History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 146

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards
Number of Pages: 1418

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Term. Burgess. Clerk.

1834-38 John Vanderslice. .Francis Wessels.

1839-43 Peter Womelsdorf. Francis Wessels.

1844-45. Henry Kendall David Steach.

1846 George Voneida David Steach.

1847-50 John Miller

David Steach.

1851-52 James Moore David Steach.

1853. William Bennethum. David Steach.

1854. Joseph Smith David Steach.

1855 Henry Brinkley David Steach.

1856 J. A. Claus David Steach.

1857 William Anderson David Steach.

1858-59 Martin Manderbach David Steach.

1860. Henry Binkly David Steach.

1861 Henry H. Manderbach .. David Steach.

1862

John G. Keiser. David Steach.

1863 .William Smith David Steach.

1864-65 E. Penn Smith David Steach.

1866 William G. Moore .Franklin Zerby.

1867

Isaac Y. Kintzer.

.Wm. M. Sallade.

1868 William G. Moore. Wm. M. Salladë.

1869 E. Penn Smith Wm. M. Sallade.

1870-71 B. Frank Shortell .Isaac Y. Kintzer.

1872. .John A. Matthew. Wm. M. Sallade.

1873 Charles B. Fisher. Isaac Y. Kintzer.

1874.

.James Moore.

Isaac Y. Kintzer.

1875 Michael Kolbach

Isaac Y. Kintzer.

1876. Jacob A. Wolf. Isaac Y. Kintzer.

1877 Samuel Mowry Isaac Y. Kintzer.

1878 George K. Valentine. .Isaac Y. Kintzer.

1879 B. Frank Shortell. .Isaac Y. Kintzer.

1880 Franklin S. Haak Isaac Y. Kintzer.

1881 Franklin S. Haak Isaac Y. Kintzer.

1882 Frederick A. Fidler Isaac Y. Kintzer.

1883 Simon P. Moyer Isaac Y. Kintzer.

1884 Samuel Kurtz Isaac Y. Kintzer.

1885 John F. Petree. Isaac Y. Kintzer.

John M. Smith and Isaac Y. Kintzer were the justices of the peace in 1885, the latter having served during the past seventeen years.

1 In 1835 the Rev. William Hendel was elected high con- stable, his name having been placed upon the ticket " as a good joke upon the reverend gentleman." But to the surprise of all the citizens of the borough, he accepted his commission and enforced the ordinances strictly. He was still in the ministry at the time.

875

BOROUGHS OF COUNTY.

POST-OFFICE .- The post-office at Womelsdorf was established July 1, 1807.

In 1844 Womelsdorf contained a population of nine hundred ; one hundred and twenty-five houses, three stores and three taverns; three churches,-Lutheran and German Reformed, Pres- byterian and Evangelical Association; three schools, and an academy, built in 1834, of which Rev. Morse was the principal. [Rupp.]

In July, 1850, the borough contained-

Dwelling-houses .. 159

Hotels 3

Churches. 3

Coach manufactories 2

Academy 1 Distillery

Stores 5

Tannery

Grist-mills 2

Segar manufactory ... 1 Saw-mill 1

PHYSICIANS .- A number of physicians of more than ordinary prominence have resided and prac- ticed in Womelsdorf. Among those who made a name in that profession were Drs. John Livin- good, John Lesher, William Gries, Wm. Moore, Daniel B. D. Beaver and John M. Stephen. Later practitioners are Drs. James C. Livingood, Lewis A. Livingood, Horace F. Livingood and Franklin L. Salladë.

TAVERNS .- The present Seltzer House was orig- inally a two-story building, erected before 1800. For nearly fifty years Michael Seltzer served the public as a landlord. Contemporary with him for some years was Conrad Stouch at the present Cen- tre House (which was then the stage-office). Where John H. Spatz has kept an inn the past twenty years Jacob Moyer "fed man and beast" in the pioneer days of Womelsdorf. The patron- age of taverns was then large, and all of them were great centres for the exchange of news and the transaction of business.

In the neighborhood of these inns a riot took place during the building of the Lebanon Valley Railroad, in 1856 For some cause the workmen be- came disaffected and desired to show anger against the paymasters, who had an office in the lower end of the borough. But before they could do great damage the Ringgold Light Artillery, from Read- ing, restored order by planting its guns at various points in the streets and overawing the mob. Several of the leaders were arrested, but nearly all of them managed to escape, and the excitement soon subsided.

INDUSTRIES,-The first settlers of Womelsdorf were supplied with flour made by Seltzer's mill, on the Tulpehocken, at the lower end of the bor- ough. This was an old landmark, which gave way to a new mill built by David Lauks, in 1862, and which was supplied with steam as an auxiliary power in 1877. Mahlon Fogelman is the present proprietor. Northwest of the borough Adam Brown had another grist mill, which, in an im- proved condition, is still running. A distillery was there carried on for a time by John Longenecker and others, but it has long since been discontin- ued.

The making of hats was a profitable occupation of some of the people at Womelsdorf in the early part of this century.1 Among others, Michael Petree and John and Samuel Ermentrout had shops where they manufactured all kinds of hats. A tannery was carried on by David Bennethum on Second Street, and John Palm made guns, whose reputation was not confined to the immedi- ate neighborhood. These industries have passed away. The usual shops of mechanics are carried on in the borough. The place has never encour- aged manufacturing; hence its lack of work-shops. Several general stores in the borough are afforded a large and thriving business. Pliny had a store on the Filbert corner and was in trade about the same time as Henry Hersch, whose store was where is now John Long's undertaking shop. Near by, at a later day, Peter Eckert was in trade and was followed by Lott Benson. Huff & Deck- ert and Seibert were also early merchants.

Valentine's Cigar-Factory is the most note- worthy industry in the borough. It is carried on in the Seibert mansion, and with its spacious grounds is one of the finest factories in the State ; and in the extent of its business it ranks with the leading cigar-factories in the country. The head of the firm, A. S. Valentine, began the manufac- ture of cigars at Womelsdorf, in a very small way, in 1852. As his business prospered he extended his facilities. In 1885 nearly four hundred hands were employed by his firm. Of this number, about one-third found occupation in the home fac- tory, the remainder being employed in smaller factories, at Womelsdorf and Stouchsburg, con-

1 See Rupp, page 194.

876

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

trolled by the firm. In 1876 George H. Valen- tine became associated with his father in carrying on this business. A number of buildings have been occupied by the firm, but since 1882 the factory has been at its present quarters. The trade of the firm is chiefly in the South and the West, the products being distributed through job- bing-houses, for whom special grades of work are made.

SCHOOLS .- It is said that Baron Stiegel, the unfortunate iron-master, taught a school at Wom- elsdorf in 1765, having been brought to that place by the Rev. John Nicholas Kurtz. Among other pioneer teachers, Walker Stephen is best remem- bered. He made teaching a profession and fol- lowed it with success for a period of sixty years, teaching at Womelsdorf as late as 1862. He also started the first Sunday-school at that place. In 1828 the High Schools found encouragement in the building of an academy, which was successfully carried on until about 1855. Among those active in promoting this object were Dr. William Gries, Dr. John Livingood, Andrew Taylor, John Selt- zer, John Smith, George Keiser and Jacob Sal- lade. In time it was found necessary to enlarge the building and to place the academy in charge of an incorporated 1 board of directors. Prof. Howell, Robert Kerr and William Reynolds are best remembered as successful teachers.

In a few years after the academy was aban- doned the building became the property of the Public School Board and was used until 1880, when the present High School building was erected.

In the eastern part of the borough a select school was established in 1866, through the efforts of Elias Fidler and others, and in which Miss Moore, Miss Quimby, Charles F. Evans and John S. Grumbein were successful teachers, the latter teaching last in 1875. The following year Mr. Grumbein opeued a school in a building at the railroad station, which was discontinued soon afterward, in consequence of his death, March, 1877. He was a teacher of rare ability, and also

richly endowed with inventive skill. He was particularly known as a superior mathematician.

In 1880 the High School building at Womels- dorf was erected, at a cost of about four thousand five hundred dollars. It has an eligible location on the site of the old academy, and is a fine two- story brick building. It composes four rooms, occupied by Primary, Secondary, Grammar and High Schools. The average attendance is over two hundred. At the time the building was erected the board of directors was composed of Rev. T. C. Leinbach, president; Isaac Y. Kintzer, secretary ; John Haak, treasurer ; Dr. H. B. Hamaker, C. P. Moyer and C. P. Kreitzer. An additional school is occasionally maintained in the old Uni- versalist Church, making five public schools in the borough.

CHURCHES-Zion's Lutheran and German Re- formed Church .- In 1792 adherents of the Evan- gelical Lutheran and German Reformed Churches residing at Womelsdorf and vicinity determined to jointly build a house of worship. The corner- stone of the church was laid June 30, 1792. The building was completed some years afterward.2 It was constructed of stone, and possessed the fea- tures peculiar to the church architecture of that day. . The mason-work was done by Thomas Millerd; the carpenters were Christian Miller, Philip Webber and George Strickler. The build- ing committee was composed of Heinrich Seltzer, Philip Moyer, Jacob Seltzer, Frederick Bechtold, Daniel Graeff, Johannes German, Adam Ruth, Conrad Weiser, Conrad Stouch, Heinrich Hersch, Johannes Keiser, Jacob Eckert.

Originally the building had a floor of brick. In 1867 the church was rebuilt. Peter Althouse, Samuel Filbert and John Moyer acted as the

1 Incorporated 11th of April, 1834. Charter members : William Gries, Joseph D. Biles, Lewis W. Richards, Andrew Taylor, Philip Schwalm, Samuel Petree, Michael Seltzer, Jacob Salladë, John Seltzer, George Keyser, Jr. Capital stock, $2400,

2 In reference to the erection of this church, an act was passed February 1, 1805, and Nicholas Eckart, Heury Hirsh, George Ege, Jr., Conrad Stouch, John Keiser, John Weisser and Daniel Graeff were appointed commissioners " to raise fifteen hundred dollars by lottery, to be applied in defraying expenses of erecting Zion Church and two school-houses at Womelsdorf, Berks County."

The following prizes were given to numbers drawn : $600 to No. 2528; $300 to No. 2444 ; $200 to No. 1383; $100 to Nos. 5, 1162, 1795; $50 to 18 numbers ; $25 to 40 numbers ; $10 to 70 numbers; $8 to 100 numbers ; $3 to 800 numbers. Altogether there were 1034 numbers of the value of $7200.

877

BOROUGHS OF COUNTY.

building committee. It remains substantially as they delivered it to the congregations. It is a large two-story stone edifice, supplied with a steeple and bell. In 1885 the trustees were John Moyer, Michael Seltzer and Charles P. Kreitzer. The loss of records will not permit us to give a full history of the congregations, but when the church was first built the Lutheran preacher was the Rev. Emanuel Shultz, and the Rev. Daniel Wagner the Reformed.

The Reformed congregation was served in 1885 by the Rev. Levi D. Stambaugh, in connection with other appointments. Some of the interme- diate pastors have been the Revs. Lewis D. Stickle, George Wolf, D.D., - Zehring Pauli and Wil- liam Hendel, D.D. In 1885 this congregation had two hundred and seventy-five members, and Enoch Gaul John M. Smith, Levi Manderbach, John and William Yoder as its consistory.

The Lutheran congregation at the same time had the Rev. Aaron Finfrock as pastor, he having served the church since September, 1865. He succeeded the Rev. Eggers The congregation in 1885 numbered two hundred and twenty-five, and had Thomas E. Haak, Charles Geisler, William B. Filbert and Frank Haak as elders and deacons

INTERMENTS -Among the numerous interments in Zion's Church Cemetery the following are noted :

Philip Schwalm, born 1790 ; died 1849.

Magdelen Ermentront, born 1774; died 1846.

Jacob Moyer, born 1770 ; died 1851.

John Nicholas Moyer, born 1769; died 1828. Johann Bennethum, born 1765; died 1828.

Rev. William Hendel, born 1768; died 1846. Re formed minister fifty years.

Jabez Weiser, born 1753; died 1820.

John Seltzer, born 1790; died 1858.

Joseph Kendall, born 1779; died 1826.

Conrad Stouch, boru 1757 ; died 1840.

Peter Womelsdorf, born 1787 ; died 1843.

George Bennethum, born 1789; died 1851, Philip Lash, born 1774; died 1853. John Dietrich Gries, born 1754 ; died 1833. Christopher Ermentrout, born 1754 ; died 1825. Frederick Schultz, born 1776; died 1836. George Ege, born 1748; died 1829. Johannes Kasper Reith, born 1778; died 1847. Michael Reith, born 1800; died 1829. Adam Ruth, born 1759; died 1824. John Vanderslice, born 1770; died 1846. George Ulrich, born 1797; died 1844. Johann Hoffman, born 1759; died 1835. Margaret Shoffer, born 1739; died 1815.

Robert Woods, born 1765; died 1840. Anna Salladë, born 1727 ; died 1806. John Lebo, born 1779 ; died 1805. Andrew Stonch, born 1780; died 1864. John Jacob Schoenfelder, born 1762; died 1829. Frances Moore, born 1777 ; died 1858. John Salladë, born 1768; died 1855. Johannes Filbert, born 1777 ; died 1857.

Peter Neff, born 1779; died 1854 George Ege, born 1779; died 1812.

The monument of the Ege family in this ceme- tery is worthy of special mention. The cemetery is kept in fine order.

New Lutheran Church .- In 1858 a number of persons at Womelsdorf associated for the pur- pose of maintaining worship according to the cus- toms of the new school Lutherans. For this pur- posc they secured the use of the old Presbyterian meeting-house, and they have met there statedly since. The congregation, as originally composed, has as elders, Elias Fidler and Absalom Fisher ; Deacons, Peter Spang and William M. Salladë ; and Isaac Fidler, Isaac Womelsdorf, John M. Schonour, John H Sell aud Jacob Stout were among the other members. The Rev. J. M. Ditz- ler became the first pastor, preaching about ten years, and was followed by the Revs. Uriel Graves, G. J. Mortz, E. Lenhart, P. C. Croll and Isaiah B. Christ. At one time the congregation had eighty members, but as no regular service has been maintai ed the past six months, the interest in the work has declined, and not more than half that number retain their profession.

Emanuel Evangelical Church -Members of the Evangelical Association worshipped at Womels- dorf more than fifty years ago at the houses of those who had accepted that faith, and later in a small brick meeting-house, standing at the lower end of the town. This was demolished in 1867, and the present neat church edifice erected on an adjoining lot. It is thirty-eight by sixty-five feet, two stories high and constructed of brick. The building committee were Zachariah Burns, Isaac Deppen, Isaac Miller, Ezra Price and John Yost.

In 1869 a parsonage was built on the old church lot, which is the home of the preacher in charge of Womelsdorf Circuit. This circuit embraces, be- sides the church here, appointments at Bernville, Bern, Centreport and Leesport. In 1885 the resident pastor was the Rev. J. Savitz. His pre"

878

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

decessors during the past twenty years were as fol- lows: The Revs. J. L. Ginther, D. W. Bixler, Isaac Hess, F. Sechrist, John Koehl, I. E. Knerr, A. Leopolt and C. Breyfogle, the latter having been in charge when the church was built. In 1885 the trustees were Samuel E. Dundore, Isaac P. Deppen, Samuel Mumma, John C. Bickle and A. Bauct. The membership of the church was about fifty and its service was alternately in the English and German languages.

Presbyterians .- The Presbyterians in this com- munity were always weak numerically ; but, in- spired by a zealous purpose to provide a place for English worship, a meeting house was built in July, 1834, on a lot of ground set aside for this purpose by Misses Frances Moore and Lydia Moore. In this house the Rev. Mr. Morse and others expounded the gospel, the most of the ministers being supplies from neighboring Presby- terian Churches. Preaching was conducted regu- larly and successfully for twenty years. Then, owing to the death of those mostly interested in the society, the congregation weakened and the preaching was afforded only at intervals. The Presbyterian Synod still retains its title to the church property, and, in 1885, it was held in trust for the Synod by William Livengood, William G. Moore, James Moore and John M. Stephen.

Universalists .- The Universalists also had the nucleus of a society at Womelsdorf, nearly half a century ago, and, through the efforts of the Longe- neckers, Manderbachs and others, a meeting-house was built, in which preaching was maintained at irregular periods for several years. The building was then sold to the board of school directors and is still used for school purposes.

UNION CEMETERY is controlled by an association organized in 1858, which had as directors Elias Fidler, president ; William M. Salladë, secretary ; Peter Spang, treasurer ; and Dr. William Moore and John M. Schonour. The association bought three acres of land on the hill north of the borough and west of the Union Church, which was improved for cemetery purposes, and, in 1883, purchased an addition of three acres. The whole is neatly inclosed. It is the burial-place of many of the oldest families of that part of the county, and contains a number of fine monuments. On the death of Elias Fidler and Dr. Moore, Adam

S. Valentine and William G. Moore became direc- tors. With the exception of these changes, the board of directors remains the same as when first organized.

SOCIETIES .- Williamson Lodge, No. 307, F. and A. M., was instituted at Womelsdorf, April 1, 1857, with the nine charter members named be- low : John M. Stephen, E. Penn Smith, William Moore, John M. Schonour, John H. Oberly, John H. Sell, Charles Phillips, William A Moyer and Thomas S. Searle. Dr. Stephens was the first Master of the lodge. In 1885 it had eighty-eight members.

Golden Rule Lodge, No. 159, I. O. O. F., was instituted February 16, 1846, with the following charter members : Jacob H. Boyer, Samuel Stites, Jeremiah Clouse, Jonathan Klopp, Elijah P. Smith, H. Vanderslice, William Yerger, Jacob Sutter, Daniel Smith, H. C. Dewalt, Joseph Smith, Jacob F. Peters, Edward Walborn and Benj. Spatz. In 1885 the lodge had a membership of seventy-nine.

Washington Camp, No. 67, Patriotic Sons of America, was instituted on August 6, 1869, with twenty members. It is still an active organiza- tion. In 1885 it reported a membership of one hundred and thirty-seven. Previously a camp had been in existence at Womelsdorf for a time, but it was allowed to go down.

Neversink Council, No. 127, United American Mechanics, was instituted at Womelsdorf, in 1851, with twelve charter members. The meetings of council have been held with continued interest. The present membership is seventy-three. The council has had an aggregate membership of three hundred and seventy-five.

MILITARY ENCAMPMENT .- A military encamp- ment was held at Womelsdorf in August, 1842, in which five militia companies participated, - Reading Artillerists, National Greys (Reading), Bernville Troop, Womelsdorf Rifles, Lebanon Company.

A large number of people visited the encamp- ment, and the customary amusements were exten- sively patronized.

GENERAL WASHINGTON'S VISIT .- The follow- ing account of Washington's visit to Womelsdorf has been taken from the " Life of Captain Samuel Dewees," which was published by John Smith Hanna in 1844:

879

BOROUGHS OF COUNTY.

"The young meu of Womellsdorfl' and adjoining country, fired with the same undying spirit of true patriotism, organized themselves into a volunteer com- pany, and chose me for their Captain. In 1793, if my memory serves me right, General Washington, when President of the United States, made a tonr through the eastern part of Pennsylvania, passing through Reading, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Carlisle, Chambers- burg, etc. After leaving Reading, he came to Wom- ellsdorff, where he stopped for the night. He arrived late in the evening, and put up at the public-house of my brother-in-law, Stouch. Hearing that Washing- ton had arrived, I ran around and collected ahont thirty of my men, and placed them under arms, each man having in accordance with my orders, provided himself with a powder-horn containing powder enough to fire fifteen or twenty rounds as a salute to President Washington, First Father and Saviour of his country. By the time we were in readiness it was nearly dusk, I had a capital Drummer but no Fifer, and I conld not think of marching my men to salute the great and good Washington without having music as it should be. I resolved that I would play the fife myself. I therefore sheathed my sword, appointed my First Lieutenant Captain, in part, and myself Fifer pro tem. I then placed myself by the side of my Drummer, on the right of my company. When matters were thus arranged, we marched up to Stouch's Hotel, then the quarters of President Washington, and drew up in line in front of the house. I then brought my men to an order, and as soon as President Washington ap- peared at the door of the Hotel, I quickly commanded my men to shoulder arms, and then ordered them to present arms. I had then to assist the Drummer (by playing a tnne on the fife for him) to beat the appro- priate salute. It was common in those days, and I be- lieve it is still done, when beating a salute, for the ensign or flagbearer to wave the flag at certain rolls of the drum. By the time that the musical salute was ended, President Washington had gained a posi- tion on the steps in the front door of the Hotel. He then asked for (or who was) the captain of the com- pany. I drew my sword and stepped towards him and saluted him with the usual salute of the sword. I then stepped up to him, and, with my sword in one hand and my Fife in the other, observed to him as follows :

"'Sir, I am hoth Captain and Fifer. I have a good Drummer, eir, but no Fifer, and could not think of tendering military honors to you in a patched up or lame way, and concluded, in the absence of a Fifer, to play the Fife myself, and told him my name was Dewees.'

" Washington smiled and said, 'Captain Dewees, you have been in the Revolutionary War.' 'Yes, sir,' said I. He then said, . You have played the fife dur- ing the war.' I told him that I had. He said that he knew by the tunes we had played, and by the manner in which they were played, that I had been in the Continental service. He then complimented me upon my having sacrificed my station (that of Captain) to gratify his ear with the well-to-be-remembered airs so

often heard during the Revolution in the camps of his country. He then observed :

"'Captain Dewees, you are disposed to pay great respect to me, for which I am extremely obliged to you, as also to the officers and men composing your company. But there has been so much respect paid to me on my whole route, at Reading especially, that I feel rather unpleasant when in receipt of it. I know, sir, that it is earnestly done. Although I have not done less than any man, I have always tried to serve my country faithfully, fearlessly and nobly, whether when in tho field or out of it, and in doing this, I have hut done my duty to my country and country- men, posterity and to my God. Still, sir, I do not wish to damp your pa- triotic ardour, nor the patriotic ardour of a single member of your com- pany. Nor am I to be understood, sir, as wishing to damp the generous and patriotic feelings of the men and women, citizens of Womellsdorff now present as spectators ; nor do I wish, Captain Dewees, to be viewed as despising your tender of honors. Nor do I wish you, sir, to under- stand me as forbidding you to fire a salute, but I would respectfully re- quest that it may be dispensed with, and if it will he agreeable to you and your men, that of granting my request, I hope that a salute will not be fired.' 1 replied, ' General Washington, if it is your desire that we shall not fire a salute, there shall not be a gun fired.' I then addressed myself to my men and stated that not a man would be permitted to fire a gun.

" President Washington then requested me to march my men into the house. I did so. He then ordered different kinds of liquor to be set out, and invited us to partake with him of whatever kind of liquor we should choose to drink. I then asked my men to come forward and partake of the President's treat, and ob- served that they should take a civil drink, and for each to do so in a quiet and respectful manner. After all had drank, I gave them strict orders also that no man should behave in an uncivil, rnde or noisy man- ner ; that we had called, out of respect, to render re- spect and honors to his Excellency, the President, and all things should now be conducted in a respectful and quiet manner. The President told the landlord to charge the liquor he had ordered to his bill, thanked us in a kind manner for the honors we had done him, bowed to ns, badens good-night and then retired to his room. I do not pretend to state that the President's language was in the precise words I have used, but it was tantamount thereto.

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History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 146

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards Number of Pages: 1418

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards
Number of Pages: 1418