USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Vol. I > Part 23
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Twelve collieries were opened and successfully operated in Mahanoy township between 1860 and 1865, by as many different companies or promoters. These each have a local name, but the coal interests of the locality have been centralized in one or two large corporations, with a few individuals operating independently.
A considerable volume of mercantile business is transacted in the township; outside of those of the borough of Mahanoy City, there were fifty-six licensed establishments in 1906.
The villages of Mahanoy township are Morea (colliery), population 829; New Boston, 691; Yatesville, a mining hamlet, and St. Nicholas, a growing village of 2,196 inhabitants. These villages came into existence with the opening of collieries in the vicinity, and were built up and sustained principally by the miners' families.
St. Nicholas includes "Suffolk patch," as known in local par- lance. Its settlement began in 1861, when mining operations were commenced there. A union church was built in the village in 1874, and all Protestant denominations who held services there used it in common. Until recently this was the only church in the place, and no stationed ministers were there prior to 1881. The St. Nicho- las postoffice was established in 1863, with B. F. Smith as the first postmaster. Schools are sustained in each of the villages, St. Nicho-
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las having a graded school with several departments. The first public school was taught in this village in 1859.
The Sons of Temperance effected an organization in St. Nicholas in 1879, and the society has been maintained, with varying degrees of success, throughout the intervening years. The St. Nicholas Silver Cornet Band was organized in 1878, and its existence is still a source of pleasure to the people of the village. Several beneficial orders have been organized from time to time, most of which are sustained by the miners.
Mahanoy City Borough .- This promising little city has grown into prominence within a comparatively few years, and now easily assumes the third place in population, and the second in commercial importance in Schuylkill county. The settlement of the village began, practically, in 1859, previous to which date there were a few settlers on the village site, but it did not assume the dignity of even a small village. On the 16th of December, 1863, the charter was granted by the court, and thus a prosperous little city was ushered into existence. In March, 1865, by special act of the legislature, the borough was divided into two wards for election purposes, and in 1875 it was again subdivided, and five wards were established, as at present. The first chief burgess was John Eichman, who served several years in that office, with occasional intervals between some of the terms of service. A postoffice was established at this place in 1859, with John Lindemuth as the postmaster. An office of the second class is now sustained, giving employment to several persons in the various departments, which include free delivery in the borough, and the rural free delivery system radiating from the town. The growth and progress of Mahanoy City is due principally to the develop- ment of the coal interests in the vicinity, and to the wonderfully * rich deposits of this staple commodity in Mahanoy township, from which the borough was erected.
Many of the early settlers of the borough and township were Welsh people attracted to the place by the flattering opportunities for min- ing, with which business they were familiar in their native country. Henry Stauffer, previously mentioned among the early settlers, was one of the organizers of the township, and a man of influence and prominence. He settled in the township in 1808, and his son, H. H. Stauffer, served many years as a justice of the peace, and in other official places in the town and county. George Major, who was elected chief burgess in 1874, was assassinated by the Mollie Maguires because his administeration of public affairs was antagonistic to the reign of crime and lawlessness which they had inaugurated. He was a
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Welshman by birth. The first meeting of the board of education in the new borough was held in June, 1864, when John M. Barry was elected president, David Phillips, treasurer, and John M. Coyningham, secretary. W. H. Heidenrich, Valentine Benner and John Tobin were the other members of the board. There were then three school buildings in the borough, accommodating sixteen schools. Hand- some school buildings have succeeded those of the earlier days, and the schools of the district are in charge of a corps of competent and experienced educators. The high school affords a course in higher training which fits its graduates for the practical business of every- day life, or qualifies them for entrance into the higher educational institutions of the state.
The Mahanoy City Water company was chartered in 1864 with a capital stock of $100,000. The water supply is procured from moun- tain springs over two miles distant from the town, and three dams constitute the reservoir which affords an ample supply of pure water for all purposes. The fire protection of the town consists of three well-organized companies with modern apparatus and an efficient corps of men. The Humane Fire Company No. I was organized June 18, 1868, with twenty-four members. The Citizens' Fire Company No. 2 was organized in February, 1870, and five years later a Silsby fire engine was added to the equipment, thus completing a very efficient force.
The press of Mahanoy City has kept even pace with the develop- ment of the town. The first newspaper appeared on the 11th of November, 1865. This was the Mahanoy City Gazette, a Republican journal under the editorial management of Dr. George B. H. Swayze, one of its founders. This paper was an ardent exponent of the doc- trines of the party, though subjected to frequent changes of propri- etorship. The name of the paper was twice changed during its career of more than forty years, but its politics-never! And that is a feature which has kept it in touch with party leaders and rendered it a prominent and influential journal. It has been published as the Mahanoy Tribune since 1878, and is now published weekly under the editorial management of L. V. Rausch. The present owners are Mr. Rausch, J. H. Kirchner and J. B. Irish. The Mahanoy Valley Record was started in 1871 as a Republican weekly, and under a dif- ferent management it became an advocate of the doctrines of the Greenback party. In 1877 it became a tri-weekly, being then known as Parker's Tri-Weekly Record. For several years it has been pub- lished as an independent daily, and is now owned by the Daily Record Publishing company, with T. C. O'Connor as editor and manager.
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The Daily Record is a spicy, readable journal of wide influence. The Daily American was established in 1894, and is ably edited by Thomas F. O'Brien. It is a Republican paper, published every day except Sunday, and is owned by D. M. Graham. The Gazeta Ludowa is a Polish paper published weekly, and is Republican in political teachings. The Lithuanian people also have a semi-weekly journal published in their native language. Saule is the title of this publication, which teaches Republican politics and Catholicism.
A company of the N. G. P. has been maintained at Mahanoy City since Nov. 13, 1875, when Company C of the Seventh regiment was mustered into the service of the State. This organization came into existence during the closing years of Mollie Maguireism, and, while there were no open collisions with that band of marauders, the organ- ization proved a standing menace to the lawless element which sought to control the town. The company was called into service during the strike riots which have prevailed in the state and county, and on occasions of State Encampments, during the Centennial Exposi- tion, etc. Many prominent citizens of the town have been associated with this and kindred military organizations.
Mahanoy City is supplied with some excellent hotels, among which are two old landmarks in the borough. One of these is the Mansion House, which occupies the site of a wayside tavern that was a bidder for public patronage in 1809; the other is the Exchange Hotel, at which the first borough election was held. The Eagle and Merchants' hotels, as well as the others named, are well-kept and worthy of the the liberal patronage accorded them.
Mahanoy City Gas company was incorporated Feb. 21, 1874, with an authorized capitalization of $30,000. The plant was completed and the gas turned on Oct. 1, 1874. The gas is made from naphtha. The Light, Heat and Power company was organized in 1887, and has wrought a revolution in the heating and lighting of the town.
Mahanoy City has two banking institutions. The First National Bank was organized on the 26th of September, 1864. Its present capital is $100,000, an increase of $50,000 since its organization. The Union National Bank was incorporated in 1889, with a capital stock of $100,000. Both are solid financial institutions in which the people have much confidence. Scheurman's Building, Loan and Saving Fund association was organized in October, 1874, and was patronized mainly by the German-American citizens of the town and vicinity. Other institutions of similar character have been organized from time to time, and all have done good service within the sphere of their jurisdiction. One of the later monetary institutions of the town
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is the Merchants' Banking and Trust company, which transacts a general banking business in connection with the other lines suggested in its title. The Fidelty Building and Loan association of Mahanoy City was incorporated in 1874, and its record of business transacted greatly exceeds that of any other similar corporation.
Manufacturing enterprises in Mahanoy City are limited to small establishments, with the exception of the Grant Iron works, the Eagle Hosiery mill and the Kaier Brewing company. The Grant Iron works is located near the southern limits of the borough. The plant was established in 1865, by Thomas Wren of Pottsville. In 1866 Ralph R. Lee and George H. Wren became the owners, and conducted the business for ten years, under the firm title of Lee & Wren, when the senior partner retired. The business was established for the manufacture of steam engines, pumps and mine supplies, and mining machinery, and was early equipped with costly appliances and many valuable patterns. Until the local collieries were absorbed by the Philadelphia & Reading Coal and Iron company, this plant employed a large force of men and turned out a vast amount of work; but in later years the manufacture has been largely diverted into other lines of machinery.
In 1889 a stock company founded the Eagle Hosiery Mill company and operated the concern a few months, when they leased the plant to Charles Chipman & Son, from Germantown, Penn., who conducted the business until 1892; and on January 25th, of that year, the firm of Jones & Johnson leased the building and machinery and have since operated the business.
The brewing plant of Charles D. Kaier was erected in 1883, and enlarged and rebuilt in 1890. Mr. Kaier conducted the business until Sept. 1, 1892, when it was merged into a co-partnership under the firm title of Charles D. Kaier Brewing Company, Limited. The plant has since been improved and enlarged, and is doing a large business.
- There are many small manufacturing shops in the borough, represent- ing all lines of mechanical industry, and the town is progressive and liberal in its willing contributions to public improvements.
There are twelve different lodge organizations in the town, repre- senting the leading civic societies of the country. In addition to these, the foreign population have instituted lodges representative of the fraternal organizations of their native land.
There are thirteen church organizations in Mahanoy City, of which the First Presbyterian was the first organized religious body in the town. This church was organized in 1861, and the church edifice
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was erected in 1862. Previous to this, for several years, the people of the Presbyterian faith had held religious services in a school house, or at private residences. The church building was dedicated by the late Rev. T. DeWitt Talmage, then of Philadelphia. A handsome edifice has superseded the old structure, and has recently been remod- eled and beautified. A convenient parsonage has also been added to the church property.
The Church of Faith, Protestant Episcopal, was organized on the 18th of August, 1864, and the building of a house of worship was at once begun. It was dedicated on the 29th of August, 1866. The Methodist Episcopal church of Mahanoy City began with the organ- ization of a small class in 1862, by a pastor from Ashland, who occa- sionally preached in private houses in Mahanoy City. Efforts were made to erect a church in 1863-64, but the building material proved faulty and the structure was razed to be rebuilt, which occasioned a delay of several years in its construction. The church, however, was dedicated, though yet unfinished, on the 17th of December, 1865. Members of St. Paul's Reformed church, the first services of which denomination were held in 1862, elected a consistory on the 17th of January, 186, and thus completed the formal organization of that church. A house of worship was erected in 1864-65, and dedi- cated on the 17th of Sepetmber, 1865. This is one of the largest and most prosperous Protestant congregations in Mahanoy City.
The Welsh Congregational church held its first services in Mahanoy City at the homes of the three or four families who formed the nucleus of that religious body. The church was formally organized on the 20th of December, 1863, and a house of worship was erected in 1864. Services at this church have been held irregularly, though the organ- ization is still maintained and the elderly Welsh people are pleased to attend the occasional religious services, which are conducted in their native tongue. The choir of this church became quite noted in musical contests throughout the county, and usually secured most of the prizes.
The English-speaking Catholic church in Mahanoy City is one of the finest church edifices in Schuylkill county. It was more than three years in construction, and was dedicated in July, 1866, by Bishop Wood, of Philadelphia. It is known as St. Canicus' church. St. Fidelius' German Catholic church was the outgrowth of missionary labors at intervals of four weeks conducted by a zealous priest from St. Clair. The church was erected in 1866, and the first solemn high mass was celebrated in the unfinished building on Christmas day of that year. The interior of the building has recently been remodeled,
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tastily painted and decorated, and a fine pipe organ installed. The parochial school was opened in 1874. The church property of this congregation includes the school building, the sisters' residence, the parish house and the church. The Lithuanian and Polish Cath- olics also have church organizations in the town, though many of these attend church services at Shenandoah.
: The American Primitive Methodist church in Mahanoy City was established in 1864. The cornerstone of a new church edifice was laid on the 5th of August, 1866, and the building was erected and ded- icated during the succeeding two years. It was enlarged and improved in 1876; and an appropriate sermon delivered by Rev. George Lamb, of London, England, on the occasion of laying a memorial stone on the 4th of August of that year.
The Welsh Baptist church held services in a school house in Feb- ruary, 1865, and a Sunday school was organized about that time. Occasional preaching services were held by ministers from other towns during the building of the church, which was completed, and occupied by a regular pastor, in 1868. After a few years, services at this church became irregular, but the installation of another pastor revived the waning interest, and the membership was greatly increased, while the Sunday school became an important factor in reviving interest in the other services of the church.
The English Baptist church was organized in March, 1867, and six years later a small building was erected and dedicated; but the services were irregular, and the church was without a pastor during much of the time of its nominal existence. The building was finally sold to pay the obligations against it, and the small membership has since been associated with other religious bodies.
Christ's Church, of the German Evangelical Lutheran denomination, was organized in March, 1867, the twenty families comprising this congregation, as originally organized, being seceders from a former organization of the same faith, but comprising both German and English-speaking members. These seceding members had, under the old regime, assisted in building an edifice, which the new congre- gation purchased, and thereby assumed a heavy debt. The building had never been fully completed, and at that time was in a very bad condition. This congregation, however, has grown strong and pros- perous.
The Evangelical church had its birth in the state of Pennsylvania, and to this fact may be attributed its principal power and influence. As early as 1859, efforts were made to form a society of this denomi- nation in Mahanoy City; and while the organization was not effected
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at that time, the religious services were continued by volunteer minis- ters from other points. In 1863 a small class was formed, which was augmented by the influx of settlers, and soon became organized as a mission station. In the spring of 1864 a building lot was donated to the society, and in February, 1865, a church edifice was completed in construction and regular services begun. The building of the church was materially assisted by the Missionary society of the parent body, but this timely aid has been many times returned since 1868, when the aid of the Missionary society was withdrawn. The church has been rebuilt, enlarged and beautified, a handsome parsonage built and furnished, a valuable Sunday school library established and a large and zealous membership enrolled.
St. John's English Lutheran church was organized by the English- speaking Lutherans after their separation from the mixed congrega- tion of German and English, as previously mentioned. This church was formed in 1867, with fifty-two members from the original organ- ization, including the pastor of the former congregation. A neat and substantial church edifice was at once erected, and this has been enlarged and remodeled by the addition of a handsome brick front; a parsonage has been built, and a large Sunday school library purchased. The church is strong, numerically, and numbers among its members many of the most prominent citizens of Mahanoy City.
The Sunday school is a necessary adjunct to religious organization, and affords a proper training to those who are soon to assume the responsibility of directing religious affairs. In other words it is "the nursery of the church." It is a notable fact that the Sunday school often precedes the church organization, and this was true with reference to the Protestant churches mentioned in this connection. All have active and flourishing Sunday schools, most of which are large and well equipped with appropriate libraries, maps and other parapher- nalia to render interesting and impressive the texts of the Holy Scrip- tures upon which their work is based. Usually the most intelligent and upright residents of every community, male and female, are interested in Sunday school work, either as teachers or as students. This is especially true of Mahanoy City, where all of the active mem- bers of the many churches are zealous workers in the Sunday schools.
The population of Mahanoy City in 1900 was 13,504, and its com- mercial interests were represented, in 1906, by 409 business houses, engaged in all the different lines of mercantile traffic.
"Shenandoah: Past and Present .- Shenandoah is a septuagenarian. Just seventy years ago sturdy Peter Kehley, with hewn logs, built the first house that was erected on the site of this thriving borough
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and for many years afterwards he and his family were the only resi- dents within a radius of six miles. By clearing and cultivating small patches of ground and hunting in the woods, he was enabled to eke out a bare existence for himself and family, and about the year 1857, in order to secure sufficient money to provide clothing for his family, he was forced to relinquish his title to the land. Philadelphia capitalists purchased his holdings for a nominal consideration, but the old pioneer was permitted to occupy his log hut until his death when the family removed to some less isolated place.
"Seventy years old! Throbbing with life and vigor, with the ever-increasing clamor of industry, above and beneath the surface, and resounding with the swelling traffic of her three lines of railroad, Shenandoah is a healthy, sturdy town, looking confidently into the future from her proud position over the richest bed of anthracite in the world. To some of the old residents it seems but yesterday that the Philadelphia Land company in 1862, anticipating the tapping of the rich vein of coal which was even then known to underlie their land, sent P. W. Shaeffer to survey and lay out a town. It was given the name of Shenandoah City. [After the Shenandoah valley in West Virginia, which had recently been the scene of great military movements and battles in the war for the Union and of Union vic- tories.] Shenandoah creek runs along close to the southern boundary of the present borough.
"In the summer of the same year the land company built a two- story frame hotel as the corner of Main and Centre streets, on the site of the New Ferguson Hotel. Seymour Wright, one of the earliest residents, was given the management of the new hotel with rent free. In addition to looking after the destinies of the roadside inn, Mr. Wright was station agent for the Lehigh Valley company; he held on to both positions for three years, after which he returned to his former home in Columbia county, where he died shortly afterward. [The hotel was known later as Yost's Hotel, and also by the names of succeeding landlords.] This hotel was the first frame building erected in Shenandoah, but a few months later James Hutton built two frame dwellings and about the same time work was also com- menced on the Shenandoah City colliery. With the opening of the colliery the influx of people began which has continued unabatingly ever since and which with giant strides placed Shenandoah in the forefront of Schuylkill county towns, leaving Pottsville, Minersville and all her other older sisters trailing in her wake [in point of popu- lation]. It had a mushroom growth, but no mushroom existence. Upward and onward has always been the watchword, and the same
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push and enterprise that boomed the town along, kept it to the front and earned for it a reputation of being the liveliest town in the county when not yet out of its swaddling clothes-is still characteristic of the town and people * * *
"Jacob Oliver Roads, Seymour Wright, James Hutton, Christian Young, John Houser, Martin Delaney, Thomas Lawlor and a few others located here in 1862 and did much to aid in the town's develop- ment. Among the men who came here in 1863, and who afterward became prominent in the affairs of the borough, were Bartholomew Dillman, Richard Harrington, Jonathan Wasley, Daniel Ellis, Jacob Dilmer, Jonathan Ellis, Peter Ward, Patrick Bradigan and Martin Franey. About this time the population increased rapidly, and the next year or two saw the arrival of many of the men who from that time on have been identified with every progressive movement inaugu- rated in Shenandoah. In 1864, 1865 and 1866 P. J. Ferguson, P. J. Williams, John Dowling, William Krick, John and Patrick Conry, John Gruhler and James Brennan cast their destinies with the new settlement and in the few years immediately succeeding, Michael Tierney, William R. James, J. B. Monaghan and several others, many of whom are still amongst us, decided to come here and grow up with the town. * *
* About the time the Shenandoah City colliery was being put in readiness for operation the firm of Miller, Roads & Co. built a saw-mill, blacksmith shop and carpenter shop, and opened a store in the basement of the United States Hotel. Subsequently they erected and occupied a store room on Main street below Cherry. The first saloon and eating house was built and occupied by Christian Young on the site of Gruhler's drug store and Portz's wall paper and stationery store. William C. Kennedy was Shenandoah's first drug- gist, and Dr. W. S. Beach was the first physician, both locating here in 1864, and about a year later Dr. George L. Reagan cast his lot with the pioneers of this borough.
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