History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 174

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162

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Joseph settled in East Marlborough, and had children,- Mary, Ann, Richard, Hannah, Rachel, and Joseph.

Daniel Mercer, son of Thomas, of Thornbury, married Rebecca, daughter of John Townsend, and settled in East Marlborough. He died 6, 25, 1807, aged ninety-two, and his wife 10, 13, 1792, aged eighty-two. Their children were Solomon, b. 10, 30, 1736; Rebecca, b. 10, 1, 1738; Jesse, b. 7, 23, 1740, d. 6, 3, 1763 ; David, b. 6, 23, 1742 ; Daniel, b. 3, 20, 1747 ; Phebe, b. 8, 11, 1750.

MEREDITH .- Several persons of this name were among the early settlers in Pennsylvania, all doubtless from Wales, where they were a distinguished family.

DAVID MEREDITH, of Whiteland, whose wife, Sarah, was a daughter of William Rush, died in 1754, leaving children, -Joseph, William, David, John, Rebecca Jenkin, Susanna Hayes, Hannah Guest, Rachel Conolly, and Mary Bane.

David, Jr., married, about 1737, Elinor, daughter of George and Ann Garrett, and died in Whiteland, 1755, leaving children,-Ann, Esther, Hannah, Daniel, George, Sarah, Elijah, and Alice. His lands passed into the Jacobs family.

SIMON MEREDITH, son of Hugh Meredith, son of Mere- dith William, son of William Evan, son of Evan David, son of David Vaughan, came from Radnorsbire, Wales,

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HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

and settled in what became Nantmeal township prior to 1718. In January, 1706, one John Meredith writes from Fairfield (N. J.) to his brother, Abraham Scott, in Phila- delphia : " I am master of a Free school, originally intended for a grammar school, My sallary being about 50 pound a year in their pay, which with good management I find will maintain my family pretty well;" wished to sell his house at Burlington, etc.

Oliver Meredith writes from Newport, Sept. 17, 1711, to his aunt, Hannah Seott, in Philadelphia, and says, " My father remembers his love to you and prays you to take eare of the letter that is for unkle Simon and give it into his own hand, and first send him word by one of the country people that you may see by chance."

Simon Meredith died in Nantmeal about the year 1745, leaving four sons,-Hugh, John, James, and Thomas. It is said that the family eame to Chester County in 1708 and lived for some time in a eave on property since of the Rein- hart family, and the eave is remembered by persons yet living. Of Hugh, the eldest, and Thomas, the youngest son of Simon, we know nothing further. James is said to have removed to Bucks County prior to 1738. An uncle, Thomas Meredith, whose residence is supposed to have been in Jersey, took up 500 acres on Neshaminy near Doyles- town. He had a son Thomas, who from too much study beeame insane, and, being heir to the land in Bucks County, imagined himself a baron and wished to build a castle thereon. His cousin James was induced to live there and take care of him until his death. His son Hugh, a promi- nent physician, was an aneestor of Hon. Henry Chapman, judge of our courts for about three years.

John Meredith, second son of Simon, was born 2d mo. (April) 9, 1699, in Radnorshire, and died 3, 4, 1769, in Vincent township; married, 9, 29, 1727, Graee Williams, daughter of Robert and Gwen Williams, of Goshen, born 3, 12, 1707, died 10, 25, 1785. She is said to have had dark eyes, an interesting countenance, quiet, dignificd manners, and mueh force of character. Her father-in-law, a eavalier, would never use the language of Friends to any but her, for whom he showed that deference. John became a Friend in 1753 through his wife's influenee, together with most of their children, who were as follows : 1. Enoeh, b. 6, 18, 1728; d. 11, 28, 1807. 2. Simon, b. 10, 12, 1729 ; d. 5, 29, 1828. 3. James, b. 10, 11, 1731 ; d. 6, 11, 1741. 4. Infant son, b. 9, 11, 1733 ; d. 9, 26, 1733. 5. Jane, b. 11, 30, 1734 ; d. 6, 6, 1741. 6. Elizabeth, b. 9, 18, 1736 ; m. Amos Davies. 7. Ann, b. 6, 6, 1738; m. Robert Milhous. 8. Hannah, b. 5, 1, 1741; m. John Pugh. 9. Jane, b. 1, 12, 1742-3; m. Evan Lewis. 10. Grace, b. 11, 13, 1744; m. John Lewis. 11. John, b. 4, 29, 1747 ; d. 8, 4, 1828. 12. Ruth, b. 3, 17, 1750 ; d. 8, 16, 1759.

Enoch Meredith (1) married, 12, 18, 1752, his cousin, Jane John, daughter of Griffith and Ann, born 2, 5, 1725, died 9, 1, 1795. Their children were,-13. James, b. 10, 1, 1753; d. 2, 13, 1838. 14. Elizabeth, b. 4, 30, 1755; d. 8, 22, 1759. 15. John, b. 3, 21, 1757 ; d. 8, 29, 1759. 16. Hannah, b. 1, 2, 1759. 17. Ezra, b. 11, 5, 1760. 18. Abel, b. 8, 8, 1762; d. 8, 11, 1825. 19. Enoch, b. 1, 18, 1766 ; d. 11, 3, 1769. 20. Jane, b. 11, 26, 1767. 21. Thomas, b. 10, 29, 1770.

Simon (2) married, 4, 30, 1755, Dinah, daughter of Hugh and Mary Pugh, of Uwehlan, and resided in Cov- entry. 'Dinah was born 7, 20, 1734, died 5, 4, 1824. Their children were,-22. Mary, b. 7, 6, 1756; d. 10, 1, 1758. 23. Grace, b. 9, 26, 1757 ; d. 5, 17, 1759. 24. Joel, b. 3, 30, 1759 ; d. 10, 14, 1827. 25. John, b. 2, 6, 1761; d. 1, 31, 1776. 26. Mary, b. 11, 6, 1762; m. Joseph Barnard. 27. Grace, b. 10, 13, 1764 ; d. 5, 23, 1815. 28. Rebecca, b. 8, 10, 1766; m. Joseph Hawley. 29. James, b. 9, 4, 1768 ; d. 7, 24, 1854. 30. Jesse, b. 8, 13, 1770 ; d. 4, 14, 1851. 31. Elizabeth, b. 5, 2, 1772 ; d. 2, 4, 1859. 32. Hugh, b. 6, 24, 1774; d. 10, 22, 1810. 33. John, b. 12, 26, 1776; d. -.

John Meredith (11) married, 6, 13, 1776, Mary Jones, daughter of Evan and Susanna, born 6, 20, 1753, died 5, 8, 1777; second marriage, 10, 18, 1780, to Elizabeth Kirk, daughter of William and Sibbilla, born 11, 24, 1756, died 6th mo., 1794; third marriage, 3, 22, 1796, to Rebecca Thomas, of Vineent, who died 11, 21, 1807 ; fourth umarriage, 3, 22, 1809, to Rachel Evans, daughter of Elihu and Mary, who died 12, 12, 1810. His children were Mary, Simon, Beulah, William, Isaiah, John, Euoch, and Mary.

James Meredith (29) married Mary Leedom, of Haver- ford, in 1799, and left one son, the late Isaac Meredith, who died 9, 28, 1874, near Kennet Square.

Jesse (30) married Phebe, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Downing, of Downingtown, who died 10, 7, 1845, leaving two children,-Elizabeth D. and Richard S., of whom the latter died 11, 25, 1855.

John (33) married, 4, 16, 1800, Ann Mendenhall, daughter of Stephen and Margaret, of Coneord, where he settled for some years. Issue .- Simon, b. 1, 14, 1801; Stephen M., b. 8, 14, 1802, d. 12, 23, 1874; Jesse P., b. 5, 22, 1805, d. 7, 12, 1827; Esther T., b. 2, 23, 1807; m. Jesse Hawley ; Hugh, b. 11, 20, 1815, went South ; James M., b. 1, 6, 1819.

Stephen M. Meredith, born in Concord, removed with his parents when young to South Coventry ; was a well- known physician, and took an active part in political and educational matters ; died at St. Mary's, Warwick.

James M. Meredith, his brother, was some time an editor in West Chester, now of Berks Co., Pa.

MICHENER .*- The name Michener occurs on the records of Philadelphia as early as 1686.

I. John and Sarah Michener appear to have been the primal American progenitors of the family. They had six children. In 1715 they removed with their family to Abington.

II. William Michener, son of John and Sarah, was born 1696. He married Margery Kester. They had ten chil- dren. He was an early settler in Plumstead, Bucks Co., where he owned 400 acres of land in 1725. His widow died there 2, 15, 1821, aged ninety-three years.

III. John Michener, son of William and Margery, was born 3, 2, 1721. He married Mary Hayworth. They had nine children, of whom two-Mahlon and Arnold-re- moved to and settled in Chester County, the former in New Garden, the latter near Downingtown, where their descendants may still be found.

* Furnished by Dr. Ezra Michener.

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BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.

III. Mordecai Michener, son of William and Margery, was born 1, 30, 1723. He married Sarah, daughter of John and Elizabeth Fisher, in 1748. He retained a patri- mony of his father's estate. They had ten children. In 1784 he sold bis farm (130 acres) and removed to a farm in Londongrove, near West Grove meeting-house, with his wife and three unmarried children,-Mordecai, Eliza- beth, and Catharine,-accompanied, about the same period, by four others, married,-John, Barak, Deborah, aud Rob- ert,-with their families. Mordecai died 9, 25, 1795, aged seventy-two years ; Sarah died 6, 6, 1812, aged ninety years.

1. John was born 12, 21, 1750. He married Martha Longstreth. They had ten children. They removed to Bradford in 1788, and two years later to (now) Penn town- ship near Jennersville. In 1805 the whole family removed to the State of Ohio. John died in 1837, aged eighty-six; Martha in 1815, aged fifty-nine.

2. Barak was born 3, 17, 1754. He married Jane Wil- son. They had six children. They came to Chester County in 1784, and located near to West Grove meeting-house. In 1814 they removed to Ohio, whither their children, who were mostly married, soon followed them. Jane died in 1831, aged eighty-two years; Barak died in 1838, aged eighty-four years.

3. Deborah was born 4, 3, 1757. She married Morde- cai Balderson. They had thirteen children. On removal to Chester County they settled on a farm adjoining that now owned by Thomas M. Harvey. The family all re- moved to Ohio in -. Mordecai died in 1820, aged sixty-five years ; Deborah died in 1828, aged seventy-one.

4. Mordecai was born 1, 28, 1759. He married Alice Dunn, who had also removed from Bucks to Chester with her parents, Ralph and Anna Dunn. They had four chil- dren, of which the present writer was the baby. They re- tained the homestead near West Grove. Mordecai died 1, 6, 1854, aged ninety-five years ; Alice died 8, 30, 1824, aged sixty-two years.

5. Elizabeth was born 3, 18, 1762. She married Joseph Brown, who also came from Bucks with his father, Abraham Brown. They had twelve children. Joseph retained the homestead of his father near Jennersville. Four of their children after marriage removed to Ohio. Joseph died 5, 5, 1851, aged eighty-eight years; Elizabeth died 7, 7, 1811, aged forty-nine years.

6. Robert was born 10, 15, 1763. He married Sarah Stradling. They had one child. They came to this county in 1795, and resided near Jennersville. In 1813 they re- turned to their native county. Robert died 4, 4, 1849, aged eighty-five years ; Sarah ---.

7. Catharine was born 11, 8, 1766. She married Wil- liam Thompson. They had eight children. They all went to -. William died 7, 19, 1806, aged -; Catharine subsequently married Eli Kennard. They had one child. The survivors of the family all went to Ohio. Catharine died 9, 6, 1850, aged eighty-three years.

III. William, son of the above William and Margery. Michener, was born 6, 8, 1729. He married Martha Doane. They had eleven children. Five of them obtained a residence in our county.

1. Elizabeth was born 1755 (?). She married Charles Plumley. Their descendants still reside among us. Eliza- beth died 1820, aged sixty-five years.

2. Joseph was born 11, 19, 1757. He married Anna, daughter of Ralph and Anna Dunn. He owned a farm adjoining the West Grove Meeting property. They had five children. Anna died 7, 29, 1796, aged thirty-eight years. He subsequently married Rebecca Good. They had four children. Joseph died 8, 10, 1853, aged ninety- five years; Rebecca died 8, 29, 1858, aged eighty-nine years.

3. Martha was born 10, 15, 1761. She married David Stackhouse. They removed with their family and settled in New Garden, where their son, Silas Stackhouse, now in his eighty-seventh year, and numerous other descendants, reside. David died 1, -, 1853, aged ninety-four years ; Martha died 10, 30, 1848, aged eighty-one years.

4. William was born He married Ann Beans, and had five children. They lived on the Toughkenamon Vineyard farm, where some of their descendants still live. William lived to a good old age.

5. Jonathan was born -. He married Susanna Doane. They had ten children. Their son William, now in his eighty-sixth year, is living with his daughter near Jennerville.

There has for a long period been quite a number of Micheners and their descendants living in the northeastern section of the county, but I have not ascertained to which branch of the family they belong.

It is worthy of notice in this connection that soon after the close of the Revolutionary war a very remarkable emi- gration took place from Bucks to Chester County. The emigrants appear to have been mostly Friends, and very largely from Buckingham Monthly Meeting to that of New Garden, as they were then constituted. If my notes are correct, during the ten years from 1784 to 1795 New Gar- den Monthly Meeting received certificates of membership for two hundred and seventy members. Of this number, one hundred and eighty-one were from Buckingham Monthly Meeting alone. About forty of them were Micheners.

Two suggestions have been offered for this unusual emi- gration, -the hope of finding a more fertile soil, and the prosperous condition of the society of which they were members within the limits of the Western Quarterly Meet- ing. These may have been causes; but when I remember the terrible tragedy of the Doanes, which had very recently occurred in the immediate vicinity, with the violent excite- ment, embittered feeling, and suspicion which prevailed, it looks more like a modern hegira of the lovers of peace and quietness to escape the confusion and perhaps danger by which they were surrounded.

In the above notes I have given the ages of the ances- tral members of the family so far as known. The result is interesting. The mean age of the whole 24 persons is 78.58 years ; of the 20 elder ones it is 84 years ; and of 18 it is 87.11 years.

DR. NATHAN MICHENER .- One of the oldest and best- known families in the county is that of Michener, especially noted in the medical profession. Dr. Nathan Michener was born in Berks County, Nov. 26, 1775, and graduated at a

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HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

medical college in Philadelphia. He first located to prac- tice medicine at Marisville, in East Pikeland township, where he remained a short time and then removed to South Coventry, where for over half a century he was a distin- guished and successful practitioner. He was married by Rev. William Hunter, Jan. 25, 1824, to Sophia Chrisman, who was born June 12, 1802. To them were born eleven children,-Sarah Ann, b. Dec. 18, 1825, m. Joseph Hols- comb; George C., b. March 16, 1827, of Phoenixville ; James, b. March 8, 1829 ; Mary T., b. May 10, 1831, m. Lewis Stubblebine; Phebe Ann, b. March 7, 1833, m. Morris Lisley ; Rebecca L., b. March 22, 1836, m. Wilmer Griffith ; Nathan, Jr., b. May 16, 1840; Clarissa Cather- ine, b. Sept. 22, 1842, m. Sewell B. Morrow; Isabella Workman, b. Aug. 31, 1845, m. Rev. A. L. Wilson, of the M. E. Church ; Zachary Taylor, b. April 9, 1849, died in

MILLARD, THOMAS .- Three brothers of the Millard family came from England together about the middle of the last century, of whom one settled in Connecticut, one in New York, and the third in Berks County, of this State. He had a son Joseph, born nearly opposite Douglassville, and moved, in the spring of 1784, to West Nantmeal town- ship. He was a miller and millwright, and carried on a mill at Pottstown, and afterwards in West Nantmeal; was a justice of the peace from 1797 up to about 1816, and bis old magistrate's dockets are now in possession of his grand- son, Thomas. The mother of Joseph was a Miss Lincoln, also an emigrant from England. Jonathan, son of Joseph Millard, was born at Pottstown, Feb. 19, 1783, and married Sarah Harvout. He moved when four years old to West Nantmeal, and there died in June, 1868. His wife, Sarah, died Jan. 28, 1851, aged seventy-two years. They had

Hartan Mistones

infancy. Dr. Michener died Dec. 11, 1866, and his vener- able widow still survives him. He belonged to the Society of Friends, and was a man universally esteemed for his emi- nent ability and noble qualities of heart. At his death he left a nice homestead place of ninety acres, and a name honored for his great services to suffering humanity.

MILHOUS, THOMAS, married Sarah, daughter of James and Catharine (Lightfoot) Miller, in Ireland, and came to Pennsylvania in 1729, settling first within the limits of New Garden Monthly Meeting, and about the year 1744 removing to Pikeland. Their children were as follows: John, b. 1, 8, 1722-3, at Timahoe, in Ireland ; James, b. 7, 21, 1727; Thomas, b. 2, 27, 1731 ; Robert, b. 11, 26, 1733; Sarah, b. 4, 3, 1736, m. Thompson Par- ker; William, b. 6, 12, 1738. Several members of this family have been prominent in the Society of Friends.

two children,-Joseph and Thomas. The latter, the young- est, was born Aug. 14, 1816. He was raised on the farm and attended the public schools of the neighborhood. He was married Jan. 24, 1839, to Jane, daughter of James and Margaret (Cake) Cutler. The Cutlers were of Scotch- Irish and the Cakes of German descent. To Thomas and his wife were born three children,-James, deceased in his nineteenth year; Jonathan, residing near Barneston; and Howard, living at home, but in the mercantile business at Robert's old stand in East Nantmeal.

In 1869, Thomas retired from farming, but still owns and resides on his splendid farm of 150 acres. He is a di- rector in the National Bank of Honeybrook, and has been since its organization in 1868. He is one of the managers of the Penn Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Chester County. He was many years a director of the East

BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.

659

Thomas Meillard

Brandywine and Waynesburg Railroad, and for six years secretary of its board. He has served nineteen years as school director, and was three times elected a justice of the peace, but refused to qualify. He has repeatedly served as auditor, and is now one of the county directors of the poor, having been elected in 1879, and having previously served in same office from 1875 to 1878. He followed surveying and conveyancing until his health and other growing busi- ness cares forced him to quit. His farm has been in posses- sion of the Millard family since 1787, and no deeds have been made for it since 1793, it having passed to its present possessor by descent. He is a Republican in politics, in which he ever takes a great interest. His son Howard was in the three months' State service when Lee made his raid into the State in 1863.

MILLER, GAYEN, with Margaret, his wife, was one of the first settlers in Kennet township, where he bought land in 1702. Their children were James, b. 11, 5, 1696, m. Rachel Fred, 4, 20, 1721; William, b. 8, 30, 1698, m. 7, 30, 1724, to Ruth Rowland; Robert, b. 3, 3, 1703, m. Ruth Haines ; Sarah, b. 9, 1, 1704, m. Joshua Johnson ; Mary, b. 2, 7, 1707, m. William Beverly; Patrick, b. 12, 28, 1708, m. 9, 5, 1735, to Patience Haines ; Samuel, b. 4, 14, 1711, m. 4, 29, 1732, to Margaret Halliday ; Eliza- beth, b. 5, 7, 1713, m. Joseph Dickinson ; Joseph, b. 7, 14, 1715, m. 2, 18, 1738, to Jane Kirk ; Benjamin, b. 6, 4, 1717, m. 10, 7, 1738, to Martha Walter ; John, b. 11, 6, 1720-1, m. 8, 28, 1741, to Margaret Smith ; George, b. 5, 19, 1723, married out of meeting.

Robert and Ruth Miller settled in East Caln, and had children,-Margaret, Solomon, Dorothy, Patience, Hannah, Hannah (2), Warwick, Isaac, Jacob, Rebecca, Rachel, Joseph, Rachel (2), Sarah, Ruth, Benjamin, and James.

James Miller, son of James and Rachel (Fred) Miller, born 10, 30, 1728, married, 8, 16, 1751, Sarah Way, and 5, 25, 1758, Phebe Jones, and settled in Sadsbury.

DR. WARWICK MILLER was born in Sadsbury town- ship, Chester Co., near what is now the village of Atglen, on March 18, 1785. His parents were James and Phebe Miller. He was the youngest of twelve sons. He re- ceived a good, plain English education in our common schools, and studied medicine with Dr. William A. Todd, of Downingtown. He attended the medical lectures of the University of Pennsylvania, but was content to practice without a degree. He located himself at Sadsburyville, in his native township, where he soon gained the confidence of the people, and was rewarded by a goodly portion of the practice. He changed his location a few times, but always within the limits of Sadsbury.

Dr. Miller was twice married. His first wife was Sarah, daughter of James Truman, of Sadsbury, to whom he was married Oct. 7, 1812. She died Sept. 27, 1817, without issue. His second wife was Martha B., daughter of Wil- liam Clingan, Esq., to whom he was married Nov. 15, 1820. By this lady he had two sons,-William Clingan and James Edwin Miller. The health of Dr. Miller becoming preca- rious, he was removed to the house of his father-in-law, Wm. Clingan, in West Fallowfield, where he remained, la- boring under hydrothorax, until his death, which occurred April 23, 1825. In his day few men were more highly esteemed or more confidingly approached, always bearing the name and character of a high-minded, dignified, honor- able, and worthy citizen.

JOHN MILLER, a settler at what is now Avondale, may have been a brother of Gayen Miller, of Kennet. The time of his arrival appears to have been in 1709, and his

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HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

death occurred in 1714. His mill was the first in that region, and it is said that settlers in Lancaster County patronized it. The children of John and Mary Miller were James, b. 1st mo., 1693, near Charlemont, county Armagh, Ireland, m. 3, 24, 1722, to Ann Cane; Mary, m. to Joseph Hutton ; William, b. 2d mo., 1698, in the county Tyrone, Ireland, m. Ann Emleo, of Philadelphia ; Joseph, m. to Ann Gilpin; Martha, m. to John Jordan and Nathaniel Houlton ; Sarah, m. 5, 25, 1723, to Nehe- miah Hutton; Elizabeth, m. 8, 22, 1729, to William Chambers; Susanna, m. 2, 18, 1734, to Joseph Jackson ; Elinor, m. 4, 19, 1729, to Richard Chambers.

JAMES MILLER, possibly a brother to Gayen and John, married Catharine, daughter of Thomas Lightfoot, in Ire- land, and in 1729 came to Pennsylvania. His wife, a min- ister, died soon after their arrival at Philadelphia. He settled in New Garden, but is thought to have removed before his death. His children were Sarah, m. to Thomas Milhous; Elizabeth, m. to Thomas Hiett; James, m. to Rachel (Fred) Miller and Rebecca Kirk ; Mary, m. to Isaac Jackson, 4, 11, 1730 ; Katharine, m. William Jack- son, 9, 9, 1733; Ann, married, 2, 19, 1733, to William Farquhar ; Hannah, m. to James Jackson.

MINER, CHARLES, was born Feb. 1, 1780, in the town of Norwich, Conn. He was of the Puritan stock, his lineal ancestor, Thomas Miner, having been a member of the Assembly of Connecticut in 1654. In 1799, in the nineteenth year of his age, he removed as a Connecticut claimant to Wyoming Valley, and settled in Wilkesbarre, following his brother Asher, who had emigrated a year or two earlier.

In 1801, Asher Miner established the Luzerne Federalist. It was a sheet of very moderate dimensions, for two reams of its paper were placed in an ordinary bag and conveyed on horseback from the paper-mill in Allentown to Wilkes- barre, and this was done once in two weeks. The press on which the Federalist was printed was brought from Nor- wich, Conn., on a sled, by Charles Miner and S. How- ard. In 1802, Charles became associated with Asher Miner in conducting the Federalist, which they ably edited until 1809, when it was transferred to Stenben Butler and Sidney Tracy. These latter gentlemen, in 1811, enlarged the paper and changed its name to the Gleaner, with the motto, "Intelligence is the life of liberty." In a few months Mr. Tracy withdrew from the establishment, and was succeeded by Charles Miner, who, in connection with Mr. Butler and others, ably conducted the Gleaner until 1816.

It was in the columns of the Gleaner that Mr. Miner made himself celebrated as a writer. For this paper were written those beautiful essays from the desk of " Poor Robert the Scribe," a series of weckly essays, filled with good sense, combining amusement with instruction, which were read with pleasure at every fireside in the country, which have been many times reprinted, and which may even at this day be found in school-books, as lessons of wisdom not to be put aside nor forgotten. In this paper, too, Mr. Miner published many articles upon the subject of anthracite coal, a subject the importance of which was just beginning to dawn upon the minds of the people of the

valley. It was the object of Mr. Miner to extend that in- terest, to enlighten the minds of those who would not be- lieve abroad, and to disseminate the theory that anthracite would burn as readily as bituminous coal. He hoped one day to see the mines of ore opened and their treasures spread throughout the land, and he hoped to see the valley of Wyoming, then almost a wilderness, blossom as the rose. Determined, however, not to be a theorist only, but to carry out in practice what he had taught others through the col- umos of his paper, he in 1813, with others, leased the Mauch Chunk mines, and in the same year floated an ark- load of coal to Philadelphia.

In 1807 and 1808, and again in 1816, he was a member of the Legislature from Luzerne County. There he ad- vocated and almost originated that scheme for internal im- provements which at a later period terminated in the North Branch (of the Susquehanna) Canal.

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History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 174

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts Number of Pages: 1162

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162