History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1, Part 95

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904; Hungerford, Austin N., joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Richards
Number of Pages: 948

USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1 > Part 95
USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1 > Part 95

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).

In November, 1867, P. W. Flores was appointed postmaster at this post-office, and has administered the same until the present date (Jan. 21, 1884).

Dillinger's Station, a village of six dwelling- houses, station-house, one grain and feed store, is situ- ated on the Perkiomen Raitroad, in Upper Milford, about one and one-quarter miles north from the vil- lage of Dillingersville.

In the Centennial year, 1876, when the Perkiomen Railroad was opened for the accommodation of the community, this station was established under the name of Schelly's Station, later changed to Dillinger.

In the same year (1876) Levi N. Schelly erected a large feed storehouse and opened a coal-yard, in which he has since done a successful business. At this place is the tunnel of the Perkiomen Railroad, con-irneted in 1874-75, through the solid rock of a branch of the South Mountain. It is between seventeen hundred and eighteen hundred feet long. Mails are to be car- ried between Dillinger's Station and Dillingersville twice every day, except Sunday.

public road leading from Macungie to Philadelphia (the old " King's high-road"), and nearly twelve miles southwest from Allentown. It contains a hotel, store, and post-office, creamery, and nine dwelling-houses. The land on which the village is located was a part of one hundred and fifty acres taken up by Henry Keiber (or Geber), in pursuance of a warrant dated June 26, 1734. About one-fourth of a mile east of this village the first house was erected in the same year by Henry Keiber. He sold the land one year later (June 6, 1735) to Andreas Eckhard, who sold, Dec. 24, 1744, to David Streib, who sold, March 17, 1846, to George Klein, who obtained a patent (dleed), which was dated Ang. 6, 1757. George Klein estab- lished the first tavern on the site of the present village of Hosensack. We find that he was first licensed to keep tavern in June, 1759. This tavern was situ- ated on the above-mentioned "King's high-road," which was surveyed and laid out in the month of March, 1735. (This place, or the neighborhood, was sometimes called " Hosenhaason," and it is so men- tioned in the Pennsylvania Archives, when Secretary John Armstrong ordered to report without delay fifty men, soldiers at George Klein's, in Hosenhaason, Oct. 1, 1784, being the time of the Indian troubles in the Wyoming Valley.)

Previous to the Revolutionary war George Stall established a country store near the village of losen- sack, which was continued for several years. Stahl was employed as teamster during the war, and with two teams he hauled regularly flour and other pro- visions from his store and other places to the head- quarters of the American army in Philadelphia. Flour was brought from the mill in the neighborhood, and with all kinds of provisions from the neighbor- hood brought to Stahl's store. The store was later discontinued.

In the vicinity of Hosensaek, in the time of the Revolutionary war, the last bear in Milford was killed by John Stahl, a son of George Stahl. when he was only twelve years old, with the assistance of other ; boys of the neighborhood.

The above-mentioned George Stall kept the tavern at this place for a period of twenty-seven years, until

393

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

the year 1786, in which year Gabriel Klein was li- censed to keep it. How long he kept tavern is not known.

In the year 1797, George Klein sold all his land to his three sons,-Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. That portion on which the tavern was located, or all that portion of his land which was situated on the south side of the King's high-road, was sold to his son Abra- ham ; and no doubt he carried on the tavern for a number of years. Later the hotel was sold by Abra- ham Klein to his brother-in-law, Andrew Rieser, who with his wife, Sybilla Rieser, kept it for several years. At the same time a store was kept here by Jonathan Stahl, son-in-law of Andrew Rieser. Jonathan Stahl was also licensed to keep tavern in May, 1815, and continued for several years. In or about the year 1820, Ilans (or John) Yeakel became the landlord, and kept the hotel for several years, after which Jona- than Stahl again had charge of it a few years. In or about the year 1830, Henry Stahler purchased the hotel property from Andrew Rieser, and continued the hotel for three years, when it was sold to Peter Gery, who sold it, about the year 1840, to Solomon L. Holder, who continued the same for over twenty-five years, until the year 1866. In 1866, George Bach- man purchased the property, and in 1869 he built a new stone hotel, of which he remained the landlord until 1882, when he leased it to John Schneek, who was the landlord for one year. In the year 1883, Christian Weisz, the present landlord, purchased the property. l'revious to the year 1800 this hotel re- ceived the name of "Hirschhorn Wirthshaus," or " Buckhorn Hotel," which it has ever since borne.

In the year 1828, David Gehman established a new store, and was appointed postmaster. About the year 1850, David Gehman built a second and large brick store-house and store, in which business was continued by Gehman & Schoenly until 1860, after which Wickert & Klein, William M. Gehman, Charles Schoenly, Henry A. Kaufhinan, and A. N. Wanner carried it on.

The Hosensack post-office was established in or about the year 1$41, and David Gehman was appointed the first postmaster (under the administration of Pres- ident Taylor). He was the postmaster until the year 1853, at which time (under President Pierce) Solo- mon L. Ilolder was appointed. In 1861, David Geh- man was appointed postmaster the second time, and kept the office until 1872,-eleven years, -- when he resigned, and his son-in-law, Charles Schoenly, was appointed. In 1878, II. A. Kauffman was appointed. Hle served three years, and resigned, and in 1876 A. Hunsicker was appointed. Mrs. Annie Wanner, his successor and the present incumbent, was appointed postmistress in 1880.

Limeport is a village in Lower Milford township, on the Saucon line, and on the public road leading from the Allentown and Coopersburg turnpike to Steinsburg ( Bucks County). It contains two hotels,

one store, coachmakers' shop, telegraph-office, post- office, and thirteen dwelling houses. The land on which the village is located was a part of a tract pur- chased by a man named Philip Hill, of Saucon. In the year 1825, Daniel Erdman crected the present Eagle Hotel, and became the landlord, and kept it until his death, in 1850. In 1851, Reuben Schaffer purchased the property, and kept the hotel for twenty- five years (until the year 1876), and sold to Thomas K. Ott, who kept it two years, and in 1878 his son, MI. HI. Ott, the present landlord, took possession. In the year 1850, Joseph Wittman built the other hotel (at present occupied by Peter Benner). This was occu- pied by tenants for over fifteen years, as follows, viz. : George Neits, 1850-52; Abner Mory, 1852-54; Derr & Bitting, 1854-55; J. B. Kemmerer, 1855-64; Wil- liam Egner and others, 1864-65; David Erdman, 1865-66. In the year 1866, Peter Benner purchased the hotel property from the heirs of David Erdman and became the landlord. He still holds that position.

The following persons have kept store in the vil- lage: John Aplegate; Abner Mory, 1852-54; Derr & Bitting, 1854-55; J. B. Kemmerer, 1855-64; Sam- nel Bergstresser, 1864-65; Benmer & Fink, 1865-70; Schaffer & Deily, and Charles Egner.

Limeport Post-Office .- This post-office was estab- lished at the store of Benner & Fink in the year 1867, and Lewis N. Benner was appointed postmaster, and held the office until 1871. The same year Joseph Wittman was appointed postmaster, and held the office for eleven years, when he resigned. In the year 1882, Charles Egner was appointed postmaster, and is still in office.

Kraussdale, a village of eight dwelling-houses, one school-house, machine-shop, and foundry, is situ- ated in Lower Milford, on the old "King's high- road," in the most southern part of Lehigh County, and about two and a quarter miles south from the village of Hosensack. The land on which Kraussdale is situated was first settled by Urich Rieszer in 1735. Ile took up two hundred and seventy-eight acres. Rieszer died Sept. 9, 1784, and his executors, Casper Rieszer and George Kriebel, sold one hundred and ninety-five acres and one hundred and thirty-six perches (part of two hundred and seventy-eight acres) to Jacob Probst for sixteen hundred and forty-eight pounds. Probst sold it in 1793 to Baltzer Krauss for seventeen hundred pounds, who sold, June 4, 1803, to his two sons, John Krauss and Andrew Krauss, for seventeen hundred and seventy-five pounds.

At this place, previous to the year 1800, there was a machine-shop erected by John Krauss, Sr., in which he manufactured wool carding-machines on a large scale. In the year 1819, John Krauss died, and the property came in possession of his son, Anthony Krauss, who changed the shop to a thrashing-machine manufac- tory, in which excellent thrashing-machines were made. A. Kranss died in the year 1852, and the property came in possession of his sons, Laat Y.

399

UPPER AND LOWER MILFORD TOWNSHIPS.

Krauss, Harrison Y. Krauss, and James Krauss. They continued the business of manufacturing ma- chines under the firm-name of Krauss & Brothers, and are doing at present a large business.

About the year 1870 a large machine-manufactory was established by Krauss & Brothers, in which was also a foundry. In this factory at present all kinds of agricultural and many other machines are manufac- tured. Kranss & Brothers' business will at present equal any other of the same kind in Lehigh County.

At the same place, abont the year 1790, an organ manufactory was established by Andrew Kranss. At this place the first melodeon in the United States was manufactured. Many churches in Lehigh, Berks, Montgomery, and Bucks Counties have been supplied with organs by A. Krauss, and later by Joël Krauss.

Corning is a small village containing six dwelling- houses, store, and post-office, and station-house ( Per- kiomen Railroad), situated on the line between Lower and Upper Milford, near the line of Montgomery County, and on the public road leading from Here- ford, Berks Co., to the Hosensack Valley.

This village has been built up in the last seven or eight years by Elias Trump, Mrs. Sterner, and others. A store was kept there by H. W. Nuss. Elias Trump is the present store-keeper.

At the end of June, 1883, there was a new post- office established at the above-described village under the name of Corning, and Elias Trump was appointed postmaster. He still holds the office.

Zionsville (Old) .- This village is located in Upper Milford, on the old " King's high-road" leading from Macungie to Goshenhoppen, and also on the Here- ford and Shimersville turnpike, and on a branch of the South Mountain, and is between nine and ten miles southwest from Allentown. The village contains one hotel, one store, two churches, one carriage-factory, one marble-yard, and thirty dwelling-houses.

The carly history of this village is, like that of others, involved in some obscurity. The land on which the village is situated was taken up by Chris- tian Crall, or Kraul, and Philip Herzog. Crall took the upper part, on the hill, from the Lutheran Church west and northwestward (about twenty-five acres), in the year 1734. The land on which the lower or south- ern part of Zionsville is located (about one hundred and two acres) was taken up between 1740 and 1750. The first house of Zionsville was no doubt erected by Christian Crall, near the present residence of George Schell, in 1734. On Crall's land was the Lutheran Church, and on Herzog's land the Reformed Church was erected. Crall sold to Martin Schaffer, who sold to his brother, William Schaffer, and in 1789 the land became the property of Christoffel and William Mohr. The second house no doubt was built on the south side of the present village by Philip Herzog, about the year 1740. After the death of father Herzog (1785) the land became the property of his son, Paul Herzog, who sold, Feb. 14, 1789, to Wendell Wieand.

On this land, between 1750 and 1755, the first Re- formed Church, a log structure, was erected. On the north side of Crall's land Peter Hittel bought, Jan. 20, 1753, of John Bingaman one hundred and twenty acres. He donated, 1757, one aere to the Intheran congregation, and upon it, in, 1755, the first Lutheran Church (log) was erected, about fifty perches north of the Reformed Church.

About the year 1810 the first store was established by Philip Hittel, who sold, some years later, to his brother, William Hittel, who sold to Wieand & Meyer. They soll, several years afterwards, to C. W. Wieand.

About the year 1830 a new stone hotel was erected by Philip Hittel, and he became- landlord, and con- tinued in business for many years.

In 1789 the second Reformed Church, and in 1819 the second Lutheran Church (a Union Church), were erected, both of stone. In 1858 a new organ was erected in the Union Church, which cost eight hun- dred dollars.

In 1858 the third Reformed, and in 1876 the third Lutheran, Churches were built, both of brick.

In the year 1841 a two-story school-house was built by subscriptions, taken among both congregations, for the use of both churches. In this school-house, in 1842, the first Sunday-school (a Union school) was established, under the name of Zion's Sunday-school.

About the year 1869 a large brick dwelling-house was built by Anthony Mechling.

About the year 1853, George Neitz became the pro- prietor of the hotel, and kept the same for three years, after which Christian Henninger became proprietor. In 1865, Jonathan B. Kemmer purchased it and be- came the landlord. In 1868 he sold to Nathan Carl, who kept it until his death, in 1879, since which time Jane Jackenbach has been the landlady.

About the year 1848, C. W. Wieand built a large stone store, which has since been kept by several per- sons, -- Willoughby Artman (until 1857), Mahlon Art- man (1857-62), Erdman & Mark (1862-66), Henry Erdman (1866-69), Frank Gery (1869-72). Henry Bechtold (1872-74), Charles Mangold & 1874 78%, and Isaac Kriebel, at present.

The greater part of the houses have been erected since 1850.

Previous to 1860 a coachmaker's shop was erected, and was operated for several years by David Trexler and others, and since 1866 by Joseph Z. Ycakel.

In the year 1819 there was a post-office established at this place by the name of Zionsville, and Charles W. Wieand was appointed postmaster. Since that time the village has been called Zionsville. The post-office was discontinued in 1853.

Zionsville (New) .- This village is situated on the same publie road as the older village, and also on the Perkiomen Railroad, in Upper Milford, nearly one mile southeast from Okl Zionsville. It contains a station-house, hotel, store and post-office, school-

400

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

house, and ten dwelling houses. The foundation of this village was laid in 1876, when the Perkiomen Railroad was opened, and when the station house was built. The same year a large brick hotel and store-house was built by Abraham Geisinger, and at the same time dwelling-houses were built by Rev. [ the present owners. During this time the hotel was Uriah Schelly, Elias Rosenberger, Philip Miller, Sol- omon Hallman, Joseph Schultz, and Alfred Romig, and later by William M. Gehman, Samuel Schubert, A. Geisinger, and George Miller.

The hotel and store were kept by William M. Geh- man, two years (1877-79) ; C. Czarlinsky, two years (1879-81); O. F. Hans, two years (1881-83). Since April, 1883, James Schantz has been hotel-keeper, and O. F. Haas store-keeper.

In 1878 a post-office named Zionsville was estab- lished, and William M. Gehman appointed postmas- ter. In 1882, Abraham Z. Schelly, the present post- master, was appointed.

Shimersville .- This village, containing a hotel, store, post-office, and dwelling-houses, is situated on the old publie road (King's high-road) leading from Macungie to Goshenhoppen or Philadelphia, nine miles southwest from Allentown, and nearly two and a half miles southeast from Macungie. The land on which this village is located was originally three hun- dred' and fifty-two acres, and was settled by Durk Jansen (or Derrick Johnson) in the year 1734. Ile sold, May 12, 1743, one hundred acres to Paul Dearst, and later sold the other part of his land to Jacob Miller.

When and where the first building on Jansen's (or Johnson's) land was erected is unknown, but no doubt it was in the year 1735, and by Jansen himself .. When the first hotel in Shimersville was established is likewise unknown. We know that Jacob Miller was mentioned as an inn-keeper as early as 1774, and that he kept the tavern for not less than twenty years. In or about the year 1792, John Shimer, Esq., pur- | chased the property, and was the owner of it for over thirty-three years, until 1828. Shimmer was also a justice of the peace for at least ten years (1795- ' he enlarged it in the fall of 1883, and expects large

During the time in which John Shimer was the owner of the hotel property the house was managed a few years by himself, and then by several tenants, as follows : John Shimer, George Climer, John Stopp, Moses Cain, Daniel Scherr, Jonathan Schwartz, Dan- iel Gross, John Wesley, John Vogt (or Focht), Isaac Jarrett, John Jarrett, Daniel West, Charles Wieder, Daniel Siegfried, Friederic Bisehitz.

In the year 1828, John Shimer sold the hotel and his farm to his son, Charles B. Shimer, who was in possession of the same for thirty-seven years, until 1865, during which time the hotel was kept by the following landlords, viz. : Charles B. Shimer, 1828-35; Joli Kneiss, 1835-36; Joseph Beidler, 1836-39; Joshua Stahler, 1839-44; Renben Stahler, 1844-45; George Beck, 1845-63.

In the year 1863, Charles S. Shimer (son of Charles B.) purchased the hotel, and became the landlord for five years, until 1868, when he sold to his brother-in- ;law, Jacob Riegel, who was the owner of the hotel for ten years, and sold to William B. Shaffer & Co., in charge of the following landlords (tenants), viz. : John Weaver, Ephraim Erb, A. J. Schmick, Solomon Bortz, Henry Weidner, Henry Kuder, Adam Miller, present landlord.

Store was first kept by Joshua Stahler & Reuben Stahler, five years (1839-44) ; Reuben Stahler, eleven years (1844-55) ; Hartzel & Jordan, two years (1855- 57) ; Jordan & Derr, four years (1857-61) ; Chs. Derr, one year (1861-62). In August, 1862, store was de- stroyed by fire, and a new store was built the same year. Then Shimer & Brother kept store three years (1863-66); Mark & Schantz, two years (1866-68) ; M. M. Mark, seven years (1868-75) ; and Kern & Brother since 1875, the present store-keepers (1884).

In 1845, Reuben Stahler built a new store-house. In 1858, Dr. Jacob Shimer built a large dwelling- house, and later C. B. Shimer and John B. Shimer built more dwelling-houses.

Shimersville post-office was established in 1853, and Reuben Stahler appointed postmaster. Ile served two years, and resigned in 1855, when Charles B. Shimer was appointed, and was in office until 1867, at which time Dr. Albert M. Sigmund was appointed postmaster, and served until his death, in 1875. Since that the John 1. Schreiber has been the reg- ular postmaster.

Shimersville is located on one of the highest points of the Lehigh or South Mountain, from which the water runs in four different directions, north-north- east, southeast, cast, and southwest. At the east branch, about three hundred yards from its source, D. N. Kern constructed a carp-pond, and here the first German carp in Lehigh County were placed in an artificial pond the 9th of April, 1881. Mr. Kern soon found out that his carp-poud was profitable, so profits from it in the future.

The soil in this vicinity is a dark gravel intermixed : with clay and loam. This soil is to be found about one mile west and one mile east from Shimersville, and for about half a mile north and south on this kind of soil the heaviest wheat can be raised that i- known in Lehigh County. It weighs from sixty-four to sixty-six pounds per bushel. In the village of Shimersville there is some of the richest red oxide iron ore. About one-fourth of a mile south of the village are, at Zionsville, some of the richest mag- netic iron-ore veins. There is also some magnetic iron and zine northwest from Shimersville. AAbout one-eighth of a mile north from the village is a rich deposit of emery and corundum. The corundum crystals are worth two hundred dollars per ton. | There is some land in this neighborhood at the pre --

---

FEB

N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA

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.

History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1, Part 95

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904; Hungerford, Austin N., joint author Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Richards Number of Pages: 948

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904; Hungerford, Austin N., joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Richards
Number of Pages: 948