From Annals of Luzerne County
The Wilkesbarre Bridge was completed in 1818 by the Wilkesbarre Bridge Company, incorporated in 1807. The constructors were Messrs. Wernwag and Powel, who were two years in building it, at a cost of $44,000.
In 1819 the pier next to Wilkesbarre was undermined, and two reaches of the bridge were lost. The damage was repaired by the state, at a cost of $13,000.
In the winter of 1824 a tremendous hurricane swept over the valley, uprooting trees and blowing down houses. It lifted the whole superstructure of this bridge from the piers, and, carrying it several feet up stream, lodged it on the ice. To rebuild the bridge the Legislature appropriated $15,000 of state claims, or liens, due from Luzerne county, and appointed George M. Hollenback, Garrick Mallery, and Calvin Wadhams, commissioners, to carry out the purposes of the Act. The commissioners appointed Andrew Beaumont to collect the money, and let the work. Reuben Fields became the architect. The state then had $28,000 of stock in the bridge, which was sold a few years ago. It has four arches, each 175 feet in length.
WILKESBARRE TOWNSHIP was originally laid out by the Susquehanna Land Company, and was also one of the eleven townships into which Luzerne was divided by the court in 1790. It derives its name from the union of the names of John Wilkes and Colonel Barre, distinguished advocates for liberty and the rights of the colonies. The first dwelling houses in Wyoming, erected by white men, were built on the flats, below the borough of Wilkes-Barre, in 1758, by authority of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, for the use of Teedyuscung, king of the Delaware Indians, and his tribe. Fort Durkee stood on the bank of the river in this township, immediately below the Wilkesbarre borough line. The first massacre and destruction of the white settlement occurred in this township in 1763. In 1782, James Sutton, who had previously built mills in Exeter and Kingston townships, erected a grist-mill on Mill Creek near the river. This was the first mill in the present limits of Wilkesbarre. It was constructed of hewn logs, and had one run of stone, and a sentry-box on the roof, from which the valley could be overlooked, and the movements of an enemy observed. This mill was swept away by the pumpkin flood in 1786. In 1799, including Wilkesbarre borough, Covington, Buck, and a large portion of Plains and Bear Creek townships, it contains 121 taxable inhabitants,* 112 horses, and 301 head of horned cattle. The total valuation of property for taxable purposes was $71,390. The area of this township is 15 square miles, and three- fourths of it is cleared land. The surface is flat and rolling, with a portion of the Wilkesbarre Mountain in its territory. It produces wheat, rye, corn, and oats, which are consumed at home. It contains 10 stores, 5 grist-mills, 2 iron foundries, 2 planing-mills, 4 churches, 1 soap and tallow chandlery, 1 powder-mill, 1 brewery, and 6 coal-mines. The population of Wilkesbarre township, including parts of Plains and Bear Creek, in 1850, was 2928.
Wilkesbarre Borough was incorporated in 1806, and is the oldest town in the county. It was laid out in 1772 by Colonel John Durkee, and embraced 200 acres of land. It was originally laid out in eight squares, with a diamond in the centre. The squares were subsequently divided into 16 parallelograms by the formation of Franklin and Washington streets. The first dwelling, within the limits of the town plot, was a log cabin built by John Abbott on the southwest corner of Main and Northampton streets, in 1769. In 1772, there were only 5 white women in Wilkes-Barre; and, in 1784, the whole number of buildings amounted to 26, of which 23 were burnt by the Pennamites. Of the three buildings saved from the flames, two are yet standing — the westerly end of the Hollenback House, on Main street, and the old red house on River street. The former was erected by Judge Hollenback, and the latter by Captain John P. Schott, in 1783. In 1807, Joseph Slocum, Esq., erected a three story brick dwelling house on the south side of the Public Square, now occupied by his son-in-law. Lord Butler, Esq. In the same year, Benjamin Perry, Esq., put up the brick dwelling now standing on the corner of Main and Northampton streets. These two were the first brick buildings in Wilkesbarre.
The Allen Jack brick storehouse, on Main street, was erected in 1813, and the G. M. Hollenback store and dwelling, on the corner of Market and River streets, in 1816. Wilkesbarre contains 16 dry goods and grocery, and 11 exclusively grocery stores ; 12 clothing, 10 boot and shoe and 7 drug stores ; 2 exclusively liquor, 1 hat and cap, 2 leather, 3 book and stationery, and 6 millinery and fancy stores ; 5 watch and jewelery, 3 saddle and harness, 5 tin and stove establishments ; 7 bakeries and confectioneries, 2 extensive iron founderies, 1 sash factory, 1 brewery, 2 tobacconists, 1 bank, 1 insuranee office, 5 broker offices, 5 restaurants, 11 hotels and taverns, 1 female seminary; 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist Episcopal, 1 Protestant Episcopal, 1 Baptist, 2 Roman Catholic, 1 German Reformed and 1 colored Methodist Episcopal church. The Methodist Episcopal church in Woodville, and the Lutheran church in the township, are located near the borough line, and are supported in part by members resident in Wilkesbarre.
The side-walks of the town are well paved with flag stones. The streets are lighted with gas, and the place is supplied with excellent water. The Gas and Water Works cost each about $30,000. The population of Wilkesbarre in 1820 was 732. In 1830 it was 1201; in 1840, 1718; and in 1850, 2723.
The following taken from the Federalist of March 30, 1810, will give some idea of Wilkesbarre 50 years ago :
Memorandum of a Stranger in Luzerne.
" Cloudy day — rain towards night — 4 o'clock, came in sight of a small town in this county — a delightful and extensive valley, sufficiently watered by Susquehanna and its tributary streams. Set this county down rich — the soil undoubtedly will reward the labors of the husbandman with an abundant harvest.
Came down into the town (Wilkesbarre) — found it regularly laid out — handsome place, though too many small houses for beauty. Streets terribly muddy — almost impossible to get along. Wonder the inhabitants don't have a side-walk, at least, so that foot people may not have their legs pulled out by the roots."
Mem. — Stone enough on the mountain at a small distance.
Query — Would not a good pavement raise the value of property sufficiently to defray the expense ?
"Came down into the street — extends north and south. What! Two men running horses ! ! Mud knee deep — Well, they sputter it agoing bravely. They spout it around like Mount Etna in a fit of the colic. Huzza ! There goes a man and his horse heels over head — spatter, dash, souse all over in the mud — ha ! ha ! ha ! — a new way of dismounting."
Mem. — Never run horses in slippery weather.
"Walked up to the centre of the place — saw a meeting-house — good sign, though seldom seen in this county — court-house — an academy, I guess, with one end of it fenced in — a jail probably, by the high yard fence — four public buildings, religion, justice, knowledge, and iniquity — curious compound. Wonder what old huge, antique stone-building that is with new roof and windows — contrary to Scripture — put no new cloth upon an old garment."
Query — Is this not what they call the Gothic order of architecture?
Mem. — Never build in that style — looks like the devil — this is the first building that bears such strong marks of antiquity, and which appears to have been too rough for the devouring jaws of time, which I have seen in America. I can find no date upon it — conjecture, built about the time of the second Olympiad.
"Went a little further — found six great, strong robust men playing cards without any concealment. Inquired if they had any laws in this state, or, perhaps, their magistrates are blind, like Justice of old.
Went down to the river — a delightful bank, save the mud, which, for the purpose of brevity, I wish might always be excepted, when this place is mentioned hereafter. A big house on the bank — foundation all gone from one end — a little more will tumble it down the hill — a good simile for the government of the U. S. A.
Saw a man drunk — he had business on both sides of the way."
Mem. — There was once an insurrection in this state on account of taxing whiskey. Saw another man moving with great obliquity — made inquiry — found he was a candidate for sheriff.
Query — Do all sheriffs in Pennsylvania step quick two or three times, and then with a long side-way stride ?
"The river is wearing away the bank very rapidly — from appearance it seems to incline side-ways, like the man I saw just now.
Two men rode up from the river — one horse kicked up and threw the rider head and heels in the mud — the people all flocked around just as they do to see dogs fight — made inquiry, and found the man was a Methodist minister. Well, if I remember right, this sect of Christians hold to falling."
Mem. — It may do well in theory, but it is hard enough in practice.
"I went down a little farther — saw a tavern with the sign of the vessel."
Mem. — Look in the morning, and see if this be a seaport town.
"Heard a bell ring — made inquiry, and found there was a Methodist meeting. After tea went, and found a great many people there. The minister delivered a forcible, impressive, eloquent, and scriptural sermon. Under such preaching there must be many Christians. Retired to my lodgings very weary. "
N. B. Get up early in the morning and buy cloth for a coat.
"March 21. Rose at 6 — walked out upon the bank — saw only one man up, and he, from his looks, will be down before night. At 7, went to the store opposite the ferry — found all closed and silent — perhaps this may be holy time with them — inquired if they be Jews, and this be the Passover.
Walked on — saw a new white house — very handsome situation — fence all gone around it."
Query — Has it not been a hard winter here?
"What! the printing office — 0, yes — where that important agricultural information came from — information so complete that it had only one fault, and that the trifling one of having no application on this side of the Atlantic.
Saw another store — went on, found it open and doing business — good many people in — inquire if this man does not tend his own store, and, of course, make more money.
Going back, saw a man without a hat — his hair pointing to every quarter of heaven — his mouth open, and both hands working daylight through his yet closed eyelids — hope he has a large patrimony to doze over.
Returned to the tavern — found a good many men come in to get their morning charge."
Query — Arn't these men ashamed to let their wives and families know how much they drink?
"After breakfast walked round town — at 11 o'clock went by the Academy — steeple as big as an eel— saw a number of great tall boys gaping, and leaning against the side of the house, and stretching as if for victory."
Query — Are they preparing to stretch hemp without anything to stand on?
"Heard a man talk very loud within — "'With what a braying noise he muttered, And thought, no doubt, hell trembled as he uttered.'
Went on — saw things which I shall never forget — returned to my lodgings sick — evening pleasant — many people came in, and as they poured down the whiskey they drowned out the politics. "
Query — If they should drink less, talk less, and read more, won't they understand the subject better ?
"Went up street — going by the courthouse heard a stamping, like that of a livery stable in fly time — made inquiry, and found there was a dancing school kept there."
Mem. — ' lie that will not work, by right, should not eat, And he that has no head may use his feet.' "
"March 22. In the morning — Over! over! halloo, ferryman ! "
P. S. I shall return this way.
Breaches of the peace, stealing, drunkenness, swearing, gaming, idleness and the like, came under the jurisdiction of the township directors ; but adulterers, burglars, and some other offenders were tried by the quarterly meeting, or supreme court. For stealing, drunkenness, idleness, &c., the guilty were required to make public confession, and perhaps undergo punishment at the whipping-post, or in the stocks. Adultery and burglary were punished by whipping, banishment from the settlement, and confiscation of all personal and real estate. Counterfeiters were sent for trial to the province or jurisdiction whose coin or money had been counterfeited, and murderers were conveyed to Connecticut for trial. There were then no regularly admitted practicing law- yers.
On the 27th day of May, 1787, Timothy Pickering, James Nesbitt, Obadiah Gore, Nathan Kingsley, Benjamin Carpenter, Matthias Hollenback, and William Hooker Smith, who had been commissioned justices of the Court of Common Pleas, &c., as provided in the first constitution of this state, assembled at the house of Colonel Zebulon Butler, on the corner of Northampton and River streets, in Wilkesbarre, and proclamation being made by Lord Butler, high sheriff, for all persons to keep silence, the commissions of the county officers were read, and the oaths of office were administered by Timothy Pickering and Colonel Nathan Denison. This was the first court held for Luzerne county. The duties of prothonotary, register, and recorder, and clerk of the court, were per- formed by Timothy Pickering, who was a lawyer of fine a,bilities, and was otherwise eminently qualified to organize a new county in the midst of an injured and rebellious people. Soon after the organization of the court, Roswell Wells, Ebenezer Bowman, Putnam Catlin, and William Nichols, Esqs., were admitted and sworn as attorneys at law.
In 1794 the first two mentioned were the only lawyers in Luzerne county, and when, in the same year, Noah Wadhams and Nathan Palmer, Esqs., were admitted to the bar, it was stated to the court that Messrs. Bowman and Catlin had then arranged to quit practice altogether. Daniel Stroud and John Price were admitted in 1795 ; Thomas Cooper in 1796 ; M. J. Biddle and Samuel Roberts in 1797; E. Smith, J. Wallace, and William Prentice in 1799; George Griffin in 1800, who subsequently removed to the city of New York, and, becoming eminent in his profession, received the title of LL. D. In 1802 Thomas Dyer, yet living, was admitted, and is the oldest survivor of the bar in the county. Colonel Washington Lee, who is the next oldest survivor, was admitted in 1806.
The present jail was commenced in 1802, and com- pleted at a cost of $5846.43. The stone fire proof building for the public offices, which stood in the square adjoin- ing the court-house, was commenced in 1809, and completed in 1812, and, with the jail yard wall, cost about $8500. The total cost of these buildings, together with the courthouse, amounted to nearly the sum of $24,000.
Prior to 1773, no organized effort had been made by the early inhabitants for the establishment of schools among them ; but in that year, by a vote of the town, a tax of three pence on a pound was levied for the support of a free school in each township. In the following year, the first school committee, consisting of Captain Lazarus Stewart and fifteen others, was appointed with power to erect school houses and to employ teachers. Some of their teachers were men of ability, learned, energetic, and faithful in discharge of their duties. Others, it would appear, are described. in the character of Ichabod Crane, as given in the "Legend of Sleepy Hollow." The Yankee schoolmaster generally " boarded around" among the patrons of his school, attended all the quiltings and singing-schools, sometimes neglected his scholars, did not neglect the girls, and was usually devoted to one in particular. At some of his stopping places he fared sumptuously, at most places he had to put up with "pot luck," while at a few places his sides and jaws exhibited a decided collapse at the close of the boarding week. The early schoolmasters were a very useful, but poorly remunerated class of the people. We do not learn that any of them ever received land for their services, as did some of the " orthodox ministers of the gospel." After the jurisdiction of Connecticut and the Susquehanna Company ceased, several of the school tracts of land were leased for a term of years. Finally, nearly, if not all the tracts were sold, and the proceeds added to the township funds, under the authority of a legislative enactment of this state.
THE WILKESBARRE FEMALE INSTITUTE.
This is a fine airy three-story brick building, standing on River street, in the borough of Wilkesbarre. It was chartered in 1854, and in October of that year opened with 50 female pupils, under the superintendence of the Rev. J. E. Nassau. Mr. Nassau was succeeded by the Rev. J. S. Howes, A.M., the present principal. The institution is under the general direction of the Presbytery of Luzerne county. It has a library, a philosophical and chemical apparatus, and is in successful operation with about 80 pupils. This institution, becoming pecuniarily involved, was extricated from its embarrassment by the liberality of Colonel G. M. Hollenback and others.
In 1773, the Rev. Mr. Johnson received a call from the settlers at Wilkesbarro. He faithfully performed his pastoral duties, preaching in private dwellings until 1791, when the new log court-house was erected in the public square. Here public worship was conducted for a num- ber of years.
After the completion of the log court-house, in 1791, as before stated, it was occupied by Mr. Johnson's con- gregation for divine service ; but their pastor did not feel at home in a building appropriated to the uses of what he considered an unholy court.
With a determined will Mr. Johnson set about to erect a church for his congregation, and in 1791, through his exertions, the town of Wilkesbarre was induced to appoint a committee to select a site for the edifice. The com- mittee was composed of Zebulon Butler, Nathan Waller, J. P. Schott, Timothy Pickering, and Daniel Gore. In 1792, another committee was appointed by the town to secure subscriptions, to which was added the proceeds from the sale of the public ferry. It was not, however, until 1800 that the contract to build was let to Joseph Hitchcock, and the foundation of the "Old Ship Zion" was laid on the site, selected by the first, committee, in the public square. Mr. Johnson did not live to see the commencement of the church on which his heart was set so ardently, and nearly all his older members followed him to the grave before its completion. In June, 1801, the building was enclosed, and its lofty steeple was finished, but soon after, for want of funds, it was deserted by the workmen, and remained in an incomplete condition for years. During that period the tall spire was struck three times by lights ning, which was considered by some as loud spoken warnings to the people to complete the Lord's House.
It was now thought it would be a vain attempt to com- plete the work, unless there was a pastor or religious head among them, who would devote his time and abilities to the undertaking. The congregation accordingly called the Rev. Ard Hoyt, who, with ministers of other denominations, held religious services in the court-house. Mr. Hoyt labored zealously to induce the people, and parti- cularly the more wealthy portion of the community, to contribute the necessary funds to enable the contractor to resume his work, and bring it to completion. But no efiectual effort was made until 1808, when it was resolved to finish the Lord's house through the instrumentality of a lottery, Matthias Ilollenback, Esq., and twelve other commissioners, advertised an "admirable scheme of 3125 tickets at $8 each." Still the receipts from this source were inadequate, and subscriptions were solicited from members of all denominations of Christians.
Finally, in the year 1812, after protracted and arduous efforts, Mr. Hitchcock was enabled to finish the most elegant church in northern Pennsylvania. The bell, which was hung in the belfry, and which tolled the funeral knell of scores of the old settlers, and of hundreds of their descendants, was manufactured in Philadelphia, by George Hedderly, August 6, 1811. Its weight was 680 pounds. This bell is now on the Presbyterian Church in the borough of Pittston. There is inscribed on it the Latin words, " Gloria in Excelsis Deo — Fili Dei Miserere" and the English sentence, " I will sound and resound unto thy people, Lord, to call them to thy word."
John Miller was the first sexton. He was succeeded by John Michael Keinzle, who officiated in that capacity for upwards of thirty years. Michael was a native of Geneva, in Switzerland, and came to Wilkesbarre about the year 1802. After the town was incorporated in 1806, Michael was elected high constable, which position he held, to the terror of all boys, until the day of his death, in 1846. He was a small, active, violent-tempered man, and when excited by the pranks of mischievous lads, flourished his constant companion, a sword-cane, with great vigor and dexterity, proclaiming to all within the sound of his voice, " I beesh de high coonstopple of de borough. I makes you boys to Squire Dyer, and den I makes you to de jail !" Michael was also keeper of the town hay-scales at his bachelor residence, in the old store and warehouse, on the river bank. He also had charge of the town pound. As sexton he was particularly faithful. He rang the church bell every evening precisely at 9 o'clock, and told the day of the month. To exhibit his fearlessness and activity, he occasionally ascended to the lofty spire of the church by the lightning rod, and stood on the great ball, appearing to the spectators beneath no larger than General Tom Thumb.
In 1817, St. Stephen's Church, in Wilkesbarre, was chartered. It was completed in 1822, and consecrated by Bishop White in 1823, at which time there were 42 communicants. During this year the Rev. Mr. Sitgreaves was called to the pastoral charge of the congregation, and in 1824 he was succeeded by the Rev. Enoch Huntington. Mr. Huntington was followed in 1827 by the Rev. James May, now Dr. May, of Georgetown, D. C, who continued pastor here until 1836. For the next twelve years the pulpit of St. Stephen's was occupied by the Rev. W. J. Clark, Rev. R. B. Claxton, and Rev. C. D. Cooper. In 1848, the Rev. George D. Miles received a call, who has continued pastor to the present time.
Prior to the year 1840, a number of Jews, the principal of whom was Martin Long, settled in Wilkesbarre, and in 1848 erected and dedicated a commodious brick syna- gogue. Moses Straser was their first minister. They have 35 contributing families, and 50 Sunday-school scholars.
In 1842, the Rev. Thomas Jackson came to Wilkes- barre, and collected the scattered remains of a colored congregation, which, on his departure, relapsed into its former condition. It was revived in 1845, through the ministerial labors of the Rev. Philip Lumb, and the Rev. Peter Fulmer. At this time the congregation was attached to the Reading Conference, and the church which they had built, on the hill, was named the Zion Church of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Connection. In 1856, they enlarged the old church, now numbering 62 members, who are under the pastoral charge of the Rev. John Anderson. The Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Congregation in Wilkesbarre, was organized in 1848, by the Rev. Thomas Ward, since which they have erected a comfort- able frame building for worship. They have 27 members, for whom the Rev. Theodore Gould officiates as pastor.
A pack-horse could carry only four bushels of grain to market, and it was soon discovered by the early settlers of the country to be more remunerative to manufacture the rye, corn, or other material, into whiskey, in which form the horse could carry the value of twenty-five bushels. In that day, to manufacture and drink whiskey was not considered disreputable, but on the contrary it was a shame to have the bottle empty in the house, especially if the parson happened to call. Distilleries, therefore, were, among the first manufactories, not only in Luzerne, but in all the frontier counties. Whiskey was considered as essential in most families as milk, and the surplus was exchanged in market for tea, sugar, salt, cofiee, nails, and other necessaries.
Among the first to tender their services to the Federal Government, were the Luzerne volunteers, commanded by Captain Samuel Bowman, and attached to a battalion of light infantry, under the command of Major George Fisher. Captain Bowman marched from Wyoming about the 1st of September, 1794, and reached the head waters of the Ohio with a company of 50 men. The captain was an experienced officer, having commanded a company during the war of the Revolution, and several of his men were old soldiers of former wars. The introduction of 15,000 troops among the insurrectionists had the desired effect. " Tom the Tinker," as the whiskey boys were called, surrendered without resistance. A few were sent to Philadelphia for trial, where they were imprisoned for many months, but not indicted. Only two or three were tried and convicted, but were afterwards pardoned. The people submitted to the law, and the volunteers returned to their homes after a campaign of three months.
In 1807 the British frigate Leopard, unexpectedly and without provocation, fired into the United States frigate Chesapeake. In addition to this, other insults were offered to the American flag, and they became so frequent that an immediate declaration of war was anticipated. Under these circumstances volunteers in the several states offered their services to President Jefferson. Among these was a well-uniformed and drilled company at Wilkesbarre, called the Wyoming Blues, commanded by Captain Joseph Slocum. The services of the company were tendered to the President in a patriotic communication signed by its chief officers, to which they received a flattering reply from Mr. Jefferson, in his own handwriting. We give these letters as follows : "To Thomas Jefferson, Esq., President of the United States. " Sir : As it has been the unanimous voice of our fel- low-soldiers, of different volunteer corps in the United States, to offer their services in defence of their country in this momentous crisis, ' when every nation is looking with an envious eye at the peace and prosperity of the United States,' and more especially Great Britain, who ought to be the last to enter the list ; but, proud of her navy, she bids her armed vessels enter into our harbors and rivers, and impress our fellows-citizens while peaceably employed in the commerce of their country. Not content with this, she orders the commanders of her frigates to fire on the armed vessels of the United States, within the jurisdiction of the same, while peaceably pursuing her course to the place of her destination, murdering our fellow-citizens, while she is holding out the olive branch of peace, w^hich brings to our recollection the plains of Wyoming, in the revolutionary war, strewed with human gore by the savage hirelings of her perfidious government. " Therefore we, the undersigned, being appointed by the light infantry company called the Wyoming Blues, and through us the said company offer their services, in defence of their country, whenever the government of the United States deem it expedient to call them in defence of the country. "Joseph Slocum, Captain. " Isaac Bowman, Lieutenant. " Benj. Perry, Sergeant."
" To Messrs. Joseph Slocum, Isaac Bowman, and Benjamlv Perry, a Conimittee of the Light Infantry Company, called the AVyoming Blues. " The offer of your service in support of the rights of your country, merits and meets the highest praise, and whenever the moment arrives in which these rights must appeal to the public arm for support, the spirit from which the offer flows, that which animates our nation, will be their sufficient safeguard. " Having required, from the governors of the several states, their several quotas of militia to be ready for ser- vice, and recommended at the same time the preparation of volunteers under the Acts of Congress, and particularly that of the 24th of February, 1807, the acceptance and organization of such volunteers has been delegated to them. " Tendering, therefore, the thanks of our country so justly deserved for all offers of service made to me, I must add that it is necessary to renew them to the gov- ernor of the state, for the purposes of acceptance and organization. " I salute you with great respect, " Th. Jefferson. ''• Sept. 19th, 1807."
THE MEXICAN WAR. On the morning of December 7th, 1846, the Wyoming Artillerists, under the command of Captain E. L. Dana, left Wilkesbarre for the seat of war in Mexico. The company was transported to Pittsburgh by canal, where it remained long enough to complete its equipment, and be mustered into the service of the United States as a part of the 1st Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, to serve during the war. At this place, Francis L. Bowman, a popular and accomplished officer, the 1st lieutenant of the company, was elected major of the regiment...
Nearly all the first settlers in Luzerne county were farmers, who handled the axe and the plow, who sowed the grain and gathered the harvest. Their wives and daughters did not scorn the labor of the kitchen ; they prepared the rich milk, the delicious butter and cheese, and, when occasion required, assisted their husbands and fathers in the field. Their hands were familiar with the wash-tub and the dough-tray, they spun flax, and wove cloth for the backs of the men, and carpets for the floors of their houses. Almost every house contained a loom, one or two spinning-wheels, and a dye pot. The men were agriculturists, and the women were manufacturers. The young ladies of one neighborhood or township fre- quently vied with those of another in spinning, weaving, and coloring cloth. It was not uncommon for yoimg ladies to spin 100 knots per day. Miss Mary Smith of Pittston frequently spun 120 knots in a day. In 1828, Miss Rachel Jenkins spun and reeled 135 knots in twelve hours, and Miss Selinda Jenkins spun 136 knots of filling in the same time. The farmers on the east side of the river contended with those on the west side, in raising wheat, rye, corn, and vegetables, the most and best on a given lot of ground. It was the high ambition of the young men to become good farmers, and wed industrious and accomplished girls, such as Rachel and Selinda Jenkins. But this state of things has been materially changed within our own day. Our farmers' sons now aspire to be lawyers, physicians, or merchants, and their daughters seek to become the wives of professional gentlemen. The rural districts annually send large numbers of young men and women to our cities and chief towns, where they hope to reside in ease, or make fortunes by some sudden turn of luck.
In January, 1810, the Luzerne County Agricultural Society was first organized, in the old court-house at Wilkesbarre. Jesse Fell, Esq., was chosen chairman, and Dr. R. H. Rose secretary of the meeting. A constitution was adopted, and the following officers were chosen for the year: Jesse Fell, Esq., president; Matthias Hollen- back, Esq., vice-president ; Thomas Dyer, Esq., treasurer ; Peleg Tracy, recording secretary; and Dr. Rose and Jacob Cist, corresponding secretaries. The preamble to the constitution declared the object of the society to be for the improvement and advancement of agriculture, by introducing improved breeds of horses, cattle, sheep, swine, and the best grain, such as wheat, rye, corn, &c., and the improvement of the soil by lime and manure. The prominent and efficient actors in this movement were Dr. Rose and Jacob Cist, Esq., both enterprising men, laboring for the advancement of useful knowledge, and possessing perhaps a greater share of scientific agricultural information than any other two gentlemen in the county. No proceedings of the Society have been preserved other than a report made in 1811, on 19 specimens of cloth, presented by Mr. Ingham, all of which were pro- nounced creditable. The pieces particularly noticed were those wrought by Miss Luckey, Raphael Stone, R. Ing- ham, A. Stevens, N. Stevens, and Joseph Ingham.
About this time the several turnpike roads, connecting the centre and extremities of the county with Easton and Philadelphia, were completed, or in process of completion. John Stoddart, then one of the most wealthy citizens of Philadelphia, who had subscribed $50,000 to the capital stock of the Lehigh Navigation Company, and through whose influence Mr. Ridgway and Mr. Girard had subscribed each a like amount, laid out Stoddartsville, and in 1816 erected a large merchant-mill at that place, with a view to purchasing the grain of Luzerne county, and manufacturing it into flour for the Philadelphia market. The merchants of Easton deposited money at Wilkesbarre to buy grain, and during the winter hundreds of sleds, drawn by noble horses, might be seen wending their way slowly with their heavy loads, up the mountain side, destined for the markets below. They returned with salt, sugar, molasses, and other necessaries. During the summer and fall the covered broad-wheeled Conestoga wagons, moved by four or six splendid draught-horses, were constantly employed in transporting the productions of the county to market.
The old route, by which the produce of the county was conveyed, in Durham boats, to Middletown, and thence by teams to Philadelphia, a distance of 220 miles, was now superseded by new avenues, which brought the market within 60 miles of us.
As has been stated before, the wives and daughters of the early settlers, and of their immediate descendants, were manufacturers of woolen, linen, and cotton cloth. Besides producing a substantial article, they could give it all the brilliant colors from butternut to federal blue. We believe some of the old spinning-wheels of the last century are still in existence.
In 1811, Francis McShane erected a small cut-nail manufactory in Wilkesbarre, and used anthracite coal in smelting the iron. He conducted a successful business for several years, selling nails by wholesale, or retail, to suit purchasers.
In 1842, H. S. & E. Renwick, of New York city, erected an anthracite furnace, operated by steam-power, at Wilkesbarre, eight feet in the boshes. These gentle- men carried on the manufacturing of pig-iron for about one year, after which the furnace was suffered to lie idle until 1854. It was then purchased by John McCauley and the Messrs. Carter, of Tamaqua, who enlarged it and put it in blast. The iron ore and limestone were transported by canal from Columbia county ; and the works, under the direct management of Mr. McCauley, yielded six tons of iron per day. The establishment was consumed by fire in 1856, and has not been rebuilt.
In 1840, Thomas Chambers, E. R. Riddle & Co., erected a large rolling-mill and nail factory, at South Wilkesbarre, about one mile from the court-house, at a cost of $300,000. While these works were in operation, during a year or two, Wilkesbarre increased in population and business ; but the establishment becoming involved, it was finally sold on a debt due the Wyoming Bank. It was pur- chased by the Montour Iron Company, and transported to Danville. It seems strange that our capitalists would allow these works to be sold for one-fifth their value, and to be conveyed away to a neighboring county.
The first steam-engine manufactured in Luzerne, was made by Richard Jones, in 1833, at Wilkesbarre. Richard was an ingenious young mechanic, and though he had never seen a steam-engine, except as represented in books, constructed one in miniature, with a cylinder 1 1/2 inches in diameter, and with a stroke of 3 inches. In 1835, at his suggestion, Joseph White, another ingenious work- man, built a small boat 6 1/2 feet in length, with side-wheels, in which the engine made by Jones was placed. The boat was launched in the canal-basin, at Wilkes- barre, on the 4th of July, 1835. The engine was set in motion, and the little boat dashed through the water, amidst the cheers of a great crowd of boys.
The first engine constructed in the county for service (was manufactured, in Wilkesbarre, by Benjamin Drake and J. C. Smith, in 1836. Its cylinder was 9 inches in diameter, with 3 feet stroke, and 15 horse power. It was placed in Smith's grist-mill in Plymouth.
In 1791, Philip Ginther, while hunting, accidentally discovered coal at what is now called Mauch Chunk, and communicated the fact to Colonel Jacob Weiss, who pur- chased the land, and soon after carried specimens of the coal to Philadelphia in his saddle-bags. He exhibited them to several persons, who called them worthless black stones, and laughed at the colonel's folly. But Colonel Weiss was not discouraged. In 1792, he and others formed themselves into a company called the " Lehigh Coal Mine Company," the first of the kind in the United States. In 1803 the company succeeded in getting two ark-loads, about 30 tons, to Philadelphia, but no purchaser could be found. As a matter of experiment, the city authorities at length consented to take it. An attempt was made to burn it under the boilers of the steam-engine at the Water-works, but it only served to put the fire out. The remainder was then broken up, and scattered over the sidewalks, in place of gravel !
Up to this time the blacksmiths in the vicinity of the mines, wherever discovered, were using the coal in their shops. But no one had as yet discovered the art of consuming anthracite for domestic purposes. This happy discovery was made, eventually, by Jesse Fell of Wilkes- barre. Mr. Fell was a native of Bucks county, and early removed to Luzerne, where he acted for many ^ears as one of the associate judges of the county courts. Understanding the composition of anthracite, or, as it was then called, stone-coal, he concluded that a good draft of air was alone necessary to make it burn freely. He accord- ingly constracted a grate of green hickory saplings, and, placing it in a large fire-place in his bar-room, filled it with broken coal. A quantity of dry wood was placed under the grate and set on fire, and the flames spreading through the coal it soon ignited, and before the wooden grate was consumed the success of the experiment was fully demonstrated. A wrought iron grate was now constructed, and set with brick and mortar in his fireplace, and was soon glowing with the burning stone-coal. The judge made the following memorandum at the time on one of the fly leaves of a book, entitled " The Free Mason's Monitor :" " February 11th, of Masonry 1808. Made the experiment of burning the common stone-coal of the valley, in a grate, in a common fire-place in my house, and find it will answer the purpose of fuel, making a clearer and better fire, at less expense, than burning wood in the common way. "February 11th, 1808. Jesse Fell." News of the successful experiment soon spread through the town and the country, and the people flocked to the old tavern of Judge Fell, of which he was proprietor and keeper, to witness the strange but simple discovery.
Circle after circle gathered about the glowing and wonderful fire, and bowl after bowl of punch, and mug following mug of flip, were drank, with many kind expressions for the judge's health. Similar grates were soon constructed by his neighbors, and in a short time were in general use throughout the valley. The public-house, in which this memorable experiment was made, stood on the corner of Washington and Northampton streets.
In the spring of 1808, John and Abijah Smith, having witnessed the successful experiment at Fell's tavern, loaded two arks with coal from the old Smith bed, on Ransom's Creek, in Plymouth, and took it down the river to Columbia; but on offering it for sale, no person could be induced to purchase. They were compelled to leave the black stones behind them unsold, when they returned to their homes. The next year the Smiths, not discouraged by their former ill success, taking two arks of coal and a grate, proceeded to Columbia. The grate was put up in the presence of spectators, and the practicability of using the black stones as a fuel was clearly demonstrated. The result was a sale of the coal and the establishment of a small trade. Colonel George Shoemaker, in 1812, discovered coal on the Schuylkill, and conveyed nine wagon-loads of it to Philadelphia, where he ofiered it for sale. He sold two loads by dint of great perseverance, to persons who afterwards denounced him as an impostor, for inducing them to purchase a worthless material. The other seven loads he gave away to such as promised to try to use it. In 1813, Colonel George M. Hollenback sent two four- horse loads of coal, from the mine now worked by Colonel H. B. Hilman, above Mill Creek, in this county, to Philadelphia ; and James Lee, Esq., in the same year, sent one four-horse load from Hanover to a blacksmith at Germantown. This was, probably, the first consider able quantity of Wyoming coal which reached Philadel- phia and the vicinity. The pens of Charles Miner and of Jacob Cist, Esqs., of Wilkesbarre, were now busily employed in giving informa- tion on the use and value of anthracite coal. The news- papers of that day, published in New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, bear ample testimony to the ability with which the subject was commended to the public. Mr. Cist sent specimens of Wyoming coal to all the large cities in the Union, to England, to France, to Germany, and even to Russia. Messrs. Miner and Cist, having obtained the co-operation of John Robinson and Stephen Tuttle, Esqs., leased the Mauch Chunk mine, the most convenient to Philadelphia, in December, 1813. On the 9th of August, 1814, they started off the first ark from Mauch Chunk. " In less than eighty rods from the place of starting, the ark struck on a ledge and broke a hole in her bow. The lads stripped themselves nearly naked, to stop the rush of water with their clothes." In six days, however, the ark reached Philadelphia, with its twenty- four tons of coal, which had by this time cost fourteen dollars a ton. " But," says Mr. Miner, " we had the greater difficulty to overcome of inducing the public to use our coal when brought to their doors. " We published hand-bills, in English and German, stating the mode of burning the coal, either in grates, in smiths' forges, or in stoves. Together we went to several houses in the city, and prevailed on the masters to allow ns to kindle fires of anthracite in their grates, erected to burn Liverpool coal. We attended at blacksmiths' shops, and prevailed upon some to alter the Too-iron, so that they might burn Lehigh coal ; and we were sometimes obliged to bribe the journeymen to try the experiment fairly, so averse were they to learn the use of a new sort of fuel."
In 1812 an application was made to the legislature for a law for the improvement of the river Schuylkill. The coal on the head-waters of that river was held up as an inducement to the legislature to make the grant, when the senator from Schuylkill county rose in his seat and declared there was no coal there ; that there was a kind of a " black stone" that was called coal, but that it would not burn ! In 1817, some time after Messrs. Miner and Cist had abandoned the Lehigh project, the mines were leased by Josiah White and Erskine Hazzard, who had used the coal in their wire manufactory in Philadelphia. These shrewd, enterprising men foresaw that an extensive trade in coal would eventually arise in this state ; and to over- come the dangerous and difficult navigation of the Lehigh, Mr. White invented what is known as the bear-trap dams, so arranged as to create artificial floods, on which arks, loaded with coal, were conveyed to the Delaware. By this process Lehigh coal was sent to Philadelphia until the completion of the canal and slackwater navigation in 1827. In 1820, which year is generally considered the date of the commencement of the coal trade, 365 tons of Lehigh coal supplied the market. In 1821, 1073 tons were mined; in 1822, 2240 tons; in 1823, 5523 tons; in 1824, 9541 tons ; and in 1825, 28,393 tons. In 1825 the Schuylkill region sent 6500 tons to market, at which period may be dated the commencement of the coal trade on the Schuylkill.
The demand for coal led to the construction of the Lehigh navigation, 74 miles in length, from Easton to Port Jenkins, at a cost of $4,455,000. The Beaver Meadow Railroad, 26 miles long, and connecting with the Lehigh cost $300,000 ; and the Beaver Meadow Company, in 1837, sent 33,617 tons of coal to market. The Hazelton Railroad, 10 miles long, and connecting with the Beaver Meadow road, cost $120,000; and the Hazelton Company, in 1838, sent 16,221 tons of their coal to market.
In 1813, Colonel G. M. Hollenback employed Daniel Gould to mine two ark-loads of coal from the bed above Mill Creek, at 75 cents per ton. In the fall of the same year, Joseph Wright, Esq., loaded two arks with coal from an opening near the present depot of the Pennsyl- vania Coal Company, at Pittston. It was from this open- ing that Ishmael Bennet dug coal as far back as 1775, to use in his blacksmith shop. About the same time (1813), General Lord Butler sent down the river 100 tons, mined from the old Baltimore bed, which, with that of Messrs. Hollenback and Wright, was the first coal from Wyoming to come in competition with Smith's at Marietta and Columbia. The price of coal at these places then ranged from $5 to $7 per ton. In 1814, Crandal Wilcox entered the trade, and sent several ark-loads of coal down the river from the old Wilcox mine, in Plains township. In 1820, Colonel Washington Lee discovered coal in Hanover, on the Stewart property, which he had purchased ; and in the same year he mined and sent to Baltimore 1000 tons, which he sold at $8 per ton. White & Hazzard, the same year, shipped only 365 tons of the Lehigh coal to market. Up to this date the total amount of coal sent from Wyoming is reckoned at 8500 tons, while that from the Schuylkill and Lehigh regions did not exceed 2000 tons. And thus, it is seen, that in the year which dates the commencement of the coal trade, Wyoming sent to market a much greater quantity than the other portions of the anthracite field. In our valley, at this time, grates and coal stoves were in general use ; and Wilkesbarre was supplied with fuel from Lord Butler's mine at $3 per ton, delivered, wdiile the farmers, each digging for himself, obtained their supply from the numerous imperfect openings in their several neighborhoods. In 1823, Colonel W. Lee and George Gaboon leased the Stivers mine in Newport, 14 feet vein, and employed Timothy Mansfield to mine and deliver 1000 tons of coal into arks at Lee's Ferry, at $1.10 per ton. Mansfield, notwithstanding he Avas a Yankee, did not understand coal mining ; for, instead of tunneling and blasting, he removed a heavy covering of earth and slate from the vein, and broke it down wdth large iron wedges, at a fear ful cost to himself, as well as to his employers, who sold the coal at Columbia for $1500 less than cost. Scientific mining in those days was not well understood in America. Few, if any, practical European miners had yet reached our valley. "We must, however, except Abraham Wil- liams, who emigrated to America from Wales in 1799. In 1805, this pioneer of the Luzerne mines made his appearance in the " Federalist," published at Wilkesbarre, in the following advertisement : — " The subscriber takes this method of informing the public that he understands miner's work. He has worked at it the greater part of 23 years in the mines of Wales, one year and a half in Schuyler's copper-mines in New Jersey, and three years in Ogden's in the same state. If anybody thinks there is any ore on his lands, or wants to sink wells, blow rocks or stones, he understands it wet or dry, on the ground or under the ground. " He will work by the day, or by the solid foot or yard, or by the job, at reasonable wages, for country produce. " He works cheap for country produce, But cash, I tliink, he won't refuse ; Money is good for many uses ; Despise me not nor take me scorn, Because I am a Welshman by my born. Now I am a true American, With every good to every man. " Abraham Williams."
From 1823 to 1829 the Susquehanna coal trade increased with considerable rapid-ity. The completion of the canal, then under contract up to Nanticoke, promised new and enticing facilities for the transportation of coal to market. The attention of Baltimore capitalists was directed to the Wyoming coal- field, and in July, 1829, Thomas Simington, Esq., of that city, purchased the Lord Butler mine, 410 acres of land, for 14,000, or less than $35 per acre. Soon after this the Baltimore Coal Company was formed. The completion of the canal to the Nanticoke dam, in 1830, gave a great impetus to business in this part of the state, which was further increased by the Tide Water Canal, constructed to avoid the dangerous navigation of the Susquehanna from Columbia to tide. In 1834, the canal was completed to the Lackawanna, affording faciliIn 1838, Garrick Mallery and John and Lord Butler, Esqs., opened their mines at Pittston, connecting them with the canal by a railroad one mile and eight hundred feet in length, and in 1840 they shipped their first coal from Pittston by canal. The completion of the Lehigh and Susquehanna Eail- road, in 1843, connecting Wilkesbarre with White Haven, promised another outlet to market for Wyoming coal. These improvements, together with the discovery of the methods of generating steam on boats, and of smelting iron in furnaces, hy the use of anthracite, created a great and increasing demand for coal in all quarters of the state, and in the seaports of the country generally. At this time the coal operators in the valley and vicinity were, Washington Lee, Jameson Harvey, Freeman Thomas, Thomas Pringle, Henderson Gay lord, John Turner & Sons, J. B. Smith, Mallery & Butler, Boukley & Price, John Blanchard, David Lloyd, Jong,than Jones, The Baltimore Company (Alexander Gray, agent), Nathan Beach, who opened his mine in the Ptocky Mountain, below Shickshinny, about the year 1828, and the Wyoming Coal Com- pany (S. Holland, H. B. Hillman & Alexander Lockhart). In 1838, the Wyoming Company connected their lands, 500 acres in Hanover, with the Nanticoke pool or slack- water, by a railroad 2 miles in length, and a basin, at a cost of 122,700. They shipped their first coal in 1840 and in 1847 Colonel Hillman shipped 10,000 tons of coal from the old Blackman and Solomon Gaj) or Ross mines to New York and Philadelphia, via the Susquehanna and Lehigh Railroad, &c. This was the first considerable amount of coal sent from the valley by that route. In 1842, Wyoming sent to market 47,346 tons of coal; in 1843, 57,740 tons; in 1844, 114,906 tons; in 1845, 178,401 tons; in 1846, 166,923 tons, and in 1847, 285,462 tons.* In 1850 the Pennsylvania Coal Company completed their railroad to Hawley, and commenced shipping coal from Pittston to New York. This, with the exception of the Delaware and Hudson, is the largest company in Lu- zerne. It owns about 10,000 acres, of which 6000 are coals lands, and ships annually about 600,000 tons to market.* The North Branch Canal w^as completed in 1856, con- necting us with the New York improvements, and during the fall of that year 1150 tons of coal were sent up to West- ern New York. In 1857, 2274 tons passed up to the same destination; in 1858, 38,947 tons; and in 1859, 51,914 tons. By the extension of the Lackawanna and Bloomsburg Railroad to Northumberland, and the finishing of the lateral roads connecting with the Susquehanna and Lehigh Railroad, all of which will be accomplished in the course of the present year, the Wyoming coal may be trans- ported by rail and canal to all the inland and seaboard cities of the country. The amount shipped from the Wyoming coal-field may be reckoned as follows : from 1808 to 1830, 48,500 tons; from 1830 to 1840, 350,000 tons; from 1840 to 1850, 1,407,554 tons; and from 1850 to 1860, we estimate the amount at 4,079,053 tons, ex- clusive of that mined in the valley by the Pennsylvania Coal Company. The total amount mined in the Wyoming Valley down to 1860, is 10,593,376 tons.
The shaft of the Dundee Company, in Hanover town- ship, has been sunk to the perpendicular depth of 792 feet, where the Nanticoke or Mill vein was struck, which is 12 feet in thickness. It is the first vein below the sur- face, and the sixth from the bottom. This proves tho truth of the theory that the flats or lowlands in the valley are underlaid with coal.
The Wilkesbarre Debating Society was organized March 8th, 1804, and was the first in the county of which Ave have any record. The proceedings, when deemed expe- dient by the society, were to be kept secret, and any member violating this provision of the constitution was severely dealt with. Absentees were fined fifty cents, and any member refusing to take part in the debate paid twenty-five cents into the treasury. This association was organized by Thomas Dyer, Charles Miner, John Evans, Arnold Colt, Nathan Palmer, Josiah Wright, Ezekiel Hyde, Thomas Graham, Thomas Wells, and Roswell Wells. The first question for debate w^as as follows : '' Is celibacy justifiable by the laws of God, or consistent with moral principles ?" The discussion was animated, exhibiting no mean powers of debate on the part of several members. The question was decided in the negar tive. Half a century ago the affirmative must have had narrow ground to stand on, and feeble weapons to con- tend with. The young women of that day entertained proper ideas of domestic responsibility and economy. They were early taught all the essentials of good house- keeping, and generally made attentive wives and excel- lent managers. Men could then live cheaper, grow richer, and be happier, as husbands, than as celibates. It would have sounded ridiculous to decide the question in the affirmative then. In the present year of our Lord this is all changed. The question, as to the justification of celibacy, has become one on the affirmative of which a great deal may be said and strongly urged. Ladies, generally speaking, are no longer the economical managers, and the prudent housekeepers they once were. Men find themselves compelled to support extravagant, wasteful, and idle families. While they are exerting their mental and physical powers to the utmost to procure means to keep their position in society, then* wives and daughters are squandering in luxurious living the hard earnings of their husbands and fathers. The multitudes of unmarried men and women in the country, now-a- days, exhibit a practical decision of that question in the affirmfttive. In 1809 the name of this association was changed to that of the Wilkesbarre Beneficial Society ; from which we infer that weekly or monthly dues were paid by' members for charitable objects. Perhaps the institution assumed the character of a secret organization, as a rival to the Quincun Society or Tribe, which started into existence, in Wilkesbarre, in 1806. This, so far as we can learn, was the beginning of debating or literary societies in Luzerne, which were kept up under various names until 1839, when the present Wyoming Literary Society was estabhshed. Many men, who afterwards became eminent, participated in the establishment and proceedings of these associations. There were Denison, Grifhn, Cist, Mallery, Scott, Bowman, Wright, Beaumont, Bidlack, Woodward, Butler, Conyngham, Lane, Burnside, .Hoyt, Nicholson, Lee, Ross, Smith, and many others who trained their faculties for debate in these societies. The Hon. Charles Miner and Thomas Dyer, Esq., two of the original members of the first debating society, still survive (1860). In 1806 the Wilkesbarre or Wyoming Library Company was formed. Its object was to procure a collection of valuable books, to be placed within the reach of all who desired knowledge. As is generally the case with libraries in country towns, the books became scattered, and many were lost. In 1826 a search committee was appointed, to restore the collection as far as practicable. The remaining books were brought together, and were divided among the members of the company by lot.
The Luzerne County Temperance Society, with its numerous auxiliaries, was in complete and successful operation as early as 1838. In a few years the effects of these societies were apparent in the force of the public opinion which they had created in opposition to the rum traffic. They rescued a multitude, who were hurrying with rapid steps to an early grave, and extinguished the fires of many distilleries. They prevailed with the farmer to banish the whiskey-bottle from the harvest- field, and with the citizen to remove it from his sideboard. The combined efforts of these societies throughout the whole country arrested the fearfully-swelling tide of intemperance w^iich, at one time, threatened to make America a nation of drunkards. These societies, also, after accomplishing much good, languished, and finally ceased to exist. Their place was supplied by a secret organization, called the Sons of Temperance. The Wyoming division of this order. No. 28, was established in Wilkesbarre May 29th, 1845. There were sixteen divi- sions in the county, and they continued their operations until 1853, when their meetings ceased. The Lenni Lenape Lodge of Good Templars was or- ganized at Wilkesbarre in 1855. They finally numbered six lodges in Luzerne, but these are now no more. Both the orders mentioned were of a beneficial character, and had for their object the arrest of intemperance. There is, unquestionably, yet a vast deal of intemperance in the land, but it is to be hoped that wise and judicious measures, of a moral character, on the part of the sober and religious people of the country, will eventually extirpate this evil.
The second lodge of Ancient York Masons, held within the limits of Luzerne, was opened at the house of Jesse Fell, in Wilkesbarre, February 27th, 1794. Geo. Seytz officiated as W. M., J. P. Schott, S. W., Peter Grubb, J. W., and Arnold Colt, Secretary. On the following St. John's day, the lodge marched in procession to the court-house, where a sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Drake, who, in connection with the Rev. Brother Cox and the Rev. William Bishop, appears to have been the officiating chaplain, for a number of years. On the 23d of December, 1799, the death of General Washington was announced to the lodge, and on the 27th the fraternity assembled in the court-house, to hear an appropriate eulogium from Roswell Wells, Esq. Several years ago, during the anti-masonic excitement, many contended that Washington had never been a Mason, but the fact is too well attested to be doubted by any one of ordinary intelligence. In 1804, the lodge rented a room in the court-house, for which they annually paid the sum of ten dollars, and thenceforth they ceased to hold their meetings at the house of Judge Fell. In the same public building were held religious meetings, balls, political assemblies, and even the markets.
The last regular meeting of the lodge at Wilkesbarre, No. 61, was held August 12th, 1832. Among the earlier members of this lodge we find the names of Jonathan Hancock, Zebulon Marcy, Eleazar Blackman, F. Depuy, James Campbell, Josiah Wright, Samuel Jameson, Peter Yar- ington, Charles Miner, Joseph Wright, Oliver Helme, Isaac Bowman, J. and E. Bulkely, Caleb Hoyt, Asa Dimock, Ezekiel Hyde, and Stephen Tuttle. In 1844, the lodge was reorganized, Isaac Bowman act- ing as P. M., Andrew Beaumont, W. M., Henry Petti- bone, S. W., John Turner, J. W., Hezekiah Parsons, Treasurer, and Henry Colt, Secretary.
Besides the two chief orders of Masonry and Odd Fel- lowship, there are other societies of inferior note in the county. We mention The Herman Beneficial Society (German), which was established at Wilkesbarre, in 1846, and was named in honor of the Duke of the Cheruskers, a German tribe of people. Herm.an was the Washington of Germany. The Wyoming Beneficial Society (German), established at Wilkesbarre, in 1848, chiefly through the exertions of Captain John Reichart. The Ladies' Beneficial Society (German), organized at Wilkesbarre, in 1858. The Mechanics' Beneficial Association (German), or- ganized at Wilkesbarre, in 1859. The Jewish Benevolent Society, established at Wilkes- barre, in 1858, for the relief of suffering Jews.
On the 11th day of February, 1858, Dr. C. F. Ingham, Dr. W. F. Dennis, E. L. Dana, J. P. Dennis, G. P. Par- rish, Wm. P. Miner, S. Woodward, H. M. Hoyt, G. B. Nicholson, C. E. Wright, W. H. Beaumont, S. Bowman, S. S. Winchester, J. B. Conyngham, and others, met at the Old Fell Tavern, in Wilkesbarre, to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the successful experiment of burn- ing anthracite coal in a grate. The old grate, with which Judge Fell experimented, was procured and set up in the fire-place, and a bright coal fire was soon glowing, and warming the assembled company. At this meeting it was proposed to establish a Historical Society, and the proposition meeting general approval, a committee was appointed to draft a constitution, to be presented at the next meeting, to be held at Templar Hall.
On the 10th of May, 1858, the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society received corporate privileges, and soon after rented the present cabinet-room on Franklin Street, Captain E. L. Dana having been elected the first president. . This room, it was supposed, would be sufficiently large for the wants of the society for many years to come. But, owing to the praiseworthy exertions of the cabinet com- mittee, and to the liberal donations of many gentlemen and ladies in and out of the county, it is now full and overflowing with a great variety of rare and valuable speci- mens of minerals, shells, coin, Indian relics, &c. The society is in possession of the valuable collection of H. A. Chambers, of Carbondale, who spent twenty years in gathering valuable curiosities of ancient and modern times, especially coins and medals, of which he had upwards of 3000 pieces. The society is indebted to General Wm. S. Eoss, of Wilkesbarre, for this cabinet of rare curiosities. With a public spirit and a liberality seldom equaled, the General purchased the entire collection of Mr. Chambers for $2000, and presented it to the society. It forms a nucleus about which a great collection will eventually be gathered, interesting not to the antiquary alone, but to the people of all classes of society.
TURNPIKES. As the population, productions, and wealth of the county increased, there was an urgent demand for better roads, and easier communication between distant points. In 1802, a charter was procured from the state for con- structing the Easton and Wilkesbarre Turnpike. The turnpike occupied a large portion of the old road, and it was chiefly through the exertions of Arnold Colt that the first 29 miles, reckoning from Wilkesbarre, were com- pleted in 1806. . Soon after, the whole distance from Wilkesbarre to the Wind Gap, 4G miles, was finished at a cost of $75,000. In 1810, the company declared a dividend of $2.60 on each share of $50. During the embargo, in 1812 and 1813, the farmers of Northampton county were unable to procure plaster from the seaboard, and were compelled to use New York plaster, Avhich was conveyed down the Susquehanna in arks to Wilkesbarre, and thence in sleds and wagons over the turnpike. This additional travel added to the dividends, which were $2.75 per share, after deducting the increased expenditures for improve- ments. A turnpike mania now seized the people. The old Nescopeck and Lehigh road was transformed into a turnpike, under the name of the Susquehanna and Lehigh Turnpike. The Susquehanna and Tioga Turnpike, ex- tending from Berwick in Columbia county, opposite Nescopeck, through Fairmount and Huntington town- ships in Luzerne, and thence to Towanda, was constructed at an enormous expense to the state and to individual stockholders. The stock finally became valueless, and the road was abandoned. Through the influence and energy of H. W. Drinker and Thomas Meredith, Esqs., what is known as Drinker's Turnpike was constructed, connecting the northern portion of this county with the Easton and Wilkesbarre Turnpike at Taylorsville. The Wilkesbarre and Bridgewater Turnpike, extending northward, via Tunkhannock and Montrose, was also con- structed, and in common with the other roads, except the Easton and Wilkesbarre and the Susquehanna and Lehigh, was abandoned by its company several years ago.
The Wilkesbarre and Providence Plank-road Company was incorporated in 1851. The distance from Wilkes- barre to Pittston, eight miles, was constructed at a cost of $43,500. The balance of the road was never placed under contract, and the stock has gone down from $25 per share to $4, its present value.
The second railroad in Luzerne was commenced by the Baltimore Coal Company in 1834, and was completed in 1835. The road extends from the mines to the canal at Wilkesbarre, and is upwards of a mile in length. The loaded cars advance by gravity, while the empty ones, formerly returned by horse-power, are now moved by steam.
The Lehigh and Susquehanna Railroad was consequently commenced in 1838, E. A. Douglas and Lord Butler, engineers. It would have been completed in 1841, but for the extraor- dinary floods of that year. However, it was finished in 1843, at a cost exceeding $1,350,000, and on the 23d of May, the first train of passenger cars entered Wyoming Valley, and the borough of Wilkesbarre. The people were highly excited, testified by their shouts and by the thunder of the cannon, for it was believed that a new era of progress and improvement had dawned upon us. The road is 20 miles in length, and is laid with the T rail. It has three planes ascending from the Susquehanna to an elevation of 1270 feet, and descending thence to White Haven with a grade of 50 feet to the mile. These planes are 435G, 3778, and 4797 feet, respectively, in length, and the cars are drawn up by stationary steam-power.
After the civil war, and the organization of Luzerne county, a weekly mail was forwarded between Wilkes- barre and Easton. In 1797 Clark Behe, the post-rider, informed the public, through the Wilkesbarre Gazette, that as he carried the mail, once a week, to Easton, he would also carry passengers, "when the sleighing is good," at $2.50 each. During the same year the mail was carried, on horseback, once a week, from Wilkes- barre via Nanticoke, Newport, and Nescopeck to Berwick, returning via Huntington and Plymouth. The only authorized post-office in the county was at Wilkesbarre, and all letters and papers for Nescopeck, Huntington, and other places in Luzerne, were left at certain private houses designated by the Wilkesbarre postmaster. In 1798, a mail was run, once in two weeks, between Wilkesbarre and Great Bend ; and, in the following year, a weekly route was opened between Wilkesbarre and Owego, in New York. These routes were sustained chiefly, if not altogether, by private subscription, like those of the early settlers ; the subscribers to newspapers paying as high as 50 cents per quarter to the mail carrier. Jonathan Hancock rode post from Willcesbarre to Berwick in the year 18OO; and, in 1803, Charles Mowery and a man named Peck carried the mail, on foot, once in two weeks, from Wilkesbarre to Tioga, In 1806, Messrs. Eobison & Arndt commenced running a two-horse stage, once a week, between Wilkesbarre and Easton, through in a day and a half; fare 3.50. The stages from Easton to Philadelphia ran through in one day. In 1810, Conrad Teter contracted with government to carry the mail, once a week, in stages, from Sunbury to Painted Post, by the way of Wilkesbarre and Athens. He, however, sold his interest in the route from Sunbury to Wilkesbarre to Miller Horton, but ran the other por- tion himself until 1816. In that year Miller, Jesse and Lewis Horton opened a new era in stage-coach traveling, and in carrying the mails in Northern Pennsylvania. These enterprising brothers contracted, in 1824, to carry the mails, in four-horse coaches, from Baltimore to Owego, by way of Harrisburg, Sunbury, Wilkesbarre, and Mont- rose ; and from Philadelphia to Wilkesbarre, via Easton. They also contracted to carry the mails from New York city to Montrose, by way of Newark and Morristown in New Jersey, and Milford in Pennsylvania. Post-offices were established at Plymouth, Kingston, Pittston, Tunk- hannock. Providence, and other places in the county; and comfortable and substantial four-horse coaches rolled daily and rapidly over our highways. Our post-offices* have gone on increasing until they now number 77. The state of Delaware has but 76 post-offices, and the state of Rhode Island has only 87, ten more than Lu- zerne county. There was something exhilarating in the sight of those large four-horse coaches, as they rolled into town, with the blast of the driver's horn, and the crack of his long lash. Proud of his steeds, and proud of his skill, with the lives of many intrusted to his charge, the driver, in those days, was no unimportant personage. Philip Ab- bott was the driver of Robison & Arndt's two-horse stage in 1806 ; but no driver, in this section of country, has equal fame with George Root, who drove stage for up- wards of forty years. Conrad Teter was a large, fat man of a jovial disposi- tion, and desirous of making a favorable impression on strangers. He drove stage — his own stage — up the river. He took pleasure in pointing out his farms to the pas- sengers. He frequently informed them, as he passed the large residence and farm of Colonel Benjamin Dorrance, in Kingston, that he was the owner ; and if asked, why he drove stage, would reply, that he loved to rein four horses and drive, but had no taste for farming. The Indian path, the common road with its rocks and stumps, the gig, the Durham boat, and the old stage- coaches, have disappeared. In their places we have the iron track, the locomotive, the steamboat, and the tele- graph. The next hundred years will probably produce changes equally marked ;
The first incorporated bank of issue, discount, and deposite in this country was the Bank of North America. It was located at Philadelphia, and started in the year 1781, with a capital of $800,000. The Massachusetts Bank and the Bank of New York were incorporated in 1784. The Bank of the United States was incorporated in 1791, with a capital of $10,000,000. In 1803, there were twenty-five banks in the United States, with an aggregate capital of $26,707,000.
In 1810, the Philadelphia Bank established a branch at Wilkesbarre, of which Ebenezer Bowman was president, and John Bettle cashier. The latter gentleman was succeeded by Joseph McCoy. The banking-house was located on River Street, and is now owned and occu- pied by Mrs. Ulp. Here deposites were made, good and bad paper discounted, and the notes of the parent bank, payable in Philadelphia, were issued until 1820, when the institution was discontinued. One effect of this branch bank was to drain the country of its silver, gold being almost unknown. Mr. S. Butler, who was a clerk in the institution, informs us that, at one time, forty thousand dollars in silver were sent to the city. The money was carefully enclosed in forty small boxes, and the whole then placed in one large box, which was put in Philip Reed's four-horse wagon, and covered with straw, grain, bags, &c. The valuable load was accompanied by Mr. Butler and Colonel Isaac Bowman, one of the bank direct- ors, and five days were occupied in the journey. " Had you fire-arms ?" we inquired. " Yes," said Mr. B. ; "I had a small pocket-pistol in my saddle-hags." One day they were hailed by a man, who asked if they had any rye flour ? " No," said Reed, " we have money." On being cautioned by Colonel Bowman, Reed replied, " The fel- low is not such a d d fool as to believe me." Fortu- nately no Rinaldo Rinaldini or Jack Shcppard lay con- cealed, with their comrades, in the " shades of death," or other thickets, along the old Easton Turnpike, watch- ing for prey, and the $40,000 were safely brought to Philadelphia.
In 1816, the Susquehanna Bank, at Wilkesbarre, was incorporated and organized. Joseph Sinton was chosen president, and the notes were engraved and signed, but, owing to the depressed condition of the money market and to other causes, they were never issued, and the bank never went into operation. To relieve the pressure, the former plan of issuing shin-plasters was resorted to by both companies and individuals. The Wilkesbarre and Nescopeck Bridge Companies put out large amounts, all of which were redeemed.
The Wyoming Bank was chartered, in 1829, with a capital of $150,000. In 1830, it went into operation in the dwelling of E. Lynch, Esq., on Franklin street. Benjamin Dorrance, Esq., was chosen the first president. Mr. Dorrance was succeeded by Garrick Mallery, Esq., and he by Colonel G. M. Hollenback. Edward Lynch, Esq., was chosen first cashier, lately succeeded by E. S. Loup, Esq. In 1832, the capital stock paid in was $47,990 ; deposites, $37,336 ; specie on hand, $8628 ; bills and notes discounted, $118,360; circulation, $63,310.
Mrs. J .... , at W , bewitched the cattle of , several of which died, in spite of the efibrts of Titus, an old negro witch doctor. For several days, Titus labored, using the ordinary remedy, a gun -barrel filled with a particular kind of liquid. But no effect was produced upon the witch, who continued, contrary to expectation, to exercise all her bodily functions. At length, a fine ox was taken sick, when a new remedy was applied to breat the spell. Miller, the sexton of the old church on the Public Square, taking the church key, aj)proached the ox, and putting it in the animal's mouth, turned it about three times, repeating certain spell-breaking words, known only to himself. The power of the witch was destroyed, and the ox recovered.
1805. The first animal show was held in Luzerne county. One elephant was exhibited in a log-stable, which stood on the ground now occupied by the new brick and iron store of G. M. Hollenback, Esq., in Market street, Wilkesbarre. The people assembled from all parts of the surrounding country, and one farmer carried a half bushel of wheat on his back, with which he paid the price of admission.
1822. This year Sam Wright emigrated from New Jersey to Wilkesbarre. Sam was a negro 4 feet 6 inches in height, and measured 9 feet in circumference. He was a proficient in the art of cookery, and on his arrival opened an oyster saloon for the accommodation of the lovers of the bivalve. Oysters had been kept and sold for many years before in the cellar of the old court-house, at Arndt's Tavern, and at one or two other places, but there had never been an eating-house or saloon established in the place, and conducted by a competent artist like Sam. Here good bread was baked and sold, and ginger- cakes besides, together with mince pies, and tarts of a most delicious flavor and taste. Here mead, the best of mead, with its sparkling spray and foam, could be obtained. Ladies and gentlemen of a former generation assembled here to partake of the delicacies which Sam's rare skill prepared. But Sam has been gathered to his fathers, and his suppers are like the memory of joys that are past. No stone marks the spot where Sam is laid, and in memory of the excellent baker and oysterman, we insert his old advertisement : — "Sam Wright, by day and by night, Will serve up fine oysters you know ; I have 'era on hand, and more at command. On the square and at Porter's below. If you call for a heart, or even a tart, I'll furnish them both if you please ; Mince pies I have too, or plum pudding in lieu, As well as dried beef and good cheese,"
