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History of Northumberland Co., PA - Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4 - Pages 142-198
ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION
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.
THE three original counties of Pennsylvania were Chester, Philadelphia,
and Bucks, formed in 1682 at the founding of the Province. Lancaster was
erected in 1729 from the western part of Chester, York in 1749 from that
part of Lancaster west of the Susquehanna, and Cumberland in 1750 from the
northwestern part of York. Northampton and Berks were formed in 1752, the
former from the northern part of Bucks, the latter from the corresponding
portions of Philadelphia, Chester, and Lancaster. At that time the lines
separating Berks from Northampton and Lancaster were ran only so far as
the settlements then extended, and in 1769 William Maclay, William Scull,
and John Biddle, Jr., were appointed to continue them "as far as the
lands lately purchased by the Honorable the Proprietaries of this Province
from the Indians do extend." The western boundary of Berks county was
accordingly surveyed beyond the Susquehanna, crossing that river near the
month of Mahanoy creek and extending as far as the West Branch. That part
of the present area of Northumberland county inclosed by this line, the
Susquehanna river, and Mahantango creek thus remained in Lancaster county;
west of the Susquehanna the western line of Berks separated its territory
from that of Cumberland.
The purchase of 1768 was followed by a rapid influx of population
into the region about the confluence of the North and West Branches of
the Susquehanna, and, with the seats of justice of Berks, Lancaster, and
Cumberland counties at Reading, Lancaster, and Carlisle, respectively,
the convenience of the inhabitants early demanded better facilities of
civil administration. This desirable result was finally attained, March
21, 1772, by the passage of an act erecting Northumberland county, with
boundaries described as follows:-
Beginning at the month of Mahantango creek, on the west side of the
river Susquehanna; thence up the south side of said creek, by the
several courses thereof, to the head at Robert Meteer's spring; thence
west by north to the top of Tussey's mountain; thence southwesterly
along the summit of the mountain to Little Juniata; thence up the
northeasterly side of the main branch of Little Juniata to the head
thereof; thence north to the line of Berks county; thence northwest
along the said line to the extremity of the Province; thence east along
the north boundary to that part thereof which is due north from the most
northern part of the great swamp; thence south to the most northern part
of the swamp aforesaid; thence with a straight line to the head of the
Lehigh or Middle creek; thence down the said creek so far that a line
run west-southwest will strike the forks of Mahantango creek where Pine
creek falls into the same, at the place called Spread Eagle, on the east
side of Susquehanna; thence down the southerly side of said creek to the
river aforesaid; thence down and across the river to the place of
beginning.
In order to render this intelligible to the general reader some
explanation may be necessary. There are two streams known by the name
of Mahantango: the one first mentioned flows into the Susquehanna from
the west, forming the present boundary of Juniata and Snyder counties;
the other sustains the same relation to Northumberland and Dauphin. It
is probable the county line struck the Little Juniata no great distance
above its confluence with the Raystown branch, and the West Branch near
the mouth of Bald Eagle creek. The northwestern boundary of the county
was the line of the purchase of 1768. The "great swamp" is identified
as the southwestern part of Wayne county and the adjoining part of
Lackawanna; the line from the northern boundary of the State south to
the "great swamp" and thence to the Lehigh is the present western
boundary of Wayne county. Part of the southeast line between the Lehigh
river and Mahantango creek still possesses geographical significance as
the line of division between the counties of Carbon and Luzerne,
Schuylkill and Columbia, and Northumberland and Schuylkill,
respectively.
On the 21st of March, 1772, the Assembly passed an act defining the
boundaries of Bedford county, which was erected in 1771 and adjoined
Northumberland on the southwest; this act and the act passed the same
day erecting Northumberland assigned to those counties different and
inconsistent boundary lines, and in order to rectify this discrepancy the
line in question was again defined, September 30, 1779. As thus
established, the southwest boundary of Northumberland, beginning on the
Juniata at the terminus of a north line from the gap in Tuscarora
mountain near Path valley, coincided with that river as far as Jack's
Narrows, where it deflected to the north along the summit of the
watershed between Kishocoquillas and Standing Stone creeks; from the
head of the latter it extended westward along the summit of Tussey's
mountain, the ridge separating Bald Eagle and Little Juniata, and
Chestnut ridge to the head of the southwest branch of Bald Eagle, thence
a direct course to the head of Moshannon creek, and down that stream to
its junction with the West Branch. Considerable territory was thus
added to this county.
Although a large county as originally formed, it is problematical
whether Northumberland was the largest in the State at that date. If
not of equal or greater extent, Bedford was certainly scarcely inferior
in size, but Westmoreland was formed from the latter in 1773, and from
that time until 1795 the position of Northumberland as the most
extensive subdivision of the State is unquestioned. Its greatest
proportions were attained in 1785, when, by the act of April 9th, all
that part of the purchase of 1784 east of the Conewango creek and
Allegheny river was placed within its limits. The county thus extended
along the northern line of the State from Conewango creek to the line of
Wayne county and from the Lehigh river to the Allegheny, with a maximum
breadth equal to nearly two thirds that of the State. The extent of
this region exceeds that of several States of the Union.
The first curtailment of this generous domain resulted from the
erection of Luzerne county, September 25, 1786. West of the Susquehanna
the first county to which Northumberland contributed was Mifflin,
erected on the 10th of September, 1789, but the part taken from
Northumberland, with additional territory from Northumberland and other
counties, was erected into Centre, February 13,1800. The formation of
Lycoming county, April 13, 1795, deprived Northumberland of the large
extent of territory acquired under the purchase of 1784, with a
considerable part of its original area. The line of division was
described as follows:-
From the Mifflin county line, on the summit of Nittany mountain, thence
running along the top or highest ridge of the said mountain to where the
White Deer Hole creek runs through the same; and from thence by a direct
line, crossing the West Branch of Susquehanna at the mouth of Black Hole
creek, to the end of Muncy hills; thence along the top of Muncy hills and
the Bald mountain to the Luzerne county line.
Northumberland was thus reduced to the position of an interior county,
and with the opening of the present century its original boundaries
remained undisturbed only on the south. Bounded on the east by Luzerne, on
the west by Centre, on the north by Lycoming, and on the south by Mifflin,
Dauphin, and Berks, its location with reference to the area of the State
was nearly central. Although somewhat irregular in form, its proportions
did not lack symmetry; its territory was nearly equally divided by the
Susquehanna and the West Branch, while the location of the county seat
was central to the population and conveniently accessible from all parts
of the county by the natural highways of the region. But in the first
decade of the century there was a marked increase in population, and
with the growth of settlements at the extremities of the county arose
the desire and necessity for further territorial subdivision. A movement
for the erection of a new county seems to have taken definite shape in
the region west of the Susquehanna first; the agitation in the valley of
the North Branch for the accomplishment of a similar object was begun a
little later, and in the pursuit of interests so closely allied the
promoters of the two projects rendered mutual assistance. At length the
popular will found expression in the election of State representatives
favorable to division, and with friends at court the desired end was
consummated in the passage of two acts, erecting Columbia and Union
counties, respectively, which were approved, March 22, 1813. To the
former was assigned that part of the former area of Northumberland west
of the Susquehanna and the West Branch; the boundaries of the latter
were described as follows:-
Beginning at the nine-mile tree on the bank of the Northeast Branch
of the Susquehanna, and from thence by the line of Point township to the
line of Chillisquaque township; thence by the line of Chillisquaque and
Point townships to the West Branch of the river Susquehanna; thence up
the same to the line of Lycoming county; thence by the line of Lycoming
county to the line of Luzerne county; thence by the same to the line of
Schuylkill county; thence along the same to the southwest corner of
Catawissa township; thence by the line of Catawissa and Shamokin
townships to the river Susquehanna; and thence down said river to the
place of beginning.
The formation of two new counties had been effected, but not to the
entire satisfaction of the dismembered territory. The townships of
Chillisquaque and Turbut had been separated from the parent county in
opposition to the wishes of nine tenths of their inhabitants, who
remonstrated strongly and at length secured their re-annexation to
Northumberland county, February 21, 1815. The question had not reached
a final adjustment, however; the real issue involved was the separation
of sufficient territory from Northumberland to render Danville eligible
as the county seat of Columbia, and on the 22d of January, 1816, that
part of Turbut and Chillisquaque west of the following line was again
annexed to Northumberland:-
Beginning at the corner of Point and Chillisquaque townships in the
line of Columbia county; thence by the lines of said townships along the
summit of Montour's mountain to where what is called "Strawbridge's
road" crosses said mountain; thence by said road to where the road from
Wilson's mills to Danville intersects said road; thence to the bridge
over Chillisquaque creek at James Murray's; thence by what is called
"Harrison's road" past Chillisquaque meeting-house to the corner of
Turbut and Derry townships in the line of Lycoming county.
This line constitutes the present eastern boundary of the county
north of the river. A history of the roads mentioned is given in this
work in the chapter on Internal Improvements. The location of these
roads changed in course of time, and thus the line became a subject of
dispute, greatly to the inconvenience of township officers in
Northumberland and Montour counties. At length petitions were presented
to the courts of both counties praying for a re-survey, in compliance
with which a commission was appointed, composed of George W. West, of
Danville, A. J. Guffy, of Watsontown, and C. D. Eldred, of Muncy, by
whom the line was resurveyed, February 22-25 and August 22-25, 1881.
Their report,(1) showing the courses and distances of the line from the
southwest corner of Montour county on Montour ridge to the line of
Lycoming county, received the concurrent approval of the courts of the
respective counties, and is the authoritative description of the line in
question.
The eastern boundary of the county south of the North Branch was
run and marked in 1830 by Elias Hoyt and Joseph Whitacre, commissioners
appointed in pursuance of the act of April 7, 1830, whose report gives
the following as its courses and distances:-
Beginning at the Susquehanna river at the mouth of Little Roaring
creek; thence up said creek the several courses and distances thereof,
establishing said creek as the boundary line, to a white oak tree by a
spring at the head of said creek; thence east, following a ridge of land
most of the way, seven hundred sixteen perches to a hemlock on Big
Roaring creek; thence up said creek, the south branch thereof the
several courses and distances thereof, establishing said creek as the
division line, to Yarnall's path; and thence from a white oak on said
path south twenty degrees east fourteen hundred perches to the line of
Schuylkill county.(2)
The line of separation from Lycoming was established in 1795 by the
formation of that county. On the west Northumberland includes the
channel of the river, as the townships originally formed on the eastern
side extended to the western bank. The southern boundary, originally
established in 1772, was again defined by legislative enactment, April
17, 1795, by which the Governor was directed to appoint three
commissioners for running and marking a line "Beginning at the forks of
Mahantango and Pine creeks at the place called the Spread Eagle, and
from thence north fifty six degrees east until the same shall intersect
the line dividing the counties of Berks and Northampton, and from thence
the same course to the Lehigh creek; thence along the east bank of the
said Lehigh creek to the head thereof; from thence a due north course to
the boundary of the State." Northumberland and Luzerne counties were
north and west of this line; Dauphin, Berks, and Northampton, south and
east of it. As commissioners the Governor appointed Philip Myer, John
Eckman, and John Reese; under date of June 1, 1796, they presented their
account to the commissioners of Northumberland county, from which it
appears that the survey required forty days, at a total expense, including
the services of the surveyors and their assistants, pack-horses, etc., of
three hundred sixty-seven pounds, four shillings, nine and one half pence.
The present area of the county, as given in Smull's Legislative
Handbook, is four hundred sixty-two square miles.
The following is a list of counties situated wholly or in part within
the limits of Northumberland in 1785: Armstrong, Bradford, Cameron,
Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Elk, Forest, Indiana,
Jefferson, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, McKean, Montour, Northumberland,
Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Venango,
Warren, and Wyoming, a total of twenty-eight. It is with eminent
propriety, therefore, that Northumberland has been called the "Mother of
Counties."
INTERNAL SUBDIVISION
At the time of its erection the larger part of the present area of
Northumberland county was included in Augusta township, Berks county,
which extended eastward to the line of Northampton and embraced the
incipient settlements about the confluence of the East and West Branches
of the Susquehanna. The present line of Dauphin and Schuylkill, extended
in a northwesterly direction, was the southwestern boundary of Augusta;
and the triangular area inclosed by this line (then the line of division
between Berks and Lancaster), Mahantango creek, and the Susquehanna river
was part of Upper Paxtang township, Lancaster county.
On the 9th of April, 1772, at a court of private sessions of the peace,
the county was divided into seven townships, for which the following
boundaries were respectively established:-
Description of Penn's Township.- Beginning at the mouth of Mahantango
on the west side of Susquehanna; thence with the county line up Mahantango
creek to Meteer's spring; thence with the same line to the top of Tussey's
mountain; thence along the top of the same easterly to Penn's creek and
down Penn's creek to the mouth thereof at the head of the Isle of Que;
thence down Susquehanna to the place of beginning.
Description Augusta Township.- Beginning at the mouth of Mahantango
on the west side of Susquehanna; thence with the county line crossing
Susquehanna to the month of Mahantango on the east side; thence with the
same county line up Mahantango to the Spread Eagle in the forks of said
Mahantango; thence with the said county line east-northeast to the old
line formerly run for a division between Berks and Northampton counties;
thence by the same old line northwest to the East Branch of Susquehanna;
thence down the same to Fort Augusta; thence crossing Susquehanna and
down the same to the place of beginning.
Description of Turbut Township.- Beginning on the east side of
Susquehanna at Fort Augusta; thence up the easterly side of the Northeast
Branch to the old line formerly run for a division between Berks and
Northampton counties; thence by the same line northwest to the top of
Muncy Hill; thence along the top of the same westerly to the West Branch
of Susquehanna, and crossing the same to the west side, and down the same
to the junction of the branches, and crossing Susquehanna to the place of
beginning so as to include the forks and island.
Description of Buffalo Township.- Beginning at the mouth of Penn's
creek at the head of the Isle of Que; thence up the same to the forks;
thence by a north line to the West Branch of Susquehanna; thence down
the West Branch of Susquehanna to the forks; thence down Susquehanna to
the place of beginning.
Description of Bald Eagle Township.- Beginning at the forks of
Penn's creek; thence by a north line to the West Branch of Susquehanna;
thence up the same to where the county line crosses it; thence by the
county line south to the head of Little Juniata; thence down the same to
the end of Tussey's mountain; thence along the top of the same easterly
to the place of beginning.
Description of Muncy Township.- Beginning on the west side of the
West Branch of Susquehanna opposite the end of Muncy Hill; thence up the
West Branch to opposite the mouth of Lycoming; thence crossing the
Branch up Lycoming to the head thereof; thence by a southeast line to
the Muncy Hill; thence along the top of the same to the West Branch, and
crossing it to the beginning.
Description of Wyoming Township.- Beginning at the heads of Lycoming;
thence southeast to Muncy Hill; thence along the top of the same westerly
to the old division line between Berks and Northampton;(3) thence
southeast along the same line to the present county line; thence by the
lines of the county to the bounds of the present purchase near Chenango;
thence westerly by the bounds of the present purchase to the beginning at
the heads of Lycoming aforesaid.
The policy of the court in the formation of these subsidiary divisions
was analogous to that of the legislature in the erection of the county. In
both instances political autonomy was conferred upon territory vast in
extent, comparatively unexplored or sparsely inhabited, and comprehended
within vaguely defined boundaries. "Magnificent distances" were a
characteristic of the various townships no less than of the county at
large. Of the original townships east of the Susquehanna the smallest were
Turbut and Muncy: Turbut included all of Northumberland and Montour
counties north of the North Branch, with a portion of Columbia, while
Muncy embraced that part of Lycoming between Lycoming creek and Muncy
hills. Augusta, consisting of the present area of Northumberland and
Montour south of the North Branch, with adjoining territory in Columbia
and Schuylkill, ranked next in size. The most extensive was Wyoming,
comprehending within its ample limits the whole of Luzerne, Lackawanna,
Susquehanna, Wyoming, and (probably) Sullivan counties, with portions of
Bradford, Columbia, and Schuylkill. Of the three townships west of the
Susquehanna, Penn's, embracing nearly the whole of Snyder county, with
considerable adjacent territory, was the smallest; Buffalo included nearly
the whole of Union, with the contiguous portions of adjoining counties;
while Bald Eagle comprised the extensive region west of Buffalo and
northwest of Penn's.
The first change in the internal geography of the county was the
formation of Potter's township, May, 1774, from Penn's, Buffalo, and
Bald Eagle. Sometimes it appears as "John Potter's township;" the name
still retains political significance as applied to a township in Centre
county.
East of the Susquehanna the disintegration of the extensive townships
originally formed began in 1775. In the territory south of the North
Branch the new township of Mahanoy was formed at February sessions in that
year from the southern part of Augusta, with Mahanoy mountain as the
boundary line. A decade elapsed before Augusta was again curtailed; but
when, at August sessions, 1785, Catawissa was erected, the parent township
was reduced to a comparatively narrow area with Gravel run as its eastern
limit. Three years later Ralpho was formed from Catawissa, receiving a
year afterward the name of Shamokin; but Catawissa was still thirty miles
long and fifteen miles wide, and Mifflin was formed from the eastern part
of its territory before the close of the century. Sunbury borough was
erected into a township in 1803, and Mahanoy was divided at August
sessions, 1866.
North of the North Branch the disintegrating process also began at
February sessions, 1775, when Mahoning was erected from the southern
part of Turbut, with Chillisquaque creek and Fishing creek as its
northern and eastern limits, respectively. At February sessions, 1786,
Point was formed from the southwestern part of Mahoning, and has
retained its original boundaries substantially unimpaired longer than
any other subdivision of the county. At May sessions following Turbut
was further reduced by the erection of Derry and Chillisquaque: the
former was taken entirely from its territory, with "the road leading
from Muncy Hill to Montgomery's mill" as the line of division; Mahoning
contributed partly to the latter. The formation of Luzerne county in
1786 divided the extensive township of Wyoming, and at August sessions,
1789, it was ordered that so much thereof as remained in Northumberland
should receive the name of Fishing Creek. Green Brier Creek was formed
from its southern part in 1797; in the following year a movement was
made to divide Brier Creek, and Bloom was formed. At August sessions,
1799, Greenwood was erected from the northern part of Fishing Creek. In
1801 proceedings were instituted for the division of Mahoning,
subsequently resulting in the formation of Hemlock. At April sessions,
1812, a third division of Fishing Creek was petitioned for; no decision
was reached until January sessions, 1814, when Harrison was erected.
This was the last case relating to the territory beyond the present
limits of Northumberland county that was considered by her courts; and
it is worthy of mention that popular choice ultimately overruled the
decision of the court in this instance, as the township in question, the
most northerly in Columbia county, now bears the name of Sugar Loaf.
In the meantime important developments were in progress west of the
Susquehanna in the extensive region within the jurisdiction of the
county courts. White Deer township was erected at February sessions,
1776, comprising that part of the former area of Buffalo, north of
Buffalo and Spruce creeks. It thus extended along the West Branch from
the mouth of Buffalo creek to Bald Eagle township; and within the next
decade the population had increased sufficiently to warrant the
inhabitants north of White Deer mountain in asking separate municipal
privileges, which were accordingly conferred, the new township receiving
the name of Washington at August sessions, 1785. At this time Bald Eagle
extended through Clinton and Centre counties a distance of seventy
miles, and was, with the exception of Wyoming, the largest subdivision
of the county. Three townships were formed from its original territory
at May sessions, 1786, under the respective names of Nippenose, Bald
Eagle, and Upper Bald Eagle. Penn's was considerably curtailed by the
erection of Beaver Dam and Mahantango, the former at February sessions,
1787, the latter at April sessions, 1795, but this was partly
compensated at February sessions, 1789, by the annexation of that part
of Buffalo within the forks of Penn's creek and the Susquehanna. At the
last mentioned term of court that part of Potter's remaining in
Northumberland county after the formation of Mifflin received the name
of Haines. West Buffalo was erected at August sessions, 1792; Centre,
(from Penn's,) at August sessions, 1804; and Hartley, (from West
Buffalo,) at April sessions, 1811.
North of the West Branch the purchase of 1784 and subsequent
legislation extended the administration of the county courts over a vast
territory. At August sessions, 1785, a petition was presented setting
forth the absolute necessity that this territory should be organized
"for the purposes of order and a civil state of society," and praying
the court "to erect that part between Lycoming and Pine creeks, being
near fifteen miles, into one township; and from Pine creek upwards into
another township;" which was accordingly done, the former receiving the
name of Lycoming, and the latter that of Pine Creek. In this same
region Loyalsock was formed at February sessions, 1786, from that part
of Muncy above Loyalsock creek.
In 1786, when the county extended from the Lehigh river on the east
to the Allegheny on the west, with the line of New York as its northern
boundary, there were twenty-one townships within its comprehensive
limits, the names of which were as follows: Augusta, Buffalo, Bald
Eagle, Catawissa, Chillisquaque, Derry, Loyalsock, Lycoming, Mahanoy,
Mahoning, Muncy, Nippenose, Penn's, Pine Creek, Point, Potter's, Turbut,
Upper Bald Eagle, Washington, White Deer, and Wyoming. The county was
deprived of nearly the whole of Wyoming township by the erection of
Luzerne in 1786; the whole of Upper Bald Eagle and half of Potter's were
embraced in Mifflin at its organization in 1789; and after the formation
of Lycoming and Centre, in 1796 and 1800, respectively, Muncy, Loyalsock,
Lycoming, Pine Creek, Nippenose, and Bald Eagle were also beyond its
limits.
The counties of Columbia and Union were organized in 1813: twelve
townships - Bloom, Brier Creek, Catawissa, Chillisquaque, Derry, Fishing
Creek, Greenwood, Hemlock, Mahoning, Mifflin, Sugar Loaf, and Turbut -
were apportioned to Columbia; nine - Beaver, Buffalo, Centre, Hartley,
Mahantango, Penn's, Washington, West Buffalo, and White Deer - to Union;
leaving to the "Mother of Counties" but six - Augusta, Lower Mahanoy,
Point, Shamokin, Sunbury, and Upper Mahanoy. Turbut and Chillisquaque
were re-annexed to Northumberland in 1815, as previously stated in this
chapter.
In the political development of the county since the year 1813 that
part of its territory south of the North Branch has been principally
affected. Four large townships - Augusta, Shamokin, Upper and Lower
Mahanoy - with the borough of Sunbury, comprised this territory at that
data Little Mahanoy was formed in August, 1813, from Augusta and
Shamokin, extending longitudinally across the county from near the
Susquehanna to the Schuylkill line, with Upper and Lower Mahanoy on the
south the entire distance. In August, 1819, Rush was erected from the
northern part of Shamokin, receiving its name in compliment to Benjamin
Rush, the distinguished physician, and Jacob Rush, first president judge
in this county under the constitution of 1790. January 6, 1836, Jackson
was formed from Upper and Lower Mahanoy, with Middle creek as part of
its eastern limits. Its southwestern boundary was identical with the
present northeastern line of Lower Mahanoy. In November, 1837, Coal was
formed from Shamokin and Little Mahanoy; the latter was thus restricted
to its present area, while the new township became one of the most
extensive in the county at that date. Cameron was formed from its
territory in 1851; Zerbe, March 11, 1853, and Mt Carmel, in 1855. Jordan
was formed in August 1852, from that part of Jackson and Upper Mahanoy
south of Jacob's ridge; these two townships also contributed to the
territory of Washington in 1856. After a long continued agitation,
Augusta was divided in 1846; Limestone valley was transferred from the
lower to the upper division, November 4, 1846, and Rockefeller was
formed from the eastern part of Lower Augusta, May 7, 1880. Three years
later (February 5, 1883), Shamokin was divided and Ralpho erected from
that part of its former territory adjacent to Columbia county. Gearhart
was erected from the northern part of Rush, September 10, 1890.
Although re-annexed to Northumberland county in 1815, the boundaries of
Chillisquaque and Turbut were again disturbed in 1816 by the excision of a
part of their area in favor of Columbia. This reduced Chillisquaque to its
present limits; and in 1843 Delaware and Lewis were formed from Turbut,
thus bringing the northern pad of the county to its present geographical
status.
The boroughs of the county have been incorporated in the following
order: Sunbury, March 24, 1797; Milton, February 26, 1817; Northumberland,
January 16, 1828; McEwensville, November 7, 1857; Turbutville, January 3,
1859; Mt. Carmel, November 3, 1862; Shamokin, November, 1864; Watsontown,
November 4, 1867; Riverside, May 4, 1871; Snydertown, May 26, 1871; East
Sunbury, December 5, 1890.
STATISTICS OF POPULATION
In 1800 the population of Northumberland county by townships and boroughs
was as follows:-
SUBDIVISIONS. Free Slaves SUBDIVISIONS. Free Slaves.
Persons Persons
Augusta 1,037 5 Mahantango 1,070
Beaver 1,257 Mahoning 1,102
Beaver Creek 543 Mifflin 450
Bloom 806 Miles 588
Catawissa 1,315 Penn's 2,309
Chillisquaque 1,098 4 Point 874 2
Derry 1,510 Shamokin 1,466 3
East Buffalo 1,982 2 Sunbury 611 2
Fishing Creek 419 Turbut 2,364 5
Greenwood 663 Washington 380
Haines 1,387 1 West Buffalo 1,691 1
Mahanoy 1,810 White Deer 977 4
The census of 1820 was the first after the county was reduced to its
present limits. The following table exhibits the population by townships
and boroughs at each decennial census since that date:-
SUBDIVISIONS 1820 1830 1840 1850 1860 1870 1880 1890
Augusta 2,074 2,131 2,409
Cameron 402 603 976 1,034
Chillisquaque 1,035 1,199 1,399 1,344 1,341 1,597 1,737 1,007
Coal 918 1,461 1,769 2,920 4,320 8,616
Delaware 1,908 1,903 1,879 2,037 1,864
Jackson 1,584 1,935 717 880 959 1,046
Jordan 960 924 973 914
Lewis 1,475 919 1,228 1,173 1,151
Little Mahanoy 447 563 213 326 323 269 326 327
Lower Augusta 2,019 2,095 1,802 1,194 839
Lower Mahanoy 1,214 1,738 1,199 1,474 1,664 1,790 1,806 1,750
McEwensville 391 342 283 262
Milton 1,016 1,281 1,508 1,649 1,702 1,909 2,102 5,317
Mt. Carmel* 1,289 2,378 8,254
Mt. Carmel 1,088 2,451 3,126 3,192
Northumberland 1,095 928 1,041 1,108 1,788 2,298 2,744
Point 1,373 987 746 876 1,015 938 926 778
Ralpho 1,001
Riverside 336 394
Rockefeller 836 1,071
Rush 1,192 1,078 1,028 1,178 1,219 1,324 1,263 1,346
Shamokin* 4,320 8,184 14,403
Shamokin 1,820 1,909 1,983 2,191 2,159 2,282 2,218 1,448
Snydertown 209 242
Sunbury 861 1,057 1,108 1,218 1,869 3,131 4,077 5,930
Turbut 2,752 3,388 3,872 1,047 1,760 1,803 2,821 792
Turbutville 380 417 414 441
Upper Augusta 862 912 1,246 1,735 2,749
Upper Mahanoy 1,689 1,742 1,131 1,268 990 878 922 891
Washington 870 801 811 788
Watsontown 1,181 1,481 2,157
Zerbe 1,432 1,446 1,147 1,355
*Borough.
The aggregate population of the county at each decennial census has been
as follows:-
1790 1800 1810 1820 1830 1840
White 16,963 27,633 36,130 15,310 18,051 19,922
Free Colored 109 115 194 113 100 105
Slaves 89 29 3 1
Total 17,161 27,797 36,327 15,424 18,133 20,027
1850 1860 1870 1880 1890
White 23,180 28,807 41,311
Free Colored 92 115 133
Slaves
Total 23,272 28,922 41,444 53,123 74,698
PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Section VIth of the act erecting Northumberland county appointed
William Maclay, Samuel Hunter, John Lowdon, Joseph Wallis, and Robert
Moodie, or any three of them -
To purchase and take assurance to them and their heirs of a piece
of land, situate in some convenient place in the said county, to be
approved by the Governor, in trust, and for the use of the inhabitants
of the said county, and thereupon to erect and build a court house and
prison sufficient to accommodate the public service of the said county,
and for the ease and convenience of the inhabitants.
It is to be observed that the selection of the site was left almost
entirely to the discretion of the commissioners; nor had the location of
the county seat been definitely determined at the date of the act above
quoted. While the interest of the Proprietaries, governed by the
location of the manor of Pomfret, favored the selection of the site of
Sunbury, there were other circumstances that also claimed consideration
and affected in a measure the ultimate result. The larger part of the
area of the county was west of the Susquehanna and north of the North
Branch. In the latter direction, particularly, there was an aggressive
and increasing population. That the site of Northumberland was
seriously considered with reference to the location of the county town
is evident from the following instructions of James Tilghman to William
Maclay:-
You are to treat with Mr. Lowdon, and if his title be good, and he
will take a sum named in the instructions (two hundred pounds), the town
is to be laid out in the forks; otherwise on the fort side. Wallis and
Haines have said they had a right, and they must relinquish it. As
Lowdon's application was in his wife's name, she must convey. As putting
the town in the Forks is a concession against the interest of the
Proprietaries to accommodate the people, if the place can not be clear
of claims, the town must be on the other side.
Subsequent developments can not be satisfactorily traced; but at a
meeting of the Executive Council on the 16th of June, 1772, the surveyor
general was directed to "lay out a town for the county of Northumberland,
to be called by the name of Sunbury, at the most commodious place between
the fort [Augusta] and the mouth of Shamokin creek," with a "commodious
square in the most convenient place for public buildings." It is
unnecessary to add that the proceedings under this order disposed of the
question at issue most effectually, and permanently fixed the seat of
justice for the county at its present location.
The act erecting the county directed that until a court house should be
built the courts should be held at Fort Augusta; and there the first
county court, a private sessions of the peace, was held on the 9th of
April, 1772. How long the courts were held at the fort can not be
definitely ascertained; it is evident from the minutes that the sessions
were uniformly held there more than a year, and after that at occasional
intervals. It is probable the residence of William Maclay did temporary
duty as a court house, but this is largely matter of conjecture. It is
entered of record at August sessions, 1775, that "the common pleas
adjourned to Tuesday, the 26th day of September, to the house of Samuel
Harris in Sunbury." After the jail was completed it became also the
place of holding the courts, but this arrangement does not appear to
have given entire satisfaction, and the public house of Christian Gettig
was secured for this purpose. The offices of the recorder and
prothonotary were kept at various places. Among the expenditures of the
commissioners in providing facilities for the transaction of public
business at this period were the following:-
1792, January 28.- To Christian Gettig, for the use of
his house for the January court, and for the £ s. d.
room for the commissioners three weeks 6 0 0
1793, February 1.- To Christian Gettig, for the use of
his house for November and January courts last,
and the room for the commissioners 6 0 0
1794, March 14.- To Christian Gettig, for the last
year's use of his house, fire and candles
for the court, and for the room for the
commissioners 7 10 0
1795, May 1.- To Christian Gettig, for one year's
use for his house, firewood and candles for
the court and commissioners, ending the 14th
day of March last 7 10 0
1795, September 3.- To John Simpson, for rent for
his office to this date in full 30 0 0
1796, January 8.- To John Simpson, for one year's
rent for the recording office, commencing the
1st of January, 1795, and ending the 1st of
January, 1796 7 10 0
1796, February 27.- To Jacob Prisinger, for rent
for the office of the prothonotary in full
to the 15th day of May, 1795 $20 00
A considerable period thus elapsed before the "commodious square" in
the town of Sunbury appropriated for the public buildings of the county
was improved in the manner designed. For this two principal reasons may be
assigned: first, the Revolutionary war had left the people in an
impoverished condition, and precedence was naturally given to personal
rather than public necessity; second, the county embraced a wide extent of
territory, from which the formation of new counties was only a question of
time, and in anticipation of this the inhabitants of the more remote
districts were reluctant to contribute toward improvements in which they
could not expect to have a permanent interest. But the necessity of
providing better facilities for the courts and greater security for the
public records at length became imperative, as evidenced by the following
proclamation from the county treasurer which appeared in the Sunbury and
Northumberland Gazette of January 1, 1794:-
WHEREAS, The county may shortly expect to be called upon to refund
to the State the principal and interest of the eight hundred pounds
borrowed from the State before the Revolution for the purpose of
building a court house in Sunbury; and whereas the president and
associate judges of this county have called upon the commissioners and
threatened them with immediate prosecution in case they do not next
summer proceed to build a new court house, gaol, and an office to keep
the county records in, as the gaol and court house is now become
ruinous: I therefore call upon all delinquent collectors in this county
to come in and settle off their respective duplicates. December 18,
1791. FREDERICK ANTES.
Whether the county commissioners evinced a disposition to disregard
the mandate of the judges is not known, but legislative authority was
next invoked, and by an act approved on the 18th of April, 1794, they
were directed to levy a tax not exceeding five thousand three hundred
thirty-three dollars, thirty-three cents, for the erection of a court
house. For the expenditure of this fund and the general supervision of
the work of construction the act appointed three trustees, viz.: John
Weitzel, Alexander Hunter, and William Gray, all of whom resided at
Sunbury and were doubtless selected because of the local interest they
would naturally feel in having the work done in the best manner
possible.
From "a list of vouchers of the trustees for building the court
house in Sunbury," now in the possession of Captain John Buyers, of
Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, it is ascertained that the lime was furnished
by Joseph McCleery, Isaac Stewart, Christian Miller, and William P.
Brady; hewed stone, by Jacob Snyder; stone, by Robert Walker and
Zachariah Robins; bricks, by John Lyon and John Young; scantling, by
Hezekiah Boone, Jacob Gearhart, Jacob Snyder, Robert Gray, William
Dewart, and John Haas; shingles, by Henry Antes, Seth Stone, and W.
Spring; boards, by Christian Ertle, Robert Gray, and Hughes & Higgins;
nails, by Andrew Grove and William Wilson; glass, locks, etc., by Joseph
Sinton, and flaxseed oil, by David Smith. The foundation was dug by
Robert Walker; the mason work was done by George Seitz, the carpenter
work by Conrad Beck, the plastering by George Seitz and Jacob Waters,
and the hauling by Leonard Epley, Valentine Billman, William Gray,
Frederick Myers, James Smith, Elijah Barrett, Henry Bucher, Allen & Cox,
Thomas Giberson, Paul Weitzel, and Alexander Hunter. The well was dug by
Zachariah Robins, and W. Hoffman furnished the pump. The vouchers
aggregate seventeen hundred sixty-one pounds, two shillings, seven
pence; the orders of the trustees, drawn upon Frederick Antes, county
treasurer, amount to eighteen hundred three pounds, fifteen shillings,
three pence half penny, beginning with October 1, 1795, and ending,
November 28, 1798. It may fairly be presumed that the interval between
these dates was the entire period of construction; there is also evidence
that the internal arrangements of the building were completed in 1797.
This building, the first erected in Northumberland county for the
special purposes of a court house, was situated at the western end of
the public square in the borough of Sunbury. It was a square brick
structure, two stories high, with gables on the east and west. The
entire lower floor was used as a court room; it was entered from the
east, west, and south, the judges' bench being at the end opposite the
southern entrance. In the southeast corner a stairway ascended to the
second story, where there was a large jury room, while a smaller
apartment in the northeast corner was occupied by The Masonic
fraternity. At the center of the building a belfry surmounted the roof;
on top of the belfry as originally built were a plow and cornstalk,
probably emblematic of the agricultural character of the community. On
the 14th of July, 1838, James Dieffenbacher was awarded the contract for
the erection of a steeple, (so called in the commissioners' minutes;
perhaps better described as a belfry); on this the rustic ornaments of
its predecessor were replaced by a conventional weathervane. The court
house bell is now the property of the Presbyterian church of Sunbury; it
bears the legend, "George Hedderley, Philadelphia, 1794." An important
accessory to the building was the public well, in front of the east
entrance; of the improvements once situated on the park this alone
remains.
The court room appears to have been practically unfurnished for a
number of years. At November sessions, 1820, the grand jury presented
the necessity of procuring seats, urging that they knew "no good reason
why suitors, witnesses, spectators, and jurymen should be treated as
rabble," and stating that "persons compelled to attend the trial of a
cause are now obliged to stand the whole day, or sit amidst the dirt of
the steps in the back of the court house;" whereupon the court directed
the commissioners to appropriate a sum not exceeding a hundred dollars
to provide suitable accommodations. In 1845 the bar inclosure, formerly
semi-circular, was made rectangular; benches were placed on either side
for jurymen and various conveniences were provided for the lawyers,
including tables, chairs, etc. Two wooden pillars, situated just within
the railing of the bar inclosure, supported the floor above. The first
stoves were placed in the court room in the winter of 1801-02. There
were two of them; they were brought from Reading by Matthias Persing and
John Snyder, respectively, and placed in position by William Myers. They
were purchased from Matthias Bobb, the consideration being one hundred
three dollars, thirty-three cents. As early as 1815 the use of "stone
coal" was recommended by the grand jury, but it does not appear that
this fuel was introduced until 1837, when the expenses of Frederick
Lazarus in making a journey to Centre and Lewistown furnaces to procure
three coal stoves were paid by the board of commissioners, of which he
was a member.
Up to this time there was no regularly established place for the
transaction of business though the offices of the prothonotary, register
and recorder, and commissioners, and provision for the requirements of
public convenience in this respect next received consideration. The
first formal action of the commissioners regarding this matter is the
following resolution, which occurs in the minutes under date of February
14, 1798:-
Resolved, That John Lyon forthwith erect and complete the public
offices, as stipulated in the condition of his obligation of this day's
date and filed in this office.
The work of construction had already begun, however, as evidenced
by an order for three hundred dollars in favor of Mr. Lyon for fifty
thousand bricks, issued by the commissioners, January 3, 1798. The
brickyard was situated at the southeast corner of Walnut and Awl
streets, upon a lot of ground recently sold by Dr. R. H. Awl to the
Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company. No great degree of energy
characterized the building trades at that period, and it was not until
the autumn of the year 1800 that the "public offices" were completed.
The following minute occurs in the records of the board under date of
October 28, 1800:-
The board proceeded to the settlement of John Lyon's account respecting
the county offices on the report of William Montgomery, Samuel Maclay,
Simon Snyder, and Samuel Dale, and finally settled the same, which amounts
to £1915 15s. 6d.
Mr. Lyon received a final payment of one hundred ninety-four dollars,
fifty-two cents, November 12, 1800. His contract probably included only
the main parts of the building; the shelves in the prothonotary's office
were constructed by Theodorus Kiehl, and those in the recorder's office by
Abraham Kiehl; the smithwork was done by John Hill; and John Alter
furnished certain "necessary appurtenances" not enumerated in his account.
This building was popularly known as the "state house," but the origin
of the name or the period when it first acquired general currency can not
be satisfactorily determined. It was a two-story brick structure, aligned
with Market and Second streets, with its greatest length (sixty feet) from
east to west. About two thirds the distance from the west end a hall
extended through the building from north to south, opening upon Market
street and into the yard at its opposite extremity. From this hall the
stairway ascended to the second story on the west side. There were three
rooms on the second floor - a large jury room and two smaller apartments.
The building was divided on the first story into three sections and the
hall by heavy brick walls extending from the front on Market street to the
rear or south wall; and each section was divided into a room, and a fire
proof vault for the preservation of records and papers. The walls of the
vault were of brick, with the floors and the ceilings brick arches; the
doors of the vaults were made of heavy wrought iron, and there was a
window to each, with an inside iron shutter. The office of the
prothonotary had the same relative position as in the present court house,
occupying the eastern end of the building; those of the recorder and
commissioners were west of the hall, the former communicating with it, the
latter entered only from the street. In the year 1819 the words
"Prothonotary's Office," "Register's and Recorder's Office." and
"Commissioners' Office" were printed in large black letters over their
respective doors. In the yard at the rear was a frame building in which
the apparatus of the Washington and Good Will fire engine companies was
kept.
The gradual development of the county and the large increase in
population and wealth incident to the discovery of its mineral resources
augmented the volume of legal business to a corresponding degree, and
the time at length arrived when the buildings erected at the close of
the last century were found to be utterly inadequate. At January
sessions, 1860, the grand jury recommended the sale of the "state house"
and the application of the proceeds to repairs for the court house. This
could have proven but a temporary solution of the difficulty, however.
The first measures officially suggested for the erection of a new court
house emanated from the grand jury at January sessions, 1864, when the
citizens of Sunbury were recommended to contribute five thousand dollars
and the limit of the total amount to be expended was placed at forty-
five thousand dollars. This action received the indorsement of the grand
inquest at the following term of court; the borough council of Sunbury
assumed the amount mentioned, and the preliminaries having been thus
arranged, the board of commissioners, on the 30th of November, 1864,
unanimously resolved to take immediate measures for carrying into
execution the recommendation of the grand jury. To this end
arrangements were made to visit the court houses recently erected in
adjoining counties, in order that plans and specifications might be
prepared before the close of the year. This was accomplished, the court
house of Lycoming county being taken as the model. On the 5th of
January, 1865, proposals ranging from ninety-seven to one hundred five
thousand dollars were received, and the contract was awarded D. S. Risel
at the amount first named. On the 21st of March apartments in the
residence of Mrs. Donnel were rented for one year for the offices of the
prothonotary and register and recorder, and George Hill's office for the
county commissioners. On the 24th of the same month the old court house
was sold to Lodge No. 22, F. & A.M., for the sum of eight hundred
dollars. The work of construction began in the early spring, and was
pushed with energy. Within a year the new building was ready for
occupancy; and on the 27th of March, 1866, the commissioners,
prothonotary, treasurer, and register and recorder took possession of
their respective offices. The aggregate cost considerably exceeded one
hundred thousand dollars.
The present court house of the county is a brick building with an
extreme length of one hundred twenty-two feet eleven inches, and an
extreme width of sixty-six feet two inches. At the northwest corner a
tower ascends to the height of one hundred twenty-five feet; it contains
a clock with four dials, and a bell bearing the inscription: "Presented by
the Hon. Simon Cameron to the citizens of Sunbury, Pa., June, 1866." The
projecting corners of the building give to its exterior a symmetrical
appearance. The main entrance is from Market street, from which a corridor
extends the entire length of the first floor, communicating with the
offices of the register and recorder, commissioners, and sheriff on the
west, and those of the prothonotary and treasurer and the arbitration room
on the east. A transverse hall crosses the center of the building. Two
stairways in front and one on the east side in the rear ascend to the
second floor. This is mainly occupied by the court room, a well furnished
apartment of ample dimensions and good acoustics. Above the seat of
justice is the figure of an eagle in bronze, and a portrait of Alexander
Jordan, the first judge elected in Northumberland county. A large
apartment in the rear of the court room and in the southwest corner of the
second floor is devoted to the purposes of a law library; argument courts
are usually held here in the interim between the regular terms. The
corresponding space on the southeast is occupied by a jury room. Above the
law library on the third floor is the grand jury room; there is also a
jury room on this floor, and a waiting room for witnesses. The stairways
in the front of the building are continued to the third landing, from
which the ascent is made to the clock room. As a whole the court house is
well adapted to its purposes, and will doubtless be sufficient for the
requirements of the county for some years to come.(4)
County Prisons. The jail is the inevitable accessory of the court
in the administration of justice, and the enforcement of law in a
community composed largely of a class who had sought to escape the
restraints of civilized society by retiring to the frontier early
demanded a place of confinement for offenders against "the peace and
dignity" of the State. It was a duty enjoined upon the trustees of the
county to take measures for the erection of a prison, but a divergence
of views seems to have prevented concert of action in this matter. The
extent to which this was the case is shown by the following extract from
a letter of William Maclay, addressed to James Tilghman and dated April
2,1773:-
I inclose you a letter from three of the trustees for the public
buildings of this county respecting some measures which we have lately
fallen on to rescue us from the scandal of living entirely without any
place of confinement or punishment for villains. Captain Hunter has
address enough to render abortive every attempt that was made last summer
for keeping a regular jail, even after I had been at considerable expense
in fitting up this magazine, under which there is a small but complete
dungeon. I am sorry to inform you that he has given our present measures
the most obstinate resistance in his power, and impeded us with every
embarrassment in the compass of his invention. We know nothing of the
footing on which Captain Hunter has possession of these buildings, and
only beg that the county may be accommodated with this old magazine, with
the addition proposed to be made to it, and with the house in which I now
live, to hold our courts in. I have repaired the house in which I now
live, but expect to have an house ready to remove to in Sunbury before our
November court. As the present repairs are done entirely by subscription,
you will readily guess that Captain Hunter is not among the number of
subscribers. As there are many pieces of old iron, etc., which formerly
belonged to the fort, not of any use at present, the trustees propose
using any of them which can be converted to any advantage for grates, etc.
for our temporary gaol, unless they receive contrary directions from
Philadelphia.(5)
James Tilghman was then secretary of the land office and a member
of the Executive Council. As there is no record of the request of the
trustees having been denied, it is presumed that the magazine, with the
"small but complete dungeon" under it, were accordingly fitted up, thus
removing from the newly formed county the "scandal" of being "without
any place of confinement or punishment for villains." Of this first
public prison in Northumberland county only the dungeon remains. The
magazine, with whatever additions the trustees may have made to it, has
entirely disappeared. By whom and in what amounts the funds requisite
for this object were contributed can not now be ascertained. In 1791
John Lowdon was paid the sum of six pounds by the commissioners "in full
for money advanced by him for enlarging the jail, etc., in Fort Augusta
in the year 1773," from which it would seem probable that this was a
loan rather than a subscription.
The second county prison was built by Robert McBride, presumably
upon lot No. 41 or No. 42, on the north side of Market street above
Fourth; on a map of the town plot showing the original lot owners it is
stated that these lots were returned under date of September 7 and 13,
respectively, 1774, so that it is not probable the jail thereon, if
built there, was erected prior to that year. All that is definitely
known concerning this jail is contained in the following document, the
original of which is still preserved in the county archives:-
To the Worshipful Justices of Northumberland County in Court of
Quarter Sessions met for the said county at Sunbury on Tuesday November
28, 1775,-
The petition of Robert McBride, of Sunbury aforesaid, humbly showeth:
That your petitioner, in compliance with the desire of some of the
magistrates of said county, erected a house which he appropriated to a
prison for the use of the county, which house was to have been finished in
such a manner as to serve for a temporary gaol: that your petitioner has
been active in the discharge of the duty of a gaoler; notwithstanding,
several have made their escape from said prison, owing to the
insufficiency of the prison house. Your petitioner, being young in the
office of gaoler, prays if he is longer continued therein your - Worships
will occasion the house to be strengthened, the fees for debtors and
criminals to be adjusted, and also the allowance to he made for the
sustenance of poor debtors and criminals, their fuel, etc. And your
petitioner will, etc.
ROBERT McBRIDE.
Indorsed: November sessions, 1775. Petition of Robert McBride
respecting the gaol he built. Robert McBride's petition. To be read.
This petition referred to the commissioners. - Per curiam.
By the act providing for the organization of the county its
commissioners were authorized to levy a tax not exceeding one thousand
pounds, for the erection of public buildings but the resources of the
county were found utterly inadequate to meet the demands such an
expenditure would have entailed, and in 1774 the Assembly generously re-
enforced local exertions with an appropriation of eight hundred pounds.
This imparted immediate vitality to the enterprise; harmony was restored
among the trustees, who united in selecting lot No. 13, at the corner of
Market street and Center alley, and transmitted to the Council the
result of their deliberations. The approval of the Proprietary was
expressed in the following letter:-
Philadelphia, September 6, 1774.
GENTLEMEN:
I do hereby approve of the lot No. 13 which you have fixed upon for
the purpose of building a public gaol in the town of Sunbury. I am,
gentlemen, Your very humble servant,
JOHN PENN.
To Samuel Hunter, Robert Moodie, William Maclay, Esquires, three of
the trustees for erecting the public buildings in the County of
Northumberland.(6)
Building operations were not, however, immediately begun, and at
November sessions of the following year (1775) the grand jury reported
"having carefully examined the gaol," and presented the same "as unfit
to detain prisoners in its present state." This evidently refers to the
magazine and the dungeon beneath it. This presentment probably spurred
the trustees to renewed activity, and 1776 is generally assigned as the
year in which the jail was completed. Hunter, Maclay, and Moodie seem to
have been charged with the responsibility of the undertaking, as is
clearly shown by their orders upon the treasurer in payment for work
done and materials furnished. From these orders it has been ascertained
that the stone was quarried by James Chisnall; the iron was furnished by
John Harris, Sr., of Harris's Ferry, the lime, by John Lee, the hinges,
rivets, etc., by Frederick Weyman; John Buyers and John Maclay were
employed as carpenters, William Atkinson as blacksmith, Henry Crawford and
Robert Lenet as masons, and Joseph McCarrell, Zachariah Robins, and Conrad
Platner, to haul the various materials, etc. This building stands at the
corner of Market street and Center alley, and is one of the historic
landmarks of the Susquehanna valley. The wall aligned with the street is
built of brick; that adjoining the alley, of stone. From the immense
thickness of the walls throughout it is evident that the projectors
endeavored to make their work substantial and enduring. That they
succeeded is amply attested by the present condition of the structure.
For a time the jail thus erected was sufficient for all reasonable
requirements, and was probably creditable to the county at that period.
But with increasing population at the close of the Revolution better
facilities were demanded; and at May sessions, 1783, the following
report was made by the grand jury:-
We, the grand inquest for the body of the county of Northumberland,
.... having duly examined the jail of the said county in the town of
Sunbury at May term, 1783, are unanimously of opinion that the said jail
ought to be condemned as not being sufficient for the purposes it was
built for, and do agree that our foreman shall sign the same.
May 29, 1788. JAMES CRAWFORD,
Foreman.
In November, 1788, the jail and jail yard were presented by the
grand jury as "insufficient to detain prisoners confined therein." It is
probable that additional security was provided in compliance with these
presentments; at all events, there is no record of any movement for the
erection of a new prison until some years later. Various improvements
were made in the intervening period, however, among the most important
of which was the construction of a palisade around the yard in 1788.
It is probable the largest number of persons ever incarcerated here
at one time was thirty-six; an account for that number of prisoners from
Wyoming was rendered to the commissioners under date of August 30, 1784.
Two prisoners - Edward Jones and William Armstrong - were taken from
this jail to expiate the crime of murder; the former was hung by Martin
Withington, the latter by Flavel Roan. In the case of Jones the expense
was five pounds, fifteen shillings, six pence; in that of Armstrong,
twenty-four dollars, eighty cents. Withington received payment, January
6, 1796, and Roan, January 27, 1797. These were the only judicial
executions in the early history of the county.
The agitation for the building of a court house naturally extended to
the erection of a new jail; and as soon as the county offices were well
advanced to completion, the jail received the attention of the
authorities. On the 10th of March, 1801, the commissioners - John
Metzgar, John Frick, and Abraham McKinney - met with John Weitzel, William
Gray, and Alexander Hunter, trustees for the building of the court house,
and definitely determined upon the erection of a new jail. An agreement
was entered into with Frederick and Matthias Hawger to furnish two
thousand bushels of lime; with Zachariah Robins, for five hundred perches
of stone; with George Suits, to execute the mason work; with Andrew Grove
and Jacob Durst, for all the smith work, large and small, at ten cents per
pound; and with John Frick, to superintend the work and exercise an
oversight over the materials, etc., at a reasonable percentage.
Subsequently James and Michael Collins were employed as plasterers, and
Jacob Prisinger as carpenter; John Young furnished bricks, and Henry
Bardshare lumber; the well was dug by John Epley, and William Hoffman
constructed a pump for it; Henry Zimmerman built the stable. April 27,
1801, Evan R. Evans executed a conveyance for lots No. 149 and 150 on the
plan of Sunbury, upon which the jail was then being built, the
consideration being four hundred fifty dollars.(7) The grounds thus
secured extend from Arch street to Center alley, fronting on Second
street.
Regarding the completion of the structure the following minute
appears in the records of the court of quarter sessions under date of
August, 1802:-
Information being made to the court that the new gaol is finished
and in such a condition that the prisoners confined in the old gaol may
be removed thereto with safety; whereupon the court order and direct the
sheriff of Northumberland county to remove the prisoners aforesaid out
of the old gaol into the new gaol.
The settlement of the accounts of John Frick was effected through
the intervention of arbitrators; their report was as follows:-
We, the subscribers, by mutual consent chosen by the commissioners
of the county of Northumberland for the time being of the one part, and
John Frick of the other part, (who was superintendent for building the
new gaol in the borough of Sunbury,) for the purpose of adjusting the
accounts of the said John Frick with the county of Northumberland
aforesaid with respect to the superintendence aforesaid, do report: that
we have examined the accounts of the said John Frick and do find them
regular and just in our opinion, and do hereby conceive that the said
John Frick should have for his services aforesaid at the rate of six per
cent. On the moneys by him paid over to the different workmen engaged at
the building of the said gaol.
Given under our hands this 4th day of November, 1802.
THOMAS GRANT
SIMON SNYDER, JR.,
JOHN HAYS.
This jail was a stone structure, fronting on Second street and
situated somewhat nearer Mulberry alley than Arch street. Attached on
the north side and communicating with it was the sheriff's residence, a
brick building two stories in height with frame addition. The jail was
also two stories high. It was entered from Second street by a narrow
vestibule, on the south side of which was the sheriff's office. The
vestibule terminated at a wrought iron door, popularly known as the "Ten
of Diamonds," which was fattened on the outside by a chain and hook and
also by a lock and key. This was the entrance to the prison proper. On the
interior a passage led to the rear of the building, where a door opened to
the yard. On either side of this passage was a room, and a stairway led to
the upper story; where there were four rooms, occupying the entire floor,
and making six apartments altogether. There was also a dungeon under the
northwest corner. Throughout the building were rings in the floors at
various places, and to these refractory criminals were frequently chained.
Prisoners committed for minor offenses were given the liberty of the yard,
which was also occasionally used as a ball ground by the denizens of the
borough. This inclosure was entered from Second street by a gate large
enough to admit a horse and wagon. It was partly bounded on the north
and east by the jail, and elsewhere by a stone wall, upon which a brick
addition was built after several informal jail deliveries had
demonstrated that its original height was insufficient. The stable, a
frame structure, stood at the corner of Second and Arch streets.
There is reason to think that the jail, like the court house, was
practically unfurnished for some years. This is evident from the
following presentment of the grand jury at August sessions, 1813:-
The grand inquest of the county aforesaid present to the court that
in compliance with the request of the court they have viewed the jail
and the state of the prisoners, and find the rooms in the most cleanly
state, but that there are no beds, bedsteads, or blankets for the use of
the prisoners; that a grand inquest for August sessions, 1811, and
another for January sessions, 1812, had directed to the attention of the
court the necessity of providing, for the comfort of the unfortunate
people within the prison walls, two stoves and six blankets. It appears
that these salutary recommendations have been acted upon in no other
manner than to be entered on the records, where they stand as memorials
of the attention of the grand jury to the necessities of the
unfortunate, and of the neglect of those whose duty it was to carry them
into effect. The present grand jury therefore recommend that the court
will be pleased to direct the present commissioners to provide
immediately for the use of the prison two stoves, six bedsteads,
suitable canvas to hold chaff for beds, twelve blankets, and six rugs.
The grand jury further take the liberty to recommend that the court will
be pleased to direct an inventory of the said articles to be kept in the
jail, so that on the re-visitation of every succeeding grand jury they
may see that the articles are kept in good order and remain in their
proper places for the use of the prison. LEONARD RUPERT,
Foreman.
This plain and unequivocal arraignment of the commissioners had the
desired result, as shown by the reports of succeeding grand juries. That
the ordinary comforts of life should have been withheld from the inmates
of the prison to the extent stated in the foregoing presentment seems
almost incredible, but the era of prison reform had not yet begun, and
it is not probable any considerable number of persons were ever confined
in the county jail at that date.
It has been stated that the grounds occupied by the jail property were
purchased from Evan B. Evans in 1801. It appears, however, that there
was some defect in the title, and in August 1819, in an action brought
by Joseph Wallis for the use of George Grant, acting executor of Thomas
Grant deceased, against Samuel Hunter Scott administrator of the estate
of Grace Evans, late Grace Wallis, deceased, for the recovery of a debt
of six hundred fifteen dollars, forty-six cents, the jail was levied
upon by the sheriff. The commissioners consulted Charles Hall, their
attorney, who gave as his opinion "that in a court of equity the
commissioners might hold out against the claim; but in a jury trial the
jury might be imposed upon, and we would lose it and pay the costs."
This undecided expression from Mr. Hall divided the opinions of the
board. John G. Youngman was willing the jail should be sold by the
sheriff and bought for the proper use of the county, but Daniel R.
Bright and John Miller, his colleagues, were in favor of resisting the
levy. When the jail was exposed at public sale by the sheriff, however,
they had become less inclined to risk the uncertain issue of protracted
litigation, and Mr. Youngman became the purchaser at his bid of seven
hundred one dollars, fifty cents, January 19, 1820.(8) The extraordinary
nature of this proceeding - the exposure of a county jail at sheriff's
sale - excited much interest at the time. It is doubtful whether the
history of the State furnishes a precedent or a parallel.
Although usually occupied, for there has never been a period in the
history of the county when the agencies that produce crime were not more
or less active, the jail was occasionally empty so far as prisoners were
concerned. An instance of this nature occurred in 1846, as shown from
the following action of the grand jury at August sessions in that year:-
Resolved, That the grand inquest of this county are well pleased to
find that under the influence of the present tariff of '42 we have found
the jail entirely empty. S. JOHN,
Foreman.
At August sessions, 1848, the grand jury reported the jail "without
any inmates in the shape of prisoners except two bears in the back yard,
which they recommend to be moved at the expiration of the present
sheriff, or chained." It would be interesting to know what relation the
tariff legislation of the period sustained to this state of affairs.
The project for the erection of the present jail first assumed
definite proportions in the presentment of the grand jury at November
sessions, 1875, from which the following with reference to the old
prison is an extract:-
It was a creditable structure to our grandfathers, who in their
poverty built it, but its usefulness has ceased, and it should give
place to another. We deem it unsuitable in arrangement, insufficient in
capacity, and unfit in other respects for the proper restraint and
treatment of prisoners.......We believe that the prisoners who are not
confirmed and hardened criminals should be treated with a view to their
reformation and reclamation to the path of virtue, and that they ought
not to be thrown into companionship with abandoned criminals. We
therefore recommend the erection of a new jail, suitable for the
separate accommodation of prisoners.
In January, 1876, the grand jury characterized it as "the worst
constructed, illy ventilated, and most insecure jail in Pennsylvania, if
not in the United States," and strongly indorsed the recommendation of
their immediate predecessors. In this the grand jury at March sessions
concurred, and the matter was thus brought to the official cognizance of
the commissioners. Architects were invited to submit plans and
specifications, and on the 28th of March, 1876, those of C. S. Wetzel
were adopted. The financial responsibilities of the undertaking were
next considered, and on the 1st of May the style of county bonds to be
issued to cover the expenditure was decided upon. Proposals for the
erection of the jail were advertised for, receivable until May 16, 1876;
they were opened, May 22, 1876, and the contract was awarded to Ira T.
Clement at his bid of ninety-one thousand six hundred thirty-six
dollars. The old jail building was also sold to Mr. Clement for the sum
of three hundred eighty dollars, on the 22d of May. On the 29th of the
same month the persons confined in the prison, twelve in number, were
removed to the jail of Lycoming county at Williamsport, thenceforth the
place of incarceration for criminals from this county until the
completion of the present jail, in which the first occupant was placed
on the 7th of August, 1877.
The present county prison occupies the lots purchased in 1801. The
main building fronts on Second street at the center of the lot; it is
three stories high, and surmounted by a tower in the center. The main
entrance opens into a vestibule, from which a hallway extends to the
prison proper, crossed at the center of the main building by a
transverse corridor, at either end of which stairways ascend to the
second story. Here there is a large room for the accommodation of
jurors, and in the third story are two large tanks from which the water
supply of the entire establishment is distributed. The warden's office
is situated on the first floor, and several rooms are used for storage
purposes; except as otherwise indicated, the main building furnishes
accommodations for the warden and his family. From the hallway extending
from the vestibule on the first floor two passages diverge, leading to
the wings in which prisoners are confined. These are distinguished as the
north and west or right and left corridors, respectively. Each has an
extreme length of nearly one hundred feet. The cells are arranged in two
tiers, there being twenty-three in each tier; iron stairways, and an
iron platform extending around the interior, furnish access to the
second tier. Light is admitted from skylights, and into each cell by an
aperture in the exterior wall. The west corridor is used for penitentiary
purposes, and here is conducted the industrial(9) feature of the
institution. Carpets are the principal product of this department; knit
goods are also made, and the manufacture of paper bags also received some
attention at one time. A partition divides the right corridor, part of
which is appropriated exclusively for female prisoners. There is a
basement under the entire building, part of which is utilized for culinary
purposes; that under the prison corridors is divided into cells, not yet
finished for occupancy, however, so that the present capacity of the jail
is capable of being increased one half. A steam-heating plant provides for
the requirements of the institution in this respect. The inclosure is
surrounded by a substantial stone wall twenty-three feet high, and is
entered by a wagon gate from Mulberry alley. A marble block in the center
of the tower is inscribed with the names of J. C. Durham, D. S. Reitz, H.
Henrie, and P. Hile, commissioners; C. S. Wetzel, architect, and Ira T.
Clement, contractor; and the date, 1876.
The wardens of the prison, elected at the respective dates given,
have been as follows: John Peeler, 1879; James Dalton, 1882; William
Kellagher, 1886; F. M. Moore, 1888, and John Kehoe, 1891, present
incumbent.
A County Poorhouse was agitated in the decade ending 1850, and the
project was received with some favor in the northern part of the county.
On the 5th of April, 1849, an act was passed by the legislature
submitting the question to a popular vote at the ensuing general
election. The measure was overwhelmingly defeated, however, as shown by
the following returns:
TOWNSHIP For Against TOWNSHIP For Against
Sunbury 54 33 Little Mahanoy 1 49
Upper Augusta 12 68 Northumberland 135 8
Coal 6 47 Point 36 30
Shamokin 7 208 Chillisquaque 32 101
Rush 8 186 Milton 204 5
Lower Augusta 15 205 Turbut 19 96
Upper Mahanoy 132 Delaware 29 184
Jackson 173 Lewis 3 234
Lower Mahoning 141
Total 562 1,840
The agitation has not been renewed, and the indigent classes are
cared for under the supervision of the local authorities. Regular poor
houses have been erected in several of the districts.
EARLY FISCAL AFFAIRS
Present methods of civil administration differ materially from
those under which the fiscal affairs of the county were conducted a
century ago. While the relation of the county commissioners to the
assessment and application of the revenues has always been that of
immediate and direct responsibility, constitutional and statutory
enactments have deprived the board of some of its former important
prerogatives. Of the public officers concerned in levying and disbursing
the county taxes, only the commissioners and assessors were elective
when the Province became a Commonwealth: the county treasurer was
appointed by the commissioners; collectors were also selected by that
board, from persons recommended by the respective assessors, and the
duties now assigned to the county auditors were performed by the grand
jury. That body made an inquiry into the condition of county finances
in August, 1787; their report, the first on this subject of which there
is any record, relates to the accounts of William Gray and John Buyers,
county treasurers, and is purely statistical. The earliest report of
county auditors extant is that of Abraham Scott, James Jenkins, and John
Kidd, dated August 28, 1793. Balances were reported against Robert
Martin, treasurer of State taxes, 1777-80; William Gray, treasurer of
State taxes, 1780; William Gray, county treasurer, 1777-81, and David
Mead, county commissioner. Frederick Antes was treasurer of the county
longer than any other incumbent of that position. He was first
appointed in 1782, Serving until December, 1784, and was reappointed in
1788, serving probably until his death in 1801. His accounts were
audited on several occasions, but, owing to the fluctuating value of the
currency and various other causes, there was a considerable discrepancy
between them and those of the commissioners when his successor assumed
office. The matter was referred to the courts for adjudication, and
after a period of litigation a final settlement was reached in the
decision of Samuel Maclay, Daniel Montgomery, and Joseph Priestley,
arbitrators, awarding to the county the sum of one thousand fifty-seven
dollars, sixty-two cents. Their report was rendered, August 25, 1807.
The minutes of the county commissioners reveal much that is of
interest in connection with financial matters. Unfortunately, the early
records have disappeared, and diligent search among the archives of the
county has failed to discover any minutes of the board until near the
close of the first decade after its organization. It is not probable
that the revenues of the county were very considerable during the
Revolutionary period, and not improbable that the functions of the board
were partially suspended during that time. This is sufficiently indicated
by the following action of the commissioners, which appears in the minutes
under date of October 19, 1781:-
Resolved, That notices be sent to the several collectors of the year
1778 in order for settlement.
Resolved, That a letter be prepared and sent to his Excellency the
President, setting forth our intention forthwith to proceed in settling
all the tax books; that many of the books are lost, collectors dead or
moved away, [and] no credit given in the books for taxes paid; and
requesting advice respecting the taxes before the Revolution, and what the
exchange since the Revolution; and also how delinquent treasurers may be
dealt with.
Resolved, That fair lists be made out of all the taxes on uncultivated
land for the years 1773, 1774, and 1776, and have them advertised
according to law.
A letter was accordingly transmitted to President Reed on the 26th
of October. It contains the following interesting paragraph:-.
The tax business we have in hand and are determined to proceed with
dispatch as far as our circumstances and abilities will possibly admit.
Many of the county books and papers are yet in Paxtang, being removed
thither on the break of Wyoming. We find by such as are in our hands
that no credit hath been given in the books to any person since this was
a county, but it appears by several settlements with sundry collectors
since the year 1773 that divers sums remained in the hands of the
treasurer, and that the inhabitants generally paid their taxes, and the
non-residents none or but very little.(10)
In pursuance of the action of the board the unpaid taxes for the years
1773, 1774, and 1776 were advertised in the Pennsylvania Gazette in 1781.
This was effectual in securing payment of delinquent taxes only in part,
however, and on the 28th of May, 1782, the lands upon which taxes remained
unpaid were offered at public sale at the court house in Sunbury. This was
continued under the auspices of the commissioners on the 28th of August
and the 26th of November in the same year, and on the 1st of January,
1783. These were the first commissioners' sales for taxes in the history
of the county.
The opposition of the holders of unseated lands was at once aroused
by these proceedings. It was urged that the State had not furnished
adequate protection to the frontier; that its development had been
thereby restricted, and that there had been practically no returns from
the lands in question; and that taxation without protection to property
was unjust. This seems to have resulted in a temporary suspension of
the proceedings on the part of the commissioners, but in 1786, in
compliance with instructions from the auditor general, lands subject to
sale for arrears of taxes were advertised; the same opposition was again
encountered, whereupon an address "to the landholders nonresidents of
Northumberland county" was published in the Philadelphia papers by the
commissioners, who assured them that they "never had the most distant
thought of defrauding any landholder of a single acre, much less of a
plantation," at the same time expressing their determination to enforce
the payment of taxes. Commissioners' deeds have since entered largely
into the titles to land in many parts of the county.(11)
At an early period in the history of the county, State and county
taxes, although levied by the same commissioners, were disbursed through
different treasurers, and, in some instances, audited by different
boards. An instance of the latter class occurred in the year 1799, when
the auditing of State taxes was referred to a commission specially
constituted for that purpose. The report, embodying the results of an
investigation into the financial relations of the county and State
during nearly a score of years, with the intricate questions growing out
of the formation of several counties from the territory of
Northumberland during that period, is one of the most interesting
documents extant relating to early county finances. The following is an
extract:
The commissioners of accounts for the counties of Northumberland
and Luzerne are of opinion that the dismemberment of Northumberland
county by the erection of the northern part thereof into the county of
Luzerne ought to disincumber the parent county of one third of the
quotas charged upon it in the accounts submitted herewith to the
comptroller general........ The inhabitants of the township of Wyoming,
(which at one time nominally included all the present county of Luzerne,
extending as far down the Northeast Branch as Fishing creek,) were never
assessed beyond the present limits of Northumberland county in that
direction. Some of the unseated lands were returned, but, owing to the
disturbances of the Connecticut claimants, they were not exacted. No
formal assessment ever took place within their intrusions. The
dismembered part, by the act of separation, was admitted to a third part
of the representation in the General Assembly.
The erection of Mifflin county in the year 1789, struck off from
Northumberland about the half of Potter's and the whole of Upper Bald
Eagle townships. We are therefore of opinion that Northumberland county
should have credit on that amount proportionate to the dismembered
territory.
The report, signed by John Simpson and John Kidd, was transmitted
to the comptroller general under date of November 2, 1799.
Orders drawn by the commissioners at that early date were frequently
lost by those in whose favor they were drawn, and instances are on record
of counterfeit orders having been presented to the treasurer and cashed by
him, thus producing confusion in the public accounts. To remedy this it
was decided to number orders as they were issued, and the treasurer was
instructed to honor numbered orders only. Order No. 1 was issued, January
27, 1798. This marks an important step in the evolution of systematic
methods.
A disposition to keep within the literal meaning of the law in the
disbursement of county funds is noticeable in the proceedings of the
early commissioners. In the year 1806 the construction of a stone
bridge over Chillisquaque creek was authorized by the grand jury and
undertaken by the board. It became apparent that the work could not be
completed before the ensuing winter, and the contractor asked an
allowance for the construction of a temporary roof, in order that the
unfinished masonry might be protected from the inclemencies of the
season, The commissioners presented a statement of these facts to the
court and grand jury, giving their reasons for so doing in the following
language: "Small as this expense in the estimation of the board may
appear, yet they think themselves not justified to order this roof to be
made without the intervention of that tribunal which holds the public
purse." The tribunal in question was pleased to consider the matter
favorably, and the proposed roof was accordingly provided at the expense
of the county.
This punctilious exactness occasionally brought the board into
conflict with the court. In August, 1807, Joseph Harris presented an
account for his services as court crier, amounting to more than a
hundred dollars. The commissioners refused to pay it, upon which he
withdrew, but returned in a short time and again presented the account,
to which was affixed the following note from the judges:-
The court can not proceed in the business of the county without a
crier; such a person is absolutely necessary. No one can be procured for
the common fees in the fee bill. The court therefore think that a dollar
a day is not unreasonable pay, and that the commissioners ought to
furnish the means of obtaining the attendance of a proper person as a
crier. If the commissioners object we know not any other person bound to
pay such a man, nor can we hold court without one.
THOMAS COOPER,
J. MACPHERSON.
The commissioners replied as follows:-
In answer to the within note of the court the commissioners beg
leave to state that they do not conceive it necessary to inquire whether
the fees allowed by law to the crier of the court are sufficient or not,
as they do not think themselves authorized in any case to add to them
out of the county stock.
C. MACLAY,
SAMUEL AWL,
SAMUEL BOND,
Commissioners.
Commissioners' Office, August 20, 1807.
At the same term of court Andrew Kennedy presented a bill for
publishing lists of causes, etc., amounting to upwards of eight pounds,
to which was attached a note from the judges recommending its payment.
To this the commissioners replied that they knew of no law which would
authorize an appropriation for that purpose, that they had reason to
believe there was none, and that they had strong doubts of the public
utility of publishing lists of the causes. They therefore declined to
pay the bill. What reply the judges made to this ultimatum does not
appear, but the friction thus engendered doubtless contributed to the
influences that finally resulted in Judge Cooper's deposition.
There was also a divergence of views between the commissioners and
Judge Chapman, but not so radical as that in which Judge Cooper was
concerned. For two successive years the Judge declined to pay an
occupation tax, justifying his refusal by the State constitution. In
April, 1828, he agreed with the commissioners to refer the question to a
committee of three members of the bar. John Lashells, Samuel Hepburn, and
James Merrill were selected as arbitrators; they decided that the
exemption claimed was untenable, and that the tax was legally assessed and
payable. Thus again the civil administration demonstrated its superior
legal knowledge.
The financial stringency of 1837 occasioned great inconvenience in
paying jurors and settling other small accounts, silver coin having been
practically withdrawn from circulation in this part of the State. In
order to facilitate the transaction of business, the commissioners
"entered into a resolution to issue small bills under five dollars." It
is believed that this is the only instance in which the county in its
corporate capacity has assumed the functions of a bank of issue.
INAUGURATION OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM
The act of 1834 inaugurated in Pennsylvania what is distinctively
known as the public school system. Popular education had been a subject
of legislative action since the founding of the Colony. It was stipulated
in the constitution of 1790 that the legislature should "provide by law
for the establishment of schools throughout the State in such manner that
the poor may be taught gratis."(12) In 1802 an act was passed to provide
for the maintenance of schools where elementary instruction might be
received by all children. Those of the well-to-do were required to pay a
small sum, but when the returns of the assessors showed that the parents
were unable to bear this expense the county commissioners were authorized
to do so. It does not appear that popular education in Northumberland
county was materially advanced by the operation of this law. Here the
neighborhood school was the earliest result of educational effort. As a
measure of convenience certain communities established schools in which
their children might receive a rudimentary education. The teacher derived
his support from his patrons, and the affairs of the school were intrusted
by common consent to the more energetic members of the community, who
were usually men of intelligence. The law of 1802 was variously amended
at different times without, however, accomplishing its purpose. In 1827
a society for the promotion of education in the State was formed at
Philadelphia, and, through a corresponding committee, the opinions of
leading men in every county were ascertained and a union of the most
progressive sentiment effected. The powerful influence thus generated
resulted in the act of 1834. In this the former distinction between pay
and pauper schools was abrogated; all property was made taxable for the
support of the schools, and their local management in each district
placed in charge of a board of six directors. Some two hundred acts of
the legislature had preceded that of 1834; but the latter, although
amended in 1836, is substantially unimpaired, and the growing efficiency
of the system fully attests the wisdom of those who framed it.
The first convention of delegates under this act, and in all
probability the first public educational meeting in the county, was held
at the court house in Sunbury, November 4, 1834. The following is a
transcript of the minutes:-
Agreeably to an act passed the 1st day of April, 1884, entitled "An
act to establish a general system of education by common schools," a
meeting of the commissioners of the county and delegates from the
different school districts of the county of Northumberland met at the
court house in the borough of Sunbury on Tuesday, the 4th day of
November, 1834. The meeting was organized by appointing John C. Boyd, of
Rush township, chairman, and John Taggart, of Northumberland, secretary.
The meeting then adjourned to the house of William Shannon, when the
following persons appeared, produced their certificates of election, and
took their seats, viz.: Turbut township, John McKinney; Chillisquaque
township, James F. Murray; Point township, Robert Curry; Augusta
township, Samuel Lantz; Shamokin township, Robert McWilliams; Rush
township, John C. Boyd; Upper Mahanoy township, Benjamin Markel; Lower
Mahanoy township, Jacob Weiser, Sr.; Milton borough, Robert McGuigan;
Northumberland borough, John Taggart; Sunbury borough, John G. Youngman;
Daniel Hilbush, William Shannon, and Frederick Burkenbine, commissioners
of the county.
The meeting then proceeded to take the vote on "making appropriation
for common schools," when it appeared that six delegates voted in the
affirmative, viz.: Messrs. McKinney, McGuigan, Murray, Curry, Taggart, and
Youngman; and that five delegates and three commissioners voted in the
negative, viz.: Messrs. Lantz, McWilliams, Boyd, Markel, Weiser, Hilbush,
Shannon, and Burkenbine.
The delegates and commissioners voting in the negative having retired,
the delegates voting in the affirmative reorganized the meeting by
appointing Robert McGuigan president and continuing John Taggart as
secretary.
The following resolutions were proposed and unanimously passed, viz:
Resolved, That the commissioners be and they are hereby authorized
to levy half the amount of the county tax for the use of common schools
in the townships of Turbut, Chillisquaque, and Point, and in the
boroughs of Milton, Northumberland, and Sunbury for the ensuing year.
Resolved, That the town meetings be held in all the districts
accepting the law, at the usual places of holding their township
elections, as the law directs, on Saturday, the 29th of November, and
that the school directors give notice in their respective districts of
the meeting.
The first appointment of school inspectors was made by the court of
quarter sessions at April term, 1835, when the following persons were
designated for that office in the respective townships and boroughs:
Turbut, Isaac Vincent and William Laird; Milton, Samuel Pollock and John
F. Wolfinger; Chillisquaque, Charles Gale and Isaac P. Sanders; Point,
George Jennings and Jesse C. Horton; Northumberland, James Hepburn and
John Cowden; Sunbury, Hugh Bellas and Alexander Jordan.
The meeting for 1835 was held at the court house on the 4th
of May; the districts accepting the law were represented as follows:
Sunbury, William N. Robins; Northumberland, John Frick; Point, Robert
Curry; Chillisquaque, Andrew McReynolds; Milton, Robert MCGuigan; Turbut,
John McKinney. It was decided to levy a tax equal to one half the State
and county tax. This tax, the first in the county for school purposes of
which there is any record, was as follows:
Sunbury $ 360.64 1/4 Chillisquaque $ 493.92 3/4
Northumberland 300.97 1/2 Milton 470.43
Point 389.08 Turbut 1,307.52 1/4
Augusta and Shamokin accepted the system in 1836; in that year the
number of taxables in the accepting districts was twenty-eight hundred
sixty-four; in the non-accepting districts, one thousand sixty-nine. The
system was discontinued in Shamokin in 1837, and not re-established
until 1843; Rush first appears among the accepting districts in 1842;
South Coal district appears as non-accepting in 1842, and North Coal
district as accepting; Turbut discontinued the system in 1843, and in
that year the taxables in the accepting districts (Milton, Chillisquaque,
Point, Northumberland, Sunbury, Augusta, Rush, Shamokin, and North Coal)
numbered twenty-seven hundred twenty-two; in the non-accepting districts
(Turbut, Little Mahanoy, Upper Mahanoy, Lower Mahanoy, Jackson, and South
Coal), seventeen hundred twenty-five. The system was re-established in
Turbut in 1844, by which the number of taxables in the non-accepting
districts were reduced to but little more than one-fifth of the entire
number in the county (accepting districts, thirty-six hundred fourteen
taxables; non-accepting, nine hundred forty-four). Rush discontinued the
system in 1846 but re-established it in 1847; public schools were thus
introduced and maintained in the entire county except the Mahanoy region.
The system was adopted in Lower Mahanoy and Jordan townships in 1865; in
Upper Mahanoy in 1866; in Cameron and Jackson in 1869; in Washington in
1870, and in Little Mahanoy in 1871. Further particulars are given under
the various townships.
Teachers' Institutes.- The first convention of teachers in
Northumberland county was held at Elysburg on the second Saturday in
April, 1850, in pursuance of a call issued by J. J. John, George W.
West, and A. J. Madison. The topics discussed were, "How can the
salaries of teachers be increased?", "How shall teachers improve
themselves in the art of teaching?", and "What books shall we
recommend?" About thirty teachers were in attendance, of whom W. W.
McWilliams was elected president and J. J. John secretary.
The first county institute was held in the court house at Sunbury,
December 18-19, 1855. The county superintendent, Rev. John J.
Reimensnyder, presided; J. W. Weeks was secretary, and the executive
committee was composed of W. P. Teitsworth, J. P. Shultz, S. S.
Brittain, C. Kelchner, W. W. McWilliams, J. Vincent, Jr., and W. B.
Taggart. Methods of instruction and school government were discussed;
resolutions were passed in favor of the use of the Bible in the schools,
increased compensation for the superintendent, and in support of the
Pennsylvania School Journal.
County Superintendents of Public Schools. This office was created
in 1854. Its incumbents, elected by the school directors of the county,
have been as follows: John J. Reimensnyder, 1854-60; Jacob Ulp, 1860-66;
George W. Haupt, 1866-68 (resigned, September 1, 1868); William J.
Wolverton, 1868-69 (appointed by the State superintendent); Saul
Shipman, 1869-75; Harvey Bartholomew, 1875-78; William M. Boal, 1878-81;
William J. Wolverton, 1881-87; William E. Bloom, 1887, present
incumbent.
ROSTER OF COUNTY OFFICERS
Prothonotaries. In Northumberland county one person, is elected to
the offices of prothonotary of the court of common pleas, clerk of the
court of quarter sessions, and clerk of the court of oyer and terminer
and general jail delivery. After the offices of recorder of deeds and
register of wills were assigned to one individual in this county, the
prothonotary continued to exercise the functions of clerk of the
orphans' court until 1827; since that date the offices have been
combined as at present. The incumbents were appointed by the Governor
and Council under the colonial regime, by the Supreme Executive Council
under the constitution of 1776, and by the Governor under the
constitution of 1790; the office became elective by the amendments of
1837-38, and under these various changes the succession of
prothonotaries, with the dates of their commissions or the terms in
which they served by election, has been as follows: William Maclay,
prothonotary, March 24, 1772, clerk of the peace and quarter sessions of
the peace, May 19, 1772, re-commissioned, March 22, 1777; David Harris,
September 11, 1777; Matthew Smith, February 4, 1780; Laurence Keene,
September 25, 1783; Jasper Ewing, July 28, 1789, August 17, 1791, and
January 3, 1800; Daniel Levy, September 23, 1800; Hugh Bellas, January
3, 1809; George W. Brown, February 2, 1818; Andrew Albright, April 24,
1819; Martin Weaver, February 9, 1821; Samuel J. Packer, January 27,
1824; Martin Weaver, April 9, 1829; Edward Y. Bright, January 25, 1830,
and January 21, 1833; Daniel Brautigam, January 29, 1836, and January 4,
1839; Samuel D. Jordan, February 5, 1839 - elected in the autumn of that
year - l839-45; John Farnsworth, 1845-51; James Beard, 1851-57; Daniel
Beckley, 1857-63; John J. Reimensnyder, 1863-69; William D. Haupt, 1869-
72; Lloyd T. Rohrbach, 1872-79; Wesley Auten, 1879-85; H. F. Mann, 1885-
91; S. P. Fausold, 1891, present incumbent.
Registers and Recorders.- At the organization of Northumberland
county one person was commissioned as register of wills, recorder of
deeds, and clerk of the several courts. In 1777 one person was
commissioned as register and recorder and another person as clerk of the
several courts, and, although William Montgomery was commissioned as
recorder only in 1785, it is highly probable that this arrangement
continued until 1827, when the register and recorder was also commissioned
as clerk of the orphans' court, and in this manner the offices have since
been combined. The incumbents, with the dates of their commissions or the
terms in which they served by election, have been as follows: William
Maclay, March 24, 1772, and March 22, 1777; John Simpson, March 29, 1777;
William Montgomery (recorder only), April 7, 1785; Jeremiah Simpson, July
24, 1798; John Boyd, December, 1805; John Frick, January 18, 1809; John L.
Finney, April 3, 1811, and March 25, 1818; Martin Pries, February 9,1821;
John Oyster, October 7, 1822; Eli Diemer, January 27, 1824; Samuel J.
Packer, March 27, 1827; Robert H. Hammond, April 29, 1829; Solomon
Shaffer, January 25, 1830; and January 21, 1833; Jacob Bright, January 29,
1836, and January 4, 1839; John G. Youngman, February 5, 1839 - elected in
the autumn of that year - 1839-42; Edward Oyster, 1842-48; Martin Irwin,
1848-49; David Rockefeller, appointed, June 25, 1849, vice Irwin,
deceased; John P. Pursel, 1849-55; C. Boyd Pursel, 1855-58; Jacob B.
Masser, 1858-61; John A. J. Cummings, 1861-67; Jacob Leisenring, 1867-73;
Lemuel Shipman, 1873-80; George D. Bucher, 1880-86; Urias Bloom, 1886,
present incumbent.
Sheriffs are elected triennially. The first incumbent in Northumberland
county was sheriff of Berks at the time of its organization, and was
authorized to officiate in Northumberland by the act providing for its
erection in 1772. The following is a list from that date: 1772, George
Nagel; 1772-75, William Cooke; 1775-77, William Scull; 1777-79, Jonathan
Lodge; 1779-82, James Crawford; 1782-85, Henry Antes; 1785-88, Thomas
Grant; 1788-91, Martin Withington; 1791-94, Flavel Roan; 1794-97, John
Brady; 1797-1800, Robert Irwin; 1800-03, Henry Vanderslice; 1803-06,
Andrew Albright; 1806-09, Jared Irwin; 1809-12, Daniel Lebo; 1812-15,
Thomas Painter; 1815-18, Walter Brady; 1818-21, William Shannon; 1821-24,
James R. Shannon; 1824-27, Martin Weaver; 1827-30, Jacob McKinney; 1880-
33, Peter Lazarus; 1833-36, Henry Reader; 1836-39, George W. Kiehl; 1839-
42, Henry Gossler; 1842-45, Felix Maurer; 1845-48, Thomas A. Billington;
1848-51, James Covert; 1851-54, William B. Kipp; 1854-57, Henry Weise;
1857-60, James Vandyke; 1860-63, David Waldron; 1863-66, William M.
Weaver; 1866-69, Daniel Beckley; 1869-72, John B. Heller; 1872-76, Samuel
H. Rothermel; 1876-79, George W. Strine; 1879-82, William M. Weaver; 1882-
85, John C. Morgan; 1885-88, Jacob Kremer; 1888-91, Jacob G. Kramer; 1891,
Robert Montgomery, present incumbent.
Distract Attorneys.- This office was known by the title of deputy
attorney general until 1850, when it became elective and the name was
changed to its present style. Prior to that date appointments were made
by the attorney general of the State. The following list is believed to
be as complete as existing records permit: Edward Burd, 1772; Jonathan
Walker, 1793 (he received pay for services in May, 1793, but whether
regularly commissioned or not can not be positively stated); Samuel
Roberts, qualified, July 16, 1800; Thomas Cooper, commissioned, July 16,
1803, qualified, August 22, 1803; E. G. Bradford, 1809-20 (probably 1806-
09 also); Robert C. Hall, January, 1821, to November, 1823; E.G. Bradford,
January to April, 1824; Alem Marr, qualified at August sessions, 1824;
Daniel Scudder, qualified at August sessions, 1828; Samuel J. Packer,
qualified, April 20, 1829; Charles G. Donnel, qualified, November 16,
1829; John F. Wolfinger, appointed by the court, November sessions,
1833, and reappointed, January 4, 1836; James Pollock, qualified at
April sessions, 1836; Henry B. Masser, qualified at April sessions,
1839; John B. Packer, qualified at April sessions, 1845; Charles W.
Tharp, qualified at November sessions, 1848; C. Augustus Kutz, elected,
1850; Charles W. Tharp, elected, 1853; William L. Scott, elected, 1856;
John Kay Clement, elected, 1859; Solomon P. Malick, elected, 1862;
Jeremiah Snyder, elected, 1865, and re-elected, 1868; John Kay Clement,
elected, 1871; Thomas H. B. Kase, elected, 1874; L. H. Kase, appointed
deputy district attorney by Thomas H. B. Kase - appointment approved by
the court, August 7, 1876; John Kay Clement, appointed, vice L. H. Kase,
resigned, qualified, January 30, 1877; Lewis Dewart, elected, 1877; C.
R. Savidge, elected, 1880; Peter A. Mahon, elected, 1883, and re-elected,
1886; Voris Auten, elected, 1889, present incumbent.
Coroners are elected triennially. For a number of years it does not
appear that the persons elected to this office had their commissions
recorded, hence the incompleteness of the following list, in which the
date given is that of the commission or election: James Parr, October 9,
1772; James Murray, October 9, 1773; Samuel Harris, October 12, 1775;
Thomas Robinson, December 8, 1778; John Foster, October 19, 1779;
Christopher Gettig, October 20, 1781; John Chattam, October 18, 1782;
John Scott, November 22, 1783; Thomas Hamilton, November 2, 1787; Joseph
Lorentz, October 21, 1789; William McAdams, 1796, October 8, 1797,
October 18, 1799; Andrew Albright, November 5, 1800; Joseph Lorentz,
October 21, 1803, October 28, 1806, October 24, 1809, October 26, 1812;
Jacob Albright, October 28, 1815; John Leisenring, October 28, 1818;
Jacob Urban, October 22, 1821; Jacob Bright, November 4, 1824; Charles
D. Wharton, October 15, 1827; Jacob Long, November 11, 1830; John
Conrad, 1833; John Eisely, November 14, 1836; John Smith, 1839; Charles
Weaver, 1842; Jacob Yordy, January 21, 1846; Franklin A. Clark, November
29, 1848; Aaron Kelly, 1851, November 18, 1852; Cyrus Geasy, 1869;
Frederick Hesser, 1872; John W. Taylor, 1875; R. L. Wright, 1878, re-
elected in 1881; D. T. Krebs, 1884; F. D. Raker, 1887, re-elected,
1890,, present incumbent.
County Commissioners were elected annually for the term of three
years until the adoption of the constitution of 1873, which provided for
the triennial election of the entire board of three members. Diligent
search has failed to discover any minutes of the board prior to 1781, and
this list for the years 1772-81 is based upon Linn's Annals of Buffalo
Valley. The roster is as follows: 1772, William Gray, Thomas Hewitt, John
Weitzel, Casper Reed (the latter qualified, November 23d); 1773, Casper
Reed; 1774, Robert Fruit and Thomas Hewitt, qualified, April 4th, and
William Gray, elected in October; 1775, Casper Reed, William Gray; 1776,
Thomas Hewitt, William Gray, John Weitzel (the latter qualified, January
22d); 1778, William Gray, John Nelson, Thomas Sutherland, John Lytle;
1779, Walter Clark, William Mackey; 1780, Daniel Montgomery, William
Clark, John White; 1781-82, William Antes, James Espy, Daniel Montgomery;
1782-83, James Espy, Daniel Montgomery, David Mead; 1783-84, Daniel
Montgomery, David Mead, John Clark; 1784-85, David Mead, John Clark,
Walter Clark; 1785-86, John Clark, Walter Clark, William Gray; 1786-87,
Walter Clark, William Gray, John Lytle; 1787-88, William Gray, John
Lytle, Peter Hosterman; 1788-89, John Lytle, Peter Hosterman, William
Hepburn; 1789-90, Peter Hosterman, William Hepburn, John Weitzel; 1790-
91, William Hepburn, John Weitzel, Daniel Montgomery; 1791-92, John
Weitzel, Daniel Montgomery, Robert Fleming; 1792-93, Daniel Montgomery,
Robert Fleming, Richard Shearer; 1793-94, Robert Fleming, Richard
Shearer, Christopher Dering; 1794-95, Richard Shearer, Christopher
Dering, Henry Vanderslice; 1795-96, Christopher Dering, Henry
Vanderslice, Nathan Stockman; 1796-97, Henry Vanderslice, Nathan
Stockman, Charles Irwin; 1797-98, Nathan Stockman, Charles Irwin, John
Lyon; 1798-99, Charles Irwin, John Lyon, John Metzgar; 1799-1800, John
Lyon, John Metzgar, John Frick; 1800-01, John Metzgar, John Frick,
Abraham McKinney; 1801-02, John Frick, Flavel Roan, Solomon Markley
(Markley qualified, November 25, 1801; he was appointed, vice McKinney,
who resigned, November 14, 1801); 1802-03, Solomon Markley, Flavel Roan,
David Taggart; 1803-04, Flavel Roan, Solomon Markley, George Bright
(Bright assumed office, December 1, 1803, and died in February, 1804;
David Taggart was appointed by the commissioners with the concurrence of
the court, and qualified, April 27, 1804.); 1804-05, Solomon Markley,
David Taggart, Charles Maclay; 1805-06, David Taggart, Charles Maclay,
Samuel Awl; 1806-07, Charles Maclay, Samuel Awl, Samuel Bond; 1807-08,
Samuel Awl, Samuel Bond, Andrew McClenachan; 1808-09, Samuel Bond,
Andrew McClenachan, Henry Masser; 1809-10, Andrew McClenachan, Henry
Masser, Joseph Gaston; 1810-11, Henry Masser; Joseph Gaston, Flavel
Roan; 1811-12, Joseph Gaston, Flavel Roan, Henry Vanderslice; 1812-13,
Flavel Roan, Henry Vanderslice, James Longhead; 1813-14, Henry
Vanderslice, Samuel Bloom, Jonas Weaver; 1814-15, Samuel Bloom, Jonas
Weaver, Isaac Wolverton; 1815-16, Jonas Weaver, Isaac Wolverton, William
F. Buyers; 1816-17, Isaac Wolverton, William F. Buyers, George Lecher;
1817-18, William F. Buyers, George Lesher, John Miller; 1818-19, George
Lesher, John Miller, John G. Youngman; 1819-20, John Miller, John G.
Youngman, Daniel R. Bright; 1820-21, John G. Youngman, Daniel B. Bright,
Elisha Kline; 1821-22, Daniel R. Bright, Elisha Kline, Christian Bower;
1822-23, Elisha Kline, Christian Bower, James Lee; 1823-24, Christian
Bower, James Lee, Samuel Lantz; l824-25, James Lee, Samuel Lantz,