USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 7
USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 7
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41. Valentine Steinmetz.
113. Henry Cressman.
114. George Strahan.
43. Joseph Sammuels.
115, Christian Rinker.
44. Johu Burk.
116. Adam Romich,
45. David Owen.
117. John Yoder.
46. John Tool.
118. William Allen.
47. John Tool.
119, Jolm Yoder.
48. John Toul.
120. Tobins Paul.
49. John Tool.
121. Tobias Paul.
50. William Murry.
122. John Rothrock.
123. Poter Bower,
121. John Rothrock.
125, Jacob Zewitz.
51. William Murry.
126. Jacob Landis,
55. Willium Murry.
127. Jacob Gangaware.
66. Balthanser Beil.
128. Jucob Gangaware.
57. Henry Bachman.
129. Michael V'lexer.
58. Benedict Caman.
130. Adam Kurtz.
131. Jacob Weaver.
132. Henry Rinker. 133. ---
62. Lutheran Congregation of Up- per Saucon.
134. Daniel Kiever. 135. John Miller.
136. Peter Mosteller.
137. Christian Fry.
138. Christian, Smith.
66. Bulthauser Beil.
139. Adam Romich.
140. Conrad Wall,
68. Samuel Newcomer.
69. Joli Newcomer.
70. Balthauser Boil.
71. Jacob Lodwig.
144. Peter Cartz.
115. George Zewitz.
In order to enable the reader more readily to deter- mine the location of traets, places now prominent are indicated on the map thus :
a. Colesville. 7. Locust Valley.
b. Hartman's School-House. m. Coopersburg Ilall.
c. Friedensville Church. ». Coopersburg Station.
d. Heller's Tavern.
e. Lanark.
p. Mennonite Meeting-House.
f. Cross-roads at Thomas Egner's.
. Centre Valley Hotel.
g. Seider's School-House.
r. Contre Valley Station.
h. Dillinger's School-House.
s. Centre Valley School-House.
i. Limeport.
j. Cross-roads at Andrew Wal- ter's.
u. Spring Valley.
r. Franklin School-House.
k. Bine Church.
The Germans seem to have found the new country more congenial than their English brethren, for the deseendants of the Geissingers, the Yoders, the Geh- mans, the Newcomers, the Reinhards, the Morys, the Wints, the Gongwers, the Webers, the Morstel- lers, the Egners, the Berkenstocks, the Rothrocks, and the Rumfelds are still here, while the Owens, the Samuels, the Mayberrys, the Warners, the Pughs, the Blackledges, the Thomases, the Williamses, and the Tools have all passed away without leaving a single deseendant bearing their names.in the town- ship.
Organization .- Saucon was ereeted into a town- ship in Mareh, 1743, upon the petition of Christian Newcomer, Philip Geissinger, George Zewitz, Henry Rinker, John Yoder, John Reeser, Christian Smith, Henry Bowman, Samuel Newcomer, Benediet Geh- man, Valentine Steinmetz, Henry Rinker, Jr., George Trohn, Adam Warner, Owen Owen, Thomas Owen, John Williams, John Tool, John Thomas, Joseph Samuels, Isaae Samuels, William Murry,1 Michael Weber, John Apple, Jaeob Gongwer," Henry Keiber, George Bachman, George Morsteller," and Henry Rumfeld.+ Whether the two Saucons were originally erected into one or two townships does not seem pos- sible to determine, but as constables and supervisors were appointed in 1743 for both Upper and Lower Saneon, and as there was among the petitioners but one who is not known to have resided within the limits of Upper Sancon, it is probable that it was erected into a township by itself, though other cir- eumstances would seem to indicate the erection of but one township out of the whole territory. It is possible too, " taking all the circumstances into eon- sideration," that while the settlers of Upper Saucon desired to be erected into a township with Lower Saucon, those of the latter preferred a separate or- ganization, and therefore refused to sign the petition. But however this may be, each of the two divisions had assumed a separate organization prior to 1750, and Upper Saucon then had an area somewhat ex- ceeding fourteen thousand aeres, outlined thus (the
1 Now Mory.
3 Now Murstellnr.
2 Now Ganga ware.
4 Now Rumfield
--
101. Andrew Geissinger.
106. Valentine Young.
107. Christian Fox.
: 108. Valentine Young.
: 109. Bastian Nave.
. 110. Melchior Baer.
111. John Apple.
| 112. John Apple.
42. Richerd Haynes' heirs.
92. Richard Thomas.
93. Andrew Wint.
94. Casper Wistar.
95. George Bachman.
96. Jolin Adam Stout.
97. George Bachman.
98. Cornelins Crump. 99. George Bechtel.
-
87. Henry Weaver.
88. Henry Weaver.
89. Valentine Young.
90. John Rothrock.
91. Ludwig Bush.
79. Francis Hartman.
80. Anthony Bochm.
81. Henry Grissinger.
82. Anthony Boelnn.
83. Anthony Boehm.
84. Anthony Boelin.
85. Michael Weaver.
86. Henry Weaver.
1.11. John Apple.
142. Leonard Boydelman.
143. Jacob Bachman.
72. Peter Messemer.
63. William Shaffer.
64. William Murry.
65. Jacob Lodwig.
67. Samuel Newcomer.
32. Adam Romich.
53. Christian Menter.
59. Henry Bachinn.
60. Richard Thomas.
61. Peter Rheinhardt.
4. Frederick Derfinger.
6. Thomas Mayberry.
0. Yoder's School-Ilouse.
t. Roth's School-House.
100. Jacob Weaver.
428
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
dotted line representing the southeastern boundary of the township) :
SALSBURG
MILFORD
LOWER SAUCON
SPRINGFIELD.
RICHLAND
Its territory was reduced in extent on two oceasions sinee that time, first in 1752, when its southern pro- jection was eut off to straighten the line dividing the two counties, and again in 1879, when the borough of Coopersburg was erected out of a part of it. It was enlarged in 1839, when its northwestern boundary was removed from the foot to the top of the Lehigh Mountain, It now contains 23,8 square miles, or an area of fifteen thousand two hundred and thirty-two acres, inclusive of Coopersburg.
Our history thus far has served to inform our readers as to the uames borne by the pioneer settlers of the township, and in order to inform them as to who followed these, or were added to their number after the expiration of what might be termed the experimental era, we will introduce a few tax-lists.
DECEMBER 27, 1781.
William Beil.
George Kun.
Conrad Brinker.
Peter Kueply.
Baltzer Buchecker.
Charles Ludwig Koch.
Philip Buchecker.
Jacob Keply.
Jolm Bieber.
Adamı Kortz.
George Bachman.
Jacob Haugeware.
John Bachumn.
Nicholas Kortz.
Connul Brinker.
John Geissinger.
Phihp Ball.
Jolin Koch.
Tobias Ball.
Henry Geissinger.
Audrew Brunner.
John Kooken.
Jacob Bahl.
Abrahamt Geissinger.
Jacob, Bittenbender,
Jacob Kappers.
Widow Bachman.
Jolin Geissinger.
Mathias Derr.
Daniel Kooper.
Jucob Berger.
Abraham Geissinger,
Charles Derr.
Michael Lndhap.
David Bachivan.
Jacob Gramm.
-- Iloltenstein.
Peter Laubenstein,
Euoch Bachman.
George Garner.
Mathias Eguer.
Peter Lynn.
George Brinker.
Henry Gangeware.
Andrew Erdman.
Felix lyun.
George Buchecker.
Abraham Geringer.
Jacob I'shelman.
John Lister.
Philip Buchecher.
Damel Grissinger.
John Fiutound.
Sammunel Lister.
Jacob Bichinan.
laepb Hartman.
George Eraman.
Peter Meyer.
Daybl Bachman.
George Horlocher.
Mielinel Flixer.
Jacob Mory.
Henry Bnchecker.
John Horlocker.
Petor Fuelis.
Gotthard Mory.
George Christ.
Jacob Hartzell.
William Grothonse.
Jacob Meyer.
Daniel Cooper.
John Hillegass.
Philip Geissinger.
Jacob Molloch.
Jacob Dietz.
Adamı Heller.
Conrad Giess.
William Mory.
Daniel Derr.
Abrahamn Hottle.
Henry Geissinger.
Widow Musselman.
Jacob Preukler.
Michael lottel.
Abraham Geissinger.
William Mory.
John Drohn,
Jolin flottle.
John Geissinger.
John Newcomer,
David Derr.
Iolm Jacoby.
Jacob Gangware.
Jolm Newcomer, Jr.
Philip Dotterer.
Jolin Jauson.
Frederick Hun.
David Owen.
Jacob Everroth.
Frederick Jordan.
John Holdeman. Esther Hall.
John Everhard.
Peter Kneply.
Daniel Horlocher.
Solomon Egner.
John Kneply.
Francis Hartmann.
Casper Rumfell.
Daniel Egner.
Nicholas Kramer.
Michael Ilillegass.
George Rinntield.
lohn Egner,
Joseph Koch.
Christopher Jason.
Henry Reinhard.
Peter Egner.
Heury Knauss.
Valentine Jager.
Leonard Reichard.
John Erdman, Sr.
Tobias Koch.
Admm Kuper,
Adam Romig.
Andrew Englenn.
Carl Ludwig Koch,
Melchoir hneply.
Bastian Rnlf.
David Snyder.
George Rutt.
Henry Sell.
John Hninfield.
Aquilla Tool.
John Shoudt.
Michael Weaver.
Philip Sharry.
Adam G. Weaver.
George Shatter.
Philip Wind,
Peter Shaffer. Khi hard Weaver.
Isaac Samuels.
Peter Wash.
Abraham Seider.
Henry Wind.
Gerhard Seisloff.
Ilenry Weaver.
John Stahl.
Simon Walter.
Peter Stehr.
Abraham Yoder.
Philip Siller.
Christian Young.
George Swenker. Michael Ziegler.
Additional Taxables.
Joli Greter.
Jonathan Owen.
George Frank. Philip Dotterrr.
Benedict Fink.
Peter Bush.
George Bachinnu.
Jacob Bender.
Single Freemen.
Andreas Erdman.
Samuel Meyer.
Yost Erdman.
Martin Apple,
Andrew Reinhard.
Julin Sustoff.
Andrew Shaffer.
Peter Eshelman.
Henry Youson,
Peter Sell.
John Buting. Jacob Meyer.
Total tax, C460 78. 9d. Frederick Huff, collector.
ASSESSMENT FOR 1812.
Jacob Arnold,
Jacob Erdivan.
John Apple.
Peter Fuchs.
George Alshouse.
Abraham Fretz.
Widow Alshouse.
Benedict Fink.
Henry Buchecker. Philip Flexer.
Jolin Bastian, Joseph Funk.
Philip Bnchecker, Jr.
Peter Frank.
Philip Bahl.
John Frank.
Baltzer Buchecker.
Joseph Frey, Sr.
George Blank.
Joseph Frey, Jr.
Abraham Berkenstock.
Samuel Geissinger.
George Brinker.
David Gangeware,
Michael Beuner.
John Garnet.
:
David Owen, Jr.
Jacob Erduin.
Melchoir Kurply.
Thomas Owen. David Reeser,
Jacob Rumfield.
Jucob Engleman.
George Koch.
1
UPPER SAUCON TOWNSHIP.
429
Jonathan Kaffman.
Henry Reinhard, Jr. John Rumfeld.
Jacob Yotter.
George Rumfekl. Philip Rumfeld.
Nicholas Kramer.
Christian Rinker.
Philip Bnchecker.
George llillegass.
Michael Kocl.
Casper Rumfeld.
Jacob Bachman.
Peter Mricr.
Jacob Kneply.
Sumnel Reichard.
Jonathan Bachman.
Job Koch.
Jneob Rntf.
Christian Kanffman.
Jacob Koch.
John Reisser.
Isane Rininfeld.
William Harlacher.
Philip Kauffman.
David Reisser.
George Buchecker.
John Scotland.
Rudolph Kauffman.
Joseph Rothrock.
Melchior Knepley.
Peter Buchecker.
David Kauffman.
George Reinhard.
Christian Young.
Sinnnel Lander.
Daniel Romich.
John Johnson.
Magdalena Leob.
John Romich.
Henry Reichard.
John Jacoby.
Jacob Lander.
Courad Rickert.
John Newcomer.
l'eler Wind.
Andrew Werst.
Peter Sell.
David Derr.
Peter Cooper.
Michael Landis.
Valentine Shaffer.
John SImyder.
Solomon Brinker.
Peter Laubenstine,
John Scider.
George Ilottle. Charles Cleminer.
Peter Lynn.
Abraham Scider.
William Bitting.
Mathias Zeislove.
Jacob Mory.
Abraham Sheaffer.
Philip Smith.
Abraham Dietz.
Peter Mory.
Frederick Stoll.
Daniel Romich.
Samnel Fink.
Davil Mack.
George Shantzenbach.
Henry Weidner. Abraham Yolter.
George Mushlitz.
Jacob Bach.
Michael Fasbinder. .
John Deily.
William Meier.
Christian Sheaffer.
Andrew Martin.
George Sheaffer.
William Mory, Jr. George Mushlilz.
Jacob Stantfer.
Jacob Mory.
Jacob Schneider.
Joseph Mill.
Philip Sharry.
Gotthard Mory.
Abraham Smidt.
Frederick Mohr, Sr. Frederick Mohr, Jr. Abraham Mrier.
Philip Sellers,
Jacob Seider,
Sammel Meier.
Stephen Tool.
Peter Meier.
Jacob Weiss.
Jucob Miller.
Henry Wind.
Conrad Miller.
John Waldman.
George Miller.
Henry Waldman.
Jacob Meier.
Peter Woher.
Philip Newcomer.
Frederick Weidman.
Jolin Newcomer, Sr.
Henry Newcomer.
Abraham Newcomer.
George Werst.
John Opp.
Peter Yonng.
Mathias Ochs.
Casper Young.
Michael Olt.
Henry Young.
Peter Weber, Jr. George Weber.
John Yonng.
Adant Wint.
Henry Yotler.
Andrew Walter,
Abraham Yotter.
Jacob Wentz.
John Sutter.
Philip Windt. Jacob Weiss, Sr.
Martin Zeistoch. Jacob Yotler.
Valentine Weblner, Sr. Valentina Weidner, Jr.
Martin Apple.
Jona. Welwr.
Jolin Stahl
Peter Wichall.
George Daily.
Valentine Ruff.
Joseph Welt. John Waldman. John Weber, Jr. Jacob Werst.
George Reinbold.
John Weaver.
Jacob Huber.
Jacob Ott,
Widow Bifling.
Stoflle Ziegler,
Widow Owen, Solomon Rumfeld.
Philip Koch, John Hall,
Leonard Reinhard.
Jacob Smith.
Henry Ott.
Jolin Tisson.
Single Freemen.
Jolin Dollerer.
John Knopley. Jacob Bahl.
John Frank. Jolin Young.
Jacob Ziegenfuss.
John Moore. John Apple,
Jacob Frank.
lobn Seider.
Jacob Dotterer.
Total tax, $609.
The taxes in those days were trifling compared with present rates. A farm of two hundred acres paid from cighty cents to one dollar and fifty cents. Laborers paid from ten to twelve cents, while those classed as " poor" paid no taxes, though some of them owned from thirty to forty acres of land. In 1763 the inhabitants of Upper Sancon were classified thus: eighty farmers, nine laborers, two tavern-keepers, two weavers, one carpenter, three blacksmiths, one miller, one doctor, one cooper, four poor, with neither shoe- maker, saddler, tailor, wagoner, mason, nor tanner. In 1773 the township contained five thousand seven hundred and ninety-two acres of cleared land, one thousand and twenty-eight acres of which were in grain. In 1752 the township had a population of six hundred and fifty souls.
Roads .- The township is covered by a net-work of roads, but owing to the imperfect manner in which the early records were made and the change in the names of the points that fixed their termini, as well as those of the land-owners whose lands abut on the roads, it is very difficult to recognize local roads after the lapse of so many years, and even with some of the more important ones we are only able to fix the date of their opening approximately. The road en- tering the township on the Lehigh Mountain, near Lanark, passing Lanark and Heller's tavern to a point near the residence of William P. Weidner, and thence to Locust Valley, was opened about 1750. The road from Coopersburg to Bethlebem, cie Centre Valley, Friedensville, and Colesville, in 1755. That from Friedensville to Limeport, ria Heller's tavern and Seider's school-house, in 1773.
The Allentown and Coopersburg turnpike road was chartered in 1874, and opened for travel in 1875.
The North Penn Railroad passes through the town- ship. It was completed and opened for traffic in 1856. The first passenger train passed through the township December 26th of the same year. It is now under lease to the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Com-
Philip Mushlitz.
Jacob Shantzenbach.
Willian Mory, Sr.
Conrad Steer.
Amos Brunner.
Valentine Sheaffer.
Daniel Schmidt.
Andrew Wind, John Weber.
Christian Young.
Valentine Young.
Andrew Weiss.
Abraham Ziegler.
Leonard O\,
Adam Rndenhaner. Andrew Reinhard. Henry Reinhard, Sr.
Jacob Meter.
Peter Kurtz.
Peter Yotter.
Samnel Meier. Andreas Wind,
John Derr. Jacob Meier.
430
HISTORY OF LEHIGHI COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
pany, and is known as the North Penn branch of said road. It has two stations in the township,-Coopers- burg and Centre Valley.
The railroad of the Saueon Iron Company was built abont 1870. Its entire length, of about two and one- half miles, is in the township.
Churches and Congregations,-Six buildings ded- icated to the service of Almighty God stand in the township, viz .: the old Mennonite meeting-house, near Coopersburg, the Blue or St. Paul's Church, the Friedensville or Friedens Church, the meeting-house of the United Mennonite Brethren in Christ, near Coopersburg, the meeting-house of the English Meth- odists at Friedensville, and the meeting-house of the Free Methodists at Centre Valley.
The first meeting-house of the Mennonite congre- gation, near Coopersburg, was built abont 1738. It i
was constructed of logs, with a swinging partition in --
Many theories might be advanced as to the date and also as to the site of the first church edifice erected by the Lutheran congregation now serving at the Blue Church. But as one theory is apparently as strong as the other, we will content ourselves by enumerating the several circumstances upon which theories might be based, and leaving our readers to form their own theories and deduct their own conclu- sions. The warrant for the land on which it stands was drawn by Conrad Walb, Jan. 9, 1737. The records of the Lutheran congregation serving here date back to 1740. In 1745 they informed Muhlen- berg that they were provided with a church and school-house. On March 16, 1754, a warrant was issued from the land-office to Andreas Wind, in trust for the Lutheran congregation of Upper Saucon, for twenty-five acres of land, which was located near the site of the present residence of Isaac Hartman, near Friedensville.
the middle, which divided it into two apartments ; one of these was used for church, the other for school pur- On Dec. 30, 1757, Philip Geissinger entered into an agreement with Andreas Erdman and George Reinhardt, in behalf of the Lutheran congregation of Saucon, in which, for the consideration of €3 2%. 6d., he bound himself to convey to the said congregation (after receiving a patent for his land) the undivided half of four aeres, three and one-half acres to be con- sidered as sold, and one-half aere as donated. In 1758, Andreas Wind sold the interest of the Lutheran congregation in the land, for which a warrant had been drawn by him. On April 24, 1758, Philip Geis- singer obtained his patent for his land, and on Sept. 4, 1761, he conveyed to George Reinhard, Andrew Erdman, George Kirschner, and Balthauser Beil, elders and vestrymen of the Evangelical or Lutheran congregation of Upper Saucon, one full moiety or equal half of four acres for the use of said congrega- tion. Tradition also has it that the members of the congregation at one time contemplated building their church on the farm of Rev. Berkenstock (lately Solo- mon Greenawald), but were indneed to change their plans by the liberal offer of Philip Geissinger. From poses, but when on extraordinary occasions the at- tendance upon Divine worship was larger than could be accommodated in one apartment, the partition would be raised and the two apartments thrown into one; this seems to have been a very temporary struc- ture, for we find it replaced by another in 1747, and built on the same plan. The present meeting-house was erected in 1841, and is the third which occupies the site. The first congregation serving here was what are now known as "the old-school Mennonites," but as there are scarcely half a dozen families remaining in the neighborhood which still adhere to the erred of their fathers, these have had no regular pastor here since the death of Rev. Samuel Moyer, in 1877. The new-school Mennonites are now the only denomina- tion holding services here regularly, but those of the old school still retain all their original rights and privileges. It is impossible now to fix the order in which this congregation was ministered to by its pas- tors, owing to the fact that no records were kept, and that two or three sometimes preached here at the same time, but the following is learned from their tomb- ! these facts we may safely conclude that the congrega- stones in the adjoining cemetery : Jacob Meyer died tion was organized no later than 1740, that they had a church and school-house somewhere in 1745, that they had no place of worship which was satisfactory to all of them in 1754, and that the first church was built on the present site about 1758. May 4, 1790, and served till his death,-how long does not appear. Samuel Moyer, the eller, died about 1832. Michael Landis died Ang. 5, 1839, after a ser- vice of thirty-five years. William Landis died Aug. , 1848, after a service of eight years. Valentine Young When it became a nnion church of the Lutheran and Reformed denominations cannot now be ascer- tained, and it is not safe to date this event prior to 1802; but here the record opens with a book, on the first page of which is an inscription, which, trans- lated, reads thus : "Church book of the Evangelical Reformed congregation in Upper Saucon township, called Organ Church, begun by John Henry Hoff- meier, present minister of the congregation, and member of the reverend Synod, in the year of Christ, 1802." died April 27, 1850, after a service of forty years. Samuel Moyer, the younger, died Aug. 24, 1877, after a service of about twenty years. The latter first preached for the new school, but returning to the faith of his fathers, closed his life as a minister of the old school. John Oberholtzer organized the new- school congregation, and preached here for some time. Christian Clemmer, of Berks County, preached here about twenty years, and died in 1883 a new-school minister. Andrew B. Shelby and Jacob S. Moyer (new school) are the present incumbents.
The present church is the third occupying the
1
431
UPPER SAUCON TOWNSHIP.
site. The first, built of logs, stood in the southwestern eorner of the old cemetery ; the second, built of stone, stood partly on the site of the present one, though extending a little farther south and west. This, it would appear from Rev. Hoffmeier's record, was known as " the Organ Church." When it was built eannot be ascertained. The present one was erected in 1833 at a cost of $5173.81.
The following, taken from the discourse of Rev. John Vogelbach, on the occasion of the centennial anniversary of the founding of the Lutheran con- gregation, furnishes a catalogue of the ministers of the same.
In 1745, Rev. H. A. Mullenberg, who then served several congregations in Philadelphia and vicinity, was appealed to by the Saucon congregation to come and serve them with word and sacrament. He did so, but resigned at the end of a year on account of ill health and the great distance he had to come. He then sent to thein one Vigero, a teacher, who con- mitted sermons and delivered them to the congrega- tion, Muhlenberg visiting them on occasions of com- munion and confirmation.
On Aug. 15, 1748, the first congregational confer- ence of the Lutheran Synod was held in Philadelphia, and the Saucon congregation was represented in it. In the autumn of 1748, Vigero left them. In March, 1749, Rudolph Heinrich Schrenk came from Lune- burg to Philadelphia, and Muhlenberg at once rec- ommended him to the congregation, whom he served for some time on probation. He was ordained Nov. 5, 1752, and continued to serve them till 1754, when he accepted a call to Raritan, N. J., returning, how- ever, occasionally to preach for them. Schrenk's suc- eessor was Johannes Andreas Friederici (or Fried- richs), first as layman, then as ordained minister. He served about eight years, a part of which time he lived beyond the Blue Mountains. In 1763, Johan- nes Joseph Roth, a Catholic student, came into the neighborhood, interested himself in the congregation, and asked to be admitted into the Lutheran Synod, and became pastor. In October of the same year he was admitted and installed. He died in 1764, and was buried in the cemetery belonging to the church. Who served them from 1764 to 1769 does not appear, but communion was held regularly, except perhaps in 1769, when no record was made. In the latter part of 1769, Jacob Van Buskirk, from Germantown, came here, but when he left and who his successor was does not appear. It was very probably George Frederick Ellisen, who is recorded as having held communion here Sept. 29, 1793. After his departure the congregation were for several years without a regular pastor, but the sacraments were regularly ad- ministered by pastors of neighboring congregations. In 1800, Rev. F. W. Geisenheimer administered the Lord's Supper. Rev. Professor Roeller, of Goshen- hoppen, preached here too. From 1800 to 1803, Jo- hannes F. Cramer preached in the other congrega-
tions belonging to the charge, and therefore probably here too, though the records are silent as to him. On April 12, 1806, Frederick Plitt confirmed catechu- mens and administered the Lord's Supper. He preached here only a short time, was addicted to drinking, and soon after he left was found drowned in a mill-dam at Mifflinburg, Columbia Co. Rev. Heiny succeeded Plitt, and served nine years. Ile was succeeded by Heinrich G. Stecher, who served two years.
In 1819, Rev. Benjamin German was called. He accepted, entered upon his pastorate in the spring of 1820, and continued to serve until his death, which occurred in September, 1848. He was buried in Allentown. His brother, William German, succeeded lim, and he too remained in the service of the con- gregation until his death, June 26, 1851. He was buried at the Salsburg Church. The vacancy occa- sioned by the death of William German was tempo- rarily filled by Augustus L. Dechant, then a Reformed licentiate.
On March 3, 1852, Rev. John Vogelbach accepted a call from the congregation, and served them until March, 1857, when he followed a call to Philadel- phia.
In May, 1857, Rev. William Rath assumed the pas- torate of the congregation, which he has continued to fill with great acceptability to the present time.
It is impossible to fix the date of the organization of the Reformed congregation now serving at the Blue Church, but it is very probable that a Reformed or- ganization of some kind was effected soon after 1742 by Rev. John Justus Jacob Berkenstock, who then resided on the old Greenawalt farm, and who undoubt- edly was a Reformed minister. Tradition has it that divine services were held regularly at his house, and this tradition is supported by the fact that there is on the farm an old, extensive, and well-filled cemetery. It is highly improbable, too, that the Reformed, "to which denomination a large proportion of the Pala- tinates then belonged," with a Reformed minister in their midst, should stand idly by while their brethren of the Mennonite and Lutheran faiths were organizing congregations and building churches around them. It is possible, and very probable, too, that the tradition heretofore referred to, " that the Lutheran congrega- tion at one time contemplated the erection of their church on the Greenawalt farm," may have become somewhat impaired by age, and that it ought to be " that the Reformed congregation at one time contem- plated the erection of a church here, but were induced to change their plans by the liberal offer of the Luther- ans to share their church facilities with them."
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