USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 16
USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 16
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The spiritual condition of the Lutheran portion of the congregation has from that time been on an equal footing with that of the Reformed.
In the spring of 1879, Nevin A. Helffrich, a sou of Rev. William A. Heltfrich, was examined and licensed at the session of the East Pennsylvania Classis, held at Lehighton, and in the year following was ordained at Allentown by Lehigh Classis, which, during the course of the year, had been founded through the
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WEISSENBERG TOWNSHIP.
division of the East Pennsylvania Classis, and was appointed to assist his father. Rev. Nevin A. Helt- frich is the fourth preacher of this family, who have served in unbroken sueeession for one hundred and eleven years.
The Weissenberg Church.1-This church was also known during the last century as the Weissen Church. The church building stands in the northeastern corner of Weissenberg township, Lehigh Co., Pa., near to the division-line between that township and Lowhill township, in which latter the greater part of the con- gregation reside. It is a union church, all the build- ings and lands of the church being owned in equal riglit by the Reformed and the Lutherans. The congregation spread on the north to Heidelberg, on the south to the Ziegel Chureh, and on the west to Jerusalem (Allemängel) Church. All the region in which the congregation dwell is very hilly, witht narrow valleys, well watered by many small brooks. The well-wooded hills, the excellent water, and the rich meadows, irrigated by many springs, were the attractions that caused the first emigrants to settle there.
The settlement took place contemporaneously with that in Allemängel, indeed properly belongs to it. The later arrivals who could not conveniently find room in Allemangel moved farther towards the east and founded this community. The first pioneers were Petrus Herber and Peter Weiss. The former first dwelt at Oley, in Berks County, where his son, John Jacob, married Dorothea, a danghter of Jost Heinrich Sassamanshausen. The wanderers to this region were Swiss, Palatines, and Würtembergers, and many of them had dwelt some time at Oley, Goshenhoppen, Falkner's Swamp, and other places south of the Lehigh Mountains before they settled in this region. Their relatives and acquaintances, who had preceded them, had colonized these places, and with them many tarried before they settled in Weis- senberg. They could not find among them such farms as they cared to select; so the heads of families gathered together, huntrd up suitable land and tracts. and later brought their families there. Many of their names appear on the colonial records, showing that they wandered hither about the year 1730; but most of them did not setthe down here till about 1740, between which year and 1750 the principal settlement took place. Many of the original families have died out entirely or moved away from this region, and their names have disappeared entirely.
The following names appear on the church records as those of the first settlers :
Petrus Herber. Jacob Herber. l'eter Weiss. Jacob Holben. Theobold Kempfer. Johannes Ehrenhard.
Heinrich Krechloch. Johannes Krechtloch. Jacob Bachmann. Christian Muller. Andreas Riess. Johannes Carral.
George Zimmermanu.
Sebastian Werly (Werlein).
Johannes Zerfass.
l'eter Franz.
Valentin Derr (Dirr).
John De Long.
l'eter Weiss.
Jacob Iteilmann.
Heinrich Georg.
Friederich Säuberling.
Johannes Georg.
Mathiins Schneider.
Adam Bir.
Johann Diedrich Hermann.
Leonhard Frey.
Heinrich Hartmann.
Jacob Grunewald, Sr.
Wilhelm Schmetter.
Wendel Holben.
Andreas Eschbach.
Michael Brancher.
l'eter Kocher.
Nicolans Kemp.
l'eter Sebopp.
Martin Buchmann.
Philipp Scholl.
Valentin Granmlich.
Friederich Weigand.
Michael Bieber.
Jacob Senser.
Michmel Boek.
Jost Diehl.
Jiirg Emmerich Schick.
Sebastian Robringer.
Andreas Sinckell.
Michael Hallenbach.
Jürg Sieger.
Peter Rabenold.
Jürg Knudler.
Johann Meyer.
Georg Schiissler.
l'eter Bahl.
Eberhard Schmidt.
Daniel Stettler.
Jilrg Kind.
Johann A. Geiss.
Johann Adam Klein.
Johann Knorr.
The following list is taken from the Colonial Ree- ords, and shows the names of the settlers, the day of registry in Philadelphia, and the nante of the ship upon which they arrived :
Jacob Weiss, June 22, 1728, on ship " Albany" from Rotterdam.
Ilans Ulrich Frey, Inne 21, 1729, on ship " Martenhouse" from Rot- tordaut.
Christoph Frey, June 21, 1729, on ship " Marlenhouse" from Rotter- damn.
John Daniel Werly, June 21, 1729, on ship " Martenhouse" from Rot- terdam.
Michael Thomas, Ang. 20, 1730, on ship "Thistle of Glasgow" from Rotterdam,
Casper Bittner, Aug. 29, 1730, on ship " Thistle of Glasgow" from Rot- terdam.
Casper Hartmann, Ang. 29, 1730, on ship " Thistle of Glasgow" from Rotterdam,
llans Jacob, Blir, Nov. 30, 1730, on ship "Joyce" from Rotterdam. Jolen Bar, Nov . 30, 1730, on ship " Joyce" from Rotterdam.
Ileinrich Schussler, Sept. 26, 1732, on ship " Mary" from Rotterdam. Georg Schiissler, Sept. 26, 1732, on s' m" la. Fob Rotterdam. Haus Jucob Schilssler, Sept. 26, 17. 2. .... . " ; " fan Rotterdam. Heinrich Schfissler, Sept. 26, 1732, on ship " Mary" from Rotterdam. Hans Peter Werly, Sept. 26, 1732, on ship " Mary" from Rotterdam. Christian Hoffmann, Sept, 30, 1732, on ship " Dragon" from Rotterdam, Iconhurd Schlosser, Sept. 30, 1732, on ship " Dragon" from Rotterdam. Peter Schlosser, Sept. 30, 1732, on ship " Dragon" from Rotterdam. Georg Ludwig schutz, Sept. 30, 1532. on ship " Pingon" hom Rotier- dam.
Georg Bir, Oct. 11, 1732, on ship " Pleasant" from Rotterdam.
Hans Peter Frey, Ang. 17, 1733, un ship " Sammel of London" from liotterdam.
Friederich Leiby, Ang. 17, 1733, on ship "Samnel of London" from Rotterdant,
Heinrich Brunner, May 29, 1735, on ship " Mercury" from Rotterdam. Johannes Weiss, May 29, 1735, on ship " Mercury" from Rotterdam. Casper Blenler, May 29, 1735, on ship " Mercury" from Rotterdam. Valentin Dichl, Sept. 12, 1731, on ship "St. Andrew" from Rotterdam, Abraham Dich1, Sept. 12, 1734, on ship " St. Androw" from Rotterdam.
The congregation takes its origin from the year 1747. Divine services had, however, been held at the homes of members before that time, undoubtedly by Rev. Kidenweiler, who resided in this neighborhood, and was known by the name of the " Swiss minister." By this time Jacob Holben had been elected an ohler of the Weissenberg Church. The construction i of the first church building dates from June, 1754.
' By Rev. William A. Hellfrich.
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Like all other churches in those early times it was built of logs, but was somewhat better constructed than most of them. In 1754 handicrafts were already better represented, and it is said there was at that time already a saw-mill in operation in the Alle- mängel and Kistler's Valleys turning out boards and shingles. The Rev. Daniel Schumacher is authority for the statement that it was dedicated by the Revs. Rudolph Kidenweiler and Jacob Friederich Sehert- lein, the first two pastors of the church. Soon after- wards the building of the church a school-house was also erected.
The primitive circumstances, the development of the people, the religious customs, and their decay were the same here as in all the neighboring com- munities. (See the history of the Ziegel Church.)
About 1765 there arose here an unfortunate fight, which increased till the greater part of the Reformed congregation seeeded and formed the Lowhill Church. They were the original settlers, and numbered the most; but as they could not obtain any title for vari- ous reasons to the Allemängel Church in Kistler's Valley, they had moved farther towards the east, and really originated this ehureh. They intended at the same time, however, to allow equal share to the Lutherans. Now, it happened that the latter, having a better minister, Rev. Daniel Schumacher, obtained more influenee than the Reformed members, who, under Rev. J. Michael, did not increase. This was the beginning of ill feeling. Soon there followed of- fensive expressions, and the fires of discord broke out. Whatever was desired by the one party was opposed by the other. So, after a while, the Bachman, George, Weiss, Manebach, and a portion of the Holben fam- ilies separated from this congregation, and began the Lowhill as a purely Reformed Church. But some remained in Weissenberg, as the Herber, Frey, and a part of the Holben families. They could not tear themselves away from their old homes and their dead. The Weissenberg Church remained a union church, but the Reformed members formed but a small part of it, as they do to the present day.
During the time of the Indian troubles this com- munity suffered greatly. Several dwellings were burned down, and the greater part of the inhab- itants fled to parts farther south.
In the war of independence several members of the congregation served as soldiers. Their names are not known to the writer. When, in the winter of 1777-78, Washington's army lay encamped at Valley Forge, the people hereabouts sent down food and elothing to relieve its wants.
It is peeuliar that in most of the settlements made by the Germans in America, warrants for the lands taken were not obtained by the squatters from the proprietaries till twenty, thirty, and more years after they had possession. The reason was this,-because the immigrants were led to believe in Germany that in America all the land was free, and that it was
only necessary to enter and take possession of it, in order to become the owners of it. Under this impression nearly all the wanderers arrived here, hunted out such farms as suited them, and where they found them unoeeupied, took possession of them without thinking they would ever be called on for pay. When the authorities insisted later on these squatters purchasing warrants for the lands taken, they did so gradually. The freeing of the land from the purchase-money imposed by the State, and the taking-up of their deeds patent consumed a great deal of time, and valid titles for mueh of the land in this community were not obtained till the present century.
The gayety of the Palatines, from which has arisen the saying, "The Merry Palatinate: may God preserve it so!" the kindly disposition of the Swabian, known over the whole world ; the tenacity of the Swiss, who does not permit himself to be beaten in any way, and the hard-headedness of the old-time German, --- these are characteristics to be found in Weissenberg and Lowhill down to the present day. A merrier disposition will hardly be found anywhere, there is not a more hospitable people, but it will also be difli- eult to diseover harder and more obstinate heads than here. During the long winter evenings, and espe- cially in times of good sleighing, it has always been the custom for social gatherings, consisting of rela- tives and friends, and perhaps three or more families, to gather together at each other's homes. The large wooden sleighs are hitched up and loaded to their utmost eapacity, and driven to the designated plaee, where already many of the invited have gathered. Then the evening is passed in enjoying the hospi- talities of the host and in festivities, extending often into the early hours of the morning. Driving and visiting are among the established customs of this community, a custom, alas, which encroaches more and more upon the observance of the Sabbath. There can hardly be a place found elsewhere in our castern counties where so much driving is done on Sunday as here in this neighborhood.
In the time of Pastor Schumacher many baptisms were held at the homes of the members, and these were always celebrated with feasts, after the manner of the Palatines. The church record shows that fre- quently two or three pair of godfathers and god- mothers stood for one ehild. An example is taken from the church book : " At the baptism of Johannes Christianus Reiss, an infant son of Johann Daniel Peter, on the 1st of Mareh, 1760, the following per- sons stood as godfathers and godmothers, viz. : Dan- iel Schumacher, the Lutheran minister, and Maria Elizabeth, his wife; Johann Heinrich Widersheim, elder of the Reformed Church in Lynn, and the Widow Anna Elizabeth Yuncker; Peter Bahl and Catharina, his wife; and also Johann Diel Hermann and Anna Barbara, his wife,-eight persons, besides the minister.
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WEISSENBERG TOWNSHIP.
But a wedding was the occasion for the greatest dis- play of hospitality and merry-making. The sport at these was often mad and wild. The thrashing-floor was bedecked with greens and turned into a dancing- floor, where young and old swung in merry eireles.
It is not wonderful that the long and numerons harvest-time festivities often required from six to eight large, fat hogs, and frequently more than an ox ; and that old John Wiekell, the butcher, who received many invitations to these feasts, said, " When I have butchered the hogs and made the sausage, I get noth- ing for it but the devil's thanks !"
On the 7th of November, 1803, the congregation having resolved to build a new church, a constitution was adopted, by which its construction and the future conduct of the church should be regulated. The church was completed in the year 1804, and was dedicated with appropriate services, conducted by Rev. Johannes Heinrich Helfrich, the Reformed minister, and Rev. J. F. Obenhansen, the Lutheran minister.
The consistory for that period who signed the at- testation were Jacob Herber, Simon Georg, Heinrich Schneider, Mathias Sentell, Lorenz Ilolben, Abraham Grunewald, Philipp Herber, John Weiss, Heinrich Weiss, John Sieger, Heinrich Kregloh, Theobald Holben, Sebastian Werlein, Michael Werlein, An- dreas Buchmann, Georg Rau, Andreas Bittner, Nico- laus Werlein, Valentin Werlein, Jacob Schumacher, Peter Hallenbach, Peter Ran, Sebastian Ettel, Fred- erick Seiberling, and Theobald Werlein.
The church was built of logs, was well constructed, and appropriate for those times.
The third church was built in 1830, of stone. The congregation confirmed their old constitution, accord- ing to which this building also was put up. On the 30th of May, 1830, the corner-stone was laid, with services conducted by Rev. Johannes Helffrich, the Reformed minister, and Rev. Georg Wartmann, the Lutheran pastor, both of whom preached sermons on that day. In the fall the same pastors conducted the dedicatory services. The record of the building of the church is witnessed by the following :
The building connuittee, viz .: Nicolaus Werly, Michael Frey, Andreas Bittner, Philipp Herber.
The Lutheran elders: John Weida, Peter Buch- mann.
The Reformed elders: Andreas Rupp, Philipp Herber.
The Reformed deacons, viz .: Jacob Blessler, Mi- ehacl Frey, Abraham Grunewald, Jacob Herber.
The Lutheran deacons, viz. : Johannes Seibert, Solomon Rabenold, Friederich Dengler, Andreas Werly.
The treasurer : Jacob Herber.
The school-teacher : Heinrich Busse.
The centennial jubilee was held by the congrega- tion on the 21st of September, 1851. In the morning 4. Daniel Lehman. Rev. Jeremias Schindel, the Lutheran minister, preached, and in the afternoon Rev. William A. i of the Ziegel community.
Helffrich, the Reformed minister. The venerable father, Rev. Johannes Helffrich, was also present, and took part in the celebration.
The fourth (and present) church was built of brick, in the year 1864. The corner-stone was laid by Rev. A. J. Herman, of the Reformed, and Rev. O. Leopold, of the Lutherans.
The Reformed ministers of the congregation were,- 1. Rudolph Kidenweiler, a Swiss; he founded the church ; he preached also for the Long Swamp eon- gation seven and a half years. He left this church in obedience to the call from the "Grosse Schwamm"' Church, south of the Lehigh Mountains, where he died and was buried. His headstone still stands upon the cemetery of that church, with the following in- scription : " Here lies buried the departed reformed Preacher, Johannes Rudolph Kitweiler; his age was 47 years, 9 months; he was born on the 2d of Janu- ary, 1717, and died the 2d of October, 1764."
2. Philipp Jacob Michael, who began his service here in the year 1761.
3. Johann Heinrich Helffrich followed, and was the first preacher from the Synod, with which he brought this church into union. He served this con- gregation with the Lowhill before the latter had the dispute with the Weissenberg. Father Jacob Herber was a brother-in-law of Rev. Helffrich, both having married daughters of Sassamanshausen. Friendli- ness induced Rev. Helffrich to serve this congrega- tion, and through his efforts, directly, peace was re- stored. After the Lowhill Church became a Union Church the same ministers served both that and this congregation, and the two were regarded as one.
4. ITeinrich Diefenbach preached from the death of Rev. Helffrich, in 1810, till 1816.
5. Johannes Ilelffrich, the son of Johan HI. Helf- frich, was, after the completion of his studies, in 1816, chosen, and preached up to the time of his death, in 1852. In 1845 his son,
6. William A. Helffrich, was appointed his assist- ant by the East Pennsylvania Classis. He served till the year 1860.
7. Alfred J. Hermann was chosen minister in the same year, and is now the pastor.
The Lutheran ministers were,-
1. Jacob Friederich Schertlein.
2. Daniel Schmnacher, an able and well-educated minister from Germany. He came to this region when a young man, and married here Maria Elizabeth, a daughter of Georg Steigerwald. On the 11th of December, 1757, he delivered his first sermon. He lived with this community all his lifetime, died here, and lies buried in the old graveyard, with no stone marking his grave.
3. Hermann Jacob Sehellhard, who preached here from 1770 to 1780.
5. J. F. Obenhausen, who resided within the limits
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
6. Friederich Geisenhainer, minister here for some years,
7. Georg Wartunn and G. Daring, who dwelt with the Jordan community, and served together the same congregations,
S. Jeremiah Schindel, elected in 1887.
9. Owen Leopold, the present pastor.
School History of Weissenberg .- No sooner were the Palatinate and the Swiss Germans, who set- tled Weissenberg, established in their new homes than they began to establish schools and churches; but in this, as in everything else, they had to contend against great difficulties. Being naturally poor, and but just settled in the wilderness, their means were scanty indeed. To cut down trees, build houses, clear the land, they were impelled by their bodily wants. Doing this was not the work of a day, and years of unremitting toil elapsed before they had anything to sell, and then, when they had it, there was no market at which to dispose of it. So, after they had gathered together congregations and schools, they often had neither ministers, nor teachers, nor money to procure them. Hence churches and schools were few in num- ber and far apart. At first there seem to have been no schools except those at the churches. These were under the control of the men that led in singing on occasions of public worship, and were termed church schools. For a long time this township had only two churches and probably ouly two schools, so it often happened that children had to go four or five miles to school. After a while, probably in 1770, other schools were established in parts most remote from the churches, wherever suitable rooms could be obtained. At these the teachers at the churches, as well as others, tanght annually for a certain time, after their schools at home had closed. This state of affairs continued for about fifty years, probably to near the elose of the last century.
During this time the schools were conducted en- tirely in the German language. The course of study was reading, writing, singing, arithmetic as far as the fundamental rules, and probably the catechism. The course in reading embraced the A, B, C book, the Psalter, and the New Testament. The girls it was not thought necessary should study more than reading, the catechism, and singing. Many children grew up with no schooling at all, others with very little. The rec- ords, still existing, of transactions done during those times show that scarcely any of the women and a great many of the men could not even write their own names. Of those born in Germany, nearly all of the men and some of the women could write. The teach- ers during the beginning of this period were all men that had been educated in Europe, but some of them beeame ministers, and less qualified men took their places as teachers. So the schools suffered. From that time until the adoption of the common-school system
many tanght school who had no qualifications what- ever to recommend them.
Eilen Thal Schuhl (Owl Valley School) .- Prob- ably the third school in the township was the Eilen Thal School. AAbout the year 1780 a movement was set on foot to erect a church and a school-house in the western part of the township, about three-fourths of a mile southeast of the present village of Steins Corner, in Lynn. The next year six acres of land were bought from George Grim by the Reformed and Lutheran con- gregations for the purpose of building thereon a church and a school-house. The school-house was built, but the church was not. Preparations had been made for building, and the stones had been hauled there, when the project was abandoned. The school-house stood upon a hill. It was built of heavy logs, and provided with a large stove, into which quite large logs could be put.
Of the school we know but little, though it was kept up about forty years. The only teacher of whom we have any knowledge was a Mr. Widch, who taught " there about the year 1810. About the year 1820, the building having become old and dilapidated, and a road having been laid out through the valley, an ad- joining tract of land was bought from John Grim, and a new school-honse was erected in the valley, a short distance from the site of the old one. This was also a wooden building, built of chestnut logs given by one Nathstein. It was a double building, one part for German school and the other part for an English school, or a dwelling for the teacher. Here the school was kept up until some time after the common schools had been organized.
When the township was divided into school districts and school-houses built by the township, this school was discontinued, being succeeded by the Grim's and Gackenbach's schools. Among the teachers who taught in this second school-house may be mentioned George Heyneman, who taught English school, Ring, Wenzel, Everitt, Joe Pike, David Stettler, and others. When the school was discontinued, the land was sold and the money divided among the adjoining churches. An amusing anecdote is related of one of the early teachers at this last school-house. It seems he had a particular place at which he always sat, near which there was a hole in the wall. Now the pupils, who were nearly all large boys, conceived the idea of having some fun at the expense of the teacher. So every day one of them would go out, get a pole, thrust one end through the hole and poke the teacher's ribs. He would then jump np, seize his hickory, and run out, but by the time he reached the outside the mis- creant would have disappeared in the woods. This continued for a long time, but at last. the teacher suc- «ceded in catching one of them, and gave him such a thrashing as struck terror into the rest.
Moyer's School .- This was the fourth school in the township. The first school-house stood at a cor- ner of a field on the farm of Nicholas Moyer, now
1 By Henry F. Rupp.
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WEISSENBERG TOWNSHIP.
occupied by Benjamin Fries, near Willow Creek. The district must have been organized and the school- house built before the year 1800. The school-house was built of logs. The school was kept up until the year 1830 or 1832, when the building, being old and dilapidated, tell into disuse. The teachers who taught here, as far as we know, were Dornecker, Lauhenstein, and Conrad Dower, all Germans.
From here the school was removed to an old house on the farm of Jonathan Schumacher, now occupied
About the year 1813 or 1844 a school-house was and owned by Nathan Mohr, about a quarter of a | built on land then owned by Jonas Metzger, now mile north of the present village of Seipstown, where it was kept up for about seven years, the principal teacher being Conrad Dower. owned by Charles Donner, below where Fritz's store now is, by Gedion Barner, John Helffrich, George Danner, George Eisenhard, Jacob Werly, Jonas In the year 1839 the district was reorganized, and a new school-house, known as the "schuhl-haus am Schmidt-schap" ("school-house at the blacksmith- shop"), was built on the land of Jonathan Wieand, now owned by David Smith, Jr., near Heberly's blacksmith-shop. Metzger, Benjamin Grim, and others. The teachers here were Samuel Eisenhard, W. A. Fenckner (the chocolate man), Philip Belling, William Stettler, and others. When the common-school houses were built this school was again removed, a school-house being built at the road between the present village of New Smithville and the Barner's farms, and known at first as the Metzger's, then as Barner's, and now as New Smithville Schools. Among the teachers were Phaon Baer, -- Lichty, Samuel W. Hacock, etc.
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