CONTENTS:

PREFACE

MAP OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY ....................................... 14-15

CHAPTER 1 THE COLONIAL PERIOD ...................................... 17-41
General Topography - Drainage - First Exploration of the Susquehanna -
Indian Tribes - The Susquehannocks - Delawares - Allumapees - The
Shawanese - The Iroquois - Shikellimy - Indian Traders - Conrad Weiser -
Missionary Effort

CHAPTER 2 THE COLONIAL PERIOD ...................................... 42-98
Purchase of the Susquehanna - Alienation of the Delaware Indians -
Hostilities Inaugurated - Rumors of French Invasion - Defensive Measures
Adopted - The Augusta Regiment Organized to Build a Port at Shamokin -
Progress of the Expedition - Construction of Fort Augusta - Principal
Events of Colonel Clapham's Administration - Extracts and Incidents from
Major Burd's Journal - Subsequent Commanding Officers - The Magazine and
Indian Store - Operations In 1763 - Strength of the Garrison and Armament
- The Flag - Doctors and Chaplains - Plan and Description of the Fort -
Close of The French and Indian War - Purchase of 1768 - Early Survey -
Lists of Pioneers - Fithian's Journal - The Yankee and Pennamite War

CHAPTER 3 THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD ................................ 99-142
Close of the Provincial Regime - The County's Representation in the
Continental Army - Companies of Captains Lowdon, Parr, and Weltzel -
Twelfth Pennsylvania Regiment - Committee of Safety - Militia Organization
- Indian Outrages - Defensive Measures Instituted by Colonel Hunter - "The
Great Runaway" - Colonel Brodhead Temporarily Stationed on the Frontier -
Colonel Hartley's Military Administration - Fall of Fort Freeland - The
German Regiment - General Potter's Expedition - Events of Colonel Hunter's
Accounts

CHAPTER 4 ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION ........................ 142-198
Erection of Northumberland County - Disintegration of its Territory -
Present Boundaries - Internal Subdivision - Original Townships - Formation
of Present Subdivisions - Statistics of Population - Public Buildings -
Early Fiscal Affairs - Inauguration of the Public School System - Roster
of County Officers - Representation in Constitutional Conventions, etc. -
Legislative Representation - Early Township Officers

CHAPTER 5 THE BENCH AND BAR ...................................... 201-260
First Courts and Cases - The Quarter Sessions - Early Administration of
Penal Justice - The Orphans' Court - The Common Pleas - Rules of Court -
The Bench - Roster of Justices of President Judges -Associate Judges - The
Bar of the Past and Present - The Supreme Court

CHAPTER 6 THE MEDICAL PROFESSION ................................. 261-273
List of Sunbury Physicians, by Dr. R H. Awl -Biographical Sketches of
Physicians Throughout the County - Medical Societies - Roster of the
Medical Profession

CHAPTER 7 THE PRESS ...............................................273-296
Journalism at Northumberland - Sunbury Papers - The Press of Milton -
Shamokin Newspaper - Journals of Mt. Carmel - McEwensville and Locust Gap
Papers

CHAPTER 8 INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS .................................. 297-328
Relation of Highways of Travel to Civilization - Public Roads - The
Tulpehocken Road - The Old Reading Road - Early County Roads - Turnpikes -
River Navigation - Canals - Railroads - Pennsylvania - Danville and
Pottsville - Philadelphia and Reading - Northern Central - Sunbury,
Hazelton and Wilkesbarre - Sunbury and Lewistown - Lewisburg and Tyrone -
Philadelphia and Reading - Mine Hill and Schuylkill Haven - Mahanoy and
Shamokin - Enterprise -Shamokin and Trevorton - Trevorton, Mahanoy and
Susquehanna- Catawissa - Shamokin, Sunbury and Lewisburg - Delaware,
Lackawana and Western - Lehigh Valley - Wilkesbarre and Western

CHAPTER 9 AGRICULTURE .............................................329-346
Preparation of Soils the Result of Remote Rather than Immediate Agency -
Geological Structure - Anticlinals and Synclinals - Subdivisions of the
Paleozoic System - Location and Characteristics of Each Stratum -
Development of the Farming Industry - Condition of the Farming Interests
in 1845 - Agricultural Societies

CHAPTER 10 THE SHAMOKIN COAL FIELD ............................... 347-357
By Dr. J. J. JOHN. Importance of Coal - Its Location - Names of the Veins
- Their Position and Character - A Walk from the Weigh Scales to the
Cameron Colliery - Ascent of the Great Culm Bank - A Talk with the Inside
Foreman About the Coal Formation - Further Description of the Sixteen
Veins Found in This Region - A Section of the Measures - Depth of the
Shamokin Coal Basin - A Short Description of the Districts and Basins -
Production of the Three Districts - The Question, "How Long Will Our Coal
Supply Last?" Answered

CHAPTER 11 DEVELOPMENT OF THE SHAMOKIN COAL FIELD ................ 358-391
By Dr. J. J. JOHN. Discovery of Anthracite In This Region - First
Application to General Uses - First Shamokin Coal Taken to Market -
Opening of the first Mines at Shamokin, Coal Run, and Trevorton - First
Coal Shipments Down the Susquehanna - Speculation In Coal Lands - The
Danville and Pottsville Railroad - Pioneer Coal operations - The
Disastrous Year of 1842 - Revival of 1850 - Judge Helfenstein's
Developments - Original Coal Breakers - Marshalls letter - New Collieries
and Outlets - Coal Shipments to Elmira in 1855 - Other Collieries Started
and Breakers Erected - Tonnage of This Region for the Years 1857 and 1889
- Total Production for the Past Fifty-one Years

CHAPTER 12 WAR OF 1812 ........................................... 391-396
Mobilization of the Militia - Companies of Captains Robert McGuigan,
William McGuire, William F. Buyers, and Jacob Hummel, and Lieutenant
Joseph Dreibelbies

CHAPTER 13 THE CIVIL WAR ..,,,.................................... 396-444
State of Public Sentiment at the Outbreak of the War - Mass Meetings and
Resolutions - The Sanitary Commission - Regimental Sketches - Eleventh -
Eighth -Thirty fourth - Forty sixth - Forty seventh - Fifty first -
Fifty-third - Fifty-Sixth - Eightieth - One Hundred and Twelfth - Fifty
eighth - One Hundred and Thirty first - One Hundred and Fifty second -
Seventy fourth - Militia of 1862 - Militia of 1863 - Soldiers' Monuments

CHAPTER 14-A-B SUNBURY ........................................... 444-514
The Town Plat - Early Residents - Sunbury in 1805 - Reminiscences of Dr.
R. H. Awl - Prominent Merchants, 1772-1850 - Early Hotels - Municipal
Organization and Government - Facilities of Travel and Transportation -
Industrial Activity - Banking Institutions - Gas, Electric Light, and
Water Companies - Local Papers - The Post office - Secret and other
Societies - Educational Interests - Churches - Cemeteries - Borough of
East Sunbury

CHAPTER 15 NORTHUMBERLAND ........................................ 515-545
The Town Plat - Early History - Prominent Early Residents - Early
Merchants and Hotels - The Postoffice - Bridges, Canals, and Railways -
Borough Organization and Government - Industrial Activity - Schools -
Local Journalism - Secret and other Societies - Churches - Cemeteries

CHAPTER 16 MILTON ................................................ 545-591
Pioneer History - The Town Plat - Inhabitants from 1804 to 1808 - Taxables
in 1815 - Borough Government - The Postoffice - Facilities of Travel and
Transportation - General Business Interests - Industries of the Past and
Present - Floods and Fires - Secret and Other Societies - Churches -
Sunday Schools - Miscellaneous Moral and Humanitarian Organizations -
Educational Interests-Local Papers - Cemeteries

CHAPTER 17 SHAMOKIN .............................................. 591-655
Brief of Title - The Town Plat - Pioneers - Shamokin in 1839 - Subsequent
Growth Summarized - The First Stores and Hotels - Early Physicians and
Lawyers - Municipal Organization and Government - The Riot of 1877 -
Facilities of Travel and Transportation - The Shamokin Coal Trade -
General Industrial Interests - The Postoffice - Banks - Water, Gas, and
Electric Light - Board of Trade - Secret and Other Societies - The Press -
Churches - Educational Interests - Cemeteries

CHAPTER 18 MT. CARMEL ............................................ 655-676
Old Hotels - The Town Plat - First Improvements and Subsequent Growth -
The First Merchants, Physicians, and Lawyers - The Postoffice - Railroads
- Municipal Organization and Government - The Mt. Carmel Coal Trade -
General Industrial Interests - Financial Institutions - Water and Electric
Light Companies - Secret and Other Societies - The Press - Schools -
Churches - Cemeteries

CHAPTER 19 WATSONTOWN ............................................ 677-692
Pioneer History - The First Surveys - Early Industries, Stores, and Hotels
- The Town Plat - Railroads - The Postoffice - Manufacturing, Past and
Present - Banks - Electric Light and Water Companies - Borough
Organization and Government - Secret and Fraternal Societies - Educational
and Literary Effort - Churches - Watsontown Cemetery

CHAPTER 20 TURBUT TOWNSHIP ....................................... 692-697
Erection and Original Boundaries - Subdivision and Present Area - Pioneers
- Mills - Churches - Schools - Cemeteries

CHAPTER 21 UPPER AUGUSTA TOWNSHIP ................................ 698-705
Erection of Augusta Township and Development of its Subsequent Boundaries
- Formation of Upper and Lower Augusta - Pioneers - Roads and Streams -
Industries - Schools - Churches

CHAPTER 22 LOWER AUGUSTA TOWNSHIP ................................ 705-707
Territorial Development - Topography - Fisher's Ferry - Mills - Schools -
Churches

CHAPTER 23 UPPER MAHANOY TOWNSHIP ................................ 708-710
Proceedings for the Erection of Mahanoy Township - Disintegration of its
Territory - Organization of Upper Mahanoy - Pioneers - Hotels - Mills -
Secret Society - Schools - Churches

CHAPTER 24 LOWER MAHANOY TOWNSHIP ................................ 711-714
Organization - Drainage - Early History and Present Business and
Industrial Interests of Georgertown - Malta - Industries - Schools -
Churches

CHAPTER 25 POINT TOWNSHIP ........................................ 714-716
Proceedings for Its Erection - First Township Officers - Pioneers -
Industries

CHAPTER 26 CHILLISQUAQUE TOWNSHIP ................................ 716-726
Area and Topography - Erection and Subdivision - Pioneer Industries -
Pottsgrove - Montandon - Sodom - Chillisquaque - Schools - Churches

CHAPTER 27 SHAMOKIN TOWNSHIP ..................................... 726-734
Formation of Ralpho Township and Description of its Original Boundaries -
Change of Name to Shamokin - Physical Features - Pioneers - Taxables in
1755 - Industries - Early Settlement, Present Business, and Municipal
Government of the Borough of Snydertown - Villages - Schools - Churches

CHAPTER 28 LITTLE MAHANOY TOWNSHIP ............................... 734-736
Boundaries - Organization - Pioneers - Mills - Schools - Churches

CHAPTER 29 RUSH TOWNSHIP ......................................... 737-742
Successive Movements for the Division of Shamokin Township - Formation,
Origin of Name, and First Township - Officers of Rush - Pioneers -
Industries - Rushtown - Schools - Churches

CHAPTER 30 JACKSON TOWNSHIP ...................................... 743-748
Original Boundaries - Pioneers - Industries - Early History and Growth of
Herndon - Mahanoy - School - Churches

CHAPTER 31 COAL TOWNSHIP ......................................... 749-751
Suggestiveness of the Name - Organization - Streams and Roads - Industries
- Villages - Coal Poor District - Churches

CHAPTER 32 DELAWARE TOWNSHIP ..................................... 752-764
Organization and Boundaries - Pioneers - Early Industries - Early History,
Growth, Industries, and Borough Organization of McEwensville - Dewart -
Churches - Schools - Cemeteries

CHAPTER 33 LEWIS TOWNSHIP ........................................ 765-769
Topographical Features - Political Organization - Freeland's Mill -
Settlement, Growth, Present Business Interests, and Municipal Government
of the Borough of Turbutville - Churches - Schools - Turbutville Cemetery

CHAPTER 34 CAMERON TOWNSHIP ...................................... 769-772
Extent - Organization Drainage - Villages of the Past and Present -
Schools - Churches

CHAPTER 35 JORDAN TOWNSHIP ....................................... 772-777
Erection and Organization - Drainage - Roads - Post-Villages - Industries
- Schools - Churches

CHAPTER 36 ZERBE TOWNSHIP ........................................ 777-783
Organization and Boundaries - Pioneers - Origin, Growth, Present Business
Interests, and Secret Societies of Trevorton - Schools - Churches

CHAPTER 37 MT. CARMEL TOWNSHIP ................................... 784-786
Organization - Drainage and Roads - Collieries - Mining Villages -
Churches

CHAPTER 38 WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP ................................... 786-790
Original Boundaries - First Township Officers - Pioneers - Industries -
Rebuck - Schools - Churches.

CHAPTER 39 ROCKEFELLER TOWNSHIP .................................. 790-796
Organization and Boundaries - Drainage and Roads - Villages - Mills -
Schools - Churches

CHAPTER 40 RALPHO TOWNSHIP ....................................... 796-800
Successive Steps in the Proceedings by Which the Township was Erected -
Line of Division from Shamokin - Drainage and Roads Pioneers - Early
History, Growth, and Secret Societies of Elysburg - Industries - Schools -
Churches

CHAPTER 41 GEARHART TOWNSHIP ..................................... 800-803
Erection and Organization - The Founding, Growth, and Municipal Government
of the Borough of Riverside - South Danville - Schools - Churches -
Cemetery

CHAPTER 42 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Sunbury ........................ 804-860

CHAPTER 43-A-B-C BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Shamokin ................. 860-967

CHAPTER 44 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Milton ........................ 967-1013

CHAPTER 45 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Mt. Carmel ................... 1013-1067

CHAPTER 46 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Watsontown ................... 1068-1092

CHAPTER 47 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Northumberland Borough and
Point Township ................................................. 1093-1106

CHAPTER 48 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Turbut and
Chillisquaque Townships ........................................ 1106-1141

CHAPTER 49 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Lewis and Delaware Townships
and Boroughs of Turbutville and McEwensville ................... 1141-1160

CHAPTER 50 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Upper Augusta, Lower Augusta,
and Rockefeller Townships ...................................... 1160-1175

CHAPTER 51 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Shamokin, Ralpho, Rush, and
Gearhart Townships, and Boroughs of Snydertown and Riverside ... 1175-1217

CHAPTER 52 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Zerbe (Trevorton), Cameron,
Little Mahanoy, Jackson, Lower Mahanoy, Washington, Jordan, and
Upper Mahanoy Townships ........................................ 1217-1239

INDEX .......................................................... 1241-1256



Preface

   No county of interior Pennsylvania possesses a greater degree of
historic interest than Northumberland. Shamokin, one of the most important
Indian towns in the State, was situated within its present limits, and
here, at the confluence of the North and West Branches of the Susquehanna,
Fort Augusta was erected for the defense of the Province in the French and
Indian war. This region was constantly harassed by hostile savages during
the Revolutionary period; no part of the Pennsylvania frontier suffered
more from their incursions, as "The Great Runaway," the fall of Fort
Freeland, and numerous lesser calamities abundantly testify. Organized in
1772, the county once extended from the Lehigh river to the Allegheny,
with the New York line as its northern boundary, embracing more than one
third the area of the State, and with eminent propriety it has been called
"The Mother of Counties."
   The physical features of the county - its aboriginal history, and the
con-test for possession of its soil - the military movements upon its
territory in the Colonial and Revolutionary periods - the gradual progress
of its early settlement, with the customs and characteristics of pioneer
life - its civil organization and administration - its material resources
in soil and mineral treasures, and industrial activity in the past and
present - the part taken by its citizens in the Revolution, the war of
1812, and the civil war - the educational and religious interests of the
community, with biographical mention of many of its citizens, are included
in the plan of this work, and have been treated with such fairness as its
comprehensive character would permit.
   Herbert C. Bell, of Leitersburg, Maryland, is the author of the general
history (Chapters X and XI excepted). The editorial supervision of the
work was intrusted to Mr. Bell, whose thoroughness and accuracy in
historical research and narration have been acquired by a varied
experience in this department of literary effort. In this responsible
position he received the assistance and co-operation of the publishers,
whose long connection with the business has made them familiar with all
the details of local historical work.
   The Shamokin coal field and its development (Chapters X and XI) have
been treated by Dr. J. J. John, of Shamokin. In these chapters the history
of the mining industry in Northumberland county is presented to the public
in a connected narrative for the first time. Doctor John's long residence
in the coal region and intimate acquaintance with the subject of which he
writes are ample guaranty of the thorough execution of his works.
   An important feature of the publication is its several chapters of
personal and family biography, the data for which were obtained from those
to whom they relate or their descendants; and in order to insure accuracy,
the matter was afterward submitted to them for correction.
   It would be impossible to mention here every one who has rendered
valuable aid in the preparation of this volume. The assistance given by
Dr. R. H. Awl, John B. Packer, W. L. Greenough, S. P. Wolverton, and H. B.
Masser, of Sunbury, Dr. J. J. John, of Shamokin, and the late John F.
Wolfinger, of Milton, is, however, worthy of special notice. Appropriate
acknowledgments are due and gladly tendered to the public press of the
county for access to newspaper files, and words of encouragement; to
county and borough officials for courtesies shown; to the descendants of
the pioneers in every locality for information furnished; to attorneys,
physicians, and other professional men; to the pastors of churches; to the
leading spirits in various societies; to the owners and managers of
manufacturing and other business establishments; to those enterprising
citizens who gave us their patronage, and without whose support we could
not have succeeded; and in general to every one who has contributed in any
manner to the success of the work.
   Neither time nor money nor labor has been spared to make this volume an
authentic and reliable source of information concerning the early history
and material development of the county, and the various commercial,
social, and religious activities of its people. We take pride in the
knowledge that we have redeemed our promises, and furnished our patrons a
work which every intelligent citizen can justly appreciate.
Brown, Runk & Co.