History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 2

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534

USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania > Part 2

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).

same action or actions already commenced or depending may be prose- cuted aud judgment thereupon rendered, as if this act had not been made; and that it shall and may be lawful for the justices of the county of Philadelphia to issue any judicial process, to be directed to the sheriff or coroner of Philadelphia County, for carrying on aud obtaining the effect of the aforesaid suits, which sheriff and coroner shall and are hereby obliged to yield obedience in executing the said writs, and make due return thereof before the justices of the said court for the said county of Philadelphia, as if the parties were living and residing within the salue.

SECT. XXI, AND WHEREAS it is represented, by petition to the General Assembly, that by the lines hereinbefore mentioned a long, narrow neck or point of land, being part of the manor of Moreland, and lying between the townships of Byberry and Lower Dublin, in the county of Philadel- phia, would be included in the county of Montgomery, to the great in- convenience and injury of the inhabitants of tho said neck of land, who have prayed that they may remain within the county of Philadelphia.

SECT. XXII. Be it therefore enacted by the authority aforesuid, That the boundary line of the said county of Montgomery shall be as follows: that is to say, beginning in the line of Bucks County where the same is intersected by the line which divides the townships of Byberry und the manor of Moreland; thence southwesterly along the last-mentioned line to the first corner or turning thereof; and thence on the samo south- westerly course to the line of Lower Dublin; and thence westwardly along the northern line of Lower Dublin, and so on, as the lines of the said county of Montgomery are hereinbefore described, to the place of beginning; anything hereinbefore contained to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.

Passed Sept. 10, 1784.

townships; from thence it passes through the country in a southeasterly course until it reaches the Phila- delphia line. The county is watered by many streams flowing into the Schuylkill River,-Wissahickon, Plymouth, Sandy Run, Mill, Rock Hill, Gulf, Valley, Indian, Stony, Skippack, Perkiomen, and Manatawny Creeks. The Pennypack and Neshaminy Creeks rise in Montgomery County, and pass through Bucks County to the Delaware River. The water-flow and fall of these streams and their tributaries, which form a network of irrigation, fed by thousands of perennial springs, rising in every part of the county, were early utilized by the settlers, who erected dams, and built on the shores grist-, saw-, fulling-, oil-, paper-, powder-, and rolling-mills, forges, factories, and tanneries. In 1795 there were reported ninety- six grist-mills, sixty-one saw-mills, four forges, six fulling-mills, and ten paper-mills. Many of these grist-mills existed prior to and during the Revolu- tionary war, doing active service for the contending armies while in occupancy of this section of the country. In the early era of public improvements Montgomery County was well marked by public roads leading from the city of Philadelphia to the interior settlements of the colony and State. The Lancaster road and similar highways leading to Reading and Bethlehem, with many parallel cart- ways, opened up the county settlements at a very early period. These great thoroughfares were soon intersected by public roads running from the Dela- ware to the Schuylkill Rivers, increasing in number and importance until the region now comprising the county was accessible from all points by well-graded roads leading in the direction of Philadelphia, then the capital of the county and of the State as late as 1799, and the capital city of the nation as late as 1800.

The general conformation of the face of the coun- try in Montgomery County repeats in miniature that which has rendered the natural scenery of New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia so nota- ble. The ranges of hills run uniformly northeast and southwest, as do the more distant line of the Cats- kills, Blue Ridge, and Alleghanies. As the Hudson River forces itself through the Narrows, the Dela- ware at the Water Gap, the Susquehanna between Harrisburg and Port Deposit, the Potomac at Har- per's Ferry, so the Schuylkill River in finding its way to the Delaware, in the same direction, cuts its way through rock-hills at Conshohocken and again at Fairmount, Philadelphia. The primitive condition of the area of country now known as Montgomery County was land heavily timbered with oak, hickory, and chestnut. The consumption of wood for fuel prior to the introduction of anthracite and bitumi- nous coal, was very great in Eastern Pennsylvania. Large quantities were used in making charcoal for furnaces ; all lime was made by nse of wood for fuel; every household had its " wood-pile," while the sup- ply of Philadelphia City constituted a trade of vital

TOPOGRAPHY.

interest to those owning and residing upon lands husbandry of the modern farmer, and a liberal use of lime, manure, and fertilizers, this vast region of country yields abundant harvests, and supports a prosperous population equal in numbers to the square mile with the more favored limestone or valley lands. The scenery abounding along the Schuylkill, Wissa- hickon, Perkiomen, and their tributaries is among the most picturesque in the Middle States, while the land- scape, from the successive ranges of hills, is extended, and conveys to the observing eye a vision of pastoral peace and plenty. The topography of the county, as shown by accompanying maps,-that of Holme's orig- inal survey and the recent one prepared for this work, -shows the progress of two centuries in the matter of public roads and highways, and the subdivisions of the county into townships and boroughs. In 1681 it consisted of manors and large tracts, or proprietary grants, held by comparatively few persons, who lived a frontier life, in almost daily contact with native tribes of Indians. Since then its square miles and broad acres, under the equalizing operation of our laws of descent, have passed through at least six generations, and thousands of purchasers have ac- quired titles to soil that have always been a prize in the inventory of worldly possessions of those who within twenty and thirty miles of the great city. Time was, and possibly is within the remembrance of those still living among us, when it was the work of each succeeding year to clear one or more acres of woodland, and the wood sold counted as a part of the yearly profit of the farm. This wealth of primitive forest was the foundation of many substantial fortunes in years past, where, by means of judicious purchases made, the sale of the " wood-leaf" paid for the farm, and opened up an increasing acreage for the growth of grass and cereals. Tradition says this stump or "new land" was a test point in the character of the owner. If he was a provident, industrious man, his "new land" would seasonably blossom with buck- wheat ; if thriftless, selling his wood to pay taxes and incidental expenses of his attendance upon militia trainings and horse-races, his new land would be left uncultivated and overgrown with briers and brush. Fifty years ago farms denuded of woodland were ex- ceptional, and their marketable value greatly depre- ciated. The old characteristic farmer of Montgom- ery County took a commendable pride in maintaining from ten to twenty acres of primitive forest. It was useful in many ways, for fuel, building, and fencing, and, whether deemed ornamental or not, had a rare ; lived and died on the hills and in the valleys of charm for him. It was these parks of woodlands that Montgomery. preserved to hunters until within the last quarter of a century choice haunts for squirrel and bird; but the close of the first century of the county witnesses the final obliteration of all hunting-grounds lying between the Delaware and the Schuylkill.

The surface soil varies greatly in different parts of the county. In passing inland from tide-water levels, alluvial flats, and submarine formations, rock-faced bluff's are found at Chestnut Hill, four hundred feet above tide-water mark. The northwestern slope of these hills descends to the basin of the Plymouth Valley, through which runs a belt of limestone some two miles in width, with rich beds of hematite iron ore, white and blue marble, limestone, soapstone, and large masses of gray rock, easily quarried, and largely used in heavy masonry. This limestone belt crosses the Schuylkill River between Conshohocken and Swedes' Ford, and extends in a westerly direction to Howeltown, in the Schuylkill Valley. The soil of this locality is very productive, and is considered by many the most valuable in the county for agricul- tural purposes. Contiguous to the Plymouth Valley are the Sandy Hills, a light, luminous soil, easily worked and productive, but often seriously affected by drought. The rolling lands northwest of the val- ley, drained by Indian, Skippack, Perkiomen, and Manatawny Creeks and their tributaries, are princi- pally of the red shales and sandstones of the " middle secondary" formation, with many intervening areas of clay soil. The primitive condition of this soil was unproductive as compared with that of the Schuyl- kill and Plymouth Valleys; but under the skillful

The first era of public improvement demanded macadamized highways from tide-water to the in- terior. These highways still exist, monuments of early engineering, traversing the hills and mountains of the State. The increased tonnage of merchandise on these roads, and the costly character of teams and means of transportation,-the old Conestoga wagon,- soon induced the bridging of all important streams, many of which crossed these highways, as surveyed northwest of Philadelphia, within the lines now con- stituting Montgomery County. The spirit of public improvement seized on the Schuylkill River, and by a system of dams, locks, and canals connected it with the Susquehanna, by means of which lumber, coal, and all manner of merchandise found its way through the county to Philadelphia. Many travelers sought the " fast packet line," pulled through at a trot, with frequent changes of horses, it being thought a far more luxurious way of reaching the interior than by stage. This system of navigation still exists on the Schuylkill, but is now confined to ooal, lumber, lime, and stone. It is no longer a rival for mail, fast freight, or passenger traffic. The use of steam opened up a new era of public improvement. The construction of railroads speedily followed. These modern highways of travel and traffic found easy grades and eligible locations on the shores of streams and over depres- sions upon the face of the country, sought out by skillful engineers. The topographical face of Mont- gomery County is traversed by three of the best-con- structed and most liberally equipped railroads in the country, with a number of lateral roads connecting

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

these parallel trunk lines. The Philadelphia and Reading Company drain the Schuylkill Valley, with branch roads in Plymouth, Stony Creek, Perkiomen, Pickering, and Oley Valleys. The North Pennsyl- vania Railroad, now under the management of the Philadelphia and Reading, crosses the " divide" between the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers, and extends to Bethlehem, having connections with the Bound Brook, New Hope, and Doylestown Railroads, and with the Lehigh Valley system of railroads. The trunk line of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company passes through Lower Merion township. The Phila- delphia and Schuylkill Valley Railroad Company, now leased to the Pennsylvania Company, is con- structing a new line of road from their main track at Fifty-first Street, Philadelphia, thence up the Schuyl- kill Valley, leaving the county at the line opposite Phoenixville. When this road is completed, Mont- gomery County will be most advantageously traversed with these modern highways.

There are accompaniments to these public improve- ments of novel and increasing interest to the popu- lons districts of country through which they pass, - the telegraph and, Jater, the telephone. No system of railroading is now deemed complete without tliese necessary adjuncts to the safety of public travel, the prompt movement of freights, and the methodical dispatch of business accumulating at centres of pro- duction, trade, and transatlantic shipment. These means of direct and rapid communication with all parts of the country, focalizing as they pass through the county and converging at the contiguous seaport city of Philadelphia, gives to the locality important topographical advantages. Lines of rapid transit, capable of transporting large bodies of men and cor- responding tonnage of freight, are now essential agencies in travel and in conducting the exchange of commodities of the continent in time of peace as well as in time of war. They are anchored in the capital- ized enterprise of the country, and are indispensable to the success of the industrial pursuits in agriculture, manufacture, and commerce. Their adaptation to the necessities and exigencies of war was well illus- trated in the late Rebellion. The facility with which troops and supplies were transported to the line of the Susquehanna in the summer of 1863 was of great importance in conncction with movements relied upon to check the invasion of Gen. Lee, and in making the great battle of Gettysburg the turning-point of the war. In the event of foreign war, hostile agencies would first be directed to the capture or destruction of our seaport towns and cities. In that event Phila- delphia and all the commercial advantages centring there would be a tempting prize to a maritime enemy. In such a contingency, one that may occur, all can readily see the importance that would be attached to the present topographical face of the county, check- ered as it is with a network of trunk aud lateral lines of railroads. What our common roads were to Gen.

Washington and Lord Howe in 1777-78 in the stra- tegical movement of troops from the Brandywine to the Delaware for the defense and capture of the City of Penn, our railroads in an enlarged sense would be in possible warlike movements, involving issues of greater importance than those referred to in the early history of the country.

The surface elevations and topographical structure of Montgomery County has been heretofore made contributory to the growth and development of the region by utilizing its flowing waters for purposes of irrigation and propelling mills and factories. The sanitary requirements of Philadelphia demand a liberal extension of its water-works, and skillful en- gineers have ascertained, by levels made and in prog- ress, that the upper Perkiomen Valley has an eleva- tion with a volume of water and storage capacity suf- ficient to meet present and future wants of the great city for a century to come, and furnish a healthful and perpetual supply of pure water.

The true latitude and longitude of Montgomery County appears to have been ascertained with great precision in 1769-70 by David Rittenhouse aud his distinguished scientific contemporaries. The astro- nomical observations which preceded the terrestrial measurements were made, taking the "Norriton Ob- servatory" as a place of beginning. The extraor- dinary importance attached at the time to the work of these learned men, and the high standard of authority since conceded to them, renders of historical interest some account of their labors and the circumstances connected with the event.

Latitude and Longitude, Norriton Observa- tory .- Norriton township, created by judicial pro- ceedings, 1730, then becoming a geographical suhdi-

RITTENHOUSE OBSERVATORY.

vision of Philadelphia, enjoys a world-wide celebrity in having had situated within its boundaries the "Norriton Observatory," at which place astronomical observations were made, and reported as " An Account of the Transit of Venus over the Sun's Disk, observed at Norriton, in the County of Philadelphia and Prov-

TOPOGRAPHY.

ince of Pennsylvania, June 3, 1769."1 It was at the point where theu stood the "Norriton Observatory," about fifty feet north of the famous old residence,

1 The following gentlemen were appointed by the American Philo- sophical Society, located at Philadelphia, to make the observations and astronomical calculations: William Smith, D.D., Provost of the College of Philadelphia ; John Lukens, Esq., Surveyor-General of Pennsylvania ; David Rittenhouse, A. M., of Norriton ; and John Sellers, Esq., Repre- sentative in Assembly for Chester. Communicated to the society July 20, 1769, by direction and in behalf of the committee, by Dr. Smith.

"GENTLEMEN,-Among the various public-spirited designs that have engaged the attention of this society since its first institution none does them more honor than their early resolution to appoint committees of their own members to make as many observations, in different places, of the rare phenomenon, the transit of Venus over the sun's disk, as they had any probability of being able to defray the expense of, either from their own funds or the public assistance they expected. As the mem- bers of the Norriton Committee live at some distance from each other, I am therefore, at their request, now to digest and lay before you in one view the whole of our observations in that place, distinguishing, how- ever, the part of each observer, and going back to the first preparations ; for I am persuaded that the dependence which the learned world may place on any particular transit account will be in proportion to the pre- vions and subsequent care which is found to have been taken in a series of accurate and well-conducted observations for ascertaioing the going of the time-pieces, and fixing the latitude and longitude of the place of observations, etc. And I am the more desirous to be particular in these points in order to do justice to Mr. Rittenhouse, one of our committee, to whose extraordinary skill and diligence is owing whatever advantage may be derived in these respects to our observation of the transit itself. It is further presumed that astronomers in distant countries will be de- sirous to have not only the work and results belonging to each particu- lar transit observation, but the materials also, that they may examine and conclude for themselves. And this may be more particularly requi- site in a new observatory, such as Norritou, the name of which bas per- haps never before been heard of by distant astronomers, sud therefore its latitude and longitude are to be once fixed from principles that may be satisfactory on the present as well as oo any future occasion.

" Our great discouragement at our first appointment was the want of proper apparatus, especially good telescopes with micrometers. The generosity of our Provincial Assembly soon removed a great part of this discouragement, not only by their vote to purchase one of the best re- flecting telescopes, with a Dolland's micrometer, but likewise by their subsequent donation of one hundred pounds for erecting observatories and defraying other incidental expenses. It was foreseen that on the arrival of this telescope, added to such private ones as might be pro- cnred in the city, together with fitting up the instruments belonging to the lionorable the Proprietaries of the province, viz., the equal-niti- tude and transit instrument and the large astronomical sector, oothing would be wanting for the city observatory in the State-Honse Square but a good time-piece, which was easily to be procured. We remained, however, still at a loss how to furnish the Norriton Observatory, but even this difficulty gradnally vanished. Early in September, 1768, soon after the nourination of our committee, I received a letter from that worthy and bonorable gentleman, Thomas Penn, Esq., one of the Proprietaries of this province, which he wrote at the desire of the Rev. Mr. Makelyne, Astronomer Royal, expressing their desire ' that we would exert ourselves in observing the transit, for which our situation would be so favorable,' and inclosing some copies of Mr. Makelyne's printed directions for that purpose. This gave me an opportunity, which Iimmediately embraced, of acquainting Mr. Penn what preparation we had already made, and what encouragement the Assembly had given in voting one hundred pounds sterling for the purchase of one reflecting telescope and mi- crometer for the city observatory ; but that we would be at a great loss for a telescope of tho like construction for the Norriton Observatory, and requesting him to order a reflector of two or two and a balf feet, with Dolland's micrometer, to be got ready as soon as possible in London. It was not long before I had the pleasure of bearing that Mr. Penn bad ordered such a telescope, which came to hand about the middle of May, with a most obliging letter, expressing the satisfaction he bad in hearing of the spirit shown at Philadelphia for observing this curious phenome- non when it should happen, and concluding as follows : ' I have sent by Capt. Sparks a reflecting telescope, with Dolland's micrometer, exact to your request, which I hope will come safe to hand. After making your observations, I desire you will present it, in my name, to the college.

still standing, that David Rittenhouse, assisted by Archibald McKean and Jesse Lukens, met on July 2, 1770, to commence the work of surveying a line

Messrs. Mason and Dixon tell me they never used a better than that which I formerly sent to the Library Company of Philadelphia, with which a good observation may be made, though it has no micrometer.' We were now enabled to furnish the Norriton Observatory as follows, viz .:

"1. A Gregorian reflector, about 2 f. focal length, with a Dolland's micrometer. This telescope has four different magnifying powers, viz. : 55, 95, 130, and 200 times, by means of two tubes, containing eye-glasses that magnify differently, and two small speculums of different focal distances. Made by Nairne; used by Dr. Smith.

"2. A refractor of 42 f., its magnifying power about 140. The glasses were sent from London with the large reflector, and belonged to Har- vard College, New England; but as they did not arrive time enough to be sent to that place before the transit, they were fitted up here by Mr. Rittenhouse and used by Mr. Lukens.

"3. Mr. Rittenhouse's refractor, with an object-glass of 36 f. focus, and a convex eye-glass of 3 inches, magnifying about 144 times. Used by himself. Botb tbese refractors, as well as the reflector, were in most exquisite order.

"4. An equal-altitude instrument, its telescope three and a half feet focal length, with two horizontal hairs, and a vertical one in its focus, firmly supported on & stone pedestal, and easily adjusted to a plummet wire 4 feet in length by 2 screws, one moving it in a north and south, the otber in an east and west direction.

"5. A transit telescope, fixed in the meridian on au axis with fine steel points, so that the hair in its focus can move in no other direction than along the meridian ; in which are two marks, south and north, about 330 yards distance each, to which it can be readily adjusted in a horizontal position by one screw, as it can in a vertical position by another screw.

"6. An excellent timc-piece, baving for its pendulum a flat steel bar, with a bob weighing about 12 pounds, and vibrating in a final arcb. It goes eight days, does not flop when wound up, beats dead seconds, and is kept in motion by a weight of 5 ponuds. These last three articles were siso Mr. Rittenhouse's property, and made by himself.

"7. An astronomical quadrant, two and a half f. radius, made by Sisson, the property of the East Jersey Proprietors, under the care of the Right Honorable William Earl of Stirling surveyor-general of that province, from whom Mr. Lnkena procured the use of it, and sent it up to Mr. Rittenhouse for ascertaining the latitude of the observatory. Thus we were at length completely furnished with every instrument proper for our work. As Mr. Rittenhouse's dwelling at Norriton is about 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia, our other engagements did not permit Mr. Lukens or myself to pay much attention to the neces- sary preparations, But we knew that we bad intrusted them to a gen- tleman on the spot, who had, joined to a complete skill io mechanics, so extensive an astronomical and mathematical knowledge that the use, management, and even the construction of the necessary apparatus were perfectly familiar to him. Mr. Lukens and myself could not set out till Thursday, June Ist ; but on our arrival there we found every prepara- tion so forward that we had little to do but to examine and adjust our respective telescopes to distinct vision. He had fitted up the different instruments, and made a great number of observations to ascertain the going of his time-piece, and so determined the latitude and longitude of the observatory. The landable pains he had taken in these material articles will best appear from the work itself, which be has committed into my hands, with the following modest introduction, giving me a liberty which his own accuracy, care, and abilities leave no room to exercise :

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 Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 2

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1534

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534