USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > History of Berks county in Pennsylvania > Part 172
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The Leibelsperger family settled on the State road at Moselem Springs. Jonathan Leibel- sperger became ninety-two years old.
On Moselem Creek lived the Merkel family, who were large land-owners, the George Merkel tract at one time embracing one thonsand three hundred acres. He had a mill above the present Merkel mansion, which was built in 1768, and this has been repaired so that it is still in excellent condition. The present Merkel Mill, below the old mansion, was built in 1856 by Samuel Merkel, its owner, and also the owner of the homestead. The mill is a large stone building. A distillery at this point has long since been abandoned.
MOSELEM MINES, ETC .- On the same stream, and about half a mile from where it empties into the Maiden Creek, Valentine Eckert had grist and saw-mills, and at an early day built a small charcoal furnace. It had a very small stack and the operations were carried on in a limited way. Eckert owned thousands of acres
of land in Richmond and surrounding town- ships which embarrassed him so that it was put up at a forced sale. When Nicholas Hunter became the owner, he began work on a much larger scale and for his time operated ex- tensively. He improved the water-power, and converted the timber on the surrounding hills into charcoal. The ore was obtained from the mines near by, which he more fully developed. In 1847 he erected a new furnace, which, in an improved condition, still remains. Its capacity is from seventy-five to one hundred and twenty- five tons of iron per week. In this enterprise his sons became associated with him, and after- ward owned and operated the furnace. The water-power was applied by him to improve grist and saw-mills, except so much as was pumped into a large reservoir on an adjoining hill for a system of water-works to protect the furnace and its surroundings against fire. At different points hydrants have been erected, from which a stream can be thrown upon any of the buildings in the place.
In 1885 the plant embraced the furnace and its necessary buildings, grist and saw-mills, store and hotel buildings, a very fine mansion in spacious grounds and about forty tenement houses. In addition, there were seven hundred acres of land, forming three farms, one of which contains several valuable ore-mines, provided with the necessary machinery for working the same. The furnace has been out of blast since 1883. The other interests are carried on under the management of J. H. Druckemiller. A siding connects the furnace with Moselem station, on the railroad, distant one-fourth of a mile. The furnace property has had a number of changes of ownership. In 1871 Jacob and Henry Bushong, Jacob K. Spang and Wilson Kaufman, as Bushong & Co., became the pro- prietors, and they four years later sold it to the Moselem Iron Company, which then carried on the furnace. This company laid out town lots in 1875 for village purposes. Upon the dissolu- tion of the company, soon afterward, Leibrand & McDowell succeeded to the ownership, and were followed, December 18, 1884, by the present proprietors, C. H. Shebel & C. H. Stelwagon.
1037
TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.
The Moselem ore-beds are in that part of Richmond in which the level lands of the Maxatawny Valley meet the gravel hills, south- east of the centre of the township, and cover several hundred acres of land. Most of this was originally owned by John G. Gloss, but since 1830 by Samuel and John G. Kaufman. The ore is a fine brown hematite imbedded in red clay, assays from forty-five to fifty per cent. of iron, and produces an almost neutral metal. The development of this mineral has given em- ployment to a large number of men the past fifty years, and the mines promise to he a source of wealth for a long time to come. The product has been as high as fifteen thousand tons per year, but since 1885 only two of the eight washers have been in use.
At the furnace is Moselem post-office, estab- lished in 1856. The first office was called Nora, after one of Hunter's daughters. It has a daily mail.
MOSELEM SPRINGS .- In the township there are several natural features which deserve par- ticular notice. On the Kutztown road, on the farm of R. Weidenhammer, one and one-half miles from Moselem Springs post-office, the large Moselem Springs are located, being the source of Moselem Creek. The volume of water flow- ing from them is very large and clear as crys- tal. When the country was first settled the set- tlers found both the spring and creek well sup- plied with brook trout. The Indians, on this account, gave it the name of Maschilamehanne (Moselem), signifying a tront stream. The creek affords excellent water-power and is alto- gethier one of the finest streams in the county.
CRYSTAL CAVE .- Along the Sacony there is a singular limestone formation in which there are numerous crevices, several of them, thus far discovered, having the nature of caves. They are overlaid with a loose, shaly soil which per- mits the water to percolate through them and form numerous crystalline objects. One of these caves, near Virginsville, was discovered many years ago, and its mouth was opened so as to permit easy entrance. It was described, in 1840, as being in the edge of a cultivated field on the brow of a hill. "Passing into it, the adven- turer descends about fifty yards by a rough,
narrow passage, and then turns to the left at an acute angle with the passage. After proceeding about thirty yards farther, he enters the great chamber, about fifty fect long, twenty wide and fifteen to twenty high, in a rock of limestone. Near the end of this chamber, opposite to the en- trance, is the altar, a large mass of stalactite, which rings under the hammer, and is translu- cent." This cave was popularly known as the Dragon's Cave many years ago. It has lately been much neglected and entrance can be had only with great difficulty. Its existence has almost been forgotten in the discovery of a much larger cave about two miles from Virgins- ville, and which has not improperly been called Crystal Cave. It was discovered November 12, 1871, while John Gehret and Gideon Merkel were engaged in quarrying stone on the farm of the latter, to burn lime in a kiln near by. After making a blast they were astonished to find a large opening leading to hidden recesses beyond, the extent of which was not apparent without an exploration. This they were emboldened to make in the course of a few days, and they found the cavern to be of large size and stored with the most beautiful stalactites and stalagmites in every conceivable form. A more extended ex- ploration was made by S. D. F. Kohler, an am- ateur geologist, who resided in the neighbor- hood, and he was so favorably impressed with the cave, as an object of natural curiosity and beauty, that he purchased the farm and opened the cave to the inspection of the public. He removed numerous impediments and provided easy passages and stairways until the subterra- nean passages were improved to the extent of more than one thousand feet. Large numbers of visitors then came from all parts of the country, and they were delighted with the sights they beheld. In addition to the large corridors, whose roofs were overhung with glit- tering stalactites, there are in different parts of the cave, forms which closely resemble a " Mummy Chamber," a "Preacher," a "Cemetery," a " Woman in White " and an " Angel's Wing." When the cave is fully illuminated it does not require a vivid imagination to conjure up a number of other beautiful forms. Many of the smaller crystals have been removed and con-
1038
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
verted into numerous beautiful objects, which are exposed for sale as mementoes of a visit to this interesting spot. Very fine springs are situated near the cave and a large hotel has been erected for the accommodation of visitors.
CHURCHES.
ZION'S LUTHERAN CHURCH (MOSELEM). - This ancient house of worship is located two and a half miles east of Virginsville, near the line of Maxatawny township. Its plan is an- tique, patterned, doubtless, after the Lutheran Church at the Trappe, said to be the oldest of that denomination in America. The present church was built in 1761, the rear wall being made hexagonal and the roof shaped to a slope covering it the same way. The masonry is of stone, procured in the neighborhood. The walls have resisted the elements remarkably well. The organ was supplied nine years after the building of the church. It was built by Tanneberger, of Lancaster, and was formally dedicated by Pastor Schaum in 1770.
The purpose to build an Evangelical Luth- eran Church in Richmond was agitated as early as 1739 by Christopher Kuhn, Sebastian Kraemer and Jacob Hill, but before it could be accomplished the latter two died, leaving the work to be finished by Christopher Kuhn. In this he was ably assisted by his son, Dr. Adam Kuhn, of Lancaster County, who collected funds and secured a tract of one hundred acres from the Penns for church purposes.1
Upon this land a log church was built in 1742. It was formally dedicated January 20, 1743, by John Valentine Kraft, at that time serving both as minister and school-teacher of the congregation. His dual services continued about two years, wben the congregation became so strong that Rev. Tobias Wagner was or- dained as regular minister. He began in 1745 and served sixteen years.
He began his labors by perfecting the organ- ization of the congregation.
1 1n 1741 a warrant was issued to Adam Simon Kuhn, Leonard Bieber, Wm. Killian and Christian Houseknecht, for one hundred and one acres ; and the patent was issued to them July 31, 1741, for the consideration of fifteen pounds thirteen shillings.
The following members subscribed the church regulations on Trinity Sunday, 1746 :
Johann Christolph Kuhn. John W. Ernst.
George Kern. Peter Biehl.
Charles Hafelin.
David Komb.
John Herbst.
Conrad Bauer.
Rudolph Schlier.
Is:ac George Mauk.
John Herrgeroly.
Casper Killian.
Nicholas Gottschall. Daniel Komb.
George Jacob Oblinger.
John Heisser.
Killian Kehser.
Nicholas Stein.
John Fillis Schuss.
George Fegely.
George Bast.
W. Bauer Schaedell.
John Frederick Kraemer. Henry Heffner.
Michael Henninger. John Geo. Merkle.
Hans Michael Hauer.
Geo. William Vion.
Rudolph Fetter.
John Frederick Heiny. John Hill.
George Kelchner.
Leonard Koeplinger.
Christian Rothermel.
Christopher Schraeber. Andrew Fry.
George Merkel. Casper Merkel.
Jacob Brandsteller.
John George Merkel.
Jacob Henry Royer.
John Fred. Biehl.
Daniel Hill.
George Nic. Hildebrant.
Leonard Reber.
John Jacob Klein. Gottfried Kraemer.
Christian Hausknecht.
John Kohler.
George M. Dauber.
Nicholas Schumacher.
Henry Christolph Rick. George Folk.
Michael Schlier.
John Melchor Hoffa.
George Hahn.
Melchor Fritz.
George Miller.
Daniel Bailey.
Lorenz Bieber.
Andrew Hummell.
John Bast.
A new church building was erected in 1770, and an organ supplied. And a third church was dedicated on May 17, 1849.
The ministers who succeeded Rev. Wagner were,-
Frederick Schaum, 1761 to 1778 ; Daniel Lehman, 1778 to 1810; John Knoske, 1811 to 1822; Conrad Miller, 1822 to 1829; Isaac Roller, 1829 to 1860; Ben- jamin E. Kramlich, 1860 to -; W. A. C. Mueller, 1885 to -
The congregation maintained a school as early as 1742, the teacher being John Valentine Kroft, and at an early day endeavored to elevate the standard of the profession by frec- ing the teacher from other occupations which would distract his attention from school work.
In 1743 the consistory declared : "That it is our most earnest desire that the teacher, as
Peter Merkel.
Michael Kelchner.
John Jacob Wagner.
Michael Hauer.
Hans Jacob Hummel. John Rieger.
1
TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.
1039
well as the preacher, shall be fairly compen- sated, so that he can live with his family like an honest man, without being obliged to engage in any business foreign to his profession. To this end, the teacher and the preacher shall have the land and the house upon it free, as long as they officially serve the congregation, and, as far as is reasonable, they may use the same as serves them best."
In the latter history of the congregation a two-story building was erected, one room of which served as a school-room and the other as a residence for the teacher. After the accept- ance of the free-school system this school-house was leased to the directors from year to year, until about ten years ago. The house is still standiug.
ST. PETER'S GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH is sonth of Moselem Creek and west of the ore- beds, on a fine, elevated site. A log church was first built in 1762 to accommodate such persons in Richmond township and the adjoining county as entertained the faith of the Reformed Church, the Moselem Church having been erected for the use of Lutherans only. In 1809 the present stone edifice was erected, and in essential fea- tures remains as put up. In 1840 the church was supplied with an organ. The logs of the old church were used in building a school- house, where church schools were taught, and later other schools maintained. The con- gregation, never as strong as in other localities in that part of the county, has been greatly diminished by the building of another church in the immediate locality in 1866, this having arisen from a church difficulty. For the past forty-eight years the Revs. Herman, father and son, have ministered to them in spiritual things, and the present pastor is the Rev. J. Sassaman Herman.
BECKER'S ST. PETER'S CHURCH (Reformed and Lutheran) is on the same hill as the church just mentioned, and several hundred yards from it. It stands on ground secured for this purpose from the farm of Henry Becker, whose name is used to distinguish it from the old church. The building is of fine limestone, well laid, and, although plain, it is attractive. Its elevated position com-
mands a fine view of the surrounding country. It was erected in 1866 by members who withdrew from the "Zion's " and the "Old St. Peter's" Churches, and has had flourishing congregations worshipping in it. The membership of the Lutheran congregation was reported in 1885 as one hundred and thirty, and that of the Ger- man Reformed somewhat less. Its pastor since the organization has been the Rev. Richard Appel. The pastor of the Lutheran congrega- tion is the Rev. F. K. Huntzinger, who suc- ceeded the Rev. J. Wicklein, pastor when first organized.
The burial-ground connected with Becker's St. Peter's Church is one of the finest in that part of the county.
ST. JAMES' EVANGELICAL CHURCH is at Virginsville. It was built in 1883, but not formally dedicated until Pentecost Sunday in 1884. It is a neat, small brick building, built through the efforts of David Dreibelbis, Albert Shappley, Eli Keller, Solomon Miller, Benja- min Smith and Peter Adam. During the building of the church the Rev. Stauffer was the pastor, and since that time the ministers have been the same as those preaching in the church of this denomination in Albany town- ship. In 1885 the preachers on that circuit were the Revs. Weidner and Speicher.
ROMAN CATHOLICS .- Among the earliest settlers of Maxatawny and Riclimond were a few Catholic families, embracing the Winks, Dumms and others, and a lot of ground was set apart for them, in 1740, in case they should wish to build a house of worship. It does not appear that this was ever done, and the lot re- verted to the proprietors, as part of the vacant lands, at that time so abundant. In the present century a large, plain stone building was put up near the Moselem Ore-Mines, which was uscd as a Catholic Church a number of years, ser- vices being held at long intervals. The resi- dent membership was very small, and as popu- lation shifted, some, of those who had belonged removed, making it impossible to continue the' meetings with interest. After standing vacant a number of years, the building was demolished and the material removed.
1040
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
VILLAGES.
In the southeastern part of the township is a small hamlet called Walnuttown, from a cluster of walnut-trees growing at the place. Here there was formerly an inn, kept in a small log house. Among the keepers were Joseph Bartholomew, Nicholas Machemer, Peter Roth- ermel and Thomas Schneck. The house at present kept by Albert Strasser was built by Peter Rothermel.
A mile from this place is the old village of Coxtown, now the thriving borough of Fleet- wood, of which a separate sketch is given in the chapter on the boroughs.
Near Moselem, and in the neighborhood of St. Peter's Church, there is an old tavern- stand kept years ago by a man named Kemp. A later keeper was Joel Becker, and for the past thirteen years Henry Becker. On the State road to Kutztown, where the Fleetwood road crosses the same, public-houses have been kept for many years by the Crolls, Elijah Moyer, Michael Dumm and the past forty years by Solomon Leibelsperger and his family. The present hotel and store building was put up in 1852. In the store is kept the Moselem Springs post-office, established in 1846, and which had, in 1885, Joel Leibelsperger as post- master. A daily mail from Fleetwood is sup- plied.
VIRGINSVILLE is a small village in the northwestern part of the township, on the Maiden Creek, a little below the mouth of the Sacony. It is a station on the Berks and Lehigh Railroad, and has had its greatest growth since the completion of the railway. The place contains three taverns, a store, a number of fine residences and a church. The first regular store in this locality was opened in 1809 by Williamn Dreibelbis, and about the same time an inn was opened by the Lesher family. The Dreibelbis family has been more or less engaged in trade here since. A store is now carried on by Abraham Mengel. In it is ·kept the Virginsville post-office, established in 1839, and of which Jackson Dreibelbis was the postmaster in 1885. Joseph De Young had a store here first, selling goods on a small scale. He also eutertained the public. William
Dreibelbis became his successor, and kept a public-house from 1844 to 1871. This house is now kept by Gustavus Dreibelbis. The fine three-story brick hotel, called the " Mansion House," was opened to the public in 1885, by Eli Hein. Since 1851 Simon Dreibelbis has had a public-house in Perry, near Virginsville.
The past twelve years Dr. D. M. L. Fritch has been a practitioner of medicine at Virgins- ville.
MAXATAWNY TOWNSHIP.1
The Indians loved the Maxatawny country, and lingered there long after they had left other parts of the county, maintaining a friendly attitude towards the settlers. They had a place of burial in what is now a field of the Charles Deisher farm, and a tradition prevails that many hundreds of them were buried there, including their implements of warfare. Many. relics were taken from that place in years gone by. Frequent cultivation of the ground has almost entirely obliterated the evidences that it was once their burial-place. There is a tra- dition that a stalwart Indian remained several years after the others had gone, as if loth to leave the scenes of his childhood. He was known by the unpoetic name of " Kneebuckle," and he lived on the banks of the Sacony, sub- sisting on the fish and game which his skillful hands enabled him to capture. He was kind in his dealings with the early settlers and beloved by those who knew him. He sud- denly disappeared. The beautiful lands of Maxatawny invited many immigrants at a very early period.
FIRST TAXABLES .- Prior to 1734 there lived iu Maxatawny the following persons who owned land and paid quit-rents :
Moses Starr.
Peter Trexler.
Joseph Wily.
Hans Hage.
Isaac Starr.
Johannes Siegfried.
Nehemiah Hutton.
Nicholas Kutz.
Jacob Hottenstein.
Abr'm Zimmerman.
Peter Andreas.
Jost H. Sassaman.
:
*
1 The author is indebted to Prof. J. S. Ermentrout's sketch of Kutztown and Manatawny for valuable informa- tion in connection with this township.
.
1041
TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.
Jacob Levan. Andreas Fischer.
Jacob Kemp.
Heinrich Hartman.
Wilhelm Gross,
Michael Mueller.
Casper Wink. H. Kleimer (Clymer).
C. Mahnenschmidt.
Heinrich Schade.
Jacob Hill. Jeremiah Trexler.
Isaac Leonard.
Bastian Ferr.
This township was settled immediately after the land was released by the Indians. It was called a new district in 1734, by the name of Maxatawny. It had no constable then.
TOWNSHIP ERECTED .- A petition was pre- sented to the Court of Quarter Sessions of Philadelphia County on September 6, 1742, praying for the erection of a new township out of a part of said county. The survey of the tract of land proposed for the township was made by George Boone, Esq., a draft of which was attached to the petition ; and William Par- sons, surveyor-general of the province, certified that the survey did not interfere with any other township. And the township was erected on the same day. The following statement is a copy of the record in the office of the court mentioned. The petition could not be found.
"Upon the Petition of several of the Inhabitants of the County of Philadelphia, situate at a Place called Maxatawny, setting forth that they had been settled in that part of this County for several years and paid Taxes and County Levies, and that the said Place is now become very populous, praying this Court would be pleased to view and examine a Draught of a Tract of Land to the said Petition an- nexed, and would erect the same into a Township by the following Bounds, viz: Beginning in Bucks County Line and from thence running South West one thousand seven hundred and sixty perches ; thence North West one thousand three hundred and sixty perches ; thence North East one thousand seven hundred and sixty perches to Bucks County Line; thence along the same South East one thousand three hundred and sixty perches to the place of Beginning, containing fourteen thousand nine hundred and sixty Acres of Land.
"The Court having taken the said petition into consideration and the Surveyor-General of this province having certified to the Court that the sev- eral Courses and bounds of said Township petitioned for do not interfere with any other Township, The said Tract of Land bounded as aforesaid, containing fourteen thousand nine hundred and sixty Acres of Land, is now erected by this Court into a Township by the name of Maxatawny." 1
TAXABLES OF 1759 .- The following list comprises the taxable inhabitants of the town- ship for the year 1759. The amount of tax then levied was £77. Andrew Hauck was the collector :
£
€
John Bast 16
Widow Kemp 10
Anthony Bennsinger. 4
George Kutz 18
George Bader 12
Jacob Kutz 17
Jacob Kraul. 15
Philip Kraul 9
Sebastian Levan 23
Daniel Levan 25
Jacob Levan, Esq. 31
Henry Luckenbill 9
Conrad Manesmith 16
Nicholas Moffly. 10
Michael Ott
1
Christopher Road. 7
George Sassamanhouse, .10
Andreae Sassamanhouse. 7
Henry Sassamanhouse. 12
Joseph Siegfried
20
Baltzer Swenck
2
John Siegfried
21
Peter Sherer
22
Jacob Sheradeen
14
Paul Sheradeen 5
George Sell .12
Casper Smith 5
Nicholas Shoneaker 2
Nicholas Kutz
10
Henry Wetstone.
13
Adam Kutz
10
Dewald Wink 19
Thomas Kutz 10
Bichard Wistar 25
Caspar Killian,
2
Christian Wanner 5
Derst Kersner 4
Abram Zimmerman
16
Charles Korn
3
Bastian Zimmerman
23
Inmates.
£
£
Anthony Altman
2
Jacob Moyer ..
1
George Brenig.
2
Daniel Ort
3
Jacob Baner.
2
Leonard Saul 2
Christian Baum 2
Christopher Slenker. 2
Daniel Dosser 2
Martin Sen
2
George Esser 3
John Smsle,
2
Andreas Hagh, Jr.
1
Peter Stutz
2
Philip Hain.
2
Jacob Sharadin. 2
1
John Huth 3
George Weser 2
Leonard Kern. 2
John Weser.
1
Jacob Kamerer.
2
Jacob Wildraut
2
Henry Lutz, 2
Joseph Wild 1
John Miller,
2
George Wild 2
David Musgenig.
1
Peter Will
2
Single Men.
William Adleman.
Jacob Kootz.
George Bader.
Conrad Metzger.
Jacob Delong.
Peter Minch.
George Etzler.
Philip Roth.
Joseph Groee.
George Steinbrook.
Frederick Hauseman.
Jacob Steinmal.
Michael Helt.
Michael Steinborn.
EARLY PROMINENT. FAMILIES .- During the early history of the township the most promin- ent public men were the Levans, the Zimmer- mans, the Gehrs, the Groscups and the Hotten- steins.
Jacob Levan was oneof the county justices from
1 The name of the township was derived from an Indian word, Machksithanne, meaning Bear's Path Creek.
Conrad Bader. 11
Teterich Bever. .. 10
John Bever. 11
Michael Bower. 3
Peter Brown 5
Henry Christ 13
Michael Christian,
14
Frederick Delaplank. 25
Peter Delong.
11
John Delong .. . 6
Anthony Fisher, 10
William Grose, 10
Nicholne Harmony 16
John Hartman
16
Jobn Hill, 15
Henry Hagb
11
Andreas Hagh 20
David Huttenstein. 23
Conrad Henninger 13
John Hargerader. 16
Julius Kerber
6
Deobald Kempt .20
Michael Henninger.
2
Christopher Urban.
1042
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
1752 to 1760; Sebastian Levan was a member of the Provincial Committee for Pennsylvania in 1775. Sebastian Zimmerman was a county justice from 1767 to 1771, and again from 1778 to 1784. Baltzer Gehr held numerous public offices, as is elsewhere shown, and Paul Gros- cup was scarcely less prominent ; he was one of the best penmen in his day. The Hottensteius are of noble origin and came to America in 1727, settling first in Oley, but three years later in Maxatawny, where they leased from the pro- prietors upwards of five hundred acres of land. The Levans became a numerous family, and owned many tracts of land. Jacob and John Levan lived near Kutztown, where some of their descendants still own the original settlement. Others lived in the western part of the town- ship, where they had the first mill, and inter- married with the Siegfried family, also early settlers and large land-owners, in what is still known as Siegfried's Dale. At one time tlie two families had more than a thousand acres of the choicest lands, lying in different tracts. The Biebers, from Chester County, were early set- tlers near Kutztown, John Bieber being one of the older members. Another family by that name, having among them John and Dewalt, came from Montgomery County and settled north of the Kemp tavern. On the opposite side lived Nicholas Kutz, and his son Nicholas, who were not of the same family as George Kutz, the founder of Kutztown. Members of both families still remain in the township. At Kemp's tavern Daniel Levan and his son Daniel lived until 1788, when George Kemp became the owner, continuing the tavern already opened. He was a justice of the peace thirty- four years, and his son John for twenty years, living still on the homestead at an advanced age. The former was the grandson of Dewalt Kemp, who settled on the farm now owned by Nathan Kemp about 1730. His daughters married into the Hottensteiu and Bieber families.
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