USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Vol. I > Part 24
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33
"In September, 1865, one hundred freeholders of the settlement petitioned court in regular form, praying to have it incorporated, and on the 16th of January of the following year Shenandoah became a borough. In the spring of 1866, at the first borough election, the following officers were elected: Chief Burgess, Frederick Wright; Council, C. J. Keller (President), Martin Franey, Thomas Eagan, Christian Young and George Quinn; Secretary, J. F. Murphy; Treas- urer, Anthony Devitt; Solicitor, Charles D. Hipple; High Constable and Tax Collector, Michael O'Hara.
"The chief burgesses of town follow in the order named: Frederick Wright, Thomas Cassdy, J. P. Hoffman, John Tobin, George G. Jacoby,
238
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
Michael O'Hara, Jeremiah O'Connor, William Kimmel, M. J. Whalen, Joseph Boehm, Daniel J. Williams, John Toole, John P. Boehm, P. J. Mulholland, J. B. Lessig, James Smith, James Burns, Adam P. Tabor, David Brown, Patrick F. Brennan and P. F. Sweeney.
"In September, 1875, the apportionment was made which divided the borough into five wards as constituted at present. In 1867 only 152 votes were polled for chief burgess, and in 1874, 612 were polled. On the first day of August, 1871, the Columbia, Shenandoah's first fire company, was organized in the council chamber, Dr. J. F. Kern was elected president, H. C. Boyer, secretary ; J. P. Hoffman, treasurer and T. J. Foster chief director.
"On Nov. 12, 1883, the disastrous fire, which had its origin in Leitzel's United States Hotel on the site of the Ferguson House, occurred and reduced one-fourth of the town to ashes, rendering homeless several thousand people. The ruthless destruction of prop- erty was so appalling and the calamity so great that the entire country was shocked. The weather was intensely cold, and were it not for the spontaneous practical demonstration of sympathy in all parts of the East which took the substantial form of contributions of money, food and clothing, the suffering among the poorer people would have been almost unendurable. The deadly work of the fire demon was so sudden and so thorough that the people of the town were prostrated, They saw their homes, the accumulation of years of thrift and frugal living, swept away at one fell swoop, and they were discouraged, but only for a day. Before the last smoldering embers had died, the get- there spirit that always characterized the people of Shenandoah, had asserted itself. Grief over the terrible catastrophe gave way to the echoes of the carpenter's hammer, and the town, in an incredibly short time, had risen Phoenix-like from her own ashes.
"The growth of Shenandoah is seriously retarded because of the fact that the land surrounding it is owned by corporations who will not improve it and refuse to sell it. There are perhaps more people to the square foot in Shenandoah than anywhere else in the United States. The population has outgrown the dimensions of the town, and unless the 'estates' and companies that hold the titles to all the land surrounding the town can be induced to sell or lease, in order to house the rapidly increasing population, it will be necessary to build the town skyward, and Shenandoah like New York will be a city of flats.
"An outline of the history of Shenandoah without reference to the school system would be lacking in completeness. There were in the past, as there are at the present time, many things to criticise in the
239
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
management of the borough's municipal affairs, but through it all the magnificent school system, which has always been in charge of the most-competent corps of teachers in Schuylkill county, has con- tinued to reach a higher state of perfection year after year. It has always been a source of satisfaction to the public-spirited and good- thinking people of the town to know that whatever comes or goes the schools are always faithfully looked after. The future of a com- munity with Shenandoah's exceptional school facilities is always safe. The public library, which is conducted in connection with the school system, is one of the best, if indeed, not the very best of its kind in the state.
"Shenandoah is growing in leaps and bounds despite the fact that no effort is made to establish or locate new industries here, and it is time that our business men came to a realization of the fact that this town is permanent, and get together for their mutual benefit and the wel- fare of the borough."
The foregoing outline history of Shenandoah is creditable to the facile pen of M. E. Doyle, editor and publisher of the Anthracite Labor News, in which journal the article appeared in September, 1905.
The borough of Shenandoah possesses many features of interest which are peculiar to that town. The population is composed of representatives of nearly every European nation, and much of the language, the social, domestic and religious customs, and the general environments are transported bodily from the countries represented. The rolls of the public schools for the year 1905, contained the names of children representing seventeen different nationalities. The first Greek Catholic church in the United States was established at Shenandoah in 1884, and presents an interesting history, because so different from the usual creed of Catholicism. The interested reader is referred to the personal sketch of Rev. C. Laurisin, the pastor of St. Michael's Greek Catholic church, for further details. The Polish Catholics established St. Stanislaus' church in 1898, this being the second organization of that nationality in the borough. In 1891 St. George's Lithuanian Catholic church was organized in the town, and one of the handsomest church edifices in the county is just now under completion. The same congregation has established a printing office for the publication of the current news, religious books, pamphlets and miscellaneous periodicals, all in the Lithuanian language. The Hungarians, Slavonians, Italians, Hebrews, Russians, Germans and Welsh all have religious and social organizations con- ducted in their native languages. Mining is the principal occupation of the foreign-born element in Shenandoah. Often a hundred souls
240
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
are crowded under one roof in quarters so cramped and unsanitary as to appear uninhabitable by human beings. Dogs, goats, pigs and children seem to associate with wonderful familiarity. These people do not mingle with Americans, nor manifest any desire to become Americanized. But they are ever alert on the question of "wages," and they are not slow in taking part in any demonstration calculated to enhance their interests in that direction. It is a well- known fact that the foreign laborer has always been foremost in pro- moting strikes and labor discord. But these statements must not be construed to mean all classes of the foreign population in Shenan- doah, for such a construction would be erroneous and unjust. There are certain nationalities represented there who readily adapt them- selves to American ideas and customs; who promptly become citizens of the country and discard all allegiance to the "fatherland," and thus become useful and progressive citizens of their adopted country. These people acquire property, identify themselves with political and social organizations, establish and maintain comfortable homes, and assume prominent relations in governmental affairs. Many of the municipal officers, past and present, as well as a majority of the business people of the town, are persons of foreign birth. The Irish, Germans, Lithuanians, Welsh and Poles, are numbered among the progressive people in Shenandoah, while some of the other nation- alities-notably the Greeks-have intelligent and progressive trades- men among them. In the homes of some of the poorer classes of miners, a little store is established in the best room in the house, where cheap goods, tobacco, notions, etc., are sold by the housewife, while the husband is working in the mines. This may account, in part, for the large number of retail dealers in the place, as will appear later in this article. Shenandoah has two national banks and a trust company as her monetary institutions. These are financially strong and ably managed. There is but little manufacturing carried on in the place except such as is necessary in connection with the opera- tion of the various collieries which surround the town. The extensive mining interests have given prominence and wealth to the place, and the entire business of the town is dependent upon this industry for its support. Though the altitude of the town is comparatively high, the borough is located in a pocket surrounded by rugged mountains, and these are penetrated by the collieries which give employment to thousands of people. Shenandoah creek flows through the moun- tain passes, and affords an outlet for the railroads which convey the immense traffic to the world of consumers. The valley of Mahanoy creek is another outlet, in which five prosperous boroughs are located.
241
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
The mines of the locality, with but few exceptions, are owned or operated by the Philadelphia & Reading Coal and Iron company, and the few independent operators have small holdings, and are more or less handicapped by this strong and influential monoply. The Shenandoah coal region is especially rich in deposits of this staple commodity, and the wealth of the place, as well as its growth and prosperity, are due to "King Coal." The locality has excellent ship- ping facilities, being located on the Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia & Reading, and Pennsylvania railroads. The borough has excellent heating, lighting and water facilities, corporations being formed at an early day to promote these interests. The water supply is brought from mountain springs; from sufficient elevation to render the use of fire engines unnecessary, while the quality of water is unsurpassed. The Citizens' Water and Gas company was incorporated in the spring of 1870, with a capitalization of $50,000. The Shenandoah Gas Light company was organized in 1884, and the Citizens' Electric Light company came into existence in April, 1887, and in the same year the Shenandoah Electric Illuminating company was organized. The Shenandoah Screen Works was started in 1873, the purpose being the manufacture of wrought iron screens for coal breakers. In later years the plant has been engaged in manufacturing wrought iron fencing in addition to screens, etc. The Shenandoah Manufacturing company was incorporated in February, 1893, for the purpose of making hats, caps and clothing. The capital stock was $25,000. When operating at full capacity, 150 hands are employed.
The Shenandoah press has kept even pace with the growth and development of the town. The Shenandoah Herald was the first paper started in the place. It was established in September, 1870, and had a successful career as a weekly publication until 1875, when a daily edition was commenced, and this took a very decided stand against the Mollie Maguires, incurring the strongest enmity of that once formidable band of outlaws. As a result of greatly increased expenses in protecting the plant against threatened destruction, and the withdrawal of the support of Mollie sympathizers, the paper was compelled to suspend publication. A few years later the weekly edition was resurrected, and in 1883 the entire plant, including the Mining Herald, was destroyed by fire. In 1888 it was again started by Henry C. Boyer and J. S. Kirkwood, the latter retiring in 1890. It is now owned and published by C. T. Straughn, the efficient county controller, as a daily and weekly Republican journal. The Sunday Morning News was published for a number of years by James H. Dietrich and Philip Keck, but it has been discontinued. It was pub-
16
242
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
lished for several years by the Doyle Brothers as an independent paper. The Weekly Advocate was launched in 1893, by Holland & Moyer, the present editors and proprietors. It is a well edited journal, and typographically clean. The News Budget is a spicy little weekly, published by the Hess Brothers, two popular young men of Shenan- doah, who have "grown up" with the town. M. E. Doyle is the editor and publisher of the Anthracite Labor News, a handsome weekly, started in 1903, in the interests of the laboring man. It is a sprightly publication, and ably edited from the standpoint of organized labor. In September 1905, the Daily Times was launched from the press and office of the Labor News, and seems to be making its influence felt in its gallant fight against municipal jobbery and inefficiency, as seen through the editorial eye of Mr. Mclaughlin, the proprietor. The Lithuanian people also have a weekly paper published in their own language, and thus the town is well represented with its numer- ous papers.
Shenandoah has eight Protestant churches and seven of the Catholic faith, and only one of the latter denomination has an English-speaking congregation. The Protestants were the first to occupy the local field, the Welsh Congregational church being organized in 1866. Pre- vious to this, however, the Welsh people had organized a Sunday school, thus inaugurating the first religious efforts in Shenandoah. The First Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1867, and the same year the Welsh Baptists effected an organization. The Presbyterians dedicated their church on the 30th of January, 1868. The Calvinistic Methodist church (Welsh), was established in 1869. This organization has been discontinued. The Irish Roman Catholic church, known as the Church of the Annuciation, was established in 1870, and Rev. Henry F. O'Reilly was then, and is yet, the resident pastor. To Father O'Reilly this church owes all its promience as a strong and influential religious organization. He has been foremost in the promotion of its interests, and always the active, conscientious and zealous leader which his high calling invokes. From a feeble mission without organization in 1870, he has witnessed, with commend- able pride, the growth of his charge into one of the strongest churches in the county, while infants have grown into mature men and women with families under his pastoral leadership. Everybody in Shenandoah, regardless of creed or station, loves and honors Father O'Reilly. This feeble tribute to a noble life is prompted by the voice of public sentiment. Others have done well, but none have done better. The endearing term "Father" well applies in the case of this honored Christian leader. The German Catholic church was established for
243
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
the accommodation of the German families of that faith in the borough in 1870, and was dedicated as the "Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Family." It is now a strong and prosperous organization, numbering on its roll of membership many of the leading German business men of Shenandoah. St. Michael's Greek Catholic church is also to be numbered among the religious organizations that have labored for the spiritual welfare of the community. St. John's Evan- gelical Lutheran church was organized in 1870 by the late Rev. John Gruhler. At that time its membership embraced fifteen families. It has grown strong and prosperous, having now a large membership of many prominent German-Americans. For a more detailed history of this church, see the biographical sketch of its pastor, Rev. C. E. Held. The Primitive Methodist church was organized in April, 1872. The first services were held in a public hall. The society built a church in 1873-74. A comparatively few members have sustained the organization, and the church is growing in numerical strength. A choir of excellent singers adds much to the popularity of the church services. St. Kasimir's Catholic church (Polish), the first organiza- tion of its kind in the northern part of the county, commenced holding services in 1872 in the German Catholic church. See personal sketch of Rev. Godrycz, D. D., for fuller history of this church. Trinity Reformed church was organized in 1874, and is now under the pas- toral charge of Rev. Z. A. Yearick, whose personal sketch and the parish history appear under a separate heading.
Shenandoah has a long list of fraternal and beneficial societies, including the prominent organizations of the country, as well as some of a more local character. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows was the first of the fraternities to effect an organization in the borough. Shenandoah lodge, No. 591, was instituted on the 17th of December, 1866. It has always maintained its organiation, and has grown strong and prosperous, having assets of several thousand dollars. Wash- ington camp, No. 112, Patriotic Sons of America, was organized on the 4th of May, 1869. There are three camps of this fraternity in the town. Shenandoah tribe, No. 155, Improved Order of Red Men, was instituted in 1871, and is one of the strong fraternal orders of the place. Shenandoah lodge, No. 511, Free and Accepted Masons, was instituted Sept. 25, 1872, with twenty-one charter members. This time-honored society numbers among its present-day members most of the leading business and professional men of the city, and is strong and prosperous, both financially and numerically. The Ancient Order of Hibernians is another of the influential societies of the place, having a membership of nearly 500 Irish-Americans. Silver Wave
244
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
castle, No. 45, Ancient Order of Knights of the Mystic Chain, was instituted Feb. 10, 1873. A second lodge of Odd Fellows was organ- ized June 10, 1874, with twenty charter members. This society, known as Plank Ridge lodge, No. 880, increased rapidly in member- ship and is in excellent financial condition. It is one of the most prominent social and beneficial orders in the place. The Fraternal Order of Eagles is one of the recent organizations in the town The G. A. R. and Spanish-American War Veterans each have posts. Most of the Catholic churches have under their personal jurisdiction mutual benefit organizations for the relief of their members in misfortune or distress.
The cosmopolitan conditions existing in Shenandoah render the social and business characteristics somewhat peculiar. Most of the foreigners seek persons of their own nationality as companions, dealers and associates, and have nothing to do with others. With few excep- tions the stores are stocked with such goods as are in demand by the working people, and the better classes of goods are not generally kept though there are a few excellent stocks displayed. The population of Shenandoah exceeds that of any other borough in the county, though one of the youngest of such municipal organizations. Accord- ing to the census of 1900 there were 20,321 inhabitants in the borough while several thousand more are claimed in 1906. There are at the present time 561 retail business places, including all lines of traffic; and sixteen wholesale houses. The two fine breweries, and many liquor houses, supply a "long felt want." Notwithstanding the almost universal tendency to indulge the drink habit, there are tem- perance organizations of conscientious men and women, zealously laboring for its abatement, and most of the churches nobly assist in these efforts. Shenandoah is located on the line of the Schuylkill Traction company which operates between Locustdale and Shenandoah with numerous branches.
Without assuming to have exhausted the subject, it is proper to here insert the names of two of Shenandoah's former citizens whose days of usefulness are past, but whose memories linger in the hearts of the people as men of more than ordinary prominence and usefulness in their chosen life-work. Reference is here made to William Grant and Rev. John Gruhler.
CHAPTER XVII.
TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH HISTORY CONTINUED-NEW CASTLE, NORTH MANHEIM, NORTH UNION AND NORWEGIAN TOWNSHIPS-THE BOROUGHS OF MOUNT CARBON, SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, POTTSVILLE AND YORKVILLE.
NEW CASTLE TOWNSHIP.
New Castle township, so named after the famous coal center of England, was formed from Norwegian in 1848. It is bounded by Butler, West Mahanoy, Blythe, East Norwegian, Norwegian and Cass townships. This is mining territory, rich in coal deposits upon which the inhabitants are almost entirely dependent. The township is moun- tainous and poorly adapted to agricultural pursuits.
The first settlers of this territory were Jacob Yoh, John Boyer and Nicho Allen. The last named became somewhat famous in earlier days in connection with the discovery of the inflammable nature of "black rocks." This matter is fully discussed in the chapter on coal. These three families took up a residence in what is now New Castle township about the year 1800. Allen settled at the Big Spring, on the summit of Broad mountain, the site of a later roadside tavern. William Yoh, son of Jacob, and son-in-law of John Boyer, built the first tavern in the township, about the year 1810.
The first school in the township was opened in 1828, and was taught by a Mr. White. A cemetery had been established previous to the building of the school house, and among the early burials there were the pioneers William Yoh and John Boyer and their wives. There is no other public cemetery in the township; but the Irish and German Catholics each have a cemetery near the east line of the township. The first of these was established in 1857. There are six public school houses in the township, and the children have as good educational ad- vantages as are afforded in any rural district in the county.
The settlement of the township was greatly augmented by the dis- covery of coal and the means of mining and marketing it. George Phillips commenced mining in the vicinity of Wadesville prior to 1828, and was probably the first to engage in that business in the town- ship; but other developments followed in rapid succession. The field is prolific, and the production marvelous. The Primitive Methodists and the Methodist Episcopal denominations, each organized a class,
245
24€
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
and built a church in Wadesville between 1868 and 1872. The Sunday schools are maintained, but services at the churches are irregular.
Mount Laffee was once a prominent mining village, but the popula- tion has shifted with the opening of new workings, and is less now than it was a quarter of a century ago. This is also true of the other villages. New Castle, known as Broad Mountain postoffice, was laid out in 1830, by Lewis Ellmaker and was for many years a prominent stopping place for stage coaches and others traveling on the old Center turnpike from Pottsville to Ashiland, and prospered for a while, but this pike is now practically abandoned. The aspirations of the founders in making New Castle the mining center of the anthracite coal region were not realized, and as the pike was superseded by rail- road travel, its phenomenal early growth was a delusion. It is now a small village on a coal branch of the Pennsylvania railroad. Lower New Castle is a new town on the Millcreek and Frackville division of both the Reading and the Pennsylvania railroads. Wadesville, also known as Wade postoffice, is the principal village of the township, having a population of 437. It is located a short distance from the line of the Pottsville Union Traction company, near St. Clair.
There are 21 licensed business houses in New Castle township. A powder-mill has been operated in the eastern part of this township since 1860, in which year the plant was moved from St. Clair to its present location, and is engaged in making different kinds of mine explosives.
NORTH MANHEIM TOWNSHIP.
The territory of which this township now forms a part, was in- timately associated with the early history of Schuylkill county, being the northerly half of the original township of Manheim. This was the scene of several Indian massacres, and the early settlers were con- stantly annoyed, and their lives imperiled, by predatory bands of savages whose coming was never announced. This trouble was continued at intervals until after the close of the Revolutionary war and the final removal of the Indians west of the mountains. This township was set off from old Manheim in 1845, the original territory of Manheim town- ship being then divided into the two townships now known as North and South Manheim. It comprises some of the best farming land in Schuylkill county, the valleys being unusually wide for a mountainous region, while the farms present a thrifty and well-kept appearance, indicative of long years of intelligent and industrious tillage. The residences and farm buildings are substantial and well built, while some show evidences of good taste and liberal adornment.
247
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
The first settlers came into this township from Berks county soon after the close of the French and Indian war, though a few venture- some souls braved the dangers of the wilderness and established homes in advance of the general settlement. The pioneers whose names have come down to us as the men whose energy and industry paved the way to civilization are as follows: John Deibert, Jacob Krebs. Jacob Min- nich, Daniel Shappell, Michael Bolich, Michael Kosch, Henry Strouch, Martin Dreibelbeis, and the families of Kostners, Bergers, Decherts, Reeds, Becks, Wagners and Rebers. Numerous descendants of these early families are to be found in the locality where their ancestors settled considerably more than a hundred years ago, while many others are located in different parts of the county. The early labors of these settlers were divided between clearing their lands, lumbering, hunting and farming. Ellis Hughes was operating a saw-mill on the river, not far from the five locks of the navigation company when the road through that section to Fort Augusta (Sunbury) was surveyed. The colonial records mention this mill, and the house of Ellis Hughes, as being points on the line of survey. Grist-mills and saw-mills were early established at convenient points for the accommodation of the settlers.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.