USA > Pennsylvania > Northampton County > History of Northampton County [Pennsylvania] and the grand valley of the Lehigh, Volume II > Part 6
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pose for public worship until steps were taken to build a third church, the cornerstone of which was laid May 6, 1832. Who the first ministers in the old log church were is not known. The first records do not mention a pastor until 1786, when Rev. Carl Benjamin Dana was in charge of the congrega- tion. In the same year Rev. Friederick Niemeyer's name appears as pastor, filling the position until 1792. The next sixteen years there seems to be a vacancy in the pastorate, which was filled by supplies. On Good Friday, April 12, 1805, the Lord's Supper was administered by the pastor, Rev. Chris- tian Endress, and the following April the name of Rev. F. C. Dill appears as pastor. The Rev. Carl Wilhelm Colson on Good Friday, 1818, administered holy communion to III communicants. The next pastor's name to appear on the records, May 22, 1819, was Rev. John Augustus Brobst. He preached at Saucon, Forks, Plainfield and Mount Bethel; this was his first and only pastoral charge, and which he served until his death, March 10, 1844, nearly a quarter of a century. On August 10, 1844, Rev. Marcus Harpel was elected pastor ; after serving the congregation between two and three years he sent his brother, Rev. Jeremiah Harpel, to serve in his place, which he did between three and four years. He was not a member of the Synod of Pennsylvania. to which the congregation had become associated in 1819; he was removed as the regular pastor, and his friends and followers built a church for him at Roxburg in 1849. Rev. G. A. Wenzel was elected pastor August 27, 1850, and was succeeded in 1853 by the Rev. William Gerhard, who resigned after a year of successful labor. On January 1, 1855, the Rev. Jacob Albert entered upon his duties as pastor, and the initiative steps were taken to build a par- sonage. During his pastorate a congregation was organized and a church built at Flickville. Rev. Mr. Albert resigned as pastor October 1, 1859, and was succeeded the following year by Rev. Nathan Zaegar, who served until July 1, 1863, when Rev. Ernst Lubkert became his successor. His labors ceased September 1, 1864, and on October 15th, Rev. B. F. Apple was unani- mously elected pastor, having also charge of the Flickville and Lower Mount Bethel congregations. The Reformed congregation in carly days held its first meetings jointly with members of the Lutheran Church in a private house, also in a small log church, and the two churches at Centreville. The name of only a few of the first Reformed pastors are obtainable; Rev. Father Vandersloot was pastor from about 1785 onward. He was succeeded by Revs. T. L. Hoffeditz, Andrew Young, P. S. Schorg, I. K. Loos, I. S. Weisz, W. D. C. Rodrock, H. H. W. Hushman. The church was rebuilt in 1910. The pastor of the Reformed congregation, in 1915, was Rev. Howard H. Long; of the Lutheran congregation, Rev. W. F. Wenner.
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized at Centreville, February 11, 1860. Rev. J. J. Burrell, its first pastor, entered upon his duties in April of that year. A church edifice was erected in 1860. Rev. Mr. Bur- rell continued his pastoral charge until the summer of 1875, when he was succeeded by the Rev. H. R. Fleck. The centennial jubilee was celebrated October 30-31 and November 1, 1874.
Williamsburg has much of the general appearance of the neighboring villages in the township. It was one of the three points of the location of the Hunter Settlement, and became known as "Rum Corner." The earliest
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records of Williamsburg have been lost or destroyed, which leaves much of its early history traditionary. As early as 1825, Isaac Smith commenced to manufacture cigars in this hamlet. Cigars in those days were cheap, retailing at eighteen to twenty cents a hundred. In 1875 there were eleven factories engaged in this industry in Williamsburg, employing thirty-six cigar workers, manufacturing a yearly output of 2,500,000 cigars, which paid a revenue tax of $12,600. Another important industry at this time was the carriage works of Frank Hagerman, erected in 1847. The Williamsburg Academy was conceived by a few citizens of the town, and in April, 1853, a building was erected. Jonathan Moore became the first preceptor, which position he filled twelve years. This school furnished the benefits of intel- lectual training for many years. At Delpsburg, in the western portion of the township, a Methodist Episcopal church was erected in 1873.
The population of Mount Bethel in 1870 was 3,764. This, by the organiza- tion of the boroughs of East Bangor and Portland, has been decreased, and in 1910 the population was 2,446.
Allen Township-Allen township is bounded on the north by Lehigh and Moore townships, on the east by East Allen township, on the south by Hanover township, and on the west by the Lehigh river, which separates it from Lehigh county. East Allen township was a part of Allen township until 1845, when it became a separate district.
The first permanent settlement in what is now Northampton county was made in Allen township, on the banks of the Hokendauqua (searching for land), and Catasauqua (the land is dry) creeks by a sturdy band of Scotch- Irish in 1728. The center of this settlement was at Weaversville. The leader was James Craig, a kinsman of William Allen, hence it is sometimes called "Craig Settlement." Tradition has it that when the first settlers arrived, one of them asked for a drink, whereupon an Indian squaw said, "Give me a gourd and I will fetch you some," and that she disappeared and returned with the gourd full of cool, sparkling water. This led to the discovery of a fine spring, the finding of which led them to select the place for their future homes. The first settlers were: James Craig, Thomas Craig, Hugh Wilson and his three sons, Thomas, Samuel and Charles; Thomas Armstrong, Robert Gregg, James King, John McNair, John and Robert Walker, James Ralston, John Hays, Arthur Lattimore, James Horner and James Kerr. Several years later other families followed. , They were all staunch Presbyterians, and soon after their arrival erected a small log church in the meadow of James Craig. IIere that man of God, David Brainerd, occasionally preached to the settlers and also to the Indians. On October 9, 1744, he writes in his diary : "God was gracious to me, and I was much assisted in preaching (in the settlement). I know not that ever God helped me to preach in a more close and distinguished manner, for the trial of men's state. Through the infinite goodness of God, I felt what I spoke and was enabled to treat the truth with uncommon clearness."
It is recorded that after Brainerd preached, the people would retire to pray among the hazel bushes which grew all around, and then he would come and comfort them. Mrs. King (whose husband James died in 1745, and who was the first whose remains were laid in the Settlement Cemetery) often
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with a child in her arms would ride on horseback with others of the settlers twenty miles to Mount Bethel to hear Brainerd preach. In his journal he speaks of his labors and success among the Indians in the Forks as "the wonders of God in the wilderness."
At the June term of court, 1746, the inhabitants living on the west branch of the Delaware petitioned to have the boundary of a township fixed as fol- lows: "From the mouth of Monokosey, up the middle branch of said creek to the Blue Mountains, and thence by said mountains to the west branch of the river (Lchigh), and thence down said branch to the mouth of the said Monokosey." They further declare that they labor under great inconveni- ence for want of roads to go to mills, market and the county court. The petitioners were: Hugh Wilson, James Carruthiers, George Gray, James Pal- stone, Francis Linfield, Jonathan Riddle, William Young, James Horner, Jonathan McNeely, Thomas Boyd, Samuel Barron, Christopher Ambrest, Michael Favion, Joseph Latimore, William Clendinnen, Thomas Craig, Jona- than Walker, James Alexander, Thomas Hutchinson, Joseph Kerr, Robert Clendinnen, William Detur, James Allison, Arthur Latimore, .William Boyde, Jonathan Ramsberry, Henry Deck, Peter Doll, Joseph Pelly, Robert Latti- more, William Craig, Jonathan McNair, James Craig, Jonathan Kerr, Samuel Brown, Joseph Wright, Jonathan Delur, James Gray, William McConnel, Thomas Thompson, Christian Doll, Roland Smith, Frederick Aldimus, Thomas Biers, Jonathan Kennedy, William McCaa, Jonathan Cock, David Kerr, James Kerr, Robert Dobbin, Jonathan Boyd, Thomas Armstrong, Jonathan Clendinnen, Jonathan McCartney, Michael Clide, James Kennedy, Simon Drom, Christian Miller, Joseph Biers, Frederick Miller, Josephi Brown. The township was first called Mill Creek, but was later changed to Allen.
The second church was a log structure, and stood on the north side of the Bath road, opposite the house formerly occupied by Absalom Reichard. It was erected about 1772. It was from its pulpit that Rev. Rosbrough enlisted a company in the struggle for independence. In 1761 the congre- gation purchased a farm of eighty-two acres, known today as the Muscoe farm, on the Kreidersville road, from Samuel Wilson, for a parsonage farm; it was sold about 1802. Those who contributed towards its purchase were: Samuel Wilson, James Craig, A. Latimore, Charles Wilson, John Walker, James Kerr, William Heaslet, James Horner, John Riddle, David Chambers, John Ralston, Mary King, Robert Latimore, William McNair, John McNair, Alexander Dobbin and Thomas Herron. On September 3, 1796, the con- gregation was granted a charter by the Legislature, on a petition signed at a meeting of the congregation March 21, 1796, signed by John Hays, William Carr, Samuel Wilson, Hugh Horner, John McNair, Thomas Horner, Joseph Horner, James Kerr, John Walker, James Ralston, John Partridge, William Lattimore, James Hays, John Wilson, James Clyde, Joseph Burk, Robert Andrews, James Doak, John Brown, Charles Meloy, John Craig, Abraham Mensch, Daniel Mulhatton, J. Ralston, Thomas McBurney, Mathu Duncan, John Clyde, David Jolly.
In 1791 a schoolhouse was erected, which was demolished in 1873. It was built by popular subscription, forty-one persons subscribing, amounts ranging from a shilling to five pounds. The first trustees were Christian Hagenbuch, James Carr and John McNair. The third church was com-
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menced in 1813, but not completed until 1818. It is still standing, but no longer used. The few remaining families of the early settlers worshipped with the Presbyterian congregation at Bath. The burial ground nearby the church is well kept, and is one of the oldest in the county. In earlier times dead were brought from a great distance for interment in it. Many promi- nent persons are buried here. A few of the many interesting epitaphs are :
In memory of Hugh Wilson, Esq., who was born in Ireland, A.D. 1689. Departed this life in the autumn of 1773, aged eighty-four years.
In memory of Jean, the wife of James Horner, who suffered death at the hands of the savage Indians, eighth of October, 1763, aged fifty years.
Sacred to the memory of Dr. Matthew McHenry, who departed this life, December 13th, 1783, in the 40th year of his age.
Sacred to the memory of General Robert Brown, a Patriot and Soldier of the Revolution, died February 26th, 1823, aged 78 years and two months.
In memory of Mrs. Jane Rosbrugh, who departed this life March 27th, 1809, aged 70 years. Relict of the Rev. John Rosbrugh, formerly pastor of this con- gregation, who fell a victim to British cruelty at Trenton. January 2nd, 1777.
Both in times of peace and in war, in matters of church and state, this little group of pioneers wielded an influence all out of proportion according to their numbers. Gen. Thomas Craig was the first officer to offer his services to the Continental Congress, of which James Ralston was a member. John Craig, captain in the Fourth Pennsylvania Regiment of Light Dra- goons, was pronounced by Gen. Washington the best horseman in the Con- tinental army. Practically every able-bodied male member of the congre- gation served in the cause of Independence. Dr. Mathew McHenry was surgeon to the Provincial ship Montgomery.
The church of Allen Township is a monument of that grand work of our early days, which had such a vast influence upon the whole destiny of our Presbyterianism. The first great settlement of the Scotch-Irish Presby- terians was in the "Forks of the Delaware," and that region may therefore be considered as the old home of our church.
Even such an important colony as that of the Cumberland Valley can look back to that locality as the birth of many of its most important families. Our own Presbytery of the Neshaminy received thence many of the founders of its churches. Throughout our whole church some of the greatest and best members trace the lines of their ancestry to that favored spot.
It appears that there was a division among the Presbyterians of the colony at the middle of the eighteenth century. This caused a number to withdraw from the old congregation and to erect a church on the farm lately owned by John Laubach, at Howertown, known as the Seceder's Church. This division saddened many a heart, and was, we are told, the reason for many of the members of both congregations to remove from the settlement. They were, however, poor farmers as compared with their more industrious and frugal German neighbors, who gradually acquired their farms, and they drifted to the towns and cities and became merchants and professional men. For a century and more the German element clung to the soil. They have become anglicized, are found in the professions and in business, and the
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Austrian-German, the Hungarian and the Slavonians of the recent immigra- tion, who came here to labor in the cement mills, are beginning to supplant them on the farms, like their forefathers did the Scotch-Irish.
Rev. John Rosbrugh, "the clerical martyr of the Revolution," was born in 1714, shortly before his family left Scotland for the North of Ireland, from where he and his elder brother William came to America. They set- tled in New Jersey, where John attended Princeton College, graduating in 1761. His first pastorate was that of the Tennent or Brainerd church at Greenwich. On April 3, 1769, Rev. Rosbrughi accepted a call from the Allen- town (Allen township) congregation, and the following year he removed to Allen township. Doubtless the influence that brought him here was that of his wife's family, she being a daughter of James Ralston.
After the battle of Long Island, Northampton county was in a feverish excitement ; many of its sons had spilled their blood in the cause of liberty. The Council of Safety of Pennsylvania authorized Gen. Washington to call out all ablebodied men. Washington sent a most urgent appeal to Allen township, where Col. John Siegfried lived. Rev. Rosbrugh having assem- bled the congregation, read to them the call for reinforcement, and, ascend- ing the pulpit, took for his text, Judges 5: 23: "Curse ye Meroz, saith the angel of the Lord; curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty," and urged them to enlist and offered to accompany them as their chaplain. They accepted his challenge, but insisted that he accompany them as their commanding officer. He returned home, told his wife, whose brother-in- law was a prisoner of war in one of the fatal prison ships at New York, of his intentions, made his will, and arranged for his departure on the following day. Practically all the congregation met the next day, and the ablebodied inen formed a company and under the leadership of their pastor marched away, going toward Philadelphia, where they arrived December 24, 1776. In the minutes of the Council of Safety. December 26, 1776, the following is recorded: "Commission made out for Jno. Rosbrugh. as Chaplain to 3d battalion of Northampton militia." Thus was he relieved of the command of the company which he mustered and led to the seat of war, and Capt. John Hays assumed the responsibility of this position. Rev. Rosbrugh's duties were now those of chaplain, not simply to the company which he raised. but to all those troops from Northampton county known as the Third Bat- talion of militia under the command of Col. John Siegfried.
From "An account of money paid by Captain Hays of Northampton County" to his company in the city of Philadelphia of their monthly wages paid December 27, 1776, we have the following roll of his company :
Captain, Robert Hays: Lieutenant. William Caruthers, discharged Jan. 9. 1777; Ensign, Thomas Horner.
Privates : James Doak. William Maffitt, Alexander Vanhan. John Clyde, discharged Jan. 17, 1777; James Lattimore. Benjamin Stuart, Moses Camp- bell, discharged Jan. 17. 1777; John McFadden. James Boyd, George Gray, Moses Cangleton, Rev. Mr. John Rosbrugh. discharged Jan. 3. 1777; Robert Lattimore, Michael Mallov. William Kairns. Thomas Herron. John Horner, John Walker, Joseph Likens, Daniel McMullin. Robert Doak, John Over- shimer. John Humes. Moses Cronklton. John Brisban. discharged Jan. 14. 1777.
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Col. Thomas Craig, who rendered valuable service in the war for inde- pendence, was born in Allen township, Northampton county, October 26, 1739. He was commissioned, January 5, 1776, captain of a company in Col. Arthur St. Clair's Second Pennsylvania Battalion. This battalion saw stren- uous service in Canada and participated in several engagements, the prin- cipal one at Three Rivers. Captain Craig was promoted to lieutenant-colonel on September 7, 1776; on August 1, 1777, he was commissioned colonel of the Third Pennsylvania Regiment. He participated in the battles of Ger- mantown, Monmouth and Brandywine, and in his own words, "served faith- fully from the commencement of the late war to the end of it." Colonel Craig was at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-78, and it was through him that Mrs. Lydia Darragh conveyed to Washington the warning of Howe's expected attack at Whitemarsh, she having overheard the plans discussed by the British officers at her home. Colonel Craig was retired January I, 1783. On July 1, 1783, he was appointed county lieutenant of Northampton county. In 1784 he was appointed associate judge, clerk of courts and recorder of Montgomery county. In 1789 he removed to Towamensing town- ship. In 1798 he was commissioned major-general of the militia of the State, which position he held at the opening of the War of 1812 and until the year 1814. He removed to Allentown, where he died January 13, 1832, aged ninety-two years, and was buried with military and Masonic honors. The procession marched to the cemetery to the funeral strains of the Bethlehem band, the tolling of bells and the firing of minute-guns. After the interment and the friends had retired to the Lutheran Church, the Lehigh Artillerists fired four salutes over the grave and then marched to the church, where the sermon was delivered by Rev. Joshua Yeager. General Craig's remains now rest in Fairview cemetery. He married Dorothy Breinig, a daughter of Col. George Breinig.
In 1802 the Mennonite congregation of Whitehall and Allen townships, which formerly worshipped in the log structure at Siegfried's Ferry, erected a new meeting house along the King's highway, leading from Howertown to Kreidersville, on a plot of ground given by Thomas Horner and wife by a deed dated February 11, 1802, "to Jacob Baer, Jacob Hiestand, John Zieg- ler and Samuel Landis, in trust for the Mennonite congregation of White- hall and Allen townships and in trust for church purposes or for schools under the yearly quit rent." At a congregational meeting held soon after the passing of the deed, it was decided to proceed to the erection of a frame building, 30 by 26 feet, and John Ziegler and Samuel Funk were appointed a building committee. Twenty-eight persons subscribed to the building fund of £84 4s., in sums varying from 3s. 4d. to £12.
There are no records of the congregational life and activities of the wor- shippers in this church. In former years there were regular preaching serv- ices. The names of those who ministered to these people are: Valentine Young, Samuel Museelman, Christian Bliem, John Bachtel, William Geh- man, John Oberholtzer, Christian Clemmar, David Henning, William Shelly, Henry Diehl, Jonas Musselman. Through death the congregation, which was never large, gradually declined. The building was also used for school purposes, and Rev. Cyrus J. Becker at one time taught in it. During the
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last decade a Sunday school was held in the meeting house, and also an occasional service. In later years there were occasional services, among those preaching being Levi Young, Tilghman Seiple, Lewis Taylor, C. J. Becker, Samuel Landis and J. Y. Schultz. The late Moses Gottshall related how he was greatly annoyed by wasps on one occasion when conducting a preaching service in the church. In 1884 the church was renovated and the cemetery enclosed by a wall. The names of the burials in the cemetery have been published in the "Life of Col. John Siegfried," by Rev. J. B. Stoudt. The descendants of members of the congregation today, with a few excep- tions, are members of the neighboring Reformed congregations, their nearest kin in faith and practice. On July 14, 1908, William Landis, trustee ap- pointed by the court, sold the meeting house to the Allen township school district for the consideration of $500, which sum is held in trust by William Landis, as trustee, "for beautifying and keeping in repair the cemetery adjoining the old church." The school district has again sold the building and it is now used as a dwelling.
To the north of Weaversville, at the crossing of the Kreidersville and Bath roads, is a cluster of houses known as Howertown, taking its name from the Hower family. Near it is located St. John Church (Union Church), usually referred to as the Howertown Church, which was organized in 1833. At the burial of Mrs. Beaver at Schoensville, in the winter of 1832-33, George Hower suggested to Rev. J. C. Becker that the time had come for the erec- tion of a church in the vicinity of Weaversville or Howertown, and that he would donate the ground for the same. Similar offers were made by Jacob Deshler, Peter Laubach and John Hagenbuch. At a meeting held at the house of Peter Laubach, April 30, 1833, attended by sixteen persons, it was resolved to accept the offer of Mr. Hagenbuch. At a second meeting at the home of Jacob Bayer, February 1, 1834, it was decided to erect a church. At a third meeting, held December 29, 1834, a constitution was adopted, and the Union Congregation was formally constituted. The following persons constituted the first joint consistory: Reformed Elders George Weber and Jacob Koch ; Deacons George Audenreid, Samuel Muffly, David Deshler and Peter Strauss; Trustee David Bliem; Lutheran Elders Abraham Hartman and Henry Kleim ; Deacons John Heberling, Daniel Spanglyer, Henry Miller and George Schaeffer; Trustee Conrad Beil. The cornerstone was laid June 8, 1835, and the edifice, 50 by 55 feet, was dedicated Christmas of the same year. The total cost was $3,685.00. In 1847 a Sunday school was organ- ized, which has continued ever since. The present beautiful house of wor- ship was erected in 1905 at a cost of $26,000. The pastors of the congrega- tions have been : Reformed-J. C. Becker, C. J. Becker, D. I. Schiery, G. J. Laubach; Lutheran-August Fuchs, S. A. Ziegenfuss, H. F. Kuder, D. F. Green, J. D. Koch.
In 1862 a new cemetery was opened by Peter Laubach, across the street from the old cemetery. Four years later the plot owners organized them- selves into the Greenwood Cemetery Company, which was granted a charter by the court of the county, April 22, 1867. The cemetery contains many fine monuments, and is one of the most pretty and best kept cemeteries to be found anywhere. A buriel record of both the old and new cemeteries has been published by the congregation.
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Bethlehem Township-The population of this township had increased in 1750 tv 450 souls, and the next score of years it has reached 950; of these there appears to have been 163 subject to taxation as property holders, of whom eighteen were Moravians. The real estate valuation of the town in 1773 was £3,671, of which £1,507 was held by Moravians. The Bethlehem township tax in that year, including the villages, was £51 3s. There were seventy-seven single men over twenty-one years of age. The population in 1780 numbered 1,375, but the following decade it was decreased to 950, owing to the erection of the township of Nazareth. At the middle of the nineteenth century there were 2,104 inhabitants, divided into 405 families, who occu- pied 371 dwelling houses and operated 153 farms. The yearly production of the latter was 49,023 bushels of wheat, 22,062 bushels of rye, 41,390 bushels of corn. 18,460 bushels of oats, 9,607 bushels of potatoes, 48,045 pounds of butter and 2,142 tons of hay. The valuation of 12,524 acres of real estate at $78.18 per acre was $979,126. The number of taxable persons was 670, and the five hundred scholars attended eleven schools. The manufacturing industries were limited to four grist-mills, four lime kilns, two boot and shoe factories, one saw mill, one brick vard. The mercantile interests consisted of six taverns and seven stores.
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