USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 18
USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 18
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Kline's mill is situated on Schaeffer's Run, in the southern part of the township. About the year 1770, Peter Kline bought the property from Mr. Kleinert, and soon afterwards erected a log grist-mill. A few years later the mill caught fire and burned down, and a second one was erected (also built of logs), which stood until the year 1875, when a large frame mill was built. The present mill is conveniently arranged, and has both water- and steam-power. Peter Kline gave the property to his son, Lorentz, about the year 1800. Lorentz Kline having no children, gave the property to his nephew, Charles Kline. Charles Kline, several years ago, divided his property be- tween his children, and gave the mill to his son, William. Eighty years ago the water-power was much greater than now.
Holben's mill is situated on Willow Run, near the · central part of the township. This is a very old mill site. The mill is supposed to have been built by Joseph Siegfried. The first mill was built of logs, and stood till about forty years ago, when a new one was built, which is also built of logs. About eighty years ago a dwelling- house was built adjoining the mill, which is still standing. The mill is run only by water-power. It had many owners. Its present owner and occupant is Jefferson Holben.
Greenawald's mill is situated on Sweitzer Creek, in the western part of the township. There is a grist- and saw-mill here, both of which were built by Jacob Greenawald about one hundred years ago. The second . mill is there now ; it is built of logs. The first was also built of logs. The mill is run by water-power. Its present owner is Edwin Greenawald.
Bittner's mill is situated on Lyon Creek, in the eastern part of the township. It is at present owned by Willoughby Bittner. The first mill had been built there about one hundred years ago. It was used for making linseed-oil, afterwards, also, for making chop and ckning clover-seed. In 1881 a new mill was built there, which is used only for milling. Flour and chop is made.
Schuler's mill, on Spring Creek, in the southern part of the township, was a mill that was used at one time for chopping, and also for cleaning clover-seed. There was also a saw-mill there. The mill was built by a man named Knouse about 1770. It has not been used for the last twenty years,
Bear's saw-mill is on Lyon Creek, in the eastern part of the township. There has been a saw-mill there for a hundred years. The first one was probably built by Valentine or Paul Kramlich. The property Gedion, and Willoughby, obtained it. The mill is . is now owned by Solomon Bear, and managed by his
sons, -- Frank, James, and Phaon.
Tanneries .- There is at present but one tannery in the township, viz., at Joseph Weiss'. It is owned
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
and managed by Joseph Weiss. It was started about thirty years ago.
At one time there were also tanneries at Heffner's, Bleiler's, Balliet's, and Greenawald's. All of which had been started about 1810 or 1815, except Greena- wald's, which was somewhat earlier. They have been discontinued from fifteen to thirty years ago.
Distilleries .- There are seven distilleries in Weis- senberg township, viz. : one at Jones Bittner's, one at Levi Werly's, one at Benro Werly's, one at Edwin Greenawald's, one at Jacob Holben's, one at Levi Weida's, and one at Fenstermacher's. They are used for distilling apple-jack. Perhaps there are several others that could be repaired with little costs so as to be in condition for use, but the above named are the only ones that are now or have been lately used for the making of apple-jack. None of them are used for distilling grain. There was a time when there were perhaps more than fifty in operation. They were most numerous from 1800 to 1825. Among the old distilleries that were once used, but now torn down or discontinued, we might mention those on lands now owned by Silas Kershner, Levi Knorr, Schuler & Hansman, Rupp's estate, Nathan Mohr, Jones Diehl, Samuel Heffner, John Bleiler, Solomon Bear. William Gebhard, Jesse Grim, Solomon Grim, Dan- iel Gehringer, Solomon Knerr, estate of the late Paul Bleiler, Joseph and Reuben Iolben, and many more. Those at Jesse Grim's and Daniel Gehringer's were , used for distilling grain, and did an extensive business : in their day. Sixty years ago apples were very plenty in this region, and much apple-jack was made. But for a time people neglected the planting of apple-trees. The old trees wore out, apples became scarcer every year, and one after another the distilleries were torn down, so that now only a few remain. Thus, what was at one time a large and Incrative business in this township fell, so that it is now hardly worth taking into consideration. At present people are again set- ting out trees, and orchards become more numerous, but distilling whiskey will hardly ever again reach the extent that prevailed from sixty to seventy years ago.
Chocolate - Factory. - A chocolate - factory was started on the property now owned by William Schmale (then Rev. John Helffrich's) about the year 1840 by W. A. Fenckner. He manufactured choco- late at Helffrich's for several years, and then removed to David Metzger's, where he continued the business for two years longer, and then closed out and went to other parts. The chocolate-beans were not raised here, but had to be brought from other parts. The business was probably a paying one.
Villages, Stores, and Hotels-Seipstown .- This, the principal village of Weissenberg, is situated on an eminence in the eastern part of the township, on the road leading from Allentown to Hamburg. It is a pleasant little village, containing a store, a tavern, a post-office, a church, a school-house, a carriage-shop,
blacksmith shop, and about twenty dwelling-honses. The village was founded by John Seip, whose grand- father, Melchior Seip, came from Würtemberg be- tween the years 1733 and 1747 and settled in the eastern part of what is now Weissenberg township. John Seip, the founder of Seipstown, bought the property that is now Seipstown from Henry Mohr in the latter part of the year 1819, and moved there in the spring of 1820. At that time there was only an old log house standing on the south side of the road at what is now the central part of the village. About five years later he com- menced keeping a temperance hotel. About the year 1850 he obtained a license to keep a tavern, and about that time he built several new dwelling-houses. In 1861 a store was opened in the village by Thomas D. Mohr, and the post-oflice was obtained by Peter Seip in the following year. Most of the houses in the village have been built within the last twenty years. John P. Seip, a grandson of the founder of the village, is the present owner of the hotel and store. He keeps the store himself, but the proprietor of the hotel is Solomon C. Brobst, who carries on also the saddlery business. Carriage manufacturing is carried on by Sechler & Brothers, Peter Seip keeps the post-office, Levi Smith is engaged in blacksmithing, and Benja- min Seip in the wheelwright business. The school- house was built in 1873, and the church ( United Brethren) in 1876. The village at present has a population of eighty-five. Most of the houses in the village are built of wood, but a few are brick. The people belong mostly to the Reformed and Lutheran congregations. A few are United Brethren.
Churches-Zion's United Brethren in Christ .- This church was organized in 1874 by Rev. Samuel Etter. The original members of the organization were Nathan Mohr and his wife, Hannah, and his two daughters, Elmena C. and Mary S., Levi Stettler and his wife, Hannah, Christian Seip, Jones Walbert and his wife, Salome. The congregation was organized by the election of Levi Stettler as class-lender, and Na- than Mohr as steward. Nathan Mohr, Levi Stettler, and Jones Walbert were elected as trustees. 10 1776 the church was built ; the corner-stone was laid in July, 1776, by Samnel Etter and Benjamin Keck, and dedi -. cated in December of the same year by Hezekiel Licht.
The succession of ministers has included Samuel Etter, Benjamin Keck, John Lowry, W. Uhler, Henry Y. Spaeth, and Ephraim Licht, the present pastor.
Hynemansville has a fine location near the central part of Weissenberg township, on the road leading from Fogelsville to Lynnville. It consists of a store, hotel, a few dwelling-houses, and a carriage-shop. This is the oldest village in the township, dating back to the time of the French and Indian war. About 1740, Michael Bobst settled there, and soon afterwards commenced to keep a tavern, his place being known as Bobst's Manor House. The Manor House and its I proprietor figured extensively in the early history of
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WEISSENBERG TOWNSHIP.
this region. Being situated on the trail followed by the Indians in passing from the Lehigh to the Blue Mountains, and the same trail being followed by the earliest settlers of this region, it became, long before any publie roads were laid out, a highway of con- siderable nse. When the main road in this region, passing from the east to the west, was laid out, the Manor House, being situated upon it, greatly pros- pered, and its proprietor, Mr. Bobst, became widely known. Later on he also engaged in the mercantile business, and carried on both hotel and store. About the year 1800 he sold out to Frederick Hyneman, of Philadelphia. Hyneman then engaged for many years in the store business at that place. During the time that he kept the store he rented the hotel, and it had many proprietors, among them Knerr, Dorn- blaser, Schick, Leiser, Krasely, and others. In the year 1845, Dr. Frederick A. Wallace, of Easton, took possession of the store, and kept it till 1850, when it passed into the hands of Elias Wetherhold, its present owner. At present the hotel is kept by Dr. H. A. Saylor, who also practices medicine. Dr. Joshua Seiberling is also engaged in the practice of medicine at the same place. Carriage-manufacturing is car- ried on by Charles Ihrie. Hynemansville has had a post-office for some time. Its present postmaster is Elias Wetherhold. It is the place where the elections of the township are held. They have been held here, except a few years when they were held at Seiber- lingsville, since Weissenberg and Lynn became sepa- rate election districts.
Seiberlingsville is situated on the road leading from Fogelsville to Tamaqua, about a mile northwest from Hynemansville. It consists of a tavern, post- office, and a few dwelling-houses. It has a beautiful location, being situated on an elevated ridge, which gives a fine view of the surrounding country. About the year 1790, Jacob Mumi built a log house there in the woods. Soon after his son, Jacob, was licensed to keep a tavern there, which after several years he sold out to his brother, John Mumi, who kept the tavern for two years, and then sold the place to Nicholas Werly, who routed the hotel to Michael Billig. Billig was followed by Philip Linden, and after him came Philip Bobst, a son of Michael Bobst, who for such a long time kept the Manor House at Hynemansville. Bobst was followed by Peter Young. After Young came Jacob Derr, who kept the hotel in 1815. Derr was followed by George Acker.
In 1825 a store was started here by Gerhard Belo and Frederick Belo. They also had at the same time a store at Tripoli, in Lynn township. Frederick attended the store at Mumi's. They were succeeded by David West, who had both the store and tavern. Hle was there for two years, when the store was dis- continued, and the hotel passed into the hands of John Schaller, who was succeeded by George Wagner, who gave place to Joshua Seiberling, who came there in 1836, and the same year commenced store.
At the time Seiberling obtained the place it was ealled Mount Pleasant, but was soon after changed to Seiberlingsville. After Seiberling came John O. Neil, then Solomon C. Brobst, A. H. Peter, John Delp, and Jones Fenstermacher, who is the present landlord.
The name of the post-office is Seiberlingsville. The postmaster is Joshua Seiberling, who has held the post-office since 1863, when it was started. Dr. Fred- erick C. Seiberling was also engaged in the practice of medicine here for about ten years. The elections were held here about thirty-five years ago, but for only one year.
St. Paul's Church stands in Seiberlingsville, in Weissenberg township. It is a Union Church, owned by Lutherans and Reformed. The foundation of the church was accomplished in the year 1857 by mem- bers of the Ziegel, Weissenberg, Lowhill, and Wes- nersville eongregations. After organizing they pur- chased a piece of land and built upon it a church, of which the corner-stone was laid on the 7th of June, 1857. In the following year the church was dedi- cated.
The Reformed ministers of the congregation have been the Rev. C. J. Hermann and his son, Alfred Hermann. The Lutheran ministers have been the same that have served the Ebenezer, Jacksonville, Jerusalem, and St. Peter's Churches, namely, Owen Leopold, F. Zuber, J. Klein, and H. S. Fegley. The Reformed ministers of the congregation have been William A. Helffrich, E. J. Fogel, and J. N. Bach- man.
The Lutheran ministers have been the Revs. Owen Leopold, F. Zuber, J. Klein, and HI. S. Fegley.
New Smithville is situated on Silver Creek, in the southwestern part of the township. It consists of a store, a tavern, a grist-mill, saw-mill, and a few dwelling-houses. About the year 1812, Michael Reichert obtained license to keep a tavern there. The store was first kept by Abuer Leeland, followed by Elijah Owen, Mahlon Luther, Levan Metzger, and Solomon Smith. Reichert was followed in the hotel by David Metzger, and then Solomon Smith. The place had a post-office-Weissenberg-in 1868, but only one year. Benjamin Smith was postmaster.
Werlysville has a fine situation in the northern part of the township, on the road leading from Clauss- ville to Lynnville. It contains a store, tavern, and a few dwelling-houses. It was founded by Daniel Bitt- ner about forty years ago. Its present owner is Elias Werly, after whom it is named.
Buck Horn Hotel is in the eastern part of the township, on the road leading from Claussville to Kutztown. It was started by David Moser, who was licensed to keep a tavern there in 1862. IIe was fol- lowed by Michael Bleiler, who held it till 1875, when it passed into the hands of Jeremiah Schick, its pres- ent owner and proprietor.
Mohr's Store is near Ziegel's Church, in the south-
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
eru part of the township. A hotel was started there , conse to keep a tavern at what was then ealled Helf- by Daniel Stettler about fifty years ago, and was kept till 1875. The property was purchased by Thomas D. Mohr, its present owner, in 1865. He started a store there, and kept the store and hotel for about ten !
years, when he discontinued the hotel, but still keeps the store.
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Fritz's Store is in the southwestern part of the township, on the road leading from New Smithville to Hamburg, and abont one-quarter of a mile from the former place. Its present owner, Samuel Fritz, has kept store there since 1850 (at first Samuel and Stephen Fritz in partnership, and Samuel Fritz alone since 1867 or 1868). Samuel Fritz obtained a post- ofliee there in 1853, known as Weissenberg, and has had it since, exeept one year (1868), when it was at Smithville.
Grim's Hotel was situated in the northwestern part of the township, near the. Lynn township line, on the road to Allemängel. It was a very old hotel stand. A hotel was kept there prior to 1781 (probably since about 1760). It used to be the election-place for Lynn and Weissenberg townships in the long ago, both townships holding their elections at the same place, but depositing their votes in separate boxes. The elections were held there till 1817. The hotel was discontinued about the year 1812. Its proprietor was George Grim.
Bobst's Hotel .- About the year 1812, Philip Bobst was licensed to keep a tavern at what is now Solomon Grim's place, on Silver Creek, in the western part of the township, on the road leading from Hynemans- ville to Hamburg, a road which was much used at that time, but now seldom traveled, as other and bet- ter roads have been laid out leading towards the same place. The tavern was kept by him till 1819, and then abandoned.
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German's Store Stand .- At what is now German's . parts of the district. From the records above meu- store stand Dewalt Werly was licensed to keep a tav- ern about the year 1830, and kept it for about twenty years, when it was discontinued. About thirty years ago Henry German started store there, and kept it till is;6, when he rented it to Isaae Dietrich, who kept store until April, 1883, when he moved away. The property is still owned by German.
Post-Offices. - Weissenberg post-office was ob- tained about the year 1840 by Michael Reichert (then Reichert's, now New Smithville), who was the first postmaster. After him Samuel Eisenhart became postmaster. In 1848 the post-office was removed to Hynemansville, with Frederick A. Wallace as post- master ; but two years later it was again taken to New Smithville, with Samuel Eisenhard as postmaster, who brad it till 1858, when the post-office was removed to Fritz's store, with Samuel Fritz as postmaster.
Hynemansville post-office was obtained by Elias Wetherhold in 1862. He has been the postmaster ever since.
Helffrich's Stand .- Henry Helfrich obtained a li-
frich's Stand (now Stine's) prior to 1815. He was a jeweler by trade, which business he carried on in con- nection with the hotel. About the year 1838, Daniel Helffrich, a brother of Henry, built a store-house there and commenced a store. Helfrich was followed in the store business by Stettler, then by Hersk, Sig- fried, and Mohr & Stine. There is now neither store nor hotel there.
Werth's Store was on the road leading from Fo- gelsville to Hamburg, at the place where Richard Werth now lives. The store was started by Daniel Werth about the year 1820, and he kept it for about twenty years. Since that time there has been no store there.
California House .- This was a hotel stand in the northern part of the township. About twenty years ago Jones Werly obtained a license to keep a tavern there. He was followed by Charles Gehringer. At present the hotel is closed.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP .!
AMONG the records of the Court of Northampton County, held at Easton, is the following: " Now, March 20, 1753, Whitehall township is returned and allowed."" It was situated along the Lehigh River, comprised a large territory, and included the present townships of Whitehall, North Whitehall, South Whitehall, and the northern and western portion of the present city of Allentown.
Prior to this time settlements were made in various tioned, we learn that in 1752, at October term of court Michael Hoffman was appointed constable for "Egypta," and this seems to have been the name by which a large portion of the township was then known. Tradition, as well as the official record -. point ont Egypt as the earliest settlement in the orig- inal township, as it also remains within the bound- aries of the present township of Whitehall in its northern limit. The early settlers pressed forward into this region from Philadelphia, whither they had immi- grated from Europe, and settled in the more northern and western part of the township, in what proved to be the less productive and less attractive portion. These features are conclusively indicated by the significant term by which the parent settlement in Lyn town- ship, in this county, and Albany township, Bueks
1 By P. V. Diefenderfer, Esq , and F. J. Newhard, Reg.
" This is the only record concerning the erection of the township. At the term of court helt the same year, Godfrey Ruan's was appointed constable of the township, and was the first official action of record con- ceruing it.
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WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP.
County,-Allemängel ("all want"),-was then known. They were in want of eorn, and found it in the more fertile and the then more remote country along the Lehigh River. It was the sons of Jacob going to Egypt to buy corn, and the Lehigh was their Nile.
The most interesting and striking feature of this section was "Grouse Hall," standing to this day. Lynford Lardner, Esq., a prominent citizen of Phila- delphia, and whose sister was married to Richard Penn, came to this section of country in 1740. He : was appointed keeper of the Great Seal in 1746, and held the office till 1753, when he moved to Lancaster County, and his name is prominently associated with the colonial history of that time.
About 1740 he purchased a tract of land in Bucks County, now Lehigh, on the banks of a branch of Lehigh Creek, now Jordan Creek. In 1744 he built a large house on this tract. It is built of stone, of dimensions twenty-eight by thirty feet, two stories high, with pointed roof and high ceilings. A deep cellar was built on the outside of the house of large dimensions. The house is still standing and in good condition. On the first floor, through the middle of the house, and about two-thirds of the width thereof, was a hearth, which for many years served every pur- pose of the modern stove.
This hearth was taken out by the present owner several years ago, when the mantelpiece was found to contain the inscription in figures "1744," the prob- able date of building by Lynford Lardner. Tradition points out this plaec as a summer resort for people from Philadelphia; and as grouse were very numer- ous in the section, large parties from the city annually eame to the pace for the purpose of hunting, from
1 which the place was known as "Grouse Hall." It is also referred to in Keith's "Provincial Council," in the life of Lynford Lardner, as his "shooting- ; box."
This house from the beginning was painted white, and being at that time more conspicuous than any other house in this region, was called " White Hall," and hence the name of the township.
It is still in the meutory of the oldest inhabitants that this house was surrounded by parks beautifully laid out, and other traces of a summer resort and publie-honse.
It is not known at what time Lardner parted with this property, but a mortgage is on record at Easton, given in 1752, reeiting that "Peter Droxell (Troxell), of Whitehall township, mortgaged to Lynford Lardner of Windsor, in the county of Laneaster, gentleman, a . certain messtage, plantation, and two tracts of land situate in a branch of Lehigh Creek, etc.," each con- taining one hundred acres. This property continued in possession of the Troxell family over one hundred years, and is now owned by Michael Minnich.
The assessment made by the commissioners of Northampton County, Dec. 27, 1781, for the township of Whitehall was as follows :
Jacob Arner.
Barthol Inber.
Christian Jacob.
Widow. Aruer. Stephen Balliet.
lleury Jeal.
Paul Balliet. Joli Balliet.
George Jund.
Peter Barler.
Jacob Jund.
Peter Beckle.
Jacob Kern.
Theabold Beck.
. Jacob Kern, Jr.
Melchoir Bear.
John Bear.
Christopher Kern.
Henry Bear.
Daniel Kern.
Jacob Bush.
Theobald Kenner. Frederick Swander.
Christian Bush.
George Knonse.
Henry Berger.
Philip Knouse, and the mill.
Christopher Blank.
Geoffrey Knonse.
Michael Bruch.
Michael Kolb.
Jacob Burger.
Jneob Kohler.
Peter Burghalter.
Peter Kohler.
Matthias Brich.
Philip Knappeuberger.
Philip Deel.
George Keakler.
Peter Deshler.
Peter Keakler.
Adam Deshler.
Jacob Kreshmau.
Jacob Dormeyer.
Widow Krombach.
George Dormeyer.
Henry Koon.
Adam Dorney.
Jacob, Laub.
Henry Dorney.
Peter Lehr.
Edman Doll.
John Lehr.
Peter Droxel.
Nicholas Limbert.
Daniel Droxel.
Abraham Lichtenwelder.
Nicholas Droxel.
Williant Lowry.
Adam Droxel.
Geoffrey Lowry.
George Duin.
Conrad Leysenring.
Christian Barteh.
Conrad March.
George ('ritis.
Adam Mowrer.
Adam Eppler.
Philip Mowrer.
Peter Foller.
Jacob Mickley.
Jacob Flickinger.
Martin Mickley.
George Flickinger.
Jacob Miller.
Jacob Frantz.
Sebastian Miller.
Sumiel Fry.
Phillip Mink.
Michael F'ry.
Adam Miller.
David Frederick.
John Moritz.
John Flexel.
John Mosser.
olin Fuhr.
Ilenry Mertz.
Andrew Fox.
Jacob Musgenung.
Adam Gelde.
David Musgounug.
George Glick.
Wadlow Music.
Laurence Good.
Peter Meyer.
Peter Good, Ji.
Just Meyer.
Adam Good.
John Meyer.
Jacob Good.
John Meyer.
George Good.
Peter Neihard.
Martin Groff.
Michael Neihard.
Joli Grisomr.
Laurence Neihand.
Pant Gross.
Frederick Neihard.
Adam Haller.
Peler Neihinund.
Jacob Harlinan.
Benedict Neidlinger.
Jacob Hartigan, Jr.
Peter Rabinold.
Deeter Hartman.
Daniel Rex.
Jacob llarman.
Heury Rietz.
Andrew Ileck.
George Kemelly.
Christian Hillman.
Goorge Rick.
Adam Heberly.
Michiel Ringer.
Henry Heltelfinger.
Michael Ringer, Jr.
Duwolt Herzog.
Ludwig Rishel.
John Henry.
William Rishel.
Jacob Henninger.
Martin Rishel.
Frederick Hill.
John lhvad.
Juhu Hoff'nin,
Daniel Khoad.
Barthol Hoffman.
Philip Bhead.
Peter Hoffman.
Peter Bhoad.
Georgo llothman.
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