USA > Pennsylvania > Northumberland County > History of Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania. With illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories > Part 42
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His boat was caught at Lewisburg, and was purchased by Mr. Daniel Caldwell, who used it as a ferry-boat between Watsontown and White Deer mills.
THE FIRST STEAM FLOUR-MILL
Was built in 1832, by Fleming W. Pollock.
The Straub mill, and its successor, the " Eckert," had enjoyed a monopoly in their line for forty years, but now the other portion of the town, although it possessed no water power, invoked the nid of steam, and this Pollock mill was put in motion on upper Front street, opposite the Rhoads foundry.
Its builder, Mr. Pollock, is now a resident of Shamokin, and president of a bank there, but the solid old stone-mill-now owned by Mr. Bickel-is still running as glibly as ever, on the site where he started it, forty-four years ago.
Of Benevolent, Bible, Missionary, and Tract Societies, there were not less than seven then in existence in Milton, and in 1831, there was organized the "Maton Temperance Society," and, for years later, the " Reformed Temper- ance Society," -probably, in view of the great increase of distilleries and taverns.
During the decade which ended in the year 1840, the population of Mal- ton bad increased but one hundred und fifty-six souls. The reasons for these unsatisfactory figures, cannot be absolutely given, but perhaps it is safe to infer that the canal had its effect on the town, just ns, in later days, we have seeu railroads operate unfavorably towards many places, which are not ac- tually terminal points. At all events, Milton no longer seemed to enjoy that preference it might almost be said monopoly-in trade, which she had twelve and fifteen years earlier, when the stable necommodations, below the Front street bridge and oo Muhoning street, amounting to more than two hundred feet, side by side measurement, often fell far short of the demand, by farmers, and others, entering town from a distance, for disposition of their grain and produce.
Trade and methods of transportation had changed, not only in the mat- ter of freight, but of passenger traffic-freight boats had taken precedence of arks aod Durhams, and the packets offered better inducements to tray- ellers, than had ever been offered by Hulings' or Cummins' stage-conehes. These, and the succeeding yenrs, were the palmy days of canal boating, when the packets were commanded by such royal souls as Captains John M. Huft, nod David Blair, who secured a degree of personal popularity aud esteem, which is never attained by railway officials in the hurry-seurrying of their profession at the present day.
THE FIRST STEAM SAW-MILL
On the west branch, was built by Dr. William MeCleery, at Milton, in the year 1842. It was driven by a twenty-five horse-power engine, snwing enpacity about two thousand five humulred feet per day, of twelve hours. The saws were two "Mulays." None of the slabs, edgings, etc., were utd- ized, by being worked into Inth, pickets, and shingles, as the machines for their manufacture were unknown at that day.
. The best white pine and oak timber could theu be bought at two to two- and-a-hulf ceuts per cubic foot, the suwed lumber selling at six to eight dol- lars per thousand feet.
This modest mill (situated on the east side of the canal just above Locust street,) was the pioneer, in the vast lumber-cutting industry, which made the city of Williamsport, as well as many other places of lesser importance, on the Susquehama and its tributaries.
THE GREAT FLOOD OF 1847,
On the west branch, made comparatively little havoc at Milton. The principal damage was done to the Milton bridge, of which the middle sec- tion, that between the islands, was carried away. The bridge company set about re-building it at once, and the work was done by Thomas Murdock and brother.
During the time between the destruction and the re-opening of this section, a ferry, from island to island, was operated by Jacob Wheeland, in the employ and interest of' the company.
THE FIRST TELEGRAPH
Connection with Milton was made in 1850. The office was in the store of William F. Nagle, at the corner of Broadway and Upper Front street, and Russell Wingate was the first operator.
It was continueil nt Nagle's store for some years, and from there was removed to the Miltonian building, which then staud on the spot now oecu- pied by J. F. Ganger & Son's store, on Front street. One of the next ope- rators after Wingate, it not his immediate successor, was L. M. Morton, E.q., the present editor of the Miltonian, at which printing office is, to-day, the only telegraph in the borough, except those at the railway depots.
The population, in 1850, was one thousand six hundred and forty-nine, a still smaller increase than that from 1830 to 1840. It was not flattering, but there was hope of recovering, as soon as railway trains should supersede the. canal boats, and this was close at hand.
2
RESIDENCE & BUSINESS BLOCK OF O. C. HOGUE, WATSONTOWN, NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
RESIDENCE & FERRY OF CAP! JOHN WATSONTOWN . NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNA
BLY,
PLATE XXVII
RESIDENCE OF SAMUEL CALDWELL, WATSONTOWN, NORTHUMBERLAND CO, PA.
PAINIS
HARDWARE BEATING
HARDWARE STORE, I. N. MESSINGER, MAIN ST. WATSONTOWN, PA
119
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
THE FIRST RAILWAY
Communication with Milton (the Cutawisea) was opened in 1852, eastward; that is, Milton was the western, or northern terminus, so that passengers coming from the enst, and bound for Williamsport, could go, by rail, ouly as far as Milton.
Three yenrs later, (1855,) that section of the Sunbury rond, between .Mil- ton and Williamsport, was opened, but still that portion between Milton and Sunbury was not completed; so that passengers from Reading or Philadel- pbin, for Williamsport, could rench Milton by the Catawissen, but must there . change to the other road to reach Williamsport.
Downward from Milton, the railway was opened to Sunbury in December," 1855, but it was not until 1858, that the continuons line was completed to . Harrisburg, and then, and not before, could passengers by rail from Harris- burg, reaeb Williamsport and Elmira, via Sunbury and Milton, without change of cars. But even the coming of the iron-horse only-raised the population of the borough to one thousand seven hundred and two in 1860, an increase of but fifty-three in ten years.
When, in 1864, during its construction, the Sunbury and Erie Railroad had appropriated to its use the bed of the old Northumberland and Muney rond, northward from Milton, it became obligatory on the company to furnish the County another road for that which had been taken. In this, as in most similar cases, the ideas of the citizens were diverse as to which ronte should be ndopted. One party wished it to be by Water street, and thence north- ward, and nuother by way of Upper Front street, and thence to Watsontown. Either route would ent the farm of Mr. David Marr, and he, favoring Upper Front street, offered free right of way by that route, while he demanded three thousand dollars damages if the Water street route was adopted. The devision of the question virtually lay with Robert It. Faries, Esq., Chief Engiuver of the Railroad, nndl, for more than six months, both parties paid assiduous and persistent court to him whenever he enme to Milton, The free right of wuy, offered by Marr, caused him to favor Upper Front street, and that route would surely have been obtained, but that the old Episcopal burying-ground laid directly in the way, and the law forbade disturbing it without consent of the proprietors.
This consent was positively refused. Some said that the machinations of the Water street party induced the refusal, but, however this might be, it turneul the route from Upper Front street. David Marr received his three thousand dollars, and the highway passed through Water street, on to Wat- suntown and Muney.
Immediately after the route was fixed through Water street, Dr. Wm. MeC'leery laid out his nuldition to the town as follows: North boundary, Church lane; south boundary, Locust street; east boundary, West Branch Canal; west boundary, the river, containing thirty-two acres, and sub- divided into one hundred and one lots.
A short time prior to this ( July, 1853) Mr. J. J. Reimensnyder hud laid out the achlition called "Shakespeare," viz .: North boundary, land of Philip Follmer; enst boundary, land of Samuel T. Brown; south boundary, laml of - Tens; west boundary, Sodoor public rond, containing seven acres, eighty-five perches.
ADDITION OF WILLIAM F. NAGLE,
Laid out in 1855, extending eastward from the borough limit to the "old Follmer farm," and northward from Broadway to Heinen's addition. Area, thirty aeres.
J. B. DAVIS' ADDITION,
Laid out in 1856. Boundaries: North, Ferry lane; cast, West Branch Canal; south, street grossing at Nnil Works; west, the river; containing thirty neres.
LAWSON & SCHMEYER'S ADDITION
Was laid out in 1864, and contains forty neres. It is bounded as follows: On the north, by Washingtonville road; on the east, by land of John Houtz ; on the south, hy Limestone Run ; on the west, by borough limit.
MOSES CHAMBERLAIN'S ADDITION
Was Inid out October 28th, 1867, and contains twenty-six acres. West bonndary, the river; east boundary, canal and basin ; south boundary, Locust street ; north boundary, other lands of M. Chamberlain.
WILLIAM HEINEN'S ADDITION
Contains about fifty acres, and extemls eastward from the borough line to Fifth street, and from Locust street northward. It was laid out in 1872,
and twenty-three dwellings have already been built upon it. These last three additions are, chronologically, out of place here, but are inserted with the others, for obvious reasons.
OPENING OF CENTRE STREET.
As late as the year 1860, Milton still preserved, in a great measure, its original shape, that is to say, there were two towns, one below Limestone Run, aod the other on and above Broadway; while between these there was no settlement worthy of mention, except the connecting line of business places and residences on Front street. The project of filling up this vacant space, by the opening of a new, wide street, from Front street eastward, across the canal, had been entertained for two or three years by n number of promi- neut citizens. The principal obstacle was the Methodist Church building, which stond directly in their route, but this they succeeded in purchasing in 1859, and the way theo being elear, they opened their thoroughfare (Centre street ) in 1860. It is wide, and well graded-in fact, one of the best streets of the town. Upon it stands the fine edifice of the the Baptist Church, the Centre school-house, nud a large number of most desirable residences. Its opening has proved a great benefit, by gradually building up the vacant spaces between the solid extremities of the horvugh.
WAR ATTITUDE, 1861.
From the first call for troups, made by President Lincolo, in 1861, until the final suppression of the Southern Rebellion, Milton nobly sustained a character for patriotism, second to no community in the Keystone Stute. What more than that need be said? The names of those who went to the battle-fieldi will be found in another part of this work, with the roster and muster-roll of the County. Many names are of those who returned, mul are now peacefully and honorably engaged in the pursuits of civil life. But many, too, are of those who returned not, but who still lie far off on the Southern fields on which they fell.
THE GREAT FLOOD OF 1865.
Ou the 17th of March of that year, commenced a ilood, unprecedented for the height of the water, and the amount of damage done, not only nt Milton, but at all other points along the river. The following account of the havoc at Milton, is from the Miltonion, of March 26th, 1865:
"On Wednesday of Inst week, the river commenced to make a gradual swell, which slowly continued on Thursday, through the effects of rain and melting snow among the hills, until Friday, when the rise became more rapid, fast filling the river-bank fitll. But >till it rose and rose, higher and higher, not caring for any former precedent as to height, entil, Saturday morning, it luni risen to such a depth that Front street, in some places, con- tained over six feet of water. On Saturday morning, the good news enme that the water was falling. This glad news was welcomed by one and all. Each theu wore a cheerful fave. It was Nonh's dove returning to the ark!
"It was a sad sight to see such a destruction of property-bridges, bouses, household furniture, stables, fences, ete., vame flonting down the river in con- fused minsses.
"On Friday it was perceptible, to ench one's eye, that the Maton bridge could not much longer withstand the pressure brought against it by the accumulating logs and debris of all kinds. The western portion was swept away some time on Friday night. The eastern portion, or that nearest to town, left about three o'clock Friday afternoon. Many aching hearts wit- nessed the grand scene! Just previous to starting, her erenking timbers made loud throws of agony. By the bridge breaking in two, and swinging round towards citber bank, she fonted grandly down the river, never to return. The middle bridge-that between the two islands-was swept from the piers about the zumc time. but, lodging against trees, moved only a few rods down the river.
"To enumerate und individualize the heses experienced by different ones in this loculity, would be impossible in a newspaper article. The families on the river-bank, in the upper portion of the borough, as well as the Tower, were compelled tu forsake their homes, withont much less, however. Many of those in the lower part of the town, took refuge in the Germin Reformed Church, reminding one of those sad, rebellions times, when refugees are driven from their homes-while others were provided for in other ways.
"There is but little injury done in the upper portion of the town, as the water had little or no current. In the lower portion, however, where the current was swift and strong, it washed out streets and did grent damage.
"Mr. John Datesman, of West Milton, is a heavy loser in grain, which became wet, and may uearly all be destroyed by not being made dry. We
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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
are informed that about two thousand bushels had to be taken from his warehouse, and through the kindness of friends and neighbors, was hauled to the different barns in the country to dry. It is staterl that, while the gooils were being removed from his store, some rascal robberl his till of all the money it contained. Such a man will steal from the devil, when he can.
"John Halter, on Mrs. Marr's farm, had his house swept away and his furniture all lost. He also lost two crops of tobacco, leaving him penniless. Mrs. Morr also lost tobacco to the amount of a thousand dollars and over. But there is loss, more or less, by each family residing along the river, and we cannot now enumerate. Farms lying along the river were swept of all fencing, which proves n very heavy loss.
"Our citizens all, no doubt, feel thankful that Milton escaped with such a slight loss. Many in other towns lost their all. Lock Haven was entirely overflown, the water being from five to six feet in depth in the highest part of' the town. Williamsport fared but little better. At Muncy, the caml is much damaged-the towing-path having been entirely torn away in some places, and in others, the cunal filled up even with the banks. The aque- duet, at the month of Money Creek, was swept away, and the piers much injured. The steam saw-mill of' Courson & Fox, at the mouth of Muney Creek, was moved from its foundation, and swung across the bank of the ยท canal, separating in the middle. These gentlemen also lost a considerable quantity of lumber-their loss is estimated at from ten to twelve thousand dollars The Muncy bridge suffered materially. One span is entirely gone, and several others had the lower timbers carried away."
The rebuilding of the bridge was now the serious question. The disaster had been av great that the stock of the company was nearly extinguished. It was declared to be depreciated four-fifths, which left a total of only about five thousand dollars in existence, while sixty thousand more than this sum was necessary for rebuilding. The old stockholders were unwilling to pay the assessment of eighty per cent., and there seemed to be no new takers of stock. The prospect for a new bridge seemed gloomy enough, and, indeed, it could not have been accomplished-perhaps for years-but for the un- wearying and persistent exertions of Colonel Thomas Swenk, and a few other individuals, who were determined that Milton should suffer no such blow as the permanent loss of her bridge. At last, the company was rehabilitated, and the contract for the new bridge was given to Benjamin Griffey, who em- ployerl David Stariek to build the necessary stone-work. The entire cost of the structure was sixty-five thousand dollars. During the construction, n ferry, to partially fill the place of the bridge, was run across at the lower end of the islands.
The Cutawiera Railroud northward from Milton, was completed through to Williamsport, in 1871, The entire road is now leased to the Philadelphia and Reading Railrond Company, and bears the name of the latter corpora- tion. Thus Milton has the advantage of two lines of railway in each direction-northward to Williamsport and eastward to Philadelphia. She has also a stage-line still left-running daily between the borongh and Lew- isburg, Union County.
The old "Eagle Hotel," on Front street, a building part frme and part Jog, which, sixty years ago, was occupied by the Northumberland, Union und Columbia Bank, and which later, at various times, was kept as the "Spread Engle Tavern," and as the " Eagle Hotel," by Lemuel R. Stoughton, Captain John M. Iluff, and others, was, in 1871, demolished by the latter gen- tleman, and he erected in its place a fine three-story house, and named it for himself, "Huff's Hotel." Since his death, which occurred soon after, bis widow has continued it as a public house, under the same name.
THE FIRE OF DECEMBER 12TH, 1875.
At eight o'clock in the evening of Sunday, December 12th, 1875, Mr. Henry Huth, proprietor of the Riverside Hotel, on Front street, discovered heavy volumes of smoke, issuing from the rear basement of his house.
He at once gave the alarm of fire, nud then, with the assistance of Mr. J. G. Kurtz, entered the room, with buckets of wuter, to find the location of the fire, and to extinguish it, if possible. But the dense smoke made it impossible to remain inside for more than a single moment. In a very short time, the two band-engines were on the spot, and each hud n stream into the burning basement-one from the front, and the other from the rear. The house was kept closed as tightly as practicable to smother the fire, or at least, to retard its progress until help could arrive from Lewisburg and Watsontown. Dispatches had been sent to those towns for uid, but, as it was Sunday evening, there was no locomotive under steam at either place. Permission, however, was received from the superintendent of the railroad, and they were then fired up as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, although the hand-engines had done their best, the fire was steadily gaining on them, rising from floor to floor, till, at half-past ten, it burst furiously from the roof. Just then, the steam fire-engine, from Wat- sontown, arrived, and, a little later, the " William Cameron " steamer, of Lewisburg, came in, It was but a few moments until each engine was play- ing two heavy streams upon the fire. The companies worked most maufully, but the fire had too much headway, and had enten through the walls of the " Riverside," into the adjoining building, and, spreading with great rapidity, it consumed everything in its course, and was only subdued when it had renehed the building of George J. Piper, on the north, and that of W. H. Phillips, on the south. The loss was estimated at one hundred thousand dollars. Thirteen places of business were burned, including some of the best buildings in the town of Milton,
The origin of the conflagration was unknown, as there had been no fire for two days in the room where it was first discoveredl. The warmest grati- tude was manifested by the citizens of Milton towards the Lewisburg und Watsontown firemen, for their prompt and manly aid in saving the town.
BURNING OF THE OLDEST HOUSE.
At two o'clock in the morning of the 4th of May, in the present year, (1876,) there occurred, at the north-east corner of Broadway and Water streets, a fire, which, though not a very destructive one, as regards the amount of property consumed, yet should receive more than a passing notice, because it destroyed the oldest buihling in the town-the old log house, which, when Andrew Straub came to Limestone Run, in 1779, he found, not yet roofed, only "logged np to the square," and the only building of any kind in the place. This house, when burned, was ninety-seven years old, more than fifteen years older than Governor Pollock's old stone mansion, which stood adjoining, and which was unroofed and badly damaged by the same fire
The old house and a small building on the same lot, and both consumed, were the property of' Dr. Waldron, who had no insurance. The Pollock "house was insured for three thousand dollars.
At the census of 1870, the borough contained a population of one thousand nine hundred and nine, but as fully three-sevenths of the population of the town live outside the limits of the borough, and as the growth, since 1870, has been very good, it is confidently believed that four thousand is very nearly the correct figure for this year of 1876.
There are, in the town, five hotels, ten groceries, two hardware, three drug, and six dry goods stores; four merchant tailors, three watchmakers, three saddlers and harness-makers, three dentists, one printing and two ex- press offires, besides the numerous small dealers and shops, which are not easy to enumerate, but which are in the usual proportion found in similar towns.
ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW,
The members of the legal profession in Milton are: John F. Wolfinger, William C. Lauson, John Porter,* Franklin Bound, C. W. Tharp, J. Woods Brown, Peter L. Hackenburg, John MeCleery, Thomas Swenk, Jr., Edmond Davis,
THE PHYSICIANS
Are Dr. James S. Dougal, Dr. David Waldron, Dr. U. Q. Davis, Dr. T. R. Hull, Dr. Charles H. Dougal, Dr. James P. McCleery, Dr. J. H. Miles.
Dr. James S. Dougal is not now in practice, being in the eighty-third year of bis age. In 1798, at the age of four years, he was brought by his mother from Ireland, across the ocean, to join his father, Dr. James Dougal, who had settled in Milton three years before.
In the war of 1812, he volunteered for the army, and served, for a con- sidlerable time, at Marcus Hook. His medical education, he received from his father, and succeeded to his large practice, at his death, in 1818. His professional life has been a long, a busy, and an honorable one. May his remaining years be painless and serene!
The physicians of the Homoeopathic School, are: Dr. J. A. Osborn and Dr. J. R. Ely.
THE MILTON FIRE DEPARTMENT,
The apparatus for extinguishment of fire, consists of a "Silsby" steam fire engine, a hook and ladder truck, and two suction hund-engines,
The hook and Indder company, when full, numbers forty members, and is- called the "Fisber Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1., of Milton." D. K. Fisher, foreman. Their organization is independent, and only under control . of the borough authorities when on duty at fires.
*Dled July 4th, 1570.
121
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
The steamer, named the " Miltonian," is located on Front street, just above bridge. The company in charge of it, consists of about seventy-five mem- bers, under Franklin Hoy, foreman. The two hand-engines lie in the engine- house on Front street, opposite Broadway. But they have no companies, and are now for nse, only in ense of accident to the steamer. The Chief Engineer, in charge of all, is Charles McGee.
Milton hus hnd, during the past seventy years, three fire-engines, other than those in its present department. The old hooks and ladders were pro- cured in 1798, and eight years after Andrew Straub left, by will, one hundred dollars, towards a fire-engine, and this sum being supplemented by the citizens, au engine was purchased in Philadelphia, for the use of Milton. It was unmed the "Int Lyou" in honor of its maker, who was reckoned among the best of that day. It is still in existence, and is now the private property of Mr. Louis Hilgert. He has placed it in thorough repair, and it is said to throw as strong a stream as it did in its youth, sixty years ago.
The "Enterprise," a rotary engine, enme next. It was located on the river bank at Lower Market street. In 1840, it' became a tender or supply machine for the "Harmony" engine, (not a suction,) which was purchased at or about that time. Of the apparatus now in use, the hand-engines were purchased, one in 1861, the other in 1870. The steamer and the hook and ladder truck were both procured in the present year, 187G.
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