USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 48
USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 48
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"And your l'etitioners will ever pray.
" George Olwine.
Adam Brown.
George Olwine, Jr.
Peter George.
George Greensweig.
Anthony Lowyer.
John Greensweig.
Peter Korr.
Nicholas Snyder.
Edward Murray.
John Boyer.
Heury Barger,
Jacob Suyder.
Heimich Sillfuss. Jacob Sillfuss.
llenry Blose,
Henry Boyer.
Andreas Ziegenfuss.
Andrew T. Boyer.
George Boyer.
Jonathan Greensweig.
John Golt.
Linnert Strohl. John Strohl.
Peter Blose.
Sammel Bahler.
Jomthan Heller.
John Hasleman.
David Greensweig, Jr.
Isune Hasleman.
M. G. Christman.
Conrad Hasleman.
Peter Lei fass.
John Balliet.
Nicholas tievige.
Sionnel Kline.
Jacob Heath.
John Ziegestuss,
Joli Belte.
Michnel Olewine.
Christopher Corell.
John Smith.
Jacob Snyder, John Kuntz. Daniel Schneider.
David Smith.
Jolin Zess.
Peter Snyder.
Samuel Richardson. Jacob Smith.
George Kelehner. John Kurn.
John Smith, Jr.
Nicholas Smith.
John Kelehner.
Simon Enghert. Adam Eugbert.
Itenry Bann. John Bauman.
Conrad Clinetob. David Christman. George Clinetob. Joseph Gruble.
Nicholas Blose. Henry Blose.
John Boyer. Jacob Hasleman.
Jacob Arner.
John Arner.
John Driesbach.
Chmles D. Bowman, Jr.
Samnel Golt.
John Closs.
Daniel Golt.
John Harkins,
Jolin Golt.
Thomas Vorly.
Jost Driesbach.
Jacob Fisher.
Jacob Golt.
John Kuddles.
George Olewine.
William Pryor
Jucob Yundt.
Lewis Erke.
Wilbehn Remely. '
Jucob Swenk.
Frederick Scheckler.
Christian Houpt.
John J. Beltz.
Philip Daubenstein. .Jacob Schwab."
Daniel Closs. -
PETITION No. 2.
" To the Senate und House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Penn- sylvania in General Assembly met :
" The Petition of the Subscribers, Inhabitants of the County of North- ampton,
" Respectfully sheweth, That as a division of the County of Northamp- ton has for some time been contemplated, which probably will ere long be effected, and as various plans have been proposed, we take the liberty to recommend the following limits as the most convenient and snitable, in case a division takes place, to your consideration, namely : to com- mence at the southwesterly corner of Linn township, where it adjoins Rerks County line; thence almost in a northeasterly direction to the road passing through the Wind Gap, to include said Linn, with Heidel- berg, part of Lehigh, and a part of Moore township ; thence to the blue mountain ; thence along the line between Chesnut Hill and Plainfield township to the road in said Gap; thence along the road lately turn- piked, leading to Wilkesbarre, to where it intersects the Inzerne County line ; thence along said Luzerne County line to the corner of North- minberland County line; thence along said line to the corner of Berks County line ; thence along Berks County line to the place of beginning. " Phus divided, we conceive will, ahnost in every respect, be far more convenient and beneficial to the county at large, especially by having the seat of justice north of the Blue Mountain and near the river Le- high, so as to command the practicable boat and raft navigation thereof, as well as the trade and intercourse of the Susquehantinh settlements, by means of the lately-made tornpike from the Susquehannah to the Lehigh, which will likewise be still further extended to Tioga point, being al- ready in great forwardness. Many other advantages will be derived by the nforesaid division, such as the procuring of lumber for buildings, &c., which can be done much cheaper than south of the mountain. " And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, Ac."
PETITION No. 3.
" To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pena- sylvania in General Assembly met :
" The petition of the Subscribers, Inhabitants ot the Townships north of the blue mountain, in the county of Northampton, Respectfully sheweth,-
" That from the repeated application for a division of Northampton County having been made for several sessions, made and to say counte- naneed as just and equitable, we are again encouraged to apply there- for. Two distinct divisions were proposed, which may le designated by a western and northern. The latter, if we are correctly intormed, was, in the opinion of and recommended by the Committee chosen thereon at the last session, as the most suitable manner to divide the county. Therefore we most earnestly solicit that the subject may ngain be taken mto consideration. As the chief olgections to the northern division arose from (only but a few of ) the Inhabitants of Linn and Heidelberg Townships, who were alarmed at the Expense that would neerne as held forth to them in the formation of a new county, as well as the Idea of Intving to cross the mountain in case the Seat of Justice should be fixed there, we propose the mountain to be the southern line as far as oppo- site to the main forks of Aquanschicola Creek ; thence n northeasterly direction (so bs to necomodate the Inhabitants) to Wayne County line; and then of the East, North, and West boundaries, those of the adjoining comities. Thus divided, we are of an opinion will meet with general approbation, especially as the Inconveniences we labor under will le remedied, as well as ho the means of promoting the Improvement of the Country, to encourage which we are sensible are the sentiments of the Legislature. It unquestionably will make as respectable and as wealthy a County as several heretofore and ot late formed within the . State, To enlarge upon the subject we deem at present unnecessary,
George Frever.
Joseph Prever. David Brutzman. Philip Frantz,
David Swartz.
Nicholas Berger. Jost Driesbach.
Heinrich Clinetob.
Paul Golt.
Barnhart Barman.
David Stroup.
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CIVIL HISTORY.
being, In our opinion, well known to you. Therefore, relying in your wisdom, we, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c.
" John Pryor.
Robert MeMinn.
John Hagenbach.
Matthias Gangwere.
John Klotz.
Andrew Gangwere.
Peter lleller.
Abraham Klotz.
Michael Harter.
John Horn.
John Kuntz.
John Totten.
John Roth. Samuel Bainsmith.
Jacob Kister, Jr.
Daniel Flexer.
John Fuhr.
John lantz.
John D. Banman.
Daniel Ebert.
Peter Snider.
Bernard Rath.
Nicholas Brink.
lohn Heller.
Daniel Beck.
George Fritz.
Jacoh Beck.
Henry Notestein.
Jacob Hartz.
Jesse Ziegenfuss.
Jacob Fister.
John Fuhr.
Nicholas Hawk.
Abraham Miller.
Isanc Darleman.
William Andreas.
David Harleman.
George Andreas.
Solomon Gordon
Adam Wieder.
Peter Bobst.
Andreas Bush. "
The plan finally carried into effect was nearly, if not quite, identical with that proposed in petition No. 2, the suggestion contained in No. 3 regarding the making of the Blue Mountains the southern line of the new county being acted upon.
The act of Assembly decreeing the long-desired es- ; tablishment of the county was passed March 13, 1843. Its important clause, which prescribed the boundaries of Carbon County, was as follows:
" Be it enacted , . . That all those parts of the The latter conchided their deliberations on Mon- counties of Northampton and Monroe, lying within . day, June 19, by selecting the town of Mauch Chunk the following bounds, viz. :
" Beginning at the northwest corner of Northamp- ton County; thence southwardly along the said county line till it intersects the northern line of Lehigh County ; thence eastwardly along the top of the Blue Mountain to the southwest corner of Mon- roe County ; thence northwardly along the Monroe County line, and continue the same point of com- pass in a direct line through Tobyhanna township, ; in Monroe County, to such point as may strike the Luzerne County line; thence westwardly along the Luzerne County line to the place of beginning, shall be, and the same is, according to the foregoing lines. declared to be erected into a separate county, to be ealled Carbon : Provided, That the territory taken from Monroe County shall only embrace the town- ship of Penn Forest, and that the said township of Penn Forest shall constitute the whole of the terri- tory taken from Monroe County by the provisions of this aet."
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There was considerable joy manifested over the birth of the new county among the friends of the project at Harrisburg, and, as is customary at the christening of ships when they are Jannehed, a bottle of wine was broken, and many were drank. The Daily Chronicle of Harrisburg contained the following allusion to the merry-making :
" In the afternoon of March 16, according to euston, the friends of a new county, called Carbon, which has
just been erected by the Legislature out of parts of Northampton and Monroe, gave a jollification on champagne and other etceteras, just after dinner to- day, in commemoration of the happy event, to which, in consideration of their distinguished services in the premises, several members of the Legislature were in- vited. Now, it happened, when the House met in the afternoon, the first business to be attended to was the ereation of another new county ( Blair), and the short distance between Mr. Prince's, where the celebration of 'Carbon' was held, and the capitol, where 'Blair' was being made, together with other circumstances, so operated on the minds of some gentlemen, who at- tended both, that when the latter was attending to 1 they became confused, and thought they were cele- brating the former. Half a dozen gentlemen were on ' the floor at the same time delivering their sentiments in sparkling glee. There was no holding them in their seats. Their ideas seemed to flow and their wits to sparkle so vehemently that to contain them- selves was altogether impracticable."
The commissioners appointed to form Carbon County were Charles W. Huggins, of Northumber- land ; William J. B. Andrus, of Clearfield ; and John B. Brodhead, of Pike; and the trustees assigned by the Governor to the delicate duty of choosing the seat of justice were John D. Bowman, Thomas Weiss, John Fatzinger, Abram Shertz, and Sammel Walf.
as the most suitable place for the county-seat, the citizens agreeing to provide the public buildings at their own expense. Immediately after the announce- ment of the decision cannon were fired, and the peo- ple of Mauch Chunk held an informal but enthusias- tie jollification.
While the agitation of the county division and county-seat location was going on, a business man of Mauch Chunk, now living, was in Easton, and one day was asked in the presence of several gentlemen who were opposed to the setting off of Carbon, " When you get your own county, and have the seat of justice located at Mauch Chunk, where will you build the addition, to your village which the natural growth will require ?" Without a moment's hesitation he re- plied, "Oh, we'll dig down one story and build up tiro." This was precisely the manner in which most of the building since 1843 has been accomplished, and in addition a few houses have been hung up on the sides of the mountains.
After the fire of 1849 had destroyed the publie buildings, Lehighton, which had been, as we have shown, an carly aspirant for the county-seat location, made a strong endeavor to secure a removal from Mauch Chunk, and in still later years renewed the endeavor. At. neither time was her prospect for sue- cess very assuring, and her citizens soon abandoned the struggle.
The Public Buildings .-- As an inducement to the
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610
HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
location of the county-seat at Mauch Chunk, the people and the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Com- pany agreed to provide suitable buildings for a court- house and jail at their own expense. The old stone store building of the company, on the ground where the present court-house stands, served the first of these purposes, and a small structure in the rear was converted into a jail. The buildings and the ground upon which they stood were donated by the company, but not formally deeded to the county until 1846. On the Ist of July the company met and agreed to con- vey the lots to the county of Carbon, " for the purpose of affording suitable accommodations for the holding and continuanee of the seat of justice at Mauch Chunk, and for no other purpose." The deed, signed by Josiah White, Caleb Cope, and James Cox for the company, was dated July 23, 1846. There had been some delay on the part of the donors, and this action was brought about or hastened by the report of the grand inquest in March, 1845, which had urged the importance of speedily securing a perfect title, and suggested the propriety of securing suitable buildings elsewhere if such title was not given.
That the so-called jail was hardly adequate appears from the report of the grand jury to the Court of Quarter Sessions, at its first term, in December, 1843. They said, "The jail of the county may answer for the present for the safe-keeping of prisoners, but we recommend that a yard be immediately enclosed by a stone wall, of sufficient height and strength to pre- vent any assistance to the prisoners from without."
The buildings donated by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company were to be fitted up to serve their new purpose by the citizens of Manch Chunk, and it appears that there was considerable delay on thei- part in carrying out the work that was thought necessary. In their report to the judges, on March 26, 1845, the grand jury said, " We feel it our duty to call the attention of the court to the fact that as yet no provision has been made for the security from fire of the books and papers belonging to the county, and to express the hope that the commissioners will, at as early a period as practicable, take the necessary meas. ures for providing the county with a fire-safe." This had not been provided the following year, and in IS 17 it was still lacking, while the suggestion made in 1843, for the building of a stone wall around the jail, had not been carried out. It was, perhaps, as well that no great improvements were made upon the buildings, for they were burned in the disastrous fire of July 15, 1849. As it occurred in the daytime, the records and books were saved.
The first session of the court after the fire was held in August. The grand jury then made the following report :
"The grand jury, at August Sessions now holding at Mauch Chunk, in and for the county of Carbon, in view of the subject presented to them by the court for deliberation, and of their knowledge moving them,
they would respectfully represent to the court that they have visited and examined the offices where the public records are now kept, which offices are in a frame building, they therefore deem them very inse- enre in case of fire. They have also examined the county buildings that were in a great measure destroyed by the recent conflagration, and are of opinion that the walls now standing are totally unfit for use, with the exception of the jail-yard wall. They would therefore recommend that an alteration be made in the construction of the buildings; that, in order that the records and papers may be secure, they recom- mend that fire-proof offices be erected on the rear of the lot, and to front on Susquehanna Street, and also that a jail be erected on the rear of the lot, back of the offices, and to connect with them, with a dwelling- house for the sheriff attached, the building to connect with the jail-yard. The jail-yard to remain as it is, with this exception, that the back and end walls of the present jail be removed, which will increase the size of the jail-yard. They also recommend that the court-house be set back from Broadway ten or twelve feet from its present location. All of which they es- pecially recommend to be put under contract imme- diately, and as the county is suffering severely for want of a jail, they would recommend that the jail be first erected, and with the least possible delay, the buildings to be constructed with a view to the increase of population, and of such materials as the commis- sioners of the county shall deem most suitable for the several purposes of their erection."
Steps were immediately taken to rebuild the court- house, county offices, and jail on the ground occupied by those which were destroyed. The progress of the work is indicated by the following report, made April 17, 1850:
"To the Honorable Court: The grand jury would respectfully report that they have examined the county offices and jail, and are much gratified to find that the buildings have been put up in so substantial a manner ; the records of the county they think per- fectly secure from fire, as the offices are, in their opin- ion, fire-proof. The jail is constructed with a view to convenience, comfort, and security of prisoners ; much credit is due the commissioners, both for the plan of the buildings as well as for the energy with which they forwarded their completion. The cells of the jail are of good size, and are kept in good order. The persons who have contracted to build the court-house are at work putting in the foundation, and from the character which they, as well as the commissioners, sustain for energy and perseverance, we feel warranted in anticipating an early completion."
The foundations of the new court-honse were ready to receive the brick superstructure in June, 1850. In May, 1852, when the building was nearly completed, the grand inquest in their report to the judges recom- mended that the walls should be raised five feet higher than the original plan had contemplated. The build-
611
CIVIL HISTORY.
ing was completed the following year, and has stood without material change or improvement to the pres- ent.
The grand jury examining the new jail in March, 1853, reported that they had found it "not safe for the retention of prisoners, and for better security" they suggested "the building of an additional wall outside the western wall, to be three feet in thickness at the bottom and two and one-half feet at the top."
This jail was found a dozen years after it was built to be inadequate for the purpose designed. In 1864, and the following year, the project of building a new one was agitated, and the county commissioners ne- gotiated for the purchase of several lots on Broadway as a site for the proposed structure. Their action was vigorously opposed by the grand jury, which reported to the court at its Jannary session (1865) :
"That they have learned with regret that the county commissioners have either purchased or eon- traeted for the purebase of four lots on Broadway Street, in the borough of Mauch Chunk, with the intention to locate and build thereon a new county jail; that they unitedly protest against the said pur- chase, location, and removal of the jail, in view of the faet that the county owns the rear part of the lot upon whose front the Mauch Chunk Bank building is situated, and which rear parcel of lot is contiguous and adjoining the present jail inclosure; and we pro- test the more strenuously against such action by the commissioners because the county has been lately, and is at present greatly burdened with extraordinary taxation ; and we recommend that the commissioners suspend any further outlays in reference to such re- moval, and that they make no more outlays at present than are absolutely necessary upon the present jail or the county offices to keep them in safe or good order."
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which holds seeure the captured criminals of the county was Edward Haviland.
Measures for the Care of the Poor .- Of all the legislation of the commonwealth, none has been more ereditable in design than that enacted from time to time for the reliefand support of the poor. The poor of the county were taken care of by the individual town- ships until 1855, when, upon April 26th, an act was passed incorporating the directors of the poor and the Ifouse of Employment of Carbon County. This law was left to the acceptance or rejection of the people, to be expressed by their votes, and as the plan to be I brought into vogne by its adoption would increase their taxation, the people in a member of the voting districts rejected it. It was on Oct. 9, 1855, that the people went to the polls to vote for or against the es- tablishment of a poor-house. There were majorities for in Mauch Chunk borough, East Mauch Chunk i borough, Banks and Lausanne townships, and ma- jorities against the new measure in all of the other townships. The people of the latter continned to care for their poor in the old method, while those of the boroughs and townships accepting the new law took measures for carrying out its provisions. On the 20th of October the commissioners named in the act of As- sembly, and living in the accepting distriets, met at the court-house in Mauch Chunk and resolved to receive proposals for a suitable farm or tract of land to serve as a site for the proposed poor-house. Upon the 15th of the following November they again met, considered several proposals which had been received, and ad- journed to visit the localities offered. In December following, having examined all of them, they took their relative merits into consideration, and after re- jecting several proposals, decided on accepting the farm of D. J. Labar, 100 acres, at $1900; the farm of Jacob Cole, 106 acres, at $1800; and the farm of Jolm Toomey, 109 acres, at $1400. Making a total of 315 acres in what is now Lehigh township for the sum of $5100. To this land a small addition, about. fifteen aeres, purchased from George Stettler, was made ten years later.
In consequence of this opposition, and in defer- ence to the feeling of the people in general, who considered themselves burdened with taxes, the pro- jeet was abandoned for the time being, and not re- vived until late in 1868. On Feb. 17, 1869, the com- missioners bonght of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Upon Nov. 18, 1855, R. D. Stiles. J. H. Chap- Company lots Nos. 90, 92, 91, 96, and 98 on the man, and George Kline were elected as the first poor north side of Broadway (a part of the Robert Brown directors, and upon the 23d of December following they appointed Jesse K. Pryor steward, and his wife as matron. They went to the farm in February fol- lowing. tract) as a site for the new jail. A proposition was made by Charles Mendron and Henry Bowman, early in 1869, to build the jail for sixty-six thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars. This proposition was ac- An estimate was made of the amount required for the farm and house, and it was set at $23,300. A tax was levied, and $11,201.40 collected. On Nov. 26, 1856, a plan for the proposed house, which had been prepared by 3. HI. Chapman, was accepted, and the directors advertised for proposals for building. A temporary building was completed in April, and a few panpers were immediately admitted to it. On ! May 31, 1856, the proposal of Jacob D. Arner to build the house according to specifications for $9900 was ae- cepted. The first annual statement showed that the eepted, and a contract made May 18th. Mendron withdrew on the last of August following, and Bow- man later. The latter then carried on the work, on a salary until Feb. 1, 1871, when he made a second contract to complete it for twenty-five thousand five hundred dollars. The payment to the time of making this contract was over one hundred and two thousand dollars, so that the entire cost of the building ex- ceeded one hundred and twenty-seven thousand dol- lars. The architect of the substantial stone structure
612
HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
directors had received $9809.82, and expended $8273.16, leaving a balanee on hand of $1536.66, and that the number of panpers in the temporary quarters which had been provided was fifty-four. They were transferred Aug. 1, 1857, to the new building, which was completed at that date. In November following David Petrey aud wife were appointed respectively steward and matron, which positions they still hold. The new house answered well the purpose for which it was built, and the condition of the refuge for the poor was maintained at a good standing. The direc- tors were not hampered for want of funds, for in 1861 they had a balance on hand of $2656.50. The number of inmates of the institution was at a given time in that year ninety-nine, of whom sixty were males and thirty-nine females.
In 1862 it was proposed to unite a portion of the Luzerne County poor distriets which had accepted the law of 1855 with the similar districts of Carbon County. On March Sth the directors from the two counties met at the Carbon Poor-house to consider the proposed union. The result of this meeting was the drawing up of a bill establishing a plan for the proposed eo-operation, which was placed in the hands of a committee of two (one director from each county), instructed to proceed to Harrisburg and secure its passage by the Legislature. It was passed March 25th as an act to organize "the Middle Coal Field Poor District." This district embraced the townships of Banks, Lansanne, and Maneh Chunk, and the boroughs of Manch Chunk and East Maueh Chunk, in Carbon County, and now ineludes also the boroughs of Lansford and Weatherly and Lehigh township, added as they were organized. The divisions of Luzerne County originally embraced in the distriet were the townships of Hazel and Foster and the borough of Hazelton, and there have been added since, upon their establishment, the boroughs of Free- land and Jeddo.
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