USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1 > Part 76
USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1 > Part 76
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Maria M. Miller, wife of George, born Jun. 1, 1805, nge sixty-nine years, eight months, six days.
Anun Maria Custard, wife of George Custard, born April 15, 1760, age eiglny-one years, nine months, ten days.
George Custard, born April 25, 1750, age sixty-three years, sixteen dnys.
John Kuhins, died Sept. 20, 1830, nge forty years, nine days.
CHAPTER XXVIL
UPPER MACUNGIE TOWNSHIP.I
THE settlement of the territory now known as Upper and Lower Macungie township, was commenced about the year 1730, Macungie (Manck-Kuntshy ) is an In- dian name, and signifies the "eating-place of bears." When food became scarce along the mountains, the bears would come into the valley for it; hence the name. The land was overgrown with serub-oak, and was supposed to be worthless by most of the carly immigrants, and, as a consequence, many crossed the
Lehigh Mountain, thence followed an Indian trail in the western part of the county to the territory along the Blue or Kittatinny Mountain, where they settled. As the country they had left was similar to that in the upper end of the county, it was natural for them to seek their homes in a land of like character. A. few, however, settled early in the Macungie Valley, which became by the industry of these German set- tlers, the most fertile in Eastern Pennsylvania. The surface is generally level, although in some places rugged and somewhat broken.
The first steps towards the formation of a township were taken in January, 1742. On Jan. 28, 1742, the territory was surveyed by Edward Scull, and contained twenty-nine thousand four hundred and forty acres of land. A petition was presented to the court of Bucks County, signed by Jeremiah Trexler ( Drechs- ler), Peter Trexler, Henry Sheath, John Eckel, Fred- erick Rowey, Peter Walbert, Jr., Philip Schmidt (Smies), Joseph Albright (Albreeht), Jacob Wagner, Melchior Schmidt, George Steininger, Jacob Moyer (Meyer), George Hain, Adam Koch, Casper Moyer, Kayde Grim, and Adam Braus, in which they com- plained that " they had lived here these many years without having a township laid out." This petition was presented to court June 16, 1743, and the territory as surveyed erected into a township. In 1743 it con- tained six hundred and fifty inhabitants, -more than any other distriet beyond the Lehigh Mountain. The fact that the first road from Philadelphia, through the territory that now. constitutes Montgomery County, and through Upper Milford to Jeremiah Trexler's tavern, at Trexlertown, was made in 1732, as the colonial records show, proves also that the population had inereased to such an extent that they could press- ingly demand a public road to Goshenhoppen, since the government was not too ready to open roads un- less urgent necessity demanded them. It, is a well- authenticated fact that the first white inhabitants of Macungie township were Jeremiah Trexler and chil- dren, who came from Oley, Berks Co .. as early as 1719, and settled at a place on Spring Creek, known as Schwart's farm, near Trexlertown. Many of the titles to the land along the Little Lehigh Creek, which flows into the Lehigh River at. AAllentown, show that this section was one of the earliest settled, on account of the water facilities and the fertility of the soil.
Millerstown, now Macungie, became the centre around which many emigrants from Würtemberg and French Protestants settled, whose descendants became German, and to-day number among the most prosper- ous and honored citizens. These brave pioneers came to this new country surrounded by unspeakable dilli- eulties, and made it one of the loveliest spots on earth. They had suffered untold misery under the tyranny of Europe, and sought here civil and religious liberty and equality.
They had to " earn their bread by the sweat of their
1 By Rev. M. J. Kramlich.
1
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UPPER MACUNGIE TOWNSHIP.
brows," and the present generation can form no eor- rect idea of the difficulties they had to encounter and the many hardships they were obliged to endure. Nor was the education of their children neglected. Many brought their teachers with them, and they saw to it that their children were properly educated. The German A, B, C book, the Psalter, and the Testa- ment, among others, were their text-books. They were God-fearing men and women, and made an carly effort to establish churches wherever practicable, in which they could worship God according to the dic- tates of their consciences.
Early Roads .- The first publie road in the town- ship from Trexlertown to Goshenhoppen, as already mentioned, was laid out in 1732. In March, 1749, a petition was presented to the court of Bucks County for "a new road from Wiester's plantation (farm) to the place ealled Jourdan (Jordan), and to Guth's mill, thence to the great road called Maconschy (Macungie) road." This petition was signed by Peter Drexler, John Lichtenwalhier, Heinrich Steininger, Jaeob Schlanch, Lorenz Schadt, Bernhardt Schmidt, Frederick Romich, Heinrich Drexler, Peter Haas, and others. The road from Easton to Reading, pass- ing along Trexlertown, was not laid out until 1753. On March 22, 1757, a petition, signed by the inhabit- ants of the township and many others, was presented to the court of Northampton County, setting forth the difficulties they labor under for want of a road from "the county line on or near the land now or late of Jobst Henry in Macungie aforesaid, and from thence the highest and best way to Easton." The court ap- pointed as commissioners George Knauss, Lewis Klotz, Thomas Armstrong, Jeremiah Trexler, Mel- chior Schmidt, and Frederick Romich, to view and lay out the same. The report of the commissioners was submitted to the court, and confirmed June 2, 1757.
i
Constables .- The first constable of whom there is any record was John Brandenburg, appointed in 1737. Joseph Olbert was appointed constable by the Court of Quarter Sessions, held at Easton, in October, 1752. Adam Braus was appointed Sept. 16, 1765.
Licenses Granted .-- There is no record of a license granted to Jeremiah Trexler, who kept a tavern at Trexlertown as early as 1732. Conrad Culp applied for a tavern license in 1737, and John Trexler in 1787, which appear to be the first licenses granted by the Bucks County court. John Bieber received a license in September, 1758. At the June session of the Northampton County court, in 1759, licenses were granted to the following : Michael Henninger, Philip Hemel, George Strother, and Samuel Depue; in 1760, to George Guth and Michael Henninger; in June, 1786, to Jeremiah Trexler, Peter Haas, Philip Knauss, Joseph Savitz, Henry Schweyer, Christian Hartman. At the May term, in 1815, of the Lehigh County court, licenses were granted to George Christman, George Miller, and Jonathan Dich!, of Millerstown. About
the year 1818 the court issued licenses to Moses Cain, George Miller, Peter Wolf, Henry Keek, Peter Haas, Charles Trexler, and William Haines.
Description of the Present Township .- Macungie township was divided into Upper and Lower Macun- gie May 3, 1832. The township of Upper Macungie, under this division, is bounded on the northeast by South Whitehall, on the southeast by Lower Macun- gie, on the north and northwest by Lowhill and Weis- senberg, and on the southwest by Berks County. It has an area of twenty-four and one-half square miles, or fifteen thousand six hundred and eighty acres. It is densely populated. In 1840 it had a population of one thousand seven hundred and sixty-nine, and since then it has increased to three thousand and twenty- tliree (1880).
The surface is generally level, and the soil is mostly limestone, with the exception of a small strip in the northern and western portion, which is of slate forma- tion. In the eastern part is Chapparal Ridge, which, however, is fast losing its character under the influ- enee of the progressive spirit of its inhabitants, Hans' Hill, in the southeastern part, is the highest elevation in the township. The soil is carefully cultivated and is very productive. Wheat, rye, corn, and oats are the staple productions. Iron ore is found in large quantities in the vicinity of Breinigsville, Fogelsville, and Trexlertown. It is of the different kinds, such as rock, pipe, black and red sheen. The Crane and the Thomas Iron Companies control most of the leases. The Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad runs through the township, with the Farmington Branch, from Trexlertown to Farmington, and the Crane Branch, built in 1883, from the main road, starting at a point about a mile above Trexlertown, and extending a dis- tance of about three miles to Lichtenwallner & Laros' ore-beds. The branches were built chiefly for the purpose of conveying the ore to the main road, and thence to the furnaces at Catasaugna and Hokendau- qua.
Numerous creeks drain the land. Among the most important is Macungie Creek, which starts among the hills in the vicinity of Ziegel's Church, flows in a southeasterly direction toward Trexlertown, where it empties into Spring Creek, which flows into the Little Lehigh near the Iron Bridge in Lower Ma- cungie. The northern portion of the township is drained by Haas' Creek, which empties into the Jor- dan. Cedar or Schantz's Spring, the source of Cedar Creek, is in the southeastern part of the township, and "is remarkable for its strength and uniformity as to quantity of water." Cedar Spring furnishes abund- ant power for the mills erected along the stream. This spring received its name from the cedar-trees that had overgrown the hills surrounding it, which, however, have all disappeared. There are three grist-mills, two saw-mills, and a tannery in this township. The population in 1880 was three thousand and twenty- three.
316
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.1
1810. David Schall.
1866. Solomon Fogel.
Willoughby Fogel.
1868. Jobn Albright.
1845. David Schall.
1869. Thomas C. Breing.
Willoughby Fogel.
1874. Robert HI. Fogel.
Herman Rupp.
1855. David Schall. Willoughly Fogel.
ISTS. A. D. Fegely.
1879. Robert I1. Fogel.
1857. William C. Lichtenwollner.
1880. William F. Roth.
1860. John Allnight.
1881. Robert B. Spinner.
1861. Solomon Fogel.
Peter R. Bear.
1865. Henry Stine.
Early Settlements .- It is difficult to ascertain the names of those who first took possession of the land, as many of the old deeds cannot be found and the present owners are unable to furnish data. The earliest grant of land of which there appears to be any record is that of George Moltz, who received a warrant dated Feb. 15, 1734, for seventy acres.
A warrant, dated Aug. 23, 1735, for a certain tract of land situated near Maxatawny, containing two hundred aeres, with the usual allowance of six acres for roads, was granted to Stephen Starlan; but not having complied with the conditions therein specified, upon application a warrant for the same traet, dated March 14, 1742, was granted to George Haan. John Lichtenwallner, the ancestor of the Lichtenwallners, took possession of the traet of two hundred acres, to whom a patent of confirmation was issued, dated May 4, 1752, for the consideration of thirty-one pounds. This tract, together with three other con- tiguous tracts, containing in all four hundred and thirteen acres and three-quarters, John Lichtenwall- ner, the elder, granted unto his son, John, by deed dated March 15, 1765, who died intestate in 1796,
-
and left real estate amonnting to nine hundred and fifty-two acres, valued at five thousand and ninety pounds, which was equally divided among his ten children,-John, George, Peter, Christopher, Jacob, Catharine (married to Mathias Leibelsberger), Ann, Mary (married to George Schaeffer), Barbara (married to Philip Leibelsberger), Margaret, and Magdalena.
John accepted the two farms lying about half a mile west of Fogelsville. Upon his death they passed into the hands of his son, John, who bequeathed them to his two sons, John H. and William C. Lichten- wallner. The homestead of the Lichtenwallner family is now in the possession of Peter R. Bear, Esq. Upon the death of William C. Lichtenwallner, his farm passed into the hands of his widow and children.
Moyer's land at Fogelsville was among the carliest settled. On Aug. 23, 1735, a warrant was issued to John Michael Koontz for one hundred and fifty acres, and surveyed Sept. 6, 1736; but failing to comply with the conditions thereof, "sold and assigned his right, if any he had, to Abraham Yeakle, of Macongy," who had it surveyed by Edward Scull, Sept. 7, 1736.
Yeakle entered upon it and improved it, and sold it to Hans Jacob Meyer (Moyer), May 10, 1737. Another tract of land containing forty-nine acres and eighty-four perches, in pursuance of a warrant dated Oct. 12, 1738, was surveyed to Hans Jacob Meyer, Nov. 14, 1739. These two tracts Meyer orenpied as one plantation or farm, which he granted to his eldest son, Nicholas, by deed dated June 22, 1761. In 1783 : Nicholas Meyer died, and it now became the prop- erty of his son, Jacob. Solomon and Daniel Moyer inherited the farm from Jacob, their uncle, and sinee the death of Solomon it is in the possession of Daniel Moyer. Jacob Moyer died in 1852, and is buried in a private lot ou the farm.
The farm now in the possession of Levi Krandlich, known as Keck's farm, containing one hundred and forty-three acres, was warranted April 30, 1740, to Balthazer Yeakle. Conrad Keck received a patent for it Feb. 21, 1812. Upon his death it passed into the hands of his son, John, who died in 1847, when his oldest son, Ephraim, purchased the property, and sold it the same year to Joseph Miller.
Richard Hockley, a merchant of Philadelphia, re- ceived a warrant dated Feb. 8, 1742, for a tract of land containing four hundred aeres, situated near Fogelsville, now the property of the Mohrs. This tract was sold by Richard Hockley to Richard John- son, of Germantown, Jan. 11, 1743. William Morry, of Upper Sancon, purchased the land of Johnson in 1749. After Morry's death his sons, Jacob and Wil- liam, became the owners. On Dec. 29, 1760, Herman Mohr, the ancestor of the Mohrs, purchased the four- hundred-acre tract for five hundred and fifty pounds. Nicholas and Herman, sons of Herman Mohr, received the estate upon the death of their father in 1778, ex- cept twenty aeres, which he had given to his son, John. Herman Mohr had Dine sons, -Nicholas, Her- man, Frederick, John, Jacob, Henry, l'eter, William, and Christopher. Before any division was made of the property Nicholas died, and his undivided half was bought by his brother, Henry, for fifteen hundred pounds. The deseendants of Mohr are still in pos- session of the property.
Among the most prominent men of Upper Macun- gie are the Fogels. Philipp Gabriel Fogel is the ancestor of the Fogel family. In 1731 the ship "Samuel," with one hundred and seven emigrants, landed at Philadelphia. Among these is found, in the colonial records, the name of Philipp F. Fogel : but it should be Philipp Gabriel. The spelling of these old German names was terribly mutilated in English by the officers at Philadelphia, and so it seems Frederick was substituted for Gabriel. The subject of this sketch came from the province Hanan, in Churhesse, and is one of the first Reformed families that settled in Lehigh County. His children were born in Germany, and all grown when they and their parents emigrated to America. The family lived a few years in Bucks County, and migrated with others
! Prior to I810 the justices having jurisdiction over this territory were elected in districts, and their names will be found In the civil list of the general history.
1850. David Schall. Willoughby Fogel.
1877. William F. Roth.
317
UPPER MACUNGIE TOWNSHIP.
in 1734 or 1735, to the territory now included in Albany and Lynn townships. They settled at the Schochary Mountain, near Lynnville. Here they owned about five hundred aeres of land. The father died here, and was buried in the cemetery of the Ebenezer Church, at New Tripoli, of which he was one of the founders. He had four children,-Conrad, Johann, Jacob, and a danghter, who was married to one Weber, whose descendants still live on a part of the original tract of land. Jacob moved to Philadel- phia, and later to one of the Southern States. John Fogel, and was born Feb. 11, 1801. Fogelsville at that time had no educational advantages to offer. The schools in those days were especially poor among the German settlements. Instruction was given mostly in the German language. Nothing re- mained for those people who wanted their children educated in English except to send them away from home. Solomon was sent to school at Philadelphia, where he remained five years. He was especially fond of mathematics, and had decided to become a surveyor, but his father overruled his son's inchina- Conrad Fogel was the oldest son of Philipp Gabriel, . and brought his family from Europe. He had two sons-Johannes and Philipp-and daughters. His brother Johannes married Conrad's widow. After the death of Conrad, about the time of the Indian wars, Johannes Fogel, with his family, moved to Ma- cungie. Near the village of Fogelsville a new effort was made and a permanent home established. Here he bought several farins from the Schwenkfelders. Possession of the land around Fogelsville had been taken by these people many years previous. Johannes Fogel left three sons-Jacob, Conrad, Heinrich-and daughters. The old home remained in possession of Conrad's descendants, and was last owned by Judge Willoughby Fogel, and upon his death became the property of Jonas Moyer. Philipp, the youngest son of Conrad, received a tract of land near Breinigsville. tion, and induced him to learn the business of a ; merchant. After returning from school he entered as clerk one of the stores at Allentown. During this time he and some other young men made an effort to establish the first Sunday-school in Lehigh County. The churches were averse to what they deemed an innovation, but they succeeded in securing the court- house for the purpose. Here they met several Sun- days, but the court-house was also closed to them. The Sunday-school was something new, and declared a "nuisance." In 1825 he was married to Anna Stahler, of Upper Milford. Hle soon entered upon an active business career, and opened a general store in the building now in the possession of Jonathan Gross, which commanded a large trade all over the sur- rounding country. Although he was successful at first, his inclination led him to other pursuits. Hle inherited several farms from his father, but in farm- the farm now in possession of Hon. John H. Fogel. , ing he found no pleasure. He was appointed county
Johannes Fogel, the oldest son of Conrad, inherited He was married to Rosina Schaed. They had three sons -- John, Jacob, and Benjamin-and four daugh- ters. Their home was noted for its hospitality, and the poor were always welcome. John Fogel died when he was about sixty years of age, and was buried in the cemetery of the Trexlertown Church, of which he was one of the founders. His son, Jacob, became the owner of the farm near Bath, Northampton Co., and Benjamin received the farms at Fogelsville.
surveyor by the Governor, and afterwards elected to [ the office for successive years. Often prevailed upon to give his name for the office of justice of the peace, ! he refused on account of a partial loss of his sense of hearing. He yielded, however, at last, was elected and commissioned April 30, 1861, re-elected to the office in 1866, and held it until his death, which oc- curred on Aug. 22, 1868. He died at the age of sixty-seven years, six months, and cleven days. He had two sons-Rev. E. J. Fogel and Llewellyn J. Fogel-and danghters. His sou, Rev. E. J. Fogel, pastor of the Jordan charge, occupies the homestead. and his widow, now in the seventy-eighth year of her age, resides with her youngest daughter, in the house adjoining.
Judge John Fogel was born Aug. 12, 1774, and was the son of John Fogel. His father was anxious that one of his sons should learn the art of dyeing. John learned the trade, but this sphere was too narrow for him. He sought a larger field. Assisted by his father, he built the hotel in 1798, and founded Fogels- ville. He worked at his trade, kept hotel and a store. Solomon Fogel was a man of an enterprising spirit. He was one of the first to take an active part in the public works and enterprises of the county, and his influence was always directed to promote the welfare of his fellow-men. For many years he was a director of the old Allentown Bank. He was one of the origi- nators of the Lehigh County almshouse. The public- ! school system found in him one of its earliest and strongest advocates. In every enterprise which was calculated to benefit the people at large he took an He also superintended his farm, and continued to! prosper. Later he erected a dwelling on the prop- erty, now in the possession of Levi Kramlich, in which he resided many years. Ile served as justice of the peace, and as associate judge of the Lehigh County courts, and discharged his duties with fidelity. He was married to Catharine Stettler, and had two children,-Solomon Fogel and a daughter, Sallie, married to Jacob Schantz. He died Sept. 7, 1888. Ilis remains lie buried in the cemetery of the | active interest. He headed the list of subscribers for Fogelsville Church, of which he was an active and the construction of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and consistent member.
took special interest in the building of the Catasauqua
Solomon Fogel, Esq., was the only son of Judge i and Fogelsville Railroad, which brought the iron-
318
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
mines in the township into the market, and made this territory one of the richest in the State. This same spirit led him to establish new enterprises on his own behalf. A steam-mill and foundry, which he erected at Fogelsville, was premature and proved .unprofit- able. This active and noble spirit was manifested no less in his church relations. The progress of the church enlisted his warmest interest. He was liberal, and contributed largely of his means to the different objects of the church. When St. John's Church was built, in 1835, he was elected treasurer, and made himself personally responsible for the payment of the indebtedness arising therefrom. Through his efforts an act was passed by the Legislature, Feb. 24, 1860, incorporating the Fogelsville Male and Female Acad- emy, but for want of proper patronage this school did not go into operation. Ile died as he had lived, in the full assurance of a blessed immortality.
Gen. Benjamin Fogel was born Nov. 8, 1791, at the old homestead near Fogelsville. He was married to Anna Trexler. They had three sons-William B., Willoughby, and John II .- and daughters. He ear- ried on farming successfully for many years, and re- tired to private life in 1847, after he had aceumulated a large fortune. Hle owned three large farms and other property, which, npon his death, passed into the hands of his children. He held many positions of trust, the duties of which he discharged faithfully. Popular among all classes, he wielded a large influ- enve in the affairs of the township and county in which he lived. Hon. John H. Fogel, his son, who was born Oct. 30, 1825, was an officer on the staff of Gen. Robert S. Brown, with the rank of major, and represented the people of Lehigh County in the Leg- islature of Pennsylvania from 1866-69, and so great was his popularity that he was again elected to the Legislature in 1875 and 1876. He was also instru- mental in securing the charter for a national bank at Kutztown, and served as its president for eight years. He discharged his duties with fidelity.
Gen. Benjamin Fogel died. March 8, 1869, after a few days' illness, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years and four months. The Allentown Democrat, in an obituary notice, sums up his life and character in the following words: " He was a plain, unassuming, and exceedingly worthy man, held highly in esteem for his correct moral deportment, amiability of dispo- sition, honesty of intention, kindness of heart, ever ready in the hour of danger and need to administer to the wants of his fellow-man, and of sterling integ- rity. Ile served the citizens of Lehigh County as a member of the State Legislature for three years, and also was elected to the office of coroner in 1824, in both of which positions his predominant characteristics as a man of honesty, good sense, and nnostentatious sin- cerity of thought and purpose, were clearly exempli- fied. During his early life he took an active interest and was conspicuously connected with the militia or- ganization of our county, and for a term of years held
the position of brigadier-general. Mr. Fogel was one of the old standards of Democracy, a long-tried and valuable friend of the party, entertaining for it warm attachment, and always a firm and unflinching worker in the cause, believing that the principles of the party were best calculated to preserve and bless our common country. Asa companion, he was social, entertaining, and instructive." Ile was one of the founders of St. John's Reformed Church, of which he was a consist- ent member. His widow survives him and is ninety years of age.
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