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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 014 365 167 8 
 
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 Copy 2 
 
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 1876 
 
 «« &mMSmM'ME^^X. ^^SSSQ&E^^, 
 
 HISTOi^IO-A.!.! SiCIBTCEC 
 
 ^crks ^oimttj, $/rnn';i. 
 
 PREPARED BY 
 
 JOHN S ERMENTROUT, A. M. 
 
 PROFESSOR IN KEYSTONE NORMAL SCHOOL . 
 
 KUTZTO^VN, PA. : 
 
 TKK K .V (iKHRIXG'S STEAM .lon PRIXT. 
 
 lS7fi. 
 
1776. 1876- 
 
 hustoie^ioj^h. siceotch: 
 
 ( '*^ 
 
 ^erliH ^oimftJ, jjnw'n. 
 
 PREPARED BY 
 
 JOHN S ERMENTROUT, A. M , 
 
 PROFESSOR IN KEYSTONE NOR^JAIj SCHOOL. 
 
 agAS'^?^'^^ 
 
 KUTZTONA/^N. PA. : 
 
 IMtUK * (iEHKlNG's STKAM .10H I'HINJ' 
 
 1870. 
 

 AN INTRODUCTORY WORD 
 
 In obedience to the wishes of the " Kutztown Centennial Ass^ocia- 
 tion." for the celebration of Jnly 4, 187(5, this sketch was prepared by 
 the Chairman of the Historical Committee. For some of the most 
 important facts in it, he is indebted to J. Daniel Enpp's " Collection 
 of Thirty Thousand Names, &c.," and "History of Berks and 
 Lebanon Counties ; " and to Dr. Harbaugh's "Fathers of the Reformed 
 Church." In his efforts to gather in one the traditions of this 
 section of Berks, and in his examination of local archives and docu- 
 ments, he was greatly assisted by John Humbert, Esq., whose 
 knowledge of the past, and discriminating judgment, were in valuable 
 aids. He is also under special obligations to 8. A. Baer, Superinten- 
 dent of Common Schools of Berks County, the Hon. H. H. Schwartz 
 .Tames Marx, Esq., Fayette Schoedler, the Rev. J. S. Herman, Reuben' 
 Bast, Jonas Hoch, Conrad Gehring, A. J. Fogel, Jno. G. Wink, Jno. 
 Kemp, Esq., Jon. Bielil, and others. 
 
 The critic who may discern in this sketch faults in style and errors 
 in fact, will bear in mind that the time allotted for its preparation 
 was quite too limited for a niore thorougli and extensive investigation 
 of the subject. 
 
 It is hardly necessary to add that, as far as possible, persons and 
 things In this sketch are called by the names under which they are 
 i?enerally known. j_ v^ ^ 
 
 Keystone Normal School,, July ?>, ISTd. 
 
I. a-s]:tTE:E^_^L msTOi^ir. 
 
 l._FROM EARLIEST PERIOD TO 1779. 
 
 Whilst the radians were still undisputed owners of the soil of 
 Pennsylvania, there toolv place iii Europe a series of events that in- 
 duced many of its inhahitants to leave their native countries, and 
 seek a new home in the virgin forests of America. In 1.598, Henry IV. . 
 King of France, obeying the dictates of a sound judgment and the 
 advice of his ministers, issued the ICdict of Nantes, which secured 
 religious freedom to the Huguenots. In 1B85, Louis XIV., King of 
 France, yielding to the dictates of a disordered judgment and the 
 advice of his ministers, revoked this Edict, and thus occasioned the 
 persecution of many of his most industrious subjects. In 16SS a 
 French army of 1(MI,(IU() men invaded the Palatinate, and, in IfiOo, 
 Heidelberg became a heap of blackened ruins. In other parts oi' 
 Europe also there reigned a spirit of political and religious persecu- 
 tion. The Kings of the eartli had not yet learned that it l)elonged 
 not to their office to meddle in religious things, that conscience could 
 not be forced, and that persecution was incompatible with the doc- 
 trines of Christianity. 
 
 Meanwhile, in England took place another and difFerent series of 
 events that ended in the preparation of an asylum for the oppressed 
 of every clime and creed. From ('harles II., March 4, iHSl.as pay- 
 ment for hi, 000 pounds due liis father, William Penn, a member of the 
 Society of Friends, had granted him letters patent for a tract of land 
 in America, "lying north of Maryland, on the east, bounded by Dela- 
 ware river; on the west, limited as Maryland; and northward, to ex- 
 tend as far as plantable," William, while yet a young man, had join- 
 ed the Friends, and brought down upon himself the wrath of the Es- 
 tablished Church in p]nglan(l. His own experience had thus taught 
 him the bitterness of persecution, and prei)ared him to annoinice, as 
 the great principle of his conduct in the New World "freedom in 
 matters of religion to all who acknowledged a belief in Almighty 
 God." As Lord Baltimore in Maryland, and Roger Williams in Rhode 
 Island, so did Pejin proclaim religious liberty in Pennsylvania. 
 
4 HISTORY OF 
 
 Now began the givat raovemeiit to Ariu'rica from France, ( ferniany, 
 and Switzerland. 
 
 From 1()82— 1776 Penn's colony formed tiie central ]>oint of emigra- 
 ■ tion. Before 1702, however, there arrived not more than two hnn- 
 dred families. These settled in Germantown. Among the earliest 
 were Henry Fry, who came over in 16S<», two years before William 
 Penn himself, and Francis Daniel Pastorins and family, together 
 with ten Oerinans and one Englisli woman. From all accounts we 
 must believe that this Pastorius was a thoroughly lejirned man. In 
 ItWS he wrote in Latin an "Address to Posterity." Our American 
 poet, Whittier, has given us an English translation in the following 
 language : — 
 
 "Hail to posterity! 
 Hail, future men of Germanopolis ' 
 
 Let the young generations yet to l;)e 
 Look kindly upon this. 
 Think how your fathers left their native land- 
 Dear German— land ! O, sacred liearths and homes ! 
 And where the wild beast roams. 
 
 In patience planned 
 Xew forest homes beyond the mighty sea. 
 
 The undisturbed and free 
 To live as brothers of one family. 
 What pains and cares befell, 
 What trials and what fears. 
 Remember, and wherein we have done well 
 Follow our footsteps, men of coming years ! 
 Wliere we have failed to do 
 Aright, or Avisely live. 
 Be warned by us, the better way pursue, 
 And, knowing we were human, even as you, 
 Pity us and forgive ! 
 Farewell, Posterity ! 
 Farewell, dear Germany ! 
 Forevermore farewell !'' 
 Prom 1702 — 1727 was the great epoch of German emigration. Dur- 
 ing this period upwards of 50,000 persons left their homes for the 
 Xew World. Queen Anne, of England, wishing to people her colo- 
 nies,and unwilling to allow her own subjects to leave, encouraged the 
 oppressed Germans to pitch their tents in the forests of America. 
 On a special invitation from this Queen, in 1708 and 1709, thirty- 
 three thousand left the beautiful Rhine for London. From this city 
 many of them were transported across the ocean ; some settled in 
 Ne\\^ York, others, in North Carolina, but most of tliem in Pennsyl- 
 vania. 
 
 As our forefathers failed to appreciate the importance of ju-eserv" 
 ing papers and documents in which were recorded the events of their 
 (iay, the antiquarian can but mourn over their loss, while he tries to 
 give a permanent place to the few facts that have survived the rava- 
 ges of time. 
 
KUTZTOWN AND MAXATAWXY. o 
 
 Two thiiig-s are (j[uite certain : bears and rndiuns were, for a long 
 period, in Berks County, sole nionarclis of all they surveyed. From 
 a letter dated at Reading, Sept. 22, l7o4, to a gentleman in Piiiladel- 
 phia, we learn that the Ibrmer ''were never half so numerons; you 
 can scarce go a mile without seeing one; several of them have been 
 killed near this town lately ;" while in this State, at the arrival of 
 Pen n, were ten native tribes of Indians, known by the name of 
 Leni Lenape or Delawares. It is said that the last of the Delaware- 
 died in Chester Co., Pa., in the person of 'old Indian Hannah,' in 
 1803." 
 
 The outbreak of the French and Indian war in 17o4, put an endt,, 
 the friendly dispositions of the Indians. From this time onward to 
 1784, and particularly from Eraddock's defeat in 17o5, owing to the 
 machinations of the French, the Indians in our section of the State 
 turned against the settlers, and reveled in massacres and conflagra- 
 tions. In a letter to Governor Morris, written toward the close of 
 1755, Conrad Weiser,who was then comman der of the forces in Berks, 
 says, "This country is in a dismal condition. It can't hold out long 
 —consternation, poverty, confusion everywhere." From a lettei- 
 written by Valentine Probst, Feb. 15, 1750, of Albany township, to 
 .lacob Levan,Esq., of Maxatawny, we learn that Albany was dread- 
 fully harassed by the Indians, and that several murders had just been 
 committed. In a letter to James Read and Jonas Seely , of Reading. 
 Jacob Levan says, "When I got ready to go with neighbors from 
 Haxatawny,to see what damage was done in Albany, three men, that 
 had seen the'shocking affair, cimie and told me that eleven were kil- 
 led, eight of them burnt, and the other three found dead out of the 
 five." From these few but striking facts we can easily picture to our- 
 selves the unhappy situation of this section ofthe county, and under- 
 stand why, in going to church, they went with a pistol in one haml, 
 and a musket in the other. It may be interesting also to ktiow that, 
 as tradition has it, in the woods just back of David Sharadin's farm 
 in Maxatawny, there was an Indian burial place. 
 
 Prior to 1734, in ^Maxatawny, lived the following ]>ersoii^ who 
 owned land and i)aid (juit-rents : — 
 
 Jacob Hottenstein, Johannes Siegfried 
 
 Peter Andreas, Nicholas Kutz, 
 
 Jacob Levan, Abraham Zimmerman 
 
 Jacob Kemp, Jost. Hen. Sassatiian, 
 
 Wilhelm Gross, Andreas Fischer, 
 
 Casper Wink, Heinrich Hartman, 
 
 Christian Mahnenschmidt, Michael Mueller, 
 
 Jacob Hill, Hans Kleimer, 
 
 Isaac Leonard, Heinrich Schade, 
 
 Peter Trexler, Jeremiah Trexler, 
 
 Hans Hage, Bastian J^err. 
 
 This township was settled very sm)n after the 3'ear 1732. A few 
 years after the erection of Berks countv (1752), it numbered about 
 
• ; HISTORY OF 
 
 one liuiulred taxables, i)rincipally Germans. Among them we find 
 such namets as Sassamanhausen , Zimmerman, Fisher, Levan, Wink, 
 Kem]>,Hottenstein,Schaffer, Christ, Bieber, Bost, Sharadin, DeLong, 
 ('hristman, Beusinger, Esser, Wanner, Gross, and many others. 
 
 As several families byname ofDeTui'k, now reside in Maxatawny, 
 it may be interesting to know, tiiat tlieir forefatliers originally set' 
 tied in Esopus, New York, and that, prior to 1712, they emigrated to 
 Oley township, Berks Co., Pa. 
 
 During this the earliest period, as we glean froju the earliest re- 
 cords, the most prominent public men were the Levans, the Zinnner- 
 mans, the Gehrs, the Groscups, and the Hottensteins. 
 
 By Act of May 2'2, 172l', it was ordered that a competent number 
 of persons shall be commissioned by the Gcn'ernor, to be Justices of 
 the County courts during good behavior. From 17o2— 1760 Jacob 
 Levan was one of these Judges. This name is so marked down in 
 the earliest documents. The question is, was Jacob Levan of Max- 
 atawny this particular person ? We answer atflrmatively ; and for 
 the following reasons. First of all, we have letters addressed to him 
 as Es(£uire ; and it seems that, in those early days, Escjuire and Judge 
 were synonymous terms. In the second jilace, Ave have letters from 
 him to Jonas Seely, of Reading, who was certainly one of the Judges 
 of the County court. These two gentlemen must have been close 
 friends ; and it is reasonable to infer that their intimacy sprang to a 
 great extent from the fact that, as brother Judges, they were fre- 
 quently brought together as companions. 
 
 Of the Provincial Committee for Pennsylvania, held in •Philadel- 
 phia, Jan. 23, 1775, Sebastian Levan was a member. 
 
 From 1767 — 1771 Sebastian Zimmerman wasoneof the Judges; and 
 agaii 1 , from 1778 — 1 784 . 
 
 But the man who stood forth most ])r(miinently before the public 
 <'ye, was Baltzer Gehr. From 1776— 178-1, he was a Judge ; in 1786, also 
 from 1792-1799, a member of the Assembly ; in 1782, both Judge and 
 Assemblyman ; and a member of the Provincial Committee, held in 
 Philadelphia, Jan, 28, 1775. Under the Constitution of 1776, ther*^' 
 was a Council of Censors, the duty of which was to revise the Exe- 
 cutive and Legislative branches of Government, and generally in- 
 quire whether theConstitution had been preserved inviolate. Of this 
 lie was a member ; convened-at Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1783 ; also, of 
 the Convention to frame the Constitution of Pennsylvania, which 
 inet in IMiiladelphia, Nov. 24, 1789, and closed its sessions Feb. 5, 
 1790. 
 
 From 1785—1787 Paul Groscup, who was an expert in penmanship, 
 was a Judge ; and again, from 1793—98; also, a nu'mber of the Con- 
 vention, in 1790, to frame the Constitution of Pennsylvania ; and, in 
 1800 one of the Auditoi"s of the County. 
 
 During this period also stood high in public esteem theHotteusteiii 
 
KUTZTOWN AND MAXATAWNY. 7 
 
 family. From the venerable William Hottenstein,— still living in 
 Maxatawny,and now eighty-five years old, who, as we shall see, oc- 
 cupied a seat in the Legislature,— we learn that his forefathers were 
 natives of Austria, Europe. From thence they went to Bavaria, in 
 1727 emigrated to America, settled first in Oley, and before 1780 came 
 to Maxatawny. Here they leased from the original proprietors up- 
 wards of five hundred acres of land. In the Fatherland they ranked 
 among the nobility. Jacob Hottenstein lies buried on the farm of 
 William Hottenstein. 
 
 •^.— FROM 1779 TO Ibl."). 
 
 Whilst these nien were representing this section of the county be- 
 fore the public eye, the interests and progress of the people required 
 that some definite measures be taken for the building up of a com- 
 munity separate from the township as such. Accordingly, in 1779, 
 was laid out by George Kutz a town, which from him received the 
 name of Kutztown. It was origiiuiUy a tract containing one hun- 
 dred and thirty acres (jf land, and purchased by him, in 17oo, from 
 Jacob Wentz and his wifeElizabeth. This tract was at first divided in 
 to 108 Inlots and 105 outlots. On these were reserved certain ground- 
 rents. At a later date was added that part of the town which, be- 
 ginning at Baldy's lane, stretches in a nearly southerly dire«tion to 
 what is now known as the residence of Jonathan Biehl. As this wa^ 
 not encumbered with any reserved rents, it was called Freetown. 
 
 The first house built in Kutztown was a one-story log building. 
 It stood at no great distance from the 8aucony creek, where now 
 stands the elegant mansion of Daniel Sharadin. The first mill in 
 Maxatawny did its grinding on the very spot where now a mill, be- 
 longing to Charles Levan, and located near Eagle Point, does the 
 same work ; and the first store displayed its silks and satins, its mo- 
 lasses and sugar, under the supervision of Jacob Herman, — the same 
 Herman, no doubt, who, from 1789-1801, was Lutheran Trustee of 
 tile Union congregation. It is more than probable, indeed, we 
 may say, ([uite certain, that the first tavern in Maxatawny was that 
 which is now known as Kemp's. Mr. George Kemp (born 1749,) tlie 
 grandfather of the living John Kemp, kept public house there for 
 fifty-two years, and the latter, for forty-three years. The former re- 
 ceived his commission as Esquire from Gov. Thos. McKean (1800), 
 and served in this capacity thirty-four years ; and the latter filled 
 the same honorable position for twenty years. Our esteemed towns- 
 man, Joshua Bieber, tells us that his grandfather John Bieber,helped 
 to clear away the brush and fell the scrub oak that, fiom theSaucony 
 ereek upward, resisted the enterjjrise of our fathers in their attempt*- 
 to lay the foundations of a future borough. 
 
 Isolated to ii tireat degi'ee, as the pei)j)k' were, from the springs of 
 
8 HISTOJIV OF 
 
 public energy and (ho onward current i)f things in cities and the 
 larger towns, it is not surprising that, for some years, they made no 
 very remarkable progress in liigher culture and general improvement , 
 but preferred to cultivate on tlieir blooming farms the means that 
 give bone and sinew to a country, and, in their (piiet liomes, those 
 domestic virtues that not only adorn a land, but are also indispensable 
 to its perpetuity and happiness. Yet, in the face of many untoward 
 circumstances, the fermenting enterprise of the Kvitztowners found 
 a vent in the erection of the village into a Borough. 
 
 3. -FROM 1815 TO IMh 
 
 This took place by an Act of Assembly, March 1, ISlo. The per- 
 sons named as incorporators were Henry Heist and Jacob Levan. 
 As the Minutes can always be consulted by the curious, it is not nec- 
 essary to mention any ollicers other than those of the year 1815. These 
 were : Town Council, Jacob Levan, Esq., President, Moth Wilson, 
 Dewalt Wink, Peter Gift, (lieorge Fister, Jonathan Grim, and John 
 Kutz ; Jacob Levan, (merchant) Treasurer; James Scull, Town Clerk; 
 Solomon Kutz, Collector ; Jacob Humbert and George Breyfogel, Su- 
 pervisors ; George Bieber and Thos. Lightfoot, Regulators ; Jacob 
 Graff, High Constable. 
 
 It was a great pity that, even now with the advantages of a bor- 
 t>ugh, the laudable ambition of the people was continually checked 
 by the force of surrounding circumstances. Our esteemed friend, 
 Fayette Schoedler informs us that, in 1817, from the stone house next 
 to Baldy's lane, clear out to the southern limits of the town, and far 
 beyond, nothing but woodland greeted the eye of the traveler; whilst 
 the people not unfrequently gathered in their strength to assist some 
 luckless horses in dragging out of the deejj mud the farmer's wagon 
 and the laborer's cart. In Freetown, on that side of the [street where 
 now stands the new erected mansion of J. I). Wanner, Esq., down 
 to 1830, there were built three houses only, those of Messrs Baldy- 
 Sander, and Strasser, — a tract of land which is now beautified by 
 private residences of every description, wliilst farther out stand the 
 residences of Jonathan Biehl, William Kutz, David Sharadin, the 
 splendid houses of John Wink, and C-'ol. Thos. D. Fister, and ,tower- 
 ing above them all the Keystone Nonnal School, whose cupola, dur- 
 ing a crisp winter's night, seems almost a globe of crystal suspen- 
 ded in midair. In 1800 was built the stone house, now known as 
 Siegfried's, by Adam Kutz, who owned the land, on both sides of the 
 street, from Baldy's lane to where now lives William Hein. In 
 Kutztown, in 1817, were kept taverns by Geo. Ptister, Daniel Levan, 
 Isaac Levan and Isaac Levan. 
 
 WherelsaacHottenstein now rt-sides, lived in 1823-24, Michael Hen- 
 del, whose swinging sign, witli Andrew Jackson emblazoned on it, 
 
KUTZTOWN AND MAXATAWNY. V» 
 
 told the weary traveler, as he trudged or rode up the street, that 
 within he could find in winter refresh men t'* to warin his freezin.LC bo- 
 dy, and in summer, to abate theburning heat ; while farther up where 
 Edward Dikeman now drives the tobacco trade, the"FuIl?»Ioon"she(l 
 his mellow beams on the belated wanderer, and invited him in t(t 
 Apple Jack and ])ure OldRye. Its Landlord, David Moyer,ic is said, 
 astonished the natives by the erection of a clover mill whicli wa< 
 operated by ox power. 
 
 Let us now pass by the unintt'restiug- events of a few years, and 
 take our i)oint of view from 1835. 
 
 In Maxatawny, in IS.%,. there were tliree liundred sixty four taxa- 
 bles, and in Kutztown, one hundred fifty-nine. These latter live(i 
 in one hundred Ave houses, and represented eight hundred souls. 
 In the town were four stores, five taverns, three Esquires, one Ger- 
 man and two English schools, and one church. It owned five liun- 
 dred fifty acres of ontlots, whilst the borough proper occupied twenty 
 five acres . On the three hundred seventy acres of the former grew 
 corn, potatoes, flax, hay, &c., ; and one hundred seventy two acres 
 yielded eight thousand two shocks of grain, of which five thousand 
 five hundred were wheat. Computing these (,S()()2) at five and a half 
 bushels to the hundred sheaves, they thrashed four thousand four 
 hundred bushels, or twenty five and a half bushels to the acre. 1 f 
 now we suppose that each of the eight hundred inhabitants needed 
 for living five bushels, it follows that,. in 1835, the town owned four 
 hundred bushels of grain more than it consumed. Tlie remaining 
 three hundred seventy eight acres produced in more than plenty the 
 other necessaries of life, while the land within the borough proper 
 poured into the lap of its owmers a rich supply of the delicacies of 
 each returning season. 
 
 During the same year, wheat commanded §1.20, per busliel ; rye, 
 80 ; corn, 75 ; oats, 35 ; potatoes, 50 ; rye whiskey, 35 per gallon ; ap- 
 ple jack, 35 ; hams, 11 per pound; pork, 10; beef, fi; firkin butter, 11; 
 hickory wood, 3.00; oak 2.25 ; coal, 5.00 ; eggs, 8 cts. per dozen. 
 
 For the year ending March 31, 1835, the Post Office of Kutztown 
 paid over to theDepartment atWashington, $153.68, and of Rothrocks. 
 ville, $17.12. It must not be forgotten, however, tliat many citizens 
 of Maxatawny made use of the Postal facilities of the borough. 
 
 From April 17, 1835 to Ai)ril 15, 1836, the income and expenses of 
 the town were each S;^81,37i,\ During this time Joseph Heist was 
 Treasurer, William Heidenrich, President of Council, and (Jeorge 
 Bieber Secretary. 
 
 These facts certainly show tliat the people were not oppressed by 
 taxation, and that they had in plenty the necessaries and luxuries <tf 
 life. Yet, cut oft", as they were, from the great centres of public in- 
 fluence, their energies were cramped, cabined, and confined. In 
 order to enjoy the reading of thf "Xeutralist" the citizens of the \ i- 
 
10 HtSTORV OF 
 
 einity wert' forced to organize societies, the object of which was to 
 eke out the deficiencies of tlieir Postal accommodations. Thus, at 
 a meeting of its subscribers in Rockland, August 1, 1835, they bountl 
 themselves, each in his turn, under a peixalty of tifty cents, to bring 
 tlie i)ai)er from the printing otftee every Wednesday, and deliver it 
 i)n Thursdiiy morning at the store of Thomas Oyster. At lirst, three 
 times a week, the rumbling wheels of the stage enlivened the quiet 
 air of the town, and drew out of their houses men, women and 
 children to gaze in wonder at the skillful lehu, who, as he circled 
 his whip in the air and applied it vigorously to the haunches of his 
 Hosinantes, sent them flying to the popular hotel of our old friend, 
 Uavid Fister. On Feb. 1. 1837, the proprietors of the Reading and 
 rjaston line, — David Fister, Jacob Graff, and Chas. Seagreaves, — 
 announced that, from this time onward, Sundays excepted, they 
 would run a daily coach between these two places. There was also 
 a line run from Kutztown, by way of Boyertown, to Norristown. 
 This was under the control of Samuel Hartranft, father of Governor 
 .John Hartranft, who, in his youth, sometimes acted the driver on 
 this route. 
 
 At quite an early period, before the Philadelphia and Reading- 
 railroad was completed, was held in the borough a meeting to con- 
 sider the projiriety of building a railway from Hamburg, via Kutz- 
 town, to Pottsgrove, to connect with the Reading and Norristown 
 road It is said that the killing of a teamster, near Pennsburg, 
 Montgomery Co., by the engineer of the proposed company, put an 
 end to the project. 
 
 On Feb. 25, 1887, at the hotel of David Fister, was held a large 
 ineeting to urge on the plah for building a road from Hamburg, via 
 Kutztown, to Allentown. There were passed resolutions, calling up- 
 on the Legislature to pass an Act already in its hands "to einpower 
 the Governor to incorporate the Hamburg and Allentown Railroad 
 ••ompany." Nothing came of this effort. 
 
 But, though geographically separated from the leading centres of 
 action, the jjeople were kept in communication with the world at 
 large by means of newsjjapers. To William Harmony belongs the 
 honor of having published the first paper in Kutztown, in the Ger - 
 man language. On the 12th of June, 1838, was issued the first num- 
 ber of the "'Neutralist, "in Germaa, by Henry Hawrecht, a native of 
 Berlin, Prussia, and former Editor of the Reading ' Adier," and by 
 Chas. Wink, of Kutztown, who served as apprentice in the "Adler" 
 office. Its motto was, "Jedem das Seine." Having di.scoutinued 
 this paper in fne spring of 1837, both the.-*e geutlemea emigrated to 
 Oliio ; but, returning t ) Kutztown, in 1841, they issued the first 
 number of the "Geist der Zeit," on June Ist of the same year. In 
 the same oflflee was also printed "Dei- Hirt," which was estab» 
 lished and edited by Rev. J. S Hermiii. It numbered twenty-two 
 
KUTZTOWN AND MAXATAWNY. 11 
 
 hundred subscribers. Its first issue dates from June 30, 1854, and its 
 last from June 20, J85G. On the death of Mr Hawreoht, 1859, his 
 widow, Emily, continued the "Geist der Zeit" up to iSli.i. Mr. Wm 
 Rosenthal now became owner of the offlce and its material. 
 
 As in tlie earliest period of tlieir history, so now, Kutztowu and 
 Maxatavvny coutiuued to illustrat* the political annals of both coun 
 ty and State. The following gentlemen filled seats in the Assem- 
 bly :— David Hottenstein, 1816, '22, "23, '25, '27; G. U. Odenhei- 
 mer, 1825; John Wanner, 1831, '32, Peter Kl^in, jr., 1834; William 
 Hottenstein, 1835, '36 ; Samuel Fegtly, 1837, '38, '39, '48, '49, '57 ; 
 Dan. B. Kutz, 1840, '41 ; Alfred J. Herman. 1844 ; Jacob Graff 1841. 
 Samuel Fegely was Senator from 1S41~IS4G/ County oai>3es were fill- 
 ed by the following:— Clerk of O. C. Mr. J. M. Hyneman, 1810—1815 
 and Co. Sui'veyor, 1810-1822; Commissioner,George Kemp, 1822-24; 
 Director,- John Wanner, 1824, Commissioner, 1826, 27; Auditor.G. U. 
 Odenheimer, 1822-24; Director, Dan. K. Hottenstein, 1825, '26, and 
 Commissioner, 1831-88; Director, David Deysher, 1830-32 ; Commis- 
 sioner, David Kutz, 1888-40 ; Clerk of O. C. Jas. Donagan, 1840-42; 
 Co. Surveyor, J. Dan. Wanner, 1841-47; Associate Judge Wra. Hey- 
 denreich, 1852-56; Clerk of O. C, Chas. J, Wink, 1852-54; Commis- 
 sioner, Benj. Kutz, 1858-55 ; Mercantile Appraiser, Isaac S. Hotten- 
 stein, 1855; rrothonotary, David Fister, 1858—1861. 
 
 Whilst men were busy in laying iilans for political promotions, 
 impartial death, which knocks at the door of both Cottager and 
 King, ever and anon put in his sickle for a harvest. For the accom- 
 modation of the dead, Hope cemetery was incorporated Sept. 17,186 , 
 and consecrated June 22, 1862. Its present.bfficersare Geo. J. Kutz, 
 President ; John Humbert, Secretary ; Charles Kutz, Tieasurer. It 
 is managed by a board of Trustees, composed of nine menoberri. In 
 it have been buried down to the present time one hundred! and 
 eighty-eight bodies. The first burial was that of John D. Bieber, 
 son of Captain Bieber, who die«^ De.'. ''.U, 1861, aged SI years, 5 mos.. 
 anel 12 day*. 
 
 On Juaelf), and lu, 1861, Fairview cemetery was consecrated. 
 Kev. Dr. Kessler,of Allentown. and Rev. Mr. Yeager.of Greenwich, 
 preached on Saturday ; Revs. Dubbs, of Lehigh, and Phillips, of 
 EasLon, on Sunday ; and R/^v. J. S. Herman performed the conse- 
 cratory ceremonies. On April 12, 1862, it was organized. 
 
 Its pre>ent officers are Wiiliam Wanner, President , Egidius Butz, 
 Treasurer, and Jonas Hoch, Secretary. In it now repose near three 
 hundred bodies. The first funeral was that of Isadore, son of Williaui 
 and Esther Weiser, aged seven years, one month and three days. 
 
 Both cemeteries are independent of ecclesiastical control, and ar^ 
 managed by Associations. 
 
 In October, 1842, wan instituted in Kutztown the Brotherly Love 
 Lodge, Mo. 77. of th« Order of Odd Fellows Its present officers are 
 
12 HISTOEY OF • 
 
 Dan. F. Wngner, N. G. ; Jeremiah Scherer,V. G. ; I. S. Hottenstein, 
 Treasurer, Jon. Biehl, Secretary, and D. S. Kutz, Assist. Secretary. 
 
 On March 22, J8-'>S, were organized tlie American Mechanics, Sr., 
 wko numbered before the Civil war one hundred and twenty mem- 
 bers. 
 
 During tlje first week of October, 183G,Kutztown and Maxatawny 
 were favored with visits from some of the great men of the country, 
 — Governor Joseph Ritner and his Secretary of State. Thos. H. 
 Burrowes, the Hon. H. A. Muhlenberg and General William Henry 
 Harrison, who was at that time a candidate for che Presidency of 
 the United Stales. 
 
 It was during this period that certain .social amusements wliich 
 are now buried in the tomb of the Capulets, reached their richest 
 bloom. These were frolics, fairs, and battalions. From some adver- 
 tisements now in our hands, our readers can gain a clear insight 
 into their uature and influence. 
 
 As an example of the ".rolic", we subjoin the following announce 
 meut taken from the ''Neutralist'' of Dec 28, 1836 ; — 
 
 GI.AENZENDE VUO\AjWK. 
 
 Am Freytag, den 6teu uaechsten Januar soil am Hau.se des Unter- 
 schriebenen, in Richmond Taunship, Berks Co., fa., eine Frollick 
 gehalten werden, die an Glantz und Pracht alles bieten wird, was 
 im Jahr 18<7 an dieser Art von P'esUichkeit uud Lustbarkeit her- 
 vorgebraclit werden kaon. — Die schoensten Maedcheu im Caunty 
 werden dieses Tanzvergnuegen mit ihrer Gegenwart beehren ; fuw 
 die besten Getraenkt ist gesorgt, und somit werden alle Freunde 
 unschuldigen Vergnue»ens eingeladen beizusvohnen. 
 
 6®='N. B. Die Kutztauner Musik Gesellschaft wird bei dieser 
 Festlic'ikeit zugegen seiu. 
 
 SAMUEL .TUNKEN. 
 
 As an example of Fairs in 1880 : — 
 
 GLi^NZENDE FAIK IN DER STADT KtTTZTAUN. 
 
 Am Freytag und Samstag, den 2ten und Sten naechsten Septem= 
 ber, wird in der Stadt Kutztaun eine glaenzende Fair gehaiten wer- 
 den. Unter den vielen ansiehenden Gegenstaendeu, welcne dieses 
 glaenzende Fest zieren werden, brauchen wii' nur aazufuehren, dass 
 ein ganzes Regiment Freiwilliger zur Parade ausruecken werden — 
 Cavallarie uad Infanterie, und dass verschiedenartige militaerische 
 Manoever ausgefuehrt werden soUen Dir Wirthehaben sich nebeu- 
 bei mit den besten Getraenken versehen ; stark und seh'jvach, vom 
 besten Braendy bis aufs klare Wasser, so dass audi Tempertnz 
 Leute aecommodirt werden koennen — wie auch mit den besten 
 Speisen fuer Van Buren und Harrison Leute— wie auch mit Platz 
 fuerSUOO Mann, denn man erwartet, dass diese Fair ungewoehnlich 
 zahlreich besucht werden wird Fuer gute Fiddler ist ebenfalls ge- 
 sorgt worden. Dass auch Pferde Wetireunen stattfindeu werden, 
 versteht sich von selbst. Nameutlich wird das beruehmte Virgiui- 
 ien Pferd Bucephalus gegen das voUbluetige importirte PtVrd Rosi- 
 uante springen. Auch werden einige kleine Ballons in die Hoehe 
 gelasfeen werden. 
 
KUTZTOWN AND MAXATAWNY. 13 
 
 P. S.— Es wirU erwartet, dass die Laedies voni Lande si<;h eiu we- 
 nig schoen aut'dresseti vverdeu— iudem die Kutztauner Laedies sieh 
 vou Kopf zuiii Fuss mit den praechoigsten iieuen Stoffeu aus uuserii 
 Htoliren ver.seiit^u liabeii. 
 
 Kutztaun, August 17, 18H(>. 
 
 At first the battalions and the militia trainings were one and ttie 
 same thiug. When the latter were by law abolished, the festivities 
 originally connected with them were continued under the name of 
 the former. These were held in the month of May, the Fairs in 
 September, and the Frolics, whenever the huait>r of the people and 
 the wishes of landlords required them. About thirty years ago 
 Fairs died out. These beca-ne so unpopular that it sometimes hap- 
 pened that no sufReient notice of the time of their holding was given. 
 As a result of this, the lovers of fun who lived in the remoter parts 
 of the county, occasionally made tlieir appearance in Kutztown a 
 day too late. From this fact originated tke well-knov^u phrase 
 "a day after the fair.'' 
 
 What during the Restoration ui England May-poles and bear^ 
 baiting were to the English, and, in modern times, prize fighting, 
 fairs and battalions were, during this period, to the people of this 
 section of the county. As it is foolish to suppose that the masses can 
 be angels, and as all classes of society, whether rude or refined, must 
 have some recreation, whilst we rejoice over the burial of frolics and 
 such like things, we have no sympathy with that Pharisaic spirit 
 which makes no a'lowauce for the needs of men, and visits with un- 
 sparing severity the follies (»f weak, uncultured human nature. 
 
 The "Battalion" survived the period now under consideration. 
 It had a ton,?!! lite. How it at last succumbed to the progress of cuL 
 ture and refinement, will appear in what can justly be called the 
 Blooming Period of our history. 
 
 4.— FROM 186-3 TO 1876. 
 
 Against it was sounded the first clear note of opposition by the 
 Trustees of the Keystone Htate Normal School, which was begun in 
 August, 18(>5. At a meeting held by them May i8, 1866, were passed 
 suadry resolutions, which diclared that the "Battalion," by reason 
 of the abuses and evils connected with it, had outlived its usefulness, 
 and that, as so great an Institurion as the Normal ScIjooI had now 
 been established in our midst, it was the duty of the citizens to 
 frown upon everything that tended to east a stain on the character 
 of the borough and its vicinity. This protest did not immediately 
 ripen into fruit, but, sustained as it was by tiie people generally, it 
 went forth, and in time did its appointed work As a local incident, 
 it may be mentioned that some persons, who had at heart the pros- 
 perity of th^ school and the community, but were influenced by an 
 indiscreet zeal, circulated a placard through the surrounding coua- 
 
14 HISTORY OF 
 
 try, in which it was announced that the "Battalion" advertised 
 for 18R6, had been indefinitely postponed. Gradually, but surely, 
 the etlucationai influence of the Normal, with its Conamencemenls 
 and Literary anniversaries, wore away the tendency to low amuse- 
 luents, and created a love for such as, while they satisfied the desire 
 !or innocent recreations, tended to minister to our nobler nature. 
 The last battalion was held May 31, 1878. 
 
 In the effort now being made to raise the community to a higher 
 point of culture, the Keystone Agricultural and Horticultural Bocie- 
 ty lent its powerful aid It was chartered in 1810, and owns six- 
 teen acres of land, which, together witli the buildings and improve- 
 ments, cost not far from fifteen thousand dollars. The first officers 
 were Elijah DeTurk, President ; Jno. R. Gonser, Secretary ; L. K. 
 Hottenstein, Treasurer; and tor 1876, George Kutz, President; 
 .left. C. Hoch, Secretary ; A.J. Fogel, Secretary ; Dr J. S. Trexler, 
 Corresponding Secretary ; Hon. H. H.Schwartz, Attorney, In Oc- 
 tober, 1873, Hoiace Greeley, then the Demecraiic candidate for the 
 Presidency of the Uuitod States, visited Kutztown, and delivered 
 two addresses, one before the Society, and the othf^r before the stu 
 dents of the Normal. For 1874, the orator, during the Agrieulturaj 
 exhibition, was Alexander Ramsey, United States Senator from 
 Minnesota, and for 1875, Judge Humphreys, of Washington, D. C. 
 
 The tendency toward public and social improvement was now 
 also greatly aided by the branch railroad which conDeets Kutz- 
 town, by way of Topton, with the chief centres of American civili- 
 zation. Failing in their plans to have the East Pennsylvania 
 Railroad pass through the borough, the people bent their energies 
 upon the eomj)letion of what once bore the name of tlie Allentowu 
 and Auburn Rail Road, but is now known ns the Allentown 
 Rail Road To this had been subscribed by Kutztown and vi- 
 cinity more than $20,000. Of its stock our esteemed friend 
 Lewis K. Hottenstein. one of our most worthy and influential citi- 
 zens, held $50#0. 00. Work was commenced on it in 1857, but the 
 financial panic that ensued, put a atop to the project. Meanwhile 
 the Philadelphia and Reading R. R. company obtained control oj 
 the stock. In 180S our citizens, in public meeting assembled, drew 
 up a petition, in which they requested the company to complete the 
 road from Topton to KuJStown. Their peti':iou met with a generous 
 response. On June 9, 1861, work was begun. Mr. Fayette Schoed- 
 ler had the honoi- of digging up the first earth. Under the direction 
 of Engineer G. W. H«over, Conductor, Geo. Snodgraas, and Baggage 
 Master, Theo. G. Faber, was run the first train on Jan. Vo, 1870. 
 The Agent of the Company in Kutztown, is Mr. Lewis Fisher. So 
 vvell and faithfully have these officers discharged their dutiei that 
 the company luT^ recogriized their worth by continuing^ them in 
 their positions down to the present time. 
 
KUTZTOWN AND MAXATAWNY. lo 
 
 The elegant Depot wliicli adorns the grounds of the Station was 
 built in 18yj— 70. 
 
 Over this road now run seven daily train* from the town and the 
 name number to it ; (,on Sundays, but two.) 
 
 On tlie ]Oth of February, 187:^, the Telegrapli lent its wings to the 
 enterprise of the borough. From its first establishment to the pre- 
 sent time, Calvin Fister has been its eflficient operator. 
 
 Newspapers also were now in their zenith. On Feb. ;^, 1870, ap- 
 peared in German the first number of the Kutztown "Journal." It 
 was published by Isaac F. Christ, originally of Greenwich twp., Berkg 
 Co., Pa., ; edited and managed by Chas. Kolbe, of Doylestown, Biielcsi 
 Co., Pa; in size twenty-four by thirty-six. The latter gentleman 
 was sueeeded by Mr Geiz, of Allentown, who, in turn, gave way t^> 
 F. Konietzko, of Reading. On Nov. 4, 1871, under the same pro- 
 l»i'ietor, Mr. Conrad Gehring, of Reading, assumed the editorial and 
 mechanical control of the j)aper. In the same office, in the follow- 
 ing sjtringjWas published in English the "Nationa^Educator." Un- 
 der the editorship of Prof. A. R. Home, it advocated the interest.^ 
 of our Common schools, and still continues to be one of its best cham- 
 pions. At this time it appeared once a month; in size sixteen by 
 twenty-four. Leaving in the spring of 1873, Conrad Gehring became 
 publisher of the "Volksfreund,"in Middleburg, Snyder Co., Pa. Mr. 
 Emil Meister succeeded him as editor of the ''Journal." Now it was 
 that Isaac F. Christ started an English paper, "The National Phiter- 
 prise", with J. H. Ijindeman as editor ; but not meeting with suf- 
 ficient patronage, consolidated it with the "National Educator" 
 wliich had for some time been published as a weekly. Invited by 
 Mr. Christ to return to his former position, in Nov. 1873, Mr. Gehring 
 again became editor and manager. In May, 1874, with the former 
 as publisher and the latter as editor was issued a German and Eng- 
 lish paper, -the "American Patriot" ; in size, twenty-four by thirty 
 six. In March 1875, Mr. Gehring, in connection witli A. B. Urick, 
 of Lebanon Co., Pa., purchased the establishment of Mr. Christ, and 
 on April I, 1875, took possession of it as a firm, under the name of 
 I ; rick & Gehring. During September of the same year, 'steam 
 power was introduced. The business of these enterprising gentle- 
 men increased so rapidly that it soon became necessary to remove 
 their quarters to the second floor of the large building which Mr. D. 
 15. Snyder had erected on Main street. With the opening of the Cen- 
 tennial year, Messrs. Urick and Geliring surprised tlnur patrons with 
 the Journal and Patriot, each of them enlarged to the size of twenty 
 <-ight by forty-two 
 
 The Journal, numbers IHOO subscribers ; the Patriot, 400— 5(K» : 
 ihe Edim'ATOR, 8—901). Five presses do the work of the office. 
 
 From what Inis been said it mav easily be inferred that, in ohUm 
 
1(1 HISTORY OF 
 
 to meet tlie demands that grew out of the rapid growtli of the bor- 
 rough and its vicinity, banks soon became a necessity. 
 
 Already in 18(3!) was established the Kutztown Savings Bank, with 
 J. H. Fogel as President, and Dr. Hottenstein as Cashier. Its present 
 otticers are Daniel Dietrich, President, W. C. Dietrich, Cashier. 
 
 ThePeabodySavings Bank was organized in 1870. Present officers: 
 Jno. Lichtenwalner, President, and .1. D. Wanner, Es(|., Cashier. 
 
 The national bank of Kutztow)i was chartered by the Goverment 
 of the United States in 1871. Its authorized Capital is $(30. 000, 00, 
 with the privilege of $200,000.00. Present officers, Jno. H. P'ogel, 
 President, and Thos, D. Fister, Cashier. It waschiefly through the 
 intelligent Zealand energy of the latter gentleman that this baiijk 
 was located in our borough. From the Report, dated May 12, 18'2Ti, 
 we learn that its resources and liabilities are eacli $lol,l(Jl,81. 
 
 The Postal facilities of the town are equal to the demands and ne- 
 cessities of the hour. Two daily mails leave for the West, and two 
 daily for the East; and the same numl^er return. P\>r the year 1875 
 the Borough postoffice paid over to the Dei)ai'tment at Washington, 
 $(344.05, and for the first quarter of 187(5. $1.55,46. 
 
 In February, ^863, the market prices in Kutztown were; red wheat 
 1.50 ; white, 1.5(3; rye, .87; new corn, .78; stove coal, 5.00; nut, 3.50 ; 
 butter, .18 ; eggs, 14 ; potatoes, .50 ; ham, .6 ; shoulders and flitch, ,6 ; 
 hickory wood, 3.00, and oak, 2.50. 
 
 For the >nonth of June, 187(3, they were: salt, per bushel, .60; sack 
 1.45; eggs, dozen, .14; butter, pound, .18; lard, 16; hams, 15; tallow, 
 .8; flour, white wheat, 100 pounds, 3.75, and re<l, by bushel, 1.32; rye 
 5(3 pounds, .75; new corn, .56; oats, .42; potatoes, .30; egg and stone 
 coal, ton, 5.50; chestnut, No. 1. Lehigh, 5.50, nut, 4.50. hickory, 4,80, 
 pea, 3.00, bituminous, 6.50; gypsum, ton, 13.00. 
 
 The Kutztown iron-foundry and Machine Shop, M'hich was es- 
 tablished by Messrs. Elias Jackson and Dan.B. Kutz, in 1851, became 
 the property of Zehni andBro. iul865. They removed it to its ])resent 
 site in the year I860. It was burnt down in 1870,and rebuilt the same 
 year. In July, 18(32, it began to cast bells. The, first of thon weighed 
 fifty pounds, and sold for $4.50. 
 
 On July 2, 1873, Henry Boyer dug the first earth for the foundation 
 of the Kutztown Furnace. The contractors were Lee, Noble and 
 Co., the former of Mahonoy city, the latter of Pottsville, Schuylkill 
 county. Pa. Most of the stockholders live in the borough. The Phil- 
 adelphia and Reading R. R. Co. went security for the bonds issued, 
 and thus obtained the ftrst mortgage on the property. Its first offic- 
 ers were Thomas Wren, of Pottsville, President, O. Bowman, of 
 Trenton, N. J. Sec, Messrs. A. J. Fogel, Jno. Humbert, E.sq., and 
 Jno, Gonser, also served as Secretaries. Present officers: O. Bow- 
 man, Pres.; Directors, Thos. D. Fister, Hon. H. H. Schwartz, Dr- 
 Jer. Trexler, (i. Kutz, Thos. Wren, Ralj)li Lee. 
 
KUTZTOWN AND MAXATAWNY. 17 
 
 In 1875—70 was also establishetl a furnace near Lyons, Maxa- 
 tawny. 
 During this period Orders and Fraten»iti«'s reached their l>looni. 
 On Nov. 29, ISHtJ, met in Kutztown, the(Trand Lodge ofMasons ol 
 Pennsylvania , J. L. Stichter, of Reading acting as the Right Wor- 
 shipful the Grand Master. Now was instituted tlietiuguenot Lodge. 
 No. 377, Ancient York Masons. Officers ; A.J. Fogel, Worshipful 
 Master, J. 8. Trexler, Senior Warden ; Jon, B. Grim, Treasurer : 
 Lewis Fisher, Secretary. Present officers : Hon. H. H. Schwartz, 
 Worshipful Master; Eldridge Zimnierman, Senior Warden. F. H. 
 Yeager, Junior Warden, A. J. Fogel, Treasurer; Lewis Fisher, Sec- 
 retary. This Lodge meets on every Saturday on, or before full moon 
 of every month. Up to this time the nund»er of members is one 
 hundred fifteen. 
 
 On May 20, 1870, was founded the "Harugari." From its Secretary. 
 Aug. Sprenger, we learn that it numbers about one hundred mem- 
 bers, and has now in its treasupf S1200, 00. On a lot in "Fairview' 
 cemetery, the order recently i)lanted an oak, which is green and 
 flourishing, and will be dedicated July 4, 1870. 
 
 The " Daughters of Liberty" organized in 1878, and disbanded in 
 1876; the Knights of Pythias in 1872, and the American Mechijnics 
 Jr., in 1870, both of which still exist. 
 
 In the Fall of 1873 came into being the Maxatawny Grange, No. 
 14. George Kutz was the First Master, Wm. DeTurk, the second, 
 and Louis Wagenhorst, the third. Its object is to protect agricul- 
 tural labor against monopolies. 
 
 Towards the close of 1875 was organized in the borcmgh the Herk> 
 Co. Poultry Association. Its first annual exhibition took place on 
 January 11 — 14,1876. Present officers: L. C. Berkemeyer, Pres., 
 Conrad Gehring, Rec.Sec. J. H. Marx, Esq., Cor. Sec. S. S. Schmehl. 
 Treasurer; Hon. H. H. Schwartz, Attoi'ney. 
 
 During this time also, as before, from this secti(nj were selectet! 
 men to represent us before the public eye. The Hon. H.H.Schwartz, 
 who lociated as lawyer iu'Kutztown, in 1860, soon obtained tlie con- 
 fidence of the citizens, and served as Esquire from 1863—1870. In 
 1870 he was elected a member of the Legislature, and, for three 
 years, ornamented that body by his presence, and enlightened it by 
 his political wisdom. In the years 1868 and 69, Henry Hottenstein. 
 of Lyons, was also a membe?' of the Assembly ; whilst from 1866 — 6}f 
 J. D. Wanner, Esq., filled the office of Register of tiie county. In 
 1866, l)avi<i Kutz, one of the most influential citizens of Maxatawny. 
 was elected for a ])eriod of tive years an Associate Judge of the Berks 
 County courts. 
 
 The officers of Kutztown for the Centennial year are S. S. Schmehl, 
 Chief Burgess ; Daniel Hottenstein, Assistant Burgess ; Town coun- 
 cil, Ulrich Miller, Isaac K. Rahn, Jno. S. Dunkle, Dav. A . Larasch, 
 
JH HISTORV Oh' 
 
 VVilliain Keiin, Wendel Miller; Treasurer, John Humbert, Esq 
 Solicitor, H. H. Schwartz; Sec, J. H. Marx, Esq., ; Supervisor, Nat. 
 Ziinniernian ; Regulators, John Humbert, David Hottenstein ; High 
 Oonstable, Isaac Fegely. 
 
 From the fact that in iHTOthe population of Maxatawny was2,o;n, 
 we are led to infer that in 1876 it must be nearly 3,000. According to 
 the statistics in the 'New Historical Atlas of Berks County", its 
 valuation is $2,863,344 ; average wealth per each inhabitant, 81,131: 
 acres of improved land, 15^844. 
 
 The valuation of Kutztown is S>572,H43 ; average wealth per each 
 i?i habitant, !?(i(Ki,0(). 
 
 In 1850 the population of the Borough was 919; in 1870,965; in 
 1876, a(;cording to the ('ensus taken during the second week of June 
 1876, by Jas. F. Wagenhorst, 1190. 609 females and 531 males. The 
 fact, that, in less than six years, iL increased, by nearly 250 souls, 
 shows thatKutztown is rapidly pr^ressing on the high way of pros- 
 perity. This growth is not owing altogether to the natural increase 
 of families, but, in a very considerable degree, to the settlement in 
 our midst of persons from a distance and from the vicinity. In the 
 way of illustration we take the liberty of mentioning names such, 
 AS A. J. Fogel and David H, Hottenstein. The former is a young 
 !nan whose euterprise and trustworthy character would ornament 
 ;iny locality ; the latter we wish to hand down to the people of 1976, 
 who juay i"ead these pages, as one in whom nature has compounded 
 •he elements of excelence into a noble man. In the same class also 
 ai"e placed persons, such as John Dunkel, the Steins, the Dietrichs, 
 Doctors Berkemeyer and Shoemaker, (rernert, IJrick, (lonser, Brei- 
 ninger and others, — all of whom add greatly to the wealth and im- 
 provement of the town. 
 
 Here follows a brief list of the Professional and Business citizens 
 ^)f our borough, those excepted to whom allusion has already been 
 made: — 
 
 Esquires, H. H. Schwartz, Jas H. Marx ; Physicians, Doctor Chas. 
 Gerash, Jer. S. Trexler, J. H. Helfrieh, Ed. Hottenstein, I. N. E. 
 Shoemaker, Cyrus Wanner; Merchants (Dry Goods, &c.,) Jno. S. 
 Dunkle, Stein &Bro., W. G. Hinterleiter,J. S. Bieber; Drugstore**, 
 J. F. Breininger, Dr. L. C. Berkemeyef ; Hardware, none in thf 
 borough since 1856, now onethrough the enterprise of S. S. Schmehl, 
 who established it in the spring of 1875 ; Shoe Stores, Wanner & 
 Humbert, S. E. liChman & Co.; Lumber and Grain, Fogel & Zim- 
 juerman, J. S. Heffner ; Book Store, I. F. Christ; Cigars, Chas. 
 P.ast, H. Bloch, N. Heckman, H. Keiter; p] (}. Dikeman, G. O'Neal 
 i>. Saul ; Litjuor, D. W. Sharadin ; Clothing, ]*eter Krause ; Harness 
 iiiakei- and store, M. T. Donmoyer; Dentistry, H. L. Joimson. S. ()' 
 P.ovle, W. Stetler ; MilliM«'rv and Notions, J. L. Fck ; Milinery, 
 
KUTZTOWN AND M AXATAVVN V. 19 
 
 Mrs. I). A. ii. Wink, Mrs. Mary Zinimerinan, and Mr.s. Mary 
 fiong ; Jewelry, Aug. Hpringer, I. Benner and Son ; Photographer 
 and Artist, C. W. Snyder ; Carriages, Rich. Miller's Sons, Dan, F* 
 Wagner; Sewing Machines, J. L. Eck, W. S. Eck and H. W. 
 Williams ; Cabinet Maker and Undertakers, W. Gehret, Paul Hil- 
 bert, D. W. Sliaradin; Machine Shop, Jno. Wentzel ; Marble 
 Yard, Philip AVentz ; Tinsmithand Store, W. F. Kover, Mrs. J. B. 
 W^agenhorst; Brickmakers, Jon, Bieber, Sr., J. H, Mohr ; Shoe- 
 makers, W. Snyder, G. Brown, G. O'Neil, B. Snyder, Jno, Snyder, 
 W, Miller ; Painter, H. Gehret ; Tailors, P. B. Kline, Peter Krausei 
 H. W. Williams, C. D. Herman; Livery, P.F. Hartzell; Carpenters, 
 I). Kline, A. Steinberger, W. Me'Gargy, Dan. Yaxtheimer ; Carpet 
 Weaver, Mr. Glasser; Gunsmith, Aug. Weikusat ; Butcher, Rahii 
 & Reeser ; Barber, G. Siegfrid, W. C. liornman ; Blacksmith, \V. 
 Sander, Harry Scheldt; Bakery, Chas. Auer ; Confectionary, Jas. 
 O'Boyle; Restaurants, W. Stinnnel, D.K.Sprenger, Jackson &Keim; 
 Taverns, Dan. Zimmerman, Chas, Kutz, W. A. Keim, Tllrich Mil- 
 ler, Jno. Gernert, Israel Wentzel; Tannery, J. Dan. Sharadin ; 
 Brakesmen, Jac. Lawson,H. W. Strasser; News Agent, Jas. F. Wag- 
 euhorst ; Postmaster, Jon. Bieber Sr,; Express offices: Phi. and 
 Reading R. R. Ex. at the Depot, and Central Express at Berkemey- 
 er's Drug Store. 
 
 We close this section of our sketch by subjoining brief obituary no- 
 tices of some of the leading men who left us for the other world : — 
 
 1. Hon. John Wanneb, of Maxatawny.— Died in the Fall of lH4± 
 He was blessed with thirteen children, who, as the Psalmist says, 
 were as "olive plants around his table." Of these several became, 
 and are still jjrominent men in the county. J. Daniel, as we have 
 seen, filled for years puVjlic positions ; Amos is a lawyer of the Rea- 
 ding bar, and one of our present representatives in the Legislature; 
 Charles graduated with distinction in the Penn. Medical University 
 in Philadelphia, and practised many years in Kutztown ; .foel e.o»i- 
 pleted his literary course in Marshal College, Menjersburg, Pa. stvi- 
 died law, became Mayor of the city of Reading, and was a candidate 
 for Congress ; William served as Flsquire for years in Maxatawny ; 
 Peter now lives on his farm in this township ; and John is a suc- 
 cej^sful mercliant in Philadelphia. 
 
 2. Chaki.ks HUrma-N Wanner, M. D.— Died Nov. 12,l8(i9,aged 4:: 
 years. 2nios., 9 <lays. Reposes in Fairview Cemetery. The funeral 
 services were conducted at the house by the Revds. Hinterleitex and 
 Spieker, and at the cemetery and church, by Revds. J. S, Her- 
 mann and McCauley. Text, Genesis 48,21. The funeral cortege con- 
 sisted of the Medical Society of Berks county, choir of the church, 
 tlie family, and relations of the deceased, iitid the Prof<'><sors and 
 .students of the Kcvstone Normal Scliuol. 
 
20 HISTORY OF 
 
 3. David Kutz.— Died July 20,1870; aged 72 years, 7 )nos.,17day8. 
 Buried in Hope cemetery. Judge Kutz possessed a sound judgment, 
 and, in his day, was one of tiie most prominent citizens of Maxa" 
 tawny. His son (Jeorge J., who is now tlie President of our Agri- 
 cultural Society, lives on the old homestead, and is one among the 
 most active members of the Trustees of the Normal School. 
 
 8. Davtd Ftstkr.— Died Oct. 8,1871; aged,69 years,a mos.,19 days, 
 [{eposes in Hoi)e cemetery. As we have already learned, the Fister 
 family was one of the oldest that settled in this section, and David 
 was certainly one of its worthiest representatives. His virtues and 
 manners are still green in our minds, and, as we write, we drop a 
 tear over his memory. Rev. J. S. Hermann preached his funeral 
 sermon from Luke 21, 19. 
 
 4. Captain Daniel Biehek.— Died May 2fi, 1872 ; aged 70 years. 
 Buried in Hope cemetery. Serm<m by Rev. Mr. Spieker, from the 
 text in Isaiah o7, 3, 
 
 5. Benjamin Kutz. — J>ied Feb. 9, 1874; aged 67 years, ,s nios., 28 
 days; buried in Fairview cemetei-y. Sermon by Rev. J. S. Herman n 
 text, fifth book of Moses, chap. 32, v. 4. Our old friend is gone, but 
 his many virtues, particularly his kind, genial dis^wsition, will never 
 be forgotten by those who enjoyed the pleasure of his acquaintance. 
 
 (J. Dewis K. Hoteenstein. — Died June 9,175; aged 09 years,4 mos. 
 18 days; buried in Fairview cemetery. Sermon b.y Rev. J. S. Her- 
 mann; text, John's Gospel, 11, 11. 
 
 From the Kutztovvn Patriot of June 17, 187o. we extract the 
 following : 
 
 "Kutztown, the Keystone Normal School, the cause of education, 
 has lost a warm friend, and an ardent and substantialsupport in 
 the death of L. K. Hottenstein, of this place. He was the heaviest 
 stockholder of the Normal. His investment of .?8000.00, was virtually 
 a donation to the institution, inasinuch as he never received, never 
 expected to receive a cent of interest on the investment. He had 
 made similar investments for the best interests of the community to 
 the amount of perhaps $20,000, and over. When such men die, the 
 loss of them is a heavy, and apparently, an irreparable one, and yet 
 what is loss to us, proves to them eternal gain." 
 
 7. Dane. Kutz.— Died Dec. l,187o; aged 92 years, 7mos., 12 days; 
 buried in Hoj)e cemetery. Sermon bj'^ Rev. J. S. Herrnmnn ; text, 
 Psalm 91.10. 
 
 8. Eeij All DeTukk.— Died Jan. 19, 1870; aged (iO years, 1 month, 
 28 days ; buried in Faii-view cemetery. As he was a leading mem- 
 ber of the Trustees of the Keystone Normal, his body was taken to 
 the chapel of the school. Here Rev. J. S, Herrmann preached from 
 Proverbs 10.7. In the funeral procession were the Professors and 
 students of the Normal. 
 
KrT/TOWX AND M AX ATA W NY. !il 
 
 ^). llOBKKT IjAKASCH.— Died May <;, 1876; aged 78 years, 2 inos., 
 ii days. Buried in Fairview cemetery. 
 
 While we write these lines, the life of our esteemed townsnian, 
 Dr. Ohas. a. Gerash, is hanging in the balanci'. An able practi- 
 tioner of many years standing, he enjoys a high reinitation among 
 his brethren, for skill in the art of healing. One of the heaviest, 
 stockholders in the Keystone Xoi-mjil, for a long time its Treasurer, 
 and now one of its most intlueutial members, he is certainly a man, 
 over whose loss the whole community would sincerely mourn. We 
 hope and pray that his life may be jireserv*^] for many years to 
 come. 
 
XI. i^xjl.ttj^:r'Y' histoid y. 
 
 The military record of Kutztown and vicinity i.s a brilliant reflec- 
 tion of the great glory that envelopes the military record of the 
 ^(^rhole county. Already in the year of Braddock's defeat, 1775, 
 Conrad VVeisei* was ai^pointed Colonel of a regiment of volunteers 
 from Berks. How ably he repelled the incursions of the rndians ; 
 how, early in 1776, General Joseph Hiester enrolled a company of 
 eighty men, and marched to New Jersey and Long Island, to sup- 
 port General Washington ; how, in July, 177(5, at Lancaster, Pa., to 
 make prei)arations for the defense of the country, in union with 
 iifty-three battalions of the Association of Pennsylvania, were repre- 
 ■^entatives of seven battalions that had been organized in Berks- 
 these facts, and many othei's,are so indelibly written on the pages 
 of history that he who runs may read them. Not only in Berks, 
 but elsewhere, did our German forefathers distinguish themselves 
 by a spirit of self-sacrifice and patriotic devotion to the country. In 
 tlie most critical hour of the Revolution, when Gen. Washington 
 Aj)pealed for material aid, nine American Germans put into his hands 
 il ,()()!» pounds. They were Michael Hillegas, John Steinmetz, 
 Abraham Bickley, Joseph Bleivor, Henry Keppel, Fred. V. Hassen- 
 clever, Isaac Melcher, Jno. Schaeffer, and Andrew Doz. Let it 
 never be forgotten that,during the entire period of the Revolutionary 
 War, Mi<3hael Hillegas was Treasurer of the United States. 
 
 From John Wink, one of the most intelligent citizens of Maxa- 
 t-Awny, we learn that Washington's army marched through Kutz- 
 U)wn. Eye-witnesses informed him that it came from Easton, and 
 encamped for a time in the valley between the present residence of 
 .lohn Kemp, Esq., and the farm of Daniel Zimmerman in Maxa. 
 tawny. Washington and his wife were with the soldiers. Mrs. 
 Sassaman, for .some years gone to the other world, used to delight in 
 telling her visitors, that Mrs. Washington, who lodged in the house 
 of her father, Joseph Gross, lifted her on her lap, and soothed her 
 with caresses On their way from Trenton, by way of Easton, to 
 the well-known camji at Reading, the captured Hessiani* were 
 marched through Kutztown. 
 
 Ft is interesting also to know, that, whilst the battle at German- 
 (own, 1777, was raging, the thunders of the cannon fell upon the 
 cars of the inhabitants of Kutztown and vicinity ; that, after the 
 battle of Brandywine, 1777, a regiment of the American army, en- 
 
KUTZTOWN AND MAXATAWNY. 23 
 
 camped on the farms now owned by the Hottensteins, and, on 
 leaving, iiripressed the horses and wagons of the people; and that 
 (jreorge Kemp, Esq., was one of the wagon masters, who were pres- 
 sent at the battle of Germantown. 
 
 On the farm of J. Bieber, Jr., in Maxatawny, stands the Mam- 
 moth White Oak of Berks. It may justly be called the Centennial 
 White Oak of Pennsylvania. On the 15th of September, 1777, one 
 hundred years will have passed by, since the baggage train of Gen. 
 Washington's army, on its retreat from the battle-field of German- 
 town, sought and found protection under and around this Revolu- 
 tionary tree. It is said that two centuries have looked ninm this 
 oak; and competent juil^'e.s a-isure us that it is now sturdy enough 
 to defy the storms of another hundred years, and may wave its 
 branches in honor of the Centennial of 1976. One foot above the 
 ground, it measures twenty -eight feet in circumference ; and, ten 
 feet above it, begin to stretch forth twenty-seven limbs, some of 
 which are three feet in diameter. 
 
 In Maxatawny were still living in 1S4U, the following Hevolu- 
 tionary pensioners: Henry Grim, aged 75; Fred. Bower, 83: Jacob 
 Wink, 82; Philip Noyes, 84; Christian Sehmick, 7(1 To this list 
 we add the names of Wm. Marx, Sr., and son, William, Casper 
 \Vink(buried on tSqnire Kemp's farm), Jacob Esser, Peter Kutz, 
 George Pfister, Peter Wink, Philip ~vlnk, and Doldridge. On 
 January 7, 1857, died one in Rockland township, Matthias Roth, 
 aged 78 years. Rev. M. Knoske preached his funeral sermon from 
 Psalms 41, 4. On the last Monday of November 1836, died another, 
 I'eter Klein' Esq., of Greenwich township, aged 77 years, and was 
 buried at Dunkei's church. Revs. Yeager and Herrmann preached 
 on this occasion. 
 
 In truth, among the descendants of the German settlers the love 
 (jf country never waned. In the war of 1812, the camp fires burned 
 brightly. A single examj^le will sutfice to show with what ardor 
 the people of this section shouldered the musket against our heredi- 
 tary foe. From our venerable friend, father JacobFislier,.still living 
 in Kutztown, now eighty-six years old, whose smiling countenance 
 and jolly spirit always drives away the fell spirit of melancholy, we 
 learn thai, during that war, was raised nere a company wliich num- 
 bered one hundred and tliirty men. With GaWriel Old, a Lutheran 
 deacon of the Union coiigregtition, as Captain, and John Kister. as 
 first Lieutt nan";, lliey left their iioiue< in AUijust, 1814, for Ihe seat 
 of war at Baltimore. On their anival at tie C()luml)ia bridge, in 
 Lancaster county. Pa., thirty of tiiis eoinpnuy were taken away to 
 till up the ranks ofanother. As they neared York, they iieartl the 
 thunders of the enemies' cannon hut their counige waxed the 
 stronger. For their services they received no pay, but afterwards ;i 
 yearly [jen-^ion of ninety -six dollars. SonieLinu's lur Ibi'ee entire 
 
24 MILITARY RECORD OF 
 
 days tliey h.-ui nothing to eat, and, at uight, they slept beneath the 
 ean<*py of the heavens, without any cover except that which the 
 iiigiit air wore around them. 
 
 Jacob Gratr, also a resident of Kutztown, now eighty three years 
 old, and a member of this company, confirms the statements just 
 given. These two, together with Michael DeLong of Lougswamp, 
 are the only living survivors, of this company. 
 
 The officers of this company were : Gabriel Old, Captain ; John 
 Fister, Lieutenant ; Ensign, William Shook; Sergeanis, Rudolph 
 Meislin, Isaac Levan, William Graetf, B. Armor; Corporals, Daniel 
 Graeft" Jno. Witman, Jacob Lehman, Jacob Longbien ; Musicians, 
 Jonas Freyler and William Marx. 
 
 Of those Tvho volunteered for the Mexican war, in 1845, Lewis 
 Brown is the only present survivor. Tliey were enrolled iu Capt. 
 Leoser's company of Reading, and returned some of them in 1847. 
 Among the killed were William Patterson, and two members of the 
 Graff' family. John Kutz died in Vera l^ruz of erysipelas, brought 
 on by a wound in one of his fingers. 
 
 Wiien the Jate Civil war broke out, the inhabitants of this section, 
 dropping differences of political opinion.joined together iu maintai- 
 ning the national supremacy. On the gnninds of Fairview cemetery 
 now repose the ashes of some, wliile others sleep beneath the ground 
 which they fertilized with their blood. From the family of Elias 
 Jackson went as volunteers four sons. Two of them were killed. 
 The one, Andrew, belonged to Company A, Captain Leuhart, of 
 Reading, and fell in the battle atFredericksburg, on the 1 ;th ofDec, 
 1862. The other — Robert— joined the first Pennsylvania Cavalry, 
 and met his death at Wnitehouse Landing, Va., on June 21st, 1863 
 Here he was buried on a farm which once belonged to Major Gen- 
 eral Robert Lee. There were also killed Henry Smith, Daniel Hum- 
 bert, Frank Humbert, Charles Folk, Marti a Baer.— Among those 
 that died of wounds or sickness incurred in the war. Were Joseph 
 Geiger, Beun. Osewald, Samuel Marx and son, Charles Marx and 
 Charles Detweiler. This last named one enlisted in the 4th., Regi- 
 ment, P. v., September 13, 1852; was wounded at the battle of 
 Cedar Creek. Oct. 19, 1864 ; died, March 13, 1865, in Mowers U. 8. 
 General Hospital, Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia; aged twenty-four 
 years, five months, and twenty-nine days. 
 
 Dr. Jer. Trexler, one of our ablest physicians, speut two year.s 
 (1863— 65) in the service as surgeon Oi' '73 P. V. He went through 
 the "hnndred daj's" tight, marclied to the .sea, and was twice woun- 
 ded. 
 
 Of others who fell into a premature grave, we have not been able 
 to glean any trustworthy information. 
 
 From the archives of the Borough we have taken the following 
 statement of the expen^ses incurred in furnishing volunteers and 
 filling quotas : ~ 
 
KUTZTOWN AND MAXATAWNY. %', 
 
 First Call. — Oct. 6, 1862— Nine men volunteers, $1)27.33 
 
 '• " June 20 1863— Thirty men, State defence, 1.50.00 
 
 Se<!{)iid Call.— Feb. 5, 18G4— Seventeen men for quota, iJlOO.OS 
 
 " " *' Apr. 7, 1864— Four men additional, ll.')5 00 
 
 Third Call.— Sept. 1864— Fifteen men for quota, 7180.00 
 
 " " " " " " Two men additional, 400.00 
 
 Fourth Call— March, 1SG5,— Thirteen men, 3900.00 
 
 Expenses in tilling Third and Fourth Calls, 157.88 
 
 '■ " " Fourth Call, 15.00 
 
 Total amount. 19,805.21 
 
 Ofthissum were raised by private subscription $1,810.00, and b* 
 County bounty $3,000.00 ; the remainder, by the borough. 
 
 The Bounty tax in Maxatawny amounted to $48,000.00 
 
 We must not forget to state that, in addition to the quotas raised 
 jnauy otliers enlisted for the war. 
 
 From this brief sketch of our military record, we infer that the peo- 
 ple of this section know not only how to guide the plow tor the benpfit 
 of their children, but also how to use the musket for the benefit of 
 their country ; aad that, in the hour of need, Pennsylvania gslh 
 have I'ecourse to no men more sturdy and valiant than the citizen,*- 
 ■of Kutztowu and Maxatawny. 
 
III. ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY- 
 
 I. -THE OLD UNION CHURCH. 
 
 U appears to be geuerally admittetl ihat the old Moselem congre- 
 tiou, in Richmond township, was organized in 1760, and tliat the 
 'leseendants of Wm. Penu endowed it with one hundred acres of 
 land. This township was established soon after the erection of 
 Berks into a county, (1752), and some years later than Maxatawny. 
 In the recoids of the Longswamp Church, it is slated that one 
 Michel was its pastor, from 1750—54 ; and, in the Coetral minutes 
 of 17"1, that he preached prior to this year, in Maxatawny From a 
 comparison of these facts we can reasonably infer that tlieold Union 
 church of Maxatawny was organized earlier than the Moselem con- 
 i^regatiou, and sometime between 1752 and 1760. It stood on land 
 which now belongs partly to Dr. Edward Hottenstein's farm, and 
 partly to David Levan's farm. Reuben Bast, of Kutztown, inform*' 
 us that his great grandfather appropriated to its use twenty- four 
 acres of laad. Its earliest history is wrapped in obscurity- All we 
 know certainly is that, prior to the erection of the building in Kutz- 
 u»wn, in 1790, its preachers for several years were the Revtls. Daniel 
 Lehman and John Henry Helfrich. On the 9tli of November, 178y 
 the present existing congregation was reorganized ; and on the 21th 
 of May, 1790, the corner-stone was laid. At its dedication, Aug. 7, 
 1791, were present Rev. Daniel Lehman, Evangelical Lutheran 
 preacher, ami Rev. John Henry Helfrich, Evangelical Reformed 
 preacher. To the day of their death, they continued to be the pastor. 
 It must be stated however, *:hat, whilst Rev. Lehman officiated in 
 ihe P^vangelical Trinity Lutheran Churclv Reading, from the close 
 (if 1799 to the close of 1803, Rev. Frederick Ritse served the Luther- 
 an portion of the congregation. It is a singular fact that, during 
 Ritse's term, no ecclesiastical proceedings, not even the baptisms, 
 were recorded. The earliest officers were, on the Lutheran side, 
 as Trustees, Jac.>b Herman, 1789—1801, Jacob Schweirer, 1789, 
 Michael Werlein, 1789 ; and, on the Reformed side, George Ptister, 
 [789—1839, Jeremiah Koll), 1789, Peter Christman, 1789 — 1813 ; — as 
 Elders on the Lutheran side. George Kistler, 1791 ; Peter Mathern, 
 1791 ; and on the Reformed side, Nicholas Kieffer. 1791 ; George 
 Keaip, 1791 ; as Deacons on the Lutheran side, .M. Bast, 1791; Abra- 
 ham Biehl, 1791—95; Nicholas Kutz. 1791 -99 : Ja<'ob Esser. 1796--9!i; 
 John Bieber, 1799: John Kutz, 1799; Abraham Eerkel, 18W) ; an<t 
 
KUTZTOWN AND M AX AT AWN Y. 27 
 
 ou the Reformed side, Juo. Siegfried, 1791; Simon George, 1791 ; 
 John Levan, Jr., 1791; Phil. Micliael, 1795 ; Philip Kl«^iii, 1797—98; 
 John Funk, 1801. 
 
 I n 1812 th-ire was expressed a desire to complete the building. Up 
 to this time, it had cost 13,307.331. On the 2d of January. 1818, it 
 became free of debt. In 1816, the building was weather boarded, at 
 an expense of $')15. 98. In this slow way the work went on, till at 
 last, in 1842, the new church yard was completed, and, in 1846, the 
 tiew pulpit constructed. The total cost was about $6000. John 
 Gunius contracted for the carpentering, and .Jacob Humbert, the 
 i^rand father of our townsman, Jno. Humbert, for the frame work. 
 
 The real estate of the congregation consists of seven lots. The 
 tirst three, on the corner of which the building stands, were deeded 
 to it, September' 8, 1820, for the consideration of one dollar, by 
 Henry Kohler, the owner of them, and the then proprietor of Kutz- 
 town. On May 9, 1804, was delivered to it the school lots. Nos. 87 
 and 88, tor Ave shillings, by Jacob Herman, Leasee, and afterwards 
 one of them for school purposes, gratuitously, by Henry Kohler, 
 proprietor as aforesaid. On one of them must still be paid a yearly 
 ground rent ef 87;; cents, and on lots Nos. 85 and 86, a yearly ground 
 rent of 74 cents. These last were purchased from the estate of Jacob 
 Baldy, in the name of the congregation, for 120 dollars, by Chris- 
 tian Schmick. 
 
 For 86 years the Reformed and Lutheran people worshipped 
 Almighty God in this venerable edifice. Now the ticue had come 
 when their interests required on its ruins should be erected a temple 
 that would more worthily represent their zeal and devotion in Di' 
 vine things. On April 4th 1876, at a meeting of the joint Vestries, 
 was passed the following resolution :— 'That the question whether 
 a New Union Church shall be built, shall be submitted to the meai 
 bers of the Lutheran and Reformed congregations of Kutztown, to 
 be decided at an election to be held on April 17 ; after service to be 
 voted upon with written or printeil tickets as follows, — for building 
 a New L^nion Church and against building a New Union Church." 
 Asofficersof the election, which was held between the hours of 
 tvrelve aad f 'ur, 'JV'ere appoinied William Bieber, John S. Dunkle, 
 .lame:, DcTurk, Jonathan Hill, The result was 279 votes for, and 77 
 against building. There was immediately appointed a Commitee 
 on subscription. — Charles Rahn, Charles Deisher, George Bieher, 
 David Schaeffer, Jacob Sunday, v^harles Kutz, .lonathan Bieber, 
 .lohn Christman, George Kutz, John Kemp, W. Rahn, Jac. Rahn. 
 
 In their first report they presented the amount of $9129.60. 
 
 [n the presence of a ^r at multitude of people, on Whitsunday, 
 .June 4th, the itorner stone wa-t laid. The exercises were conlinued 
 on Whituion<lay, 
 
28 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 On the morning of Sunday preached Rev. B. S. Smoll, assis- 
 ted by Rev. J. S. Herrmann, and the afternoon of the same day, 
 Rev. B. Weiss, from Lenhartsville, from ihe text 1 Cor. 5, 10 — 11. 
 Now was hiid tlie corner-stone by Revds. J. S. Herrmann and B. K. 
 Kramlich, assisted by the Elders of ihe congregation. In it were 
 deposited the following articles :— a Bible, a Lutheran and a Hei- 
 uelberg Catechism, Sacramental Wine and Wafer, the names of the 
 officers, Coins, a Silver Half Dollar, donated byDewalt Kemp, with his 
 name and year engraved on it, the Lutheran -'Zeitsclirift." the 
 Reformed "Hausfreuud," and the "Kutztown Journal ;"— also a 
 document containing a resolution that the congregation shall re- 
 main Lutheran and Reformed so long as tive meml)ers in goo<l 
 standing shall desire it. On Monday morning Rev. B Weisn 
 preached again, and in the afternoon. Rev. D. Humbert of Bowers. 
 The old cornerstone was again laid by Rev. J S. Herrmann, who 
 also delivered an affecting address. In it were deposited an otdBible, 
 presented by Charles Kutz, of Kutztown, an o'd Hymn Book, the 
 old Constitution of the congregations, with all the names of the of- 
 ficers to the present time, a silver Quarter Dollar and a Five Cent 
 piece, donated by the old bell-ringer, Charles O'Neal. Rev. Mr. 
 Humbert having pronounced the benediction, the people dispersed. 
 The plans and specifications of the building were prepared by 
 William A. Fink, of Rending, who also superintends its construc- 
 tion. 
 
 The present officers, on the Lutheran side, are: Trustees, Wm. 
 Bieber, Jon. S. Bieber, Daniel Kohler, Isaac Hottensiein ; Elders, 
 Jacob Sunday, Stanley Schwoyer, Joseph Baily. M. Deysher; 
 Deacons, James HefFuer, Jacob Kutz, John Hill, Jacob Schwoyei ; 
 on the Refo'-med side. Trustees, Jacob Rahu, John Christ man. 
 Jacob Wink, David Levan ; Elders, Egidius Butz, Heory Wagen- 
 horsc, Nathan Kemp, Isaac Wagenhorst,- Deacons, J. S. Dunkle, 
 James DeTurk, Wm. Kutz, and .John Miller. 
 
 2 EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN TRINITY CONGREGA- 
 TION. 
 
 About eight years before the demolition of the Union building of 
 1790, there began a movement which resulted in the organization of 
 an exclusively Lutheran congregation, and the erection of another 
 building. This movement was the establishment of a separate 
 Lutheran Sunday School, April 124, ISfiS. At a special meeting of 
 the school, Feb. 12, 1874, held to consider the fact that tnany 
 Lutheran members of the Union congregation earnestly desired the 
 organization of an exclusively Lutheran church, it was resolved 
 that the school would raise $500— towards the erection of a building, 
 provided that the basement, or a Chapel-room, be set apart for its 
 meetings. A subscription of S8,10() having been obtained, work was 
 
KUTZTOWN AND MAXATAWNY. 2!) 
 
 begun in earnest. On August 2(1, 1874, the corner-stone was laic], 
 and on December aj, 1874. took place the dedioation. Tncluding' 
 the lot,— 144 feet front by oo in depth.— the whole cost was aljout 
 $6000. Toward the payment of this, the Sunday School contributed 
 the sum of !?1400.(jO. Of this, $2(>4.()0 were raised by means of a 
 Floral, Fruit, and Fancy Fair, held August 4th, "jth, 6th, 7th, of the 
 year 1875 ; but the greater jjart by subscriptions from the school and 
 its members. From the time of its completion, the School held its 
 sessions in the Chapel ; whilst the Rev. Mr. Spieker preached on 
 Sunday at such times as his services were not nee<led in the 
 Union building. 
 
 The members of the Union congregation having determined upon 
 erecting a Union church, Rev. Mr. Speaker resigned, and i)r« ached 
 his farewell sermon, April 23, 1876. On the following Whitmonday 
 he was elected Pastor of Trinity. 
 
 Its present olBcers are: Trustees, Isaac F. Christ, Daniel Yax- 
 theimer, Jacob Hinterleiter, Peter Krause ; Elders, Richard :Miller, 
 John Humbert, Esq., Danl. Hinterleiter, Sr., Jacob Heffner ; Dea- 
 cons, Danl. Springer, Saml. L. Wiltrout, Clinton Bieber, Eugene 
 Bieber. The congregation now numbers about loO members. 
 
 It must also be added that, for some j- ears past Rev. Mr. Spieker 
 has been preaching both in German and English. 
 
 3. THE GERMAN METHODIST C0NGRF:GATI0N. 
 
 On April 12, 1828, at the house of Peter Neff, was preached the 
 first Methodist sermon to the jieople of Kutztown, by Bishop Jolu) 
 Seybert. From this time on to 1848, j^reachers of this denomination 
 visited this town and vicinity, but, as would seem, without much 
 success. Their pious zeal was at last rewarded. In the years 1848. 
 '49. and '50, welcomed and encouraged by families, such as the Elys 
 and others, they had regular services. In 1850 a lot was bought in 
 Kutztown. On it was erected and dedicated a building during the 
 same year. The first regular itinerant preachers were the Revs. 
 Noah McLane and Isaac Hess. The present i^astor is the Rev. 
 Andreas Ziegenfus, and the Trustees are Benj. Kline, I). B.Schnei- 
 der, and .lonas Hoch. 
 
 4. prp:achf:rs. 
 
 In the section of country, now known as Maxatawny, Long- 
 swamp, Greenwich, and some adjacent townships, as also in the 
 neighboring districts of Lehigh, from 1734-1771, flourished the reign 
 of ecclesiastical vandalism. The original settlers, it is true, were 
 pious people, and brought with them from the Fatherland their 
 Bibles and Arndt's "Wahres Christenthum;" but, as they and their 
 children fell into the hands of ministerial tramps and vagrants, 
 
■M ECCLEHIA8TICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 whose ignorance was equaled only by their immorality, they grad- 
 ually lost their respect for religion, and induced a state of society 
 that, in some points, reminds us of the wild habits of the ancient 
 Teutons. A single striking example of most of the preachers of 
 that period in this section, will give us an insight into the character 
 i>f those who afHieted the people with their beastly vices. 
 
 From Harbaugh's Lives of the 'Fathersof the Reformed Church," 
 volume second, page 242, we extract the following : 
 
 "As specimens of these leaders of the i)eople, may be mentioned a 
 \Ir. Fritz, who, on one occasion, ascended the puli>it of DeLong 
 cluirch in a state of beastly intoxication ! He announced his text : 
 'If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his 
 cross, and follow me." Repeating his text, with emphasis, he lost 
 his balance, and tumbled down the high pulpit stairs, with the last 
 words, "follow me," in his mouth ! One of the Elders arose in his 
 seat, and earnestly addressing the people, exclaimed, "'No brethren, 
 we will not follow hlni /" He was immediately sent away." 
 
 In the old records, mention is made of another vagabond, Philij) 
 Jacob Michael, founder of Michael's church in Upper Bern, Berks 
 Co., Pa., who preached in Longswamp, 1750-1 7o4, and also in Maxa- 
 tawny. It is stated that this man left the church in Maxatawny, 
 in a wretched condition ; it having been ruined by bad ministers, 
 iiiost of whom confessed no religion at all." 
 
 1. GERMAN REFORMED PREACHERS. 
 
 [a.) JoHANN Heinrich He7.fp:rich, of venerable memory.— 
 Into the nudst of this religious chaos, in 1772, came, the Rev. .John 
 Heinrich Helfericli, who, by his practical piety and superior 
 talents, gradually dissipated the clouds that had settled on the Re- 
 formed denomination. He was born in Mossbach, a village in 
 Kesse, near Frankfort-on-the-Mayn, on the 22d of October 1739. 
 Having passed through the gymnasium, together with his step- 
 brothers, Albert Conrad Helfenstein and Jno. Henry Helfenstein, 
 completed a theological course at the University of Heidelberg. 
 Licensed on Sept. 22d, 1761, he, with his stei^-brothei', Helfenstein, 
 left Amersterdam in June, 1771, and landed in New York, Jan. 
 14th, 1772. On the 3d of November, 1778, he married Magdalena 
 Sassamanhausen. His charge consisted of the following congrega- 
 tions : Kutztown, 1772; DeLong, 1772; Longswamp, 177S; Upi)er 
 Milford, 1779; Trexlertown, 1784; Ziegle Church, 1778; Weissen- 
 (»erg and Lowhill, 1772; Heidelberg, 1772; Lynntown, 1804. Tlie 
 ancient records all agree in testifying that he was a sui>erioi' 
 preacher, and illustrated his public teaching by a consistent private 
 life; while in his own house, at the close of the day, he called 
 together his family, read the Bible, exi)laiued the catecliism to his 
 <rluldren, and closed with prayer. On the "ith of December, 1810, as 
 le was in the act of mounting his horse, he was struck with palsy, 
 
KUTZTOWN AND MAXATAWNY. 31 
 
 and died suddenly. On ilie occasion of his funeral, the llev. Mr. 
 Blunier preached at the house ; and the Rev. JNIr. Vandersloot at 
 the grave, from the words in Luke XII:37. His ashes repose in the 
 Sassamanshausen private family graveyard, in Maxatawny, Berks 
 (Jo. In this county, and in Lehigh, his descendants, who continue 
 in their lives the virtues of their ancestor, are among the m<st 
 l)rominent and influential families. Of them now reside in Kutz- 
 town, Dr. John Henry Helferich ; in Lyons, Maxatawny, Benj. 
 Plelferich; and in Fogelsville, Lehigh Co., Pa., Rev. Dr. W. Hel- 
 ferich. 
 
 i6)Rev. (.'h.vkle.-; (tKhi.kh Herrmann. — The Herrmann family is 
 eminently an ecclesiastical one. Dr. Lebrecht Frederick Herrmann 
 came to this counti^' i" August, 1786, and died on the ;!Oth of Jan., 
 1848, aged 86 years, 3 months, and 22 days. He prepared for the 
 ministry five of his own sons, as also Revs. John (xuildin, Benj. S. 
 •Schneck, Thos. Leinbach, Joseph Dubbs, Peter Fisher, Abraham 
 Berge, Rich. Fisher, and David Young. His son, Charles Gebler, 
 was born October 24, 1792, in Germantown, where his father offi- 
 ciated as a Reformed preacher. Licensed at Harrisburg, Pa., in 
 May, 1810, and ordained in the "Swamp Church," by the Res'S. 
 Pauli and Vandersloot, liis tirst charge consisted of Kutztown and 
 and DeLong's congregations. In the foi-mer he preached his intro- 
 ductory sermon on the loth of August, 1810. In time his charge 
 embraced, in addition to those just mentioned, the following con- 
 gregations : Huff, Oley, Windsor, Gernant's, St- Peter's, Dunkel, 
 Weis, Zion, Fogel's, Mertztown, and Lehigh. On the 14th day of 
 1815, he became the husband of Esther, daughter of Jacob and 
 Maria Sassaman. Three daughters and three sons were the fruit of 
 this union. He died of dropsy at his residence in Maxatawny, 
 Berks Co., Pa., August 4, 1863, aged 70 years, 9 months, and 11 
 days. On the 8th of August he was buried in the family grave- 
 yard, near his residence.No less than eighteen ministers were present 
 at his funeral. At the house the Rev. Dr. J. S. Kcssler made an 
 address; the Rev. Jos. S. Dubs, D. D., preached the funeral dis- 
 course from Luke 11:29, 30; and the Rev. Alfred J. G. Dubs con- 
 tlucted the burial services. 
 
 One of the earliest visits we ourselves made on our first arrival in 
 Maxatavviiy, was at the house of Father Hernnann. As he had 
 united my parents in the bonds of matrimony, we were more than 
 anxious to see the venerable man, ami hear from his own li])s» the 
 lessons of ripe experience. The remembrance of that visit is still 
 green in our memory, and it will fade away only when we our- 
 selves .-hall have faded away in the darkness of death. . 
 
 Two striking facts attest the high repute in which he was held by 
 this community, and his ministerial co-laborers. No other than a 
 man of strong cliaracti'r. of real worth, and of untiring devotiini to 
 
32 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 his calling, could have remained for a period of .51 years in his first 
 and only charge, and attracted to his funeral eighteen brethren to 
 mourn his loss. 
 From Harbaugh's Lives of the Fathers, we extract the following: 
 
 "Father Herrmann was a man of superior talent, and of more than 
 ordinary speaking capacities. His temperament was ardent, and 
 his manner in the pulpit, lively and interesting? Of his children, 
 five are still living. Two of them are Reformed preachers. One of 
 the daughters is the wife of Dr. John H. Helferich, of Kutztown, 
 another, of Rev. Danl. Brendle, of Bethlehem, Northampton Co., 
 Pa., and a third, the widf)W of the late JudgeWilloughby Fogel, of 
 Fogelsville, Lehigh Co., Pa." 
 
 (e.) J. Sassaman Herrmann. — Whilst stil^ studying theology, 
 in Lawrenceville, Chester Co., Pa., under Dr. L. Frederick Herr- 
 mann, Revs. Guldin and Albert Helfenstein, this clergyman 
 preached English at St. Vincent's and Brumback's of that county. 
 Ordained in Siegfried's church, Maxatawny, Sept. 8, 1835, by the 
 Revs. F. E. Vandersloot, A. L. Hermann, and Thos. N. Leinbach, 
 he, together with his father, served for eight years sixteen congre- 
 gations. In 1844 he became sole pastor of the following : Weiss', 
 Grimsville, Dunkel's, Windsor, St. Peter's, Fleetwood, Huff's, New 
 Jerusalem. Under his successful administration, the congregation 
 in Kutztown, of which he took charge in June, 1861, grew into the 
 present membership of about five hundred souls. 
 
 As already stated, in connection with his laborious duties as a 
 pastor, he edited 'Der Hirt," and along with each number, sent also 
 the "Kutztown Advertiser." 
 
 {(I.) Alfred J. Herrmann received his literary education in 
 the old University of New York city, which belonged in part to the 
 Low Dutch church, and his theological, under the tuition of Rev. 
 Jno. Guldin. Ordained in Ziegel's church, Weissenburg, Lehigh 
 Co., by the Rev. Father Dubbs and others, he first took charge of 
 old Jerusalem, Albany townshij), Berks Co., and, in no long time, 
 also of Seiberlingsville, DeLong's, Zion, Fogelsville, Weissenburg, 
 and Topton. For the last twenty-six years, this clergyman has offi- 
 ciated, and still continues, in the same charge. In our day when 
 congregations, for the most part, change their preachers almost 
 every five years, it is certainly to be accounted a singular fact, 
 that in this section are clergymen who begin and end their official 
 careers in the same circuit of labor. To the praise of such, let this 
 observation be noted. During his ministry, down to the present 
 time, the Rev. A. J. Hermann founded the congregations at 
 Topton and Seiberlingsville, laid six corner-stones, dedicated ten 
 churches, buried nine hundred thirty-six persons, married seven 
 hundred eighty couple, baptized fifteen hundred sixty souls, and 
 confirmed thirteen hundred. 
 
 It is worthy of s])ecial mention that, according to their family 
 
KUTZTOWN AND MAXATAWNY. 33 
 
 traditions, the Maxatawny Herrniauii.s are lineal descendants of the 
 celebrated Arniiniustiu German, Herrmann). Under his leadership 
 the revolted German tribes siirj)rised the proconsul V^arus, and cut 
 his army to pieces (A. D. 10). 
 
 2. LUTHERAN PREACHERS. 
 
 (Of). Rev. Daniki. Lehman —On the 7th of August, 17!»1, he 
 became pastor of the old Union congregation in Kutztown, and died 
 October 1, 1810. As already stated, he had charge of Trinity 
 church, in Reading, 1778-1782, and in 1797, received the honor of a 
 second call from this congregation. His body reposes right in front 
 of the i^ulpit of Zion's church, Moseleni, Richmond township, Berks 
 Co., Pa. Here also he preached for many years. Moseleni has 
 always been noted for its strict adherence to genuine Lutherauism. 
 In its rules of very ancient date, it is stated that the j^reacher "tak- 
 ing the Bible as the rule of faith, must explain the Divine word, 
 "nach der unveraenderten Augsburgisclien Confession und dem 
 Lutherischen Catechismus." It is jjleasing to know that Rev. Jno. 
 Henry Helferich and he were close friends. The former, as he was 
 in the act of mounting a horse, to visit the widow of his associate, 
 was struck with jialsy. They died but two months apart. 
 
 Tradition has it that Rev. Lehman was a man of superior edu- 
 cation, and an excellent preacher. When necessary, he knew how 
 to administer severe reproof. In his congregation at Grimsville, 
 Berks Co., were jwrsons by the name of Odenwalder, who troubled 
 him exceedingly. Referring to them in his farewell sermon, he re- 
 marked that, as in the old country they had been notorious inter- 
 meddlers, the Devil, thinking that they would be splendid soldiers 
 in the infernal camp, tied them up in a sack, and transported 
 them across the Ocean, on his way to the "lower regions" ; but. on 
 reaching Albany township, finding that their struggles and kicking 
 were "too much" for his Satanic majesty, he drojiped them in the 
 vicinity of Grimsville. 
 
 [h.) Rev. John Knoske. — From documents kindly furijislied us 
 by Revs. S. K. Brobst, of AUeutowu, the able editor of the "Lu- 
 therische Zeitschrift," and F. G. F. Schantz, Lutheran clergyman 
 at Myerstown, Pa., we have gleaned what follows. 
 
 The Rev. John Knoske was born June 24, 1779, in Herrenstadt, 
 8chleswig. Obeying the summons of the King of Prussia to enter 
 the royal service, his father removed to Berlin. Here the son com- 
 pleted his classical education in the best schools of that city ; and, 
 in due time, was confirmed a member of the Trinity Lutheran 
 church. Several of his earlier years he spent in Odensen and Co- 
 penhagen, Denmark, and acquired a thorough knowledge of the 
 Danish language. At the outbreak of the war between England 
 and Denmark, Mr. Knoske left the country, and landed at Boston, 
 
:U ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 May 1, ISOl. In Philadelphia he met with kindred souls in the 
 persons of llev.s. Heliiiuth, Schmidt, Schafer, Schultz. In 1802 ho 
 preached in that section of Berks which now forms a part of Schuyl- 
 kill county. To Elizabeth, daughter of William and Magdalena 
 Koch, he was married July 1, 1806, and lived with her a happy life 
 tifty-three years. Soon after the death ot Rev. Daniel Lehman, he 
 became his successor; and from 1811 to March, 1856, lived in Kutz- 
 town. Here, as he himself wrote, he preached "unter vielen Amts- 
 Freuden und auch grossen Aints-Leiden." His failing health no 
 longer permitting him to bear the burdens of the ministry, he 
 moved to Reading, Pa. In that city he lived three years. Secluded 
 from tlie din und the bustle of the world, he now sjjent his time 
 chierty in ijreparing himself for a happy departure from time into 
 eternity. His hour came. In the Charles Evans cemetery in Read- 
 ing, September 28, 1859, he was buried. At his funeral were present 
 the Revs. F. J. F. Schantz, T. T. laeger, A. S. Leinbach, S. K. 
 Brobst, G. A. Hinterleitner, R. S. Wagner, H. Grahn, Dr. Valen- 
 tine, C. F. McCauley, Erasmus Helferich. Aged 80 years, 3 mos, 
 
 A few months before his death. Father Knoske had written his 
 own funeral sermon, and selected the hymn to be sung. The Rev. 
 Mr. Schantz read the former,and the Rev. Mr. Leinbach announced 
 the latter from the German Lutheran book of hymns (391, v. 7.10). 
 Of the sermon we subjoin the following extract: 
 
 "Wer selig ist auf seinem Sterbebette." 
 
 "Wenn ihr so wollt, so moegt ihr esals meine mir selbstgehaltene 
 Leichenpredigt anselieii, denn ich schreibe es mit einem. sehr 
 geruehrten Herzen untev Gebet und Flehen zu (xott. 
 
 Mein Text ist Roemer 4.8. 
 
 "Selig ist der Mann, welchem Gott keine Suende zurechnet." 
 
 Wier haben zwei Stuecke zu erwaegen : 
 
 Istens — Welchen Menschen rechnet Gott keine Suende zu? — und 
 
 2tens — Wie ist ihr Zustand auf dem Sterbebette?" 
 
 We append an extract from Father Kno-^ke's diary for the years 
 180"2— 18-lP. This was (h'avvu up by his own hands. 
 
 Conflrd. Gomm't. Mar'd. Bur'd. 
 
 354 3n04 190 184 
 
 1102 11689 -iHH r,03 
 
 811 925P. 43:-) ao8 
 
 592 6204 • 20 295 
 
 I'-lO 250 38 38 
 
 Yrs. Con 
 
 igreg'n- 
 
 Bapt'd. 
 
 1^02-11 
 
 5 
 
 1077 
 
 1811-21 
 
 8 
 
 23.^6 
 
 1821-31 
 
 6 
 
 1845 
 
 1831-40 
 
 ?, 
 
 1062 
 
 1840-49 
 
 2 
 
 70 
 
 T()tal, 26 6+10 2980 30471 1318 1578 
 
 From this table our readers can form some idea of the ministerial 
 work he performed. From 1849 to 1859 he often preached, but took 
 barge ofn o congregations. Down to the time of his dentli he had 
 
 flfitiatf (1 in ihe ministry fifty seven years. Of his surviviui? chil- 
 <iren his son Edward is now eii<riig<'d in bu-iness at Bower's station. 
 
KUTZTOWN AND MAXATAWNY. 35 
 
 Maxatawny. Berks Co., P;i. The people of Kutztowu and vicinity 
 still bear 1)1 m ill affeclioiiate reiuetiibrance. He excelled in pulpit 
 oratory. So powerful was his eloquence, and the matter of hi!;' ser- 
 mons so interesting, that hin hearer.s often listtned with unahated 
 interest to discourses which consumed two liours in their delivery. 
 
 (e.) Rkv. VxsiKi. KoiiLEK began and completed his stiulies 
 in the Tlieological .Seminary at Gettysburg. Electeil, June 21, 18-:!9, 
 pastor of the congrei^ation in Kulztown, he preached his introduc- 
 tory sermon, August 18, lS3i), from the text iu Ezekiel 3, 18—21. 
 Died at his residencj in Maxatawny, May 17. 1876, and was buried 
 In the grave yard of Siegfrii-d's church. Rev. B. E. Krainlich 
 preached his funeral sermon. Aged sixty-nine 3'ears, three months 
 and nineteen days 
 
 In addition to his gifts as a preacher, it i.s said that he possessed 
 an extraordinary memory. As one of the Directors of Maxatawny, 
 he manifested aa abiding interest in the cause ot education. To 
 him the township owes some of the most valuable improvements iri 
 its common schools. 
 
 [d.) J. C. Smith. — This clergyman is a native of Kutztowu, andj 
 as the successer of Rev. Kohler, preached in our borough about 
 three years. Graduated at Gettysburg both in the Coll ge and Semi- 
 nary. He now offlciates in New Mahonoy, Schuylkill Co., Pa., and 
 is regarded as an able and successful preaclier. Jno. Humbert, Esq., 
 informs us that he has completed a work on "Mechanical Mathema- 
 tics,'' and that he intends to publish it. His sister, Mrs. Mary 
 Zimmerman, resides in our town. 
 
 ^e.)G. A. HiNTERiiEiTER. — "In dem lieben Deutschland war icb 
 geboren und zwar in Weissenburg am Sand Bayern," — chus writes 
 this highly esteemed clergyman. Having comi)leted his studies in 
 the Fatherland, he left his native country and landed in New York 
 ill 18-19. Tn 18jl he became a member of the German Evangelical 
 Lutheran Synod of Pennsylvania. About the middle of February, 
 1852, he took charge of the Luthera-i congregation in Kutztowu. 
 In no long time he also became the Pastor of the churches in Lo- 
 Ijachsville, Oley and Friedensburg. In our borouyjh he preached 
 during a period of fourteen years and a half. In 186.3, contrary to 
 his wishes, he was elected Professor of German in the College and 
 Seminary at Gettysburg, but, after mature deliberation, declined the 
 position. Meanwhile, the Fvangelical Trinity congregation at 
 Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., tendered iiim a call. Tiiis i*e accep- 
 ted, and, having preached his farewell sermon in Kutztown, July 
 186G moved to that place. 
 
 If this brother had not so earnestly charged us not to say a word 
 iu his praise, vre certainly would indulge in a merited panegyric on 
 his superior scholarship, his fine historical culture, his brilliant 
 imagination, and that warmhearied Gemuetlilichkeit which makes 
 
36 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 him 11 man in wiiom is realized the beautiful saying of Terence, 
 '"Nihil humani a me alierum puto." 
 
 (/. ) Ckokgk F. Spiekek.— a native of Hnvard county', Md., 
 after having completed his literary education in Baltimoie City 
 College, he pursued his theological studies in the Lutheran semina- 
 ries at Gettysburg and Philadelphia. Ordained to the ministry 
 June 19, 1867, he became Pastor of the Lutheran congregation at 
 Kutzlovvu, June 30, 1867. In this capacity he served nearly nine 
 years. Asaheady stated, 'A^heii the Union congregation of our bor- 
 ough resolved to continue its old organization, he resigned, and was 
 elected, June 4, 1876, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran church. He has 
 also charge ot the congregations at Moselem and Pricetown 
 
 His wife is the daughter of Mr. William Hoch, ageniieman of the 
 highest character, and one of the best citizens of Maxatawny. 
 
 At (lifFe'ent periods Mr. Spieker acted in Peuna. College, Gettys- 
 burg, as Professor of the German language and literature, and filled 
 a similar situation for one year in the Keystone Normal School. 
 He was alsO elee'.ed to the same position iu Muhlenburg College, 
 AHentown, Lehigh Co., Pa., but declined the call. At the last con- 
 vention of the Lutheran Ministerium of Peuna., held in Reading, 
 June 11, 187d, he was chosen German secretary of that body. These 
 facts sufficiently indicate the high reputation which this clergyman 
 enjoys not only among his ministerial brethern, but iu the commu- 
 nity at large. No words from our pen could add to his praise. 
 
 (</.) Isaac Roeller.— This clergyman is a native of Montjiomery 
 Co., Pa., but, as he has spent the greater part of his life in Berks, 
 we claim him as one of our citizens. Years ago, before Theolooical 
 seminaries were established, youUi? men received tlieir training from 
 the older preachers. Many of our most distinguished clergymen 
 still believe that this plan for the education ot ministers is a better 
 and more practical one than that which now prevails. Having com- 
 pleted his studies under Rev. Dr. Jacob Miller, a Lutheran divine of 
 eminent abilities, he was licensed June 17. 1829, by the German 
 Evangelical Miuisteriiim of Pennyylvania. His tiist cliargs consis- 
 ted of the congregations at Moselem, Huff's and Longswamp, Berks 
 couniy, Pa. At different times he also otHoiated at Jerusalem, 
 Maxatawny, Mertz's, Friedensburg, Oley, in this county, and at 
 Fogelsville, in Lehigh Co., Pa. From the time of his license he 
 lived in Berks. In 1833 he moved to Kutztown, and resided in the 
 borough four years. He now lives in Maxatawny in an elegant 
 mansion, which he built in 1836. During thirty years of his life, he 
 has officiated as a Lutheran clergyman. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Roeller is a gentlemen of cultured taste, and abounds in 
 theological lore. Even in temper and genial in disposition, he pos- 
 sesses a generous heart which makes a visitor feel at home and hap. 
 py in his company. We take thisoi^portunity of returning him and 
 
KUTZTOWN AND MAXATAWNY. 37 
 
 his good wife our thanks for the many acts of kindness we have 
 received at their liands. 
 
 (/*.) B. E Kramlich.— Graduated 185(3 in Pennsylvan'a College 
 Gettysburj:, Adams Co., Pa. In 18')8 completed liis studies in the 
 Theological Seminary of the same place ; licensed the same year, at 
 York, by the West Pennsylvania Synod ; and ordained at Lebanon, 
 Pa., by the jSIinislerium of Pennsylvania, he was elected Pastor oT 
 the congrcijations formerly served ny Rev. iVfr. Roeller, namely : — 
 Moselem, Maxatawny, Rockland Mertztown, Hereford, Fleetwood, 
 and Trexlertown. In addition to his regular charge he also officia- 
 ted, at different periods, in Shoemakersville. Mohrsville, and oth- 
 er places. It is a fact worthy of special mention that, in all 
 these congregations, at the time of his election, three votes only 
 were cast against him. During the past sixteen years of his minis- 
 try, he has preached about sixteen hundred sermons, officiated at 
 nearly eight hundred funerals, married four nundred and eighty-six 
 couples, baptized nine hundred and thirty persons, and conlirmed 
 nioe hundred and fifty one. His present charge coiisists of TrexleP' 
 town, Maxatawny, jNIertztcwn, Fleetwood and Rockland. He 
 formerly resided in Kutztovvn, but a year ago became a citizen of 
 Maxatawny. 
 
 Mr. Kramlich is not only an able preacher, but is also one of out 
 most useful inhabitants. When the Keystone Normal enterprise 
 was innugurated, he was one of the principal agents in pushing it 
 forward to a successful completion. Sometimes as President of the 
 Board of Trusiees, and sometimes as C.iaiimaa of various Commit- 
 tees, he has always shown a deep interest in the cause of educ.-tion. 
 His conversational address makes him an agreeable compmion ; 
 his energetic oratory, a popular preacher; whilst his genial spirit 
 endears him to a large circle of friends. May his shadow never 
 grow less ! 
 
 [i.) Alfred D. Croll. — From the '•Reading Times and Dis- 
 patch," of June 21, ISTU, we gather the following information : 
 
 "On Monday morning, June 19 1876, died this much beloved 
 clergyinan. He was horn in Albany township, but virtually raised 
 in Maxatawny. Having graduated in Penna. College, at Gettys- 
 burg, he completed hi* studies in the Theological Seminary at the 
 same place. Ordained by the old Penna. Synod, he received a call 
 to the DeLong's congregation at Bowers', 'which he served for a 
 number of years. About ten years ago he became connected with 
 the Eastern Penna. Synod. At the time of his death he was the 
 regular pastor of the following congregations : Lyons, Pleasantville, 
 Millerstown. Lehigh Co. ; Mohrsville, and one in Hereford twp. He 
 was afflicted with bronchitis, which terminated finally in consump- 
 tion. Aged thirty. seven years. At his funeral officiated the Revs. 
 J. F. Reinmund of Lebanon, and J. M. Ditzler, of Annville. Pa. His 
 remains were interred in the cemetery attached to the church in 
 Lyons." 
 
 5. SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 
 
 About fifty j^ears ago, under the name of the "Kutztown Sunday 
 
W ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF 
 
 School Union," was organized the first Sunday School. It occupied 
 an independent position. Prior to that time religious instruction 
 vvas imparted to the young by the preachers, and, during the 
 summer, on the Lord's Day, by the organists who also taught the 
 liaily parochial school. In the fatherland it was, and still is the 
 custom, that, on every Sunday afternoon, to the children, assen\bled 
 in the church, was explained the catechism by the jireacher. But, 
 as the pastors here were overburdened with work, it became neces- 
 sary that what is now known as the Sunday School, should be 
 organized. The opposition to it, which at first was stout, soon gave 
 way. Soon, in addition to the one just mentioned, were established 
 the "German Reformed and Lutheran Sunday School," and the 
 •'German Refornted Sunday School." Thus, at one time, three schools 
 vied with one another in training up the children in the way which 
 they sought to go. The last named school having drained the first 
 one named of its members, on April 24, 1868, there was established 
 in place of the ''German Reformed and Lutheran Sunday School." 
 an exclusively Lutheran one. Of the latter the first Supt. was. E. 
 D. Bieber, who also now fills the same office. 
 
 The first Union Sunday School— Reformed and Lutheran,— wa** 
 organized by Rev. J. S. Herrmann, who also, for a number of 
 years, acted as Supt. Even before he became pastor in Kutztown, 
 he had taken a deep interest in the religious education of the young. 
 
 Of those who either superintended or taught Sunday Schools in 
 our borough, we name Augustus F. Boas. Esq., now of Reading, 
 and Cashier of the "Savings Bank in that city, David NefF, Wm. 
 Mason, Miss Ella Davis, now wife of Rev. Henry Miller, a Lu- 
 theran preacher, and Miss Mary Miller, now the wife of Dr. 
 Schlouch, of South Easton.Pa. ; — and la^t.^but by no means least, Mr. 
 John G. Wink, a veteran in the service, who, during a period of 
 fifty years, has, in various ways, been connected with Sunday 
 Schools, and from 1846-1857, presided over the Reformed school of 
 this town. 
 
 The second Sunday School Union, of Kutztown, was organized 
 May 26, 1851, by the Evangelical German j^Iethodist Association. 
 Its first Superintendent was Elias Hoch. Its present officers are 
 John G. Wink, Sup't., H. S. Mohr, Asst. Sup't., Treasurer and 
 Secretary, D. B. Snyder, Librarian, F. Rej^pert. 
 
 Of the German Reformed School, as a separate organization, 
 Allen Hotteustein, Esq., ^vas the first Sup't. It is now under the 
 able management of Prof. J. G. Neflf, and numbers about 150 
 scholars. 
 
 From the above statement it will be seen that, in the borough, 
 there are now three Sunday Schools, while, in Maxatawny, gen- 
 erally in connection with the churches, similar schools are in suc- 
 cessful operation. 
 
IV. EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 
 
 1. -PEARLIEST CONDITION AND EFFORTS. 
 
 The earliest records agree in testifyingth at the masses of the fir* 
 ttettlers in the eastern section of Pa. were low in the scale of edu- 
 cation and higher culture. In a MSS., dated 1755, in the Frankliu 
 Library in Philadelphia, Mr, Samuel Wharton, while expressing 
 his fear of the great evils that might flow from the influence of the 
 Germans at the polls, speaks of their "stubborn genius and igno- 
 rance." As an offset to this, we quote the words of Gov. Thoma.*! 
 who, in 173S, writes of the German Palatines, "I believe it ma^' 
 truthfully be said, that the j) resent flourishing condition of this 
 Province, is in a great measure owing to the industry of these 
 people." 
 
 Now, whilst we admit that, in higher culture, our German fore- 
 fathers were in a backward state, we do not admire the cynical and 
 haughty spirit which the first English settlers generally evinced 
 towards them. Indeed, from these comparatively few Englishmen 
 has come down even to our time, that overweening air of superiority 
 which their descendants not unfrequently show to the GermaTi 
 population of our day. 
 
 Many reasons might be stated to account for the fact that the Ger- 
 man settlers were not high up in the scale of literature. In their 
 native land were not yet effaced the traces of theThirty Years' War. 
 which had changed their country almost into a wilderness. Durin«r 
 that unhappy period, men had grown to be so scarce, that the 
 women were compelled to undertake the most crushing eniploy- 
 tnents, such for example, as the shoeing of horses. At a later period 
 French invasions desolated the land, and inflicted on the Palati- 
 nate untold miseries. Nor had the German nationality j^et come 
 to its bloom. So little interest did the petty sovereigns of a divided 
 Germany take in their subjects, that during our Revolutionary war 
 some of them allowed England to turn their jjrovinces into a re- 
 cruiting ground, and force unwilling men to cross the Atlantic and 
 fight against us. If in those early days, the German masses had 
 been as well educated at home, as they are in our day, our English 
 CA)lonist3 would have had no reason for complaint. We risk nothing 
 in asserting that, during the period of emigration, the English 
 masses at home were not higher in general culture, than the Ger- 
 man masses in their homes. Even as late as 1.S41, C. Edward Lester 
 in his "Glory and Sliame of England," savs, "Show me a verv 
 
40 EDUCATIONAL AISTORY OF 
 
 learned man in England, and I will show you some thousandi« 
 around him to match the spectacle, who cannot read the Bihle, nor 
 write their names," and it is a known fact that, now in the year 
 1876, whilst Germany ranks among the highest in a Common 
 School education, England stands among the lowest. Besides, it 
 m^ust not be forgotten that, as the policy of Queen Anne was to 
 keep her own people at home, and to induce strangers from other 
 lands to people her colonies, the ignorant masses of England had no 
 chance to show their want of culture in the New World ; whilst of 
 the comparatively few who did come over from England, some 
 sought room for greater liberty of conduct and opinion, but many of 
 them were otlice-hunters, and aimed simply to increase their 
 possessions. Moreover, from the fact that a new country needs 
 hardy men, whose arms can wield the mattock and the maul, fell 
 the majestic oak and the towering hickory, — and hardy women, 
 whose robust bodies can undergo the pains and fatigues of the 
 family, and bless the woi'ld with stalwart citizens,— from this the 
 philosopher of liistory may perhaps rejoice that sedentary habits, 
 iuch as an intellectual life begets,had not enervated the great majori- 
 ty of the original settlers. 
 
 But if the tirst records speak of the backward state of the German 
 masses, tney also speak very distiuctly of the comm.inding abilities 
 of the German leaders. As an example on the Lutlieran side, we 
 cite Rev. Heuiy Melchior Muhlenberg, who came over in 1742. He 
 was well versed in Greek and Hebrew, and spoke English, German, 
 French, Latin, and Swedish. On the Reformed side, we make 
 mention of Revds. George Michael Weiss and John Peter M'Uer. 
 who came over in 1726—27. Rev. Jedediah Andrews, in a letter 
 dated August 14, 1730, says of the latter, "He is an extraordinary 
 person for sense and learning," and of them both, that they speak 
 Latin as well as we do our vernacular tongue. Nine tenths of the 
 earliest preachers who crossed the Atlantic for these shores, were 
 men who had received a thorough education at home, The grand- 
 father of the Masatawny Herrmanns completed his theology at the 
 University at Halle; the elder Helferich and the Helfensteins, at 
 the University of Heidelberg ; and Philip Reinhold Pauli, who came 
 over in 1788, at the Universities of Halle and Leipsig. 
 
 How earnestly both Reformed and Lutheran preaehers, during 
 the earliest periods, labored to elevate the standard of educntion : 
 how by letter they importuned their friends in the Fatherland to 
 aend on money and works; and how by crossing the ocean, they in 
 person pleaded the cause of th«ir poor brethern in the colonie? ; how 
 they interested not only influential Germans on the Continent, but 
 Englishmen also of the highest distinction, to establish Societies for 
 the diffusion of knowledge in the New World ; how Rev. Mr. 
 !j>chlatter collected funds in Europe which now form a part of the 
 
KUTZTOWN AND MAXATAWNY. 41 
 
 endowaient of Franklin and Ma''shall College, at Lancaster : all 
 this and much more we must pass by, and turn our attention to what 
 more directly concerns ojr own community. 
 
 Tlie original founilers of tlie lleformed and Lutheran denomina- 
 tions lield that the true idea of education required that the young 
 shou' J be taught not only how to read and write and cipher, but 
 also how to pray, and lntw to exercise themselves in habits of per- 
 sonal piety. They vehemently protested against the separation of 
 a religious from a secular education, and, if the alternative had been 
 presented, would cheerfully have sacrificed the latter on the altar of 
 the former. From Luther has come down to us the maxim, "Bene 
 orasse est bene studuisse." This adage, in all its applications, ma.v 
 be taken as an epitome of the educational view which controlled the 
 actions of the first German settlers. At home, in the Fatherland, 
 every congregation wa^ regarded as an ecclesiastical cmjioration. 
 who.<e duty it was to provi.le for the training of the young. Thv 
 pastors, accordingly, established parochial schooh, and set over thenj 
 tea ;hers, who, in addition to the needed secular branches, taught 
 also ChristiaL doctrine, and played the organ duing Divine service 
 Such teachers received not only a staled salary, but also hou.se ac' 
 coramodations for their families and schools. The rich were requir 
 ed to pay a certain sum for the education of their children, while 
 the children of the poor were taught free of charge. 
 
 In the earliest efltbits for the elevation of the German colonists, 
 these educational views were treated with high regard. In 175i 
 through the exertions of Mr. Schlatter for thj difTusion of knowl 
 edge among the Germans, was formed a Society in England. To 
 this.Hi.s majesty himself subscribed one thousand pounds Among 
 its rules we find, that the children, English and German, shall be in 
 structed in catechism of sound doctrine approved of by their own 
 parents and ministers, ami that the several catechisms now taught, 
 among theCalvanists, Lutherans and other protestant denomination.s 
 will be printed in English and German." Of those schools the 
 Rev. Michael Schlatter, a Reformed preacher, was appointed Visitor 
 or Supervisor. 
 
 To tlA'se primitive traditions the members of the Union congre- 
 gation of Kutztown and Maxatawny faithfully adhered. In the 
 Rules which they framed on Nov. 9. 1789, it is stated, that as the 
 education of the young in reading, writing, and other branches, is of 
 the highest importance, there shall be built as soon as i^ossible a 
 schoolhouse ; that the schoolhouse shall be located near to the 
 church ; that when built, there shall be elected a man who is not 
 only competent to teach and to sing, but also bears a good moral 
 character ; that the preachers, elders, and deacons shall have a care 
 that in the school jirevails good order, that each child receives 
 pi'oper attention, and that no partiality be shown. 
 
42 EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF 
 
 Tlie schoolhouse was built 1804-1805. Its first Trustees were 
 Jacob Levan, Jr., Jacob Kutz, Jr., Henry Heist, Jno. Bieber, Jr. 
 The Trustees had charge of the schoolhouse. and were required co 
 hold quarterly examinations of the pupils, in presence of the teach- 
 er, and with the co-operation of the preachers, elders, and deacons. 
 The teacher lived in the building. His duties were to lead the 
 singing in church, to play the organ, to teach the children how to 
 pray, to spell, to read, to write, to sing, to cipher; also, during the 
 -summer, on the Sundays when there was no divine service, Kinder- 
 lehre zu halten, and from time to time to confer with the Trustees. 
 
 On May 15, 1805, it was resolved, that in the schoolhouse there 
 sihould be a room for the accommodation of an English teacher ; that 
 the following autumn there should be employed one who bore a 
 good character, and who could instruct well in speaking, reading, 
 writing, and ciphering ; and that the Trustees shall have a care that 
 there be English teaching at least every winter. 
 
 2. THE FRANKLIN ACADEMY. 
 
 In the educational progress of Kutztown and Maxatawny came a 
 period which desiredspecial mention. Thus far no provisions had 
 been made for those who deserved to widen their knowledge beyond 
 reading, writing, and ciphering. If the religious leaders of the peo- 
 ple had made arrangements to gratify the wish for a more extensive 
 secular education than that originall.y prescribed by the church rules 
 rhere is reason to believe that they would have not only retained, but 
 increased their educational influence over the public. This was now 
 beginning to wane In 1836, there was formed in Kutztown an As- 
 siociation which led to the establishment of the "Franklin Acade- 
 my." This, of course, stood under the protection of no jjarticular 
 ilenomination, but of the ijublic in general. In it were taught not 
 only the Rudiments, but also Geography, History, Composition, 
 Declamation, Book-Keeping, Geometry, Surveying, &c. Thus was 
 drawn in this section the first line of separation between secular 
 and religious education, and the first attempt made to Withdraw 
 from the clergy the sole direction of the schools. From an adver. 
 tisement in the "Neutralist", August 21, 1836, by Daniel Bieber. 
 .Secretary of the Association, we learn that, in order, to furnish 
 better accommodations, the Association had just erected a new 
 building which would be ojiened for students on the following 
 •September 1 : that tlie number of scholars was limitad to thirty three; 
 that no pupil would be received for a less time than six months ; 
 and that the terms for this period were ten dollars. 
 
 In order to draw the annual appropriation of $400, which the 
 
 State offered to an Academy that had on its roll twenty-five studen.-, 
 
 The Franklin was incorporated in 1S38. Its first Trustees were 
 
KUTZTOWN AND MAXATAWNY. 43 
 
 Daniel B. Kutz, Daniel Bieber, Col. John Wanner, David Kutz, 
 Dr. C. L. iSciilenun, David Dei.sher, and Henry HefTner. Among 
 its teachers were Alex. Ramsey, Rev. Chas. Lukens, Messrs. Mur- 
 phy, Wanner, Kohler, Hill, Bitler,8alter, and Woodbury. Its first 
 teacher, Alex. Ramsey, emigrated to Minnesota, and in time be- 
 came Governor of the State, and its representative for several terms 
 in the United States Senate. On invitiition of the Keystone Agri- 
 cultural Society, Senator Ramsey visited Kutztown, October, 1874, 
 and delivered an able and eloquent Address. 
 
 3. THE CJMMON SCHOOl^ LAW. 
 
 This tendency to withdraw education from the supreme control of 
 the clergy was not confined to Kutztown and Maxatawny, but 
 cropped out in every section, of our country. It bloomed into ripe 
 fruit in the passage by the Legislature of Pa., April 1, 1884, of the 
 Common School Law. Now began a fierce conflict between the 
 advocates of the educational theory our forefathers brought over 
 from the Fatherland, and the advocates of a purely secular theory. 
 That the child "belongs first of all to God, as its Creator ; secondly, 
 to the parents, as being second causes of the child; and thirdly, to 
 the State, as guardian and i>rotector of the temi^oral interests of the 
 family and society, but to the State only in the way of subordina- 
 tion to parental and divine rights"; that to every religious society 
 belonged the right of prescribing what education should be given to 
 its baptized children ; aiid that parents could not be forced against 
 their consciences to send their children to any scliool that did not 
 meet with their approval ; — this in general was the educational 
 theory that prevailed among our original German settlers. The State 
 now stepped forward and declared that, whilst it pretended not to 
 interfere with the religious freedom of the people, it desired that in 
 every county there should be sujjported 'by taxation a system of 
 schools, in which a solid elementary instruction in the secular 
 branches might be imparted to every child in its bi-oad domain. 
 
 In the conflict wliich ensued, the State gained the victory. Under 
 the circumstances, a different result was not to be expected. Tht 
 descendants of our forefathers were not true to their own prineiplet;. 
 They allowed their theory of education to become a dead letter, 
 whilst their religious leaders failed to discern the intellectual want!« 
 of the times, and made no provision for the evei'growing desii'e of 
 the young for a more liberal education than that which m^re 
 'Writing, Reading, and Ciphering," implied. If both people and 
 preachers had co-oporated in the establishment of such schools a?- 
 would have fairly represented the progress of culture, and met the 
 needs of the hour, there is every reason to believe that the State 
 would have encouraged their efllbrts, and allowed them full scope for 
 tbe working out of their educational plans. Tlie time for such 
 
44 EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF 
 
 broad action had jiassed by. Already defeated within their own 
 fortress, through their own supineness and want of discernment, 
 and by reason of their failure to carry out their own system when 
 things were wholly in their own hands, jDreachers and people went 
 into the battle only to be utterly routed, and driven off the field. 
 
 Now eauie to pass a complete divorce of secular from religious edu 
 cation, and the religious societies no longer held the reins of polver 
 over their own childreu. For some years the battle against the 
 Common School law laged furiously in Berks county. Only the 
 most inveterate prejudice will continue to assert that ibe people of 
 this county are or ever were opposed to education as sucn. The 
 passage of the school law su Idenly woke them out of their lethargy ; 
 and they opened their eyes to see at one tall view, as they supposed 
 that the educational views and practices of their fathers, that the 
 ecclesiastical traditions of th^^ir past history, that their natural and 
 parental rights, that their view of the Church as a society divinely 
 established for the education of their children, were now seriously 
 threatened. For these reasons they rose up in opposition against 
 the scheme prepared by the state. Justly did the Hon H. A. Muh- 
 lenberg, in a letter to the working men of Philadelphia, dat.;d Jan- 
 uary 26, 183(3, say "The Germans of our State are not opposed to 
 edueation assuch, but only to any system that to them seems to 
 trench on their parental and natural rights. * Animate! with these 
 feelings, it is not to be wondered at that the pe<jple of Kutztown and 
 Maxa'awny waged stout war against the School law. At a meeting 
 held in the Court house, in Reading, to coasider the School Act, 
 at which twenty-five townships were represented by delegates, but 
 one, Ellas Moore, of Caernarvon. — voted to accept it. At an election 
 for School Directors, March 18, 1836, in Kutztown. were closen 
 Daniel Bieber, Daniel Graff, Daniel B. Kutz, and Jon. S. Grim. 
 These all, as also thooe selected in adjacent townships, were known 
 to be againstthe accepti*ig of the School law. At a convention of 
 School Directors in Reading, May 2, 1836, it appeared that, of the 
 50 Districts in the county, Reading, Womelsdorf, Caenarvon, Robe 
 son, Ruscombmanor, and Union had accepted the Law. Jacob 
 Humbert, who WAS delegate from Kutztown, voted against accep- 
 ting it, as also Samuel Fegely, from Maxatawny. 
 
 That the best men of Kutztown were alive to the literary interest 
 of this section of the county, is clearly proved by the following in- 
 teresting fact. There existed in Reading in 1836 a Young Men's 
 Institute. Its Board consisted of George D. B. Keim, Isaac Hiester, 
 Jno. P. Hiester, George M. Keim, Wm. Er;nentrout,Sr.,and others, 
 who passed a resolution, inviting the several townships of Berks to 
 send two Delegates to a convention to be held in Reading, May 14, 
 1836. Theohjectof this convention was to establish Lyceums in 
 every district in the county for the purpose of forming cabinets of 
 
KUTZTOWN AND MAXATAWNY. 4.^ 
 
 native minerals, plants and other productions. At a meeting con 
 vened at the house of David Fister, May 5, 1836, to consitier tliis sub- 
 ject, there were appointed to draw up resolutions, Joliu Fister, Dr 
 C. L. Sclilerum, Dr Reuben Haines, Alexander Ramsey, Clias. R. 
 Sander, and Juo. Baer. lu these wereexpressed thedeepesrt inleresl. 
 in the progress of the arts and sciences, and Alex. Ramsey and Dr 
 Haines appointed Delegates to attend tlie convention in Reading. 
 What came of this movement history has not deigued t) transmit 
 to future generations. 
 
 In the year 1842 Kutztown accepted the Common School System. 
 Ou the grouQd where now stands the pressent building was erected 
 the first school house by David Levan. On the ruins or this, under 
 the supervision of the Directors, Hon. H. H. Schwartz, Dr. Chas. A, 
 Gerasch. A. Manderbacli. Aug. Sprengar and H. F. Bickel, in 1862 
 at a cost of $3300,00, was built the house which now ornaments the 
 borough. In it taught, at dilferent periods, J. B. Van Seh^e z, VVm 
 DetweiUr. Jno. G. Wink, Aug. Wink, Dr Ed. Bieber, Wm. Kel 
 ley, George Shinn, J. Vansickle, Jno. Humbert, George Hertzell, 
 R. T. Barnville, Jas. M. Gehr, Jacob Humbert. J. K. Steven, G 
 W. Long, Ddn. E Schoedler, Allen Hottenstein, Lew Waaner, 
 Thos. A. Strasser, P S. Umbenhauer, Eugene D. Bieber, L. F. 
 Sprenger, Irwin W. Bieber, Zach. C. Hoch, W. W. Ki^tler, Jas, H. 
 Marx. Of the fem de teacliers we name the Misses Lizzie Got- 
 waltz, Jennie Beckhardt, Susan Hall, Lizzie NefT, Vlary Barclay, 
 Sallie Sprenger, Sallie Strasser, Louisa Mohr, Mary Wink, Annie 
 Knouse. 
 
 For the year ending June 1876, the term of instruction was ei»ht 
 months ; and tlie salary of High School teacher, $5j.00, Male Assis • 
 tauts,$40.00,and the female teacher, $3 ).00 each per month. The Ceu • 
 t^nnial teachers are Jas. H. Marx, Esq., Principal, Vv'^m. Traub, Isi 
 assistant, Lafa^'ette Lesher, 2d, assistant, and Miss Annie Knause. 
 lady teacher. The Centennial Directors are ; President, Jolin B. 
 Cliristmau; Joiin Humbert, Esq., Secretary; Henry Biehl, Treasu- 
 rer; W. Sanders, W. Schoedler, Isaac K Rahn. For the year 
 ending Jane 1, 1876, Schor)l Finances as follows, — income, $1544.79, 
 expenditures, $14j7.64, balance in treasiirry, ^IHI 05, State appropri- 
 ation, $271.66. Number ofpupiLs for 1876, 127 males, 110 females. 
 
 In 1852 Maxatawny accepted the Common School System. Iij. 
 Board was organized May 16, 1852, at the house of David A. Hotten- 
 stein. The first Directors were Samuel Kutz, Dan. Hinterleiter, 
 Samuel Bernhart. Peter Deysher, Henry Wageuhorst, and Henry 
 Hetfner. At the first examination, held Oct. 8,1852, the Board wai- 
 assisted by J. B. VanScheetz. Certificates were granted to Jacotj 
 Gehr, Benn. Stimmel, Jno. Humbert, Esq., and Jonas Hoch; on 
 Oct. 23, 1851, to Wm Levan, Isaac Fisher,Sauil. Bernet; ou Nov. lo, 
 1852, to Mr. Fisher and Benjamin Dornblaser. At the present 
 
40 EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF 
 
 time, in the townsliip are fifteen schools. Number of pupils, -iSG 
 males, and 285 femaiei. Finances for the year endinjjf June 1, 1876 • 
 income, ;i;6U58.06, including state appropriation of $497.5o ; ex|)endi' 
 tures, IGU.'jH.'IC; due the Treasurer, Lewis B Butz, $6 90 Terra of 
 teaching, five months; salary, 135.00 per month. In 1876, atLyong, 
 was erected a new school house at a cost of $1247.00. For the same 
 year were collected for school purposes ta.ves to the anaount of 
 $27813) and for building $2138.35. The present Directors are: Jon.S. 
 Bieber, Nathan Kemp, Heniy Hamsher, Jeff'. C Hoch, Dan. Bie- 
 her, Jacob Merkel. 
 
 4. FAIBVIEW SP^MINARY, AND M.\XATA\VNY .SRMINARY. 
 
 Though the Common School sy.stem was established in our 
 borough in 1842, there were many of our citizens Avho desired an 
 education for their children higher than that whicli it imparted. 
 Accordingly, at the earnest solicitation of Mr. Jno.G. Wink, in 1847, 
 Prof. G. Dering Wolff, of Norrlstown, Pa., a ripe scholar and an 
 accomplished gcBtleraan, opened a select Academy, which was 
 numerously attended. 
 
 Toward the close of 1860, was begun a movement more important 
 in its consequences. The Rev. J. S. Herrmann now apjilied for a 
 teacher to the Rev. Dr. Gerhart, President of Franklin and Mar- 
 shall College, Lancaster, Pa., who recommended Prof. H. R. Nicks, 
 A. M., one of the graduates of that Institution. On the 15th of Nov. 
 i860, this gentleman came to Kutztown, and opened "Fairview 
 Seminary" in the house now occupied as a residence by Col. Thos. 
 D. Fister. His assistant teachers were Jno. Humbert, Esq., and 
 Harry Weand. In the spring of 1863, Mr. Nicks moved his school 
 into the borough. Through the influence of the Pi'ofessor, who is a 
 man of fine scholarly attainments, some of the citizens of Kutztown 
 8.nd Maxatawny were induced to purchase five acres of land at 
 $275.00 per acre, and to erect on it a building at a cost of $4,100.(0, 
 This building (50 feet by 40) l^ecame in time, as we shall see, the 
 northern wing of the present Keystone State Normal School. In the 
 consummation of this work. Prof. Nicks was greatly assisted by the 
 Eev. Dr. Gerhai'dt who spent several days in our town and vicinity, 
 visiting our citizens and urging upon them the importance of the- 
 undertaking. He, indeed, suggested and mapped the plan on 
 which the wing ju.st referred to was erected. In consideration of 
 the fact that the people of the townshii> had manifested a very deep 
 interest in the success of the project, the name of the school was 
 changed from Fairview to Maxatawny Seminary, Into his new 
 hprne Prof. Nicks moved in Sex)tember 1864. His chief assistant now 
 was Prof. S. Transue, A. M., a graduate of Franklin and Marshall 
 College, at the present time, Sui^erintendent of the Public Schools 
 in Williamsport, Pa. During several months of the year 1865, Prof, 
 
KUTZTOWN AND MAXATAWNY. 47 
 
 John Ermentrout also assisted in teaching in Maxatawny Seminary 
 His chief object in doing so was to prepare the way for the carrying 
 into effect a project whic-h, as Superintendent of the Common 
 Schools of Berks, he had long entertained. This project was the 
 establishment of a State Normal School in this county for the edu- 
 cation of teachers. 
 
 5.-KEYST0NE STATE NORMAL SCHOOL. 
 
 This last named gentleman served tliree terms, — from 1860— 6y 
 as Superintendent of the schools of Berks county. In the discharge 
 «f the duties of his office he, in no long time, came to the concln- 
 sioti that what the common schools most needed was a corps of 
 thoroughly competent teachers, who should be well skilled not only 
 in the branches required by law to be taught, but also in the art of 
 instruction and discipline. To awaken iu the citizens of the county 
 a feeling of self-respect, and a clear consciousness of the genius and 
 spiritual excellency that lay dormant and unexercised, as well as 
 to create in them a profound conviction of their duty so to educate 
 themselves as to meet the demands of the age, and do the part as 
 signed to them in the history of the State ; to arouse teachers to the 
 importance of understanding well what they taught and of practi- 
 ciag the best methods of instruction , and to ^interest the pupils in 
 the studies of the school :— this was the work which the county su- 
 perintendent tried to do during a period of nine year's official duty 
 He thought that Almighty God, in the distribution of His favors, 
 had endowed the counties of Eastern Pennsylvania, in many of 
 which the German element is so prominent, with a fair proportion 
 of talent, and with a degree of mental capacity sich as would, if 
 fully cultured, place them on an intellectual level with the most 
 advanced sections of the .^tate. 
 
 These effi)rts were not in vain. Everywhere in Berks there arose 
 a demand for better teachers, and in different sections of it. people 
 were willing to embark in any enterprise that promised to improve 
 their schools and elevate the standard of education. A Norma) 
 School became thus a necessity— a want of the times. In order to 
 meet it, there was gathered by him, during the summer of 1865, a 
 large number of teachers, for the purpose of Normal instruction. 
 They were convened in iVfaxatawny Seminary, of which mention 
 has "just been made. We may say, that, from the erection of 
 Franklin Academy in 1836,wlio.-ie first teacher was Ex-United States 
 Senator Alexander Ramsey, to tlie erection of Maxatawuy Seminary 
 in 18p4,. whoae first teacher was Prof. H. R. Nicks, the hard soil was 
 beiQg ploughed up and broken, and the laud prepared for him who 
 sowed the seed of the Normal in this particular section. If our rea- 
 ders wish to form a correct idea of the real origin of the Keystone- 
 Xormal School, they nuist ahvay.'* bear in mind that, before its ere<v 
 
48 EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF 
 
 tion, there existed in Kutzto«vn and Maxatawny, at different pe- 
 riods, mere Academies or Seminaries, wliicli were eitiier under the 
 control of a limited number of stockholders, or held as the educa- 
 tional property of individuals. ThusFranklin Academy was in the 
 handd of an "Association ;" Fairview Seminary, in the hands of 
 Prof. Nicks; and Maxatawny Seminary, in the hands both of 
 stock holdei-s and Prof. Nicks. The Keystone Normal, as a State 
 Institution, in its character and peculiar design is quite distinct 
 from a mere Academy. How and by whom it came to be located in 
 Maxatawny, and just outside oi the line that separates the township 
 from Kutztown, will, we hope, plainly appear in this narrative. 
 
 As he vras journeying from Lyons to Katztown, in the discharge 
 of official duty, the Superintendent of the courity saw in the dis 
 tauce the building known as Maxatawny Semi Qary. It now occur- 
 red to him that, if the people of this section had taken sufficient in- 
 terest in the cause of education to erect that building, they might be 
 induced to assist him in carrying out his project of establishing a 
 regular State Normal School for the third Normal District. |On con 
 sultation with Prof. Nicks, he found that this gentleman favored 
 the project. Now took place in 1865, that gathering in of the teach- 
 ers of Berks, above referred to, in Maxatawny Seminary, for the 
 purpose of Normal instruction. This was found too small to accom, 
 modate the students who flocked thither from every part of the 
 county, and from adjacent districts. The success of this movement 
 inspired in the people of Kutztown and Maxatawny a determina- 
 tion to erect such buildings as the school law requires, and to estab- 
 lish a regular Normal School for the Third Normal District of Penn- 
 sylvania. To the generous and enterprising citizens of this section 
 of the county bel«)ngs the honor of having provi<led the "Material 
 means," which were' needed to purcha.-e grounds and put up the 
 necessary buildings. 
 
 Maxatawny Seminary which was started as a private enterprise 
 now disappeared. For the furniture with which Prof. Nicks had 
 provided it, and for any necessary improvements he had made, he 
 was compensated. Its stock, building and grounds were transferred 
 to a new Board of Trustees, who now purchased live additional acres 
 of land, and began to pi'ooure subscription with which to ere<'t 
 what is now known as the Keystone State Normal School. Within 
 a year's time to the building formerly known as Maxatawny semi- 
 nary, were added a centre building, 100 feet by 40 ft. and two wings 
 each 50 ft. by 40 ft. 
 
 We prefer now to i)resent to our readers a few extracts from the 
 "History of the Keystone State^Normal," prepared for the"Centenn- 
 ial Celebration," now being held in Philadelphia. It was compiled 
 by Richard R. Koch, who at this time is one of theProfessors in the 
 
KUTZTOWN AND MAXATAWNY. 
 
 4» 
 
 Department of Mathematics, in this Institution, an<I (,ne of its 
 earliest graduates. He writes : 
 
 "The individual who first conceived sno-o-psfprl nrwi ,.r„^,j +u 
 erection of a Normal School at SzTc;wl^^^2^P^f IZ S Fr' 
 The Hon' ^^^^^ «"P-^^t^'"dent of Common .Schoolf'in Berks ^o 
 ine Mon H. H. feehwartz, a graduate of Franklin and Marshal 
 
 "The corner-stone was laid Hept. 17, I860, bv the Countv Wimpvin 
 tendent of Berks; and addressc^s delivered by Ho,rj^Yaw? en c^ 
 Getz, Wilham Rosenthal, Esq., Hon. Daniel^EVnT^ntmu^ Tlew 
 ellyn Wanner, Esq., and Prof. Albert N. Raub ""^"^' ^^'*'''' 
 ^^«?i' K^''^"''"^'^'''; ^^tJi, 18(i«^, the school was recognized by the 
 State baperinteadeiit, Hon. Chas. R. Coburn and the Committee 
 of Inspection, as the State Normal School for the Thir d D sj ict 
 which embraces the counties of Berks, Schuylkill and Leh ih' 
 
 iStriur of B^^^^^^^^ ^?^ the County Superintendents, John s! 
 Young oTLw^^^^ -^^""^ ^"'^^'^ ^^ Wchuylkill, and E. J. 
 
 liveVed Ifv *F^ V^ w' 11 "^"^l^'^^^^^^^J dedicated; and addresses de^ 
 liveied by E. W. Hutter, D. D., Rev. S. K. Brobst Rev Mr 
 Lampeand Jasse Ne\vlin." iiiousc, ±tev. mi. 
 
 The first Principal of the Keystone Normal was Juo. S Ermen- 
 trout, A. M., Professor of Mental and Moral Science, and of 
 Theory and Practice of Teaching. From 1866-1871, he discharged 
 the daties of this position. From the fact that, daring the first 
 .year of the existence of the Normal, were enrolled three hundred 
 eighteen students, our readers can infer that the h(>i)es of the Trus- 
 tees were crowned with great success. 
 
 During the years 1872 and 1874, the gentleman just named 
 taught the Greek language in St. Charles Borromeo Seminary at 
 Overbrook, Montgomery Co., Pa. In 1874 he was recalled to the 
 Keystona Normal as Professor of Mental Science and Belles Letters 
 On Monday evening, August 3, 1874, was delivered his Inau-ural" 
 The subject of the Address was, "HumanActs and their Value"" At 
 the same time also, w^ere inaugurated Hudson A Wood \ M as 
 Professor of Higher Mathematics, and U. P. Heilma.i, as Processor 
 of History and Physical Geography. 
 
 During tlie first year of liis administration as Principal, were em- 
 ployed the following teachers: H. R. Nicks, A. M., Associate Prin- 
 cipal, and Prof, of Mathematics and Physics; Albert N. Raub A 
 M., of English Language and Literature, and Vocal Music- Sa'ml' 
 Transeau A M., of Ancient Languages and History; Edward t' 
 Burgan, M. E., Superintendent of Model School ; Rev.G F s.deker' 
 of German Language and Literature; Lether Trexler M D of 
 Anatomy, Piiysioiogy, ani Hygiene ; Miss Julia E Balljird m'i 
 ot Instrumental Mu.ic, Frencii, Paintin^r and Dravvia.' .\iary 
 
'W EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF 
 
 Morrison, of Reading and Geograpliy ; P. 8. Umbenhauer, Pupil 
 -Assistant. 
 
 Of these Miss Mary Morrison and P. 8. Umbenliauer are deceased. 
 The former was a most excellent teacher, and a lady of high moral 
 character; while of the latter those who knew him will agree in 
 testifying that he was endowed with a mind of unconnnon strength, 
 as well as with a disjiosition that endeared him to all who had en- 
 joyed .the i^rivilege of his acquaintance. 
 
 The Board of Trustees elected Rev. A. R. Home, A. M., as the 
 successor of Jno. S. Ermentrout. The new Principal not being able 
 tc» enter immediately ui^on his duties, the reins of power were placed 
 into the hands of Prof. N. C. Schaefier, A. M. From 1871-72, this 
 gentleman discharged the office of Acting Principal with great 
 success, and won for himself a high reputation for executive ability. 
 During the administration of the first Principal he filled, from 
 1868-69, the professorship of Ancient Languages and History, and, 
 under Prof. Home, from 1872-73, that of Mathematics. In 1873 he 
 w^ent to Europe. Having completed a two years' course of Theology 
 at the Universities in Berlin, Tuebingen and Leipzie, he returned to 
 his native land. He now became Professor of Ancient Languages 
 in Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa. Ordained a 
 Grerman Reformed minister on Christmas of the year 1875, he also 
 I'lfflciates as one of the Associate Pastors connected with the Chapel 
 of that College. 
 
 Prof. SchaefTer belongs to a family which may be taken as a fair 
 representative of the German population that adorns Berks county 
 The forefathers of his i)arents were among the earliest settlers of 
 Maxatawny ; and it maj" be historically interesting to know that his 
 great-great-grand-father, on the side of his mother, who is a daughter 
 of Solomon Christ, was murdered by the Indians. It is also worthy 
 of mention that his brother William, after having graduated at 
 Ijancaster, in 1874, took charge of a German Reformed congregation 
 in Waynesboro, Franklin county. Pa. On the 22d of June, 1876, he 
 was elected to the Professorship of Ancient Languages in the Key- 
 stone Normal, and will enter u])OU his duties the coming month of 
 August. Another brother, Nicholas, is now on the eve of graduating 
 n,i Lancaster, and intends studying law. 
 
 In March, 1872, Professor Home appeared at the Keystone Normal 
 And assumed the purple. 
 
 Immediately after his graduation in Pennsylvania College, Gettys- 
 . burg, this gentleman established a Normal School in Quakertown, 
 Bucks county. Pa. Ordained as a Lutheran clergyman, he also 
 j)reached in this place. In 1864 he took charge of a congregation in 
 Williamsport, Pa., and sei'ved as Superintendent of its Public 
 Schools. Thus it was that Prof. Home went through a preparatory 
 training for the great work he was called upon to shoulder in the 
 
KUTZTOWN AND MAXATAWNY. 51 
 
 Keystone Normal. He is iu full syniijathy with the German 
 element, and understaiids the wants and wishes of our people. As 
 a preacher he is distinguished for impressive oratory, and as a 
 Principal, not only for his fitness for the position, but also for the 
 intense zeal and industry with which he labors to advance the 
 interests of the School. Nor is his pen idle As already stated, 
 during the last ten years he has issued an educational paper ; and, 
 for the use of the students, lately published a Conipend of Botany, 
 and a German Manual, both of which met with a ready sale. Under 
 his administration the Keystone has been eminently successful. 
 
 The present Board of Instruction is as follows : 
 
 Rev. A. R. Home, A. M., Principal, and Professor of Theory and 
 Practice of Teaching, and German; Hudson A. Wood, A. M., 
 Professor of Higher Mathematics ; J. S. Ermentrout, A. M., Professor 
 of Mental Science and Belles Lettres; Jairus G. NefF, M. S., Profes- 
 sor of English Language and Literature; G. Dickie Gurley, A. B., 
 Professor of Ancient and Modern Languages; F. K. Berndt, M. S.. 
 Supei'intendentof Model School ; Richard H. Koch, M. E., Professor 
 of Mathematics and Constitution of the United States ; J. J. Hot- 
 tenstein, B. E., Professor of Book-keeping and Penmanship; Miss 
 Rosabelle Myers, Teacher of Mental Arithmetic and Geography • 
 Miss Harriet B. Swineford, Teacher of Reading, Grammar and 
 Physiology ; George C. Young, Professor of Instrumental and Vocal 
 Music ; Miss Julia R. Long, Teacher of Drawing, Sketching, and 
 French. 
 
 In the early part of this school year, 1875-76, Rev. H. A. Curian, 
 A. M., taught the Languages. Having accepted a position in the 
 Normal School at West Chester, Pa., he was succeeded by G. Dickie 
 Gurley. A. B., a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College. Prof. 
 Gurley delivered his Inaugural on Januarys, 1876. On this occasion 
 Mr. F. K. Flood, M. E., of Maxatawny, responded on behalf of the 
 students, and Prof. Home, of the Faculty. Mr. Gurley discharged 
 the duties of his office with great ability, and i'etired in order to 
 enter upon the ministry as a German Reformed preacher. 
 
 One of the most interesting events in the history of the Normal ife 
 its Annual Commencement. A brief account of that held June 22, 
 1876, will give our future friends of 1976 an idea of their general 
 nature. It began with a Baccalaureate Sermon by the Prineijjal, on 
 the preceding Sunday evening, from the text in Luke xvi, 19-2). 
 On Tuesday evening was delivered an address by Rev. Dr. E. V. 
 Gerhart, of the Theological Seminarj- at Lancaster. On Wednesdaj 
 took place the "Model School Reunion and Alumni." Before tljia 
 association were pronounced an oration, " The Teacher's Ideal," by 
 Rev. D. A. Medlar, M. E., of Cressona, Pa., an Essay, "Theory 
 versus Practice," by Miss Sallie E. Rhoads, M. E., of Lock Haven. 
 Pa., an Alumni Essay. "Development of Character in Children," 
 
«2 EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF 
 
 by Miss Clara J. Mohr, B. E., of Kutztown, and the Alumni Oration, 
 "History and Prospects of our Republic," by Prof. L. F. tSprenger, 
 M. E., A. M. On Thursday took place the graduation of the 
 Centennial Class. It numbered twenty-four; twenty-three of them 
 eceived Elementary Diplomas, and one the Scientific Diploma. 
 Three State Teacher's Diplomas were conferred, and fifteen were 
 crowned with the Master Degree. The Ringgold Band, of Reading, 
 which the New York Herald pronounces to be the third best band 
 iu the United States, furnished the music. 
 
 The Literary Societies connected with the Normal assist greatly in 
 the progress and culture of the students. In the fall of 18G5 there 
 existed one Society only — the Philomathean. In Septempber of the 
 same year from this went forth the Messrs. S. A. Baer, J. W. Bross- 
 man, P. A. Umbenhauer, E. C. Haberacker, M. J. Kramlich, Major 
 W. S. Guinther, James Conrad, and founded the Kalliothymian, 
 which, in April. 1867, became the Keystone Society. The first 
 President of the Philomathean was Chas. Hinterleiter ; tlie first 
 Secretary, S. A. Baer, and Treasurer, W. Wiand. Among its earliest 
 members were Prof. N. A. Schaeffer, F. P. Bender, G. Heffner, B. 
 Weiss. Its present officers are : H. F. Reiter, President ; Miss Lizzie 
 Miller, Censor ; Miss Virgie C. Praetorius, Recording Secretary ; 
 and of the Keystone : C. E. Hindenach, President; H. J. Reinhardt 
 Censor ; Ella Miller, Recording Secretary. 
 
 The first President of the Kalliothymian was S. A. Baer. This 
 gentleman now fills the very honorable position of Superintendent 
 of Common Scliools of Berks county. About two and a half miles 
 west of liutztown, iu Greenwich townships was he born. His great 
 great-gratid father, Joliannes Baer, an immigra,ut from the jPalati- 
 nate, settled in Weissenburg, Lehigh Co., Pa., in 1728, and hisgraud 
 father John Adam Bear, moved to Maxatawny in 1812. Having 
 begun his studies in Maxatawny Seminary, he continued them in 
 the Key. '•tone Normal School, and completed them by graduating in 
 1869 iu Frankliu and Marshall College. The greater part ot' his life 
 has been devoted to teaching. He obtained his first certificate as a 
 teacher from Supt, Juo. S. Ermeatrout, and tanghta common school 
 in Maxatawny. Subsequ-'ntly tor two years, he filled in the Key- 
 sione Normal School the Professorship of Ancient Languages and 
 History, Moving to LehiglUon he took charge of its Hign school ; 
 and, at a later date, he presided over that in Ashland, Pa. Return- 
 • ing to Berks he became Principal of the Oley Academy, in Friedeub- 
 burg. On June 7, 1873, after having been elected to the Superinten- 
 dency of Public Scliools, he received his commission from the 
 Department at Harrisburg, Mr. Baer is fully qualified for tho posi • 
 tion he now holds, and will, we hope always prove true to the 
 German element of the county he represents. 
 That the Normal school has been a most efficient agent in eliciting 
 
KUTZTOWN AND MAXATAWNY. 53 
 
 the taleuts of this section of the county, is beyond dispute. In proof 
 of this we give the names of residents who, since its organization, 
 have graduated within its halls. In IS68 received Diplomas J. H. 
 Marx, L F. Sprenger, (ieorge H. Hetfner ; iu'69, H. R. Carl, A. M- 
 Klein, J. C. NefT, Jacob G. NetT; in '70, E. D. Biober, A. G.Dewalt. 
 Alesa M. Helfrich, Z. O Hoch, J. H. VanScheetz; in 71, T. C 
 Mertz, Louisa M. Mohr, D F. Smith ; in 73, E. H. Schwoyer ; iu 
 '74, C. F. Dry, I. W Gauker, VV. J. Bieber ; in '75. Ellen Christ 
 (died before gjaduating), W. O. Miller, Clara J. Mohr, F. K. Flood. 
 J. J Hotteustein, W. H. Traub ; in '76, Hannah Grim, Ida Hotten- 
 steiii, Beocie Leibensperger, F. Y. WeiJenhammer 
 
 Of liO Normal Graduates, 31 belong to this section of the connty 
 
 Of the following persons graduated in Colleges; iu Franklin and 
 Marshall, the Hons. Joel B. Wanner, Amos B. Wanner, and H. H. 
 Schwartz ; also Daniel E. Sehoedier, in 1863, Lew. Wanner, in '64 : 
 P D. Wanner, in '65, I. W. Bieber and N- C. Schaeffer, in '67 ; O. 
 C. Herman and S. A. Baer, in '69 ; W. C. PchaefFer and t. DeLong : 
 in '71 ; D. N. Schaeffer and Ambrose Herrmann, in '73 ;— in Lafay 
 ette College, L. F. Springer and J. P. Schaeffer, in '73 ; A. G. De- 
 wait, in '74; Z. C. Hoch, in '75;— iu Muhlenberg, W. J. Bieber, in 
 '76, M. Y Henningeraud W.Andres. 
 
 As Graduates iu Medical Colleges, from tl/is section, we name 
 David Hotieustein, Levi Thompson, Charles Schlemm, C. H. Wan- 
 ner, J. S. Trexler, W. S. Bieber, Edward Hottensteln, W. Reichard. 
 Thos. Strasser, L. Bieber, A. C. Hotteustein, C. Wanner, E. H, 
 Bieber, W. Reber, T T. Thompson. 
 
 As Graduates in Female Colleges: the Misses A. M. Helfrich, 
 Annie Herman, Aggie Herman. 
 
 6. — SOME INTERESTING FACTS. 
 
 1. — Account of monies received for the first building of the Maxa- 
 tawny Seminary Association. 
 
 Jacob Sunday and G. Bieber, each $500; C. A. Gerasch, D. H. 
 Hotteustein, Lizz-e E. Bieber. E. Butz, Susannah Hotteustein. 
 Solomon Christ, each $300/ D. H. Hottensteiu, Jon. S. Bieber, 
 Isaac Roeller, B. E. Kramlich, C. A. Gerasch, A. R* Nicks. E. Butz. 
 Susannah Hotteustein, Wm. Hottensteiu, G. Dietrich, Sol. Christ 
 David Schavffer, J. D. Wanner, Jno. Kieffer, John Rahn,each $200 
 H. R. Nicks, $150; Ulrich Miller, David Fister, G. Bieber, George 
 Kutz. D. H. Hottensteiu, each $100; H. R. Nicks, $50. Total, 
 $6500.00. 
 
 2.— Amount of money received for stock Isubscribed tor the Key- 
 stone Normal School : — 
 
 Lewis K. Hottensteiu, and Susannah Hottensteiu, each $1200 ; 
 G. Bieber, D. H. Hotteustein, Dr. E. Hottensteiu, each $1000. Jo- 
 nas Miller, Jon. Bieber, Sr., Jacob Sunday, Dr. C A. Gerasch, Day. 
 S. Levan, Horrace Trexler, each $500 ; David Fister, $400; David 
 
54 EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF 
 
 Schaeffer, S. Bernhardt, A. Stein, D. Melot, D. Kemp, E. Butz, 
 Jonathan 8. Bieber, each $300 ; Dan. Dietrich, Dan. Christ, Dr. L, 
 Thonaiison, Joel Hoch, VV. W. Kemp, W. DeTurk, C. V. Kutz, 
 Jas. Weiler, Jacob Grim, A. C. Kieffer, Hon. J. G. Jones, David 
 Levan , each $200 ; Henrj- Williams, Jon. Bieber, H. Stein, Hon. 
 Jno. H. Fogel, S. H. Least. Dan. Clader, Hon. H. H. Schwartz, 
 Jno. S. Ermentrout, D. Sharadin, John Rahn, Jr., Mrs. M. J. Fualin, 
 D. L. Gable, E. DeTurlv, Juo. Herbine, Jac. F. Kutz, David Kemp 
 onas Hoch, Uirich Miller, Jos. Stichter, Fred Lauer, Dr. D. Lu- 
 ther, D. L. Wenrich, H. Bushong, Isaac Eckert, Dr L. Trexler, 
 Jonas Ritter, J. Nicb. Hunter, Jas. Busboug, W. B Bensinger, J, 
 Moyer, W. B. Fogel, M. Arnold, S. W. Arnold, A. N. Raub, J. C. 
 Wanner, John Ebuer, Isaac xMcHose, Ed. Clymer, Rich. Dunkel, 
 C Lesher, Nathan Levan, Jon, B. Grim, each $100.— Total, $>18.30O, 
 
 These'statements are taken from the Treasurer's Book, and repre- 
 resent the original stock iiolders. 
 
 3. —First Board of Trustees, — L. K. Hotteustein, Pres., David H, 
 HotteusteJn, Sec, Lesh. Trexler, M. D., President oi' the Board of 
 Stockholders, Jonas Hoch, Secretary of Board of Stockiiolders. 
 Chas. Gerasch, M. D. Treasurer; H. Bushong, E. Butz, D. Die- 
 trich, John S. ErmeiUrout, D. Fister, Hon. Jno. H. Fogel, Edward 
 Hotteustein, M. D., Hon. J. Glaney Jone>*, Rev. B. E. Kramlich, 
 D. Luther, M. D., J. Miller, H. R. Nicks, Hon. H H. Schwartz, D, 
 Schaeffer, A. Stein, J D. Wanner, Esq. 
 
 3. — Present Board of Trustees: Hon. H. H. Schwartz, President; 
 A. J. Fogel, Secretary ; D. H. Hottenstein, President of Stockholders ; 
 Jonas Hoch, Secretary of Stockholders; John S. Dunkle, Treasurer; 
 D. Schaeffer, G. Bieber, C. A. Gerasch, M. D., Rev. B. E Kramlich, 
 Daniel Q,. Hottenstein, Daniel Dietrich, Fred. Lauer, Ulrieh Miller, 
 Representing the State : Col. T. D. Fister, G. J. Kutz, Rev. S. K j 
 Brobst, J, L. Nutting, John G. Wink, Jon. S. Bieber. 
 
 It is worthy of note that some of these gentlemen have for many 
 years been members of the Board ; as, for instance, Daniel Dietrich 
 siud Adam Stein, who are prominent citizens of Greenwich township. 
 Both of them are large land-holders, and furnish the community 
 with the purest rye, for medicinal and other purposes. Mr. Dietrich 
 also does an extensive business as a miller. Jonathan S. Bieber, of 
 Maxatawny, lives on a splendid farm, and always finds time to woo 
 the Muses of the Keystone. 
 
 4.— Number of Students:— In 1866-67, 318 ; 1867-68, 536; 1868-69, 539 ; 
 1869-70, 562; 1870-71, m}; 1871-72, 388; 1872-73, 484; 1873-74, 662; 
 3874-7.5,516; 1875-76,469. Total, 4,774. 
 
 5. -Number of Graduates: — In Scientific Couive, in 1871, 4, in 1874, 
 1, in 1876, 1 ; in Elementary, in 1868, 6, in 1869, 11, in 1S70, 13, in 1871, 
 6. in 1872, 3, in 1873, 4, in 1874, 18, in 1875, 20, in 1876, 23. Total, IKt. 
 
 6.— Treasurers:— Dr. C. A. Gerasch, from 1865 to 1870; Dr. Edwaid 
 
KUTZTOWN AND MAXATAWNY. 55 
 
 Hottenstein from 1870 to 1871; Jon. Biehl, from 1871 to 1872: Dr J 
 S Trexler, from 1872 to 1873. Our present efHcient and worthy 
 rieasurer is John S. Dunkle, who took charge of the books in 1873 
 RipM T '"'"'"w ^\ d/fl'^^r^nt periods :-Augustus Hottenstein, Jon'. 
 
 z^ stni in' ffl '""' """'^"^ ^'"""- ^'' '^'' "^^^d gentleman 
 
 IS still m office; a veteran in the service; primm inter pares 
 
 .s.— Libraries:— Nearly 2,000 volumes. 
 
 ^.-Philosophical Apparatus :-Its original cost, $1,000' 00 
 M^^o:t::^ZV'''^''''^''' Building:-Messrs: Garst and 
 
 ll—Additional Building :-That to the north of the southern 
 wing, put up in 1872 for the accommodation of students. 
 
 12.-Whole cost of buildings and grounds estimated at $85,000 00 
 
 Id.-Among the earliest and most distinguished Professors of the 
 
 SrhirrT," ""■ ^f '^' ^'''- "^^^ ^'^^^^'^^ - Franklin 
 and Maishall College, and now ranks among the first lawyers at the 
 
 «ieo o ', ""Tl^:^^' ^^^^^P^^' ^ ^^ ^'^^ ««™Pl-ted his literary and 
 theological studies in the Reformed institutions at Mercersburg Pa 
 and IS now the Vice President of Ursinus College, Colle-reville ' Pa • 
 
 sXoo! Tn' wT' ^- ''•' "'^^ ^^ "^" .SuperinfeAdent of Common 
 Schools m \\ilhamsport, Pa.; and A. N. Raub, A. M., who now 
 presides over the Public Schools of Lock Haven Pa 
 AlltrTS'^.^'"! '^"P^^^^tendent of the Keystoni Model School was 
 ioZi^ T Z' fu''- ^'^"^ ^ "^^ practicing law successfully in 
 Scranton, Pa. Of the other Superintendents we name James H 
 
 the Nn^f'V """"h f • ^' ^''^^'- ^^''^ gentlemen are graduates of 
 the Noinial, and taught in it with marked success. The former was 
 quite recently clothed with the honors of an Esquire, and will soon 
 be admitted to the bar; the latter continues to preside over the 
 Model Department. 
 
 lo.-We must not forget to mention the Rev. Daniel Schoedler A 
 M. who IS now Principal of the Oley Academy, Berks county. Pa' 
 Kutz own IS his native place. His abiding inte^rest in the educa- 
 tional progress of Easterik Pa. has made his name a familiar one to 
 every instructor of youth. 
 
 16.— Among the successful preachers of Maxatawny we mention 
 the Rev. D. PI. Humbert, who preaches at De Long's Hill's 
 Lobach's, and other Churches. ' 
 
"V. oon^oXjTJSion^. 
 
 Early in the year 1876 were sounding over the whole country 
 proclamaticnsfrom President Grant and John F. Hartranft, Governor 
 of Pennsylvania, inviting and urging the people to gird up their 
 loins for a worthy celebration of the Great Centennial of American 
 Independence. Among other recommendations, they suggested that 
 in every section of the land special pains be taken to gather in one 
 the scattered facts of its past history, put them in print, and transmit 
 them to the people of 1976. 
 
 Scarce had this call fallen upon our ears when, in Kutztown and 
 its vicinity, was heard the piercing fife and the rolling drum. In 
 obedience to an invitation from Mr. S. S. Schmehl, our efficient 
 Chief Burgess, on May, 13, 1876, at 7 o'clock of the evening, in order 
 to make preparations for doing proper homage to the coming Fourth 
 of July, assembled our citizens in the main square of the borough. 
 P'lom the balcony attached to the hotel of our venerable friend, Mr. 
 Chas. Kutz, who, though sixty-four years old, now renewed his 
 youth, eloquent addresses were delivereel by S. S. Schmehl. the Hon- 
 H. H. Schwartz, and Messrs. John G. Wink, Conrad Gehring and 
 Col. Thos. D. Fister. ' 
 
 A Centennial Assoc iii(i<ii wa^^ kinio 'il:( k ]]< wing officers 
 were elected at the meeting: President, S. S. Schmehl, Chief Bur. 
 gess ; Vice President, Conrad Gehring ; Secretaries, Prof. J. H. Marx. 
 Dr. L. C. Berkemeyer ; Treasurer, Col. Thos. D. Fister. 
 
 The president api^ointed the following Executive Committee : John 
 G. Wink, Charles Miller, Peter Krause, A. J. Fogel, Eldridge Zim- 
 merman, John S. Dunkle, Prof. S. A. Baer, Wm. C. Dietrich, D. F. 
 Wagner, Walter B. Bieber, D. Q. Hottenstein, Prof. A. R. Home, 
 Rev. B. E. Kramlieh. 
 
 We must not forget toaeld that the success of our Centennial Cele- 
 bration is due, in a great degree, to the energetic labors of our Chief 
 Burgess, and to the wase, practical judgment of Dr. L, C, Berke- 
 meyer. 
 
 One oi' the most inipoitani features of the celebration will be th^ 
 erection of a monument on the giounds of the Keystone St.ate Nor- 
 mal Sell oo I. The basie is a granite stone, weighing two tons and a 
 half, (>i» this rests an octagon die which supports an octagon spir^r 
 both c.f itatian marble. On tjie spires is an o<3tagen cap, surmounted 
 
KUTZTOWN AND MAXATAWNY. 57 
 
 with an eairle. Tiie whole work reflects great credit ou the sculptor, 
 Mr. Philip Wentz, who lives in the borough. It costs .*2r)0.0(j. Of 
 this Mr. Wontz himself i-ubscribed S75. ; the remaining sum was 
 collected in town aii<l Norma! by Mrs. Dr. Ciias. H. Wanner, and the 
 .Atisses Alesa Heifrich and Harriet B. .Swineford. On the four 
 largei' sides of the die are inscribed the following motto.-^, wliich were 
 selected by a C'Miimittee consisting of Rev. Prof. Home, I'rof. Juo. 
 8. Ermentrout and Supt. S. B. Baer : — 
 
 On the north side,— "Unser Frei Schul Wesakunit Win da Penu 
 silfowuish Deitsha har. DerGovaner Wolf hat's geplant un g'start 
 un der Ritner un der Shunk hen's ausg'fuehrt " ; on the sduth ."Ner 
 scire fas est omnia ;" on the east, "AV:e Gott mit unsern Vactern 
 war, sosei er audi mit uns;" on thd West, "Virtue, Lilierty and 
 Independence." The following articles will be deposited in that 
 j»artof the monument on which rests the spire :— The history ut 
 Kutztown and Maxatawny, the latest newspapers of the county' 
 ancient coins, almanacs and coins of 1876, a catalogue of the NoriUid 
 for 1876, the names of contributors to the monument, and the late 
 Census of Kutztown, continental scrip, and a silver quarter dated 
 J776, donated by A. J. Fogel. It is intended, that Prof. .Ino. 8. 
 Ermentrout shall deposic these articles, and deliver an appropriate 
 address; that the chairman of the Monumental (Committee, Supt. 
 S. A. jtJaer, who shall present the monument to the Chief Bcrgess, 
 of the borough, and the Chief Burgess to the Trustees of the Key' 
 stone Normal School, who shall br represented in a s[)eech by their 
 President, the Hon. H. H. Schwartz. 
 
 To-morrow will be a great day for Kutztown and vicinity. Before 
 sunrise cannons will send their thunders over mountain, hill and 
 dale. By Prof. Home, early in the morning, will be preached a 
 sermon in the Keystone Nonnal Chapel. In a grand parade will 
 ajjpear all the civic and military organizations of the borough and 
 adjacent country. Thirteen young ladies will rej)resent the 
 Original States, and thirty-eight, with flags, the States of our Union, 
 all of them dressed in white. Military companies, bands, Sunday 
 Schools, Town Council, lodges, siirviving soldiers of the war of 1812. 
 of the Mexican, and our late Civil War, together with visitors from 
 every section of the county, Avill swell the procession. Mr. Albert 
 A. Adam, dressed in Continental costume, will personate General 
 Washington, and Mrs. H. M. Cloud, Martha Washington. Under 
 the direction of Dr. .1. S. Trexler as Chief Marshall, the parade will 
 wind its way through the streets of the borough, and terminate in 
 Kemp's woods. Here will take place the following exercises : — The 
 oration of the day, by the Hon. .ludge A. S. Sassaman ; a Pennsyl 
 vania German Poem, by Prof. M. C. Henninger, of AUentown, and 
 the reading of this Historical Sketcii by Prof. .Tohn S. Ermentrout. 
 
58 
 
 EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 
 
 With this general description of the festivities that will euliveii 
 che Centennial Fourth of July, we close our narrative. The work 
 imposed on us by the "Centennial Assoi^iation," is now completed. 
 This sketch ought to have been drawn by an abler pen ; but, though 
 unworthy of its subject, we hope that, when the mea and women of 
 J97d, who shall inhabit Kutztown and Maxatawuy, shall read its 
 pages, they may find in them some sources of profit and delight. 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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