McAdoo History via Snoich/Zerbey
The Local Patchtowns ... and Large Map
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Credits
HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA With Illustrations and Biographical
Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers. |
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The pioneer settlers of this township were principally of German extraction. The first settler was a man named John Stackhouse, at a place now known as the "Green Fields,"2 situated at the foot of the Spring mountain, on the south side, at a distance of about forty rods from the main road between Tamaqua and Hazleton. Two large apple trees and the ruins of an oven mark the place where his log house once stood. It was built in 1815 or 1816. After his death, which occurred in January, 1846, it was occupied by Jet Scheiner, Weaver and others, who may be considered as being among the early settlers. In 1841 or 1842 a German named John Simmers settled where the Tresckow railroad crosses the main road leading from Tamaqua to Hazleton. His house was partly of logs and partly framed, and he occupied it about four years. A German named Henry Betzenberger then occupied it until it burned down in 1852. The old well dug by Simmers at the side of the road, now used by the public, shows where the building stood. The third house was built in 1849, and stands near the road leading from Summit [Lofty] to Hazleton, in the little mountain village of Silver Brook. It is a framed building, and it was first occupied by Herman Miller. It is now occupied by the wife of Henry Betzenberger, in possession of which family it has been since July, 1854. These were the only houses built in the township previous to the discovery of coal at Honey Brook in 1853. The only clearing in the township is a small field of about two acres in extent, called the "Green Fields." It was cleared by John Stackhouse more than sixty years ago, and he raised potatoes and green vegetables there. In 1856 and afterward Henry Betzenberger grew oats in this field, the only grain ever raised in this township. The first marriages of this township were those of Casper Brell in 1854, and John R. Sewell in 1859. Mrs. Sewell, now a widow, resides at Silver Brook. Henry Brell, son of Casper Brell, George Betzenberger and Ellen Betzenberger were the first children born. In 1839 or 1840 occurred the death of Mrs. Stackhouse. John Simmers died about 1845, and John Stackhouse in 1846. John Stackhouse and wife were buried at Beaver Meadow, and John Simmers at Tamaqua. There is no graveyard within the limits of the township.
FIRST ROADS AND STAGE LINES.26 The oldest road is the main road leading from Tamaqua to Hazleton.3 4 It has been in existence more than a hundred years, and in early times it formed the main route of travel between Pottsville and Wilkes-Barre. Express teams, merchant teams, stage lines, and especially the many lumber teams conveying lumber from the valleys of the Susquehanna to Tamaqua, Hamburg, and other towns, tended to make this road a great highway. In 1855 it was turnpiked by Roland Jones, of Tamaqua. It was discontinued as a turnpike in 1857, and has since remained a township road. It was upon this road that the first stage line ran through this township, in 1841 or 1842. It was owned by David Moyer, of Tamaqua. It carried the United States mail between Tamaqua and Hazleton and Beaver Meadow. Edward Everet was the first stage driver. In 1844 or 1845, this line was purchased by Peters & Co., of Philadelphia, who extended it to Wilkes-Barre and carried the mail between that place and Pottsville. This line was known as the mail line. Another line, known as the opposition line, owned by Adams & Co., ran over this road at the same time. Both these lines were discontinued in 1854. The second road was opened between Summit (Lofty), and Silver Brook.5 Another road, connecting Honey Brook with the main road, was opened about the same time. In 1854 John Schiefly and Stephen Jones opened a stage line between Summit and Wilkes-Barre and carried the mail between those places. This road has ever since been a mail route. The mail is at present carried by Thomas Casselberry, of Hazleton, who runs a stage line between that place and Summit. The first tavern2 was kept by John Stackhouse more than fifty years ago. The accommodations were exceedingly poor. Teamsters and travelers were obliged to sleep on the floor on blankets, there being no sleeping apartments. For many years this was the only house between Beaver Meadow and Lindnersville (Ed: Lofty?), and was a general stopping place for all travelers. It had a large amount of custom, and had stable capacity for ten or twelve horses. After the death of John Stackhouse, this stand was kept open for several years by Jet Scheiner. The other early taverns were those kept by John Simmers in 1841, Henry Betzenberger in 1845, and Jacob Gardner at Summit in 1854. All these stands had much custom. The accommodations at Summit and Betzenberger's were good. They were licensed taverns, and had stable room for ten or twelve horses each. The Summit Hotel is at present kept by Edward Cope. The other three have long been closed. Within the last seven years there have been four taverns opened at Silver Brook and vicinity. Their keepers are Patrick Carlin, Patrick Lafferty, James McBrarity and James Mullin. RAILROADS.6 The Catawissa Railroad8 was completed on the fourth of July, 1854. A branch about two miles in length was built from Summit to the Silver Brook colliery in 1865. The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company leased this road in 1873, and it now forms the Williamsport branch of that road. The Quakake Railroad, intending to intersect the Catawissa Railroad near Summit Station, in 1839 graded an inclined plane about half a mile in length at a place called Switchback5, nearly two miles east of Summit. Before the track was laid the project was abandoned. The Beaver Meadow Railroad was constructed to the mines at Honey Brook in 1855-56. All the coal mined in the Honey Brook basin previous to 1869 was transported over this road. The Tresckow Railroad9 was completed in 1869. Nearly all the coal mined in the Honey Brook basin goes over this road. The public school at Honey Brook9 was opened November 1st, 1858. It was held in a building rented of J.B.McCreary, situated at a short distance east of the town. The school was first taught by Charles Betzenberger for $25 per month. His successors up to 1865 were Abel Hotlicher, J.S. Longacre, James F. Hagerty and Mrs. Langdon, at salaries ranging from $20 to $35 per month. Mrs. Langdon was the wife of W.F.S. LangdonEndnote6, dockage boss at colliery No. 1, who was murdered by the Mollies in 1860. Jack Kehoe8 was the alleged murderer. Mrs. Langdon taught at Honey Brook for several years. This school was known as school No.6, being the sixth public school opened in Rush township. The members of the school board in 1858 were: Henry Hauck, president; Isaac A. Blew, secretary; Jacob Faust, Henry Betzenberger, Aaron Boughner and Daniel Kester. In November, 1865, a school building, containing two schoolrooms, was erected in the eastern part of the town at a cost of $1,225. David Mulhall and Mrs. Langdon were the first who taught in this building, where the schools were held for nine years, when a new one, costing $2,700, was erected near the center of the town. It has three rooms, in which three teachers are employed. The second school was opened at Silver Brook in November, 1865. It was known as school No. 9 of Rush, and was first taught by W.B. Stauffer at a salary of $40 per month. It was afterwards taught by Richard Morris, Thomas M. Frause, Mary Murrin and others. In 1880 a new building, costing the township $1,115, was built. The school numbers about 75 pupils and is taught by W.E. Malony. Summit Station5 received its name from its situation at the highest point on the Catawissa Railroad, 1,547 feet above the sea level. It is built upon the tract of Messrs. Stauffer and Lindner. A store was kept at this place by John Anderson, civil engineer for the Catawissa Railroad Company, to supply those employed in grading the Catawissa Railroad and constructing the tunnel10 at Summit from 1835 to 1838, when it was closed. This was the first store kept in the township. In 1854 Jacob Gardner built the Summit Hotel. This was a very important stand in its early days. Previous to the completion of the Quakake Railroad, connecting with the Beaver Meadow and Hazleton roads, Summit was one of the most important points of travel on the Catawissa Railroad11. Large quantities of freight were daily shipped at this station for Hazleton and vicinity. A large quantity of freight and coal transported over the Catawissa Railroad is weighed at this station. It contains the only postoffice and store in the township. The postmasters were A. Henrahan and Abraham Focht. The store was built by H.H. Roth, of Philadelphia, in 1879, and has quite a large trade. The most prominent and influential residents are Abraham Focht and Frank Kentner. The former is the present land owner, and in 1879 built an addition to the village of a number of houses. SILVER BROOKEndnote1 Silver Brook23 25 is built upon the tracts of G. Medler and others. The house of Mrs. Betzenberger was the only building there in 1864. It contained a company's store from then until 1871. The engine house and scale yards of the Tresckow Railroad are at this place. A large schoolhouse was built in 1880. All the buildings there, except those belonging to the Tresckow Railroad9, were owned by the operators of the Silver Brook5 colliery, and are now supposed to belong to the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company. They are fast decaying. One of these dwelling houses is a tavern stand kept by J. McBrarity. This place contained previous to 1877 a lodge of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Silver Brook Colliery: This colliery is upon the tracts of A. Grove and others, afterward the estates of Messrs. Dilworth and Mitchel, and consists of a slope and shaft. The sinking of these and the building of the breaker were begun by Alexander Gray & Co. in 1864, and completed in 1865. In 1865 or 1866 A. Gray sold his interests to S.P. Longstreet, of Wilkes-Barre. This colliery was then known as that of Hosie & Longstreet. It was under the management of Longstreet, and was well conducted. It shipped from 50 to 60 cars of coal per day, and was in operation till November, 1871, when S.P. Longstreet ordered the workings of the colliery to be discontinued. Nothing has since been removed from the place. The breaker is in a dilapidated condition, and the engines and boilers are nearly ruined. The mines have become filled with water, which now flows out at the top of the shaft. Within the mine are an excellent pump-engine and large quantities of pipe and iron. There still remain in this basin large quantities of coal. Only the south pitch of the veins has been worked. The north pitch, extending into the tracts of Messrs. Kelvey and Adders, remains unworked. There has been a dispute as to the ownership of this colliery since the time it ceased operations. It is now controlled and guarded by the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company. Honey Brook5 is on the tracts of V. Lewis and J. Kunkle. The first buildings were erected in 1853 by J.B. McCreary & Company, lessees of the Honey Brook coal basin. The town is the property of the Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Company. All the collieries in the vicinity of Honey Brook13 are owned by this company. The only public building is a large schoolhouse, built in 1874. The only shops are those connected with the different collieries. All the inhabitants are engaged in the collieries at Honey Brook and vicinity. Collieries Nos. 1 and 5 are situated at Honey Brook; Colliery No. 4 at Audenried, a small portion of which village is in Klein. Honey Brook Collieries: The Honey Brook coal basin, which extends from Carbon county into Schuylkill and unites with the Beaver Meadow basin, was opened in 1854 by J.B. McCreary & Company, lessees of the Honey Brook basin. There are six collieries in this basin in the vicinity of Honey Brook and Audenried21, of which Nos. 1, 4 and 5 are in Klein township. They are upon the tracts of J. Kunkle, C. Kunkle and V. Lewis. These mines are extensively worked, and form the eastern limits of the coal works in Schuylkill county. All these collieries consist of slopes, the excavations of which, upon examination, have been found to extend into the adjacent counties. Colliery No. 1,Endnote2 or the Honey Brook colliery, was opened in 1854. The first coal was shipped in 1856 over the Beaver Meadow Railroad.5 Colliery No. 2 was opened on the same base as colliery No. 1, in 1860. These collieries were superintended by Messrs. Meyers and Mumper. J.B. McCreary & Co., lessees, consolidated with the land owners in 1862, and formed the corporation known as the Honey Brook Coal Company, with Meyers and Mumper as superintendents. In 1865 A. Fellows became superintendent of both collieries, and held the position till 1867. From 1867 to 1871, during which time collieries Nos. 3 and 4 were opened, all the works of the Honey Brook Coal Company were superintended by William Hopkins. Colliery No. 3 is situated in Carbon county. In 1870 colliery No. 2 was abandoned and No. 4 was opened in its stead the same year. The coal mined at this colliery was shipped over the Tresckow Railroad. The breaker is situated within 50 feet of the Carbon county line. It requires 1,140 foot of rope to reach to the foot of the slope. Colliery No 5 was sunk in 1872 and is situated at the western end of the basin. The first coal was shipped in May 1873. The Honey Brook Coal Company in 1873 and was merged in a corporation known as the Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Company with E.B. Leisenring as superintendent. This company in 1877 went into the hands of a receiver. Since then all the collieries have been worked by contract by E.B. Leisenring. There are at present mined at these colliers from 1,000 to 1,500 tons of coal daily.
BRANDONVILLEEndnote3 This is a post village and station on the Catawissa Valley Railroad.14 It was laid out in 1864 by Nelson Brandon, who owned the land on which it is located. He built a hotel and store and sold them. The post office was established, with Rudolph Breisch postmaster, in 1868. Mrs. B.F. Clayberger was postmistress in 1880. The village contains three hotels, one public hall, two stores, a blacksmith shop and twenty five dwellings. B.F. Clayberger is the proprietor of the hall and one of the merchants; The other store is kept by Samuel Cope. The M.E. church of Brandonville was organized in 1879. Preaching had occasionally been furnished by clergymen from the surrounding towns, and since the organization services have been held with some regularity. The Union Sunday School was started in 1876, with seventy members. Its first superintendent was a Mr. Medlar. It received a charter from the courts in June, 1880, and numbered at that time one hundred and fifty five members, with D.R. Kauffman as superintendent. TORBERTEndnote4 Torbert15, 16 is a pleasant hamlet, portions of which were formerly named Girard Manor and Valencia. It is doubtless as well and favorably known from being the residence of Hon. William L. Torbert17 as from any other cause. The estate of Hon. William L. Torbert covers about seven thousand acres, comprising the eastern terminus of the Catawissa valley, along which it extends about eight miles from the summit of Mahanoy mountain westward. Near the eastern boundary of these lands a copious spring of water, possessing superior mineral qualities, forms a stream which almost immediately is divided into two branches20, one of which flows west, down the north slope of the mountain, into the Catawissa; The other, east to the Schuylkill. The Catawissa21, a fine stream, has its course through the estate for several miles, and grist mills, saw mills and other manufactories, standing at intervals on its shores, are propelled by its water power, which is good. Torbert's Glen, a wild, romantic and attractive pleasure resort, is visited during the summer and autumn by large numbers of people from various localities. Throughout the entire property, but more especially in those sections adapted to the production of grass, fruit and grain, large never failing springs abound, and the brooks, of which they are the sources, are abundantly supplied with trout, bass, sunfish, whitefish, and Susquehanna salmon.21 The soil under cultivation is excellent, producing crops of grass, fruit and grain of superior quality and abundant in quantity. The not far distant mining towns in the coal region contain a dense population of non producing consumers of everything in the way of provisions, and afford the best of market facilities to the estate, while the large number of horses and mules used in and about the collieries cause a demand for hay and feed of various kinds, which can be advantageously supplied by the producers being enabled to furnish these necessaries and be exempt from the heavy freight tariffs at which they are brought from western Pennsylvania, New York and other distant sections. These advantages, together with the fertility of the land, most of which is newly cleared, combine to place the local agricultural interests of the future in the foremost rank of successful enterprises in this part of the State. The adjoining properties on the north, south and east are in the anthracite coal measures, and are owned by the city of Philadelphia, the Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Company, Hon. William L. Torbert and the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company. Torbert is proverbial for the good health of its citizens and the attractiveness of its surrounding scenery. It is noted for the generous welcome extended to strangers who tarry there for longer or shorter periods. Senator Torbert's homestead lands are in one body, located in Schuylkill, Carbon and Luzerne counties (a portion in each), Hazelton, Audenried, Delano, Tamaqua, Mahanoy City, Shenandoah and other prominent towns being distant from four to eight miles, while Ashland and Pottsville lie only about sixteen miles away. A part of this pleasant hamlet was formerly owned by the famous philanthropist, Stephen Girard, from whom its former name was derived. It came into the possession of his heirs, and in 1854 John A. Girard, John Fabricus Girard, and their sister, Stephanie (Girard) DeLentilhac, made a settlement. They came from France, brought mechanics with them and erected buildings and mills. They opened a store in 1856, and conducted a somewhat extensive lumber business, but, owing to their lack of inclination to mix with the people of the adjacent country, and their extreme dislike for the Pennsylvania Dutch patois, the commercial language of the locality, they made few friends, and in 1864 disposed of the entire property to William L. Torbert, of Philadelphia. One of the manor houses was erected by John A. Girard. It is tastefully built in the French Gothic style, covered, in the usual European manner, with a profusion of grape vines, and finely shaded by handsome trees. Colonel Wynkoop built the Valencia manor house, he being at the time United States marshal for the eastern district of Pennsylvania. Besides these there are nineteen tenant houses, occupied by the workmen's families, and six farm houses with the usual outbuildings. A fine brick schoolhouse was erected in 1880, and it adds materially to the good appearance of the place. The religious advantages are good. The healthfulness of the locality is attested by the marked physical improvement of invalids who sojourn there temporarily. Torbert has convenient railways communication, the journey to New York and Philadelphia being made in four of five hours without change of cars, and to Williamsport, Baltimore and Washington in from four to eight hours, via the Philadelphia and Reading, the Lehigh Valley, the Central of New Jersey and the Pennsylvania railroads. Senator Torbert has charge of the Railway station, Telegraph and Express offices. The Post Office was established in 1865, with Mrs. Hester Torbert in charge. Hon. William L. Torbert was born in Philadelphia, Pa., October 24th, 1828, and was reared and educated in his native city, where he was prominent in the Masonic order, and in the Washington Greys, a military company. James Torbert, Esq., his father, was born at Spring Mill, Montgomery county, Pa., February 19th, 1798, and passed his youth in Chester county, Pa., where his parents, brothers and sisters remained during life, and where their descendants are most of them engaged in farming. On Christmas day, 1827, he married Margaret A. Loag, of Chester county, Pa., at the old Brandywine Manor meeting house. During the following year they removed to Philadelphia, where they lived until 1868, when they took up their residence in the Girard Manor mansion, near the residence of Hon. William L. Torbert, their son. Mr. Torbert died there October 16th, 1880, at the age of eighty two, and was buried in Laurel hill cemetery, Philadelphia. His widow, Margaret A. Torbert, eighty one years old, survives him, and is living at the homestead with her daughter, Miss M. Louisa. Their children were: Hon. William L. Torbert, M. Louisa Torbert, Mary J. Torbert, Emma J. Torbert, Anna Eliza Torbert, Ellie F. Torbert, A. Caroline Torbert, James Torbert, Jr.18, 19 Emma J. is the wife of Charles Tete, Esq., of Spring Hill, Delaware county, Pa., an extensive land owner in Schuylkill county. Ellie F. is the wife of Frank A. Smith, Esq., of West Philadelphia, Pa. Hon. William L. Torbert was married, in 1850, to Miss Hester Blatchford, also a resident of Philadelphia. Their children are: Mary C. Torbert, A. Caroline Torbert, James Franklin Torbert, Susan L. Torbert, Ida V. Torbert, William Stephen Torbert, Elizabeth F. Torbert Victoria Hester Torbert. Miss Ida V. married Mr. M.M. MacMillan, attorney, of Ann Arbor, Mich., September 9th, 1880. Miss Lizzie F. married Charles E. Titman, of Shenandoah, Pa., December 9th, 1880. James Franklin married Miss Sallie R. Burnett, of Spring Mill, Montgomery county, Pa., December 25th, 1880. Mrs. Torbert's parents were Stephen and Mary J. Blatchford, residents of Philadelphia, Pa., where their remains now lie in Woodland cemetery. The former died in November, 1865, at the age of seventy one; the latter April 11th, at the age of eighty one. From 1860 to 1865 Hon. William L. Torbert was located in Baltimore county, Md. Reference has been made to the purchase of the Girard manor property in 1864. Mr. Torbert subsequently bought Valencia and other additions to the original, being extensively interested in lumbering in Schuylkill, Columbia, Luzerne and Center counties, and having about two thousand acres of land under cultivation in the Catawissa valley surrounding his residence. Senator Torbert is the most liberal employer of agricultural labor in Schuylkill county. Those of his employes having families are comfortably located upon the estate, enjoying common privileges, each family free from expense of any kind a dwelling with fruit and fuel and ground enough for garden purposes. The liberal policy which governs Mr. Torbert in his relations with his large number of employes is so well appreciated by them that probably no set of laborers anywhere regard their employer more highly than they do Mr. Torbert. His work is pushed forward month after month without jar of cessation, and he finds not only profit but happiness in endeavoring by all proper means to better the condition of his employes and their families. Always active in mercantile pursuits and public duties, Mr. Torbert has been at the same time a successful business man and a hard worker for the public weal. Though never a seeker for official preferment, he has been repeatedly called to positions of trust and responsibility by the voters of his township, county and district. The fidelity and earnestness which have characterized his administrations of public affairs marked him for steady advancement until the confidence of the people in his ability and integrity was manifested by his election the State Senate by a large majority in 1876, and as an independent member for 1877 and 1878, his fellow townsmen of East Union indicating that he was not "without honor" at home by casting for him the unanimous and solid vote of the township, which aggregated more than any previous vote, even during closely contested elections when every vote was supposed to have exercised his right of suffrage. In all good work for the advancement of the causes of enlightenment and improvement, Senator Torbert has ever been qualified to lead and has been relied upon as a leader, but he has nevertheless, ever put his own shoulder manfully to the wheel, considering no necessary duty, however small, too insignificant for him to perform. It is this sturdy and stirring industry, coupled with an ever careful attention to details, that has made him one of the most successful men in this region. It is his regard for the rights of those dependent on him that has endeared him to those whose action he so ably directs. He is one of those helpful men through whose efforts the wheel of progress is made to move on, crushing obstructions and smoothing the pathway of general advancement. ___________end page 228._____________
Note 1: Silverbrook today is the site of a 'Co-Generation' plant where the old culm bank or 'coalbank' is burned to provide steam. Silverbrook now goes by the name Haddock24 or Haddocktown. Note 2: One of these collieries, Audenreid's Glen Alden #4 remained standing until the 1960s. The #5 Works lasted through the 1920s. These can be seen here. Note 3: Brandonville is near Ferndale and Ringtown on this map. Note4: 'Torbert' is not on the maps today. It was situated in the Brandonville/Ringtown/Girard Manor region, located at the west end of Spring Mountain near the Blue Head and Round Head spurs.15 25 20 Note5: Most of the early roads appear on this map. Note6: "Justice was done posthumously.
Kehoe's great grandson refused to accept the verdict and worked tirelessly
to have Kehoe's name cleared. In early January of l979, Governor Milton
J. Shapp issued a full pardon to John J. Kehoe." [Ref.]
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