USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > History of Berks county in Pennsylvania > Part 174
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LONGSWAMP TOWNSHIP.
DURING the years 1734 and 1735 several trains of immigrants wandered from Goschen- hoppen and Oley towards the Lehigh Moun- tains adjoining Longswamp. Among these were the Fenstermachers, Carls, Haases, Zim- mermans, Reicherds, Branszes, Schmidts, Schneiders, Lynns and others. Several brothers by the name of Fenstermacher were from Oley. One of these remained in Longswamp and the others proceeded with the Lynns and other immigrants farther up towards the Blue Moun- tain, where they founded the settlement of
Allemaengel, at times called Lynn. From Longswamp the elevated land commands a view which overlooks the great valley over Weissen- berg to Lynn in a straight line to the Blue Mountain, the elevation forming the water- shed between the Schuylkill and the Lehigh. From this elevation there appear to the right and the left little valleys, which descend gradu- ally and lead the best water from springs. The immigrants followed this stretch of country and Longswamp became the place of entrance in the immigration from Goschenhoppen and Oley into this valley.
Many sections of our county bear Indian names, and settlements were also named after neighboring streams and other peculiarities. Names having thus been given to settlements even before communities were established or townships named, they were generally retained. This settlement was first called " Little Lehigh," and at the same time the land lying to the east and west "the long swamp." But after the Lutheran community, situated several miles downward, had recognized the name " Little Lehigh," the name Longswamp prevailed.
On the elevation in the valley above Topton a small creek flows, formerly called " Frog Creek." It flows along the side of the moun- tain through Mertztown, and in Butz's Valley, below Ludwig's mill, it empties into the " Lit- tle Lehigh." This Frog Creek extends from the neighborhood of Topton to the "Little Lehigh," and there extends farther on along this little creek a small strip of meadow land, which was formerly named " the long swamp." Upon the greater part of this swampy ground only sour grass and thickets grew, for which the immigrants had no inclination.
TAXABLES OF 1759 .- The following state- ment comprises the list of taxables of the dis- trict for the year 1759. The tax levied amount- ed to £45 17s., and Samuel Borger was the collector.
£
£
Peter Allen,
1
Peter Bechtoldt.
4
Nicholas Arnoldt
5
Leonard Bauer.
Christian Abandshin,
2 Jacob Bachman
Reinhold Abandshin 3 Michael Biever 4
Friederich Bobemyer.
9 Peter Butz.
Joseph Berey.
16
Henry Bullinger ..
8
Samuel Berger 6
Martin Boger
15
Philip Berger. 4 Charles Devbald
5
TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.
1049
Peter Dicker.
5
Beltzer Lutz. 2
Philip Doll
1
Adam Luy
2
John Diehl
8
Jacob Long 2
Valentine Dillinger.
3
Jacob Long 8
Valentino Leydecker
3
William Mayherry
9
Bernhardt Fegeley
Jacob Fenstermacher 7
John Flammer 4
Philip Fenstermacher. 10
Matthias Fenstermacher 2
Michael Niederaner.
5
Valentine Fleck
2
Ludwig Neitz
2
Michael Notoetein
4
Peter Retler
7
Adam Gerich
4
Stephen Reppert
9
Deobald Grub
1
1
Christian Reissinger.
2
Michael Schroeder
12
Jacob Sneck
4
Stophel Hoffman.
7
Andrew Sahm
2
Jolin Hilbard. 7 Henry Sheffer 2
Frederick Helwig 13
Ludwig Hasplehorn 7
John Hess 12
Henry Stricker
1
Deniel Hemm
1
Michael Smith.
3
Jacob Hamm
4
Andrew Shorp. 6
Peter Kline
4
2
Jacob Stall
1
Bartholomew Kiffer
Michael Koller, Jr.
1
Daniel Swartz
2
John Kissner 2
Baltzer Trit.
2
Bernhard Klein 6
Conrad Tress
1
George Kamp.
3
Christian Trefelsted.
2
Baltzer Kleber
5
Frederick Weible. 6
6
Single Men.
Lawrence Bechman.
Philip Hein.
Jacob Danner.
Adam Helwig.
Bernhard Dencer.
Deobald Kline.
Matthias Egner, Jr.
Sebastian Lintz.'
Wm. Fenstermacher.
Joseph Volck.
For Located Lands.
£
£
John Albrecht
2
David Heinly
1
Wm. Andee
1
Peter Keiffer
1
Philip Dressher
1
Daniel Leven.
5
Wm. Feigle
1
Conrad Meneemith ...
5
Anthony Fisher
2
Michael Rigely
1
Wm. Groee.
5
Chrietien Ruth
2
John Hartman
3
Henry Wetstone.
Jacob Weis. 1
ERECTION OF TOWNSHIP .- This district of territory was known as Longswamp from the time of the earliest settlements, in 1734. In a draft of Rockland township, made in 1758, it is referred to as Long Swope, and mentioned as no township. The foregoing assessment list indicates that the district was recognized, though not yet regularly established.
On the 10th of February, 1761, a petition was presented to the justices of Berks County asking that the place called Longswamp be erected into a township. It was subscribed by twenty-six names, in German handwriting. They were as follows :
Frederick Helwig. 88
Samuel Dormeyer.
Martin Karcher. Christian Erstenstätt.
Ph'p Fenstermacher. Frederick -. Meier.
Jacob Weimer.
Ludwig Neitz.
John Kline.
Philip Burger.
Samuel Burger.
Peter Lutz.
Jacob Forny.
Fred. Saussman. Jacob Fenstermacher.
Adam
Michael (Niethammer).
Jacob Daumeir.
Lorentz Klein.
Jacob Mertz.
Jacob Bachman.
Peter Mertz.
Nicholaus Schwartz.
Henry Bollinger.
Matthias Eigner.
A survey of the district was made by Nicho- las Bunn on February 2, 1761. It was bound- ed and described as follows :
" Beginning at a corner of Maxatawny township, in the Northampton County line; thence along said township S. W. 1286 ps. ; thence along Rockland township, S. 34 E. 955 ps., and East 1262 ps .; thence along Hereford township, N. E. 610 ps. ; thence along said county line N. W. 1840 ps. to the beginning ; containing 13, 935 acres.
In May, 1761, the township was erected.
INDUSTRIES.
The water-power afforded by the Little Le- high was early utilized to operate small mills, such as the wants of the settlers demanded. One of these improvements was on the head- waters of that stream, where Jacob Lesher put in operation a small charcoal furnace, as early as 1797, and which he owned until 1808, when ·he sold the property to his son-in-law, Reuben Trexler. It had a wide reputation as the Mary Ann Furnace, and it was there that the first stoves made in Pennsylvania, for burning anthracite or stove-coal, were cast. Their man- ufacture continued from 1820 till 1857, and they were known to the trade as the " Lehigh Coal-Stove," and had, in their day, a fine repu- tation. Reuben Trexler transferred his interest in the furnace to his son Horatio, who still owns the property. It has been out of blast since 1869 and the improvements have been al- lowed to go to decay. Down this stream Lesher had a mill, which also passed into the hands of the Trexlers, and which is still in operation. The mill is one of the oldest in the county. A mill near by was in operation for a time for grinding gypsum, but it has been abandoned. A tannery was started in the early part of this
Joseph Büry.
Adam Dietrich
2
Matthias Egner.
20
Adolph Meyer
2
Simon Moser
2
Peter March
12
Nicholas March
13
Philip Finck
3
Nicholas Gress
4
Joseph Richard
1
Casper Herdy
Paul Hemmerich 1
Nicholas Helm.
2
Philip Straub
1
August Steckler
3
Geo. Shahel 2
Philip Kissner
Nicholas Swartz
14
Mertin Karcher. 15
Bernhard Zwitzig
I
John Hergarader 5
1050
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
century by Andrew Weiler. He sold out to Reuben Trexler, who was succeeded by his son William, the present owner. About one thou- sand hides per year are tanned. The old Wag- enhorst mill occupies the next site on this stream, being near the county line. The improvements antedate the century and were made by John Wagenhorst. The present mill has been im- proved and is still operated by the Wagenhorst family. On the West Branch of the Little Lehigh Peter Hawerter had improved a site upon which he erected a fulling-mill, and later a feed-mill was added, the present owner being Morgan Long. Below this site there was a tannery of Valentine Geist, last operated by Benjamin Hawerter. The buildings remain, but the business has long since been discontinued. Above was the saw-mill of George Fritch, which was next carried on by Nathan Fritch.
PAINT-MILL .- The power above was made to operate a grist-mill for the Fritch family, but in 1884 this was converted into a paint- mill by T. L. Fritch & Bros. This has become one of the most important industries in the township. The firm mines and manufactures floated ochres, umbers and metallic paints, pro- ducing at the rate of one thousand barrels per month, and employing from ten to fifteen hands. The water-power has been supplemented by steam, so that operations can be carried on con- tinuously. A specialty is made of raw and burnt umber, the mineral being found near by twenty feet below the surface and having a thickness of forty feet. The improvement above was made by John Butz, to operate a clover-mill, which has been idle a long time.
In the southwestern part of the township, on a branch of the Sacony, on the site of the old Schnable mills are the Lesher grist and saw- mills, now operated by John Loug. The power is weak and the mills are old.
Near the Lehigh County line were the grist and saw-mills of John Keifer, which have been replaced by better and larger mills, operated by water and steam-power and owned by Ed. Mickley and Perry Wannamaker. This firnı also has a large slaughter-house where from ten to thirty steers per week are killed. The locality is known as Maple Grove. Nearly west of this
place was the oil-mill of Jacob Wagenhorst, which had a wide reputation. The building is still standing, but is not in use.
At Hancock a paint-mill was begun in the fall of 1884 by Henry S. Weiler and S. Long & Son, which is still operated by them in the manufacture of crude ochres, the material for which is procured at some of the iron-mines in the township. The mill has a capacity of thirty barrels per day, and the products are in good demand.
PLUMBAGO .- In 1880 William Reiley & Co. built a plumbago-factory on the land of Williamn Long, which was operated one year, when the building was destroyed by fire. The plumbago there found is of good quality when properly prepared.
WHITE CLAY .-- On the lands of David De- long are beds of clay, almost pure white, which has been found well adapted for the use of paper-makers. Its development and manu- facture was begun in 1876 by William Reiley & Co. who put up works for that purpose. These, in an enlarged condition, are now carried on by the "Star Clay Company," of whichi J. B. Wilson is the manager. Steam-power is em- ployed and ten men are engaged in the various stages of manufacture.
In no township of the county is iron-ore more abundant than in Longswamp. Nearly every farm is underlaid with it and as many as one hundred mines have been opened. In most of the larger mines steam-power has been em- ployed and within two miles of Mertztown forty engines have been in operation for this purpose.
CHURCHES.
LONGSWAMP CHURCH.1-Frederick Hoelwig, the cantor (the director of church music) of the congregation, certifies in his chronicle. Certain members of the Reformed congregation in Longswamp, after. the command of God, de- clared that they would erect a church, and they be- gan about September, 1748. The piece of ground which the members had selected was lawfully secured by Jost H. Sassamanhausen through
1 Extracts taken from Allentown Friedensbote, translated by the author and published in Reading Daily News, April 21-24, 1885.
1051
TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.
a warrant. Afterwards the congregation bought nine acres in addition for the purpose of erecting a school-house thereon and for the use of the school-teacher. Both tracts were patented for the perpetual use of the Reformed congregation, which was not a union one originally, but so hard Reformed that the Lutherans who came afterward were pressed farther down into the valley, where they likewise established a cou- gregation on the Little Lehigh.
The first church was erected about the year 1748. The members selected as master-builders (building committee) Joseph Biry and Samuel Burger. These said-as Hoelwig said in his chronicle-" with the help" of other members of the congregation, who had given contribu- tions and whose names follow, the building was finished :
Leopold Kreber.
Nicholas Kaiser.
Theobald Karl.
Peter Kaiser.
Jacob Fenstermacher.
Peter Walbert.
John Fried.
Bernhard Fegley.
Peter Bntz.
Jost Henry Sassaman-
Nicholas Schwartz.
hausen.
Nicholas Mertz.
Henry Stricker.
David Mertz.
Jacob Long.
Peter Mertz.
David Delong.
Henry Bohlinger.
Henry Eigner.
Christian Ruth.
Jacob Daniel Volk.
Philip Burger.
At the lower northern corner of the grave- yard, several paces inward from the present wall, the old church was erected.
The second church was built under the church administration of Hertzel. The first church stood forty-three years. In this time the con- gregation increased in number so that the old little church became too small, and the well- being had also grown so much that the members thought that they could build a more correspond- ing church. In 1790 preparations were made for the new building. Then it happened, as it generally happens in the building of a church where there are many heads, each one would have their own way, and each one considered that he is right ; so they disagreed where the church should be built. The place where the old church stood was not suitable any longer in the opinion of many. It was said that it should be built higher up the hill, and yet they did not
wish to leave the old church-yard. So they came to pass "the throwing of hats." This was an old custom among the Germans, which was generally practiced when differences arose con- cerning matters of a congregation. By throw- ing their hats down upon the place that they thought was the proper place they expressed their opinion, and they were satisfied ac- cording to the majority of opinion. This was regarded as a holy election, which decision was submitted to by each one, whether it hap- pened to be for or against him. So it happened here. Each one threw his hat upon the place where he was most pleased to have it. The hats were then counted and it was ascertained that the upper western corner had the most hats. Then a beautiful walled terrace was erected there and the commencement of the church building was made in a practical and united manner. The corner-stone was laid May 28, 1791, and Hertzel, the then minister, preached.
John Helfrich, a son of the deceased Rev. Helfrich, was then elected pastor of the congre- gation. In autumn, 1816, he began to preach after he had received his license from Synod. By his election dissatisfaction arose. Other ministers tried to become elected and did all they could to make good their application. The consequences were that the minds of the congre- gation became excited and thereby Helfrich's election became more decided. In the course of time many Lutherans settled in the vicinity of the congregation through buying and selling and reciprocal family connections. These or- ganized themselves into a congregation and pe- titioned the Reformed members to be allowed to hold religious services in their church on condi- tion that they paid a small rent. The rigid Reformed spirit of the parents had partly died out, and the Lutherans were willingly allowed. They elected the Rev. Jacob Miller in 1817, he who was compensated for a short time by his brother, Conrad Miller.
The church was rented by the Lutherans at a nominal rent for a definite term. After this term expired it was re-rented under similar conditions. At the third re-renting a difference arose which brought a separation. Under the administration of Pastor Roeller, who was the
1052
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Lutheran minister about this time, the year 1837 found the greatest number of Lutherans brought together. They resolved to build their own church and founded the Mertztown con- gregation, near by the Longswamp. A small number of the Reformed members went with the Lutherans, and so the Mertztown congrega- tion became a union congregation. But a small number of the Lutherans also remained with the Old Longswamp Church and were given the right to carry on worship therein without rent. And so this church also became union.
In the year 1848, after the congregation had existed for more than one hundred years, they decided to celebrate the event by a jubilee. The church was beautifully ornamented with flowers and crosses and the festival was held on the 30th of September and the 1st of October. This was the first centennial festival which was held in this vicinity. The festival sermons were preached by Dr. J. S. Kessler, Eichenberg and Brobst. From near and far people came to witness this immense festival.
In 1852 the second church was torn down for the purpose of erecting in its stead, in the vicinity, a new and more spacious one. The corner-stone was laid on the 9th of May. De- chant and both ministers of the congregation preached upon this occasion. On Christmas of this year the church was dedicated. Schmidd, Brobst, Hinterleitner and other ministers preached. The church is a tasteful building, with a steeple and bell. This was the first steeple in this district for miles round-about, and the bell the first which, with its brass tongue and resounding tone, called the congre- gation together from the extensive valley to the service of God.
The Reformed ministers who preached in Longswamp Church were,-
Frederick Casimir Miller.
Philip Jacob Michael. Rudolph Reidenweile.
G. H. Helfrich. Henry Hertzel.
J. Henry Helfrich, 1795-1810.
W. Dechant, 1811-15.
John Helfrich, 1816-52.
W. A. Helfrich, 1852-85.
The Lutheran ministers of the congregation
from 1817 were Jacob Miller, Conrad Miller and Isaac Roeller. After the separation, in 1837, the following ministers preached : Au- gustus Griebler, Peter Oberfeld, Jeremiah Schindel, P. Hinterleitner, Ferdinand Berke- meyer, C. H. M. Sell, A. Croll, S. R. Boyer and D. K. Humbert.
. The trustees in 1885 were Nathan Haas, Manoah Long and William Schubert; and then the Reformed congregation had three hundred members, and the Lutheran two hundred.
The church property now comprises forty acres of land.
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH (Reformed and Lu- theran) is located at Mertztown. It is a brick edifice, forty-four by fifty-six feet, with galler- ies on three sides ; and it includes two acres of ground, most of which is used for cemetery purposes. The church was erected in 1837 by a building committee composed of Daniel Gin- ginger, Jonas Trexler, Jonathan Haas and John Diener.
The Reformed congregation was organized by the Rev. Charles Herman, who was its first pastor, and the Rev. William Helfrich next. The present pastor is the Rev. J. Sassaman Herman. The members number about one hundred and fifty. Of the Lutheran congrega- tion, the Rev. Isaac Roeller was the first pas- tor, and had here, as in other parts of the county, the Rev. B. E. Kramlich as his succes- sor. His congregation is large, numbering three hundred members.
A large Sunday-school is maintained in the church. In 1885 Benneville Fegeley was su- perintendent.
SALEM CHURCH (Evangelical Association) was erected at Shamrock in 1870. It is a plainly-built frame building, put up by a com- mittee composed of James Weida, Daniel Shirey and the Rev. Frank Sechrist, who was at that time the preacher in charge of Kutztown Circuit, which has supplied the ministerial ser- vice of the church. The membership has never been large, the aggregate in 1885 being only twenty-five persons. Ephraim Fegeley is the superintendent of the Sunday-school, which has about seventy-five members.
ST. PETER'S CHURCH (Reformed and Lu-
1053
TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.
theran), at Topton, was built in the fall of 1869, originally for school purposes, with the name of the " Excelsior Institute." The projectors of this enterprise had selected as their board of trustees Peter L. Diener, James M. Butz, Mi- chael H. Miller and D. D. Hinterleit er, who supervised the erection of the building. As soon as it was ready for occupancy a Sunday- school was organized in it, with Peter L. Diener as superintendent, which is still contin- ued by him. Failing in the purpose to main- tain a private school, the building was converted into a church for the use of the above congre- gations. An organization was effected October 29, 1871, and the building was formally dedi- cated May 9, 1872. It was used until 1881, and then rebuilt by Peter L. Diener, John Hen- ning, B. C. Baer and M. H. Miller as trustees. They still constitute the present board of trustees. The walls were plastered, the interior embellished and sittings provided for about four hundred persons. The Reformed congregation was organized with twelve members; it has now sixty. The Rev. A. J. Herman has been the only pastor. The membership of the Lu- theran congregation is about the same, and the Rev. B. E. Kramlich is pastor.
SCHOOLS .- The public schools of the town- ships are taught in good buildings, which have been provided with the necessary books, charts, etc. In three of the buildings graded schools are maintained, and instruction in the higher branches is afforded. These buildings are two stories high, the lower stories being used for the ordinary schools of the district. Ad- mission to the graded schools may be ob- tained by the children of the township by evidence of advancement in the other schools, or by passing an examination. The graded school at the Longswamp Church, or the Centre School, was established in 1875; the one at Mertztown in 1876; and the build- ing at " Red Lion " was put up afterward. In 1883 a fine public school building was erected at Shamrock, and neatly finished. It is a model worthy of imitation. The old parochial school-house at the Longswamp Church, has been converted into a residence, now occupied by William Schubert, Esq.
VILLAGES.
Numerous hamlets and small villages abound in every part of the township, on account of the extensive mining of iron-ore.
RED LION .- In the southeastern part is the hamlet of Red Lion, a freight station on the Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad, which derived its name from a tavern in that locality, whose sign was a " Red Lion." This house was built by James Butz, and is still used for public purposes. Edwin Butz has a lumber and grain business and James Findley and others ship ore extensively. In the place are a dozen residences and a graded school-building.
FARMINGTON is on the same railroad, in the northeastern part of the township, with about the same number of houses. Its only business interest is that carried on by Smith & Croll, and the shipment of iron-ore.
MAPLE GROVE is situated between these places, on the Lehigh County line. It com- prises several mills, a number of dwellings and an inn built by John Keifer.
LONGSWAMP is a post-office centre and comprises a store and tavern and several dwell- ings. It is often called "Trexler's." The post-office was established in April, 1822, and was first kept in a building which stood on the site of the present Trexler mansion, which was the homestead of the Trexler family. Reuben Trexler was the first postmaster, and the office has since been kept by succeeding members of the family. He had opened a store there about 1820 and conducted a general business. The post-office has a daily mail from Shamrock, the nearest railway station, distant one mile. The public-house in the same locality was first a residence, having been converted into a tavern by the Trexlers.
WEILERTOWN is a village in the centre of the township, north of the Longswamp Church, containing about twenty-five buildings. From its location it is sometimes called Long- swamp Centre. Its old name was derived from John Weiler, an early settler on the farm owned by Amos Weiler. He reared three sons, -Andrew, a tanner, who removed to Potts- town ; John, a pioneer blacksmith at this place (who was the father of Nathan, James,
1054
HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
William, Charles and Peter Weiler); and George, who was a farmer, the father of Amos Weiler, of Longswamp, and Manoah Weiler, of Reading. Daughters were married to Daniel Weida and Richard Wertz, both of Longswamp. One of the first improvements was the public-house of John Weiler, built in 1812 and kept by him until some time before his death, in 1835. The past forty years this honse has been kept by Richard Wertz .. The place had no store until 1874, when one was opened by Franklin Wertz and William Schn- bert, Jr., which has been carried on by William Weiler and his sons since 1877. Some of the early mechanics at this place were John Weiler, blacksmith ; William Maberry, wheelwright; John Maberry, blacksmith ; Richard Wertz, tailor; Aaron Albright, saddler; Nathan Weiler, tobacconist ; Charles Weiler, carpenter and cabinet-maker ; and James Master, marble- cutter. C. Deininger and Frederick Stein were teachers.
South of this place Dr. Manoah Long has been for many years in successful practice as a physician ; and in the village, Dr. James Frank- lin Wertz (who was born in Longswamp in 1836), has lived and followed his profession since his graduation. Associated with him is his brother, Dr. Peter Weiler Wertz (born in 1842).
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