History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 63

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

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354

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

survivors with a twenty-dollar gold-piece. This generous act made a deep impression upon the community.

BATTALION DAY OF 1843 .- " The Battalion Day " of May, 1843, received the following ex- pressive notice : 1

"This glorious assemblage of heroes made their annual appearance yesterday at Reading. There was lots of fun, beauty and broomsticks, rum, flying- horses, fights with the guards, fancy military move- ments, fisticuffs, dances, dice and pitching of pennies, and all the elegant amusements peculiar to the bill and day. The officers appeared to particular ad- vantage and gave the words of command with remark- able emphasis and cadence. The movements of the troops, were, we are compelled to say, not quite so elaborate as we had anticipated from the known abili- ties of the commanders."

COUNTY MILITIA COMPANIES IN 1856 .- In 1856 there were twenty-four companies of militia iu Berks County. These were arranged in six battalions, and comprised the First Bri- gade of the Fifth Division of Pennsylvania Volunteers. The officers, companies and force were as follows :

FIFTH DIVISION PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS.

Major-General, William H. Keim, Reading; Aid- de-Camp, Major S. L. Young, Reading ; Aid-de-Camp, Major A. Jordan Schwartz, Reading; Division Sur- geon, Major John H. Seltzer, Reading; Division Engineer, Major William A. Sands, Reading.

The division comprised three brigades-1, Berks County ; 2, Lebanon County ; 3, Dau- phin County.

Officers of First Brigade .- Brigadier-General, Chas. H. Hunter; Brigade Inspector, Major Richards McMichael ; Brigade Major, Charles B. McKnight; Aid-de-Camp, Henry R. Hawman ; Quartermaster, William A. Sands.

Officers of First Battalion, Reading Volunteers .- Major, W. H. Keim ; Adjutant, S. L. Young ; Quar- termaster, William Graff; Surgeon, Dr. J. Livingood ; Sergeant-Major, William B. Piper; Quartermaster- Sergeant, Reuben Leightheiser.

FIRST BRIGADE (six battalions).

First Battalion, Reading, W. H. Keim, Major. Force.

1. Reading Dragoons, Lieut. W. A. Sands. 49

2. Keystone Lancers, Captain Tobias Barto. 38

3. Ringgold Artillery, Captain James McKnight .. 239

4. Reading Artillery, Captain W. I. Clous. 64

5. Reading Rifles, Captain F. S. Boas. 104

6. American Rifles, Captain William Rollman. 45

539

Second Battalion, Hamburg, J. A. Beitenman, Major. Force.

7. Windsor Cavalry, Captain William Shomo .... 54

8. Hamburg Artillery, Captain J. A. Beitenman .. 55

9. Pleasant Valley Artillery, Captain Jonathan S. Herbein. 40

10. Berks County Rifle Rangers, Captain George Heinly 57

206

Third Battalion, Maiden-creek, D. B. Kaufman, Major. Force.

11. Berks County National Dragoons, Captain David Levan. 34

12. Monroe Troop, Captain Stanley Kirby. 38 13. Richmond Artillery, Captain Christ. Schnay- berger. 61

133

Fourth Battalion, Taylor, Isaac Schroeder, Major. Force.

14. National Troop, Captain Henry Schaeffer ..... 64

15. Washington Artillery, Capt. Isaac Schroeder. 57 16. Pennsylvania Artillery, Captain Amos Maul. 68 17. National Artillery, Captain Jer. Weaver. 67

18. Washington Rifle Blues, Capt. John Gechter. 55

311

Fifth Battalion, Union, William J. Schoener, Major. Force.

19. Washington Troop, Captain William N. Bot- teiger 36 20. Jackson Artillery, Captain Wm. J. Schoener .. 61 21. Keystone Rifles, Captain Levi M. Gerhart ... 38

135

Sixth Battalion, Marion, John Bechtold, Major. Force.

22. Washington Guards, Captain Josiah Groh ... 34 23. Washington Legion, Captain Jer. Clous. 38 24. Ringgold Light Infantry, Captain John Bech- told. 37

139

The total force of troops then in the county was 6644 ; reported in companies, 1463. The grade of the companies was as follows : -

First Grade .- Ringgold Light Artillery.

Third Grade (cavalry) .- Reading Dragoons, Na- tional Troop, Washington Guards, Monroe Troop, Washington Troop, Windsor Cavalry, Keystone Lancers, Berks County National Dragoons.

Fourth Grade (heavy artillery) .- Reading Artil-

1Berks and Schuylkill Journal, May 20, 1843.

355

MILITIA.

lery, Hamburg Artillery, National Artillery, Pleasant Valley Artillery, Pennsylvania Artillery, Washington Artillery, Jackson Artillery, Richmond Artillery.

Fifth Grade (light infantry) .- Washington Legion, Ringgold Light Infantry.

Seventh Grade (riflemen) .- Berks Rifle Rangers, Washington Rifle Blues, Reading Rifle Company, Keystone Rifles.

These companies were in active existence at . the breaking out of the Rebellion, in 1860-61.

STATE NATIONAL GUARD .- In 1864 a new system was provided. " The active militia shall be composed of volunteers ; and, in case of war, invasion, the suppression of riots, etc. . . . shall first be ordered into service." The assessors are required to enroll "every able-bodied male citizen resident within the State of the age of twenty-one years and under the age of forty- five years" excepting certain persons specified ; and this roll of persons is placed on record in the office of the county commissioners ; and the whole number of persons liable to military duty is reported by the commissioners to the adju- tant-general of the state. The enrolled militia shall be subject to no active duty except in case of war, invasion, riot, etc. The commander-in- chief may order the militia to be drafted from the persons liable to duty or accept as many volunteers as may be required. The organiza- tion is similar to the previous systems, but the State is divided into twenty divisions, each county to form a separate brigade. Berks, Lebanon aud Dauphin Counties comprise the Fifth Division. Subsequent modifications have been made. The active militia is styled the "National Guard of Pennsylvania." In time of peace it shall comprise an aggregate not to exceed ten thousand officers and men and " con- sist of two hundred companies, fully armed, uni- formed and equipped, to be distributed among the several military divisions of the State accord- ing to the number of its taxable population." And provision is made for drilling, inspections and en- campments. This system is carried on success- fully but without causing any public excitement, excepting during the time and in the vicinity of any encampment.

READING ARTILLERISTS .- A company of volunteers was organized at Reading, and named the " Reading Artillerists " -- reviving

the name of a military organization which had first been organized at Reading in 1794, and continued in active existence till the Civil War, in which it was enlisted in the three months' service in 1861, as Company G, First Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers ; most of the men re- enlisted in different companies and served till the close of the year.

This company was reorganized and mustered in on May 2, 1881, as Company G, Fourth Regiment of National Guard of Pennsylvania, with Robert H. Savage, as captain, Wm. H. Souders as first lieutenant, and Abel H. Beyer as second lieutenant; and it numbered fifty- six men. Its organization is still maintained, numbering fifty-five men, with Henry J. Christoph as captain, Elmer A. German, first lieutenant, and William O. Scull, second lieutenant.

CAPTAIN DANIEL DE B. KEIM, the oldest son of John Keim, a prominent merchant at Reading, was born on September 8, 1772, and educated in the place named. He became in- terested in military affairs at an early age. When twenty-two years old he raised a company of infantry, called the " Reading Union Vol- unteers," and as captain marched with them under General Henry Lee to assist in quelling the "Whiskey Insurrection " that had arisen in the western part of Pennsylvania. This company was detailed at Carlisle as the body- guard of President Washington, and continued to perform that duty as long as the Presideut remained with the army. In 1814 he com- manded a company of volunteers, called the " Reading Washington Guards," which was stationed for a time near Baltimore during the English War in this country. He organized the " Reading Artillerists" in 1794, and suc- ceeded in obtaining for their use from the national government a battery of five field- pieces which had been captured at Yorktown. The name of this company has been trans- mitted by various military organizations till the present time. It participated, under the command of Captain Keim, in the grand re- ception given to General Lafayette at Phila- delphia in 1824.

Captain Keim manifested an earnest interest

356

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

in our local history. In 1833 he contributed a valuable article to the " Ladies' Garland," relating to the early settlement of Reading, and including other matters of historical interest. It was the first description of our immediate locality which was published in a printed form. He died in 1833.

GENERAL GEORGE DE BENNEVILLE KEIM,1 second son of John Keim, a successful merchant at Reading, and Susan de Benneville (tlie daugh- ter of Dr. George de Benneville), his wife, was born at Reading, December 16, 1778, and edu- cated in the old " Friends' Meeting-house." He was then sent by his father to Philadelphia, where he remained for some years in the large and well-known hardware store of the Messrs Chancellors, to acquire a knowledge of that business. In his twentieth year, upon his re- turn to Reading, he was taken into partnership by his father, who was conducting the same business which had been established in the property generally known as the " old whitestore." This building was the first business place at Read- ing, and was conducted by Conrad Weiser for some years, and came to be owned by Nicholas Keim (the grandfather of the subject of this sketch) in 1769. Here Mr. Keim carried on business for many years. He also engaged in the manufacture of iron, having interests in the Reading Furnace and various forges. When the difficulties occurred in 1794 known as the " Whiskey Insurrection," he volunteered and served in the forces which were collected to sus- tain the government. From 1809 to 1814 he carried on business in Philadelphia, in connec- tion with the export of bread-stuffs. He was largely engaged in the development of our county and county-seat. He was one of the first to give attention to the cultivation of the grape and the manufacture of wine; and he contributed his means and efforts to improve the character of the live-stock of the county. At that period Mr. Keim was largely interested in the cultivation of the soil, and was owner of a number of farms in Exeter township and that locality. He took an active interest in the erection of bridges, as demanded by the re-

quirements of the county, and promoted by his efforts the Perkiomen turnpike and that of the Reading and Sunbury, which were the earliest public improvements in this section, in both of which companies Mr. Keim was a manager for many years. Mr. Keim was greatly interested in promoting the cause of education and took an earnest interest in the establishment of the " Reading Academy " and the " Reading Fe- . male Seminary," each of which institutions was of great service in educating the young people of the community.

Military affairs received his attention from an early period, and in 1821 the appointment of aid on the staff of Governor Heister, with the rank of colonel, was conferred upon him. In 1830 he was elected major-general of the Sixth Division of Pennsylvania Militia, suc- ceeding his brother-in-law, the Hon. Samuel J. Franks, and upon his retirement, after hold- ing this position for five years, he was succeeded by his son, George M. Keim, who, in turn, was succeeded by General William H. Keim, cousin of the latter.

Mr. Keim also, among other positions, filled that of president of the Branch Bank of Penn- sylvania for upwards of thirty years; was the chief burgess of Reading and president of the Town Council for many years ; and was one of the promoters of the Reading Water Company and its first president, occupying the latter position for a long period of time.

In all benevolent institutions and objects Mr. Keim took a prominent part. He was actively engaged in the building of Christ Church, the lot upon which the same was erected having been donated by a member of the Price family for that purpose, who was a relation of his wife. On February 4, 1799, Mr. Keim was married to Miss Mary May, one of the daughters of James May, a well-known citizen of Reading, and who, in the act of 1783, incorporating Reading into a borough, was named, together with Mr. Keim's father, John Keim, as one of the assistant burgesses.

James May was born March 2, 1749, of Quaker origin, his grandfather, Robert May, having come to the province before the year 1700, and intermarried with a daughter of Jolin

1 See portrait in Chapter X., War of 1812-15, p. 179.

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

357

Brooke, who, coming from England, located at a very early day in the neighborhood of Lim- erick, where he had a large body of land. Mr. May married Bridget Douglass, a daughter of George Douglass, who was the son of Andrew Douglass from Scotland, and settled at the place now called Douglassville, where his mansion still remains and is in the ownership of one of his descendants in the female line. George Douglass was an Episcopalian and ac- tively interested in the Molatton Church, being one of the vestry for a period long prior to the Revolutionary struggle, and his daughter, who married James May, having been reared in the faith of that church, led Mr. Keim to take a warm interest in the erection of Christ Church. Mr. James May, who had a birth- right in the Society of Friends, lost the same by his marriage outside of his sect to Miss Douglass, who, as heretofore said, was an Episcopalian

Three brothers, Archibald, James and An- drew Douglass, settled in 1718 in the " back parts" of the province, the portion of Chester County which subsequently was cut off to form the county of Lancaster, near the fertile valley of Pequea. They left Scotland, having been engaged in the rebellion of 1715 in favor of the Pretender, and for that cause were obliged to retire. They were of good family, and George Douglass, the son of Andrew and the grandfather of Miss Mary May, wife of Mr. Keim, removed from Pequea to what is now Douglassville when a very young man, having lost by death both of his parents. Shortly after the arrival of the Douglasses they donated the land upon which the Episcopal Church at Pequea, "St. John's," one of the early churches, was erected-their plantations adjoining the same.

General Keim had seven children : three sons -John M., George M. and Daniel M .- and four daughters,-Ann, Susan, Cathariue and Rebecca, the latter of whom alone is living, being the widow of the eminent civil engineer Mr. Wirt Robinson, of Richmond, Va. Mr. Keim died August 20, 1852.

MILITARY CADETS .- The following persons were admitted to the United States Military

Academy at West Point, N. Y., from Berks County, Pa., the list having been supplied for this history by L. C. Drum, adjutant general, Washington, D. C .:

DATE OF

NAMES.

RESIDENCES.

Admission

Graduation & Promotion

John H. Hobart

Reading . .

July 1, 1829

Henry A. M. Filbert

July 1, 1839

John F. Linderman

{Douglasville July 1, 1841

De Puy Davis

Reading . .

Sept. 1, 1842

William G. Gill

July 1, 1814 July 1, 1848

William Myers .

16 July 1, 1848 July 1, 1852

John F. Ritter

July 1, 1852 July 1, 1856

Charles McK. Leoser

July 1, 1856 May- 6, 18GL

Charles Keller

Hamburg

1, 1861 June 23, 1865

Samuel R. Kerper

Reading . .

July

1, 1865

Chas. Adam Hoke McCaulay

July 1, 1873

Hunter Liggett

Birdshoro'

July 1, 1875 June 12, 1879

John H. Shollenberger

Hamburg

. July 1, 1879 June 12, 1883

John David Leinbach Hartman

Leinbach's .

July 1, 1883

Charles F. Sell .

Barto.

Sept. 1, 1883

July

June 15, 1870

Albert H. Hawman

July 1, 1871

Walter B. Craig

CHAPTER XIV.

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

Lutherans-Reformed -Friends - Baptists - Dunkards - Moravians-Roman Catholics-Amish-Other Denomi- nations-Religious Excitement, Heidelberg and Exeter Meetings-Sunday Mails-County Bible Society.

THE territory which is included in the county of Berks was a conspicuous portion of the pro- vince of Pennsylvania to emigrants who were encouraged to leave their homes and settle in a country where they could enjoy and develop religious freedom. This sentiment being the prominent consideration which moved them in their travels and enterprise towards the selec- tion of a new country, it is natural to find it in continued prominence after they had fixed their habitations. The several nationalities showed the same zeal in this respect. The first settlers, the Swedes, would seem to have been slow in establishing a church for themselves convenient to their settlements, for they came here perman- ently in 1701, but did not erect a church till about 1720. In this time, however, they were connected with the church at Wiccacoe (now in Philadelphia, at a place near the Navy Yard), whither they went occasionally to carry on re- ligious worship.

The Huguenots were not any more energetic in Oley, for the first of them arrived from 1712

358

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

to 1720, but they did not cause a church to be erected in their midst till 1735, and these, it is said, proceeded to the Trappe for attending church services till they came to possess a church of their own. The Friends, however, were more energetic-a decade not having elapsed before they established a meeting-house for themselves. This was the situation to the east of the Schuylkill. To the west of the Schuylkill, the German settlers-Huguenots as they are generally called-erected a church within several years after their permanent set- tlement on and in the vicinity of the Tulpe- locken Creek.

A number of churches were erected in differ- ent sections of the county before 1752, not only in the southern or more populous parts, but in the northern near the Blue Mountain. This public or general action on the part of the settlers displays their affection for their religion. Their religious feelings were convictions which they obtained through experience abroad or through inheritance and education here, and these were enduring.

LUTHERANS.1-The Lutheran religion was predominant in the county, both with the Swedes and Germans to the east of the Schuyl- kill and with the Germans to the west. Some of the Germans were adherents of the Reformed religion. The churches built by these denom- inations were mostly " union " churches. In nearly every instance the members of the two denominations united in bearing the cost jointly-they having appointed separate com- mittees to co-operate in conducting the building

operations. And the church services alternated every two Sundays.

This harmony between these denominations in such a peculiar and jealous matter as religion displayed the singular excellence and liberality of the Germans. These people were alike in general affairs, in dress, in speech, in labor, in manners and customs; and a difference in their religious notions did not develop any antagon- ism between them. Indeed, the one denomin- ation frequently visited the church services of the other denomination. Each was the equal of the other in every respect.

The religion of these settlers would seem to have been exactly adapted to them in their pioneer life as farmers and mechanics. It was not demonstrative or enthusiastic in the sense of winning them away from necessary and profit- able labor ; it was not disposed to lead them into extravagant habits. It was rather quict and unpretentious, and inclined them to practice self-denial and economy. I may be thought to attribute too many fruits as results from the religions which prevailed to such a large ex- tent; but when the subject is examined closely it will be found to lie at the bottom ofthe real gene- ral stability and progress of the early settlers.

The early German settlers were without a regular minister till the arrival of Rev. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, in 1742.2

Rev. J. C. Stoever and Rev. John Peter Miller had preached at the Tulpehocken Church before 1735. But before 1750, Muhlenberg

I Immediately after Penn had arrived in Pennsylvania a number of Germans emigrated to the province, Among these there were Lutherans. But the tide of their im- migration began in earnest in 1710. Then about three thousand, chiefly Lutherans, settled in New York, having been encouraged to do so by Queen Anne, after leaving the Palatinate on account of religious intolerance there, and arriving in England. In 1713 one hundred and fifty families settled in Schoharie, in New York, some of which ten years afterward came to Tulpehocken, Pennsylvania. In 1727 a large number of them came into Pennsylvania from various parts of Germany, chiefly from the Palatinate, Würtemberg and Darmstadt ; and it is believed that many of these settled in this section of territory, along the Mana- tawny and Tulpehocken Creeks. They caused a church to be erected at the former in Oley, about 1735; and at the latter about 1727.

2 Rev. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg is regarded as the father of the Lutheran Church in America. He was born at Eimbeck, in Hanover, Germany, September 6. 1711. He was thoroughly educated in the school of Franke, at Halle, and qualified to preach in different languages-German, Dutch, Swedish, English, French and Latin. He left his native country early in the year 1742, and arrived at Philadelphia in November following. The Lutheran Churches were then in a deplorable condition, and few in number * He was stationed at the Trappe, whence he visited differ- ent Lutherans as far north as the Blue Mountain. " He preached in season and out of season, in churches, barns and the open air, until at last that Divine Master, whom he so faithfully served, received him into the company of apostles and prophets at His right hand. He died at the Trappe, October 7, 1787, where his remains lie buried. Dur- ing his ministerial journeys he made the acquaintance of

*Said to have been six ; and only one in this section, now Berks County. (Rupp's " History Berks County," p. 439.) Thisis an error. There were at least eight : Molatton. Oley, Rockland, Longswamp, Richmond, Alsace, Heldelberg and Tulpehocken.

359

visited the Lutherans regularly who were scattered through the upper sections of Phila- delphia and Lancaster Counties, now included in Berks County. The prominent settlements which enjoyed the benefits of his preaching were in the vicinity of the Swedes' Church, Oley Church, Hill Church, Alsace Church, Long- swamp Church, Richmond Church and Albany Church to the east of the Schuylkill, and of the Heidelberg Church (Hains') Northkill Church and Tulpehocken Church to the west of the Schuylkill.

Amongst the German immigrants there were some ministers and also school-teachers. The latter taught the children and read sermons; and, it is said, that some of them, after reading awhile, presumed themselves qualified and as- sumed to carry on the sacred office of ministers.

A history of the Lutheran Church as a body in Berks County will not be attempted in this chapter, for it is not the design of this work. A historical narrative of the several churches of this denomination is presented in the districts in which they are respectively situated, including the ministers who officiated.

In 1884 the pastors, congregations and mem- bership of the Lutheran denomination in the county were as follows :

No. of congre- gations.

Membership.

Rev. Z. H. Gable

1,150

Rev. B. S. Smoll

850

Rev. J. J. Cressman 2

600

Rev. Aaron Finfrock. 5

1,362

Rev. L. Groh.

1,300

Rev. W. A. C. Mueller. 2

500

Rev. A. J. Long.

1,000

Rev. F. K. Huntzinger 3

850

Rev. J. Fry 1

1,050

Pev. M. C. Horine 1

540

Rev. T. T. Iaeger.

930

Rev. B. E. Kramlich 5

1,325

Rev. W. H. Myers 1

371

Rev. U. P. Heilman 2

680

Rev. J. J. Kuendig 1

1,100

Rev. D. D. Trexler. 5

650

Rev. B. D. Zweizig 8

2,100

16,358

REFORMED .- Persons attached to the Re-

Conrad Weiser, and shortly afterward, 1743, married his daughter, Maria."*

* Rupp's "History of Berks County," p. 439.

formed faith were amongst the early settlers. They were known as "Calvinists" or "German Calvinists." Their first churches were in Oley and in Heidelberg. In meeting-houses, how- ever, they were mostly connected with the Lu- therans. The early Reformed ministers in Pennsylvania, before 1740, were Goetschy, Weis, Rieger, Boehm and Dorstius. They were assisted by the church in Holland. In 1741 a number of German Bibles (one hundred and thirty) were sent here for their use. In 1746, Rev. Michael Schlatter, the great Reformed missionary from Switzerland, arrived. In Sep- tember of that year he visited Oley and Tulpe- hockeu. At the latter place, on the 25th, he

"preached with much divine assistance and not with- out a blessing to a congregation of more than 600 persons who were assembled in a wooden building. The congregation listened to the publication of the word of God with much devout attention. The ar- dent desire for edification, and for a regular organiza- tion, and the hope of obtaining a stated preacher might have been read in their countenances. They could not conceal the joy and surprise which they felt upon seeing three preachers1 together, a circum- stance which they had not seen there before. The old and the young people shed tears of joy. I can only say that this was to me and to my brethren a day of much refreshment. I thought of the blessed Netherlands, where the company of heralds of the Gospel is numerous, whilst this extensive country is perishing for lack of teachers. This large church has never had a regular pastor. Mr. Boehm has adminis- tered the communion here annually twice-traveling eighty miles from Philadelphia for this purpose. After preaching, I, with his assistance, dispensed the holy communion to upward of a hundred members. I then informed them of my commission from the mother-country and made the same proposition to them which I had made to the churches in Philadel- phia and Germantown. They obligated themselves to support a preacher in the two churches 2 situated five miles apart and consisting of about five hundred members, and they promised to raise in money and produce about £50, as will appear by the Call for- warded on the 13th of October to the Reverend Com- mittees of the two Synods and to the classis of An- sterdam. I also chose Elders and Deacons, with the approbation of the church and ordained them:" 3

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History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 63

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