Pittston Gazette from Pittston, Pennsylvania • Page 10

Neither was there a house of worship in the township of Plttston. Arrange Id 1 i NI 11 111 I I I nsi iifiiii. in the seven foot scam, the fourteen foot seam be ins at that time untouched In that part of town. The completion of the gravity railroad of the Pennsylvania Coal Com men prominent in establishing this r.cademy were Hon. Theodore Strong, X.

G. Parke, R. J. Wisner, E. A.

Coray, Dr. Law bin, Mr. Cool.y, It. D. Lacoe, Thomas Ford and others.

John T. Ever hurt presented the academy with a Umbel! which still ciils the children of West Pittston to their daily tasks In Ihe schools of to day. Among the teachers of the Pitfslon REMINISCENCES OF OVER HALF vo tj A cirno a rot? I Rev. Ir. Parke's Ret Ira of Ihe Frnlta of MlMlonnry Work IfimMelf and Oihern.

My contribution to the jubilee issue of the Gazette, which I cheerfully make, if I write of church matters, must be ery largely personal. My only hesitation in making this contribution is the fact that I have been so Intimately associated with this church work since It commenced in Pittston. something over fifty years ago. and therefore can i lumber was bought from the river at less than five dollars per thousand feet, now worth sixty dollars. This) was largely used In the First Presbyterian Chunh, in North Pittston, now used for a tenant house.

Lumber, plaster and suit were brought down the river in arks and on rafts. About this time much enthusiasm was) caused by the operations of William It. Griffith, of Harrisburg, brother of our deceased townsman, A. J. Griffith.

He purchased land and opened veins of coal in Port Griffith since called by his name and laid the foundations of the Pennsylvania Coul Company. All the thrift of the town was in the hands of the few coal men, but the people believed in expansion, worked for it, and how rapidly and vigorously it has come we all know. All the wealth of this region has been forged out by industry and economy. We congratulate the Gazette as a potent factor in this growth. It lives because it deserves to live.

It has had power, and. in the main, it has used it well. We wish for it another half century of even larger usefulness. THEODORE STRONG. BUT ONE SHAFT IN PITTSTON IN 1850.

Haw (ml Waa Mined anil Markrlrd Fioaecr Operator Pradarlion ('(ranted With That of Today. We have endeavored to learn at what date the first coal openings were made at Plttston for the purpose of shipping to a market outside of the county. Coal wag taken from the bottom of the river, opposite the Hughes brewery, at an early date, but this was for local consumption Pearce. in his annals, tells us that Calvin Stockbridge made the opening at the easterly end of the Ferry Fridge in 1828 and nt about 2,000 tons from this mine down the Susquehanna in arks. The North Branch Canal was opened to Its) Lackawanna feeder in lx4.

Messrs. Mallory and liutler opened the old Butler mine in 1S3S, sending their first coal by canal in 1840. Not far from this date. John Hlanchard opened a line seam of coal on his land just below Port Griffith and continued shipping in his own boats until 1847 or 1848, when he sold to the Irondale Coal Company, of which Samuel Holland was manager. After boarding for a time with the Blanchard family, Mr.

Holland built the house at Port Blanchard in which C. I. A. Chapman now lives and spent his summers there. David Morgan, afterward a coal operator on his own account, was Mr.

Holland's mine foreman for a number of years. Mr. Morgan subsequently opened other minis for the Iron Company near the Lackawanna feeder and also began operating personally, becoming eventually a promi net manager, not In coal mining alone, hut as a manufacturer of Iron. He was a man of clear thought, wlm labored to be Just to all with whom he was brought In contact to the men emr ployed by him as well as in the larger dealings with fellow operators. The years 1845 6 appear to have been years of much activity in tin oponins of mines in the vicinity of the Johnson Basin.

Colonel James W. Johnson sunk the shaft near the corner of South Main and Railroad streets, which so long bore his name, and which is said to be the first shaft or vertical opening to the coal seams made in Luzerne County. Messrs. Joel and Ci njnmin Bowkley and Abram and Benjamin Price came to Pittston about this time. i.nd West Plttston schools of long ago.

none were more beloved than Mrs. Nancy Robertson and her two daughters, Miss Ella and Miss Georgia, Thirty live years ago Mrs. Robertson 1 taught a primary school in her home on Railroad street. She In company with her two daughters afterwards taught in Ihe Phoenix Hall bl. and alfi in the third story of the Goodman building, corner of Main and William stiects.

Mrs. Robertson was pai ticiilarly happy in her flea inn nt of the children under her care, and many of the people of Pittston remember with pleasure their C. I. A. CHAPMAN.

sojourn in her school in those early days. Another teacher well remembered by those under her care was Miss Maria I 'i'aggai't (now Mrs. V. M. She taught in North Pittston in the i old brick school house.

Some of her scholarsi ill remember how it was against the rule to go in swimming in the canal at recess lime. Miss could always tell whether the boys had iieen In the water by tile condition of REV. N. PARKK. D.

D. 1 A i i I Tt TELLS ABOUT THE BIRTH OF THE GAZETTE, The Honored President nt the First National Bank Wrllea latereMing iy of Pitlslon's Beginning. Xot much can be said of the business of Pittston back of the year isim, when the Oazette was horn; nor had it many swaddling clothes'. Its nutriment, too, both In quantity and quality, was scanty. Hut it was eager to live, anil bravely fought its way up.

There were only four houses in West Pittston then, and the population of the present city could not. including Jenkins, Avoca and Duryea, have been much more than one thousand. There was no bridge over the river until that year. A rope ferry HON. STRONG, The only was owned by A.

Y. Smith stores were a ilimiiiutive one kept by W. S. Redilin, near where Farier, Peck Roberts's east side drug store now stands, with a stock worth, perhaps, six hundred dollars; the Butler store, where the Sinclair House now is. and one started about this time by liencdiet Alton, where Michael liolin now presides.

There were five hotels. Hoarding was had at a "shilling" a meal, and the bar was the main feeder. Prohibitionists were almost an unknown quantity. There was no transportation except by canal, the boats carrying about fifty tons, and the entile shipment of eoiil could not much have cxcecilt thirty thousand tons per annum, the Culler company being much in the lead in shitntionts. Coal was sold to the furnaces at Danville, to lialtimorc and to Huston, on six months paper, includ THK MEN WHO MAKE THE GAZETTE.

ing canal boat charges. The shippers were greatly perplexed to raise money, and the ultimate losses were heavy. Johnson Ceiineit had sunk shaft number I al the foot of Railroad street, and were small shippers. There was a small opening of coul at Yalesville, where John Sloiit sold coal for domestic use. Richaid itrown was a blacksmith at Duryea, Thomas Coin diet mar the WILLIAM TOMPKINS.

IJavin. shaft, and Cutler Hill. lliir. lal'le. kepi for shop.

L. olies maile on llelill. opposite I tie years Ihe only shoe their own bonnets. The Cutlets, had buill a. steam lloiiring mill, where tin Ross itiins are now.

which was run successfully by Strong Mi lt forseveial years. William Tompkins had a saw mill at the forks of ihe mad on South Main Thele Mel, ho banking facilities and trade was almost entirely in bailor. Al lhat lime people wore not troubled with, the lligl.t lliale of siXteell to one. Panel 7 aw VC. aj I i merits were made for preaching service on the next Sabbath after my arrival, the second Sabbath of June, in the old school house, and notice given arcord ingly to all the fa mi lien residing be tween Duryea and the Plains.

Among; them I recall the names of Richard Krown, Zenus ltarnum. William Bar num. John Chapman, Harris Jenkins. J. Hyde Jenkins.

Klisha lilackman, James Helm. Nathaniel (iiddings, Thomas liencdiet, Abram Dr. Curtis. Jacob Lance. John Sax, Mrs.

Austin, Dr. Abel Ilennett. William Hcddin. William Slocum, I James McFiirland. Thomas Ford.

J. D. I Stark, Newman Hrnwn. Adam Tedrlck, Squire Peter Winters. John Hlanchard.

William Tompkins. William Apple, Peter Wagner and Peter Petty. The most of these families were represented at the services conducted on alternate Sabbaths by Kldcr Mutt and myself. The next ibiy I went up the liekawan na Valley towards Sciantoii. live miles, to what is known as Taylor, and called on Klisha Atherton.

Here there were eight or ten families connected with the Presbyterian Church, who, with several Methodist and Kaptist families wile served ith pi eaehi ng in a school house once in two weeks by Klder Tills was also to be one of the Lackawanna mi. sieiiniy's preaching stations, ill. Atherton went with me to Harrison, (now Serantoii.l which, if the missionary suited, was to lie one of his pleaching stations: and here I was introduced to Messis. Scranton and Grant was i incuts and also to James Sands, who Presbyterian Elder. Arrange were made fur me to preach on the coining Sabbath in the afternoon, and after that once in two weeks at the same hour.

I to IS4? all or all I be people in the Lackawanna Valley connected with the Presbyterian Church were nu mbers of the First Presbyterian Church of Wilkesbarre and were accustonii to go there on communion occasions. In Isl a Presbyterian Chinch had been organized under tile leadership of Dr. Dorrance at Harrison, but no move had been made to engage a minister, to build a sanctuary or In maintain the of God's house. Elisha Atheitoii. who was a well to do farmer and without children of his own.

Inking in the situation, engaged to care for the missionary and his horse until the people were In a position to do it. This generous offer of Mr. Atheitoii put the in terprise on its feet and had no little to do with its success). The first wink attempted in the line of permanent church work was the building of a sanctuaty, and Pittston was chosen as the place to erect it. This wolk was entered on soon after I came In re and was pressed by Dr.

Dorrance. who generously purchased the lot on which it as to be erected. The house as completed and ilr. I in the fall of 1MK and was the titst house of worship net ted in Ho tow nsliip. In tie of the following year I received a call trout Ihe chinch of Lackawanna, in which the I'lesbyteriaus at Lackawan iia and Hauisoii united with those in and around Pittston and was iustalinl as pastor.

The nanic of the church was siibseiiin nlly changed to that of the First Presb.v tcriaii I'liun of Pulsion. Ill I ecu id to pleach ill Hal I is. m. bill continued for a score of years to care for the congregation in the "Atherton Neighborhood," in connection with my pastorate at Huston. Those who tit st.

after the Indians, settled Wyoming Valley were for the most pan from New England and veiy spicdily made provision for maintaining the ordinances of God's house but it was hot their piivilege to witness very much of church gmwth. For the first half e. in uiy alter the settlement thi ie was, so far as appeals, no visible church glow ifi. There were no doubt some local reasons for this in the iiiisoitb and distracted state of the oounliy at the time, but the fact is. thele Here but lit ell 111 ell buildings iu the valley until near Ihe middle of the nineteenth untiuy.

an. a.f tluse was in llanov r. south of Wilk. olle ill Willi. Cailo on fli Squalc.

the "ld Ship Zioii," and tie venerable structure at Forty Foil, piobably the Urst i ipl. i. ,1 sain Iii.ny in Ii. valley. Within past liny yeais Unchurch growth has beiii lapiil.

The first colony that went out Iroin the I Continued in Section 'V "pt 1 til OLD TIME POLITICAL STUMPERS RECALLED. Pastime Were Frinilllve. Vet llieoe Were Halrynn llajra Melxlilng Pan Ira Ponlar Th Lyceum. What and wherewith did the people of Pittston find to amuse tin mselves in 1S5U? This would seem a problem to our present day population, who have theatres, dancing halls, libraries, and a host of socials, circles and clubs to occupy their spare moments. No such thing existed in IN.iO.

Communication with the towns about us was not easy, the common wagon road affording the only means, and a trip even lo the county seat required the larger part of a day. Cy the present population of our city, its dwellers of would be voted very countrified and painfully slow. Still those dwellers did II ml ways to amuse themselves, summer was necessarily the busy season and amusement was not then The harvest months 1. 1. the political campaigns, hen the men of party argued and piovcd that the use of their own uliai shibboleth was Ihe only means of maintaining tin libeity id the citizen nm securing a continuance of the republic.

It is all Very amusing to look hack I'pon. Menioiy ealls a picture of a would be Stat. Representative Dunning, standing on the upper porch of Colom I Cinl's hotel ami enlightening the "vast ass. mhlagt of thiity or foity men standing on the road in front as to the fallacies of the Whigs and pointing out that only by the solid vote of the true hearted men befoi, him could their kna.eiy be frustrated and the fair fame of the State preserved. Or Judge Collins standing on an empty hayrick at the same point and addressing even a smaller au.l eti.

e. taking for his theme tin injustice caused by slave representation, iir the brilliant Charles. Mallory with an audience of barely twenty or so before him in the reading of the Eagle Hotel, advocating witii the that Xaiui'e gave him. the election of II, my M. Fuller to ii seat ill the national council.

We I not then look foruaul but a few years and our local idol, forgetting. Ihe bom st hearts at homo, kneeling to the dominating slave power and bid ding painfully low for the Speakership. All this was kindly hidden from our ey In 1 m7.ii. Winter brought us sleighing parties of old and young together to some point miles away and a return In the small hours of Ihe lumniiig woefully tired and nearly frozen. Winter also brought a rev ival of.

ur weeklydebatc or Lyceum. We debated nearly every form of question, but not. so far as we cauiccall, the one set down by Stewart Pearce in his "Annals of Luzerne," as that first before a Wilkesbarre debating lull in ls4; "Is celibacy justifiable by the laws of God or consistent with moral principles?" Pearce asserts that the virtues and excellence of Wilkesbarre maidens in IM14 made all atlirmative Tib 'MAS FoRD. decision impossible, but states lhat by tin inai.l. us bad become frivolous and the loalloii so that filiates bad much th.

best of the argument. Pillston had no such trouble atl.l eXpel i IK .1 llo Stlell chUHgl'. It maidens lino all the eli. nm of the Hist Ulolhel of the race and So I'l aleil tlu ir iaiighteis now matrons in turn, that i.v man was glad to possess on, for his own. Menioiy brings back those weekly debates and the joy of verbal strife for precedence, together with the voices of so many that are hushed in the last sleep.

It was glorious 1,. S.e Charles R. Column really d. With brightened eye. head and Mm er.

el, he would I111 1 1 out his mmim, tits, showing abilities that might have mad him prominent as an orator. Continued in Section Three. 1 A WONDERFUL ADVANCE IN THE EQUIPMENT. The Little Red Vrhool and Ihe Nrhool oa Ihe Ureen, Compared With lo lay'a Nlatply Building. The children of to day, accustomed as (hey nre to the palatial school buildings of the present, listen with wonder to the tales of the little red school house and the slab desks, and benches used by the children of fifty years ago.

Primitive as were the appliances and rude as were the methods of instruction employed, still the children living in Pittston fifty years ago went to school, learned their b. csj and the Mile of three, and peihaps were as well equipped for their life work as are RESIDENCE OF many of the graduates of our more pretentious high schools of to day. The Common School System of Pennsylvania was adopted by Pillston Township in and soon after that time there was erected a small red school house at what is now North Plttston, just below the present residence of Mr. M. Colin.

This school house seems to have been the only place for public meetings in the present town of Pittston. and in it were held the elections, the religious meetings and political gatherings. In it, in Hon. Th Strong organized a Sunday school, and in it, in 1S44. Elder Mott and Itev.

N. G. Parke pleached on alternate Sundays, tin week daysfor from four to six months each winter, the school muster ruled with iron hand and the children sat on the high belieln and studied their tattered primers and carved their initials on the old desks. This school house continued in use iii to Is.i7, when the Pittston school boitid purchased the obi Presbyterian Church i North Main street. an.

I A BR Ail 1.ITK. converted tin building into a school house. This old church continued in use until the present handsome brick school house was creeled on Xorth Main slieet. Within the memory of many now living itn old school house stood on the "Green" Just about where the Water Street Kaptist Church now stands. This building was used up to the time of the election of the Cutler Hill school house, and was afterward used as a station by the L.

V. R. when that road was first built through Pillston. There was a little old black school house situated at the forks of the road at the upper cud of lliigheslow Where the road from Xo. shaft Joins the back load lo Duryea.

This school house was very small, but it held all the children who came to 11. In it Mr. and Mrs. X. G.

Parke had a Sunday school in linearly days of Mr. Parke's niinistiy. on the west side of Ihe river the first 1 public school house was built on what is now Race street, between Montgomery street and Luzerne avenue. A second school house was built along side the first olio and these school houses nol in use' up to about Hen tin West Pittston School District purchased GEORGE LOVE. Ihe present school building on Wyoming avenue.

In lsfis an effort was made by the gentlemen of Pittston to establish an academy in West iltston. A Idol of hind was purchased at the coriior of Wyoming avenue and Montgomery st o. I. about in money was laised and a coiiiiuoilioiis brick edifice was 1 lected. This academy was opened in September, PuM.

with a Mr. Coaly as piin. ipal. and associated with him vvctc such touchers as Miss Elbi Robertson. Miss Amanda Lewis and others.

The aea.l. niy opened ith an attendance of ovei but il was like a bumble bee biggest when It was born, and after a piec.ru. us existence of about six y. ars the West Pittston school district purchased the building and grounds and the public schools were moved from Vine street to their present location. Among the gentle "a' i pnny in the spring of ISM marked the npening of a new era In the coal liusi mlng Valley.

This company, on reach Ing Pittston and beginning shipments', found that their mine openings were quite Insufficient to supply their road or to meet their requirements. They made an opening In the gully In the rear of where Dr. Mulholland now lives, on Itroad street, a second one In the now tllled iip hollow near the house of Charles H. Mahon, and a third a little north of upper street. These openings were in the fourteen foot seam and were simply spasmodic efforts to bring the supply up to the demand.

sides, coal was brought from the mini of ltenedict and Alton, Bowkley Price, anil the Pittston Coal Company. This coal was delivered into the tV'Y't" I i iii smiijrL 1 1 MRS. X. G. PARKE.

cars of the Pennsylvania Coal Company at from sixty to seventy cents a Ion, or but little more than is now paid to the miner alone for cutting the coal ami loading it into mine cars. How much coal went to market In Is.Vi from Piltsion is a "question not easily answered. We' have enumerated eight openings existing at that date, for which the canal was the principal route to market. If we suppose ten boats of sixty tons each to Imve been loaded at tin Johnson. Lloyd.

Cutler and uptown basins, we aeh (WO tons per day and, assuming that 170 days' work were lone ill the.cSeVen months between April 1st and Nov. 1st, we have a total of pcmm tons for the year ls.10. That this was fully equal to the production ill be evident hen we sec that tons was the total canal shipment for that year from the Wyoming Valley. Tin same year (lvMi the Pennsylva nia Coal Company sent III.imu tons over road, of which fully one ihird imrsl have gone from Diininore, as the company's mines there had been much thoroughly opened than those here. Their production from their own imii.

in Pittston and by purchase here could not therefore have exceeded KII.IMO Ions for the year ls.Mi. it was truly a day of small things, yet the coming of this New York company marked the beginning of a new era in which money became the medium of exchange in stead of what had previously amounted barter. Coal sent by canal prior to was exchanged for payable I six months after date. These were eitlu exchanged for goods for the mini is' needs or very closely shaved by tile n.otiey men of WilUesbane to i'tinc the small total of money that em ulated In re al that time. Cy way of coiiliasl.

ii may be said lhat the toial piodueiiuii of the mines of the I'iiistoii district was ions in I WW. The total production of all the anthracite mines in Pennsylvania in IV was THE OLD HI mi fe 3'' I jlALj FOUNDRYMAN Hi i alertnlnlng Hiory Hnvlnrm I.I re. of Early Few men still living have been more closely Identified with the business life of Pittston during the last half century than John A. Touhill. the foundry man nd machinist, wh can be found almost any day hard at work at his foundry mar the foot of Parsonage street.

Mr. Touhill was bom in Canada ami came to Pittston with his parents about 1S4H from Wyalusing. They had previously lived In New York State. The trip from Wyalusing to Pittston was made by wagon. The Touhills i topped over night at Tiinkhaniiock and the following day had their dinner at the Carpenter hotej.

now the Carpenter homestead, on upper Kxeter street. West Side. John Tou hill's father was one of the first su'o scribers to the Gazette and he continued to take the paper until nis iieain. ine son has continued the subscription ever since. John Touhill's first work was at the Butler tunnel, and he was afterward engineer at that mine.

James McFarlane was superintendent of the mine and John Hepler outside foreman. In 1KM Mr. Touhill staited to learn the machinist trade with Jesse Williams, who hail a machine shop on North Main street, just above the Ravine crossing. Later. Wisner Strong took possession of the shop and Mr.

Touhill was their first employe. The works were removed to West Pittston about ISKit. Mr. Touhill remained ith the firm until the business was sold to the Pittston Kn gine hen he embarked ill business on his own account at his present location. The priqicrty now occupied by Mr.

Touhill's Riverside Foundry was formerly known as the John Saxe hotel property. The hotel building was moved by Mr. Touhill from the west side of Main street to the asl side, and. as remodeled, is tile present residence of the Touhill familv. relic of the Saxe property is the ball room, which was frequently called Whig Hall in the limes when political meetings were held therein.

It is now used as a tool house, and bears the same appearance that it did In its early days. Mr. Touhill's recollections of early Pittston would fill volume. When he came here there ere no rai'roads or bridges. The stage coach was the only means of travel.

The Butler mines Were just being developed. Mr. Touhill says that the Butler company elected the first breaker in the Wyoming district. The belt used In operating the crusher was made from canvas by a Wyoming lauy. The Butler company had in its employ one Joe Davis, of massive physique.anil he turned the screen by hand.

At Ihe Price mine, on Railroad street, a treadmill, worked by a large dog was used for a lime to furnish nwer for the screen. Thele is no busier man in the city than Mr. Touhill. lb employs forty men. ami he Is oil the scene of operations from early morning till late at night, personally superintending the practical work of his big establishment.

PJTTSTi i.N liti il 'i; II. Ian. Hi, gland jury of Luzerne Comity was petitioned by a majority of the freeholders to incorporate a poition of Pittston Township as a borough. The judgment the jiand jury was favorable to tin petition, and on April lltll. Is" the court eot.liiine.l the judgment of the grand juiy.

The formation of the borough was completed on April is ami John Hosie was elected the Hist burgess. The Hist borough council was eomp. se.l if J. V. L.

Dewitl. II. P. Messenger, Geolge Daman. Tln oilon Strong and James Mi Fai lam The second burgess was Major J.

C. Fish, who is now a resident of Scranton. WEST PITTSTON Hi iRi H'GH. West Pittston boioiigh was incorporated in autumn of 1V.7. and the first election was held Jan.

7th, J. Amherst Wism i was elected burgess, and tin tiist council was composed of A. J. Crillith. William Apple, Corm litis Stark, Hradley Downing and Theodore Strong.

EARLY LoDUKS. St. John's Lodge. Xo. and A.

was instituted on Apiil 17th. IS4X. In a hall In the attic of the Port Mallory Hotel. William S. Redilin was Ihe first master.

Gohonlo Lodge. Xo. SI4. 1. (i.

o. was instituted June Isth, IMS. Jesse Williams the first presiding ollicer. Thistle Lodge, Xo. M2, was Instituted in October, 54.

(a William Law, (1.) Alvah Tompkins. fe E. A. Coray. CD R.

J. Wisner, (e) Andrew Brydeii, If) Charles Law. (g Paul Rohan. (a) Thomas Leyshon. William Leysboii.

David Morgan. td Abram Price, (e) Thomas Waddell, lf llowkley. (g) Joel Crouton. not jiv.iiil wilting of minutes of the Gene myself. In the ral Assembly of tile Presbyterian Church of the I'nited Mates for IN4, my name uas at the loot of the roll of the ministers of the Presbytery of Luzerne.

Sow it stands at the head of the roll of the mlni. l. is of the Lackawanna Presbytery, into which the Luzerne Presbytery has lieeii merged promotion that lias conic simply from years of service. It is cei ly true that littb'' tilings, as b.ok at them, give direction to oar lives. A brief It tier wiittcn by the v.

Dr. Donancc. past or or the ricshytcii.in Church of Wilkes of whom I had never heard ami who had never heard of me, brought me to Plttston ami has given direction to my. life work. It was written to my classmate in Princeton Theological Seminal the Cev.

John W. Sterling. It was an In itation to accept a I'ominissioii from V. if J. A.

WISNKR. the Hoard of Home Missions to labor in the "Lackawanna Valley." His posi tion as tutor in Princeton College at the time, was in the way of his accept ing the invitation for three months un til the college term would close. Sti ling wished me to take the position of fered him, for these three months. This. after consulting with my father and the professors of the Seminary, lagrecd to do.

and after graduation in May, 144. came directly here. When my three months of service were up. Mr. Sterling was ready to take the place, but the church of Tiinkhnnnock being vacant and desirous of his service, he accepted a call from that church and I remained here.

I reached Pittston on the Monday succeeding the first Sab bath of June. 1st I. I klleW llo olle here. but I had been instructed by Dr. Doi lance to call on Theodore Strong, of Pittston; Klisha Atherton.

of Lacka wanna, and S. T. Scranton. of Hauisoii. I found Mr.

Strong. He had charge of the Hutler Coal i store, assisted by Stephen Jenkins, and boarded with Captain John C. Smith. He introduced me to the members of the Presbyterian church residing at "Pittston Ferry," as the city of Plttston was then called. They were Mrs.

George Lazarus, Miss Mini (iiddings. Mis. Austin. James Heljn and Mrs. Klisha lilackman He .1..

1 1 1 ll. Gidi! Idings and to Mrs, Searle and her daughter. Mrs. Fell, who were members of the Kaptist Church, and to Klisha P.laekman. ho was almost the only representative of the Methodist riiuieh in al that time.

Stinlli; eoliilUetei) a SahllUlll School ill a school bouse th.it stood near the Junction; and Iheie was preaching in the same school house olice in two uo ks by Elder Mott. who icshtcd in Hyde Paik. There uas no minister of any denomination residing in Pittston. TLER PLANE. I their hair, and no matter how short the hair, she could tell wh tli.

1 it was and woe betide the boy with wet I. air. over a bench must he h. ml him and the teacher made the application vvjth a ruler. Sometimes the boy caught it on the voles of his hare feet with a switch cut from the nearby c.

iii tery. Mr. Neville, Dr. Gorman. Mrs.

Illake ly Hall and Mr. C. S. Stark were among the successful teachers on the east side In Pittston borough had thirteen schools) and l.llu scholars ami a school tax of West Pittston had three schools. 214 scholars and a school tax of 771.16.

To day Pittston City has about thirty live teachers with 1.7ml scholars and a school tax of no. IK" V) R. I. LACdE. and West Pittston has twenty four teachers with about l.

sdiolais and a school lax of about The record of Piitston's school would tint be complete Willi. locution of St. John's Academy, which lie Ib v. Father Finncn established in the sev.n. tics ill connection with St.

John's Par isb and coiiilin ted so successfully uiiti' his death In IMW. Many of our si prominent Catholic men and woin. much lo the excellent early training I hey received 111 this academy. the death of Father Fliun lie academy was abandoned, Ihe work ing merged into the five hial school syst. m.

FIRST JEWELER. In 1S47, James Searle established the first jewelry business in Pittston, They were practical millers, biiuging with their knowledge of mining a large fund of health, strength and courage and not much of anything else. Tli.y bought fifty acres of land from Colonel Johnson, Into whlcn they drove a tunnel, putting a track of wooden rails to their proposed shipping point at the basin. This track followed the irregu iritii of the ground and was gradual ly brought to a grade with dirt brought from the n''ne opening. It Is not easy now to fix the date of their first ship ment but apparently it was about 1M7.

ltenedict and Alton had a land lying still fuitlu east niece ih 'ni ti. it of the Bowkleys am I'riii This i hey opened and by a railroad running ii out their mine marly paiall.l with l1'11 ot Howkl' 's aml down Railroad street and crossing Main hilt south of the West End i re iihcd a dock or loading wharf lhat point of Oregon ar the Alpine Viiilmr Th' lr cars, like those i and Price turn, ran ihmii mine to basin by gravity and were drawn back to the mouth of the mine by horses harnessed tandem. Runaways on these roads wen nt. 'but "ccur, 1" lb'' great excitement of very one. and William Leyshon, who nirl raitS ire sniiivn in ine gr imp early coal operators, presented elsewhere, were also practical millers.

Tin operated the Bowkley and Price mine on a lease for several years, piobably from WS9 to 1861. They w. nt West later and William, who afterward returned. a killed in the mines in Wilkes barre. John A.

Lloyd, by a chase at a legal sale, be fortunate pill ame He owner of the Fell or ublic School Int. upon which the suburb known as "Cork Lane" is situated. The tract is said have cost him less than Mr. I.loyd opened coal on this tract In and built a railroad down the gully, through Charles street, to the Lloyd Casln. Going northward from the Cutler road and basin, no opening existed until one operated by Abram Price was This was mined from the Glddings propel ty and was delivered to the canal opposite the James Hotel.

A road from a second opening in this property crossed Mam street at the place now occupied by the residence of Thomas Maloney. The jieuedlet and Alton opening at the northerly end of the town can 'sllll be Mp just north of the stoic of Mr. "Boiln. These three openings were all GEORGE LAZARUS..