USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 89
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William Weidman, a bachelor, who was a noted land surveyor and conveyancer, had his office in Bareville from 1840 until 1880, when he died. It is
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.
said of him that he surveyed every foot of land | ter; and Henry Murr, blacksmith. The first store in the township. F. G. Harpel, who had been for ; that was opened in Monterey was known as "Ander- ' many years an apprentice of Mr. Weidman, is now his successor, and received the instruments used by the old surveyor. son's." Of late A. Hershey & Bro., of Gordonville, have erected a large store building, and established a branch of their business in Monterey, under the
The Bareville Trustee Association .- This or- management of Benjamin Ilershey.
The Monterey Coach-Works were established by
ganization-dates back to 1823, when Adam Bare, Wil- liam Carpenter, Abraham Gerhart, John Deblin, David Overley in 1877. At first there was but a small shop here, but as the business increased addi- tions have been made, until now the shops cover quite an area. Monterey has a daily mail.
William Michael, Martin Bare, Isaac Myer, and 1 David Overholtzer met in an old school-house, in what is now Bareville, and organized a debating so- eiety, Adam Bare being the projector of the society. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, holding during his lifetime important politieal posi- tions in the county, at one time being sheriff. This society has been in session every year until the pres- ent time, except two years during the late Rebellion. In 1849, in order to preserve this organization, and to shield themselves against the anti-society sentiment of the town, the society, by the suggestion of Dr. A. S. Bare, applied to the State Legislature for a charter, and the society was incorporated and known as the " Bareville Trustee Association." The school-house has been rebuilt by the directors of the township and used for school purposes, but the trustees, who are elected on the third Saturday of May annually, still hold their chartered rights by granting the house for all educational and religious purposes which have a tendency to promote the general welfare of Bareville.
The Common Schools .- There was no special effort made to put the common-school system in operation until 1847. In that year a board of directors was elected, whose object it was to put in force the new system. The new board met in Mechanicsburg, levied a tax on the taxable property and inhabitants, and appointed a collector, who failed to collect any of the tax, the sentiment of the township being against the system. In the following year another effort was made, but with a similar result. The members of this board resigned, and the court appointed a new board, who again levied the tax, which aroused the indignation of the anti-schoolmen to such a degree that they positively refused to pay the tax, and they became very hostile towards the measure. The mat- ter was taken to the Lancaster Court, and thence to the Supreme Court, where it was decided that in the spring of 1849 a new board should be elected by the The original members of the corporation were Dr. A. | people of the district. This board performed the first S. Bare, George Brubaker, John Raff, J. S. Miller, effectual educational work in the township. It organ- ized, laid, and collected the tax, made the appoint- ment of teachers in July, and had the schools during that year in successful operation for six months. The members of this board were M. G. Wenger, John Bard, Reuben Weidler, Benjamin Rohrer, Samuel Seldomridge, and Wilson Brubaker. M. G. Wenger, Michael Wenger. The present trus- tees are H. L. Batten, Martin Sheaffer, and Jacob Eby. The original organization is still maintained and fostered by the trustee association, which is now known as the "Bareville Literary Society." This society has probably done more to shape and mould the character of many young men in this vicinity than any other influence. At first, the ladies of Bare- ville were not recognized by the society, but were after- wards admitted, and are now among the most active members. Hon. C. Hunsecker, Andrew Frantz, Esq., ex-County Superintendent Evans, Dr. Gibbons, Rev. D. W. Gerhart, and Dr. Moore, have at different times participated in the lyceum exercises.
Monterey is a small hamlet on the Newport road, of about ninety inhabitants. Its name is of peculiar origin. When George Heller kept the hotel at this place during the Mexican war, great excitement was created when Col. Worth stormed the fort of Mon- terey, Mexico. Mr. Heller, then traveling in the western part of the State, was asked where he was from. " From Monterey," he replied. HIe related this incident when he returned, and the inhabitants at once adopted the name as that of their town. In 1850, George Murr erected the present hotel build- ing which is occupied by Adam Gehman. B. T. Seldomridge has been for many years the saddler and harness-maker in this place ; Peter Sowers, carpen-
From this time forward steady progress has been made. The salary of the teachers at the adoption of the system was twenty dollars a month, but gradually, as the prejudice was removed, the term, in 1868, was increased to eight months, while the teachers' salaries ranged from thirty-tive to forty dollars per month. All the old log buiblings have been replaced with brick or frame structures. Neat patented furniture is found in nearly all the school-rooms.
At a session of the school board, convened at G. Wenger's hotel, Sept. 21, 1867, a resolution was unan- imously adopted that the township hereafter furnish the text-books for the several scholars of the schools of Upper Leacock. This aet, at first, was very un- popular, but slowly grew in favor. The result of this action in the schools was that it secured classification, and that all children had the necessary books.
There are twelve schools in the township, including the Bareville Secondary and Primary Schools. For the year ending June 1, 1863, there was levied a tax of 82793.79, and the average attendance for the same year was 374. The cost of instructing each pupil was
-
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UPPER LEACOCK TOWNSHIP.
ninety-nine cents per month. There was levied a tax of 85638.08 for the year ending June 1, 1883, while the average attendance was 456, making the instruc- tion of one scholar cost $1.81 a month.
The following are the names of the schools and the time the school-houses were built : Mechanicsburg, in 1850, and rebuilt in 1881; Mill Creek, in 1850, and rebuilt in 1882; Bard's, in 1853; Stormstown, in 1853; Bareville Primary, in 1854; Stumptown, in 1858; Bareville Secondary, in 1859; Locust Grove, in 1860; Gibbon's, in 1862; Musser's and Myers', in 1863; Wenger's, in 1869.
John Montgomery, who now holds an honorable position in the State Normal School, Millersville, this I a number of German Reformed fathers, Their first county, and who is a recognized leader in educational circles, taught in the Mechanicsburg school for a num- ber of years, commencing in 1854. Samuel Behmer, who has been connected with the same institution for a series of years, also commenced his professional life in the Bard school. Mr. Behmer was a firm advocate of temperance, and spoke frequently upon the subject.
School Directors .- The following are the names of the directors since the organization of the township :
1844. Emenuel Swope.
1863. A. B. Miller.
John Musser.
Isaac Bushoug.
1864 S. H. Myer.
1845. George Groff. Samuel Johns.
S. R. Myer.
1816. Jacob Landis.
1865. John lleitshu.
Jacob Eby.
Levi Groff.
1547. John Musser.
John Buch walter.
Isaac Kling.
1866. A. B Miller.
1848. M. G. Wenger. John Pickel.
John Bare.
1867. Joseph Slack.
1849. Benjamin Rohrer.
Daniel Ash.
S. Seldomridge.
1868. N. F Sheaffer.
M. G. Wenger. Wilson Brubaker.
John Buck walter.
John Bard.
1869. C. R Landis.
Renbeu Weidler.
A. B. Miller.
1850. John Zellers.
1870. Samuel Kolp.
1851. Benjamin Landıs. Isaac Bushong. 1852. Andrew Bard. Robert Burck. Martin Rohrer.
J. B. Landis.
1873. J. W. Bender. Benjamin Workman.
1853. llenry Eby. John Musser.
1874. John Zelleis
1854. C. R. Landis. Isaac Holl.
Joseph Greiner. Henry Hostetter.
1855. John Johus.
1875. J. R Musser.
John Evans.
J. B. Landis.
1856. Heury Eby.
1876. B T. Seldomridge. William Kienmer.
ISAAC BALte.
1857. Hemny Bartou.
1877. John Bushoug. John Zellerb.
Joseph Wenger. Frederick Kramer. S. G. Groff. 1858. Ienac Bnshong.
Christian Ebersole.
1859. Henry Eby.
Abraham Shelbley.
1860. Benjamin Bushong. Jacob Vandersaal. A. G. Groll.
18Al. B. B. Landis. Joseph Bieler.
1861. Rudy Kunkle. G. W. Linville.
1862. Jacob Hauseckor. Henry Eby.
Heller's Reformed Church .- In Upper Leacock township, along the Ilorse-Shoe road, abont seven miles from Lancaster and one mile from the village of Mechanicsburg, stands "Salem," commonly known as " Heller's Reformed Church," erected in the year 1860. The corner-stone of that building contains a paper on which is subscribed the following state- mient : " This house is the property of the German Reformed Church of the United States of America, intended for the worship of God according to the doctrines of the Bible, Old and New Testament, and the Heidelberg Catechism, as the standard of said church. This congregation was founded in 1722, by
house was built in 1722, repaired in 1802, rebuilt and enlarged in 1838 by the same congregation. The house having become dilapidated, the congregation has concluded to build a new one, and are now as- sembled for the purpose of laying the corner-stone in the name of the triune God. The name of the house to be the same as heretofore, 'Salem.' Rev. Daniel Hertz, pastor, has served the congregation for thirty years. John Bushong, Henry Stauffer, Isaac Bush- Trong, building committee; Amos Cowen, architect ; Washington Simmons, tone-mason ; David Jetferees, bricklayer. In witness thereof, the vestry have here- unto signed their names this 26th day of May, A.D. 1838. John Bushung and Henry Sheibley, elders ; John Zellers, Isaac Bushong, Jacob Grabill, and Jacob Weidler, deacons."
If the date which is here claimed for the founding of this church be correct, there is probably no older Reformed congregation in this country. That the church rightly claims an early origin is an established fact supported by records which are found of the year 1742, which speaks of the ground "whereunto the meeting-house now stands." So far as the date is concerned, no documentary evidence can be furnished except the above, but universal tradition, among those who are supposed to know, claims the year 1722 as the time when the church was founded.
The first church building here was a small log structure, with no floor but the bare ground, and the seats were made of slahs with the flat side up. In this uupretentious little building the grandfathers of the present congregation, then so full of promise for the future, worshiped God for many years. That there was an interest manifested in the worship at this place in early times is evident from the fact that the cemetery was early used for burial purposes. Tombstones bearing the dates of 1729, 1737, 1762, 1776, and 1789, all bearing the solemn testimony of age, are found in this cemetery.
In 1830, Rev. Daniel Hertz assumed the pastorate of the Reformed congregation. Ile celebrated the Iloly Communion for the first time in this church May 22, 1831, when nine communicants appeared, these being John Bushong, Sr., John Bushong, Jr., Jacob Bushong, George Reed, Margarita Reimensni-
Emannel Werdler.
Jobu Sheaffer. [ 1871. John Zelleis. J. W. Bender.
1872. J. R. Musser.
1878. B. H. Landis. J. R. Musser. 1879. B. T Seldomtidge. Jacob Eby. 1880. J. A. Stauffer. Peter Summera.
1682. B. F. Seldomridge. Jacob Eby.
1883. Peter Summers. J A Staufler.
John Zellere.
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.
der, Margarita Nunnamaker, Salome Reimensnider, Catharine Rudy, and Eva Bushong. At the same · time seven catechumens were confirmed, thus raising the member-list to sixteen. About the year 1838, Rev. Mr. Barr, of the Presbyterian Church, com- meneed to preach in this place, and continued every four weeks until 1843. He was supported jointly by the Presbyterians in the vicinity and the members of the Reformed Church who were in favor of English services. After Rev. Barr ceased his labors here Rev. D. Hertz continued to ocenpy the pulpit alone until about the time the present church edifice was erected. To satisfy a demand for more English preaching than the aged father could render, Rev. F. A. Gast was elected assistant pastor. He commenced his labors May 6, 1860, and with an appointment for every four weeks, he continued until March 19, 1865, when he preached his farewell sermon.
The present church was consecrated in 1860. Be- sides the pastor, Rev. D. Hertz, and the assistant pastor, Rev. F. A. Gast, there were also present Rev. E. V. Garhard, Rev. J. V. Garhard, Rev. J. V. Eckert, Rev. J. S. Demund, and Rev. Isaac Garhard. The cost of the church was 84261.42, and the cost of the horse-shed was $167.30, involving an expense of 84428.72. In 1867, Rev. D. W. Garhard commenced his labors here as stated supply, and in one year after as regular pastor. Father Hertz continued his ap- pointmients every four weeks until the close of the year 1867, when he ceased his labors here. At the last communion celebrated by Father Hertz forty- three persons participated.
Through the untiring efforts of the present pastor, D. W. Garhard, and his strict devotion to his con- gregation, the church has prospered greatly. In the fall of 1872 a new cabinet organ was secured for : and Emanuel Swope, deacons. Their first member- the church. The next year the wood-work on the , ship numbered twenty-six. Through the earnest and outside of the church and some on the inside was determined efforts of Rev. Samuel Trumbaner, who had labored with this people for a long period, they became a strong congregation, of power and wealth. Rev. Trumbauer served both congregations for twenty church was carpeted, the whole amounting to three . years. During the greater portion of this time the Reformed people assisted in the support of the Lu- theran pastor, but maintained their Reformed faith. painted, a new railing around the altar and a reading- desk were added, and the Sunday-school room was im- proved; a year later the main audience-room of the hundred and thirty-three dollars. In the spring of 1874.a beautiful monument, an ornament to the place,! was erected in the graveyard by John S. Givler, of Philadelphia, to the memory of his sainted wife and infant child. During the same year a charter for the legal incorporation of the church was secured. Jacob L. Garber, of Greenville, Ohio, had the remains of his ancestry exhumed from a field cemetery of West Earl township in the spring of 1883 and interred in " Ilel- ler's Cemetery," and to their memory he erected a white bronze monument.
The Sunday-School .- In the year 1846 the ac- tive members of Heller's Church undertook to estab- lish a Sunday-school. At that date there was no other Sunday-school in the community, and such an organization was looked upon with suspicion by some, and actively opposed by others. But the positive | widow still resides in Mechaniesburg. The church
element at work, encouraged by the pastor, Rev. D. Hertz, overeame all opposition ; the school, under the leadership of Henry Stauffer, as the superintendent, was successful, largely attended, and made a favorable impression upon the community. In 1850 the officers were John Jolins, president ; Daniel Bushong, secre- tary ; Isaac Bushong, superintendent; John Zellers, assistant superintendent; John Bushong, Daniel Bitzer, J. 11. Bean, directors; Catherine Heller, Elizabeth Graham, and Eliza Sutton, direetresses. Commeneing with the year 1856, the school held its sessions for several years in Mill Creek school- house, and was known as the Mill Creek Sunday- school.
Jacob O. Steinhiser, the teacher of this place, took an active part in the school. The names of Hiram Bushong and Samuel Eby also appear among the officers of the school. When the present church was erected provision was made for the Sunday-school by fitting for it the basement story, where it was conducted in 1863. Since then the following persons have served as superintendents: Henry Stauffer, H. B. Alexander, A. G. Sheibley, Valentine Baker, T. Z. Sheaffer, Martin Bu-hong, J. K. Bachman, Theo- ' dore Stauffer, and R. M. Bushong.
Zion's Lutheran Church .- This church is located in the village of Mechanicsburg, in the most elevated part of the town. This congregation had its origiu in lleller's Church, and formed a part of that con- gregation until 1816, when Rev. Samuel Trumbaner formed a permanent organization of the Lutheran people .. They still worshiped in Heller's Church in 1838. In the spring of 1818, at a meeting of a church council, Jacob Weidler and John Bard were elected elders, and Samuel Weidler, Michael Hess,
In 1830, Rev. D. Hertz assumed the pastorate of the Reformed Church, and after the two congrega- tions and pastors had worshiped harmoniously in the same building for eight years, it was agreed that the church must be repaired and enlarged. This was to be done jointly by the two congregations, but the Lu- therans expected to claim joint ownership in the property. This claim was denied them by the Re- formed people. The consequence was the Lutheran congregation, in 1838, built an exclusive Lutheran Church, which wasconsecrated the same year by Rev. Trumbauer, who remained the pastor of Zion's Church until Nov. 2, 1860, when he died, after serving the Lutheran people for a period of forty years. His
935
UPPER LEACOCK TOWNSHIP.
was remodeled at an expense of over four thousand dollars, and rededicated Sept. 23, 1877, by Rev. A. . Berg, who is the present pastor. The parsonage ad- joining the church lot was purchased in 1864 for two thousand and five dollars. The following persons have been pastors of Zion's in the order given : Rev. S. Trumbaner, Rev. Rosenmiller, Rev. J. Earley, Rev. Boyer, Rev. Leonard Gerhard, and Rev. A. Berg.
The cemetery of this church was first occupied for burial purposes about forty years ago. In its cemetery lie the remains of Mrs. Hannah Mearig, who was born in Montgomery County on March 5, 1767, and died in Mechanicsburg, March 8, 1868, aged one hundred and four years and three days.
The Sunday-school of Zion's Lutheran Church was first organized April 22, 1859, by the pastor, Rev. Mr. Boyer. Since that time the organization has been sustained. The first othicers of the school were John Bender, superintendent; W. D. Bard, assistant si- perintendent ; S. S. Boyer, secretary ; J. Cowen, librarian; Daniel Bitzer, treasurer. At present the | citizen. But in the church . his presence was espe- school is under the leadership of Frank Bender.
The United Brethren in Christ,-Prior to 1861 the United Brethren and Methodists had organized themselves in one class without being recognized by any Conference. Amos Miller was the pioneer of this church in the township, and afterwards became a "local" minister. They enjoyed preaching at stated periods by ministers of the surrounding circuits. The services were usually held in private houses, and frequently in a wagon-maker's shop in Monterey. The audience at times became so large that the doors had to be closed. Finally, with the increase of membership, measures were taken to ereet an appro- priate house of worship, which resulted in a separa- tion of the Brethren and Methodists. The United Brethren class was then connected with the Inter- course Circuit, and under the charge of Rev. W. S. Keyes, assisted by Hiram Bushong and Amos Miller, in 1863, the present church edifice at Monterey was about four hundred persons. The trustees of the church in April, 1883, were B. T. Seldomridge, S. Kellenberger, M. Frymyer, D. Overley, and R. R. Pleam; pastor, Rev. J. N. Mundon. The member- ship of the church is eighty.
The Sunday-school of this place was originally or- ganized as a Union school in an old school-house at quite an early date; but when the church was built it was transferred to this place and organized as a United Brethren school. Robert Bursk, Christian Ressler, B. T. Seldomridge, and Daniel Kolp were the superintendents at different times. The pres- ent officers and teachers are: Superintendent, R. R. Pleam; Assistant Superintendent, John Zook ; Secretary, Kate Seldomridge; Treasurer, David Over- ley ; Teachers, William Hinkle, Harry Murr, George Kellenberger, John Kook, Annie M. Kolp, Annie Martin, and James Boyd; Organist, Annie Murr.
The Bareville Methodist Episcopal Church .- This church is not in Bareville, but a mile west of it, on the New Holland pike. Among the carly Meth- odists were J. W. Bender, William Bender, Sammel Trainer, Cyrus Batten, David Cook, I. R. Wickel, Mr. Wiekel, Sr., Robert Bursk, and George W. Lin- ville. A spirit of Methodism had taken hold of this people in early times, and they at once became a large congregation, but of late only a few accessions have been made.
In 1876 the Philadelphia Conference thought it advisable to connect New Holland and Bareville ap- pointments, and thus formed a new circuit, with Rev. Boswell, of Philadelphia, as the first pastor, who remained but three months. In the same year (1876), J. W. Bender, the mainstay and pillar of this church, as well as a useful member of the community, died. For many years he was a leader of the common school cause in the township in which he lived. In all other respects he was an honored and leading
cially felt. He was always in his pew during public worship, always ready to perform an act of charity, and on account of his well-known liberality and in- terest in the church he was looked upon by all as leader in every enterprise which concerned the welfare of the church. Of late the church has lan- guished, and is reduced by removals and deaths to a small membership. A Sabbath-school has been main- tained since the church organization, having at pres- ent Aaron Bender as superintendent. Mrs. Bender, the widow of J. W. Bender, and Miss Lizzie Buck- walter are the leading spirits of the school: On the 24th of June, 1883, the Sunday-school celebrated Children's Day. Addresses were made by W. S. Hinkle, Rev. E. L. Hughes, Daniel Kolp, James Boyd, and Rev. II. J. Illick, the present pastor.
The Mennonites and New Mennonites had their place of worship in early times in a pioneer school- house near the Stumptown road and near the site erected. It is a plain brick house, and will seat | of the present meeting-house. Among some of the
early preachers of the former were John Krider and Jolin Buekwalter, and among the latter John Landis, Abraham Landis, and Christian Resh. About the year 1860 Jacob Musser gave land gratuitously upon which the Mennonites erected a brick meeting-house, which they rebuilt and enlarged in the summer of 1882. The New Mennonites have no place of worship in the township.
The Omish, or Hooker Mennonites (so called because they wear hooks on their clothes instead of buttons), were among the pioneer settlers of Upper Leacock. They are quite numerous in this township. They hold their meetings in private houses.
The Dunkers, who are the German Baptists, are also numerous. They have one place of worship near Monterey.
.
936
HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.
CHAPTER LXIV.
LITTLE BRITAIN TOWNSHIP !!
Geography and Topography .- This, though not one of the original townships of Lancaster County, was among the first subsequently organized, as may be seen by the following, from the records of the Court of Quarter Sessions of Lancaster County :
Feb. 7, 1738. "The petition of many of the inhab- itants of Drumore township, setting forth the incon- veniences they lay under by the largeness of the township, and pray the same may be divided by a line running from a marked Spanish oak standing on the brow of a roundish hill by Susquehanna, oppo- site to an island, called Mount Johnson, northeast by east to Octorara Creek, and that the said eastern di- vision may be called the township of Little Britain ; which said petition, being considered and approved of, the same is ordered to be recorded in manner aforesaid."
It will thus be seen that the official age of the township is just one hundred and forty-five years, a greater age than over one-half' the townships in the county can claim.
When it was in contemplation to divide the town- ship of Drumore, from which this was taken, and while one proposed one name and another offered another, with a prospect of considerable difficulty in settling the question, John Jamison, one of the old- est and most prominent citizens, said to the company, "We, most of us, came from Great Britain as our native place. I propose the name of Little Britain, in memory of our mother-country." The idea was favorably received, and the township then being or- ganized was named accordingly. For over one hun- dred years its dimensions were unchanged, till in 1844 the territory belonging to it was divided, and the part separated from it took the name of Fulton.
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