History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Part 66

Author: Bell, Herbert C. (Herbert Charles), 1868- ed; John, J. J., 1829-
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1424

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As a postoffice designation, Shamokin was first applied to the village of Snufftown, the mail distributing point for a large part of the extensive township of Shamokin. On the 28th of December, 1840, the name of Coal postoffice was changed to Shamokin, and that of Paxinos substituted for the latter at Snufftown. William Fagely continued in charge, and his succes- sors have been appointed in the following order: Samuel John, February 21, 1844; Joseph Zuern, March 26, 1846; James Thomas, February 26, 1849; Sylvanus S. Bird, July 13, 1852; Joseph Zuern, January 3, 1855; Syl- vanus S. Bird, December 3, 1855; Lewis L. Bevan, March 24, 1856; F. P. Stambach, December 18, 1860; Darius S. Gilger, March 25, 1864; William A. Sterling, April 6, 1888; Simon C. Wagenseller, August 13, 1890.

The free delivery system was established on the 1st of December, 1890.

BANKS.

The Shamokin Bankt had its inception in 1854. At that date the town was at the height of its early prosperity. The railroad was in successful

*The above particulars regarding early postal facilities have been derived from articles contrib uted to the Shamokin Herald by Dr. J. J. John.

tThe facts relating to this institution have been derived from a serles of articles contributed to the Shamokin Herald by Dr. J. J. Jolin.

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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.

operation; several collieries had initiated coal shipments to distant points, and others were about to be opened; the furnace was in blast, and with a growing population it was apparent that banking facilities were necessary for the normal expansion of the business of the community. The popular senti- ment was formally expressed at a meeting of citizens at Weaver's Hotel, when the first preliminary steps were taken, July 6, 1854. A second meet- ing was held, January 31, 1855; J. H. Zimmerman was twice elected to the legislature as a pledged supporter of the project, and through his efforts and those of David Taggart, State Senator, an act of incorporation was secured, May 15, 1857. The capital was placed at one hundred fifty thousand dollars, with the privilege of increasing it to double that amount. A meeting of the corporators was held on the 9th of June, 1857, with John Taggart, president, and W. P. Withington, secretary, at which committees were appointed to solicit stock. Owing to the financial stringency of that year, their efforts were unsuccessful; and, not willing to permit the charter to expire, recourse was then had to other than local sources, and the firm of E. S. & N. Thayer, of Buffalo, New York, were induced to purchase fifteen hundred twenty shares of stock, for which they deposited seven thousand dollars in specie and twenty-seven thousand dollars in notes of the Tioga and Crawford banks. The charter was accordingly issued by Governor Pollock, January 18, 1858; on the 23d of that month the stockholders elected J. H. Zimmerman presi- dent, Daniel A. Robinson cashier, and a Mr. Richardson teller. Shamokin was represented in the directory by W. M. Weaver, W. P. Withington, and Joseph Bird. Business was begun in the Bittenbender building, March 2, 1858.

Within a brief period the control passed from the Thayers to the Robin- sons and from them to R. R. and J. Woods Underhill. In April, 1858, the affairs of the bank were investigated by a legislative committee, which re- ported in terms of strong censure and disapproval. In order to make a cred- itable June statement, the Underhills placed five thousand dollars in specie in the vault with the intention of afterward withdrawing it, but in this design they were thwarted by the local directors. About this time one Street in- duced the bank to issue twenty thousand dollars for him, promising to pro- vide adequate collateral for its redemption; this he failed to do, and when the notes were presented to the Philadelphia correspondent for redemption, the funds for that purpose were soon exhausted. Inquiry developed the fact that eighty thousand dollars of the bank's notes were in circulation, with but fifteen thousand to redeem it, and that a stock note of thirty-eight thousand dollars from the Underhills constituted a large part of the assets of the insti- tution. When they next visited Shamokin they were met by the local direct- ors with a demand to substitute available funds for their stock note or assign all their interest to Stephen Bittenbender in trust. This they declined to do; and when it became known that they proposed leaving by the Trevorton

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stage on the following morning, President Zimmerman secretly secured a locomotive, went to Sunbury, and as the result of his visit the sheriff arrested the obstinate magnates just as they were about to take their departure. The bank was accordingly signed over to Mr. Bittenbender as trustee, the Underhills to have four weeks in which to redeem it by producing sufficient funds to carry on the business properly. This they never did; and on the 11th of August, 1858, the requisite amount of stock having been subscribed, a reorganization was effected with the election of the following officers: president, J. H. Zimmerman; cashier, Samuel John; teller, Robert Under- hill; directors: Joseph Bird, William H. Marshall, William M. Weaver, Elias Eisenhart, George Schall, Felix Maurer, William Deppen, Elida John, H. J. Wolverton, William T. Grant, William Elliott, and Joseph Hoover.

The institution thus passed into local control. Its officers were business men of standing and means, and notwithstanding the incubus of previous bad management, confidence in its integrity was gradually restored. The first dividend, two and one half per cent., was declared in November, 1860. President Zimmerman resigned, September 27, 1858, and was succeeded by Felix Maurer; he died in the following year, and F. W. Pollock was elected to the position, November 30, 1859. Charles W. Peale succeeded Mr. John as cashier, November 30, 1859, and was followed in January, 1863, by Thomas C. Trotter, who was superseded by Thomas D. Grant in the following Decem- ber. "Northumberland County" was substituted for "Shamokin" in the name about this time. On the 1st of February, 1865, it became a national bank, and as a State institution, after experiencing the scrutiny of several legislative committees and a variety of vicissitudes unparalleled in the finan- cial record of this part of the State, the bank passed into history.

The Northumberland County National Bank was incorporated, February 1, 1865, with F. W. Pollock, president, and Thomas D. Grant, cashier; the latter was succeeded in April, 1865, by T. G. Bogle, who was followed in June, 1869, by F. S. Haas. In 1868-69, a three-story brick bank building was erected at the corner of Sunbury and Washington streets. The business was begun under favorable auspices, and the management for some years enjoyed the confidence and patronage of the business community. But in the financial stringency of 1877 it was compelled to suspend, and its affairs were placed in the hands of W. H. M. Oram as receiver. Its existence terminated with the business necessary to the distribution of its assets among it creditors.

The Miners' Trust and Safe Deposit Company orginated in a private banking house established in 1868 by Addison G. and J. C. Marr. Their office was on Shamokin street, in the Bittenbender building. Legislative incorporation was secured, May 18, 1871, the corporators being John B. Douty, Andrew Robertson, Isaac May, Sr., Henry Guiterman, Andrew Lang- don, Alexander Fulton, and Addison G. Marr. The authorized capital was two hundred thousand dollars, and business was begun with a paid-up capital

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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.

of twenty-six thousand dollars. Andrew Robertson was president; Isaac May, Sr., vice-president; Addison G. Marr, cashier, and Withington Lake, teller. The bank erected the substantial brick building at the corner of Rock and Shamokin streets now occupied by the Shamokin Banking Company, and there its business was conducted until the 17th of February, 1877, when it suspended. Some months later Withington Lake was appointed assignee, and the final settlement of its affairs has been the source of considerable lit- igation.

The Shamokin Banking Company was incorporated by legislative enact- ment, May 24, 1871, with an authorized capital of one hundred thousand dollars. Conrad Graeber, Alfred J. Medlar, George W. Ryon, Charles F. Rahn, George McEliece, and Levi Huber, the corporators, organized on the 30th of June, 1871. The first board of directors was elected, August 4, 1871, and was composed as follows: Levi Huber, A. J. Medlar, Charles F. Rahn, Conrad Graeber, George W. Ryon, George McEliece, Samuel John, Charles P. Helfenstein, A. A. Heim, and William H. Marshall; on the same day, George W. Ryon was elected president, Conrad. Graeber, vice-president, and I. S. Huber, cashier. Business was commenced, September 4, 1871, on the east side of Sunbury street near the corner of Washington; the present bank- ing building, at the northeast corner of Shamokin and Rock streets, was first occupied, March 28, 1879. Conrad Graeber became president, January 6, 1873; David Llewellyn, September 14, 1883, and George W. Ryon, the pres- ent incumbent, January 20, 1891. I. S. Huber, the first cashier, still retains that position. D. W. Heim, the present teller, is also the first person elected to that office. The paid-up capital, originally twenty-five thousand dollars, was increased to fifty thousand dollars, at which it has since remained, November 15, 1873. The surplus fund amounts to thirty-five thousand dollars.

The First National Bank was organized, September 1, 1883, with Con- rad Graeber, president; Alexander Fulton, vice-president; George C. Grae- ber, cashier, and a board of directors consisting of Conrad Graeber, Alexan- der Fulton, George C. Graeber, Isaac May, Sr., John Mullen, George Hack, and John S. Graeber. It was incorporated, September 12, 1883, and com- menced business, September 17, 1883. The present banking building, a substantial brick and stone structure at the northwest corner of Sunbury and Rock streets, was first occupied in June, 1888. The following is a list of presidents since the organization of the bank: Conrad Graeber, Isaac May, Sr., and John Mullen. George C. Graeber has filled the office of cashier since his first election to that position. The present directory is composed of John Mullen, president; Andrew D. Robertson, vice-president; George C. Graeber, cashier; William C. Smith, Daniel Eisenhart, Charles A. Graeber, Martin Markle, and John Schabo. The present teller is Frederick Lorenz, who has filled that position since September, 1887. The capital is one hun-

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dred thousand dollars, and the surplus (October, 1890), forty-five thousand dollars.

WATER, GAS, AND ELECTRIC LIGHT.

Prior to the opening of the mines there were a number of fine springs on the mountain north of Shamokin and others at various places within the lim- its of the borough, thus obviating for many years any necessity for an arti- ficial system of water supply, the first introduction of which occurred about the year 1850 when William and Reuben Fagely laid a line of pine logs with two-inch bore on Sunbury street. The boring was done by Michael Hoff- man, a pump maker of Ralpho township in the vicinity of Elysburg. Sev- eral years later a line of similar construction was laid on Shamokin street from a spring on the mountain to the railroad crossing, where there was a public fountain from which the United States and National Hotels and pri- vate dwellings in that vicinity derived their supply. This was probably con- structed by the Philadelphia and Sunbury Railroad Company. Iron pipe was first introduced in 1858, when William and Reuben Fagely laid a line on Liberty street from Cameron to Sunbury, and on Sunbury street from Orange to Shamokin, and in 1865 Stephen Bittenbender constructed a line of similar material on Pearl street from Dewart to Sunbury, thence on Sun- bury street to Shamokin, and on Shamokin street to the railroad crossing.

The works mentioned were entirely the result of private enterprise, and, although crude in design and construction, they doubtless proved a means of public utility and convenience. It became evident, however, that an ade- quate supply could be obtained only by corporate agency, and in 1869 an effort was made to organize a water company. A meeting of citizens was held at the office of Reuben Fagely, corner of Sunbury and Shamokin streets; William H. Marshall was elected president and Dr. J. J. John secretary, but the project never developed beyond the incipient stage.

The Shamokin Water Company was incorporated, August 7, 1872, with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars. The corporators were William H. Marshall, W. R. Kutzner, Daniel Yost, W. M. Weaver, F. J. Anspach, Reuben Fagely, Daniel S. Miller, Isaac May, Sr., John B. Douty, Matthias Emes, John Rosser, Thomas Rosser, and Withington Lake. Their first meeting was held, August 9, 1872, W. H. Marshall presiding; the first elec- tion of directors occurred, August 19, 1872, resulting in the choice of John B. Douty, William H. Marshall, Isaac May, Sr., Reuben Fagely, F. J. Anspach, W. R. Kutzner, William Brown, Matthias Emes, and Conrad Graeber. At a meeting of the directors, August 23, 1872, Isaac May, Sr., was elected president of the board; John B. Douty, vice-president; F. J. Anspach, secretary, and William H. Marshall, treasurer. The works were constructed under the supervision of F. J. Anspach as engineer, with Trout run as the source of supply; a reservoir was constructed on that stream, and the water passed by gravity through a twelve-inch wooden main to a tank

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near the corner of Sunbury and Eighth streets, whence it was pumped through a sixteen-inch iron main to a wooden tank on the side of the mountain near the culm bank of the Cameron colliery, thus obtaining suffi- cient pressure for distribution to all parts of the town. Water was first sup- plied for public consumption in 1873. In 1875 a new route was laid out for the main pipe to a point thirty-nine hundred feet further up the run, thus giving sufficient vertical height for a gravity service and doing away with the expensive and irregular pumping system. The present plant includes four reservoirs, one of thirty-five million gallons, the others of one million gallons each, situated in Brush valley three miles from the borough, the largest at an altitude of one hundred forty feet above the level of Sunbury street at the intersection of Shamokin. There are about thirty miles of mains, extending to every part of Shamokin borough and the adjoining portions of Coal township, and a daily consumption ranging from two to two and one half millions of gallons. The present officers are as follows: president, W. C. McConnell; secretary, George O. Martz, and treasurer, C. Q. Mc Williams.

The Roaring Creek Water Company was incorporated, November 11, 1884, with a capital of one hundred forty-eight thousand dollars, and organ- ized, October 1, 1884, with the following officers: president, D. R. Kulp; secretary, W. C. McConnell; treasurer, C. Q. Mc Williams; directors: John Haas, W. C. McConnell, C. Q. McWilliams, D. R. Kulp, and H. M. McClure. The rapid increase in the population of Shamokin in the decade immediately following the organization of the Shamokin Water Company created a demand for which Trout run was inadequate as a source of supply; hence the forma- tion of this company, for the purpose of extending the receiving mains to Roaring creek, a distance of ten and one half miles. The work of construc- tion was begun in 1886, under the supervision of A. B. Cochran as engineer, and a line of sixteen-inch pipe was laid from Roaring creek to the headwaters of Trout run, a distance of twenty-seven thousand nine hundred fifteen feet, involving the opening of two tunnels, one forty-five hundred, the other nine hundred feet in length. The waters of Roaring creek were first turned into . Trout run on the 2d of September, 1886, and on the 2d of October a con- tinuous flow from Roaring creek to Shamokin was established. The reservoir is situated in Mt. Carmel township; it has a superficial area of five acres, and an altitude of two hundred eighty feet above the level of Shamokin street at the railroad crossing. In June, 1887, the mains of this company were con- nected with those of the Shamokin Water Company by a line of fourteen-inch pipe four and one half miles in length, thus making a continuous line of pipe ten miles in length, and consummating one of the most extensive engineering projects ever attempted in connection with the water supply of an inland town. It has been attended with results that amply justify the work. Ade- quate provision is made for a practically inexhaustible supply of pure water sufficient to meet the demands of the consuming community for years to come.

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SHAMOKIN.

The watersheds of both the Trout run and Roaring creek reservoirs are owned by the respective companies, which are thus enabled to guarantee absolute freedom from contaminating influences. The elevation of the reservoirs gives sufficient pressure to afford protection in case of fire; and the abundance of the supply constitutes one of the most important of the many advantages offered by Shamokin as a manufacturing site.

The Anthracite Water Company was organized, April 15, 1885, with the following directors: president, D. R. Kulp; secretary, W. C. McConnell; treasurer, C. Q. Mc Williams; H. M. McClure, and George H. Neff, who, with John Haas, were the corporators, and received a charter, May 18, 1885, with a capital of eight thousand dollars. This company supplies Coal township, and its plant was constructed in 1888. A reservoir on Trout run is the source of supply.

The Bear Gap Water Company was organized, December 17, 1888, and incorporated, January 15, 1889, with a capital of forty thousand dol- lars, since increased to one hundred thousand. The first officers were George O. Martz, president, W. C. McConnell, secretary, and John Haas, treasurer, who, with C. Q. Mc Williams, John H. Fulton, and George H. Neff, were the original members of the company, which was formed for the purpose of sup- plying Mt. Carmel township with water from Roaring creek. A dam is now in course of construction on that stream five miles below the dam of the Roaring Creek Water Company. At this point a Worthington high-duty pumping engine will be placed; the capacity of this engine will be sufficient to pump one and one half million gallons of water every twenty-four hours through forty-two hundred sixty feet of ten-inch pipe to the mountain top north of Hickory Ridge, a vertical height of seven hundred sixty-four feet. Here two reservoirs with a capacity of one million gallons each will be con- structed, from which ten miles of distributing mains will lead to Locust Gap, Locust Summit, and the principal collieries and villages in Mt. Carmel township.

The Shamokin Gas Light Company was organized, July 23, 1874, and incorporated in the same year with a capital of twenty-five thousand dollars. Charles P. Helfenstein was the first president. The works, situated on Inde- pendence street between Market and Eighth, consist of one holder with a capacity of eighty-five hundred cubic feet, with the necessary accessories, and the mains extend through the principal streets of the town. The present officers are as follows: directors: president, Holden Chester; vice- president, John Mullen; treasurer, George W. Ryon; A. Robertson, L. B. Morganroth, John P. Helfenstein, and J. J. John; secretary and superin- tendent, A. A. Heim.

The Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Shamokin, Pennsylvania, was incorporated, November 29, 1882, with a capital of twenty-seven thou- sand dollars, and the following directors: president, William H. Douty;

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secretary, William Beury; treasurer, John Mullen; A. Robertson, C. C. Leader, P. B. Shaw, and Holden Chester. The present directory is com- posed as follows: president, Holden Chester; secretary, George O. Martz; treasurer, John Mullen; A. Robertson, William C. Smith, C. C. Leader, and W. C. McConnell.

The Shamokin Arc Light Company was incorporated, August 17, 1887, with a capital of ten thousand dollars. The first directory consisted of Hol- den Chester, president; C. C. Leader, secretary; William Beury, treasurer; A. Robertson, John Mullen, W. C. McConnell, and George O. Martz.

The two companies last mentioned are practically identical in manage- ment. The plants are located on Independence street; that of the Edison company has engines of two hundred forty horse-power, and its illuminating capacity is twenty-three hundred lights of ten candle-power. The Arc Light company has engines of one hundred horse-power, and its illuminating capacity is one hundred lights of two thousand candle-power. The superin- tendent of both companies is John McEliece.

BOARD OF TRADE.

The Shamokin Board of Trade is an organization designed to promote the general commercial and industrial interests of the borough by calling attention to its advantages as a place of residence and for the investment of capital; to solicit manufacturers to locate here, or in the territory immedi- ately contiguous; to obtain an extension of its transportation facilities, and, in a general way, to encourage enterprises conducive to the prosperity of the business community. In pursuance of a call signed by a number of citizens, a meeting was held at the Hotel Vanderbilt, Monday, January 24, 1887; W. C. McConnell presided, and D. L. Sollenberger was chosen secretary. The object of the meeting was stated by the chair, and the following gentlemen were appointed to prepare a constitution and by-laws: Addison G. Marr, William H. Douty, D. E. Shuster, John Weir, C. C. Leader, F. E. Ammer- man, R. S. Aucker, and E. G. Seiler, whose report was adopted, January 31, 1887. On the 14th of February, 1887, a permanent organization was effected with the election of the following directors: William H. Douty, W. C. Mc Connell, Addison G. Marr, H. Floyd, D. E. Shuster, John Mullen, J. A. Weaver, Francis Hoover, C. C. Leader, George O. Martz, A. A. Heim, F. E. Ammerman, E. G. Seiler, R. S. Aucker, H. S. Zimmerman, and Levi Shoop. The first president was William H. Douty; first vice-president, R. S. Aucker; second vice-president, C. C. Leader; secretary, D. L. Sollenberger, and treas- urer, J. H. Conley. The present president is John Mullen; vice-president, William Beury; secretary, John P. Helfenstein, and treasurer, J. H. Conley.

SECRET AND OTHER SOCIETIES.

The following is a list of secret and other societies, with dates of organization or institution: Mount Tabor Lodge, No. 125, I. O. O. F.,

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August 18, 1845; Shamokin Lodge, No. 664, I. O. O. F., April 12, 1869; Susquehanna Encampment, No. 60, I. O. O. F., July 12, 1867; Shamokin Lodge, No. 255, F. & A. M., August 4, 1851; Shamokin Chapter, No. 264, R. A. M., June 13, 1883; Shamokin Council, No. 71, O. U. A. M., Decem- ber 22, 1865; Shamokin Lodge, No. 156, K. of P., June 9, 1869; Lincoln Post, No. 140, G. A. R., June 23, 1868, reorganized, June 20, 1870; J. Wei- mer Young Command, No. 7, Union Veterans' Legion, September 22, 1887; General George Washington Camp, No. 72, Sons of Veterans, September 25, 1882; Ladies' Aid Society, No. 18, Auxiliary to General George Washington Camp, No. 72, Sons of Veterans, February 2, 1889; Ivanhoe Conclave, No. 9, Sovereign Patriotic Knights, November 9, 1869, reorganized, September 23, 1889; Washington Camp, No. 30, P. O. S. of A., November 29, 1869; Washington Camp, No. 149, P. O. S. of A., 1874; Washington Camp, No. 187, P. O. S. of A., June 29, 1887; Anthony Wayne Commandery, No. 13, P. O. S. of A., October 7, 1880; Shickalamy Tribe, No. 148, I. O. R. M., 1870; True Workers' Lodge, No. 541, I. O. G. T., June 6, 1879; Shamokin Council, No. 959,R. A., March 15, 1886; Naomi Council, No. 12, I. O. R. M., Novem- ber 30, 1889.

THE PRESS.

The first newspaper at Shamokin was the Journal, of which the first issue appeared, May 1, 1858. It was a six-column folio, edited and pub- lished by John Robins, but the project was relinquished before the close of its first volume. The materials of the office were purchased by Samuel John, under whose proprietorship the Register made its first appearance, March 8, 1860. After a period of suspension, he was followed by Daniel Bower, June 6, 1861, and with his retirement, April 29, 1862, the paper was finally dis- continued. On the 10th of June, 1862, the Herald made its debut with Daniel Bower and J. J. John as editors. J. Stewart McEwen succeeded Messrs. Bower and John, December 25, 1862, and S. B. Sisty, July 2, 1862. On the 23d of July, 1863, Owen M. Fowler assumed the proprietorship, and to him belongs the honor of first establishing a local paper on a permanent basis. He continued in charge until his death, May 9, 1874. From that date until the 1st of July the Herald was conducted by Dr. J. J. John; it was then purchased by Heffelfinger & Coder, both of whom had previously been in Mr. Fowler's employ. After a time Mr. Coder retired, and the pub- lication was continued by Mr. Heffelfinger individually until February 9, 1889, when the paper was transferred to the present proprietors, John J. W. Schwartz and R. F. Howard. The daily edition was established, October 22, 1888.

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History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Part 66

Author: Bell, Herbert C. (Herbert Charles), 1868- ed; John, J. J., 1829- Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, Brown, Runk Number of Pages: 1424

Author: Bell, Herbert C. (Herbert Charles), 1868- ed; John, J. J., 1829-
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1424