A geography of Pennsylvania : containing an account of the history, geographical features, soil, climate, geology, botany, zoology, population, education, government, finances, productions, trade, railroads, canals &c. of the state : with a separate description of each county, and questions for the convenience of teachers : to which is appended, a travellers' guide, or table of distances on the principal rail road, canal and stage routes in the state, Part 30

Author: Trego, Charles B., 1794-1874; Marian S. Carson Collection (Library of Congress) DLC
Publication date: 1843
Publisher: Philadelphia : Edward C. Biddle
Number of Pages: 430


USA > Pennsylvania > A geography of Pennsylvania : containing an account of the history, geographical features, soil, climate, geology, botany, zoology, population, education, government, finances, productions, trade, railroads, canals &c. of the state : with a separate description of each county, and questions for the convenience of teachers : to which is appended, a travellers' guide, or table of distances on the principal rail road, canal and stage routes in the state > Part 30


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).


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 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51


Chester, originally called Upland, is the county town, situated on the Delaware 15 miles below Philadelphia. It contains about 900 inhabitants, and has a court house, a jail, a market house, a bank, several churches, a library and a lyceum. Chester is an in- corporated borough ; it is also a port of entry, though seldom used as such. Vessels bound to Philadelphia frequently lie here in the winter, waiting the opening of the navigation upwards, and two long wharves or piers for their protection from floating ice have been erected, which form a harbour, and are kept in repair by the United States' government. The first provincial assembly of Pennsylvania was held here in 1682, shortly after the landing of William Penn's colony.


Marcus Hook is on the Delaware, three miles below Chester, near the south-east corner of the county and State. It contains about 400 inhabitants. The market house, not used perhaps for nearly half a century, and a number of dilapidated buildings would seem to furnish evidence of decline in this little town; but a spirit of improvement recently manifested will, it is hoped, at least re-


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DELAWARE COUNTY.


cover what has been lost or neglected. Many years ago, large vessels wintered here in a safe harbour, protected by projecting wharves; but the dock is now partly filled up and affords but little protection to shipping.


Above Chester is the Lazaretto, where vessels coming from sickly ports, or those suspected to be infected by contagious dis- eases, perform quarantine under the regulations of the health of- fice of Philadelphia.


Darby is a village situated on the creek of the same name, at the head of tide-water, and midway between Philadelphia and Chester. The three towns of Chester, Marcus Hook and Darby are among the oldest in Pennsylvania; but from some cause they have improved perhaps less than any others in the State. Their increase of population falls much behind that of the country adjacent.


Besides the towns already mentioned there are several thriving villages of recent growth, amongst which are Leiperville, Howell- ville, Lima and Village-Green. There are also a number of manufacturing villages which have sprung up around the larger cotton and woollen factories, of which Rockdale on Chester creek is the largest.


The principal agricultural productions of this county are wheat, corn, oats, and potatoes; but the soil being peculiarly fertile in grass, most of the farmers, to a greater or lesser extent, devote their attention to grazing and the productions of the dairy. Both the butter and beef of Delaware county are highly esteemed in the Philadelphia market; and great numbers of the fat cattle are driven to New York for the supply of that city. In the summer season fresh butter is sent weekly from this county by the rail road to the Baltimore and Washington markets.


Delaware ranks among the foremost counties in the state for manufactures, particularly those of cotton and woollen goods. It has 25 cotton and 12 woollen factories, which employ upwards of 3000 persons, and produce articles to the value of about $2,000,000 annually. There are also in this small county 31 flour mills, 48 saw-mills, a number of paper mills, rolling mills, furnaces for castings, tanneries, potteries, carriage manufactories, machine shops and various other establishments for manufacturing purposes.


The value of real and personal estate assessed for county pur- poses, in 1842, was $6,578,628; amount of county tax $14,623; State tax $9,927.


A rail road leading from Philadelphia by Wilmington to Balti- more passes through this county. The Philadelphia and Columbia rail road crosses the north-eastern part, as does also the turnpike from Philadelphia to Lancaster. The only canal in the county is one of something more than a mile in length, which has been constructed by the proprietor of Leiper's extensive stone quarries, in order to convey the stone to vessels in the tide-water.


The condition of the common roads is improving, and bridges are constructed over the creeks on most of the leading roads in the county.


The native citizens of Delaware county, in point of education


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and intelligence, are not inferior to the population of any other county in the State.


The condition of the common schools in some of the districts is excellent, and in most of them it is improving. Nearly all the districts in the county have accepted the law: in some of them the schools are kept open during the whole year; but generally not more than 7 or 8 months, unless continued by private subscription, which is frequently the case. There are about 68 school houses in the county, which are mostly substantial edifices of stone or brick.


" Haverford Central school," in which the usual collegiate course of instruction is given, was established by the society of Friends about the year 1831. The advantages of the school are confined to the sons of members of that society. A large and con- venient building has been erected for its accommodation: it has four teachers or professors, and about 50 students.


Sharon boarding school for girls is near Darby, and is a well conducted institution.


The " Delaware county Institute of Science," located in Upper Providence township, was established a few years since as an auxiliary in the cause of education and the diffusion of useful knowledge. It has a museum which contains a large number of specimens in the animal, vegetable and mineral departments of natural science, besides many other curiosities. Lectures are delivered in the Hall of the Institute during the winter season and are generally well attended.


The Radnor Lyceum has also a collection of specimens, and sustains a course of lectures during the winter.


This county contains six public libraries : one at Darby con- taining 2000 volumes ; one at Upper Providence, 1150; one at Chester, 600; one at Radnor, 300; one at Concordville, 250; and one at Springfield, 200.


There are 48 places of public worship, of which there are be- longing to Friends 16, Methodists 12, Baptists 6, Episcopal 5, Presbyterian 4, New Jerusalem 1, Christian 1, Congregationalist 1, Roman Catholic 1, Free 1.


The English language is now universally spoken in the county. The first settlers were Swedes, who established themselves along the Delaware about the year 1638. They continued in possession until the landing of William Penn, and afterwards those who re- mained became blended with the general influx of settlers from England. The site of the large mansion erected by the Swedish governor Printz, on the island of Tinicum, can still be shown. The celebrated historical painter, Benjamin West, was a native of this county ; and the house in which he was born is yet standing in the township of Springfield.


How is Delaware bounded and to what county did it originally belong ? What is said of the face of the country ? Describe its geological character ? What valuable material is obtained from the rocks of this county ? What is said of the soil ? What two rivers water the county ? Mention the principal creeks. Give a description of the county town ;- of Marcus


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ELK AND ERIE COUNTIES.


Hook. Where is the Lazaretto ? Darby ? Mention the principal vil- lages. What are the productions of agriculture and of the grazing farms ? What is said of the manufactures of Delaware ? Name some of the prin- cipal branches carried on. What rail roads, turnpike, and canal are in this county ? What is said of the education and intelligence of the inhabitants ? The number of common schools and their condition ? Give some account of Haverford Central school, and Sharon boarding school. Of the Dela- ware county institute of science. Radnor lyceum. How many places of public worship are there, and what are the principal religious societies ? Mention the public libraries. Who were the first settlers of the county ? With what others did they become blended ? What ancient building was on Tinicum island ? What celebrated painter was born in this county ?


22. ELK COUNTY.


The new county of Elk was erected by an act of the legislature at the session of 1843, and is composed of the former north- western part of Clearfield, the north-east of Jefferson, with a por- tion from the south of M'Kean.


It contains no towns, and but a few scattered settlements, being a remote unfrequented region, covered with thick forests abound- ing with wild animals. The few inhabitants which it contains are mostly lumbermen and hunters.


When was Elk county erected, and from what counties was it taken ? What is said of the nature of the country ?


23. ERIE COUNTY.


Erie county is in the north-western corner of Pennsylvania, having lake Erie on the north-west, the state of Ohio on the west, Crawford county on the south, and Warren county and the state of New York on the east and north-east. Its population, accord- ing to the census of 1840, is 31,344.


The country presents a rolling surface, with a ridge of high land extending nearly parallel with the lake shore at some miles' distance from it. This ridge separates the waters which flow north- ward into lake Erie from those which reach the Ohio by way of French creek and the Allegheny river. The soil of the northern portion of the county, bordering on the lake, is said to be best adapted to the cultivation of grain, and produces fine wheat and corn. In the south it is more favourable to grass, and grazing and dairy farms are found most profitable.


The rock formations chiefly consist of the argillaceous sandstones, shales and slates underlying the coal bearing strata, and are not remarkable for the value of their mineral contents. Some deposites of iron ore are found, from one of which, within 7 miles of the town of Erie, a blast furnace is supplied.


French creek and its numerous branches water the southern part of the county ; in the west and north are Conneaut, Elk, and Walnut creeks, with a number of smaller streams, which flow into lake Erie.


The climate is healthy and pleasant; the breezes from the lake 21


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GEOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.


moderating the sultry heats of summer, and the winter is less se- vere than in the more elevated portions of the State. At the town of Erie the thermometer rarely indicates a higher degree of heat than 92º, and seldom falls below 0.


Erie, the county town, is situated on a bay which extends from the lake between the peninsula of Presque Isle and the main land. It was laid out in 1785, and is now an incorporated borough con- taining 3,412 inhabitants. The public buildings are a court house, prison, market house, academy, two banks, and eight houses for public worship, belonging to Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Me- thodists, Baptists, German Reformed, and Catholics.


This place possesses many advantages in a commercial point of view. The harbour is one of the best on lake Erie, containing about six square miles of good anchorage, with an average depth of 20 feet, and is capable of affording complete protection to a large fleet, both from the weather and from an enemy. Fortifica- tions for its defence have been commenced by the government of the United States. This is also one of the points of connexion between the commerce of the Atlantic and the western states and lakes, by means of the canals and rail roads already made and in course of construction in Pennsylvania. On the completion of the Erie extension of the Pennsylvania canal, it will be connected with Pittsburg, that vast laboratory of manufacturing industry and commercial enterprise, and will have opened to it the rapidly increasing trade of the Ohio and Mississippi, as well as a commu- nication by canal and rail road with Philadelphia and Baltimore.


Waterford is situated near lake Le Bœuf, on the turnpike from Erie to Meadville and Pittsburg. It is an incorporated borough, with a population of about 400. There are a number of other flourishing towns and villages, the principal of which are Watts- burg, North East, Edinboro, Springfield, Girard, Juliet and Wes- leyville.


The principal agricultural productions are wheat, Indian corn, oats, buckwheat, potatoes, wool, butter and cheese. There are about 40 grist mills and 120 saw mills in the county. Lumber to a considerable amount is produced from the forests, and 125 tons of pot and pearl ash, and 254,241 pounds of maple sugar are an- nually made. Three woollen factories and 15 fulling mills are in operation, and various other branches of manufacture are success- fully pursued. One blast furnace and two foundries are in use for the production of cast iron.


The value of property subject to taxation in 1842, was assessed at $3,270,435; county tax $11,721 : State tax $4,294.


Of the public improvements within the county, the principal is that portion of the State canal usually termed the Erie extension, which passing northward from the Beaver division, crosses the counties of Mercer and Crawford, and extends from the southern line of Erie county to the lake shore at the town of Erie. Acts of incorporation have been granted for constructing rail roads from Erie to Wattsburg, and from Erie to North East. A turnpike road extends from Erie, through Waterford to the southern line of the


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FAYETTE COUNTY.


county, and thence continues to Meadville in Crawford county, where it connects with the Mercer, Butler and Pittsburg turnpike, and also with that leading through Franklin and Brookville to Bellefonte, in Centre county.


In most parts of Erie county a commendable degree of attention is paid to the subject of popular education. The common school system is adopted in all the districts, which are 24 in number, and contain an aggregate of 233 schools. These are kept open for in- struction during an average period of nearly seven months in the year. The academy at Erie is reported to contain about 70 pupils, and is tolerably well sustained: there is also in this town a semi- nary for the education of young ladies, and a select school called the Erie institute. There is also a flourishing academy at Wa- terford.


The inhabitants are mostly of New England origin, though there are many settlers from other parts of Pennsylvania. The general character of the population for intelligence, morality and industry will not suffer by a comparison with that of most other counties in the State.


Only the southern part of this county was included within the original boundaries of Pennsylvania, the north-western corner of the State then just touching the shore of the lake. In 1789 the harbour of Erie, then known as Presque Isle, with the triangular territory now included in this county beyond the original northern line of the State, was purchased from the United States for the sum of $151,640. This purchase was made with a view of securing to Pennsylvania the advantages of a harbour, as well as an extent of about 30 miles of lake shore and the benefit of an outlet for the trade, commerce and productions of the State in this direction. The result has proved auspicious, and reflects credit upon the wisdom and prudent sagacity of the statesmen of those early days.


In what part of the State is Erie county, and how bounded ? What is said of the face of the country ?- of the soil ? What is said of the rock formations and minerals ? Name the principal streams ? Tell the charac- ter of the climate. Describe the county town, its public buildings, &c. What are the advantages of its situation ? In what part of the county is Waterford ? What other places are mentioned ? Mention the products of agriculture. Of the forest. Of manufactures. What public improve- ments are in this county ? Turnpikes ? What is the condition of educa- tion ? Give an account of the common schools. Of the academies, &c. What is said of the inhabitants and of their general character ? When, and for how much was a part of this county purchased from the United States ? For what purpose was this done ?


24. FAYETTE COUNTY.


Fayette has the county of Westmoreland on the north, Somer- set on the east, the states of Maryland and Virginia on the south, and the counties of Greene and Washington on the west. Popu- lation by the census of 1840, 33,574.


Two mountain ridges cross this county, of which the most east-


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GEOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.


ern, properly called Laurel hill, forms the county line as far south- ward as to the Youghiogeny river. About 12 miles west of this is the other, which, south of the Youghiogeny, is also called Lau- rel hill, but is properly a continuation of the same range which further northward is known by the name of Chestnut ridge. The country between these mountains, and west of the latter, presents a rolling and uneven surface.


The largest river is the Monongahela, which forms the western boundary of the county from the Virginia line to its north-western extremity. The Youghiogeny flows northward out of Maryland, separating Fayette from Somerset for 10 or 12 miles, and then passing through Fayette in a north-western direction, until it en- ters Westmoreland. Redstone and Dunlap's creeks are consider- able streams emptying into the Monongahela. Besides these, there are many smaller streams in different parts of the county, which supply power to numerous mills and other manufacturing establishments.


This county lies within the bituminous coal region, and coal is almost every where abundant except near the summits of Laurel Hill and Chest- nut ridge, where the rocks next below the coal formation are brought to the surface by an anticlinal axis. Along the sides of these ridges, and near their bases, iron ore is abundant in many situations, and is mined for the supply of furnaces in the neighborhood.


A large proportion of the soil, particularly in that part of the county which lies west of Chestnut ridge, is of good quality and well adapted to agricultural purposes.


Uniontown, the county seat, is pleasantly situated in a healthy and fertile neighbourhood, about 4 miles west of Chestnut ridge, or as it is here called, Laurel hill. It is an incorporated borough, and contains 1710 inhabitants. The public buildings are a com- modious court house with adjoining buildings for county offices, a prison, and six churches belonging to Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Baptists, all neat edifices of brick. Madison college is a brick building, beautifully situated, having an enclo- sure of several acres of ground ornamented with trees. There are two steam mills in the borough, and other manufacturing and me- chanical operations are successfully carried on. This town appears to be in a flourishing condition, having within the last ten years greatly increased in extent and population.


Brownsville, on the Monongahela, 12 miles north-west from Uniontown, is a flourishing manufacturing town, and a place of considerable business. It contains manufactories of cotton, glass, paper, &c., together with a rolling mill and an establishment for making steam engines. The public buildings are a town hall, and five or six churches. Population 1362. On the opposite side of Dunlap's creek, and connected with Brownsville by a beautiful iron bridge, is the village of Bridgeport, containing 788 inhabit- ants. Connellsville, on the east side of the Youghiogeny, 10 miles north-eastward from Uniontown, is a thriving place, containing four or five churches and a number of manufacturing establish- ments, among which are several iron foundries, plough factories,


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FAYETTE COUNTY.


&c. On the opposite side of the river, and connected with the last named town by a fine wooden bridge, is New Haven, where there is a large woollen factory built of brick, four stories high, a steam mill and a paper mill.


Perryopolis is in the northern part of the county, 14 miles north of Uniontown, in a fertile tract of land called Washington bottom, said to have been taken up by General Washington in 1755, when this region was supposed to belong to Virginia. There is a glass factory at this place. Cookstown, on the Monongahela six miles below Brownsville, also contains glass works and a large steam saw-mill. Germantown, Smithfield and New Geneva are villages in the south-western part of the county. The last named place is on the Monongahela, and contains a manufactory of glass.


Agriculture is in a flourishing state in this county: the chief productions are wheat and the other kinds of grain usually culti- vated in Pennsylvania, flour, live stock, wool, &c. Maple sugar is made to some extent in the southern part of the county. The surplus produce is either sent to Pittsburg, or by the National road to Cumberland, whence it is transported by rail road to Baltimore.


In addition to the manufactures already mentioned, there are in the eastern part of the county six or seven furnaces in which iron is smelted from the ore of Laurel hill and Chestnut ridge.


The National turnpike road from Cumberland to Wheeling crosses the whole breadth of Fayette county, a distance of more than 30 miles, passing through Uniontown and Brownsville. This road is admirably constructed and kept in excellent order, affording to the inhabitants an easy means of transportation and travel, both eastward and westward. The improvements commenced by the Monongahela Navigation Company will also be a great benefit to the people of this region, as a means of facilitating their trade with Pittsburg, and the towns on the Ohio and Mississippi.


The common school system is in general operation throughout the county. In 18 of the 21 school districts which it contains, 123 schools are reported as being taught under the provisions of the law, and are kept open during an average time of 5 months in the year. Madison college at Uniontown is reported as having 80 students in the collegiate and 51 in the preparatory department.


Of the various religious denominations, the Methodists and Presbyterians are most numerous: there are also many Baptists and Episcopalians, and some Catholics and Friends.


In this, as in most of the other counties, the assessed value of real and personal estate subject to county taxes falls far short of the real value and amount of property within the county. The assessment in Fayette for 1842 was $3,805,931: county tax $14,529: State tax $6,400.


In the early history of this county we meet with many an inte- resting tale of the dangers and difficulties encountered by the first settlers in their contests with the Indians. It was here, too, that young Washington, with his small but intrepid band of Virginians, so bravely defended themselves against a greatly superior force of French and Indians, and the remains of old Fort Necessity are 21*


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GEOGRAPHY OF PENNSYLVANIA.


still left to mark a spot celebrated in the history of that expedition. The army led by General Braddock from Fort Cumberland, against the French and Indians, in 1755, also crossed this county, and the road which they cut in their passage through the wilderness is yet in many places distinctly visible. The spot where Braddock is said to have been buried, on the retreat of the army after their defeat on the Monongahela, is still shown in the neighbourhood of Fort Necessity, near the National road, about 10 miles east of Uniontown.


Among the natural curiosities of Fayette may be mentioned Delany's cave, situated on Chestnut ridge or West Laurel hill, about eight miles south of Uniontown. It is said to have been explored to a distance of 3600 feet from the entrance, with a de- scent of 1600 feet,-containing many narrow and winding passages which descend to various spacious rooms and avenues, some of which are described as being 1200 feet in length and from 30 to 80 feet from the floor to the roof. In almost every part of this spacious cavern springs and streams of water are found, and ac- cording to the account of some who have visited these subterranean wonders, there is, in the largest room, a stream running through its whole length, of sufficient size to turn a grist mill.


Ohiopile falls are on the Youghiogeny, below the gap by which that river passes through the mountain ridge called East Laurel hill, in a wild and secluded spot, where the hand of man has yet done little to destroy the primitive beauty of our wild native scenery. Here, embosomed in the dark forest and enclosed be- tween precipitous hills, the foaming river dashes madly over a perpendicular ledge of rock which rises like a wall across the stream, forming a cataract of singular beauty and wildness, whose deep and sullen roar is almost the only sound that is heard to disturb the gloomy silence of the solitary woods, or to wake an echo from the surrounding hills.


About six miles east of Uniontown, on the National road, are the " Fayette springs," a place of some resort during the summer season. The water is believed to possess medical virtues; the accommodations for visiters are ample and comfortable, which, with the pure air and romantic features of the neighbourhood, make the place a desirable and pleasant retreat from the cares of business and the sultry atmosphere of the noisy town.




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