History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 240

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534

USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania > Part 240

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

1768 and was there made a bishop. He was a popular and eloquent divine, and because of the numbers that frequently attended to hear his discourses, often preached in the open air. During his ministry in Pennsylvania he generally held services here once a month. On these occasions numbers would come hither in canoes, even from Morlatton, and also by the same means to hear him at Wicaco. At this time the church and yard were inclosed by a stone wall, leaving the school-house outside the same.

The Rev. Andrew Goeranson succeeded in the charge, aud continued therein uutil the close of 1779. In 1774, Rev. Charles Lute, of the Episcopal Church, was appointed his assistant. He was a warm patriot during the Revolution, and animated his hearers by introducing the subject in his sermons. It is a tradi- tion that when Washington was in the vicinity with his army he attended worship here on one occasion, if not afterwards. In January, 1780, Rev. Mathias Hnltgrew succeeded Mr. Goeranson, and officiated until May, 1786. In July of that year Rev. Nicholas Colin received the charge of the mission, which he held until his death, in 1831, the long period of forty- five years, and retained the high regard of his congregation to the close. In this interval he was occasionally assisted in his ministrations by several pastors of the Episcopal Church. Although Dr. Colin resided at Wicaco, he always took an interest in his Upper Merion congregation, whom he visited monthly on horseback. He loved his calling and the church flourished under his pastorate. He was buried at Gloria Dei, where a tablet has been placed to his memory, he being one of the last of a long line of mis- sionaries sent out from Sweden to sustain in the faith her colonists and descendants.

Owing to a petition from the members of this and the other churches at Wicaco and Kingsessing, they were all three unitedly incorporated by Governor John Penn, September 25, 1765, as "Swedish Luth- eran Churches." At a meeting of the vestry in July, 1786, it was resolved that whenever His Majesty, the King of Sweden, shall deem it proper or convenient to recall the Rev. Mr. Colin, "the mission to the con- gregations will undoubtedly cease." In consequence, application was made to the State Legislature for an amendment to the charter, which was passed Septem- ber 10, 1787, which makes a provision in the fifth sec- tion for the election of a rector or other ministers and "that such rector or other ministers shall he in the ministry of the Lutheran or Episcopal Churches." The union of the three churches prior to 1765 was continued till 1843, when it was dissolved by a petition from the several congregations, through an act of As- sembly, which severed their connection with each other as a corporate body, forming them into three distinct parishes, with their respective rectors.

After the death of Dr. Colin, the Rev. Jehn C. Clay became the rector of the three churches from January, 1832, nntil their separation, in 1843. Rev. Edwin N.

Lightner succeeded in the sole charge in July, 1844, and continned until February, 1855. In the spring of said year Rev. William Henry Rees became the rector, which relation he sustained for six years. The Rev. Thomas S. Yocum, of Swedish descent, followed in May, 1861, and remained till the summer of 1870. Rev. O. Perinchief, in July of said year, held the charge to September 8, 1873. The Rev. E. A. War- riner immediately assnmed the rectorship until Feb- ruary 21, 1875. Mr. Perinchief resumed the charge in the following April, which he retained until his death, April 29, 1877. The Rev. A. A. Marple became his successor September 9, 1877, and is the present incumbent.

Joblay

The graveyard having become too small, with a desire to its enlargement and making other im- provements, a meeting was held at the church March 12, 1837, the vestry consisting of George W. Holstein, Benjamin B. Hughes, Andrew Shainline and J. Cleaver Rambo, to whom were added a committee con- sisting of William H. Holstein, Nathan Rambo, Ivins Rambo and Samuel H. Coates, to attend to the neces- sary arrangements. It was now agreed to enlarge the church. C. Ramsey & Sons were engaged to do the mason-work, and Andrew Rambo to superintend the carpentry. On the 1st of February, 1838, the church was consecrated hy Bishop Onderdonk, assisted by Revs. J. C. Clay, William N. Deihl, William H. Rees and others On this occasion the rite of confirmation was administered for the first time within its walls

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UPPER MERION TOWNSHIP.

to eleven persons. lu 1845 the parsonage was erected at a cost of upwards of seventeen hundred dollars, and the Sunday-school building previous to 1870.

The church is a haudsome, plain, stone, Gothic edi- fice, built in the form of a cross, with a square tower upwards of fifty feet high, in which a bell was placed in 1855. Few houses of worship have a more beau- tiful situation, being on an elevated, sloping, shady bank of the Schuylkill and to the traveler on the eastern side of the river forming a picturesque object, through some resemblance reminding one of the old church at Stratford-on-Avon. It is surrounded by a large graveyard, inclosed by a wall, in which grow maple, poplar and cedar-trees. A great many, as may be well supposed, have been buried here, one of the tombstones bearing the date of 1745, showing that it must have been thus used some time before the erection of the church. Among the names found here may be mentioned Broades, Brook, Holstein, Gartley, Supplee, Novioch, Custer, Ramsey, Thomas, Amies, Jones, Clay, Hughes, Munson, Learnard, Pastorius, Dehaven, Rambo, Engle, Coates, Roberts, Famous and Henderson. Though the form of wor- ship is Episcopal, yet this church is not attached to the diocese, this right having been reserved by its members. Of all the Swedish Lutheran Churches in Pennsyl- vania, this is now the only one that has retained the privilege. Major Mathias Holstein related that down to 1780 the worshipers that came from any distance, and lived away from navigation, came to attend service here on horseback, which practice was pretty generally maintained down to 1830. Indeed, for this purpose, the side-saddle formed a portion of the young bride's outfit.

ASSESSMENT OF UPPER MERION FOR F&F.

Isnac Ilnghs, assessor ; Samnel Holstein, assistant assessor, and l'eter Holstein, collector.

Adam Eve, tailor, 32 acres, 1 horse and 2 cows ; Leonard Shanline's estate, 22 a .; John Famous, 1 h., 2 c. ; Evan Evans, 2 h., 2c. ; Marga- ret Bell, 125 a. ; Joshua Phillips, 200 a., 2 h., 6 c. ; James Abraham, 190 a., 3 h., & c. ; John Cleaver, 80 a., 2 h., 3 c. ; Benjamin Ramsey, 2 h., 5 c. ; William Long's estate, 240 a. ; Peter Wells, farmer, 112 a., 2 h., 2 c. ; Isaac Davis, 250 a., 2 h., 2 c. ; John Moore, 3 h., 2c. ; Abra- bam Griffith, miller, 1 h., 1 c., for Jacob Walker and Samuel Kelly, 125 a. and a grist-mill ; Daniel Thompson, tailor, 1 c .; Jane Moore, 275 a., 2 h., 5 c. : James Hazelton's estate, 125 a. ; Michael Sher, 1 h., 3 c .; Henry Casselberry, 2 h. ; 2 c. ; Morris Stephens, 150 a., 1 negro ; David Stephens, 300 a., 2 h., 2 c., Mordecai Moore, 50 a., 2 h., 2 c. ; Bernard Vanhorne, 1 h., 2 c. ; George Hart, 2 c. ; John Pugh, store-keeper, 1 h., 50 gals.rum, 200 lbs, brown sugar, lo0 lbs, coffee ; Isaac Potts' estate, 35 a., grist and saw-mill ; James Berry, tavern-keeper, 2 h., 2 c .; John Britton, 190 a., 2 h., 5 c., 1 riding-chair ; Henry Brauna- man, 50 a., 2 h., 1 c. ; Lawrence Stuart, 100 a., 4 h., 5 c. ; William Terrance, 3 b., 5 c., rents on shares ; Robert Bhnulen, weaver, 1 c. ; Thomas Sturges, 100 a., 2 h., 3 c., 1 negro weurh ; Amos Sturges ; John Sturges, 100 a., 2 h., 2c. ; John Lyle, 160 a., 3 h., 4 c. ; Thomas Edwards, shoemaker, 6 a., 2 h., 2 c .; William Farr, in the army, 150 a., 2 h., 1 c .; John Dugan, 2 h., 2 c .; Thomas Rees, 300 a., + h., 8 c., I negro ; Benjamin Jones, 15 a. ; Arthur Campbell, weaver, 2 h., 2 c. ; George George, 470 a., 2 h., 6 c., saw-mill ; Thomas Davis, 135 a., 2 h., I c .; Peter Whiteside's estate, 90 a. ; Isaac Supplee, 80 a., 2 h., 2 c. ; John Ingals, 115 a., 2 h., 2 c. ; Griffith Powell, 100 a., 2 h., G c. ; John Johnson, 90 a., 3 h., 4 c., 1 servant : William Crawford, 100 a., 2 h., 4 c., 1 servant girl ; Abraham Thomas, smith, 1 c. ; Isaac Matson, 2 h., 1 c. ; Anthony Sturges, 00 a., 1 h., 1 c .; Amos Willets, fuller, 39 a., 1 h., 2 c., fulling-mill ; Peter Matson, 179 a., 3 h., 2 c. ; Isaac

Knight, 2 h., 3 c., rents from Edward Shippen's estate, 230 a. ; David Jordan, I h., 2 c. ; Henry Coldtiesh, 100 a., 2 h., 2 c. ; John Rees, 100 a., 3 h., 4 c .; Andrew Supplee, 64 a., 2 h., 3 c. ; Moses Yocum, 100 a., 3 h., 3 c. ; Benjamin Ramsey, 1c. ; Ezekiel Rambo, 45 a., 2 h., 2., 1 servant girl; Absalom Priest, tailor, 1 h., 1c .; Jonas Yocum's es- tate, 25 a. ; William Gabb, miller, 2 c. ; Sarah Rambo, 40 a., 2 h., 1 c. ; John Rambo, 90 a., 2 h., 3 c. ; Dennis Collins, weaver, 2 h., 2 c. ; George Savage, inn-keeper, 2 b., 1 c .; Philip Rees' estate, 28 a., 2 h., 2 c. ; John Roberts, miller, 23 a., grist-mill, 2 h., 2 c .; Joseph Wil- liams, 200 a., 4 h., 3 c. ; Jonathan Roberts, 300 a., 3 h., 6 c. ; William Cleaver, 180 a., 3 h., 3 c. ; William Wilson, 1 h., 1 c. ; Samuel Phillips, 150 a., 3 h., 5 c .; Jacob Eagy, 2 h., 2 c .; Jonathan Tucker, 93 a., 3 h., 2 c. ; Moses Davis, 1 h., 1 c .; George Rambo, 200 a., 2 h., 5 c. ; Jehu Jones, 250 a., 3 h., 5 c. ; Nathan Sturges, joiner, 100 a., 2 h., 2 c. ; Thomas Martin, tailor, 1 h., 1 c. ; John Ilorn's estate, 60 a. ; John Henderson, 100 a., 3 h., 1 c .; Benjamin Eastburn, 200 a., 3 h., 5 c., 1 servant ; Henry O. Neal, 2 h., 2 c. ; George Woolmore, weaver, 2 c. ; Sarah Bryan's estate, 71 a. ; Michael Wals, 1 h., 2 c .; Isaac Abraham's estate, 60 a. ; Tobias Rambo, 57 a., 2 h., 2 c .; Andrew Shanline, shoemaker, 100 a., 3 h., 4 c. ; Mounce Rambo, 100 a., 2 h., 2 c. ; Abraham Rambo, 1 b. ; Samuel Ramsey, smith, 1 h., 2 c. ; Wil- liam Dewees" estate, 120 a .; James Jones, 17 a .; Abijah Stevens, 60 a. ; Jacob Bailets, 1 c. ; Andrew Hammon, 1 c. ; Henry Priest, mason, 2 h., 3 c. ; Cephus Dartleson, inn-keeper, 4 h., 6 c., pays 200 bu. of wheat rent to Peter Holstein; Peter Holstein, 197 a., 1 h. ; Samuel Holstein, 278 a., 5 h., 9 c., 1 negro ; Isaac llughes, 48912 a., 3 h., 6 c., 1 negro wench : Abraham Nanna's estate, 196 a. ; Lindsay Coats, 13634 a., 3 ]., 6 c., negro boy and girl ; Jesse Roberts, stiller, I h., 2 c., still holds 90 gals. ; John Jones, 29 a. ; Samuel Miles, 150 a. ; Rev. William Smith, 125 a. Single Men .- Jesse Roberts, Jonas Rambo, William George, David George, Nicholas Bower, William Stuart, Arthur Rice, Levi l'riest, Leonard Spade, George C'ool, Jonathan Phil- lips, Israel Davis, Enoch Enox, Morris Rowland, William McClure, Benjamin Rambo, Henry Brinsly, Mathias Coldflesh, Nathan Cook, John l'ugh, llenry Castleberry, Jonathan Cleaver, Richard Moore, Morris Stephens.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JOHN KENNEDY.

John Kennedy, the youngest of eight children of Alexander and Margaret Robison Kennedy, was born on the 18th of October, 1815, in Upper Merion township, Montgomery Co., Pa., and spent his youth on the homestead farm, located in the above township. The common schools, and, later, a boarding-school, afforded opportunities for more than a rudimentary education, after which his time and energies, until the attainment of his majority, were given to the farm. He then began the purchase and sale of stock, which in after-years reached such pro- portions as to become an important feature of business in the county. Mr. Kennedy was, on the 27th of No- vember, 1841, married to Miss Margaret S., daughter of Moore Connell, of Lancaster County, Pa. Their children are Josephine, wife of MI. M. Ellis, of Pho- nixville, Pa. ; Maggie S., wife of N. D. Cortwright, Jr., of Mauch Chunk, Pa. ; Moore C., and five who are de- ceased. Mr. Kennedy, after engaging for several years in the purchase and sale of stock, secured, in 1842, the lime-works at Port Kennedy, which he con- tinued during his lifetime to operate. He erected wharves on the Schuylkill River, and owned many schooners which were constantly plying between this and other ports, bearing the products of his ex- tensive limekilns. With his advent the neigbor-

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111STORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

hood assumed an aspect of business life before un- for years officially connected. Mr. Kennedy was, in politics, formerly a Democrat, and later affiliated with the Republican party. He cared little for office, and although, from motives of public spirit, occasionally accepting minor township posi- tions, he declined more important honors tendered him. His death, which was felt by the community to be a public loss, occurred on the 4th of September, 1877, in his sixty-second year. known, dwellings being erected, as also structures for the prosecution of various commercial enterprises. In all this activity he was the leading spirit which di- rected and encouraged, by capital and personal effort, the growth and development of the place. In 1855, Mr. Kennedy purchased five farms in Kent and other counties in Maryland, and, although not a resident of the State, gave his supervision to their cultivation and improvement, and gave special attention to the growth of peaches. He still retained his extensive DANIEL KINZIE. interests at Port Kennedy, and engaged largely in the Mr. Kinzie is of Scotch antecedents, Alexander Mc- sale of blooded stock, the superior quality of the | Kinzie, hisgreat-grandfather, having emigrated'in 1775

horses and cattle offered at these sales making Port . to America in company with hisson Donald, who was Kennedy an objective-point for buyers throughout the State.

Mr. Kennedy was identified with most of the im- portant interests in the county. He was president of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank, of Phoenixville, president of the Montgomery Agricultural Society, in which he felt a deep interest, and largely identified with the Grange movement in the county. He as- sisted in the construction of the Reading Railroad, having been awarded a contract for grading a section of the road. He was one of the originators of the Port Kennedy Bridge Company, with which he was

born May 23, 1763, in the parish of Inverness. The latter was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and was wounded while in service on board a privateer. He subsequently became a farmer and died in 1843 in possession of much valuable land, a portion of which is still in possession of the family. His children were John and Ann by a first marriage, and by a second union, Rebecca, Christiana, Peter Davies, Mary and Alexander. John was born in 1786 in Delaware Coun- ty, and first engaged in labor on the farm, after which he was employed in teaching. He served with the Norristown Rifles, under Captain Robinson, in the war

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UPPER SALFORD TOWNSHIP.

of 1812, having been stationed at Sandy Hook. Mr. CHAPTER LXXVIII. Kinzie married, in 1811, Mary, daughter of William UPPER SALFORD TOWNSHIP.1 Sheaff, of Haverford, Delaware Co., and had children, -Emily, Sabina, Daniel, Susan, William, Isabella, THIS township is bounded on the north and north- west by Marlborough, south by Perkiomen and Lower Salford, west by Frederick, northeast by Bucks County and east by Franconia. Its greatest length is above eight miles, and breadth nearly four, with an area of twelve thousand seven hundred and fifty-five acres, and in extent it is the fourth in the county. The surface is rolling and several hills extend through it Rebecca, Charles, John and Iloratio G. Daniel was born on the 7th of April, ISIS, in Lower Merion town- ship, and devoted his boyhood to acquiring a common- school education, after which he, in 1836, entered a store in Manayunk, Philadelphia Co., and remained two years as clerk. He then became a resident of Upper Merion, and filled the same position at Bird-in- Hand, in that township. In 1847 he formed a co-part- I whose surface is stony ; the soil consists of loam and

Daniel Fingre

nership with Perry M. Hunter, which continued until 1859, when he retired from business. Mr. Kinzie hay- ing previously studied surveying with his father, he adopted it as a profession, and has since his retire- ment from commercial life found his services much in demand as a civil engineer and surveyor. He has during his whole life been a Democrat, and active in local political issues, having served for nine years as a member of the school board, and in other positions of trust, and since 1875 filled the office of justice of the peace. He was educated in the faith of the Baptist Church.

red shale. The principal streams are the East Branch, the Ridge Valley and Perkiomen. The latter forms its western boundary nearly four miles, and propels in the township four grist-mills and several other manufacturing establishments. The East Branch rises in Bucks County and forms its eastern boundary for nearly four miles, and, like Ridge Valley Creek, furnishes water-power to several mills.

One mile north of Schwenksville, on the east side of the Perkiomen Creek is Stone Hill, probably the

1 By Wm. J. Buck.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

highest elevation in the township. On measure- ment it is ascertained to be two hundred and forty feet above the adjacent stream. Its top affords a fine prospect of the surrounding country and is covered with timber, abounding in huge rocks, which renders it at places unfit for tillage. Foxes, raccoons, opossums and pheasants are still found there. In 1852 five full- grown red foxes were captured here that had lived upon the poultry of the neighborhood; they have now become scarce. On the west side of Ridge Valley Creek is also a wild, rocky range, following its course, covered with timber and abounding in all of the aforesaid animals. On the farm of Abraham G. Kober, about half a mile north of Mechanicsville, a copper-mine was opened in 1879. It has been leased for a royalty to Tetham & Brothers, of New York, who made excavations to a depth of twenty-three feet in the fall of 1883. It was discovered in plowing by traces of the ore existing in the stones near the sur- face. It is evidently a continuation of the same vein discovered and worked long ago near Zeiglersville, four miles distant.

The Spring House and Sumneytown turnpike crosses the central part for upwards of three miles. The Perkiomen Railroad enters Upper Salford about a mile above Schwenksville, following close along the east bank of the stream for three miles, in which dis- tance it has three stations, called Salford, Hendricks and Kratz. The villages are Salfordville, Tylersport, Hendricks, Salford Station, Branchville and Mechan- icsville, the first four containing post-offices. According to the census of 1800 it possessed 676 inhabitants ; in 1840, 1301; and in 1880, 1866. The real estate for taxable purposes was valued in 1882 at $979,230, and including the personal property, $979,230, the average per taxable being 82429. In May, 1883, five hotels, four general stores, twelve flour and feed, one boot and shoe, one stove and one furniture-store, one coal-yard and two restaurants were licensed. The township contains eiglit public schools, open five months, with an average attendance of 305 pupils for the school year ending June 1, 1882. The census of 1850 returned 277 houses, 277 families and 195 farms. A small portion of the territory of the township in the vicinity of Sumneytown and the adjoining part in Marlborough was formed into an independent school district in October, 1882.

The township of Salford was originally formed in March, 1727, and then contained upwards of thirty thousand acres of land, including all of the present townships of Marlborough, Upper and Lower Salford and a part of Franconia. In the beginning of 1741 a petition was sent to the Court of Quarter Sessions, signed by a number of the residents, wherein they state "that said township is settled with many inhabi- tants, some of whom escape being taxed for want of the true bounds being ascertained, praying this court would be pleased to view a draught to the said peti- tion annexed, being part of the land of said township

of Salford, which contains about ten thousand acres, and that the same may be erected into a township by the name of Upper Salford." The court having taken the said petition into consideration, and examined said draught and bounds, erected the same into a township to be called by the name of Upper Salford, and the bounds were as follows, viz :

" Beginning at a White Oak on the East Branch of Perkiomy Creek, at a corner of Marlborough township, thence by the same North East 91 perches to a Post, theuce by the same South East 30 perches to a White Oak, thence by the same North East 160 percbes to a stone, thence by the same South East 96 perches to a Black Oak sapling, thence by the same North East 106 perches to a Post, thence by the same Sonth East 10 perches to a Black Oak, thence by the same North East 26 perches to the Swamp Creek, thence up the same 150 perches, thence by the township aforesaid North East 22 perches to a Post, thence by the same North East 1200 perches to a Post in a line dividing the counties of Philadelphia and Bucks, thence down the same by Franconia township about 1300 perches, thence by Franconia township South East 184 perches to a Post at a corner of Salford township, thence by the same South West 165 perches to a White Oak, thence by the same South East 89 perches to a Post, thence by the same South West 772 perches to a Post, thence by the same South East 18 perches to a stone, thence hy the same South West 78 perches to a Post, thence by the same South West 126 perches to a Pust, tbence hy Perkiomen and Skippack townships North West 430 perches to Perkiomy Creek aforesaid, thence np the same ahont 1560 perches to the place of beginning, containing 10,000 acres. Erected at March Sessions, 1741."

The townships of Lower Salford and Marlboroughi were also establislied at this time, and consequently occupied all the remaining territory of Salford since the formation of Franconia, in 1731.

The records of the Old Goshenhoppen Church fur- nish us with a partial list of the early settlers of this township and vicinity, who were members of the same, with the places, in most instances, of their nativity, and the year of their arrival. Elias Long and wife, from Würtemberg, in 1716; John George Gankler and wife, Anna Barbara, from near Zürich, in 1717 ; John Henry Boyer, from the Pfaltz or Palatinate; John George Weiker and wife, Elizabeth, from Darmstadt, 1724; Jolın Martin Derr and wife from Rheinbaiern, in 1728; John George Wagner, wife and son, George Martin, from Baiern, in 1731 ; John Michael Reicher, from Würtemberg ; John Philip Gabel and wife, front Zweibrucken ; Mathias Waltner, from the Pfaltz ; John Christopher Bickel, from Würtemberg; Johu George Underkoffler, in 1732; Andreas Boyer, from the Pfaltz; Valentine Nungesser, in 1733; Isaac Klein , John Klein; George Weigert; John Jacob Fillman, wife and son Philip, in 1736 ; John William Daub and wife from near Worms, in 1737; and George Michael Wonnkessel and wife, from Würtemberg, in 1.15. Henry Worman purchased a tract of land here in 1742, Henry Bomborger one hundred and fifty acres the year following, and Jacob Eck one hundred and twenty-five acres in 1747.

In the list of land-holders and tenants of Salford in 1734 the following, through the assistance of James Y. Heckler, of Harleysville, have been located as ros- idents of Upper Salford ; Peter Kuntz, 100 acres ; Hans Michael Wagley, 100; Valentine Kratz, 100; Ilaus Wollyberge, 100; Jacob Ingress, 100; Ulrich Steffe,

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UPPER SALFORD TOWNSHIP.

50; Martin Hildebidle ; Dewalt Young, 100; Chris- tiau Lehman, 100; Hans Adam Maurer, 100; Rudolph Drake, 50; Yost, Cope, 100 ; Christopher Ankabrant, 100; Andrew Haake, 120; Ludwig Schaffer, 100; George Cochler, 100; William Smith, 100; Philip Read, 50; Christian Younglin, 20; Hans Underkof- fler, 100; John Lebo; Abraham Titloe, 50; Michael Moll, 50; Mathias Haas, 100; Samuel Moyer, 100; Samuel Moyer, Jr .; Hans Moyer, Jr., 100; Hans Freed, 100; Jacob Cook, 100; John Henry Snyder, 100; Jacob Preuss or Price, 150 acres. . Descendants of the name of Scholl, Moyer, Freed, Kratz and Hil- debidle still hold lands here.

As this section of country from an early period has been called Goshenhoppen, and the first church erected in this township known only by this name, we deem the subject of sufficient importance to give some attention as to its origin and claims. The name has also been bestowed on several other places, as in Frederick and Upper Hanover townships and in the neighboring parts of Berks. It has puzzled numbers as to whether it is of Indian or German origin. By the modern spelling it would seem to belong to the latter, but the test of historical investigation indi- cates the former. The map accompanying Gabriel Thomas' " Account of Pennsylvania," published in London in 1698, establishes the fact, from the manner that the Perkiomen and its several branches are delin- eated thereon, that even previously to that date this section of country must have been pretty well explored, or it could not have been given with such correctness. A short distance north of Schwenksville, where the road crosses over Swamp Creek, veins of copper-ore are readily seen in the neighboring rocks, which is just below the month of what has been long known as Goshenhoppen Run, a stream about four miles in length. There is strong reason to believe that cop- per-mining was pursued here some time before any actual settlement was made for other purposes. In 1730 or thereabouts a large tract was taken up here for this especial object by a company, who sunk vari- ous shafts and entered into extensive operations. This was finally relinquished as not proving profita- ble. Hence it is our opinion that through these early labors the name of the aforesaid stream, in the absence of any other, became applied to this section of country, and it has been impossible to ascribe it to any other source. Nicholas Seull, in his map of the province, published in 1759, denotes these copper- mines. The earliest mention yet found of the name in records is in a petition of the inhabitants of Cole- brookdale and parts adjacent, dated May 10, 1728, wherein it is called "Coshahapopin," and in another of 1735, "Quesohopin." In a petition to the court from this section for a road in March, 1751 it is " Cus- saoppin." In an address of Rev. George Michael Weiss to Governor Thomas, November 2, 1754, he styles himself as residing in " Goschehoppe." The name of Goshenhoppen Rnn has been found in deeds of 1732,

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 240

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1534

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534