USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 81
USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 81
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Frank Gowen, saw-mill.
Enos Koch, saw-mill.
Abram Meckes, saw-mill.
Samuel Meckes, saw-mill.
Philip Meckes, saw-mill. Frank Serfass, saw-mill.
Charles Smith, saw- and paling-mill.
Craig & Christman, shingle-mill.
756
HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Paul Donner, turning-mill.
About the year 1861, Samuel Donner commenced the distillation of wintergreen. Since that time a number of distilleries have been started for that pur- pose and the distillation of oil from the birch. The names are here given of those who now own and operate distilleries in the township: Catharine An- drews, Jacob Bartholomew, Charles Christman, Wil- liam Dutton, Paul Donner (two), Paul Frey, Jacob Kunkle, Enos Koch, Samuel Meckes, Philip Meekes, Reuben Meckes, William Oliver, J. J. Smith (two), Peter Serfass, Robert Serfass, Benjamin Serfass, Lydia. Schoeb.
Hotels, Emanuel Kibler and Euos Koch.
Grist-mill, Henry Deppe.
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There are but seven persons in the township who are assessed distinctively as farmers. They are as follows: George Christman, Charles Christman, Adolph Henning, Josiah G. Harlan, Francis Lyer, and Henry Tracy.
The population of the township, by the census of 1880, is six hundred and fifty-three.
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Taverns .-- The first tavern built in the township was erected on the Pocono Mountain, and on the State road leading from Emmetsburg to White llaven. It was first kept by Frederick Suter, about 1838, and soon after called " The Hunter's Hotel," a name by which it is still known. It was kept by him till abont 1850, and passed into other hands. It is now owned and kept by Emanuel Kibler. Soon after this was opened, and before 1843, William Edinger built a tavern a little distance northeast of the Hun- ter's Hotel, which was kept several years and discon- tinued.
About the same time the last tavern was opened George Fegley built a dwelling and a store, which last he kept. About 1850 he opened a tavern, kept his store, and built several dwellings. The place was opposite Penn Haven, and the Lehigh Canal passed here. Quite a business grew up here, and in a few years the settlement contained, in addition to the tavern-stand, a store and warehouse, a carpenter-shop, blacksmith shop, boat-yard, stabling, with accommo- dations for one hundred and fifty horses, and twelve dwellings, and the place bid fair to become a consid- erable village. The great freshet of 1862 (January) swept the buildings all away or destroyed them, and nothing of consequence has been rebuilt there.
In 1848, Enos Koch, who had a saw-mill on Stony Creek, opened his house as a tavern, and has con- tinued to keep a public-house to the present time. A new house (the present one) was erected in 1860.
About the year 1850, Adam Meckes, who owned a : mill property on Mud Run, at what is now Meckes- ville, started a tavern, which he kept fifteen or twenty ! years. None is kept there at present.
Churches .-- In the year 1870, when the agitation concerning the building of a new school-house on ; Stony Creek was at its height, it was decided to !
make it large enough to answer also for church pur- poses. There were members of Lutheran and Re- formed German Churches in the community, and upon its completion services were held there. The pastors who served were the Revs. -- Decker, Frederick Honberger, --- Struntz, -- Becker, and at present the congregation is served by the Rev. A. M. Strauss (Lutheran) and the Rev. - Schloppe (Reformed). In 1880, John W. Reed donated to the congregation, for church and burial purposes, three acres of land on the road from Mauch Chunk to Al- brightsville, and about a quarter of a mile southwest from the residence of Adam Christman. A portion of the ground was at once laid out for a cemetery, and is now used by the Lutherans. The Reformed con- gregation purchased a piece of land near the hotel of Enos Koch, which is used by them. A neat and com- modious church edifice is now being erected on the lot donated for the purpose. This is the only church and congregation in the township.
Schools .- In the year 1844, the first year after this township became a part of Carbon County, James W. Searles and A. W. Dreisbach were elected school di- rectors. The township had accepted the school law. Schools were in operation on Stony Creek, opposite Penn Haven, at Albrightsville (then in Penn Forest), and at Bear Creek. The freshet of 1862 washed away the school-house at Penn Haven, but on Oct. 26, 1866, the district was again established, and Philip Ginter furnished a house for school purposes free of charge. In 1867 the township contained seven districts, as fol- lows : Stony Creek, Bear Creek, Albrightsville (joint with Kidder), Behren's, Drake's Creek, Penn Haven, and Wild Kettle Creek.
The school at Drake's Creek was discontinued, and was again held in the years 1878-79. There are now five districts in which schools are regularly held : Stony Creek, 43 pupils ; Bear Creek, 22 pupils ; Wild Kettle Creek, 15 pupils; Meckesville, 35 pupils ; and Albrightsville, 16 pupils. The old school-house at Albrightsville is no longer in use, and a new one built by Kidder township is used. New school-house- were built at the following places in the years given, with cost of each : Stony Creek, 1869, $475; Meckes- ville, 1870, 8343.75; Wild Kettle Creek, 1881, $275; Bear Creek, 18SI, $275. The directors for 1883 are Enos Kochard, Henry Sinedecker, Philip Shock, and W. V. R. Ash.
The following is a list of the school directors of the township since the erection of Carbon County :
1844 .- James W. Searles, A. B. Dreisbach.
1845 .- Joseph Serfass, Frederick Sutton.
1846 .- John Kelsey, J. W. Scarles.
1847 .- AAbraham Good, Lewis Billings.
1848 .-- Samuel A. Cook, Caleb Rowles.
1849 .- J. B. Dreisbach, Lewis Gowen, Adam Meckes, A. E. Albright, Andrew MeNeal, Daniel Lichtenwall- ner.
1850 .- Enos Koch, John Decker.
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1
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757
BOROUGH OF PARRYVILLE.
1851 .-- Henry Garman, William Snyder, William Serfass.
1852 .-- George Fegley, George Kissel.
1853 .-- Adam Meckes, William Serfass, John Gowen, John Berkley, Enos Koch.
1854 .- Morris Evans, Charles A. Getzinger.
1855 .- J. N. Umphread, George Fegley.
1856 .- Lewis Gowen, Jolm Gowen, Jeremiah Gang- were, Adam Meckes.
1857 .- George H. Weiss, Enos Koch.
1858 .-- Charles Smith, John Hote.
1859 .- Butler Cortwright, Cornelius Ziegenfuss. 1860-No record.
1861 .- Enos Koch, Charles Smith, John Hote, Samuel Hawk, S. W. Meckes.
1862 .- A. Christman, B. Cortwright.
1863 .- Samuel Hawk, John Hote.
1864 .- Enos Koch, Charles Smith.
1865 .- Adam Christman, Butler Cortwright.
1866 .- Enos Koch, Charles Smith.
1867 .- Adam Meckes, John Ilaide.
1868 .- Enos Koch, David Snyder.
1869 .-- Adam Christman, Charles Smith.
1870 .-- John Hade, Adam Roueh.
1871 .-- Enos Koch, David Snyder.
1872 .-- Enos Koch, David Snyder.
1873 .- Tie vote on Adam Christman, Chr. Smith, Francis Sieger.
1874 .- John Hote, Philip Schoch.
1875 .-- David Snyder, Henry Linedecker.
1876 .-- A. D. Christman, Charles Smith, Henry Deppe.
1877 .- Philip Schoch, Henry Deppe.
1878 .-- None.
1879 .-- Enos Koch, Henry Linedeeker.
1880 .-- Philip Shoch, Henry Deppe.
1881 .-- A. D. Christman, Charles Smith.
1882 .- Philip Shoch, W. V. Rash.
1883 .-- Enos Koch, Henry Linedecker.
Justices of the Peace .- The justices of the peace from 1844 to the present time have been as follows :
Stephen Gould, March, 1811.
John Kelsey, March, 1846,
Jost Preisbach, March, 1847.
Enos Koch, March, 1848 (declined).
Henry Garmer, March, 1849. Andrew McNeal, March, 1850.
A. B. Dreisbach, Mareh, 1851.
Isaac Harleman, March, 1851.
Andrew Decker, March, 1852. Samuel Siewell, March, 1853.
Robert Maxwell, March, 1853. Adam Christman, March, 1855.
Lewis Hawk, March, 1856.
George H. Weiss, March, 1857.
Jacob Weiss, March, 1858.
Samuel Hawk, March, 1859. Adam Christman, March, 1860.
Cornelius Ziegenfuss, March, 1860; March, 1862.
Adam Christman, March, 1865.
John Eberle, March, 1868.
Enos Koch, October, 1869 (declined).
Adam Christman, October, 1869.
Levi Kurtner, March, 1872.
Adam Christman, March, 1875.
A. D. Christman, March, 1880.
Charles J. Tidd, Mareh, 1880. J. J. Smith, March, 1881.
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CHAPTER XXII.
BOROUGH OF PARRYVILLE.'
THE borough of Parryville is situated about six miles below Mauch Chunk, and is bounded on the north and west by Franklin township, on the east and southeast by Lower Towamensing, and on the south by the Lehigh River. The first settlement at this loeality was made about 1780 by Peter Frantz, and in 1781, Frederick Scheckler and Leonard Beltz had taken up land there and in the vicinity. Frantz & Scheckler soon after erected a stone grist-mill on the Poho Poeo Creek, which enters the Lehigh River at this place. The property remained in their posses- sion until 1815, at which time it passed. to Jacob and Peter Stein. The mill was run by Jacob, and Peter built a large stone hotel, which is now in use for dwellings. Between the years 1836-40 the Pine For- rest Lumber Company was established and made this place headquarters. Saw-, lath-, and paling-mills were erected on the Poho Poco Creek, near the river, and the manufacture of lumber was carried on extensively. Large tracts of land were owned in the northern part of the county and in Luzerne County, from which the greater part of the logs were obtained. Daniel Parry was the president of the company, and as the settlement grew up around these mills, the place became known as Parrysville, and finally Parryville.
In 1836 the Beaver Meadow Railroad Company completed its road to the opposite side of the river, and made Parryville the terminus and shipping-point. The coal from the cars was here dumped into the canal-boats of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Com- pany. This business continued till the freshet of Jan. 7 and 8, 1841, when the wharves, trestle-works, and chutes were swept away, and also the railroad track from Parryville to Penn Haven Junction. The railroad was not rebuilt from Mauch Chunk to Parry- ville, and the former place from that time became the shipping-point.
About the year 1855, Messrs. Bowman, Brother & Co. formed a copartnership, and established an anthra- cite blast-furnace (now known as No. 1), which was run by water-power from Poho Poco Creek until
1 By Dennis Banman.
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758
HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
about 1857. In that year the company sold their in- terest to a corporation under the name of the "Car- bon Iron Company." The first board of directors was elected in August, 1857, and consisted of the fol- lowing persons : William Reed, James Dinkey, Henry Bowman, Solomon Boyer, David Bowman, John Bow- man, and Dennis Bauman. On the 15th of August, Dennis Bauman was elected president, and A. W. Butler secretary and treasurer.
Improvements were made and the capacity of the works increased, and it was soon demonstrated that the water power was not sufficient to furnish the power for the blast, and steam was introduced. In the year 1864 a second furnace was erected (now known as No. 2), and in 1869 furnace No. 3 was built. In the year 1876 the property passed to the "Carbon Iron and Pipe Company (limited)." A " pipe plant" was re- cently erected, and these works are now operated by the last-named company, the officers of which are A. A. Douglass, president ; George Ruddle, secretary ; and H. P. Cooper, superintendent.
The village has grown up as the result of the loca- tion of the furnace here, and now contains a popula- tion of about eight hundred, and in addition to the furnaces about one hundred dwellings, two stores, flour and feed store, two churches, one school-honse (with four rooms), a hotel, and a depot of the Phila- delphia and Reading Railroad.
The first road that passed through this locality was the one laid out in 17-47, and made in 1748, extending from Bethlehem to Gnadenhütten. It is known through this region as the "Fire Line Road," and ran over the hills. It was used as a military road from January, 1756, to January, 1761, when Fort Allen was garrisoned. About 1815 a wagon-road was constructed from Parryville to Lehigh Gap, along the north bank of the Lehigh River, which was much used. Many stories are related of the canses that gave to the old road the name " Fire Line," but none that are trustworthy. The application of the name dates far back in the Indian war period, between 1756 and 1761.
Churches .-- The first religions services of nny mo- ment held at Parryville were commenced about the year 1810. At that time and for several years ser- vices were conducted occasionally at the school-house and at private houses by Methodist ministers gener- ally from Manch Chunk. In the year 1858, Parry- ville, Slatedale, Wakefield, Weissport, and Maria Furnace were united in one circuit, and the Rev. Jacob Schlichter was placed in charge. Services were held in the school-house, then recently erected, and intended for both school and church purposes. This building was used by the Methodists till 1863, when the present brick church edifice was erected. It was dedicated by Bishop Scott on the 13th of December, 1863.
The circuit has been changed several times, as fol- lows: Parryville, Weissport, and Slatington, Parry-
ville and Lehighton. For a time, when the furnaces at this place were in full operation, Parryville beeame a separate station, and had a membership of from sixty to eighty. About the year 1876, on account of depression in business, the iron-works suspended their operations, the membership declined greatly, and Parryville became connected in a circuit with Slatington, Slatedale, and Maria Furnace, and is still in that eircuit. The church now has a membership of thirty-two. A Sunday-school was commenced upon the organization of the church in 1858, and has been in successful operation to the present, having now, including teachers, a membership of from eighty to one hundred and fifty. The pastors who have served the church from 1858 to the present time are as follows : Revs. Jacob Schlichter, William T. Magee, G. T. Barr, S. Powers, W. B. Durell, E. Townsend, William H. Friese, J. Lindenmuth, J. P. Miller, L. B. Brown, L. B. Hoffman, G. L. Shoffer, Josiah Bawden, William F. Sheperd, and F. Illman.
Schools .- The first school-house was built of logs, about the year 1820, and was twenty-five by thirty feet, and one story in height. It was located about one hundred yards above the mouth of Poho Poco Creek, on the north bank. The school was attended by pupils who came from several mniles around. School was taught three months annually, the parents of each child paying tuition. This house was re- placed by another about 1840, and in 1858 the pres- ent commodious building was erected for school and church purposes.
On the 4th of March, 1867, Parryville became an independent school district, and the following direc- tors were elected in that year : Dennis Banman, James Thomas, James Anthony, Jacob Peters, Samuel Davis, Thomas Petit. Since 1875 the directors have been as follows :
1875 .- W. W. Bauman, A. T. Peiffer, George Davis, George F. Anthony, C. Rinker, J. A. Koch.
1876 .- Charles Raddetz, L. F. Remely.
1877 .- Robert Peters, J. L. Miller, G. W. Banman, William Romig.
1878 .- Charles Raddetz, William Blose.
1879 .- None reported.
1880 .- 11. P. Cooper, William Bamford.
1881 .- Jacob Peters, G. W. Bauman, W. L. Kutz. 1882 .- John Pickford, Charles Saeger.
1883 .- H. P. Cooper, John D. Kistler.
The borough of Parryville was incorporated by the court of Carbon County carly in the year 1875, and the first election ordered to be held in February of that year.
The following are the names of those who have served as burgesses, councilmen, and justices of the peace :
BURGESSES. 1875-78 .- Denis Bauman. 1879-80 .- Jacob Peters. 1881-83 .- 1I. P. Cooper.
1
Dennis Bauman Jauneaw
759
BOROUGH OF PARRYVILLE.
COUNCIL.
1875 .- A. T. Pieffer, A. R. Snyder, Charles Belford, George Davis, J. E. Beltz.
1876 .- Jacob Peters, G. F. Anthony, Charles Rad- detz, Harrison Wentz, A. T. Pieffer.
1877 .- Jacob Peters, Stephen Snyder.
1878 .- A. R. Snyder, Jacob Peters, Jonas Beltz, Charles Raddetz, William Blose.
1879 .- Dennis Bauman, Harrison Wentz, J. L. Miller, William Rinker.
1880 .- William Rinker, John Petit, John Strickler, Jr., Jacob Becker, John Pickford, Henry Milheim.
1881 .- John Pickford, Dennis Wentz, William Blose, Jacob Peters, Dennis Bauman, Henry Milheim. 1882 .- Jacob Peters, C. J. Mantz, John Pickford, Dennis Bauman, Beden Snyder, W. D. Kutz.
1883 .- Jacob Peters, Henry Sleider, James An- drews, Frank P. Boyer, Dennis Bauman, Thomas Thomas.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1875 .- George F. Anthony, Daniel Wentz.
1877 .- James M. Bauman.
1879 .- Dennis Bauman.
1880 .- William B. Anthony.
1882 .- llarrison Wentz.
1883 .- Solomon Reiner.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
JUDGE DENNIS BAUMAN.
The ancestors of the Bauman family emigrated from Germany. Henry Bauman, the grandfather of Dennis, was among the first settlers of Northampton Connty north of the Blue Mountains, in Towamensing township, now Lower Towamensing township, Car- bon Co. The place he chose for settlement was abont two miles north of Lehigh Gap, near where the Luth- eran and German Reformed Church now stands. The first thing he did was to clear land, thus making a farm for himself and family. He also followed the lumbering business, and spent much time in hunting and trapping. His family consisted of four children, equally divided iu sex. In those days the settlers were frequently persecuted by the Indians, so much so that at one time Mr. Bauman was foreed to send his wife and family to a place near Easton for safety. When his sons arrived at the age of maturity they were married. The oldest, John D., father of Den- nis, was born about the year 1772, and in 1796 settled in a place now known as Bowmansville. His house was built of logs, and to-day near the place stands the elegant residence of his youngest son, Josiah. He then became engaged in clearing a farm and lum- bering, and, as his father before him had done, spent much time in hunting and trapping. In 1808 he built a large stone house, in front of which ran
the old turnpike from Berwick to Easton. He ob- tained lieense, and from that time until his death, which occurred in 1853, kept the hotel, which to-day is still used as the same. Mr. Bauman was an active, intelligent business man, and in all his undertakings was successful. He was one of the leading citizens of that county; was also elected at one time county commissioner for three years, which term of public office he very ereditably filled. He was loved and respected by all who knew him. He was the father of twelve children,-eight sons and four daughters, -five of whom are now dead.
Henry Bauman, his brother, settled on a farm about one mile north of Lehigh Gap, on the north bank of the Lehigh River, where he spent his entire lifetime. He too reared a large family, and died at the age of ninety-two.
Dennis Bauman, the seventh in suecession, and son of the late Jolin D. Bauman, was born April 10, 1819, at Bowmansville, then Northampton County, now Carbon.
Ilis early life was spent at home, assisting his father with his farming and lumbering. In those days an education was not as easily obtained as it is to-day. While at home he attended the three months of winter school until he was sixteen years old, when he went to Mauch Chunk for a period of four months. Mauch Chunk was seven miles from home, so he boarded there during the week, going home on Satur- day and returning Monday morning by stage. At the age of twenty he felt the need of a better educa- tion. He then went to boarding-school at Line Lex- ington, Bucks Co., Pa., for two successive winters, each term consisting of four months. By these means he obtained a fair English education. Among the other studies which he mastered was surveying, which he put into practice soon after his return from school, and followed it closely and carefully, with consider- able success, for nine years. In the mean time he was appointed by Governor Shunk as deputy surveyor for Carbon County. At this time surveyors were ap- pointed by the Governor. Mr. Bauman was actively engaged in his profession all over the country until about the year 1850, when he was elected prothono- tary for Carbon County, and served in this capacity for a full term of three years, when he was re-elected without any opposition for another term of three years, which he filled acceptably to the public and with great credit to himself. About a year later he was elected as one of the associate judges of Carbon County, and sat on the bench with Hon. Judge Bar- rett for a term of five years. About the year 1855 he connected himself with the firm of Bowman Brothers & Co., at Parryville, and became one of the most ac- tive members in ereeting an anthracite blast-furnace at Parryville. In this firm he continued as the aet- ing financial member until the year 1857, when the company dissolved their copartnership, and in its place was organized and incorporated the Carbon Iron
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760
HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Company, of which Mr. Bauman was chosen presi- dent, being re-elected from year to year until the | great financial panic of 1876. This company having two anthracite blast-furnaces, and part of the time three, in operation, it necessarily required all of Mr. Banman's time as its president in attending to its affairs, so he withdrew from the political field. About the year 1876, owing to the effects of the panic of 1873, this company was unfortunate in being forced into dissolution, sinee which he has lived a retired life, looking after his private affairs, giving some of his time to the procuring of iron ore for the furnaces of the Carbon Iron and Pipe Company. He has also served a term of five years as justice of the peace in the borongh of Parryville. He is connected with the Carbon Metallie Paint Company ; has been its secre- tary and treasurer for a number of years, which office he is now filling. About the year 1875, Parryville was incorporated as a borough, the citizens showing their appreciation by electing him their chief bur- gess, re-electing him until the year 1881, when he de- elined further re-election, but continued in the board of council ever since. Ife has also been director of the First National Bank of Lehighton since its or- ganization in 1875. Mr. Bauman married Mary, daughter of Henry Kress, whose occupation was farming, residing near Cherryville, in Northampton County. The issue of their union was four sons and one daughter. His fourth child, Albert L., died at the early age of eighteen.
Mr. Bauman took fatherly pride in giving his chil- dren good edneations, who to-day are filling positions of honor and trust. He has been a faithful worker and earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and Sunday-school since 1858, having filled all of the offices of trust in those societies. Judge Bauman is a fair type of a true American citizen,-a man who has been prospered in many ways, one who enjoys the confidence of all who know him, a man whose sterling worth and integrity is worthy of ex- ample.
CHAPTER XXHIL. LOWER TOWAMENSING TOWNSHIP.1
This township lies on the south border of the county, and is bounded on the south by the Blue Ridge or Kittatinny Mountains and Northampton County, on the east by Monroe County, on the north by Franklin and Towamensing townships, and on the west by Lehigh River and East Penn township.
The principal stream within its limits is the Aqua- shicola, which rises in Monroe County, flows easterly along the base of the Blue Ridge, and enters the Le- high at Lehigh Gap.
The township was set off' from Towamensing with its present territories between November, 1840, and March, 1841, as in that month the name of Lower Towamensing is first found in official records of North- ampton County. An effort was made in 1851 to again divide the township. Commissioners were appointed, who were to report at the March term of court. Their time was extended to September term. No further mention of the matter is in the records, and the effort failed.
Early Settlements .- The families of Boyer, Bau- man or Bowman, Mehrkem, and Strohl are the only ones of the carly families whose descendants are to- day residents of the township. A few dates gleaned from deeds and old papers, a few traditions handed down from generation to generation, are all that re- main of the pioneers of the " wilderness" above the Blue Ridge. Were it not for assessment-rolls and old deeds their very names would be forgotten.
The first mention of one who settled within the present limits is in court records of Northampton County, of the October term of 1752, when Nicholas Opplinger was appointed constable. Mention is again made of him by Benjamin Franklin, in a letter to Gov- ernor Morris, dated Fort Allen, Jan. 26, 1756, who says, speaking of the march of the troops from Bethlehem to Gnadenhütten, where they crected a fort, "We inarched cautiously through the gap of the mountain, a very dangerous pass, and got to Uplinger's (Opp- linger), but twenty miles from Bethlehem. . . . There were no habitations on the road to shelter us until we arrived near at the house of a German, where and on his farin we were all huddled together. . . . The next day being fair we continued our march, and arrived at the desolate Gnadenhütten."
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