USA > Pennsylvania > Pennsylvania: The German influence in its settlement and development, Pat V > Part 6
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Fort Henry stood nearly midway between the other two defences erected by the Provincial authorities on the ter- ritory settled, in any part, by the German immigrants from New York. Fourteen miles to the West of it was placed Fort Swatara, close to the Gap of the same name in the mountains, and eleven miles east of it was located Fort Northkill, right at the foot of the Blue Range, about two miles north of Strausstown, in Upper Tulpehocken Town- ship, Berks County. The cellar of the latter is still visi- ble, although the winds of a century and a-half have almost completely filled it with the leaves of the forest.
These forts, with all the others between the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers along the Blue Mountains, were garrisoned by details from Colonel Weiser's Battalion of the Pennsylvania Regiment, most of whom were of Ger- man blood. It is reserved for another to tell of their deeds, to relate the horrors with which they were surrounded and to show how their brave and energetic commander, in spite of his advanced years, was chiefly instrumental in bring- ing, once more, peace to his unhappy countrymen and quiet to the distracted Province which had become his
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adopted home. It is enough, for the present, to have shown that those who had fled from the persecutions which they suffered in New York Province were not unmindful of the debt of gratitude owing to the Province of Penn which had received them in such different manner.
It would be but an act of poor justice to our New York immigrants and their descendants were we to leave the reader to suppose that their service to Pennsylvania came to an end, even from a military standpoint, with their actions during the French and Indian war. When the oppression of the Mother Country toward her colonies be- came intolerable, and the effort to gain freedom was un- avoidable ; when, at last, the clash of arms came, and an army must be gathered together, the first troops to reach Washington, in front of Boston, were Pennsylvanians from the German border counties, and the first of these Pennsylvanians was Captain Nagle's company, from Berks county, which arrived, in advance, on July 18, 1775.
When, in God's providence, years later, He saw fit to make every human being in our glorious country free and equal, and, in His wisdom, saw fit to bring about this re- sult through the horrors of a great Civil War, when brother was arrayed against brother, and father against child, again the German citizen of Pennsylvania stood up, manfully, for the right, and again was he foremost in the performance of duty. The first company in the Union to respond to the call of the President for troops was from Berks county, the Ringgold Light Artillery, who volun- teered on April 16, 1861, and in whose ranks were not only many Pennsylvania-Germans, but, better still, no small proportion of those who were descended from the Palatines who wended their way, with much toil, from New York Province, to found a home, after many trials and tribulations, in Pennsylvania.
CHAPTER XI.
THE FOUNDING OF TOWNS AND CITIES.
VROM their very nature and training the majority of the German immigrants were inclined to devote themselves to the pursuit of agriculture and the establishment of various indus- tries. Indeed, settling as they did in what was practically a wilder- ness, no other course of life lay open to them. Their influence in the upbuilding of Pennsylvania, therefore, was especially evident in those directions. They were a band of God-fearing and worshipping, patriotic men, who were satisfied to patiently toil in the laying of a solid, substantial substructure, so that when, eventually, the house should be reared upon it there could be no ques- tion as to its endurance. It would, truly, be " founded on a rock."
Yet, whilst not, in one sense, men of the city, it would be an injustice to them were we not to call attention to the fact that they, too, had a hand in the establishment of communities in the Province. Without dwelling upon the
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Sale of Lands.
numerous beautiful and flourishing towns, in and adjoin- ing the Tulpehocken region where settled our New York immigrants, and with the origin of which they, or their descendants, were closely identified, such as Wernersville, Robesonia, Womelsdorf, Sheridan, Myerstown, Lebanon, Stouchsburg, Strausstown, Millersburg, Rehrersburg, it is well to remember that some of their number, amongst them especially Conrad Weiser, were instrumental in giv- ing a most substantial start to what is now the great city of Reading, with its 85,000 inhabitants and hundreds of diversified manufacturing establishments.
The first thought of the Proprietors of the Province was to remunerate themselves and enhance the value of their property by the sale of land. With this in view on Febru- ary 19, 1733, a tract of 1, 150 acres was surveyed and dis- posed of to Richard Hockley, covering what is now, ap- proximately, North Reading; on March 19, 1733, there was surveyed a tract of 300 acres for Thomas Lawrence, patented October 27, 1733, and on April 22, 1738, a fur- ther tract of 13712 acres was surveyed for the same person and patented February 16, 1739, both taking up practi- cally the present center of the city ; on February 19, 1733, a tract of 150 acres was surveyed for Samuel Finney, in the present southern part of Reading. Some years after these grants had been made the Penns conceived the idea of laying out a town at that locality, and made an effort to re-purchase the ground. The Hockley tract was consid- ered to be best adapted for the purpose, but its distance from the ford, which was opposite the Lawrence property, militated against it; then again, on the Hockley land, water was not so abundant near the surface, whilst on the Lawrence and Finney properties fine springs bubbled up at many places. So soon as the owners of the Lawrence
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and Finney tracts were aware of the desire of the Proprie- tors they refused to sell, and it was not until the Penns had commenced laying out lots on the Hockley land and they began to realize their mistake in holding out too long, that, on December 30, 1745, the Lawrence tracts were con- veyed to Thomas Jenkins and gradually found their way into the hands of their original owners, on March 6, 1748.
During the fall of 1748 a town was laid out on the Lawrence land, and named " Reading" after the county town of Berkshire, in England, the home of the Proprie- tors. At this time there was not a town or village in the adjoining territory, though the population was about ten thousand. The nearest town was Lebanon, twenty-eight miles to the west, which was laid out in 1740.
Three prominent representative men were appointed as commissioners for the purpose of making a prompt sale of the lots laid out. They were Conrad Weiser, Francis Parvin and William Hartley. Publication of the proposed sale was made and on June 15, 1749, the conditions of the sale were read to a large number of people. They were briefly as follows :
I. Every whole lot of sixty feet was to be subject to a ground-rent of seven shillings, payable to the proprietaries ; to begin on March 1, 1750.
2. Lots on the great square (Penn Square) were to be built upon with brick or stone in one year from March I, 1750.
3. Lots on Main (Penn) Street, not on the square, were to be built upon in two years.
4. Other lots within blocks adjoining Main Street were to be built upon in three years.
5. Lots in blocks remote from Main Street were to be built upon in five years.
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City of Reading.
6. A sixty-feet lot, if too large, should be divided and ground-rent apportioned.
7. All who should take lots before March 1, 1750, were licensed to take stones for building purposes from any land of the proprietaries, assigned by Hartley.
8. Title would be made upon erection of building ; and no assignment could be made before erection of building.
9. Privileges of ground-rent at seven shillings to con- tinue only to March 1, 1750.
IO. Houses should be built according to the regulation of the streets.
II. Persons might thereafter apply to the three commis- sioners named in reference to lots.
12. Two whole lots would be allotted in some con- venient place for building houses of religious worship.
13. Persons who should intend to take lots were to send in their names and the time in which they could build, but they were not to undertake to build sooner than they really could, otherwise they might obstruct the progress and suc- cess of the town.
Town lots were, doubtless, sold at once and, probably, buildings erected speedily. It seems, however, that no patents were taken up until 1751, as this is the first record given, and is as follows :
1751-seven lots
Lot · Patentee Lot Patentee
2-Conrad Weiser (Justice) 34-Conrad Weiser
II-Daniel Steinmetz (mer- chant of Philadelphia)
106-Adam Witman (shop and innkeeper)
29-Isaac Levan (Exeter, Yeoman)
II4-Isaac Levan
120-Conrad Weiser.
In 1752 one hundred and thirty-three lots were taken, in 1753 eighty-four, and in 1754 seventeen lots, which
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would indicate, in 1755, a town of some two hundred dwellings and one thousand inhabitants. Mr. Daniel B. Keim gives for 1751 a total of 130 dwelling houses, be- sides stables and other buildings, containing 106 families and 378 inhabitants. 12
Hardly had this thriving village, destined to become such a flourishing city, sprung into existence, when its German citizens, in accordance with the rule of their lives, took steps to provide for their spiritual and educational wants. Here again Conrad Weiser, of the German Pala- tines from New York Province, with others of his fellow- countrymen, was prominently identified with the progress of events. So early as 1751 the Lutherans, under the leadership of Rev. Tobias Wagner, organized a congre- gation. In 1752 application was made by Conrad Weiser and Abraham Brosius, Trustees of the congregation, for lots on which to erect a church at what is now Sixth and Washington Streets, the deed for which was finally ex- ecuted and recorded in 1754, the consideration money be- ing " five shillings, lawful money of Pennsylvania," to- gether with an annual ground-rent of " seven shillings sterling money of Great Britain," dating from 1752. In the spring of 1752 a church building was begun on this ground, which was completed in 1753 and dedicated to the service of the Triune God on Trinity Sunday, June 17, 1753, receiving the name of "The Holy Trinity Church." On this occasion was presented a dedicatory poem, or hymn, composed by Conrad Weiser, of remarkable excel- lence both in sentiment and form. It consists of thirteen verses, of which we give a translation of the two first made by Thomas C. Zimmerman, Esq., of Reading :
12 I am mainly indebted for facts as to Reading to Montgomery's " His- tory of Berks."
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Poem by Conrad Weiser.
" Jehovah, Lord and Mighty One ! Hear, Thou, our childlike calls ; To all who stand before Thy face Within these sacred walls, Incline, dear Lord, Thy gracious ear. Nor cast aside our fervent prayer, For sake of Thy dear name.
" The people of Thy covenant Now consecrate this place ; Reveal, O Lord, from out the cloud The splendors of Thy face, That it may flood this house with light, And banish evil from our sight, For sake of Thy dear name."
This first church was a log building, one story, with galleries on three sides, north, west and south. On the north gallery stood the organ, whilst to the east was the chancel and pulpit. It had a steeple with a clock and two bells. This edifice gave place in 1794 to a building started in 1791 and still standing, which, for size, beauty of style and proportions, as well as stateliness and adaptability to the purpose intended, remains to this day unequalled in this part of the Commonwealth. It is of brick and large enough to contain two thousand persons, the whole number, approximately, of the inhabitants of Reading at that time. The name of its architect, unfortunately, is not known, but its magnificent steeple, over two hundred feet in height, erected in 1833, was the work of its own members, the building committee being George Boyer, John Bickel and Anthony Bickel, and the constructors Conrad Henry, William Henry and Joseph Henry. The beauty of this graceful spire remains unexcelled even at the present day.
Almost coincident with the organization of Trinity Con-
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gregation was the establishment of a parochial school and the erection of a school building. No records are extant to show the exact date when it was started, but the church minutes of 1759 refer to it as something by no means new. At that time the pastor, Rev. B. M. Hausihl, also served as the teacher. It was probably a log building situate near the church. In 1763 a lot was purchased on the southwest corner of Sixth and Washington Streets, upon which, shortly after, a most substantial one story stone school- building was placed, the parochial school transferred to it and instruction kept up continually for over a century. This structure was not finally demolished until 1894.
The German Reformed element was equally active with their Lutheran brethren in religious matters. Through the aid and influence of Conrad Weiser they obtained title, in 1754, to ground at Sixth and Washington Streets, just op- posite Trinity Lutheran Church and to the east. It is sup- posed that a small log church was erected at that time, but in 1761 a substantial stone building was put up and in it the congregation worshipped until it was torn down in 1832 to make place for the present commodious and handsome (remodeled) edifice.
They too established a parochial school, for which a brick building was placed on ground at Seventh and Wash- ington Streets, purchased in 1776.
From these two parent congregations have branched out many others, which, in turn, have established additional missions. Their work has not ceased at home, but has ex- tended in all directions and has been felt in every part of the world. The good accomplished is incalculable. It has been seen that Conrad Weiser, a German immigrant from New York Province, was a leading spirit in all this work, just as he was a leader in all the events of his time,
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Conrad Weiser.
and as his father before him was a leader amongst his op- pressed countrymen in New York. Others of those in- cluded within the scope of this paper aided him in his praiseworthy efforts, and, with him, were instrumental in bringing about the results which followed.
" ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL.
CHAPTER XII.
SOME CLOSING REFLECTIONS.
UT it is not our duty to fol- low the fortunes of the Ger- man immigrants from New York Province into Pennsylvania beyond their assured settlement, which has been now set forth. We shall pursue the facts, there- fore, no further in narrative, whilst asking your indulgence to that margin of truths which must always accompany mere facts to set them forth in complete intelligibility. We should know something of the character of these settlers, something as to their importance as a factor in the Commonwealth. The general testimony as to the Palatine migration is that it was made up of " quiet and industrious " people. It sought the land for carrying on agriculture, and did not largely linger in the cities. Even in such case, it followed trades and was thrifty. It was religious and desired the minis- trations of God's word, which, however, in the absence of a regular ministry exposed it to the schemes and frauds of runaway schoolmasters and smooth-tongued adventurers
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Condition of the Germans.
and often resulted in suspicion and subsequent irreligion. It proved susceptible, in some degree, to the mystical element as represented by the various sects; indeed, it brought much of that element with it, but in the main it was true to that type of Christian faith represented in Arndt's True Christianity, which was its main commentary and exponent of the Gospel. Its persecutions at home and in New York had made it somewhat restive and sus- picious of civil and ecclesiastical authority, to its own hurt and to the profit of demagogues. These same fears pre- vented an efficient church organization, favored inde- pendent congregationalism, tended toward an inordinate cherishing of their native German tongue and a sturdy resistance against the inevitable transition to English as the generations descended, which in its turn alienated those who did become English in their speech, separated them from the ancestral mass, and resulted in that disdain which some of those cherish for " Pennsylvania-German " who have hardly a drop of blood in them which is not inherited from that very source. While the numbers which came from New York were small, their testimony as to treatment there, and their witness to the bright contrast of their ex- perience in Pennsylvania led to the choice of this latter province by almost all subsequent German migrations. Even if landed in New York, Germans at once sought Pennsylvania ; and if possible, sailed directly for Phila- delphia. Hence Pennsylvania became emphatically a German colony. The Bible was printed here in German ; newspapers, almanacs, religious books were printed, pub- lished, sold and read in German. Attempts to force the Anglicizing of this great body failed ; and we know how slowly the transition in speech has taken place even unto this day, despite the tremendous influence of English pub-
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lic schools, the use of English in legal and business affairs, and the flood of English daily newspapers pouring over all the country side. That our State is what she is, that her influence has been which it has been, that her attitude in national crises has been praiseworthy, conservative and approved by the outcome, can never be lauded and magni- fied without implying a just tribute to the Pennsylvania- German.
The Pennsylvania-German has tended more to the useful element than the brilliant ; it has done the work rather than achieved widespread reputation. As an example of this characteristic take the case of Conrad Weiser ! We hear much of the blessed policy of equitable and peaceful deal- ings with the Indians under the Penn's government. But it was this Palatine immigrant from the New York Province, Conrad Weiser, who was the interpreter and agent, the one man trusted by Indian and white man, who managed this affair from 1732 until physical decay and old age, in 1760, made it no longer possible. Yet the few hear of Weiser and many laud the Penns, who had practically very little part in it, except the good sense to trust Weiser and let him manage the Indians and pay his reasonable bills for ex- penses and services. It was the fault neither of Weiser nor the Penns that the French and Indian War broke out; it was to the praise of Weiser that the province felt its fury no more than it did, much as it suffered from this fierce struggle. Conrad Weiser had been for eight months dur- ing his youth a member of the family of Quagnant, a Mohawk chief, was recognized by the " Six Nations" as an adopted member, had served as interpreter and adjudi- cator almost from that very time-his seventeenth year. What a power this man had for good or for evil ! He made it a power for the good of man and for the glory of God.
THE PENNSYLVANIA-GERMAN SOCIETY.
Dosis Cva Zenia
Chegattin var Yab PBeifer. 1.25-3 an.
Mit 29 Dee.
STACH Herre IVB Tenberg und Ges ort
3. WO
J.F.S.99
BURIAL PLOT ON THE WEISER FARM NEAR WOMELSDORF.
SHOWING THE GRAVES AND TOMBSTONES OF CONRAD WEISER AND EVA ANNA, HIS WIFE.
PHOTOGRAPHED FOR THE SOCIETY BY JULIUS F. SACHSE.
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Conclusion.
He was interested in the spiritual welfare of his Indian brethren, for he was a man sincerely spiritual himself. It was largely he who made possible and efficient the mis- sionary efforts of Spangenberg and Zeisberger, whom he accompanied in 1738 in their journeys, as he did Zin- zendorf in 1742. He taught the missionaries the Mohawk language ; he was their shield, their propitiating herald, their frequent companion. His toils, dangers, exposures were little less than theirs ; yet who has heard of Weiser when these missionary efforts are recounted? In 1743 Weiser became acquainted with Henry Melchior Muhlen- berg, the first representative and authorized missionary of the Lutheran Church. In 1745 he gave his daughter in marriage to Muhlenberg, and his influence was exerted subsequently in furthering the interests of that orderly and orthodox Lutheranism which Muhlenberg and his coadju- tors in the Synod of Pennsylvania and adjacent States rep- resented. When we read of the confusion preceding this period we ask ourselves once more, what if Weiser's in- fluence had been against instead of for the struggling efforts of the faithful few to gather into safe folds the spiritual sheep all astray, to expose and expel knaves and impos- ters, errorists and ungodly ministers ?
But let this suffice ! After the manner of our fathers, we will not erect monuments to ourselves. We can wait until others "rise up to call us blessed." Yet meanwhile let us in filial gratitude, as in a household gathering, re- count and recall the facts and the truths which prove our honorable descent, and enkindle within our own souls the high resolve to act well our part, to deserve well of our fellow-men and to be thankful for that strain of blood which should make this the easier for us to perform.
ONCORDEÀ BESPARVI CRESCIDO
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