USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pa. with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 56
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WADESVILLE.
Wadesville, a mining village in the southeast part of New Castle township, was laid out about 1830, by Lewis Ellmaker, and named in honor of Captain John Wade, a coal operator. The place has been developed by the numerous collieries worked in and around it. George Phillips was probably the first who mined coal in the vicinity, commencing previous to 1828. In 1829 a Mr. Keverly commenced driving a tunnel on the Flowery Field tract, northwest from Wadesville, and Mr. Boas finished it, cutting the Orchard vein. In 1835 Blakesly
and Ashley worked this colliery for Asa Packer, the les- see, shipping 35 tons per day. Henry Saylor operated here in 1855. Joseph Denning & Sons were the last to work this mine. It was known as the Flowery Field col- liery. John Denning & Bro's., sons of Joseph Denning, are now using the old Monitor colliery breaker, and working the Holmes vein. They ship large quantities of coal.
In 1828 Thomas Ritchway opened a drift on the Or- chard vein, in the hill west from the creek. George Mason, who operated on this vein in 1856, west of Flow- ery Field colliery, found it from 412 to 5 feet thick, and shipped more than 18,000 tons per year. The vein on the east bank of the creek was operated by Christopher Frantz. The Primrose vein was first opened on the Flowery Field tract, by Burr & Wallace, in 1829. In 1845 Jonathan Wasley sunk two slopes on the north and south dips of this vein. One engine pumped water from both slopes, and another hoisted the coal from both. He also sunk a slope on the Seven-feet, tunneling to the Mammoth. He built a breaker, and shipped about 200 tons per day. He failed in 1852 and the colliery was abandoned in 1855. On the east side of the creek, John Reed, Daniel Edwards and Christopher Frantz operated successively on the Primrose, mining a large quantity of coal. The workings were abandoned soon after 1864.
In 1833 Thomas Ritchway drove a tunnel near the west end of the old Girard tunnel, cutting the Four-feet, Seven-feet and Mammoth veins. Robert Nealy and Commodore Stockton operated here, but abandoned the place in 1837.
Wadesville shaft was formerly known as the Hickory shaft; its workings being a continuation of the old Hickory water level and slopes. Excavations were com- reached, the upper split of the Mammoth vein was struck, early in the year 1867. In May, 1871, the mine was found to be on fire, and in June it became necessary to turn in water and drown it. The property was sold September 25th, 1876, by the sheriff to the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. May 9th, 1877, an explosion of gas occurred, which resulted in the death of six men. In January, 1878, the authorities became convinced that the mine was again on fire, in the old workings, by reason of an explosion which had occurred. After laboring in vain until February roth, it was decided to again drown it. Water was turned in from Mill creek February 14th, and left to run during eighteen days, when it had reached a height of 368 feet in the shaft. The mine was then emptied and the first coal was ship- ped October 21st. It has been operated successfully since. About 500 men and boys are employed. Eight engines are used at this colliery; one runs the breaker, one hoists on the plane, one runs a saw-mill and machin- ery in the carpenter's and blacksmith shops, and one car- ries the fan, each of 30 horse power; two 250 horse en-
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NEW CASTLE AND MT. LAFFEE-CHURCHES AND COLLIERIES.
gines hoist water from the shaft, two 125 horse hoist coal. The capacity of the breaker is about 700 tons per day. The present daily production is more than 500 tons.
CHURCHES AT WADESVILLE.
Primitive Methodist .- On the 29th of April, 1855, a class was formed consisting of Rev. James George, a local preacher, Charles Latham, Samuel Westwood, John Mar- tin and George Gordon. Mr. George was chosen leader. Services were held in the public school building. The members were accepted by the Primitive Methodist church, and were attached to the St.Clair circuit. A church build- ing was erected in 1871. It is of stone, 30 by 40 feet, situ- ated on the Flowery Field tract, and its cost was about $2,000. It was dedicated December 29th, 1872; Revs. Benjamin Haywood, Francis Gray and Joseph W. Reed officiating. Mr. Haywood applied his sermon by slipping a $50 bill into the collection. The membership has at times numbered 40.
The Sunday-school was established with the church, Rev. James George being its first superintendent. The number of scholars has increased from 30 to 120. It has a good library.
On the 31st of June, 1868, there was organized, in con- nection with the school, a society known as the Primi- tive Methodist Sabbath School Temperance Roll of Hon- or and Burial Society. It was founded by Rev. James George. In 1876 fifteen other churches had organized similar societies.
M. E. Church .- This church was organized as a branch of the M. E. church of St. Clair, in October, 1867. Among the original members were John Botham, George Miles, John and Betsy Webb. Their church building, which cost $2,000, was dedicated in January, 1868. Rev. S. G. Hare was the first pastor. The church is frequently supplied by local preachers.
The Sunday-school was organized in 1865, two years before the organization of the church. The superintend- ent is Henry Shafer. The average attendance is about 90 scholars.
MT. LAFFEE.
Mt. Laffee is a mining village of between 300 and 400 inhabitants. Tobey Hire, Robert Bradley, Mrs. Joyce and Mrs. Peck were among the early settlers. There were five buildings here in 1840. The old stone school- house, now occupied as a residence, was built in 1846. The first teachers were James Butler, his brother, Benja- min S. Jackson and William Porter.
Turner and Hugh Stephenson. Frank Gowan, builder of the store, took the colliery in 1856. David P. Brown & Co. followed. They had five openings. A shaft sunk by them was abandoned on account of water.
The company failed, and was succeeded by Morris Robinson and by Potts and J. K. Sigfried in 1866. Potts withdrew and Sigfried changed the name to Beechwood colliery. The Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, the present operators, bought the land and coal in 1874. They are shipping two hundred tons per day. They use five engines of from thirty to one hun- dred horse power. They work the Seven-feet and Mam- moth veins. The slope is on the south dip, and its length is now 280 yards, at an inclination of 45°. The capacity of the breaker is 500 tons per day.
NEW CASTLE VILLAGE.
New Castle or Broad Mountain post-office was laid out in 1830 by Lewis Ellmaker. At first this village expected to become what Pottsville is now-the great center of the mining region. Almost as soon as the place was started six large taverns sprung up. John Spohn built the first store. George Reifsnyder, afterward postmaster, and Peter Kline were then magistrates. The first school- house stood on Mohawk street. A Mr. Butler was early a teacher.
In 1853 a building, 28 by 38 feet, was erected for church services. It was at first used by the Lutherans, but was afterward bought by the M. E. church of Miners- ville. It was burned a few years since. Meetings are occasionally held in the upper school-house by people of different denominations.
The first tavern was built of stone, by John Kantner and Peter Kline. It has been taken down on account of caving of mines. The second, built in 1831, is now a dwelling. Daniel Lindenmuth, the builder, abandoning his project, bought the building commenced by Henry Rhein and Barney Taylor for a store, enlarged it, and opened the third in 1832. It is now J. Brady's residence.
The fourth was built of stone, in 1833, by John Spohn. It is now the property of E. Phillips, and is occupied as a dwelling. The fifth, a wooden structure on the north side of the street, was built by Kline & Kantner, and kept by Kline. It was burned. The last was built of stone, by Jacob Kline, and it is now occupied as a dwell- ing.
East Pine Knot Colliery .- John C. Offerman opened this colliery, by a drift, in 1830. It was at first known as the Greenberry mines. Robert Adams commenced operations here in 1848. He made many improvements, over 100,000 tons per year. A few years since, the mine took fire, and, with theWest Pine Knot mine, was drowned out. It is located in the New Castle basin. William C. Littlehale's mines were between this and New Castle.
Beechwood Colliery .- William Mann and Thomas C. and gave it the present name. This colliery has produced Williams opened this colliery, then called East Mt. Laf- fee, by driving a tunnel where the breaker now stands. A large quantity of coal was shipped from this tunnel. They commenced the present slope August 5th, 1847. John L. Beadle was foreman and his uncle, William The Reppiler Colliery was first opened on a drift west from the railroad station, by the Nealy brothers. Joseph Lawton commenced operations here soon after 1840, and named it the Mammoth colliery, from the vein worked. Beadle, superintendent. In 1850 they were shipping from 80 to 100 car loads per day. The firm failed in 1853. Their successors were Miller & Patterson, James
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HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
In 1846 he erected an engine breaker, and started a slope engine. He shipped about 250 tons per day. Lawton failed in 1850, and the colliery was purchased by George Reppiler, who sunk a slope on the west dip, at the east end of the basin, on the Pott and Bannan tract. He sunk another slope on the Gettle and Wagner tract, on the north dip of the vein. The average daily production 1863-65 was 600 tons; the capacity of breaker 750 tons. D. H. & John L. Geiger, and F. R. Morgan were part- ners in 1862-67, having previously been employes.
Ellsworth Colliery .- This colliery is at New Castle village. Its present owner, John R Davis, of Cass town- ship, opened it by a slope on the Mammoth vein in 1873. Twenty men and 12 boys are employed, and two engines of 45 and 120 horse power are used. The first breaker | 60 kegs per day.
was burned. The daily capacity of the present breaker is 100 tons, and its average production is 75 tons. The mine is in the abandoned Reppiler workings. It has pro- duced 250,000 tons, and it may afford 500,000 tons more. The Broad mountain post-office is kept here.
ST. CLAIR POWDER MILLS.
This enterprise was started in 1840, by Track and Seltzer, who built a mill in St. Clair. Several explosions. occurred, and in 1860 John L. Geiger and Lewis Koch, then proprietors, moved the works to the east part of this township. The daily product was then 80 kegs. Emanuel Morgan is the present proprietor, with John Clayton as superintendent. The present production is
NORTH MANHEIM TOWNSHIP.
ORTH MANHEIM was taken from Manheim township in 1845. The early settlers of this township were Germans, or their descend- ants who had crossed the Blue mountain subsequent to the French and Indian war, and settled in the Schuylkill valley and along the little streams running east and west that emptied into the main river. They were a hard working and robust race, and have left their impress upon the natives of the soil, who still dwell upon or near the home- steads of their ancestors. During the Rebellion great numbers of young men enlisted in the Union army and served faithfully to its close. No other township can show a better record than this in that great struggle for the national integrity.
The original occupants of the soil were greatly dis- turbed by predatory Indians, and several were massacred by them in their raids upon defenceless settlers; but the close of the Revolution brought peace and security. Of those who took part in the war of 1812 none are left.
Of those who first settled this township and became permanent owners of the land John Deibert owned and occupied a farm on the Centre turnpike, near Orwigs- burg, and his children lived upon the same land after his death. He was a native of the county and left numerous descendants, many of whom still reside in various parts of Schuylkill county. Jacob Krebs was another old settler whose farm was on the turnpike leading to Or- wigsburg. He left many descendants in the county. Jacob Minnich, Daniel Shappell and Michael Bolich were among the first settlers of the valley south of the Second mountain and east of the Schuylkill. Henry Hollebush is also numbered among those who cleared the lands in the Orwigsburg valley. Michael Kosh lived in the valley, on the turnpike, not far from where the almshouse is now located, and Henry Strouch lived on
the Wesner tavern property. The Wagners, Reeds, Rebers and other pioneers have left many descendants, who have proved worthy sons and daughters of an in- dustrious and persevering race of citizens. On the west side of the Schuylkill the Kostners, Bergers and Dech- erts were early settlers and occupied farms in Long Run valley. The largest land owner in the western part of the township was Valentine Trace, now called Dress by all the descendants living in this county. He was reputed to be a person of great personal strength, and of courage equal to any emergency. Like many other such men he was supposed to have had encounters with the savages in early life, and acquired the name of " In- dian fighter "; but he probably was as quiet as most of his neighbors and equally guiltless of shedding the blood of any human being, though clothed in the dusky hide of the stealthy, murderous Indian.
Another of the large land owners of this township was Martin Dreibelbeis, whose estate extended from the alms- house property across both branches of the Schuylkill and included all the territory as far north as Beck's, and nearly all the West Branch valley south of that point, amounting in all to over 1,200 acres. He appears to have been a liberal minded man for that day, and con- tributed to the few public objects that engaged the at- tention of the sparse settlement. After the opening of the old Sunbury road, from the head of navigation on the Schuylkill to Fort Augusta on the Susquehanna at Northumberland, in 1770, many residents of Berks came up from below the Blue mountain and found homes in this valley.
But previously to that date a few had ventured to en- gage in lumbering, and had built saw-mills for cutting up the timber that grew along the river bottoms. Among these was Ellis Hughes, who had a saw-mill on the river not far from the five locks of the navigation company. The Colonial Records mention this mill as the starting
2.45
NORTH MANHEIM TOWNSHIP.
point for the survey of the road to Fort Augusta; they and resulted in divisions and litigations which time also mention Ellis Hughes's house as being one of the only can harmonize. points on the line of survey, about half a mile above the mill. No other house or resident is named, and he was probably the first to locate in that vicinity. We have no knowledge of his character or history, but from his en-
The Granger co-operative store building was the resi- dence of Martin Dreibelbis, one of the first settlers in the valley. It is a log building, very strongly built and hav- ing double plank doors, with heavy wrought iron hinges terprising spirit the presumption is that he was a man of fastened the whole width of them for greater security. courage and equal to all the emergencies of frontier life. It was called the " block-house," and the first settlers who The Hugheses of the farming districts are probably de- dwelt in cabins in the valley fled to it for protection scendants of this man, though the records of the family have not been well preserved.
In the same neighborhood has been a farm known to a late day as the " Minnich property." This was doubtless saw-mill toward Reading, before the survey of the "old the settlement of Conrad Minnich, who is spoken of in Sunbury " or "Fort Augusta " road in 1770.
the Colonial Records in locating the place of the murder of John Neyman and his three children in August, 1780. They " lived at a saw-mill on the road from Reading to Shamokin, three miles above Conrad Minnich's, and thirty-three from Reading." Neyman must have lived where Pottsville is now situated, and his murder by the five Indians who "had been seen at Yarnal's the day be- fore " caused the wildest excitement in the valley below, and wagons were sent up from the lower settlements to move them away. These people probably returned to their abandoned homes when the excitment died out, and then they remained undisturbed during their lives. Many of this name are found in various parts of the country, and probably they are descendants of this Con- rad Minnich.
There are but two church edifices in the township; one is at Landingville, three miles below Schuylkill Haven, and belongs to the United Brethren. It was erected in 1869 and the society has been in a prosperous condition ever since. The other edifice was finished in 1877 and is near Spring Garden, a part of the borough of Schuyl- kill Haven. It replaced a wooden structure built in 1826 and called the Jerusalem Church of the German Lutheran and Reformed denominations. The tract on which the building and old cemetery are located contains three acres and eighty perches. It was part of the estate of Daniel Dreibelbis, and was sold by the sheriff De- cember 27th, 1819, to Edward W. Hoskins. Louisa Hoskins, his wife, sold the property to Jacob Krebs, trustee of the United German Lutheran and Presbyterian societies, for one "silver dollar," August Ist, 1822.
From the heirs of Michael Emerich these societies ob- tained eight acres. The consideration named is "three dollars, and other charitable reasons moving thereto." The cemetery was in use as early as 1794. The congre- gation which built the church of 1826 worshiped for many years in an old log school-house, erected upon the lot, and persons are still living who were taught in it from seventy to seventy five years ago. It stood in what is now known as the "old cemetery." The present edi- fice is a handsome structure of brick, with modern con- veniences, and stands behind and a little east of the site of the old one, which was torn down and removed when the new one was completed. The selection of the present site was the cause of much ill feeling in the congregation,
whenever an alarm of Indian incursions was made. There is no date to show when it was constructed, but it was no doubt erected on the old road leading from Ellis Hughes's
The former business centers of North Manheim have been incorporated into boroughs. A portion of Orwigs- burg and all of Cressona, Mt. Carbon and Schuylkill Haven boroughs belonged to this township. Landing- ville is the only village in its territorial boundary which possesses any interest, and it is too recent in growth to have a history.
The county almshouses and hospitals, with their numer- ous outbuildings and offices, together with the large, highly cultivated farm, are located in this township, and embrace over six hundred of its population. As a class they add, as may well be supposed, but very little to the productive industries of the township. They can and do exercise the privilege of the elective franchise, the same as those favored by wealth and station; and present the curious anomaly of men going to the polls and voting the money of other people into their pockets after having squandered their own. The management of the poor in this establishment has been distinguished for great lib- erality and kindness, and while many important improve- ments could be made it compares favorably with all other institutions of the kind in the State.
The Laflin & Rand powder mills, on the west branch of the Schuylkill, one and one-quarter miles north of Cres- sona, turn out a large amount of mining powder, for use in the adjoining districts, and have a capacity of about three hundred kegs a day. There are two flour-mills in the township, both of which were erected at a very early date. One is on the Center turnpike, between Schuylkill Haven and Orwigsburg, and is known as " Boyer's mill." It is used as a grist-mill, and does work mostly for the farmers in the vicinity. George Heebner once owned the property, and since then it has passed through several hands to the present owner. Beck's mill is situated on the west branch of the Schuylkill, three-quarters of a mile north of Cressona, and does quite a large business in merchant flour and country grists. Both of these mills date back to the period of original permanent settlements, and have gone through the various vicissitudes incident to the progress of the settlements. They are run by water power, which sometimes fails. A few saw-mills are scattered here and there in the township, but the growing scarcity of timber renders them of little account in the industries of the people. Near Beck's mill is a small establishment for making fertilizers to supply the adja-
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HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
cent farming districts, and above the powder-mill is a factory of the blocks and pulleys used upon the inclined planes of the Mine Hill and Schuylkill Haven Railroad. Many of the early saw-mills and grist-mills on the Schuyl- kill river were suffered to fall into decay, and finally to be swept away by spring and fall freshets. The valuable portion of the timber in the township has long since been cut away and used upon the railroads, and among the miners for props and colliery structures, and little use is found for saw-mills at the present time.
In April, 1876, Mountain Grange, No. 506, was organ- ized in the western part of the township for the mutual improvement and protection of farmers. This society is small, but active, and has a co-operative store in Spring Garden, where all kinds of farmers' supplies can be ob- tained at prices and upon conditions said to be greatly to their advantage. A much larger grange than the one just mentioned has been established in the lower part of the township, with its place of meeting at Landingville. This is called Manheim Grange, No. 286; it exercises an important influence upon agriculture in that section, and has served to localize considerable trade at that point, although it has no co-operative store. The little village has two country stores. There is also a carriage factory there, which, in addition to farm wagons and carriages, turns out some very fine work for the general market. The agricultural interests of this township are the most
important. Nowhere else can a better market be found for farm produce than is presented by the villages and mining population of the coal region. The reliable market for their products enables the farmers and garden- ers to use fertilizers of all kinds extensively, to enrich their lands and adapt them to the growth of such pro- ductions as find the readiest sale. The railroads and canal running through this township furnish excellent facilities for transportation of fertilizers and products of the land. The horses and market wagons have been greatly improved in appearance, and the method of pre- paring products for sale is very different from what it was formerly. The farm buildings and surroundings are neat and substantial. The products are greatly improv- ed in quality, as the selection of seed is annually becom- ing more careful.
The public schools are kept open during the legal term of five months only. Great advances have been made in them during the last few years. Neat school buildings are being erected, and furnished with patent seats and desks and other modern conveniences. There are four- teen schools in the township, having an average attend- ance of thirty-five to forty pupils.
The population of North Manheim was in 1850, 3,006; in 1860, 5,196; in 1871, 2,420, and in 1880, 2,802, an increase in the last decade of 382, nearly sixteen per cent.
CRESSONA BOROUGH.
RESSONA is an outgrowth of the Mine Hill and Schuylkill Haven Railroad, and like all the other towns in the coal region is com- paratively a modern borough; but the events which led to its incorporation and subsequent growth to its present proportions date back for nearly half a century. Before the construction of the Mine Hill road the valley in which the town is situated, and the hill sides, were covered with heavy tim- ber or thick undergrowth, with here and there cleared fields which yielded a scanty return for the toils of the husbandman. There were no school-houses, churches, or burial places; they who passed away were laid to rest among their kindred in other towns. Of all the original settlers none are buried here excepting a portion of one family by the name of Fite.
coal, were generally owned by the operators, and conse- quently the centers of movement were at the respective collieries; hence during this period there were no induce- ments for building up any other place. In 1847, how- ever, the teams and small cars were withdrawn and steam engines substituted. This was the beginning of a new era in the history of the railroad and the West Branch valley. The center of movement was now transferred from the mines to this place. The erection of engine- houses, shops, and stores for materials became nec- essary.
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