History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 194

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

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A fulling mill near the Van Reed paper- mills was abandoned when the power became necessary to carry on the latter interests.

One of the earliest industries of Spring town- ship was the mining of iron ore, which is found in different parts of the township. The old Berkshire furnace, near Dr. Walter's Park, in Lower Heidelberg, was supplied with ore mined near Cushion Hill, as carly as 1760. The quality is red hematite. Among those who carried on iron mining, in that locality, at a later day, were Johnson & Mccullough and Charles Ruth ; the latter about thirty years ago. The next discovery was made on the timber

land of Heny Ruth, sometime about 1847. The ore there found is bluish magnetic, almost entirely free from sulphur, which made it valuable. In mining it a shaft was sunk to the depth of more than one hundred feet. The next mine was developed in the same locality, and is known as the " Wheatfield Mines," on the farm of William Fisher. This mine has been found very productive, and supplied ore for a number of furnaces in Reading. At one time a large force of men were employed in its development, but lately nothing has been done in active mining. Joseph Grill is mining ore in this locality at present, employing a dozen hands. The mineral is loaded on cars from a wharf provided near Fritztown. North of Sinking Spring, iron ore was mined on the Ruth and Mull farms, by the Eckerts and others, but operations were suspended about fifteen years ago. One of the shafts, on being sunk to a great depth tapped a large subterra- nean stream (known to abound in this county), which flooded the mine and caused a cessation of work. Limestone of good quality is found in nearly every part of the township, and at Sinking Spring has been quarried for shipment, large quantities, for a time, being taken out. . In late years the operations have been on a limited scale, owing to the dullness of the furnace business. Among those who shipped limestone from this place were Stephen Denner & Co., Lewis Evans, Hezekiah V. Hamlin and James Ruth. The hands formerly employed have been obliged to seek other occupation.

CHURCHES.

BAPTIST CHURCHES .- A Baptist Congrega- tion was one of the first religious organizations of the present township, having an existence about 1740. Its membership was composed largely of Welsh people or their descendants, all of whom have deceased or removed, taking whatever records pertained to the society with them. The congregation became fully extinct many years ago. It worshipped in a log church which stood near the old cemetery in the lower part of the village of Sinking Spring. This burial plat is on part of a tract of about two acres of ground set aside for the use of the

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

society, but the title of which is not well pre- served, and the ownership is now involved in doubt. It was originally enclosed with a sub- stantial stone wall, which crumbled down, leaving the cemetery in a much neglected con- dition. Lately it has been enclosed with a substantial picket fence, which shows that the community have not lost all respect for the dead which repose there. On the ground are some fine locust trees and a number of headstones showing great age and with inscriptions which have become illegible.

The log church near this cemetery was sub- sequently used for school purposes, and after its decay was removed and the present octagonal stone building erected on the lot. This was used as a school-house many years, some excel- lent schools being there maintained. After it ceased to be used for that purpose it was allowed to go down and for sometime stood in a dilapidated condition. Subsequently it was repaired and for a number of years it has been used as a residence.

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH (Lutheran and Re- formed). This fine church edifice is located on a beautiful site in the village of Sinking Spring. It stands on a tract of land of one and a half acres, devised to the society by Christian Ruth, October 30, 1793. The corner-stone was laid, May 3, 1794., The church was a plain brick building, forty-eight by fifty-six feet, two- stories high, and without a steeple. Inside was the usual gallery, a wine-glass shaped pulpit, and a floor made of brick. These were manufactured on the old Krick farm, three- fourths of a mile from the village. Three doors afforded entrance to the building. It was dedicated as the "Evangelical Presbyterian Reformed Church," and was the exclusive property of a Reformed congregation until about 1812 when the Lutherans obtained a common interest. In 1809 the church property was enlarged by the addition of two and a half acres from the farm of Peter Ruth, north of the church, a part of which was added to the cemetery. In 1817 a fine pipe organ was built for the church, by Openhauser of Reading. On the middle of the organ, overshadowing it with its golden wings, was a large eagle, while I numbers four hundred and fifty members.

on each side were figures of gilded angels, each blowing a horn. The next improvement was the removal of the brick floor and other interior changes. In 1851 a tower was built ou the west side of the church. It is sixteen feet square and one hundred and fifty-one feet high and was supplied with a bell weighing one thousand six hundred and eight pounds. The entire outlay was about three thousand dollars, and on the completion of the work appropriate dedicatory services were held October 16, 1852. This bell was damaged and a new one (of nearly same weight) put in its place in Septem- ber, 1881.

In the latter part of 1884 fine improvements were made to the church building, costing over seven thousand dollars.

The auditorium of the church is lit by a beautiful chandelier of twenty-four lights, cost- ing one hundred and thirty dollars. The carpets and furniture of the church were secured by the ladies of the congregations at an outlay of six hundred dollars. This amount was raised by three societies, called the " Ladies' Aid Society," composed of married women ; the " Guild," of single women ; and the " Busy Bees," of young girls. The enlarged and beautiful church was appropriately dedicated on the 24th of May, 1885. A fine new organ was also supplied. It has twenty stops aud cost sixteen hundred dollars.

The Lutheran congregation has three hun- dred and fifty members under the pastoral care of the Rev. B. D. Zweitzig. His predecessors have been the Revs. T. T. Iaeger, Keller, Reichert, Jacob Miller and Henry A. Muhlen- berg.

The ministers who served on the Reformed side were Rev. Philip R. Pauli, from 1794 to 1815, twenty-one years. He was followed by his son, Rev. William Panli, from 1816 to 1855, thirty-nine years. After his death, his brother, Rev. Charles A. Pauli, served from the year 1856 to 1870, fourteen years. Rev. W. F. P. Davis officiated from 1871 to 1883. He died after having served for twelve years, when the Rev. W. J. Kershuer was elected, who still re- mains iu service. The Reformed congregation

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TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.

INDEPENDENT U. B. CHURCH is in the eastern part of the village of Sinking Spring. It was built in 1867 and dedicated the follow- ing year. The house is brick, with a low steeple, containing a small bell, and capacitated to hold two hundred and fifty persons.

Before this church was built, meetings of this denomination were held on the Weidman farm- in the barn when the weather permitted. The membership belonging in 1885 was forty-five. These had as their pastor the Rev. L. W. Cran- mer. A flourishing Sunday-school is maintained the entire year, B. B. Weidman being the super- intendent.

KISSINGER'S CHURCH is situated in the northern part of the township. It was built in 1852. The Lutheran congregation numbers fifty members, with the Rev. T. T. Iaeger as pastor ; and the German Reformed congregation has about the same membership, with Rev. M. H. Mishler as pastor.

MOHN'S CHURCH (Evangelical Association) is in the southwestern part of the township, on one acre of land, secured for this purpose from the farm of Daniel Mohn. The present church is the second house of worship in this locality. It is a plain frame building. The first house was of brick, built about forty years ago. The members of the Association at this place num- ber thirty and have their ministerial service in connection with Adamstown, in Lancaster County. The present pastor is the Rev. B. D. Albright.

SINKING SPRING CEMETERY COMPANY was incorporated by an act of Assembly, February 5, 1861, with the following members : David Gring, Isaac Huyett, Reuben Gaul, John Van Reed, Michael Goodman, Adam Dechert, Joshua Huyett, Daniel B. Lorah and Aaron Mull. An acre of ground was purchased near St. John's Church, which was improved and disposed of so quickly that it was found neces- sary to enlarge the cemetery. These additions give it an area of nearly three acres. The cemetery is in an excellent condition and the affairs of the company are flourishing.

PAROCHIAL SCHOOL-HOUSE .- On the east- ern part of the St. John's Church property a parish school-house was built in 1804, and an

addition built to it within the next ten years. It is of logs and stone, and the house still re- mains substantially as when first built. A book devoted to the interests of this school-house is one of the most interesting records preserved among the church papers. From it we learn that the total expense of putting up the house was £142, 5s. 4d. Nearly the entire amount was raised by subscription.

In this building the church long maintained schools, the organist, most generally, being the teacher. Instruction was in the German lan- guage.

The public-school building in the village accommodates two schools, which are well at- tended. It is a long but low brick structure, located in the upper part of the village.

East from the village early English schools were taught in a log house which stood on the farm of Philip Evans. He usually secured teachers from the New England States, hiring them as they were journeying by his house on their way to the West. In this manner he some- times employed young men of great merit. A few remained and became useful citizens of the county.

VILLAGES.

SINKING SPRING is located on the Lebanon Valley Railroad, and on the Berks and Dauphin turnpike, five miles from Reading. It is also the junction of the Reading and Co- lumbia Railroad, which here takes the tracks of the former railway into Reading. The vil- lage derives its name from a singular spring which here rises out of the ground with con- siderable volume of water and almost immedi- ately sinks again. Its flow is periodic, being much greater some seasons than others, its vol- ume depending upon local conditions. The sinking away of the water is caused by the pe- culiar limestone formation in this locality. The place has grown slowly and has never been noted for its business enterprise. It contains two stores, four public-houses, a number of shops, two churches and a number of fine resi- dences. Among the first settlers here were the Ruth family, who owned the land in the upper part of the present village. Jacob Lambert and Catherine Sohl were also land-owners here in

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

1793, having buildings east of St. John's Church. At the spring was the public-liouse of John Huy, which was built some time after the Revolution. This was afterwards kept by Samuel Addams, a son-in-law of Huy, and father of John H. Addams, who removed to Northern Illinois, where he became one of the most prominent citizens of the State. Among the later keepers of the tavern was John Heff- ner, who built an addition to the original house. The property is now owned by William F. Ruth. The next public-house is almost of the same age, and John Ludwig was an early land- lord, followed, among others, by George Ruth, John Binkley, Elijah Miller, Hugh Lindsay, the showman, Henry Mull, William Masser, Joshua Rollman, William Troxel, Benjamin Gaul, Hiram Miller and Levi Brumbaugh. The present "Centennial House " was first kept by Frank Stettler, succeeded by Nicholas Yo- cum and the present, Charles Gring. It has a large capacity and also contains a hall. Farther up the turnpike Thomas Van Reed had a public- house many years ago, which has been converted into a farm building, still occupied by him. Near the depot a neat tavern was built by Sam- uel Plum, who sold it to C. S. Rieser.

John Ludwig was one of the first to engage in merchandising in the tavern building, and later the firm of Ludwig & Hiester was at the same place. The house now owned by Isaac Beidler was devoted to business purposes in the early history of the village, John Miller being long in trade there. The building standing in the angle formed by the junction of the Lan- caster road with the turnpike was devoted many years to merchandising. Among those in trade at that place were Elijah Miller, Elijah Ruth, Thomas Mull, Aaron Mull, Reuben Spohn and William K. Ruth. Near this place John Lambert, Sr., had a distillery, more than sixty years ago, which did a large business for those times. The stand at present occupied by Hiram R. Hull was the next opened, in the or- der of time. Among those in trade there were John Lambert, John Heffner, Reily Fisher and Aaron Yocum. Here is kept the Sinking Spring post-office, established in 1831. Others

in business are William K. Ruth, general mer- chant; A. B. Krick and C. D. Reber, grain, flour and feed dealers ; and S. P. Keppel & Co., lumber and coal dealers, who are successors of C. S. Rieser.

Cigar-factories were established by J. H. Kegerise in 1867, who employed five hands ; Oliver B. Ruth in 1879; and Thomas Leininger in 1885, with nine hands.

The Palms (Peter and William) are well re- membered as early and successful physicians. The latter died in the village in 1852, and had as contemporaries in the later years of his practice, Dr. Alexander H. Witman and Dr. Wendell Hibschman. Dr. Abraham Ruth was in practice here and at Fritztown many years. Drs. Charles T. Reber, James Hoffman, Michael and John Livingood and Dr. Fishburn were all in practice a few years, then removed to the West. Drs. Thierwechter and Davis each practiced a short time. Dr. Thomas Mull went to the war as a surgeon and died at Alexandria. Dr. C. N. Hoffman is the oldest resident phy- sician in the place ; Dr. James Y. Shearer next ; and Dr. J. S. Herbein since 1867.

The early mechanics were Michael Miller, carpenter ; Matthias Peiffer and Andrew De Hart, blacksmiths ; George Lambert and John Lambert, shoemakers; George Luft, tailor ; Jacob Latshaw, tinsmith ; Isaac and John Miller, carpenters ; Charles H. Addams, jus- tice of the peace, and James H. Addams, auc- tioneer.

Sinking Spring Council, No. 77, O. of U. A. M .- This body was instituted March 24, 1862, with thirteen members. The present roll shows a membership of thirty-nine.

The meetings are held weekly in Hettinger's Hall. The lodge has been prosperous and has an invested fund of twenty-six hundred dollars.

Lexington Lodge, No. 155, K. of P., was in- stituted at Sinking Spring, June 12, 1869, and in 1885 had sixty members. The lodge meets in the Hoffman building. Its invested fund is about two thousand dollars.

WEITZELVILLE is a small hamlet, on the Lancaster road, two miles from Sinking Spring. It comprises fifteen buildings, including a pub-

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TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.

lic-house and some shops. It derived its name from Michael Weitzel, who lived here as a dyer and cradle-maker. His son John had a turning- shop. Conrad Marshall carried on a wheel- wright-shop and John Haas was the smith. The latter opened a public-house in 1824, where is now the tavern of John K. Gittleman, which was built in 1878.

FRITZTOWN is situated half a mile south of Weitzelville and is built in a very straggling manner. It does not contain any fine improve- ments, although a number of comfortable homes. The hamlet was started on the lands of Jacob and Dietrich Marshall, and took its name from John Fritz, who built the first public-house, about 1811, north of the Fritztown Station, on the Columbia Railroad. It is now the log building occupied as a residence by Daniel Ulrich, an octogenarian, who is a native of this place. After being a tavern forty years, it was turned into a residence. In 1884, Mahlon K. Masser opened a public-house almost opposite, which he still continues. The store-house there was built in 1849 by Charles Ruth and was oc- cupied by him, Jacob Zinn and the present, William Zinn. The latter is postmaster of the Fritztown office, established November 12, 1862.

Among the early settlers here were John Ulrich and his son Daniel, coopers, since 1805; John Fritz, weaver ; John Adam Miller, cabi- net-maker; Daniel Huebner, Peter Bensing and John Grill, coopers; Daniel Hart, laborer ; Alexander Fisher, millwright ; Lewis Ruth and Charles Werner, wheelwrights ; John Mohn, farmer ; and Jacob Miller, justice. Most of the trades named are still carried on. In 1885 the manufacture of cigars was conducted in four shops, employing about a dozen hands. The large building near the station was formerly a tavern. At the upper end of the hamlet is the "Farmers' and Butchers' Hotel," in a stone building, erected by the Hill family in 1780. A later keeper was Abraham Mengel, who made some improvements in the building. Then came Peter Ludwig, Peter Texter and others. The present keeper is Martin De Hart.

VINEMONT is a station on the Columbia Rail- road, a short distance above the upper end of Fritztown. It contains only a few buildings,

but has a post-office, which was established in 1883, with Tysher Stitzel as postmaster. The office is at present kept by Daniel Borneman, who also merchandises in a small way. The most important interests at this place are the vineyards and fruit-farms of Solomon Shearer. In 1877 he began devoting his attention to the cultivation of fruits, enlarging his farms from year to year, until they embrace nearly five hundred acres of land. The soil and climatic conditions of this locality appear to be espe- cially favorable for grape and small fruit culture, and his efforts have been very successful. He has good farm buildings, refrigerator and wine- vault, where he keeps his surplus stock for shipment. About six acres are devoted to the cultivation of the grape, and large areas are set with pear, peach, plum, cherry, quince and apple-trees. He has also begun the cultivation of all kinds of nut-bearing trees and successfully grows the small fruits.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

REV. BENNEVILLE B. WEIDMAN is the grandson of Joseph Weidman, who resided in Brecknock township, where his life was devoted to agricultural . pursuits. He married Susan Hoffer, who was a native of Germany, and had children,-Daniel, Joseph, Henry, Christianna (wife of David Cole), Magdalena (wife of Simon Cole), Elizabeth (wife of Joel Steffy), Ann Mary (wife of Jacob Blankenbiller), Susanna and Solomon. The last-named of these children, and the father of Rev. Weidman, was born in Brecknock township, where he followed farm- ing pursuits for a brief time, but later, removed to Spring township, having purchased the farm now owned by his widow. He married Mary Blankenbiller, whose children were Benneville B., Joseph, deceased ; Elizabeth, Mary (Mrs. Ephraim Light), Lydia (Mrs. John Light), Susan (Mrs. R. G. Siebert), Solomon B., Kate and Amanda (Mrs. Bresler).

Benneville B. Weidman was born on the 5th of September, 1833, in Brecknock township, and, when an infant, removed with his parents to Spring township, spending his youth, until his twenty fifth year, on the homestead. Very limited advantages of education were enjoyed by

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Mr. Weidman, the lack of good schools being, in a measure, supplied by judicious reading and study during his leisure hours. On leaving home he rented a farın in the same township, and cultivated the land for a period of thirteen years, when Sinking Spring, in the same coun- ty, became his residence In 1873 he purchased his present residence, and, though not actively engaged in farming on an extensive scale, gives

January, 1865, to Sarah, daughter of Matthias Peifer, of Spring township. Their children are Oscar L., Lincoln, Nora Amanda, Lizzie Irene, Stephen Matthias, Solomon Wilson, Joseph Ir- vin, Daniel Webster, Benneville Henry, Sallie Bertha and Jacob Austin, deceased.

ADAM B. KRICK is a great-great-grandson of Francis Krick. His great-grandfather, also named Francis, was born in 1736, in Cumru,

B. B. Neidman

a general supervision to the work incident to the improvement of the tract he owns. A Re- publican in politics, and interested in the suc- cess of his party and its principles, he has never accepted office. Mr. Weidman is connected, as a local preacher, with the Church of the United Brethren, in which his grandfather and father held the same relation. He is particularly ac- tive in Sunday-school work, as the organizer and superintendent of various prosperous Sun- day-schools.

Mr. Weidman was married on the 15th of

(now Spring) township, and died April 20, 1814. He was married to Maria Spohn in 1760, and was afterward united in marriage to Catherine Schlegel. Among his children was a son Francis, born February 8, 1776, who died May 19, 1863. He was married to Hannah Kerlin, and had two sons and seven daughters, among whom was Daniel, born in Spring township, October 28, 1804, where he was engaged in farming. He was married to Susan, danghter of George Bohn, of Bern township, in 1833. Their chil- dren are James, deceased; Lydia (married to

TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.

1179

William R. High), Adam B., Henry B. and Mary E. Mr. Krick died April 16, 1864. His widow survives, and resides with Adam one of the sons nanied.

Mr. Krick, the subject of this sketch, was born in Spring township October 27, 1836. He re- ceived his education at Sinking Spring, Reading, and at the Hudson River Institute, Claverack, N. Y. For five terms he taught school ; then he engaged in farming, and pursued this occupa-

1844. Their children are William F., born October 4, 1863; Daniel P., March 29, 1865 ; Sallie S., October 26, 1866 ; Thomas H., Janu- ary 11, 1868; Ida R., October 11, 1869; M. Ellen, September 18, 1871 .. William F. is married to Clara, daughter of Amos Hartman, and is farming a portion of the old homestead, having inherited the agricultural tastes of his ancestors. Mr. Krick has served as school director during four successive terms. He is

Adam B. Kuck,

tion for nine years. Mr. Krick, in 1852, suf- [ a member, and the present treasurer, of the Sink- fered from an accident, which influenced his ing Spring Reformed Church. subsequent career and rendered the amputation SAMUEL WERTZ is of Swiss descent and the son of Frederick and Elizabeth Wertz. The children of this marriage are two sons,- Samnel and Rudolph,-and a daughter, Eliza- beth. of a limb necessary in 1873. He for this reason abandoned farming the same year, and, remov- ing to Sinking Spring, engaged at a later date in the wholesale and retail flonr, feed and grain business, in which he is still engaged. On Samuel Wertz was born on the 2d of March, 1809, in the Canton of Argau, Switzerland, and, on learning the trade of a silk-ribbon weaver, April 16, 1863, he was married to Lucy J., daughter of Benneville B. Reber and Sarah V. R. High, of Bern township, born April 13, found employment in a silk-factory. Seeking,

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

however, a wider sphere of activity, he, on the 14th of May, 1834, emigrated to America and first located at Frankford, near Philadelphia, where he engaged in the manufacture of cotton laps and wadding. He then, for a brief time, made Cumberland County, Pa., his residence, and from that point, in the fall of 1836, re- moved to Harrisburg, where he conducted milling business.

Mr. Wertz was for a time a landlord in

and public spirit. He often responded to the demand for his services as executor and admin- istrator, and was the custodian of many import- ant trusts. He was an active member of the Reformed Church, in which he was an elder both in Harrisburg and Reading. He married Maria Sweigert, of Lancaster County, whose children are Louisa (Mrs. Price), Elizabeth (Mrs. Strohecker), George W., Samuel (deceased), Ed- ward and Jacob. Mrs. Wertz having died, he

Exeter township, Berks County, after which he removed to Spring township and conducted both a mill and distillery, his chief production being cotton laps. Abandoning the distillery in 1865, he confined his attention exclusively to milling. In 1870 he removed to Reading, es- tablished a flour and feed warehouse and con- tinued in this business until the 31st of Decem- ber, 1874.

married, on April 28th, 1850, Catherine, daugh- ter of John Waldemnaier, of Berks County, whose two sons are Augustus C. and Frank S.

Mr. Wertz received a stroke of palsy on the 14th of June, 1882, which resulted in his death on the 20th of August, 1884, in the seventy- sixth year of his age. The following tribute to his memory is paid by a friend and neighbor : " As a man Mr. Wertz was eminently success- ful. In his business transactions he was dis-

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History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 194

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