EA RLY H I STO RY

F A L L S O F S C H U Y L K I L L ,

M A N A Y U N K ,

SC H U Y L K I L L A N D L E H I G H N A V I GAT I ON M C O PAN I E S ,

F AI RM O U N T W AT E RW K S ET C O R . ,

BY

V H ARL v H C E S . AG NE R .

V

P H I L A D E L P H I A

C LA! T O N REM S , EN , AN D H AFF ELFI N G E R,

3 1 A N D 8 2 ! M A RK E 9 T S T R E ET .

1 6 8 9 . E i A ct 1 86 b ntered accord ng to the of Cong ress , in the year 9 , y

LA! N R E M EN AN D H AF F E LF I N GE R C TO , S , , in the Office of the Cl erk of the D istrict Court of the United States in and for l v the Eastern D istrict of the State of Pennsy ania .

O L S R I T E R C L I N , P N ,

O A Y N E S T 7 S J . Ven e rabl e Old Fri e n d

OHN M cALL I S TER Ess 7 , a,

Wh o o n a o u s o ccas o n s h as s o k n ex e n e , v ri i , i dly t d d

t o m e th e u s e

o f h is e e n s e an d a e a xt iv valu bl libr ry,

This H umble Con tribution

to th e o c l s o o f h e h a e tc . L a H i t ry P ilad lp i , ,

is re sp e c tfu lly d e di c at e d

i h is s n c e re an d m u c h o b l i e d f e n by i g ri d ,

U T H E A T H O R .

I N T RO D U C T I ON .

I N th e e 1 8 6 I e on old e y ar 5 , was call d by an fri nd with a r eq u e st to give on e o f a course o f L e ctures th e n be ing de liv e re d

R B . h o e th e e o f th e ev . e o t e o und r auspic s Wist r M rris , at Sch l

. I o se ed oo o f . D oo r m St avids Church , Manayunk c n nt , and t k “ fo r e ! I ts e o e ro my subj ct Manayunk arly hist ry , ris , and p T h I e . o d o e to t e e o e e to e gr ss j ustic subj ct , f und it n c ssary b gin

th e e two e e o th e o f S c h u l with villag mil s b l w Manayunk , Falls y

e e o e th e S N o o kill , wh r riginat d chuylkill avigati n C mpany, which ,

ea th e e - o e o r e s was th e by cr ting wat r p w r mill s at at Manayunk ,

I e e re e e primary cause o f its o rigin . As prog re ss d th cam up fr sh o n s o e e a n d m e I my mind many int r sting facts circu stanc s , that soo n disc o v e re d I c o uld n ot d o justice to th e subj e ct in a singl e

h r n e e . I t e e fo re e two o e o n th e o f l ctur gav , Falls Schuylkill , th e o e n t o e th e o o th r o Manayunk . Wha is c ntain d in f ll wing

e th e e o f o e two e e th e e e e pag s is substanc th s l ctur s , which , at r p at d

e e o f e o I e o e to . r q u st many p rs ns , hav c nclud d publish

V H . C . .

C O N T E N T S .

PAGE

Fort St . Davids

J ohn D ickinso n

G o dfre y Sc h ron k Andre w G arre t Falls Cre e k

J o se ph Nee f

Rob e rt K e n e d y

J o siah White

Flat R o ck

Captain J ohn Towe rs

J o se ph Ripka

Chills and Fe v e r

Sal es o f Wate r Po we r

Po pulati o n Manayunk

Stage s

P ost - offi c e

Turnpik e Road

Sch oo ls v fi i CO NTENTS

B e o William L . r t n Library D ’ St . avid s Church

Ch ol e ra

Pe rsonal Re minisc e nce

J ose ph M onte lie r

Ste amb oats

C onclusi on EA R LY H I STO RY

OF TH E

LL F S H UY L K I LL E T C . F A S O C ,

V F O RT ST . D A I D S .

T H E village now called th e Falls o f Sc h uyl ” o f kill was one day a place m uch notoriety , and ther e are many int e resting facts o f an historical

e o f natur connected with it , which few persons this age are aware of; even its ancien t nam e , ” Fort St . Davids , which it bore for many years

o n e e (about h undr d) , seems to be entirely lost and forgotten . This name was given to th e village and adopted by the inhabitants, near th e

o f commencement the last century, by a n umber o f gentlemen who built a fishing house there , and formed themselves into a society under the “ ” name and title Of Fort St . Davids . Their

o f house , previous to the Revolution , was built

o f hewn logs , situated at the foot the hill imm e dia te l y opposite th e long rock , as it was called , upon which the ab utm ent o f the Falls Bridge I O EARLY HISTORY OF TH E

n was subseque tly and partly b uilt . This long

I e rock well r member , and have Often , when a fi b o . y, shed from it I t extended from the foot Of the hill to about two - thirds th e distance across the river , forming a compl ete natural dam , a part of it overhanging on th e lower side . In high freshets the water flowed over it an d made a beautiful cascade ; at other times it forced th e

o n river into a narrow channel the western Side , through which it ran with great rapidity an d fi m uch noise , falling some ve or Six feet in a dis

o n e tance Of about hundred and fifty yards , an d could b e heard at a distan ce o f from o n e to fi v e

o f miles , according to th e state the river and th e winds . There was a very singular and curious impression o r inden tation on a part o f this rock that attracted many persons there to View it . It was apparently an impression Of an immense tw o h uman foot , over feet long , and sunk som e

ix . s inch es in the rock It showed the heel ,

o f 1 n ste o f hollow the p , ball the foot and toes . It was called by the people in the neighborhood ’ ” The D evil s Foot , and there were som e super

stitio n s . in reference to it Professor Wagn er , who when a lad resided near the Falls, and had

Often seen it , asked me lately if I rem embered it ; he has som e theory on the subj ect . There

o r as were many other holes, pots , they were

of called , in the rocks, caused by ages attrition OF E TC . I I FALLS SCHUYLKILL ,

from stones and gravel , which the water , when

flowing over them , kep t in agitation . Some of these pots are Still to be seen o n a part O f the long rock remaining , and not covered by the water . There was a tradition that they were used by the Indians for pounding corn in ; cer ta in ly th ey were well adapted for such a pur pose .

o f Th e fi sh in g company Fort St . Davids was originally establish ed by a number o f prominent

o f an d wealthy gentlemen Philadelphia , among

We l c h m e n w h o whom were many , gave the

Society its name , St . David bein g their patron saint . It was organized and governed in the manner o f a garrison o r fortification ; i t had its

- in - commander chief, governor , captains, lieu

& c tenants , . The commander issued his orders ,

&c . proclamations , , in regular m ilitary style . The members and invited guests resorting there fi for recreation and amusement , the shing being e xcellent , which it contin ued to be, until th e improvements on the river b egan . For beauti ful scenery , romantic beauty , and fine fishing , there was n o place in the vicinity Of Ph il a d e l “ phia could in the least compare with Fort St . ” “ n o w o f Davids , or , as it is called , the Falls ” Schuylkill . The company continued its operations hap pily and successfully down to the breaking out 1 2 EARLY HISTORY OF TH E

of th e Revolutionary War, at which time it num bered among its m embers some o f the b est and m ost patriotic citizens Of the day ; but that period being n o time for frivolous Sports an d

amusem ents , it was in a great m easure aban

d o n e d , and most Of its m embers rushed , in som e

o r to way oth er, th e assistan ce , support , and defence o f their country ; and wh en th e British army subsequently took possession o f Ph il a d e l

phia , their building was destroyed by a portion

Of it encamped in th e neighborhood . From

w h o information derived from my father , resided at the Falls (in the summer seasons) from a period shortly after th e Revolution until his

8 0 death in I 3 , and who , togeth er with his neigh b o r an d revolutionary commander and camp — — mate Gover n or M ii n was often a guest at I Fort St . D avids , gather that the motive for th e destruction Of th e company ’ s house was the pro c l ivitie s o f lion /zed its m embers , who had Often tr a s it M ii n e on in . Governor resided in th e

o n u house th e pper Side Of th e Ridge Road ,

w as above the Indian Queen Lane . It formerl y a

- b eautiful country seat , having fountains in fron t . It was subsequen tly owned and occupied by Jacob

s G . Koch , an exten ive m erchant Of Philadelphia . OF E TC . 1 FALLS SCHUYLKILL , 3

J O H N D I C K I N SO N .

Some seven years previous to the Revolution , there lived in Philadelphia a highly talen ted and

Ph il a d e l patriotic gentleman , a member of the

phia bar , John Dickinson , subsequently elected

f e President O Pennsylvania . H e wrote a seri s of letters addressed to the inhabitants Of the Brit ish h Ph il a d e l Colonies , w ich were published in

phia and in London , and produced a powerful f ef ect , both here and in England . H ere , in convincing th e people Of the palpable in j u s

tice practised towards them , and in England ,

in raising us up hosts of powerful , ardent , and

fl u e n tia l friends . These letters , or essays , were “ ” e signed A Farmer , and are r ferred to in the “ ’ ” history o f o u r country as Farmer s Letters . They related principally to th e subj ect Of taxa

o f tion , denying the right the British govern

m ent to levy taxes here without our consent . They proclaimed— what afterwards became one —“ o f the battle cries Of the Revolution N O ” T o taxation without representation . every

s fe tudent of American history , the powerful ef ct ’ ” produced by Farm e r s Letters is well known

e a re s and appreciated . Th re many reason for

e e b lieving th y in itia ted the American Revolution . H ad J o h n Dickinson been a native Of Ma ssa 1 4 EARLY HISTORY OF THE

C h u se tts Of instead Pennsylvania , there would be no en d to his glorification by New Englan d historians and orators . T o Show the form and manner in which th e

fishing company Of Fort St . Davids transacted

ff o f its a airs , and also the patriotic character the m en who composed it , I have extracted from th e papers Of the day , published in Philadelphia, 1 6 8 7 , the following proceedings, viz

R E C OR D O F TH E AD M ISS I ON O F JOH N D I C K I N

SON ST i 6 th o f , FORT . DAVIDS , day April , 1 6 7 8 .

o f Which day , in the presence h is Excellency ,

V a n d e rs e i e l E s - in Governor p g , q . , commander ’ o f chief in and over his maj esty s colony Fort St .

& c . D avids , and the territories , fisheries , , thereon

i - depen ding , and V ce admiral of the same, in full

o f o f court John D ickinson , Esq . , th e city

o f Philadelphia , barrister (th e friend liberty , the ’ o f second Pitt , th e author the Farmer s Letters) , for his patriotic productions in b ehalf of th e

of rights and privileges the present , as well as the rising and future generations in America , is

o n e o u r fo r h ereby admitted of members , good services done by him to the interests of the Bri

d o tish Plantations in America , and we hereby

Es . declare that th e said John D ickinson , q , his

to f ffi admission be as valid , e fectual , an d su cient OF E TC . 1 FALLS SCHUYLKILL , 5 to him as if h e had paid the whole fees in use

o u r to b e paid by Freemen . Extract from book of o f records in the government St . D avids by

e e m e , D puty Secr tary thereof.

Witness h ereunto my subscription , manual , f and the seal of the government af ixed . VAN D E RSPI E G E L H ENRY ,

D e ut Seor eta r p y y .

M E E Y L N I ! E E FRO TH P NNS VA A GA TT , 1 2 1 6 8 May , 7 .

o f E O n Tuesday last , by order the GOV RNOR

I E Y and SOC T of Fort St . Davids , Fourteen Gen tl e m e n , members of that Company , waited upon

John Dickinson , Esq . , and presented th e follow

E O F OA K ing address in a Box of H ART .

o f ab ilitie s o f When a man , prompted by love his country , exerts them in her cause , and renders

n ot to oe rem ia/e her the most eminen t services , of

e Y th e b enefi ts rec ived , is STUPI D IT ; not to be

E E l grateful for them , is BAS N SS . In f uenced by this

e o f s ntiment , We , the Governor an d Company

F or t t a ids S . D v , who , among other inhabitants

s e of Briti h America , are ind bted to you for your m o st e xcellent and generou s vindication o f liber

e s e o u r ti d arer to us than lives , beg leave to

e f e th e return our h artiest thanks , and to O f r you

e greatest mark of este m , that , as a body , it is in 1 6 EARLY HISTORY OF THE o ur power to b estow , by admitting you , as we

o f o u r n hereby do , a member society . Wh e

s o f that de tructive proj ect taxation , which your integrity and knowledge so signally contributed

f tw o to ba fl e about years ago , was lately renewed under a disg uise so a r tf ully eon tr ifved as to delude

W F L o f millions , you , Sir , ATC H U for th e interests

er etl a c ua in ted your country , p fi y q with them , an d undaunted in asserting them , ALO NE detected th e monster concealed from others by an altered

o f appearance, exposed it , stripped it its invidi o u s ow n h o riid coverings , in its shape , and , we firmly trust by th e blessing o f GO D o n your

Br i wisdom and virtue , will again extricate the

' tts/t colonies o n this con tinent from th e cruel

o f snares oppression , for we already perceive

E o our s tr on a n d s ea s on these colonies , R OUS D y y g a a/e ca ll u rsu e in , p g the salutary measures advised by you for Obtaining redress . Nor is this all that

n a tive la n d a n i you have performed for your , ma ted é a s a cred z ea l uided é tr uta su y , g y , and p

or ted é ustice P E E E T O E p y j , you have N TRAT D T H

F O F E I our ed OUNDATIONS T H CONSTI TUT ON , have p th e clearest ligh t o n th e most important poin ts hitherto involved in darkness , bewildering even

esta a/is/zed the learned , an d have , with an amaz

an d o f E E ing force plainn ess argument , T H TR U D I ST I N CT I O N S and G RAND PR I N C I P L E S that will

b e fully instruct ages yet unborn , what rights

1 8 EARLY HISTORY OF THE

in The Box was finely decorated , and th e

o f scription n eatly done in letters gold . O n the top was represented the cap of liberty on a Spear U resting on a cypher of the letters J . D . nder neath the cypher , in a semicircular label P R O

P A T R I A . Aroun d the whole the following ‘ words ! The gift of the Governor and Society o f

ST T O o f FORT . DAVI DS . th e author th e ’ F A R M E R S L E T T E R S . I n grate ful testimony o f th e emin en t services thereby rendered to this country , On the inside o f the top Th e Liberty of The British Colonies in America Asserted With Attic Eloquen ce And Roman Spirit By — — — — — — N D K N S N . J , Esq ’ Barrister at Law . O n the inside of the bottom ‘ — I T A C U I Q U E E V E N I A T ’

E E P B L M E . U T , D , R U I C A , R U I T

O n the outside of the bottom , a sketch of Fort ” St . D avids .

Mr . D ickinson replied as follows “ I very gratefully receive the favor yo u have

to o n n been pleased bestow me , in admitti g me E TC. 1 FALLS OF SCHUYLKILL , 9 a member o f your company ; and I return you my heartiest thanks for your kindn ess . Th e ’ Esteem o f worthy fellow - citizens is a treasure of the greatest price, and no man can more ‘ highly value it than I do . Your society in ex ’ pressing the affectio n of SO many respectable

f . persons for m e , af ords me the sin cerest pleasure

Nor will this pleasure be lessened by reflecting , that you may have regarded with a generous P a r tia lity my attempts to promote the welfare of

u r w a r n z tlz r a ises o country . For the of your p in commending a con duct you s uppose to deserve them gives worth to these praises , by provin g

r y ou merit while you attribute merit to another . “ Your characters , Gentlemen , did not need this eviden ce to convince me how m uch I ough t

our to prize y esteem , or how much you deserved

in e m . “ I think myself extremely fortunate , in having obtained your favorable opinion , which I Shall

e constantly an d carefully endeavor to preserv . “ I most heartily wish you every kind Of hap

in e ss p , and particularly that you may enj oy the comfortable pro spect of transmitting to your Po sterity those Liberties dearer to yo u than your

e s G OD n o Liv , which gave to you , and which ” in er ior P ower f has a right to take away .

Similar addresses were sen t to Mr . Dickinson

o f from many parts the country . A Town 2 0 EARLY HISTORY OF TH E

n meeti g was held in Boston , resol utions adopted ,

n and the followi g Gentlemen , who subsequently

so b ecame conspicuous, were appointed a com m itte e f a d to orward th em , together with an ’ r L etter s iz tlze A utn or o tlze F a r me s v . dress to f , ,

D r . Benj amin Church , John Hancock , Sam uel >I< Wa rre n . Adams , D r . Joseph , an d John Rowe I have made some efforts to ob tain a view o f the box presented to Mr . D ickinson , for th e purpose o f taking a Copy o f the Sketch of Fort ’ - St . David s Fish house , as it stood previous to the Revolution , but could not succeed in finding

I sh o ul d so it . think interesting a relic is in existence somewhere . m I re ember very well , when the tavern Sign hanging in front o f the lower tavern at the f o n o . Falls , had it a representation Fort St ’ — D avid s Fish house , and the tavern was called ’ Fort St . David s Hotel . Th e village was “ ol universally known in d times as Fort St . ” fi D avids , an d th e name of cially adopted by the

a s o r government a post town , route I have lately seen an almanac for so late as the year 1 80 o f 7 , in which the name occurs in the list post routes . My father always dated his letters an d other documents Fort St . Davids , an d was a great stickler for the preservation o f its

G e e e e h t e e of B e . n ral Warr n , kill d at battl unk r Hill OF E TC . 2 1 FALLS SCHUYLKILL ,

. ancient name I t appears to . me that it woul d b e a matter o f good taste if the people now re

siding th ere would restore and adopt it . As i t ” Of is at present , th e name Falls Schuylkill is

e a misnomer , there b ing no falls there , m uch to the disappointm ent of many Strangers who re sort there with the expectation o f seeing a

- water fall .

o f After the Revolution , what remained the “ ”

e . society ass mbled at Fort St Davids, and re

e solv d to rebuild their Fort , which they did .

Some years after that it caugh t fire by accident ,

o f and was destroyed . Every vestige this build

e ing has disapp ared , but the exact locality I can

e t o u t y point , having frequently , when a lad , played within the ston e foundations that were

se o then left . After the destruction of their c n d

of building , a portion the members of the society united with th e “ Philadelphia Fishing Com “ pany , called the State in Schuylkill , whose “ house was lower dow n the river' Th e State ” in Schuylkill , I believe , still keeps up its orga

n iz a tio n s , an d there was a history of it publi hed ’ e s som years Since . In Watson Annals of Phila

i o f s . delphia there a brief notice Fort St Davids , b ut it is erron eous in several particulars . H e “ says, Th e same association still exists , but have

’ trans ferred their place o f m eeting to Rambo s

’ e Rock , below Gray s Ferry , the form r attractions 2 2 EARLY HISTORY OF TH E

at the Falls , as a celebrated fishing place , having 85 C b een ruined by th e river obstructions, I h ave already Shown that a portion o f the Society o f Fort St . D avids was merged into the Phila y delphia Fishing Compan , which had also ex iste d 1 2 c o n many years previous , from 7 3 , and o f temporaneously with that Fort St . D avids ; an d so far from the river obstructions being th e cause o f their removal from the Falls, there were no

so 1 8 1 . obstructions whatever , late as the year 7

Fairmoun t D am , the principal obstruction , was

1 82 1 b e not erected until the year , and after I

o f o r came a resident Manayunk Flat Rock , as it

saw was then called . I shad caught there in the o f 1 82 1 spring .

Y GO D F R E SC H R O N K .

“ o n to sa Mr . Watson goes y, In former f times it was quite dif eren t . Old Godfrey

Sc h ro n k 1 8 0 o l d , now ( 3 ) about 7 4 years , a

- well known fisherman near the Falls , in his younger days , has told me he could often

h is - 0 0 0 o n e catch , with dip net , 3 catfish in n ight ; Often he has sold them at two Shillings a h undred ; the perch an d rock - fi sh were n ume 0 80 rous and large . O ften he has caught 3 to pounds of a morning with the hook and line . OF E TC . 2 FALLS SCHUYLKILL , 3

H e used to catch fi sh for the Fishing Company of St . Davids , which cooked forty dozen catfish ’ at a time . He described the Company s house

0 as a neat and tasteful structure , 7 feet long and

2 0 wide , set against the descending hill on a

e stone foundation , having fou rteen asc nding steps in front ; th e Sides , consisting entirely of folding

off or movable doors and windows, were torn by 1 — 8 the Hessians for their huts in 7 7 7 7 , and so changed and inj ur e d the place that it was never ” Se d th e U for its former purposes after Revol ution . In this passage my late and Old friend Watson has

e comm itt d several mistakes . There was nothing ’ Sc h ro n k s 0 0 0 extraordinary in Mr . catching 3 catfish in a night ; I dare say there are persons still living in the n eighborhood who have taken

so more than that n umber repeatedly , and that

1 8 1 . o n e o o f late as 7 I have seen m en , in sco p

- SO o f the dip net, have it full these catfish as to be unable to lift them in th e boat , but were obliged to take them o u t o f it with their hands and other contrivances , and I have known as many as seven large Shad taken at one scoop o f

- the dip net . There were a n umber of persons

th e — at Falls , who , in the fishing season lasting — so me three months made enough by catching shad in a simple hoop or dip - net to support their families for a whole year . They anchored , or fastened to the rocks in the rapids , the small 2 OF TH E 4. EARLY HISTORY boats from which they fished ; som e o f th e par tic u l ar stations were more valuable than others , and th ere was m uch rivalship in th e early spring who should first get possession o f the favored spots , which th e boat never left during th e whole season ; if it did , by a rule among them

o n e selves , any else was at liberty to take posses

Sion .

o f Th e catfish spoken by Mr . Watson were not the kind that are n o w foun d in the riv e r ; they were a migrating fish , and cam e from the se a so annually , in immense numbers , numerous in some instances— I have seen it myself— as to

o f blacken th e narrow passages th e river . They

“ o n were perfectly black on th e back , and white the belly , and were remarkably fine eating f s very different from the catfish o these day . They came regularly o n o r about the 2 5 th of

a o r May , th e run of them l sting som e two three weeks . They were caught in immense numbers during the season , put in artificial ponds made fo r o u t as the purpose , and taken wanted durin g

o f th e summer and fall months . Thousands people resorted to the hotels at the Falls to eat

n ff them with the accompa imen t of co ee , an d for many years the village was celebrated for its cat

ol Sc h ro ff d . n k fi sh and co ee . The Mr referred to by Mr . Watson , I well remember ; knew him well from my childhood up , for many years .

2 6 EARLY HISTORY OF THE

and a celebrated character wh o resided at th e

of Falls, D r . Smith , an emin ent divine the Epis of copal Church , and first Provost the College U of afterwards the niversity Pennsylvania . H e b uilt those three clusters of strange buildings on

n the hill , early opposite the Old Falls Tavern , — ’ among which w as the octagon building Smith s — folly , as it was called and vault in which his h is remains and oth ers of family were deposited ,

o f d oc immediately o n the brow the hill . Th e tor , who was celebrated , among other things , for

o f o n his fondness good dinners , undertook a certain occasion to reprimand Godfrey Sc h ro n k

fo r o n . fishing a Sunday When he replied , “ o f D octor , if your dinner laid at the bottom

o u to the Sch uylkill , y would be very ap t fish ” fo r it .

h is 1 868 In Annals , last edition , , vol . i . page 0 o f 43 , Mr . Watson gives a picture what pro fesses to be a View of the Fort St . D avids Com ’ an s p y house ; but it is all a mistake . H e gives the dimensions Of the house correctly , as it Stood to after the Revolution , an d as related him by

Sc h ro n k 0 2 0 Godfrey , 7 feet long , by wide . This would be a plain oblong building ; b ut th e View

to o f referred is an octagon building , and no appearance o f th e high hill immediately behind ’ the Fort St . D avids Company s house . This octagon building I well remember , but it was OF S C H UYI . K I LL E TC . 2 FALLS , 7

o n located further down the river , the western

Side , near where th e Columbia Bridge crosses it , and was , I believe , the Philadelphia Fishing ’ Company s house . The history of the Sch uylkill Fish ing Com

o f pany the State in Sch uylkill , published in

1 8 0 3 , contains the following remarks in refer ence to the Fort St . D avids Society At an early era in the eighteenth century an ‘ SO association for Similar purposes , called the f ’ c ie t o . y Fort St Davids , enrolling on its list a large and respectable n umber of associates, em ‘ ’ m o f phatically ter ed the Nobility those days ,

as w established above the Falls of the Schuylkill .

e We l c h m e n of Th y were many of them , some

Of o f o f th em the Society Friends , companions

c o - William Penn , and em igrants to the New

World . O n an elevated and extensive rock con ti u o us g to th e eastern bank of the river , and proj ecting into the rapids, rose the primitive , rude , but convenient and strong structure of hew n timoer , cut from the opposite forest . “ It was capacious enough for the accommoda tion o f th e numerous garrison who were then

e b mor cele rated for their deeds of gastronomy ,

e e than d ds of arms . Th eir retirement i n th e admirable location , at the foot of an elevated

o — an d w ody hill , and on th e rock bound shore , fav o red the undisturbed enj oyment O f their p is 2 8 EARLY HISTORY OF THE c a to r y sports and feasts . No chosen site could have b een sel ected of more picturesque beauty

o r o n and interest , equal for angling the mean dering stream . “ In those days , and long since in the present

n o o n century , place th e river equalled th e Falls for rock and perch fishing , and small blue cat

fi sh - were taken in abundance by hand nets , dip

of or p ed in th e eddies the stream , in th e circular

- water worn cavities Of the tide deserted rocks .

w as o f Here the chief barrier the rising flood .

o u t o f When the tide was , the roaring the tur bulent waters , precipitated over the contin uous

o f and rugged ch ain rocks , extending from

was o n shore to shore , h eard still evenings many miles over the surrounding country , and was often borne o n th e wings o f the wind with distinct ness to the city , a m easured distance Of five

o f miles . The War Independence

o f dispersed th e garrison Fort St . D avids , and — the peace foun d their block house in a heap o f ruins, having b een consumed by th e devastating

of Hessian corps the enemy . On the invasion o f o f Pennsylvan ia , and approach the foe , the memb ers of the society suspended their pl e asu r able meetings , and secured all their movables , including a tolerably good museum , in a place of safety . On the return o f peace and its attending bless H YLK I T OF S C U I L E C . 2 FALLS , 9

re ings , the reduced Society of Fort St . Davids

o n o f assembled the old rock th e garrison , and

o f unanimously resolved , with permission the citizens of the State in Sch uylkill , thenceforth to unite their forces and their preserved valuables in pro secution of their favorite amusemen ts and

e f stivities . Th ey were n o strangers to each other . I n pursuit of a common obj ect , they — had often , as neighbors and fellow sportsmen , kindly interchanged the civilities of hospitality o n o f the highway waters , and at the feast .

six o f Five or immense pewter dishes , divers

o r forms , for the display of a barbecue , a large

fi sh rock at th e festive board , which were brought to this country by the proprietary,

o f stamped with the family coat arms , and pre

to o f sen ted the Society Fort St . Davids , were amongst the treasures added to the common stock . T h e author o f the history from which the

e abov extract is taken , has fallen into the sam e error with M r . Watson , in ignoring the exist

o f ence of the society and building Fort St .

s David , after the Revolution . H e however correctly de scrib e s the Fort as it stood previous “ to o f the Revol ution , a strong Structure h ewn

e & c . s timb r , , wh il e Mr . Wat on describes it as it w as s ub sequent to th e Revolution Th e Sides 30 EARLY HISTORY OF TH E

consisting entirely Of folding doors , and win ” 85 C . tw o dows , Th ere are persons Still living — o l d in the vicinity Samuel Garret , and an lady ,

n born after th e Revolutio , who have frequently

a seen and been in this building . O n the p of o r proach th e British army , th e five Six dishes

to referred were sunk in the river , and taken out

. 1 8 1 after that army left In 9, they were stolen

o f from th e State in Schuylkill ; three th em , which the thieves had hidden in Maylands

Creek , were recovered .

A N D R E W GA R R E T .

On o f the west side th e Indian Queen Lan e , a b out half a mile from th e Ridge Road , there

o n e - - is an ancien t story log farm house , about tw o hundred yards back from the lane . It is now occupied by Samuel Garret .

When I was a lad , there resided in this cot

ol d tage a very gentleman , Andrew Garret . H e

so n o r o n e o f was the grandson of the Swedes , w h o were the original pioneers o f this part of o l d the coun try ; I often visited this gentleman . H e had hanging in his house (and they with his gun and other relics are there still) horns of deer that he had Shot in th e vicinity o f his house , and he remembered seeing Indians fishin g Y E TC . 1 FALLS OF SCH U LKILL , 3

Ol d and prowling about the Falls . This gentle

a n man met with untimely fate ; some wretches , thinking he had a large am ount of money about his house , broke into it , and in order to extort

i from him a confess on of where it was hidden , h eated a pair of tongs and straddled them around his neck , forcing th e two legs together , which a caused his death . Th ey were subsequently p

s prehended , tried , and convicted . Tradition say ,

o f and I have no doub t the fact , that the Falls o f Schuylkill was the last place deserted by th e Indians who inhabited this part of the country ;

o f - u it being the h ead tide water , and co se

o f quently such fine fishing ground , had , course , peculiar attractions for them . That it must

o f have been a great resort theirs , is proved by the fact of th e innumerable Indian relics that have been found in the vicinity . I have seen

- and found myself many stone axes , arrow heads ,

o f o f and other instruments made stone , the use

y o f which could not be conj ectured , man which ’ were d e posited in the old Philadelphia ( Peale s)

Museum .

FA LLS C R E E K .

My fath er owned th e two lower mills on th e

e s Falls Creek . Wh n he became pos essed of the 32 EARLY HISTORY OF TH E o n e o l d o n j ust below th e Falls Tavern , and the

o f same Side th e road , it was and had been for

o f many years a paper mill , one the Oldest in the i coun try . I t s n ow occupied as a dwelling house , the entrance to it b eing over a stone arch .

o n Th e mill th e opposite side, and lower down the road , h e buil t h imself. There had been previ o usl n - y an a cien t grist mill on that site . Higher u m p th e creek was a ill owned by Mr . Traquair , who was largely engaged in th e stone - cutting business in Philadelphia . This mill had a

- 6 water wheel 3 feet in diameter , and drove a

o f fo r n large n umber saws sawi g marble .

n o w Th ey were not th e kin d used , b ut were single saws , similar to those used by han d , but m uch larger and heavier . Still farther up th e creek were the remains o f an ancient powder

o f mill . I n those days, that stream water was very different from n o w ; even in my tim e there was at each o f those mills power sufficient to

o f fi v e - - drive , at all times , a pair feet mill ston es , gen erally two , and sometimes three pair . Th e

t o mill lowest down th e road had w waterwh eels . Like all the streams in th e vicinity o f Ph il a d e l phia , it has dwin dled down to almost nothing , an d I suppose in th e course of time will entirely disappear . I can rem emb er when the Globe

o u Mill stream was quite large , now y can hardly

o r find where it the dam was . The Wissahickon

34 EARLY HISTORY OF THE

’ M iffi in s o r Governor house , a glass house , estab lish m e n t fo r making glassware Th e row of stone houses a little lower down the river was

to built accommo date th e hands working in it . I only remember this glass house as a ruin ; it was never worked in my time . About the year 1 80 8 , it was occupied by John Thob urn , and altered into a calico printing establish ment . I t

o f is now a manufactory some kind , surrounded by other b uildings ; it may be recognized from

o f o n the fact the gable en d fronting the river . There were a n umber o f beautiful co untry

o f seats in the vicinity the Falls , occupied in the sum mer season by parties from the city . They were remarkably h ealthy and delightful retreats

o f 1 8 2 1 until the Chills an d fevers , after which they were mostly aban doned . O n the hill (now ( North Laurel Hill Cemetery) was the coun ty

o f s o f seat Joseph Sim , next below , that the Wil

w . ling family , after ards Peppers Next below that (now South Laurel H ill) was William ’ o f Rawle s place . On the upper side the Ridge M i i ’ Road stood Governor fii n s house . On the

o f right the Indian Queen Lane , a short half mile from the Ridge Road , was th e seat of Mr . >I< ’ i klin N c . Then there were Dr . Smith s houses,

o e e ee e e e e o e This h us has lat ly b n in a gr at m asur d m lish d , a n d o e n h e an th r built o t e sam e sit . E T OF C . FALLS SCHUYLKILL , 35

’ ’ M r s and adj oining . Carson s . Next my fath er residence , about eighty yards back from the

c Ridge Road , where the Reading Railroad rosses it . Farther down , below Nicetown Lan e , was

M c C a ll th e mansion , an d n ear it the country

o f o f seat Robert Ralston . O n the western side the river , on top of the hill , was the residence o f Mr . Plumstead , who built that house . About half a mile b elow th e Falls was the residence of ’ Alexander J . Dallas , afterwards Mendenhall s

Tavern ; near i t was a rope ferry . There was also a rope ferry at the Falls Tavern , foot of I n d ian Queen Lane .

J O S E P H N E E F .

1 80 About th e year 9 , th ere came to th e Falls a very singular charact er , Joseph Neef, a pupil of the celebrated Pestalozzi , of Switzerland . H e w as induced to come to this country for th e ’ purpose of introducing Pestalozzi s syst e m of

n M c C l u re educatio by William , the philosopher , who endowed th e Academy o f Natural Sciences o f Philadelphia . Mr . Neef had a very large s o f a ll o f chool boys from parts th e country , and occupied the Smith property ; the octagon and conn e cting building was the school - house ; the other buildings were occupied as dwellings . 36 EARLY HIS TORY OF THE

H e was a very learn ed man , and a perfect child o f u o r nature ; he wo ld n ever touch money , have anyth ing to do with it ; his wife , a French lady , managed and controlled all his pecuniary

f . af airs He never wore a hat , and he and his boys ,

- during play hours , were always together, swim

o r n ming , skating , roami g around the country , and were it not that h e was older and larger , you could not tell master from scholar , for it seemed t o b e a part of h is system to make a b oy of him

o n a self, and place himself _ perfect level with his boys in all their games and amusements ,

dis and also in their studies , yet a most rigid c i l in aria n p . I was often in h is school during saw school hours , and at oth er times ; I never a book there , and I b elieve there was no such S thing as a book about his chool ; Slates , black boards , and other contrivances , were all I ever sa w there . The extent to which whole classes o f th ese boys could carry o u t mental arithmetic an d solve mathematical problems, without slate

o r . pencil , was truly wonderful and astonishin g I remember there was publicly exhibited about

! o n e o f that tim e a lad , erah Colburn , those prodigies supposed to be endowed by nature with the faculty o f making great calculations

mentally . A gentleman familiar with Mr .

’ se e Neef s school called to this lad , and after exa

o r mining him , told his father guardian , that F E T O C . FALLS SCHUYLKILL , 37 h e could take him to a school where there was

e a score of boys , no old r , that could perform all ' art o f h e had done , and much more . A p y gen ’ m e n tl e . brough t him to Mr Neef s school , an d se t him to work asking the scholars questions in mental arithmetic , which were all answered promptly and correctly , after which Mr . Neef proposed that his boys should put some questions to Colburn , which they did , but being out of his

o f usual track , h e could answer none th em . Colburn was a pampered and pert boy ; h e got ’ o f into a passion , and struck one Mr . Neef s boys with a cane or switch which he had in his hand , who immediately mounted him , and they h a d a regular tussle in presence of th e whole

e o f wh o party , much to the amusem n t Mr . Neef, laughed m ost heartily . This scholar of Mr .

N e e is , I believe , Still living , and if h e should

se e . ever this , he will remember the j oke I n their play hours the boys were forbid going a greater distance than a half mile from the pre

e mises . Mr . Neef had a m thod of putting his

finger in his mouth , and producing a tremendous loud whistle ; the boys would be scattered around th e neighborhood , an d when they heard th e

se e whistle , you would them running from all

e o dir cti ns to a common centre .

e It was his custom , wh n roaming around the

e e country with his boys , to ncourage th m in 38 EARLY HISTORY OF THE

o r h unting for anything singular curious, in the

o f 85 C way a plan t , flower , minerals , When they foun d anything that excited their curiosity , they would take it to him , an d he would , on th e

h is sub Spot , with boys around him , make it the e c t j of a lecture . “ I have a work published by Mr . Neef A

o f o f Sketch his Plan and M ethod Education . It is very curious and interesting . Many of his ideas and m uch o f his plan were subsequently intro d u c e d o u r into all schools , and are now in general

to use , great advantage . I n the work alluded to he

h e states how happened to come h ere ; h e says , “ f 0 c o 8 . In the summer I 5 , Mr William Mc lure , ’ o f o n e o f Philadelphia, Pen nsylvania s worthiest to and most enlightened sons , happened visit ’ e ia H e l v t s interesting mountains and valleys . H e

o f V was accompanied by Mr . Cabell , irginia , ’ o brother f th e then governor . Pestalozzi s school attracted th eir n otice ; they repaired thither, an d w o f ere soon convinced th e solidity , importance , and usefulness of the Pestalozzian system . ‘ ’ O n what terms, said this magnanimous patriot ‘ to m e , would you go to my country , and intro duce th e system there ! My country wants it , an d will receive it with enthusiasm . I engage to pay your passage , to secure your live ’ l ih o o d . Go and be your master s apostl e in th e New F E T O C . FALLS SCHUYLKILL , 39 When we consider the vast improvements in all our schools and systems o f education that imm e d ia te ly followed th e in troduction h ere of P e s ’ ta l o z z is f system , it would be di ficul t to estimate the amount of good done by this magnanimous ” M c C l ure patriot , as Mr . N eef calls William .

Mr . Neef left th e Falls , and finally wen t to th e

W C St .

B Y R O E RT K E N E D .

h o f 1 0 t 8 . O n th e 9 day April , 7 , Mr Robert

e s o c c u Ken dy , an enterpri ing gentleman , then

in py g the Falls Hotel , obtained from the legisla

o f ture Pennsylvania an act , vesting in him the

o n righ t of the water power at th e Falls , th e condition of building locks fo r the accom moda

o n tion of th e boats then plying th e river .

These boats were long and narrow , Sharp at both

1 0 ends , and carried from 7 5 to 5 barrels of flour .

They were generally manned with five men , an d

e s were only used in fresh t or high water . M ost

e of th m coming from Reading , th ey were called

o r o e fi v . e Reading , l ng boats They r quired m e n n o t —fo r , for bringing them down they — drift e d down rapidly with th e current but to

e e w as u se tak th m back , which done by the of

w as poles shod with iron , and very hard work ; 40 EARLY HISTORY OF TH E o f course they could take no return cargoes . I t w as an exciting an d beautiful sight to se e these boats descending the Falls, which they did with great rapidity . Sometim es they would be almost

to lost sight , an d th e n ext instan t mounted high o n th e waves ; in some instances they were wrecked Th e lads in the n eighborhood delighted in

in going through the Falls small boats . Many times have I worked hard for an hour in help

to fo r o f ing pull a boat up , the pleasure going w as down in it , which done in less than a m in ute .

Th e act procured by Mr . Kenedy was m erely

o n h is a speculation part , not intending to erec t m ills himself, and the right he had obtained was

ff fo r e o f o ered sale , but in consequenc the risk

to and danger from ice , no one would venture

o f build mills there . The ice freshets those f days were very dif erent from now . The win ters , it seems to me , were longer and colder ; and before the present succession of dams were

o n im made the river , th e ice came down in m ense large fields , with great momentum , and sometimes as m uch as from two to three feet

re thick . I t seemed to me that nothing could

its sist force . I have seen a ston e wall three feet thick , against a bank , the earth behind being

to . c o n se level with the p , torn to pieces In

42 EARLY HISTORY OF THE

’ Ken edy s privilege , h e proceeded to build a mill for su b se rolling iron and making nails , and quently took into partn ership with him Mr .

Erskine Hazard , and added to their other busi

as n ess that of making wire . Their business w very profitable, and they soon discovered that

to o i their m ill was small , wh en they bu lt another

o f much larger and higher along Side it, wh ere they were doing a very profitable business until both caught fire , by accident , and were destroyed .

I w as n o presen t at that fire ; we had engines , but adopted a plan I have often thought of since and by which we saved much property contain ed in the large mill . The small m ill caught fire first and comm unicated to the roof of th e large mill . We divided ourselves into three gangs ; the first carried sand and strewed it on the garret floor ; the second carried water and threw it over the sand , while the third gang were employed removing everything movable from the next

floor below . We then pursued the same method

o n with that floor , and so in succession from story to story . By these m eans we retarded the pro

o f gress the fire , giving time to remove m uch

of o f the contents the mill . These mills were subsequently rebuilt . White Sc Hazard were using in their rolling

m o f mill bitu inous coal . They knew the large body of anthracite coal at the head of the Sc h uyl T OF E C . FALLS SCHUYLKILL , 43

kill , and early commenced making experiments with it ; they had some brought down by teams at an expense o f on e dollar per bushel (twenty to n eight dollars per . ) They expended some - three h undred dollars in experiments , but could not succeed in making it burn . The hands in o f it the mill got heartily sick and tired , and it was

o n about being abandoned ; but , a certain occa sion , after they had been trying for a long time

e to make it burn without success , they b came “ of exasperated , threw a large quantity the black ” as sto nes , they called them , in to the furnace , shut the doors and left the mill ; it so happened

o n e o f that them had left his j acket in the mill ,

fo r and in going there it some tim e after , h e discovered a tremendous fire i n the furnace—the doors red with heat . H e immediately called all hands, and they ran through the rolls three sepa

o f rate heats iron with that one fire .

H ere was an important discovery , and it was ,

r a ctica l in my opinion , the first p ly successful use o f so our anthracite coal , now common . This important discovery was the simpl e fact , that all “ to e i t wanted ignit it was time , and to be let ” e alon . All this may appear strange now , but the hands working in that mill , and every one else who used the bituminous coal , were accus to m e d to see it blaze up th e moment they thr e w

o n it the fire , and because th e anthracite would 44 EARLY HISTORY OF THE

n o t not do so they could understand it , and th e — more th ey scratch ed and poked at it an Opera tion necessary with th e bituminous coal—th e worse it was with th e an thracite . im O n making this discovery , Josiah White mediately began to make experiments in con t rivin g various kinds o f grates to make th e anthracite applicable for domestic use, in which h e finally succeeded to admiration .

With the knowledge thus Obtained , it becam e a very great desideratum with Wh ite and Hazard to Obtain a sufficient supply of this coal for their w as use , for th ey discovered also that it m uch better for their purpose than the bituminous

ff on for coal in its e ect the iron making wire . of o n e o f They thought various plans, which was — curious ; it was to build a number o f sheet iron boats not to draw when loaded more than ten

of to inches water . These boats were be made

o n e - in n ests , within the other, like pill boxes, and carted up to the coal region . They built a

o n e small , and Mr . Hazard , taking two men with

f r o . him , started in it the coal fields The obj ect

to Mr . H azard had in view was explore th e river an d make some estimate o f the exp ense at which , by some simpl e contrivance , there could

o f b e insured at all times ten inches depth water .

Of H e arrived at th e coal regions , built a kind ark , and loaded it with coal . O th er arks were OF E T C . FALLS SCHUYLKILL , 45

subsequently b uil t and came down in the freshets .

- The iron boat plan was abandoned , principally for the reason that Josiah White , about that time , started and originated the Schuylkill Navi

a tio n g Company , which was chartered March 8 1 8 1 o f , 5 . This was another the beneficial

o f acts Josiah White , b ut mark how shabbily

o n e o f h e was treated . H e was the commis sio n e rs in o f named the act incorporation . H e w as of the father th e whole concern , and if they had h unted Pennsylvania through they could not at that time have found a better man for their purpose ; yet , notwithstanding all this , at the

first election h eld at Norristown , they refused to elect him o n e o f the managers o n the flimsy ground that h e was interested at the Falls o f Schuylkill ; b u t we shall se e the consequence of this directly . As an evidence o f the utilitarian character o f

Josiah White in everything he undertook , at the time he was starting the Navigation Com

o n o n e o f pany , h e drew with Chalk the long

o r o f o f beams girders his mill , a plan his proposed works along the Schuylkill River , “ an d under it wrote with chal k , Ten dollars in ’ ” every man s pocket . M eaning , I suppose , that that amount would be saved to every o n e in cost o f fuel when we could get coal down the river . 46 EARLY HISTORY OF THE

At that time wood was the universal fuel , and was ann ually getting scarcer and higher in price . Erskin e Hazard was the partner of Josiah White in the iron and wire business ; in th e erection o f the locks and mill - seats he had

fi n another partner , Joseph Gillingham . They ish e d the locks and canal o n th e western Side o f — the river and t w o mills were b uilt there o n e a sawmill , the other for making white lead . O n o n e o f the occasions o f the breaking down of the Falls bridge White an d Hazard erected a curious temporary bridge across the river by suspending wires from th e top windows of their

to o n mill , large trees th e western side , which wires hung in curve and from which were su s pended other wires supporting a floor of boards

h e o f eigh teen inch es wide . T length the floor o f 0 0 this bridge was 4 feet , without any inter ! mediate support . The bridge b uilding operations at the Falls

o n e were peculiarly unfortunate ; the first , a chain

1 8 1 1 o f bridge , broke down in , with a drove cattl e o n it ; the second fell from the weight of

- 1 8 1 8 snow accumulated on it in a snow storm , in ;

I b e li ev e this was th e fi rst instance of wire b e ing us e d in I I e . t e o e e bridg building c rtainly was in this c untry , and n v r h eard of its b e ing use d for that purp ose in any o th e r . OF E TC . FALLS SCHUYLKILL , 47 the third floated o ff th e piers in a very high 1 82 2 freshet in , and the fourth was destroyed by

fire .

Th e wiremaking business , like all other man u fa c tu rin g operations , which had been very pro

fi tab l e during th e war , when none could b e imported , was the very reverse afterwards , and it became a matter of consequence an d anxiety to White and Gillingham how they should re alize returns for their large investments at th e

Falls . Th e course they pursued was ingenious , and resulted finally in giving to the citizens of Philad e lphia one of the greatest blessings that ever fell to their lot . They published anonymously

th e o f e in papers the day , a s ries of essays , written

o f by Mr . Hazard , on the subj ect supplying the city with water , recommending that the city

- should purchase the water power at the Falls , erect waterworks there , making a reservoir on the hill (then owned by my father , now th e ex treme northern part of Laurel Hill Cemetery) and convey the water through an aqueduct

n down to the city . Th ere was much oppositio to this , and a newspaper war on the subj ect , but finally the city councils took it up an d appointed

o f r a committee inquiry . This com mittee e ported that it was impracticable to bring th e

so water great a distance through an aqueduct , 48 EARLY HISTORY OF THE

so and far the matter ended But Mr . White “ ” began D e Novo , and started in the same way

o f through the public press , the idea purchasing the water—power at the Falls and erecting a dam at Fairmount , which , through much Opposition ,

finally prevailed , and I have always considered Josiah White th e originator o f the present

Fairmount dam and waterworks . There had

tw o e n b een used , previously , antiquated steam

for gines p umping the water , using wood for fuel . White and Gillingham received from the city o n e hundred and fifty thousand dollars for their

- n ow water power at the Falls , and Josiah White , smarting under his treatment by th e Schuylkill

Navigation Company , and disgusted with the slow progress that Company was making , in company with Mr . Hazard and a German gen l l m a H au o t e n . . t ( George F A f) , procured from “ 2 0 1 8 1 8 th e Legislature , March , , An Act to

o e n ot e ee o o use th e Ir n pip s had at that tim b n br ught int , H a wat e r b e ing c onv e ye d through th e city in l og pipe s . d th e e o e n ow e ee e o for larg ir n pip s us d b n availabl , it w uld , many e o e ee e e to e e e e th e e o r as ns , hav b n much b tt r hav r ct d wat rw rks th e e e e e th e e o e at Falls , wh r th r was sam fall and p w r as at Fair ' o o o of e e o b e n o a re m unt , and a s lid r ck dam which th r c uld pp h en sion s o f its e ve r giving way . “ o e e G eo e TMr . Wats n , in his Annals , calls this g ntl man rg ”

I e w . o e . e Kauts This is a mistak , kn Mr Haut 5 was intimat ly e acq uaint d with him .

5 0 EARLY HISTORY OF TH E

their act to improve the river Lehigh , Mr . Hauto had engaged to furnish a certain amoun t of capi tal , which he failed to do ; under these circum stances White and Hazard became anxious to get rid of him ; b ut by the act of the legisla ture h e had equal rights with them , and all th ey

0 w as to o ff c3 uld do buy him , which they did , by agreeing that h e and his h eirs forever , shoul d

to o n e - b e entitled receive half cen t the bushel , fourteen cents per ton , for all the coal that should

o r pass from through their works . He sold this right in shares to a company fo r and

L e it was , I believe, finally bough t up by the

o r high Company . Had h e his heirs retained

to o f it this day , they would be in possession a princely income . As som e evidence of h o w far the coal opera tions have transcended the wildest anticipations o f those days, when White , Hazard , and Hauto procured their act to improve the river Lehigh , they had previously procured a lease for twenty o n e years on all the coal lands in the vicinity o f

of Mauch Chunk , a large tract country for to which they agreed pay annually , if demanded ,

o f o n e of a rent ear corn , and obligated them selves , after a certain tim e, to bring down to the ow n of city for their b enefit , bushels coal ,

1 0 0 1 8 less than 5 tons . In the year 5 4, according to o f the report th e Lehigh Company , which I OF Y E TC . 1 FALLS SCHU LKILL , 5

happen to have for that year , th ere came through the Lehigh Works tons .

The Lehigh Company , although commenced some three years after the Schuylkill Company , was the first in bringing coal to the city . When the dam was erected at Fairmount , it of course

to — put an end the water power , fisheries and

th riv mills at the Falls, and from having been a ing , bustling little place , it became comparatively ” a deserted village for some years after . From the circumstance o f various manufactories since established in th e neighborhood , operated by

h as steam , it again becom e a thriving , active village .

FLAT R O C K .

Th e act incorporating the Schuylkill Naviga

8 1 8 1 tion Company , March , 5 , required th e Company to commence operations at two points o n th e river, Philadelphia an d Reading , b ut as no improvements were necessary lower down the river , White and Gillingham making th e locks at the Falls , the Company commenced “ ” e n o w Op rations at what it called Flat Rock , “ ” “ ” Manayunk . Th e name of Flat Rock originated from a peculiar fl at rock lying on 5 2 EARLY HISTORY OF THE

of the lower Side Flat Rock bridge . I presume it is there yet . Th e Company made a contract

w h o with Ariel Cooly , an eastern man , had some experience in Similar works o n the Con n e c tic u t River . This gentleman subsequently b uilt th e Fairmoun t dam . He was a fat, p ursy

o r o f man , and from gout something that kind o n w was most always crutches . I do not kno

fi t o of cially , b ut my impression is, he was receive

ob for his j at Flat Rock , incl uding th e dam , canal and locks , and by his contract , was obliged to have it finished o n the I st day o f No

e mb e r 1 1 n v 8 8 . , In those days there had bee

o f little experience in that kind work , and an almost total absence of scientific engin eering talent as compared with th e present day ; in consequen ce o f which th e works at Flat Rock were miserably executed , and subsequently , at ff di erent times , had n early all to be rebuilt , some

tw o o r parts three times over .

h is ob o r Mr . Cooly completed j at about th e time he had contracted , and the water was let into the canal immediately after . Before the canal was made there was what was then called by the o l d inhabitants th e D ead Waters I t w a s a kind of a natural canal extending from above Flat Rock bridge down to n early where the main road crosses the canal . In high freshets f the water lowed into it from above , b ut gene E T OF C . FALLS SCHUYLKILL , 5 3 rally it was a kind of pool o r swamp into which ran th e little streams from the hills , having its outlet j ust above the canal bridge ; the centre part o f this swamp was much wider than the

o r o f b e upper lower part , and on that part it ’ longing to Rush s estate there were a number of trees , which were cut down and corded on th e lower side o f the canal previous to letting in th e o f water . I purchased this wood Lewis Rush

1 0 0 (about cords) , procured a scow and took it through the locks down to the Falls ; this was the first freight that passed through those locks . About the same time the canal was being con

o r structed , the present main road , street , was laid out ; previous to that there w as n o road ex cept the o n e l eading from Green Lane to Flat Rock bridge and to the fishery and ford across the island . At the lower end , the road only

o f extended from the Ridge Road , a distance ’

1 0 . e about 5 yards , to Righter s rope ferry Th re

n o to was road from there up Flat Rock , and the only access to it except from Flat Rock

o u t bridge was from Green Lane . In laying the road it was th e intention and desire of th e

o f managers the Navigation Company , who were t h e o f fathers it , to make it straight , from the ’ extr e me lower end at Righ ter s ferry to th e

e Domino Road , n ar Flat Rock bridge , which would have made it cross Church Street near 5 4 EARLY HISTORY OF THE

where the Episcopal church stands, b ut the Lev ering family and oth ers made strenuous opposi

o n tion to that route, the ground that it would

o f to cut through the m iddle their farms , and accommodate them the angle w as made at th e point where the street o n which the Roman Catholic church is located intersects it ; this

a to threw it down ne rer th e river . I have men tio n e d the D omino Road , an d may as well tell

h o in passing w it came by that name . At that tim e an d many years previous , nearly all the m ills o n the Wissah ic o n were actively employed

fl o f in making our , an d some the proprietors

se t o u t o n were a j olly , continually the roads day and n igh t picking up the grain that came in teams down the Ridge Road in large quantities . O ne o f them had built a small store - house o n th e Schuylkill shore , above Flat Rock bridge , to take in grain coming down the river in boats .

to fi B ut the access it was dif cult , and they peti tio n e d fo r a u r w h o a new road ; j y was appointed , ,

o f along with some these j olly fellows , wen t over th e ground , after which they crossed over Flat Rock bridge to th e little tavern o n the western “ ” o f G olia h side the river , the Samson and , “ ” w here they made a night of it ; g o t hold of

se t o f a dominoes, played nearly all night , and had a regular spree , which I often heard them “ refer to as the D omino scrape , an d they gave OF E TC . FALLS SCHUYLKILL , 5 5

o f that name to the road . One th is party is , I

e . b lieve , still living at Roxborough When the Navigation Company commenced operations at Flat Rock there were but eleven houses in th e whole distance from Righter ’ s

! ferry to Flat Rock bridge , as follows Samuel ’ Levering s farm - house o n what is now called ’ Sherr s Lane ; next , proceeding upwards , Wal ’ d re th s - o f house , half way up the hill , back the German Reformed church ; two small

oc c u stone houses between the road and canal , w h o pied by Benj amin an d Michael Tibben , carried o n the Shad fishery o n the island ; A n ’ th o n y Levering s farm - ho use o n Green Lan e ; th e

o f Stritzel house at the head Church Street , and their house at the foot of Ch urch Street ( torn down when the turnpike road was made) ; Benj amin Levering ’ s farm—house opposite wh ere the road crosses th e canal ; a o n e - story house nearly opposite and below the canal ; Joh n ’ ’ Tib b e n s of house at the foot Hipple s Lan e , ’ and the cottage on Rush s estate . The whole population about sixty souls . It appears strange n o w to talk about shad fish

eries at Manayunk , but that on the island was a

o n e of valuable , and large quantities shad were

caught there . Many years back there had been made along the Schuylkill a succession o f rude

o e st ne dams from one, to three feet high ; th y 5 6 EARLY HISTORY OF THE

only extended a part way across the river , and were intended merely to force the water into a

o n o n e o r channel side som etimes in th e centre . Th ere was such a dam extending from the islan d to th e western shore , forcing the water into a

o n narrow channel the eastern side . These dams also prevented the shad from going up the river anywhere but through these Channels . I t was the custom o f the fisherman to station their boat w ith the seine at the head of th e island , and a man at the lower end to watch th e schools o f saw shad coming up , and when h e them he would give a Signal to th e party in th e boat , who

o u t immediately ran , with the sein e going down wards . At first th e views o f the managers o f the Navigation Company were much extended as to

of - the amoun t water power . I remember their

1 0 - fi advertising 5 mill powers , suf cient to grind a

o f o f certain number bushels grain , equivalent to 1 0 0 o f about inches water each , an d I believe they were under the impression that there would n ot be ground sufficien t along the bank to locate

to mills enough consume the water . They were extremely anxious to sell power , but it hung

o n heavily their hands , an d for three years after

y the water was let in to the canal , up to Januar ,

1 82 2 0 0 , they had only sold altogether 3 inches . Many persons came to View the place with the

5 8 EARLY HISTORY OF THE

w as to when all completed transferred over him .

I always thought this was a small business . Th e

w as fo r land in the market sale, and Captain Towers o r any o n e else had as good a right to b uy i t as the managers o f the Navigation C o m

e to pany , and their r fusing let him have any

w as ow n water fighting against their interests . I t w as o f great importance to the company that

o n e h to some S ould commence build a mill , an d from the en terprising and venturesome character o f of the captain , such was the fear ice freshets

o n e at the time, that h e was perhaps the only w h o t o could be found run th e risk . This was n ot th e only instance in which the managers o f the Navigation Company su ffered their private

to ffi piques in terfere with their o cial acts . My o ld friend Amos Jones , a most worthy man and

o f a resident of Roxborough , rented the Rober sons th e rolling - m ill at the mouth o f the Wissa h ic k o n su ffi . O n a certain dry time h e had not

to v cient water dri e his mill . I t took some

to time heat the iron , and only half an hour to run it through th e rolls ; and h e thought , by

- h is horse power, h e could pump into forebay a sufficien t additional supply o f water to drive his m ill the half hour . H e erected the pump ,

wh o b ut the Navigation Com pany , had liti r ga ion and lawsuits with the Robersons , with

to which Mr . Jones had nothing do , forbid h im ET C . FALLS OF SCHUYLKILL , 5 9

to use the pump , as he had no righ t to take the of water out the river , although it ran im me dia te l y back . Mr . Jon es then said he would

h is move pump further up the Wissahickon , and pump the water there ; b ut th is was also forbid

o n den , the ground that it was one of the tribu tary streams of the river , and he had no right to divert it . The Company was legally right , cer ta in l y, but it was a useless exercise of arbitrary power, a spiteful act, tending to no good what of ever , resulting to the inj ury a worthy man , and only calculated to render the Company u n

in popular the neighborhood . Such foolish

as a n d acts these , , in many cases , utter disregard o f private rights , together with the destruction o f its the fisheries , rendered the Company and works extremely unpopular along the whole l ength of th e river ; and generally , when it was brought before j uries in suits for damages , it felt o f the consequence . Many cases inj uries and damage suffered by individuals along the river were exceedingly hard . John Thob urn owned and occupied the mill at the mouth of Mill

o n s Creek , th e west ide of the river above Flat w as Rock dam , where he spinning cotton . I t w as or a good power , about sixteen seventeen feet fall . When the dam at Flat Rock w as

o u t h is made it completely drowned mill , leav if I ing him , remember right , only about twenty 6 0 EARLY HISTORY OF THE

inches fall , which made th e whole concern

h is utterly useless , and broke up business . H e o f claimed damages , and instead its being settled amicably , he was kept in law for years , had several trials, each successive j ury increasing th e

o f amount damages . H ow Mr . Thoburn came o u t o f n o t this long litigation I do know , b ut this I do know , that Mr . Kitera , his attorney , afterwards owned the mill and farm attached to it . When th e Navigation Company commen ced

n o o f - its works , it had idea a tow path ; the m ethod o f propelling the boats w as in tended to

se o f - b e by the u oars an d poles . Th e tow path

- was an after thought , and the Company was subsequen tly obliged to obtain the right to make it from the Legislature . f There was a farm , having a river ron t , where ’ the owner s cattle were daily driven to water .

Th e Company , without asking his consen t, made

tow - o n th e path along the shore , and his driving his cattle , as usual , to water them , there cam e

fi of along an of cial the Company , and fined him five dollars for driving h is cattle o n th e tow o w n fo r path , over his ground , and which h e had n ever received any compensation . In j ustice to the Navigation Company I m ust sa w y, that there ere many parties who prose c u te d it for damages who were by no means ° E TC . 6 1 FALLS OF SCHUYLKILL ,

o n j ustly entitled to any , b ut , the contrary , whose property was greatly benefited b v the o f improvements along the river . The strip land bought by Captain Towers , previous to the

o f improvements , was no value whatever , a mere collection o f rocks and j uniper bushes outside o f

o f fo r th e inclosure the farm , yet it sold more

o f than the previous value the whole farm .

CAPTAI N J O H N T OW E R S .

Captain John Towers may j ustly be c o n

o f sid e re d the pioneer Manayunk . He was a remarkably active and energetic man , originally a Ship carpenter , subsequen tly a sea captain , an extensive merchant and ship owner , and finally

v e n a manufacturer . H e was always a daring , t ure so m e to man , and the very one commence building a mill at Manayunk ; for , from the fear o f ice freshets so universally prevailing at that — time , no other was willing to run the risk and ,

fo r indeed , two years an d a half after he b uil t it— his mill , no one except myself did risk an d I rem e mber very well the astonishment of every o n e around the coun try when they first heard that Captain Towers had bough t a narrow strip o f a n d u n i e r s e rock , gravel , j p b u hes, that nev r had any value before , for five thousand dollars , ‘ 6 2 EARLY HISTORY OF THE

to an d was about build a mill , where they were

o f all sure the first ice freshet would sweep it f. Th e captain was a very ingenious man in his way , and the plan he adopted in building his

o f m ill showed it . O n e th e first things he did w as - to build his water wheel , when h e put a man into it to turn it, like squirrels in a cage ; of an d by the use a rop e aroun d th e shaft, hoisted the girders and all the heavy timber used in the building . I could relate many anecdotes illustrative o f the ingenuity and enterprising character o f Cap

to o r tain Towers , b ut will confine myself three

se a four . When following the he would often venture in such rickety o l d vessels as n o o n e else

o f . would think doing O n a certain occasion ,

w h o re wh en in a foreign port , th e gentleman

t o lated this fact me was there also , an d about

o o to t come home . Th e captain s licited him take passage in his ship ; b ut h e replied that h e would n ot risk his life in such a rotton ol d v e s se l . H e took his passage in another ship that

tw o wh o sailed days b efore Captain Towers, told h im , at parting , that he would be hom e before him ; and true enough , th e first man to welcome him ashore in Philadelphia was Cap tain Towers, who had arrived two days pre

n vio s .

O n another occasion , when in a small vessel , OF E T C . FALLS SCHUYLKILL , 3 he met at se a an English Ship o f war o f Sixty four guns , in a Sinking condition , with a signal o f l distress f ying . H e bore along side of her ,

o n and wen t board . The commander of the ship requested him to take his crew o n board

h is n of vessel , but the captai told h im it was impossible to put so large a number in his ship without throwing cargo overboard ; b ut that if he would place his ship under his command , he would stick by him , and , in the last resort , take O ff th e crew . The British comman der con sented to the arrangemen t , and Captain Towers ,

su c by various ingenious contrivances , finally c e e de d in getting the ship an d crew safe into

fo r w as port , which h e rewarded by the British government . One of th e largest ships sailing o u t of Phila “ ” Wo o d ru delphia , the p Sims , got ashore som e

e o r where in the D laware Bay . Two three di ffere n t gangs o f hands and riggers were sen t down to get her o ff ; but all failed and aban d o n e d the attempt , when Captain Towers hired

mo a p , took down som e hands , and th e third day after had th e ship safe at the wharf in Phila

e d lphia , for wh ich Joseph Sims , th e owner , paid h im eight thousand dollars . H e paid his men liberally , and all his expenses amounted to less than five h undred dollars . D uring th e war of 1 8 1 2 a number of small 64 EARLY HISTORY OF THE sloops and Schooners—I thin k they called them “ ” — block ships were g o t up an d armed by th e govern men t fo r the defence of the D elaware

River , then blockaded by the British . They were mostly commanded by ordinary merchant se a so n o f captains . A Captain Towers c o m m an d e d o n e o f n them , the whole bei g under th e o f U fi comman d a nited States naval of cer . On a certain occasion , when about being attacked by th e British vessels, the comm odore gave th e signal to retreat, which was done . A few days

to after , young Towers came up th e city , when h e was severely reprimanded by his father for

h is running a way . H e pleaded in vain orders from the commodore ; the captain denounced

as h im , the com modore, and th e whole party a

se t o f . cowards, an d was very indignant Shortly after th e sam e thing occurred , when young

t o Towers disregarded th e signal , determined have a brush with the enemy—was very near losing his vessel , and was suspended for disobey

o n h is ing orders ; but , his arrival home , father

fo r received him with great glee , praised him h is conduct , and told him h e would sustain and defend him at all hazards . H e held a corre sp o n d e n c e on th e subj ect with th e then Secre o f of Ph il a d e l tary the Navy , William Jones , for phia , with whom he had been many years o n o f of terms intimacy . The final result this

66 EARLY HISTORY OF THE v io u s to his death , he commenced to b uild a

o f bridge across the river at the foot Green lan e , and had he lived , I have no doubt he would have p ersevered an d accomplished it . The presen t bridge was subsequently built there by a company .

o f n This risky , daring character Captai Towers

o f h is was finally the cause death . H e had some lawsuit at Norristown , and had chosen me for his arbitrator . H e had a sorrel horse and a rickety

Ol d vehicl e in which we started for Norristown . I soon discovered there was something wrong in the gearing ; for whenever we came to descend

o n ing ground , the carriage would run the ’ horse s heels , and cause him to kick and run .

We stopped at a store , procured a rope , and h e patched it up somehow , but it made it very littl e

n o t d o ! b etter . I told him it would he said it n o t would . I concluded that if he was afraid

d o fo r to it would never me Show fear , although

As I acknowledge I felt it . we were descending

c b e th e long hill at Barnhill Ch ur h , the horse gan to kick and run at full speed down the hill ,

o f an d b efore we arrived at the foot it , the vehi cle capsized , pitching the captain and myself

u with great force against a large tree . I str ck it with my breast , and must have rebounded back ,

o f for I fell clear him , and he lay at the foo t f th e o . the tree I was considerably hurt , but captain m uch worse ; his arm an d tw o of h is ribs E TC . 6 FALLS OF SCHUYLKILL , 7

o t were broken . H e never g over it , and died shortly after . Some three years previous to his death he had

o n e of o f a suit in the courts Philadelphia , which was decided against him ; he attributed th e result en tirely to the ingen uity , dexterity ,

h is and tact of Col . Page , opposing counsel , with whom h e was so much pleased that he im mediately employed him as his counsel , which he continued to be until the death of Captai n

To w ers . About the same time Captain Towers built his — mill , Mr . Silas Levering erected his hotel th e first hotel in Manayunk ; and the captai n built o n a small house , in which he resided , the lower side of the canal adj oining h is mill When he had completed his mill b e rented the third

Story to Isaac Baird , who was the first cotton

o f spinner Manayunk . The two l ower stories h e used himself in th e woollen business , and subs e quently rented a part to Edward and John

six on Preston . He also built fram e houses

o f su b th e upper side the canal , which were sequently removed into Green Lane . Isaac

o f o n e Baird occupied two these houses , in of which he kep t a Store , the first store in Mana

o f yunk , and in one them was born the first child , a daugh ter of Isaac Baird . 1 8 2 0 At the beginning of September , , I pur 6 8 EARLY HISTORY OF THE

chased the second power sold , an d b ecame a resi l< den t o f M an ayu n k fi an d if I lived there n ow I

I w o ul d suppose b e that celebrated individual , “ ” is of the oldest in habitant , that , outside those to th e manor born an d I believe there is b ut o n e such now residing there , Mr . Perry Levering . When I called at the Navigation Company ’ s offi ce to make my purchase, my elder brother was with

o f me , and in th e course conversation with the

o f committee, whom I think D r . Preston was the chief, my brother , who had som e knowledge o f l o f hydraulics and the f ow water, asked th e question , if they restricted me to any particular form o r shape of th e aperture through which th e

to water was pass . I n rather a contemptuous way , as if it appeared to them a silly question , they answered that I might make it in any form o r shape I chose . H e then asked them if they were aware that the shape and certain appen f dages made a very great dif erence . They reit e

it so rated that I migh t make as I pleased , that it was of n o more capacity o r size than I paid fi for , and when we left the of ce I remember my brother saying that those men did not under

o r stan d their b usiness , know what they were

e d it out . l oun about y f som e years after , how ever .

This d oes n ot app e ar on th e re c ords o f th e Navigati o n o th e e o o e o fo r th e e o I C mpany as s c nd p w r s ld , r as n that did n ot p r o cur e m y titl e until I p urchas e d an additi onal fi fty inch es . E TC . 6 FALLS OF SCHUYLKILL , 9

As soon as I made my purchase of fifty inches o f water , to which I subsequen tly added fifty

se t more , I comm en ced building , and some laborers to work digging the foundation . I n — less than an h our after , old Mr . Paul Jones not — the late Paul Jones , but h is father who resided

- o n in the farm house the hill , immediately opposite wh ere I was at work , where h e had

w as lived all his life , and then , I b elieve , eighty l tw o o d . years , came over to m e in a boat I had known him before , and believe he took

e e I w as som int rest in me . H e had heard going

saw to b uild a mill , me commencing , and came

a over expressly to dissuade m e from it . H e p

r o n p e a e d quite anxious the subj ect . H e said to me , Charles , thee had better stop at once ; thee will be ruined ; thee can never b uild any ” I m u s thing h ere to resist th e ice freshets . t confess I had some doubts myself, but I had the winter before watched the effect o f the ice going over the dam , and saw that when large cakes came down the river , and proj ected over the

o ff w dam a short distance , they broke ith their o w n weight into small pieces , and came down

n o f comparatively harmless . Were it t o r this

ff o l d— simple e ect , and we should have an fashion

o f win ter , a sudden freshet an d breaking up the ic e , I very much doubt if many of th e mills at l . o d Manayun k could resist it This M r . Paul 7 0 EARLY HISTORY OF TH E

Jones w as a remarkably sprightly old gentleman

tw o o r for his age . Some three years before the

i o f l o f t me I speak , during a hard winter a f ock wild turkeys came o n the h ills opposite Mana

o l d yunk . Th e gentleman mounted a horse , rode through the snow and woods over the b ill s as fast as any of the party wh o were in p ursuit o f them . H e once told m e that a certain frien d

(a preacher) from England was in Philadelphia , and h e went in a sleigh to bring him up to his

h is o n house . He drove sleigh th e Schuylkill

o n at Market Street , and cam e all the way up “ the river . This frien d remarked , What a beautiful valley and meadow this m ust b e in l ”— su m m e r never dreaming that h e was riding o n a river . I had some twenty hands at work o n my

o f b uilding , and such was the state Manayun k at that tim e, that the onl—y place where I could board them was the o n e story house below the canal , near where I was building . I finished

o il my mill , and commenced making and grind — ing drugs the purpose for which I b uilt it and shortly after added a fulling mill , and had

of made by Alfred J—enks, then H olmesburg , a n umber o f power looms for weaving satinets . These were the first power - looms ever used i n

Pennsylvania for weaving woollen goods .

of In verification th e old adage, Great oaks OF E TC . 1 FALLS SCHUYLKILL , 7

from littl e acorns grow, my humble establish

- if I m ent became the birth place, may so ex

o f . press it , others much more extensive For my o w n purposes I only used the two lower — stories ; the upper story I ren ted to others fi rst

C o 66 . to Mark Richards , who built a large — cotton spinning mill higher up the canal ; n ext , in part , to Moses H ey for several years , until h e b uilt his mill ; then to oth er parties , and last , though not least , to th e late Joseph Ripka .

J O SE P H R I P KA .

My excellent old friend occupied a part of the third story with some machinery fo r spinning worsted yarn ; and this was h is first appearance at Manayunk , he having previously operated in the city . H e soon after b uilt a large mill , and

- filled it with power looms , and subsequently

re b uilt and bought other mills . H e was a m a rkab l y active and enterprising man , for many Of years the life and soul Manayunk . H aving b ut recently died , th ere are so many living in

Manayunk familiar with his excellen t qualities,

e that it se ms superfl uous to mention them . H e was public spirited , liberal and generous in every thing t e nding to the improvement and good of th e s e village , univer ally beloved and respect d 7 2 EARLY HISTORY OF TH E

by its citizens . Th e respect paid to h is me mory on the occasion o f h is funeral w as a

of b eautiful evidence it , and will not soon b e forgotten . All the mills, stores , and shops were

o f closed ; th e factory bells tolled , an d h undreds ) th e operatives , male and female , lin ed the street through which the melancholy process ion passed . H e left a host o f frien ds and admirers to mourn

o f his loss , and the termination his valuable and useful life .

V C H I LLS AN D F E E R .

1 82 1 w as For several years from , Manayunk

affi ic te d sorely with chills an d fever , and doubt less the growth o f the village was much retarded

u fo r I t from this ca se , it made very unpopular . Previous to the improvements o n the river th e disease was scarcely known along its shores ; I had never heard o f a single case ; b ut in 1 8 2 1

o it broke u t with great virulence . I have been

to to trying rem ember , b ut cannot call min d a

o r single man , woman , child in the village that

to escaped it . I used think that the very dogs n had the shakes and fever , and ear th e Falls there was a monkey , which , it was said , had a w h o regular tertian ague . Isaac Baird , , from

o f the nature his business , employed more hands

o n e to than any else at that time, was obliged

7 4 EARLY HISTORY OF THE

’ b ut o n e mon th s residence at Manayun k was “ quite suffi cient to u se them up any person w h o had seen them at the beginning o f the

o f month and again at the end it , would b e almost ready to swear they were not the same All ‘ th e ir party . fin e rosy color had vanished , an d they became miserable , cadaverous , melan c h ol o e y looking bj cts . From sheer ignorance

o f and stupidity two th em lost their lives . One ,

h h o f t e . ot when in stage the disease , to cool himself wen t into a damp cellar , stripped him

o u i o - h s n self, and lay back the damp ground .

' ' There happe ned to . _ be a j ug o f buttermilk within his reach , h e drank it and was a corpse

o t in a very short time . Another g an idea that it requ ire d something powerfully strong to kill the disease ; he procured a pint o f horseradish

o n e and cider which he swallowed at gulp . I t

‘ h im in to threw convulsions and he died . With a few such exceptions as these th e disease was

o n n rarely fatal ; the co trary, often a subj ect of

ff se e mirth . It was quite a common a air to half a dozen at a tim e around Silas Levering ’ s

- o f h is stove in the bar room hotel , all shaking

an d at the same tim e , others looking on quizzing laughing at them ; and more than once h av e I

seen the tables turned , and the merry ones obliged to take their turn at th e stove and be

laughed at . OF E TC . FALLS SCHUYLKILL , 7 5

SALE S O F WAT E R P OW E R .

Captain Towers and myself stood alone at

o Flat Rock for o n e year after I built . When n

h o f 1 82 1 t . the 5 September , , William J Brooke 0 purchased th e third power , sold 5 inches , and b uil t a small m ill adj oining Captain Towers , for making fl ock of woollen rags ; th e lower part h e rented to William Rowland for grindin g saws ,

D arra c and an upper story to Thomas B . h for making hat bodies . He was immediately fol lowed O u the 1 4th o f the same month by James

1 0 0 Elliot , who purchased the fourth power , w ’ inches , and built a mill next belo Mr . Brooke s .

’ o a k Elliot s business was grinding bark , and h e

fo r rented the upper stories to M r . Garside

Spinning flax . A short time after these two mills were built they caugh t fire and were de s troyed . There was no fire engine in the village

o n e at that tim e , and the small from the ridge w as brough t down ; we succeeded in getting it ' ov e r the canal and placed it o n th e bank imme ’ d ia te l o f y in front Brooke s mill . I t had , how ever , been neglected for a long time , was out of order , and no use . D uring the fire an explosion ’ took place in Brooke s mill . I t seemed he had

o f part a keg of powder stowed away in the loft , which exploded with a loud report . I t did no 7 6 EARLY HISTORY OF THE

o n harm ; the contrary , by scattering the roof l s then in f ames , it perhaps assi ted in saving ’ o u r Captain Towers mill , to which we bent all

i exert ons .

These four powers , amounting together to

0 0 3 inches , in cluded all the company had sold

to 1 82 2 up January , . B ut after this for a short time it sold rapidly . Th e fifth power to Mark C Sc o . 2 0 8 1 8 2 2 Richards , 4 inches , January th , , the 40 inches granted to them without charge in consideration o f having less fall and building higher up the river . I t was for a cotton man u factory , and some tim e after it was in Operation there was employed in it an operative who after a wards became a celebrated Ch racter , Sam Patch , of u m in o n e j p g notoriety , who at last took j ump o o o r t many an d was drown ed killed . Th e

1 0 0 m . Sixth power , inches , was sold to Sa uel R th 1 82 2 Wood , January 9 , , who buil t the mill

La u re n e Sc afterwards bought by Borie , g , Keat ing . Mr . Wood , with whom my brother was

o f connected , occupied the lower stories his mill fo r making white lead , th e upper stories h e

to L a u re n e Sc rented Borie , g , Keating for Spin 1 0 ning cotton . Th e seventh power , 5 inches ,

Sm ic k was sold to Peter Roberson and George , th 1 82 2 i . April I , This was for land purchased o f 6 them . Th e eighth power , 5 inches, was

saw - bough t by William Alexander for a mill , E TC . FALLS OF SCHUYLKILL , 7 7

d 1 2 2 2 8 . April 3 , This was afterward pur

a chased by William Rowland , who b uilt mill for grinding saws . Previous to Mr . Alexander selling it he erected a frame building for sawing lumber near the shore of the river , where the main road crosses the canal . In a freshet it

o ff w as floated into the river , b ut tied to a tree with a strong rope and swung o u t in the stream several days . When the water subsided it was

o n replaced the foundation . It was operated

- with a small flutter water wheel , the only one o f the kind ever used in Manayunk . The w 1 0 ninth power sold was to An n Da son , 5 w as fo r inches . This the cotton mill at the lower en d of the canal . It was operated by

Morris and Wilson . Mr . Morris was the son of

i o f the celebrated Robert Morr s , the financier the Revolution . Some years after he was elected f Sherif of Philadelphia County , and died while in offi ce That establishment was afterwards

e SC . purchased and carri d o n by Messrs . S . T

0 Wagner . This made 7 5 inches sold in a little

o f 1 8 2 2 over four months the year , which , added

0 0 1 0 0 to th e 3 inches previously sold , made 5 inches ; and n o w the Navigatio n Company raised 0 the price 5 per cen t . , to per inch , and with the exception of 5 0 inches I purcha sed

2 2 1 8 2 2 e November , , no more was sold for thre

1 8 2 years , until March 7 , 5 , from which time the sales were as follows 7 8 EARLY HISTORY OF THE

1 82 La ure n e 86 March 7 , 5 , Borie , g ,

1 0 0 . Keating , Inches 6 D arrac h . . 1 0 0 May , Thos B ,

2 Sm ic k Sc 0 Aug . 7 , Gorgos , 5

. . . 2 Sept 3, Wm J Brooke , 5

Making , togeth er with the fifty inches I pur 2 2 1 82 2 2 chased November , , 3 5 inches . Total to 1 82 1 0 sold up September 3, 5 , 33 inches . An d n ow th e price w as again raised to six dollars

as per inch . Sales follows ! 6 1 1 8 2 . J uly 5 , , William Rowland , 35 Inches

N ov 2 1 65 La u re n e 1 0 0 . , Borie g , 1 82 1 0 Oct . 5 , 7 , William Morrison , 1 0 0 Nov . 3, Mark Richards , 1 1 0 0 D ec . , G . Patterson ,

transferred to S . Eckstein 1 2 0 0 9 , Charles Shippen ,

1 82 8 0 5 , , Moses H ey, 5 1 0 1 0 0 , Robert Shippen , I 2 5 , Moses H ey , 5 2 1 0 0 5 , Mark Richards , 1 2 0 0 March 3, Mark Richards , 2 0 2 , Moses Hey , 5

2 0 April 4, Samuel Eckstein , 4

6 i8 1 0 June , 3 , Joseph Ripka , 5 2 0 Sept . 3, William Rowland , 5

2 1 8 1 0 May 7 , 33, D r . Moore , 5

1 335 Inches . E T C . FALLS OF SCHUYLKILL , 7 9

2 Making the total amount sold up to Mav 7 ,

1 8 33, as follows

1 0 0 5 inches at $ 3 0 0 32 5 4 5 0 1 32 5 6 0 0

2 66 5

I do not know how much has been sold since ,

n o as I kept record Of it . The offi cial report of th e Navigation Com 1 82 2 pany , January , , states that there had

6 0 0 1 0 b een sold inches , and a 5 inches for land , and that this nearly covered half the expense of ” the works at Flat Rock . I should suppose that the expense of th e works at Flat rock ” is not only covered , but principal and interest long since paid , an d that entirely from the water rents .

P O P U LAT I O N .

o f 85 0 The growth Manayunk , its population , ,

- o f course kept pace with the sale of water power . The first correct and reliable census taken was V 1 8 2 . by th e Rev . C . ancleaf, March , 7 . Mr V ancleaf was th e Pastor o f the German R e

formed Church . I have his report in his own

e handwriting and ov r his own Signature , as fol 80 EARLY HISTORY OF THE

! 1 0 8 lows 47 families ; 5 5 males , 5 4 females ; of 2 0 6 2 8 2 which 44 were men , 3 women , boys ,

66 — 1 0 2 8 . 1 8 1 and girls total 9 In November , 3 ,

Van a little over four years and a half after Mr . c l e af had taken th e census , I took it myself very

an d closely correctly , from the D omino road ’ 1 to Sherr s lan e inclusive . There were then 3 7 2 0 0 dwellings and 7 inhabitants . More than double the number o f dwellings and nearly double th e population in that short period . I n 1 8 6 November , 3 , j ust five years after I had

Gilkin so n taken th e census, Joseph , th e assessor , at my request again took it as follows ! number o f 1 1 2 0 s dwellings 5 4 ; white males 4 , female — 1 2 1 6 I o 1 . 7 9 ; colored males , females total 3 7 5

fi v e o f 1 0 Showing an increase in these years I 5 ,

0 over 5 per cent . The deputy marshal wh o took the census in

1 8 0 4 , furnish ed m e with a statement at that tim e, but I have mislaid it . I t is , however , on >I< f 0 1 6 0 o 1 8 8 . record , as also that 5 and

M Y U ANA N K .

1 1 82 o f O n May 4, 4, was held a meeting th e citizens of Manayunk , which was followed by a

I n a statistical acc ount of Manayunk re ce ntly publish e d in th e i e L ed er th e e e o o e e Ph lad lphia g , pr s nt p pulati n is stimat d at i e ght ee n th ousand .

82 EARLY HISTORY OF THE

All this matter was talked over at the meeting , an d was th e sole reason for altering the orth o graphy . B ut previous to this the village had anoth er name given it by Cap tain Towers , and

fo r which he persevered in calling it some time , f o &c . placing it at the head his correspondence , “ ” n This ame was Bridge Water . I h ave seen it suggested somewhere that it Sh ould have “ ” o f b een called Towerville , in honor Captain

sa Towers . I can only y that the captain n ever had such an idea , an d the pertinacity with which he adhered to the name he had himself given it is ffi of su cient proof th e fact .

STAGE S .

At o n e o f the meetings referred to above it was resolved to make an effort to induce Jacob

wh o n o n Shuster , the ran a miserable old stage the Ridge Road from th e Ship tavern , near th e

to to nine mile ston e , down the city , run it down

fre Green lane and through Manayun k . I had

to d o so quently persuaded him , b ut he woul d not consen t . I finally proposed to him to raise a certain amount by subscription and g ive it to him on the condition that he would run his

fo r stage three months through Manayunk . H e

o f consented , and I reported the fact to som e 6 my n eighbors . We raised h im $ 5 and gave it E TC . 8 FALLS OF SCHUYLKILL , 3 to him ; h e immediately discovered that running h is stage through Manayun k was far more pro

a fi t b l e than running it on the Ridge Road . H e soon had to procure more horses and stages, an d h is three m onths had hardly expired before he had an opposition to contend with in Mr . Craw ford , who yet runs a stage from the intersection of the railroad up th e Ridge Road .

o f sta e S I While on th e subj ect g , will state that the first omnibus successfully u sed in Phila

Re e sid e delphia , was originally built for Mr . , an d placed by him o n the Manayunk line with four

to horses . Previous that there had b een for a short time an old fashioned stage running o n

Ch estnut Street to the Schuylkill River . Mr . ’ R e e sid e s vehicle was th e first one in the styl e o f

e th e modern omnibus , with conv nient steps an d a railing behind . After running it for som e time to Manayun k h e took it o ff the line and

of made a city omnibus it, where it succeeded admirably , and was immediately followed by others in the same style .

P O ST O F FI C E .

I do not remember th e exact date of estab l ish in - offi c e g the post at Manayun k , but think 1 82 1 2 it was in 4 or 8 5 . This was exclusively my own act , in opposition and contrary to the 84 EARLY HISTORY OF THE

o f o f wishes many my n eighbors . We were then in the habit o f getting o u r letters and pack ages from the city by the stages . I t had becom e w as a regular system , and very convenient—. By placing a strict construction on the post Offi c e

o f laws , many were opinion that this arrangemen t would have to stop , as th e law forbids carrying

o n letters a post route . I , however , applied to fi th e departm ent for the of ce , and recommended

Mr . James Renshaw as postmaster . Mr . Ren shaw , with whom I then boarded , kept the hotel built by Silas Levering . The authority and appointment came on promptly , but what

fi - may appear strange in these of ce h unting days ,

I had a hard time in persuading Mr . Renshaw to

o n to accept it , and he only did so my promise

o u t assist him in making his accounts , returns ,

C fli 65 . o c e H e held the three months, and all my eloquence could not prevail o n him to keep

I t longer . It was very troublesome to him , paid

to him very little , and h e resolved throw it up , b ut fortunately j ust at that time there came into w h o the village a young man , Mr . Stott , was an

o f w apothecary , and rented Mr . Rensha a small frame building he had erected in his yard for a

I n barber shop . this building he op ened an o n apothecary store , and I prevailed him to take

- o ffi c e the post . I t being a pet of mine , I kep t

o f the run it for several years , an d it was curious E TC . 8 FALLS OF SCHUYLKILL , 5 to se e how regularly every quarter its income

o f increased with the growth the village . Mr . Stott held the office for several years until h e

diflic u l t left Manayunk , and now there was no y fi in filling the Of ce ; on the contrary , there was a regular scramble for it .

U T RN PI K E R OA D .

so The Manayun k road , or Main Street, was intolerably bad at times that it became a b so l u e l o t y necessary t do something with it . From ’ Righter s ferry to Manayunk it w as sometimes impassable , and often the teams and other vehi

o n cles would , their way to th e city , be forced to go up to the Ridge turnpike road , through ’ Green or Sherr s lane . It was finally concluded

o f in to make a Macadamized road . An act corporation was obtained from the legislature on

ro th 1 82 6 o n e the day of April , . No thought w as m it would ever pay any interest , b ut it eces to sary for our b usiness have a good road . Th e m ill owners were all assessed in proportion to th e number of inches of water th ey held , and

o f generally took their proportion the stock . I took mine under the full impression o f never receiving anything in return exc e pt the a dva n tage of having a good road at all times, b ut , con 86 EARLY HISTORY OF THE

trar o u r y to expectations , it did pay the stock of holders a considerable amount interest .

S C H O O LS .

o f At some of the m eetings th e citizens, held

1 82 in 4, exertions were made to have a school house erected , and finally Peter and Jonathan Roberson gave a lot for the purpose at the lower

o f end the Village . Funds were raised by sub scription , and we soon erected the first school house in Manayunk .

At that time an d for several years after , we had no public system o f education ; o n th e con

trar . y, a miserable pauper system prevailed Children whose parents were to o p oor to edu cate them , were sent to the common schools, and the teachers paid from the county funds three cen ts a day for the actual attendance o f each pupil . Roxborough township had two directors appointed by the court to dole o u t this miserable three penny busin ess . Both the di o n rectors resided the Ridge, and were unac q u a in te d with the nature and necessities o f th e o f l people Manayunk . There was a universa desire that o n e o f th e directors should be a resi

o f dent Manayunk , which seemed but fair an d of j ust , as its population exceeded that all the ETC . 8 FALLS OF SCHUYLKILL , 7

o f rest the township . At th e request of a n um

e ber of persons I call d on Judge King , the presi

of . dent the court , in reference to th e matter H e told me that for certain reasons he did not

o f wish to displace either the directors , an d advised that we should apply to th e legislature for a law to give Roxborough township an addi

io n al f t director . H e o fered to procure such a law for us, which he did ; and th e first I knew of it w as the reception of the appoin tm en t a s director . O n the receipt of the appointment I examined all th e school laws , and had a consul

o n ta tio n with my colleagues the Ridge . I dis covered that th e practice was to examin e Closely ’ i nto each applicant s case , and if th e paren ts could earn a certain amoun t per day by their

o f labor , the benefit the school was refused to w as o f their children . There nothing this in the law , it was merely the custom , and I deter mined to disregard it . The whole system of public education was at that time in a transition state , and I was a zealous advocate of the system

n o w that finally prevailed and which we have . I refused to comply with this system of espio

six nage , and notified all th e teachers , some or

th e eight , and all th e people in village , that I was ready to give orders to every applican t . Of course I soon filled up all the schools , and when at the end of the quarter I took my bills as re 88 EARLY HISTORY OF THE quired to the quarterly m eeting o f the directors o f o f the Sixth section , composed Germantown ,

o f Roxborough , and Bristol , some them were

n o f e ttin startl ed , b ut th ere was g g over it . They were sent along with the rest to the Board o f

o f Control . The Board Control grumbled , but

n o u se to it was of , they had b e paid ; I knew

l a w that well enough . The made me sole j udge o f w h o to I should sen d the schools , and required the Board of Control to pay th e bills duly quali

fi e d to by the teachers . Each successive quarter

e o f the bills increas d in amoun t, the Board Con trol con tinually expressing dissatisfaction with

o f the Manayunk bills , and finally the directors the sixth section sen t me as their representative

o f to the Board Control , which at that time

o f consisted only twelve members . There I had to fight my o w n battles . In all this I had an

in z vie w n to obj ect . It was get a large school house built for th e sake of economy if for n o oth er reason . I succeeded in two instances in getting committees of th e board to visit Mana o yunk , and b th reported in favor of b uilding

- a school house , but I could never succeed in getting an appropriation for it up to the time I left Manayunk .

90 EARLY HISTORY OF THE

H e replied in th e negative , and said h e only

tw o intended to stay or three days . I th en asked him where h e was located ; he mentioned

I to l d the place , and him he could be more comfortably accommodated at the Leverington

o n hotel the Ridge road , wh ere I then boarded .

H e came there the n ext day , intending , as he

to o r said , stay two three days ; he continued there and at Manayunk for many years . There was always a mystery about him that I could

h is n ever understand . I have learned since death that h e had a wife and a number o f chil dren in England . I b elieve he was over eighty

ol d three years when he died . Although a

o f man intelligence and education , he was a thorough John Bull , a constitutional grumbler ; in his View there w as nothing right in this

— o n country nothing wrong in his w .

B Y LI RA R .

The Library at Manayunk was originally l n

o n stituted by Jacob B . Smith , a school teacher th e Ridge , a most excellen t an d worthy man ; h e died shortly after , and bequeathed a number o f to valuable books it . D uring his life it

flourished and was successful , but for a long period after his death it w as in a great measure neglected . I t was finally removed to Manayunk , OF E TC . 1 FALLS SCHUYLKILL , 9 where it prosp e red in connection with a Lyceum established there .

’

V U . ST . D A I D S C H R C H

The origin of the Episcopal Church at Mana yun k with which I was connected , is due to the

e late Rev . Robert D avis, gen rally known among “ th e clergy as Eusebius D avis , from the cir c u m sta n c e Of h is having publish ed English trans l a tio n s o f o f some the Ancien t Fathers . H e had

e s been r ctor of a pari h in Reading , and from ill health was obliged to give it up . H e made himself useful in seeking n e w localities fo r establishing parishes . I remember walking with him o n a certain occasion o n Market Street west

e o f of Broad , when he point d to an upper story “ a house with the Observation that , in that room he organized the first Episcopal C h urch

o f i n Philadelphia west Broad Street , the Epi ” o n phany . O n a certain day he called m e , introduced himself, and told me his p urpose was to organize an Episcopal congregation ; I tol d him I could se e no chance o f success ; that my o w n and o n e other family were all th e Epis

C O a l ia n S o f th e p I knew in village . He th e n exhibit e d to me a m e morandum bo o k containing t h e 0 0 names of nearly 3 persons i n th e village ,

e e who , he said , w r brought up in and belonged 9 2 EARLY HISTORY OF THE to th e Episcopal Church H e had canvassed

I w as every house in the village . surprised at this ; looked over his book , and finally told him

o n to call me the following week . In the m ean time I called on a number o f th e persons whose names I had seen in his book , an d found them k favorably impressed . Th e n ext wee h e called

to on me again , when we proceeded at once organize a parish , h eld a m eeting at th e school

1 8 1 house D ecember 3, 3 , an d elected twelve

- vestrymen . We procured the school house ,

S e w an d ubs quently the little ch urch n ear it , here services were regularly h eld until the church was b u ilt ; the late Tobias Wagn er contributing largely to the fund for b uilding it . From that

1 8 time until his death in 5 5 , I kep t up my inti macy with Mr . D avis . I have reason to b elieve h e was very m uch attach ed to me, as I certainly

n f was to h im . H e was a great an d lo g su ferer

- from ill health , an excellen t man , an d humble C hristian . I visited him in his last sickness , and h elped to carry him to his grave .

C H O LE RA .

In the summ er o f 1 832 Manayunk was sorely affl icted with the cholera . Previously to its breaking out , we h ad , as was don e everywhere

o f W else , organized a Sanitary Committee , h ich F O E TC . FALLS SCHUYLKILL , 9 3

they made me President . We went actively to work in having the vill a ge thoroughly examined

e and cleansed . Every house was fre ly opened to our inspection ; all nuisances abated ; cellars cleaned and white - washed ; and lime freely used

e e in v ry direction . I doubt if the village ever

e had such a thorough cl aning before or since . The — peopl e were greatly alarmed readily second e d — o u r effort s and doubtless these measures must have modified the disease when it reached us ; yet it was very severe ; there were in all from forty to fifty deaths ; b ut a large maj ority o f

e th m were inebriates , men accustomed to hard

e o e drinking . I t se med t m e that many p rsons

o n e had slight attacks of it . I had myself ; it passed o ff harmlessly ; but wh e n it got hold o f a hard drin king man it appeared to me there was

n o t the slightest chance for his life , and in many cases they were carried off in a frightfully rapid

manner . The physicians had a hard time , and

w e were obliged to get assistance for them . Dr .

M c C al m o n t George , then a student , o ffered his

o n o n e services , and occasion when he and myself

th e were attending to a case , one of physicians cam e to us and tol d us there was another man j ust taken with it in the Street . He directed Dr . M c C a l m o n t to g o along with me and attend

e o o e to his cas ; ab ut an h ur b fore , I had met that man in th e str e et hauling ston e with a h o rse 94 EARLY HISTORY OF TH E

h im n and cart , and spoke to ; oth ing seemed to be the matter with him th en . H e was a very

2 0 0 s stout , corpulen t man , weighed over pound , and I suppose dran k his quart o f whiskey every

M c C alm o n t day . I took D r . to his house about ’ ten o clock in the morning ; we found him walk ing about h is room in great agony . H e imme d ia te ly com men ced abusing us and ordered us o u t o f his house , saying we should not make any experiments with him , that h e knew what was the matter with h imself, nothing but a colic that h e had often had b efore . I had seen a — n umb er o f similar cases becam e in a manner familiar with th e disease - th e remarkable ap

e a ra n c e of 65 0 p the eye , , and was perfectly con v in c e d o f , at the first view I had his face , that

to it was a bad case . I tried reason with him , b ut it was useless . Th ere was a bed in the room

o n to I tried to prevail him lie down , but h e

fo r resisted a long time ; at last , however, he

w as became alarmed and docile , and willing for the doctor to d o what h e could fo r h im ; b ut h e soon fell into th e collapsed state and died , an d ’ before six o clock that afternoon he was in his grave .

This was rapid work , but other cases were

o f equally so . I t was by the advice the physi c ian s in this particular case that he was SO o f speedily buried . We sen t to th e overseers E T OF C . FALLS SCHUYLKILL , 9 5

o n th e poor, who resided the Ridge , to com e and bury him and others , but they were alarmed and refused to come near us ; we had to do th e

o f best we could . Mr . B umstead , pastor the

German Reformed Ch urch , tendered to us th e

o f basement room his church , where we fitted

o f up a hospital , an d had a number cases in it .

On a certain Sunday , when th e disease was at its height , there was a terrible panic prevailing throughout the village , and there was a great cry for physicians ; tho se we had could not att e nd to all the cases , and I sent an express to the Falls

n o w for Dr . Joseph Carson , a Professor in the

U o f niversity Pennsylvania . H e had a day o r tw o before return ed from India , and I knew o f his being at th e Falls . I was standing in th e ’ e stre t below Snyder s hotel , with a crowd around me all in a very excited state , when Dr . Carson drove up . H e was im mediately surrounded ,

o n e to s o f every anxious get posses ion him . The doctor o f course was surprised at such a recep

to w tion , an d appealed me to kno what h e e shoul d do . I r plied , go to work as quickly as

to possible . I took him th e nearest house , and

e as w n t around with him fast as we could . Ther e was little o r n othing the matter with

o f m ost them , merely frightened , and they mag n ifi e d o r every little pain ache in to cholera . There wer e two Roman Catholic prie sts in the 96 EARLY HISTORY OF THE

at — M ul h ol village that time the Rev . Mr . land , and th e Rev . Mr . Carter , who is now priest of the Church at Spring Garden and Twelfth

Streets . Th ey were remarkably active and use ful , day and night , among the sick . O n a cer

s o n e o f tain occa ion , when going around with them , Mr . Mulholland , I observed a man fol

u s e lowing , and whenever we cam out of a house he would whisper something to the priest . This continued for som e tim e ; at last Mr . M ulholland turned to me and asked what I would advise in his case . H e told me the man had been drin king

o f to excess , making a beast himself, and h e had forbid him to drin k any more liquor ; that h e now said h e was accustomed to drin k somethi n g

o ff daily , and if stopped suddenly at such a time , it would be attended with a bad effect and cause him to b e sick . I replied that I thought there ' was some probability of that , and advised that h e should allow him to take some liquor , but limit him in the quantity ; h e agreed with me, turn ed

to to the man , whispered something him , and in a n o ff o n instant he was a full trot , making a bee line to th e n earest rum shop . The last case we had was a boatman who was in a house n ear

o n th e locks . O n e afternoon I was called by

tw o four physicians, from th e city , the oth ers

e o n from Mobile , Alabama , who had been s nt h ere to study and make themselves acquainted

9 8 EARLY HISTORY OF THE

o f what a remarkable case , I will state it . I was

o n e quietly sitting in my house evening , when

ol d o f William Welsh , an resident Manayunk , came rushing in and told m e not to be alarmed , that a large crowd w as coming up to my house

N o t to with a prisoner . wishing them come in to

o u t my house , I went in th e road to m eet them ; they had a poor fellow who apparently had been severely handled . It seemed some children had

to got quarrelling and fighting , the women took

o t it up , an d finally th e men g at it . After hear ing all their stories , I gave a hin t to Mr . Welsh , and asked him if he would be surety fo r th e ’ man s appearance b efore m e n ext morning . H e replied in the a flirm ativ e ; this satisfied th e crowd and it left ; after which I took th e man

o f l o t to th e back part my , told him Manayun k s w as no place for him , and advi ed him to go in

to a roun dabout way his family , put them an d f all h is ef ects on board th e first canal boat , an d go up the river b efore morning . H e followed my advice strictly , and th e n ext morning was among the missing . Shortly after I m et J udge

King , an d told him I had made my first attemp t “ ” “ at dispensing j ustice . Well , said h e , how ” “ o u t i did you make O h , first rate , said I , and told him th e whole story . I n ever saw a man

Y o u laugh more heartily . Said h e to me , are the b est magistrate in the county . I only wish we

J O S E P H M O N T E L I E R

B 1 11 x S L M l b P orn O ford treet ondon , ary e one arish

’ P i k D a 1 ’ y , 7 M 1 6 Six l k atr c s th day of arch , 7 5 , o c oc in the m i S ix w l l L orn ng , inches sno a ov er ondon

I OO EARLY HISTORY OF TH E

by the improvements at Manayunk , and making a road o n the western side o f the river in fron t o f h i u s ho se . When he purchased the property h e also p urchased with the rest o f his means a small annuity ; his wants were few , and it was

f fo r o l d su ficient his support . In tim es , before the existence o f Manayun k o r any improvements in the neighborhood , he cultivated a very pretty

o f garden , a variety fruits and flowers , and had

~ e H e considerable tast for horticulture . had been

o f a business man some kin d , had made a voyage o r t o two China , and h e had in his house some b eautiful China ware, which seemed quite out of place in his humble establishment . Ann ually , o n o f o f the Fourth July , it was the custom Joh n Levering (proprietor o f the mills at the mouth o f the creek Opposite Manayunk) and others , ’ M o n te lie r s to assemble under a tree near house, provided with all the materials fo r making ” p unch , and th e Gen eral , as they called him ,

o u t would bring his large China p unch bowl , when th ey would have a merry time . I t was f o n o . one these occasions that Mr Breton , wh o f e w o . was present , dr a picture him The log house he occupied was originally o n th e east side o f the river , at the foot of Green lane ; it was b uilt there to take in grain for the mill o n th e opposite Side of th e river , and was taken over on

o f 1 —1 the ice in the win ter 7 9 3 7 94. OF E TC . I O I FALLS SCHUYLKILL ,

B ST EA M OAT S . Two attempts were made at di fferent periods to run Steamboats from Philadelphia to Norris

as town . Th e first was , I think , as far back the

1 8 2 2 H e w it o l d year , by Captain , an ship

' master , who had previously commanded a ship in the East In dia trade ; he made several trips o to Norristown , but so n abandoned the attempt ; the detention in the different locks was such as 1 8 2 to make th e passage tedious . I n the year 9 another attempt was made , but that was also soon

o f abandoned . On another occasion a line packets was established to run from Philadelphia to o n - Reading with horses the tow path , but it

w as u - too an p hill business, and did not last long .

U C O N C L SI O N .

In the year 1 839 I sold my mill and dwelling to Win e n e Joh n p y, left Manayunk , and dissolv d my connection with it, and al though I have ever

e since f lt m uch in terest in it , I know very little about it from that period . I t always was to me , and I know was looked on by many , as an inte

e e resting spot . I have ever viewed it as an xt n i e - e s ve workshop , its population an d wat r pow r ,

e o e activ ly empl y d in production , adding m uch OF TH E F I O 2 HISTORY FALLS O SCH UYLKILL . to e of o r th e w al th and comforts u country .

While I resided there , there are those still living

sa who will do me the j ustice to y, I was always f ready to secon d any ef ort for its improvemen t , f prosperity , and welfare . In some cases I di fered with many o f my friends and neighbors as to what were the true interests of Manayunk and its manufactories , but whatever opinions I held

o f they were my honest convictions , the resul t long , close Observation , and much reflection on

o f f the delusive subj ect Protective Tarif s , “ so o u t to which often hold promises the ear , ” to and break them the h op e . I becam e thoroughly convinced in my o w n mind that the true interests o f manufactories and all connected with them , lay much deeper than in protective f tari fs , an d that they who desire their perman en t prosperity m ust look t o a vital reform in o u r

to currency system . Th e nearer we approach a sound , exclusively metallic currency , the better

fo r o u r will it be manufacturing interests, and all the labor and industry o f o u r country .