History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 129

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1158


USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I > Part 129


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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Solomon Hartman.


John Kern.


Peter Leidel.


Jacob Clauss.


Henry Helfrich.


William Kern.


John Sorbrick.


Jacob Dingler.


Daniel Helfrich.


James Kemmerer.


George Shoenberger.


Peter Eberth.


Joel Kern.


Solomon Kreitz.


Frederick Sleigh.


John Ebert.


Casper Hunsicker.


Christian Krum.


Ludwig Stein.


Conrad Ebert.


Andrew Kemmerer.


Adam Kounkle.


Anthony Shafer.


Christian Ebert.


John Jeager.


Christian Lauchner.


Balzer Snyder.


Henry Ebert.


Henry Kistler.


John Lintz.


Adam Smith.


Samuel Ely. Fenstermacher.


John Krause.


John Miller.


Christian Smith.


Gottlieb Focht.


Christian Krum.


Nicholas Miller.


Jacob Smith.


Jacob Fryman.


John Krum.


Philip Mertz.


Samuel Snyder.


William Fenstermacher.


William Kern.


Peter Meyer.


Conrad Slosser.


Jacob Ferber.


George Kern.


Jacob Missinger.


Isaac Swartz.


Widow Ferber.


Nicholas Kern.


Peter G. Missinger.


George Smitter.


George Fryman.


Jonas Kern. John Kern.


Michael Missinger.


Peter Wagner.


Peter Frey.


John Kressler.


Frederick M. Meyer.


John Wasum.


John Frederick.


Jacob Kressler.


Leonard Miller.


Leonard Wasum.


John Fritzinger.


Barnet Kressler.


Henry Neff.


Leonard Wasum.


Matthew Fritzinger.


Adam Kressler.


Widow Neff.


Balzer Wirth.


Jacob Fritzinger.


John Krum.


Ulrich Neff.


Jacob Weaver.


Andrew Fritzinger.


Daniel Kramer.


Michael Ohl.


John Weaver.


Jacob Fenstermacher.


Christian Krum.


Casper Peter.


Martin Muchter. Yost Wall.


John Frantz. Jacob Frantz.


Nicholas Kern.


Jacob Peter.


Michael Wehr.


John Miller, Jr.


Philip Kemmerer.


Widow Peter.


Lawrence Wehr.


Franklin Loyer.


John Keck.


John Kocher.


Philip Wehr.


John Frederick.


Adam Kunkle.


John Peter.


Henry Serfass.


Jacob Focht.


John Kressler.


Casper Peter, Jr.


Martin Lentz.


Simon Reerig.


Hotzer George.


SINGLE FREEMEN.


John Ramble.


Christian Swabenland.


Michael Snyder.


Jacob Bare.


Tobias Wehr.


Leonard Balliette.


John Reinsmith


Frederick Handwerk.


Henry Geisinger. Philip Haas. George Handwerk,


Jesse Kern. George Kamper.


Michael Harter.


John Kohler.


Jacob Hartman.


Abraham Krerr.


Conrad Keck.


Conrad Reerig.


Michael Keck.


Andrew Mourer.


Casper Hunsicker.


Joseph Lauchner.


Peter Dewalt.


Stoffel Rex.


Adam Linns (Lentz).


John Hunsicker. John Hunsicker, Jr. Jacob Hoffman.


Jacob Linns (Lentz). Jacob Lanchner. William Linns (Lentz).


William Hoffman.


Michael Hoffman. Peter Hoffman. Peter Handwerk.


John Meyer. Jacob Miller.


John Miller.


Christian Hammen (sup- posed Hausman).


Philip Krauss.


Peter S. Riedy.


Jacob Bapt.


Widow Keck.


Jacob Reedinghouse (sup- posed Ridinghouse).


Peter Beissell.


Christian Hausman.


William Kern.


John Robert.


Ulrich Benninger.


Frederick Hausman.


Jacob Hartman.


John Buchle.


Andrew Hotz.


Conrad Reeder.


Michael Hoffman. William Hoffman.


Jacob Rex.


Henry Hoffman.


George Remaly, Jr.


Casper Hunsicker.


David Hess.


John Ramble.


Joseph Hunsicker.


Joseph Lorash.


Daniel Meyer. William Andreas. George Ridinghouse.


Abraham Riedy.


George Miller.


David Wegandt.


Jacob Geiger.


Adam German.


George Krauss.


Philip German.


Conrad Kern.


Andrew Gultner.


Daniel Kern.


Abraham German.


Daniel Kern, Jr.


Frederick Kemmerer.


Conrad German.


Andrew Kunkle. Philip Krause.


Frantz Missinger.


Simon Wihr.


Daniel Fink.


George Kern, Jr.


Conrad Lintz, Jr.


John Snyder.


Michael Ebert.


Simon Hartman.


John Krum.


Abraham Shelhamer.


George Bloss, Jr.


Daniel Brandstetter.


Jacob Blim.


The amount of taxes was £364 15s. 3d. The highest assessment was for £8, and was upon Michael Ohl. John Miller and Casper Peter are each assessed £6; all others below.


.


Christophel Kern.


William Peter.


721


HEIDELBERG TOWNSHIP.


Carl Fred Moyer. Simon Moyer.


Francis Messinger (Messemere).


George Muthard.


Leonard Miller.


Dewalt Mertz.


Frederick Miller.


William Moyer.


John Mace. George Miller.


Henry Miller.


Christian Messinger (Messemer ).


Jacob Shnyder ( Sny-


John Meyer. der). Bernhard Neff. Andrew Schassler ( Schis- Henry Neff. ler). Christian Schmidt.


Widow Neff. Michael Neff.


Jacob Schneider (Sny- der).


Peter Newhard. Jacob Neese.


Christian Snyder.


Henry Schmidt.


Michael Schmidt.


Andrew Sensinger.


Peter Seidel.


Thesbold Peter.


Daniel Shuler.


William Peter.


John Schleicher.


David Shnyder (Sny-


Casper Peter, Jr.


der).


John Peter, Sr.


Nicholas Peter.


Henry Stamler (Stem- ler ). John Schoneberger.


George Peter.


Michael Peter.


Peter Sell.


Jacob Peter.


Simon Schneyerder ( Sny- der).


John Peter.


Joseph Saeger.


Henry Peter, Jr.


John Saeger.


Daniel Roder (Roeder).


Conrad Wirt (Wert).


John Rinker.


Jacob Wehr.


Daniel Roth.


Michael Wahr.


Jacob Ritter.


Martin Wuchter.


Abraham Redig (sup.


Jacob Weber. Mary Frey.


Riedy).


John Rotest (Retar).


Christian Werth.


Balzer Royer.


George Wassam.


Andrew Rauch.


Conrad Wehr.


George Rex.


Lawrence Wehr.


Abraham Rex.


Jacob Weber.


Christian Rex.


Martin Werth.


John Rex.


Peter Wahr.


Abraham Riedy.


Laurence Zeller.


Peter Rockel.


George Zerfas.


Adam Rockel.


Jacob Kern.


Widow Rockel.


Peter Frees.


William Rockel.


Philip Bretz ( Pretz).


Godfrey Roth.


Samuel Leger.


George Ratert.


John Schmidt.


George Remely.


Samuel Miller.


John Rohrich (Rerich).


Daniel Krauss.


Ambros Remely.


Samuel Kressler.


Michael Remely.


Laurence Newhard.


SINGLE FREEMEN.


Jacob Hoffman.


John Bare.


John Rex.


John Hunsicker.


Christian Shnyder (Sny- der).


Adam Peter.


John Handwerk.


Daniel Snyder.


Daniel Krauss.


John Housman.


John Remely. William Rex. John Weidman.


Peter Hunsicker.


George Sensinger.


Samuel Boller.


Henry Bare.


Philip Ratert.


Peter Krum. .


Jacob Kressley. John Weber. Michael Hoffman.


PIONEER SETTLERS .- The early residents of this township are all or nearly all mentioned in the list of land warrants, and the lists of taxables in 1781 and 1812. The greater part of the land now owned by Edward Neff and Joel Neff, in Heidelberg township, was by warrant in June, 1745, granted to Andrew Shitler, and after his death it was conveyed by the administrator to his only son and heir, Conrad Shitler, who by deed dated Dec. 13, 1762, conveyed the same to Ja- cob Peter, who on Nov. 10, 1764, conveyed the same to John Hunsicker, Sr., who by deed dated Oct. 26, 1787, conveyed the same to his son, Ja- cob Hunsicker, who died leaving a widow and seven children, and at an Orphans' Court held at Easton, Jan. 11, 1797, the land, consisting of 260 acres, was accepted by John Hunsicker, eld- est son of Jacob, who by deed dated July 19, 1779, conveyed 13714 acres thereof to Bernhard Neff, son of Ulrich Neff. Said tract then ad- joined land of Peter Missemere, Jacob Brandstet- eer, Adam German, etc. Bernhard Neff had three son, John, George, and Abraham, and by deed dated Jan. 23, 1829, conveyed 69 acres thereof to his son, George Neff, and the balance to his son, John Neff; about the year 1845, conveyed his portion to Abraham Lobach, and John Neff moved to East Penn township, Carbon Co., close to the Andrew Church, where he died and left one son, his only heir ; and George Neff, by deed dated March 20, 1866, granted and conveyed a portion of his land to his son Edward Neff. George Neff died intestate on November 26, 1881, and on April 3, 1882, Joel Neff, another son of George, accepted the same at the appraisement. Abraham Neff, the other son of Bernhard Neff, in his early days resided near Germansville, but afterwards moved to North Whitehall township, close to the Union Church, where he carried on the undertaking business, afterwards established a carriage factory, and built up the village which is named after him, Neffsville.


Here is added a memorandum, which was in the handwriting of Richard Peters (whose name is frequently mentioned in the upper township in the old papers), which was found among the old papers of George Neff, deceased :


"January 18, 1758 Memorandum that Monday, the third day of April next is Appointed for an Hear- ing Between Bernhardt Neff and Henry Frie at the Secretaries office upon a Caveat Entered the 6th September last by said Neff against the acceptance of a Survey made for the Said Frie on a Brance of


Peter Roth. Peter Rohrich (Rerich).


Georgfe Ratert.


Widow Ratert.


George Rex.


John Rex.


Susanna Reedy (Riedy). Abraham Roder (Roe- der).


Christian Shnyder ( Sny- der). Abraham Soritz.


John Peter. Daniel Peter.


Johannes. Peter. Jacob Peter.


Casper Peter.


Henry Peter.


Henry Hoffman. Michael Krum.


Frederick Snyder. Leonard Reinsmith.


William Lafavour (La- favre). Daniel Hunsicker.


722


HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.


Truckers Creek now (Jordan Creek) in Northamp- ton County now Lehigh Co) and the parties are desired to attend accordingly


RICHARD PETERS.


"A true copy from its original."


A portion of the land now owned by Nathan Wuchter was originally by warrant dated Oct. 25, 1749, granted to Daniel Bürger, of Salisbury township. The tract was mentioned as situated between Francis Giltner and John Snyder in Heidelberg township, Bucks county, and Daniel


of Germansville, where now the Germansville Depot of the Schuylkill and Lehigh Railroad is situated.


Of the Peters who early settled in Heidelberg township were three brothers,-Caspar, Ru- dolph, and Jacob. Caspar settled in what is now Washington, and the account of his descend- ants will be found in that township. His son, Caspar, lived in the limits of Heidelberg.


Rudolph Peter settled in Heidelberg. He took out a warrant for 74 acres of land on January


BERNHARD NEFF HOUSE AND MILL, BUILT 1767, NOW KNOWN AS LEIBY'S MILL.


Bürger, by deed dated Aug. 1, 1772, conveyed a portion thereof to John Martin Wachter, Sr., who conveyed the same to his son, Martin Wach- ter, who conveyed the same to his son, William Wachter, who conveyed the same to his son, Nathan Wachter. Martin Wachter was one of the Revolutionary soldiers under Washington.


Among the Peters who had original land here, near Saegersville and Germansville, was Rudolph Peter, to whom 74 acres, 140 perches of land was granted by warrant dated Jan. 28, 1754, which is situated north of Saegersville.


Jacob Peter, who was the owner of a tract of land between Saegersville and Germansville, and it was originally by warrant dated March 12, 1745, granted to him, so Philip Peter was the owner about the year 1786, of a tract of land adjoining Jordan Creek on the west, and west


28, 1754. Eve Elizabeth, a daughter, became the wife of Adam German, who settled at Germans- ville. It is not known who his other children were. He died in 1813, aged 57 years, and is buried in Heidelberg churchyard.


Jacob Peter, supposed to be a brother of Ru- dolph and Caspar, took out a warrant for 31 acres on March 12, 1752; nothing is known of his descendants.


In 1781 Caspar Peter, Caspar Peter, Jr., Wil- liam, Jacob, John, and the Widow Peter were assessed on real estate, and in 1812 John, Daniel, Johannes, Jacob, Theobald, William, Caspar, Sr., Caspar, Jr., John, Sr., Nicholas, George, Michael, Jacob, Henry, Sr., Henry, Jr., and John Peter, Jr.


Heidelberg in 1781 and 1812 embraced Wash- ington. The line of Casper Peter, one of the


723


HEIDELBERG TOWNSHIP.


three brothers, has been well traced. Of the other brothers, Rudolph and Jacob, but little is known of the generation following. Nicholas Peter, whose name appears in 1812, had three sons,-Daniel, Elias, and John Jacob (2d).


John Jacob Peters ( Ist) lived on the farm now owned by Aaron Peter. He executed the mason work of the county jail at Allentown in 1816. He married Maria Krum, sister of Michael. They had seven children: Jeremiah, Adam, Pol- ly (Mrs. Dutton), Henry, Abram, Jacob, and Reuben.


Johannes Hunsicker was the first of the family of that name known to be in the township. His son Henry married Maria Barbara Huff in 1786, by whom he had three sons and six daughters. She died in 1802, aged 38 years.


.


Peter Hunsicker lived in 1794 on the land ad- joining Philip Mosser. The Heidelberg church- yard contains tablets to Susanna Hunsicker, born 1799, died in 1850, and Magdalena Hunsicker, born in 1731.


John Hunsicker, (born in 1755, and died in 1836, aged 80 years), and wife, Catharine Stie- gerwalt (born in 1757, died in 1823), were located near Heidelberg Church, where their son Henry lived. He married Susanna - , who died in 1850, and left five children, of whom were Reuben, David, and Levi, the last two liv- ing on the homestead.


Joseph Hunsicker, a brother of John, married a daughter of Michael Ohl, and had no chil- dren. He married for his second wife a daughter of -- Krum, (sister of Christian), by whom he had Christian, Jonas, John, Daniel, Reuben, and Henry. Christian settled on part of the homestead; Jonas where William Addis lived; John on part of the homestead, and resided on the property with his son Levi. Daniel settled in Washington township. Reuben moved to Slat- ington, where he died, and Harry located in Car- bon county.


John Handwerk, on November 9, 1758, took up in Heidelberg township, 57 acres, and on August 12, 1766, Nicholas Handwerk took up IIO acres. John was born in 1710, and died in 1791. In 1781 he was assessed with Peter Jacob, Sr., Peter Jacob, Jr., and among the single free- men is given Frederick Handwerk.


In 1812, John Peter, Jacob Peter, Henry and Philip Handwerk are assessed. In the Heidelberg Churchyard are tablets to Peter Handwerk, born 1744, died 1826; Johannes Handwerk, born 1742, died 1813; Jacob Handwerk, born 1771, died 1826; Catharine Handwerk, born 1747, died in 1808. The family in this township and Wash- ington are numerous.


Jacob Kemmerer moved from Saucon town- ship to this township in the early part of his life, previous to 1754. He was a great hunter, and during his life shot a vast number of deer. He also was or acted as captain over a squad of men who went across the Blue Mountains to Gnaden- hutten to bury those who had been killed by the Indians. He went to the Wyoming Valley to help protect the whites from the horrible slaugh- ter of the Indians. He died about the year 1825, at the age of 88 years. He had a brother Fritz, who was a miller in Allentown.


CHARACTER OF PEOPLE .- As a rule to 1840 there was little mingling with other people. Those who had possession of the land conveyed it from one heir to another, and thus kept the land among their descendants. Schools of the English language were scarce. Churches both of the German Reformed and Lutheran denomi- nations were found all over the county, and were well attended. There was strict adherence to the doctrine of the churches, the parents greatly desired having their children trained in the pre- cepts of Christianity.


It seems an astonishing fact that a man should borrow from $500 to $1,000 of a neighbor, the lender taking no note, merely marking down the amount, and the time when to return it, with a pice of chalk on one of the house-joists or on the large house-clock. It was a sacred duty when the time had expired to pay the interest or amount, according to what was agreed upon. If any one failed to be prompt, or failed entirely to meet his payment, this was an extraordinary affair, and such conduct was considered a crime. The old saying, "His word is as good as his note," was really true with this class of people.


For a stranger to settle among them was a rare occurrence. Railroads and telegraphs there were none. Trade was carried on by wagons to Phila- delphia and other markets. Stores had their supplies brought all the way from Philadelphia on wagons, a distance of eighty miles. Dealers would arrange to go to the city two or four times a year, and arranged their time so that they were able to reach a hotel when it was time to feed their horses. Here the men greeted each other in the most friendly manner. They drank pure old rye whiskey, which they obtained at the hotel at three cents a glass with a cigar thrown in, according to the general custom. On arrival at the great markets, they were earnest, prompt, and shrewd at their business, and spared no pains in carrying out their duty honorably. When the time arrived for the return of the heavy four- and six-horse teams, there was a general excitement. People came from twelve to fifteen miles to see the bright calicoes and other wearing materials.


.


724


HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.


This made every heart glad and anxious to buy. In common with the Pennsylvania Germans else- where, those of Heidelberg have been a prosper- ous and industrious people.


HEIDELBERG CHURCH .- The township has had till now but one church, which has always been known as the Heidelberg Church and the congregation as the Heidelberg Congregation. The church, like most of those in Eastern Penn- sylvania where German immigrants of the Re- formed and Lutheran faiths settled at the same time and the same place, was a Union Church ; that is, the Reformed and the Lutherans held all the church property-such as the building, the church land, the cemetery, etc .- in common, and had their divine services alternately in the same church building, either congregation entirely free, however, to engage in worship according to its own faith and teachings unmolested by the other, with admission to the members of the other faith as well as its own. The necessities of primitive times collected these divided members of one faith under one and the same roof.


The church stands one mile east of Saegers- ville, near the centre of the township, on the road to Neffsville. The first small springs of the Heidelberg creek, which flows into the Jordan, at the iron bridge, three-quarters of a mile east of Weidasville, take their rise upon the church lands. The church, school-house, graveyard, and the lands of the congregation lie all together in a small valley, hemmed in by surrounding low hills.


The first settlements were made in the year 1735. The number of the first immigrants was small, consisting of isolated families who had come from Switzerland and Westphalia. Their names have been preserved, and show that they were from one neighborhood, but the name of the place is, unfortunately, forgotten. The names of the first arrivals were Jacob Peter, Casper Peter, and Wilhelm Peter, three brothers, but whether their father accompanied them cannot be ascertained. Later came Johannes Hunsicker, Jacob Mayer, David Gisi, Conrad Wirtz (now written Wert), Frederich Nisele, Ullrich Neff, Heinrich Hoffman, Peter Miller, Heinrich Roe- der, Georg Grum, and Jorg Schmalz. This first company of settlers formed the foundation of the succeeding congregation, and at once staked off the land they intended to use for church and school purposes. They called it the Hill of Zion, and laid upon their descendants the solemn injunction that they should not rest until they had obtained lawful possession of the same through a warrant. The first immigrants passed through Upper Mil- ford to the Kittatinny Valley, and followed the course of the Lehigh to the Blue Mountains.


They traversed all the land lying between the Le- high Hills and the Blue Mountains, and not un)- til the latter loomed up before their sight, and they saw their elevation, and the hillsides and the valleys below, forming the present area of the townships of Heidelberg and Washington, to- gether with the excellent water and fine forests, did they discontinue their journey, saying, "Here there are hills, woods, water, and rocks; here it is possible to live."


Between the years 1735 and 1740 there also came hither Palatines and Wurtemburgers, who strengthened the colony. Among these there were, on the Reformed side, Heinrich Ohl, Jacob Riedy, Michael Fritzinger ; on the Lutheran side, Ulrich Sensinger, Jorg Rex, Peter Handwerk, Johann Krauss.


The Reformed and Lutherans had provided themselves with a piece of land for church and school purposes and used it in common, but later the Reformed bought an adjoining tract to the west and built a school and dwelling-house upon it when they sold their undivided interest in the school house to the Lutherans which they had in common, so that two schools existed from 1756 to 1849; when it was agreed among both congregations that they hold all lands in common and have but one teacher and choir leader.


The organization of the congregation took place in the year 1740. Heinrich Ohl, who had taken up the land where Saegersville now stands, and was the richest and most respected man in the settlement, agitated the matter of building a church, but four years passed before the church was constructed. Meetings were held, but as no minister could be engaged, the work of construc- tion was delayed. During this period the services of a reader from Lynn were obtained, and he was accustomed to hold services at the houses of the people. The place for assembling was at Jacob Daubenspeck's, about one mile south of the church lands, and divine service was held there for a period of five years. Finally there came a tal- ented Lutheran minister, by the name of Jacob Friedrich Schertlein, who was undoubtedly sent to this portion of the country through the inter- position of Rev. Muhlenberg, and then earnest steps were taken to build the first church of logs. It was erected 1744 and dedicated by Revs. Schertlein and Philip Jacob Michael. The build- ing stood in the northeastern corner of the old graveyard. At the same time a school-house was erected. From the beginning the fathers contem- plated the holding and enjoyment of these build- ings in common. They built the church and school-house upon this land, and when the church was completed and dedicated, both branches of the congregation made a contract on March 28,


725


HEIDELBERG TOWNSHIP.


1745, that it should be and remain a Union church.


The following heads of families formed the congregation :


The elders were:


Reformed.


George Grum.


Jörg Schmalz.


Lutheran.


George Rex.


Michael Mosser.


The members were :


Jacob Mayer.


Friederich Schneider.


Heinrich Ohl,


Jonas Matzinger.


Ulrich Sensinger.


Michael Fritzinger.


George Schmalz (elder).


Jacob Peter.


Daniel Burger.


Cspar Peter.


Nickel Klein.


Rudolf Peter.


George Grum (elder).


Michael Mosser (elder).


David Gisi.


Jörg Newhard.


Michael Fritzinger.


Nickel Burger.


George Rex (elder).


Michael Ruch.


Leonhard Mayer.


Peter Miller.


Heinrich Oswald.


Conrad Wirtz (Wert).


Adam Winch,


Friederich Nisele.


Heinrich Hofmann.


Jcob Schlung.


Ulrich Neff.


Hns Ulrich Arnd.


Andreas Schüssler.


Johannes Niesele.


Heinrich Roeder.


The above-named members were the builders of the first church, and paid for its construction £18 5s., of which the Reformed side contributed £13 18s. 8d., and the Lutheran £4 6s. 4d. None of the Lutherans were married. Mary Ohl (single, Michael's daughter ) contributed $500.


The Indian massacres, which from 1755 to 1758 devastated all the settlements across the Lehigh, at Gnadenhütten (now Lehighton) and in Lynn, both on the right and left of the Hei- delberg settlement, passed by this congregation almost without leaving a trace. Scarcely a single murder took place. Nevertheless the members were prepared to render each other prompt assist- ance. Fathers Longenour, Kemmerer, and others went to Gnadenhütten and assisted in burying the murdered, and upon the occasion of the Lynn township massacre, when Zeislof and others were murdered, Father Bachman hastened to their as- sistance from Miller's Valley, near the present Lynnville. Zeislof and some of his family were scalped, but were still alive when Bachman ar- rived, and he attended to them until death de- livered them from their agony. Bachman said it was dreadful to see the bloody, disfigured heads, and to hear the sufferers calling for water to al- lay their thirst. The reason for the freedom of the congregation from the Indian troubles lay, besides the providence of God, possibly in the fact that no Indian village stood within its limits. The nearest village was in Lynn ; another was on the other side of the Blue Mountains, in the vi- cinity of Lehighton; and still another lay south


of the Blue Mountains, across the Lehigh. An Indian path, however, led in a straight direction from the Lehigh Gap through the present village of Saegersville over the Schochary Mountain (where a spring on land then owned by Christian Miller is still known as the Indian spring) to the principal Indian path, which ran from the Lehigh Mountains through the Indian village in the Ziegel congregation's lands to the Blue Moun- tains.


The second church was built in 1756. The first was destroyed by fire. The new church was also built of logs, but very much larger and better arranged in every respect, fitted out with galleries, aisles, pulpit, and altar. A new school-house was also erected at the same time, placed upon the land of the Reformed congregation (which had sold all its right in the old school-house to the Lutherans for £4 IOs.) and from this time on each congregation had- its own school until later years, when the old school-house was torn down, and the schools were united in one. The new church was dedicated in 1757, and the old con- tract (that the building should be used in com- mon), was renewed. From 1745 to 1757 the number of communicants was more than doubled ; but, an increase in members from Europe partly accounted for this.


The heads of families who built the new church were as follows:


Michael Ohl.


Johannes Schneider.




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