History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 51

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Lycoming County > History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania > Part 51

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).

Going north to the river we find many places that show plications and faults. Near Jersey Shore Station, above and below the river bridge, occur rolls and plications in the strata. Above Jersey Shore to Pine creek, just below the Beech Creek railroad bridge, can be observed in John Sebring's lime quarry some interesting plications and rolls on a grand scale in a vertical cliff of (No. VI) Lower Helderberg or Lewistown limestone. Above and along Pine creek are many exposures in the Chemung measures (No. VIII), which are quite precipitous. Just above Cammal station, in the railroad cut, is a good opportunity to observe the characteris- tics of the peculiar mode of deposition of the calcareous breccia or cornstone.

Eng.by IP Fixe & Sons Phila

421

GEOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE.

Going south along the Beech Creek railroad, below Jersey Shore, a series of plications and rolls are seen in the Chemung measure (VIII d and VIII e); and just above the railroad under the grade crossing of Larry's creek can be observed a perfect section, about eight feet high, of an arch of an anticlinal of (No. VIII e), the slates being mineralized in contact seams with Galenite.

Passing up Larry's creek there are a number of exposures for the next half mile; south, below Larry's Creek station, occur many exposures (VIII a-b), in the short railroad cuts towards Level Corner and Linden. On Lycoming and Loyalsock creeks many exposures occur, showing the plications in different parts. On Lycoming creek two anticlinals of considerable height formerly existed; one over the site of the lower part of the village of Hepburnville. The base line between the north and south dip does not exceed 240 rods, but occurring at an exceedingly high angle, approaching the vertical, this anticlinal may have been quite sharp and high. Just above this another occurs, the best exposure being the north dip near J. S. Hayes's barn, Lycoming township, the base line between the north and south dips being about 450 rods; angle of dip, 70°. These two anticlinals follow the course of the fossil ore across the county.

THE GLACIAL PERIOD.

One of the important agencies in the particular arrangement of surface geology was the presence of the Great Glacier in the northern part of our continent, which occupied a large area, the southern edge passing through the upper corner of Lycoming county. It has been variously estimated as having been from 2,000 to 5,000 feet thick.

The valleys of all the streams south of the section of the county once covered by ice show evidence of the near presence of the glacial moraine. In 1881 the writer had the pleas- ure of meeting Professor Lewis, and iu company with Rev. G. F. Wright, while examining Lycoming county, found some granite pebbles in a hill of modified drift on the east side of Lycoming creek from Trout Run station, which were evidently derived from the glacial moraine. I have found the same also in the drift at Cogan station and at Williamsport. Quite a number of glacial pebbles have been found, some of granite, gneiss, and garnetiferous gueiss; while the pebbles of all the formations belonging to the county north of the moraine can be found in every drift deposit along the streams. The moraine crossing the larger streams being washed by heavy floods in prehistoric ages formed the large areas of water and ice-worn, rounded, cobble stone, kuown locally along the streams as " stony batters," which are quite a trial to the patience of the farmer when tilling the ground. A careful study of these "stony deposits " will show some of the effects of the various prehistoric floods which gave the present conformation to the valley of Lycoming creek, and in part to the West Branch valley.

COAL IN LYCOMING COUNTY.

There have been no workable beds of coal yet found in (No. X) formation in Lycoming county, though several places seem to favor the possibility of containing the Gresh coal bed of Elk and Mckean counties, which in some places is workable, the measure lying under (XI a) Mauch Chunk red shale, showing six feet and upwards of black slate, (fire clay bottom) with some coal on crop in thin seams in the slate. This is the most southern outcrop of coal in the county, and it lies on the south side of Loyalsock creek. It is reported as occurring about half way up the side of the mountain, and as there is such a distance to the top, there may he ele- vation enough to bring in coal. The carboniferous limestone (No. XI b) occurs immediately opposite on the north side of the creek at an elevation of about 1,000 feet above the stream. Coal two feet thick is reported as having been opened immediately south of this, by the occu- pant of the farm on the same ridge, on the south side.

The next coal deposit observed is a small, narrow, synclinal, canoe-shaped basin in Cogan House, Mifflin, and Cummings townships, on the line of the Bernice and Waterville anticlinal, one division being in Cogan House township, and having a total depth of about 100 feet above the Pottsville (seral) conglomerate (No. XII). There are some eight veins of coal, one of four feet six inches, with one parting of four inches of shale, occupying the higher crest of the

422

HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

mountain, with seven inferior veins ranging from nine inches to one foot six inches, aggregat- ing nine feet nine inches of coal in twenty feet four inches of measure, with underlying coal bed " A " and Pottsville conglomerate twenty to thirty feet thick in place. This upper coal was worked about forty-five years ago, and hauled to Cresent Nail Works and Forge, on Lycoming creek.

Another small end of a canoe-shaped basin is on the lands of the West Branch Lumber Com- pany, in Cummings township, and is the east end of a basin coming in from Clinton county. The conglomerate out-crop on a heavy dip may be observed on the Jersey Shore and Couders- port turnpike, between the heads of the upper and lower Pine Bottom runs.

Next is observed an extensive coal basin occupying McIntyre, McNett, Jackson, Pine, and McHenry townships, known, respectively, as the MeIntire, Red Run, and Pine Creek coal basins, consisting of two canoe-shaped synclinal coal basins, which together extend a dis- tance of thirty-four miles across the northern part of the county, the central arch between the basins (Laurel Hill) having been elevated. Whatever coal measures existed there were proba- bly eroded by glacial action during the Ice Age, Laurel Hill being 100 feet higher than the mountain at McIntyre, and the measure is cut down into the Pottsville conglomerate (No. XII) and Mauch Chunk red shale.

The McIntyre coal basin lies east of Lycoming creek, and is about seven miles long and four miles wide at the mountain face, on Lycoming creek, pointing out eastward between the forks of Rock run, where it is about one and a half miles wide. It is very much cut out by numerous small streams, so that the area is divided into some eleven or more parts. Coal was mined here at an early date, but it was not until the Williamsport and Elmira (Northern Cen- tral) railroad was completed from Ralston to Elmira that there was active mining carried on In 1848 there was an examination, and a report made on the first survey in 1858. There had been an active business carried on by a company composed principally of citizens of Elmira for some twenty years, but the mines have been abandoned, and the rails of the plane on which the coal was carried to the foot of the mountain have been removed. The coal as worked showed three feet ten inches, with one foot nine inches of bony coal and slate, making the total thick- ness five feet seven inches. There is still considerable area of coal in this basin not worked out that may be of local value in the future.

On the west side of Lycoming creek are the Red Run coal mines. This basin lies between the headwaters of Trout run, Gray's run, and Roaring Branch, and is about nine miles long and three and a half miles wide, and is divided by streams into three parts constituting quite a large area of coal, one division being about nine miles long by two miles wide. There are some six coal beds in this basin that vary from twelve inches to over five feet, but as the mines are not being worked it is impossible to give the average of what the actual working thickness may be. There are some developments now going on which may prove the value of this basin, and it gives promise of working into an active colliery. Last year (1891) an incline plane was built for lowering the coal to the foot of the mountain, and the work of operating the mine com- menced.

The next basin is the Pine Creek, which is the largest undeveloped coal deposit in Lycom- ing county. The basin is about fourteen miles long by three miles wide, and it is divided by streams into five parts. On the east side of Texas creek there are three parts, and on the west side the basin lies in an almost unbroken bed. The lowest bed opened, B, has an elevation of 1,500 feet above tide, while D is opened at an elevation of 1,670 feet, and the summit of the highest ground is 1,970 feet, giving the greatest depth of measures anywhere in the country. According to a report made for Hon. R. J. C. Walker and Robert P. Allen, Esq., in 1890, there is reported to be in vein B, on less than 2,000 acres of their land, 8,037,000 tons of coal; and in vein D, on 1,100 acres, 3,300,000 tons, making a total of 11,337,000 tons estimated in these beds. This estimate does not include the coal in the balance of the basin and the allowance for waste and loss in mining, it being only for what lands were tested by boring. An examination of the Weightman lands in 1888 showed 18,280,- 000 tons as the gross estimate of coal in B vein on all the tracts. The examination of the coal, as shown by analyses by different chemists under Mr. Lyons, superintendent of the Arnot mines, in 1890, is that in no way is it inferior to the Arnot coal, and in some points it is reported

423

GEOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE.

by the examining engineer to excel it in purity and freedom from partings. In this report the coal in the other beds was not estimated. The amount above given would therefore be largely · supplemented by the additional coal areas of the Bache, Trump, and Davidge & Company warrants, and other land owners, and tend materially to increase the gross aggregate yields of tonnage for the area of the whole basin.

The bulk of these lands are known as the "Weightman coal lands," and in charge of Hon. R. J. C. Walker, of Williamsport, who kindly furnished the foregoing information, taken from reports of examinations recently made. They show a local coal field which may be of considerable value in the future, as upon these lands alone there could be based a colliery with an output of 300,000 tons per annum, with an assured stock for sixty years or upwards. And by including the area of the Weightman lands, this basin would assume a commercial value next to the Beech Creek section.

IRON ORES.

Next in order come the iron ores of Lycoming county. Formation (No. V), Clinton group, (surgent) the fossil iron ore of Montour's ridge, occurs iu the southern part of the county on a long line of outcrop along the face of the mountain and around its flank, forming a loop around Black Hole valley. But on account of the mass of superincumbent debris from the next formation, (No. IV) Medina and Oneida, covering it up deeply, it is not readily accessible. The ore has been mined along the face of the mountain on the north side, in Nippenose township, on either side of Antes creek. Iligh up on the side of the mountain the ore was reported as averaging fifteen to eighteen inches, and the result of three analyses was thirty-nine per cent .; metallic iron, twenty-seven per cent. The ore bed was oolitic, and resembled closely that of the mountain ridge, a dull, reddish color, staining the hands when coming in contact with it, the deep characteristic color of keel, or Indian paint ore.

Above the Clinton shales (No. V) occur (No. VIII) Chemung measures, which also carry a fossil ore very similar in its characteristics and associated rock formations to (No. V). It has been called the Mansfield iron ore, and has generally been reported in the State surveys as belonging to the lower part of formation (No. LX). and in (No. VIII); though, where generally found, there is a similar series of shales and limestones above the iron ores as below, to the body of the Chemung measures. There have been many exposures of this ore in the county, and the mines that have been worked will be found noticed in the review of the townships.

These ores occur from fifteen inches to three feet six inches thick and are of various grades of quality. They were mined some thirty-three years ago, and the work was continued for twenty-five years, when the demand for the ores ceased. They were shipped principally to Bloomsburg and Danville, and at the former place were observed to have worked forty per cent. in the furnace when properly mined and clear of slate. This was considered a good work- ing per cent. for ores of this class.

There are next observed several varieties of ore that occur along the edge of the (No. VI) limestone, etc., back of Hughesville. There some very fine hand specimens of yellow hematite iron ore have been found, resembling very closely the hematite ores of Centre county. They deserve attention, as in other parts of the State, between the lower horizon of (No. VII), and top of (No. VI), Lewistown, there have been some good workable ores found. In the upper part of the Portage, (subformation of Chemung) (VIII e) the olive shales, there was found a thin vein of pipe ore and a lean sandy ore (on Lycoming creek) called by some the Webster vein, but of no practical value.

There may be observed all along the mountain plateau the formation (No. XI) (Mauch Chunk red shales) with its subdivisions (XI a), (XI b), and (XI c). In (XI a), (umbral shales,) which occur from 120 to 150 feet thick, from the prospecting that has been done among them, they seem to belong to the same horizon as the iron ores called by Professor Rogers, in Geology of Virginia, "the Martin Group;" and they also belong to the same class of ores used quite extensively for a number of years at the Lemont, Centre, and Dunbar furnaces, in Fayette county, Pennsylvania.

Surface specimens of these ores have been found analyzing fifty to sixty per cent. of iron,

424

HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

in masses of from five to fifty pounds weight, of a very fine grained compact and semi-crystalline texture; while very fine specimens of brown and yellow hematite iron ore occur strewed over the surface in Cogan House and in Pine townships, on whatare known as " the barrens," where they were reported to be from three to five feet thick. The measures seem to indicate the out- crops of three or more beds of ore, and deserve investigation as to their value.

Above this are observed the oxidized carbonates and clay carbonates of formations (Nos. XII and XIII). There are many outcrops of these ores in the different coal basins, and they occur in a round and nodular form, from four inches in diameter and upwards. Some fine crystallized specimens of earthy blue color occur on Pine creek, while in McIntyre and on Red run there are many exposures; and at one time good tough iron was made successfully from the pig metal of the white and grey carbonates at the old Astonville furnace by the Essingtons (Cres- cent Iron Mill from 1840 to 1848) taken from what is now the farm of Charles Heylmun, above Powy's station.

There are some seven veins of brown argillaceous iron ore known to exist in these forma- tions, one band and one slab vein and five veins of ball ore. The ball ore occurs in a soft shale or fire clay four inches to eight in diameter. Also two veins of a grey white carbonate ore, one two feet, and one five and a half feet thick.

The area of the two formations (No. XII and No. XIII) and their accompanying coals, with the area of the inferior formation (No. XI) would embrace a total of upwards of 50,000 acres that contain these different classes of ore in Lycoming county.

FLAGGING STONE.

In formation (No. X) Pocono and (No. XII) Pottsville conglomerate are many very fine and desirable building stone for massive or cut stone work. There is a better class of building stone from this source in the little stone chapel in Hepburnville, and as good, durable, and economical building stone as many of the imported stones used in some of the Williamsport buildings. Stone have been used in a small way for flagging, of a fair quality, quarried at many places on Big Pine creek, but it is evident from the appearance of some of the flag pavements in the city of Williamsport that some of these are of a very poor quality. This is not because there is not good material to be had, but that a poor selection for a quarry site has been made. Good quarries for flagging might be opened at many. places in the county upon the same hori- zons as have been opened in adjoining counties, and which are accessible at many different places. Fine flagging stone are quarried in (No. VIII) e above Picture Rocks and near Larry's creek, and good quarries might be opened on Pine, Larry's, and Loyalsock creeks on (No. IX) Red Cattskill, and (No. XI h) mountain limestone, with calcareous bauds, would furnish flag- ging of almost any size desirable.

AGRICULTURE.

The foregoing interesting description of the geology of the county shows that much of the land is well adapted to agriculture, notwithstanding it is hilly and much broken in many places. The alluvial lands along the river are very rich and produce luxuriant crops: the red shale lands in the northern part of the county are especially well adapted for the production of grasses, and the limestone valleys of Nip- penose, White Deer, and a portion of Muncy are noted as wheat growing districts.

From the first settlement of the county agriculture has been the leading pursuit of a majority of the citizens, and the breadth of land under cultivation increases steadily every year. In the red shale districts productive little farms have been made on the sides of the mountains which are a surprise to those who visit them. In "Blooming Grove," as it is called, the industrious and hardy German settlers have made farms that are noted for their productiveness; and notwithstanding that the land is very hilly, it has been made so attractive by the hand of industry as to elicit the admiration of all visitors.

425

GEOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE.

THE FIRST NURSERY.

The first nursery within the confines of Lycoming county was started by George Edkin in 1794. He came from England when a young man, (see Now and Then, Vol. III, page 244,) and was employed for several years by General Gates, the hero of Saratoga, at New York, as a nurseryman. On the death of Gates he came to Lycoming in 1808, bringing with him a large number of apple, peach, pear, and plum tree shoots. He settled at what is known as "Edkin's Hill," now in Sullivan county, and started a nursery. And from it the settlers in Muncy valley, and np the river as far as Williamsport, were supplied with fruit trees. It is a fact, there- fore, that thousands of the apple and other fruit trees of the West Branch were direct descendants of the trees that grew on the farm of General Gates less than a hundred years ago. And it may be mentioned as another singular fact that the only one of Edkin's six children now living is Margaret, the wife of Frederick Taylor, and she is in her ninetieth year. She possesses a large mahogany table which once belonged to Gen. Horatio Gates. It is an interesting relic, on account of its associa- tions, and is carefully treasured by its venerable owner, although she takes great pleasure in exhibiting it to visitors.

EARLY MANUFACTURE OF SALT.

The early settlers experienced much trouble in getting salt, and as it com- manded a high price during the two first decades of the century, efforts were made to manufacture it wherever salt wells could be sunk. The locations of " salt licks" were carefully noted, as they were frequently by the deer and elk. Reference has been made to the existence of a primitive salt manufactory on Salt run, in the review of Gamble township; and the Moravians spoke of a " salt lick " near Roaring Branch, where experiments were afterwards made to manufacture salt. A well was sunk to a considerable depth and salt water discovered, but it does not appear that any great quantity was ever manufactured. A reservation of this salt district was made by Gideon Freeborn, in transferring a large body of land in 1829. -See Deed Book W, page 380.

As early as 1809 the Lycoming Salt Manufacturing Company was organized at or near Muncy. It appears from old receipts that Joseph Whitacre was president and Samuel Carpenter treasurer. One of the certificates of stock is herewith given:

We do hereby certify that William McCarty is entitled to one share or fiftieth part of the profits and losses arising from the proceeds of the Lycoming Salt Manufacturing Company, provided he continues to comply with the articles of the said association. Witness our hands this 5th day of April, A. D. 1809.

JOSEPH WHITACRE, President. SAMUEL CARPENTER, Treasurer.

That he paid an installment on his stock is shown by this receipt:

Received the 20th of 5th month, 1809, of William McCarty, the sum of $5, it being the first installment on one share held by him in the Lycoming Salt Manufacturing Company. Received by me,

SAMUEL CARPENTER, Treas. for said Company.

From the best information it appears that the salt manufactory was located at

426

HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

what is now Driftwood, at the mouth of Bennett's branch, on the Sinnemahoning, and that it was carried on quite extensively. There are persons yet living who remember seeing the evaporating pans used in making salt, and the location of the furnaces is still pointed out. The track of the Philadelphia and Erie railroad now passes over the spot where the salt well was located, nearly opposite the mouth of the creek.

How long these works were carried on, or what was the extent of their manu- factures, is unknown. That the company was composed largely of Muncy valley capitalists there seems to be little doubt, as the president was a prominent Qnaker resident of that place. McCarty lived in Muncy and his descendants now possess the papers copied above. John Brooks, the well known surveyor, of Sinnemahoning, thinks that the works were carried on until 1820 or 1821, and that many persons were interested, Judge Burnside being among them.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

The Lycoming County Agricultural Society was incorporated, September 24, 1859. The charter members were as follows: B. Morris Ellis, John B. Hall, H. B. Packer, John Gibson, Daniel Updegraff, Charles Allen, Abraham Updegraff, and John V. Woodward. A fine tract of land for exhibition grounds was secured on the eastern end of the "Packer farm," north of the city limits, in Loyalsock township, which was enclosed, buildings erected, and a trotting circle laid out. The society held annual exhibitions, with varying success, until 1883, when it ceased to exist.

The Muncy Valley Farmers' Club, Hughesville, was organized in August, 1868. The first officers were: President, Dr. George Hill; secretary, Daniel Steck. They served until 1873. The first exhibition was held on the grounds of the club in the fall of 1872. It was quite successful, there being about 1,000 entries. In 1875 a charter of incorporation was procured. The fees for membership were fixed at 50 cents, and 50 cents per annum for dues. For many years a great feature of the club was the discussion of various agricultural topics which took place at the monthly meetings. They were very fully reported and elicited much interest. That great good grew out of these discussions was evident. The club still holds annual exhibitions and seems to be in a flourishing condition. At the annual meeting for the election of officers, held December 5, 1891, the following were chosen: Presi- dent, Abner Fague; vice-presidents: James K. Boak, Peter Reeder; secretary, George P. Frontz; assistant secretary, C. Steck Hill; corresponding secretary, A. C. Henry; treasurer, D. H. Poust.

The Lycoming and Clinton County Agricultural Society was chartered May 2, 1878. Citizens of both counties, of whom a long list of names appears in the peti- tion, were interested. The capital stock was fixed at $5,000; shares, $100. The office of the society was at Jersey Shore. Grounds for exhibition purposes were leased and a trotting circle laid out. Fairs were held for several years and were well attended. Finally a lack of interest began to manifest itself, and when the Fall Brook railroad came along in 1882, and desired to occupy a portion of the grounds, the society gave up its lease and passed out of existence.

The State Agricultural Society held an exhibition in Williamsport iu the autumn of 1865, which was largely attended. It was brought here through the personal

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 51

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