USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 8
USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 2 > Part 8
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As before stated, the earliest record of the congrega- tion now accessible bears date 1802. It continues in the handwriting of Rev. Hoffmeier till 1806, when it suddenly stops, not to be resumed again till 1825, and then by Rev. Daniel Zöller. In 1826, Rev. Samuel Hess was called, accepted, and served until 1867, when
432
HISTORY OF LEHIGHI COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
he resigned. He was succeeded, in January, 1868, by Rev. A. N. Ziegler, who served until July, 1873, when he too resigned, and was followed by Rev. R. C. Weaver, the present beloved pastor of the congrega- tion.
Frieden's Church, at Friedensville, was built in 1793, enlarged in 1817, and rebuilt in 1839. It is a Union Church of the Lutheran and Reformed denomi- nations. The Lutheran congregation here was organ- ized by Rev. John Conrad Yeager, who continued to preach for them until 1731, when he was succeeded by his son, Joshua, who, though past fourscore years of age, yet remains the beloved " Rev. Father Yeager," pastor of his floek ; he with his father having minis- tered to the congregation for a continuous period exceeding ninety years.
The Reformed congregation was organized by Rev. John Henry Hoffineier, who preached for them until about 1815, when he was succeeded by Rev. Dechant. Dechant was succeeded, " at what time we know not," by Rev. Daniel Zöller, who served till 1857. In 1857, Rey. A. J. G. Dubbs was called, and ministered to them until 1871, when he resigned. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. Richard T. Apple, who served two years, and was succeeded, in 1873, by Rev. R. C. Weaver, the present incumbent.
The meeting-house of the United Mennonite Breth- ren in Christ, near Coopersburg, was erected and the congregation organized in 1869. This organization was effected principally by Rev. Abel Strawn, who preached for the congregation until the close of the year 1881, when, according to a decree of Conference, which provided in substance that no minister should serve the same congregation for a period exceeding three years, he was succeeded by Rev. Abraham Kauffman, who, in 1884, was succeeded by Rev. Jonas Musselman, the present incumbent.
The meeting-house of the Methodist Episcopal congregation at Friedensville was built by Dr. II. S. Clemens, and the congregation organized in 1863, by Rev. Nathan B. Durell, of the Philadelphia Confer- ence. The congregation was served by the following pastors: Rev. Durell, from 1865 to 1565; Rev. Cum- mings, from 1865 tô 1808; Rev. Kimble, from 1868 to 1871; Rev. Harrison, from 1871 to 18744; and Rev. Harkins, from 1874 to 1877, since which time the con- gregation has remained without a pastor.
The meeting-house of the Free Methodists, at Centre Valley, was erected and the congregation or- ganized in 1883. The congregation is ministered to by Rev. Manshart.
Schools .- The first schools established in the town- ship were parochial or church schools, and were opened simultaneously with the organization of the congrega- tions to which they belonged; the first about 1738, by the Mennonites, the second about 1740 to 1745, by the Lutherans. The buildings in which they were held are noted and described under the head of churches. A third building, used for school and
doubtless for church purposes also, was erected by the Quakers about 1745, on lands of John Thomas, now Peter M. Sell ; but this, together with the congrega- tion that erected it, have all passed away, and the only remaining reminder of it or them is the old, well-filled cemetery, "now nearly obliterated too," which marks the spot. The names of but two teaeh- ers of this era are preserved to us, - Vigero, who taught and preached at the same time for the Lutherans, and Peter Knepley, of whom we find the following entered in the first church book of the Lutheran congregation now serving at the Blue Church: "June 23, 1757, Peter Knepley, the schoolmaster, married to Chris- tina Gangaware." Later, as the settlements pushed farther away from these places, more sehool accom- modations became necessary, and schools were opened in private houses. Of the earlier of these we know nothing, but schools of this kind are known to have been held at the houses of Jolin Egner (now Charles Kidd), Ehrhard Weaver (now Ephraim Weaver), William Samuels (now Peter M. Sell), Frederick Wittman (now Joseph Wittman), David Horlocher, and doubtless others. It is impossible to define or limit the era of this kind of schools. Some of them were con- tinued in neighborhoods long after school-houses had been erected in others, and some were opened even in the neighborhood of school-houses, -- these latter to meet a desire then beginning to be felt for instruc- tion in the English language, " the teaching in the school-houses then being exclusively in German." During the last quarter of the eighteenth century school associations began to be formed in the several neighborhoods, funds raised, school-houses erected, and teachers employed. Some of the earlier of these teachers scarcely deserved the name; there was no system in their employment. Frequently an indi- vidual, "who was none other than a tramp," would go into a neighborhood, make some pretense to men- tal culture, open a subscription for pupils at so much per head, and if successful in collecting a sufficient number would open a school, or an apology for one, with his birch on his desk and his flask inside or in his pocket. It is related of the last one who taught at the Quaker school-house, heretofore referred to, that he loved his dram, and that on the last day of his term some of the larger boys presented him with a bottle of whiskey, got him drunk, and persuaded him to play on the violin, while they engaged in dancing. One or two lessons of this kind would suffice to make the people more circumspect in the employment of teachers, and thus the schools were improved. About 1825 English began to be slowly introduced. In 1828 provision was made for the education of the poorer class, and Upper Saucon paid for that purpose as follows : 1828, $12.95; 1830, $14.42; 1833, $30.22; 1831, $76.41; 1835, $187.95; 1836, $142.61; 1838, $167.92.
In 1834, when the common-school law was passed, it produced intense excitement in the township.
5
1
433
UPPER SAUCON TOWNSHIP.
Violent opposition to it developed itself, and at . teach at the Blue Church ; Augustus F. Hallenbach, the cleetion upon the question of its adoption but at Friedensville; Mary Jenkins, at Heller's; George Blank, at the meeting-house ; George R. Gates, at the Soeritarian ; Uriah Brunner, at the Franklin ; Wil- liam T. Cramer, at Coopersburg; and Solomon Fehr, few votes were east in its favor, its supporters be- eaure the objeets of the enmity of whole neighbor- hoods, and in this way were induced to abandon the contest. So intense was the feeling against it that . at Seider's. The school-term was fixed at six months, during the time that its adoption was optional, when a politician desired to have the full vote of the town- ship bronght out all he did was to have a rumor spread that the school law would be voted upon, and almost the last man would be out. It was not adopted until 1848, when its adoption became obligatory. Six schools had been established prior to this time by : associations at the following places : Blue Church, Friedensville Church, Mennonite Meeting-house, Coopersburg, one near Heller's Tavern, known as Heller's, and one near Seider's store, known as Seider's.
Of the teachers of the last two described and over- lapping eras, the names of the following are preserved : Frederick Arnold, who taught at the house of John Egner and at Seider's school-house ; Jesse Samuels, who taught at the house of William Samuels and at Seider's; Daniel Fried, who taught at Frederick Wittman's ; ---- Proctor, - Oberholtzer, ---- Jen- kins, Peter Gerhard, Michael Urffer, Anthony Lou- tenberger, Joseph Wittman, Andrew K. Wittman, and George Blank, who taught at Seider's; John Lobb, David Minichinger, John HI. Bernd, and a Mr. Mus- selman taught at the Blue Church ; Gibson Innes, 1 John Wilson, Lewis Bannister, and Joel Tarre, who : The one at Centre Valley in 1859, the Franklin in
taught at Coopersburg; - Barthalmus, -- Rudy, and - Riedy, who taught at Heller's; and Henry Knipe, who taught at a school-honse which stood near the site of the residence of Enos Rechenbach, and which was superseded by the one built later at Coop- ersburg. An old school-house stood where the Saucon Iron Company's railroad crosses the road near the . township is now (1884) $8000.
residence of Thomas Reichard. It was taken down ! about the year 1800, and another one built on the present site of Heller's. This was destroyed by fire in 1808, and the present one erected in 1809.
We have now reached the day of public schools and of records. The township took the first step to- ward the adoption of the new system at the spring election in 1848, when the following board of directors were elected : Sanford Stephens, Henry Erdman, John Brunner, Jacob Rice, Charles E. Christ, and George Blank. These organized by electing Charles E. Christ as president, and George Blank as secretary. They raised by taxation for school purposes the first year $536,86, but this was found to be insufficient, and three Imindred dollars were borrowed. They built two school-houses the first year, one called the Socritarian, on the site of the present Centre Valley school-house, at a cost of two hundred and twenty- five dollars, and another called the Franklin, near the residence of Philip Gangaware, at a cost of two hundred and ninety-five dollars. The following teachers were appointed : Aaron L. Butterwick, to
and the salary of teachers at twenty dollars a month. The schools were attended by five hundred and fifty- three pupils,-three hundred and four males and two hundred and forty-nine females. The average at- tendance was thirty-four. Four hundred and twenty- nine learned English, one hundred and twenty-four German, thirty-six grammar, sixty-five geography, and two hundred and thirteen arithmetic. Since then additional school-houses were built, and schools opened as follows: Loeust Valley, in 1850; Wash- ington, in 1853;, Yoder's, in 1858; Dillinger's, in 1859; Hartman's (called Union), in 1861 ; Webster's, at Friedensville, in 1873; and a second one in Coop- ersburg, in 1876. Until 1854 the school at Friedens- vilie was held at the church, but in that year a school- house was erected. The school at the Blue Church was held in the basement of the church until 1868, when a school-honse was built. The school at the meeting-house was held in a school-house belonging to the Mennonite congregation nntil 1883, when a new one was erected. The old school-house at Coop- ersburg, which, on account of its shape, was called the Octagon, was replaced by a new one in 1857. 1874, the Washington in 1875, and the Locust Valley in 1879. Seider's and Heller's schools are still held in old association school-houses. The school-houses are all furnished with blackboards, patent desks, and globes.
The estimated valne of school property in the
The following table exhibits the workings of the system from 1850 to 1875:
YKARL.
No. of Schools.
No. of Pupils.
No. learning English.
No. learning German.
No. learning Grammar.
No. learning Geography.
learning Mental
Arithmetic.
No. learning Written
No. learning Composition.
No, learning History.
Expense.
1850 .......
9
520
91
10
40
...
252
... $1304.76
1855
10 599
5.1.
49
47
37
162
311
211
...
2684 27
1870
13
697
619
78
91
1735
330
201
3762.94
1875
1.1
7:31
731
72
82
20-1
334
1.13
66
3715.59
Among the teachers of the district during the era of common schools (to the present) we name the fol- lowing : George W. Brinker, who taught twenty-nine terms; Jessiah F. Jacoby, twenty-two terms; Jacob F. Diehl, eighteen terms; William H. Snyder, seven-
1860
12 635
607
38
75
119
202
341
29-1
... 1625.88
2025.06
13. 696
81
+ 103
386
Arithmetic.
No.
28
434
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
teen terms; Franklin B. Heller, thirteen terms; O. W. Markle, thirteen terms; Lewis M. Engelman, twelve terms; Lewis H. Jaeoby, twelve terms ; John HI. Walbert, twelve terms; Milton A. Zyner, eleven terms; John V. Clymer, ten terms; Albert II. Wea- Ver, nine terms ; Aaron K. Eichelberger, nine terms ; Charles W. Roth, seven terms; Levi M. Johnson, seven terms; Franklin Brinker, seven terms; Augus- tus F. HFallenbach, six terms; Charles H. Buchecker, six terms; Laurentus H. Weaver, six terms; Thomas B. Weber, five terms; and R. M. Lichtenwalner, five terms.
Early Families .- The Owen family was of Welsh origin. They were among the first immigrants to the State, and some of them became prominent in colo- nial days. Griffith Owen was a member of the Colo- nial Council from 1685 to 1707. John Owen was sheriff of Chester County in 1730. Owen Owen was sheriff of Philadelphia County in 1728, and coroner in 1730. After this he came to Saucon, took up lands, and, as it seems, resided here at least part of the time. His wife's name was Margaret, and they had three children,-Thomas, David, and Margaret. The lat- ter married Richard Thomas, and is not known to have left any deseendants. Thomas became one of his majesty's justices of the peace. He is not known to have had offspring. David, with his wife, Sarah, had, as far as known, six children, viz. : David, Joseph, Nathan, Mary, Lydia, and Elizabeth. Of these, David, with his wife, Margaret, had four children, viz. : Solomon, David, Elizabeth, and Hannah. Mary (who married William Grothouse) and Joseph are not known to have any descendants. Nathan had two daughters,-Hannah and Sarah. Lydia married Henry Weber, and is the grandmother of Joel B. and Thomas B. Weber, of Spring Valley. Elizabeth mar- ried Abraham Seider, and is no doubt the grandmother of some of the Seiders living in different parts of the county.
Of the younger David's children, Solomon married Catharine Beil, and had one daughter, Elizabeth, who became the wife of the late Rev. Samuel Hess. David appears to have died in youth. Elizabeth married Henry Engleman, and is the mother of Lewis M. Engleman, of Locust Valley. Hannah married Adam Romig, and is not known to have any descendants.
Of. Nathan's daughters, Hannah married Peter Lynn, and is the mother of Uriah Lynn, of Bucks County, and Sarah married Andrew Engleman, and is the mother of Mrs. Jacob HI. Erdman, of Emaus, and Mrs. Reuben Stahler, of Allentown.
Philip Geissinger, a Mennonite from the Palatinate, seems to have immigrated to some point within the present limits of Bucks County about 1725; he was naturalized by aet of Assembly in 1731. About 1737 he settled near the site of the Blue Church, in Upper Sancon. His wife's name was Anna Mary ; they had eleven children, viz. : Philip, Jacob, Henry, Daniel, John, Samuel, David, Abraham, Anna, Elizabeth,
and Barbara. Of these, David died in infancy ; Philip is not known to have had offspring; Jacob, with his wife, Magdalena, had five children ; Henry, wife Barbara, twelve; John, twice married,-first wife, Anna, ten, second wife, Anna, one; Samuel, wife Anna, four ; Daniel, wife Elizabeth, eight ; Anna married Christian Baer, and had ten children; Eliza- beth married Rudolph Kauffman, and had seven chil- dren ; Barbara married Isaac Bauer, and had seven children. All these seem to have removed from the township at an early day, and it is impossible to fol- low them further, but Abraham remained in the old homestead, and his descendants are still within sight. His wife's name was Barbara; they had four sons, viz. : Henry, Philip, Jacob, and Abraham. Of these, Henry had three children,-Ephraim, who remains in the old homestead; Mary, the wife of David Sto- ver ; and Elizabeth, the wife of Israel Walter. Philip had two children, -- Abraham, who lives at New Zion, Lehigh Co .; and Mary, who is not known to have any descendants. Jacob had three sons,-Rev. John, Jacob, and Abraham. Among Abraham's children were Samuel, deceased ; David and Jacob, who reside at Centre Valley ; and Abraham, who resides at Lo- cust Valley.
Johannes Erdman, of Pfungstadt, in Hesse-Darm- stadt, emigrated to this country in 1734. Where he settled first cannot now be ascertained, but we find him on the farm now known as the old Erdman farm, near Centre Valley, in 1750. His wife's name was Anna Catharine. Ile died Oct. 30, 1760, at the age of seventy-eight years. He seems to have had a num- ber of children, but the lineage of but one son, An- dreas, can be traced.
Andreas married Anna Maria Frederick, and had nine children, viz. : Jacob, George, Abraham, An- drew, John, Yost, Catharine, Sybilla, and Anna Mar- garet. Of these, Catharine (who had married Jacob Barnhart), Anna Margaret (who had married George Sober), and Abraham removed to Armstrong town- ship, Westmoreland Co., at an early day, and their descendants are lost sight of. Sybilla married Henry Bitz, and removed to Lower Mount Bethel, North- ampton Co. Andrew and Yost settled in Hilltown, Bueks Co., and are no doubt the ancestors of some of the Erdmans now living in that county. George set- tled in Upper Saucon ; had two sons, -John and Jacob. Of the descendants of the former nothing is known. The latter is the father of Jacob H. Erdman, of Emaus, and Charles H. and Elias H. Erdman, of Upper Saucon.
Jacob, born in 1763, married Catharine Romig, settled on the old Erdman homestead, and had eight children, viz. : Jacob, Isare, Aaron, John, Elizabeth, Catharine, Theresa, and Judith. John married Sarah Bitz, settled near Limeport, and had six children, viz .: Daniel, Henry, John, Jacob, Catharine, and another daughter, whose name we cannot ascertain.
Of Jacob's children, Jacob married Sarah Hartzel,
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A
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135
UPPER SAUCON TOWNSHIP.
settled on the old homestead, and had ten children, viz .: Enos, Addison, Charles, Jacob, Rebecca, Eliza, Maria, Sarah, Belinda, and Ataline. Isare married Catharine Gangaware, and is the father of Mrs. Alfred Breinig, of Allentown. Aaron first married Anna Breinig, and after her death, Maria Wieder. Ile re- sides at Macungie. John married Hannah Keek, and is the father of Dr. J. D., Edmund, Lewis, and Oliver Erdman, all of whom reside in the county. Elizabeth married Ehrhard Weaver, and is the grand- mother of Victor B. Weaver, of Bingen, and John B. Weaver, of Centre Valley. Theresa married Solomon Reichard, and is the mother of Mrs. William Jordan, of Coopersburg. After Theresa's death Catharine married Solomon Reichard, but had no issue. Judith became the wife of John G. Brunner.
Of John's children, Daniel married Maria Miller, and is the father of Daniel and Owen Erdman, of Bucks County, and Mrs. Abraham Moyer, of Lower. Milford. Ilenry married Catharine Seem, and is the father of Henry Erdman, of Steinsburg, Bucks Co., Renben Erdman, of Gehrysville, Bucks Co., Mrs. Charles B. Kemmerer, of Salisbury, and Mrs. J. F. Matts, of Coopersburg. Jacob married Catharine Hall, and was the father of the late David Erdman, whose son, Ammon, now resides in Emaus, Elias II. Erdman, whose son, Rev. A. E., now resides at Naza- reth, Northampton Co., Mrs. Absalom Sell, and Mrs. Philip Meitzler, of Upper Saucon. John removed from the township at an early day, and nothing is known of his descendants. Catharine married Ilenry Berkenstock, and is the mother of John Berkenstock, of Lower Milford. The remaining daughter married Gerhard Bechtel and removed to Berks County.
Of the latter Jacob's children, Enos married Anna Keck, and is the father of C. J. Erdman, Esq., of Al- lentown, P. K. Erdman, Esq., of Philadelphia, and Dr. F. C. Erdman, of Centre Valley; Addison mar- ried Mary Fogel, and is the father of Enos F. Erd- man, Esq., late of Allentown, now of Dakota, and Annie Erdman, who resides in Allentown; Charles and Jacob died in youth ; Rebecca married Charles W. Cooper, of Allentown, and after her death her sister Sarah became his wife; Eliza married Henry S. Cope, and resides in Sellersville, Bucks Co. ; Ata- line married Dr. J. A. Laros, of Coopersburg; Maria remains unmarried ; and Balinda died married.
Joseph Samuels, the ancestor of the Samuels family, emigrated from Wales about 1735, and settled in the Saucon Valley about 1740. His wife's name was Sarah, and they had one son, Isaac, who with his wife, Eleanor, had two children, -William and Jane. The latter married Jesse Silcott, and is not known to have had issue. William, born Dec. 2, 1764, married Mary Foulke, and had four children,-Jesse, William, Jane, and Maria. Of these, Jesse, born March 17, 1795, married Mary Engleman, and had two children, -Francis E. and Eliza. William married Lydia Becher, and had five children, viz. : Jesse, Mary
Ann, Matilda, Amanda, and Jennie. He removed to Indiana in 1837. Jane died unmarried, and Maria married James Reinhard, of Upper Faucon, and is the mother of Edwin W. and O. S. Reinhard. Of Dr. Jesse Sammels' children, Francis E. had three children-Alfred, deceased; Henry, who resides in Allentown; Mary, the wife of Francis Balliet, of Al- lentown-and Eliza, who married Nathan Mertz, has three children, and resides with them at Sunbury, Northumberland Co.
Christoph Heller, with his wife, Elizabeth, arrived in this country from the Palatinate, and took the oath of allegiance Sept. 5, 1738. They settled in Upper Milford, and are known to have had a son named Mi- chael, who married Magdalena Bucheeker, a daughter of Henry and Lowina Buchecker. They removed to Sancon, and had three children, viz. : Paul, Tobias, and Mary Magdalena. Paul married Catharine Owen, widow of Solomon Owen, "maiden name Beil," and had three children,-Abraham, Owen, and Mary. Tobias married Susanna Rensheimer, and had five children,-Charles, Amos, Priscilla, Catharine, and Susan. Mary Magdalena died ummarried. Of Paul's children, Abraham married Mary B. Egner, and is the father of Frank B. Heller, of Upper Saucon ; Permelia C. intermarried with Edwin Neimeyer ; and Sylvester A. intermarried with Alfred A. Sell; Owen married Leah Brunner, and resides at Bethlehem ; and Mary married Peter Trexler, who resides near Limeport. She is the mother of John J. and Peter Hl. Trexler, of Upper Saucon ; Mrs. Daniel Weaver ; Mrs. John Cope, of Allentown; Mrs. John Erney, and Mrs. Edwin Miller, of Lower Milford. Of Tobias' children, Charles married Elizabeth Burt, and resides in Philadelphia; Amos married Angelina Bieber, and afterwards Eliza Ritter, and resides in Upper Saucon ; Priscilla married Frederick Wunder, and resides in Emans; Catharine married Jonathan Rumfield, and is the mother of Mrs. Milton Dotterer and Mrs. Lando K. Moyer, of Upper Saucon, and Mrs. Solomon Ritter, of Allentown; Susan married Charles HI. Erdman, and resides in Upper Saucon.
George Brinker, of Odenwald, Germany, came to this country about 1760-70, settled on the site of the present residence of Wendel Simon, and is known to have had a son named Conrad.
Conrad married Catharine Miller and had twelve children, viz .: George, Jacob, Solomon, Courad, Bar- bara, Elizabeth, Margaret, Magdalena, Maria Anna, Maria, Susanna, and Eve. Of these, George married Eve Bitting and had ten children, viz. : John, George, Henry, and Adam, all of whom reside in Upper San- con ; Andrew (deceased), the father of Mrs. James C. Gerhard, of Coopersburg; Theresa, who married Solomon Reinhard, and is the mother of Solomon B. Reinhard, of Upper Saucon; Catharine, who mar- ried John Kiehl, of Bethlehem; Elizabeth, who mar- ried Wyandt Cope, and is the mother of Jolin Cope, of Allentown; Sallie, who married John Young and
436
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
resides near Bethlehem ; and Eve, who married Fran- cis Hess and resides in Bethlehem.
Solomon married Catharine Bitting, and is the father of Francis Brinker, of Upper Sancon, and Ehrhard Brinker, of Salisbury ; Conrad married Cath- arine Shaffer, and is the father of Jacob Brinker. of Upper Saucon, and Aaron Brinker, of Bethlehem; Jacob married Elizabeth Schleider, and is the father of Abraham Brinker, of Salsibury, and Samnel Brinker, of Allentown.
Of the elder Conrad's daughters, Barbara married Andrew Walter and is the mother of George, An- drew, and Solomon Walter, of Upper Saueon ; Eliza- beth, married George Walter, and is the mother of George Walter, of Vera Cruz; Margaret married George Reinbold, and is the mother of Andrew Rein- bold, of Upper Milford; Eve married Henry Weaver, and is the mother of Job Weaver, of Centre Valley ; Susanna married Joseph Kuhn, and is the mother of Jacob Kuhn, of Upper Saucon; Magdalena married George Wagner ; Maria Anna, Henry Yunger; and Maria, Jacob Danbert. Nothing is known of the descendants of the latter three.
Rev. John Justus Jacob Berkenstock, the original ancestor of this family, eame from the Palatinate to Saucon about 1742, and settled on the farm lately owned by Solomon Greenawalt, deceased. He is known to have had one son, John George, and two daughters, Solome, and one whose name is unknown. Of John Philips' daughters, Catharine married George Christ, and is the mother of John Christ, of Saucon, and Charles E. Christ, of Allentown ; Susanna married Charles Weaver, and is the mother of Eph- rain Weaver, of Upper Sancon, and Mrs. Peter Eguer, of Emans; Elizabeth died unmarried. Solome married Peter Fuchs and had no issue; the other daughter married Peter Laubach, and is known to have had one daughter, Mary, who married Johu Greenawald and became the grandmother of Jacob L. Greenawald, now living near the Blue Church. John George had two sons, John and Abraham. John Matheis Eichener ( Eichener, Egener, Egner), the ancestor of the Eguer family, emigrated from the Palatinate in 1727, took the oath of allegiance Sep- tember 30th of the same year, and afterwards settled on the farm now owned by Charles Kidd. His wife's maiden name was Barbara Knappenberger. They Elizabeth. Of these, Mathias married a Miss Augh- ster, and had two children, -- Charles and Elizabeth. Peter married Susanna Stout, and had two children, -David and Elizabeth. Henry married Catharine The latter John had four sons, two of whom died in infancy, the other two named John and Henry; of these John died withont issue, and Henry had three sons and two daughters,-John, who resides in Lower Milford; Samuel, who resides at Bethlehem; and Charles, who died in youth ; Elizabeth, the wife of : had ten children, viz. : Mathias, Peter, Henry, John, Daniel Stonebach; and Mary, who died in youth. . Daniel, Solomon, Christian, Catharine, Eve, and Abraham Birkenstock married Elizabeth Ochs, and is the father of Thomas Berkenstock, now residing neat Lanark, and Mrs. Jacob Bowman, residing near Limeport, besides a number of other children, none of whom remain in the township or vieinity. Rev. | Schneider, and had six children, -Thomas, Sarah. John Justus Jacob Berkenstock in his old age becom- . ing possessed of a desire to revisit his Fatherland ' undertook the journey thither, intending to return soon again, but had scarcely reached the old hearth- stone when he died and was buried alongside of his fathers ; his widow died here in 1756 and was buried on her own farm.
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