USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pa. with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 47
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In 1865 Zaccur P. Boyer built the rolling-mill, and to this subsequently added a furnace. About three years since the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company became the owners of this property, and business is con- ducted there by Atkins & Brother.
The first iron bridge in the borough was built across Mill creek, on Coal street, about 1863. Since that time iron bridges have replaced all the old wooden structures.
CHURCHES OF PORT CARBON.
The church was organized April 2nd, 1844, with Henry Porter and wife, Dr. J. J. Foster, Mrs. Caroline Foster, Miss Ruth T. Foster, Mrs. Clarissa Haight (wife of the pastor) and her daughters Ann Maria, Martha and Clarissa, Jesse Turner, Hugh McCrackin, Jane Falls, William Bosbyshell, Mrs. Martha Bosbyshell and Elizabeth Whit- ney as constituent members. E. S. Warne, Henry Por- ter and J. J. Foster were chosen elders, and Rev. Syl- vanus Haight was received as first pastor.
The Sacrament was first administered on the 20th of April, 1834, and the first persons baptized were three children of Lebbeus and Eliza Whitney, and a child of J. J. and Caroline Foster, baptized on the 18th of May, 1834.
The pastors since Mr. Haight have been, in the suc- cession of their pastorates, Rev. Messrs. Sellers, Dr. Robert McCartee, Andrew Jardine, Garret Van Arts- dalen, George Printz, D. Wilson Bonnell, H. David, Town, Wardlaw, A. M. Lowry, S. A. Davenport, and S. Bell-the present pastor. Mr. Lowry was pastor twenty- one years. A church edifice was erected in 1833 and 1834, and dedicated on the 16th of March in the latter year. It stands on Grand street, and between First and Second streets. It is a stone building (though covered with clapboards), 40 by 56, with lecture room in the basement and a gallery in the audience room. It has only had ordinary repairs. The first church bell in the Schuylkill valley was placed in the belfry of this church in 1835. It was broken in 1844.
The Presbyterian cemetery was established in 1833.
The Lutheran Church of Port Carbon was organized in 1840, by the Rev. William Minneg. The members at its organization were Abraham Pott, Adam Hartsog, Morris Seligman, William Krehner, Jacob Bretz, Louis Heilner, Henry Guiterman, Philip Hoover, Jacob Krebs, L. F. Whitney, Solomon Seligman, Francis Grove, George Goodman and fifty others.
In 1829 the first school-house in Port Carbon was built by Abraham Pott, on the lot now occupied by the Lu- theran church and cemetery, and in this school-house mettings were held from the time of its erection till the Lutheran church was built on the same lot. This church building was erected in 1852, by the Lutheran and Ger- man Reformed societies-the latter having been organized soon after the former. It was a wooden structure, 30 by 40 feet, with a gallery and a stone basement, and its cost was about $1,500. It has had only ordinary repairs since its erection. It was owned jointly by the Lutheran and German Reformed societies till 1874, when the former purchased the interest of the latter.
The first pastor was Rev. Mr. Shultz. The names of subsequent pastors cannot be learned.
" The First Presbyterian Church and Congregation of The first Sunday-school in Port Carbon was organized soon after the erection of the school-house. It was not at first the school of any society, for none existed here; Port Carbon " was organized by the election of a board of trustees and the adoption of a constitution on the 7th of August, 1833. The trustees were William Bosbyshell, but it was supported by all. The present Lutheran Sun- Jesse Turner, Henry Porter, Abraham Heebner, E. S day-school is regarded as the continuation of this school, Warner, George Hadesty, L. Whitney, James Laing and however. It was supported by the Lutheran and German Nathaniel Davis.
Reformed societies as long as the latter maintained its
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CHURCHES OF PORT CARBON.
organization. The names of some of the early superin- tendents are lost. The following are remembered: Philip Hoover, John Wentz, Charles Zurwick, Henry Krebs, Frank Berkheiser, and again Henry Krebs, the present superintendent. The present number of scholars is about 150. The library consists of 1,425 volumes.
The first cemetery in the borough was the yard of the first school-house, now the Lutheran church yard, estab- lished in 1830. It was enlarged to its present size in 1846.
The Reformed Church of Port Carbon was organized in the year 1840, by Rev. David Hassinger, who was the first pastor. It consisted at the time of its organization of twenty-five or more members. Of these Isaiah Are- good, Philip Paul, John Bretz, Samuel Bretz, Jeremiah Bretz and Simpson Vomer are remembered.
Previous to the organization of a church all Christians in Port Carbon worshiped together in a school-house spoken of in the history of the Lutheran church. The church edifice that was afterward built on the same lot was jointly owned by both societies till about 1874, as elsewhere stated.
Among the clergymen that have been pastors of this church since Rev. Mr. Hassinger are remembered: Rev. Messrs. Graeff, John M. Clemens, John Guntenbine, and J. P. Stein.
St. Stephen's Church Catholic) was organized about the year 1840, and until 1847 it was a mission church and was supplied from St. Patrick's Church at Pottsville. In 1847 Rev. Daniel Magoirien became local pastor, and he continued in that relation till 1877, when he was suc- ceeded by Rev. J. C. McEnroe, the present pastor.
The church edifice was erected about 1840, and it has undergone no material alteration since. It is a stone building, 46 by 120. It was built mostly by voluntary contribution of labor and material by the members of the congregation. At the time of its organization the parish included New Philadelphia, which has since be- come a separate parish. Probably the congregation at first numbered 2,500; it now numbers about 1, 100.
The First M. E. Church of Port Carbon was organized in April, 1844, with Rev. J. C. Thomas as pastor. Among the members at the time of its organization Tobias H. Wintersteen and wife, G. W. Wintersteen, Ross Bull and wife, David Oliver and wife, William Berger and wife, Joseph Burnham and wife, Joseph Bier and wife, John Headley and wife, Daniel Oliver and wife, James Bury and wife, Robert Jackson and wife, Joseph Thomas and wife, Johnson Fellam and wife, William Sims, John Sims, Jacob Adams and wife, Absalom Ishman, David J. Myers and wife, Ephraim Allen and wife, Dorothy Wertelee and John Thomas.
The first class, which was organized in 1835 or 1836, met in a house belonging to Miss Delilah Wintersteen. Subsequently the place of meeting was a stone house still standing on Market street, where the Methodists were supplied at various intervals by the pastor and local preachers from Pottsville.
The first church edifice was erected in 1845, and ded-
icated in January, 1846, Dr. Durbin preaching the dedi- catory sermon. It was a stone structure, about 40 by 50, with a basement and end gallery, and its cost was about $5,000. This was taken down and the present building erected on the same site-corner of Pike and Washington streets-in 1869. The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Dashiell. It is a brick structure, 44 by 47, with basement and end gallery, and it cost about $10,000. The clergymen who have served this church, and the years of the commencement of their pastorates, are as follows: John C. Thomas, 1846; George D. Bowen, 1847; Henry Gilroy, 1849; J. H. McCarter, 1851; J. H. Wythes, 1853; J. W. Arthur, 1854; J. F. Meredith, 1856; J. J. Jones, 1858; J. H. Turner, 1860; C. Walters, 1862; Wil- liam McCombs, 1864; Allen Johns, 1866; Jerome Lin- dermuth, 1867; N. Frame, 1869; William S. Pugh, 1872; W. H. Fries, 1874; Joseph Biggerton, 1875; E. L. Mar- tin, 1877; A. Howard, the present pastor, 1880.
The Sunday-school was first organized in 1844, with David Oliver as superintendent and about 75 pupils. Ross Bull, T. H. Wintersteen, William Berger, G. W. Wintersteen, Rev. E. L. Martin and John Ramsey have been superintendents. The present superintendent is J. A. Beir. The present number of pupils is about 175; officers and teachers 40. It has a library of about 450 volumes.
The Evangelical Church of Port Carbon was organized by Rev. John Neitz in 1848. Previous to that time a class existed, and Philip Dreher was the class leader. Occasional meetings were held in private houses, where preaching was had by transient or local preachers.
Among the members of the church at its organiza- tion were Philip Dreher, John Medlar, Obadiah Reed, Philip May, Philip Hoover and Daniel Knittle and their wives, Mrs. -- Seligman, William Moyer and wife, Mrs. Mary Grimon, John Schimpf and wife, Catherine Kalbach, Sarah Windermuth and Catherine Winder- muth.
The first place of worship was in a house on Coal street, and in a room fitted up for meetings of Odd Fel- lows and Sons of Temperance. The church edifice was erected in 1869 on the corner of Washington and First streets. It is a wooden building, 35 by 45, with a base- ment.
Rev. Messrs. Bast, Reinel, J. Gross and Shell, were pastors between 1848 and 1860, but the dates of their pastorates cannot be learned. Later pastors began their services as follows: Joshua Fry, 1860; L. Snyder, 1861; C. Harman, 1862; G. Marquardt, 1864; E. Ely, 1866; Bryfogle, 1868; Frederick Krecher, 1870; D. S. Stauffer, 1872; William Black, 1874; J. R. Workman, 1875; D. A. Medlar, 1877; Frederick Krecher, 1878; J. R. Hensyl, the present pastor, 1879. The present num- ber of members is 51.
The Sunday-school was organized in 1849, with about 70 scholars. John Medlar was superintendent from 1849 to 1870. He was followed in succession by Daniel Paul, Levi Paul, Peter Hain and Charles Warnkessel, the present superintendent. The present number of
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HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
pupils is 125; officers and teachers 22; volumes in library 250.
SCHOOLS.
The first school-house was built by Abraham Pott, in 1829, on the corner of Coal street and Rock alley. The first school in the borough was taught in this house by Christopher Young. Many who were pupils in this school still reside here.
This building was used as a school-house till after the acceptance of the school law in 1835. A larger and more commodious school-house was erected on the cor- ner of Washington and First streets in 1838, and in this the public school was kept till the erection of the present school building. The old public school building was of stone, two stories in height. It is now converted into a public hall.
The present public school building was erected in 1870, at a total cost of $17,000. It is a fine brick struct- ure, about 60 by 70, three stories in height, with a tower in which are a bell and a town clock. There are two school rooms on each floor, and a directors' room in the third story. The principals since the erection of the new building have been G. W. Weiss, till 1877, and J. H. Major since. The average number of pupils is about 500. The curriculum of study embraces all the common and many of the higher branches.
LODGES AND ASSOCIATIONS.
A lodge of the United Order of Odd Fellows early existed here, became extinct, was revived and again died out.
A division of the Sons of Temperance was instituted in 1846, and became extinct in 1877. It accomplished much good.
A lodge of Good Templars, too, was instituted, but after a time ceased to exist.
A council of the United Order of American Mechanics existed at one time, but it became extinct.
Schuylkill Lodge, No. 27, I. O. O. F. was instituted at Port Carbon June Ist, 1830, with the following officers: Isaac Holden, N. G .; Abraham Pott, V. G .; Edward H. Hancock, secretary; James H. Holden, assistant secre- tary; John C. Flanagan, treasurer. The lodge maintain- ed its existence till June 11th, 1844, when it surrendered its charter.
The charter was restored, and the lodge reopened Sep- tember 14th, 1846, with the following officers: P. G. Jo- seph Snyder, N. G .; P. G. Daniel Hillegas, V. G .; P. G. Lewis Heilner, secretary; N. Strause, assistant secretary; S. Seligman, treasurer. It has maintained an uninter- rupted existence since that time. So great has been the number of presiding officers that a list of them here is not practicable. The present officers are: Jesse Newlin, N. G .; P. G. John Simpson, V. G .; P. G. C. D. Lurwick, secretary; P. G. William Krebs, assistant secretary; P. G. Robert Allison, treasurer.
The lodge met in several places successively in differ- ent parts of the borough till 1872, when, on the forma-
tion of the Citizens' Hall Association, it, in connection with the Knights of Pythias and Sons of Temperance, acquired, through trustees, an interest in the Citizens' Hall, in which it has met since March, 1873.
The meetings are held each Friday evening. The pres- ent number of members is fifty. Of the very early mem- bers Daniel Hillegas, who was a P. G. at the time the charter was restored, is a member at the present time. The lodge is not only without indebtedness, but its assets amount to more than $2,100.
Golden Rule Lodge, No. 43, Knights of Pythias was in- stituted under a charter granted February 11th, 1868, with thirteen charter members. The first officers were: Jacob Wentz, V. P .; Isaiah Cartwright, W. C .; William H. Fry, V. P .; William D. Dreher, R. S .; William B. Kane, F. S .; Jeremiah Seitzinger, W. B .; E. Templin, G .; Banks Rowe, I. S .; A. Morgan, A. S.
The first place of meeting was in Ganes Hall, corner of Pike and Coal streets. Since 1873 it has met in Citi- zens' Hall, in which it owns an interest. It meets each Monday evening. The present officers are: Brittain Culver, C. C .; John L. Shister, V. C .; P. C. of B. Berk- heiser, P .; P. C. Jacob Day, M. A .; P. C. W. P. Gilling- her, K. of R and S .; P. C. J. Cartwright, M. of F .; P. C. Robert Allison, M. of E .; P. C. W. F. Paul, sitting P. C.
Allison Post, No. 144, G. A. R., named in honor of the three Allison brothers of Port Carbon, who were killed at White Oak Church, was instituted in October, 1879, with thirty-eight charter members.
The first officers were: Thomas Garris, P. C .; Wil- liam B. McElrath, S. V. C,; William H. Brenner, J. V. C .; William Kane, C. D .; Isaiah Cartwright, Ad .; Robert Smith, Q. M .; Henry Bausman, G. W .; J. Burnham, C. The present officers are: W. J. McQuade, P. C .; J. P. McCord, S. V. C .; Stephen Jones, J. V. C .; Thomas Bull, O. D .; Isaiah Cartwright, Ad .; Frank Knittle, Q. M .; Henry Bausman, G .; Daniel Paul, C. The present number of members is 38.
The Citizens' Hall Association was organized as a joint stock company in 1872, with a capital of $600, of which not all was subscribed. The company purchased from G. W. Wintersteen the stone school-house that stood at the corner of Washington and First streets. This they took down, to the basement, and erected thereon an en- larged wooden structure, which they fitted up, the first story for janitor's residence, dining-room for entertain- ments, offices for committees, etc. The second story is fitted up as an audience room, with stage and gallery, for lectures, exhibitions, etc., and the upper story is arranged for the meeting of societies. The total cost of this build- ing was about $8,000. It is the only public hall in the borough.
Savings Fund and Building Associations .- The origina- tor of these is said to be Edward Noble. The first, termed the Port Carbon Savings Fund, was organized in May, 1867, with Robert Allison president and Jesse New. lin secretary. These gentlemen continued in office dur- ing the existence of the organization, a period of nine
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EARLY HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR.
years and six months. Mr. J. Medler was treasurer till including 2,220 shares, have been issued. The officers June. 1871, when H. R. Heebner was chosen in his place.
The Franklin Savings Fund and Building Association was incorporated in June, 1872. Nine series of stock,
are: Robert Allison, president; F. B. Berkheiser, secre- tary; G. W. Heebner, treasurer and receiver, and sixteen directors. It is still in successful operation.
ST. CLAIR BOROUGH.
T. CLAIR was incorporated April 6th, 1850. The first borough election was held on the 9th of May following. The first officers were: Jacob Metz, president; Charles Law- ton, chief burgess; Jacob Metz, John May, Michael Reiley, John R. Williams and Jacob Frantz, town council; John Seitzinger, justice of the peace; Joel Metz, high constable; Lott Evans, town clerk; Benjamin S. Jackson, assessor; Henry Krebs and Daniel Slobig, assistant assessors; Daniel Frack, John W. Lawton and Joseph Denning, auditors; William Smith, John W. Lawton, John W. Williams, John Sandford, William Stoker and William Montelius, school directors.
St. Clair is situated on Mill creek, near the centre of the first or southern anthracite coal field. Its first settler was Michael Boechtel, who came here near the beginning of the present century, and located on the farm now owned by Samuel Arnaut. He was followed by John Malone, a lumber dealer, the Nichols family and others.
The first industrial beginnings were a cider-mill on the Nichols farm and two saw-mills, one built, very early, just back of the M. E. church, another, later, near Johns's breaker.
In 1831 Carey, Lee & Hart, who had bought the Nichols farm, which then comprised the whole of the St. Clair tract, laid out the first street of the new village, which was named from the Christian name of its former owner, St. Clair Nichols. The new village contained but eight or ten houses. None of these remain. Banks | Jackson, who came from Catawissa.
of culm from Hickory colliery now cover the sites of most of them. One very small house, called the saw- mill house, stood just east from R. Boone's store, and one just in the rear of the old brick building on the southeast corner of Second and Hancock streets.
The Mill Creek Railroad was built from Port Carbon to this place some time in the year 1829. John Heald, now residing here, worked for Superintendent Benjamin Milnes, preparing the road-bed on New Year's day of that year. The cars were drawn on wooden rails, by horses. The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Com- pany built their Mill Creek branch to St. Clair and New Castle in 1845. A public road to Port Carbon was opened about 1837, by Barton Evans. Another road to the old turnpike, making connection with Pottsville, had been opened by Boechtel or Malone.
In 1829, John Burgett came to St. Clair and erected a tent in which to shelter and board workmen on the
Girard tunnel. Soon after erecting this tent he built a small framed tavern called " The Cross Keys," one block below the depot. His daughter Charlotte Burgett was the first child born in the borough.
Daniel Frack, now of Frackville, came about 1831, and built a tavern on the next lot south, at the corner of Hancock and Third streets. The third tavern was built by Jacob Metz, in 1844, and is now kept by H. H. Mar- shall. The hotel now kept by John Taggert was com- menced soon afterward.
In 1831 St. Clair Nichols set apart a lot for a grave- yard. Anthony Irwin, now residing here, helped to fence it, and was grave-digger during several years. The land was afterward deeded, by Carey, Lee & Hart, to the borough, and was set apart for a borough cemetery.
Work on the St. Clair furnace was commenced by Burd S. Patterson in 1842, and suspended in 1844. It was finished and put in blast in 1864. James Lannigan bought it and operated successfully until 1873, when he failed by reason of unfortunate speculations. The furnace, which is now idle, is the property of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company.
Private schools were commenced here as early as 1834. Among those who sustained them were the Evans, Nichols, Burgett and French families. Of the teachers in these schools Nancy March, who taught where Mr. Koch resides, opposite the Creek school-house, Sarah Runk, Sarah McNair, Richard Greenly, Ralph Branch, a Miss Boyle and Mr. McCamant are remembered. The first free school was taught in 1838 or 1839 by Benjamin He taught in the old school-house that stood in the borough cemetery. This building was erected for religious meetings. Jack- son was followed by John Colburn, Isaac Breach, James Stoker, Esther Evans, Washington H. Lawrence, Benja- min French and William Porter.
In the year 1848 a Mrs. Shippen taught in a house which stood on the site of Joseph Townsend's store. P. D. Barnett, contempoary with Porter, taught the first school in the Creek school-house in the following year. Theo- dore Thompson was an assistant during 1850, and the next year succeeded Barnett as principal, and continued in that capacity during fourteen years.
The St. Clair post-office was established in 1845. The mail was at first carried by stage to and from Pottsville. The following are the names of the postmasters, in the order of their service: Jacob Metz, Jonathan Johnson, Thomas Irvin, Martin Dormer, James Kelly, James Brown, Edward Richardson, Mrs. M. A. Richardson,
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HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
Samuel Mateer, and, since the death of her husband, Mrs. M. I. Mateer.
There is now a telegraph station in the post-office.
COAL HISTORY.
The veins of coal in the north part of the borough have been nearly exhausted; but rich mines are believed to be in the southern portion and its vicinity.
Previous to 1830 very little coal had been mined, and no shipments made. John Offerman and a Mr. Wheit- roff had opened a drift on a crop of the Mammoth vein in 1828. The place took the name High Germany, from the nationality of its operators. On the completion of the Mill Creek railroad, regular coal openings were made and shipments commenced. The following is a brief his- tory of the different veins in their order from the sur- face, and the principal colleries operated in them. The operators leased the mines from the land owners, Carey, Lee & Hart.
The Orchard vein overlies the others within the bor- ough limits. It was first operated by John Pinkerton & Co., who in 1830 opened a drift in an apple orchard near the farm house now owned by Samuel Arnaut, whence the name "Orchard vein." This drift was the first reg- ular coal opening at St. Clair; and from it the first ship- ments were made. John Holmes, with others, sunk a slope in the west part of the borough. The vein there is about four feet thick. A drift was also opened on this vein in the east part of the borough, about 1866, but it was abandoned on account of the thinness of the vein there.
The Primrose vein was opened by several water level drifts in 1830, near the present site of the railroad depot, by Pinkerton & Co. These drifts were worked by dif- ferent parties until 1843, when Alfred Lawton became the operator in this vein. He was followed by Frank Parvin, who sunk a slope and mined considerable coal, but he encountered a dirt fault, and abandoned the work- ing. The land owners, wishing the vein not to lose its reputation, continued work for a time, but finally abandoned it.
Griffith Jones, superintendent for the Peach Orchard Coal Company, operated a slope in the east part of the borough from 1866 to 1870. This vein, in some places, was twelve feet thick. Jones, while operating here, tun- neled north to the Holmes vein, and afterward south to the Orchard vein.
The Holmes vein received its name from its discoverer, John Holmes, a native of Dublin, Ireland. This vein was not discovered as soon as the Mammoth vein, but it is the next vein below the Primrose. Mr. Holmes came here in 1841, and commenced proving veins both for himself and William Montelius. About 1846 he, while operating with others on the Orchard vein, sunk a shaft and struck the vein which afterward bore his name. He also opened a drift on the vein in the east part of the borough. Mr. Holmes superintended for George W. McGinnis on his slope and shaft. After McGinnis sold his colliery, he returned to his former work of prospect-
ing. In 1872 Adam Jackson reopened the drift in the east part of the borough, and at a cost of $900 built a breaker, with a 10 horse power engine and a daily capac- ity of 40 tons. The coal is a good quality of red-ash. The drift has been operated since 1878, by Joseph At- kinson, who employs nine men and ships 300 tons per month. It is called the St. Clair colliery. In 1870, David Vipen opened a drift a short distance south of Jackson on the south dip of this vein. In 1876 Thomas Bedford and Thomas Burke leased the coal of the Phil- adelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, and at a cost of $1,000 built a breaker with a capacity of 40 tons per day, using an 8 horse power engine. Burke bought Bedford's interest in 1878, and then drove a new tunnel of 70 yards, doing the whole work with his own hands. He has since driven three gangways, aggregating 200 yards, and six breasts. The coal has been in part faulty, but he has now reached good coal.
The Mammoth vein was discovered in 1830, by Isaac Beck, late payingteller in the Miners' Bank, Pottsville, while washing his hands in the creek where its bed curved around close to the base of the West hill. He took out a quantity of coal, but made no regular opening. In 1835 John Pinkerton leased the coal and drove a gang. way, about 900 yards west, and opened both drifts and a slope. Pinkerton mined a large quantity of coal; ship- ping as much as 100,000 tons a year. He, like others, worked the "Four-feet," and "Seven-feet" veins, while operating on the Mammoth. He also drove a tunnel north 60 yards, and found the Skidmore vein only 14 inches thick. He drove a gangway 100 yards with no good result. He then continued his tunnel north to the Buck Mountain vein, which he found from 7 to 10 inches thick. He again tunneled to the Skidmore from the Mammoth, at a point 700 yards west from the first tun- nel, with no satisfactory result. About 1831 Samuel Sillyman and E. Evans opened a drift on the Mammoth vein at Crow Hollow, now Pine Forest, and came to High Germany in 1837 and opened a drift. In 1845 Benja- min Milnes, Benjamin Haywood, and George Snyder sunk a new slope at High Germany, and called it Pine Forest. They went farther up the hill, and in 1848 and r849 sunk Mt. Hope slope. This firm dissolved in 1853, Snyder continuing, and Milnes buying out Pinkerton. Milnes, with his son William, continued the old drifts and slope, and sunk a lower level slope, and named it Hickory colliery. They sold to the Boston Consolidated Coal Company about 1864. B. Milnes also opened a part of the Johns basin, west of the creek, which was sold to Chillis and afterward abandoned.
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