History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 248

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 248

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).

" Among the Protestants who were subjects to the Emperor of Germany, a Prince in Amity with the Crown of Great Britain, transported themselves and estates into the province of Pennsylvania between the years 1701 and 1718." 1

In the translation of the proceedings of the Classis of Amsterdam in regard to the case of the Rev. John Philip Boehm, held in the city of New York, July,

1728, by the Rev. T. W. Chambers, pastor of the Col- legiate Protestant Dutch Church, New York (1876), and published in the Mercersburg Review, (vol. xxiii.,

"From this document it appears that Mr. Boe hm arrived in this conn- try as early as the year 1720. He came from the Palatinate. Having been schoolmaster and foresinger in Worms, a city of Germany, for about seven years, he found a demand for his services as reader (Vorlezer) upon his arrival here. The Reformed people around him were destitute of the means of grace, and lie hecame a sort of pastor to them, without receiv- ing any compensation for his services. So well did he perform these ser- vices for the destitute Reformed people that they besonghit him to assume the functions of his ministerial office. This he did in 1725, receiving as compensation only the voluntary contributions of the people."

It appears that he began to officiate as a minister before he had a regular license, to which he was no doubt pressed by the peculiar necessities of the times. That it was not a willful disregard of ecclesiastical order may be seen from the fact that as soon as the way was open he cheerfully submitted to a regular introduction into the holy office.

The great influx of the German emigrants began about the year 1707, and in 1730-40 there were nearly twenty thousand Germans in the province, and many were connected with the Reformed Church ; hence the necessity of having some one to attend to their spiritual wants,-preaching, catechising and the ad- ministration of the ordinances.

Mr. Boehm was the first Reformed (either Dutch or German) that taught the doctrines of the Heidelberg Catechism in the province of Pennsylvania.

When the Rev. Geo. Michael Weiss, the first li- censed and ordained minister of the Reformed (Ger- man) Church, arrived here, September 21, 1727, he | visited Schippach (Skippack) congregation and preached there. This brought him into collision with Mr. Boehm, who had been preaching there for some time without regular license and ordination. Some of the people then disclaimed Mr. Boehm's ministerial acts, because he was not ordained, and wished to re- tain Mr. Weiss as their regular minister.

In July, 1728, the Consistories of the three congre- gations where Mr. Boehm had been preaching,-Wit Marshen 2 (Whitemarsh), Schippach (Skippack) and Falkner's Schwam (Swamp),-sent an application to the New York Classis to have Mr. Boehm licensed, ordained and his former pastoral acts approved,-

" The appeal sets forth that Johan Philips Böhm has so borne himself in the discharge of his Godly office, not only in the doctrine of the Reformed Church, but also in his life, that we have not the smallest complaint to make against him in our hearts.

"Our three still small and poor congregations of Falkner's Schwam, Schippach and Wit Marshen, of which the greatest is composed. of only twenty-four males, the second about twenty, and the least of not more than fourteen, are spread out more than sixty English miles from each other, and full one hundred and seventy distant from New York.

"Signed by William De Wees, Isaac Dilbeck, George Philip Trotterer, Frederick Antes, Joh. Meyer, Jac. Meyer, Gabriel Schuiler, John Berken- beil, Sebastian Reifsnyder, Ludwig Knanws, Laurens Bingeman, Joh.

1Arch. of Penna., vol vii., 2d series, p. 114. The name of John +Philip Boehm is mentioned.

2 Whitemarsh, where the Barren Hill Lutheran Church now stands ; Skippack, now Wentz's Reformed Church, Worcester ; Falkner Swamp, now Swamp Churches, New Hanover township, Montgomery Co., yet a large and flourishing congregation.

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Ravenstock, Georg Klauer, Leonhard Sperr, John Stephen Ulrich and John Le Fevre, in behalf of the three congregations, July, 1728."

This appeal was forwarded to the Classis of Am- sterdam, in Holland, under whose jurisdiction the American Classis was at the time (and so remained until 1790), and a favorable answer was returned, de- claring that all the public acts and ministrations of Mr. Boehm were made valid, dated June 20, 1729.

To this Mr. Weiss assented, and on the 23d of No- vember of that year the Rev. Mr. Boehm was ordained and set apart to the work of the holy ministry by Henricus Boel and Gualterius du Bois, under the oversight of the Consistory of the Low Dutch Church of New York.

The labors of Mr. Boehm were exceedingly ex- hausting in Eastern Pennsylvania. His labors ex- tended, besides the congregations already named, to Philadelphia, Germantown, Whitpain, Forks of the Delaware, then Bucks County, now Northampton, ministering unto them and laying the foundation for future churches.

The Moravians, headed by Count Zinzendorf, in- augnrated a Pietistic movement, and called several Synods, and invited Christians of all denominations to meet with them. In the Reformed Church, Jacob Lischy, John Bechtel, Henry Antes and many others favored the movement. Against this movement Mr. Boehm took a firm stand, and had great concern of mind, and had it not been for the timely arrival of Muhlenberg, who sided with Boehm, the Reformed and Lutheran Churches would have been swallowed up by the movement.

Schlater, in his journal, says, "Shortly after my ar- rival in Philadelphia I went to visit Mr. Boehm, one of the oldest ministers of the Reformed Church, and the old man, after he heard of my business, felt very glad and promised to assist me in my labors."

At the organization of the first German Reformed Synod, held in Philadelphia, September 29, 1747, the Rev. John Philip Boehm was present. He was secretary of that body in 1748; a copy of the minutes in his own hand is still extant, and shows that he was an excellent penman.

The exact time when Mr. Boehm located in Whit- pain is not known. Among the list of land-holders marked in the survey of the province in 1734 his name is marked as having two hundred acres, and paid a quit-rent for the same.

The deed for the property where he resided at the time of his death (near the church bearing his name), is dated September 9, 1736, and contains two hun- dred acres, and cost £165 13s. 1d.

In Whitpain, Mr. Boehm preached at his own house and other private houses of the neighbors.

On the 29th of January, 1749, the Rev. Boehm, at the request of Mr. Schlatter, took upon himself the duty to attend to the wants of Macungie and Egypt (now Northampton County), with his congregation in Whitpain.

Confining now his labors to a narrower circle, on account of the growing infirmities of old age, he con- tinued zealous for Christ and the church up to the day of his death, at the house of his oldest son, April 29, 1749, having on the previous day administered the Holy Communion to the Egypt congregation, in Northampton County.

He was interred under the altar of the church, in front of the pulpit, of the church bearing his name. The funeral sermon on the occasion was preached by Martin Kolb (Kulp), a Mennonite minister.

On the 7th of May, 1749, Mr. Schlatter, who was absent on a missionary tour when Mr. Boehm's death occurred, improved the occasion and honored his memory with a funeral sermon, delivered in the church at Germantown; and he testifies that his memory is cherished and blessed by many.

Mr. Boehm was a man of ability and bore a strong attachment to the church which he labored so hard and zealously to establish and plant in the then new country. He held extensive correspondence with the church in Europe at an early day, and was care- ful to preserve all such letters, documents and records as pertained to the business of the church in those primitive days. These he carefully kept in a large iron-bound chest. After his death this chest was moved to Philadelphia and was there lost in the flames.

Mr. Boehm became a heavy land-owner, although he did not set his heart upon it, as has already been stated. At the time of his death he owned five hun- dred and fifty acres and one hundred and forty-six perches of land, as follows : In Whitpain, two hun- dred acres (homestead); Saucon, Bucks Co., two hundred acres; Skippack, Philadelphia Co., one hundred and fifty acres, one hundred and forty-six perches.

ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH is situated on the Skippack turnpike, about one mile above the village of Centre Square. It stands upon an elevated spot overlooking the surrounding country in every direc- tion, and is built of stone surmounted by a belfry.

The deed for the property, containing one aere, was given on the 26th of June, 1773, by George Kastner and wife to Philip Bower and George Berk- heimer, of Whitpain ; Michael Henkey, George Gos- singer, Adam Fleck, and Peter Young (of Gwynedd), and George Heyberger (of Worcester), building com- mittee. After the church was finished, on the 28th of June, 1773, the building committee conveyed the building and grounds to Abm. Dannehower (of Gwynedd), Michael Hufacre, Jacob Carr and Philip Shenaberger (of Whitpain), and Leonard Berkheimer, and Philip Hoffman (of Worcester), trustees of the congregation.

The first positive evidence we have of a church here is in 1769, when the Rev. John Frederick Schmidt, having accepted a call to the charge of the church at Germantown, preached here every alternate Sunday.

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WHITPAIN TOWNSHIP.

The first edifice was erected about the year 1771 and stood until 1838, when the present one was erected.

The Rev. Mr. Schmidt served as pastor from 1769 to 1786. When the British took possession of Phila- delphia the Rev. Mr. Schmidt, on account of his well- known republican sentiments, deemed it most prudent to retire to New Goshenhoppen, where he remained . Beyer and William Gray.

until the royal army evacuated the city. Whilst Washington had his headquarters in Worcester the building was used by the Americans for a hospital. Many of the soldiers of the Revolution, who died from wounds or sickness after the battle of Germantown are buried here, without any stone to mark their final resting-place.

A handsome marble stone marks the grave of Chris- tian Moser, who died December 22, 1838, aged eighty- four years. He personally shared in the sanguinary conflicts of Paoli, and at the taking of Stony Point and the battle of Germantown.

The Rev. Anthony Hecht was the second minister in charge, 1786 to 1792, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Jacob Van Buskirk until 1796, who also had charge of Puff's, Upper Dublin, and the Yellow Church, Gwynedd.

There was a vacancy in the pastorate for a short time, which was supplied by the Rev. Messrs. Shaffer, of Germantown.

Rev. Henry Geisenheimer came about 1797. The Rev. Charles Wildbahn was the next pastor. Shortly after Mr. Wildbalın took charge death removed him, and his remains lie in the graveyard. In 1806 the Rev. J. C. Rebenach assumed the charge. In 1810 the Rev. Johu Wiand took his place and stayed until 1826, when the Rev. George Heilig took charge and continued until 1843. He was succeeded by the Rev. Jacob Medart until 1855. The Rev. John W. Hassler was the next pastor until about 1864; the Rev. Rightmyer until 1868. The Rev. E. L. Reed preached his introductory sermon June 28, 1868, and resigned June 27, 1869. Rev. H. M. Bickel was elected pastor February 20, 1870, and resigned July 11, 1875. Rev. L. D. Coleman was installed December 12, 1875, and resigned February 20, 1881. Rev. H. B. Strodach was elected pastor October 24, 1881, and preached his farewell sermon July 1, 1883. Rev. L. D. Coleman was again elected pastor January 7, 1884.

From its first organization until 1870 the congrega- tion stood in connection with the Gwynedd or North Wales congregation and constituted a charge.

In the graveyard in the rear of the church, upon the tombstones the most common are the following names : Osborne, Dannehower, Fetzer, Berkheimer, Zearfoss, Werkheiser, Hurst, Hallman, Gouldey, Lay- man, Dotts, Hoffman, Preston, Choyce, Longacre, Deal, Hoffecker, Kibblehouse, Lightcap, Castner, Moser, Miller, Knipe, Lutz, Bisbing, Cowden, Zeiber, Hunsberger, Markley, Fleck and Fulmer.

congregation owns a good and comfortable honse for the sexton and fine shedding for horses, and has ex- pended for repairs and buildings since 1880, $1583.69.

The present officers are: Elders, Henry Moser, Vic- tor H. Baker; Deacons, Jacob Denner, Samuel C. Seiple, M.D. ; Trustees, Jacob Beidiman, Josiah M,

About the year 1840 a Sunday school was first or- ganized, aud is regularly kept open during the sum- mer season, and now, in 1883, numbers one hundred scholars.

Whole number of communicant members, one hun- (Ired and twenty.

UNION METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH is situated near the centre of the township, on a public road lead- ing from the Skippack turnpike to the Jolly road.

The deed conveying the land was given September 4, 1813, hv James Buck and Elizabeth, his wife, to Abm. Supplee, Samuel Supplee and Nathan Supplee (of the township of Worcester), John Giftin (of Gwynedd), David Supplee (of Norriton), Isaac Zim- merman and Jacob Zimmerman (of Whitpain), Samuel Harvey and Samuel Ashmead (of Germantown), and contained one hundred and twenty-one perches.

The above-named trustees were nearly all members of the Methodist Episcopal Church or in sympathy with the same.

The next year a stone meeting-house was built. The date-stone says, "Union Meeting-House, built in 1814." The pastors of the Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church preach here every two weeks. The inteut of having a Union meeting-house here was to accommo- date ministers of all Christian denominations when not in use by the Methodists.

During the excitement, and at the time the di- vision among Friends took place, Edward Hicks frequently preached within its walls; and to this day Friends frequently hold appointed meetings here.

The names most common on the tombstones found in the yard are those of Zimmerman, Supplee, Brown, Smith, Fitzgerald, Kibblehouse, Shaeff, Roberts and Beck.

During the summer and latter part of 1882, the building was entirely remodeled, and the present neat structure finished at a cost of one thousand dol- lars, which was chiefly borne by a few persons; the entire membership at present does not exceed twelve persons.

The church was rededicated December 10, 1882; the sermon on the occasion was preached by Rev. G. Mclaughlin ; text, Rev. xxii. 5.

The present trustees are George F. Shaeff, Charles De Prefontain and Thomas Stockdale.

A Sunday-school is now regularly kept open during the summer season, with Charles De Prefontain as superintendent.

MOUNT PLEASANT BAPTIST CHURCH is situated on a high and beautiful location on the Morris road

The whole inclosure is well shaded with trees and is surrounded with a good and substantial fence. The | in the eastern portion of the township. The deed for

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

the property was given by Thomas C. James, of the city of Philadelphia, Doctor of Medicine, and Hannah, his wife, to Philip Matthias, Benjamin Mattis and Jacob Conrad, all of Montgomery County, and is dated 3d of Seventh Month 1834, and contains three-fourths of an acre.

The same year a stone building was erected, not of large dimensions, but repaired and assuming its present appearance in 1865 ; surrounding is a small graveyard, beautifully laid out, and shedding erected for several horses.

The most common names in the graveyard, are Coleman, Matthias, McClay, Bartleson, Rynear, Jones, Conrad, Speery, Gregar, Pontzler, Davis and Caldwell.

The first organization of the congregation took place May 24, 1834, with sixteen members. The Church Council consisted of Revs. Joseph Kennard, Levi Beck, David Trite and Jacob Coleman. The congregation now numbers ahout one hundred and twelve.

The Pastors have been Rev. Levi G. Beck, the founder ; Rev. R. F. Young of Chestnut Hill. The stay of Mr. Young, embraced three years, and was succeeded on the 20th of September, 1837, by Rev. Thomas S. Griffith, whose pastorate lasted nearly five years. Rev. John S. Eisenburg was ordained March 17, 1842. Rev. John S. Baker succeeded him July 1, 1843, in which year Charles Matthias and Jacob Conrad were elected deacons, and still fill that position with much credit to themselves and accep- tance to the church. Baker's term expired in May, 1848. Rev. Jolin S. Christine became his successor. A vacancy oftwo years occurred. In 1850 the church was supplied by the venerable Rev. Joseph Matthias, of Hilltown, Bucks Co. On the 8th day of Septem- ber, 1852, the Rev. Uriah Cauffman became pastor ; his stay was short. In March, 1853, the Rev. Joseph Sagebeer took charge. In August, 1856, Rev. Thomas C. Trotter became pastor, and remained until 1860. In 1865, Mr. Trotter again took charge and stayed until 1870. In 1860 the Rev. W. B. Toland became pastor and remained during the war of Rebellion. In 1870, on the 1st day of October, the Rev. Chas. T. Hallowell, a student from the Crozer Theological Seminary, at Chester, took charge and remained until 1875. He was succeeded by Rev. C. T. Frame, who remained until 1879. The Rev. Joseph Sagebeer is the present pastor.

Jacob Conrad and wife, Ann, of the original found- ers, are still living, 1884. "In December, 1823, the Rev. John S. Jenkins, of the Baptist Church, Lower Providence, preached the first sermon ever delivered by a Baptist minister in that neighborhood. Nine years later Mr. Jenkins, in company with the Revs. T. Robinson and Horatio Gates Jones, held meetings for two days near the present locality of the church, and four persons were afterwards baptized." The Wissa- hickon Creek is the usual place for baptism.

In 1868 the annual meeting of the North Philadel-

phia Baptist Association was held with the church at this place.

Private Burying-Grounds .- The first and probably the oldest is on the farm of Wm. Funk, along the Skippack turnpike, near the bridge over Oil Mill Run. At one time, tradition says, there were fifty or more graves visible here.

There is one large stone (made of soapstone) yet standing, and containing the following inscription : " Here lyeth ye body of Ann, late wife of Thomas McCarty, who departed this life March 21, ye year of our Lord 1714-15, aged 57." On the back of the stone the following quaint inscription is contained :

" Although my body lies in earth, I wish my friends both joy and mirth, Their interest prize

To live with Christ, we all shall rise ; For as the Scripture text declares

That we shall rise ; and if not beirs,

Then woe be to that mortal man That in God's judgment cannot stand."

On the farm now owned by Tyson Wentz, on the road leading from the Skippack turnpike to the Morris road, the remains of a burying-ground are yet visible. Two graves are marked with head-stones, with the following inscriptions : " Barbara Kress, died January, 1757, aged 62 years ;" "Charles Kress, died November 10, 1766, aged 72 years."

Tradition says that it was orginally intended to erect Boehm's church on this spot.

Villages .- CENTRE SQUARE is situated at the in- tersection of the State of Swedes' Ford road with the Skippack turnpike.

Nicholas Scull on his map mentions an inn here in 1758, called the " Waggon." On the maps prepared by the British during the Revolution in the campaign of 1777, it is marked and called by that name. In 1762, Thomas Fitzwater is marked in the number of taxables as inn-keeper here.

The first post-office in the township was established here in 1828, and James Bush appointed postmaster. The distance from Washington is one hundred and fifty- three miles ; Harrisburg one hundred and six miles. It is still kept here, and Mr. Rouff is postmaster.

In the past few years the village has rapidly im- proved, and now contains one inn, two stores, post- office, wheelwright and blacksmith, tin, baker, and shoemaker-shops and forty private dwellings. The walks are laid with boards.

A store was first started here about 1800 by Thomas Humphrey.

For many years an extensive lumber-yard was carried on here by Thomas H. Wentz, who afterwards became a heavy dealer in lumber and a builder in Norristown.

The general elections and the township business has been transacted here since 1867.

The Centre Square Creamery started in 1880 is here located, and does a flourishing business.

Centre Square Lodge, I. O. of O. F., has a large hall

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WHITPAIN TOWNSHIP.

with two dwellings underneath, and hohl their regular meetings on Saturday evenings.

At a large meeting of the citizens of the county, hekl here October 8, 1806, it was agreed to locate the present site for the Montgomery County Almshouse.

The Centre Square Association of Montgomery County for the recovery of stolen horses and the detec- tion of thieves, was first organized at the publie-house of Samuel Wentz, Centre Square December 11, 1819.

The permanent organization took place at the public house of Abrm. Wentz on the 23d following, when twenty seven persons signed the constitution, as fol- lows : Joseph Butler, Daniel Wentz, Jonathan Paul, Samuel Wentz, Jonathan Ellis, Edward Foulke, Cadwalader Roberts, Abrm. Wentz, William E. Davis, William Ellis, Jr., Evan Jones, John Holt, Jesse Jenkins, Levi Foulke, John Styer, Henry Stern, Morgan Morgan, Jr., Nathan Evans, Thomas Humph- rey, Jesse Spencer, David Acuff, Antrim Foulke, George M. Wentz, Isaac Shoemaker, Isaac Ellis, Jacob Styer and Daniel Kneedler.

The first president was Abrm. Wentz, succeeded by Evan Jones in 1822, who held the position twenty years ; then John Rex, who held the position for a few years, and was followed by John Styer, Esq., who filled the position until his death.

The annual meetings are held alternately in the townships of Whitpain and Gwynedd, on the second Thursday in November, and no person can be a member who does not reside within seven miles of the point where the Swedes Ford road erosses the line dividing the townships of Whitpain and Gwynedd.

Present officers (1884) : President, Algernon S. Jenkins, Esq .; Secretary, William Jenkins ; Treasurer, Aaron Styer; Committee on Accounts, Septimus Roberts, Frank Zimmerman, J. W. Bisson and George Castner.

BLUE BELL is situated at the intersection of the old North Wales and Plymouth road and the Skip- paek turnpike.

The place contains one inn, store, post-office, black- smith and wheelwright-shop, and nine dwellings ; population in 1880, sixty-one

In 1758 there was an inn here called the " White House," and the military maps of the surrounding country, prepared in 1777, eall the place by that name.

In the year 1774 there was a large stone house built by James Bartleson on the west side of the Skippack road, and an inn was established here called the " Black Horse," a license was granted at the May Sessions of 1796, and the inn was kept open until about 1826. In this house the terrible Rader tragedy occurred on the morning of June 2, 1877.

For many years the village was known by the name of Pigeontown. The name is supposed to have orig- inated from the large floeks of wild pigcons that fre- quented that seetion fifty years ago, and from an old resident, Morgan Morgan, who was a great trapper of pigeons and a famous gunsmith. The name was

changed to that now in use in 1840, and the present post-office established, (Benjamin Hillan, ex-member of the Legislature, appointed postmaster), which is still kept by Charles De Prefontain. "On the evening of October 22, 1813, Pigeontown was illuminated in honor of General Harrison's capture of Malden," (Norristown Herald of that date). In the same paper, dated October 15, 1812, "Samuel Ashmead advertises a house and lot of six aeres, a noted store-stand at Pigeontown."

In 1814, there was a volunteer infantry company rendezvoused here, by the name of Pigeontown Guards, commanded by Captain Kneezel.

The Whitpain Library Company, founded December 16, 1817, is kept here. The library contains two-thous- and volumes. Original price of shares, four dollars ; present, three dollars. The collection contains many valuable and rare books; number of share-holders about fifty.

Present managers, Benjamin P. Wertsner, William H. Slingluff, Jesse Streeper, Charles De Prefontain, Charles K. Shoemaker, George G. Rossiter and Jones Detwiler.

The Blue Bell Horse Company, for the detection of thieves and the recovery of stolen horses, was first organized here November 23, 1841, with 54 members. Present officers : President, George F. Shaeff; Vice- President, Linford S. Preston ; Secretary, Joseph P. Conard; Treasurer, David De Ilaven ; Committee of Accounts, Jacob Hoover, Benjamin P. Wertsner and George G. MeNeil. The annual meetings are held alternately at Centre Square; number of members eighty.

The Blue Bell Live-Stock Insurance Company organized September 15, 1855, holds its regular meet- ings here. Present officers : President, George F. Shaeff; Secretary, Jones Detwiler ; Treasurer, Linford S. Preston ; Managers, Jacob Hoover, Andrew Hart, Rynear Bradfield, George H. Tippin, George Amberg, Sr., and Henry C. Hoover.

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 248

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