History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 177

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 177

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When the common school houses were built in the summer of 1852, this school was again re- moved to near its old site, a school house being built on the land of Daniel Moyer, at the cross- roads, above Bittner's mill, about a quarter of a mile from the original site. Among the teachers may be mentioned Henry Quier, Frank Herber, Joel Bittner, Franklin J. Schumacher, Ralph P. Sowden, Solomon F. Rupp, O. D. Quier, Bene- dict P. Weiss, Daniel W. Benedict, Menno Heffner, Wallace Zimmerman, Isaac Haines and Franklin Stettler.

These district schools were under the manage- ment of a committee of trustees elected by the patrons of each district. They employed the teachers, who received from two to three cents for every child present per day, which amount the teachers had to collect themselves. The teachers boarded around mostly. The German language was mostly taught, though the English language was introduced much earlier into these private district schools than into the church schools. The furniture of these schools was of the rudest kind. There were no desks, but a row of tables, like a huckster's stand, the whole length of the school room.

Weiss's School .- This school house stood on the premises of Henry Weiss, now known as Weiss's tannery. The district was organized and the school house built probably some time be- tween the years 1822 and 1825. The school was kept up at this place until the common schools had been in operation for several years, when it was succeeded by Buck's school. The teachers were Elanius Kramlich, Amandus Stettler, David Stettler, and others.

Smithville School .- This school had its origin

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piles 70

992

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

about the year 1819, and was opened in the dwelling house of Mr. Burtz, about one-half mile northwest from Hynemansville. The teach- ers were Ferdinand Berkenmeyer, Peter Maurer, Samuel Wagner, and others. After some time this school was removed to the Maurer farm, where Nathan Moser was the principal teacher.

About the year 1843 or 1844 a school house was built by Gidion Barner, John Helffrich, George Danner, George Eisenhard, Jacob Werly, Jonas Metzger, Benjamin Grim, and others on land owned by Jonas Metzger. The teachers were Samuel Eisenhard, W. A. Fenckner ( the chocolate man), Philip Belling, William Stettler, and others. When the common school houses were built this school was discontinued, a school house being built at the road between the present village of New Smithville and the Barner's farms, known at first as the Metzger's, then as Barner's, and now as New Smithville school. Among the teachers were Phaon Baer, Jacob Lichty and Samuel W. Hacock.

Acker's School .- Some time after the year 1800, a school was opened on the farm of Mi- chael Acker, now owned by Jacob Grim. It was kept up, with perhaps slight intermissions, until near the time when the commn schools came into operation, and was succeeded by Ap- ple's school. Some of the teachers were Daniel Helffrich, Wilhelm Schreiber, and Frederick Kengle. Among those at Apple's may be men- tioned William Rupp, Franklin Acker, Aman- dus Knerr, Cyrus Rhodes, and - Heilman.

Seiberling's School .- About the year 1834 a school was opened in the village of Mount Pleas- ant (now known as Seiberlingsville), and kept up with slight intermissions for upwards of fifty years. Probably the first teacher was Andreas Ring, and he was followed by several English teachers from Bucks county, Elias Keiper (of Al- lentown), Joe Pike, and others. Among the teachers who taught common school here were Charles Leiser, Lavinius Holben, and Emma Seiberling. Gottlieb Souders often taught sum- mer school here.

Centre School .- This was started about the year 1830 in an old house on the premises of John Bleiler, tanner. The building was an old dwell- ing house that had become too dilapidated to be rented. The first two years the school was taught by Wilhelm Schreiber, a German. Then came Samuel Wagner. In 1834, the building having become too poor, the school was removed to an- other old house on the premises of Rev. John Helffrich, where it was kept up two years. The teacher was Orlando Knapp, an Englishman. In 1836 the school was again removed to an old hatmaker's shop on the premises of Jonathan

Xander, where it was kept up two years, the teacher being Amandus Stettler. But the shop becoming too small, the school was moved to an old house at Holben's, Mr. Stettler continuing as teacher. During these ten years the furniture of the school consisted of the rudest kind. The teachers received a certain amount per day for each pupil, and most of them boarded around.

About the year 1840, a school district was or- ganized by Henry Kramlich, Benjamin Bear, An- drew Hartman, Joseph Bear, Christian Kram- lich, Benjamin Zimmerman, and others. An- drew Hartman gave the land, and Benjamin Bear and Christian Kramlich were the builders. The school house built was a stone structure, about three-fourths of .a mile northeast of Hyne- mansville, on the road to Lyon Valley, and re- ceived the name Centre School House. It con- tinued to be used for a period of thirty-three years, until the Seipstown school house was built in 1873, when the Centre school was discon- tinued.

The teachers who taught at Centre were Wil- liam Wittemeyer (a German), William Tippe Cramer (an Englishman from Philadelphia), Frank Haines, Amandus Stettler, David Stettler, Elanius Kramlich, and several others prior to the adoption of the common schools in 1849. After the adoption of the common schools, Gott- lieb Souders, an educated man from Germany taught here for many years, and the school had a very high standing. Franklin Bender and some others also taught here. O. D. Quier was the last teacher. During the time of the Township Institute, it was mostly held here. A debating society also held its mettings here during the winter of 1872 and 1873. The house has since been torn down, and not a vestige of it now re- mains to mark the spot.

Private Schools .- Besides the district and church schools, there were also a number of pri- vate schools at different periods in different parts of the township. Sometimes it happened that men of means had a large family of children, whom they wished to educate better than was usual, so they fixed up a room and got a teacher, and had school in their houses for their own and their neighbor's children. Among these were the first English schools. Sometimes, also, it hap- pened that persons of some education got out of employment, and, finding a room at a suitable place, opened a school. Thus, about the year 1825 or 1826, Jesse Grim fixed up a room on his spring house, got teachers from abroad, and had English school kept for a period of about ten years. Killian Leiby, Jr., also taught English school in his house some time after the year 1800. This man was a sort of "Jack at all trades." He

993

WEISSENBERG TOWNSHIP.

cultivated a small farm, was something of a horse doctor, taught music, and is said to have been an expert player on the violin. He was also a nailmaker, having made all the nails used in building the second Ziegel Church. In his later years he was known to go around casting tin spoons. At the time when he taught school he lived where George Kuhns now lives. Nathan Moser also taught school of this kind some time about the year 1830, in a small shop at his home, on lands now owned by David Stettler, about a quarter of a mile south by east of Claussville.

Henry Busse, the veteran teacher at the Weis- senberg Church, taught school at one time at Feldi Werly's, in the kitchen. At Dewald Wer- ly's there was school for several terms in the garret of an old distillery.

About a hundred years ago, one Martin Brech- all, a Hessian, taught school at John Nicholas Werly's, in the kitchen. Here the bustle of the school room mingled with the hum of the busy housewife's spinning wheel. He seems to have been an expert with the rod as well as the pen. He wielded the former with an iron hand. His pupils were mostly grown-up boys and grown-up girls. They sat on both sides of a table, ranged through the middle of the kitchen, while he sat behind, with his back to the pupils and his face towards the wall. Yet whenever a pupil did the slightest mischief he was sure to be detected and punished without mercy. Occasionally some young sharper would think, "Well, now, he won't see me," and begin to make fun. The next moment "whack" came the hickory. For a long time the pupils could not see how he detected them so soon, but at last they found out that while he sat with his back turned towards them, he was looking at a mirror which reflected the whole room. He was an excellent German pen- man, and many of his pupils attended school merely for the purpose of learning to write. When he was not teaching he went around filling out baptismal certificates.

Rupp's School .- This district is in the eastern corner of the township. The school house stands on a hill once wholly overgrown with chestnut woods, but now mostly cleared. For a long time this district had no school. That part west of the school house belonged to the Moyer's dis- trict, while that part lying east of it belonged to a district of which the school house stood in Macungie, on the hill, above Fogelsville, at the public road leading from that place to Seipstown. The school house above Fogelsville must have been built a considerable time before the year 1800, for persons who attended the school there between the years 1810 and 1820 say that it was an old building then. It had two rooms and a

cellar, and served also as a dwelling for the teacher at various times. When this school was removed to Fogelsville, this part of Weissen- berg had no school until Nathan Moser opened his private school about 1830. This was not continued longer than a few years. While the Moyer's school was at Schumacher's, the children of this district attended there. About the year 1839 a school was opened in an old house on the farm of Samuel Heffner, the teacher of which was Joe Pike. A few years later it was removed to an old building on the farm of Jonas Kern (now known as the Frank L. Knerr farm), about three-eighths of a mile south of the present school house. This building was one that had been used as a distillery. The school room had no desks, but some old tables and a carpenter's bench, at which the pupils sat. Here the school was kept up until the spring of 1852.

The principal teacher before the commor schools was John Hossey. Jonas Kunkle taught here for two terms, and Levi Haas one term In the summer of 1852 a new school house was erected by the township, built by David Moser for $320. It was built by the side of the road, in the middle of a large forest, upon the land of Jonas Kern, hence the school was long known as Kern's school. It has been called Rupp's since 1880. It was a stone structure, 26 feet long and 22 feet wide. At first the desks were placed along the wall, but they have since been changed sev- eral times. The room was originally very cold, and many children had their feet frozen there, but it was repaired and made more comfortable. For the first two terms the school was taught by Jonas Kunkle. In the fall of 1854 it was taken in charge by Oliver Holben, since a professor in various European and American colleges; afterward engaged in a New York college, and a Virginia college and who died in 1910. He boarded in the school house, and slept in the gar- ret. He taught one term, and was a successful teacher. The school then numbered some seventy pupils. The next teacher was Henry Knerr, one term. Then again Jonas Kunkle two terms, who was a good teacher for those times. Next followed Daniel Kuhns, one term, who became a country merchant at Weidasville, now retired at Allentown.

In the fall of 1859 the school was placed in the hands of James Schumacher. He was an edu- cated and experienced teacher, but rather too severe, and often unreasonable in his punishment of pupils, hence he had great difficulties here. He taught one term. When the Civil War broke out he became a soldier, and gave his life as an offering to his country. The next teacher was George Gosman, a graduate of Heidelberg

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

College, Tiffin, Ohio, and an able teacher, but he soon fell into a misunderstanding with some of his patrons and had a vast amount of trouble. When the term was over, he went to Maryland, thence back to Ohio, and afterwards to Europe. He spent a considerable time in Switzerland, Italy, and Greece and served as professor in colleges at Rome, Paris, and Athens. He mar- ried in Switzerland, and returned to Tiffin, Ohio, where he practiced law for some time. When last heard from by his Pennsylvania friends he was in California. During the winter of 1861 and 1862 the school was taught by David Y. Shaub, of Hereford, Berks county, a professional teacher, who afterwards became a German Re- formed minister. The next teacher was Eugene Haberacker, son of Dr. Haberacker, of Fogels- ville, who taught one term. He is now a physi- cian at Tyrone, Pa. Next came Milton Bern- hard, of East Texas, one term.

In the fall of 1864 the school came in the charge of John Rupp, an attorney-at-law at Al- lentown, who taught three terms; then came Benjamin Rupp, who taught two terms. The last two were professional teachers, and both law students at the time. The next teacher was Solomon F. Rupp, one term. Then came Uriah Sieger and Owen D. Quier, each one term. In the fall of 1872 the school came in charge of Henry F. Rupp, by whom it was till 1890; then by Solomon Rupp until 1899; and since by dif- ferent teachers.

Common Schools .- When the common schools were first established in Pennsylvania the people of Weissenberg were bitterly opposed to them; hence, whenever the question came up at the annual township elections, the people voted them down, though a few men like Joshua Seiberling made strenuous efforts to have the system adopt- ed. But when the law was changed, so that the minority in a township could accept, things took a different course. In 1849, Joshua Seiberling drew up a petition asking the county court to appoint a board of school directors for the town- ship. This petition was given into the hands of George Muse, who obtained some twenty signers to it. It was then presented to the court, when Joshua Seiberling, George Muse, Paul Bleiler, Frederick Wallace, George S. Eisenhard, and John Gehringer were appointed as a board of school directors. They organized a system of public schools for the township. The first school board was, however, in power but a short time, for at the next election they were all defeated, and an entirely new board was elected.

The second board consisted of Henry Werly, Jacob Walbert, Samuel Heffner, Daniel Leiby, John Griffee, and Jeremiah Derr.

The present board consists of Peter O. Fritz, Oliver Oldt, John Gehringer, Frank Bittner, and Llewellyn Danner.

School Houses .- During the first two or three years the common schools were held in the old buildings. In the year 1852 the township was divided into school districts, and, with few ex- ceptions, new school houses were built during this and the few following years. These build- ings were stone structures, poorly built by con- tract, about 20 by 30 feet in size, with rooms 8 feet high, and desks placed along the wall. Sometime later an independent district, called Grim's was formed out of parts of this and Macungie townships, also a joint district with Lynn. Here larger and better buildings were put up, made of brick.

In 1873 the Seipstown district was formed out of part of Rupp's (then called Kerns'), Zeigel Church, and Centre. The school house at Seips- town was built by contract by Peter Seip, of bricks, about 26 by 32 feet in size, with room about II feet high, furnished with board desks; since then improved furniture has been intro- duced.

At the Weissenberg Church the school was kept in a room in the dwelling house until 1877, when a new brick school house was built by con- tract by William Bear, one of the directors.

At Ziegel Church the school was also kept in a room of the dwelling house until 1878, when, a new dwelling house having been erected by the congregation, the old house was repaired, the school room enlarged, and furnished with pat- ent desks.

Since 1880, the township has maintained eleven school houses and also one jointly with Lynn. In April, 1913, the schools, teacher, and at- tendance were as follows:

School. Teacher. Enrolled.

Rupp's, Martha Sechler, 20

Seipstown,

Paul S. Christman, 38

Moyer's, Annie Bear, II

Ziegel Church, Victor Ziegler, 29

Apple's, Leroy E. Werley, 19

Smithville, Constant Zimmerman, .. 20

Grim's, Daniel W. Benedict, . ..

Gackenbach's, Warren A. Loch, 18

Buck's, .O. R. Bittner, 23

Weisenberg Church, . George J. Ross,

Hynemansville, ...... Maurice H. Smale, 28

Miller's (with Lynn), Elmer W. Fisher, 23

265

Terms and Salary .- When the common schools were first started in this township the term was fixed at four months, of twenty-four days to a month. The salary paid to the teachers was $18 per month in the winter of 1852-53. From that time it rose until 1860, when they received $28

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WEISSENBERG TOWNSHIP.

per month. In the fall of 1863 the term was increased to five months, of twenty-two days each ; two days of each month being granted to the teachers for holding institutes. At the close of the Civil War the salary had risen to from $40 to $45 per month, according to the grade of the certificate. This was during the times when Jonas Ettinger, Jacob Madtes, David Peter, Solo- mon Knerr, Henry German, Peter Seip, Charles Ziegler, and others formed the school boards.

During the war this township furnished its quota of soldiers by way of substitutes raised by the school board. These cost an immense amount of money, which had to be raised by means of taxes, called bounty taxes, levied and collected by the school board. For this the directors were blamed, though unjustly, and other men elected in their places; consequently the school suffered. The salary was decreased, the term diminished, and the institute stopped. After several years had elapsed the term was restored, the salary again increased, and through the efforts of some of the teachers the institute again started. Then the schools again flourished. At the beginning of the great panic the salary was $38 dollars per month for the professionals. In 1880 it dwindled down to $24 per month all through, and the in- stitute died out. In 1884 the salary was $29 per month; it has since been raised to $50.

Teachers and Progress .- Before the common schools were organized the teachers were mostly Germans, and the schools nearly all conducted in German, but with the advent of the common schools came the English language. At first it was taught in its elements, that is, in a small way, but gradually it obtained a firm hold and crowded the German out. Before the common system the schools were few, and many children received only a few months' schooling. The common system made schools more numerous, and brought the children into them, for when a per- son had to pay taxes he wanted to have the value of his money. The teachers at first were no bet. ter qualified than before. Several amusing anec- dotes will illustrate this. It is said that the first county superintendent for Lehigh once ex- amined a German applicant for a school in a neighboring township. It was in arithmetic. First he gave him a problem in addition, then in subtraction, which he solved, but when it came to multiplication, there he stuck. The superin- tendent asked, "Mr. - , did you never study this?" The teacher replied, "Das addiren und das subtrahendiren habe ich gelernt, aber das mul- tipliciren und das diffidiren habe ich noch nie gekant,"-("Addition and subtraction I learned, but multiplication and division I never knew"). Another one, on being asked, "Herr M- ,

was wissen sie von Grammar?" replied, "Ich hab mein lebtag nie gekrämert."-("Mr. M -- , what do you know of grammar?" "I never was a pedlar in my life").

Soon, however, young men began to go to seminaries, academies, and later to normal schools, to prepare for teaching; then the schools im- proved. The introduction of the English lan- guage into the schools was soon followed by the introduction of geography and grammar in some schools as early as 1852. The children who studied geography and grammar were, however, the exception, not the rule, as late as 1860. About that time mental arithmetic was introduced, fol- lowed ten years later by history. The teaching of grammar was not a very great success in most of the schools until the introduction of "Reed & Kellog's Grammar," about 40 years ago. After- ward algebra, bookkeeping, and physiology were introduced into some of the more advanced schools. Occasionally some children studied Ger- man exclusively as late as 1870.

The Sunday schools and churches are still German; but the children, nearly all of whom learn to talk English, are beginning to under- stand less of the High German than of the Eng- lish, because they learn everything in school in English, and talk the Pennsylvania German, which is a mixture of the two, into which they bring more English words every year.

Other Educational Institutions .- At every church, and at some of the school houses, there are kept up Sunday schools, which serve to pre- pare the children to become members of the church. There also have been at different times and places debating societies in the township.

Justices of the Peace .- Prior to 1840 the jus- tices having jurisdiction over this territory were elected by districts, and their names will be found in the civil list of the general history.

Commissioned.

Jonas Seiberling,

April 14, 1840

Geo. S. Eisenhart,

14, 1840

John W. Helffrich,

11, 1843

Joshua Seiberling, 15, 1845

Fred. A. Wallace, II, 1848

Francis Weiss, 9, 1850

John H. Helffrich, 15, 1851

Francis Weiss,

10, 1855

Henry P. Grim, 13, 1858

Francis Weiss, 10, 1860

Francis Weiss,

II, 1865

Joshua Seiberling,

" 17, 1866

Francis Weiss,

66 8, 1870

Jacob Lichty, 9, 1872

Francis Weiss, March 13, 1875

Saml. W. Hacock, 21, 1876

Jacob Lichty, 19, 1877

Saml. W. Hacock, April 9, 1881

Francis Weiss, March 30, 1882

Solomon F. Rupp, May, 1885

Joshua Seiberling, 30, 1861

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Samuel N. Hacock,

1886

Solomon F. Rupp,

1890

Oscar P. Werley,

1891

Solomon F. Rupp,

1895

Oscar P. Werley,

1896

Solomon F. Rupp, =

1900

George J. Ross,

190I

Solomon F. Rupp,

1905

D. W. Benedict,

1906

Solomon D. Rupp,

1910

D. W. Benedict,

Dec. 191I

Private Graveyards .- Besides the church ceme- teries there is a graveyard on the land of Jesse Grim, in Weissenberg township, which was started in 1801. The first persons buried there were Daniel and Catharine Grim, who died only eight days apart. Few persons are buried there. There is another on the farm of Benjamin Leiby, near Stein's Corner, 20 by 30 feet, on which seven graves are marked with stones and still visible. One of the head-stones has a plain in- scription-C K 1763 (possibly Conrad Krim).

In the earlier times persons were buried on their own farms, but the places were not fenced as graveyards, and are generally not known at the present; and those which are known are farmed as any other land. There are places visible in some parts which are said to be Indian graves, particularly upon the lands of Jesse Grim.

Industries .- Grim's grist and saw mills are situated at New Smithville, on Silver Creek, on a tract of land surveyed Aug. 12, 1783, for John Gackenbach, Sr., who built a log grist mill and saw mill on it, and sold it, July 21, 1794, to John Gackenbach, Jr. Several years later ( 1797) he sold it to Abraham Smith, who had it till 1808, when he sold it to Gidion Grim, grand- father of the present owner. He built a stone dwelling house there in 1810, and a stone mill in 1817, both of which are still standing. From Gidion Grim the property passed to his son, Benjamin, from whom his sons, Jonathan, Gidion, and Willoughby, obtained it, the last named now owning it. The mill is still in a good condition considering that it was built nearly 100 years ago. It has a good water-power and runs all the year round. It has a good cus- tom business. A saw mill has been used with the grist mill.

Kline's mill is situated on Schaeffer's Run, in the southern part of the township. About the year 1770, Peter Kline bought the property from Mr. Kleinert, and soon afterwards erected a log grist mill. A few years later the mill caught fire and burned down, and a second was erected ( also built of logs), which stood until the year 1875, when a large frame mill was built in its place. The present mill is conveniently arranged, and has

both water power and steam power. Peter Kline gave the property to his son, Lorentz, about the year 1800. Lorentz, having no children, gave the property to his nephew, Charles Kline. Charles divided his property between his chil- dren, and gave the mill to his son, William, who sold it to John Lackey, the present proprietor.

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 177

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

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