History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 7

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

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COPPER .- Large quantities of copper-ore were taken out of Jones' Mine some years ago. The iron-ore and rocks are saturated with copper, but the percent- age is too small, and the process of working the ore is too expensive, to be remunerative. Fritz's Island, Wheatfield and Boyertown also contain small veins of copper.

DAMOURITE-named after the French chemist, Damour-is found on Jacob Fox's farm, in Ruscomb- manor township; at the Rockland Forge of a yellow- ish pale-green color, with a pearly lustre, found in masses, with lilac quartz; on Levi Merkel's farm, in Oley township; at the Wheatfield Mine and in the various limolite mines in the Limestone Valley.

DATOLITE is a white mineral in small crystals, found only on Fritz's Island.

DENDRITES-from dendron, tree-are marks or im- pressions on rocks on Fritz's Island, at Ruth's Mine and in Albany township, resembling trees.

DEWEYLITE-named after Professor Dewey-is ob- tained in several forms in Ruth's Mine, and is a sili- cate of magnesia.

EPIDOTE abounds in masses and in crystals at An- tietam Lake and in Longswamp, two miles south west from Mertztown, in masses at Fleetwood, Boyerstown, Pricetown, Hancock and at various places in the South Mountains.

FELDSPAR group forms the principal constituent of the South Mountain rocks and contains a variety of pyroxene, viz .: Labradorite, from Labrador, where the mineral was first observed. It is found in small crystals in the rocks at Antietam Lake; Oligoclase or

1 The author is indebted to Professor D. B. Brunner, of Reading, for this catalogue of minerals, he having pre- pared it expressly for this history.

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.

Albite at the Nestor and Gilbert Mines, in Washing- ton township ; at Siesholtzville, Orthoclase and other feldspar minerals at Antietam Lake.

FLUORITE is composed of fluorine and calcium, and is found in the limestones on Leinbach's Hill and at the Big Dam. The crystals are cubical, and of a deep blue color.

GALENITE-asulphide oflead-was found in a small vein on Fritz's Island.

GARNETS-garnatees, like a grain-are found both crystallized and massive, of a rich red color, in AI- sace township, east of Antietam Lake, at Hertzog's Mill, in Exeter township, and at Ruth's Mine. The lime-alumina garnets of Fritz's Island are called grossularite.

GOLD .- Dr. Charles M. Wetherill analyzed several rocks found in North Reading and discovered traces of gold and silver.

GOETHITE is an iron ore of a peculiar crystalliza- tion found at the Udree Mine, one and a half miles south of Pricetown. Another variety of this ore is found at the head of Walnut Street, Reading, on the farm of P. D. Wanner, Esq., and is known by the name of lepidokrokite-from lepis, scale, and krokis, fibre.

GRAPHITE-from grapho, I write-is found in the vicinity of Boyertown, on the farms of Messrs. Fege- ley, J. Bechtel and Daniel Himmelreich, and at Dr. Funk's fish-pond, on Schmeck's farm, in Longswamp, in Magnetite, at Siesholtzville, and at Antietam Lake.

GYPSUM .- The name of this mineral is from the Greek word gupsos, and was anciently applied to the same mineral. It is a sulphate of lime and occurs at Bushong's Mine, north of their furnace, at Boyertown and in beautiful hexagonal prisons at Jones' Mine.

HEMATITE is a very abundant ore in the East Penn Valley. When scratched or crushed it has a deep-red or blood color, and hence the name-haima, blood. The micaceous and specular varieties occur at Fritz's Island, at J. F. Dum's Mine, near Fleetwood, and in mas,es at Lobachsville.

KÄMERERITE-named after Kämerer, a Russian-is composed principally of silica and manganese, and is met with in small quantities only at Wheatdeld.

KAOLIN is derived from Kauling, a place in China, where the Chinese obtain the material for their fine ware. It is found at the foot of Mount Penn, at Boy- ertown, James F. Dum's mine at Fleetwood, at Mertztown, on Schmeck's farm in Longswamp, at Weaver's mine in Oley township, and at various other places in smaller bodies.

LIMONITE is one of the most important iron- ores. It is a brown hematite, and was called limo- nite-from leimo, a meadow-because it was first found in bogs and low places.

MAGNETITE .- The iron-ore at Ruth's, Wheatfield, Fritz's Island, Boyertown and other places is mag- netite. It is crystallized in fine octahedrons and ! 5

dodecahedrons at Fritz's Island, Boyertown and Jones' Mine. It is titaniferous at Treichlersville, at Hufl's Church and at Pricetown.

MAGNESITE is a carbonate of maguesia from Kauf- man and Spang's Mine, near Spangsville, in Earl township.

MALACHITE is a green carbonate of copper from Jones' Mine, and Fritz's Island furnished some speci- mens some years ago.

MARBLE .- A good quality is taken from Deppen's quarry at Wernersville, Dr. Eppler's quarry at Lees- port, and Hill's quarry at Shillington.

MARCASITE is a term of Arabic origin and is ap- plied to a sulphuret of iron found in Dr. Eppler's quarry and on Fritz's Island.

MICA .- Group extends in small crystals over the whole South Mountain range. The largest specimens are found near Spangsville, in Earl township, though fair specimens are found on Furnace Hill, in Rus- comb-manor township. Muscovite and biotite occur near Huff's Church.

MOLYBDENITE .- This mineral is met with on Valen- tine Hartman's farm, and a number of other places in the vicinity, but only in foliated crystals.

OCHRE .- Small quantities of yellow and red color may be obtained at Noll's Mine, Fleetwood, Udree's Mine and at Siesholtzville.

PROCHLORITE is a green foliated mineral and ap- pears very much like mica. Very excellent specimens have been collected at Wheatfield, Jones' Mine and on Fritz's Island. Its crystals are hexagonal and some have lines parallel to the sides.

PSILOMELANE-from psilos, smooth, and melas, black-is a peroxide of manganese. The best speci- mens have been obtained near the Rockland Forge.

PYRITES .- Sulphuret of iron abounds in many of the ore-beds of the county, and especially at Wheat- field, Jones' Mine, Boyertown and on Fritz's Island. Some fine octahedral crystals are found at these places. Globular radiating specimens are found in Centre and Windsor townships.

PYROXENE .- This mineral is of a dark-green and black color. The largest crystals are found on Gott- schall's farm, in Alsace township. It is abundant in the vicinity of Antietam Lake and at Ranch's Mine, in Hereford. Sahlite, a variety of this mineral, is a frequent constituent of the syenites of the South Mountains. Augite, another variety, is found at Babb's tavern and around Antietam Lake.

PYRRHOTITE is a sulphuret of iron, slightly nickel- iferous. Its localities are Gottschall's Mine and other places in Alsace and at Boyertown.

PYROLUSITE is an oxide of manganese and is mentioned by Dr. Genth as occurring "in small rhom- bic crystals in geodes, frequently associated with turgite, in limonite beds" in the county, but he states no locality.

QUARTZ .- Transparent crystals are found on Lee's farm, southeast of Friedensburg, in Windsor and

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Greenwich townships; and fine doubly terminated crystals at Noll's Mine at Fleetwood. Smoky quartz crystals occur on Updegrove's farm in Union, on Berg's farm in Albany and on Flint Hill. Good specimens of ferruginous and drasy quartz may be obtained on Flint Hill and on Bomegratz's farm in Ruscomb-manor. Chalcedony is found on Flint Hill, at Bomegratz's, Fleetwood, Fritz's Island, Friedens- burg and Mertztown. Oolitic Chalcedony at Moselem. Chalcedonic-Jasper, Jasper, Agate and Agate-Jasper are abundant at Wernerville, along the mountain, at Bomegratz's, Gottschall's, Flint Hill and in Long- swamp, two miles south of Mertztown. Hornstone occurs only at Friedensburg, and floatstone at Boyer- town.

Basanite, Lydianstone or Touchstone is a companion of jasper and chalcedony, and is usually found in the same localities where they exist, but the largest and purest specimens are found in the Pennsylvania Schuylkill Valley cut southwest of Reading.

RETINALITE-from retina, resin -- is a species of ser- pentine of a resinous color met with at Ruth's, Wheatfield, Jones' Mine and on Fritz's Island.

RIPIDOLITE occurs on Fritz's Island and at Jones' Mine.

SERPENTINE .- Very excellent specimens of this mineral were taken out of the mines at Ruth's and Fritz's Island, and among them were some fine speci- mens of Precious or noble serpentine. The same mineral was found associated with soapstone at Jones' Mine, Boyertown and Topton.

SIDERITE .- Dr. Genth found this mineral, a species of iron-ore, on Valentine Hartman's farm and at the Weaver Mine in Oley.

SPHENE-from sphen, wedge, because the crystal is wedge-shaped-is a variety of titanium, and is found in small crystals in magnetite south of Huff's Church, in Hereford.

STIBNITE is a tersulphide of antimony, very rare, only a few small crystals having been found on Fritz's Island.

TALC or steatite is usually associated with the ser- pentines of Fritz's Island and Jones' Mine.

TITANITE occurs two miles northeast of Jones' Mine.

TURGITE is a common iron-ore and generally forms thin black or red layers on limonite, on P. D. Wan- ner's farm, at Moselem, and at many of the mines in the East Penn Valley.

VENERITE is a clay of chlorite at Jones' Mine con- taining about five per cent. of copper.

WAD is an earthy oxide of manganese, found at Lyons, at old Oley tunnel-mine and at the Half-Way House in Maiden Creek. It is frequently associated with the limonite ores.

WAVELLITE, named after Dr. Wavel, has a finely- radiated structure; a few specimens were found at Wheatfield.

XANTHITE is a Fritz's Island mineral of a yellow color and crystallizedin cubes and hexagonal prisms.

XANTHOSIDERITE is an oxide of iron from a brown to a brownish red color ; occurs in mines in the East Penn Valley. The best specimens were from the vi- cinity of Fleetwood.

ZIRCON crystals of a deep wine color are found in the neighborhood of Pricetown, associated with magnetite.

'ZEOLITE FAMILY .- Thomsonite, named after Dr. Thomson, and mesolite are Fritz's Island minerals. The crystals of each are of a white or pearly color, round and radiating from a small nucleus in the centre. The Thomsonites are hard and solid, but the mesolites are generally softer and fibrous.

CHABAZITE, principally a Fritz's Island mineral, crystallizes in cubes of a white pearly lustre and was quite abundant at one time. It was recently found at Ruth's Mine.

APOPHYLLITE is also found exclusively on Fritz's Island. Its color is white and it crystallizes in various forms.

STILBITE -- from silbe, lustre-is so called on account of its beautiful lustre. Some years ago Raudebush's mine produced many specimens. It is found at Wheatfield, Fritz's Island, Birdsboro', and on Feg- ley's farm, near Bechtelsville.

UNDESCRIBED ZEOLITE .- A mineral belonging to this family is found on Fritz's Island; the crystals differ from all others of the same family, and since no one has ever described them, they have always been called undescribed zeolites.

BOTANY.1

Botanical research in Berks County was begun by Gerhard Gottlieb Bischoff, a native of Stadt- Ilm, in Thuringia, Germany, born May 18, 1775. He was a brother of the distinguished Professor G. W. Bischoff, of the University of Heidelberg. After having received a good edu- cation he studied pharmacy with his father. From 1793 to 1817 he served as apothecary's assistant in various parts of Germany and Switzerland. His brother Frederick having come to this country and settled at Reading, he decided to leave his native land and join him, and accordingly sailed from Rotterdam on July 29, 1817, arriving at Reading on the 23d day of October following. In time he established himself here as an apothecary, doing business on Penn Street, midway between Sixth and

1 The author is indebted to Dr. Daniel B. D. Beaver, of Reading, for this article on the hotany of the county, he having prepared it expressly for this history.

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.

Seventh Streets, where he resided till his death, in 1856. He left a well-preserved collection of European and American plants, which passed into the possession of Dr. Daniel B. D. Beaver. Among them are about one hundred and fifty specimens which were collected in this county.

Next in order of time came Dr. John P. Hiester, whose professional career is mentioned in the chapter on the Medical Profession. He was an enthusiastic lover of the natural sciences, to which he devoted much time, although actively engaged in the practice of medicine. He made a collection of the plants of the coun- ty, which, after his death, was presented to Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa. He also took a lively interest in the geological features of the county, and published a colored map illustrating them.

Contemporaneous with Dr. Hiester was Rev. Dr. T. C. Porter, now holding the chair of botany in Lafayette College, Easton, whose reputation as a reliable observer and botanist needs no comment here. He resided at Reading during part of the years 1848 and 1849, and in that time collected many of the native plants. Of these a few specimens are pre- served in the Bischoff Herbarium.

Another name that deserves mention is that of Hiram W. Hollenbush, a native of this county. He devoted his life to the study of the minerals of the county, and accumulated a mass of fragmentary knowledge of the subject, which, but for his lack of the distinguishing mental trait of the successful scientist-the faculty to generalize facts-and a life-long strug- gle with poverty, might have secured him a high position among the mineralogists of his State and day. He also took some interest in botany. He made a collection of the different kinds of wood growing in the county, and at one time gave some attention to the fungi, but, unfortunately, left nothing to indicate the extent of his labor, or point the way to his successors in the field of botany.

At present there are many amateur botanists in this county, but their work has been done without organized effort-a consideration highly necessary for obtaining the most fruitful results. The first attempt to prepare a list of the known

plants of the county was made by Dr. Daniel B. D. Beaver, when he presented a list to the Reading Society of Natural Sciences. Since then no further progress has been made.

In regard to some of the conditions which determine the richness of the flora of a section of country, this county is unfavorably situated. The distribution and propagation of plant-life are largely dependent upon water-courses and the character of the soil. The former compris- ing the connecting links between highland and lowland, and draining large areas of territory varying in altitude and latitude, and diverse in geological character, they are the receptacles by which, during the wet season, numberless seeds and spores of plants are swept along and mixed in the surface washings and deposited elsewhere, frequently upon distant banks of the stream. In this manner the flora of lowlands is enriched, and usually in proportion to the surface drained by the streams which water them. In this re- spect, this county lacks the advantages of some others in this State. Its borders are on line with the water-shed between the main stream- the Schuylkill-and other streams on the east, west and south; on the east, on the divide with the Lehigli; on the west, with the Susquehanna; and on the south, with the tributaries of the Delaware. From the north it receives the waters of the Schuylkill, which drains the east- ern two-thirds of Schuylkill County, and carries along a number of plants which are native in that section, the most conspicuous being Rhodo- dendron maximum (great laurel) and Rubus odo- ratus (purple flowering raspberry). The former does not grow on limestone soil. Both have been found here only on the banks of the Schuylkill.

The flora of this county have received acces- sions by water channel from the north only ; and these it has transmitted, with its own pecu- liarities, to neighboring sections to the south- ward. In so far, then, as their native characters have been modified by the distributive effects of water-courses, they do not differ much from those of Montgomery, Chester and Schuylkill Counties, while with those of the counties bor- dering on the Susquehanna and Delaware they are in strong contrast, lacking much of their richness.

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

The county may be wanting in some respects, but it is peculiarly adapted for rich flora by its geological formation. It possesses unusual va- riety of soil. In the older formation of South Mountain, east and west of Reading, there are the old Lanrentian gneiss and Potsdam sand- stone, which, by their disintegration, give a dis- tinguishing character to the soil. Immediately to the north of this is the belt of Trenton lime- stone, extending east and west through the county. Northwardly from Reading these lime- stones are overlaid by the Hudson shales, which become continuous on the surface with the Oneida sandstone of the Blue Mountains, but south- wardly the surface is composed mainly of the new red sandstone formation, with an occasional small area of trap rock. The most conspicu- ons trap formation is that of Flying Hill. This furnishes several plants which have not been found elsewhere in the county. With this varying soil for plants of different habits upon which to take root and flourish, the native flora of this county were probably enriched long ago by those agencies which serve to distribute the germs of plant-life independently of local con- ditions-such as the flight of birds, winds and the transportation of merchandise. They should therefore be expected to compare favorably with those of the adjoining counties.

The plants which form the basis of this ar- ticle have been collected mainly west of the. Schuylkill. A few were found on " Neversink Mountain" and "Penn's Mountain," and on the red shale in the southeastern part of the county. West of the Schuylkill they were ob- tained from all the various kinds of soil-on the South Mountain, on the limestone and shale in the valley, on the red sand and shale of Cumru and adjoining townships, and on the trap of Flying Hill-and may be taken to represent fairly the flora of the county, except- ing that part comprising the southern slope of the Blue Mountain. They include only the phænogamous and vascular cryptogamous plants. The mosses, fungi, liver-worts and lichens have not been studied sufficiently to warrant a report of what has been done.

The progress made with the classes here pre- sented can be estimated only by comparison

with what is known of the flora of neighboring counties. For this purpose Chester County will serve best, inasmuch as its plants have been studied more extensively than those of any other, which is shown by Dr. Darlington's "Flora Cestrica," a book devoted entirely to a description of the plant-life of that county, and recognized as one of the most complete works of its kind.

Dr. Darlington enumerates ten hundred and seventy-six flowering plants, including all those in cultivation, which have been found in Ches- ter County. The list here given is not intended to include cultivated plants. The distinction between cultivated and wild is in some instances so difficult to make that hardly two observers would draw the line at the same place. Then, again, a plant may grow wild luxuriantly in certain localities, while in others, owing to dif- ferences of soil, it will flourish only under cul- tivation. To determine the relative value of our work, it becomes necessary to compare Dr. Darlington's list of cultivated plants one by one with ours.

This comparison shows his list to contain nine- ty-two species which are known to be in cultiva- tion here, and which are therefore excluded from ours. Deducting these ninety-two from ten hun- dred and seventy-six, there remain nine hundred and eighty-four species as wild plants, according to our classification against which our list presents eight hundred and ninety-six species. Of vas- cular cryptogams, horsetails, ferns and club- mosses Dr. Darlington gives thirty nine spe- cies, whilst our list contains thirty-eight. Sup- posing the flora of each county to contain about the same number of species, there would remain nndetermined in this county eighty-eight flower- ing plants and one cryptogam.

The botanical work which remains to be done in this county lies chiefly amongst the trees, sedges and grasses. It is to be regretted that so little has been done with the lower forms of vegetable life. This is, probably, owing to the difficulty which the amateur encounters in the study of them. Few of them can be examined satisfactorily without the aid of a microscope.

Among the rare plants here, the following may be mentioned : Arabis patens, one of the

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY.

rarest, found on the banks of the Schuylkill, near Flying Hill ; Lepidum campestre, near Boyertown ; Viola rostrata, banks of the An- gelica; Impatiens pallida, banks of the Tulpe- hocken, in Heidelberg township ; Oxalis viola- cea, Spring township; Agrimonia parviflora, copse near Bethany Orphans' Home; Rosa mi- crantha, Angelica Creek ; Hydrangea arbores- cens and Sambucus pubens, Flying Hill ; Dio- dia teres, hills near Fritztown ; Drosera rotun- difolia, Chamælirium luteum, near Bethany Orphans' Home; Rhododendron maximum, Asplenium trichomanes and Woodsia obtusa, Flying Hill; Camptosorus rhizophyllus, Flying Hill and limestone ridge near Penn Street bridge, Reading; Aphyllon reniflorum, Obolaria Virginica, Limnanthemum lacunosum, Habena- ria lacera, Spiranthus latifolia, Pogonia verticil- lata, Aplectrum hymenale, near Hertzog's saw- mill, Cumru township ; Stachys palustris, Arisc- ma dracontium, banks of the Tulpehocken ; Gnaphalium polycephalum, Neversink Moun- tain.

The following list has been compiled mainly from the plants in the possession of Mr. T. J. Oberlin, at Sinking Spring,-who has probably the best collection of native plants in the coun- ty, from the Bischoff Herbarium, and from the collection of Dr. Daniel B. D. Beaver. Profes- sor Porter supplied some species in the latter's collection, which he and Dr. Hiester found here, and which are not in the other collections. The nomenclature used in the catalogue of plants is that of Gray, as given in his " Manual of Botany."

CATALOGUE OF THE KNOWN PHOENOGAMOUS AND CRYPTOGAMOUS PLANTS OF BERKS COUNTY.

Ranunculacec. Clematis. verticillaris, DC. Virginiana, L. (common virgin's bower).

Anemone. Virginiana, L. (Virginian, A). nemorosa, L. (wind-flower).

Hepatica. triloba, Chaix.

Thalictrum.

anemonoides, Michx. (rue anemone). dioicum, L. (early M). purpurascens, L. (purplish M). Cornuti, L. (tall M).

Ranunculus.

aquatilis, L., var. trichophyllus, Chaix. (common white water-crowfoot).

Flammula, L.

rhomboideus, Goldie.

abortivus, L. sceleratus, L. recurvatus, Poir.

Pennsylvanicus, L. fascicularis, Muhl.

repens, L.

bulbosus, L. (buttercups). acris, L.

Myosuras. minimus, L.

Caltha. palustris, L. (marsh marigold).

Helleborus. viridis, L. (green hellebore).

Aquilegia. Canadensis, L. (wild columbine).

Delphinium. Consolida, L. (field larkspur).

Actæa. alba, Bigel (white baneberry).

Cimicifuga. racemosa, Ell. (black snakeroot).

Magnoliacec. Liriodendron. tulipifera, L.

Anonacec. Asimina. triloba, Dunal. (common papaw).

Menispermacec. Menispermum. Canadense, L. (Canadian moonseed).

Berberidacec. Caulophyllum. thalictroides, Michx. (pappoose-root).

Podophyllum. peltatum, L.

Nymphæacec. Brasenia. peltata, Pursh.

Nymphæa. odorata, Ait. (sweet-scented water-lily). var. minor, Sims.

Nuphar. advena, Ait. (common yellow pond-lily). Papaveracec. Papaver. somniferum, L. (common poppy).

Chelidonium. majus, L. (celandine).

Sanguinaria. Canadensis, L.

Fumariacec.

Dicentra.

Cucullaria, DC. (Dutchman's breeches).

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Cruciferc. Nasturtium. officinale, R. Br. (true water-cress). palustre, DC. (marsh-cress). Armoracia, Fries. (horse-radish). Dentaria. laciniata, Muhl.

Cardamine. rhomboidea, DC. (spring-cress). rotundifolia, Michx. (mountain water-cress). hirsuta, L. (small bitter-cress). Arabis. lyrata, L. patens, Sulliv. hirsuta, Scop. lævigata, DC. Canadensis, L. (sickle-pod).

Barbarea. vulgaris, R. Br. (yellow rocket). Sisymbrium.

officinale, Scop. (hedge mustard). Brassica. nigra, Gray (black mustard). Draba. verna, L. (whitlow-grass). Alyssum.

maritimum, L. (sweet alyssum). Camelina. sativa, Crantz.

Capsella. Bursa-pastoris, Mænch.

Lepidium. Virginicum, L. (wild pepper-grass). campestre, L.

Violacec. Viola. blanda, Willd. (sweet white violet). odorata, L. (English violet). palustris, L. cucullata, Ait. (common blue violet). var. palmata, Gray.

sagittata, Ait. pedata, L. var. bicolor. canina, L. (dog violet). rostrata, Pursh. Canadensis, L. (Canada violet). pubescens, Ait. var. eriocarpa, Nutt. tricolor, L. (pansy, heart's-ease). var. arvensis.

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History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 7

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