The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1853-06-18

BrtCOh OF EfpchHDNk, III TDu7U HHlPS. DpTHn
Township, contiguous TO- and n. w. from
Reading, was settled (as lis name would indi-
cate, by cmerants from the canton of Berne,
in S,rit>erland, who in honor o! the land Of
THEN fathers, gave the township the name it
now bears. Maiden Creek Township, has its
natnc from considerable stream ufthc same
name, which crosses the township, dlagonalIy
from its extreme northern TO lis iemotest sout-
ern bounds. The Indian name of the stream
was OateeIauace. Whence then its name Of
Maiden Creek =! In answer TO the question the
following is plausihie:--It is said, that the
river called SchuykiII by the Dutch, bore the
Indian name, M2aajung, (nnw corrupted into
Manayunk,D meaning the mother, and that
Onleelaunee. (Which empties into the Mana
jung or Schuylkill) signifies the NHlc aqp2h er
of the great mother, that is Maiden Creek.
The primitive settlers of Maiden Creek Town
ship were Friends or Quakers (fom Englond,)
more than seventy families Of whom resided
there, IN 1858
But though many of the settlers were from
the nations uamet, the Germans were, as they
stIi are, largely IN the majority. They, how
ever, were from tiI"rrnt parts of FG!criaHd,'
and appear to have differed from each other, in
regard to language cor dialect,) manners, and
religious opinions, almost as much as they did
from hose around them in respect to the lace
of their nativity. There were Msnnuui,cs,
Tunkers. German Reformed, LOlheIans, Qua
kers, Catholics, Moravians aud Schwcnhn | .er,.
but the greater proportion not only Of the Ger
grants and settlers were prolcSronrs, many OF
whom had fed from persecution al home, aad in
these western wiIIs hal sought and found
"Freedom to worship Hod.''
During the French and Indian war Nrom
ii5i TO 1868 the inhabitants ola great Part Of
Bcrks county suffered much from the incur
sions Of the Savages, and many persons were
killed Of taken prisoners. Several nierestin =
incidents might be mentioned, in this connec-
ton. but have already lrespa$scd so long upon
your time and PATIENCE, that fcrhenr.
/ \ good portion Of the land OF this county is
ct n limestone SOL. Ii 1898, ninety limestone
Quarrics, and 200 lime kilns were reported as
briu4 In operation, but this appears to have
been Int partial report. Nearly one third oi
the coUuiy ha' .n2 ma le no return. The nnm-
Der has since increased greatly. In the report
Of III" State GruoeiSt, it is said Iron ore oc-
ours in several parts Of the county. At Mount
Pleasant, in CoichcookdaI" township, the mag
nciic variety Of iron ore has been mined to
some extent, and is found in other places con
ncctei with the primary rocks. Brown ar@i
lacinus iron ore occurs near Kutztown. and AT
Mosc'cm it i, extensively mined, as also near
the Lebanon turnpike, about eight miles west
OF Rcatm2. A rock yielding hydraulic cement
Of good quality. is found near the SchuyIkiIl
from which that article is manufactured in con-
siderable quantity hr use. Copper ore occurs
al several places within the county, but ccn"r.
ally in such small quantities and so mixed with
iron Us to render the cxprdicncy OF working it
very doubtful. Near Norgantown il a min.
Of this character; whch is not at pre.ent in :
productive state The above extract give,
but faint idea of the mineral wealth OF The
county, and regret that have no late sta
tIslics TO give clearer light on this point
BeIks is well known rs u large iron manuluc
turing comfy. In 1893, there were eieh
! furnaces, three hot blast producing $3.50 ton.
of pig iron, five ar and cupola furnaces, max
ins 200 tons OF castings. twenty-five torges
! manuiact ur!ng $40 tons ofbar-iron; $3.50 tons
OF blooms. Two rolling mills, mauuiaclulin s
200 tons IroIled iron. One nail factory, Ina X
ing 900 tons OF nails. Besides two scythc an,
sickle, seven axe and edge tool and seven Gun
manufactures. The above, however, is still
but partial statement, and does not show the
full nuu4ber of works Of the kind named, II
present in operation.
/ Among other objects Of Interest in this coun
ty, Eay be mentioned the foIlowlng:-" TIL
Sinking Spring, near the Harrisburg turn pike
five miles from Reading, in Cumru township
is quite Il curiosity TO those who may not b.
familiar with the circumstances att. ling large
springs in a lin, stone region. The water rises
and sinks again in the same basin, which il
very deep; thence finding its way again undo
! ground, through assures and hidden caverns il
the limestone rock, probably once more Il
seek the light Of day in some other place"
"Nesg'er's SPRING." [Chalybeatc.) within
two miles Of K, ling, is u place of great resort
not only because OF the mineral properties o
the water, but also, the secluded and romantic
character Of the scenery.
( In Richmond township, there is cave called
"Urueon's Care" sThe entrance to he cav,
/ is on the arrow Of hill, in the edge Of cult
waited field. Passing into il, the adyen,urcI
desccnis about 80 yards by Il rough narrow pas
sage, and then Turns to the left, at an acute
angie with the passage hitherto pursued. After
proceeding about 50 yards ther, he enters
the great chamber, about 80 feet long, 20 wide
and 4, in hiuh in a rnrl. Of lime 10