USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1 > Part 81
USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1 > Part 81
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These schools have been taught since 1862 by the following teachers, to wit : James Van Buskirk, Viola J. Hartshorn, A. II. Berlin, Charles Swenk, M. J. Kramlich, Engene Bieber, T. F. Emmens, Frank W. Siegfried, James S. Biery (now an ex-Congressman, practicing law at Allentown), William Muhlenberg, Samuel C. Lee, George Heffner, R. S. Ilittle, S. W.
The present teachers are the following : Alvin Rupp, the grammar ; Miss Ada M. Donelly, the secondary ; and Miss Fannie M. Ihrie, the primary.
The following is a list of the school directors of the borough since 1870, with the dates of their election :
1870. W. B. Erdman, M. I. . 1879. W. G. Walbert. W. E. Singmaster.
F. H. Rems.
E. Muth. A. K. Desh.
J. Shaffer. 1881, Dr. J. D. Erdman.
J. Miller. Dr. Thomas Strasser.
J. F. M. Shifferl. W. J. luxworth.
1871. Dr. Thomas Strosser.
1882. Henry Neumoyer. William Wimmer.
1873. A. Lingmaster. G. F. Egner.
1883. James llaines.
1875. M. D. Lichtenwallner. John Neumoyer.
James laines.
1884. Dr. J. D. Erdman.
1876. Dr. Il. M. Schell.
1878. Henry Nenmoyer.
Dr. Thomas Strasser.
Solomon's Reformed and Lutheran Church.1-In 1841, John Shiffert, Solomon Wescoe, and others eon- ceived the idea of building a church for worship of Almighty God. Solomon Wescoe donated for the purpose on Church Street, which derived its name from this fact, one-half aere of land, on which was erected a plain, substantial stone edifice jointly by Lutheran and Reformed Church members. This church was altered and modernized in 1870, and again in 1881 it was repainted and put into a fitting condition for the purpose for which erected.
The churchyard was used for burial purposes until 1869, when an acre of land was bought from Eli Lichtenwallner, for five hundred dollars, which was cut up into family burial plots, and in which now the dead members of the congregation are buried. The pastors serving the congregation are as follows on both Reformed and Lutheran sides. Reformed pas- tors : Samuel lless, from fall of 1848 to 1845; Henry Bassler, from October, 1845, to May, 1848; John S. Kepler, D. D., 1848 to 1850; J. B. Poerner, May 19, 1850, to May 30, 1852; Daniel Zellers, March 28, 1853, to March 16, 1857 ; A. J. G. Dulibs, Oct. 3, 1857, to May 15, 1876 ; Thomas N. Reber, May 15, 1876, to present date. Lutheran pastors : Benjamin German, 1841-48; William German, 1848-51 ; Jeremiah Sehin- del, 1851-56; Joshua Yeager, 1856-67; Alfred D. Croll, 1867-68; William Rath, 1868 to present time.
It might add interest to the historical sketch of this congregation to know that a defection took place in 1867 under the pastorate of Rev. Alfred D. Croll. He changed his ecclesiastical relation from one to the other Synod of the Lutheran Church, going over from the old to what is termed the New School Lutherans, and drawing on both congregations, Reformed and Lutheran, he had erected under his guidance what is
1 By Rev. Thomas N. Reber.
337
LOWER MACUNGIE TOWNSHIP.
now St. Matthew's Lutheran Church of Maenngie. membership of the church is about seventy. The The matter ended in a lawsuit in which the reverend Sabbath-school numbers about one hundred members. Al. Diehl is the present superintendent. gentleman was allowed to continue to preach through and to end of year, notwithstanding the doors having been barred against his entrance.
It would leave this sketch unfinished if we would not say that becanse Solomon Wescoe donated the land the church was named after him,-Solomon's Church. He lies buried in the burial-ground of the ; church. The congregations have during this time sustained and upheld the largest Sunday-school in the On the 20th day of February, A.D. 1853, Manasses Baer, of Upper Milford township, for and in eonsid- country surrounding, averaging two hundred and eighty-five scholars. The congregation is numeri- : eration of the sum of twenty dollars, deeded one- cally and financially weak, yet it is an example for liberality for all the surrounding country congrega- tions.
St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church .- Rev. Alfred D. Croll was the Lutheran minister of Solomon's Lutheran and Reformed Church at Macun- gie until the year 1868. At that time he left the ! ministerium of Pennsylvania of the General Council, and joined the East Pennsylvania Classis Synod of : also elsewhere throughout the county. the General Synod. This action ereated a great deal of dissatisfaction on the part of many of the mem- bers, insomuch that they locked the chureb door upon him. His adherents broke open the church and took possession. Great excitement and a long 1 lawsuit were the consequences. Rev. Croll maiu- tained that he had been elected to serve a year, and that he could not be turned out until the year was up. This point was decided in his favor, and he aceord- ingly preached to the end of his term. Immediately thereafter he and his adherents, numbering about one hundred, left the old church and set about pro- curing a house of their own. A lot of ground situate alongside of the Maeungie Institute property on East Main Street was donated by James Singmaster, and in 1869 the present brick structure was erected thereon at a cost of six thousand five hundred dol- lars, all of which was raised by subscription. The building committee consisted of James Singmaster, John Mattern, and Samuel Meyer.
Rev. Croll preached in this church for four years, until his death, June 19, 1876, and was succeeded by Rev. W. J. Cutter, a German, who had served ten ! years as a missionary in India. After him came, in the order named, Revs. E. Daren (1878-79), D. E. Read (1880), William II. Lewers (1881), and William G. Mennig (supply for several months). In Novem- ber, 1882, Rev. J. Alden Singmaster, the present pastor, was installed, and now supplies the pulpit regularly.
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In 1881 the church was broken into during the night, and a number of articles stolen therefrom. The corner-stone of the church was broken out and rifled of its contents during the same night. The thief' was soon after caught, tried, and convicted, and is at present in the Eastern Penitentiary of Pennsyl- vania serving out a term of ten years. The present
German Baptist Church .- In the year 1852 some differences and difficulties arose among the members of Solomon's Lutheran and Reformed Church of this borough. In consequence thereof about eighteen of its members left the church, started the German Bap- tist Church, and held prayer-meetings in private honses.
quarter of an acro of ground, situate a half-square above the old church on Church Street, to John Back- ensto and Joseph Wieand, trustees of the Baptist Church, and in the same year a small stone house of worship was built thereon at a cost of six hundred dollars. William Desh was elected elder and preacher, with Henry Desh and William Mohr as deacons. Later these two deacons preached in this church and
In 1868 the old house was torn down, and the pres- ent brick church .erected on its site. This is a two- story structure, the Sunday-sehool being held in the basement. The congregation perform the old rite of " feet-washing," and generally perform their baptis- inal ceremonies in a small creek running through the farm of Nathan Gehman, one of its members, who has fitted up a small dam close to his house, situate a half-mile from the church, especially for this purpose. William Desh, who resides at Centreville, still preaches regularly for this congregation, which has at present a membership of about fifty. Al. Desh is the superintendent of its Sunday-school.
Lea Street Baptist Church .- About the year 1873 a faction of the German Baptist Church led by Aaron Erdman favored the joining of the Conference of the German Baptist Church of America. This action was opposed by a majority of its members, and led to considerable disenssion. The Erdman faction were also in favor of dropping the rite of feet-washing. These controversies gave rise to difficulties among its members, which apparently could not be adjusted. In the year above stated, therefore, Aaron Erdman, with about a dozen other members, left the old chureh, and at once built a new two-story frame house of wor- ship on Lea Street, which is now often referred to as Erdman's church. The pastors of this church have been Revs. Longer, Henry Desh, and Lewy, the last of whom is a converted Jew. For the past two years they have had no regular supply. The Sabbath- school is held in the basement, and numbers about one hundred members. Squire T. M. Brobst has been its superintendent for a good many years. The mem- bership of the church is about twenty-five at present.
The Evangelical Association of Macungie .- Upwards of thirty-five years ago this religious sect was organized, and held its meetings in a frame house,
22
338
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
at that time known under the name of " Free Hall,"
of this order in the county, was chartered June 3, situate on the south side and at the western end of | A.D. 1868. On the same day the first meeting was Main Street.
About forty years ago a temperance movement was organized in the town, but no place could be procured in which to hold meetings, Thereupon a stuck com- pany was formed, money was subscribed, and a build- ing (one and a half' story frame) was erected upon a | lot of ground owned by George Miller. This building was called " Free Hall," and was intended to supply a long-felt want, meetings of various kinds being held therein. In a few years, however, debts were con- tracted thereon, and the property was sold by the sheriff' to George Miller. About this time the Evan- gelical Association was founded, and, having no place in which to hohl its meetings, Mr. Miller, who was one of its original members, erected a rough pulpit and placed a number of benches in the hall aforesaid, and gave the free use thereof to the association, he also paying for all light and fuel. The association used this hall for its services and worship until Dec. 31, 1870, when, a few months before his death, Mr. Miller donated the property to them and to their suc- cessors forever. Their membership at this time num- bered about twenty-five, and they immediately pro- ceeded to repaint and refit the building, dedicating it in July of the next year. It is a frame building of respectable proportions, and has an inviting appear- ance. The congregation has not increased in member- ship, but has maintained regular services, Though weak in numbers, it has some very active and faithful workers.
This congregation, together with others at Wescoes- ville, Cedarville, and East Texas, forms what is known as the Lehigh Circuit of the Allentown District.
The pulpit was supplied prior to 1869 by the Revs. Adams, HIess, Fehr, Worman, Ziegenfuss, Seyfrit, Wieand, Smoyer, Kembel, Lichtenwallner, and Dis- singer; since that time the following have preached here in the order named : Revs. S. Ely, F. Seagrist, J. Wenner, C. Baker, E. Butz, and A. W. Warfel, the last of whom officiates at present.
An excellently managed Sunday-school of one hun- dred and thirty members is presided over by Miss Annie R. Remis, who has been its efficient and faithful superintendent for many years.
Societies and Orders .- Friendly Lodge, No. 85, ' and wife to certain trustees and their successors by
I. O. of O. F., was chartered June 19, 1843, and the first meeting held July 25, 1813, with the following charter members : Benjamin Rupp, N. G .; G. P. Brey- fogel, V. G. ; Herman Rupp, Sec. ; HI. Miller, Treas. ; Benneville Yoder, P. H. Kaiser, Charles Hitile, Peter Mertz, Heury Groff, John Matteru, George Wertz, Daniel Yerke, and Aaron Butterweck. It has at present sixty-eight members. The officers are as fol- lows: Frank Old, N. C .; T. D. Koons, V. G .; See, Frank B. Wesco; William Wolbert, Treas. Meetings are held in Odd-Fellows' Hall.
Macungie Lodge, No. 75, K. of P., the first lodge
held, with the following charter members: F. B. Wesco, V. P .; Julius Holstein, W. C .; George F. Knauss, V. C .; M. II. Miller, R. S. ; M. D. Lichten- wallner, F. S. ; Herman Phillips, B. ; E. S. Marstellar, ( .; Amos Parker, I. S .; and James flaines, O. S. The present membership is forty-two, and the officers for 1884 are Henry A. Christian, S. P. C. ; Charles Bauer, C. C. ; Reuben F. Moyer, V. C .; Daniel Christ- man, Pr. ; Charles Meyer, K. of R. and S .; William G. Walbert, M. of E .; George F. Knauss, MI. of F .; C. O. Fogel, M. at A. ; William Dankel, J. G .; Her- man Kramer, O. G .; Representative to Grand Lodge, Charles Meyer; Trustees, Charles Meyer, John L. Reinhard, and Reuben F. Meyer. Meetings are held at Odd-Fellows' Ilall.
"The Macungie Beneficial Association" was char- tered March 5, 1884, with forty charter members. The following are its officers : President, J. D. Erdman ; Vice-President, Charles 11. Moll ; Secretary, O. P. Knauss; Treasurer, John Rems; Trustees, Ellis R. Lichtenwallner, Horace F. Neumoyer, and William 11. Klotz; J., Herman Kramer. Meet in Odd-Fel- lows' Hall.
" The Macungie Dramatic Association" was organ- ized in December, 1881, with the following member- ship : Ellis R. Lichtenwallner, president and stage manager ; Charles H. Moll, business manager ; O. J. Knauss, treas. ; Hoyt Wightman, sec. ; Frauk 8. Ohl, stage artist ; Ida Meyer, Cornelia HI. Shimer, Annie C. Schulze, Annie E. Hertzag, Ada M. Donnelly, Minnie Shimer, George B. Walbert, Lonis S. Klotz, O. P. Knauss, John Radler, Charles Stahler, Herbert Shiffert, A. B. Mensch, Kehl Markley, and George Wimmer. The meetings are held in Meyer's Hall.
Centreville .- This village lies very close to the borough of Maenngie, and is often referred to as East Millerstown or East Macungie. 'Its history is identi- cal with that of Macungie, where all its mail matter is directed, as it has no post-office of its own. The oldest house in the town is its only hotel, which was Lept by George Gor, at which time Andy Mohr lived in a house on the corner of the street across the way. Its oldest and fondest associations cluster about its school property, which was donated by John Wetzel their indenture dated Aug. 21, 1790. As this is an instrument fraught with more than ordinary interest, it is hereto appended in full :
"This Indenture, nude the twenty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven loindred and ninety, soul in the American Independener the Fourteenth, Between John Wetzel, of Macungie Township, in the county of Narilangdon and Commonwealth of Penu- sylvania, Esquire, and Jane, his wife, of the one part, and Daniel tomat, of' I'pper Milford Lowushys in The sad rounty of Northampton, and lande Intrett, of the raid low nship of Macungie, both trustees, of the other part,
" Witnesselle, that the said John Welzel and Jane, his wife, for und in consideration of The sum of Twenty Shillings in Specie, to them in hand well and truly paid by them, the said Daniel Ghand and Isane Jar-
339
LOWER MACUNGIE TOWNSHIP.
rett, ut and before the ensealing and delivery hereof, the receipt whereof they do hereby acknowledge, and thereof acquit and forever discharge the suid Daniel Good and Isaac Jarrett, their heirs, executors, admiuis- trators, and assigns, and successor or successors, by these presents have granted, bargained, sold, released, and confirmed, and by these presents do grunt, bargain, soll. release, and confirm unto them, the said Daniel Good and Isane Jarrott, as trustees, to their helrs and assigns, their suc- cessor or successors, lo and for the solo purpose of bullding, erecting, and holding a common and united Lutheran and Reformed house of schooling, and to keep the instructions for tho youth, &c., therein, All that cortain lot, piece, or parcel of ground situate, lying, and being in the said township of Macungie, Beginning at a stone corner, in a line of land of Edward Jarrett ; thenco by the samo North fifty-eight perches to a white oak sapling; thence by the suid Jolin Wetzel's laud, and partly a public road, South thirty-six degrees and a half, East twenty- two perches and a half to a stone, South twenty-five degrees, East Sev- enteen perches to a stone, and South forty degrees, West thirty-two perches, to the place of Beginning, Containing three acres one hundred and nineteen perches of land, and the allowanco of six per cent. for rouds, etc. It being a part of a certain tract of land of abont sixty-three acres, which the .Honorable, the Supreme Executivo Conncil, of the said Commonwealth, by patent of the fourteenth day of June, A.D. 1783, under the hand of His Excellency John Dickenson, Esquire, President of tho said Supreme Executive Council, and tho great seul of the said Commonwealth of Peunsylvania, for the consideration therein muen- tioned, grauted, and confirmed unto tho said Jolin Wetzel in fee, under tho reservation of the fifth part of all gold and silver ore for the use of the baid Commonwealth, to be delivered at tho pit's mouth clear of all charges.
" As in and by the said recited patent, enrolled in the Rolls offices at Philadelphia, iu patent book No. 2, page 39, more at large will appear.
"Togethor also with, all and singular, the buildings and improve- ments, ways, woods, waters, water-courses, rights, liberties, privileges, here litaments, and appurtenances whatsoover thereunto belouging, or in any wise upportaining, and the reversions and romaindors, rents, issues, and profits thereof, and all the estate, right, titlos, interest, use, possession, property, claim, and demand whatsoover, both in law and equity, or otherwise, howsoever, of them, the said Joli Wotzol and Jane, his wife, of, in, and to the same, and overy part or parcel thereof, to have and to hold. the said described lot or piece of three neres one hundred and nineteen perches of land, and the allowance, as nforesaid heredita- ments and premises hereby granted, or mentioned, or intended so to be, with the appartenances unto the said Daniel Good and Isaac Jarrett, their successor or successors, their heirs and assigns, to the only proper use uud behoof of the said Daniel Good and Isaac Jarrett, their successor or successors, their heirs and ussigns, in feo forever. Ia trust, nevertheless, to and for the solo purpose of a common and nnited Lutheran und Re- formed school-houso, and a house for the uso and benefit of leaching, justrueting, and the learning of tho youth, ete. And tho said Joler Wetzel, for him and his heirs, doth covenant, grant, and agree to und with the said Daniel Good and Ienac Jarrett, ns trustees, their successor . or succossors, their heirs and assigns, that he, tho said John Wetzel and his heirs, tho said above described lot or piece of throo acres one huu- dred and wineteen perches of ground, und tho allowanco ns aforesaid, hereditaments and premises, horeby granted, or weaut, or mentioned, or intended so to be, with the appartenances unto the sald Daniel Good and Isaac Jarrett, their successor or ancerssors, their heirs and assigns, against him, the said dohn Wetzel, and his heirs, and against all and every othor person or persons whomsoever lawfully claiming, or to claim by, from, or under him, them, or any of them in manuer und form afore- said, shall and will warrant and forever defend by these presents.
" fu witness whereof," etc.
The witnesses to this instrument were Nicholas Horas and Peter Schmoyer, and it was acknowledged before Ludwig Stahler, one of the justices of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the county of North- ampton.
A log house was at once erected on this land and Hamed Gorr's school-house. The logs were all fur- nished by Rev. Jacob Van Buskirk, of Millerstown. The building was divided into two apartments, one for ith English, the other for a German school. The loft of the building was used by the neighbors for smoking
meat. The following are the names of some of its first teachers, to wit : Messrs. Grim, Mumbauer, Howe, John Fingado, John Van Buskirk, Charles Mohr, Miner, Brush, Gibbons, and Jonas Miller.
Among its carly scholars were such representative men as John Singmaster, Joseph Bortz, James Christ- man, John Maddern, Joseph Gaumer, Benjamin Jar- rett, Jonas Wesco, and others.
In 1841 the log house was torn down and replaced by one of stone. In 1871 an arrangement was en- tered into by the trustees of this property and the school direetors of the township, by which the trus- tees took charge of the old stone sehool-house, and bore the expense of laying the foundation of a new school-house upon said trust property. Upon this foundation the school directors, in aeeordance with the above-mentioned arrangement, erected a fine briek house, in which a primary and secondary school are now held, the former of which has for some years been taught by O. J. Knauss, a justice of the peaec for Macungie, and the latter by George Wimmer. In 1878 an addition was built to this house.
In January, 1868, permission was granted by the court to sell a part of this trust property on ground- rent reservation, the interest to be paid annually.
In consequence of said permission so much thereof as had not been appropriated by the board of school directors of the township was sold at public sale. The annual receipts thereof amount to about one hundred and seventy dollars, which is spent for summer school, in addition to what the common school provides, giving this neighborhood a nine to ten months' term annually. Among those who have acted in the capac- ity of trustees over this property since it was deeded to Isaac Jarret and Daniel Good are the following, to wit: John Singmaster, Levi Giering, James Gorr, Charles Foster, Aquilla Knauss, Benjamin Jarrett, Joseph Gaumer, and Alexander Jarrett, of whom the two last mentioned are acting in that capacity at present. Formerly these officers were selected an- nually by the people composing the school district, but of latte years they have been appointed by the court. The old stone school-house has been sold, and is at present occupied as a dwelling.
Centreville has one hotel, one school-house, one bakery, a store, shoe-shop, eoal and lumber yard, two tobacco-curing houses, one cigar manufactory, and one cigar-box factory. Its population is about three hundred.
Alburtis .- This village has sprung into existence since the building of the East Penn branch of the Reading Railroad, in 1857-58. Lockridge adjoins it, and the two places are practically identical, the name Alburtis being often applied to buth, the former having received its name from the iron.fir- nace therein located. The thst house built in the vicinity was an okl lug house buik many years ago by Joseph Rothenberger. This house still stands in Lockridge. The second house was a stone dwelling,
340
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
built in 1847, by John Blank. After the opening of the railroad it was refitted, enlarged, and converted into the first hotel of the village. It stands a very short distance north of the railroad, and has for many years been kept by D. D. Hensinger. The post-office is located in this hotel, The next house built was the American House, erected in 1863, also standing close to the railroad. The town has at present a popula- tion of about four hundred people, contains four stores, three hotels, one restaurant, a church, and a furnace.
History of the Lehigh Church.1-The first name this congregation had was the Church of the Holy Trinity. Later it was called the Lehigh Zion Church. Now it is known as the Lehigh Church.
The church stands in Lower Macungie township, Lehigh Co., Pa. Macungie is an Indian word, and in that tongue is written " Mauchkuntshy,"_" the place of feeding bears." The name of the township, of the Ziegel Church, which formerly was ealled Macungie Chureh, and of the small creek which flows directly north from the Ziegel Church between the hills, are all derived from that of the little valley, a mile wide and three or four in length, in which the little brook empties. This valley is the true Macungie Valley. In the beginning of the last century this valley, from the hills of the Ziegel Church down to Fogelsville and Trexlertown, was prairie-land, covered with low shrubbery and scrub-oak. When the bears found nourishment difficult to obtain during the cold win- ters upon the hills of the Gravel, they came down in numbers to this valley and hunted here their food. Hence the name Mauchkuntshy,-" feeding bears." It was a favorite hunting-ground with the Indians, whose village stood in the small valley on the other side of the ridge of hills.
About one mile northwardly from Alburtis, where the road leads across the Little Lehigh, lie the pos- sessions of the congregation, upon which stand a large stone school-house and a finely-situated and at- tractive church. . The latter stands in the centre of one of the most neatly-kept cemeteries in the county, and from its tower can be seen the homes of nearly all the members. The location is one of the most beau- tiful in Pennsylvania.
The first settlement of this region happened most singularly. When the first Reformed immigrants ar- rived in Longswamp township, three or four miles farther towards the west, they took possession of the best-situated traets along the sides of the mountains. Some years later the Lutherans followed, and looked for homes farther up the valley. But as the land was without woods they selected such tracts as contained at least good water, as well as the slopes of the Le- high Mountains and of the Schlossberg, which swelled out into the limits of the congregation. The Spring Creek, at Trexlertown, attracted the Trexler family,
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