History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 42

Author: edited by John F. Meginness
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1650

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The postoffice was completed and occupied, June 30, 1891. The carrier system was introduced, October 1, 1SS2. At first six carriers were employed; now there are fourteen, with seven additional help in the office.

Although Newberry was laid out in 1795, and is one year older than Williams- port, it did not have a postoffice until 1824, nearly a quarter of a century after an office was opened in the latter place. The appointments have been as follows: John Sloan, first postmaster, appointed April 5, 1824; John Murphy, August 25, 1824;

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

Samuel Caldwell, May 15, 1829; James Cummings, August 1, 1833; Nicholas Funston, October 30, 1835; James Cummings, August 12, 1841; Mary Ann Cum- mings, May 23, 1842; Lindsay Mahaffey, April 12, 1850; James C. Funston, June 1, 1853; John F. Stevenson, June 8, 1857: William J. Mahaffey, April 14, 1860; William Colt, December 21, 1863: David Showers, October 1, 1866; Rebecca Showers, June 28, 1867; William Colt, June 10, 1869; John P. Fisher, August 21, 1885; Elizabeth C. Johnson, the present incumbent, March 26, 1889.

GREAT FLOODS.

There have been many great floods in the river. The first known to early history occurred in 1744, the second in 1758, the third in 1772, the fourth in 1786, and the fifth in 1800. The next great flood during the present century occurred June 28, 1829. This was followed by a disastrous freshet, October 7, 1847. The water came up to Third street so that boats could be rowed along the south side from the lower end of Market square nearly to Pine street. The court house bell was rung to alarm those living in the "hollow" below Third street. The stores, cellars, and houses between this street and the canal were flooded and much damage done. The next great flood occurred on St. Patrick's day, 1865. The ground was covered with a deep snow, and a warm southwest wind, with rain, caused it to melt rapidly. The water rose rapidly and flooded the lowlands. At Williamsport it attained a height of 273 feet. All the river bridges from Farrandsville to Northumberland were either carried away or badly damaged; fences were destroyed, and heavy losses entailed on the farmers. The water came up to the court house steps and all the houses in the lower part of the city were flooded. This was the highest flood ever known, and for nearly a quarter of a century it was accepted as "high water mark" in this valley.

A greater, however, came. The memorable flood of June 1, 1889, has passed into history as the highest and most destructive to life and property ever known to white men in the West Branch valley. Rain fell incessantly for nearly forty-eight hours. with the wind strong from the southwest. It seemed that the windows of heaven had been opened and the water descended in a solid sheet. The river rose rapidly and at Williamsport attained the unprecedented height of thirty-three feet one inch, or nearly six feet higher than in 1865! Three-fourths of Jersey Shore, Williamsport, and the lower parts of Muncy and Montgomery, were under water, which ranged in depth from two to ten feet. The destruction of property was immense. Houses, bridges, saw mills, outbuildings, and fences were carried away; crops were ruined and many persons left penniless; the boom broke and 200,000,000 feet of lumber were swept down the river, besides millions of feet of manufactured lumber. The inundated portion of the city presented a scene of desolation, on the subsidence of the water, that beggars description. Scores of people in the lower part of the city were taken out of their houses in boats and carried to places of safety. A great camp for the sufferers was established in Brandon park, and as soon as possible the State furnished tents to shelter them. Funds for their relief were raised and provisions from all quarters were contributed.

When the flood was at its height on Sunday a small river steamboat passed through the principal streets, crossed the tracks of the Philadelphia and Erie rail-

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road at Market street, and went nearly a square beyond. There were over four feet of water in the corridors of the court house; stocks of goods in the stores were ruined; saw logs, lumber, and debris blocked the streets and rendered them impassable; pave- ments were torn up, houses moved from their foundations, gas pipes broken, and general havoc produced. A list compiled by the local relief committee showed that twenty-three lives were lost in the county, a majority of which were those of children.

All the county bridges over the principal streams, as well as the river bridges, were swept away, entailing a loss of over $500,000. The total loss to the people of the county probably reached $5,000, 000.

The rainfall for the month of May, 1889, as reported by J. S. Gibson, meteor- ologist, of Nisbet, Susquehanna township, showed 9.08 inches. From 3 P. M., May 30th, to 4 A. M., June 1st, 7.01 inches of water fell; and from 8 P. M., May 31st, to 4 A. M., June 1st, the rainfall was four inches. It was this tre- mendous downpour which was the culmination of the unprecedented and irresistible torrent, which swept through the valley leaving ruin and desolation in its wake.

The blow to the city was a severe one, but owing to the pluck and energy of the people, nearly all traces of the disaster have been wiped out and business booms as if nothing of the kind had occurred. By the assessment of 1892 the total valuation of property for taxation is shown to be $8,623,613. Total city tax, $135,782; poor tax, $20,880.51.

EARLY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.

The first boot and shoemaker of any note in the borough was Jeremiah Tallman, who, as early as 1799, opened the business in a frame shop on the southwest corner of Third and Pine streets. The site was afterwards used for a hotel, known as the Eagle Hotel, kept by Maj. Charles Burroughs. The second workman at this trade was Henry Harris, who about the year 1808 erected a two-story frame building on the southeast corner of Market square. Judge John Smith learned the shoe trade with Mr. Tallman, and after working for him about two years as a journeyman, began business for himself in a log structure on the north side of Fourth street, about half way between William and Hepburn. This was in 1818. The log house served Mr. Smith both as dwelling and shop.

The first hatter was Robert McElrath, who as early as 1795 opened business on the north side of Third street, between Pine and William, in the neighborhood of the present jail. Being subsequently made jailor, he lived in the jail, and there fol- lowed his trade on a small scale. A few years subsequent, Thomas and Richard Hays had a hat manufactory on the south side of Third street, on the third lot east from Pine street. The building was a two-story frame, a part of which was occu- pied as a dwelling. About 1817 it was converted into a hotel by Thomas Hays, known by the "Sign of the Lion," and kept by Mr. Hays as a public house for some fifteen years.

In the spring of 1811 Henry Lenhart came from York, Pennsylvania, and com- menced the manufacture of hats on the southeast corner of Third and Pine streets. The year previous a two-story frame had been erected on this spot by Thomas Alexander. This building Mr. Lenhart purchased of Alexander, and also put up a.

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

one-story addition on the east side for a hatter's shop. This addition was occupied for this purpose four years, when it was converted into a drug store, the first in the borough.

In 1821 Maj. Charles Low became a partner with Mr. Lenhart in this business, and continued such for about one year, within which time he erected a two-story frame dwelling and had shops for his own use, on the southeast corner of Third street and East alley, and, in 1822, dissolving partnership with Mr. Lenhart, began business for himself and became the fourth hatter in Williamsport. He carried on the business at this stand till 1840-a period of some nineteen years, when he sold out the entire business to John and David Trainer.

The first gunsmith was Henry Gable, who, previous to 1811, opened a shop on the north side of Third street, between William and Hepburn. The second work- man in this line was Henry Pickle, who in 1811 had a shop on the northeast corner of Fourth and Market streets. Walter Lawrence was the third gunsmith, who about the same time had a dwelling and shop on the south side of Fourth street, between Pine and William. John Heisley was also a workman at this trade. His shop was in his dwelling, a story and a half log cabin, which stood on the west side of Market street, next to the canal. Mr. Heisley built this cabin about the year 1818. In 1842 it was torn down, and a three-story brick erected.

The first cabinet maker was Alexander Sloan, who, in 1802, had a shop on the west side of Market street, between the canal and Black Horse alley. The sec- ond workman in this line was Edward Calvert, who, about the year 1816, opened a shop on the southeast corner of Market square.

The first blacksmith in the borough was Peter Vanderbelt, of New Jersey, who served the pioneers with work in this line previous to the organization of the county. His shop stood on the south side of Third street, near Academy. His son, Peter, carried on the business at the same place after his father's death. The sec- ond blacksmith was George Duitch, who had his shop on what is now the site of the Williamsport National Bank.

About the year 1801, Peter States, of New Jersey, opened the first harness shop in the borough. The second saddler and harness maker was Richard McEwen, who had a shop on the west side of Market street, between canal and Black Horse alley.

John Murphy was the first man to open a watchmaker shop, in 1805. It stood on the north side of Third street, between Market and Mulberry. On the 5th of January, 1810, his apprentice boy ran away, and he announced the fact in a quaint poetic effusion which he published in the Lycoming Gazette of January 10, 1810. The name of the runaway was John Swares, and "two cents" was all the reward he offered for his return. Murphy first settled on Larry's creek about 1788, and a daughter, Sarah, is claimed to have been the first white child born on that stream in 1790. In 1798 he opened a shop in Jaysburg, but when Williamsport was selected for the county seat he came hither.

Elijah Reeves, who had learned the trade with Murphy, opened a shop in 1813 and carried on the business for ten years, when he moved away. The third watch- makers to open a shop were Robinson & Gaw, on the corner of Fourth and Will- iam streets in 1821.

George Slate

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WILLIAMSPORT.

FLOUR MILLS, DISTILLERIES, AND TANNERIES.

The first grist mill within what are now the city limits was erected by Robert Martin, of Northumberland, as early as 1797 or 1798. It stood on the west side of Lycoming creek, a few rods south of the present mill owned by Abram Good. It was a frame structure. It has been stated that it was built in 1778. But that is doubtful. At that time the land was claimed by the Indians and the dispute was not settled until 1784. There is nothing on record to show that any improve- ments, save the most primitive cabins, were made on these lands until an undis puted title was acquired by the State. It is not likely, therefore, that an improve- ment so important as a mill was made on the Indian land.

Soon after building this mill Martin sold it to George Grant, who, about 1812, sold it to Jacob Bastian, who owned it till 1821, when the entire building, with some 330 acres of land, extending along the west bank of the creek, was sold at sheriff's sale to John Cowden. About 1842 John H. Cowden, son of John Cowden, built a brick mill. This was the second grist mill.

The Noble Mills had their beginning in 1854, when Peter Herdic and B. H. Taylor erected a frame saw and flour mill. The property passed through several ownerships until 1871, when Seymour J. Noble, H. C. Noble, and Ezra Canfield purchased it. Upon the death of Mr. Miller, Mr. Noble bought the interests of his partners and associated his son Edward F. with him in the business. In 1886 the old frame building was replaced by a modern brick structure, which was remodeled in 1892, when its capacity was largely increased. It contains a full roller system and its product enjoys a high reputation.

As early as 1796 Jacob Grafius built a distillery on the southwest corner of Market square. The building was log, about twenty feet square and a story and a half high, and stood about fifty feet from the street. It was from Mr. Grafius that the commissioners purchased the six gallons of whiskey mentioned in the account of the "raising" of the first court house. The dwelling of Jacob Grafius was a two-story frame. Both of these buildings were burned by the fire of 1841. This site was occupied by father and son for nearly ninety years. At the present day the ground is occupied by substantial modern buildings, and there is nothing to indicate that whiskey was ever manufactured there.

Thomas Updegraff, tanner, and father of the late Abraham Updegraff, was the first man to establish a tannery in Williamsport. He came from York, Pennsylvania, with his family in 1799. Previous to emigrating, Mr. Updégraff had visited his uncle Dirck, who lived on the "Long Reach," while on a visit to the Genesee country, which was then attracting much attention. On this trip he had a four horse load of leather, which he quickly disposed of. This so pleased him that he resolved to move here and settle. Returning to York he made preparations to move his family up the river. He started with two canoes and after six days' hard work arrived in safety. He described their landing in a reminiscence which he afterwards wrote:

We arrived at the Piue street landing about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and Betsey, hast- ening up the bank with the babe on her arms, exclaimed, "Why, Tommy, where is the town?" Only one small frame house and the brick office of a lawyer [Andrew Tulloh] being discernible from that standpoint. We soon found our old friend Grafius, who welcomed us to his hospita-

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

ble home, with invitation to remain until other quarters could be procured. I had just 25 cents in money left, with which I bought two salt shad!

Soon after his arrival he obtained work for a portion of his time of Daniel Tall- man, who had a tanyard at what is now the intersection of Almond street and the road running north of the city. In the meantime he commenced building a cabin about twenty feet square for a dwelling and shop, of round pine logs, with clapboard roof, and moved in with his family six weeks after. The same fall he sunk six tan vats by his own labor, built a shed with posts covered with slabs from a saw mill, for grinding and storing bark, and built a wooden wheel with large cogs, and when hides were offered he proposed to tan them for the half next season, which was generally accepted. Thus was the Updegraff tannery founded on the west side of Market street and corner of Black Horse alley, while a portion of his time was given to dressing hides for Daniel Tallman. It is needless to say that he prospered, paid all his debts, and left a handsome patrimony when he died, October 30, 1857, in his eighty-fourth year. The mother of Thomas Updegraff, who accompanied him thither from York, died, March 21, 1837, in the one hundredth year of her age.

The second tannery was established by Robert Hays at the corner of the canal and what was called Center alley.

George Fulmer established a tannery in 1813 on the site of George Slate's Sons' present business house facing Government place, and operated it until his death. In 1837 his son, J. Hyman Fulmer, and son-in-law, George Slate, under the firm name of J. H. Fulmer & Company, purchased the tannery. After a few years this title was changed to George Slate & Company. In 1856 Mr. Slate became sole owner of the plant, and ran the business individually until 1868. He then took his eldest son, Hyman A., into partnership, and the firm name became George Slate & Son. In 1880 J. Walton Slate was admitted to partnership, and it then became George Slate & Sons. In 1886 Mr. Slate retired from business, and the present firm of George Slate's Sons came into existence. The tannery was operated until 1889, when the business was abandoned as unprofitable and the building was removed.

John K. Crawford came to Williamsport in 1860 from Warrensville, where he had been engaged in the manufacture of leather for many years. In 1878 he built his present tannery, near the intersection of the Philadelphia and Reading and Phila- delphia and Erie railroads, where he has since carried on the business.

The tannery of J. K. Mosser & Company, located at Newberry (Seventh ward ) is one of the largest industries of the kind in northern Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1876. The buildings and sheds are ample for a large business, covering an area of over fourteen acres of ground. There are 365 vats used in the tanning of leather in all the vat houses, and the capacity exceeds 1,000 hides per week. Three steam engines are used to operate the machinery, one being eighty and the others thirty horsepower each. From 12,000 to 15,000 carloads of bark are consumed annually. There are seventy-five employes. The members of the firm are J. K. Mosser, Thomas Keck, and Henry S. Mosser, the latter being the resident partner in charge of the business. The other members reside elsewhere.

FOUNDRIES AND MACHINE SHOPS.

The first iron foundry in Williamsport was established by John B. Hall in 1832.

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WILLIAMSPORT.

He brought his boilers, engine, and cupola on wagons from Geneva and started business in September of that year. This was the first engine in the West Branch valley, and the first foundry in Lycoming county, Tioga, Centre, and Bradford. Mr. Hall brought the patterns to town for the first coal stoves, which he made and sold in town, and for fifty miles around, for some years. His leading idea was to manufacture machinery for saw mills, because he believed the vast pine and hem- lock forests of this country must be largely cut by machinery. The subsequent development of the lumber business showed that he was not mistaken.

His foundry was a great novelty at first, and when he commenced running his engine and melting iron, it was constantly crowded with people. On one of his " casting" days an old citizen, who had formerly been a member of Congress, remarked: " That man Hall is a clever fellow, but I'm sorry to see him locate here, as he can not do business enough to keep him!"

After many vicissitudes Mr. Hall succeeded in founding his business, and it became large and remunerative. As the canal was only partly built when he started, he experienced some trouble in getting iron, which had to be brought from Centre county. At first it was hauled on wagons. Dr. James Hepburn and Tunison Coryell were his partners. In the second year (1833) they got a contract from the State to furnish castings for the Columbia railroad. Dr. Hepburn, becoming dis- couraged, sold his interest to John Cowden. He died soon afterwards and left his share in the foundry to his son, John H. Cowden. The firm worked along steadily and gained ground. Besides the railroad castings, they made all the canal lock wickets to be used between Muncy dam and Lock Haven. In 1836 they made the ornamental iron fence which was put around the court house yard. It stood for more than forty years. In 1838 they made the castings for the first iron gang gate of saws used in this State, for the " Big Water Mill," which was superintended by J. H. Perkins. They also made the castings for the furnace at Astonville, and the furnace and rolling mills of Mckinney, and Manly & Heylmun, on Lycoming creek; also for the blast furnace started in Williamsport by Bingham & Company, in 1846-47.

The Hall foundry finally became one of the fixed institutions of Williamsport and did a large business. The founder, who still lives, has reached the mellow age of eighty-eight, and although long since retired, still takes a lively interest in the iron business, and contemplates with pride the part he bore in being the pioneer founder of what has become one of the leading industries of his adopted city.

Philip A. Moltz was one of the pioneer machinists of the city. He came here in 1854, and two years later he purchased the plant of Mayby & Bowman, corner of Basin and Church streets, where he carried on business until 1868. He then sold the shops, but again became proprietor in 1871, and in 1877 he finally disposed of the plant to Rowley & Hermance.

One of the oldest as well as most extensive of the machinists and iron founders is the firm of Rowley & Hermance, composed of E. A. Rowley and A. D. Hermance; the company was established in January, 1875, and commenced business on West Third street. In 1877 they purchased the plant of Philip Moltz, one of the pioneer machine shops of Williamsport. The works have been enlarged from time to time as business demanded. The extensive works of the firm are located at the corner of

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

Church and Basin streets. Their specialty is the manufacture of wood-working machinery for furniture factories, sash, doors, and blinds, and all wood-working establishments of whatever kind. They also manufacture all kinds of machinists' tools. The products of this large manufactory find a market in all parts of the world. The employes range in number from 160 to 180 according to the demands of business.

The Williamsport Machine Company was organized as a limited concern, March 30, 1882, with a capital stock of $6,000. In 1878 Thomas and John H. Millspaugh, who had done business since 1875 at the corner of Hepburn street and the canal, purchased from Oliver Watson a small building located on the site of their present works. Here they did general repairing and manufactured engines and saw mills until March 30, 1882, when Fred H. Sweet was admitted as a partner. The firm manufactures all kinds of improved wood-working machinery. The building has been enlarged until they now occupy a floor space of 42,000 square feet. The cap- ital stock is $225,000. The company is officered as follows: John H. Millspaugh, chairman; F. H. Sweet, general manager; Thomas Millspaugh, secretary and treasurer. The office and works are located on West Third and West streets. From ninety to one hundred men are employed.

The manufacture of saws is an important factor in the industrial line in Williams- port. In 1860 E. Andrews founded a saw manufactory which long since attained extensive proportions; and in 1882 the firm of E. Andrews & Sons was organized by the admission of W. F. and F. M. Andrews, sons of the founder, to partnership. The manufactory comprises a three-story brick building 50x75 feet in dimensions, splendidly equipped with all the necessary tools and machinery. The firm manu- factures all grades of circular, shingle, gang-edger, and crosscut saws. The senior, proprietor and inventor was born in England and came to Williamsport in 1858.

The E. Keeler Company, manufacturers of boilers, etc., conduct one of the old industries of the city. The business was established in 1864 by J. Heathcote & Company, who conducted it until 1877, when it was incorporated with a paid-up capital of $50,000, the executive officers being George W. Sands, president; Isaac Barton, treasurer, and A. G. Anthony, secretary. The E. Keeler Company manu- factures all kinds of steam boilers, tanks, steam heating, engine supplies, plate work, etc. Thirty-five hands are employed.

The Valley Iron Works were established by W. P. Riley in 1865. His specialty is the manufacture of automatic steam engines, which have not only been sent largely to California and other parts of the United States, but to the Dardanelles and Japan. An average of fifty men are employed.

John Arthur, blacksmith and machinist, and iron and brass founder, foot of Park street, started business in 1868. He gives employment to twelve men. Saw mill and tannery machinery is included in his line of manufactures.

Jacob J. Moltz commenced business in 1878 on Church street, in partnership with his brother Jerome, which partnership was dissolved in June, 1885. He manu- factures gang-edgers and all kinds of mill machinery, circular saw mills, and does general repair work. There is a fonndry connected with the shop. An average of twelve men are employed.

George G. Wyland, machinist, Grace street, started business in March, 1882. He employs four men. Repairing machinery is a specialty.

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WILLIAMSPORT.

Younkin, Evans & Stambach, Vine street, founders and machinists, started in business in March, 1886. They employ eight men, and manufacture engines, wood- working machines, and machinery of all kinds.

Jerome Moltz, machinist, foundryman, and general repairer of all kinds of machinery, established his present business in March, 1886. . His plant is located on East Third street almost on the site of the old blast furnace of Bingham & Company. From twelve to fifteen men are employed.

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 42

Author: edited by John F. Meginness Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk Number of Pages: 1650

Author: edited by John F. Meginness
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1650