USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 89
USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 89
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Societies .- Summit Lodge, No. 576, 1. O. O. F., was instituted March 4, 1865, with the following as its first officers: N. G., Henry Storch; V. G., William Swank ; Sec., 1. H. Dexter ; Asst. Sec., Balzar Fink ; Treas., Thomas Arner. The lodge has now one hun- dred and sixty members, and mects in a hall rented from Samuel Rickert.
Fountain Encampment, No. 170, I. O. O. F., was instituted Oct. 10, 1868, with the following officers : C. P., Thomas C. Williams; H. P., Thomas Arner ; S. W., George Halvey; J. W., Simion Anderson; Scribe, E. E. Jones; Treas., William Warlow. It now has twenty-five members.
Summit Lodge, Daughters of Rebeeea, No. 576, was organized Aug. 27, 1872.
Conner Post, No. 177, G. A. R., was organized March 4, 1869, with S. F. Minich, Jacob D. Arner, Henry Williamson, B. S. Younker, Samuel A. Wehr, C. F. Kline, George B. Kent, Thomas C. Williams, Joseph Williams, Charles Walton, and T. Carlos Williams as charter members. It now has a mem- bership of about thirty.
Carbon Temple of H. and T., No. 32, was organized April 2, 1867, with the following officers: J. P. Row- lands, C. T .; M. E. Singard, V. T .; C. E. West, R. ; II. Hardel, A. R. ; H. C. James, F. R. ; W. S. How- ells, Treas .; Ed. Minich, U .; J. E. Jenkin, D. U .; John II. Kline, G .; Thomas Richards, W .; M. E. Singard, D. G. T. The organization is in a flourishing condition at the present, owning the prop- erty where the hall is.
Anthracite Council, No. 5, was organized March 12, 1868, with the following officers: I. T. Reinick, C. of C .; C. E. West, S. of C .; M. E. Singard, J. of C .; J. A. MeMurtrie, R. of C .; C. F. Kline, M. of C .; Thomas Whilden, P. of C .; J. P. Rowlands, Treas. of C .; James Gready, D. M .; Joseph Pollock, M .; M. E. Singard, D. G. C. of C.
Carbon Lodge, No. 202, Knights of Pythias, was instituted Oct. 25, 1869, with charter members as fol- lows: S. F. Minich, M. E. Singard, William Swank, Ed. Minich, Thomas Whilden, J. D. Arner, Robert W. Cready, Gideon Moser, William Warlow, and twenty-five others.
The Knights of Honor were instituted Aug. 25, 1879. Charter members : S. H. Hollinger, T. W.
.
794
HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Renshaw, William Swank, George Winterstein, W. W. Radcliff, E. W. Moister, Samuel Rickert, Joseph Forrest, Robert Ross, Benjamin Flemming, E. H. Kistler, W. T. Rateliff, W. II. Evans, S. F. Minich, M. E. Singard, John Leese, James Leese, James Bal- lentine, Jolin Bogle, Samuel Hogg, J. C. Rutter, Sam- uel McNeal, Jr., W. D. Zeliner, W. Clements, Joseph S. Patterson, James Singard, Moses Neyer, C. W. Swank, Thomas MeCready, Robert Derby. One death has occurred sinee its organization, and the company paid the amount of insurance promptly.
The Junior Templars (formerly Cadets of II. and T.) were organized April 6, 1882, with the following officers : John L. MeMichael, W. G. ; James Hughes, 1st Gov. ; William Me Laughlin, 2d Gov .; William Swigel, 3d Gov .; Lewis Finley, F. R .; James Neyer, A. R. R .; Elmer Neyer, A. U .; A. Starch, G. A .; C. Butler, G. V. A .; U. S. Renshaw, R. ; H. Williamson, A. R .; Harry MeKiever, U .; William Tarlton, I. W .; M. E. Singard, D. G. G .; B. W. McKiever, O. P .; and sixty-four charter members.
A lodge of the Independent Order of Good Tem- plars was organized May 22, 1882, with the following oflieers : James Swigel, W. C. T .; Miss B. M. Kline, W. V. T .; Wilson Crawford, Chap .; Robert MeMi- chael, Sec. ; Alexander Flemming, Asst. Sce. ; James L. Singard, F. S. ; Alice Bogle, Treas. ; Thomas Wal- ton, M .; Annie L. Singard, D. M .; S. Davis, I. G .; James McGee, O. G .; Saddie Richards, R. S .; Ella Houser, L. S .; Robert Derby, P. W. T.
Lansford .- This young but thriving borough, to which has been applied the middle name of Hlon. Asa Lansford Foster, had its origin in two mining settlements, known as Ashton and Storm Hill, which might be considered as the homes of the overflow population of Summit Hill, or perhaps, more properly, as settlements resulting from new operations in eoal after the exhaustion of the "Summit" mines had been apprehended. The town is located on the plateau which forms the first terrace above Panther Creek Valley in the ascent of the mountain, on which is situated Summit Hill. "Storm Hill" was the name given the locality, which can now best be designated as the eastern part of Lansford. It was so named from the fact that a house built here by Peter Fisher was blown over during a great storm. The name of Ashton was applied to the cluster of houses in what is now the western part of Lansford.
Mining operations were begun in Panther Creek Valley, in the vicinity of Ashton, in 1844, when Tun- nels 3 and 4 were driven. Tunnels 5, 6, and 7 were begun in 1845. In 1846 the Panther Creek Railroad and the planes began to carry coal from the valley to the summit, whenee it was conveyed to the Lehigh, as narrated in the history of Manch Chunk borough.
The growing importance of the new mines, the building of the Nesquehoning Valley Railroad, the cutting of the tunnel through the mountain to Panther Creek, and the favorable location of the town led to
the rapid growth and finally to the incorporation of Lansford.
Among the early settlers were Jonathan Hallen- bach, Peter Fisher, Hugh Gallagher, Josiah Williams, Richard Malcom, John MeHugh, Peter McGee, Ig- natius Teufel, Taylor Edwards, Morgan Priee, John D. Williams, James M. Jones, E. Weber, Joseph Downs, Thomas W. Williams, Shadrack Walkins, William Y. Evans, John Seott, William Hines, and Frauk Dermot.
Daniel Bertsch, and Fellows & Van Horn, kept here at an carly day the company stores.
Prominent among the merchants of the present day, and the oldest of the borough, are Edwards (J. C.) & Thomas (Albert J.), A. M. Neumiller, Charles Kline, Reese Watkins, Ilowell Evans, E. Warren & Co., Jolm O. Quinn, D. R. Davis, D. J. Mathew, D. R. Hughes, William Y. Evans, Mrs. G. Bynon, and C. C. Edwards.
The Mansion House, the principal hotel of the town, was built by G. H. Holney in 1877, and has been kept by John Fraee, A. Oberholtzer, Nathan Klotz, and H. O. Klotz, his son, the present landlord.
W. D. Zehner, superintendent of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company's mines, has his office here, as has also the assistant superintendent, Gouverneur Morris.
The company's shops for the manufacture of ears, breaking machinery, engines, ete., were built here in 1870-71. They employ in seasons of activity as many as two hundred men, and never less than half of that number.
Incorporation .- The borough of Lansford was in- corporated in 1877. Following is a list of its prinei- pal officers from that time to the present :
BURGESSES.
1877 .- William Y. Evans.
1878 .- William Y. Evans.
1879 .- Herman Rieber.
1880 .- Morgan Price.
1881 .- llerman Rieber.
1882 .- Josiah Wehner.
1883 .- Charles Walton.
COUNCIL.
1877 .- Reese Watkins, Neal MeGinty, Frank Zeh- ner, Abraham Morgan, Morgan Priec.
1878 .- Neal McGinty, D. R. Edwards, Samuel Sterrit, John Hite, James Gallagher, Howell Evans. 1879 .- Frank Zehner, I. D. Kelly, D. W. Griffith, Jerry F. Werner, John MeNellis, Jacob Alberton.
1880 .- James Gallagher, George Halvey, Charles Burns, Albert Thomas, Philip Portz, Henry Bacon.
1881 .- J. W. Davis, D. M. Jones, C. F. Kline, D. M. Williams, Robert Stewart, Henry Bacon.
1882 .- Edward Jenkins, David W. Griffith, I. W. Mallory, Daniel Cummyton, Nathan Tanner, James Gallagher. .
.
795
MAUCH CHUNK TOWNSHIP.
1883 .- James Blackburn, Thomas Whilden, John Jeffreys, Charles Kline, A. J. Weyhenmyer, J. C. Edwards.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1877 .- William D. Thomas. 1881 .- Thomas W. Williams.
SCHOOL DIRECTORS.
1877 .-- N. G. Ilyndman.
1878 .- Benjamin Gwylam, William A. Miller, George Boyle.
1879 .- William H. Arner, Neal McGinty.
1880 .- Ilugh Edgar, T. D. Reese.
1881 .- B. H. Davis, Daniel Houser.
1882 .- John Pollock, Benjamin Gwylam.
1883 .- Thomas R. Williams, Nathan Tanner, J. A. Quinn.
Schools .- The schools were under the manage- ment of the township authorities until 1877, and were only partially graded in 1878, when a large, conveni- ent, and handsome sehool building, capable of seat- ing over six hundred pupils, was erected. Mr. L. Huber was the first principal of this new school, fol- lowed by Mr. A. G. C. Smith and D. F. Smith. The school is divided into eight grades, and has facilities for giving pupils a thorough English education.
Religious-The Welsh Congregational Church. -This church was organized in the year 1848, with Messrs. John Morgan and Lewis Evans, deacons ; D. J. Evans, secretary ; William Watkins, leader of the choir.
A church building was erected in 1850, at the corner of Abbott Street. The following have been here as pastors : Revs. William Thomas, of Kansas; John M. Thomas, of Alliance, Ohio ; Thomas Pugh, of Missouri ; Thomas G. Jones (Tafalaw), Arvonia, Kan. ; J. V. Jones, of Bevier, Mo. ; B. Morlais Hughes, of New Castle, W. T.
The following began their career as preachers in this church : Revs. D. E. IInghes, of Coaldale; Lewis D. Evans and R. W. Jenkins, of Maine; and G. Rob- orts, of Dawn. Mo. Present membership, one hun- dred ; Sunday-school, one hundred.
as Mr. and Mrs. Williams, of the post-office ; Mr. and Mrs. Matthews, Mr. Jenkins, of Coaldale ; Mrs. Josiah Williams, Mrs. John Williams, Mrs. Margaret Hughes, of Summit Hill'; and Mrs. Jenkin Richards.
The present officers are: Pastor, Rev. John Ed- wards; Deacons, Messrs. Josiah Williams, D. W. Grif- fiths, Thomas W. Williams, Thomas Evans, and Thomas M. Davis ; Leader of the Church Choir, Mr. Morgan Evans; of the Sunday-school Choir, Mr. Thomas D. Reese ; Secretary, Mr. D. H. Lewis; Or- ganists, Messrs. Willie Whelldon and Evan E. Jones ; Superintendent of the Sabbath. school, Mr. Thomas Evans; Trustees, Messrs. Charles Powell, Jonathan Richards, Thomas M. Davis, Josiah Williams, and Morgan Evans.
English Congregational Church .- This church was organized April, 1872, by Rev. E. R. Lewis, Pottsville, with membership of between fifteen and twenty. The deacons at the time were Messrs. George Phillips, John Fawks (elerk), and Mr. Thomas W. Griffiths. The present building was erected (which measures forty by sixty feet) in 1881. The laying of the corner-stone took place September 22d of the same year by Rev. Dr. Bevan, then of New York, now of London. The church was opened by Rev. Henry M. Storrs, of New York, Feb. 25 and 26, 1882, and dedicated April 12, 1882, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher officiating.
Officers of the church at the time of dedication : Deacons, Messrs. Thomas Evans, Win. Morgan (clerk), and W. C. Henry. For the present: Pastor, John Ed- wards; Deacon, W. C. Henry ; Clerk, John L. Lewis; Trustees, Messrs. J. E. Lauer, Wm. T. Williams, and A. B. Watson ; Organist, Mr. Charlie Portz. Attend- ing the congregation are some prominent singers,- Mr. W. L. Evans, who leads the congregational and choral singing ; Mr. John E. Jeffreys, who leads the Sunday-school choir. The congregation numbers two hundred or more, and the Sunday-school averages over one hundred. Rev. E. T. Griffiths is the present pastor. Previous to him were pastors of the Welsh Church as well.
The Evangelical Association .- En 1872, Rev. B. F. Bohner, in charge of Mauch Chunk and Summit Ifill Churches, preached here occasionally and or- ganized a Sunday-school with the following officers : William Weber, superintendent; E. Moser, assistant superintendent; Solomon Bachman, secretary ; Na- than Sold, librarian ; William Arner, assistant libra- rian; and William HIollenbach, treasurer. No class was organized until February, 1874, when Rev. S. C. Brey fogel, pastor of Barnesville Circuit, preached here. A great revival was the result, and a elass was organ- ized with E. Moser as leader, and Samuel Hetfel- finger, exhorter. The services were held in one of the publie school-houses until the year 1879. The elass appointed J. F. Werner, Esq. (leader at the time), and E. Moser (exhorter) a committee to buy
Many useful men as Christians and citizens have risen here, such as Messrs. John D. Evans, of Chester, N. J. ; Thomas D. Jones, of Ebensville, Pa. ; Dr. J. J. Thomas, of Youngstown, Ohio ; D. I]. Lewis, of Lans- ford ; D. E. Jones, of Coaklale. Those who have been here for a few years and have left for other places are Messrs. Thomas Phillips and Thomas Eynon, of Scranton; Dr. D. E. Evans, of Plymouth; Messrs. Thomas Evans, of Gibson; W. W. Williams, of Utica, N. Y .; as well as the late Messrs. Jenkin Richards, of Lansford ; John W. Williams, of Mahanoy ; Evan E. Jones, of Coaldale ; Abraham Jones, of Blossburg, Pa. ; David Evans, of Lansford ; and Rhys Morgan, of Tamaqua. Several of those who were here when the church was organized are members here yet, such | the school-house at the corner of Centre and Abbott
796
HISTORY OF CARBON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Streets, which was fixed up and is still used as a meeting-house of the society.
The class now numbers twenty-six members, with J. F. Werner, Esq., as leader, and the Sunday-school has one hundred and fifty members, with J. F. Wer- ner superintendent and William Garmley assistant. Rev. H. M. Wingert is the preacher in charge of Ta- maqua.
Societies .- Ashton Lodge, No. 430, K. of P., was chartered June 4, 1874, with A. Thomas, G. Evans, D. Morgan, T. Malkin, J. Fox, W. Sterrett, S. Ster- rett, T. MeCreely, W. P. Hall, and Z. Llewellyn as its original members. The present officers are : C. C., William W. Thomas; V. C., David James; P. C., F. Adams; M. A., Thomas J. Davis; See., James Blackburn ; M. of F., William D. Richards ; M. of E., David D. Lewis.
Lansford Lodge, No. 975, I. O. O. F., was organized June 9, 1880, with the following charter members : John Davis, John Fawkes, Edwin Llewellyn, Thomas P. Thomas, John C. Edwards, William W. Thomas, Jolin Jeffries, William W. Richards, John Hill, Thomas M. Davis, James Day, John D. Evans, David D. Lewis, David M. Morgan, Thomas C. Williams, William H. Thomas, B. R. Davis, Thomas J. Thomas, Thomas Evans, R. W. Griffiths, Thomas M. Whilden, William T. Giles, George W. Ilalvey, Morgan Price, Jonathan Richards, William D. Thomas, James Fry, William P. Hall, Philip Portz, and Archibald Reeves. The lodge has now one hundred and twenty-two members, with the following officers : N. G., A. M. Neumiller; V. G., Morgan T. Davis; Sec., Edwin Gwillym; Asst. Sec., T. J. Williams; Treas., J. C. ! Edwards.
Nesquehoning .- This is the second in age of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company's mining towns, and is the third in importance in this town- ship or county. According to entries in the old ae- count books of the company, the first house was built here in 1824 for Thomas Kelley. The Room Run gravity road was built in 1830.
When the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company decided npon laying out a town here they published an advertisement in the principal newspapers of East- ern Pennsylvania, which contained the following : " The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company offer for sale a variety of building lots in the town of Nes- quihoning. This town is situated in the Nesqui- honing Valley, within half a mile of the coal-mines on Room Run, four and one-half miles by a railway from the coal-landing at Mauch Chunk, forty miles from Catawissa, and thirty miles from Berwick, on the Susquehanna. The ground is very favorable for a town plot, and a number of buildings are already erected. It being in the immediate vicinity of the greatest anthracite coal region now known, and on the only ground near it adapted for a town, will no doubt secure a speedy and extensive settlement. For terms apply to Josiah White, acting manager, at ! and C. R. Cook, three years.
Maueh Chunk." This advertisement was dated Sept. 19, 1831. Enoeh Lewis was at that time surveying the plot.
The town had so far progressed that in 1832, when the eentennial anniversary of Washington's birth came around, a very successful celebration was had, to which the people of Maueh Chunk, Lehighton, Lausanne, and other places were invited. The gatli- ering was at the house of N. Allen, and a great dinner was served there at four o'clock in the afternoon.
This locality was originally known as "Hell's Kitchen," or "the Kitchen." The first lease was taken by Packer, Harlan & Co., in which firm A. A. Douglass took the place of Mr. Harlan in 1847. J. and R. Carter entered the firm in 1852. By 1857 the firm had become Douglass, Skeer & Co. Messrs. E. A. Packer and Robert Lockhart were identified with it. Mr. Douglass went out in 1865, and the firm closed its affairs in 1867, being known at the last as Linderman & Skeer.
The Coal and Navigation Company now has five openings in this locality,-two tunnels, one shaft, a slope, and a drift. The number of employés is about three hundred and fifty. R. Eustis is the local su- perintendent, having succeeded James Smitham in 1876, and he has been in the employ of the company since 1852.
Nesquehoning has good schools and a church of the Methodist denomination.
Schools .- The present school building was erected in 1882, at a cost of about five thousand five hundred dollars. It has four rooms, three of which are well furnished and are veeupied. The number of pupils is about two hundred. The present principal is W. Me- Langhlin. Following is a list of the principal in- struetors since 1860: W. Burke, 1861-62; M. H. Pope, 1863-64; Mr. Harris, 1864-65 ; W. A. Williams, 1866- 67 ; J. N. La Rue, 1867-68; W. Burnham, 1868-69; A. H. Berlin, 1869-70; M. J. Corse, 1870-72; S. H. Ilollinger, 1872-75; W. Sterret, 1875-76; S. Motzer, 1876-77 ; J. II. Landis, 1877-78; P. H. MeCabe, 1878-81; Hon. M. Cassiday and Charles Allen, 1881- 82; P. 11. MeCabe, 1882-83; W. MeLaughlin, 1883- 8-4.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized on March 2, 1863. The preacher in charge was Rev. Henry H. Davis ; the local preacher, David Trevar- row; and the stewards, William York, - Isaas, --- Janes, Jonathan Marsden, William Swank, Rob- ert D. Spence, and George L. Watson.
The preachers in rotation who have served here have been Rev. H. H. Davis, two years; --- Stech- ter, one year ; S. II. Risdon, one year; - Chriss, one year ; J. T. Swindell, two years; J. W. Bradly, two years ; - - Condry, one year; G. J. Conoway, one year ; - Cooper, one year ; R. Drake, one year ; Morely, one year; J. H. Sampson, one year ; David Wiangert, one year; H. L. Reese, two years ;
٩
APPENDIX.
APPENDIX A.
POPULATION OF LEHIGH AND CARBON COUNTIES. LEHIGH COUNTY (FROM 1820 To 1880).
.
1820. 1830. |1840.
1850.
1860. 1870. 1880.
Allentown 1.
2,493 4,343|
8,025 14,448 18,063
Catasauqua borough.
2,853
3,065
Coopersburg borongh.
1,605
Coplay borongh
728
392
Emans borongh
381
.177
774
Hanover township
866
1,102'
1,341
2,375
2,061
2,804 8.17
Ileidelberg township ...
1,900' 2,208. 2,354
1,385
1,469
1,44t, 3,813
Lower Macungie twp.
2,15€
2,353
2,668
3,662 1,507
Lower Milford township"
1,653:
1,505
3,952
Lowhill township
703
808
854
1,021
1,034
997
1,563
Lynn township.
1,664 1,747
1,895
1,997
2,321
2,375
914
Macungie borongh 3.
1,544
293
332
332
701
Salisbury township ..
1,165'
1,342
1,438
1,884
1,835
2,860 1,508
3,078
Upper Macungie twp.
2,802
3,323
1,769
2,035
2,647!
3,061
2,884
Upper Milford lowuship.
2,416|
2,829
3,081
3,259
2,029
2,015
3,023
l'pper Sancon township ...
1,642
1.905
2,072
2,372
2,943|
3,487
2,175
Washington township
1,193,
2,114
2,464
3,228
Weissenberg township. ....
1,175
1,285 1,427
1,762
1,823
3,318
3,929
18,895.22,266 25,787 32,479 43,753 59,383:61,997
1 From 1850 including East Allentown.
" From Upper Milford in 1855.
3 Millerstown in 1860.
4 In 1820 included the borough of Northampton, now Allentown.
5 From North and South Whitehall.
:
CARBON COUNTY (FROM 1850 ro 1880).
1850.
1860.
1870.
1880.
Banks township.
1,745 |
2,502
1,982 .
1,018
Kast Mauch Chunk borough ..
833
1,585
1,853
East Poun township.
688
801
862
933
Franklin township
1,624
1,912
1,741
Kidder township ..
536
1,249
1,417
Lansford borough
Lausanne township
1,382
1,942
1,416
36
Lehighton borough,
1,485
1,937
Lower Towamensing township
1,197
1,409
1,552
1,732
Mahoning township
1,520
1,96]
1,589
1,903
Manch Chunk borongh 1
2,557
4,008
3,841
3,742
Manch Chunk township.
3,727
5,210
4,082
North Kidder township.
661
Packer township
291
357
4.11
496
Parryville borough,
415
580
504
653
South Kidder township
546
Towamensing township
1,629
801
913
931
Weatherly borangl
1,076
1,937
Weissport borongh
359
388
15,686
18,067
28,144
31,873
APPENDIX B.
ANTHRACITE IRON.
CONCERNING the early history of anthracite iron manufacture, we present the following from the ably- written and admirable little volume entitled " Guide- Book of the Lehigh Valley Railroad," by " L. C.,"- the Rev. Leighton Coleman, formerly pastor of St. Mark's ( Episcopal) Church :
It is not positively known when or where iron was first made in the United States, but the attention of the first settlers of the British colonies was very carly dirceted (no doubt by the previous knowledge of the Indians) to the iron ore with which the country abounds, and in various sections furnaces were soon erected for its conversion into metal. Perhaps the first production from native ore in Pennsylvania was at the Coventry Forge, in Chester County, in 1720.
It was not until after the discovery of the use of anthracite coal in furnaces that the foundations of the immense establishments were laid which have given to this trade its present importance. Prior to this time the ore was converted into metal by the use of bituminous coal, charcoal, and coke. This process was far less economical than was desirable, and there- fore when the value of anthracite for ordinary pur- poses of fuel was fairly tested, its adaptation to smelt- ing uses was tried, and, after a series of reverses and a period of general incredulity, gladly hailed as a great saving in both metal and fuel. This success added largely not only to the prosperity of the iron trade, but of the coal trade also.
Up to about 1833 the cold-blast was exclusively employed in the furnaces. At that time the Rev. Frederic W. Geisenhainer, of Schuylkill County, after various experiments in the treatment of anthracite with the hot-blast, obtained a patent for the same, and in 1835 he made iron by this process in a small stack near Pottsville. * * *
Touching the question of who first used anthracite coal in the manufacture of iron, the following docu- ments are submitted. Reference has already been made to this subject under the head of Mauch Chunk Borough, where it is stated upon good anthority that an attempt in this direction prior to the dates below
1 In 1860 the township.
797
.
North Whitehall twp ...
1,807|
2,008 2,324
2,955; 4,152
4,170
3,245
Slatington borough
Sonth Whitehall twp.
1,623
1,952
2,290
2,913
·1,085!
2,748
1,634
281
486
2,678
Northampton borongh
Northampton township 4 ..
1,132
213
1,64 1,627
Whitehall township 5
-
2,206
Lehigh township ..
1,121
657
Penn Forest township.
1,932
798
APPENDIX.
mentioned was made at Mauch Chunk by members of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company.
The first letter, originally published in the American Manufacturer, is as follows :
" CATASAUQUA, PA., Feb. 23, 1872. "B. F. H. LYNN, ESQ. :
"DEAR SIR, -- The question of who was the first person to use anthracite coal for smelting iron is dif- ficult to answer ; but I will give you a few faets, from which you can draw your own conclusions.
" In the year 1825, while manager of the Yniscedwin Works, South Wales (where I was from 1817 to 1839), I built a blast-furnace of nine feet bosh and thirty feet high to make experiments with anthracite coal, which abounded in that neighborhood, while we brought coke fourteen miles by canal to smelt ore with. This furnace was blown in with coke in 1826, and the anthracite introduced first one-sixteenth part of the fuel and gradually advanced to one-half, when we had to stop and blow out. It was a failure.
" In 1832 the same furnace was altered to forty-five feet high and eleven feet bosh, and the same experi- ment tried, with the same result.
"In 1836 hot-blast ovens were built to this furnace, according to Mr. Neilson's patent for hot-blast, of Glasgow, Scotland, and ou the 5th of February, 1837, anthracite iron was made, and quite successfully, and in that I claim to have been the first person to obtain successful results, at least as far as I know or ever heard of.
" By an agreement in writing, made with the Le- high Coal and Navigation Company (which agree- ment I still have in my possession), I came to this country in the spring of 1839, at which time I found a small furnace at South Easton, worked by a Mr. Van Buren, who was endeavoring to make iron with anthracite coal. It was run some ten days or two weeks, when it chilled, and proved a failure, both financially and as a furnace. There was another at Mauch Chunk, owned by three or four men, -a Mr. Bauhm [Baughman], a Mr. Gitto [ Gniteau], and a Mr. Lathrop [ Lowthrop| (the latter, I think, still being at Trenton, N. J.). This furnace was chilled up in about one week after blowing-in.
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