USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I > Part 137
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In 1843, the congregation resolved to repair the church. Its wall stood strong and firm as on the first day; the interior was torn out, the floor relaid, the pulpit and organ placed along the shorter walls, and everything finished in modern style.
On August 26, 1843, the congregation entered into an agreement with the Reformed within the bounds of the parish, to make the church "Union." In said agreement, Rule I, clearly
set forth "that the land (German word land)" is and shall continue to belong exclusively to the Lutheran congregation; that however the use and benefit of the church, the cemetery for burial and the real estate shall be "union" for the Luth- erans and Reformed, and all their future pos- terity, for the purpose and benefit of HOLD- ING DIVINE SERVICES." "That all reve- nues of the church and real estate shall be applied and used for the benefit of both in common with equal rights."
On Christmas day, the church was consecrated as a Union. On Whit Sunday, 1844, the organ which had been repaired, was reconsecrated.
The celebration of the hundredth anniversary took place on the 5th and 6th days of October, 1850.
On Easter Monday, Apr. 9, 1860, an election was held to secure a building committee for the erection of a tower and the securing of a bell. At the same time the church was repainted and refrescoed. In 1881, it was again renovated both within and without.
In the spring of 1894, it was decided to build a new church. The old walls still firm as ever, were taken down. The new building, built of brick with stone trimmings, the auditorium of which is 67 by 441/2 feet, lecture room, 37 by 29 and infant room, 37 by 10 feet, finished in oak, was consecrated on Nov. 25, 1894. The corner- stone of this building had been laid Whit-sun- day, Apr. 6, 1894.
The sesquicentennial of the church was observ- ed Nov. 24, 1895. On Aug. 20, 1911, the church after a complete renovation within and without, and being recarpeted, was reconsecrated.
A Sunday-school was early begun. Among the early superintendents being John B. Schmeyer, Peter Ruth and others. Peter Ruth served a long period in this capacity, although a few times, for a period of a year or so, some other person had been elected, yet one can practically say to the time of his death.
The Lutheran pastors of the congregation were :
Philipp Heinrich Rapp, who, when he came over, had been a merchant, and was ordained by the notorious Andrea, was the first minister re- siding with the people. The congregation had made application to the Synod for a minister some time before, but were put off from time to time, it being stated that there were none to be given. Rapp is said to have ended his life by committing suicide ; however present investigations show that he laid a good, systematic foundation for the congregation at this place. On Oct. 29, 1751, he received a call from Christ Church, New York, which he felt inclined to accept. In the
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Church-record he writes of this call and says, "It pains me inexpressibly to desert the congre- gation which I have brought into being." He preached here to Dec. 18, 1751.
2. Jacob Friederich Schertlein, served here from 1753 to 1765, and resided with the congre- gation. He was an abler man than his prede- cessor, and in his twelve years' work, laid the foundation for the future development at which the church arrived.
3. John George Wiessner preached here from Sept., 1765, to the end of Dec., 1767. He be- longed to the Andrea school. After Wiessner's departure, the congregation was served for over a year by different persons sent by Dr. Muhlen- berg.
4. Jacob Van Buskirk began his ministry July 9, 1769, and served to Feb. 18, 1800. He also resided with the congregation. Under his min- istry the church flourished and attained its great- est prosperity. 1784, Trexlertown church was founded, although since for many years members of the ministerium were forbidden to preach there, we are at a loss to account as to how they were served. Nevertheless it took away members from Lehigh. Rev. Buskirk, by instruction of Dr. Muhlenberg, also educated certain young men for the Lutheran ministry, amongst them be- ing Rev. Lehman.
5. John Paul Frederick Kramer, who had never been ordained, supplied for nearly a year.
6. J. F. Obenhausen served from Apr., 1800, to the close of Nov., 1806.
7. John (and not Friederich) Gaisenhainer served from Dec., 1806, to towards the end of Sept., 1808. Rev. Gaisenhainer was then station- ed at the Jordan church. Rev. Frederick Geiss- enhainer had then been stationed at New Han- over.
8. Heinrich Heyne preached from Oct., 1808, to July, 1817.
9. Rev. Heinrich G. Stecher succeeded Rev.
Heyne, serving from about Sept., 1817, to Oct. (or later), 1819.
IO. Rev. Benjamin German began his labors May, 1820, and continued to 1838. He was the last pastor to reside in the parsonage.
II. Rev. Jeremiah Schindel was pastor t Jan., 1839.
12. He was succeeded by Christoph Gott- lieb Friederich on Aug. 1, 1840, and who remain- ed about a year and a half.
13. On Aug. 21, 1842 Rev. Joshua Yeager be- gan his long ministry. He relinquished his labors May 31, 1885.
14. Rev. A. R. Horne, D.D., who had assist- ed Father Yeager as a supply for about one year already, was elected pastor Oct. 10, 1885, and served to the end of March, 1901.
15. Rev. Irwin B. Ritter served as sup- ply pastor from Oct. 27, 1901, to Nov., 1903.
16. Then Rev. Charles E. Sandt served in a similar capacity to Aug. 15, 1905.
17. Rev. Charles A. Kerschner, of Conyng- ham, Pa., was called and entered upon his labors on Feb. 1, 1906, and is successfully serving the congregation at the present time.
The Reformed ministers were:
I. Charles G. Hermann, who had been chosen pastor in the year in which the church became Union. He afterwards resigned.
2. Joshua Derr was chosen and served till 1863.
In the spring of 1863, Rev. Wm. A. Helffrich was elected, the call being ratified by the East Pennsylvania Classis in the following year. He was pastor for the rest of his active life. After the ordination of Nevin W., his son, the father took him as his assistant, and upon the father's relinquishing his labors, was elected as the regu- lar pastor, which he continued to 1905, when he died.
Rev. Frank P. Laros was then called and is the present pastor.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
UPPER MILFORD TOWNSHIP.
ERECTION .- The territory now constituting Upper Milford and Lower Milford townships, in Lehigh county, was first erected into a separate district in 1737, while a part of Bucks county. The petition for its erection was signed by the following resident taxpayers of that region of country :
Peter Walber. Johannes Beltzart.
Ulrich Reaser.
Theobald Mechlin.
Matthias Ochs.
Johannes Post.
Johannes Meyer.
Melchior Stecher.
Joseph Henckel.
Michael Koehler.
Daniel Rausch.
Felix Brunner.
Heinrich William Dil- linger.
Jacob Derry.
Michael Zimmerman.
Heinrich Riesz.
William Langhorst.
Christian Biegel.
Martin Weitknecht.
William Bitz.
Johannes Baumgartner.
Jacob Wetzel.
Hannes Ord.
It was presented to the county court, then sit- ting at Newtown, on June 10, 1737.
The survey was made by John Chapman on March 13, 1738. The boundary lines formed a square figure, six miles long and five and a half miles wide, and enclosed 33 square miles, or 21,120 acres; and the territory thus set apart was named Upper Milford. At that time there was a township in Bucks county which was named Lower Milford.
In 1752, this township was included with Northampton county upon its erection out of part of Bucks; and in 1812, it was included with Lehigh county, upon its erection out of part of Northampton.
Description .- These two townships are situ- ated in the most southern part of the county, and are bounded as follows: on the northeast by Salisbury and Upper Saucon townships; on the southeast by Milford township in Bucks county ; on the southwest by Upper Hanover township in Montgomery county, and Hereford township in Berks county, and on the northwest by Lower Macungie township.
Later surveys show a considerable difference as to dimensions and area, for the territory ap- pears to be about 61/2 miles long by 614 miles wide, and therefore contains 40,625 square miles, or 260,000 acres.
The surface formation is very irregular, hilly at some places and mountainous at others. In the southern part of Lower Milford is the Hos-
ensack Hill, or the great Mill Hill (commonly called "Grosze Mühlberg"), which extends across the township into the county of Mont- gomery; and in the northeastern part is the Chestnut Hill. The northwestern part is crossed by the Moser (now Dillinger) Ridge, running from northeast to southwest; and the center part by Mill Ridge (called Kleine Mühlberg), running from northeast to southwest. Upper Milford is crossed by the South (or Lehigh) Mountain from east to west, in the upper part; and in the southern part by Bald Hill (com- monly called "Kahlen Berg"). The highest spot in both townships is situated on the Chest- nut Hill, in Lower Milford, which is 960 feet above the level of the sea; the second highest is on South Mountain, in Upper Milford, 920 feet, and the third highest is Moser's Ridge, in Lower Milford, 910 feet.
The soil is principally gravel; sandstone abounds in all sections. Iron ore has been found in great quantities along spurs of South Mountain. In the vicinity of Shimersville there is some of the richest red-oxide iron ore; and in the vicinity of Zionsville some of the richest magnetic iron ore, of any found in the State. Near Shimersville, on the north side, is a rich deposit of emery and corundum crystals, worth about $200 per ton. Limestone is found in Upper Milford ; also among the Hosensack and Saucon valleys in Lower Milford. Mica is found in some places in Lower Milford, on the premises of H. H. Boyer, and Readon Schantz, near Dil- lingersville ; and zinc on the premises of Nathan Kunkel and others near Shimersville, in Upper Milford.
The soil is well cultivated and very produc- tive. Its cultivation is the chief employment of the inhabitants, who have brought it to a high state of fertility by the free use of lime. Not only is the largest and healthiest grain produced, but it brings the highest prices.
The territory is well watered with superior creeks and brooks which run through fields and meadows and along the hill-sides, and operate grist-mills and saw-mills at numerous sites on their way.
The principal stream is Hosensack creek, which rises at the foot of Chestnut Hill on the west side, and runs south and southwestwardly
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UPPER MILFORD TOWNSHIP.
through the center of Lower Milford; thence through the Hosensack valley, a distance of over six miles, (turning the wheels of eight grist- and saw-mills) ; and empties into the Perkiomen creek in Montgomery county. Several smaller creeks empty into it from the southerly side among them the Schwenk's (or Dub's), Eber- hard's and Dickenshied's; and on the northerly side the following: Schantz's, Walter's (or Mechling's with several branches), Indian, and Trump's. Swamp creek rises in Saucon town- ship, and runs in a southerly direction through the northeast corner of Lower Milford into Bucks county. Hicken creek rises in the same part of the township and runs southwardly into Bucks county, where it empties into Swamp creek.
The Krauss creek rises in the southern corner of Lower Milford, near the foot of the Hosen- sack Hill, and runs due south into Montgomery county, where it empties into the Perkiomen creek. In the same section there is Stauffer's creek, which rises on the Hosensack Hill, and empties into the Krauss creek. Saucon creek rises in the northern section of Lower Milford, on Chestnut Hill, and runs northwardly into Saucon township, where it empties into the Le- high river, near Hellertown. Ortts (or Wied- er's) creek rises in the same part of Lower Milford, and runs north at Limeport into the Saucon creek. These creeks, within the bounds of Lower Milford, turn the wheels of sixteen mills.
Indian creek rises in the western corner of Upper Milford, thence runs east, southeast, and southwardly, into the Hosensack, in Lower Mil- ford. The Perkiomen creek rises in Berks county, and runs through Upper Milford, in the form of a horseshoe east, southeast, and southwardly. Leibert's creek rises in the north- eastern part of Upper Milford, runs west and northwardly through Leibert's Gap of the South Mountain, and empties into the Little Lehigh, in Lower .Macungie township. Thany's, (or Fetterman's) creek rises near Shimersville, runs northeast, and empties into Leibert's Creek at Vera Cruz. Miller's creek rises in the north- western part of Upper Milford, near Shimers- ville, runs northwardly into Lower Macungie, and empties into the Little Lehigh. These creeks turn within the bounds of Upper Mil- ford ten grist, saw, and other mills.
Iron Ore .- On both sides of the South Moun- tain, in Upper Milford, iron ore is abundant in quality, and rich in quality, producing from 35 to 45 per cent. of metal. Along the west base of the mountain, in the vicinity of Emaus, mines have been kept in operation for nearly fifty years,
particularly on the premises of Charles and Peter Schwarz, where they have been carried on very successfully by David Lewis, from 1834 until 1870, and since 1870 by the Emaus Iron Com- pany.
On the east side of the mountain several very rich magnetic veins were discovered about the year 1848. Those on the premises of William Brunner, Henry Wickert, and others were op- erated by Samuel Lewis ( the oldest iron-master of Lehigh county), F. T. Iobst, and George Neumoyer. In 1880 the Hellertown Iron Com- pany ; Lewis, Pascoe & Webb; Schwarz, Dick- enshied & Company, secured leases on the premises of F. T. Iobst ( formerly of William Brunner), and continued operations. They dis- covered rich veins of ore, from two to twelve feet, thick and delivered an average of 5,000 tons of ore yearly. Several other mines along the mountain, on the premises of Daniel Klein, Joshua Fry, and others, have been kept in op- eration.
About 1870 on the premises of Anthony Mechling (now deceased), at Zionsville, Upper Milford, one of the richest magnetic iron-ore veins in Lehigh county was discovered. It was worked by John O. Schreiber & Company for seven years, and after 1878 by the Crane Iron Company. About 1875 a rich vein of the same ore was also discovered on the premises of Charley Shoenly at the same place; and about 1881 an- other was discovered on the premises of Mr. Gackenbach, and of Jonas Kern at the same place. These mines were carried on by the Crane Iron Company for some years. The ore produced an average of 45 per cent. clear iron.
On the premises of Mr. Shultz, at Shimers- ville, there is one of the richest veins of oxide iron ore ever discovered in Lehigh county, which produced an average of 50 per cent. of iron.
PIONEER SETTLERS .- After 1733, there was a large immigration of settlers, mostly Germans, to the lower part of the present Lehigh county. They were emigrants from Germany and other parts of western Europe, with strong religious convictions, who classified themselves as
Schwenkfelders, Mennonites, Lutherans and Reformed, and many of them settled in the Hos- ensack Valley and other parts of Upper Mil- ford township.
Among the Schwenkfelders, there were Balt- hasar Krausz, Hans Henry Jaeckel, Caspar Jaeckel, and Christoph Schubert.
Among the Mennonites: Dürk Jansen, Con- radt Meyer, Michael Meyer, and Jacob Hie- stand.
Among the Lutherans: Jacob Kurr, Thomas Kurr, Theobald Mechlin, Heinrich Wilhelm
.
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Dillinger, Michael Flores, George Klein, Jacob Busch, Balthasar Vetterman, Martin Schaffer, Peter Hüttel, Ludwig Siefers, Caspar Rütter, Gabriel Kohler, Friedrich Kemmerer, Melchior Stecher, Mathias Ox, John Michael Guthman, Philip Stephen Pappenmeyer, Friederich Nun- gesser, Isaac Leopold Delp, Johann David Straub, Heinrich Riesz, and Michael Zimmer- man.
Among the Reformed: Ulrich Riezer, Franz Rusz, Jacob Wetzel, Peter Wetzel, Joseph Eb- erhard, Valentine Kaiser, Alexander Diefender- fer, Peter Linn, Jacob Dubs, Felix Brunner, Henry Huber, Andreas Kraeber, Ludwig Bit- ting, Phillip Herzog, Friederich Wilhelm Kern, Peter Lang, Andreas Engleman, Nicolaus Stahl- er, Peter Schlosser, Johannes Armbruster, Jo- hannes Ortt, Christopher Andreas Guthman, George Stahl and Jacob Müller.
Land Warrants .- Warrants for tracts of land were taken up in Upper Milford township (now included in Lower Milford) by the fol- lowing-named settlers:
James Steel, gentleman of Philadelphia, March 26, 1733, for 2,400 acres of land in Pennsyl- vania in several tracts; two tracts were located here, one being on the county line in the Hosen- sack valley, which contained 500 acres. A pat- ent was issued to him on August 31st, following. He sold this tract on Feb. 8, 1741, to James Hamilton, of Philadelphia, for £150; who sold it on Dec. 23, 1761, to Hans Heinrich Jaekel (Yeakel) for £1,250. This tract was subse- quently owned by Rev. Daniel Yeakel, David S. Yeakel (descendants of Hans Henry Yeakel), and Anthony Schultz, George Schultz, J. Dech, and others, and regarded as of the richest farm land in Lehigh county.
Another tract, containing 276 acres, and situ- ated in Kraussdale, was surveyed to Steel, on April 24, 1734, and he sold it to Nicolaus Wal- ber for £189. A tract of 179 A., 35 Ps., was patented in 1768, to Rev. George Kriebel; and the remaining part of the tract, called "Old Rights," in 1770, to Friederich Limbach, Esq., which was afterward owned by John Stauffer, Milton Oberholtzer, Jesse Bry, and Dr. Jonas R. Gerhard.
Michael Zimmerman for three tracts, in 1733, 1738 and 1741, for 333 acres, situated in Hos- ensack Valley, also on the county line adjoining James Steel's or Hamilton's tract. This .was patented to Michael and George Zimmerman, on May 23, 1741, then sold by the Zimmerman's on Dec. 4, 1784, to John Yund, who sold, in 1787, to John Roeder. It was afterward owned by Henry E. Roeder David Roeder and others, being very rich farming land.
Martin Weidknecht for 170 acres, in 1734, situate near the present Dillingersville. A patent was granted in 1822 for part of the land to Jacob Ehrhard, and in 1837 another patent for the other part to Jacob S. Meyer. These prem- ises were afterward owned by Lewis S. Roeder, Lewis H. Wieand, Joshua Stahler, Henry D. Meyer, Abraham Musselman, and John Rhoads.
Heinrich Wilhelm Dillinger, for 150 acres, in 1734; he sold the same about 1760 to his son, John Jacob Dillinger, who obtained a patent. The father in 1752 took up another tract, for 23 A., 123 Ps., which was patented in 1790 by the name of "Gaul," to his son. These premises were afterward owned by Daniel Dillinger (a descendant), Frederick T. Jost, Henry Boyer, David Schuler, and others.
Jacob Wetzel, in 1734, for 150 acres, and in 1754, for 51 A. 39 Ps., for which he got pat- ents in 1747 and 1754. The premises are situ- ated in Hosensack Valley, and were afterward owned by David Schuler, John D. Eberhard, Daniel Rothenberger, and others. Wetzel se- cured a third patent in 1771 for 47 acres, called "Mount Fair," afterward owned by Abraham Kauffman and L. S. Roeder.
Stephen Riemer (or Reemer), in 1734, for 100 acres, who sold it on Dec. 3, 1735, to Peter Wentz, of Philadelphia, who secured a patent. It is situated in Hosensack Valley. On this tract the first grist-mill was erected in Lehigh county by said Peter Wentz, in 1740. Parts of the premises came to be owned by Solomon Schantz, Reuben M. Roeder, and Jonathan Fretz, the last named Raving had the mill prop- erty.
Conrad Wetzel, (Justice of the Peace for many years), in 1734, for 145 A., 53 Ps., pat- ented in 1762 to Christian Miller, of Long Swamp, Berks county.
George Schumacher, in 1734, 200 acres situ- ated in Kraussdale, on the county line, 140 acres, being in Lower Milford. A patent was granted in 1749, to Balthaser Krauss. This property was owned by the Krauss family for over a hundred years. In 1736 a second war- rant was issued to Schumacher for another tract of 200 acres, situated near Emaus, and patented to Daniel Schwartz and Francis Schwartz. It was afterward owned by the Swartz family, Peter Henninger, Daniel Klein and others.
Henry Keiber (Kaiber or Geber), in 1734, for 150 acres, in Hosensack valley, in Lower Milford, (then Upper Milford), patented in 1757, to George Klein; afterward occupied by Henry B. Schantz, Reuben M. Roeder, David Roeder, Christian Weiss and others. On this tract the present village of Hosensack is located.
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UPPER MILFORD TOWNSHIP.
Theobald Mechlin (now Mechling, some- times called Duwalt Meichly), in 1734, for 156 A. 40 Ps. A second warrant in 1747 for a tract of 20 acres, and a third warrant in 1757 for a tract of 18 acres. Patent for first tract to Mechlin in 1747; for the other two tracts to Thomas Mechlin. The premises are still in the Mechlin family and owned by Benj. T. Mechlin, Jr.
Jacob Dubs in 1734 for 150 acres, situated in Hosensack Valley, and called "Potts," patented in 1772 to his son, Daniel. These premises were owned by the Dubs family for over 125 years, and afterward by Henry W. Longacre, Alfred Freed, and Widow Lydia Dubs.
Hans (or John) Post, in 1735, for 125 acres, who sold it in 1794 to Thomas Kurr, who took a warrant in 1749, for an adjoining tract of 25 acres, and sold both tracts in 1766, to Ludwig Siffert, for £300; and Siffert in 1775, sold to Hans (or John) Schantz, for £700. John Schantz in 1765 purchased 125 acres from Val- entine Keiser, and in 1785 a patent was granted to him for these three tracts, containing together 2953/4 acres, patented by the name of "Shanz- burg," all in Lower Milford.
Ulrich Rieszer (or Reeser), in 1735, for 269 acres, situated in Kraussdale, in Lower Milford. A second warrant in 1749 for 15 acres, ad- joining the first tract. In 1760 he obtained a patent for 269 acres. In 1784 he conveyed by his last will over 82 acres to his son, Casper Reiszer; another part, 19534 acres, was sold in 1788, to Jacob Brobst. A tract, 15 A. 30 Ps., was sold to Balzer Krauss, Jr.
Paul Ritter, (Rütter) warrant in 1737, for 192 acres, situate on the Hosensack creek. His son, Casper Ritter, obtained a patent in 1753, who sold it in 1758, to Joseph Eberhardt for £250.
Jacob Miller, in 1737, for 133 A. 58 Ps., in Lower Milford, near Steinsburg, who sold it in 1743 to John Kooken (or Kocken) ; and Kook- en secured a patent in 1761.
Michael and Joseph Eberhard, for the use of the "Reformed Calvinist Society" in 1738, for 113 A., 70 Ps., patent granted in 1762. It is still owned by the Great Swamp Reformed con- gregation ; Trinity church, one of the finest country churches in Eastern Pennsylvania was erected on the land in 1872-73, at a cost of $30,- 000.
Matthias Ox (or Ochs), in 1738, for 159 acres, and was patented to him in 1747. This tract is situated near Dillingersville.
Conrad Holbe, in 1738, for 212 acres, was patented partly to Anthony Stahler, and partly
to John Martin Schwenck, (the latter dated in 1762, for 88 A. 25 Ps.).
Hans Oord or John Ord (afterward Ortt), in 1738, for 200 A., 113 Ps .; patent issued to him in 1761. The township line between Upper and Lower Milford runs through near the mid- dle of this tract.
Henry Ritter for 170 acres on March 16, 1737, which Lorenz Erbach secured in 1749; patent in 1762 to Johannes Reiswig. This property is in Lower Milford, adjoining the Great Swamp church, and is now owned by O. C. Keiper, Esq., and on it can still be seen the cellar of a house built by Ritter in 1739.
Johannes Meyer (or John Moyer) in 1734 for 180 A., 112 Ps., patent to him in 1761. Previous to that year he erected a saw-mill on the premises and sold it the same year to his chil- dren. The division line of the township runs through the land.
Peter Rosz (Rose), in 1737 for 157 acres in Lower Milford; bought by Christian Zellner (now Zelner) .
Michael Moser, in 1734, for 10 acres. It is where Dillingersville is located.
Balzer Gueren, in 1738 for 200 acres situ- ate at the source of Hosensack creek, in Lower Milford.
Lutheran congregation in 1770 for 29 A. 137 Ps., selected by members of the congregation, (Theobald Mechlin, and Heinrich Wilhelm Dillinger) for school and church purposes ; pat- ent granted in 1840. Land is situated near Dil- lingersville, now in possession of John N. Bit- ting and the "Union Church Association."
Jacob Rausch in 1738 for 115 A. 54 Ps., in Lower Milford ; patent in 1789 to Peter Busch.
Valentine Keiser in 1734, and a second in 1735 for two tracts in Hosensack Valley, containing together 150 acres; patent to Joseph Eberhardt, Sr., in 1742; now in possession of estate of Dr. J. H. Dickenshied. In 1741 for another tract of 100 acres, on a branch of the Hosensack. Keiser conveyed it in 1765 to Hans or John Schantz, who obtained a patent.
Michael Bischop for 203 A. 60 Ps., on the county line near Steinsburg, Bucks county; pat- ent in 1761.
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