USA > Pennsylvania > Northampton County > History of Northampton County [Pennsylvania] and the grand valley of the Lehigh, Volume II > Part 8
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The population of Forks township in 1740 was about fifty souls, which had reached, in 1770, more than four hundred. The valuation of real estate in 1773 was f1, 185 and the amount of the tax was f13 3s. Iod. There were sixty-nine persons subject to taxation, and eleven single men. There were then in operation two grist-mills, one owned by Jacob Arndt, the other by H. Lesh. The population steadily increased and in 1850 there were 2,321 inhabitants, which represented 418 families residing in 391 dwellings, of which 152 were located on farms. The value of the real estate was $1, 185,- 038, which was an average of $74.18 an acre. The number of schools was thirteen and the attendance was 650 pupils. The taxable persons residing in the township were 632. The population, owing to formation of boroughs and townships from its original area, decreased in 1870 to 1,450, and at the last census in 1910 it still showed a further decline, being only 1,132.
* Rallied next day at Elizabethtown; (33 men).
+ Killed or taken prisoner at Fort Washington.
# Killed or taken prisoner at Long Island.
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Plainfield Township-This township is bounded on the north by Monroe county ; on the east by the townships of Washington and Lower Mount Bethel; on the south by the townships of Forks and Palmer; on the west by Bushkill township. The name Plainfield was given to it as describing its appearance to the first settlers. The surface of the township is almost devoid of trees, except on the margins of the watercourses, where a few dwarf oaks and stunted evergreens grow on the higher lands. The township is watered chiefly by the east branch of Bushkill creek; in the southern part the lands are quite rolling, and in the north the Blue Mountains form a natural barrier and stretch in an unbroken ridge along the northern border. There is an opening, or pass, in the mountains, called by the German settlers "Die Wind Kapf" (the Wind Gap), through whch no stream of water passes. The crest line of the mountain is here depressed nearly as low as the country on each side, forming a notch of peculiar convenience for the passage of travelers and teams. It is the only crossing for wagon roads leading from the township across the Blue Mountains.
The first settlers were Germans, who immigrated from their native land, settled around Wind Gap, and erected a house of worship, though there are no authentic records of their names except those of the Benden and Hiller fami- lies. These were immediately followed by German settlers, and on Decem- ber 24, 1762, a decree of the court authorized and ordered the laying out and erection of the township. A survey was made and accepted. The entire length of the boundary lines was thirty-four and a quarter miles, and within these tracts were three hundred inhabitants.
The settlers suffered during the Indian troubles, a temporary fortifica- tion being built as a place of refuge. Just before the Revolution the popula- tion increased to more than five hundred. A grist-mill had been built by Adam Heimer and a saw-mill by Jacob Heller. Settlements progressed rapidly, and at the commencement of the nineteenth century, Belfast, in the southern portion of the township, near the western boundary line, was re- garded as a village, and Hellertown, named for Samuel Heller, who came in 1763 from North Saucon to that part of the township, was laid out in village lots. The population in 1870 was nearly 2,000, and within the township limits there were four grist-mills, two distilleries, one oil-mill, and seven public houses. The development of the slate industry caused a new excess to the population, the villages of Pen Argyl and Wind Gap became boroughs, the influx of wage earners to operate the quarries materially increased the population, and at the present day in the original limits of the township, there are now over 7,000 souls.
St. Peter's Reformed and Lutheran Church dates back to the middle of the eighteenth century. The regular records, however, are extant since 1763. In that year Rev. Casper D. Weyberg became pastor, and installed as elders Adam Dietz, Jacob Sorwer, Casper Dole and Peter B. Hahn ; and as deacons, Peter Metz, George Dietz, Leonhard Kern and Nicholas Dole. The original founders of the church were principally Palatines, though there were some Swiss and French Huguenots. The congregation was originally of the Re- formed faith, but in 1832, when considerable of the endowment of landed property was sold, a third church edifice was erected. The Lutherans, who
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had held services in the church since 1885, were granted equal rights in the church and landed property, and from that time it has been practically a union church. The new church was constructed of brick, and had a seating capacity of one thousand persons. It was entirely remodeled and repaired in 1870. The pastors of the congregation on the Reformed side were: Rev. Casper D. Weyberg, Frederick L. Henop, John Wilhelm Pithan, J. W. Weber, J. W. Ingold, L. F. Herman, Frederic William Vandersloot, Thomas Pomp, G. H. Eichberger, E. Helfrich, E. H. Reinecke. The Lutheran pastors were: Rev. John C. Rueg, - -Niemeyer, L. H. Colson, Rupert, Henry Kunz, John A. Brobst, A. Fuchs, G. A. Stuntz, Charles Weber, M. J. Kramlich.
Moore Township-Moore township is located in the northern part of Northampton county, and is bounded on the north by Carbon county, on the east by Bushkill township, on the south by the townships of Upper Nazareth, East Allen and Allen, and on the west by the township of Lehigh. At the time of the erection of Northampton county, this portion of it was known as the "Adjacents of Allen." It was erected into a township in 1765, and it was proposed to name it Penn, but the present name was given, in honor of John Moore, a representative of the county in the Provincial Assem- bly in 1761-62. The township comprises a territory nearly six miles square, containing thirty-five square miles, about 22,506 acres of land, which are drained by the springs and headwaters of Hockandauqua and Monocacy creeks. The face of the country is hilly and rolling, the soil being either gravel or slate, but the culture of cereals has yielded fair returns, especially rye and buckwheat.
The first white settlements were made between 1740 and 1750, and in the latter year there were about fifty persons living within its limits. Among these early inhabitants were Christian Miller, Henry Diehl, Henry Shopp, Nicholas Heil, Nicholas Sholl, Peter Doll and John Bauman. In a series of depredations made by the Indians in 1756, many early settlers or members of their household were killed. The population, however, had a steady growth, and in 1770 had increased to five hundred. There were about this time three grist-mills and two saw-mills in operation in the township.
There are numerous small villages located in the township. Near the eastern line, is Moorestown, one of the prettiest villages in Northampton county, a hamlet of about two hundred population, containing a school, hotel and two stores. West of the village stands Salem, or Big Moore Church. This well-known Union church, Lutheran and Reformed, is located on a hill that commands a view of the surrounding country. The first church, built of logs, was erected in 1772, and served its purpose until 1829, when it was replaced by a stone structure. The log church was removed about six miles west from its former site, and was used for religious worship. In distinction from the new church, which was called Big Moore, it was called Little Moore, and both churches have since been known by these names. In 1872 the Big Moore Church was remodeled, the pulpit moved from the south to the east side, the seating capacity increased to eight hundred, and a new steeple erected 105 feet high. In 1906, $12,000 were spent in beautifying
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the church edifice. An addition was built on the west side, the old gallery was removed, and handsome memorial windows erected. On June 17 of that year the rededication took place.
It was in 1774' that Rev. Conrad Steiner received a call from the con- gregations on the Lehigh, and which he accepted the following ycar. His charge consisted of congregations at Allentown (Stone Church), Moores- town and Lehigh, which he served until his death, in 1782. At a meeting of the Coetus at Reading, Pennsylvania, Rev. Paul Peter Pernisus was assigned to the charge of the churches in Allen, Lehigh and Moore town- ships. He was, however, in 1785 excluded from the gospel ministry, and the congregation for the next fourteen years was under the spiritual charge of Rev. Frederic William Van der Sloot. He was succeeded in 1802 by his only son and namesake, who took up his residence in Allen township in Decem- ber. 1802, and became the pastor of seven or eight congregations. The younger Van der Sloot was an excellent linguist, well versed in German, French, Latin, Greek and Hebrew, and was composer of many hymns and poems. He was gifted with a voice that could be heard above all others in a multitude, and generally was his own chorister. He resigned his pastorate in 1811, and died in York county, Pennsylvania, December 14, 1831. He was succeeded by Rev. Jacob Christian Becker, a native of Bremen, Germany, born January 14, 1790, and came with his parents to America when only three years of age. He was ordained May 17, 1808. Under his pastorate the church prospered and increased, and he served faithfully his charge until his death. The next pastor was Rev. A. J. G. Dubbs, who preached his fare- well sermon in 1857. He was succeeded by Rev. Robert A. Vancourt, who served till 1859, when the Rev. J. Gantenbein was placed in charge. His successor, in 1865, was the Rev. Robert Lisberger, who continued until 1871. For the next four years there was no settled pastor. In 1875 Rev. David B. Ernst responded to a call and commenced his labors September, 1875; his term of service was short, his death occurring March 11, 1877.
On October 20th, 1877, Rev. Jonathan E. Smith was elected, and at once entered upon the discharge of his duties. His charge consisted of four con- gregations : Big Moore, Petersville, Little Moore and Bushkill Center. This being his first charge, he was ordained in Big Moore Church, December 20, 1877. Rev. Jonathan E. Smith was born in Weisenburg township, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, April 4, 1850, son of Elias and Salome Smith. His early education was obtained in the public schools of his native township; afterwards he attended the academy of Prof. Charles Swartz at Bethlehem, also the Keystone State Normal School at Kutztown, and Ursinus College at Collegeville, Pennsylvania. Before entering college he taught five terms in the public schools of Lchigh county, and three years after leaving college, in the Northwestern University at Watertown, Wisconsin, a Lutheran insti- tution. This university conferred on him the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and in 1892 his alma mater conferred the honorary degree of Master of Arts, and in 1901, the degree of Doctor of Divinity. On his return to Pennsyl- vania he completed his theological course at Ursinus College, and was licensed to preach the gospel in June, 1877. He was unanimously elected as pastor of the four churches mentioned in this article, and his pastorate has
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continued over forty years. It has been a very pleasant one, of undoubted usefulness, and it is not difficult to see the fruits of his labors in the charge of the congregations. He married, May 12, 1886, Miss Maria E. Bartholo- mew, daughter of George and Amanda E. Bartholomew, of Bath, Pennsyl- vania. Her death occurred January 16, 1890.
The Lutheran congregation that worshipped in the Big Moore Church was organized in 1772, its members being located in the eastern part of Moore township and the adjoining township of Bushkill. From 1772 to 1778 the congregation was served by the Rev. Christian Streit, pastor of the Easton Lutheran congregation. At the beginning of the pastorate of Rev. Johann Frederick Ernst, in 1780, a lengthy, strict and precise constitution was adopted. It provided for four elders, two deacons, and a trustee, and that the congregation must belong to the Ministerium of Pennsylvania, so, also, its pastor. The Rev. Ernst served also the congregation at Easton and other congregations on both sides of the Delaware river. He studied theology at Strassburg, Germany ; was an energetic and zealous man, faithful in keeping the records of the church. At the beginning of 1780 he was requested to resign from charge of the Big Moore Church on account of his selfish and scolding disposition. In the fall of that year, Rev. Carl Benjamin Danapfel became pastor, and in 1790 he was succeeded by Rev. Frederick Niemeyer, who served until 1796, when he gave place to Rev. John Casper Doill or Diehl. His pastorage included Zion Stone Church at Kreidersville and Indian Land Church (now St. Paul's) at Cherryville. On July 15, 1810, Rev. Frederick W. Mendsen took charge, and served to July 18, 1852, a period of forty-two years. He at one time served, in connection with this congre- gation, ten others in Northampton, Lehigh, Monroe and Carbon counties. Rev. Frederick W. Mendsen was a son of William and Helena Mendsen. He was born in Oldenburg, Denmark, December 8, 1780; received a thorough education in his Fatherland, and emigrated to America, arriving at Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, in 1805. He commenced the study of theology in 1808 under the direction of Revs. Henry Helmuth and John Smith, and was licensed to preach by the Synod of Pennsylvania, June 29, 1810. He soon after left for the field of his life work, and located near Cherryville, North- ampton county. He was faithful and devoted to ministerial labors, preached twice regularly, and sometimes three or four times on a Sunday, often travel- ing thirty to forty miles on horseback to meet his engagements. He per- formed during his ministry of over forty years 24.564 baptisms, 9,412 con- firmations, 7,218 funerals, 4,148 marriages, and administered the Lord's Sup- per to 76,482. He preached his last sermon and administered communion November 20, 1870, for Rev. R. B. Kistler, in St. Paul's Church, Franklin township, Carbon county. He died at Klecknersville, Pennsylvania, August 5, 1871.
The Rev. William Rath commenced his labors as pastor December 5, 1852, and continued until the spring of 1857. He was born in Upper Saucon, Pennsylvania, September 23, 1826, taught school, and attended college at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He studied theology with Rev. Jeremiah Schin- del of Upper Saucon, and was ordained in June, 1852, by the Lutheran ministerium of Pennsylvania. He had charge of four congregations in Lehigh
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county ; some of them he served until his death at Centre Valley, Pennsyl- vania, July 2, 1880. His successor, in the spring of 1857, was the Rev. David Kuntz, who commenced to preach as a supply while yet a student; he was ordained the following year, and served the congregation faithfully until January 1, 1869. His successor was Rev. R. B. Kistler, who was pastor until his death, August 25, 1876.
On invitation of the elders, William J. Andres, then a student of the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, preached as a supply, beginning in February, 1877. He was ordained May 30, 1877, by the Evangelical Lutheran Ministerium of Pennsylvania ; shortly afterwards he was elected pastor without a dissenting vote. Rev. William J. Andres was a son of Nathan and Sarah A. (Schantz) Andres, and was a native of Lower Macungie township, Pennsylvania. His early life was spent on a farm, his education in his leisure time obtained at the district schools, sup- plemented by attendance at the Keystone State Normal School, from which institution he graduated in the scientific course in 1871. Prior to this he taught school in his native township, and was assistant principal and after- wards principal of the Weaversville Academy at Weaversville, Pennsyl- vania. The next three years were devoted to pursuing theological studies in the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and on his being ordained he was elected pastor of the Salem Church, Moorestown, Zion Church at Kreidersville, Christ Church, Moore township, and St. Peter's Church, near Seemsville. It was his own ambition and energy of purpose that crowned his success, as he was obliged to hew out his own pathway, earning the money to educate himself. He died at Bath, Pennsylvania, De- cember 17, 1909. Rev. A. E. Erdman of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, is now the Lutheran minister.
Dannersville, in the southern part of the township, is the original home of the family by that name. Among its early settlers were the Silfies, Huths, Schalls, Reimers, Lindemans, Nolfs and Hoffmans. Here is the source of the Catasauqua creek, named by the Indians, the word signifying "the earth thirsts for rain," or "parched land." It enters the Lehigh river south of the borough of Catasauqua. A mile from this hamlet was the home during the Revolutionary War of George Palmer, who succeeded James Scull as deputy surveyor of Northampton county in 1773, and was incumbent of the office for fifty-one consecutive years, his land office being located at Bath, Penn- sylvania.
Beersville, in the extreme southwest corner of the township, is a small gathering, and among early settlers in its neighborhood were the Beers, Bush, Bell, Laub, Person, Danner, Huth, Huber, Young, Gross and Geiser families. The beautiful winding Hockandauqua flows past this hamlet, its source being midway up the Blue Mountains, in the notch called Smith's Gap, in Moore township. This stream in bygone days furnished power for grist and sawmills, and years ago every mile of its length was utilized for driving a flouring mill. The first to use the power was the Gross saw-mill, about a mile from the base of the mountain ; a mile further was Scholl's grist- mill; another mile, was Young's saw-mill; one mile further was Kleckner's elegant mill; then came Kleppinger mill, which was destroyed by fire. Cress-
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man's then followed; then we reach the Petersville mill, originally built by Abraham Kreider as a merchant mill. Thus to the early German settlers the Hockandauqua was their Rhine, furnishing power to turn their mills and to remind them of the rushing brooks of the Fatherland.
Petersville, on the western line of the township, has a population of about one hundred and fifty inhabitants. It was originally named Kernsville. Nearby is the Emmanuel Church of the Lutheran and Reformed congrega- tion, which is claimed to be the oldest place of worship in the present limits of Northampton county. This claim in the light of recent discoveries, how- ever, cannot be maintained. A log building was erected about 1750, several hundred feet southeast of the present edifice, situated on a beautiful eleva- tion, where the monument to Rev. Hecker stands. While it is not certain that the first church was built in 1723, there is proof that it was erected at a very early period, as it was still standing in 1772, though in a dilapidated condition. The first pastors were Rev. Johann E. Hecker for the Reformed congregation, and Rev. John A. Friedrich for the Lutheran. Rev. Johann Egidus Hecker and his twin brother, Johann George, were born January 26, 1726, in Dillenburg, Nassau. Their parents were Johann Wigand Hecker, equerry, and his wife, Juliana, who was of noble parentage. He studied theol- ogy at the University of Herborn. In 1751 he came to Pennsylvania and immediately began to supply vacant congregations. The following year (1752) he applied to the Coetus for examination and ordination, "so that hereafter he might go on laboring with honor and quietness of conscience." Coetus replied that it had no authority to examine or ordain him, and that according to the instructions from Holland it was compelled to ask him to cease his ministrations. He, however, continued his pastoral activities, first independently of Coetus, and finally in opposition. He opened a record of baptisms, confirmations, marriages and burials, at Tohickon, April 19, 1756, which continued until 1762. In addition to those of the Tohickon congrega- tion, he also recorded classes, confirmed at Heidelberg, Springfield, Saucon, in the Forks near Easton, and Drylands. His name appears on the church register of the Upper Milford congregation in 1757. In 1762 he removed to Allen township and became pastor of the congregations of Indian Land, In- dian Creek and Petersville. Here, as in his previous field, his efforts seem to have met with little success; his health was failing, and he is said to have died about 1785. According to the custom of the day, he was buried within the chancel railing of the church. In 1873 the congregation erected a monu- ment to his memory. The Rev. H. M. Muhlenberg writes concerning Rev. Friedrich, in 1778, that he studied with him at Goettingen. Germany, and that he was in a pitiable condition, being old, bedridden, and in poverty and misery.
The old log church was not repaired nor a new building erected on the original site for the reason that in 1772 the Salem church had been built in Moorestown, St. Paul's near Cherryville, and a little earlier the Stone church in Allen township, and many of their members joined these churches, espe- cially the Stone church, which congregation became the custodian of the records of the congregation, which were returned when the present church was erected. The congregational school was continued after the holding of
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divine services was abandoned. The members met annually and elected trustees, who had the oversight of the school. The school had a large patron- age, the number of pupils frequently exceeding that of seventy-five. It was known as the college. In 1848 forty acres of the land were sold for $4,000, which money was used in the erection of the present edifice. Therefore there was no church at Petersville from 1772 to 1850, when the present brick build- ing was erected. The first pastor to fill the pulpit of the Reformed congre- gation of the new church was Rev. Erasmus H. Helfrich ; the second pastor, Rev. J. Gantenbein, was elected November 6, 1859, continued until 1864, when he was succeeded by Rev. Robert Lisberger, who in 1871 was replaced by the Rev. J. Fritzinger. After his retirement in 1875 the congregation was in charge of Revs. D. B. Ernst and Jonathan E. Smith of the Big Moore Church.
The Lutheran ministers of the church have been Revs. Augustus Fuchs, David Kuntz, R. B. Kistler, G. A. Bruegel and James J. Reitz. The latter was born near Lynnport, Pennsylvania, December 13, 1859, the son of Ben- jamin and Leah (Phillips) Reitz. He is a descendant of one of the earlier pioneer families of the township of Saucon, where his great-grandfather, coming from Germany, settled in the middle of the eighteenth century. His father was a miller by trade, to which later he added the occupation of farmer. James J. was reared to agricultural pursuits, his primary education being obtained in the public schools. On reaching the age of fifteen years he graduated and was awarded a teacher's certificate. He taught school for three winters, in the summer season attending Edinboro State Normal School in Erie county, Pennsylvania. In 1880 he became a student in Muhlen- berg College, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, took a four years' course, gradu- ating with the class of '84 as Bachelor of Arts. In 1884 he entered the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, graduating three years later. In the fall of that year he took charge of the Lutheran church in Walnutport, St. Paul's Church in Lehigh township, and Emmanuel Church at Petersville. He is highly popular as a minister, having not only the esteem of the members of his own chapel, but of all those he is brought in personal contact with.
Klecknersville, in the territorial center of the township, with the neigh- boring village of Crossroads, has about thirty dwellings, a village blacksmith, store and enterprising creamery, owned by a stock company. Point Phillips, originally known as Chubbsville, in the northern portion of the township, is a small hamlet.
Lehigh Township-Lehigh township originally extended from the Lehigh river east to the "Old Minisink road," at the Bushkill, and was until 1752 known as "Adjacents of Allen." Its present boundary lines, the Blue Moun- tains on the north, Moore township on the east, Allen township on the south and the Lehigh river on the west, were determined in 1765. The earliest record of this part of Northampton is one touching the survey made in 1735 by order of Thomas Penn of 6,500 acres of land on which he had planned to settle the Indians dwelling in the Forks, whence it received the name of Indian Land. This and the Manor of Fernor were the only proprietaries' reservations within the present limits of the county. The township is hilly and is drained by Indian creek, a branch of the Hockandauqua creek and a few
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