History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 136

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 136

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"In witness whereof," etc.

The witnesses to this instrument were Nicholas Loras and Peter Schmoyer; and it was acknowl- edged before Ludwig Stahler, one of the justices of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of Northampton.

East Macungie has one hotel, one school-house, a store, coal and lumber yard, one cigar manu- factory, and its population is about three hundred.

EAST TEXAS .- This village, which was at first known by the name of Macungie Square, is situ- ated upon a high bluff of the Lehigh Creek, and has at present two hundred and thirty-eight in- habitants. In 1830 there were three buildings upon the site of this town,-an old school-house, of which we shall make mention hereafter; an old stone house where the hotel now stands, and a building near by in which a general store was

kept. In 1845 the first hotel of the village was erected, which has since been enlarged. At this hotel one part of the inhabitants of Lower Ma- cungie township, outside of the Borough of Ma- cungie, cast their votes. The second name given to the village was that of New Texas, which name it kept until the year 1872. A number of un- successful attempts had been made previous to this time to have the post-office established in the village. Finally Stephen Acker, the "leading spirit" of the place, got up a petition signed by six citizens and several outside postmasters, ask- ing the government for an office. His efforts were rewarded with success, and a post-office was established in the year last mentioned, and at the suggestion of Mr. Acker its present name, East Texas, was given to both the village and the office. The office was first kept in the store of Benjamin K. Keck. At present it is kept in the store of Levi Butz. There are in the village two hotels, one general store, and two churches-an Evangelical and United Brethren.

On the 24th of September, 1790, three men, viz: Andrew Eisenhard, Cornelius Hughes, and John Herman, entered into an agreement, and made themselves responsible for the donation of two acres of land; the first named to give one acre, and each of the other two half an acre, "for a school place, and for no other purposes, forever." And we do further promise and agree by these presents that we will build a house on the said described land that shall be sufficient for a school-house ; this we promise to build free and complete this fall." The same year a log house was built upon the above tract, which is situate in East Texas. Sixty years ago this house was torn down and a second one built of logs, which in 1857 was replaced by a brick build- ing with steeple and bell.

On the 24th of October, 1874, the greater part of the ground not occupied by the building was cut into lots, which were sold subject to ground rent, the annual interest of which amounts to the sum of two hundred and twenty-six dol- lars. Part of this sum is annually expended for summer school.

WESCOESVILLE .- Wescoesville is a small vil- lage of upwards of 300 inhabitants, situated about 5 miles westward from Allentown, being situated on the old stage road from Allentown to Kutz- town. Since the building of the trolley, there is easy access to the place, and the same has helped more to its development than all previous years of its existence, as far as the erection of houses is concerned. Among the original settlers of this locality are found the names of the Bortz's, Bas- tian's and the Mink's.

Three Bortz brothers, Henry, George and

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

John Jacob, arrived in America in about 1781. Henry settled in Oley, George in Macungie twsp., above the present borough of Macungie; and John Jacob in Long Swamp township, Berks county. Coming over from Oley, Henry built a saw-mill on the Cedar Creek, as well as a log- house.

In 1797, he built the hotel at Wescoesville, the original walls are still standing to-day, al- though there have been made some modifications to the place. Henry Bortz conducted this hos- telry until 1811, when he died. It went in the name of the Henry Bortz estate until 1814, when his son, Henry, Jr., bought the same and took charge, conducting it to the time of his death in 1828. The place then was sold to Philip Wesco. At this time there were only about two other houses at this place, one of them a log-house above the hotel, in which Mr. Bortz's mother resided. The same year, 1828, Jonas Faust came and began store in an old stone-house. A Mr. Boyer conducted the hotel for a year or two, when Israel Wesco moved on the hotel, and, in 1837, bought the same from Philip Wesco. Jonas Faust conducted the store to 1848, when he sold out to Wm. Ritter, who in 1850, sold to Walter P. Huber. Israel Wesco dying in 1858, the estate was then sold in 1860. Walter Huber bought the hotel and part of the farm, Wm. Mink buying the balance, consisting of the store- house and some land. In 1861, Walter Huber changed the hotel into a store and held the prop- erty to 1868. In 1861, Wm. Mink built the brick building, where is the present store, and it be- came the hotel, being conducted by Mr. Mink, later by Moses Schadt. From 1868 to 1876, the hotel was conducted by Amandus Marks. In the Centennial Year, Jonas Wieand bought the then hotel property and lot, and changed the same to a store; Jesse Bortz, who had become the owner, moved the hotel back to its original place, where it has remained to date, the present owner being Willoughby Stettler, the lessee, Wil- son F. Walbert. From 1876 to 1883, Jonas Wie- and conducted the store. That year Hiram Hor- lacher bought the store, and his son, M. J. and son-in-law, Mr. Kohler, conducted the business to about 1889 or #1890 under the name of Hor- lacher & Kohler. About the afore-mentioned time, M. Kohler withdrew from the business and M. J. Horlacher continued the same, later selling the same to his brother, Allen, who conducts the present store.

The poor-house, having been established near the place, there was a clamor for a postoffice. Application was made to Washington, and in 1844, the same was granted, and the place called Wescoesville, the first postmaster being Israel

Wesco. After his death, John Bortz was ap- pointed, who served to 1860. From 1861 to 1869, Walter Huber served in this capacity, then Jonas Wieand to 1891 ; afterwards M. J. Hor- lacher, and then Allen Horlacher.

The original school-house was built by Israel Wesco about 1845-46. In 1857 the school- house was moved nearer the centre of the district, bringing it about a half mile westward from Wescoesville. Wescoesville improving more, the building was again removed to the latter place, where it remained until the same became too small, when a new double building was erect- ed, the old building being used as a residence.

A Union Sunday School in the widest sense of that term, was conducted in the school house from 1859 to 1891. The Evangelical church having moved from the Bet-Hügel to Wescoes- ville in 1885. (For fuller history of same, con- sult article Evangelical churches), a union Sun- day school, representing the Lutheran and Re- formed people was continued in the school-house, and for some time already preaching is conduct- ed there by the pastors of the Trexlertown church. The industries of the village are very limited. Mr. Laros conducts the saddler busi- ness; Mr. Calvin Deshler, the shoemaker, and Herbert Bogert, the blacksmith. Formerly a tail- oring business was also represented, but owing to the establishment of large men's clothing-houses at Allentown, and the facility offered by the Al- lentown-Kutztown trolley, which runs through the village, the same was discontinued.

HENSINGERSVILLE .- This hamlet was named after Peter Hensinger. It lies in a southerly direction, about one mile from Alburtis. The place itself has really only a few houses, although quite a number of adjoining farms are reckoned in this place. Including these, there are about 50 inhabitants. The original hotel, built in 1846 by Peter Hensinger and kept by him, was later removed about a quarter of a mile, where it is located at present. This building was also erect- ed by Mr. Hensinger, and at the present time is owned and conducted by Alfred Beitler. The stone-house, standing opposite the hotel, was built by David Wendling, but later got into the possession of Benjamin, his brother. Adjoining the original hotel, there used to be a saw-mill, clover-hulling establishment, shingle machine, where all the wood used to be boiled before it was sawed, and a grist-mill. Concerning the latter, it is still related as to how people brought whole wagonloads of chestnuts, which were ground into grist, often requiring the mill to be operated all night. But a few fragments of these former-day activities are remaining. In

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LOWER MACUNGIE TOWNSHIP.

this place there had been formerly a store, a shoe- maker shop and shoe-store, but they are torn down. The store used to be conducted by Saul and Hensinger. The shoemaker-shop and store was conducted by Benjamin Wendling. A school- house, known as Hensinger's, is also included in the territory of what is designated by this name.

MINESITE .- This hamlet, consisting of about a dozen houses, is situated on what is generally known as the "Flats." The hotel is conducted by a man named Kehm. During the heyday of oremining, according to what is still related, the locality must have been the scene of many wild orgies, some of them hardly credible for civilized communities. It formerly had a post- office, but with the establishment of rural routes, the same has been discontinued.

WEILERSVILLE .- Weilersville was formerly known as "Lehigh Church" and still is spoken of under that title. It is a small village, lying about a mile northwardly from Alburtis. The original settlers in this locality were the Ruths and the Romichs, the latter built a stone grist mill and several stone houses, one of them bear- ing date of 1780, still standing and in possession of Joseph Warmkessel. The grist-mill after- wards became the property of Samuel Schmeyer, then John B. Schmeyer, his brother, and at pres- ent is owned by Mrs. Susan C. Kutz. Her son, Wm. Wagenhorst is operating the mill. Some- time in the forties, James Weiler opened a store at this place, and through long efforts of his, he succeeded to have the place designated Weilers- ville. D. Y. Bittenbender operated a stone- cutting establishment here, which, since his death is continued by his son, Oscar, who removed it from the place adjoining his father's home to near Weiler's store, now kept by Mr. Kauffman. Near this place is the historic Lehigh Church, the history of which will be given further on. The locality has about 100 inhabitants.

SCHOOLS .- The schools of the township are in a flourishing condition. At first there had been decided opposition to the law of 1834, which cre- ated the public schools. It was not because the inhabitants of the township had been indifferent to education. For since 1750 at least, there had been conducted a school at Lehigh Church by the people of the congregation, and similarly else- where. But it was felt that the state was usurp- ing the free rights of the people, and even insult- ed their pride as if they were unable to educate their children. However in 1849, the law was adopted, the first Board being composed as fol- lows: Jacob Wenner, president; James Weiler,

secretary, and George Ludwig, treasurer.

The township had been divided into the follow- ing districts, excluding Macungie borough. The establishment of the borough of Alburtis in the spring of 1913, will probably cause the numbers to be changed, or simply those be omitted. The numbers ran as here set forth :- No. 1, Bastian's (which school has been discontinued since about 1886, owing to scarcity of children of school-age in this district) ; No. 2, Wescoesville; No. 3, Hartzell's; No. 4, Kiechel's; No. 5, Riegel's; No. 6, Ritter's; No. 7, Centreville, secondary ; No. 8, Centreville primary; No. 9, East Texas secondary ; No. 10, East Texas primary ; No. 1I, Danner's; No. 12, Schmoyer's; No. 13, Lehigh Church; No. 14, Butz's; (No. 15, had been Alburtis High; No. 16, Alburtis grammar; No. 17, Alburtis secondary; No. 18, Alburtis pri- mary) ; No. 19, Saul's ( Hensingersville) ; No. 20, Nuss'; No. 21, Desch's; No. 22, Fogel's. The present Board consists of J. C. Wasser, president; Wallace Bauer, secretary; Clinton Bastian, treasurer ; Wesley Jacobs and James Butz, who resigned after the Alburtis borough was incorporated.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE .- Since 1840 the following were commissioned, the year indicating the beginning of the same :

1840 Joseph Kemmerer. 1879 George Welty.

Jesse Nace. M. D. Henninger.

1845 Charles Sober. 1880 Clinton O. Fogel.

Jesse Nace. 1881 Stephen Acker.

1850 Harrison Miller. 1882 Daniel Mohr.

Jonas Faust. I885 S. A. J. Kern.

1853 Walter P. Huber. 1886 John Keiser.

1855 Harrison Miller.

1887 Stephen Acker. Daniel F. Keller.

1858 Horatio Hertzog. George Hertzel. 1892 Stephen Acker.

1863 George M. Hertzel.

Daniel F. Keller.

William Levan.

1897 Preston M. Bastian.

1864 Daniel Mohr.

Daniel F. Keller.

1868 H. T. Hertzog.

1902 Preston M. Bastian. Frank D. Butz.

1869 Daniel Mohr.

1873 H. T. Hertzog.

1906 Daniel F. Keller.

1874 Daniel Mohr.

1907 Preston M. Bastian.

1878 H. T. Hertzog.

19II Daniel F. Keller.

HISTORY OF LEHIGH CHURCH .- About one mile northward from the borough of Alburtis, where the road leads across the Little Lehigh, lies the property of the Lehigh Church, upon which is situated the fine church building and the stone residence. The beautiful burial grounds adjoin the church. There is something patheti- cally entrancing in an old graveyard. It is so silent, yet so eloquent; peaceful, yet resembling the results of battle; so conciliatory, yet its oc- cupants were oft in strife. The tombstone in- scriptions are so charitably kind, remembering only the virtues of the departed, whilst their de- fects are interred with their bones.

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

The first name by which this congregation was known had been the "Church of the Holy Trini- ty." Subsequently, for some reason or other, the date being unascertainable, it was called "Zion's," which name it now bears, although more commonly it is known as "Lehigh Church."

The congregation dates from 1745. The im- migrants, in view of erecting a church, had set aside this suitable piece of ground and withheld it from later arrivals. It was lying in the middle of their settlement. When the time arrived, that it was deemed opportune to take possession of this vacant land, as it had been kept by common consent hitherto, a committee of four persons were selected, who were to go to Philadelphia and secure title to the same for congregational purposes. The original idea had been to build a "Union" church, and, accordingly, the com- mittee consisted of Matthias Eigner and Michael Knappenberger, representing the Lutheran side, and a Mr. Long and John Butz, the Reformed. The committee fixed upon a time, when they would set out to fulfill their mission. However the Reformed portion coveted the land for their sole use, and in order to outwit the Lutherans, started some time in advance of what had been designated. When the Lutheran portion of the committee learned of the treachery played upon them, they naturally were angry, and, saddling their best horses, made all possible speed to over- take, if not yet forestall, those who had played them false. The Reformed portion, feeling se- cure of their prize, and deeming it safe by rea- son of the time gained by their early departure, put up for the night at some hostelry along the route. Whilst ensconsed in slumber, the Luth- eran committeemen passed by, reaching Phila- delphia early in the morning, and, as soon as the State-house was opened, went to secure a legal title to the tract, which was graciously and promptly given by the authorities. Imagine the surprise and consternation on the morning of the 23rd of February, 1749, when, after having se- cured title, the Lutheran portion later met the Reformed portion on their mission intent, and these were told by the Lutherans "that the bird which they had intended to catch, was already caged"! The treacherous act was the source of a "spring of animosity" originating between the Lutherans and Reformed of the community, which wended its way down through a couple of generations. The land, consisting of 36 acres, hence was solely in possession of the Lutherans.

The first church was begun directly after the purchase of the land, and, in 1750, was dedicated to the service of God by the Rev. Phillip Hein- rich Rapp, who had resided with the congrega- tion for some time previously and preached at the

homes of the members. The church was found- ed, built and dedicated entirely a a Luth- eran. The original building had been a simple log structure, and had stood in the northeast corner of the churchyard. A school-house was built at the same time, which soon was enlarged, and, in the course of time was used both as a school-house and parsonage. After Rev. Ger- man's departure, it ceased to be used as a parson- age, the sexton of the church residing there from that time.

The circumstances of the primitive church here were similar to elsewhere. The only peculiarity the congregation had, was that its members pos-

21-3

ZION'S UNION CHURCH.

sessed the most fertile soil in the state. Through the crops and cattle-raising, the farmers soon attained a high degree of prosperity. The public road from Goshenhoppen to Trexlertown, which had been opened, afforded an excellent medium of reaching the market. Many of the members became wealthy. Some of these purchased in Philadelphia the services of poor immigrants, who were sold into a sort of bondage, until, by their services, they could pay for their passage- money. In this manner, Matthias Eigner bought the services of Catharine Nothstein, kept her in service, treated her kindly, and had her con- firmed. In religious development, this congre- gation excelled most Lutheran churches of that

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LOWER MACUNGIE TOWNSHIP.

period, it itself becoming a centre of Lutheran teaching. Here the pastors of a number of the neighboring congregations resided, and generally were capable men, considering the times and con- ditions. Rev. Rapp, the first pastor stationed here, employed a school-master, who taught under his supervision and conducted an excellent school. Rev. Rapp, no matter what was said of his earlier or even later career, was a benefit to this congregation. Strict European methods were in- troduced by him. Upon the completion of the church, he began to keep a church-record. Chil- dren were baptized within the church, marriages, after the publication of the bans three times publicly, were celebrated at the altar and entered on the records. As an instance, we here report the first recorded: "May 2, 1751-After the bans had three times been published, there were united in the holy bonds of matrimony, Emanuel Pfeiffer, widower, and Maria Barbara, Valentin Mecklins' respectable single daughter, both new arrivals. Attest, P. Rapp, Copul." Funerals were likewise recorded. From 1770 to 1774, pastor Buskirk also kept the records of marriages and deaths of other congregations, such as Saucon and Upper Milford, in this book. The names of the confirmed were likewise regularly entered. The year 1799, show the names of a class of 94 who were confirmed here. However the names show also that not all belonged to the congrega- tion, but were only confirmed here by Rev. Bus- kirk instead of the home-churches.

Amongst the early names found on the church- records, are the following. However, not all of these were original immigrants, since it is known that a number of them were already the children of immigrants, born and reared here :

Jeremiah Trexler (Dreh- sler).

Johann Matthias Eigner (Eichner).

Michael Knappenberger. Johann Peter Fetherolf. Wilhelm Fegely (Vö- gelein).

Daniel Schmeier.

Christian Schmeier.

Friederich Seitz.

Jacob Barth. Johann Peter Klein.

Jacob Wagner.

Lorenz Küchele. Mathaus Ludwig.

Jacob Danner (Tanner). Georg Ruch. Mathaus Heinli.

Andreas Eisenhard. Jacob Herman.

Georg Adam Bortz.

Johannes Dee Nicolaus Schmidt. Adam Moser. Johannes Dietrich Gaum- er.

Mathias Steinlein.

Michael Schiffert (Sche- vert). Balzer Federmann.

Jacob Shankweiler.

Leonard Kuhns (Kuhn). Conrad Kolb.

George Seiler. Joseph Albrecht. Johannes Weber.

Adam Desch (Tesch). Heinrich Koch.

The congregation at first was small, but the well-known desirability of the neighborhood and advantages of church privileges soon attracted strangers, who speedily occupied all the vacant lands. Some few Reformed had also settled with the limits of the congregation, but were compelled to go to Longswamp or to Salisbury in order to worship according to the dictates of their consciences. In 1760 Dr. Friedrich Spiegel began to reside here. The keenest rivalry existed between Lonswamp congregation and this place. There they were Reformed; here strictly Luther- an. But the contest always left the Lehigh peo- ple in the advance.

The first complete consistory recorded on the church-records, bears date of 1769, although there are individual names of the consistory mentioned previously. The persons elected the aforesaid year were :- Martin Poger (Boger), Simon Hain, elders; Jacob Hermann, Daniel Schmair (Schmeier), Heinrich Eigner, and Heinrich Wetzel, deacons.

The corner-stone of the second church was laid June 11, 1784, when the local pastor, Rev. Jacob Van Buskirk, was assisted by the Rev. Johann Friedrich Ernest, of Breunwick, New Jersey. The consistory signing the attestation, a copy of which was placed in the corner-stone, were- Heinrich Egner, Peter Trexler, elders; Valendin Haupt, Frantz Warmkessel, Adam Howerther, Christian Weber, deacons; the building com- mittee, composed of George Breinig, Michael Schmeier, Johannes Heinli, Daniel Schmeier, and Henrich Knappenberger; treasurer, Peter Trex- ler. Heinrich Knappenberger had been the school-master at the time.

The attestation concluded with the following words: "Der Herr unser Gott segne zeitlich und ewig Alle, die dieser Stiftung getreulich nachkom- mem. Der Herr aber sehe drein und räche es, wo dawider gehandelt wird. Amen! Gottes Wort und Luther's Lehr, vergehet nun und nim- mermehr." (The Lord our God bless now and for- ever all our successors, who shall remain faith- ful to the purpose of this undertaking. May He look upon and avenge whatever is done to thwart and oppose it. Amen! God's Word and Luth- er's teachings shall never disappear.)

The new church was built of stone, and made unusually strong and massive, the walls still being firm, when torn down in 1894. It was finished both within and without after the style of the times. The building was greater in length

Valentine Meckley. Michael Warmkessel. Bastian Druckenmiller, Sr. Georg Christ, Sr. George Acker.

Jacob Koller. Jacob Stephy (Stephan). Philipp Drescher (Drös- cher ). Stophel Müller. Christian Gorr. Simon Hain. Lorenz Schöd. Andreas Trexler (Drechsler). Martin Boger (Poger). Peter Mattern. Emanuel Pfeiffer.

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

than width, yet almost square. Two large dou- ble doors opened on the north side, and one on the east. The windows on the first floor were oblong and protected by solid shutters. On the second floor windows were all alike, rounded in a bow at the top. The interior was arranged with reference to the doors. Near the entrance, the steps led to the galleries. The pulpit origin- ally along the long wall, was later placed along the narrow southern wall. Back of it was a large window. Opposite it, at the other end, on a gallery was placed the organ and choir. In front of the pulpit, in a large clear space, surrounded by an altar-rail, stood the altar, constructed after the fashion of the altar of the covenant, which was draped with a black cloth, over which, on communion season was spread a white covering. The pulpit was also draped in black. The con- gregation was seated according to age and sex in different parts of the church. On the galleries only the front of the pews were painted in white ; the unpainted portion, most seen by the worship- per occupying his seat, gradually obtained a dull brown color, which made a solemn, dreary im- pression on the mind. The ground-floor origin- ally was laid with brick, upon which sand had been spread, and for days, horses were ridden over the same so as to make the floor firm and hard.

Lehigh people having a new building, the Re- formed at Longswamp must also have a new church, and in order to be ahead of the Lehigh Church also secured an organ. But Lehigh was not to be outdone in this respect. For they also se- cured an organ-larger and better, which how- ever the Longswamp people never would acknowl- edge. Some of them once came to hear the much bragged about organ at Lehigh, amongst them being Jack Long, a descendant of the Long previously mentioned, who, after listening to the organ, voiced the general opinion of these peo- ple, by calling aloud to his neighbor in church- "You there! I don't know, but it seems to me that this organ is not a bit better than ours!" Intermarriage of sons and daughters of these old families; discouragement on the part of the min- isters has broken down this old unkindly-disposed feeling.

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 136

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

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