It is the third township south of the New York State line, and second on the north from the Lycoming County line, and is bounded on the north by the township of Clymer, on the east by the township of Shippen, and south by the township of Elk. The streams in the townships are Pine Creek, Painter s Run, Rexford Run, Long Run, Lick Run, Elk Run, Phenix Run and Mill Run. All of these Runs are tributaries to Pine Creek, a stream navigable for the floating of logs, lumber and shingles during the freshets. The lands along the valleys of Pine Creek are very productive, as well as those in the valley of Elk Run and Long Run. The mountains north and south of Pine Creek reach an elevation at some points of over 2,000 feet above the level of the sea.
Pine Creek passes nearly through the center of the township from west to east.
In the mountains above referred to are deposits of coal and iron. The coal in the mountains north of Pine creek has been developed and mining of the same carried on quite extensively by the Gaines Coal and Coke company, to which we shall hereafter refer. Between the years 1804 and 1818, he purchased at Northumberland two hundred and twenty apple trees, put them in dug-outs or canoes and poled them up the West Branch of the Susquehanna to the mouth of Pine Creek, thence up Pine Creek to Gaines, a distance from Northumberland of over one hundred miles, and set out two orchards. Many of the trees are yet standing and bearing fruit. Pa. Great freshet on Pine Creek in 1832.