History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 180

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > History of Berks county in Pennsylvania > Part 180

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Boltz, Geo

Fiecher, Adam

Schneider, Abram

Fischer, Ludwig.

Grow, Leonard

Schnederle, Geo.

Huber, Frantz

Hartman, Mich'l.

Schmidt. Henry

Hoffman, Peter

Schmidt, Leonard

Schaum, Christopher.

Hob, John

Kress, Valentine.

Korngib, John 1 Stein, John

Wiegand, Nicholas. 1

Roset, Jacob,

Schuoke, Fred'k 1

Arnold, Peter

Klahr, Jacob

Kemp, Matthias

Kintzer, Nicbolas

Kreiger, Peter

Kurr, Thoe.

Kero, Thoa

Steiner, Maria

Swengle, Nicholas ..

Schlessman, Nicholas

Schaeffer, Nicholas.

Speicher, Peter.

Lavene, John

Miller, Jacob

Gebhardt. Peter 1

Schreffler, Geo. Schaeffer, Geo

Fengle, Geo

Keiser, Fred'k.

Keel, Geo,

Albrecht, Michael ..

Anspach, Peter.

Kaufman, John

Wender, Christopher. 3

Schaeffer, Heury.

Ream, Adam.

Lescher, John.

Groff, Henry.

Gassen, Jacob.

Reit, Geo. 20 Gicker, Jacob,

Lash, Adam

1087

TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.

uel Baird and Samuel S. Jackson were ap- pointed commisssoners to make the neces- sary investigations, etc. These commissioners recommended the erection of the new township- " being satisfied that the late practice of subdivid- ing large townships, and the convenience caused thereby for township transactions and the better attention to the keeping of roads, etc, in repair, has received general favor from experience," and suggested as a proper name-" South Tulpe- hocken." Their report was filed January 9, 1845, and confirmed nisi. But earnest exceptions were filed against the proposed and recommended new township ; one remonstrance setting forth that the district, as laid out, " contains only about 110 taxable inhabitants-it is seven miles long and the widest part from one and a half to two miles broad, -and it will be inconvenient and burden- some to your petitioners and it will only gratify a few self-interested individuals." An act of As- sembly was passed on the 19th of February, 1845, requiring the question of this proposed township to be submitted to a vote of the taxable inhabit- ants of the three townships; but at an election held on the 21st day of March, 1845, the question was decided in the negative;1 and the court ac- cordingly refused the application.

CHURCHES.

HOST CHURCH is in the southeastern part of the township. It derives its name from a family which formerly resided in that locality. As early as 1745 a congregation of the German Reformed Church had an existence there and worshipped in a log meeting-house, put up for the use of the con- gregation. Here they received the ministrations of the Rev. D. Bartholemae, in 1747, and of the Revs. H. W. Stoy, William Otterbein, John Waldschmidt and John Jacob Zufall, preaching at irregular periods, until 1769, when the Rev. Wm. Hendel entered upon a pastorate which con- tinued thirteen years. In 1775 his labors resulted in giving the congregation a permanent organiza- tion, which has been continued until this day. It was determined to build a new church and a com- mittee was selected to take this work in hand. The church as they built it was used about fifty years ;

but, in 1832, the brick floor was removed, and a floor of boards put in its place; and other changes were also made in the house to bring it up to the requirements of that day. This work was done by George See at seventy-five cents per day and board. Twenty years later, in 1852, a steeple was put on the church and a bell of six hundred and thirty-four pounds weight placed in the same. In this condition the church was used three decades longer. On Octo- ber 4, 1884, it was decided to enlarge the building by the addition of seventeen feet to its length, to cover it with slate and to renovate it internally. The corner- stone was laid May 17, 1885, and the completed building reconsecrated September 20, 1885, giving to the congregation one of the finest country churches in the county. The following ministers officiated : Wm. Hendel, Frederick Herman, Thomas H. Leinbach (1833-51), Jacob D. Zehring (1851-64), George Wolf and C. H. Leinbach.

Rev. Thomas C. Leinbach became the pastor in 1866 and he has been continued until now. In 1885 the congregation numbered three hundred and fifty members.2

After being exclusively a Reformed Church abont one hundred years, a congregation of Lu- therans began holding regular meetings here March 12, 1865, with the Rev. Aaron Finfrock as pastor, who has since served it with acceptance. In 1885 a membership of one hundred and seven- ty-five was reported. By agreement the congre- gation has a voice in the temporal affairs of the church, which is now practically a " union church."

REHRERSBURG LUTHERAN CHURCH .- In 1765 Henry Holtzman granted to Trustees Christian Moyer, Ulrich Fisher, Jacob Reed and Thomas Kurr two and a half acres of ground for church purposes. This lot was enlarged by the addition of sixty rods more by Sebastian Brosius, and one hundred and thirty-eight rods by Godfrey Roehrer. In 1786 the latter donated four acres more; and other additions were made at later periods, until, at present, the church lot contains about thirteen acres of ground. Upon part of this lot there was built, in 1765, a two-story meeting house of logs, which was used as a place of worship until 1808, when the present meeting-house was built. It is

1 In Upper Tulpehocken the vote was 181 against and 9 for new township.

2 For a long list of names (150) Lutheran and Reformed members, see Rupp's " 30,000 Immigrants," pp. 466-468.

1088

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

a large stone edifice of substantial masonry. In 1849 the first steeple was placed on the church, which was removed in 1882 and another construct- ed in its stead. The latter contains a fine bell. The cemetery is large and finely kept. The mem- bership of the church is large, numbering about five hundred and sixty. The pastor is Rev. A. J. Long, resident minister at the Tulpehocken Lutheran Church, at Stouchsburg. In the main these two churches have had the same ministers.

About thirty years after the church was built a parochial school was established, in a building put up for that purpose, upon the church grouuds. This house was of logs, two-story, and was afterwards used as the public school-house until 1882, when a new school-house was erected. The early schools taught in it were excellent. Peter Walborn was a superior teacher. He taught about thirty years. Jacob Kline was the last teacher of the parish school, and the instruction generally imparted there was in the German lan- guage.

The first English school was taught in a private house, about 1820, by a Mr. Embich. Later a building was provided for English schools near the old church, in which James Allen, Jacob Rehm and others taught.

The public schools of Rehrersburg form four grades, and are taught in a large frame building put up in 1882. The old school-house has been demolished. The old log church was torn down about 1810 and the material used for a residence near the centre of the village.

ST. JOHN'S UNION CHURCH (REFORMED AND LUTHERAN) is in the eastern part of Rehrersburg and was built in 1847. The edifice is a neat brick structure and has attractive surroundings ; the lot is inclosed with a fine iron fence. It embraces also a well-kept burial-ground, on which are some neat monuments. This church was built by members withdrawing from the old church at Rehrersburg, on account of the difficulty of mak- ing arrangements whereby both congregations could have mutual interests. The membership was at first small, but in 1885 the Reformed congregation reported one hundred and thirty and the Lutherans not quite so many. The latter had the Rev. Daniel D. Trexler as pastor, and previously

Revs. H Y. Grahn, Rees and Rev. Thomas Iaeger. The Reformed congregation had as its minister, since February, 1884, the Rev. L. D. Stambaugh. Those who preceded him were the Revs. Steckle, Wolf, Schwartz and Miesse.

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH OF THE EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION is located near the centre of the township, close by the old Livingood mills. The church was built in 1852 and is of brick, with a small steeple and bell. Its capacity is a few hun- dred. The early members belonged to the Liven- good and Burns families and were but few in number. There having been few accessions, the congregation is weak numerically. The ministerial service is from Myerstown, in Lehanon County, with which place this appointment is united in forming a circuit.

TRINITY CHURCH .- This house of worship belongs to the United Brethren and was built in 1848, but remodeled and improved in 1885. The building is a plain frame, but ample for the wants of the congregation worshipping there, which numbered in 1885 but fifty members. The ap- pointment was served in connection with churches in Lebanon County, forming a circuit, and the pastor was the Rev. J. P. Smith. A small grave- yard is connected with the building.

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH (LUTHERAN AND RE- FORMED), is located on a commanding site in Mt. Etna. It was built in 1883. It is a neat brick structure, forty-two by sixty-one feet, with steeple and bell, and cost over four thousand dollars. The building committee having the work in charge was W. A. Klick, J. Stamm, J. Bricker and P. M. Forrer. This is the second house which occupies the lot. The first was built in 1846 by John Fisher, J. Stutzman and J. Goldman, in order to afford a more convenient place of worship for the people of that locality, and the site selected was the acre of ground set aside for church and school purposes by the proprietor of the town-site. The greater part of this was set aside for burial purposes. The cemetery provided is well kept, and contains some neat monuments.

In 1885 the Lutheran congregation had about sixty members and the Rev. F. J. F. Schantz as pastor. At the same time the Reformed congre- gation had one hundred members and the pastor

1089

TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.

was the Rev. L. D. Stambaugh. Each congrega- tion supports a Sunday-school and Bible class.

BRETHREN MEETING-HOUSE .- In the north- ern part of the township, in what is known as the Ziegler neighborhood, there is a frame meeting- house belonging to the Brethren, or Dunkards. It was built about fifteen years ago and replaced a smaller brick house which had been built about fifteen years previously. The congregation occu- pying it is large and flourishing, a large number of members coming from other townships, chiefly from Bethel, The meetings held alternate with those in the Bethel Churches.

VILLAGES.

REHRERSBURG .- The town plan of Rehrers- burg was laid out by Jacob Rehrer, about the year 1803. It was acknowledged by him on the 4th of April, 1803, and recorded. The plan included ninety-four lots, which were arranged along the thoroughfare.

The main street was named "Gottfried ;" the principal cross-street, " Jacob ;" the next cross- streets, to the west, "Magdalena" and " Rehrer," and to the east, " Maria " and "Brown." The " square " in the centre of the town is seventy by four hundred and ten feet. Width of streets- main, fifty feet ; cross, forty feet. The lots in the " square" are sixty by two hundred and forty-six feet; the others on Gottfried Street, sixty by two hundred and seventy feet. On the back of the plan the proprietor made the following provision, written in German : " This plan has three classes in price and are as follows : In the first class the tickets are twenty dollars, and a half-dollar ground rent each year ; in the second, fifteen dollars and one dollar ground rent each year ; in the third, ten dollars and one dollar and a half ground rent each year."

The lots were disposed of by lottery. One of the first lots was sold in 1803 to Michael Tryon. Dr. John Tryon, his son, has occupied this lot and the dwelling thereon for many years.

Subsequently, in 1819, Mr. Rehrer laid out fifty-three additional lots on the north of the town.

In 1825, Thomas Kurr was the proprietor of the ground rent, the total amount of which was then stated to be seventy-seven dollars and eighty-five cents.

The deeds from Rehrer to purchasers were not recorded. The form of deed was printed. The following were some of the purchasers :

Abraham Guth, lots 3 and 8, in 1803.

Michael Tryon, lots 30 and 31, in 1803.

Joseph Geissler,1 lot 77, in 1803.

Joseph Geissler, lots 46 and 47, in 1806.

George Ohlwein, lot 79, in 1807.

Maria Messersmith (formerly Strack,) lot 82, in 1807.

Adam Weber, lot 83, in 1810.

The first building in this vicinity was erected south of the town about a quarter of a mile.

In addition :

George Harner and Godfrey D. Rehrer, lot 106, in 1820.

Christian Brobst, lot 108, in 1819.

Christian Brobst, lot 110, in 1819.

John Binkley, lot 112, in 1821.

Jacob Good, lot 122, in 1822.

The ground rent has not been released. The last payments were made in 1834. In this year a plow was distrained for rent due; but it was released upon proceeding in replevin.

Among the early settlers of Rehrersburg were Abraham Guth, merchant; Joseph Geissler, iun- keeper ; Dr. Michael Tryon, physician ; P. Lud- wig, justice; John Seamen, justice; Philip A. Good, surveyor ; Christian Brobst, inn-keeper ; John Schaeffer, weaver; John Aulenbach, cabinet maker; John Hartman, brick-maker ; John Moss- watchmaker ; Michael Fichthorn, hatter ; John Reber, carpenter; Gerhart Miller, blacksmith ; Jacob Lininger, blacksmith; Frederick Muth, lumber dealer; Godfrey Rehrer, merchant ; John Lindenmuth, saddler ; John Reber, tailor ; Philip Kline, tanner; Henry Dewald, tinsmith ; Wm. A. Good, teacher ; Sebastian Lutz, saddler ; Philip Schwalm, tailor; Jacob Schaeffer, farmer.

The house built by Abraham Guth was con- verted into a tavern by Jacob Good in 1806 and kept by him until 1814, when Christian Brobst became the landlord, keeping the house until his death, in 1831. Then came Valentine Brobst un- til 1853, and Henry Brobst, the present proprie- tor, succeeded to the ownership. About the same time, 1806, Joseph Geissler opened the second

1 Geissler erected American House, and it is said that he erected the first dwelling on this lot.

1090

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

inn, which is now known as the " Farmers' Ho- tel." Michael Lindenmuth was the landlord there thirty years. On the site of Dr. Tryon's res- idence was a public-house kept about thirty-five years by John Binkley. The present "Union House " has been open for the entertainment of the public since 1838, John Ebling being the first landlord and John Christ, the present.

After Abraham Guth left the Brobst stand, in 1806, he opened a place of business where Kurr's store now is. This place has been used continuously for trading purposes. For a time a store was kept in the building which had formerly been the church, and which is still standing on the square as a resi- dence.

The Rehrersburg post-office was established May 27, 1818. George Harner was the postmas- ter until 1834, keeping the office at his store. For the next five years Valentine Brobst was the post- master. Since 1866 John B. Barnett has offici- ated. The office has daily mails from Womels- dorf, and also from Reading via Bernville.

Physicians .- Dr. Michael Tryon, a native of Mill Creek, Lebanon County, located here as the first doctor in 1800, and remained until his death, in 1830. His son, Dr. Jacob Tryon, followed his profession at Rehrersburg actively from 1821 until 1884, when he retired at the age of eighty- four years. During the first twenty-three years of his practice he traveled altogether on horseback, and often visited patients twenty-five miles distant, traveling through woods without roads and over mountains. Since 1855 his son, Dr. John S. Tryon, has been a successful practitioner at this point. Dr. Abraham Good was the second physi- cian in the village, a number of years prior to his removal to Lebanon, about 1837. Dr. Adam Schoener was here from 1820 until his removal to Reading, in 1865. Before his death he returned to Rehrersburg. Dr. Adam J. Schoener was fifteen years in practice before his death, in 1880. The last to locate was Dr. George M. Bickel,1 who has been in successful practice the past eight years.

Besides the foregoing, a number of natives of the place became successful physicians, among them being Decatur Schoener, William J. Schoener,

Edward, John A. and James C. Brobst, sons of Valentine Brobst.

The village had several secret societies, which, after a period of prosperity, were allowed to go down, and have for a number of years been discontinued.

The tannery there was established by Kline & Shellenberger sixty years ago, and is still in existence, though carried on in a small way at present. Among the industries at this point, which have been altogether abandoned, was a small foundry by S. Weber, which was once a use- ful enterprise.

Organs are built by Monroe Salem, and coach- making is carried on by C. D. Wagner.

The Rehrersburg Creamery was built in 1885 by Isaac H. Shade & Co. Steam-power is used, and about three hundred pounds of prime butter are made daily, in one-pound prints. The creamery has the patronage of thirty-one customers.

MT. ETNA .- This village is in the south western part of the township, on an elevated tract of land which overlooks the surrounding country. It was laid out in 1810 by Peter Wohleber, and for many years called Wohleberstown. The present name was adopted after 1854, when the post-office was established. Wohleber owned a farm at this place, and surveyed some twenty acres of it for village purposes. He laid out the streets and alleys with great regularity. The main street was widened at its centre, to form a market square. Following the custom of that day, the lots were disposed of with an annual ground-rent. The amount was two dollars per year, and it was paid for many years. The last lot released was that of Peter Wohleber, Jr.

The proprietor lived near the public well, which he had provided, and he continued in the village until his death. Before this occurred, Peter Schell became the proprietor, and in turn sold out to John Neff, in 1845. The latter disposed of his interests to Daniel Gasser, who executed titles to the lots.

The first house in the place was by the public well, and was removed by Peter Schell, a cooper by trade; John Acheanbach was the blacksmith ; Evan Lewis, the tailor; John Heffelfinger, the nail-maker; John Bechtold, mason ; Michael Het-

.1 See sketch in Chapter XXI., p. 620.

1091

TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.

tinger, millwright ; Jacob Robinson, laborer. These embraced the early settlers, in addition to the Wohleber family. Peter Wohleber sold the first goods, he having traded on a small scale. But Levi Wolfersperger was the first to engage in trade to any extent. He lived on lot No. 6, and also kept a public-house. He was in business more than thirty years, and was succeeded by Brown & Bordner. William A. Glick was the second merchant, trading on a larger scale. In 1885 the village had four stores. One of these was in a three-story brick building, forty by sixty- one feet, built in 1881 by the proprietor, I. J. H. Bordner, who has been in trade eighteen years. Daily mails are received from Myerstown, and tri- weekly are carried to Wintersville. The present postmaster is I. J. H. Bordner.

The first tavern in the place was kept in 1810 at the present Brown House, in a building which forms a part of the present hotel. Jacob Het- tinger was the landlord. The second inn was the Bordner House, kept chiefly by members of the Bordner family. The third house was built by John H. Weller, about 1870. These three taverns are still maintained.

In the practice of medicine, Dr. Christian Strohm was the first to locate at Mt. Etna. He was followed, in 1856, by Dr. L. G. Batdorff, a prac- titioner here continuously since that time.

South of Rehrersburg is an old tavern-stand widely and favorably known as Gasser's, and which had been kept by that family the greater part of a century. On the Womelsdorf road, near the southern line of the township, a number of people have had stores, Conrad Hinuershitz being one of the first in trade. A post-office having the name of Host was established here in 1852, which is at present kept in the store of Jacob Shaffner, for a number of years a successful merchant at this point. The office has a daily mail from Womelsdorf. West, nearly midway between Host and Mt. Etna, is the hamlet of Wintersville, so called after Jacob Winters, who had a store and a tavern at that place. The post-office was established there in 1857 and is still maintained.

Near Mt. Etna, on a small spring branch, is the old Livengood mill, built in the early part of the present century. The old mill-house is still in use, but steam-power has been supplied to take the place

of the failing water-power. On the Swatara, near the mouth of this stream, is the old Zimmerman mill, where, about 1850, Frederick Miller built a new mill, which has been remodeled and supplied with steam-power so that it has become an excel- lent mill. Jacob Zeigler was the proprietor in 1885. In the southern part of the township, on Mill Creek, Daniel Wolf had a small mill before 1800, occupying the site of the Moyer mill, started soon after the settlement of the township. The present is the third mill, having been rebuilt in 1869.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

GEORGE K. STOUDT is the grandson of George Stoudt, who was of German extraction and spent his life in Tulpehocken township as a farmer. He married Rebcca Wolfe, whose children were Daniel, Jacob, George, Benjamin, Maria, Eva, Elizabeth and Sarah. George Stoudt, of this number, was born on the 30th of June, 1794, in Tulpehocken township, where he followed the occupation of his father, and married Susanna, daughter of John Kutz, of Maxatawny township. The children of this marriage are George (who died in youth), Mary (Mrs. Jacob D. Barnet), William, George K., Isaac, Rebecca, John, Sarah (Mrs. Henry Peiffer) and Eliza (Mrs. Johu B. Schaeffer), of whom all but two survive. George K. Stoudt was born in Maiden-creek township, Berks County, March 15, 1818, and received very few advantages of education, his time having been required as assistant in the cultivation of his father's land. He removed in 1834 with the latter to the farm now owned by him in Tulpehocken township, and continued industriously employed as a farmer for many years. He was married on the 15th of June, 1839, to Mary, daughter of William Riehl, of the same township. Their children are Alvin (a prosperous farmer in Iudi- ana), Susanna, (Mrs. Jared Himmelberger), John (engaged in farming pursuits in Ohio), Jemima (Mrs. J. Henry Gasser), Frank (who settled upon a farm in Illinois), Rebecca (Mrs. Jonathan R. Reber) and Sarah E. (Mrs. Edward Bickel). The death of Mrs. Stoudt occurred July 10, 1881. George K. Stoudt remained with his father until his death, in 1881, when the property was bequeath- ed to him, subject to the claims of the remaining

1092

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

heirs. He is still actively engaged in farming and ranks among the most successful agriculturists of his township. As a Democrat in politics, he has served in various local offices. He is often solicited to serve as guardian, executor and in other places of trust where his fidelity to duty has won the respect and confidence of the public. With other patriotic citizens he was active during the war in furthering the interests of the govern- ment. He is a director of the Sinking Spring

Hull, whose children are William, (deceased), Margaret (Mrs. Emannel Kissel), Polly (Mrs. Samuel Hallacher), Sarah, (Mrs. Samuel S. Brown), George, Henry (deceased) and. Jacob. The last-named of this number was born January 23, 1831, in New Holland, Lancaster County, and at the age of thirteen years removed to Berks County, becoming a member of his brother's family in Tulpehocken township. In this township he still resides, the spot being familiarly

Sev. No. Stowell

Mutual Fire Insurance Company. Mr. Stoudt is a member of the Reformed Church of Rehrersburg, in which he has officiated as elder and deacon and is now a trustee.

JACOB SHAFFNER is the grandson of George Shaffner, who married a Miss Stetler, and resided in New Holland, Lancaster County. The chil- dren of this marriage were George, Henry, John and one daughter. George was born in New Holland, and remained, during his life-time, a resident of his native county, where he followed the trade of a hatter. He married Catherine

known as Host post-office. He entered the store of his brother as clerk, acting in that capac- ity until 1851, when he went to California by the well-known Nicaragua route. He located in Downieville, Sierra County, and later remov- ed to Marysville, at the terminus of the Saera- mento River. He first engaged in mining and afterward embarked in the dairy business, which was carried on with suceess until his return, in September, 1854, to his present home. In 1855 Mr. Shaffner formed a eo-partnership with his brother in general merchandising, and the fol-

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 180

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