USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pa. with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 86
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INDUSTRIES.
The principal employing interest here, aside from the
375
VILLAGES AND CHURCHES IN GILBERTON BOROUGH.
colliery companies, is the railway, and the writer is in- debted to George Rahn, clerk for the resident engineer of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, for the fol- lowing information: The number of men employed on Mahanoy Plane, shops and road, is two hundred; and on roadway department, seventy-five. The resident engin- eers and superintendents at this point have been George B. Roberts, Charles E. Byers, T. Guilford Smith, L. B. Paxson, Joseph Byers, J. H. Olhausen, the present super- intendent, and J. E. Umstead, the present engineer.
The first postmaster here was J. H. Olhausen. P. P. D. Kirlin has been postmaster since 1873.
The Merchants' Hotel was erected in 1876, and it is kept by James R. Deegan. Mr. E. L. Seaman keeps the Valley House. Maurer & Co. are merchants, and P. P. D. Kirlin is a druggist.
MAIZEVILLE.
Maizeville was named after one of the founders of the Stanton colliery, but is known among the profane of the valley as "the Flour Barrel," f:on the fact that one of its earliest buildings had that useful article for a chim- ney. It is a neat street of substantial looking buildings, occupied principally by miners' families, several hotels, and one or two small stores. It is a flag station on the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, and the center of the middle ward of Gilberton borough.
GILBERTON.
Gilberton, a neat and thriving village of well built houses, owes its origin to the establishment here of the Gilberton and Draper coileries. It constitutes the east ward of the borough, and contained in 1880 several hotels, a store and post-office, a fine public school build- ing, and a small Methodist Episcopal chapel.
CHURCHES OF GILBERTON BOROUGH.
M. E. Church of Mahanoy Plane .- Previous to 1868 there had been an English and Welsh union Sabbath- school organized, in which both languages were used. It met regularly in a room over the store of N. Lytte. There were also occasional services held in private houses by Rev. John A. Dixon, of the Central Pennsylvania Con- ference, then stationed at Centralia, Pa. In the Spring of 1868 the old school-house which stood in the rear of year, and they by Rev. H. H. Davis, the founder of the the present church building was secured, and a Sabbath- church. In 1877 Rev. J. Rasterfield, of Shenandoah, preached. Rev. Stephen Thomoff, a native of Bulgaria, vas pastor in 1878, when Gilberton was again joined to Mahanoy Plane. The circuit was served until the con- ference of 1879 by Rev. Cornelius Hudson, succeeded by J. W. Bradley, and in March, 1880, by the present in- cumbent, Rev. W. Wisegarver. school was organized, under the superintendency of Charles Hammer, a Methodist from Shamokin. About the same time two local preachers from Gilberton, John Murray and Jacob Pillinger, were engaged to preach al- ternately here. In the summer of 1869 Rev. John A. Borland, of Harrisburg, was appointed to preach as a supply. In March, 1870, the societies of Gilberton and Mahanoy Plane were made a circuit, with Rev. Thomas Harrison pastor.
The pastors and their terms of service have been: John A. Borland, six months; Thomas Harrison, 1870, 1871; A. L. Urban, 1872; J. W. Bradley, 1873, 1874; H. T.
Quigg, 1875, 1876; George W. North, 1877; C. Hudson, 1878; J. W. Bradley, 1879; W. W. Wisegarver, 1880.
The first class was organized by Rev. Thomas Harri- son, May 15th, 1870. The following persons at that time composed the society: William and Harriet Cope, Har- riet Davidson, Annie Edwards, Mary L. Irish, Susanna Smith and Tillie J. Thickens. Charles Hammer was the first leader of the society, and William Cope the first class leader and Sunday-school superintendent.
During 1873 a framed building was erected on lands of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company, and called a union church. The cost was about $1,800. It has never been dedicated, aud it is subject to removal at sixty days notice, and its location is in many respects not desirable. This society has been the only one to occupy it regularly. The Sunday-school now numbers over one hundred members, and the church twenty-five, with a congregation of about one hundred persons.
St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church at Mahanoy Plane. -This church, a substantial edifice, was erected in 1874, by the efforts of Rev. Daniel O'Connor, who had suc- ceeded in organizing a society here. He was called to Girardville in 1877, and Rev. Father Laughran was sent to this field. Under his labors the editice has been com- pleted, debts paid, and the cause of the church greatly strengthened.
Gilberton M. E. Church .- Previous to the organization of a class the various denominations in Gilberton held union services and Sabbath-school. The change from union to denominational services was made early in the summer of 1865. The place of meeting was in one of the company's houses, south of the stone house of Jay Williams, which was recently torn down and removed. Rev. H. H. Davis, then pastor of the Mahanoy City church, was the first Methodist itinerant that preached regularly at Gilberton, and he organized the society. Rev. John A. Borland was the supply here as well as at Mahanoy Plane in 1869, and Rev. Thomas Harrison the first pastor. A church building which had been com- menced was completed during Mr. Harrison's pastorate, which covered a period of two years. During this time Mahanoy Plane was added to the charge. In 1872 these places were separated, and Rev. Eli Pickersgill was the pastor at Gilberton for a year, succeeded by Revs. J. W. Knapp, Richard Morley and John Raymond, each one
The first class leader was David Lewis, who, with the following persons, formed the society: Jacob and Han- nah Pillenger, Samuel and Anna Bryant, John Murray, Caleb Harrington, Edward and Ann Griffith, Hannah Singleton, Selina Googe, Ambrose Bowen and wife, John Partridge, Joseph H. Hoskins, William Hemenway and
376
HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
Henry Jones. John Murray was the first Sunday-school superintendent. The school at that time numbered sev- enty scholars, and now it numbers more than one hundred.
There are fifty members and thirteen probationers in the church. The church was dedicated during the sum- mer of 1870. It cost about $2,500, and repairs and re- furnishing a few years later cost $500 more. The church is on the main street and is a neat and comfortable build- ing. It is on ground leased from P. W. Sheaffer, of Potts- ville.
MINING INTERESTS.
Bear Ridge Collieries .- The Bear Ridge collieries, Nos. 1 and 2, near Mahanoy Plane, are owned by Myers, Mc- Creary & Co. No. I was opened in 1865 by Morris, Robinson & Co., who controlled it until 1870, when they disposed of it to the Bear Ridge Coal Company, who had charge until 1879, when they sold to the present owners. No. 2 was opened in 1874 by the Bear Ridge Coal Com- pany. Previous to the opening by this company the tun- nel had been driven by Stephen Girard 122 yards, and nothing more was done until 1873, when the Bear Ridge Coal Company drove it 80 yards farther, and struck the Mammoth vein, which is still worked. There are em- ployed at No. I, on the outside 33 men and 65 boys; on the inside 75 men and 5 boys. At No. 2 there are em- ployed on the outside 25 men and boys; on the inside 85 men and 6 boys. Connected with No. I colliery are sev- en engines, varying in strength from 30 to 150 horse power; and connected with No. 2 six engines, varying from 30 to 40 horse power. Besides these there is one 6-ton locomotive engine connected with the works. They have also sixty tenement houses. At present they are working the Mammoth vein. The average daily produe- tion is from 800 to 1,000 tons. The coal from these mines is worked to such a quality that about two-thirds of it is sold in Philadelphia, or along the line before it reaches there, and one-third is shipped across to Port Richmond.
Stanton Colliery .- This colliery, located near Maize- ville, was opened in 1870, by Miller, Hoch & Co., who have continuously operated it until the present time. Eighty men and 40 boys are employed on the outside, and 50 men and 12 boys on the inside. Connected with the works are 4 engines of 90 horse power, one of 40, one of 20, and one of 12. They are working the Mam- moth vein. The breaker has a capacity of 120 ears daily. The average daily production is 80 cars. The coal of this mine is hard white ash. The product is principally sold in the city and on the line of the railroad for domestic use. There are two slopes connected with the colliery, which are sunk to the depth of 750 feet on the second lift.
Lawrence Colliery was opened in 1868 by Lawrence, Merkle & Co., of Minersville. It is on the north slope of the Broad mountain, at Mahanoy Plane. The breaker, with a capacity of 750 tons daily, was built when the slope was opened. The average shipments of coal are five hundred tons per day. The workings extend one and one fourth miles from the foot of a slope three hun-
dred and thirty yards deep. One hundred and seventy- eight men and boys are employed outside, and one hun- dred and forty-eight inside. The vein worked is the Mammoth. Ten steam engines, with an aggregate of six hundred and ninety-seven horse power, are in use, and there are five tenement houses owned by the firm. Law- renee, Merkle & Co. have operated the colliery since its establishment.
The Draper Colliery .- The works now known by this name were opened in 1863, by a man named Smith, who worked a drift for some time, and disposed of his interest to the Mammoth Vein Consolidated Coal Company, who sunk the first slope in 1869, to a depth of 400 feet. Soon afterward this corporation was reorganized as the Hick- ory Coal Company, with J. W. Draper as president, and the colliery took his name. The present breaker, with a capacity of 600 tons daily, was built by this company, which continued to operate until its failure, in 1876, when it passed into the hands of trustees, and has since become the property of Oliver Ditson and H. L. Williams, the present operators. The present workings extend to a vertical depth of 668 feet on the Mammoth and Prim- rose veins. The number of men and boys employed is 209, of which 40 are miners, 165 laborers, and 4 clerks and bosses. The number of engines is IT, with an aggregate of 641 horse power. The company has 86 tenement houses.
The Gilberton Colliery was opened by Kendrick & Ty- son, in 1862, and a small breaker was built, from which coal was shipped in 1863. In the spring of 1864 the Gilberton Coal Company was organized, with James Stur- gis as president. The company succeeded Kendrick & Tyson, and continued to operate the colliery until its failure, when it was taken in charge by trustees, and in March, 1879, became the property of its present owners -the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. At this time the colliery is not producing, the vein being exhausted; but tunnels are being driven to new veins, and ere long it will again become a productive property. When at work the colliery employs two hundred men and boys. The new breaker, built by the Gilberton com- pany in 1872, has a capacity of six hundred tons, and produced an average of four hundred daily. The hoist- ing engines are two in number, of 90 horse power each; the breaker engine 50, and four pump engines have each a capacity of 150 horse power. Ventilation is produced by natural means. Two quite serions accidents have oc- curred here; one in which two miners, while taking down timbers, were killed by the truck running off the carriage, and one in which inside foreman Edward R. Brickens, and Captain John Williams, a miner, were fatally burned by an explosion of fire damp. There are thirty-eight blocks of double tenement houses on the property.
The Dutter Colliery was opened for the purpose of working the outeropping coal on the Gilberton lease, by John A. Dutter, in 1878. Mr. Dutter came from Tre- mont some years before in the employ of Miller, Hoch & Co., at the Stanton colliery. The Dutter breaker is a short distance south of the village of Gilberton.
377
THE FOUNDING OF SHENANDOAH-INCORPORATION AND OFFICERS.
SHENANDOAH BOROUGH.
the youngest, is the second in population in Schuylkill county. It owes its existence and prosperity entirely to the development and workings of the coal deposits with which it is immediately surrounded. As late as 1862 its site and vicinity were for the most part a wilderness and a favorite hunting ground; deer, bear, and smaller game being comparatively abundant. Instances are re- lated of choppers who carried their dinner with them to the bush having been robbed of it, bucket and all, by bears within plain sight of the victims.
The site of Shenandoah was originally owned by Peter Kehley, who as early as 1835 built a log house near the present Lehigh Valley depot, and, with his family, was for many years the only resident in the vicinity, gaining a sustenance by hunting and cultivating small patches of ground. Several years previous to 1860 he was induced to transfer his title to the land to parties in Philadelphia for a nominal consideration, but continued to occupy it, at an annual rental of a dollar, until his death, when the family removed to other parts.
In the spring of 1862 the purchasers of Mr. Kehley's land, then or subsequently known as the Philadelphia been presented to the court of Schuylkill county in Land Company, anticipating the speedy opening of coal September previous. At the first election, held in the mines here, had a town surveyed and plotted by P. W. spring of 1866, the following officers were chosen: Chief Sheaffer, then acting as civil engineer for that company, burgess, Frederick Wright; council-C. J. Heller (presi- who gave to it the name of " Shenandoah City," probably dent, Martin Franey, Thomas Egan, Christian Young, after Shenandoah creek, which runs through the south- and George Quinn; secretary, J. F. Murphy; treasurer, eastern portion of the present borough. Anthony Devitt; solicitor, Charles D. Hipple; high con- The following summer the land company built a two- stable and collector, Michael O'Hara. story frame hotel, on the corner of Main and Center The following have served as chief burgess of the streets, which was opened, under the name the United borough: Thomas Cassedy, 1867; J. P. Hoffman, 1868; States Hotel, in August, 1862, by Seymour Wright, as John Tobin, 1869-71; George G. Jacoby, 1872; Michael manager, with rent free. This was the first frame build- O'Hara, 1873, 1874; J. O'Connor, 1875; William Kim- ing put up in Shenandoah, and it is still used for hotel mel, 1876, 1877; M. J. Whalen, 1878; Joseph Boehm, purposes, though having undergone some changes since ' 1879, 1880; Daniel P. Williams, 1881.
In September, 1874, the borough was divided into two
its first erection. The same year James Hutton built two dwelling houses, and building was also begun at the election districts, on the line of Main street, and in Sep- Shenandoah City colliery. tember, 1875, it was divided into five wards.
The opening of that colliery. which was begun in 1862, The number of votes polled for chief burgess was 152 in 1867; 612 in 1874 and 1,053 in 1879. The popula- 10,061, composed principally of Pennsylvania Dutch, Irish, Welsh, Polanders, English and Germans. brought to this place many of the first settlers. Seymour Wright, Jacob O. Roads, James Hutton, Christian Young, tion of the borough in 1870 was 2,951, and in June, 1880, John Houzer and perhaps a few others came here in 1862. Seymour Wright was a native of the State of New York, and came here from Columbia county, Pa. He COLLIERIES. was manager of the United States hotel about three years, station agent as long, and then returned to Colum- bia county, where he died.
Jacob O. Roads is a native of Berks county. He was the first business man here, and has been prominently identified with the leading business interests of the place from it birth to the present.
Bartholomew Dillmann, Richard Harrington, Jonathan
Wasley, Daniel Ellis, Jacob Dimler, Jonathan Ellis and HE borough of Shenandoah, though one of |Peter Ward were among the first to settle here in the spring of 1863, most of whom are still residents of the place. From this date the population rapidly increased. In connection with Shenandoah City colliery a steam saw-mill, blacksmith shop, carpenter shop, &c., were built and operated by Miller, Roads, & Co., which sup- plied the first necessities of the place in those branches of business. The same firm also brought in the first stock of merchandise, which they sold in the basement of the United States Hotel. They subsequently put up and occupied the first store building, on Main street, below Cherry street. Christian Young built and opened the first eating house and saloon in the fall of 1863, on the site of the Shenandoah Valley House. William C. Kennedy opened the first drug store in 1864, and Dr. W. S. Beach was the first physician to locate here, coming in 1864, followed a year or two liter by Dr. George L. Regan.
INCORPORATION AND CIVIL HISTORY.
Shenandoah was incorporated as a borough on the 16th of January, 1866, a petition setting forth its boun- daries and signed by one hundred freeholders having
Shenandoah City Colliery .- This was the first colliery opened in the vicinity of Shenandoah. It is located on the William Jones tract of the Mammoth vein, in the southern part of the borough, and was opened by August C. Miller, of Philadelphia, Michael F. Maize, of Potts- ville, and Jacob O. Roads, under the firm name of A. C. Miller & Co. The opening of the mine and construc-
378
HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
tion of the necessary buildings and machinery were under the personal supervision of Jacob O. Roads, who began work in 1862. The breakers and buildings, in- cluding forty seven tenant houses and a large boarding house, were completed in 1863. The first shipment of coal was made in February, 1864. upon the completion of the Shenandoah branch of the Mahanoy and Broad William Horn is superintendent outside and John Bradi- Mountain Railroad to this place. The design of the gan inside. Some 300 men and boys are employed, and
double breaker was executed by Henry Strauch, architect, and it consumed about 700,000 feet of lumber in its con- struction, having a capacity of 1.000 tons of coal daily. Jonathan Wasley was superintendent several years. This colliery was operated by A. C. Miller & Co., who em- ployed about 300 men and boys, until the spring of 1878, when, their lease having expired, it passed into the hands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, the present operators. The present superin- tendants are Joseph Keim, outside, and Frederick Carl, inside. There are 100 men and boys employed outside and 148 inside. Six engines are now in use, aggregating 266 horse power. The main entrance to the mine is on an angle of 60 degrees. The present daily production is about 300 tons.
Turkey Run Colliery, near the southwest border of Shenandoah, was opemed in 1869, by D. B. Haas, Wil liam Brennizer and G. W. Johnson, under the firm name of Haas, Brenizer & Co., Mr. Johnson having the gen- eral supervision. It was operated by this company until 1879, when it was transferred to the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, the present operators. It consists of one horizontal tunnel, 154 yards long; the east slope, on an angle of about 10°, and 250 yards long; and the west slope, of 25°, and 150 yards long, opening the Mammoth and Seven-feet veins. There are eight stationary engines, aggregating 380 horse power, and one locomotive now in use. The capacity of the breaker is 675 tons, with an average daily production of 475 tons of coal, employing 380 men and boys. The foremen are William Shaw, outside, and Frederick Reese, inside.
West Shenandoah Colliery consists of two slopes, sunk on the Buck Mountain and Mammoth veins, the old slope extending 250 yards from the opening in three lifts. This colliery was first opened in 1869, by M. F. Maize and W. H. Lewis, under the personal supervision of the latter. It was worked by them until 1878, when it was transferred to the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. It has one breaker, with a capacity of about 500 tons, which is now worked to nearly its full capacity. There are 9 engines, equaling 455 horse power. There are about 160 men and boys employed inside, with David Morgon as foreman, and 100 outside, with A. D. Gable as foreman.
Indian Ridge Colliery .- This colliery was opened in 1870, by William Kendrick & Co, the firm consisting of William Kendrick, John J. Dovey and David Davis, who operated it until 1873, then sold their interest to the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, which still controls it. It consists of a shaft sunk on the Mammoth vein and one breaker, with a capacity of 750
tons. Two engines, of 90 horse power each, are used for hoisting purposes. Two engines, located inside, of 133 horse power each, are used for pumping, and are capable of raising 79,200 gallons of water three hundred feet high per hour. William A. Delcamp is engineer of the pump- ling engines and J. H. Roxby of the hoisting engines.
about 540 tons produced daily.
Kehley Run Colliery is situated on the north borough line of Shenandoah, on the south dip of the Mammoth vein. The openings consist of two slopes. The old slope is sunk about 130 yards on an average dip of 38°, and the new or west slope is sunk about 2to yards from the sur- face. It was first opened in 1864, by Jacob Frill, -- Fisher and J. B. Reber, but has been operated by the Thomas Coal Company since 1867. There are two breakers, with a capacity of 750 tons daily, and eight engines, aggregating 725 horse power. This has been a very successful colliery; it shipped up to January Ist, 1880, 1,047, 153 tons of coal.
On July 28th, 1880, Jonathan Wasley, who had served as superintendent of this colliery since 1867, lost his life in this mine by the effects of poisonous gases while at- tempting to discover the origin of the latter. John Reese and Frederick Willman, who accompanied him, also per- ished from the same cause. On August 9th following the mine was discovered to be on fire, since which all mining operations have been suspended and various means have been instituted to extinguish the fire, but so far (May, 1881) without success.
Plank Ridge Colliery, on the southeastern limits of Shenandoah, consists of a double cage way shaft, sunk on the Mammoth vein, about 30 yards from which two slopes are sunk. It was opened in 1865, by Richard Lee, William Grant and R. F. Lee, and was under the general supervision of William Grant until April 12th, 1873, when he was killed in the mine by a fall of coal. Walter Gibbs, inside foreman, lost his life at the same- time. Soon after the death of Mr. Grant the colliery passed into the hands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, its present managers. It has one breaker, and seven engines, equaling about 325 horse power. Captain J. H. Hoskins is outside foreman and Adam Leckie inside foreman.
Kohinoor Colliery .- This colliery was opened by its present operators, Heckscher & Co., in 1868, and has since been managed by Jacob Glover. The annual re- port of Mine Inspector Hemingray for 1875, in speaking of this mine, says: "It consists of a first-class shaft, opening the Mammoth vein 140 yards under the surface, in 45 feet of coal and nearly in the center of its basin. The mine is worked in three different lifts or panels, by self-acting planes. In connection with this plan a new slope is nearly sunk to the basin on an angle of 10 de- grees dip. This will open another large body of coal, which, as a reserve, can be drawn upon as required; so that the colliery has but few if any in the region to excell it in its details of economy."
379
SHENANDOAH BUSINESS HOUSES-FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Cambridge Colliery is a drift on the Primrose vein. It was opened in 1875 by Jones, Banks & Co. In 1880 it was sold to William R. Jones, Benjamin Thomas and Henry Price, who assumed the name of the Cambridge Coal Company. Mr. Jones has had the management of the colliery from the first. It has one eight-horse power engine, gives employment to fifteen men and boys and produces about 40 tons of coal daily, principally for home consumption.
COLUMBIA HOSE AND STEAM FIRE ENGINE COMPANY.
A preliminary organization of this company was made at the Lloyd street school-house, July 11th, 1870, at which time temporary officers were elected and the con- pany was named "Columbia Hose Company, No. I." A permanent organization occurred at the borough council rooms on August Ist, 1870, when the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: Dr. J. F. Kern, presi- dent; Henry C. Boyer, secretary; J. P. Hoffman, treasurer; Thomas J. Foster, chief director. The borough imme- diately erected a hose-house, which was occupied by the company November 28th, 1870. The company was uni. formed in September, and received its first hose carriage and equipments in December of the same year. This company was legally incorporated, under its present name, July 29th, 1872, and in July, 1873, purchased its first steam fire engine (second hand) for $2,800. In 1874 a two-story brick engine house was built on Jardin street south, which was occupied January 28th, 1875. In De- cember following, an alarm bell, weighing 1,540 pounds and costing $600, was placed in the tower of this building. A new "Button " engine, costing $2,650, was purchased in March, 1878, and christened "Shenandoah," and in Jan- uary, 1880, the former engine was rebuilt, at a cost of over $1,000.
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