USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 19
USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 19
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Laurence Knek.
George loures.
George Sauder.
Martin Satel.
Andrew lower. Widow Houser. JJacob Hausman.
George Salarl. Samuel Seager.
--
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Andrew Jenl.
Peter Kern.
John Bush.
.
480
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Samuel Senger.
Abraham Sterner,
Christian Saeger.
Tobias Steary.
Nicholas Saeger.
George Steary.
Nicholas Seager, Jr.
George Steininger.
Adam Serfas. Andrew Siegfried.
John Samnel.
Widow Siegfried.
Michael Steeby. John Spead.
Peter Slosser.
Peter Steckle.
Peter Slosser, Jr.
Jacob Steckle.
Conrad Seip.
Jacob Swander.
William Seip.
Adam Swander.
Bernard Smith. George Smith,
Andrew Winner.
John Shad.
John Sweyer.
Caspar Shenebruch.
George Winner.
l'eter Sneck.
Jacob Winn.
Henry Sneek.
Jacob Wirth.
Jost G. Sneck.
Christian Wirth.
Stephen Snyder.
George Willeman.
Widow Snyder.
Jacob Wolf.
Michael Snyder.
Sanmel Woodring.
Jacob Schrieber. '
Abrahant Bachman.
Herman Schrieber.
George Focht,
Peter Steinberger.
Anthony Stontegill.
John Steinberger.
John Siglin.
Just Steinberger.
Single Freemen.
Poter Draxel.
Jacob Holstine, Martin Myer.
Jolin Draxel.
David Myer.
Abraham Gnisomer.
Nicholas Myer.
Simon Hertly.
Daniel Neihard.
Caspar Kennel,
Nicholas Olker.
John Kern.
Gottfrey Khoad.
John Helfrich.
Frederick Snyder,
George I. Miller, John Miller.
Henry Snyder.
John Shlosser.
Michael Miller.
Peter Shiner.
Peter Mickley.
Heury Steckle.
Nicholas Moritz.
Abraham Yund.
Peter Moritz,
Melchoir Dietrich.
Abraham Martin.
Jacob Kolb.
Paul Grow, collector ; amount of tax, £688 178.
Michael Snyder was assessed for thirty pounds. Peter Burgholter, Peter Droxel, John Gresomer were each assessed for twelve pounds. Adam Heberly and George Knouse were each assessed eleven pounds. Lawrence Good and Peter Steckle were each assessed ten pounds. John Hoffman, Peter Kohler, and Jacob Michley each nine pounds. Adam Deshler, Jacob Good, Jacob Kern, John Steinberger, Leonard Stein- inger, and Jacob Schreiber cach eight pounds. Nich- olas Droxel, Henry Heffenfinger, Jacob Miller, Sam- ucl Saeger, and Christian Saeger each seven pounds. Henry Berger, Christian Blanch, Adam Dorney, Adam Good, Peter Good, Jr., Jacob Hartman, Barthol Huber, Jacob Kohler, Conrad Lysering, Martin Mickly, Stephen Snyder, Laurence Neihard, Freder- iek Neihard, and George Remelly each six pounds, and all others lower amounts.
A petition was presented at January term of Court of Quarter Sessions of Northampton County in 1810 praying for a division of Whitehall township. George Palmer, John Serch, and Michael Snyder were ap- pointed by the court to inquire into the propriety of the division of the township. At November term of
court the sante year they reported that they had divided the township. The court confirmed their action, and the township was decreed divided in ne- cordance with their report, "and one part lying northward of the division line, as per draft, is named North Whitehall, and the other lying southward of the said line is named South Whitehall." (The ae- counts of the present townships of North Whitehall and South Whitehall, as also the sketches of the early settlers residing in the same, are contained in the history of those townships.)
On the 4th day of February, 1867, a petition of citizens of North and South Whitehall was presented to the Court of Quarter Sessions of Lehigh County praying for a division of the townships. Same day the court appointed George Blank, Martin Kemerer, and Robert Yost commissioners to report as to the advisability of a division. Sept. 12, 1867, the report of the commissioners was filed, recommending a division of the townships.
" And now, Oct. 31, 1867, on motion of Messrs. Metzger and Schall, the report of the commissioners is confirmed absolutely, and it appear- ing by the returns of the sth day of October, 1867, herewith presented to the court, that a majority of the voters are ' for a new township,' the court order and decree a new township agreeably to the lines marked out and returned by the commissioners. . . . That the oxid new township be known and called East Whitehall. Now, Nov. 6, 1867, the court changes the name of the township from East Whitehall to White- hall."
The township as then laid out included the terri- tory beginning at the northwest corner of the city of Allentown (then the corner of Tenth and Liberty Streets) ; thence in a straight line north thirty-four and three-quarter degrees west, to the stone barn of John Schwartz, in North Whitehall; thence in a straight line north seventeen and one-quarter degrees west, to a stone ; thence in a straight line north sixty- seven degrees east, to the shore of the Lehigh River, on the north side of Zellis' mill; thence along the shore of the river to the city of Allentown; thence along the city limits to Jordan Creek ; thence along the city limits to the place of beginning. It contains an area of twelve square miles.
Natural Features .- The greater portion of the township is productive limestone soil, under a high state of cultivation, mostly level, except in the north- western portion, where it is interspersed with numer- ous hills with state and gravel soil. The most numer- ous minerals are limestone, which is found in large quantities, especially along the Lehigh River, the Jordan and Coplay Creeks, where it is extensively quarried. Cement is abundantly found in the north- western parts, where extensive works are erected. Deposits of iron ore are also found in the limestone region, and fire-clay in the central portion in small quantities. Slate-quarries are opened in the northern part, where roofing-slate, flagging, fence-posts, and flooring-blocks are mannfactured.
The township is drained by the Lehigh River, which forms the northeastern boundary. The Jordan Creek
Jacob Draxel.
Nicholas Woodring.
Daniel Snyder.
George Shnerr.
Adam Shenrer.
Leonard Steininger.
481
WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP.
flows through the southwestern portion, and like the Jordan of old, winds its courses along the hills in this seetion, and flows into the Lehigh River at Allentown.
HIelffrich's Springs are situate near Allentown, about three miles above the mouth of the Jordan. About three and one-half miles above the springs the waters of the Jordan sink into the limestone soil during the dry seasons of the year, making the bed of the creek dry for that distance, and the waters thus disappear- ing seems to be the source from which Helffrieh's Springs are fed during this season. These springs and others along the banks of the creek supply the water for the Jordan, making it from this place a flow- ing stream throughout the whole year.
Coplay Creek (also known as Indian Creek) enters the township from North Whitehall, where it has its source near Unionville, flows in a southeasterly direction through Egypt and the central portion of the township, and empties into the Lehigh River below the works of the Thomas Iron Company, at Hoken- dauqua. It drains a large and fertile region of soil, flows throughout the whole year, and in its course is used extensively for irrigating the rich meadow-lands along its banks.
Mill Creek flows partly through the township at its northwestern boundary, and partly through North Whitehall ; has a number of tributaries in its course, and empties into the Lehigh River at Yellis' mill, above Whitehall Station.
The Lehigh Valley Railroad runs through the township along the Lehigh River, and in its course in the township are located the stations of Fullerton, Catasauqua, Hokendauqua, Copiay, and Whitehall.
The Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad connects with the Lehigh Valley Railroad at Catasauqua, ex- tends through the township in a southeasterly diree- tion a distance of about three miles. The Ironton Railroad, now owned by the Thomas Iron Company, also connects with the Lehigh Valley Railroad at Coplay, extends from that place through the township along Egypt, and partly along the Coplay Creek, into North Whitehall.
The early roads in the township were laid out from Northampton (now Allentown) to the small villages and ferries along the Lehigh River. Among them may be mentioned the one leading from Allentown to Catasauqua, frequently referred to as leading to Jacob Yund's and Hartman's Ferry ; also the road to Egypt, Balliet's, and Siegfried's Ferry.
The Lehigh River is crossed by Biery's bridge and the Crane Iron Company's bridge, at Catasauqua, Lanbach's bridge at Coplay, and Seigfried's bridge at Whitehall Station, all of which are toll-bridges.
The Jordan is crossed by Steckel's bridge on the road from Allentown to Catasauqua, Newhard's bridge on the road from Allentown to Siegfried's bridge, and Knauss' bridge on the road from Allen- town to Slatington, all of which are county bridges. The first bridge at Steckel's was built in 1832. Prior
1
to this tine the creek was crossed by a ford at this place. The bridge was built by the county commis- sioners, Jacob Marks, John Bast, and --- -. It was a stone structure with three arches. In the early part of 1839 the bridge was swept away by a freshet. The same summer steps were taken by the commis- sioners for the erection of a new bridge. After work- ing in vain for some time to obtain a firm foundation, the project was abandoned until the following sum- mer, when the new wooden bridge was built by Henry Leh, Jacob L. Derr, and Philip Person, county com- missioners. This was the first wooden bridge eon- structed in the county, and it is still standing.
The first bridge at Newhard's was built about 1899. Prior to this date there was a ferry at the place, which was used during the seasons of the year when the stream could not be forded. The first bridge was of stone with three arches, and evidently of poor work- manship, as some years afterward it was declared un- safe, and the arches were rebuilt in 1834, in which condition the bridge is still standing.
Before the creetion of Knauss' bridge the crossing at this place was known as Knauss' Ford. The first bridge erected, which is still standing, is a stone struc- ture with two arches. The proceedings leading to tlte erection of the same were as follows :
" Petition for a county bridge over the Jordan Creek at Jonathan Knouse, dated Feb. 5, 1818, the court appointed Adam Good, John Sieger, George Eisen- hard, Peter Schroeber, George Yund, and Abraham Gangewere viewers as prayed for. The jury reported, May 13, 1818, in favor of a bridge. Same year, May sessions, the Grand Jury reported ' no bridge.'
" FREDERICK JORDAN, " Foreman."
May sessions, 1818, the court appointed George Rhoads, George Savitz, John Spanenberger, Peter Hauck, John Knecht, and John Boas viewers. The jury reported in favor of a bridge Aug. 15, 1818.
Grand jury indorsed on report "rejected."
The third petition was presented Feb. 7, 1822. The court appointed as viewers Stephen Balliet, George Gangawere, Anthony Music, Esqs., Peter Troxell, Michael Track, and Peter Ruch.
March 18, 1822, the viewers reported to the court in favor of a bridge. At the next sessions the grand jury made the following indorsement on the report : " Allowed, Solomon Steekel, foreman."
Also indorsed on the report:
"1824, Feb. 4, recommitted to the same viewers, to cause the variation to be accurately surveyed and a map or plot thereof to be made, which is to accompany their report, returnable to the next sessions.
"John Miller entered into a contract with the county commissioners in 1822 to do the mason-work of the bridge according to a plan for- nished by the commissioners, which he performed according to the best of his abilities, That owing to some causes the atches of the bridge gave way shortly after its completion, whereby it came incumbent on him to rebuild the same. That with the assistance he has received from others, under an impression that the county would not suffer him to be the loser, after suffering very considerable damages by two successivo freshets, he hus rebuilt and completely finished the samo again in a good
31
£
482
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
and workmanlike manner. That he has kept an account of his labors and expenses, which he is ready to exhibit to the Honorable Court and the Grand Ingnest, by which it will appear that he has sustained very heavy losses, That your petitioner is poor and unable to bear the losses he has sustained himself, and that therefore they would be unavoidably injnrions to others if no compensation would be made to him by the county.
(Signed), " JOHN MILLER, " Mason.
" And by the petitioners."
Petition indorsed :
"The within bridge as prayed for allowed $800 by the Grand Jury, and one half to be paid on the 27th day of March, 1824, and the re- muinder one year after the first payment.
" WM. II. LONG, Foreman."
Coplay Creek is erossed throughout the township by a number of small bridges, all of which are town- ship bridges except the one at Egypt. This was built by the county commissioners in 1850. It is eon- strueted of wood, about one hundred feet in length, and is still standing.
Settlement .- The early settlements in the township were mostly made by emigrants from Germany, who landed at Philadelphia, and in small numbers settled in various parts of the township as early as 1730. They took possession of the soil, and in many in- stanees did not obtain their warrants and patents for the same until some years afterwards.
Among the first settlers may be mentioned the Rohlers, Steekels, Troxells, Deshlers, Burkhalters, Miekleys, Leisenrings, Schreibers, Newhards, Millers, Yunds, Snyders, Kolss, Roths, Knauss, and others.
Egypt was among the early settlements in the town- ship.
Jacob Kohler (Coler) emigrated from Mill Hausen, Switzerland, and settled at Egypt between the years 1720 and 1730, with his family of nine children, -- two sons (Peter and Jacob) and seven daughters.
Jaeob Kohler built his first house prior to 1730, near the site of the present mill. This was a log house, and was replaced by a large stone house, which has since been taken away and the third house built. In 1755 he built the first grist-mill at this place, partly stone and partly log, on Coplay Creek, and held the same until his death, in 1792. By
land to his son, Peter. In 1809, Peter Kohler built a new stone grist-mill near the site of the old mill. This seeond mill is still standing. In 1854, Peter Kohler sold the mill to his son, Aaron Kohler, who is still the owner of it. Other descendants of the original Kohler family still reside in the township.
Christian Steckel, the ancestor of the Steckel family in this place, settled at Egypt, Sept. 1, 1736, and ob- tained a patent for two hundred and sixty-six acres of land. In the year 1756 he built a stone house upon this tract, which served the purposes of a dwell- ing-house and of a fort against the attacks of the In- dians. The dimensions are thirty-five by forty feet, with walls two and a quarter feet in thickness. It is standing to the present day in good condition, and is
owned by Josiah Steckel, a descendant of the original family.
Hle was married to Maria Bear. He had ten chil- dren,-five sons (John, Jacob, Henry, Daniel, Peter) and five daughters, who were intermarried respectively with John Peter Burkhalter, Mickley, Sehneider, George Dinky, and Martin Moyer.
John Steekel settled in Whitehall, on Coplay Creek, upon a portion of the old farm, where he lived until his death.
Jacob settled at Egypt, and built the present hotel in 1791, and in connection with the hotel kept the store until 1821.
Henry settled upon the old homestead, where he died.
Daniel settled at Bath, Northampton Co., and died there at the age of one hundred and one years.
Peter was born Nov. 3, 1772, and settled in Moore township, Northampton Co., where he died Feb. 22, 1866.
The danghters of Christian Steckel all settled in the township.
John had four children, -- three sons and one daugh- ter, to wit: Daniel (who acquired the John Steckel homestead), Joseph (who settled in the township), Sally (wife of Jacob Biery, who moved West), and Peter.
Peter was a blacksmith by trade, and carried on this business at Hartman's Ferry, along the Lehigh River, and at the Irish settlement in Northampton County until 1828, when he bought from Walter C. Livingstone a tract of one hundred acres of land along the Jordan Creek, in the southeastern part of the township, where he was engaged in farming until his death. He had also bought several other tracts in this vieinity. He was married to Esther Burk- halter, who survives him, and is now living at Allen- town.
He had four children,-two sons ( Robert and Reu- ben P.) and two daughters,-Amanda (now living upon one of her father's tracts) and Anna (now living with her mother).
Robert occupied the farm upon the death of his his will he devised the grist-mill and a portion of his ; father, and still owns it. He engaged in farming until 1873, when he removed to Allentown, where he is still living. He served two terms in the lower house of the State Legislature, in 1873 and 1874. Reuben P. and Robert are both members of the firm of M. S. Young, hardware dealers, in this city.
Henry Steckel, who settled upon the tract of his father's (Christian Steckel), had several children, among them a son, Peter, who acquired the original Steckel tract near Egypt, and owned it until he died. He was married to Elizabeth Biery, and had thirteen children, to wit: Thomas, residing at Allentown ; Peter, who settled in Ohio; Henry, in Illinois; David, in one of the Western States; Joseph, in In- diana; Charles, who died here; Deborah, wife of Enoeh Newhard, residing at Allentown ; Hetty, wife
483
WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP.
of Thomas Gangewere, who settled in Indiana ; Clarissa, wife of Jacob Weiss; and Sarah, wife of Ephraim Steckel.
John Jacob Miekley was born in Europe in 1697, and came to America in the ship " Hope," of London, 'from Amsterdam, Holland, arriving at Philadelphia, Aug. 28, 1733. It appears that the family is de- seended from the French Huguenots, the name having originally been written Michelet, but corrupted and variously written Miquelet, Mucklite, and finally an- glieized into the present form Mickley ; that during the persecution of the Huguenots in France they emi- grated to the bordering dukedom of Deux Ponts, a part of the German empire, where they were unmo- lested in the exercise of their religion. John Jacob Mickley settled at Egypt in Whitehall township, where he obtained warrants for three tracts of land, the first of which is dated Nov. 5, 1745. He was mar- ried to Elizabeth Barbara, daughter of Ulrich Burk- halter, and died in August, 1769. He had three sons and two daughters, to wit: John Jacob, who settled on a tract of land bordering on the village of Hoken- dauqua. He had six sons and four daughters. A number of his descendants are still residing in the county.1
John Martin, the second son, continued to live on the homestead, and had the lands patented for which his father had taken out the warrants. In 1794 he moved to Adams County and settled near Gettysburg. He had four sons and five daughters, whose descend- ants are still living in that county.
John Peter, the third son, of whose escape from the Indians an account is given in the general history of the township, served in the military service against the Indians and in the Revolution during the whole time of its continuance, in the capacity of a fifer. He was in the battle of Germantown. At the close of the war he was married, and settled in Bedminster township, Bucks Co., about the year 1784. He had two sons and eight daughters, some of whose descend- ants are still living in Bucks County and others in Philadelphia.
One of the daughters of Jolut Jacob Mickley was married to Andrew Miller, who resided in Lyun town- ship, and died without issne. The other daughter was married to Adam Deshler, a son of Adam Desh- ler, one of the original settlers of the township. She lived in Whitehall township until the death of Desh- Jer, by whom she had three sons and one daughter. She afterwards married Michael Bieber, of Allen township, Northampton County.
Adam Deshler, another of the early settlers, immi- grated to this county with two brothers-Anthony and David-from Switzerland about the year 1733, and settled upon a tract of land in Whitehall town- ship, near Egypt.
1 For full sketch of Mickley family, sev biographical sketch, with Mickley portrait,
John Reinberry obtained a warrant for a traet of two hundred and three and a half acres and allow- anees, dated June 27, 1738, which by non-compliance became void. Frederick Newhard (who subsequently settled in the lower part of the township) obtained a warrant for the same tract, dated Feb. 1, 1742, which afterwards was vested in Adam Deshler, and to whom a patent was issued for the same, May 5, 1751, as also a patent bearing even date for an adjoining tract of forty aeres, for which he had taken out a warrant dated June 5, 1749. Adam Deshler figures in the colonial period, having been employed to furnish pro- visions for the provincial forees in 1756, 1757, and 1758. In 1760 he built a stone house upon this tract, which is still standing and in a good state of preserva- tion. During the Indian troubles it was used as a military post, and the loop-holes in the thick walls are still visible.
Adam Deshler had four sons, viz .: Adam, Peter, David, and George, and several daughters, among whom were Mrs. Peter Kern, who lived along the Jor- dan, and Mrs. Schreiber, of Allentown.
Adam Deshler was the oldest of the three sons ; had one son, David, and several daughters, to wit : Mrs. Schreiber, Mrs. Stein, Mrs. Kern, Mrs. Daide- man, and Mrs. Woodring.
Peter, the second son, had three sons, viz. : Peter, who first lived at the Irish settlement in Northampton County, and subsequently moved to Whitehall; David, called "Clover-seed" David, from the fact of his having a clover-mill at the Little Lehigh Creek ; and Jacob, who lived near " Nelig's in the Irish settlement."
David, the third son of the original Adam Deshler, had a number of children. Adam, one of the sons (also called Han Adam), settled at Easton. Among his sons are. David N. Deshler, of Columbus, O., whose son, John G., lives at Buffalo, N. Y. George is the second son of Han Adam Deshler, and among his sons is Charles D. Deshler, who is a druggist, and inventor of the celebrated fever and ague pills called "Desliler's Pills," and resides at New Brunswick, N. J. The above-named David Deshler also had several daughters, among them Mrs. Christian Mick- ley and Mrs. John Wagner, of Allentown.
David Deshler, the grandson of Adam Deshler, first above mentioned, had three sons, to wit: James, Da- vid, and John, who lives at Waterloo, N. Y. James lived in Whitehall township, and had three sons,- Jacob, Peter, and D. J. F.,-all of whom reside in the city of Allentown. David, the second son, was reared in Whitehall township, and left home when about sixteen years of age. He became a surveyor, and as- sisted in the government surveys of Kansas and Mis- souri. He afterwards engaged in the mercantile bn-j. ness in St. Louis, and then in Tuscumbia, Ala. He conceived the idea and successfully carried out the project of building a railroad from that place to De- catur,-forty-two miles across the neck of a great bend in the Tennessee River, connecting its navigable
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484
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
waters (the water in the neck being shallow), and thus materially enhanced the commerce of that region. This was in 1834 or 1885, and the road was the first west of the Alleghanies, and probably the third in the United States. It is now a link in one of the great sonthern railroads between Memphis and Charleston. The cars were at first drawn by mules.
David Deshler had two sons and one daughter. Both the sons were students at West Point. David, one of the sons, was drowned while a student ; James, the other, graduated, served in the army, and lost his life in the battle of Chickamauga.
Ulrich Burkhalter, the ancestor of the family in the township, immigrated to this country in the ship "Samuel," of Sweden, Ilugh Perey, master, from Rot- terdam, but last from Cowes, and landed at Philadel- phia, Aug. 11, 1732, with two hundred and seventy- nine persons. He subsequently settled in Whitehall township, and on Feb. 4, 1743, bought from Richard Hoekley a tract of three hundred acres of land near Egypt. This was a tract nearly square, rich and fer- tile soil, beautifully located, watered with two never- failing springs about two hundred and fifty yards dis- tant from caeh other, the water from which irrigates the meadows on this and adjoining traets. It is in general one of the best and, most desirable tracts in the town- ship. Ulrich Burkhalter had one son, Peter, and one daughter, Elizabeth Barbara, intermarried with John Jacob Miekley, of whom a sketch is herein elsewhere given.
Peter obtained from his father a deed of gift, dated Nov. 9, 1754, for the above traet, on which he built a large two-story stone dwelling-house, which is still standing. He also obtained warrants for two adjoin- ing traets, the one ealled Somerville containing sixty- nine aeres, the other called Petersburg containing one hundred and ten and a half acres. Peter had one son, John Peter (known as " Han" Peter), and two daugh- ters, Maria Barbara, intermarried with -- Able from Philadelphia, and the other intermarried with Stephen Balliet.
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