History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 184

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 184

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SCHOOL BUILDING, EGYPT.

A stone school house was erected at Schreiber's before 1830 and was attended by children who lived at Coplay and Hokendauqua until 1869, when separate brick buildings were put up at the places named.

The schoolhouse at Sterner's was erected in 1870 and enlarged in 1882. In 1884 it con- tained 4 schools and 194 pupils.

The schoolhouse at Newhard's was erected in 1878, and in 1884 had 27 pupils.

The Schaadt schoolhouse was first erected in 1839; and in 1868 a stone building was sub- stituted. In 1884 there were 38 pupils.

The Butz schoolhouse was a frame building erected in 1869, and in 1884 had 38 pupils.

The Egypt schoolhouse was built at Fairview in 1871 and had a steeple and bell. It has two rooms, and in 1884 there were 90 pupils.

The Kleckner school was erected in 1874. It was a brick building, and in 1884 had 27 pupils.

The Whitehall ( Cementon) schoolhouse was put up in 1868. It was built of brick, two stories, with a spire and bell. It had two rooms and in 1884 there were 58 pupils.

In 1912 the county embraced twenty-six dis- tricts; with 494 schools, 517 teachers, 19,051 pupils; expended $629,530 in the cause of gen- eral education; and the State appropriation was $100,690.

DIRECTORS AND TEACHERS .- The following constituted the directors and teachers of the township in the year 1912, with the school- buildings where the system of education is car- ried on:

BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

Pres., Thomas Porter, Jr.

Sec., William R. Vaughn.

Treas., Thomas J. Butz.

H. E. Fenstermaker.

Clinton A. Knoll.

Milton Steckel.

Dr. Henry D. Leh

Supervisor of Schools, William F. Heilman, 1227 Turner street, Allentown. TEACHERS. High School (1904)

P. H. Breinig, principal; W. A. R. Hand- werk.

Egypt School (1906)

Mary Downs, pr. Mary Laub

Carrie Hollenbach Myrtle Clark

Ruth. Porter Clarissa H. Breinig

Estella Butz Florence Keefer

Cementon School (1892).

H. W. Stephens, pr. Ruth E. Mitchell

Helen Cummings

Hilda Burnell

Maude R. Marburger Franklin T. Oswald

Hokendauqua School.

P. A. Bartholomew, pr. Florence Mckeever

Maria Williams

Mae Porter

Bessie Troxell Rebecca McFetridge

W est Catasauqua ( 1905).

Dallas N. Semmel, pr. Barbara Smith

Rebecca Stuart Mary Mckeever

Harriet G. McHenry

Fullerton (1906).

Albert L. Held, pr. Jennie Bachman

Miriam Porter

Caroline Hacock

Jennie Heilman Mabel C. Lazarus

Laura Johnson Edna Lazarus

Helen Israel B. Marie Harding

West Coplay .- Harold Kuhns, pr .; Harvey Greaves.

North Coplay .- William Shetlock.

Kleckner's .- O. P. Leh.

Butz's .- Lyman D. Koehler.

Schaadt's .- Sylvanus F. Peters.

Newhard's .- Florence Freyman.

REMINISCENCES .- During the past twenty years the writer, the Editor-in-chief of this his-

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WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP.

tory, has visited many aged people who were na- tives of the three Whitehalls and obtained many interesting facts and anecdotes about the old families. The persons from whom the greatest amount of information was obtained were : Mrs. Catharine Eberhard (nee Schreiber, born in 1812); Owen Rhoads, (born 1811) ; Wil- liam Leisenring, (born 1818); and Tilgh- man Freyman, (born 1819). Information was also secured from Aaron Kohler, (born 1809) ; Euphemia Kohler, (born 1807), Enoch Newhard, (born 1811); Mrs. Peter Roth, (born 1813) ; Mrs. Tilghman Troxell, (born 1817) ; Stephen Freyman, (born 1810) ; John Diefenderfer, (born 1821) ; Owen Diefenderfer, (born 1827) ; Mrs. Salome Snyder, (born 1824) ; Reuben Leis- enring, born (1824) ; Peter Graff; Moses Wood- ring; Mrs. Mary Albright (nee Steckel) ; Dr. Louis B. Balliet; Erastus Rhoads; and Solomon Rúch.

From the persons named and other sources have been secured such interesting bits of in- formation as the story of how one of the little daughters of Jacob Kohler, while playing with a child of an Indian, who lived in a wigwam near- by, chopped off a finger of the Indian maiden and her father's wrath was appeased by the gift of a pailful of milk; of the great drought in 1762, when there was no rain from May to September, and rye was harvested in June and corn in August; of how the Graff family, having been alarmed by rumors of an Indian attack, fled from home, and, returning at night, one of the men drew a sword and struck at a dark shape, which he thought was an Indian, and cut off a corner of a table, which, a few years ago, was still owned by a descendant ; of how Sybilla, widow of Conrad Leisenring, frequently paddled up the Lehigh river in a canoe and attended services at the Stone Church; of how Lorenz Ruch, the strong man, who, when his brother had loaded a large wagon with produce and was ready to go to Philadelphia, with his hands upset the loaded wagon, and by the time it was re-loaded he himself became ready; of "Tippy's" freshet in the Lehigh in 1786; of how the farmers, return- ing from Allentown, stopped to water their horses at John Rhoad's well at Sherersville, be- cause the animals wouldn't drink the Allentown cistern water; of the Burkhalter (later the Breinig) farm, called "King's furrow" land, or "Heart of Whitehall," because it was considered such fine land ; of Charles Burkhalter, who wore a half linen suit, and was called "der halblina gentlemann," who went to New York, entered the wholesale dry-goods business, became a mil- lionaire, and married into the Havemeyer family ; of a feeble-minded resident of the township, who

often slapped his knee and said: "A constitution with a vice-president"; of Weidaman, the old German peddler, who spoke several languages and often delivered long speeches alone in the woods, and, when among people became reticent, but when the remark was made: "Sie sprechen nicht," responded "Die Baüme sprechen auch nicht"; of the year 1816 without a summer, when there was frost every month, and on July 5th ice as thick as a window pane; of the drought of 1820, when all the springs ceased to flow; of the gilded star which years ago, hung from the canopy over the minister's pulpit at Egypt church; of the nicknames of "Flet" Peter, "Fuhrman" Peter, "Blotch" Peter, and "Gentle- man" Peter Roth; of "Schnitz" Peter, "Schwartz" Peter, and "Gentleman" Peter Troxell; of "Duvok" John, and "Shriner" John Troxell; of "Lang" Mike, "Dick" Mike, and "Glay" Mike Newhard, and of "Gros" Daniel, and "Glay" Daniel Newhard; with many other anecdotes of a like nature.

COUNTY BRIDGES .- Spanning the Lehigh river are two county bridges at Catasauqua, the Hokendauqua bridge, the bridge at Coplay and the bridge between Cementon and Siegfried, the last three of which are owned jointly by Lehigh and Northampton counties.

Those spanning the Jordan creek are Steck- el's, on the road from Allentown to Catasauqua, erected of stone, with three arches in 1832 which was swept away by a flood in 1839, and rebuilt of wood in 1840, the first of the kind in the county; Newhard's, on the road from Al- lentown to Siegfried Bridge, erected of stone with three arches in 1809, and rebuilt in 1834; one on the road from Allentown to Slatington, at Sherersville, first erected of stone, with two arches in 1822, and replaced by an iron struc- ture; and one spanning the Coplay creek at Egypt, was constructed of wood in 1850.

RAILROADS .- The Lehigh Valley Railroad ex- tends along the river the entire length of the township, about six miles, with the following passenger stations: Fullerton, Catasauqua, Ho- kendauqua, Coplay, and Cementon.

The Catasauqua and Fogelsville R. R. ex- tends from West Catasauqua westwardly through the central portion of the township, about two miles, wih one small station, Seiple's, at the town- ship line.

The Ironton R. R. extends from Coplay west- wardly through the northerly section, by way of Egypt, about two miles.

MICKLEY ROAD .- Immediately after White- hall was declared a first-class township under the Act of 1899, the commissioners instituted steps to improve the main thoroughfare leading through

ar-

ing the

dis- 051 gen-

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

the central portion of the township from the northern line of Allentown at the extremity of Seventh street to Mill B of the Lehigh Portland Cement Co., near Egypt.

EARLY LICENSES .- The early licenses for con- ducting taverns in the township were issued to the following persons:

Adam Deshler, 1757 George Hoffman Michael Snyder

Paul Balliet, 1759

Henry Berger, 1759

Peter Kern

Leonard Heughle, 1760

Jacob Hartman

Peter Troxell, 1761

Daniel Kern

Peter Kohler, 1764

Conrad Lintz

Daniel Good, 1769

Licenses issued in 1812 were:

George Gangawer

Peter Dorney

Joseph Levan

John Moore

Henry Good

Michael Sieger

Peter Butz Christian Troxell

Abraham Griesemer Peter Rumble

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE .- The following Justices of the Peace have served in this district :

Peter Kohler, commissioned May 28, 1779; re-commissioned Aug. 30, 1791 ; Nicholas Saeger, commissioned April 21, 1794; George Yundt, commissioned Feb. 6, 1811; Peter Gross, com- missioned March 20, 1812; Nicholas Saeger,

commissioned March 20, 1912; Jonas Hecker, commissioned Dec. 12, 1823; Daniel Saeger, commissioned Aug. 28, 1826; Henry Burkhalter, commissioned July 9, 1830; George Frederick, commissioned May 21, 1834; Joseph Kohler, commissioned March 7, 1838, and Edward Koh- ler, from 1840 to 1874. The later justices have been :

Simon H. Price, 1869-74. Henry Hartman, 1872-77. James B. Snyder,

Aug. K. Kelchner,

1874-79; 1888-98. 1877-94.

A. D. Kachline, 1879-84; 1909-16.

F. L. Roth, 1894-99.

Eugene A. Laub,

Charles Schaeffer, 1884-88.

1899-1901.

John P. M. Wint, 1901-06.

1898-1908; 1914-20.

Thos. C. Lindaman,

Newton O. Peters,

1906-08.

1908-09.

George W. Spiecht, 1908-14.

ENUMERATORS .- The enumerators of White- hall township for securing the U. S. Census of 1910 were:

Western District, Harry B. D. Metzger.

Eastern District, Charles W. Erdell. Middle District, Franklin Oswald.

Lower District, John Jordan.

Hokendauqua District, Thompson Porter.

Osville A. Gruver,

CHAPTER XLVIII.

INDUSTRIES.

AGRICULTURE.

The agricultural development of the county began in the early part of the eighteenth century. The first permanent settlements were made in the limestone valleys in the eastern part of the ter- ritory now included in Lehigh county. The early settlers were hardy, hard-working, econom- ical people, and through their methods of in- dustrious farming this section soon developed into one of the most prosperous of eastern Pennsyl- vania.

The early settlement was rapid, and even the less desirable lands were occupied at an early date. The agricultural development in the lime- stone valleys was more rapid than elsewhere, owing to the smoother topography and richer soils, as well as to better transportation facilities.

Changes in farming methods have been grad- ual and have only been made where it was cer- tain that decided improvement would result. Many of the present agricultural practices have been in use for years and are well suited to local conditions. For some years after the Civil War wheat brought a high price and was grown largely to the exclusion of other crops. After the western lands began to produce wheat the prices declined, so that the acreage devoted to wheat was reduced and other crops substituted.

In general Lehigh county is in a very pros- perous condition. The agricultural practices have been evolved through years of experience by practical and industrious farmers and are on the whole very satisfactory. The land is kept in a productive state and yields indicate little or no deterioration, except in a few cases where the soil is naturally unproductive or where poor methods have been employed. The good condi- tion of most of the farm lands and the attendant good crop yields are doubtless due to the systems of rotation used, to thorough tillage of the soil, to the use of a leguminous crop such as clover in the rotation, and to the plowing under of barnyard manure and other organic matter. These natural means of maintaining good crop yields are supplemented by applications of com- mercial fertilizers for certain crops and by the use of lime.

As the country has become more thickly set- tled the farms have decreased somewhat in size

and this has led to a more intensive type of farming. With the exception of small areas in the vicinity of some of the larger towns devoted to truck farming, the land is used for general farming. The principal crops grown in the county are wheat, corn, grass, clover, and po- tatoes.

According to the 1910 census, nearly 29,000 acres were devoted to wheat in 1909, a larger acreage than that used for any other single crop grown in 'the county. Wheat is produced to best advantage on the Hagerstown loam, Hagers- town silt loam, and Chester loam, but is grown on practically all of the cultivated soils in the county. Yields are highest on the Hagerstown loam, but the Chester loam is reported by some to produce a wheat of slightly better grade. Winter wheat is grown exclusively.

The acreage devoted to corn is somewhat less than to wheat. Irish potatoes have largely taken the place of corn in some sections. Most of the corn grown is used in the county, being fed to the farm stock. Corn, while grown on all of the soils, does best on the Hagerstown loam and Chester loam.

The oat crop has a smaller acreage than corn. The oats are fed mainly to work stock, and the surplus is sold.

Next in acreage is rye. This crop is grown in some parts of the Berks shale loam region in preference to wheat, but small areas are devoted to it throughout all sections of the county.

Irish potatoes have become one of the most im- portant commercial crops in the county. Accord- ing to the census of 1910, over 12,000 acres were planted for this crop. The increasing success in growing potatoes has led to a greatly increased acreage in the past two years. It is estimated that in Lehigh county nearly 2,000,000 bushels were produced in 1912, the season being particularly favorable for the growing of this crop. The greatest development of the potato industry has been in the northern part of the county, on the Berks shale loam. This soil is especially adapted to Irish potatoes, although in seasons of light rain- fall the yields are materially lowered. The po- tatoes grown on this soil are of especially good quality, and bring a high market price. The Hagerstown loam, especially in the western part

1033

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

of the county, is used extensively for the com- mercial production of potatoes, and is well adapt- ed to the crop. Potatoes are grown to a less ex- tent on the other soils. Buyers come into the county in the fall and purchase the potatoes di- rect from the farmer. In some cases only a few acres of potatoes are grown, while in others 40 to 50 or more acres are devoted to this crop. The growing of potatoes is being extended, especially on the Berks shale loam, where it has resulted in an increase in the value of farm lands. The late varieties of potatoes are grown most successfully. These include the Sir Walter Raleigh, Carmen, Klondyke, Vulcan, Million Dollar, and others.

Timothy and clover are grown over a large total area in the county. Much of the hay is sold. The crops are also used as forage for stock and for turning under to supply organic matter to the soil.

Many different kinds of vegetables, including beans, peas, tomatoes, celery, radishes, beets, turn- ips, onions, cabbage, sweet potatoes, and others, are produced on truck farms in the vicinity of the larger towns. Not enough truck, however, is produced within the county to supply local de- mands. The Schuylkill fine sandy loam and the Wheeling loam are especially adapted to veg- etables, but these types are limited in extent. Good yields of the truck crops may be obtained on any of the principal soil types of the area.

Tobacco was formerly grown to some extent on the Hagerstown loam. This crop was discon- tinued largely on account of unsatisfactory mar- ket conditions. The Hagerstown loam is well adapted to tobacco.

At one time buckwheat was grown rather ex- tensively, largely on the Berks shale loam. The acreage devoted to this crop has declined, how- ever, so that now it is grown only in small patches.

Alfalfa is grown in a few fields on the Hagers- town loam, Berks shale loam, Lansdale silt loam, Chester loam, and the Wheeling silt loam. The crop seems to do well on these soils, and fair yields are obtained. The acreage of this crop could be increased to advantage. On the Ha- gerstown loam it is reported to have been killed out one winter by freezing.

Small areas of the various soils of the county are used for growing broom corn. The crop does well and would probably prove profitable if grown more extensively, as the loam soils of the county are well adapted to it.

Dairying is not practiced on an extensive scale by individual farmers in the county, although in the aggregate the proceeds from the dairy in- dustry are important. Near Allentown and the other towns of the county a number of small

dairies supply the local demand. Many farmers throughout the county keep a few cows and make butter, which is sold in the towns. Dairying is most important in the southern part of the county. There are a number of creameries in the vicinity of Limeport and other small towns. These creameries buy the milk or cream from the farmers and make butter, which is either sold locally or shipped to outside points. Many farmers in this section, especially near the Perki- omen Railroad, own herds of 5 to 15 cows, and ship milk to Philadelphia.

The dairy herds are composed largely of grade stock. Grades of Holsteins, Jerseys, and Shorthorns predominate. Few steers are fat- tened in the county. Some are shipped in and fed during the winter, but the number is small. A few hogs are kept on every farm, the Chester White being the principal breed. There are a few small flocks of sheep in the county. Some horses are raised for local use.

The greater part of Lehigh county is well suited to the production of fruit. Few of the orchards are handled scientifically, however, and fruit growing on a commercial scale has not been developed to any extent. A few commer- cial orchards are being started and should prove successful if managed properly. Nearly every farm has a small apple orchard which supplies fruit for home use. In many cases a surplus is sold at local markets. Many of these small ap- ple orchards show the effects of San Jose scale, some having been irremediably injured. Where the trees are sprayed with proper solutions, the orchards are in good condition. The Chester stony loam and Chester loam soils are especially suited to apples. The commercial production of apples should prove profitable on these soils. The principal varieties of apples grown are the Bald- win, Fallawater, Smokehouse, Rhode Island Greening, Grimes Golden, Smith Cider, Early Harvest, and others. According to some, the Rhode Island Greening and Grimes Golden do especially well on the Hagerstown loam.

Peaches are not grown as extensively as ap- ples, but there are a few small commercial orchards of this fruit which are well handled and are quite profitable. The best varieties for this section are the. Elberta, Early Crawford, Wonderful, Carmen, and others. Peach trees do especially well on the Penn stony loam and Penn gravelly loam. The Lansdale stony loam, Berks shale loam, and Chester loam are also well adapted to peaches. The trees do quite well on the Hagerstown loam.

Grapes of good flavor and quality are grown throughout the county and thrive on all the main soil types. Individual plantings are confined to

1035

INDUSTRIES.

very small areas. Plums, cherries, pears, bush fruits, and berries do well in this region, but are not grown in large single areas.

The best fruit soils of the county are the Chester loam, Chester stony loam, Penn stony loam, Penn gravelly loam, and Berks shale loam. Owing to the proximity of large markets and the comparatively low price of much of this land the fruit-growing industry could undoubtedly be extended with profit in Lehigh county.

The farmers of the county follow definite sys- tems of crop rotation. The one in most general use consists of corn, oats, wheat, and grass. The sod is usually plowed in the spring for corn, though fall plowing gives better results, espe- cially in dry seasons. Corn is cultivated four or five times before "laying by." It is generally cut by hand, though in some cases harvesters are used. The husking is done in the field. The corn is followed by oats. After the oats are har- vested the land is plowed, and in the fall wheat with grass seed is drilled in. The following spring clover is sowed in the grass and wheat. The following year the grass is cut for hay. The field is used for hay or pasture for one or two years, and the land again prepared for corn. Rye sometimes takes the place of wheat or oats. Where potatoes are grown extensively on the Berks shale loam and Hagerstown loam the ro- tation generally consists of grass, potatoes, and wheat.

Commercial fertilizers are used extensively in growing various crops, particularly for potatoes and grain. According to the 1910 census, about $140,000 was expended for fertilizers in Lehigh county in 1909. Some farmers mix their own fertilizers on the farm. Various kinds and amounts of fertilizers are used, in some cases upward of 800 or 1,000 pounds of high-grade fertilizers, rich in phosphoric acid and containing some potash, being applied. For wheat about 200 to 400 pounds of fertilizer per acre is ap- plied at the time the seed is sowed. Many farm- ers use grades of fertilizers containing 8 to 12 per cent. of phosphoric acid, with about half that percentage of potash. Fertilizers with 8 or 10 per cent. of phosphoric acid and about half as much potash is usually the grade used. The mixtures rarely ever contain more than I or 2 per cent. of nitrogen, and often more. The ni- trogen is supplied by the use of stable manure and by the growing of clover and the turning under of timothy and clover. Stable manure is usually applied to the sod before plowing for corn or potatoes. The amount of stable manure added to the land varies widely, but all that is made on the farm is generally used.

The liming of the soil was for many years a

common practice throughout Lehigh county. Many old kilns still stand in different sections where the limestone was burned. It is said that liming was overdone at one time, and the land showed the effects of too heavy applications. For a number of years after commercial fertilizers were introduced little or no lime was used. Dur- ing the last few years, however, liming has again become popular. The lime is applied on sod about once during each rotation, in amounts ranging from 25 to 40 bushels, or possibly more, per acre. In some sections the cost of lime and the labor of hauling it from the railroads are considered prohibitive by many farmers. The cost in many sections would be about 15 cents a bushel after transportation charges were paid. Near the lime kilns the cost is 8 to 10 cents per bushel. There is a diversity of opinion among the farmers concerning the merits of lime. Those who use it claim a material benefit, and others who do not use it believe it would be a benefit to the land, but are deterred by the difficulty of securing the material. In general, lime is hardly needed by the soils so long as a good stand of clover and grass is secured. Most of the soils have a mellow, loamy texture, and lime is not needed to ameliorate the physical condition. The good drainage prevents a sour condition of most of the soil. However, liming on many farms that have not received an application for some time would doubtless increase the yields to some extent. In case of uncertainty as to the need for lime, a small amount could be used on cer- tain fields and its value determined by inexpen- sive experimentation. The same form of exper- iments could be carried on profitably with fer- tilizers by individual farmers.

The farm buildings throughout the county are well built and are kept in good condition. Many of them are of stone or brick. In gen- eral the buildings and improvements in the lime- stone valleys are somewhat better than in other parts of the county. Modern farm implements are in general use. Considerable care is given to sheltering the farm machinery and keeping it in good condition.

Owing to the opportunities for employment offered by the manufacturing and transportation industries of the section, labor for farm work is somewhat scarce. However, the work is done by the entire family on most of the farms, so that extra help is not needed. When employed by the year farm hands are paid $15 to $20 a month with board. Day laborers are paid about ȘI a day, and at harvest time up to $1.50 a day.

Farms range in size from a few acres up to 200 acres. The census of 1910 gives the average size of farms in Lehigh county as 58.2 acres.

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

About two-thirds of the farms are operated by the owners. Most of the rented farms are in the limestone valleys and near the towns. The share system of tenure is the most common. The owner furnishes the land, buildings, and per- manent fixtures, pays for half the seed and fer- tilizer, and receives half of the crops produced.

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 184

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