Jacob Weiss
Encyclopedia
Colonel Jacob Weiss was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
in August 21, 1750 and died in Weissport, Pennsylvania
on .
His father became a citizen on September 27, 1740. He later married Rebecca Cox on October 14, 1746 and purchased land in the area of Fort Allen, which would become later known as Lehighton
and Weissport. They had 11 children, one of whom was Jacob Weiss.
. After only serving one tour of duty, he was appointed Quartermaster-General and served under General Nathanael Greene
of the Continental Army
. After serving under Gen. Greene, Mr. Weiss was assigned a post in 1780 as the Deputy Quartermaster General in Easton
, Northhampton County, Pennsylvania. This was under considerable recommendation of his previous post served under General Greene. His last move of the service was in 1780 to a place called Nazareth, Pennsylvania with his family. Mr. Weiss then concluded service there in 1783. He returned to his home in the Lehigh Valley and purchased a tract of land next to the Lehigh River, then called New Gnadenhuetton, from the Moravians who lived there.
, and brother-in-law Charlie Cist. Upon authentication, Weiss was authorized to grant Ginter what he propositioned for his discovery upon pointing out the exact location where it was found. Ginter built a mill on the tract of land he acquired but was later deprived of it by the owner who had filed a prior claim at the US patent office.
Weiss, Hillegas, and Nicholson were some of the original forerunners of the "Lehigh Coal Mine Company," which was later formed into the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company
. Early on this company brought coal down from this area with oxen and then boats on the Lehigh River
to the Delaware River
, and down to Philadelphia. This was a long and arduous task, which eventually led to the formation of the Lehigh Canal
and the Mauch Chunk and Switch-back Railroad.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
in August 21, 1750 and died in Weissport, Pennsylvania
Weissport, Pennsylvania
Weissport is a borough in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The town was founded in 1792 by Col. Jacob Weiss. This particular area was located between Lehighton, Parryville and Longrun. Soon after the town itself was established, and the first wooden bridge over the river to the town...
on .
Early life
He was the son of native German physician John Jacob Weiss (July 20, 1781 – September 22, 1788), who emigrated to Philadelphia in 1740.His father became a citizen on September 27, 1740. He later married Rebecca Cox on October 14, 1746 and purchased land in the area of Fort Allen, which would become later known as Lehighton
Lehighton, Pennsylvania
Lehighton is a borough in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, north by west of Philadelphia. In the past, it developed early industries because of water power from the Lehigh River. With the location of a repair facility here and its regional operations, the Lehigh Valley Railroad became for years a...
and Weissport. They had 11 children, one of whom was Jacob Weiss.
Military career
Early in his military career, Jacob Weiss served for the first company of the Philadelphia Volunteers under Captain Cadwalader. He was then appointed acting Quartermaster-General by General MifflinThomas Mifflin
Thomas Mifflin was an American merchant and politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, a member of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly, a Continental Congressman from Pennsylvania, President of the Continental...
. After only serving one tour of duty, he was appointed Quartermaster-General and served under General Nathanael Greene
Nathanael Greene
Nathanael Greene was a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. When the war began, Greene was a militia private, the lowest rank possible; he emerged from the war with a reputation as George Washington's most gifted and dependable officer. Many places in the United...
of the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
. After serving under Gen. Greene, Mr. Weiss was assigned a post in 1780 as the Deputy Quartermaster General in Easton
Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton is a city in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 26,800 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Northampton County....
, Northhampton County, Pennsylvania. This was under considerable recommendation of his previous post served under General Greene. His last move of the service was in 1780 to a place called Nazareth, Pennsylvania with his family. Mr. Weiss then concluded service there in 1783. He returned to his home in the Lehigh Valley and purchased a tract of land next to the Lehigh River, then called New Gnadenhuetton, from the Moravians who lived there.
The Business of Coal
Philip Ginder, often called Ginter, made the early discovery of coal in this remote area. Ginder was a local miller who found a particular type of coal called "stone coal", or anthracite coal. To verify this discovery, Mr. Ginder gave it to Col. Weiss the very next day. Col. Weiss said he would give Mr. Ginder 300 acres (1.2 km²) of land if he showed where the coal was found, and Mr. Ginder agreed to the deal. Col. Weiss took the specimen by horseback to Philadelphia and had it further inspected by John Nicholson, Michael HillegasMichael Hillegas
Michael Hillegas was the first Treasurer of the United States.-Biography:Hillegas was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Margaret Schiebenstock and George Michael Hillegass , an immigrant from Germany and a well-to-do merchant involved in iron and sugar...
, and brother-in-law Charlie Cist. Upon authentication, Weiss was authorized to grant Ginter what he propositioned for his discovery upon pointing out the exact location where it was found. Ginter built a mill on the tract of land he acquired but was later deprived of it by the owner who had filed a prior claim at the US patent office.
Weiss, Hillegas, and Nicholson were some of the original forerunners of the "Lehigh Coal Mine Company," which was later formed into the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company
Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company
The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company is an anthracite coal mining company headquartered in Pottsville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., with operations in the areas of Tamaqua, Coaldale, and Lansford...
. Early on this company brought coal down from this area with oxen and then boats on the Lehigh River
Lehigh River
The Lehigh River, a tributary of the Delaware River, is a river located in eastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. Part of the Lehigh, along with a number of its tributaries, is designated a Pennsylvania Scenic River by the state's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources...
to the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
, and down to Philadelphia. This was a long and arduous task, which eventually led to the formation of the Lehigh Canal
Lehigh Canal
The Lehigh Canal was constructed by the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company to carry anthracite from the upper Lehigh Valley to the urban markets of the northeast, especially Philadelphia...
and the Mauch Chunk and Switch-back Railroad.