History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 182

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 182

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Near the works, in an elevated position, known as "Dewey Heights," the company erected two rows of ten double, two-story frame dwelling- houses for the accommodation of some of its working people.

From 1902 to 1909 the company supplied the town with electric light.

In 1895 Milton Steinmetz started a bottling works and carried it on five years. He was suc- ceeded by William Steinmetz from 1900 to 1907, and since then the plant has been operated by John Rumsy (with four to seven teams accord- ing to trade and six employees), for the North- ampton Brewing Co., owner of the property.

In 1884 the village contained two stores, two hotels, a school house with two schools, railroad station, and 300 inhabitants. In 1913 it was

recognized as a town of 1,200 inhabitants, with 160 dwellings, three large hotels, one general store, Union church, large cement works, em- ploying 200 hands, large graded brick school edifice, and improved railroad accommodations.

The water for domestic uses has been supplied by the Clear-Springs Water Co., of Catasauqua since 1899; and the electric light by the Cata- sauqua Electric L. & P. Co.

The old Leisenring home, erected in 1796 on the hill west of the town is still standing in a good state of preservation.

Old surviving inhabitants at Cementon in November, 1913, were George Gogle, aged 82 years, Mrs. Samuel Schaffer, 81 years, Mrs. Henry Laury (nee Leisenring) 77 years, (born and reared on the homestead and always resided here).

John Stofflet carried on successfully a farming implement business and repair shop very exten- sively on the main street, near the bridge, from 1885 to 1905.

DEPARTMENT STORE .- In 1891, O. E. Gruver started a general store on the opposite side of the street from where it is now and carried on a large and increasing business until 1913 when he moved into his present spacious three-story brick building and has since conducted there a fine department store. And the post office was then located in the store.

Jacob Jones began keeping a store at this vil- lage in 1844, and in connection with the mercan- tile business he conducted a "temperance hotel."

POST OFFICE .- A post office by the name of Cementon was established by the post office de- partment Feb. 27, 1891. The inhabitants sug- gested the name of Whitehall, but this had al- ready been taken for another locality in the state, and Cementon was substituted because the village was in the cement region. The post- masters have been :

John Roth, 1891.

Erwin Semmel. 1892-95.

Charles Schaeffer, 1895-19II.

Jeremiah F. Troxell, 19II -.

LODGE HALL .- In 1890, the Whitehall Ben- eficial Society was organized and a two-story brick building was then erected, with the first floor set apart for store purposes, and the second for hall and amusement purposes. Gruver oc- cupied the first floor for twenty-one years. The Woodmen of America also hold their meetings in this hall.

HOTELS .- Valley House was originally the Siegfried Inn; and continued as such until 1852 when it was demolished by Thomas McKee. The present three-story building was erected in its place, and the name changed to Whitehall Hotel.

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

William Miller afterward became the proprietor, changed the name to Valley House, and carried on the business until 1890, when William A. Wieder became the owner and he has conducted the place until the present time.

Laurel House was established by David Peter in 1868 and named after "Laurel Hill" in the village. He carried on the business for a num- ber of years, and he was succeeded by different parties, the last being Tilghman Smith, since 1910.

Central House was erected in 1893 by John M. Newhard and conducted by him until 1895. Numerous changes followed until 1912 when John Schwartzson became the proprietor.

PHYSICIANS .- The practicing physicians in the village have been Dr. Aaron Becker from 1871 to 1876; and Dr. N. C. Peters from 1888 to the present time.

SCHOOLS .- A two-story brick school house was erected by subscription at Whitehall Station at the instance of Leslie Miller, Benoni Bates, and others; the first floor was occupied by a general store. A special school was conducted in it for several years; afterward used by the district for school purposes; and in 1868 it was purchased by the school directors who tore it down and erected in its place a larger two-story brick building. In 1884 there were two schools in it with fifty-eight pupils. It occupied the site of the Central House on Main street. In 1892 a superior and attractive two-story brick edifice with six rooms was established by the township on "Lincoln Heights," and in it six schools are conducted.

HOKENDAUQUA is situated on the west bank of the Lehigh river, and adjoins the borough of Coplay on the southerly side. It was established and named by the Thomas Iron Co. in 1854, and here the works and office have since been main- tained.

The place derives its name from a small creek which empties into the Lehigh river on the eastern side, about half a mile above the town. It is an Indian word in the language of the Del- aware tribe, consisting of two syllables: Hockin, which signifies land, and Dochive, which signi- fies searching for. It would seem, however, that this expressive word was rather applied to the Irish settlers who sought a place for settle- ment in 1730 and located here.

But it is also said that an Indian village was situated along this creek which was called Hockyondocquay, and that Edward Marshall and his associates rested near by, at the end of their first day's journey on Sept. 19, 1737, while making the famous "Indian Walk." The land, on which the iron works came to be located more

than 100 years afterward, was not included in the "walking purchase," the limit having been on the eastern bank of the river.

THOMAS IRON Co .- William Lowther se- cured land here from the Penns in 1733, and afterward the Thomas Iron Co. obtained 185 acres, subsequently increased to 240 acres, where they established their extensive iron works and laid out a town for the accommodation of their working people. At first they designed to sell off these lots but they changed their pur- pose so as to be master of the situation at all times with respect to the complete management of their costly industrial enterprise.

After erecting furnaces I and 2 at an ex- pense of several hundred thousand dollars they donated a large lot of ground and contributed altogether $5,000 towards the erection of the Presbyterian church ; they laid water pipes along the streets and supplied the place with water, and they provided means for the protection of the people against fire.

Within ten years the company erected a large number of dwelling-houses to accommodate a thousand inhabitants, and their superior control of local affairs in this time built up a model com- munity. Only one property was sold to an em- ployee, which was in 1855, and he came to be one of their most faithful workmen during their prosperous career of sixty years. This was John McFetridge who started as a locomotive engi- neer, which position he filled for three years ; then served as yardmaster at the works continu- ously for forty-seven years and as storekeeper for one year, when he retired in 1905, making a total service with the company of fifty-one years, a most extraordinary period which is worthy of special mention. He is still living in the same dwelling-house where he started, in good health at the age of eighty-two years with the respect and admiration of the community for his exem- plary character.

The works of the Thomas Iron Co. are de- scribed elsewhere in this publication with other important industries.

STORES .- John Evans and John Nevins start- ed a general store in the center of the town in 1856. After conducting it four years they sold it to John Christman who carried on the busi- ness for forty-nine years. George Issermoyer then became the proprietor and he has continued it until now.

William Roberts carried on a small general store from 1861 to 1893; his son, John, suc- ceeded him from 1893 to 1911; and Shamp & Lamont have continued the business since 1911.

BAKERY .- Samuel Nevins embarked in the baking business in 1857 and after carrying it on

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WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP.

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for some time his son became his successor who operated it for a number of years (now one of the foremen in the iron works). Different parties have since had it for short periods.

There are no tradespeople in the town be- cause the working people are employed in the different departments of the Thomas Iron Works and the houses which they occupy are owned by the Iron Company.

AGED MEN .- Besides John McFetridge, there are two other aged men at Hokendauqua who were also in the employ of the Iron Company for upwards of forty years: Thompson Porter, 74 years; Adam Faulkner, 86 years.

HOKENDAUQUA HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING.

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT .- Certain inhabitants of Whitehall township, in the village of Hokendauqua, presented a petition to the Court of Quarter Sessions of Lehigh county on Sept. 16, 1864, praying to be established into an independent district for school purposes. The court appointed John D. Lawall, Solomon Griesemer, and O. L. Schreiber as commissioners to make the necessary inquiries, who made a fav- orable report; and the Court confirmed this re- port April 7, 1865, and established "The Hoken- dauqua School District, as a separate and inde- pendent district in the school system of Lehigh county. It then contained 145 dwelling-houses, 700 inhabitants, three stores, large iron works, school building (with three schools), and the Presbyterian congregation.

This independent school district was main- tained nearly fifty years in a successful manner ; but when the new school code of 1911 was put into operation in Lehigh county, the district was abandoned and the town of Hokendauqua was included in Whitehall township. Rebecca Mc-

Fetridge (daughter of John) was a teacher in the district twenty-five years.

FERRY .- There was a ferry here across the river, called "Hartman's," from a very early period, and it was carried on until the erection of the bridge by the two counties. At the west end a tavern was conducted for many years, starting before the Revolution. The two-story stone building is still standing.

ORE-WASHERY .- At Hokendauqua, an ore- washery was carried on by miners of ore in the township, because they could not secure water in the immediate vicinity of the mines. It was located below the dam, from which the water was obtained, and it was operated for a number of years until about 1854, when it was discon- tinued.

WEST CATASAUQUA .- The land, where the town is located, was previously owned by Adam Miller, and a town was laid out by Joshua Mil- ler. Orange M. Fuller also laid out part of the town and sold building lots. The locality was first known as "Pleasant Hill" on account of its elevation above the river and the "pleasant" view which it commanded; but it was afterward named West Catasauqua from its connection with the thriving industrial borough on the east side of the river. The L. V. R. R. extends through the eastern portion; and the junction of the Catasauqua and Fogelsville R. R. with the L. V. R. R. is at this place, its "round house" for the engines being at the northerly line. Two bridges span the river, a long iron county bridge at the northern end, and the bridge of the Le- high Valley Transit Co., at the southern end.

The population in November, 1913, was es- timated at 1,000; in 1884, it was 595.

SCHOOL .- A double brick school building was erected in 1876 and there were two schools with 194 pupils. A superior two-story brick building was erected in its place in 1905.

STORES .- In 1884 Orange M. Fuller erected a two-story frame store building and rented it to Samuel Hock who started a small business and carried it on for a year, when George Smith pur- chased the store and property, and he has since conducted the place.

In 1908 Hiram Woodring put up an attrac- tive two-story cement-block store building and has since carried on a general mercantile busi- ness.

There are several small stores besides in the town; also a meat-shop and two barbers.

CHURCH .- The United Brethren in Christ erected a one-story brick church, with basement, 34 by 44 feet, in 1885, and named it "St. John's." Religious services were conducted at irregular times for about twenty years. Then the building

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

was sold at public sale, and a Sunday school as- sociation purchased it and there a school has since been maintained for the benefit of the com- munity. It was burned down in 1891 and im- mediately rebuilt.

BAND .- The West Catasauqua Band was or- ganized in 1903. A new hall for practice was secured in November, 1913.

MARBLE-YARD .- Elmer M. Berndt established a marble-yard in 1900 and has carried it on since.

HOTEL .- August Eagle built a hotel at West Catasauqua in 1872 and named it the Fairview. It is a three-story frame building on the road to Catasauqua near the long iron bridge which spans the river. He carried it on nineteen years.

plant and carried it on for a time; and he was succeeded by McKee, Fuller & Co., who en- larged the industry and came to employ 1,000 hands.

A rolling-mill was started in the same loca- tion about 1865 by the Catasauqua Manufactur- ing Co.

The town in area is about one and a half miles long by a mile wide, situated along the west bank of the Lehigh river, half a mile south of West Catasauqua, and occupies an elevated position.

The place was originally named "Ferndale." It was so known in 1871 when the Presbyterian church was erected. The land was patented to Jacob Yund, Stephen Snyder, and Giles Winsor. These great enterprises were the foundation of

PLEASANT HILL SCHOOLHOUSE, WEST CATASAUQUA.

His successors have been: Fritz Hermany, 1891-96; Henry Steitz, J. D. Kingcaid, C. P. King, since 191I.

FAIRVIEW CEMETERY is located in the town- ship on the west side of the Lehigh river, oppo- site Catasauqua. It was laid out by James W. Fuller, Esq., and sold to an incorporated asso- ciation which has since maintained it in a most excellent condition. A soldiers' monument was erected there in 1866 by the people of Catasau- qua.

Being more immediately identified with Cata- sauqua, a more extended description of it, in- cluding the important historical details, will be found in the chapter relating to that borough.

FULLERTON .- The first industry to be es- tablished in this locality along the L. V. R. R. was the car-wheel works of Frederick & Co., be- fore 1865; James W. Fuller then bought the

the town, and it was named after the iron-master. In November, 1913, the population was esti- mated at 2,000; in 1884 it was 550.

[For the history of the Dent Hardware Com- pany, the Kurtz Furniture Company, and the McBride Silk Company, all located at Fullerton, see the following chapter (XLVIII) on Indus- tries : ]

SNYDER BAKERY .- Tilghman M. Snyder started a bakery in Fullerton on Main street in 1892 and has conducted the business until now, employing three bakers and running two deliv- ery teams.

GENERAL STORE .- George P. Diefenderfer embarked in a general store business at Fuller- ton in 1898, having erected a fine cement block building.

Five small stores are also carried on in the place.

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WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP.

POST-MASTERS .- The following postmasters have served at Fullerton :

Albert Williams. Gwilym Davis, 1889-93.

John P. M. Wint, F. G. Kurtz, 1897-1914.

1893-97.

The population estimated in December, 1913, was 2,000.

Two churches are maintained in this growing town: Ferndale Presbyterian since 1871, and St. John's Union since 1886.

A superior two-story brick school building was erected here in 1906.

A newspaper agency was established in 1897 by John P. M. Wint, Esq.

HOTELS .- The Fullerton Hotel, a three-story frame structure, was erected in 1868 by Joseph Berkenstock, and rebuilt in 1882 by Joseph Lud- wig. Since 1911 it has been conducted by John Gaal. A hall for entertainment is connected with the hotel.

The Windsor House, a three-story frame structure, was built in 1890 by C. W. King, and carried on by him ten years; then by T. J. Dief- enderfer for five years; and since 1905 by George L. Snyder. It has twenty-eight rooms.

The St. Charles Hotel, a two-story frame building was erected by William Behny in 1893

It is in the center of Whitehall township, mid- way between Allentown and Egypt.

CHURCHES.

The churches in Whitehall are the following :

Egypt

Fullerton

Mickleys

Presbyterian

Hokendauqua

Union

Cementon

EGYPT CHURCH .- The earliest settlers of the township in the vicinity of Egypt were almost exclusively members of the Reformed church. The Balliets and the Voeturns (now written Wotring or Woodring), were of Huguenot de- scent ; the Schreibers were natives of Nieder- bronn, in Alsace; the Schaadts emigrated from the province of Hannau and were long familiarly known as the Hannauers. But the greater num- ber among them were the Kohlers, Kerns, Burg- halters, Mickleys, Troxels, and Steckels, who were natives of Switzerland; and Egypt was for that reason often called a Swiss settlement. They having been members of the Reformed Church in Europe, it was but natural that they should organize a congregation holding to the same religious confession. There were from the

FULLERION SCHOOL BUILDING.

and he carried it on until 1906. Since then, his successor has been Edward Wehrle.

HILL-SIDE CEMETERY .- F. G. Kurtz and William Behny established a cemetery in the town in 1908, and called it "Hill-side."

MICKLEY's is a small village on the Mickley Road, about a mile southwest from Hoken- dauqua. It consists of a prominent church (with two cemeteries), hotel, and fifteen dwelling- houses. The name was derived from the Mick- ley family. Jacob Mickley, son of the emigrant, Jacob Mickley, removed from Mill creek, and settled here about 1760. A descendant, Edwin Mickley, became very prominently identified with the Thomas Iron Company at Hokendauqua.

beginning some Lutherans in the neighborhood, including such families as the Saegers and the Ruchs, but it was not till many years afterward that they found themselves sufficiently numerous to organize a separate congregation.

For a number of years after the organization of the congregation, and before the building of a church, religious services were held alternately in the houses of Peter Troxell and George Kern.

The oldest document in the possession of this Reformed congregation is a baptismal record, bound in the most primitive manner, with strips of buckskin serving as clasps. The title-page bears the motto: "Omnia ad Dei gloriam Salu- temque nostrarum animarum," and a German

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

inscription of which the following is a transla- tion : "Baptismal record of the congregation at the Lehigh, in which are to be recorded the names of the children baptized, the names of their parents, and also the names of their sponsors. Commenced March 22, 1739."

The first baptism recorded was by Rev. John Philip Boehm on September 23, 1734; David, a son of Peter Troxell. The sponsors were Nich- olas and Mary Margaret Kern. Rev. Boehm, (a native of Hochstadt, Germany, where he was born Nov. 25, 1683), came to America in 1 720 as a teacher. In the absence of a minister in the section of the Schuylkill Valley where he settled he held religious services in the capacity of a "reader," and in 1725 administered his first communion at Falkner Swamp, Skippack, and Whitemarsh. He was regularly ordained Nov. 23, 1729, in New York city. He held services at the Egypt church in 1739 and 1740, at which he baptized children; and in 1741 he baptized five. His last service here was on April 28, 1749 when he administered communion, and he died the following day at the home of his eldest son.

Rev. John Henry Goetschius, of Zurich, Switzerland, then only eighteen years old, made the second entry in the church book. It records the baptism on October 26, 1736, of John, son of "the respectable Peter Traxel, church censor of the Reformed congregation here." On July 27, 1737, he baptized Peter, son of Daniel and Anna Margaret Roth, and on March 22, 1739, daughters of Abraham Wotring and Michael Hoffman. His last entry was dated May 13, 1739. In 1740 three children were taken to Saucon church, 15 miles away, where they were baptized by Rev. Dorsius.

From 1741 there was no pastor until Rev. John Conrad Wuertz became pastor in 1742, serving until 1744.

Rev. Michael Schlatter visited Egypt in June, 1747, and in September of that year, at the first Coetus of the Reformed church, held in Phila- delphia, Abraham Wotring was the delegate from Egypt. At this time the congregation was without a pastor and wrote the following let- ters to Rev. Michael Schlatter, the missionary superintendent, which were found among the papers relating to the history of the Reformed Church at The Hague, Holland, by Rev. Dr. Hinke:

(Grosser) Great Lechau above Makunschi,

Reformed Congregation, May I, 1747.

We the undersigned obediently submit to your Reverence with all due humility and sorrow that for a considerable time our Reformed congregation

has been very poorly provided with teachers and ministers and still is, they can neither be regarded as true shepherds nor as hirelings, as they them- selves appear very rarely even after they have an- nounced divine services, so that the people must re- turn home empty. What grieves us most is the fact that our poor, deplorable children are not instructed in, nor provided with the teaching of God's Word. Yet there is a considerable number of Reformed households in our congregation; which for the most part are blessed by the dear Lord with many chil- . dren. If therefore, there is one place in the coun- try which needs true and diligent teachers it is cer- tainly this, especially, because we are surrounded by many sects, so that it is to be feared, if there is no assistance from our dear brethren in the faith, that in time a division and noticeable damage will take place, which the dear Lord may graciously prevent.

Our unanimous urgent petition and request is therefore addressed to your Reverence to look fav- orable upon us, your brethren, in the faith and to assist us as much as possible that we may be pro- vided with a capable ordained minister and teacher.

You will not only do a God-pleasing work thereby, but you will also create in us and our pitiable chil- dren a hearty joy. And we shall implore God for your continued welfare that He may bless you more and more in body and soul.

Looking forward with assurance to friendly an- swer. We remain with all due respect,

Your obedient servants,

Paulus Balliet Joh. Peter Drachsel

Daniel Burger

Michael Drachsel

Ulerich Mussle Nicolaus Drachsel

Henrich Rötter

Jacob Letner

Joh. Jacob Ferber

Phil. Jac. Shellhammer

Peter Miller Jacob Dauber

Jacob Weber

Toh. Schatz

Ulerich Flickinger

Phil. Leibenguth

Joh. Schneider

Georg Kern

Joh. Nemo Ohl

Michael Newhard

Joh. Nicolas Schneider

Jacob Mickley

Hein Hauser

Abraham Wotring

Hein Hoffman

Michael Hoffman

Jac. Matzinger

Ulrich Burkhalter

Joh. Drachsel

Jacob Kohler

Heydelberg Congregation, 5th of 9 br, 1748.

In as much as Daniel Burger, elder of the Re- formed Congregation in Heydelberg township, in the name of the congregation there, as well as in behalf of the congregation of Egypt, has urgently requested the Reverend Coetus for assistance in se- curing a regular minister and as they (the mem- bers of Coetus), have consented in writing to grant our request in case the congregation would sub- scribe fifty pounds of Philadelphia money toward the annual salary of a minister; hence, we, the mem- bers of the consistories of the above mentioned two Reformed congregations have put forth our utmost efforts, have appealed to all the members of the two Reformed Congregations and have put down how much could be raised and given yearly.

As a result the congregation of Egypt can raise : £22, 13s. The congregation of Heidelberg, f19, 15s. Both, £42, 8s. Hence at present we cannot possibly raise more, yet we have the hope that the Reverend Coetus will not. for this reason, deny us a regular minister but will kindly assist us in it.

George Mertz

Joh. Meyer

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WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP.

We remain, with every conceivable respect, and endeavor to be, The Reverend Coetus',

Most Obedient Servants,

Daniel Burger

Michael Hoffman

Ulerich Musslie

Joh. Nic. Schneider

Jacob Micklie

Joh. Weber

Abraham Wotring

(his mark)

Jacob Kohler

Joh. Drachsel

In response to this request, the Coetus of 1748

STONE CHURCH AT EGYPT, BUILT 1785.

answered that if at least £50 be raised, they would send a request to the Synod for a min- ister.

Rev. John Jacob Wissler became the pastor at Egypt in 1752, at a yearly salary of £35, and served until his death in 1754. From 1754 until December, 1764, the congregation was served by pastors of the vicinity, who preached occasionally.

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 182

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