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WOMELSDORF, PENNA.
and the TULPEHOCKEN COMMUNITY
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Annals of Womelsdorf, Pa* and Community
1723—1923
HISTORY'S YARD-STICK for TWO-HUNDRED YEARS
By Rev. P. C. Croix, D. D.
" " Lest we forget ! Lest we forget ! —Kipling
" Posterity will not forget his services."
—Pres. Geo. Washington at Conrad Weiser"s gra " I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives." —Abraham Lincoln — OTHER BOOKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR Tributes to Luther, 1884. Golden Wedding Ring, 188 7. Historic Landmarks of the Lebanon Valley, 18 9 5. Art Work of Lebanon County, Pa., 1895. Bible Quiz, 1897. Bible Gems, 1908. The Penna. -German — A Magazine- 1900-1905. Gardening and Out-of-Doors, 1917. Slumberland and Slumber Songs, 1917. Translations from the German Jewish Artisan Life (Delitzsch), 1884. Jesus and Hillel (Delitzsch), 1884. Alii, or Blessed are the Merciful (Hoffman). 1886. The Author Map of Berks Country—The Heart of God's Country ANNALS OF WOMELSDORF AND COMMUNITY Chapter I. INTRODUCTION This reprint in book form is made at the urgent re- quest of many who read the original articles as they ap- peared in the columns of the Reading Eagle from Sep- tember, 1922, to February, 19 23. A few necessary altera- tions appear and the illustrations are added. For the many kind words spoken and appreciative letters written the author is very grateful. He also ac- knowledges the kind courtesy of the authors of "The Story of Berks County," for the use of a number of cuts here reproduced. *Next year it will be 200 years hither from Illinois to spend his re- since the first white colony of settlers maining days in professional retire- began the march of civilization at ment. He has again identified him- the Tulpehocken in the now famous self with this historic community and charming Lebanon Valley. It and desires to write a series of arti- is 25 years earlier in its beginnings cles of a historical, industrial and than Reading, which will celebrate biographical character descriptive of its 175th anniversary next fall. This this community, which he trusts may Tulpehocken community will then awaken and stimulate the spirit of be two full centuries old and should local pride, of community interest celebrate its bicentennial. and of a purpose to punctuate the end of a two-century run of life and In Ministry 42 Years. activity here by means of a fitting The present writer here began his home-coming and historical celebra- public ministry in 187 9, and now, tion next spring. in the spring of 1921, after 42 years He has chosen for the first chap- of an active pastorate, removed ter the title: "BEAUTIFUL FOR SITUATION 5 Womelsdorf is located in the heart is reported by one of its dwellers as of God's country. It is possible that "the finest country lying out of God might have created a finer and doors;" but none of these excel the a richer landscape than tne Lebanon Lebanon Valley for richness of soil, Valley of Pennsylvania, but it is variety of products, beautiful, undu- quite certain He never did. At least lating landscapes and architectural not in America. improvements. The writer knows, No Portion Barred. for he has seen all the others and And this assertion does not except has traveled over almost every sec- any portion of our great country, tion of the more than 1,000 square North and South, East and West, miles included in this valley, most of which its author has seen. which lies between the Blue The great prairie states of the Mid- Mountains on the north and dle West can boast of a rich cereal- the South Mountain range on producing soil; portions of California the south, an average of 20 miles are noted for their citrus fruit prod- in width, and stretches from the ucts and their climatic loveliness Schuylkill on the east to the Susque- and scenic beauty; the Willamette hanna on the west, a distance of 54 Valley of Oregon is widely and justly miles. famous for its fine apples, pears, Within this domain are included plums and other fruits; the western the western half of Berks, all of and central, or lake, segment of New Lebanon and the greater portion of York state, known as the grape belt, Dauphin counties. * Written in 1922. Annals of Womelsdorf and Community Pastoral Loveliness. other, until miles away this rural Tens of thousands of travelers sea strikes against its bordering have been carried by the iron horse mountain promonotories or else through its entire length, stretching breaks itself up in green undula- between the cities of Reading and tions of woodland. Harrisburg, and have been inspired into eloquent exclamations over its A Midway Location. pastoral loveliness and panoramic Womelsdorf is situated on this beauty. Now, since the automobile highway, midway between the cities has become an almost universal pos- of Reading and Lebanon, about 14 session and the William Penn High- miles from either city, in the ex- way has been constructed through treme western portion of Berks its longitudinal center, connecting county, near the border line of Leb- these two terminal cities and thread- anon county. North of it in the val- ing on its line the chief towns and ley nestle the towns of Bernville, villages which are dotting this val- Rehrersburg, Millersburg, Prystown ley, as beads or brilliants are strung and Strausstown. East of it lie on a lady's necklace, other tens of Robesonia, Wernersville, Sinking thousands of observers from this Spring and the western suburban and other states do not miss a Sun- hamlets of Reading, the chief of day or holiday during the spring, which is Wyomissing. Immediately summer and autumn months in south of the town stretches the which to enjoy the landscape of this highest barrier of the South Moun- empire of fertile and well-kept tain Ridge, beyond which lie the farms, and these home centers, the historic towns of Ephrata, Lititz, abode of scenic beauty, of domestic Manheim and the city of Lancaster. peace and comfort and of agricul- On the west are situated Stouchs- tural luxury and plenty. Seen from burg, the three history-laden Tulpe- some elevation, the valley lies like a hocken Church communities, Sheri- vast sea of bucolic loveliness. On dan, Newmanstown, Richland and and on the billowy fields—clad In Myerstown, seven miles beyond garments of wheat and clover, corn which is enthroned Lebanon city, the and oats, tobacco and potatoes—are proud and progressive queen of the rolling, one farm lashing against an- valley, begirt with a girdle of iron — Annals of Womelsdorf and Community and steel industries and with a geographical center of this modern crown of copper upon her Corn- Canaan. The appellation of "God's wallian brow. Country" is no misnomer, for He Womelsdorf is surrounded by seemed to have held it in reserve for p^any college towns. Within 20 those persecuted and tried and de- miles are located four denomina- frauded children of His, who 2 00 tional colleges of high rank and long years ago were the fugitives of a years of history. Within a radius of cruel exile, prayerfully seeking a 100 miles are located 17 colleges and new home where peace and quiet, universities,* 10 theological semi- love and religion might once more naries,! five state normal schools,? abide, unhindered by hateful bigotry five women's1 colleges and a num- and cruel tyranny. Like the Israel- ber of flourishing business colleges. ites of old, who had left Egypt for Canaan, or the Pilgrim Fathers who, A Belt of Iron and Steel. a century earlier, had found refuge on Plymouth Rock, so these Palat- is also environed by Womelsdorf inate pilgrims of the Tulpehocken of iron and steel plants. Be- a belt settlement had fled from the Rhine than half a dozen sides the more country of Germany and, after about industries of this manufacturing 15 years of persecution, flight, hard- of the cities of Read- class in each ships, dangers, sufferings and frauds, Lebanon, and those of Corn- ing and landed as the pioneers, the first its inhabitants never cease by wall, white settlers, in this newly opened the smoke arise from the day to see section of Penn's colony in 1723. To of Sheridan furnace stacks and Rob- their descendants of the sixth to the esonia, and by night they often eighth generation, and some new- of the sky, watch the lurid glow comers, has been handed down this upon which are reflected the fiery rich inheritance. "Oh! that men cinder dumps of these furnaces would praise the Lord for His good- the former two and the latter but ness and for His wonderful works Grist three miles away. and saw to the children of men!" So sang mills, stone quarries and old forges the sweet singer of Israel long ago. punctuate the scenery along its The great Lincoln has said: "I like courses, while nigh water upon every to see a man proud of the place in prominent hillcrest old, historic which he lives," and we hope by rural churches point their tall fin- these sketches to make the dwellers gers toward heaven. of this community still prouder. We of Herds Jerseys and Holsteins remember Sir Walter Scott's fine out- graze in the meadows and famous burst of patriotism in his oft-quoted breeds of draught horses plow the lines from "Marmion," beginning: broad upland acres or draw the lum- bering Conestoga "ships of the prai- "Breathes there a man with soul r;o dead Who never to himself has said rie" (farm wagons), except where This is my own, my native land," these are superseded by the gasoline- propelled tractor and the truck. and we trust a historic picture, or The highways are free of weeds, well review, of this community's life may built and well maintained and the help present dwellers to think grate- farms are richly productive and fully of these rich gifts of environ- models of agricultural order. Springs ment and inheritance and speak of and streams abound in all this re- them to others. gion, and the early settlers built "Lest we forget! Lest we forget!" their first log cabins along their banks, upon which sites have since References. arisen mansions of luxury and com- *Princeton University, University of Penn- fort, while these same meandering sylvania, Swarthmore, Swedenfcorgian, Ur- streams, like Tennyson's Brook, sinus, Perkiomen Seminary, Lafayette, Lehigh. keep up their flow and their bucolic Muhlenberg, Schuylkill, Franklin and Mar- murmurings as they did when their shall. Albright, Lebanon Valley. Gettysburg, Dickinson, and Selinsgrove. ancestors first settled beside ttiem fPrinceton, Swedenborg, Episcopal Divin- 200 years ago. ity, Mt. Airy, Franklin and Marshall, Uisinus, Schuylkill Seminary. Gettysburg, Selinsgrove, and Moravian. In "God's Country." §Stroudsburg. Kutztown, Millersville. Ship- pensburg, and Bloomsburg. Hence Womelsdorf is on the map fBryn Mawr, Moravian, Cedar Croft. Irving, of "God's Country," and near the and Wilson. Annals of Womelsdorf and Community ;;>'.; . J|§i $©b Rev. Thomas H. Leinbacli. D. D. Annals of Womelsdorf and Community Chapter II. BRIEF HISTORY The story of the Palatines, who of Philadelphia principally, and founded the Tulpehocken settlement numbering in all about 50,000 souls, in the wilds of Penn's woods, the settling principally in Eastern Penn- first white colony in the Lebanon sylvania, became the political back- Valley, has oft been told. Suffice it bone in building up the great com- to be repeated in brief form here. monwealth of Pennsylvania, as they The German dwellers of the upper became, with the Puritans of New Rhine country, on either side of the England, the rock strata of the stream, in the 17th century, were church of America, with its funda- greatly increased when, in 1685, the mental platform of freedom of faith treaty of Nantes was revoked, which and untrammeled rights of worship. let loose hostility to spend itself in It was as much a religious immi- persecution. Every form of fury was gration as that of the Pilgrims and employed to reduce the Huguenot Puritans of Plymouth Rock. population of France by way of Says Prof. W. J. Hinke: "From the murder and exile. Many fled to religious point of view it was a Germany, but were safe only there mighty immigration of Reformed for a brief period. and Lutheran inhabitants of the Meanwhile many were intermar- Palatinate and neighboring districts. ried with these German neighbors, The two great German denomina- when again the hounds of war were tions conspicuous in the Reforma- let loose and French persecution tion were the leaders of this move- followed across the state border, and ment." with musket and spear, firebrand and sword, they invaded the Pala- INCLUDED TWO CLERGYMEN. tine countries, murdered the inhab- Among these 3,000 immigrants of itants, burned their towns and vil- 1709-10 were two ministers, the Lu- lages and drove thousands of ref- theran clergyman, Joshua Kocher- ugees to another exile. These fled thal, and the Reformed minister, to England for protection. There John Frederick Haeger. The latter were at one time tens of thousands was appointed as the missionary of these refugees tented in the among the Reformed contingent by crowded streets and parks of Lon- the London Society for the Propaga- don. tion of the Gospel, and on Dec. 20, 1709, just before sailing, received BIGGEST EXODUS. Episcopal ordination at the hands It was during the year 1709 that of the lord bishop of London. From the largest German exodus to Eng- his letters to this London Society land took place. By the fall of that and found in the letter-books of the year not less than 15,000 of these society, it is shown that he felt him- exiles had made their flight. There self under obligation due to his or- was untold suffering and privation dination and financial assistance by among them. Their condition came the society "to transport this people to the notice of Queen Anne, then (his Reformed flock) into the the sovereign of Great Britain, and Church of Christ as by law estab- she made preparations to send ship- lished in England (the Protestant loads of them to her colonies across Episcopal)." the Atlantic. But he finds that "the Lutheran Accordingly ten vessels were fitted minister in this country (Justus out in the autumn of that year to Falkner) had made already a sepa- carry at least 3,000 of these unfor- ration and administered the holy tunates to America's shores, where sacrament to such of his confession they might enjoy government pro- as arrived in the ships before ours, tection, political peace and a large persuading them that they ought to degree of religious freedom. Like stick to that, in which they were the English Pilgrims of the previous bred and born; which (Rev.) Koch- century, these German exiles and erthal, after his arrival, confirmed their successors who came in the also, inasmuch that the separation next five decades, through the port between the Reformed and Luther- 10 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community ans is fully made." Thus a side FIRST CHURCH IN 1727. glimpse is furnished us of their very Rev. Falckner's successor, at earliest beginnings in America of Falckner's Swamp, Rev. Henckel, these two now great religious de- probably informed of this settlement nominations. on the Tulpehocken, by his predeces- sor, made journeys to this community SETTLED IN MONTGOMERY. during their first years of pioneer life, preached to them, probably in Who were these three clergymen Leonhardt Rieth's or Hans Hein- ministering to our early German rich Zeller's log cabin, and advised forbears? We can answer the ques- them to build their first church edi- tion. Rev. Justus Falckner was a fice, which occurred in 1727. German, whose father and grand- But we are running ahead of our fathers were Lutheran ministers, and story. These German immigrants of who after graduating from the Uni- New York, who had boarded their versity of Halle, Germany, came to vessels at Plymouth, England, in America in 1700, ten years before January, 1710, were detained at that this flood of immigration, in which harbor for 18 weeks and arrived in were included all of the first settlers New York only on June 10, soon left of the Tulphehocken region. He the city for the interior of the colony, settled in Montgomery county where some remaining, of course, and a vast region is still bearing his name identifying themselves with Rev. as the Falckner Swamp section where Falckner's Church; others scatter- a number of German Lutheran set- ing over New Jersey, Long Island tlers had preceded him among whom and the shores of Long Island Sound, he was at first laboring. while the majority were taken up the to But when a call came to go to Hudson by Pastor Kocherthal New York, to take up the work of Quasek Creek and Thanksamer, on Rev. Andrew Rudman, a Swedish the western hillslope of the Hudson, pastor, then serving the Dutch Luth- where now stands the thriving city eran Church, of New York city, of Newburgh-on-the-Hudson. Lands whose failing health prevented con- were leased to some of them by the tinuance of his labors, he (Falckner) provincial authorities for the mod- accepted and on Nov. 24, 1702, was erate rental of one peppercorn an- ordanied in the Gloria Dei (Old nually, while most were set to work Swedes) Church, of Philadelphia, raising flax and burning turpentine by the Swedish Lutheran ministers, to pay off their passage money. Their then in charge of this extensive terms were hard and the title deeds Swedish Lutheran diocese, Revs. to their lands found fraudulent, so Rudman, Bjoerk and Sandel. that a few years later they moved and This was the first ordination in farther north to the Mohawk America of a German Lutheran min- Schoharie valleys, where they sup- offered ister and it is noteworthy to ob- posed better conditions were serve that he, a German, received them. ordination at the hands of Swedish But again hardship and disap- pastors to serve a Dutch Lutheran pointment overtook them. After congregation in New York city. long and vexatious litig-ation and Those early Lutherans were then as much personal annoyance and suf- the present church, polyglot. fering, they heard of William Penn's Rev. Falckner began his work in invitation for the settlement of a back New York on Dec. 2, 1703, and con- newly-acquired territory in the tinued to serve faithfully until his woods- at the southern base of the death, 2 years later, in 1723. Thus Kittatinny Mountains. The valleys he was on hand when there came to drained by the Tulpehocken and the New York harbor this great refugee Swatara were thrown open for set- inflex of his countrymen and was tlement, which now constitute a part ready to oppose Rev. Haeger, the Re- of the famous Lebanon Valley. formed missionary, laboring among his people in the interest of the TRAVELED ON RAFTS. church of England. This stand, and of 1723, that of his coreligionist and for a Accordingly, in the spring time colaborer, Rev. Kocherthal, 60 families of these Schoharie and which position also must have had Mohawk German settlers resolved to con- its influence upon many of the Re- move to these parts. They floated formed people, accounts for it, in structed rafts, on which they part at least, that the pioneers of the their wives and children, together Tulpehocken valley, erected east of with their household goods, from the Stouchsburg in 1727, and at Host, head waters of the north branch of possibly a few years later, Lutheran the Susquehanna in Central New and Reformed churches, respec- York to the mouth of Swatara Creek tively, instead of Episcopalian. in Pennsylvania (where now Middle- Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 11 town is located), 10 miles below ENTRIES FROM WEISER JOUR- Harrisburg. From thence they NAL. worked their way up this stream He seems to have extended his until they came opposite the Tulpe- parish from the regions of the hocken Valley. From this place Schoharie and Mohawk valleys, (probably Greble, Lebanon county), when the second migration of 15 they crossed the gravel ridge where families took place thither in 1713, Mt. Etna is now located and de- for we find allusions to his succes- scended down the eastern slopes to sor's ministry, and that of Rev. the Tulpehocken. Haeger in the private journal of Conrad Weiser. Says he, in giving an The leaders of this party were the account of his own family: "In 1720, Rieth brothers (Reed;, Leonharat while my father was in England, I and Johannes, Hans Heinrich Zeller, married my Ann Eve, and was given Johannes and Freiderich Schaeffer, her in marriage by the Rev. John Sebastian Fischer, Johann Adam Frederick Heger (Haeger), Re- Lesch, Gottfried Fidler, Jacob Loew- formed clergyman, on the 22d of engot (Livingood), and others. The November, in my father's house in center of this settlement was where Schohary. the Mill Creek empties into the Tul- pehocken, east of the present Stouchsburg, near which junction Leonhardt Rieth built his home and also a grist mill, which he operated until his accidental death in 1747. Near his home was erected, in 172 7, the first church of the settlement, in the erection of which the Rieths, Schaeffers, Zellers and others took a leading part. FIRST ROAD IN 1727. From this "meeting house of the Lutherans to the Boone meeting house of the Quakers in Oley town- ship" was laid out the first road of the settlement in 1727. A chart pre- pared and owned by C. I. Lindemuth. of Stouchsburg, shows the location of these 60 families of first settlers. It stretched from the present eastern Conrad Weiser. limits of Womelsdorf to almost where Myerstown is located, now "In 1722, the 7th of September, and from Newmanstown to near Rehrersburg. my son, Philip, was born, and was Each family took up baptized Bernhard von considerable by John land holdings, for it Duehren, Lutheran clergyman; his was both bountiful and cheap. sponsors were Philip Brown (Braun) But while these settlers came with and wife." faith, hope, courage and piety, they So continuing entries of baptisms came without a Gospel minister. of later children born shows that all Revs. Kocherthal and Haeger had these pastors of Livingstone Manor both remained with the larger rem- nant (Newburgh) on the Hudson. Revs. of their flocks in New York. In Haeger, Von Duehren and Birken- Newburgh, Rev. Kocherthal was in- meyer, the last two Lutheran, offi- strumental in leading his followers ciated also in Schoharie. Rev. Von to the erection of a substantial sex- Duehren even visited a few times agonal edifice which long served its these Tulpehocken settlers during purpose as the (Lutheran) Church the first years of their settlement in of the Palatines and was still in use Pennsylvania, and ministered to we presume, when nearby Gen. them. Washington took official leave of his army after the battles of the Revolu- BANKS. tion in 1781. (See The Pennsylvania TROD TULPEHOCKEN German, Vol. Ill, No. 2, p. 87.) Here By way of parenthesis, it is inter- he had a maintenance and support esting to relate that all the parties from the 5 00 acres of glebe land, involved in the baptism of Conrad which were held in the name of the Weiser's first-born child on the trustees of the church, for the bene- banks of the Schoharie, trod also fit of the Lutheran pastor. later the banks of the Tulpehocken, 12 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community the parents as leading settlers, the during its colonial period. The lit- child as boy and growing youth and tle stone house he erected near a influential man and warrior, the never-failing spring, about the year the sponsors as next neighbors of 1730, is still standing, in which he Weisers on the Tulpehocken and and his family lived for 30 years, officiating clergyman as a visit- the where Indian chiefs, colonial gov- ing and ministering missionary. All ernors, church bishops and superin- but the minister lived and died here visited him, from which and are here interred. The parents, tendents Conrad and Ann Eve Weiser, are fireside the illustrious Rev. Henry buried in the private burial plot on Melchoir Muhlenberg, the patriarch the Conrad Weiser homestead just of the American Lutheran Church, east of Womelsdorf. Philip Weiser, led as bride Weiser's eldest daugh- the son, died in 1761, a year after ter, Anna Maria, from which nuptial his illustrious father, at the age of union has sprung perhaps the most 38 years, and lies buried in the distinguished family in the annals Rieth (Reed) cemetery, east of of Pennsylvania, if not in all Amer- Stouchsburg, while the sponsors ica. Here Conrad Weiser died on settled next west of Weiser's home- July 13, 1760, and in a little burial stead, on the northern bank of the plot by the side of this pioneer Tulpehocken, the farm now owned home he lies buried. Statesmen and by LeRoy R. Valentine, where just historians and even President recently I found their neglected George Washington, the father of graves. In a field, sloping towards his country, himself, have stood with the back, Tulpehocken roadway doffed hats by this grave in venera- and the creek, without mound, or tion and esteem. The latest respect the protection of any enclosure, are shown was on Sept. 8 of this year, standing two thick sandstones as when a few hundred of the mem- markers of their burial. It must bers and friends of the Historical have been the family burial plot Society of Berks County visited it. and years ago was possibly fenced in. Now, if the grazing Dutch Hol- LIVE IN OLD HOMESTEADS. steins, or the English Jerseys, that Many of the old homesteads are must often in their browsing come still in the hands of descendants of upon these stones, can read German, the original settlers, some from the this is what they can yet clearly de- sixth to the eighth generation. In- ciper: stead of the humble cabins reared INSCRIPTION ON GRAVES. by their forebears, however, the sites are occupied by commodious —-N r and imposing rural mansions. Only alhier ALHIER a few of first remain, j the dwellings Ruhet Unser Ruhet Unsere as the Weiser home of about 1730, Vater, Philip Mutter, Elizab. the Zeller home and fortification, or a g d e lena, house of refuge, erected in 1745, and j M Braun. Seines Frau Von P. a few others in the Mill Creek Val- Alters, 74 Alter, ley. occasional outbuilding of | Braun. An Jahr. Starb 63 Jahr. Starb log, as spring houses and artisan Den lOten S e p t e m ber, shops, and usually tile or straw- August, 1767. 1760. covered, are still standing to illus- trate the architecture of those days. The march of time brought influx of new populations, while the orig- V J S. inal colony kept naturally increas- But we have digressed and must ing. Changes came, new communi- return to the thread of our story. ties were opened up and populated, In 1729, about a dozen more fam- new churches were erected, new vil- ilies followed the 60 families of 1723 lages and town centers were founded, in the same route and manner and new roads opened, new industries es- for the same purpose of permanent tablished, new schools erected and, settlement from Schoharie to the with the growth of the country, new Tulpehocken. Among these was orders of government established; Conrad Weiser with his family of new institutions founded and new wife and four small children. He times and new customs constantly settled on a thousand acres of land replacing the old. This march of about half a mile to the east of the progress has in time moved also, up present Womelsdorf, and soon be- and down this valley. Turnpikes, came the political and religious macadamized and concrete state leader of the colony and rapidly de- highways, a canal, steam railroad veloped into a county leader and of- and trolley lines have been built, ficial and even rose to be a noted fig- progressive industries and manufac- ure in the country's development tories have been erected and un- Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 13 dreamed of educational advances from south to north and north to have been made throughout this en- south, the following indicates, in a tire valley. rough way, who were next neighbors in the original settlement of this TWO DOZEN CHURCHES. Pennsylvania German colony: In the district from which the first Conrad Weiser, Philip Braun, church of the valley (the Rieth's or Adam Lesch, Peter Schaeffer, Nich- Zion Tulpehocken Lutheran) sum- olas Kinzer, Jacob Kapp, Conrad moned its worshippers, at least two Zug (?), Christopher Kayser, Johan- dozen congregations now assemble nes Rohrer, Jacob Schaeffer and each Lord's Day for worship. The Michael Krise. rude parochial school of the Rieths, The above all settled in what Lesches, Anspachs, Loevenguths, was Plumpton Manor, including the Walborns, Fischers, Fidlers, Zellers land between the Rieth's Church and Lankes was displaced by the on the west beyond Womelsdorf public free school and the pay eastward, and running on the south- academy, while now the high school ern boundary almost where the and the college have come to supply William Penn highway now is built and supplement the mental training and crosses these two lines north and of that distant day. south. North of the Tulpehocken Only the speech has been too stub- and west of this Plumpton Manor born to yield entirely to the innova- lay the Fells Manor, in which were tion. The German vernacular which located the original homesteads of An Original Settler's Cabin the forebears brought with them Johann Loenhardt Rieth, Michael from the banks of the Rhine, is still Schmidt, Abraham Laucks, Peter spoken without many changes by the Zerbe, Bentz, Zerbe, rural, and by some town folk, over Hans Boyer, Adam Stupp, Her- the hills of Heidelberg, Berks county, man Walborn, Jasper Rieth, as it was in the Rhenish Palatinate Michael Ernst. George Unruh, before persecution drove these gen- Lawrence Fischer, Sebastian tle, honest and religious German Fischer, Balthus Anspach, Fel- dwellers from their long peaceful ger, Hans George Leigner, homes along the Rhine, to this Deck, Peter Liebo, Nicholas We> * "God's country" of America, along ant, Christopher Weiser, Frederick the Tulpehocken. Winter, Christopher Shump, Leonard Anspach, Franz Wenrich, Jacob LIST OF PIONEERS. Clehberg, Matthias Minnich, Peter Schell, Martin Batdorff, Conrad Following is a list of the names Goldmann, Adam Schnetz, Johann of the pioneers of the Tulpe- Keller, George Rieth, Christian hocken settlement, as found in Lin- Lower, Adam Diffenbach, Jonas denmuth's chart of first settlers. Kitzmiller, George Lesch, Christian (See the Pennsylvania German, Vol. Walborn and George Zeh (See). V, No. 4, p. 190): South of the Tulpehocken and Beginning in the East and nam- along the Mill Creek were Jacob ing settlers westward as far as the Kapp, Martin Heckendorf, Heinrich present Myerstown, and going from Zeller, Nicholas Rieth, Ludwig the southern extremity by the Mill Blum, Leonhardt Holstein, Francis Creek northward as far as the Brossman, Jacob Lederman, Isaiah present Rehrersburg and thus nam- Cushwa, Michael Weiser and Adam ing the homesteads up and down, Diffenbach. 14 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community Conrad Weiser's Homestead—Built about 1730 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 15 Chapter III. IMPORTANT DATES AND DATA The year 192 3, while it will mark trious and indelibly engraved on the the 175th anniversary of the found- tablets of old Berks' chronology. It ing- of the City of Reading-, marks is here really where Berks county the bi-centennial of Berks county's history began. Before there was a first settlement as a colony in the Reading or Kutztown, a Hamburg Tulpehocken Valley, with the ex- or a Boyertown, a Birdsboro or a ception of a small colony of Swedes, Fleetwood, a Topton or a Shilling- who had pushed their way up the ton, a Wernersville or a Wyomissing, Schuylkill Valley from the Dela- a Leesport or a Pottstown, there was ware, a few years prior, and probably a "Tulpehocken Settlement" and a a few lone Quaker pioneers, who had place on Pennsylvania's early map, driven their stakes of advance settle- known as "Weiser's." ment into the southeastern portion of what is now Berks county, a year A RIVAL OF READING. or two in advance of this Tulpe- hocken settlement as a colony, the Hither all early trails and high- ways led. oldest permanent occupation of this At Conrad Weiser's home- county's territory. stead was enacted much of the early Under the changing phases of "the church and political history of this Tulpehocken Region," "the Luth- section. Here concentered the early eran Meeting House on the Tulpe- settlers, many Indian chiefs, Chris- hocken." "Weisers," and later tian missionaries—among them the "Middletown" and Womelsdorf," church fathers and founders of half this then advance post of Caucasian a dozen denominations—and the gov- civilization, has been officially ernment officials and land agents of known for these two centuries on William Penn'a colony for three dec- governmental records, charts and ades. At the beginning of last cen- first maps of Berks county, then tury the town had become a signifi- parts of Chester and Philadelphia cant trade center, whose stores then counties, and, from 1729 to 1752, as rivalled those of Reading. a part of Lancaster county, but since It is, therefore, not a boastful mo- the latter date as Berks county. tive that prompts the writer in re- cording here for convenient refer- LAID OUT IN 1762. ence the salient events that mark the uninterrupted onward flow of the Womelsdorf itself was only laid community. Chronology, which, like out as a town-center in 17 62. It was that of its musically, Indian-named founded by John Womelsdorf, the stream—the Tulpehocken— or like husband of one of Conrad Weiser's Tennyson's "brook," has flowed on granddaughters, and located on the these 2 00 years and will probably highway of travel between Easton, flow on forever, while men will come on the Delaware, and John Harris' and men shall go. The following ferry, on the Susquehanna, and be- pages of this chapter and the next tween Philadelphia and Reading, on will put the outlying facts of the the Schuylkill, and Shamokin (the planting, growth and history of this present Sunbury, Pa.), at the junc- old, now modern 20th century town, tion of the two branches of the Sus- in chronological order: qeuhanna River. It is situated on what was originally part of Jacob 1 723 — FIRST WHITE SETTLE Sheffer's and Conrad Weiser's lands. MENT. It has borne different names and about a decade ago, a strong effort A brief history of this settlement was made to change it to the more has been given in the foregoing euphonious and historical name of chapter. The removal of 60 Ger- "Weiserton," but it failed of success, man families from the Schoharie and it is now probable that the and Mohawk valleys of New York present name will be permanent. But during this year was on invitation whatever its name it cannot alter its of the Penn proprietaries, who had history, which is both quite illus- just before by treaty agreements 16 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community with the Indians received possession German squatters had settled upon of these back lands, south of the it), by indenture of lease or release Kittatinny mountain range and east conveyed to John Knight, of the of the Susquehanna, and had by ad- Liberty of Westminster in the vertisement, invited settlers into county of Middlesex, who by in- these parts. The section covered by denture of lease or release, bearing the present counties of Bucks, dates, respectively, Nov. 4 and 5, Montgomery, Chester and Lancaster 1730 (1731?), conveyed these 10,000 was well dotted with earlier settle- acres to John Page, of Austin Fry- ments, and the constant stream of ers in London. By indenture tri- German and Swiss and later partite of lease and release, bearing Scotch-Irish immigration was just dates, respectively, Feb. 8 and 9, beginning to wash up the Schuylkill 1730, between William Aubrey and and over the South mountain bar- Letitia, his wife, of the first part, the rier into the fertile dales of the proprietaries (John, Thomas and Lebanon Valley, when the discour- Richard Penn), of the second part, aged Palatines in upper New York and John Page of the third part, the heard of this offer of the Penns and proprietaries granted and confirmed took heroic courage to accept it and to John Page the 10,000 acres. Then all the attendant hardships in- by virtue of a warrant bearing date volved. But when they came they at London, Oct. 19, 1731, there was had as yet no titular rights to the surveyed to John Page, on April 2t, lands they settled on. They were 1733, in part of the 10,000 acres, the but squatters and acquired legal tract of 5,165 acres, "situate on Tul- titles afterward. pehocken Creek" and adjoining the To understand conditions it is William Allen tract on the wr est. necessary to know that the Tulpe- This manor of Plumpton had hocken region covered by the "com- some unique conditions. Authority munity." about which these articles was given John Page to constitute treat, was originally included in within the manor a court baron. three large tracts, or manors, which There was patented to John Page William Penn had left by his last on Sept. 17, 1735, "to the only use will, executed in 1711, to close rela- and behalf of the John Page, his tives of his. The westernmost tract, heirs and assignees, forever to be lying east of Myerstown, the wes- holden by us, our heirs and succes- tern line of which ran close by the sors proprietaries of Pensilvania as Trinity Tulpehocken Reformed of the seignory of Windsor in free Church, and extending eastward a and common succage by fealty only little beyond where the Mill Creek in lieu of all other services yielding enters the Tulpehocken, thence in and paying therefor yearly unto us,- a straight line northward, embrac- our heirs and successors, one red ing 10,000 acres, was devised to rose on the twenty-fourth day of Penn's sister, Gulielma Maria Penn, June in every year forever hereafter who was the wife of a Mr. Fells, at the city of Philadelphia to such and therefore was known as the person or persons as shall from time Fells Manor. to time be appointed to receive the same." INCLUDED STOUCHSBURG. Cheap land this! No wonder this community lays itself out so much this manor lies Within the village in the culture of fine" roses, if this of Stouchsburg and the farms north condition was put into subsequent and south of it, originally occupied deeds. It will take a truck-load of by the Rieths, the Fischers, the them to pay the accumulated in- Michael Walborns, Schmidt, Abra- debtedness, if ever "the Penn heirs," ham Laucks, Adam Stupp and on any future 24th of June shall others. demand the unpaid roses to be de- From the eastern line of this livered in the city of Philadelphia to manor extended a tract of 5,165 a person appointed to receive them. acres, known as the manor of Plumpton. It was devised to Wil- EMPLOYED AGENTS. liam Penn's daughter, Letitia, the wife of William Aubrey, of London. But John Page lived in London The will gave and devised a total and could not very well go into the of 10,000 acres to Mrs. Aubrey, to real estate business on the Tulpe- be selected from his vast domain hocken. The late Isaac Y. Kintzer, "in such place or places as his or the present day John J. Sallade, (Penn's) trustees should see fit." It of Womelsdorf, was not born then, seems only about half of this grant so he employed William Allen, Wil- was chosen from lands on the Tul- liam Webb and Samuel Powell, jr.. pehocken. These 10,000 acres of to act as his agents and attorneys, William Aubrey and his wife were who "were to bargain, sell, etc., at on Sept. 15 and 16, 1724 (alter these the best price that could be ob- Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 17 tained, all the land comprised in the Conrad Long, Christopher Kay- this Manor of Plumpton. ser (Keiser), Nicholas Kinzer, Peter Thus it came that this Palatinate Schaeffer, John Fohrer, Michael colony had to wait quite a long time Krise, and eastward the homes of until they came into rightful titular Conrad Weiser, Derr, (aft- possession of their vast farms. They erwards Peter Lauck's farm), John had built their log cabins along the Dieter, Leonard Stupp, etc. springs and water courses and were The manor of Plumpton has the rearing families, clearing land, rais- form somewhat of a boot, with the ing crops, opening highways and de- heel at the Rieth's Church and the veloping a community life long be- foot extending northward to the fore they had clear titles to their vicinity of Host, wide enough to homesteads. Court and important include the width of several of the legal business were even slower then large old homesteads from west to than now. Moreover, the nearest of east; and the leg of the boot extend- Page's agents, William Webb, lived ing eastward towards Robesonia, and at Kennett Square, Chester county, from the Charming Forge neighbor- and travel to and fro was long and hood to the South Mountain range. tedious and correspondence between These homesteads were selected by him and the owner in London took free choice, it is supposed, upon the time. arrival of the Schoharie settlers, but afterwards were sold and thus legal Thus we find that it was not till titles secured through these land June 11, 1743, that Conrad Weiser, for instance, came into legal posses- agents of John Page. With the ex- of Conrad Weiser, of sion of his homestead farm (a por- ception most squatters stipulated tion only of his landed possessions), these paid a price in English pounds plus the when 347% acres of this manor, in- "of one rose" "to cluding the court baron, were con- yearly rental red be paid on a certain day of June, "yearly forever," the day in June varying i n different indentures. Within this manor is situated the town of Womelsdorf. GIVEN TO GRANDSON. The third tract of this general community lies east of the manor of Plumpton, and it consisted of a part of 10,0 00 acres, which was given by William Penn's will to his grandson, William Penn, this land set out in some An Old Mill "to be beneficial place in said province by his trus- veyed to him. This must mean that tees, which 10,000 acres the said he became the local justice and con- grandson, William Penn, did grant veyancer, so that henceforth trips to to William Allen, in fee, by inden- 1728." Chester county could be relin- ture of Aug. 29, As part of acres quished. But up to this time all these 10,000 there was sur- legal business was transacted veyed to William Allen on Oct. 20, through William Webb, of Kennett 1730, this tract of 2,794 acres in township, which Square, and it accounts for the fact Heidelberg came to William that he was called upon to appear be known as the Allen tract on the scene of the long-continued (not manor). The original and settlers of this tract property controversy in the Rieth earlier were Church case. the Deglers, Leisses, Moyers, Ruths, Bennetsches, Wenrichs, Hains, IN PLUMPTON MANOR. Schuckers. Eckerts, Filberts, etc. It extended on its southern boun- In this manor of Plumpton lay the dary as far east as the present South Rieth (Reed) Lutheran Church Mountain state asylum, near Wer- lands, the George Rieth, Jacob Capp nersville, and includes all the hill (Kapp), Adam Lesch, Philip Brown, slope lands westward towards the Jacob Sheffer (Schaeffer), Chris- Charming Forge, embracing the tian Ruchty (afterwards the Chris- present borough of Robesonia and tian Deppen homestead), Gottfried the St. Daniel's (Corner) Church Fiedler (Fidler), and the Feake property and all the old homesteads (Feeg) homesteads, all situated of Heidelberg's rolling lands in these along the Tulpehocken Creek, from parts. the Rieth's Church down to the In these three tracts, or manors, Charming Forge. Northward within the first settlers were busy for two the manor lay the original homes of decades getting their land cleared, 18 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community roadways made, buildings erected, probably in the year 17 33, and so the first shops, mills and stores named, supposedly, after a burgh in established, but especially in get- the Fatherland. Of all these early ting good titles to their lands. The pastors it is doubtful if any one ex- church question was scarcely second celled Rev. John Peter Miller in to these secular affairs. erudition and piety. The very Pastor Von Duehren, from Scho- mystery and spirituality of Conrad harie, and Rev. Henckel from Falck- Beissell, of the Ephrata cloister ner's Swamp, with Pastor J. Casper fame appealed to him, who ex- Stoever, were the first to visit and tended his missionary and perhaps serve the Lutheran settlers. It was proselyting propaganda also into Pastor Henckel who urged his flock, the Tulpehocken Valley and won as akin in the faith, to erect the first converts, in 1735, such good men as rude house of worship, which oc- Conrad Wei< er and Gottfried Pidler curred in 1727. Leonhardt Rieth temporarily, and Rev. Miller per- gave of his appropriate acres enough manently to his Seventh-day Bap- land for church, school and burial tist cult and mystic institution on purposes, which, when John Page the Cocalico. began to parcel out in divisional parts of his land through his land ASK FOR PUBLIC ROAD. agents, was, with some additional During this early period, also, the acres, deeded gratuitously to the authorities of the colonial govern- congregation as glebe land. Later ment were petitioned by these early Moravian missionaries came this settlers for a public road, when the way and gained a foothold in the same year that the first church was congregation's life and a very con- erected, in 1727, this "Tulpehocken spicuous part in the congregation's Road," or "Great Philadelphia very stormy history for about a Road," often mentioned in early dozen years. Due to a scarcity of deeds, was ordered built. This high Lutheran pastors, the school teacher, road to be laid out, beginning at the Leitbecker, assumed the pastoral Lutheran Meeting House at Tulpe- role. The Moravians supplied the hocken and to end in ye high road lack by one of their pastors and as at ye Quaker Meeting House near a natural result factions were George Boone's mill in Oley was leader, created. As a Lutheran party the first road or highway in the Rev. Stoever came periodically from Lebanon Valley. It passed by the Conestoga and by his harsher meth- Conrad Weiser homestead, across the ods, widened the schism until perse- present streets of the later town of cutions, expulsions and lockings of Womelsdorf and eastward through so church doors were resorted to, the William Allen tract, through that even the law had to be in- the over 2,000-acre tract of George of Ken- voked and William Webb, Hain on Spring Creek and its scene nett Square, brought upon the branches (on the crest of whose for legal settlement. lands north of Wernersville stands since before the Revolution, the his- BUILD SECOND CHURCH. toric Reformed Hain Church) on to The "Confusion" resulted in the Schuylkill Ford, at, or near the the building of the second Lu- present city of Reading. theran "Church on the Tul- This road was improved and fol- pehocken" (Christ Lutheran, west lowed largely in the extension of the of Stouchsburg) and the North "Easton Road" from Reading to Heidelberg Moravian Church Womelsdorf in 1768, and later con- about two miles east of Klopp's verted into a turnpike, known as the Store about the same time, Berks and Dauphin turnpike, com- while Pastor Stoever held on to his pleted in 1817, now the William greatly reduced flock and his log Penn highway. It was, therefore, that church property a little while these pioneer settlers of 1727 longer. gave us the beginning of our present- The Reformed settlers very prob- day matchless1 state highway. ably worshipped for a few years with the Lutherans in their church, SECOND INFLUX, but soon were visited by their own All this was done during the first pastors, Rev. John Philip Boehm, years of the first settlement before George Michael Weiss and John 1729 when the second influx of Peter Miller, and established their Schoharie pilgrims landed here, own first "Church on the Tulpe- coming in the same manner and hocken," which, according to as by the same routs as their prede- good an authority on early Re- cessors of 1723. There were at formed Church history as Rev. Prof. least a dozen families in this second W. J. Hinke, D. D.. of Auburn, N. migration, the leader among whom Y., was the church at Host, erected was Conrad Weiser. Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 19 Between 1730 and 1740 the relig- Count Zinzendorf had frequently ious controversy at the Rieth preached. Church, known in history by the In 1743 the Christ Lutheran name of "The Tulpehocken Confu- Church was built by former mem- sion," was the chief topic of Sabbath bers of the Rieth Church withdraw- excitement among these settlers, ing and uniting with other Lutherans while the earnest pioneer labors as far west as Lebanon, in the erec- taxed their week-day hours to the tion of their edifice. It has ever utmost. The former date is gener- since left the mother church weaker, ally given as the year in which although both were for many of was built the house (still standing), the intervening years served by the where were transacted more his- same pastor. About this year tory-making events, and gathered (1743), also the newly-arrived Luth- from time to time, more prominent eran missionary and superintendent public characters than in any other from Halle, Rev. Henry Melchoir home in the entire Tulpehocken Muhlenberg paid this neighborhood community. Indian chiefs, church his first visit and was the guest o" bishops and leaders, such as Count Conrad Weiser. Zinzendorf, Conrad Beissel, Henry On April 22, 17 45, the Lutheran Melchoir Muhlenberg, and govern- missionary, Rev. Henry Melchoir mental high officials all sought this Muhlenberg, was married to Anna home for counsel and service Maria Weiser, the oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Weiser. The MORAVIANS WITHDRAW. nuptials were celebrated at Tulpe- In 1740 the Moravians began to hocken Christ Lutheran Church, and withdraw and concentrated their ef- the ceremony performed by the pas- forts in a school and congregation tor, Rev. Tobias Wagner, with Revs. established in the present North Peter Brunnholz and J. H. Schamm Heidelberg township on land donated attended as the groom's witnesses, by one Tobias Bickel, where about and attendants. The entry of this 1744 they erected their church (since marriage can still be seen on the declined and the property gone over official church records. to the Reformed Church) where Moravian synods have been held and I acknowledge indebtedness to original home- where their leaders and Bishops stead drafts in the above manors, made by Michael A. and John B. Gruber. sons of this Cammerhof and Spangenberg and Tulpehocken (Heidelberg) section. —P. C. C. 20 Annals of Womehdorf and Community An Old Timepiece — Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 21 Chapter IV. IMPORTANT DATES AND DATA We continue our chronological re- and Reformed catechisms and de- view of 200 years of history on the votional books at the house of Tulpehocken by saying that the Gottfried Fidler. early visit of Pastor Muhlenberg We have been successful in locat- afterward known as "the Patriarch ing this homestead of Pidlers, which of the Lutheran Church in America" we learned from old documents to —and his marriage to Conrad have been upon the banks of the Weiser's daughter, were events that Tulpehocken. By the aid of Gruber's linked his life intimately with this original homestead diagram we find community, which he frequently it was immediately across the stream visited during the life of his father- from the Christian Deppen home- in-law in his long pastoral itiner- stead on the north bank of the aries. stream. If religious zeal, or fa- Some of his own descendants lived naticism, deserved a marker, here here many years. His eldest daugh- is where one should be placed. But ter became the wife of Rev. both men came out of their delusion Christopher Emanuel Schulze, who so beautifully and long served their so nobly for nearly 40 years was pastor of community that this ex- the Christ Lutheran Tulpehocken crescence has long been forgiven—by most men, never known, or else for- parish, while his second son, gotten. Frederick A. Conrad Muhlenberg, But that this generation was pastor for over three years in may know to what labors and extremes the Schaefferstown and assisted his religious zeal of that day led men, brother-in-law in field. his large and what an influence the Mystic on Here in Christ Lutheran parson- the Cacalico (Conrad Beissel, age was born John Andrew Schulze, founder of the Capuchins in their who, while himself serving as pastor, cloister life and institution at resided for a few years (1802-03) Ephrata) exerted upon the dwellers in Womelsdorf. He later served the on the Tulpehocken, it is recorded state for two terms as one of its that Conrad Weiser, with 11 others, most capable and popular governors. "accompanied Beissel in 1735, on a Thus Womelsdorf may boast of hav- propagandist preaching visitation of ing had one governor among its the country as far as New Jersey." residents. Weiser had left his beard grow, so that he was hardly recognizable at BURN CATECHISMS. first sight, for he had already at- tained fame as an interpreter and 1735 —To retrace our steps a was personally widely known. His little to "the Tulpehocken con- enthusiasm and devotion to the fusion," to which we have already cause of the solitary convent life of referred, it may be mentioned that, Beissel made him voluntarily offer probably disgusted with the con- "part of his possessions toward the tinuous strife at the Rieth Church upbuilding of this new economy." and overwhelmingly influenced by the teachings of Beissel, of Ephrata, both Conrad Weiser and Gottfried WEISER BECOMES JUSTICE. Pidler again returned to their 1738—About this time the country homes and faiths, after a few years could no longer dispense with the of experience of cloister rules and valued services of the Indian agent life, while Rev. John Peter Miller and interpreter, and Gov. Thomas remained and became the head of offered Weiser the office of justice of that Ephrata community. But be- the peace, which he accepted. He fore these men entered upon their left the Order of the Solitary at new life of the mystics and solitary Ephrata and returned to the bosom under Beissel, all three were partici- of his family and his church and pants in the burning of Lutheran service of the state (colony). 90 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 173S—Weiser accompanies Bish- hocken Church, near the present ops Spangenberg, Zeisberger and Stouchsburg. Of this union sprang Shebosch, Moravian missionaries to the most famous progeny of the Ger- the Indians, as far as Onondago, man immigrants of America. N. Y. 1739-40—Conrad Weiser petitions MORAVIANS WITHDRAW. the colonial government for the or- ganization of a new county, which 17 40-43 —As stated before, the however, was only effected in 17 52 Moravians withdrew from the first by the erection of Berks county. Tulpehocken, or Rieths (Reed's) 1741—Weiser is commissioned as Church during these years, and a justice of the peace of the county, built their own church edifice in then still Lancaster county. After Heidelberg (present North Heidel- Berks was erected he became justice berg Lutheran and Reformed (judge) of the new county. He is Church). Tobias Bickel donating the official interpreter from 1732 to a few acres of land for church, 1744, in many treaties made with purposes. the Indians, between the original school and burial Here colonies from New York to Virginia they flourished for about 60 years, and the various tribes occupying and here were held several synods these sections, and frequently attended by bishops and Count traveled from his home to attend Zinzendorf. They gradually grew these council meetings some hun- weaker and disbanded about 1800. jW&y/'i Fort Northkill—Erected 1756 dreds of miles between Albany, N. 17 45 —Caspar Wister, of German- Y., and the capital of Virginia, and town, generally spoken of as "the at least once as far as Ohio. brass-button-maker of Philadel- 1742 —Count Zinzendorf had ar- phia." deeds a large tract of land rived in America and employed to the Reformed people on the Weiser to interpret for him in his Tulpehocken, for church purposes, missionary evangelism among the upon which they erect a church Indians at Bethlehem and Shamokin. edifice. The deed was written by 1743—Weiser for three months in- Conrad Weiser and the conditions structs Pyrlaeus, Buettner and are the payment of one red rose an- Zander, Moravian missionaries from nually as quit-rent. This church is Europe, in the Maqua or Mohawk located about a mile west of Christ Indian dialect. Gov. Thomas also IiUtheran Church, known as Trinity sends him to Shamokin this year, Reformed Church. and he is called to Maryland and 1745-60—These were busy years Virginia. He always traveled on for Conrad Weiser in his official life horseback. as justice and interpreter. He records 17 45 —In April of this year the experiences in his official journal of future illustrious Rev. Henry three journeys to Onondago, N. Y., Melchoir Muhlenberg here marries one to Ohio, one to the Mohawk the eldest daughter of Conrad country, one to Aucquick, one to John Weiser, Anna Maria, the ceremony Harris' Ferry, one to Easton and one being performed by Rev. Tobias to Fort Allen in company with Wagner, of Christ Lutheran Tulpe- Benjamin Franklin. Sixty-five official Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 23 letters to the authorities are still ex- His diary continues: "Then my tant showing his heavy correspond- duty was defined, and I was conse- ence during these years. The last of crated and appointed to the holy these years covered the period of ministry by Pastor Muhlenberg in the French and Indian War, in the presence of the Swedish preach- which Weiser was personally active ers. Pastor Muhlenberg explained in defense and received a colonel's the meaning- of the laying on of commission. hands, certainly a difficult and im- portant office. May the gracious and REV. KURTZ ORDAINED. merciful God keep me ever mindful of this! May he assist me and grant 1748—This year Rev. John Nicho- wisdom, faithfulness, watchfulness las Kurtzv was ordained and took and untiring carefulness, humility pastoral charge of the Tulpehocken and purity, not only that I may save parish. His examination and ordina- my own soul, but also that, with all his tion and the consummation of faithfulness I may tend those en- call took place at the first conven- trusted to me, that I may not through tion of the ministerium in Phila- negligence be guilty of their blood! delphia. It may be of interest to My great unfitness renders this of- quote from his diary of these days: fice difficult for me, but may the "Aug. 12. I arrived in Philadelphia, God, who has called me, give where to my great joy I met pastor strength and fitness; for this reason Hartwig, from New York. Toward I plead humbly, 'Lord, forsake me noon ten main questions, together not, and, as it pleases Thee, bestow with the minor questions connected upon my office Thy blessing, should Fort Henry—Erected 1756 with them, were laid before me in it even be but a single soul that I writing, for me to answer, which I may save, Thine shall be the honor. " did, as far as God gave grace, and Amen.' the shortness of time permitted. A pastor who, on his ordination "Aug. 13. In the afternoon I was day, and assumption of a pastoral examined on the above-mentioned call, records such a prayer has the questions by Pastors Muhlenberg, quality to make of his ministry a Hartwig and Handschuh. In the eve- success wherever he goes. Tulpe- ning the license and petition for a hocken enjoyed his services for 22 regular preacher were laid before the years, and no wonder that it flour- deacons of Tulpehocken for their ished. Two delegates accompanied signatures, and I signed a revers; him to this synodic convention, viz: the call to Tulpehocken was then Balthes Anspach, from Tulpehocken, handed to me." and Andreas Beyer, from Nordkill (Bernville). The next day he records the conse- cration of the church in Philadel- phia and the celebration of the holy CHARMING FORGE FOUNDED. communion, together with the ordi- 1749—This year the "Tulpehocken nation services, at 3 o'clock, p. m., Eisenhammer" (Charming Forge) an when Pastor Hartwig preached was begun by John George Nickall earnest Acts 20: 18-21: sermon on and Michael Miller. "What a teacher has to do, or must do, if he wishes to be innocent of 1752—The county of Berks was the blood of his hearers." erected this year, with Readme: as — 24 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community the county seat, largely effected one of which Jacob Seltzer about through the efforts of Conrad Weiser, this time erected his inn or tavern- who, at this time, was a resident of It stood back of the present resi- Reading, where he was justice of dence of Mrs. Dundore, as the old the peace and conducted a store road led diagonally across our pres- (known long as the White Store, and ent Main or High street. situated where the Stichter hard- ware store is now located, at Fifth VISIT BY WASHINGTON. and Penn streets). This hostelry had the honor of en- 1753 —The sixth synodic conven- tertaining a distinguished party on tion of the Lutheran ministerium the night of Nov. 13, 1793, consisting met this year in Tulpehocken of President George Washington, (Christ) Lutheran Church. Robert Morris, David Rittenhouse, 175 5 —The great Easton road was William Smith, provost of the Uni- laid out this year, through Bethle- versity of Pennsylvania and Tench hem, Allentown, Kutztown, Reading, Francis, the land agent of the Penn on to Harrisburg, though the por- estate. Of course, as might be ex- tion through the Tulpehocken sec- pected, the party was serenaded, tion was probably not completed till with the firing of salutes by the some years after (1768), there be- militia and an address of welcome ing an old road to this settlement made to the President by John Pliny, since 1727. a town merchant, to which the Pres- 1760—This year Conrad Weiser ident made a fitting reply. (See died (July) and was buried near his Rupp's History of Berks and Leb- homestead, Rev. Kurtz conducting anon Counties, and paper by Louis the funeral. Richards, Esq., on "Washington's Visits to Berks County.") FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. This was the occasion of Washing- ton's visit to Conrad Weiser's grave, 1755-57—Great excitement in this when he uttered the words: "Pos- region because of the outbreak of terity cannot forget his services." the French and Indian War, when The Seltzer tavern was in use, but frequent raids were made by the latterly as a private house, or apart- Indians upon this frontier settle- ments, until about 1870, when it was ment, and perhaps a score of fam- demolished. butchered, scalped or toma- ilies 1757—This year the Charming cemeteries this hawked. The old of Forge changed hands, Michael Reiss period all contain graves of the vic- and Garrett Brenner operating it in these atrocities. tims of company. The activities here and 1756—During this year Gov. Mor- changes of the ironmaster down to ris with 12 gentlemen from Phila- the forge's abandonment a few dec- delphia and a company of 70 men ades ago, however, furnish material with 30 additional guards, as escort, for a separate chapter, which will passed through this section on his follow. way to the Susquehanna to make peace with the Indians. (See Heb- KEPT FAITHFUL DIARY. ron Diary.) 1770-74 The patriarch's second 17 62 —The town of Womelsdorf son, Rev. Frederick August Conrad was laid out this year by John Wom- Muhlenberg, was pastor of the elsdorf, who came to these parts in Schaefferstown charge during this 1760 from Amity township and mar- period, and for a short time in 1770 ried a granddaughter of Conrad assisted his brother-in-law in the Weiser, on whose original land a Tulpehocken charge, and so came part of the town was plotted. This frequently into this neighborhood plot consisted first of 75 lots, upon and preached in all old Lutheran — Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 25 churches between Bernville and standing, while wagon loads of White Oak, Lancaster county, and bleaching bones of the savages were Lebanon, Lebanon county. He kept still visible at an old Indian camp a faithful diary, which has recently on the top of one of Mahoning's been published, from which we ridges. (The site of Fort Henry learn that he was married to Cath- now has a suitable stone marker.) arine Schaeffer, of Philadelphia, on The landscape view of the Lebanon Oct. 15, 1771, and on the 19th passed Valley, stretching out before his through town by stage to his home- gaze from the top of the Blue Moun- to-be in Schaefferstown, his bride tains, is given with the rapture of riding in the stage while he rode one a facile pen. of the horses on account of the p^owded condition of the stage VISIT OF JOHN PENN. and this on his honeymoon trip. 1788—On April 10 of this year an- But, according to his diary, he be- other dignitary rode through Wom- came accustomed to hardships on elsdorf on a leisurely sight-seeing his long preaching trips through all trip of this valley. It was John Penn, the sorts of weather and all sorts of last of the Penn proprie- roads (muddy ones apparently pre- tories, known generally as "the vailing). He sent his father an ac- American Penn" because born in this country. count of his first trip to Shamokin He had stopped two (Fort Trevorton and Selinsgrove) by days with his friend, Gov. Miffin, at horseback, accompanied by Freder- his summer home, 'Angelica," where ick Weiser's eldest son, Conrad, now the Berks county almshouse is which had its starting point here at located, and rode thence to Harris' the Weiser homestead- It is in- Ferry. tensely interesting narrative and the 1789—This year, on April 2 4. Gen. at points thrilling with dangerous Peter Muhlenberg, of Revolutionary adventures. They crossed the Blue, fame, eldest son of the patriarch, Broad and Mahoning mountains, traveled through town on his way lying between here and their des- to the Ohio River, there to locate tination, slept in the open, subject to bounty lands given by Congress as fleas and wolves, swam dangerous pay for the patriotic services of the swollen streams and passed over Revolutionary generals in lieu of narrow and precipitous mountain cash. (No bonus bills then!) paths and trails to pay the Fishers He stopped all night at Christ Lu- (Sebastian's family (?) and Casper theran parsonage, where his sister Rieth, jr., and Benjamin Weiser's and brother-in-law, Mrs. and Rev. families of Tulpehocken, who had C. E. Schulze, then resides. (See settled there, a friendly and gospel Life of Gen- Muhlenberg.) visit. 1792—This year is known for two He preached at several points on progressive movements in Womels- the Isle of Que in the Susquenanna dorf and the Tulpehocken Valley. and, when he left them after five The first was the laying of a corner- days, promised to visit these scat- stone for the first church in tered sheep in the wilderness again town, June 30, when the building of the in the fall. His account abounds in present Zion's Lutheran description of the sights en route, and Re- especially noteworthy being the ac- formed Church began, which edifice still ornately crowns our hillcrest » count of Fort Henry (located on as a conspicuous landmarK. Dietrich Six's farm in the Hole, back of the Round Head, above The second is the survey of the present Millersburg), where the then proposed Union Canal, whicft ruins were already so complete that brought to this community the noted only a few rafters could be seen engineer and astronomer, David Rit- 26 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community tenhouse, and William Smith, pro- forcement of the law and became a vost of the University of Pennsyl- terror to evil doers. vania, a great promoter of the 18 40 —This year the Universalist scheme. The canal was begun the Church was built. Since dismantled following year, some locks built the and congregation disbanded. examination of which was the occa- sion of the visit of President Wash- 1856-57—Lebanon Valley Rail- built. In the first year a riot ington and party that fall, already road alluded to as lodgers at the Seltzer occurred here between the workmen Tavern. and the paymaster. The latter's of- fice was stormed and the riot only 1793 — The visit of President quelled by the Ringgold Light Artil- Washington and party. lery of Reading. ZION'S CHURCH DEDICATED. CIVIL WAR EVENTS. 1794—The dedication of Zion's 18 61-6 5 —The Civil War. Wom- Union Church took place this year. elsdorf and community gave its 1800—By this time the town came quota of soldiers and supported the commonly to be called Womelsdorf, government. war measures. There is, instead of Middletown. however, a phase of more or less disloyalty inferred by the existence 1802 Rev. John Andrew Schulze, — of a chapter of "The Golden Cir- as pastor, moved to town Lutheran cle" organization located here. Ac- governor of Pennsylvania. afterwards cording to Rev. Hoover's "Enemies buried one of his children in our He in the Rear," a published story of cemetery about this time. the locality of Wernersville during 1807—On July 1 of this year a the Civil War period, the so-called post office was established here. "Heidelberg Brigade" started here force en 1816 This year the Berks and for Reading, gathering — to a fellow brother Dauphin turnpike was built through route, rescue Berks jail and to protest the town, completed and opened for from the against the conduct of the war by traffic in the year following (1817). the national government. 1828 This year the Union Canal — 18 67 —Present Evangelical Church completed, and the first boat, was built. "the Alpha of Tulpehocken," passed westward the following year (1829). 1893 —The Liberty bell traveled by rail down the Lebanon Valley this 32 18 —This year, in June, the year on its return from the Colum- Lutheran Ministerium of Pennsyl- bian Exposition in Chicago. vania and adjacent states held its S5th synodical session in Zion's TROLLEY LINE BUILT. Union Church here. 1894—The trolley line, connecting WOMELSDORF INCORPORATED. Womelsdorf with Reading, was built this year. Its car barn is erected in 1833—Womelsdorf was incorpo- the western end of the borough. rated as a borough this year. (The 18 95 water company was or- in the county, only —A second borough ganized and incorporated. First preceding it.) The popu- Kutztown supply of water came from the Man- lation was about 750 at this time. derbach spring (Orphans' Home), was Louis Richards. First burgess now from a reservoir near the Kluft, The council chosen consisted of supplied water from William by the best of David Bennethum, Gries, the Gold Springs of the mountains. Keiser, jr., Michael Seltzer, George The presidents of the company have John Schwalm and Peter Womels- was been: First, Peter D. Wanner; sec- dorf. The clerk Joseph D. Biles ond, Martin D. Filbert; Third, Mrs. and the high constable George Sal- Mary Filbert. lade. 18 9 7 —This year the town hall was 4 Presbyterian 183 —The Church erected. The lower story supplies and the town academy were built shelter for the apparatus of the The latter opened with this year. Volunteer Fire Co., which was in- the Presbyterian minis- Rev. Morse, corporated the same year, with first principal. Other ter, as its pay Harry Shanck, present chief. and private schools sprung up soon after, which acted as rivals of the 1906—A town cornet band was or- academy. ganized or revived and reorganized by Calvin Reinhold as leader. 18 35 —This year Rev. William Hendel, the Reformed minister of 19 07—This year the town's electric town, was elected high constable as plant was established by the erec- a joke. But he accepted the office tion of a power house at the Charm- and turned the joke into a rigid en- ing Forge, which supplies the town Annals of Womelsdorf and Community with light and power. This year, highway, known as the William also, a Y. M. C. A. was established Penn Highway, and stretching com- here, when meetings were held in pletely across the state, from Easton the old Presbyterian Church with to Pittsburgh, displacing through Henry D. Hackman, president, which these parts the century-old toll turn- has, however, since disbanded. pike, and at once gaining in such popularity that on Sundays and ERECT WEISER MONUMENT. holidays over 5 00 automobiles and motorcycles have been counted pass- 1909 —Saturday, Sept. 2 5, of this ing through the town in an hour. year was dedicated and unveiled the imposing Conrad Weiser monument, A great touring caravan and a heavy truck freight traffic constantly erected in the front yard of the town use this highway. Autos from all school building. The enterprise was parts of this country are seen here started by the late Zechman, W. M. every summer, the county superintendent of schools, by taking penny offerings from the 1922—On Sept. 8, the Historical school children of Berks, but as the Society of Berks County passed result of this effort was not sufficient through town on their 18th annual to cover the expenditure the county pilgrimage, traveling in many be- chapters of the P. O. S. of A. put flagged autos. They stopped about their shoulders to the wheel and an hour at the Conrad Weiser home- carried the enterprise to comple- stead and grave, where addresses tion, and it was under their were made by President Scholl, auspices that the monument was George M. Jones and the writer, dedicated. The day was a gala day and on Sept. 15, the Republican can- for Womelsdorf and it is doubtful if didates for state offices and U. S. it ever before or since saw so many senator made a stop of 30 minutes, people assembled here. with Samuel H. Illig, presiding. Brief speeches were made by Gifford 1915-16—These years witnessed Pinchot, David J. Davis and U. S. the erection of the very fine and Senator George Wharton Pepper. costly stone Lutheran and Reformed Many Republican boosters had come Churches, now gracing two of the out in their autos from Reading to most conspicuous corners of the town. meet the party here and accompany them down the valley to the Berks 1917—This year witnessed the capital. Many women attended the completion of the popular state meeting. 28 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community Canal Grain House, near Bernville Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 29 Chapter V. ALONG THE TULPEHOCKEN Henry Van Dyke's popular classic, lesser streams which may be named "Little Rivers," has charmed 10,000 as its "little rivers," because they admiring readers by its well-written are peculiarly Berks county streams. fishing- trips, taken along certain They are the Ontelaunee, Mana- small streams of our land; so small tawny, Monocacy, Antietam, Hay that most of our school geographies Creek, Allegheny, Angelica, Wyo- fail to mark or name them. Yet missing and Tulpehocken. Of these these backwoods streams he found the Tulpehocken is the largest and the habitat of the speckled trout longest in its flow and is fed by the and other specimens of our pisca- most important tributaries. Because torial game, as in he found Ashing' it appears as the object and destina- them the source of fondest boyhood tion of the first settlers in their quest memories, exhilarating recreation for a permanent home, and has been and the school presided over the by the scene and heart of the com- muse of the rarest prose poetry and settlement, or colony, here the sanest rustic philosophy. munity The present writer invites "his described, from the days of the gentle reader" to join him in a simi- pioneers to the present time, we lar fishing trip along the banks of shall go fishing today down the Tul- one of Berks county's "little rivers." pehocken. He need not bait his hook for the While this stream has its rise in finny tribe, nor prick his ear for a Lebanon county and plays and bab- fish story, nor expect the poetic bles on for a mile or two almost muse to be wakened; for we shall unnoticed, from its several birth- leisurely drift down stream and cast giving springs, along its grass-and- our line along the meandering Tul- flower hidden meadow banks, much pehocken for a of facts, little mess a as a child cries and creeps and feast of biography, history and cheers itself into notice during its' neighborhood events that have come down this water course during infantile and puerile years in the hidden enclosures of its parental time's flow within the last two cen- abode, so this streamlet of turies. At least six generations of Lebanon's forbears have made history along eastern watershed flows on in com- parative until it this serpentine stream during this seclusion approaches period. While, however, VanDyke the Berks county line, then comes to maturity, goes sporting by old Tul- took his fishing trips up stream, it will suit our purpose better to follow pehockentown, on whose banks its founder, Isaac Moyer, built his old- this little river down stream, thus mansion, still standing, its keeping company with the flow of time with slave garret-floor, this "turtle creek" of the Indians quarters on the unimpaired, while the town's origi- from its source to its mouth. nal name has changed to that of its MOST IMPORTANT founder—then laves the lately de- STREAM. veloped and lucrative, famous Berks has a number of streams limestone quarries of Millardsville, peculiarly, if not entirely, its own. washes the glebelands of the two Its largest river, the Schuylkill, while ancient Tulpehocken churches, joins it cuts the county into halves, and in liquid wedlock with its maiden for about 35 or 40 miles flows stream of the Mill Creek Valley, just through its very heart, yet it is too east of Stouchsburg, then flows on large and long to be a single county in connubial bliss, sometimes through stream. It is a state river and be- smooth meadows, sometimes by longs exclusively and entirely from rough and precipitous rocky ledges source to mouth, from its rise in the a,nd promontories, until it has trav- Broad and Blue mountains through- eled all through the western half of out its entire flow and increase and Berks' territory and is itself engulfed to its absorption at Philadelphia by and lost by its absorption at Reading, the larger Delaware, to eastern by the greater waters of the Schuyl- Pennsylvania. But Berks has a few kill. a 30 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community A SERPENTINE COURSE. The next homestead to the east is of old Leonart Immel, who had Will you go with me, gentle that the distinction of having given a reader, on this fishing trip down this daughter as wife to a governor of meandering little river of Berks? Pennsylvania (Gov. Shulze), and as Then be prepared to follow its ser- having been on the building com- pentine course for many miles; for mittee and one of its first trustees at it winds and curves upon itself often the organization of the Frieden's Lu- inscribes a capital "S's" and hundred theran Church, of Myerstown, and in its course, as it curves its path- the erection of its first church edi- the valley. It way through winding fice in 1811. The church is a Child will take twice as long a surveyor's of Christ Tulpehocken Lutheran line to measure its curving banks as Church. His homestead, erected in the crow would need to measure its 1759, is of stone, of colonial fashion, flight in a straight line from its with a front door, broken into halves, source to its mouth. wall closets, wide oak flooring, wide The Tulpehocken, like all the children of earth, can trace its life- blood (water) to two sources— father and a mother stream, if you please—and these have their begin- nings in more ancestral springs. A little to the west of West Myerstown, the traveler on the William Penn highway crosses a streamlet that flows from the northwest and has its origin in numerous springs on the southern slope of the gravel ridge, about two miles to the north. This may be called its paternal branch. The other, or maternal spring, is situated just a few stonethrows to the south of this highway, about three miles west of Myerstown. Here, from among limestone rocks, springs forth the baby Tulpehocken, like Minerva from the head of Jove, a full-grown stream and a daughter eventually of the mighty deep. Here an Indian tribe had erected a vil- President lage of wigwams and burled their Washington dead, many of whose bones and rel- ics have been disinterred by the Queen Anne fireplace and mantel. white settlers in making excavations. The tiles of the roof have given Here the original Mr. Lei took up place to shingles, the former stored 1,000 acres of land and built his alongside the house like a heap of pioneer home over the spring, while waffles. The -farm is the property nearby his son, Capt. Michael Lei, of Mrs. John H. Bossier, a sister of of revolutionary fame, and his wife, the late Rev. Dr. Mosser, of Reading. Eva Magdalena, in 1769 built their Next eastward we come to the substantial stone homestead, a ver- Bassler farms, whose ancestral head, itable mansion for that day. The date Heinrich Bassler, in 17 38, purchased stone contains, besides the name and of "the brass-button maker of Phil- date of the builders, the solemn and adelphia" (the celebrated Caspar pious mottoes: "O Mensch, Gedenk Wistar, ancester of some distin- der Letzten Stunde," and "Gott, guished literary descendants, and Segne Dieses Haus, Und Alles Was giving the botanical name to one of Da Geht Ein Oder Aus." our most beautiful flowering vines, the wistaria), who must have had VISITED BY WASHINGTON. large landed possessions along this section of the Tulpehocken in the Here President Washington and early part of the 18th century, since party spent at least one night, on the his name is mentioned in many old same trip, in November, 1793, when deeds of properties hereabouts, the they visited Womelsdorf and Read- Trinity Reformed, Tulpehocken ing, and the bed and room the presi- Church, still annually paying to his dent then occupied are preserved in- descendants "the red rose rental," tact, though the house otherwise has each June, for his grant of a large been remodeled and enlarged into a acreage as glebe-land to this flock three-story mansion by Samuel Ul- somewhere in the forties of this 18th rich, its present owner. century. Annals oi Womelsdorf and Community 31 MYERSTOWN THE LARGEST. and operated for years as the Palatinate College. Here also is is next passed, which is Myerstown situated the Old Polks Home of the the largest municipal community Reformed Church, known as the entire flow along the Tulpehocken's "Daniel Stine Home" because the of 4 and 50 miles. It was between mansion of this benefactor (Hon. Isaac Myers in 1768, founded by Daniel Stine) was given as a founda- and first called Tulpehockentown. tion gift. Strange how many of our Pennsyl- vania-German towns have changed REFUGE FROM INDIANS. their original names. Newmanstown Traveling eastward from Myers- was first called Newburg; Schaeffers- with the current of the Tul- town, Heidelberg; Lebanon, Steitz- town the Breitenbach town; Annville, Millerstown; Jones- pehocken, we pass its used as a town, Williamsburg; Fredericksburg, homestead, with house refuge fortification for the neighbor- first Nassau, then Stumpstown. Womelsdorf, Middletown, and Myers- hood during the period of Indian the land on the north town, Tulpehockentown. It may be depredations, been deeded to that this last-named town has grown bank first having Kitzmiller, which joined the larger than any other of its rivals Jonas of which upon the Tulpehocken's banks, be- Adam Diffenbach tract, out large acreage was given as cause it first honored this stream by a to the Reformed congrega- adopting its name. Be that as it may, glebeland tion, variously as "The Tul- it has steadily gone ahead during known "The Lein- its 150 years of life and struggle, un- pehocken Reformed," lately as "The til now it counts about 3,000 inhabi- bach's Church" and because the pas- tants, who have made it their home. Welker Church," the con- It has had among its residents brave tors by these names served soldiers, a former governor (Shultze), gregation so well and long as to as- legislators, judges, learned pro- sociate their names with the church. fessors, able and famous ministers, Here we want to stop and cast our skillful doctors and successful busi- line for a big catch of historical nessmen. The Basslers, Reillys, and personal data. On the north Woods, Klines, Coovers, Shultzes, bank of our stream have been Mossers, Uhrichs, Hauseckers, Burk- actively laboring and worshipping, holders, Stines, Batdorfs, Haaks, on opposite, almost adjoining hill- Ramlers, Gookleys, Schantzs, Wolfs sides, two flourishing historic forties and many others have added lustre churches, dating back to the first rude to the name of the town as well as of the 18th century. Their place to newer its founder. edifices have given substantial stone structures, the sec- The founder was • born in 1730, a (Christ), native of the valley. He grew up ond for the Lutheran erected in 17 8 6, and the third for here and early in life bought land (Trinity), built in on the Tulpehocken, built his house the Reformed pastorate of Rev. of logs (later weather-boarded) upon 1853, during the Thomas H. Leinbach. Both churches its northern bank, in which he had have been served the leading pas- quarters prepared on the attic for by tors of their day of each of the re- a few slaves he owned, and in 176 8 spective denominations. Both par- laid out his town. Only two years sonages have been occupied by illus- later he was fatally shot through a trious families and have witnessed window at a inn, wither he nearby history-making events. In both was summoned on some ostensible churches have worshiped the business, but evidently on ruse to a staunch, capable and, in some in- be trapped by some enemies he had stances, illustrious forbears of their made in the execution of his office present membership for five or six as magistrate. He was taken to his generations of a very large section home while yet conscious and is said of this Tulpehocken settlement. to have made request of his family never to prosecute his slayers, as REFORMED PASTORS. their conscience would sufficiently punish the murderers. Thus he died, The Reformed pastors of this com- a victim of uncontrolled wrath and munity were Revs. John Philip vengeance in the very prime of life, Boehm, John Peter Miller (later of at the age of 40 years. His re- Ephrata Cloister fame), who trans- mains lie buried in the old cemetery lated the Declaration of Independ- at Trinity Reformed Tulpehocken ence into seven European lan- Church and have a fittingly engraved guages, Domonicus Bartholomew tombstone marker. ( 1747-17 5 0),H.W. Stoy (1752-1755), Myerstown is the site of Albright John Waldschmidt (1757-1758), Wil- College, of the Evangelical Church, liam Otterbein (1758-1764), he aft- though the institution was founded erwards becoming the founder of the as a Reformed school, and known United Brethren Church; John J. 32 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community Ziefall (1765-1769), J. William the American Lutheran Church and Hendell, sr. (1769-1782), Andrew long its illustrious leader or mis- Loretz (1785-1786), Daniel Wagner sionary superintendent, with Anna (1787-93). Maria Weiser, the eldest daughter With the latter's ministry the Re- of Conrad Weiser, of national fame. formed Church of America ended The ceremony was performed on its connection and governmental au- April 22, 1745, either in the old par- thority of the coetus, a church body sonage or at the church altar, Revs. of Holland; and, tired of this foreign Brunnholtz and J. H. Schaum, jurisdiction, it organized an inde- as witnesses. pendent synod of the Reformed Muhlenberg's friends, Church in America. The record is still pointed out in the In this move Michael Schlatter church book in Rev. Wagner's hand, and such men as the elder Hendel where, and in succeeding books, the were conspicuous. From the time church records for nearly two cen- of this organization to the present turies are well preserved. In this (1793-1921), over 128 years, only parsonage also was born Gov. John four pastors served this church, viz.: Andreas Shulze, the son of Rev. C. Revs. William Hendel, jr., D. D. E. Shulze, who was H. Melchoir (1793-1823), Thomas H. Leinbach Muhlenberg's son-in-law. (1826-1864), Charles H. Leinbach (1864-1883) and Henry G. Walker SPYCHER'S APPEAL. (1884-1921). Now Rev. M. F. Klingaman is the pastor. What events, local and national, The Lutheran pastors of Christ's have swept over our land since these Tulpehocken Church of this period godly pioneers of Zwiegler's and were equally illustrious. This church Luther's faith and culture here first was the result and outgrowth of the erected their houses of worship. The long controversy and resultant ."Con- French and Indian War of six years' fusion" at Rieth's Church between duration swept over these uplands the Lutheran pastor, John Casper to their very door. For was it not Stoever and the Moravian interlop- one of the Reformed members, Peter ers. Accordingly, in the year 1743, Spycher—a local leader as justice of 166 male members and adherents the peace and later a judge of Berks united to erect a new church where county courts—who, by his appeals, their worship might be untram- in person and letter, sought to arouse meled and they could follow their an apparently sluggish colonial gov- tenets of the unaltered Augsburg ernment to take steps to defend this Confession in peace and loyalty. hinterland community? Hence George UnrUh gave five acres Quoting from one of his letters, of his land as the site of this church addressed to Conrad Weiser, then in and it was located about a mile west Philadelphia, still extant, we can of the Rieth (Reed) Church or about almost hear these first settlers sound- half a mile to the west of the present ing their anxious alarm: village of Stouchsburg. A commo- "I have this account from those dious log or frame church was at above named and from Peter once erected, with careful guarding Anspach, John Cadefman, Christo- and definitions of Lutheran ortho- pher Noacre, Leonard Walborn, doxy as to who should occupy its George Dollinger and Adam Diffen- pulpit. These pastors have been bach. We are, at present, in im- capable men, many of them distin- minent danger to lose our lives or guished in American Lutheranism, estates. Pray, therefore, for help, and they served the various flocks or else whole Tulpehocken will be under their pastoral care well and laid waste by the Indians in a very mostly for a long period of time. short time—all the buildings will be buried, the people scalped. Do, LUTHERAN PASTORS. therefore, lose no time to get us as- sistance. The assembly may learn The list is as follows: Revs. Tobias from this work what kind and fine Wagner (1743-1746), John Nicholas friends the Indians are! We hope Kurtz (1748-1770), Christopher members of the assembly will get Emanuel Shulze (1770-1809), Daniel their eyes opened and manifest ten- Ulrich (1811-1851), Louis E. der hearts towards us; and the gov- Eggers (1852-1867), Frederick P. ernor the same. They are, it is hoped, Mayser (1868-1873), A. Johnson true subjects to our King George II Long (1874-1908) and William S. of Great Britain, or are they willing Dry (1909-1921). Rev. D. M. Long- to deliver us into the hands of these acre is the present pastor. cruel and merciless creatures? The first pastor joined in marriage here Rev. Henry Melchoir Muhlen- "I am your friend, berg, the patriarch and organizer of "PETER SPYCHER." Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 33 ON THE BATTLE FRONT. other national wars and many in- tervening changes. It witnessed and If the reader needs any more took part in all the local changes proof that these were stormy times and innovations, such as the building and that this territory for a long of roads, township divisions, erection period was along the very battle of new counties, the passing of the front of this Colonial War, then parochial and private schools into let him take his place along the the public school system, the ad- roadway past these two churches, vance of education from the erec- where in front of Benjamin Spycher tion of neighborhood and town acad- (a brother of Peter), Conrad Weiser. emies to the establishment of local shortly after this letter of Peter high schools and colleges. It saw Spycher, arleady commissioned a the Sunday school come and develop colonel, gathered his regiment of to its present high standards and the hundreds of farmers of this valley to young people's, men's and women's move against the foe and repel thein- missionary societies in our churches. vading savages with their weapons It saw the Union Canal Co. organ- of flint-locks, pitchforks and other ize and David Rittenhouse, the as- bludgeons, and listen to Rev. John tronomer and engineer, and William Nicholas Kurtz's pious counsel to Smith, the provost of the University, these improvised soldiers and hear oversee the actual surveying of its his earnest prayer to Heaven for route, building of its course and their divine protection, before they locks and launch its first boats and marched towards the gaps and operate them. It witnessed the com- passes of the Blue Mountains and ing of the Berks and Dauphin turn- the Susquehanna. Or let the reader pike, and a century later, the Wil- attend the solemn funeral services liam Penn Highway. conducted by Pastor Kurtz, when at one time nine of these pioneer set- RAILWAY BUILT IN 1856. tlers' corpses, the victims of the It saw the building of the Leb- avenging redmen with their toma- anon Valley Railroad in 1856-57, and scalping knives hawks —were and traffic and trade, greatly multi- brought to his church door for be- plied and increased, course along fitting burial services. these commercial arteries. It saw shortly Then after the French and many of its sons and daughters arise Indian war came the Revolutionary and leave the narrower scenes of its War, and again we hear the voice community to bless the world in a of those local leaders of the Tulpe- wider sphere elsewhere. It gave at hocken, the Spycher brothers, arous- least one governor to the state—and ing the neighborhood to patriotic one of its best—when the common- fervor and to arms by helping to or- wealth of Pennsylvania took a son ganize the Berks county militia. of the Lutheran parsonage (John Benjamin figures next as a member Andreas Shulze), and placed him of the provincial conference of 17 76 twice in the gubernatorial chair. and of the state's constitutional con- The walls of both churches echoed vention of July 15, 1776. But their the pious exhortations and learned life's warfare came to end amid erudition not only of its own re- honor and renown and their aged spective pastors, but of the leaders and wearied bodies found rest at of these denominations, from the last in the sepulchre in the old Re- Muhlenbergs, Kurtzes, Stoevers, of formed cemetery of this place. the Lutheran fold, down to the Schmuckers, Krotel, the Krauths. WITNESSED MANY CHANGES. Mann and the Schmauks and Shantz of our day, while the Reformed But this community witnessed all flocks have listened to its Schlotter the other great changes that came and Hendels and to Nevin and Bom- to our country generally, such as berger, Philip Schaff and Bausman, our national independence, our na- Dubbs and Hinke. It would take tional Constitution making and the volumes to tell the important local initiative of starting our republic by history of this Tulpehocken region, the election of George Washington but we cannot wade further into its as our first president, and every deep waters on our fishing trip presidential election since, also our today. 31 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community View of Tulpehockeii Creek Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 35 Chapter VI. ALONG THE TULPEHOCKEN We have but fairly entered into Count Zienzendiorf and the early Berks territory in our former chap- Moravian bishops and missionaries ter's fishing trip. We came only to during the period of their early the community which we are espe- work among white settlers and the cially treating- in these articles, so redmen. The diaries and records must hurry on with our story as we of these zealous religious workers during the colonial period, preserved have yet far to go. in the archives of their church at Where the Mill Creek joins the Bethlehem, are full of incidents of Tulpehocken, just east of Stouchs- this historic homestead. The first burg, where the William Penn High- occupants were converted to their way crosses the stream, is the real faith in one of the first itineraries heart of the Tulpehocken region. of these Moravian missionaries, and Here stood Leonhardt Rieth's origi- they must have been hospitable hosts nal residence and mill, and nearby as their names often come up in the was erected the first church of the tales of other travelers. When their valley, on Rieth's land. The later own race was run they were laid Rieth (Reed) homestead, built of to rest in a private burial plot on stone, which sheltered several gen- a sloping hillside back of the home- erations of the pioneer's descendants stead, but the epitaphs have become is still standing. The mill and the obliterated from their limestone church have both gone. Only the markers. cemetery marks the latter's site, in which are buried six generations of KURTZ BURIAL PLOT. Rieth's and the eldest son of Conrad the of the century the Weiser, (Philip), and many of the Before end passed once worshippers in this church. farm homestead must have into the hands of Johannes Kurtz, SOLDIERS OF ALL WARS. since we find his tomb within the same little "Gottes-acker," about 50 The writer recalls visiting it x60 feet, walled and well preserved, shortly after last Memorial Day and and the epitaph quite legible. This found many graves decorated with is what it says: "Denkmal von Jo- flags, and by a little study of these hannes Kurtz, Er war ge-boren in gravestones, found that soldiers of Europa in der Schweitz und Starb in all our American wars were buried April, 1796. Alt 74 Jahre." By his within this enclosure. It is not likely side sleeps Betty Kurtz, his wife, and that many small cemeteries of this a number of the descendants and state can repeat this distinction as relatives. The Kurtzes occupied the few date back to our French and In- farm for over a century, as they dian war. have but recently sold it. Side by side, with the Rieth home- And next we come to the Philip stead stands Dr. Gerhart's bunga- Braun (Brown) place, already al- low, used also as a small sanitarium luded to in a former chapter. This for some of his patients. The Tul- is the farm nearest Womelsdorf. lo- pehocken now curves to the north, cated on the Tulpehocken. Their through the original Kapp's mead- son erected on this property a grist ows, then turns to the east through mill, which has not ceased to grind the Johannes Jacob Loesch tract, on out excellent flour to this very day, the northern bank of which stream, though it has changed hands a num- this one of the original settlers, had ber of times. Martin Brown built it reared his home near a spring, in 1785. From him it changed into in 1723. Forty years afterward in Keiser's hands and then into 1753, as indicated by an engraved Fischer's and Stump's possession. date-stone in the gable-end of the Later a Mr. Hoffa operated it, and house, a large Colonial stone house new for the last 30 years it has been replaced the former cottage of logs. run by Wagner and Emerich. This and the former house were On the Brown property was also frequently the lodging places of erected a lock on the Union Canal. 36 Annals of Womelsdori and Community which cut through this farm, and by erected a fitting memorial stone by the side a warehouse, where during the roadside, near the old home- the past century a flourishing busi- stead, in commemoration of this ness was done in the handling of worthy God-fearing ancestor. This coal, grain and lumber for the com- is what it says; munity by the Smith Bros., Elias "In memory of Christian Deppen Fidler and later his son, Harry. and his posterity. Erected by J. H. Franklin Kintzer, Cyrus Good and Mays, a great-great-grandson." William Price were the locktenders The stone barn of this farmstead stories with the boat- who swapped was years ago an oil mill. It was once lively men of the past. What a erected in 1817 by George Ege. past it was when along this stream was heard the shout of the mule CHARMING FORGE PROPERTY. drivers, upon the towpath the tinkle The Charming Forge property ad- of the and the tintinnabulations joins the Mays farm on the east. It the rattle bells upon the teams and consists of an original 400-acre tract of chains clanging of ma- and and was later divided into two large chinery during the manipulation of farms owned by all the owners of lock-gates, as well the laugh- the as the forge, the last of whom were the the ter, the shouts, sometimes Taylor brothers, William and B. curses, of the boatmen! As there Franklin, who operated the forge was usually considerable traffic and and farmed their respective lands locks within county, there many the from 1855 to 1885. The Womels- was much lively commotion up and dorf electric powerhouse is located in those down this "little river" here and the William Taylor (or days. Ege) mansion and farm is now MARSHALD homestead. owned by John G. Sallade, of Wom- To the east of the Rehrersburg elsdorf. road and on the north bank of the From the forge the Tulpehocken Tulpehocken, is the old Peter Mar- takes a sharp bend northward and shall homestead, formerly a Filbert flows by precipitous bluffs and hills. farm, now in possession of Wayne About two and a half miles it brings Stump, Marshall's son-in-law. Here us to Krick's Mill and saw mill for- the Marshall family was reared, merly Seibert's Mill. Later the Derrs two sons, John and Dr. Samuel Mar- owned it and it was last operated by shall, both coming to distinction. Benjamin Bickel and Nathaniel Next to the east lies the Althouse, Zerbe. When the mill burnt about later the Dr. Louis Livingood farm, 12 years ago, the post office here and then the Kinzer, later Filbert established in 1867 was taken away farm borders on the Tulpehocken. to Cross Keys. A postal stage route The Beidler homestead is next, now used to run from Reading via Ca- owned by Harry Oxenrider, a son- coosing, State Hill, Klopps Store, in-law. This must have been orig- Krick's Mill to Wintersville, at all of inally the Gottfried Fidler home, which places were post offices. Now where occurred the burning of Lu- this section is served by three free theran and Reformed catechisms and rural deliveries, one from Robesonia devotional books already alluded to. and two from Bernville. On the south bank lay the orig- Old homesteads in this section on inal Christian Ruth's farm, a the east bank are those of Peter large tract, which later was bought Laucks, the Andersons, and then far- by Christian Deppen and part of ther east, the Klopps, Grubers, which tract is still owned by a lineal Fischers and Stumps. The dwell- descendant, Jacob H. Mays, and ing house at Krick's Mill is said to another part by Ephraim Swope, be constructed of the logs of the both of Womelsdorf. Mr. Mays has first Tulpehocken Reformed Church Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 37 of Host, where a marked date of with the abandonment of the canal 1735 still is plainly seen. Nathaniel all but the mill have fallen into L. Zerbe weather-boarded it. Cross disuse. Keys Hotel is on the west side of On the south bank of the Tulpe- the stream, and in Jefferson town- hocken, from Bernville, lived the ship, as the Tulpehocken divides Stump's, a private burial plot, con- it from North Heidelberg. taining the graves of the former generations. The name is still WATERS TURN MILL WHEELS. prominent in this section, and most About three-fourths of a mile be- of the descendants have stayed near yond this hotel the waters of our the old homestead and many of them stream again turn the wheels of an- are members of St. Daniel's (Corner) other mill, known as Sunday's mill, Church. but formerly built, owned and op- erated by a Mr. Zerbe, who took up CREATED BY CANAL. the land grants about here. The town of Bernville was largely Next our stream laves the glebe- created by the coming of the canal. lands of the Little Tulpehocken The latter's projection into these Union Church and cemetery, one of parts, in 1819, gave Thomas Umben- the oldest churches in the county hauer, its founder, the first sugges- Concstosa Wagon and served now by Revs. Ruth (Re- tion and stimulus. Owning the land formed), and Klick (Lutheran). The along the public road that led past a present edifice of stone was erected well-nigh century old church site, in 1809 and in its cemetery li^ nu- located here at the junction of the merous Radebachs, Groffs, Grubers, Northkill with the Tulpehocken, and Wenrichs, Haags and Graeffs, indi- at the latter's northernmost bend, cating that the ancestors of these he made the adventure and laid out named families must have settled in his town plot. these parts. On March 7, 1820, he held public At Bernville the Tulpehocken is sale of town lots and the Fil- again increased by a considerable berts, Stoudts, Seyberts, Wagners, stream from the north, known as the Strausses, Miesses, Hecks, Goods and Northkill. Near its junction flour- Umbenhauers were the first pur- ished long Stoudt's store and hotel. chasers. They began to build houses, a mill, operated at present by the stores and shops at once. Soon Berger Bros., and two large grain or merchants, tavernkeepers, black- warehouses and large tanneries; but smiths, tinsmiths, wheelwrights, 38 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community butchers, bakers, tailors, weavers, even if its citizens are a little farther tanners, hatters, chairmakers and removed from their department even ministers and doctors did busi- stores, theatres, etc. ness along its solitary main street, TWO OLD MILLS. as in many a similar "dorf" in ih r Palatinate, or the Schweitz, where Between Bernville and Mt. Pleas- most of their ancestors had come ant are two more old mills, Stoudt's from. mill, still in operation, and Conrad's mill, now abandoned. Mt. Pleasant, RAPID DEVELOPMENT. long known as Obold, because of the here, prior to the estab- The founder gave his new town settlement lishment of the county, of Joseph the name of his ancestral native Obold, the progenitor of an old and town in the Schweitz, which the honored family, is next reached. rolling contour of the surrounding The prominence of the Hetrick fam- townships strongly suggested It ily later, whence hails Dr. George began at once to prosper. Many Hetrick, of Birdsboro, for a long industries came its way, such as while gave it the name of Retrick- tannery, foundry, creameries, cor- town. Its post office and the town net bands and a national bank. In proper came about 183 5. It has less 1S51 it was incorporated into a bor- than 5 houses now, out a pleasant ough. While the canal flourished location and a pleasant name. the town prospered, but with the Next, below Mt. Pleasant, is Hies- decline of the former the latter suf- ter's mill, another center of activity fered and many once flourishing in- along the Tulpehocken in the years dustries entirely succumbed. The past, and here is the source of that enterprising citizens worked ener- illustrious family of Hiesters, de- getically to keep the alive town and scendants of Gabriel Hiester, which prosperous. They subscribed heavily has given Berks one of the best to the South Mountain Railroad known and honored of her families, project with the promise of a branch and the state an excellent governor. line from Strausstown to Reading Floating down our "little river," to pass through it. The failure, we presently pass the Blue Marsh, a however, of this enterprise and the little hamlet of about 2 houses, total abandonment of the canal were founded as early as 17 7 5, where the hard blows to this town as well as Reber Mills were long operated, Frystown, Millersburg, Rehrersburg, from which family stock comes that Strausstown and Shartlesville. worthy scion of today, James T. An attempt was made to get a Reber, .president of the First Na- trolley line the from Reading, but tional Bank, of Reading. Next we coming of the automobile and good come to Lorah, formerly and yet roads knocked this enterprise down generally spoken of as State Hill, and so left the still hopeful and con- near which are located the famous tented town dwellers with two auto Rick fruit farms, and from which buses for their outside wares and elevation superb scenery greets the news. These run daily to Reading eye. and Robesonia, respectively, twelve and eight miles away. VAN REED PAPER MILD. But despite railroads and canals Farther on down stream we come and trolley lines, Bernville is no to the mouth of the Cacoosing, farther away from the center of where the Van Reed paper mill has gravity, or the sun, moon and stars, been located for many years. The or else the heart of God and the Van Reeds are another notable Eden of happiness, along the route Berks family. Passing Wertz's Mill, of personal contentment, than are we soon float down to Glenside, op- New York, Chicago or San Francisco, posite which stood long ago, the Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 39 William's Mill, now dilapidated, wagons and manufactured merchan- while at Bushong's Mill, we come to dise back to the interior, we are the mouth of our little river of Tul- taken across to enter the Union pehocken, near which is rapidly canal. building- up the Coney Island of We board the old Alpha boat, the Reading. first one that ever sailed up the We have floated with the current Tulpehocken Valley, and greet the of the stream and washed into many boatmen, salute the lock-tenders and an old mill race and laved the acres see the scenery as we slowly sail up and meadows of many an old Penn- this scenic, winding commercial sylvania-German homestead; let us watery artery of the state that the now be diverted and board one of greatest of Pennsylvania leaders and the old-time canal boats and sail statesmen of over a century ago pro- back in it through all the locks en moted and constructed. Every bend route, while an old boatman will of the canal's course was so sur- name to us these locks in order and veyed and every lock en route or- give us also the name of its tender, dered by the chief engineers, David if recalled. Rittenhouse and William Smith, provost of the University of Pennsyl- 30 OLD CANAL LOCKS. vania, and later approved by En- There were thirty of these canal gineers Lehman & Aycrigg, a century locks from its mouth to the Tulpe- and more ago. hocken's source in Lebanon county UP THE UNION CANAL. and we shall recall them in order, though never again shall any traffic So here we go. We are safely pass through them, nor the merry- across the Schuylkill dam level and making of the locktender, or the have entered the Union (Tulpe- whip's crack of the mule driver on hocken) Canal. Not far up stream the tow path, waken the echoes of we come to the first canal lock, the valley. The railroads and the known as Winter's lock, and the ex- turnpikes and the autos have given perience of being towed into an im- the death knell to the canal industry mense brownstone box, or cellar, and of our country. But one Panama then having the monster water-gates makes up for a score of interior closed behind us, with all their creak- lock canals in volume of business. ing and grinding of wheels and We are, however, fishing in the olden chains of this canal lock machinery, time and have gone far down our gives one a novel, a somewhat grue- stream and shall ride home to our some experience, somewhat like that starting point in one of the boats of a prisoner upon whom peniten- that used to ply up and down its tiary gates are closing. But we shall narrow waterway, and so be locked soon get used to this, for it will oft through these 30 chambers. So be repeated on our journey up the here we go up the artificial channel, Tulpehocken. Presently the flood carrying our string of historical and gates that hold the waters of the personal facts caught in today's fish- canal back on a higher level are ing trip. slowly opened by another set of Hence, down at the Penn street wheels and chains and pulleys, ana Schuylkill dam, where the Schuylkill we find ourselves gently lifted—on a canal boats, coming up the river slow, soft watery elevator—until valley from Philadelphia, loaded presently we issue out of our sub- with goods from the city, and tak- marine prison cell and once more ing the place of the wagoners of the spy the landscape. generations preceding in hauling Now we are afloat again on the grain and other farm products to bosom of the canal on about a 15- Philadelphia in their Conestoga foot higher elevation or level. This 40 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community much the creek falls in the distance and prominent here. From this traversed. This experience will be stock came the doctors, James Y. repeated about 3 times until we get and Wayne L. Shearer, well known back to the source of the Tulpe- all over Berks and related to Chris- hocken and the summit of the canal topher H. Shearer, the noted land- in Lebanon county, which highest scape painter of near Tuckerton. level of the canal had to be arti- And next we glide through the ficially supplied with water from im- locks at Wertz's mill. Here the mense pumps in operation at the Wertz family have lived long enough Union "Water Works back on Swa r and been so successful in their busi- tara Creek, eight miles northwest of nesses and in the training of their Lebanon, from which summit the offspring that it gave them a local boats were locked downward in both name that stuck and made of the directions towards the Schuylkill virtues and successes of the family and the Susquehanna rivers. Quite known all over the county. The an engineering feat for the engineers last and perhaps most prominent of more than a century past. No scion of this stock is George W. wonder it attracted such men as Wertz, miller and man of affairs, of President Washington (himself the Wernersville. head of a similar canal company in VAN REED'S PAPER MILL. Virginia), and Robert Morris, the We are only a few miles above the financier, and Tench Francis, of mouth of the Tulpehocken, but we Philadelphia, the agent for the have caught big fish in this historic Penns' estates, on an inspection tour stream, in sterling Berks county to this Tulpehocken Valley as early family names of the pioneer stock. as 1793, after the first locks of this And presently we come to another canal summit were built. next up-stream, that of Van Reed, GLIDING THROUGH LOCKS. opposite whose paper mill on the Ca- coosing, is located our next canal But we must be off, or we'll nevei lock. Here a Mr. Reber used to be get back home! And the best we lock-tender. We greet Mr. Mayer as can do, for want of space in this the keeper of the lock at Blue narrative, is just to glide through Marsh. We wave our hats to all the these narrow, box-like watery de- noted Berks Hiesters of six genera- vices, repeat their names with here tions as we pass the Hiester locks. and there a personal or historical Lawrence Hettinger is captain of the comment, saying- "Hello" to the lock- watery basin as we glide through tender and be off. the Hettinger locks. Benneville The second lock is located at Zechman greets us with his smile as Kissingers, a name given by an old, wf- pass the Mt. Pleasant locks, noted and numerous family that just while Nathan Fromm swaps a story above the Schuylkill avenue bridge, with us at Stoudt's lock. Eli Zertoe is near Reading, for generations owned the lock-tender at Stoudt's Mill, a large farm, operated a grist mill while Wallace Shalter and Messrs. and donated the land for the Conrad and Witman give us the Kissinger Union Church, where the right of way through the double family worshipped for many years, locks at Bernville. and in which cemetery most of those On the west side of Bernville, departed are buried. Their promi- William Klee locks us through at nence in this locality at the time of Klee's and Benneville Koch at the canal building ga\ e the name to Koch's locks; John F. T. Moyer at this lock. Moyer's, and John Zechman, at The next lock we come to is the Zechman's locks. At Cross Keys, Shearer lock, likewise named for Adam Lengel, sr., locks us to the the Shearer family, long resident next higher level, while Peter An- Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 41 derson does us the same service at where descendants of Hans Burg- Krick's Mills. Werner's lock is kept halter, the original immigrant of by William Werner, while at this family, over 100 years ago were Charming- Forge, the locks are double busy grinding the neighborhood long kept by Samuel and Edwin grist and locking through the pass- Moyer. And now we come to ing boats at the time of the opera- Womelsdorf, where Franklin tion of the canal. So we will let a Kintzer, Cyrus Good and William kin of Price locked through hundreds and the Eagle's gifted and enter- prising editor send us through this hundreds of loaded boats and will let lock. The name of this family us pass. We pass the Fischer lock stock is still nobly borne by many by one of the family working the scions. few have dropped or lock-gates, while at Rieth's lock, A slipped the "halter," but the Eagle's Isaac Mountz does us this favor. At editor still holds to the "holder" Royer's Mill, directly south of on while Stouchsburg, were formerly located we hold on to our canal ship. flourishing warehouses, long kept by At Millardsville we pass through Messrs. Klopp and Stump, fathers, St. John's locks and at Myerstown respectively, of the late A. C. Klopp. are lifted to another level, while at of Sheridan, and Wayne Stump, of the Uhrich locks Josiah DeWees lifts near Womelsdorf. us up to the four-mile summit of the canal, the last along the Tulpe- BURKHOLDER'S mill. hocken, and with this experience Next we come to Burkholder's we'll bring our long fishing trip to mill, near Christ Lutheran Church, an end. 42 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community GUI Charming Forge and Bridge Annals oi Womelsdorf and Community 43 Chapter VII. TULPEHOCKEN'S EISENHAMMER OR CHARMING FORGE In our fishing- trip down the Tul- ers and continued its operation on pehocken, we passed the historic presumably a larger scale. As early old Charming- Forge, located upon as 1760, Henry W. Stiegel, of Man- its banks about three miles north- heim and Elizabeth Furnace fame, east of Womelsdorf. It deserves a known as a great ironmaster and chapter in these annals. glass manufacturer and commonly As early as 17 49 John George known as "Baron," came into notice Nikoll, a hammersmith, and Michael here by the purchase of lands ad- Miller, having previously purchased jacent to the forge tracts, and in the land at the bend of this stream, 1763 bought an undivided half of just below Gottfried Fidler's and the forge property with appurte- Christian Deppen's farms, built a nances, together with 859 acres of dam across the creek, just where it additional woodland from C. and describes the second curve of the A. Stedman, who seem to have been letter "S." a precipitous wooded the owners, or part owners at this bluff turning its course sharply from time. Stiegel constantly added to a southward to a northward direc- his land holdings, so that by 1770 tion in a graceful curve. The water he had 3,700 acres of mountain land. It the power generated by the fall of this was Stiegel who changed of the to that dam was sufficient to operate a forge name "Eisenhammer" of "Charming Forge," due to the hammer, which they called the "Tulpehocken Eisenhammer." attractive surrounding natural scen- ery. While quite a number of similar forges were springing up in other PRESSED BY CREDITORS. parts of eastern Pennsylvania, this was the first and only one on the But soon financial embarrass- Tulpehocken. It had won a name ment overtook this extravagant for itself before even Womelsdorf young manufacturer. The Stead- was laid out, and thus had to be mans brought pressure to bear upon named for the stream, rather than their debtor, and in 1772 he was for any nearby town center to make forced to lease his interest to Paul known its location. Zantzinger, of Lancaster, and George Ege, a nephew of Stiegel's CARRIED ON 150 YEARS. by his second marriage. But the Stedmans puhsed their claims and A race course was dug, the sim- Stiegel, bing an insolvent debtor, ple machinery set up and by means was, in 1774, cast into prison at of charcoal, burned in the nearby Philadelphia, being released the South Mountain wooded slopes, the following year by a special order of manufacture of iron was begun. The industry was carried on here unin- John Penn. terruptedly for nearly 150 years by Under the warrant to affix the great seal we find the following: different firms, and in its successor, the Robesonia Furnaces, may be "To Edmund Physick, keeper of the seal of Pennsylvania, 2 8th said to be still in operation, and on great a larger scale than ever. day of April, 177 5. These are to But there are account books, authorize and require you to affix ledgers and old letters still extant to the great seal to an act for the re- show that for a long time this in- lief of Henry William Stiegel, ^ dustry on the banks of the Tulpe- languishing prisoner in the gaol of hocken was run on a big scale and Philadelphia county, with respect to in a most flourishing condition. the imprisonment of his person. After eight years of primitive up- "JOHN PENN, building of the industry, the plant changed hands. In 1757 Michael "Governor and Commander-in- Reis and Garrett Brenner bought Chief of the Province of Pennsyl- the "Eisenhammer" from its found- vania." 44 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community The Charming Forge property farm of about 370 acres, and a num- thus came into possession of George ber of large tracts of mountain land, Ege, he first acquiring Stiegel's situated in Berks, Schuylkill and share for £838, and nine motnhs Lebanon counties. These last named later buying the remaining interest trustees on Feb. 13, 18 37, sold this for £1,663, thus becoming its sole property to George D. B. Keim, of owner and manager, and operat- Reading, and Jacob W. Seitzinger, ing it for a period of 50 years from of Cumru township, Berks county, 1774 to 1824. for $25,000. Second—On June 8, 1838, Messrs. LIST OF FORGE OWNERS. Keim and Seitzinger sold two-thirds The following list of owners from of their interest to John McCrea, of the end of Mr. Ege's opration of Philadelphia, for $29,000. Later the forge to the present time is they sold the whole estate to Henry gleaned from the succession of P. Robeson, of Heidelberg township deeds at the transfer of the prop- (founder of Robesonia), and Clement erty. Brooke, of Pottstown. Charming Forge Mansion First—George Ege, though at one SOLD TO TAYLOR & SONS. time considered quite wealthy, either from a dullness of business o/r Third—On March 5, 1855, Robe- extravagant living, or else not able son & Brooke sold it to Andrew to manage profitably his manifold Taylor and his sons, William and B. businesses, came to the point that Franklin Taylor, for $2 5,000. The he could not meet his obligations deed says the forge property was promptly, was frequently dunned for then bounded by land of John Rich- payment of notes due and protested, ards, Daniel and Reuben Stoudt, and thus harried on every hand, on Philip Lash, John Himmelberger, May 25, 1824, made an assignment Michael King, Cyrus Sellers, Andrew of his vast possessions by the ap- Schoener, the late John Kintzer and pointment of three trustees to settle Samuel Fidler. up his involved and insolvent busi- Fourth—On March 10, 186 6, An- ness. Andrew Taylor, Richard Boone drew Taylor made his last will and and Joseph Old were these trustees. testament, whereby he devised his Later Simon Seyfert took the place third share of the property to his of Mr. Old. The property consisted two sons, already part owners of the then of a four-fire forge, a rolling property, which soon came into ef- mill, grist and saw mills, dwelling fect by his death. So they operated houses and other outbuildings, a the forge for many years. Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 45 Fifth—The next transfer occurred also in due time the forge near Port March 2 8, 18 92, when William and Clinton and the Reading furnace, B. Franklin Taylor sold the prop- and with these properties many erty to George R. Taylor, of Rob- thousand acres of woodland, so that esonia, for the consideration of he was the largest land owner of $9,000. On Jan. 26, 1893, they sold Berks county in his day. He owned another half acre to George Taylor also, besides these forge- properties, for $1. the farms known as the Spring, Sixth—George Taylor having died, Sheaff, Leiss and Richards farms, his widow, Sallie J. Taylor, on April located near Charming Forge. In 3, 1916, sold to Claude K. Taylor, 182 4 the assessed value of his per- and John J. Sallade, of Womels- sonal property and real estate dorf, the forge property and the was $380,000. During the Revo- farm reduced to 208 acres and 29 lutionary War he was an ardent perches, together with stone mansion patriot, rising to a place in and other out-buildings, for a fair the General Assembly of Pennsyl- sold to price. She had previously vania in 178 3, and from 1791 to the borough of Womelsdorf over 22 1818, a judge of the Berks county acres for use of an electric power courts. He lived and died in the house and water courses. Charming Forge stone mansion, still standing, which he built in 1777, his NOW OWNED BY SALLADES. death occurring on Dec. 14, 1829, in Seventh—Later Claude K. Taylor his 82d year. He is buried in the sold his half interest to Mr. Sal- Womelsdorf cemetery. One of his lade's son, Lee, so that it is now in sons, Michael, married Rev. Eman- the possession of J. J. Sallade & uel C. Shulze's daughter, whose Son, of Womelsdorf. granddaughter was the wife of John Repairs to the mansion were made Ermentrout, of Reading and a number of small dwelling Soon after he secured entire pos- houses, formerly used by forge em- session of the Forge property, Mr. ployees, were converted into conve- Ege began to enlarge the plan and nient cottages and bungalows for increase the output. In 1777 the summer recreationists. The farm executive council of Philadelphia has been improved, a large barn authorized the employment of Hes- built, and the whole place put into sian prisoners of war, held at Read- good condition. But the large ing and Lancaster. Hence the stone historic mansion is unoccu- forges and furnaces of Chester, pied. What a place for a summer Lancaster and Berks counties em- or permanent home of a man of ployed bands of them and put them means and leisure! Or what a sani- to such work as they could do. The tarium could here be erected by casting of cannon and shot for the some doctor, who sought rest, recre- Revolutionary army took place in tion, pleasing scenery and comfort all these iron factories. But George for his patients! Or what a club Ege, early in 177 7, purchased from house is here ready for some golf Congress the services of 34 of these club, with the farm big enough for prisoners to cut a channel through all the links. a bed of rock to supply his slitting George Ege was quite a notable mill at the Charming Forge with character. He was born in 1748, the water power. It is noted that on son of Michael Ege, a soldier in the Nov. 5, 1872, he paid the govern- French and Indian War, who was ment the amount of £1,020 for this the son of Bernard Ege, who emi- labor. He also owned a few colored grated to this country from Wurt- slaves about this time, as his ledger temberg, Germany, in 173 8. When accounts and correspondence reveal. George Ege's father died, in 1759, Mr. Stiegel took the widow and two STIEGEL'S LAST YEARS. sons (George, aged 11 years, and Michael, aged about 9), into his After Baron Stiegel's freedom family and hospitable care at Eliza- from prison, he found a home with beth Furnace. The boys were care- Mr. Ege and spent his closing years fully trained by Stiegel in the best in an optimistic hope, but a vain at- methods of iron manufacture, and tempt, to retrieve his lost fortune. both did credit to their teaching in He kept the books of this industry after years, the former becoming the for a time and is reported as ending leading ironmaster of Berks, and the his days teaching a school at Wom- latter of York and Cumberland elsdorf, and also instructing the counties. children of the employer and em- ployees at the forge. He died in the PROSPEROUS CAREER. mansion on Jan. 10, 1785, and is George Ege had a long and pros- most probably buried in the Cor- perous business career, acquiring ner (St. Daniel's) Lutheran Church — 46 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community cemetery, lying in an unmarked PATRONS OF THE FORGE. grave. By a remarkable coinci- Scores upon scores of customers' his brother, Anthony, had died dence names are included in the accounts, the day before and was buried at but we quote only such as struck us Schaefferstown. as familiar, as follows: Christian It would be intensely interesting Grottinger, Georeg Ege, Anthony to branch off from our subject here Stiegel, Jacob Haldeman, Michael and go into the further story of Boehm, Thomas Lincoln, Anthony Baron Sitegel's checkered and some- Weitzell, James Old, Jerome Heint- what eccentric and extravagant zleman, Conrath Fishburn, Simon career. But we must desist,, men- Schnieder and William Appleton. tioning merely that he came from "May 1, 1782, Daniel Womelsdorf, the neighborhood of Manheim, Ger- $487.10; Daniel Womelsdorf, barr iron, many, in early manhood, with hus 6.15, $768.35; to cash paid Casper for wheat, $358.25 to pockets full of money and his brain Read Paul Zantzinger, received of him full of dreams which he sought to May 13, 1780, $225; Philip Marstel- realize in a land big with oppor- lar, dr., to cash sent him at different tunity. His is name connected with times, $65; negro Tom, pair shoes, Elizabeth Furnace as ironmaster, $45; negro Philip, 2 pair shoes, $90; with Manheim as glasss manufac- negro Jack, pair shoes. $4 5; Adam turer; with Brickerville, Lancaster Shrack, for one bushel wheat, $22; county, as churchman and founder; John More, for two bushels rye, $36; with Schaefferstown, Lebanon coun- Edward Jones, for two bushels ty, as builder of a summer home and wheat and two bushels rye, $94; tower, and with Charming Forge, as May 29, 1780, Robert Coleman, dr., part owner at one time and the scene barr iron, three teams, $60. of his last days and death. He made The above accounts lead one to glass that now brings fabulous observe that there must have been prices by relic hunters and collec- a "high cost of living" after the tors. He gave a church property Revolutionary War, the same as (Manheim Lutheran) "for the rental after the World War. Also, that if of one red rose in June," observed a pair of slave shoes cost $45, it in a rose festival each summer. But hardly paid to keep slaves Flour he failed in business and went to must have been high with wheat at prison because he could not pay his $22 per bushel. debts, died before he was quite 5 4 Among the customers were the years of age, and lies buried in an familiar names of Daniel Womels- unknown grave. He wrote a prayer dorf, Philip Marsteller, a pall- while in prison that is a model for bearer at George Washington's fu- Christian humility, patience, for- neral, who was a resident of Leb- bearance and charity. (Found in anon, and Robert Coleman, the later Pennsylvania German Magazine, Vol. owner of Elizabeth Furnace and the 1, No. 3, page 4.) founder of the celebrated Coleman family of Cornwall and Lebanon. BIOGRAPHIES OF STIEGEL. OLD RECORDS FOUND. Biographies of Stiegel are extinct. We refer the reader for further light "More important and interesting on the ironmasters and old forges to data we cull from a box of old a book by Augusta M. Longacre, en- papers and letters which a friend of titled "Forges and Furnaces in the ours more recently rescued from Province of Pennsylvania" and to the loss or destruction at the forge man- collection of old forge and furnace sion, where boxes and barrels of ledgers and account books kept in old forge documents and corre- a separate book case at the Penn- spondence were exposed to the winds sylvania Historical Society Library, and weather from a general house 1300 Locust street, Philadelphia. cleaning when the property changed We have copied from the Charm- hands. They speak for themselves, ing Forge ledgers, above alluded to, but surely they almost repeople the some of the names of persons with place with its long-past owners and whom it did business in Stiegl's and masters. Ege's day, wT hen it showed that the Here is a parchment deed given forge had a large trade and served by Paul Zantzinger to George Ege an extended patronage in bar iron "for a moiety of a moiety of Charm- and stove plate castings, etc., mak- ing Forge and Lands, etc.," in 1774, ing "Bigg 10 plate, small ditto, bigg which is interesting for the sheep- 6 plate, small ditto, middle ditto, skin on which it is written, the bigg 5 plate, middle ditto, small minute description of the land's lo- ditto," besides "Moravian stoves cation and the careful legal phrase- an open 6 plate, half stove." ology employed, as well as the per- — Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 47 sons named as owners of land bor- LETTERS OF 1779 AND 1780. dering- several tracts upon the large Quite a correspondence was car- thus conveyed. ried on between Mr. Ege and Wil- It appears that Paul Zantzinger liam Gwynn, the ironmaster of Mary was an ironmaster from the "bor- Ann Furnace, which was located in ough of Lancaster," and George Ege eastern Berks, on a branch of the an ironmaster "from York county." Little Lehigh Creek. We have at It also names Adam Helwick, Hans least four letters in hand from this Zimmerman, Ulrich Branner, Adam careful penman of the long ago. Sontag, Peter Geizinger and Jacob They were written in the years 17 79 Miller as owners of bordering tracts, and 1780 and addressed to George and has the signatures of George Ege, of the Charming Forge. Nagel and Edward Burd as wit- First of all, the name "Mary Ann nesses to the document. The deed Furnace" from whence these mis- was acknowledged before John Pat- sives were sent, had an awakening ton, "one of his majesty's justices effect upon the writer. For it was of the peace for Berks county," on upon a woodchest back of a six- Feb. 9, 1774, all of which is signed plate wood stove, with the name dis- in Paul Zantzinger's bold hand and tictly cast upon it in capitals, that sealed with his seal in red dax. It the writer's earliest memories date was recorded "word for word and and the first boyhood games are as- figure for figure in the office for sociated. "Hully-gully" and "Blum- recording of deeds at Reading in sock" were there enacted many a and for the county of Berks in book winter's night, when the good Mary B, vol. 5, page 447, etc.," on March Ann Furnace product roasted our 12, 1774, by James Read, recorder. shins as well as our chestnuts and potatoes. I learned my letters there; BOND AND JUDGMENT. and now, at three-score-and-ten, I come across letters written a cen- Another paper is a bond and judg- tury and a half ago by the master ment from Jonathan Potts to Ed- who cast these old-fashioned family ward Wells, given on July 11, 17 44, friends. and " in the 18th year of the reign The correspondence hinges on of our sovereign lord, George the business matters principally, but second, by the grace of God, king of lots of intelligence conveyed may Great Britain, etc." yet prove valuable matter histori- Other old documents are loose cally, so I will insert a few items: leaves of ledger accounts of various From allusions it is plain the kinds of merchandise bought by Ege Mary Ann Furnace was built in in 1785, mentioning a large variety 1779. May 27, 1779, Mr. Gwynn of articles, including loaf sugar, writes: "I have got the furnace in coffee, Hong Kong tea, spirits, order fit for blowing, and have thread, hose, beaver hats, ivory nothing to hinder our beginning, comb and ribbons for Miss Betty, 44 only waiting to get a little before- pounds iron for stone house, 12 handed with iron ore. I would be whetstones, 2 cast steel razors and very glad if you would come to see strop, etc. us before the end of the month, as Another bond, given by Anthony I have something of great impor- Groeber and Casper Wahl to Charles tance to talk to you about. If you and Alexander Stedman & Co., for possibly can, send us two potters, 162 pounds and 4 shillings, on Nov. as we shall be in much want of 24, 1754, is witnessed by Susanna them. Perhaps Mr. Coleman can Gray (whoever she was; but presum- spare some potters; would be glad ably some Quakeress of Philadel- if you could get old Curttis. N. B. phia, for a note says: "Wahl lives in I expect to blow at the first of next Kensington, near the windmill, upon month." Mr. Ball's place), is interesting be- "Aug. 13, 1779—Per Peter Grum cause of its age, the names of the have sent you a load potware, as- Stedman Bros., the fact of the latter sorted agreeable to your directions, debtor signing his name in German, as you will find by the within bill. while the former makes "his mark." * * Our blast as yet has been Since old letters are always inter- tolerably lucky; I think by the time esting, they are especially so when these reach your hand we will have to or from prominent persons and made nearly 40 tons potware. historical characters. Among the * * * Please to present my com- valuable documents above alluded pliments to Mrs. Ege and Mr. Pat- to concerning the business tran- ton." sactions at Charming Forge, one is especially valuable and interesting ORDER FOR BOMB SHELLS. to the present writer, and will Here is an interesting bit of in- doubtless so prove to the reader. formation and must have been more 48 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community exciting- when George E'ge received Also the following: it from William Gwynn, as those were exciting times for the Colonies. "Lebanon, July 30, 1780. Ege, Addressing Mr. he writes. "To George Ege, Esq., Ironmaster, Mary Ann Furnace, Aug. 31, 17 80. Charming Forge; forwarded by Mr. —I embrace this opportunity of Voyge. writing you per Mr. Voyge and in- form you that I have contracted "Dear Sir—When in Philadelphia with Captain Toy to make 30 tons I received a sum of cash for the balls and 40 tons bomb shells to be purpose of sending to camp the delivered in Baltimore by Oct. 15, wagons I had on hand. Procuring next, the balls at £25, and the shells carters and several articles to equip at £5 per ton, or the current ex- them off, but none to pay old debt, change at the time of payment, half but only for that particular purpose. the money to be paid as soon as the As soon as I came home I examined contract is filled and to wait for the the balance of your certificate, other half one year with interest at which appears to be £4,977-0-0, £6 per hundred. which I laid money by to pay. as I "Would be glad to hear from you thought you might be in want of what sort of contracts the gentle- cash, which you should have re- men have made over the river, how ceived on Friday last had you called, much they have per ton, what sort and having the certificate with you; of payments are made them and by any person you send the certifi- whether they expect to be paid in cate, he shall receive the above sum, hard or Continental money. which I assure you is merely to "We have already half our quan- oblige you, but can't pay any money tity of balls made and sent a few without it. I have an order from loads of them off: Our iron, I be- Robert Coleman for one and a half lieve, will suit very well for shells. tons bar iron. Please let me know We have made a few and as far as when I can send for it, by the per- we have tried, all stand proof. I son you send for the cash. En- believe we shall be able to fulfill our closed you have a bill. I am. sir, contract within the time limit, but your most humble servant. I fear I shall be scarce of money ROBT. PATTON, D. M. I. before I receive any on that account, "I mean of your act on the cer- as the sale of potware is very dull. tificate—not of the iron." "Mr Voyge tells me your are al- most out of assortment of pots; if CREDITORS. it suits you to take a load and load BESET BY the wagon back with bar iron, would Other interesting correspondence be glad if you would let me know between various parties and Mr. by your brother as he returns, or Ege, now in my hand, are from W. the first opportunity, as we are al- Piersol, of Philadelphia, and Messrs. of of iron, I most out assortments I. Wister, I. M. Price and C. I. Wis- remain, sir, with my compliments to ter, also from Philadelphia, very Mrs. Ege, you most humble servant, strongly dunning Mr. Ege for the "WILLIAM GWYNN." prompt payment of overdue notes. "To Mr. George Ege, Likewise one from John G. Hiester, "Charming Forge, cashier of the Farmers' Bank, of "Favour of Mr. Voyge." Reading, urging the same plea for a note due Conrad Stouch. Another MATERIAL FOR REVOLUTION. letter from William Coleman, of As further proof that our Charm- Cornwall, recommending Daniel ing Forge also participated in fur- Ramsey, as a good founder and nishing material aid to the cause of blower of furnace, bringing up fa- Independence, I quote from a letter miliar prominent names of former to Mr. Ege from Matthias Slough, days, in the years when George Ege of Lancaster, under date of Feb. 2 5, made the Charming Forge, "near 1779, as follows: "Enclosed you have Womelsdorf," a conspicuous business an order from Col. Swope, directing center, even nation-wide, when the you to deliver the three tons bar nation was born in the throes of iron yet due him from you to Mr. revolution. Zantzinger and myself, which you But we have left the most inter- will please to do as expeditiously as esting document for the last. It is possible. * * * I am sorry I could an indenture by which George Ege not get rye on more reasonable bought George Greenleaf, a mulatto terms to supply you with, but in- boy, as a slave. The indenture in stead of it being lower it is rising the first place witnessed that James every day. My express is not yet Greenleaf, of Philadelphia, on June returned from Maryland, so that I 22. 1797, bought this mulatto boy. can say nothing about the pigs, etc." then six years of age, of Samuel Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 49 Bettle, of Philadelphia, and board Greenleaf to George Ege for the him as an apprentice, to be in due consideration of the sum of $25 for time taught the business of a waiter, the residue of the term of servitude clothed and kept, educated and of the said George Greenleaf. Wit- taught to read and write the English nessed "the free will and consent language and arithmetic as far as of the said servant boy being first the "rule of three," till he was 2 8 expressed" before Abraham Shoe- years of age, and at that time said maker, one of the aldermen of James Greenleaf would provide Philadelphia. George with two suits of clothes, one Thus have negro slaves and Hes- of which was to be new. Signed sian prisoners and an illustrious ar- and sealed before Hilory Baker, ray of owners and ironmasters and a mayor of the city of Philadelphia, wide clientele of patrons, and the and witnessed by John Stam, Sam- army of the Revolution, together uel Bettle and Duncan Ingraham. with all the old ironmasters of this state been personally connected in SDAVE BOY ASSIGNED. some way with the long and check- ered history of Charming Forge. James Greenleaf, however, as- signed to Elizabeth Lawrence this MANSION STIDD STANDS. indenture, who in turn gave it (and of course the slave boy, George The mansion and large stables, the Greenleaf) to Ann Penn Allen, who dam and race course still abide. The later became the wife of said James forge itself is gone with its once Greenleaf, who by deed of settle- stirring life and glowing fires. Only men, executed previous to this mar- the local artist, the late Dr. Sallade, raige of Greenleaf, reserved to her- had preserved the likeness of it in a self the right of disposing of her very creditable facsimile reproduc- property without James Greenleaf's tion in oil on a painted canvas. The control, had now deceased, when in hammers are. silent, but the waters February, 18 02, Commodore John still thunder and roar in their over- Barry, of Philadelphia, bought said flow and then babble and murmur slave boy from William Tilghman, on down their meandering course to Esq., of Philadelphia (one of Mrs. the sea. The old laborers' cottages Ann Penn Allen Gleenleaf's trus- have been remodeled into the nature tees), for the consideration of $8 0. lovers' bungalows and the place is All of which is witnesser before assuming- the aspect, on a small Matthias Lawler, mayor. scale, of a resort or recreation camp But once more did this indenture in summer, awaiting yet the poet and the mulatto slave boy change and the painstaking historian to hands. The executors of Commo- give it a new and abiding fame. Al- dore John Barry, viz., Sarah Barry, ready the romancer has tried her John Leamy and Patrick Hayes, on hand.* Dec. 20, 1804, again sold said George *Reading Eagle, June 5. 1910. 50 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community c = «8 ft PQ C Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 51 Chapter VIII. BETHANY ORPHANS' HOME Womelsdorf has another institu- is altogether too important a fact tion besides the industrial one just and exerts too benign and wide an described, which has helped to put influence and is too big a product this town "upon the map." It is of the church and has expanded too altogether different, however, from greatly from its small beginnings, Charming- Forge, in that it is not and has published the town of Wom- secular, but churchly, not forging elsdorf too extensively to be omit- the various forms and molds ted from these "annals." of iron, but molding and It came into existence during the forging human character, by period of the Civil War. Rev. taking orphaned childhood in Emanuel Boehringer, a German its molding years and shaping it home missionary of the Reformed to be stronger and more useful than Church, was then laboring in the all the varied forms of iron, by a cities of Norfolk and Richmond, process of Christian training and Va., when the hostility of the South nurture in the blessed fires of true to all northern sentiment and sym- Christian charity and mercy. We re- pathy made even northern mission- fer to the Bethany Orphans' Home, aries personae non gratae. Hence, located here, the orphanage of the obliged to leave his work in the Reformed Church of the United South, Rev. Boehringer came to States. And fortunate the day for Philadelphia and began to issue and Womelsdorf when it located here! circulate a Sunday school paper, There is no other occasion in all which he named Lammerhirte, in the year, whether industrial, polit- which he advocated the founding of ical, educational or athletic, that an orphanage of the church, now annually attracts so many people to more needed than ever, that the war this community as the anniversaries was increasing the number of church of this blessed home of mercy and orphans, which needed the church christian training. It is a common shepherding. occurence for years that on the It happened that in March, 1863, last Thursday of August an influx he, together with Rev. John Ganten- of from 10,000 to 15,000 people bein, of Baltimore, who had heartily come to visit the home and attend seconded Rev. Boehringer's agita- the elaborate program which the tions, paid a visit to Rev. William home and board of managers have A. Helffrich, of Fogelsville, Lehigh set for that day. It is a great cele- county. The matter of founding a bration for the entire eastern seg- church orphanage was heartily dis- ment of the Reformed Church. It cussed and both Revs. Helffrich and means a great deal to handle and Gantenbein pledged each the sum feed such an immense crowd and of $100 for the purpose of making from a score to a hundred ladies' a small beginning. Agitations and aid societies of nearby churches as- publicity of the enterprise followed. sist the home population in taking In August of that year the Lammer- care of the multitudes. Since the hirte, with its 9,000 circulation, universal use of the automobile made a strong plea for the establish- Womelsdorf has to put expert traf- ment of such a home. An elaborate fic managers at its street crossings plan was submitted, even a name to take care of the traffic and the suggested—The Orphans Home of crowds, while the Reading Railway the Shepherd of the Lambs (Lam- Co. finds the handling of its many merhirte). A synodic board excursion was trains not a little prob- created. The home was presently lem. Usually the well-trained chil- founded and put into operation on dren, together with a few select a small scale, but upon the princi- speakers, do the entertaining. ples suggested in the appeal. A com- HOW IT HAPPENED. mittee to take charge was ap- pointed, consisting of Revs. John S. But how came this institution Kessler, of Allentown; John Ganten- into being? And how came it to bein, now of Kreidersville; John be located at Womelsdorf? This is Knelling, of Baltimore, and Eman- the story I am about to tell, for it uel Boehringer. 52 Annals of Womehdorf and Community a 6 u £ a S3 s Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 53 SEED TAKES ROOT. cessor. He labored diligently as su- perintendent of the home for a The seed had taken root. Faith year and nine months, during which had planted it and Christian love period stanch friends rose to the was watering it. With only $21.50 home's support; among whom may in the treasury, Boehringer on Rev. be especially named William D. Sept. 21, took Caroline Engel, 1863, Gross, of Philadelphia, who for orphan girl of six years, as the an many years since acted as the first into Reformed Church protege treasurer of the institution; Rev. his private home, 7 02 Morris own Dr. B. Bausman, of Reading, long street, Philadelphia, under his ten- the president of the latter's board of der official care as shepherd. In managers, and Nicholas Wetzel, of October the synod, then in session, Philadelphia, also long serving on "commended" the enterprise to the the board. The institution was char- prayers and contributions of the tered. Large forward steps were people by a-special resolution. Pas- made. Seventy children were al- tor Boehringer pressed forward ready admitted in 186 5. with confidence in God and man. On Aug. 30, 1866, Rev. D. Y. Early in 1864 there were already Heisler, pastor at Bethlehem, suc- 12 children in this "Shepherd ceeded Rev. Gantenbein as super- Home." To his care of providing intendent. The number of orphans for the children the needed food and admitted was still increasing, so that clothing and the daily teaching was by January, 1867, there were 95, all added the responsibility of securing of whom, together with three teach- the funds. Teaching the Bible and ers, had to be supported. Often the the Heidelberg catechism, together home was in straitened circum- with family worship, were daily oc- stances, but in due time help and curences. By prayer to God and so- relief came. Believing prayer and licitation of funds from his fellow earnest effort went hand in hand. churchmen, a steady though meagre Quarters were again found too stream of financial revenue soon be- small, with no room to spread out gan flowing into the institution. at Bridesburg. A new location had Both church and soldiers' orphans to be secured. When this became were alike admitted. known numerous offers were made But the pastor's home was soon of lands and homes for the proposed overcrowded, and already in the site. Judge Krause, of near Norris- summer of 1864, steps were taken town, offered his home and farm for to secure a suitable home for an sale. A farm near Allentown, institution on a larger scale. another near Lyons, two near Sink- Accordingly, a property was bought ing Spring and a 2 0-acre tract near at Bridesburg, a suburb of Phila- Moselem, Berks county, by Nicholas delphia, into which the orphan Hunter. family soon moved. A successful canvass was made for funds and in BUY WOMELSDORF TRACT. a short time the debt was paid. Improvements and enlargements of Finally the Manderbach Springs this home followed. The orphans summer resort at the base of the family increased. On the first an- South Mountain, near Womelsdorf, also for sale. care- niversary of the home, that fall, was offered After Mrs. Boehringer died, and by a ful investigation of the different sites offered, strange providence, in a little over the board, on June a month afterward, the husband, 27, 1867, purchased the Manderbach the self-sacrificing Lammer Hirt, Springs property for $37,000. At the followed her to the tomb. They same meeting seven of the board were buried side by side in the members subscribed $1,000 apiece, and others smaller cemetery of Emmanuel's Reformed amounts, which Church, Bridesburg. liberality won the heart and support of the Church. The property then consisted of a A SEVERE BLOW. three-story brick building, 120 feet This double death of the heads of long and 2 8 feet wide, with con- this new child of the church was a venient outbuildings and over 26 severe blow. They, who had cared acres of land. It was noted far and for the church orphans, now left wide for a select class of patrons, six orphans themselves to be cared who had resorted hither each year for. These were gladly taken into from Philadelphia and other cities the nurture of the home the par- during the hot summer months, on ents had created and founded for account of its fine spring waters, its the church, until they were able to superb scenery and its cool, refresh- care for themselves. ing climate. The mountain back of Rev. John Gantenbein was it was one vast park for these rec- elected as Rev. Boehringer's suc- reationists and paths threaded 54 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 55 through the hills in every direction, while Revs. A. S. Leinbach and B. S. one a favorite climb to Eagle's Peak Schneck spoke in German, and Drs. itself, being the highest elevation in Nevin and C. Z. Weiser in English. Berks county, on whose summit a The latter's address was unique in tower was erected, which afforded that it traced the new home prop- an unexcelled landscape view of the erty from the hands of the Creator broad well-tilled, beautiful Lebanon and first possessor to that of che and East Penn valleys. Without Indians, when later a new epoch doubt, the board of managers had opened and it became the posses- made the choicest selection for the sion of William Penn (Brother new site of their growing orphanage. Onas), who secured it in 1682, from whom it passed in 1729 to Conrad MOVE INTO NEW QUARTERS. Weiser. Later it got into the hands of Henry M. Manderbach, and from On Oct. 1, 1867, the orphan family him to the Reformed Church Or- moved into their new quarters. It phans' Home, and so reverts again was a memorable day. The home to God, the original owner. consisted of 110 persons. Two pas- The care of the home, its removal senger cars, four or five freight cars, from Bridesburg to Womelsdorf, and gratuitously furnished the home by the consequent labors to make the the Reading Railway Co., carried the new home what it should be, so entire family and household goods preyed upon Supt. Heisler's health from Bridesburg to their new home. that he felt constrained to resign his A large gatherng of board members position in October, 1868. The board and visitors from the nearby regretfully accepted his resignation, churches and towns had gathered and at the same meeting elected at the local railroad station to wel- Rev. D. B. Albright, of Orwigsburg, come their arrival and then, form- as his successor. The latter took ing a procession, led by the Womels- charge on Nov. 12, 1868, when about dorf Band and the board members, 100 friends were present to welcome conducted them to their new quar- him and his wife. At a religious ters. service held that afternoon, ad- The orphans sang a hymn, entitled dresses were made by Rev. Heisler, "Our Dear Mountain Home," which C. H. Leinbach, J. S. Johnston, song, in a new generation of inmates, Thomas C. Leinbach and L. D. Led- has not become absolutely thread- erman. Rev. Albright was officially bare yet. Brief addresses followed installed on Dec. 26, 1868. this song. A repast was enjoyed, and, before nightfall all the visitors left SUPERINTENDENT 17 YEARS. for home, the beds and furniture He watched over the home for 17 having been set in order. That first years and 5 months. night the orphan family slept well His term of service was characterized and since then 5 5 years of 365 nights by the or- ganization of a each, plus one for each leap year, congregation in the home; the liquidation of the home's has this ever increasing and ever indebtedness changing family of God's special in 1871; the purchase of the Manderbach children and their Christian shep- farm of over 60 acres adjoining the herds shepherdesses slept safely home, with and house, barn and sweetly under the three-fold and old mill upon it, all for $10,600; the shelter of God's paternal care and farm house repaired and fitted keeping, the mountain's strong and into the superintendent's home; the sheltering breast and the payment of all this latter church's debt by merciful and tender shepherd pro- 1881; the clearing aad vast improvement of the land; tection. The spirit of the inspired farm the total destruction of the edifice founder and first "Lammer Hirt" main of the home, by fire, on the night of hovers over the home still. Nov. 11, 1881, and the passing out into life's callings—ministers, law- FORMAL DEDICATION. yers, merchants, mechanics, teach- The formal dedication of the new ers, etc., of about 300 orphans. home took place on Sunday, Oct. Quick action on the part of the 29, of this same year, when appro- board, seconded by the church, at priate religious services were held. large, soon again after the ill-fated A chapel was extemporized out of night of the fire, made the inmate? several rooms, which was filled with of the home comfortable by provid- people from near and far. An elab- ing temporary quarters and pushing orate program had been arranged. the efforts to rebuild. An appeal Rev. George Wolf, D. D., of Myers- was sent out to the churches for town, led in the opening prayer. funds and very prompt and liberal The orphans sang and Rev. John was the response. Messrs. Gassert W. Nevin, D. D., of Lancaster, per- and Cilley, of Lebanon, got the con- formed the dedicatory services, tract for the erection of the new 56 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community building for their stipulated bid of mate personal friends. Hence the $20,366.99. The furnishings cost former pressed the matter of invit- over $6,000 more. ing Mr. Wanamaker as the principal Dr. Bausman laid the corner stone speaker at this forthcoming anniver- of the new building in the spring of sary. His urgency and persistency 1882, and Dr. E. E. Higbee made the won the postmaster general's con- principal address. At its dedication sent. The day of the anniversary on Dec. 14, 1882, Rev. Dr. T. C. Por- dawned. Immense excursion trains ter, of Easton, delivered the address were steaming their way to this mid- and in a week thereafter the home summer Mecca of the Reformed family was again removed into it, Church. The countryside for many ready to spend Christmas in their miles out had all its roads centering new quarters. in Womelsdorf send clouds of dust into the air all forenoon, with all NEW SUPERINTENDENT CHOSEN sorts of vehicles rolling on to the Bethany Home. The noon hour had On Jan. Albright 14, 1886, Rev. passed and the afternoon's program resigned as superintendent, effective of services and exercises had come, on April 1, 1886. M. Rev. Thomas with more than 10,000 spectators on Yundt and wife r ere chosen as w their semicircular woodland audi- successors, as superintendent and torium, or amphitheatre, extem- matron, respectively. They had been porized seats, but no Wanamaker doing home mission work in Kansas had yet arrived, at least not the City for about a year when the call prince of America's merchants by came, but saw in it the hand of God that name. and so accepted and entered upon their work on March 25, 1886. They continued their faithful and efficient ARRIVE IN A SPECIAL. services to the home for a period of The other members of the board 18 years, during which time the in- were dubious as to his comning; nor stitution greatly expanded. These so Mr. LawT fer. The last train from years of their administration are Harrisburg had passed and still the characterized by the organization of postmaster general had not arrived. an advisory committee of women vis- All hope was now given up except itors to the home, with quarterly that in Mr. Lawfer's mind and heart with su- meetings for conference the there was still one little flickering perintendent and matron as to the ray of hope's light. Mr. Wanamaker needs and conditions; the securing had promised to be present and he plot the of a desirable burial on knew him to be a man of his word. Womelsdorf Union cemetery (the Presently a lone locomotive came gift a of Samuel Gable), where num- flying and whistling down the val- ber of orphan children, dying in the ley's twin steel rails. It slackened home since, have been interred, and its speed as it approached the sta- a fine dark granite monument (the tion and then came to a stop. Eisen- A gift of Mr. and Mrs. P. P. distinguished looking gentleman brown, of Reading), has been stepped off who was immediately erected, and a number of additional picked up and driven post-haste to buildings for larger accommodations the home grounds. The expectant and better equipment. crowds cheered as he stepped to the platform just before his turn to $18,000 DORMITORY. speak on the program came. A train Thus in 1887, a laundry was wreck between Washington and erected at a cost of $1,300, and a new Harrisburg had delayed the arrival building for larger capacity work, of Mr. Wanamaker's train at Har- made possible by a liberal gift of risburg beyond the time of the last Charles Santee and therefore named train's departure down the Lebanon "Santee Hall." Its total cost was Valley, so Mr. Wanamaker hired an $18,000, and is now used as a girls' engineer and locomotive of the dormitory. Additional acres of wood- Reading Railway Co., at Harrisburg land in proximity to the home were at a cost of $65, to take him post- bought and paid for. haste to Womelsdorf in time to fill An interesting incident during his appointment. His versatility and Rev. Yundt's administration was the mastery of difficult situations had presence of John Wanamaker, then won out and his promise was re- postmaster general of the United deemed and his good name of honor, States, at the 29th anniversary, in for which Mr. Lawfer had con- 1892. It came about that William tended, received no shock. Lawfer, a prominent merchant of President Bausman gave the dis- Allentown, and an active member tinguished new arrival a fitting in- of the Orphans' Home board, and troduction to which Mr. Wanamaker Mr. Wanamaker were good and inti- made reply in part as follows: "I Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 57 58 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community have always wanted the opportu- ^ince their inauguration as heads nity to come to Womelsdorf and see oi the institution many more im- the children in the mountain, and provements and expansions to the when the persistent Lawfer asked home have come. We mention the me to come, I could not refuse. It most salient. These are covered is a great thing to build a steam- walks or bridges between the main buildings, ship: it is a wonderful thing to build a heating system for Santee a railroad, but it is a greater thing Hall, bathing facilities for the to touch the life of a child, in whose boys and girls, the purchase in hands are, perhaps the power of 1906 of the Bricker property, con- sisting great things. I belong to the Pres- of a two-story brick dwelling byterian Church, but we have no house and almost two acres of land, at a homes like the one you have here. cost of $1,285; the improvement The German Reformed Church that of the farm house and other minor my mother loved so dearly has been advances. And so have fine new permitted to advance a step further buildings been erected. and do a great work. The greatest In 1906 the fine colonial Lein- bach cottage, thing for the world is to educate the for the exclusive use of girls of a little children to do better things certain age, was erected. It than their fathers." was occupied in the spring of 1907. The largest gift towards its BOYS' SHOP ERECTED. erection came from George Lein- bach and family, of Reading. While The second building erected dur- the exterior expansion was going on ing Rev. Yundt's administration wa? and keeping pace with the best years the boys' shop, equipped for an in- of its history, there stole in also dustrial training school and work- among the ranks of its most devoted shop. promoters that silent visitor, death, The third building came in 1896, and bore away some of its stanch- the gift of Mrs. H. M. Housekeeper, est supporters and workers. First of Philadelphia, as a memorial to came Rev. Dr. B. Bausman, for many her parents, and called the Frick years the untiring, wide-awake and cottage, devoted exclusively to the devoted president of the board. He housing and care of little children died in May, 1909, in his 86th year. of tenderest years, at a cost of What more natural than that a suit- $6,000, which Rev. Dr. Bausman abel memorial be erected for him? dedicated with a beautiful address It came and took the form of a at the 33d anniversary of the home, beautiful stone chapel at the edge on Aug. 27, 1896. of the woods, between the home and During 1897 the new water works the station. It is most beautiful and and reservoir were built at a cost altogether a most appropriate memo- of $1,400. rial, where religious services are A retaining wall, 650 feet long and regularly conduced by the orphan about 7 feet high, was built back family and congregation. of the home buildings on the moun- tainside, greatly adding to the DEATH OF REV. YUNDT. beauty, security and room of the home grounds. The next to end his labors was the The spring walls and pavilions former superintendent, Rev. Yundt, followed next. A tvo-story school his death occuring in 1910, and a building came in" 1901. It has four massive stone gateway to the large rooms and two smaller ones, grounds, with fitting entablature and which may be used as library and shrubbery ornamentation, came as an museum. It cost nearly $10,000. appropriate memorial. In April, 1904, Rev. Yundt and In 1911 Mrs. W. F. More, the su- wife resigned their respective posi- perintendent's wife, had erected a tions as superintendent and matron. beautiful home near the Bausman While their insistence caused the Chapel as the future superintendent's board to accept these resignations, home and family residence, and pre- they were both retained as mem- sented it to the home as a me- bers of the boards having the man- morial to her parents, George and agement in charge. Esther Applegate, and hence named Applegate Lodge. It is a handsome REV. MORE BECOMES HEAD. home, well set and provided with every modern convenience, and cost After casting about for a successor about $5,000. When she died, a few the board of managers elected Rev. years ago, she was laid to rest in a Wilson P. More and wife to fill the beautiful nature-adorned burial plot vacancies and they were duly in- between the lodge and the chapel, stalled with appropriate services as where not only the bereft, but toiling successors to the offices of superin- companion of life may come for tendent and matron on July 14, 1904. memory, solace and inspiration, but Annals of Womel&dorf and Community 59 also the orphan family to lament and and spiritually, have fallen into the remember the one who had been for nurturing, conscientious care of these many years known as "the orphans' shepherds and shepherdesses, to as superintendent, matron, mother.'' The fine Dietrich cottage whom teachers and caretakers this great was also erected during this period. The Bethany hospital, with mod- work has been committed by the ern equipment, was built during church. It can easily be seen that 1911 and 1912, at a cost of $9,000. it takes wisdom, alertness, consecra- The furnishings were extra, the gifts tion, loving devotion and tireless of individuals and congregations. A labors to secure all that is de- sewage disposal plant followed close manded—to feed, clothe, house, on the heels of the hospital, and oversee, teach, train, direct hand now this year of grace, 1922, is going and head and heart of so large and up the handsome stone Catharine varied a household. Moyer cottage, the gift of her son, It is a real task that fills the Walter Moyer, of Reading, as a hands of those in charge. Little costly and appropriate memorial. Its thought and consideration are often use is to be for girls of a certain age. given to this matter by the church at large. Only the recording angel of 60 YEARS OF SERVICE. heaven has a complete record of the labors of love, the anxious thought We have traced the birth, growth, and care and the many Drayers to changes, removals, expansions and God, that are here offered in quiet outward development of the Bethany by those entrusted with this great Orphans' Home, at Womelsdorf, dur- work. Only the consciousness that ing its now nearly 6 years of his- good is done in the Master's name, tory, but who can record the busy that over 1,200 children have been daily inner life of this large family, sent out from this home to bless the or delineate in detail colors the rou- world in the various callings and tine workings of this institution as professions of life can be a secret, it goes on from day to day? Here inner reward for the laborers. go on daily the care, provision, Bethany Orphanage has always nurture and personal training of now proven itself a source of wide- more than 200 young, helpless, or spread blessing—a fountain like its else rapidly developing and matur- own noted spring, sending forth ing orphan children. The tender streams of hallowed influence to the hands of parents have been removed church and the world, for which lo- from them, and their guidance and cation Womelsdorf is gratefully con- training, bodily, mentally, morally scious. 60 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community The Weiser Monument Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 61 Chapter IX. PATRIOTIC WOMELSDORF A community may be judged by a not blush, as its tests of valor and number of standards. One may use patriotic fire have not found it want- any of the following measuring rods ing. It has answered nobly every to take a town's measure and see if call to arms that the government has it is found wanting, viz.: Education, made, colonial or national. morality, religion, industry, archi- The first war to be precipitated tecture, business, intelligence, socia- upon the early settlers of the Tulpe- bility, local civic pride and national hocken region was one in which their patriotism. "We want in this chapter very firesides were again invaded, to hold the yard-stick of patriotism known generally as the French and alongside this westernmost borough Indian War. By crossing the At- of Berks and see how this community lantic and settling permanently stands beside the test of its devotion within the territory of the English to its country and especially its par- Colonies they came under the Eng- ticipation in all pur national wars. lish dominion and flag. And, of If our German forebears, who had course, they accepted the situation, fled from the Palatinate to escape took the oath of allegiance to a the fire-brand and sword, imagined sovereign who had protected and be- they had settled in a Canaan of friended them and even proclaimed peace and thus forever escaped war this loyalty to the British crown in they must soon have been disillu- their documents and legendary in- sioned by awakening out of their scriptions upon the sacred walls of Utopian dream, for the first genera- at least one house of worship in tion of settlers had not passed away these parts still standing. This is before a long and cruel conflict De- Hain's Church, Wernersville. tween two Old World nations invaded the American colonies and was THE RIVAL CLAIMS. fought out to a finish on the virgin soil of this newly-settled continent. Now when the belligerent con- It would seem that the nations were troversy between England and yet far from the prospective time France was also carried into the when they shall "learn war no more." colonies of America, and the new contention of rights to the territory DOWN THROUGH HISTORY. of what is now the United States was to be fought out here, these And war being looked upon as a frontier settlers on the southern necessary arbitrament between na- slopes and valleys of the Blue Ridge tions that cannot peacefully get came in for their share of depreda- along without, it is regarded a virtue tion and terror. The French had in any nation's citizens to devote colonies in Canada and Louisiana, themselves to what are deemed a on the gulf, and claimed the country country's rights to the degree of lying between, having established volunteering one's services in battle, fortifications along their avenues of even at the risk of life. This patriotic trade through the Mississippi River fire and devotion and sacrifice of life and its tributaries, while the English for one's country has been lauded had planted colonies along the At- by orator, immortalized by sculptor lantic seaboard, but were bringing and sung in hymns of praise ever their settlements gradually westward since Moses and the children of and claimed the territory westward Israel on the shores of the Red Sea indefinitely or to the western ocean. sang their song of triumph to Je- These two claims, of course, came in hovah for "throwing Pharaoh's char- conflict and brought on a fierce and iots and- his hosts, horse and rider, bloody war. This was accelerated into the sea," or ever since Horace, by a grant of 600,000 acres of land the poet, sang the praises of the in this disputed territory by the Roman warriors, who found it English to certain persons who as- "sweet and glorious to die for one's sociated under the title of the "Ohio country." Company," which soon brought on Measured, then, by this standard, hostilities in the seat of these new Womelsdorf and community need settlements about Fort Pitt, which 62 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community culminated in the battle near the in arousing the provincial govern- junction of the two streams forming ment to action in personally organiz- the Ohio River, resulting- in the de- ing their community for defense. A feat of the British, under Gen. Brad- number of divisional troops were dock, in 1755. organized within the county of The Indians of the northwest were Berks, of which Lieut.-Col. Conrad by misrepresentation united with the Weiser and his son Philip, as lieu- French cause and persuaded to at- tenant, organized an extemporized tack the open frontier of the English battalion or regiment in the neigh- through the Pennsylvania valleys, borhood of the Tulpehocken, of hoping to repossess the territory farmer folk, to march against the which was formerly theirs, and out foe with their flint-lock muskets and of which they had been made to be- even pitch forks and axes as lieve themselves swindled. And then weapons. By the time they reached came the storm of savage depreda- Benjamin Spycker's residence, near tion and cruelty which broke upon the present Stouchsburg, the all the line of frontier settlements numoer had increased to about in Pennsylvania, . and thus also 300. Here Rev. Kurtz, then reached the Tulpehocken region and pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, hinterland to the base of the Blue and living a mile away, was Mountains. Great loss of life and sent for and "came and property resulted. Scores of fami- gave an exhortation to the men and lies, between the Tulpehocken and made a prayer suitable to the time." the mountain, were massacred. Then 50 men were sent to Tolheo Nearly all the old cemeteries of these (the "Hole"—Hollow, back of the settlements have victims of these present Millersburg), in order to savage butcheries buried in them. possess themselves of the gaps or The alarm was sounded; strong- narrows of the Swatara. pleadings for protection went out We quote further from Conrad to the colonial government, at Phil- Weiser's letter to Gov. Morris about adelphia (See Rupp's "History or this expedition, dated Oct. 27, 1755: Berks and Lebanon Counties," pages "We marched about 10 miles that 33-79), and a string of forts, on the evening. My company had now in- southern slope of the Blue Moun- creased to upwards of 300 men, tains, were erected for protection, mostly well armed, though about 20 from the Delaware to the Susque- men had nothing but axes and pitch- hanna rivers. These were garrisoned forks. All unanimously agreed to with 25 companies, comprising about die together and engage the enemy 1,400 men. But notwithstanding, wherever they should meet them; these frequent incursions of the wily never to enquire the number, but Indians occurred within these set- fight them and so obstruct their way tlements during 1755, 1756 and 1757, of marching further into the in- spreading arson and murder and habited parts, till others of our universal consternation in these sec- brethren come up and do the same, tions. and so save the lives of our wives BUSY YEARS FOR WEISER. and children." These were busy years for Conrad TRUE PATRIOTISM. Weiser and his community. When Here is patriotism, pure and true, not attending conferences and mak- and equal to that of the "embattled ing treaties with the eastern con- farmers" of Lexington of a later federation of Indian tribes, the Five date. And this company included, Nations (later the Six Nations) and doubtless, most if not all of the holding them in sympathy with the able-bodied men of the community English, Weiser and most of his about Womelsdorf. It looks like sons were kept busy day and night 100 per cent loyalty to their homes Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 63 and firesides and their government. everywhere in sympathy with Bos- They did strike for their altars and ton and in opposition to Parliament. their fires, if not for the graves of The news reached Berks county. their sires, God and their native An indignation meeting was held at land. Reading July 2, 1774, where strong resolutions adopted. Another mark of the patriotism were Though still professing loyalty to the British of this community is the fact thar sovereign, the meeting opposed the Gov. William Denny in June, 175 9, powers and acts of Parliament and while the war was still in progress, enacted to take immediate local steps through Conrad Weiser as commis- for the relief of Boston sufferers sary, commanded this community to and to send deputies to the Provin- supply an immediate want of a num- cial Congress. A committee was ap- ber of wagons and horses for the pointed to immediately raise provi- transportation of provisions and sions for the sufferers at Boston, other necessaries for the army under among whom was Daniel Broadhead, the command cf Brig. Gen. Stanwix, a miller, of Heidelberg. From this which was favorably responded to (see Rupp, page 218). This war had certainly encroached closely upon this community, for it is certain that about 150 inhabitants of Bethel and Tulpehocken townships, Berks county, were murdered during the eight years of this conflict, and 30 persons captured. It is claimed one of Weiser's sons died from wounds received in war, which we presume must have been Philip, who was a soldier in this war, and his death is given as 1761. THEN THE REVOLUTION. The Revolutionary War of the united colonies against the mother The Father of His Country country of England followed rapidly beginning to the close of the Revolu- upon the heels of the French and tion, the county and the Tulpehocken Indian War. little A more than a community about Womelsdorf ac- decade after the termination of the tively participated in the struggle of former conflict, the harsher methods, the provinces. stamp acts, duties imposed on tea, COMPANIES RECRUITED. glass, paper, printers' colors, etc., without granting representation of After the needs of the battle of the colonies in Parliament, had Lexington reached these parts, a aroused the colonists to the injustice company of men was raised at once and tyranny of these acts by means and sent out to the scene of conflict. of public meetings, which led to the "They wore crepe for a cockade as a discouragement of the importation token of sorrow for their brethren." of British goods. A strained rela- Each township in the county re- tion followed between Parliament solved to raise and discipline a com- and the colonies. The "Boston Port pany of soldiers. Of the company Bill" was passed by Parliament. It raised in this Tulpehocken, or Wom- led the colonies to unite in their op- elsdorf community, it is not quite position to acts of Parliament and certain at this date which it was, for to issue a call for a Provincial Con- there were a number of companies gress. Public meetings were held recruited from these parts during the 64 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community progress of the war. The rising' tide volume such names and companies of the Revolution flowed quickly, as participated, we have for the and in every forward step toward in- Tulpehocken community such men dependence this community was rep- as Peter Weiser, appointed Jan. 5, resented. In the Provincial Confer- 1776, as third lieutenant in Capt. ence, which met in Carpenters' Hall, George Nagle's company, reporting Philadelphia, from June 18 to 2 5, at Cambridge in June or early July, 1776, of the 10 deputies from the 1775, and John Weiser, as private. county of Berks, at least two were Joseph Hiester, a young man of but from this section, Benjamin Spyker 2 3 years, and chosen as one of the and Col. Valentine Eckert, who lived deputies to the Provincial Confer- on a farm just east of Womelsdorf. ence in Philadelphia, in 1776, years When the militia of the county later governor of the state, came were organized, the officers of com- back to Reading and fired the com- panies in this section were as fol- munity with patriotism, and in a lows: Heidelberg furnished the Sixth spectacular manner organized a com- Company in the Fourth Battalion, pany and led them to the aid of with Conrad Eckert (a brother of Washington at Long Island. Then Valentine), as captain; Adam Hain, also Benjamin Weiser, the youngest first lieutenant; Peter Young, second son of Conrad Weiser, the interpre- lieutenant; Matthias Wenrich, en- ter, then a merchant at Womelsdorf, sign; Peter Kuhl and Simpson Hain, commanded a company of the four as court-martial men. In the Sixth German companies in the German Battalion, Henry Spyker, of Tulpe- regiment of the Continental line. He hocken, was colonel; George Miller, appointed Jacob Bower, first lieuten- lieutenant colonel; Michael Purrer, ant; George Schaeffer, second lieu- major; Frederick Ernst, adjutant; tenant, and Jacob Cramer, ensign, George Lechner, quartermaster, and all from this vicinity. They saw Philip Finkel, sergeant. Among the service at Trenton Dec. 26, 1776, and various company men of this bat- at Princeton Jan. 3, 1777. In May it talion we name the following men as was in Sullivan's Division, which from this Heidelberg section, viz.: conducted a campaign against the Captains, John Lesher, Conrad Weis- Indians. In spring of 1780 it was er, Philip Filbert; first lieutenants. stationed on frontiers of North- Isaac Dupuy, Daniel Womelsdorf and umberland county and discharged in Philip Mayer; second lieutenants, the fall. John Anspach, Henry Walter and Francis Artillia; ensigns, Valentine COL. PATTON'S COMPANY. Reed, George Gensemer and Leonard Col. John Patton, a prominent iron Zerbe; court-martial men, Martin master of Heidelberg township, at Stupp, Jacob Weiser, Jacob Seltzer, the Berkshire Furnace, collected George Brown, Henry Knopp and another company together at Wom- Samuel Boyer. elsdorf, of which the following per- sons were officers: First major, BERKS COMPANIES. Joseph Thornburgh; second major, We owe it to the painstaking his- Christian Lower; staff adjutant, torian, Morton L. Montgomery, that Henry Spyker; quartermaster, George a tolerably complete roster of the Lechner, and paymaster, Casper companies and battalions or Berks Reed—all men from this Tulpehock- county, which participated in active en region. Likewise did Capt. John service in the Continental Army dur- Lesher organize a company out of ing the Revolution, has been con- men from Bethel and Tulpehocken structed. This is found in his townships, among whom are many volume, "Berks County in the Revo- familiar names from among the early lution," from which we have most of settlers of this section. Two more our information. Culling from this companies sprang into life in this Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 65 western end of the county, one com- John Spat, Philip Werner, John Man- manded by Capt. George Miller, the beck, Henry Fitler, Michael Miller, other by Capt. Michael Furrer; ana Michael Sheffer, Sebastian Litch, all were in Capt. John Patton's bat- Peter Klinger, John Weiss, Jacob talion. They contain more of the Snyder, Jacob Kintzer, Peter Diffen- sur-names of early settlers in this back, John Lamm, Joseph Geissler, region. Jacob William, John Shuckert, The following roster is also pre- Jacob Kercher, Matthias Smith, served, viz.: Second Battalion of Lorentz Benitch and Peter Haas. Berks County—Lieut. Jacob Rehrer, The names indicate they were Sergt. George Gardner and Corporal residents of this region of the Tulpe- Christian Snyder. hocken. This company is reported Privates—Philip Meisse, Simon as on duty guarding convention Rigle, Michael Reed, Michael Mower, prisoners at Reading. 66 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 67 Chapter X. PATRIOTIC WOMELSDORF Continuing the story of Womels- ments, pay and perquisites of the dorf s patriotism during the Revolu- said office to cease on the first day of tionary struggle from the last chap- January, or when the same shall be ter, it may be interesting to know so revoked; that the said commission that while Col. John Patton's bat- bear date the twenty-first instant." talion was collected together at It is to be regretted that the roster of this company has not been found. Womelsdorf it was supplied with But doubtless many of the names of 1,068 rations, and that a record of the scores from these parts who its from here to Perth Amboy march served have not been tabulated, so as the time in the was published at to survive the years that have Journal. It Berks and Schuylkill passed. We know that Daniel Graeff was as follows: lies buried in our cemetery, whose from Aug. 1 to "At Womelsdorf, grave is marked and as that of a Revolu- 9, 1776, getting cloth for tents tionary soldier, and that he belonged at making tents. Aug. 11, marched to some Womelsdorf company. Womelsdorf to Sinking 12 m. from Philip Moyer* served in Major Aug. 12, to Spring, nine miles. Buchard's Company in the and detained German Reading, five miles, Regiment of the Continental Line there by committee, 13th and 14th. Troops of Pennsylvania, Levan's (Kutz- commanded Aug. 15, marched to by Col. Weltner, in the Revolution- town), 18 miles. Aug. 16, to Beth- ary War. He enlisted Sept. 5, 1776, to Straw's lehem, 2 4 miles. Aug. 17, to serve during the period of the day, Sun- Tavern, 15 miles. Next war. His name appears on the mus- raining all day. day, remained there, ter roll of that organization from to south branch Aug. 19, marched December, 1776, to December, 1780. miles. Aug. 20, of Raritan River, 20 Four companies of this regiment to "Punch Bowl," 20 miles. Aug. 21, were raised in Pennsylvania. on He to Bonnamtown, 17 miles, and was in Capt. George Miller's seven Co. of 2 2d arrived at Perth Amboy, Berks County Militia, being on duty miles. Total distance marched, 135 at South Amboy, N. J., during Au- miles." gust and September, 1776, at the Other enlistments of men from this mouth of the Raritan River, oppo- served section of Berks county, who site the southern extremity of the in the different regiments of Staten Island. find the regiment are We Continental line of Pennsylvania, at Trenton on that historic Christ- Heidelberg. "He Samuel DeWees, of mas night of 1776, and at Princeton, in the 11th Regiment; was a captain Valley Forge, etc., later. Mr. Moyer hospi- also superintendent of certain was twice commissioned as lieuten- tals. died at Allentown in 1777." He ant—as first lieutenant of the Eighth Co., Sixth Battalion, on May 17. FORM COMPANY OF RIFLEMEN. 1777, and lieutenant of Sixth Co., From the colonial records it is Second Battalion, on May 10, 178 0. learned that Jacob Livingood, of (See Pennsylvania Archives, Second Middletown (Womelsdorf), formed Series, Vol. XIV, page 2 76, and Fifth a company of riflemen, enlisted from Series, Vol. V, page 1837.) Heidelberg township during the lat- Philip Moyer was born in Ger- ter part of September, 1781. The ex- many, in 1737, and died near Wom- ecutive council, in commissioning elsdorf in 1811. He married Maria Capt. Livingood, took action Oct. 3, Catharine Unruh, who was born in 1781, and ordered "that Capt. Jacob 1741 and died in 1811. To them Livingood be appointed captain of a were born the following children: company of riflemen, enlisted to 1. Maria Catharine, born Feb. 2 6. serve until the first day of January 1762; married Jacob Shenfelder. next; that he be commissioned ac- 2. Valentine, born December, 1762. cordingly, the said commission to A son of Valentine Moyer. His mother was in until the first day continue force a daughter of Valentine Unruh (a son of of January next, unless sooner re- George), one of the men who bought the voked by this council, and all emolu- Host Church ground. 68 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 3. Elizabeth, born Oct. 7, 1763; mar- Samuel DeWees, Daniel Broadhead, ried Henry Herst. Conrad Eckert, Philip Filbert and 4. Daniel, born 1766; married Chris- Conrad Weiser (a grandson of the tina Backenstine. interpreter), of Heidelberg, saw serv- 5. Jacob, born Dec. 15, 1770. ice in the Schuylkill Valley in the 6. Barbara, married John Scholl. campaign around about Philadel- 7. Magdelena, born April 14, 1774; phia. During 1780 Col. Joseph Hies- married John Ermentrout. ter led into service six companies S. Eva Elizabeth, born 17 72; mar- from Berks, of which Capt. Conrad ried Daniel Womelsdorf. Sherman, of Tulpehocken, and Capt. 9. Anna Maria, married (1), Isaac John Ludwig, of Heidelberg, com- Collier; (2), George Sallade. manded two. In October, 1781, a 10. Sophia, born Dec. 23, 1790; mar- company of riflemen, numbering 8 3 ried John Smith, born Jan. 11, men, was organized in the western 1788; died Jan. 2, 1853. end of the county and in service un- (Their daughter, Sarah, married der the command of Capt. Jacob John Haak, whose children were Livingood, of Heidelberg, already Sophia, John, Jacob, Franklin, mentioned. At every recruiting of Thomas, Fannie and Charles Van. the army men from this section of Thomas Haak's daughter, Mary S., the county were drawn from. married Willis L. Bright, and is a The community contributed also prominent D. A. R. They reside at its general share in all the varied Bernville and have one daughter, army supplies, consisting of such Catharine.) articles as grain, flour, hay, powder, 11. Anna Rosina. clothing, accoutrements, horses and 12. Mary Anna. wagons. The writer has recently seen an account book of Henry Van- READS DECLARATION. derslice, a master wagoner, or com- missary, who records his visits to Step by step the community re- and his collections of supplies from sponded to the support the pa- of the neighborhood of Womelsdorf. triotic cause of the colonies. After the Declaration of Independence was A BERKS WAGOIV MASTER. signed at Philadelphia, copies of it He is doubtless the Henry Vander- were sent out by resolution of Con- slice who was high sheriff of Berks gress through the state board of county at the outbreak of the Revo- safety to the various county seats, to lution, and in 1777, 1778, etc., occu- be read on Monday, July 8, at 12 pied the position as chief commis- o'clock, when the election of dele- sary of these parts. He signs him- gates was to take place. This was self as W. M. (wagon master). The accordingly done by Henry Vander- Von Neidas, of town, are descendants slice, the county, at the sheriff of of his and to them have come his Square, the Court House on Penn army record books. These consist Reading. of two volumes of accounts, showing We quote from Montgomery's receipts and expenditures, the move- works the names of colonels and cap- ments of his teams and wagoners, tains only of companies from the scouring the country In their collec- townships of Tulpehocken and Hei- tions of army supplies. The contents delberg. In 1776 companies under are a brilliant sidelight of the Capts. John Ludwig, Benjamin anxious" days of the Revolutionary Weiser and Conrad Eckert, of Hei- struggle, how the same reached delberg, were in service, and com- every neighborhood and made it pos- panies of Capts. John Lesher, George sible for everybody to do "his bit" Miller, Michael Furrer and Nicholas to win the fight for independence. Schaeffer, of Tulpehocken, partici- Mr. Vanderslice received £6 pated in the war. In 1777 Capts. ($14.40) as monthly wages for his Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 69 services, beginning in March, 1777. "At Newmanstown, Oct. 9, His entries are interesting, showing 1777, to 2 gils of whisky. . 2, 6. him at Lebanon on Sunday, March "At Womelsdorf, Oct. 9, 1777, to half a pint of 2 9, amid an all-day snowstorm, loading three teams with goods of whisky 2, 6. Mark Bride (Bright ?). On May 19, Nov. 7, 1777, Mr. Vanderslice is for 1777, he reports from Morristown, again at Womelsdorf and settles "3 gins, 19 syders, 1 eating for 12 N. J., that his "Brigad of waggons Hessians. Their expenses, £2, s. 1. number 12, of which one is out of p. o. He keeps for interne the order and 11 in town fit for services." Hessians, 1, 12, 6." June 9 he was at Camp Middlebrook, His itinerary found Mr. Vander- with his teamsters scattered: slice at Reading, Oct. 22, then at Messersmith was with Col. John Rhemstown, Lancaster, Little York, Chambers; Christian Zimmerman Pennypacker, in rapid succession. and Feagly with Col. Adam How this neighborhood contributed Lewis, of the 14th Virginia in horses for the army can be learned Regiment; Berney Wirt was with from this account. Conrad Lantz the Seventh Virginia Regiment; contributed 1; Leonard Reed, 3; Ludwig Zimmerman with Gen. Con- Adam Anspach, 1; Peter Deaffien- way; Adam Sharp with Capt. Char- bach, 1; Peter Anspach, 2; James gaint, of the artillery; William Kan- Zellar, 2; Adam Sheets, 2; Jacob ard and Christian Yeager were with Eayberger, 2; John Anspach, 2; the 15th Virginia Regiment; 'Peter Frederick Winter, 2 ; Nicholas Her- with Gen. Wain (Wayne); Rees bert, 2; Martin Batdorff, 3; Peter Jacob Sowerhaver with Col. Hobly, Batdorf, 1; John Leininger, 2; Abra- while Christian B orkey was with ham Lick, 1; H. Lantz's Son, 1; Gen. Macksfield's 12th Regiment, George Yorck, 2; Jacob Read, 1; under Col. Martin. This entry is Daniel Read, 2; Matthew Nosserer, valuable, in that it gives us 4; Michael Read, 2; Jacob Kintzer, the names of Mr. Vandersliee's 2; William Kiser, 2; Peter Leise, 2; wagoners. John Reis, 2; Michael Troutman, 1; Jacob Anspach, 2, and John Lorro, 1. VANDERSLICE DIARY. In February and March, 1778, (while lay at We quote from his diary: "We Washington's army Vander- went from Reading the 18th of Feb- Valley Forge), we And Mr. (or col- ruary, 1778, five teams via George slice's teams again foraging Leader, George Schaeffer, Frederick lecting) for the army in these parts, Cougher, George Feight, Adam Reading, "Berne" township, "Erie" Knittle, Anthony Vanderslice, Jacob township, Lancaster county, being Weaver's Mill, in Earl township, mentioned. We quote: Lane. Co." WHEAT COVERED WITH STRAW. Also the following: "Jacob Kaufman Snider he has 'At Womelsdorf town, Oct. 9, his wheat in little house, covered 1777. with straw, in Berne township. s. p. (Was there then already 'camouflage' Kershner "To supper and breakfast. . . .6 by another name?) John "To gil whisky 1, 3. he says that he can deliver here in "To gil whisky 1, 3. Reading 1,000 bushels of wheat and "To sum hay 4 rye and desires to have the choping "Paid at Womelsdorf town, of it. Henry Phillips, 50 bushels of 9th of October, for Mich. wheat, about 12 miles from Reading, Villenberger for his ex- in Berne township. Christian Houck, pense 11, 6. he having great quantity of wheat 70 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community not threshed. I am informed by BERKS FOLK AROUSED. Frederick Weber that Houck will not The destruction of the Capitol at thresh his wheat till How (Howe) Washington and the threatened at- conies, June 14, 1778. tack on Baltimore bjr the enemy "On the 17th or 18th of June the shortly afterward naturally stimu- Inglish went out of Philadelphia in lated the spirit of warfare in Penn- the Jerseys with part of their army. sylvania, and in consequence a great For news we went with Pason." number of her citizens rallied in her April 18, 1778, we find Mr. Vander- defense. The entire county of Berks slice again at Womelsdorf, where he was aroused. Eleven companies en- made some purchases and "paid Con- listed from our county and were rad Weiser, jr., for one day and classified with the Second brigade night hay for one horse, 3s 9p. At under the command of Maj. Gen. Longdorff for one quart of syder, Daniel Udree, of Oley, in two regi- 1-3." ments, the first commanded by Col. All the above is proof that the Jeremiah Shappell, of Windsor town- waves of the Revolution washed snip, and the second by Lieut. Col. closely to this community of Wom- John Lotz, of Reading. elsdorf and western Berks and found Eight of the companies of the it generally loyal to the cause of First Regiment were commanded by liberty and independence. the following Berks county captains: May, John Mauger, Jacob WAR OF 1812-15. John Marshall, George Marx, George Rit- The second war with England, ter, Henry Willots, Jonathan Jones generally known as the War of 1812, and George Zieber. did not arouse such general excite- In the Second Regiment three cap- ment as the former, the Revolution. tains were from Berks, viz.: Thomas It was more a naval conflict carried Moore, John Christman and Gabriel on on the high seas, on Lake Erie Old. and other waters, as it had orig- At least a few of these names look inated about the question of Great familiar to the inhabitants of this Britain's right to stop U. S. vessels Tulpehocken and Heidelberg section. to search for seamen of English A 12th company from Berks later birth—though naturalized and be- was commanded by Capt. Daniel come citizens of this country—and DeB. Keim. These companies did impress them into their service. service about York and Wilmington, This annoyance and humiliation was Del. patiently borne for a while, but It is not known how many men, finally could be endured no longer. nor who, from this section volun- So it led to a second war with Eng- teered and belonged to these troops, land. except that descendants of George Gov. Snyder, anticipating a dec- Snyder, of Tulpehocken, have knowl- laration of war, issued an order on edge that he was one. The declara- May 12, 1812, for the prompt raising tion of peace was grandly celebrated of 14,000 troops. The war came on in Reading, Feb. 22, 1815. June 19 by President Madison's dec- laration. The battle cf Lake Erie THE MEXICAN WAR. on Sept. 13, 1813, and Commodore The question of the annexation of Perry's brilliant victory, with his Texas to the United States brought message to Gen. Harrison, "We have on war with Mexico in May, 1846. met the enemy and they are ours," Congress authorized President Polk greatly enthused Berks county and to call for 50,000 volunteers for one was celebrated by a great illumina- year. This outbreak of war pro- tion in Reading on the night of the duced great excitement in Berks 27th. county. Town meetings were held Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 71 and the result was that three com- was taken on Sept. 14 and the troops panies of Reading tendered their stationed there until Dec. 18. services to the President. The first company, the Reading Artillerists, PEACE DECLARED. commanded by Capt. Thomas S. Then peace followed and they Loeser, was accepted. They were were ordered home in June, 1848, accompanied to Philadelphia by a marching to Vera Cruz and thence committee of prominent citizens and transported to New Orleans. From an abundant provision was made for thence they proceeded- up the rivers themselves and their families by to Pittsburgh, where they were mus- large appropriations by Reading's tered out on July 21, when they took Council and county commissioners. packets and traveled by canal to The course of travel for this com- Harrisburg, thence by railroad to pany was by rail via Philadelphia, Philadelphia and Reading, thougn Harrisburg, Carlisle to Chambers- some came by stage directly to burg, thence afoot to Pittsburgh. Reading from Harrisburg. Here they were mustered into serv- Did they get a cheer when they ice and on Jan. 8, 1847, proceeded passed through Womelsdorf? His- by the boat, Anthony Wayne, down tory does not say, nor does it make the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to mention to the writer's knowledge New Orleans, and served with dis- that any from this section of the tinction throughout the war, recog- county were in the company. It is nized for their bravery. They par- recorded that they got a brilliant re- ticipated in the battles of Vera Cruz, ception in Reading on Aug. 29, when March 19 to 28; Cerro Gordo, April "buildings and streets were hand- 18; Chapultepec, Sept. 12, and Belen somely decorated with flags and Gate, Sept. 13. The city of Mexico wreaths." 72 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community Cf. = 2 c pq i - Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 73 Chapter XI. PATRIOTIC WOMELSDORF THE CIVIL WAR (1861-1865). A WOMELSDORF COMPANY. We come now, in our story of A little prompter action and Wom- Womelsdorf in our national wars, elsdorf would have had a company to the next conflict that followed the of its own to accompany the Ring- Mexican War. This was the great gold Light Artillery and thus share internecine struggle between the in the honor, for it was on April 2 4, North and the South of our own 1861, that Co. E, of the 14th Regi- ment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, land, the Civil War between in, of men the loyal North and the seced- was mustered composed ing Confederate states of the exclusively from this vicinity. South, which rose in rebellion The following is the roster; against the Union. The ques- Captain, John C. Shearer; first tion of negro salvery, which had lieutenant, John F. Schoener; second been long and hotly debated, was lieutenant, William G. Moore; first brought to an issue at arms by the sergeant, George W. Steach; second election to the presidency of Abra- sergeant, Cyrus Oberly; third ser- ham Lincoln, who was an outspoken geant, Henry Weighaman; fourth enemy of the extension of slavery sergeant, William Weinhold; first and an advocate of its final but just corporal, James Gaul, second cor- abolition. His assumption of the poral, Henry Gotwald; third cor- office of president was preceded and poral, Levi Bennethum; fourth followed by a number of southern corporal, Elias Dougherty; musi- states seceding from the Union, and cians, John Daniels and Cyrus Heffle- soon followed by the firing upon Fort finger. Sumpter on April 12, 1861, which Privates—James Ayres, Henry Ar- brought on the war. nold, Samuel Burkhart, William President Lincoln issued a call for Bennethum, Charles Bennethum, 75,000 volunteers to suppress rebel- Jonathan Bennethum, John Brecht- lion and all over the North the gal- bill, John Clouser, Peter Copp, lant and brave youth of the land Jacob Deppen, David Disslnger, Levi sprang to arms. It is to the credit DeHart, Isaac M. D. Fidler. William of Berks county that a company of Fink, Charles Fosk, William Fry, its men were the first to answer this William Gast, Henry Haywood, call by reporting in person at Wash- Henry Harp, William Hunias, Man- ington. Capt. James McKnight's don Haak, Reuben Hendricks, John company of Ringgold Light Artil- Hampton, Frederick Hoffman, Wil- lery, made up at Reading from men liam Himmelreich, John Haas, of Berks, Schuylkill and Lehigh Samuel Klahr, Israel Koch, George counties, was the first military or- Kuhns, Henry P. Koutz, Henry ganization to reach Washington in Kohrer, William Lash, John C. response to the president's call, a Liveringshouse, Benjamin Lash, historical fact well proven, which Lawrence Meek, Elias Moyer, has given to this company the proud William Madary, Samuel Mat- distinction of being called "The First thews, Augustus Milligsock, Mil- Defenders." ton B. Nice, Blue Owens, Samuel Annals of Womelsdorf and Community Parsons, Frederick Putt, James athan See; musicians, Peter Palm, Henry Rosenberger, Jacob Grimes and Elijah Dewalt. Rose, Jeremiah Russel, Isaac Scholl, Privates, William Bennethum, Emanuel Stoudt, Zadoc Smith, James Moyer, Francis Auman, Jared Michael Schaeffer, William W. Bickel, Jeremiah Bennethum, George Seidel, William Strause, Daniel Kintzer, Alfred McAllister, Frederick Spatz, Cyrus Ulrich, Peter Weiss. Floto and Cyrus Ebeling. Levi Weise, William W. Wenrich, In the 128th Regiment, P. V., George Weiser, William H. Wells, James E. Moore; John Kendall, Samuel Whitaker and Percival George L. Yost and others served. Zechman. Of the two companies that served ANOTHER RESPONSE. in the 5 5th Regiment, P. V. and enlisted in latter part of 1861, we But one company did not spell have a complete roster, as also of the patriotism of Womelsdorf nor the emergency company, mustered in satisfy the needs of the country as at the time of Lee's invasion into the war continued. The Rebellion Pennsylvania. These were Com- was well organized and desperately panies B and D of the 5 5th Regi- determined. It took more than ment. We name only the Womels- three months to put it down. New dorf "boys" except that the officers calls for troops were made and again of Co. B were from Robesonia. Womelsdorf responded. The term Co. B—Capt. John C. Shearer, of enlistment of Co. E having ex- First Lieut. George Parsons, Second pired, a new company from these Lieut. Adam Parsons, Jacob Deppen, parts was mustered in and served Franklin Deppen, Elijah Dewalt, as Co. B in the 93d Regiment of Henry Dewalt, William Fessler, John Pennsylvania Volunteers. Many of Grimes, Peter Grimes, William Hoff- the former company re-enlisted. Of ner, Abraham Hackman, George this company no complete roster Hackman, Matthias Kalbach, John can be given as many names are Kendan, Joseph Kissinger, Benja- not remembered by my informant, min Kollerman, George Kollerman, but following are known: William Madary, Franklin Miller, Capt. Levi Weise, William Weise, John A. Matthew, William Mander- William Hunias, Levi DeHart, Da- back, Morris Manderback, George N. vid Bennethum, John H. Kintzer, Moyer, Frederick Putt, Mountain; John Leininger, Daniel Leininger, Franklin Putt, Mountain; Josiah Nathan Burkholder, George Shartle, Rittenhouse, Mountain; James Reif- Samuel Hetrich, John Sellers, Adam snyder, William Reifsnyder, Charles Himmelberger and George Arnold. Rudy, Henry Rohrer, Samuel The following served also in Co. Startzer, Mountain; John Stamm, D, of the 90th Regiment; Levi Elijah Smith, Francis Sallade, Amos Bennethum and William Petree. Stoudt, Cyrus Ulrich, John Ulrich, Some men made three and one George H. Valentine and George even four enlistments before the Williams. war was over. COMPANY D OFFICERS. BAND. A WOMELSDORF Company D officers mustered into For a while a full band from service Oct. 21. 1861, at Harrisburg, Womelsdorf was with the 90th Reg- and re-enlisted Dec. 31, 1863, at iment, but not in demand any Beaufort, S. C, included Capt. Wil- longer, it was discharged later. liam G. Moore, last commander. He The following persons and many was appointed second lieutenant Oc- others, not now recalled, served in tober, 1862; promoted to first lieu- the 167th Regiment of Pennsyl- tenant July, 1863, and to captain vania militia; In Co. A, Col. July 13, 1864. He was wounded May Knoderer's regiment, were Maj. Jon- 20, 1864, at Foster's Plantation, Va. Annals of Womelsdori and Community 75 First Lieut. John F. Schoener, who 1862; Old Town Creek, Va., May 9, was appointed first lieutenant No- 1864; Proctor's Creek, Va., May 13, vember, 1862, and resigned July 1, 1864; Drury's Bluff, Va., May 14, 15 1863, on account of disability. and 16, 1864; Foster's Plantation, Corp. Henry Gotwald, taken Va., May 19 and 20, 1864; Cold Har- prisoner on May 16, 1864, and died in bor, Va., June 1, 3 to 10, 1864; Cem- Georgia prison; William Arnold, etery Hill, before Petersburg, Va., wounded and died in Georgia prison; July 30, 18 64; Chapin's Farm, Va., Henry Harp and Harry Weigaman. Sept. 29, 18 64; Darbytown Road, Va., Nov. 20, 18 64; Hatcher's Run, A LIST OF PRIVATES. Va., March 3, 1865; regiment cap- Company D privates included tured 150 prisoners at Forts Gregg Theodore J. Arnold, still living in and Baldwin, Va., April 2, 18 65; fall Columbus; Henry W. Arnold, of Petersburg, Va., April 3, 18 65; wounded May 16, 1864; J. Benne- Appomattox Court House, Va., and thum, taken prisoner May 16, 1864; Lee's surrender, Rice's Station, Va., George Bennethum, wounded and April 6, 18 65. The regiment was taken prisoner on May 16, 1864, died discharged Sept. 4, 1865. in Georgia prison; Daniel Bechtel, At the time of Gen. Lee's invasion taken prisoner May 16, 1864, died in into Pennsylvania in June, 1863, the Georgia prison; Frank Betz, New- following emergency company iof manstown, wounded May 16, 1864, at Womelsdorf boys enlisted within Drury's Bluff, Va.; James Fidler, 24 hours of the governor's call died at Beaufort, S. C; Lewis Fid- and marched to Hagerstown ler, Isaac Fidler, George Good, taken and Williamsport, Md„ in pur- prisoners and recaptured May 16, suit of retreating Gen. Lee's army. 1864; James Kapp, William Lein- It was like an army of Spartans inger, mortally wounded May 16, springing to arms. Had the battle 1864, died in Richmond; Albert Lein- of Gettysburg lasted one day more inger, James E. Moore, John New- they would doubtless have had a man, William S. Neff, taken prisoners part in that bloody encounter. The May 16, 1864; William Parsons, following is the complete roster, Henry D. Smith, wounded at Poco- kindly furnished by one of them, taligo, S. C, Oct. 22, 1862, Cold Har- Charles B. Kintzer, just as one of bor, Va., June 3, 1864; Isaac Smith, the few surviving veterans of Co. B, wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June John A. Matthew, has furnished me 3, 1864; Henry Squint, killed May the full roster of the preceding com- 16, 1864, at Drury's Bluff, Va.; James panies of the 55th Regiment: White, wounded May 14, 1864, near Drury's Bluff. Va./died May 27, 1864, ROSTER, OF COMPANY K. and Francis Yost. James Ayres and The roster of Co. K, 4 2 Regiment, also John Clouse of Co. E, were Pennsylvania Volunteers, Militia,, killed in battle. follows: Captain, Jacob Deppen; first lieutenant, George N. Moyer; OF THE 55TH. RECORD second lieutenant, John A. Fidler; This 55th Regiment, commanded first sergeant, John Q. Seibert; ser- by Col. Richard White, a post of the geants, James E. Moore, William Fourth Brigade, first division, 24th Hunias, John Q. Scharff and Franklin Corps (formerly the P^irst Brigade), Fidler; corporals, Franklin B. and second division, 18th Corps, Shartle, John Sallade, Adam J. took part in the following engage- Deppen, John Kendall, John K. Fil- ments: Edisto Island, S. C, March bert, Stephen Sarge, George L. Yost 29, 1862; Johns Island, S. C, May and George R. Taylor; musicians, 10, 1862; Simmon's Bluff, S. C, May John F. Petree, George H. Valentine 26, 1862; Pocotaligo, S. C, Oct. 22, and Joseph Deppen. 76 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community Privates, Peter Althouse, James —all over in a summer (1898) —yet Anderson, William Anderson, John it was a great conflict, resulting in a Arnold, Nathan Burkholder, John great cost of treasure and lives and Bennethum, John Clouse, Franklin yet also in freeing Cuba of barbarity Filbert, Michael Filbert, Richard and tyranny and in bringing the Fisher, John Grimes, Levi Hettinger, islands of Porto Rico and the Phil- Jacob Hassler, John Jennings, ippine Archipelago under the folds Mathias Kalbach, David Kiebach, of the American flag. It stirred the Charles B. Kintzer, James Krick, entire country and added glory to Monroe Kintzer, Isaac Klingler, the flag, because of the naval vic- Henry Kerns, Josiah Leininger, John tories at Manila and Santiago, and N, Leavy, George F. Miller, Levi the military arms at San Juan and Moyer, John A. Matthews, Henry other places, in which every com- Mattis, John Mattis, Joseph H. munity contributed soldiers or sail- Miller, Jacob McCormick, Lucian ors. Potteiger, Abraham Paffenberger, Womelsdorf gave Harry G. Long, George Reinoehl, Cyrus Reber, George Heckaman, Jacob Stahl and Charles iSmith, Adam Strunck, Amos Harry Lengle, and thus "remem- Stoudt, Daniel Sohl, Albert Siegfried, bered the Maine." The first and last Gotlieb Schwartz, Charles Schaem, named served in the 4th Pennsyl- William Scharff, Richard Sohl, vania Regiment, the other two in the Richard Scheiry, Harry Taylor, 9th Regiment. Simon Von Nieda, Charles F. Wig- THE WORLD WAR. haman and Elias Yonson. The last and most cruel of all Date of muster in is lost but in wars, the World War of 1914-18, in latter part of June 6. Discharged which more than a score of nation- Aug. 11 and 13, 1863. alists were engaged, and which The date of muster has been lost, nearly bled some of the great but the company entered the service European powers to death, and the latter part of June, 1863, and practically bankrupted Europe and was discharged Aug. 11 and 12, 1863. knocked off more than a score of THOUSANDS RESPONDED. royal crowns, dragged in also this country, which altruistically and for Berks men went to the war by the the sake of democracy gave up a thousands. They encouraged appro- score of billions of her treasure, priations of money and invested nearly 100,000 of her gallant sons, largely in national securities, which wrung the hearts of all her men and speaks of a spirit of national loy- women and left not a single com- alty. munity of this civilized land where The county shared in the great it did not put its bloody hand. war excitement and its organized ef- Womelsdorf did its faithful 'bit" fort to support the cause of which in every line of war measure and the president and Congress were obligation. leaders. Ladies' aid societies organ- Miss Laura Snyder, of town, who ized to provide for the comfort and was secretary of the many war activi- welfare of the soldiers, local military ties, has preserved a record of local hospitals, repeated calls for soldiers, activities which she hopes some the news of battle and the sorrow of time to publish, and has preserved loss and personal bereavements came a complete roster of the men who to all parts of the country and were were called from this community to not absent in Womelsdorf. serve in this never-to-be-forgotten SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. war, four of whom made the su- to The causes and conduct of this preme sacrifice. We are indebted from war are well-known to this genera- her for this list of soldiers tion and, although it was a brief war Womelsdorf and community. Annals of Womelsdori and Community 77 ROLL OF HONOR. MINGLED EMOTIONS. They were called and left town The sight of a starred roster, serv- in the order here given; Lloyd ice flag or stone or bronze entabla- Weidman, William Weik, Robert tured muster roll of the World War veterans, now so common, gives rise Filbert, John Filbert, John Livin- to mingled emotions. It tugs at our good, Elwood Home, Earl Leinbach, hearts and at the same time fills us George Emerich, Martin Anderson, with pride. drowned in the Marne River, while Womelsdorf, with its two sons dy- acting as scout; Ben Grimes, Wil- ing in camp and brought home for burial here, its liam Mattes, jr., Harry Grimes, and two boys sleeping under Luke Gerhart, Clyde Haak, Charles the Flanders' poppies of France, like every other small com- Schaeffer, Paul Deitrich, Herbert munity out of which has come the Fidler, Harry An- Huber Hackman, supreme sacrifice, "joins all America derson. Paul Wagner, Irwin Show- in answer to the fine poem on "Flan- ers, Warren Bennethum, Ralph ders' Fields" by repeating R. W. Strickler, R. Wright Hackman, Lilliard's exquisite lines: Lawrence German, Louis Livingood Rest ye in peace, ye Flanders' dead! and Calvin Rothermel, Harry Gru- The fight that ye so bravely led We've taken up! and we will keep ber, died in camp of influenza; John True faith with you who lie asleep Kline, Thomas Schonour, Ray With each a cross to mark his bed, Swope, died in camp of influenza; And poppies blowing overhead George Moyer, jr., Lloyd Rother- Where once his own life blood ran red! mel, killed in service; Edwin Kline, So let your rest be sweet and deep In Flanders' fields. Walter Brossman, Harry Illig, Wil- liam Keim, Paul Landis, Elmer Fear not that ye have died for naught, Wartluft, Lewis Strause, Charles The torch ye threw to us we caught! Ten million hands will hold it high, Illig, John Grimes, William German, And Freedom's light shall never die! George Bennethum, Robert Strieker, We've learned the lesson that ye taught William Rupp. In Flanders' fields. ' 78 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community If-;**- ' " , '' The Livingoods—Father and Six Sons JAMES C. JACOB S. MICHAEL T. JOHN B. (Father) JOHN T. LOUIS A. WILLIAM H. Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 79 Chapter XII. NOTED AND SUCCESSFUL SONS AND DAUGHTERS As might be expected, a commu- Tulpehocken community, and nity that is so well stocked with good whom the writer asked to supply a ancestral blood, enriched by Chris- list of such name's from his own tian nurture in home and church, section, as might be classified under supplied with good local schools, in this heading has this to say: "I each succeeding generation from the should be glad to assist you in very first, and provided with an whatever way I might be able to abundant opportunity to attend the unearth some of the facts in history "University of Hard Knocks," as vil- long since passed, but to write about lage and rural life always provides, the prominent men still living I ought to be able to show creditable have no desire. Some one has said: specimens of its own home product. 'History cannot be correctly writ- This is found to be the case with ten until a century or two shall the community of Womelsdorf. In have passed by before the facts are the professional and honored walks committed to writing.' If I were of life are found not a few men and even to mention names of such who women who reflect honor upon their have loomed into prominence I native community, Where elements might make the greatest mistake, of honesty, integrity, mental ability, because their deeds have not yet lofty purpose and determination in been fully tested. Besides I might its attainment are in demand, there do a great injustice to many men, many have been rewarded with suc- and women as well, who have ac- cess, fame and leadership, whose complished great things for good first round on the upward ladder was and are practically forgotten, I feel taken in Womelsdorf. We shall in convinced the greatest in the region the next few chapters seek to make a you mentioned are the mothers, tolerably complete list of such as who have been heroines in their day have climbed up its rounds to, or to- and generations, have made the men wards the top. That omissions will practically what they are, and yet likely occur of names just as much no one will arise to do them honor, entitled to honorable mention as while their names and deeds are those we give, is very certain, but forgotten." this will be due simply because the Grave truths these! And fine writer has neither an oral nor docu- tribute to motherhood in general! mentary source of supplying this We take off our hats always in needed complete knowledge, cover- praise of the mothers of men. And ing so long a period. But enough here at the beginning of this chapter names are known to him to supply a would write before and above every goodly sized list. name distinguished and mentioned "To the memory and glory of that TRIBUTE TO MOTHERS. yet un-numbered and un-named Concerning the probability of Spartan host of mothers of this sec- missing many names worthy of tion—those pious, devoted, loving, mention in such a list, a corre- unselfish and God-fearing home- spondent, who himself has "made builders—cemented in faith and good," and hails from this general feathered with love, who in the 80 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community valley of the Tulpehocken, for six whole field by saying that these are generations, have sung their lullabies but fair samples, while the woods are in plain Pennsylvania-German and full of "and others." whispered their morning and eve- BERKS CELEBRITIES. ning prayers in the same dialect Just as the county of Berks is (when not read from some one of proud of its celebrities that were their many printed prayer books) either born within her borders or ear of the Infinite, who was into the have at one time been housed and ever real and near to ihem. To homed within it—such men as them we would rear a monument of Daniel Boone, Conrad Weiser, the loving recognition for their noble ancestors of President Abraham Lin- part in sending forth such regi- coln on both his paternal and ma- ments of actors into the world, to ternal sides; two or three governors brighten and bless and advance it in of the state, Hiester, Schultze and things that are worth while." Ritner; two ministers to Austria, COMMUNITY BUILDERS. Henry A. Muhlenberg and Glancey C. Jones; gallant officers in all our correspondent, however, has My national wars, state and nation picked up a list of names of his sec- builders in our provincial, Revolu- general community, who tion of this tionary War and early federal gov- all come in for their share of would ernment period, such as Edward were told of those who glory, if all Biddle, Edward Burd, Balzer Geehr, been community builders in have Henry Haller, Gabriel Hiester, Se- the past. bastian Levan, Abraham Lincoln, are the Kurrs, "Some such Jacob Morgan, father and son; Dr. Kurtzes, Schultzes, Schultzs, Brobsts, Bodo Otto, Michael Lindenmuth and Leinbachs, Hen- Illigs, Zimmermans, others; Gen. David McM. Gregg, of Mayses, Tryons, Wal- dels, Moores, the Civil War; its early ironmasters, Leisses, Schaffners, borns, Schoeners, Mark Bird, George Ege, John Snyders, Bordners, Reeds, Millers, Lesher, John Patton, Jonathan Potts, Umbenhens, Ulrichs, Schmelt- Myers, Daniel Udree and others; its great Burkholders, Fogel- zers, Bowers, entomologist, Herman Strecker, and Gerhards, Buckses, etc. There mans, its past educators, with Nathan C. an array of names that I is such Schaeffer for many j^ears the state's know where to draw the would not superintendent of public instruction, line, and the many unnamed, who culminating in honor, and its noted have equal claims upon the would ministers and lawyers, judges and historian's consideration." doctors, as well as the ancestors of This is, indeed, the bewildering such famous women as Jane Ad- task. It is like looking into the starry dams, of Hull House fame, in Chi- night to discern heavens on a clear cago, and Agnes Repplier, the au- of brighter stars, a few constellations thoress, of Philadelphia—so Wom- presently the whole firmament when elsdorf and the community of the seems sowed with a countless num- Tulpehocken is glad to point to its ber of luminaries of such lustre that men and women of note that it are lost in stars of first magnitude sent forth into the broader arena. the bewildering host. And then is forced upon the star gazer the con- FIRST SETTLERS. sciousness that the dimmest dot in To begin with, it had great char- the "Milky Way," if seen and meas- acters among its first settlers. The ured by the same scale, might far enterprise, initiative and undertak- outshine the nearer planets that ings of such men as the Rieths, dazzle you with their glory. But we Zellers, Fidlers, Fischers, Walborns, will venture to name at least a few Levenguths and Conrad Weiser of the great host and then cover the match those of any colony of pio- Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 81 neers. The Spycker brothers, Benja- FARMER AND BLACKSMITH. min and Peter, and the learned pas- Conrad Eckert grew up east of tors, both of the Lutheran and Re- Womelsdorf as a farmer and black- formed faiths, built up the who smith. The Revolution drew him early church life of this community, into military service and he com- rank well with the leaders of any manded a company raised in Hei- community in civic and religious af- delberg township, a part of Col. fairs. During the Revolution its Henry Haller's First Battalion. They leaders were the sons of Conrad were in the campaign of New Jersey Weiser, the Eckerts, the Spyckers in 1776. His company afterwards and others. formed a part of Henry Spycker's The Eckerts were two brothers, battalion, taking part in the cam- Valentine and Conrad, both born in paign about Germantown and White- Hanover, Germany, the former eight marsh' in the fall of 17 77. He also years old, the latter a babe in his mother's arms, when they emi- was wounded at Germantown and grated to America with their par- never fully recovered his health aft- ents in 1741 and settled on a farm erwards. Upon his return from just east of where Womelsdorf is military service he continued farm- now situated, known to the present ing on the old Eckert homestead till day as the Eckert homestead. Val- he died, Aug. 25, 1791. He was entine was naturalized in 1761. In married to Elizabeth Hain and had June, 1776, he was chosen as one a large family. Womelsdorf not yet of the ten members from Berks to having a church he was buried at the provincial conference, and in the Hain Church. / July following a delegate to the John Peter Spycker, of the Ger- provincial convention "which was man Palatinate, emigrated to Amer- assembled for the purpose of fram- ica with his family in 1738. coming ing a new government founded on by the port of Philadelphia, and the authority of the people." For settled in Tnlpehocken township the years 1776 and 1779 he repre- upon a large tract of land near where sented Berks in the provincial as- the present village of Stouchsburg is sembly of Pennsylvania. He offered now situated. Of this family the his services in the Revolutionary father and two sons, Benjamin and War, and, being accepted, he com- Peter, were destined for many years manded a cavalry company of the to play a conspicuous part and exert Associators for a while. He and a wide influence in this Tulpehocken his company fought in the battle of settlement. The father was licensed Germantown in October, 1777, where as an Indian trader, but later took he was wounded. He next was sub- a leading part in the local agitations stitute lieutenant and commissioner and conflicts during the French and of army supplies of the county, and Indian War. It was he that wrote in 1781 was promoted to lieutenant a number of important letters to the of the county, serving to the close governmental authorities at Philadel- of the war. In 178 4 he was ap- phia, still preserved (see Rupp's pointed judge of the Court of Com- History), informing the government mon Pleas of the county, serving of the cruelties of the Indians and for a term of seven years. He was the sufferings of the people who had brigade inspector of the Pennsyl- settled in the hinterland. He was vania militia for Berks and con- an intimate associate of Conrad tinued for 2 years, from 1793 to Weiser. He died on July 13, 1789, 1813. About 1816 he moved to the aged "77 years, 8 months and a half" Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, and according to his tombstone record in died in Winchester, Va„ December, Tulpehocken Reformed cemetery 1821, in his 88th year. (Trinity's old grave yard). 82 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community THE SPYCKER BROTHERS. Indian and the Revolutionary War periods. it Benjamin Spycker, his son, served But was Benjamin, the youngest son, figures as an officer in the French and In- who most prominently during the Revolution. dian War, was a member of the Pro- He had been a store keeper in vincial Conference of June 8, 1776, Heidelberg (was it along the high- and of the Constitutional Conven- way, near the old homestead, or in tion. He was a justice of the peace the then small village of Womels- for many years in Tulpehocken dorf? It is known he lived in township, where he exerted a Womelsdorf at the time) for nearly strong- social and political influence. 10 years when he was selected by He was the progenitor of the Deck- the executive council as a captain erts and Neads of this and the Cum- of a company for the German regi- berland valleys. He died in Septem- ment of the Continental line, which ber, 1802, and is doubtless also bur- company was composed of men from ied in the Reformed cemetery of this section. They participated in Tulpehocken (Trinity) Church. the battles of Trenton and Prince- Peter Spycker, a brother of Ben- ton, N. J. Later he removed with jamin, was a farmer of Tulpe- his family to the vicinity of the hocken township for many years. In present Selinsgrove, where he figured 1763 he was appointed one of the soon as a justice of the peace. It county judges and reappointed for a may have been only a temporary period of 2 6 years, until his death residence, for a Benjamin Weiser in August, 1789. In 1780 he was represented Berks county in the president of the county courts. Also general assembly in 17 82. But it is was a justice of the peace for his believed he spent the latter half of township beginning 17 77. He left a his life in a vain attempt to recover family of five children, of whom his his* father's lost possessions in New son, Henry, is best known, who, like York, and so drifted out of this com- his father, was judge of the county munity. courts in his day. He was paymas- ter of the militia of Berks from Au- SONS OF SETTLERS. gust, 1777, to the close of the Revo- Among other names deserving of lution. His name appears in the mention, who exerted a local potent miliita returns as colonel of the influence in this period may be men- 6th Battalion and continued at the tioned George Ege (the ironmaster, head of the militia until 1783. He already largely described in a former represented the county in the Gen- chapter), Jacob Livingood and eral Assembly for the years 1785 Christian Lower. Both of the 'latter and 1786. He carried on a general named were the sons of original set- store business in Tulpehocken tlers here on the Tulpehocken, the township until 1800, when he re- former at Livingood's Mill, situated moved to Lewistown, Northumber- on a branch of the Little Swatara, land county, where he died. and the latter near the Tulpehocken CONRAD WEISER'S SONS. stream. Both were actively con- nected with the Revolution, in that All the sons of Conrad Weiser the former raised at Womelsdorf, a were public local leaders. Philip company of riflemen in 1781, and young, generally died reported as commanded them for a period of from wounds received in the French three months' service. He is said to and Ind.an War. Both Peter and have been so proud of his uniform Samuel ("Sammy") are often men- that he died with it on, and, in obe- in the father's tioned correspond- dience to his wishes was buried clad and other documents ence during in same. He is buried in Christ Luth- the exciting times of the French and eran cemetery, west of Stouchsburg. Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 83 Mr. Lower was a colonel of one of three sisters were well married, the associated battalions, a commis- Elizabeth to George Holstein. Mag- sioner from 1777 to 1779, serving as dalena to Michael Lei (Ley) and sub-lieutenant in supplying- the Catharine to Benjamin Spycker. county quota of troops from 17 80 to When he died in 1807 he left a the close of the war. He represented widow and seven children, well con- the county in the General Assembly nected by future marriages. He and of the state for nine years between his father are interred in Tulpe- 1779 and 1796. His father once hocken Lutheran burial grounds. owned the Moselem forge and his 84 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community The Four Big Ermentrout Brothers JUDGE JAMES N. PROF. JOHN D. HON. DANIEL DR. SAMUEL C. Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 85 Chapter XIII. NOTED AND SUCCESSFUL SONS AND DAUGHTERS The passing of the 18th century, clocks, gunsmiths flourished; so did with the struggles for safety of life, loom weaving and the artisan trades, home and property secured; liberty a tannery and a brewery soon flour- and independence won, and a new ished, the canal was built, then the and federalized republican form of turnpike and stage routes estab- government set up, this community lished, Charming Forge did a flour- was settling down to the enjoyments ishing business, more hotels ana of peace and the fruits of their brave stores were built, a union church of endeavors for better conditions. The the Reformed and Lutheran mem- old leaders were passing away and, bers of v this town and community with the coming of a new century, was built and the town grew and was new leaders came to the front. steadily advanced. When President In this town, the remnants of the Washington and his party visited Weiser family, the Womelsdorfs, the Womelsdorf for the first time, in the Shultzes — Frederick, a merchant, fall of 1793, there were still quite a married to a Hiester, and John An- number of Revolutionary soldiers drew, a pastor and residing in hereabouts, who fittingly honored the town, and later elected to the Legis- president's visit with a military lature and other offices, finally twice salute and an orderly gathering of chosen as governor of the state—the citizens. An appropriate address of Ermentrouts, the Seltzers, the Fil- greeting, by John Pliny, a local mer- berts, the Fidlers, the Bennethums, chant, gave evidence of his own abil- the Kintzers, the Plinys, the Reif- ity and was a fitting expression of the snyders, the Kalbachs and other old intelligence and becoming order of families came to the leadership of the community. the town and community of Womels- There is scarcely a single name in dorf. As the former generations had the above list that did not send out opened the first roads, erected the a scion in the first or second genera- first churches and schools, protected tion to add luster to that name. The the frontier and pushed it farther Ermentrouts gave to Berks county west and northward, and had fought several sons whose names were writ- the battles of community and Colon- ten high upon the escutcheon. John ial safety and later those of freedom, S. Ermentrout was a leading educa- independence and union, so the suc- tor, for three terms superintendent ceeding generations must develop the of her public schools, then a prin- industries, build community centers cipal and later a professor of the of trade and education and worship, Keystone State Normal School, at in other words, develop the internal Kutztown. Daniel, a brilliant lawyer progress of the community. of the Reading bar, worked his way up through COMMUNITY the county offices to the GROWTH. Legislature and then to Congress, Hence with the new century the where he served for six terms. Dr. growth of the town was developed, Samuel C. Ermentrout was a noted large hat factories were established physician of Reading, while James here by the Ermentrouts and others, Nevin Ermentrout was for a long George Breneiser built grandfather time judge of county courts. All of 86 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community these were the sons of William and and the family resided here for about Justina Ermentrout, of Womelsdorf, a century, prospered and increased. whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Some of the ancestors are buried Ermentrout, lie buried in our ceme- in our cemetery. Only after mar- tery. The name is yet an honored riage did the parents of the above elsewhere, as one in Reading and quartet of famous sons, called fre- some of the descendants are in the quently the "wonderful Ermentrout forefront of noble activities. We brothers," move from here to Read- know Heber Ermentrout is head of ing, where the family was reared and Reading's Chamber of Commerce, where the sons achieved greatness one or two are members of the Berks and fame, John S. reaching the county bar, and Mrs. Mae Ermen- top round of the ladder as an educator; trout-Smith is sectional physical di- Daniel rector of public schools, in the north- serving conspicuously as con- gressman for six terms western section of Chicago. We claim and dying in service; Nevin for them all as Womelsdorf children and James 2 3 years offspring. judge of Common Pleas Court of Berks county, also dying in service, We have recently learned, through and Dr. Samuel C, a noted physi- the widow of the late Hon. Daniel cian, who, during the Franco-Prus- Ermentrout, now residing in Phila- sian War, in 18 70, served abroad in delphia, that the late Baron Rudolph the German army with such skill von Irmtraut, a member of this that he was decorated by the old family, who spent his closing years Emperor William I with several in New York City, had traced the medals for various efficiencies, one family lineage back to 729 A. D., giv- for having fewer deaths in his hos- ing every father's name in the long pital than any other surgeon in the line to 1339, and from that date on army, and another for a new was' of to the removal of the branch which treating typhoid fever. migrated to America and settled My informant also tells me that near the present Womelsdorf in an uncle of this "remarkable quar- 17 39, every father's and mother's tet," John Ermentrout, of Womels- name in each one of the genealogical dorf, married Harriet Ege, daughter generations down to the American of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ege (she a setlement. They were barons of the sister of Governor Schultze), of Holy Empire and loyal Roman Charming Forge, who had the dis- Roman Catholics down to the tinguished honor of officially receiv- Reformation. They were noted for ing the Marquis de Lafayette as the distinguished services rendered the substitute of Mrs. Governor Schultze, government and were "nobles of the who was an invalid at the time when nobles." One of them was killed in that official of the state received the a war with the Moors. The family distinguished French general at the arose in Nassau, Germany, but their gubernatorial mansion, in 1824, the castle was destroyed in the Thirty time of Lafayette's visit to America. Years War. This Harriet Ege Ermentrout's BIG ERMENTROUT QUARTET only daughter is reported as a very charming and superior character, The American ancestors were beloved by every one who knew her, John, Philip and Frederick, who and gave my informant the state- came in the ship Samuel from Rot- ment that they were neighbors of the terdam and qualified in Philadelphia Eckerts, but that the elder Ermen- Aug. 2 7, 173 9. They seem to have trouts were a bookish people, stu- been brothers, and possibly only dious and lived more to themselves, Johannes (John) was married at the while the Eckerts evidently were time. They took up their residence more public in their tastes—what we here in the Tulpehocken settlement of today would cail "good mixers." — Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 87 It is intensely interesting to have LIVINGOOD FAMILY. these old neighborhood whiffs of John B. Livingood was a student blow our gossip and old-time news of Dr. Michael Tryon (his wife being fashion, and we are sim- way in this Elizabeth Seltzer), whose daughter surprised and elated to know ply he married and became the ancestor what lofty and worthy characters of an illustrious line of professional lived hereabouts in the long ago men, mostly doctors and lawyers. He the von Neidas, the von Irmtrouts, practiced medicine in Womelsdorf the Eges, the Hiesters, the Schultzes, from 1812 to 1872. He was the father the Weisers and the Muhlenbergs, of John T. Livingood, who died in etc., and what hallowed dust and 1852, a young; man of 30, in San ashes our old cemeteries hold. Francisco, Cal.; of James C. and WEISERS ANI> MUHLENBERGS. Louis A. Livingood, both life-long residents and So are the Weisers and the Muh- skilled and widely- known physicians, practicing all lenbergs, which, for a succession of their life at Womelsdorf. generations to the present one, have He was also the father of another kept themselves at the very front of son, a doctor, who practiced medi- the varied callings and honored pro- cine in Sinking Spring for a while, fessions, the children of this town and later moved to Rossville, Illinois, and community. But we shall de- where, after years of practice, he vote a chapter to this family alone. died about 19 00, and there is buried, Among other names wielding an viz., Michael T. Livingood. Two influence here, at the beginning and other sons, Jacob Seltzer Livingood during the first third of the 19th cen- and William H. Livingood, both were tury, were Rev. Dr. William Hendel, eminent lawyers of Reading*, Pa. the Reformed minister, an eloquent The former promient at the preacher and a moulding influence was Berks county bar from 1845 to 1906, in his synod; the second and third whose sons, generation of Weisers; Dr. Robert two Frank S. and Edwin S. Livingood, follow in Woods, the local doctor; the Eges of their father's footsteps and are among the best the Charming Forge, George for 2 8 years a judge of our county courts; known lawyers and social and re- ligious betterment workers of Peter Eckert and Peter Womelsdorf, Read- ing, while son of the founder of the town and their brother, Charles J. a soldier of the War of 1812-15: the Livingood, of Cincinnati, O., is the Ritschards (Richards); John Benne- legal trustee of a large estate. An- thum; the two Ermentrouts, Chris- other son of Jacob Seltzer Livingood, topher and Johannes; Frederick A. Louis E., a graduate of the Univer- Schulze, the merchant; the elder sity of Pennsylvania as an M. D., Sallades, Reeds, Seiberts, Bucks, Fid- went to an untimely death at sea in lers, Laucks, Livingoods and others. the sinking of the Burgoyne on Conrad Stouch kept the Central July 4, 1898. Still another son, Hotel and with Calder, of Harris- Henry S., a graduate of the Freiberg burg, owned the old stage line then University, of Saxony, as a mining running between Reading and Har- engineer, died in 1892. Two daugh- risburg. They all lived here and are ters of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob S. Liv- here buried, and whatever noted sons ingood, survive and reside in Read- or daughters of this stock have ing, Pa., viz., Miss Ella C. Livingood blessed and gladdened humanity and Mrs. Alice M. Surls, the widow must be credited to our town and of the late Joseph K. Surls. community. John Pliny, the Moores, The other son of John B. Livin- Eckerts, Hirsch and Frederick A. good, the medical ancestor, was Wil- Schulze were in business here, while liam H. Livingood, a noted lawyer the Tryons and John Livingood were from 1860 to 1906. A son of Dr. the doctors. Louis A. Livingood, took up his 88 Annals oi Womelsdorf and Community father's profession and field, Dr. Moore, long assisting his father and Horace F. Livingood, and carried on now devoted to farming, while a wide practice in and about Wom- another granddaughter Mayme and elsdorf until his death, in 1915. He grandson Paul live in Redlands, Cal., left two sons, John and Louis A., the where the latter is proprietor and former practicing in Reading and the editor of a daily newspaper, the Red- latter in the old field of Womelsdorf, lands Daily Facts. thus carrying forward this art of A daughter of Dr. Moore's, Fannie, healing- into the fourth generation. married Rev. Frederick O. Pilgrim, Another physician of this stock is Dr. of the Reformed Church and served William W. Livingood, of Robesonia, pastorates, the last one being at the son of William H. and Anna Liv- L-ititz. Both are now sleeping in the ingood, of Reading, where he form- family burial plot here, after a useful erly practiced, but lately gave up career. the practice for fruit and poultry The Seltzer name has added dis- business, and for this reason he has tinction to our town. Not only is It taken up his residence at Robesonia. ar. old name and connected with the Like all families, in the course of Livingood, Moore and many other time, the Livingood family has be- brands of good stock, but by its own come connected by marriage with a patronymic have sons and daughters long list of other family names. We arisen to do it honor. Franklin P. have counted over 70 collateral sur- Seltzer left Womelsdorf, his native names, among whom are quite a town, to become one of the pioneer number who have achieved distinc- settlers of Crestline, O., later remov- tion in the professions— of medicine ing to Philadelphia, where he was for at least seven, and in that of the many years one of its most success- ministry at least three, and in the ful merchants. Here his son, Dr. business affairs of life not a few. Charles Meek Seltzer, has long been But the Livingoods excel them all in one of its most famous physicians the professions of law and of the and medical lecturers. Likewise did healing art. We have counted no Jonathan R. Seltzer, a son of William less than a dozen "Doctor Livin- Seltzer, of Womelsdorf, establish in goods" in only four generations, from Philadelphia a prosperous hardware Dr. John Bricker Livingood, of business, that under the firm name Womelsdorf, down to Louis A. Liv- of Seltzer-Klahr Co., developed a ingood, of today, whose shingle trade that extends throughout Penn- hangs out at the old stand in our sylvania and adjacent states. Two town. The lawyers number five. sons of the late George Seltzer, of town, have gained quite a name and EDITOR. A CALIFORNIA extensive practice in the legal profes- Another doctor's fame and family sion, the one at the Pottsville and the early added distinction to the name other at the Reading bar. of Womelsdorf. It is that of Dr. He lived long at the FOUNDED FIRST SUNDAY John Moore. SCHOOL. corner of High and Second streets, in town, and practiced his profession in The Stephen family has added to all this section. He was widely the luster of Womelsdorf's good known and respected. His brother, name. Early in the past century James, long carried on a successful Walker Stephen came to town as a store business in town, while his sons, young school teacher. He was one Capt. William G., Thomas and Frank, born to be a teacher and did much were successful in their varied lines for the uplift of educational stand- of business, extensive farmer and ards in town. He was the founder horse dealer, mercantile and rail- of the first Sunday school in town, roading. One grandson is still among connected with the Presbyterian our best citizens. William M. S. Church, of which he was a member. Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 89 He promoted the town academy and years of academy life and its teacher furthered every laudable means of a.nd pupils in a lengthy Pennsylvania community enlightenment. He served German poem that shows the in- as torch-bearer of light and love for fluence this teacher exerted. (See many decades, and when aged he Pennsylvania German Mag, Vol. V. was looked upon as a veritable saint, p. 73.) He must have been a born and highly esteemed by everybody. teacher from the way his name is The children all loved him and many frequently spoken by many of his have carried his image in their former pupils, who will not let it mental lockers through long years of perish while one of them is alive, pilgrimage. or a brick remains in the old wall, His son, John Stephen, was a noted now remodeled into a dwelling house doctor here for years, and here lies and occupied by Adam Lengle ana buried. One of his daughters mar- his family, on North First street. ried Prof. John B. Quimby, his as- The successful lives of these scores sistant and successor, through which of pupils, who are still surviving the name the Stephen blood descended long past close of Prof. Krumbine's to the next generation in the kindly early school days, are the best com- and successful services of two sons of ments upon the character of the this union. The one of these was work of this "Old Domsey" of former Rev. Alden Walker Quimby, born in Womelsdorf. Of them many, most, "Womelsdorf in 1854, a Methodist have made good. His own son, El- minister, serving churches at Bain- mer, gained a name the world over bridge, Radnor and for 2 6 years the as an acrobat, whose Belgian wife, pastor of the Berwyn Methodist Epis- now a widow, and her family are still copal Church, near Philadelphia, living in our midst. who, perhaps, was better known as QUOTA OF PREACHERS. an author and scientist even than as a preacher, for he wrote on many Of preachers and preachers' wives, historical subjects, was author of two Womelsdorf and community has novels and published astronomical furnished its quota. The parsonages observations, reporting them regu- at Tulpehocken have given their pro- larly to the Polytechnium at Zurich, portion. The yield of the Christ Switzerland. He died Sept. 12, of Lutheran parsonage were Rev. J. this year, in Philadelphia. His Daniel Kurtz, D. D., of Baltimore reputation, and J. Andrew Schulze. brother, Henry Quimby, is a noted structural engineer of Philadelphia, afterward governor of Pennsylvania. Another noted minister of the Lu- and is at present employed in the bridge construction across the Dela- theran Church was the late Rev. Dr. ware, at Philadelphia. A grandson Reuben Weiser, son of Benjamin Weiser, born in Womelsdorf in 1807, of Dr. John Stephen is at present famous in his as an orator druggist of Reading and writer of day and the book, folk-lore, history and old neighbor- author of "Regina, the hood events of Berks county, Walker German Captive." He died in L. Stephen. Georgetown, Col., Dec. 8, 1885. The Tulpehocken Reformed parson- RECALLED IN POEM. age sent out at least five preachers Another teacher, whose name Is to the knowledge of the writer, viz. often spoken and whose memory is Rev. William Hendel, D. D., Jr.; revered by scores and scores of Revs. Aaron S., Thomas C. and Sam- his successful pupils, is the late Prof. uel A. Leinbach, the sons of Rev. John S. Krumbine. the successor of Thomas H. Leinbach, for 38 years Walker Stephen and the life and the pastor, and Rev. Calvin H. Lein- personification of the Womelsdorf bach, son of Dr. Charles H. Leinbach, academy. M. A. Gruber, of Wash- pastor for 2 years after his brother's ington, D. C, recalls those happy decease. 90 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community Of these sons of the Tulpehocken ing to the end of his life, and is Reformed parsonage, Rev. Thomas buried here. C Leinbach served for many decades In his well-ordered family were a large country charge with his resi- born and grew up several bright and dence at Womelsdorf. Out of this promising boys. William, early turn- pastor's home came three sons that ing his attention to religious activi- ties, studied for the ministry and be- entered the Reformed ministry, all came a long-honored pastor and of whom have given "good proof editor in the Evangelical Association. of their ministry." These are Rev. He himself relates the first impres- Paul S. Leinbach, D. D., formerly sions and steps to this high calling pastor at Bath, Pa., now the editor in a volume of reminiscences which of the denominational organ of his he published towards the evening of church, the Reformed Church Mes- his long and honored life. He served senger, of Philadelphia. He is widely his church as pastor, secretary of the known also for his extensive world- missionary society and editor of its encircling travels, his erudition and church paper for over 60 years, popular lecturing ability. The sec- with his home in Cleveland, O.. for ond son, Rev. Edwin S. Leinbach, over 50 years, where he died in May, resides in Womelsdorf and succeeded 1919, aged over 8 9 years. his father as pastor of a rural charge He was author of some deeply lying about Womelsdorf. Rev. Elmer spiritual, devotional, theological G. Leinbach is the third son of books, a great writer on temperance Thomas C. to enter the ministry, and one of the leading lights of his now the successful pastor of the Re- church in the day of its greatest formed Church at Palmyra. growth and spiritual power. One of WALKED FROM BALTIMORE. his daughters, Mrs. Ellen J. Y. Preyer is the editor of the North Another old family of Womelsdorf Carolina White Ribboner, a monthly furnished the church with two min- published in Greensboro, N. C, isters, a son and a grandson. It was whose own daughter is married to that of John Yost, long known here Judge N. L. Eure. as "Pappy Yost." When a youth he came from Germany in the same sail- EVANGELICAL MINISTER. ing vessel with George Lauer and Rev. William Yost had an older his family of two sons and three brother, whose name was Henry daughters. They landed in Balti- Lauer Yost, who married Mary more practically penniless, in 1823, Stoner, with whom he had three chil- and thence walked to Berks county, dren, the eldest one, Henry Rudolph whither a sister of Mr. Lauer had Yost, also becoming a minister of the preceeded them. They all settled in Evangelical Church, who in due time Womelsdorf, and Mr. Yost, by and married Mary L. Spang, daughter of by, married one of the daughters of Peter and Rebecca Spang, of Wom- George Lauer, then carrying on the elsdorf. He was a very successful brewing business at Womelsdorf, and minister in his denomination, and whose sons became two of the great- serving in the itinerancy was pastor est brewers of Eastern Pennsylvania, of a number of charges between 18 71 Frederick Lauer, of Reading, and and 1888, when he died at Womels- George Lauer, of Pottsville, both dorf. Of his family of six children, spending several years of their boy- the eldest son is Harry P. Yost. He hood life in Womelsdorf. When Mr. has been an employee of the Read- Lauer moved with his family to ing Eagle since 1889, at present be- Reading, in 1826, he sold out his ing foreman of the press and stereo- business at Womelsdorf to his son- type departments, and since 1906 in-law, Mr. Yost. Yost remained has been a member of the Reading here following the business of brew- school board. Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 91 Other ministers whom the town ler, of the Lutheran Church, of El- and community of Womelsdorf gave mira, N. Y., is another ministerial to the various denominations known son of Womelsdorf. tc the writer are Rev. Robert Bausch, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Augustus LEISS COUSINS. Bausch, of this town, and brother Of other Reformed pastors from of the wife of Rev. Edwin S. Lein- this community of the generation bach, who is now the Reformed pas- preceding the one now on the stage tor at Sellersville, Bucks county. of action, were the Revs. Aaron and Rev. Harry D. Althouse, the son of Henry Leiss, two cousins, reared in Mr. and Mrs. Irvin D. Althouse, was the neighborhood of Host, north of reared here, and after completing his town, who served their church long college and theological training at in the active pastorate, the former's Lancaster, was ordained as a Re- last charge being Orwigsburg, where formed minister in 1921 and is now he died some years ago, the latter serving the Reformed Church at still living and serving in the min- Berwyn, Pa. He was recently mar- istry. Another minister was born ried to a daughter of Charles P. and reared in this, community, on Schaeffer, the cashier of our town Joseph Leiss' farm, in the person of bank. They have a bright future Rev. Paul D. Yoder, the present Re- before them. Another Reformed formed minister at Codorus, York county, Pa. He is a nephew of our minister from our town is Rev. John townsman, George D. Yoder, residing Keever, of Easton. near Hoffa's Mill. Of Lutheran pastors we can name Last, but not least among the Rev. David L. Fogelman, of Denver, preacher sons of this community is son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Mahlon Rev. Paul J. Dundore, a son of Mr. H Fogelman, of town, whose efficient arid Mrs. Jonathan E. Dundore, of helpmeet, Ella Keiser Fogelman, is the neighborhood of the Charming also one of Womelsdorf's daughters, Forge, at present pastor of the Re- formed Church in Greenville, while the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. from the same general neighborhood John Keiser, of this G. town, and sis- hails also Rev. John Calvin Fisher, ter of the successful barrister of Lutheran pastor in North Philadel- Reading, Harry P. Keiser. Also the phia, and Arthur Graeff, a son of Kline brothers, Rev. John J. Kline, Henry, who is now training in the Ph. D., D. D., pastor at Pottstown, theological seminary at Lancaster. author and one of the leaders of his We might also legitimately claim Rev. Keener, D. of Wil- conference and synod, and Rev. Wil- E. F. D., mington, N. C-, Lutheran pastor, and liam H. Kline, Lutheran pastor at for one and a half years a chaplain Urban. They are the sons of Jacob overseas, whose father and ances- and Katharine Kline and were reared tors, the Smiths, were born and lived north of Stouchsburg. Rev. J. Hass- many years in Womelsdorf. 92 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community - - eg s c = ., , ...... '.: :•: mm wmmmmmmmmwa h o p £3 —X — Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 93 Chapter XIV. NOTED SONS AND DAUGHTERS It will take another chapter to continued until the death of the name the noted and successful sons senior partner in 19 02, since which and daughters who have gone out time Mr. Keiser has been practicing from Womelsdorf and reflected alone. honor upon it. There are many CITY SOLICITOR. names which Womelsdorf is proud He served as city solicitor of Read- to mention and which she will al- ing for three years. Mr. Keiser is ways be proud to claim as her chil- still a loyal son of Womelsdorf, dren. We have given a list of where he "was born, got his start in teachers and professional men, es- life, married his wife, Valeria A. pecially doctors and ministers. We Kintzer, a daughter of Isaac T. shall follow this with others in other Kintzer, long a justice of the peace walks of life who have added glory in Womelsdorf, and for two years, to the place of their birth and train- 1895-1897, warden of the Berks ing. county prison; and where all his Taking up the legal profession, we forebears on both sides of his par- have spoken of the Ermentrouts and entage have lived, died and been Livingoods of the past generations; buried for a number of generations. also of the Seltzer Bros., who have Another lawyer of the Berks all graced the profession of law and county bar is William E. Fisher, a jurisprudence and a number of them descendant of an old German rose to the highest honors our pioneer, Sebastian Fisher, who county can bestow. settled early in what is now North Among others in the same profes- Heidelberg township, a little to the sion is Harry P. Keiser. He was east of the Klopp Store neighbor- born in Womelsdorf, son of John G. hood. His ancestors were loyal and Rebecca M. Keiser, grew up to Americans, having part in the two manhood here, got his earliest men- martial struggles with England. tal training here in the public The lawyer's great-grandfather, schools and town academy, taught John Fisher, was a soldier in the school here at an early age, when War of 1812, and participated in the writer remembers him as a the battle of Baltimore, in- August, buoyant and promising youth. 1814, in which engagement, one While teaching- he looked forward night, Francis Scott Key wrote the to the law as his profession and did immortal song, "The Star-Spangled some preliminary reading, and in Banner." Lawyer Fisher's father 18 79 registered as a student at law was a teacher of North Heidelberg with J. Howard Jacobs, then one of for 2 5 years and justice of the peace the leading practitioners in the of the township for many years. Berks county courts as a criminal The son prepared and qualified at lawyer. In Mr. Jacobs' office young 16 years of age to follow his fath- Mr. Keiser got excellent training, and er's profession temporarily. Subse- upon his admission into practice re- quently he was graduated from the mained with Mr. Jacobs, a few years Keystone State Normal School, class later establishing the law firm of of 1897. He studied law under the Jacobs & Keiser. This relationship preceptorship of Christian H. RuhL 94 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community He was admitted to practice in the the Marion Academy of Stouchsburg Berks county courts on Nov. 12, and the State Normal School at 1900, and later to practice in the Kutztown, graduating with first hon- Supreme Court of the state. As a ors in the class of 1881. He taught side issue he has also been engaged school a few years, but continued his in the building business at Reading studies and was graduated from and erected many houses. All his Franklin and Marshall College in kin and early associations lead his 1885. mind and memory to this western For four years thereafter he end of the county as "back home." taught mathematics at the Kutztown ANOTHER WOMELSDORFIAN. Normal School, but pursued his law studies meanwhile, being registered Still another son of this commu- as a,student-at-law with J. H. Marx, nity following the legal profession of Kutztown. He then entered the in Reading is the present district law office of Cyrus G. Derr and con- attorney, is H. Robert Mays. He tinued his studies here till admitted a full-blooded Womelsdorfiian. His to the Berks county bar in Novem- parents ancestors and have lived ber, 189 0. He served as district at- here and nearby, at Schaefferstown, torney and was admitted to the Su- for generations. His brother, Jacob perior and Supreme Courts of the H. Mays, is a resident and successful state and the District, Circuit and businessman of Womelsdorf. Mr. Supreme Court of the United States. Mays, the lawyer, was born here, the Since 1909 he has been a judge of son of Henry G. and Susan M. (nee the Court of Common Pleas of this Deppen) Mays. After finishing his county. He also served for six years studies in the town schools, he at- as a member of the Reading school tended for a while Albright and board and for a year as its president, Franklin and Marshall Colleges, while he serves the Bethany Or- graduating from the Dickinson Law phans' Home on its board of man- School at Carlisle in 1902. He read agers. law with the Rothermel Bros., of Another very successful son of this Reading, the senior member, Hon. community is Josiah E. Price, son of John H., filling at one time the of- John and Mary (Deppen) Price, who fice of congressman from this dis- was born at Womelsdorf (on the old trict. He was admitted to practice Deppen farm), Dec. 4, 1843. He on Feb. 20, 1904. was educated in the town schools Mr. Mays is borough solicitor of (Academy), and at Reading. He this, his native town, and also of taught school, worked in art studios the Womelsdorf Union Bank and the of Maurer & Devlin until 18 64, when present district attorney of Berks he secured a position with the P. & county. R. R. R. Co. in the office of G. A. Before we turn to other classes Nicolls, Esq., then the general super- of celebrities, we must not fail to intendent of the company. He ad- mention one in whom this commu- vanced rapidly and in 18 77 was nity has a right to feel a just pride, transferred to the accounting de- namely Judge George W. Wagner. partment at Philadelphia, where the Although not born here, or of Wom- general offices were then situated. elsdorf parentage, he owes his train- In 189 2 he was appointed auditor of ing as a youth to our local Bethany disbursements of the Reading system Orphans' Home, into which he was and has been at the head of this im- admitted at seven years of age, portant department until recently, shortly after the death of both his when he was retired on pension. parents. Here he was trained until His efficiency was recognized by his he was able to care for himself. He selection as a member of the Asso- then pursued his further studies at ciation of American Railway Ac- Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 95 counting' Officers, where he rendered cient teacher, Prof. John S. Krum- conspicuous service, recognized by bine, for setting him ablaze with en- the U. S. Government in the Inter- thusiasm and helping him form the state Commerce Commission rulings, habit of thoroughness and mastery effective since July 1, 1907. of whatever he undertook. He has Mr. Price was married in 186 6 to furnished the present writer with a Mary Ann Whitaker and their four fine reminiscent poem in the ver- children, like their forebears, are nacular of those days and associ- well connected. His father was born ations of Academy life here, which in Womelsdorf and hails from an old was published in the Pennsylvania- family, which immigrated to Amer- German Magazine years ago. ica, before the Revolution, from After spending five years here he England. His mother comes from entered an advanced class in Muh- Huguenot stock, which settled in lenberg College, from which he was Heidelberg township, this county. graduated in 18 77, with the first The American ancestor, Christian honor of his class. Then he followed Deppen, possessed a gold signet ring teaching for 14 years, long as prin- with the "fleur de lis" on the seal. cipal of the Bernville High School, where he prepared many young men KLOPPS, GRUBERS, FISHERS. and women for teaching and courses in higher institution of learning. If we would but cast our net for During 1890-91, 40 of his pupils were "big fish," beginning at the Tulpe- teachers in Berks county alone. hocken northwest of town, and make Since March, 1891, he has filled a a circumscriptive sweep about the clerkship in the War Department at town of Womelsdorf for a few miles' Washington, D. C. width, we know we would make a big haul. In the neighborhood of CORNER CHURCH HISTORY. Charming Forge and Klopp's Store He has done more, perhaps, than would scoop up a monstrous we any other man in the county to pre- draft of such as are to big to fall serve the early local history, transfer through the net's meshes, for thence of properties, church history and come the Klopps, the Grubers, the Berks county genealogy. He has re- Fishers, the Reichs and Deppens and cently completed a volume of the Stumps and numerous other famil- history, official records and salient ies added to the good name who have neighborhood events of the (Corner) of this -community. The Klopps as St. Daniel's Church in Heidelberg doctors, ministers, druggists, busi- township, and presented it to the ness men and in other walks of life congregation that is a marvel of have carried their patronynic to the painstaking research, of diligent, un- end of the state and beyond as wearying labors with the type- efficiency synonyms of and honor. writer and of artistic finish to the Three Gruber brothers, of whom task. It is a massive volume like a is first, Michael A., now of Wash- family Bible and no one can reckon ington, D. C. in governmental em- its value in dollars and cents. ploy. He is one of the best speci- His brother, John E. Gruber, of mens of our rural bred Pennsyl- Robesonia, is also well versed in vania-German stock, with the right local history, has given his brother family culture, discipline and train- substantial assistance in his re- ing, and then with this start to hew searches, is a genius as a collector his way out of every adverse en- of ornithological specimens and a vironment, overcome every difficulty veritable walking encyclopedia on and push ahead until by intelligent all historical and personal data of perseverance he comes out at last the Heidelbergs. Still another at the top. He credits largely the brother. Prof. Calvin Luther Gruber, Womelsdorf Academy and its effi- who after the best training in the 96 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community home schools, entered the Normal formed a partnership with Dr. School at Kutztown. from which he James W. Deppen, an experienced was graduated in 188 6. He then physician, also of Wernersville. taught common school for three years, and in 18 89 was elected GRAND VIEW'S FOUNDERS. teacher of arithmetic and civil gov- In 18 79 they bought the Mountain ernment in his alma mater at Kutz- Home, a health institution, which town, and served since 1891 as sec- had gained some renown as a retary of the faculty. He is an au- "water-cure" resort, changed the thority on botany and has made a name to Grand Sanitarium and specialty of trees, shrubs and woody View built up the place, step, till vines, of which he has made large step by collections and has published many 1895, when Dr. Deppen died, and Dr. articles and brochures on them in Wenrich became the sole owner of educational journals. He is also well the institution. During the past 2 5 versed in birds and insects. This years this mountain resort has gone trio of brothers reflects credit on forward with marvelous strides. Dr. their parental training and influence, Wenrich is aided by his two sons, the grit of our best Pennsylvania- George G. and John A., also doctors German stock, of which they are and graduates of the University of good specimens, and of the quality Pennsylvania and State College, re- of mental timber grown in western spectively. Grand View is one of Berks. the best equipped, best managed, WENRICHS, best served, most grandly located and BEAVERS. RUTHS. most widely known and patronized By sweeping our net southward to health and rest institutions of our and across the William Penn High- land. Farms and woodland to the way we come into the neighborhood amount of 600 acres are in posses- of the old homes of the Wenrichs, sion and used to contribute to the Beavers, Ruths and other good fam- comfort, service and enjoyment of ily stock. The Wenrichs are an old the guests. Commodious buildings, Heidelberg family and doubtless all modernly equipped, fine flower many of this line of good pioneer and fruit gardens, all the most mod- stock have made their mark in the ern electrical and mechanical inven- world. We shall take up but one tions, with the best of water in member of the family, who is still abundance and scenery ranking with us at 80 years, active and alert. with the grandest of America, all We refer to Dr. Reuben D. Wenrich, minister to the fortunate guests, who the founder and proprietor of Grand here come for rest, recreation or View Sanitarium of Wernersville. revitalization. One would have to go He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. far to find a hotel where better meals Adam Wenrich and was born in are served. For years Dr. Wenrich Lower Heidelberg township, May and his sons and their families have 15, 1842. His township schooling given their skill, knowledge and was supplemented by courses at labors for the benefit of the guests Womelsdorf, Stouohsburg, Pugh- and patrons in greater comforts and town, Trappe and Millersville. Aft- conveniences and in more beautiful, erwards he was graduated from attractive surroundings. It is the Duff's Commercial College in Phila- marvelous, almost life-long creation delphia, and after reading medicine of a genius who has ability of head with Dr. William .J. Schoener, of and heart and hand, and has helped Strausstown. from the University of to give Wernersville a country-wide Pennsylvania in 18G4. From 1858 fame as a health resort. to 18 62 he taught school. After Another eminent doctor from these practicing medicine in and about parts was the late Dr. Daniel B. Wernersville for about 10 years, he Beaver, a noted specialist, of Read- Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 97 ing; Dr. Paul D. Reich, of Jones- have risen into prominence and suc- town, also hails from this section. cess. The accomplished wife of Prof. A. C. Rothermel, principal of OLD FAMILIES. the Keystone State Normal School, was born and reared in Womelsdorf, Coming a little closer to town we the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John have the Leiss family, the Laucks A. Spatz. Her sister is the wife of (Laux) household, and other old H. J. Schad, and another Womels- families, all descending from ances- dorf girl, the daughter of Mr. and tral stock leading back for 17 5 years. Mrs. S. Pierce Mowrey, now- Mrs. But all of them are still bearing Beulah Carr Nevin, the partner of good fruit and scions of the Leisses Mr. Schad in a chain of Reading (the son of George, a lawyer and theatres. Grandfather Samuel Mow- business man) are making good in ry was the inventor of the horse Reading, and of the Laucks, a son, hay-rake. Jacob, retired in our own town, and William H. Bennethum, for many another manufacturer and business years manager of the Harrisburg man of York, while the children of store of Dives, Pomeroy & Stewart, a daughter, Mrs. Mahlon Fogel- who died at Harrisburg last Septem- man (nee Laucks), besides the ber, was a native of Womelsdorf. clergyman of Denver already men- So is Rudolph J. Calm, one of the tioned, are all nobly active. departmental superintendents of this Mr. and Mrs. Mahlon Fogelman firm's store in Reading, an honored (she was Miss Elizabeth Laucks) son of Womelsdorf, whose name is lived together for 58 years and well known all over the county as reared a family of nine (seven boys an efficient and popular Sunday and two girls), who are making school worker. The late Dr. Peter noble records for themselves. They K. Filbert, who was a leading den- are Dr. A. P. Fogelman, head sur- tist of Pottsville, was born and bred geon of the Homestead Carnegie in Womelsdorf. So was Dr. Samuel Steel Works; Rev. D. L. Fogelman, Marshall, of Ashland, for 40 years a Lutheran pastor at Denver, Pa.; noted physician of that town. William B. Fogelman, who at the time of his death, aged 5 2, was LOCATED IN OHIO. secretary and treasurer of the M. C. To count all our boys, born and Ebbecke Hardware Co., of Allen- bred in town, and then gone abroad town, Pa.; Robert L. Fogelman. who to achieve success, we must not for- su- at death, aged 52, was general get the name Adam J. Rauck, who perintendent of the American Car rose to the front rank in Akron, O., and Foundry Co., of Terre Haute, in the cigar business, and was also Ind.; Vicus J. M. Fogelman, who head of a band of musicians. Then when he died, aged 39, was in the there is George Weidman, son of the jewelry business at Pittsburgh, Pa.; late Joel Weidman, who learned Oscar L. Fogelman, who is in the telegraphy of George Miller, the automobile business at Allentown, town operator of 40 years ago, and Pa.; Rev. Harry L. Fogelman, for- then went to the southwest and is merly pastor of Christ Reformed superintendent of telegraphy on Church of Allentown, Pa., is now railroad lines. So is Calvin Leight- Chautauqua and Lyceum lecturer ner, holding a similar position in and instructor of Ford salesman in railroad telegraphy in Missouri. Chicago. The daughters, Eva and Elias Arnold has for many years Lillian, both live at York, Pa. Of been station agent at Lickdale, while course, parents and a town can be Silas Tolbert, an orphan boy, was proud of such a family. raised here by his grandparents and Womelsdorf itself has sent out has achieved success in Canton, O. others, sons and daughters, who Thomas Moore built up a large to- 98 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community bacco business at Fifth and Penn, Laura Moyer, a dentist of Allentown; Reading:, while George Leiss estab- Miss Ada Moyer, a nurse in Philadel- lished a large dry goods store at phia; Henry Hackman, principal of Eighth and Penn. Dr. Charles S. the Stouchsburg public schools; Miss Pauline second-grade Phillips and Dr. Walker Phillips, his Hackman, a teacher at Reading, Pa.; Miss Ella brother, pharmacists, also hailed Moyer, a druggist at Tremont, Pa.; from this locality. Stewart Williamson, a graduate of Edward E. Croll, connected with Lehigh University, now mining en- editorial department of the Pub- the gineer at Reedsville, W. Va.; Miss Philadelphia, born lic Ledger, of was Mary Beckey, a trained nurse, now so was Paul Landis, a here, and residing in Womelsdorf; Miss Mary University. Dr. teacher at Illinois Weise, employed by the O. H. Ben- of Philadelphia, is Miriam Warner, nett Co., of Reading; Joseph Grimes, Filbert, the daughter of Rebecca at present taking an electrical engi- of the late herself the daughter neering course at the Keystone Insti- Filbert, town. two George of The tute, at Reading; Miss Helen Shenck, sons of Mr. and Mrs. John Schonour, bookkeeper for the Womelsdorf graduates of Mercersburg Seminary Motor Co.; Miss Elsie Wartluft, a and the William Penn School for teacher at Boyertown, Pa.; Miss Boys, of Philadelphia, are both suc- Mary E. Althouse, a nurse at Bryn cessful. The elder, a graduate of the Mawr Hospital; Ralph Knoll, an University of Pennsylvania, entered agricultural student at State College the coal business in Philadelphia; of Pennsylvania; Miss Bessie Fromm the younger, after graduating from and Miss Beulah Himmelreich and Cornell University, became the man- John Klopp, taking business courses ager of a large ranch in Terra at the Keystone Institute, of Read- Ceia, N. C. LeRoy F. Christman, ing, Pa. son of the postmaster at Womels- The three sons of Dr. Brossman dorf, a first honor graduate of our are successful, and ever so many local high school, and of high rank sons and daughters have remained as a graduate later in Lehigh Uni- right in town in the past and pres- versity, is one of the three engi- ent who have been or are now our neers employed by the county of leaders in business and industry, Berks and at present engaged on professional men and home makers work preliminary to the erection of too numerous to name without fear the Schuylkill avenue bridge at of prominent omissions. Reading. Quite a number of our And yet we cannot overlook the young folk are now away at schools, names of our public school faculty, as Miss Ella Moore, at Wilson, and so nobly headed by Miss Mary E. Miss Margaret Mays, at Smith's Col- Moore, the principal, assisted by leges. Also Miss Sarah Knoll, a Misses Annie Eberly, Charlotte student in Neff's School of Oratory, Hackman, Pauline Illig, Annie Kint- in Philadelphia; Miss Dorothy zer, who are natives, and J. Harold Schoener, a student of Hood Col- Klopp, Laura M. Snyder, Mabel A. lege, Md.; Miss Mary I. Althouse, Knoll and Clara Bordner, who come Miss Emma Wilhelm and Thomas from the surrounding nearby com- Fidler, students at the K. S. N. S., munity. Kutztown, Pa.; Earl Bennethum, a student at Franklin and Marshall MOTHERS AND TEACHERS. College, at Lancaster, Pa. From all this it would seem a Other promising sons and daugh- good and safe rule for one seeking ters of town are Miss Meta Schelley, fame and success in life was to order secretary for the S. S. White Manu- his birth and training in or about facturing Co.; George J. Moyer, a Womelsdorf. All honor to the teacher of Rochester, N. Y.; Miss mothers and teachers of this locality Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 99 of the past and present, too often (Mowry), Mrs. Schad (Spatz) and overlooked in our reckoning. many others. What a home-coming If one sweeps west of town, we some day, when all these children find many who have gone to Read- of Womelsdorf decide to go "back ing from this section and have home." plucked pronounced success from MUCH COUNTRY BLOOD. this seething municipality of earnest Reading, like every large city, has rivalry and endeavor. Thus John ever been getting much of its best D. Mishler, philanthropist, philoso- blood from the country. It is the pher and long theatrical manager, history, thus far, of all our younger the "Uncle John" of Reading, was and smaller cities and towns. A born and reared near Newmanstown. city's sources of purest water and So was W. W. Stewart, the tobaccon- best blood is rural. Wonder what ist, born in Newmanstown. The Yo- would happen if Reading, for in- cum Bros, hail from Stouchsburg. stance, were turned inside-out, like Illigs The of the Penn street store a flour sack, and dusted of all its were from the Mill Creek Valley, rural-bred population for only two and both the superintendent of the generations! Could its schools and Reading Eagle Co., John W. Rauch, churches and stores and business and its managing editor, Albert N. enterprises and manufactories and Burkholder, hail from these parts, street cars be run at all? Many law the former born in Heidelberg, near offices would be vacant and who Womelsdorf, and the latter in Strick- would sit on the judges' bench? lerstown. Surely this old Womels- How few doctors would be left! And dorf community has given to Read- many a pulpit would be vacant. Our ing some good blood since the days stores would suffer for heads of the of Conrad Weiser, one of its found- departments and many clerks would ers and first justices, and Peter Fil- be missed from the counters. Print bert, the first mayor. We have shops and newspaper offices, dental given it its Muhlen'bergs, Livingoods, parlors and drug stores, hotels and Ermentrouts, Lauers, Yosts, Geiss- business places would look woefully lers, its Filberts (a second mayor deserted! And would these now city recently), Stephens, Eckerts, Phil- dwellers all go back to their ances- lips, Beavers, Illigs, Mishlers, Stew- tral homes, how many of them would arts, Mays, Keisers, Prices, Mrs. trek back to Womelsdorf and the Rauch (nee Anderson), Mrs. Carr Tulpehocken region! 100 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community H '01 = • © € s 0) — Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 101 Chapter XV. EMINENT VISITORS As a matter of record it is always for the conversion of the North interesting- to know what distin- American Indians, came this way, to (present Sun- guished visitors have come to any en route Shamokin bury), whither a road had been community, and what was the oc- opened up from the east by way casion that them there. As brought of the Tulpehocken settlement, and far as this is possible, we shall in where an Indian tribe maintained this chapter do this for Womels- an encampment under the well- dorf and this community of the known Chief of Shekallamy. Find- Tulpehocken. ing these fellow German country- Inasmuch as a community church men hospitable and hungry for the gospel, the Moravian missionaries was erected as early 1727 and the as remained over and preached for original settlement quite a large one, them, incidentally making a few constantly augmented by new acces- converts to their faith from among sions and these a sincerely religious these early settlers. people among whom the church life After Conrad Weiser's arrival, his figured prominently, it might be ex- knowledge of the Indian tongue and pected that the first men of promi- his willing heart to lend assistance nence who were induced to visit this to so worthy a missionary enter- Tulpehocken community would be prise, these missionaries found in him a willing co-laborer and his religious leaders from older settle- home a frequent meeting and stop- ments. Hence we find that during ping place for these early Moravian the very earliest years the Luth- heralds of the cross. Thus, grad- eran pastor, of Schoharie, N. Y., Rev. ually they also gained a foothold John Bernhart von Duehren, visited in the Lutheran congregational life the colony once or twice to minister at Rieth's Church by inducing them to them by preaching the Gospel, to accept their ministers and teach- ers as supplies. This arrangement and to administer the holy sacra- brought hither not only such pastors ments. Later Rev. Gerhard Henckel, as the Moravians sent them, as pastor of Falckner's Swamp and Revs. Buettner, Maurer and Leit- other Lutheran churches, came for becker, the last of whom had been the same purpose. They held serv- a parochial teacher for a while, but ices in some one's house (likely it induced also the Moravian bishops, Casper, or Loenhardt Rieth's, or Cammerhof, Spangenberg, Kohler, and perhaps Zeisberger, and finally Heinrich Zeller's), up to this time; Count Ludwig von Zinzendorf, their but Rev. Henckel induced them to greatest leader and the founder of "rise and build" a church, which the American branch of the Mora- they did in 1727, together with a vian Church, to visit here. school house. By about 1731, or 1732, Rev. John Casper Stoever, then of Conestoga, MORAVIAN MISSIONARIES. and the greatest Lutheran Church organizer and home missionary of Being, however, without a pastor that period in Pennsylvania, came and very desirous of regular serv- upon the scene, declared the Mora- ices, they were ready to accept al- vians non-Lutheran and interlopers most any makeshift now to have and, associating with him a faction God's word expounded unto them of the congregation, sought to oust and be led in the worship of His the Moravian pastors out of their Holy Name. For a time vagrant assumed pastor.d office and rights. self-styled preachers supplied this This led to bitter factions and a want; for a period the school notorious "controversy," which con- teacher read some one's printed ser- tinued for over a decade and brought mon for the festal Sunday. But soon to the scene other church leaders the earliest Moravian missionaries and officers of the law and endless sent forth from Herrnhut, Germany, conferences and hostilities. 102 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community PENNS SURVEYORS. hocken Lutheran Church, was started upon a solidly Lutheran Previous to these church and legal basis, placing at its head Rev. Tobias gatherings the surveyors of William Wagner, himself of noble descent, as Penn, the proprietor, were in these first pastor. Muhlenberg came again parts, evidently to survey the local in the course of this development manors, already described in Chap- and in consequence the Moravian ter III, to fix the lines of these adherents withdrew from the Rieth's manors devised to his children and Church and founded a church of also, in 1727, to survey the new Tul- their own in North Heidelberg. pehocken road then laid out "be- In April, 1745, young Muhlenberg tween the Lutheran meeting house came again, but on a different mis- on the Tulpehocken and George sion. He came to lead Conrad in Oley." Boone's meeting house Weiser's eldest daughter, Anna Who these surveyors were is not Maria, to the nuptial altar as his certainly known by the writer, but bride. He had brought with him it is probable that Nicholas Scull, two recently arrived pastors, also surveyor-gen- who was the Penns' from Halle, Revs. J. H. Schaum and eral a little later, when the town of Peter Brunnholtz, as witnesses, or Reading was laid out, and previous groomsmen. The couple went to surveys made thereabouts, • was Christ Lutheran Church, or parson- already in this employ when the age, newly constructed, where the proprietor's will was being carried pastor, Rev. Tobias -Wagner, united out with reference to these manor them in holy marriage on April 22, tracts and patents. So we credit the 1745, the record of it in the church presence along the Tulpehocken of book to this day bearing witness in the Penn surveyors about this early Rev. Wagner's bold hand in the fol- period. lowing language, under the head of Among the Reformed church marriages: leaders we know that Revs. John "Der wolehrwuerdige H. Heinrich Philip Boehm, George Michael Melchior Muhlenberg, best-verdien- Weiss and J. Peter Miller were the ter Lutherischer prediger, des mit first missionaries on the scene. The Jungfrau Anna Maria Weiserin, des visits of Conrad Beissel, founder of hoch-edlen Hr. Justus Conrad the Cocalico or Ephrata Cloister "Weiser's allhier off. ledigen tochter Church of Seventh Day Baptists in proclamirt und copulirt, Freitags 173 5, and afterwards to propagate nach Ostern." converts or his doctrines and make Translated this reads: proselytes, adds another noted Mr. Melchior church leader to the list of emi- "The Rt. Rev. Henry Lutheran nent visitors of this section in that Muhlenberg, most worthy preacher, was here united in mar- e irly period. riage on Friday after Easter, with Miss Anna Maria Weiser, the pub- REV. MUHLENBERG'S VISITS. licly proclaimed single daughter of the most honorable Mr. Justice Con- But the churchman, who wielded rad Weiser." the widest and longest influence in this community, and one of the greatest church organizers of Amer- PRAYED FOR PIOUS WIFE. ica, paid his first visit here in 1743. He was Rev. Henry Melchoir Muh- In his account of this event, sent declares that recent graduate of the to Halle, Muhlenberg lenberg, a remain Halle Orphans' Institution, or Uni- he had always intended to unmarried, but numerous officious versity, of Germany—the school of Spener and Francke. He had but matchmakers in the city and coun- him, and the recently arrived in Philadelphia at try kept annoying in- the earnest solicitation of the com- devil, by means of false and him, bined churches of Philadelphia, famous rumors, began to worry Trappe, Goschenhoppen and Falck- so that "he prayed the Lord to give pious wife. Lord re- ner's Swamp. He came for their him a The his prayers granted him spiritual and pastoral supervision. garded and 'pure in He had taken up his abode at Trappe a young woman who was heart, pious, ^unpretentious, meek and named it New Providence, and active.' " (Halle Reports, was now come to settle the trouble- and p. some church quarrel on the Tulpe- 117). hocken. He was the guest of Con- We are glad for this description rad Weiser and with his enlighten- of one of Womelsdorf's early belles, ment went into the whole protracted the chaste and modest Christian trouble to the very root and bottom daughter of one of its leading fami- of it and doubtless with his advice, lies of that day, destined to become or consent, the new (Christ) Tulpe- "the first lady in the land" in the Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 103 Lutheran church and the ancestress its very top at Eagles' Peak and of one of America's noblest and most from its summit "view the land- famous families. scape o'er." Dr. Mann, in his "Life and Times of Muhlenberg," alluded Muhlenberg alludes to this union to this event from data taken from again in his Halle, or diary', reports Muhlenberg's own diary, and says: in this wise (translation): "In the year 1743 our friend, Conrad Weiser, became acquainted with the first SANG OLD HYMNS. German Evangelical preacher, sent "The sun was shining, sky clear hither, fell in love with him and his and the large rocks protected them doctrine, and in 1745, gave him his from the biting March winds. Three eldest daughter as bride. This close eagles were circling about the sum- relationship caused occasional visits mit, which led their and a permanent correspondence. hearts and memories back to Halle, their Both were employed, as far as God Alma Mater, where a symbolic eagle granted grace, to the edification of couched in front of the wide-spread- the soul in which he seemed for ing rays of the sun on the orphan in- various to appear rather sound years stitution. Bible quotations were and alive in the faith. The Holy given by the party, as suggested by Bible was to him a thoroughly this scene, and some old familiar book." German church hymns were intoned and praisies to God carried from this IN MANY PULPITS. lofty height to His heavenly throne." So here, at Womelsdorf, were From this it appears that this great leaders of the Lutheran Church apostle of American Lutheranism engaged in the planting of this visited here occasionally in all the church of Luther and the Reforma- years to follow till his death own tion upon the American continent, in 17 87. Were one to follow this settling the future home and sphere patriarch's itinerary, the correct of influence of its destined patriarch of .these visits could be se- dates and healing the bitter waters of the cured. Generally they were in con- church at Lancaster at the time. nection with preaching itineraries, Other great or synodical gatherings, in these meetings at Weiser's are known and recorded: Shekal- parts, for Muhlenberg is known to lamy, the chief, or agent of the great have preached in most of the old federation of eastern Indian tribes, churches hereabouts St. Daniels, — known as the Five, later Tulpehocken, Millbach, Six Nations, the two and residing at Shamokin (now Sun- Schaefferstown, Brickerville and bury), came here as early as 1731 other old county Lancaster and induced Conrad Weiser to ac- churches. company him to Philadelphia. It One particular and important was doubtless he who introduced visit of Muhlenberg and other- Weiser to Gov. Gordon, who learned church dignitaries, is on record, and to appreciate the latter's worth as must not be omitted. In March, an interpreter and thus opened 1751, Pastor Muhlenberg received a Weiser's official career as colonial call from the New York Lutherans interpreter for the governors of half a dozen colonies to become their shepherd. It was a during the period of the Indian treaties hard question for him to decide and settlements. alone. Other weighty church mat- ters lay on his heart. So he sum- VISITS BY INDIAN CHIEFS. moned a number of his fellow pas- Shekallamy and other Indian tors of Pennsylvania to meet him chiefs came frequently to Weiser's at his father-in-law's house for a home in the years to come. In 173 2 conference on the situation. They the six nations agreed to have Shek- met him here on March 21, 751, allamy and Conrad Weiser as their Rev. Brunnholtz, pastor of the mediators and interpreters, and for Philadelphia and Germantown Lu- decades Weiser was almost con- theran congregations; Rev. J. C. stantly employed by them and the Hartwick, later of Hartwick Theo- colonial governments. Frequent logical Seminary fame of New York conferences were held at his home state, Rev. Handschuh, of Lancas- by representatives of both the In- ter, and others of his clerical breth- dian tribes and the colonies. Weiser ren met at Reading a few days pre- became an orficial and historical vious, where it seems Conrad Wei- character and his home as historical ser was then living. But on the 22d o meeting place as some royal courts. they all went together to the Hei- In September, 1736, the chiefs of delberg homestead, and then de- the six nations, by previous arrange- cided to climb the mountainside to ment, gathered here at Weiser's 104 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community home. He was to appear with them leaders passed through here between at President Logan's house, Stenton, 1755 and 1763. Philadelphia, to ratify the treaty Whom the funeral of Conrad in 3 2. made with them 17 There, on Weiser attracted to this community the 28th, in the presence of Gov. in 1760 we cannot certainly tell. Thomas Penn, the same was effected. Doubtless his wife (See Colonial Records). Muhlenberg and and children were here. Rev. John In the year 173 8 Bishop Spangen- Nicholas Kurtz preached his funeral berg, David Zeisberger She- and sermon and doubtless some acquaint- bosh, Moravian missionaries to the ances and officials of the village of Indians, meet here to engage Weiser Reading as other to accompany them to Onandago, attended as well N. Y., (a sort of capital for these six old associates from this settlement. tribes, the Mohawks, Onandagoes, The interests that would bring Senekas, Oneidas, Tuscaroras and noted strangers to this community the Cayougas), a distance of 50 for the period between the two miles through pathless forests, wars of the colonists were the which he did, enduring great hard- church -life, the Charming Forge in- ships. In 1741 he here instructed dustry, the laying out and building three of their missionaries, Pyrlaeus, boom of the town of Womelsdorf, to- Buettner and Zander, in the Indian gether with the renewed foreign im- language for three months. migration movement and the settle- ment of the ever westward receding ZINZENDORF'S REQUEST. frontier of Pennsylvania. Un- fortunately we have few records left his In 1742 Count Zinzendorf is at to tell us of these local events. The house to induce Weiser to accom- ledgers of the Charming Forge (pre- pany him to Bethlehem to interpret served in the Pennsylvania Historical his sermons there to the Indians to Society library of Philadelphia), con- whom he preached. He spent the tain accounts of the trading at this month of August doing this, greatly place. The "Documentary History ac- drawn to this spiritual teacher, o;' the Ministerium of Pennsylvania" cording to his own words. On Jan. and the published "Minutes and Let- 30, 1743, Thomas McKee, Gov. ters of the Coetus (Reformed Thomas' messenger, spent the night Church) of Pennsylvania" are very at Weiser's and accompanied him interesting, as they give us glimpses next day on a trip to Shamokin, on of the life and personnel of the an errand for the government. churches in this community. There On June 18, 1743, another official we find who- the pastors were and (name not given in narrative), came lay delegates that attended these from Philadelphia with instructions annual ecclesiastical conventions and from our provincial government in what were the questions discussed. behalf of Virginia, to carry terms .of a treaty for some disputed lands MINISTERIUM MEETING. in that province with the Six Na- tions to Onandago. (Journal of this Thus we notice that on Oct. 4 and trip in Colonial Records). 5, 1779, the 32d convention of the Many more important personages Ministerium of Pennsylvania was than here given must have been at held in Christ (Tulpehocken) Lu- Weiser's home during these decades theran Church. The following min- of Indian negotiations between at isters were present: Revs. Kurtz, least half a dozen colonies and the sr., president; Kurtz, jr., Schulze, eastern Indian tribes, which kept Voight, Frederick August and Henry him almost constantly employed as Ernest Muhlenberg, Lehman, agent and interpreter in travel and Schroeter, Goehring and Melsheimer, council meetings. But the outbreak nearly all of whom would have to of the French and Indian War in pass through Womelsdorf. In like the fifties brought more characters manner these synodical conventions of note to this community. Thus, for the years 1788 (held at Read- in June, 175 4, Weiser accompanied ing), 1789 (at Lebanon), 1794 Benjamin Franklin to Albany, N. Y. (again at Reading). 179 8 (at Leba- Did they meet here? non), 1802 (at Reading), 1808 (at Lebanon), 1813 (at Reading), etc., GOVERNOR A VISITOR. would have caused many of these veteran preachers and their dele- In January, 1756, Gov. Robert H. gates to pass through our town. Morris and James Logan were here Likewise the "Minutes of Coetus" on their way to a conference at show visits and conferences of many Carlisle by way of Harris Ferry. of the early Reformed pastors in this Weiser accompanied them. Doubtless community before Womelsdorf had many other military companies and its own church (1793). Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 105 It should be mentioned also that sey and Philadelphia—by passing up the pastors who ministered to the through this valley of the Tulpe- Scotch-Irish Presbyterians who had hocken. If so, we may claim the settled beyond this German settle- credit of having had such distin- ment towards the Susquehanna, and guished men as Revs. David Brain- built their earliest churches before erd (afterwards the great and 1740 at Hanover, Lebanon county. famous Indian missionary) ; Charles Derry and Paxtang, Dauphin county, Beatty, the Tennents and William very likely reached them—as they Bertram pass through our streets. came from New England, New Jer- 106 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community The Hills Which John Penn Saw—Then Without Buildings Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 107 Chapter XVI. EMINENT VISITORS Beginning now with the Revolu- and quaint-mannered entertain- tionary War period and continuing ment at the German inn at Trexler's our account of the visits to these (Trexlertown), with its scrupulous parts by eminent strangers we have cleanliness and good cooking of the already seen in former chapters painstaking little Pennsylvania-Ger- what local leaders of that conflict man landlady. Well, if they passed for independence were brought to up this way for Lancaster from our community. It remains to be Reading then my readers have but told that many illustrious person- to look at the personnel of that il- ages must have passed through this lustrious Congress to know what a valley, and hence through Womels- distinguished party of visitors or dorf, during this war. The occasions travelers, our town has to its credit. were the passing of war prisoners into and through these parts, the MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. nursing of our own wounded sol- The following persons' composed diers in large numbers at Bethle- the Congress that sat in York, and hem and Ephrata (some even at as they fled along the route in- Reading), and the seat of our Con- dicated, not only did the eastern tinental Congress established being representatives pass this route, but in York during the fall, winter and all members who were present at the spring of 1777-1778, which brought time in Philadelphia withdrew at the eastern delegates and business the approach of Gen. Howe's army east, messengers to and from the to Philadelphia after the disastrous along the route of this valley. defeat of the Continental army at We know that Congress fled from the battle of Brandywine on Sept. Philadelphia to Lancaster on Sept. 11, 1777. 2-5 and 26, 1777, but not directly, but Congress* at York, Pa., Sept. 3 0, Eas- by way of Bethlehem and "the 1777, to June 27, 1778. ton road" to Reading. As Reading New Hampshire—Nathaniel Fol- had an old post-road of by way som, George Frost, John Went- Womelsdorf and Schaefferstown to worth and Dr. Josiah Bartlett. Lancaster, it is quite probable that Massachusetts — Samuel Adams, this was the course they pursued. Elbridge Gerry, James" Lovell, John There were no newspapers then Adams, Francis Dana, John Han- published to consult, and the pub- cock and Dr. Samuel Holten. lished diary of one of the leaders in Connecticut William Williams, Congress at that time, John Adams, — Elipholet Dyer, Richard Law, Titus of Massachusetts, afterward second Homer, Roger Sherman, Samuel president of the U. S. is silent about the route beyond Reading. In Huntingdon and Dr. Oliver Wolcott. a letter to his wife, Abigail, written Rhode Island—Henry Marchant, from "a German hotel about 18 William Ellery and John Collins. miles from Reading" (Levan's at New York-—James Duane. William Kutztown, now Kemps), he gives a Dyer, Francis Lewis, Governeur Mor- minute description of the unique ris and Philip Livingston. 108 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community New Jersey—John Witherspoon, members, we were, induced to take Dr. Jonathan Elner, Abraham this circuit, which is near 180 miles, Clark and Dr. Nathaniel Scudder. whereas, this town (York) by the Pennsylvania — Robert Morris, direct road is not more than 88 Daniel Roberdeau, James Smith, miles from Philadelphia. This tour Jonathan Bayard Smith, William has given me an opportunity of see- Clingan and Joseph Reed. ing many parts of this country which Delaware—Thomas McKean. I never saw before." Well, he saw some of God's country surely which- Maryland—Charles Carroll, Sam- uel Chase, Benjamin Rumsey, George ever route he took from Reading. Plater, William Smith, James Forbes ELLERY'S DIARY. and John Henry, jr. Virginia—Francis Lightfoot Lee, From published letters by William Richard Henry Lee, John Harvie, Ellery we learn that he did not get Benjamin Harrison, Dr. Joseph to York till some time in November, Jones, Thomas Adams and John when he was accompanied by his Banister. son-in-law, Francis Dana, also a North Carolina—John Penn, Cor- member of this Congress. They met nelius Harnett and Dr. Thomas on their way both Samuel and John Berte. Adams and also at another place the president of Congress (now known South Carolina — Henry Laurens, as speaker), John Hancock, who re- Thomas Heyward, jr., Arthur Mid- signed his position (later filled by dleton, John Matthews, Richard Henry Laurens) on account of ill- Hutson and William Henry Drayton. ness and was returning home in a Georgia — Edward Longworthy, sulky, accompanied by a large escort John Walton, Dr. Nathan Brownson of servants. and Joseph Wood. We quote from Mr. Ellery's diary: JOHN ADAMS' LETTERS. "Nov. 13, 1777. Met Samuel and John Adams about nine miles from These 64 delegates, 2 6 of whom had been signers of the Declaration Levan's (Kutztown) and hard by a tavern. They turned back to the of Independence, either passed inn (Trexlertown), where we cele- through Womelsdorf enroute to Lan- brated and ate bread and butter to- caster, thence to York, or they went gether. They were to great sor- from Reading direct, via Ephrata my bound home. I could not but and Lititz and so passed just south row lament that Congress would be with- of the ridge of hills that separates with- this town from the direct Lancaster out their councils and myself out their conversation." route. They were all in Reading and crossed the Schuylkill about Sept. Samuel Adams had for the first 2 3, 1777, according- to published cor- time received leave of absence from respondence of John Adams to his Congress, while John Adams had wife. He describes the alarm at been appointed commissioner to Philadelphia on Sept. 19 caused by France, and they journeyed home Gen. Howe's approach. Important together. The sessions of Congress papers of the treasury and war of- at York lasted from Sept. 30, 17 77, fices were at once shipped to Bristol to June 2 7, 17 78, for nine months. and Congress followed in piece meal Mr. Ellery's itinerary from the flight via Trenton (21st), Easton Schuylkill to York led by way of (22d), Bethlehem (23d), and Read- Ephrata and Lititz, according to his ing (24th or 25th). diary, and it is more than likely that Mr. Adams says: "In order to con- others chose this same route. vey the papers with safety, which is Whether it included Womelsdorf is of more importance than all the not known to the writer. Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 109 MESSAGE OF VICTORY. of gold ordered to be struck in com- memoration of the great victory. On Oct. 30, 1777, Col. James Wil- Gen. Gates became the hero of the kinson rode through these parts hour, and himself came to York, from Reading- to York, to carry the and doubtless over the same route news of Burgoyne's surrender to passing possibly through Womels- Congress. He left Saratoga, N. Y., dorf or close by. He arrived in immediately after the battles and York on the afternoon of Jan. 19, after the British commander, Gen. 1778, so his passage through these Burgoyne, was forced to surrender parts was possibly on the preceding- his army and hand his sword to Gen. day. He was made the president Gates, as the chosen messenger to of the board of war, which now sat carry the good news to Congress. His at York the same as Congress. route of travel lay down the Hudson Valley of New York, across New LAFAYETTE'S TRIP. Jersey to Easton and thence by "the Gen. Lafayette also came to York, Easton road" to Reading. But here after he had recovered from he, for some reason, remained for wounds received in the battle of the Brandy- a few days, and it was not till the wine, which were nursed end of the month that Congress was by the Moravian nurses at Bethlehem. officially informed of the great vic- He must evidently have traveled over tory. The message was surely an im- this same route from Bethlehem to portant one and this western end of York. And so did Gen. Baron Steu- the county prides itself that it lay ben, that veteran commander and along the route of this important former aid-de-camp to Frederick the message-bearer. As he went directly Great in the Seven Years' War. After to York, without the necessity of landing at Portsmouth, N. H., he going to Lancaster as Congress had went to York to offer his services to to do, to meet at which place, Sept. Congress. He arrived with his suite 2 7, they adjourned in Philadelphia, on Feb. 5, 1778, and remained until he very likely passed up this valley Feb. 19, and at the solicitation of to Harris Ferry and thence to York. Washington, he was appointed in- When he arrived at York Con- spector general of the army and was gress gave him leave to proclaim sent to Valley Forge, where he met his glad tidings in person upon the Washington and rendered such sig- floor of the entire Congress. This nal services in drilling our troops. is what he announced: "The whole Coming directly from New England, British army have laid down their and, the way of travel by Philadel- arms at Saratoga. Our own, full phia being cut off by Gen. Howe's of vigor and courage, expect your occupation, Baron Steuben must orders; it is for your wisdom to have come via Easton, Bethlehem decide where the country may still and Reading, thence to York. We have need of their services." should be glad to know for certain Congress adjourned for the day, that the route taken was through (Nov. 1) in honor of this victory Womelsdorf to Harris Ferry, thence and York had a holiday. Before to York, rather than through Lan- it. adjourned however, it passed a caster county, via Adamstown, Eph- resolution recommending to the ex- rata, Lititz to Columbia, or Marietta ecutive powers to set apart. Dec. 18 on the Susquehanna. We are left in for solemn thanksgiving and praise. doubt until new light is shed on the This was the first national thanks- subject. giving proclamation since the for- mation of the federal government. MUHLENBERG'S VISIT. On Nov. 4 the thanks of Congress But we are not in doubt as to were presented to Maj. Gen. Gates, the passage through Womelsdorf of his officers and troops, and a medal two other important characters a 110 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community few years and decade later. The living at his summer mansion, first of these was Gen. Peter Muh- Angelica, which was the original lenberg-, the eldest son of the building of what is now the Berks patriarch, the famous patriot- county almshouse. His diary re- preacher, whom the poet, T. Bu- veals that on April 7 he arrived at chanan Read in his "Revolutionary Reading from Philadelphia and Rising*," immortalizes for his dra- after inspecting his manor (Mt. matic renunciation of the preacher's Penn lands) put up at the Witman robe for the soldier's uniform at a tavern (present Farmers Bank public Sunday service in Woodstock, building). The next day he dined Va., where he was pastor at the with James Biddle where a number outbreak of the Revolution. After of citizens paid their respects to him bravely serving under Washington and then visited Gen. Mifflin, from as general of Virginia troops for the then on to Womelsdorf and up the entire duration of the war, he was valley to the Susquehanna at John chosen by the assembly of Vir- Harris' ferry. He is known to have ginia to locate bounty lands on the halted at the old Derry Presbyterian Ohio as part pay for the officers Church (now Hershey), tied his of the Virignia line on continental horse near the church edifice and establishment. So starting in the looked around in the burial grounds. winter from Philadelphia, in We quote here Penn's journal, or 1784, he journeyed by way of the diary; Falckner Swamp, Reading. Trappe, "April 9 —Set off from Reading, Now follows this from his journal: accompanied by Mr. Biddle, who "Feb. 2 5, lay still at Reading and was so obliging as to show us the dined with Squire Levan in company way to Gen. Mifflin's farm, three with a number of officers. miles from Reading. Finding the "Feb. 26, proceeded to Rev. river too deep to foot, we passed at Schulze's, in Tulpehocken, 17 miles a lower ferry on the road to Lancas- fro'm Reading, when finding myself ter. The General and Mrs. Mifflin indisposed, I took some medicine, received us in a neat farm house, and and continued there until the 2 8th, being very early themselves, pro- when I set out on the excessively cold vided a second breakfast for us, afternoon, and rode to Col. Kucher's, though it was then only 7:30. He near Lebanon, and 10 miles from Mr. took us round some of his improve- Schulze's." Mrs. Schulze was the ments and I rode with him to va- general's sister. rious points of view which com- His journal, or dairy, is very in- manded the town of Reading and teresting reading. By it we learn the circumjacent hills and valleys. he traveled as far as present Louis- He farms about 1,2 00 acres, and has ville, Ky., and returned by a lower a Scotch farmer, who conducts the route and the Shenandoah Valley, business. One hundred acres of Va., passing through Womelsdorf meadow land he waters. again on his return trip on June 24. AT WOMELSDORF TAVERN. JOHN PENN'S TRIP. "General Mifflin with agreeable The other distinguished visitor frankness and affability pressed us was John Penn (son of Richard) the both to stay for an early dinner, to American-born Penn, who on April which we sat down about 1 o'clock. 9, 1788, rode into town on horse- After dinner I mounted my horse and back and spent the night here tak- came into the Carlisle road, about ing a leisurely trip through the three miles off, at Sinking Spring. valley up the Susquehanna. He had About sunset I arrived at Middle- stopped the same day with his* town (now Womelsdorf), 14 miles friend, Gov. Thomas Mifflin, then from Reading, and put up at a Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 111 tavern, the master of which owned It was on Nov. 13, 179 3. The first the town and 100 acres in the neigh- locks had been constructed at the borhood. There is one spot on this head of the Tulpehocken (at Michael road remarkable for its European Ley's old homestead, then inhabited appearance, the lands all cultivated by Ley's son and now the Samuel and a very handsome church upon Uhrich property). The seat of our a hill (Hain's Church). The beauties national government was then at are principally those of wilderness Philadelphia. An epidemic of yellow and romantic; the adjoining hills, fever had driven it temporarily to being as yet bare of leaves, except Germantown. President Washing- where dotted by groups of firs, and ton, being himself the president of being steep and extensive, these cir- a similar canal company in western cumstances rendered them striking. Virginia, decided to go on a week's trip of recreation The scene of desolation. and canal inspec- Forlorn and wild, tion, via Lancaster and Reading. So he gathered about him a few friends April 10. Rose by 6 o'clock and in the persons of Robert Morris, the after breakfast set out in order to financier of the Revolution and then sleep at Harrisburg, the chief town the owner of the Elizabeth furnace of Dauphin county, and which was mansion in Lancaster county (now proposed to be the seat of govern- the Coleman mansion, formerly ment. Passed some mills a few Baron Stiegel's home); William miles from thence at Tulpehocken Smith, the provost; David Ritten- Creek, which afterwards meets the house, the engineer; Tench Francis, road somewhat further in a very the land agent of the Penn estate, picturesque spot. On the eastern and probably Bartholomew Dan- side of this is a most elegant new dridge, the Lutheran Church (Christ Lutheran president's private sec- retary, and probably a few servants. Church, a stone building erected in 178 6 —two years before). After rid- WASHINGTON'S VISIT. a village (Myerstown) I ing through The objective points were Lancas- Lebanon, a handsome town came to ter county scenery, the Morris Man- inhabitants." of several hundred sion at Elizabeth Furnace (where ATTRACTED BY CANAL. they lodged at least one night), and the Tulpehocken Canal locks, where, The building of the Union Canal at the Ley homestead, and the* —begun in 1791 —brought other Womelsdorf hostelry, they lodged groups of eminent men to Womels- for two more nights, respectively. dorf and the surrounding commu- The one spent at Womelsdorf was nity. In the year 1791 the state that of Nov. 13, 1793. It was on this Legislature incorporated the occasion that the party visited Con- Schuylkill and Susquehanna Naviga- rad Weiser's grave and where Presi- tion Co. at a capitalization of $400,- dent Washington spoke the words of 000. This brought on William eulogium over the ashes of our dis- Smith, L.L. D., a great promoter of tinguished townsman, which are now the canal, and David Rittenhouse as engraven upon his monument. It was the chief engineer to conduct the a great occasion and set this little survey of the canal route and super- hamlet into quite a flutter. But vise the construction of the locks. Womelsdorf "did itself proud" that During this and the following years evening. Louis Richards, of Reading, they must have been frequent visit- in his account of it in a paper before ors here. We have one exact date the Historical Society of Berks when they spent the night here to- County, says it outstripped Reading gether with even more distin- in its befitting greeting and recep- guished persons, lodging at the old, tion extended to the illustrious now dismantled, Seltzer House. guests. 112 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community "The Revolutionary veterans (sol- laid a tax upon distilled spirits which dier boys of the town companies) was an important local industry in were soon summoned to pay their these parts. Due to their distant military respects, a cannon belched removal from grain markets and forth a salute, and John Pliny, a with poor facilities of their shipment local merchant, addressed the presi- in the natural form they resorted dent as follows: to distilling their harvests of grain "Your Excellency: "May you be into whisky and then resisted the kind enough to receive, with your collection of the imposed taxes by native and customary grace, our joy- attacks upon the revenue collectors. ful demonstrations, which spring The revolt becoming formidable the from our gratitude and obedience, in whole country was thrown into a this fortunate moment, in which we ferment, and a crucial test case was enjoy the personal presence of your on hand whether governmental excellency! The wise and happily, authority was mightier than the successful deeds, which you wrought resistant but organized will of a its citizens. After under the protection of the Almighty small section of and by Him crowned with success repeated proclamations and "notes" the president had been made for in the late glorious war, the favor by and contentment which we have en- these insurgents to desist from their all force joyed since then under your admin- unlawful acts but in vain, istration in times of peace; and your was resorted to Between 12,000 and lately recommended, neutrality sys- 13,000 militia from Pennsylvania, tem, so carefully considered and so New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia for to the aid of timely incite all mankind to renewed were called to march veneration and love towards you. The the civil authorities. The governors states desig- inhabitants of this community will of these respective were commanders of their never cease to pray long life and nated as the health from God in your behalf." quota of troops. PRESIDENT'S REPLY. MOBILIZED AT CARLISLE. The first general rendezvous of To this address the President these extemporized armies was at made the following appropriate re- Carlisle, and by the last week in ply: "The honor which you bestow September, 1794, the forces were in upon me, and your approval of my motion. All the troops from New endeavors, afford the greatest me Jersey and the eastern counties of pleasure." After the which came Pennsylvania, with their command- salutes and shouts: "Long live ers, passed up the Lebanon Valley George Washington! Long live from Reading to Harrisburg, and George Washington!" hence through Womelsdorf. Wash- It was the following morning ington got to Reading—for he was when the distinguished visitors went determined to join the expedition in to the grave of Conrad Weiser, person, to emphasize the purpose of where with doffed hat "the father of the new government was to secure his country" spoke his brief eulo- the execution of its laws—by Oct. 1, this gium concerning the services of and a review of the forces still re- great provincial leader. maining in town is said to have been President Washington paid a held by him. He lodged that night second visit to Womelsdorf the fol- at the Federal Inn, then kept by lowing year. The occasion was the Michael Wood as landlord, the uprising of the inhabitants of the building now occupied by the Farm- western counties of Pennsylvania ers Bank, and appropriately marked against the federal excise laws, by a historical tablet-marker. He known commonly as "the whisky was accompanied by his private sec- insurrection." The government had retary, Mr. Dandridge, and Hon. Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 113 Alexander Hamilton, secretary of the TWO VISITS ON RECORD. treasury. The President's diary of It is a local tradition that upon this trip is interesting reading in this this occasion the presidential party connection. Under date of Wednes- was entertained for the dinner hour day, Oct. 1, we find this entry: at the Center House, of Womels- dorf, and that Washington was "Reading, Pennsylvania. Left the again serenaded. We have no trap early, and breakfasting at records to substantiate or dis- Pottsgrove, 11 miles, we reached prove this claim. We have this Reading to dinner, 19 miles farther, clearest documentary proof of the where we found several detachments presence of President Washington of infantry and cavalry preparing on two occasions while serving his for their march to Carlisle." second term as chief executive of our young nation, the first time to Under date of Oct. 2 the following: spend the night, the second "to bait "An accident happening to one of his horses" and doubtless to eat his my horses occasioned my setting dinner. On both occasions he was out later than was intended. I got accompanied by eminent men off in time, however, to make a halt among our nation's builders and we (to bait my horses) at Womelsdorf, should, as citizens of today, almost 14 miles, and to view the canal from deem the streets of our borough as Myerstown towards Lebanon, and holy ground, because of the feet that have walked on them. Presi- the locks between the two places, dent Washington twice in Womels- which (four adjoining each other, dorf; Alexander Hamilton, Robert in the descent from the summit Morris, David Rittenhouse, William ground along the Tulpehocken built Smith, Tench Francis, John Penn, Gen. Peter Muhlenberg all at one brick) appeared admirably con- — of time or another in Womelsdorf. structed. Reached Lebanon at night, Youngsters of our day, straighten 2 8 miles." up! Stiffen up your backbone." 114 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community Old Zion's Church (1792). Womelsdorf, Pa. Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 115 Chapter XVII. EMINENT VISITORS Continuing the story of eminent Krummacher, D. D., a call to a pro- visitors to "Womelsdorf, we have a fessorship in Mercersburg. Dr. record that on July 18, 179 7, William Krummacher, after considerable hes- Henry, John Heckenwelder, John itation, finally declined the call but Rothrock and Christian Crewell, Mo- recommended to the committee ravian missionaries, returned to young Prof. Schaff. After several Bethlehem from missionary labors interviews Prof. Schaff gave the at Gnaden-Hutten, Ohio. Whether committee permission to present his these, and similar heralds of the name to the synod on their return cross in that formative period of our to America. On their return they country, were not, in reality, the presented his name with enthusiasm greatest builders of our nation, and and the strongest of recommenda- therefore among our most eminent tions to the 'synod, then in session at men, is not a much doubted or dis- Winchester, Va. By a unanimous puted question. Their presence in vote a call was extended to him to Womelsdorf and that of other de- the chair of church history and bib- voted ministers of Christ and lay lical literature in the theological coworkers in His vineyard consti- seminary at Mercersburg. tutes, therefore, a large class of emi- "Urged by his superiors and theo- nent men stretching over all the logical colleagues of Germany to em- years of the community's history and brace the promising opportunity for embracing more men than we can his ability and piety, Prof. Schaff ac- now name or number, and more cepted the call and turned his face occasions than we can recall. We westward to America. When he ar- will, therefore, make mention of rived in New York, July 28, 1844, only the most prominent of them he spent his first Sunday in that whose presence graced Womelsdorf city and preached in German in a as the reel of history is unwound. Dutch Reformed Church on the sig- In this connection let me mention nificant text, Phil. 3:13. Rev. Ber- a most illustrious minister who nard C. Wolf, of Easton, one of the passed through this valley near the Reformed Church's leading men, middle of the 19th century, whose had been named to welcome the new name as that of a learned scholar has professor on his arrival. He did so filled many glorious pages in the and on Aug. 5 brought him along annals of American church life. He with him, traveling by train to Som- was a German Reformed minister erville, N. J., thence by stage to and professor, who rose in America Easton. There Dr. Hoffeditz, one of to the highest zenith of theological the delegates to Germany, met him scholarship and erudition. He made and accompanied him to Reading. his maiden trips in America, through "Continuing their journey from this valley, after his immigration. Reading, Dr. Hoffeditz and Dr. He was the learned Rev. Prof. Schaff stopped at Womelsdorf, where Philip Schaff, D. D., LL. D., a former the aged Dr. Hendel, a venerable student of Dr. Schmid, of Tuebingen; figure in the Reformed Church, then Profs. Tholuck and Muller, of Halle, on his deathbed, rejoiced to see and of Neander, Twesten and Heng- the new representative of Ger- stenberg, of Berlin, Germany, and man theological learning. At Tulpe- a young teacher and lecturer (pri- hocken he was entertained by Pastor vat-docent) at Berlin, when in 1843 Leinbach, whom he found serving a call to come to America came to eight churches—a thing almost, if him. not altogether, unknown in Ger- many, and one which struck him as STRONG RECOMMENDATIONS. most strange." In July, 1843, Revs. Theodore L. PROSPEROUS AND HOSPITABLE. Hoffeditz and Benjamin S. Schneck, previously appointed as a committee Thus relates his son, Prof. David by the German Reformed Synod of A. Schaff, Dr. Schaff's biographer, America, went to Germany to place himself a professor at Lane Theo- in the hands of Prof. Frederick W. logical Seminary, of Cincinnati, O. 116 Annals oi Womelsdorf and Community He describes his journey on to Mer- hither from Germany, had made a cersburg in graphic style. Of Dr. similar maiden trip through this Schaff's impressions of this section, valley into the interior of Pennsyl- he has this to say: "Dr. Schaff was vania and been agreeably enter- attracted by the signs of prosperity, tained for months by Rev. John Cas- in town and country, the ample farm par Stoever the Quittapahilla. He houses, the large and well cultivated on farms and the kindness with which was Rev. John George Bager, and he was entertained. Probably no- his family—the progenitors of the where else in the world is a more distinguished Baugher family, who generous and unstinted hospitality as president and professors of the exercised than among the farmers of Lutheran College and Theological German descent in Pennsylvania. Seminary at Gettysburg, in the sec- Everywhere he heard German, not ond andthird succeeding generations, the German of the peasantry, or of added imperishable fame to this an- the educated classes in Germany, cestral name—who became the set- but the colloquial dialect known as tled pastor of the Lutheran Church Pennsylvania German. He was at Hanover. Years afterward, by a quick to recognize the good traits of happy and singular coincidence, the these people, their implicit honesty, grandsons of host and guest occu- uncomplaining industry, thrift, do- pied positions of honor in Pennsyl- mestic fidelity and warm hospitality. vania College at Gettysburg, Prof. For 20 years he went out and in Martin Luther Stoever as professor amongst them, finding sterling vir- of history and Latin for 2 8 years, tues, not excelled in degree by any and Prof. Henry Louis Baugher, first other population in the land." as professor of Greek and then as Dr. Schaff frequently preached in president of the college for a period the churches of the Reformed faith, of 36 years. It is altogether prob- but whether he ever came back to able that the Baugher ancestors Womelsdorf to visit again, or preach traveled from Philadelphia to the in the local church, the writer can- Quittapahilla by way of the historic not say. He probably did, and some churches up the Schuylkill Valley to octogenarian member may arise on Reading, and thence up by Womels- reading this and say that he did and dorf, the Tulpehocken churches and that he heard him. Of this we are Lebanon to the Quittapahilla. certain, that he and Dr. Hoffeditz were guests here of old Dr. Hendel, VanBUREN'S VISIT. who resided, I believe, in the house to be hon- now occupied by Dr. Hamaker's But Womelsdorf was visits from the Presi- widow, or else next door. Of his ored by more nation. Washington and appearance then Dr. B. Bausman dents of our John Adams were not the only chief has left us this pen-sketch: "A executives that favored us with their sprightly young man, faultlessly at- presence. June 25, 1839, Presi- tired in black, with black hair and On dent Martin VanBuren passed a face as fresh and florid as an through town from Harrisburg to Alpine rose; in his lively conversa- Easton. committee tion speaking with his whole body Reading and A of leading citizens came out from abounding in gestures, graceful and Reading as far as Womelsdorf to unstudied. * * * His cordial escort to that city. The party greeting, his smiling face, lively him his the chat and animated manner soon put was met on the west side of large crowd me, an awkward, shy country boy, Schuylkill Bridge by a to give the President an especial at my ease." welcome to this Democratic strong- HISTORIAN. hold, which had at his election, three THEOLOGIAN AND years previous, given him a majority That one of the greatest theolo- of almost four to one over Gen. Wil- gians and church historians of liam Henry Harrison. The proces- America and Europe, honored in two sion paraded the streets. While the hemispheres and for 50 years in the reception in Womelsdorf was cordial, limelight of American church life, it was not as demonstrative. has walked and dined to our interior "The President traveled in a car- little borough is an event not to be riage and pair, accompanied by one forgotten. Who and what he was of his sons, and attended by two col- his epitaph tells in briefest form: "A ored servants, one driving him and teacher of theology for 5 years. His- the other riding on horseback." In torian of the church. President of Reading's parade "the President the American committee of Bible re- rode on a fine cream-colored horse, vision. He advocated the reunion and his graceful horsemanship at- of Christendom." tracted general attention." He left Almost a century before, in 1752, the following day on his way to New a Lutheran minister, newly migrated York over "the Easton road." Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 117 "From an accoount in the "Cen- iron horse and given little towns tennial History of Kutztown" It like ours a wide berth. But we will would appear that ex-President Van- note a few more visits made by foot, Buren paid a second visit to that horseback or stage coach before the borough in 1848. It states: "1848, iron horse snorted and puffed June 2 6, President VanBuren paid through our valley. a visit to our town. Does it mean On Feb. 21, 1844, the historian, to say that President James K. Polk Prof. I. D. Rupp, visited the town paid a visit? In either case it was an overland journey and very likely and the grave of Conrad Weiser, as included also the Lebanon Valley he himself relates in his "History of and hence "Womelsdorf. Berks and Lebanon Counties," and confesses himself "pained to see no AN EXCITING CAMPAIGN. enclosure, or fence, around the grave of great good a man." This It is certain that Presidential Can- so and didate William Henry Harrison lament seems to have gone out by passed through this valley in 18 36 visitors to this illustrious grave now and visited Womelsdorf in October for almost a century. Time this neg- of this year. Such Whig friends as lect be corrected and the public- Gov. Joseph Ritner, Secretary of spirited and philanthropic citizens of State Thomas H. Burrowes and Hon- Berks rise to do fitting honor to this Henry A. Muhlenberg accompanied important historical character! Let him on this eastern Pennsylvania the movement under foot now by the campaign tour. So one October day Historical Society of Berks County (or night) of this year the citizens be promptly and liberally encour- of Womelsdorf saw and heard these aged. distinguished spellbinders. That was an exciting campaign, as was also RETURNING VETERANS. presidential election the following In July, 1848, some of the return- Harrison was year, 184 0, when Mr. ing soldiers of the Mexican and the War again the Whig nominee passed through Womelsdorf by stage candidate. The writer successful from Harrisburg on their way to often heard his mother relate that demon- Reading. Did the town folks give she witnessed the Harrison them a hearty cheer? Alas! hardly stration caused by the party's visit one is left to have clear remem- near which a to Kutztown in 1836, brance of the occasion! place she was then residing. "Old "Hard What distinguished men the build- Tippecanoe and Tyler, too," ing the Lebanon Valley Railroad, Cabin" were of Cider" and "Log the period of the Civil War, the po- with plenty of political en- shouted litical campaigns of state and nation thusiasm. since Buchanan's day, the lecture Pres- As Mr. Harrison was elected and entertainment courses and the ident in 1840, count him as we can affairs of big or little business have the fourth (really the third in order have brought to Womelsdorf I will let for of time) of the Presidents who of the passing probable the students genera- visited Womelsdorf. It is tion to search out. Had our town Womelsdorf citi- that a good many been able to maintain a newspaper relate the account of zents can yet all this while, these historical events ox roasts, hard cider flow and the would all be preserved and available speeches which their parents gave had for reference. Just this last cam- them of this event to which they paign brought both the Republican been eyewitnesses. and Democratic gubernatorial, con- Certain it is that one more Presi- gressional and U. S. senatorial can- town. And this was dent visited our didates to our midst; but without his cam- James Buchanan during such a record of events as a daily still those paign in 1856. There are or even weekly newspaper publishes recall the gi- present with us who the fact and occasion speedily fade in town gantic demonstration held out of mind. over his election. An ox roast was held in the rear of where the Mat- BETHANY HOME VISITORS. thew's hardware shops now are lo- cated, which was then the rear yard A few more great men have ap- of a hotel, beyond which was an old peared in connection with the devel- orchard, where the speechmaking opment of the Bethany Orphans' occurred. Home, of whom and of which events the chapter on its history makes THEN THE RAILROAD. mention. It includes such leaders After this came the railroad, and of the Reformed Church as Drs. more than one candidate or incum- John W. Nevin, Thomas C. Porter, bent of the high office has gone up C. Z. Weiser, E. E. Higbee, B. Baus- and down the valley by means of the man and others; as well as John 118 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community Wanamaker, State Supt. J. P. Wick- We have, however, given enough ersham and others of other- folds. instances of visits by eminent men Church conferences have brought of church and state, profession and bishops and religious leaders hither business, official and educational from among all the denominations rank, to assure all readers that here represented. The writer recalls Womelsdorf of Berks, like Tarsus hearing Bishop Dubbs, of the Evan- of Paul's birth, is "no mean city." gelical Church, preach here in the We want the present youth of our summer of 18 79, and so have the town to tread softly, study dili- other denominations represented in gently, think soberly, aspire nobly town doubtless had their "brightest and always act honorably, for they lights" shine forth here at some are walking on hallowed and historic time or other. ground. Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Weiser's Graves Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 119 Chapter XVIII. OUR MOST ILLUSTRIOUS FAMILY There is no doubt but that the WEISER'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. family Conrad and descendants of This autobiography as translated Weiser Womelsdorf's constitute by the late Dr. H. H. Muhlenberg, of most illustrious domestic group. A Reading, follows; brief history of it, together with its On Nov. 2, 1696, I, Conrad Weiser, genealogical branches and the was born in Europe, in the land of achievements of this lineage during Wurttemberg, in the county (amt) of half within the a dozen generations Herrenberg; the village is called past two centuries, will form too Astaet, and was christened at Ku- important and interesting a chapter pingen, nearby, as my father has to be omitted from these "annals." informed me. I say, I was born on The life of Conrad Weiser is Nov. 2, 16 96. My father's name comparatively well known to the was John Conrad Weiser; my historical reader. It has been often mother's name was Anna Magda- lena; told in addresses and summarized in her family name was Uebele. grandfather brief sketches. There have been at My was Jacob Weiser; my great-grandfather also Jacob least three different biographies Weiser. He was magistrate (Schul- published of him to the writer's own theiss) in the village of Great As- knowledge. Yet there is a woeful pach, in the county (amt) of Back- ignorance of the real greatness of nang, also in the land of Wurttem- this man, even in the county where berg. In this latter village my an- he spent the best, the ripest and cestors from time immemorial were born most active half of his life. The and are buried there as well on father's as mother's achievements and public services of my my side. In 1709 my mother passed into this important character during the eternity on the last day of May, in provincial period of our state and the 43d year of her age, leaving nation must be told again and again, children, Catrina, Margaretta Magda. "lest we forget! lest we forget!" lena, Sabin, Conrad, George Fred- His own brief autobiography, up erick, Christopher, Barbara, John Frederick, and was buried there by to the time of taking up his home the side of my ancestors. . She was in Berks county, which the writer a God-fearing woman and much be- once had the good fortune of hav- loved by her neighbors. Her motto ing in his hand for the purpose of was, 'Jesus Christ, I live for thee, I making a transcript of its beautiful die for thee, thine am I in life and and simple German, must form the death.' preliminary or initial story to his "In the year above mentioned, career, which is to follow, and namely in 1709, my father moved which was enacted here at Womels- away from Great Aspach on June 2 4, and took eight children with dorf during the last and most stren- h:m. My eldest sister, Catrina, re- uous 30 years of his life. We give mained there with her husband, Con- here a translation of this auto- rad Boss, with whom she had two biography written in his native children. My father sold them his tongue in a small blank book, about house, fields, meadows, vineyard and three by six inches. It had de- garden, but they could only pay him scended into the possession of 1Z gulden, the remainder, 600 gul- Michael Kalbach, a lineal descend- den, was to be paid to my father ant, of Womelsdorf, from whence it at a subsequent period, which was passed into the hands of the late never done, so it was made a present Jacob S. Livingood, of Reading, who to them. In about two months we later deposited it as a choice historic reached London, England, along with treasure among the archives of the several thousand Germans, whom Pennsylvania. Historical Society Queen Anne, of glorious memory, library, of Philadelphia. had taken in charge, and was fur- :; 120 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community r.ishing with food. About Christmas learn the Maqua language. I accom- Day we embarked, and 10 shiploads, panied him and reached the Maqua with about 4,000 souls, were sent to country in the latter end of Novem- America. ber, and lived with the Indians. Here I suffered much from the excessive AT LIVINGSTONE'S MANOR. cold, for I was but badly clothed; and towards spring also from hun- June 13, 1710, we came to "On ger, for the Indians had nothing to anchor at New York in North Amer- eat. A bushel of Indian corn was ica, and in the same autumn were worth five to six shillings. at taken to Livingstone's Manor at the And expense of the queen. Here in Liv- this period the Indians, when drunk, ingstone's, or as it was called by the were so barbarous, that I was fre- Germans, Loewenstein's Manor, we quently obliged to hide from were to burn tar, and cultivate hemp, drunken Indians. the expenses incurred by to repay "In the spring of 1714 my father the queen in bringing us from Hol- removed from Schnectady to Schoch- land to England, and from England ary, with about 150 families in great to New York. We were directed by poverty. several commissioners, viz. John One borrowed a horse Cast, Henry Meyer, Richard Seykott, here, another there, also a cow and who were put in authority over us by plow-harness. With these things Robert Hunter, governor of New they united and broke up jointly so York. But neither object succeeded much land that they raised nearly and in 1713 the people were dis- enough corn for their own consump- charged from their engagements and tion the following year. But this declared free. Then the people scat- year they suffered much from hun- tered themselves over the whole ger, and made many meals on the province of New York. Many re- wild potatoes and ground beans, mained where they were. About 150 which grew in great abundance in families determined to remove to that place. The Indians called the Schochary (a place about 40 English potatoes ochna-nada, the ground miles to the west of Albany). They beans otach-ragara. When we therefore sent deputies to the land wished for meal we had to travel 3 5 of the Maquas to consult with the to 40 miles to get it, and had then to Indians about it, who allowed them borrow it on credit. They would to occupy Schochary. For the In- get a bushel of wheat here, a couple dian deputies who were in England at another place, and were often at the time the German people were absent from home three or four days lying in tents on the Blackmoor, had before they could reach their suffer- made a present to Queen Anne of ing wives and children, crying for this Schochary, that she might set- bread. upon it. Indian tle these people "The people had settled in villages, were sent to show the Ger- guides oi' which there were seven. The Schochary was. My mans where first and nearest, Schnectady, was father was the first of the German called Kneskern-dorf ; second, Ger- deputies. lacho-dorf; third, Fuchsen-dorf "In November, 1713, when the fourth, Hans George Schmidts-dorf above mentioned deputies had re- fifth, Weisers-dorf, or Brunnen-dorf turned from the Maqua country to sixth, Hartmans-dorf ; seventh, Ober Livingstone's manor, the people Weisers-dorf. So named after the moved the same autumn to Albany deputies who were sent from Living- and Schenectady, so as to be able to stone's Manor to the Maqua country. move in the spring to Schochary. Bread was dear, but the people MASTERED MAQUA TONGUE. worked very hard for a living, and the old settlers were very kind and "Towards the end of July I re- did much good to the Germans, air turned from among the Indians to though some of a different disposi- my father, and had made consider- tion were not wanting. My father able progress or had learned the reached Schenectady the same fall, greater part of the Maqua language. where he remained with his family An English mile from my father's over winter, with a man named John house there lived several Maqua Meyndert. families, and there were always Maquas among us hunting, so that AMONG THE INDIANS. there was always something for me to do in interpreting, but without "A chief of the Maqua nation pay. There was no one else to be named Quaynant visited my father, found among our people who under- and they agreed that I should go stood the language, .so that I grad- with Quaynant into his country to ually became completely master of Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 121 the language, so far as my years cause many peole in Albany wished and other circumstances permitted. the poor people to retain their lands. "Here now this people lived The people of Schochary divided into peaceably for several years without two parties; the strongest did not preachers or magistrates. Each one wish to obey, but to keep the land, did as he thought proper. About and therefore sent deputies to Eng- land to obtain a grant this time I became very sick and from George the First, not expected to die, and was willing to only for Schochary, but for more land in addition. die, for my stepmother was indeed But the plans a stepmother to me. By her influ- did not succeed according their ence my father treated me very to wishes, for in the first place the deputies had to harshly. I had no other friend and leave secretly and embarked at had to bear hunger and cold. I Philadelphia in 1817. As soon as they often thought of running away, but got to sea they fell into the hands of the sickness mentioned put a bit in pirates, who robbed them as well as the I was bound as if by a crew of my mouth; their money, but then rope to remain with my father and let them free. obey him. "My father, who was one of the deputies, was three already mentioned that times tied up "I have and flogged, but would father was a widower when he not confess my to having money; finally, and landed in 1710 William left Germany Scheff, the other deputy, eight children in New York, said to the with pirates, 'This man and where my two brothers, George I have a purse in common and I Frederick and Christopher, were have already given it to you, he has by the governor, with my nothing to hound give you.' Upon which then sick father's consent, over to they let him go free. The ship Island. The following winter had to put Long into Boston to purchase youngest brother, John Fred- necessaries my for the crew and passengers erick, died in the sixth year of his in place of those taken by the pirates. When age, and was buried in Livingstone's they reached then was, England they found bush, as the expression times had changed and first one buried where that there and was the was no longer a Queen now the Reformed Church in Wei- Anne on the throne. They still sersdorf stands. found some of the old friends and advocates of "In the year 1711 my father mar- the Germans among whom were ried my stepmother, whom I have the chaplains at the King's German mentioned above. It was an un- Chapel, ;-.:': jssrs. Boehn and Roberts, happy match and was the cause of who did all in their power. The my brothers and sisters all becom- affairs of the deputies finally reached ing scattered. At last I was the the lords commissioners of trade only one left at home, except the and plantations and the governor of three children he had by my step- New York, Robert Hunter, was called mother, viz: John Frederick, Jacob home. In the meanwhile the depu- and Rebecca. Everything went ties got into debt; Walrath, the third crab fashion, one misfortune after deputy, became homesick, and em- another happened to our family, of barked on a vessel bound to New which I always was partaker. I York, but died at sea. The other frequently did not know where to two were thrown into prison; they turn and learned to pray to God and wrote in time for money, but ow- His word became my most agree- ing to the ignorance and over- able reading. confidence of the persons who had the money to transmit which the SOLD TO MERCHANTS. people had collected, it reached England very slowly. In the mean- "But to return to Schochary. The while Robert Hunter had arrived people had taken possession without in England, had arranged the sale informing the governor of New of the Schochary lands in his own York, who, after letting them know way, before the board of trade and his dissatisfaction, sold the land to plantations. The opposite party was seven rich merchants, four of whom in prison, without friends or money. lived in Albany; the other three in Finally when a bill of exchange for New York. The names of those in 70 pounds sterling arrived, they were Albany were Myndert Shyller, John released from prison, petitioned Shyller, Robert Livingstone and anew, and in the end got an order Peter Van Brygess; of those of New to the newly arrived governor of York, were George Clerk, at that New York, William Burnett, to time secretary; Dr. Stadts and Rip grant vacant land to the Germans Aran Dam. Upon this a great uproar who had been sent to New York by arose in Schochary and Albany, be- the deceased Queen Anne. 122 Annals oi Womelsdorf and Community SENT TO THE GOVERNOR. On Jan. 13, 1725, my daughter, "Towards the end of 1720 this Anna Malinda, was born; was bap- tized by William Burnet arrived in New John Jacob Oehl, Reformed clergyman; her York. In the commencement of sponsors were Chris- tian Bouch, jr., and sister, 1721 I was sent to New York with my Bar- bara. a petition to Gov. Burnet. He ap- peared friendly and stated what "On June 24, 1727, my daughter, kind of an order from the lords of Maria, was born, and was baptized trade and plantations he brought by William Christopher Birken- with him, which he was resolved to meyer, Lutheran clergyman. Her comply with, but deputies were yet sponsors were Nickolas Feg and in England, not content with the wife. decision, but could get nothing more done. In the last-named year, viz., "On Dec. 24, 1728, my son, Fred- 1721, William Scheff returned home, erick, was born; was baptized by having quarreled with my father; John Bernhard von Duehren, Lu- theran they both had hard heads. At last, clergyman; his sponsors were Nickolas Feg and wife. in November, 172 3, my father also returned. Scheff died six weeks "These four were born to me at after his return. Schochary. Afterwards, namely, in "Gov. Burnet gave patents for 1729, I removed to Pennsylvania, land to the few who were willing to and settled in Tulpehocken, where settle in the Maqua country, namely, the following children were born to in Stony Arabia, and above the me, namely: falls, but the river, as the none on "On Feb. 27, 1730, my son, Peter, people hoped. They, therefore, was born "and on Feb. 15, 1731, I scattered. The larger part removed had two sons born, who were called to the country or remained Maqua Christopher and Jacob; the first in Schochary and bought the land lived 15 weeks, the latter 13 weeks, from the before-named rich men. when they were released from the "The people got news of the land evils of this world and taken to a on Suataro and Tulpehocken, in happy eternity. Pennsylvania; many of them united "On June 19, 1732, and cut a road from Schochary to my daughter, Elizabeth, was born. the Susquehanna River, carried their goods there, and made canoes, and "On Jan. 28, 1734, my daughter, floated down the river to the mouth Margaret, was born. of the Suataro Creek (Swatara), and drove their cattle over land. This "On April 23, 1735, my son, Sam- uel, born. happened in 1723. From there they was came to Tulpehocken, and this was "On July 18, 1736, I had again a son the origin of the Tulpehocken settle- born to me. I called him Ben- ment. Others followed this party and jamin; when he was three months settled there, at first, also, without old, the care of the Almighty God the permission of the proprietary of took him away; the same year my Pennsylvania or his commissioners; daughter, Elizabeth, followed him. also against the consent of the In- A merciful God will give them all dians from whom the land had not to me again, to the honor of His yet been purchased. There was no glory. one among the people to govern them, each one did as he pleased, "On Aug. 11, 1740, another son and their obstinacy has stood in was born. I called his name, Jabez. their way ever since. Here I will The mercy of God removed him from leave them for a time and describe the evil of these days when he was my own circumstances. 17 days old. "On Feb. 27, 1742, another daugh- MARRIED IN 1720. ter was born. I called her name Hanna; the following Aug. 11 she "In 1720, while my father was in went into a happy eternity. England I married my Ann Eve, and was given her in marriage by Rev. John Frederick Heger, Re- DEATH OF DAUGHTER. formed clergyman, on in Nov. 22, my "March 16, of this year, my dear father's house in Schochary. daughter, Madlina, went from time "On Sept. 7, 1722, my son, Philip, to eternity, through an easy death, was born, and was baptized by John after a long and tedious illness. Her Bernhard von Duehren, Lutheran faith, consolation and refuge was in clergyman; his sponsors were Philip the crucified saviour, Jesus Christ, Brown and wife. whom she had vowed herself to in Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 123 days of health, with soul and body. sylvania and settlement in the Tul- "On Aug. 12, 1744, my son, Ben- pehocken region; more births and jamin, was born." deaths, until the year 1744. Thus far the story of Conrad Surely this was a rough and a Weiser's ancestry, birth, immigra- checkered schooling. It was laying tion to America, trials, Indian ex- the foundation in hardships and periences, home, studies and hard- eventful trials—just such as often ships of unfriendly domestic rela- happen to men of God, who are to tions, the bitter years in New York become instruments in His hand for province, poverty, defraudings by great service to humanity. We shall land sharks, disappointments and see in our next how the divine Provi- trials of many kindswhich befell their dence used him in his day and his family in common with others, then offspring after him to serve this new his marriage, the birth and baptism country of America in its formative of his children: his removal to Penn- period. 124 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community Rev. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 125 Chapter XIX. OUR MOST ILLUSTRIOUS FAMILY Our last chapter told the story of lems Conrad Weiser took a leading, Conrad Weiser's life before and un- a conspicuous part with headquar- til he was settled in the Tulpehocken ters here at Tulpehocken, "Heidel- region of Pennsylvania. He was in berg," "Weiser's," and by whatever his 34th year, was married and the na^e his home was indicated in the father of four children; had mas- old voluminous correspondence, tered the Indian language and the colonial records or state maps of English, besides his native German; Pennsylvania, where after his pass- had had a long course in the school ing the town of Womelsdorf sprung of adversity and hardship, and was up partly on his own land, and now widened, deepened, hardened, where still his old homestead and seasoned and ripened by these event- grave and new monument are kept ful years so that he was ready for and reverenced as precious, historic service in a new environment amid landmarks. the swiftly changing, formatively- To crowd the greatness of a man, molding and stormy pioneer experi- the size of Conrad Weiser, and the ences of his new and permanent deeds of only half the years of his home in Pennsylvania. lifetime into a few paragraphs is About the little stone homestead, about as difficult as it would be to a little to the east of the present force back an outbranching oak of town of Womelsdorf, cluster an ac- a century's growth in an open fa - tivity and experience that in great- vored space into its original acorn. ness and multiplicity of service to the local community and the coun- EFFECTS FIRST TREATY. try at large have written the name Already in 1731 Shekallamy dis- of Weiser high and ineffaceably covers him in Tulpehocken and pre- upon the country's tablet of honor vails on him to accompany him to and fame. Here were spent an- the provincial council at Philadel- other 31 years of the most crowded phia, where he meets Governor activities, years of wide and varied Gordon, who learns to appreciate and expert service that must forever him, and now his career as an Indian link his name with the greatest and interpreter begins in a new colony. most influential of our nation-build- In August, 1732, the Six Nations' ers. here reared a family And was Federation of Indian Tribes chose that in its descent ramifications and him with Shekallamy as their trusty has luster to of their added the name mediaries and interpreters, and at progenitor to this very day. their hands the first treaty between LEADING FIGURE. them and the council of Penn's col- A ony was satisfactorily effected. To show the real greatness of this Onandaga, in central, or rather character, this head of Womels- northern New York, was the capital dorf's most illustrious family one or council camp. Weiser, in three need only summarize the most sali- years, stepped out of his Tulpe- ent public service he rendered his hocken obscurity into the position of community and the unfolding coun- an official and historical character. try at large, during the pioneer The Indians of all tribes and na- days of his own community and the tions trusted him and employed him provincial years of the Colonies, constantly in all their negotiations evolving slowly into a federated na- with the colonies. He is always the tional life, by the influx of steady pivot-man. Through him the treaty streams of European immigration of 1732 was confirmed before Presi- for many decades and admixture and dent Logan and the council at his merging of these populations into a home at Stenton in 173 6, Governor loyal united whole, through the Thomas Penn, the Indian chiefs and processes of the common tasks of many other dignitaries being pres- interior development and the fur- ent and Weiser being interpreter nace fires of a long protracted war and mediator. In 1737 Weiser trav- (French and Indian War of eight eled to Onandaga, in the dead of years' duration). In all these prob- winter, for 500 miles through a path- 126 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community less wilderness to negotiate a treaty MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE. between Governor Gooch, of Vir- In September of this year ginia, and the Six Nations. His name Weiser again was sent now occurs constantly upon the co- with a message of lonial records, where colonial min- condolence at the death of a chief utes are preserved for us. In 17 38 among the Onandagas. In 1744 he he makes the journey to Onandaga built a house for Shekallamy at again, not in a civil capacity, Shamokin in 17 days, at the chiefs' but as interpreter for Bishop Spang- request. In 1745 he gave his eldest enberg and his Moravian mission- daughter in marriage to the Rev. aries to the Indians. Henry Melchoir Muhlenberg, the Lutheran church leader in America. APPOINTED A JUSTICE. In October of that year he was in New York, surrounded by Indian His community interests, civil and chiefs. His mission was to hold the religious, were not neglected. Al- eastern tribes loyal to the English ready in 1739-40 we find him active in the on-coming war between Eng- in an endeavor to erect a new coun- land and France. ty, though his efforts only were re- In 1747 Governor John Penn died alized in the formation of Berks and he was charged to carry the sad county in 1752. His local church oft news to the Indians at Shamokin. his sought advice in a long and In October he wrote to Secretary Pe- controversy. troublesome While yet ters, asking the propriety of making a part of Lancaster county, in 1741, handsome presents to the Indians he was appointed and commissioned on the Ohio and Lake Erie, "since a justice of the peace for Heidelberg they, by their situation, were capa- township, then quite extensive. In ble of doing much mischief, if they 1742 council allowed him £36, 18s. should turn to the French." In 3d. for "the many signal services" November, he was again at Sha- performed by him. This same year mokin, ministering to Shekallamy, another tribe ratified a deed for land his old friend, and friend of the along the Schuylkill, given a few province, who was very ill, together years before. The instrument holds with his family, and quite poor. All the signatures of both Benjamin had the fever. Three out of his fam- Franklin and Conrad Weiser. He ily had already died and been bur- also accompanied Count Zinzendorf ied. With the aid of a Dr. Graeme to Shamokin, this year, and aided he ministered to them for three days him in the establishment of his and proved himself a good Samari- Christian mission the Indians among tan, for by this time the sick were there. recovering. He afterwards induced In 1743 Governor Thomas sent the government to send them pro- him to Shamokin on official business, visions and clothing for the winter, in February. In January and April which his son, "Sammy," delivered of the same year he repeated the before the cold weather set in. trip and errand in behalf of the colonies of Maryland and Virginia. CLOUDS GATHER. In June he was sent to Onandaga to WAR deliver the good-will of the gover- The European war clouds between nor and council of Virginia and hand Great Britain and France crossed over his report or journal by August the ocean and a coming conflict cast 1, to the governor. In April, 1744, its shadows before. Conrad Weiser Governor Thomas dispatched Weiser was called upon to prove the sav- to the chiefs at Shamokin to de- iour of his adopted country. If the mand satisfaction for the massacre French got the Indians universally at Juniata of John Armstrong and arrayed against the English colonies his two servants, Indian traders, the conflict would have been one- with the result that the Delawares sided. Conrad Weiser alone could acknowledged their bloody deed, and deal with these tribes. He hastened the culprits were imprisoned at Lan- to Paxtang to prevent the Indians caster and later hanged at Philadel- about this place from going over to phia. In June and July the great the French. In 1747 and '48 he at- council was held in Lancaster. The tended council meetings and on Aug. governor and commissioners from 11, 1748, set out from his Tulpe- Virginia and Maryland were there. hocken home as envoy to the Indi- Conrad Weiser interpreted. A deed ans located on the Ohio river, on a was executed by which all lands long and hazardous journey, from claimed by the Indians in the prov- which he did not return till Oct. 2. inces of Virginia and Maryland were He delivered the several thousand released. The Indians demanded pounds as "a suitable bribe" from that Weiser sign the instrument with the three provinces of Pennsylvania, his Indian name as well as his Eng- Maryland and Virginia to hold these lish. This was Tarachawagon. hitherto friendly tribes continuously Annals of Womelsdori and Community 127 loyal. In August, 1749, he was westward of the Alleghenies, with- again in Philadelphia interpreting out limit. Already numerous forts for the Indians of various tribes. In had been erected, Fort Pitt among 1750 he journeyed again to Onan- them, at the junction of the two daga at the rebuest of Hon. Thomas branches of the Ohio. But two na- Lee, president of the province of tions can no easier occupy the same Virginia, on Indian affairs, on a two territory than two automobiles can months' absence. In May, 1751, the pass each other on the same spot. governor wanted him again to go The conflict was inevitable. Penn- on a second mission to the Ohio In- sylvania became a large part of the dians, but he sent a substitute, battlefield. Then followed the Gen- while he went to Albany in June on eral Braddock campaign and de- a more important mission, and in feat. The onrolling cyclone of mas- August interpreted at Philadelphia. sacre and devastation moved east- In 1752 he again aided the Moravian ward to the Susquehanna and its missionaries among the Six Nations, tributaries, to the very regions of and in 1752, Governor Dinwiddie, of the Tulpehocken. Virginia, sent him to Albany on a most important mission. In a TRIBES HELD LOYAL. month he was back in Philadelphia, and in September spent several But Conrad Weiser had done his weeks among the representatives of work. The eastern tribes of Indians the Six Nations and representatives were held loyal to the English. It of the Six Nations and other tribes proved the balance of war and saved at Carlisle. the day for the colonies. It was the pivotal point upon which the future HELPED FOUND READING. character of our nation turned. But it was the Providence that deter- His community duties were not mined the future of our great land. neglected. He had meanwhile And without doubt Conrad Weiser helped to found the city of Reading, was one of the greatest of factors established himself here in business of human instrumentalities in de- as the proprietor of the first store, ciding, or guiding it, turning a invested in half a dozen building lots threatening fate into a fortunate on its laid out streets, subscribed to victory. a petition for a highway between Not only wise and diplomatic in Reading and Easton, helped to or- council, he was also shrewd and ganize Trinity Lutheran Church in courageous in action in this long and Reading (for he now resided here), bitter war. He led in person a local and wrote a dedication hymn for the regiment against the invading foe. dedication of the first edifice; was He informed the government of the made a member of the board of depredations and dangers on this trustees of .a school of instruction in frontier, and assisted and supervised Philadelphia, principally for Ger- the erection of a chain of fortifica- r an youths, established by a com- tions along the Blue Mountains, be- pany of benevolent men of London, tween the Delaware and Susque- out of which doubtless grew later hanna, which were manned and sup- our University of Pennsylvania. His plied with provisions and ammuni- fellow trustees were Governor James tion by his commission's supervision, Hamilton, Chief Justice Allen, Rich- and the war of repression success- ard Peters, secretary of the prov- fully carried on. Now in quick suc- ince; Benjamin Franklin, Rev. Dr. cession many conferences were held William Smith and Rev. Michael with the Indians, and Weiser was Schlatter. Besides Berks county had always an essential member. been established and he was ap- His life was crowded with urgent pointed the first judge. public duties down to his end. His But the long coming storm broke infirmities, already manifest at the out at last. The French and Indian outbreak of the war, grew upon him War crossed the Atlantic and was from year to year, until the summer to be fought out to a finish here in of 17 60, before the war was finally the colonies. Possession of the Ohio concluded, he was suddenly seized river territory was the crux and with an acute attack of colic, while first objective. The French owned on a visit to his old home (residence the territory bent like a bow from now of his son, Philip) in Heidel- Quebec, via the St. Lawrence, the berg, where on Sunday, July 13, he Great Lakes, and the Mississippi to died and was laid to rest in his pri- New Orleans, and claimed the vate family burial plot a few days tributaries of the Mississippi—hence later amid fitting funeral services. the Ohio river territory. The Eng- Who will not recognize Conrad lish occupied a narrow strip along Weiser as a great man—one of the the Atlantic seaboard, 1,000 miles in greatest, indeed, in the colonial pe- length, and claimed the territory riod of our state and national life? 128 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community And who does not recognize that his circle, or zone, and carefully em- illustrious and numerous offspring- bracing each family line of descent can point with pride to so worthy an in a certain limited segment of this ancestor? ever-widening field to the surface rim, on which are marked the num- ANCESTRAIj SETTING. bers up to 12 of a clock dial, which We set out under this chap- spaces are again sub-divided into 6 ter heading to give an account of minute marks, so that an alphabeti- this most illustrious family of the cal list of names (embracing about Womelsdorf community—the family 200 different surnames) may be very of Conrad Weiser, and have now readily found, the generation or given briefly the ancestral setting of circle being given together with its it. What follows will be an en- place on the clock. It commends deavor to picture the lines of de- itself to one as a most ingenious de- scendants that have come from this vice for a family tree. ancestral stem. From his own auto- In this one branch of the Weiser biography we have learned that he family, the Muhlenberg line, are had 15 children in all, of whom only many names, which are written high seven reached their majority, and upon our nation's tablets of honor. survived him. These, as mentioned The very first generation of seven in his will, are in the order of their grown and married children is uni- birth, the following: Philip, Anna versally conspicuous for noblest Maria, Frederick, Peter, Margaret, service and highest rank. We shall Samuel and Benjamin. From the presently trace this lineage and way a tree grows, or a forest may point out the distinctive public sta- be propagated from a single acorn, tions many have filled and the high or a field spread over with blossoms honors attained. from a single seed, if you but give it time enough, so may from the INTERWOVEN NAMES. loins of one ancestor in course of The following family names are time spring an almost innumerable interwoven into this Muhlenberg company. It was the promise of branch alone, viz.: Albright, Arden, God to Abraham, fulfilled in the Baer, Baume, Bailey, Baldwin, Ball, Jewish nation and race, that they Barches, Barnhart, Bayard, Beale, should be as the sands of the sea Beck, Bedlow, Bennetch, Bittner, for multitude, and as the stars in Bonine, Boone, Brooke, Budd, Bul- the heavens, innumerable. key, Burchell, Burkitt, Burroughs, It has almost come to be so in the Cameron, Cammann, Caudis, Carter, offspring of Conrad Weiser within Cassidy, Chalfant, Chapin, Chap- 200 years. His descendants have man, Chessman, Chisohn, Churchill, now come down to the seventh gen- Ciriacy-Wantrup, Clingan, Clarke, eration, and in some lines lapped Coleman, Condit, Cooper, Coursen, over into the eighth generation, and Craig, Crary, Cunningham, Cutter, while we have but one family tree Dailey, Day, Dean, DeFrees, Dein- fully traced out, that of Anna Marie inger, Delino, Dubois, Duchman, Muhlenberg, it may easily be reck- Dulles, Dunn, Edgar, Edwards, Ege, oned out from the one that if all Eigenbrodt, Elliott, Ermentrout, lines were followed out to the pres- Evans, Farnsworth, Fehr, Fell, Felt- ent day, the descendants' names housen, Fichthorn, Fidler, Fisher. would run up to a list of over Franklin, Fredericks, Freehafer, Gal- 10,000. The Muhlenberg line alone latin, Garber, Garretson, Gevenot. runs over 1,500. Gilbert, Gilson, Goessling, Goldsbor- ough, Gotwald, Gregg, Griffin, Grif- MUHLENBERG FAMILY TREE. fith, Grubb, Hall, Hamersley, Han- It was the painstaking work of the old, Harbach, Harner, Harris, Hart, late Dr. Muhlenberg, of Reading, I Hess, Hiester, Hoffman, Hoogewerff, understand, who constructed this Hugn, Huffnagle, Hunter, Immel, elaborate and unique family tree, a Irick, Irwin, Jackson, Jaffray, copy of which a kind friend, a James, Jerems, Jones, Kenneedy, member of the family, has fur- Keyser, Kidder, Kimmel, King, nished me for study. It is con- Kluepfel, Kulenkampff, Kress, structed in the form of rings or Kunze, Kurtz, Laumann, Lawrence, zones of circumference, like the Lind, Look, Lorillard, Lynch, Mc- zones of our globe, beginning with Clean, McCulloch, McElroy, McFar- the marriage of the Rev. Henry land, Mcllvaine, McKnight, McLene- Melchoir Muhlenberg and Anna gan, McManus, McCrory, McSherry, Marie Weiser exhibited on the inner Mali, Martine, Matthews, Maylen, circle, then their offspring and the Meier, Meiersmith. Meyer, Miller, marriage of their seven matured Mills, Monbert, Moore, Morley, Mor- children in the second circle, and so rell, Morris, Muhlenberg, Mulliken. on widening out into the eighth Murray, Musser, Myers, Nagle, New- Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 129 bold, Nicolls, Nielson, Noltenius, Tullidge, Turnbull, Tuttle, Valentine, Oakeley, Olcott, Orb, Otto, Paris, Vanderslice, VanLear, VanReed, Parker, Patterson, Pauli, Peck, Vaughan-Jones, VonPost, Waite, Perkins, Pfeiffer, Philley, Piatt, Walker, Wallace, Ward, Waters, Plientinger, Porter, Prentiss, Plun- Watmough, Weir, Weiser, West, net, Rambo, Reeder, Reid, Reicart, Westcott, Weston, Weyman, Whar- Rex, Rhoades, Richards, Rick, Rine, ton, Whitlock, Wheeler, White, Wil- Robeson, Rodman, Rogers, Roland, liams, Willing, Withers, Wilcox, Rush, Sanford, Saunders, Schaeffer, Woodman, Woolsey, Worrell, Yonge, Schaun, Schenck, Schmucker, Schra- Yorke and Zieber. der, Schulze, Schwab, Seachrist, Sel- Addenda—Bow, Barto, Gascoione, ler, Seiss, Shaw, Sheaff, Shepherd, Kerekot, Herrick, Hutchingson, Mc- Schieffelin, Sick, Smith, Snodgrass, Lenegan, Sanger and Schunder. Spaeth, Spencer, Sperry, Stauffer, Of these the Barto, E'ge, Fidler, Stevens, Stewart, Stockton, Strahan, Smith, Stauffer, Schulze, Valentine Streater, Sutton, Swain, Taylor, and Vanderslice names belong to Teed, Thomas, Thomson, Tiedemann, Womelsdorf. 130 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community Bethany's Cooling' Springs Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 131 Chapter XX. OUR MOST ILLUSTRIOUS FAMILY We shall now trace the seven financial agent of Gettysburg College various branches of the Conrad and pastor of various churches, the Weiser family down as far as we last 13 years of his life in George- are able, and point out the most town, Col., where he died Dec. 8, illustrious members of each line. 1885. Of the line of Conrad, 3d, The difficulty lies that none of the came the Snyder county Weisers, a others have published their family number of whom have climbed into history like the Muhlenbergs; so we fame as editors, authors, legislators can only point out a few shining and professional men. The last noted lights, whom we know to have come minister was the late Rev. Daniel out of the other lines. Weiser, D. D., long a prominent min- First—Philip Weiser, the oldest ister of the Lutheran Church, who son of Conrad, died less than a year died at Selinsgrove Dec, 9, 1875. after his father, March 27, 1761, aged 3 8 years, 5 months and 4 days ORATOR AND AUTHOR. and left three small sons at the time the fourth son of few Daniel Weiser, of his death. He had lived a John Conrad (3d), had a son, the old homestead and is years on Clement Z., who was destined to be- said to have been wounded in the come widely known as one of the war (French and Indian) from most eloquent and influential min- life was doubtless which effects his isters in the Reformed Church, Rev. shortened. Dr. C. Z. Weiser, of Pennsburg, The eldest son of Philip was where he long preached and died. John Conrad, who figured prom- He held highest offices in the Re- inently in the Revolutionary War. formed Synod, was in demand as a He was the father of 12 children of public speaker and a prolific writer. whom eight lived to maturity as fol- It is from his pen that has come the lows: Benjamin, Frederick, John first "Life of Conrad Weiser," Conrad, Daniel, Sophia (Mrs. brought out in 1876, by Daniel Mil- Schawber), Hannah (Mrs. Rhoads), ler, Reading, publisher. Mary (Mrs. Holstein), and Catharine Peter Weiser, born April 2 6, 17 51, (Mrs. Bassler). The Holsteins lived was the second son of Philip. He in Mill Creek Valley and the Bass- had four children, one daughter, lers in the Tulpehocken Valley, west Catharine, is known to have mar- of Myerstown, and the families are ried a Mr. McConnell. She was well connected. Although Conrad, born in 1770, survived her father the father, is known to have settled and died in 1852. Nothing more is later in Snyder county, in the neigh- known to the writer of this branch. borhood of Selinsgrove, part of which The third of Philip's sons was town was originally known as Weis- Jabetz, born in 1753 and died in ersburg, it is believed some of the 1829. He was a farmer and lived family remained behind at Womels- on a part of the old homestead, the dorf, as a Benjamin Weiser is known farm just south of town, now the to have been in the store business property of William M. S. Moore, and here after the Revolution, while long the Losh-Moore farm. One of Benjamin, the youngest son of Con- the old buildings still has the name rad, the interpreter, had already of Jabetz Weiser on as builder. He changed his residence to Selinsgrove was married to Marialis Wengert and and had gone on a long, vain chase both of them are buried in our ceme- to reclaim his father's forfeited es- tery. He was blind during the last tate in New York. So very probably years of his life. It is known that this grandson's (Conrad's) eldest the youngest of their daughters, son, Benjamin, was the father of the Elizabeth, born June 16, 1788, was late Rev. Dr. Reuben Weiser, born first married to Jacob Fasig, of in Womelsdorf, Dec. 29, 1807, the son Womelsdorf, where he died, leaving of Benjamin and Catharine (Hide) one son (Arthur) and one daughter Weiser, who served the Lutheran Sevilla, besides the widow. Sevilla Church for over 50 years as teacher, Sevilla, besides the widow. Sevilla principal of two female seminaries. Fasig, born Dec. 25, 1808, baptized 132 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community by Rev. Dr. Hendel, confirmed by to the writer beyond this record. Rev. Daniel Ulrich, and on her nine- He was probably a posthumous son teenth birthday was married to of his father, Philip. Daniel Wolff Rev. Waltz, from by II. Anna Maria Weiser, the eldest which union comes Oliver J. Wolff, daughter of Conrad, the interpreter, an alderman (still living), of Read- was born in Schohary, N. Y., June - ing . Mr. Fasig's widow (Elizabeth 24, 1727. On April 22, 1745, she Weiser), next was married to Henry was married to Rev. Henry Melchoir Lewars, of Hamburg. They had one Muhlenberg, Lutheran superintend- daughter, Adeline, who married ent of churches in Pennsylvania and Charles J. Bowers, who is still living pastor of the Trappe (Augustus) at Hamburg one of the oldest of — Lutheran Church and others in the Weiser descendants. So are a Montgomery county. Her line of number of the children. Elizabeth genealogy is completely worked out, Weiser Lewars died at an advanced as indicated in a former chapter, to age nearly 50 years ago. the seventh generation. Among this Inasmuch as the Lewars name numerous Muhlenberg family are is not a common one, it is more than many sons and daughters of distinct probable she was ancestress to the fame. We shall try to outline to late Rev. W. H. Lewars, a Lutheran which of the several branches of minister of some note, who served this wide-spreading family each churches at Mahanoy City, Lititz and noted member belongs and what has Annville_, where he died in 189 7, who brought them renown and honor. was born and brought up near Seven children of the 11 born to Mohrsville, a few miles south of Rev. Muhlenberg and his wife lived Hamburg. He was married to to maturity, married and reared of Gettysburg, Valeria Steck, a families, in every line of which are of Rev. Dr. Daniel Steck. daughter illustrious members and offspring. Their three sons were graduated Anna Maria Weiser Muhlenberg Gettysburg College and from became lived to a good old age and saw proficient in music. The eldest, children and grandchildren, like a Harold, was married to Elsie Sing- Queen Victoria, rise and be crowned master, famous story writer and with honor and fame. authoress, a daughter of Rev. Prof. Singmaster, D. D. LL. D., and wife, STUDIED FOR MINISTRY. he now the president of the Theo- Their eldest was Maj. Gen. logical Seminary of Gettysburg. John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, JABETZ WEISER'S CHILDREN. born Oct. 1, 1746, and died Oct. 1, 1807. In 1763 he, with his two Other children of Jabetz Weiser younger brothers, was sent to Halle, were Marie Catharine, born Nov. 10, Germany, where all of them studied 1777; Samuel, born May 19, 1781; for the ministry. He arrived in born 6, 17 Henry Solomon, Nov. 83; America in 1767, and in 1768 be- Solomon, born Feb. 14, 1786; Maria came assistant pastor of Zion's and Phillippina, 27, 1790; born Nov. St. Paul's Lutheran churches, in Sarah, born Feb. 15, 1794, and Re- New Germantown and Bedminster, becca, born Feb. 19, 1796. Beyond N. J. On Nov. 6, 17 70, he married this we have no record. Miss Anna Barbara Meyer. In 1772 4. A fourth son of Philip, was he became pastor of the Lutheran named for the father, Philip. He Church in Woodstock, Va., where, had the following children: Maria at the outbreak of the Revolutionary Margaretta, born June 18,1776; Ben- War, he made a spectacular resig- jamin, born May 18, 1778; Peter, nation of the ministry for army life; born Oct. 3, 1781; John Jacob, born took charge as colonel of the March 28, 178 3. Nothing is known Eighth Virginia Regiment, rose to Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 133 rank of brigadier general, then to when the Union Church, of Womels- major general, and fought in many dorf, was built and he and his son, of the leading battles during the John Andrew (afterwards gover- entire war under Washington's nor), served it for about 15 years command. After the Revolution he after its establishment. From them was elected to the Pennsylvania descended an illustrious family. state Legislature; in 1785 was vice (a) Anna Maria Margaretta, mar- president of the Philadelphia Com- ried Michael Ege, a Berks county mon Council, of which Benjamin lawyer. Their children were (1), Franklin was president; served Harriet Ege married John Ermen- three terms in Congress (Lower trout; (2), Sarah Eye married Rich- House) and was then elected a ard Boone; (3), Michael M. Ege. United States senator from Pennsyl- (b) Henry L. Schultze, 1774-1824. vania. He died at Grays Ferry (c) John Andrew Melchior Schultze (Philadelphia) and was buried at was Lutheran minister, legislator Trappe, Montgomery county, near and for two terms governor of Penn- his parents. He left three sons and sylvania. one daughter out of six children, of (d) Catharine G., 1782-1825. whom are: (e) Christiana Salome, 1783-1853, (a) Hester, married to Isaac Hies- married John Albright. ter, of Reading, an eminent physi- (f) Mary Magdelena, 1787-1875. cian, of whose children (1) Anna M., (g) Frederick Augustus Schultze, married John P. Jones, of Philadel- 1787-1836, married Mary Rosina phia, a lawyer; (2) William M., was Hiester. Their children (1), Julia also a lawyer, and (3), Francis M. Ann, married Dr. F. R. McManns, (Hiester), a doctor in Reading. of Baltimore; (2), Emanuel Gabriel, (b) Peter, a major in the U. S. married Frances Elliott. army, who married Sarah Coleman (3) Eliza M., married Elias Fidler, of and had four children, of whom (1) Womelsdorf . Their children: (1), Catharine Anna married Rev. Prof. Mary Frances, married H. W. Stauf- Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg (a fer; (2), Julia, married George H. second cousin), who was an illus- Valentine; one son, LeRoy H.; (3), trious educator, professor in four Harry, married Fannie S. Smith, colleges and president of two. They three children, Arthur Penn, Julia left several children, of whom at Eliza and Herbert Smith; (4) Fred- least one, W. F. Muhlenberg, was a erick Augustus, married Lizzie H. doctor in Reading; (2) Francis Peter Valentine; four children, Howard V., was also an officer in the U. S. army. Elias Schultze, Frederick Ralph and (c) Francis Swaine, who married Adam Claude. Mary Denny and was a representa- (h) Elizabeth, 1785-1861. tive in Congress from Ohio. (i) John P. Gabriel, 1786-1840; married Mary Magdelena Immel. LUTHERAN MINISTER'S WIFE. Their children are (1) Israel, 1813- Rev. Henry The second child of 1871; (2), Edward Leonard, 1809- Melchior and Anna Maria Weiser 18 81. Their children: Mary Jane, Muhlenberg was Eva Elizabeth, married Thomas Gotwald, a min- who married Rev. Christopher ister; Phoebe Ann Vutter, married 'Schulze, a distinguished Emanuel M. J. Grafius Harris; Emma Eliza- pastor Lutheran minister, who was beth, married John W. Wallace; (3), practically all his lifetime of the Lucetta Salmone, married Samuel in the Tulpehocken charge, residing Schaffer Rex; (4), Clemintine, mar- Christ Lutheran parsonage, where ried Edward Vanderslice. their family was born and reared, and where they both died and in TRAINED FOR MINISTRY. the graveyard of which church they 3. Frederick Augustus Conrad lie buried. Rev. Schulze was pastor Muhlenberg. Born Jan. 2, 1750, died 134 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community June 5, 1801. He was trained in this to say of both Frederick and Halle, Germany, for the minis- Peter Muhlenberg: "These two Ger- try. Ordained in 1770 and served mans, who had been long in public churches in New Jersey, Lebanon affairs and in high office, were the and Lancaster counties (with his great leaders and oracles of the home at Schaeffersto'wn), and in New whole German interest in Pennsyl- York city to the outbreak of the vania and the neighboring states. Revolutionary war, when he also The Muhlenbergs turned the whole relinquished the ministry for political body of the Germans, great numbers life. Took a leading part in coun- of the Irish, and many of the Eng- cils of Pennsylvania in formative lish, and in this manner introduced perio'd; served several terms in Con- the total change that followed in gress, and was elected first speaker both houses of the Legislature, and of the U. S. Congress at the begin- in all the executive departments of ning of national legislative history. the national government. Upon such His branch of the family is another slender threads did our elections illustrous one. On Oct. 15, 1771, he then depend." was married to Miss Catharine WRITER OF HYMN. Schaeffer, of Philadelphia, and on their wedding trip—via Reading and The children and offspring of Womelsdorf to Schaefferstown—he Frederick A. C. Muhlenberg are as rode on horseback while his bride follows: Henry William, born rode in the stagecoach, which was 1772; died, 1805; married, July 30, too crowded on this trip to accom- 1795, Mary Catharine Sheaff, of modate both. From this union were whom came.- Rev. William Augus- born seven children. tus Muhlenberg, D. D. (1796-1877), After Rev. Muhlenberg quit his Episcopal minister, father of St. post as pastor in New York city, for Luke's Hospital and other charita- the political arena in 1776, he was ble institutions near New York city; elected to a seat in Congress from author of the hymn, "I Would Not Pennsylvania. He was also elected to Live Alway." Mary Catharine the state Legislature in 1780, and Muhlenberg, married John S. Hies- chosen its speaker, continuing three ter, only son of Gov. Joseph Hiester, terms. Next he filled a place on the a lawyer of Reading, among whose, board of censors as its president. four children was Eugenia Frances Then followed the state's ratification Hiester, who married William John of the national constitution, in which Sheaff, whose second daughter, El- Mr. Muhlenberg again was chosen to len Frances, became the wife of preside, his brother, Peter, being Gen. David McMurtrie Gregg, o 4. Margaretta Henrietta Muhlen- (b) Susannah Elizabeth, married berg, born 1751 and died 1831, mar- Peter Schmidt. ried on July 23, 1771, Rev. John (c) Henry Augustus Philip (1782- Christopher Kunze, D. D., an emi- 18 44). He was for 2 5 years pastor nent Lutheran divine of Philadelphia of Trinity Lutheran Church, Read- and New York city, from whose five ing; then U. S. congressman for five children sprang- an illustrious family terms; U. S. minister to Austria of descendants by intermarriage (18 38), and nominee for governor with the Meiers, Van Posts, Schwabs of Pennsylvania at time of his Schraders, Punnetts, Oakleys, Bulk- death (1844). Twice married, sis- leys, Cammanns, Wards, Bailleys, ters, Mary E. and Rebecca, both the Lorillards, of whom besides many daughters of Gov. Joseph Hiester. prominent merchants of America By his first wife he had six children, and Germany (an early branch hav- of whom one was Hiester Henry, ing married a German merchant), in long a noted doctor of Reading, three generations had the following whose son, Nicholas Hunter, also professional members included: followed the medical profession, and Prominent educators in Germany a daughter, Rebecca, married a America. 3; Charles Theodore and doctor, viz., Elhannan Zook Schwab (Stuttgart), John Seile and Schmucker, of Reading, and still (Bielefeld); Rudolph F. A. Schrader another daughter, Rosa, married doctors, 5; Drs. George Philip Cam- Rev. H. Douglass Spaeth. Another M. mann, Alfred Smith, Donald son was Henry Augustus, who was Ernest B. Pauli, Jerome Cammann, a lawyer and member of Congress (last two of Bremen); min- Walker from Pennsylvania, and his son, also Henry Ogden Dubois, isters, 4; Revs. named Henry Augustus, likewise P. Wantrup, Alfred Plion- Paul Von followed the practice of law at the inger (Stuttgart), Lawrence H. Berks county bar. Another son of Schwab; lawyers, 2; Eberhart Nol- Henry Augustus Philip and Mary E. and Gustave Herman Von terius Muhlenberg was Frederick Augustus Schwab; navy officers, 3; Charles H. Hall, whose eldest son, Henry Oakley, Francis Morris, Frederick Ernest, was a doctor at Lancaster, Paul Schrader, German navy; army and his son, by same name, a lawyer officer, 1; Karl George Schwab. at Reading. A second son, Benja- min Schaum Muhlenberg, a MINISTER AND BOTANIST. was doctor at Lancaster, and a third son 5. Gotthilf Henry Ernest Muhlen- was for over 50 years eminent pro- berg, born 1753 and died 1815. He fessor of four colleges, minister, was for 3 5 years a distinguished president for 11 years of Muhlen- Lutheran minister at Lancaster, and berg College, Rev. Frederick Au- a noted botanist, author of standard gustus Muhlenberg, D. D., LL. D., books on the science. He, too, like already alluded to because married his brothers, was educated at Halle, to a second cousin. A fourth son Germany, and was ordanied at Read- was Francis Muhlenberg, a doctor ing in 1770. On July 26, 1774, he of Lancaster, and a fifth, Edward D. was married to Mary Catharine Hall, Muhlenberg, an engraver. One of of Philadelphia, and another illus- his daughters, Emma Elizabeth, was trious branch of the Muhlenberg married to Rev. Jacob Mombert. family sprang of this union. (d) John Philip Emanuel (1784- Highest honors came to the head 1825) married Susan A. Craig. No during life as minister, educator, issue. scientist and author. Their eight (e) George Peter Samuel (1786- children are as follows: 1827) single. (a) Mary Catharine, married John (f) Mary Henrietta (1789-1850) Musser. single. 136 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community (g) Phillippa Elizabeth (1791- lecturer and author. Married Sarah 18 23) married Henry Huffnagle. No M. McClean. Of their four children, issue. the eldest son, Rev. John W. Rich- (h) Frederick Augustus Holl ards, became pastor of a Lutheran (1795-1867). Sketch given above. church in Lancaster, and their daughter, Mary McConaughy, mar- WIFE OF REVOLUTIONARY ried David GENERAL. Reeves Stockton, a doctor of Lancaster. (4), Henry Melchoir 6. Mary Catharine Muhlenberg Muhlenberg Richards, naval officer, (1755-1812) married General Fran- historian and author, of Lebanon, cis Swain, of Revolutionary fame. married Ella Van Leer, and of their Had one son, George Washington four children, the eldest is Rev. Swaine. No further issue or descent. Henry Branson Richards, of the 7. Maria Salome Muhlenberg Lutheran Church, and the second (1766-1827) inarmed Matthias Rich- son, Charles Matthias, followed the ards. He was a volunteer at the medical profession in Reading. Battle of Brandywine, later a major III. Frederick Weiser, third son of in Fourth Battalion, Philadelphia the interpreter, Conrad Weiser, was Company Militia, 1780; judge of born in Schoharie, N. Y., Dec. 24, Berks county courts, 1791-9 7; in- 1728. His name comes up only oc- spector of customs, 1801-02; mem- casionally in his father's correspond- ber of Congress, 1807-11; collector ence and later during the Revolution, of revenues, 1812. Their children- so that we can say practically noth- were eight, as follows: ing of his career or his posterity. (a) Henry Muhlenberg Richards, IV. Peter Weiser was the fourth a surveyor, married Elizabeth Otto. branch of the Conrad Weiser family. Had one son and descent. The few fragments known of him (b) Mary Catharine Richards, are included in the father's cor- married Isaac Myers. Had one respondence, and when his name oc- daughter. No descent. curs in muster rolls of the Revo- (c) Matthias Swaine Richards, lution. It may afford the subject married Margaret Myers. Had two for some future study to unravel children, but no descent. these lives. But doubtless the many (d) Margaretta Henrietta Rich- scattered Weisers of Berks, Mont- ards. Single. gomery, Lancaster, York, Snyder (e) Charles Richards, a lawyer and other counties of Pennsylvania at Lebanon. Single. may be able to trace their ancestry (f) Eliza Salome Richards, mar- to one or the other line. ried James F. McElroy, of U. S. army. No issue. DESCENDANTS OF WEISER. (g) Charlotte Francisca Rich- When the Conrad Weiser monu- ards, married George W. Oakley, a ment was unveiled in Womelsdorf, merchant, of Reading. Had two Sept. 25, 1909, there were present children and descent. a number of direct descendants, (h) John William Richards, a among whom Mrs. William Bailey, noted Lutheran minister of Pennsyl- of Washington, D. C, claims to be vania, who married Andova Garber. a great - great - granddaughter of They had four children as follows: Peter. She is a member of the D. (1), Adalaide Susanna, married A. R. and Colonial Dames Society Jacques Von B. Beck Craig. No is- and was corresponding secretary of sue. (2), Andora Elizabeth, married Columbia Chapter, D. A. R., of John McKnight, merchant, of Read- Washington. Likewise, Mrs. W. H. ing. Had four children and descent. Morrette and Miss Ida McConnell, (3), Matthias Henry Richards, a of Philadelphia, also present, Lutheran minister, college professor, claim the same relation to Peter Annals oi Womelsdorf and Community 137 Weiser and, of course, his father, lime light. We know nothing of his Conrad. George Weiser, of Middle- family. town, O., was also present and VII. BENJAMIN WEISER, born claimed direct descent from the Aug. 12, 1744, the youngest son of Conrad, seems to inherited his pioneer. He is a veteran of the have father's roving propensity. After the Civil War. Other descendants pres- ent were Mrs. Ida Kredell, Miss Ella Revolutionary War he was in Snyder Shearer and Mamie Warren, of county; then he pursued a phantom of reclaiming his father's lands in Reading; Mr. and Mrs. Victor J. the country; he Larsen, of Harrisburg; Mrs. Ida Mohawk thence traveled to as appears Smeltzer, of Myerstown; Mrs. Annie New England, from a letter to Snyder, E. Leisenring, of Allentown, deputy Gov. Simon dated April 2, 1788. quote: "Since state factory inspector; Mrs. Fran- We I last a deal of ces Robinson, of Pinegrove, who saw you I saw good the world (that is, different sorts of was Miss McConnell, a daughter of Frederick McConnell, who was a son people). I was last summer at Mo- River, could not get of Robert McConnell, who was mar- hawk but mat- ters settled to mind. I might have ried to Catharine Weiser, a daugh- my gotten a considerable for ter of Peter Weiser, the son of Con- sum my right, I shall in a few rad Weiser. The tangle may yet be though. now, unraveled. days set off again and am sure of having it done pretty nigh to my V. Margaret Weiser, was born satisfaction." This letter was written here in the Weiser homestead Jan. frcm Providence, R. I. We must .28, 1734. She was twice married; leave the elaboration of his family first to Hieronymus Heintzleman. tree to some future time, or some They had at least one son, Israel, other hands. mentioned in Conrad Weiser's will, We have given a hasty view of while the mother was a widow. Pos- this illustrious family of Conrad sibly a second son was born, as the Weiser and their progeny. Without name would indicate, John Conrad going down for famous members Heintzleman. He lies buried at beyond about the fourth generation, Manheim Lutheran cemetery. His except in a few instances, and not brother, Peter, the father of Gen. mentioning successful merchants S. P. Heintzleman, of Civil War and manufacturers and men of af- fame, is also buried here. But it is fairs in general, we have come still conjectural if these are the off- across poets and orators, artists spring of Margaret Weiser Heintzle- and engravers, painters and sculp- man. The second marriage was tors and architects and at least 2 2 with a Mr. Finker. But of their ministers, 17 doctors, 10 lawyers, 8 family, if any, we are equally uncer- military men, 5 state legislators, 5 tain. college professors, 1 college presi- dent, 4 men rating high in the naval ALSO AN INTERPRETER. service, 7 congressmen, 1 U. S. sen- VI. SAMUEL WEISER is often ator, 1 governor, 2 wives of gover- mentioned in his father's letters and nors, 1 candidate for governor, who commonly called Sammy. He was died during the campaign, and two sent on many public errands by his judges of court. Certainly quite an father, had partly mastered the In- array of leading and professional dian tongue and tried to follow in his men and entitling our humble Tulpe- father's footsteps as interpreter, but hocken pioneer family of 200 years soon the occasion for it passed away ago to the distinctive honor of being and he dropped out of the political the "most illustrious." 138 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 'Let's Go and Play!" Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 139 Chapter XXI. A VAST AND VARIED PLAYGROUND Womelsdorf is environed with the intervening rolling Heidelberg such a variety of natural attractions hills and remarked that he had that whosoever, among its dwellers seen nothing in America that so re- is not constantly finding' recreation minded him of the Swiss hills and near at hand is either sick or has dales. no means, or will of locomotion. By the way, those early Tulpe- And to enjoy these attractions one hocken settlers must have seen the need not own an automobile, or same resemblance and therefore so horse and buggy; no, not even a named these townships of Berks. bike. They lie so close at hand that For the early settlers named the any good hiker can reach the out- most of the original townships of ermost of them on a holiday, or Berks (Heidelberg, Berne, Alsace, even after a summer day's work is Albany, Cumru, Caernarvon), while done, especially if he works on the the English proprietaries named the daylight saving schedule. earlier counties of Pennsylvania for And walking is by far the most their English shires (Chester, Bucks, exhilarating and profitable form of Lancaster, Berks, York, Cumber- locomotion. "With a good com- land, Northampton), while the panion there is nothing to take the aborigines had Already given Indian place of God's own provision for names to the mountain ranges and one's own propulsion over His ter- streams along which they led their restial footstool, man's earthly wild life (Kittatinny, Lecha, Mana- bouse of many wonders. If it does tawny, Ontelaunee, Tulpehocken, not rival other modes of travel in Quittapahilla, Swatara). speed and bodily ease, it greatly ex- cels all others in general physical RESEMBLES HUGE TABLE. exercise and mental exhilaration, The surface of the Heidelbergs while it leads to those hidden for miles springs of refreshment and those many square resembles a table peaks of observation and mental huge upon which have been inspiration where frequently no laid close together inverted spheres of other mode of conveyance can carry mush-melons or pumpkins cut in half. Between the you. It finds its pathways lined concave hillocks lie the dells, ' with gems of beauty and objects of bounti- fully supplied with springs of water, interest, which are revealed to no near which the original one but the pedestrian. homesteads were built, and through which ra- BEAUTIFUL AND VARIED. vines run the winding roadways. New roads are now frequently laid Womelsdorf is surrounded by very out over these boundless succession beautiful, but quite varied land- of hills and dales so as to afford scapes. It has meadows through the traveler constant surprises of which babbling water courses me- beauteous bits of scenery, and fre- ander and whose banks are be- quently from some hilltop most ex- spangled with a vast variety of tensive and charming stretches of spring blossoms. It has rolling up- rolling landscape. There is similar- lands which have a peculiar attrac- ity in these winding and undulating tion all their own. Berks county in highways, but there is constant va- its western portion is remarkably riety as well. One never wearies at broken up into a countless number the pleasing turns and vistas thus of hills and dales. The three presented. Heidelbergs must have borrowed Through the wider valleys the some of the broken country sites more significant streams take their of their European namesake. It meandering course to the river and resembles the rolling hillsides of the sea. The Spring Creek passes some of the contour of Switzerland Robesonia, the Cacoosing seeks the and the Palatinate. Indeed, an ex- larger Tulpehocken, as it flows from tensive traveler in these sections of the Southern Mountains between Europe once took a back road drive Wernersville and Sinking Spring. from Womelsdorf to Reading over The Northkill rises in the Northern 140 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community or Blue Mountains and flows into skeletons, or the pressed, the stuffed the Tulpehocken at Bernville, while and the painted specimens. If one the Mill Creek has its source in the goes in early Spring, the arbutus, the Swabian Hills to the south of old anemone, the violet and the hypatica Schaefferstown and empties into the will keep him company. If he goes Tulpehocken about a mile west of in May the wild azalea, the May Womelsdorf. Thus the much fed apple and the laurel will adorn his and swollen Tulpehocken drains all pathway. If he goes a little later this section of western Berks, flows the orchids of different varieties, es- half a mile to the north of Wom- pecially the pink and yellow lady elsdorf, and after pushing its way slippers, abound and charm his in a serpentine fashion along the heart as no pressed flower of the northern borders of the hilly Heidel- museum can do. In July he goes bergs empties its waters at Read- berrying and brings home kettles ing into the Schuylkill River, which, full of raspberries, blackberries and with its larger companion, the Dela- huckleberries. ware, carries these hilly spring floods on to the great sea. All these THE CALL OF THE WILD. local streams are stocked with fish But all the while he is surrounded and have for generations afforded by the wild and semi-wild creatures recreation and sport to the disciples of God, whose home and habitat are of Izaak Walton. the forest and the mountains. The TRAVEL A PLEASURE. birds, of course, are most plentiful, unless one counts the ants, the bees As the roads are very good in all and the many tribes of gnats and these little valleys, they afford excel- flies. It is seldom that one strolls lent travel for any mode of convey- through the mountain paths in ance, during all parts of the year. spring, summer or autumn and does And for bits of charming pastoral not see a dozen varieties of birds scenery, we venture the assertion and hear their musical notes. The that Central and Fairmount parks thrushes, warblers, chewinks and of New York and Philadelphia, can- sparrows seem to be most common. not compare with the Mill Creek and Not infrequently one can hear the Tulpehocken Valley drives. The drum of the pheasant and the pip- unparalleled William Penn High- ing of the quail, or be thrilled, as way runs through the town and the he is suddenly startled a few steps very heart of the valley. before him by the flight and flutter But the real playground of Wom- of their whirring wings. Sometimes elsdorf is the vast South Mountain the pedestrian comes upon the trail backbone, whose base stretches but of the fox, or the mink and rac- one-half of a mile to the south of coon. The squirrel and chipmunks the town limits, lying in a south- are everywhere in evidence, and all westerly direction, and reaches its these, together with the rabbit and highest crest directly south of the wild turkey make this mountain town, where Eagle's Peak looks per- range a desirable field for the petually down upon the expansive hunter. Lebanon Valley from its lofty eyrie Thus is furnished to the dwellers of over 1,100 feet. This northern of the valley, of farm or village, a slope is composed of several vast field of refreshment and recreation terraces, or benches, over which that covers tens of thousands of numerous trails, paths and wood- acres and lures the naturei-lover, men's wagon roads lead. The ascent the sportsman and the seekers of is thus made easily. In its side rest and health to an Elysian play- numerous springs abound and give ground. At Wernersville, six miles forth their ice cold water, among to the east, health and rest seekers which the Bethany Orphans' Home have for two generations found an Spring and the Gold Spring of the invaluable asset in this same range "Kluft" are the most famous. of hills, and now more than half a To stroll leisurely over this broad dozen hotels and health resorts have mountain side, or parts of it, in sprung up and established a wide any season of the year, is more fame. profitable physically than the best At Mt. Gretna, 15 miles to the equipped gymnasium, and mentally southwest, the Pennsylvania Chau- more beneficial possibly, than the tauqua and camp-meeting grounds best of museums, the Smithsonian have for long years attracted the of Washington, or the American Mu- seekers after mental and spiritual seum of Natural History of New recreation. Now the state and na- York not even excepted. For here tional military camp grounds have is the home and harbor of the real, made this plateau a drill ground for the living things of which the mu- the military arm of our government. seums contain only the original As a summer resort it attracts Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 141 annually about 3,000 dwellers to the scape. The northern view is so ex- prettily set cottages that adorn its tensive that it embraces virtually grounds, in addition to the thou- the eastern half of the famous Leb- sands of military campers. All re- anon valley and includes vast ceive their benefit from this vast stretches beyond. One looks to the playground. east and west, to the north and south, and goes into rapturous ex- GOD'S HANDIWORK. clamations over the magnificent country that lies But perhaps the meditative stu- beneath him. Above the din of the valley's dent of nature, the lover of the noises, its enrapturing beauty and bound- things and ways of God in His world less magnificence transport his soul. of primitive natural workmanship, Once seen, the picture is forever finds the greatest joy and learns the photographed upon the sensitive deepest lessons as he strolls leisure- plate of his soul. ly and in reflective solitude, behold- Here stretches an ing the creations of God's hand. As empire of fer- tile farms. he gets the fragrant whiff of the On and on the billowy wild grape blossom or the honey- fields are rolling, clad in their wealth of emerald suckle, he instinctively and audibly beauty. On and on the terrestrial billows calls on God, for he knows that God of this farm-sea are flowing, one is there, and in His first temple is farm lashing against receiving oblations of His own cre- another, until 15 miles to the north it strikes ation, sweeter than the aromatic against its Blue incense of ancient Jewish altars. He Mountain promontory, while to the south this agricultural sea is prepared to take his shoes from breaks itself up in green undulations off his feet, for he knows he is tread- on holy ground. With the of woodland against the spurs of our ing South thrush song, or the piccolo notes of Mountain range. the vireo, may be wakened a song in his own heart and tongue, as he FERTILE ACRES. tunefully repeats the lines of that grateful old hymn: What rich and improved acres these German pioneers of the Tul- "Praise the Lord! ye heavens adore Him, pehocken valley have left as a leg- Praise Him, angels of the height; acy for their sons and descendant Sun and moon repoioe before Him, heirs. Their log cabins have in most Praise Him, all ye stars of light. instances been displaced by com- modious stone farm houses, many "Praise the God of our salvation, of them so large and so palatial Hosts on high His power proclaim; that their domestic comfort and sur- Heaven and earth, and all creation, rounding attractions lure the most Laud and magnify His name?" fastidious. And what barns! No community Or he may, in a mood of personal on earth can boast of finer and spiritual fellowship, sing forth that larger barns than these "Schweitz- other hymn of praise to Christ by ers" of these Tulpehocken valley, Ray Palmer: Pennsylvania German, georgic princes! And faith, they need them. "Jesus, these eyes have never seen Such are the yields of their broad That radiant form of Thine; acres under their scientific skill at The vail of sense hangs hard between agriculture that these gigantic store- Thy blessed face and mine. houses of crops often overflow with I see Thee not, I hear Thee not, the farm products, and rows of Yet art Thou oft with me; hive-shaped stacks of grain and hay And earth has ne'er so dear a spot. and corn fodder, have to be set nearby, as so sentinels, as it As where I meet with Thee." many were, to guard the rich farm treas- REAL INSPIRATION. ures. Hence the dwellers of Womelsdorf All these refreshments come to need not seek for recreation at some mind and body as one revels in this distant and expensive seaside re- mighty, God-provided playground sort, for they have the best of air, for the dwellers of the valley in the purest of water, the most attrac- general and the inhabitants of Wom- tive of landscapes, the most charm- elsdorf and its environing villages, ing views of scenic beauty and the in particular. But real inspiration most varied and extensive play- awaits him who climbs the almost ground right at hand. 'As the precipitous rocky Eagles' Peak, the mountains are round about Jerusa- highest elevation, and from its tow- lem, so the Lord is round about His ering crest looks over this matchless people from henceforth even for- panorama of rural, pastoral land- evermore." 142 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community GOD'S MOUNTAINS. and worshipped with William Tell for a week among the White Moun- Oh! the mountains of God's hand, tains of New Hampshire and, with a how they soul! And I charm my part of my family, ascended Mt. have been richly favored by their Washington and apostrophized with Creator in granting the privilege me him among the vast sloping wilder- of seeing those of our own many of nesses of pines, the immortal pines land. My infancy was cradled be- of those hills, by crying out: tween the Blue Ridge and the South Mountain ranges. In early youth I "Ye crags and peaks! I'm with you once journeyed over the plateau of the again, Poconos and the Broad mountains To hold to you the hands that still are of Pennsylvania. During my col- free." lege and seminary years I had con- stantly framed in my room win- LURE OF THE HILLS. dows Culp's Hill and the two Round Tops of the great battlefield of Get- I have lived for over 12 years on tysburg. In my later travels it was the prairies of Illinois, and despite my rare privilege to cross the Alle- happy surroundings and the subtle ghenies a score of times, both the charm and lure of the prairies, and A Winter Scene Rocky and the Sierra Nevada dearest of friends and associations ranges, with their perpetually snow- environing me and my family, I covered guarding sentinels, and to nursed a secret home-sickness for ramble among the Wyoming and the hills all these years, that drove dozen Yellowstone Park peaks and spout- me to Pennsylvania half a ing geysers. times for cure and finally took me permanently to live among the I have been in the foothills of the back Ozarks and looked out upon the Keystone hills and spend the eve- looking upon their Smoky Mountains of North Carolina ning time of life their benedic- from that matchless watch tower of beauty and receiving while Lookout Mountain, by the southern tive caresses and consolations, gates of Chattanooga, Tenn., where my heart sings out; the "Battle Above the Clouds" was "For the strength of the hills we bless Thee, fought. I have gone by the Cats- Oh! God, our father's God!" kills of New York, made famous in song and story by the ablest writers Or with the psalmist to say: "I of fine English in America, and have will look unto the hills, whence touched the great Adirondacks by cometh my help. My help cometh the hem of its garments as I trav- from the Lord, who made the heav- eled from Albany to Montreal by ens and the earth." the route of Lakes George and And so the dear Father has set a Champlain. I have seen from afar little vest pocket edition of a moun- the towering bulges of the Green tain in my study window at Womels- Mountains of Vermont, and reveled dorf to entertain, to solace, to teach, Annals of Womehdorf and Community 143 to inspire, to amuse and to glorify gauzy gray veil, while October bur- our souls, while slowly the evening- nishes it in its autumnal furnaces shadows are gathering- It is play- by day and with the aid of Jack ground and picture gallery, school Frost's work by night, it comes forth room and lecture hall, observation in all the colors of the rainbow, a tower and preacher's pulpit, recre- gigantic Gypsy show, while as the ation gymnasium and amusement season's parade moves on it is found stage all in one. in brown and russet, then blue and purple, till winter oft lays about it MINIATURE MT. BLANC. its mantle of white. It is my miniature Mt. Blanc, a But on the same day it may little over 1,100 feet high. It is change both its moods and its col- just a mile away from my window ors. Now its aspect is dark and and a segment of it, Ave miles long, cold and forbidding. It seems far stretching from the "Kluft" of New- away. Gray clouds may wrap a manstown, where the Gold Spring somber coverlet about its summit sends forth its ice cold beverage, to and it stands out unmoved and ir- the ravine at Robesonia, where the responsive like a sulking, disap- Furnace, or Spring Creek, has its pointed lover. Then its mood rise, has been set in this window changes. A sheen of morning sun- frame. Eagle's Peak is just before light steals over its face. It wakens me, its rocky eyrie now battling into love and friendliness. It casts with the lightning flashes of summer away its somber robes and clothes storms, or playing with the clouds, itself in pink and beams upon you or else basking itself in clear sun- with a tender, beckoning smile, and light, or looking up into a blue sky. as if conscious of being discovered While its summit is thus engaged in its love-making, it turns into in its frisky moods, hundreds of or- crimson like the blushing cheek of phaned children play innocently at a bashful sweetheart. I have seen its flowery base. Its friendly ter- it turn, within a few minutes, from raced bosom is ever exposed to view, a petulant, frowning, soured maiden upon whose vast pillows all of Berks' into a rose garden of brilliant blooms 250,000 toiling inhabitants might by the effusion of copious baptisms find rest and be enfolded in its ar- of sun-rays upon its countenance. boreal skirts, and hidden from view, I have seen it stand forth, curtained like a sleeping infant rests on the in thin, filmy tracery of misty white bosom of its mother. clouds, as after a rain shower, when Ah, the solacing, inspiring, be- its form could only be dimly seen witching, entrancing charms of a behind its pure white diaphanous mountain with its varying moods! veil. Yes, a mountain has moods, like a spoiled child or an ill-trained man. LIKE AN ANGRY BISON. It is about the moodiest thing on Now it seems near. It comes to earth. Recreationists know it and meet you with a confident step and watch the varying freaks in all glad eye, like a tamed fawn that mountains, as dwellers by the sea comes to lick your hand or eat from love to watch the ocean's changing its outstretched palm. Then it re- caprices. cedes like a frightened deer and MOUNTAIN'S MOODS. hides from you, as it were. It stands afar off, cold and angry, like a huge I have often watched my pet bison shaking its furry head. It mountain's capers and moods. Now seems to shake its giant form like its disposition is merry and playful, an unsheltered beast in a rain lfke a skipping lamb. Now it lends storm. its benignant smiles and dotes upon Alas! Once I saw it enveloped in you like a love-sick maiden. Now flames! It had turned into a min- it challenges you like a defiant war- iature Vesuvius. It was during the rior, or a gladiator in his fighting early days of May, 1922. Some care- uniform. Now it frowns upon you; less person had recklessly dropped a it fairly froths like a wild beast in lighted match, or played with a bon- rage. fire, when its whole surface was And it changes its color much like strewn with its winter bedding of a chameleon. It has a different garb leaves, dried into a cinder bed by for each season and some extra an incessant April sun shining from wraps to suit all kinds of weather. a cloudless, rainless sky. A gentle Now it steps out in tenderest green wind gave it both feet and wings, of spring's loveliness. The budding and the little flame soon had leaped season gives it a pinkish shawl. The from base to crest, and as if horri- summer months throw upon it a fied at its own mischief or the garment of darker green. Septem- charred surface it left behind, it di- ber often decks it off with a hazy, vided itself into two columns and 144 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community kept receding, one from the other, glory before my eyes. And it charges like two columns of soldiers march- me nothing but an open eye, an ap- ing backward on dress parade. It preciative heart and an adoring soul. was a weird, a lurid sight to see I always manage to pay the price. these two fire battalions of the True, the mountain has some mountain keeping up their uncanny high and precipitous rocky ledges; counter-marches all night. Like I know, for I have climbed them. It great fiery serpents they stretched has some dense, almost impenetrable their serpentine lengths against the thickets of laurel to crawl through; entire sides of the steep inclines, I know, for I have penetrated them. like twr o meandering streams of It has some snakes, even rattle- lava from some volcano, these twin, snakes; I know, for I have encoun- ever-widening, ever-receding fire tered them. It has some hornets' streams, rolled down the mountain nests; I know, for I have seen them sides all night. A thousand fire issue from their papyrus tents, regi- fighters turned these forest heights, ments of these Japanese soldiers, this vast playground, into the busi- each one carrying a quick-firing ma- est workshop ever, as melting hot chine gun, and I battled with them, as a rolling-mill, for two days and even if in flight, to their dismay. It nights. It left a surface of 3,000 has some long, winding lanes; I acres of it charred and black. It know, for I have threaded them. took the greatest nurse—dear old Dame Nature—all summer to heal COOLING SPRINGS. the gigantic wound. But it has more than these. It BATHED IN SUNLIGHT. has springs of cooling water. It has roots of medicinal worth. It has But here it is in my window every teas of spicy tang. It has warmth morning in some mood or color. I and welcome in its heart. It has have watched it again and again, birds and their songs, flowers and when the atmospheric -conditions their fragrance, cooling shades and made it look terribly like some an- their refreshing pines and spruces in gered Blue Beard, or when a stream immortal colors. It has laurel bushes, of sunlight would bathe just the green at Thanksgiving and Christ- tips of the trees, perhaps when they mas. It has a voice that calls and stood in their autumnal colors and lures you to its side, then sings to veritably it excelled all the finest ex- you of purity, peace and rest. It hibitions of art on screen or caiivas is better than an apothecary's shop that I ever saw in picture theatres for health. No perfumery bottle or metropolitan museums of art. can match the odors of the arbutus, Such displays are more like the the wild azalea, or the fox grape apocalyptic vision, of the heavenly blossom. Its woodsey smells are highway to glory, with its golden genuine and beat all the laboratory pavement and pearly gates, shim- drugs of the city. mering in the brilliant light that A thousand times has my pet issues forth from God's throne, than mountain refreshed my body and anything I ever beheld on earth. It spirit in some form. Whether I is marvelously, transportingly beau- loiter in it, or look upon it from a tiful to behold. Ah! the mountain distance, it is my teacher, my doc- is my moving picture-show. It tor, my lecturer and my entertainer. plays for me every day and un- And it shall remain a part of God's winds its ever-varying films, unroll- playground for me until play days ing indescribable panoramas of and work days are over. Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 145 ---;— xi LilCi3C ucsuauje meais. ; "IV rne townspeople have always been e maU ° f (?alth the ™ oral and religious, maintaining veryvp£f «^J£ i /T- ^ physical condition of its loca- three or four churches. 144 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community kept receding, one from the other, glory before my eyes. And it charges like two columns of soldiers march- me nothing but an open eye, an ap- ing backward on dress parade. It preciative heart and an adoring soul. was a weird, a lurid sight to see I always manage to pay the price. these two fire battalions of the True, the mountain has some mountain keeping up their uncanny high and precipitous rocky ledges; counter-marches all night. Like I know, for I have climbed them. It great fiery serpents they stretched has some dense, almost impenetrable their serpentine lengths against the thickets of laurel to crawl through; entire sides of the steep inclines, I .know, for I have penetrated them. like two meandering streams of It has some snakes, even rattle- lava from some volcano, these twin, snakes; I know, for I have encoun- ever-widening, ever-receding fire tered them. It has some hornets' streams, rolled down the mountain nests; I know, for I have seen them sides all night. A thousand fire issue from their papyrus tents, regi- fighters turned these forest heights, ments of these Japanese soldiers, this vast playground, into the busi- each one carrying a quick-firing ma- est workshop ever, as melting hot chine gun, and I battled with them, as a rolling-mill, for two days and even if in flight, to their dismay. It nights. It left a surface of 3,000 has some long, winding lanes; I acres of it charred and black. It know, for I have threaded them. took the greatest nurse—dear old Dame Nature—all summer to heal COOLING SPRINGS. the gigantic wound. But it has more than these. It IN SUNLIGHT. has springs of cooling water. It has BATHED roots of medicinal worth. It has But here it is in my window every teas of spicy tang. It has warmth morning in some mood or color. I and welcome in its heart. It has have watched it again and again, birds and their songs, flowers and when the atmospheric - conditions their fragrance, cooling shades and made it look terribly like some an- their refreshing pines and spruces in gered Blue Beard, or when a stream immortal colors. It has laurel bushes, of sunlight would bathe just the green at Thanksgiving and Christ- tips of the trees, perhaps when they mas. It has a voice that calls and stood in their autumnal colors and lures you to its side, then sings to veritably it excelled all the finest ex- you of purity, peace and rest. It hibitions of art on screen or caiivas is better than an apothecary's shop that I ever saw in picture theatres for health. No perfumery bottle or metropolitan museums of art. can match the odors of the arbutus, Such displays are more like the the wild azalea, or the fox grape apocalyptic vision, of the heavenly blossom. Its woodsey smells are highway to glory, with its golden genuine and beat all the laboratory pavement and pearly gates, shim- drugs of the city. mering in the brilliant light that A thousand times has my pet issues forth from God's throne, than mountain refreshed my body and anything I ever beheld on earth. It spirit in some form. Whether I is marvelously, transportingly beau- loiter in it, or look upon it from a tiful to behold. Ah! the mountain distance, it is my teacher, my doc- is my moving picture-show. It tor, my lecturer and my entertainer. plays for me every day and un- And it shall remain a part of God's winds its ever-varying films, unroll- playground for me until play days ing indescribable panoramas of and work days are over. View of Womelsdorf, Pa.—Taken from the Northeast 144 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community kept receding, one from the other, glory before my eyes. And it charges like two columns of soldiers march- me nothing but an open eye, an ap- ing backward on dress parade. It preciative heart and an adoring soul, was a weird, a lurid sight to see I always manage to pay the price. these two fire battalions of the True, the mountain has some mountain keeping up their uncanny high and precipitous rocky ledges; Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 145 Chapter XXII. A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE In speaking of Womelsdorf as a tion and outlay is its best guaranty. e5'ood place to live, the writer has to It is located on an undulating slope. confess that after living in it for Its streets all on an incline and no several years in his younger days, insanitary deposits or accumula- he did 40 years ago, leave the place. tions could possibly lie longer in any But it was in no spirit of dissatis- place, alley or gutter, than between faction over the community, but, as two rain showers. Every rainstorm he then believed, and what he later is a cleanser to chase dirt from our found confirmed, in answer to a town. And it does not take much beckoning finger of divine Provi- rain to make the street gutters flow dence. After 40 years of service in full and over. When old Pluvius the three pleasant and successful favors us with a real summer down- fields of pastoral activity of Schuylkill pour, this natural purifier and Haven, Lebanon, Pa., and Beards- cleanser sweeps every nook and town, 111., when the question of re- crevice of the town absolutely clean. tirement from the active ministry This feature of the town was was to be solved and the place of fu- recognized by strangers from larger ture residence had to be settled, the cities years ago when they repaired die was mentally cast and the lot fell hither in summer as an inviting to our first love—Womelsdorf. He community to spend weeks and has had enough time and experience months to avoid the stifling heat of since again taking up his abode here, other places. The writer cannot re- now nearly two years ago, to verify call that any epidemic of any conse- the caption of this last chapter and quence ever visited Womelsdorf. find for a retired minister that Wom- As to the scenic and natural elsdorf is actually "a good place to charms of the community, I have live." spoken in Chapters I and XXI. Only ESSENTIAL THINGS. like King Solomon's glory, "the hair has not been told." The essential things in a place of residence to make it desirable and ABOVE THE AVERAGE. really delightful are health and sani- tary conditions, beautiful scenic at- Concerning the intellectual and tractions, moral and intellectual moral tone of the community, the tone, abundance of employment, the presence for long years of a flour- sp-'it of improvement, sociability ishing academy and exceptionally and neighborliness, conveniences of good teachers had brought the in- travel, proximity to large centers of tellectual standard possibly a little population, where the public library, above the average even a genera- the art gallery, the musicals and lec- tion ago. Someone has gone to the ture courses abound, and where cer- trouble of making a census and tain other advantages of culture and found that out of 1,300 inhabitants refinement and shopping facilities (men, women and children included) flourish, but from which one can as many as 153 of its adults have, speedily withdraw into the quiet and beyond the high school privileges restful peace of surburban environ- here, been away and taken an ad- ment. vanced course of study in some col- Womelsdorf answers well to all lege, seminary, normal or technical these requirements or conditions. school of high rank. This is a high While in some respects it may not percentage. Let the larger cities measure up to the very best that can compare! Besides this Womelsdorf be had, and a certain high and de- has for some time maintained an sirable standard may not yet be itinerant Chautauqua and supported reached, yet when an average is during the school term, a high class struck it will be found high up in lecture course that runs during the the grade, and there is an earnest fall and winter months under the endeavor by many to reach the top auspices of our schools. notch in all these desirable ideals. The townspeople have always been As to the matter of health the moral and religious, maintaining very physical condition of its loca- three or four churches. 146 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community Church attendance is kept up Harry W. Schoener are the produce fairly well, and the battle of our men, and Jacob H. Mays is the head best people is against the things that of the Farmers' Fertilizer, Feed and destroy a community's moral tone. Hide business. W. M. S. Moore, be- Our churches and Sunday schools sides farming, continues on a smaller are open all the year and many there scale the once very flourishing mule are who are unwilling to forsake the dealing business; James Leed and "old paths." They always And them- Frank Hoffa are the blacksmiths of selves refreshed at the old fountains, town. H. M. Hafer keeps the when with hungering spirits they Seltzer House, bearing a good name repair to the house of God. Our as a public hotel. Smaller shops in townsfolk are industrious and thrifty the artisan line, tinners, plumbers, and enjoy the fruits of their labor in butchers, barbers, baker, motors, domestic contentment and peace etc., flourish, all of which businesses under their own vine and fig-tree. employ some outside help. These, with the Reading Railway and the CENTER OF CIGAR BUSINESS. two furnaces at Robesonia and Sheridan, keep all our workers well For employment a number en- of employed. Some of the brands of terprising businessmen have gener- goods made here have given Wom- ally provided work for whosoever elsdorf extensive advertisement. wants to labor, whether with hand or brain. Womelsdorf has for years been noted for its cigar in- WOMAN'S CLUB, READING dustries. Large factories have flour- CIRCLE. ished in the past and generally em- Taking the matter of sociability ployed most of the labor. At pres- into consideration, we would pro- ent the firms of H. F. Fidler & Co., nounce Womelsdorf at par with the A. S. Valentine & Son, Inc., L. H. best of small communities. It main- Valentine, proprietor, and M. H. tains a good Woman's Club and Smaltz & Son are running and em- Reading Circle, has most of the ploying large numbers of men and better class of social and fraternal women. organizations in good running order, In the knitting business the Wom- and the people are friendly and elsdorf Hosiery Mills, Inc., Harvey neighborly, everybody knowing Stambach, proprietor, and Harvey everybody else and no one so selfish Brendle, superintendent; the Vogue or inconsiderate as not to be ready Underwear Factory, John Blood, to do a friendly service freely and superintendent, and the Dundore gladly at any time. Hosiery Mills, William I. Dundore, Travel facilities are good, especially superintendent, employ many hands. eastward, where a branch of the The Williamson & Moyer cigar box Reading trolley system sends out factory likewise employs a consider- a car every 40 minutes to Reading able number of hands. The Lavino and the intervening towns and a Refractories Co., Robert Patterson, car arrives from these points in the superintendent, manufacturing fire same time. The Lebanon Valley brick; the Standard Chemical Co., branch of the Reading Rail- J. P. Hennesy, president, and Sher- way furnishes the town with man Dietzler, secretary and treas- regular passenger and freight urer, and the coal, rement and lum- service, and east and west over ber yard of W. Theo. Miller, all lo- the William Penn state highway cated at the railroad, employ quite a courses a constant stream of traffic few hands. Wagner & Emerich are in freight trucks and passenger auto- millers; the Rothermel Bros., con- travel all day long. By means of tractors and builders; Mr. Thompson express trains reached by trolley at runs a branch of the Hershey Cream- Wernersville six miles away, Phila- ery Co., while Andrew W. Schoener delphia is only two hours distant and conducts a farmers' implement New York four. store. The homes are substantial and There are five general stores, convenient, most of them lighted whose proprietors are William with electricity and supplied with Strause, Levy S. Filbert, J. D. Kurtz the best of soft water, fresh and & Son, Amos J. Daub and the Co- clean from the South Mountain operative Co.; Mr. Daub's is a con- Springs. A circulating library on a fectionery and "good eats" store, small scale is started, and anyone while Mr. Nolf is in the restaurant eager to consult large city libraries business. All these stores employ is only 14 miles away from the help. Charles A. Matthew runs a Reading public library and that of flour and feed store, and John A. the Historical Society of Berks Matthew & Son a hardware store, County. The Reading Museum and while Dr. F. T. Landis has an up-to- Art Gallery are close at hand for date drug store. Wilson Degler and the student in these lines of culture. ; — Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 147 All these features make Womels- town within it. Even if one might be dorf quite a desirable place of resi- tempted to think sometimes that his dence. Of course the source of true satanic majesty ruled the smaller enjoyment abides in a person's own town, no one would be prepared to heart and life, and the outside world assert he did so more than the large is attracted or repelled, congenial or city. It was Sodom and Gomorrah, repulsive, much as one presents an Ninevah and Tyre, Babylon and an- attitude of friendliness and appre- cient Rome, Chorazin, Capernaum ciation, or else of selfishness and and even Jerusalem—cities of vast hostility. We largely make our own size that were destroyed because of environment. "He that would have their wickedness. friends must show himself friendly." Sometimes the growing sons and daughters of rural towns grow res- HARDING'S TRIBUTE. tive and weary of their native en- But one can have many things in vironment, despise the home place a small town that go for happiness foi its very littleness and long for and self-improvement that often are the city. Often it is a healthy ambi- hard to find in a larger place. This tion, and then a small town's best may explain why so many men have characteristic is that it creates dis- found the rural life in small towns content and gives wings to ambition stepping stones and good schools for something greater and bigger for their own advancement. We than the rural towns offer. Some- have seen how many noted and suc- time, also, this feeling proves a snare cessful men and women (and we and ends in ruin as with Lot "when know we could not name or think of he^ fled from Sodom." Then Harry all) have come from Womelsdorf Lee's poetic reflections may be and this community. The rural realized when he sings about town is oft the college, which a wise and kindly Providence has chosen MY LITTLE TOWN. in which to train many of America's My little town noblest actors. Said President Hard- Was a green little town ing, at the celebration of Gen. And a good little town to know. Grant's centenary at Point Pleas- With never a door But was open to me ant, Ohio, last spring: "I have great Nor a hearth but was kind reverence for the genius and the Long ago. determination and the capacity But a moon-lit road which belongs to great cities, but if Led out of the town my observation in life counts for Over the hills and away; anything, I want to say to you that Over the hills the one everlasting anchorage of To the wide, wide world. Where is the lad this republic is in the communities Could stay? like this, in which we are gathered. In the simple life of the hamlet and My little town Was a green little town the village is typical, life the sturdy And a good little town to know. of our America." And I would go back One is almost prepared to say of Bv that moon-lit road. the small towns of America what The road that I lost Long ago. Lincoln said of the common people, —The Independent, Sept. 16, 1922 that God must love them very much, because He made so many of them. And the trouble is in the wander- There were 12,857 incorporated er's coming back. If even he does not towns in America in 1920 under find the "good little town'; greatly 2,500 population. Add to these the changed, he will probably discover unnumbered hamlets and villages that he has changed. He will very that are not incorporated, and when likely realize what John Burroughs, all these are lighted up at night, a the great naturalist, has pictured in nocturnal aeronaut flying high his fine poem, entitled enough must see beneath him in America another firmament, as the THE RETURN. heavens above him, studded with He sought the old scenes with eager feet- CJ + Q Y»CI The scenes he had known as a boy; HUBBARD'S VERSION. Oh! for a draught of those fountains sweet And a taste of that vanished joy. But Elbert Hubbard, were he liv- ing, might dispute the thought that He roamed the fields, he mused by the streams. God had anything to do with the He threaded the paths and lanes; making of small towns. His version On the hills he sought his youthful dreams. In the woods forget his pains. is that "God made the country, man to made the city, but the devil made the small Oh! sad, sad hills! oh! cold, cold hearth! town." Even then a place In sorrow he learned the truth like Womelsdorf is blest, for there One may go back to the place of his birth. is more of country about it than of He cannot go back to his youth! —; ; 148 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community So I would say to the young man WHERE DOES THE EAST BEGIN? and woman, born and bred in the 'Tis where the streams are ever on the ram- country or the rural town. Go, if you pant; must; if an inward spring impels 'Tis where the hills and dells are well-nigh you or a luring vision beckons you, constant; follow your guiding star. But stay, 'Tis where it rains at almost any instant; There's where the East begins. if you can, and be content. Count up the sum and substance of your blessings in hand and make the most Where the abundant earth is skyward looming; Where the stacks and chimney-tops are fum- of them. And never be ashamed of ing; having been born and reared in the Where the very forest shrubs are blooming; country, or country town. From There's where the East begins. them have come Washington and Lincoln and most of our great presi- 'Tis where the hills shut out half-days of sun- dents; Gens. Grant and Pershing and light; scores of other great warriors; Rear 'Tis where some ghost-like huts dance in the moonlight; Admiral Schley and Drs. Charles H. 'Tis where the elfin plays each night by star- and William J. Mayo, Wililam S. light; Sims; John D. Rockefeller, Elbert H. There's where the East begins. Gary, Thomas A. Edison, Charles N. Schwab, Lyman Abbott, Charles Where the streams as well as cheeks are flush- Dana Gibson, John R. Nott, Robert ing; Where the hearts as well as founts are gush- E. Speer, President Harding, Vice - ing; President Coolidge, Herbert Hoover Where footsteps as well as trains are rushing; and hundreds of other men and There's where the East begins. women whose names stand high on fame's muster-roll. To all young 'Tis where the granite highways wind 'round men and women living now in hillocks; Womelsdorf, I would appeal to ap- 'Tis where green meadows all are clad in preciate our town's bygone history flower frocks; 'Tis where there're welcomes back of bi'azen and to help make and keep the place door-knocks clean and attractive, stimulating and There's where the East begins. progressive in the best things, and ever to it a strive and labor make Where acquaintanceships grow friendships desirable place to live in. royal; Where such friendships prove forever loyal; Where e'en the billboards urge a baker pow- BACK TO OLD NEST. der "Royal;" There's where the East begins. The writer, after casting about where to take up his residence upon 'Tis where is preached the good old Gospel retirement from his public profes- sermon sional labors., settled upon this little Where man and beast still talk in plain Penn- town of western Berks. The rabbit, German; after a long run of 40 years, came Since two hundred years ago here settled Hans and Herman; back to settle in the old nest. He There's where the East begins. would like to ever feel that it is a nice place to live in. He hopes to Where matrimonial bonds are still all tight- do his "bit" to make and keep it lashed; such. We make bold in adding here Where garden fences are still all white- the "Lines" that were inspired as washed; he trekked back to dear old Penn- Where all dark deeds are still all light- smashed ; sylvania after living over 12 years in There's where the East begins. the younger prairie state, Illinois. After the eastbound express had 'Tis where all gifts are given in heaped-up crossed the boundary line of the measure; Keystone state and its hills and dells 'Tis where all joys are mixed with un'lloyed (the Alleghenies and the Conemaugh pleasure; 'Tis where each day brings its own richest and Juniata valleys) fired the imag- treasure; ination and thrilled the heart, out There's where the Bast begins. came the lead pencil and before he reached Harrisburg the margin of And so I'll join the West and East together; his newspaper had this effusion While Pennsy train welds link in rainy scribbled upon it. With it I shall weather; And evermore shall heart hold both in close my "Annals of Womelsdorf tether and Community." Here, where the East begins,. Annals of Womelsdorf and Community 149 Chapter XXIII. ADDENDUM—THE CELEBRATION The 200th anniversary of the Tul- THE FOUR DAYS pehocken Settlement, to be com- a. Thursday, June 28, School memorated in a four-day celebration Day at Womelsdorf, Pa., June 2 8, 2 9, 30 1. Marching, Grave Decorations and July 1, 19 2 3, setting forth in and Rendition of Historical Pageant spectacular pageant, parades, by the schools of Womelsdorf and marches, music, sermons and ad- this territory. dresses: 2. Addresses and music by select 1. The original settlement of some talent. 70 pioneer families in this valley of the Tulpehocken, between Wer- b. Friday, June 29. Pioneer Day nersville on the east and near My- 1. Street parade setting forth 200 erstown on the west, and from the years of change in modes of travel, Summer hills and including Rehrers- kinds of tools and implements and burg on the north, to the South Mountains and including Newmans- styles of dress. town on the south. 2. Addresses and music by invited 2. The rapidly increasing influx of talent. emigantions and the building of new c. Staurday, June 30, Civics and homes, churches, mills, and other in- dustries during the Colonial period of our national history. Fraternal Order Day 3. The founding and building of 1. Spectacular Parade with Busi- town-centers in this territory and the ness Floats, Marching Orders, and stormy war periods of the French Bands of Music. and Indian, the and Revolutionary 2. Addresses and music by Special Wars. Speakers of wide renown. 4. The era of progress and devel- opment of this section that followed d. Sunday, July 1, Church Day our Colonial Independence and the 1. Festal services in all churches organization of our National Gov- of the territory in the morning. ernment. 2. A joint mass service of all con- 5. The continuous stream of our gregations and choirs of this district checkered local history from the at 2 p. m. in Womelsdorf. days of Washington to those of Pres- ident Harding in domestic, school, e. Every evening a musical pro- civic, fraternal and church develop- gram of high order, interspersed ments to our present day. with brief addresses. — — ! — 150 Annals of Womelsdorf and Community TULPEHOCKEN BICENTENNIAL (With Apologies to Rudyard Kipling.) By KRISTOFER KOLUMBO. If you're off to see your many friends this summer, You sure must take my story for a guide; If you want to meet your business pals, then listen. And you will find you haven't been belied. There's no use hunting for them in their dens and work-shops On th' last three days of June, and first July; For they'll all have gone to celebrate Old Home Week At Womelsdorf; I wouldn't tell a lie! They'll be there, there, there, with aunts and cousins all; Don't you look for them at Conshohocken; But cast your cares behind, and what I tell you, mind, You'll find them strolling up th' Tulpehocken. If you want to find your grandsire's moss-grown tombstone. And would like to deck his grave with flowers; If his name was Reed or Weiser, Schultze, Fischer, Ege, Laucks, or Deppen, Fidler, Showers, You had better let me give you gentle warning, Than hasten o'er to Greenwood or Fairview, For you'll find him in some Tulpehocken graveyard, Where he has slept a hundred years or two, His grave is there, there, there; don't waste your precious hours By searching all through olden Shenamocken: And oh! my heavens! don't go to new Charles EVans, For sure your giandsire sleeps in Tulpehocken If you'd like to know the hardships and the trials Endured by pioneers in Penn's backwoods, When Redmen prowled about with gory tomahawks, With scalping-knife to take both life and goods; Don't go to Arizona, or to Dakota wild, Nor explore Seattle's great wide wharf; You'll find their bloody footprints near Kittatiny hills. In Tulpehocken-land, near Womelsdorf. They are there, there, there, those barbaric footprints all, While other homes have ris'n from ashes old; By Northkill's rushing stream their foul deeds may yet be seen, While at Womelsdorf th' tales will all be told. If you'd spend few summer days renewing friendships, Then shut your office, crank your auto quick; Just join the long procession up Penn's Highway And don't you let yourself or kin get sick. All roads will lead to Womelsdorf this summer, Where th' story of two hundred years is told; And you can't afford to miss it, you'd be th' only one, So you'd better join the celebrating fold. The crowds are there, there, there, on every day of four; Don't you think that I am merely mockin'. They'll be looking up old sights and hear of ancient fights, Up at Womelsdorf on th' Tulpehocken.