USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pa. with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 81
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AUBURN BOROUGH.
HIS pleasant borough contains four stores, two hotels, two boat yards, and a grist-mill. It has two resident physicians, and a popula- tion of about 740.
About eighteen years after the opening of the Schuylkill Canal, a boatman named Samuel K. Moyer built a house at the locality then known as " the Scotchman's lock," now within the limits of Auburn. This was the first domicile there. Soon he opened a store, where he sold dry goods and groceries to the near residents of the territory known as South Manheim and West Brunswick. At this time there were only about half a dozen houses within a circle of half a mile from the center of the present borough.
This business beginning was made prior to 1840, at a time when the Philadelphia and Pottsville branch of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad was in progress of construction. This line was completed in 1842, when a station was established at "the Scotchman's lock," and the name of the place was changed to Auburn. Under the influence of the local railway interest the village be-
gan to grow steadily and somewhat rapidly. The boat building interest, later, had its effect in bringing it into prominence. The post-office was established in 1846, with Isaac Hoffmeister as postmaster. In 1854 the Sus- quehanna and Schuylkill Railroad was completed, with its eastern terminus at Auburn, and in 1857 the borough was duly incorporated, and its government organized according to law.
The first regular school in the village was opened about 1845, in the basement of the Bethel meeting house, which had been fitted up as the early school room. The first school-house proper was built in 1857. The present commodious school building, which accommo- dates three schools, was erected in 1869. The maximum school term of Auburn is eight and one-half months.
Auburn Lodge, No. 543, Independent Order of Odd Fellows was organized in 1858. The following are the names of the charter members: Gideon L. Ebling, Jared Wilson, George Worcester, Jacob Kreamer, Benjamin Kreamer, Jacob Runkle, Daniel Koch, Jonas Fredici and Daniel F. Moyer. Jacob Runkle was the first noble grand; Jared Wilson the first vice-grand. The present
35I
AUBURN BOROUGH-TREMONT TOWNSHIP-KALMIA COLLIERY.
officers (1881) are: Jackson Kreamer, N. G .; Charles Kreamer, V. G .; Adam Barrel, secretary; Charles E. Quail, treasurer.
In 1845 a Bethel meeting house was built by a then recently perfected religious organization, called the Church of God. For ten years or more Auburn was the locality of evangelical efforts, spasmodically made, it is said, bythe denomination mentioned, and the Evangelical Lutheran and German Reformed adherents. The two lat- ter churches were organized in due time and in 1859 erect- ed a union church, which they have since jointly occupied.
A Sunday-school was organized in 1859, with 45 pupils and a library of 100 volumes. Mr. Hoffmeister was the first superintendent. The school numbers at present more than 90 members.
The first burgess, elected in 1857, was Augustus Schultz. Jacob Kamer, A. R. Moyer, Daniel Moyer, Garrett Wilson, Daniel Koch and George Worcester were the first councilmen. The present (1881) burgess is C. E. Quail. The councilmen are James Rausch, William Mengel, Bennewell Long, Reuben Hains, S. K. Moyer and Adam Barrel.
TREMONT TOWNSHIP.
REMONT, lying in the west end of Schuylkill county, was formed in 1847, from Pine Grove township. It derives its name from the French words tres (three) and mont (moun- tain). It is bounded on the west by Dau- phin county, and is about twelve miles long and 37/2 miles in breadth. The surface is broken into mountain spurs and ravines, making it one of the most romantic sections in the county. There is very little arable land, the late census enumerator reporting only one farm. The mountains are covered with pine timber and laurel bushes.
Some of the best veins of anthracite coal in the region are found in Tremont; the coal mined within its borders commands an extra price, being superior for domestic purposes.
From the number of arrow-heads found in this vicinity it is concluded that it formed a favorite Indian hunting ground.
Settlement began in 1816 or 1817 by Henry Zimmer- man. The Hipples, Pinckertons, Clarks and Mellons were among the first settlers. Mr. Mellon was the first hotel keeper. There is not now a licensed hotel or saloon in the township, and no liquor is sold. Dr. Speck was the first physician. The first minister of the gospel who resided here was Rev. T.A. Fernsby. He built the Method- ist Episcopal church in 1847. The first resident attor- ney was C. D. Hipple, under whom Colonel Pinckerton studied. Among the early justices were Esquires Wolff and Bechtel.
The first road in the township was the old Sunbury road, which ran from Reading to Sunbury, passing through Lorberry and Joliet. It was constructed in the latter part of the last century. Joseph Bunderstein is believed to have been the first white man buried in the township; his remains lie in the Methodist Episcopal cemetery.
The organization of Tremont school district dates back to the formation of the township in 1847. The first
board of school directors was organized in February, 1848. Levi Pinckerton was chosen president, Dr. Frederick Speck secretary and John Barndt treasurer. The other members of the board were T. H. Godfrey, Thomas Baily and Henry Eckle. The first teachers em- ployed were E. H. Kent, Mr. Bennet and Samuel Warren. The present school directors are D. A. Work- man, C. Schreffler, John Cowley, William Murphy, John Badtdorff and Henry Culbert. The present teachers are George Gage, Israel Faust, Yoder, Hibschman and C. D. Arters; salary $60 per month and term ten months.
The population of the township was in 1850, 1, 191; in 1860, 1,944; in 1870, after the erection of Tremont borough, 754; in 1880, 1,001, a majority of whom are Pennsylvania Dutch. There are few persons in the dis- trict that cannot speak either German or Dutch, even the children of Welsh and Irish parentage speaking the lan- guage of the majority as fluently as their mother tongue.
COLLIERIES.
Kalmia is one of the prettiest little coal towns in the anthracite regions. Good judges have pronounced the scenery here the finest in Pennsylvania.
Kalmia Colliery was opened in 1869, by John Phillips and William H. Sheafer, the firm being known as Phillips & Sheafer. Thomas H. Phillips has been superintendent ever since the opening of the colliery. He is a civil engineer and a graduate of the Polytechnic school. Captain Alex- ander B. Frazer is inside foreman and Edward Hum- phreys outside foreman. There are employed on the outside 40 men and boys, and 168 men and boys inside. There are 5 engines (110 horse power), 2 mine locomo- tives and 21 mules. There are 30 dwelling houses, with a population of about 200, and one large company store.
The big and little Lykens Valley veins are worked by this colliery, and the coal is a superior article and com- mands a good price and ready sale. The capacity of the breaker is 150,000 tons per year; present production 85 cars per day, or 10,000 tons per month. Owing to "faults" encountered lately the shipment is somewhat
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HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
curtailed at present, but the operators expect to soon run it up to the old figure, 125 cars per day. This colliery was opened by a water-level tunnel started in red shale and driven under its measures. The vein was struck at 176 yards. The gangways of this colliery are the longest
those under his management. The inside foreman, Isaac Price, a native of Wales, came to this county when young, worked in the mines in Dauphin county for some time, and was employed about two years ago to superintend the inside working of this colliery. The outside foreman in Schuylkill county. It is five miles from the face of is Edward C. Neale; he is a native of the township; has the east to that of the west gangway under ground.
Lincoln Colliery, near the center of Tremont township, was opened in 1869, by Levi Miller & Co. Lincoln village has a population of not quite 200, a majority of whom are Pennsylvania Dutch. There is a public school, open ten months in the year, and on Sunday religious services are held, the Rev. A. J. Amthor officiating. D. J. Lewis has been for a number of years outside superin- tendent for the colliery. The inside foreman is T. J. Davis, a man competent in every way to fill his position. There are employed at this colliery, inside, 260 men and 12 boys, and outside 57 men and 100 boys. There are 9 engines (410 horse power), 4 steam pumps, and 25 com- pany houses. The Lykens Valley veins are worked here. and the coal mined is of a superior quality: it is used principally for domestic purposes, and commands from 25 to 50 cents a ton more than that mined in the neigh- borhood of Pottsville. The capacity of the breaker is about 300,000 tons a year, say 1,000 tons or 200 cars per day.
Lower Rausch Creek Colliery was opened in 1858, by Miller, Graeff & Co. The village of the same name has a population of about 250, mostly Pennsylvania Dutch. The people at the colliery enjoy about all the advantages that any similar number of people do anywhere in the coal re- gions. They have a public school open ten months in the year; on Sunday the building is opened for Sunday-schools and other religious exercises. The outside or general superintendent at the colliery is D. J. Lewis, the same man who superintends at the Lincoln colliery. Mr. Lewis is a native of the township, and has always been con- nected with the collieries of this region in some capacity. He is a man eminently qualified to fill this position, and no collieries in the coal region are more successful than
been employed about the mines for a number of years, and is considered to-day one of the best outside foremen in the county. They are employed inside 150 men and 17 boys; outside, 49 men and 69 boys. There are 40 company houses, 8 engines (410 horse power), 3 large steam pumps and 4 18-inch pole pumps. The capacity of the breaker is 140 cars (700 tons) per day, or about 225,000 tons per year. The present shipment is 500 tons per day. The same veins are worked here as at Lincoln, furnishing coal of the same excellent quality. The men employed at this and Lincoln colliery have not missed their regular pay day for a number of years, and are a happy and contented people. The slope at the Rausch Creek colliery is about 1,800 yards long, or perhaps the longest slope in the county. On account of the depth of this mine there is some carburetted hydrogen gas in it, and serious accidents have occurred; but of late the mine owners have had an improved ventilating fan erected, and no very serious accidents have happened since. Wil- liam Morgan was fatally burned by an explosion in Sep- tember, 1880.
The Lorberry Colliery was opened about 1835, by Oli- ver & Stees, and furnished the first mining of any im- portance in the township. It has been exhausted for a number of years; but the present village of Lorberry contains about 200 inhabitants, who find employment at Lincoln and Rausch Creek collieries. They have a pub- lic school, open ten months in the year, and the building is also used for Sunday-school and religious exercises.
Lorberry Junction, in the extreme eastern part of the township, is a flourishing little village. There are small coal workings here, owned by Frank & Son. About a year ago an accident occurred, by which three men lost their lives.
TREMONT BOROUGH.
O buildings of any consequence were erected at Tremont until 1844. In 1848 the first post-office was established, with John B. Zei- bach postmaster. The borough was incor- porated in 1866. In the immediate neighbor- hood extensive mining interests are located, which require the use of steam engines, mining pumps, coal breakers, and various kinds of complicated machinery. These wants are fully provided for by the extensive establishments of Adam Ferg, proprietor of the | of Tremont according to the late census is 1,873.
Donaldson Iron Works, and Calvin Brower, proprietor of the Tremont Iron Foundry and Machine Shops. These establishments are under the management of thoroughly reliable and practical gentlemen.
Tremont is well provided with stores of different kinds, and has excellent hotel accommodations. The place supports two newspapers, the Tremont News, edited and published by U. G. Badtdorf, and the West Schuylkill Press, Hon. S. C. Kirk editor and proprietor. Mr. Kirk is a member of the present Legislature. The population.
353
TREMONT SECRET SOCIETIES-FIRE DEPARTMENT.
There are six churches in the borough; one Methodist Episcopal, one German and one English Lutheran, one Evangelical, one Roman Catholic, and one German Re- formed.
Laur, sen., Jacob Laur, jr., George Laur, Christian Sapper, John Worm, Christ. Laur, Frederick Boltz, Zachariah Badtdorf. The first officers were: Martin There are six schools in the borough, all held in one building. The building is large and commodious, built of brick, at a cost of about $15,000. Kopp, O. B .; C. Kopp, U. B .; Jacob Laur, jr., first sec- retary; C. Laur, second secretary; D. Kopp, treasurer. The present officers are: M. Martin, O. B .; G. Peaser, U. B ; Peter Enters, first secretary; Frederick Sins- The present teachers are: High school, William M. midiger, second secretary; A. Wentz, treasurer. The Leaman; grammar school, T. B. Williams; No. 3, Mr. lodge meets in Odd Fellows' Hall.
Miller; No. 4, Miss E. Kupp; No. 5, Miss C. Gage; No. 6, Miss Glanding. The board of directors consists of The Tremont H. R. A. Chapter meets on Monday evening after each full moon in Odd Fellows' Hall. The Messrs. Stoffler, Koser, Badtdorff, Huntzinger, Fulmer, present officers are: Benjamin Kauffman, M. E. H. P .;
and Beadle.
LODGES AND SOCIETIES.
Tremont Lodge, No. 245, I. O. O. F. was organized in May, 1847. The first officers were: Samuel Wagonsel- ler, N. G .; T. A. Godfrey, V. G .; John P. Bause, secre- tary; David W. Dunbach, assistant secretary; Thomas P. Parvin, treasurer. The present officers are: George Au- chenbach, N. G .; Lewis Heil, V. G .; George Beadle, secretary; A. C. Miller, assistant secretary; D. B. Alt- house, treasurer. The society meets every Friday even- ing. There are I11 members in good standing. The society owns a large hall, which has recently been reno- vated and newly furnished.
Tremont Union Encampment of Patriarchs, No. 167, meets in the same hall on the first and third Tuesday evenings in each month. It was organized in May, 1868. officer of the guard; Abram Lehr, Q. M. S .; C. F. Och- The present officers are: Valentine Linn, H. R .; Harry Crooks, C. P .; J. Haerter, S. W .; G. Derr, J. W .; G. Tracey, scribe; George Krise, treasurer.
Swatara Lodge, No. 267, F. and A. M. was organized January 24th, 1853. The charter members were: T. A. Godfrey, W. M .; J. B. McCreary, S. W .; John Barndt, J. W .; William Bickle, treasurer; Aaron Eckle, secretary; Washington Bigler, brother of ex-Governor Bigler, S. D., Fred. Westheimer, J. D.
The present officers are: James W. Ziebach, W. M .; G. D. Anderson, S. W .; Calvin W. Brower, J. W .; Dan- iel B. Althouse, treasurer; Lewis Heil, secretary; Isaac D. Lehman, Joseph Enzensperger and Thomas H. Phil- lips, trustees.
The communications of the lodge are held on Monday evening on or before each full moon, in Odd Fellows' Hall.
W. C. No. 76 P. O. S. of A. was organized in March, 1867. It meets every Thursday evening in Odd Fellows' Hall. The present officers are: J. Enters, P. R .; Samuel Freeman, P .; Morris Lehman, V. P. E .; J. M. Kauffman, M. J. F. C .; W. N. Lehman, R. S .; A. L. Etien, A. R. S .; G. H. Miller, F. S .; T. F. Badtdorf, treasurer; R. D. Brower, Con .; C. F. Bensinger, G .; J. W. Dull, O. G .;
P. Kopp, R. S .; D. Engle, L. Sen .; James Hand, G. S. |Legislature of 1872, is a resident of the town, and has Gage and F. B. Williams, trustees.
Harugari Lodge No. 29 was organized in April, 1851. It convenes on the first and third Wednesdays in each month. The following were the charter members: C. Kopp, Philip Kopp, Martin Kopp, Daniel Kopp, Jacob
Jonathan Reinoehl, king; George D. Anderson, scribe; D. B. Althouse, treasurer; L. W. Heil, secretary.
Tremont Lodge, No. 128, K. P. meets in Union Hall on Monday evening of each week. It was organized in February, 1869. The following are the officers: P. C., Josiah Brown; C. C., John Pump; V. C., George Zim- merman; P., Samuel C. Kirk; M. of E. & H., S. C. Crooks; M. of F. G., M. Beadle; K. of R. & S., Dominie Moyer.
Williams Post, No. 136, G. A. R. was organized June roth, 1868. It meets on each Saturday evening in Odd Fellows' Hall. The officers at present are: W. V. Leaman, P. C .; John Seifert, S. V. C .; F. C. Schum- bacher, J. V. C .; Isaac E. Marks, chaplain; Anthony Fisher, surgeon; Jacob R. Haerter, Q. M .; John Marks, adjutant; Gabriel Derr, officer of the day; Daniel Maul,
ner, S. M .; John Lehr, J. S .; A. M. Shuey, O. S .; Lieu- tenant Williams, John Clary, Christ. Beidle, Frederick Boltz, Christ. Laur, Frank Lehman, Joseph Watts, Con- rad Bortelle, Manus Conrad, and several others from Tremont, lost their lives in the civil war.
FIRE ORGANIZATION.
In August, 1878, a fire occurred in the eastern part of the town, among the stores and business places. At that time the town had no fire department, and it was not ex- tinguished until it had destroyed about half a square. The loss was estimated at $100,000. The citizens then awoke to the importance of organizing a fire company. The borough fathers purchased a fine Silsby fire engine, at a cost of nearly $4,000, and erected a suitable building to keep it in, and a hall room for the company to meet in. The whole cost of building and engine was $7,000; and to-day there is not a town in the county that has a better engine building. The company's room is fitted up with the best of modern furniture, and the floor is cover- ed with Brussels carpet.
PROMINENT CITIZENS.
The Hon. Benjamin Kauffman, a member of the State during his whole life been prominently identified with the business interests of this county. He was born in Llewellyn, a little post town 8 miles east of Tremont. He was at one time part owner of the Brookside colliery, one of the largest in the coal region.
55
354
HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
D. B. Althouse, once county commissioner, and forty years a resident of this town, was born in Berks county. He did, perhaps, as much as any other citizen of this place to develop the coal interest of the west end of the county, and was at one time engaged in the mining of anthracite coal. He is now a retired gentleman.
Joseph Enzensperger, a native of Germany, was one of the pioneers of this town. He is now engaged in the hotel business. Some fifteen years ago he was burned out by a fire that laid waste a part of the town, but on the site of the old building he erected a substantial three-story brick structure.
The Hon. S. C. Kirk, a member of the present Legis- lature, was born in Perry county in this State, but has resided in Tremont nearly all his life. He commenced as a public school teacher, and for a number of years taught the West End Normal school. He is now editor of the West Schuylkill Press.
Zach. Badtdorff, one of the pioneers of this town, is the owner of perhaps more property in the town than any other single individual, and has done much to de- velop the interest of the place.
The late Henry Heil perhaps did more to make Tre- mont what it is than any other single individual in it. He was a coal operator, and for a number of years owned what is now known as East Franklin. He had amassed quite a large fortune during the war, and had he retired then would have done so with $1,000,000; but, like many others, he remained in the business too long,
and, unfortunately for himself and the whole community, he lost the greater part of his estate. His name will long be remembered by the people of Tremont, especially the poor people, for he was liberal to a fault.
Eugene Bechtel, a native of Lancaster county, and an early resident of this place, has been prominently identi- fied with the business interests not only of this town but the west end of the county.
Esquires Beadle and Ziebach are among the prominent young scriveners and justices in the borough of Tremont.
Adam Ferg, a native of Germany, has long lived in Tremont, and has been prominently identified with the business interests of the community, and by his enter- prise and thrift has placed himself in comfortable cir- cumstances.
The Lehman, Marks, Imschweiler, Savage, Streicher, Murphy, Glanding, Brower, Core and Baily families have long been engaged in business in this place, and have contributed not a little to the prosperity of the borough.
There are three physicians located in the town, Drs. Koser, Lehr and Rutgers.
There are three lawyers who have offices here; their names are Setzer, Moyer and Mortimer, and each of these has quite a lucrative practice.
The present borough councilmen are Edward Dechant, Samuel Freeman, John Hand, John Imschweiler, William Leininger and Frederick Beiser. Jacob Haerter is the chief burgess, and John Umanitz high constable.
UNION TOWNSHIP.
'N what is now Union township Frederick Labenberg is believed to have been the first settler. He built a log house and cleared a piece of land during the first years of the present century, and in 1810 disposed of it to Benjamin Trexler. Daniel Lindermuth cleared the farm where George D. Lindermuth now resides. John Eisenhauer settled on the farm now owned by D. M. Nesbitt, and John Fruhr settled where John Hazel- tine now resides. The above named settlements were contemporaneous with Trexler's.
There are traces of Indian occupancy, and the early settlers claimed that a deserted encampment was found near the Philip Derr place.
Henry Gilbert, to whom the historian is indebted for many of these facts, was present at the first court held in this county, in 1811, his father being one of the jurors drawn in the first grand inquest.
old turnpike from Reading to Catawissa, and the first town meeting for the township of Rush was held at what is now Brandonville, at the house of John Bidler in October, 1811.
The building first used for church purposes was the old Thomas Gootschall house, built as early as 1810.
Andrew Foster was the first physician of Union, and he died in 1863. The first merchant was John Everett, who had a small grocery near Enoch Monbeck's place about 1820. John Fertig and a man named Wentz were also pioneer merchants.
Daniel Butler was the first magistrate, and his succes- sor was the merchant John Everett; the third justice appointed by the governor being Jacob Zimmerman, in 1825, who served until his death in 1845.
Thomas Beddler was elected justice in 1843; Peter Horn in 1846; John A. Kehler in 1850 ; P. M. Barrow in 1856, David Davis in 1861; D. L. Stauffer (still an in- cumbent) in 1864, and James K. Rice in 1874.
The first grain was raised by Labenberg, and the first The first orchard in the old town is believed to have log house built by him. The first traveled road was the been planted by a man named Crawford, who settled on
355
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES OF UNION TOWNSHIP-RINGTOWN.
the Boyd Dresher farm about 1811. The pioneer, Fred Labenberg, was also the first innkeeper, and the first merchant, Everett, is also reported to have kept open doors to the traveling public.
Mails were first carried here by Thomas Thomas, once a week. Old John Eisenhauer kept the first post-office, at the place now owned by D. M. Nesbitt. It was then known as " Catawissa Valley."
A mad wolf was shot on the farm of Thomas Lorah in 1835, after having fatally bitten a number of cattle, hogs and dogs.
The territory now comprising North and East Union townships was, until 1818, a part of Rush township; and at that time was erected into the township of Union, to- gether with a tract set off from Columbia and Luzerne counties, which now comprises the greater portion of North Union. Union township had 487 inhabitants in 1830, 904 in 1840, 1,064 in 1850, 1,849 in 1860, 1,110 in 1870 and 1,290 in 1880.
CEMETERIES.
The earliest burying-ground was in connection with the Union church, and the first person interred in it was Jacob Eisenhauer, who died May 9th, 1815, aged two years, eleven months and twenty-six days. The first adult to whose memory a stone is erected was Daniel Kolb, who died January 5th, 1818. In this cemetery are stones erected to the memory of the following soldiers of 1812: Jacob Laudig, died July 17th, 1863, aged 77 years; Benjamin Sautzer, died November 29th, 1863, aged 71 years; William Dombuch, died October 5th, 1847, aged 69 years; Charles Bitting and Frederick Labenberg. The oldest person whose death is recorded on the burial tab- lets of this country church yard was Barnard Eisenhuth, aged one hundred and eleven years.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The first school-house was built about 1820. It was a log building, standing near where the Union church now stands, and its first teacher was a man named Sahm. The first election of school directors under the new law was in 1852; but the opposition succeeded in choosing men opposed to any change. This farce was annually repeated, until, in 1859, an appeal to the courts caused the appointment of William M. Davis, Jacob Seltzer, D. M. Stauffer, Dr. Andrew Foster, Henry Van Duzen, and Samuel M. Miller (the last of whom resigned and was replaced by Michael M. Kestler), with instructions to ex- haust all the resources of the law in its fulfillment, if necessary. The struggle by which the stolid Dutchmen had the blessing of free schools thrust upon them is narrated on page 94. An interest was finally awakened, which re- sulted in the erection of as fine a series of brick buildings as can be found in any rural township in the county, and the establishment of a central high school that affords more extended educational advantages than are usually found in agricultural townships in this State. The schools numbered seven in 1880, with five buildings, costing about $1,300 each, and the Ringtown high school.
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