USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 87
USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 87
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known as Grog Hollow. In 1839 he was sent to the store at White Haven, and after a short service there he was transferred to the principal store in Mauch Chunk, the famous corner store. After a service of four years, having given evidence of ability, and being entirely trustworthy, he was given charge of the store at Nesquehoning, where he remained about six- teen years. Judge Packer then decided to retire from the mercantile business, and devote his energies to the development of his railroad interests. Mr. Blaks- lee, in 1857, came to Weatherly, having bought out the mercantile business of R. D. Stiles, who moved to Morrison, Ill. Mr. Blakslee was married to Miss S. Beadle, an English lady. The fruit of their union was nine children, three boys and three girls of whom are living. In politics he is a Democrat. During his twenty-seven years in Weatherly he has prospered. He is a shrewd merchant, possessed of ample competence. His home is pleasant, yet no dis- play. In his union he was blest with one of the best of women. Mrs. Blakslee is of a retiring disposition, yet keenly alive to the wants of the distressed, her many kind and charitable acts having endeared her to many.
PHILIP HOFFECKER.
Mr. Philip Hoffecker, master-mechanic and super- intendent of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company's extensive foundry and machine-shops at Weatherly, Pa., is a modest, unassuming man; but his work stands head and shoulders with all other work of the same class, which makes him a monarch among ma- chinists. He is the son of Philip Hoffecker, who was born near Londonderry, Chester Co., Pa., in 1777. He followed farming, tanning, and enrrying until the time of his death, in 1835. Mr. Hoffecker's mother was born in 1779, and departed this life in 1834.
Philip, as he was then called, was born in the year 1816. He stayed at home with his parents, assisting his father in various ways, as boys do, taking advan- tage of the three-months' winter school, until the death of his father, when he started out in search of work. He came to Beaver Meadow in the year 1836, which place at that time was a small village. The principal work was carried on by Joseph Barker, in making coal-cars for the Beaver Meadow Railroad Company. Mr. Barker employed him in helping to fit wheels and axles. At that time it was thought that in order for a car to turn a curve it was necessary to have one loose wheel. These wheels were cast at New Hope, Pa .; they were brought to Mauch Chunk via canal-boats, then hanled by teams to Beaver Meadow, where they were bored to fit the axles. After Mr. Barker left he was succeeded by Mr. Jon- athan Moore, who built a foundry and made car- wheels. In the mean time the Beaver Meadow Rail- road was finished to Parryville. Mr. Hopkin Thomas came from Philadelphia with two engines, built by Eastwick & Harrison. The engines had one pair of
Orn Blakdlc,
Philip Hoffecker
3
Daniel Rouse
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785
BOROUGH OF WEATHERLY.
drivers, five feet in diameter, ten-inch eylinder, and twenty-inch stroke. Mr. Thomas took charge of the shop that had been built for cars and used it for re- pairing the engines, employing Mr. Hoffecker at this time as an apprentice to the machinist trade. The company then leased tlfeir mines and works to Van Cleave & Co., which in time passed to William Mil- lens, Spencer & Co. John O. Cleaver and Reiteh opened a colliery, making arrangements with the Beaver Company to run their coal to market. Mr. Hoffecker now contracted with this company to run and keep in repair one of their engines for the season for a certain sum. At the end of the season, at their request, he took charge of all their machinery, coming to Weatherly in 1852, which position he held until the road was consolidated with the Lehigh Valley Rail- road Company in 1864. He was retained by the new company, and has been filling that position aeeeptably alike to the company and employes up to the present time.
In 1869 the new shops were completed, since which time Mr. Iloffeeker, under his own supervision, has built and completed forty-five locomotives,-a monu- ment that speaks volumes in itself for the wisdom and intellect that is required to turn out work of that kind. What a grand heirloom this to bequeath a family ! Mr. Hofleeker has also taken some interest in local affairs, being one of the prime movers in organizing Weatherly borough, serving in the Council for a period of at least five years. He also acted as a di- reetor of the school for a term of ten years. He mar- ried Miss Harriet E. Longshore, in 1841. She was born in the year 1824, on the banks of the Susque- hanna, near Berwick, Pa. Her parents being en- gaged in farming, she enjoyed the usual opportunities afforded farmers' daughters for obtaining an education in those days. Her father, Josiah Longshore, was born in Bucks County, Pa., in 1791, and died in 1836, after which Mrs. Longshore, with her family, moved to Beaver Meadow. This was in 1836. Her mother, Mrs. Ann Longshore, was born in Montgomery County, Pa., in 1784, and died in 1875. Their married life proved a prosperous and happy one, the fruits of which have been five children, -- three daughters and two sons. The oldest, William L. Hoffecker, married Miss Mina Peters, of White Haven, Pa., in 1866. IIe is now occupying the position of master- machinist with the Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Toledo Railroad Company, at Youngstown, Ohio. The next, Miss Lizzie A., was married to Mr. Charles De Witt, of Weatherly, in 1866. Mr. De Witt is foreman of the machine-shops at Weatherly. Next comes Asha- bel B., one of Weatherly's wide-awake and active young men. He is chief book-keeper and draughts- man for the machine-shops and foundry, in which position he proves himself to be a valuable assistant to his father. Mr. Hoffeeker's younger daughters, Misses Mary and Emily, are young ladies who have enjoyed more than the usual advantages. To know
them is to recognize culture, refinement, intelligence, and genuine worth. We now leave the subject of this sketch, feeling satisfied that in Mr. Hoffeeker we have a true type of an American citizen, blessed with a happy home, and enjoying the success of his children.
DANIEL ROUSE.
On Jan. 12, 1782, in what was then Northampton County (now Monroe), about three miles west of Stroudsburg, Pa., was born the father of the subject of this sketch,-namely, John Rouse. IIe was of English descent. His wife, Miss Susan Schaffer, was of German parentage. She was reared in the same locality, where her parents engaged in the pursuit of farming. They were married in the year 1806, the result of which was a family of ten children, six boys and four girls, Mr. Daniel Rouse being the eighth in succession. He was born June 14, 1823; spent his younger days assisting around the farm, and attend- ing school in winter, until his eighteenth year, when he was apprenticed to the carpenter trade for a period of three years. After working at the bench for about a year he started out to seek his fortune, going first to Wilkesbarre, from there to Weatherly, arriving there in April, 1846, when he connected himself with the Beaver Meadow Railroad Company. He worked at his trade until 1855, when he was made superin- tendent of the ear-shop department, which embraced all the important carpenter-work done in the shops. In this position Mr. Rouse has made many warm friends on account of his fair and wise treatment of all liis employés.
Dec. 12, 1850, he was united in the bonds of matri- mony with Miss Sarah Ann Gilbert, who was born June 24, 1830, at Broadheadville, Monroe Co. The early part of her life was spent there, from whenee she went to Weatherly, where she lived with her sister, Mrs. Mary Houser. Their family consists of four children. The eldest, Edwin G. Rouse, was born June 27, 1852, who, after having the advantages of a good common-school education, spent several years at the Wyoming Semi- mary, at Kingston, Pa., also taking a special course in architectural draughting at the Polytechnic College, Philadelphia, after which he served his apprentice- ship at the carpenter's trade and car-building.
In 1876 the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company made him their foreman in the car-shop department. In this position he proves himself to be a man of competenee. He is now serving a three-years' term as president of the Common Council. He was married to Miss Cla- rissa McCarty, of Weatherly, May 21, 1874. The second son, John Rouse, was born Dec. 9, 1855 ; died Sept. 16, 1860.
Peter G. Rouse, the third son, was born April 17, 1859. He also had opportunities of receiving a good education, taking a thorough course at the Wyoming Commercial College. He was married to Miss Katie Koons, of Weatherly, November, 1882. He now
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786
HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
stands well as a machinist in the employ of the com- pany.
Miss Laura Emma, the only daughter, was born Nov. 18, 1869, and at present is attending school.
Mr. Daniel Rouse was one of the foremost in organ- izing Weatherly borough, so much so that his fellow- townsmen showed their just appreciation by making him their first chief burgess. He served as school director for a period of fifteen years, dating from 1860. In the fall of 1875, he was elected to serve a term of three years as county commissioner.
SAMUEL HARLEMAN.
In the southeastern part of this State is Chester County, well known for its rich and productive farm- ing land, where, on the 29th of November, 1799, was born Mr. Isaae Harleman, the father of the subject of this sketeh. In his younger days he followed farm- ing; afterward, for a period of twelve years, he was engaged in shoemaking; from this he went to boating lumber on the Lehigh Canal from Lehigh Gap to Allentown, after which, in 1838, he went to Parryville, and worked for the Beaver Meadow Railroad Company until 1840, when he moved to Pen Haven, where he became boss of the Sugar Loaf Company's wharf, and remained until the freshet of 1841, which entirely de- stroyed their wharf. He was then ordered to Mauch Chunk, where he attended to the shipping of their coal. After this he located at Penn Haven, where he became engaged in boat-building. On April 1, 1853, he moved his business to Rockport, Pa., where he stayed until 1857, when he moved to Weatherly, Pa., and secured work in the Lehigh Valley Railroad shops of that place. The old gentleman is still living, though somewhat infirm. He lives with his son, Samuel. His wife, whose maiden name was Miss Catharine Ziegenfuss, was born March 19, 1801, in Chester County, Pa. Her father, George Ziegenfuss, who married Miss Susan Kemp, removed from Chester County to Millport, Northampton Co., Pa. She died April 19, 1872, having been the mother of seven chil- dren,-five sons and two daughters. Mr. Sammel Harleman was the fourth in descent. He was born April 17, 1829, at Millport, then in Northampton County, and spent his younger days in acquiring an education. In 1840, after moving to Penn Haven, Samuel took charge of the lock for the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company up to 1845, when he worked for A. Pardee & Company, on their wharf. In Au- gust, 1846, he went to Weatherly and became a brakeman on a coal train, which work he pursued for two years, when he was promoted to fireman of a loco- motive. In 1848 he was made an engineer. He was married to Miss Susan Setzer, April 25, 1850. Her parents having died when she was still very young she took up her residence with her uncle, Charles Gilger, at Weatherly. Mr. Harleman continued en-
gineering until 1864, being under the employ, the greater part of the time, of the Lehigh Valley Rail- road Company. After the completion of the Lehigh Valley Railroad to Phillipsburg, which was in 1856, Mr. Harleman ran the passenger train to that place, which was the only train at that time. He ran engine " Delaware No. 4," James I. Blakslee, now superin- tendent of the Mahanoy Division of the Lehigh Val- ley Railroad, being conductor of the train, which left Mauch Clinnk at four A.M., returning at ten P.M.
In 1862, Mr. Harleman enlisted in the Nineteenth Pennsylvania Regiment, Col. Robert Klotz being in charge. In 1863 he went ont as eaptain in the Thirty- fourth Pennsylvania Regiment, under Gen. Albright. In 1864 he was made dispatcher of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, at Weatherly, which position of confidence he has filled and is still filling with great merit and eredit alike to himself and company .. On April 22, 1869, he was made postmaster at Weatherly, which office he has since held acceptably to the pub- lie. In 1871 he was elected to a three-years' term as county commissioner ; he was again re-elected in 1881, which term he is still serving. He has been school director at different times for a period of at least fif- teen years; also a director of the Second National Bank of Manch Chunk for two terms; was connected with Council for three years. He is a director in the Weatherly Water Company, incorporated some three years ago; has also been a director in the Oak Hall Association of Weatherly, and since 1866 has been treasurer of the same.
His wife, Susan Stetzer, after a lingering illness of several years, departed this life Sept. 21, 1872, leaving a family of five children, -three daughters and two sons. The oldest, Charles Iloraee, a bright and inter- esting boy, died at the age of fourteen ; Adelaide, the second child, enjoyed good school advantages, spend- ing several years at the State Normal school at Mil- lersville, Pa. On Feb. 3, 1874, she was married to Mr. Duer A. Melvin, of Susquehanna County, who is now station agent at Newburg, N. Y.
Next is George Milton, who spent two years at La- fayette College, Easton, Pa. Ile was married Aug. 6, 1878, to Miss Mary Ritter, of Weatherly. He is now dispatcher of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Com- pany at Bethlehem, Pa.
Miss Mary Jane, after graduating at Millersville Seminary, was married Dec. 28, 1880, to Mr. Thomas Dunn, of Weatherly. Mr. Dunn is a successful moul- der by trade.
The youngest, Miss Lizzie Estelle, is now at Millers- ville, Pa., preparing herself as a teacher.
Mr. Harleman was married June 6, 1874, to his present wife, Mrs. Vesta Lochner, with whom he is now enjoying the happiness to be derived from the prosperity surrounding those who are growing up about them. Mr. Ilarleman has been a consistent and trusted elder of the Presbyterian Church since 1858.
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Saint Healsman
787
MAUCH CHUNK TOWNSHIP.
J. G. EADIE.
In the year 1805, in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, was born Mr. Robert Eadie, father of the subject of this sketch. In the year 1828 he determined to seek his fortune in America. After a long and tedious voyage of three months in a sailing-vessel, he found himself on a foreign shore among strangers; but it was not long before he secured work at his old oecu- pation, namely, mining, which he followed until the year 1853, when, on July 6th, he was killed in a mine at Nesquehoning, in which he was working. He was married to Miss Margaret Hunter, of Pottsville, in the year 1830. She was born at Paisley, Scotland, in 1810, came to America with her older sister in 1827. This estimable lady was a first cousin of the celebrated and successful African explorer, Dr. Livingstone, whose record as an explorer has never been excelled. Mrs. Eadie was the mother of nine children, three of whom are now living, Mr. J. E. Eadic being the second in succession. IIc was born Dec. 26, 1835, at New Castle, Schuylkill Co., Pa., and spent his younger days in educating the mind and training the "young idea how to shoot," after which he worked at general work around the mines for about four years, when, in 1854, he seeured a clerkship in Packer, Douglass & Co.'s store at Nesquchoning, staying with them until 1857, when he located with Mr. W. W. Blakslee, in his large mercantile establishment at Weatherly, Pa. In 1866 he sought to make his fortune, and started in business for himself at Rockport, Pa., continuing there until 1869, when he returned to Weatherly, where success has crowned his every effort np to the present time, so that to-day he is among the highest tax-paying citizens in the borough. He was elected chief burgess in the year 1872, well remembered as the one in which that dreadful disease, smallpox, raged so fearfully, requiring a courageous and fearless board of officers to cope with it. He also served a year as borough assessor; was poor auditor for six years. In 1869 he was elected jury commissioner for a term of three years. On July 3, 1861, he was mar- ried to Elizabeth Stetler, who was born at Rockport, Pa .. in 1840, where her parents, Joseph and Elizabeth Stetler, resided. At one time Mr. Stetler and Judge Asa Packer owned together all of that large tract of land lying immediately baek of Weatherly borough. Mr. Eadie's marriage relations have proved to be most happy and fruitful, resulting in eleven children,- eight daughters and three sons. His oldest son is now learning the machinist's trade in the Lehigh Valley Railroad shops at that place. His other chil- dren, with the exception of two who have died, are enjoying the advantages to be derived from the most successful and well-disciplined public schools of the borough. In Mr. Eadie we have an example of the diligent, energetic, determined man. Having but a small amount of means when he began, we find him to- day among the most prosperous of Weatherly's citizens, and carrying on a business that is second to nonc.
CHAPTER XXVII.
MAUCHI CHIUNK TOWNSHIP. (INCLUDING THE BOROUGH OF LANSFORD.)
MAUCH CHUNK township was ereeted Aug. 23, 1827, its territory being taken principally from East Penn, although a small strip was carved from Lau- sanne, and in later years a piece of territory east of the river, equal to about one-fourth of the original township, was added.
Lausanne-The Landing Tavern .- The first dot of civilization placed upon this broad, wild, and mountainous tract, so entirely forbidding in appear- ance, yet containing a vast concealed treasure which, when found, enriched thousands, was at Lausanne. This spot, at the confluenee of Nesquehoning Creek and the Lehigh, was the site of the famous " Landing Tavern," which for a period of many years, dating from very near the opening of the present century, was a great resort for raftsinen, for surveyors, coal prospcetors, hunters, and the few travelers who found their way through the picturesque but desolate valley of the Upper Lehigh. The Lehigh and Susquehanna Turnpike Company was chartered in 1808, and soon after built what was commonly called the Easton and Berwick road, which, at the mouth of the Nesque- honing, diverged from the winding river and followed a more direct course over the mountain. The " Land- ing Tavern" was doubtless built about the time the road was opened, and situated at the point where the road and river diverged, it had as guests all who traveled by either course, its principal patrons being,'in the earlier years, the lumbermen and " ark"- builders of the region, and in later years the stage passengers who journeyed between Berwick and points on the Lower Lehigh. Abram Klotz was probably the first landlord of the " Landing Tavern ;" at least, he was the earliest of whom we have any knowledge. He kept this notable old house as late as 1817, and his successor was a man named Holland. One Fisher followed him, and then from about 1825 to 1832 the tavern was kept by John Rothermel, father of the famous artist. He was succeeded by John Rumble, and he by Henry D. Miller.
A post-office was established at Lausanne, and Isaac A. Chapman, who came to this region during the war of 1812 (see Mauch Chunk borough), has left record that he was postmaster. Under date of Ang. 5, 1817, he writes in his diary, " Rode to Lehighton to take oath before Justice (John) Pryor as Postmaster at Lausanne."
Lausanne would doubtless have become the site of a flourishing town had it not been for the inordinate greed of the man who owned the land. It was the intention of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Com- pany to locate their principal town there, but the price set upon the land was so far above its real value that they declined to purchase it.
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788
HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
The township has but little history, save that of the operations of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Com- pany, and that has been for the most part given in the history of Maueh Chunk borough. In 1827 the company was assessed on three hundred and forty-six aeres of improved land and on three thousand six hundred and ninety-two acres unimproved, a grist- mill, three saw-mills, store-house, tavern, furnace, six- teen stone dwellings, sixteen log and frame dwellings, forty-two horses, thirty-six oxen, and thirty-six mules. Most of the improvements and the property, other than real estate, were at Maneh Chunk. The only persons to whom lands were assessed in 1827, besides the Coal and Navigation Company, were the follow- ing, among whom those marked with a star (*) were non-residents :
William Bingham,* 8366 aeres.
Johnson Bloomfield,* 375 aeres.
David Balderton,“ 1700 acres.
Mary Custard,* 140 acres.
Morgan Custard,* 100 acres.
George Fogelman, 15 acres.
Samuel Holland, 80 aeres.
John Lentz,* 200 aeres.
John Metzgar, 300 acres.
Frederick Miller, one lot.
James O'Brien, 2 acres.
Mordecai Pierrol,* 1000 acres.
James M. Porter,* 172 aeres.
Henry Rhoads, 50 acres.
John Rothermel, 177 acres.
Paul Solt," 137 aeres.
Jacob Weiss,# 18-19 aeres.
Jacob Weiss, Jr.,* 100 aeres.
Philip Zept," 300 acres.
William Butler, George Fogelman, and Henry Rhoads were the only persons in the township desig- nated as farmers, and one of them ( Butler) was en- gaged upon a farm which belonged to the company. This was either the Union Farm, opened in 1822, or Hackelbernie Farm, upon which improvements were made in 1823.
The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company's Property .- Nearly all of the valuable real estate of the township belongs to the Lehigh Coal and Navi- gation Company, and constitutes their mine property. This amounts to over six thousand acres of coal land in what is ealled the first or great southern field of anthracite in Pennsylvania. This basin extends from near the Lehigh on the east to Pottsville, and towards the Susquehanna, in the neighborhood of Harrisburg, on the west, a distance of about sixty miles. In breadth it is pretty uniform, the maximum width not exceeding six or seven miles. The operations of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company in this region are confined to the eastern end of the basin, from Maueh Chunk westward to the Little Schuylkill River, at Tamaqua, a distance of about eleven miles. The greater part of this property is in Mauch Chunk
township. The thickness of the eoal in the combined veins is forty-two feet, equal to four hundred and sev- enty-two million tons, or seventy-one thousand five hundred tons to the acre. R. P. Rothwell says, "That the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company possess one of the most magnificent coal properties in the world cannot be questioned, and that the quantity of coal is such as to allay all apprehensions for an abun- dant supply, far into the future, is indisputable." Another eminent authority, a geologist, who made a careful examination of the field, has said that if all of the anthracite coal mined in the United States had been taken from the Lehigh Company's property, one- half of the vast deposit would still remain.
Without entering into the history of the company's operations, which have been quite elaborately de- scribed in the history of Mauch Chunk borough, we will present a few statisties concerning the business. The following table shows the annual production of the company's mines from their origin to the present :
Year.
Tous.
1820 ..
365
1821 ..
1,073
1822
2,4-10
1823
5,823
1824 9,541
1825.
28,393
1826
31,280
1827
27,770
1828
33,180
1829
25,110
1830.
43,000
1831
44,500 77,2299 12-1,508
1831
106,500
1835
131,250
1836
146,738
1837
200,000 154,693 142,507 102,264
1841 ..
78.16-1 163,762 138,826
18.1-1 ..
219,215
1845.
257,70
1846.
1817.
1818.
1819.
1850
1851
1852.
1853.
1854
1855
1:56.
-100,713
1859.
425,896 5-16,816 517,157 -110,877
1662.
2.11,837
1863
517,259
1864 ..
517,025
1866.
100,000
1867.
370,204 467,126 472,110
1869 ..
297,471 514,800
1871.
799,654
1873
909,373 571,9-15
1874.
398,042 605,660 343,700
1878
125,194
1879 ..
698,131
1880.
545,161
1881
618, 1 17
1882
837,968
1883.
913,916
1875.
1876
1877.
517,180
1865.
284,813 351,675 360,619 393,807 42.1,258 180,824 510,106 496,905 5-14,811 449,812 -100,125
1839
1810
1812.
1813
1832
1833
1838.
1857.
1860
1861,
1868 ..
1970.
1872.
Total production in tons 20,888,537
789
MAUCHI CHUNK TOWNSHIP.
The company has ten collieries in the field. Eight of these are in the Panther Creek Valley (four in Mauch Chunk township, and four over the line in Schuylkill County), and there is one colliery at Nes- quehoning, comprising five openings, -- two tunnels, one shaft, one slope, and one drift, -- while there is an- other with a large sereen building at the north end of the Lansford tunnel. The company employs three thousand three hundred and fifty men, distributed as follows :
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