USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > Historical and biographical annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania, embracing a concise history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I > Part 15
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To Shillington and Mohnsville (now Mohnton) in 1890; and an extension to Adamstown was con- structed in 1894.
To Womelsdorf, on the bed of the Berks and Dauphin turnpike, in 1894.
To Temple in 1902 ; which was extended to Kutz- town in 1904. A line had been extended from Al- lentown to Kutztown in 1898 and operated to that point. When the connection was made in 1904, through travel was effected from Reading to Allen- town; and this route then began to be utilized for cheap Sunday excursions to New York in the sum- mer season.
These suburban lines opened travel to all points surrounding Reading, excepting to Hamburg to the north, and to Bernville, Rehrersburg and Millers- burg to the northwest. The former point is reached conveniently by two steam railways, but the latter can still only be reached by stage lines or by pri- vate conveyance.
The extension of these lines from Reading has encouraged building operations and the develop- ment of suburban towns to a remarkable degree, more especially since 1900. This is apparent at Hyde Park to the north; at Wyomissing to the west ; at Oakbrook and Shillington to the southwest ; and at Mt. Penn and Esterly to the southeast.
Additional lines are in contemplation: from Womelsdorf to Myerstown, westward ; from Temple to Hamburg, northward; and from Lyons to Top- ton and Emaus, northward.
A line was completed in 1908 from Pottstown to Boyertown via Ringing Rocks Park and Gil- bertsville.
POST-OFFICES
The postal department of the public service is classed with the internal improvements of the coun- ty. The first attempt to systematize and regulate postal communication in the American Colonies was made by the British government in 1660; and this subject received the attention of William Penn shortly after his arrival in Pennsylvania, he having, in July, 1683, issued an order for the establishment of a post-office at Philadelphia. The postal facili- ties in that early period were only such as were af- forded by personal accommodation among the col- onists. In 1692, the rate of postage to and from Philadelphia, within a radius of eighty miles, was fourpence-halfpenny.
The office of Postmaster-General for America was created by Parliament in 1704. In 1737, Benja- min Franklin was appointed postmaster at Phila- delphia, and in 1753, deputy postmaster-general. The delivery of letters by the penny post began in 1753 ; and also the practice of advertising unclaimed letters which remained in the office at Philadelphia.
In 1774 Franklin became obnoxious to the British government, and he was therefore dismissed. This caused private arrangements to be made for carry- ing letters, and in 1775, the Colonies established their own postal department, and on July 26th Franklin was unanimously chosen postmaster-gen- eral. This was an important action in connec- tion with the movement for independence. In 1792, rates of postage were established, which remained unchanged for over fifty years.
READING OFFICE ESTABLISHED .- The first post- office in the county was established at Reading on March 20, 1793. The department had been in prac- tical existence for nearly twenty years. The popu- lation here was large and business transactions were numerous, but correspondence was limited. Letters had been carried for several years previously by a stage line to Philadelphia and to Harrisburg, at the rate of threepence postage ; and about the year 1800 they began to be carried to Sunbury once a week on horseback, and to Lancaster and Easton once a week in a private two-horse carriage. After the stage-coach had become a fixed mode of transpor- tation for people and light articles of merchandise, at regular intervals, postal matter began to be car- ried by it from place to place.
The mails were carried by stages till the intro- duction of the railways; then passenger trains were substituted.
STAMPS .- No postage stamps were issued by the national government till August, 1847, when two denominations were issued-five-cent and ten-cent. The idea of using postage stamps was first sug- gested in 1841. Previously, postage had been col- lected entirely in money ; and in all cases, pre-pay- ment was optional. The two denominations men- tioned continued in use four years; then new de- nominations for one cent and three cents appeared, and shortly afterward others for five, ten, twelve.
INDUSTRY OF COUNTY
41
49. Birdsboro
Jan. 6,
. Jan. 21, 1851
51. Manatawny
March 19, 1851
52.
Spangsville
Sept. 19, 1851
'53. Fleetwood
Feb. 16, 1852
54. Leinbach's
Feb. 16, 1852
55. Beckersville
.Feb. 18, 1852
56.
Host
April 22, 1852
57. Bechtelsville
May
7, 1852
58. Greshville
.Feb. 10, 1853
59.
Dryville
May 3, 1853
60.
Wernersville
May 3, 1853
61.
Fredericksville
. Aug. 20, 1853
62. Landis' Store
Aug. 20, 1853
63.
Maxatawny
Nov. 5, 1853
64. Mount Aetna
Oct. 2, 1854
65. Lenhartsville
. Dec. 11, 1854
66. Gouglersville
July 16, 1855
67.
Monocacy
.Jan. 29, 1856
68.
Knauer's
March
3, 1856
69.
Moselem
July
8, 1856
70.
South Evansville
July
8, 1856
71.
Windsor Castle
July
18, 1856
72.
Wintersville
July
10, 1857
73.
Temple
July
20, 1857
74. Mohn's Store*
.Nov. 6, 1857
No.
Name
Established
1. Reading
March 20, 1793
2.
Hamburg
July
1, 1798
77.
Kirbyville
. Oct. 31, 1859
78. Bower's Station
. June 25, 1860
4. Morgantown
.Jan. 1, 1806
79.
Lyons Station
.Oct. 25, 1860
5. Womelsdorf
July 1, 1807
80. Topton . Aug. 29, 1861
6. Rehrersburg
. May 27, 1818
Exeter
.Dec. 25, 1861
7.
Longswamp
April 18, 1822
Maiden Creek
April 18, 1862
8.
Blandon
Nov. 2, 1825
83.
Eagle Point
Aug. 14, 1862
9.
Klinesville
. Dec. 16, 1825
84.
Fritztown
. Nov. 12, 1862
10.
Bethel
Dec. 21, 1827
85. Alsace
.Feb. 12, 1863
11.
Brower
. Jan. 7, 1828
Aug. 28, 1863
12. Dale
.Jan. 25, 1828
May 27, 1864
13.
Colebrookdale
.Feb. 4, 1828
June 22, 1864
14.
Boyertown
. Feb. 14, 1828
89.
Lower Heidelberg
.July 1, 1864
15.
Oley
March 14, 1828
90.
Krick's Mill
. Sept. 11, 1865
16.
Brumfield
March 27, 1828
91.
Hiester's Mill
. Dec. 2, 1865
17.
Geiger's Mill
March 27, 1828
18. New Jerusalem
.May 26, 1828
19.
Douglassville
March 3, 1829
95.
Centreport
June 11, 1868
20.
Grimville
Jan. 14, 1830
96. Stony Run
. Jan. 11, 1869
21.
Shartlesville
. Feb. 9, 1830
97.
Scarlet Mill
Aug. 4, 1869
22.
Hereford
98.
Hummel's Store
. Sept. 29, 1869
23.
Joanna Furnace
99. Griesemersville
. June 29, 1870
24. Sinking Spring
. June 25, 1831
100.
Lime-Kiln
June 29, 1870
25. Stouchsburg
March 22, 1832
101.
Jacksonwald
Nov. 11, 1870
26. Bernville
Aug. 16, 1832
103.
Little Oley
April 21, 1871
28.
Pikeville
March 12, 1834
105.
West Leesport
.Sept. 30, 1872
:29.
Pricetown
. Feb. 6, 1835
106. Huff's Church
March
2, 1874
30.
Lobachsville
April '10, 1835
107. Trexler
. Nov. 9, 1874
31.
Baumstown
. Dec. 21, 1835
108. East Berkley
March 12, 1875
32. Mohrsville
May 10, 1836
109.
Bern May 23, 1878
June 6, 1878
34. Tuckerton
. Jan. 26, 1838
111.
Stony Creek Mills
. May 20, 1879
35. Earlville
Aug. 2, 1838
112. Meckville
.Dec. 17, 1879
36. Molltown
Aug. 30,. 1839
113.
Berks . Dec. 23, 1879
Vinemont
April 19, 1880
'38.
Lower Bern
June 12, 1841
115.
Garfield
June 25, 1880
39.
Albany
. Dec. 23, 1845
116.
Kempton
. May 17, 1881
40. Moselem Springs
Jan. 14, 1846
117.
Barto
March 16, 1882
41. Stonersville
. Jan. 18, 1847
118.
Angelica
May 22, 1882
42. Monterey
May 19, 1847
119.
Eckville
Sept. 8, 1882
43. Strausstown
Nov. 18, 1847
120.
New Berlinville
Feb. 23, 1883
44. Robesonia Furnace
121. Bally
Aug. 7, 1883
45. Crosskill Mills
. Oct. 16, 1849
122.
Schweyers
April 14, 1884
46. Siesholtzville
. Nov. 8, 1849
123. Shamrock Station
. May 14, 1884
47. Tulpehocken
March 19, 1850
124. Schubert
June 6, 1884
-48.
Clayton
June 21, 1850
*Changed to Mohnton Aug. 0, 1906.
.
93.
Mountain
Sept. 19, 1866
94.
102.
Pine Iron Works
. Feb. 24, 1871
27. Shoemakersville
. Jan. 14, 1833
104.
Monocacy Station
May 13, 1872
33.
Gibraltar
June 16, 1836
110.
Cacoosing
37. Virginville
Aug. 30, 1839
114.
.
50.
Leesport
twenty-four, thirty and ninety cents. In 1861 this series was called in by the postmaster-general, and a new series issued. On July 1, 1863, the first two- cent stamp appeared; which was to accommodate local postage. In 1869 a new series was issued, of the denominations of one, two, three, five, six, ten, fifteen, thirty and ninety cents; and a year after- ward, the following designs were adopted for these stamps: One-cent, Franklin; two-cent, Jackson; three-cent, Washington; five-cent, Jackson; six- cent, Lincoln; ten-cent, Jefferson; fifteen-cent, Webster; thirty-cent, Hamilton ; ninety-cent, Perry. Designs of persons on stamps in honor of distin- guished representative men of our country had been in use from their first introduction, particularly of Franklin and Washington.
POST-OFFICES OF COUNTY .- The following post- offices have been established in the county. They are arranged in the order of their priority.
Dec. 8, 1857
76. Cumru
March
6, 1858
3. Kutztown
July 1, 1805
82.
86. Upper Bern
87.
Hill Church
88. North Heidelberg
92.
Yellow House
May 9, 1866
Shanesville
May 2, 1867
March 6, 1830
.Dec. 29, 1830
81.
75. Mertztown
. Feb. 28, 1849
42
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
125. Shillington
July 14, 1884
Angelica
May 31, 1905
126. Lorah
Dec. 5, 1884
Basket
.May 31, 1905
127. Athol
. Jan. 6, 1885
Baumstown
April 30, 1904
128. Walter's Park
March
3, 1885
Beckersville
. Oct. 31, 1906
129.
Krumville
July 7, 1885
Brower
Jan. 31, 1903
130.
Calcium
July 7, 1885
Brumfieldville
Aug. 15, 1906
132.
Schofer
.Feb. 26, 1886
Cross-kill Mills
June 15, 1905
133.
Obold
April 20, 1886
134.
Eshbach
May 3, 1886
135.
Dreibelbis
June 10, 1886
March 31, 1904
East Berkley
April 30, 1908
137.
Dengler's*
Nov. 19, 1887
138. Hancock
March 3, 1888
139. . Strause
Aug. 28, 1900
140. Greenawalt
March 20, 1903
RURAL FREE DELIVERY .- The following 58 rural free delivery routes were established in Berks coun- ty from 1900 until Dec. 1, 1908, the first having been established at Hamburg in the extreme north- ern part of the county, Sept. 1, 1900, and their ar- rangement being set forth in the order of priority:
Office
Routes
Established
Hamburg
2
Sept. 1, 1900
Reading
1
Oct. 1, 1901
Douglassville
4
Feb. 2, 1903
Fleetwood
1 July 1, 1903
Bechtelsville
2
July 1, 1903
May 31, 1908
Shoemakersville
1
July 1, 1903
Jan. 31, 1907
Oakbrook
Oct. 31, 1906
Obold Oct. 15, 1907
Passmore
March 31, 1908
Pikeville
. June 30, 1906
Pricetown
June 30, 1905
Schubert
Nov. 30, 1905
Schweyers
. Nov. 30, 1904
Scull Hill
Oct. 14, 1905
South Evansville
.Jan. 31, 1907
Stonetown
April
1, 1904
Strausstown
April 30, 1907
Tuckerton
June 15, 1905
Upper Bern
. Sept. 29, 1906
Windsor Castle
May 31, 1906
Wintersville
Jan. 14, 1905
MAIL OF DISCONTINUED OFFICES
The mail formerly addressed to the following discon- tinued post-offices, is sent as follows :
Alsace mail to
Oley
Angelica mail to
Mohnton
Baumstown mail to Birdshoro
Beckersville mail to
. Geiger's Mills
Brower mail to . Douglassville
Brumfieldville mail to Douglassville
Cacoosing mail to
Sinking Spring
Colebrookdale mail to
Pottstown
Crosskill Mills mail to
Myerstown
Cumru mail to Shillington
Dale mail to
. Barto
Eagle Point mail to
Kutztown
East Berkley mail to
Blandon
Eckville mail to Albany
Exeter mail to Lorane
Garfield mail to
Bernville
Gouglersville mail to
Reinholds
Greshville mail to
Boyertown
Heidelberg Lower mail to
Wernersville
Alleghenyville
Oct. 31, 1905
Alliance
Oct. 13, 1905
Hiester's Mill mail to
. Robesonia
Kirbyville mail to
Fleetwood
2
Šept.
1, 1903
Boyertown
1
Oct. 15, 1903
Kutztown
1
April
1, 1904
Robesonia
2
April 1, 1904
Birdsboro
2
May 2, 1904
Sinking Spring
3
Sept. 1, 1904
Reading
1
Oct. 15, 1904
Geiger's Mills
1
Nov. 1904
Blandon
1
Nov. 15, 1904
Fleetwood
Nov. 15, 1904
Leesport
Nov. 15, 1904
Shoemakersville
1
Temple
1
Mertztown
1
Dec. 1, 1904
Boyertown
1
Stouchsburg
Jan. 16, 1905
Wernersville
Jan. 15, 1905
Kutztown
1
Barto
2
Mertztown
1
West Leesport
1
Oley
3
Bernville
1
Kempton
May 1. 1905
Mohnsville
1
Oley
1
May 15, 1905
Geiger's Mills
1
May 23, 1905
Mohrsville
1
Aug. 1, 1905
Bernville
1
Oct. 16, 1905
Mohnsville
1
Nov. 1, 1905
Virginville
1
Nov. 15, 1905
Bethel
1
Dec. 1, 1905
Stony Creek Mills
1
Nov. 1, 1906
Lenhartsville
1
April 16, 1907
The following fifty offices have been discontinued since 1900 as a direct result of introducing the rural free delivery :
POST-OFFICES DISCONTINUED
Office
Date
* Changed to Mount Penn, December 11, 1903.
Cacoosing
Dale Dec. 14, 1903
Dreibelbis
Nov. 30, 1905
Eagle Point
136.
Scull Hill
Aug. 30, 1887
Eshbach
.Feb. 28, 1907
Freeman
June 15, 1905
Gablesville
Aug. 15, 1906
Garfield
Jan. 31, 1907
Gouglersville
Jan. 14, 1906
Greenawalt
April 29, 1905
Greshville
Aug. 15, 1906
Grill Jan. 31, 1907
Nov. 14, 1904
Huffs Church
. Oct. 31, 1906
Kirbyville
. June 30, 1903
Knauer's
. Oct. 31, 1905
Leinbach's
Jan. 31, 1907
Lesher
Jan. 15, 1906
Liscum
Feb. 15, 1905
Lobachsville
June 30, 1906
Lorah
Jan. 31, 1907
Lower Heidelberg
Jan. 31, 1907
Moselem
.Dec. 14, 1907
Moselem Springs
North Heidelberg
Nov. 15, 1904
Nov. 15, 1904
Jan. 2, 1905
1
2
Feb. 1, 1905
Feb. 15, 1905
Feb. 15, 1905
Feb. 15, 1905
April 15, 1905
May 1, 1905
2
May 15, 1905
1
1
131.
Robesonia
. Jan. 15, 1886
.Oct. 31, 1902
Heidelberg North mail to
Robesonia
Hamburg
Harlem
43
INDUSTRY OF COUNTY
Knauer's mail to
Mohnton
Leinbach's mail to
. Reading R. F. D. No. 2
Lobachsville mail to Oley
Longswamp mail to
. Mertztown
Lorah mail to Sinking Spring
Lower Bern mail to
Robesonia
Obold mail to
Robesonia Oley
Pikeville mail to
Pricetown mail to
.Fleetwood
Schweyers mail to Mertztown
Siesholtzville mail to Alburtis
South Evansville mail to West Leesport
Stonetown mail to . Birdsboro
Strause mail to West Leesport
Tuckerton mail to Reading R. F. D. No. 2
Upper Bern mail to Hamburg
Windsor Castle mail to Hamburg
Wintersville mail to
. Richland
OFFICES IN COUNTY
The following offices were in Berks county in January, 1909. The figures after post-offices denote number of rural free delivery routes running from that office.
Albany
Maxatawny
Athol
Meckville
Bally
Mertztown-2
Barto-2
Mohnton-2
Bechtelsville-2
Mohrsville-1
Berks
Molltown
Berne
Monocacy
Bernharts
Monocacy
Station
Bethel-1
Monterey
Blandon-1
Bowers Station
Mountain
Boyertown
Mountain Sunset
Calcium
Mount Penn
Centreport
New Berlinville
Chapel
New Jerusalem
Clayton
Oley-4
Dauberville
Pine Iron Works
Douglassville-4
Plowville
Dryville
Reading-2
Earlville
Rehrersburg
Esterly
Robesonia-2
Fleetwood-2
Fredericksville
Scarletts Mill
Fritztown.
Schofer
Gibraltar
Shamrock Station
Griesemersville
Shanesville
Grimville
Hamburg-4
Shillington
Shoemakersville-2
Hereford
Sinking Spring-3 Spangsville
Host
Stonersville
Hummel's Store
Stony Creek Mills-1
Jacksonwald
Stony Run
Joanna
Stouchsburg-1
Strausstown
Klinesville
Temple-1
Topton
Trexler
Kutztown Landis Store
Virginville-1
Leesport-1
Walter's Park
Lenhartsville
Wernersville-2
Limekiln
West Leesport-1
West Reading
Little Oley Lorane
Womelsdorf
Lyons Station
Wyomissing
Maiden-creek
Yellow House
TELEGRAPH
In 1844, the telegraph was successfully intro- duced for the transmission of messages by elec- tricity. The first message was sent through a wire elevated on poles between Washington and Balti- more, May 27, 1844. Congress had (in March previously) appropriated $30,000 to Prof. Morse for experiments with his instrument, to demonstrate the practicability of his invention.
P. R. & P. T. Co .- A company was incorporated under the name of Philadelphia, Reading & Potts- ville Telegraph Company, by an Act passed March 15, 1847, for the purpose of making, using and maintaining telegraph lines between Philadelphia, Reading and Pottsville, and commissioners were ap- pointed to effect its organization. This company was organized in April, and the telegraph line was suc- cessfully established shortly afterward. Communi- cation was completed between Philadelphia and Reading on May 10, 1847 ; and the first message for- warded to Reading related to the Mexican war. The line has been maintained successfully. ever since.
.Upon the construction and operation of the sev- eral railroads running from Reading, telegraph lines were extended to Harrisburg, Allentown, Col- umbia, Lancaster, Slatington, and Wilmington.
WESTERN UNION .- The American Telegraph Company introduced a line of telegraph here in 1863; and, in 1865, the Western Union Telegraph Company. These two then formed a union; and the lines have been operated since under the latter name. In 1879, this company and the Philadelphia, Reading & Pottsville Telegraph Company effected an arrangement for co-operation; since then they have conducted their lines together.
LEHIGH .- The Lehigh Telegraph Company was organized at Allentown, and opened an office at Reading in September, 1880. It formed a connec- tion with the principal cities in the United States through the American Union Telegraph Company, but this connection was continued only for a year and a half, when it was changed to the "Mutual Union" for an equal period, and it was operated under this name till January, 1884, when its lines, etc., were transferred to the Bankers' & Merchants' Telegraph Company. This company has been op- erating the lines under the name of the United Lines Telegraph Company, by which it is known throughout the country. At Reading it is known as the "Postal."
TELEPHONE
PENNSYLVANIA .- The telephone was introduced at Reading by Henry W. Spang, in October, 1879. He organized a system of communication in the city and carried it on successfully until November, 1880, when he formed a stock company for main- taining lines and exchanges in Berks, Montgomery, Schuylkill and Lebanon counties, under the name
Geiger's Mills-3
Siesholtzville
Shartlesville
Hancock
Hill Church
Kempton-2
Krick's Mill Krumsville
Vinemont
Manatawny
Ryeland
Birdsboro-2
Morgantown
Mount Aetna
Bernville-2
Montello
44
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
of East Pennsylvania Telephone Company. This company then extended the system, making con- nection with Pottstown, Pottsville, and Lebanon; set up an increased number of instruments, and operated it successfully until Jan 1. 1883, when the entire business, including wires and instruments, was transferred to the Pennsylvania Telephone Company, a similar organization, which had ex- tended its lines to Lebanon from Harrisburg. The latter company has since conducted the business very successfully. The extent of its system in the county until March, 1909, is shown in the following particulars :
Miles of wire in county, 7,720 (of which 6,200 are in Reading).
Instruments in county, 3,776 (of which 3,332 are in Reading).
Operators, 45; employees, 115.
Estimated daily calls, 25,000.
CONSOLIDATED .- The Consolidated Telephone Companies of Pennsylvania was organized under the laws of Pennsylvania in August, 1901, and by June, 1902, the plant was established in Berks coun- ty with a "central exchange" at Reading. In Feb- ruary, 1909, lines radiated from the exchange for a distance of forty miles from Reading, touching all the small towns and villages in the county; and the toll system had connections covering a radius of several hundred miles to all points in Pennsyl- vania, New Jersey, Maryland and West Virginia, and also to many points in New York and Ohio. The subscribers in Berks county numbered 3,200.
In the system at Reading, there were then 1,161 miles of wire; underground in multiple duct con- duits, more especially in the central parts of the city, 34 miles.
OIL PIPE LINES
The National Transit Company constructed a pipe line, for the purpose of conveying petro- leum, in the fall of 1897 from Millway, in Lancaster county, through the lower end of Berks county by way of Maple-Grove school-house, White-Bear Station, Douglassville Station, and Maxatawny Sta- tion, to a place called Centre Bridge on the east- bank of the Delaware river in Bucks county, fifteen miles north of Trenton. The line was constructed from the oil fields of northern Pennsylvania, which connected with lines conveying oil from West Vir- ginia.
In the fall of 1908 a similar line was constructed by A. C. Bedford across the central section of Berks county from the pumping station near Myers- town to a pumping station located at Barto, near the railroad station, private persons purchasing the right of way presumably in behalf of the Standard Oil Company. The capacity of this line is about 20,000 gallons a day. It is a continuation of the line from the oil fields in Illinois, which enters Penn- sylvania near Negley, in Ohio, and passes a point south of Altoona and Duncannon to Myerstown, and from Barto by way of Quakertown to Centre Bridge ; from which point it is pumped by way of other pipe lines to the seaboard, where it is refined.
CHAPTER III - EDUCATION IN COUNTY
RELIGION
The spirit of religion was manifested by the first inhabitants from the very beginning of their set- tlements in this section of Pennsylvania. They did not erect churches immediately because they were obliged to look after the erection of homes for them- selves and barns for their stock and products, and to get the soil in proper condition for cultivation. Naturally, this required some years and until they secured churches of their own, they traveled long distances toward Philadelphia for the purpose of attending worship. Funerals were necessarily conducted in their homes, and burials were made in small lots of ground set apart in the far corner of an adjoining field.
By studying the time of the erection of the churches in the several sections of the county, it is apparent that the subject of religion occupied a great deal of public attention, and that the feeling was general. Members of the Lutheran denomina- tion erected the first church in the county, a small church in the southerly end of Amity township near the Schuylkill river, about 1703, having been Swedes; and members of the Friends' Society es- tablished the next church, locating it in the ex- treme upper end of the township, about 1725.
FIRST CHURCH IN COUNTY
The territory lying between the South Mountain and North (or Blue) Mountain ranges was not yet released by the Indians. Nevertheless, the set- tlers in the Tulpehocken section, being Lutherans from the Palatinate, established a church along the Tulpehocken creek at the western end of the main thoroughfare. This was also about 1725. Accord- ingly, three churches were established in this part of the Province until 1725.
During the next twenty-five years, thirty-five additional churches were established by different de- nominations. So that by the time the county was erected, in 1752, there were altogether thirty-eight churches within its borders, south of the Blue Mountain. There was also one beyond the moun- tain (the "Red Church"), settlers having ventured into that region of territory. Their distribution in the several sections was as follows:
Sections
Lutheran
Reformed
L. and R. (Union)
Friends
Baptist
H Dunkard
Episcopal
Moravian
Roman Catholic
Mennonite
Manatawny
2
2
1
Tulpehocken
4
1
2
2
Schuylkill
1
2
1
9
5 | 8 |
5
2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 |1
This table reveals the fact that the religious in- fluence in this large area of territory, about thirty miles square, was mostly directed by the Lutheran and Reformed denominations; and this was so in all the sections in about the same proportions ex- cepting the Schuylkill section, where there was no Lutheran nor Reformed congregation at all until 1765. This controlling influence has been continued throughout the county from that time until now, not only in the country districts but also in the city of Reading and the boroughs.
In the next twenty-five years, until the Revolu- tion broke out in 1775, fifteen additional churches were established as follows :
East of the Schuylkill river, 2 Lutheran, 4 Re- formed, 4 Union, and 1 Episcopal (at Reading) ; and west of the river, 1 Lutheran and 3 Union.
The Molatton Lutheran Church in Amity had become Episcopal in 1765.
At that time, there were in the county 53 churches.
DENOMINATIONS DESCRIBED
LUTHERAN .- Immediately after Penn had arrived in Pennsylvania, a number of Germans immigrated to the province and among them there were Luth- erans. The tide of their immigration began in ear- nest in 1710. Then about three thousand immi- grants, chiefly Lutherans, settled in New York, hav- ing been encouraged to do so by Queen Anne, after leaving the Palatinate on account of religious intol- erance, and arriving in England. In 1713, one hun- dred and fifty families settled in Schoharie, New York, some of which ten years afterward came to Tulpehocken, Pennsylvania. In 1727, a large num- ber of them came into Pennsylvania from various
1
1
Ontelaunee
46
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
parts of Germany, chiefly from the Palatinate; and it is believed that many of these settled in this sec- tion of territory, along the Manatawny and Tulpe- hocken creeks.
The Lutheran religion existed in the county, both with the Swedes and Germans to the east of the Schuylkill and also with the Germans to the west. Many of the Germans were adherents of the Re- formed religion. The churches built by these de- nominations were mostly "union" churches. In nearly every instance the members of the two de- nominations united in bearing the cost jointly,- having appointed separate committees to co-operate in conducting the building operations. And the church services alternated every two Sundays.
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