USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pa. with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 78
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The mission became a station in 1861, when Rev. Simon Reinohl took charge of the work and organized the first Sunday-school. Rev. Anastasius Boetzel was appointed in 1863. In the following year grave charges were made and sustained against Boetzel, and part of the membership siding with him a branch church was started in the old Spruce street chapel, but went out of existence the same year. Rev. J. S. Marquardt came in 1865, and by a wise ministry healed the breach.
The corner stone of the present capacious frame build- ing was laid that year "with masonic ceremony, which created some irritation and difference of opinion." The new church was dedicated and occupied the same year. Rev. J. Kutz came in 1866. Grave charges were made against him, sustained and found true, and a committee declared him to suffer of spasmodic aberration of the mind. His misdemeanors were very damaging to the church. In 1867 Rev. J. O. Lehr, by good management, saved the church from the sheriff's hammer and cleared
335
CHURCHES OF TAMAQUA.
it partly from grievous debt. The English language was introduced into the services by Rev. W. K. Wiand, in 1868, but the congregation were not yet ready for the change. Rev. Seneca Breyfogel came in 1870 and served three years acceptably. The annual Conference was held in Tamaqua in 1873, and this church became a dis- tinct charge-Coal Dale. Barnesville, and Rush being taken from it and forming Barnesville circuit. Rev. J. C. Bliem became pastor and one hundred and five were added to the church by the great revival of this year. He was followed by I. K. Knerr in 1875, B. J. Smoyer in 1876, and Charles H. Egge in 1877, all men of power and ability, under whose ministry the church has grown and prospered. The present membership is 283; that of the Sunday-school is 247. The church is valued at $8,000 and it will seat 500 persons.
Welsh Congregational Church .- The Welsh church in Tamaqua was built in 1851, and is a very plain, modest edifice on Welsh hill, above Rowe street. The congre- gation was organized in 1848, with a membership of 36. Rev. Thomas Jones, the first rector, was in charge four years and was succeeded by Rev. J. M. Thomas, who preached statedly some ten months, and was succeeded by Rev. William Thomas, who resigned toward the close of 1855.
The Sunday-school was organized in 1847, with 60 scholars. Rev. David E. Hughes is the present pastor, having been called in 1875. The church, a framed build- ing, is valued, with the other property, at $1,200.
Calvary Episcopal Church .- The history of this parish dates from April 30th, 1848. That day the services of the Episcopal church were first held in Tamaqua. In the morning Right Rev. Bishop Alonzo Potter consecrated Zion church in Tuscarora, and in coming to Tamaqua in the afternoon his carriage was broken and his leg badly injured. Revs. William Auddard, of Philadelphia, and Peter Russel, of Mauch Chunk, in company with the bishop, conducted the services in the evening, Rev. Mr. Auddard preaching in the Primitive Methodist, and Rev. Mr. Russel in the Presbyterian place of worship, which were offered for the purpose. The parish was organized March 27th, 1849. The first Sunday in April ensuing the first stated services were held in the "town hall," Rev. A. Beatty, rector, reading the service, and Rev. Thomas A. Starkey, of Pottsville, preaching the sermon.
At the same time a Sunday-school was organized of So members and 15 teachers. Regular services were held, subscriptions were opened for building a church, and a "ladies' sewing circle " was organized. A lot of ground was obtained from the Little Schuylkill Railroad Com pany, and the vestry decided, in view of the amount rais- ed, to begin the work. Thursday afternoon, June 26th, 1851, the corner stone was laid by Rt. Rev. Bishop Pot- ter, there being present Rev. Peter Russel, of Mauch Chunk; Rev. William C. Cooley, of Pottsville; Rev. Azariah Prior, of Schuylkill Haven, and the rector. The church was opened to public worship Good Friday, April 9th, 1852, the rector, who had just recovered from a three months' illness, preaching the sermon. The first
administration of holy communion was given May Ist, 1852. The edifice was consecrated by Bishop Potter, Sunday, June 19th, 1853; Rev. Samuel Hazlehurst, Rev. Peter Russel, Rev. Aaron Christman (ordained in this church, July 11th, 1852,) and the rector, assisted in the services.
March 18th, 1854, Rev. Joseph A. Stone, a presbyter of the diocese, entered upon his duties as rector of the parish, Rev. Mr. Beatty having resigned June 26th, 1853. An organ was purchased in September, 1858, and gas intro- duced into the building in December of the same year, at a cost of $80. Mr. Stone resigned his charge March 4th, 1860. Revs. H. Baldy, William Wilson, J. L. Mur- phy and H. S. Getz followed until 1869, and the parish was without a rector until October Ist, 1871, when Rev. Chandler Hare became pastor. He also took charge of St. Philip's church, Summit Hill. He resigned the parish February ist, 1878. Rev. W. J. Miller followed as rector, in November, 1878, and resigned in November, 1880. He was succeeded by the present rector, the Rev. William B. Burke.
Calvary Church is 46 by 34 feet, built of stone, with a square tower and a bell. The audience room will seat 240 persons. The property is valued at $5,000. The Sunday- school meets in the basement.
First Presbyterian Church .- As a chartered organiza- tion the Presbyterian church of Tamaqua dates from May 18th, 1851. In the summer of 1837 a union church was built, to which Presbyterians contributed, but in which the Methodist Episcopal and Primitive Methodist churches held services. The first Presbyterian service was held Sabbath evening December 24th, 1837, by Rev. Richard Webster, a pioneer missionary through this sec- tion. In 1838 the church at Summit Hill and Tamaqua was organized by the Presbytery of Newton, New Jersey. Port Clinton was also part of the same church, Rev. Richard Webster preaching there in 1839, receiving in that year Mr. and Mrs. George Wiggan, of the Presby- terian church in Philadelphia. Mr. Wiggan, honored in years and good deeds, has been ruling elder of this church forty-two years. Rev. Dr. Schenck labored in this field in 1842, and in 1845 the Luzerne Presbytery arranged to give a monthly supply. In 1846 the presby- tery appointed Revs. Webster, Harned and Moore, with three elders, to organize an independent church at Ta- maqua, and, after three attempts, it was accomplished in May, 1846. Mr. Webster with Mr. Edgar, of Summit Hill, met the Presbyterians of Tamaqua in Mr. Heaton's parlor, now Mr. Beard's, when the church was organized with ten members-George Wiggan and Susannah, his wife; Mrs. Sarah Heaton, Miss Ely McNeill, Mrs. M. H. Hunter, from the Summit Hill church; William Laird and Ann, his wife, from the Free church, Scotland; Sid- ney Arms, Mrs. Mary Heaton, wife of R. A. Heaton, from the Methodist Episcopal church, Tamaqua; and John Hendricks and Ely Josephine, his wife, from the Eleventh church, Philadelphia. Mr. Wiggan and Mr. Laird were elected elders and installed by Rev. W. W. Bonnel, of Port Carbon, July 26th, 1846.
3,36
HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
Rev. B. F. Bittinger became first pastor, in 1847, at a largely by Mr. John Zehner, and its cost, with its furni- salary of $300. Rev. Charles Glenn began his pastorate ture, was 85.500. The present able pastor, Rev. William HI. Laubenstein, entered upon his duties October Ist, 1877. in January, 1852, and during it the present handsome stone edifice on West Broad street was built. Messrs. New- The Sunday-school superintendents have been John Zehner, Charles Steigerwalt, Henry A. Kauffman, Wil- liam A. Snyder, John Whetstone, Henry A. Kauffman and John Semback. The present church membership is 205. The Sunday-school numbers 250. kirk & Buck, of Philadelphia, gave $6,000-the whole cost being $8.500. At the same time a double cottage was erected back of the church as a parsonage, but those instructed to secure the deed neglected it, and Mr. Glenn was greatly surprised one fine morning when presented Trinity Reformed Church .- The Trinity Reformed congregation of Tamaqua was organized by the authority with a bill for $150, for rent due the company that had purchased the lands of Newkirk & Buck. Rev. Mr. Glenn | of the Lebanon Classis, August 19th, 1877, and the cor- resigned August 17th, 1856, and in January, 1857, Rev. J. H. Callen began his labors, continuing to April, 1859 He was succeeded by Rev. William Thompson in Febru- ary, 1860. During his pastorate the church at Mahanoy City was organized, 1863, and for some time he preached called until September 10th, 1863, when the Rev. I. E. to both charges. In July, 1868, Rev. Benjamin C. Meeker succeeded Mr. Thompson, who closed his eight years' pastorate. In 1876-77 the church was remodeled and refurnished, Elder George Wiggan contributing 81,500. The church to-day is in a flourishing condition. The Literary Institute has been in operation five years, and is considered a town institution. The membership at this time January, 1881) is 87; of the Sunday school, 150. The value of the church property is $20,000. The church seats 600.
Zion's English Evangelical Lutheran Church .- This church started as a colony from St. John's Lutheran Church, Dutch hill, the first meeting taking place in Seitzinger's hall, January 27th, 1876, attended by 48 per- sons. The organization of the Sabbath-school occurred December 5th, 1875, with 80 scholars.
The present handsome frame edifice was built in 1876,
ner stone of the present frame building at Washington and Jefferson streets was laid September 2nd, 1867. While the church was being erected the congregation held their services in the Welsh church. No regular pastor was Graeff was elected. His pastorate continued until March 13th, 1873, and during it 62 were baptized, 24 confirmed, 28 persons received by certificate and pro- fession, and 28 funerals attended. December 2 1st, 1873, Rev. J. H. Hartman received and accepted a call. He labored until February ist, 18So, and during that time baptized 210 children, confirmed 34, received by certifi- cate 46, and officiated at 86 funerals. January 18th, 1880, Rev. John J. Fisher, the present pastor, took charge, and was ord lined February 5th, and during the year he has received 12 by confirmation, to by certificate, and officiated at 4 funerals.
The congregation originally consisted of 53 members, and the first consistory was as follows: Elders-Peter Hartman and Matthias Haldeman; deacons-August Wetterau, L. F. Fritsch, Jacob Eisenacher and George Eckhardt.
HENRY A. WELDY.
of H. Huhn a small powder-mill, situated on the Little Schuylkill, and under the firm name of H. A.
The subject of this sketch was born in the city of |Weldy & Co. they commenced the manufacture of blast- Reading, Berks county, Pa., September 19th, 1831, and ing powder. In 1865 E. F. Shindel was taken in as a was the youngest child of John and Margaret Weldy. On partner, and under the same firm name the business was
carried on until April, 1871. At that time the company met with a serious loss in the blowing up of one of their
old firm name of H. A. Weldy & Co. From the com- mencement to the present time Mr. Weldy has had the sole management of the business, and the success which has followed the enterprise, from small beginnings until it has become one of the largest establishments of its kind in the country, sufficiently attests his ability as a
Having received a good common school education Mr. Weldy, at the age of seventeen, was indentured for four years, with D). & H. Rhein, to learn the cabinet maker's manager and as a business man.
In politics Mr. Weldy is a Republican, and he is an active worker in his party. For the last four years he has been a member of the council of the borough of Tamaqua.
trade. At the termination of his apprenticeship, not fancying the cabinet making business, he took up pattern making, and was employed in that business from 1853 to (862 in the shops of the Little Schuylkill Railroad November 19th, 1854, he married Annie, daughter of George and Kate Lambert, of Sinking Spring, Berks Company at Tamaqua. He then became employed as clerk in the office of the Philadelphia and Read- county, Pa. Four children-Charles H., Kate G., John ing Railroad Company's shops in Tamaqua, in which E. and Clarence S .- are the issue of this marriage. position he remained until 1864. In March of that Charles H. married Henrietta, daughter of James and year, in company with C. F. Shindel, he bought | Amy Smithham. They have one child, a daughter.
his father's side he is of Swiss and on his mother's of French-Huguenot descent. His grandfather, John Weldy, as also his father, was born in Reading. The |mills. This accident led to a change in the firm. La- former, born in 1768, married in 1797 and died in 1853. mont and Henry Dupont purchased the Messrs. Shindel's He was a carpenter by trade. H. A. Weldy's father was interest, Mr. Weldy retaining his. The business, many engaged in the hardware trade in Reading from the age of times enlarged, has ever since been carried on under the thirteen until his death, which occurred in 1877. The mother of our subject died in 1835. He had one sister, Catharine, born in 1827, who died in 1829, and one brother, Joseph, who was born in 1829, and died in 1833.
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Benj Hd ciluca
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES-EDWIN SCHLICHER-BENJAMIN HEILNER.
337
Edwin Schlichen
Edwin Schlicher was born in Upper Hanover township, Montgomery county, Pa., January 5th, 1844. He was the third child in a family of eleven children of George and Sarah (Geisler) Schlicher. He is in the fifth genera- tion from Stoefel Schlicher, who emigrated from Ger- many and settled in Montgomery county. The line of descent is as follows: Stoefel, Henry, John, George, Edwin.
Henry, Edwin's great-grandfather, served in the war of the Revolution. The ancestors of our subject gener- ally followed farming. His father and one sister are dead. His mother, four brothers and five sisters are living, all in Montgomery county.
Edwin spent his boyhood at home upon the farm. His opportunities for education were extremely limited; indeed he is wholly self-taught, as he never went to school a day in his life. At the age of nineteen he was apprenticed for two years with Heigner & Brother, of Hereford township, Berks county, Pa., to learn the miller's trade. After serving his time as an apprentice he was employed for two years in the flouring mill of H. & J. Gable, of Pottstown, Pa.
He came to Tamaqua January 9th, 1866, and was em- ployed as foreman in the flouring mill of D). Shepp & Co., where he remained until January Ist, 1879. He then began dealing in flour and grain on his own account, and he is still engaged in that business.
In the fall of 1880 he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the lower house of the State Legislature for a term of two years. He holds positions in that body on the Committees of Elections, Public Buildings and Pub- lic Grounds. He is a member of the Reformed Church of Tamaqua.
Mr. Schlicher married December 25th, 1866 Sallie, daughter of Jacob and Mary (Reader) Smith. She was
born in North Coventry, Chester county, Pa., in 1843. They have six children, viz .: Mary E., Sarah Effie, Emma E., George M., Kate O. and Charles.
BENJAMIN HEILNER.
Hon. Benjamin Heilner, for two terms 'ten years) as- sociate judge of the Schuylkill county bench, constituted in himself a rare example of that class of adopted citi- zens of which this country has good reason to feel proud.
He was born in Memelsdorf, Kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, October 17th, 1806. Having received a good education in the schools of his native place he, at the age of sixteen emigrated to America, to accept a clerkship in the store of his cousin, Samuel Heilner, then residing at Rockland, Berks county, Pa. After the lapse of two years he proceeded to Weissport, Lehigh county, Pa., where he kept a store on his own account for eighteen months. In 1827 he left Weissport and located per- manently at Tamaqua, where he at once built himself a habitation, in which he established what is known as a country store. He soon afterward married Eliz- abeth, a daughter of John and Mary Agatha Kersch- ner, who were the first settlers of Tamaqua. Mrs. Heilner's sister, Mary Magdalene, was the first white child born in the place, and Mrs. Heilner herself was born there April 8th, 1812. The log house in which they lived still exists in a state of tolerable preserva- tion.
Mr. Heilner continued a successful mercantile business until 1851. In 1833 he entered into partnership with S. Morgenroth, in the manufacture of blasting powder, and they continued in that business, under the firm name of Heilner & Morgenroth, for about twenty years, the works being situated at Ow! Creek, about two miles from Tam- aqua. The mill was destroyed in 1853 by an explosion, whereby two men lost their lives, and Mr. Heilner was so deeply affected by the accident that he determined no longer to be engaged in a business fraught with such dan- gerous possibilities. In 1843 he became interested in the mining of anthracite coal, an industry which at that time was just emerging from its infancy and was yet far away from the gigantic proportions it has since attained. In this he associated himself with Robert Radcliff, operating the mine since known as the High Mines, in the borough of Tamaqua. Soon after this he became interested with Henry Guitermann in other mining operations at Silver Creek, and subsequently at Coal Hill. In all these var- ious pursuits he was crowned with reasonable success, and secured thereby an independent competency.
Being e'ected in 1861 to the office of associate judge he disposed of his mining and other business interests and devoted himself exclusively to the conscientious full- filment of his official duties as a judge of the Schuylkill County Court.
He was post-master of Tamaqua under the adminis- trations of Presidents Van Buren and Polk. He was president of the first school board of Tamaqua, and a director of that board continuously until a few years be- fore his death; being ever an earnest friend of the public school system and neglecting no effort to promote its usefulness and efficiency. His children are especially hopeful that he may be well remembered in connection with his untiring devotion to the cause of public educa- tion.
52
3.38
HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.
Judge and Mrs. Heilner were blessed with ten children, namely: Louise, Isaac Newton, Zillah, Thomas J., Ada, Mary, Caroline, Lewis C., since a graduate of the Naval Academy at Annapolis and now lieutenant in the United States navy), Benjamin F. and Lizzie May.
January 2nd, 1872, Mr. Heilner had an operation per- formed upon himself for the removal of a tumor, which, though apparently successful at first was soon followed by inflammation of a malignant character, terminating fatally on the 23d of May following. It was an irrepar- able loss to the grief-stricken family when thus passed away from their midst the kindest of husbands and best of fathers; for, while he ever commanded, and deservedly so, the highest regard of all who knew him, yet it was in his own family where his sterling qualities and true nobility of soul were best understood and appre- ciated.
Judge Heilner was by nature a scholar; a great reader always, and most happily endowed with the faculty of remembering what he read. His knowledge of history was most extensive, so that he was regarded by all who knew him as reliable authority to settle points in dispute therein. In business as well as in his social and domestic relations he was scrupuously accurate and methodical. The good judgment and sound sense which he ever exer- cised in the conduct of his daily enterprises were most conspicuously exhibited in his official capacity as judge. It has been repeatedly averred to the writer of this sketch, by the most eminent members of the Schuylkill county bar, that at no time was their bench graced by a more dignified, more thoroughly just, yet eminently obliging judge. He was especially rigorous and inde- fatigable in the fulfilment at Orphans Court of testators' wishes-endeavoring always to straighten out matters of legacy in the shortest way, and with the least expense to those concerned.
The history of a life like that of Benjamin Heilner should awaken the most noble aspirations in all young men; for it illustrates most admirably what a stout heart may achieve when moved by honest purposes and perse- vering industry.
WILLIAM DONALDSON.
Among the many instances of men of foreign birth who, having followed mining as an occupation in their native country, naturally settled in the mining regions of Schuyl- kill county, and who, by industry and native force of character, have acquired fortunes and built up for themselves a reputation which has left its impress upon the communities in which they lived, William Donaldson is a marked example. He was born in Middleton, county of Durham, England, December 13th, 1803. His father, John Donaldson, was a lead miner in that county, and was killed in the mines there. He had two brothers and two sisters, all deceased, except one sister, who lives in England.
Early in life William became a miner, and followed that occupation while in England. His opportunities for education were very limited. He married, January Ioth, 1828, Maria F. Redfearn. She was born in Allston, England, October 23d, 1807. Her father, Teesdale Red-
fearn, was a miner in the lead mines in Allston, County of Cumberland, England. He emigrated and settled with his family at Tamaqua, where he worked in the coal mines, and eventually he and a son were killed while so employed.
In July, 1830, William Donaldson, with his wife and child, took passage on an emigrant ship for America. The voyage was a boisterous one, and occupied thirteen weeks. He landed at Philadelphia on a Sabbath morning. Taking a short stroll up Market street of that city, he soon found himself in the country. The first man he met was the Rev. Mr. Sutherland, an Episcopal cler- gyman, whom he had known in England. On the Mon- day following he took a canal boat for Pottsville, and after a week's journey arrived at his destination. He was employed as a miner, at $3 per week, until the fall of the same year, then at Nesquehoning, and in the early part of 1831 moved to Tamaqua, and lived in a house on the grounds now occupied by Carter & Allen's ma- chine shops. For a number of years he was inside super- intendent of the Little Schuylkill Company's mines. He then engaged in mining on his own account, at Sharp Mountain, where he built a small colliery, capacity about fifty tons per day. The breaker was what was called a " coffee-mill " breaker, and was run by horse power. He afterward leased a breaker erected by the Little Schuyl- kill Company near the same place, which he worked until it was burned down in 1854. Prior to this he had contracted with the same company to sink a shaft 360 feet in depth, and after the breaker was completed he took a lease of this colliery, which he continued to run until his death, which was occasioned by an explosion of fire damp in this mine. His son, John Donaldson, was with him at the time of the explosion, and was severely burned, but escaped with his life. Lingering eight days after the accident, he died on the 20th of July, 1859.
At the time of his death Mr. Donaldson was president of the Anthracite Bank of Tamaqua. He was the founder and principal supporter of the Primitive Methodist church of Tamaqua. He always took great interest in Sunday- school work, and was for many years superintendent of the Sunday school of his own church. All public and benevolent enterprises found in him an earnest and efficient friend. In his habits he was strictly temperate, abstaining from all use of tobacco and ardent spirits. In society he was genial and companionable; but it was within the limits of his own family circle that his excellent qualities shone brightest and were best appre- ciated.
His widow survives him, living at the old homestead in Tamaqua. Nine children were the issue of this worthy couple, viz. :
John, born in England, November 3d, 1828; died May 26th, 1834, in Tamaqua.
Elizabeth, born October 27th, 1830, at Five Points, Schuylkill county.
Margaret, born August 8th, 1832, at Tamaqua.
John, born November 24th, 1834, at Tamaqua.
Hannah, born December 14th, 1836, at Tamaqua; died at Tamaqua, October 6th, 1862.
William F., born December 24th, 1838, at Tamaqua.
Mary A., born August ist, 1841, at Tamaqua; died there September 15th, 1850.
Samuel T., born March 10th, 1844, at Tamaqua; died in Philadelphia, April 19th, 1879.
Maria J., born April 3d, 1847, at Tamaqua.
Daniel Thephi
339
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES-DANIEL SHEPP.
DANIEL SHEPP.
Mr. Shepp was born in the city of Reading, Berks | the firm name of Shepp & Aulthouse the business was county, Pa., March 26th, 1830, being the fifth of the |conducted up to January, 1861. At that time Henry F. seven children of Daniel and Elizabeth (Zachrias) 'Stidfole purchased Aulthouse's interest, and for six years Shepp.
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