CHAPTER
XXIV.
By Samuel J. Kistler, Esq.
Pages 268 to 285
Including sections on:
Division
of the Township
Character
of the People
Land
Warrants
Residents
in 1781
Taxable
inhabitants in 1812
Early
Settlers
Heidelberg
Church
Schools
Roads
Localities
Mechanical
Industries
Township
Officers
The
Village of Saegersville
Tanneries
Carriage
Factories
Deibertsville
Germansville
Pleasant
Corner
And
A Biographical Sketch of Samuel J. Kistler
Page 268
The
territory now comprised in the townships of Heidelberg, Lynn, and Washington was
known prior to 1752 as Heidelberg District. On the 16th of June following the
organization of Northampton County (which was effected in March of the same
year), a petition was received by the first court, upon which the following was
indorsed:
“The petition of a number of inhabitants settled on the back parts
of Heidelberg and Macungie, praying that they ought to be formed into a
township, was allowed, and Mr. Scull, surveyor of the county, to measure out
the same.”
“A
draught and return of Heidelberg township, under the head of David Schultz,
surveyor, was allowed and ordered to be recorded.”
The first official act in recognition of Heidelberg as a township was made at
the October term of court in 1852, when Conrad Blose was appointed constable
for it. Jacob Bainter, his successor, was appointed Sept. 16, 1755. Lynn was set off from Heidelberg the same
year that the latter was organized, but Heidelberg for almost a hundred years
comprised in addition to its present territory that which is now included in
Washington.
Division of the Township. - For some time prior to 1847 the project of
dividing the township was agitated among its residents, and in May of that year
the following petition was drawn up, circulated, and presented to the court:
“To
the honourable the judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the county of Lehigh,
now composing and holding a Court of General Quarter Session of the Peace in
and for the said county at the May Term, A.D. 1847.
“The petition of the undersigned citizens of the township of Heidelberg, in
said county, respectfully sheweth,-
”That the said township of Heidelberg is uncommonly large for all township
purposes, inasmuch as the supervisors of the public highways we find it exactly
inconvenient to keep all the roads in repair and to attend to various duties.
It is also extremely inconvenient for the citizens of said township to attend
general and township elections and other meetings on account of the great
distance. Many of them are unable to travel that distance, etc.
”Your petitioners would therefore pray your honors to appoint three competent
and respectable men to inquire into the expediency of dividing the said
township into two parts, as nearly equal as may be, to a line commencing at a
point in or near the middle of the Blue Mountain, on the line of East Penn
township, Carbon Co.; thence running to some point on the line of or between
the township of North Whitehall and Low Hill, Lehigh Co. And they will pray,
etc.
“Michael Rehrig Nathan Hastis
George Rehrig Owen Jones
William Roberts Monases
Snyder
Ellis Morris Benjamin
Lerau
William Roberts Charles
Peter
John Roberts Beride Casper
Shutt
David Williams (B) John
Walls
Jacob Remely George
Ree, Esq.
Jacob F. Hailer Daniel
Saeger
John Remely John
Reppert
Daniel Ritter Jaret
Snyder
Stephen Kern Reuben
Kern
Dennis Hunsicker Charles
Engle
Charles Kern Charles
Shafer
Daniel Remely Jacob
Eisenbower
Daniel Breyfogel Elias
Williams
Nathan German, Sr. Isaac
Moyer
Henry Smith R.
M. Jones
Jonas Bock Richard
T. Jones
Owen Hunsicker Griffith
Davis
Willhelm Ebbert Henry
Parry
Frederick Leffler Henry
Fink
Joel Ross John
Reppert
Nathan German (miller) Joseph
Peter
Josiah German David
Kern
Henry Claus Henry
Stemler
William W. Ereus John
Ritter
Robert Roberts George
Wert
John S. Williams Gabriel
Kern
Rice Owens Levi
Reppert
Daniel Acanol David
T. Druckenmiller
Richard Hughes Christian
Riess
Robert Jones Samuel
Pauley
David Peter Willhelm
Moyer
John Ree Frank
Farber
Daniel Schleicher Emanuel
Moyer
Elias Bittner Esra
Moyer
John Kruw Abraham
Reppert
Reuben Peter Daniel
Paulius
Daniel Fink, Jr. Reuben
Wert
Daniel German Nicholas
Wert
David Ross Stephen
Wert
Nathan Weaver Dobias
Wert
John Heil Abraham
Roberts
Jacob Holban Stephen
Rex
John Peter Jonas
Peter
Nicholas Kern Daniel
Dornard
Daniel Kern John
Rex
John Kreitz Charles
Newha
Jonas Kern Jonas
Peter
Joseph German Daniel
Peter
John Frederick Abraham
Neff
John Wasmer Joseph
Blass
Charles Dornard Jeremiah
Leutz
Solomon Moyer John
Reit
Owen German William
Leutz, Sr.
Abraham Reidy Daniel
Newhard
Henry Loeser Jonas
Peter
Adam German, Jr. Thomas
Peter
Henry Snyder Levi
German
Andrew Muth William
Ebart
“LEHIGH COUNTY, ss.
“I, J. D. Lawall, clerk of the Court of Quarter sessions of the Peace of Lehigh
County, do certify that the foregoing is a correct and true copy of a petition
presented to our said court at May session last past for the division of
Heidelberg township, as the same remains on file in said office. Witness my
hand and seal of office this first day of September, A.D. one thousand eight
hundred and forty-seven.
“J.D. Lawall, Clerk.”
Jesse Samuels, Benjamin Fogel, and Charles Sheimer were appointed by the court
as commissioners to inquire into the expediency of making the requested division.
They reported that on the 16th of August, 1847, they met at the house of
Charles and David Peter, in Heidelberg, and made the division desired,…
Page 269
… -- that is, they set off the township now known as Washington, but then named “Dallas” (see the history of Washington township for a fuller account of this action, and also for a description of the eastern boundary of the present Heidelberg).
Character
of the People. - As a rule up to 1840 there was little mingling with other
people. Those having possession of the
land conveyed it from one heir to another, and thus kept the land among their
descendants. Schools of the English language were scarce. Churches both of the
German Reformed and Lutheran denominations were found all over the county, and
were well attended. There was a strict adherence to the doctrine of the
churches, the parents gently desired having their
children trained in the precepts of Christianity. It seems to us now an
astonishing fact that a man should borrow from five hundred to one thousand
dollars of a neighbor, the lender taking no note, but merely marking the
amount, and opposite the time when to return the amount or pay the interest
thereof, with a piece of chalk on one of the house-joists or on the large house
clock. They deemed it a sacred duty when the time had expired to pay the
interest or amount, according to what was agreed upon. If any one failed to be
prompt, or failed entirely to meet his payment, this was an extraordinary
affair, and such shameful conduct was considered a crime. The old saying, “His
word is as good as
his note,” was really true with this class of people. For a stranger to settle
among them was a rare occurrence. Railroads and telegraphs there were none.
Trade was carried on by wagons to Philadel-phia and other markets. Stores had
their supplies brought all the way from Philadelphia on wagons, a distance of
eighty miles. Dealers would arrange it so as to go to the city two or four
times a year. They arranged their time of travel so that they were able to
reach a hotel when it was time to feed their horses. Here the men greeted each
other in the most friendly manner. They drank their pure old rye whiskey, which
they obtained at the hotel at three cents a glass with a cigar thrown in,
according to
the general custom. On the arrival at the great markets they were earnest,
prompt, and shrewd at their business, and spared no pains in carrying out their
duty honorably. When the time had arrived for the return of the heavy four-and
six-horse teams, there was a general excitement. People came from twelve to
fifteen miles to see the bright calicoes and other wearing materials. This made
every heart glad and anxious to buy. In common with the Pennsylvania Germans
elsewhere, those of Heidelberg have been a prosperous and industrious people.
Failures have been scarcely known of among them; their whole aim has been to
prosper, and it is well known that they have prospered.
Land Warrants Located in Heidelberg. - Following is a list of the land warrants located in the old township of Heidelberg, with the dates of their issuance, names of persons to whom granted, and number of acres taken up by each. The list shows the names of the early settlers, but the dates cannot be considered as indicating the year when they came into the country, for, as a rule, the pioneers did not obtain their warrants until several years had elapsed from the time of their arrival.
Acres
No. 15. Jacob Arndt, June 14, 1765.......................................... 61
No. 1822 Andrew Martin, Aug. 26, 1766.................................... 104
No. 1823, Andrew Martin, Aug 26, 1766..................................... 67
No. 2087, Jacob Arndt, Nov 12, 1766............................................
32
No. 7, Jacob Coltner, March 5, 1753....................................... 134
No. 2996, Andrew Climer, Dec. 3, 1767....................................... 2
No. 461, Henry Deel, Aug. 13, 1765............................................
15
No. 1493, Jacob Daubenspeck, May 14, 1763.............................. 68
No. 2835, Tobias Eberth, Sept. 18, 1767.......................................
10
No, 3659, John Eberth, Oct. 26,
1768............................................ 15
No. 32, Leonard Foot, Oct 30, 1756..........................................
114
No. 43, Henry Francis, May 10, 1748........................................ 41
No. 56, Henry Frey, Jan 26, 1749..............................................
64
No. 14, Leonard Fahr, June 6, 1753..........................................
129
No. 33, Philip Fiddler, Aug. 28, 1758........................................
36
No. 32, Henry Frantz, Nov 14, 1758..........................................
299
No. 39, Leonard Fahr, Feb. 26, 1766.........................................
199
No. 625, Johannes Feller, Aug. 25, 1765.....................................
104
No. 1304, Christopher Fahr. Dec. 3, 1765......................................
37
No. 2457, Peter Frantz, April 3,
1767............................................ 34
No. 3309, John Frey, May 18,
1768............................................... 25
No. 3310, Jacob Frey, May 18, 1768.............................................
33
No. 3984, Peter Frantz, Jr., April 26, 1769....................................
123
No. 52, Francis Gilpner, Nov. 28, 1743..................................... 97
No. 83, Peter Grawall, Aug. 26, 1748.........................................
179
No. 107, Adam Germon, Nov. 16, 1786........................................ 14
No. 108, Adam Germon, Nov. 16, 1786........................................101
No. 177, Adam Germon, April 17, 1792....................................... 15
No. 178, Adam Germon, April 17, 1792....................................... 36
No. 1170, Henry Geiger, Oct. 25, 1765...........................................
46
No. 1511, Francis Giltner, May 21,
1766......................................... 109
No. 3429, Frederick Giltner, June 27, 1768.....................................
105
No. 3816, Jacob Goltner, Feb. 1, 1769............................................
77
No. 3985, Joseph Garber, April 27, 1769........................................
53
No. 85, Henry Gauser, April 25,
1744..........................................167
No. 137, Henry Hoffman, Jan. 26, 1749.........................................108
No. 143, Michael Hevoner, March 30, 1750.................................. 139
No. 32, Michael Hiskey, Aug. 21, 1754........................................
61
No. 46, John Handwerk, Nov. 9, 1758......................................... 57
No. 1264, Elizabeth Hoffman, Nov. 30, 1765.................................. 16
No. 1770, Nicholas Handwerk, Aug. 12, 1766................................ 110
No. 2056, Peter Herger, Nov. 4,
1766.............................................. 35
No. 2865, Henry Hair, Sept 30,
1767............................................... 29
No. 3814, George Hafe, Jan. 2,
1769.............................................. 29
No. 89, Martin Koogher, Nov. 5, 1747.........................................
114
No. 95, Frederick Kern, May 4, 1748...........................................
149
No. 29, George Knedler, Oct. 31, 1753.......................................
134
No. 262, John Kuntz, Nov. 17,
1790............................................... 7
No. 2028, Johannes Kunkle, Oct. 29, 1766......................................
91
No. 2029, Michael Kunkle, Oct. 29,
1766......................................... 41
No. 3014, John Kern, March 27,
1769.............................................. 370
No. 84, John Lap, Feb. 4, 1752....................................................
58
No. 105, John Lap, Feb. 4,
1752.................................................... 123
No. 60, Robert Levers, Aug. 23, 1774..........................................
1
No. 65, Christian Laushner, April 24,
1775...................................... 77
No.182, John Lintz, April 17,
1792................................................... 53
No. 3807, Christian Langenohr, Jan. 30, 1769.................................
55
No.69, Jacob Mowrer, Dec. 15, 1743...............................................
33
No. 70, Jacob Mowrer, Dec. 15,
1743.............................................. 182
No. 101, Jacob Mowrer, May 15, 1745............................................
33
No. 158, Jacob Moyer, March 24, 1749...........................................
100
No. 148, Jacob Moyer, Dec. 6,
1749................................................ 100
No. 137, Peter Miller, April 6,
1749.................................................. 67
No. 200, Peter Missemer, Feb. 7,
1752........................................... 25
No. 217, Conrad Marms, Dec. 5,
1757............................................. 92
No. 23, Felix Mantsingler, Oct. 12,
1753.......................................... 34
No. 30, Peter Missemer, Dec. 14,
1753............................................ 174
No. 112, Peter Missemer, Dec. 31,
1773.......................................... 38
No. 321, Peter Musgenong, March 20, 1766.................................... 18
No. 1483, Conrad Miller, May 10, 1766............................................
90
No. 1769, Peter Missemer, Aug. 12, 1766........................................
32
No. 3142, George Meal, March 4,
1768............................................ 59
No. 20, Ulrich Nafe, May 30, 1746....................................................
147
No. 30, George Nyehart, May 30,
1750............................................ 112
No. 33, Ulrich Nefe, Nov. 6,
1751..................................................... 103
No. 208, Ulrich Nefe, Aug. 5, 1765...................................................
19
No. 2156, Ulrich Nefe, Nob. 29,
1766............................................... 75
No. 2157, Ulrich Henry Neff, Nov. 29, 1766.....................................
30
No. 24, Henry Oswald, Jan 31,
1749................................................ 63
No. 865, Michael Ohl, Aug. 20,
1765................................................ 30
No. 866, Michael and Henry Ohl, Sept. 21, 1765.............................. 55
No. 867, Michael Ohl, Sept. 21,
1765................................................ 70
No. 2087, Jacob Arndt, Nov. 12,
1766............................................... 32
No. 81, Henry Pulinger, Dec. 7,
1748................................................. 107
No. 89, Charles Pennington, June 10,
1749....................................... 194
No. 3, Jacob Peter, March 12,
1752................................................... 31
No. 12, Rudolph Peter, Jan. 28,
1754................................................. 74
Page 270
No. 25, Elias Painter, Aug.
22, 1758.................................................... 170
No.6, Adam Reeder, Aug. 5,
1752....................................................... 27
No. 16, Peter Reege, July 20, 1753.....................................................
47
No. 19, John Rhoads, Oct. 31,
1753.................................................... 181
No. 34, John Rockel, Feb. 10,
1755..................................................... 112
No. 38, William Rex, Oct 25, 1755.......................................................
86
No. 38, Charles Ross, Oct.
6,1755....................................................... 103
No. 43, Peter Raigh, March 9,
1759..................................................... 24
No. 211, Michael Ramilie, Aug. 5, 1765...............................................
32
No. 454, John Ruckle, Aug. 10.
1765.................................................. 28
No. 1141, Peter Ruch, Oct. 24,
1765................................................... 38
No. 1492, Jacob Reedy, May 14,
1766................................................ 47
No. 1750, John Rumple, Aug. 6,
1766.................................................. 49
No. 1753, Jacob Reedy, Au. 7,
1766.................................................... 65
No. 2841, Conrad Reedy, Sept 24,
1767.............................................. 48
No. 2953, Henry Reinhart, Nov. 12,
1767............................................ 85
No. 91, Andrew Shitler, June 14,
1745................................................. 107
No. 117, Frederick Sneider, Oct. 2,
1746............................................. 44
No. 206, Melchoir Sholtz, Nov. 3,
1748................................................ 34
No. 213, Daniel Sneider, Jan. 24,
1749................................................ 98
No. 216, Daniel Sneider, Jan. 25,
1749................................................ 25
No. 241, George Siegler, April 17,
1750............................................... 161
No. 291, Frederick Sneider, Feb. 6, 1752.............................................
38
No. 292, Frederick Sneider, Feb. 6,
1752............................................. 33
No. 50, Lawrence Simon, June 6,
1753................................................. 52
No. 92, William Silfeers, Aug. 29, 1753.................................................
45
No. 13, George Lina, April 17,
1754...................................................... 118
No. 21, Frederick Schneider, Nov. 13,
1754......................................... 26
No. 78, Tecter, Seidler, Nov. 13, 1754..................................................
224
No. 108, Melchoir Scidler, Nov. 6,
1758................................................ 34
No. 109, Melchoir Seidler, Nov. 27,
1758.............................................. 21
No. 127, Frederick Schneider, June 14,
1765........................................ 20
No. 178, Christian Smith, Oct. 21,
1772................................................. 62
No. 1226, Christian Smidt, Nov. 5,
1765................................................ 38
No. 1227, Christian Smidt, Nov. 5,
1765................................................ 90
No. 1573, Henry Smith, May 29,
1766.................................................... 100
No. 1574, Henry Smith, May 29, 1766....................................................
13
No. 1749, Frederick Snyder, Aug. 7,
1766.............................................. 27
No. 2085, Frederick Snyder, Nov. 11,
1766............................................ 44
No. 2223, Adam Staat, Dec. 22, 1766.....................................................
55
No. 2478, Frederick Snyder, April 18,
1767............................................ 62
No. 2507, Philip Lehr, April 18,
1767...................................................... 150
No. 2640, Henry Smith, April 28, 1767....................................................
17
No. 63, Jacob Traubespeck, Sept. 16,
1747........................................... 197
No. 85, George Welger, March 21,
1743................................................ 51
No. 889, George Welger, Nov. 28,
1743.................................................. 84
No. 70, Jacob Weaver, Nov. 2,
1744...................................................... 171
No. 66, Philip Waugheman, April 18,
1747............................................. 154
No. 102, John Weaver, Sept. 21,
1748................................................... 103
No. 112, George Welger, Dec. 18,
1749................................................. 46
No. 118, Jacob Weaver, Feb. 19,
1750................................................... 23
No. 20, Simon Wehr, Oct. 3,
1753........................................................... 161
No. 35, Peter Woodring, Sept. 26,
1758................................................. 138
No. 196, Simon Wehr, April 6, 1787.........................................................
60
No. 1743, Casper Weaver, Aug. 6,
1766.................................................. 90
No. 1754, Leonard Wasson, Aug. 7,
1766................................................ 50
No. 2793, Simon Wehr, Aug. 15, 1767......................................................
25
No. 4, John Yeager, Aug. 29,
1758............................................................ 46
No. 14, George Ziegler, Sept. 30,
1751..................................................... 86
Residents in 1781. - The assessments, made by the commissioners of Northampton County for Heidelberg township in 1781, shows that there were within its then limits the following inhabitants:
Martin Andrew Michael
Greenswald
Peter Andrew Michael
Gable
Martin Andrew, Jr. Adam
Gable
Joseph Balliet Andrew
Gultner
Henry Byer John
Hunsicker
George Blose Jacob
Hunsicker
Widow Bear John
Hunsicker, Jr.
Daniel Bloss Caspar
Hunsicker
Jacob Broadsteller David
Hess
Ulrich Brinket Andrew
Hotz
Jacob Bailer Michael
Hoffman
Tobias Ebert William
Hoffman
John Ebert Henry
Hoffman
Jacob Fryman Peter
Handwerk
Andrew Fehler Jacob
Handwerk
John Fehler Jacob
Handwerk, Jr.
Henry Faber John
Handwerk
John Fought Jacob
Hartman
Henry Binninger Philip
Hammel
David Gortner Martin
Harter
John Fry Jacob
Hausman
Jacob Geiger William
Holling
George Gultner Philip
Knauss
Widow Gultner Widow
Keck
Adam German John
Keck
William Kern William
Rex
Frederick Kern William
Rex, Jr.
John Kern John
Robert
William Kern Peter
Ray
James Kemmerer George
Ray
Solomon Kreitz Jacob
Riedy
John Krum Conrad
Riedy
Christian Kurm Peter
S. Riedy
Adam Kounkle Jacob
Reedinghouse (supposed
Christian Lauchner Ridinghouse)
John Lintz John
Reinsmith
Conrad Lintz, Jr. George
Ruppert
John Miller Peter
Leidel
Nicholas Miller John
Sorbrick
Philip Mertz George
Shoenberger
Peter Meyer Frederick
Sleigh
Jacob Missinger Abraham
Shelhamer
Peter G. Missinger Ludwig
Stein
Frantz Missinger Anthony
Shafer
Michael Missinger Balzer
Snyder
Frederick M. Meyer Adam
Smith
Leonard Miller John
Snyder
Henry Neff Christian
Smith
Widow Neff Jacob
Smith
Ulrich Neff Samuel
Snyder
Michael Ohl Conrad
Slosser
Caspar Peter Isaac
Swartz
William Peter George
Smitter
Jacob Peter Simon
Wihr
Widow Peter Peter
Wagner
John Kocher John
Wasum
John Peter Leonard
Wasum
Caspar Peter, Jr. Blazer
Wirth
Simon Reerig Jacob
Weaver
George Reemely John
Weaver
Michael Reemaly Martin
Muchter
George Remaly, Jr. Yost
Wall
John Ramble Michael
Wehr
John Buchle Lawrence
Wehr
Conrad Reeder Philip
Wehr
Jacob Rex Henry
Serfass
William Rex Martin
Lentz
George Rex Hotzer
George
George Rex, Jr.
Single Freemen
John Ramble Christian
Swabenland
Michael Snyder Jacob
Bare
Tobias Wehr Leonard
Balliette
John Reinsmith Frederick
Handwerk
Daniel Meyer William
Andreas
Abraham Riedy George
Ridinghouse
George Miller David
Wegandt
Conrad Keck Conrad
Reerig
Michael Keck Andrew
Mourer
Peter Dewalt Stoffel
Rex
(The amount of taxes was L364 15s. 3d. The highest assessment was for L8, and
was upon Michael Ohl. John Miller and Caspar Peter are each assessed L6, all others
below.)
Taxable Inhabitants in 1812. - The following were the taxable
inhabitants of Heidelberg in 1812, as shown by the township assessment made by
the commissioners of Northampton County:
Daniel Andrew Daniel
Brandstettler
John Anthony John
Bahler
Jacob Bahler Jacob
Bapt
Stephen Balliet Jacob
Blim
Jacob Bahr Peter
Beissell
Peter Bahr John
Beyer
George Blose Solomon
Brandstetter
Ulrich Benninger Jacob
Clauss
Christian Bloss Jacob
Dingler
George Bloss, Jr. Peter
Eberth
Page 271
John Ebert Nicholas Kern
Michael Ebert Jonas
Kern
Conrad Ebert John
Kern
Christian Ebert John
Kressler
Henry Ebert Jacob
Kressler
Samuel Ely Barnet
Kressler
----- Fenstermacher Adam
Kressler
Gottlieb Focht John
Krum
Jacob Fryman Daniel
Kramer
William Fenstermacher
Christian Krum
Jacob Ferber Christophel
Kern
Widow Ferber Nicholas
Kern
George Fryman Philip
Kemmerer
Daniel Fink John
Keck
Peter Frey Adam
Kunkle
John Frederick John
Kressler
John Fritzinger Andrew
Kunkle
Matthew Fritzinger Philip
Krause
Jacob Fritzinger George
Krauss
Andrew Fritzinger Conrad
Kern
Jacob Fenstermacher Daniel
Kern
John Frantz Daniel
Kern, Jr.
Jacob Frantz Frederick
Kemmerer
John Miller, Jr. Jesse
Kern
Franklin Loyer George
Kamper
John Frederick John
Kohler
Jacob Focht Abraham
Krerr
Conrad German Joseph
Lorash
Jacob Geiger Joseph
Lauchner
Adam German Adam
Linus (Lentz)
Philip German Jacob
Linus (Lentz)
Adrew Guitner Jacob
Lauchner
Abraham German William
Linus (Lentz)
Henry Geisinger John
Meyer
Philip Haas Jacob
Miller
George Handwerk John
Miller
Michael Harter Carl
Fred Moyer
Jacob Hartman Simon
Moyer
Joseph Hunsicker Francis
Messinger (Messemere)
Caspar Hunsicker George
Muthard
John Hunsicker Leonard
Miller
John Hunsicker, Jr. Dewalt
Mertz
Jacob Hoffman Frederick
Miller
William Hoffman William
Moyer
Michael Hoffman John
Mace
Peter Hoffman George
Miller
Peter Handwerk Henry
Miller
John Handwerk Christian
Messinger (Messemer)
Peter Handwerk John
Meyer
Jacob Handwerk Bernhard
Neff
Henry Handwerk Henry
Neff
Philip Handwerk Widow
Neff
Henry Hennewitze Michael
Neff
George Horn Peter
Newhard
Frederick Hausman Jacob
Neese
Peter Hoffman John
Peter
Christian Hammen (supposed Daniel Peter
Hausman) Johannes Peter
George Boltz (supposed Haats) Jacob Peter
John Hausman Thesbold
Peter
Christian Hausman William
Peter
Christian Haag (Hawk) Casper
Peter
Solomon Hartman Casper
Peter, Jr.
Henry Helfrich John
Peter, Sr.
Daniel Helfrich Nicholas
Peter
Joel Kern George
Peter
Casper Hunsicker Michael
Peter
Simon Hartman Jacob
Peter
Andrew Kemmerer Henry
Peter
John Jeager John
Peter
Henry Kistler Henry
Peter, Jr.
George Kern, Jr. Daniel
Roder (Roeder)
John Krause John
Rinker
Christian Krum Daniel
Roth
John Krum Jacob
Ritter
William Kern Abraham
Redig (sup. Riedy)
George Kern John
Rotest (Retar)
Balzer Royer Peter
Seidel
Andrew Rauch Daniel
Shuler
George Rex John
Schleicher
Abraham Rex David
Shyder (Snyder)
Christian Rex Henry
Stamler (Stemier)
John Rex John
Schonebeger
Abraham Riedy Peter
Sell
Peter Rockel Simon
Schneyerder (Snyder)
Adam Rockel Conrad Schnyder (Snyder)
Widow Rockel Joseph
Saeger
William Rockel John
Saeger
Godfrey Roth Conrad
Wirt (Wert)
Daniel Retert Jacob
Wehr
George Remely Michael
Wahr
John Rohrich (Rerich) Martin
Wuchter
Ambroe Remely Jacob
Weber
Michael Remely Mary
Frey
Peter Roth Christian
Werth
Peter Rohrich (Rerich) George
Wassam
George Ratert Conrad
Wehr
Widow Ratert Lawrence
Wehr
George Rex Jacob
Weber
Philip Ratert Martin
Werth
John Rex Peter
Wahr
Susanna Reedy (Riedy) Laurence
Zeller
Abraham Roder (Roeder) George
Zerfas
Christian Shnyder (Snyder) Jacob
Kern
Abraham Soritz Peter
Frees
Jacob Shnyder (Snyder) Philip
Bretz (Pretz)
Andrew Schassler (Schisler) Samuel
Leger
Christian Schmidt John
Schmidt
Jacob Schneider (Snyder) Samuel
Miller
Christian Snyder Daniel
Krauss
Henry Schmidt Samuel
Kressler
Michael Schmidt Laurence
Newhard
Andrew Sensinger
Single Freeman
Jacob Hoffman Daniel
Krauss
John Bare John
Housman
John Rex John
Remely
John Hunsicker William
Rex
Christian Shnyder (Snyder) John
Weidman
John Handwerk Peter
Hunsicker
Henry Hoffman Samuel
Boiler
Michael Krum Peter
Krum
Frederick Snyder Jacob
Kressley
Leonard Reinsmith John
Weber
William Lafavour (Lafavre) Michael
Hoffman
Daniel Hunsicker George
Sensinger
Adam Peter Henry
Bore
Daniel Snyder
[The amount of tax was $498.02]
Early Settlers. - The early residents of this township are all or nearly all mentioned in the list of land warrants, and the list of inhabitants in 1781 and 1812. Some of them are treated of at length elsewhere in this chapter, as for instance in the parts devoted to the history of Saegersville and Germansville, and accounts of the Peters and Handwerk families appear in the chapter on Washington township.
The greater part of the land now owned by Edward Neff and Joel Neff, in
Heidelberg township, was originally by warrant dated June, 1745, granted to
Andrew Shitler, and after his death it was conveyed by the administrator to his
only son and heir, Conrad Shitler, who by deed dated Dec. 13, 1762, conveyed
the same to Jacob Peter, who on Nov. 10, 1764, conveyed the same to John
Hunsicker, Sr., who by deed dated Oct. 26, 1787, conveyed the same to his son
Jacob Hunsicker, who died leaving
a widow and …
Page 272
… seven
children, and at an Orphans’ court held at Easton, Jan. 11, 1797, the said
land, then consisting of two-hundred and sixty acres, was accepted by John Hunsicker,
eldest son of Jacob Hunsicker, who by his deed dated July 19, 1779, conveyed
one hundred and thirty-seven and one-quarter acres thereof to Bernhard Neff,
son of Ulrich Neff. Said tract did then
adjoin land of Peter Missemere, Jacob Brandsteteer, Adam German, etc. Bernhard Neff had three sons, John, George,
and Abraham. Bernhard Neff, by deed
dated Jan. 23, 1829, conveyed sixty-nine acres thereof to his son, George Neff,
and the balance thereof to his son, John Neff; about the year 1845, conveyed
his portion to Abraham Lobach, who still resides on the same, and John Neff
moved to East Penn township, Carbon co., close to the Andrew church, where he
died and left one son, and only son and heir, who still lives on the place; and
George Neff, by deed dated March 20, 1866, granted and conveyed a portion of
his land to his son Edward Neff, who still resides on the same and the balance
of his land. George Neff died intestate on the 26th day of November, 1881, and
on April 3, 1882, Joel Neff, another son of the said George Neff, accepted the
same at the appraisement, and who is still the owner of it, but resides at
Slatington, where he is an extensive operator in quarrying slate, etc. Abraham
Neff, the other son of Bernard Neff, in his early days resided here near
Germansville, but afterwards moved to North Whitehall township, close to the
Union Church, where he carried on the undertaking business, and afterwards
established a carriage factory, and built up the village which is named after
his name, Neffsville. Edward B. Neff,
hotel-keeper at Slatington, is one of his sons.
Here is added a copy of a memorandum in the handwriting of Richard Peters
(whose name is so frequently mentioned in the upper township in the old
papers), which memorandum was found among the old papers of George Neff,
deceased, as follows, to wit:
“January
18, 1758 Memorandum that Monday, the third day of April next is Appointed for a
Hearing Between Bernard Neff and Henry Frie at the Secretaries office upon a
Caveat Entered the 6th September last by said Neff against the acceptance of a
Survey made for the Said Frie on a Brance of Truckers Creek now (Jordan Creek) in Northampton County (now Lehigh Co) and the parties are desired
to attend accordingly.
RICHARD PETERS.
“A
true copy from its original.”
A portion of the land now owned by Nathan Wuchter was originally by a warrant
dated Oct. 25, 1749, granted to Daniel Bürger, of Salisbury township. Said
tract was mentioned as situated between Francis Giltner and John Snyder in
Heidelberg township, Bucks Co., and which Daniel Bürger, by deed dated Aug. 1,
1772, conveyed a portion thereof to John Martin Wachter, Sr., who conveyed the
same to his son, Martin Wachter, who conveyed the same to his son, William
Wachter, who conveyed the same to his son, Nathan Wachter, who is still the
owner thereof. The above-named Martin Wachter was one of the Revolutionary
soldiers under Washington.
Among the Peters who had original land here, near Saegersville and
Germansville, was Rudolph Peter, to whom seventy-four acres, one hundred and
forty perches of land was granted by warrant dated Jan. 28, 1754, which tract
is situated north of Saegersville, and is now divided up and owned by Edwin
Handwerk (son of Michael), Owen Hunsicker, Tilghman Peter, Lewis K. Peter, John
Metzger, and David Hunsicker. Edwin Handwerk is the owner of the largest
portion of the same. Jacob Peter, who
was the owner of a tract of land between Saegersville and Germansville, and
said tract was originally by warrant dated March 12, 1745, granted to him; it
is the same where now Nathan Snyder and Jeremiah D. Suy reside. And Philip
Peter was the owner about the year 1786 of a tract of land adjoining Jordan
Creek on the west, and west of Germansville, where now the Germansville Depot of
the Schuylkill and Lehigh Railroad is erected.
Of the family of Peters who early settled in Heidelberg township were three
brothers, - Caspar, Rudolph, and Jacob. Caspar settled in what is now
Washington, and the account of his descendants will be found in that township.
He built the present house in 1761, and placed in the wall a stone with the
year marked upon it.
Rudolph Peter settled in Heidelberg, where Henry Handwerk now lives. He took
out a warrant for seventy-four acres of land on the 28th of January, 1754. Eve Elizabeth, a daughter, became the wife
of Adam German, who settled at Germansville. It is not known who his other
children were. He died in 1813, aged fifty-seven years, and is buried in
Heidelberg churchyard.
Jacob Peter, supposed to be a brother of Rudolph and Caspar, took out a warrant
for thirty-one acres of land on the 12th of March, 1752; nothing is known of
his descendants. In 1781 Caspar Peter,
Caspar Peter, Jr., William, Jacob, John, and the Widow Peter were assessed on
real estate, and in 1812, John, Daniel, Johannes, Jacob, Theobald, William,
Caspar, Sr., Caspar, Jr., John, Sr., Nicholas, George, Michael, Jacob, Henry,
Sr., Henry, Jr., and John Peter, Jr.
It must be born in mind that Heidelberg in 1781 and 1812 embraced Washington.
The line of Caspar Peter, one of the tree brothers, has been well traced. Of
the other brothers, Rudolph and Jacob, but little is known of the generation
following. Nicholas Peter, whose name appears in 1812, had three sons, -
Daniel, Elias, and John Jacob (2d). The latter lived where his son, Joseph, now
resides.
A John Jacob Peter (1st) lived on the farm now owned by Aaron Peter. He executed the mason work of the county jail at Allentown in 1816. He married…
Page 273
…Maria Krum, sister of Michael. They had
seven children; Jeremiah, Adam, Polly (Mrs. Dutton), Henry, Abram, Jacob, and
Reuben.
Johannes Hunsicker was the first of the family of that name known to be in the township.
His son Henry married Maria Barbara Huff in 1786, by whom he had three sons and
six daughters. She died in 1802, aged thirty-eight years.
Peter Hunsicker lived in 1794 on land adjoining Philip Mosser. The Heidelberg
churchyard contains tablets to Susanna Hunsicker, born 1799, died in 1850, and
Magdalena Hunsicker, born in 1731.
John Hunsicker, who was born in 1755, and died in 1836, aged eighty years, and
his wife, Catharine (Stiegerwalt), born in 1757, died in 1823, were located
near the Heidelberg Church, where his son Henry lived. He married Susanna
------, who died in 1850, and left five children, of whom were Reuben, David,
and Levi, the last two living on the homestead.
Joseph Hunsicker, a brother of John, married a daughter of Michael Ohl, by whom
he had no children. He married for his second wife a daughter of ------- Krum,
and sister of Christian Krum, by whom he had Christian, Jonas, John, Daniel,
Reuben, and Henry.
Christian settled on part of the homestead where his son Edwin now lives. Jonas
settled where William Addis now lives. John on part of the homestead, and
resides on the property with his son Levi. Daniel settled in Washington
township. Reuben moved to Slatington, where he died, and
Harry located in Carbon County.
John Handwerk, on the 9th of November, 1758, took up in Heidelberg township, on a warrant, fifty-seven acres of land, and on the 12th of August, 1766, Nicholas Handwerk took out on a warrant one hundred and ten acres of land. John was born in 1710, and died in 1791. In 1781 he was assessed with Peter Jacob, Sr., Peter Jacob, Jr., and among the single freemen is given Frederick Handwerk.
In 1812, Peter John, Peter Jacob, Henry and Philip Handwerk are assessed. In
the Heidelberg churchyard are tablets to Peter Handwerk, born 1744, died 1826;
Johannes Handwerk, born 1742, died 1813; Jacob Handwerk, born 1771, died 1826;
Catharine Handwerk, born 1747, died in 1808. The family in the township and
Washington are numerous, but like many others their records and memories are
meagre.
Jacob Kemmerer moved from Saucon township to this township in the early part of
his life, previous to 1754. He was a great hunter, and during his life shot a
vast number of deer. He also was or acted as captain over a squad of men who
went from here across the Blue Mountains to Gnadenhütten to bury those who had
been killed by the Indians. He went to
the Wyoming Valley to help to protect the whites from the horrible slaughter of
the Indians. The land upon which he lived is now owned by Rev. J. S. Renninger,
being adjoining land of the tract formerly owned by Paul and Leonard Stein, now
the property of Monroe Sensinger. He died about the year 1825, at the age of
eighty-eight years. He had a brother Fritz, who was a miller in Allentown.
History of Heidelberg Church. (Written in German by Rev. William A.
Helffrich, and translated by
James L. Schaadt, Esq.) – The township of Heidelberg, Lehigh Co.,
Pa., has had up to this time but one church, and this has always been known as
the Heidelberg church, and the congregation as the Heidelberg congregation. The
church, like most of those in eastern Pennsylvania, were German immigrants of
the Reformed and Lutheran faiths settled at the same time and the same place,
was a Union Church; that is, the Reformed and the Lutherans held all the church
property - such as the
building, the church lands, the cemetery, etc. - in common, and had their
divine services alternately in the same church building, either congregation
entirely free, however, to engage in worship according to its own faith and
teachings unmolested by the other, with admission to the members of the other
faith as well as its own. The necessities of primitive times collected these
divided members of one
faith under one and the same roof.
The church stands about one mile east of Saegersville, nearly in the centre of
the township. The first small springs of the Heidelberg Creek, which flows into
the Jordan at Gideon Schmidt’s, at the iron bridge, take their rise upon the
church lands. The church, school-house, graveyard, and the lands of the
congregation lie all together in one small valley, hemmed in by the surrounding
low hills.
The first settlement by the congregation was made in the year 1735. The number
of the first immigrants was small, consisting of isolated families who had come
from Switzerland and Westphalia. Their names have been preserved, and show that
they were from one neighborhood, but the name of the place is, unfortunately,
forgotten. The names of the first arrivals were Jacob Peter, Casper Peter, and
Wilhelm Peter, three brothers, but whether their father accompanied them cannot
be ascertained. Later came Johannes Hunsicker, Jacob Mayer, David Gisi, Conrad
Wirtz (now written Wert), Friederich Nisele, Ulrich Neff, Heinrich Hoffman, Peter
Miller, Heinrich Roeder, Georg Grum, and Jörg Schmalz. This first company of
settlers formed the foundation of the succeeding congregation, and at once
staked off the land they intended to use for church and school purposes. The
called it the Hill of Zion, and laid upon their descendants the solemn
injunction that they should
not rest until they had obtained lawful possession of the same through a
warrant. The first immigrants passed through Upper Milford to the Kittatinny
Valley, and followed the course of the Lehigh to the Blue Mountains. They
traversed all the land lying between the Lehigh Hills and the Blue Mountains,
and not until…
Page 274
…the latter loomed up before
their sight, and they saw their height, and the hillsides and the valleys
below, forming the present area of the townships of Heidelberg and Washington,
together with the excellent water and the fine forests, did they discontinue
their journey, saying, “Here there are hills, woods, water, and rocks; here it
is possible to live.”
Between the years 1735 and 1740 there also came hither Palatines and
Würtemburgers, and strengthened the colony. Among these there were, on the
Reformed side, Heinrich Ohl, Jacob Riedy, Michael Fritzinger, and others; on
the Lutheran side, Ulrich Sensinger, Jörch Recks, Peter Handwerk, Johann
Krauss, and others. The Lutherans likewise provided themselves with a piece of
land for the church and school purposes adjoining the Reformed lands on the
south.
The organization of the congregation took place in the year 1740. Heinrich Ohl, who had taken up the land
where Saegersville now stands, and who was the richest and most respected man
in the settlement, agitated the matter of building a church, but four years
passed before the church was constructed. Meetings were held, but as no
minister could be engaged, the work of construction was discontinued. During
this period the services of a reader from Lynn were obtained, and he was
accustomed to hold services at the houses of the people. The place for
assembling was at Jacob Daubensdpeck’s, about one mile south of the church
lands. There divine service was held for a period of five years. Finally there
came a talented Lutheran minister, by the name of Jacob Friederich Schertlein,
who was undoubtedly sent through the interposition of Rev. Muhlenberg to this
portion of the country.
And now steps were taken to build the first church, which was erected in the
year 1744 as a log church, and was dedicated by Revs. Schertlein and Philip Jacob
Michael. This first church building stood in the northeastern corner of the old
graveyard, which has for a long time been filled with graves. At the same time
a school-house was erected. From the very beginning the plan of the fathers
contemplated the holding and enjoyment of these buildings in common. For this
reason they built the
church upon the Reformed land, and the school-house upon the Lutheran, and when
the church was completed and dedicated, both branches of the congregation made
a contract on the 28th of March, 1745, that it should be and remain a Union
church. The following heads of families formed the
congregation: Jacob Friederich Schertlein, the Lutheran minister; Philip J.
Michael, the Reformed minister. Schertlein was a regularly ordained minister of
great ability, who soon, however, left here and was called elsewhere, either to
Maryland or Virginia. Michael, of whom we have already learned in the history
of the Ziegel Church, was a reader, who was never ordained, and had elevated
himself to the office of minister. The Reformed elders were George Grum and
Jörg Schmalz; the Lutheran,
George Recks and Michael Mosser. The members were Jacob Mayer, Heinrich Ohl,
Ulrich Sensinger, George Schmalz (elder), Daniel Burger, Nickel Klein, George
Grum (elder), David Gisi, Michael Fritzinger, George Recks (elder), Leonhard
Mayer, Heinrich Oswald, Adam Winch, Heinrich Hofmann, Ulrich Neff, Andreas
Shcüssler, Friederich Schneider, Jonas Matzinger, Michael Fritzinger, Jacob
Peter, Caspar Peter, Rudolf Peter, Michael Mosser (elder), Jörg Newhard, Nickel
burger, Michael Ruch, Peter Miller, Conrad Wirtz (Wert), Friederich Nisele,
Jacob Schlung, Hans Ulrich Arndt, Johannes Niesele, Heinrich Roeder. The
above-named members were the builders of the first church, and paid for its
construction L18 5s., of which the Reformed side contributed L13 18s 8d., and
the Lutheran L4 6s 4d. None of the Lutherans were married.
Early circumstances were here as elsewhere in the congregations of Eastern
Pennsylvania. (See the history of the Ziegel Church.) The Swiss characteristics
peculiarly predominated in this congregation, and have been maintained down to
our time. Swiss honesty and faithfulness are proverbial in Heidelberg. Here it
was the custom, when one borrowed money from the other, to mark the loan with
chalk upon the rafters of the house; and when later promissory notes came into
use, a dispute having arisen as to who should have possession of a note, it was
gravely decided that the borrower should retain possession of the note, so that
he could readily see when it was to fall due. Their character is
straightforward, rugged, blunt, and stiff-necked, but at the same time honest,
true, open, and cordial; They are ready to render assistance at any time, are
neighborly, and attached to each other; and they hold the church in high
esteem, reverencing everything sacred. Worldliness and avarice have not made
among them the same inroads as elsewhere. Their lives are simple and
economical; they are industrious, and, although the land is of poorer quality
and less productive here than in townships
lying towards the south and east of them, yet they always have money; so that
it has, during these last twenty years, become a saying, that whoever desires
to borrow money must go to Heidelberg.
The Indian massacres, which during the fifties of the last century devastated
all the settlements across the Lehigh, at Gnadenhütten (now Lehighton) and in
Lynn, both on the right and left of the Heidelberg settlement, passed by this
congregation almost without leaving a trace. Scarcely a single murder took
place. Nevertheless the members were prepared to render each other prompt
assistance. Fathers Longenour, Kemmerer, and others went to Gnadenhütten and
assisted in burying the
murdered, and upon the occasion of the Lynn township massacre, when Zeislof and
others were murdered, Father Bachman hastened to their assistance from Miller’s
Valley, near the present Lynnville. Zeislof and some of his…
Page 275
…family
were scalped, but were still alive when Bachman arrived, and he attended to
them until death delivered them from their agony. Bachman said it was dreadful
to see the bloody, disfigured heads, and to hear the sufferers calling for
water to allay their thirst The reason for the freedom of the congregation from
the Indian troubles lay, besides the
providence of God, possibly in the fact that no Indian village stood within
their limits. The nearest village was in Lynn, and another was on the other
side of the Blue Mountains, in the vicinity of Lehighton, and still another lay
south of the Blue Mountains, across the Lehigh. An Indian path, however, led in
a straight direction from the Lehigh Gap through the present village of
Saegersville over the Schochary Mountain (where a spring on land then owned by
Christian Miller is still known as the Indian spring) to the principal Indian
path, which ran from the Lehigh Mountains through the Indian village in the
Ziegel congregation’s lands to the Blue Mountain.
The second church was built in the year 1756. The first little log church was
destroyed by fire. The new church was also a log church, but very much larger
and better arranged in every respect, being fitted out with galleries, aisles,
pulpit, and altar. A new school-house was also erected at the same time with
the church. This was placed upon the land of the Reformed congregation, which
sold all its right in and to the old school-house to the Lutherans for L4 10s.,
and from this time on each portion of the congregation had its own school until
later years, when the old school-house was torn down, and the schools again
united in one. The new church was dedicated in 1757, and the old contract, that
this
building should be used in common, was renewed. From 1745 and 1757 the number
of communicants was more than doubled. However, an increase from Europe partly
accounts for this.
The names of the heads of families who built the new church are as follows:
Michael Ohl Johannes
Hunsicker
Simon Wehr Bernhard
Neff
Johannes Grum George
Bloss
Caspar Peter Rudolf
Peter
Heinrich Ohl George
Haf
Conrad Bloss Andreas
Roder
Friederich Schneider Johannes
Schneider
Jacob Riedy Johannes
Farr
Jacob Peter Friederich
Kern
Johannes Reinschmidt George
Remely
Simon Kreitz Michael
Remely
Conrad Lintz Jacob
Peter, Jr.
Christian Schmidt Johannes
Reber
Heinrich Neff Philip
Hammel
Christian Grum Johannes
Frey
Nicolaus Wehr Christof
Hoffman
Heinrich Reinhard Peter
Seidel
Peter Mayer Johannes
Rockel
Ulrich Neff Johannes
Peter
Lorenz Wehr Samuel
Schneider
Johananes Reber Heinrich
Hoffman
Philipp Wehr Conrad
Riedy
Johannes Filler Johannes
Neff
Heinrich Ferber Daniel
Borger
Jacob Daubenspeck Jacob
Freiman
Wilhelm Fenstermacher Simon
Rerig
Philip Mertz Franz
Grum
Jacob Ferber Heinrich
Geiger
Jacob Hunsicker Wilhelm
Kern
Conrad Miller Johannes
Kern
Not until
1758, the year following the building of the second church, did the
congregation make efforts to obtain a fee-simple deed and lawful possession of
their church- and school-lands. To accomplish this Michael Ohl, son of Heinrich
Ohl, and Simon Wehr were appointed a committee on
the Reformed side to obtain the requisite papers in Philadelphia. At the same
time the Lutherans acted in the matter. The following members of the Reformed
Church obligated themselves to furnish the money for the purchase of the lands,
viz.: Jacob Peter, Johannes Hunsicker, Johannes Grum, Rudolph Peter, George
Hack, Bernhard Neff, Jacob Riedy, Heinrich Neff, and Heinrich Ohl. Nancy Ohl,
and unmarried daughter of the last named, had the church weatherboarded at her
own expense in later years.
In the war of independence, this congregation furnished a number of soldiers, the names of only two of whom, unfortunately, have been preserved for historians, namely, those of Christian Schmidt and ------- Krumbach.
The first church records were, according to the statement of Father Johannes
Hunsicker, who died when upward of ninety years of age, and who is the
authority for most of the foregoing information, destroyed by fire with the
first church building. The minutes of the Reformed Church records begin in
1764, and are still in existence; of the Lutheran, in 1768. On the title-page
of the latter appear the names of Wilhelm Rex, Casper Schnerr, Tobias Ebert,
and Samuel Miehl as the Lutheran consistory.
A new cemetery was opened in the year 1832. The old graveyard was filled to its
entire capacity. The congregation decided to use the ground to the east of the
church, and this has been increased in size a number of times since.
In the year 1849 the congregation held an election to decide the question
whether the schools should be joined in one, to abrogate the difference in the
creeds. All the votes but three were cast in favor of
uniting the schools. At this time Ferdinand Berkemeyer taught on the Reformed
side, and Joseph Folban on the Lutheran. The latter resigned, and Berkemeyer
was chosen as the common teacher.
A centennial festival was held for two days in the year 1845, upon the occasion
of the hundredth anniversary of the founding of this congregation.
The third church was built in
the year 1849. On the 17th of May in that year the consistory and members of
the church assembled for the purpose of adopting a constitution, according to
which the church should be built, and by which the congregations should in the
future be ruled
according to the establishment of their fathers.
Page 276
The new church was placed on the other side of the little brook, hardly one
hundred paces from the spot where the other stood.
The
Reformed Consistory at this time was composed of Rev. Johannes Helffrich, the
minister, George Peter and Michael Peter, elders, and Reuben Peter, Daniel
Peter, Stephen Bachmann, and Johann Dorward, deacons. The Lutheran, of Rev.
Jeremias Schindel, the minister, George Sensinger and Friederich Kraus, elders,
and Daniel Ross, Georg Schneider, Nathan Wuchter, and Nathan German, deacons.
The building committee consisted of Johannes Schmidt, Gottfried Peter, Jacob
Klauss,
and Philip Krauss.
The number of those who contributed to the erection of the new church was three
hundred and sixty-three, all of whom, with some few exceptions, as, for
instance, certain widows, were the heads of
families. What an increase in a hundred years! Especially when we reflect that
besides these, at least one-fourth of the whole number had moved out of the
limits of this congregation and helped to establish neighboring churches, such
as the Friedens Church, and those at Slatington and Lobarsville.
The cost of building the new church was $6279.95.
Scarcely was the church finished when the desire arose to possess an organ. The
matter had already been agitated before this time, but the majority were always
opposed to the idea. They preferred singing without the accompaniment of an
organ. Upon the election held upon this matter, only sixty-three votes were
cast in favor of purchasing an organ, while fourteen resolute ones were found
against it. The construction of the organ was intrusted to Charles Hanzelman,
an organ-builder, who had removed to these parts from Philadelphia. The organ
was dedicated in 1853, and was for those times a perfect work.
A renovation of the church took place in 1882. The entire church was repainted,
the interior was frescoed, and the pews were made better. In 1883 the organ
also received a complete repairing at the hands of Messrs. Behler, of Reading.
A new school-house of brick, with two rooms for the schools of the congregation
and the State, was built in the year 1883, by the aid of the church, and was
dedicated the same year.
The ministers of the congregation were: upon the Reformed side, Peter Miller,
the teacher, from Lynn township. He was reader, and served before the construction
of the first church, while services were still held at the homes of the
members. With the building of the first church came Philip J. Michael, who
resided near Dr. Long’s church in Maxatawny township. He was followed by one
Roth, who also elevated himself without ordination from reader to preacher, and
then served in the latter capacity here and elsewhere. For some time during the
year 1760 the Reformed part of the congregation must have been without any
minister. The old Swiss reflected that it was better to have no preacher than a
poor one. They petitioned the Coetus (Synod) for help, and that body sent them
in the years 1770 and 1771 one of their ministers, named Jacob Weymer, who
stayed but a short time, however. The church records still show his
handwriting. Together with this congregation, Rev. Weymer served also those in
Lynn (the Ebenezer, formerly also called the Organ Church), Albany, Lowhill,
and Greenwich township, as the records of the Coetus still testify. Rev. Weymer
was afterwards called to Elizabethtown (Hagerstown), Md., where he died and was
buried in 1790. He was an able, useful man.
The Rev. Johann Heinrich Helffrich took charge of this congregation in the year
1772. He had been summoned by the Coetus to the Maxatawny (Kutztown) Church.
Scarcely was his arrival known, when the Heidelberg and Lowhill congregations
turned with one voice to him, as the Coetus records show, which call was heard
and heeded by the Coetus. Helffenstein was from Mossbach, on the Neckar, in the
Palatinate, and was sent with his brethren, Helffenstein and Gebhard, by the
Holland
Synod as a missionary to America. Rev. Helffrich served this congregation up to
the time of his death, in 1810. When it became known after his death that his
son had begun the study of theology with him,
but that it would still take five or six years to prepare him for the ministry,
Rev. Henry Diefenbach was chosen to serve during this interim, and he took
charge of the congregation. In the year 1816, after he had been examined and
accepted by the New Holland Synod, Rev. Johannes Helffrich began his ministry
here, and continued in the same until his death, in 1852. His son, Rev. William
A. Helffrich, was appointed his assistant by the Snyod in 1845, and served as
such until May, 1852, when
he was unanimously chosen to succeed his father. He preached in his pulpit till
the year 1879, when his son, Rev. Nevin A. Helffrich, was appointed his
assistant by the East Pennsylvania Classis. The Helffrich family have served
this congregation for more than one hundred years.
The Lutheran ministers begin with Jacob Friederich Schertlein, who was followed
by a reader of the name of Freitag, undoubtedly the school-teacher of the
congregation. The following-named ministers, Revs. Schellhard, Lehman, and
Schumacher, served here, but in what succession cannot be told. The Rev. Daniel
Lehman was first introduced into the ministry in America by the Rev. Buschkerch
(Boskerck), at Macungie. The Rev. Daniel Schumacher removed from Reading to
Weissenberg about the year 1750, and served as missionary to nearly all the
congregations in this entire region. He is said to have preached in sixteen
churches. The Rev. John Georg Jung served here, beginning in 1768; later he
went to Hagerstown, Md. Revs. Doring and Wartman preached here from the year
------- till 1837. Rev. Jeremiah Schindel was chosen pastor in that year, …
Page 277
…and
ministered till the year ------, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas
Steck. The latter was followed by Rev. Renninger.
The teachers of the congregation were ------- Freitag, Thänges Lupp (as the
baptismal register gives his name), who taught between 1770 and 1780, and Jost
Heinrich Müller, who served in the last-named year. A certain Harn was also
teacher, as also Tatem, Fulton, Ferdinand Berkemeyer, and from 18– to 18– Joel
P. Geiger.
Common Schools. - Heidelberg township has ten school districts, in each
of which there is a good school-house. With four exceptions these were build in
1855, the expense being met with funds bequeathed by Frederick Miller. These
exceptions are the houses in the Hawks, Water Ponds, central, and Church
districts. Following is a list of the districts, with cost of houses, etc:
Number. Name. Description.
Cost.
1.......................Mautz...............................................Frame.....................................$800
2.......................Harters.............................................Frame........................................800
3.......................Germansville..................................Frame........................................800
4.......................Saegersville.....................................Frame........................................800
5.......................Church.............................................Brick
(1883)...........................2000
6.......................Pleasant
Corner.............................Frame........................................800
7.......................Peters................................................Frame........................................800
8.......................Hawks..............................................Frame........................................800
9.......................Water Ponds...................................Frame........................................800
10.....................Central.............................................Brick
(1881)...........................2000
The school directors serving since the free school law was accepted have been
as follows:
1848.
- Nathan Germon, Casper Handwerk, Jonas Peter, John Kressley, Jacob Hensinger
(president),
Peter Miller (former secretary).
1849. - Elias Bittner, John Kressley (secretary), Nathan fritzinger, Peter
Miller, Nathan Clause
(president), Jonas Peter.
1850. - Andrew Peter (president), Jacob Harter, Michael Roach, Nathan Krum,
Elias Bittner.
1851. - Jacob Harter (secretary), Elias Bittner, Michael Rauch, Nathan Krum,
Frederick Krause
(president),
and Joseph Smith.
1852. - Christian Hunsicker, Nathan Wachter, Michael Rauch, Lorentz
Heintzleman, John Jacob
Peter, Jacob Horter.
1853. - Abraham Peter, Nathan Clause, John Kressley, Martin Handwerk, Elias Mautz,
John Jacob
Peter.
1854. - Nathan Clause, Elias Mautz, Martin Handwerk, Samuel Gehry, Andrew
Peter, and John Jacob
Wahr.
1855. - Nathan Clause, Andrew Peter, Joseph Hunsicker, Elias Bittner, Elias
Snyder, Samuel Gehry.
1856. - Andrew Peter, Samuel Gehry, Jacob Horter, Elias Bittner, Elias Snyder,
Christian Hunsicker.
1857. - Andrew Peter, Christian Hunsicker, Jacob Horter, Elias Snyder, Elias
Bittner, and John
Sensinger.
1858. - Andrew Peter, Jacob Horter, Godfrey Peter, Jonas Sensinger, David
Smith, Daniel Krause.
1859. - Andrew Peter, Godfrey Peter, David Smith, Nathan Hoffman, Jonas
Sensinger, Levi Krause.
1860. - Godfrey Peter, Nathan Hoffman, David Smith, Jonathan Miller, Levi
Krause, Jonas Krum.
1861. - Nathan Hoffman, Levi Krause, Samuel Gehry, Levi Handwerk, Jonas Krum,
Jonathan Miller.
1862. - Nathan Hoffman, Levi Krause, Samuel Gehry, Levi Handwerk, Jonas Krum,
Jonathan Miller.
1863. - Levi Krause, Nathan Hoffman, Samuel Gehry, Levi Handwerk, Elias Snyder,
and Wilson K.
Peter.
1864. - Levi Kraus, Elias Snyder, Wilson K. Peter, Levi Handwerk, Samuel Gehry,
Nathan Hoffman.
1865. - David Wehr, Michael Handwerk, Levi Peter, Wilson K. Peter, Nathan
Hoffman, Elias Mautz.
1866. - Levi Peter, Nathan Hoffman, Elias Mautz, David Wehr, Thomas K. Moser,
Jonas German.
1867. - Levi Peter, Nathan Hoffman, David Wehr, Elias Mautz, Thomas K. Moser,
Jonas German.
1868. - Levi Peter, Nathan Hoffman, Elias Mautz, David Wehr, Thomas K. Moser, Jonas
German.
The following were annually elected:
1869.
- Thomas K. Moser and Nathan Gehry.
1870. - Aaron Peter and Nathan Hoffman.
1871. - Charles Engel and Paul Krum.
1872. - Thomas K. Moser and Samuel Gehry.
1873. - Joseph Clause and Aaron Peter.
1874. - David Clause and Charles Engel.
1875. - Thomas K. Moser and Reuben Rauch.
1876. - Aaron Peter and Moses Kressley.
1877. - Phaon Schaffer and Wilson German.
1878. - Thomas K. Moser and Levi Krause.
1879. - Frank Fritzinger and Wilson Kunkel.
1880. - Frank Krause and Jacob Frebolin.
1881. - Phaon W. Mautz and Maurer Geiger.
1882. - Amos Robenolt and Levi H. Hunsicker.
1883. - William Metzger and Lewis K. Peter.
1884. - Phaon W. Mautz and Amandes Bachman.
Roads. - The first entry in the Northampton County records concerning the laying out of a road through Heidelberg is under date of March 20, 1770, and reads as follows:
The inhabitants of Heidelberg and Lynn petitioned court for a road, “setting
forth that divers of the petitioners are enclosed with plantations having no
outlet or road to travel from their Habitations to
places when they have business (only private Roads which may be stopped at the
pleasure of the owners of the lands through which they pass), and suffer many
inconveniences thereby that the Petitioners humbly conceive that a publick Road
would be of great service to the inhabitants in
general as well as to Travelers if laid out in the following manner: to Begin
in the Great Road leading from Michael Ohl’s Plantation to Philadelphia, about
a quarter of a mile from said Ohl’s house, thence to or near Barnet Giltner’s
house, thence between Tobias Everith (Eberts) and John Everts (Eberts)
Plantation, and from thence to John Hartman’s Mill, from thence to or near to
Martin Eilers or Jacob Bachman’s, thence to John Bear, thence to Michael Seip’s
place, and into the Great Road leading to Philadelphia by Michael Meyer’s
Plantation, praying the Court would be pleased to take the same into
consideration and grant them such relief as in their wisdom shall seem meet,
etc.
“Whereupon it is considered by the Court and ordered that Peter Haas, William
Haintz, Daniel Knows (or Knouss), Valentine Kromlich, Jacob Mohr, and Jacob
Gentzer (or Yentzer), do view and if they or any four of them see occasion to lay
out the said road thro’ such convenient places as may be least to the Damage
and Inconveniences of the neighborhood or parties concerned, and least
injurious to the settlement thereabouts, and that they make return thereof to
the next court after it is laid out.”
June 19, 1770, the viewers made return to the court. “But it not appearing to
the court that all the persons appointed had viewed the said Road, therefore
the court did quash the said return and did order and appoint Paul Balliet,
Adam Deshler, Peter Barkholder, Joseph Showalter, John Shadt, and Jacob Bear to
view the road, and if they see occasion to lay out road and report to the
Court.”
Page 278
There is nothing in the records to indicate when final action was taken in laying
out this road.
Information concerning the laying out of another early road is conveyed by the
following extract from the records of Lehigh County, which, though it does not
bear date, must have been recorded about the year 1814:
“Lehigh
County, ss.
{Seal} “The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to the Supervisors of the Public
highways of the townships of Heidelberg and Lowhill in the county aforesaid.
Greetings
“Whereas
at the May Sessions of the court of Quarter Sessions of said county, the
Viewers appointed to lay out a road from the old road leading to Northampton
near the Houses to Jacob Hardman & Peter Ferwer, to the great road leading
to Philadelphia near the land of Jacob Becker, made their Report in writing to
the court, as follows, viz. ‘To the Honorable the Judges within named. We the
Persons appointed by the within order of court to view and lay out the road
therein mentioned, Do Report. That we have viewed laid out and return for
public use the following road. Beginning in a public road leading from the Blue
mountain to Northampton. Thence on a line between Peter Ferwer and Jacob
Hardman South sixty three degrees East sixty-three perches to a public road
leading from Lehigh Cap to Kutztown. Thence along the same South fifteen
degrees West twenty-four perches to a post. Thence through lands of said Jacob
Hartman South twelve Degrees East thirty-two perches East of a Hickory. South
twenty-six degrees West thirty-four perches South forty-nine Degrees East
sixty-four perches to a post East of Jacob Schneider’s mill-race. Thence along
the said race through land of said Jacob Schneider South thirty-one Degrees
East twenty-one perches South forty-seven Degrees East twenty-one perches South
seventy-one Degrees East twenty-three perches to a line of John Gressly’s land.
Thence on the said line South fourteen perches to a Gum-tree. Thence crossing
Jordan creek on said Gressly’s land South thirty-five Degrees East seventeen
perches to a small Hickory. Thence through land of Peter Hollenback South
fifty-one Degrees West thirty perches to a Hickory South twenty-one degrees
West twenty-one perches to a post. Thence crossing said Jordan creek South
fifty-three degrees East thirteen perches South eight degrees West sixty-seven
perches to a post. Thence through the same and land of Jacob Backer south seven
degrees East sixty-two perches to a small white oak. Thence through said
Baker’s land South twelve Degrees East fourteen perches East of a chesnut.
Thence along said Baker’s mill-race South thirty-two Degrees East thirty-six
perches South forty two Degrees East thirty three perches and South eighty
Degrees East eleven perches to a public road leading from the Blue mountain to
Philadelphia.’ Which said Report was at the succeeding September sessions,
confirm’d nisi. These are therefore to authorize and require you the Said
Supervisors to make and open the said road according to the courses and
distances above laid down, according to law, and for so doing this shall be
your Sufficient warrant.
“By the courts,
“Henry Wilson, clk.”
The last half-century was a period prolific of road-making in this township. At
a court of Quarter Sessions held at the borough of Northampton, in and for the
county of Lehigh, Feb. 2, 1831, a public
road was ordered to be laid out in Heidelberg township, beginning in a public
road leading from Easton to Orwigsburg, near the house of Caspar Handwerk;
thence by land of the same and land of Henry Kistler, Henry Ebert, John German,
Michael Smith, Henry Hunsicker, crossing the Jordan creek in another public
road leading from the Heidelberg Church to Allentown.
At a Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace of Lehigh County, held Feb. 4, 1835, before the Hon. Garrick Mallery president, John Fogel and Jacob Stein associate judges, a petition was presented, whereupon a jury was appointed to view and lay out the following public road leading from a public road leading from German’s mill in Heidelberg township; thence through land of Samuel Gery, John Neff, George Neff, John Hunsicker, Conrad Roeder, John Handwerk, George Handwerk, Abraham Handwerk, Martin Handwerk, Michael Harter, George Sensinger, Andrew Kemmerer, Henry Bloss, Philip Hess, Sr., Philip Hess, Jr., Solomon Walter, Philip Hess, Sr., and Stephen Balliet to a public road leading from Kutztown to Mauch Chunk.
At a Court of Quarter Sessions held at Allentown, Sept. 6, 1838, a public road
was ordered to be laid out leading from Henry Bloss to the Blue Mountain by
lands of Daniel Roeder to the public road leading from Saegersville on land of
Daniel Roeder to the Heidelberg Church, which road was confirmed by the court
and afterward opened.
At a Court of Quarter Sessions held at the borough of Northampton the 5th day
of September, 1837, a public road was ordered to be laid out, beginning in a
public road leading from German’s mill to Mosser’s mill, on land of Reuben
Rauch, Nathan Fritzinger, Michael Smith, Henry Hunsicker into a public road
near the land of Michael Smith. This road was also confirmed by the court and
opened.
Sept 4, 1841, a petition was presented to the court of Lehigh County, in
response to which a road was laid out leading from a road leading from Lowhill
to New Tripoli in Heidelberg township, on line of the lands of Bernhard
Kressley, Jacob Kressley, and thence through land of Bernhard Kressley, Samuel
Snyder, Elias Lentz, into the State road leading from Kutztown to Mauch Chunk,
near the house of Elias Lentz, which road was afterward confirmed by the court.
Daniel Saeger, John Saeger, Henry Smith, David Ross, and Adam German, jurors,
appointed by the court April 15, 1856, laid out a public road leading from a
road leading from Balliet’s Furnace to Allentown, in the township of
Washington, near the line of Heidelberg township, on land of
George Rex; thence by land of said Rex, Daniel Krauss, and Stephen Peter to the
public road leading from Kutztown via Saegersville to Lehighton, which road was
confirmed by the court Aug. 5, 1856.
Samuel Kistler, Godfrey Peter, Frederick Krauss, Adam German, George Vliet, and
Thomas Fatzinger, jurors, appointed by the court Nov. 15, 1857, laid out a
public road leading from Pleasant Corner (late
Holbenville), Heidelberg township, to New Tripoli, on land of Daniel Rex,
Abraham Rex, Allen Hoader, Elias Snyder, Michael Roach, George Greenwalt, and
Benjamin Roach, to a public road leading from Germansville to New Tripoli, in
the township of Heidelberg. This road was confirmed by the court May 20, 1859.
At a Court of Quarter sessions held at Allentown, Nov. 10, 1859, Samuel J.
Kistler, Jacob German, …
Page 279
…Edwin Rauch, Adam German, Daniel
Peter, and David Knerr, jurors, appointed by the court, laid out the public
road beginning in a public road leading from Saegersville to New Tripoli in
land of Elias Snyder, Benjamin Rauch, Jacob Smith, Nathan German, Philip
German, Elias Clouse,
Frederick Spicher, Joseph Smith, to land of Reuben Rauch, to a public road
leading from Germansville to Mosserville in said Heidelberg township. The road
was confirmed on Nov. 10, 1859, and ordered to be opened.
A wooden bridge was built in 1866 across the Jordan creek, on the road leading from Christian Wehr’s house to Caspar Handwerk’s, to which the township allowed the sum of forty-five dollars, and another bridge was built in 1871 across the Jordan creek in the public road leading from Pleasant Corner to New Tripoli, to which the township allowed five thousand dollars, the rest of the costs being paid by the neighbors.
Noted Localities. -The rock called the Bake Oven is situated on the summit of the Blue Mountain, at about the centre of the dividing line between Lehigh and Carbon Counties. Its elevation is about one thousand five hundred and sixty feet above the level of the sea. It has for years been a signal station in the United States Coast Survey, and has been of vast benefit for that cause. The Bake Oven has attained great fame as a place from which grand views can he had. Those who delight in the works of nature can here behold a sight that will never be forgotten. The rock has been visited by many, not only by those living in the vicinity, but by strangers who came from our larger cities.
Soon after the discovery of the Bake Oven it was found that about two miles
west of the Bake Oven, on the summit of the mountain, was another height. This
point is called the Bear Rocks, and has an elevation of fifteen hundred feet
from the level of the sea. There are three large rocks standing in a row and
connected by smaller ones piled on top of each other. This is the point from
which the dividing line between Carbon and Schuylkill County starts, and thus
the counties of Carbon and
Schuylkill are upon the north and the county of Lehigh on the south. The
townships extend to the summit of the mountain as well as the counties, so that
the summit forms a dividing line between them. The greater portion of the Bear
Rocks is situated in Lynn township, and the remainder in Heidelberg township.
Since the discovery of the Bear rocks they have become a great attraction, and
people have been drawn to that point by the fame of the wonderful scenery of
which this eminence
commands a view. Looking southwest from the rocks the city of Reading can be
distinctly seen, and the smoke as it pours forth from the stacks of the
numerous work-shops is visible to the naked eye. Looking over our own county,
one can see with the naked eye the church steeples and other high objects in
the city of Allentown, which is at a distance of about twenty miles. By taking
a view of Carbon county, right before one, as it seems, appears the renowned
Switch Back. The Delaware Water Gap and other places of interest to tourists
can be seen from these rocks. The fertile valleys lying beneath, on both sides
of the mountain, again broken by small hills, and now and then a tract of woods
presents a scene that will always be remembered. Not unfrequently is the
expression heard from tourists, who have had views from the Alps, that with the
Exception of the Alps, the Bear Rocks present the grandest view they ever saw.
The rocks are frequently visited by parties coming from a
distance, and never was any one known to regret a visit. They are accessible
without much difficulty, and no one who is interested in the wonderful works of
nature should miss the grand view which they command.
Mechanical Industries. - About the year 1832, Philip Hess, Jr., erected
a large rifle-factory at the foot of the Blue Mountain, on the south side, and
about one-half of a mile west of the old Balliet’s Furnace,
afterwards known as the old Lehigh Furnace, on the west branch of the road
leading across the Blue Mountain from Saegersville to Lehighton. This road is
still familiarly known as the Factory road. The factory was supplied with
water-power, and a very extensive business was done for a number of years by
Philip Hess, Jr. He employed Solomon Walter, Frank Walter, Sr., and others in
the vicinity, and at the same time Mr. Dehring and others from Philadelphia.
The factory was long ago abandoned, and the property is now owned by Wilson and
Peter German, who turned the factory into a distillery. Jonas Hess, Solomon
Hess, and others in the vicinity continued in the gunsmith business for a
number
of years after the factory was abandoned.
John Jacob Snyder erected a grist-mill on Jordan Creek, near the line of
Lowhill township, in the years 1808. This was the first mill erected in that
vicinity, and is still standing. It is now owned and occupied by Elias
Kressley.
Township Officers. - Justices of the peace have been elected in and for
this township since 1840. The following persons have served the terms
indicated:
Commissioned. Commissioned.
George Rex....................April 14, 1840 Samuel
J. Kistler...... April 15, 1862
John Saeger.......................... “ 14, 1840 Joel P. Geiger.................... “ 11, 1865
George Rex........................... “ 15, 1845 Samuel J. Kistler................ “ 9, 1867
John Saeger.......................... “ 15, 1845 “ ” ............. “ 13, 1869
Samuel J. Kistler................. “ 11, 1848 Joel
P. Geiger...................... “ 8, 1870
John Saeger.......................... “
9, 1850 Samuel J.
Kistler.....March 24, 1874
Samuel J. Kistler.................. “ 13, 1853 Joel
P. Geiger..................... “ 13, 1875
John Saeger........................... “ 14, 1855 Samuel J. Kistler............... “ 27, 1879
Jacob German....................... “ 14, 1855 Joel
P. Geiger..................... “ 30, 1880
Samuel J. Kistler................... “ 13, 1858 Samuel J. Kistler......................... 1884
Wilson R. Peter..................... “ 10, 1860
Among the early justices of the peace who were appointed by the government for the Heidelberg District we find the names of Henry Geiger, 1762; John Jennings, 1774; Henry Booken, 1774; Robert Levers, …
Page 280
…1779;
Peter Kohler, 1785; Peter Rhoads, one of the judges, 1786; Samuel Everitt, 1798
and 1806; Conrad German, 1812; Nicholas Saeger, 1817; John Saeger, 1826;
Nicholas Saeger, 1829; Daniel Saeger, 1812; William Fenstermacher, 1811; Peter
Haas, 1820; Peter Snyder, George Rex, John
Weiss, John Weida, Jacob Zimmerman.
The following is a list of the auditors who have served from 1804 to 1883:
1804. - George Horn, William Peter, and John Rex.
1805. - William Peter, Philip Reber, and William Fenstermacher.
1806-7. - Christian Smith, Philip Reber, and William Fenstermacher.
1808. - Christian Smith, Philip Reber, and George Kelchner.
1809. - Henry Hunsicker, Jacob Peter, and Michael Hoffman.
1810. - William Fenstermacher, George Kelchner, and Philip Reber.
1811. - Christian Smith, Gottfriet Roth, and William Rex.
1812. - Philip Reber, John Ringer, and John Peter.
1813. - Conrad German, John Ringer, and Joseph Saeger.
1814. - Henry Peter, Christian Hausman, and Joseph Saeger.
1815. - William Fenstermacher, Abraham Riedy, Jr., and Joseph Saeger.
1816. - Daniel Peter, Abraham Riedy, Jr., and Joseph Saeger.
1817. - Christopher Kern, John Peter, and Joseph Saeger.
1818. - John Ringer, Conrad German, and Joseph Saeger.
1819. - John Saeger, Philip Krauss, and Jacob Schneider, Jr.
1820. - Joseph Saeger, Christian Schmidt, and Conrad German.
1821. - Joseph Saeger, Philip Krauss, and Abraham Riedy, Jr.
1822. - Abraham German, John Wuchter, and Abraham Riedy, Jr.
1823. - Conrad German and Joseph Saeger.
1824. - Conrad German, Joseph Saeger, and Abraham Riedy, Jr.
1825. - John Saeger, Michael Harter, and Henry Roth.
1826. - Durs Rudy, Jr., Joseph Saeger, and Henry Roth.
1827. - Joseph Saeger, William Fenstermacher, and Henry Stemler.
1828. - William Fenstermacher, Michael Harter, and Henry Roth.
1829. - Durs Rudy, George Rex, Abraham Riedy, Jr.
1830. - John Kühner, John Rex, Joseph Hunsicker, and Abraham Riedy, Jr.
1831. - Durs Rudy, Nicholas Kern, John Saeger, and George Rex, Jr.
1832. - John Wuchter, John Meyer, and Andrew Kunkel.
1833. - Conrad German, Jonas Buck, and George Rex, Jr.
1834. - Peter Miller, Jr., Henry Henritzy, and Jacob D. Kuntz.
1835. - Jacob D. Kuntz, Daniel Kühner, Peter Miller, Jr., and John Saeger.
1836. - Henry Smith, George Rex, Jr., Jonas Buck.
1837. - Durs Rudy, Jonas Buck, Jacob D. Kuntz, and Abraham Riedy, Jr.
1838-39. - George Rex, Ferdinand Berkemeyer, and Jacob D. Kuntz.
1840. - George Rex, Ferdinand Berkemeyer, and Peter Miller, Jr.
1841-42. - George Rex, Ferdinand Berkemeyer.
1843. - George Rex, Ferdinand Berkemeyer, and Peter Miller, Jr.
1844. - Godfrey Peter, Ferdinand Berkemeyer, and Peter Miller, Jr.
1845-47. - Godfrey Peter, John Fenstermacher, and Peter Miller, Jr.
1848. - Stephen Schlosser, John Fenstermacher, and Peter Miller, Jr.
1849-50. - Godfrey Peter, John Millhouse, and Peter Miller, Jr.
1851. - Levi Krause, John Millhouse, and Peter Miller, Jr.
1852. - Nathan Wuchter and Peter Miller, Jr.
1853-54. - John Kressley, Nathan Kemmerer, and Reuben German.
1855. - John Kressley, Jacob German, and Levi Peter.
1856. - David Smith, Jacob German, and Levi Peter,
1857. - David Smith, Stephen Peter, and Levi Peter.
1858. - David Smith, Stephen Peter, and Owen A. Miller.
1859. - Nathan Wuchter, Stephen Peter, and Owen A. Miller.
1860. - Owen A. Miller, Nathan Wuchter, and Gideon Hunsicker.
1861. - Stephen Peter, Nathan Wuchter, and Gideon Hunsicker.
1862. - Stephen Peter, Levi Hunsicker, and Gideon Hunsicker.
1863-64. - Stephen Peter, Levi Hunsicker, and Nathan Wuchter.
1865. - Stephen Peter, William F. Smith, and Nathan Wuchter.
1866. - Stephen Peter, William F. Smith, and Nathan Clouse.
1867. - William F. Smith and Nathan Clouse.
1868. - Jonas W. George, William F. Smith, and Nathan Clouse.
1869. - Jonas W. George, William F. Smith, and David Huff.
1870. - William F. Smith and David Huff.
1871. - Stephen Peter and David Huff.
1872-73. - Stephen Peter, Phaon W. Moutz, and Joseph Rauch.
1874. - William F. Smith, Phaon W. Moutz, and Joseph Rauch.
1875. - William F. Smith, Phaon W. Moutz, and Owen H. Peter.
1876-79. - Owen D. Snyder, Phaon W. Moutz, and Owen H. Peter.
1880. - Owen D. Snyder, Wilson S. Peter, and Owen H. Peter.
1881. - Owen D. Snyder, Wilson S. Peter, and Jeremiah P. Geiger.
1882. - Reuben H. Sensinger, Wilson S. Peter, and Jeremiah P. Geiger.
1883. - Reuben H. Sensinger and William T. Clause
SUPERVISORS.
1803. Abraham Riedy. William Peter. 1835.
Joseph Hunsicker. John Fenstermacher.
1804. George Remely. John Lentz. 1836.
Jacob Peter. Henry Kern.
1805. John Hunsicker. Martin Wuchter. 1837.
John Handwerk. George Peter.
1806. Christian Snyder. Henry Hunsicker. 1838.
Jacob Remely. John Snyder.
1807. Andrew Gildner. Daniel Reber. 1839.
George Bloss. Michael Wehr.
1808. Michael Wehr. John Frederick. 1840.
John Bloss. Peter Miller.
1809 Joseph Hunsicker. Jacob Rambel. 1841.
John Wasem. Adam German.
1810. John Hunsicker. John Peter. 1842.
George Reber. William Wuchter.
1811. Jacob Wehr. Nicholas Kern. 1843.
Jonas Hunsicker Jacob Rex.
1812. Casper Peter. Godfried Roth. 1844.
John Reber. Jonas Bloss.
1813. Christian Kram. Daniel Roeder. 1845.
Frederick Krauss Jonas Bloss.
1814. Christian Hunsicker. Henry Peter. 1846.
Jacob Horter. George Bloss.
1815. Jacob Snyder. Jacob Snyder. 1847.
Jonas Hoffman. Benjamin Rauch.
1816. Christian Smith. Michael Wehr. 1848.
Christian Hunsicker. Philip Smith.
1817. George Bloss. Henry Smith. 1849.
John Kressley. Samuel Gehrey.
1818. John Peter. Abraham German. 1850.
John Kressley. Casper Handwerk.
1819. Peter Miller. George Peter. 1851.
Daniel Kemmerer. Peter Miller (farmer).
1820. Joseph Hunsicker. Henry Handwerk. 1852.
Michael Wehr. Elias Moutz.
1821. Michael Horter. Casper Peter. 1853.
Casper Handwerk. Elias Snyder.
1822. John Saeger. George Rex. 1854.
Peter Miller (farmer). Martin Handwerk.
1823. Christian Missemer. Daniel Kern. 1855.
John Kressley. Elias Moutz.
1824. John Miller. Jacob Metzger. 1856.
Henry Krum. George Hoatz.
1825. George Kern. John Handwerk. 1857.
Stephen Bachman. Elias Moutz.
1826. John Kressley. Jacob Snyder. 1858.
Nathan Clouse. Samuel Gehrey.
1827. Henry Peter. Michael Peter. 1859.
Jacob Kressley. Samuel Gehrey.
1828. Daniel Krauss. Jacob Clouse. 1860.
Owen Miller. Elias Moutz.
1829. Jonas Buck. George Bloss. 1861.
Elias Houtz. George Metzger.
1830. John Hunsicker. Christian Kern. 1862.
Casper Handwerk. George Metzger.
1831. Henry Henritizy. Christian Wert. 1863.
Jacob Horter. Nathan Clouse.
1832. Christian Snyder. Daniel Sensinger. 1864.
Samuel Gehrey. John Roder.
1833. John Smith. Daniel Helfrich. 1865.
Samuel Gehrey. Jacob Kressley.
1834. George Bloss. John Reber. 1866.
Daniel Kemmerer. Jacob Kressley.
Page 281
1867-68. Samuel Gehrey. Jacob Kressley. 1877. Elias Lentz.
1869-71. Samuel Gehrey. Nathan Wuchter. 1878-80.
Nathan Wuchter. Nathan Horter.
1872. Nathan Horter. Nathan Horter 1881.
Nathan Snyder. Nathan Horter.
1873-76 Samuel Gehrey. Nathan Wuchter. 1882.
Nathan Wuchter. Samuel Gehrey.
1877. Samuel Gehrey. 1883.
Nathan Wuchter. Monroe Sensinger.
Constables.
1843-44. Nathan Peter. 1858-59.
William Adams.
1845-47. George Hoatz. 1860-65.
Tilghman Peter.
1848. John Reber. 1866-72.
William Fry.
1849. Henry Smith. 1873-75.
Harrison G. Snyder.
1850-52. George Hoatz. 1876-82.
Aaron S. Lobach.
1853-55. William Adams. 1883.
Harrison G. Snyder.
1856-57. Peter Miller (farmer). 1884.
John A. Roberts
The Village of Saegersville is located near the centre of the township,
six miles west of Slatington, one mile west of Heidelberg Church, and a little
over one mile east of the Schuylkill and Lehigh Railroad station at
Germansville. It has one hundred and forty-two inhabitants. Michael Ohl, Sr.,
was the original owner of the place, and had in his possession from six to
eight hundred acres of land surrounding the village site. Tradition has it that
all this land scarcely yielded enough to support
himself and family. The same land is now divided between Peter Miller, Dr.
Aaron S. Miller, Dr. Edward P. Miller, Samuel J. Kistler, Wilson K. Peter,
Frank G. Snyder, Harrison G. Snyder, Peter Pfeifly, Edwin Hunsicker, Levi
Hunsicker, William Adams, David G. Handwerk, David Hunsicker, Lewis K. Peter,
Thomas K. Moser, Tilghman Peter, Owen H. Peter, Aaron S. Lobach, Owen D.
Snyder, William Fry, Sally Snyder, Maggie A. Zuill, Gideon H. Peter, David P.
Handwerk, Reuben Reber,
Wilson F. Peter, and others. Any single farm of those above mentioned, and they
average about eighty acres, yields more now than did the entire amount of land
while Michael Ohl, Sr., had it in his possession. The tract on which the hotel
and store-house stands is now owned by Dr. A. S. Miller. Following is a brief
account of the tract, which contains eighty-seven acres and eighty perches. It is
the same tract which by patent dated the 5th day of December, 1760, was granted
to Michael Ohl,
Sr., who, by deed dated Dec. 20, 1785, conveyed it to his son, Henry Ohl, who,
by deed dated April 24, 1805, conveyed the same to Samuel Ely and Jacob Sweier,
who, by deed dated Jan. 29, 1806, conveyed the same to Nicholas saeger, who, by
deed dated the 3d day of February, 1807, conveyed the same to his son, Joseph
saeger, who, with his wife Margaaretta, by deed dated May 4, 1846, conveyed the
same to Peter Miller, his son-in-law, who, with Magdalena, his wife, by deed
dated April 1, 1874, conveyed to the same with other land unto his son, Dr.
Aaron s. Miller, the present possessor. All the residue of the land of Michael
Ohl, Sr., adjoining the above-mentioned tract, was patented at the same time in
the year 1785, or in the beginning of 1786, and he conveyed it to his son,
Henry Ohl. Michael Ohl, sr., owned land besides the above mentioned, which was
situated in different localities within and out of the township. He had also
another son by the name of Michael Ohl, Jr. (Who finally moved away), to whom
it seems he conveyed his remaining land. Henry Ohl, in April, 1805, conveyed
all his land to
Samuel Ely and Jacob Sweier, who both then resided in Maxatawny township, Berks
County, and were dealers in land. Immediately after they secured possession of
the land they divided it into suitable tracts and sold the same to different
parties. Samuel Ely died in the year 1828, at his house in Maxatawny township,
Berks County, and Daniel Woeburger was administrator of his estate.
Henry Ohl now having disposed of his land, moved with his family to Trumbull
County, Ohio, where a township was named after him. Michael Ohl died in 1804,
aged seventy-four years, and, with several of the Ohl family, is buried here in
the Heidelberg Church cemetery. Mary Ohl, who was unmarried, gave five hundred
dollars towards building the old Heidelberg Church. She is one of those who are
buried there. None of the Ohl family or descendants of the family are now
living in this township or on this side of the Blue Mountains. But some of them
are still living along Lizard Creek, in Carbon and Schuylkill Counties. They
are the descendants of Michael Ohl, Jr.
Michael Ohl, Sr., erected the main portion of the house, which is still standing and used as a hotel. On one of the stones the year 1763 is carved.
Nicholas Saeger, who was a brother to Jacob and Daniel Saeger, of Saegerstown, Crawford Co., and the father of Joseph, John, and Daniel Saeger, of New York State, bought the land of Samuel Ely and Jacob Sweier in 1806. He sold the part on which the hotel and store is erected in 1807 to his son John Saeger. Joseph Saeger, after he had lived for a period of two years on the premises, commenced to keep the hotel and store, and continued in the business until the year 1831, when he moved to Allentown, and there entered in the mercantile business with Christian Pretz, under the firm-name of Pretz & Saeger.
Peter Miller in 1831 moved into the hotel, and was proprietor of the same. He also kept the store, having Pretz and Saeger as partners in the business until the year 1840, when they withdrew from the firm, and Owen Saeger became a partner, and business was transacted under the firm-name of Miller & Saeger until the year 1846, when Owen Saeger withdrew from the firm, and removed to Allentown, where he entered into the hardware business. Then from 1846 to 1859, Peter Miller kept the store alone. During the time that he was carrying on the hotel and store his wife, Magdalena, more familiarly known as Polly, was carrying on the millinery business, and at the same time assisted him in the store. In 1859, Peter…
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…Miller
disposed of the store business, but still continued as proprietor of the hotel.
Samuel J. Kistler in 1859 became the owner of the store; he continued in the
business until 1870, when he sold out to Abraham D. Kistler and Wilson K.
Peter, who, under the firm-name of Kistler & Peter, kept the store until the
year 1873, when Abraham D. Kistler sold his share, consisting of one-half, to
Wilson K. Peter, who continued the store business until 1878, when he sold out
to Herman A. Snyder. Peter Miller now being anxious to retire from public life,
left the hotel in 1875, being succeeded by Willoughby Missemer, who was the
proprietor from 1875 to 1878. Herman A. Snyder, after having obtained the
store, in 1878, also became proprietor of the hotel. He continued both in the
hotel and
store business until 1881, when he sold both to L. M. Holban, the present
proprietor. Peter Miller had been proprietor of the hotel for forty-four years,
and had kept the store for twenty-eight years.
The first post-office at Saegersville was established on Jan. 1, 1829, under
John McLean, Postmaster-General, who appointed Joseph Saeger as postmaster. He
served as postmaster until 1831, when Peter Miller was appointed, who held the
office until the year 1852, when it was removed to Germansville, where Nathan
German was first appointed postmaster, and afterwards David Ross held the
office until 1862. It was then removed to Saegersville, and in 1862, Dr. E. P.
Miller was appointed as postmaster, and served until 1867, when Abraham D.
Kistler was appointed, who held the office until 1869, when Sophia R. Miller
(now Mrs. Dr. W. G. M. Seiple) was appointed postmistress, and served as such
until 1871. Samuel J. Kistler was appointed postmaster, under
Postmaster-General John A. J. Creswell, on Sept. 25, 1871, and still holds the
office.
The general and township elections were held here from the first organization of the township, also when Heidelberg and Washington were all in one township. It has been the election-place since the township was divided, with the exception of several years, when the elections were held at Holbensville, now called Pleasant Corner.
Peculiar Old-Time Politics. - In 1811, when William Findlay, Democrat,
and Joseph Hiester, Federalist, were nominated as candidates for Governor,
Findlay defeated Hiester, and was elected. During this campaign great confusion
ensued among the voters of this election district. There were then only about
sixteen or seventeen Federalist voters in the township, the great majority
being Democrats. The Federalists all changed their politics, becoming
Democrats, and supporting Findlay for Governor. The Democrats changed their
politics and supported Hiester for Governor. Joseph Saeger and Conrad German,
Esq., were at the head of this movement. John Saeger, Esq., for a time opposed
the change, but finally yielded. It was not until Hiester and Findlay were
again nominated for Governor, in 1820. In this campaign Hiester (Federalist)
defeated Findlay, and was elected Governor. Judge Peter Haas and his adherents
of Lynn township after this campaign changed their politics and became
Democrats. Judge Haas, during the campaign, did all that was in his power for
the election of Hiester. After the election of Hiester he disappointed Haas,
who thereupon became his bitter enemy and a Democrat. The Federalists in Heidelberg
voted that ticket until Joseph Ritner, in 1829, was first nominated for
Governor and defeated. In 1832 he was again nominated, and also defeated. In
1835 he was renominated, and was elected. He was again a candidate in 1838, but
was defeated. The voters of this district voted the Anti-Masonic and afterwards
the Whig ticket. In 1838, when David R. Porter was elected Governor, defeating
Ritner, there were only seventeen Democrats in the whole township (including
what is now Washington) who voted for Porter. The following were among them,
viz.: Henry Leh, Daniel Hausman, Daniel Kiehner, Nicholas Kern.
After the election of Porter the Democrats held a celebration at Allentown,
and, sending coaches up to Heidelberg, gathered the seventeen democrats and
conveyed them to that place, where they were to participate in the election. It
was a joyful occasion for them, and the event was long remembered.
Saegersville was the place where the militia held their yearly battalion drill. This was an occurrence that was anxiously waited for and both young and old, not only from the immediate neighborhood but from far distances, came together to have a day of enjoyment. It was to them what the agricultural fairs are at the present, and the attraction seemed to be as great.
Saegersville, instead of having now but two or three mails per week as it had
of old, has daily two mails by railroad, and besides an overland route to
Macungie, going to and fro every alternate day. In July, 1880, the Lehigh
Telegraph Company erected its lines through the village, and placed instruments
in the office of S. J. Kistler. Thus communication is afforded by telegraph to
all parts.
The first English school in the township was held in this place about the year
1823. Judge David Laury and Mrs. Peter Miller went to school together here. The
teachers were John Brown (one-armed) and William Lester, a Quaker, who came
from Germantown. The house in which the school was held was a one-story log
house, which stood until a few years ago.
Tanneries. - The first tannery in Saegersville was erected by Henry
Drumbower, who had bought some land here from Samuel Ely and Jacob Sweier on
Oct. 24, 1805. He carried on the business until about the year 1812, when he
sold out to Abraham Roeder. Afterwards he moved to Mosser’s tannery (the place
at which it was situated is now called Mosserville).
Page 283
There he lived but for a short time, when one of his children drowned.
After that he removed to Quakertown, the place from whence he had come. Abraham
Roeder continued to carry on the tanning business at this place until after his
death, when his son, Conrad Roeder, Jr., continued until about the year 1850.
After that Stephen M. Kistler carried on the business until 1853, when Stephen
M. Kistler and Godfrey Peter entered into partnership, and commenced to carry
on the business in the new tannery which Godfrey peter had erected, on the
north side of the road (the old tannery was standing on the south side of the
road, where the old dwelling house of the late Roeder’s family is). Stephen M.
Kistler sold his interest in the firm to Godfrey Peter, and moved to Millport,
Carbon Co. The business was continued by Godfrey Peter until April, 1860, and
from then on under the firm-name of Godfrey Peter & Son, until April, 1864,
when Godfrey Peter sold his interest to his son, Owen H. Peter, and to Thomas
K. Moser, business being now transacted under the firm-name of Peter &
Moser, who have been possessors of the same up to the present time. Owen H.
Peter became the owner of the building and ground in 1861.
Carriage-Factories. - The first carriage-factory was started here in
1847 by Christian Greiner, who continued the manufacturing of carriages for
several years, when he moved to Turbotville, Northumberland Co., Pa. He was
succeeded by Phaon Lemmel, who carried on an extensive business
until about the year 1874, when he disposed of his stock to William S.
Godshall, and afterwards moved to Slatington.
W. S. Godshall continued in the business for several years, when he moved away
from the place. Pfeifly & Miller are carrying on the business at the
present.
Deibertsville is situated about two miles east of Saegersville, on one
of the roads leading from Saegersville to Allentown. The place was owned by
John Krause (the father of Frederick Krause, deceased) about ten years ago.
Peter Butz resided on the place after him, and he was succeeded by Henry Roth,
who kept a hotel. He was succeeded by J. Peter Miller, who also continued the
hotel business until the year 1842, when he sold out to Daniel Deibert, who was
the owner of the property until his death, which occurred in the year 1881;
during this time he conducted the business himself, with the exception of the
last few years, when it was under the supervision of William Metzger, who
became the owner, in 1882, of the hotel, store, and land, but sold it the same
year to Harrison German. During the last two years the hotel was kept by B. F.
Eisenhard. The store business was commenced there in 1848 by Levi Krause, who
first kept the store in the next room in the building in which the hotel is now
kept. He soon afterwards erected a store-house, which still remains, standing
opposite the hotel on the other side of the road, continued the business for
several years, when he was succeeded by David Huff, William Hicker, and
Jeremiah P. Geiger, who was again succeeded by Isaac S. Dietrich, who is the
present proprietor of the store, who took possession in April, 1883.
Germansville is situated in Heidelberg township, one mile west of
Saegersville, on the Schuylkill and Lehigh Railroad, seven miles west of
Slatington, thirty-five miles east of Reading, Pa., and three miles
south of the Blue Mountain. The Jordan creek passes through the place. The
original owner of the land on which Germansville is situated was Adam German,
Sr., to whom two hundred and fifty acres of land was granted on June 30, 1742,
and again one hundred and one acres and one hundred and forty-four perches
adjacent land on Nov. 16, 1786.
Adam German, Sr., had seven sons and three daughters, to wit: Philip German,
Conrad German, Abraham German, Adam German, Jr., Henry German, Jacob German,
John German, Susanna (who was married to John Jacob Snyder), Eva (married to
Henry Peter) and Catharine (married to Abraham
Riedy). Philip German, whose wife’s name was Eva, became the owner of the mill
property. He died in 1819, being the father of Adam German (miller), who died
in 1840, Michael German, Nathan German, and Philip German. Conrad German held
the office of justice of the peace in this township until the year 1833, when
he moved to Adams township, Seneca Co., Ohio. Abraham German, Adam German,
Henry German, and Jacob German all died and were buried here. Adam German, Jr.,
was the father of Adam German, who is therefore the third of the same name. He
was extensively known as a man of sound judgment and excellent business
abilities. He died on Nov. 8, 1881.
Adam German, Sr., was the great-grandfather of Rev. J. P. German, of Berwick, Pa.
Henry German was the father of Nathan German, ex-recorder of Allentown
(deceased), Owen German, Henry German, late register, and the grandfather of
Henry J. German, Esq., of Allentown, Pa.
Jacob German, who died May 1, 1879, was a respectable and useful man in the
community. He held the office of justice of the peace in the township from 1857
to 1862, and was the father of Jonas, Reuben, Enos, and Levi German.
John German moved with his brother, Conrad German, to Adams township, Seneca
Co., Ohio, in 1833. Henry Peter, who was married to Eva German, was the father
of John H. Peter, ex-commissioner, who died Nov. 13, 1881.
Abraham Riedy, who was married to Catharine German, was the father of Professor
Owen Riedy, now of the State of Louisianna, and the grandfather of Wilson P.
Riedy, of Heidelberg.
Germansville was, previous to 1842, know as Ger-…
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…man’s
mill. The mill seems to have been erected by Adam German, Sr. Afterwards it was
owned by Philip German, Sr., who in 1814 added the
dwelling part to the mill. His son, Adam German (miller), who died about the
year 1840, made some additions to the mill, and erected a dwelling-house, post
saw-mill, and a wool-carding machine. After the death of Adam German (miller),
Nathan German became the owner of the mill, and he sold it to Philip
Dieffenderfer, who again sold the same to Enos German, who is the present
owner. The present mill-dam and race was built in the year 1809.
The building in which the hotel and store is kept was built in 1842 by Nathan
German, late of Allentown (deceased), who was the first one who kept the store
and hotel in the place. Afterwards S. K. M. Kepner carried on the store for
some time, and David Ross the hotel.
A post-office was located at Germansville from about 1852 to 1862.
Philip German for a short time was the owner of the property, and he sold the
same to Peter Miller, who owned it until 1866, during which time O. H. Miller
and others carried on the store and hotel business. Peter Miller afterwards
sold the property to Jonas W. George and William G. Grosscup, who, under the
firm-name of George & Grosscup, carried on the store and hotel business for
a number of years, but several years ago dissolved partnership, Jonas W. George
retaining the hotel, and
William G. Grosscup accepting the store. Both still continue in their
respective businesses.
W. G. Grosscup’s ancestors were among the first settlers of Berks County. His
great-grandfather, Paul Grosscup, was a member of the Constitutional Convention
of 1790, which met at Philadelphia on Nov. 24, 1789, and closed Feb. 5, 1790.
The other delegates were Joseph Heister, Christian Lauer, Baltzer Gehr, and
Abraham Lincoln, who was the grandfather of President Abraham Lincoln.
Henry German, Sr., in 1835, sold his tract of land on which now a part of the
village is situated, to Samuel Gehry, Sr., who in 1835 moved with his family
from Hereford, Berks Co., to this place; and afterwards sold his land to his
son, Samuel Gehry, Jr., who with his son, Nathan Gehry, are the present owners
of the remainder of the land.
Dr. W. K. Kistler, a nephew (deceased), of Saunersville, moved to this place in
the spring of 1871. He is one of the most prominent men of the village, and has
an extensive practice.
The making of bricks has been carried on in the place for a number of years,
and is still continued. A large ice-house was erected in 1847 by Daniel &
Enos German, close to the mill-dam and railroad siding, in which ice is stored
for the city market.
The Schuylkill and Lehigh Railroad yearly conveys large quantities of lime to
the station. Since the construction of the railroad, making easy the obtaining
of lime, there has been a wonderful improvement of the land in this vicinity.
Germansville is the place in which ex-Sheriff Smith, late of Allentown
(deceased), during his younger years resided and started in business. Both the
first and second house in which he lived in the village are still standing. He
first carried on the blacksmith business, and afterwards connected the tinsmith
and stove business to his former business. John Heil is now residing where
Henry Smith last resided when here, in 1879.
Edwin W. Snyder erected an agricultural machine-shop in Germansville, and is
making machines.
There was a hotel kept in the old log weather-boarded dwelling-house situated a
short distance south of this place, and now owned by Reuben German. The hotel
was first kept by Abraham Riedy, Sr., (who in one of the deeds from his father,
Jacob Riedy, was named Abraham Riedy), who had kept a store in connection with
the hotel, and who, it appears, was the first store-keeper in that part of the
old township which is now Heidelberg. He was then succeeded in the hotel
business by his son,
Abraham Riedy, Jr., who kept the hotel for some time, when he was succeeded by
Mr. Newhard and George Muthhard, who in turn were succeeded by Conrad German,
who disposed of it to Jacob German, who kept it for a while as a hotel, and
then discontinued the business.
After the closing of this hotel another one was started a short distance above
the old hotel, in a stone house, built about the year 1820, now owned by Enos
German. Peter Wuchter, who was a son-in-law of Conrad German, was the
proprietor until it was abandoned in 1833, when Peter Wuchter, Henry Kistler,
and his son John, with the rest of his family of Heidelberg township, and
Michael Kistler, Sr., with his family, of Lynn township, moved with Conrad
German to Adams township, Seneca Co., Ohio. Henry Kistler, while here, was the
owner of the land on which Caspar Handwerk and his son, Owen, are now residing.
Michael Kistler owned that on which Joseph Krause is now living. Michael
Kistler, Sr., was the father of Michael Kistler, Jr., and John Kistler.
Either the first or second store in Heidelberg township was kept by John Mien,
about half a mile west of Germansville, on land now owned by the heirs of
Solomon Mayer, deceased. The store must have been started about seventy-five
years ago. There was another store kept at about the same time by Philip Pretz,
about three-quarters of a mile southeast from Saegersville, on the land which
is now owned by Wilson F. Peter. The tract at that time consisted of
ninety-four acres one hundred and
twenty-nine perches, adjoining the lands on the west of John Yeager and John
Ebert, now owned by William Krause; on the north by lands of the late Michael
Ohl, now Dr. E. P. Miller, and Peter Snyder, deceased; on the east by land of
the late Jacob Daupenspeck. Now Joseph Kunkel’s, and William F. …
Page 284
…Miller’s; and on the south by land of the late Francis Giltner and Jacob
Weaver, now Jacob Kerns.
From the deed of David Hess, dated April 15, 1794, the year in which he granted
this land to Philip Pretz, we infer that in that year he started the store
business, and held the same until 1802, when he went to Lancaster, which was
then the seat of the State government, for the purpose of patenting lands, and
while there he became sick and died, and, on account of the inconvenience at
that time of moving the dead, was buried there. His widow, Magdalena, with two
sons, Godfrey and Christian, and daughter Margaret, held the old homestead
until May 2, 1826, when Godfrey and Christian conveyed their interest to Joseph
Saeger, who with Margaret, his wife, a daughter of Philip Pretz, by deed dated
Feb. 3, 1832, conveyed it to Jacob Steekel, who willed the same to his daughter
Rachel, who became the wife of Dr. John D. Schall, Aug. 28, 1848, who conveyed
it to Nathan Peter, who, on March 29, 1870, conveyed the same to Francis Wilson
Peter , a brother of Professor Moses Peter.
Pleasant Corner is situated about one and one-quarter miles southwest from
Saegersville and about two miles south of the Schuylkill and Lehigh Railroad, a
branch of the Philadelphia and Reading, on Jordan Creek. The land upon which
the village stands was taken up in 1744 by John Rice, but was afterwards
granted, in 1748, to Michael Doderer, who sold it to Conrad Doderer in 1763,
and in 1765 he conveyed it to John Hartman. In 1763, Michael Evert obtained a
certain portion of the land, which he conveyed to his two sons, John and Tobias
(he also had another son, Philip, who resided in Lynn township). John Evert
conveyed it again to his son Conrad, who conveyed it to his son Daniel. A part
of this land is now owned by Stephen Shirley.
In 1851, Henry German started the first store and hotel in the place, and was
the proprietor of the same until 1855, when he moved to Weissenberg township.
William Roth succeeded him in the store and hotel business, and kept the same
for about two years, when he was succeeded by Owen Hunsicker and Elias Bittner.
Business was transacted under that firm until the death of Owen Hunsicker, when
Peter Bittner became a partner. Some time afterwards Elias Bittner disconnected
himself from the firm and moved to Allentown. John H. Hallenbach succeeded him,
and became a partner with Peter Bittner. This firm carried on an extensive
business, and several years ago sold out to David A. Bittner, who is now the
proprietor of both the hotel and store.
The elections were held there for several years, from 1853 to 1854, when the
voting-place was removed to Saegersville. The original name of the place was
Holbensville, and it was so called until the day on which Owen Hunsicker moved
there, which was about six years after the name of Holbensville was bestowed
upon it. Its name was then changed to Pleasant Corner by Daniel Rex, of
Lehighton, and Abraham Peter, of this township, which caused a good deal of
commotion.
Jacob Holben erected a foundry about the year 1850, in which an extensive
business was done. He also was the owner of the old grist-mill, which was built
by John Evert in about the year 1789, which still remains, and is used as a
mill. The hotel and store was also erected by him in the year 1851. His former
place of residence had been in Lynn township until about 1840, when he moved to
Pleasant Corner, where he remained until he was elected sheriff, when he moved
to Allentown.
Joseph Rauch, in 1875, erected a large factory, in which carriage-wheels, etc.,
are made. This is quite a valuable industry for the village.
The village is nicely situated, and contains a number of nice residences. Rev.
G. A. Struntz, of Pittston, lived there for a short time. This is the place in
which Professor Oliver Holben, now of New York, and Hon. Evan Holben, of
Allentown, spent their young days. It is also the birthplace of Professor
H. J. Stettler, of Slatington, Pa.
The
first post-office was established here in 1873, under the name of Jordan
Post-office, and Lewis Bittner was appointed postmaster, and still serves as
such.
A Biographical Sketch of Samuel J. Kistler
********************************************************************************
From
The History of the
Counties of Lehigh & Carbon, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
By
Alfred Mathews &
Austin N. Hungerford
Published
in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1884
Transcribed
from the original in 2005
by
Shirley
Kuntz
Web page by
December 2005