USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Wilkes-Barre > A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania : from its first beginnings to the present time, including chapters of newly-discovered early Wyoming Valley history, together with many biographical sketches and much genealogical material. Volume IV > Part 29
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The next venture in this direction was undertaken in 1789 by Dr. William Hooker Smith and James Sutton at the falls of the Lackawanna. Benjamin and Ebenezer Slocum entered the iron industry in 1800 at Roaring Creek, near the present city of Scranton. Their forges, like the others, depended upon a supply of bog ore from neighboring hills. The Slocum enterprise, more succes- ful than other earlier experiments, continued in profitable operation until 1828. On Nescopeck creek, E. and J. Leidy, later succeeded by S. F. Headley, estab- lished a much larger forge in the year 1830, using ore brought from Columbia County. This proved a' successful business until 1854 when, failing to adopt later processes of iron making, the firm went out of business.
One of the first to apply anthracite coal to the manufacture of iron products was Francis McShane, who, in 1811, erected a small cut nail factory on the north side of the Square and which, under different proprietors was in operation
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for many years. Thus, in 1814, is found an advertisement relating to this factory in the Susquehanna Democrat as follows:
"NEW NAIL MANUFACTORY.
"North side of the Public Square, Wilkesbarre, where the subscriber offers for sale all kinds of nails and brads of a superior quality, cheap as the times will admit for cash only.
"P. S. As the subscriber has been at considerable expense and trouble in procuring good iron, and the first rate work men from Philadelphia, he hopes to receive a share of the public favor, and give general satisfaction to all who may honor him with their custom.
"GEORGE GORDON."
"Wilkesbarre, October 11, 1814.
Another forge was established on Toby's Creek in 1836 by George W. Little, Benjamin Drake and others.
The ore smelted here was brought via canal from Columbia County, as it was to a more ambitious anthracite blast furnace constructed in 1842 at South Wilkes-Barre by H. S. and E. Renwick of New York. Pig iron from this furnace as well as from a similar furnace erected at Shickshinny in 1847, was much in demand among manufacturers of stoves. The year 1852 found still another furnace in blast on Hunlock's Creek, its capacity being seventy-five tons of pig metal per week.
In comparison with later methods of the making of iron and the manufacture of crude materials into finished products, these early ventures of Luzerne County now appear insignificant. The power of steam was eventually to revolutionize processes of iron manufacture just as its application widely influenced the mining and preparation of anthracite. The absence of limestone, as well as dependable veins of accessible ore proved a handicap to local development of the business which became all the more apparent as time progressed. But while local capital hesitated in seeking new development in this direction, outside capital came forward to construct at Wilkes-Barré one of the largest pioneer iron plants of the country. Almost simultaneously influences of this outside capital were felt in the Lackawanna and Wyoming valleys.
In 1839, William Henry, a native of New Jersey and familiar with metals and their manufacture, visited Slocum Hollow on a prospecting trip. Impressed with the possibilities of iron production in that locality, he returned and erected a small forge in the vicinity. He brought with him his son-in-law, George W. Scranton and a younger brother of the latter, Selden T. Scranton, residents of Oxford, New Jersey, where they had been engaged in the iron business. The three visited New York for the purpose of securing capital in order to establish a plant on a large scale in the new territory. The application of the hot blast to the smelting of iron, instead of a cold blast employed for that purpose up until that time, had been successfully accomplished by English iron manufac- turers as early as 1833 and the plan of the Messers Scranton and their associate was to adapt this process to their plant if funds could be secured. They finally interested Sanford Grant and P. T. Mattes of New York in the venture and thus began the Scranton Iron and Steel Company, destined to become the back- bone of a community first named Scrantonia and then Scranton in recognition of the enterprise and ability of the family which not only secured its major industry but was later to secure an extension of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western railway system to meet the needs of iron and anthracite development.
When the introduction of Mesaba ores once again revolutionized the iron trade, Scranton lost the promising industry established by its founder, but the
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loss was more than compensated for in railroad and coal expansion which have made it the largest city of the Susquehanna Purchase.
In the same period, Wilkes-Barre launched a movement to enlist the aid of eastern capital in a like direction. Officers and directors of the Wyoming Bank were particularly active in the plan. Through their aid, Thomas Chambers and the firm of E. R. Biddle and Co., of Philadelphia sent representatives hither, who reported favorably upon the project of constructing blast furnaces, rolling mills and a cut nail factory. A site was chosen in 1840 in South Wilkes-Barré, and bids were let for the construction of a plant to cost approximately $300,000.
This site, extending from near the present Stanton breaker to what is now the easterly portion of the property of the Vulcan Iron Works, still retains the name Rolling Mill Hill, although the last vestige of the works has long since ceased to exist. There are many accounts available of the interest the community took in the completion of this plant, of booms in real estate in both town and southern suburb which accompanied the construction and of the date, October 1, 1842, when the furnaces were fired for the intial blast. From the standpoint of in- timate concern with the building of the plant and of techincal knowledge of the advantages and shortcomings of the venture, the present writer quotes in full a letter contributed to the Wilkes-Barré Record October 3, 1887, by Captain John Y. Wren, of Plymouth, who came to Wilkes-Barre forty-five years before that time as one of the erectors of the plant. The letter follows:
"Having read some interesting reminiscences relating to Wilkes-Barré and the Valley of Wyoming in your valuable paper, I was more especially interested in the vast changes and im- provements which have taken place. The early history of our coal and iron business is not only interesting, but very instructive. Comparing the past with the present helps us in our antici- pations. What we might expect the future to be is the principal theme of this article.
"And in looking back forty-five years, I find the prosperous city of Wilkes-Barre of 1887 very different from the country town of Wilkes-Barre 1842, the date of my first visit. I was at that time yet an apprentice to the firm of Haywood & Snyder, of Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., and was one of a number of machinists sent by them for the erection of the rolling mill which was located at South Wilkes-Barre, of which they had the contract to build the machinery, engines, boilers, mill works, etc.
"As there is not a vestige of the mill remaining to-day, a short history of its career may not be out of place, and although it would appear that blast furnaces and rolling mills have not been a success along this part of the valley, yet to my mind the question has never been satis- factorily answered, why they should not be made one of the leading industries, comparing the advantages surrounding this locality with other iron districts. I believe the day will come when iron works will line the banks of the Susquehanna resembling those in Scotland on the banks of the Clyde. Having assisted and taken an active part in the erection of nine rolling mills I feel justified in saying all honor to the pioneers of the coal and iron business. By the undaunted energy and perseverance of Pennsylvania she stands to-day a beacon light to every state in the Union, after many severe trials still advancing, step by step upward, demonstrating that what was considered an experiment 45 years ago is to-day a reality in the handling and manufacturing and manipulating of iron and steel.
"The South Wilkes-Barre mill I find by my memoranda, made at the time, was first put in operation October 1, 1842. Its motive power cousisted of one hundred horse and one sixty horse power engines made very strong, but no ornament, and they would not compare with the highly finished and beautifully designed machinery made by the Vulcan Iron Works and the Dickson Co. of the present day. The starting of the mill was a gala day in Wilkes-Barré. All the honest men and bonnie lasses were assembled to witness the operation, as, indeed, it was a novelty at that day. I felt rather proud myself as I had the honor of starting one of the engines. Many questions were asked and the good old farmers and their wives asked some puzzlers. The machinery moved off well and thus far was a success. The mill was syperintended by Mr. Ellis, assisted by his sons. The principal workmen, heaters, puddlers and rollers were English and Welsh. The heating and puddling furnaces were then ordered to be fired up and the blast applied. This done, weak points were exposed, showing the badly constructed furnaces. The flame that should reach the iron to heat it was blowing out at every opening. The furnaces were a failure and had to be remodeled, and, although improved, never were what they should be, such as the successful furnaces of the present day. Another drawback was badly constructed rolls, the grooves of which would not reduce the iron properly. The rails made were very imperfect, being finned and ragged on edges like a cross-cut saw. It took several years in all our mills to overcome making bad rails, but by perseverance this trouble has been successfully overcome."
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In spite of defects in construction, necessitating additional capital for their correction, Wilkes-Barré's major industry of the time maintained for a period of six years a measure of prosperity which brought high hopes to the community. Thus, in the Advocate of January 29, 1845, appeared the folowing:
"Who that casts the eye back a few years does not mark the difference? In every direction on our public roads, houses and business shops have been built. Here and there a cluster of buildings have been reared, and occasionally a thrifty village has sprung up. Nor has the County town been behind. Here in Wilkesbarre many buildings have been reared, and among them a number superior to the general cast of buildings in the Borough. The block of elegant stores now being built by Mr. Hollenback, and the building of Col. Lamb on the opposite corner, and the one just finished by Mr. Wood, reflect credit on their proprietors and add to the beauty and business facilities of the Borough. Within a little time two villages have sprung up in the southern portion of Wilkesbarre Township, which in connection with the Rolling Mill, give that section the ap- pearance of thrift. Wilkesbarre, in all human probability will sooner or later be a continuous Town to the Iron Works. * * *
"In our Boroughs in addition to various common and select schools, we have two female seminaries, in charge of well qualified preceptresses. The Academy is in a flourishing condition, in charge of a highly competent and worthy teacher. Mr. Dana sustains his undoubted reputation with his select school. * * *
"There are a number of Foundries, one of them that of Mr. Laning's including the machine shop, is an extensive operation, in which is embraced the manufacture of steam engines."
But the iron business, as was the case with anthracite, was to learn the lesson of a new country. Of stable conditions, excepting as to agriculture, the United States knew but little. Currency problems had not been worked out by the legislative branch on anything approaching a sound basis. Tariff reg- ulations were on a hit and miss foundation. Railroad construction, whose chief requisite called for iron products, hesitated in the period of the forties. Cross currents of political sentiment carried their uncertainties into business life. In fine, the iron business of the time, as was the case with anthracite then and later, lived up to a reputation of being on a basis of either a feast or a famine for those who engaged in them.
The year 1847 found creditors of the Wilkes-Barré plant clamoring for settlement of their claims. Solicitations fo .: the investment of further capita proving without avail the plant was sold to satisfy a judgment of the Wyoming bank and its machinery purchased by the Montour Iron Company, by which it was transported to Danville. A contributor of the Advocate of February 6, 1850, thus bemoans a gloomy situation :
"An occasional visitor to our County town, I recollect but a few moons ago, fires were streaming up from the furnace and huge Rolling mill at South Wilkesbarre. Such a clatter! Such a cheerful bustle! Such a busy throng! And then there were town lots selling, and new houses and stores and stables being erected. The day laborer, the mason-the carpenter were all at work. Eggs, Butter, Fowls, Beef, Pork, brought in by the neighboring, aye, and distant farmers they told me, found a ready market; wheat, hay, oats, and even straw brought a good price. Every house was tenanted, and what's that? What's that? an omnibus! An Omnibus! rolling its rapid wheels, up and down every hour from the Borough.
"How changed! How gloomy! How melancholy! The fires of this life giving industry are extinguished-grass grown up in the path so recently kept smooth by the feet of the laborer; and the fox may presently look out from the broken window.
"Pray tell me, Mr. Printer, who and what has put out these fires, and checked, if not finally destroyed, to Wilkesbarre certainly, North and South, this prolific source of prosperity?"
However unsatisfactory may have been experiments in the smelting of basic iron products from raw materials, the community felt no lack of enterprise on the part of those who were to undertake the manufacture of finished materials which, in fat years and lean, were almost constantly in demand.
Augustus C. Laning was a pioneer in this respect .* In 1834, he erected on the site of the present Laning Building on the Square, a small machine shop
*"AUGUSTUS C. LANING was born in Owego, N. Y., 30 September, 1808, the son of John Laning and his wife Mary Ann (Hollenback) Deshong, daughter of Judge Matthias Hollenback and widow of John Deshong. John Laning was
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and foundry structure of stone. In common with others of a mechanical turn of mind, he soon began experimenting with the application of steam to machinery. Upon the point of who constructed the first steam engine used in the Wyoming Valley, historians have never been able to agree. Pearce credits Richard Jones, t then scarcely more than a boy, with having made the first serviceable engine at a tin shop in Wilkes-Barré in 1833, although the youth had never seen steam used and depended entirely upon written accounts of other engines for his specifi- cations. The same authority also credits Joseph White, another ingenious local workman, with a miniature boat with side wheels and of propelling this with the same steam engine on the canal basis at Wilkes-Barré on July 4, 1835.
One is apt to credit the account of the editor of the Democratic Journal, appearing in that publication under date of November 10, 1841, with a well verified knowledge of the situation at that time. He frankly states that the maker of the first steam engine used in Northeastern Pennsylvania was unkown, al- though those responsible for later engines are given due credit for their crafts- manship as follows:
"In remarking last week upon the advantages of employing steam power in coal regions we did not state the fact, which of itself, establishes the proposition, that at this time there are probably more Steam Engines erected in Wilkes-Barre, than in any other town of equal size in Pennsylvania. There are now in daily operation in this borough, seven steam Engines of different capacities. We propose to notice these in detail, and the purposes to which they are applied, not because of their extent and importance-for we do not pretend to claim any great consider- ation for them-but rather as a record for those who may wish, in after times, to look back upon the infancy of our prosperity, and the early stages of the progress of manufactures in Wilkes- Barre.
born in New Jersey 5 June, 1779, son of Robert and Sara (Coryell) Laning, and died at Owego, N. Y., 12 February, 1820. Mary Ann Hollenback was born 27 February, 1785; was married to John Laning 9 June, 1806; died 1 March, 1854.
"In 1822 A. C. Laning removed to Wilkesbarre, where he became an inmate of the home of his uncle George M. Hollenback, and a clerk in the mercantile establishment of his grandfather Matthias Hollenback. In 1826 he was a clerk in the store of his uncle at the corner of River and Market street, Wilkesbarré. About the time he became of age Mr. Laning engaged in business in Kingston, Luzerne County, but he soon returned to Wilkesbarré, and for a time carried on mercantile business on the east side of the Public Square.
"Mr. Laning conducted at his foundry on the Square with great success for a number of years the business of an iron founder. 3 January, 1850, the foundry was burned, and shortly afterwards Mr. Laning began the erection of a large brick foundry on the west side of Canal Street north of Market. In this building were set up new and improved appliances for manufacturing various kinds of iron work and machinery, and Samuel R. Marshall, an experienced manufacturer of Philadelphia, was secured as superintendent of the establishment.
"About 1853, Mr. Marshall was admitted into partnership with Mr. Laning, and for some fifteen or sixteen years the firm of Laning & Marshall was well known throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania as engine and briler makers and founders. Their manufacturing plant, which had been considerably enlarged and improved during this period, was disposed of in 1869 to the Dickson Manufacturing Company of Scranton, and Messrs. Laning and Marshall retired from a business which they had condicted most successfully and profitably.
"During the remaining years of his life Mr. Laning spent the greater part of his time in looking after his real estate interests, which were very large and valuable. He was one of the original stockholders of the Miners' Savings Bank of Wilkesbarre and held the office of President from May 13, 1868-when the Bank was organized-until his death. "For a number of years he was Treasurer and one of the Managers of the Wilkesbarré Bridge Company. During the last five years of his life he was a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Luzerne County Prison. From May, 1844 to May, 1846, he was Burgess of the Borough of Wilkesbarré. From 1871 to 1874, inclusive, he was a member at large of the Wilkesbarre City Council, and Chairman of the Finance Committee.
"About 1870 Mr. Laning presented to Wilkebarré its first steam fire engine the 'Mechanic.' When the paid fire department of the city was organized in 1871 this was the only 'steamer' owned by the city, but in 1874 a second one was purchased, which was named 'A. C. Laning.'
"Nearly all the enterprises which grew up in Wilkesbarre had in Mr. Laning an active and efficient counsellor and supporter. Careful, shrewd and energetic, every detail of his enterprises received his constant and unwearied attention, and from their cares he took little recreation until his retirement from active business.
"Augustus C. Laning was married at Wilkesbarre December 8, 1831, to Amanda Elizabeth (born in Hanover Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, January 22, 1814), daughter of Dr. Charles Francis Joseph and Elizabeth (Stookey) Christel, and they became the parents of four children-Elizabeth Virginia, who was married (Ist) to Josiah Bradner, (2d) to George Cotton Smith; Mary Ann, who died unmarried; John, who was married to Helen C. Brower; and Amanda Mary, who was married to William J. Harvey
"Augustus C. Laning died May 29, 1875, at his home in Wilkesbarré."
tAs to the Jones engine, the following account appears in Vol. 4-63 of Johnson's Historical Record: "Editor Record: Reading in the historical columns of the Weekly of the old'settler, happenings, etc., of early days, I thought perhaps an account of the first railroad in Wilkes-Barre might be of interest to the Record readers.
"About the year 1832 I was an apprentice in Ansel Thomas' cabinet shop. At the same time Dick Jones, then a boy of 15 or 16, was an apprentice in Sam Howe's tin shop. Thomas' shop was on the corner of Northampton and Main streets, and Howe's was on Franklin, a few doors below Market. The first lcomotive was built in Howe's tin shop. by Dick Jones. He made the boiler of copper, most of the works being of brass. He and I did the turning of the wood work on a lathe in Thomas' shop, evenings. I made the rails of half inch white wood, wedging them into notches it the ties. This track was laid on Howe's work bench and was about 60 feet long. The engine was about 18 inches in length, and had an upright boiler. An admission fee of 614 cents was charged to see the engine run.
"After a while. tiring of the engine, Joties got Joe White, son of 'Danny' White, the wagonmaker, to build him a boat with side wheels. In this boat the engine was placed, so forming a side wheel steamboat. He took this down to the basin of the Redoubt and ran it first on the 4th of July. Dick Jones afterwards became proprietor of the Vulcan Iron Works in South Wilkes-Barre.
"MILES JOHNSON, Lathrop, Cal."
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"I. The first Engine erected, was at Mr. Wm. L. Bowman's tannery and foundry, in the northern part of the borough. It was put up, we believe, by Messrs. Drake and Laning, and applied principally to the foundry, though used also in the tannery. We do not know where it came from, or by whom it wa's made. After doing good service for several years, it has given pla ce to a new and larger Engine, made by Mr. J. C. Smith, of this place, which is now used ex- clusively for the tannery of Mr. Bowman. In this connection we may mention, that Mr. Bowman has recently made extensive additions to his establishment, and will soon be prepared to prosecute the manufacture of leather on a very large scale.
"2. The second in order of time, is at Butler's Steam mill. This is of Pittsburg manufacture and of 12 horse power. It drives three run of stones, and the other machinery of the mill.
"3. Mr. A. C. Laning's Foundry. Six horse power, made at Auburn. This will soon be replaced by an Engine of increased capacity, manufactured in Mr. Laning's establishment.
" 5. Reichard's Brewery and Distillery. Six horse power, inade by Smith, Wilkes-Barre.
"4. Mr. Thomas's saw mill. Eighteen horse power-manufactured by Smith, Wilkes-
Barre.
"6. Butler and Co.'s saw mill. Twelve horse power, made by Smith, Wilkes-Barre. "7. F. L. Bowman's tannery. A small Engine formerly employed in sinking the shaft at the Baltimore mines, repaired by Smith.
"To these may be added the Engine at Smith's steam mill, in Plymouth, also made by J. C. Smith, which gives us eight in the alley.
"In this account are not included the two immense engines in progress of erection at the Wyoming Iron Works, near the borough-one of ninety, the other of sixty horse power. These, and the works connected with them, were the subject of a distinct article some time since; and though forming an important item in our aggregate prosperity, yet being the product of foreign capital entirely, we omit them in an account of the immediate local improvement of our Valley."
The tannery, mentioned above, seems to have existed only a short time as such. In 1839, the business of Mr. Bowman was discontinued and in May of that year, John Mooers and Isaac Baldwin announced that they had taken over the plant for the purpose of manufacturing "ploughs, mill gearings, hollow- ware etc." As forests were depleted, tanneries moved to outlying regions. In 1856, Zadock Pratt and Jay Gould erected what, at that period, was the largest tannery in the country at Gouldsborough on the Lehigh. Machinery for grinding the necessary bark for tanning processes was driven by water power and the enterprise was a prosperous, capably managed venture which endured as long as a supply of hemlock could be secured. Of Wilkes-Barré's second engine a circumstance is related, scarcely compatible with the conduct of a piece of machin- ery then held in imaginative awe by a large proportion of population. On Feb- ruary 6, 1836, Messers J. L. and Lord Butler advertised the completion of their steam grist mill, previously mentioned, stiuated on the north side of the Square. According to this advice, the mill consisted of "four sets of stones, three for the grinding of grain and one for scouring and cleaning buckwheat, propelled by an engine of 18 horse power. In Johnson's Historical Records, (Vol. 4-143) appears an account of the unusual performance of this engine, penned many years afterward by one familiar with the facts:
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