History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 15

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards
Number of Pages: 1418

USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > History of Berks county in Pennsylvania > Part 15

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The same slowness, simplicity, but earnest labor, followed the threshing of grain after it had been harvested. The flail and the walking

of horses on the barn-floor were continued for a hundred and fifty years. Indeed, some of the poorer, non-progressive farmers in districts dis- tant from railroads and prominent highways still carry on this laborious performance. For long straw the flail is still indispensable. But about 18501 the threshing-machine wasintroduced, and also the horse-power machine for running it with speed and success. Patent hay-rakes, hay-forks, corn-shellers and implements and machines of various kinds are also used in every section of our county. All these things were developed from the easy manufacture of iron into any shape. Accordingly, the model and the foundry played an important part in these improve- ments. And at the bottom of all this progress to and for the farmer we find iron, coal and steam.

We no longer see from ten to thirty and forty persons engaged in hay-making and har- vesting on our surrounding farms as they were seen one hundred, indeed, only thirty years ago. A farmer and his own family, with the aid of his horses and improved farming ma- chinery, can carry on all the work, from begin- ning to end successfully. He has little or no hired help to deal with. This is certainly a great consideration to him. His investment in improved machinery is therefore profitable; and it is always reliable and ready. During the last thirty years numerous manufacturing establishments were erected in our country. They caused a great demand for working-peo- ple, and this demand was supplied to a great degree from the farming districts. The manu- facturer paid higher wages than the farmer, and limited the time of daily labor to ten hours. Towns and cities, at which these establishments were almost entirely erected, afforded the work- ing-people more and better advantages and facilities in respect to schools, churches, pleas- ures and associations. These naturally inclined them to quit laboring on farms in the country and enter establishments in populous places. Accordingly, farm-laborers began to grow scarce, and farmers became alarmed, but for-

1 Possibly 1840. Between 1840 and 1850 they were manufactured at Reading.

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

tunately for farming, whilst enterprise was drawing one way against its interests and wel- fare, genius was acting with equal force in the other for them. The result has actually come to be beneficial to the farmer, especially in respect to making him more self-dependent.

COUNTY SOCIETY AND EXHIBITIONS .- A society, formed for the purpose of promoting the interests of farmers through the progressive cultivation of land, may not be strictly regarded as an intellectual association. But it is cer- tainly intended for the discussion of matters whose principal object is the improvement of farmers, as well respecting their condition as the ways by which they can conduct their op- erations with greater ease and success ; and the process is purely intellectual-the direction of affairs through an improved understanding.

In 1823, a State Agricultural Society was sug- gested to the people of the State by an Act of incorporation ; but nothing resulted from the legislative movement. Nearly thirty years elapsed before a successful movement was made. A public letter was addressed to the farmers of the State, in May, 1850, which suggested a convention to be held at Harrisburg, in January, 1851, for the purpose of forming a State Agri- cultural Society. There were delegates from the several counties in attendance,-those from Berks County having been Heury A. Muhlen- berg, John C. Evans, Jacob Reifsnyder, Alex- ander S. Feather, William D. Robeson and Samuel Fegely. It resulted successfully, and the first State Fair was held in October, 1851. This movement having met with success, a pre- liminary meeting for organizing a society in the county was held at the Keystone House, in Reading, on December 20, 1851. It was at- tended by fifteen prominent citizens1 of the

county, all from Reading excepting two, wlio cansed a public address to be issued. A formal organization was effected at the court-house on January 13, 1852, and one hundred and eight persons subscribed the constitution. The first exhibition was held on 17th of August, 1852, in the parlors of Housum's new hotel (now American House), on the southwest corner of Fourth and Penn Streets, Reading. It was confined principally to grains, vegetables, fruits and flowers ; and, though small, it exceeded all expectations and was an entire success, having attracted a large number of visitors from Read- ing and all parts of the county. This was a " horticultural fair." The first "agricultural fair" was held in Octoher, 1853; the exhibi- tion of speed took place on a large lot on tlie northeast corner of Sixth and Walnut Streets ; of farming implements, stock, poultry, etc., in the lot on southeast corner of Fifth and Elm Streets; and of grain, fruits, flowers, fancy arti- cles, etc., in the Academy building, on north- east corner of Fourth and Court Streets. It was a great success,-the attendance was esti- mated at twenty thousand.

In the spring of 1854 (April) an exhibition was held with success on a lot below Laurel Street, between Fourth and Fifth Streets.

In a report to the society, made April 5, 1853, a recommendation was made that the public park and parade-ground be obtained as a snit- able locality for the erection of buildings, etc., to promote agricultural science. This recom- mendation was acted upon, and on May 13, 1854, the county commissioners leased to the so- ciety the ground known as the " commons," for the purpose of holding its annual fairs, for the term of ninety-nine years. The third an- nual fair was held there 2 in October, 1854; and

1 There were present at this meeting Dr. John P. Heis- ter, Hon. Charles Kessler. General William H. Keim, Ja- cob Gehr, Peter Filbert, Augustus F. Boas, Frederick Lauer, Hon. J. Pringle Jones, George W. Oakeley, Samuel L. Young, Edward M. Clymer and Jacob Knabb.

Dr. John P. Hiester was elected chairman, and Peter Filbert, Esq., secretary of this first meeting, and a call was issued for a county meeting, which was held at the court- house, in the city of Reading, on Tuesday afternoon, Jan- uary 13, 1852, at which Henry Flannery, Esq , of Union, presided. A constitution and rules of order were pre . seuted by A. F. Boas, Esq., and adopted. The election fer

officers resulted in the choice of Dr. John P. Hiester as president ; Colonel Henry Shubert, of Bethel, and Major Henry S. Kupp, of Union township, vice-presidents : Thomas Penrose, of Maiden-creek, as recording secretary ; A. F. Boas, of Reading, as corresponding secretary ; and Adam Leize, of Reading, as treasurer. The terms of membership were ore dollar per annum, which entitled the member to a family ticket to the society's exhibitions during The year.

2 On parl limited by Washington Street on north ; sub- sequently the fence was removed te Walnut Street.

EARLY AND GENERAL INDUSTRIES.

every succeeding year till now the fairs have been conducted with increasing success on the " Fair Ground " excepting during the Civil War for three years (1862-3-4), when 1 it was taken and held by the United States govern- ment for the purposes of a military hospital and camp.

The exhibitions of the society since its organ- ization have been held altogether at Reading.

The annual " Fair" is one of the principal objects of the society. But beyond this, there is an important feature-monthly meetings for the discussion of topics which pertain to the ag- ricultural and horticultural progress of the farmer. These are interesting and profitable in various ways. They have been held in the third story of the court-house for some years past. Formerly they were held at different places, prominent among them being the "Keystone House " and " Keystone Hall."

The society is collecting an agricultural li- brary, the books now numbering several hun- dred.

A similar society was formed at Kutztown in 1870, and its exhibitions have been very success- fnl. The success of this society should stimulate the residents of the county at and in the vicinity of the several boroughs, Boyerstown, Hamburg, Birdsboro', Bernville and Womelsdorf, to organ- ize similar societies and conduct annnal exhibi- tions for the encouragement of local interest in the progressive development of agriculture and of everything connected with its profitable di- rection.

The "Patrons of Husbandry" was organized into a prominent and influential association at Washington, D. C., in 1867. The first subor- dinate organization of this kind in Pennsylvania was called a "grange." The "State Grange" was organized at Reading, on September 18, 1873. Delegates from twenty-five granges were in attendance. Shortly afterward local granges were formed in different parts of the county.

FARMS, PRODUCTIONS, ETC., OF COUNTY .- The following statement exhibits the number, acreage, valne and productions of the farms in the county at two periods. Some marked

differences appear, as in value of farms, live stock and farm products, which doubtless arose from a different process of ascertaining them.

.1870.

1880.

Farms, number.

6,847

Land in farms, acres

472,008

488,183

Improved land

374,560

405,288

Woodland.

70,932

76,602

Unimproved

26,516

6,293

Value of farms.

$43,638,465

$36,989,274

Value farm implements, etc .. $1,753,750

$1,365,615

Value live stock ..

$4,544,490

$2,859,533

Value farm products.

$9,150,789

$4,485,551

Value orchard products.

$171,215

$140,701

Value garden products.

$36.224

$49,732

Horses.

16,783

17,969

Mules and asses

1,333

1,905

Working oxen

Milch cows

32,112

33,541

Other cattle

19,178

20,572

Sheep

5,610

2,823

Swine ..

37,553

37,790

Wheat, bushels,

930,653

737,125

Rye, bushels

281,867

431,721

Oats, bushels

1,425,157

1,207,657

Buckwheat, bushels

4,992

11,476

Barley, bushels

411

1,824

Corn, bushels

1,267,194

1,586,896

Potatoes, bushels.

400,846

448,259

Tobacco, pounds.

1,000

240,027

1 Not given in U. S. Census Reports.

CHAPTER VII.

EARLY AND GENERAL INDUSTRIES.

Early Furnaces and Forges of County-Production, 1828-30 -Industries in 1840-Comparative Statement, 1850- 1876-Memorial for National Foundry-Summary of Present Furnaces, Forges, and Mills-Comparative Table of Statistics, for 1880-Production of Iron in County at three recent periods-General Industries-Statistics of Manufactures of County, 1870 and 1880.

EARLY FURNACES AND FORGES OF COUNTY.2

THE county of Berks was formed out of parts of Philadelphia, Lancaster and Chester Coun- ties in 1752. In each part there were iron in- dustries at an early period in the history of the county, especially in the lower portion of the part taken from Philadelphia Connty. They were scattered many miles from one another,

2 " Penna. Mag. of Hist.," vol. viii., p. 56-81 ; prepared by the author of this history and published in March, 1884.

1 Taken in June, 1862.

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

extending from the southern boundary to the northern, and from the eastern to the western. All were located along strong streams which afforded constant water-power, and in the midst of thickly-wooded territory which furnished an inexhaustible supply of charcoal. The greater number were east of the Schuylkill. The eight following streams were occupied before the Revolution : Manatawny and its tributary,-the Ironstone, West Branch of Perkiomen, French, Hay, Allegheny, Tulpehocken and its tributary, -Spring.

South of the "South Mountain " were the following : Furnaces,-Colebrookdale, Mount Pleasant, Hopewell and Oley ; Forges,-Pool, Pine, Hay Creek, Oley, Spring, Mount Pleasant and Gibraltar.

North of this mountain, however, there were one furnace, Roxborough or Berkshire, and two forges, Charming and Moselen.

The following historical facts are submitted, relating to the industries named. They conflict with and antedate numerons statements hereto- fore made and published. They were gathered almost entirely from the recorded deeds, etc., in the recorder's office of Berks County. For this reason they can be generally relied upon as correct. Notwithstanding my diligent search, this narrative is incomplete. Furtlier investi- gation will doubtless reveal additional facts with respect to some of the industries named, both before and after the Revolution, and these may modify certain statements made and opinions expressed.

FURNACES.

COLEBROOKDALE FURNACE. - The Cole- brookdale Furnace was situated on the Ironstone Creek, an important branch of the Manatawny, in Colebrookdale township, within a mile to the south of the borough of Boyertown. A valua- ble deposit of iron-ore there induced its erection at that point. It is supposed to have been erected in the year 1720, " or a year or two earlier," by a company comprising, among others, Thomas Rutter, Anthony Morris, James Lewis and Thomas Potts. Especial mention of it is made in Watson's " Annals," in the " Potts Memorial," by Mrs. James, and in the able and exhaustive chapter on " Iron-Making in Penn-

sylvania," by Mr. James M. Swank, in “ Penn- sylvania and the Centennial Exhibition," vol. i. The transmission of title to this furnace proper- ty is complicated. The facts about its inception, operation and abandonment are involved in con- siderable obscurity. A correct statement of facts about it will therefore not be attempted. It is generally conceded to have been the first furnace which was erected in Pennsylvania. Thomas Rutter died in 1730. In November, 1728, he executed a last will, by which it would appear that he owned two-thirds of a furnace and of a forge; the former, it is supposed, was this furnace, and the latter " Pool Forge." In 1731 it was owned in one-twelfth parts, as fol- lows-the Rutter family apparently not owning any interest : Anthony. Morris, one-twelfth ; Alexander Wooddross, three-twelfths ; Samuel Preston, one-twelfth ; William Attwood, one- twelfth ; John Leacock, one-twelfth ; Nathaniel French, three-twelfths; George Mifflin, one- twelfth; Thomas Potts and George Boone, one- twelfth.

About that time the furnace was carried on extensively. Pig-iron was manufactured and sold in large quantities. The price was fifteen dollars a ton. "Country castings"-articles of iron used by farmers in the vicinity-were also made, the price of which was twice that of pig- iron.

A stove-plate, inscribed as having been cast at this furnace in 1763, was exhibited at the " Centennial Exhibition " in 1876. It is sup- posed that the furnace was abandoned soon after this cast was made.

The furnace was named after one of the same name in Shropshire, in England. The sur- rounding territory naturally took the same name; and, subsequently, in 1736, upon its erection into a township, it was called " Cole- brookdale."

MOUNT PLEASANT FURNACE .- The Mount Pleasant Furnace was situated on the West Branch of the Perkiomen Creek, in Colebrook- dale (now Washington) township, about five miles north of Colebrookdale Furnace, at a point a short distance beyond Barto, the term- inus of the Colebrookdale Railroad. It is said to have been erected by Thomas Potts, Jr., in

EARLY AND GENERAL INDUSTRIES.

1738. The first blast was made ou the 12th of October, 1738, and continued to the 11th of De- cember following, during which time there were manufactured : Pig-iron, 85 tons ; country castings, 6 T. 1 cwt. 2 qr. 2 p. ; and forge cast- ings, 7 cwt. 3 qr. 6 p .- altogether 91 T. 9 cwt. 1 qr. 8 p. Six blasts were made to the 20th of July, 1741-a total of four hundred and seventy days-during which time six hundred and ninety tons of iron were produced. The subsequent history of the furnace is not known ; at least it has not as yet been published, perhaps not even investigated thoroughly, owing to the absence of unrecorded agreements and title-pa- pers. Its exact locality can still be identified by the base of the stack.

HOPEWELL FURNACE .- The Hopewell Fur- nace is situated on French Creek, in Union township, near the county line. It is said to have been erected by William Bird in 1759. This is possible, but not probable. He died November 16, 1762. But this furnace was not then part of his possessions. And yet he then owned the Roxborough Furnace, in Heidelberg, distant at least fifteen miles from Birdsboro'. If he had owned it, why should he have sold it just before his death, inasmuch as it was only five miles distant, whereas the Roxborough was sitnated three times as far off? But there is no title of record from him to any one. It is more than likely that Mark Bird built this furnace after his father's death, say abont 1765. He was then twenty-six years old. He held it for twenty years. The first mention of it is made in a mortgage, dated in 1772, made by him to his sister Mary and brothers William and James to secure the payment of certain trust moneys. Becoming subsequently em- barrassed, he, in 1785, was first compelled to borrow money (two hundred thousand Spanish milled dollars) from John Nixon, a merchant, of Philadelphia, on a mortgage, in which (among other properties) he described the Birds- boro' Iron-Works and eight thousand acres of land, which included the Hopewell Furnace property ; and then, finding himself insolvent, he, in 1786, transferred the property to Nixon, in trust, to sell and satisfy debts, etc. Nixon accordingly exposed it to public sale, and in

1788 transferred one-third to Cadwallader Mor- ris and two-thirds to James Old, both iron- masters. At that time the furnace lands comprised altogether five thousand one hundred and sixty-three acres. In 1790 Cadwallader Morris sold his one-third of the premises to Benjamin Morris ; and in 1791 James Old sold his two- thirds to the same person. In 1793 Benjamin Morris resold the entire furnace property to James Old. After the lapse of seven years Old became embarrassed and was forced to yield up his title through the law and the sheriff to his creditor, Benjamin Morris, who bought it at the sale. This was in 1800. In August, 1800, Morris sold it to Daniel Buckley, of Lancaster County, Thomas Brooke, of Montgomery County, and Matthew Brooke, Jr., of Berks County, for ten thousand pounds. The furnace was rebuilt in that year. The Brookes subse- quently sold out their interests, and Dr. Charles Clingan acquired an interest in it. Edward S. Buckley is now a joint owner with the estate of Dr. Clingan. Charcoal has been used from the beginning till now. It may be the oldest furnace in the county now in existence. The "Oley " was built about the same time. The "Hope- well " has been in the Buckley family over eighty years. The "Joanna " has been in the Smith family nearly ninety years.

OLEY FURNACE .- The Oley Furnace is situated on Furnace Creek, a branch of the Little Manatawny, in Oley township, a short distance north of Friedensburg, and near the line between Oley and Ruscomb-manor town- ships. It was built most probably by Dietrich Welcker, an iron-master of Skippack, between 1758 and 1768, say about 1765 ; and it is pos- sible that William Mayberry was a joint owner with him in the beginning. In 1768 the furnace was certainly in existence and in active operation, for Welcker then borrowed one hun- dred pounds from John Lesher, an iron-master of Oley, and executed a mortgage to him, in which the furnace is mentioned and five tracts of land, together 558 acres, 110 perches He had borrowed money from others, who sent the sheriff after him. Subsequently Daniel Udree came to own this furnace, and carried it on in connection with the " Rockland Forges," situated several

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

miles to the northeast, till his death in 1828. It is now, and has been for years, owned by the "Clymer Iron Company." . A plate, with an inscription "1770," is built in the stack of the furnace; but this must certainly relate to some other fact than the date of the beginning of the furnace. An ore-bank is near by. But iron- ore was also supplied in its early operation from the Moselem Mine, in Richmond township, distant about eight miles to the northwest.

BERKSHIRE FURNACE .- The Berkshire Fur- nace was situated on a branch of Spring Creek, in Lower Heidelberg township, about two miles southwest of Wernersville. It was erected by William Bird about 1760. It was part of his estate at the time of his death in 1762. The name first given to it was Roxborough. It is not known when the name was changed to Berkshire. About 1790 George Ege purchased the furnace property and carried it on for several years, when he abandoned it, doubtless owing to scarcity of water. During the Revo- Intion cannon-balls were manufactured at this furnace. Ege carried it on under a lease with the widow of Wm. Bird-intermarried with John Patton-from 1774. She owned it from 1764 to 1790. Mr. Ege rendered an account to the " United States " April 3, 1783, in which it appears that he furnished the government, November 14, 1780, with the following shells and shot, altogether of the value of £2894 11s. 6d .:

Shells : 867, 10 in .; 714, 8 in.

Shot : 843, 24 pd .; 2137, 18 pd .; 289, 12 pd.

FORGES.

POOL FORGES .- Pool Forge was situated on the Manatawny Creek, a short distance below the point where the Ironstone flows into it ; and another of the same name on the Manatawny, several miles below. The latter is supposed to have been the first of the two, and erected in the year 1717. This would be a few years before the time generally allowed as the date of the erection of the Colebrookdale Furnace. It is be- lieved that the remarks of Jonathan Dickinson, in a letter written in 1717, related to this forge. He said :. " This last summer one Thomas Rutter, a smith, who lived not far from Ger-

mantowu, hath removed farther up in the country, and of his own strength hath set upon making iron. Such it proves to be, as it is highly esteemed by all the smiths here, who say that the best of Sweed's iron doth not exceed it. And we have accounts of others that are going on with iron works." It is not known when the former forge began. Thomas Rutter was in- terested in one, or perhaps both, of these forges. A forge is mentioned in his last will, dated 1728, in which he disposes of two one- third interests. In 1731 a "Pool Forge" was owned in one-sixteenth parts, as follows : Anthony Morris, two-sixteenths ; Alexander Wooddross, two-sixteenths ; Samuel Preston, one-sixteenth ; William Attwood,'one-sixteenth ; John Leacock, one-sixteenth ; Nathaniel French, one-sixteenth ; George Mifflin, one- sixteenth ; Thomas Potts and George Boon, one-sixteenth ; Rutter's estate, six-sixteenths.

The subsequent history of this forge is un- known. It is possible that Pine Forge was built in 1740, near by, to take its place in the manufacture of blooms.

PINE FORGE .- The Pine Forge was erected in 1740, by Thomas Potts. It was situated on Manatawny Creek, in Douglass township, very near the line of Amity. One of the Pool Forges was sitnated a short distance above and the other some distance below. His son, John Potts, succeeded him. After the forge had been carried on for some years by him, it was sold in 1769 to David Potts, Jr. In 1783 David Rutter bought it at public sale, and he carried it on till his death in 1815, when his son John became the owner of the property. Subse- quently Joseph Bailey came to own the works, and in 1845 he converted the forge into a roll- ing-mill. There was a " Little Pine Forge " not far distant, but its locality and history have not been ascertained.

HAY CREEK FORGE .- William Bird ob- tained land along Hay Creek, in the eastern extremity of Robeson township, in 1739, the patent therefor having been taken out three years before by Francis Hughes. In the fol- lowing year he began the iron business in this locality by the erection of a forge on Hay Creek, about half a mile above the Schuylkill.

EARLY AND GENERAL INDUSTRIES.

He then took up additional tracts of land by warrant and survey, and by 1756 he had se- cured about three thousand acres. This forge was carried on by him till his death in 1762, Subsequently his widow owned it for some years. His son, Mark Bird, carried on business there till he failed in 1788, and was sold out by the sheriff. At that time it is supposed that Mark Bird had about eight thousand acres of land in connection with his iron industries.

In 1764 the iron-works there comprised three forges, corn (grist) mill, saw-mill and about two thousand four hundred acres of land.

The pig-iron was probably obtained at Cole- brookdale Furnace, distant about ten miles, for about twenty-five years, till the erection of Hope- well Furnace, five miles distant to the south.

Mr. Bird laid out a town below the forge towards the river, it is believed about 1750, and called it Birdsboro.' In 1751 he erected, within the limits of the town-plan, a fine two- story, cut-stone mansion-house. This building is still standing, and is now the Birdsboro' House.

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History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 15

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards Number of Pages: 1418

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards
Number of Pages: 1418