History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 24

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 24
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 24
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 24

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).

Early in 1853 the name of the corporation was changed to the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, and in 1855 trains ran over it between Easton and Mauch Chunk. In 1865 measures were adopted to extend the road to White Haven, and in 1867 it was opened to Wilkes-Barre. Judge Packer had, in 1866, purchased a controlling interest in the North Branch Canal from Wilkes-Barre to the north line of Pennsylvania, with a charter from the State authorizing a change in the name of the corporation to the Pennsylvania and New York Canal and Railroad Company, and the construction of a railroad the entire length of it; and the work was at once entered on. The

road, which is practically an extension of the Lehigh Valley, was opened to its New York connections in 1869. About ten miles of it, between Wilkes-Barre and Lacka- wanna junction, are leased by the Lehigh Valley Com- pany, and the remainder is operated in the interest of the latter, constituting, as before stated, an extension of that road. The connection thus formed with the New York and Erie and with other roads in New York brought a large territory into direct communication with the anthra- cite coal fields of Luzerne county and the region farther south, and thus greatly enhanced the importance of the mining interest in those regions, while it established more intimate commercial relations between these sections of the country.

It is a noteworthy fact that the lines on which the railroads in this section run are generally coincident with those of the old Indian war paths.

In 1868 the stock of the Hazleton Railroad Company and that of the Lehigh and Luzerne Railroad Company became merged in this corporation.

It has always been the policy of this company to secure a proportion of the coal trade by acquiring in- terests in coal lands and in the stock of other compa- nies holding such lands in the vicinity of their branches. They have thus become large owners of real estate beyond what is necessary for purposes of transportation.

This road crosses the mountain range between the Susquehanna and Lehigh valleys by a wide detour to the southeast, and during the ascent many splendid views are disclosed.

The engine house and shops of this company are located about one mile north from Wilkes-Barre. They are for the repair of locomotives only. About one hundred and forty men are constantly employed in them. They were commenced in 1872 and completed as far as at present in 1874.

CHAPTER XIII.

HISTORICAL, AGRICULTURAL, MEDICAL, RELIGIOUS AND SPORTSMEN'S ASSOCIATIONS.

N the 11th day of February, 1858, at a meet- ing held in the old Fell tavern, in Wilkes- Barre, to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the burning of anthracite coal in an open grate, it was proposed to organize a histori- cal and geological society, and thus collect and preserve the early records of the local history of the valley, its Indian relics, and also fossils and specimens illustrative of its geology, especially of the rich and extensive deposits of anthracite coal which underlie the entire region.

The suggestion was favorably received, and on the roth of the following May the Wyoming Historical and Geo- logical Society was duly incorporated. Hon. E. L. Dana

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

was elected the first president, and a room for the cabi- net was secured on Franklin street, near Market. Liberal donations were made of historical records, Indian relics, geological and mineralogical specimens; and General Wil- liam S. Ross, with characteristic liberality, purchased at the expense of two thousand dollars the Chambers col- lection of curiosities, consisting of ancient coins, miner- als, Indian relics, etc., and presented it to the society.

The monthly meetings of the association have been held with some degree of regularity, and contributions continue to be made to it. These contributions are sev- erally numbered as they are received, and the names of the contributors recorded. The donations often include many articles and the list of them this kept now exceeds five thousand.

A large library, including a valuable collection of pub- lic records, has also been gathered. The rare historical records, many of them originals, and the interesting cabinet of coal fossils, which it would be scarcely possible to replace in case of loss, are deserving of the protection of a fire-proof structure.

AGRICULTURE AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

During the half century succeeding the first settlement of Luzerne county agriculture was the chief employment of the inhabitants. There were among them a few hunt- ers and trappers, and such mechanics as the wants of the people necessitated. The existence of the immense mineral wealth of the region was not then known. The farmer, as he followed his plow over the fields, scattered on them the seed, or gathered from them the grain which sprang up, matured, and ripened, little dreamed that beneath the surface on which he labored was a deposit of wealth compared with which the harvests that he reaped were mere trifles; or that the barren mountains over which the hunter pursued his game would yet re- ward the labor of thousands whose villages would lie scattered along their bases. The settlements were limited to the fertile lands along the Susquehanna and its afflu- ents, where bountiful returns rewarded the labors of the husbandman.

The agriculture of those days was, compared with that of the present time, awkward and rude. Many of the implements then in use were clumsy and uncouth, though some of them were well adapted to the condition of things then existing. The different methods of culture, the proper rotation of crops, the chemical composition of the soil and its adaptation to the production of different kinds of grain; the constitution, selection and application of manures ; the nature, habits and best means for pre- venting the ravages of or exterminating destructive insects, etc., had not been made the subject of scientific investigation to the extent to which they have in later years. Scarcely any agricultural publications were issued, and such as existed were sparsely circulated ; and no associations existed among farmers for the discussion of matters pertaining to agricultural science or for comparison of views, methods or results.

The first agricultural society in this State of which any

record appears was that of Philadelphia, which was established at the request of the Supreme Executive Council. In 1788 this society instituted investigations and made a report on the subject of the Hessian fly. The importation of American wheat into England had been prohibited by a proclamation of the King, and this report, by showing the uselessness of such prohibition, was of great advantage to American farmers.

The first agricultural society in Luzerne county was organized in 1810, at a meeting held in the old court-house in Wilkes-Barre. Jesse Fell was chosen president of the society, Matthias Hollenback vice-president, Thomas Dyer, Esq., treasurer, Peleg Tracy recording secretary, and Dr. R. H. Rose and Jacob Cist corresponding secre- taries. It is remembered that these corresponding secre- taries were very efficient members of the society, and that they were active in promoting the advancement of knowl- edge among the people. Only fragmentary records of the proceedings of this society are preserved. For 1811 there appears a report on some specimens of cloth pre- sented for exhibition by Mr. Ingham, who was a cloth dresser, and the premium list for 1824 is still in existence. Though the premiums in this list were not large they were very judiciously arranged, and were only proposed for those things which were substantially useful. Five dollars each were offered for best essays on the Hessian fly and the prevention of its ravages, on the curculio and the best methods for its destruction, and on the general subject of agriculture and manufactures. The list was not disgraced by the offer of anything for horse racing.

The Agricultural Society of the State of Pennsylvania was organized in 1849, and since its organization societies have sprung up in almost every county in the State. In 1851 another Luzerne county agricultural society was organized, with General William S. Ross president, Hon. John Coons and Hon. William Hancock vice-presidents, S. D. Lewis treasurer, George H. Butler recording sec- retary, Washington Lee, jr., corresponding secretary, and Charles Dorrance and William P. Miner curators. Al- though the society had two hundred members and gave great promise of usefulness, its existence was brief, by reason of the speculation in coal lands which at about that time overshadowed almost every other interest.

The third society, which is still in existence, was organized in 1858. From the records of this society the following facts concerning it are gleaned: On the 25th of September of that year a meeting of persons inter- ested in farming and gardening was held in the "house of Mr. Wambold," at Kingston. Rev. Thomas P. Hunt presided, and William P. Miner acted as secretary. Colonel Charles Dorrance reported a constitution and by-laws for the organization then and there to be formed, which were adopted. The constitution named the asso- ciation the Luzerne County Agricultural Society ; declared the object to be "to foster and improve agriculture, horticulture, and the domestic and house- hold arts ; fixed the fee for annual membership at $1, and for life membership at $5 ; provided for a meeting on the third Tuesday in February of each year, at which

LUZERNE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AND MEDICAL SOCIETIES.

should be elected a president, nine vice-presidents (of whom "three-fourths" should be practical farmers or horticulturists) to look after the interests and report the condition of agriculture, recording and corresponding secretaries, a librarian and an agricultural chemist and geologist ; also a general meeting in connection with the fair, and special meetings as called by the executive com- mittee, which was to consist of the officers and five other menibers.

At this meeting one hundred and thirty-six men joined the society. They chose for president Charles Dorrance; corresponding secretary, Thomas P. Hunt; librarian, L. D. Shoemaker; and the following vice-presidents: Charles D. Shoemaker, Kingston; Samuel Wadhams, Plymouth; E. W. Sturdevant, Wilkes-Barre; Benjamin Harvey, Hunt- ington; William W. Bronson, Carbondale; David G. Driesbach, Salem; Clark Sisson, Abington; Abram Drum, Butler, and Calvin Parsons, Plains. At a meeting of the executive committee two days later Anson A. Church was elected treasurer, and Thomas P. Atherton recording secretary.

James Jenkins offered fair grounds at Wyoming for four years free, fenced and provided with a trotting track; and the offer was accepted. Since the expiration of that time the grounds have been rented from several proprie- tors.

In the summer of 1859 an exhibition building, one hun- dred covered stalls, and a secretary's office were con- structed, and a well was dug. The expense of these im- provements was $1,436.48. In arranging for the fair of 1859 it was voted that there should be no "Shows or Jim cracks " on the ground.

At the annual meeting held February 21st, 1860, the number of vice-presidents was changed to twelve, and the time of meeting thereafter to the second Thursday in February.

By invitation of this society the State agricultural soci- ety held its fair on the Wyoming grounds in 1860. Addi- tional sheds and stalls were built for the occasion, which were bought by the county society for $100.

The proceeds of the fair of 1862 were appropriated to the aid of the families of soldiers engaged in the sup- pression of the Rebellion.

November 14th, 1867, it was announced that James Jenkins, J. B. Schooley and John Sharps, jr., wished to resume the occupancy of portions of the fair ground belonging to them, and arrangements for reducing it were made accordingly.

On the 5th of July, 1873, it was voted to reorganize the society on a stock basis, shares being offered at $10 each. August 16th the reorganization was completed by the election of officers, including John Sharps as presi- dent, and ten vice-presidents, of which John B. Smith, of Kingston, was "first vice-president." That officer and the president, secretary and treasurer were made the executive committee.

At the annual meeting of 1879 it was voted to pay Jolin Sharps $50 per year for the use of the fair grounds. The annual meetings, as well as the fairs of the society,

have been held at Wyoming. Quarterly meetings of the executive committee were held under the old regime.

The presidents of the society have been as follows: Charles Dorrance, 1858-68; Payne Pettebone, 1869- resigned September 11th, and Peter Pursel was elected for the unfinished term and the next year ; Ira Tripp, 1871; Steuben Jenkins, 1872, 1873; John Sharps, August 16th, 1873, after the reorganization, and for the suc- ceeding term; John M. Stark, 1875; J. B. Smith, 1876-79.

LUZERNE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.

On the fourth day of March, 1861, pursuant to call, a convention of physicians was held at the court-house in Wilkes-Barre for the purpose of forming a medical society, At this convention there were present doctors P. C. H. Rooney, of Hazleton; N. P. Moody, Lehman; H. Lad.1. C. Marr, William Green, B. H. Throop, Scranton; G. Urquhart, W. F. Dennis, E. R. Mayer, C. Wagner, E. B. Miner, Wilkes-Barre; R. H. Tubbs, Kingston; S. Law- ton, Pittston ; A. L. Cressler and J. R. Casselbery, Conyngham.

The following were chosen officers: B. H. Throop, president ; E. R. Mayer and A. L. Cressler, vice presi- dents; G. Urquhart, secretary, and R. H. Tubbs, trea- surer. A constitution was adopted, the second article of which stated the objects of the society to be " the pro- motion of knowledge upon subjects connected with the healing art, the advancement of the character and the protection of the interests of those engaged in the practice of medicine, and the employment of the means calculated to render the profession most useful to the public and subservient to the great interests of humanity."

The eleventh article adopted the code of ethics of the State Medical Society, and declared that any departure from its meaning and spirit might subject the offender to the discipline of the society.

At first the meetings of the society were held four times each year, but during several years they have been held every two months. At these meetings profes- sional topics are ably discussed and a constantly increas- ing interest is developed.

The following gentlemen have served the society as president in the order named: Drs. N. F. Dennis, S. Lawton, jr., R. H. Tubbs, John Smith, A. L. Cressler, J. B. Crawford, Horace Ladd, S. Lawton, jr., Edward R. Mayer, James B. Lewis, Horace Ladd, E. Bulkely, C. Underwood, Charles Burr, E. R. Mayer, J. B. Crawford, J. E. Ross, J. A. Murphy.

The Luzerne County Homoeopathic Society was organ- ized about 1866 and was in existence about two years. Dr. A. C. Stevens was president; Dr. William Brisbin secretary and treasurer.

SUNDAY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION OF LUZERNE, LACKA- WANNA AND WYOMING COUNTIES.

This was first organized as the Luzerne County Sun- day.School Association, at the Presbyterian church in

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Dunmore, September 28th, 1875, with the following officers: Rev. W. P. Hellings, president; Rev. D. A. Lindsley, Rev. W. V. White, Hon. Theodore Strong, Hon. E. C. Wadhams, vice-presidents; F. E. Nettleton, corresponding secretary; J. F. Richard, assistant corre- sponding secretary; E. M. Peck, recording secretary; James R. Lathrop, treasurer.

The work of the association has been carried on by means of Sunday-school institutes, till recently Mr. Crittenden has been employed as a missionary.

Rev. R. W. Van Schoick succeeded Mr. Hellings as president, and occupied the position till the present in- cumbent was elected.

The name of the association was changed to Luzerne and Lackawanna Sunday-School Association on the for- mation of Lackawanna county in 1878; and in 1879 the fifth annual convention, held at West Pittston, Wyoming county, was by request included and the present name was adopted.

The present officers are: Rev. N. I. Rubinkam, presi- dent; F. C. Johnson, S. C. Mellory, F. E. Nettleton, A. F. Levi, Halsey Lathrop, A. S. Stearns, H. E. Suther- land, E. A. Atherton, C. L. Rice, vice-presidents; T. F. Wells, corresponding secretary; B. R. Wade, recording secretary; Pierce Butler, treasurer.

In 1878 the statistics were: Number of Sunday-schools, 319; officers and teachers, 3,210; scholars, 26,566. The present number of scholars is probably about 40,000.

LUZERNE COUNTY SPORTSMEN'S CLUB.

This association was organized in October, 1875, and incorporated on the 3d of January, 1876. Its objects are "the preservation and propagation of game and fish within the county of Luzerne." It has an active membership of about fifty, and a land membership of a much greater number. Land members are those owners of lands who choose to make leases to the club for the purpose of enabling it to prevent poaching and violations of the game laws.

The influence of the club has always been used for its legitimate objects. It has prosecuted to conviction sev- eral violations of the game laws, and procured the ap- pointment of five fish wardens by the fish commissioners of the State. It has planted 41,000 California salmon in Bowman's creek, 2,500 salmon trout and 9,000 land locked salmon in Harvey's lake, and about 25,000 brook trout in several of the public streams of the county; has imported more than 600 live quails, and has circulated upwards of 3,000 copies of the game laws. It offers rewards for the conviction of those who violate the game laws, and also for the destruction of hawks, owls, foxes, skunks, minks and weasels. It holds a meeting on the first Monday in each month. Always keeping the legitimate objects of the club in view, its members strive to accomplish these with justice to all and malice toward none.

LUZERNE BIBLE SOCIETY.

From a report made April 26th, 1879, by Rev. S. S. Kennedy, agent of this society, the following sketch is mainly gleaned.

Its first organization was effected November Ist, 1819, at a meeting in the old church on the public square. The first officers chosen were Ebenezer Bowman, presi- dent; William Ross, Esq., David Scott, Esq., and Captain David Hoyt, vice-presidents; Dr. Edward Lovell, corres- ponding secretary; Andrew Beaumont, recording secre- tary; and G. M. Hollenback, treasurer. Many of the best citizens of the county became patrons of the society, and it is recorded that a masonic lodge of Wilkes-Barre donated $25.

In 1828 David Scott was chosen president; Thomas Dyer, vice-president; John N. Conyngham, corresponding secretary; Ziba Bennett, recording secretary; and James D. Haff, treasurer.

The society was reorganized on the 25th of August, 1835, and Rev. James May was elected president; Rev. John Dorrance, Hon. David Scott, Cristus Collins, Esq., and John N. Conyngham, Esq., vice-presidents; Volney S. Maxwell, Esq., secretary; Henry C. Anheiser, treasu- rer; Dr. Latham Jones, Edmund Taylor and William C. Gildersleeve, executive committee. No records of this organization of a later date than 1837 appear.

On the 28th of January, 1853, after a sleep of sixteen years, the society was again reorganized, and Hon. John Conyngham was chosen president ; Hon. Ziba Bennett, treasurer ; Sharp D. Lewis, Esq., recording secretary ; and A. T. McClintock, Esq., corresponding secretary. Judge Conyngham continued in the office of president during eighteen years, or until his death. He was succeeded by V. L. Maxwell, and at his death A. T. McClintock became president. Hon. Z. Bennett and S. D. Lewis, Esq., continued in the positions of treasurer and secretary during twenty-six years, and were very faithful and efficient officers.

Since 1853 the county has been three times canvassed by the agents of the society, and in each of these explo- rations many destitute families have been supplied with the Scriptures. During the last exploration about fifteen hundred families were found without Bibles and were supplied. It was remarked by the agent that the most grateful among those who were supplied were many who received the Scriptures in the German language. He also stated that the benevolent spirit which prompted the work seemed in many cases to be highly appreciated, and to exert a very favorable influence.

The present officers are: A. T. McClintock, president; E. L. Dana, vice-president ; G. S. Bennett, secretary ; J. W. Hollenback, treasurer ; A. T. McClintock, E. L. Dana, G. S. Bennett, J. W. Hollenback, E. C. Wadhams, Richard Sharp, J. P. Hoyt. A. J. Pringle, C. A. Miner, B. G. Carpenter, H. W. Kalish, Prof. A. Albert, and C. M. Conyngham, executive committee.

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THE SECESSION OF THE SOUTHERN STATES.

CHAPTER XIV.

OPENING OF THE CIVIL WAR-PATRIOTIC SPIRIT IN LU- ZERNE, LACKAWANNA AND WYOMING COUNTIES.

HE limits and scope of this work will not per- mit even an enumeration of all the events that led to the civil war. It is quite proper, however, that a brief mention should be made of some of the more important and imme- diate antecedents of the contest, in which many of the citizens of these counties bore a conspicu- ous and honorable part, and in which many laid down their lives.

The doctrine which has by some been termed a grand political heresy-that of State sovereignty, or, as it was im- properly termed at the South, State rights, was what led to the civil war. By this is meant the right of a State to set aside any act of Congress which may be deemed un- constitutional by the State authorities. This doctrine was distinctly set forth in the famous Kentucky resolu- tions of 1798. and was for a long time accepted by many, perhaps by a majority, in all parts of the country. It involves not the right of nullification alone, but that of secession. South Carolina in 1832 was dissatisfied with the protective tariff which Congress established, and adopted an ordinance of nullification and secession. A compromise was effected, some concessions to her pre- judices were made, and she repealed her ordinances.

The question of the introduction of slavery into Kan- sas arose, and the people of the Northern States evinced a determination to prevent it, in which they were suc- cessful. In 1856 threats of secession were freely uttered in case of the success of the Republican party, which in 1855 had been formed on the issue of slavery extension. In 1860 Abraham Lincoln was elected President, and this was regarded by southern statesmen as the finishing stroke against the extension of their institution, and they proceeded to execute their threats. South Carolina took the lead in this, followed by Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Virginia, Florida and Louisiana, all of which before the end of November issued calls for State con- ventions to consider the question of secession. In this they were followed after a time by Tennessee, Texas, Arkansas and North Carolina, all of which adopted ordi- nances of secession.

South Carolina adopted the ordinance on the first day of December, 1860. Three days later Governor Pickens issued his proclamation, declaring it to be a "separate, sovereign, free and independent State, having a right to levy war, conclude peace, negotiate treaties," etc.

John B. Floyd, of Virginia, was at that time Secre- tary of War. He had caused 70,000 stands of arms to be placed in the arsenal at Charleston, and had put that arsenal in the care of the governor of South Carolina; and thus when the State seceded it was able to possess itself

of these arms, and it was also found that the northern arsenals generally had been depleted and the arms sent south. Many of the ships of the navy had been sent to distant seas, and the government was left without effi- cient resources with which to repress a sudden uprising.

The senators from South Carolina were first to resign their seats, followed by others and by members of the cabinet and of the House of Representatives. Texas, the last of the seven States which united in forming the "Southern Confederacy," adopted the ordinance of se- cession February Ist, 1861. On the 4th of the month the delegates who had been appointed by the conventions for that purpose met at Montgomery, Ala., to form a government. They adopted the constitution of the United States, with some additions and alterations, as the constitution of the confederate States, and chose for pro- visional President and Vice-President Jefferson Davis and Alexander H. Stevens.

When South Carolina passed the ordinance of secession in December, 1860, Fort Moultrie, in Charleston harbor, was garrisoned by sixty effective men in command of Major Anderson. The fort was not secure against at- tack, and Major Anderson was denied reinforcements. Accordingly on the night of December 20th he removed his force to Fort Sumter, which had been quietly pre- pared for his occupation. He had been instructed by the President "not to take up without necessity any po- sition which could be construed into a hostile attitude, but to hold possession of the forts, and if attacked, de- fend himself." This evacuation of Fort Moultrie, there- fore, surprised the President and aroused the indignation of the South Carolinians, who thought that they had a pledge from the President to prevent such removal. He was induced to take this step because he entertained just apprehensions of the occupancy of Fort Sumter by the South Carolina troops, and an attack on his small force in the nearly defenseless fort where he was, in which case it would have been impossible for him to hold out a day.

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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 24

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