History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 187

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

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In 1885 the Reformed congregation had about three hundred members and Rev. Samuel A. Leinbach was pastor. Among his prede- cessors were Revs. R. S. Apple, A. L. Herman, Joseph Dubs and Wm. Pauli and (in 1788,

1 See Chap. X., Liberty Poles.

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TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.

when the second church was built) the Rev. Wm. Boas, who also officiated at Reading ; and in 1885 Rev. B. D. Zweitzig was the pastor of the Lutheran congregation, numbering about one hundred members, he having served as the, minister since 1862. The Rev. George Min- nich served as pastor from 1833 till 1851, being; followed that year by the Rev. R. S. Wagner, who remained until 1860 ; then came Rev. Johu G. Kuendig, who served until 1862. John Heintz has officiated as organist since 1858.

For many years the church maintained a well-ordered school for the study of the Ger- man language, which was most successfully ----- taught from 1848 to 1858 by John Heintz. Since free schools have been established the school-house has been converted to other uses, in connection with the church property.

Just above the church cemetery Franklin. Hain opened St. Paul's Cemetery in 1885. The lot embraces over an acre of ground and is neatly inclosed.

SALEM CHURCH (Evangelical Association) is situated in the village of West Leesport. It was built in 1872, and formally dedicated the following year. It is a brick building, without steeple. The membership of the church was small at first, and the increase has not been large since. In 1885 about fifty were connected with it. The congregation belongs to Womelsdorf Circuit of the Harrisburg District of the East Pennsylvania Conference ; has Rev. J. A. Stirk as presiding elder.

A Sunday-school, comprising fifty members, is maintained in the church.

ZION'S CHURCH (Evangelical Association) is situated in the northwestern part of the town- ship, near Centreville. It is a plain brick building, and was dedicated December 19, 1852. The membership worshipping here has always been small, and embraced on its first roll the names of the Hart, Dundore, Sonnon and Loose families. The church is part of the Womels- dorf Circuit, and has had its ministerial service from that source. A small grave-yard is con- nected with the church.

WEST LEESPORT is the only town within the present bounds of Bern township, and owes its existence wholly to the location of Leesport.

Station on the railroad at this place. The site is favorable for building purposes. It has had a slow growth, owing to the fact that Leesport (from which it is separated by the river) has the advantage of age and the possession of manu- facturing interests. There were in 1885 three stores, two public-houses, a church, several mechanic-shops and about thirty residences, many of them neatly built. At the station large quantities of goods are received and shipped, this being a distributing point for a considerable area of the country. The Uhlers were the first to engage in business here after the completion of the railroad. They began in the building which is now occupied, in an en- larged condition, by Samuel Lenhart, and in which he has traded since 1858. In addition to general merchandising, he is a dealer in lum- ber and coal. He also has manufactured brick since 1879, affording employment to fourteen men.

Abraham Tobias built the next store-house and also the hotel building connected with it, in 1862, where he entertained the public some years. This house has had numerous landlords and merchants. It was kept in 1885 by Emanuel S. Strauss. The first public-house was opened by Abraham Harpell, before 1860, in what is now a private dwelling, near the present Gawker House, which was first a resi- dence, and first kept as a tavern by John Kauff- man. Since 1863, James Bell has been in the hardware trade, and in 1885 was also the post- master of the West Leesport office, established in 1872. Prior to his appointment the office was held by H. M. Kauffman, John Good and Samuel Lenhart, the latter having carried the mails from West Leesport to the Leesport office twenty-six years.

One of the first physicians at West Leesport was Dr. John H. Spatz, who removed from this place to Centreport. Dr. Edwin Brobst ranks as the oldest settled practitioner, having been successfully engaged in his profession .at this point the better part of a quarter of a century. Dr. F. P. Dundore has been in practice the past ten years, and Dr. J. V. Epler for a longer period of time.

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

UPPER BERN TOWNSHIP.

ERECTION OF TOWNSHIP .- This township was erected ont of the upper portion of Bern township in 1789; but no separate assessment of taxables was made till 1820.

EARLY SETTLERS .- Among prominent set- tlers of the township the Shartle family can be mentioned. The original place of settlement was on what is now the State road, one mile east of the village of Shartlesville, tlie farm being now owned by O. F. Berger. Shartle had sons named William, John, George and Jacob. Two danghters were married to Adam Kauffman and Jacob Albright. Although their offspring was once numerous in the town- ship, scarcely any descendants remain. The Kauffmans settled along the base of the moun- tain, being induced to select the lands there on account of the excellent water. They had the Rentschlers as neighbors and some of the first improvements in that part of Bern were made by them. The Wagners came a little later. North of them lived the Moyer family, which had some of its members killed by the Indians. The name is still perpetuated in the ownership of lands near the scene of that shocking tragedy. John Christian Albright and Johannes Berger were later settlers. The former lived north of Shartlesville and had sons named Jacob, John and Solomon, the first-named being the father of Jacob Albright, still residing in the town- ship as an octogenarian. The Schocks were also prominent, who helped to develop the town- ship. The names of the early settlers are in- cluded in the list of taxables of Bern township.

SHARTLESVILLE is situated near the Blue Mountain, in the northwestern part of the township. It derives its name from the Shartle family, who lived at this place and made early improvements, which caused this locality to be known by its present title long before the vil- lage had an existence. The Shartles were farm- ers and, after the custom of that day, also kept inns, one of which was opened as early as 1765, and which, in 1801, was spoken of as an old log tavern. In 1819 George Shartle built a large brick house, which, with other property, passed into the possession of Benjamin Nunne-

maker, who laid out the village, the plat being made for him by S. V. Wagner, April 13, 1860. Prior to that time there was a house at the. upper and one at the lower end of the village where business was carried on. In 1858 the first house in the centre of the village was built by Martin Zettlemeyer, which is now occupied by Charles Aschenbach, who has resided in this locality since 1851, carrying on his trade as a wheelwright. A number of houses were built soon after 1859 and occupied by,-

William Nunnemaker, laborer; Benjamin B. Wag- ner, blacksmith; James Koller, tailor; Aaron Sea- man, teacher; Joseph Gettering, undertaker; Moses Degler, cabinet-maker; Emanuel Bly, coach-maker ; John Shaeffer, carpenter; and George K. Wann, shoemaker.

In 1885 the place had three public-houses, three stores, a number of shops, a church and two hundred and twenty-five inhabitants.

At the lower inn George Shartle sold the first goods. John Albright and Daniel Althouse had one of the first stores in the old tavern-stand, where, later, C. F. Rentschler traded for nine years. It is now occupied by the Ritzmans as merchants. The other stand was also kept first as a tavern, sixty years ago, by Samnel Ney and John Tobias. An addition was built for a store-room by William Shearer, who kept both the store and the tavern. Then the Beitenman family traded many years. Since 1867 Joseph S. Hix has successfully carried on business there, enlarging and improving the building. A large three-story brick business house was built in 1876 by William K. Haag, who ocen- pied it for business purposes until 1881.

The Shartlesville post-office was established February 9, 1830, with Solomon Albright as postmaster. He held the office until 1852, serving, at the same time, as clerk for Joseph Seyfert. He was followed by Benjamin Nun- nemaker, Charles F. Rentschler, Joseph S. Hix, F. K. Machemer, Daniel Wagner aud Moses Kauffman. The office has a daily mail from Hamburg.

The first resident physician was Dr. Aug. Schultz, a German, before the village was laid out. Dr. Devilla Schoener located here in 1860, and remained until his death, in December,

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TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.

1874. He was succeeded by Dr. Daniel C. Ritzmau, for four years in practice, when came the present Dr. John M. Brause.

In Shartlesville are small cigar factories car- ried on by John Ritzman & Co. and Levi B. Wagner. North of the village is the factory of V. C. Mohn & Brother. All of the factories employ about twenty persons.

The industries outside of the villages are few in number. The Kauffman and Wagner mills are the oldest. The former mill remains about as first built. It has a small capacity, the vol- ume of the stream on which it is located being feeble. Christopher and Valentine Wagner were successful millers at the lower site, or where the State road crosses the stream. The present mill (of massive stone) is still in a good condition, enabling the product of large quantities of flour, made by modern machinery. The present owner is Israel Miller. The first mill at this site was put up before the Revolu- tion. It was of logs and had the water-wheel on the outside. Between these two there is a mill- site where Jacob Rentschler had an early full- ing-mill, which was allowed to go down; then it was revived by Edward Moyer, who supplied new machinery and carried it on a few years, when the machinery was removed. About the same time he owned the grist-mill in the south- ern part of the township and added steam to the water-power then in use. This mill is now carried on by F. H. Lesher. Near the Schuyl- kill was a mill-site, improved before 1800 by the Keplinger family. This is now operated by the Fisher heirs. At this place a large creamery was established by a stock company of farmers, which has been successfully operated for several years, Here, also, is a store and the Bern post-office, established in 1878. The small hamlet is a flag station on the main line of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad.

UPPER BERN post-office was established in 1863, at Wagner's inn, on the State road, four miles west from Hamburg. It was first kept by John Albright at the tavern, and later by Frank Wagner at the mill in this locality. Jonathan Rentschler is the present postmaster, having the office at his store in a new building opposite the old tavern, which was opened for

trading purposes by G. B. Wagner & Son in 1882. A daily mail from Hamburg is supplied. The old Wagner or " Berks County " iun is a log building, put up in the last century. It is the oldest public-house in this part of the coun- ty. Valentine Wagner was an early keeper and it has remained almost continually in the family name.

BERKS post-office is at the hamlet cluster- ing around the station of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad in Upper Bern, opposite the borough of Hamburg. It was established De- cember 23, 1879, with Nathan S. Schock, post- master, who had it at his store until October, 1885, when F. S. Seaman was appointed and removed the office to his store. Inaddition to these two places of business, there are a large hotel, rolling-mill and a few residences at this point. It is nsnally called " West Hamburg " 1

CHURCHES.

ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH (LUTHERAN AND REFORMED) is located near the centre of the town- ship, on a lot elevated above the surrounding country, making it visible many miles around. The church property contains about fifty acres of land, and includes a large cemetery and the residence of the organist. The edifice is of brick, with large galleries on three sides, and has sittings for fourteen hundred persons, being the largest country church in the county. A shapely steeple, containing a large bell, adds to the at- tractions of the building. It was completed at a cost of eighteen thousand dollars. It was dedicated the latter part of May, 1875, having been erected the previous year. The day was very windy and the weather for some time had been dry, causing the leaves in the surrounding woods to be as inflammable as tinder. A large concourse of people was in attendance and hun- dreds of teams were hitched in the grove. A match dropped by a careless smoker ignited the leaves which were soon fanned into uncontrol- lable flames and burned with such rapidity that seventeen horses and twenty-two vehicles were destroyed.

This is the third church. These congrega-

1 See Borough of Hamburg.

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

tions were organized in 1769, during the ministry of the Rev. Philip Jacob Michael as German Reformed pastor, and the Rev. Peter Mischler as Lutheran.

A log meeting-house was built that year on nearly six acres of land, bought of Joseph Shol- lenberger, which tract was soon afterward en- larged by the purchase of forty-six acres. That building stood in what is now the cemetery of the church and was used until 1811, when it was replaced by the present edifice. The corner- stone was laid August 5, 1810, and the building soon afterward completed. The building was of brick, without a spire; but having been ele- vated, it presented a fine appearance. The total cost was thirteen hundred and eight pounds and thirteen shillings, Pennsylvania currency. After the church was dedicated, with all the debts paid, it was found that there was a handsome balance in the treasury. From that time on both con- gregations have flourished, the Reformed having nearly four hundred members in 1885, and the Lutherans a larger number.

The pastors of the church have been as follows : German Reformed-Revs. Jacob Michael, John Waldshmidt, Hartzle, Munn, Philip Moyer, E. D. Zehring, Aaron Leinbach, T. C. Leinbach and Samuel Leinbach, the present minister. On the part of the Lutherans there were the Revs. Peter Mischler, Daniel Schomacher, Miller, Daniel Lehman, John Knoske, Marcus Harple, Carl Schmidt, Thomas T. Iaeger and B. D. Zweitzig, the present pastor.

Soon after the congregations were organized a school was regularly maintained at the church, Conrad Stein being one of the first teachers. In 1846 a new school-house was built, which is still standing in the cemetery, now serving as a home for the organist.

SHARTLESVILLE FRIEDEN'S CHURCH (Luth- eran and Reformed). - This is a fine brick building, and occupies a commanding site at Shar- tlesville. The corner-stone was laid ou August 28, 1870, and the lower part of the building completed for dedication in 1871. A fine bell was procured eight years later and efforts will be made to finish the church complete at an early day. The project of building a church at this place was agitated as long ago as 1860, but

on account of the limited number of members who were willing to associate themselves for this purpose, nothing was done until ten years after- ward, when James B. Nuunemaker encouraged the enterprise by donating four acres of land, on which to build a house of worship .. Accord- ingly, on the 29th of January, 1870, church regulations were signed (Joseph S. Hix having been president of the association, which included fourteen members). About ten thousand dol- lars have thus far been spent upon the church.

The Germau Reformed congregation was or- ganized with about fifty members, which has not been materially increased. The Rev. R. S. Apple has been the only pastor. The Lutheran congregation has a membership of seventy-five, with the Rev. D. D. Trexler as pastor. The first pastor was Rev. F. P. Messer. A well- conducted Sunday-school, of one hundred and seventy-five members, has Thomas Richardson as its superintendent.

THE UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST have a comfortable house of worship near the Upper Bern post-office. It was built in 1870. Among those who promoted the building of the church were John Loose (on whose land the house was built), Jacob Fisher, Benjamin Seaman, Benja- min Wert and Levi Dunkelberger. The mem- bership is small and meetings are held only once a month. The ministerial supply is in connec- tion with other churches of the same faith in the county.

MENNONITES .- The sect called Amish Men- nonites were among the early settlers of Bern and took steps at an early day to establish a place of worship. For this purpose the Penns granted them a tract of land, consisting of twen- ty acres, near the Blue Mountain, upon which was built, in 1766, a small log meeting-house. It does not appear that the house was long maintained as a place of worship, but that, after the custom of the Mennonites, the meetings were held later at the houses of the members, which embraced in this and other townships families bearing the names of Weidman, Gerber, Miller, Kauffman, Yoder, Forney and Speicher. Most of the Amish element was absorbed by the Brethren or Dunkards, and a place of meeting established in Centre township.

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TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

JOSEPH S. HIx is a great-grandson of Henry Conrad Hix, who emigrated from Hamburg, Germany, about the year 1765, and settled in Heidelberg township, Berks County. He sub- sequently removed to Schuylkill County, and pursued the blacksmith's trade together with farming. He was united in marriage to a Miss Hoyer, by whom he had five sons and two daughters. Of this number, George resided

Sarah Seyfert, a daughter of Joseph Seyfert, of Berks County. Their children are Joseph S., Elweina (deceased, married to Samuel Tobias), Sybilla, Michael S. (married to Louisa Metz), George S. (deceased, married to Emma Graeff), and Sarah Ann (deceased, Mrs. Elias G. Reber).

Joseph S. Hix was born August 18, 1837, in Upper Bern township, and until the age of sixteen was a useful assistant upon the farm. He first attended the common school, and later

Bar . S. Mix

both in Schuylkill and Berks Counties. He the White Hall Academy, in Cumberland married a Miss Nunnemacher. Their children County, pursuing his studies for several years at that institution. He then engaged in teach- ing at the same time, adding to his income by filling the position of a clerk. In 1866 he be- gan business in Bernville, and a year later re- moved to Shartlesville, his present residence, engaging at this point in general mercantile business, where he has since controlled a large and increasing trade. He was largely interested were Elizabeth, Rebecca, Catherine, Sarah, Joseph, William, Esther, Hannah and Mary Ann. Mr. Hix followed the occupation of his father, and during the later years of his life resided in Upper Bern township, where he died. His son William was born in Berks County in 1812, and was, like his ancestors, both a farmer and blacksmith. He married

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

with his brother in Schuylkill County, where an extensive business was conducted. On the death of the latter, in 1880, he sold his interest, and has since devoted his exclusive attention to the enterprise at Shartlesville. He is a director of the Farmers' Mutual Assistance and Fire Insurance Company of Berks County, and the Windsor Mutual Fire Insurance Company of the same county. Mr. Hicks is a Democrat, and active in the arena of politics. He has represented his county on various occasions at State Conventions, held several township offices, and been elected for two terms justice of the peace, the first time when but twenty-one years of age. He is a member of the Reformed Church at Shartlesville, a member of its board of trustees, and was one of its building com- mittee during the erection of the edifice. Mr. Hix, in 1866, was married to Fayette, daughter of Henry Potteiger, of Berks County, who died February 21, 1875. Their only son, William Henry, died in his thirteenth year.

PENN TOWNSHIP.

ERECTION OF TOWNSHIP .- At April Ses- sions, 1838, three petitions1 were presented to court, setting forth,-

"That the petitioners were under great incon- venience for the want of a new township, to be erected out of parts of Bern, Bern Upper, Tulpehocken Upper and Heidelberg; that said townships were very large and township meetings were very inconvenient for a large portion of the petitioners, and that the erection of a new township would make it much more con- venient for your petitioners, and enable them to keep the roads in better repair."

The court appointed Evan Evans, Jacob Mast and David Morgan viewers. These viewers examined the territory proposed to be set apart for a new township ; but, on May 23, 1838, they reported against the application, for the reason that a new township would make the condition of the petitioners much more incon- venient for a great majority of the inhabitants

than it was without the township. Their report was then filed and the application was dropped.

A few years afterward (November 4, 1840) the application for a new township was renewed, with a modification that it should be erected out of parts of Bern and Bern Upper.2 The peti- tioners recommended the name of "North- kill." The court appointed John Stauffer, Christian Shaner and Henry Gilbert as com- missioners. The new district to be laid off (comprising nearly an election district as then formed) was considered advantageous to the in- habitants, and the commissioners, on December 17, 1840, reported the following metes and bounds :

"Beginning at a white oak tree on the East bank of the North-kill, near Peter Mogle's Carding- Mill; thence N. 80 E. 1007 ps .; thence S. 13 E. 1742 ps .; thence S. 51 W. 680 ps., to the east bank of the Tulpehocken creek; thence along said creek and the North-kill to the place of beginning."

And suggested " Penn" as a proper name. Exceptions were filed and depositions taken. After the contest was heard, the Court, on No- vember 5, 1841, confirmed the report. This was the thirty-first township formed in the county, and at last William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, was honored by our own citizens in naming a district after him. This was eminently proper.

The borough of Bernville was erected out of this township.

EARLY SETTLERS .- John Bright was one of the early settlers on the road between Mount Pleasant and Bernville, where he owned a large tract of land. Part of this property is still owned by his grandsons, John and Amandon Bright. Here is part of an old house standing more than a hundred years. John Bright had sons named Jacob and Peter, the former re- maining on the homestead, the latter moving north of Bernville, where his descendants still reside. John Conrad was a neighbor of the Brights. He was a member of the Moravian Church, and a prominent man in the early his-

1 Subscribed with one hundred and thirteen names, all German signatures excepting twenty-nine. This proportion is one-fifth, or twenty per cent., English ; but in the use of the English language, the proportion was not ten per cent.

- These townships then contained eleven hundred and fifty-one taxables. Besides inconvenience to petitioners, they stated that one set of election boxes would be saved in the Bernville Election District.

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TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.

tory of the township. The descendants of John Conrad still live in the county, and have con- tributed to its material progress. The home- stead is now owned by a great grandson, Dr. John A. Conrad.

John Jacob Dundore was one of the first settlers in the southern part of Penn, owning tracts of land in that township and North Heidelberg. He reared a large family, some of the sons being John and John Jacob. Daughters married into the Gerhart and Shaul families. From these are descended the Dundores of the western part of the county. On the present Hetrich farm lived Joseph Obold, who was the grandfather of the older Obolds of the town- ship. He had sons, Philip, George and Joseph, and daughters who married Benjamin Haas, Samuel Umbenhauer and Andrew Greth. Other early families were the Kalbachs, Het- richs, Smiths, Kerschners, Kissels and Himmel- bergers.

MOUNT PLEASANT .- This village has a very pleasant location on the highlands, on the State road, in the southern part of the township. It was not regularly laid out, but lots were dis- posed of, according to the demands of the pur- chaser, from the farm of Henry Hetrich, land- owner, who lived in what is now the lower part of the village. Where is now the residence of George Stoudt the first house in the place was put up by John Hetrich after 1812. Thence a residence was occasionally built, until the place has attained its present size. In 1885 there were about forty buildings, a store and a tavern, besides the usual mechanic shops.

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History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 187

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