USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I > Part 148
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The slate industry was started here about 1844, by James M. Porter, Daniel Jones, and a man named McDowell ( the same parties who are said to have first opened quarries at Slatington), with David Follweiler as superintendent.
A mantel factory was started in 1860 by An- thony Dounon, of Philadelphia. Afterward it was carried on by Henry F. Martin for a time ; and then by Jesse B. Keim, of Philadelphia. For the last fifteen years it has been operated by the estate of Rev. J. N. Bachman and William Hess.
Another mantel factory was started in .1880 by Alvin F. Creitz, Moses K. Jacob and Charles K. Henry, who afterward sold the plant to Pot- ter & McHose. It was operated for upwards of twenty-five years when it was abandoned. The last owner was Dr. Wilson P. Kistler who re- moved the machinery and factory and sold the land to John G. Jones.
John Watt started a small factory in the sum- mer of 1913 for the manufacture of slate man- tels, registers and sink-tops, buying the materials from slate operations, and has since carried on the business there.
In 1911 Frederick Pfeifly started dealing in flour, coal, grain and potatoes, and has since es- tablished a large business. During the last sea- son of 1912-13, his shipments of potatoes by the car have amounted to 100,000 bushels. Previous of the more prominent shippers at this station have been Charles, Henry, Benj. K. Henry, Jacob Hartman, Samuel Hartman, John Kuhns, and Jonas Hamm.
The status of the town in 1913 was as follows :
Population, 175. Flour and grain house.
Dwellings, 35. Blacksmith shop. Stores, 2. Cobbler shop.
School buildings, 2.
Barber shop.
Hotel.
Clock repairer.
Coal yard.
R. R. station.
JACKSONVILLE .- In 1781 David Hamm own- ed the land where Jacksonville came to be lo- cated a short distance from the Ontelaunee creek in Lynn township. The first dwelling-house was built there by Martin Baer in 1820. John Her- many purchased it some years afterwards, made additions to the house, and opened a store and hotel. Elihu F. Lutz became the owner about 1865 and carried on both until his decease sev- eral years ago. Since then his estate has con- ducted the business.
A postoffice was established in 1845, and the postmasters have been:
Zachariah Long.
John Oswald.
Jacob Oswald. John Hermany.
E. F. Lutz. John Follweiler.
Daniel Kressley. Elmer Kressley.
The Jacobs Church, a beautiful, well-kept edi- fice is situated in this village. For its descrip- tion, see general history of Lynn township.
A planing mill was established here about 1890 by Daniel Kressly and operated by him with from two to ten hands, according to the demand of his business until he died in 1900, and since then his son, Elmer, has carried it on.
The present status of the place is as follows:
Dwellings, 12. School building.
Population, 60. Blacksmith shop.
Church.
R. R. Station. Planing mill. K. G. E. hall.
About 1884, the Grangers erected a hall at Jacksonville adjoining the R. R. station and oc- cupied it for some years when it was purchased by the Knights of the Golden Eagle who have since held their meetings in it.
Amandas Hermany, of Jacksonville, has a patent deed in his possession which contains the following data: In 1744 a warrant was issued to one Evan Long for a tract of land situated in what is now Lynn township. Afterwards it was surveyed and found to contain 348 acres and allowances, and within its bounds are now situated the village of Jacksonville, Jacobs Church, the Hermany farm, and the farms of Amandas Leiby, Edwin Follweiler, John B. Foll- weiler, Lewis Follweiler, Frank Follweiler, Her- man Wuchter, Ammon Long, Perry Long, Mrs. Emily Steigerwalt, William Pfeifly, Mrs. Lewis Hermany, Mrs. Susanna E. Hermany, J. J. Lutz; also the houses and lots of Michael Pfeifly, Rev. Jesse M. Mengel, Mrs. John Leiby, and the Jacksonville planing mill now owned by Elmer Kressly. When this tract was surveyed it was bounded by lands of George Hermany, Michael Albrecht, Frederick Leiser (Leaser, of Liberty Bell fame), Nicholas Smith, Daniel Ham, Philip Enos, John Yoder, and Martin Widsel.
WANAMAKER is a station on the Schuylkill and Lehigh railroad and when this was construct- ed in 1874 the business centre which had pre- viously been made there took the name of Wana- maker after the prominent family whose an- cestor located in this section of the country be- fore 1740. Jacob Miller secured a warrant for the land as early as 1760, and this was conveyed to Philip Wannemacher in 1791. Christian Wannemacher became the owner in 1812 and he began improvements in 1825, among them a grist-mill along the Ontelaunee creek, along the public road leading to Kempton. [see descrip- tion of this mill in "Grist-Mills," of the town ship.]
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LYNN TOWNSHIP.
The railroad was constructed through this property and the station located upon it. Shortly afterward, Benjamin Levan erected a fine two- story brick hotel near the station, and William Fusselman a frame building; Jeremiah Klingaman established a steam saw mill; Klotz & Billig a foundry, and Milton Kerchner a marble yard. The remainder of the Wannemacher property in the vicinity was conveyed to Dr. D. S. Shade in 1878. The industries named were discontinued.
Irvin P. Reinhart has conducted a successful general store for a number of years.
Amandus Lutz, son of Benjamin, started a coal yard about 1890 and conducted the business for a number of years when he sold it to Henry F. Kistler, who has carried it on since.
Another coal yard was started by James D. Heintzelman about 1905 and carried on six years. He erected a frame grain house and dealt in grain, flour, feed, fertilizer and potatoes very extensively in connection with the coal business. He was succeeded by Clinton D. Fetherolf.
The Atlantic Refining Co. established an oil station there and erected a large tank with a large capacity which has been maintained since by them.
The village contains fifteen dwellings, and a population of 75.
A fine, graded school building is situated along the public road midway between this village and Steinsville which are about half a mile apart.
STEINSVILLE .- The land on which this village came to be located was granted by the state to Michael Stein in 1756, who had emigrated from Germany. It was founded by his son, John, in 1810. In 1832 he erected a spacious structure and embarked in the hotel and store business which he carried on for many years. He was followed by J. L. Brobst who continued there until 1874, when he conveyed the property to Dr. J. D. Graver, Graver made many improve- ments and rented the place to different parties, more especially Joseph Rose who carried on the business from 1874 to 1906. The present pro- prietor is Daniel Berk; and the store-keeper since 1911 has been Harry J. Rapp.
Odd Fellows' Hall .- In 1860, a number of Odd Fellows, of Steinsville and vicinity organized the Steinsville Hall Association for religious, social, and educational purposes and in 1861 erected a fine two-story brick building, 30 by 36 feet, which has since been known as Odd Fel- lows' Hall, and there they have held their meet- ings. An addition of 20 feet was made to it in 1912. Other societies meet there, including the Grand Army Post, No. 606. It is called the "Blue Mountain Hall."
Postoffice .- The postoffice was established in 1858, and postmasters have been the keepers of the store.
Industries .- A carriage factory was started here in 1851 by Ely & Waidelich and carried on by them for about forty years. Eugene Ely op- erated the plant for some years afterward. The blacksmith shop has been continued until the pres- ent time by different parties, the last being Adam Shollenberger.
A creamery was put up in 1881 by Doctors Shade and Graver, of Steinsville, for the manu- facture of butter and cheese, and they carried it on for some years; since then it has been rented, the present lessee being G. A. Brownback.
A shoe factory has been operated here by C. E. Bond since 1895.
A cabinent-shop was carried on by C. S. Green- awald from 1874 to 1884, but he has since made all kinds of repairs to furniture. He has been undertaker for this community since 1874.
Physicians .- The following physicians have carried on practice here :
Joseph Soliday, 1826-'56. Horace B. Erb, 1890- D. S. Shade, 1856-'80. 1907.
J. D. Graver, 1870-'90. Wm. J. Fetherolf, 1907 --
Private Cemetery .- The private cemetery of Dr. J. D. Graver is in this village and at- tracts much attention by reason of its granite monument. It is mentioned among the "Private Cemeteries" of the township, and includes about two acres of level ground in a commanding situ- ation.
Status in 1913 .- The following particulars are mentioned as existing in the village in 1913:
Creamery.
Dwellings, 17. Population, 110. Hotel. School building. Blacksmith shop.
Store. Private cemetery. Custom tailor.
O. F. Hall.
SLATEVILLE .- In 1851 slate was first discov- ered in this section of the country near Steins- ville by John, Michael and Samuel K. Lutz (sons of Samuel J.), and quarries were then opened and operated by Faulk, Daniel and Wil- . liam Roberts; but no special efforts were made to develop this industry here until 1869 when a storm uprooted a large tree which exposed a valuable bed of slate on the farm of Samuel F. Lutz and caused operations to resume at this place, and these were continued with more or less success by different parties for nearly thirty years, more especially by Wellington B. Griese- mer and his son, George W., of Reading, who became interested in the business in 1875 through their connection with the Berks county railroad. Different other quarries were opened in the vi-
828
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
cinity and carried on by Krum & Roberts (after- wards Lutz & Keener), Centennial Slate Co., and Quaker City Slate Co. None of the plants have been in operation since 1900. The railroad stimulated this industry shortly after it was opened in 1874, but within thirty years competi- tion became too great and was therefore gradually discontinued. During the existence of the sev- eral plants many thousand squares of roofing slate were shipped over the railroad from Wana- maker to all points.
The settlement came to be generally known as Slateville, and included fifteen dwellings. A hotel was started there by James L. Lutz and carried on by him for about twenty years. It is distant from Steinsville about a mile, but men- tioned in connection with the village on account of its identification with the place.
LYNNVILLE was first started by Valentine Stull in 1806 by putting up a building and open- ing a general store which he carried on for many years. Not having any children, he "adopted" a very promising nephew of his wife's name, Peter Haas (afterward very active and prominent in the political history of Lehigh county). Haas eventually became the owner, and he was fol- lowed by his son, Jonas. The next two proprie- tors were Joseph Miller and William Miller; and about 1872 Solomon W. Bachman and Wm. Mosser. Bachman became sole owner in 1877 and carried on the business thirty-five years, re- tiring in 1912.
In u 807 John Seiberling built a house here and started a hotel which he conducted for forty years, when he was succeeded by his son, James, and then by David Bleiler (Seiberling's son-in- law), for upwards of 30 years. Wm. F. Brobst became the owner in 1902 and then tore down the old buildings and erected new ones in their stead (including a store-room), and he has since carried on the business. Sales of live-stock are frequently held there, which attract many farm- ers and make the place a prominent business centre.
A postoffice was established in the village in 1820 with John Seiberling as the postmaster, and he continued to fill the position until his de- cease in 1875, aged 92 years. Solomon W. Bach- man was the postmaster from 1875 to 1912, ex- cepting during the two Cleveland administra- tions. On June 1, 1912, it was transferred to the store near by of Robert Brobst who became the postmaster.
Besides the hotel building, the village includes nine dwellings, one of the former the home of Dr. Zangerle, who lived there till his decease in 1860.
Physicians .- The following physicians prac- ticed here :
Joseph Zangerle. F. C. Seiberling.
H. Saylor. R. J. Fly, 1899-1904.
Trexler. A. G. Kriebel, 1904 -.
The St. Peter's Church is situated near Lynn- ville [see description in "Churches" of the town- ship ].
About 1876, Dr. F. C. Seiberling and others who were interested in education established a select school at Lynnville, which was conducted in a most successful manner for upwards of ten years in the township building.
Among the more prominent teachers were James T. Wilder, of Sumpter, South Carolina, and Alvin Rupp, present school superintendent of Lehigh county. Many of the more prominent business and professional men of the township received their preliminary education there.
STEIN'S CORNER is situated in the southern section of the township, on the thoroughfare from New Tripoli to Kutztown. The land was formerly owned by the Grims. About 11855 a hotel was established at the place by Simon Lentz and he carried on the business for ten years. He was followed by William Seaman, William Stein, John and Charles Peter,
Hoffman, Elias G. Wiesner and Mr. Zerfass, who also acted as postmaster and carried on the store business.
A store was started about 1874 by William Stein and he subsequently came to own also the hotel which he carried on together for many years. Afterward this business centre was gen- erally called "Stein's Corner."
A postoffice was established in 1875 with Joshua Weida as the postmaster who filled the position until he died. His successors have been the storekeepers.
Ten dwellings are in the village.
MOSSERVILLE is a small recognized village in the eastern part of the township, over a mile north from New Tripoli, comprising a grist mill, store, blacksmith shop and six dwellings. A tan- nery was successfully operated there for many years but it was abandoned in 1890.
The land here was originally taken up by John Much in 1746 in two tracts, one of which was sold to Philip Mosser in 1763 who had migrated thither from Goschenhoppen, and who later se- cured additional land. He had four sons, among them David, who remained at home in the town- ship.
A grist mill and saw mill were erected there before 1800 by Philip Mosser, and they have been carried on continuously until the present time. By himself until 1817, by his son, David, until 1870, and by his grandson until now, a
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LYNN TOWNSHIP.
period covering more than 120 years.
A stone arched bridge spans the Ontelaunee near by.
A postoffice was established there in 1857 by Lewis F. Mosser, who served as the postmaster for twelve years.
A general store was started in the village about 1850 by Aaron Mosser, and he was followed by his brothers, David J. and John. John Ben- nighoff has carried it on since 1908.
A small frame blacksmith shop was put up near the mill by Mr. Mosser in 1890 and this has been operated since by different parties.
OFFICIALS FROM LYNN .- The following state officials were selected from Lynn township as representatives of Lehigh county at Harrisburg :
Senator .- James A. Miller, 1910-14.
Assemblymen .- Samuel Camp, 1862; Daniel H. Creitz, 1868, 1869; Charles H. Foster, 1879. And the following county officials at Allentown :
Associate Judge .- Peter Haas, 1840-1856. Sheriff .- Jacob B. Waidelich.
County Treas .- Daniel Wannemacher.
Co. Comm'r .- Jacob Wannemacher, 1819; Samuel Camp, 1845.
Recorder of Deeds .- Silas Camp, 1868-1874.
Justices of the Peace .- The following persons served as justices of the peace in the township since 1840. For earlier names, see Civil List in Chapter IX:
Peter Snyder, 1840-'50; '55-'60; Jacob S. Kistler, 1840-'45; Jonas Haas, 1845-'55; David Fullweiler, 1850-'55; '65-'75; William M. Kist- ler, 1855-'65; Daniel H. Creitz, 1860-'68; Alvin F. Creitz, 1868-1903 ; William F. Krauss, 1875- '85; James A. Miller, 1885-1910; Elmer C. Kistler, 1903-'19; James W. Loy, 1910 -.
Population .-- The population of the township since 1790, according to the U. S. census enumer- ation has been as follows :
1790 .. 1,019 1860 2,321
1800. 1,164 1870. 2,375
1810. 1,497
1880. 2,678
1 820. 1,664 1890 2,635 1830. 1,747
1900. 2,366 1840. 1,895
1910. 2,178
1850. 1,997
ELECTION DISTRICT .- The polling place of Lynn township was at Lynnville previous to 1875, and from 1875 to 1893 at Samuel Reitz's ; then the township, owing to the large number of electors, exceeding 600, was divided into three districts with the polling places fixed at Lynn- ville, Jacksonville and New Tripoli.
CHURCHES.
Three churches are situated in this township:
Ebenezer, at New Tripoli; Jacob's, at Jackson- ville; and St. Peter's, near Lynnville. A fourth church, Jerusalem, in Albany township, Berks county, is generally claimed as belonging to this community on account of the large and long con- tinued membership from the township and there- fore it has been included in this narrative.
EBENEZER CHURCH is situated at the western end of New Tripoli, along the northerly side of the thoroughfare leading from the town to Lynnport. It is a large brick building, one-story, with a stone basement, 54 feet front and 104 feet deep. The auditorium is a superior room, well-lighted, heated by steam, with a seating capacity of 1,000. A gallery is arranged across the front of the room and a fine organ is situated to the right (north) of the pulpit. The basement is equipped and used for Sunday school purposes. A tower is built at the southeast corner, topped with a slate-covered spire, 100 feet high, and in- cludes a large, clear-toned bell whose peals can be heard for many miles in the surrounding country. The building was erected jointly by the Lutheran and Reformed congregations, which have worshipped there since 1761, at a total cost of $24,000.
The church councils at that time were consti- tuted as follows :
LUTHERAN. REFORMED.
Elders-John P. Reitz, Owen Krause.
Trustees - William H. Reitz, Lewis F. Wert- man.
Deacons-Henry A. Sit- tler, Edwin Clause, William H. Frey, Os- car Betz.
Treasurer-William F.
Krauss.
Bldg. Com .- William F. Krauss, Phaon Reitz.
Elders-Jonas F. Schnei- der, Paul Hunsicker. Trustees - Owen A. Peter, Edwin H. Sny- der.
Deacons-James A. Mil ler, Frank Kerschner, Wilson A. Moser, Lewis B. Fenstermach- er.
Treasurer-James W. Korn.
Bldg. Com .- Owen A. Peter, Jonas Snyder.
Treas. Bldg. Com .- Jonas German.
The church was not supplied with an organ at that time. Several years later, a movement in this behalf was started by an active, earnest member, William H. Reitz, and this culminated in the addition of a fine, large organ at a cost of $2,500, one-half of which was generously con- tributed by Andrew Carnegie upon application having been made to him. Mr. Reitz took a prominent part in the church of 1890, as his father, Jonas, had in the church of 1824, and his grandfather, Lawrence, had in the church of 1798. This church is also known by the name of Lynn Township Church. In earlier times it was called "Die Orgel Kirche," or "Organ Church," because it was then the only place of worship in that region which had an organ. I:
830
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
has always been "union" in character from the beginning of its history.
The limits of the congregation extend from the Blue Mountains on the north to the limits of the Heidelberg congregation on the east, of the Jacksonville congregations on the west, and of the Lynnville congregations on the south,
Scholl who became one of the prominent and most active members of the church. The settle- ment there included a talented teacher by the name of Andrew Steiger (who taught school in the winter season), and, in answer to the earnest solicitations of his neighbors, he conducted the first divine services in the log house mentioned.
EBENEZER CHURCH, AT NEW TRIPOLI.
about five miles in length and four miles in width.
The foundation of this church dates from 1740, and 200 paces beyond the place where the public road from Lynnville to the Blue Moun- tains crosses the Ontelaunee, in an old log house, occupied for many years by Peter Snyder, Esq., and demolished in April, 1913, it had its origin. At that time the house was the residence of Peter
This house came to be a place of refuge to peo- ple of that vicinity during incursions by the In- dians, and for a time it was also used as a store by Scholl.
After carrying on religious services in this house until 1745, the settlers determined to establish a church; but fifteen years were per- mitted to pass by before any real steps were taken in this behalf. Then a number of them, includ-
831
LYNN TOWNSHIP.
ing Peter Scholl, Bernhard Schneider, Aaron Hartel, Jacob Hoffman, Peter Beisel, Heinrich Widerstein, Philip Wertman, Philip Mosser, Die- trich Sittler, Martin Schuck, Jacob Lynn and Jacob Oswald, purchased a tract of land from Jacob Hoffman and on it in 1761 they caused the first log church to be erected, but without any floor or boarding on the sides. An ordinary table was used as an altar; the pulpit was con- structed of rough boards; and a small organ was supplied by some unknown person, from which the church became known as "Die Orgel Kirche."
The first settlements of this section of the county were made by a portion of the Allemaen- gel colony, having been the northern limit of that colony, as the Weisenberg settlements were the eastern; and the sloping sides of the Schochary were occupied before the Kistler Valley was. The earliest pioneers came here about 1735, and included Christian Weber, George Ludwig Schutt, Heinrich Oswald, Philip Gabriel Fogel (with two sons, Conrad and John, the latter having moved back to Macungie and founded Fogelsville), Valentine Schnider and Jacob Lynn. They were Palatines, Huguenots and Swiss. Others followed soon afterward and moved farther into the valley named. Besides those named, the following names are generally recog- nized as the progenitors of first families in this section of territory and many of them became the first members of this church :
Peter Scholl.
Martin Schuck.
Peter Beisel.
Dietrich Sittler.
Mathias Schutz.
Melchoir Duer.
Aaron Hartell.
Jacob Manz.
Jacob Hoffman.
Joseph Holder.
Jacob Lynn.
Erhard Zeisloff.
Christian Muller.
Jacob Grunewald.
Joseph Gerber.
Michael Fenstermacher.
Johannes Schmidt.
Jacob Oswald.
Burkhard Mosser.
Heinrich Hauss.
Michael Bock.
Conrath Billman.
Michael Hettinger.
Johann Adam Kressly.
Peter Kirschner.
Andreas Straub.
Stephen Gross.
Thomas Everett.
Abraham Schellhammer.
Heinrich Runig.
Philip Schumann.
George Kistler.
Martin Grentler.
Abraham Offenbach.
Sylvester Holben. Adam Arndt.
Michael Hobbes.
Jacob Donatt.
Adam Brentz.
Frederich Hess.
George Brenner.
Wilhelm Mayer.
Philip Mosser.
Heinrich Widerstein.
Philip Wertman.
Bernhard Schneider.
Philip Antoni.
The records began with the year 1764, but the earliest writings relating to the church have been destroyed.
Between 1790 and 1800 this church owned a parsonage in common with the Jacob's and Beth- el Churches. It established a school and en-
couraged teaching the children in connection with religious worship.
The second church was erected in 1798, made necessary then by reason of a violent storm which seriously damaged the first building, including the organ. It was constructed also of logs, two stories high, with galleries and the conveniences of that time. The dedicatory services were held by Rev. Daniel Lehman, Lutheran minister, and Rev. Johannes Roth, Reformed minister.
The title to the land was not secured in legal form until 1811. It seems that the consistories of the two congregations purchased a piece of ground from Jacob Hoffman in 1760, as stated above, and they then proceeded to establish their first place of worship ; also a building for school purposes, and other necessary buildings for farming purposes. These improvements were put there without any title from the state or any written instrument from the reputed owner, and this situation of affairs was continued until 1810, when steps were taken to secure the title in the two congregations. Application was made to the state for a patent, and the state treasurer issued a receipt on Sept. 1Ith to Philip Mosser and Jacob Oswald as trustees of the Lutheran and Reformed Calvinist congregations of Lynn township, in Northampton county, for the sum of $79.91, in payment of 40 acres and 20 perches of land ; and a patent was issued to them as such trustees on January 4, 1811, for said tract of land called "Harmony," which was part of a large tract of 149 acres, 20 perches in Lynn township, which had been surveyed to Adam Miller, in pursuance of a warrant dated August 5, 1752. The state authorities recognized the title to said land in the two congregations by reason of "sundry conveyances and a long unin- terrupted possession duly proven." The patent is enrolled in Patent Book H, No. 4, p. 457.
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