3} ; area, 11,- 800 acres; surface, gentle declivity ; soil, gravelly. Pop. 1830, 1411 ; tax- ables, 317. Ridley creck passes through the S. W., and Crum creek through the N. W. parts of the t-ship. Songart is a small hamlet on the West Chester road. In this t-ship a monu- ment has been erected to the memory
who were slaughtered near the Paoli tavern, by the British forces under the command of Gen. Grey, on the night' of the 19-20th of Sept., 1777.
Willowgrove, p-t. and village, More- land t-ship, Montgomery co., 12 ms. N. of Phil., and 16 ms. N. E. from Norristown, 150 from W. C., and 112 from Harrisburg, on the turnpike road which terminates here. It is pleasantly situated in a vale, and con- tains about a dozen stone dwellings, 2 stores, and 3 taverns. The place has many attractions, and is much frequented in the summer season by the citizens of Phil.
Willoughby run, a tributary of Marsh creek, Cumberland t-ship, Ad- ams co.
Wills' mountain, rises in the state of Md., on the N. side of Wills' creek, and runs N. E. into Bedford co., a short distance N. of the town of Bed- ford, having a length of near 30 ms.
Wills' creek, rises in Southampton t-ship, Somerset co., and flows by a devious, but generally N. E. course, through the Little Allegheny mtn. in- to Londonderry t-ship, Bedford co., whence, after receiving a branch from the N., it runs S. into Md., and to the Potomac at the town of Cumberland.
Wilson's creck, Brunswick t-ship, Schuylkill co., flows westwardly into the Little Schuylkill r., about 9 or 10 ms. from its confluence with the Great Schuylkill.
Wilsonville, Palmyra t-ship, Pike co., formerly the seat of justice of Wayne co., situated near the Waul- lenpaupack creek, and the Milford and Owego turnpike road, and near the great falls of that creek. The prosper- ity of this t. was checked by the removal of the seat of justice ; it may possibly revive, by the general improvements of the country, consequent on the fa- cilities of transportation produced by the Delaware and Iludson canal and rail road.
Wind gap, an opening in the Blue nitn., very abrupt, and extending from the top nearly to the bottom of the
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ntn. No stream now passes through | passening creek, which flows N. W. it, but it is conjectured that it was through it into the Susquehannah r., in the state of N. Y. P-o. is 264 mns. N. W. of W. C., and 153 from Har- risburg. formed by the Delaware r., which at some remote period is supposed to have filled a lake behind this barrier ; and having been impeded here by ice, to have forced its present way through the Water gap, distant about 15 ms. from the Wind gap. The road from Easton to Wilkesbarre passes through this breach. There is a p-o. here, distant 12 ms. N. N. W. from Easton, and 63 ms. a little W. of N. from Phil., 202 from W. C., and 107 from Harrisburg.
Windham, t-ship, Luzerne county, bounded N. E. by the Susquehannah r., which separates it from Braintrim and Tunkhannock, S. E. by Eaton and Northmoreland, S. W. by Leh- man t-ships, and N. W. by the co. of Bradford. Its surface is mountain- ous, yet it contains some excellent land ; most of its soil will admit of cul- tivation. The Mahoopeny, the Big and Little Mahoopeny mtns. are dis- tinguished hills, and the t-ship is drain- ed by the Mahoopeny creek, the W. branch of the Mahoopeny, and by the Little Mahoopeny. The Big and Little Mahoopeny are strong and ne- ver failing mill streams, and its for- est contains the finest of timber. It produces large quantities of lumber for market ; and within a few years, considerable attention has been paid to grazing, and several dairies have produced excellent cheese. It is een- trally situated about 25 ms. N. W. from Wilkesbarre, contains a p-o. and 1094 inhabitants, and by the return of 1828, 182 taxables. Its shape is made very irregular by the windings of the Susquehannah : its greatest length is 13 ms., and breadth 11 ms.
Windham, post t-ship, Bradford co., bounded N. by the state of N. Y., E. by Warren t-ship, S. by Orwell, and W. by Athens t-ships. Centrally dis- tant from Towanda, N. E. 14 miles ; greatest length 6, breadth 5} miles ; arca, 19,200 acres ; surface, hilly ; soil, gravel. Pop. 1830, 655 ; taxa- bles, 121. It is drained by the We-
Wingohocking creek, Philadelphia co., rises in Germantown t-ship, near Mount Airy, and flows about 7 miles through that and Bristol t-ship, into Tacony creek. It has a considerable branch which rises near the N. W. line of Bristol t-ship. There are on the main stream several mills and fac- tories, and on the branch a grist mill, with a singular natural dam.
Windsor, t-ship, Berks co., is bound- ed on the N. E. by Albany t-ship, E. by Greenwich and Richmond, S. by Maiden creek, W. by Upper Bern t- ships, and N. W. by Schuylkill co. Its greatest length is 8 ms. ; greatest breadth 54 ms. ; area, 24,450 acres. The Schuylkill river and canal run along the western boundary, and Maiden creek forms the eastern boun- dary. The Blue mtn. fills the N. W. corner. The village and p-t. of Ham- burg lies on the turnpike road to Northumberland and near the river, below the Water gap, and about 15 ms. N. of Reading. A church, used by the Lutherans and Presbyterians, is centrally situated in the t-ship, and another near to Hamburg. There is also a furnace belonging to the Messrs. Kerns, at the foot of the Blue mtn., at the head of a tributary of Maiden creek. The surface of the t-ship is hilly, and its soil gravelly, and gen- erally sterile. Pop. 1830, 2298 ; tax- ables, 1828, 368 ; value of lands from 5 to 30 dolls. per acre.
Windsor, post t-ship, York county, bounded N. by Spring Garden and Hallam t-ships, E. by the Susquehan- nah r., S. E. by Upper Chanceford, S. W. by Hopewell, and W. by York t-ships, Centrally distant from the borough of York, 8 ms. ; greatest length 9, breadth 9 ms .; area, 33,200 acres; surface, hilly; soil, gravelly loam. Pop. 1830, 2760; taxables, 481 ; taxable property in 1829, real estate, $310,252 ; personal, $19,955;
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occupations, $41,835 ; total, 372,042 ; level ; soil, clay and loam. Pop. rate, 25 cts. in the $100. It is drain- in 1830, 1244; taxables 229 ; taxable property in 1829, real estate $83,650; personal 11,966 ; rate of tax 4 mills on the dollar. It is drained by Wolf creek, which flows S. and centrally through the t-ship. ed by a branch of Grist creek on the N., and by Cabin Branch run, Fish- ing creek and Beaver run on the E. There is a p-o. at Margaretta furnace, on Fishing creek, and another named after the t-ship, 98 ms. from W. C., and 36 from Harrisburg.
Wissahickon creek, rises in Mont- gomery t-ship, Montgomery co., and flows S. E. through Gwynnedd, Up- per Dublin, and White Marsh t-ships into Philadelphia co. ; thence through Germantown and Roxbury t-ships in- to the r. Schuylkill, about a mile above the falls, and 5 from the city. This is a very rapid stream, upon which there are several valuable grist mills, cotton and other factories. It winds through a very romantic valley.
Windrock, t-ship, Venango county, bounded N. by E. Branch, E. by Al- legheny t-ship, S. by the Allegheny r., and W. by Oil creek. Centrally distant N. E. from Franklin borough 11 ms. ; greatest length 8, breadth 5} ms. ; area, 19,200 acres ; surface, hil- ly ; soil, gravel and loam. It is drain- ed S. by Pitthole creek. There are very few inhabitants in the t-ship, which is not organized but is annexed to Allegheny t-ship.
Wohleberstown, Tulpehocken t-ship, Berks co., village, containg 10 or 12 dwellings, 2 taverns, smith shop, &c.
Wolf run, a small tributary of Black creek, which rises in Catawissa valley and runs N. E. into the creek, in Su- gar Loaf t-ship, Luzerne co., at its entrance into the Buck mtn.
Wolf creek, Mercer co., rises in Sandy Lake t-ship, and flows south through Wolf Creek t-ship into Slippe- ry Rock creek, in Butler co., having a course of about 20 miles.
Wolf Creek, t-ship, Mercer county, bounded N. by Sandy Lake t-ship, E. by Venango co., S. E. by Butler co., S. W. by Slippery Rock t-ship, W. by Springfield t-ship. Centrally dis- tant from the borough of Mercer S.E. 10 ms .; greatest length 10}, breadth 6 miles ; arca, 35,000 acres; surface
Womelsdorff, post town and flour- ishing village of Berks co., situated on the turnpike road from Reading to Harrisburg, about 14 miles W. from the former, 88 E. from the latter, and 148 miles N. from W. C. ; contains from 75 to 100 dwellings, a church common to the Presbyterians and Lu- therans, 5 taverns, 3 stores, a pottery, several saddlers, a brewery, &c. &c., inhabited chiefly by Germans. The country about it is limestone, rich and well cultivated. Average value of first rate land from 50 to 60 dollars per acre.
Worcester, t-ship, Montgomery co. bounded N. by Towamensing, E by Gwynnedd and Whitpaine, S. by Nor- riton and Lower Providence, W. by Perkiomen and N. W. by Lower Sal- ford t-ships. Its form is somewhat in shape of an L. Greatest length 42 ms., breadth 41 miles ; area, 8,640 acres. It is drained by a branch of the Skip- pack creek, which crosses it diagonal- ly, upon which there are several mills. Worcester church is centrally situated in the t-ship, distant about 19 miles N. W. from Philadelphia, and 5 miles from Norristown. Surface level ; soil red shale. Pop. in 1830, 1185; tax- ables in 1828, 249. The post office, called after the t-ship, is distant 157 miles N. E. of W. C., and 102 from Harrisburg.
Wormleysburg, E.Pennsbury t-ship, Cumberland co., on the Susquehannah river opposite to Harrisburg, and 16 miles east of the borough of Carlisle ; contains from 20 to 25 dwellings, a store and tavern.
Woodberry, t-ship, Huntingdon co., bounded N. E. by Porter t-ship, S. E. by Hopewell, S. W. by Bedford co., W. by Frankstown t-ship, and N. W. by Morris t-ship. Centrally distant S. W. from Huntingdon 14 ms. ; great-
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est length 21, breadth 10 miles ; area, 55,680 acres ; surface mountainous ; soil, limestone. Pop. in 1830, 1765 ;
taxables 495. 'Tussey's mountain lies on the E. boundary, west of which flows Clover creek. Dock mountain is on the west, and along its cast foot runs Piney creek. Both creeks flow N. into the Raystown branch of the Juniata river, about 4 miles apart ; be- tween them on the river lies the post town of Williamsport. There were in the t-ship in 1828, 5 grist mills, 13 saw mills, 6 distilleries, 2 fulling mills, 2 furnaces, 1 forge, 1 oil mill, 1 brew- ery, and 4 tan yards.
Woodberry, t-ship, Bedford county, bounded N. by Huntingdon co., E. by Hopewell t-ship, S. by Coleraine and Bedford t-ships, and W. by St. Clair and Greenfieldt-ships. Centrally dis- tant N. E. from the town of Bedford 16 ms. Greatest length 182, breadth 81 miles ; area, 60,800 acres ; sur- face mountains and valleys ; soil, lime- stone, slate and gravel. Pop. in 1830, 3375 ; taxables 582. Tusscy's mtn. is on the east, and Dunning's moun- tain on the west. The t-ship is drain- ed S. by Yellow creek and its several branches, and N. by a tributary of the Frankstown branch of the Junia- ta river. Woodberry and Martinsburg are post towns of the t-ship. There is also a post office between the Three Spring branch and the Middle branch of Yellow creek. Iron is found in several parts of the t-ship.
Woodberry, post town, Woodberry t-ship, Bedford county, on the Middle branch of Yellow creek, 15 miles N. of the borough of Bedford, 136 miles from W. C. and 114 from Harrisburg; contains 20 dwellings, 3 stores, 2 tav- erns, belonging to Messrs. Stoeneber- ger and Kean.
Woodbridge, village of George t-ship, Fayette co., on the S. fork of George creek, 9 miles S. W. of Union t-ship, contains about 30 dwellings, 1 church 1 school, 1 store and 1 tavern.
Wooden Bridge creek, Dublin t-ship, Bedford co., a tributary of the Great Aughwick creek.
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Woodville, post town, Middlesex t-ship, Butler co., on the turnpike road from Pittsburg to Butler borough and on a branch of Glade run, 9 miles S. W. of Butler borough.
Woodcock, t-ship, Crawford county, drained by Woodcock creek. The post office of the t-ship, called " Wood- cock," is 305 miles N. W. of W. C., and 244 from Harrisburg. Pop. in 1830, 1130.
Woodcock valley, Hopewell t-ship, Huntingdon co., bounded E. by Alle- gripus, and W. by Tussey's mountain, a rich limestone valley. There is a post office here called after the val- ley.
Wrightstown, t-ship, Bucks county, bounded N. E. by Upper Makefield, S. E. by Newtown, S. by Northamp- ton, S. W. by Warwick and N. W. by Buckingham t-ships. Centrally distant from Philadelphia 24 miles N., and 7 miles S. E. of Doylestown ; length 31, breadth 3 ms. ; area, 5082 acres ; surface level ; soil clay ; pop. in 1830, 660 ; taxables in 1828, 148. The Neshaminy creek forms its south- ern boundary, and two tributaries of that stream traverse it. Pennsville, a small village and post town on the road to New Hope, is the post town. Wrightstown church is near the S. E. boundary, at which there is a collec. tion of 4 or 5 houses.
Wrightsville, post town and village on the west side of the Susquehannah, opposite the borough of Columbia, with which it communicates by a cov- ered bridge of 5690 feet in length. A turnpike road runs S. W. from this town through the borough of York, from which Wrightsville is distant 11 miles. This is a thriving village, containing more than fifty dwel- lings.
Wrays hill, a noted mountain extend- ing from Hopewell t-ship, Bedford co. into Union township, Huntingdon county.
Wrangletown, a small hamlet of Middleton t-ship, Delaware co., six miles W. of Chester ; contains 4 or 5 dwellings, store and tavern.
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Wyalusing creek, rises in Bridge- water t-ship, Susquehannah co., and by a south west and devious course of more than 30 miles, runs into the Sus- quehannah river in Bradford co. It receives from the N. the middle and north branches, and from the south Beard's Mill creek, Lake creek, Deer Lick creek and several less consider- able streams ; all of which afford fine seats for mills, and many are erected on them. It passes into Brad- ford co., about 2 miles below its main forks. It is a public highway, and navigable for rafts about 13 miles from the mouth. There are several mills on the creek in that distance, but their dams have slopes constructed to admit the passage of rafts. Boats cannot ascend.
Wyalusing, t-ship, Bradford co., bounded N.by Orwell and Pike t-ships, E. by Susquehannah co., S. by Lu- zerne co., and by Asylum township, Bradford co., and west by the last t-ship. Centrally distant from Tow. anda S. W. 12 ms. ; greatest length 10}, breadth 101 miles ; area, 50,040 acres ; surface hilly ; soil, gravelly loam. Pop. in 1830, 753 ; taxables 174. It is drained by the Wyalusing creek, which crosses it centrally and diagonally to the Susquehannah river, receiving several tributaries from the t-ship in its course. The are two post offices in the township, Wyalusing and Wyalusing Centre. The former 254 miles from W. C., and 143 from Har- risburg, and the latter 260 miles from Washington City, and 149 from Har- risburg.
Wyoming valley, a name with which are connected many interesting cir- cumstances, equally cherished by the poet, the novelist and the historian, and it is still
The loveliest land of all That see the Atlantic wave their morn re- store.
The Susquehannah river, which en- ters the Appalachian system of moun- tains at Towanda in Bradford co., by breaking the western chain, rolls the
great volume of its waters over a rocky bed, through several ridges in rapid succession, and enters the Wyo. ming valley, by a marked mountain pass, above the mouth of the Lacka- wannock creek, called the " Lacka- wannock gap;" thence flows in a serpentine course about twenty miles, leaves the valley through another opening of the same mountain, termed the " Nanticoke gap." These passa- ges, which have width only sufficient to admit the river, are partly faced with perpendicular rocks, covered by a thick growth of pine and laurel trees, which have a fine appearance, when viewed from the river, or from the road which winds along the bases of the bluffs. The river is in most places about two hundred yards wide, from 4 to 20 feet deep, and moves with a very gentle current, except at the ra- pids, or when swelled with rain, or melted snows. Near the centre of the valley, it has a rapid called the "Wyo. ming falls," and another, at the lower gap, designated as the " Nanticoke falls." Several tributary streams fall into it, upon each side, after passing through rocky passes, in the moun- tains, forming beautiful cascades as they descend to the plain. From the N. W., are Toby's creek, Moses' creek and Island run ; from the S. E., Mill creek, Laurel run, Solomon's creek, and Nanticoke creek, all afford- ing excellent mill sites, and abounding with fish, among which the "speckled trout" is the most remarkable.
The particular valley of Wyoming is a continuation of that of the Lack- awannock, and taken together, has an extent of 32 ms. in length, by a mean breadth of 2} miles.
The Nanticoke gap is supposed to have been first formed, and to have been gradually lowered by abrasion. Above and below Wilkesbarre, exten- sive alluvial flats, of different eleva- tions, extend, with every appearance of having once formed the bottom of standing water. Wilkesbarre is built on one of these plains, 18 or 20 ft. above the ordinary level of the adjacent
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streams. The plains here, as every where else along the upper Susque- hannah, though differing in elevation, are generally in two stages. The lower and more recent is still exposed to occasional submersion, and is com- posed of soil but little mixed with rounded pebbles. The second stage is elevated above any rise that can now take place, of the waters of the river, and is formed of a congeries of rounded and amorphous stones and sand.
From these plains the mountains rise abruptly, though seldom precipi- tately, and are generally clothed with timber to their summits. Bold peaks and precipices do, however, sometimes present themselves, and give variety to this truely picturesque region. Dr. Silliman speaks of the beautiful valley in the following terms. "Its form is that of a very long oval or ellipsis. It is bounded by grand mountain bar- riers, and watered by a noble river and its tributaries. The first glance of a stranger entering it at either end, or crossing the mountain ridges which divide it, (like the happy valley of Abyssinia) from the rest of the world, fills him with peculiar pleasure, pro- duced by a fine landscape, containing richness, beauty and grandeur. From Prospect hill, on the rocky summit of the eastern barrier, and from Ross hill on the west, the valley of Wyo- ming is seen in one view, as a charm- ing whole, and its lofty and well defin- ed boundaries exclude more distant objects from mingling in the scene. Few landscapes that I have beheld can vie with the valley of Wyoming." But,
Not even the poets song,
Or pencils skill, can sketch thy waters wide ; Blue Susquehannah !
as thou sweep'st along
Through these wild woods that wave upon thy side ;
Here dashing o'er the rocks in crested pride; There stealing silently the shades among ; Here hiding they bright ripples 'midst the trees ;
There flashing to the sun, and foaming to the breeze !
The mineral wealth of this moun- tain valley is as remarkable as its na- tural attractions. Iron and mineral coal abound. Large quantities of argillaceous or clay iron ore are con- nected with the coal strata of this val- ley ; and bog ores also abound here. And when the difficulties hitherto ex- perienced in the case of the antlira- cite, in the smelting of iron shall be overcome, (and overcome they will be) the means for an extensive manufac. ture of iron will be here at hand; the products of which may be transported, by the canal which has already enter- ed the valley, to every part of the country.
The whole region is one anthracite coalfield. The coal lies in beds of every thickness, from one to twenty seven feet. None are regarded by the proprietors, that have not three or four feet of thickness; few are wrought that are less than six ; many are found from six to twelve; a considerable number from twelve to twenty, and several mines are from twenty to twenty five feet or more, of solid coal. (See "coal formation," in the intro- duction.)
That a more precise idea may be formed of the coal region, we give a description of one mine, from many, situated in Plymouth township, about four miles below Wilkesbarre .- The tract contains about seventy five acres. The stratum of coal at pre- sent worked, is 27 feet thick, and evi- dently extends over the whole tract ; of a quality which is not surpassed. The tract presents a front of many perches, along a ravine down which a small rivulet and the road from the mine to the river pass. The coal stra- tum, which is at the side and elevated above the rivulet, rises regularly, so that the miners are never troubled by the accumulation of water. There are at present three tunnels into the mine, and more may be advantageously made. The roof is composed of solid rock, of grind stone grit, covered with gravel,clay, and apparently with ano- ther stratum of coal. It is supported
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by pillars of coal, left standing at re- || ness, seems to have been the same on gular distances. It is found as the mine penetrates the mountain, that the thickness of the stratum increases, and the quality of the coal improves. The mine has been partially worked, for twenty years ; during the last seven, five thousand tons have been taken from it, annually ; yet not an acre of the stratum of coal has been excavat- ed. Agreeably to the standard rule of calculating coal in mines, allowing one cubic yard to the ton, there are five millions of tons in this single bed ; and if fifty thousand tons were taken from it per annum, it would require one hundred years to exhaust it.
In story, Wyoming is not less rich, than in natural beauty, and mineral treasure. This lonely valley was not only the favorite resort of the abori- gines of America, known to our fore- fathers, but was beloved by a race, who possessed it,ages before the Lenni Lenape trod the soil, and who deemed it worth defending by arts and arms. Remains of ancient fortifications have been discovered, which were construc. ted by a race of people, very different in their habits from those who occupi- ed the place when first visited by the whites. Most of these ruins have been much obliterated by the plough, and their forms cannot now be distinct- ly traced. That which is most entire was examined by Mr. Chapman, the historian of Wyoming, during the summer of 1817. It is situated in Kingston t-ship, upon a level plain, on the north side of Toby's creek, about 150 fect from its bank, and about a half a mile from its confluence with the Susquehannah. It is of an ellip- tical form, having its longest diameter from the N. W. to the S. E., at right angles to the creek, 337 feet ; and its shortest diameter from N. E. to S. W. 270 feet. On the S. W. side, appears to have been a gate way about 12 feet wide, opening to the great eddy of the river, into which the creek falls. From present appearances the wall con- sisted, probably, of only one mound, or rampart, which, in height and thick.
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