Nationality U.S.A. Years active 1844–1860 Other names Kirk Lewis Name Abraham Lewis | Citizenship U.S.A. Died 1860 Occupation Mine operator Alma mater Kenyon College | |
Born August 24, 1815 ( 1815-08-24 ) Residence Mt. Washington, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | ||
Abraham Kirkpatrick Lewis was a pioneer coal miner in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His namesake was his grandfather, Abraham Kirkpatrick, a colleague of General John Neville. He graduated from Kenyon College, Ohio, in 1835. Although he studied medicine and law, he made his living in the coal industry. With William Philpot and John M.Snowden, Jr., he was the first to establish a market and furnish a regular supply of Pittsburgh coal to New Orleans, transporting the coal on flatboats.
Contents
Coal Mines
His Coal Ridge Mine on Sawmill Run, opened in 1857, was originally served by a horse-drawn tramway, later converted to steam power as the Little Saw Mill Run Railroad.
Kirk Lewis Incline
The Kirk Lewis incline was used to transport coal from "Coal Hill", now known as Mt. Washington, to the Monongahela River. It has been described as the first incline in Pittsburgh. It was probably built by George W. Roberts, Sr., the superintendent of his mines, who was known to have built many coal inclines in the area, including those at Elizabeth, Pennsylvania.