History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 27

Author:
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1288

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In 1844 William Fruit, of Clarksville, a pioneer in the coal business, made his first shipment to Erie. In digging his coal he substituted mules for dogs in hauling coal from his mines, making so much of an innovation upon the plan used at the Curtis bank at Sharon. Loading a canal boat, whose capacity was twenty-seven tons, he started for Erie with the first load of coal that had passed along the canal to that place. One of his three hands that accompanied him was Capt. Gregory, now of Mercer. He was disappointed on reaching the place. His new fuel was not in demand. He had to consume tons in experi- ments to convince people that it would burn, and was superior to wood for cook- ing and heating purposes. This all involved time and money. Despairing of success, Mr. Fruit was on the eve of dumping his cargo into the lake and returning home in disgust. At that moment Rufus S. Reed, a large share- holder in the canal, took an interest in the cargo and bought it at $2 per ton, giving his note therefor at sixty days. Mr. Fruit had the paper discounted and returned to his home, after an absence of six weeks, rich in experience but poor in purse. The debit side of his loss and gain account was the larger.

The Strawbridge brothers, of Sharon, had, as early as 1840, discovered coal on their land. A year or two later they made developments, built tram- ways and shutes to the canal, and made shipments. At first their experience was unsatisfactory, but they persevered, and conquered.

In the spring of 1847 Gen. James Pierce located at Clarksville, and formed a

201

HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

partnership with Luke Cutler in purchasing an interest in the Montgomery coal mines. After exhausting those lands, he leased others at Mount Hickory (subsequently his home) and opened up mines. He constructed a "tram- way" to the canal. These mines, worked from 1851 to 1871, when they were exhausted, proved to be very valuable. He opened and worked various banks at different places: The Phillips bank near Mount Hickory, in partnership with John Phillips, in 1855; the Hofius bank in 1860; the Oakland coal mines in 1863, his partner being William L. Scott, of Erie; the Neshannock mines in 1864; other mines near Oakland in 1872, his associates being P. Metcalf and the Frampton Brothers; besides several in Lawrence County. In all these operations his practical judgment and energy made him very successful. We can simply refer to other mines that were opened during this coal period.

Rev. George McCleery began coal operating in 1848, and was engaged in the business up to a recent date.

Douglas' Drift was opened for home use, on the farm of Samuel Doug- las, in 1848. It subsequently became a good bank, but is now defunct.

Wilson & Oxey opened a bank on the Koonce farm in 1852. It was soon abandoned.

Mount Carbon Coal Bank .- In 1856 A. L. Crawford, now of New Cas- tle, sank a shaft on the farm of Hon. M. C. Trout, in Hickory Township. It was exhausted in 1867-68. A large supply of coal was taken out, and drawn by horses on a tram-way to Sharon for shipment.

Rankin Bank was opened in 1856, on the farm of Jacob Hann. It was operated by Curtis & Rawle until exhausted in 1868.

Moorfield Bank, sunk in 1857 by T. J. Porter and Henry Forker, was ex- hausted in 1868. It was on the farm of Henry Love.

Caster Bank, opened by Porter, Forker & Co. in 1858, on the farm of A. Y. Eberhart. They sold it to New Castle parties, who worked it until it was exhausted in 1864.

Ormsby Works No. 1, by Enoch Filer, for J. W. Ormsby and Pierce, on the farm of John Hofius, in 1859, continued until 1871. This was the first shaft in which machinery was used for hoisting the coal.

Keel Ridge No. 1, shaft sunk by Enoch Filer for Kimberly & Forker, on the Titus farm, four miles from Sharpsville, in 1863. The owners were Sam- uel Kimberly and Henry Forker. Ownership subsequently changed to Kim- berly, Forker & Co .; abandoned in December, 1874.

Lowry Mine, located on the farm of J. W. Ormsby, two miles from Clarksville.

Crawford Mines, on the lands of Duncan & Koonce, in Pymatuning Township, were opened by the Crawfords, of Cleveland. The A. & G. W. Railroad (now Erie) built a branch for traffic accommodation.

Emery Bank, on the Emery farm, was opened in 1865 by Veach, Risher & Co., of West Middlesex. Not productive now.

Forker Bank. - Joseph Forker & Co. sank a shaft on the Walker farm in 1865-66. It was very productive for a time. The works burned in 1870, but were rebuilt.

Neshannock Bank. - Shaft was sunk in 1864-65 by Phillips & McMasters, on farm of John Eberhart. In 1870 Gen. Pierce bought McMasters' interest. A destructive fire in 1876 entailed a loss of $8,000 upon the company. Daily capacity, 250 tons. The firm of Phillips & Co. retired from the busi- ness in 1887.

Westerman Slope .- Shaft was sunk in 1869, by the Westerman Iron Company, on the farm of McConnell. Daily output, 175 tons.

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

Pacific Slope was opened in 1874 by Dunham & Roberts, on the Meek farm.

Five Points Shaft was sunk by Pierce & Frampton in 1872, on the farm of Jonathan Eaton, in Hickory Township. A branch railway connected it with the Sharpsville line. It has not been in operation since 1874.

Keel Ridge No 2 .- Shaft sunk on Frazier farm, about half a mile from No. 1, for Kimberly, Forker & Co., in 1871. It was exhausted in 1874.

Keel Ridge No. 3, on the Koonce farm, half a mile north of No. 2, owned by Kimberly & Filer. Sunk about the time the others closed.

Mount Pleasant Shaft, sunk on land of Enoch Filer, by Kimberly & Filer in 1869, with an average daily capacity of 300 tons.

Snyder Bank, on Snyder farm, opened by Kimberly, Filer & Co. in 1873. Lackawannock Bank, opened on farm of Paul Everhart in 1868-69, by Samuel Kimberly & Co., and abandoned in 1872.

Congressional Bank, sunk on the Love farm by Spearman, Ulp, Kimberly & Filer in 1874. Reached by the Sharpsville Railroad branch to Bethel.

Miller Bank .- Shaft sunk by J. W. Ormsby & Sons in 1870 on the farm of Matthias Miller. The Westerman Coal Company became a partner in 1876, and assisted in the subsequent operations.

Middlesex Mine, opened on the Robert Caldwell farm, one and a half miles west of West Middlesex in 1847, by Sennett & Graham. Passing through various hands it finally became exhausted.

Mount Morris Coal Bank .- Wassen, Veaches & Rishers sunk a shaft on the Morrison farm west of Middlesex in 1860. A tram-way and shutes enabled the company to make extensive shipments after 1861, over 500,000 tons. The construction of the Erie & Pittsburgh Railroad greatly facilitated business.

Crawford & Patterson's Bank is situated on the Jackson farm, one and a half miles west of Middlesex. It was opened in 1862 by Crawford & Geise. After supplying 170,000 tons, the mine was exhausted in 1875.

Bethel Coal Works .- In 1868 Meek, Boyce & Rawle, of Sharon, put down, at a cost of $22,000, a slope on the land of R. S. Allen, of Hickory Town- ship. A narrow gauge railway was built to West Middlesex, a distance of four miles, at a cost of $7,000. An engine and "dumps" furnished the transporting power. In 1869 E. A. Wheeler and other persons from Sharon became the owners of Meek's interest. The same year the works were de- stroyed by fire, but at once rebuilt. In 1869, too, a shaft (Bethel No. 1) was sunk by the same company in Shenango Township, on the lands of James Stewart's heirs, at a cost of $14,000. A track was laid to this shaft, and increased transporting power secured. Both shafts were worked to their full capacity until 1873-74, when the supply was exhausted. A third shaft was sunk by the company on the farm of S. S. Sample, in Shenango Township, at a cost of $15,000. Railway connection was also made. These works, extensive and thoroughly worked as they were, did not prove exceedingly remunerative, the quality of the coal not being considered the best.

The extensive operations in coal in the vicinity of Sharon during the clos- ing years of the war will be seen by the following statistics taken from the Sharon Herald. In 1864 the output was about 3,500 tons per day.

The daily output of coal by the various companies operating in the She- nango Valley in May, 1865, was:

Porter & Forker

TONS. 200

Reese, Burgess & Co.

200

Curtis & Boyce ..

250

Irvine, Andrews & Co

300

C. H. and W. C. Andrews

100

James Pierce & Co

400

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

TONS.

Ames, Wick & Co.

300

Ormsby, Fish & Co

150

Frank Allen & Co 150

Veach, Risher & Co.

200

Crawford, Patterson & Co

100

C. M. Reed ...

200

M. C. Trout & Co

200

Curtis, Trout & Co

McCleery & Wheeler. 200

Taylor, Bailey & Co.

100

The combined banks of J. Phillips & Co., Byers, Veach & Co., and Ormsby, Koonce & Co.

400

300

Kimberly, Forker & Co. (Keel Ridge)

Grand total. .3,830

The other extensive field is that in and around Stoneboro. At this point we are pleased to introduce a carefully prepared report by J. M. Goodwin, of Sharpsville, who located the works and surveyed Stoneboro:

"In the summer of 1864 the Mercer Iron & Coal Company commenced operations preliminary to opening the mines, now known as the Stoneboro Mines, on lands some time previously acquired by that company, situated near, and principally south of, Sandy Lake. The company owned 2,183 acres of land, in fee, and held 'mineral rights' in 1,364 additional acres. Under- lying much the greater part of this territory of 3,547 acres there are three veins of coal. The upper vein is Vein No. 3 of the Ohio nomenclature. Vein No. 2 lies from 36 to 70 feet below No. 3, and No. 1 from 50 to 180 feet below No. 2. The average workable thickness of the coal in No. 3 is four feet; Vein No. 2 is found in places to have a thickness of three feet, and No. 1 a thickness of thirty inches. Only the upper vein (No. 3) has been, thus far, worked.

"The mines were opened under the direction and personal supervision of Hon. P. H. Watson. Mr. Watson had been from the early days of the great rebellion until July, 1864, closely engaged as Assistant Secretary of War at Washington. Unremitting attention to the duties of his office had seriously impaired his health, and in 1864 he was forced to leave Washington in order that he might, in out-of-door occupations, regain some of the vigor expended in the service of the government. He came to Sandy Lake for the purpose of examining the coal territory thereabout early in 1864, returning thence to Washington. In August, 1864, accompanied by the writer, he established himself as general manager of the coal company's affairs at Sandy Lake.

"Work on the main entry No. 1 of the mine was commenced in July, 1864. The coal taken out in 'driving entries' during the winter of 1864-65 was sold to teamsters, who hauled it to Oil City, and even to points beyond that place, selling it at prices varying from $12 to $15 per net ton. The rail- road track connecting the mine with the Jamestown & Franklin Railroad, now part of the Franklin division of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Rail- way, was completed to the shute, at opening No. 1, May 17, 1865, and the first lot (five cars) of coal left the mine May 22, 1865. The coal, excluding nut coal and 'slack,' marketed by the Mercer Iron & Coal Company up to March 25, 1876, aggregated 629, 158 tons. This output equals 5, 141 tons per acre of area actually mined up to the date named, and is 734 per cent of the entire body of coal originally in the ground in the said area. . This is a very praiseworthy showing, indicating, as it does, unusual skill and economy of coal on the part of the mining bosses. The ordinary waste in British mines (worked as the Stoneboro mines are, on the ‘pillar and stall' plan) is 40 per cent of the coal in the ground, as reported by a royal commission

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

appointed to investigate mining matters in the United Kingdom, and in this country the waste is, I believe, even greater, as a rule.

" In March, 1875, the company had finished and began using a slope, put in to reach parts of the mine lying north and west from the original open- ings, and a few years later put down a second slope into coal in the more southerly part of its territory, from which they will eventually mine not less than 5,000,000 tons, except some now unforseen reason for suspending opera- tions develops itself.

"My connection with the Mercer Iron & Coal Company continued from August, 1864, to March, 1866, during which period I acted as its engineer, under Mr. Watson's management. Having brought the mine to the point of successful operation, Mr. Watson turned over the management to other hands and left Stoneboro-as the village built up near the mines had been named- in the latter part of 1865.

"In February and March of 1876 a survey of the entire mine was made under my supervision. At that time, with the aforesaid output of 629,158 tons of coal, only 122 acres of ground had been actually mined out. The coal mined at Stoneboro is an excellent 'steam-coal,' and is largely used for loco- motive fuel and other like services."

The building of the Shenango & Allegheny (now the Pittsburgh, Shenango & Lake Erie) Railroad to Pardoe, in 1869, opened up a new coal region in the vicinity of Pardoe, and subsequently near Grove City (then Pine Grove). The Mercer Mining & Manufacturing Company having laid out the village of Pardoe, opened and began to operate extensive mines, which supply a large quantity of excellent coal. The coal is known as Clarion coal. It is quite hard, and the veins main an average thickness of four to five feet. The coal around Grove City is similar, it is said, to that of Pardoe.

From the report of the Secretary of Internal Affairs, of industrial statistics for the year 1887, we glean the following interesting mining statis- tics of this county, as reported by Thomas K. Adams, mine inspector for the Third Bituminous District, which embraces Mercer County. In the whole district Mr. Adams reported no fatal accident during the year. Of the nine- teen non-fatal, ten were at mines in this county. Four new mines were opened during the year, one of which, Lackawannock No. 2, is in Mercer County. It is the deepest shaft in the district, being sunk to the "Sharon Block" coal, found at a depth of 280 feet. With the report is a drawing showing the strata passed through. At a depth of eighty feet two feet of coal was found, followed by two feet of limestone, then two feet of coal again, which was the only coal until the block was reached at 280 feet. Following is a list. of the mines in the county, with amount in tons of coal produced, and num- ber of miners employed:

Tons.

Miners.

Black Diamond, Grove City.

41,104

Bethel, Bethel.

15,420

Carver, Stoneboro.

50,409

Chestnut Ridge, Filer.

45,088

Cranberry, Grove City.

39,255

Hickory Slope, Hazzard.

47,910

Jackson, Jackson Centre.

5,000

Lackawannock, No. 1, Greenfield.

23,171

New Virginia, New Virginia.

14.900

Ormsby Shaft, Hazzard ..

33,335

Ormsby Slope, Jackson Centre

48,139

Pardoe, Pardoe. ..

78,992

Stoneboro, No. 2, Stoneboro.

66,536

123

Spear's, Grove City. No. 3.

20,402

30,000

E dEyi Kes

Cannes Pierre

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

This report, however, does not embrace the product of the smaller banks in the vicinity of Greenville, Sharon and other portions of the county. Thou- sands of bushels are mined annually that never enter into such reports, as under the law no bank is included that does not employ ten hands. Private consumers in Greenville are largely supplied from the mines in West Salem and Pymatuning Townships, no mention of which is made in Mr. Adams' report for the reason just stated. This is also the case in Hickory Township and every other coal section in Mercer County. It is estimated that at least 100,000 bushels are annually mined in this county by small operators who do not employ the requisite number of men to bring them within the scope of State reports.

CHAPTER VII.

AGRICULTURAL-SOURCES OF WEALTH AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP-DIGNITY OF THIE FARMER'S CALLING-FIRST IMPORTATION OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS INTO AMERICA-VEGETABLE PRODUCTS-INTRODUCTION OF WHEAT, RYE, CORN, OATS, BUCKWHEAT, BARLEY AND POTATOES INTO THIS COUNTRY-FARM IMPLE- MENTS AND IMPROVEMENTS MADE THEREIN-FERTILIZERS AND DRAINAGE -- GILKEY POTATO - AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES-MERCER AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES OF THE PAST AND PRESENT-SHENANGO VALLEY AGRICULTURAL AND MANUFACTURING SOCIETY OF GREENVILLE-WOOL GROWERS' ASSOCIA- TION-MERCER COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF STONEBORO-JAMESTOWN AGRICULTURAL AND MANUFACTURING ASSOCIATION -- KEYSTONE AND BUCK- EYE FAIR ASSOCIATION OF SHARON-AGRICULTURAL PAPER-THE GRANGE.

THE sources of wealth are sometimes classified into three groups : 1. Those things which are dug out of the earth in the form of ores and minerals. 2. Those which are grown from the earth in the form of cereals and vegetables of various kinds. 3. Those things which are manufactured, directly or remotely, from either of the foregoing products. These three sources of wealth are intimately connected with one another, and therefore mutually dependent. When this relationship and inter-dependence are recog- nized properly, they can not be placed in antagonistic attitudes. They consti- stitute the great trinity of industrial pursuits, and have had an existence since the career of the race began in the oriental garden. To the second class of wealth producers belongs the farmer. His occupation is not only one of the most important, but it is given increased dignity because of its age. Not so much as a curse, but as a blessing in disguise, was the primitive man reminded that "in the sweat of his face" he should eat bread. When, in a state of entire innocence, he was placed in the garden, it was not so much to give him a long recreation as to "keep and dress it."

The dignity and importance of his calling have been recognized in all ages. Virgil, the bard of Mantua, has, in his Georgics and Bucolics, devoted the highest powers of his brilliant poetic genius to the proper celebration of its glories. The strain has been caught by poet and orator, painter and sculptor. The humblest tiller of the soil may say, with the fullest appre- ciation of its import :

A farmer's life is the life for me; I own I love it dearly, And every year, full of glee, I take its labor eheerily

208

HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

A curious history attaches to some of the animals and vegetables with which the farmer has to deal. Deeming this history a matter of great interest, we insert a brief sketch, commencing with the domestic animals. The first specimens of these were brought to America by Columbus in his second voy- age in 1493. As an admiral of seventeen ships, he left Spain with a collection of horses, a bull and several cows. The first horses, forty-two in number, brought into what is now the United States were landed in Florida by Cabeca de Vaca in 1527. Twelve years later, viz., 1539, De Soto also brought to the same region a large number of horses and swine, among the latter of which were thirteen sows, whose progeny soon increased to several hundred. In 1609 three ships from England landed at Jamestown, Va., with many immigrants, and the following animals : Six mares, one horse, 600 swine, 500 domestic fowls, with a few sheep and goats. Other ani- mals had been previously introduced there. In 1610 an edict was issued in Virginia, prohibiting the killing of domestic animals of any kind on penalty of death to the principal, and burning the hand and loss of the ears to the acces- sory, and twenty-four hours' whipping to the concealer. As a consequence swine became so numerous that the colony was nigh well overrun by them, and the Indians fed upon the wild specimens instead of game.

Wheat was introduced into the North American colonies when the first European settlers arrived. It was first sown on the Elizabeth Islands, in Massachusetts, by Gosnold, at the time he explored its coast in 1602. In 1611 it and other grains were sown in Virginia, and by 1648 many hundred acres were cultivated. This useful cereal was introduced into the Mississippi Valley by the "Western Company" in 1718;' but careless cultivation and sudden changes of climate prevented large crops. In 1746, however, 600 barrels of flour had been sent from the Wabash to New Orleans, showing that progress was being made in agriculture. In 1776 the Hessian, or wheat fly, was introduced when Howe's mercenary troops, brought from Germany, disembarked on the west end of Long Island. The insect, supposed to have been carried hither in straw, was for many years the most fatal enemy the farmer had to contend against.

Rye, supposed to be a native of the Caspian Caucasian desert, was culti- vated in America soon after its settlement by the English. Traces of it in Nova Scotia are found as early as 1622, and in Virginia in 1648.

Corn is claimed to be indigenous to America. When Columbus discovered Cuba he found it cultivated by the aboriginal inhabitants. The first success- ful attempt by the English to raise this grain was made on the James River, in Virginia, in 1608. The yield was very great.

Oats, in its most common variety, is said to be indigenous to the island of Juan Fernandez. The plant was introduced into the North American colo- nies soon after their settlement by the English. It was sown by Gosnold on the Elizabethan Islands, in 1602; cultivated in Newfoundland in 1622, and in Virginia, by Berkley, prior to 1648.

Buckwheat is supposed to be a native of Central Asia, from which it was taken into Europe in the twelfth century. When it was introduced into America is not known. Holm, in his "History of Pennsylvania," published at Stockholm in 1702, mentions it among the productions of the province; so does Kalm, the Swedish naturalist, who visited this country in 1748-49.

Barley, like wheat, was cultivated in Egypt and Syria more than 3,000 years ago. Its introduction into America may be traced to the period of its permanent settlements. Gosnold sowed it and other grains on Martha's Vineyard in 1602, and the colonists in Virginia in 1611.

209

HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

Potatoes. - The common Irish potato (Solanum tuberosum) has been found, in an indigenous state, in the mountainous districts of South America and Mexico. The first account of it published anywhere was printed at Seville, Spain, in 1553. It subsequently worked its way into Italy and the rest of Europe. It reached the North American colonies probably about 1748.

The Sweet Potato (Batatas Edulis) is a native of the East Indies. It is mentioned as a product of the American colonies as early as 1648.

Farm Implements. - In no department of agricultural activity has greater progress been shown than in the line of its implements for producing and securing its crops. The improvements here are the marks of genuine civiliza- tion. The primitive plow was a crude affair. It was heavy, and far from being artistic. Its wooden mold board and heavy beam finally, in the lapse of time, gave way to the steel mold board and iron beam. These changes were produced gradually through the operation of enterprising agents, plow- ing matches, agricultural papers and fairs. The early harrow with its wooden teeth and heavy timbers would hardly be recognized now as the harbinger of the revolving harrow with strong iron teeth, much less of the patent drill which enables the farmer to dispense with the labor of sowing his grain broad- cast as in the olden times. The heavy hoe would scarcely be recognized as the object from which the modern steel implement is fashioned.

In the means of gathering grain, the most decided improvements have been made. First the sickle, or hook, was used. It enabled the skillful farmer to gather his grain whether it stood or had fallen. It was tedious and dangerous, as the fingers of many a hand could testify, if they should relate the experiences while carrying a swath through the field. Then came the cradle, which was a decided improvement, and supposed, for a time, to be all that could be expected in the line of such implements. Like the sickle, it served a worthy purpose, and afforded the jolly farm hands an abundant opportunity to enjoy the 10 o'clock luncheon and genuine rye whisky which always found themselves in the harvest field. But both these implements were destined to give way to the modern reaper with its appliances for self-binding. Human ingenuity enabled the progressive farmer to save his own muscle, and employ instead that of his faithful horses, over whom he was authorized to exercise merciful dominion.

But progress did not stop at this point. The pioneer was content to gather his wheat or buckwheat upon a floor and beat it out with the ordinary flail, or tread it out by the aid of his horses, and then winnow it by allowing the wind to blow out the chaff from the precious grain. When the windmill was introduced, he felt that his labor was greatly lightened, but not till the appearance of the thrashing machine, whose revolving cylinder, kept in motion by bands or rods, connected with a strong horse power, beat out his grain at the rate of several hundred bushels per day, and separated it from the chaff, did he consider himself thoroughly supplied with labor-saving agencies.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 27

Author: Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk Number of Pages: 1288

Author:
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1288