USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 33
USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 33
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Ile erected the house in which his great-great-grand- son, Elias Guth, now resides. Its walls are two feet thick, with small windows. Logs were fitted to these and made so as to wedge in tightly. These were to be used in case of attacks by Indians. In times of danger the neighbors used to gather here. An acre of ground . surrounding this house was inclosed with a stone wall two feet thick and seven feet high, within which the cattle were kept. It is not known whether any attack was ever made upon this house. The time of the death of Lorenz Guth, Sr., is not known, but it must have been after the year 1800, for in that year a deed was given by him to his son, Lorenz. In this deed are also mentioned the other brothers, Adam and Peter. As far as we know, these three-Lorenz, Adam, and Peter-were his only sons.
Lawrence (or Lorenz), Jr., settled on the homestead, where Levi now resides. His sons were Lorenz (3d),
541
SOUTH WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP.
Peter, Daniel L., Solomon, Henry, John, and Adam, besides four daughters. Lorenz, Jr. (2d), was born in 1743, was married twice, the first time to Salome Dorenifen, and the second time to Marie Dorenifen. HIe died in 1814.
His son Lawrence (3d) lived for a while in the neighborhood, then left for the West. Peter, another son of Lorenz (2d) settled on a part of the homestead. He left a numerous progeny, of whom Charles is the only one in this township. Daniel L., another son of the same, was born in 1787, and died in 1837. His son, Levi, lives at present on the other old homestead. Edward and Sylvester are also sons, and live at pres- ent in the township. Henry, still another son of Lorenz (2d), also settled and died in the township. Mr. Calvin Guth, now living in the township, is one of his sons. Another son, Horace, lived in Upper Macungie. John, also a son of Lorenz (2d), settled on a part of the original tract, and died there. His grandehildren reside in Saegersville and Allentown.
The rest of the sons of Lorenz (24) either died young or else moved out of the State. This closes the account of the progeny of Lorenz (20).
Adam, a brother of Lorenz (2d), or son of Lorenz, Sr., settled at or near Guthsville. His children were Joseph, Henry, George, Daniel A., John, Jonas, Peter, Emmeline.
The family of Joseph is scattered and lo-t. Henry had a son, Aaron, and daughter, Melinda, who mar- ried Daniel Stettler. George married Lydia, daughter of Daniel Guth ; two daughters were born to them. Daniel A., born in 1787, and died in 1861, had three sons, Manasses, Ephraim, and Benjamin ; the former lives on his father's place. John, born 1784, has a son, Gideon, who lives in Wennersville. The rest have no descendants in the township. This closes the history of the Guth family.
Before 1743 Caspar Wistar was in possession of seven hundred and thirty-eight acres of land and six per cent. allowance. This land lay in what is now Whitehall, North Whitehall, and South Whitehall. In the same year he sold to Peter Troxell two hundred acres; in May, 1792, be sold to Peter Keru three hundred and eighty aeres, and in May, 1798, he soll of the remainder of his tract one hundred and eighty- eight acres, to Godfrey Haga. The Troxell land is situated in Whitehall and South Whitehall, and is still owned by the family. The old house built by Peter Troxell in 1744 still stands. A further account of this family belongs to the history of Whitehall. The land bought by Peter Kern lies in South and North Whitehall. A portion of it is now owned by Jeremiah Kern, a grandson of Peter. The tract pur- chased by Godfrey Haga was in 1804 bought by Sam- uel Sieger, of Siegersville, and is now owned by the descendants.
Jacob Henninger, the first of the Henninger family living in this section, was born in Alsace, Germany, in 1739, eame to this country in his youth, i
and was in his sixteenth or seventeenth year already one of the soldiers who went to the relief of the mis- sionaries who had settled at Gnadenhütten (now Lehighton). He helped to garrison Fort Allen (Weissport) in 1756. He subsequently purchased the tract of land on which Peter Wenner now lives. He married Catharine Kemmel, of Berks. He died Sept. 22, 1823, aged eighty-four years. She survived him many years, and died in 1839, aged seventy-nine years. He had five sons,-Jacob, Jolin George, Dan- iel, Christian, and John. Jacob, the eldest, settled where his son, Tilghman, now lives. He had eight sons and one daughter,-Jonathan, Jacob, Elias, Reuben, Tilghman, Charles, Moses, Franklin, and Annie (now Mrs. Christian Housman.) They all, with the exception of Jonathan and Moses, settled in this township. Jonathan removed to Whitehall and died in 1884, and Moses lives in Saucon. John George, the second son of Jacob, Sr., settled at Wen- nersville, where Gideon Guth now lives. He married Catharine Meyer, who was born in 1784, and died in 1848. Their children were three daughters, who are now Mrs. Jonathan Wisser, Mrs. Elis Schearer, and Mrs. Joel Scheirer.
Daniel, the third son of Jacob, Sr., settled on a part of the original traet. He had two sons- Thomas and Daniel-and one daughter, -- Lucinda (Mrs. John Albright). All settled at or around the old homestead.
Christian, the fourth son of Jacob, Sr., settled where Elias Henniger now lives. His children -- Daniel, John, Peter, Christian, William, Mrs. Solo- mon Kline, and Mrs. Mareks -- left this township after they were grown up.
The last son of Jacob, Sr. (John), settled on the Daniel Guth farm, now owned by his son, Josiah. John, known as Capt. John Henninger, married Susanna, daughter of Daniel Guth. She died in 1884. Their children were Josiah (of whom a sketch appears at the conclusion of this chapter), Zephaniah, Solomon, J. George, Edwin, and Brigetta. Zephaniah removed to Dauphin County ; Solomon went to Clay- ton, Del .; J. George lives ou a portion of his grand- father's tract; Edwin resides in AAllentown; and Brigetta (now Mrs. Edwin Ileihnan) lives in the township, near the old home.
Peter Kern, a native of Germany, came to this township prior to 1792. He bought, May 21, 1792, three hundred and eighty aeres of land on the north bank of the Jordan, above Cross-Keys, of Caspar Wistar. He built a house below the present farm of Jeremiah Kern, his grandson. He had seven ehil- dren, five sons and two daughters,-Peter, Joseph, Jonas, Daniel, Thomas, Julia (Mrs. Michael Sieger), and Sallie (Mrs. Herman).
Peter removed to Hamburg, and subsequently to Philadelphia.
Joseph married a daughter of one of the Romigs (near Lehigh Church), settled on a part of the home-
542
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
stead (two hundred and one acres), which he bought of his father, Dec. 8, 1813. His descendants are living in the township.
Jonas moved to llamburg. Dr. Josiah Kern, of Siegersville, is a son.
Daniel settled at Hamburg, and Thomas moved to North Whitehall, at what is known as Kern's Mills. Mrs. Michael Sieger settled in Siegersville.
Before 1800, Peter Dorney bought one hundred and fifty aeres of land of Peter Ehler, embracing the site of Dorneysville. A hotel, then already at the place, was continned by him. He had two sons and two daughters,-John, William, Mrs. Henry Schantz, and Kate, who remained single. John moved to the hotel, kept it for some time, and then gave it into other hands. He died in 1871. Since the time he left the hotel it has been in the hands of John Saeger, Edwin Romig, Edwin Muse, Willoughby Kline, Nathan Frederick, and (since 1877) David Gilbert. John had eight children,-Daniel D. (who lives in the town- ship), Tilghman H. (of Allentown), Mary (Mrs. James A. Saeger), Lavinia (Mrs. Adam Markle), Lydia (Mrs. Edwin Romig), Matilda ( Mrs. Edwin Muse), Sallie A. (Mrs. Willoughby Kline), and Eliza- beth ( Mrs. William Root). Mrs. Saeger, Mrs. Markle, Mrs. Romig, and Mrs. Muse reside also in the town- ship.
William, a brother of John, and son of the original Peter, lived on the homestead farm, and died in 1882.
George Wenner was one of the early settlers of the township. He is said to have bought one hundred and twenty-six acres of land from Lynford Lardner. HIe settled and died at what is now Wennersville. He had four sons and two daughters, -George, Wil- liam, John, Jonathan, Mrs. Peter Romig, and Mrs. Peter Butz.
William settled and died on the homestead. He left a large family, of whom Reuben remains on the old home, where his sons, Thomas and George, still live.
Sarah, daughter of William, married Gideon Guth, and remained in Weunersville, where he still lives. Lydia, another daughter, became the wife of Levi Guth, and lives in the township. Solomon lives in Lower Macungie, and the rest of the family are in Seneca County, Ohio.
John, a son of George and brother of William, set- tled on land adjoining the homestead. HIe (in 1837) bought the Jacob Henninger farm. He had three sons, -Peter, Charles, and Ephraim. Peter still lives and resides in the township. The rest are in other townships.
Daniel Guth was not connected with the original Lorenz Guth of 1739. Nevertheless he was an early settler in this township, and lived on the property how owned by Mr. Josiah Henninger. He erected the stone house, which still stands on the premises, in 1812, having many years previous occupied a log house near the site of the present stone dwelling.
His daughter, Susanna, married Mr. John Henninger, and settled on the old place. She died in 1884. Dan- iel had another daughter, Lydia, who became the wife of George Guth, son of Adam. They also settled in the township. Daniel Jeft no male heirs.
Dec. 15, 1804, Samuel Sieger bought of Andrew Beck thirty-five acres of the original Caspar Wistar tract. Later, his son, George, became the owner of the tract. George left five sons and three daughters. The sons are Nathan, Ephraim, William, Owen, and Franklin. All but William and Franklin settled in the township. In 1862, Ephraim built a stone grist- mill on the Jordan. It was burned down in 1880, but rebuilt at once. Limestone is found plentifully on this traet, which is used for curbstones and lime.
Michael Snyder came from Zweibrücken in 1750, when he was nine years old. He was sold for his passage, and served with a Mr. Zimmerman, near Kutztown, Berks Co. In 1765 he married Miss Eliza- beth Beaver, and moved to New Tripoli. He served in the Revolution, and afterwards bought a portion of the Wistar tract, near Guthsville, this township. He died at the age of ninety-one. His children are George, Peter, Daniel, and Michael, also two daugh- ters,-Mrs. Solomon Leukel and Mrs. Biege. The children of George are George, Jr., Michael, Solomon, and Peter. George, No. 2, had three children, -John, George, and Delia. John remains in the township as the sole representative of this large family. The rest have all moved to other parts of the State.
John Griesemer emigrated from Germany in 1730. Ile took out warrants for land in Bucks County, where he settled. Of his sons, Abraham settled in what is now South Whitehall before 1781. In 1806 he erected the tavern stand now at Griesemerville, which he kept many years. He was one of the first commissioners of Lehigh County in 1812. He had one son, Solomon, who settled on the homestead. Ile was commissioner of the county in 1835. The daughters of Abraham Griesemer became the wives of Abraham Bieber, of Salisbury, John Reed, John Keep, Jacob Scholl, and James Gephart. Solomon died in 1877, aged eighty- six years, and had tive sons and tive daughters, of whom Solomon and William are now living. Solomon rebuilt the tavern in 1861, and kept it till 1877, when his sou, Alfred Griesemer, the present proprietor, took possession.
The Troxell family settled in Whitehall township, on the Coplay Creek, at Egypt, prior to 1737. John Troxell obtained a warrant dated Oct. 28, 1787, for a tract of two hundred and fifty acres of land, which, by non-compliance, became void. Hans Peter Trox- ell obtained a warrant for the same tract dated Jan. 26, 1743, and had a patent issued Nov. 28, 1748. This tract was sold to Peter Steekel, by deed dated May 13, 1768. Peter Troxell also obtained two patents dated Dee. 23, 1760, for two adjoining tracts together con- taining one hundred and thirteen and three-quarter acres. These original Troxell tracts are now cut np
543
SOUTH WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP.
into a number of small traets, and owned by different parties.
The Troxell family settled also at an early date on the Jordan Creek, in what is now South Whitehall. In 1743, Peter Troxell bought from Caspar Wistar a . tract of two hundred acres of land. This Peter Trox- ell is said to have emigrated to this country at the age of thirteen years with his father, and had also settled in this vicinity. Peter Troxell, the son of the above- - named Peter, was born March 28, 1751, and his wife, Julia Barbara, was born May 5, 1758. They had nine children, to wit: John was born Aug. 9, 1784; Daniel, born in 1786; Peter, in 1788; Abraham, Oct. 18, 1789; Magdalena, Sept. 9, 1791 ; Jacob, June 25, 1794; Solomon, Aug. 26, 1796; Elizabeth, June 12, 1799; Susannah,
John settled in the township, on the Jordan, and obtained a portion of his father's land. Daniel set- tled on the old homestead, where he lived until the time of his death, when his son, Daniel, obtained the ! farm, where he lived for some years, and subsequently sold the same to Michael Minnich, the present owner, and moved to Allentown, Pa. Peter also obtained a portion of his father's land, where he settled. Magda- lena was married to --- Schadt, and moved to the Western States. Jacob settled in Salisbury, and Solo- mon in Northampton County. Susannah was inter- married with George Adam Kemmerer, and settled in Whitehall township. Among the sons of Peter Trox- ell last above mentioned is Aaron Troxell, now residing in the city of Allentown. Ile is intermarried with An- . geline Jarret, a descendant of John Jarret, the ances- tor of the Jarret family in this vicinity, from York- shire, England. Aaron Troxell was elected treasurer of Lehigh County in 1853, and held the office for three years.
Organization of Township .- South Whitehall, together with Whitehall and North Whitehall, origi- nally formed Whitehall township, of Northampton County. A petition was presented to the Jannary term of Northampton County court in 1810, asking for a division of Whitehall township. The court ap- pointed George Palmer, John Lerch, and Michael Snyder to inquire into the propriety of a division, and if thought advisable to divide it. This committee made a report in November of the same year, in which they declared they had divided the township. In due course of time, in the same term of court, it was de- clared that the township be divided according to the report, and one part, lying northward of the division line, is named North Whitehall, and the other South Whitehall. The assessment-roll for the township was, however, not made until late in the year of 1812. The following constitutes the first assessment-roll :
ASSESSMENT-ROLL FOR 1812.
Peter Butz.
Abraham Jond.
Solomon Butz.
Jolin Junger.
Samuel Brobst.
Gideon Junger.
Daniel Brobst.
Daniel Schreiber.
Abraham Blumer.
Jolin Koehler. Joseph Kern.
Henry Blunner.
Henry Bortz.
Peter Keru.
Jacob Bortz.
George Adamı Keunner.
John Billig.
Jonathan Knauss.
Jolin Bieber ..
Adam Kolb.
Jacob Brown.
lleny Kolb.
Adam Proxsell.
Philip Krach.
William Dilman.
Jeremiah Kershner.
Jolin Droxsell.
George Frederick Knauss
Jacob Droxsell.
Solomon K Hanss.
Daniel Droxsell.
George Knmuss.
Peter Proxsell.
Philip Kock.
l'eter Droxsell, Sr.
Gottheb Keiper.
Peter Droxsell.
Nicholas Kromer.
Adam Dorney.
Joseph Levan.
Peter Dorney.
George Leibenguth.
Adam Dorney.
George Meyer.
John Dorney.
Anthony Musick.
Laurence Proxsell.
William Miller.
Casper l'ick.
Abraham Miller.
Peter Eberhard.
llenry Mickley.
Peter Frantz.
Jacole Mickley.
Michael Freyman.
Christian Mickley.
Valentine Fasold.
Peter Mickley.
John Frey.
Daniel Miller.
Christoph Freyman.
Peter Marcks.
Jolin Flexer.
Peter Miller.
Lawrence Good.
Henry Minek.
Peter Good.
Nicholas Minck.
George Gangeware.
Jacob Manerer.
Thomas Gangeware. Christoph Mohr.
Solomon Greisinan, Peter Meyer, Sr.
John Gromer.
Jacob Meyer.
Peter Grimm.
George Henry Mertz.
Abraham Greisemer.
Henry Mertz.
George Glick.
Joseph Mickley.
Daniel Glick.
Lanrenco Nenhart.
Jolin Glick.
John Neuburt.
Daniel Glick.
Peter Neuhart.
Adam Glick, Sr.
Frederick Neuhart.
Adam Glick.
Jacob Nenhard.
llenry Glick.
George Nenhard.
John Glick.
Daniel Neuhard.
Peter Glick, Sr.
Frederick Panl.
Peter Glick.
Casper Peter.
Adam Glick.
Widow Habenold.
Henry Glick.
Peter Rhoads.
George Henninger.
Abraham Rhoads.
Jacob Hartman,
Jola Rhoads.
George till.
Gadtrey Khoa Is.
Jacob Hoffman.
Daniel Rhoads,
Adam Heberly.
George Jacob Rhoads.
Jacob Huller.
Jolen Rhoads, Sr.
Henry Holhaan.
Jacob lheads.
Peter Hoffman.
Peter lihonds.
John Helfrich.
Henry Reitz.
Michael Helfrich.
Daniel Rabenold.
Philip Hammel.
Nicholas Rabenold.
Jacob Henninger.
William Rolin.
Frederick Hill.
Christian Rutt.
Jacob Ilill.
Peter Resch.
John Hill.
Leonard Steininger.
Joseph Henry.
Abraham Schneider.
Jacob Henninger.
Leonhard Steininger.
Christian F. Henninger.
Philip Steininger.
Widow Haman. Jacob Herman.
George Schneider.
Jucob Hartzell.
Peter Schneider.
Christian Acher.
llenry Beery.
Jacob Sehuntz,
Sammuel Seager.
Peter Butz.
Daniel Butz.
George Jund. Daniel Jund.
John Schaad.
Samnel Sieger.
Peter Albrecht.
David Beery. Abraham But%. Frederick Braumiller.
Jacob Beery.
Jacob Jodder. Jacob Jund.
Philip Schautz.
Henry Beck.
544
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Simon Strauss.
Michael Sanerwine.
John. Shiffert.
John Weider.
George Wenner, Sr.
George Wenner.
Nicholas Wolf.
Abraham Sterner.
Peter Frantz, Jr.
John Smith.
George Ueberroth.
Adam Swander estate.
Henry Rhoad.
Michael Weider.
Jacob Swander. Adam Swander, Jr. Christian Steininger.
Peter Perr.
George Shnyder.
John Stephan.
Adam Sterner.
Abraham Sterner.
Henry Rhoad.
Ilenry Swander.
Gustaf Ibach.
Jolin Strauss.
Joli Kepp.
George Stranss.
Charles Gangeware.
John Shiffert.
John Landensinger.
Isaac Stephen.
John Rhoad.
James Segreaves.
John Knechel.
Christian Fenstermacher.
Henry Schoener. Ludwig Sauerwine.
Philip Fenstermacher.
Henry Sterner.
Single Freemen.
Peter Woodring.
Joseph Good.
John Swander.
George Good.
Henry Dorney.
John Good.
Daniel Knauss.
John Rhoad.
Daniel Troxell.
Christian Hoffman.
Daniel Good.
John Siegfried.
Daniel Good.
Michael Helfrich.
At a later period several attempts were made to again cut the two Whitehall townships so as to make three out of them. After a number of failures to make such a division, the petitioners were finally successful in 1864. Then the eastern portion of South Whitehall and the southeastern portion of North Whitehall were detached from their respective townships, and were formed into the township of Whitehall. When Allentown was incorporated into a city a small portion of the eastern corner of the township was again separated from it and attached to Allentown, leaving it then as it is now formed.
Villages-Cedarville .- The site of Cedarville was one hundred years ago in possession of the Knauss family. In 1858, James A. Scager erected a brick hotel at the place. At that time but one other house, owned by Elias Muse, was here besides the Union Church (Lutheran and Reformed). A grist-mill was erected by one of the Knausses on Cedar Creek, at Cedarville. It was rebuilt by Charles Mertz in 1852. It is now owned by Mr. Lichtenwalter. In 1852, Mr. Mertz owned the property which is now Cedarville. He sold to Asa Balliet about one hundred acres and the mill for thirty-two thousand dollars. Abont the year 1858, Mr. Mertz laid out his land in lots, These lots were gradually disposed of, and Cedarville begun.
A store was started in 1872 by Solomon Dorney. Two years later it passed into the hands of his son- in-law, Hiram O. Weaver. A post-office was estab- lished in 1872. Mr. Dorney became the first post- master, and Mr. Weaver has held the same since 1874. A telegraph-office was opened in 1878. This
neat little village now contains about twenty dwell- ings.
The town contains two churches. The older is a Union Church ( Lutheran and Reformed). This con- gregation was organized in 1855. It is a daughter of the Jordan congregation, situated abont three or four miles west of the village. A brick building was erected in 1855, at a cost of about five thousand dal- lars. The first Lutheran pastor was Rev. Jeremiah Schindel. He was succeeded by Rev. William Rath, who was again succeeded by Rev. O. Leopold, the present pastor. The first Reformed pastor was Rev. Joseph Dubbs. Ile was followed by Rev. Mr. Fogel, the present pastor.
The other church was built of brick, in 1855, at a cost of about three thousand dollars. The land on which it stands was owned by Alexander Knauss. It is of the Albright Evangelical persuasion. It belongs to the Lehigh Cirenit, and forms a charge with Texas, Macungie, and Wescosville.
Crackersport .- This tract of land was many years ago owned by John Billig. He opened a tavern and kept it for several years. Later it fell into the hands of Jeremiah Troxel and Joseph Kelchner. It was then discontinued. A store was opened for a short time by Charles and William Hittle. Several years ago a carriage-factory was erected, and it is still in operation by Mr. Stauffer. A public school-house, a temperance hall, a coach-factory, and ten dwellings comprise the hamlet of to-day.
South Whitehall Division, No. 391, Sons of Temperance, was founded in 1849. The original charter members were Simon Keck, Ephraim Rein- hard, Solomon Fries, Josiah Strauss, Henry Hertzel, Aaron Kepp, Benjamin Moyer, Alexander Knauss, Gideon Guth, Daniel Kerchner, Jonas Reinhard, William Eisenhard, Henry Dannberger, Edwin Acker, John Huber, Joseph Hammel, and Amos Fries. This organization is still living, gathers into its body a few additional members from time to time, and has at one time been very energetic. Its build- ing at Crackersport was erected soon after its organi- zation.
Griesemerville. - In 1806, Abraham Griesemer built a tavern at this place, and kept it for many years. His son, Solomon, succeeded him until 1877, when it fell into the hands of Alfred Griesemer, a son of Solomon. He is still the proprietor. A tannery was erected in 1829, by Peter Ludwig; subsequently it was operated by his sons, Solomon and Charles. At the present time it is in the hands of William Young, of Allentown.
Guthsville .- This pleasant little village was settled by Adam Guth, son of Lorenz, Sr., about 1780. His granddaughter, Mrs. Daniel Stetler, still resides in the place. She is about the only representative of the Gnth family still living here. In 1782, Michael Snyder also came to the place. Other old residents were Henry Guth and - Stetler. Henry Guth, son
-
Peter Seifried. Solomon Seifried. Henry Schneider. Jolin Scheutenbouch. Jacob Schnerr.
545
SOUTH WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP.
of Adam, ereeted a hotel in this place many years ago. The date of its building is lost. Some thirty years ago this old hotel was torn down, and the present fine briek hotel put up. This was in 1851. The old hotel stood farther back. The present proprietor is Jere- miah Klotz. A large store-house with hall was erected in 1855. The first blacksmith-shop was erected in 1852. The oldest building now standing in the place is the stone dwelling-house owned by Widow Kern, and occupied by Mr. Diehl. It was built in 1830. At present the town contains a large hotel, a store, three blacksmith-shops, machine-shop, carriage-man- ufactory, large shoe-store, post-office (Stetlersville post-office, established in 1883), telegraph-oflice, and about thirty-five or forty dwellings.
--.
when the Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad was built, and when at this point the road established a station. At that time there was but a hotel. Now the place contains nearly a dozen houses. The hotel passed from the hands of Elias Henninger into those of his son, Amandas, and in, 1870 it was purchased by E. C. Jacoby, the present proprietor. An old resident of this place was Solomon Walbert, after whom the place was named. A store was kept here for some time, but did not prosper.
Wennersville .- This village is located on the farm of George Wenner. His son, William, bought, in 1837, a portion of the original traet and opened a hotel. It passed into the hands of Charles and Gideon Guth, Alexander Loder, Josiah Strauss, and Jonas Renninger. A brick school-house was erected in 1861.
Mechanicsville .- This town is situated on the northeastern border of the township. It contains a hotel, a store, two carriage-shops, and seventeen In 1840 store was kept at the place by Gideon Guth, but was diseontinned soon afterwards. A blacksmith-shop was opened in 1858. In 1866. Thomas Wenner started a machine-shop. Another one was put up in 1873. dwellings. About the year 1829, John Seheierer erected the first house at this place on a part of the old Peter Moyer tract. It was a log house, and stood where the dwelling of Samuel Troxell now stands. In 1850, or thereabouts, John Seheetz erected a car- In this place is also located a German Baptist Church. It was organized in the fall of 1870. It then contained twelve members, and was under the pastoral care of Rev. William Desh. On the 21st of November, in the same year, a lot was purchased at the place on which was erected the present frame is some twenty. Rev. Desh preaches every two weeks, and Rev. William Moore once in eight weeks. riage-factory, and employed a number of hands. He condueted a large business. From the number of hands (mechanics) he needed in his business the place received the name Mechanicsville. Later Paul Kratzer opened another carriage-factory. The one is now owned by William Eberwine, and the other by | church edifiee. Its membership at the present time Henry Albright. In 1849, John Minnich ereeted the hotel now in the hands of John E. Overholt. Min- nieh also soon afterwards opened a store; it is now kept by Henry C. Kelchner.
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