USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 14
USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 14
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John Hartman.
Anthony Stine.
Peter Hartman.
George Shoemaker.
Friederich Hope.
Michael Smith.
Friederich Hagneman.
Jacob Seighird,
Andreas Hartman.
John Seip.
Philip Hartman.
Daniel Shoemaker.
Peter Holwein.
Jacob Sittler.
Jacob Holwein, Jr.
Christian Smith.
Laurence Holwein, John lottman.
Jost Shnyder.
Christian Holwein. John Henry.
John Wonnemacher.
Philip Hawer.
Samuel Weilandt.
George Heyneman. Barnet Jeager. Adam Smith.
Frederick Wilbert.
Jonathan Wolbert.
Daniel Krauss,
Jacob Wolbert.
Jonathan Krauss.
Michael Werly.
Daniel Kuns.
Henry Weiss.
Michael Werly, Jr.
Nicholas Wilt.
Single Freemen. 1
Jacob Beal.
Nicholas Gramer.
Solomon Rupp.
Peter Sauberling.
Philip Ranch,
Jolin Grimm,
John Sanerwino.
William Geringer.
Michael Werly.
Reuben Selich.
Peter Xander.
George Seilich.
History of the Ziegel Church.1-On the south side of the Blue Mountains extends, parallel with the mountain range, a strip of mountainous land known as the "Gravel," which begins at the Delaware River in New Jersey, and intersected by the Lehigh and Schuylkill Rivers, reaches far into Lebanon County.
Strictly speaking, this range is more hilly than mountainous, and its dales distribute the purest springs and rivulets in all directions. In some places, as in Weissenberg, Lowhill, Lynn, and Heidelberg, in Lehigh County, where it includes these townships, it is from thirteen to fourteen miles broad, at other places it narrows its borders to near the Blue Moun- tain. On its southern border it blunts into the beau- tiful valley known by the Indians as " Kittatinny," which reaches to another chain of mountains, known as the Lehigh Mountains. This large and fertile valley, which partly includes Northampton, Lehigh, Berks, and Lebanon Counties, is the richest and most beautiful in Pennsylvania. However, the "Gravel" surpasses it in springs, excellent water, and forest.
When the first German Reformed and Lutheran emigrants came from Philadelphia by way of Ger- mantown, they went farther north, because the Quakers, through William Penn's instigation, had purchased the lands near Philadelphia; and wishing to be independent of these sects, and anxious to or- ganize a colony according to their own peculiar faith, they moved more to the interior of the country, founded Oley, Goshenhoppen, and other settlements ; and from there started again, crossing the Lehigh Mountain, and arrived in the Kittatinny Valley early in the thirties of the last century. Yet fertile and grand as the valley was, these Swiss and Palatinates were saxifrages and not at home on level land, besides the present productive fields of wheat, and corn, and iron-mines were then a wild of shrub oak and other shrubbery, and lacked springs and water. Not finding the valley homogeneous to their earlier surroundings they wandered to the " Gravel," where were large forests, springs, and plenty of good water. Ilere in the dales where the rivulets riflled, where wood was in abundance, and especially lured by these hills and ravines which reminded them of the Father-
1 Written in German by Rev. William A. Helfrich, and trausluted by James L. Schaadt, Ksq.
1
Daniel K'alk.
Ludwig Nulf.
John Lichtewalter.
Jacob Miller.
Michael Acker.
John Fogel.
Frederick Wilbraub.
Daniel Weirth, Jr.
John Seigfried.
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WEISSENBERG TOWNSHIP.
land, they founded their new homes. For this reason the "Gravel," with its stony soil, was settled earlier than the valley with its stoneless and rich soil, now known as Macungie and Maxatawny townships, which the emigrants passed to reach the "Gravel." Later, when other colonists came and settled in the valley, the rich soil was appreciated, and a few families, such as the Fogels and others, moved back, taking in pos- session free land or bought sections.
The first emigration in Lehigh was in the western part of the county in Weissenberg, Lynn, and Heidel- berg, and became the foundation of the Long Swamp congregation in Berks County, the Ziegel, Wiessen- berg, Lowhill, Ebenezer, and Heidelberg in Lehigh County, and Allemängel again in Berks County.
In the years 1734 and 1735,-some still carlier,- several emigrant trains came from Oley and Goshen- hoppen to the Kittatinny Valley by the Indian path crossing the Lehigh Mountain, through the Ritten- house Gap. Another Indian path leads across the mountain more east, near Zionsville, in Upper Mil- ford. Some of these emigrants settled in Long Swamp, others moved north to the gravel region as far as the Schochary Ridge and surrounding country, where they became known as the " Allemängel settlement." From the Long Swamp Church across the valley lies the "Gravel." This highland forms itself through Weissenberg and Lynn townships towards the Schoch- ary hills in another ridge, over which was also a well- trodden Indian path. This ridge divides and forms the water-sheds of the Lehigh and Schuylkill Rivers. From it the summit of Lehigh County opens many dales and ravines which gradually sink deeper, form- ing high banks covered with heavy timber and excel- lent ereeks, which contribute on the right side to the Jordan, and on the left to the Antalaunee. The emi- grants followed this summit, and were attracted by the fine forests and clear water, which accounts for the early settlements of Weissenberg, Lynn, and the Kist- ler's and Antalaunee Valleys. Each following year brought small and larger trains of emigrants which en- larged and strengthened the colonies. The territory of the Ziegel Church Iny between the extremes of Long Swamp and Lynn, and especially where this summit begins. The ridge here inelines obliquely into the valley, and forms, towards northeast, the little valley of Macungie, with a creek bearing the same name, which gave the name to both the Macungie townships. Toward the west of the Ziegel Church extends another small valley from the north inclining to the large valley towards the southeast, forming the Ziegler and Haas Knob. On the ridge dividing these two valleys stands the Ziegel Church. Many of the emigrants settled on the slopes and dales of the ridge on which the church stands, and built their log cabins near springs and creeks. Hence, early in the begin- ning of the last century the origin of the Ziegel con- gregation was caused, making it one of the oldest con -- gregations in the county.
The proper organization of the congregation was effected in the year 1745. The church property was bought a few years later, and the building of the church occurred even later. In the mean while ser- vices were held in the houses of the members, where sermons were read by the schoolmaster, and occasion- ally by a minister from a distance, such as Rev. Bohm. The old church record registers baptisms in the thir- ties of last century. In 1747 the Rev. Michael Schlatter visited the Ziegel Church on his missionary travels to the German Reformed congregations of Pennsylvania, also the Maxatawny in Oley, and Egypt in Whitehall. The Ziegel (then called Ma- cungie) and the Allemängel ( Ebenezer, the congre- gation in Kistler's Valley, was a Lutheran Church), and Schmalzgasz (the congregation of Salisbury town- township) were classed by Schlatter as the twelfth pastoral charge. Having no church building and no minister for the first ten years, a pastor from a dis- tance came to administer the communion. In this way the members had also requested Rev. Mr. Schlat- ter to visit them, and through his instigation caused the erection of a church building. Rev. Böhm, per- suaded by Schlatter, accepted their invitation.
In 1749 the congregation met and resolved to build their first church. It was built of rough logs, with no floor and without any pretence. July 29, 1750, the church was dedicated by the Rev. Philipp Jacob Mi- chael, Reformed minister, and Rev. Jacob Friederich Schertlein, Lutheran minister, as a Union Church for the Reformed and Lutherans.
Among the families that organized the congrega- tion were Adam Braus, Ludwig Reichard, Bernhard Schmidt, Nicolaus Mayer, Peter Haas, Jorch Schaefer, Karl Oorn, Urban Friebel, Johann Merkel, Daniel Krausz, Michael Hotz, Johannes Hergerether, Egitti- cus Grimm, Zacharias Heller, Friedrich Windisch, Adam Weber, Georg Bayer, Johann N. Gift, Georg Wendel Zimmermann, Michael Old, Heinrich Gagen- bach, Melchior Ziegler, Philipp Breinig, Peter Ileim- bach, Bartholomäus Miller, Georg A. Leibensperger, Jacob Kuntz, Albrecht Himmel, David Muszgenug, Michael Confort, Andreas Sassamanshansen, Georg Schumacher, Melchior Seib, Heinrich Miller, Johan- nes Vogel, Jacob Rummel, Johannes Hermann, Con- rath Neff, Johannes Heider, Adam Schmidt, Philipp Wendel Klein, Johannes Bar, Jacob Goho, Franz Wesco, Yost Schlicher, Philipp Fenstermacher, Jacob Acker, Georg Falk, Daniel Hettler, Jacob Weit- knecht, Johannes Doll.
Three years after the church was built Adam Bransz, in the interest of the congregation, took a warrant of the tract, consisting of forty-two acres of land. In 1771 the land was, through Adam Bransz (Reformed) and Jacob Grimm (Lutheran), patented to the congregation. The first church was of raw mate- rial in primitive style; the pulpit was on trestles. The church contained a rough home-made table; the seats were huge logs resting on blocks; the roof
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
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was covered with manufactured tiles, made by one of the members. While the church was in course of construction a school-house was built. Prior to the school-house children were taught in a house near the church and also in Siegfriedsdale, three miles distant from the church. The first school-house was burned, but a more substantial one took its place.
Originally the Ziegel Church was called " Macun- gie," being in the immediate neighborhood of the Macungie Creek and Valley. Macungie, the abbre- viation of the Indian word " Mauckkuntshy," signi- fies " eating bears." Leaving the barren, snow-covered gravel, the bears sought their pasture in this valley, and henec its name. Rev. Schlatter records the Ziegel Church under the name " Macungie," and by the first surveys it was located in that township, but in later surveys that part containing the church was added to Weissenberg. The name Ziegel was then substituted on account of its tile-covered roof. Dr. Harbach er- roneously mentions in his book, "Schlatter's Life and Travels," page 160, foot-note 3, the Trexlertown as the Macungie congregation. The travels of Sehlatter into the interior of Pennsylvania occurred in 1747; at that time there existed no other congregation in Macungie except Ziegel's, and Trexlertown was not organized till 1784. The old Macungie congregation was the Ziegel.
Jacob Friedrich Schertlein ( Lutheran) and Philipp J. Michael (Reformed), the ministers who dedieated the first church, were the first ministers of this con- gregation. Schertlein was an able Lutheran minis- ter, and of high standing. Michael was no minister by profession, not even a schoolmaster, but a weaver by trade. However, he was not immoral ; yet, judging from his handwriting, especially as he kept the records of the churches, his education must have been lim- ited. Nor was he withont talent, -the members lauded his preaching. But he was without ordination,-a squatter in the church. He organized more eongre- gations in Lehigh and Berks Counties. The Michael's Church, in Berks, was named in honor to him. Mi- chael influenced his members against the Coetus established by Schlatter, and withstood in all re- spects the synodical organization of the Reformed Church.
Michael's successor was Peter Miller, an equivalent in propensities, also unordained, yet exeeeded him in intelligence, being a schoolmaster from Europe. IIe had settled in Allemängel, near Ebenezer (now Trip- oli), taught school, read sermons for the congregation in Lynn and Heidelberg, and finally declared himself minister of the gospel. After serving Ziegel eongre- gation he preached in Ebenezer, and died there, and is buried in the cemetery of that congregation.
the De Long Church he fell from the pulpit, being too drunk to keep his balance.
Sonth from the church in a dale entering Kline's Valley was an Indian village, quite near the farm of Jesse Grimm. The Indians had a burial-place here. Years ago many Indian relies, such as tomahawks and arrows, were found. Farther down the valley near Breinigsville lived old Father Trexler, with whom the Indians were on the most friendly terms. Mrs. Trex- ler often baked bread for them and gave them small presents, in exchange for which they brought game and smoked their pipes of peace. Later, when the forest gave way to civilization, the Indians left their village, and occasionally returned to visit their burial- ground. Between 1754 and 1763, when the Indians became unruly, they disturbed also Ziegel's congrega- tion.
The first years of the settlers were full of hard- ship and adversity, and have much interest for us as their descendants. Among those adversities were the ocean passages, finding proper locations, cabins, furniture, eloth, their agriculture, mode of living, commerce, etc. The first emigrants were persecuted at home. The Palatinates and the Huguenots were still persecuted by the Catholics. Late wars, which devastated Germany and impoverished its subjects, drove many to emigrate. The emigrants of 1720 to 1729, who mostly located in Bucks County, were as a rule poor. Those following later were in better cir- cumstanees. They sold their properties in Germany at better prices, but when they reached the seaports at Amsterdam or Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, their capitals were much drained. Those having no money for the passage to America were cared for by the ship- owners, and on their landing in Philadelphia were sold as servants for the passage, and had to serve from five to seven years. The voyage was made by the slowest Holland ships, and they were packed by the hundreds, governed by the strictest discipline, and even those that had the necessary money were obliged to submit to the worst adversities of a sea-voyage.
Rev. John HI. Heltfrich, the first ordained Reformed minister of the Ziegel congregation, kept a diary while on his voyage to America, and the following is from it.
On Sept. 6, 1771, in company with his step-brother, Rev. Albert C. Helffenstein, and Rev. I. G. Gebhard, three missionaries for the Reformed Church in Penn- sylvania, appointed by the Holland Synod, sailed from Amsterdam. The same day, at noon, the ship stranded, and necessitated the assistance of another large vessel to relieve them. Again on the third day they were overtaken by a storm, and as the Texel was reached the storm increased so much that three anchors were east. The storm lasted seven days, and the vessel was so disabled that they were obliged to sail to Newcastle for repairs. From Newcastle they started again, only to be overtaken by a second storm. On the 21st of October the ship entered the
Who the Lutheran ministers were who served the congregation from the time of Seherflein's resignation to 1781 is not known. Very likely there were none for some years. A certain Fritz served a short time. He must have been a spiritus frumenti subject, for in | Channel. They encountered the severest storm, which
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461
WEISSENBERG TOWNSHIP.
drifted them to the coast of Franee. The ship was homesteads. There was no want of locations and good lands. The soil was fertile, and awaited the plow and farmer, but to reach the sections was difficult. They were directed toward the Blue Mountains. To the Lehigh Mountains it was not so difficult, for roads were already broken, but over the Lehigh Mountains, the Kittanniny Valley, and across it to the Blue Moun- tains was an impenetrable forest-land. An Indian path leading through Rittenhouse Gap was used, which was enlarged by axe and elbow-grease for the accommodation of wagons, and took weeks till the settlers arrived at their destination. obliged to sail to Caen for repairs again, and after six days' delay again set sail. On the 4th of November the Atlantic was reached. Two days less than two months were required from Amsterdam by way of the English Channel to reach the ocean. On the ocean they were favored' for several days with good winds, and their voyage was prosperous, On November 9th they encountered their enemy in a new form, viz., thunder-storms and water-spouts to their right and left. They were drifted near the islands of Azore. For eight days the wind was in direct opposition to them. Another storm overtook them, the rudder, The first settlers of this congregation were a small party that started together from the Palatinate. They mostly brought money. Such families as the Brausz, Reichards, Haas, Gagenbach, Grimms, and Lichten- wallners were even wealthy. They bought their horses, wagons, stock, and agricultural implements in Philadelphia. The emigrants who had to pay for their sea-voyage came later, selected homesteads, and found encouragement from their already-established neighbors. The writer of this article was told by veterans, buried long ago, that after the settlers had decided on a homestead they drove their wagon under some trees near a spring or creek ; a kettle hung to a cross-piece, supported by two wooden forks, was their kitchen, the wagon with its covered roof the bed- room, and the forest with its blue sky their house. Huts, equal to the modern charcoal-burner's, were their next attempt, which they lived in till, by rota- tion, they could help each other to build log cabins which only had one room, without floor, and covered with rush and sod. Cellars were out of the question. Agriculture was the most important thing. As soon as the temporary cabin was finished they cleared portions of forest, and year after year they kept on until they were supplied with sufficient tillable land. While thus engaged their wives cultivated the gardens, --- raised lettuce, turnips, cabbage, ete.,-and the kit- chen soon had the odor of greens and vegetables. Early with the building of their cabins they planted apple-seeds, and in years afterwards they had a good supply of apples, which they distilled into apple jack, masts, and rigging were destroyed, and all hopes of safety abandoned, and the vessel given its own course. The next week following the voyage was tedions, and the provisions and water began to get low. On the 27th of November a hog was slaughtered, for the beef was caten, and ham, bacon, and peas, and all the flour was ruined by the rats. From 27th of November to the 11th of December, after the ship-carpenter's re- pairs, the voyage progressed finely. A dolphin and several large fish were caught, which added to their limited store of provisions. On the 11th of December another storm destroyed the mainmast, and many of the sails were lost and torn. December 12th a seeond mast and the ship-beak were broken. The prospeets were gloomy. The provisions were satur- ated with ocean water and unpalatable. On Decem- ber 25th the drinking-water was distributed in small quantity ; each passenger received for his share two and a half glasses, which ineluded their tea or coffee and soup. Their thirst, owing to the saturated and fast-decomposing meat, beeame intense. A few peas were left, which were served twice a week with bacon, and four hams were on board. They suffered hunger and thirst, and ten days with fa vorable weather was required to reach New York. The 1st of January they hailed a whaler. On January 7th storm; the waves washed the deek, and took overboard the last hog and sty, which was kept for an emergency. Helf- fenstein and Gebhard and two other passengers were also washed overboard, but were resened. The storm drifted the vessel towards shore ; but six days later, : and exchanged in Philadelphia for necessaries or while sounding, the weight sank twelve thousand feet and still no bottom. The next day they sailed one hundred and four miles, and sounded bottom at two 1 hundred and ten feet. January 13th again one hun- dred miles, and saw the coast of New Jersey ; at 8 P.M. the lights of, and at midnight anchored at, New York. On Jan. 14, 1772, they stepped on American soil, The voyage was accomplished in four months and eight days, encountering seven storms, two water- spouts, thirst and hunger. Now the same voyage is made in nine days.
Having landed in America, the position of the early settlers was anything but agreeable and comfortable. Still they were in the land of their hope, but were now obliged to locate and find suitable lands for
money. From experience during the winter they learned that their cabins were not cold- and snow- proof, so they improved and enlarged them. One of the first saw-mills was near the church, where the little rivulets combined enter the Macungie Valley, later called Schuyler's saw-mill. As soon as boards were to be had the carpenters modernized the cabins, added floors, rooms, and shingle-roofs. The log stable gave place to log barns with thrashing-floors, and on the right and left sides stalls for cattle and horses, and the usual lofts for grain and hay. The logs used in cabins and barns were " chinked" with straw and clay, making warm houses; later they added cellars to store the potatoes, which heretofore were covered with earth. The furniture was mostly brought from
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Enrope, some was bought in Philadelphia, and some the settlers made themselves. A table, chairs, bench, chests, stove, and bedsteads constituted a good outfit. Linens they brought from Germany.
Flour was the seareest article, and not to be had on this side of the Lehigh Mountains. They usually brought it from Goshenhoppen and Oley, and owing to break-neck roads could only bring small quantities at a time. This was remedied, however, for in Klines- dale a mill was erected,-the mill now belonging to Charles Kline. This was the first in the settlement. Notwithstanding that flour was scarce they never suffered for food. The forests were full of game, and the creeks abounded in fish. Deer, bears, wild tur- keys, doves, dueks, and quail were in abundance, and their tables were covered with these palatables.
Their greatest want was clothes. Those brought from Europe were worn out. They bought goods in Philadelphia usually used for sails of vessels, which was of coarse fibre. It was made into garments, and in winter two or three suits would eover them to shield them from cold. But to buy required money, and their money was alnost gone, so they raised flax for supply. Spinning began early in the fall and continued till spring. Looms sprung up, and gradually increased till nearly every tenth house had its loom. The German wives prided themselves upon their chests full of home-made linens, and their husbands were proud to wear the linen shirts of their own industry. Later they raised sheep and wool, which was interwoven with flax, and soon warm gar- ments were made from wool alone.
Most of the settlers had learned a trade, and hence there were tailors, smiths, carpenters, shoemakers, and millers, who helped each other, and made the settlement rather independent. Physicians were wanting for many years. The strong, healthy Ger- man nature helped itself; a few domestic remedies, such as certain teas, ete., were all they had for medi- cines. A few old ladies acted the midwife. Chills and fever, very common at this time, were treated with soups and full doses of patience.
All business and exchange were transacted in Philadelphia. All they needed was brought from there, and all their products which they wished to exchange for money were taken there. And all was carried on by teams of individual parties, and passed through Goshenhoppen, from where a good road led to Philadelphia, making the trip to Philadelphia and return in five or six days.
Before the church was built the settlers held ser- viees in their houses, at which the schoolmaster officiated by singing, prayer, and reading a sermon. While the schoolmaster was absent or wanting, one of the members would take his place. Gradually these schoolmasters improved, became a necessity, and were called " home-made ministers." But at the time when this church was built the members went to Philadelphia to engage a real minister, but not
succeeding, they were obliged to be satisfied with these substituted sermon-readers. They became rec- onciled to these readers, and they served all the con- gregations on the north side of the Lehigh Moun- tains. Before their church was built, and even long ere they had burial-places, they buried their dead on their own land, and hence the old farm burial- places of those times were enlarged by relatives being buried aside of their fathers and mothers, and many of these may be seen in the western part of Lehigh, and especially Berks, County. It was necessary in the old times to have their services of reading, but the effects were not good. Many of these readers finally declared themselves ministers. And when the organized Coetus (Synod) of Rev. Schlatter sent ealls to European ministers to serve these congrega- tions, and they came to take charge of these charges, these very same readers influenced the members against the European ordained missionaries.
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