History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 142

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 142


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Frantz Wesko.


Peter Schuler, Philip Federolff.


792


HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.


of the church was celebrated in a fitting manner. Since 1893 the congregation has successfully cel- ebrated an anniversary every five years.


In 1903 the graves in the cemetery numbered 1223; of which 830 were marked with head- stones for identification.


In December, 1913, a new pipe organ (Dur- ner, of Quakertown) was installed at a cost of $2,800.


The following pastors have served this con- gregation :


Schafer, 1757.


Jacob F. Schertlein, 1758-'60.


Fredk W. Mendsen,


1819.


George Weisner.


Jacob Van Buskirk, William German,


1769-'93; 1797-1800. 1848-'51.


George F. Ellisen, 1793-'97.


1852. I. P. F. Kramer,


1800-'03.


Friederich Geisenheimer. Henrich Heyer. Roller.


Frederich Plitt.


Henry Heiny, 1808-'17.


Henry G. Secher, 1817-'19.


Irvin B. Ritter, 1896-1907.


David Kauffman, 1907-


The "Union" Sunday school was carried on in the church school-building from 1841 to 1858; then the Lutheran members jointly occupied the Sunday school room in the basement of the new brick church of the Reformed congregation and this arrangement was conducted until they took possession of their own basement in the new brick edifice of 1876.


St. Peter's Union Church is situated in the western section of Upper Milford on the road leading from Shimersville to Sieszholtzville, 31/2 miles west of Shimersville. The land was purchased by settlers of that vicinity in 1770 for the purpose of providing a schoolhouse and bury- ing-ground.


The school-building was erected and the grave- yard set apart about that time, and they were maintained until 1844 when Lutheran and Re- formed congregations came to be organized there and they erected a two-story stone-plastered church where religious services have been held in harmonious alternation until the present time.


In 1883 the building was repaired, and a new steeple erected, 100 feet high.


In 1904 the church was re-modeled; the old organ and pews were removed and in their stead were placed the organ and pews formerly used by the St. Peter's Lutheran church of Allentown, these having been accepted as a generous gift; and re-dedication services were held on Septem- ber IIth which were largely attended.


In 1912 lightning struck the building in the front, which passed down both sides without do- ing any damage. The organ was covered with a rubber blanket at the time and this was a pro- tection against damage which might otherwise have resulted.


The following pastors have served this con- gregation :


Lutheran. Reformed.


Daniel Kohler.


Henry S. Baszler, 8y.


Samuel K. Brobst.


Christian R. Keszler, Iy.


Ferdinand Berkemeyer. John B. Poerner, 5 y.


Edward Herman. John S. Keszler, 9 y.


M. Sell. R. S. Appel, 2 y.


A. R. Bayer.


Alfred Croll. Aug. L. Dechant, I y. Eli Keller, 1874-190I. O. R. Frantz, 1901-'07. James M. Blatt, 1907 -. D. H. Humbert.


A Sunday school has been maintained in the church. The building and grave yard have a fine location. Seven soldiers are buried there.


Salem Lutheran Church .- A number of the members of the Lutheran congregation which worshipped in St. Peter's Union Church in Up- per Milford withdrew in 1873, under the lead- ership of Rev. Alfred Croll, and established a church for themselves in the township, a short distance south of the St. Peter's Church. The building is two-story, stone, plastered, and marked in imitation of cut-stone, with a steeple and bell, set on an acre of ground. A number of pastors have conducted the services, the last since 1910 being Benjamin S. Dice. The members have been greatly reduced, through death and removals, only twelve remaining in November, 1913. The building was repaired and repainted in 1913. A graveyard is maintained on the property.


A Sunday-school has been carried on from the beginning; membership now 43; superintendent, James C. Rohrbach.


Zionsville Mennonite Church is on the King's Highway, midway between Zionsville Station and old Zionsville in Upper Milford. The congregation was organized before 1740 by Mennonites who had settled in this vicinity. In 1772 John Schantz and Benjamin Meyer as trustees of the congregation, bought half an acre of ground from Henry Schleifer. It would seem that a log church had long before been erected on this ground where burials had been made. In 1795 other trustees bought adjoining ground (39 perches) from Conrad Meyer for the pur- pose of enlarging the graveyard; and in 1840 Conrad Meyer sold to the congregation an ad- ditional tract of 11/2 acres, and it was then that the log building was torn down and a stone church erected in its place. This stone church


Benjamin German, 1819-'48.


Augustus L. Dechant,


Jacob Vogelbach, 1852-'57.


William Rath, 1857-'89. Myron Rath, 1889-1895. Milton J. Keener (sup- ply 1896).


793


UPPER MILFORD TOWNSHIP.


was occupied for 36 years, then, in the "centen- nial year," a fine, large, brick edifice, 40 by 70 feet was put up where services have been con- tinued until now.


In 1905 the auditorium was improved by a metal ceiling and in 1913 the premises were en- larged by adding 11/2 acres.


This is sometimes called the "Second Menno- nite Church," because the "First" was put up in Lancaster County; but it is commonly known as the "Zionsville Mennonite Church."


The names of the earliest members were: Conrad Stamm. Johannes Gehman.


Johannes Stahl.


Johannes Stauffer.


Derrick Jansen. Daniel Stauffer.


Henry Schliefer. Abraham Meyer. Ulrich Baszler.


George Weisz.


John Schantz.


Jacob Hiestand.


John Meyer.


Philip Geisinger.


Henry Funk.


Christian Musselman.


Benjamin Meyer.


Rudolph Weisz.


Michael Meyer.


And others.


Peter Meyer.


The pastors have been :


Michael Holtzhausen.


Anthony S. Shelly,


Hans Gehman. 1889-1905.


Johanne Gehman, 35 y.


William Gottschall.


John Schantz, 1828-'48. S. P. Preheim.


Joseph Schantz, 33 y. Ellwood Shelly, 1913.


William Gehman, 6 y.


Carl H. A. von der Smissen, 1881-'89.


A stone is set in the front wall with the years inscribed when the several improvements were made on the ground, as follows:


1740; 1760; 1816; 1841; 1876; 1905.


The membership in November, 1913, was 100.


A Sunday-school has been conducted from the beginning of the congregation. It was re-organ- ized in 1853; then it possessed a library. In 1913 the membership was 60, reduced by death and removals. Henry B. Schantz served as superintendent from 1890 to 1907.


Mennonite Brethren .- About 1855, differences arose in the old Mennonite congregation which in time led to a separation, and those who left the church organized a congregation in 1858, with Rev. Wm. Gehman as their pastor. They se- cured a piece of ground on the great road from Hosensack to Vera Cruz, about a mile distant from the mother church, and in 1859 erected a one-story brick church, 34 by 40 feet. The first members were:


Rev. William Gehman (pastor).


David Gehman (deacon) Jacob Musselman. Abraham Kauffman, Sr. Samuel Kauffman. Joseph Stauffer. Josiah W. Stauffer.


David Musselman. Rev. William Gehman Abraham Musselman. Jonas Musselman. Abraham Kauffman, Jr. William Gehman is still living, and 80 years old.


The first meeting was held Sept. 24, 1858, at the residence of David Musselman, which was attended by four ininisters, Revs. Wm. Geh- man, Wm. N. Schelly, David Henning, and Henry Diehl; and three deacons, David Geh- man, Joseph Schneider, and Jacob Gottschall ; and then a name was selected: "Evangelical Mennonite," and inscribed on the stone set in the front wall over the door.


In the winter of 1881-82 a General Confer- ence was held in this church and delegates from Canada, Ohio, Indiana and Michigan were pres- ent. The name "Evangelical Mennonites" was changed to "Evangelical United Mennonites."


At a special general conference held at Harris- burg, in Ohio, in December, 1883, the name was changed to "Mennonite Brethren in Christ."


From 1858 to 1884 the congregation increased its membership to sixty-five; and in that time several young men became ministers of the gos- pel, Joseph L. Romig, Abraham Kauffman, Jonas Musselman, and John Traub.


The services are held twice every Sunday; membership 65.


The ministers who served as pastors were :


William Gehman. Emanuel Cassell, 1902-'05. William N. Schelly.


Joseph L. Romig. O. S. Hillegass, 1905-'08.


L. Lambert.


W. W.


Zimmerman,


Abraham Kauffman.


1908-'II.


Abel Strawn. Robert Bergstrasser, 19II-'14.


Jonas Musselman.


In 1875, a Sunday school was organized which has been maintained until now. F. M. Gehman has been superintendent twelve years.


This building is locally known as the "Third Church," of the Mennonites.


Evangelical Association .- Rev. John Seybert, the first bishop of the Association, organized a congregation in 1829, and held the first meeting at the residence of David Schubert (a Schwenk- felder) on "Bald-Hill" on the 13th of Septem- ber, where Revs. William Orwig and Carl Ham- mer conducted religious service ; and this resulted in the erection of a church in an elevated locality in Upper Milford along the road leading from the Hereford and Shimersville Turnpike through Powder Valley to the Hosensack Valley. The first members were:


David Schubert. George Yeakel. Peter Wiest. Christopher Schubert. Melchior Yeakel. Abraham Yeakel.


In 1831, the congregation secured from Chris- topher Schubert a small tract of land and estab- lished a burying-ground for its members. In 1838, David Schubert built a stone meeting- house on land adjoining the small tract men-


794


HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.


tioned for the use of the congregation and in Hiestand and Friederich Sigmund, three years; 1840 sold it to them with three-quarters of an Peter Henninger and John Ortt, two years; acre of land for $300. It was occupied until 1858, when a new brick edifice, 38 by 50 feet, was erected in its stead. It was remodeled.


A branch of this congregation was organized in 1844, in the vicinity of Vera Cruz and after- ward its meetings were held for a number of years in the Baptist Church. Some of the first members were Francis Schwartz, Daniel Schwartz, Amandus Klein, Henry Mohr, and Thomas Kern.


United Evangelical Church .- Before 1850 a German Baptist congregation was organized by Reverend Fleischman, of Philadelphia, in Upper Milford at the village of Vera Cruz, and the first members were Wm. Desch, Henry Desch, Manasses Baer, Jonas George, Wm. Mohr, Harry Gehman and Owen Rhoads. They erected a one-story frame church in 1853 along the King's Highway, a short distance south of the village, and at same time established a grave- yard on an adjoining lot. Wm. Desch and Wm. Mohr were ordained as its ministers who served for many years; then it was discontinued on ac- count of the death and removal of members.


In 1900 a congregation of United Evangeli- cal members purchased the property and remodel- ed the church. Since then regular services have been conducted there, including a Sunday school, each with a small membership. The pastors have been D. G. Reinhold, J. K. Freed, J. H. Ster- mer and D. S. Kostenbader.


U. B. Church .- In 1881, the United Breth- ern in Christ was organized near Vera Cruz by Rev. James H. Unger, minister of the East German Conference of this church. The first meeting was held in 1880 in the Baptist Church and a later meeting in the private house of Charles Schuler. Those who joined this class first were Charles Schuler and wife ( Henrietta), Levi N. Schelly and wife (Mary), and daughter (Mary), Joseph Wieand, Amandus Snyder and wife (Lucy). Later came Charles Mumbauer, Oscar Romig, and Catharine Weidner. Meet- ings were regularly held in 1883 at the house of Charles Schuler by Rev. Eph. Light, Rev. John H. Ruhl, and Rev. H. B. Spayd, and also at the house of Levi N. Schelly.


SCHOOLS .- The school board of the township for 1853-'54 was constituted as follows: David


Charles B. Shimer and Charles W. Wieand, one year. Mr. Wieand was chosen president; Mr. Sigmund, secretary, and Charles Foster, treas- urer.


The schools and first teachers were as fol- lows:


I. Brunner's, William H. Wieder.


2. Kern's, Charles H. Blank.


3. Koch's, Thomas K. Zeisslove.


4. Kriebel's, Samuel Kriebel.


5. Miller's Mill, George W. Hartzell.


6. Ortt's, Solomon Schiffert.


7. Schantz Mill, George W. Brinker.


8. Schwartz's, Solomon Daubert.


9. Zionsville, Charles W. Wieand.


The teachers were employed for 412 months, at a salary of $18.


In 1855, a new sub-district was established in Powder Valley called Powder and a new build- ing erected for $450. The teacher appointed was S. T. Butterwick. The term was the same ; but the salary was increased to $20. Till the year 1882 the schools had increased to 14; the term to 5 months, and the salary to teachers to $32.


For statistics on school affairs see chapter on CENSUS.


DIRECTORS AND TEACHERS .- The following directors and teachers served the township schools for the year 1913:


Directors.


President, Harvey E. Miller.


Secretary, Charles P. Heller.


Treasurer, Elmer Hinnershitz.


Harvey E. Marsteller.


Charles F. Christman.


Teachers.


Name. School.


M. J. Wertman, princ., Shimersville (Kern's).


Stanley D. Schubert, Shimersville.


Harvey H. Bleiler, Vera Cruz.


Sarah M. Lehman, Vera Cruz


Esther R. Silsdorf, O. Zionsville.


Mary E. Roeder, Zionsville (Geissinger).


Florence J. Miller, Ortt's.


Mabel R. Benfield, Miller's.


Alfred J. Kohler, Henninger's.


Elmer H. Roeder, Brunner's.


Ella D. Reese, Powder Valley (Schubert).


Lulu S. Miller, Yoder's (Kreibel's).


Myron M. Merkel, Kochs.


Helen R. Kuntz, Sigmund.


CHAPTER XXXVIII.


LOWER MILFORD TOWNSHIP.


The following historical details relate more particularly to the lower sub-division of the original township, as it has been recognized since 1853.


VILLAGES .- The following villages are in the township of Lower Milford :


Hosensack.


Dillingersville.


Kraussdale.


Dillinger Station.


Corning.


Limeport.


Hosensack is situated on the creek of this - and he conducted the hotel for twenty-five years. name in Lower Milford, 4080 ft. east from the Perkiomen R. R. In 1913 it contained a cream- ery, store, hotel (discontinued) and four dwell- ings. The Hancock Ice Plant is near by, to the west, with a dam covering 40 acres and an ice- house with a storage capacity of 30,000 tons.


Henry Kieber (Geber) took up 150 acres of land here along the Hosensack creek in 1734, and he then erected a dwelling-house. George Klein became the owner and secured a patent for the land in 1757. Two years later Klein obtained a license and then started a tavern on the site where the hotel building is now situated.


1773


43


M


30"


To


P


In 1773 a milestone was planted along the north side of the King's Highway, from Phila- delphia by way of Hosensack through Upper Milford to Macungie, several hundred feet east of the tavern to indicate the distance as 43 miles from Philadelphia. It was transplanted to its


present locality, opposite the hotel, by Solomon Holder while proprietor.


George Stahl conducted the hotel after George Klein for upwards of twenty years, which cover- ed the trying period of the Revolution. During the Indian troubles of 1784, fifty soldiers were stationed there. In 1797, Klein sold it to his son, Abraham, who succeeded Stahl. A number of proprietors carried on the place until 1840, when Solomon L. Holder bought the property Then George Bachman became the owner and in 1867 he tore down the old log building and erected a two story stone hotel in its place. He was proprietor until 1882. Since then the pro- prietors have been Christian Weiss, Michael Hinnerschlitz, Thomas Roeder, John Weiss, Elmer Hillegass, Hugh McLean and Harvey Smith.


Previous to the Revolution, George Stahl es- tablished a store near the hotel and conducted it for a number of years until after the war when it was discontinued. He hauled great quantities of flour to Philadelphia which had been brought to his place from the mills along the Hosensack creek; and also provisions. In 1828 David Geh- man started a store at the village and there car- ried on the business in a successful manner until 1850 when he put up a large new brick building, and it has been occupied as a general country store until now. He continued the business un- til 1860, a period of 32 years. The store keepers since 1880 have been R. N. Wanner (10 yrs.), J. S. Moyer (10 yrs), A. D. Brey (13 yrs.), and J. H. Yeakel since April, 1913.


In 1841 a postoffice was established there with David Gehman as postmaster, who filled the position until 1853. Solomon L. Holder served eight years; then Gehman was re-appointed and he served until 1872. His son-in-law then acted for one year. Subsequently the position was filled by the storekeepers, until 1910 when it was discontinued because of the introduction of a rural free delivery route.


The last bear in this vicinity is said to have been shot by John Stahl (a 12-year-old son of George) during the Revolution with the assist- ance of several comrades.


The hotel has been known for many years by the name of "Buck-Horn" and this was supposed


795


796


HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.


to have been given to the place by George Stahl before 1800, when he hung up on the sign-post a large pair of Elk buck horns to attract public attention. They were blown down and broken in half some years ago, one arm still lying at the building as a silent witness of "ye ancient days."


In 1879 a creamery company was incorporated and a plant was put up in 1880, which has been carried in until the present time, the principal parties interested being Wm. Roeder, Reuben Roeder (dec'd), John M. Roeder, Milton Schantz and others.


A county bridge, built of stone with two arches, spans the creek which flows southwardly a short distance west of the store.


David Roeder carried on a blacksmith shop for a number of years. He was succeeded in 1890 by his son, John.


In 1913 the village included seven dwellings.


Hosensack Valley .- The following extract was taken from a sketch of "The Hosensack Valley," by P. W. Flores, which was published in Frie- dens-Bote, and appears in "Sketches of the Le- high Valley (1880-86) pp. 218-20:


"More than twenty mills of different kinds have been operated by the Hosensack creek and its tributaries, showing its appreciation by the settlers and its value to the community.


"It would appear that the name 'Hosensack' was originated by the German surveyors in the employ of the proprietary government, who, in making the early surveys in this region of coun- try, were obliged to return from the valley by the same route taken in entering it, as from a 'pants- pocket.'


"The territory was included in the surveys re- lating to the Goschenhoppen and Macungie set- tlements as early as 1684, and in the deeds from the Indian chiefs to William Penn.


"The Indians understood the transactions so far as these lands were concerned because they never disturbed the early settlers in the possession of the lands. This is evidenced by the fact that certain friendly Indians had remained in the Hosensack Valley on the land of Joseph Eber- hardt (afterward of Dr. J. H. Dickenschied), where they dwelt in poor huts without interfer- ence. They visited the houses of the settlers and begged for food which was given to them so as to keep them in good humor. It is said that upon one occasion an old Indian visited the home of Eberhardt and seeing the beautiful 'house-cat,' took it quickly into his arms and left, after which he killed it, prepared a meal and enjoyed it heartily.


"It is doubtful if any real settlements were made in this valley before 1730, though there might have been some 'squatters.'


"One of the first landowners, if not the very first, in the Hosensack Valley, was James Steel, the private secretary of William Penn. The Lieutenant Governor of the Province in 1683 bought 5,000 acres of land in Pennsylvania, of which he devised 2,400 acres to his wife. This came to be purchased on Jan. 21, 1729, by Steel ; and when he took up the land in different places he selected 500 acres in Hosensack Valley, and also 270 acres on the other side of the Hosen- sack Hill in Krauss-dale. The 500 acres lay in the lower part of this valley and the county-line between Lehigh and Montgomery cuts it into two nearly equal parts. Steel received a patent for his land on Aug. 31, 1733, subject to the usual quit-rent of a silver shilling on each hun- dred acres. He was in the possession of this land over 12 years and sold it on Feb. 8, 1741, to Gov. James Hamilton for £150, and therefore it has since been known as the Hamilton tract.


"On Sept. 12, 1734, John Heinrich Jaeckel ar- rived with the Schwenkfelders at Philadelphia. Soon afterward he went with his brother, Bal- thaser Jaeckel, and his brother-in-law, Gregory Schultz, to North Whitehall where they stop- ped; but that locality appearing dangerous to them on account of the Indian troubles, John Heinrich Jæckel (now Yeakel) then journeyed to the Hosensack Valley, and on Dec. 23, 1761, bought the Hamilton tract for £250 after it had been in Hamilton's possession for over 20 years. Seven years afterward he divided this land in equal parts among his four sons, Balthaser, Jere- miah, George and Melchior, and it has remained in parts among his descendants until to-day.


"The son, Balthaser, built on his part of the land in the beginning of the year 1800 a wool- carding mill, which he carried on many years, but it was afterward changed to a cassinet fac- tory and bought by George Yeakel and Amos Antrim of Oley, who conducted the factory for many years until it was destroyed by fire in the year 1849."


Kraussdale is a small village in Lower Mil- ford, in the southern extremity of Lehigh coun- ty, on the old King's Highway, 214 miles south from Hosensack. The land was first settled by Ulrich Rieser in 1735. Baltzer Krauss became the owner of 196 acres in 1793, and he sold the property to his sons, John and Andrew, in 1803.


John Krauss established a machine-shop here and made wool carding-machines until he died in 1819. His son, Anthony, purchased the prop- erty, changed the shop into a factory for the manufacture of threshing-machines, and carried on the business in an extensive and successful manner for upwards of 30 years, affording con- stant employment to more than 25 hands. He


797


LOWER MILFORD TOWNSHIP.


died in 1852 and his sons, Isaac, Harrison and James, became his successors, who then conduct- ed the business under the name of Krauss & Brothers. In 1870 the plant was enlarged for the manufacture of all kinds of farming imple- ments and they continued this great local estab- lishment until 1900, a continuous period by them- selves covering almost 50 years. Since the be- ginning, the family name was prominent and in- fluential in business and manufacturing affairs for a century.


In 1913 there was no business place of any kind in the village, and only six dwelling-houses.


Corning is a small village and station on the Perkiomen R. R., near the line of Montgomery county. The public road from Treichlersville, in Berks county, to Hosensack passes through the place. The improvements were made within ten years after the construction of the railroad. A postoffice was established in 1883, which has been continued until now. Elias Trump was the first postmaster and store-keeper. He was suc- ceeded by his daughter, Anna B., upon his death, and she carried on the store and postoffice until she died in 1912, when B. S. Caswell became the purchaser and he has since conducted the business.


A short distance from the station, Henry Scherer started a small tannery in 1894 for pre- paring pelts on orders by a special process which he learned from Charles Burkhalter, the tanner, near Zionsville Station, and he has carried on the business until now. Skins of various kinds have been brought to him from the surrounding coun- try for many miles.


Dillingersville is in Lower Milford, nearly two miles east of Zionsville Station. The land was first settled by Michael Moser in 1735, and he built the. first house there near a fine spring which he occupied for 30 years. John Jacob Dil- linger became the owner in 1788, and afterward established an oil-mill on the premises which he carried on for 15 years. This building is still standing but changed into a dwelling-house.


John Dillinger, son of John Jacob, started a general store business in 1800 and carried it on for about 10 years. Henry Dillinger was the store- keeper from 1829 to 1846. Since then for 50 years there were many successive owners who carried on the business for short periods. From 1896 the storekeeper has been Erwin G. Kramer.


Daniel Stahler established a tavern in 1810 and carried it on for 17 years, Henry Stahler for 2 years, when Henry Dillinger became the own- er. In 1830 he erected a large stone hotel build- ing and conducted the business for 25 years. For the next 30 years there were many landlords, the longest term having been from 1868 to 1882 by E. S. Diefenderfer ; and for the


succeeding 25 years there were also numerous parties ; since 1907, they have been L. N. Ma- zurie, Charles W. Culp, Robert Miller, James Brophy and Daniel Schmoyer (Nov., 1913).




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