History of Lehigh County Pa by I Daniel Rupp
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TOPOGRAPHY OF TOWNSHIPS, &c.
Hanover township is the only township in this county, east of the Lehigh river. It is bounded on the north, by Alien township; east, by Hanover and Bethlehem, and south, by Lehigh township—all of Northampton county; and south-west by the Lehigh river. The form of this township is very irregular. The surface is level; limestone soil, of an excellent quality, well cultivated, and very productive, repaying the labor of the farmer richly. The Caladaque creek, which rises in Allen township, Northampton county, and running south-westwardly, running along the -south-western boundary, through the north-east angle of this township, and following into the Lehigh river, about two miles below Hockendoque, affords some water-power, having several mills upon it. The Lehigh river affords an abundance of mill seats; there are several grist and saw-mills, two woolen factories, and a paper-mill, in this township.
The Allentown bridge, across Lehigh river, connects this township with the borough of Allentown. Formerly, there was an elegant chain bridge over the Lehigh, consisting of two loops and two half loops, and suspended by four chains. That bridge was two hundred and thirty feet long and thirty wide.
The population, in .1820, was 806 ; in 1830, 1,102; in 1840, 1,343. The county tax, levied in 1844, amounted to S708 83; the state tax, $967 28.
Biery's Port, a post village, consisting of several dwellings, two taverns, one store, a grist mill, a Presbyterian church, and the Crane iron works, are m this township.
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The iron works are owned by Messrs, White, Hazzard, Mitchel, Erb, M’Callister & Co.; are of a large size, and constructed expressly to smelt iron, with anthracite coal, by means of the hot blast The water power is supplied from the Lehigh canal of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, and the furnaces, with the blowing and air-heating apparatus, are constructed in a superior manner. The works have been in successful operation since 1840, producing, at present, weekly, from one hundred and ninety to two hundred tons of castings of various kinds. The works are about three miles north of Allentown, and five from Bethlehem.
Rittersville is a post village, consisting of five dwellings, one tavern, one store—a church, near it, is located in a poor part of the township.
Heidelberg township is bounded on the north-east by Carbon county; south-east, by North Whitehall township; south, by Low Hill township, and west, by Linn township. The figure of it is very irregular. The surface is very hilly, being partly crossed by the Blue mountain; the soil is white gravel, producing, if well cultivated, an abundant crop of rye. In the north-west corner of the township is a singular knob, called " Bake Oven. Knob." The township contains nine grist mills, seven saw mills, one furnace, owned by Stephen Balliet; one fulling mill, two woolen factories, one gun and rifle manufactory, several tanneries, and ten or fifteen distilleries in operation.
The township is drained by Trout creek, which rises at the foot of the Blue mountain, and running eastwardly, falls with the Lehigh river, about two miles below the Water Gap, turning several mills, but not sufficiently large to be navigable. It is also drained by Jordan, rising at the foot of the Blue mountain, in this township, and running a very crooked course, towards the south-east, falling into the Little Lehigh creek, not more than one hundred perches from its mouth. The Jordan, and its various
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branches, two. a great number of mills, but is not navigable. The waters of the Jordan are much affected by wet and dry seasons. Crowner's run is also one of the small streams that drains the township; it rises about the centre of it, and flowing southwardly, unites with the Jordan creek, on the line between Low Hill ar.d Whitehall townships.
The population, in 1820, was 1,900; in 1830, 2,808; in 1840, 2,354. Amount of county tax levied in l844, was $770 5G , state tax, $1,067 59. In 1843, $20 52 was paid for the education of the poor.
Segersville, a post village, about seventeen miles north-west from Allentown, near the line of the township, contains about twenty dwellings, one store and one tavern. The only church in the township is about two miles from the village. The country around the village-is rough and broken. Agriculture needs some considerable attention being paid to it, before the farmer can count on ample and certain returns for his labor.
Germansville, a small place, one store, owned by Nathan German. During the French and Indian war, in 1755 and 1756, the greater part of the inhabitants of this township had fled to Bethlehem and other places, for refuge, and to escape being inhumanly butchered by the savage hordes who were marauding this region of country in search of human victims to glut their vengeance. In October, 1763, the inhabitants were again alarmed by the Indians committing cruel murders in an adjoining township. (See North Whitehall township.)
North Whitehall township is bounded on the north-east, by the Lehigh river, which seperates it from Northampton county; on the south, by South Whitehall township ; on the west, by Low Hill township, and north-west, by Heidelberg township. The surface is level; limestone soil, rich, and generally pretty well cultivated. This township is singularly
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intersected by numerous roads, which centre in the main road, leading to Allentown. The Jordan creek and Coply creek, or Balliet's creek, are the principal streams draining the township. Coply creek rises in this township—running south-easterly, falls into the Lehigh river, about five miles above Allentown. In its course, it turns several mills. In dry seasons it fails much. This township contains seven grist mills, four saw mills, and a number of tanneries. There are two German Reformed and Lutheran churches in this township; one near the north-western boundary, and the other, on the south, near Coply creek. The population of 1820, was 1,807; in 1830, 2,008; in 1840, 2,324. The county tax, assessed for 1844, was $899 25; state tax, $1,340 83. In 1843, $19 78 were paid for the education of the poor.
Siegersville is a small post village, consisting of five or six dwellings, one store, and one tavern. It is situated in a fertile and highly improved country.
Snydersville, owned by George Snyder, who is proverbially known as the "Keeper of the Drovers’ Inn." The place consists of a small cluster of houses and several shops. Its situation, it is said, is peculiar —it is in and between, like "George," the village being both in North Whitehall and Upper Macunjy, having the boundary line passing through it.
Kern’s Mills. Here is a post office, a grist mill, one store, and several dwelling houses.
Slate Dam Here is a store and dwellings, owned by Reuben Sager.
Before this township was separated, or divided into North and South Whitehall, the Indians committed depredations within its borders; even at a time when it had been supposed all hostilities had ceased, a party of savages appeared on a sudden, in this township, and did some bloody work. "On the eighth of October, 1763, a party of fifteen or twenty Indians, attacked the house of Nicholas Marks, of Whitehall township. Marks, his wife, and an apprentice boy, made
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South Whitehall township is bounded on the north by North Whitehall township; east, by the Lehigh river, which separates it from Hanover township, and by Northampton township; south by Upper Macunjy township. The surface is level; limestone soil, very well cultivated, and abundantly productive, amply repaying the husbandman for the care bestowed upon it in a judicious course of culture.
This township is watered by Jordan creek, and Cedar creek. The latter rises from a large spring in Upper Macunjy township, and turns a large flour mill, about six perches below the fountain, and after a course of three miles, falls into the Little Lehigh. The volume of this singular stream appears invariable in wet or dry weather. The long continued drought this summer, (1844) though affecting all other streams, did not any the least diminish this stream. It never freezes, and the grass, which grows to the. water's edge, appears green all seasons, and is always uncovered, the water dissolving the snow as it falls. Sinking Run is another remarkable stream; it rises in Macunjy township, and flows easterly, through this township; it sinks into the ground about five miles from Allentown. It is supposed to have a
Proud’s History of Pa. Appendix, p. 624.
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subterraneous course of more than a mile southward, and to rise at the fountain of Cedar creek, in Upper Macunjy.
Cavern Spring rises near the mouth of a limestone cavern, within two miles of the borough of Allentown; on the north-west is a large fountain, and pours its waters into the Jordan creek. This cavern has an entrance of ten or eleven feet high, and has been penetrated about one hundred feet, into the hill, to a stream of water.
This township contains five grist mills, two saw mills, several tanneries, and a German Reformed and Lutheran church, about four miles from Alien township. Ibach’s forge is in this township.
The population of this township, in 1820, was 1,623; in 1830, 1,952; in 1840, 2,290. The amount of county tax, assessed in 1844, was $1,230 70; state tax, $1,757 19. In 1843, $244 42 were paid for the education of the poor.
It appears that this township, and others, were overrun by the Indians, in 1763; for we find "that October 15th, 1763, Governor Hamilton called the attention of the Assembly to the sad condition of the settlers of Linn, Heidelberg, Whitehall, Macunjy, Salisbury and Upper Milford townships, of the county of Northampton, (now Lehigh.) Their houses were destroyed, their farms laid waste, barns, grain, fences, &c. burnt to ashes—eighteen persons murdered."
The persons who had been massacred, were unoffending German immigrants, who had never molested an Indian. This excited the suspicion of the inhabitants, generally. The Indians were traced, by scout, to wigwams of the Christian Indians, at Conestoga, and to those in Northampton county, which eventuated in the total extermination of the Indians, in Lancaster county, in December 1763.
Linn township is bounded on the north, by Carbon county; east, by Heidelberg township; south, by Weissenberg; south-west, by Berks county, and on
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the north-west, by Schuylkill county. The Blue mountain crossing the northern part of the township, the surface along it is hilly or greatly rolling; a portion of the surface of this township is pretty level; the soil is gravelly—agriculture may still be much improved, though many of the farms yield well. The free use of lime, as a stimulating manure, would greatly aid in improving the soil, and well repay a
large per centage.
This township is drained by the Antelauny, or Maiden creek, which rises here and flows into the Schuylkill river, through Berks county. Linn run, which rises in this township, near the south-west boundary, is a tributary of the Jordan creek. The sources of the Antelauny and Linn run, almost intermingle. These streams afford an abundance of mill seats; there are,in this township, ten grist mills, five saw mills, one woolen factory, one powder mill, and three German Reformed and Lutheran churches; also several small villages. This township, and Albany, in Berks county, formed a portion of Allemaen-gel, in days past
Linnville is a small post village, about seventeen miles north-west of Allentown, consisting of a few dwellings, one-store and one tavern.
New Tripoli, a post village, about fifteen miles from Allentown, consists of several houses.
Jacksonville is a post village, in the northern part of the township, about eighteen miles from Allentown. The population of this township, in 1820, was 1,664; in 1830, 1,747; in 1840, 1,895. The county tax, assessed in 1844, was $741 03; the state tax, $1,012 85. In 1843, $49 02, were paid for the education of the poor.
This region of country, of which this township constitutes a part, was settled at a comparatively early period, settlements having been made about the year 1735. In February, 1756, the Indians committed a number of cruel murders upon the German settlers.
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On the 14th of February, 1756, the Indians surprized the inmates of the house of Frederick Reichelsderfer, shot two of his children, set his house and barn on fire, and burnt up all his grain and cattle. Thence, they proceeded to the house of Jacob Gerhart, where they killed one man, two women, and six children. Two of the children had slipped under the bed, one of which was burned; the other escaped, and ran a mile, to get to the people.
On the 24th of March, following, ten wagons went to Allemaengel, to bring a family, with their effects, away; and as they were returning, about three miles below one George Zeisloffs, they were fired upon by a number of Indians from both sides of the road, upoh which the wagoners left their wagons and ran into the woods, and the horses, frightened at the firing and terrible yelling of the In 'iarus, ran down a hill, and broke one of the wagons to pieces. The enemy killed George Zeisloff and his wife, a young man of twenty, a boy of twelve, also a .girl of fourteen years old, four of whom they scalped.*
Low Hill township is bounded on the north, by Heidelberg township ; on the east, by North Whitehall ; on the south, by Macunjy, and on the west, by Weissenberg township. The surface is hilly, and in some places rolling; the soil is principally white gravel; the state of agriculture is improving; many of the farms are rendered productive by a judicious course of crops, and strict attention to manuring. Lime, if judiciously applied, would greatly improve this kind of soil.
This township is watered by Jordan creek, and several of its tributaries—such as Linn run, Crowner's run, which rises in Heidelberg township, near its centre, and flows southwardly, through this township, and Willow run—all these streams afford mill seats.
• Letter from Valentine Probst, to Jacob Levan, Esq., Feb. 16, 1756. See history of Berks county, p. 68,193, 194.
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The township contains ten grist mills, five saw mills, several oil mills, and two clover mills.
Clanseville is quite a neat little post village, consisting of a few dwellings and a store. It is the only village in the township.
The population of the township, in 1820, was 703; in 1830, 808; in 1840, 854. The county tax, for 1844, amounted to $238 35; state tax, $354 71. In 1843, $49 02 were paid for educating the poor.
Upper Macunjy. This township and Lower Macungy, have, within the last ten or twelve years, been divided. They were formerly known as Macunjy township.
This township is bounded on the north-east, by South Whitehall; on the south, by Lower Macunjy; and on the north-west, by Weissenberg. The surface is generally very level; the soil limestone, carefully cultivated and abundantly productive. Both Upper and Lower Macungy are densely populated. This township alone, had, in 1840, a population of nearly 1800, and it may now exceed two thousand. It is drained by the Little Lehigh creek and its numerous tributaries. Shantz's Spring, the head of Cedar creek, is in this township. Cedar Spring is remarkable for its strength and uniformity, as to quantity of water. Only a few rods below its fountain, it turns a large flouring mill, In its course, which is only three miles, it propels three mills, viz: Butt's, Knaus' and Martz's—these fall into Mr. Edieman's mill dam, on the Little Lehigh. North-west from Schantz's Spring, is a stream, which, after a course of three miles, sinks into the earth. It is conjectured by many, that this stream forms the Cedar creek fountain. The volume of water of Shantz's Spring is invariable in wet and dry, and it never freezes over.
There are two grist mills and two saw mills in this township; also several tanneries.
The population, in 1840, was 1,769. The amount
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of county tax, in 1844, $1,032 48; state tax, $1,616 32. In 1843, $68 35 were paid towards educating the poor.
Foglesville, a post village, at the junction of the Allentown and Millerstown road, nine miles from Allentown, consists of sixteen dwellings, one store, one tavern, a school house, a German Reformed and Lutheran church, situated in a rich and fertile country.
Trexlerstown, a neat post village, eight miles from Allentown, on the road to Kutztown, Berks county. It contains sixteen or eighteen dwellings, two taverns, one store, a Lutheran and German Reformed church. The country around it is well improved.
Lower Macunjy. This, and Upper Macunjy townships, were, until the last ten or twelve years, known as Macunjy township. It is bounded on the north, by Upper Macungy; north-east, by Salisbury, (Salsberg;) on the south-east, by Upper Milford township; south-west, by Berks county. The surface of the township is level, and of the best limestone soil; well improved, and very productive; yields a rich recompense to the industrious farmer, for labor bestowed in tilling the soil. This part of Lehigh county is densely settled. Small as the territory of this county is, the population, in 1840, exceeded two thousand, and may now reach twenty-five hundred. The township is drained by the Little Lehigh creek. It has six grist mills, three saw mills, one oil mill, and five or six stores.
The population, in 1840, was 2,156. The county tax, for 1844, amounted to $1,257 47; state tax, $1,761 80. In 1843, there were $194 66 paid towards educating the children of poor persons, besides a quota of $24 99, jointly paid by this and Upper Milford township.
Millerstown, or Millersville., is a post village, at the foot of the Lehigh Hills, or South mountain, on a small branch of the Lehigh, nine miles from Allen-
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town. The village consists of about forty dwellings, three .taverns, four stores, a Lutheran and German Reformed church; also a "Free Hall," for all religious denominations.
This village is remarkable as one of the places distinguished for opposition to collecting a direct tax, by the federal government, in 1796, '99 "In den Schreckens Zeiten." Here Mr. Daniel Schwartz, and others, made resistance.*
Breinigsville, is a post village, on the road from Allentown to Reading, consisting of some half dozen of houses, one store, one tavern. Near it is an extensive iron ore mine. The ore is so highly charged with sulphuret of iron, as to be advantageously used for the manufacture of copperas. Considerable quantities of it are transported to Philadelphia, by canal, for this purpose.
Upper Milford is bounded on the north-east by Salisbury township and Upper Saucon, south-east by Bucks county, on the west by Montgomery and Berks counties, and north-west by Lower Macunjy township. It forms almost a square. The surface of this township is considerably diversified, but generally hilly, and in some places very rugged or broken. being crossed by the South Mountain, sending forth spurs, especially towards the south. Iron ore abounds on the mountain. The soil is principally gravel and red shale, and upon the whole, pretty well cultivated, and more than ordinarily productive; it is watered by a branch of the Perkiomen and Upper Saucon creeks. The north branch of the Perkiomen rising in this township, flows by a southren course, (uniting with the east branch in Perkiomen township, Montgomery county) for about thirty miles, through Montgomery county, and falls into the river Schuylkill, above Pawling’s Ford, six miles above Norristown. Upper Saucon creek, rising in this township,
• See Verhoer von John Fries, &c. p. 282.
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and running north-eastwardly, falls into the Lehigh river on the south side, about two miles below Freemansburg, in Northampton county. These streams afford many good mill seats. This township contains seven grist mills, six saw mills, one fulling mill, one oil mill, two powder mills, several tanneries, and a few distilleries, and one furnace, owned by Messrs. Hunter and Miller. There are two churches in this township, and several villages.
Scheimersville, is a post village, consisting of five dwellings, one tavern and a store.
Dillinger’s. Here is a post office, a few dwellings, a store and a tavern.
The population of this township was, in 1820, 3,416, in 1830, 2,829, in 1840, 3,071. Theamount of county tax levied in 1844, was $l,548 44; state tax,$2,293 91. In 1843, $195 97,* were paid for educating children of poor persons.
Weissenburg township is bounded on the northeast by Low Hill township, on the south-east by Macunjy, and on the south-west by Maxatany township in Berks county, and north-west by Linn township. The surface is hilly, and in some places broken; soil gravelly, but pretty well improved. The assessed value of land ranges from $20 to $25 per acre.
This township is drained by Jordan creek and its tributaries, Willow run, and Linn run, which afford considerable water power. There are here six grist mills and three saw mills. There are two churches in this township ; one is located in the Forks of Willow run.
Mount Pleasant, the only village in the township, is six miles from Foglesville, consisting of several dwellings, one store and a tavern.
The population of this township in 1820, was
•Besides a quota of (84 99, paid by Lower Macunjy and Upper Milford.
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1,175; in 1830, 1,285; 1840, 1,427. The amount of county tax levied in 1844, was $425 54; state tax, $586 10. In 1843, $92 94, were paid towards educating the poor.
The inhabitants of this township, with those of Berks county, in this region, were repeatedly alarmed by the incursions of the hostile Indians during the Preach and Indian war, from 1755 to 1763. Their hopes and fears were alternately excited; for the Indians committed several murders through this and adjacent townships, immediately north.
In 1798 and 1799, when the inhabitants of Northampton county opposed the collecting of a direct tax by the general government, the fears of the people of this township were again greatly excited.
Upper Saucon township is bounded on the northeast by Lower Saucon, Northampton county, east by Bucks county, south-west by Upper Milford township, and north-west by Salisbury township. The surface is diversified; the Lehigh hills or South mountain occupies the northern part, and its spurs extend to the southern boundary. The valleys are limestone, and the whole under cultivation. The farms are highly improved, and the houses and barns, as viewed from the " Mammoth Rock," in Salisbury township, make an imposing appearance. Iron ore abounds in the hills and mountains. It is drained by the Saucon creek, which runs through it in an eastern direction, towards the Lehigh river. This stream affords several mill seats. This township contains six grist mills, eight saw mills, three oil mills, one clover mill, and several tanneries.
The Spring House and Bethlehem turnpike road passes north and south through it. There are several churches in this township. Lately a cave has been discovered called "Erdman's Cave." It has been but partially explored. It is said there is a fine stream of water in it.
Freystown, or Freysburg, consisting of a few
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dwellings and a store, on the turnpike, near the south-east boundary, is the only village in this township.
The population in 1820, was 1,642 ; in 1830, 1,905 ; in 1840, 2,072. The amount of county tax levied for 1844, was $667 68 ; state tax, $986 83. In 1843, $162 14, were paid towards educating paupers.
Salisbury township, (some times written Saltzberg or Salsberg,) is bounded on the north by Northampton township and the Lehigh river, on the east by Lower Saucon, Northampton county, south-east • by Upper Saucon, south-west by Upper Milford and Lower Macunjy, and north-west by Whitehall township. The surface of the country is rolling; the greater part limestone soil of the first rate quality, and very well cultivated. The South mountain, in which iron ore abounds, runs along its south-eastern boundary, at the foot of which is a small village, called Smithsville, about two miles south-east from, Allentown. This township is drained by the Little Lehigh creek, and one of its tributaries, which, propel, in the township, three grist mills and two saw mills
Numerous and interesting as the natural curiosities in this country are, there is none that so amply repays the adventurer as the Big, or Mammoth Rock, on the Lehigh hills, or South mountain, in-this town-i ship. It is about three miles south-east, from Alien-town, and a jaunt to the hills forms a pleasant hour's walk. The Rock is easily ascended, though elevated a thousand or twelve hundred feet above the sur rounding country. The spectator, while standing on this rupic eminence, has a commanding view of one of the most variegated sceneries imaginable. As far as the eye can reach, except on the north, where the( vision is bounded by the Blue mountain, are spread before the eye, well cultivated farms, dotted with buildings; and the scene is greatly enlivened by the limpid stream of the Lehigh, as it winds its way
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down the Kittatinny valley. On the south, cast and west, lie before you as a lawn, Saucon, with its rich limestone farms. Language fails to deliniate the scenery with any degree of graphic accuracy.
The population of this township, in 1820, was 1,165 ; in 1830, 1,342 ; in 1840, l,438. The amount of county tax levied for 1844, was $844 80; state tax, $1,316 03.
Emaus is a post village at the foot of the South mountain, built on one street, and is about five miles south-west from Allentown. The town contains about twenty-five dwellings, a store and church. The following, touching this place, is front the pen of the Twelve Views of the churches, schools, &c., &c., of the United Brethren in America:
‘This settlement (Emaus,) where a congregation of the United Brethren was regularly organized in 1747, is situated near the Lehigh mountains, eight miles from Bethlehem.
"The first place of worship was built in 1742, the second in 1766, both of wood, and the third, which is the present church, in 1833. The present number of souls belonging to this congregation is one hundred and thirty, (in 1836) of whom eighty are communicants."
Northampton township. This is a small, township which surrounds the borough of Allentown. Portions of the surface is generally undulating,but the greater part is level, the soil is limestone, and very highly improved. When speaking of Allentown,* the springs &c., are noticed. In 1830, the population was 213, and 1848, 293. In 1844, the amount of county tax levied, was $179 69, and state tax, $248 89.
Allentown.* This town was laid out prior to 1752, .by William Allen, Esq., Chief Justice of the
• See Allentown.
•The substance of lhi« article is from the pen of Robert Wright, Esq. It appeared originally in Haaard'a Pa. Reg., Vol. XIII, p. 386.
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Province of Pennsylvania. Mr. Allen, it appears, was a great friend to the Penn family, from whom he derived his grants of land. Governor John Penn married his daughter. James Allen, son of the proprietor of Allentown, residing in Philadelphia, became heir to the site of this town. He died about 1782, leaving the property to two sons, James and William, and three daughters, viz: Mrs. Greenleaf, Mrs. Tilghman and Mrs. Livingston. Several of the heirs still reside here.
This place bore the name of Allentown, till 1811, when it was called the Borough of Northampton, but since changed. It is situated at the junction of the Jordan and Little Lehigh creeks, about half a mile from the Lehigh river. It is six miles south-west from Bethlehem, eighteen miles south-west from Easton, and fifty-five miles north-west from Philadelphia.
It is one of the oldest settlements on the Lehigh river, and in the different wars of America, was the scene of many a brave and bloody deed. It was here that Colonel James Bird displayed such heroism in the early wars with the Indians. It was here, during the Revolution, that the bells which "chime so merril" on Christ Church in Philadelphia, were concealed by the Americans, and it was here, at a later period of our national existence, that the insurrection in which the notorious John Fries bore so conspicuous a part, was fomented, and happily for us all, smothered in its birth.
Inhabited by a few wealthy and unenterprising Germans, and cut off for many years from the different post routes, by the influence of the neighboring towns, it remained inactive a long time. Its great elevation too, rendering it. difficult to procure the necessary supply of water, had the effect of retarding its progress in the march of improvement, and it remained, as at first, "unnoticed and unknown," until the year 1811, when, by the division of Northampton county, it became the seat of justice of Lehigh
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county, was incorporated by an act of the Legislature, passed March 18, 1811, and called Northampton Borough. By a smilar act in 1838, the name Allentown. was again restored. Since it has become the county seat, the town has improved rapidly, and bids fair to eclipse its neighbors in trade and wealth, as it has already in point of beauty.
The form of the town is square. Its streets are at right angles, and the public square in the centre adds much to its appearance. It contains a large court house and public houses of hewn limestone, a spacious prison of the same material; five churches, German Reformed, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal, Evangelical Association, and one for all denominations, called "the Free Hall," in which temperance lectures are occasionally delivered; an Academy incorporated March 18, 1814, to which the state gave two thousand dollars ; a boarding school, a splendid and spacious building, formerly occupied as the Homoeopathic college. Passing, it might be remarked, this institution never went into full operation, as it was designed it should, under two eminent professors residing in Philadelphia. There is one foundry in the borough, owned by Mr. Freeburn; Messrs. Krause & Probst's is contiguous to the borough; several machine shops, two appothecaries, twenty-six stores, eleven taverns, and six coach manufactories.
A bank, called The Northampton Hank was established here in 1814, with a capital of $123,365. It became completely bankrupt in 1843. The town is well supplied with good, fresh water, from Worman’s sping, at the foot of the hill on which it is built. A pump, worked by a water wheel turned by the stream, raises the water into a reservoir in the highest part of the town, from which it is distributed by pipes laid through the streets. The water is forced up to the height of one hundred and sixty feet. The water company was formed in 1828.
There are several Newspapers published in this borough: Der Frieden's Bole und Lecha, North-
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ampton, Bucks und Montgomery Counties Anzeiger, by Blamer & Bush, is neutral in politics. It has readied its thirty-second volume. Der Lecha Patriot und Northampton Democrat, by Reuben Guth, a whig paper. It has been in existence seventeen years. Der Unabhaengische Republikaner, by James Wilson, Democratic. It is the oldest paper here. The Lehigh Bulletin, by John Royer, Democratic.
The present population may exceed 3000 ; in 1830, it was 1,544; in 1840, 2,493.
It is worthy of notice, to show the salubrity of the air of this place, that during the prevalence of the yellow fever of 1793 and '99, and the cholera in 1832 and '33, there was not a single case of either, in this place, that in any way resembled those diseases.
On the main road to Bethlehem, in view of the town, is a bridge across the Lehigh river, erected in 1841. The previous one, a chain bridge, was swept away by the great freshet of January, 1841. There is also a stone bridge across the Jordan creek, consisting of eighteen arches. It is about eight hundred feet long. It was completed in 1837. at a cost of $10,000.
The numerous springs, namely: Worman's, Martin's, Smith's and Helfrich's, are all worthy of being visited by the traveller. The Big or Mammoth Rock, spoken of when describing Salisbury township, should by all means be visited. It is only three miles from the borough, and will amply repay the adventurer for his walk.
Lehigh Port, contiguous to Allentown, contains between fifty and sixty dwellings, one tavern, one store and six storing houses. Below, is Greenleafs Island, owned by Mr. Butz of Philadelphia. This island, under the care of a New Jerseyman, supplies the good people of the borough with melons, sweet potatoes, &c.
In 1841, this place sustained considerable injury
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from the January freshet. The following is from the Lehigh Bulletin, viz :
After the intense cold weather we had the beginning of last week—on Wednesday and Thursday we had rain, with a warm southern wind, that brought on a sudden thaw. The rivers and streams, in those parts, rose rapidly—rose to an unprecedented height. The Jordan and Little Lehigh appear not to have been as high as at the great freshet, in 1839. Owing to the immense height, of the Big Lehigh, the back water was several feet higher than two years ago. The Little Lehigh was about three feet higher, over Mr. Martz's tan yard, than before. The Jordan ran on the large stone bridge over it.
The freshet, in the Big Lehigh, was tremendous. The water was about twenty feet above low-water mark below the dam; and was about three feet above the highest point on the Big Island. Such a flood is not recollected by our oldest inhabitants.
Our excellent bridge over the Big Lehigh, and toll house, are gone ; three frame houses of Mr. D. Kleckner, between his tavern and the bridge, are gone. The gate-keeper's family have got away, but saved nothing out of the house. The other families saved more or less, but sustained heavy losses. The store houses have been considerably injured at the basin, and several of our merchants, in not having their goods removed, have met with heavy losses. A large quantity of lumber, and a number of boats and scows were lost. About two thousand tons of coal are lost. The navigation dam has but little, if any, injury done to it. The canal has sustained some injury.
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