USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Bridgeport > Hart's history and directory of the three towns, Brownsville, Bridgeport, West Brownsville also abridged history of Fayette county & western Pennsylvania > Part 13
USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > West Brownsville > Hart's history and directory of the three towns, Brownsville, Bridgeport, West Brownsville also abridged history of Fayette county & western Pennsylvania > Part 13
USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Brownsville > Hart's history and directory of the three towns, Brownsville, Bridgeport, West Brownsville also abridged history of Fayette county & western Pennsylvania > Part 13
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
WHOLE WINTER ON THE RIVER.
Thus the entire winter was passed on the river, and early in the spring of 1816, the "Dispatch" arrived at New Orleans. There she was boarded by Edward Livingston, United States marshal for that district, who notified the engineer in charge that he, Livingston, and Robert Fulton, had the ex- clusive right to navigate the waters of Louisiana with steamboats, and they would not permit that right to be infringed. But the master of the "Dis- patch" pleaded ignorance of that fact, and promised to leave Louisiana and not return, upon which he was permitted to depart with the boat without prosecution.
But it appears that they did not live up to the agreement, for the journal says they then took in freight and passengers and started for Alexandria at the rapids of the Red River, whence after discharging, they started on the return trip to Pittsburg. The boat was small and weak and so made slow progress against the current of the Mississippi, though some advantage was gained by her light draft of water, on which account she "could run close inshore and around the willow banks." Arriving at the falls of the Ohio, the water was found to be low, so that the boat was hauled by a slow and laborious process, up the rapids close in to the Kentucky shore.
"It was late in the summer," says the journal, "when we arrived at Pitts- burg, and our trip being so long in making, we did not save any money. I acted as clerk and first engineer on the trip from Louisville to New Orleans and back to Pittsburg. On the whole route from New Orleans to Pittsburg, we were not passed by a steamboat, nor did we meet a boat on the Ohio. There were then in existence the following boats: New Orleans, Actna, Vesuvius, and Buffalo, on the Mississippi river. 1 do not remember of seeing any on the Ohio." And in writing of the trip he made two years later (1818) down the Monongahela and Ohio, on a flatboat, Mr. Rogers says, ' I saw no steamboat from the time 1 left Brownsville till 1 reached Louisville.'
Pen Picture of the Three Towns.
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888.
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... . . .. 14/4
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History of the Reindeer
HISTORY OF THE REINDEER.
"In 1825. Robert Rogers, Cephas Gregg, Abram Kimber and others, built the steamboat 'Reindeer.' She was built in John Cock's boat yard, a short distance above where Mason, Rogers & Co.'s flouring mill then stood (now the Eclipse mill), and was launched on Christmas day in the year named. L'pon her completion she was placed under command of Capt. Abram Kimber, and ran for some years on the Ohio, between Pittsburg and Louisville, Ky.
KEEL-BOAT BUILDING.
About 1826, Abel Coffin and Michael Miller commenced the building of kcel boats in Bridgeport, on an extended scale, and an almost incredible number of them were turned out by these builders. John Cock also built a large number of them, and he as well as Coffin and Miller, built some steamboats. In 1827, Mr. Cock built for James May of Pittsburg, the two Ohio river steamers. "Erie" and "Shamrock." Coffin and Miller built the "Reindeer" (second of that name), the "Mountaineer," the "Champion" (Capt. Thomas Sloan ), and many others."
PRINGLE'S FLAT-BOTTOM BOATS.
Boat building at this place reached its zenith, however, under John S. Pringle, father of J. D. S. Pringle, who came here from Bedford County in 1826. He first worked for Joseph Allen. The first steamboat on which he worked was the "Highlander," built by Robert Rogers, opposite the saw- mill on Water street, Bridgeport. John Herbertson also worked on the same boat. In the early part of 1828, John S. Pringle built a flat-bottom boat for Robert Rogers and Samuel Clark, called the "Visitor," which ran the following summer from Pittsburg to Louisville, and made a remarkable success, carning $2,000 more than her entire cost during that one season, and was then sold at $2,000 advance on her entire cost. The success of this boat caused the building of others of similar construction by Mr. Pringle. He then established a boat yard in West Brownsville. There he built a great number of steamers and other river craft, and continued in the business at that place until 1843 after which he purchased from Ephraim Blaine, father of the Hon. James G. Blaine, in West Brownsville, a large tract of land in- cluding his residence and sawmill, and established thereon the boat vard that he ran so many years with such phenomenal success. It is estimated that during his time Mr. Pringle built on both sides of the Monongahela river more than five hundred steamboats besides a great number of barges and other craft. The largest boat ever built by him was the "Illinois." This boat was 380 feet long and 72 feet beam. She was floated down the river on high water, to Pittsburg where her engines were placed aboard. Mr. Pringle also built the first towboat that ever plied on the Monongahela river. She was named the "Coal Hill."
VETERAN BOAT BUILDERS OF THE MONONGAHELA VALLEY.
Andrew Axton.
John Pringle.
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FOUNDERS OF HAMBURGER AND THOMPSON DISTILLERIES Geo. W. Jones. Samuel Thompson.
142
The Pringle Boat Building Co.
Y
Old Pringle Boat Yard
THE PRINGLE BOAT-BUILDING CO.
In 1864 Mr. Pringle admitted W. W. Aull to partnership and in the follow- ing year the Pringle Boat-Building Company was organized. The members of this company were, John Wilkinson, James Storer, John S. Gray, James H. Gray, William Patterson, John Starr, A. K. MeKec, A. J. Smalley, A. S. Starr. James Blair, U. G. M. Perrin, Joseph Weaver, James Patterson, A. C. Axton , E. F. Wise, Daniel French, John Wiegel, Henry Minks, Robert Huston, Geo. McClain, Wm. Gray, Finley Patterson, John S. Pringle, and J. D. S. Pringle, the latter two being the principal parties to the organization. Three years later, John S. Pringle bought out the company. January 1, 1879, John S. Pringle retired from the business and was succeeded by his son, J. D. S. Pringle and his son-in-law, C. Axton. On the first day of January, 1883, J. D. S. Pringle bought out his brother-in-law, Mr. Axton and became sole proprietor.
COCK & LENHART. BOAT BUILDERS.
Another boat vard was established in West Brownsville in 1848, by John Cock and Leonard Lenhart. This they operated successfully for twelve years. At the end of this time T. F. Cock and D. D. Williams took charge
Herbertson's Son's Machine Shop, Bridgeport.
1
Old
Miller,
110W
Champion
Mills,
Bridgeport.
Wright's Marble and Granite Works, Bridgeport.
IT
Old Mason. now Eclipse Mill, Bridgeport.
144
Herbertson & Co.'s Foundry and Machine Shops
E
Thos. Faull's Steam Engine
of it and ran it for four years. J. M. Hutchinson and T. C. S. Williams then bought the yard and conducted it for about five years when they sold out to H. B. Cock & Co. They continued the business till 1875 when the vard was discontinued.
THE HERBERTSON & COMPANY FOUNDRY AND MACHINE SHOPS.
The foundry and machine shops of Herbertson & Co., was established in 1838 by John Herbertson and Thomas Faull, Mr. Herbertson having been the superintendent of Snowden's foundry when the castings were made for the Dunlap's Creek bridge. In 1842 the partnership between Herbertson and Faull was dissolved, Mr. Herberston continuing the business. The establish- ment was at first a small one compared with what it is now. Almost every year since then new departments, new machinery and more space has been added, till now the business is one of gigantic proportions. It is still conducted by William H. and George S. Herbertson, under the firm name of J. Herbert- son's Sons.
THE VULCAN IRON AND MACHINE WORKS.
One of the most important, if not the most important manufacturing establishments in Brownsville in the early days, was the foundry, forge,
VETERAN ENGINE BUILDERS AND MACHINISTS.
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J. Nelson Snowdon.
John Snowdon.
Thos. Faull.
John Herbertson.
146
Vulcan Iron and Machine Works
rolling mill and machine shop of Capt. John Snowdon known as the Vulcan Iron and Machine Works. It was located on Water street where the Connells- ville Central R. R. is now cutting through the hill across Market and Front streets for its tracks. In consideration of the many descendents of Capt. John Snowdon, who are still prominent citizens of Brownsville, an extended notice of this industry that did so much for Brownsville, may not be con- sidered out of order.
John Snowdon came to Brownsville from Yorkshire, England, in 1818, bringing with him his wife and two children. He was a blacksmith by trade and a man of superior ability. He commenced work at his trade for John Weaver at one dollar a day which was more than was being paid to any blacksmith in Brownsville at that time. One of the first things he did outside of his regular work in the shop, was to make a stove or what was called an English oven for George Hogg. This work not only proved so satisfactory that he received orders for several more stoves but served to show Mr. Hogg who was a man of means, that Mr. Snowdon was more than an ordinary workman and prompted him to furnish him with the means for starting a shop of his own which in time grew to the magnificent proportions herein- after described.
The principal building was of brick, two stories high and 150x50 feet. This was used as a finishing shop. It was admirably constructed with a view to the convenience of the workmen and facilitating the work. Its two Hoors were the full size of the building and well lighted. These rooms were filled with the best machinery then known for the work, among which may be named 19 turning lathes, six planing mills, four boring machines, and eight drill presses. On the lower floor were ten blacksmith forges with all their necessary equipments, such as cranes steam forge hammers etc. The foundry adjoined the machine shop and was connected with it. It was 50x50 feet and equipped with two cupolas with a capacity of twelve tons each and was fitted out with all the other appliances of a first-class foundry. Adjoining the latter was the pattern shop 60x40 feet, two stories high. These three buildings were of brick and virtually formed one building two stories high, 230 feet long and with the exception of the pattern shop, 50 feet wide, In the rear of these buildings was the rolling mill and forge in a building 180x50 fcet, one story high. The rolling mill was equipped with six pairs of rolls, two puddling furnaces, two heating furnaces, one spike and one rivet machine, and turned out about 600 tons of bar iron yearly. The forge was supplied with the usual appliances for bloom making. The boiler yard was also well equipped for . the rapid execution of work. The machinery of this whole establishment was propelled by four steam engines, one with a five-inch borc, one 12 inches, one 14 inches and the other 20 inches (stroke not given).
The entire cost of the plant was about $125,000 and the annual product was valued at about $150,000. A hardware or iron store was also run in connection with the works at which the products were sold. For many years there were employed regularly about two hundred men in these shops. Here were made annually the engines and all other machinery for about fifteen steamboats and as many other engines.
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Snowdon Machine Shops and Two Gunboats built by Snowdon's during the War. for the Government.
148
The French Cotton and Woolen Mills
At these shops Mr. Snowdon built the engines and all the other ironwork for steamers for Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Texas, Michigan, California and many other states. He also built boats to run on the Rio Grande, for the government, during the Mexican war as well as two gunboats for the gover- ment during the Rebellion, though we understand the latter two were built at his shops in Pittsburg where he had a plant of about the same capacity as the Brownsville plant. He built the first steamboat that ever ran on the Sacramento river and as has been stated before, built the iron bridge across Dunlap's Creek which was the first iron bridge built in America and which is still standing seemingly as solid as adamant. The old metal mile- posts that may vet be seen at a few places along what was once the National Pike, were made by Mr. Snowdon in this shop.
Capt. John Snowdon was ever mindful of the welfare of those whom he employed, was liberal in giving to all worthy individuals or causes, and there was not in him a drop of penurious blood. Starting as he did in 1818 without a dollar, by persistent application, guided by phenomenal wisdom and guarded by prudence, in 1867 he had accumulated an independent fortune and this, too, in spite of the fact that in 1841 he lost more than $40,000 by the bankrupt law; that in 1853 his entire plant including machinery, patterns and stock was totally destroyed by fire entailing a loss of over $80,000 with but $5,000 insurance, and that he lost over $25,000 during the Rebellion by the failure of contractors in consequence of the war.
Captain Snowdon was an F. and A. M. for many years before his death. In 1816 he married Miss Mary Smith and to them were born the following Children: Ann who afterwards became the wife of Adam Jacobs, of Browns- ville; Elizabeth, wife of Walter Smith of Cincinnati, Ohio; Samuel S. of St. Louis, Mo .; I. W. S. of Brownsville; and Sarah M. wife of I. H. Roberts, Allegheny, Pa. Towards the latter part of his business career, his two sons engaged in business with him. He died at Brownsville, January 25, 1875, but the history of his life, his labors and his triumphs, will be read and held up as an incentive to industry and perseverance for many generations yet unborn.
THE FRENCH COTTON AND WOOLEN MILLS.
It was also about the year 1811 that Daniel French of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume, came here and organized a company for manufacturing various articles among them cotton yarn, woolen yarn and the like. We have been unable to learn the exact date when the building was commenced or finished but the following advertisement of the manager, that appeared in a newspaper (Pittsburg paper) under date of August 15, 1814, shows that it was about completed at that time. The advertisement an- nounces to the public that "the factory is nearly ready to go into operation, which will be drove by steam, where we intend keeping a constant supply of cotton yarn of various descriptions, which we will sell at the most reduced prices. And, in addition to the above we have two new wool carding machines with first-rate cards, and having engaged an experienced carder, we hope,
Thompson's Distillery, West Brownsville. Gregg's Machine Shop, West Brownsville.
Aubrey Planing Mill, West Brownsville Hamburger Distillery, Ltd., Bridgeport.
150
The First Glass Plant
from our determined intentions, to do our work with neatness and dispatch, and at the usual prices, to merit a share of the patronage. (Signed) Enos Grave, Manager of the Company."
The incorporators of this company were John Krepps, James Tomlinson, Elisha D. Hunt, William Griffith, John McClure Hezlip, Morris Truman and Enos Grave. The factory was not a success from a financial standpoint and was afterwards used as a carriage factory. It was eventually destroyed by fire.
THE FIRST GLASS PLANT.
In 1811, John Troth, Henry Minchart, Isaac Van Hook and others, formed a stock company and crected the first glass plant in Bridgeport. The manufacture of glass was continued here for a period of about thirty years with varied success. The site of this glass plant was afterwards occupied by the John Hopkins distillery.
GEO. HOGG GLASS WORKS.
Between the Vulcan Iron and Machine Works and the brewery, was the Brownsville Glass Works started in 1827 by George Hogg. The works ran 18 pots, employed about 100 people and turned out annually about 20,000 boxes of the various grades of window glass. The last vestige of this plant was removed by Kelley & Crosson, contractors, in building the Monongahela railroad in 1902.
ANOTHER GLASS FACTORY.
In the year 1828, George Hogg & Co. built a glass factory and ran it about a year when they sold it to John Taylor & Co., the members of which company were John Taylor and Edward Campbell. Taylor sold out to William Camp- bell and the firm name became E. Campbell & Co. E. Campbell sold out to Robert Forsythe and the name of the firm was again changed to Campbell & Forsythe. They sold out to Gue & Gabler who ran the plant for several years when it was sold out by the sheriff. It then fell into the hands of the original owners, George Hogg & Co. It was then started again by a co- operative firm styled Burke, Sedgwick & Co, but after running it several years they failed. Carter, Hogg & Co. then took a turn at it but without success. Benedict Kimber was the next to take it up and at first made some money out of it but he embarked in the steamboat business, and taking charge of the boat he had bought, he left the glass factory in the hands of other parties to manage for him. He took the cholera while on the Illinois river and died and the glass factory again went to the wall Haught, Swearer & Co., then bought the property and started an eight-pot factory, but they failed in a year or two, and Robert Rogers bought the property. He leased it to P. & I. Swearer who ran it a while and failed. They finally started it up again and made a success of it. Finally, in 1864, George W. Wells bought the
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View of Krepps Knob and Diamond Coal Works
152
The Culbertson & Rowe Foundry
1
Peoples Coal Company's Works. Brownsville
property and increased the capacity to eight pots and later to ten. He was doing a good business until the panic of 1873 caused him to lose money and he sold it to Schmertz & Quimby who ran it for some time when it again changed hands. It was then run by different parties until about five or six years ago when it was closed down and has not been started up since. The Monongahela Railroad finally wiped it off the face of the map.
THE CULBERTSON & ROWE FOUNDRY.
John Kropps and a number of other men started a foundry about 1827. William Cock was foreman in this foundry for a time, and afterwards ran it for himself. It was then rented to Culbertson & Rowe and next to John Snowdon who had taken the contract for making the castings for the iron bridge across Dunlap's Creek. As noted elsewhere, the government furnished the metal and Mr. Snowdon made the castings
THE FRENCH MACHINE SHOPS.
The first machine shop in Bridgeport was also established by Daniel French. In this shop the engines for the " Enterprise" and the "Dispatch,"
BARR HOUSE
Barr House. Bridgeport
17077 77 77 77 77 77
Pennsylva- nia Hotel, Bridgeport
Mononga hela House, Browns ville
154
The Thomas Faull Foundry
were built. Mr. French was also the inventor of the oscillating cylinder for steam engines. He left here about 1820, going to Jeffersonville, Indiana where he and his sons engaged in boat building.
THE THOMAS FAULL FOUNDRY.
Thomas Faull, after severing his connection with the firm of Herbertson & Faull, established a foundry on Water Street above the Monument Mills (now the Eclipse Mills). He was succceded by his son.
THE REESE CADWALLADER MILL.
In the latter part of the 18th century, Reese Cadwallader built a mill on Dunlap's Creek, a short distance above Bridgeport, or rather where Bridge- port now stands, and on the site of this mill the Prospect Mill was built. This mill was at one time owned by Rogers & Truman and was sold by them to William Miller. It is now the property of George Wolford.
THE VALLEY MILLS.
A short distance above the last-named mill, there was another known as the Valley mill. This was built in 1834 by Samuel G. Kropps who operated it for many years. It was sold to Eli Leonard who ran it for about ten years.
THE KREPPS & CARTER PAPER MILLS.
Solomon G. Krepps and Zephaniah Carter built a paper mill on Water Street and put it into operation in 1832. Mr. Krepps died shortly after the mill started and his interest was sold to Robert Clarke. This paper mill continued in operation for many years, and was then, in 1857, sold to Mason, Rogers & Co., who converted it into a flour mill. This flour mill is now owned and operated by the Eclipse Milling Co.
THE LANNING PLANING MILLS.
The "Steam Planing Mill, Cabinet and Chair Factory, " of W. H. Lanning, was located in "The Neck," opposite the Monongahela House, and did an extensive business.
THE SHOE INDUSTRY.
Shoes were extensively manufactured in Brownsville in the early days. They were of course made by hand as there was but little known then of the present method of manufacturing shoes.
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2.00.0
Girard House, Browns- ville
Alexander Hotel, Browns- ville
ALEXANDER HOTE
ERA
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Storey House. Browns- ville
156
The First Brewery
FIRST BREWERY.
Not far below the Vulcan Iron and Machine Works along in 1825, there stood a brewery. It was an irregular rambling mass of buildings but in the whole contained all the departments of a first-class brewery at that day. In 1857 this plant was enlarged by Teece & Toynbee and still more thoroughly equipped for the business. This brewery used from 40,000 to 45,000 bushels of barley cach year. It had two steep tubs of 118 barrels capacity each, the one perhaps of a little less capacity. They made all the varieties of ale, beer and porter and had a good sale for their brew. One of their brands, the "Star Ale, " was a favorite and had a wide reputation.
THE BROWNSVILLE AGRICULTURAL WORKS.
The Brownsville Agricultural Works were not in Brownsville but in Bridgeport, and were conducted by Carver, Wood & Crawford. They manufactured thrashing machines that at that age were of course run by horse power, cleaners, separators, corn shellers, cutters, cultivators, fanning mills, double and single shovel plows, horserakes, and other agricultural implements. In connection with this they ran a planing mill and sash factory.
The Bridgeport Agricultural Works, conducted by Aaron Bronson, also manufactured all kinds of agricultural implements.
THE HARVEY LEONARD SAWMILL.
Harvey Leonard had a sawmill on Dunlap's Creek above the Valley Mill and near the borough line. It seems, however, that prior to this (about 1814) Jonah Cadwallader had a sawmill on the same site, and the water both for the Valley Mill and the sawmill of Harvey Leonard, was for years taken from the creek at the same place where Reese Cadwallader had built his mill many years before.
The sawmill of Gibbons, Wood & Crumlow, on Water Street, was in its day a very important industry.
THE TRUMAN STEEL MILLS.
About the year 1811, Morris Truman and his three sons, Morris, Jr., Joseph and James, came to Bridgeport, from Philadelphia, and built and put in operation, works for the manufacture of steel. Afterwards they also built a machine shop where steam engines were built. They also manufac- tured the best of steel for edged tools and the like.
THE RIVER COAL COMPANY.
Of all the gigantic coal mines or plants along the Monongahela river, there is no gainsaying the fact that the River Coal Company's new plant located
Hotel Aubrey, West Brownsville
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DENE
AYE
ALBION HOTEL.
ALBION HOTEL
Atwood Hotel. West Browns- ville
Albion Hotel. Browns- ville
158
The River Coal Company
just up the Monongahela river from Bridgeport, leads them all, or will as soon as it is completed.
This company has 1,600 acres in one body and is now erecting a plant that will employ between 500 and 600 men and turn out about 3.600 tons of coal per day.
Work was commenced last fall and is being pushed as fast as money and men can push it. One slope 322 fcet through the rock, for manway, is completed and one shaft 85 feet deep for hoist way, are already completed. Both are lined with concrete. The tramway and tipple are of steel, both built on concrete foundations on solid rock. The tramway from the shaft and slope to the river is 725 feet long and has three tracks. The loaded cars are to traverse the center track while the empty cars will return on the side tracks.
All machinery will be run by electric power to furnish which, two dynamos are being placed in position. They are of 200 kilowats capacity, or more plainly speaking, 275 horsepower each, and steam to drive the giant engines for running these dynamos will be taken from a battery of four boilers of 250 horsepower each. A smaller dynamo is used to furnish electric lights for offices, shops and mines.
The company now has finished and in course of construction, forty double houses for miners, each in itself a handsome structure and good enough for the domicile of any man ; also six single houses for foremen and a large store building.
The boiler house, engine house, machine shops, office and all other buildings about the mines except the company houses, are of brick and of the most substantial structure. The company has ample room for trackage on its grounds and many of the switches and tracks are already in place, while the tramway is nearing completion. The air shaft is also well down and like the other shaft and slope, is lined with concrete.
F. A. McDonald is the chief engineer, but the work here is under the super- vision of W. A. Smith, division engineer. Mr. Smith is vet a young man in years but ripe in experience and deserves great credit for the excellent and rapid work that is being done on this gigantic plant. J. F. Anderson is mine foreman and is one of the best in the State.
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