USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pa. with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 58
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
Mount Carbon was incorporated in 1864, but many of the officers that have been chosen have not acted. Its organization as a school and an election district is main- tained; but beyond this its citizens scarcely avail them- selves of their corporate privileges. The population in 1870 was 364
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN BOROUGH.
HE first settler here was Martin Dreibelbis. He came from Berks county, below the Blue mountains, before the commencement of the Revolution, and built a saw-mill and grist- mill on the spot where the boat yard now is. Mr. Dreibelbis was the owner of all the ground which the borough includes. The first residence in the borough was a log house in which he lived, just below his mills and on the opposite side of Main street. This house is still standing. It has been covered with boards, and it is in a tolerable state of preservation, though the storms of more than a century have beat against it. He built several tenant houses for his work- men, of whom he employed many. He resided in a room in the mill and in this house till 1799, when he removed to a large house which he had built at East Schuylkill Haven, which is still standing in a good condition. It
was built of hewn logs, but it is covered and painted so that its true character is scarcely suspected at a short distance. He died in this house the same year, at the age of 48. By his will the land where Schuylkill Haven proper now is was left to his son Jacob, while East Schuylkill Haven was given to another son, Daniel.
About 1811 Jacob Dreibelbis laid out the town of Schuylkill Haven and commenced the sale of lots, which were at first sold at cheap rates and slowly. East Schnyl- kill Haven, which is now included in the borough, was laid out in 1832. The farm which Daniel Dreibelbis in- herited became the property of Mr. Baber, and was by him sold to Dr. Kugler, of Philadelphia, for $16,000. Dr. K., in 1832, laid a portion of it out in village lots, and that part of the borough has been known as Kugler's Addition.
Rebecca Dreibelbis, daughter of Martin and Catherine, was the first child born here, in 1775. She died in 1825, having never married. Mary Magdalin Dreibelbis was the second child born here, in 1778. She became the wife of John Reed and the mother of Jeremiah Reed, who is now living, at the age of eighty, and from his memory these facts concerning the early history of the place are drawn.
The first marriage was that of Mary M. Dreibelbis and John Reed, in 1795, by Rev. Henry Decker. Mrs. Reed died in Ohio in 1841.
As before stated Martin Dreibelbis died here in 1799, and was buried in ground which he had donated for church, school and burial purposes, where the "old white church " stood, and where a brick church now stands, just outside of the northeastern limits of the borough.
Henry Mertz was the first blacksmith. His first shop was at east Schuylkill Haven, but he afterwards worked in a shop about a square above Washington Hotel, on Main street. He was known as an excellent workman, and people came long distances to avail themselves of his skill in making mill irons.
John Rudy was the first shoemaker. His first shop was a part of his house, was about one-fourth of a mile northeasterly from the present site of the railroad depot. His shop was afterward on Main street.
The first tavern was kept by Michael Frehafer, near where the bridge across the Schuylkill now is. The first store of any consequence was kept by James Levan, just above Washington Hotel, in the same building now oc- cupied by Daniel Saylor. Edward Huntzinger estab- lished a store soon after Mr. Levan. The first resident physician was Dr. Samuel Shannon.
Henry Mertz, Abraham Heber, John Hughes, Andrew The first school-house in the vicinity was on the lot before spoken of as having been donated for church, school, and burial purposes. It was a log building, suf- Wilaner, William Kiehner, Dr. Samuel Shannon, Michael Frehafer and John Rudy, the last still living, at the age of eighty-six, are remembered as early settlers here; but ficiently large for religious meetings, which were held in none of these came earlier than 1817, the year when the it. A school in this house in 1806 is remembered by Mr. Reed. He and his brother Samuel, now in Ohio, are the only surviving scholars. It was taught in the German language by John Roeder, a one-armed man. He was succeeded by Roland McCurty, and he by a German who often amused his scholars by playing the violin for them. The first school within the limits of the borough was established much later. construction of the Schuylkill navigation was commenced. Between 1814 and 1816 Daniel Dreibelbis built a saw-mill and an oil-mill at East Schuylkill Haven. These were taken down by the Schuylkill Navigation Company be- tween 1825 and 1830. The grist-mill and saw-mill of Jacob were purchased by this company, and were by them razed at about the same time. These were the only mills propel'ed by water ever erected here.
A tannery was established about 1830 by Andrew
252
HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
Wilaur, and continued during some years, but no tanning is now done in it.
Washington Hall, one of the leading hotels of Schuyl- kill Haven, was originally built by a Mr. Hughes, prob- ably in 1831. James B. Levan purchased the property of Mr. Hughes, and added two stories, and in 1857 Philip Koons purchased the hotel, having charge of it until his death in 1858, when his wife came in possession, and John W. Koons, the oldest son, became manager, in which position he remained eight years. In 1858 improvements were made. The old fashioned roof, cornices and gable end were changed for something more modern. The present proprietor, Charles Gold, has rented the hotel of Mrs. Koons for several years. The upper story is occupied by the masonic and Odd Fellows' lodges. In 1858, 1859 and 1860 important political conventions were held in the building.
Schuylkill Haven has been an important point for the shipment of coal since the completion of the West Branch or Mine Hill railroad, which has its terminus here, and which has connections with the system of rail- roads that ramify through the coal regions. Since the abandonment of that portion of the Schuylkill navigation above it it has been the point of shipment for all the coal tonnage that passed over that navigation. An extensive system of docks early came into existence here. These have been much changed by reason of casualties by floods, and exigencies to which changes in railroad man- agement have given rise.
It has, since the completion of the Schuylkill naviga- tion, been a point where boat building has been exten- sively carried on.
It was said of this place by a correspondent in the Miners' Journal in June, 1830: "Schuylkill Haven is the name of a town that has been laid out, but, like Swatara- ville, a view of the plot is scarcely interrupted by a house." Its subsequent growth and prosperity have re- sulted wholly from its situation at the point of shipment for the coal which has been brought over the Mine Hill Railroad. The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad has given it direct communication with Philadelphia since 1842. In 1840 its population was 988, in 1846, 1,646; in 1870, 2,940; and in 1880, 3,167. The increase of its population has kept even pace with the development of the coal trade. Aside from boat building no perma- nently successful industry has arisen here.
The Philadelphia and Reading Raiload repair shops in the borough were started in 1842, with a small shop in which John Worts, the present foreman of the shops, was the only workman. The present shops were erected in 1842. The number of men employed is 140. These shops are at the junction of the Mine Hill and Reading Railroads. The repair shop of the Schuylkill Navigation Company stands near these, and is of course conducted by the Philadelphia and Reading Company.
The rolling-mill now in operation here was established in 1870, by the Direct Iron Company, of Schuylkill Ha- ven. It was an unsuccessful attempt to produce iron directly from the ore. In 1872 it was converted into a
rolling-mill, and in 1873 was enlarged to its present ca- pacity and a chain manufactory added to it. In 1874 it became the property of Bast & Weissinger, and in 1875 work was suspended. Work was resumed in the rolling- mill in the spring of 1880 by Weissinger, Kaercher & Rahn, the present owners.
In 1874 the Schuylkill Haven Map, a weekly journal, was established by Messrs. Wunder & Bowman. It was pub- lished in a brick building which is still standing, on Dock street. It was neutral in politics. Its publication was continued under the same proprietors till 1849, when it was discontinued.
In 1874 the Schuylkill Haven Monitor, another weekly journal, was started by Colonel Fries. It was also a neutral paper. Its publication ceased in 1876.
There are in Schuylkill Haven twelve hotels, nine dry goods and grocery stores, five shoe stores, two clothing stores, one furniture store, twelve hardware stores, two drug stores, three milliners, one jeweller, four barber shops, four shoe shops, one tin shop, twelve blacksmith shops, four carriage shops, four carpenter shops, eleven cabinet shops, three butchers, one harness shop, one at- torney, six physicians, two news dealers, one stationer and four insurance agents.
CORPORATE HISTORY.
The borough of Schuylkill Haven was incorporated by an act of Assembly May 23d, 1840. The first election under the charter was held on the second Tuesday in July of that year, and resulted in the election of Daniel Saylor burgess, and John Rudy, Mark Mellon, James M. Saylor, Michael Frehafer and George Rickert, council- men. The following citizens have since been chosen burgess :
John Heebner, 1843; Henry Saylor, 1844; Frederick Haas, 1846; Samuel Beard, 1847; Charles Kantner, 1848; Michael Bowman, 1849; Henry Saylor, 1850; Daniel Saylor, 1851; Samuel Guss, 1852; Daniel H. Stager, 1853; N. J. Hardenstine, 1854; P. R. Palm, 1855; B. F. Ketner, 1856; Henry Saylor, 1859; John Frehafer, 1860; John Hummel, 1861; John Doherty, 1862; William M. Randal, 1863; William Gensemere, 1864; Henry B. Hesser. 1865; John Frehafer, 1866; T. C. Zulich, 1867; Joseph C. Kerkslager, 1868; Henry Byerly, 1869; Char- les Wiltrout, 1870; Pliny Porter, 1871; John G. Koehler, 1872; Thomas Geir, 1873; H. H. Coxe, 1874; A. W. Kerkslager, 1875; Winfield Hendricks, 1876, 1878; E. W. Frehafer, 1877, 1879.
In 1859 the borough was divided into the north, east, south, and west wards.
CEMETERIES.
The early interments of people who died here were made in the burial ground of the union church, just north from the borough, familiarly known as the "old white church." Afterward burials were made in the Episcopal church yard and in that of the Evangelical church.
In 1852 the Union Cemetery Association of Schuylkill Haven was incorporated by the court, with Gideon Bast president, Charles Dengler secretary, and John D. Dei-
253
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES IN SCHUYLKILL HAVEN.
bert treasurer. These, with Jacob Deibert and Daniel Saylor, constituted the board of managers. The associa- tion purchased eight acres of ground just beyond the northern limits of the borough for a cemetery. This has been tastefully laid out and fitted up, and most of the bodies have been removed from the burial grounds in the borough and reinterred in it, and it is now the place of burial for all the surrounding region. The present officers are: Isaac Paxton, president; D. H. Stager, secretary and treasurer; and with these officers Robert Jones, John Hendricks and Henry Saylor con- stitute the board of managers.
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-HOUSES.
In 1836 there was one school-house in Schuylkill Haven, a small brick structure that stood on the site of the present principal school building. In this house John H. Guertler taught during many years. This was a " pay school," and continued such till 1838, when the school law was accepted: After its incorporation the borough was divided into three sub-districts with a school in each. The present school-house on High street was built in 1850. It was a commodious brick building three stories in height. On the ground floor were four school rooms, on the second two, and in the third story one. The remainder of the third story was fitted up for meet- ings of societies. The cost of this building was then $13,000. In 1878 the house was remodeled, the third story was taken off and two wings were built. There are now six rooms in the first story and five in the second. The present value of the building is $14,500. A graded school has been kept in this building since its erection during ten months in the year. Eleven teachers, two gentlemen and nine ladies, have been employed in this school, at an average salary of $76 per month for male and $28 for female teachers. The average attendance has been 750.
In the north ward a primary school has long been maintained. This school was first taught in one of the three school-houses spoken of, then in the basement of the Catholic church till 1873, when a framed school- house was built on Dock street at a cost of $2,500.
The first board of directors consisted of Charles Den- gler, Joseph M. Saylor, Lewis C. Dougherty, Jacob Dei- bert, Firman Bordell and Benjamin De Long. The first teacher in the graded school was John H. Guertler, who, as before stated, had long been a teacher here; then in succession the principal teachers were Thomas Griffith, Daniel State, John Doyle, W. B. Bensinger, Jacob Kaer- cher, Pliny Porter, W. I. Good, William Hubbard, Daniel H. Stager, J. L. Mitting, F. I. Jewell, Henry M. Bush, William A. Field, George B. Allen, Francis W. Bechtel, J. G. Wineberger, H. M. Hannah, J. H. Helm, J. G. Krichbaum, E. W. Huyck, B. F. Knerr, and George W. Weiss, the present principal. Of these George B. Allen is an Episcopal clergyman, Messrs. Bechtel and Hannah are members of the bar, and Mr. Knerr is a distinguished teacher in Minnesota. Mr. Stager is an old and useful citizen. and is now president of the board of school di-
rectors. Arrangements are made by the school board for furnishing text books at wholesale prices, with the addition of a small commission, regulated by the board.
CHURCH HISTORIES.
Evangelical Church .- The church of the Evangelical Association in Schuylkill Haven was organized in 1830. Rev. J. M. Saylor and his brother Daniel were the only members at the time of its organization. Both are still living. In 1835 the first trustee meeting was held, at which it was determined to erect a house of worship. This determination was carried into effect, and in 1836 the house was dedicated. It was a stone building, 38 by 50 feet, with a basement, and it stood on the site of the present church on St. Peter's street. At the time of ded- icating this church the membership had increased to sixty. A Sunday-school was organized the same year, with Daniel Saylor as superintendent. Worship was con- tinued in this church till 1856, when the increase of the congregation had come to require a larger and more commodious house and the present edifice, which is termed St. Peter's Church, was erected. It is of brick, 42 by 70, with a basement and gallery, and its cost was $8,000.
By reason of the loss of the church records it is not practicable to give a list of the many pastors that have served this church.
In 1873 Trinity Church branched from this congrega- tion to organize a church in which the services should be conducted wholly in the English language. In St. Peter's the German is used in a portion of the services. The present number of members is two hundred and twenty- one.
The Sunday-school was continued under the superin- tendence of Mr. Saylor for more than twenty years. He was followed by F. G. Boos, and he by Harry Sausser, the present superintendent. The school numbers two hundred and fifty scholars.
St. James Protestant Episcopal Church was chartered July 4th, 1839. Among the charter members were Robert C. Hill, Lebbeus Chapman, William B. Potts, Winfield S. Chapman, John Hudson, Alexander A. Clarkson, John Guertler, Absalom Reifsnyder, John Stanton, Richard Stanton, Gideon Bast and Charles M. Hill.
A church was consecrated in the spring of 1841, built of rough native stone. William Richardson presented the lot. The corner stone was laid in 1839.
Robert C. Hill was the first Sunday-school superin- tendent; services were held in Moses Reed's tailoring establishment on Canal street.
The first minister was Rev. Mr. Buell, succeeded in 1842 by Rev. George C. Drake, who remained about ten years.
The church building was thoroughly improved in 1876 by the addition of stained glass windows and new chan- cel furniture, papering and painting inside and painting on the outside. This was the first English church in Schuylkill Haven.
United Brethren in Christ .- In 1846 the first mission-
254
HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
ary of the United Brethren in Schuylkill county came to Schuylkill Haven and preached in a school-house. In that year a class was formed, of which Messrs. Hewes, Shoener, Fisher and Fremont were members.
In 1847 a house of worship, a framed building, was erected on the corner of Market and St. John streets. In 1861 the present brick edifice on Main street was erected.
Up to 1869 the charge was a part of a circuit, but in that year it was made a separate station, with 217 mem- bers, and it has continued a separate charge since.
The clergymen in charge and the years of their ap- pointment have been: Revs. John A. Sands, 1847; Simon Noll, 1848; George Smith, 1849; Jacob Rupp, 1852; Simon Noll, 1853; Simon Zimmerman, 1855; David Hoffman, 1855; Christian Jeffrey, 1857; H. W. Landis, 1858; D. M. Kauffman, 1860; A. F. Yeager, 1864; J. G. Fritz, 1865; J. B. Dougherty, 1867: J. R. Meredith, 1869; J. P. Smith, 1871; John Smith, 1874; Peter Bow- man, 1875; Joseph C. Mussma, 1877; C. S. Meiley, 1878; J. D. Killian, the present pastor, 1879.
In 1848 John Freeman first organized the Sunday- school, with but a few scholars. The present superin- tendent is Charles Shappel. The number of scholars is 135, and of teachers and officers 20.
St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church .- In 1847 priests from Pottsville began to visit Schuylkill Haven regularly. At that time, and during several years thereafter, mass was celebrated in the house of Patrick White, and after- ward the school-house and lot was purchased and ser- vices were held there.
In 1863 the present church on Dock street, the old Lutheran church, was purchased from the school board and refitted. In 1865 the first resident pastor, Rev. James Mackin, was appointed, succeeded soon afterward by Revs. Mullen, McManus, and another Mackin. Rev. Philip McEnroe came in 1868, and he was succeeded in 1875 by Rev. Charles McFadden, the present pastor.
St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church is centrally located on Dock street, below Main. It is a substantial brick structure, containing an auditorium with about 500
sittings and also large and well furnished Sunday-school day-school was organized on February 2nd following. rooms.
Adjoining the church is a beautiful and commodious consecrated by Rev. H. Harbaugh, D. D., and Rev.
pastoral residence, the two forming one of the most com- plete and desirable church properties of the county. The total value of the lots and improvements is probably $15,000.
The original members had perhaps nearly all belonged to what was then called the "white church," situated on the turnpike near the almshouse. On account of the inconvenience of the location and insufficient accommo- dation the members living in town organized themselves into a new congregation, which together with the German Reformed congregation erected St. Paul's church (now St. Ambrose Roman Catholic . The church was com- pleted in 1851. Before that time there had been com- paratively little English preaching in the Lutheran church, but now Rev. D. Steck, of Pottsville, held stated English service in St. Paul's church with the approval of the reg-
ular pastor, William G. Menning. No permanent organ- ization was effected, though about a score of persons con- sidered themselves the English Lutheran Church of Schuylkill Haven. Around that nucleus has gathered the present St. Matthew's congregation.
The first pastor was Rev. E. Huber, who took charge October 17th 1858. The original members numbered twenty-nine. Of these Andrew Keefer "more than any other man was the father of the English movement."
On the 20th of June, 1859, a lot was purchased, and soon after the erection of St. Matthew's church begun. The corner stone was laid on the 7th of August in the same year, and the church was dedicated in January, 1860. Mr. Huber's ministry ended in December, 1860. Rev. P. Willard was pastor from April, 1861, to March, 1864, and Rev. G. P. Weaver from August, 1864, to April, 1866. During Rev. A. Yeiser's ministry, of about ten years from the last date, the membership of the church was more than doubled, and the edifice renovated and greatly en- larged at an expense of $3,000. Mr. Yeiser died, lamen- ted by the entire community, on the 29th of February, 1876. For several months before and after that sad event the congregation was supplied by Rev. J. B. An- thony. During July and August of the same year Rev. F. W. Staley preached as a supply.
The fifth and present regular pastor is Rev. J. A. Sing- master, who took charge on the ist of September, 1876. The most notable event in his ministry thus far is the erection of a parsonage, conceded to be one of the finest and best arranged residences of its kind to be found out- side of the large cities.
The membership of the church is about 200, and of the Sunday-school 250. Both are in a flourishing condition. The first superintendent of the Sunday school was An- drew Keefer, who held the office until his death, in 1876. Since then the pastor, assisted by Isaac Parson, has con- ducted the school. Its library numbers 600 volumes.
St. John's Reformed Church .- St. John's congregation began holding services in the banking room of Mr. Voute's building on Main street, January 26th, 1862. The Sun- Rev. David M. Wolff was the first pastor. The room was George Wolff in January. In this room worship was held for half a year or more, when the congregation pur- chased the M. E. church, and made extensive repairs in it, and it became the home of the flock. Messrs. D. Small, M. Bassler, B. Reibsamen, N. Palsgrave, J. L. Coho, C. Dengler, Jacob Miller and W. H. Levan were active in the enterprise, besides a number of devoted women.
Mr. Wolff labored here two years and nine months. The congregation numbered when he left seventy-five members.
Rev. J. P. Stein became his successor in October, 1864. The church continued to grow rapidly. Mr. Stein added upward of 85 to the church by confirmation, and others by certificate. During his pastorate a parsonage was purchased and paid for, and an infant Sunday-school
255
CHURCHES AND LODGES OF SCHUYLKILL HAVEN.
room built on the rear of the church. In the spring of 1871 he removed to Pottsville.
Rev. J. O. Johnson was unanimously elected his suc- cessor, and entered upon his duties June rst, 1881. The old parsonage was sold and a larger one purchased. So rapidly did the congregation increase that it became nec- essary to build the present large and elegant church on Main street, in the center of the town. The edifice was begun in March, 1875, and on the Christmas following the first service was held in the new house. The church cost about $15,000, and was paid for in full.
The membership has constantly increased, but there have also been many losses by removal. The number of members at present is two hundred and thirty-five, and there are about twenty scholars in the Sunday-school. About $1,300 is raised per year for local and benevolent purposes.
In the autumn of 1879 the congregation purchased a new pipe organ. Rev. J. O. Johnson has entered upon the tenth year of his ministry in this congregation, with every prospect of future prosperity.
Trinity Church of the Evangelical Association was or. ganized March 15th, 1873. Its constituent members, thirty-eight in number, had withdrawn from St. Peter's Church of the Evangelical Association for the purpose of organizing a church in which the services should be con- ducted in the English language.
The church and Sunday-school were organized and the first meetings were held in Metamora Hall, on Main street. The first pastor was Rev. James Bowman, who continued in the pastoral relation three years, and was succeeded by Rev. C. H. Egge, who also served the church three years. He was followed by the present im- cumbent of the position, Rev. J. G. Sands, who has la- bored here about a year and a half.
The church edifice was built in 1873 and 1874, and dedicated May 17th in the latter year. It is a framed building, 36 by 60 feet, on Dock street. It and the par- sonage, which adjoins it, are valued at $7,000.
Rev. James Bowman was the first superintendent of the Sunday-school connected with this charge. This school was organized March 22nd, 1873, with 57 scholars. It now numbers about 100.
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.