USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Annals of Luzerne County; a record of interesting events, traditions, and anecdotes > Part 38
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V.
Postmasters at Wilkesbarre, and when appointed :-
Lord Butler, appointed 1794.
John Hollenback, 1802.
553
APPENDIX.
Ezekiel Hyde, appointed 1805.
Jon. Hancock,
1805.
Jacob Cist,
1808.
A. Beaumont,
1826.
Wm. Ross, 1832.
Daniel Collings, 1835.
A. O. Cahoon, "
1841.
J. P. Le Clerc,
1843.
E. B. Collings,
66 1845.
Steuben Butler,
1849.
John Reichard,
1853.
Jacob Sorber,
1854.
E. B. Collings,
66 1858.
S. M. Barton,
1861.
E. H. Chase,
66
1865.
The following are the names of the first postmasters when the offices were established :---
Abington,
John Miller,
appointed 1811.
Asylum,
Elias Vaughn,
1812.
Athens,
David Payne, 66
1808.
Beach Grove,
Nathan Beach,
1813.
Berwick,
William Bryan,
1800.
Bridgewater (now Montrose), Isaac Post, 1808.
Conyngham,
Archd. Murray,
1808.
Keeler's Ferry,
Asa Keeler,
1812.
Kingston,
Henry Buckingham,
1809.
Nescopeck,
John Briggs, Jr.,
1811.
Pittston,
Eleazar Carey,
66
1811.
Plymouth,
George Lane,
1813.
Providence,
Benjamin Slocum,
1811.
Sheshequin,
Avery Gore,
1801.
Silver Lake,
Robert H. Rose, Charles Otis,
1810.
Tunkhannock,
1812.
Wyalusing,
John Hollenback,
1803.
Wyalusing,
John Hollenback,
1803.
Willingboro' (Great Bend), Dr. Eleazar Parker, 66 1808.
554
APPENDIX.
W.
Exhibit of the number of tons of Anthracite Coal mined in the several coal-fields of Luzerne county. The amount mined in Wyoming Valley from 1808 to 1841, is estimated at 400,000 tons, and is credited in the total. From the amount mined and transported by the Pennsylvania Coal Company, and credited to Wyoming Valley, 1,092,545 tons were mined at Dunmore, and properly belongs to Lackawanna Valley. Of the amount transported by the Lackawanna and Bloomsburg Railroad, and credited to Wyoming Valley, 449,000 tons were mined in Lackawanna Valley, and are credited under the head of the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad ; but as the Scranton Ironworks have consumed an equal amount, not included in this table, no deduction is necessary :-
LACKAWANNA VAL- LEY.
WYOMING VALLEY.
EASTERN MIDDLE COAL FIELD .*
Years.
Delaware and Hudson Canal Co.
Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western Railroad.
North Branch Canal, South.
North Branch Canal, North.
Lehigh and Sus- quehanna Railroad.
Pennsyl- vanla Coal Co.
Lacka- wanna & Blooms- burg Railroad.
Lehigh Coal and Naviga- tion.
Lehigh Valley Railroad.
Total.
1829
7.000
7,000
1830
43,000
43,000
1831
54.000
54,000
1832
84,600
84,600
1833
111,777
111,777
1834
43,700
43,700
1835
98,845
98,845
1837
115,387
115,387
1839
122,300
1840
: 148.470
41,210
38,733
272,213
1843
227,605
57,740
74,237
359,582
1844
251,005
114,906
90,530
456,441
1845
266,072
178,401
96,023
540,496
1846
381,000
166,923
5,978
162,026
715,927
1847
395.343
285,462
27,488
199,617
907,910
1848
437,500
237,271
11,112
247,887
933,770
1849
454,240
259,080
20,316
280,898
1,014,534
1850
441,403
243,250
24,220
111,014
201,964
1,021,851
1851
479.078
6,000
334,017
26,200
316,017
334,660
1,495.972
1852
497,105
67,489
319,341
43,161
426,164
374,476
1,727,736
1853
494,327
97,358
419,413
27,862
512,659
336,721
1,888,340
1854
440,944
133.964
492,689
45,932
496,648
358,577
1,968,754
1855
565,460
188,865
464,039
51,415
504,803
427,251
8,466
2,210,299
1856
499,650
296,232
510,631
1.150
45.054
612,500
387,605
152,912
2,505,734
1857
480,677
490,023
405,877
2,274
44,005
543,873
224,734
336,973
2.528,436
1858
347,873
683,411
293,310
38,947
78,150
630,056
210,042
302,591
336,218
2,920.598
1859
599,999
829,434
387,737
51,914
71,398
688,855
358,471
321,731
420,183
3,729,722
8,666,704 2,792,776 5,658,443
94,285
522,091 4,842,589
568,513 4,660,233 1,254,752
29,060,386
1836
104,500
104.500
1838
76,321
16,221
92,542
41,350
163,650
1842
205,253
47,346
79,459
227,929
1841
192,270
62,942
315,541
400,000
* Hazel, Sugarloaf, Foster, and Black Creek townships.
555
APPENDIX.
Exhibit of the number of tons of Anthracite Coal mined in Luzerne County from 1860 to 1865 inclusive.
LACKAWANNA VALLEY.
WYOMING VALLEY.
EASTERN MIDDLE COAL FIELD.
YEARS.
Delaware and Hudson Canal Co.
Delaware, Lacka- wanna, and Wes- tern Rail- road.
North Branch Canal, South.
North Branch Canal, North.
Lehigh and Susque- hanna Rail- road.
Penn- sylvania Coal Co.
Lacka- wanna & Blooms- burg Rail- road.
Lehigh Coal and Naviga- tion.
Lehigh Valley Rail- road.
1860
499,568 726,644
1,080,228 1,104,319
382,341 262,907
100,277 111,074 26,723
689,175 637,779 610,689 665,135 809,993 604,321
519,777 648,399 767,661
248,823 254,397
419,676 407,711
1862
644,100
1,093,335
494,890
77,733
385,391
1863
828,150
1,240,143
585,249 536,092 329,506
52,965 53,244 64,357 77,473 94,053 31,157
94,979 251,966
929.374 673,741
158,208
679,565
1865
759,570
1,006,887
180,671
622,087
4,310,168
6,828,025
2,590,985
373,549
585,019
4,017,092
4,503,708 1,064,434 3,275,607
Of the amount carried on the Lackawanna and Bloomsburg Rail- road in these six years, 2,355,801 tons were mined in the Lackawanna region, and are included in the amount transported on the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad. Of the amount mined by the Pennsylvania Coal Company, 504,784 tons were taken out at Dun- more, and should also be credited to the Lackawanna region. Thus in these six years there were mined in the Lackawanna Valley, 11,642,977 tons; in the Wyoming Valley, 9,209,768 tons; and in the Eastern Middle Field, 4,340,041 tons : total in Luzerne County, from 1860 to 1865 inclusive, 25,192,786 tons.
The names of the Coal Companies and of the individual operators in Luzerne County in the year 1865 are as follows :
Delaware and Hudson Canal Co., S. S. Clark, James Nichol, John Oakley, Elias Palmer, J. P. Williams & Sons, O. W. Spangeuburg, Boston and Lackawanna Coal Co., D. R. Moore,
Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad Co., Lackawanna Iron and Coal Co., Pennsylvania Coal Co., Roaring Brook Coal Co., suc. of Hunt, Davis & Co.,
Repp & Bowen, E. J. & J. Williams, Christian Scherer, Joseph Church,
964,753
144,602
761,177
1864
852,136
1,303.113
1861
556
APPENDIX.
Lackawanna Valley Coal Co., Hughes & Able, F. B. Marsh, Giles Leach, William Henry,
Michael Rock,
Williams & McFarlane,
L. Van Storch,
J. J. Hetherby & Co.,
Elk Hill Coal Co.,
Martin Cripper,
Mount Pleasant Coal Co.,
S. T. Scranton & Co.,
A. S. Washburn,
Susquehanna and Wyoming Valley Railroad and Coal Co.,
Lackawanna and Susquehanna Coal and Iron Co.,
Butler Coal Co.,
Grove Brothers,
David Morgan,
Mercur & Co.,
Mercur & Frisbee,
Spearing, Foley & Curtis, late Hancock & Foley,
Abram Price,
Maryland Coal Co.,
James Freeland,
De Witt & Salisbury,
C. S. Maltby,
J. D. & H. M. Hoyt,
Jas. P. Atherton,
Baltimore Coal Co.,
Wyoming Coal and Trans- portation Co.,
Audenreid Coal and Im- provement Co., Franklin Coal Co.,
Lewis Landmesser,
Lehigh and Susquehanna Coal Co., Wilkesbarre Coal and Iron Co.,
Parrish & Thomas,
H. B. Hillman,
Warrior Run Co.,
J. B. Stark,
Ira Davenport,
Union Coal Co.,
Harvey Brothers,
Washington Coal Co.,
J. Landon & Co.,
H. S. Mercur & Co., succes- sors of Landon & Co.,
New England Coal Co.,
Shawnee Coal Co.,
Ebervale Coal Co.,
Harleigh Coal Co.,
Wm. S. Halsey & Co.,
G. B. Markle & Co.,
Packer, Linderman & Co.,
Spring Mountain Coal Co., Stout Coal Co.,
Buck Mountain Coal Co.,
A. Pardec & Co., Sharp, Weiss & Co.
RAILROADS.
The Nanticoke Railroad Company was chartered in 1860, and the work commenced the same year, Dr. Ingham, Engineer. It will ex-
557
APPENDIX.
tend on the east side of the Susquehanna through the Wyoming Coal Field, and probably as far as Scranton.
The Lehigh and Susquehanna Railroad Company have constructed a back or empty track, which leaves the old road on the top of the mountain at the head of the Upper Plane, and makes a circuit of 124 miles in length, in the shape of an ox-bow, to the foot of the mountain. The greatest grade is 96 feet to the mile.
In 1865 and 1866 the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company extended their road into the Wyoming coal field, and purpose its further exten- sion up the North Branch.
The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company have constructed a rail- road from White Haven to Mauch Chunk in place of the Slackwater Navigation, which was destroyed in the summer of 1862.
The Plymouth and Wilkesbarre Bridge and Railroad Company are constructing a road, one mile in length, connecting the Lehigh and Susquehanna road with the Lackawanna and Bloomsburg road. It is to cross the Susquehanna on a bridge 870 feet in length, a short distance above Plymouth.
HUNTINGTON SALT AND IRON MANUFACTURING, AND PETROLEUM COMPANIES.
In the year 1825 the Huntington Salt and Iron Manufacturing Company was organized with a capital of $10,000, divided into 400 shares of $25 each. The salt boring was commenced on Pine Creek, two miles east of Cambria, near a large natural deer lick. The power used was a small water-wheel, with arms attached to the end of the shaft. The boring rods were white-ash poles, fastened together by means of a burr and screw strapped on the ends. The auger was attached to a bar of iron weighing about 200 pounds, and the progress made was from 2 inches to 2 feet a day. A man stood at the rod turning continually, and the hole, about 3 inches in diameter, was sunk to the depth of 480 feet, when the rod broke far down in the earth, and the enterprise was abandoned.
In the year 1865 the Green Creek Petroleum Company was organ- ized for continuing the boring in the old hole with the view of obtaining coal oil,-the indications given in 1826 in the salt boring seeming to warrant the present effort. The following is the affidavit of Peter Boston, who had the contract of boring in 1826 for the Huntington Salt and Iron Manufacturing Company.
36
558
APPENDIX.
LUZERNE COUNTY, SS.
On this 20th day of June, 1865, before me, the subscriber, a Jus- tice of the Peace, personally appeared Peter Boston, who being duly sworn, says : That he is a resident of Fairmount, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; that he is 69 years of age; that he had the job of boring the "Salt Well," near Cambria, said county, commencing about the year A.D. 1826; that he bored said well and gave his per- sonal attention to it; that at the depth of about 200 or 300 feet, while boring after night, there commenced coming out of the well a strong smell something like sulphur only a great deal stronger, and on examination in the morning the water that continually flowed out of the well was of a blue-black color, and that the smell came from this water; that for at least 20 feet on the surface of the water in the creek below, this water made quite a scum; that he now is of the pos- itive opinion that that dark water of offensive smell was coal oil, and he has so expressed his opinion ever since he became acquainted with coal oil; that he has no interest in the matter, but if a company is raised he is willing to take a share in it.
Sworn and subscribed before me this
PETER BOSTON.
20th day of June, 1865. D. L. CHAPIN, J. P.
Mr. Wm. A. Myers, Civil Engineer and Mining Superintendent of the Glendale Oil Company, Titusville, Pa., in addressing the Presi- dent and Directors of the Green Creek Petroleum Company, says : " Having spent four days in a careful examination of the lands owned and leased by your company, I would say the result has impressed me favorably. I feel satisfied there is sufficient to warrant efforts at thorough development."
Coal oil in small quantities has already been obtained on Kitchen's Creek, near the North Mountain. Other lands have been purchased by Eastern men, and one or two companies have been formed to bore for oil. They have commenced sinking wells, and have obtained some indications of oil.
559
APPENDIX.
X.
POPULATION OF LUZERNE COUNTY IN 1860.
Names of Boroughs and Townships.
Population.
Names of Boronghs and Townships.
Population.
Abington,
2337
Lehman,
694
Bear Creek,
279
Madison,
1190
Benton,
1157
Nescopeck,
875
Black Creek,
499
New Columbus,
241
Blakely,
3757
Newport,
622
Buck,
728
Newton,
916
Butler,
1081
Pittston,
2753
Carbondale Township,
466
Pittston Borough,
3693
Carbondale City,
5118
Plains,
844
Covington,
850
Plymouth,
2400
Dallas,
998
Providence Township,
4091
Denison,
626
Providence Borough,
1410
Dorrance,
553
Ransom,
509
Exeter,
807
Ross,
891
Fairmount,
1194
Salem,
1400
Fell,
463
Scott,
1333
Foster,
1204
Scranton,
9273
Franklin,
664
Slocum,
210
Greenfield,
936
Spring Brook,
268
Hanover,
1624
Sugarloaf,
1343
Hazle,
3832
Union,
1645
Hazleton,
1708
Waverly,
356
Hollenback,
977
West Pittston,
590
Huntington,
1558
White Haven,
946
Hyde Park,
3319
Wilkesbarre Township, 2815
Jackson,
689
Wilkesbarre Borough,
4259
Jefferson,
706
Wright,
278
Jenkins,
1574
Kingston Township,
2044
Total,
90,390
Kingston Borough,
647
In 1850,
56,072
Lackawanna,
1663
Lake,
488
Increase,
34,318
560
APPENDIX.
Y.
FLOOD OF 1861 IN THE SUSQUEHANNA.
ON the 12th and 13th of February, 1861, a tremendous flood oc- curred in the Susquehanna, said to be higher than any known before in fifty years. The river, covered with ice nearly all winter, broke up under a warm rain. The ice dammed up in the channel forced the water over the Kingston flats and all the lowlands along the river. The ice cast out of the road on these flats lay piled up on either hand until late in the spring. The cellars of the dwellings on River Street in Wilkesbarre were filled with water. The Wilkesbarre Gas Works were damaged, and there was one night of darkness in the town.
FLOOD IN THE LEHIGH IN 1862.
ON the 3d and 4th of June, 1862, the Slackwater Navigation of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company from White Haven to Mauch Chunk was utterly destroyed by a great flood. More than one hundred lives were lost, and whole families were drowned. There were 40 million feet of logs swept away. It was estimated at the time that at White Haven alone the loss amounted to $320,000. At Mauch Chunk the water was 15 feet deep in the principal street, and all the lower part of the town was washed away.
GREAT FLOOD IN THE SUSQUEHANNA IN 1865.
ON St. Patrick's day, the 17th of March, 1865, occurred the greatest flood ever known in the Susquehanna. The waters in some places covered the Valley from mountain to mountain. Logs, trees, timber, lumber, some loose, some in rafts of two to twenty thousand feet, fences, fragments of buildings, canal boats, skiffs, haystacks, whole barns, sheds, and even large, well-finished dwelling-houses, with chimneys all in order, came rushing down the roaring torrent at the rate of 8 miles an hour. For three days the dark, muddy waters over- flowed the banks, which were covered with wrecks of every descrip-
-
561
APPENDIX.
tion. At Skinner's Eddy, in Wyoming County, 19 buildings, mostly dwellings, were swept away. Two large stacks of lumber, containing between 40 and 50 thousand feet, were carried off, and a thousand bushels of corn were set afloat. The water in Wilkesbarre extended up Market Street to the street crossing at Faser's store. People went about in boats in several of the principal streets.
This tremendous freshet has been styled St. Patrick's Flood. The following has been taken from the Records of the Court of Quarter Sessions of Luzerne County.
In Re.
St. Patrick's Flood in Susquehanna River, 17th and 18th March, A.D. 1865.
Now 29th of August, A.D. 1865, the following record is submitted to the court for preservation among its records, to wit :
WILKESBARRE, 26th August, 1865.
HON. JOHN N. CONYNGHAM, President Judge of Luzerne County.
From levels taken from explorations for rail route from the Lehigh Valley to this Valley by C. F. Mer- cur, Esq., I find the elevations above tide water of the door-sills of the Court-House 543.102 feet.
Low water in the Susquehanna River. 512.9 High water in the Susquehanna River 18th March, 1865. 537.6 Door-sill of the Court-House above the high water of 18th March, 1865 5.5
Rise of water in the flood of 17th and 18th of March, 1865, at Wilkesbarre 24.7 66
And the general opinion is that the flood of 1865 was four feet higher than the pumpkin flood of October, A.D. 1786.
Respectfully submitted,
MARTIN CORYELL.
Certified from the Records this sixth day of February, A.D. 1866.
[Seal. ]
E. B. COLLINGS, Clerk.
1
562
APPENDIX.
Z.
THE GREAT REBELLION.
THUS stood the military organization of Luzerne in the spring of 1861, when the eleven Southern States attempted to dismember the Union and establish a Southern Confederacy. This great rebellion against the mild and beneficial sway of the General Government, prompted as it was by bad and ambitious men, roused the patriotism and military spirit of the entire North, and hundreds of thousands of men sprang to arms to preserve the unity and life of the nation. This effort of the Free States for Union was met by a corresponding gi- gantic attempt for its destruction on the part of the Slave States. No nook or corner of the Great United States escaped the contagion of the military ardor. The whole country became a vast military en- campment in which millions of men prepared themselves for the shock of the battle-field. In the first swell of patriotic feeling which gushed from the loyal North party spirit was hushed into silence, and almost every individual, of all ranks, ages, and sexes, expressed indignation when it was announced that the traitors at Charleston had fired on a national fortress, and compelled its small band of defenders to lower the Stars and Stripes to the flag of rebellion. At the call of Presi- dent Lincoln for 75,000 men, followed by that for half a million, to suppress insurrection, companies of troops were organized in all parts of Luzerne, and almost on an hour's notice were on their road to the theatre of war. April 18th, 1861, the first company of troops left Wilkesbarre. Scranton, Providence, Carbondale, and other localities were equally prompt in furnishing men to uphold the national honor. After an unparalleled war of four years, during which Luzerne fur- nished about 5500 soldiers, the rebellion was crushed, and the author- ity of the national government was re-established. The author pro- poses, at a future day, to publish a history of the part taken by Luzerne in this great civil conflict.
NOTES.
1 PAGE 19. Steuben Jenkins, Esq., of Wyoming, and Dr. Hollister, of Providence, have made large and valuable private collections of Indian relics, very interesting to those curious in aboriginal history.
2 Page 154. Through the laudable efforts of Payne Pettebone, Esq., and Gen. W. S. Ross, a deed to the Wyoming Monumental Association has been secured, money subscribed, and the grounds enclosed by a handsome fence, and decorated with trees and shrubbery.
3 Page 286. This Christian gentleman died April 18th, 1861, aged 61 years.
4 Page 299. In 1865, the Church North numbered 929,259. No statistics from the Church South during or since the late war.
5 Page 307. Died 6th March, 1862, and his funeral was attended by up- wards of four thousand persons.
6 Page 308. These churches are now under the charge of Rev. Mr. Oefinger.
7 Page 355. Since the foregoing was written, a mill has been erected in Pittston.
8 Page 398. In 1863, E. S. M. Hill, Esq., purchased the press and changed the name -- - Lackawanna Register, and again to the Scranton Register. In 1860, Mr. Hill established in Scranton the Legal Observer, which is now discontinued.
The Scranton Wochenblatt was established in 1865, by E. A. Ludwig, who sold to Frederick Wagner, the present editor.
The Miner's Journal was established in 1866, by Adams & Brock.
9 Page 399. In 1863, Mr. T. J. Alleger and Theodore Smith became edi- tors and proprietors. In 1864, Mr. Smith retired. The Hazleton Sentinel
(563)
504
NOTES.
was established by J. C. Stokes & Co., and the first number issued in January, 1866.
10 Page 426. Mr. Miner died October 26th, 1865, aged 86, years. Mr. Dyer died September 21st, 1861, aged 90 years.
11 Page 449. This road was extended to Northumberland, a distance of 29 miles, in 1860, and connects with the Philadelphia and Erie.
12 Page 449. For an account of the Nanticoke and other railroads con- structed and in course of construction, since the publication of the first edition of this work, see Appendix W.
13 Page 486. In 1860, the deaths amounted to 878. Families, 15,065. Population, 90,390.
14 Page 487. In the winter 1863-4, spotted or black fever prevailed in the northern part of the county, and the number of deaths in Carbondale, where the disease was most fatal and sweeping, exceeded 400.
15 Page 502. A pike, weighing 234 pounds, was caught in Marcey's Pond, Wyoming County, in 1866, and was purchased by Hon. John Brisbin, of Scranton.
N V 19
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