USA > Pennsylvania > Columbia County > A history of Columbia County, Pennsylvania. From the earliest times. > Part 8
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The Bloomsburg Iron Company was incorporated as the Bloomsburg Railroad Iron company, by Act of Assembly of June 22, 1839, P. L., 384. The furnaces were erected in 1844, and may be said to have been and remain in continuous operation, and mainly in the ownership of the original proprietors or their descendants.
BLO
UM FURNACE
BLOOMSBURG
PA.
The furnaces of Neal & Sons were erected by Messrs. McKelvy, Neal & Co. in 1853 and were put in blast, April 14, 1854. They have never stopped except for improvements or repairs, and are in successful operation.
The Rosemont Cemetery Company was incorporated by Act of Assembly of April 2, 1853, P. L., 285. Several acres of land were purchased by the managers at various times, the area now comprising nearly ten acres ; and the grounds have been tastefully laid out. Most of the lots have been sold, and many beautiful and some elegant and costly monuments are being erected therein.
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By the late opening of Centre street, the grading of First street and the Cemetery grounds bordering on it, has been rendered necessary and is progressing. This with other contemplated im- provements will shortly put the grounds in excellent condition.
The Bloomsburg Gas company was incorporated May 28, 1874, by the court, with a capital of thirty thousand dollars. Gas was supplied to private takers and business places, October 28, 1874 ; and the streets were lighted for the first time, May 1, 1875.
The Park ! aye, the Park. Of that something ought to be said, if it be only to call attention to the fact, that although the grounds have been purchased, the Town Council has never thought it worth while to lay out the grounds, or plant a tree, or even make the fence. If proper and prompt attention had been given to it it would now be a beautiful and attractive spot, provided with sparkling fountains, lighted by gas, sweet with the perfume of flowers, shaded by thrifty forest trees, underneath which chil- dren, and nurse carriages, free from dust, dirt and danger could spend the long summer days in unmitigated delight. This should be done, and at least two other plots of ground adjoining the town north and east, upon which native forest trees are now growing should be purchased by the Town and fitted for the public prom- enade. It should be done now while they are cheap and not left until they are either not procurable, or if in market, at a price three times what it would be at present. Let us have plenty of these public places.
The Bloomsburg Water Company was organized August 14, 1877, with a capital of $30,000. The water is filtered into a well from the Fishingcreek, and is forced, by two independent direct- acting pumping engines into the reservoir, whee it is distributed by gravitation to the town. In case of an accident or other neces- sity, there is direct connection with the pumps. The works were completed about September 1880.
The site of the Town of Bloomsburg was owned by John Adam Oyer, and the town was laid out in 1802 by Ludwig Oyer, his agent, and was known for some years as Oycrsburg. The origi- nal town plot was from West to Iron streets, and from First to Third. The old tannery was built by Daniel Snyder in 1806, and the Marr store buildings were begun to be erected in the same year, by Abram Grotz. In that building Mr. John K. Grotz was
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born in 1810, and is believed to be the oldest resident, by birth, in Bloomsburg. When he was a boy the lots bounding on Mar- ket street on the north of Second, and the site of the street, were covered with alders and high huckelberry bushes, and within their cover, at the site of Dr. Rutter's house, was a deer lick, and thence on many occasions, droves of deer were driven and a choice one stopped by the hunter.
Mr. John Barton kept the first store and was the first post- master. Mr. Mills kept the first hotel where Moyer Bros' drug store is now located, and the second one was where Mr. I. W. Hartman now lives. Dr. Park was the first physician, and Dr. Bacon the second. Mr. McKelvy came about 1820. The original Ex- change Hotel was a log and frame structure, and was built by Caspar Chrisman in 1810. What is now the Central Hotel HH was built by Phil- ip Mehrling in 1818. He was ac- NEW EXCHANGE HOTEL. cidentally killed during the erection. The old Forks Hotel was erected about 1825, and it was removed in 1875.
Other matters relating to the town will be found under the ed- ucation head, and also under the bibliographical. Many descend- ants of the original settlers in and about Bloomsburg are still among the active and thriving business men of the place. The Grotzes, the Ruperts, the Bartons, the Eyers, the Moyers, the McKelvys, the Chrismans, the Pursels, the Chamberlins, the Sloans, the Frys, the Barkleys, the Longs, the Robisons,-while the Snyders, the Phillipses, the McClures and the Weavers are represented in the female branch.
Having for many years been the most considerable town in the county, and since 1845 the county seat, and being for more than
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twenty years the place of residence of the President Judge of the judicial district, it has naturally attracted to itself men of culture and wealth, men who desired educational advantages for their children, and men who were seeking pleasant residences easily ac- cessible. In all these particulars it is probably second to no town in the state, and it is also distinguished for the number and ability of its newspapers, and for its high social and literary character.
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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
CHAPTER XII.
BERWICK.
B ERWICK is claimed to have been founded in 1780, or at least settled upon by Evan Owen, but it was not known as Berwick until 1783. It is built on a bluff of about 100 feet height on the right bank of the Susquehanna, on the castern boundary of the county, and on the very edge of Luzerne. The brothers Robert and John Brown, came early, and Samuel Jack- son, who was related by marriage to Evan Owen was among the early settlers. It is said that John Jones opened the first store in 1800, and John Brown the first hotel in 1804. The travel across the river was considerable, the route to Reading being by Berwick and Nescopeck. In 1812 a bridge company was organized, and Theodore Burr built the bridge at the cost of $50,000 or thereabouts. It was completed in 1814, and is 1260 feet long. It was damaged by a freshet in 1835 and rebuilt in 1837, by Eliphelet Edson at a cost of about $27,500. It is the terminus of a turnpike famous in its day, which passed through Bradford county to Newtown in the state of New York. It is here also that the Nescopeck turnpike leading to Mauch Chunk terminates.
Berwick was created a borough by Act of Assembly of Janu- ary 29, 1818.
In connection with this sketch of Berwick, the steamboat dis- aster may be a fitting incident. Since 1771 the Susquehanna river, has been, by act of Assembly, a public highway. But steam- boat navigation has been and always will be impossible, owing to its rapid current and shallow water, and also because it is, as its name indicates, the "crooked river," or more correctly, "The river of the winding shore." Notwithstanding the difficulties mention- ed, several attempts have been made to plow its waters. In the
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year 1826 Captain Elger, in the "Codorus," proceeded as far as Binghamton, and returned to York Haven, pronouncing against the practicability of the navigation of the river.
The next attempt was by a steamboat built at Baltimore, and named the "Susquehanna," commanded by Captain Collins. She drew twenty-two inches of water, and of course , proceeded with great difficulty. But all along the river the boat was cheered by multitudes of people who turned out to see, or enjoy a ride upon her decks. At Danville, Catawissa and Bloomsburg accessions of excursionists were received, and all went merry as a marriage bell.
They reached Nescopeck Falls, opposite Berwick, on the after- noon of May 3rd, 1826. The banks were crowded with spectators, and with a full head of steam "The Susquehanna" made for the falls. About the middle of the ascent she struck a rock and im- mediately her boiler burst with an explosion which sent a thrill of terror to all who heard it. The passengers and crew were dead or dying upon deck, or floating mangled or scalded upon the foam- ing waters. Instantly the spectators rushed to the rescue, and shortly hotels and private houses were thrown open to the suffer- ers. Drs. Headly, Wilson and Jackson gave their professional assistance to the wounded and dying.
Among those who were on board and more or less injured, were Col. Joseph Paxton and Christian Brobst of Catawissa, Messrs. Woodside, William Colt and Sheriff Underwood of Danville, and Messrs. Foster, William G. Hurley and Isaiah Barton of Blooms- burg. Col. Paxton says: "I stood on the forward deck with a long ash pole in my hand, and was in the act of placing it in the water, hoping to steady her, when the explosion took place. Two young men standing near me were blown high into the air, and I was hurled several yards from the boat into the water. I thought a cannon had been fired and shot my head off. When in the water I thought I must certainly drown, but, making a desperate effort, succeeded in reaching the shore. I was badly scalded, and lost my hair and a portion of my scalp."
Four persons were killed or died of their injuries, and this un- toward event rendered Berwick and Nescopeck Falls famous for many a day.
It was at Berwick, also, on the 4th of July, 1828, that ground
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was broken for the construction of the North Branch Canal. The plow was held by Nathan Beach, and the oxcn were driven by Alexander Jameson, the owner. Another gala day for Berwick, and happily without any of the sad results of two years before ; the construction and navigation of the "raging canawl" being less dangerous than the chartless channel of the winding Susquehanna.
The Berwick Academy was incorporated by an Act of Assem- bly of June 25, 1839, P. L. 481, and a supplement passed April 28, 1840, P. L. 480. It has had some able and accomplished in- structors, and there are on its rolls the names of several men who have become distinguished. The town is large enough to support an institution of the kind, over and above the advanced instruc- tion now given in the common schools, and the Berwick Acade- my ought to flourish more and more as the years go by.
In 1850 a telegraph line was constructed through Berwick; in 1858 the Lackawanna & Bloomsburg railroad was opened; in 1861 Jackson & Woodin began the manufacture of car wheels, and the construction of cars soon followed, and within ten years the rolling mill was erected. Then business, trade and popula- tion poured into Berwick. Jackson's block was erected and many handsome residences were built. A bank was chartered in 1864 and has been conducted with great judgment and success.
The Methodists have a large and beautiful church building on Second and Market streets ; the Presbyterians one on Second and Vine streets ; the Baptists one on Front street, between Mulber- ry and Vine streets. ; the Evangelical, on second street below Chestnut.
The population of the borough is not less than 2500.
"The first frame house built here still stands opposite Odd Fel- lows Hall ; the first brick structure was Seybert's Hotel, now known as the St. Charles; the second brick was the old Metho- dist church, corner Third and Mulberry streets, erected in 1817, which is now occupied as a dwelling; first children born in Ber- wick, John and Annie Brown, children of Robert Brown [Annie was the wife of Jesse Bowman, deceased, and was the first person married in Berwick;] the first church built was the Quaker, a log building, where the Quaker church now stands ; the first lawyer was named Bancroft ; first judge, John Cooper; doctors, Moore- land and Beisswick; postmaster, William Brien ; school master,
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Isaac Holloway; preachers, Carson and Painter; coopers, John and Peter Solt; carpenter, John Brown; blacksmith, Aquilla Starr ; tailor, Benjamin Doan; chair maker and painter, Abel Dalby ; mason, Jonathan Cooper, sr. ; dyer, Bush; potter, Wm. Brien ; tanner, Henry Traugh, sr. , dentist, Vallershamp ; tinner, Herman Inmann ; gunsmiths, Sleppy & Co .; wheelwright, James Evans; silversmith, Marshall; milliner, Roxana Cortwright ; butcher, Stackhouse; weaver, Polly Mullen ; cabinetmaker, Sam- uel Herin; saddle and harness maker, Col John Snyder; lime burner, John Jones, the limestone then being obtained at the bot- tom of the river.
Among the names that will be remembered in connection with the history of Berwick are those of Paul Thompson, Richard Smith, Mr. Davenport, Samuel Herin, S. F. Headley, Josiah F. Beach, Willian Kitchin, Dr. A. B. Wilson, Dr. Jackson, Dr. Headley, Dr. Langdon, Thomas Coles, Bostian Scybert, A. Miller, sr., Robert Smith, Charles Snyder, Joseph Stackhouse, Lawrence Ruch, Judge Mack, Andrew Shiner, Jonathan Cooper, Hugh Thompson, Thomas Richardson, William Herin, J. W. Deitrick, John McAnall, Michael Frantz, Frederick Nicely, Jesse Bowman and Mrs. Eckert, nearly all of whom died at an extremely old age."-Kurtz' pamphlet.
For forty-seven years, Mr. Hudson Owen has noted the lowest mark to which the water in the river at Berwick has fallen ; and in the beginning of November, A. D., 1882, found it at a lower point than at any time since his observations began.
One of the features of Berwick is the public library and read- ing room. The hall is capable of seating about 400 persons. The reading room is supplied with the leading American and some of the best English literature ; and the library proper comprises about 3000 volumes. A lecture course has been well sustained for the last three years, and to the great credit of the people, con - stantly well attended. The best lecturers have always been se- cured, and the people have been educated up to a high point of literary and oratorical appreciation. The library report shows a monthly circulation of 500 volumes. The association shows spec- ial attention to young people, either resident or visiting the place, and to the boys of the town, who are gathered every Monday evening. This important enterprise is greatly indebted to the
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generosity of the Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company, and to the energy of Mr. A. G. Kimberly, the librarian.
CLARENCE G. JACKSON, son of Mordecai W. Jackson, was born March 5, 1842 and died in Berwick May 3, 1880. He graduated at Dickinson Seminary, Williamsport. He entered the army Au- gust 2, 1862, company H. 84th Regiment, for three years. Ob- tained the 1st lieutenancy January 18, 1863, and Captaincy on July 1st 1863; was wounded and captured at Chancel- lorsville, Va., May 3, 1863, and upon his release, was transferred to Co. H. 57th Regiment Pennsylvania Volun- teers, January 13, 1865, and was discharged by general or- der March 10, 1865. His military record was an excellent one. He was a man of much general information, a forcible and fluent speaker, of fine business qualifications, and great energy of char- acter.
Capt. CHARLES B. BROCKWAY was born at Berwick, Penna., April 1, 1840. Read law in the office of E. H. Little Esq. and was ad- mitted to the Bar September 5, 1865. He entered the army April 17, 1861, and was commissioned First Lieut. in Battery F. First Penna. Light Artillery, October 17, 1861, and served for over three years. The fighting record of the Battery is one with his, and his military record is first rate. He was mustered out November 1864. He represented Columbia county in the Legislature in 1871, 1872 and 1873, and was the Democratic candidate for Congress . in 1870, and came within 124 votes of an election, in a district usu- ally republican by about 1000 majority. Capt. Brockway resides in Bloomsburg.
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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
CHAPTER XIII.
CATAWISSA.
C ATAWISSA is a large and flourishing village on the left bank of the Susquehanna, at the mouth of Catawissa ereek, about four miles south of Bloomsburg. It is situated in the midst of picturesque scenery, and is surrounded by a rich and fertile country. The town contains over two thousand inhabitants.
The earliest reference to the place by the name of Catawissa is the date and place of a letter written by James Le Tort, an Indian trader, to the Governor of the provinee. It is given thus, "Cata- wasse, May ye 12, 1728."
For many reasons I think the name is a dialeet of the Dela- wares; but whether of the Monsey or Wolf tribe, the Unalachit- goes or Turkey tribe, or the Wanamese or Turtle tribe, I do not know, but by the terminal syllable I should judge the last.
Redmond Conyngham, Esq., who has devoted mueh research to the aboriginal history of the State, says, "The Piseatawese or Gangawese, or Conoys, (Kenehawas) had a wigwam on the Cata- wese, at Catawese, now Catawissa."
Hon. Stewart Pearce says that 'the Shawanese, a tribe of the Eries, driven from the great lakes south about 1608, to Georgia and Florida, becoming involved there with the Spaniards and southern Indians, returned north about 1690.' It is certain that they came into the Provinee in or about 1697. They settled along the Delaware and the Susquehanna, among the Delawares, and under the control of the Six Nations. Mr. Pearee goes on to say however, "The Shawanese had a village at Fishingcreek near Bloomsburg, and at Catawissa, and a small settlement near Briar- creek."
Neither the Gangawese nor the Shawanese belonged to the Delawares, yet it is not impossible they may have been settled as above stated, and "Catawese" may belong to one of them, seeing
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they have the same terminal as the Wanamese of the Delawares; and the word in any one of the above dialects may mean, as claim- ed, "Pure water."
It may be curious to note here, that at a council held at Phila- delphia in July and August, 1739, between Thomas Penn and the Shawanese Indians, upon "being asked if they are at war with any Indians to the southward, they said that they were at war with the Catawbas and Catawas Indians, in Carolina."
In 1742-3 some troubles occurring between us and the Shawan- ese, Conrad Weiser was sent to Shamokin to have an interview with them and others. On the 4th of February they met at the house of Shikellimo, and he found among the assembly "Oluma- pies and Lapapeton of the Delawares." In 1754 Mr. Weiser finds the same Delaware chief, spelling his name, however, Lapackpit- ton, at Oskohary, doubtless from the context meaning Catawissa or it may be, an Indian town not far from the mouth of Roaring- creek, which is also spoken of by some early writers; and as I find in Post's Journal of 1758 the name spelled Lappopetung, I am the more inclined to locate Oskohary at the mouth of Roar- ing creek which was in Indian, Popemetung. He was a man of some note, and for a time fastened his name upon the town of "Catawese," and in those ancient deeds the name is spelled Lau- paugh-petin. Well ! peace to his ashes, however it be.
Certainly as early as 1728 there were white people in and about Catawissa ; but the first account we have of a settlement made under law and purchase was the granting by patent, of two hun- dred and eighty-two acres, [on which part of the town now stands ], by the Honorable the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania to Edward Shippen Jr., and Joseph Shippen Jr., the 14th of February, 1770, who by their indenture on the first of May, 1773, granted the same unto Ellis Hughes in fee, who, with Hannah, his wife, by their indenture of the 27th day of June, 1778, granted ninety-two acres and one quarter of an acre, [part of the above mentioned tract], unto William Hughes, who laid out the town in the year 1787.
Although an attempt was made to fasten the name of the founder upon it, the good sense of the people settled on the al- ready well known and sweet sounding original, and whether
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Wanamese, or Shawanese, or Gangawese, it will remain "Cata- wese" forever.
William Hughes was a Quaker from Berks eounty. Isaiah Hughes kept the first store. Among the earlier pioneers were William Collins, James Watson, John Lloyd, -- ---- - Fenton, Benjamin Sharpless, and others of the Society of Friends. Of those mentioned there seem to be no records, except of the Sharp- less family, of whom there remain the following interesting facts:
The ancestor purchased from William Penn, in England, by in- denture dated April 5th, 1682, one thousand acres of land in the Provinee of Pennsylvania, for twenty pounds sterling, and an an- nual quit rent of one shilling for every hundred aeres, on the first day of March, forever. The land was located in Chester county, about two miles north from Chester, and in Providence township and Middleton township. now in Delaware county. John Sharp- less, the purchaser, died in 1685, aged about 61 years, and Jane, his wife, in 1722, aged about 84 years. Of their children, Thomas died on shipboard, Phebe and Jane in 1685, and Caleb in 1688 leaving three sons, John, James and Joseph, from whom the entire Sharpless family are deseended. John Sharpless, the elder brother, married Hannah Pennel, daughter of Robert Pennel, in 1692, and resided on the tract purchased off Ridley creek, near Ches- ter. They had nine ehildren, Caleb, Jane, Hannah, John, Phebe, Rebeeea, Margaret, Ann and Daniel. He died in 1747, at the age of 81 years, his wife having died in 1721.
James Sharpless, the second brother, married Mary Lewis, daughter of Ralph and Mary Lewis, from Glamorganshire, in Wales, and settled on the second traet above mentioned, in Prov- idenee township. They had eight children, Lydia, Mary, James, Rachel, Sarah, Thomas, David and Esther.
Joseph Sharpless, the younger brother, married Lydia Lewis, sister to his brother James' wife, and in pursuance of a family arrangement settled on the third tract, in Middleton township. They had ten children, Susanna, Joseph, Benjamin, Samuel, Lydia, Nathan, Jane, Abraham, Jacob and William. He died in 1757, and his wife in 1765. Of these children, Benjamin settled in Catawissa. His descendants are among the leading men of the town at present.
John Mears, a famous Quaker preacher and physician, a man
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of great energy of character, afterwards became the Proprietor of the town by buying up the quit rents. Of him I am able to give the following additional partieulars. He was born in Georgia about 1737 and eame to Philadelphia with his mother, then the wife of John Lyndall, about 1754. He followed the bus- iness of ship-joining and eabinet-making. In 1760 he married Susanna Townsend. Sometime afterwards he settled in Reading. In the war of the revolution he was a captain in the 4th Penn. Regt. and was wounded at Brandywine. A single relie of Cap- tain Mears' military eareer remains in the possession of his grand- son, John Mears, in Wallace street, Philadelphia. It is a large, single-bladed knife, apparently designed for the commissariat rather than the battle-field. It is well and ingeniously eonstruet- ed, and on the white broad handle is the following inseription :
ST. LUKE LA CORNE, To CAPTAIN JOHN MEARS, 4TH PENNSYLVANIA REGIMENT.
After his recovery, we hear no more of him in a military eapae- ity. He returned to Reading, but subsequently his roving dis- position led him into newer districts of the State. He was the virtual founder and the patriareh of the town of Catawissa. Here he held the office of magistrate, and infused his energy into the inhabitants. Through the difficult country now traversed by the famous Catawissa Railroad, he laid out and built the first carriage road, eonneeting the valleys of the Susquehanna and the Schuyl- kill, a great and laudable achievement in those times. Besides holding the offices of magistrate and roadmaker, he was Quaker preacher and physician ; and though his methods were vigorous and rude, his manly presenee, his patriotie serviees and sufferings, his integrity and enterprise won him universal respeet, and em- balmed his memory in the community. He died in the year 1819, at the good old age of 82.
Of his five children, William, the oldest, was born in Philadelphia, March 9th, 1761; his wife was Elizabeth Haller, the daughter of a eolonel in the Revolutionary army. Thus both branches of the family contributed patriotie blood and loyal impulses to the de- seendants. William himself held a eolonel's eommission in the war of 1812, but saw no active service. He sueeeeded his father as magistrate and like him, was the objeet of deep and universal
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respeet. He died suddenly in Catawissa, June 11th, 1825, in his sixty-fifth year.
In 1796 James Watson laid out an addition to the town. Among the Germans, George Knappenberger eame about 1790 and took or established a ferry aeross the Susquehanna. Chris- tian Brobst, whose deseendants, aetive and extensive business men, are still there, came about 1793. Jolin Hauck was one of the first, if not the first, to build a furnace in the region, on a tributary of Catawissa ereek, in Catawissa township, in 1816. He made the rough old ten plate stove, many of which with his im- print were scattered through the country.
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