USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > History of Berks county in Pennsylvania > Part 155
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AMITY. WASHINGTON.
COLEBROOKDALE.
RUSCOMB-MANOR.
DOUGLASS. ROCKLAND.
EXETER.
DISTRICT.
ALSACE.
EARL.
MUHLENBERG.
PIKE.
They are arranged and treated in the order of priority of settlement and erection. Reading is situated within this section ; but it is treated separately as the county-seat in Chapter XXIII.
The central portion of this large section of territory is almost surrounded by hills. These hills form natural water-sheds for the section, whereby the streams are drawn through the several parts, south, east, north and west, af fording invaluable irrigation and industrial power. The hills to the eastward and north- ward have been known for over one hundred and fifty years as the " Oley Hills ;" and those to the westward for nearly the same period as the hills of " Ruscomb Manor," and " Penn's Manor,"-the latter including " Neversink " in Alsace, and "Schwartzwald" in Exeter. The greater proportion of the land is rather elevated and rolling ; and about a fourth part of it is wood-land.
STREAMS .- The principal streams are Mana- tawny, Monocacy and Antietam. The Mana- tawny is the largest and longest stream. It has three sources, which nnite near Pleasantville,- Beaver Creek, East Branch and West Branch. From the junction the Manatawny flows south- wardly through the eastern part, and near the line of Oley ; thence southeastwardly through Upper Amity and Central Douglass, into and through the extreme southwestern corner of Montgomery County into the Schuylkill. From its source to its mouth it is about twenty- five miles long, only three miles being in Montgomery County. In Douglass, near Pine Iron-Works, the Iron-stone Creek flows into it. The Manatawny and all its tributaries have a total length of fifty-six miles.
The Monocacy rises in the eastern part of Alsace and western part of Oley, and flows southwardly through Exeter and Amity into the Schuylkill, a length of eleven miles. It has two branches which, flow into it on the east,-Little Monocacy and Limekiln.
The Antietam rises in Ruscomb-manor, and flows south wardly through Alsace and Exeter into the Schuylkill, a length of nine miles.
To the westward the minor noteworthy streams are Rose Valley Run, Bernhart's Run
930
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
and Laurel Run. All empty into the Schuyl- kill.
Besides the streams mentioned, the following rise in this section: Willow Creek, Sacony and Perkiomen, with its tributaries, West Branch and Swamp Creek.
The total length of the streams and their tributaries in this section is over one hundred miles.
The water system of this territory is thor- ough. It plays a very important part in its prosperity. It affords invaluable and constant water-power. This power was appreciated by the first settlers, having been appropriated by them for mills, and subsequently utilized for forges, furnaces and factories.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. - Numerous roads have been laid out in this territory. Each township is well supplied. The most prominent roads of considerable length in this section are the following : Four from Reading, -1, to Boyertown (via Stonersville), eighteen miles ; 2, to Friedensburg, nine miles; 3, to Pricetown, nine miles; 4, to Kutztown (via Temple). Two roads lead from Amityville,- one by way of Friedensburg and Pricetown to Blandon, and the other by way of Yellow House, Pleasantville and Stony Point to Kutz- town. And a road leads from Boyertown, via Shultzville and Claytonville, to Lehigh County, ten miles.
Two turnpikes have been constructed in the section,-the " Perkiomen," from county line via Douglassville and Baumstown to Reading, and the " Centre," from Reading to Tuckerton, which extends nortwardly, via Leesport and Hamburg, to the county line. A short turn- pike has also been constructed in the extreme eastern part through Hereford.
Three railroads extend through it, viz. : The Philadelphia and Reading, along the Schuyl- kill River through the lower portion of Doug- lass, Amity, Exeter and Alsace and the central portion of Reading and Muhlenberg, for twenty miles ; the East Pennsylvania, through Read- ing and Muhlenberg, for six miles ; and the Colebrookdale, through Douglass, Colebrook- dale and Washington, for ten miles-altogether thirty-six miles.
The Schuylkill Canal extends along the river, through Reading and Muhlenberg, to " Stoudt's Ferry," a distance of nine miles.
OLEY TOWNSHIP.
The district of Oley comprised the greater part of Manatawny section for a number of years till 1720. Next to " Manathanim " (Manatawny), it was the first name given to any considerable tract of territory in this re- gion of the province, and by it the early settlers designated the locality. Strictly speaking, the district included only those lands in the central portion which were surrounded by hills. This circumstance led the Indians to name them Olink, and from this word the first settlers de- rived the name Oley.1 Its first appearance in a written form was in the patent to Isaac le Turk,2 granted to him for three hundred acres of land taken up in 1712. At that time there were two other settlers who had taken up lands by patent, named John le Dee and John Fred- erickfull. The land of the former was situated along the " Little Manatawny " (now adjoining Friedensburg), and in a continuous line of transmission for one hundred and seventy-four years, it has passed from father to son, grand- sons and great-grandsons to the present genera- tion.
Before the year 1700 William Penn had granted to different parties the right to take up lands in Pennsylvania, by virtue of which right certain large tracts were taken up in Oley. Actual possession was not taken by the original grantees when the right was given to them, but some years after 1700 by subsequent grantees. Prominent representative ancestors of some of the first families in the county ob-
1 It has been suggested that possibly the name arose from Oleye, a community in the Belgian province of Lüttich Circuit, Waremme, from which the first settlers may have emigrated.
2 Isaac le Turk had previously been settled on the Quas- sick Creek, in Dutchess County, New York, having emi- grated from the country along the Rhine, with twelve thousand Germans, upon the invitation of Queen Anne. In 1709 he was registered there as a husbandman, unmar- ried, aged twenty-three years. He left in 1711, and mi- grated to Oley in 1712.
931
TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.
tained lands under these grants, among them having been John Hoch 1 and John Yoder, and the lands purchased by them over one hundred and sixty years ago have been transmitted from generation to generation in their respective de- scendants to the present time.2
The Friends made early settlements in this district, prominent amongst them having been George Boone, Sr., and Anthony Lee.8 Boone
1 In a deed from William Penn to John Snashold, of Chiddington, Sussex County, England, dated 26th of May, 1682, for a tract of five hundred acres of land in Pennsyl- vania, it is mentioned as "in his actual possession now being." This tract was subsequently conveyed to William Ranberry, and by Ranberry, on 30th of January, 1728, to John Hoy (Hoch). A part of this land is now owned and possessed by Gideon Hoch, who has (amongst the title pa- pers) the original patent of 1682. Snashold did not have possession in point of fact, but in point of law.
2 See "Oley and Vicinity," manuscript history by Dr. Peter G. Bertolet, in the possession of the Pennsylvania Historical Society at Philadelphia, which contains a valua- ble collection of data relating to the early settlers of Oley, to the genealogy of their families, to the Indians and to other interesting topics. Dr. Bertolet had intended to publish this history, but was prevented by his untimely death. He was a man of unusual intelligence and dis- played great energy in behalf of our early county history. (See sketch in Medical chapter of this history.)
3 Arthur Lee settled in Oley about 1718. He was a na- tive of England. It is possible that he came into this sec- tion of Philadelphia County with George Boone, Sr. He then took up a large tract of land on the west branch of the Manatawny Creek, and Boone took up a large tract several miles to the west, along the Monocacy Creek. There had been an Indian village on his land, which was, doubt- less, removed beyond the South Mountain about that time, when the land was released to the Penns by the Indians. By a tradition in the Lee family, the Indians were for a time neighbors of Arthur Lee, and they showed a high respect for him on account of his principles, -they know- ing that he was one of the class of men to which the Penns helonged. At one time these Indians, hearing that a hostile tribe intended to make an incursion into the set- tlement, came and notified him, but not without an appar- ently cruel demonstration. They visited his home in the night-time, painted and equipped as if to carry on warfare. Their formidable attitude alarmed the family, especially the younger members, who, in consequence, made some ef- forts to escape. But they assured the family that they came to notify and prepare them for a threatened invasion, rather than do any injury. They came disguised in this manuer so as to deceive the Indians in case they should meet them. They then inquired of Mr. Lee for a confirma tion of this alarming report; but they learned from him that it was untrue. This information delighted them.
served as a justice of the peace for many years, and practiced surveying, having surveyed a number of the townships in proceedings for their erection. He was the grandfather of Daniel Boone, the Kentucky pioneer. He took up a tract of four hundred acres in Oley (now Exeter) in 1718, about which time he settled there and erected and carried on the first mill in this section of the province. His son, James Boone, was a superior mathemati- cian and served as one of the provincial judges of the county.
EARLY PROMINENT ROADS.4-At the March sessions of court at Philadelphia, in 1735, a peti- tion was presented to extend the Tulpehocken road (laid out in 1727) from the Schuylkill River to Oley. Mordecai Lincoln, Marcus Hul- ings, James Thompson, Peter Robeson, Benjamin Booneand Thomas Potts were appointed viewers. At June sessions, 1736, they reported " a road from the ford of the Schuylkill at the end of the Tulpehocken road 5 to the road from Oley to Philadelphia, in length thirty-seven hundred and twenty-six perches, or 11.64 miles." The course of this road occupied, in a general way, the present road from Reading via Black Bear, Jacksonwald and Stonersville to Amityville.
At that session also (June, 1736) a petition was presented for a road from Jacob Levan's mill, in Maxatawny, to the " King's Highway," by John Yoder's fence in Oley. John High, John Yoder, Jr., Samuel Golden, Benj. Langa- worthy, Abraham Ashman and Thomas Ellis (all residents of Oley) were appointed viewers. They laid out the road. It is now called the "Kutztown Road," and extends from Pleasant- ville, via Lobachsville and Stony Point, to Kutz- town.
INDIAN VILLAGES.6-The Indians had a prominent settlement in this township. They had villages scattered at different places. One was situated a little north of the " Moravian
They shot off their guns into the air with a shout cf exul- tation, and returned to their homes .*
4 See " Early Roads" in Amity township.
5 At the Penn Street bridge, Reading.
6 Bertolet's "Oley and Vicinity."
* Rupp's " History of Berks County," p. 231.
932
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
School-house," near the foot of "Grand Hill," on the farm occupied by Jared Hoch. Five springs were at that point. Engle Peters was a near neighbor, with whom, it is said, they were upon intimate terms. He was a blacksmith by occupation and in appearance large and power- ful. The Indians frequently visited his shop. Another village was on the Bertolet farm, at " Clay Slate Hill." The largest village was on the Lee farm, where marks of numerous graves existed till about 1860. The spot was called " Lee's Field," having doubtless been a bury- ing-ground of the Indians. Some of the In- dians continued to live in that vicinity for a score of years after the territory was sold by them to the proprietaries. One of their em- ployments was basket-making, in which they were expert. Upon the breaking out of the " French and Indian War " all intimacy be- tween them and the settlers ceased.
In May, 1728, George Boone-a justice of the peace, residing in Oley township-addressed the following interesting letter to Patrick Gor- don, Deputy Governor of the province, in refer- ence to the unsettled and uncertain condition of the inhabitants, which arose from the threaten- ing attitude of the Indians :
"Our condition at present looks with a bad Vizard, for, undoubtedly, the Indians will fall down upon us very suddenly. Our Inhabitants are generally fled. There remain about twenty men with me to guard my mill,1 where I have about 1000 bushels of wheat and flour ; and we are resolved to defend ourselves to the last extremity and not to quit our habitations if we can have any succor from you. Wherefore I desire the Governor and Council to take onr cause into con- sideration and speedily send some messengers to the Indians, and some arms and ammunition to us, with some strength also, in order to defend our frontiers. Otherwise we shall undoubtedly perish and our pro- vince laid desolate and destroyed. The bearer is able to inform you with his own mouth the cause of my writing." 2
FIRST ASSESSMENT LIST .-- No assessment lists have as yet come to light for this district for the period between 1719 and 1734. But fortu- nately, in spite of the gross and inexcusable carelessness of the county officials, a record of
the taxable inhabitants of Philadelphia County for the year 1734 has been found. It was pre- sented to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, in whose careful and worthy possession it is now. It includes four districts-which were then recognized, though not yet established- now parts of Berks County : Oley, Amity, Colebrookdale and Maxatawny. The names of the taxables and the quantity of land held by each taxable, upon which quit-rents were paid, for Oley, were as follows :
Acree.
Acres.
George Hunter. .250
John Yoder 200
John Yoder, Junior .300
George Boon, Junior .250
John High 300
Abraham Levant .150
Philip Killwaine. 200
Samuel High 150
Jonathan Herbine. ,200
John Snyder .200
Elizabeth Bartolet .200
Samuel Golding.
.200
John De Turk
300
David Caughman ,300
John Kearson .100
Margaret Kearson .300
Francie Rutter .150
John Fieher. 100
John Lineabah .250
Martin Shinkle 100
Abraham Aeheman
150
Martin Wyler
.100
Robert Stapleton 200
Mary Messersmith 100
Benjamin Langaworthy .400
Christian Weeks 100
David Garrad .. 100
Maximilian Sheaper 200
Gabriel Boyer
.. 150
Isaac Levant 230
Benjamin Boon 200
John Collins 100
Rudolph Heagler 250
George Rutter 150
John Englehart 150
Martin Allstadt 150
Squire Boon 250
Peter Furnawald .100
John Ellis.
.150
Peter Bingaman.
100
Ellie Hugh
.200
In 1741 fifty-eight taxables were reported for the township.
ERECTION OF TOWNSHIP .- On September 5, 1720, a petition was presented to court, at Philadelphia, in which the petitioners represent- ed that they were settled on lands adjoining Amity, altogether about ten thousand acres, and requested that, owing to the inconveniences under which they labored, that said land should be erected into a township by the name com- monly known. It was signed by the following inhabitants, mostly in German handwriting :
John Longworthy. John Yoder.
Benjamin Longworthy. John Henry Kirsten. Hans Helfin Week.
Hans Schneider.
George Kreider.
Henry Baker.
Johannes Keihm.
Hans Klemer.
Peter Bertolet.
I The Boone mill was situated on the Monocacy Creek, several miles from the Schuylkill.
1 Penna. Arch., 218.
Jacob Koch.
Adam Weidnor. .. 100
Peter Baaly 200
Jonas Yoder. .150
John Kimee. 100
Anthony Lee. 400
Sebastian Groff 10
Peter Shillpert. 200
Jacob De Plank 100
Engle Peters.
150
Andrew Bally 200
Nicholas Lesher 150
Hance Mirtle
150
David Jones,
100
John Webb, 200
George Boon
200
Thomas Ellis
200
John Bartolet 200
Arnold Houghnaile. 200
Christopher Bittle 100
Daniel Wilkinson 12
933
TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.
Isaac de Türek.
Samuel Saul.
Philip Kuhlwein.
Jonathan Herbein.
Hans Siegfried. Jacob Stauber.
Abram Zimmerman. Arnold Huffnagle.
Engel Pötter. Anthony Lee.
Jacob Plank. Jost Joder.
Johannes Jung. George Boon.
Martin Schenkel.
Peter Trakseler.
Isaac Lennerd. Richard Gregrey.
Abraham Ashman.
Action on this petition was delayed for some unknown reason for twenty years before the township was regularly erected.
The application for the erection of the town- ship was renewed in June, 1740. A petition, signed by fifty-four subscribers, was presented to court, in which they asked for viewers to fix the boundary lines. Viewers were appointed, and on September 1, 1740, they made the fol- lowing return :
" Beginning at a corner of Thomas Pott's land in the Amity township line; thence N. 70 W., 591 ps .; S. 20 W., 36 ps., to the North side of the King's road leading from Philadelphia to Tulpehocken settlements; thence along said road 1043 perches ; thence N. 20 E., 1200 ps .; S. 70 E., 1400 ps., and S. 20 W., 1720 ps., to the beginning, containing about 14,000 acres of land."
Benjamin Eastburn was the surveyor. In the draft on file, the stream which empties into the Schuylkill above the Monocacy, is called " Lah- undakie," now as the " Antietam." This return was confirmed, known, and the district inclosed was named Oley.
TAXABLES OF 1759 .- The following list comprises the taxables of the township for the year 1759. The tax levied amounted to one hundred and thirty-nine pounds, and Samnel High was the collector :
Abraham Bertolet 25
Widow Gelbach 30
Henry Gerst 16
John Bartolet. 22
Isaac Barto 14
Gabriel Boyer, 16
William Boone. 4
Peter Briel 1G
Michael Blatner 2
Jacob Berstler, 6
Michael Broet 2
3 Jonathan Harpine, 30 William Collins
James Delaplank
17
George Dollinger 12
John Hill 13 John Durck 35
John Deobald
2
John High
32
Samnel High 45
Elias Huffnagle 14
John Frederick
7
Benjamin Huffoagle. 14
Valentine Huffnagle ..
14
Matthias Hollehach. 10
4
Melchior Meyer ....
2
Philip Hartman
2
Henry Newkirk, Sr. 6
Jacob Hassinger.
1
Henry Newkirk, Jr. 3
Valentine lfuff.
3
Valentine Normer
1
Frederick Hill
2
Henry Norpet. 1
Abraham Peter. 26
Conrad Reif and two 60118 .100
Widow Reiff. 6
John Reppert 7
Michael Reiter 3
Jacob Reiter. 2
Willianı Reiter 2
Martin Schenkle 32
Widow Scheffer. 12
Benedict Schwob 24
Jacob Schneider 24
William Stapletoo 12
Leonard Scheffer. 2
Henry Schenkle.
1
Martin Schlagenhauf. 6
John George Schneider. 2
Jacob Siery
6
Samuel Koenig. 5
Jacob Stauffer. 8
John Stitzel 5
Jacob Stolz.
2
Lezarue Weidner. 18
Dehecus Weidner. 17
Frederick Leimbach 4
David Weiser 18
Henry Leimbach 15
Jonas Weaver
2
John Leimbach
11
George Weikert
2
John Lesher 70
John Weikert 6
Andrew Weiler 7
2
Adolph Meyer.
10
Jacob Wernert
3
Nicholas Matery
3
George Windbigler 4
John Mertz
3
Jacob Wieet 4
Philip Meth.
6
John Zng
6
Single Men.
Frederick Eberly.
Yost Lerch.
Samuel Gulden
Frederick Meinder,
Daniel Guldeu.
George Michael.
John High.
Matthias Moser.
Jacob Harpine.
Michael Oerter.
Jacob Joder.
Peter Reath.
John Joder.
Nicholee Smith.
Philip Knahb.
Conrad Shoemaker.
Peter Kuahh.
George Seitzinger.
John Knahb.
John Thome.e.
John Kelchner.
Jacob Wiest.
George Kime.
Jacob Wesner.
Daniel Levan.
Martin Wetzel.
Andrew Lerch.
INDUSTRIES.
Before the county was cleared of its forests the Manatawny and its affluents had a sufficient volume to operate numerous mills and small factories, some of which are still carried on suc- cessfully. On what is locally called Furnace Creek, near the mountains, the Oley Furnace 1 was erected, which during the Revolution be-
1 Near this furnace a valuable deposit of iron-ore was discovered about 1760. The ore was doubtless used in the forges in that vicinity, notably the " Oley " and the "Spring," and induced the erection of the furnace. Ore was also conveyed hither from the Moselem mine, in Rich- mond township, about eight miles to the northwest. See Early Industries.
Henry Derr. 2
Mordecai Ellis 15
Conrad Fisher.
6
Christian Farry 6
Isaac Greenleaf. 10
Caspar Griesemer. 45
Semnel Gulden
30
Francis Gerlach, 2
Leopold Gross
2
Jobu Greth. 4
Frederick Gulden, 4
Henry Ginter 3
Peter Herpine 18
Peter Herple.
8
Casper Hoffman 1
Anthony Jäger. 36
Nicholas Jäger 30
John Joder, Sr. 20
John Joder, Jr. 16
Jolın Yost Joder 18
Jacoh Joder 7
Michael Joder, 5
Valentine Jung .. 4
Widow Jnogmau 8
George Jungman 1
Jacob Kauffman 20
Nicholas Kime.
6
Michael Knab.
24
George Kalteisen 2
Adam Kehly. 2
George Keplinger,
4
John Lee.
Thomas Lee
28
Samuel Lee
26
Abraham Levan.
32
Nicholas Lesher.
18
Benjamin Longworthy 20
Daniel Wentz.
Frederick Bartolet. 18
Anthony Hamscher.
934
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
came the property of General Daniel Udree. The Clymer Iron Company succeeded in the ownership of this old industry and are still op- erating it. It is the oldest charcoal furnace in use in the State. The grist-mill connected with this property has been continuously operated. Down the creek Jolin Stoetzel had a paper- mill as early as 1790. It was converted into a forge by Solomon Boyer in 1836. About 1849 Nimrod Yeakel became the owner and he built a grist-mill in the place of the forge, which is still operated by his family. Above this place a woolen-factory was erected by John R. Edel- man, which is also continued and produces all kinds of woolen goods. A little more than half a mile down the stream on the present Mahlon De Turck's farm was the Seger saw-mill, whose power was last employed to operate a flax- brake. But the Weiser saw-mill, below this point, has been operated for several generations, having as successive owners Christian, Jacob and Daniel Weiser. At the mouth of this stream the Bertolets had an oil-mill, but later the power was used only to operate a saw-mill. This property, as well as the old Bertolet grist-mill on the Little Manatawny, is still owned by that family, the owner of the latter being Daniel G. Bertolet. It is on a good site and is well patronized. The saw-mill is operated by Israel Bertolet, the owner of the large farm and a direct descendant of the first purchaser, one hundred and sixty years ago. Near Friedensburg, on the power above the Bertolet mill, is the Kerst mill, now the property of Ammon Kaufman and long operated by Daniel Kaufman. It is a substan- tial mill, supplied with good steam-power and four sets of stones. The old Reiff mill, on the headwaters of this stream, is now operated by A. Carl. It has also done service for several generations.
On the Monocacy John Knabb had a saw- mill, which after many years of successful operation was burned down. A new mill was built by Charles Knabb. Half a mile lower down the stream John Knabb erected a large stone grist-mill, which, in a repaired condition, is now carried on by Daniel Bieber. Lower down, the Herbein saw-mill, built by Jonas Herbein, is situated. Gehr's fulling-mill was
just outside the township, in Exeter, but has long since been removed.
On a branch of the Bieber Creek Jacob Bieber had a pioneer saw-mill, which was after- wards operated by Wm. Bieber; it is now the property of Benjamin Keim. A short distance below is one of the oldest mill-seats in the town- ship. As early as 1742 a corn-mill was oper- ated there by Snapphold, the mill standing some distance below the present one, which was built in 1761 by John Hoch. Originally it was a one-story building, not near as large as at pres- ent, having been built to its present size in 1830, by Solomon Peter. Before 1790 Casper Maul owned the property. Since 1846, Daniel Y. Peter has owned this mill. In 1884 he supplied steam-power. He has manufactured molasses at the same place. Below this point Joshua Hoch had an oil-mill about 1835, but the build- ing has been idle many years; the saw-mill, built in 1839, is now operated by Isaac Brum- bach. Several miles lower down the stream Ely & Yoder erected a paper-mill about 1850, using the power which had before operated a saw-mill and carried it on some time. When owned by Daniel Yoder alone he enlarged it. Subsequently it became the property of, first, Ezra Becker and then Geo. B. Conrad. At present it is owned by Henry Conrad. It was worked in the manufacture of printing paper and employed twenty hands. On the Yoder farm, at Pleasantville, Daniel Yoder had an oil- mill, which was abandoned and the power used to operate a clover and feed-mill, owned by Jobn and David Yoder. These interests still remain. The Yoders were large land-owners. On the lower part of the tract there was another mill- site; it is now the Griesemer mill. This was first built by John Griesemer, and in 1839 de- stroyed by fire. It is at present operated by Jacob L. Griesemer and is one of the principal mills of the township. A short distance below were the Oley Forges, operated by the Leshers and the Spangs. The stream there afforded a strong water-power; the dam covered about forty acres. Spang also had a fulling-mill at that place, which was at one time extensively operated. The last power on the Manatawny, in Oley, was improved for a saw-mill, built by
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