History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 105

Author: Munsell, W.W., & Co., New York
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: New York, W.W. Munsell & co.
Number of Pages: 900

USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 105
USA > Pennsylvania > Lackawanna County > History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 105
USA > Pennsylvania > Wyoming County > History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 105

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The population in 1880 was reported as 1,914.

EARLY SETTLERS.

Among the earliest settlers were James Brown, sen .; Aaron Riddle, who lived in an old farm house near the

depot; and John Mitchel, in an old farm house near where No. 3 plane crosses Main street. Jacob Lidy had settled at Little York. James L. Giddings lived in a log house, and a Mr. Ellis on Thomas Weir's lot. He after- ward built the house owned by James and William Brown. Mr. McAlpin and William Rau were also among these early settlers.

BUSINESS HOUSES.

A. McAlpin built a shop here in 1837 for making half bushel and peck measures by water power; subsequently a steam power was added and the manufacture of kegs and cigar boxes. This building was burned in 1854, and the new one erected was blown up in 1872, and immedi- ately rebuilt. In 1874 the firm name was changed to McAlpin & Son, and the manufacture of pails and pow- der kegs was added to the business. C. A. McAlpine bought the shop in 1879, and the business is now the manufacture of kegs, butter packages, &c. The capacity of the machinery is 500 kegs and 500 pails per day.

Martin F. Reap was the first merchant. His store was on the site of Hollister's brick store, which was built by Mr. Reap in 1871. In 1869 Law & McMillan established a branch store at Marr. James McMillan was made a partner, and the firm name of James McMillan & Co. was adopted. The building occupied was erected in 1869, burned in 1875 and immediately rebuilt and enlarged. James Maloney established a general merchandise bus- iness here in 1873, making a specialty of groceries and provisions; his store was built in 1875. John King, formerly a clerk with James Maloney, established a similar business in 1876. Thomas Mclaughlin began building a store here in 1871, but his death prevented its completion until 1875. It is now occupied and a good business done by his sons. In 1871 J. H. Swoyer built the store now owned by Charles A. Jones. It was then known as the company store. From 1870 to 1873 Mr. Swoyer was very prominently identified with the business interests of Pleasant Valley. In 1877 Mr. Jones was manager for Mr. Swoyer. The next year he bought a half interest in the store, and January Ist, 1879, succeeded to the whole of the business.

SCHOOLS.

There are six well organized public schools in the borough, with an average daily attendance of 425 pupils. Two gentlemen and four lady teachers are employed.

POSTAL FACILITIES.

The earlier residents were accommodated with mail by the office at Pittston. Subsequently the department established a mail route from Pittston to Pleasant Valley. James McMillan was appointed postmaster in April, 1871, and Andrew L. Flock carried the mail daily until July, 1872. The office was named Marr in allusion to James H. Marr, the chief clerk in the first assistant postmaster general's office.

In 1873 a daily mail route was established from Old

339

LODGES AND ASSOCIATIONS AT PLEASANT VALLEY.

Forge to Marr, and now a daily mail is supplied to all these communities by rail.

LODGES, SOCIETIES AND COMPANIES.

Nay Aug Lodge, No. 784, 1. O. O. F. was instituted on the 19th of December, 1871, with twenty charter mem- bers. The first officers were: William Barnes, N. G .; Lyman K. Drake, V. G .; John House, R. S .; John B. Swartz, A. S .; James B. Wood, treasurer; G. M. Snyder, S. P. G.

The present officers are: James Webber, N. G .; Theo- dore Smith, V. G .; John Hailstone, R. S .; John Hastie, F. S .; David Muir, A. J .; C. E. Rolls, treasurer.

The lodge meets each Saturday evening at Odd Fel- lows' Hall, which was built in 1875.

The Emerald Benevolent Association is represented at Pleasant Valley by branch No. 36, which was organized on the 5th of October, 1873, with 25 members. The ob- ject of this society is to furnish relief for the family of deceased members, and weekly benefits to the needy and disabled. It is under the auspices of St. Mary's church, Rev. M. F. Crane being the spiritual director. Michael Whalen was elected first president; M. T. Hoban, secre- tary; Lawrence Morrahan, treasurer; John D. McCarthy, marshal.

The membership is now about 175. The present of- ficers are: John D. McCarthy. president; John Mead, secretary; James Dougherty, treasurer; John McKeone, marshal. The stewards in charge of disbursements are Patrick Loughery and John McCabe; John Mead, James Ward and Patrick Doran, trustees.

Marr Lodge, No. 1,131,. I. O. G. T., was instituted April 28th, 1876, chiefly through the efforts of Mr. James Graham. The first officers were: Robert Oliver, W. C. T .; Mrs. James McMillan, W. V. T .; James Hastie, W. Chap .; Andrew Flock, W. R. S .; John Anderson, W. A. S .; John Hastie, W. F. S .; James McMillan, W. T .; William Dick, W. M .; S. O. Ella Flock, W. D. M .; James Graham, W. I. G .; Robert Anderson, W. O. G .; Mrs. Allan McDonald, W. R. H. S .; John Connor, P. W. C. T.

The present officers, in the same order as the first, are: Robert Anderson, Mrs. Simon Bouse, James Hastie, James Anderson, S. O. Ella Flock, John Sutcliffe, Mrs. Andrew Flock, Frank Snyder, Mary McMillan, Marion Graham, Charles Cranston, Frances Porter, Jean Mc- Crindle, John McCrindle.

The lodge meets Tuesday evening of each week, at Webber's Hall, and for a time had 108 members in good standing, the largest membership in the county.

Father Matthew T. B. A .- A preliminary meeting was held in school-house No. I on the 26th of October, 1876, when about thirty Catholic young men enrolled themselves as the nucleus of a Temperance Beneficial Association. John Meade was chosen president, with P. B. McKune, secretary and P. B. McKune, sen., treasurer.

On the 5th of the following month Rev. M. F. Crane administered the pledge of total abstinence to thirty-five members, and he became the spiritual director of the so-

ciety. The membership has nearly doubled, and a suit- able hall has been provided for their meetings on the first and third Sundays of each month.

The present officers are: Rev. M. F. Crane, spiritual director; John McHale, president; John McKune, secre- tary; Patrick Doran, treasurer.

The Father Matthew Cadets is an auxiliary to the T. B. A., numbering about seventy Catholic boys, who as they arrive at the proper age are eligible to membership in the latter. This society was organized in the autumn of 1879, and is under the spiritual direction of Rev. M. F. Crane.

Knights of Honor .- On the evening of November 23d, 1876, Pleasant Valley Lodge, 170, of this order was formed. From a membership of fifty-three the following officers were elected: Gilbert Alexander, past dictator; G. M. Snyder, dictator; David Cranston, vice-dictator; F. J. Boon, assistant dictator; John H. Christian, re- porter; James Morse, financial reporter; Thomas Mc- Crindle, treasurer; George W. Schales, chaplain; Wil- liam Brown, guide; James Allen, guardian; George Lampman, sentinel. .

The present leading officers are: James Allen, D; Da- vid Cranston, reporter, and Gilbert Alexander treasurer. Lodge meetings are held in Odd Fellows' Hall.

Band .- The Father Matthew Silver Cornet Band is a brilliant young band of fifteen pieces, organized in 1872. James Gilhooley is president; James Jennings secretary, and William Sammon leader.

The Emmet Guards .- In June, 1879, this company was organized in Emmet Hall, with thirty-eight of the most enterprising young men of Irish descent as members. The list increased to forty-five, and in July James Quinn was elected captain, P. W. Early first lieutenant, and James Quinnan 2nd lieutenant. The non-commissioned officers are P. H. Flaherty. Patrick Chambers, Peter Far- rell, Edward Murphy and Thomas Herbert, sergeants; John Walsh, Frank McGuire and John Flaherty, cor- porals. The company is fully uniformed and equipped, armed with Springfield rifles.

Company E, 9th Regiment, P. S. M. contains 60 privates and a full corps of officers. It was uniformed in August, 1879, and during the following month was armed with Springfield rifles. The following is the list of officers: Chaplain, Charles A. Jones; Ist lieutenant, Charles W. Fisher; 2nd lieutenant, Ebenezer Frew; sergeants-J. Wesley Sanders, Charles A. McAlpine, James Morse, Adelbert M. Sanders, Thomas F. Currie; corporals- George Lampman, Eugene McAlpine, Thomas M. Crans- ton, Michael Reap, Simon Rumage, John T. Mitchell, Lemuel B. McAlpine, James Murdock.

CHURCHES.

St. Mary's congregation numbers about 250 families, in the borough and the adjoining townships of Marcy and Lackawanna. It formerly belonged to St. John's congre- gation, Pittston, and was regularly attended by the priests of that place till November, 1875, when as a separate parish it was placed in charge of its present pastor, Rev.

340

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

M. F. Crane. Previous to 1874 service was occasionally held, amid many difficulties and inconveniences, in No. 1 school-house. Rev. John Finnan, pastor St. John's, Pitts- ton, secured from the New York & Pittston Coal Com- pany two building lots, on which he cansed to be built the present beautiful and substantial frame church. It is in the Roman style of architecture, 48 by 96 feet, and has seats for over 700 persons. The corner stone was laid in 1871 by Bishop O'Hara, and three years later the church was dedicated by him under the patronage of the ever blessed Virgin.

Since Rev. Father Crane has been placed in charge the congregation has erected a pastoral residence equal to any other dwelling in the borough, and has bought and en- closed, at a cost of $1,500, five acres of ground for burial purposes, and made many improvements around the church and pastoral residence.

Langcliffe Presbyterian Church .- About the middle of the village, in a spacious open lot beautified with shade trees, is the Langcliffe Presbyterian church. An old and honorable English family, the Dawsons of Langcliffe, held an interest some years ago, as partners in the New York and Pittston Coal Company, in the lands now worked by the Pennsylvania Coal Company, and the name of this church commemorates the interest which they took in the religious welfare of the people settled on the coal lands. Soon after the opening of the mines a member of the family took steps toward forming a church. Those in- terested were chiefly Presbyterians of Scottish birth and members of the church at Pittston, but others of Ameri- can birth and Presbyterian . faith acted with them. Among these persons may be mentioned James McMillan, William MacCrindle, Thomas Weir, George M. Snyder and Albert MacAlpine. They were authorized to select a lot on the company's estate. The lot chosen, 150 by 300 feet, together with $600 from Miss Dawson, was donated to trustees of the Presbyterian church. The handsome edifice which Miss Dawson suggested, and to which she had so liberally contributed, appropriately bears the name of her English patrimonial estate "Langcliffe."

Mr. Edwin F. Brown of New York, was another early benefactor, furnishing the parsonage lot for a merely nominal sum, and giving an elegant silver communion service, consisting of four patens, four cups and a flagon, in memory of his son.

The entire cost of church and parsonage was $6,000. The property is unencumbered.

The congregation was fully organized as a Presbyterian church on the 18th of September, 1870, by a committee of the Presbytery of Lackawanna, twenty-four persons presenting letters of dismission from the church at Pitts- ton. William Anderson, lately elder of the United Pres- byterian church at Creetown, Scotland, was the first elder, Thomas Weir, a Scotchman from Lanarkshire, being associated with him. Early in 1872 Rev. Archi- bald S. Stewart was installed as joint pastor. He grad- uated in theology at Princeton, New Jersey, in 1856, and preached at Farmsville, Fort Washington and Grefton, Wis., and at Wallburg, N. Y., before coming here. He

died in his 57th year at Langcliffe parsonage January Ist, 1876. On the 16th of June, 1876, Rev. Andrew Brydie was installed, having been called from Scotland. He is a Master of Arts of the University of Edinburgh and a graduate of the New College of Edinburgh.

The several organizations of the church for Christian work are vigorously maintained. The membership has increased from 24 to 102. The Sabbath-school is effect- ively officered. The attendance is about 150.

A wing of the church and Sabbath-school of Langcliffe has been established in Moosic. Mr. Brydie holds service there every Sunday afternoon, and a flourishing Sunday- school is carried on by Mr. William E. Olds, of the Moosic Powder Company. The library, maintained by the generosity of an individual, is one of the finest in the county.

PLAINS TOWNSHIP.

HIS township was formed November 10th, 1851, from Wilkes-Barre and Pittston, and covers an area of 15 square miles.

It was originally owned and occupied by the Wanamie tribe of the Delaware Indians, whose chief was named Jacob. He lived on that level portion of the township near the borough of Parsons, and the name Jacob's Plains was given to that locality; but upon the formation of the township the old Indian's name was left out.

The original Wyoming settlers, who came from Connec- ticut in the summer of 1762, located in Plains. They ar- rived, to the number of about two hundred, in August, and settled just above the mouth of Mill creek, building a village of small cabins. The Delaware Indians, who were familiar and friendly, had been cultivating some small clearings, but except these the pioneers found the forest prevailing. They sowed a few acres of wheat and in November returned to New England. Early the next spring they returned with their families and others, bring- ing some live stock and provisions.

During the summer of 1763 a number of the Iroquois came among the Delawares in the garb of friendship, and fired the dwelling of Teedyuscung, which was consumed, and the venerable Delaware chieftain perished in the flames. The culprits charged the crime upon the colonists, and the aggrieved Delawares resolved to avenge themselves. On the 15th of October they fell upon the unsuspecting pioneers in the fields, killed twenty or thirtp of them, took several prisoners, and drove off the live stock. The sur- vivors who were not captured fled to the mountains, while the savages burned their houses. The fugitives, destitute of every preparation for a journey, had no al- ternative but to strike out into the wilderness for a trip of two hundred and fifty miles to their old homes in New England, and for several succeeding years the history of Plains is a blank.

Peterlo Thive MOD.

RESIDENCE, OFFICE, & DRUG STORE. DR PETER C. SHIVE, PLAINS, LUZERNE CO., PA, BUILT 1877. -

R . AR

EMPIRE BREAKER , LEHIGH AND . WILKES- BARRE COAL CO., WILKES - BARRE, LUZERNE CO., PA.

341

EARLY HISTORY OF PLAINS TOWNSHIP-COAL MINING.

In January, 1769, Amos Ogden, John Jennings and Charles Stewart leased of the proprietaries roo acres of land, and came on and took possession of the improve- ments made by the Connecticut people who were driven away by the Indians in 1763. Near the mouth of Mill creek Ogden and his party built a block house, which. was called Fort Ogden. The Connecticut people, learn- ing of the action of the Ogden party, returned in the spring of 1769, and from that time till the final adjust- ment of the difficulties between the Susquehanna Com- pany and the proprietaries of Pennsylvania, there was an almost continuous series of victories and defeats for each claimant.

Thus it will be seen that Plains, in point of settlement, is the senior township in the valley; and that her soil was the first to be moistened by the tears of affliction and sorrow, and drank the blood and entombed the bodies of the first victims of savage hate in the bloody annals of the Wyoming valley.

Notwithstanding the reverses which the pioneers had suffered, the year 1773 found them in possession of Plains and Mill creek. Yet in the spring their provisions were so nearly exhausted that five persons were selected to go to the Delaware river near Stroudsburgh for sup- plies, that being the nearest point at which meal and flour could be obtained. John Carey, then a lad of six- teen, volunteered as one of the party. On this journey fifty miles of mountainous forest, intersected by deep ravines and numerous streams, including the rapid and ice-burdened Lehigh, had to be traversed. The destitu- tion relieved by this arduous expedition gave way to plenty when the shad-fishing season arrived, and a perma- nent supply of breadstuffs was insured by the construc- tion of a grist-mill by Nathan Chapman in the spring of 1773. He was granted the site of the Hollenback stone mill and forty acres around it. " The irons for the mill were brought by Mr. Hollenback, in his boat, from Wright's ferry, and on the way up the river Lazarus Young was drowned."

Very soon after this, by a vote of the people, "all the privileges of the stream called Mill creek, below Mr. Chapman's mill was granted to Stephen Fuller, Obadiah Gore, jr., and Mr. Seth Marvin, to be their own property, with full liberty of building mills and flowing a pond- but so as not to obstruct or hinder Chapman's mills- provided they have a saw mill ready to go by the first day of November, 1773; which gift shall be to them, their heirs and assigns forever." This was the first saw- mill built on the upper waters of the Susquehanna. As soon as the mills were built and in operation, a ferry was established at the month of Mill creek, to Forty Fort, which is still in existence.

The old Indian fortifications, as they are called, were on the river flats, on what is now known as the Hancock property, and on a direct line from Swoyer hill to the Susquehanna river, just northwest from the Burroughs colliery. The outlines of the works are still visible. The form was that of a four-bastion battery, well calculated for defence if properly located.

There are three places in the township that were once known as burying grounds. The Gore burying ground was on the flats, between the old plank road and the ca- nal, northeast of the Henry colliery. Another was near the M. E. church, in the northern part of the township, and the third in Wilcox's field, near Plains village. These grounds have long since been abandoned, and no stone marks the resting place of the dead.

The pioneer "weaver of the Plains " was James Camp- bell, a Scotch-Irishman. He was an expert in the art of weaving, and was noted for the fancy work that he turned out from his loom. In 1815 George Gore worked at blacksmithing on the flats, near the Gore burying ground.

The Wilkes-Barre Water Works reservoir, on Laurel hill, a short distance above the borough of Parsons, was built in 1858. Calvin Parsons, of Parsons borough, was one of the commission that located it (appointed in 1852), and the only one living in 1880.

The following justices of the peace have been elected for the township of Plains: James Williams, 1857 and 1862; John J. Thompson, 1864; John C. Williams, 1867, 1874; Patrick Cox, 1870; Jenkins B. Jones, 1872; M. C. Vaughn, 1876; Evan T. Morgan, 1877: Thaddeus .M. Conniff, 1879.

The population of the township in 18So was 5,354, against 4,018 in 1870.

THE ANTHRACITE OF PLAINS TOWNSHIP.

We are indebted to Pearce's Annals of Luzerne for a few items in relation to the use of anthracite coal in this township. "In 1769 Obadiah Gore and his brothers came from Connecticut with a body of settlers, and the same year used anthracite coal in his blacksmith shop." This appears to be the first coal known to have been used in this township. Gore's shop was on the river flats, near where Enterprise colliery is located.

" In 1876 two Durham boats were sent from below to Wyoming for coal, which was purchased fromn Mr. R. Geer, and mined from the opening, now the property of Mr. John Wells Hollenback, above Mill creek." This appears to have been the first shipment of coal from this township.

In 1808 Henry Stark, of this township, having wit- nessed the burning of anthracite coal in the grate at Judge Jesse Fell's, returned home and tried the experi- ment with success, and became the pioneer coal burner of Plains township.

" In 1813 Col. George M. Holleuback sent two four- horse loads of coal from the mine now worked by Colonel H. B. Hillman, above Mill creek, in this county, to Phil- adelphia." This appears to have been the first shipment of coal froin this township to Philadelphia, and the first seut out by teams.

" In 1813 Colonel G. M. Hollenback employed Daniel Gould to mine two ark loads of coal from the bed above Mill creek, at 75 cents per ton."

" In 1814 Crandall Wilcox entered the trade and sent several ark loads of coal down the river from the old Wilcox mine in Plains township."

342

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

The Hillman shaft and breaker are in the northwest part of the township, in Mill creek valley. There were employed at this shaft in 1878 66 men and boys inside, and 27 outside the mine. The coal mined (in 107 days) amounted to 30,000 tons. This mine was operated by H. B. Hillman, who was also the general superintendent. George Faurick was mine boss, and George H. Hillman outside foreman.

Enterprise colliery is on the south side of the canal, below Swoyer's hill, and in 1878 produced 64,500 tons of coal. There were employed inside the mine 171 men and boys, and go men and boys outside. The number of days worked was 106. The colliery is operated by the Forty Fort Coal Company, with J. H. Swoyer as superin- tendent, and Charles Leonard as assistant. William Mc- Culloch was inside and John Eustice was outside fore -. man, and Robert Hyslop mine boss.

Wyoming colliery is located at what is known as Port Bowkley, on the North Branch canal, and is operated by the River Side Coal Company, who in 1878 employed 262 men and boys inside the mine, and 128 on the out- side. They worked 134 days, and mined and shipped 127,250 tons. J. H. Swoyer is the general superintend- ent; William McCulloch inside foreman, Jenkins B. Jones mine boss, and Philip Wintersteen outside fore- man.

The Henry colliery is nortl. of Wyoming colliery, on the canal. There are employed inside the mine 254 men and boys, and 88 on the outside. The mines were worked 160 days in 1878, and there were mined 110,000 tons of coal. The colliery was operated by the Lehigh Valley Coal Company, with Frederick Mercur as super- intendent, Thomas E. Lewis mine boss, and William E. Lines outside foreman.

Mineral Spring colliery is on the line of the Lehigh and Susquehanna railroad, southeast side of the township, and is operated by the Lehigh Valley Coal Company, with Frederick Mercur superintendent. This colliery was idle during 1878.

Midvale colliery is also operated by the same company, and was idle in 1878.

Mill Creek colliery is operated by the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, with A. H. Vandling as general superintendent, and C. Scharar as assistant and inside foreman. John E. Cook is mine boss, and William Foote outside foreman. There were employed in 1878 251 men and boys on the inside, and 134 on the surface. The mine was worked 154 days, and produced 158,478 tons of coal.

Pine Ridge colliery employed in 1878 on the inside 259 men and boys, and 132 on the surface. The mine was operated in 1878 by the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company. A. H. Vandling was general superin- tendent, John T: Moore mine boss, S. W. Franklin out- side foreman, and Christopher Scharar inside foreman. This mine produced in 1878 114,066 tons of coal.

Laurel Run colliery was operated in 1878 by the Dela- ware and Hudson Canal Company, with A. H. Vandling as superintendent. Hugh McDonald was mine boss, D.

W. Kemble outside foreman, and C. Scharar inside foreman and assistant superintendent. There were em- ployed in the mine 196 men and boys, and 106 on the outside. The mine was worked 125 days, and produced 100,978 tons of coal.

Baltimore slope was worked in 1878 with 196 men and boys inside, and 122 on the outside. In 137 days they mined 102,818 tons. The slope was operated by the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company. A. H. Vandling was general superintendent, C. Scharar assistant superin- tendent and inside foreman, Thomas Tamblyn mine boss, and John Bowers outside foreman.

Hollenback colliery was operated in 1878 by R. S. Pool, who was also general superintendent and mine boss, and John Bowers outside foreman. There was no coal shipped from this mine in 187.8.

Prospect colliery, in the southwest corner of the town- ship, near the mouth of Mill creek, is operated by the Lehigh Valley Coal Company, with Frederick Mercur as general superintendent, and Charles Leonard assistant; William Samuel is mine boss, and William Patten outside foreman. In 1878 there were 289 men and boys em ployed under ground, and 167 on the surface. The mine was worked 150 days, and produced 135,000 tons.

The Wilcox colliery is in Plains village. It is a small colliery, and not reported by the mine inspector.

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History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 105

Author: Munsell, W.W., & Co., New York Publication date: 1880 Publisher: New York, W.W. Munsell & co. Number of Pages: 900

Author: Munsell, W.W., & Co., New York
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: New York, W.W. Munsell & co.
Number of Pages: 900