Chapter XXVII

 

Mauch Chunk Township

 

(Including the Borough of Lansford)

 

Page 787

 

Mauch Chunk township was erected Aug. 23, 1827, its territory being taken principally from East Penn, although a small strip was carved from Lausanne, 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 appearance, yet containing a vast concealed treasure which, when found, enriched thousands, was at Lausanne.  This spot, at the confluence 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 raftsmen, for surveyors, coal prospectors, 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 Nesquehoning, diverged from the winding river and followed a more direct course over the mountain.  The “Landing 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 Aug. 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 Company 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.  

 

Page 788

 

 

The township has but little history, save that of the operations of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, and that has been for the most part given in the history of Mauch Chunk borough.  In 1827 the company was assessed on three hundred and forty-six acres of improved land and on three thousand six hundred and ninety-two acres unimproved, a grist-mill, three saw-mills, store-house, tavern, furnace, sixteen 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 Mauch Chunk.  The only persons to whom lands were assessed in 1827, besides the Coal and Navigation Company, were the following, among whom those marked with a star (*) were non-residents:

 

William Bingham,* 8366 acres.

Johnson Bloomfield,* 375 acres.

David Balderton,* 1700 acres.

Mary Custard,* 140 acres.

Morgan Custard,* 100 acres.

George Fogelman, 15 acres.

Samuel Holland, 80 acres.

John Lentz,* 200 acres.

John Metzgar, 300 acres.

Frederick Miller, one lot.

James O'Brien, 2 acres.

Mordecai Pierrol,* 1000 acres.

James M. Porter,* 172 acres.

Henry Rhoads, 50 acres.

John Rothermel, 177 acres.

Paul Solt,* 137 acres.

Jacob Weiss,* 1849 acres.

Jacob Weiss, Jr.,* 100 acres.

Philip Zept,* 300 acres.

 

William Butler, George Fogelman, and Henry Rhoads were the only persons in the township designated as farmers, and one of them (Butler) was engaged 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 Navigation Company, and constitutes their mine property.  This amounts to over six thousand acres of coal land in what is called 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 Mauch 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 coal in the combined veins is forty-two feet, equal to four hundred and seventy-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 abundant 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 described in the history of Mauch Chunk borough, we will present a few statistics concerning the business. The following table shows the annual production of the company's mines from their origin to the present:

 

Year                                                                                                                                 Tons

1820         ………………………………………………………………...             365

1821         ………………………………………………………………...          1,073

1822         ………………………………………………………………..           2,440

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

1832         ………………………………………………………………...         77,292

1833         ………………………………………………………………...       124,508

1834         ………………………………………………………………...       106,500

1835         ………………………………………………………………...       131,250

1836         ………………………………………………………………...       146,738

1837         ………………………………………………………………...       200,000

1838         ………………………………………………………………...       154,693

1839         ………………………………………………………………...       142,507

1840         ………………………………………………………………...       102,264

1841         ………………………………………………………………...         78,164

1842         ………………………………………………………………...       163,762

1843         ………………………………………………………………...       138,826

1844         ………………………………………………………………...       219,245

1845         ………………………………………………………………...       257,740

1846         ………………………………………………………………...       284,813

1847         ………………………………………………………………...       351,675

1848         ………………………………………………………………...       360,619

1849         ………………………………………………………………...       393,807

1850         ………………………………………………………………...       424,258

1851         ………………………………………………………………...       480,824

1852         ………………………………………………………………...       510,406

1853         ………………………………………………………………...       496,905

1854         ………………………………………………………………...       544,811

1855         ………………………………………………………………...       449,812

1856         ………………………………………………………………...       400,425

1857         ………………………………………………………………...       400,715

1858         ………………………………………………………………...       425,896

1859         ………………………………………………………………...       546,816

1860         ………………………………………………………………...       517,157

1861         ………………………………………………………………...       410,877

1862         ………………………………………………………………...       241,837

1863         ………………………………………………………………...       517,259

1864         ………………………………………………………………...       517,180

1865         ………………………………………………………………...       517,025

1866         ………………………………………………………………...       400,000

1867         ………………………………………………………………...       370,204

1868         ………………………………………………………………...       467,126

1869         ………………………………………………………………...       472,410

1870         ………………………………………………………………...       297,471

1871         ………………………………………………………………...       518,800

1872         ………………………………………………………………...       799,654

1873         ………………………………………………………………...       909,373

1874         ………………………………………………………………...       571,945

1875         ………………………………………………………………...       398,042

1876         ………………………………………………………………...       605,660

1877         ………………………………………………………………...       343,700

1878         ………………………………………………………………...       425,194

1879         ………………………………………………………………...       698,131

1880         ………………………………………………………………...       545,161

1881         ………………………………………………………………...       648,147

1882         ………………………………………………………………...       837,968

1883         ………………………………………………………………...       913,916

                 Total production in tons………………………………………  21,311,983

 

Page 789

 

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 Nesquehoning, comprising five openings, —two tunnels, one shaft, one slope, and one drift, —while there is another with a large screen building at the north end of the Lansford tunnel.  The company employs three thousand three hundred and fifty men, distributed as follows:

 

Colliery  No. 3       …...……………..……………………..…      350

"       No. 4       …...……………..……………………..…      275

"       No. 5       …...……………..……………………..…      250

"       No. 6       …...……………..……………………..…      250

"       No. 8       …...……………..……………………..…      350

"       No. 9       …...……………..……………………..…      450

"       No. 10     …...……………..……………………..…      325

"       No. 11     …...……………..……………………..…      325

"       No. 12     …...……………..……………………..…      225

Miscellaneous roll       ………………………..…………….      300

Shops                     …...……………..……………………..…      125

Screen building    …...……………..……………………..…     125

Total               …...……………..……………………..…   3350

 

These men and all of the mining operations of the company are under the direction of W. D. Zehner, superintendent.                                  

 

The villages of Summit Hill and Nesquehoning, and the borough of Lansford, of which we shall presently have more to say, were built up and are maintained entirely by the mining industry.

 

Schools—The principal schools of the township are in Summit Hill, Lansford, and Nesquehoning, and will be found under those headings.  The whole number of schools in the township is fifteen, and the number of teachers sixteen.  The whole number of pupils is one thousand and forty.  The total receipts for the year ending June 4, 1883, were $13,305.39, and the  total expenditures $12,916.53.

 

The following is a list of the school directors of the township since the erection of Carbon County:

 

1844        Ira Cortwright, William H. Knowles

1845        Alex. Lockhart, John Lentz       

1846        James R. Butler, John Fatzinger

1847        John Lentz, Ira Cortwright

1848        George W. Smith, J. H. Stevens, Jacob S. Wollar                                                

1849        J. H. Siewers, Henry Myers, John Fatzinger                                             

1850        Ira Cortwright, G. H. Davis, James McLean, Nathan Patterson, Meritt Abbott               

1851        Nathan Patterson, Thomas Hughs, James McLean, Jr., William Woodworth, Meritt Abbott, Charles Packer

1852        Abel Hewitt, Meritt Abbott

1853        James McLean, Jr., W. Woodworth   

1854        Zerubbel Thomas, John Andreas, D. W. Lewis                                        

1855        Dixon Lewis, Samuel Pollock, Abraham Andreas                                      

1856        Walter Leisenring, Thomas Thomas

1857        J. G. Ohl, Anthony Rouse                                       

1858        William R. Jones, Dixon Siewers, Jonathan Marsden, Joseph Woodworth

1859        Joseph Woodworth, A. W. Fellows, William McKeever

1860        Walter Leisenring, James Sweeny, George H. Davis

1861        Charles Hoffman, Elisha Packer

1862        Josiah McMurtrein, Thomas R. Williams, Thomas Carr

1863        Thomas R. Williams, Thomas Arner

1864        Anthony Snyder, Elisha Packer

1865        Peter W. Neigh, Josiah McMurtrein

1866        Josiah Williams, Henry C. Smith

1867        Anthony Snyder, Isaac Jones

1868        S. Hill Dut, James Gallagher, J. H. Kline

1869        Thomas R. Williams, John H. Kline, William Frigenown

1870        James Smitham, Henry Stark  

1871        No record

1872        Barney Philips, Matthew E. Singard

1873        Jenkin E. Jenkin, S. M. Lester

1874        Samuel Nercus, C. F. McCue

1875        Solomon Rickert, William D. Thomas 

1876        Benjamin Ross, Samuel F. Keeler

1877        William York, P. W. Neigle, N. M. Grover

1878        J. E. Davis, John Bradwell, Richard Lynch 

1879        John Boyle, Patrick Kerim

1880        Philip Coyle, W. W. Watkins

1881        John Mallory, Francis Dermott

1882        Abraham W. Moser, John McCrealey

1883        Patrick Dermott, Jacob Buss

 

Justices of the Peace —Following is a list of the justices of the peace from 1844 to the present. Some of those elected prior to the incorporation of the borough of Mauch Chunk were residents of that place:

 

James R. Butler, March, 1844

J. K. Pryor, March, 1845

J. A. Boyle, March, 1847

Alexander W. Butler, March, 1848

Charles E. Haskell, March, 1849

Alexander W. Butler, March, 1850

D. B. Brodhead, March, 1850

Abel Hewitt, March, 1850

 Merritt Abbott, March, 1851

Abel Hewitt, March, 1855

Thomas R. Vanhorn, March, 1856

William McKeever, March, 1858

Joel C. Lance, March, 1859

Isaac H. Williams, March, 1859

Thomas O. German, March, 1863

Leyshan Thomas, March, 1863

S. F. Minich, March, 1864   

Peter Newmiller, March, 1865

William McKeever, March, 1868

 George L. Watson, March, 1868

William McKeever, March, 1873

Thomas R. Williams, March, 1873   

Lewis W. Pryor, March, 1874  

James H. James, March, 1877

 

Page 790

 

 

James Burns, March, 1879.

John R. Harris, March, 1880

William Shea, March, 1883

 

Summit Hill—It was at this place that Ginter's discovery of coal was made in 1791, and operations commenced by the Lehigh Coal Company in 1818, as detailed in the chapters on internal improvements and Mauch Chunk borough.  The town, which had its origin as a mining camp, soon became, and has since remained, with the exception of Mauch Chunk, the leading centre of population in the region settled and developed by the Coal and Navigation Company.  The work of the company here, the construction of the "Switchback'' proper, and of the gravity road now bearing that name have been quite fully treated in the history of Mauch Chunk, and we shall therefore in this connection introduce only those topics which are more purely local in their interest.

 

A settlement was established here in 1818, consisting of the company's miners, but it was not until many years later that the locality presented the appearance of an established town.  James Broderick seems to have been the earliest prominent resident, having located here in 1821, and his wife is said to have been the first woman who had a home in what is now Summit Hill.  Mr. Broderick and wife removed to Mauch Chunk in 1832, but in 1837 returned to the Summit mines, where the former held a position with the firm of Holland, Lockhart, McLean & Co. until 1843.  He afterwards was prominently identified with the coal business at other points in this general region, and died in 1875. 

 

In 1826, according to the statement made in a carefully prepared history of the Presbyterian Church, written by the present pastor, there was but one house in Summit Hill proper, and only four others in the locality, which were west of the site of the town.  They were all log structures, and that occupied by James Leamon, the "boss" of the mines, was the only one of the lot which was two stories in height.  He had as boarders most of the employees who had no families.                                       

 

In 1837 the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company began building extensively for its employees, and the place assumed the air of a thoroughly established town.  It was not, however, until 1847 that lots were sold and individual enterprise allowed to exercise itself. Among the first purchasers (in October of the year mentioned) were J. Edward Barnes, Nathan Patterson, D. D. Brodhead, John Simpson, Jacob Minich, Daniel Minich, Merritt Abbott, James Denton, and Charles Hoffman.  In 1850, Abram Harris bought a lot, and built upon it a hotel, and in 1851, Alexander Lockhart and Merritt Abbott purchased one, on which they built a foundry.               

 

The operation of the mines, the establishment of mercantile houses, and the varied institutions rendered necessary or growing naturally out of the increase in population, and consequent enlarged needs, developed in due time a town of good proportions upon the mountain-top.  According to the census of 1880 the population of Summit Hill proper was seventeen hundred and sixty-three, while other localities in the election district—Hackelbernie, one hundred and sixty; Bloomingdale, one hundred and eighty-four; and Jamestown, numbers five and six, six hundred and seventy-seven—made the total usually ascribed to the town two thousand seven hundred and eighty-four.

 

The mines here have been, as a rule, operated by the company, for whom Joseph S. Harris was for many years the superintendent, and was succeeded by W. D. Zehner, who at present holds that office. 

 

Leasing and the giving of contracts have been in vogue here to some extent: Holland, Barber & Co., with their predecessors and successors, being among the earliest and most prominent contractors, in the list of whom were also included Daniel S. Bertsch & Co., E. A. Douglass, A. A. Douglass, R. A. and Asa Packer, Belford, Sharpe & Co., and others.  Capt. McLean and David Williams (the latter the first Welshman here) were the contractors who "drove" Spring Tunnel, which was perhaps the beginning of underground mining in this immediate locality.  These same men also opened Slope No. 1 in 1850O,which was worked until 1858, when it took fire. After strong and repeated endeavors to extinguish this underground conflagration, it was abandoned.  The" burning mine," as it is called, is now, after more than a quarter of a century, one of the wonderful attractions of Summit Hill, and perhaps the most far-famed curiosity of the region. Many thousands of tons of coal have been consumed in this slow-smouldering and unquenchable fire, which has, at vast expense, been finally surrounded with a great ditch cut through the anthracite, that must some time bring to a close the progress of the devastating element.

 

The mines were leased at one period to the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre Coal Company, but during the greater number of the years which have elapsed since they were opened they have, as heretofore stated, been operated either by contractors or directly by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company.

 

Of late years, the direction which mining has taken and other causes, among them the chief being the building of the Nesquehoning Valley Railroad, have operated to draw life from the old town on the mountain-top and bestow it upon the younger rival, Lansford, in the valley, of which, after consideration of some of the local institutions of Summit Hill, we shall present an account. 

 

Religious History—The Presbyterian Church—The Summit Hill Presbyterian Church was one of the pioneers among the religious organizations in the Lehigh coal region.  As early as 1835, Robert Henry, a Covenanter Presbyterian, organized a Bible class at the boarding-house of Alexander McLean, also a Presbyterian. He regularly conducted exercises at…

 

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 …this house until August, 1836, when James Edgar, who had in the mean time settled in the community, became a prominent member of the little band, and from that time the weekly assemblages became more distinctively prayer-meetings.  In the fall of 1835 the Presbyterian Church of Mauch Chunk was organized, and among its members were six who were residents of Summit Hill, —Alexander McLean and wife, John Nichol and wife, Robert Craig, and John Style.  On the 5th of the following December, Rev. David X. Junkin, of Greenwich, N. J., with the session, held a service at Summit Hill, and received eight more persons living here into the membership of the church.  In the same month, Rev. Richard Webster, for many years thereafter pastor of the Mauch Chunk Church, began his labors as a missionary of the Assembly's Board of Home Missions, at Mauch Chunk, Summit Hill, and South Easton.  He supplied this place with preaching every fourth Sunday, and in December, 1837, received nine more members into the church.  On the 23d of that month he administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper for the first time in Summit Hill. During the summer of 1836, Mr. Webster requested a young theological student at Princeton (Andrew Tully) to come to Summit Hill and teach the day-school, and try to organize a Sunday-school.  He succeeded in establishing the latter in July, and kept it up during the summer and the next summer, and that also of 1838; it was revived and superintended by Elder G. W. Smith, of Mauch Chunk.   

 

At the adjourned meeting of the Presbytery of Newton, held at Beaver Meadow, Feb. 12, 1839, Mr. Webster represented in his report that there were twenty-three members of the Mauch Chunk Church residing at Summit Hill, and that he had for a year or more been preaching as far west as Tamaqua.  Thereupon the Presbytery appointed Rev. Garton, of Beaver Meadow, with A. H. Van Cline, an elder of the same church, and Rev. Richard Webster, with G.W. Smith, of Mauch Chunk, as a committee to visit Summit Hill and Tamaqua, and if they deemed it advisable, to organize a church. Agreeably to this appointment they visited this place on April 19, 1839, and organized the Presbyterian Church of Summit Hill and Tamaqua, consisting of twenty-eight members, of whom all but four resided in Summit Hill. Those residing here were Alexander McLean and wife, Robert Nickol and wife, Robert Gage and wife, Andrew Harkin and wife, John Tait and wife, Mrs. Sarah Jane Sampson, Mrs. Margaret Craig, Mrs. Mary Winterstein, James McLean, Matthew Morrison, Jonathan Jolinson, James Knox, John Billingham, James Edgar, Matthew Henry, Joseph Brown, Alexander Brewster and William Henry.  Those living at Tamaqua were Mrs. Sarah Heston, Mrs. Maria H. Hunter, Miss Elizabeth McNeil, and George Washington Brown.  Messrs. Andrew Harkin and James Edgar were unanimously chosen to the office of ruling elders.  On June 8, 1840, Mr. Webster, having extended his diocese as far as Port Clinton, began preaching occasionally at this place.  Services were also held during 1841 and a portion of the following year by Elder George Wiggan, of Port Clinton. In June, 1842, Mr. William E. Schenk, a licentiate of the Presbytery of New Brunswick, was employed as a missionary, and for three months he preached on alternate Sundays at Summit Hill. In September of this year the session memorialized the Presbytery to have the congregation divided. Port Clinton and Tamaqua to form a new church and the congregation at this place to retain the name of Summit Hill. A request was also made that Rev. Mr. Schenk be ordained as an evangelist and appointed stated supply.  This was not granted, but in December, 1842, Rev. Richard M. Baclean, of the Elizabethtown (N. J.) Presbytery, was employed as stated supply for three months.  Rev. Mr. Webster, upon the expiration of that period, again took the church under his charge until the coming of Rev. John H. Rittenhouse, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Northumberland, in June.

 

He was succeeded in November, 1843, by Rev. A. G. Harned.  He became the first regular pastor of the church, being ordained and installed May 1, 1844.  In May, 1844, the long-desired division of the church was effected, and from that time it was known as the "First Presbyterian Church of Summit Hill."  In the following spring the congregation ceased to accept the aid of the Board of Missions.  In February, 1847, application was made for a charter of incorporation, which, however, was not obtained until two years later.  The work of building a church was begun in November, 1846, the services prior to that time having been held in the school-house.

 

Rev. A. G. Harned, the first pastor of the church, resigned in the spring of 1856.  He was followed, after the lapse of a year, by Rev. John White.  His pastorate continued until 1872.   Rev. George Benaugh was called in May of the following year, and served the church until May 1, 1877.  Upon October 12th of the same year the church extended a call to Rev. J. H. Doremus, the present pastor, who entered upon his labors on the 15th of the following November, and was installed on the 18th of December.  The church edifice was improved and enlarged to its present ample dimensions in 1871-72, at a cost of about three-thousand five hundred dollars, and a fine parsonage was built in 1873.

The society has been quite prosperous, and now has a membership of about two hundred and fifty persons, while its two Sunday-schools have an aggregate enrollment of three hundred and twenty-five children. 

 

St. Philip's Episcopal Church—The first recorded baptism in this parish was performed by the Rev. Peter Russell, Sept.13, 1845, who was at the time missionary in charge of this district of territory.  A parochial organization was not effected until November, 1849.  On the 22d day of November, 1849, a de-…

 

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 …cree of incorporation was granted by the Court of Common Pleas of the county of Carbon to the petitioners, Rev. Peter Russell, James Brodric, A. L. Foster, James W. Barnes, Richard Sharp, R. H. Sayre, George H. Davis, R. H. Barnes, Thomas Wilson, Matthew Dougherty, and John Stewart, under the name of "The Rector, Warden, and Vestrymen of St. Philip's Protestant Episcopal Church."  The cornerstone of the church building was laid on the first Saturday evening in July, 1850, by the Rt. Rev. Alonzo Potter, bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, assisted by the rector, the Rev. Peter Russell, a large concourse of citizens and churchmen being in attendance, many of whom came from Mauch Chunk, with the bishop and rector, to witness the ceremony.  The building was completed within the year, at a cost of $1320.82.  The first rector, the Rev. Peter Russell, a man no less beloved for his Christian virtues than renowned for his missionary zeal, had charge of the parish until May, 1857, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Joseph A. Stone, who resigned the rectorship September, 1860, since which time the following clergymen have administered the parish, viz.: Rev. Hurley Baldy, Rev. William Wilson, Rev. T. Logan Murphy, Rev. Leighton Coleman, Rev. Chandler Hare, Rev. W. J. Miller, Rev. R. H. Kline, and Rev. Charles E. Fessenden, present incumbent. 

 

Prior to Jan. 23, 1881, when the Rev. Mr. Kline became rector of St. Philip's Church, this parish had always been associated with St. Mark's, Mauch Chunk, or Calvary Church, Tamaqua, under the same rector.  Since that time it has had no connection with Mauch Chunk or Tamaqua, the people feeling able to support a rector of their own.  The Rev. Mr. Kline resigned Aug. 14, 1881, and the Rev. Charles E. Fessenden having been called to succeed him, entered upon his duties December 1st of the same year.  In the fall of 1882 extensive improvements were begun in the church building. The church was raised from its old foundations; a basement Sunday school room was built; new heater was put in; new chandelier and lamps were purchased; new pews were obtained for the auditorium; the walls were calcimined, and other alterations and improvements made by which the Lord's house was rendered more commodious, more churchly, and more attractive.  The cost of improvements, contributions, etc., for the year 1883 amounted to $981.97. 

 

St. Philip's Parish, like all churches planted in mining towns, has suffered greatly from removals.  During its history many prominent coal operators and other business men and their families have been connected with this little parish. It has seen days of great prosperity, and it has seen days of sad decline.  Many now grown to manhood and womanhood, and connected with other religious denominations, were accustomed, when children, to attend the Sunday school of the " Bell Church," as it was commonly called, because for many years it was the only church in the neighborhood having a bell to call the people from their earthly cares to the spiritual duties of the Lord's sanctuary.  This community will always feel a peculiar love and reverence for St. Philip's, and those at a distance who worshiped in its sacred courts, long years agone, will not forget the hallowed associations linked with the name and place. 

 

Present Vestry,—John McMichael, Thomas W. Renshaw (wardens), W. D. Zehner, John W. Patterson, M. E. Linyard (secretary), E. H. Kistler, M. D. (treasurer), S. F. Minnick, Casper Ichter. 

 

St. Joseph's Catholic Church—It appears from the records that in 1826 the Rev. Mr. Fitzpatrick, of the Catholic denomination and resident in Sunbury, visited this place occasionally.  Fathers Cummings and Courtney, from Pottsville, came here quite regularly for several years, the former prior to 1832, and the latter prior to 1838.  From the latter date until 1842, Rev. Mr. Wainwright, of Tamaqua, visited the people, after which time came Father Maloney, of the same place, until 1849.  He received ground from the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company for the location of a church.  Next was Father Haingan, who came in 1849, and attended the spiritual wants of the people until 1852.  During his term of service a small church was built.  Rev. Dr. Manahan was the first resident pastor, during the years 1852-53. The community was visited again, until September, 1854, from Mauch Chunk by Father Coffee.  Father Basil Shorb became resident pastor in October, 1854, and remained until August, 1858, being succeeded by Rev. Hugh Magorien, until Aug. 9, 1866, when Rev. James Kelly assumed charge, and remained until Nov. 20, 1872, when Rev. John McElroy filled the place until Jan.18, 1875.  Rev. James Brehony served from then until April 4, 1877, and Rev. James Wynn from then until Sept. 7, 1879.  During his administration the present parochial residence was built.  Revs. Daniel I. McDermott and I. M. Cox, as pastor and assistant, were in charge until May 9, 1880.  On their removal Revs. John Scanlon and William Craig served until the death of the former, on the 5th of February, 1882.  Rev. Hugh Garvey, the present pastor, was appointed to succeed Father Scanlon by Archbishop Wood, and immediately set about the erection of the present building, the cornerstone of which was laid by Very Rev. M. A. Walsh, V. G., on the 21st of June following.  On this occasion the sermon was preached by Rev. P. J. Garvey, D. D., then pastor of St. Peter's Church, Reading, Pa., and at present pastor of St. James Church in West Philadelphia.  The ceremony of the dedication of the new church was performed on the 10th of December following by Right Rev. J. F. Shanahan, Bishop of Harrisburg, who also preached the sermon and administered the sacrament of confirmation to about two hundred and fifty children; Rev. P. J. Garvey, D. D., being celebrant of the solemn high mass, assisted by Revs. D. Bows, William Craig, and Rev. John Loughran, of Scranton, as deacon, subdeacon, and master of ceremonies respec-…

 

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…tively.   The pastor, Rev. Hugh Garvey, being assistant to the Right Rev. Bishop.  The new church is now free from debt, and has a membership of three thousand souls. Rev. Hugh Garvey continues as pastor, and is assisted by Rev. J. J. McAnany.   A handsome monument has been erected in the cemetery adjoining the church to the memory of the late pastor, Rev. J. Scanlon. The congregation owns also a new cemetery about one mile from town, which was purchased during the administration of the Rev. J. Wynn. 

 

The Lutheran Church—This congregation was organized in the old schoolhouse about 1853. The members of the church council were Jacob Mosser, Jacob Herring, Berkhardt Mosser, and Abraham Miller, and the pastor, Rev. Oberfeld.  Rev. Heilig succeeded Oberfeld. During Heilig's stay the congregation, with the Reformed, began to build a Union Church (now owned by the Reformed).  It was next served by Rev. Grim, and then by Rev. Beyer. After Beyer left there was no regular pastor for about four years, the church being served by students from the seminary. William H. Strauss served the congregation for one year while a student in the seminary, and after his ordination at Pottsville came here as regular pastor.  In the year 1879 the congregation bought the German Methodist Church, in which, after having repaired it, the congregation is now worshiping. 

 

St. Paul's German Reformed Church—The first preaching in the interests of this denomination in this region was at the schoolhouse in the valley by Bloomingdale.  In 1856, Rev. John Eichenbach, sent out from Allentown by the Synod, preached at Summit Hill.  Among the first members of the church were Isaac Miller, Jonathan Hallenbach, and Messrs. Remaly and ____ Miller.   Rev. Eichenbach preached for the congregation about twenty-five years, and was succeeded by the Rev. Greaffe, from Tamaqua.  The congregation has maintained quite a healthful life, erected a good house of worship in 1867, and now numbers about one hundred and fifty members. 

 

Schools—There are excellent schools here, conducted in a building which is a credit to Summit Hill, and probably equal in all respects to that of any town of similar size in the State.  This building was erected in 1875-76.  The principal instructors here since 1860 have been as follows: 1861-62, J. H. Dexter; 1863-64, H. C. Smith; 1864-65, E. L. Tewksberry; 1865-67, J. T. Reinock; 1867-71, J. Ritter; 1871-72, J. E. Lauer; 1872-73, J. C. Bell; 1873-75, S. Motzer; 1875-79, S. H. Hollinger; 1879-82, W. McLaughlin;1882-83, J. M. Roberts; 1883-84, P. H. McCabe. 

 

Newspapers—The first newspaper here was the Weekly Intelligencer, issued in 1873 and for two years following by Daniel Eveland and Robert Harris, of Tamaqua, in which place it was printed.  The Summit Hill Independent was issued in the summer of 1876, and maintained a somewhat precarious life for about six months.  On Oct. 18, 1879, the Summit Hill and Lansford Record was issued by P. F. Gildea & J. W. Maloy.  The first named member of the firm retired in April, 1880, and Mr. Maloy has since been the sole proprietor, removing the paper to Lansford in the spring of 1884.

 

Banking—The Miners' Bank was established in 1873, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars, in one thousand shares.  Anthony Snyder was president and B. W. Marsey vice president.  In October, 1880, the bank was removed to Lansford, and in April, 1883, was closed, and its affairs placed in the hands of assignees. 

 

Societies—Summit Lodge, No. 576, I. O. O. F., was instituted March 4, 1865, with the following as its first officers: N. G., Henry Storch; V. G., William Swank; Sec., I. H. Dexter; Asst. Sec., Balzar Fink; Treas., Thomas Arner. The lodge has now one hundred and sixty members, and meets in a hall rented from Samuel Rickert. 

 

Fountain Encampment, No. 17O, I. O. O. F., was instituted Oct. 10, 1868, with the following officers:  C. P., Thomas G. Williams; H. P., Thomas Arner; S. W., George Halvey; J. W., Simon Anderson; Scribe, E. E. Jones; Treas., William Warlow. It now has twenty-five members. 

 

Summit Lodge, Daughters of Rebecca, 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, O. F. Kline, George B. Kent,   Thomas C. Williams, Joseph Williams, Charles Walton, and T. Carlos Williams as charter members.  It now has a membership of about thirty.

 

Carbon Temple of H. and T., No. 32, was organized April 2, 1867, with the following officers: J. P. Rowlands, C. T.; M. E. Singard, V. T.; C. E. West, R. H. Hardel, A. R.; H. C. James, F. R.; W. S. Howells, Treas.; Ed. Minich, U.; J. E. Jenkin, D.U.; John H. Kline, G.; Thomas Richards, W.; M. E. Singard, D. G. T.  The organization is in a flourishing condition at the present, owning the property 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. McMurtrie, B. of C.; C. F. Kline, M. of C.; Thomas Whilden, P. of C.; 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 follows: 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….

 

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… Renshaw. William Swank, George Winterstein, W. W. Radcliff, E. W. Moister, Samuel Rickert, Joseph Forrest, Robert Ross, Benjamin Flemming, E. H. Kistler, W. T. Ratcliff, W. H. Evans, S. F. Minich, M. E. Singard, John Leese, James Leese, James Ballentine, John Bogle, Samuel Hogg, J. C. Putter, Samuel McNeal, Jr., W. D. Zehner, W. Clements, Joseph S. Patterson, James Singard, Moses Neyer, C. W. Swank, Thomas McCready, Robert Derby.  One death has occurred since its organization, and the company paid the amount of insurance promptly. 

 

The Junior Templars (formerly Cadets of H. and T.) were organized April 6, 1882,with the following officers: John L. McMichael, W. G.; James Hughes; 1st Gov.; William McLaughlin, 2nd Gov.; William Swigel, 3rd 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 McKiever, L.; 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 Templars was organized May 22, 1882, with the following officers: James Swigel, W. C. T.; Miss B. M. Kline, W. V. T.; Wilson Crawford, Chap.; Robert McMichael, Sec.; Alexander Flemming, Asst. Sec.; James L. Singard, F. S.; Alice Bogle, Treas.; Thomas Walton, M.; Annie L. Singard, D. M.; S. Davis, I. G.; James McGee, O. G.; Saddle 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 Hon. 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 coal 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 Tunnels 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, whence it was conveyed to the Lehigh, as narrated in the history of Mauch 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 Hallenbach, Peter Fisher, Hugh Gallagher, Josiah Williams, Richard Malcom, John McHugh, Peter McGee, Ignatius Teufel, Taylor Edwards, Morgan Price, John D. Williams, James M. Jones, E. Weber, Joseph Downs, Thomas W. Williams, Shadrack Walkins, William Y. Evans, John Scott, William Hines, and Frank Dermot. 

 

Daniel Bertsch, and Fellows & Van Horn, kept here at an early 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, Howell Evans, E. Warren &Co., John 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 Frace, 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 cars, breaking machinery, engines, etc., were built here in1870-71. 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 incorporated in 1877. Following is a list of its principal officers from that time to the present:

 

Burgesses

 

1877—William Y. Evans

1878—William Y. Evans

1879—Herman Rieber

1880—Morgan Price

1881—Herman Rieber

1882—Josiah Wehner

1883—Charles Walton

 

Council

 

1877—Reese Watkins, Neal McGinty, Frank Zehner, Abraham Morgan, Morgan Price

1878—Neal McGinty, D. R. Edwards, Samuel Sterrit, John Hite, James Gallagher, Howell Evans.

1879—Frank Zehner, J. D. Kelly, D. W. Griffith, Jerry F. Werner, John McNeIlis, 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, J. W. Mallory, Daniel Cummyton, Nathan Tanner, James Gallagher

 

Page 795

 

 

1883.—James Blackburn, Thomas Whilden, John Jeffreys, Charles Kline, A. J. Weyhenmyer,  J. O. Edwards

 

Justices of the Peace

 

1877.—William D. Thomas                  

1881.—Thomas W. Williams                

 

School Directors

 

1877—N. G. Hyndman         

1878—Benjamin Gwylam, William A. Miller, George Boyle

1879—William H. Arner, Neal McGinty    

1880—Hugh 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 management of the township authorities until 1877, and were only partially graded in 1878, when a large, convenient, and handsome school building, capable of seating over six hundred pupils, was erected.  Mr. L. Huber was the first principal of this new school, followed by Mr. A. G. O. 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. Hughes, of Coaldale; Lewis D. Evans and R. W. Jenkins, of Maine; and G. Roberts, of Dawn, Mo.  Present membership, one hundred; Sunday school, one hundred. 

 

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. H. Lewis, of Lansford; D. E. Jones, of Coaldale.  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 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 Edwards; Deacons, Messrs. Josiah Williams, D. W. Griffiths, 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; Organists, 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. B. Lewis, Pottsville, with membership of between fifteen and twenty.  The deacons at the time were Messrs. George Phillips, John Fawks (clerk), and Mr. Thomas W. Griffiths.  The present building was erected (which measures forty by sixty feet) in 1881.  The laying of the cornerstone 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, Wm. Morgan (clerk), and W. C. Henry. For the present: Pastor, John Edwards; Deacon, W. O. Henry; Clerk, John L. Lewis; Trustees, Messrs. J. E. Lauer, Wm. T. Williams, and A. B. Watson; Organist, Mr. Charlie Portz. Attending 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—In 1872, Rev. B. F. Bohner, in charge of Mauch Chunk and Summit Hill Churches, preached here occasionally and organized a Sunday school with the following officers: William Weber, superintendent; E. Moser, assistant superintendent; Solomon Bachman, secretary; Nathan Sold, librarian; William Arner, assistant librarian; and William Hollenbach, treasurer. No class was organized until February, 1874, when Rev. S. C. Breyfogel, pastor of Barnesville Circuit, preached here.  A great revival was the result, and a class was organized with E. Moser as leader, and Samuel Heffelfinger, exhorter.  The services were held in one of  the public schoolhouses until the year 1879. The class appointed J. F. Werner, Esq. (leader at the time), and E. Moser (exhorter) a committee to buy the schoolhouse at the corner of Centre and Abbott…

 

Page 796

 

 

 

… 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. Werner superintendent and William Garmley assistant.   Rev. H. M. Wingert is the preacher in charge of Tamaqua.

 

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. Sterrett, T. McCreely, 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; Sec., 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, John 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. Halvey, 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 township or county.  According to entries in the old account 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 upon laying out a town here they published in an advertisement in the principal newspapers of Eastern Pennsylvania, which contained the following:  “The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company offer for sale a variety of building lots in the town of Nesquehoning. This town is situated in the Nesquehoning 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 Mauch Chunk."  This advertisement was dated Sept.19, 1831.  Enoch Lewis was at that time surveying the plot.

 

The town had so far progressed that in 1832, when the centennial anniversary of Washington's birth came around, a very successful celebration was had, to which the people of Mauch Chunk, Lehighton, Lausanne, and other places were invited.  The gathering 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 employees is about three hundred and fifty.  R. Eustis is the local superintendent, 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 occupied.  The number of pupils is about two hundred.  The present principal is W. McLaughlin.  Following is a list of the principal instructors 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. Hollinger, 1872-75; W. Sterret, 1875-76; S. Motzer, 1876-77; J. H. Landis, 1877-78; P. H. McCabe, 1878-81; Hon. M. Cassiday and Charles Allen, 1881-82; P. H. McCabe, 1882-83; W. McLaughlin, 1883-84.

 

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized on March 2, 1863. The preacher in charge was Rev. Henry H. Davis; the local preacher, David Trevarrow; and the stewards, William York, _____ Isaas, _____ Janes, Jonathan Marsden, William Swank, Robert D. Spence, and George L. Watson.  The preachers in rotation who have served here have been Rev. H. H. Davis, two years; _____ Stechter, one year; S. H. 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; _____ Merely, one year; J. H. Sampson, one year; David Wiangert, one year; H. L. Reese, two years; and C. R. Cook, three years.

 

                                                                                           END        

 

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RETURN TO THE MATHEWS & HUNGERFORD

 INDEX PAGE

 

 

 

From

The History of the Counties of Lehigh & Carbon, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,

by

Alfred Mathews & Austin N. Hungerford

Published in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1884

 

Transcribed from the original in the summer of 2002 by

Eleanor F. Miley
 

Web page by

Jack Sterling

October 2002