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PREFACE
preface.txt

ILLUSTRATIONS
bellpics.htm

INDEX.............................................................................................................................................................1241-1256
bellindx.txt

MAP OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY..........................................................................................................14-15
northmap.gif

CHAPTER I. THE COLONIAL PERIOD. .............................................................................................................. 17-41
bell0001.txt General Topography - Drainage - First Exploration of the Susquehanna - Indian
Tribes - The Susquehannocks - Delawares - Allumapees - The Shawanese - The Iroquois -
Shikellimy - Indian  Traders - Conrad Weiser - Missionary Effort

CHAPTER II. THE COLONIAL PERIOD (Concluded).......................................................................................... 42-98
bell0002.txt Pages 42 - 59. Purchase of the Susquehanna - Alienation of the Delaware Indians -
Hostilities Inaugurated - Rumors of French Invasion - Defensive Measures Adopted - The Augusta
Regiment Organized to Build a Port at Shamokin - Progress of the Expedition - Construction of Fort
Augusta - Principal Events of Colonel Clapham's Administration

bell0003.txt Pages 59 - 77. Extracts and Incidents from Major Burd's Journal - Subsequent Commanding
Officers - The Magazine and Indian Store - Operations In 1763 - Strength of the Garrison and Armament

bell0004.txt Pages 77 - 98.  The Flag - Doctors and Chaplains - Plan and Description of the Fort -
Close of The French and Indian War - Purchase of 1768 - Early Survey - Lists of Pioneers - Fithian's
Journal - The Yankee and Pennamite War

CHAPTER III. THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. .............................................................................................. 99-142
bell0005.txt  Pages 99 - 123. Close of the Provincial Regime - The County's Representation in the
Continental Army - Companies of Captains Lowdon, Parr, and Weltzel - Twelfth Pennsylvania Regiment
- Committee of Safety - Militia Organization - Indian Outrages - Defensive Measures Instituted by Colonel
Hunter - "The Great Runaway" - Colonel Brodhead Temporarily Stationed on the Frontier

bell0006.txt Pages 124 - 142.  - Colonel Hartley's Military Administration - Fall of Fort Freeland
- The German Regiment - General Potter's Expedition - Events of Colonel Hunter's Accounts

CHAPTER IV. ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION. ........................................................................ 142-198
bell0007.txt Erection of Northumberland County - Disintegration of its Territory - Present
Boundaries - Internal Subdivision - Original Townships - Formation of Present Subdivisions
- Statistics of Population - Public Buildings - Early Fiscal Affairs

bell0008.txt Inauguration of the Public School System - Roster of County Officers - Representation
in Constitutional Conventions, etc. - Legislative Representation - Early Township Officers

CHAPTER V. THE BENCH AND BAR. .............................................................................................................201-260
bell0008.txt First Courts and Cases - The Quarter Sessions - Early Administration of Penal
Justice - The Orphans' Court - The Common Pleas - Rules of Court

bell0009.txt  The Bench - Roster of Justices of President Judges -Associate Judges -
The Bar of the Past and Present - The Supreme Court

CHAPTER VI. THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. ...................................................................................................261-273
bell0010.txt List of Sunbury Physicians, by Dr. R H. Awl -Biographical Sketches of Physicians
Throughout the County - Medical Societies - Roster of the Medical Profession

CHAPTER VII. THE PRESS. ............................................................................................................................273-296
bell0010.txt Journalism at Northumberland - Sunbury Papers - The Press of Milton - Shamokin
Newspaper - Journals of Mt. Carmel - McEwensville and Locust Gap Papers

CHAPTER VIII. INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS ...............................................................................................297-328
bell0011.txt Relation of Highways of Travel to Civilization - Public Roads - The Tulpehocken Road -
The Old Reading Road - Early County Roads - Turnpikes - River Navigation - Canals - Railroads -
Pennsylvania - Danville and Pottsville - Philadelphia and Reading - Northern Central - Sunbury,
Hazelton and Wilkesbarre - Sunbury and Lewistown - Lewisburg and Tyrone - Philadelphia and
Reading - Mine Hill and Schuylkill Haven - Mahanoy and Shamokin - Enterprise -Shamokin and
Trevorton - Trevorton, Mahanoy and Susquehanna- Catawissa - Shamokin, Sunbury
and Lewisburg - Delaware, Lackawana and Western - Lehigh Valley - Wilkesbarre and Western

CHAPTER IX. AGRICULTURE.......................................................................................................................... 329-346
bell0012.txt Preparation of Soils the Result of Remote Rather than Immediate Agency - Geological
Structure - Anticlinals and Synclinals - Subdivisions of the Paleozoic System - Location and
Characteristics of Each Stratum - Development of the Farming Industry - Condition of the Farming
Interests in 1845 - Agricultural Societies

CHAPTER X. THE SHAMOKIN COAL FIELD.................................................................................................... 347-357
bell0012.txt By Dr. J. J. JOHN. Importance of Coal - Its Location - Names of the Veins - Their
Position and Character - A Walk from the Weigh Scales to the Cameron Colliery - Ascent of the
Great Culm Bank - A Talk with the Inside Foreman About the Coal Formation - Further Description
of the Sixteen Veins Found in This Region - A Section of the Measures - Depth of the Shamokin
Coal Basin - A Short Description of the Districts and Basins - Production of the Three Districts -
The Question, "How Long Will Our Coal Supply Last?" Answered

CHAPTER XI. DEVELOPMENT OF THE SHAMOKIN COAL FIELD. ............................................................358-391
bell0013.txt BY DR. J. J. JOHN Discovery of Anthracite In This Region - First Application to General
Uses -First Shamokin Coal Taken to Market - Opening of the first Mines at Shamokin, Coal Run, and
Trevorton - First Coal Shipments Down the Susquehanna - Speculation In Coal Lands - The Danville and
Pottsville Railroad - Pioneer Coal operations - The Disastrous Year of 1842 - Revival of 1850 - Judge
Helfenstein's Developments - Original Coal Breakers - Marshalls letter - New Collieries and Outlets -
Coal Shipments to Elmira in 1855 - Other Collieries Started and Breakers Erected - Tonnage of This Region
for the Years 1857 and 1889 - Total Production for the Past Fifty-one Years.

CHAPTER XII. WAR OF 1812. ...........................................................................................................................391-396
bell0014.txt Pages 391 - 421. Mobilization of the Militia - Companies of Captains Robert
McGuigan, William McGuire, William F. Buyers, and Jacob Hummel, and Lieutenant Joseph Dreibelbies

CHAPTER XIII. THE CIVIL WAR. ........................................................................................................................396-444
bell0014.txt  Pages 391 - 421. State of Public Sentiment at the Outbreak of the War - Mass Meetings
and Resolutions - The Sanitary Commission - Regimental Sketches - Eleventh - Eighth -Thirty fourth -
Forty sixth - Forty seventh - Fifty first - Fifty-third - Fifty-Sixth -

bell0015.txt  Pages 422 - 444. Eightieth - One Hundred and Twelfth - Fifty eighth - One Hundred and
Thirty first - One Hundred and Fifty second - Seventy fourth - Militia of 1862 - Militia of 1863 -
Soldiers' Monuments

CHAPTER XIV. SUNBURY. ................................................................................................................................444-514
bell0016.txtPages 444 -480. The Town Plat - Early Residents - Sunbury in 1805 - Reminiscences
of  Dr. R. H. Awl - Prominent Merchants, 1772-1850 - Early Hotels - Municipal Organization and
Government

bell0017.txt  Pages 480 - 514. Facilities of Travel and Transportation - Industrial Activity - Banking
Institutions - Gas, Electric Light, and Water Companies - Local Papers - The Post office - Secret and
other Societies - Educational Interests - Churches - Cemeteries - Borough of East Sunbury

CHAPTER XV. NORTHUMBERLAND. ..............................................................................................................515-545
bell0018.txt The Town Plat - Early History - Prominent Early Residents - Early Merchants and Hotels -
The Postoffice - Bridges, Canals, and Railways - Borough Organization and Government - Industrial
Activity - Schools - Local Journalism - Secret and other Societies - Churches - Cemeteries

CHAPTER XVI. MILTON. ......................................................................................................................................545-591
bell0019.txt Pages 545 - 567. Pioneer History - The Town Plat - Inhabitants from 1804 to 1808 -
Taxables in 1815 - Borough Government - The Postoffice - Facilities of Travel and Transportation -
General Business Interests - Industries of the Past and Present - floods and Fires

bell0020.txt  Pages 568 - 591. Secret and Other Societies - Churches - Sunday Schools - Miscellaneous
Moral and Humanitarian Organizations - Educational Interests-Local Papers - Cemeteries.

CHAPTER XVII. SHAMOKIN. ............................................................................................................................591-655
bell0021.txt Pages 591 - 621. Brief of Title - The Town Plat - Pioneers - Shamokin in 1839 -
Subsequent Growth Summarized - The First Stores and Hotels - Early Physicians and Lawyers -
Municipal Organization and Government - The Riot of 1877 - Facilities of Travel and Transportation -
The Shamokin Coal Trade - General Industrial Interests -

bell0022.txt  Pages  621 - 655. The Postoffice - Banks - Water, Gas, and Electric Light - Board of Trade -
Secret and Other Societies - The Press - Churches - Educational Interests - Cemeteries

CHAPTER XVIII. MT. CARMEL. .........................................................................................................................655-676
bell0023.txt Old Hotels - The Town Plat - First Improvements and Subsequent Growth - The First
Merchants, Physicians, and Lawyers - The Postoffice - Railroads -Municipal Organization and
Government - The Mt. Carmel Coal Trade - General Industrial Interests - Financial Institutions -
Water and Electric Light Companies - Secret and Other Societies - The Press - Schools - Churches - Cemeteries

CHAPTER XIX. WATSONTOWN. .........................................................................................................................677-692
bell0023.txt Pioneer History - The First Surveys - Early Industries, Stores, and Hotels -The Town
Plat - Railroads - The Postoffice - Manufacturing, Past and Present -Banks - Electric light and Water
Companies - Borough Organization and Government - Secret and Fraternal Societies - Educational and
Literary Effort - Churches - Watsontown Cemetery

CHAPTER XX. TURBUT TOWNSHIP. ..................................................................................................................692-697
bell0024.txt Erection and Original Boundaries - Subdivision and Present Area - Pioneers - Mills -
Churches -Schools -Cemeteries

CHAPTER XXI. UPPER AUGUSTA TOWNSHIP. ...................................................................................................698-705
bell0024.txt Erection of Augusta Township and Development of its Subsequent Boundaries -
Formation of Upper and Lower Augusta - Pioneers - Roads and Streams - Industries - Schools - Churches

CHAPTER XXII. LOWER AUGUSTA TOWNSHIP. ................................................................................................705-707
bell0024.txt Territorial Development - Topography - Fisher's Ferry - Mills - Schools - Churches

CHAPTER XXIII. UPPER MAHANOY TOWNSHIP. ................................................................................................708-710
bell0024.txt Proceedings for the Erection of Mahanoy Township - Disintegration of its Territory -
Organization of Upper Mahanoy - Pioneers - Hotels - Mills - Secret Society - Schools - Churches

CHAPTER XXIV. LOWER MAHANOY TOWNSHIP. .............................................................................................711-714
bell0024.txt Organization - Drainage - Early History and Present Business and Industrial Interests
of Georgertown - Malta - Industries - Schools - Churches

CHAPTER XXV. POINT TOWNSHIP. .....................................................................................................................714-716
bell0024.txt Proceedings for Its Erection - First Township Officers - Pioneers - Industries

CHAPTER XXVI. CHILLISQUAQUE TOWNSHIP. .................................................................................................716-726
bell0024.txt Area and Topography - Erection and Subdivision - Pioneer Industries - Pottsgrove -
Montandon - Sodom - Chillisquaque - Schools - Churches

CHAPTER XXVII. SHAMOKIN TOWNSHIP. ..........................................................................................................726-734
bell0025.txt Formation of Ralpho Township and Description of its Original Boundaries - Change
of Name to Shamokin - Physical Features - Pioneers - Taxables in 1755 - Industries - Early
Settlement, Present Business, and Municipal Government of the Borough of Snydertown -
Villages - Schools - Churches

CHAPTER XXVIII. LITTLE MAHANOY TOWNSHIP ............................................................................................734-736
bell0025.txt Boundaries - Organization - Pioneers - Mills - Schools -Churches

CHAPTER XXIX. RUSH TOWNSHIP. ......................................................................................................................737-742
bell0025.txt Successive Movements for the Division of Shamokin Township - Formation, Origin
of Name, and First Township - Officers of Rush - Pioneers - Industries - Rushtown - Schools - Churches

CHAPTER XXX. JACKSON TOWNSHIP. ...............................................................................................................743-748
bell0025.txt Original Boundaries - Pioneers - Industries - Early History and Growth of
Herndon - Mahanoy - School - Churches

CHAPTER XXXI. COAL TOWNSHIP. .....................................................................................................................749-751
bell0025.txt Suggestiveness of the Name - Organization - Streams and Roads - Industries -
Villages - Coal Poor District - Churches

CHAPTER XXXII. DELAWARE TOWNSHIP. ........................................................................................................752-764
bell0025.txt Organization and Boundaries - Pioneers - Early Industries - Early History, Growth,
Industries, and Borough Organization of McEwensville - Dewart - Churches - Schools - Cemeteries

CHAPTER XXXIII. LEWIS TOWNSHIP. ................................................................................................................765-769
bell0026.txt Topographical Features - Political Organization - Freeland's Mill - Settlement,
Growth, Present Business Interests, and Municipal Government of the Borough of Turbutville -
Churches - Schools - Turbutville Cemetery

CHAPTER XXXIV. CAMERON TOWNSHIP. .......................................................................................................769-772
bell0026.txt Extent -Organization Drainage - Villages of the Past and Present - Schools - Churches.

CHAPTER XXXV. JORDAN TOWNSHIP. ..............................................................................................................772-777
bell0026.txt Erection and Organization - Drainage - Roads - Post-Villages - Industries -
Schools - Churches

CHAPTER XXXVI ZERBE TOWNSHIP. .................................................................................................................777-783
bell0026.txt Organization and Boundaries - Pioneers - Origin, Growth, Present Business Interests,
and Secret Societies of Trevorton - Schools - Churches

CHAPTER XXXVII. MT. CARMEL TOWNSHIP. ...................................................................................................784-786
bell0026.txt Organization - Drainage and Roads - Collieries - Mining Villages - Churches

CHAPTER XXXVIII. WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. .............................................................................................786-790
bell0026.txt Original Boundaries - First Township Officers - Pioneers - Industries - Rebuck -
Schools - Churches.

CHAPTER XXXIX. ROCKEFELLER TOWNSHIP. ..............................................................................................790 -796
bell0026.txt Organization and Boundaries - Drainage and Roads - Villages - Mills - Schools - Churches.

CHAPTER XL. RALPHO TOWNSHIP. .................................................................................................................796-800
bell0026.txt Successive Steps in the Proceedings by Which the Township was Erected - Line
of Division from Shamokin - Drainage and Roads Pioneers - Early History, Growth, and
Secret Societies of Elysburg - Industries - Schools - Churches

CHAPTER XLI. GEARHART TOWNSHIP. ............................................................................................................800-803
bell0026.txt Erection and Organization - The Founding, Growth, and Municipal Government
of the Borough of Riverside - South Danville - Schools - Churches - Cemetery

CHAPTER XLII. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Sunbury ......................................................................................804-860
bell0027.txt Pages 804 - 831.
bell0028.txt Pages 832 - 860.

CHAPTER XLIII. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Shamokin ................................................................................860-967
bell0029.txt Pages 860 - 887.
bell0030.txt Pages 888 - 918.
bell0031.txt Pages 918 - 940.
bell0032.txt Pages 940 - 967.

CHAPTER XLIV. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Milton ..................................................................................967-1013
bell0033.txt Pages 967 - 989.
bell0034.txt Pages 989 - 1013.

CHAPTER XLV. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Mt. Carmel ..........................................................................1013-1067
bell0035.txt  Pages 1013 - 1039
bell0036.txt  Pages 1039 - 1067

CHAPTER XLVI. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Watsontown ........................................................................1068-1092
bell0037.txt

CHAPTER XLVII. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Northumberland Borough and Point Township ..................1093-1106
bell0038.txt

CHAPTER XLVIII. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Turbut and Chillisquaque Townships ................................1106-1141
bell0039.txt

CHAPTER XLIX. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Lewis and Delaware Townships and
Boroughs of Turbutville and McEwensville ...........................................................................................................1141-1160
bell0040.txt

CHAPTER L. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Upper Augusta, Lower Augusta,
and Rockefeller Townships .....................................................................................................................................1160-1175
bell0041.txt

CHAPTER LI. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Shamokin, Ralpho, Rush, and Gearhart Townships,
and Boroughs of Snydertown and Riverside ............................................................................................................1175-1217
bell0042.txt Pages 1175 - 1195
bell0043.txt Pages 1195 - 1217

CHAPTER LII. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Zerbe (Trevorton), Cameron, Little Mahanoy, Jackson,
Lower Mahanoy, Washington, Jordan, and Upper Mahanoy Townships .................................................................1217-1239
bell0044.txt