Area History: History of Schuylkill County, Pa: W. W. Munsell, 1881
Township and Borough Histories pp. 177 - 193
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HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA
with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches
of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers.
New York: W. W. Munsell & Co., 36 Vesey Street, 1881
Press of George Macnamara, 36 Vesey Street, N.Y.
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page 177
BUTLER TOWNSHIP.
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Butler was formerly part of Barry and was generally designat-
ed in local parlance among the older settlements of the county as
"above the mountain."
The coal developments of the lower Schuylkill region soon,
however, drew attention to this, and lands that had been entered
under Revolutionary warrants were thrown on the market as coal
land. the principal tracts lying between the Mahanoy and Little
Mahanoy creeds, which now contain the borough of Ashland and
Girardville, and the township of Butler, were patented to the
Probsts, Prestons, Kunckles, and William Parker; and the earliest
business enterprise conducted was lumbering.
Crossing the territory from southeast to northwest ran the
old "Centre turnpike," and along it, as early as 1810, stood an
occasional hostelry, where "accommodation for man and beast" was
cheerfully and cheaply proffered, even if of a primitive charac-
ter. At that date the sole representative of that class of inns
was the "Seitzinger Tavern" at Fountain Spring, so called from an
excellent spring gushing from one of its hills.
This hotel was built by George Seitzinger, in 1810. the next
of its class, also of logs, was built by Jacob Rodenburger, at
what is now Ashland, in 1820.
The earliest settlers were the Seitzinger, Fausts and Roden-
burgers; and their connection with the locality dates back to
about 1801, although Nicholas Seitzinger is believed to have made
a clearing at Fountain Springs as early as 1795.
The first death in the township was that of a young man named
Seitzinger, who was drowned in a mill pond; and his grave was the
first in the "Seitzinger burying ground."
The first saw-mill was built on the Mahanoy, at what was then
called Mount Hope, in 1830.
The first school-house was built at Fountain Springs, where
the Miners' hospital now stands, about 1830.
The pioneer preachers were Jacob Miller and an Englishman,
named Buoy.
In 1848 the township of Butler was erected. Its first town
election was held at Fountain Springs and resulted in the choice
of R. Carr Wilson school director, J.L. Cleaver justice and
Elisha Pedrick town clerk. The township is now divided into five
voting districts, known as East, Northeast, West, North and South
Butler.
In the early days of Butler game was abundant, and the only
trouble taken by the Seitzingers to secure a plentiful supply of
venison was to capture and tame a young doe, and when fresh meat
was wanted send her out to decoy others within rifle range.
Beasts of prey also abounded, and the settlers soon became accus-
tomed to the howling of the gray wolf, often beneath their cabin
windows.
The population of the township in 1850 was 400; in 1860,
1,467; in 1870, 5,905, and in 1880, 4,678, Girardville having
been taken from it.
The village of Ashland became a borough in 1857, and that of
Girardville in 1872. The township now contains the pretty vil-
lages of Gordon, Locust Dale, Big Mine Run, Holmesville, Rappa-
hannock, Connors, Fountain Springs, and Rocktown; of which Locust
Dale, Big Mine Run, Holmesville, Rappahannock, Connors, and
Rocktown are mining villages, and all but Fountain Springs and
Rocktown are railway stations. Gordon is an important railway
village at the foot of the Gordon planes, on the Mine Hill and
Schuylkill Haven Railroad.
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
The public schools of Butler numbered in 1880 twenty-five,
kept in fifteen buildings. Several of these schools were graded.
The number of teachers employed was twenty-seven, of whom fifteen
were males, earning an average monthly salary of $59.17, and
twelve females, with an average salary of $24.91 per month. The
number of children in attendance was 1,836. the officers for
1880 and their places of residence were: B.F. Triebly, president,
South Butler; Owen Cownry, treasurer, North Butler; D.D. Phil-
lips, secretary, South Butler; Charles G. Shoemaker, South But-
ler, John Duffey, North Butler; Richard Flynn, North Butler.
Since 1870 nine schools have been established. The bonded
debt of the district is $6,600. The valuation of property in the
township in 1880 was $1,185,673.
The condition of the buildings is in general good; and the
graded school buildings at Locust Dale and Gordon are handsome
structures, creditable to the district and the villages in which
they are located.
GORDON.
A time-worn chart exists, indorsed "Draft of three tracts of
land, the property of David and James McKnight." The earliest
warranty date is March 24th, 1788, the land being patented August
19th, 1795, to John Kunckle; and the adjoining tract westward
bears a warrant date of 1792, April 16th, and was patented to the
same party August 19th, 1796. Of the seventeen tracts
__________end page 177.__________
page 178
HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
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shown on the "draft" seven are patented to members of the Kunckle
family, and it was the remnant of these lands that come into the
possession of the McKnights of Reading, whose descendants founded
the village of Gordon, named by them after Judge Gordon of Read-
ing, to whom they gave a lot, which was conveyed by him to Mrs.
J.F. Lewis, by the first deed ever recorded covering a real
estate sale in that place. The lot is on the corner of Main and
McKnight streets, and is occupied by the store and dwelling of
John F. Lewis.
The building of the Mine Hill and Schuylkill Haven Railroad
and the staking out of the planes was the first influence that
attracted immigration to Gordon. In 1846 William Stevenson built
a steam saw-mill at a point below the site of the village, known
on the old maps as Mount Hope, and also built a new road now
forming the principal street of the village. Andrew Wilson put
up a hotel to board the workmen at the mills, and soon afterward
Jonathan Faust started a store, which was supplemented by one
kept by a man named Johnson, about a year later.
The erection of the planes was a slow job, interrupted for
some time by the financial embarrassments of the company; but in
1855 they were completed, and from that date until the present
time Gordon has grown steadily in population and influence. It
contained, in 1880, the repair shops and round-house of the
railway company, two hotels, a good school building, two general
stores, one church edifice, several groceries, and about 870
inhabitants. The Gordon planes, the mechanical wonder of the
vicinity, life from 1,500 to 2,000 cars of coal daily over the
mountain; and form an outlet for an extensive field which, with-
out this mechanical assistance to the ordinary railroad, would be
unable to mine coal with any profit.
In 1880 a small monthly paper, called The Ivy Leaf, was
established by the Rev. H.N. Minnigh, pastor of the Methodist
Episcopal church. The editorial and mechanical work is all done
by him, and any profit derived from it is devoted to the benefit
of his church.
CHURCHES IN GORDON.
Gordon Methodist Episcopal Church.-The first Methodist
preaching at Gordon was in the year 1857, by Rev. J.A. DeMoyer,
who was stationed on what was then Catawissa circuit of the
Baltimore Conference. In the year 1859 a society was organized,
worshipping in a schoolhouse in the outskirts of the village.
The various preachers of Ashland, Girardville, etc., supplied the
congregation from time to time, among whom were Revs. Kester,
Stevens, Cathers, Bickerton, McKee, Mullen, McWilliams, Shields,
Trigellis and Drake.
In 1860 a union church was erected and deeded to the Presby-
terians, but was finally purchased for the Methodist church
December 2nd, 1872. Rev. J.T. Satchell was sent to the charge.
He was succeeded by Rev. Josiah Bawden in 1874, and he by the
Rev. James Sampson in 1876. In that year the church, being
involved in debt, was sold and purchased by the Lutheran denomi-
nation; the society thus being compelled to seek a shelter else-
where. The hall of the new school building was secured and
comfortably furnished for the purpose.
In 1878 the society was made a part of the Helfenstein and
Gordon circuit, with Rev. N.B. Smith in charge. The present
preacher is Rev. H.N. Minnigh, and the church is prosperous.
C.C. Reick is superintendent of the Sunday-school.
English Evangelical Lutheran Church of Gordon.-This church
was organized by Rev. O.D.S. Marclay, September 3d, 1876, with 33
members. The following were the officers elected at the time of
its organization: Elders, Thomas Rasbridge and W.H. Anthony;
Deacons, George F. Rick, Charles F. Hoffman, Joseph L. Harper,
Edward G. Ebling and Frederick Rice. Rev. O.D.S. Marclay was
elected its first pastor.
A union Sabbath-school had been organized April 2nd, 1876,
with 68 scholars and 7 teachers. W.H. Anthony was elected its
first superintendent, which position he still holds.
May 29th, 1877, the congregation purchased of R.C. Wilson for
$600 a church that had been erected by the Presbyterians. This
was refitted and furnished at an expense of over $1,000, and it
was rededicated in July, 1878, free from debt. A bell was pur-
chased in 1989 at a cost of $160, and an organ in 1880 for $250.
Mr. Marclay was succeeded as pastor May 16th 1878, by Rev.
D.E. Rupley, and he, November 1st, 1879, by Rev. J.H. Weber, the
present pastor.
The present membership is 64; and although not four years old
the church holds property in value not less that $2,500, free
from all incumbrances (sic). Its Sabbath-school has 21 teachers
and officers and 163 scholars.
LOCUST DALE.
This village has a population of about one thousand. George
C. Potts & Co. erected the first buildings and in 1857 opened the
colliery still called by the name of its projector, commencing
the shipment of coal in 1858. J.L. Beadle became the manager of
the colliery, and was active in forwarding the growth of the new
settlement. The first store was opened by A.S. Moorhead & Co.,
of Pottsville, in 1859, and it is still in operation under anoth-
er name. The next merchant was Mrs. Mary Young. The first hotel
was built by Jacob Brisel in 1850, and it is now kept by Chris-
tian Schneider. In the following year Joseph Hepler erect-ed a
hotel, which is now owned by William Dunkelberger; and since that
date two other places of "entertainment for man and beast" have
been built, which are in operation.
The first school-house was built in 1859, on the site of the
present building, and John Wagner was the first teacher. The
growth of the population demanding increased facilities and a
larger school building, the present handsome structure was built
in 1877. W.W. Heffner, of Ashland, a justice of the peace and a
teacher of extensive experience, is in charge of the school, with
Bernard Kelly as assistant.
In 1862 John Dennison & Co. opened a new colliery, the Key-
stone, which is still in operation.
__________end page 178.__________
page 179
VILLAGES AND MINES IN BUTLER.
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The merchants of the place in 1880 were William Herbert, Mrs.
Mary Young and E.B. Moorhead.
J.L. Beadle and William Rearsbeck of this place were the
inventors of the ventilating fan for coal mines, first adopted by
the Potts collieries in 1860, and now in general use; and Freder-
ick Granzow, the intelligent foreman of the Keystone mines, is
the originator of a new dumping process, in operation at his
colliery.
FOUNTAIN SPRINGS.
This place, where was located the earliest post-office in the
township, was settled as early as 1801 by the Seitzinger family,
represent-atives of which still reside there. In 1854 the post-
office was removed to Ashland. The principal institution of the
present is the new State Miners' Hospital, spoken of on page 96.
Fountain Springs contained in 1880 two neat looking hotels,
and about one hundred inhabitants, and maintained a union
Sunday-school, with a membership of fifty, and a library of 200
volumes.
Here, too, is Seitzinger's cemetery, where many of the Prot-
estant population of Ashland and vicinity bury their dead.
BIG MINE RUN
is the site of the Bast and Taylor collieries, and its existence
as a village dates from the erection of tenant houses for the
workmen at those collieries, in 1854.
The Mahanoy City branch of the Lehigh Valley Railroad and the
Mahanoy and Shamokin branch of the Philadelphia and Reading
Railroad have flag stations here.
HOLMESVILLE
is also a flag station on the Lehigh Valley for the accommodation
of miners and laborers at the Preston collieries, and Connors and
Rappahannock are similar stations on the Philadelphia and Reading
road, near it.
ROCKTOWN,
near the site of deserted collieries, is inhabited by some of the
employes (sic) at Potts colliery, and has a hotel and store.
COLLIERIES.
Big Mine Run Colliery was opened in 1854 by Bast & Pierson,
and operated by them until 1868, when it was purchased by Taylor
& Lindsay, who operated it until 1872, when they sold to Jeremi-
ah Taylor & Co., who have owned and operated it to the present
time. The colliery has been, and still continues to be, one of
the most successful in the anthracite region. The breaker has a
capacity of 1,000 tons, and an average production of 750 tons
daily. The vein worked is the Buck Mountain. Three hundred and
fifty-six men and boys are employed, and four steam engines of
135 horse power. The firm own twenty-six tenement houses. The
coal shipped from this mine is valued highly by manufacturers and
other competent judges. The workings consist of four drift
levels, with four main and two slant gangways, and forty-four
breasts, working in fifteen feet of coal.
The Bast Colliery was opened by Bast & Pierson, in 1835, and
the first shipment was made in that year. About the year 1860
Emanuel Bast purchased the interest of his father, and some ten
years later sold to the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron
Company, the present owners. There are two slopes sunk; one, two
hundred and seventy yards, the other, two hundred and ninety-
three, on the south dip of Mammoth vein. A tunnel is driven
south from the bottom of one of them two hundred and seventy
years. Drainage is effected by an eight hundred horse power
engine, running a twenty-four inch Cornish pump. The total horse
power of engines employed at the colliery is over eleven hundred.
One hundred and seventy-two men and boys are employed inside, and
one hundred and thirty-two outside. The total annual production
is about 90,000 tons. Two steam fans are used for ventilating,
but despite the utmost care a large quantity of fire-damp is
generated in the mine.
Preston Colliery No. 1 was opened by the Preston Improvement
Comp-any, on their lands in the northeastern part of Butler
township, in the year 1862, and was worked by them and others
until 1878, when the machinery was removed from the breaker at
Colliery No. 2. In 1872 it became the property of the Philadel-
phia and Reading Coal and Iron Company.
Preston Colliery No. 2, located near Number 1, was opened in
1864 by the same company, who commenced shipping coal in 1865,
and after operating it for several years sold to W.J. Moody &
Co., who continued in possession until 1872, when the Philadel-
phia and Reading Coal and Iron Company became its owners. The
breaker has a capacity of five hundred tons daily. The average
shipment is three hundred and fifty tons. One hundred and two
men and boys are employed inside, and one hundred and fifty-three
outside. The workings consist of a slope two hundred and six
yards deep, at an angle of 55E on the south dip of the Mammoth
vein, with east and west gangways. The east gangway is driven
about one hundred and fifty years, with five breasts; the west,
fifteen hundred yards, working seven breasts in twenty-five feet
of coal. One hundred and forty-three yards west of the slope, a
tunnel is driven north ninety -seven yards, cutting the Skidmore
vein, with east and west gangways. The east gangway extends two
hundred and sixty-four yards with fourteen breasts; the west is
driven a greater distance, with forty-four breasts open. At a
point three hundred and twenty-three yards west of the slope
another tunnel, driven south a distance of forty-one yards,
intercepts the Primrose in eleven feet of coal, and has gangways
driven one hundred and forty yards each, with nine breasts open.
The steam engines in use are one pair of hoisting engines of 120
horse power, one breaker of 40, one 25, driving a fifteen foot
fan, and two pump engines of 10 and 50 horse power respectively.
There are twenty-five tenement houses on the premises.
Preston No. 3, located south of the borough of Girard-
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page 180
HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
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ville, was also the property of the Preston Improvement Company,
and, with the other collieries, fell into the hands of the Phila-
delphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. It has two slopes,
one a hundred and forty yards, the other one hundred and seven-
teen yards deep; one used exclusively for drainage, men and
material; the other for hoisting coal. They have east and west
gangways, extending in all over one thousand yards. At a point
some five hundred and thirteen yards west of the slope a tunnel
is driven south a distance of seventy-nine yards to the south dip
of the vein, and it has a gangway east on the vein, seven hundred
and ninety-two yards. the tunnel is continued south from the
last named gangways, a distance of two hundred and twenty-seven
yards, cutting the Hunter vein, and having gangways in that vein
eight hundred yards.
One hundred and twelve men and boys inside, and one hundred
and thirteen outside, constitute the working force. Two powerful
steam fans furnish ventilation, and drainage is effected by means
of an eight hundred horse power engine, driving a twenty-four
inch Cornish pump with a stroke of ten feet. The capacity of the
breaker is 500 tons, and the average shipment 350 tons daily.
Thomas D. Pedlow is the outside foreman.
Girard Colliery.-This, one of the collieries of the Girard
estate, was opened in the year 1864. It has since been leased
and operated by the Philadelphia Coal and Iron Company. This
colliery is situated half a mile east of the borough of Girard-
ville. The life, which is now being worked, and the first below
water level, was opened in 1872; and has four gangways in the
Mammoth vein, two on the north and two on the south side of the
basin. The coal from this colliery reaches market over the
Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. About 300 men and boys are
annually employed in the colliery. William P. Daniels is the
outside foreman, and William Waters inside foreman.
Connor and Hammond Collieries.-These collieries are situated
one and one-half-miles northeast of the borough of Girardville,
and are leased by the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron
Company. They were opened in June, 1862, by Messrs. Connor and
Patterson, Colonel Connor being the pioneer coal operator of the
Mahanoy region. In 1863 they came under the control of the above
named company, which is still operating them. The lease covers
all the coal on the John Alexander, James Chapman and Samuel
Scott tracts. The mine openings, slopes, drifts, breakers and
surface improvements are on the Chapman tract. This lease,
although the first opened on the Girard estate, and the one from
which the first car of coal was shipped over the Mahanoy and
Broad Mountain extension of the P. & R. Railroad, in May, 1863,
is still, on account of the great depth of the basin and excel-
lence of coal belonging to it, one of the most productive and
valuable collieries of the Girard estate, and the coal product
from these collieries for the year 1878 was exceeded by only one
other colliery in the estate. The veins now being worked by
these collieries are the Mammoth and Buck Mountain. The coal
reaches market by the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. These
two collieries give employment in the mines and on the surface to
about 550 men and boys. The following gentlemen are superintend-
ents of these collieries: Elijah Gregory, district superintend-
ent of the seven collieries of the Girard estate; John J. Phil-
lips, outside foreman, William Stein, inside foreman, and John
Hauser, fire boss of Hammond colliery; and John G. Scott, outside
foreman, and Charles Jasper, inside foreman of Connor colliery.
The Potts Colliery, located at Locust Dale, is just over the
line in Columbia county, but is closely identified with the
interests of the Schuylkill coal field. It was opened by George
C. Potts & Co., in 1857, and it is now the property of the Phila-
delphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. Two slopes are here
sunk in the south dip of the Mammoth vein, to a depth of three
hundred and two yards; one used for hoisting, the other for
pumping. Another slope-the Wadleigh, mentioned elsewhere--is
being extended to from an additional outlet in case of emergency.
The two deep slopes have east and west gangways driven to a total
distance of four thousand two hundred and seventy yards. Three
hundred and three men and boys are employed, and 80,000 tons of
coal were shipped in 1879. This colliery evolves large quanti-
ties of fire dam, but the mine superintendent of the district, in
his official report, compliments mine foreman Morgan Davis on the
intelligent manner with which it is controlled. A sixteen-foot
fan furnishes ventilation, a five hundred horse power pump drains
the Locust Dale portion, and a sixty horse power pump the Wad-
leigh slope. The total horse power of the six engines used in
the colliery is 845. There are 7,758 yards of mine track.
William Raudenbush, the outside foreman, is one of the oldest and
best known in the coal regions.
The Keystone Colliery at Locust Dale was opened in the year
1862, by John Dennison & Co., and has since become the property
of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, by whom it
is operated. The workings consist of two slopes; one 173 yards
deep, the other 153 yards, at an angle of 52E on the north dip of
the Mammoth vein, in coal about twenty-five feet thick, with east
gangway driven 1,497 yards, and west gangway 1,483 yards. The
mine is ventilated by a sixty horse power engine driving an
eighteen-foot fan. Fire damp is generated in large quantities,
but is neutralized by the careful and intelligent management of
Mr. Edward Samuels, the inside foreman. The number of men and
boys employed is 214. Seven steam engines of 970 horse power
furnish drainage and do the hoisting and breaking. This colliery
seems to be fortunate in its selection of foremen, as the dumping
apparatus in use is the invention of Fred. Granzow, the outside
foreman, whose experience and quick perception of the wants of
the colliery make him a valuable manager.
__________end page 180.__________
page 180a.
In the top left corner of this page is a line drawing of MANSION
HOUSE, Ringtown, Penn., John Fenstermacher, Proprietor. Under the
drawing, it says:
MANSION HOUSE, Ringtown, Penn.
JOHN FENSTERMACHER, Propr.
This favorite Summer Resort has a great variety of
attractions for those seeking retirement-beautiful
and diversified scenery, healthful climate, pure
water, reasonable terms, etc., etc.
In the top right corner of this page is a line drawing of CITY HALL,
Mahanoy City, Penn. Under the drawing, it says:
CITY HALL, Mahanoy City, Penn.
C. METZ, Propr.
Built in 1872 by Ferdinand Metz, the father of the
present owner.
In the center bottom half of this page is a line drawing of LOCUST
MOUNTAIN HOUSE, Ashland, Penn. Under the drawing, it says:
LOCUST MOUNTAIN HOUSE,
Corner of 12th and Center Streets, Ashland, Penn.
H. TROUTMAN, Propr.
The Locust Mountain Hotel, or "Troutman's," as it has long been
called, is very pleasantly and conventiently located on the cor-
ner of Twelfth and Center Streets, in the borough of Ashland, Pa.
The hotel is very spacious, and contains twenty-five rooms, all
of which are fitted up with the latest modern conveniences. The
bill of fare consists of all the finest delicacies of the season,
served in a manner to please the most fasticious in taste. The
dining-room is large and well ventilated, and will comfortably
seat fifty guests. The hotel is the oldest in the borough, and
its present proprietor, Henry Troutman, Edq., has enjoyed the
confidence and patronage of the traveling public for over thirt-
een years, and is looked upon as one of the leading citizens of
the borough.
In addition to the many other attractive features of this
excellent hotel, there are three large yards, which are used for
keeping cattle in by the many drovers, the admirable accomodat-
ions which they afford making them very desirable for that class
of dealers. In connection with these yards are very large and
and well appointed stables, having a capacity of stabling ninety
horses. There is also a large weigh scale belonging to the place.
________end page 180a.________
page 181
BEGINNINGS AT ASHLAND.
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ASHLAND BOROUGH.
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The almost unbroken wilderness that, in 1820, was the site of
Jacob Rodenberger's old log hotel, remained a tangled wildwood
long after the southern part of the county had become the scene
of busy industry; and the traveler on the Catawissa stage who, in
crossing Locust Mountain in 1848, expressed the opinion that a
man who could be induced to purchase such land must be a fool,
but echoed the prevalent sentiment of the friends of Burd S.
Patterson, a prominent citizen of the county, who, with a faith
untouched by the raillery of others, had for years predicted that
some day an important mining town would cover the slope of that
mountain, and had taken steps that, in 1845, induced John P.
Brock, of Philadelphia, and James Hart to join him in the pur-
chase of two large tracts of land in the vicinity; one of four
hundred acres, from the Bank of Pennsylvania, at a uniform price
of $30 per acre, and the same area from Judge Gordon of Reading,
an $11 an acre. To these united tracts they gave the name of the
Ashland Estate, and took an opportunity to test the character of
their purchase by sending in the fall of 1846 an experienced
miner, named Patrick Devine, with a force of men, to develop the
coal veins crossing the tract. During the following year the
village site was surveyed by Samuel Lewis, and named Ashland,
after Henry Clay's famous Kentucky home; and the proprietors
expended large amounts in clearing lands, laying out streets,
building substantial tenement houses for their workmen, and
inducing immigration. One of their acts was to donate to Jacob
Larish two lots of land in consideration of his erecting and
occupying a convenient and commodious hotel; and by this act of
liberality the Ashland House, which Mr. Larish kept until his
death, was erected in 1846.
For the next three years the progress of the new village was
slow, owing to the delay in the operations of the Mine Hill
Railway Company, that had surveyed an extension to this place, on
which work was resumed in 1851, at which time a renewed impetus
was given to immigration; and in 1852, when Colonel J.J. Connors,
of Pottsville, leased a portion of the tract for mining purposes,
he found that an enterprising dealer, Jonathan Faust, had opened
a small store. In the following year Mr. Connors opened a gang-
way at Locust Run, and built the brick store on the corner of
Centre and Third streets, which was the first brick structure
erected in the village, and was built from bricks made on the
site of the foundry of Jacob Fisher. The establishment of anoth-
er store was even then considered a hazardous venture, and its
proprietor had often to answer the question-"Where do you expect
to find your customer?"
In 1853 Bancroft, Lewis & Co. opened a colliery near the iron
works and built breakers, and the work connected with the two new
collieries drew large numbers to the place; and when, in 1857,
the citizens, deeming that they had outgrown the guardianship of
Butler township, applied for a borough charter, the village
contained about five hundred buildings, and three thousand five
hundred people. To the personal exertions of John P. Brock, Burd
Patterson and James Hart, and to Dr Pancoast, and Samuel Grant,
who afterward purchased Mr. Patterson's interest in the estate,
as well as to the indefatigable energy and public spirit of
Colonel Connor, much of the credit for this great advance was
due.
In 1834 Colonel Connor, who had associated with him Thomas
Patter-son, a brother of the proprietor, anticipated the comple-
tion of the Gordon planes by drawing a quantity of coal with
wagons to the foot of the first plane, loading a car, and drawing
it over the planes by mules, and from there forwarding it to John
Tucker, president of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, as a
present. This was the first coal sent to market from Ashland,
and the first shipped over that railroad. The date of the ship-
ment was September, 1854. The first coal forwarded direct from a
colliery by rail was sent by Bancroft, Lewis & Co., who for that
reason named their breaker "The Pioneer." Of the early busin-ess
men of Ashland, William and James Cleaver, William H. Bright,
Emanuel Bast, Joshua Weimer, and Nicholas Graeber are still
residents, and actively engaged in business pursuits. The only
one of them that can claim both a continuous residence and an
uninterrupted business career in one line of trade is Nicholas
Graeber, who operated a clothing store opposite the Mahanoy House
in 1855, and who is still engaged in the business.
Until 1853, the nearest post-office was at Fountain Springs,
but in that year the Ashland office was established, and Dr. D.J.
McKibben became its postmaster. Mails were received daily from
Pottsville and Sunbury by stage and over the Mine Hill Railway.
The first church erected was a small framed building, built
by the Methodist society in 1855; and the next was the brick
church known as St Joseph's build by the English-speaking Catho-
lics.
The first school building, erected in 1854, is still standing
on Centre street, and used as a store house; and here, for sever-
al years, the religious services of some of the church organiza-
tions were held.
The oldest framed buildings in the village are the old store
of Faust, now A. Bancroft's, and the Ashland House, on the corner
of Centre and Third streets. Opposite the last named house is
the first brick building built in the village, the old Connor &
Patterson store; and on the southwest corner of Centre and Sev-
enth streets is the Repplier House, which was the second brick
structure erected. It was built in 1855 by Judge Rahn, and was
known for years as the Mahanoy House. In the rear of this build-
ing stood the old Rodenberger tavern, and near it ran the stage
road between Pottsville and Catawissa.
__________end page 181.___________
page 182
HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
_______________________________________________________________
The population of the village in 1860 was 3,880; 1870, 5,714;
1880, 6,045.
CIVIL HISTORY.
The petition for a borough charter was filed and granted
February 13th, 1857. The first charter election, held that
month, resulted in the choice of James J. Connor as chief bur-
gess; and a council composed of E.V. Thomason, John Orth, Charles
Connor, Lawrence Hannon, and William Thomas.
The following have filled the office of chief burgess: James
J. Connor, elected in 1857; Jacob Reed, 1858; George Rahn, 1859,
1860; James B. Wilson, 1861; Charles Lins, 1862; William H.
Gallagher, 1863; Levi C. Leib, 1864, 1865, 1866; Nicholas Graeb-
er, 1867; Daniel Obenhouse, 1868; John Muenker, 1869; Samuel
McGee, 1870, 1871; James R. Cleaver, 1872; James G. Gensel, 1873,
1874, 1875, 1876; Chris Herold, 1877; W.S. Russel, 1878, 1879;
Thomas Glenwright, 1880.
The borough officers for 1880 were: Thomas Glenwright, chief
burgess; B.F. Kaster, John Lazarus, Michael Garner, F. Blaseus,
Joseph G. Smith, Englebert Schmicker, councilmen; Frank Rentz,
town clerk; Nicholas Blotch, Conrad Kessler, and Fred. Krapp,
police department; Charles Beckley, chief of police, with two
lieutenants and forty men, having their headquarters at the
station-house.
PUBLIC WORKS.
The borough council in June, 1876, ordered a special elec-
tion, on the question of increasing the indebtedness of the
borough, to an amount not exceeding seven per cent., for the
purpose of erecting water works. This election was held July
15th, and resulted in favor of the measure. July 27th, the
council appointed as commissioners, D. Schneider, William Chris-
tian, Thomas Glenwright and Michael Garner on behalf, of the
council, and J.B. Price, H. Trautman and M. Fannon, on behalf of
the people, to construct works, subject to the approval of the
council. Afterward Watkin Powell was added on behalf of the
council and Emanuel Bast for the citizens. Frank Rentz was
elected secretary of the commission, and he has been identified
with the department from that time to the present. The source of
supply selected was the Little Mahanoy creek, at a point some
four miles distant from the borough, and ten acres of land were
purchased at a cost of $4,500. The work was commenced September
1st, 1876, under Mr. Kassona's surveys.
The dam is three hundred and forty-five feet above Centre and
Third streets. The water is brought to the borough in twelve-
inch mains and distributed through six-inch pipes. Bonds to the
amount of $60,000, at six per cent. interest, were issued by the
department, $36,000 of which have been redeemed. Up to 1880 the
cost of construction and extension was $63,000. Rents are
charged to parties using the water. The interest and principal
of the bonded indebtedness are paid by direct taxation. The
department is managed by a committee of three members of the
borough council, elected in May of each year; and they control
the operations of the superintendent, who is elected by the
council.
The most important public work performed by the borough has
been done since 1867, in which year the station house, Fifth and
Chestnut streets, was erected at a cost of $2,300. It is a two-
story stone building, fitted up for council room, police court
and jail. In 1868 the engine house, now occupied by the Washing-
ton Fire Company, on Tenth and Chestnut streets, was built at a
cost of $600, and a purchase of fire apparatus made amounting to
$500. The macadamizing of Centre street, completed during that
year, involved an expenditure of $38,000. Since that date the
purchase of hose amounting to $2,650, and the erection of water
works, have raised the aggregate indebtedness of the borough to
$87,400 on an assessed valuation of $1,457,403 in 1880.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The first meeting of the school directors was held March 7th,
1880. Thomas Connor was elected president, and B.F. Griffith
secretary. At that time there were six schools, and Solon Bar-
rett was appointed their principal. Various enlargements and
improvements were made, and in 1858 an additional building, of
brick, two stories high, and 40 by 50 feet in size, was erected
on the corner of Fourteenth and Market streets, at a cost of
about $7,000. By the year 1868 increased accommodations became
necessary, and the high school building was erected and furnished
at a total cost of $12,000. The east ward school-house was built
and furnished in 1878, at a cost of $13,000.
The property of the department in 1880 was valued at $40,000.
It consisted of four buildings, one a stone structure on Middle
street, occupied by two primary schools; "the Fourteenth street
building," occupied by five primary and secondary and the male
grammar school; and the "high school," by the high and female
grammar schools.
Twelve female and four male teachers were employed. The
attendance in the first quarter of the year was eleven hundred
and fifteen; the assessed valuation of property subject to school
tax in the borough was $1,157,403, on which a tax of eight mills
per dollar for general and one for building purposes was levied.
The expenses of the department for the fiscal year were $10.500.
The amount of school bonds now outstanding is $19,300. The
officers of the board for the year 1880 were: William R. Owens,
M.D., president; James C. Calary, secretary; Jacob Steinhilber,
treasurer.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
This department was organized in 1867, and the company known
as the Washington Fire Company was formed and was assisted by the
borough council in purchasing a truck and hose. The American
Hose Company was furnished its outfit by the borough, with the
exception of about $130 raised by the friends of the company.
The value of fire extinguishing apparatus is about $2,750.
__________end page 182.__________
page 183
ASHLAND FIRE COMPANIES, NEWSPAPERS AND BANKS.
______________________________________________________________
The hydrant pressure renders the use of engines unnecessary. In
most instances fires are readily controlled by the hose compa-
nies. J. Frederick Buck was the fire marshall in 1880.
American Hose Company, No.I, of Ashland, was organized Janu-
ary 2nd, 1878. the first officers were: L.C. Leib, president;
David T. Evans, vice-president; William A. Kinsel, secretary;
H.F. Voshage, assistant secretary; Frederick Holder, treasurer;
Charles T. Lyons, foreman; Joseph Robbins, assistant foreman;
trustees--Frederick J. Miller, Joseph Parry and Levi Baddolph.
Foreman Lyons served until 1880, when J.D. Mcconnell was elected;
the other officers for the year being: President, L.C. Leib;
vice-president, John Frazier; secretary, Thomas Rich; assistant
secretary, D.G. Stover; treasurer, George H. Helfrich;
trustees--Joseph Parry, Frederick J. Miller and F. Tretter;
assistant foreman, Caleb Williams. A good hose carriage was
purchased in February, 1878, with 500 feet of hose. The carriage
room and parlors of the company are on Ninth and Middle streets.
In the fall of 1880 a new carriage was built by J.G. Smith at the
Enterprise Carriage Works in this place, and 400 feet of hose
added. In August, 1879, the company organized a silver cornet
band of sixteen pieces; and a nucleus for a library was formed.
The company is now about sixty strong.
The Washington Fire Company was organized, as before stated,
in 1867, as a hook and ladder company, and after various vicissi-
tudes was reorganized, after the erection of the water-works, as
a hose company. The original books of the company have been lost
or destroyed, and the data furnished are too imperfect to give
even an outline of the early history of the organization. Its
foreman in 1880 was David Llewelyn, jr. A library has been
started, and in 1880 a new hose carriage was built at the Enter-
prise shops.
THE PRESS OF ASHLAND.
In 1857 the Mining Gazetteer was founded by J.H. McElwain,
who, as his card in its first number stated, was a civil and
mining engineer. Its able editorials and the superior character
of its miscellaneous matter made it one of the best country
papers in the State at that or any other date. After four months
Mr. McElwain was succeeded by J.H. Hennessy, who continued to
manage the paper until 1860. Politically it drifted into the
Democratic ranks, in which it continued under the management of
Mr. Hennessey's successor, Dr. Yocum. In 1863 it suspended.
The Constitutional Advocate was started in 1864 by Newhall &
McGinly, and purchased in 1866 by J. Irwin Steele, an experienced
journalist, who has since published it under the name of the
Ashland Advocate, and increased its size to an eight-column
folio. Mr. Steele is a prominent Democrat, and his journal is
perhaps the most active and aggressive organ of that party in
this part of the county. Since Mr. Steele became editor he has
twice been a representative in the Legislature. The Advocate is
issued weekly and its subscription price is $2 per year. The
office and press-rooms are in Odd Fellows' Temple on Seventh
street.
The Ashland Record, an advertising sheet-issued weekly-was
started by H.S. Bonan, and has been successively published by
C.H. Hartman & Co., and F.F. Barron, the present owner. It is a
six-column folio, published weekly, with a gratuitous circulation
of 1,100 copies.
MILITARY.
The Ashland Dragoons were recruited in 1873, and on September
13th of that year were mustered into the State service. The
force consisted of Captain L.H. Yocum, First Lieutenant George
Yeomans, Second Lieutenant F.E. Bensinger, and forty non-commis-
sioned officers and privates. During the ensuing year, Captain
Yocum having resigned, Frist Lieutenant Yeomans was promoted to
the captaincy, and H.M. Clayton chosen first lieutenant. After
their term of service expired, in 1878, the company re-enlisted
and increased their minimum complement to fifty rank and file,
with Yeomans as captain, Clayton as first lieutenant, and C.H.
Barnard as second lieutenant. In May, 1879, Captain Yeomans was
promoted to be brigade surgeon, First Lieutenant Clayton re-
signed, and C.H. Barnard was chosen captain, J.M. Kauffman first
lieutenant, and Levi Batdorf second Lieutenant.
The dragoons attended the encampment of State troops at Camp
Meade, Philadelphia, in August, 1880.
BUSINESS CORPORATIONS.
The Citizens' National Bank.-This institution was organized
and charted in June, 1875, and opened its doors on June 6th of
that year with a capital of $60,000. The first directors were
J.H. Hoover, William D. Heaton, J.M. Glick, A.B. Sherman, John B.
Price, William Landefelt, William Burmeister, O.B. Millard and
J.M. Freck. Its first officers were: J.H. Hoover, president;
George H. Helfrich, cashier. In April, 1880, the bank was re-
moved to the building formerly occupied by the First National
Bank. Mr. J.H. Hoover was president until January, 1878, when
William D. Heaton was elected to that position, and Mr. Hoover
was made vice-president. Mr. Helfrich has served as cashier
since the opening of the bank. The surplus shown by the bank in
1880 was $4,000.
Suspended Banks.-The unfortunate ventures in the banking line
that are still in process of liquidation are: the Ashland Banking
company, F. Rentz assignee, which after a showy existence of five
years failed through the defalcation of its cashier and the
bankruptcy of Jay Cooke and & Co., its metropolitan correspond-
ent; the Ashland Savings Bank, known as the "Irish Bank," of
which George H. Helfrich is the receiver, which was organized in
1867 and closed its doors in 1875; and the First National Bank of
Ashland, now in liquidation, in the hands of an agent of the
United States treasury department, the losses in which will fall
entirely on the stockholders.
The Miners and Laborers' Saving Fund Association.-This was
organized under the general law of 1859, in 1873, with an author-
ized capital of $500,000. The fol-
_____________end page 183.______________
page 184
HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
______________________________________________________________
lowing officers were elected: President, J. Irvin Steele; vice-
president, R. Thornton; secretary, F. Rentz; assistant secretary,
E.P. Burkert; treasurer, Nicholas Graeber; solicitor, L.H. Yocum.
In 1874 D.J. McKibben was elected president, and Messrs. Graeber
and Rentz were re-elected to their respective positions. No
important change of officials has occurred since that time.
One series of stock, consisting of 2,212 shares, has been is-
sued, of which 1,784 remained in force August 1st, 1880, with a
present value of $130 each. The assets of the association at
that date amounted to $280,000 of which only $4,200 is in real
estate, the balance being in bonds, mortgages and other first
liens. The sole liabilities of the association are for advance
payments on stock, amounting to $22,000.
The Ashland Saving Fund and Loan Association.-This popular
financial institution was organized July 21st, 1873, with the
following officers: President, John H. Pritchard; vice-presi-
dent, William Cleaver; secretary, George H. Helfrich; assistant
secretary, Michael Igoe; treasurer, W.S. Russell; solicitor, A.P.
Spinney. In 1874 George H. Helfrich was elected president, and
he served until 1880, when the following officers and directors
were chosen: President, D.M. Davis; vice-president, A.L. Lauben-
stein; secretary, Charles F. Russell; assistant secretary, T.F.
Barron; treasurer, George H. Helfrich; solicitor, William Cleav-
er. The total number of shares issued is 2,000, in two series,
the second dated in 1876. There were in force at the close of
the last fiscal year, of the shares of first series, 774, the
present value of each of which was $133.72; of the second series,
77, of which the present value was $69.39. The total assets of
the association July 21st, 1880, were $119,760.
The Citizens' Saving and Loan Association.-This institution
was organized January 24th, 1876, with W.R. Owens, M.D., presi-
dent; J. Irvin Steele, vice-president; T.F. Barron, secretary;
W.S. Russell, assistant secretary; J.R. Cleaver, treasurer; and
A.P. Spinney, solicitor. Dr Owens served as president until the
election in 1879, when A.L. Laubenstein was chosen; he served one
year, Dr Owens being re-elected in 1880. The officers and direc-
tors for 1880 were: President, W.R. Owens; vice-president,
William Cleaver; secretary, Charles F. Russell; assistant secre-
tary, Jacob Lessig; treasurer, George H. Helfrich; solicitor,
W.A. Marr. The number of shares of the first issue is 1,710 of
which 508 are in force, valued at $75.86 each. The number of
shares of the second issue (dated June 28th, 1880) is 769, all of
which are in force, valued at $5.61 each. The total assets at
the last report, June 28th, 1880, were $47,719.40, of which
$3,353 is in real estate.
The Locust Mountain Saving and Loan Association, organized
August 20th, 1879, under an act of the Legislature of that year,
claims to be the strongest of its kind in the county. The first
officers were: President, D.J. McKibben; vice-president, E.P. Bur-
kert; treasurer, George H. Helfrich, secretary, F. Rentz; solici-
tor, W.A. Marr. The authorized capital is $1,000,000. One issue
of 2,757 shares has been made, of which 2,736 were in force at
the commencement of the second year of the company's history; and
on which $38,481.79 had accumulated.
Ashland Mutual Fire Insurance Company.-This company was
incorporated March 19th, 1878, with the following persons as
officers: President, W.S. Russell; vice-president, Earnest Orth;
treasurer, T.H. Pritchard; secretary, B.F. Kester. From the date
of organization to July 1st, 1880, the company had issued three
hundred and fifteen policies, insuring $272,405, of which two
hundred and ninety-nine, insuring $272,405, of which two hundred
and ninety-nine, insuring $267,755, were in force, protected by
premium notes for $91,899.80, and cash assets of $151,251. The
total losses paid since organization amount to $65.29. The
officers for 1880 were: President, W.S. Russell; vice-president,
Joshua Weimar; secretary, B.F. Kester; treasurer, John Hunter.
Although empowered by its charter to issue policies on farm
risks, the company has thus far chosen to limit its business to
mercantile and dwelling risks within the borough of Ashland.
The Ashland Gas Light Company was charter July 10th, 1874.
The requirements of the charter, calling for a paid up capital of
$25,000, being complied with, nine directors and the following
officers were elected: E.P. Burkert, president; Peter E. Buck,
vice-president; Frank Rentz, secretary; Adam Waldner, treasurer.
Work was commenced on buildings and excavations August 1st,
1874, and on November 29th of that year the light was first
turned on. The material used for generating gas is naphtha. The
company reported in 1880 about three and a half miles of main and
distributing pipes laid, and it has declared a net dividend of
three per cent, semiannually since July, 1875. The entire cost
of construction has been $26,000.
From 1875 to 1876 Peter E. Buck was president and Nicholas
Graeber treasurer. In 1876 Lewis A. Riley became a director, and
was elected president; and in 1879 E.P. Burkert succeeded Adam
Walkner as vice-president. Frank Rentz has been secretary and
superintendent from the first. The officers for 1880 were: L.A.
Riley, president; E.P Burkert, vice-president; Nicholas Graeber,
treasurer; Frank Rentz, secretary and superintendent.
MILLS AND MANUFACTORIES.
Ashland Iron Works.-The iron working interests of this bor-
ough were coexistent with the coal development of the district.
L.P. Garner & Bro. came from Pottsville in 1853, and erected
shops east of the tunnel colliery, where they made steam engines,
boilers and mine machinery until 1862, when they removed to new
shops, built by them on the Centre turnpike. In 1864 the firm
dissolved, and a new firm, known as J. & M. Garner, succeeded to
the business. In 1875 their shops were destroyed by fire, and
the firm removed their business to a building that had been
occupied for the same purpose by Garner & Christian, who had
retired from business. This building was the nucleus of the
present extensive works. Since that date the proprietors have
erected five
___________end page 184.____________
page 185
ASHLAND MANUFACTORIES, MINES AND LODGES.
______________________________________________________________
new buildings, materially enlarged the main structure, and added
new and improved machinery. In 1880 Michael Garner retired,
leaving Joseph W. Garner the sole proprietor. Steam engines,
boilers, mining and other heavy machinery are manufactured, and
the establishment enjoys a wide reputation for trustworthy work.
The shops have employed as many as sixty men when working to full
capacity. Mr. Garner is a Schuylkill county man, born at Potts-
ville in 1834, and his works are a creditable specimen of the
results of skill and industry.
Ashland Steam Flouring Mill.-Erected in 1863, by Reuben Lins,
this mill is one of the oldest of Ashland's establishments. It
was operated by Lins & Egolf until 1866, then purchased by Lessig
& LaVan. In 1867 Mr. LaVan's interest was purchased by his
partner, who conducted the business until his death, in 1874,
after which time it was leased by different parties until March,
1880, when it was purchased of Mrs. Lessig's heirs by Jacob
Lessig and A. Himmelright.
Screen Works.-This factory was established by George H. Hel-
frich, and afterward purchased by Alt. L. Laubenstein, formerly
of Minersville, who is doing an extensive business in breaker and
other screens, flexible shutters and woven metal work. The shop
is located on Third street and employs six men.
Ashland Planing Mills.-This concern was erected 1876 by Wil-
liam H. Bright, the present proprietor. This mill manufactures
and fits up builders' materials, and forms a valuable adjunct to
Mr. Bright's extensive lumber business. It is situated on the
Catawissa road, in the rear of the lumber yards, and employes
several men.
The Ashland Boiler Shops, Phillips & Davis proprietors, are
located on Walnut street, and doing a fairly remunerative busi-
ness in making and repairing cylindrical boilers, smoke stacks
and elevators, employing from four to eight men.
R.H. Phillips, the senior partner, was born at Port Carbon,
and he is the son of a Welsh miner. He has resided in Ashland
since 1865, and established this business in 1876. He is a
blacksmith.
D.S. Davis, his partner, is a son of David Davis, and was
born on shipboard. His father settled in Minersville, but has
lived in Ashland since 1858.
COLLIERIES OF ASHLAND.
Although the site of former extensive operations, and still
the emporium of trade for a considerable colliery district, there
is at present no shipping done from collieries within the limits
of the borough, and the following brief outline covers the work-
ings in and near the corporate limits of Ashland.
The Tunnel Colliery was opened by Repplier & Moody in 1856,
and in 1871 sold to the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron
Company, who have extended the workings and introduced some of
the best and most costly mine machinery in the Schuylkill dis-
trict. Two slopes have been sunk on the "Seven-foot vein," and a
depth of 990 feet, at an angle of 67 degrees, attained. Gangways
have been driven 2,200 yards. The capacity of the breaker is 600
tons; average daily production 400 tons. The colliery has not
been producing since 1879, but a shaft is being sunk to another
vein. The number of men and boys employed when shipping is 300.
Daniel Jones and George Davis are the foremen.
The Wadleigh Slope was the scene of Colonel J.J. Connnor's
first successful mining venture in Ashland, he having commenced
work here in 1852. After passing through other hands the build-
ing were destroyed by fire about 1868, and the mine was allowed
to fill with water. In 1876 the Philadelphia and Reading Coal
and Iron Company, having become owners, pumped out the water, and
in 1879 put in a force of men to drive a gangway through to the
working of the Potts colliery, for the purpose of making this an
additional outlet for that mine. Martin A. Cain and William
Price are the foremen in charge of the work. This slope is just
north of the borough limits.
A small colliery called the Vaughan, in the south end of the
borough, is worked to some extent for retail purposes, by means
of two drift levels on the "crop" of the old Pioneer workings,
"robbing," as it is called, or taking coal from the pillars of
the old mine. It reported in 1879 1,532 tons mined, and when at
work employed about twenty men and boys, and two small steam
engines.
SOCIETIES AND LODGES.
Ashland Lodge, No. 294, F. & A.M. was instituted March 12th,
1855, when the following officers were elected: David J. Lewis,
W.M.; R. Carr Wilson, S.S.; J.H. Yocum, M.D., J.W,; J.J. Connor,
treasurer; D.J. McKibben, secretary.
The past masters of this lodge are David J. Lewis, R. Carr
Wilson, J.H. Yocum, D.J. McKibben, Washington Reifsnyder, James
J. Connor, A.P. Spinney, Samuel Camp, J.W. Bancroft, George H.
Helfrich, Henry Tregallis, J.R. Cleaver, C.S. Foster, T.B. Ban-
croft, William A. Christian, Wesley Manly, William H. Anthony,
Levi Batdor, Henry S. Bonar, Jacob H. Olhausen, George S. Keiper,
J. Fred Miller, Joseph Yocum, Perry C. Hoover, and Albert H.
Wagner.
The lodge meets on the second Thursday of each month at the
rooms in Odd Fellows' Temple.
Griscom Chapter No. 219, R.A.M. was constituted July 23d,
1868. Its first officers were: Thomas B. Bancroft, M.E.H.P.;
George H. Helfrich, king; James L. Cleaver, scribe; W. Riefsny-
der, treasurer; J.H. Yocum, secretary. The successive H.P's of
the chapter since that time have been G.H. Helfrich, H.M. Dar-
ling, H. Holbert, J. Fred Miller, William H. Anthony, Levi C.
Leib, Albert J. Wagner, C.W. Hartman, D.A. Shiffert and P.C.
Hoover.
Locust Mountain Lodge, No. 538, I.O.O.F. was instituted
December 15th, 1857, with the following officers: John C. Gar-
ner, N.F.; A.L. Gee, V.G.; George H. Helfrich, secretary; James
R. Cleaver, treasurer. Its officers in 1880 were: N.G., William
E. Jones.; V.G., W. Heffner; secretary, George H. Helfrich;
treasurer, J. H. Hoover.
________________end page 185._________________
page 186
HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
______________________________________________________________
This lodge has paid for aid to sick members $3,181.75, and
for assistance in buying the dead $1,446.77, and it owns avail-
able cash assets of $6,200, besides about $12,000 of the common
stock of the Odd Fellows' Temple Association, which though valu-
able is not immediately available.
Shekinah Encampment, No. 134, was instituted in March, 1865,
with the following officers: George H. Helfrich, C.P; J.H.
Hoover, S.W.; Washington Reifsnyder, scribe; James Dowden, treas-
urer. Past C.P. George H. Helfrich of this encampment has served
as D.D. Grand Patriarch of the Schuylkill District.
The officers of the last term of 1880 were: C.P.P., K. Bro-
sius; S.W., J.B. Price; J.W., Louis Prince; scribe, George H.
Helfrich; treasurer, J.H. Hoover. The available assets are
$1,000.
The Odd Fellows' Temple.-In 1865 the members of the Odd Fel-
lows' order, feeling the need of a suitable hall for lodge pur-
poses, inaugurated a movement that culminated in chartering the
Odd Fellows' Temple Association. The stock of the association
was liberally subscribed of by Odd Fellows and Free Masons, which
latter were to be recognized by the reservation of halls for
their use, as by citizens in general. In June, 1866, work was
commenced on the corner of Centre and Seventh streets, and in
April, 1867, a handsome brick structure 75 by 83 feet was com-
pleted. The ground floor is divided into two fine stores, front-
ing on Centre street, and a large room now used as a publishing
house. The second floor is devoted to an opera house, seating
1,500 persons, and the lodge rooms of the two orders. The cost
was about $47,000. As originally constructed the building had an
ornamental facade and cornice, which, with a portion of the roof,
was carried away by a high wind, and replaced by a plain finished
hip roof, terminating in an observatory. In 1880 about $3,000
was expended in remodeling the opera house-until that time known
as "Odd Fellows' Hall"-and putting in scenery and galleries.
Schiller Lodge, No. 53, D.O.H.-This organization was char-
tered in August, 1857, with the following charter members: A.
Voshage, Matthias Brown, Louis Biltz, Peter Yoest, Ernest Orth,
Henry Hochst, Theodore Snyder, John Ort, Charles Mumbacher,
William Mader and Fred Hoge. Its first officers were: A. Vo-
shage, O.B.; E. Orth, U.B.; Charles Mumbacher, secretary; Louis
Biltz, treasurer. The officers for 1880 were: E.X., William
Flemming; O.B., William Zeplier; U.B., Fred Granzow; treasurer,
John Schwamlier; secretary, Fred Krapp; assistant secretary,
William Lange. The assets of the lodge in 1880 were $1,,237.66;
membership, 83.
Ashland Camp, No. 84 Patriotic Order of Junior Sons of Ameri-
ca was instituted August 10th, 1867, with fourteen charter mem-
bers. On the 1st of January, 1870, it was rechartered in the
Patriotic Order of Sons of America, with most of the old charter
members, and many new ones. The White Degree council was first
named Losch Council, in honor of Hon. Samuel Losch, but in 1878
the name was changed to Penn. The presidents of the camp have
been I.N.S. Phillips, R.H. Scott, L. Prosser, I.N. Reifsnyder,
J.A. Garner, C.W. Hartman, W.H. Egbert, C.T. Russell, T.F. Bar-
ron, J.I. Reiser, D.G. Stover, Louis Schneider, T.J. Bevan, R.B.
Clayton, W.D. Creasey, J.D. McConnell, Thomas Rich, J.H. Pollard,
Geo. W. Gearheart, H.J. Perry, John Yost and R. Bevan.
The officers for the last term of 1880 were: President, R.
Bevan; vice-president, J.J. Clarkson; master of ceremonies, H.W.
Knabb; recording secretary, George W. Gearheart; financial secre-
tary, H.J. Perry; treasurer, A. L. Laubenstein. The camp meets
on Tuesday evening at Cleaver's Hall. Its condition is good. It
is conducted as a co-operative mutual benefit association, and
weekly benefits are paid to distressed members, and funds con-
tributed toward defraying funeral expenses. While meeting all
such claims promptly it has a surplus fund of about $2,000.
Hooker Post, No. 41, G.A.R. was established March 4th, 1867,
with eleven charter members. The name of Hooker Post was adopted
in January, 1870, and, on receipt of a letter stating that fact,
General Joseph Hooker forwarded to the post an imperial portrait
of himself, and a characteristic letter acknowledging the compli-
ment. In 1879 and 1880 camp fires were held, which were largely
attended and pecuniarily successful. The post officers for 1880
were: Commander, Captain James Callary; senior vice, Thomas
Mills; junior vice, Edward Ebert; chaplain, Joseph Morris; sur-
geon, I.B. Jones; quartermaster, John C. Garner; quartermaster-
sergeant, James Wythe. Meetings are held in Cleaver's Hall,
Friday evenings.
Freck Commandery, No. 39, K.T. was constituted February 20th,
1871, with the following officers: Daniel Washburne, eminent
commander; Martin M. L'Velle, generalissimo; Henry S. Bonar,
captain general; Joseph M. Freck, treasurer; George H. Helfrich,
recorder. Its past commanders are M.M. L'Velle, H.S. Bonar,
Jonathan J. Hoagland, William H. Anthony, A.B. Day, Theodore F.
Hoffman, Allen Wolfinger and Daniel A. Shiffert.
The officers for 1880 were: E.C., Daniel Shiffert; general,
W.H. Anthony; C.G., Charles W. Hartman; treasurer, Peter E. Buck;
recorder, George H. Helfrich.
Lincoln Temple of Honor and Temperance, No. 41.-This temple
was organized July 24th, 1867, with fifteen charter members. The
following officers were elected and installed for the first term:
W.C.T., George N. Dowden; W.V.T., Daniel Heil; W.R., A.B. White;
W.F.R., Samuel Clarkson; treasurer, John T. Davis; W.D.N., Thomas
James; W.S., Henry Hadesty; W.G., John Jones.
The successive presiding officers have been Daniel Heil, J.T.
Davis, Thomas James, F.M. Smith, Noah J. Owens, Edmund Smauels,
Mordecai Jones, David Evans, O.H. Barnhard, W.R. Owens, Thomas
Davis, Thomas Dawson, John J. Price, Ebenezer Davis, Wesley
Hoffman, Benjamin S. Reese, J.R. Beisel, John M. Price, William
D. Reese, Richard B. Jones, Richard G. Jones and Peter Lawrence.
___________end page 186.____________
page 187
LODGES AT ASHLAND-THE M.E. CHURCH.
______________________________________________________________
The officers on the 1st of September, 1880 were: W.C.T.,
John Klock; W.V.T., E.W. Samuel; W.R., William Raubenbush;
W.F.R., W.H. Klock; W.T., James Price, sen.; W.U., Thomas Simp-
son, jr.; W.G., James Davis: W.S., James Price; deputy grand
worthy chief, Thomas Davis.
Lily of the Valley Social Circle, No. 44, of the Temple of
Honor and Temperance was instituted October 20th, 1868. Its
officers in 1880 were: Sister presiding, Kate Lloyd; brother
presiding, W.H. Klock; sister vice, Jennie Lloyd; brother vice,
John Klock; sister recorder, Alice Murray; brother recorder,
William Raudenbush; brother financial recorder, Thomas Soby;
sister treasurer, Elizabeth Price; sister guard, Anna Vaughan;
brother sentinel, James Price.
Anthracite Lodge, No. 610, I.of G.T. was organized August
10th, 1878, with twenty-four charter members. The officers for
the first term were: W.C.T., George W. Garrett; W.V.T., Helen F.
Kantner; chaplain, Rev. James Robinson; secretary, W.S. Thirl-
well; financial secretary, William Morgan; treasurer, Lin. Gar-
ner. The successive presiding officers have been Charles E.
Steel, R.B. Clayton and A.L. Laubenstein. The officers for 1880
were: W.C.T., W.S. Thirlwell; W.V.T., Ella Brenzel; chaplain,
Rev. James Robinson; secretary, B.W. Payne; financial secretary,
Charles E. Steel; treasurer, William Morgan. The lodge meets
every Wednesday evening in J.R. Cleaver's hall, Ashland.
ECCLESIASTICAL.
Methodist Episcopal Church.-In 1853 the preachers of Catawis-
sa circuit, J.W. Elliot and F.M. Slusser, had appointments at
Ashland. May 24th of the same year a class was formed here, with
William Davis as leader, and sixteen members. The place of
meeting was what is known as the stone school-house. Following
are the names of the early preachers, with the time of service of
each: 1853, J.W. Elliot, F.M. Slusser; 1854, R.W. Black, F.M.
Slusser; 1855, Joseph Y. Rothrock, M.L. Drum; 1856, Joseph Y.
Rothrock, I.W. Stout; 1857, John A. DeMoyer, Henry S. Mendenhall;
1858, John A. Moyer, P.B. Ruch.
In 1859 the membership of the church had increased to
ninety-six, and a church edifice had been built; and the members
desired that Ashland be made a station, which was accordingly
done. Rev. Samuel W. Sears was appointed to the charge for the
years 1859 and 1860, and his successors as follows: 1861, 1862,
Aaron M. Kester; 1863, 1864, William M. Showalter; 1865, 1866,
Benjamin F. Stevens; 1867-69, Abraham M. Creighton; 1870-72,
Asbury W. Guyer; 1873-75, William A. Houck; 1876, 1877, Alexander
M. Barnitz; 1878, 1879, William G. Ferguson; 1880, John A. DeMoy-
er, the present pastor.
In 1855, during the pastorate of J.Y. Rothrock and M.L. Drum,
the society erected a neat framed church edifice, one story high,
on the corner of Ninth and Brock streets, and it was dedicated in
October, 1856, by Rev. Thomas Bowman, now a bishop of the Method-
ist Episcopal church. The cost of the building, $1,500, was
fully provided for on the day of dedication.
In June, 1863, the trustees sold the church on the hill to
the Evangelical Association, and bought two lots on the northeast
corner of Centre and Eleventh streets, where they erected a new
building. It is a brick structure, two stories high, 65 feet
deep and 40 feet wide. The corner stone was laid in the summer
of 1863, by Rev. M.P. Crosthwaite, and the basement was dedicated
by Bishop Levi Scott in January, 1864. The audience room was
completed in the autumn of 1865, and dedicated by Rev Aquilla A.
Reese, of Baltimore, and others. The cost of lot and building
was $8,000. The present membership numbers two hundred and
sixty. Of the sixteen original members ten are still living,
although but two of them are residing here.
In 1853 the first Sunday-school was organized, as a union
school, by Methodists, Presbyterians and Lutherans, meeting in
the stone school-house before mentioned. Abel G. Swift was the
first superintendent; he was assisted by Jeremiah Logan and wife,
William Davis, Eliza Davis and Jacob G. Gensel as teachers, with
about forty scholars. In 1857 it was changed to a purely Method-
ist school, and Samuel Camp was appointed superintendent. The
Methodist Episcopal school numbered one hundred and twenty-five
officers, teachers and scholars. The school, organized as above
stated, continues to the present time, and in 1880 numbered
thirty officers and teachers and three hundred and fifty schol-
ars. The present superintendent, Charles H Barnard, became a
scholar in the school in 1855, was appointed a teacher at four-
teen years of age, was elected superintendent when nineteen,
served about two years, then became a teacher again, and for the
last nine years has been superintendent.
In 1866 a belfry and tower were added to the church and a
bell, weighing one thousand pounds, was put in position. In 1873
the seats in the audience room were remodeled, the room was
frescoed, the whole church inside and out painted, a carpet put
down, the basement papered, a new organ procured, and a parson-
age, costing $3,500, built. It is of brick, twenty-five feet
wide, forty-eight deep, two stories high, with slate roof. A
neat iron fence was put around the church and parsonage, and a
substantial brick pavement was laid on Eleventh street; all
costing $6,000. The society was incorporated in 1879. In July,
1880, the memebers of the Sunday-school took upon themselves the
work of remodeling the basement, in which they met, at a cost of
$185, which amount was all subscribed before or on the day of
reopening, Sunday, August 1st.
Welsh Congregational Church.-This society was organized in
1844, and for some time held meetings in the old Market street
school-house. Rev. John Edwards was its first pastor, and he
remained about seven years. In 1856 a church building was erect-
ed on Spruce street, near Ninth street, at a cost of $2,000.
The Sunday-school was organized in 1855, with seventy schol-
ars, and John James became its first superintendent.
___________end page 187._____________
page 188
HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
_______________________________________________________________
It now numbers fifty scholars: William Price is superintendent.
The successive pastors of this church have been as follows:
Thomas Reese, whose term of service commenced about the year
1860; Rev William B. Williams, a young graduate of Yale, who
succeeded him in 1869, and on his resignation was followed by
Rev. J.W. Pugh, in 1871; Rev. R. Williams, who succeeded Mr. Pugh
in the same year, and remained until 1876, since which time the
pulpit has remained vacant.
Welsh Baptist Church.-This society was organized in 1855 by
Rev. B.W. Thomas, who became the first pastor. The early members
had been connected with the church at Minersville. Until 1857
the congregation worshiped in the old school-house. In that year
a church building was erected on the corner of Twelfth and Market
streets, at a cost of $3,000. After a pastorate of about seven
years Mr. Thomas resigned, and was succeeded by Rev. Thomas
Thomas for a short time. A vacancy of some years was occasional-
ly varied by a few weeks or months' services. Rev. B.W. James
was the next stated pastor, followed by Rev. L.M. Roberts, whose
term of service expired in January, 1880, when he returned to
Wales. The pulpit is now vacant.
The first Sunday-school was organized in 1855, with David
Vaughan as superintendent, and thirty scholars. The number of
scholars in 1880 was seventy, and Thomas M. Davis is superintend-
ent.
Memorial Church of St. John.-This Episcopal parish was organ-
ized November 25th, 1855, and services were first held in the
basement of the Mahanoy (now Repplier) Hotel. The first service
was conducted by Rev. William Byllesby, rector of Minersville
church, and was held December 10th, 1855. Rev. J.M. Bartlett
soon afterward became the first rector. A church building was
begun at the time. It is of stone, in the Gothic order, with a
seating capacity of 400, and, with the rectory and school build-
ings, cost $5,000; it occupies a commanding and central position
on ten enclosed lots. The rectors of this church have been
besides the first named, Revs. Rowland Hill Brown, Otho Fryer,
J.P. Frigett, Daniel Washburn, who served for ten years, and the
present pastor, C.E.D. Griffith, elected in 1879.
The Presbyterian Church of Ashland was organized in the
summer of 1856, by Rev. J. B. Spottswood, its first pastor.
Meetings were held for some time in the Walnut street school-
house, and March 15th, 1857, Rev. J.D. Weller, of Bloomsburg,
under the authority of the presbytery of Northumberland, effected
a formal organization, and an arrangement was made for the use of
the Methodist church edifice for a time.
The first ruling elders were William Atwater, James H. McEl-
wain, D.J. McGibbon, John Shelly and R.C. Wilson. Rev. D. Barber
was the first resident pastor.
In September, 1859, the Welsh Congregational church was en-
gaged as a place of worship, and at the same time three lots were
purchased on which to erect a building. The house, built during
the succeeding year, is a substantial brick building, located on
the corner of Ninth and Walnut streets, and is capable of seating
two hundred and fifty persons. It has latterly undergone a
thorough transformation.
Rev. R.C. Bryson was settled as pastor in September, 1859,
and was followed successively by Revs. W.E. Honeyman, M. Hartzel
and J.L. Jenkins. The present pastor, Rev. James Robinson, was
ordained and installed pastor May 4th (CDL), 1875.
The Sunday-school has about one hundred members. H.M. Clay-
son is superintendent.
Zion German Reformed Church.-The first organization of this
church was effected by Rev. R. Duenger in 1856, with a congrega-
tion of fifteen families. They worshiped in a school building on
the corner of Tenth and Walnut streets. Rev. Mr. Duenger was
elected pastor in 1856, and he has served the church until the
present time.
In July, 1857, the corner stone of a church building was
laid, and it was completed and dedicated in September, 1858. It
is a frame structure, 30 by 40 feet, with a stone basement,
located on the corner of Eleventh and Market streets. It is
valued at $3,000. The membership of the church if 280.
The first Sunday-school was opened in 1859, with August Vo-
shage as superintendent until 1865, Peter Heinze from that date
until 1872, and Engel Horn from 1872 to the present time. The
number of pupils in 1880 was 150; volumes in the library, 300.
St. Mauritius Church and School.-One of the most prominent
and striking buildings in Ashland is the stone church of the
German Catholic, standing on a commodious eminence. It is 44 by
110 feet in size, with a basement, and in its cut stone steeple
are the town clock and two large bells. This building was com-
menced in 1857 by Rev. J. M. Meurer, who occasionally visited
those of his creed and country in this place, and said mass for
them in a hall belonging to one of the members until the church
was ready for use. The resident priest was Rev. J. Frisch.
After a pastorate extending from March, 1858, to October 1861, he
was removed by Bishop Wood to St. Joseph's Church at Easton, Pa.
Rev. J.B. Bach was the next pastor. He had charge of the congre-
gation until December, 1867, and was a zealous and successful
pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. J.F. Pape, and he, one year
later, by Father Meuer, the pioneer pastor. The congregation
founded by his efforts had grown to about 300 families and 1,300
souls. Father Meuer's successor was Rev. F.W. Longinus. He
introduced the School Sisters of St. Francis. The present pastor
is Rev. Anthony Nathe. He is engaged in building a new school,
for which a lot has been presented by F.B. Gowen, of the Phila-
delphia and Reading Railroad Company.
St. Joseph's Roman Catholic church.-The society of English-
speaking Catholics worshiping in this church was organized and
ministered to by Rev. Joseph O'Keefe, of Pottsville, and later by
his coadjutor, Rev. Thomas Lindon, under whose ministry a church
building was erected, in which mass was first celebrated on St.
Pat-
___________end page 188.______________
page 189
ZION'S CHURCH, ASHLAND.
______________________________________________________________
rick's day, 1857, by Father Lindon. In September of that year
Rev. Michael Sheridan became the pastor of the church, the build-
ing being at that time a mere shell and the society heavily in
debt. Through his efforts the indebtedness was liquidated, the
church finished and furnished, and in 1863 an addition built.
The church building and parsonage are on Chestnut street. The
parish, which originally included Centralia, Mt. Carmel, Girard-
ville, and the planes, has been curtailed by the erection of
other charges within its limits, and now only includes Ashland
and Gordon. The membership of the church has fluctuated consid-
erable, and at the time of writing this sketch it was principally
made up of Irish immigrants from Connaught.
Zion's Evangelical Lutheran Church (German).-Rev. Jacob
Weber, who was born in Wurtemburg, came to America in 1849, and
arrived in Mahantongo, in this county in January, 1857, as a
missionary. June 14th of that year he preached his first sermon
in Ashland, and four days later organized the above named congre-
gation, with 125 members. The meetings were held in the stone
school-house until 1860, when a small church was built on the
corner of Fourteenth and Market streets, in which building the
congregation worshiped until 1869, when it was removed, and the
present large and commodious edifice was erected. The corner
stone of this building was laid October 10th, 1869, in the
presence of Revs. Robert Weiser, of Mahanoy City; Henterlinter,
of Pottsville, Grossman, and the pastor of Ashland. The conse-
cration took place May 29th, 1870, Rev. Messrs. Wedekind, of New
York, and Sanner, of Tremont, officiating. Rev. J.J. Weber still
retains the pastorate. The church membership in 1880 was 350.
The Sunday-school, organized in 1860, with a membership of eight,
now numbers two hundred and twenty-five. William Burmeister was
the first superintendent, and filled the office until 1878, when
F.E. Heinze, the present efficient superinten-dent, was elected.
English Evangelical Lutheran Church.-In April, 1858, Rev.
W.L. Heisler, then a divinity student, was sent by the Lebanon
Conference of the East Pennsylvania Synod to Ashland, with a view
to organizing an English Lutheran church. He gathered a few
families, and preached to them until the 16th of June, 1858, when
he organized the English Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ashland,
with fourteen members, and became its first past pastor. A
Sunday-school had been previously organized, with five teachers
and fifteen scholars. Abel G. Swift was its first superintend-
ent. At first the congregation worshiped in a framed school-
house, on the corner of Fourth and Walnut streets. They built a
church edifice in 1859, and dedicated it November 6th of that
years. In 1869 a basement was fitted up for the Sunday-school,
and in the summer of 1871 a parsonage was built at a cost of
about $4,000. The value of the property belonging to the church
is estimated at $60,000. It is free from debt.
Rev. Mr. Heisler, who resigned the pastorate in 1861, was fol-
lowed by Rev. F.A. Barnitz in 1862; Rev. J.R. Sikes, 1864; Rev.
S. Curtis, 1868; Rev. J.A. Hackenberg, 1871; Rev. O.D.S. Marcley,
1875; Rev. D.E. Rupley, 1878; Rev. J.H. Weber, the present pas-
tor, 1879.
The church is prosperous. It has an active membership of
133, and a Sunday-school of 182, including teachers and officers.
The superintendent of the Sunday-school of T.F. Barron, and Mrs.
Joshua Weimer, is superintendent of the infant department.
Rev. J.H. Weber, the present pastor, was born in Cherry Val-
ley, Otsego county, N.Y., August 17th, 1844, and was educated at
Hartwick Seminary, graduating in the class of 1869. He was
licensed to preach December 23d, 1868. He was for two years
secretary of the Franklin Synod, and for one term on the examin-
ing committee of Hartwick Seminary.
__________end page 189.______________
page 189a
HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
______________________________________________________________
Peter E. Buck, wholesale and retail dealer in hardware, iron,
steel, and miners' supplies, is perhaps the most widely known of
the merchants of Ashland. Opening a store here in 1862, he has
built up an extensive business, and the handsome block known by
his name is filled from basement to attic with one of the best
assorted stocks to be found in the county.
_______________
A line drawing of
Dr. DAVID J. MC KIBBIN
is in this postition on this page
Original text follows the line break.
_________
Dr. David J. McKibbin, the subject of the present sketch, is
one of the oldest residents of the Mahanoy coal region, having
removed thither from Port Carbon in March, 1853. A few scattered
houses and dense forests marked the valley in which now dwells
fifty to sixty thousand souls, and which furnishes the great bulk
of the coal from Schuylkill county. He was born in Philadelphia,
October 15th, 1824; was at an early age sent to the Moravian
boarding school at Litiz, Pa., but on the death of his mother he
returned home, and continued his studies under the Rev. Sam. W.
Crawford, and subsequently at the University of Pennsylvania and
in the office of Dr. George Fox, one of the surgeons of Wills'
and Pennsylvania Hospitals. He graduated at the medical depart-
ment of the University of Pennsylvania in 1846. During his stud-
ent life he was appointed an assistant at the Eastern Penitneti-
ary, under Drs. Edward Hartshorne and R.G. Given, gaining thereby
an experience which ever therafter proved most profitable. After
graduating he located in Williamstown, N.J., thence he removed in
1848, to Middleport in the Schuylkill valley, subsequently to
Port Carbon, and later to Ashland.
In 1849 he was elected a member of the Schuylkill county
Medical Society, which he has frequently represented in the State
Society. With the exception of Dr. George W. Brown, of Port Carb-
on, Dr. McKibbin is the oldest surviving member of the county
society as then constituted.
At the outbreak of the Rebellion he left his horse and vehi-
cle on the street to aid in excorting the "Ashland Light Infan-
try," John E. Wynkoop captain, to Harribsurg, where the "boys"
were duly installed in Camp Curtin, and on the recommendation of
Mr. Burd Patterson, of Pottsville, he was commissioned by Gover-
nor Andrew Curtin surgeon of the 6th Pennsylvania volunteers,
colonel James S. Nagle commanding, with which regiment he served
in the Shenandoah Valley, under General Patterson, being in the
brigade commanded by Brigadier-General George S. Thomas. At the
expiration of three months' service he was mustered out, and in
August, 1861, was commissioned surgeon of the 50th Pennsylvania
volunteers, B.C. Christ colonel. While the regiment lay at
Annapolis, Md., awaiting embarkation, he appeared before the army
board at Washington, D.C., Surgeon McLaren, U.S.A., presiding,
and passing a successful examination, returned to Annapolis in
time to join the expeditionary corps for Port Royal Harbor, S.C.,
where he remained on duty as regimental surgeon until February,
1862. Thenceforward to the close of the war he was assigned to
and performed various kinds of duties pertaining to army sur-
geons, from that of an acting medical director of a department,
down to that of marching and field service. The Doctor nearly
lost his life on the Winfield Scott transport, during a storm
which overtook the squadron off Hatteras, in November, 1861;
suffered from coast fever on Hilton Head Island, S.C.; and nearly
succumbed to an attack of pneumonia, under Lookout Mountain,
Tenn., whither he had removed his general field hospital after
the battle of Missionary Ridge. He was sent home on sick leave,
and in view of his three years continuous services at the front,
the surgeon-general relieved him from duty in the department of
the Cumberland, and ordered him to report for duty at Washington,
D.C. where he remained until the close of the war, July 1st, 1865,
when he resigned his commission and was breveted lieutenant-colo-
nel for meritorious services during the war.
After a brief trip to Europe for recuperation, and two years
residence in Philadelphia, he returned to Ashland, where he
resumed the active duties of his profession. although not a
politician, he represented his district in 1876 and 1877 in the
State Legislature. He married, early in life, Margaret A.,
daughter of Benjamin Cross, of Philadelphia, by whom he has two
daughters now living.
_____________
A line drawing of
GEORGE H. WREN
is in this position on this page.
There is no more original text on this page.
__________end page 189a.___________
page 190
GIRARDVILLE BOROUGH.
______________________________________________________________
The earliest efforts at development of this part of Butler,
then Barry township, were made by the distinguished philanthro-
pist after whom the place is named. Stephen Girard, of Philadel-
phia, having become the possessor of large tracts of coal land in
this part of Schuylkill county, sent agents in 1832 to develop
them and foster the building of a railroad from Danville to
Pottsville. Although a portion of the road was completed, the
effort to develop the mines prove unremunerative, and the death
of the founder put a stop to the extensive works he had project-
ed. Confident of the brilliant future of this part of his
property, he made it a prominent part of the bequest left to the
city of his adoption for the support of Girard College. The
principal use to which the lands were put prior to 1862 was the
clearing and sale of the fine pine timber that shaded the valley
of the Mahanoy, three mills having been built by Mr. Girard's
agents in the vicinity, which were operated under leases so long
as lumbering remained profitable. In 1841 John Hower, now the
eldest resident of the place, became the lessee, and he did much
to develop the interests of the place, which at that time con-
tained but few inhabitants.
In 1862, the Mine Hill and Schuylkill Railroad and the com-
pletion of the Gordon planes having attracted the attention of
operators, coal lands on the Preston tract were leased to the
Heaton and Colonel J.J. Connor, of Ashland, and in that year the
first coal was mined and shipped, the first car load being sent
by Colonel Connor as a present to the mayor of Philadelphia, who
acknowledged the receipt in a letter of thanks, which stated that
he had divided the coal between the two soldiers' restaurants in
the city.
Further developments followed rapidly, and from a hamlet of
about one hundred inhabitants in 1862 grew a thriving borough,
which had a population of three thousand in 1875, and a coal
trade for that year of more than nine hundred thousand tons.
The first buildings erected in the village were the real
estate office and hotel building, in 1832, the first of which now
constitutes a stable building, and the latter a part of the
Girard House.
The Presbyterians and Methodists in that part of Butler town-
ship occasionally held meetings as early as 1841 in the old
office, and in private dwellings; and an occasional term of
school was held in the same way, there being at that time not
more than ten or twelve children of school age living near enough
to attend.
The successful opening of not less that ten collieries within
a few miles of the place made a market that quick-witted business
men were not slow in grasping; and, although fifteen years ago
Parker street was a wild country road, cut through the under-
brush, it boasted in 1880 as fine a grade and as handsome rows of
business blocks as can be found in many an older town.
To this prosperity John Hower, E.C. Wagner, William Gwyther,
Dr. A.B. Sherman, Louis Blass and E.J. Becker contributed large-
ly. Mr. Wagner, as the agent of the estate, by his liberal and
prudent management made his trust a valuable one to his princi-
pals, and incidentally, to the people of the place. In 1872 the
inhabitants petitioned for a borough government.
MOLLIE MAGUIRE LAWLESSNESS.
Like many of its sister boroughs, Girardville was the scene
of misrule and outrage during the year 1875, when the Mollie
Maguires, under the leadership of the notorious Jack Kehoe, had a
"division" in the place, which formed a center of attraction for
lawless men, and actually became strong enough to secure the
election of Kehoe to the position of high constable of the bor-
ough. The influence of this man, who kept a drinking saloon
dignified by the name of the Hibernian House, was dangerous in
the extreme; and in the mad warfare of these miscreants on the
mine foremen and their friends they stopped short of nothing, and
in one instance imbrued their hands in the blood of a civil
magistrate. On the 18th of June, in the year mentioned, the
first pay day after a long suspension brought a large number of
miners and laborers, many of whom were under the influence of
liquor. A party, headed by a man named Hoary, who brandished a
pistol and called loudly for some one to shoot, entered Jacob
Wendel's hotel, and struck and molested a number of inoffensive
persons. Thomas Gwyther, a justice of the peace and an esteemed
citizen, was sitting in the room, and was applied to by one of
the victims of the gang for a warrant; for issuing which he was
fired on and killed while standing on the street near his resi-
dence. The assassin, whose name was William Love, escaped; and
through the ingenuity of the high constable Kehoe, who arrested a
brother of the murderer, who he knew could prove an alibi, search
for the real criminal was delayed until he could leave the coun-
try, and he has never been apprehended. The friends of law and
order were greatly aided by the influence of Father Bridgeman,
who sternly cursed the members of the order and brought all the
influence of the
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page 191
INSTITUTIONS OF GIRARDSVILLE.
_______________________________________________________________
Catholic church-no feeble weapon-to bear to destroy the organiza-
tion in Girardville.
THE PRESS.
The Girardville Gazette was founded in 1878, and its first
number was issued March 17th of that years, by T.F. Hoffman, who
continued it until August 1st, 1980, when John A. Gilger took
charge of it. In February, 1879, he discontinued the subscrip-
tion price, which had been one dollar a year, and issued it as an
advertising sheet distributed gratuitously. In August, 1880, Mr.
Gilger disposed of his interest to the firm of Smith & Arnold,
who have renewed the practice of charging a regular subscription
price of one dollar per annum. It is a six-column folio, issued
weekly and well filled with local news.
The only other journalistic venture in the place was under-
taken by Smith & Stephens, who issued twenty-five numbers of a
paper called the Girardville Herald, a four-column folio, in
1873.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The Girardville school board was organized May 17th, 1872, by
the election of Thomas Connor president, Henry Schafsted secre-
tary, and E.C. Wagner treasurer. The first directors were Thomas
Connor, E.C. Wagner, Henry Schafsted, George Rogers, Patrick
Follard, and Ephraim Goldin.
At that time there were two school buildings in the borough,
one of wood, accommodating three schools, the other of brick,
with two schools. In 1876 the board erected the elegant and
capacious high school building, a fine brick structure, on a lot
adjoining the old brick house. It cost $12,000. The expense of
erection was defrayed by the issue of bonds. The total value of
school property is $16,000. Nine schools are sustained, with the
same number of teachers, and an aggregate attendance of five
hundred and forty-six scholars.
The directors for 1880 were: president, John Johnson; secre-
tary, F.D. Butler; treasurer, George Strong; and William Higgins,
Joseph Fetzer and John G. Scott.
CIVIL GOVERNMENT.
The borough of Girardville was incorporated June 4th, 1872,
being taken from Butler township. The first election was held at
the house of Mr. Blass, and resulted in the choice of the follow-
ing officers: Joseph Swansborough, chief burgess; James Brennan,
William Daly, Louis Wehl, Thomas Rodgers and John Griffith,
councilmen; Thomas J. Lewis, clerk. The chief burgesses since
have been: Joseph Swansborough, 1873 1874; Daniel Eister, 1875,
1876; Jonathan Davis, 1877, 1878; Joseph D. Davis, 1879. The
officers for 1880 were: Chief burgess, Joseph D. Davis; council-
men-Thomas, Bracey, Thomas D. Davis, Michael Cook, Louis Blass
and Robert Green; town clerk, J.H. Prichard.
A lock-up and council room was built in 1872, at a cost of
about $1,600. At a special election held at the house of Louis
Blass, August 9th, 1879, the question of raising a loan and
erecting water works was submitted to the popular vote, and
decided in the affirmative; and the council took steps toward
securing a suitable water supply.
MILITARY.
Girardville Light Infantry, Company I 7th Regiment N.G. Pa.,
was organized July 24th, 1872, and mustered in for five years'
service. Its officers were: Captain, P.H. Monaghan; first
lieutenant, P.H. Dolan; second lieutenant, W.P. King. There were
fifty-seven men.
The company was called out during the labor riots of 1875,
June 3d, and at Shenandoah relieved Captain Linden's police
force, who had been on duty sixty consecutive hours. The company
was stationed at that point until itself relieved, fifteen days
later, by the 8th regiment, under Colonel Gobin.
During the Centennial exhibition, in 1876, the company was
quartered at the Atlas House in Philadelphia for ten days; and on
the 22nd day of July, 1877, when within two days of the expira-
tion of their term of enlistment, they were called to Harrisburg
to assist in quelling the railroad riots. They responded prompt-
ly with full ranks, and were highly complimented by General
Latta, the commander in chief. While there they re-enlisted in a
body, and were sent to Pittsburgh, and relieved on the 4th of
August. The company also attended General George G. Meade En-
campment at Fairmount Park in August, 1880.
The officers for 1880 were: Captain, P.H. Dolan, who was pro-
moted to fill the vacancy caused by the promotion of Captain
Monaghan to be major of the 7th regiment; first lieutenant, James
Bones; second lieutenant, John Fell. The company meets for drill
at the armory, on Richard and Railroad streets, every Tuesday
evening; and for business the fourth Tuesday of each month.
The Girardville Greys were organized July 21st, 1876. The
first officers were: Captain, T.F. Hoffman; first lieutenant,
George Nattrass; second lieutenant, Henry Davis, who still re-
tained that rank in 1880. The company musters sixty rank and
file. During the riots of 1877 they were stationed at Pittsburgh
and Rocktown until the end of the riots. They attended Meade
Encampment in 1880.
GIRARDVILLE MAMMOTH SAVING FUND ASSOCIATION.
This institution was chartered in May, 1873. Among its
founders were Louis Blass, Joseph M. Glick, Henry Haas, Dennis
Kirke; secretary, P.J. Birmingham; treasurer, Henry Haas.
At the close of the fiscal year ending April, 1880, the net
assets were $61,047.94. The officers for 1880 were; President,
C. Eberley; secretary, P.J. Birmingham; treasurer, Joseph M.
Glick.
SECRET SOCIETIES OF GIRARDSVILLE.
Washington Camp Patriotic Order of Sons of America was insti-
tuted December 27th, 1869. The charter officers:
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page 192
HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
_______________________________________________________________
were: J.M. Glick, P.P.; A.B. Sherman, P.; T.F. Hoffman, V.P.;
G.W. Barnhard, Con; B.E. Troutman, R.S.; B.J. Smith, treasurer;
C.S. Phillips, M. of F. & C.; J.C. Wolff, A.R.S.; S.K. Cleaver,
F.S.; J.J. Weightman, chaplain; C.G. Hower, I.G.; J. Brophy, O.G.
The officers for 1880 were: P.P., James A. Morrell; P., J.H.
Babb; V.P., E.C. Becker; M.of F. & C., C.J. Seaman; R.S., T.L.
Evans; A.R.S., G.H. Becker; FF.S., J. Wesley Mertz; treasurer,
C.J. Hower; Con., John Crosby; I.G., L. Lichenstein; O.G., O.G.
Johnson; C., E.D. Gregory; R. Sent., J.C. Evans; L. Sent., W.
Waters.
Aqua Lodge, No 736, I.O. of O.F. was instituted on the 7th of
November, 1870. The following persons were installed as the
first officers of the lodge: Thomas Sanger, N.G.; John Wademare,
V.G.; H.B Johnson, R.S.; Daniel Billman, assistant recording-
secretary; J.F. Price, treasurer; trustees, George Tiverton,
Louis Blass, and J.M. Glick.
The lodge is in a flourishing condition, and numbers one hun-
dred and three members. Two members of this lodge, Thomas Sanger
and Thomas Gwyther, were murdered by Mollie Maguires. Its meet-
ings are held at the lodge rooms in Haas Hall, Parker street, on
Tuesday evening of each week.
The officers in the last term of 1880 were: Adam Sala, N.G.;
William J. Yeo, V.G.; H.B. Johnson, R.S.; Nicholas Blass, assist-
ant secretary; Christopher Eberley, treasurer; E.C. Wagner, Louis
Blass and William Clark, trustees.
The lodge owns a cemetery lot of several acres just outside
of the borough limits, where its members and their families are
entitled to interment. Upon the death of a member $60 is allowed
for burial expenses, and half that amount on the decease of a
member's wife. The assets of the lodge amount to $2,400.
Jennings Post, 121, G.A.R. was instituted in 1879, with John
M. Jenkins as post commander, Louis Biltz adjutant, and J.M.
Glick quarter-master. The last two still serve. It meets on
Thursday evening of each week at Haas Hall, and it was composed
in 1880 of thirty-eight members, with William G. Gwyther as post
commander.
Girardsville Division, No. 35, Sons of Temperance was insti-
tuted April 12th, 1879. Its first officers were: W.P., W.P.
Daniel; W.A., Miss M.M. Kluse; R.S., T.L. Evans; A.R.S., Dr. A.
Burt; F.S., E.D. Gregory; treasurer, William Stein. The follow-
ing persons have filled the office of W.P.: W.P. Daniel, two
terms; B.S. Evans, John Kerby and O.G. Johnson.
The officers for the last term of 1880 were: W.P., O.G. John-
son; W.A., Miss E. Smith; R.S., T.L. Evans; A.R.S., W.P. Daniel;
treasurer, L. Stephens; F.S., B.S. Evans.
CHURCHES OF GIRARDVILE.
M.E. Church.-As is not unfrequently the case, a Sunday-school
was the nursery of the Protestant churches of this borough. One
was organized in 1862, with D.T. Hendricks as its superintendent.
Its meetings were in what was known as "the White school-house."
The people who gathered there occasionally addressed by clergymen
of the Primitive and Episcopal Methodist denominations, until the
year 1864; at which date the members of the congregation most
favorable to the Primitive creed organized and built a church for
themselves. Rev. Robert Weightman, a local preacher of great
zeal, was perhaps the most prominent of the missionary preachers
to this flock. The preachers of the Baltimore Conference contin-
ued to labor here until 1867, when Hon. Jay Cooke, then a member
of the Preston Coal Company, built a church edifice for the use
of the employes of that company, and succeeded in securing the
services of Rev. D.D. Hudson as a missionary.
During the following year a change in conference boundaries
placed the church in the territory of the Philadelphia Confer-
ence. Mr. Hudson remained pastor until 1870, when he was suc-
ceeded by Rev. Andrew Cather, who was followed during the ensuing
year by Rev. J. Brickerton. Under the pastorate of the last
named gentleman the trustees obtained a charter from the county
court and Mr. Cooke completed his favors to the church by donat-
ing to it the building which he had erected, deeding it to the
"M.E. Church of the United States of America."
1872 David McKee was appointed to the charge; in 1873, Eli
Pickersgill; 1874, and 1875, D.M. Gordon; 1876, D.H. Shields;
1877, A.L. Urban; 1878 and 1879, Josiah Bawden; and in 1880
George A. Wolfe, the present pastor.
In 1874 a new building, farther up town, was commenced, which
was completed and dedicated in 1877.
The society now numbers about one hundred members, with a
Sunday-school of two hundred scholars. Elijah Gregory is the
superintnedent.
Primitive Methodist Church.-The preliminary meeting for the
purpose of organizing this church was held at the residence of
Edward T. Davis, on the 3d of May, 1864. There were present
Joseph Wells, James Stonier, Thomas B. Marsh, Josiah Boughey,
George Strong, William G. Gwyther, Edward T. Davis and D. Wasten-
holm. A board of trustees was elected, and steps were immediate-
ly taken toward the erection of a new building, the corner stone
of which was laid with the usual ceremonies August 7th, 1864.
Revs. Charles Spurr, George Parker and George Bell officiating.
This building, a framed structure, 35 by 45 feet, situated on the
north-east corner of Parker and Richard streets, was dedicated
November 19th, 1865; Rev. J.K. Helmbold and Dr. F. Cowen taking
charge of the exercises. The cost of the new church was $3.000.
Here the congregation worshiped until February 2nd, 1872, when
the house was destroyed by an accidental fire. A new building,
of brick, 40 by 60 feet, was immediately commenced on the old
site, and finished during the following year, at a cost of
$8,000. It was dedicated October 19th, 1873, by Rev. T. Penrose,
of England, and W.D. Thomas, of Mahanoy City. During its first
years the church was served by the pastors of other stations; the
first resident minister, Rev. Richard
_____________end page 192.__________________
page 193
CHURCHES OF GIRARDSVILLE.
_______________________________________________________________
Povey, entering on his duties July 3d, 1866. The following list
comprises the pastors here since Mr. Povey's removal, with the
date at which each assumed the pastorate: Richard Turner, July,
1869; Joseph Bickerton, July, 1870; W.B. Bache, July, 1871;
Thomas Bache, January 1872; Joseph W. Reed, July, 1872; W.B.
Bache, April, 1874; H.G. Russell, April, 1875; George Parker,
November 1876; Samuel Evans, April, 1879; Thomas Bateman, April,
1880. The last named is the present pastor.
A convenient parsonage was built in 1875, at a cost of
$1,500.
The Sunday-school was organized May 14th, 1865, with Edward
T. Davis as its superintendent. A juvenile department has since
been added. The total attendance in 1880 was 180, besides teach-
ers and officers.
Baptist.-This organization was the outgrowth of a Sunday-
school, which held its first meeting in the primary school build-
ing, July 12th, 1875. It numbered eleven teachers and thirty-six
scholars, and consisted of members of Baptist families. The
principal workers of the school were William Waters and George
Howells, of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company,
and Jonathan Harvey. Rev. William Warlow, then pastor of the
church at St. Clair, made this field a mission branch of his
church during that year. On the 9th of March, 1876, a council
met, composed of members of adjacent churches; and William Waters
and wife, Mary Blass, Lizzie Lewis, George Howells, Jonathan
Harvey and wife, Daniel Morris and Thomas Richards, presenting
letters from neighboring churches, together with David Evans and
wife, of Ashland; Rev. W. Warlow, of the English church at St.
Clair; Eliza Phillips, of the Welsh church at the same place, and
Jane Frick and Elizabeth Purcell, who were received by baptism,
were recognized as the Baptist church of Girardville. At the req-
uest of the new church the council recognized Rev. W. Warlow as
its pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. M. Brown, at the expiration
of whose term of service the General Association of Pennsylvania
sent Rev. Samuel Goodshall to preach for this church, and also to
supply mission stations at Shenandoah and Frackville.
The present pastor is Rev. D.T. Davis, who accepted the
charge in December, 1878. He is a native of England, and a
graduate of two English colleges.
Services were held in the school-house until December 25th,
1880, when the congregation took possession of a church edifice,
which was then formally dedicated. The new building occupies a
lot on A street near the Lehigh Valley Railroad depot, 60 feet
wide by 100 deep, which was the gift of the Girard estate. The
edifice is a wooden structure 34 by 48 feet, built by Price &
Hall at a cost of $22,000. The furnishing and a cabinet organ
cost $400 more, and the entire expense was provided for on the
day of dedication. The present membership is sixty-two, with
William Waters, George Howells, Jonathan Harvey and John Evans as
deacons. The Sunday-school, under the care of Deacon George
Howells, has an average attendance of one hundred.
St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church was organized on the 10th
of August, 1870. Its first pastor was Rev. Joseph Bridgman. For
two years the congregation worshiped in a temporary chapel,
erected on a lot in the rear of the present building. The corner
stone of the new church was laid October 21st, 1872. The build-
ing was completed in 1876, and, on account of failure to pay the
contractor, was advertised for sale by the sheriff on a mechan-
ic's lien, and was bid in by the contractor for $12,000. Mean-
time Rev. Daniel O'Connor was appointed pastor in January, 1877,
and, finding the church in a dangerous state, refused to pay the
amount claimed as due on it. Thus the building passed out of the
hands of the church, and it is believed this is the only instance
in this country of a Catholic church building having been alien-
ated from the congregation by sheriff's sale. The building
remained in the hands of the contractor until May, 1879, when it
was purchased by the congregation for $6,700. Father O'Connor
commenced at once to make the building safe, and it was conse-
crated by Archbishop Wood on the 19th of October, 1879, in the
presence of a crowd of fully 15,000 people-one of the largest
gatherings ever held in the county-Catholic societies being
present from nearly every town in the county, and making it an
event long to be remembered by the friends of St. Joseph's par-
ish.
The building is of wood, on a cut-stone basement. It is
located on the northwest corner of Richard and Parker streets.
On an adjoining lot is the priest's house, a handsome French-
roofed structure.
St. Joseph's Total Abstinence Society, connected with the
church, has a membership of two hundred, and there is also a
sodality of one hundred and twenty young men, and a Sunday-school
of four hundred members.
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