1843 History of  Pike County, Pennsylvania

Pike County was separated from Wayne, by the act of 26th March, 1814; and in 1835 a portion of it was cut off to form Monroe co. Length 23 miles, breadth 23 ; area about 580 sq. miles. Population in 1820, only 2,894; in 1830,4,843; and in 1840, 3,832. This remarkably sparse population, in a county bordering on the Delaware, only eighty miles from New York and Philadelphia, is caused by the rugged and mountainous character of the greater portion of the county.

A broad range of broken spurs of the Pokono, and more northwesterly ridges of the Apalachian system-composed principally of the slates, shales, and sandstones of formations VIII. and IX. of our state geologists- sweeps through this county, forming a high, broken, and rather cold country, covered with a dense forest of pine, hemlock, oak, and other timber. The soil of this region is comparatively poor, that is, in comparison with the warm fertile valleys of slate and limestone below the Blue mountain, or at the west; but, though generally too cold for corn, it produces, under the hand of cultivation, good rye, oats, potatoes, and grass, and is well adapted for dairy farms. The extensive alluvial flats, along the margin of the Delaware, are very fertile, adapted for all agricultural products, and generally well-cultivated. The county is abundantly watered, and contains some of the best mill-sites in the state, many of which are only cr., Glass cr., Sawkill, Ramy's kill, Dingman's cr., &c. &c. The number of kills, (the Dutch word for creek,) marks the fact of the early settlement of the Dutch along the Delaware. (See Monroe co., page 474.)

Most of these streams have their sources in ponds and marshes, and flow rather sluggishly, for many miles, through broad, alluvial flats, showing the existence of a high table-land: on approaching the verge of the great slate and shale formation, near the Delaware, they are precipitated from a great height into wild, narrow, and rocky glens, through which they go foaming and tumbling on towards the Delaware. The Waullenpaupack, near the Oswego and Milford turnpike, pours down a chasm of 70 feet, and then dashes over three successive cataracts, of 150 feet in all, within a mile and a half. The Sawkill, at Milford, also falls over a similar precipice. The Delaware and Hudson canal, from Carpenter's point, passes up the Delaware, on the New York side, crosses into Pike co. at the mouth of Lackawaxen, and continues up the valley of that stream into Wayne co. The citizens derive a great part of their subsistence from the forest, and agriculture has been hitherto but a secondary business. Many German and Irish emigrants are coming in, the former of whom make good farmers. There are great quantities of unseated land in the interior of the county, to be had at from $2 to 85 per acre, which would make many a happy and independent home to the poor laborers hovering around our great cities in want of work. The neighboring county of Sullivan, in New York, with an equally mountainous surface, and the same kind of soil, bears a population of nearly 20 to the square mile; while Pike co. has scarcely 7 per square mile.

In 1814 it became the county seat of Pike co., since which time it has increased gradually-most rapidly in the speculative times of 1836. The buildings are situated principally on two streets, in the shape of an L. The preceding view was taken from the centre of the street running north and south. The town contains the courthouse, a jail seldom tenanted, a Presbyterian and a Methodist church, and an academy. The Sawkill, owhich dashes down the ravine near the southern border of the town, turns several mills in its course. The citizens are much engaged in the lumber-trade. There is a fine bridge here across the Delaware. Many of the inhabitants of the village, and quite a number of farmers in the vicinity, are immigrants from France. They make industrious and thriving citizens and farmers; and by their good taste give an air of neatness and embellishment to their dwellings, which stimulates others to do likewise. The construction of the Delaware and Hudson canal has taken much business away from this town to Port Jarvis, in New York, six miles above.

About a mile and a quarter southwest of Milford, in a very secluded spot, may be seen the magnificent falls of the Sawkill. This stream, after flowing sluggishly for some miles through level table-land, is here precipitated over two perpendicular ledges of slate rock-the first of about 20 feet, and the second about 60 feet-into a wild, rocky gorge. The stream still continues, dashing and foaming on for a quarter of a mile, over smaller precipices, and through chasms scarcely wide enough for an individual to pass. The beetling cliffs that form the sides of the gorge are surmounted and shaded by cedars and hemlocks, that impart a peculiarly sombre and terrific air to the scenery.

The surface of the hill by which they are approached is on a level with the top of the second fall; and the spectator, on account of the bushes and trees, may reach the very verge of the precipice, and within almost leaping distance of the falls, before he perceives them; and if he should happen for the first time to have trodden that lonely path without a companion, after -the shades of twilight had thrown a deeper gloom around the glen, he will not soon forget the awful sublimity of the scene.

Bushville is a small village on the Delaware, near Bushkill creek.

The Sylvania Association, a company recently formed in New York and Albany for carrying out the system of "Industrial organization and social reform, propounded by Charles Fourier," have started a colony in Sawkill Falls.

The association was formed early in 1843, by a few citizens of New York and Albany, mainly mechanics. In April, about 2500 acres of land, in three large tracts, was purchased, and a pioneer division of some 40 persons entered upon the possession and improvement of the land. The number has been increased (in Oct. 1843) to about 130 or 140, including about 25 whole families of men, women, and children, and some single persons. These colonists are generally young, or in the vigor of life, and " all recognizing labor as the true and noble destiny of man on earth." The soil of the domain is a deep loam, well calculated for tillage and grazing. About 80 acres had been cleared before the association purchased the tract; and they found upon it a saw-mill, an unfinished grist-mill, and two or three dwellings, &c., which have served for the temporary accommodation of the colonists. They have now about 160 acres cleared. It is intended to erect a spacious edifice for a dwelling, with workshop, &c. The land lies in gentle sloping ridges, with valleys between and wide level table-lands at the top. Much of it can be cleared at $6 per acre. A small stream, or branch of the Shoholy, passes through it, affording abundant water, power for all purposes. The domain is three to five miles from the Delaware and Hudson canal, 14 miles northwest from Milford, and 94 from New York city by the Milford turnpike, or 110 by way of Port Jervis, Middletown, and the N. Y. and Erie railroad.

Any person of good character may become a member of the association, by owning a share, (825,) and laboring on the domain under the rules of the association.

A capital of $10,000 has been raised by subscription, upon which legal interest is paid by the association. This capital is to be increased, when practicable, to $100,000. Labor is paid for on a graduated scale of compensation, according as it is considered more or less repulsive, necessary, useful, or agreeable. Members are at liberty to pursue any branch of employment they may select; but all labor performed must be for the benefit of the association, and must be prosecuted on the domain, or under the direction of the association. Disputes must be settled by arbitration, with privilege of appeal to a supreme court of the colony; but any member who seeks legal redress out of the colony shall be expelled. Women receive five-eighths the wages of a man; children from ten to fifteen one-third-from fifteen to eighteen one-half. Profits are divided annually, and all balances due individuals, above their board, clothing, and other items of expenditure, are to be credited as stock. A library, and suitable apartments for public exercises and amusements, are to be provided. The great edifice is to be leased according to an assessment of the various apartments, at an annual rent of ten per cent, on its cost. Members who wish to take their meals separately may do so by paying extra, and may use any extra furniture which they choose to have at their individual cost. Children under ten, and the aged and infirm, are at the charge of the association. Young women may vote at the age of eighteen, and young men at twenty. The association may not hire a minister of religion, but provides a room, in which any one invited and paid by individuals may preach. The association may not suppress any public amusement, nor " exclude wine or ardent spirits from the tables of the association, but shall furnish the same to any member desirous of using them, according to the plan adopted with reference to wearing apparel, or other articles." " Drunkenness subjects the guilty party to public rebuke, fine, or expulsion." If too many select any one occupation, the supernumeraries are detached by lot Thomas W. Whiteley, president; J. D. Pierson, vice-president ; J. T. S. Smith, secretary; Horace Greeley, treasurer-all of whom at present reside in New York city, except the vice-president.