USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I > Part 157
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188 | Part 189 | Part 190 | Part 191 | Part 192 | Part 193 | Part 194
NONNEMACHER HOMESTEAD NEAR BIG ROCK, SALISBURY TOWNSHIP,
followed an old Indian trail, but as the travel between the two places increased the need for a public road was felt more and more and a peti- tion was presented to the Court. In December, 1756, the following action of the Court of Quar- ter Sessions was recorded: "Petitions of divers inhabitants of Upper Milford and Salisbury townships for a road from Sebastian Knows's to and through Bethlehem to the road leading to Easton was allowed, and Sebastian Knows, Francis Roth, Adam Shaler, Lewis Klots and John Okely, or any four of them, are appointed to view and, if they see occasion, to lay out the said road, and to make return thereof and an exact plan to the next court, after the same is laid." Counter-petitions were presented at the June court, 1757, and the court refused to con-
Modecreek, Reim's, Warwick, Lancaster, Wright's Ferry, Yorktown.
In 1760 also a road was laid out to "Solomon Jenney's plantation." A road was later laid across the hill which connected with the fording- place across the Lehigh, near the old Griesemer farm-house. This passed through Rittersville and Shoenersville, and led to the Wilson Mill in Allen township, now Northampton, and con- tinued North to Gnadenhuetten.
At the first term of court held in Lehigh county, . December 21, 1812, there was presented a petition of the inhabitants of the upper end of Salisbury township for a road "to begin at the public road leading from Emaus to Allen- town; thence from said road to Martin Ritter's tavern, a southeasterly course up a valley and
879
SALISBURY TOWNSHIP.
near to the top of Lehigh hill, to intersect the public road leading to Philadelphia at Nicholas Kreamer's lot of land. Abraham Griesemer, Peter Dorney, (saddler) ; John Grobel, Jona- than Knauss, John Horlacher and Goddard Mo- rey, were appointed viewers to examine and lay out.
On the 24th of February, 1813, a petition was presented to the court, setting forth that the road lately laid out from the public road leading from Emaus to Allentown, near Martin Ritter's tavern was totally unnecessary, and (if confirmed by the court) would be extremely burdensome to the inhabitants of said township at large, and praying the court to appoint view- ers to the road and report. Other viewers were appointed, who made a report on the 4th of May, the same year, in which they declared they had laid out a road. This action was confirmed by the court on that day.
On September 5th, 1815, viewers appointed in May last to view and lay out a road reported road laid out. Beginning at the Emaus and Bethlehem road, near the house of Martin Rit- ter, Jr., in Salisbury township; running into the public road leading from the borough of North- ampton to the city of Philadelphia, near the house of Jacob Kaechline, in said township; run- ning through land of Martin Ritter, along land of John Kemmerer, Andrew Keck, John Wag- ner and Jacob Warman; and to vacate part of a public road, beginning at the bridge of David Deshler's mill-race and from thence leading from Emaus to Bethlehem, at or near the corner of Henry Ritter's fence, in said township.
This last road mentioned as vacated is recited in the order as having been laid out in 1770, and is noticed as being "useless, inconvenient, and burthensome."
At August session, 1818, viewers appointed at previous court reported road laid out from mill- dam of James Wilson, Esq., in Salisbury town- ship, to intersect public road leading from bor- ough of Northampton to Water Gap, near the house of Jacob Newhard, in South Whitehall. November term, report confirmed so far as re- lates to road from Mill-dam of Wilson to bor- ough of Northampton.
With the exception of the road from Allen- town to Hellertown and from Emaus to Allen- town, the dates of the laying out of which have not been ascertained; the roads here given are all the roads of any importance laid out before 1820. Numerous small and cross roads have been opened since, but those mentioned above continue to be the chief highways of the town- ship.
OLD TAVERNS.
In the year 1763 there were no taverns in Salisbury township. The first shown by the Northampton County records to have had license to keep tavern in the township are in 1786. At the June term of court Martin Ritter, Caspar Weaver, Christian Hummel and George Krush were licensed. There was a tavern along the Emaus road near the Eastern Salisbury church, during the Revolutionary period, from where the drummer boy of "Salisbury legend" set out for the congregational burial ground to call forth his enemy to mortal combat. Tradition has failed to preserve the name of the lord or the definite location.
Two hotels in Salisbury township figure in what is known as Freis Insurrection the year 1799. The one a log tavern conducted by Ru- dolph Schmidt, at what is now Mountainville, where the retinue of Fries, Hany, and Getman halted for a short time, and the other at what is sometimes called "Salisbury center," where a certain Mr. Mohr kept the tavern. Here is said the company halted for a while and added a num- ber of recruits before marching to Bethlehem.
In 1818 William Gruber, Philip Giess, Lewis Christ, Martin Ritter and Rudolph Smith were granted license. At about this time a tavern was opened in Emaus. In 1850 the Eagle Hotel was built in Emaus by Henry Fisher.
The old tavern-stand on the Mountain road, above the Idlewild Hotel, was established by John Keck in 1826-27, and kept by him eight or ten years, when he died. His widow kept it for several years, and married Henry Wold, who kept it till his death.
A tavern stand between Allentown and Mountainville was opened in 1812 by George Keck, who kept it many years.
SCHOOLS.
During the early period of the township, though having few schools, enjoyed, neverthe- less, special educational advantages. The chil- dren living in the eastern part attended the Mo- ravian schools at Bethlehem, which were at this time the best schools in the colonies. Those in the western end attended the Moravian school at Emaus (see history of , Emaus), and the church school of the Salisbury congregation. The children of the families living in the central part attended the schools in Allentown, while those of the few families living between Allentown and Bethlehem attended the schools at Ritters- ville, where Moravian teachers were usually em- ployed.
The schools in Emaus, Fountain Hill and
880
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Aineyville (now South Allentown) were up to the time of their incorporation a part of the public school system of the township. The ex- act dates of the erections of the first rural school houses are somewhat uncertain. Merkel's school- house is said to have been erected about the year 1820; Ritter's, Hofford's, Yost's, Eisenhard's, during the decade between 1830 and 1840, and schools in Mountain the following decade. As the population increased and education became
afforded in the splendid schools in the boroughs and cities almost surrounding the township, and in the higher institutions of learning of the Mo- ravian College, and Girls' School in Bethlehem, Lehigh University, in South Bethlenem, Bishop- thorpe School for Girls in Fountain Hill, Muh- lenberg College and Preparatory School, the Al- lentown College for Women, and the several business schools in Allentown. All of which the within easy reach from almost every part of the
37.
avenue.
36 %
38. 5
56
55. 0
40 6
50
54 %
: avencie. ..
33. .
75
58. 0
53.
59.
75
30
$2 6
60
25
75
61. 0
30
30
30
Jo
50
63
64.
48.6
4%. 8.
300
7 65
66. 8
10.1
11.
12.3
13.3
14.3
17.
16
Je
SE
olve
foilet.
30
5. ª
10
75. 6
76. 6
4. 3
Jo
Jo 78, 8% 770
80
3. 3
80.
2. 3
Refreshment :
75 90.
101
89.
Ja
100.5
₹ 102.8
$103.4
$115.00
116. 5
:117.8
118. 8
$ 127 8
128.
₹ 130. %
; 87.
98. 9
9% :
105.
: 113.9
120
125.
3 /32
85 ..
96.
106 5
, 112 $
12.1. 8
124
: 133
1 82. 8
. 84.00
91
: 92.
: 93. 5
94.34
: 95.5
: 109 9
1224
₹ 1235.
2 /34
-
: 135. 9
Cryencie
21
45. 6
30
75
28 %
20. 9
19.
76
on
18
25
25
30
71.
yo.
69.8
8.
25
15
68. 6
67 .: 9
7.2
1.5
Jo
. CIVCICIC.
50
avendre?
1. Booth :
Well
75
/29
88. 9
99. 9
t/ aventure .:
2
9114.2
119
30
: 126
: 13%.
9 86.
PLAN OF WALDHEIM PARK.
Inore popular, the following districts were formed and the building erected: Wiand's, Keck's, Jet- ter's, Aineyville, and Mountainville. Recently the Mountainville schoolhouse was abandoned and a handsome single-room building erected at Summit Lawn. The schools at Hofford's and Bethlehem Woods were abandoned with the erection of the two story brick buildings near Bethlehem in 1880, and at Mountainville in 1883. These are the only graded schools in the township. Unusual educational advantages are
township through the network of trolley and railway lines. Of the schoolhouses erected be- fore the Civil War, all have been rebuilt, with the exception of the Salisbury Church school- house, which is owned by the congregation and 1ented to the township.
THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN.
The southern boundary line of the township is the summit of the South or Lehigh Mountain.
Ovencre.
99 23. 9
24
20
50
Jo 14 %
75
25
29
30
62.
49.43
avenue. :
75
22. 9
avenue ...
5%.
30
13. 0.
10
To
30. %
·avenue. :
52
31
9 25
26.
Wirencie. : 2
35.
39
34.
X
32
30
27.
CYrencie .:
66
15.
6.
150
81.8
3
83.
15
88I
SALISBURY TOWNSHIP.
The view from its slopes and top is most de- lightful. The rivulets from the mountain side wind their way through green meadows to the little Lehigh in the distance, while far across fertile fields dotted with spacious farm build- ings, appear the "gravel hill" behind which looms up the majestic Blue Mountains. Beautiful cot- tages are being erected on its slope. The most noted of which is the Burns residence. On the crest of the Mountain along the Coopersburg Pike and the Philadelphia trolley line is the charming little hamlet of Summit Lawn. To the left of the trolley line on the very crest of the mountains nature has heaped one upon another a number of immense bowlders. They are known as the Big Rock and are visited by hundreds annually. The view of the Saucon Valley is one of the finest in Eastern Pennsyl- vania.
WALDHEIM PARK.
To the west of Mountainville on the slope of the mountain is located the beautiful Waldheim Park. It comprises a part of the original Ritter homestead. The park is under the control of the United Evangelical Waldheim Association, and immediately governed by a board of seven- teen directors who are elected annually by the stockholders. The officers of the board are: President, L. H. Mertz; vice president, E. J. Rapp; secretary, E. S. Woodring; treasurer, Charles W. Knouse. Waldheim was purchased September 12, 1904. Since this time the park - has been beautified and improved and bids fair to become one of the most popular pleasure grounds. Besides being richly endowed by nature for this purpose it is under the control of the Church which exercises a moral censorship over all its activities. The improvements consists of two never-failing wells, play grounds for children, croquet and baseball grounds, a splendid audi- torium, which at the time of its erection was said to be one of the largest in the state, a dining hall where upwards of 300 guests can be seated at one time, an electric system and forty-eight cottages, the latter number is constantly increas- ing. The western end is laid out as a picnic ground. During the park season Waldheim is continuously occupied by Campmeetings, Chau- tauquas, Family Reunions and Sunday school picnics.
MOUNTAINVILLE.
At the foot of the mountain, along the Phila- delphia pike, at the insertion of the Emaus road is located the beautiful village of Mountainville. It is built on land at one time in possession of Rudolph Smith, who erected a log tavern at the cross road prior to 1800. In 1856 it was replaced by the present large stone hostlery con- ducted by Samuel Parsons. A few years prior Charles Witman and a certain Mr. Snyder came into the possession of the Smith homestead, and laid it out in building lots, a number of houses were erected which became the nucleus of the town. A post office was established in 1856, with Edwin Sell as postmaster. After a year it was removed to some other part of the township, but was soon returned again and Reuben Kem- merer appointed postmaster, who continued nntil 1880, when Miss Amanda Scheetz was appointed postmistress. With the development of the rural delivery system the office was abandoned.
The Mountainville Evangelical congregation had its origin in the house of William Bortz, where the first service was held in 1858 and where Moses Dissinger, C. K. Fehr and others held occasional services for a number of years. In 1863 a church was erected, the membership at the time was only ten. In 1877 it was made a part of the Emaus circuit. The membership gradually declined and services were finally dis- continued. A union Sunday school holds its ses- sions in the edifice.
Rev. M. O. Rath, the pastor of the Luther- an congregation of Emaus and Western Salis- bury, conducts services fortnightly in the Odd Fellows hall.
Walter Scheetz established a carriage factory in 1874, which he continued to operate for many years, but which was closed some years ago and is now occupied by a silk-mill.
Recently a number of comfortable residences have been erected, among them that of Dr. H. F. Bean. The trolley lines have made it a sub- urb of Allentown. The present population is about five hundred.
This is the only village in the present town- ship. The boroughs of Emaus, Fountain Hill, and South Allentown and a part of the City of Allentown having been cut out of it. That part of the township thus remaining is purely agricul- tural, containing some of the finest farming land in the county.
CHAPTER XLII.
SOUTH WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP.
This township occupies a central situation in Lehigh county. The surface is nearly level, ex- cepting the "Huckleberry Ridge," which extends across the center of the township from east to west about four miles. The soil is generally fer- tile and in a high state of cultivation for farming purposes.
The township is watered by two creeks,-the Jordan and the Cedar. Jordan Creek flows through the northern portion from west to east, and furnishes power for one grist-mill. It is turbulent some seasons of the year, overflowing its banks and carrying along everything in its way but at other seasons it is perfectly dry. Hence it is unreliable for manufacturing pur- poses,-the grist-mills requiring steam power during certain parts of the year. Its volume is gradually decreasing. Cedar creek flows from west to east across the southern portion and has its source just across the boundary line in Upper Macungie, where a large spring has a sufficient flow of water to run a grist-mill a few hundred yards from its fountain. It is a remarkable stream. "Its volume appears invariable in wet or dry weather. It never freezes, the grass, which grows to the water's edge, appears green all seasons; and it is always uncovered, the water dissolving the snow as it falls.".
The winding length of the former in the township is about six miles, and of the latter about five miles.
EARLY SETTLERS .- At the organization of Northampton county in March, 1752, the ter- ritory which now embraces South Whitehall was included in that portion of land known as the "back parts of Macungie," or "the Heidelberg District." By referring to the history of old "Whitehall township," which included the pres- ent Whitehall, and North and South Whitehall townships, there will be found much interesting matter bearing upon the early settlers of this township. An assessment-roll there of 1762 con- tains the names of those who were living within the limits of this township at that time. Among the settlers of this township, the following may be mentioned :
Nicholas Kern, John Griesemer, George Knauss, Lorentz Guth, Peter Troxell, Jacob Henninger, Adam Haberle, Paul Tussing, George Guth, Peter Hoffman, Leonard Heuchel,
Peter Herr, George Ruch, Conrad Crumbach, Frederick Reitz, Jacob Schnerr, Dietmer Wern- er, Frederick Schwander, John Roth, Michael Schneider, Jacob Wenner, Daniel Dorney, Leon- ard Steininger, George Glick and Adam Goebel.
One of the earliest tracts of land purchased in this township was by Nicholas Kern. He took out warrants for lands Dec. 3, 1735, and Oct. 28, 1737, and some of these lands he sold to Laurence Good (or Lorenz Guth), Feb. 27, 1739. He afterwards, Nov. 24, 1737, and March 15, 1738, warranted lands on the south side of the Blue mountains, now Slatington. There he settled and afterward died in 1747. A portion of his large family settled at his home south of the Blue mountains. In 1783, Jacob Kern, of Whitehall, was in possession of tracts known as "Kern's Folly," "Kernsberg," and "De- lay." A part of these lands he sold to Peter Meyer (or Moyer). The land lies in North Whitehall and in the northeastern part of this township. Mechanicsville lies on a part of it. In 1819, Peter Meyer sold 112 acres to his son, Peter, who resided in North Whitehall. Simon Meyer, a son of Peter, lived at Meyersville, and kept the hotel on the property. Simon Meyer bought it from George Gangwere in 1852.
Lorenz Good (or Guth) a native of Switz- erland, came to this country on September 19, 1738, and then he purchased from Nicholas Kern and his wife, Mary Margaret, three tracts of land, warrants for which had been granted to Kern, Dec. 3, 1735, and Oct. 28, 1737, and 100 acres Feb. 24, 1737. The former embraced 200 acres. All these tracts lie in South Whitehall, and were patented to Lorenz Guth by the pro- prietaries, May 28, 1760. On June 12, 1741, Guth had taken out a warrant for 47 acres, which was embraced in the same patent. He also took out a warrant for other lands on Nov. I, 1749, for 46 acres, known as "Guth's Pleas- ure." It adjoined the lands of Peter Troxell and Nicholas Kern. On April 10, 1755, another warrant was issued to him, called "The Spring," which contained sixteen acres, and adjoined John Weaver and Nicholas Kern. Still another war- rant of 50 acres is dated Oct. 23, 1755, called "Guth's Delight," and adjoined the Reformed church property. These lands were patented to Guth, March 17, 1769, and Dec. 13, 1769. By
882
883
SOUTH WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP.
the year 1769, Lorenz Guth had in his posses- sion 759 acres of land.
He erected the house in which his great-great- grandson, Elias Guth, resided. Its walls are two feet thick, with small windows. Logs were fitted to these and made so as to wedge in tightly, and used in case of attacks by Indians. In times of danger the neighbors used to gather here. An acre of ground surrounding this house was en- closed with a stone wall two feet thick and seven feet high, and there the cattle were kept. It is not known whether any attack was ever made upon this house. He died prior to March 20, 1770, leaving a widow, Salome, and six children.
Before 1743 Caspar Wistar was in possession of 738 acres of land with six per cent. allowance. This land lay in what is now Whitehall, North Whitehall, and South Whitehall. In the same year he sold to Peter Troxell. 200 acres: in May, 1792, he sold to Peter Kern 380 acres, and in May, 1798, he sold of the remainder of his tract, 188 acres, to Godfrey Haga. The Troxell land is situated in Whitehall and South White- hall. The land bought by Peter Kern lies in South and North Whitehall. The tract pur- chased by Godfrey Haga was in 1804 bought by Samuel Sieger, of Siegersville.
ERECTION .- A petition was presented to the January term of Northampton county court in 1810, asking for a division of Whitehall township. The court appointed George Palmer, John Lerch, and Michael Snyder to inquire into the propriety of a division, and if thought advisable to divide it. These viewers made a report in November of the same year, in which they declared they had divided the township; and at the same term of court, it was declared that the township be di- vided according to the report, and one part, lying northward of the division line, to be named North Whitehall, and the other, South White- hall.
TAXABLES IN 1812 .- The assessment-roll for the township was not made until late in the year of 1812. It was as follows:
Casper Dick
George Leibenguth
Peter Eberhard
George Meyer
Peter Frantz
Anthony Musick
William Miller
Abraham Miller
Henry Mickley Jacob Mickley Christian Mickley
Peter Mickley
George Gangeware
Thomas Gangeware
Solomon Greisman
Henry Minck
John Gromer .
Nicholas Minck
Peter Grimm
Jacob Manerer
George Glick
Peter Meyer, Sr.
John Glick
George Henry Mertz
Daniel Glick
Henry Mertz
Adam Glick, Sr.
Joseph Mickley
Adam Glick
Laurence Neuhart
Henry Glick
John Neuhart
John Glick
Peter Neuhart
Peter Glick, Sr.
- Frederick Neuhart
Peter Glick
Jacob Neuhard
Adam Glick
George Neuhard
Henry Glick
Daniel Neuhard
George Henninger
Frederick Paul
Jacob Hartman
Casper Peter
George Hill
Widow Rabenold
Jacob Hoffman
Peter Rhoads
Adam Heberly
Abraham Rhoads
Jacob Hubler
John Rhoads, Sr.
Henry Hoffman
John Rhoads
Peter Hoffman
Godfrey Rhoads
John Helfrich
Daniel Rhoads
Michael Helfrich
George Jacob Rhoads
Philip Hammel
Jacob Rhoads
Jacob Henninger
Peter Rhoads
Frederick Hill
Henry Reitz
Jacob Hill
Daniel Rabenold
John Hill
Nicholas Rabenold
Joseph Henry
William Rohn
Jacob Henninger
Christian Rutt
Christian F. Henninger
Peter Resch
Widow Haman
Leonard Steininger
Jacob Herman
Abraham Schneider
Jacob Hartzell
Leonhard Steininger
Jacob Jodder
Philip Steininger
Jacob Jund
Philip Schantz
George Jund
George Schneider
Daniel Jund
Peter Schneider
Abraham Jund
Jacob Schantz
John Junger
Samuel Seager
Gideon Junger
John Schaad
Daniel Schreiber
Samuel Sieger
Christian Acker
John Billig
David Beery
John Bieber
Abraham Butz
Jacob Brown
Peter Kern
Solomon Seifried
Frederick Braumiller
Adam Droxsell
George Adam Kemmer
Henry Schneider
Henry Beek
William Dilman
Jonathan Knauss
John Scheuenbouch
Henry Beery
John Droxsell
Adam Kolb
Jacob Schnerr
Jacob Beery
Jacob Droxsell Daniel Droxsell
Philip Krach
Daniel Butz
Peter Droxsell
Jeremiah Kershner
John Smith Adam Swander estate
Peter Butz
Peter Droxsell, Sr.
George Frederick Knauss
Jacob Swander
Solomon Butz
Peter Droxsell
Solomon Knauss
Adam Swander, Jr.
Samuel Brobst
Adam Dorney
George Knauss
Christian Steininger
Daniel Brobst
Peter Dorney
Philip Kock
John Stephan
Abraham Blumer
Adam Dorney
Gottlieb Keiper
Abraham Sterner
Henry Blumer
John Dorney
Nicholas Kramer
Henry Bortz
Laurence Droxsell
Joseph Levan
Henry Swander John Strauss
Peter Albrecht
Jacob Bortz
John Koehler
Simon Strauss
Joseph Kern
Peter Seifried
Henry Kolb
Abraham Sterner
Peter Butz
Michael Freyman
Valentine Fasold
John Frey Christoph Freyman John Flexer Lawrence Good Peter Good
Daniel Miller
Peter Marcks
Peter Miller
Abraham Greisemer
Christoph Mohr
Daniel Glick
Jacob Meyer
884
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
George Strauss
Henry Rhoad
John Shiffert
Michael Weider
Isaac Stephen
Peter Derr
James Segreaves
George Shnyder
Henry Schoener
Adam Sterner
Ludwig Sauerwine
Henry Rhoad
Henry Sterner
Gustaf Ibach
Michael Sauerwine John Kepp
John Shiffert
Charles Gangeware
John Weider
John Laudenslager
George Wenner, Sr.
John Rhoad
George Wenner
John Knechel
Nicholas Wolf
Christian Fenstermacher
Peter Frantz, Jr.
Philip Fenstermacher.
George Ueberroth
SINGLE FREEMEN.
Peter Woodring
Joseph Good
John Swander
George Good
Henry Dorney
John Good
Daniel Knauss
John Rhoad
Daniel Troxell
Christian Hoffman
Daniel Good
John Siegfried
Daniel Good
Michael Helfrich
At a later period several attempts were made to again cut the two Whitehall townships so as to make three out of them. After a number of failures to make such a division, the petitioners were finally successful in 1864. Then the east- ern portion of South Whitehall and the south- eastern portion of North Whitehall were de- tached from their respective townships, and formed into the township of Whitehall. When Allentown was incorporated into a city a small portion of the eastern corner of the township was also taken from it and made a part of the city.
CHURCHES .- The following churches have been established and carried on in this township:
Jordan Lutheran .- The first ministrations to the Lutheran people in the Jordan region oc- curred in the year 1734, when Rev. John Cas- per Stoever baptized, on Feb. 6th, Margaret, daughter of John Lichtenwalner. In 1736, a Rev. Mr. Schmidt was said to have preached oc- casionally to them and in 1738 Rev. Streiter vis- ited the Jordan region. Rev. John Justus Jacob Birkenstock became pastor of the Jordan congre- gation. In the baptismal records of the congrega- tion, the first baptism is dated April 20, 1740. Rev. Schindel stated in 1845 that the first record of baptism was dated Feb. 25, 1739. As pages one, two, and three are missing from the old record, Rev. Birkenstock may have baptized children here in 1739.
In 1744 the congregation secured by warrant a tract of fifty acres of land. In 1845 the cen- tennial of the congregation was observed, which would indicate that the first building was erected in 1745. The first church building was of logs and stood near the north wall of the old burial ground. It was used jointly by the Lutheran
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.