Adam Stahl is said to have been the first settler at Middleport. Members of his family were prominent landowners there for many years. In 1821, Jacob Stahl sold the burying ground to the Lutheran and Presbyterian congregations, which were represented in the transactions by John Seltzer and Andrew D. Long.

In 1828, Jacob Huntzinger bought a tract of land, including that portion of Middleport north of the Schuylkill Valley Railroad. Soon, a man named Rausch became Huntzinger’s partner. Prior to 1830, the land was laid out in village lots, which were offered for sale. The balance of the territory within the borough limits, and lying south of the railroad, was included in the Da Costa tract.

Jacob Huntzinger was the pioneer businessman in the borough. He opened a store there in the spring or summer of 1829. The second store was that of Ferguson & Jones, established in the latter part of May, 1830. In March 1830, there were only two dwellings in the settlement. Evidence of the success of Mr. Huntzinger’s enterprise is apparent in the fact that on June 1^st following, the number of dwellings had increased to eight.

One of these was a tavern which had been opened about a year, and was kept by a George Kershner. A grist mill, a saw mill, and a blacksmith’s shop were in operation.

The railroad, and the state roads from Pottsville to Mauch Chunk, and from Orwigsburg north, passing through the village, made it prominent on lines of local travel, and the activity in the coal trade in the valley, after the completion of the railroad, brought with it a steady and healthy growth to Middleport.

In 1845, the population of the village was 271, made up almost entirely of laborers, miners and mechanics. There were then three stores and two taverns.

The first meeting of the borough council of Middleport was held May 2^nd, 1859. The first Burgess was Charles Bensinger, and Francis W. Bechtel was the first borough clerk.

Joseph Miller, Adam Greenawald, William Wall, James Eustace, and John C. Feedtrappe were the first councilmen.

The succeeding Burgesses have been Joseph Miller, George Medlar, David B. Shafer, George Hinly, Thomas Jennings, William Wall, William Herman, Richard Winlack, William Basler, and C. Frank Horn is the present incumbent.

Reprinted from "The History of Schuylkill County, 1881.