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 7
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Fountain Hill
A suburb of South Bethlehem, founded in 1850. Popula- tion, 1900, was 1,214. Contains stores, hotels, brick yards, etc., the Electric road connects it with Allentown and Bethlehem.
This thriving town is situated on the right banks of the Hokendauqua Lehigh river, founded in 1854. Population, 1900, was 1,500. The seat of the Thomas Iron Works, has number of stores, hotels, churches and graded schools is an in- dependent school district. On the Lehigh Valley R. R. and connected with Allentown by an Electric road.
Founded in 1776 and is four miles west of Emaus, with Macungie which it is connected by the Allentown and Emaus Electrio road and is its western terminus. Population, 1900, was 692 Contains stores, hotels, furnaces, factories, foundry, churches and graded schools, and is on the East Pennsylvania Branch of the P. and R. Railroad, and was incorporated as a borough in 1857.
Founded in 1851 and is situated on the right bank of the Le- Slatington high river, on the Lehigh Valley R. R. and is the eastern terminus of the Berks and Lehigh R. R., 20 miles north of Allentown, to which it is connected by the Allentown & Slat ington Electric road. Population, 1900, was 3,773. Incorporated in 1864, con- tains numerous stores, hotels, water works, rolling mill, factories, several news- papers, national bank, churches and graded schools, the high school was estab- lished in 1864, H. A. Kline, was the first principal. It is in the center of the Le- high slate region and the slate quarries and slate factories where are manufactured school, mantel, blackboard, etc., of all kinds, is the principal industry of the place.
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Founded in 1869, is situated on the left bank of the West Bethlehem Lehigh river and Monocacy creek. Population, 1900, was 3,465. Incorporated as a borough in 1880, and contains stores, hotels, silk mills, factories, foundries, churches, graded schools, connected with Allentown by an Electric road and turn-pike, and Bethlehem by a fine iron bridge.
The schools of all the boroughs are in a fine and flourishing condition, having regular courses of study and the pupils of the high schools, passing through a full course of study, graduate therefrom and many are able to enter the schoolroom as teachers or enter other vocations. The schools compare with the best in the state and are under a supervising principal. The schools are also under the supervision of the County Superintendent of Schools.
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CHAPTER XI.
DUTIES OF THE COUNTY OFFICERS.
JUDGES .- When a County has more than 40,000 inhabitants it has one or more judges learned in the law. The number of judges is increased with the increase of the population. Counties less than 40,000 inhabitants or joint districts of two or more counties in each. The counties of such districts, have each two associate judges, not learned in the law ; the district elects one judge learned in the law, who, is called the President judge. He holds court in the counties in time. His duties are to preside at the trial of cases, to conduct the trial impartially, to hear the evidence, to decide points of law raised in the progress of the trial, to charge the jury with instruction for making up a verdict. He issues the various writs-HABE CORPUS, of MANDAMUS, of injunction, of Quo WARRANTO, the staying of executions, the granting of petitions, of issuing natural- ization papers, removal of certain officers, the chartering of corporations, not for profit, as cemeteries, hospitals and secret societies. Term, ten years, salary $4.000 a year, except in Philadelphia, ($7.000) Alleghany, ($6.000) and in Dau- phin and Westmoreland, ($5.000). He can be re-elected. The associated judges, have the same power that the President judge has, but seldom exercise them. They are mainly advisory members on the bench. They exercise an eqaal voice in establishing roads, granting licenses. They reside in the county, where there services are a convenience in the absence of the President judge. Their salary is five ($5.00) a day when actual serving. There are three kinds of juries, the Grand Jury, the Petit Jury and the Traverse Jury. Twenty-four men are drawn for the Grand Jury, one of whom is excused to avoid a tie. The duty of the Grand Jury is to decide what cases should be brought before the Court. It liears only the evidences for the Commonwealth, that is against the accused. If a case is made out the foreman of the Grand Jury endorses the bill of indictment, which makes it a true bill. Only one witness is allowed to be before the Grand Jury, at one time and no one but the district attorney is allowed to be present during its sessions. The Grand Jury inspects annually all the public buildings, of the county, and approves the location of county bridges. The Petit Jury, usually consists of from thirty-six to sixty men each. This jury tries criminal cases, after listening to the evidences, the pleas of the attorneys and the charge of the judges, must retire to a room and make up their verdict without talking to anyone, but the judge. Their verdict must be unanimous whether it is Guilty, or Not Guilty. In cases of larceny of goods not amounting to ten dollars of value, the verdict is not Guilty, they have the power to put the costs on the prosecutor, or the defendent, or the county, or apportions them between the prosecutor, or the defendent. If they cannot agree there must be a new trial. Traverse Jury, the Traverse Jury, tries civil cases and their verdict is either for the Plaintiff, or for the Defendent. If there is any damages the jury fixes the amount which constitutes a part of the verdict. The jurymen of all the juries get $2.00 a day and 12 cents mileage.
NOTARY PUBLIC .- This is strictly speaking a State office and is appointed by the Governor, for a term of four years. His salary consists of fees fixed by law. There may be appointed a notary public in every place having a banking, or saving institutions. He must pay $25.00 to the State Treasurer, before he can receive his commission. His duties are to protest notes, bills of exchange, administers oaths, takes depositions and affidavits, takes proofs and acknow-
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ledgements of instruments which are intended to be recorded. He places his seal upon all his acts which gives authenticity to them, which is recognized all the world over.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS .- There are three County Commissioners elect- ed for three years, they correct the assessment or valuation of taxable property, fix the rate of the county tax. They pay the county bills by orders drawn on the county treasurer, erect the county buildings, as well as the larger bridges. They are paid $3.50 per day actual time spent in the discharge of the duties of their office. No person can vote for more than two commissioners so as to allow the minority party to elect one commissioner.
COUNTY TREASURER. - He is elected for three years, and cannot be re- elected to succeed himself, he receives the state and county taxes, pays the former to the State Treasurer, the latter he uses to pay such bills as are approved by the commissioners. He receives a certain percentage on all the money paid out of the treasury, which is fixed by the commissioners and approved by the auditors. He also receives a percentage on all the state tax that pass through his hands, as well as on special taxes that may come into his hands. He gives a heavy bond for the faithful performance of his duties.
SHERIFF .- He is elected for three years and is the county's chief ex- ecutive officer, he serves writs and summons of the court, suppresses serious dis- turbances and protect property, he sells property for debit of the owner, when execution has been ordered by the court. He makes arrests and has charge of the criminals during their trials and delivers them to the jails or penitentiary, in the smaller counties is the jailer, and with the jury commissioners he draws the juries and summons those whose names have been drawn. He gives notices of the elections by advertisements in the newspapers or hand bills. His salary is fixed by law and are paid in fees, he gives bonds for the faithful performance of liis duties, he cannot be re-elected to succeed himself.
PROTHONOTARY .- He is elected for three years and is clerk of the court of Common Pleas, he makes up and keeps records of the court, issues its writs and summons and calls up the jurors and administers the oaths to the witnesses. He enters in books the judgments, mechanics liens and keeps a record of the state and national elections returns. His salary is paid in fees fixed by law.
CLERK OF QUARTER SESSIONS .- He is elected for three years and keeps a record of this court, calls up jurors and administer the oaths to witnesses, he has charge of laying out of roads, the granting of liquor licenses and keeps a record of all township, borough and city elections held in the county. His salary is paid by fees fixed by law.
CLERK OF ORPHAN'S COURT .- He is elected for three years and keeps a record of the Orphan's court. His salary is paid by fees.
REGISTER OF WILLS .- He is elected for three years, probates the wills left by citizens of the county at their death, he issues to the executors letters testamentary, and if no executor or executors have been appointed by the will, appoints administrators, issues to them letters of administration, copies the wills in books and keeps the wills safely themselves. He gives a bond for the faith- ful performance of his duties, he is paid by fees.
RECORDER OF DEEDS -He is elected for three years, records all deeds and mortgages, and his salary is paid by fees.
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CORONER .- He is elected for three years, inquires into the cause and manner of death of any person who is slain, or is accidentally killed or dies suddenly, by summoning a jury of six men, if the jury finds any one guilty of homicide, it is the duty of the coroner's jury to commit him to jail. The Coroner performs the duties of the sheriff in case of the latter's death or removal from office, until a new sheriff is appointed. His salary is paid by fees.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY .- He is elected for three years and is public prose- cutor, conducts the trials of persons charged with committing crimes. He must be a lawyer and is paid by fees by the county.
COUNTY SURVEYOR .- He is elected for three years and is official county surveyor.
JURY COMMISSIONERS .- There are two Jury commissioners elected for three years, a person can vote only for one candidate so that each party is repre- sented. They with the sheriff draw the jurors from the list of persons selected by the jury commissioners and the judge. They receive $2.50 for each day spent in the discharge of their duties.
DIRECTORS OF THE POOR .- They are elected for three years and have overseer of the poor and the management of the Alms or Poor house. Their salary is $100 per year.
MERCANTILE APPRAISER .- He is appointed by the county commissioners for one year, he makes estimates on the amount of business done by the dealers in the county, upon which a state tax is paid. He receives 75 cents for visiting each place of business.
COUNTY AUDITORS .- They are elected for three years and one can vote for only two of them so as to give minority party a member too, they have the disbursment of the public fund. They see that the taxes and other duties are collected and accounted for. Their salary is $3.00 for each day they spend in the discharge of their duties.
PRISON INSPECTORS .- They are appointed by the court and the county commissioners for one year, they have charge of the prison affairs. They receive a small salary.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS .- He is elected by the school directors of the county for three years, he has charge of the schools of the county, he holds teachers exminations and grants a provisional certificate to those that successfully pass the examination which is good for one year only, he also grants a professional certificate to those that have acquired skill in the art of teaching, good during his term of office for three years and can be renewed without examination by him, and is good for one year under his successor. He holds the annual county Teachers Institute and local institutes, collects and transmits the reports and statistic of the schools to the Department of Public Instruction. Salary, $1500.
Township Officers
ASSESSOR. He is elected for three years and makes an assess- ment of the real estate and other property in the township, and reports the same to the county Commissioners, upon which all taxes are laid, prepares each year a list of all the voters of the town- ship, a copy of which he must place on the door of the building where the elect- ions are held. His salary is $2.00 per day for actual work done.
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SUPERVISORS .- They are elected for one year except where otherwise the law directs, their duties are making and repairing the roads and bridges of the township. They fix and collect a road tax to pay the expenses of the same, they represent the township in its corporate body in all things except school matters. They receive from $1 to $2 per day for the time spent in work and 5 per cent for collecting the road tax.
SCHOOL DIRECTORS .- Every year two school directors are chosen who serve for 3 years, making 6 directors in all, their duties are to provide school facilities for all the children of school age in the township between the age of 6 and 21 years, they build and care for the schoolhouses and grounds, employ the teachers, fix their salaries and the length of school term at not less than 7 months, adopt the books that are to be used and make rules for the goverment of the schools and supervise their work. They determine the school tax to be levied for school purposes, have the right to borrow money for erecting school buildings or purchasing grounds, they receive no pay for their services.
TAX COLLECTOR .- He is elected every year and collects the state and county tax, his commission is from 2 to 5 per cent on all the money collected.
TOWN CLERK .- He is elected for one year and serves as clerk to the supervisors, keeps the township record and the record of stray animals. This officer has few if any duties to perform and is not deemed of much importance. AUDITORS .- One Auditor is elected every year to serve for three years, the three Auditors meet once a year and audit the accounts of the township officers, which they post in written or printed handbills, detailing the receipts and expenditures of the township officers in different parts of the township, they receive $2.00 a day for each day of actual duty.
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE .- Each township elects two Justices of the Peace for terms of 5 yrs., commissioned by the governor, has jurisdiction any- where within the county, issues warrants of arrest and for minor offices inflicts punishment by fine, rarely by imprisonment, generally he sends the case to court. For light crimes he may release the prisoner on bail until court, if he cannot get bail, he must await trial in jail, for grave crimes the justice must send the accused to jail, when he can only be released by the Judge through a writ of habeas corpus, suits for debts not exceeding $300.00 may be brought before a justice of the peace and where his decision involves not more than $5-33 it is final, if more it can be appealed to court. Administers oaths or' affirmations, acknowledges deeds and other papers, issues search warrants, authorized to per- form the marriage ceremony, his pay is from fees paid by the parties interested and are fixed by law.
CONSTABLE .- He is elected for three years, preserves the peace of the township, makes arrests upon warrants issued by the justice of the peace, takes persons to jail if committed by the justice, serves subpoenas upon witnesses, and summons in civil suits. He makes searches of suspected premises for stolen goods, seizes and sells debtors property upon the justice's execution. He gives official notice by posters of township elections and four times a year is required to attend the court of Quarter Sessions and report violations of law of which he has any knowledge. He is paid by fees which are fixed by law,
TOWNSHIP TREASURER .- He is elected for one year and has charge of the funds of the township and gives bail for the performance of his duties.
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Borough Officers CHIFF BURGESS .- He is the executive officer of the borough, be enforces the ordinances of the Council, preserves the order and the peace of the borough. He may punish offenders by fine and short imprisonment, term is 3 years and is elected by the people of the borough.
COUNCIL .- They are elected for three years, one third going of office every year, they have control of the streets and sidewalks, of the nuisances, pro- vide for the lighting of the streets, water for general use, for protection from fires, lays taxes for paying the borough expenses, may borrow money for borough improvements The other officers are the school directors, constable, treasurer, supervisor, auditors whose duties are the same as those of the township.
City Officers MAYOR .- The executive officer of a city is the Mayor, his duties are executive and judicial. The other officers the Aldermen, controller, assessors, collector of taxes, street commissioner, treasurer, solicitor, health officer, police, audi- tors, superintendent of schools, sometimes other officers. A city is divided into wards of convenient size and the officers are similar to those of the township. The laws are called ordinances and are enacted by the select and common councils and signed by the mayor or if he has any objections to the same, he vetos them. A city has a charter under which it operates.
Early Justices of the Peace The early justices of peace, prior to 1804 were the fol- lowing : Andrew Buchman, District of Heidelberg and Lowhill, townships, 1784. Frederick Laubach, District of Upper Milford township, 1784. Peter Rhoads, Dis- of Northampton and Salisbury townships, 1784. George Breinig, District of Macungie and Weisenberg townships, 1786. Jacob Horner, District of Heidel- berg and Lowhill townships, 1787. Ludwig Stahler, District of Upper Milford township, 1788. Peter Kohler, District of Whitehall township, 1791. James Gill, District of Upper Milford township, 1791. Nicholas Sieger, District of Whitehall township, 1794. Abraham Buchman, District of Heidelberg and Low- hill townships, 1794. John Shimer, District of Upper Milford township, 1795. Henry Kooker, District of Upper Saucon township, 1795. Charles Deschler, District of Salisbury township, 1797. Henry Jarrett, District of Macungie and Weisenberg townships, 1798. Leonard Nagel, District of Salisbury township, 1798. John Van Buskirk, District of Macungie and Weisenberg townships, 1799. Conrad Wetzel, District of Upper Milford township, 1799. Henry Haas, District of Heidelberg and Lowhill townships, 1801. David Owen, John Cooking, of Upper Saucon and Lewis Merkel of Macungie, were draw as members of the first Grand Jury, after the formation of Northampton County, October 3, 1752. Members to the Provincial Congress from Northampton County, (embracing at that time Lehigh and Carbon Counties, ) in 1775 were George Taylor, John Oak- ley, Peter Kichlein and Jacob Arndt. Ambrose Stahler, District of Upper Mil- ford and Upper Saucon townships, 1802.
That part which comprise of what is now Lehigh county was re-divided into new districts in 1804 and were numbered and called as follows: District number 4, comprising Nazareth, Bethlehem and Hanover and the justices were from 1804 to 1809, Adam Daniel, George Brader and Jacob Sweisshaupt and from 1809 to 1812 was Mathias Gross. District number 7, comprised Salisbury and Whitehall townships, the justice from 1804to 1812, was George Yundt. District
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number 8, comprised Macungie and Upper Milford townships and the justices from 1804 to 1808, were John Schuler, Anthony Stahler and Jeremiah Trexler and from 1808 to 1812, Jacob Klen. District number 10, comprised Heidelberg and Lowhill townships and the justice from 1804 to 1812, was William Fenster- macher, District number II, the justices from 1804 to 1812, were Daniel Sæger and John Weiss and comprised Lynn and Weisenberg townships.
The County was divided again in 1812 into new districts as follows : Ist district, comprising Northampton, Salisbury and Whitehall townships and the justices were Leonard Nagel, Peter Gross, Nicholas Sieger, Charles Deschler, 1812 Jacob Diehl and Anthony Murich 1813, 2nd district, comprising Hanover township, the justice was C. F. Beitel, 1812. 3rd district, composed of the town- ships of Heidelberg and Lowhill, the justice was Conrad German, 1812. 4th dis- district, composed of Macungie and Upper Milford townships and the justices were John Fogel, 1812 and Lorentz Stahler, 1813. 5th district, composed of Lynn and Weisenberg townships, the justice was Peter Hass, 1814. 6th district, com- posed Macungie and Lowhill townships, the justise was Henry Haas, 1814.
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ARTICLE XII.
CIVIL LIST.
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FROM LEHIGH COUNTY.
1-The figures at the end of each name represent in which congress he served : for example, Joseph Frey, 1827-1831. 20 and 21 mean that he was a member of the 20th and 21st Congress.
Joseph Frey, 1827-1831. 20 and 21 *Thomas B. Cooper, 1861 37
Henry King, 1831-1835. 22 “ 23 #John D. Stiles, 1862-1865 37 and 38
Peter Newhard, 1839-1843. 26 27
Jacob Erdman, 1845-1847. 29
*John Hornbeck, 1847- 30
+Samuel Bridges, 1847-1849. 30
1853-1855. 33
1877-1879. 35
H. C. Longecker, 1859-1861. 36
+Succeeded the Hon. John Hornbeck, dec'd. ĮSucceeded the Hon. Thos. B. Cooper, dec'd.
STATE SENATORS FROM LEHIGH COUNTY SINCE 1812 TO THE PRESENT TIME.
4Members under the first constitution, 1790, were elected for 2 years, under the constitution of 1838 for 3 years and under the constitution of 1874 for 4 years.
Henry Jarrett, 1813-1815 I term 2 yrs Jacob Schindel, 1858-1861 I term 3 yrs
Joseph Frey, 1817-1821 2
Henry King, 1825-1829 2
4 Edw. Albright, 1870-1876 2 6
W. C. Livingstone, 1831-3 I 2 Evan Holben, 1876-1882 2 6 John S. Gibbons, 1840-43 I 3 M. C. Henr inger, 1882-94 3 I2
Jacob D. Boas, 1846-1849 I 3 Harry G. Stiles, 1894-1902 2 8
Willlam Frey, 1852-1855 I 3
MEMBERS OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE FROM 1813 TO 1901.
Under the Constitution of 1790 and 1838, the members were elected annually and under the. Constitution of 1874 for two years.
Abraham Rinker, 1813-1817 4 years.
Daniel Edgar, 1830
Peter Knepley, 1830-31-33 3
Peter Newhard, 1817-1819 2
Christian Pretz, 1831 I Wm. Fenstermacher, 1817-22 5
John Weida, 1832-1833 2
John J. Knauss, 1820-1822 2
Jesse Grim, 1834 I
Geo. Eisenhard, 1823
I
Jacob Erdman, 1834-36-37 3
I
Peter Newhard, 1824-26-29 3
Jacob Dillinger, 1826-1828 2
Geo. Frederick, 1836-1842
2 Geo. Miller, 1816-1828 2
Martin Ritter, 1837-38-39 3 W. C. Livingstone, 1829 I
Benjamin Fogel, 1839-40-41 3
1867-1871 4I
James S. Biery, 1873-1875 43
Wm. H. Sowden, 1885-1889 49 “50
C. J. Erdman, 1893-1897 53 "54
*Died in office.
4 Geo. B. Schall, 1864-1867 I 3
I yrs. Philip Wint, 1813-1813 4
Samuel Mayer, 1824 I Alexander Miller, 1835
William Stahr, 1835 I
1
64
Peter Haas, 1840-41 Geo. S. Eisenhard, 1842
2 years.
*Boas Hausman, 1872
I year. Robert Steckel, 1872-1873 2 James Kimmett, 1873-1874 2 George F. Gross, 1874-1876 2
F. B. Heller, 1876-1878 Ernest Nagel, 1876-1878 Charles Foster, 1879-1880 Patrick Boyle, 1880-1882 Amandas Sieger, 1880-1882 W. B. Erdman, 1880-1882 Hugh Crilly, 1884-1888 M. B. Harwick, 1884-1888 4
2
Samuel Marx, 1847-48-49 3
2
Robert Klotz, 1848-1849 2
2
James S. Reese, 1854-1855 2 Joshua Frey, 1854-1855 Herman Rupp, 1856-1857 2
2
4
Tilghman Good, 1858-1860 2 Samuel Balliett, 1858-1860 2 Samuel J. Kistler, 1850-61 2
M. R. Schaffer, 1884-1888 D. D. Roper, 1887-1888-1890 6 Jeremiah Roth, 1886-1892 1898-1900 8
H. C. Wagner, 1888-1890 4 M. N. Bernhard, 1890-1894 4 Alvin Kern, 1894-1896 4 2 John H. Pascoe, 1892-1893 Joseph C. Rupp, 1892-1896 4 M. J. Lennon, 1890-1894 Perry Wannenmacher, 1894 1895 2 M. J. Kramlich, 1896-1898 4 Jonas Moyer, 1898-1900 4 Joseph W. Mayne, 1900 2
4
Daniel Creitz, 1867-1868 1869 3
Adam Woolever, 1869-1870 1871 3
Herman Fetter, 1870-1871 2
*Died in Office.
JUDGES FROM 1812 TO 1901.
Robert Porter, 1812-1831 22 years.
Garrick Mallory, 1831-1836 5
John Banks, 1836-1847 II
J. Pringle Jones, 1867-1868
A. B. Longaker, 1868-1878 IO
Washington McCarty, 1851-56 5
Edward Harvey, 1878-79 H I Edwin Albright, 1879-
ASSOCIATE JUDGES FROM 1812 TO 1874.
John Fogel, 1815-1823 8 years.
Jacob Stein, 1823-1838 16
John F. Rufe, 1838-1839 I
John F. Rufe, 1849-51 2
Joseph Sæger, 1839-1840 I
Charles Keck, 1855-56 I
Willoughby Fogel, 1856-66
IO
James Frey, 1866-71 1861-64 8
Reuben Guth, 1866-1867 I
S. J. Kistler, 1868-1871 3
Jacob Erdman, 1866-68 2
David Laury, 1868-76 8
2
Jesse Samuels, 1845 I David Laury, 1846-50-51-52-53 5 Peter Bauman, 1846-1847 2
I
Reuben Strauss, 1843-44-45 M. Jarrett, 1843
3
I
2
2
W. C. Lichtenwalner, 1860-I 2 Samuel Camp, 1862-1863 2 Nelson Weiser, 1863-1864 1865 3
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