USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania; genealogy-family history-biography; containing historical sketches of old families and of representative and prominent citizens, past and present, Volume II > Part 28
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88
In 1905 Mr. Kranss was united in marriage to Miss Susan W. Kriebel, daughter of Henry S. Kriebel and his wife, nee Catharine Wiegner, Rev. Wil- liam Wackernagel, D. D., professor of German in Muhlenberg College, per- forming the ceremony. The following children have been born to this union : Frances, Winifred, Frederick and Alberta (twins), and Ida May.
The ancestors of the Krausses, Hoffmans, Schultzes, Kriebels and Wieg- ners came from the Palatinate, Germany, and located in the upper end of Montgomery county, Pa., and in what is now lower Lehigh and lower Berks counties. The Krausses are descendants of Balthasar Krauss, who with his mother, Anna Krauss, a widow, in September, 1733, came with some of the first Schwenkfelders to this country. He married Jan. 16, 1736, Susanna Hoffman (who followed him from the old country in September, 1734), and settled in the most southern part of the present township of Lower Milford, Lehigh Co., Pa. (Kraussdale), in the year 1749. He purchased a farm of two hundred acres, which was surveyed Sept. 29, 1734, to a George Schu- macher. Krauss obtained a patent on this land Dec. 16, 1749, for thirty-one
ZION'S (OLD RED) CHURCH
Original church built 1755, burned by the Indians 1756; next church completed 1770; rebuilt of stone, completed 1803 ; stone church razed and replaced with present building 1883
789
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
pounds. He sold the same to his son, Balthasar Krauss, Jr., for seven hun- dred pounds, and died two years later, Feb. 25, 1774, aged over sixty-eight years, leaving one son, Balthasar, and four daughters: Rosina, married to George Heydrick; Susanna, married to Baltzer Yeakel; Barbara, married to George Urffer; and Maria, married to Mathias Gerhard.
Balthasar Krauss, Jr., had three sons and four daughters: John, Andrew, George, Helena, Susanna, Regina and Lydia. John Krauss was a well edu- cated man, having attended the well conducted schools of the Schwenk- felders. He became a prominent surveyor, and also a machinist. Andrew, with his brother, John, became an organ builder, and when he was nineteen years old made the first pipe organ in Pennsylvania, in the year 1790. They made a number of pipe organs for the churches in the community. Later George and Joel, sons of Andrew, made a bass viol. In 1828 George and Samuel made a melodeon, which is believed to have been the first one ever made. Later still George and Samuel made an ingenious globe, turned by a clock which they also made; the painting and printing were put on by George, his copy being a map of the world which was printed in London. This globe turned by the clock works once in twenty-four hours. The clock is still in existence.
ZION'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH ( RED CHURCH), of West Bruns- wick Township, Schuylkill Co., Pa. About the year 1750 a few German Lutherans left their homes in Berks county, Pa., to prospect the country beyond the Blue Mountains, at the same time having in view the planting of a new settlement, if their expectations would be realized. Being pleased with the general appearance of the country, and the apparent fertility of the soil-for it is related that they witnessed in the valleys through which flow small streams of pure water an indescribably luxuriant growth of grass- they concluded to make the newly explored region their future home. How they acquired the large tract of land comprising nearly half of the district known at present as Brunswick township, Schuylkill county, cannot be accurately ascertained. From the language used in the old indentures, it is probable that it was granted to them by the proprietors of Pennsylvania, or their deputies, for a mere consideration, namely, that it be occupied and improved. The principal movers in this new enterprise were Peter Weyman and Peter Schmelgert, who subsequently became very prominent in the history of Zion's church. The way having been made clear, others soon followed. Some of these settled on the tract held by Weyman; others penetrated still further into the interior and received new tracts not as yet taken up. Thus by the year 1754 a considerable number of German families had settled in this new territory, designated at that time as the land beyond the Blue Moun- tain.
These Germans, like many others of our forefathers, were a brave, noble- minded and enterprising people, and withal a people imbued with right relig- ious principles. Their object, therefore, was not simply to take possession of so much new territory, and clear and cultivate it to advance their temporal interests, but likewise to establish a community with whom should be asso- ciated certain lofty and precious principles. Hence they commenced at an early period of their settlement to agitate the subject of organizing a church on the basis of the principles they had learned and lived in the Fatherland. In this undertaking they were greatly aided and encouraged by Rev. Daniel
790
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Schumaker, at that time laboring as a missionary in the counties of Lehigh and Berks, who occasionally visited them, sometimes crossing the mountain on foot, and preached to them, baptized their little ones, and instructed and confirmed their sons and daughters. His self-denying labors among them com- menced as early as the year 1755 and continued to the year 1781, inclusive.
Ten years after Rev. Mr. Schumaker commenced to visit this people, i. e., in the year 1765, they began the erection of a house of worship, and completed it in 1770, at which time they reorganized the congregation under the name and title Zion's Evangelical Lutheran Church, and adopted a constitution. But for the exceedingly formidable obstacle in the way, they evidently would have begun at an earlier period this much desired object of their heart, namely, the presence of numerous Indians, who seemed at that time to have been more bent upon committing outrages than in former periods in the history of the Province. Being much exposed to their depredations, and not knowing how soon they would be obliged to flee for safety beyond the mountains and yield the soil to the savage sons of the forest, they did not feel secure enough in their abodes to attempt such an enterprise. That they were actually driven from their homes by the Indians may be inferred from the following allusion to their trials in a memorial found in the old Church Record: "Inasmuch as we felt it a duty resting on us to erect a church, after having suffered almost unen- durable calamities from the savage and heathenish people, the so-called Indians, 1756, etc., but afterwards succeeded by the grace of God to re-establish peace and quiet once more to live in our former abodes, we, therefore resolved to build a new church ; which was finally completed in 1770."
From the above it appears then that the first settlers in these parts were very much annoyed and disturbed by the savages. Indeed, many terrible stories of Indian horrors and cruelties are related by their descendants. From the fact that there are no baptisms recorded in Schumaker's record (at present in the hands of Dr. Schumaker), between 1760 and 1765, this seems to have been the period of greatest suffering. They were in consequence forced to flee for safety.
As already stated, the first church erected was commenced in 1765 and completed in 1770. It was solemnly dedicated to the service of the Triune God on the First Sunday in Advent by Rev. Mr. Schumaker in the presence of a large concourse of people, who had come from near and far to attend the services. The joy felt and expressed by these people on this happy occasion must have been great. And they had reasons to be joyful in the Lord. The thought that they were happily delivered from the atrocities of savage men. and that after having endured innumerable hardships they had now a church of their own, could well fill their hearts with joy and gratitude to Almighty God. That the erection of the church was effected through much self denial may be imagined when we remember that it was five years in building. The men most prominent in this work, as evidenced in the record, were Peter Schmel- gert, Peter Weyman, Jacob Schaeffer, Michael Deibert, Gottfried Berger, Paul Heim, Phillip Pausman, Christopher Schaber, Casper Prag, and George Hun- singer. The numerical strength of the congregation at this time cannot be definitely stated, as the list of the membership as well as of the communicants is wanting in the record. It may, however, be estimated as not less than one hundred, if the number of those who were confirmed in a single year may be taken as correct data to go by. These were of course scattered over a large territory, as this was the only church in this section of the country, so that
791
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
this is in fact, the oldest congregation in Schuylkill county. The ministers who served this congregation, after Schumaker, were: Frederick De Milter, 1782-83; Abraham Gottlieb Deschler, 1784-88; Daniel Lehman, 1789-91, and John Frederick Obenhausen, 1792-1803.
The membership having considerably increased since the erection of the first church, so that it was impossible to suitably accommodate all who desired to worship there, the members determined, in the year 1799, to erect a new house of worship, larger and more commodious than the old one. The corner- stone of the new building was laid on the 14th day of October, in the same year, by the Rev. J. F. Obenhausen, who preached from Isaiah xxviii:16. The memorial placed in the cornerstone, a copy of which was preserved, exhibits the lofty principles which governed our Lutheran forefathers in their actions, as well as their strong conviction of the correctness of the doctrines they be- lieved and maintained, as the following extracts will plainly show :
"Since it has pleased Almighty God to prosper this State, so that it has become a blooming and delightful garden, and this largely through the instru- mentality of the Germans, a few of this nation, living in this country and in this vicinity, cherished the sincere desire not only to confess until death the Christian religion which they had learned in Germany and accepted and kept as a perfect confession of the truth of God's Word which is able to make wise unto salvation, and to publicly serve God in their adopted country, but also to see to it that in years to come the same be confessed, loved and lived by their children. They, therefore, erected in this place, a house of prayer, in which should be taught the pure Word of God, and the sacraments admin- istered according to the explicit command of our dear Lord, Jesus Christ. After many trials and hardships their object was finally attained. The church erected to the God of their fathers was solemnly dedicated, and publicly con- fessed and declared to be and remain an exclusively Lutheran church to the end of time. Inasmuch, however, as this church, built by the fathers under many trying circumstances, has been occupied for twenty-nine years, and in the meantime has greatly prospered and increased in numbers, and has there- fore become too small for our present purpose, the congregation has, there- fore, resolved by the blessing of God to build a new and more commodious house of prayer to His honor and to the glory of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, in order that in future we may have a more convenient place to worship God and thereby be prepared for eternal salvation." The following solemn invo- cation of blessings is the conclusion of this paper: "And Thou, my faithful God and Father, have mercy upon the whole Christian Church, but especially on this, thy congregation ! Preserve among them peace and brotherly love, and bless and keep from danger and accident those who labor at this house! Be and remain, O Lord, their God and Saviour, who are now and will hereafter be connected with the church! Bless the parents and guide them by Thy Holy Spirit, that they may train their children to walk in the right way, and teach them the true doctrine of Jesus Christ, in order that after their departure hence, they may belong to the true people of God, who have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ ! We commit this house of prayer into thy gracious keeping, so that it will truly be the house of God and the gate of heaven." This second church, commenced in 1799 and completed in 1803, was dedicated to God's service on the 29th and 30th of May, 1803, the dedicatory services being per- formed by Rev. Daniel Lehman, J. F. Obenhausen and David Schaeffer.
Contrary to the wishes of its founders, this church is at present occupied
792
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
by both the Lutheran and Reformed congregations and hence no longer exclusively Lutheran. The Reformed church, situated a few rods from the site of the Lutheran, having been started in 1795, becoming dilapidated, its members made application to the members of the Lutheran church to unite with them in the formation of a union church. Their application was favorably received by the Lutherans, acted upon, and finally articles of agreement made to sell half of their rights and claims to the Reformed. This unhappy state of things was brought about in the year 1833, at the time when the Lutheran church here was passing through strange experiences and losing members on all sides. Some left and connected themselves with other Lutheran congregations then beginning to spring up in the surrounding neighborhood; others left and joined the sects who were at that time manifesting considerable power in deceiving and drawing away the unwary.
In the year 1803 this congregation, which had been until then supplied, united with four others to build a charge. This charge called as its pastor Rev. John Knoske, who served it from 1803 to 1811, eight years. In the year 1811, Rev. George Mennig received and accepted a call to this pastorate, and labored in it until 1833, when he was followed by Rev. William G. Mennig, whose labor here extended to the year 1845. The following are the ministers who served this congregation after William Mennig: Nathan Yeager, 1845-51; G. W. Scheide, 1852; Julius Ehrhardt, 1853-64; J. Leonberger, 1865-69; G. F. Woerner, 1870; D. K. Kepner, 1871-72; I. N. S. Erb, 1873- 1888; H. A. Weller, 1889-1911 ; H. H. Krauss, 1912.
Early in the year 1883 plans were undertaken for the building of a new church, and the present church building resulted. On Aug. 19th of this year the cornerstone of the new building was laid, sermons being preached by the Revs. R. S. Appel, Reformed, and D. K. Kepner, Lutheran. On Jan. 6, 1884, the first sermon in the new church building was preached in the basement by the Lutheran pastor, Rev. I. N. S. Erb; text, Luke ii, 36-37. The Reformed pastor, Henry Leisse, preached his first sermon also in the basement, on the following Sunday, Jan. 13th. The new church building was formally dedi- cated on the 27th and 28th days of September, 1884.
Early in the year 1905 a movement was set on foot to observe the 150th anniversary of the founding of the congregation of the Lutheran church in West Brunswick. William B. Ketner, Joseph A. Walborn, Henry J. Wagner, Francis L. Matz, Jonathan H. Walborn and Mandon S. Fegley were duly appointed a committee of arrangements. Oct. 7 and 8 were the days appointed for the celebration, and printed invitations were issued to all known descend- ants of the congregation. The Historical Society of Schuylkill County was invited to participate in a body and have charge of one of the sessions. When the appointed days had come the results of the devotion of the committee became visible in the great concourse of several thousand people from near and from far. Descendants of the fathers, now scattered over the wide land, came to spend the days and participate in the notable services which were pre- pared. On this occasion sermons were delivered by Rev. F. J. F. Schantz, D. D., Rev. R. S. Apple, Rev. W. D. Stoyer, and addresses by Rev. H. A. Weller, pastor, Mr. John N. Heim, Hon. D. C. Henning, Rev. J. H. Umbenhen, Ph. D., Rev. J. H. Eastman, D. D., Rev. S. L. Whitmore, D. D., Rev. W. F. Rentz, Rev. Carl G. Karsch, Rev. Henry Leisse.
The pipe-organ originally dedicated Oct. 16, 1808, and which has served
793
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
the congregation all these years, is still in active service each Lord's Day, and has as sweet and melodious a tone as any of modern make.
The Sunday school rooms are at the present time being improved and gas- lights are being installed. There are active Ladies' Aid and Missionary Socie- ties connected with the congregation. The congregation has just approved and adopted the "duplex envelope," has a graded Sunday school, and is in a prosperous condition. The congregation is old in years but young in activity.
GEORGE W. WALTER, of Tamaqua, is a business man of good stand- ing and also respected for his personal character, in which he shows the traits which have been typical of his family in all the time it has been identified with the borough. Its members have always ranked with the substantial element, doing their duty as citizens and proving themselves reliable in all the rela- tions of life.
John C. Walter, grandfather of George W. Walter, was born in Stutt- gart, Germany, and spent his early life there. Coming to America when a young man he settled at Tamaqua, Schuylkill Co., Pa., where he engaged in the butcher business, carrying it on successfully until his untimely death, in 1856, when he was but forty-two years old. He was killed by a cannon used at the celebration in honor of President Buchanan's election, and is buried at Tamaqua. His wife, whose maiden name was Fredericka Gephart, was also born in Germany, and came to America when a child. Their fam- ily consisted of the following children: John C .; Rosie, who married John E. Tiley ; Emma, who married Levi Stagerwalt; Mary, who married Michael Bonshoff ; and Gottlieb, who died when six years old.
John C. Walter, son of John C. and Fredericka (Gephart) Walter, was born Dec. 18, 1849, at Port Carbon, Schuylkill Co., Pa., and was one year old when brought to Tamaqua, where he has since resided. In his youth he clerked for a time in a store for Mr. Lutz, and was afterwards a freight conductor on the Philadelphia & Reading road, remaining in the employ of the railway company for five years. In 1874 he embarked in the freight and express business on his own account in Tamaqua, and he has continued the same successfully since, having a profitable patronage in and around the borough. In 1890 he purchased the livery business of Shiverstine & Glass- moyer, which he has carried on up to the present in connection with his orig- inal line. His place of business is at the rear of the "United States Hotel." Mr. Walter has mingled in local politics and government to a considerable extent, being well known as an effective worker in the Republican party. He has been elected to several offices, having served as a member of the Tamaqua school board and as high constable of Tamaqua, having filled the latter office for the last seventeen years. In 1912 he was a candidate for the lower house of the State Legislature, but was defeated, losing by only ninety-six votes. In the social orders he is well known, belonging to the Improved Order of Red Men. Independent Americans and Citizens' Fire Company, of which latter he was a charter member. The family are Methodists in religious connection.
Mr. Walter married Lavina Wagner, daughter of Michael Wagner, who was the first to engage in the express and freight business at Tamaqua; he died when eighty-two years old. Mr. and Mrs. Walter have had a large fam- ily: William, who lives at Tamaqua; John, deceased; George W .; Sarah, who married Olive Folweiller, of Tamaqua; Harry, of Philadelphia, Pa .;
794
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Mary, who married Harold Yost and is living in Reading, Pa .; Harold, deceased; Clara B., wife of Irvin Rex, living at Mauch Chunk, Pa .; twins who died when six months old ; Samuel, of Tamaqua ; and Curtis, of Tamaqua.
George W. Walter, son of John C. and Lavina (Wagner) Walter, was born at Tamaqua in 1877 and has spent all his life there. His education was acquired in the public schools, and he began business life as a clerk, being so engaged for ten years. He has since been with his father in the livery busi- ness, in which he has become thoroughly experienced, and much of the pres- ent prosperity of the enterprise may be attributed to his energetic methods and prompt attention to patrons, who appreciate the obliging and efficient service which the Walters have always endeavored to render to their cus- tomers. Like his father Mr. Walter is a stanch Republican and has taken some active part in local politics. He served three years as borough auditor. He is a member of the B. P. O. Elks, of the I. O. O. F. and Encampment, and of the P. O. S. of A.
Mr. Walter married Annie Brodbeck, of Tamaqua, daughter of George Brodbeck. They have two children, Donald and Ethyl.
JARED HAFER owns the large farm in East Brunswick township on which he resides, but he is not now actively engaged in its operation, having practically retired. Most of his mature life has been spent in this portion of Schuylkill county, but he is a native of Berks county, Pa., born March II, 1842, in Upper Bern township. The name Hafer is an old one in that county. One Matthias Hafer settled there, a mile east of Reading, in Alsace town- ship, upon his emigration to this country from the Province of Alsace, on the borders of the Rhine. He carried on farming until his decease. His wife was Julia Schmid, and they had eight children, seven sons and one daughter, namely: John, Matthias, George, Benjamin, Isaac, Daniel, Henry and Maria ( Mrs. Jacob Hill). We do not know whether the son Daniel was the grandfather of Jared Hafer or not.
Daniel Hafer, grandfather of Jared, was born in Oley township, Berks county, was a farmer by occupation all his life, and died when over seventy- seven years old. His children were: Nathan married Rebecca Blatt ; Daniel married Polly Spatz; Samuel married a Miss Reeser; Jacob is mentioned below; Julia married Jacob Hoak; Polly married Samuel Dunkelberger. The parents are buried at Bellman's Church in Berks county. Daniel Hafer was a member of Spiess's German Reformed Church in that county, and highly respected as a good Christian man. Politically he supported the Democratic party.
Jacob Hafer, son of Daniel, was born in Oley township, Berks Co., Pa .. in April, 1806, and died in February, 1879. He worked for his father until he was twenty-four years of age, and learned the weaver's trade, but though he followed it. for many years he also continued farm work. He owned a tract of twenty acres in Center township, Berks county, which he operated while working at his trade, and on selling this tract removed to Bern town- ship, Berks county, where he tenanted different farms until his death. He also taught German in the schools of that township. He served his fellow citizens in the township offices of supervisor and assessor, and also as elec- tion inspector, taking a close interest in politics as an ardent member of the Democratic party. His religious connection was with Bellman's German Re- formed Church, where he and his wife, Catherine (Koch), are buried. She
795
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
was a native of Center township, Berks county, daughter of Jacob Koch. Mr. and Mrs. Hafer were the parents of these children: Levi married Kate Ludwig, and both are deceased; Jacob married Mary Matz, and both are deceased ; Daniel married Anna Weinholt, and both are deceased; Abraham died young; Levina married Eli Daubert, and both are deceased; Jared is mentioned below ; Catherine, deceased, married Charles Baltser.
Jared Hafer was educated in the public schools of Berks county and was reared to agricultural life, working out among farmers until he was fif- teen years old. He also assisted his father, to whom he gave all his earnings until he was twenty-four years of age. When he married he located at New Ringgold, Schuylkill county, and was engaged at the washery near by for about six months. Then he removed to West Penn township, this county, and bought a tract of fifty-four acres and the mill now owned by John F. Standt. He developed this property, remodeled the mill, built a sawmill, and operated that place for about eleven years, until he removed to his present tract in East Brunswick township, having bought the same, 260 acres, from Lewis Audenried. Of this 100 acres are under cultivation. Mr. Hafer has made numerous improvements on the place, remodeled the dwelling house, and erected many outbuildings, all the surroundings bearing witness to his suc- cess and thrift. He carried on general farming, and though now practically retired still markets his products once a week to Tamaqua. His progressive disposition and public spirit have been manifested chiefly in his interest in school affairs, for which he worked zealously during his term of three years as school director. In politics he adheres to the Democratic party. Mr. Hafer was formerly a member of Washington Camp No. 100, P. O. S. of A., of New Ringgold, and of the Odd Fellows lodge in West Penn township. He belongs to Zion's Reformed Church in West Penn township, at one time held the office of deacon, and was committeeman of Weaver's Sunday school in East Brunswick township.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.