USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > A history of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania; from the earliest settlements to the present time, including much valuable information for the use of schools, families, libraries > Part 2
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Potatoes, corn and tobacco were the only products raised by the Indians. They were very cunning and skillful strategists in alluring the settlers into ani- bush, or elude them when pursued. They were honest, never stole or robbed each other. When they left home they did not lock their wigwams, but put a stone or piece of wood against the door, and nothing was stolen during their ab-
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sence. They were strong and muscular, which was gained by their constant exercise in walking and running. The Indians in that way acquired agility and endurance by which they were able to flee from the white people.
The first breach of friendship between the Indians and the Government happened in 1754, before that time it was only between the individual Indian and settler.
The minerals used by the Indians were aluminous rock, quartz, quartz- ite, jasper, basanite chalcedony, slate and soapstone. To make their axes and pestles they used diabase, syenite, dioryte and pyroxene, Quartzite was used to make spear heads, knives and arrowheads.
When the Indians wanted to make a canoe, they would cover the sides of the log with ground, burn out the middle part and used the axes to remove the charcoal.
Governor John Penn offered in 1764, by proclamation, the following bounties for capturing Indians :
For every male above the age of ten years, $150.00 ; for every male, (being killed ) above the age of ten years, $130.00; for every female above the age of ten years, scalped (being killed), $50.00.
In the first Indian raid of 1755, the settlers escaped the Indians' wrath, which fell so furiously upon the settlers of Carbon and Northampton Counties, which resulted in the massacres of the Moravians in Carbon County, and other atrocious murders. One of the principal causes of the raid was the " Walking Purchase" of 1737, which seems to have given great dissatisfaction to the Indians, and also seems to have been the chief cause for it. But the defeat of Braddock in 1755, operated powerfully as a stimulus in the minds of the red man, arousing hatred and inciting murderous desire. When peace was made in 1758, it gave a sense of relief to the settlers again which lasted for about five years.
The conspiracy of the powerful chief Pontiac incited once more their hatred against the white people, and had much to do with the Indian raids of 1763 in the county and the massacre of a number of settlers. The settlers in Whitehall were entirely innocent, having always treated the Indians with kind- ness in their dealings with them.
It seems as if the Indians had lost confidence in the descendants of Penn, whose memory they revered, or they may have longed for regaining their ancient hunting grounds. It is doubtful if they would have commenced hostilities against the settlers if they had not been incited by the French. It was the French more than any others that provoked the conflict between the whites and Indians.
The first war was provoked by the intrigues of the French, in which the colony of Pennsylvania was involved with the red man. The French knew very well that by securing the aid of the Indians as allies living in Pennsylvania there was a chance of carrying on successfully their military operations in the Ohio Valley, for that reason they flattered and cajoled the Delawares and other tribes of Indians. This course of action had the effect of winning their allegiance from the English and was the cause of many deeds of bloodshed in the white settle- ments of the frontier. The massacre of Guadenhutten led to others nearer at home on the south side of the mountain.
Every day some new murder was committed by the wily Indian. The whole frontier was in a state of alarm, settlers began to forsake their homes flee- ing to more secure places. The people at Bethlehem were in suspense as they
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had seen the lurid glare beyond the mountains made by the burning of the build- ings and knew that bad news awaited them. The first news of the massacre of Guadenhutten came after midnight by those who fled from the disaster, during the day eight white settlers and from thirty to forty Indian Brethren, including men, women and children arrived from New Guadenliutten at Bethlehem. Froni this time for several days the people of the remote settlements began to flock to the more secure settlements abandoning everything. They were all filled with the wildest alarm, many came only with enough clothing to shield their bodies from the cold, while all were destitute of the necessities of life. Hundreds of farms were abandoned in Lehigh and Northampton Counties by their occupants. They were kindly cared for by the Brethren at Bethlehem and other places. There were Indian villages near Schnecksville, on the lands of Laurence Troxell, James Scheuerer, Hilarius Kernal, and Jerry Kuhns, numerous burial grounds of the red men are found in the above vicinity.
The relation between the settlers and the Indians were of the most friendly character. But after Braddock's disastrous defeat in 1755, the hatred of the Indians was aroused and the settlers were constantly disturbed. Before retir- ing at night they often went out with rifle in hand, ascended some high knoll near their houses to look for blazing cottages, they were kept in constant alarm until 1758, when peace was made, which lasted until 1763, when the troubles broke out anew.
In 1756 they killed two children of Frederick Reichelder, Jacob Gerhart, two women and six children, George Zeielof, wife and a young man, a boy and girl at Allemangel (now Lynn township) and scalped them. In 1763 Jacob Alleman's wife and child and a boy and girl were killed and scalped.
One of the main causes of the Whitehall massacres were as Heckewelder says, "That some Indians who had come to Bethlehem in the summer of 1763 to trade, when returning, they stopped at John Stenton's tavern, Allen township, Northampton County over night, the place being about eight miles from Bethle- hem, where they were badly treated and robbed of some of their most valuable articles they had purchased, returning to Bethlehem, they lodged complaints with a justice of the peace who gave them a letter in which he strongly urged that they should return the Indians' property to their owners. But instead of getting their property back they were driven from the house, they did this, meeting some other Delaware Indians on the banks of the Susquehanna River who had been treated in the same way. They told each other their stories. They resolved to take revenge in their own way for the insult they had received as soon as their nation would make war upon the colonists."
Captain J. N. Wetherhold with his soldiers murdered Zachary, his wife and little child and a woman named Zippora in August 1763, near the Lehigh Gap. Zachary was a friendly Indian who had come to adjust the difficulties and while in this act of humanity, was killed like a dog. These and many other crimes like the above led the Indians to take the war path.
This company was raised in Macungie and vicinity.
Among the first places they attacked was Stenton's tavern and killed all the inmates among whom was Captain Wetherhold who had claimed he wasinvul- nerable (kuglefest). They robbed the house of everything and from there they went to the house of Andrew Hazlett who tried to defend his home but was killed with his family, from there they went to the homes of James Allen and Philip Kratzer which they plundered. Undoubtedly the inmates had heard of the Haz- lett tragedy and had fled. The Indians now proceeded to the Whitehall settle- ments in true Indian style.
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On October 8, 1763, a bright and beautiful autumn day a small band of Indians crossed the Lehigh at Whitehall fresh from their attack on the settlers in Allen township, and went to John J. Mickley's place finding three of his children in the woods gathering chestnuts, killed two of thim and went to the homes of Hans Snyder and Nicholas Marks, killing Snyder, his wife and three children, and wounding two daughters of Snyder, left both of them for dead, and one of his children was taken captive and never restored. The wounded daughters recover- ed from their wounds. The Assembly passed a bill for their relief as they were very poor and never afterwards enjoyed good health. The one that was scalped was a pitiable sight to see with her scalped head.
The Mickley's children which had been killed were buried at the foot of a large chestnut tree, the place is still pointed out where they had been buried. Nicholas Marks' family escaped, they had seen the Indians coming. The Indians set fire to his house and among others of the settlers that were killed by the In- dians were Jacob Alleman's wife and child who were found in the road scalped.
The number of settlers killed were twenty, the others escaped fleeing to Deshler's Fort, about two miles from the scene of murder. The fort is standing and well preserved, it is a substantial stone building strongly built, having heavy walls and was made to serve for other purposes than an ordinary dwelling, was built in 1760, adjoining the same was a large frame dwelling, where twenty sol- diers could be quartered and a large quantity of military stores be kept. The frame part has passed away, the place was a kind of military post during the In- dian troubles and was furnished free by Mr. Deshler who was one of the most lib- eral and humane men of the settlement. It stands on a little eminence overlook- ing the Coplay Creek. The building was forty feet long, thirty feet wide, two and one-half stories high, the walls are eighteen inches and two feet thick supported by heavy timbers in the interior. There were a few small windows in the sides with four panes of glass, in the gables were loopholes A large hearth was in the middle or the building, each story was divided into two apartments and in the mantle piece can still be seen the bulets holes made by the Indians. It was a place of refuge for the neighborhood.
A number of the settlers were taken captive by Indians, and those with black hair and eyes were spared and adopted. Among them was one Mayer, his wife and son who were adopted into a tribe. Margaret Frantz was taken prisoner while washing flax with another girl named Solt whom they took along to near where Ballietsville now stands. Margaret was 15 years old when taken captive and was with them seven years. Before she was exchanged, her father was killed by the Indians and she was married two years after her return from captivity to Nicholas Woodring. She was known far and wide for her knowledge of herbs which she had acquired of the Indians. Her services for relieving the sick were in great demand, she always journeyed on horseback. She died in 1829, at the age of seventy-eight years, among her descendents are Ritters, Steckles and Browns. Her companion Solt lived with an Indian as his wife and had two chil- dren, when she returned from captivity she was allowed to take her little girl along.
Captain Volck's (Foulk's) Company of Allemangel, now Lynn township, consisting of forty-six men, Captain Wetherhold's company of forty-four men and Captain Trexler's company of forty-eight men, raised in the other parts of is ow Lehigh County, flocked to the standard of Colonel Benjamin Frank- lin, for the defence of the frontier, and gathered at Guadenhutten in January,
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1756, where they began the erection of Fort Allen on the site of the present town of Weissport.
The settlers of South Whitehall had their share of Indian troubles like the other settlements, the dangers were so great that it was impossible for them to attend the meeting of the Lutheran Synod held at Philadelphia in 1753. The Synod was asked to pray for the safety of the Paster (Rev. Schartier) of the Jordan's congregation and the settlers.
The Governor in his message to the Assembly said "Their houses are burned, farms laid waste, etc." Another incident happened which showed how cunning the Indians were to capture young children. Some children were play- ing "Hide and Seek" in the barn when several Indians who had lurked around and when the children had hid themselves and at the proper time they came forth and took captive all they could lay hold on, only a few escaped to tell the tale. Then the settlers arose and followed as best they could, but were unable to rescue the young captives. The children were kept in captivity for some time before they were released and restored to their anxious parents.
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CHAPTER IV.
THE FIRST SETTLERS.
HE FIRST SETTLERS of the county came principally from the older parts of the colony who pushed their homes northward from Philadelphia, Bucks and Chester counties. Others came from Germany seeking homes in this new country where there was no religious persecution and could worship God in accordance to the dictates of their conscience. There were in 1735 many squatters in what is now Lehigh County, and the proprietors of the province placed one hundred thousand acres of land on drawing, the drawing of the lottery never came off. But the settlers got the land cheap. More than threefourths of the inhabi- tants of the county are German or their descendents, and the localities in which they settled were generally named in honor of the Fatherland as Hanover, Wies- senberg, Heidleberg, etc.
They came principally fron Bavaria, Baden, Alsace, Wurtemberg, Swit- zerland, Darmstadt, and Palatinate, while of the townships which bear English names have been germanized by the Germans encroaching upon their English neighbors, as can be seen by the intercourse with the people of Lowhill, Milford, Whitehall, etc., which are just as German as the rest of the County. They speak a dialect of the German language which is akin to the language of their fore- fathers who came from Palatinate where the same language is spoken. It is not "High German," as it is just as old or perhaps older, and often more expressive than the High German as a spoken language, as it was from time immemorial in the South German dialects. Some of its roots of words can be traced back to older roots than High German, for example, colt, English, fullen, High German which is derived from Greek and Latin roots, while hutsch and hutschli, a young colt from Wesserwald huzz, Lausatian, huzche, Swabian, hutschle, is more purely German than the High German, horse, E. ; pherd, H. G. ; gaul, P. G. ; calf, E. ; kalb, H. G. ; homeli, P. G .; pig, E .; Schwein, H. G .; sou, P. G .; potato, E .; kartoffel, H. G. ; grumbeer, P. G. ; etc., are some of the derivations.
If as has been said in an index to their character, then the expressions as proverbs, adages, songs and sayings of people handed down from one genera- tion to the other are very original and expresive. They by frequent repetition have made strong impressions upon the people to influence their life and charac- ter. Their songs are delightful, spirited and impressive. Here are some of the sayings of the Pennsylvania Germans. "Wie mers mocht so hut mers. Die kin- ner un die norra sawga die wohret. Fors denka konn en niemont henka. Gross gekrisch un wennig woll. Gut gewetst is halver gemeht. Eh eer is die onner werth. Wer awhalt gewinnt. Mer hut nix unna druvel. Die morga schtund hut gold im mund. Zub on deiner egna naws. Mer muss leva un leva lossa. Wer net komnt zu rechter zeit muss nehme was iwwerich bleibt." And many other
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sayings show that they have sayings which for beautiful thought, etc., compare well with the High German and the English languages.
The poems of Dr. Henry Harbaugh, written in the Pennsylvania German language, compare with the best poems of any language. His most touching and beautiful poems are the following : "Das Alt Schulhaus An Der Krick." (The Old Schoolhouse At The Creek. ) "Heemweh," (Homesickness) the last one a most beautiful poem, descriptive of the sweet rest of Heaven, etc., and others. The people are as a whole a religious people. When they first came they built side by sidec hurch and schoolhouse, by which it can be seen that both the spir- itual and temporal wants of the young were attended to, and they were early brought into the church. The greater part of the Pennsylvania Germans are farmers and are hardy, robust, strong, healthy and industrious. They are socia- ble, performing many works in common, assisting each other in whatever way they can.
In former times, during haymaking and harvest time when there were a number of workmen together, at nine o'clock they would take lunch, relate anec- dotes in which both men and women engaged in. At breakfast, dinner and sup- per, the tables were always laden with food which were keenly relished by them all. At noon came the " Ruhe schtund," (hour rest), which was spent by sleep- ing, telling stories under the shady tree, or grinding the scythes. After "Feier ovet," (after the day's work) all enjoyed themselves well after their hard day's work, taking for their proverb, "Nuch der erwet is gute zu ruhe."
Corn husking was another enjoyable feature of former time, when a large number of young men and women went to a neighbor and assisted him in husking corn. Quilting and applebutter parties were some of the other pastimes of former days, where old and young gathered and helped each other in quilting and mak- ing schnitz, (pared apples) in the afternoon, in the evening the young folks spent the time in a lively manner such as music, dancing and other amusements.
Battalion drills was another institution of days gone by. The Militia had their drills in Spring and the weapons used were usually cornstalks, hoe handles and broomsticks. When the Battalion Day came in May everything was in readi- ness of which these were the preparatory exercises. When the day came, Infantry and Cavalry were on hand. The officers that were in command were the Gen- erals, Colonels, Majors and Captains with their cocked hats and plumes, epaulets on their shoulders fully uniformed. The command was generally 'given in thun- dering tones. "Atten-shone, company !" The brave and gallant Lieutenants re- peated the words in the Pennsylvania German, "Gebt Acht Buva Now Horcht bosst uff." A finer and more imposing sight was never seen or command given.
Oh ! what a time were those old fashioned " Badolga (Battalion ) Daga." At the age of eighteen, everyone was compelled to become a soldier, the very age when the young maidens were at liberty to marry. Every one went to the Battalion day, old and young, and when the young people were strangers to each other, they were introduced not exactly like in polite society, but in blunt Pennsylvania German, as " Des ist der Bill," "Des ist die Sal, Kum her, huckt dich onna zu mir." All was fun, in the evening there was dancing which lasted till early morning. The holidays (Feirdaga, ) of the Pennsylvania Germans are worthy of notice. Christmas was a pleasant time, Christmas trees were found almost in every home, and the churches were beautifully and tastefully decorated [with evergreens. Their "Krischt kindil " is not the fantastic St. Nicholas, but the Giver of good gifts. When the children met each other on Christmas morning, they did not ask "where is my Christmas present?" but " Wo ist mei Krischt
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kindil," meaning a gift of God in Jesus, the Christ child.
New Year was another of their festivals. At that time they shot out the old year and shot in the New Year, a practice that is not common anymore. The shooting was not all of it, beautiful verses of the scriptures and hymns were com- mitted to memory, and repeated under the windows of those who were visited by them, they went through storm and snow. "En glickselig nei yohr " was heard on all sides, each vieing with each other to be first in the greeting among friends, or strangers.
Doctor bills in the olden times were not as high as at present. Dr. John M. Otto made out the following bill for one of his patients (Marcus Hulig), the bill is dated Bethlehem, May 4, 1746, and is as follows : To heal a broken leg, 36 ; to heal three ribs, 3s. and other necessary things 2s.
The hotel bills were not as high either. Captain Jacob Wetherhold's bill at the "Crown" hotel, in 1763, where he was brought when mortally wound- ed and died a few days after, was as follows : I pint of Wine, I s. 2 d., I pint beer 21/2 d., eating and drinking for nurse, 2 s., feed for two horses, 3 s., funeral garment, 6 s., carriage fees for nurse, ten times, 2 s.
Subscriptions for the newspapers were as follows : Franklin and Hall's paper, 10 s. 7 d., Miller's German paper, 6 s. per year.
Taxes were as follows : In 1767, Province (State) tax 56, 18 s., 6d., and County tax 26, 7s., 6d.
The following is a copy of a bill for a day's expenses at one of the popu- lar hotels in Easton in 178r and thus you can see the value of Continental money at that time.
To Toddy $10 To I Grog
Cash 8 Washing 49
" Cash 12 " I Bowl Punch 30
" I Bowl Punch 30 " I Grog 8 " Lodging 40
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Hay Meals 260 1 90 I Bowl Punch 30 $8 To 21 Quarts of Oats $52
Total $667
Received the above amount, JACOB OPP, Landlord.
Merchants, shoemakers and tailors charged the same rates. The price of a yard of Calico in Continental money cost ten times as much as the best yard of silk now does. Travelling by the early settlers was generally done on foot or horseback.
The following were among those who served offices from what is now Le- high County : Christian Rinker was County Commissioner in 1753, and Lewis Klotz, of Macungie, was elected County Commissioner in 1754. George Taylor, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence owned a farm of three hun- dred and thirty-one acres in Allen township, in what is now a part of the present borough of Catasauqua. The assessment value of his property was in 1770, 4166, which included six horses, eight cows and three negroes. The tax on the same was thirty-seven shillings and two pence, ($4.96). The farm consisted at that time of one hundred and thirty-six acres of clean land, and one hundred and ninety -five acres of woodland. Mr. Taylor resided on the farm until 1764 when he moved to Easton, Pa. In 1776 Mr. Taylor sold his farm in Allen township to Mr. Benezet, of Philadelphia, for 1000€ ($4800). Mr. Benezet afterward sold the farm to David Deshler.
Our County is but a small one, but helps to make up the State of Penn- sylvania, the Keystone in the arch of the thirteen original colonies.
In 1773, in what is now Lehigh County, it comprised the following num- ber of acres of clear land and the number of acres of grain sown, also the number
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of farmers in each township: Upper Milford had 7,096 acres of clear land, and I,283 acres of grain and 156 farmers ; Macungie had 6,459 acres of clear land, and 2,002 acres of grain, and 136 farmers. Whitehall had 6,070 acres of clear land, and 1223 acres of grain and 117 farmers; Upper Saucon had 5,792 acres of clear land, 1028 acres of grain and 84 farmers ; Lynn had 3,412 acres of clear land and 860 acres of grain and 118 farmers ; Heidelberg had 2,905 acres of clear land and 904 acres of grain and I01 farmers ; Salisbury had 2,400 acres of clear land, 522 acres of grain and 48 farmers ; Weisenburg had 2, 179 acres of clear land and 562 acres of grain, and 78 farmers ; Lowhill had 1, 131 acres of clear land and 435 acres of grain and 48 farmers ; and there was 180,000 acres of wood land in what is now the present County of Lehigh.
The taxes for a farm of 200 acres of land was from eighty cents to $1.50. Laborers received from ten cents to twelve cents a day and boarding. The house rent was from four to eight dollars a year, including fire wood and some acres of land for a potato and corn patch and grazing and feed for a cow. Fifty poor peo- ple did not pay any tax.
The farmers and others on ordinary occasions used rye bread and buck- wheat cakes, but on special occasions they used wheat bread. Expenses of Le- high for the year ending January 1, 1813, were as follows :
G. Stahler. for election expenses at Millerstown, (Macungie ) $34.80 ; J. Mummy for election expenses, Grim's district, [$37 20 ; A. Shifferstein, for election expenses, Saeger's district, $44.20 ; F. B. Shaw, for election expenses, Allentown district, $49.50; G. Kramer, commissioner on seat of Justice, $50.00; George Savitz, rent of rooms for court, November 20, 1812 to January 1, 1813, $55.91 ; quarrying stones for prison, $67.21. Total amount, $368.82.
In 1813 the total receipts of the County from all sources were $15,448.30, of which sum $1558 66 was the balance at the settlement, $13,254.55 taxes were collected out of $16,772.60 assessed.
Sheriff Peter Hauck paid into the treasury the same year $3.90 Sheriff's fees. Balance in the treasury at the end of the year, $6693.80
In 1814 the receipts of the County were $18,325 91 ; in 1815 the receipts were $15,050.89 ; in 1816 the receipts were $17,214.05. In 1816 the first bank loan of $2,176.53 was made for County purposes of 1816 and 1817. The first Court House was built at a cost of $24,936 08, rebuilt 1864 at a cost of $57,235.86. In 1813 the first jail was built at a cost of $8,420.00, rebuilt at a cost of $200, 222.95. The Poor House was erected in 1845 at a cost of buildings of $51.154.21. The Poor House farm consists of 254 acres of land and was purchased for $27,062.32.
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