History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 195

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 195

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Mr. Wertz manifested great interest in pub- lic affairs, and was a man of much intelligence | creet, reliable and honest. By strict economy.

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TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.

and steady application he succeeded in amassing considerable property. As a citizen he was favorably known throughout the county. He was of commanding appearance, tall, erect and well-built; always happy, and, by his strong personal magnetism, unconsciously shed the sunlight in his own heart into that of others. He possessed an irrepressible vein of humor, which made him a very agreeable com- panion and enlivened those around him. He was a man who made friends wherever he went. On account of his intelligence and sense of right, he was a judicious and safe counselor, his advice being frequently sought by those who knew him. In religion he was devout, magnanimous and generous. He repeatedly filled various offices in the church, very ably and acceptably."

CONRAD D. REBER is the grandson of Con- rad Reber, a successful farmer in Bern town- ship, who was first married to Magdalena Bright and afterward to Mrs. Kate Leib, and left the following children by the first marriage: Charles, Thomas B., Benneville B., John B., Levi B., Daniel, Matilda (Mrs. Reily L. Fisher), Mary (Mrs. Peter Griesemer). Benne- ville B. Reber was born in Bern township, and was a farmer by occupation. He was married, first, to Sarah V. R. High, by whom he had children,-William Henry, Lucy Jane (Mrs. Adam B. Krick), Kate H. (Mrs. Henry Huyett) and Annie M. He was married afterward to Mary E., daughter of Daniel and Mary Dechert. Their children are Conrad D., Sarah E. (Mrs. Frank Hartman), Mary E. (Mrs. Peter Lein- bach), Matilda V., Thomas D., Ezra (deceased) and Clara (deceased). Conrad D. Reber, the subject of this sketch, was born on the 24th of January, 1852, in Bern township, and spent his youth upon the farm where he was born. He was educated at the Stouchsburg Academy, in Berks County, and then located at Sinking Spring, where he acted for three years in the capacity of clerk and assistant postmaster. He then traveled through the Western States, remaining for one year in Springfield, Ohio, engaged in mercantile pursuits. Returning to his native county, he married, on the 2d of November, 1876, Miss Amelia J., daughter of .

James and Mary Ruth, of Sinking Spring. The children of this marriage are Nellie R., Edith M., Addie E. aud Katie May, the latter being deceased. After his marriage Mr. Reber engaged in the wholesale and retail grain, coal and lumber business at Sinking Spring and Robesonia, in Berks County, and is still inter- ested in the purchase and sale of these com- modities, as also in the mining of magnetic ore. He has been and is, as a Democrat, more or less active in local politics. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, of Sinking Spring, in which he has officiated as deacon, and is con- nected with the Sabbath-school.

BRECKNOCK TOWNSHIP.

THE township of Brecknock was erected in 1741. Proceedings relating to its erection could not be found. When Berks County was erected, the boundary line extended through the township, and that portion of the township in this county naturally retained the same name.

The estimated area of the township in 1820 was nine thousand five hundred acres, and in 1849 ten thousand. In 1842 the western sec- tion was cut from the township and added to Cumru, the area having been about nine hun- dred acres. The length of the distance on the county line was four hundred and forty-four perches. The commissioners were Samuel S. Jackson, William Eckert and M. S. Richards.

The early settlers were Welsh, and they suggested the name of the township, doubtless taking it from the place of their nativity, in Wales.1

Four fine streams of water take their rise in this township near the " Ziemer Tavern." The land is rolling, interspersed with valleys, but well improved.

TAXABLES OF 1759 .- The names of the taxable people in the township for the year 1759 appear in the following list. Bernhard

1 A division of territory situated in the southerly part of Wales.

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Bealor was the collector ; and the amount of tax levied was £14, 138.

John Aldeberry 3

Henry Miller 2

Bernhard Bealor

Jacob Miller . 1

Henry Brindle

Francis Marshall . 2

Christian Baltz . 4

Johannes Mosser . 3

Dieter Baltz . 4

Adam Jeydee 7

Adam Beemer 6

Henry Owerwasser 3

Daniel Cooper 6

Joho Rubee 2

Johannes Comler 2

Jeremiah Siemor 12

George Douglass 13

Peter Sweitzer

Christian Eaire 3

Joho Shartz

Michael Finfrock

Michael Slongh 4

Michael Frankhonser 5

Nicholas Shauck . 12

Jacob Fry 2

Abram Stone . 6

Christian Gehman 3

Henry Seidehender . 3

Johannes Hemig . 5

Joseph Wagner

Charles Hornherry 8

Jacob Werst 4

George Hesong . 3

Leopold Yost . . 13

Casper Koch . 2

George Yost 2

John Lery . 4

Single -Man. Henry Prattinger.

INDUSTRIES .- The water-powers of Brecknock are confined to a few sites on the Allegheny Creek, which were improved at an early period. These mills are still kept up, but are not as important in their relation to the business of the township as formerly, since the power at certain seasons is very weak. Near the Robeson line is the old Christian Bixler saw-mill, carried on many years as the property of Isaac Bixler. The old Bixler grist- mill, at the power next above, was long operated by Daniel and Philip Bixler, but has lately become the property of Daniel Yelk. It has a small capacity. The Allegheny or Bowman mill, now owned by Christian Cooper, is a familiar landmark on the stream. For many years it was carried on by Joseph Bowman and later by Noah Bowman. Below this site John Bowman had wool-carding machinery and fulled cloth, discontinuing the business thirty years ago. Afterwards there was a small wood-working shop, which has also been removed. On Muddy Creek, John Schweitzer built a small saw-mill a number of years ago, which is now carried on successfully by Samuel Z. Schweitzer. William Schweitzer had a tannery in the same locality for some years, but it has been abandoned. In the western part of the township George Miller made axes by hand-power, and a small gun factory was also carried on a short time.

The citizens of the township are mainly agricul- turists, and have also paid considerable attention to fruit-culture, the soil being well adapted for the

smaller varieties. The apple and peach orchard of Henry Wagner was unusual on account of its size, it having thirty four hundred peach trees. Unfortunately, these have been destroyed by blight, but the apple orchard is still one of the largest in this section of country.

Within the reccollection of the old inhabitants John Ziemer was the first to engage in mercantile pursuits, having a store on the old State road in the eastern part. He there also distilled liquor soon after 1800. Before 1829 he had a public- house, which was afterward continued by Peter Ziemer. It has become a farm-house on the land of J. Schweitzer: In the same locality. Daniel Hummel began a small store in a building which had formerly been a school-house, but which was enlarged to meet the demands of his trade In 1869 a post-office was established with the name of the store, Hummel becoming the postmaster. A few years later Augustus Schweitzer became the owner of the property, which he improved. He also conducted a public-house and store and the post-office, continuing the two latter to the present time. There is a tri-weekly mail to Reading. North from this place John Hartz opened a small store in 1884; and west of this Peter Bow- man had a store for thirty years, removing it some eighteen years ago, to Knauer's post-office, west of the centre of the township. Jobn Trostel had the first public interest there, building a part of the present public-house more than forty years ago. Becoming the property of Daniel Knauer, he se- cured a post-office, with the name of his hotel, March 3, 1856. The hotel was afterwards carried on by Wm. R. Ziemer and is now the property of Henry K. Furlow, who is also the postmaster. In this locality a store was lately opened by Henry Trostel; there are also some mechauic-shops, being the only place having the appearance of a hamlet in the township.

CHURCHES.

ALLEGHENY CHURCH (REFORMED AND LUTHERAN) .- In 1765 some thirty persons united in building the first house of worship, which was a simple log building, thirty by forty feet, without floor or stove, and had but two windows. Some years later it was plastered over and made more comfortable. It was used in this condition until

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TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.

1800, when it was replaced by a plain sandstone building. From its location, near the Allegheny Creek, it took its name and is widely known among the churches of the county. The situation is very desirable, the church grounds commanding a view of the country many miles. The increase of membership and the prosperity of the congrega. tions induced them to undertake the building of a new church in 1878, which, in its completed con- dition, is a worthy monument to their devotion It is a beautiful sandstone edifice, forty five by seventy feet, with a pulpit recess of five feet in the rear wall. A steeple seventy feet high adds to its external appearance. The arrangement with galleries gives a seating capacity of eight hundred. The walls are finely frescoed and back of the pul- pit is an attractive painting representing the " Ascension of Christ." It has a pipe-organ costing one thousand six hundred dollars. The corner-stone was laid May 23, 1878, and the dedication took place November 15th of the same year.

The cost, exclusive of the work done by mem- bers, as voluntary contribution, was nearly ten thousand dollars. Much of this amount was the proceeds realized from a farm of eighty-two acres which was devised to the church in 1814 by one of its members, John Christian Ludwig Schaeffer, who died that year. He was born in 1729 and at his death wasinterred in the cemetery of the church. Formerly the income from the farm was used in maintaining a school under the direction of the church. This was discontinued after the era of free schools.

Each congregation has about three hundred and twenty five members, the Lutherans having as their pastor Rev. Zenas H. Gable. Some of his predecessors were the Revs. D. K. Humbert, T. T. Iaeger, S. R. Wagner, H. Boyer and others who preached in the Plow Church. The first! - Reformed minister recorded was the Rev. S. Ammon. Then came the Revs. H. Ingold, T. Faber, John Z. Gulding, Reuben Herman, Fred. Herman and Aug. Herman, and, since 1873, M. L. Fritch.

The inscriptions on many sand stones have been effaced by the elements, and numerous graves have been marked by simple stone slabs containing no name at all.

MENNONITE MEETING-HOUSES .- Among the early settlers of Brecknock were a number of fam- ilies belonging to the Mennonite denomination, who worshipped in private houses until some thirty years ago, when the Allegheny and Gehman meet- ing-houses were built. The former was erected of sand stone on the land of Henry Weber, and has sittings for three hundred persons. The latter is a similar building, put upon the land of David Gehman, whose family was most active in promot- ing its erection. Each church has a small grave- yard connected. The first meetings in the Alle- gheny neighborhood were held at the house of Wendell Bowman. The preachers were Christian Good and Christian Gehman, the latter living in Berks County. The bishop was Jacob Zimmer- man Later preachers were Peter Mentzer, Jacob Mosseman and Samuel Good. The churches have at present the ministry of Benjamin Horning, of Berks County, and Abraham Gehman and Chris- tian Stauffer, of Lancaster. The membership is small, and is confined mainly to the Bowman, Gehman, Horning and Messner families in Breck- nock. The meetings are usually well attended by members from associate churches in Lancaster County, where preaching was first maintained.

THE EVANGELICAL MEETING-HOUSE, near the Cumru line, was built about fifteen years ago on the land of Benjamin Remp, one of the most active members. Other members belonging were from the Brinline, Lutz and Blankenbiller families, the number never being large. The ministry is from Lancaster County. The church is a small frame building, and stands in a grave-yard.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

SAMUEL Z. SCHWEITZER .- Four brothers by the name of Schweitzer emigrated from Würtem- burg, in Germany, to Pennsylvania, about 1740. One, whose name was Peter, settled in Brecknock township, Lancaster County (now Berks County), another in: Northampton County, the third in Cumberland County, and the fourth in Lancaster (now included in Dauphin) County .. Peter Schweitzer was married to a young woman named Heffelfinger (who emigrated at the same time), and had seven children,-Frederick, Peter, Susan, Christiana, Catharine, Elizabeth and Margaret.

Frederick Schweitzer was born in Brecknock

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

township, Berks County, and carried on farming. He was married to Barbara Burkhardt, of the same township, and had eight children,-John, Frederick, Peter, Jacob, Elizabeth, Barbara, Susan and Catharine.

John Schweitzer was born in same township August 28, 1791, and was married to Mary Ziegler (a daughter of Abraham Ziegler, a farmer of Lancaster County, who lived near by), born October 5, 1791, and who is now still living in the township, at the remarkable age of ninety-five

Samuel Ziegler Schweitzer was born in Breck- nock township, on the old homestead, January 1, 1816. He was educated in his early youth in the privateschools which the neighborhood afforded and subsequently attended a higher grade of schools at Morgantown and at Reading. A special study of his was surveying, which he pursued several years after returning home. In his seventeenth year he began teaching in the school building at Allegheny Church, in Brecknock township, and pursued this profession for seventeen successive years. The

James Schweitzer

years, in good health and able to move about with ease and speak with fluency, being possessed of a strong recollection of past events in the early history of the county. He had a farm[ of oue hundred acres, with a saw-mill, which he conducted successfully for many years. He died December 5, 1871, and had four children,-Samuel Z., John (married to Maria Suader), Salome (now deceased, who was married to John Kachel) and Elizabeth (married to Peter Bixler, who is now deceased).

first three years were spent in the township named aud near by, and the other years at various places in Lancaster County, the more prominent localities having been New Holland, Goodville and Church- town. He also taught music for a time. Dur- ing the interim from teaching every year he was engaged at farming, and also at droving for five years, traveling to the West for stock and driving it to the East to market. In 1852 he directed his attention entirely to farming

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TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.

and he has pursued this vocation since. He has always resided on the homestead, of which he be- came the owner in 1872. He now owns three farms (the third being distant one mile from the homestead), altogether three hundred and eighteen acres, which he is conducting successfully. On the place which he occupies he also carries on a saw- mill and chopping-mill.

Mr. Schweitzer is a Republican in politics. He officiated as justice of peace in the township for one term of five years from 1872. He has been prominently connected with the Mu- tual Fire Insurance Company of Sinking Spring, Berks County, for many years having officia- ted as a Director. He is a member of the Alle- gheny Church, Lutheran denomination, having been associate treasurer of the church for the last twenty years, and treasurer of the Lutheran con- gregation since 1852. When the Allegheny Church was rebuilt, in 1878, he was one of the largest con- tributors.

He was married, in 1853, to Elizabeth Haller, daughter of Samuel Haller, a farmer of Terre Hill, Lancaster County.

UNION TOWNSHIP.

ERECTION OF TOWNSHIP .- This township was erected in 1753 by proceedings in the Court of Quarter Sessions of Berks County. The papers could not be found on file, excepting a draft which was prepared by Benjamin Lightfoot. The lines were surveyed by him on the 10th of Febru- ary, 1753; their bearings and distances being as follows :

"Beginning at the Schuylkill, at the outlet of Hay Creek, on the upper side, thence along Robeson township, S. 10 W. 500 ps. and S. 44º 19' W. 960 ps., to a white oak tree corner, thence along Caernarvon township S. 45° 41' E. 970 ps. to a heap of stones, thence along Chester County N. 59 E. 2216 ps. to a post on the western bank of the Schuylkill, thence up the river 2125 ps. to the beginning."

These lines were estimated by him to enclose 13,112 acres, with nsual allowance. Three prom- inent creeks are mentioned as being within the townships, -- " Six-pence," " Mill," and the head- waters of " French." A line is drawn through this draft from a point on the river-bank opposite

the mouth of Monocacy Creek to the Caernarvon township line (south 44º 19' west), crossing the line at a public road leading to Geiger's Mill about three hundred and forty-five perches from the Robeson township corner, this being intended, doubtless, to indicate the locality and bearing of the county line which had existed between Chester and Lancaster Counties.1

The name of the township arose from a " union " of two sections of territory, one (about seven thousand five hundred acres) from Coventry town- ship, in Chester County, and the other from Robe- son township, in Berks County.

FIRST SETTLERS .- The first tract of land was taken up by Hans Monson, by warrant, in 1684 The tract contained five hundred and eighty acres, and was situated in the vicinity of Mill Creek, on the Schuylkill. Soon afterward he conveyed the land to Peter Peterson Yocum. It is probable that Yocum did not then occupy this land.

In 1715 John Rumford took up, hy patent, a tract of three hundred acres, situated on the Schuylkill, opposite the Swedes' tracts, in " Coven- try." In 1728 he sold two hundred acres of this tract to Thomas Reese; the adjoining owner then on the east was John Blare (who " seated " the land) and on the south David Stephens (who had the land "in tenure"). Subsequently this two hun- dred acre tract came to be owned by Abraham Wislar. 2

1 Taking this line to have been the county line, the esti- mated area of territory cut from Chester County was about nine thousand acres. But in 1729, when Lancaster County was erected from Chester County, this line was reported to have the bearing from the same point on the Schuylkill, southwest by south, or south 34º 45' west. This differ- ence in the hearing of the line would make an area of about fifteen hundred acres ; and, accordingly, about seventy-five hundred acres were taken from Chester County.

2 Some of the earlier warrantees of land in the township before the erection of the county, besides those mentioned, were,-

Wm. J. Adams.

Anthony Bieler.

William Bird. James .Cadwallader.

John Bunn. Jonas Chamberlain.

John Banfield. William Comb.

John Best. Francis Dowdle.

Alexander Brindley.

Michael Gowger.

David Bieler. Francis Hughes.

John Jacob Boob. David Howell.

101

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

TAXABLES OF 1759 .- The following list con- tains the names of the taxable persons in the township for the year 1759. The amount of tax then levied was £44 38. 6d. The collector of the tax was Abraham Wanger :

€

Wm. Bird. 60

Jolin Lincoln 10 Joseph Burgeon, 10

Stephen Lewis 4

Thos. Banfield 15

Morgan Lewis. 1

Jacob Bason 7

Michael Leonard. 2

Samuel Barefoot

Joseph Millard & Sou 20

Geo. Carson. 18

Mordecai Millard, 3

Henry Coutcher

Jane Millard.

Robert Campbell 1

Timothy Millard

Lochlan Doyle 2

Jonathan Millard

Pennal Evans. 16

John Medary.

Evan Evans 11

Charles McGrew

Samuel Flower

Jacob Meizle

Peter Fliyoner

Richard Oaty

Peter Funck

Thomas Pratt

John Godfrey 24

John Peter.

1 7

Andrew Gibson 4

Owen Reinhard

Robert Galloway 1

James Roberts 6

John Harris 17

Jolin Scarlet 4

Joseph Hunt. 15

John Stoner 16

Mordecai Harris

Jacob Switzer, 10

Andrew Hartman.

Casper Singhause 10

John Hause. 6

John Taylor, 10

Matthew Hopkins 1

Geo. Truck. 1

Andrew Hoffman 3

Henry Winterberg 24

Edward Hughes 9

Abraham Wanger. 20

Frederick llously 10

Conrad Walter 10

Mounce Joues 10

Thomas Williams 7

Thomas Lloyd 9

Daniel Yoder 14

Single Mfen.

Sammel Hanson.

James McGrew.

Fredk. Haws.

John Rattican.

Owen Hughes.

Adam Stader.

A list1 of the freeholders of the township for 1764 includes the following persons with quantity of their land and number of servants, stock, etc. :

Mark Bird : 1000 acres of land, 200 cultivated and 80 sowed; 5 servants, 5 negroes, 18 horses, 18 cattle, and 40 sheep.

George Cerson : 220 acres of land, 130 cultivated and 25 sowed; 1 servant, 2 negroes, 4 horses, 5 cat- tle and 10 sheep.

Caleb Harrison.

Roger Rogers.

Christian Herkett.

Griffith Rees.

Owen Hughes.

George Sower.

Job Harvey. John Scarlet.

Peter Krey.

James Steel.

Jacob Light.

Jacob Steigley.

Robert Long.

James Thompson.

Peter Leykon.

James Thomas.

John Moore.

John Treby, Jr.

Evan Price.

George Wickline.

John Purcel.

Henry Williams.

Richard Peter.

1 Manuscript collection with Pennsylvania Historical Society at Philadelphia.

Samuel Flower : 2000 acres of hill land.

John Stoner : 400 acres of land. .

John Harrison : 300 acres of land, 100 cultivated, 27 sowed.

INDUSTRIES. - The limited water-power of the township has been well improved. On Six-Penny Creek, George Kerst had a pioneer mill, which was afterwards known as Linderman's. Previous to 1830 George Zachariah erected a forge, called "Clinton," at this water-power, and operated it for some years, when it was removed, and the power again used to operate a mill now known as Shirey's. Below this site Jacob Umstead had fulling, feed and oil-mills, which were useful factors in the early history of that locality. Daniel Kinsey used the power for some years to operate a grist-mill erected by him. It has been idle a number of years. Near the Schuylkill George Stoner had a saw-mill soon after 1800. It was operated until 1846, when William Miller added a grist-mill. Both mills are carried on by the Miller family. On Mill Creek, in the locality of Unionville, Jacob Kerlin was the proprietor of mills until 1825, when Abraham Wanger became the owner. After 1827 they were sold to Henry Flannery, and from him they have passed to Jacob K. Flannery, the present owner. For a short time a distillery was also carried on. In the southwestern part of the township, on a branch of Hay Creek, Paul Geiger built a feed and clover-mill, which still remains, Herman Geiger being the owner.

The " Hopewell " and " Monocacy " Furnaces are the prominent iron industries in the township. The latter has been in existence for one hundred and twenty years. They are mentioned in chapter on " Early and General Industries."

CHURCHES.

ST. PAUL'S METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- This is the oldest Methodist Church in the county, and one of the oldest in the State. The first church building was erected in 1773 upon the land of Mounce Jones, for the use of the Rev. W. Diener, a preacher of the " New Light " doctrine, but who subsequently embraced Methodism, and was instrumental in converting the most of his ad- herents to the same faith, some time before 1780. That year the property, which was known as the " Forest Church," from its location in a district of

1187

TOWNSHIPS OF COUNTY.

of the county by that name, was deeded to John Wesley and his followers, and from that time this has been distinctively a Methodist Church. The Methodist members at that period were David Hoffman, Henry Carbery, Jacob Zink, Abraham Zink, Mounce Jones, Abraham Lewis, Reuben Cox, John Geiger, Henry Kerlin and a few others. Before 1780 the Lutherans occasionally held meetings in this house, which was of the nature of a Union building, but thereafter were obliged to attend the church at the Plow Tavern until seventy years later, when they built a church in the same locality. The old Forest Church was a plain stone building, one story high. It was in use until 1858, when the present St. Paul's Church was erected in its stead. This is a large stone edi- fice, plastered on the outside, and has basement rooms. On the north side of the building is preserved the stone inscribed with the date of the first building. In connection with it is a burial- lot, the front of which is enclosed with a stone wall built in 1818 by David Hoffman and Paul Geiger. In 1883 a parsonage was erected at Geigertown, three-fourths of a mile distant.

In 1870 St. Paul's Church and the Zion Church became a separate charge, as the Geigertown Cir- cuit.

The congregation of St. Paul's Church has ninety-five members, and the Zion Church thirty. The latter house of worship was built in 1872, of sandstone, and cost twenty-three hundred dollars. It includes a burial plat.

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History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 195

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