was the busy and able gatherer of historical data of this county, and the great misfortune is death has dropped the curtain and his matter remains inaccessible to the seeker for facts. To the old newspaper files of the late William Penn Miner, as he received them from his father and as they are in the care of his son, William B. Miner, are obligations for many valuable cullings; also to Dr. F. C. Johnson's "Historical Record" and the same to George B. Kulp's "Families of Wyoming." The quick-witted reader will readily recognize the paragraphs from the facile pen of Hon. C. Ben Johnson. To Rev. Horace Edwin Hayden, for the matter of the Protestant churches, and to Rev. M. J. Hoban, for that of the Catholic church, are obligations acknowledged; also to C. F. Hill, Esq., of Hazleton, for much valuable material of the Indians and early history. To the gentlemen of the press and to many others, are especial thanks cordially extended. From all these as well as still other sources, will be found from cover to cover of this book more or less of over 25,000 of the dead and the living whose lives are linked with that of the county. A goodly contingent, and to them is handed this much of the unequaled story, for them to transmit in turn to their long-coming posterity. Here is a monument that will outlive the finest bronze or hardest granite. The work is divided into Two Parts-Historical and Biographical, with a full analytical index, which will render easy reference not only to each name, but to every incident of interest in the work. CONTENTS. PART I. CHAPTER I. LUZERNE COUNTY. PAGE As it Came from the Hands of God-First Viewed by Civilized Eyes-Festival of the Foliage CHAPTER II. The First Attempted Settlement-First White Men to Visit this Section-Character Devel- .34-67 CHAPTER III. HABITS AND CUSTOMS. Those Who Came Peeping in the Wilderness-Old Michael, or "Old Pickle "—"Oh Sister CHAPTER IV. BATTLE OF WYOMING. Westmoreland Town and County, of Connecticut-The People Quick to War for Inde- 90- 123 CHAPTER V. HARTLEY'S AND SULLIVAN'S EXPEDITIONS. PAGE Following the Battle Washington Orders Hartley and William Butler to Form an Expe- CHAPTER VI. YANKEE AND QUAKER. The Seventeen Townships-Legal Aspects of the Subject-Address of Gov. Hoyt- 134-168 CHAPTER VII. WAR. Whisky Insurrection-Threatened French War-Row with England-War of 1812–15— .168-199 CHAPTER VIII. SUGAR LOAF MASSACRE. Destruction of Forts Rice, Bosley's Mills and Fort Jenkins-Capt. Klader's Company .199-209 CHAPTER IX. LUZERNE COUNTY CREATED. Witchcraft--Westmoreland Town Erected-Interesting Items from the Records-Town- .209-249 CHAPTER X. ROADS. Blazed Tracks- Express-Mails-Turnpikes-Stage Drivers-George Root and Conrad 250-269 CHAPTER XI. COAL. Vast Deposits Once All Over the State-First Shipped Down the River in 1807—Parties .270-320 CHAPTER XII. THE DEAD THAT STILL LIVE. PAGE A List of the Prominent Early Men Here-Those Who Stood in the Front-Hon. Charles ..321-373 CHAPTER XIII. SCHOOLS. Education Considered-First Schools-Free Schools-Present Schools-Educational Insti- ..374-394 CHAPTER XIV. THE PRESS. The First Printers-Herald of the Times-Gradual Growth of Printing-Long List of CHAPTER XV. MEDICAL. Salivation Army-Hot Water and Bleeding--A Learned Profession-Medical Societies- CHAPTER XVI. CHURCHES OF THE COUNTY. First Arrivals of Churches, and Organizations-A Religious People Were the Pioneers- CHAPTER XVII. SOCIETIES AND ASSOCIATIONS. .422-450 Anti-Masonic Politics-Modern Popularity of Secret Societies-Board of Trade-Early .451-463 CHAPTER XVIII. AGRICULTURE. In the Valley Originally it was only Farmers-Time has Brought the Change-Now it is CHAPTER XIX. CITY OF WILKES-BARRE. The Proud Queen of the North Susquehanna-Founded by John Durkee-First Settlers— .470-521 CHAPTER XX. HAZLETON. The New City in the County-Its Founding and Growth-Its Situation-Officials-Early tions.... ...522-531 |