USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pa. with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 49
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104
ROBERT ALLISON.
Joseph Allison was one of the well-known early miners of Schuylkill county. He was born in Westmoreland county, England, and, at Middleton, Teesdale, Durham county, married a lady born at that place during the year of his own nativity. In 1829 he came to America, where his wife and three children joined him in 1830. The family located that year in Schuylkill county, where they have resided since, except during three years passed in Northumberland county. They removed to St. Clair in 1847, where they still live. The descendants of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Allison (children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren) number more than one hundred.
Robert Allison, son of Joseph Allison, was born in Middleton, Teesdale, Durham county, England, Decem- ber 25th, 1827, and came to this country with his mother and other members of his family in 1830, joining his father, who had come the previous year. He received a limited education in such schools as were in vogue in Schuylkill county during his youth, working in and about the mines in the summer and attending school in the winter, between the ages of twelve and sixteen and a half years. At the latter age he entered the machine- been employed to advance the best public interests.
shops of Messrs. Haywood & Snyder, in Pottsville, as an apprentice to the general machinists' trade. Completing his apprenticeship, he was employed at journeywork about two years and then accepted the position of fore- man in the shop of Tobias Wintersteen, at Port Carbon, and served in such capacity for Wintersteen and others until 1864, when, in partnership with Mr. F. B. Barman, of Pottsville, he began business at the Franklin Iron Works, at Port Carbon. In 1878 he purchased Mr. Bar- man's interest in the establishment, and has since been sole proprietor.
Under Mr. Allison's personal supervision the Franklin Iron Works have attained a wide-spread reputation and a remarkable degree of success through the special machinery invented and patented by Mr. Allison, the cataract steam pump, the hydraulic feed for diamond drilling machinery and improvements on percussion rock drills being among the most important. These, together with his improvements in air-compressing engines, have given Mr. Allison and his work a reputation throughout the world. Machinery has been made at the Franklin Iron Works and shipped to all parts of the United States, and to Australia, New Zealand, South America and Europe.
Mr. Allison, though of foreign nativity, is a thorough American in all that the name implies. Politically he has been a Republican since the organization of that party. As a citizen he has the respect of the people among whom he resides. His influence and means have ever
EAST UNION TOWNSHIP.
T HIS township was formed from Union in 1867. The first settlers of any note came into the township about the year 1802, and among them may be mentioned Thomas Gootschall, who settled on what is now a part of Torbert; his brother, William Goottschall, who settled on the place where John Lorah now lives, and John Maurer on the Nelson Brandon place. Henry Gilbert, who purchased the Thomas Gootschall place in 1811, and who is the oldest pioneer of the region now living, resided in 1880, at North Union, at the ad- vanced age of ninety-two years, and in the full enjoyment of his mental faculties.
The population of East Union in 1870 was 614, and in 1880, 591.
BRANDONVILLE.
This is a post village and station on the Catawissa Valley Railroad. It was laid out in 1864 by Nelson Brandon, who owned the land on which it is located. He built a hotel and store and sold them. The post- office was established, with Rudolph Breisch postmaster, in 1868. Mrs. B. F. Clayberger was postmistress in 1880.
The village contains three hotels, one public hall, two stores, a blacksmith shop and twenty-five dwellings. B.
F. Clayberger is the proprietor of the hall and one of the merchants; the other store is kept by Samuel Cope.
The M.E. church of Brandonville was organized in 1879. Preaching had occasionally been furnished by clergymen from the surrounding towns, and since the organization services have been held with some regularity.
The union Sunday-school was started in 1876, with seventy members. Its first superintendent was a Mr. Medlar. It received a charter from the courts in June, 1880, and numbered at that time one hundred and fifty- five members, with D. R. Kauffman as superintendent.
TORBERT.
Torbert is a pleasant hamlet, portions of which were formerly named Girard Manor and Valencia. It s doubtless as well and favorably known from being the residence of Hon. William L. Torbert as from any other cause. The estate of Hon. William L. Torbert covers about seven thousand acres, comprising the eastern terminus of the Catawissa valley, along which it ex- tends about eight miles from the summit of Mahanoy mountain westward. Near the eastern boundary of these lands a copious spring of water, possessing superior mineral qualities, forms a stream which almost imme-
213a
HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
diately is divided into two branches, one of which flows west, down the north slope of the mountain, into the Catawissa; the other, east to the Schuylkill. The Cata- wissa, a fine stream, has its course through the estate for several miles, and grist-mills, saw-mills and other manu- factories, standing at intervals on its shores, are pro- pelled by its water power, which is good. Torbert's Glen, a wild, romantic and attractive pleasure resort, is visited during the summer and autumn by large numbers of people from various localities.
Throughout the entire property, but more especially in those sections adapted to the production of grass, fruit and grain, large never failing springs abound, and the brooks, of which they are the sources, are abundantly supplied with trout, bass, sunfish, whitefish and Susque- hanna salmon. The soil under cultivation is excellent, producing crops of grass, fruit and grain of superior quality and abundant in quantity. The not far distant mining towns in the coal region contain a dense pop- ulation of non-producing consumers of everything in the way of provisions, and afford the best of mar- ket facilities to the proprietor of the estate, while the large number of horses and mules used in and about the collieries cause a demand for hay and feed of various kinds, which can be advantageously supplied by the producers being enabled to furnish these neces- saries and be exempt from the heavy freight tariffs at which they are brought from western Pennsylvania, New York and other distant sections. These advantages, to- gether with the fertility of the land, most of which is newly cleared, combine to place the local agricultural interests of the future in the foremost rank of successful enterprises in this part of the State. The adjoining properties on the north, south and east are in the anthracite coal measures, and are owned by the city of Philadelphia, the Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Company, Hon. William L. Torbert and the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company.
Torbert is proverbial for the good health of its citi- zens and the attractiveness of its surrounding scenery. It is noted for the generous welcome extended to strangers who tarry there for longer or shorter periods. Senator Torbert's homestead lands are in one body, located in Schuylkill, Carbon and Luzerne counties (a portion in each), Hazelton, Audenried, Delano, Tama- qua, Mahanoy City, Shenandoah and other prominent towns being distant from four to eight miles, while Ash- land and Pottsville lie only about sixteen miles away. A part of this pleasant hamlet was formerly owned by the famous philanthropist, Stephen Girard, from whom its former name was derived. It came into the possession of his heirs, and in 1854 John A. Girard, John Fabricus Girard, and their sister, Stephanie (Girard) DeLentilhac, made a settlement.
They came from France, brought mechanics with them, and erected buildings and mills. They opened a store in 1856, and conducted a somewhat extensive lumber business, but, owing to their lack of inclination to mix with the people of the adjacent country, and their ex- treme dislike for the Pennsylvania Dutch patois, the commercial language of the locality, they made few friends, and in 1864 disposed of the entire property to William L. Torbert, of Philadelphia.
One of the manor houses was erected by John A. Girard. It is tastefully built in the French Gothic style, cov- ered, in the usual European manner, with a profusion of grape vines, and finely shaded by handsome trees. Col- onel Wynkoop built the Valencia manor house, he being at the time United States marshal for the eastern district of Pennsylvania. Besides these there are nineteen tenant houses, occupied by the workmen's families, and six farm houses with the usual outbuildings.
A fine brick school-house was erected in 1880, and it adds materially to the good appearance of the place. The religious advantages are good.
The healthfulness of the locality is attested by the marked physical improvement of invalids who sojourn there temporarily. Torbert has convenient railway communication, the journey to New York and Philadel- phia being made in four or five hours without change of cars, and to Williamsport, Baltimore and Washington in from four to eight hours, via the Philadelphia and Reading, the Lehigh Valley, the Central of New Jersey and the Pennsylvania railroads.
Senator Torbert has charge of the Railway station, Telegraph and Express offices. The Post-Office was established in 1865, with Mrs. Hester Torbert in charge.
Hon. William L. Torbert was born in Philadelphia, Pa., October 24th, 1828, and was reared and educated in his native city, where he was prominent in the Masonic order, and in the Washington Greys, a military company. James Torbert, Esq., his father, was born at Spring Mill, Montgomery county, Pa., February 19th, 1798, and passed his youth in Chester county, Pa., where his parents, brothers and sisters remained during life, and where their descendants are most of them engaged in farming. On Christmas day, 1827, he married Margaret A. Loag, of Chester county, Pa., at the old Brandywine Manor meeting-house. During the following year they removed to Philadelphia, where they lived until 1868, when they took up their residence in the Girard manor mansion, near the residence of Hon. William L. Torbert, their son. Mr. Torbert died there October 16th, 1880, at the age of eighty-two, and was buried in Laurel Hill cemetery, Philadelphia. His widow, Margaret A. Tor- bert, eighty-one years old, survives him, and is living at the homestead with her daughter, Miss M. Louisa. Their children were:
Hon. William L. Torbert, M. Louisa Torbert,
Mary J. Torbert, Emma J. Torbert,
Ann Eliza Torbert, Ellie F. Torbert,
A. Caroline Torbert, James Torbert, jr.
Emma J. is the wife of Charles Tete, Esq., of Spring Hill, Delaware county, Pa., an extensive land owner in Schuylkill county.
Ellie F. is the wife of Frank A. Smith, Esq., of West Philadelphia, Pa.
Hon. William L. Torbert was married, in 1850, to Miss Hester Blatchford, also a resident of Philadelphia .. Their children are:
Mary C. Torbert, A. Caroline Torbert,
James Franklin Torbert, Susan L. Torbert,
Ida V. Torbert, William Stephen Torbert,
Elizabeth F. Torbert, Victoria Hester Torbert. Miss Ida V. married Mr. M. M. MacMillan, attorney,. of Ann Arbor, Mich., September 9th, 1880.
Miss Lizzie F. married Charles E. Titman, of Shenan- doah, Pa., December 9th, 1880.
James Franklin married Miss Sallie R. Burnett, of Spring Mill, Montgomery county, Pa., December 25th, 1880.
Mrs. Torbert's parents were Stephen and Mary J. Blatchford, residents of Philadelphia, Pa., where their remains now lie in Woodland cemetery. The former died in November, 1865, at the age of seventy-one; the latter April 11th, 1880, at the age of eighty-one.
From 1860 to 1865 Hon. William L. Torbert was located in Baltimore county, Md. Reference has been made to the purchase of the Girard manor property in 1864. Mr. Torbert subsequently bought Valencia and other additions to the original, being extensively interested in lumbering in Schuylkill, Columbia, Luzerne and Center counties, and having about two thousand acres of land
yourstruly
213 b.
yours Truly
yours Truly
James Norbert Margaret A Forbert
yours Truly Mary J. Blatchford
Hester Norbert
Mary & Forbort
M. Mac Millan
Ida MV. Macmillan.
F. Frank Forbert
Sallie Ro. Forbert.
Charles . E. Titman
Lizzie FTitman
Susie L. Jobert
DA Carrie Forbest.
William Stephen Joubert
Victoria A Joubert
213.e.
SAW MILL
Residence of WM L. TORBERT Catawissa Valley. From Mahanoy Mountain. Home Farm Buildings, Telegraph, Express, Post Office, and Rail Road Station.
213 f.
STORBERT From GREEN MOUNTAIN.
RAILROAD CURVE_GLEN
TROUT BROOK
GLEN
STONE GILVERT GLEN
Old Log House 1751.
Spring House.
FFbut Sffring
lücksmith and Wher twright Shops
-
WML.TORBERT'S Mills,Farms and Farm Buildings West End of Property.
WM LTORBERT'S CENTRAL FARMS AND BUILDINGS.
213 g.
214
HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
under cultivation in the Catawissa valley surrounding his residence. Senator Torbert is the most liberal employer of agricultural labor in Schuylkill county.
Those of his employes having families are comfortably located upon the estate, enjoying common privileges, each family having free from expense of any kind a dwelling with fruit and fuel and grouud enough for gar- den purposes. The liberal policy which governs Mr. Torbert in his relations with his large number of employes is so well appreciated by them that probably no set of laborers anywhere regard their employer more highly than they do Mr. Torbert. His work is pushed forward month after month without jar or cessa- tion, and he finds not only profit but happiness in en- deavoring by all proper means to better the condition of his employes and their families. Always active in mer- cantile pursuits and public duties, Mr. Torbert has been at the same time a successful business man and a hard worker for the public weal. Though never a seeker for official preferment, he has been repeatedly called to po- sitions of trust and responsibility by the voters of his township, county and district. The fidelity and earnest- ness which have characterized his administrations of public affairs marked him for steady advancement until the confidence of the people in his ability and integrity | ment.
was manifested by his election to the State Senate by a large majority in 1876, and as an independent member for 1877 and 1878, his fellow townsmen of East Union indi- cating that he was hot " without honor " at home by casting for him the unanimous and solid vote of the township, which aggregated more than any previous vote, even during closely contested elections when every voter was supposed to have exercised his right of suffrage.
In all good work for the advancement of the causes of enlightenment and improvement, Senator Torbert has ever been foremost, aiding with his means and by the exertion of his personal influence. As a citizen he has been qualified to lead and has been relied upon as a leader, but he has nevertheless, ever put his own shoulder manfully to the wheel, considering no necessary duty, however small, too insignificant for him to perform. It is this sturdy and stirring industry, coupled with an ever careful attention to details, that has made him one of . the most successful men in this region. It is his regard for the rights of those dependent on him that has endeared him to those whose action he so ably directs. He is one of those helpful men through whose efforts the wheel of progress is made to move on, crushing ob- structions and smoothing the pathway of general advance-
ELDRED TOWNSHIP.
E LDRED was formed in 1848, from the old township of Upper Mahantongo. In this, as in other townships in the Mahantongo valley, local developments were slow, and the scattered inhabitants were for many years con- tent to look to adjacent neighborhoods for social and educational advantages.
The first settlers within the present township limits were Caspar Hepler, who settled the place now owned by Si- mon Hepler; Jacob Reinart, an old Revolutionary sol- dier, on the A. F. Geist place; Peter Kluck, where D. S. Dunkelberger lives; Samuel Dreschler, on the Isaac Hein farm, and John Bescher on the place now occupied by Samuel Wolf. These settlements were made between the years 1805 and 1808.
John Bescher built the first log house. The earliest road through the township was the mail road to Kling- erstown. Caspar Hepler was the first to die in the new settlement, and his remains were buried in a graveyard opened at that time near the present residence of S. H. Rothesman. The first school-house was built of logs, on the Hepler place, and the first school was taught by a man named Besler. Caspar Hepler kept the first hotel, and the earliest known mill was erected by Peter Kluck on Little Mahantongo creek, where Daniel Dunkelberger now resides. Of other earlier settlers Jacob Maurer and Peter Yoder were perhaps the best known. The farms settled by these two men are now owned by the Maurer family.
HELFENSTEIN.
The Schuylkill basin touches this town to an extent that seemed to render the prospects of mining favorable, and in 1868 Judge William L. Heltenstein, of Pottsville, the owner of a tract of coal lands, induced the firm of Bittle, Gilerman & Robison to open a colliery at the point now known as Helfenstein. The first coal was shipped from here in 1870, over the Reading Railroad. The Philadelphia and Reading Coal 'and Iron Company purchased the interests of Judge Helfenstein in 1872, and continued to operate the mines until 1877, when work in them was suspended. During the management of this latter company the daily product of the colliery was two hundred and fifty tons.
The only settlements of this place prior to the opening of the colliery were made by John Kluck and William Bickel; the former of whom built in 1830 the hotel that, up to 1877, was the best known house in the township. J. E. Fertig opened the Union House in 1868 and, in the same year, Joel Kohler established the first general store, which is now kept by John Purcell.
The opening of the colliery led to an immediate and large increase of population, and to the local improve- ments necessary to meet their wants the liberality of Judge Helfenstein largely contributed. The suspension of coal mining has had a depressing effect on local inter- ests, and caused the removal of a large number of those who were dependent upon this industry.
Helfenstein comprises one hotel, kept by Jacob E.
215
ELDRED AND FOSTER TOWNSHIPS.
Fertig; one store, by John Pursell, doing a good business; one blacksmith shop, one church building, belonging to the M. E. denomination; and about a dozen dwellings.
PITMAN
contains a post-office and store kept by a man named Hass, an Odd Fellows' hall, shoe and cigar shops, one blacksmith shop, a church building, belonging to the Weinbrennarians, and thirteen dwelling houses. The settlement was formerly known as Zimmermanstown, after an early settler. Its present title was given to it when the post-office was established.
STATISTICS.
The township contained in 1860 943 inhabitants; in 1879, 968; and in 1880, 1,159. In 1870 its agricultural statistics showed 6,879 acres of improved land, farms and farming implements valued at $403,750; live stock to the value of $56,614, and farm products valued at $145,- 300.
The schools districts in 1880 were five in number; buildings five, condition poor.
The township officers for 1880 were: Supervisors, John D. Hepler, Jesse Geist, Simon Hepler; town clerk, George H. Neisenger; auditors, Augustus Wetzel, Lewis Bensinger, B. H. Hass; treasurer, Frank Kehler ; justices, E. H. Wetzel, M. Keefer.
MANUFACTURES.
A tannery was built on the Samuel Kehler place in 1850, by George Kehler and Philip Hass.
D. Y. Hass started a small machine shop in 1860, four years later built the present works, and in 1868 added a foundry. He manufactures agricultural machinery, steam castings, etc. In 1879 he built the first steam en- gine ever constructed in the Mahantongo valley. It is rated at six horse power and was built for J. F. Geist's tannery.
The tannery of J. F. Geist was built by him in 1852, and enlarged in 1879. It is doing a lucrative business, using only oak bark.
The Henry Umholtz grist-mill was built by a man named Yoder, from whom Mr. Umholtz purchased it in 1869.
CHURCHES.
M. E. Church .- Occasional services were held by preachers of this demomination at Helfenstein as early as 1869, but it was not until April 12th, 1874, that a society was regularly organized with sixteen members- Thomas Dawson, Edmund Samuel, Mary Arin Samuel, Edmund W. Samuel, Margaret Werfield, Jane Werfield, William Werfield, Maria Werfield, Edward Grubb, Ma- tilda Grubb, William Andrews, Maria Patton, Charles Pat- ton, Louiza Shaeffer, Josephine Shaeffer and Lizzie Samuel. Its pastors have been H. B. Fortner, G. V. Savidge, J. N. Moorhead, N. B. Smith and H. N. Minnigh.
The church edifice was erected by Hon. William L. Helfenstein, and intended as a union church; but, this denomination being the only one taking a decided inter- est in the place, he donated it to this church on the 25th of March, 1879. It is a framed building 32 by 45 feet in size and is valued at $1,500.
The first Sunday-school was organized May 16th, 1869 with William Brittle as superintendent, and 48 pupils. It was kept open a few months in each year until 1873, when it was reorganized, with D. W. Frieze superintend- ent, and 34 scholars. The school numbered in 1880 eight teachers and one hundred and twelve scholars, with Thomas Dawson superintendent.
The Church of God in Eldred township was organized in 1847, with eight members: Isaac Hass and wife, John Hepler and wife, George Hepler and wife, William Klinger, and a man named Traub. Isaac Hass was elected elder, and William Klinger deacon. The first baptism was in the mill pond of Elias Hepler, in the year 1845, Rev. Mr. Hoffman officiating. Elder Snavely was the first preacher of the denomination holding service in the township. The first Bethel was built in 1855, at a cost of $1,000, and it is still in use. The second was built at Zimmermanstown, now Pitman, in 1875, costing $1,200. The church numbers eighty members, with John D. Hepler and Emanuel Ganes as elders, and D. S. Smith and William Rodaberger deacons.
There are two flourishing Sunday-schools, with an ag- gregate of 150 scholars and 37 officers and teachers. Benjamin Hass and Ephraim Neiswinder are superin- tendents. Rev. Israel Hay is the pastor, and resides at Valley View.
FOSTER TOWNSHIP.
what extensive business in mining has been carried on at Mount Pleasant, Glen Carbon and near points. Foster is bounded by Barry, Butler, Cass, Reilly, Frailey and Hegins. There are only two schools in the township.
HIS township was formed from portions of Butler, Barry, and Cass early in 1855. The first township election was held at the house of Mr. Heilner, in Monterey, the settlement Who first lived within the present township limits is unknown. In 1831 widow Levan kept a tavern in an old log house on the site of Mount Pleasant. This village grew up under the impetus given to the neighborhood known now as Mount Pleasant. The town- ship lies in the mountainous region between the two coal fields and is very sparsely settled. The southern portion is in the southern coal field, and a some- by coal operations in the vicinity by John Graham and
216
HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
others. The buildings are mostly plain stone structures, and many of them are unoccupied. There is no church or post-office there. The principal merchant is Carr Phillips. The traveling public are more than amply pro- vided for at Mount Pleasant by two taverns For a time prior to 1871, when the mail was carried from Miners- ville through Mount Pleasant to Sunbury, there was a post-office there.
Glen Carbon, in the southeast corner of the township, 50,000 tons annually. A son of William Richardson, is a railway station and post village. It is a small settle- ment which grew up in consequence of coal operations there. Like Mount Pleasant it is built mostly of stone. Messrs. Crowe & Scott are leading business men and well-known merchants.
COAL MINING.
Many of the early workings in the township have been abandoned. The colliery at Mount Pleasant was some years since vacated, and purchased by the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company.
Rohersville, on the Reed tract, Mr. Taylor, above men- tioned, worked a small colliery for a time.
John Stanton opened on the Mammoth vein at Glen Carbon, with drifts. He did a successful business for a time, and was succeeded by William and Thomas Verner, who built a breaker and operated ten years, mining 20,000 to 30,000 tons annually. Lucas & Denning leased the colliery and worked it five years, producing fully owner of the land, succeeded them. Business soon sus- pended at this colliery, which was idle until it passed into the hands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. This colliery, known as the Richardson colliery, produced 8,301 tons in 1876; 62,238 in 1877; 75,353 in 1878, and 111,229 in 1879.
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.