USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 23
USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 23
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In 1874 the present church building was remodeled and rededicated Nov. 11, 1874.
Rev. Leinbach continued as pastor of the Reformed congregation until Jan. 1, 1884, when his resignation, which he had previously tendered, took effect. Rev. W. R. Hofford, the late president of the Allentown Female College, was elected pastor of the Egypt charge of the Reformed Church Dec. 15, 1883, and entered upon his duties Jan. 1, 1884.
Rev. Renninger still continues as pastor of the ; before the grand jury."
Lutheran congregation.
Theodore A. Kline .... April 14, 1868
Ang. K. Kelehner ... March 21, 1874
Edward Kohler. 13, 1869 , James B. Snyder ..... 19, 1877
Simeon H. Price .. * 13, 1869 A. D. Kichline 27, 1879
Henry Martins 9, 1872 James B. Snyder. ... 30, 1x82
Villages-Whitehall .- The village near the north- i western limit of the township, on the Lehigh River, is called Whitehall, which is also the name of the sta- tion on the Lehigh Valley Railroad at this place. The village is built upon the land patented by Wil. liam Allen, and subsequently sold by him to the Showalters, who later sold the same to Conrad Leisen- ring. Prior to the building of the railroad the place was connected with the village across the river in Northampton County called Siegfried's Bridge, and was also known by that name.
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
continued to be until Dee. 31, 1883, when he tendered his resignation. Rev. W. R. Hofford, the late presi- dent of the Allentown Female College, was their chosen pastor, and entered upon his duties Jan. 1, 1884, and still continues as pastor.
The consistory of the congregation at the time of its organization were Owen L. Schreiber and B. S. Levan, elders ; and A. F. R. Kraut, C. H. Knerr, Edward S. Haaf, and Nathan Stofflet, deacons. The elders first elected have served the congregation to the present day. A Sunday-school was also organized in connec- tion with the church, which is in a flourishing con- dition.
The Lutherans at this place also held services in the public school-honse prior to the organization of the congregation. The proposed erection of a Reformed Church in 1872, and the offer (on the part of the Re- formed congregation to the Lutherans) of the right to worship in the proposed new church, induced them to take immediate steps for organization. Through the earnest efforts of Rev. J. D. Schindel a meeting was held in the school-house May 22, 1873, and the congregation organized, a church council elected, and Rev. J. D. Schindel chosen as pastor.
In the early part of 1882 the Lutheran congrega- tion began the erection of their own church building. The pastor, with an energy and business taet rarely found in a minister of the gospel and supported by a willing congregation, began to solicit subscriptions, and within ten months there stood on the brow of the hill " The St. John's Lutheran Church of Coplay," at a cost of $4280.45, and free from debt.
The new edifice was dedicated Nov. 12, 1882. Upon the resignation of Mr. Schindel, in 1883, the congregation was united with Trinity Lutheran Church of Catasauqua, and on June 17, 1883, Rev. George W. Sandt was elected to fill the vacancy, under whose pastoral care the congregation is now continuing its work. A Sunday-school was organized in connection with the church.
Hokendauqua .- The village of Hokendauqua ad- joins the borough of Coplay on the southeast. loken- dauqua is an Indian term, signifying " searching for land," and the name originally given to the creek in Northampton County flowing into the Lehigh River at Coplay.
It is built upon the land for which William and Margaret Lowther obtained a warrant in 1733, and was subsequently sold by Thomas Butz to the Thomas Iron Company, which now owns nearly the entire village. It is beautifully located on an eminence on the west bank of the river, and adorned by the ele- gant residences of John Thomas and Edwin Thomas on the brow of the hill.
The village is supplied with water by the Thomas Tron Company, and also a fire department.
The history of the village is more especially con- nected with the iron-works at this place, of which an account is presented elsewhere in this chapter.
In 1865 the village was formed into an independent. school district (out of Whitehall township), of which the following is the record :
Sept. 16, 1864, petition of inhabitants of White- hall township, of the village of Hokendauqua, pre- sented, praying for an independent district. The court appointed John 'D. Lawall, Solomon Greisemer, and O. L. Schreiber commissioners to inquire into the propriety of the formation of the district. Jan. 9, 1865, the commissioners reported "that it would be expedient to form, and the educational interests of the inhabitants of the district would be greatly pro- moted by forming a separate and independent school district. April 7, 1865, the court confirmed the within report absolutely."
On the same day the court named the new district "The Hokendauqua School District."
The district as then formed now contains one hun- dred and forty-five dwelling-houses, three stores, one school-house (with three schools), and one church, and about seven hundred inhabitants.
The First Presbyterian Church of Hokendauqua dates its origin back to the year 1854,-about the time the iron-works at this place were started. Among those who resided here were seven of the Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua, and services were begun by the Rev. Cornelius Earle. Prior to 1869 the Old- and New-School Presbyterians held separate services, the one attending the services of Rev. C. Earle in the room over the Thomas Iron Company's office, and the other attending ministra- tions in private houses by Revs. Leslie, Irwin, James Lewers, and William Fulton. In that year the two schools were united, forming one good and quite strong congregation. They held their meetings first at the residence of Samuel Thomas, then in the company's barn, in an oil-house, in private rooms, in the old office of the iron company, and afterward in the new office erected in the summer of 1858. On application to the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County the church obtained a charter Nov. 8, 1855. The original trustees named in the charter are Samuel Thomas, Walter W. Walters, Samuel Kinsey, David Thomas, Charles D. Fuller, and Jacob Miekley, Jr. In 1866 decisive action was taken with reference to erecting a suitable house of worship. Subscriptions were raised to the amount of two thousand three hun- dred dollars, and the directors of the Thomas Iron Company gave three lots of ground one hundred and fifty feet square, on which the church building is erected. The directors also donated three thousand five hundred dollars in cash towards the church edi- fice. The corner-stone of the new building was laid Ang, 11, 1867, and the new church was dedicated Sept. 26, 1869. Rev. Cornelius Earle, of Catasauqua, continued as pastor of the congregation until 1869, when Rev. James A. Little was chosen pastor, under whose care the congregation is still flourishing, and now has about two hundred members. A Sunday-
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WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP.
school was also organized in connection with the church. Within the last year an elegant parsonage was creeted alongside of the church.
The distriet eontains a large briek sehool-house, in which three schools are kept open during a term of ten months in the year. The school directors elected for this district sinee its organization are given else- where. (See list of school directors.)
Pleasant Hill, or West Catasauqua, is situated on an eminence opposite Catasauqua, on the west bank of the Lehigh River. It is built upon the tract of land originally owned by Adam Miller, and laid out in building-lots by Joshua Miller and some of the other descendants of the Miller family within the last fifteen years. It has a population of five hundred and ninety-five, contains a school-house with two graded sehools, one store, two hotels, and private dwelling- houses. The Catasauqua Station, ou the Lehigh Valley Railroad, is located in this village.
The Village of Fullerton is located on the tracts originally settled and patented by Jacob Yund, Ste- phen Snyder, and Giles Winsor, on the Lehigh River. It has sprung up sinee the building of the iron-works and other industries at this place, within the last twenty years, the first of which was the rolling-mill, followed by the car-works of Frederick & Co., the car- wheel works and forge of McKee & Fuller, who have also since acquired the car-works. The village is named after James W. Fuller, a member of the latter firm.
The upper portion of the village, known as Fern- dale, contains the "Ferndale Rolling-Mill," owned and operated by the Catasauqua Manufacturing Company, mider the superintendency of Edward Edwards.
The village now has a population of five hundred and fifty, one ehureh ( known as the Ferndale Church), one school-house, with four graded schools and one hundred and seventy-four pupils, three stores, one hotel, railroad station, and a post-office called Fern- dale.
The Ferndale Church .- Mr. David Thomas, the president of the Catasanqua Manufacturing Company, moved by the uncared-for spiritual condition of this place, and aided by the liberality of the company, during the spring of 1871 had an old frame barn re- modeled and fitted up as a place of worship, in size twenty-four by twenty-four fect; yet being made neat and comfortably furnished, people and children were soon attracted thereto. A Sunday-school was also in- stituted under the care of Edward Edwards. The build- ing was formally dedicated to the worship of God on Sunday, June 11, 1871, by the Rev. C. Earle, pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua, who from that time, assisted by Rev. David Griffith, held regular services every Sunday afternoon. Anthority having been obtained from the Presbytery of Lehigh, a Chris- tian church was, by Mr. Earle, assisted by his ruling elder, Daniel Thomas, regularly organized Oct. 8,
1871, according to the Presbyterian usage, under the style and title of the " Presbyterian Church of Fern- dale." There were at that time twelve members, to wit: Edward Edwards, Mrs. Mary Jane Edwards, Joseph Davis, Mrs. Sarah Davis, William Harris, Mrs. Mary Harris, William Evans, Mrs. Jane Evans, Rachel Hopkins, Hannah Lloyd, William Vaughn, and David Jones, of whom Edward Edwards and Joseph Davis were elected elders.
Mr. Earle was, on account of ill health, at his own request, released from the charge of the church in June, 1872, and Rev. James A. Little, of Hokendau- qua, was appointed stated supply, who continues in charge to this date. William Harris was elected elder March 24, 1878, to fill the vacaney caused by the resignation of Joseph Harris. In 1773 the church building was enlarged to accommodate the increasing numbers.
The church now has a membership of eighty and a Sabbath-school of two hundred pupils, still under the superintendeney of Mr. Edwards, in a flourishing condition.
Egypt is a village on the Coplay Creek, one mile from the Lehigh River. Traces of its settlement are found as early as 1733. It is built upon the land originally owned by Jacob Kohler and Christian Steckel. The Kohlers built the first houses in this vicinity, and also the grist-mill. The store and hotel building was erected in 1790 by Jacob Steckel, who obtained a license and kept the hotel in connection with the store until 1821, when the hotel was aban- doned. In 1847 a hotel license was again obtained, by William Leisenring, now of Whitehall Station, who kept the hotel and store for some years, and was suc- eeeded by David Fatzinger, Tilghman Kohler, and John Koeh, who successively carried on the hotel and store business until 1874, when Ephraim Long, the present owner, bought the same and took possession of it.
A tannery was erected at this place at an early date, and the business carried on by William Wether- hold, William Burkhalter, Charles Troxell, Aaron Kechline, and A. D. Kechline, the present owner.
The first English school in the township was estab- lished at this place in 1810. It was held in a one-and- a-half-story stone building, still standing near the church. Among the masters who taught here were Thomas Fitzgerald, Michael Kraemer, Henry Scholl, William Osman, Russel Ward, John K. Clifton, John HI. Oliver, Alfred B. Schwartz, Erastus Rhoads, Amos Steckel, and David Stern.
The village now contains thirty-seven houses, with one hundred and seventy-five inhabitants. A post- office is kept in the store, with a daily mail. The Union Church at this place dates back many years. The following is the history of the church as pre- pared by Professor J. H. Dubbs, of Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa.
In 1849 two new congregations were formed out of
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
the Egypt Church, and a new church built at Mick- Seam, Joseph Gackenbach, J. Alfred Fatzinger, and ley's, in the central part of the township.
South Whitehall Church. - South Whitehall Church, sometimes called Mickley's Church, now in Whitehall township, was organized as a Union Church, Lutheran and Reformed, on April 1, 1849. The two respective congregations, after organization, elected the following as their first church officers. On the Lutheran side were elected, as elders, Solo- mon Kemmerer and Renben Paul; as deacons, Na- than Eberhard, David Gross, Jesse Reichard, and Thomas Paul; as trustee, George Kemmerer; and as presiding officer, John Sheirer. On the Reformed side were elected, as elders, David Biery and Peter Henry Schadt, and Peter Butz; as trustee, John Schadt; and as presiding officer, Charles Troxell. Thomas Butz was elected treasurer for both congrega- tions, and served until after the dedication of the new church, when David Eberhard succeeded him, and served until his death, Ang. 21, 1869. Since that
At this same meeting for organizing the congrega- tions a building committee was also appointed, con- sisting of Jacob Mickley, Peter Miller, Peter Mick- ley, and David Eberhard, and steps taken towards erecting a church building. The corner-stone of the new building was laid May 27, 1849, and the dedica- tion took place November 17th and 18th of the same year. The land on which the church building stands, as well as that used for the old burial-ground and the adjoining woodland, were donated by Daniel Roth, David Biery, and Joseph Biery. No regular pastors were ealled until 1850. On Jan. 1, 1850, the Re- formed congregation called Rev. Joseph Dubbs, who 1 served until 1852, when he was succeeded by his son, Rev. A. J. G. Dubbs, who served until 1860, when he was sueceeded by the second son of the first pastor, now Rev. Professor Joseph HI. Dubbs, D. D., of Frank- lin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa., who re- mained with the congregation until 1863, when the present pastor, Rev. William R. Hofford, took charge of the same.
On March 29, 1850, the lutheran congregation elected as their first regular pastor Rev. Jeremiah Schindel, who preached his introductory sermon May 9, 1850. He served the congregation until 1859. From 1859 to 1860, Rev. E. B. Kramlich was pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. W. G. Mennig as supply from Conference until 1861. From 1861 to 1866 the congregation was served by Rev. F. J. F. Schantz. He was followed by Rev. Carl Schlenker as supply from Conference from October, 1866, to the spring of 1867. On March 17, 1867, Rev. J. D. Sehindel, son of the first pastor of the congregation, was elected pastor, and has served the same to this date.
The organists have been F. G. Berndt, Jacob Slem- mer, John S. P. Fanst, John Leonhard, Benjamin
the present incumbent, James B. Snyder, Esq.
In 1869 the building was beautifully repaired and frescoed, at a cost of about five thousand dollars. The building committee consisted of Peter Miller, Thomas Butz, Jacob Mickley, George Kemmerer, Reuben Schreiber, George H. Stem, Charles Henninger, and Edwin Hausman. The ladies' furnishing committee consisted of Mrs. Nathan Eberhard, Mrs. T. F. Butz, Mrs. D. L. Bogh, Mrs. Edwin Hausman, Mrs. Jona- than Semmel, Mrs. Peter Miller, Mrs. Reuben Schrei- ber, Mrs. F. Levan, Mrs. Charles Henninger, and Mrs. George H. Stem, with T. Franklin Butz as treasurer. The rededication took place Nov. 28, 1869, Roth ; as deacons, Reuben Schreiber, Jacob Seipel, ! just ten days more than twenty years since the first dedication.
From 1876, when the present basement was made, to 1881 various repairs were made, an organ for Snu- day-school purposes purchased, and the property much improved. In ISSI the splendid tower and steeple now adorning the building were erected. The - date Nathan Eberhard has served up to the present ; steeple measures one hundred and thirty-nine feet. both as treasurer and secretary.
At the same time an organist-house was built by the side of the church. The building committee con- sisted of T. Franklin Butz, George H. Stem, Dennis Frey, Reuben Hausman, and Alfred T. Miekley. After the completion of the tower a magnificent bell of cigliteen hundred pounds was placed therein, bear- ing these inscriptions: on one side, "The Thomas Butz Family Memorial," on the other, "Praise to God ! Donated to South Whitehall Church by Thomas F. Butz, Eliza A. Troxel, and Ellenore L. S. Weaver, 1881." The dedication took place Jan. 8, 1881.
During the summer of 1882 a fine pipe-organ of eighteen stops, made by Labaugh & Kemp, of New York City, was presented to the church by Mr. George H. Stem and family, of Stemton. The same was dedicated Sept. 24, 1882, and bears this inscription : "To the Praise and Glory of God. Presented by George H. Stem and Family to the Reformed and Lutheran Congregations of South Whitehall Church, 1882."
This church is showing a very healthy growth, is prosperous, peaceful, has a fine church property and cemetery, and is considered one of the best country churches in the county. Its Sunday-school is under the superintendence of Tilghman G. Helll'rich, Luth- eran, and Edwin Haal, Reformed, with T. Franklin Butz, president, and James Eberhard, secretary.
The present church councils are composed of the following: on the Lutheran side, Elders, Charles HIen- ninger and Edwin Hausman; Deacons, Sylvester Helfrich, William Erdell, Franklin Wisser, William Ebberwein; Trustee, Reuben Hausman ; Presiding Officer, Edwin Hausman. On the Reformed side, as Elders, T. Franklin Butz, George H. Stern ; Deacons, Richard Lazarus, Edward Haaf, Esrom Roth, Lewis Diefenderfer ; Trustee, Alfred T. Mickley ; and Pre- siding Officer, T. Franklin Butz.
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WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP.
In connection with the burial-ground belonging to the church there is also a cemetery association. The land for this purpose was bought from T. F. Butz, and now contains two acres, all laid out in plots, and owned by members of the congregations and others.
Industries in Whitehall Township-The Thomas Iron-Works at Hokendauqua .- One of the most stanch and solid iron establishments in Pennsyl- vania is that located in the model industrial town of Ilokendauqua, and bearing the name of the pioneer anthracite ironmaster of America. The works in- deed owe their existence in a very large measure to the enterprise of David Thomas, and his sons, Samuel and John Thomas, have been prominently and ac- tively identified with their financial and practical management. The organization, afterwards incor- porated as the Thomas Iron Company, had its incep- tion early in 1854. On February 14th, at a meeting held at Mrs. White's hotel, in Easton, the following persons were present who had become subscribers to the stock, viz. : David Thomas and Samuel Thomas, of Catasauqua; E. A. Douglass, of Mauch Clnink; Charles A. Luckenbach, Michael Krause, and John P. Scholl, of Bethlehem; Dr. Henry Detwiler, Peter S. Michler, John Drake, Derrick Hulick, Russel S. Chidsey, John T. Knight, Daniel Whitsell, and Car- man F. Randolph, of Easton ; Benjamin G. Clark, of New York ; Ephraim Marsh and William II. Taleott, of New Jersey, respectively the president and super- intendent of the Morris Canal Company. David Thomas gave his views concerning the establishment of the projected works and the best place for their . inches diameter, with ten-foot stroke.
location, and a committee was appointed to examine sites, with power to purchase. At the same meeting the capital of the company was fixed at two hundred thousand dollars, and the present name was adopted in honor of David Thomas. Subsequently a board of directors was appointed, which was constituted as follows, viz .: E. A. Douglass, William H. Talcott, Ephraim Marsh, Peter S. Michler, John Drake, Rus- organization was effected by the election of Peter S. Michler as president, the appointment of Carman F. Randolph as secretary and treasurer, and the choice of Samuel Thomas as superintendent.
and forty acres, while tracts have also been bought at various points along the river between Allentown and Coplay. About the time that the other officers were
chosen, David Thomas was elected trustee of real estate, and invested with the sole legal authority to convey any portion of that owned or afterwards ac- quired by the company.
On the 1st of March, 1854, Samuel Thomas, the superintendent, began the work of erecting the first two furnaces, with the necessary accompanying build- ings, and at the same time the town was laid out, and the construction of houses for the employés com- menced. Furnaces No. 1 and No. 2 were skillfully planned, and most substantially built. Each was sixty feet high, with eighteen-foot boshes. Two beam blowing-engines, of about five hundred horse- power each, with their proper connections and appli- ances, were manufactured for these furnaces by Robert P. Parrott, of the Cold Spring Foundry, at West Point, N. Y. The steam cylinders of these great engines were fifty-six inches in diameter, with mine-foot stroke, and the blowing cylinders were ninety inches in diameter, with the same stroke as the former. Furnace No. 1 was put in blast June 1, 1855, and furnace No. 2 on October 23d of the same year. They were operated successfully from the first, producing as good iron as any in the country. In 1861-62 furnaces Nos. 3 and 4 were built. These were each eighteen feet in diameter, and fifty-five feet in height. They were subsequently increased to sixty-five feet in height. For the operation of these furnaces two very large blowing-engines were erected, the steam and blowing cylinders of which were re- spectively of sixty-six and one hundred and eight
In 1867 the Lock Ridge Iron Company was organ- ized, by some of the directors of the Thomas Iron Company and a number of other gentlemen. This company commenced the erection of two furnaces near the junction of the East Penn and the Cata- sauqua and Fogelsville Railroad, but before they were completed the organization was merged with the Thomas Fron Company. The furnaces, cach
sel S. Chidsey, and C. A. Luckenbach. A complete ' fifteen-foot bosh and fifty-five feet in height, wer.
subsequently raised five feet, and became the Nos. 7 and & of the Thomas Company, the Nos. 5 and 6 being reserved for two furnaces which the manage- ment contemplated building at Hokendanqua, and which were erected in 1872-73. These were each of eighteen-foot bosh, and sixty feet in height. An ad- ditional blowing-engine of the same size and style as those connected with furnaces Nos. 3 and 4 was put iu to furnish the blast for these furnaces.
Very soon after the first steps were taken toward, and resulting in, the organization of the company. David Thomas, acting in behalf of his associates, purchased the site on which the works and the village | of Hokendauqua have since been laid out. The first purchase inelnded two farms, aggregating about one In April, 1882, the company bought from D. Run- kle & Co, the Keystone Furnace, in Glendon borough, near Easton, and this furnace, of sixteen-foot bosh and sixty-three feet in height, became their No. 9. With these nine furnaces the company can produce hundred and eighty-five acres, the property of Thomas Bntz, who was paid at the rate of about two hundred dollars per acre. Other purchases have been made from time to time until the Hokendauqua lands owned by the company amonut to about two Inindred : about one hundred and twenty thousand tous of pig- iron per annum, allowance of ample time being made for repairs, when the furnaces must of course be ont of blast.
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
The company's capital has been increased from time to time until it is at present two millions of dol- lars. Large ore-beds have been bought in Lehigh and Berks Counties, as well as extensive mines of magnetic ore in New Jersey. The company also leases ore-beds, and purchases great quantities of ore from mines operated by private enterprise. The enterprise of the company found exercise in joint operation with the Crane Iron-Works in the construction of the Cata- saugna and Fogelsville Railroad, and in 1882 the com- pany became the sole owner of the Ironton Railroad, purchasing it from Robert L. Kennedy, of New York.
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