USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I > Part 166
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No. 119. Coopersburg Station, and the farm of Dr. A. M. Gary occupy a part of a tract of 175 acres originally owned by John Yoder ; about half of the tract falls into Bucks county.
Other original titles to tracts were held as follows :
No.
No.
II George Bachman.
82 Anthony Boehm.
13 George Bastian.
15 Jacob Kebler.
23 George Bachman.
99 George Bechtel.
39 George Bachman.
100 Jacob Weaver.
52 Adam Romich. IOI Andrew Geissinger.
57 Henry Bachman.
107 Christian Fox.
59 Henry Bachman.
109 Bastian Nave.
61 Peter Rhinehardt.
IIO Melchior Baer. 116 Adam Romich.
62 Lutheran Congrega- tion of Upper
123 Peter Bower. 126 Jacob Landis.
Saucon.
63 William Schaffer. 131 Jacob Weaver.
64 William Mory.
132 Henry Rinker.
66 Balthauser Beil. 134 Daniel Kiever.
70 Balthauser Beil. 136 Peter Mosteller.
75 Peter Messemer.
138 Christian Smith.
76 Henry Weaver.
139 Adam Romich.
77 Henry Weaver. 14I John Apple.
78 Henry Weaver. 142 Leonard Boydelman.
79 Francis Hartman.
143 Jacob Bachman.
81 Henry Geissinger.
144 Peter Cortz.
The accompanying map shows how the terri- tory of the township was originally sub-divided into tracts. The numbers on the map corres- pond with those preceding the description of the respective tracts as given in the text.
The letters refer to places now more or less prominent : thus ;
A Colesville.
B Hartman's School House.
C Friedensville Church.
N Coopersburg Station. D Heller's Tavern. O Yoder's School House. E Wittman's Corner. P Mennonite Meeting F Cross Roads at
Egners.
G Seider's School
House.
H Dillinger's School
House.
I Limeport.
J Crossroads iat C. R. Groman's.
V Franklin School K Blue Church.
L Locust Valley. M Coopersburg O. F.
Hall.
House.
Q Centre Valley Hotel. R Centre Valley Station. S Centre Valley School House. T Roth's School House. U Spring Valley.
House.
The Germans seem to have found the new country more congenial than their English brethren, for the decendants of the Geissingers, the Yoders, the Gehmans, the Neikummers, the Reinhards, the Morys, the Wints, the Gongwers, the Webers, the Mostellers, the Egners, the Berkenstocks, the Rothrocks and the Rumfeldts are still here, while the Owens, the Samuels, the Mayberrys, the Warners, the Pughs, the Black- leges, the Thomases, the Williamses and the Tools, have all passed away without leaving a single descendant bearing their names in the township.
Organization .- Saucon was erected into a township in March, 1743, upon the petition of Christian Neikummer1, Philip Geissinger, George Zewitz, Henry Rinker, John Yoder, John Ree- zer, Christian Smith, Henry Bowman, Samuel Neikummer, Benedict Gehman, Valentine Stein- metz, Henry Rinker, Jr., George Trohn, Adam Warner, Owen Owen, Thomas Owen, John Williams, John Tool, John Thomas, Joseph Samuels, Isaac Samuels, William Mory, Michael Weber, John Apple, Jacob Gong- wer2, Henry Keiber, George Bachman,
George Mosteller3, and Henry Rumfeld.4 Whether the two Saucons were originally erected into one or two townships does not seem possible to determine, but as constables and super- visors were appointed in 1743 for both Upper and Lower Saucon, and as there was among the petitioners but one who is not known to have resided within the limits of what is now Upper Saucon it would be easy to conclude that it was erected into a township by itself. On the other hand the signers set forth in their petition, that they had unanimously agreed to have the town- ship known as Saucon (no distinguishing prefix) and it would be just as easy, therefore, to con- clude that they desired the erection of but one township out of the whole territory. It is pos- sible, and quite probable too that a difference of opinion may have existed between the citizens of the two sections. That Upper Saucon desired the erection of but one township while Lower Saucon desired a separate organization and there- fore refused to join in the petition. But how- ever this may be, each of the two divisions had assumed a separate organization prior to 1750 and Upper Saucon then had an area somewhat exceeding fourteen thousand acres, outlined thus: (the dotted line represents the present, South Eastern boundary.)
Its territory was reduced in extent on two occasions since that time, first in 1752, when its
I Now Newcomer. 3 Now Marsteller.
2 Now Gangaware. 4 Now Rumfield.
-
83 Anthony Boehm. 84 Anthony Boehm.
UPPER SAUCON TOWNSHIP.
southern projection was cut off to straighten the line dividing the two counties, and again in 1879, when the borough of Coopersburg was erected out of a part of it. It was enlarged in 1839, when its northwestern boundary was removed from the foot to the top of the Lehigh Mountain. It now contains 23.8 square miles, or an area of fifteen thousand two hundred and thirty-two acres, inclusive of Coopersburg.
LOWER SAUCON
SPRINGFIELD.
RICHLAND
MILFORD
Our history thus far has served to inform our readers as to the names borne by the pioneer set- tlers of the township, and in order to inform them as to who followed these, or were added to their number after the expiration of what might be termed the experimental era, we will introduce a few tax-lists.
UPPER SAUCON, 1762.
Philip Hall, Collector.
Apple, John, .25 Geissinger, Henry, .. 16
Apple, Martin, 30 Gangewere, Jacob, .. 20 Gangewere, Michael, .10
Brincker, George, 4
Brunner, Henry, .27 Geissinger, Philip, Jr., 20 Gon, Hannes, 6 Bitz, Henry, 5
Bush, Ludwig, 5
Geissinger, Philip, .. 60
Geissinger, Jacob, .25
Goodman, Philip, 4
Hayntz, Burgort, 4
Hall, Philip, I6
Hansel, Stophel, .20
Johnson, Christopher, 12 Bachman, Henry, .. 20
Knepple, Melchort,
.. 12
Bechtel, Jacob,
I6
Bachman, George, .. 18
Kah, John, 9
Kehler, Gabriel, 7
Kirshner, George, . IO
Kocken, Henry, .15
Lantes, Peter, 4
Ludwig, Jacob, 7
Luckenbach, John, 6
Master, Adam, 5
Montz, Jacob, 30
Musselman, John, .18 Miller, Henry, 6 Meyer, Jacob, .18
Mory's widow, 18
Molack, Jacob, 4
Newcomer, John, .25
Newcomer, John, . .. 24
Simon, Baltzer, 5
Owen, David, .26 Stinmetz, Valentine, .IO Owen, Thos., 7 Thyss, Peter, 16
Rincker, Christian, . . 14 Tool, John, 28
Rinker, Uly, . 7 Wind, Andrew, I4
Rieser, David, .. .17
Rumfeld, Henry, 14
Reinhard, George, .. 12
Shreater, John, 4 Snyder, Michael, .15
Sebitz, George, .IO
Shenner, Henry, .22
Shenner, Mathias, . . 4
Seger, Gabriel, .IO
Zoller, Philip, I3
Zebitz, Henry, 6
Single Men.
Samuel Bachman.
Isaac Samuel.
John . Bachman.
William Samuel.
George Bitz.
Hannes Smith.
Casper Bop.
Aquilla Tool.
George Dreisbach.
. Stephen Tool.
John Geissinger.
Caspar Yoder.
Jacob Orth.
DECEMBER 27, 1781.
William Bell. Isaac Samuels.
Conrad Brinker. Abraham Seider.
Baltzer Buchecker. Gerhard Seisloff.
Philip Buchecker.
John Stahl.
John Bieber.
Peter Stehr.
John Bachman.
Philip Siller. George Swenker.
Philip Bahl. Andrew Brunner.
George Kun.
Jacob Bittenbender. Peter Kneply.
Mathias Derr. Charles Ludwig Koch.
Charles Derr. Hottenstein.
Jacob Keply. Adam Kortz. Nicholas Kortz.
Mathias Egner.
Andrew Erdman.
Jacob Eshelman.
John Einhard. George Erdman.
Michael Flixer.
Michael Ludhap.
Peter Fuchs.
Peter Laubenstein.
William Grothouse.
Peter Lynn.
Philip Geissinger.
Conrad Giess.
John Lister.
Samuel Lister.
Peter Meyer. Jacob Mory.
John Geissinger.
Jacob Gangware.
Frederick Huff.
John Holdeman.
Esther Hall. Daniel Horlocher.
William Mory. Widow Musselman.
William Mory. John Newcomer.
John Newcomer, Jr.
David Owen.
David Owen, Jr.
Thomas Owen. David Reeser. Casper Rumfield.
George Rumfield.
John Shoudt.
Henry Reinhard.
Philip Sharry.
Leonard Reichard.
George Shaffer.
Peter Shaffer.
John Koch.
John Kooken.
Jacob Kappers.
Daniel Kooper.
Baal, Philip, .20
Brang, Jacob, 5
Buchecker, Henry, .. 15
Beahm, Anthony, . .25
Byel, Baltzer, 30
Buchecker, Philip. .18
Knepple, Peter, 8 Barlip, Andrew, 4
Bitz, William, 7
Blanck, George, 7
Drap, Philip,
I6
Diel, Christian, I6
Dannenhauer, Abra-
ham, 15
Eshelman, Jacob, IO Erdman, Andrew, .18
Fox, Christian, 4
Flexer, Michael, 5 Franck, Peter, 5
Franck, George, 4
Marsteller, Frederick, 5 Fox, Peter, IO
Frank, Adam,
6
Grosh, George, 5
Kurtz, Peter, .IO
Henry Geissinger.
Abraham Geissinger.
Gotthard Mory.
Jacob Meyer. Jacob Molloch.
Michael Hillegass. Christopher Jason.
Valentine Jager.
Adam Kuper. Melchoir Kneply.
Bastian Ruff. George Ruff. John Rumfield.
Weaver, George, 6
Weaver, Henry, 30 Weaver, Jonas, 5
Walther, George, 9
Young, Valentine, .17 Shenker, George, . .IO
Yoder, Jacob, .25 Yoder, John. 28
Ziegler, Jacob, 7
Zeitsloff, Gerhard, 8
Zebitz, Abraham,
4
Sell, Henry, Senior, .. 20
Siffert, George, 4
929
Francis Hartman.
Felix Lynn.
Adam Romig. Jacob Rumfield.
SALSBURC
....
930
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
David Snyder.
Peter Wash.
Jacob Weiss, Sr.
Henry Sell.
Henry Wind.
Andrew Weiss.
Aquilla Tool.
Henry Weaver.
Valentine Weidener, Sr.
Michael Weaver.
Simon Walter.
Valentine Weidner, Jr.
John Reisser. David Reisser.
Adam G. Weaver.
Abraham Yoder.
Jonas Weber
Philip Wind.
Christian Young.
Ehrhard Weaver.
Michael Ziegler.
Jacob Weber.
George Reinhard.
Additional
Taxables.
John Greter.
George Frank.
Jonathan Owen.
Philip Dotterer.
Benedict Fink.
Peter Bush.
George Bachman. Jacob Bender.
Single Freemen.
Andreas Erdman.
Samuel Meyer.
Yost Erdman.
Martin Apple.
Adam Rudenhauer.
Frederick Stoll.
Andrew Reinhard.
John Susloff.
Andrew Shaffer.
Peter Eshelman.
Henry Yonson.
Peter Sell.
John Bitting
Jacob Meyer.
Total tax, £460 7s 9d. Frederick Huff, col- lector.
ASSESSMENT FOR 1812.
Jacob Arnold.
Michael Koch.
John Apple.
Jacob Kneply.
Joseph Frey, Sr.
Daniel Schmidt.
George Alshouse.
Job Koch.
Joseph Frey, Jr.
Philip Sellers.
Widow Alshouse.
Jacob Koch.
Samuel Geissinger.
Jacob Seider.
Henry Buchecker.
Philip Kauffman.
David Gangeware.
Stephen Tool.
Philip Buchecker, Jr.
David Kauffman.
Philip Bahl.
Samuel Lander.
Baltzer Buchecker.
Magdalena Leob.
Henry Geissinger.
Henry Walman.
Abraham Berkenstock.
Andrew Werst.
John Geissinger.
Frederick Weidnian.
George Brinker.
Michael Landis.
Abraham Geissinger.
Andrew Wind.
Michael Benner.
Peter Laubenstine.
Jacob Gramm.
John Weber.
George Bachman.
Peter Lynn.
George Garner.
George Werst.
Tobias Bahl.
Peter Mory.
Jacob Bahl.
David Mack.
Daniel Geissinger.
Henry Young.
Jacob Berger.
William Mory, Sr.
George Horlocher.
John Young.
David Bachman.
William Meier.
Enoch Bachman.
Andrew Martin.
George Brinker.
William Mory, Jr.
George Buchecker .
George Mushlitz.
Adam Heller.
Philip Buchecker.
Jacob Mory.
Abraham Hottle.
Martin Zeisloch.
David Bachman.
Gotthard Mory.
John Hottle.
Abraham Ziegler.
Henry Buchecker.
Frederick Mohr, Sr.
John Jacoby.
Martin Apple.
Daniel Cooper.
Abraham Meier.
Frederick Jordan.
George Deily.
Jacob Dietz.
Samuel Meier.
Melchoir Kneply.
Valentine Ruff.
Daniel Derr.
Peter Meier.
Peter Kneply.
Leonard Ox.
Jacob Drenkler.
Jacob Miller.
John Kneply.
George Reinbold.
John Drohn.
Conrad Miller.
Nicholas Kramer.
John Weaver.
David Derr.
George Miller.
Joseph Koch.
Jacob Hubcr.
Philip Dotterer.
Jacob Meier.
Henry Knauss.
Widow Bitting. Stoffle Ziegler.
Jacob Erdman.
John Newcomer, Sr.
Carl Ludwig Koch.
Philip Koch.
John Everhard.
Henry Newcomer.
George Koch.
John Hall.
Solomon Egner. Daniel Egner.
John Opp. Mathias Ochs.
John Rumfeld.
Henry Ott.
Peter Egner.
Michael Ott.
Single Freemen.
Andrew Engleman.
George Weber.
John Dotterer.
John Seider.
Jacob Engleman.
Adam Wint.
John Frank.
Jacob Yotter.
Jonathan Kauffman.
Andrew Walter.
John Young.
Peter Yotter.
Peter Kurtz.
Jacob Wentz.
John Moore.
Philip Buchecker.
Nicholas Kramer.
Philip Windt.
John Apple.
Jacob Bachman.
John Bastian.
Rudolph Kauffman.
John Garnet.
Jacob Weiss.
George Blank.
Jacob Lander.
Abraham Geissinger.
Peter Weber.
Conrad Brinker.
Jacob Mory.
Henry Gangeware. Abraham Geissinger.
Casper Young.
Widow Bachman.
Philip Mushlitz.
Jacob Hartman.
Christian Young.
Henry Yotter. Abraham Yotter. John Yotter. Valentine Young.
Jacob Bachman.
Joseph Mill.
Michael Hottel.
Jacob Yotter.
George Christ.
Frederick Mohr, Jr.
John Janson.
John Stahl.
Jacob Everroth.
Philip Newcomer.
Tobias Koch.
Abraham Newcomer.
Henry Reinhard, Jr.
Jacob Smith.
John Egner.
Christian Rinker.
John Tisson.
John Erdman, Sr.
Peter Weber, Jr.
John Weber, Jr.
Conrad Rickert.
Jacob Werst.
Peter Sell.
Jacob Ott.
Valentine Shaffer.
Widow Owen.
John Seider.
Solomon Rumfeld.
Abraham Seider.
Leonard Reinhard.
Abraham Sheaffer.
Andrew Reinhard.
Henry Reinhard, Sr.
Jacob Erdman.
Conrad Steer.
Peter Fuchs.
Christian Sheaffer.
Abraham Fretz.
Benedict Fink.
Valentine Sheaffer.
Philip Flexer.
Jacob Stauffer.
Joseph Funk.
Jacob Schneider.
Peter Frank.
Philip Sharry. Abraham Smidt.
John Frank.
Jacob Gangaware. John Geissinger.
Henry Wind.
John Waldman.
Peter Young.
John Horlocher. Jacob Hartzell. John Hillegass
George Sheaffer.
George Shantzenbach.
Jacob Shantzenbach.
Joseph Welt.
Daniel Romich. John Romich.
John Waldman.
Casper Rumfeld. Samuel Reichard. Jacob Ruff.
Peter Wichall.
Joseph Rothrock.
931
UPPER SAUCON TOWNSHIP.
Jonathan Bachman. Christian Kauffman. Isaac Rumfeld.
Jacob Dotterer.
George Rumfeld.
Philip Rumfeld.
George Hillegass.
Peter Meier.
Samuel Meier.
Andreas Wind.
William Harlacher.
John Scotland.
John Shnyder.
John Derr.
George Hottle.
Jacob Meier.
William Bitting. Philip Smith.
John Jacoby.
Peter Wind.
Daniel Romich.
Peter Cooper.
Henry Weidner.
Solomon Brinker.
George Mushlitz.
Charles Clemmer.
Michael Fasbinder.
Mathias Zeislove.
Amos Brunner.
Abraham Dietz.
John Knepley.
Samuel Fink.
Jacob Bahl.
Abraham Yotter.
Jacob Ziegenfuss.
Jacob Bach.
Jacob Meier.
John Deily.
Jacob Frank.
Total tax, $609.
The taxes in those days were trifling compared with present rates. A farm of two hundred acres paid from eighty cents to one dollar and fifty cents. Laborers paid from ten to twelve cents, while those classed as "poor" paid no taxes, though some of them owned from thirty to forty acres of land. In 1763 the inhabitants of Up- per Saucon were classified thus: eighty farmers, nine laborers, two tavern-keepers, two weavers, one carpenter, three blacksmiths, one miller, one doctor, one cooper, four poor, with neither shoe- maker, saddler, tailor, wagoner, mason, nor tan- ner. In 1773 the township contained five thou- sand seven hundred and ninety-two acres of clear- ed land one thousand and twenty-eight acres of which were in grain. In 1752 the township had a population of six hundred and fifty souls.
ROADS .- The township is covered by a net- work of roads, but owing to the imperfect man- ner in which the early records were made and the change in the names of the points that fixed their termini, as well as those of the land-owners whose lands abut on the roads, it is very difficult to recognize local roads after the lapse of so many years, and even with some of the more import- ant ones we are only able to fix the date of their opening approximately. The road entering the township on the Lehigh Mountain, near Lanark, passing Lanark and Heller's tavern to a point near the residence of William P. Weidner, and thence to Locust Valley, was opened about 1750. The road from Coopersburg to Bethlehem, via Centre Valley, Friedensville, and Colesville, in 1755. That from Friedensville to Limeport, via Heller's tavern and Seidler's school-house, in I773.
The Allentown and Coopersburg turnpike
road was built in 1875. Except for a few short stretches it followed the old road from Allen- town to the countyline beyond Coopersburg. It was declared a free road again, by court, June 7, 1909. It is now being rebuilt under state auspices. The North Pennsylvania Railroad passes through the township. It was completed and opened for traffic in 1856. The first pass- enger train passed through the township Decem- ber 26 of that year. It is now under lease to the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company, and is known as its Bethlehem branch. Centre Valley and Saucana are the only stations in the township.
The railroad of the Saucon Iron Company was built about 1870. Its entire length of about two and one-half miles was in the township. It was abandoned about 1890.
CHURCHES AND CONGREGATIONS. Seven buildings, dedicated to the service of God, stand in the township, viz: the old Menno- nite Meeting House, near Coopersburg, the St. Paul's "Blue" Church, the Frieden's Church, at Friedensville, the Meeting House of the United Mennonite Brethren in Christ near Coopers- burg, the Meeting House, formerly of the Eng- lish Methodists, but now of the New Reformed at Friedensville, the Meeting House, formerly of the Free Methodists, but now of the Baptists at Centre Valley, and the Union Chapel in Cen- tre Valley.
The first Meeting House of the Mennonite congregation, near Coopersburg, was built about 1738. It was constructed of logs, with a swing- ing partition in the middle, which divided it into two apartments; one of these was used for church, the other for school purposes, but when on extraordinary occasions the attendance upon Divine worship was larger than could be ac- commodated in one apartment, the partition would be raised and the two apartments thrown into one ; this seems to have been a very tempor- ary structure, for we find it replaced by another in 1747, and built on the same plan. The pres- ent Meeting House was erected in 1841, and is the third which occupies the site. The first con- gregation serving here was what are now known as "the old-school Mennonites," but as there are scarcely half a dozen families remaining in the neighborhood which still adhere to the creed of their fathers, these have had no regular pastor here since the death of Rev. Samuel Moyer, in 1877. The new-school Mennonites are now the only denomination holding services here regularly but those of the old school still retain all their or- iginal rights and privileges. It is impossible now to fix the order in which this congregation
George Buchecker. Melchior Knepley. Christian Young. John Johnson. Henry Reichard. John Newcomer. David Derr.
Peter Buchecker.
932
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
was ministered to by its pastors, owing to the fact that no records were kept, and that two or three sometimes preached here at the same time, but the following is learned from their tomb- stones in the adjoining cemetery: Jacob Meyer died May 4, 1790, and served till his death,- how long does not appear. Samuel Moyer, the elder, died about 1832. Michael Landis died Aug. 5, 1839, after a service of thirty-five years.
preached here for some time. Christian Clem- mer, of Berks County, preached here about twenty years and died in 1883. A new-school minister, Jacob S. Moyer, "new school," died in 1909, after a service of twenty-four years. An- drew B. Shelly, Elwood Shelly and William Fretz, all new school, are the present incumbents.
Many theories might be advanced as to the date and also as to the site of the first church
ST. PAUL'S (BLUE) CHURCH.
William Landis died Aug. 4, 1848, after a serv- ice of eight years. Valentine Young died April 27, 1850, after a service of forty years. Samuel Moyer, the younger, died Aug. 24, 1877, after a service of about twenty years. The latter first preached for the new school, but returning to the faith of his fathers, closed his life as a min- ister of the old school. John Oberholtzer or- ganized the new-school congregation, and
edifice erected by the Lutheran congregation now serving at the Blue Church. But as one theory is apparently as strong as the other, we will content ourselves by enumerating the sev- eral circumstances upon which theories might be based and leaving our readers to form their own theories and deduct their own conclusions. The warrant for the land on which it stands was drawn by Conrad Walb, Jan. 9, 1737. The rec-
933
UPPER SAUCON TOWNSHIP.
ords of the Lutheran congregation serving here date back to 1740. In 1745 they informed Muhl- enberg that they were provided with a church and school-house. On March 16, 1754, a war- rant was issued from the land-office to Andreas Wind, in trust for the Lutheran congregation of Upper Saucon, for twenty-five acres of land, which was located near the site of the present residence on the farm of Jacob Hartman, near Friedensville.
On Dec. 30, 1757, Philip Geissinger entered into an agreement with Andreas Erdman and George Reinhardt, in behalf of the Lutheran congregation of Saucon, in which, for the con- sideration of £3, 2s. 6d., he bound himself to convey to the said congregation (after receiv- ing a patent for his land) the undivided half of four acres, three and one-half acres to be con- sidered as sold, and one-half acre as donated. In 1758, Andreas Wind sold the interest of the Lutheran congregation in the land, for which a warrant had been drawn by him. On April 24, 1758, Philip Geissinger, obtained his patent for his land, and on Sept. 4, 1761, he conveyed to George Reinhard, Andrew Erdman, George Kirschner, and Balthauser Beil, elders and ves- trymen of the Evangelical or Lutheran congrega- tion of Upper Saucon, one full moiety or equal half of four acres for the use of said congrega- tion. Tradition also has it that the members of the congregation at one time contemplated build- ing their church on the farm of Rev. Berken- stock (lately Solomon Greenawald), but were induced to change their plans by the liberal of- fer of Philip Geissinger. From these facts we may safely conclude that the congregation was organized no later than 1740, that they had a church and school-house somewhere in 1745, that they had no place of worship which was satisfactory to all of them in 1754, and that the first church was built on the present site about 1758.
When it became a union church of the Luth- eran and Reformed denominations cannot now be ascertained, and it is not safe to date this event prior to 1802; but here the record opens with a book, on the first page of which is an inscription, which, translated, reads thus: "Church book of the Evangelical Reformed congregation in Upper Saucon township, called Organ Church, begun by John Henry Hoffmeier, present minister of the congregation, and member of the reverend Synod, in the year of Christ, 1802."
But the church was not then really a union church. The Reformed congregation enjoyed their privileges by sufferance only, they did not acquire vested rights until January 21, 1826, and then through the following transaction: On this
date John Egner, and Peter Heist, "Lutheran church officers," conveyed to David Geissinger, "then owner of the tract of land of which the church property was originally a part," the orig- inal four acres and an adjoining tract of 2 acres and 128.8 perches acquired by the congregation by purchase May 27, 1816, and on the same date, January 21, 1826, the said David Geissinger conveyed to John Egner and John Berger, el- ders and vestrymen of the Lutheran and 1"Pres- byterian" church, of Upper Saucon, for the use of the congregations, the said two tracts to- gether with another tract of I acre 4.2 perches, making the whole tract then owned by the con- gregations 7 acres, 133 perches. This has been added to by purchase since, making the whole tract .now owned 8 acres, 156 perches.
The above transaction not only conferred upon the Reformed congregation, vested rights, but it also cured the very manifest defect in the original title.
The present church, is the third occupying the site. The first, built of logs, stood in the south- western corner of the old cemetery; the second built of stone, stood partly on the site of the present one, though extending a little farther south and west. This, it would appear from Rev. Hoffmeier's record, was known as "the Or- gan Church." When it was built cannot be as- certained. The present one was erected in 1833 at a cost of $5,173.81.
The following, taken from the discourse of Rev. John Vogelbach, on the occasion of the centennial anniversary of the founding of the Lutheran congregation, furnishes a catalogue of the ministers of the same.
In 1745, Rev. H. A. Muhlenberg, who then served several congregations in Philadelphia and vicinity, was appealed to by the Saucon congre- gation to come and serve them with word and sacrament. He did so, but resigned at the end of a year on account of ill health and the great distance he had to come. He then sent to them one Vigero, a teacher, who committed sermons and delivered them to the congregation, Muhl- enberg visiting them on occasions of communion and confirmation.
On Aug. 15, 1748, the first congregational conference of the Lutheran Synod was held in Philadelphia, and the Saucon congregation was represented in it. In the autumn of 1748, Vi- gero left them. In March, 1749, Rudolph Hein- rich Schrenk came from Lüneburg to Philadel- phia, and Muhlenberg at once recommended him to the congregation, whom he served for
1The word "Presbyterian" used above is taken from the deed, but it manifestly means Reformed.
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934
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
some time on probation. He was ordained Nov. 5, 1752, and continued to serve them till 1754, when he accepted a call to Raritan, N. J., re- turning, however, occasionally, to preach for them. Schrenk's successor was Johannes An- dreas Friederici (or Friedrichs), first as layman, then as ordained minister. He served about eight years, a part of which time he lived be- yond the Blue Mountains. In 1763, Johannes Joseph Roth, a Catholic student, came into the neighborhood, interested himself in the congrega- tion, and asked to be admitted into the Luth- eran Synod, and become pastor. In October of the same year he was admitted and installed. He died in 1764, and was buried in the cemetery be- longing to the church. Who served them from 1764 to 1769 does not appear, but communion was held regularly, except perhaps in 1769, when no record was made. In the latter part of 1769, Jacob Van Buskirk, from Germantown, came here, but when he left and who his successor was does not appear. It was very probably George Frederick Ellisen, who is recorded as having held communion here Sept. 29, 1793. After his de- parture the congregation were for several years without a regular pastor, but the sacraments were regularly administered by pastors of neigh- boring congregations. In 1800, Rev. F. W. Geisenheimer administered the Lord's Supper. Rev. Professor Roeller, of Goshenhoppen, preached here too. From 1800 to 1803, Jo- hannes F. Cramer preached in the other congre- gations belonging to the charge, and therefore probably here, too, though the records are silent as to him. On April 12, 1806, Frederick Plitt confirmed catechumens and administered the Lord's Supper. He preached here only a short time, was addicted to drinking, and soon after he left was found drowned in a mill-dam at Mif- flinburg, Columbia county. Rev. Heiny suc- ceeded Plitt, and served nine years. He was succeeded by Heinrich G. Stecher, who served two years.
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