USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pa. with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 88
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parts and an excellent memory, he rapidly culled infor- mation from all he came in contact with, and at the time of his death was not only one of the best informed men in the region in his own particular business, but was also well informed on almost every subject of importance. He was thorough and logical in his reasoning, hardly ever expressing an opinion until after conviction, the result of careful deliberation, and his judgment, by his friends and the public generally, was admitted to be excellent.
In 1847, having waited until his brothers were old enough to support the family, in his twenty-second year Mr. Grant left Scotland for Nova Scotia, and from there, after working at Pictou one winter, came to the United States, arriving in Pottsville with but little money in his pocket and without a single friend or acquaintance in the county. He worked at the old Furnace colliery on his arrival in the county, and afterward for G. H. Potts, at the Black mines, the old York Farm place; and on the unfortunate death of Hugh Stevenson, which will be re- membered by many, Mr. Grant succeeded him as inside boss, his intelligence, steadiness and industrious habits having commended him to Mr. Potts as the most suitable man to fill the place. He left Mr. Potts, to superintend for the Dauphin and Susquehanna Company; and although in 1854, under the management of Mr. Grant, the company made $35,000 on a shipment of 35,000 tons, the concern failed and he returned to work for Mr. Potts, and for six or seven weeks wrought with his brother Lewis as a partner, making the best wages in the work, and proving, as he often laughingly remarked and which the men are inclined to doubt, that a boss can do as good a day's work as a workman. But the acknowl- edged ability of Mr. Grant forced him again to the front, and before he had been working two months, George W. Snyder, wanting an inside boss at the Pine Forest colliery, on the recommendation of Mr. Potts, employed him.
Mr. Grant went to Mount Hope in 1855, and remained there until 1863, when he came to the Shenandoah valley. When he took charge of the Pine Forest colliery it was in a dilapidated condition, the shipments having been run down and the place almost ruined by a squeeze. Under his management the place was put in good condi- tion and the shipments increased from year to year, until it became a leading concern and one of the best paying in the county.
In 1864 the firm of Lee, Grant & Patterson was formed and, under a lease from the city of Philadelphia, an open- ing was made at Griscom's, the William Penn colliery; but the present owners also had a lease on the property, and a difficulty occurred, which was settled by the purchase of the lease held by Mr. Grant and his partners for a hand- some bonus. The next year the Plank Ridge lease was secured and operations commenced, the firm consisting of Richard Lee, Mr. Grant and R. F. Lee, under the firm name of Lee, Grant & Co. This colliery Mr. Grant suc- ceeded in making the most productive operation in the county, and while superintending improvements, to still
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HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
At the time of his death he was president of the Shen- andoah Valley Bank, the school board, the Catawissa Valley Agricultural Society and the Citizens' Building and Loan Association, and treasurer of the Shenandoah Water and Gas Company. He was also a member of Ivanhoe Commandery of the Knights Templar; was the first master of Shenandoah Lodge, No. 511, and was greatly interested in the masonic order. He was a charter mem- ber of Shenandoah Lodge, No. 591, I. O. O. F., and a member of Tancred Conclave, No. 19, S. P. K.
He was enterprising and public spirited to a fault, and his means were liberally used in aid of every undertaking that promised to improve the borough. He was a large property owner there, and was building one of the fin st business blocks in town at the time of his death.
As an employer, at the head of the largest work in the neighborhood, he was exceptionally popular, and Plank Ridge under his management was the steadiest work in
the county. Eleven and one-half months per year were generally made, and the business of the borough was consequently greatly assisted. The regularity of the work and the fairness with which the men were treated made it an object to get a job at the place, and no mat- ter how scarce hands were there were always enough and to spare at the Plank Ridge shaft.
Mr. Grant was fond of society, and had many warm friends. He was liberal and charitable, always willing to help those who deserved and needed assistance; and his habit of "looking at all men level," which caused him to be as pleasant and agreeable to the poor and lowly as to the rich and grand, made all love and respect him.
He contributed generously toward religious objects and the support of the church, and was a regular attend- ant at services. Domestic in his tastes, he was a devoted husband and father, and upon his family his loss fell with especial severity.
WEST PENN TOWNSHIP.
EST PENN is the largest township in Schuyl- kill county. It is one of the nine original ones into which Schuylkill county was divided in 1811. Its area has since been somewhat reduced by the erection of con- tiguous townships. Rahn township was formed entirely from its territory in 1860.
In 1828 West Penn contained 262 taxable inhabitants; in 1833, 324; in 1835, 286; in 1842, 324, and in 1849, 512. The population in 1880 was 2,210.
The first voting place was in the southeastern part, where all of the early officers were elected, and the early township business was transacted. In 1838 the place of elections was changed, as a matter of convenience, to a point nearer the center of the township, now known as West Penn.
The earliest justice of the peace, of whom any record exists, whose jurisdiction extended over the present limits of West Penn township, was one Squire Krum, ap- pointed by the governor in 1794. That he was a resi- their foes would, warned of their approach, prepare to dent of the township is evident from the fact that he | give them an undesirable reception. Whether they were foolhardy or unskilled in Indian warfare it is impossible to determine at a date so remote, but tradition has it that they rashly descended the mountain, and unexpect- edly found themselves ambushed by the redskins, each of whom aimed at his man; and before they had fairly realized their desperate strait all of the pioneers were killed except one, who escaped to tell the story of the massacre.
served as arbiter in the affairs of the residents untit 1818, seven years after the erection of Schuylkill county. Christian Halterman was next appointed, and served until 1832, when he was succeeded by Gideon Whetstone and Jonathan Kistler. Since 1840 justices of the peace have been elected. The first chosen by a majority of the voters of the township was Jacob Longacre, that year. C. Friedman was elected in 1865, and was suc- ceeded by R. S. Heintzelman in 1868. The latter, and Jacob S. Longacre, who succeeded Jonathan Kistler in 1879, are the present incumbents of the office.
INDIAN WARFARE.
Early in the latter half of the last century the Indians were very troublesome to those who attempted to estab- lish homes in West Penn and elsewhere north of the Blue mountain. At one time these aggressions were so effect- ive as to drive the whites south of the mountain, forcing them to abandon such improvements as they had been enabled to make.
Rendered desperate by this movement, the banished whites determined on having revenge on the red invaders, or "yellow boys," as the Indians were sometimes called; and a squad of men was organized, who se: out to cross the mountain for the purpose of attacking and dispersing the savages in their camp on the opposite side. As the little patriot band gained the summit of the mountain the gun of one of their number was accidentally discharged. That the report could be heard by the Indians below they could not reasonably have doubted, and nothing ought to have appeared more certain to them than that
In 1771 a family named Gilbert ventured back north of the mountain, settling in Lizard creek valley. They were soon followed by the Ohl and Steigerwalt families
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PIONEER LIFE IN WEST PENN.
and others. These people were for some years obliged trace the settlement of the region since embraced in the township limits would be at once a difficult and a com- paratively useless task. Subsequent progress is suffi- ciently outlined in the pages devoted to the development of various local, agricultural, industrial and religious interests. to exercise constant vigilance, and take every precaution against exposing themselves to attacks by Indians or in- curring the enmity of the latter. While working in their fields, or "patches," as their cultivated ground came to be called, with their ox-teams, these pioneers often found it necessary to keep one or two men on guard, and when- ever the Indians visited their cabins, which they fre- quently did, they were conciliated by a proffer of the tools except the axe and the auger. They did not differ best the family could afford in the way of food and hos- pitality.
That was the sort of life the returning settlers were obliged to lead for several years, but their danger was gradually lessened, during the period of the Revolution- ary war, by the influx of settlers, whose increasing num- bers gave constantly increasing security.
In various localities in the township it has been related that pioneer residents, now long since dead, found evi- dences of the former occupancy of the territory by In- dians. Small mounds were for years visible in places. At times arrowheads, tomahawks, stone hammers and other weapons and implements of savage life were found. In the southern part of the township were traces of a former Indian village and place of burial.
A story has been handed down to the present resi . dents of the township of the existence, in the early days, of an old Indian who was known as "the white man's friend," who often asserted that the Blue mountain in West Penn was the richest spot in mineral deposits in the world; but he never stated just what kind of precious metal it contained, nor exactly where the miner would be rewarded for his labor, claiming that he and others of his race had each bound himself to keep the secret from all whites.
SETTLEMENT AND PIONEER LIFE.
The exact date of the first settlement by white people within the present borders of West Penn township can- not now be ascertained. It is supposed, however, that Henry Ohl and family, who came about 1760, were the first to locate in that section. They chose a home in the valley of Lizard creek, where good water was accessible. There Mr. Ohl worked " government land," as the terri- tory was called under the Penn ownership, ten or twelve years, when he was enabled to buy it and own it in fee simple. He was a bold man and a good marksman-one well calculated to cope with the perils of border life.
Probably the Steigerwalt family came next. For couple of days they camped under a large oak tree until they could erect a primitive log cabin. The property on which they located was owned by the family until 1867, when it passed to the ownership of Adam Andrew. The | built. Gilbert family came not long afterward.
The first log huts- for they were little else-were con- structed in the simplest manner, the builders having no materially from the pioneer domiciles of other sections, except that the constant danger of Indian attacks render- ed necessary smaller and higher windows than common, thus making it difficult for a foe to either look or shoot through them.
The first grain sown in the township was rye; potatoes and corn were the first crops planted. The early crops were raised on the south sides of the hills, where the soil is slightly gravelly and the sun could do its part in bringing them to maturity. A few trees of the first or- chard, planted by the Ohls, are still to be seen. Cows, oxen and swine were early brought from south of the Blue mountain. All of the early farming was done with the aid of cattle. The first settlers brought no horses. Of course subsistence was only to be had by hard and ill requited toll on new ground, but the pioneer was aided in his efforts to live while he improved the land by the presence of game and fish in plentiful supply. Of the former venison was probably the kind most easily to be obtained.
In time sheep were brought into the township, and flax was grown. Thus were supplied materials for clothing, which the women were kept busy much of the time in spinning, weaving and making into wearing apparel.
It was not until 1807 that a story- and-a-half brick house, which is yet standing, was built by a man named Zehner. This must have been conspicuous in the town- ship, among its wooden neighbors, for years. Whether the brick of which it was constructed were home-made or imported has not been stated. It is probable, how- ever, that they were manufactured by Zehner, or some enterprising townsman, as their importation from abroad would have been attended with much trouble and ex- pense.
The early roads were poor and difficult to traverse. They were constructed over the most direct courses, up and down hills, without reference to facility of ascent and descent. In time these defects were remedied, either as the result of experience or at the suggestion of more ingenious new comers. The roads were for years obstructed by stumps and rocks, and all streams were crossed by fordways until 1820, when the first bridge was
TRADE AND MANUFACTURE-LANDLORDS AND DOCTORS.
The early improvements of these pioneers (all of whom were from Northampton county) where retarded The first merchant in West Penn was Tobias Wehr, who erected and opened a store in Lizard Creek valley as early as 1780, where Jacob Mantz now trades. The second was Jacob Mantz, sen., who began business in by Indian depredations for a time. During the progress of the Revolution many families from south of the moun- tain sought homes north of it, and in the rapid accession of settlers thus caused West Penn shared liberally. To 1807, on the Mahoning, at Mantzville, where William
386
HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
Mantz is located now. Steigerwalt's store, at Lizard creek, was the third. It was opened in 1832. The prop. erty is now owned by Adam Andrew. Marids Forerider, a Jew, traded in the township a few years, beginning in 1837. Peter Seiberling began a mercantile enterprise in North Penn in IS42, but did not long continue in business. Samuel Kepner was also for a time a store- keeper.
Tobias Wehr was also the first tavern keeper, opening his house to the public in 1790. This stand is now oc- cupied by Jacob Mantz, jr. Jacob Mantz, sen., began tavern keeping in 1807 in Mahoning valley, where Wil- liam Mantz now keeps open house. Samnel Kepner threw open his house to the public in 1840, at Kepners- ville, where a temperance house is now kept. The public house now kept by F. L. Leiby & Co. was opened by Forerider in 1837. The hotel of Peter Seiberling was the next in date of opening. The hotel of David Hill was opened in 1867.
Dr. Dollinger was the first physician who took up his residence in the township. He came in 1830 and was succeeded by Dr. Keiser, who remained until 1841. Dr. Marr came next and remained till 1847. Dr. E. Solliday succeeded him, and was succeeded by Dr. Benjamin Solliday in 1855. Dr. J. L. Kline began practice in the township in 1857 and continued till 1870. Dr. E. H. Kistler practiced from 1870 to 1876. Drs. Q. J. and J. H. Kistler are the present local practitioners.
The first grist-mill in West Penn was built on Lizard creek, in 1812, by Michael Ohl. It is now owned by D. H. Kistler. A man named Zehner erected the second, on the Little Schuylkill river, in 1820, and it is now the prop- erty of David Zehner. The mill on Lizard creek now owned by John Bolich was built by a man named Lang- enberger, in 1827. Another mill on Lizard creek was erected in 1830 by one Stisse. The Hopples mill, in Mahanoy valley, was built in 1831. Michael Hopples erected another in 1835.
The tannery now owned by Kistler & Longacre, in Lizard creek valley, was built by Charles Long in 1822, and was afterward for some time the property of David Kistler. The tannery now owned by A. Fridirici was built by Charles Fridirici in 1836. R. F. Leiby, in 1839, built a tannery, which has now disappeared. The estab- lishment of Daniel Kistler was built in 1859.
The machine shop of Snyder & Son was built in 1869, by Elias Snyder, for the manufacture of threshing ma- chines. A foundry was attached. The firm now manu- facture chilled plows, and do a large business in the sale of sewing machines.
A cotton and cloth factory, now idle, was put in oper- ation by H. D. Steigerwalt in 1860. In various localities are to be found the usual blacksmith and wagon shops.
VILLAGES.
There are in West Penn township no villages of im- portance. Such as there are serve the purposes of trad- ing points and local business centers for the sections sur- rounding them.
Kepnersville consists of eight dwellings, one tavern and one store. The residents are laborers.
Leibysville contains a tavern, a store, a drug store, a millinery shop, a blacksmith and wagon shop, and several dwellings, some of them occupied by farmers. F. Houser is a prominent man there. I. J. Kistler is the druggist; Henrietta Gerber the milliner.
Mantzville has a store and tavern, kept by William Mantz, a drug store and a meat market. The inhabi- tants are farmers, or retired farmers living on the interest of their savings.
North Penn contains the store of Peter Seiberling, the carriage shop of Solomon Knepper, a small basket fac- tory and six dwellings. The residents in that neighbor- hood are many of them stock-raisers and bee culturists.
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.
The earliest schools in West Penn were taught by Ger- mans, in the German language, in private houses, and were supported by the contributions of the neighbor- hoods in which they were located. Thus the inhabitants of the township were taught, and many families employ the German tongue, to the exclusion of the English, at the present day.
The first school-house in the township was erected in 1810. It was a log structure, and stood on the site of Zion's church. About 1825 a general sentiment in favor of public education prevailed to such an extent that the inhabitants began to build school-houses in various lo- calities. They were all log buildings, about seven feet high in the walls. Tables of rude construction were ranged around the rooms near the sides. The seats were made of oak slabs, split from logs. The rooms were warmed by large wood-burning stoves in the center.
The common school law was strenuously resisted by a majority of the inhabitants from the outset. In 1840 constant agitation had exerted an influence in its favor which led a very few of the most prominent farmers to sanction the organization of a school board, but it and the measures it advocated were rejected by the majority. So the old system was continued until 1857, when a few of the most ardent advocates of the innovation attempted to force it upon their fellow townsmen of opposing views; but the old fogies threatened, if they should secure the adoption of the school law, to burn all school-houses as fast as they should be erected. In 1868 West Penn was forced into accepting the common schools by the court, as related on page 94. During the first year following the promulgation of the order of the court six school- houses, each 26 by 30 feet, planked and weather-boarded, were built, several of the existing school-houses were rented, and teachers were employed, at $30 per month each.
The next school board was composed of men of ex- perience and good judgment. D. A. Gerder was presi- dent and Jacob S. Longacre secretary. Joseph Osenbach, David Hopples and John Rubrecht were also members. Longacre was the only member of the new board who had been identified with the old one. During the next two
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WEST PENN-ALFRED FRIDIRICI.
years all necessary school-houses were built and paid for. The township now furnishes more teachers than are re- quired to teach its schools. The expense of erecting and equipping the fifteen school-houses was $9,400.
CHURCH HISTORY.
Zion's Church .- The best known church edifice in the township is that familiarly known as Zion's church, owned in common by the Evangelical Lutheran and Re- formed congregations. The original edifice on its site was built of logs, 30 by 40 feet, and a story and a half high, in 1790.
The present structure was erected in 1846. It is a substantial stone building, frescoed within, and it has a large organ and a clock. It cost about $6,000.
The present membership of Zion's church is 952. Rev. Messrs. Miller and Zuling were pastors until 1872, the latter serving fifty-two years. They were of the Reformed faith. The first Evangelical Lutheran preacher who served Zion's church, of whom there is any record, was Rev. E. A. Baur. His successor was the present Lutheran pastor, Rev. W. H. Strause. Rev. Mr. Barthol- omew is the present Reformed pastor.
St. John's Church was built in 1838, by the Evangelical Lutherans and adherents of the Reformed faith in the Mahoning valley and contiguous territory, at a cost of $2,700.
The Evangelical Lutheran pastors have been Rev. Messrs. Graeff, Helfrich, A. E. Bauer, 1842-70, and Bar- tholomew, at present in charge. The present Reformed pastor is Rev. W. H. Strause. His predecessor up to 1877 was Rev. Mr. Isenbersch. The membership of this church is 400.
Methodist Churches .- There are in the township several societies of the Methodist church, which have four places of worship. The worship at some of them is irregular, and the classes are some of them not regularly organized.
Sunday-Schools .- The first Sunday-school in the town- ship was organized in the Lizard Creek valley, by Mr. Kistler and others, in 1840.
During the summer months sixteen Sunday-schools are taught in the township; the aggregate number of scholars in attendance being 785.
ALFRED FRIDIRICI.
This gentleman was born in Lynn township, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, November 25th, 1829, the eldest child of Charles S. and Eve Margaret (Roeder) Fridirici.
Germany when a young man, and settled in the town of Mifflin, Susquehanna county. He married Elizabeth Os- wald. The issue of this marriage were three sons and one daughter, viz .: Amos and Jonas, twins, Charles S. and Sally Ann. Jonas is the only child living (1881). Solomon Fridirici was a jeweler by trade.
Charles S., father of Alfred Fridirici, was a tanner, learning his trade in the township of Heidleberg, Lehigh county. After his marriage he moved to Lynn township, where he rented and carried on a tannery for twelve years. In April, 1845, he moved to West Penn township, Schuylkill county, where he purchased a farm and built and carried on a tannery.
His children by his first wife were: Alfred; Thomas Franklin, born February 26th, 1831; Sally Ann, born July 13th, 1833; Mary Ann, born December 19th, 1834; Wallace, born June 30th, 1838; Adaline, born November Ist, 1840; Jannette, born October 26th, 1844. All are living except Thomas Franklin, who died April Ist, 1831, and Sally Ann, who died November Ist, 1855.
Mr. Fridirici's wife died May Ist, 1858, and he married for his second wife, Presida, widow of Solomon Guldner. He died February 25th, 1876. His second wife died April 10th, 1879.
Alfred Fridirici passed his childhood at home in Lynn, receiving only a common school education. After the family had moved to West Penn township, he worked in his father's tannery and on the farm. In 1859 his father failed in business, and, through the assis- tance of John D. Zehner, he bid in at sheriff's sale the farm and tannery, since which time he has owned and carried them on. In 1878 he became temporarily em- barrassed in business, and received from his creditors an extension of time, and he has been enabled to nieet his obligations to their full satisfaction.
In politics Mr. Fridirici is a Democrat. He has been town assessor and tax collector.
He has been a member of Zion's Lutheran church in West Penn since 1845; has been its elder and treasurer, and one of its most liberal supporters. He has always commanded, in the highest measure, the respect and esteem of his neighbors, and the ready extension offered him when financially embarrassed fully attests the confidence in which he is held by the business commu- nity.
He married Matilda, daughter of Timothy Knepper. Mrs. F. was born in the town of Windsor, Berks county, Pa., April 2nd, 1840. They have had two children: Charles Milton, who was born May 15th, 1860, and died December 17th, 1866; and Ulysses Grant, born
His grandfather, Solomon Fridirici, emigrated from December Ist, 1865.
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INSTITUTIONS OF SHENANDOAH.
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