Item 25: Photostat by Unknown, [no date], of an article entitled, “The History of Coal,” Printed in the Historical Record, [ca. 1893]

Item — Box: 16, Folder: 19

Staff Only

Photostat by Unknown, [no date], of an article entitled, “The History of Coal,” Printed in the Historical Record, [ca. 1893]

Dates

Created: [ca. 1893]

Disclaimer for Name and Subject Authorities

Some of the name and subject authority tags have been assigned by educated guessing and estimation of persons and subjects by region, age, profession, and familial relationships. They have been thoroughly researched by using primary and secondary sources available digitally, and named in each description, or in some cases linked directly to the person tag.

Access:

All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.

Extent

1 items

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Type of Material:

Photostat.

Condition Note:

Good.

Measurement:

5.5 x 8.5 in.

Title:

The Historical Record.

Description:

This is a photostat of two articles from The Historical Record included in a book. The issue of The Historical Record the photostat is of is vol.4, no.2 which was published in 1890. This issue is available in the Wilkes University Archives. There is also a typed note of someone's research. The first article was originally published in the Hazelton Sentinel titled “The History of Coal:A Few Facts about the Early Days of the Great Industry.” This article was written when new research was being done in the early 20th century sparked by the proposed monument to coal pioneer Philip Ginter. This monument was erected in Summit Hill, Carbon County. This is where Ginter discovered anthracite coal in 1791. The monument inspired local historians into researching the beginnings of the coal industry in Pennsylvania. These researchers say that “stone” coal was first used at Fort Augusta in 1755. The two first coal operators were Charles Miner and Jacob Cist. Charles Miner published The Gleaner. Miner was also a Representative for Pennsylvania from 1825 to 1829. He was also a well-known author for his works Essays from the desk of Poor Robert the Scribe. Containing lessons in manners, morals, and domestic economy and “Who’ll Turn Grindstone”. In his story "Who'll Turn Grindstone" Miner coined the phrase “has an ax to grind.” The second coal operator listed is Jacob Cist. Cist worked with Miner at The Gleaner, but was also an inventor, postmaster, and geologist. One of his most notable inventions was a stove that could burn the anthracite coal he was selling. The two men started the Lehigh Coal Mine Co. with Isaac A. Chapman and John W. Robinson. As well as being in the coal business Chapman was also an inventor, businessman, and publisher of The Gleaner. He is also credited for writing the first history of Wilkes-Barre, “A Sketch of the History of Wyoming Valley.'' In 1815 Miner, Cist & Co. canceled their contract due to the prices falling following the end of the War of 1812. This contract was picked up by Josiah White, Erskine Hazard, and George F. A. Hauto. White and Hazard owned a wire mill near Philadelphia. George F.A. Hauto was a German merchant and inventor. He was a co-inventor of a type of hydrostatic and steam engines. White and Hazard bought out Hauto in 1820 due to him not having the funds he promised. The author of this Historical Record compared Hauto to their contemporary Harry S. Ives. Ives was a businessman focusing on railways in the East. He lied about funds he had and eventually was tried but acquitted for grand larceny. After being bought out by White and Hazard he started the “Half Cent Company” which was later bought by the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company. There was a town and lake named after Hauto, but the author notes that his old partners were “forgotten except by students.” The second article in the Historical Record is “An Aged Squire’s Memories” which was originally published in the Daily Record on September 6th. This is a short biography of Squire Zeigler. Zeigler was the justice of the peace in Wilkes Barre for 18 years at the time of publication. This part of the article describes his arrival from Germany to Wilkes Barre. There is a typed research note attached to this photostat.It says that Isaac, referring to Isaac Chapman, has a copy of the contract mentioned in the article. The researcher notes that this contract was written in either 1812 or 1813, but they do not remember Jacob Cist mentioned which contradicts the article.

Location:

Hazleton, PA

Transcription:

There is a copy in Isaac’s handwriting of the contract forming the Lehigh Coal Co. referred to in this article, – -it is in the Historical Society, it is between Miner and Chapman, I do not recall Cist as a partner, It is dated 1812 or 13.