History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 192

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 192

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Nearer Morgantown, on the same thoroughfare, Robert Gilmore had a store and a public-house, called the " Conestoga Hotel," but first called the " Bull Inn," which now belongs to Robert Gilmore.

CUMRU TOWNSHIP.

WHEN Lancaster County was erected, in 1729, all the territory extending north of the Chester County line to the Cacoosing Creek, excepting that portion included in Caernarvon township, was generally known as Robeson. About the time that the Indians released their rights to this territory immigrants entered upon it and effected settlements, having passed north- wardly through Caernarvon township. They were Welsh persons. After the northern sec- tion had come to be fairly settled, proceedings were instituted to erect a new township. This was in 1737. The township was named "Cumru." I could not find the petition or other papers relating to its erection, on file in the office at Lancaster.

Hugh Jones was the first settler who took up lands in this township. He applied for and obtained a warrant in 1732 for a tract of one thousand acres, situated along the Wyo- missing Creek.1 In pursuance of this warrant, six hundred acres were surveyed for him in 1733, and two hundred acres for Evan Price. The patents were issued in 1735.

The Price tract was taken up at the mouth of the Wyomissing Creek. He then erected and conducted a water corn-mill. This was known for many years as the Price Mill. In 1773 Nicholas Lutz purchased the mill. Dur- ing the Revolution it was a busy industry in supplying flour to the army. In 1735, several months after the patent had been issued, Price conveyed sixty-two acres of this tract to Evan Lloyd. At this time there was a " race " and also a mill-dam, showing that the improve- ment had been made. In 1741 the land ad- joined Henry Harry and David Lewis.

Evan Lloyd took up two tracts of land in

1 The name of this creek was then written " Weames- sing." It was sometimes called Mill Creek.

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

this section,-one in 1735 for three hundred acres, and the other in 1738 for one hundred and seventy acres. And several months after- wards, in 1738, Thomas Lloyd (doubtless, a brother) took a tract for one hundred and eighty-six acres. On this latter tract a paper- mill was erected.

Thomas Jenkins took up a tract of one hun- dred and thirty-eight acres, on the Cacoosing, in 1734.

In 1737 Dietrich Marshall took up three hundred and forty-one acres along the Wyomis- sing. In 1750 he conveyed forty-nine acres thereof to John Moon (now Mohn), and in 1758 this tract was conveyed by Moon to his son Lodowick (Ludwig). John Moon, in 1748, took up two hundred and forty-five acres.

In 1737 Sebastian Goglin (doubtless changed to Gougler) took up one hundred and eighty- five acres on the Cacoosing, and in 1740 and 1741 John Davis took up, on the same stream, seven hundred and forty-three acres.

In 1744 Anthony Morris took up five hun- dred acres on the Tulpehocken.

Henry Harry, in 1735, took up three hun- dred and eleven acres.

OPPOSITION TO DIVISION OF TOWNSHIP .- In April, 1842, a number of the inhabitants of Cumru and Heidelberg townships united in a peti- tion to court, asking for the erection of a new town- ship out of a part of each township, for the reason that their respective townships were unusually large and inconvenient for election purposes, township meetings, road repairs, etc. They suggested a division of the two townships by lines drawn through them north wardly from the county line, the Cumru portion lying west of the Wyomissing Creek and Lancaster road, and the Heidelberg portion lying east of Hain's Church. The court entertained their petition and appointed three commissioners,- Samuel S. Jackson, Benjamin Tyson and Mat- thias S. Richards. These commissioners viewed the townships and reported, July 1, 1842, in favor of the division of Cumru township, according to the line suggested ; 1 but excep-

tions were filed against the proposed division, and the report was set aside January 6, 1843.

Several years afterwards (April, 1845) this effort for a division of the township, according to a line suggested in the report of 1842, was renewed.2 In May following the court ap- pointed M. S. Richards, S. S. Jackson and Lewis Reese commissioners, who, on 1st July, 1845, recommended such a division. But the proceeding was again strenuously opposed,3 on account of the injustice and inequality of the division, the upper part having all the finest farming lands and old improved roads, and the latter the poor and hilly lands and the recent roads, which occasioned large expense. The court held the matter under advisement over two years and then set aside the report.

In 1850 a third effort was made for a new township. This proved successful. The divi- sion line was located a short distance to the west of the previous line. The western portion was called "Spring." 4

TAXABLES OF 1759 .- The following taxa- ble persons were included in the township in the year 1759. The tax levied then was £106 18s. 6d. David Evans, Jr., was the collector of taxes,-

€

Henry Alsbach

Nicholas Crieger

Joseph Althouse 1

Martin Cobmer 2

Dennia Brady . 10

Francis Crick, Sr 19

George Burkhard 3

John Crick . 3

Christian Bowman . 15

John Deininger 3

Jacob Bowman . 12

Widow Davida 3

John Bowman

Thomas Davle- . 12

George Bower

John David, Sr . . 20

Thomas Beat

John David, Jr . 12

James Biddle . 4

Willianı David, Sr 3

Walter Burk . 2

Baltzer Dickout

Martin Breininger 3

John David 6

John Breiningor 3

James David . 18

John Binckley .

Thomas Evan 3

Christian Binckley 3

George Englehard 4

Amendon Beyer 6

David Edwards 7

Jacob Beyerle 11

Daniel Evan 4

Ludwig Beyerle

Nathan Evan 22

John Bausher

Samuel Emery . . 11

John Bullman

Abraham Eckert 12

Jacob Clower

. 15

Peter Eshelman 7

Francis Crick, Jr.

Peter Eshelman . 15

1 Heidelberg had been divided by commissioners in June previous, and, therefore, the Heidleberg part was not in- cluded.

2 The petition was signed by one hundred and fifty-three subscribers, ninety-eight of the signatures being English.

8 A remonstrance was filed, subscribed by one hundred and seventy-eight tax-payers of the township, of which eighty-one signatures were English. A number of the exceptants were residents of Reading.

4 See Spring township.

1163

TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.

Johannes Emrich 4

Anthony Morris . 75

John Etans

Peter Nagely . .

John Englebrown 6

Thomas Nicholas .

. 12

David Evans, Jr . 20

Griffith Owen 12

Jacob Freymeyer 16

(Penn's) Proprietarles . 30

Peter Flick

John Pugh . 15

Nicholas Gongler 6

Casper Hoffman .10

Peter Hain . 3

Richard Peters 14

Samuel Phipps

Ludwig Harman

Michael Ruth . 12

Peter Heckert 1

Jacob Ruth

. 12

Conrad Hardt

. 10

Peter Ruth, Sr

Rudolf Heberling

Hartman Ruhl .

Adam Householder . 15

Johannes Ruchte 2

John Hinton . 6

Henry Reed

Christian Jutzler 2

George Ream

William Jous 20

Reinhard Rorebach

George Jacob .

George Rollman

Thomas Jamee

.16

Jonathan Stovens

Nicholas Jost

John Schlot

James Kremer

Val. Shoemaker

Christopher Standley . 4

Michael Krawl . . 19

John Stoll 4

John Kleinginny

Amos Schenken

Nicholas Killian 3

Jonas Seely, Esq 24

Jacob Staly . 12

George Lewis

John Stengle

James Lewis .

John Schawley

Richard Lewis 9

Casper Stieff

Stephen Lash

John Smith

Nicholas Lerch

David Smith 6

William Lerch 12

Peter Scharmen 4

Francie Steel

Melchior Steel

Werner Mohn 5

Jacob Snyder

George Mender

Daniel Shea

Hane Martin Mender 5

Peter Thomas

William Moore 2

Michael Meyer .

Reinhard Waltz

Sebastian Morgan 12

Andrew Wolf

Jacob Mish ler 25

Werner Weigel. 6

Robert Meyler 1

Jacob Weie . 15

John Mohn . 15

Jacob Worstel 1

Morgan Morgan

George Meyer 1

Adam Ziegler 3

Single Men.

George Beatam.

Edward Harry.

Daniel Bosserd.

Evan Harry.

Henry Beyerly, Jr.

James Jones.

Jacob Crick.

Nathan Lewis.

Jamee David.

William Lewie.

Solomon David.

Nathaniel Morgan.

Reuben David,

Joseph Misselor.

John David.

John Popkin.

Michael Freymeyer.

Peter Ruth.

Dietrich Ferneeler.

George Riess.

The "Poor-house Property," which is owned and conducted by the county of Berks, is sit- uated on the Lancaster road, adjoining Shil- lington, three miles from Reading. It embraces about five hundred acres of cleared land, which, for agricultural purposes, cannot be surpassed. As an institution for the poor of the county, it was begun in 1824, under the requirements of special legislation. The principal improve-

ments consist of " Main Building," " Insane Buildings," " Hospital Building."1 They are described in chapter devoted to Public Build- ings.

The farming land in this section of the county, from the hills to the river, is superior. It is under a high state of cultivation, and re- flects much credit upon the industry and ability of the farmers who are and have been for years in possession.

Whilst John Penn was on his way from Reading to Harrisburg, he visited Gen. Mifflin's farm. (A part of this farm is now included in the property of the Berks County Poor-House.) " The General and Mrs. Mifflin received us (himself and Judge James Biddle), in a neat farm-house, and being very early themselves, provided a second breakfast for us, though it was only half-past seven. He took us round some of his improvements, and I rode with him to various points of view which com- manded the town of Reading and circumjacent hills and valleys. He farms about twelve hun- dred acres, and has a Scotch farmer who con- ducts the business ; one hundred acres of meadow land he waters. A neighbor of the general's is one of the marrying Dunkers. They live in their own houses like other countrymen, but wear their beards long. General Mifflin, with agreeable frankness and affability, pressed us both to stay for an early dinner, to which we sat down about one o'clock. After dinner I mounted my horse and came into the Carlisle road about three miles off at Sinking Spring." 2

INDUSTRIES .- No stream in the county has been a more important factor in manufacturing enterprises than the Wyomissing. The advan- tages of its water-powers were early recognized- and improved ; and, in later years, sites which were once regarded as undesirable, on account of location, became the most productive elements of wealth. At the mouth of the creek, opposite Reading, are two old mills, known in early times as Hiester's and Messersmith's. After John Hiester, George Smith, Isaac Shoeneman and Henry Van Reed were successive owners.

1 Chap. XVIII., Internal Improvements, p. 424.

2 John Penn's Journal in Penna. Mag. of History, vol iii. pp. 288-289.

George Krumlauf . 2

Michael Lub

Anthony Steiner . .

Joseph Linvil 2

Ludwig Mohn 9

Thomas Williams

Isaiah Willie .

John Morris

. 22

Francis Yarnall

Jacob Morgan . 10

Christian Zuck

.10

Richard Peters, Esq 10

Richard Presser 1

Ben. Horning 2

Martin Kremer

. 3

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

It is still operated to a limited extent. The other mill was owned by Benneville Keim and later by the Schwartz family, whose property it still is. This mill is not operated. Next above is the old Evans mill-seat. The power is secured by means of a long raceway and there is a waste-race running through several farms below, which was used for irrigating the mea- dows. After Philip Evans the property was owned by J. V. R. Evans and now belongs to Matthias Mengel, Esq., of Reading. In its repaired condition the mill is substantial and has a good patronage. The old stone mill of Christian Gernand, built in 1790, is at the next power up the stream. In later years it belonged to Jonathan and Annie Ruth, and is now known as the " Ruth Mill." The power next above was probably one of the first improved on the creek. It was close by the old Baptist Church, built in 1740, and when last operated, before it was demolished, was known as Hill's saw-mill.

In earlier times carding was done there and clover hulled by the Reams. The old Hemig mill-seat is above the Lancaster road and all the old buildings have been removed. The present fine brick mill was built by Joseph G. Huyett, and after being operated by him some time, passed into the hands of the present owner, Benneville H. Hemig. The water- power is not strong, but the mill is finely located. More than seventy years ago there was a small woolen-factory and carding-mill run by Joseph Warner, on the old.Body place, which was abandoned half a century ago, the power being idle until again utilized for Hen- del's hat-factory. So the power next above was also abandoned a number of years ago. In later years it operated D. Matz's saw-mill, but before the Revolution Henry Voight had an establishment at that place for drawing wire. That industry was discontinued so many years ago that no detailed account of his operations is obtainable. Where is now the R. T. Gring grist-mill, William Pennypacker used the water- power as early as 1810 to bore out and grind rifle-barrels, after he had hammered them out by hand. He thus continued until about 1855, when Cyrus Hornberger built the mill now at that site. The pioneer gun-maker on this

stream was David Peunypacker, father of Wil. liam, who worked near the head of the stream as early as 1786. He made guns complete, in- cluding the wood-work, while William made the barrels only. David removed to Lancaster County, where he continued his trade. At one time there were a number of small shops for the manufacture of guns, either alone or in con- nection with other' work. Such shops were' owned by Cyrus Hornberger, Frank Miller, Henry Wooly, Gougler & Heberling. About 1838 Cornelius Reichwein opened a gun-shop where is now Ruth's grist-mill, in which Henry W. Deeds worked many years, as one of the most skillful gun-makers in the county. Hiram & Joseph Holtry's file-works were also first used as a gun-shop by John White, who re- moved to Angelica, where he put up another factory. Franklin Schnader's shop, which has a tilt-hammer and boring machinery, is still operated on guns, the manufacture of which was first carried on there by Jolin Keim. The power above was used for similar purposes by Kohl & Keim, but was changed to operate saw and clover-mills for Joseph Schoener and later for Amos Price. The stave-mill of Moses Ruffner is nearer the head of the stream, where also John Gougler had a small woolen factory in 1862.

After the manufacture of guns was no longer profitable, the most of these powers were devoted to the manufacture of hats.

Absalom Ruth was the pioneer of this in- dustry on the Wyomissing. In 1859 he and his sons, John K., William, Henry and Michael, came from Adamstown and started up the hat business, on the site of the present Kessler factory. Later, they went into the old Reich- wein gun-factory, and continued there until 1872, when they bought the old Mohn grist-mill, and converted that into a hat-factory, now carried on by John K. Ruth. The product is fifty: dozen hats per day. The mill machinery was placed in a new building at the Reichwein power, now Ruth's mill.

Jacob Kessler's wool-hat factory was estab- lished in 1867 by Conrad F. Kessler & Bro. It was burned down in 1878 and rebuilt in 1880 by the present proprietor. The daily

1165

TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.

product is sixty dozens of hats. In 1878, Henry Worley began making hats, using the power of a rifle-factory, built by Benjamin Mohn in 1854. Worley also made rifles. The old building was small. A three-story frame building is now occupied. Thirty-six dozens of hats per day are produced.

At the next power David Glass had a trip- hammer as early as 1848. Five years later Gougler & Heberling operated both to make rifles. Then John Fichthorn commenced to make wool hats in a factory which is now car- ried on by Spatz, Miller & Co., producing thirty dozen per day.

Anthony Wertz's cotton-lap factory has been in operation since 1870, using the power of the Frank Miller gun-factory, first operated in 1850. In 1885 carpet-weaving was begun as another branch of industry.

J. H. Spatz's hat-factory, in a three-story frame building, twenty-eight by fifty-four feet, was established in 1878. Steam-power only is used, and the product is forty dozen per day.

In 1874 Mohn, Spatz & Co. began the man- ufacture in another building, where they were succeeded in 1878 by Cyrus Hornberger, Samuel and Jonathan H. Miller. This factory is now operated by Spatz, Son & Co., making forty dozen per day, and using water and steam.

J. H. Miller's factory was erected in the winter of 1885-86, and is one of the largest and best arranged factories at the place. Steam- power only is used and the product is fifty dozen per day.

A mile below Mohnville is George Hendel's factory, which is operated by both water and steam-power. It was erected in 1878 on the site of the old Warner fulling-mill. The huilding is forty by one hundred and twenty- five feet, four-stories high. The industry includes separate storage buildings of large capacity. In its appointments it is one of the first factories in the country. It was first operated by George Hendel, John Hendel and Samuel K. Mohn. The present firm is George Hendel, Brother & Son. One hundred and eighty dozen hats are produced daily, giving employ- ment to eighty hands. In all the foregoing

factories several hundred hands are at present employed.

Although the Angelica Creek has a number of water-powers, it never became as important. relatively, as the Wyomissing, and has in late years been devoted almost exclusively to the ice interests. These are controlled by George Frill, who has erected large and well-appointed ice- houses, enabling him to store enormous quan- tities of the purest ice. The former powers of Henning's grist-mill, a pioneer industry, and the "Speed well Forges" have thus been diverted. The first forge became the property of Nicolas Yocum, in 1815. It was built by Philip Seidel some fifteen years earlier. In 1835 "Speedwell " No. 2 was built by Yocum, and in the course of some years these were operated separately by his sons, Moses and Daniel Yocum, until 1870 when they were abandoned. The gun factory of J. K. White and the Forest File Works of Moses Ruffner have also been abandoned, but the old Yost grist-mill is still operated in a small way. The Mount Penn Furnace on Fly- ing Hill Run, was active for a number of years, and near the mouth of the same stream William Lewis had a forge as early as 1790. The power was afterwards applied to the operation of a small grist-mill.

CHURCHES.

BAPTIST CHURCH.1-The first meeting- house erected within the bounds of the town- ship was the Baptist Church. It was built on three acres of land, on the Wyomissing, in the neighborhood of "Rieth's mill," donated by. Hugh Morris, Evan Lloyd and Evan Price, early settlers. The services were in the Welsh language, and the Rev. Thomas Jones was the pastor. He continued to preach for many. years, when, on account of German immigra- tion and other influences, the organization was allowed to go down. The grave-yard was kept up a number of years longer, but has for a long time been sadly neglected. The ruins of it may still be seen.

SALEM EVANGELICAL CHURCH, at Mohns- ville, was the next erected. It was a rough

1 See Religious Denominations, p. 361.

1166

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

stone building, plain in every respect, and put up in 1849. John Spatz, John Mohn and Samuel K. Mohn were the first trustees, and served until the church was demolished, twenty-nine years later. From a small mem- bership the society increased until a larger house was necessary to accommodate it. The present edifice was erected in 1872. It is a two-story brick structure, with a steeple and bell. Tlie basement has been fitted up for Sunday-school purposes. At that time the Rev. Jesse Law- rence was the pastor of the church, serving it in connection with other appointments on the Adamstown Circuit. The Rev. B D. Albright is the present pastor. But the church being so flourishing, having more than two hundred members, will become a separate charge, at the next meeting of the Conference. The building was improved in 1885, at a cost of more than fifteen hundred dollars. A Sunday-school of more than two hundred members has Nelson Dickinson as the superintendent.

Opposite the church is its burial-ground, and adjoining the latter is Mohnsville Cemetery; opened in 1876, and controlled by an associa- tion, of which James D. Leininger is president ; Samuel K. Mohn, secretary ; and Jonathan H. Miller, treasurer. It contains one acre of land.

WYOMISSING CHURCH ( Reformed and Luth. eran) is at Gouglersville. It was erected in 1850, having been dedicated November 17, 1850. The building becoming too small, it was determined, early in 1886, to erect a new edifice. The old church was occupied the last time April 4, 1886, when it was demolished. The new structure will be built of red sand- stone, forty-five by seventy-five feet, and will have a basement and auditorium. The church will also be supplied with a spire and bell, and will be finished up in good style.

The Lutheran congregation had as its first pastor the Rev. R. S. Wagner, whose succes- sors were Revs. B. D. Zweizig, T. T. Iaeger, D. K. Humbert and Zenas H. Gabel, the present minister. There are two hundred and fifty members.

The Reformed congregation had the Rev. Augustus . L. Herman as pastor until 1872,

when the Rev. S. Schweitzer came for a year. Since June, 1873, the Rev .. M. L. Fritch has been the pastor. There are also two hundred and fifty members. Both congregations are in a flourishing condition.

CHRIST CHURCH, COMMONLY CALLED YO- CUM'S CHURCH (REFORMED AND LUTHERAN),' is a little south of the centre of the township. It is a neat brick edifice, having a seating ca- pacity for three hundred and fifty persons. It was erected in 1854, the corner-stone being laid on May 28th of that year. In connection with the church there are several acres of land de- voted to cemetery purposes and other uses. The sheds and all the improvements are in good condition. A number of years before the church was built an octagonal school-house stood on this site, in which meetings were occasionally held, and a number of interments had taken place before the church was founded. This fact ultimately led to the selection of this place for a church. On account of its proximity to Read- ing, it has never been occupied by strong con- gregations. In 1886 each congregation had about one hundred and thirty communicant members.

The Rev. B. D. Zweizig has been the only Lutheran pastor. On the Reformed side the pastor is the Rev. W. J. Kershner, whose pre- decessors were Revs. W. F. P. Davis and An- gustus Pauli.

IMMANUEL CHURCH is located at Shillington, and since 1877 has been the exclusive property of a German Reformed congregation. It was built in 1874 for the joint use of Lutheran and Reformed congregations. Both congregations occupied it a few years, when the Lutherans re- linquished their interests, not being strong enough to maintain an organization. The structure is of brick and is surmounted by a small belfry. There are sittings for four hun- dred persons. In 1886 only about fifty com- municant members were reported. Rev. W. J. Kershner was pastor. His predecessor, for one year, was the Rev. M. H. Mishler; and from 1874 until 1884, Rev. M. L. Fritch.

At Shillington a Sunday-school of one hun- dred and ten members is maintained in the school-house. -

1167

TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.

Among the old burial-grounds, Hemig's, near the almshouse, is still kept up; also the Bernard Addams Cemetery, near Reading. The latter contains about one-fourth of an acre of ground, inclosed by a very substantial stone wall. In- cluded is a small stone building, used at funerals. Here are some old interments.

OPPOSITION TO EDUCATION .- In various parts of the township early pay-schools were taught, which educated many of the citizens to recognize the advantages of the free-school sys- tem. Nevertheless, there was a decided oppo- sition to the system on the part of many wealthy and influential men, who expressed their dis- approbation at a public meeting April 12, 1849. Resolutions were adopted, declaring a deter- mined hostility towards the system and to op- pose, at all hazards, the establishment of schools under the system. The meeting went so far as to ridicule the government in offering aid to es- tablish better schools. To counteract this in- fluence, the friends of free-schools held a meet- ing at the public-house of Adam Groff, May 12, 1849, when Jacob Matz was chosen presi- dent; Isaac Matz, vice-president; Cornelius Freeman and Jacob Stoudt, secretaries. Ap- propriate, resolutions were adopted, in which the meeting lamented the downward tendency of their school affairs and the opposition of so many wealthy, influential citizens, and urged ceaseless effort until something was done towards their improvement. George W. North- eimer, John M. Dewees, John Van Reed and Charles H. Addams were appointed a commit- tee to make proper application to the court to compel the directors to carry out the provisions of the act of 1849. A general county school convention, to be held at Reading, was also suggested. This determination was not with- out effect. The opposition subsided and the schools gradually improved. One of the best known teachers of the township was William W. Lewis. He engaged at this vocation in 1854 and continued until his death, in 1882. He was progressive and had the esteem of those whom he served.

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History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 192

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