The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania], Part 20

Author: Rupp, Israel Daniel, 1803-1878. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1846
Publisher: Lancaster city, Pa., G. Hills
Number of Pages: 614


USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 20
USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 20
USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 20
USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 20
USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 20
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 20


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61


DAUPHIN county, named in honor of the son of Louis xvi., King of France was separated as stated above, from Lancas- ter, by an act of March 4, 1785, and then bounded as fol- lows : " Beginning on the west side of the Susquehanna river opposite the mouth of Conewago creek; thence up the middle of the said creek to Moor's mill ; and from thence to the head of said creek; and from thence by a direct line to the south- east corner of Heidelberg township, where it strikes the Berks county line; thence northwest by the line of Berks county to Mahantayo creek ; thence along the same by the line of Northumberland county, and crossing the river Susque-


209


HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.


hanna, to the line of Cumberland county, and that part of the line of York county to the place of beginning, on the west side of the river Susquehannah."


Dauphin was afterwards reduced, by an act of Feb. 16, 1813, erecting Lebanon county out of parts of Dauphin and Lancaster. Dauphin is now bounded, north by Northumber- land, northeast by Schuylkill, east by Lebanon, and south by Lebanon and Lancaster, and on the west by the Susque- hanna, separating it from the counties of York, Cumberland and Perry ; the whole stream, however, being within the county, the course of the river through it, which is forty- eight miles. The length of the county is thirty-three miles, and mean width sixteen miles ; it contains an area of five hundred and twenty-eight miles ; containing 341,120 acres.


Population in 1810, 31,883; 1820, Lebanon having been separated, 21,663 ; 1830, 25,303 ; 1840, 30,118. Aggregate amount of property taxable in 1814, was $8,197,491,00.


This county presents a great variety of geological features as well as a variety of soils, viz : limestone, yellow and red shale, gravel, sandy, &c. The limestone region, in the south- ern and southeastern part of the county, has a rich, loamy soil, highly productive, where well cultivated. The slate formation between this and the Blue mountain, is more hilly and less fertile ; but by proper improvement and the free use of lime as a manure, may be made a fine agricultural region. Much of it has been reclaimed. "Formerly, and not more than twenty years ago, Lower Paxton and the Hanovers could boast of as poor land, as carelessly cultivated, as any tract of the same extent on the face of the earth. 'The youth all emigrate, and the poor all starve,' was the remark com- monly made use of, when describing this now smiling region."


As said, the geological features of this connty are various ; for in it, says Trego, we find nearly, if not quite all the rock formations, from the white sandstone which overlies the pri- mary rocks, upwards to the coal.


The Conestoga hills, in the southern part of the county, are composed of trap rock : north of these we find the mid- dle secondary shale and sandstone, extending as far as High- spire, on the Susquehanna, six miles below Harrisburg, where" it overlaps the great limestone formation of Cumberland Val- ley. The limestone formation is a broad belt of limestone, which may be traced from the Delaware river, at and above


18*


J


210


HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.


Easton, through Northampton, Lehigh, Berks, Lebanon, Dauphin, Cumberland and Franklin counties, and so passing southwestward through Maryland and Virginia. The lime- stone formation is seen in some other counties of this state. The limestone in this county ranges from Lebanon across Dauphin to the Susquehanna; its northern limit on the river being at the lower end of Harrisburg, and the line of junc- tion between the limestone and slate passing thence eastward to the Swatara creek, north of Hummelstown, and so on to the Lebanon county line near Palmyra. Some belts of slate are contained within the range of this limestone, one of which may be observed passing from the Swatara west of Hummels- town, south of the poor house, and extending nearly to the Susquehanna.


North of the limestone is a broad slate formation, having a hilly and rolling surface, which occupies the region between the northern limit of the limestone, and the southern base of the Kittatinny* or Blue mountain. Some thin strata of lime- stone are found in certain parts of this slate range. This range extends all along the Blue mountain from the Delaware river through Northampton, Lehigh, Berks, Lebanon, Dau- phin, Cumberland and Franklin counties, to the southern line of the state.


The rocks of the Blue mountain consist chiefly of the hard, compact, white, gray and reddish sandstone, which lies next in order above the last mentioned slate, and which forms so many of the mountain ridges in middle Pennsylvania. This rock constitutes that long, narrow, nearly level and continu- ous ridge which stretches from near the Hudson river, not far from Kingston, across New York and New Jersey, and which entering Pennsylvania at the Delaware water gap, is known from that place to its termination in Franklin county, by the name of Kittatinny or Blue mountain.


On the northern slope of this mountain, and in the valley between it and the second mountain, are the red variegated shales, resting on the sandstones just described, with the over- lying limestone, of an argillaceous blue; the fossiliferous sand- stone, of various thickness ; the olive slate, occupying but a small space, because the strata are nearly perpendicular ; and along the south side of the Second mountain, the red and


* Kittatinny, originally called by the Indians, Kau-ta-tin-Chunk, i. e. the Main, or Principal Mountain.


211


HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.


gray sandstones, and red shale next in position. The olive slate and red shale rocks appear in Armstrong's valley, around Halifax.


In order to account for the small space occupied by so many formations, some of which in other parts of the state occupy of themselves a wide extent of country, it must be recollected that the strata here are vertical, or in truth thrown rather beyond a vertical position, so that their order of super- position is inverted, and the strata which really lie upper- most in place appear to dip steeply beneath those which are actually below them. Rock Strata which are vertical can only occupy an area equal to their thickness, while those which approach the horizontal position, usually spread over a wide region.


The Second mountain is mainly composed of a coarse, hard, grayish sandstone, which is also found in Peters', Ber- ry's and Mahantany's mountains ; all these being in fact but the same ridge which winds round recrosses the several twins. The rock next in order is the bright red shale, which under- lies the coarse pebbly conglomerate next below the coal bear- ing strata. This red shale is found encompassing all the an- thracite coal fields, and from its softness and liability to de- composition, has been worn down so as usually to form valleys around the high, sharp ridges, which bound the coal basins. Accordingly it is found extending down Stoney creek valley, between the Second and Third mountains, and folding round on the Susquehanna above the town of Dauphin, again fol- lowing up the valley of Clark's creek, thus enclosing the coal field of the Third and Fourth mountains. Passing round the junction of Peters' and Berry's mountains on the east, it en- ters Williams' valley and stretches down Wisconisco creek again to the Susquehanna at Millersburg. The whole of Ly- kens' valley, which lies between Berry's and Mahantany's mountains, is of this red shale, the northern division of which extends up the valley of Pine creek into Schuylkill county, enclosing between it and the Williams' valley division, the Bear valley coal basin.


The Third and Fourth mountains are composed of the coarse conglomerates and sandstones, which immediately un- derlie the coal, and it is in the high narrow depression be- tween those ridges that the coal of the Stoney creek coal re- gion is found. Owing, however, to the displacement conse-


212


HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.


quent upon the highly upheaved position of the rocks below it, and to the crushing effect near the junction of the uniting ridges, the coal beds towards the western extremity of this basin, are confused and uncertain. Further eastward the prospect is better, and excellent coal has been obtained, soft of which is so soft and free burning as to approach the bitu- minous character.


The Big Lick and Bear mountains, in the northeastern part of the county, are also cemented pebble or conglomerate rock, and in like manner enclose a coal basin, the western end of which extends into this county. It is commonly known by the name of Bear valley coal region, the western point of which is at the junction of the two last named mountains, about twelve miles cast of the Susquehanna. Most of the coal obtained from this valley has been mined at Bear's gap, all opening in the Big Lick mountain through which Bear creek flows southward towards Wisconisco creek. The mountains which bound the coal basin on the north and south are here about seven hundred and fifty feet in height above the level of Bear creek, and contain numerous coal strata which de- scend towards the centre of the narrow valley at an angle of about forty-five degrees. The gap made by the passage of Bear creek through the mountain, has exposed the coal on both sides of the stream, and affords great facilities for min- ing it advantageously. One of the beds opened is eleven feet thick, two of seven feet, and others of less size. Several coal seams are known to exist here which have not yet been fully explored ; one has been ascertained to be twenty-four feet thick. Shafts have been sunk on the slope of the mountain, north of the valley, and beds of 24, 12, 10, 8, and 7 feet of coal have been found there.


The mining operations at Bear gap are carried on by a company, and a railroad sixteen miles in length, has been constructed from the mines to Millersburg on the Susquehan- na. Here the coals are ferried across the river to the Penn- sylvania canal on the west side, and the coal discharged into canal boats, being chiefly transported to Baltimore by way of the Pennsylvania and Tide water canals. The completion of the Wisconisco canal, (now in progress, 1844,) on the east side of the river, from Millersburg to the head of the Eastern division of the Pennsylvania canal, at Clark's ferry on Dun- can's island, will greatly facilitate the coal trade from this


213


HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.


region, offering a more convenient means of transportation, and one by which the troublesome necessity of ferrying the loaded cars across the Susquehanna may be avoided .- Trego.


This county contains about three hundred and forty thou- sand acres of land ; whereof, according to the best data, se- venty thousand are limestone; the other portion shale and gravel, excepting the flats along the Susquehanna which are generally sandy, and the mountainous and rocky portions, the latter of which are scarce fit for cultivation. The flats or river bottoms of Londonderry, upper and lower Swatara, Sus- quehanna and Middle Paxton, are very rich, and highly pro- ductive, amply repaying the husband for his care bestowed upon them in a judicious course of culture. Many of these bottoms are preferred to limestone soil, yielding with more certainty, if not more abundantly. This county produces an- nually three hundred thousand bushels of wheat, four hun- dred thousand bushels of oats, two hundred thousand bushels of rye, three hundred thousand bushels of corn, one hundred thirty thousand bushels of potatoes, fromtwenty to twenty-five thousand tons of hay, twenty-five thousand bushels of buck- wheat. By a proper course of culture and the liberal appli- cation of vegetable, animal and mineral manures, the county may soon yield double the quantity it does at present.


According to the census of 1840, there were in this county three furnaces, which produced three thousand tons of cast iron ; three forges and rolling mills, and produced four hun- dred and sixty-six tons of bar iron; the furnaces and forges consumed five thousand, five hundred and thirty-seven tons of fuel ; employed two hundred and twenty-four men, including mining operatives ; capital invested, $120,000. The furnaces and rolling mills have since increased.


There were mined or dug, eight thousand tons of anthra- cite coal ; in which thirty men were employed; capital in- vested, $150,000.


Live Stock : five thousand eight hundred and fifty-two horses and mules, seventeen thousand four hundred and twen- ty-nine neat cattle, fifteen thousand seven hundred and four- teen sheep, twenty-seven thousand eight hundred and seven- teen swine, poultry of all kinds estimated at $13,784.


Cereal Grains : Two hundred and seventy-seven thousand two hundred and forty-eight bushels of wheat, one thousand nine hundred and eighty bushels of barley, three hundred and


214


HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.


ninety-eight thousand five hundred and forty-four bushels of oats, two hundred and two thousand seven hundred and sev- enty-one bushels of rye, twenty-four thousand and thirty-nine bushels of buckwheat, three hundred and seven thousand three hundred and sixty-three bushels of corn.


Various Products : Twenty-four thousand and twenty-one pounds of wool, six hundred and four pounds of hops, one thousand pounds of beeswax, one hundred twenty-five thou- sand and fifty-one bushels of potatoes, eighteen thousand and eight tons of hay, three tons and one-fourth of hemp and flax, gathered forty-six thousand seven hundred and thirty pounds of tobacco, three hundred and twenty-two pounds of silk co- coons, sold nine thousand and twenty-four cords of wood.


The value of the product of the dairy $54,208, value. of the products of the orchard $18,959, one hundred and ser- enty-two gallons of wine were made, the value of home made or family goods $13,330.


Value of manufactured tobacco $5,000; eight persons em- ployed, capital invested $3,250. Value of hats, caps and bonnets manufactured $118,50; nineteen persons employed, capital invested $7,350.


Twenty tanneries, which tanned fourteen thousand nine hundred and thirty-five sides of sole leather, six thousand and forty-four sides of upper, employed fifty-eight hands, capital invested $82,200. All other manufactories of leather, sad- dleries, &c., twenty-six; value of manufactured articles $58,- 300; capital invested $28,610. Twenty thousand pounds of soap, sixty thousand pounds of candles, capital invested $1,500. Seventeen distilleries, which produced one hundred and forty-seven thousand gallons ; four breweries, which pro- duced four hundred sixty-six thousand nine hundred and twenty gallons. Four potteries ; value of manufactured arti- cles $2,300, five men employed, capital invested $850.


Value of produce of market gardens $4,850 ; value of nur- 'series of florists $800; twenty-six men employed, capital invested $2,000. Three commission houses, capital $23,500. Retail dry goods, grocery and other stores, one hundred thir- ty-three ; capital invested $479,110. Ten lumber yards ; capital invested $59,000 ; forty-seven men employed. Twen- ty-six butchers ; capital invested $19,400. Value of lumber produced $1,228. Fifty barrels of tar manufactured, one man employed. Value of machinery manufactured $2,000,


215


HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.


three men employed. Forty-seven small arms made .--- Value of bricks and lime manufactured $21,219; ninety-onc men employed.


Nine fulling mills; six woollen manufactories; value of manufactured goods $6,215, thirty-one persons employed, capital invested $4,056. One paper manufactory, twelve printing offices, six binderies, eleven weekly newspapers, one hundred and thirteen men employed, capital invested $73,500; two rope walks, value of produce $7,000, eleven men em- ployed, capital invested $2,800.


Carriages and wagons manufactured $13,185, fifty-one men employed, capital $5,040. Twenty-nine flouring mills, which manufactured fifteen thousand four hundred and thirty- one barrels of flour ; thirty-five grist mills, seventy-six saw mills, two oil mills. Value of furniture manufactured $14,- 750, forty-four men employed, capital invested $6,040. Six- teen brick and stone houses built, thirty-seven wooden houses built, employed one hundred and ninety-three hands, value of constructing or building $72,790. Value of all manufactured articles not enumerated $5,120, capital invested $39,025. Total capital invested in manufactures $357,315.


The following tables exhibit a synopsis of the census of 1830 and 1840, of each township; population, of different ages, males, females, &c -- Furnaces, forges, rolling mills, mills of various descriptions, tanneries ; various kinds of pro- ducts, &c., &c.


CENSUS TABLE OF DAUPHIN COUNTY OF 1840.


MALES.


FEMALES.


under 5


5 and under 10


10 and under 15


15 and under 20


20 and under 30


30 and under 40


40 and under 50


50 and under 60


60 and under 70


70 and under 80


80 and under 90


90 and under100


under 5


5 and under 10


10 and under 15


15 and under 20


20 and under 30


130 and under 40


40 and under 50!


50 and under 60


60 and under 70


70 and under 80


80 and under 90


90 and under100


Males of all ages


Females, &c.,


09


Iumelstown, bor.,


43


26


27


17


58


34


17


12


-


1


0


39


37


16


21


51


23


20


19


9


2


0


1


Halifax,


228


172


139


116


348


257


129


62


18


9


2


176


165


142


138


209


111


79


45


27


3


4


17


16


Hanover,


223


218


170


143


209


139


120


77


40


21


230


203


189


143


253


150


94


7


35


20


-


4


6


HARRISBURG,


360


271


294


193


664


390


157


158


47


14


4


328!


278


280


359


629


312


213


129


78!


25


9


1


296


351


ackson,


1271


96


87


62


90


61


36


21


00


00


2


102


100


61


54


109


55


28


24


10


2


2


4


ondonderry,


192


139


126


102


186


102


98


40


17


15


134


139


129


127


172


98


71:


43


23


3


2


17


CO IA


ower Swatara,


117


66


71


69


131


71


49


18


13


5


0


95


74


66


80


127


56


40


31


0


5


0


31


33


Middletown borough,


56


47


51


33


78


42


23


22


9


1


0


61


42


50


42


83


39


26


21


13


4


0


5


00


ower Paxton,


112


87


91


70


95


73


47


33


20


9


0


125


86


94


67


136


67


57


36


00


5


4


en


3


ykens,


139


98


1011


100


97


76


55


16


00


1


2


138


110


97


77


117


62


52


31


11


9


2


0


0


fiddle Paxton,


159


120


76


72


143


82


57


44


22


7


1


114


109


85


74


149


66


51


00


24


6


5


24


co


4


fifflin,


193


119


116


97


150


92


65


21


21


en


1


183


100


84


182


85


54


ci


CO


20


1


1


2


lush,


19


19


15


~9


28


19


5


2


00 00


6


2


1


124


84


79


77


145


70


50


32


7


10


2


21


22


pper Paxton,


151


131


115


79


168


117


65


45


20


5


2


180


137


120


99


160


89


61


46


15


6


1


1


1


pper Swatara,


113


73


76


51


00


95


55


27


14


7


0


107


78


68


52


111


79


40


33


13


8


1


14


000


Visconisco,


50


1


33


30


25


27


24


=


4


0


0


50


48


40


22


27


29


20


co


4


-


0


0


Total Population,


2595 1950 1737 1534 2870 1848 1219


682


316|


120


22


1


117|


113| 105|


184|


84|


70


39


35


1


2|


-


Derry,


166


135| 103|


114|


160


90


66


37


20


0


2


-


24


20


10


16


23


11


4


01


4


usquehanna,


137


92


86


77


158


81


51


36


-


-


-


-


2355 1969 1739 1637 2866 1486 1030


686


334


128


36!


1


453


509


-


-


9


0


1


-


0


-


-


||Colored.]


CENSUS OF 1840


OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.


145


-


-


142


A SYNOPSIS OF THE CENSUS OF 1830 & 1840, OF EACH TOWNSHIP.


CENSUS OF 1840


Furnaces.


Forges, rol. mills


Flouring mills.


Grist mills.


Saw mills.


Oil mills.


Tanneries.


Distilleries.


Horses & Mules


Neat Cattle.


Sheep.


Swine.


Bushels of


Bushels of


Indian corn.


Oats.


Barley.


Buckwheat.


Potatoes.


Tons of hay.


Pounds of wool


Value of the


products of the dairy.


1. Derry,


0


01


5


2| 5|557|1682|1646|2156|44247|17985|51680|54244|232| 182| 4441|2097|1670 $ 2788


2. Halifax,


0


0


2


3


8


0


3


1 555 1459 1608 3372 24031 23010 23452 34342


3. Hanover,


1


0


1


9 10


0


3


0


2


0 000 0000 0000 0000 00000 00000 00000 00000


00 0000 00000 0000 0000


00000


5. Jackson,


0


0


0 5|14| 1| 01


0


7 1


01


2


1


1


0


0 0!251 734


623


878 18373 7954 17067 22127 895


3315


948


876


3215


7. Lower Swatara,


1 377 1015 1012 1478 15908 10828 20661 31370


8622


1492 1846 943 1636


1897


9. Lvkens,


0


0


5


1


0


2


2 373 1296 1121 |1928|12126 18851 11817 17896


00 3036 13398 00


811 3738 4311 820


895


10. Middle Paxton,


3| 2 407 1350 1283 2451/20073 22186 16301 26144 00 2975 13780 1219 2426


3178


11. Mifflin,


0


0


5


1


8


0


1


0


13. Susquehanna,


0


1


1


3


14. Upper Paxton,


0


0


4


1:10


1 428 1391|1641 2459 21623 1


17552 16984 24061 333 1930 10085


980 2174


3763


15. Upper Swatara,


01


0


3


0


0


924 685 1433 24302


7696 29349 33957|


00| 252


7752


917 1417 173| 320


3442


16. Wisconisco,


0!


11


-


C


31


01 1 0 83


116


301


688 1308


649| 1495


00


167


955


112


43


12. Rush,


1


1


0


1


853 1445 30676 8964 25679 31561 480 1230 15592


001 376 299 00 704


6807 2785 2177


56775


6. Londonderry,


0


0


0


0


0


1


0


1


0 7


3.


6


01


1| 1|131 461 487 1738 4487 11964| 6476 7057|


1


0


01


0


1


0


01 1


2 935 2566 2041 3524 20885 20083 33959 52773


40 5091 14980 1210 2310 9177 2848 2599 00 1518


10636


4. HARRISBURG,


2 387 1020 1141|2089 13402 18668 |12401 194491 0 569 2140 1249 2556 23695 12714 37368 37990


00 5129 9539 549 1830


25049>


0


0


7623


8. Lower Paxton,


0


54 1362 1808


5168


0


0 0 78 121 1 386 1009


0 0 1 0 1 1 335


252| 208| 416 27231 3008 2520 40781 00 339


28701


451


raised.


OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.


TOWNSHIPS, ETC.


3


01


2928


Wheat.


Rye.


218


HISTORY OF DAUPIIIN COUNTY.


STREAMS OF THE COUNTY.


Dauphin County possesses abundance of water power .- The streams of this county are numerous. The recipient of them all is the SUSQUEHANNA, which the Indians called the Sa-os-qua-ha-na-unk, i. e. Long-crooked-river, according to Heckeweleder ; and is emphatically "the river of Pennsyl- vania," rises both in New York and Pennsylvania. The north eastern or greatest branch rises in the northern ridge of the Catsbergs, from the Ostego lake. The west branch rises in Cambria county. These two branches unite at Nor- thumberland, and form a stream of 4,285 feet, the breadth of which, at Harrisburg, is 2,876 feet. It flows in a southern direction into the Chesapeake bay. It forms the entire west- ern boundary of Dauphin county, flowing along it for a dis- tance of about forty-eight miles. In its course along this county it embraces a number of islands, the principal of which are Duncan's, Haldeman's, Cox's, Foster's, Hill's, Eliot's, Shelly's, and other islands. There are several bridges across it within the limits of this county ; one at Duncan's island and one at Harrisburg. There were two here, but on the 4th of December, 1844, the Cumberland Valley Railroad bridge was destroyed by fire-it is now rebuilding. The Susquehanna is one of the most important streams in Pennsylvania.


The scenery along this majestic river is grand- unsurpas- sed by any in the State, if not in the Union.


The other prominent streams are numerous, and with their several tributaries, afford much water power, of every de- scription, to the county. These are noticed below.


The Susquehanna, as it washes the western portion of Dau- phin, receives from the county the following considerable creeks, with their numerous tributaries, viz: Mahantango creek, Wisconisco creek, Armstrong creek, Powel's creek, Clark's creek, Swatara creek, and Conewago creek, besides some twenty smaller streams that empty into it. Some of the larger creeks receive scores of smaller streams in their course through the county.


Tke Mahantango creeh rises in Schuylkill county, and flows west southwest, twenty-five miles into the Susquehanna river, about thirty above Harrisburg; and for twelve or thirteen


219


HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.


'miles above its mouth, it forms the dividing line between Dau- phin and Northumberland counties, and in its course along the county receives a number of smaller streams; the largest of which, is that passing through Hain's gap of the Mahan- tango mountain. Mahantango affords considerable water water power for mills.


The Wisconisco creek rises in Schuylkill county and flows westward through Williams' and Wisconisco valleys, about sixteen miles, and empties into the Susquehanna river at Mil- lersburg; in its course through the county it receives Bear creek, Rattling creek, Little creek, the Little Wisconisco, and several rivulets of less size. There are some ten or twelve grist mills, saw mills and factories, on the Wisconisco.


Armstrong's creek rises in the Short mountain, and has a south western course of ten or twelve miles through Arm- strong valley, and empties into the Susquehanna about one mile above Halifax-it affords water for five or six mills .- Near its mouth stood fort Halifax, which had been erected by Colonel Clapham in 1756 .- See Halifax, infra.


Powell's creek rises in Powell's valley, between Short and Peter's mountain, flowing along the base of the last mentioned mountain, receiving in its course several small tributaries, and enters the Susquehanna river opposite Dun- can's island. It is a good mill stream. Its whole length is about twenty seven miles.


Clark's creek rises in Clark's valley between Peter's and the Fourth mountain, flowing down said valley, nearly equi- distant between Peter's, the Fourth and the Third mountains, and falls into the Susquehanna river. Its whole course is about twenty eight miles.


Stoney creek rises south of the Fourth mountain, and flows south west, between the Second and Third mountains, in its course it receives the waters of the Cold spring, Yellow spring, Green spring, and other smaller streams, and turns several mills near its mouth, and empties into the Susque- hanna at Dauphin, eight miles above Harrisburg.




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