USA > Pennsylvania > The Pennsylvania-German in the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783 > Part 27
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NORTHAMPTON COUNTY.
As in all the well-watered Pennsylvania-German coun- ties of the state, so Northampton county was abundantly supplied with grist mills in the early period of its history.
In 1762 Peter Kichline built a grist and saw mill on the Bushkill creek, near Easton. In recent years Michael Buts was the proprietor of the grist mill, and erected a planing mill on the same property; Adolph Groetzinger recently owned the site of the saw mill, on the opposite side of the creek. Being the only mills then in the vicinity they became speedily prosperous.
In 1743 the Moravians build their first grist mill at Bethlehem, at the foot of the declivity above which the original house of the settlement stood. Henry Antes undertook to superintend the construction, being assisted by John Adam Schaus, the miller. This was a great boon to the settlers surrounding it. It was replaced by another mill in 1751. The third mill on the spot continues to turn the golden grain into dour, but by processes of which the fathers never dreamed.
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In 1747, under the wise planning of Henry Antes, a combined grist and saw mill was erected, by the Mora- vians, at Gnadenhütten, near the present town of Lehigh- ton. This mill came to an untimely end with the Indian massacre of 1755. Immediately after the completion of the first a similar mill was built at Christian's Spring, up the Monocacy, which was started November 24, 1747, but, unfortunately, destroyed by fire December 6, 1749. It was replaced by a saw mill on April 17, 1750.
Feeling the need of additional facilities for grinding their grain the Moravians instructed Antes to erect another grist mill for them at Friedensthal, on the Bushkill creek a short distance northwest from Nazareth. This began operation on August 21, 1750, but, on April 20, 1771, it passed out of the hands of the Moravians into that of Samuel Huber, of Warwick township, Lancaster county, for $2,000, Pennsylvania currency. In 1791 the old mill gave place to a stone structure erected by John Eyerly.
The Hellertown flour mill, at Hellertown, on the bank of the Saucon creek, was deeded, by the Penns, to Blasius Beyer, December 13, 1767; by him to Joseph Jennings, February 10, 1768; to Jacob Overpeck, October 1, 1768; then to Christopher Wagner, October 20, 1772. It has since remained in the Wagner family.
Jacob Arndt owned and carried on one of the oldest mills in the Forks. It stood above the Kepler mill, on the Bushkill, and was built about 1763. It was destroyed by fire about 1865, but rebuilt by Jacob Walter, and did a thriving business. It was then known as Walter's lower mill. The upper one owned by him, in Palmer township, was built by Michael Messinger, about 1760.
Jacob Shoemaker's fulling inill, on the Bushkill, was
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built and started prior to the Revolution. It was located two miles from Easton, opposite the mill recently owned by T. Kepler.
The " Rock Mill" is the first in Forks township above Easton, on the Bushkill. It is a very old site, and was in possession of George Messinger about the year 1756.
The first grist mill in Plainheld township was built by Adam Heller, about 1770, on land recently owned by John Stoppel.
In the year 1773 there were, in Lehigh township, three grist mills, of which two were owned by Jost Driesbach and George Driesbach, the last-named owning also a saw mill.
The first grist mill in Upper Mount Bethel township stood at a place about half a mile northwest of Williams- burg, some time probably prior to the Revolution. It was built of logs, and contained one run of stones. It was replaced by a substantial structure in 1840.
With the defeat at Brandywine came the flight of government officials from Philadelphia, and removal of stores. Many of these were taken to Bethlehem. Im- mediately after the battle John Okely, who served for a while as an assistant commissary in Northampton county, received an official letter from David Rittenhouse, member of the Board of War, communicating the instruc- tions of General Washington to transfer the military stores to Bethlehem. With this message thirty-six wagons arrived from French Creek, laden with stores. They were followed, the next day, by thirty-eight wagons. These supplies were deposited at the lime-kilns near the Monocacy, a little to the north of the town, under a guard of forty soldiers. September 18, a continual train of army wagons came into the place. On the nineteenthi
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other wagons arrived, bringing more dangerous freight- quantities of ammunition and material for the prepara- tion of same-which was temporarily unloaded near the oil mill. In the great variety of things, transported from Philadelphia during those days, were the bells of Christ Church, and other churches, but, especially, the now historic State House bell that had pealed forth the announcement of independence. These-at least some of them -- were conveyed, September 24, to Allentown, and secreted in the cellar of Zion's Church. Somewhere in the open square, in front of the Brethren's House, the wagon con- veying the "Independence Bell" broke down, and this already precious piece of freight had to be unloaded for awhile.
On July 31, 1777, Northampton county was requi- sitioned for 250 wagons. Frederick Beitel, the wagon- master at Bethlehem, was, at this time, continually on the road, now to transport sick officers, then official baggage or continental stores, and, again, British prisoners of rank.
Sixty wagons were furnished by the county to equip Sullivan's Expedition in 1779.
On June 22, 1776, Captain George Huebner con- tracted "to deliver to them (committee at Easton) 140 lbs. good gunpowder for every cwt. of saltpeter they shall deliver to him, gross weight, he to be allowed at the rate of £3 per cwt. for making and for the casks; he, the said Huebner, delivering the powder at Easton and fetch- ing the saltpeter, gratis."
At a meeting, August 5, 1776, the Township Commit- tees were directed to buy all the blankets from the stores and shops in their respective townships, and to ask "the good people of their townships to spare from each family as many as they possibly can, for the use of the Militia
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and Flying Camp of this County, now preparing to march to New Brunswick for the defence of American liberty."
On August 1, 1780, Northampton county was required to furnish 500 barrels of flour monthly, 15 wagons, 160 horses.
In one respect, at least, the assistance, rendered by the county during the war, was unique. It was that which was afforded by the use of the "Durham " boats.
About 1727 the Durham Furnace was built ten miles below Easton. To provide a means for getting their
iron to Philadelphia, Robert Durham, the manager of the furnace, built this peculiar boat, nearly in the shape of an Indian canoe, with a wide board extending the entire length on either side, on which the men walked who propelled it with long poles, and with a short deck at either end. They were admirably adapted to the oft- times shallow waters of the upper Delaware, and soon became in general use.
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They would carry 125 to 150 barrels of flour for a load, and float down the water to Philadelphia, being tediously poled back by hand. As early as 1758 they were used to transport flour from Van Campen's mill at Minisink (near Stroudsburg) to Philadelphia, and, when the Kichlines and Wageners built their mills on the Bushkill they found these same boats a ready means for taking their product to its marker.
Old Squire Abel (Jacob Abel) was the first in Easton to own Durham boats, and take part in the traffic. On so small a thing as these Pennsylvania-German Durhanı boats hung, probably, the fate of our country in its struggle for independence. With the defeat at Long Island, and the subsequent disasters which followed in its footsteps, came the necessity for Washington to retreat, with his weakened and disheartened army, to Pennsyl- vania. To cross the Delaware, boats were necessary, but where were they to be found in sufficient number and of proper size? It was then that the Durham boats were brought to mind. With the valuable aid of Squire Abel, Col. Humpton, who was sent for that purpose, scoured the river and collected its boats together. There they were when needed to carry the American army to safety; there they were when Washington struck the blow at Trenton and Princeton which turned the tide of war, and which, without them, could not have been struck; and there they were, once more, to enable him to carry off the fruits of his hard-earned victory.
LEBANON COUNTY.
While, during the Revolution, still connected with Lan- caster county, yet, having now a separate existence, it is but just that mention should be made, under this heading,
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of such data as are distinctively a part of its own history.
In 1772 the town of Lebanon had over two hundred houses. While small in size it occupied an important place during the war. It was a depot of supplies and storehouse for ammunition while Philadelphia was occu- pied by the British. A large number of gunsmiths were collected here at work for the continental army. Shoes, especially, were manufactured, and large quantities of leather tanned.
Not only was Lebanon a point of produce supply for the army, but quite a number of cannon were cast at Corn- wall Furnace, near by, by its Pennsylvania-German work- men.
The magazine established here was in an old building on Tenth Street, a short distance west of the Quittapa- hilla creek. It was afterwards turned into a barracks, and the ammunition removed to Lancaster, being taken there by twenty wagons, which made from four to six trips each, showing that the quantity was large.
In Jackson township, on the Tulpehocken stream, a Mr. Kitzmiller had a grist mill (on the Hochstetter farm), the only one in the region.
Valentine Miller had his home on the Tulpehocken, near Myerstown, in 1750. His son, Valentine, for many years manufactured powder in a mill that occupied the present site of Miller's grist mill.
The first mill erected in Mill Creek township was that at Mühlbach, in 1778, by Philip Kalbach.
In Lebanon county was the "Elizabeth Furnace" of Baron Stiegel, who was a most interesting, and sometimes misunderstood, personage.
Henry William Stiegel, or Baron Stiegel, as he is generally called, was born near the city of Mannheim,
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Germany, about the year 1733. Descended from a wealthy and noble family, he came to America in 1757, while in affluent circumstances, and settled on a tract of land in Lancaster county, where he laid out the present town of Manheim. Here he erected a mansion of an unusually imposing character, and lived in a style far sur- passing anything to which his neighbors were accustomed. He also established a glass manufactory, which, for some reason, was not a success. However interesting it might be to do so, it does not pertain to this record to relate the causes which, eventually, led to his failure and bank- ruptcy, except to say that they were largely owing to the war. It is only intended to mention that he purchased a furnace, located six miles from Schaefferstown, in Leb- anon county, which had been originally erected by John Huber, as early as 1755, and upon which he had in- scribed this legend :
"Johan Huber, der erste Deutsche mann Der das Eisewerk follfaren kann."
(Translation.)
"John Huber the first German man Who to make iron-work can."
Some of the first stoves made in the country were manu- factured by Stiegel. These were "jamb stoves," to be walled into the jamb of the kitchen fire-place.
Following Huber's example, he had cast upon the front of some of them this equally quaint inscription :
" Baron Stiegel ist der mann Der die ofen gieszen kann."
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(Translation. ) "Baron Stiegel is the man Who to make the oven can."
At the Elizabeth Furnace, during the Revolution, were cast large quantities of shot and shell for the army, and even the cannon themselves.
LANCASTER COUNTY.
Early in the history of the war large stores of powder and lead were assembled at Lancaster. The following interesting record has been preserved of such stores de- livered into the magazine:
May, 1775.
From the stores of Mathias Slough, Esquire-Powder, 3 quarter casks & 20 lbs., is 95 lbs .; Lead, 6 ct. 3 21, is 777 lbs.
From the store of Mr. Christian Wirtz-Powder, 5 quarter casks, is 125 lbs .; Lead, 2 ct. o o, is 224 lbs.
From the store of Mrs. Charles Hamilton-Powder, 26 quarter casks, is 650 lbs. ; Lead, 9 ct. 0 22, is 1, 130 lbs. From the store of Messrs. Lauman & Hubley-Powder, 2 quarter casks, is 50 lbs .; Lead, o ct. 3 14, is 98 lbs. From the store of Messrs. Simons & Levy-Powder,
2 quarter casks, is 50 lbs .; Lead, 2 ct. 2 0, is 280 lbs.
From the store of Messrs. Lockharts-Powder, 5 quarter casks, is 125 lbs .; Lead, 3 ct. 3 0, is 420 lbs.
From the store of Mr. John Hopson -- Powder, 2 quarter casks, is 50 lbs.
From the store of Mr. George Graff-Powder, 20 lbs. ; Lead, o ct. I o, is 28 lbs.
From the store of Mr. Michael Hubley-Powder, 15 1/2 lbs.
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From the store of Mr. John Ebberman-Powder, 20 lbs .; Lead, 50 lbs.
From the store of Mr. John Baker, of Leditz -- Powder, I quarter cask, 25 lbs. March 15th, 1776.
From the store of Mr. Paul Zantzinger-Powder, I half barrel, 50 lbs.
Total Powder, 1,28472 lbs .; total Lead, 3,287 lbs.
Amount of Powder, Lead and Military Stores in the Mag- azine at Lancaster, the Fifteenth Day of March, 1776. Powder, 27 quarter casks, 675 lbs .; Barr Lead, 1,539. Loose powder, 16 lbs .; Bullits, 491 lbs.
Powder, I half barrel, so lbs .; Sheet Lead, 370.
Total Powder, 741 lbs .; total Lead, 2,400 lbs.
Account of the Powder and Lead expended and delivered out of the Magazine at Lancaster, before the Fifteenth of March, 1776, at the request of the Committee of Safety :
For the Treaty at Pittsburg-Powder, 8 quarter casks, 200 lbs.
For Northumberland-Powder, 8 quarter casks, 200 lbs .; Lead, 300 lbs.
Delivered out and used by the Rifle Companies of Capts. Smith & Ross-Powder, 65 lbs .; Lead, 250 lbs.
Used for cartridges- Powder, 22 1/4 lbs .; Lead, 49 lbs.
Used for prooving the Musket Barrels-Powder, 24 lbs .; Lead, 24 lbs.
Spared to different persons, viz't :
To Michael Nicholas -- Powder, 2 lbs.
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To John Henry, at different times-Powder, 24 lbs.
To Henry Zericher-Powder, 5 lbs.
To Peter Gonder-Lead, 10 lbs.
To Daniel Bard-Lead, 4 lbs.
To Sundry persons, to destroy mad dogs-Powder, 1 34 lbs.
Total-Powder, 545 lbs .; Lead, 637.
The requisition, made by the council, July 31, 1777, for wagons, provided for 600 from Lancaster county.
In 1778, the assessment made and collected, of grain and forage for the army, footed up 658 bushels of wheat and 651 bushels of forage.
On August 1, 1780, the county was required to furnish 1,200 barrels of flour, monthly, 5,000 bushels of forage, 50 wagons, 400 horses, and 600 men.
A partial list of those providing horses, in compliance with this demand, mentions the names of :
Benjamin Landis, Henry Landis, Christian Myer, Samuel Myer, Jacob Kaufman, Henry Brubacker, Jacob Peifer, John Kneisly, Jacob Kortz, Daniel Ruty, George Bugh, Martin Myer, Christian Brubaker, Jacob Myer, Abram Myer, Michael Shenck, Isaac Long, John Master, Henry Lenn, Philip Boyer, Jacob Frick, John Frick, John Leib, Jacob Rickseker, Benjamin Hershey, Christian Binckly, Abram Hershey, Valentine Metzler, Peter Gre- bill, George Huber, Abram Stoner, Peter Boughman, Martin Weibrecht, Jacob Grub, Michael Rudysyl, Melcor Snyder, Jacob Frick, Sebastian Graff, Andrew Billmyer, Peter Swan.
Among those furnishing wagons were the following :
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Michael Shriner, John Brubaker, Jacob Bare, John Myer, Abram Leib, Jacob Weidler, Peter Boughman, Christian Myer, Jacob Wilhelm.
Martic Furnace was built in 1751-1752, by Thomas Smith and his brother William, upon Furnace Run, in what is now Providence township, on the road leading from Lancaster to Burkholder's Ferry, upon the Susque- hanna.
At the same time they also built Martic Forge, located on Pequea creek, about four miles below the furnace, whence they obtained their pig iron.
On December 8, 1777, Michael Hillegas secured a fourth interest in the forge property, and, during 1778, its owners became Michael Hillegas, Matthias Slough and George Ege.
The furnace went out of blast during the Revolutionary War, and was never again blown in.
The Windsor Forges were located on the eastern branch of the Conestoga creek, in Caernarvon township, about a mile south of Churchtown. They were built, about 1742, by William Branson, of Philadelphia. Like the Warwick Furnace, of Chester county, the property passed to his grandchildren, among whoni were the five children of his daughter who married Dr. Bernard Van Leer. They were its owners during the Revolutionary period.
The Pool Forge was built by James Old, who returned from Reading to Caernarvon township in 1779. It stood about two miles west from Churchtown. He also built another forge, a mile farther down the creek.
Prior to the Revolution, Michael Withers built a forge on Octorara creek, Sadsbury township, between Christiana and Steeleville. Of this practically nothing remains.
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For some time before the year 1754 the manufacturing of guns was carried on in Lancaster. Governor Pownall, who visited the place in that year, makes mention of the fact. When the war broke out these gunsmiths were busily employed. On October 7, 1775, the Committee of Safety took steps to expedite the work. The names of Christian Isch, Peter Reigart and Michael Withers are given, as engaged in the making of guns and bayonets, in November, 1775. Other gunsmiths, recorded for 1780, are :
Jacob Dickert, Frederick Fainot, Peter Gautec, Jacob Messersmith, and Peter Roeser.
Paul Zantzinger, of Lancaster, was largely engaged in the manufacture of clothing for the soldiers. His work- shop, in which he must have employed quite a number of tailors, was on North Queen Street. In 1777, he furnished Anthony Wayne's men with 650 suits of uni- forms. In April, 1778, he reported that, since the pre- ceding November, he had supplied 550 coats, 200 waist- coats, 380 pairs of breeches, 380 pairs of stockings, about 100 pairs of shoes and several hundred hats.
In the borough of Manheim, nearly south of the present mill of E. B. Bomberger, was standing an old mill built by Peter Longenecker between 1763 and 1780.
In 1765, Felix Baughman purchased land in Bart town- ship, about half a mile southeast from Georgetown, on the west branch of Octorara creek, where, later, a saw mill was erected, either by him or his son George, to which was added a small grinding mill.
On the Muddy creek, about a quarter of a mile south from Bowmansville, in Brecknock township, Christian Good (Guth), settled at an early date and erected a grist
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During different periods of the war the following mills were in operation throughout Brecknock township:
Jacob Fonieda (Von Nieda), grist and saw mill.
Martin Frey, grist and saw mill.
Rudy Frey, saw mill.
Peter Good, saw and hemp mill.
Hans Good, grist mill.
Samuel Martin, grist and saw mill.
Von Nieda's mill was on the Muddy creek, about one mile south from Adamstown. He purchased it in 1785.
Martin Frey's mill was on the same creek, two miles farther down.
Dr. Samuel Martin's mill was also on the Muddy creek, in the southwestern part of the township.
Henry Nissly's mill was on the Chickies creek, below Sporting Hill, in Rapho township.
A frame grist mill was built, in pioneer days, on Middle creek, in Clay township, by Peter Wiland. Jacob Erb became its owner in 1787 and greatly improved it.
Christopher Weidman built a grist and saw mill on Middle creek, in 1755.
Jacob Eberly's stone grist mill, on Middle creek, was built in 1774.
The tax list, for East Cocalico township, shows the fol- lowing mills in existence during the Revolutionary period :
Michael Bear, 2 mills.
Isaac Adams, 2 mills.
Henry Bear, 1 mill.
Mithe Kneisley, 1 mill.
John Musleman, 1 mill.
Abram Ream, Jr., 2 mills.
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For West Cocalico township the same list shows:
John Flickinger, 2 mills. He lived near the present Reinhold's Station.
In 1730, John Mais erected a fulling mill on Little Chickies creek, about one and a half miles south of Mount Joy. It ran for one hundred years.
John Greider had a grist mill in Donegal township, prior to 1776.
Staufer's mill is quite old, and was built probably by Tobias Miller about 1770.
West Earl township boasts of having, within her bounds, one of the first, if not the first, mill erected in Lancaster county. It stood on the south side of the Cones- toga where it unites with the Cocalico. It was in exist- ence in 1729. Hans Graaf, the first settler, was the builder and owner.
Millsville mill, on West Branch in the southern part of Eden township, is said to be the place where a grist mill was erected, by William Downing, in 1754, which furnished large quantities of material for the army.
Another old grist mill is that located on Hammer's creek, in Elizabeth township, supposed to have been built in 1776 by J. Stauffer.
The list of taxables for Ephrata township shows the following mills to have been in existence at the time of the Revolution :
Samuel Bowman, 1 mill.
George Harlacher, 2 mills.
In 1718 Hance Brubaker built a grist and saw mill on the west bank of Little Conestoga, in East Hempfield township, which was contemporaneous with the one erected by Dr. Neff, five miles further east upon Big Conestoga. He sold the mill to Christian Stoneman in 1729, and his
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daughter sold it to John Stoner in 1755, whose son John erected a new grist mill upon its site in 1767.
John Huber built a grist mill on Little Conestoga prior to the Revolution, which was destroyed by fire in 1797, and rebuilt by his son, Christian, in 1798.
In 1778 Jacob Neff put up a mill on Swarr's run in East Hempfield township, the work upon which was done by Hessian prisoners, from the barracks at Lancaster.
A short distance from Neff's mill Peter Swarr built a grist and corn mill, prior to 1750, which was rebuilt by John Swarr, a son, during the Revolution.
In West Hempfield township, about 1750, Ulrich Shel- laberger built a grist and saw mill on Barber's (or Strick- ler's) run, two miles above its mouth.
Musselman's mill was built by Henry Musselman, on Big Chickies creek, about a mile south from Pedan's Tavern, prior to the Revolution.
John Hamaker built a grist and saw mill on Shawanese run, some two miles from its mouth.
In East Lampeter township Joseph Boughwalter, and his son, John, built a mill on Mill creek, about 1723, which remained in the family for eighty years.
Felix Binckley erected a mill in 1767, at Millport, on Mill creek, which similarly remained in the Binckley family until about 1820.
In 1717 Dr. Hans Neff erected a small grist and saw mill at the mouth of Boring Mill run, where it empties into Big Conestoga. It was sold, in 1750, by Abraham, his son, to Sebastian Graffe.
Francis Neff, a brother of Dr. Neff, built a grist and saw mill, in 1728, about a mile below his brother's loca- tion. This passed, in 1750, to John Christy, who sold it, in 1779, to John Witmer, Jr., and George Ross.
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Peter Lemon, a Swiss Mennonite, settled, in 1717, on the Conestoga creek, in Lancaster township, where he built a grist and clover mill. This he gave to his stepson, Henry Light, who bequeathed it to his son, Jacob Light.
Theodorus Eby, a Swiss Mennonite, about 1725 erected a grist mill on Mill creek, a short distance south of Earl township line, which passed to his son, Peter, in 1730.
On the Mill creek, in Upper Leacock township, was the grist mill of Jacob Becker, on the Newport Road. Marcus Groff owned it during the war.
The following mills were in Manor township in 1780:
Christian Burkholder; Jacob Goodman ; Rudolph Herr, oil mill; Christian Herr; John Keller; Christian Kauff- man; Yost Musser, saw mill; Jacob Kauffman.
In Manheim township, Martin Myer, in 1756, had a grist and saw mill; Samuel Bare ( Bear), a mill in 1779; Christian Buckley, a grist and saw mill in 1779; the same year, George Bugh, an oil inill; Jacob Kauffman and Martin Myers, grist and saw mills. At Oregon, Jacob Bear settled in 1717; he built the first mill on Carter's (now Lititz) creek, and another, half a mile above; it was known as " Bear's Mill" as late as 1865, and passed into the hands of Martin Myers in 1767.
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