Person:Thomas Birkbeck (5)

Thomas Birkbeck, from 'Prominent People' in 1880: Thomas Birkbeck, of Upper Lehigh, was born in Foster township, June 1st, 1846, and married Miss Margaret Snedden, of Audenreid, Pa. He is a butcher and a dealer in real estate. He enlisted July 11th, 1864, in Company G. 179th Pennsylvania volunteers, and was discharged after one hundred days.

The life and history of Thomas Birkbeck are very closely connected with the historical development of the town of Freeland and vicinity. He is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Johnstone) Birkbeck, the former born in Westmoreland, England, May 2, 1802, the latter being also a native of England, born February 12, 1804, at Buck Hill, Stainmoor; they were married in 1826, at Brough's Church, England. In 1834 they landed in New York City, whence they immediately proceeded to Minersville, Schuylkill county, this State(PA), where Mr. Birkbeck secured employment in the mines. After remaining there about two years, they came to Hazleton, where in 1838 he sunk the first slope for Ario Pardee. In 1840 he bought of Edward Lynch a tract of four hundred acres of land in Denison township, which later became part of Foster township and is now the site of Freeland borough. There he constructed a rude log-house. He then returned with his family to his new purchase, a vast and uncultivated wilderness, which possessed all the characteristics of a pioneer farm. This house was the only one within a radius of five miles, with the single exception of that of Korcher, which was situated two miles to the northeast. Here the family spent their winters in lumbering, manufacturing handmade shingles, and cutting down and clearing the forest, and in summer time they cultivated the small patches of land thus cleared. The shingles were carted to Conyngham, and there exchanged for the necessaries of life, as at this time no cash was paid in such transactions. In 1844 Mr. Birbeck sold fifty acres from his four-hundred-acre lot, in time converted the dense forests into fertile farming land. A short time afterward the coal fields were developed in the neighborhood, and the great influx of population necessitated a new arrangement. Mr. Birkbeck accordingly surveyed a large portion of his real estate possessions into town lots, and sold them to the newcomers. This constituted the first move in the laying out of South Heberton and Freeland. Mr. Birkbeck was a man well-versed in the anthracite coal strata in this locality, and was the first to prove coal at Highland and Upper Lehigh. He built many roads, and was at all times the leading character in the development of the new country. The family experienced all the trials of a pioneer life which the novelist describes. A story is told of how, during one of those early days in the wilderness, Mrs. Birkbeck killed a full-grown buck deer, with no weapon but an axe. In the Birkbeck family there were twelve children, viz.: John, born September 5, 1827, died in infancy; Joseph N., born July 28, 1829, now residing in Wilkes-Barre; 1827, Matthew, born June 28, 1829 (deceased); Jane, born October 31, 1832 (deceased); John (second), born April 26, 1834 (deceased); Matthew (second), born January 7m 1836 (deceased); Jane, born October 6, 1836, wife of William Johnston, of Freeland, PA.; Betsey, born May 14, 1840 (deceased), and Anna Victoria, born May 12, 1850 (deceased). Joseph Birkbeck died April 19, 1872, Mrs. Birkbeck surviving until May 31, 1887. Thomas Birkbeck was born in the old log house, which was situated about four blocks northwest of his present handsome and cosy residence. During his early boyhood days he attended school at Eckley, during the winter months, and worked at home in the summer. When he was about ten years of age the coal mines were opened at Eckley, and there he engaged in picking slate at twenty-five cents per day. In 1859 he left the mines and entered the employ of Frank Person, a drover (someone who drives a herd) of Troy, PA., and worked for him, driving cattle, for two years. He then worked with his brother, who was a butcher at Eckley. Here he learned the trade and remained until June, 1863, when he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Ninetyseventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, serving until the close of the war. After his return home Mr. Birkbeck worked at blacksmithing a short time at Foundryville, when he went to Auderied and worked as a butcher for Herman Hamburger. In 1866 he engaged in the butchering business for himself, at South Heberton, where he remained one year, when he removed his business to Upper Lehigh, following it there just twenty-one years. In 1886 he removed to Freeland; followed droving a short time, and then engaged in the hardware business, which he still continues. He is also largely interested in real estate in the locality, owning over forty properties in this section. He is also interested in several cottages at the celebrated summer resort, at Wildwood, N.J. He was one of the promoters of the Citizens Bank of Freeland, also of the Freeland Water Works, being at present a heavy stockholder in both these institutions; he is also interested in many local enterprises. Mr. Birkbeck was married November 1, 1866, to Miss Margaret Sneddon, of Audenried. They have seven children, viz.: Joseph, William, Thomas, Lillie May, Jessie, Margaret and Daisy.

One of the best public institutions of Freeland being the water works. It was 

incorporated July 20, 1883, the incorporators being the following officials: President, Joseph Birkbeck; treasurer, Thomas Birkbeck; secretary, F. Schilcher. The works were commenced and completed in 1883, and the water was turned on in November of that year. The main supply is from two artesian wells, one on the east of town and one on the north. These furnish the finest granite-water, cool, and the freest from animal matter of any attainable waters. From the engines the water is pumped to the top of the hill west of town, where is one of the finest arranged reservoirs in the State, all under roof, and the building surrounded by a ten-foot fence quite a distance from the building, making it impossible for anything to be put in the reservoir from the outside. This water in the lower town has a fifty-pound pressure, sufficient to throw a large stream to the top of the highest building; capacity of reservoir, 470,000 gallons. This is, in addition to a third well, that can be used in an emergency, a reserve of water as the pumping is done direct to the pipes. The entire capacity of the pumps is sufficient for a population, in any emergency, of 50,000. The elegance of the Freeland water is another great inducement added to the place for making it a great summer resort. In many respects the altitude, the fresh, bracing winds, the cool and delightful nights, the health and its fine water will some day attract wide attention from those seeking the world's most delightful nooks as summer resorts.

In 1842 Joseph Birkbeck purchased a part of the land on which the borough stands and immediately commenced to improve his farm, building his residence a short distance north of what is now the north borough line. The Birkbeck estate now owns the farm land joining the north borough limits. About the same time Aaron Howe (or Howey), commenced to open his farm to the west of Birkbeck, and the most of the town is built upon a part of his tract. These two then, were the pioneer settlers in this part of Foster township. They built their houses on the side of the hill and cleared and farmed the land along the hillside down into the valley. The first settler within the borough limits was William Johnson, laborer; then Thomas Morgan, a blacksmith from Jeddo; he sold to Patrick McGlynn; then came James Williamson, from Eckley, whose family still reside in the place. The first store was opened by Joseph Lindsey in 1875; then H. C. Koons started his place of business. Lindsey's store was on what is now the corner of Pine and Walnut streets, and Koons' was on the corner of Front and Center streets. The next store was that of Thomas Campbell, who is still one of the leading business men of [p.564] the place. The first schoolhouse was put up in 1868, and in time, where it stood was mined under and a squeeze threatened. The house was moved on the Birkbeck land and in its new place was within what became the borough. In adjusting the affairs between the borough and township, the building and a small amount of money was awarded to the township, and it is still a township school. Then was erected the present borough school building, on Washington and Chestnut, a one-story frame, containing five rooms and all modern facilities. Belonging to the school property is 150 feet squa ground.

Citizens Bank of Freeland was incorporated January 30, 1890; capital stock, $50,000. Officials: president, Joseph Birkbeck; vice-president, H. C. Koons; cashier, B. R. Davis; directors: Joseph Birkbeck, H. C. Koons, John M. Powell, Mathias Schwabe, Charles Dusheck, Antony Rudewick, John Smith, William Kemp, John Burton and John Wagner; secretary of board, John Smith.

The Wyoming & Lackawanna Valleys, page 554: Thomas Johnson Birkbeck, one of the pioneer settlers of Freeland, Luzerne County, PA, a promoter of the Freeland water works, and an extensive and successful real estate dealter, was born June 6, 1845, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Johnson) Birkbeck. Thomas J. Birkbeck obtained his educational training at Echley, attending school during the winter months and assisting with the farm work during the summer. The coal mines were opened at Echley when Thomas J. was about ten years of age, and there he entered upon his first regular employment, that of picking slate at a salary of twenty-five cents per day. He left the mines in 1859 and entered the employ of Frank Person, a drover, of Troy, Pennsylvania, and for two years worked at driving cattle. At the expiration of this period of time he became associated with his brother, who was then following his trade of butcher in Eckley, and for the following two years was engaged in learning the butcher business. In June 1863 when the great Civil War was in progress, Mr. Birkbeck responded to the urgent call for volunteers, enlisting in Company G One Hundred and Ninety-Seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers and serving until the cesstation of hostilities. After his return to civil life he was occupied in the blacksmithing business for a short time in Foundryville, from whence he removed to Andenried, where he found employment in the butcher establishment of Herman Hamburger. He embarked in the butcher business on his own account at South Heberton in 1866 and the following year removed his business to Upper Lehigh, where he successfully conducted the same for the long period of twenty-one years. He removed to Freeland in 1886, and for a short period of time was engaged in droving after which he turned his attention to the hardware business which he has continued up to the present time (1905) and in which he is eminently successful. Mr. Birkbeck was one of the promoters of the Freeland water works and the Citizens' Bank of Freeland, in both of which institutions he is a heavy stockholder. In addition to these varied business enterprises Mr. Birkbeck is interested in real estate being the owner of over forty valuable properties in his section and having a personal interest in several cottages at the celebrated summer resort Wildwood, NJ. Mr. Birkbeck is pre-eminently a self-made man. Beginning life in a very humble way, with no capital except those success-bringing qualities-honesty, industry and perseverance-he has reached an enviable place in the business world and accumulated for himself and family a handsome competency. Mr. Birkbeck married, November 1, 1866, Margaret Sneddon of Andenried born April 18, 1845, daughter of William and Jessie Sneddon. They are the parents of the following named children: Joseph, William, Thomas, Lillie May, Jessie, Margaret, and Daisy. Mr. Birkbeck is the owner of a beautiful home in St. Augustine, Florida where he and his family spend the winter months.

This story is continued, please see Joseph Birkbeck, b. 1802.