USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Connellsville > Centennial history of the borough of Connellsville, Pennsylvania, 1806-1906 > Part 17
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NEW HAVEN NATIONAL BANK
R.C. DUNNSGAMEN
A C.DUNN
THE NEW HAVEN NATIONAL BANK
254
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE
Charles S. Hall as bookkeeper. Mr. Hall having resigned to assume the duties of cashier of the Broadway National Bank, Scottdale, Pa.
The board at present is constituted as follows: Kell Long, G. W. Galagher, P. J. Tormay, Lloyd Johnston, Henry Rhodes, T. H. Hazen and James J. Barnhart. The officers are: Kell Long, president; G. W. Gallagher, vice president ; James C. Long, cashier ; John H. Work, book- keeper.
THE FAYETTE SECURITIES COMPANY.
Among the financial institutions of Connellsville there is one, little known, which occupies a rather unique posi- tion, in that it has a charter from the State of Pennsylvania constituting it a "holding company," so called, since the famous "Northern Securities" decision.
The Fayette Securities Company was chartered on the 20th day of August, 1902, with an authorized capital of $50,000.00. The incorporators were John L. Gans, L. S. Hyatt and F. T. Evans.
The purpose of the corporation as stated in the appli- cation for a charter is "purchasing, holding, selling, assign- ing, transferring, mortgaging, pledging or otherwise dis- posing of the shares of the capital stock of, or any bonds. securities or evidences of indebtedness created by any other corporation or corporations of this or any other State." The business of the corporation is to be transacted in the Borough of Connellsville, and it is to exist perpetually.
At a meeting held October 21, 1902, the following board of directors was elected: Robert L. Brownfield, John D. Frisbee, Kell Long, P. S. Newmyer, Philip Wilkey, R. L. Brownfield, Jr., and E. T. Norton. Of these R. L. Brown- field was chosen president, and E. T. Norton, treasurer. I. F. Wilkey was elected secretary by the board.
At the annual meeting November 9th, 1903, W. H. Wilkey succeeded Philip Wilkey as one of the directors, and, upon the organization of the board, Mr. J. D. Frisbee
255
CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
was chosen president, Mr. Brownfield having expressed a desire to be relieved of the duties of the position and hav- ing nominated Mr. Frisbee.
The corporation at its last annual meeting, after an existence of four years, showed total resources of nearly $200,000.00. The business of the company has been strictly confined to investment securties-nothing of a speculative character being dealt in under any circumstances. Before many years this corporation will take an important place among the financial institutions of Connellsville and vicin- ity, not only on account of its large resources but because of the wide powers given it under its charter. Its office is in the First National Bank building.
The officers and directors elected at the last annual meeting, held recently, are: John D. Frisbee, president ; E. T. Norton, secretary and treasurer ; Kell Long, Wilmer H. Wilkey, P. S. Newmyer, Joseph R. Stauffer and Charles Davidson.
CONNELLSVILLE MUTUAL BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION.
The organizers of the first building and loan associa- tion started in Connellsville, petitioned the court of Fayette county at the December term, 1869, to grant "to them and to their associates the powers and immunities of a body corporate and politic in law," under the above title, and with an authorized capital of $100,000.00, divided into 1000 shares of $100 each.
The signers of the petition were as follows: P. Mc- Cormick, John D. Frisbee, Christian Snyder, H. E. Sad- ler, Thomas M. Fee, E. Dean, D. Welsh, J. M. Lytle, B. F. Baer, M. Goldsmith, J. Weibel, A. E. Claney, D. Blackburn, W. E. Francis and Joseph E. Forrey.
The corporation was to have for its object "the grant- ing of loans to its members, and to assist them in their business and in acquiring homesteads."
256
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE
By order of the court, March 11, 1820, the incorpora- tion was effected1.
A resolution was passed October 18th of that year au- thorizing the purchase from Dr. J. C. Cummings of a tract of land north of the Borough containing 51 acres and agree- ing to donate a part of this tract (bounded by Mounts' Creek, the Youghiogheny River and the railway track) to the Pittsburgh and Connellsville Railroad Company, on the condition that the said railroad company would agree to build their shops upon it. This the railroad company agreed to and the shops were built. The land was pur- chased by members of the board of directors, and trans- ferred to the association November 9, 1871. The tract had previously been laid out in building lots. It was de- cided to reserve the three blocks fronting the railroad, and offer for sale the remainder in alternate lots. Sales were made from time to time, and the business of the association was closed with the disposal of the few remaining lots, some time in 1882.
During its life the company made a number of loans for building and other purposes, but it never made more than the one real estate purchase and seems to have grad- ually closed its affairs so soon as that was disposed of.
The last officers were: J. M. DuShane, president ; P. S. Newmyer, vice president ; John Kurtz, treasurer ; H. P. Snyder, secretary. The board of managers were: William Weihe, T. M. Fee, J. T. McCormick, B. Welker, William P. Clark, Stephen Rutherford, and John Rutherford. There were about fifty-five stockholders at the close.
PEOPLES' BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION.
In compliance with an Act of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, entitled "An Act to provide for the incorporation and regulation of certain corporations," approved the 26th day of April, A. D., 1874, a number of citizens of Connellsville applied for let- ters patent for a corporation to be called "The Peoples' Building and Loan Association of Connellsville."
25
CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
The object of the corporation was declared to be "for the purpose of accumulating a fund by the periodical con- tributions of the members thereof, and of safely investing the same."
The place of business was fixed at Connellsville, Fay- ette county, Pa.
Article 4 of the application states, that "said corpora- tion is to exist perpetually."
The names and residences of the original subscribers and the number of shares subscribed by each are as fol- lows :
B. Porter
10
B. F. Boyts 10
Chas. H. Ways
10
K. C. McCormick 5
J. C. McClenathan 10
J. C. Moore 10
Lin. F. Ruth
5 Mrs. D. Roberts 10
J. R. Paull
5
E. T. Norton 5
Lloyd Johnston 5
J. M. Kurtz 10
J. S. McCaleb 10
Crawford Stillwagon
5
Henry P. Snyder 10
J. P. Cranston
5
Mrs. Byron Porter
5
W. Howard Thomas
5
Miss Ella Kurtz 5
George R. Long
10
Henry Goldsmith 20
John Conlon
5
J. M. Cavender 5
Jacob Morgan
5
George W. McCartney 5
George W. Morgan
5
Prov. Buttermore
5
Leighton W. Jones
5
George B. Freed
5
M. B. Walker 5
J. M. Reid 10
John DeTemple 6
Samuel Heffley 10
Chas. Fee 3
J. C. Kurtz 5
A. B. O'Neil
5
W. A. Hogg
5
H. P. Berryhill 5
G. C. Armstrong
5
S. Buttermore 10
R. S. Paine
10 John L. Gans 5
all residents of Connellsville, Pa.
Article 6 fixed the number of directors at nine, and the names of those chosen for the first year follow: B. F. Boyts, H. P. Snyder, Henry Goldsmith, J. M. Reid, J.
258
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE
M. Kurtz, George W. McCartney, J. C. McClenathan, Lloyd Johnston and J. M. Cavender.
The names of the first five directors above given were signed to the application for a charter which was dated September 9, 1890.
The capital stock was fixed at $1,000,000.00 divided into 5,000 shares of $200 each.
The method of paying the premium on loans was fixed in Article 8 as required by the Act of April 10, 1879 :
"The premium or bonus bid for the prior right to a loan shall be paid in periodical installments."
The charter was granted October 6, 1890, and is signed by Governor James A. Beaver.
The association proceeded at once to business and elected J. M. Kurtz, president; Lin. F. Ruth, treasurer ; Sam H. DuShane, secretary ; W. A. Hogg, solicitor.
An auditing committee was appointed for the first year. consisting of J. C. Kurtz and E. T. Norton.
The present officers and directors follow: Henry Goldsmith, president; I. C. Smutz, vice president; Alex B. Hood, secretary; James B. Stader, treasurer; S. R. Goldsmith, solicitor.
Directors-Dr. J. C. McClenathan. Robert Welsh, W. S. Yard, Joseph A. Mason, Robert W. Soisson, C. M. Stoner, John Keck, J. B. Kurtz and P. Bufano.
The published statement dated September 30, 1905, follows, and shows something of what the association is doing and has done for the community :
Total loans made in Connellsville since organization $750,000.00.
LOANS ON REAL ESTATE
Loans on Real Estate September 30,
1904 $85,150.00
New Loans made 20,800.00 105,950.00
Loans matured series I 5,800.00 Loans paid off 6,600.00 12,400.00
Loans in force September 30, 1905. . $93,550.00
Average premium bid on money, 35 per cent.
259
CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
ASSETS
Cash
$ 524.60
Mortgage loans
93,550.00
Collateral loans
3,873.80
Real estate
376.75
Unpaid premium
76.70
Unpaid Dues
2,035.54
Unpaid interest
523.65
Unpaid fines
29.92 100,990.96
LIABILITIES
Capital stock
$72,788.15
Paid up stock
15,100.00
Certificates of deposit
11,418.75
Undivided profits
35.02
Reserve for State taxes
99.27
Overpaid dues
1,542.56
Overpaid premium
3.46
Overpaid interest
3.75 100,990.96
LOANS ON STOCK AS COLLATERAL
Collateral loans September 30, 1904. $ 5,476.55
New loans made
1,333.80 6,810.35
Loans paid off 2,936.55
Collateral loans September 30, 1905.
$ 3,873.80
THE CONNELLSVILLE BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION.
This association was incorporated under Pennsylvania laws on January 11, 1897, with a perpetual charter. The capital stock was fixed at $1,000,000.00, divided into 5,000 shares of the par value of $200 each. The name under which the charter was granted was the South Connells- ville Building and Loan Association; by action of the stockholders in January, 1904, the name was changed to the Connellsville Building and Loan Association.
The officers elected when the company was first organ- ized were: Joseph Soisson, president; Edmund Dunn.
260
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE
vice president; H. L. Kurtz, treasurer ; Emmor Saunders, secretary ; P. S. Newmyer, solicitor, and the directors were George J. Humbert, J. A. Zimmerman, J. R. Davidson, S. A. Spencer, S. R. Slaymaker, J. H. Caudy, W. F. Soisson, J. C. Munson and F. A. Kail.
The object as stated in the petition for letters patent was "for the purpose of raising money to be loaned among its members and depositors, and for such other purposes as are authorized by law."
Stated annual meetings of the stockholders shall be held (Article VI) on the last Monday of December for the nomination of officers, and on the last Monday of January of each year for the election of officers and the transaction of the affairs of the association nine or more members shall constitute a quorum.
Section ?, of the By-laws provides for the appoint- ment of a committee on securities, composed of five mem- bers of the board, whose duty it shall be to examine per- sonally all real estate offered as security for loans, and report to the board their appraisement of the value of the same and also their opinion as to the advisability of making the loan.
Stockholders shall not be under twenty-one years of age according to Section 9.
Married women, (Section 36) "may hold stock in this Association and have all the rights and privileges of other stockholders of the same series."
Section 38 authorizes the board of directors to pur- chase, improve, rent, sell, and convey real estate with full powers on such matters. '
The Constitution and By-laws were amended by the stockholders in January, 1901, quite a number of minor changes therein being effected, although the main object was to amend the provisions as to withdrawals, which under the old By-laws discriminated against the holders of "running stock."
The present officers and directors > of the association
ons of Col
1 National Bar Connellsville
Feb. 1901
ents, Bonds, Real
$297,289 41 58,026 25
Banks and Treasu
227,038 67
38,781 13
neous
TAL ASSETS
$621,135 46
Stock (Paid in)
$ 50,000 00
and Profits
74,576 83
ng Notes.
12,500 00
== including Certifi to Banks, Etc. eous
484,058 63
L LIABILITIES
$621,135 46
ount Paid in Divi Organization
$20,000 00
Illustrated b: stitutions, D
I
1
I
1
1
1
1 1 1 I
1
1
1
1
I
1
1
1
1
260
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE
vice president; H. L. Kurtz, treasurer ; Emmor Saunders, secretary ; P. S. Newmyer, solicitor, and the directors were George J. Humbert, J. A. Zimmerman, J. R. Davidson, S. A. Spencer, S. R. Slaymaker, J. H. Caudy, W. F. Soisson, J. C. Munson and F. A. Kail.
The object as stated in the petition for letters patent was "for the purpose of raising money to be loaned among its members and depositors, and for such other purposes as are authorized by law."
Stated annual meetings of the stockholders shall be held (Article VI) on the last Monday of December for the nomination of officers, and on the last Monday of January of each year for the election of officers and the transaction of the affairs of the association nine or more members shall constitute a quorum.
Section ?, of the By-laws provides for the appoint- ment of a committee on securities, composed of five mem- bers of the board, whose duty it shall be to examine per- sonally all real estate offered as security for loans, and report to the board their appraisement of the value of the same and also their opinion as to the advisability of making the loan.
Stockholders shall not be under twenty-one years of age according to Section 9.
Married women, (Section 36) "may hold stock in this Association and have all the rights and privileges of other stockholders of the same series."
Section 38 authorizes the board of directors to pur- chase, improve, rent, sell, and convey real estate with full powers on such matters. '
The Constitution and By-laws were amended by the stockholders in January, 1901, quite a number of minor changes therein being effected, although the main object was to amend the provisions as to withdrawals, which under the old By-laws discriminated against the holders of "running stock."
uhr. The present officers and directors of the association
Comparative Statement Showing the Condition of the Several Banking Institutions of Connellsville and New Haven from 1871 to 1906
Youghlogheny Bank Yough National Bank of Connellsville
First National Bank of Connellsville
Second National Bank of Connellsville
Title and Trust Com- pany of Western Penn., Connellsville
Citizen's National Bank of Connellsville
Colonial National Bank of Connellsville
New Haven National Bank of New Haven, Pa.
State Institution
National Charter
Sept. 187 1
Sept. 1881
Mar. 1893
Feb. 1905
June 1906
June 1876
Sept, 1885
Mar. 1893
Feb. 1901
June 1906
Mar. 1893
Feb. 1901
June 1906
May 1901
May 1906
Nov. 1902
June 1906
Nov. 1904
June 1906
Sept. 1902
June 1906
$ 9,587 00
$147,062 78
$175,031 81
$257,400 03
$402,576 80
$44,975 21
$105,010 99
$338,931 78
$108,408 42
$127,850 93
$297,289 41
$173,736 21
$ $4,070 78
$138,282 90
$127,759 01
$ 11,880 00
$161,198 54
$ 2,825 00
$115,093 61
bestments, Bonds, Real Estate, } Etc.
1,409 90
7,071 19
52,750 02
158,545 70
160,797 72
49,054 78
112,923 58
02,438 90
334,573 70
173,450 26
276,879 77
296,958 23
30,829 55
66,250 00
185,551 22
13,709 37
94,293 01
ue from Banks and Treasurer U. S. ush
13,707 29 5,734 35
20,007 91
08,852 22
61,920 20
35,511 92
4,414 70
94,719 15 36,996 97
50,413 49 70,040 92
167,036 02 80,048 83
216,563 49 132,030 51
19,600 00 24,596 78 23,120 10
58,026 25 227,038 87 38,781 13
70,136 11 33,312 91
21,170 01 8,351 20
30,619 43
13,480 53
52,333 16
3,176 70
23,287 12
1,842 10
84 06
TOTAL ASSETS
$30,438 54
$273,493 20
$355,610 07
$637,129 05
$643,820 18
$109,818 30
$330,250 60
$528,431 09
$900,660 83
$1,803,520 93
$195,178 81
$621,135 16
$750,635 82
$136,962 66
$842,871 33
$200,533 60
$738,989 70
$128,142 89
$108,401 58
$12,137 69
$246,612 97
upltal Stock (Pald In)
$25,000 00 291 13
$ 50,000 00 8,874 11
$ 75,000 00 55,079 71
$ 75,000 00 05,371 64
$ 75,000 00
$47,675 00
$ 75,000 00
$ 75,000 00
$ 50,000 00
$ 50,000 00
$125,000 00 6,986 38
$250,000 00 173,606 82
$50,000 00 979 76
$81,398 00 20,338 00
$100,000 00 31,110 95 100,000 00
11 35
10,712 85
rculating Noles
75,000 00
74,500 00
31,850 00
45,000 00
80,181 10 13,850 00
118,020 54 73,150 00
$ 75,000 00 191,818 25 74,300 00
$ 50,000 00 3,808 01 11,250 00
7.1,576 831
135,220 72 50,000 00
515,409 10
419,0G1 51
495,919 27
26,406 89
177,290 63
14,016 34
135,9.50 12
Iscellaneous
TOTAL LIABILITIES
$30,438 54
$273,493 20
$355,610 07
$637,129 05
$613,820 16
$109,818 30
$350,250 69
$528,431 00
$990,000 83 $1,803,520 93
$195,176 81
$621,135 46
$750,635 82
$136,902 GG
$812,871 33
$200,533 60
$738,989 70
$128,142 89
$108,401 58
$42,137 09
$216,642 97
tal Amount Paid In Dividends since Organization
$186,000 00
$200,000 00
$20,000 00
$32,500 00
A Statement Showing the Financial Growth of Connellsville as lilustrated by a Comparison of the Total Resources and Deposits of its Banking Institutions, During 35 Years, from 1871 to 1906
Deposits
Totul Resources
SEPTEMBER,
1871
$ 5,147 41
$ 30,438 54
SEPTEMBER,
1881
463,401 88
623,743 89
MARCH,
1893.
709,048 16
1,079,217 97
FEBRUARY,
.1901
1,924,393 41
2,685,894 00
JUNE,
.1906.
3,679,382 37.
5,494,882 49
98,751 32
58,975 42
159,262 46
44,903 88
11,373 61
58,620 31
46,752 07
38,364 70
23,761 22
26,523 4-1 10,732 91
Iscellaneous
5,147 41
216,819 09
225,530 36
421,757 41
413,330 00
29,799 17
210,582 79
353,399 90
724,490 29
1,522,402 68
130,117 90
481,058 G3
291,087 08 10,899 20
103,083 84 21,470 00
25,000 00
$100,000 00 13,510 43 99,200 00
$25,000 00
$50,000 00
urplus and Profils
80,98-1 10
001 13
$ 50,000 00 8,807 90
50,000 00
Due to Banks, Etc.
3,080 00
posits .. Including Certificates
12,506 00
46,487 00
61,533 25
28,164 51
$191,678 40 133,357 74
12,447 52
-
$938,904 60 575,422 27
261
CHARTERED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
are: Edmund Dunn, President; D. F. Lepley, Vice-presi- dent ; James L. Kurtz, Secretary ; J. Fred Kurtz, Treasurer ; E. C. Higbee, Solicitor. Directors, F. A. Kail, W. F. Sois- son, P. J. Tormay, J. D. Madigan, J. M. Cecil, Peter Rutsek, Clark Collins, V. H. Soisson and S. R. Goldsmith.
A statement of its condition at the close of business December 31st, 1905, follows :
Net profits for the year 1905 :-
Dividend on Installment Stock,
101/2%
5,822.29
Dividend on Paid Up Stock 6% .. 58.80 $ 5,881.09
RESOURCES.
Cash on hand
$ 2,630.29
Mortgage Loans
53,850.00
Collateral Loans
2,201.00
Real Estate
6,145.75
Accounts Receivable
56.31
$64,883.41
LIABILITIES.
Capital Stock Account :
Installment Stock
$63,584.96
Paid Up Stock
1,050.00 $64,634.96
Undivided Profits
248.45
$64,883.41
MORTGAGE LOANS.
Loans in force January 1, 1905
$56,150.00
Loans granted in 1905
11,800.00
$67,950.00
Loans cancelled in 1905
14,100.00
Loans in force December 31, 1905
$53,850.00
262
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE
COLLATERAL LOANS.
Loans in force January 1, 1905
$ 3,360.00
Loans granted in 1905. 100.00
$ 3,460.00
Loans cancelled in 1905
$ 1,259.00
Loans in force December 31, 1905. $ 2,201.00
INSTALLMENT STOCK.
Shares in force January 1, 1905 9401/2
Shares issued in 1905 113
1,05312
Shares withdrawn in 1905
217
Shares in force December 31, 1905. 8361/2
PAID UP STOCK.
Shares in force December 31, 1905 51/4
Number of shares borrowed on 2801/4
Free Shares 5611/2
Number Male Stockholders 98
Number Female Stockholders 30
CHAPTER VIII.
COAL AND COKE.
England gave us Blackstone; our laws are her laws. Our wealth is our own. The Romans and the Grecians put the forge into the hands of Vulcan; England borrowed it for her people; America spoke to him, and he moved into our land. The God of Ages buried the fuel for his bellows under our green earth; our men dig it daily from the ribs of Erebus, and feed it into the thousands of fiery throats that we call coke ovens. Mere blocks of rough stone and clay, they are, nevertheless, the vitals of Connellsville, as Connellsville is the heart of their dominion. They are the frying-pans at our hearth-stones, the chains that shackle the wolves shut out of our doors, the fullness of our money- bags, our benediction, so that the hundred years of Connells- ville becomes in truth the fifty years of her coke industry.
And like many giants of trade and commerce and inven- tion and art, the coke trade came to us, a little waif from other parts long since forgotten. The child that could not thrive in other cradles, here grew to be the king of his tribe. His conception is as dim as the morning mist. In the year 1831, Isaac Meason was making things of iron at Plum- sock, near what is now known as Upper Middletown, in this county. It is set up that he made coke out of the Red- stone coal for use in his foundry, and so he did; but he was unable to make coke that was satisfactory. Meason had hired a man named Nichols, who had come to this coun- try from Durham, England, where coke had for years been made in bee-hive ovens and in pits on the ground. Nichols, it is contended, induced Meason to make the experiment, but the Redstone coal, being a little too hard, did not make good coke. These operations are enshrouded in mystery,
263
264
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CONNELLSVILLE
and are tradition rather than history. Claims have been advanced that about this time coke was also made in Hunt- ingdon county, and at Mt. Savage, Md. In 1836, F. H. Oli- phant made some coke at the old Oliphant Furnace, south of Uniontown, from what he called "Blue Lump Ore," and it is tradition that he sent samples of this to the Franklin Insti- tute in Philadelphia: The furnaces in those days used char- coal for fuel, and there is no record that Oliphant long made use of coke for his furnace.
But in the meantime' the real beginning of the coke industry had been made. And just as Connellsville today sets her seal upon the richest and largest coke production in the world, so she had the honor to build the first success- ful bee-hive oven in the country. Few residents of Con- nellsville today know that the first coke oven in the Con- nellsville region was not built near Dawson, as history has always spoken, but in the very heart of Connellsville itself, and not three hundred feet from the old stone house built by Zachariah Connell. The history of that one lone oven is most interesting. It was the outcome of the carding and fulling industry. In Newton, Conn., there was born in the year 1797, a man named Lester LeRoy Norton, who, in tender years, came to Connellsville. On the north bank of Connell Run, a short distance above the new Hogg Addition bridge, there stands the ruin of an old building. It was erected by Lester Norton, his brother, and uncle; it was four stories high, built of stone, entered from the level of the valley into the first story, and from the level of what is now Fairview avenue into the fourth story. This build- ing was erected for the manufacture of cotton, and was operated by the waters of Connell Run. Meanwhile, the raising of sheep had become an avenue of prosperity to Fayette county farmers. Norton watched the growth with interest. He was a pioneer, not a builder of private fortune. So he built, farther down the stream, at a point about three hundred feet below the South Side culvert, a second fac- tory, for the carding, spinning and fulling of wool only.
265
COAL AND COKE
This new factory, like its predecessor, was operated by water power, a race having been built along the side of the stream, to give sufficient fall. But Norton was not long satisfied with the profits derived from this mill. The mak- ing of iron was fast becoming a leading industry in the infant county, and Norton, ever ready to try the new, began to dismantle his carding factory in 1831, and to convert it into a foundry. His first move was to put up a cupola large enough to melt three tons of iron a day. He produced the blast for this by connecting the crank from the water wheel which had turned the machinery of the carding factory to an overhead beam, which worked in turn a piston in an air- tight box called a bellows. Were that same primitive iron manufacturer to stand before one of the million-dollar blow- ing engines of the Homestead furnaces, he would not know that it is still his box bellows, doing the same work, on a grander scale. But his plan proved a success. Meantime, the adventurous Nichols, disgusted with failure at Upper Middletown, drifted into Connellsville. He was complete master of the foundry business. Norton placed him over his new foundry: His other assistants were Hamilton Alton, a first-class molder, Leonard Buel, who had a reputation for making tea kettles, and Jacob Robb, who, under the care of Nichols, soon became a valuable fireman. Norton's son, Philo Norton, who survives today, the father of Eugene T. Norton, cashier of the First National Bank, was a lad in teens, and was pressed into service to clean ware and supply the blacking. Years before this, probably as early as 1810, Zachariah Connell was supplying free coal to the citizens of Connellsville from an opening in the old Plummer mine, on the east bank of the Youghiogheny, just north of town. The fuel for Norton's foundry was hauled from the old Plummer mine in wagons, this coal having passed into pri- vate ownership. Nichols still had hopes of making coke for foundry purposes, and notwithstanding his failure at Upper Middletown, he induced Norton to make a second trial here. Nichols designed the oven, and it was built by
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