USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > Lower Heidelberg > History of St. John's (Hain's) Reformed church in Lower Heidelberg Township, Berks County, Penna > Part 42
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
Reifsnyder, Mrs. Charles E.
Reifsnyder, Mrs. Calvin
Reber, Lloyd G.
Reifsnyder, Ira
Reber, Eva Anna
Reifsnyder, Nathaniel M.
Reber, James F.
Reifsnyder. Mrs. Nathaniel M.
Reber, Mrs. James F.
Reifsnyder, Paul
Reber, James I.
Reifsnyder, Bertram
Reifsnyder. Mrs. Bertram
Reber, Mrs. Wmn. Adam
Reber, Solomon R.
Reber, Mrs. Solomon R Reber, J. Harry
Reber. Mrs. J. Harry
Reber, Mrs. Susan
Rader, George H.
Rader, Mrs. George H.
Ream, Barton
Parsons, Walker
Parsons. Mrs. Walker
Parsons, Bessie
Renninger, George H.
Renninger,, Mrs. George H.
Renninger, Howard E.
Renninger, Mrs. Howard E.
Phillips, Mrs. Guy
Reed, John F.
Reed, Mrs. John F.
Reed, George W. V.
Reed, James B.
Reed, Sallie Emma
Reed, Mary Mabel
Reed, J. Cyrus
Riegel, James S.
Riegel, Mrs. James S.
Riegel, Edna C.
Riegel, Maggie R.
Riegel, James E.
Riegel, Rufus F.
Riegel, Mrs. Rufus F.
Riegel, Charles P.
Riegel, Mrs. Charles P.
Reber, Mrs. Wm. H.
Reber. H. H.
Reber, Mrs. H. H.
Reber, Charles G.
Reber, Benjamin G.
Reber, Morris R.
Reber, Mrs. Morris R.
Reber, Wm. Adam
Rentz, John M.
Rentz, Mrs. John M.
Rentz, George M.
Rentz, Mrs. George M.
Rentz, Florence C.
Rentz, Lloyd
Rentz, C. Milton
Peiffer, Charles M.
Peiffer. Mrs. Charles M.
452
ST. JOHN'S (HAIN'S) REFORMED CHURCH
Rentz, Mrs. C. Milton
Rentz, Howard S.
Ritter. Mrs. Chester C.
Rentz. Mrs. Howard S.
Rhoads, Mrs. Irwin
Rentz. John P.
Rhoads, Samuel
Rhoads, Cecil W.
Rissmiller, Mrs. Mary A.
Rentz, Carrie
Rentz. Emma Erma
Reider, Mrs. Matilda
Reider, Harvey Y.
Reider, Mrs. Harvey Y.
Ruth, Isaac
Ruth, Mrs. Isaac
Ruth, Wm. I.
Ruth, Mrs. John G.
Seitzinger, Mrs. C. Jacob
Seitzinger, Katie F.
Seitzinger, .Jennie M.
Seitzinger, Mrs. Sallie E.
Seitzinger, Joseph M.
Seitzinger, Mrs. Joseph M.
Seitzinger. Maria E.
Sell, Aaron
Sell, Mrs. Aaron
Sell. George F.
Sell. Mrs. George F.
Sell. Mrs. Mary S.
Snader, Jacob W.
Snader, Paul R.
Snader. Mrs. Paul R.
Ruth, Leonard M.
Ruth, Mrs. Leonard M.
Snader. Tobias B.
Ruth, Ida K.
Shell, Howard H.
Ruth, Joseph H.
Shell. Charles E.
Ruth, John A.
Shell. John W.
Ruth, Mrs. John A.
Ruth, Paul L.
Shell. Mrs. Clyde
Ruth, Emma E.
Shell, Lizzie Rebecca
Ruth, Richard
Schmehl, E. R.
Ruth, James F.
Schmehl, Mrs. E. R.
Ruth, Adam P.
Schmehl, Ella M.
Ruth, Michael F.
Schmehl, Charles Isaac
Ruth, Mrs. Michael F.
Schaeffer. Samuel F.
Ruth, Francis H.
Schaeffer, Mrs. Samuel F.
Ruth, Calvin
Schaeffer, Eva Ann
Ruth, Charles H.
Schaeffer, Robert
Ruth, Mrs. Charles H.
Schaeffer, Maggie
Ruth, Adam M.
Schaeffer, Ellen
Ruth, George W.
Schaeffer, Adam H.
Ruth, John D.
Schaeffer, Mrs. Ellen M.
Schaeffer, Florence K.
Ruth, Mrs. Nora
Schaeffer, Oscar
Schaeffer, Mrs. Rebecca
Schaeffer, Harry P.
Roth, Mrs. Daniel J.
Schaeffer, James
Reichart, Mrs. Eva
Schaeffer, Mrs. Lovina
Ritter, Mrs. Charles
Sallada Samuel P.
Sallada, Mrs. Samuel P.
Sallada, John
Sallada, Mrs. John
Sallada, Mrs. Isabella
Seitzinger, Mrs. Wm. H.
Seitzinger. C. Jacob
Ruth, Margaret I.
Ruth, Wm. Jacob
Ruth. Alma Mary
Ruth, Florence H.
Ruth, Jacob
Ruth, Eva Kate
Ruth, Edwin G.
Ruth, Mrs. Edwin G.
Ruth, Edna E.
Ruth, James HI,
Ruth, Mrs. James H.
Ruth, Elizabeth A.
Ruth, Ellen C.
Ruth, Laura V.
Snader, Ira Jacob
Ruth, Jonathan F.
Sassaman, Mrs. Hannah
Shell, Clyde
Ruth, Mrs. George W.
Schaeffer, Mrs. Adam H.
Ruth, Wm. Peter
Ruth, Mrs. Charles G.
Schaeffer, Mabel L.
Ruth, John F.
Ruth, Charles Isaac
Schaeffer, George
Kentz, Mrs. John P.
Rentz, Marie
Ritter, Chester C.
453
ST. JOHN'S (HAIN'S) REFORMED CHURCH.
Schaeffer. Mrs. George
Schaeffer. Oliver
Schaeffer, Mrs. Oliver
Shupp, Mrs Frank
Simmons, John
Schaeffer, Mrs. Walter
Schaeffer, Clarence W.
Schaeffer, Mrs. Clarence W.
Schaeffer, Mrs. Victor W.
Schaeffer, Lester Howard
Schaeffer, Walker
Schaeffer, Reuben
Shimp, Lemon
Simmons, Irwin J.
Simmons, Mrs. Irwin J.
Swartz, Alfred W.
Swartz, Mrs. Alfred W.
Simmons, Mrs. Daniel
Swartz, Gertie M.
Simmons, Florence Sarah
Swartz, Florence M.
Swartz, Lemon W.
Swartz, Mrs. Lemon W.
Staudt, Mrs. Emma
Staudt, Charles K.
Staudt, Mrs. Charles K.
Staudt, Paul K.
Standt. Mrs. Paul K.
Staudt, Wm. W.
Staudt, Mrs. Wm. W.
Stoudt, C. Jacob
Stoudt, Adam Adlai
Stoudt, Raymond D.
Stoudt, George H.
Stoudt, Mrs. George H.
Stoudt, Even H.
Stoudt, Adam H.
Sheidy, Walter E.
Sheidy, Mrs. Walter E.
Sheidy, Adam T.
Sheidy, Mrs. Adam T.
Sheidy, Harry E.
Stoudt, Mrs. Reuben
Sheidy, Mrs. Harry E.
Stoudt, Sallie E.
Sheidy, Irwin
Stoudt, Martn
Sheidy. Mrs. Irwin
Stoudt, Mrs. Martin
Stoudt, Conrad
Sheidy, Mrs. Wm. B.
Stoudt, Charles H.
Sheidy, James E.
Stoudt, Harry R.
Stoudt, Mrs. Harry R.
Stoudt. Ida
Stoudt, Clara H.
Stoudt, Wm. Jacob
Stoudt, Mrs. Wm. Jacob
Stoudt, Mrs. David
Stoudt, Mrs. James
Stoudt, George E.
Stoudt, William
Stoudt, Mrs. William
Stoudt, R. W.
Schlott, Henry
Schlott, Mrs. Henry
Schlott. George S.
Schlott, Reuben W.
Schlott. Mrs. Reuben W.
Showers, Mrs. Mary
Sherman, Aaron
Sherman, Jonathan R.
Simmons, Mrs. Susan Jane
Simmons, Franklin
Simmons, John M.
Simmons, Daniel H.
Simmons, Fred W.
Simmons, Daniel S.
Staudt, Aaron L.
Staudt, Mrs. Aaron L.
Swartz, Frank K.
Swartz, Mrs. Frank K.
Sheidy, Edward E.
Sheidy, Robert G.
Sheidy, Joseph H.
Sheidy, Mrs. Joseph H.
Sheidy, Edwin C.
Sheidy, Herbert J
Sheidy, Mrs. Herbert J.
Sheidy, Esther Minerva
Sheidy, Mrs. Lizzie
Sheidy, Wm. Sheidy, Mrs. Wm.
Stoudt. Mrs. Adam H.
Stoudt, Mrs. Samuel J.
Stoudt. Mrs. Lizzie
Stoudt, Reuben
Sheidy, Mrs. James E.
Sheidy, Wm. H.
Sheidy, Thomas A.
Sheidy. Virgie M.
Sheidy, Charles Sheidy, Mabel M.
Sheidy, Jacob M.
Schlappich. Howard D.
Schlappich, Mrs. Howard D.
Schlappich, Mrs. Alva B.
Schlappich, Raymond D.
Showalter, Martin
Showalter, Reuben Showalter, Minnie Showalter, Adam
Schaeffer, Walter
Simmons, Mrs. John
Shimp. Mrs. Lemon
Simmons, Daniel
Sheidy, Wm. B.
454
ST. JOHN'S (HAIN'S) REFORMED CHURCH.
Smith, Frank
Smith, Mrs. Frank
Spayd, Mrs. Catharine
Smith, Edwin M.
Spayd, Charles I.
Smith, Mrs. Edwin M.
Spayd, George S.
Smith, Clarence W.
Smith, Mrs. Clarenee W.
Smith, Charles
Smith, Jacob P.
Smith, Mrs. Sarah
Smith, John F.
Sineck, Thomas J. M.
Smith, Mrs. John E.
Smith, Mrs. Calvin B.
Smith, Mrs. Rosa E.
Smith, Mrs. Catherine
Smith, Emma Lottie
Smith, Mabel Annie
Smith, Edwin F.
Smith, Mrs. Edwin F.
Spohn, Jacob E.
Spiece, Henry
Spiece, Mrs. Henry
Spiece. Howard G.
Spiece, Mrs. Hoard G.
Snyder, Irwin J.
Snyder, Mrs. Irwin J.
Snyder, Robert
Steffy, Mrs. Joseph D.
Steffy, Mrs. Daniel
Steffy, Sallie Susan
Snyder, Harry
Stamm, Harry J.
Snyder, Wm.
Stamın, Mrs. Harry J.
Snyder, Mrs. Wm.
Strausser, Wm.
Snyder, Charles F.
Strausser, Mrs. Clara
Snyder, Howard L.
Snyder, Mrs. Howard L.
Snyder, Leroy Howard
Snyder, Elda Myrtle
Speicher, M. R.
Speicher, Paul I.
Speicher, Elda C.
Spangler, Edward E.
Stief, Richard
Stief. Mrs. Richard
Stief, Stella E.
Stief, Laura
Stief, Abner Y.
Stief. Mrs. Abner Y.
Stief, Harry A.
Stief, Clayton L.
Stief. Rubena M.
Stief, Mrs. Mary Ann
Stief, Benjamin F.
Spatz, Adam J.
Stief, Charles B.
Stief, Mrs. Charles B.
Spatz, Alvin P.
Spayd, Wm. H.
Spayd, Edward F.
Spayd, Paul C.
Spayd. Harvey A.
Spayd, John R.
Spayd, Mrs. John R.
Spayd, Wm. Thomas
Spayd, Harvey Calvin
Stricker, Mrs. Louisa A.
Stricker, Mrs. Wm. A.
Stricker, Vesta H.
Stricker, Mrs. Daniel F.
Smeck, Mrs. Thomas J. M.
Smeck, Wm. W.
Smeck, Mrs. Wm. W.
Strunk, Mrs. Hannah
Strunk, Gertrude May
Strunk, Charles Wm.
Strunk, D. M.
Strunk, Mrs. D. M.
Strunk, John Adam
Strunk, Stanley S.
Stover, Mrs. Arthur
Stitzel, Mrs. Carolina
Stitzel, Emma R.
Steffy, Mrs. Mark
Steffy, Joseph D.
Snyder, Mrs. Robert
Snyder, Mrs. Mary
Startzer, Mrs. Eva R.
Schannauer, A. R.
Schannauer, Mrs. A. R.
Schannauer. Irwin H.
Schannauer. Mrs. Irwin H.
Schannaner. Eva E,
Schannauer, Mrs. C. S.
Spare, Robert Henry
Spatz, Adam P.
Spatz. Mrs. Adam P. Spatz, John
Spatz, James G.
Spatz, Mrs. James G.
Spatz, P. F.
Spatz, Mrs. P. F.
Spatz, Win. E.
Spatz, Eva Margaret
Spatz, Frank
Stief, Charles Y.
Stief, Henry
Stief, Eva E.
Stief, Rose Elizabeth
Steily, Leonard
Steily, Mrs. Leonard
Steily, Pearl Viola
455
ST. JOHN'S (HAIN'S) REFORMED CHURCH,
Steily, Herbert W. Steily, Mrs. Herbert W.
Troop, Mary Alice
Trupp. John
Treist, Hettie N.
Thomas, Mrs. Lovie E.
Troutman, John
Tetley, Mrs. Thomas
Steily, Reily S. Steily, Adam S.
Steily, Mrs. Adam S.
Ulrich, Mrs. Sarah
Steily. Jonathan
Steily, Mrs. Jonathan
Ulrich, Harry I.
Ulrich, Mrs. Harry I.
Ulrich, George O.
Ulrich, Mrs. George O.
Steily. Mrs. W. W.
Steily, Wm.
Steily. Mrs. Wm.
Ulrich, Wm. O.
Steily, Gussie May
Steily, Paul H.
Steily, Mrs. Paul H.
Steily, Charles B.
Stump, Wallace L.
Stump, Mrs. Wallace L.
Stump, Mrs. Charles L.
Stump, Mrs. Herbert A.
Stump. Charles A.
Sweitzer, Abraham
Sweitzer, Mrs. Abraham
Sweitzer, Clayton J.
Sweitzer, Isaac
Sweitzer, Mrs. Isaac
Sweitzer, Bessie May
Sweitzer. Minnie Elizabeth
Shirley, Eva
Strause, Ada C.
Strause, Luella May
Strause, Mrs. Martin
Sweigart. Mrs. Harvey
Strauch, Rufus F.
Shartle, Sylvester
Shugars, Mrs. George
Texter. Wm. F.
Texter, Mrs. Win. F.
Texter, Mrs. Sarah Texter, Reuben
Texter, Mrs. Reuben
Texter, G. F. Texter, Mrs. G. F.
Texter, Florence Mae Trenkle, James L.
Trenkle, Mrs. James L.
Trenkle, Clayton E.
Trenkle, Mrs. Clayton E.
Trenkle. Charles H. Tice, Clinton S. Tice, Mrs. Clinton S. Troop, John W. Troop, Mrs. John W. Troop, Gertrude
Waldman, Adam
Waldman, Mrs. Adam
Waldman, James
Waldman, Mrs. James
Wahl, Mrs. Rebecca
Wentz. Harvey F. Wentz, Mrs. Harvey F.
Wagner, Newton A.
Wagner, Mrs. Newton A.
Wagner, Charles D.
Wagner, Mrs. Charles D.
Wagner, Irwin P.
Wagner, Walter Wagner, Mrs. Bessie
Wertz, George W.
Wertz, Mrs. George W.
Watson, Mrs. Edwin
Wengert, Wellington
Wiengert, Charles N.
Wengert, Paul N.
Weyant. Charles W.
Weidman, Catherine N.
Weitzel, Charles R.
Ulrich, Mrs. Wm. O.
Ulrich, David W.
Ulrich, Mrs. Lovina
Ulrich, John H.
Ulrich, Mrs. John H.
Ulrich, Franklin P.
Ulrich, Charles R.
Ulrich, Annie May
Ulrich, Carrie Emma
Ulrich, Edward Pearse
Unger, Mrs. Maggie M.
Unger, Paul A.
Unger, Mrs. Caroline
Unger, Wm. F.
Unger, Mrs. Wm. F.
Unger, Adam W.
Van Buskirk. Samuel Vandevere. Raymond S.
Steily, Frank B. Steily, Mrs. Frank B.
Steily, Katie S.
Ulrich, Mary Adaline
Steily, Adam W. Steily, Mrs. Adam W.
Steily. W. W.
Ulrich, Sallie S.
Ulrich, Mrs. Mamie
456
ST. JOHN'S (HAIN'S) REFORMED CHURCH.
Weitzel, Mrs. Charles R.
Weiser, Mrs. James
Weitzel, Minerva
Winters, Reuben
Weitzel, John
Winters. Mrs. Reuben
West, Frederick
Wickersham, Mrs. Elizabeth
Wolfensberger, Richard A.
Weik, Robert
Wolfensberger, Mrs. Rich'd A.
Wike, Henry E.
Wolfensberger, George E.
Webber, Lizzie E. -
Wolfensberger, Mrs. George E.
Wentzel, Mabel
Werner, James F.
Wartluft, Mrs. Wm.
Werner, Mrs. James F.
Yoder, Amos
Werner, Harry S.
Yoder, Hattie M.
Werner, Irwin G.
Yoder, John
Werner, John Adam
Yoder, Mrs. John
Werner, Mrs. John Adam
Yoder, Earl F.
Werner, Harvey O.
Yoder, David R.
Werner, Mrs. Henry
Yoder, Maggie Cecilia
Werner, Adam
Yoder, Daniel S.
Werner, Mrs. Adam
Yoder, Frank S.
Werner, Milton
Yoder, Wm. D.
Werner, Mrs. Milton
Yoder. Mrs. Wm. D.
Werner, Harry A.
Yoder, Dr. Kensie N.
Werner, Mrs. Harry A.
Yoder, Leonard G.
Werner, Harvey W.
Yoder, Mrs. Leonard G.
Werner, Thomas P.
Yoder, Amos L.
Werner, Levi B.
Yoder. Mrs. Amos L.
Werner, Ellen May
Yoder, Mrs. Agnes S.
Werner, John Ezra
Yoder, Mrs. Susanna
Wenrich, Reuben D.
Yoder, Adam S.
Wenrich, Mrs. Reuben D.
Yoder, Mrs. Adam S.
Wenrich, Charles F.
Yoder, Wm. F.
Wenrich, Mrs. Charles F.
Yoder, David E.
Wenrich, Mrs. Emma V.
Yoder, Mrs. David E.
Wenrich, Dr. Reuben D.
Wenrich, Mrs. Thomas
Wenrich, Mrs. Edward S.
Wenrich, Mrs. Samuel E.
Yoh. Mrs. Adam
Whitmoyer, Aaron
Yoh, Calvin A.
Whitmoyer, Mrs. Aaron
Yoh, Mrs. Calvin A.
Whitmover, Isaac
Yoh, Jacob J.
Yoh, Mrs. Jacob J.
Yoh, Eva M.
Yoh, Chas. F.
Whitmoyer, Wm.
Yoh, Mrs. Kate
Whitmoyer, Mrs. William
Yoh, Isaac H.
Whitmoyer, Mrs. Catherine
Yoh, Mrs. Elizabeth
Whitmoyer, Carrie E.
Yoh, Daniel G.
Whitmoyer, Raymond W.
Yoh, Irwin W.
Wolf, George
Yoh, John G.
Wolf, Mrs. George
Yoh. Mrs. John G.
Wolf, Wm.
Yoh, Alvin
Wolf, Jacob L.
Yoh, John A.
Wolf, Oscar P.
Yoh, Mrs. John A.
Wolf, Maud May
Yoh, Herbert H.
Weiser, Mrs. Wm.
Yoh, Mrs. Herbert H.
Wenrich. Wm. W.
Yoder, Henry S.
Yoder, Wm. John
Yoder, Daniel K.
Yoh, Adam
Whitmoyer, Mrs. Isaac
Whitmoyer, George Irwin
Whitmoyer, Charles
Whitmoyer, Mrs. Charles
Yoder, Mrs. Caroline
Wenrich, Mrs. Albert
Yoder, Adam
Werner, Henry
Yoder, Mrs. David R.
Werner, Mrs. Eva
THE EASTERN CEMETERY ..
ST. JOHN'S (HAIN'S) REFORMED CHURCH. 457
Yoh, Andrew J. Yoh, Edward H. Yoh, Mrs. Edward H. Yoh, Richard E. Yoh, Lucy E. Yoh. Chas. D.
Yocom, Mrs. Amos H.
Yocom, Mrs. Mary
Yocom, Mrs. Maria Yocom, George C.
Yost, Harry K.
Yost, Mrs. Harry K. Zeller, John R.
Zeller, Mrs. Annie M.
Zeller, Mrs. Sarah
. Zerbe. Mrs. Elmira Zerbe. Lovie Mabel Zerbe. Cora K. Zechman, Mrs. M. D.
The Church Land.
North.
-
!
-
8
13
A
1
2
1
3
Diagram of the Land Belonging to St. John's (Hain's) Reformed Church.
The Church acquired the land which it now posseses as fol- lows, according to the draught or sketch above:
A. Four acres. Donated by George Hain at the time of the building of the first or log Church, about the year 1735.
B. Five acres. Purchased from John Addams at a cost of 127 pounds and 10 shillings, September 10, 1813. 30
458
ST. JOHN'S (HAIN'S) REFORMED CHURCH.
C. One acre. Given by Thomas Werner, William Werner- and Henry Werner as their subscription to repair, renovate and modernize the Church. Deed dated March 27, 1845. Consider- ation money, $75.
D. Ten acres, 102 perches. Purchased from Jeremiah and Peter Peifer, who purchased the same at the public sale of the es- tate of Henry Werner, deceased, with the purpose to offer it to the Church at the market value fixed at the said sale. The con- sistory, after the offer was made, did not feel inclined to assume the responsibility of the purchase without a majority consent of the congregation, by reason of the debt incurred in rebuilding the house for the occupancy of the organist and sexton, which amounted to more than $700. At the same time the congregation had just previously liquidated the debt it had incurred by build- ing the addition and renovating and modernizing the church; hence the reason the consistory hesitated and did not accept the offer at once. After deliberating upon the advisability of making the purchase the consistory concluded to let the congregation vote for and against the purchase of said tract of land. After the an- nouncement that a vote on the question was to be taken, an ani- mated agitation for and against arose amongst the members, but of such a brotherly and genial nature that very few had occasion to be in the least offended. Amongst those in favor of purchase was Edward K. Bohn, who by his fearless and convincing argu- ments in a short space of time had gathered about himself quite a number of the members who had been undecided as to how to yote for the best interest of the Church. A vote was taken in 1889, resulting in a majority in favor of the purchase. The con- sistory then entered into a contract for the purchase thereof and at the same time the Peifer brothers secured a loan for the con- sistory, so that it was able to settle all accounts due on building the house, besides paying for the land. On March 31, 1890, Jeremiah and Peter Peifer conveyed said tract of land to the Church at the price they paid for it, $1321.75, of which amount they donated the sum of $100 towards the purchase of said tract of land, so that the Church had to provide only $1221.75.
E. Seven acres, 30 perches. Purchased from the Hain's Cem- etery Company, April 10, 1891, at the sum of $450. The Hain's Cemetery Company was incorporated under the laws of the Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania September 11, 1876, Charter Book No. 2, page 501, in Berks County Recorder's Office. The matter of laying out in blocks for the purpose of selling the right of sepulture to such of the members as should desire to purchase burial lots had been discussed prior to 1870, but the Church had no ground available for such purpose. After the congregation had acquired the tract of land from the Peifer brothers a part was laid out in lots for sepulture purposes. and at the expiration of ten years more than 100 interments had been made in the new
459
ST. JOHN'S (HAIN'S) REFORMED CHURCH.
or Western Cemetery. Under the title granted by the Peifer brothers a certain per cent. of the purchase money paid for burial lots is to be reserved for investment. At the expiration of ten years a considerable sum of money was thus charged against the general fund of the Church. The Mountz property on the north- east side of the old or Eastern Cemetery was offered for sale. The consistory directed to take an option. Their agent made re- port by holding a 30-day option at $1900. The consistory there- upon agreed to purchase.
F. 12 acres, 125 perches. Purchased from James M, Mountz and Mary E., his wife, April 1, 1899; consideration money, $1900.
G. 35 perches from Henry M. Wenrich, April 1, 1899; con- sideration, $150.
H. 44 3-10 perches from Adam Bender, by deed dated Aug. 2, 1905; consideration, $60 and land exchanged, I. 88 6-10 perches.
The congregation has now a total of 40 acres and 88 perches of land belonging to the Church.
Early Families and Their Homes.
The home life of a Christian people is strongly reflected in their church life. The interest and activities which make up the life of a church or congregation have many of their sources in the home. Hence a history of the beginning, growth and progress of Hain's Church would not be complete without some reference to the early families, their homes and homesteads. Where were the first homes of some of the pioneer families of the congregation? When, where and by whom were built the many substantial and enduring stone houses and barns that one may count by the dozen in a view from the high ground on which Hain's Church is lo- cated?
The original settlers-the first comers-generally built of logs. A log house and log barn were usually the buildings original to these old home sites. In clearing the forest they used the logs with which to build their primitive homes. Counting a genera- tion as a space of about thirty years, the second, oftener the third generation of the original settler would put up new buildings, usually in this section of stone. The country surrounding Hain's Church began to be settled as early as about 1720. Count fifty to sixty years forward from this date, which brings us to about Revolutionary days. But very few of the old buildings here men- tioned or illustrated were built before this time. The house on the farm owned and occupied by Michael Kintzer, a very remark- able building, was erected in 1754. (See pictures, pages 73 and 89.)
460
ST. JOHN'S (HAIN'S) REFORMED CHURCH.
To write fully of the homes and homesteads of a people cover- ing a period of nearly two hundred years would require a separate book. Here a chapter, or even a few pages, must suffice. One of the first impressions that these early well-built homes make upon the observer is that they were built to last-not for a life- time, but for generations. Those who planned and those who built must have been men of substantial mind and manner- men and women who looked into the future with a hopeful and enduring faith. With what patience, toil and sacrifice these early pioneers labored ! On the sites of the original log cabins of their fathers and grandfathers they erected these more pretentious, beautiful and enduring buildings, which to-day in yet many places are the homes of their descendants of the sixth and seventh generations from the original settler.
How remarkably this spirit is shown in the erection of the second church building-the older part of the present Hain's Church. It speaks eloquently and enduringly of the faith, en- ergy and foresight of a people to erect complete in a sparsely set- tled country district as early as 1766 a stone church building of large dimensions, so thorough in plan and workmanship that it promises to outlast for years new and (so-called) more pretentious edifices. (See picture, page 40.)
Let us hope that every member of Hain's Church congrega- tion and every resident of the surrounding country, present and future, will always regard with love and respect the historic building and its well-kept surroundings as an expression of the church life of a neighborhood from its earliest settlement.
The limitations of this article prevent the writer from men- tioning many names and incidents relating to the early families among the pioneer members of the congregation, as a look at the record of names among the earlier baptisms given elsewhere in this book will show. Then, too, some of the early names of fam- ilies found in the record are no longer heard in this neighbor- hood.
The names Hain, Fisher, Ruth, Kershner, Lerch, Gerhard and Ermentrout with their connections represent probably most of the early or pioneer families of the congregation.
George Hain, donor of the church ground and probable an- cestor of all the Hains in this vicinity, settled on what is now the Hill property, the second farm on the north side of the turnpike above Wernersville. He must have been a man of energy, fore- sight and thrift-typical German qualities. The large tract of land, more than 1,200 acres, which George Hain by his will be- queathed to his children, lay on both sides of the present Berks and Dauphin Turnpike, and extended from somewhere near the school house at the Asylum Road east to Furnace Lane on the south side of the pike. On the north side of the pike the tract extended east to a corner below the present Hain's Church Road.
%
461
ST. JOHN'S (HAIN'S) REFORMED CHURCH.
It is a striking fact that after the lapse of 172 years most of this land is still in the possession of the descendants of the original ancestor. On all of them are found substantial stone buildings, most of them erected early in the last century or sometime before that. The present buildings on the Hill farm, which was the first home site of George Hain, date back to the early days of 1800. The house on the farm now owned by the widow of John Hain Ruth was built by John Adam Hain in 1816, and the barn is a fine specimen of mason work of an earlier date. This tract of 200 acres, along with 50 acres "lying near the church," was willed by George Hain to his son John Adam. There is a well-
HAIN HOMESTEAD AT WERNERSVILLE.
authenticated tradition that the Indians in their frequent trips to their fishing and hunting grounds along the Schuylkill and in Oley would camp around the Hain home, and that they were free to help themselves to garden vegetables and the apples of the orchard. Governor Joseph Hiester was a frequent visitor at this old homestead, and was himself the owner of large tracts of farm land around Reading.
Of all the interesting old homesteads whose history is a part of the story of the life of the Hain's Church, the house on the farm now occupied by Michael Kintzer deserves especial mention. This was the early home of Captain Conrad Kershner (see p. 55). It is the oldest building of which we know in the neighborhood. It was erected in 1754, and shows a style of mason work and gen-
462
ST. JOHN'S (HAIN'S) REFORMED CHURCH
eral plan, both interior and exterior, different from all the other old houses of the vicinity. Heavy walls, with arched windows and deep window seats, a large fire-place, well-proportioned rooms, the ceilings still showing a type of panel ornamentation in plaster, of which the modern metal ceilings are but poor imita- tions. The house, after continuous use for 162 years, is still in good condition and bids fair to be the sheltering roof tree for sev- eral generations to come. This house was the early home of the ancestor of the present pastor of the Hain's Church congregation.
HOME BUILT FROM CHURCH LOGS.
It was the meeting place of the early organizers of the church, and one can well believe that if its walls could speak, they could tell an interesting story of the trials, sacrifices and devoted en- ergy of the early members. This historic house was built by two German workmen, a mason and a carpenter, "redemptioners"- immigrants whose passage across the ocean was paid to the cap- tain of the vessel for them by Conrad Kershner. These men were then indentured or bound in writing to their employer for a stipulated time to work out the passage money. In this instance the employer agreed that they should be free as soon as they had erected complete a dwelling house for him. John Kershner and his wife of the generation preceding Conrad (and who were prob- ably his parents) were prominent members of the early church.
463
ST. JOHN'S (HAIN'S) REFORMED CHURCH.
(See page 22 for an early reference to John Kershner.) The family has produced many professional and business men, but is remarkable for the fact that there are no lawyers among them. This early family spread itself from here north into the Bernville region, and east of the Schuylkill and into Schuylkill county. (See picture, page 319.)
The old house in the valley of Spring Creek (Brunnenkill), the present home of Ferdinand Grater, was an early Hain prop- erty. It is a log structure with weather-boarding. In the erec- tion of this building the logs of the first Hain's Church building were used. This ancient structure, nestling in the old trees on an eastern hill-slope in the angle of two beautiful meadow streams, should be an object of interest and esteem to every man, woman and child of the congregation.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.