History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 170

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

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The following list comprises the taxable in- habitants of the township in 1759. Joseph Penrose was the collector. The amount of tax then levied was £50 2s.

Lawrence Pearson.

Richard Hockley 60

Valentine Kline

Martin Honaman

Thomaa Lawia

Jamea Keya. 6

Leonard Mier

Peter Vanhorna.

John Barto 2

Michael Dunkle.

Jonathan Hughea. 3

1024

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

The early substantial improvements in the township were made by the Friends. Latterly, especially during the last fifty years, a great proportion of those highly improved lands have passed into the hands of the Germans, through the gradual extinction or departure of the Friends.

Several families of the Friends still remain, however, bearing the honored names of Wily, Pearson, Wright, Lightfoot, Willit, Parvin and Penrose, who are now, as their fathers before them were, among the most substantial citizens of the county.

MAIDEN-CREEK FRIENDS' MEETING-HOUSE is a plain old stone building, one-half a mile west from Maiden-creek Station. The Monthly Meetings of the Friends in Maiden- creek were established as early as 1737, but they were probably held at the houses of some of the Friends. The present property was not obtained until about twenty-two years later. On the 12th of July, 1759, Benjamin Lightfoot granted a small tract (four acres and five perches) of land from his farm to certain friends, Joseph Penrose, Richard Penrose, Thomas Wright and William Tomlinson, who then erected the present meeting- house thereon. Originally the surrounding country was a forest of oak and walnut trees, some of the trees having attained very large proportions (the stump of an oak tree indicates a diameter of six feet and that of a walnut tree more than three feet). The building itself is out of repair, and the cemetery shows a neglected condition, owing to the very small number of persons now interested in these venerable landmarks. The Friends' school- house, near by, in consequence of its disuse for a number of years, is also dilapidated. The latter was built in 1807, and was kept open until about 1870. It is the second building at that place, the first having been erected some time before 1784. In that year a lot of ground adjoining the church-lot was purchased, and Thomas Wright, Mordecai Lee and Thomas Lightfoot were appointed a committee to provide a school. They secured a log building, which, no doubt, was used until the stone house took its place, twenty-three years later. In the spring of

1784 Thomas Pearson became the first regu- lar teacher, his engagement having then been made for one year. Fifteen pupils entered the school then, and eight during the spring quar- ter, making twenty-three pupils in all. In- struction was given at the rate of forty shillings each a quarter. As this was one of the first English schools in the country, its patronage was quite large, many young men coming from a distance and boarding with farmers in the neighborhood. Special attention was given to mathematical studies, and as surveying promised to be a lucrative employment, a number at- tended the school with a view of qualifying themselves in that branch of study under teach- ers who were usually very proficient. Nearly all the teachers were Friends, the most prom- inent among them having been Thomas Pearson, Mordecai Wright, John G. Lewis, Joseph Jacobs, Jesse Willetts, James M. Meredith and Jesse Lightfoot. This school was instrumental in creating a sentiment in favor of English schools, and helped to make the system of free education a success.

" At Maiden-creek Meeting-House 11 of 7th m. 1759, Marriage of Joseph Lightfoot, Maiden-creek, to Deborah Hutton.

Members of Families.

Jacob Lightfoot.

Sarah Parvin.

John Hutton.

Martha Hutton.

James Hutton. Ann Lightfoot.

Thomas Lightfoot. Grace Lightfoot.

Francis Parvin, Jr.

Mary Hutton.

Benjamin Parvin. Hannah Hutton.

Mary Lightfoot.

Francis Parvin.

Sarah Hutton.

Moses Starr.

Sarah Hutton, Jr.

John Starr.

Abigail Hutton.

James Starr.

Others.

Benjamin Pearson. Thomas Reed.

Esther Pearson. Phebe Starr.

Tamer Hutton. Thomas Parvin.

Eleanor Parvin. Moses Starr, Jr.

Benjamin Parvin.

Margery Starr.

Mary Parvin.

Sibilla Wright.

Mordecai Lee.

James Jordan.

"Same M. H. 10 of 4th mo. 1747, Marriage of Saml. Hughes, of Ellis, Exeter, to Elizabeth Willits, of. Thomas, Maiden-creek.

Members of Families.

Ellis Hughes.

Margaret Lee.

Thomas Willits. Amey Hughes.

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TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.

John Hughes.

Rachel Willits, Jr.

William Hughes.

Samuel Lee.

Edward Hughes.

Morris Ellis.

John Willits.

Thomas Ellis.

Isaiah Willits.

Mord. Ellis.

Isaac Willits.

Mary Boone.

Jane Hughes.

Robert Penrose.

Rachel Willits. Moses Starr.

Deborah Starr.

Others.

John Wily.

Francis Parvin.

Lawrence Pearson.

Elinor Parviu.

Esther Pearson.

Jacob Lightfoot.

Isaac Starr.

Sigmon Wright.

Margaret Starr. Benjamin Parks.

Robert Wilson. John Wily.

Mary Lightfoot.

John Starr.

Richard Penrose.

James Starr.

Ellinor Rosburry.

Thomas Starr.

Mary Penrose.

William Wily.

Martha Houlton.

Joseph Kirby.

THE ORTHODOX FRIENDS' MEETING-HOUSE is situated on lands which was given for church purposes by Thomas Willits. It stands on the west side of the Maiden-creek. It is a small brick building. The Meeting is composed of Jacob Parvin and family, Thomas Willits and family, John Pearson, Susan Pearson, Rebecca Lee and William Smith. The present house has been occupied since 1853. Prior to that time, and after the Orthodox Friends had ceased to worship in the old stone house, the meetings were held in a log house on the Reber farm, pre- viously used as a residence. There is no resi- dent minister, but meetings are held regularly on every First day and also occasionally on week-days.

MAIDEN-CREEK CHURCH .- This house of worship, in the lower part of Blandon, is finely located. It is a large brick edifice, with a base- ment, surmounted by a steeple and presents a substantial appearance. It was built in 1860 by Adam Kauffman, Jeremiah De Turk, David Trout and William Bland, as a building com- mittee of the Lutheran and Reformed congre- gations, at a cost of about seven thousand dollars. The corner-stone was laid June 24, 1860. The trustees, in 1885, were Frank Seidel, John H. Medary and Jeremiah De Turk.

The Lutheran congregation, consisting of one hundred and forty members, has had the pas-

toral care of the Rev. B. D. Zweitzig, with Wil- liam Kisling and David Depp as elders ; at the same time the Reformed congregation had about one hundred and twenty-five members, with John S. Fox and Solomon G. Dunkle as elders, and Rev. B. F. Wise pastor since 1877. The pre- vious Reformed ministers, were the Revs. Wil- liam Davis and A. L. Herman, the latter having been the first pastor.

A fine cemetery is connected with the church which is controlled by the Maiden-creek Cem- etery Co., incorporated April 8, 1862, with the following members: Jacob Hoffman, John S. Fox, William Wissner, George D. Wissner, Jeremiah De Turk, George Dunkle, Nicholas Madary and A. W. Kauffman. The cemetery contains several acres of ground, is neatly laid out and kept in good order. It includes many fine monuments.

ZION'S CHURCH OF THE EVANGELICAL ASSO- CIATION is a small but neat brick building in the upper part of Blandon. It was erected in 1875, mainly through the efforts of Jacob Rep- pert and Jacob Bartley, assisted by Mahlon Snyder, Reuben Shirey and William Siegfried. The membership of the church has always been small, numbering in 1885 only twenty members. The leader of the class is Mahlon Snyder. A Sun- day-school is connected with the church, which is superintended by James Wilson. This ap- pointment was formerly with the Kutztown Circuit. Among the preachers were the Revs. Kurtz, Butz, Seagrist, Leib, Leopold, Lerch, Gingrich, Dissinger, Zorn and Ziegenfuss. Within the past few years Blandon has been connected with other charges in forming Fried- ensburg Circuit, and which has had as pastors the Revs. C. Gingrich, Jacob Adams, Thomas Harper and H. J. Klick, the latter officiating at the present time.

TOWNS.

MOLLTOWN is a hamlet in the northern part of the township, which derives its name from the Moll family, early settlers at that point. Many years ago a tavern was kept there by a man named Lesher, Later, the stand was bought by Abraham Groves, when a few houses were put up and the place began to assume the

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1026

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

appearance of a hamlet. Thence Joseph Peters had the tavern, and John Forney built the first store-house, in which Peters first engaged in trade, and mechanic-shops were put up about the same time. In 1885, Peter Adam was in trade at Molltown. The post-office in this lo- cality bears the name of Kirbyville, being named for the Kirby family, who were honored citizens in this part of the county. It was es- tablished in 1859. Dr. L. D. Bieber lived at Molltown a number of years as a successful practitioner of medicine, removing from here to the central part of the State. Dr. John D. Rupp is at present in practice.

West from this place is another trading point, called Evansville, half a mile from the railway station which bears the same name. Here is the site of the old Stichter mill, and where later lived the Evans family, who operated the mill and carried on other enterprises. A store was opened here and a post-office established with the name of South Evansville. The mill, which is a valuable property, is now owned by John Huy. A short distance from this place is a settlement, called Buena Vista, locally celebrated for the wines inade there by certain Germans.

In a southerly direction is Maiden-creek Sta- tion and a post-office, called Calcium, which was established July 4, 1885, with C. J. Miller as postmaster. He is also the station agent and carries on a store in a small way. This is a centre for the manufacture of lime and the ship- ment of limestones, which in this locality is of a superior quality. Near the station are six kilns, owned by Kline & Hoffman, who ship several car-loads of lime per day. The business was begun in 1873 on the Bushong farm. The same year J. M. Meredeth began developing his quarry for bridge stone, one-fourth of a mile from the station, and to which a railroad track extends. Employment has been afforded for fifteen men. This quarry supplied the stone for the Blue Mountain dam and some of the largest bridges on the Berks and Lehigh Railroad. Tlie stones are usually taken out in large blocks, some of them weighing five tons. At the depot J. M. Meredeth and Thomas Lightfoot manu- facture lime in kilns, which have a capacity of fifteen hundred bushels per week.

The Croydon Creamery is another industry at this point deserving notice. It occupies a large new building put up in 1884. Since January, 1885, Mr. F. Hart has operated a first-class creamery, which is well patronized by the surrounding farmers.

Not quite a mile east from Maiden-creek station is the hamlet usually called the "Half- Way House," after an old hotel which occupies an intermediate position on the road from Reading to Kutztown. The land there orig- inally belonged to the Penrose family, but later a part was owned by a man named Moyer, who had a well-known public-house, about the beginning of the present century. Later keep- ers of the inn were John Garver and John B. Marsh, who moved to Illinois, in 1850. The present hotel was put up in 1855-56 by Sam- uel Kauffman, who made other substantial im- provements here, including the store building and the Seidel mansion. Before the railway period the Half-Way House was one of the best- known stands in the county, and was especially patronized by dealers in cattle, who took large droves there for sale to the rich farmers in that section. The tavern is still kept up. Since 1858 Isaac Plank has successfully conducted a general store at this place. He is the post- master of the Maiden-creek post-office, estab- lished at this point in 1862. His store is con- nected by the telephone with principal points in the county. George D. Stitzell was one of the earlier merchants. Since 1848 John S. Fox has had a smithy in the village.

The physician of the place is Dr. W. E. Hunsberger, a native of Montgomery County, who has been in practice since 1867. He succeeded Dr. H. Clay Merideth. Before he became a practitioner here Dr. Charles Sclilem, living near Molltown, was the physician of this part of the township.

BLANDON is the only town in the township. It is situated near the base of the mountain, in the eastern section, and on the East Penn Rail- road. A station of the same name is on the railway, with a neat passenger depot and all the conveniences in sidings for freight ship- ments. The town contains two churches, sev- eral stores and hotels, a rolling-mill and several

1027

TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.

hundred inhabitants. It derives its name from Robert Bland, the owner of the land. He was a blacksmith. In the shop there was also a tilt-hammer. It stood on the site of the lower hotel. This hotel was opened to the public by William Bland, after the building of the railroad, and kept by him for some time. It has been improved since and has had various landlords, among them being Ezekiel Jones, and since 1883, R. Unger.

The town had a slow growth in the beginning and the improvements were not remarkable during the first ten years of its existence. Among the first inhabitants were Robert Bland, Henry Money, Samuel Hawkins, Thomas Rob- erts, Sr., Thomas Roberts, Jr., Jacob Keiffer, Lewis Guldin and Henry Wessner. After the rolling-mill was established here, in 1867, by Adam and Jacob Kauffman and C. D. Geiger, they and others put up substantial buildings, which gave character to the place and caused improvements to be added steadily since.

The first store at this point was kept by Peter Cleaver in a dwelling-house. He sold out to John B. Marsh, about forty years ago. Jeremiah B. Rothermel enlarged the building and kept the first regular store. Then came George Wessner and later the building was converted into a tavern. The lower store- stand was built by James Ahrens, in which he carried on business a number of years. The present occupants are A. G. and N. G. Rother- mel, the former being, also, the postmaster of the Blandon office, established long before the village had an existence.

Many years ago John Packer carried on a pottery for a time where the Blandon House now stands, and manufactured a considerable quantity of common ware. The mill at the upper end of the town has been operated by the Guldin family many years. The first im- provements were made by a man named Dun- kel, who conducted several mills and a distillery. Frederick Guldin made some additional im- provements abont 1800, and these were after- ward owned by Lewis Guldin, who also had a store at the mills for a short time. The present owner is Albert Guldin. On the same stream, farther up the mountain, is the mill built by

John Moser. Near the railroad station a small planing-mill has been in operation for several years by D. S. Thomas, who also operates a saw-mill in connection.

The most important industry at Blandon is the Blandon Rolling-Mill. It was built in 1867 by Adam W. and Jacob Kauffman and Charles D. Geiger, who operated the same until 1874. After being idle several years, the Maiden-creek Iron Company became the owners, since which time this company has been suc- cessfully operating the mill. The building is conveniently located near the main line of the railroad and is one hundred and twenty by three hundred and ten feet in dimensions. It contains two heating and eleven puddling fur- naces, which are worked to produce band and hoop-iron, and affords employment to one hun- dred and thirty hands. Formerly, bar and other kinds of iron were made. The mill has a superior water supply, from a never-failing mountain-stream, which flows into a reservoir near the works. Six tenement houses constitute part of the property.

FRANKLIN SEIDEL is a great-grandson of Henry Seidel, who was born in 1732 and emi- grated from Strasburgh when nineteen years of age. He was sold for his passage. On obtain- ing his freedom, in 1752, he came to Reading, Berks County, and afterward participated in the Indian war under Captain Hiester. He also served in the War of the Revolution, his wife and children meanwhile conducting the farm. About 1760 he married Elizabeth Rath- macher and purchased land in Bern township, returning again to Germany about 1786, and meanwhile engaging in mercantile ventures. He became the owner of four hundred acres of land in Maiden-creek township, where he was for years a prosperous farmer. His death oc- curred in 1801. Henry and Elizabeth Seidel had children-Michael, Henry, Daniel, Jolın, Philip, Jacob and two daughters, Mary and Margaret. Henry was born November 12, 1765, and died August 7, 1847, having settled on the homestead in 1791. He married Eliza- beth Reber, of Windsor township, Berks County, and had fourteen children, of whom the following reached mature years : Daniel,

1028

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Henry, Jacob, Elizabeth, Sarah, Catherine, Mary, Hannah, Susannah and Rebecca. Henry, the eleventh child in order of birth, was a na- tive of Maiden-creek township, where he was born on the homestead June 9, 1809. Here he engaged in farming until his retirement from that occupation and removal to Reading, in 1857. He was, November 4, 1832, married to Lydia, daughter of Frederick Guldin, of the same township, and has children-Franklin, born July 11, 1833, and Sarah (Mrs. Henry

born January 3, 1858, who died July 8, 1877 ; Sarah Amanda, May 19, 1866, who died August 26, 1868; and Lydia Cora, April 5, 1870. Mrs. Seidel's great-grandfather came from Germany. Her grandfather, John Adam, married Elizabeth Dunkel. Their son George, a farmer, born August 1, 1799, who died Sep- tember 12, 1885, married Hannah Sell, of the same county. Their two children are Amanda (Mrs. George D. Stitzel) and Susannah (Mrs. Seidel). Mr. Seidel has devoted his life to

Franklin Seidel

Throm, of Reading), born February 13, 1836. [ farming. He is a member of the Berks County Franklin, the subject of this biographical Agricultural Society, iu which he manifests an active iuterest. He is a member of the Evan- gelical Lutheran Church. sketch, who spent his early life upon the home- stead, was educated at the common schools and received additional advantages at the boarding school conducted by Rev. Samuel Rhoads in Amity township. Returning to the farm, he assisted his father in his various pursuits until his marriage, on June 3, 1856, to Miss Susannah, daughter of George Weidenhammer, of the same township. Their children are George Henry,

THOMAS WILLITS is descended from English ancestors, the earliest representative of the fam- ily being Mary Willits, who settled on Long Island, where she was a resident as early as 1678, and removed from thence to Burlington, N. J., in 1685 or before. Henry Willits, the first who bore the name in Maiden-creek town-

1029

TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.

ship, Berks County, was received into the Maiden-creek Monthly Meeting on the Third month, 26th day, 1743. He was the great- grandfather of the subject of this sketch. He married, on the Fourth month, 2d day, 1746, Sarah, daughter of Anthony Lee, of Oley, Berks County, and had two sons, John and Jesse. Henry Willits purchased a tract of two hundred and thirteen acres of land in Maiden- creek township (now Ontelaunee township) sit- uated at the mouth of Maiden-creek, and settled upon it. Jesse, who was born on this tract, which embraced the homestead, married, on the 10th month, 6th day, 1779, Phebe, daughter of John and Mary Hutton. Their children are John H., born 11th month, 27th day, 1782, who died 11th month, 10th day, 1861; Sarah, 3d month, 16th day, 1784, who died 5th month, 11th day, 1819 ; Mary, 3d month, 24th day, 1785, who died in childhood ; Mary (2d), 12th month, 18th day, 1786 ; William, 4th month, 6th day, 1789, who died 10th month, 2d day, 1852; Elizabeth, 3d month, 21st day, 1791, who died 1st month, 25th day, 1869; Henry, 2d month, 5th day, 1793, who died 10th month, 1864; Esther, 1st month, 25th day, 1795, who died in 1877 ; Phebe, 2d month, 23d day, 1797, who died 10th month, 19th day, 1865; Susan- nah, 10th month, 3d day, 1799, who died 8th month, 28th day, 1831 ; Jesse, 1st month, 17th day, 1802, who died 7th month, 22d day, 1867 ; and Deborah, 3d month, 31st day, 1805, who died 7th month, 20th day, 1841.

Phebe Hutton's ancestors emigrated at an early date from Ireland. Nehemiah Hutton removed to Maiden-ereek township in 1733 and purchased a tract of land, the half of which is now owned by the subject of this sketeh. His son John, the grandfather of Thomas Wil- lits, was twice married,-first to Jane Fineher, on the 3d month, 13th day, 1754, and a second time, on the 12th month, 6th day, 1858, to Mary, widow of John Wily. Their only child, Phehe, is the grandmother of Thomas Willits. By the first marriage were two children. Wil- liam Willits, who was born on the Hutton property, married Esther, daughter of Thomas Lightfoot, on the 4th month, 8th day, 1818. Her grandparents were Jacob and Sarah Light-

foot and her great-grandparents Thomas and Sarah Lightfoot. The family were among the pioneers to the county and took up lands, a portion of which is owned by the subject of this biography. William and Esther Willits had four children,-Mary, born 10th month, 6th day, 1820, who died on the 3d month, 27th day, 1843 ; Thomas, 2d month, 13th day, 1822 ; Samuel, 2d month, 14th day, 1824, who died 3d month, 9th day, 1863. The latter left children,-William, born 10th month, 4th day, 1852 ; engaged as a general merchant in Lees- port ; Francis, born 11th month, 3d day, 1856, of Delaware County ; and Ellie, born 2d month, 17th day, 1859. William, who has served for five years as justice of the peace, married, 12th .month, 18th day, 1885, Amanda, daughter of John Yoder, of Maiden-ereek township. They have one son, Allen, born 10th month, 26th day, 1878. Two children, Howard and Sarah, are deceased. Francis Willits married Eliza- beth Paschall, of Delaware County. Thomas Willits was born on the homestead and has made farming the business of his life, receiving in boyhood but a limited education at the school in the vicinity of his home. With his brother he inherited the farm which was his birth-place, and married, on the 9th month, 21st day, 1854, Susan P., daughter of James and Elizabeth Smith, of Chester County, and granddaughter of John and Mary Smith. Their children are Mary, born 10th month, 16th day, 1855; and Samuel, 7th month, 25th day, 1858, now culti- vating the farm, and married to Mary H., daughter of Clifford and Ellen Pomeroy, of Reading. They have one son, Herbert P. Thomas Willits is a Republican in politics, but has neither songht nor held office. He is a director of the National Union Bank of Read- ing. Both he and his wife have adhered to the faith of their fathers and are members of the Exeter Friends' Monthly Meeting.

ONTELAUNEE TOWNSHIP.

ON the 2d of April, 1849, a petition of cer- tain inhabitants1 of Maiden-creek township

1 Ninety-five subscribers, of which eighty-five signatures were English.

1030

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

was presented to court, asking for a division of the township by a line to be extended from the Al- sace township line, at the foot of Penn's Mount, northwardly, by way of Maiden Creek bridge and the public road from Oley to Hamburg, to the Windsor township line, and suggesting as a proper name for the western portion, "Schuyl- kill." The court entertained the petition and appointed Michael K. Boyer, Richard Boone and Benjamiu Tyson as commissioners. At that time the electors of the township numbered about four hundred and fifty, and the popula- tion about two thousand one hundred.

The commissioners, after viewing the town- ship, decided that it could be divided advan- tageously, and reported the following division line: "Beginning at a heap of stones, in the Al- sace township line, at the foot of Penn's Mount; thence north thirty-four west two hundred and sixty-four perches, north twenty-four west ninety-seven perches, and north eighteen west one hundred and ninety-two perches to the Maiden Creek ; thence along said creek north- wardly, two hundred and sixty-four perches, to the road leading from Oley to Hamburg, and thence along said road northwardly six hundred and thirty-six and one-fourth perches to the Windsor township line.1" And they recom- mended "Schuylkill " as a proper name. Their report was presented on August 9, 1849. Re- monstrances were filed,2 objecting to the divi- sion of the township because it was not large and because the poll was central ; and these were subscribed by the most prominent tax- ables of the township. But they were dismissed on December 27, 1849, and the report was con- firmed absolutely, excepting as to the name, the court having substituted the name of "An- talawny."3

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History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 170

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