.....My Melting Pot.....
St. Paul's Church, 1756
Indianland
PASTORS
There must have been preaching as early as 1756, and no doubt earlier, for the first church was erected in that year. Catechist Schrenk may have preached. Rev. Schumacher seems to have taken interest in the members of Lehigh Township.
1762-1780 - John Andreas Frederici began a church record of which the title-page has the following: "Church record of the Evangelical Congregation along the Lehigh, 1762." We do not believe Rev. Frederici had an uninterrupted pastorate. Ch. Solomon Frederici is mentioned several times.
The successors of Frederici are not known. The first book containing records is not in possession of the congregation, but when it is found as there is every reason to expect, many interesting items will no doubt be discovered.
In absence of the First Church Record there is no way of telling who ministered from 1780-1850.
1852-1857 Rev. William Rath
1858-1869 Rev. David Kuntz
1870-1877 Rev. R. B. Kistler
1877-1886 Rev. G. A.. Bruegel
1887-1911 Rev. J. J. Reitz
1912-1917 Rev. G. G. Kunkle
1918-1922 Rev. P. A. Behler
1922-1924 Supplies
1924- Rev. F. E. Shupp
ORGANIZATION
In 1773, Simon Dreisbach wrote from Howerville that seventeen years ago the services were poorly attended on account of the irregular visits of the preacher. He likewise states that there were services at Howerville, Indianland, and Petersville at that time. These must have been three independent groups of settlers located a few miles from each other but no doubt requesting services at the different localities.
The Indians gave much trouble and this caused the members to flee. When they returned, Indianland built its second church in 1772. Petersville was too poor to rebuild and as a consequence, when the old church had fallen in ruins, it was not rebuilt for seventy-five years. Howerville relocated their church at Kreidersvile in 1771. In this, the congregation was joined by members from Morrestown and Germans in Allen Township.
1762 - Deacons: Michael Keppel, Conrad Geisel and Jacob Rath. Rev. Frederici, pastor. First class confirmed XXII Trinity.
1772 - Corner-stone of second church laid. Dedicated, November 8, 1772.
1833 - Third church erected.
CHURCH COUNCIL - 1926
Elders - Amri Kresge and Wm. P. Kleppinger.
Deacons - Wm. Coffin, Willard Eckert, Howard Kuntz and James Eckert.
MEMBERSHIP - 1925
Baptized 467
Confirmed 196
Communicant 107
PROPERTY VALUE - 1925
Church 7,500
Parsonage 3,500
Other property 2,000
Total 13,000
Total expenditures 1,525
Benevolence 200
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS
The date of the first church had been forgotten and when the corner-stone of the third church was laid, there was carved on it the date of the first church as of 1772. But another stone revealed the figures 1756, and this was not known until the plaster had peeled off and showed the inscription "Sat. Paulus Kirche 1756"
1771 - The two congregations agreed to support each other's pastor.
1922 - New pipe organ installed. Dedicated, September 2, 1922.
Congregation now observes an annual home-coming day which has been definitely set apart.
INDIANLAND, 1756
ACCORDING to J. C. Becker (Ref.): In 1750 there were three congregations in the district; Petersville, Indian Creek and Indianland.
"Indianland," by which St. Paul's is popularly known, perpetuates the name of the district originally called "Indian Land." Indian Creek, which has its source in the Blue Mountains, flows through the entire length of Lehigh Township and empties into the Hockendauqua Creek, not far from Kreidersville. Before Lehigh Township was erected, 1752, the territory (Lehigh and Moore Townships) was also known as "Adjacents of Allen." As the Scotch-Irish settlement in the adjoining township of Allen began as early as 1728, it becomes clear why the term "Adjacents of Allen" should be employed. Likewise the use of the term "Indian Land" is derived from the fact that Thomas Penn in ordering (1735) the survey and laying out of 6,500 acres of land planned to settle on it all the Forks Indians. The plan was never realized but Indianland continues the use of the term as applied to the St. Paul's Church, one of the three churches spoken of as being in existence in 1750.
Lehigh township suffered much during the Indian wars. When Benjamin Franklin went through the territory, 1756, on his way to direct the construction of Fort Allen at Weissport, he met a number of wagons and many people moving away with their effects from the Irish settlement and Lehigh Township. Though the settlement of Lehigh Township was early, the fact that an Indian reservation had been planned as early as 1735, it is safe to assume that the white settlers before that date must have been very few in number. A population of thirty souls is reported in 1740; about a hundred in 1750, and three hundred and fifty in 1770. In 1773 there were eighty-six taxables and ten "single men."
The time of the erection of the first church (log) is now pretty definitely known. The inscription on one of the corner-stones "dieses fur ein Denkmal-Geo. C. Hess- Jahr, 1772," was for some time taken as the date of the first church building. But a letter, dated January, 1773, from Simon Dreisbach, of Howerville, situated along the Indian Creek, to Rev. J. G. Helffrich in which among other things, he states: "About seventeen years since when I first settled here, the services were not only very poorly attended, but disorderly." The reason for this was the uncertainty of the time when the preacher would come. Dreisbach also indicates that there were at least three congregations at the time (1766) in the neighborhood. Emmanuel's, Petersville, Indian Creek (Howersville), and Indianland. The last named, Dreisbach designates as the "Inchenlander Gemeine die Liegt am Blauen Berg an der Lechau her." The Indianland congregation is situated at the foot of the Blue Mountains along the Lehigh. This is confirmed by the accidental discovery of an older corner-stone in the wall, bearing the inscription "Sat. Paulus Kirche 1756." With the building of the second church, also of logs, the old corner-stone was set in the foundation wall and plastered over, and when the third church was erected 1833, the corner-stone bore the inscription "Gegruendet 1772; neu erbaut 1833", i.e., founded in 1772 and newly erected 1833. Within this generation, the plaster on the old corner-stone cracked and gradually fell off, exposing a stone with the quaint lettering, which after a little deciphering revealed the fact that the first church was erected in 1756. This bit of archeology is of sufficient interest to find a place in this sketch.
There is a good reason for believing, even without considering the inscription on the corner-stone of the third church, that the first Indianland Church was erected in 1756. But that Indian Creek and Petersville each should have a church a few miles from St. Paul's and a few miles from each other seems almost incredible. That a district covering the present boundaries of Lehigh and Moore Township, with a population of about two hundred souls and that after many Indian massacres during the Indian war, should be favored by three churches even though some may have been strictly denominational as St. Paul's is supposed to have been until 1772 is, to say the least, a matter of surprise.
In 1835 Rev. J. C. Becker speaks of three small congregations which existed in the neighborhood already in 1750. For the present, however, we will confine ourselves to Indianland.
The first location of St. Paul's, of Indianland, was in the graveyard several hundred feet from the site of-the present St. Paul's, on land owned by Aaron Benninger. Many of the old tombstones are either without inscriptions or undecipherable. The oldest inscription is on the tombstone erected to the memory of Wilhelm Henrich Best, born 1713, died, Nov. 24, 1762. According to tradition, the school-house stood across the road opposite the old log church. It is also stated there were English families among the early settlers.
The church record was begun in 1762. The title-page has the following: "Church Record of the Evangelical Congregation along the Lehigh (Kirchenbuch der Evangelische Gemeinde an der Legau)-called Indianland-brought to light in the year of our Lord and Saviour J. X. 1762-Oct. 8, and in the second year of the reign of our King, George III. The first child baptized, 1762, was William Welden.
The deacons at the time were Michael Keppel, Conrad Geissel and Jacob Roth. Rev. John Andreas Frederici was the pastor. On the XXII Trinity Sunday, he confirmed the following: Heinrich Best, Thomas William Christian Miller, Philip Kuntz, Anna Best, Catharina Geissel, Catharina Altman, and Maria Verona Muller.
Among the communicants, the following names are some of the better known: William Best, Friedrich Becker, Johann Kress, Bernard Kuntz and wife, Johann Christian Andres, Wilhelm Rex, Bernard Guldner, Martin Guldner, etc. The whole number including confirmants was fifty-five. Rev. Frederici may have preached in this congregation or neighboring congregations as early as 1754, before the outbreak of the Indian war. His predecessor, Rudolph Heinrich Schrenk, served congregations in and above the Blue Mountains while pastor at Saccum from 1749-1753. There is, however, no evidence that Schrenk was pastor of the congregation during this period. Reverting again to Simon Dreisbach's letter, the Reformed were small in number and this number was practically useless for congregational purposes. The pastors who preached without call or ordination, he calls "Kirchliche Squatters." John Egidius Hecker, an irregular minister, preached occasionally at Indianland and it is possible he preached in all of the three churches of the district. Indian trouble forced him, like Frederici, to abandon the territory in 1755. In 1767, after serving Tohickon and Saucon, he returned and again preached at Indianland, Indian Creek and Petersville. He lived in Moore Township, died there in 1773, and was buried in the old church at Petersville where in 1873, a monument was erected to his memory.
An agreement was made May 20, 1771, between the Lutherans and the Reformed that they would unite in the support of each other's pastor. The corner-stone of the second church was laid in the spring of 1772. The Deacons at the time were Johann Dorn and Nicolans Schneider, Reformed; Christophel Feigner and Jacob Keppel, Lutheran. Building-Superintendents, Bernard Kuntz and Peter Anthony, Lutheran; Jacob Buchman and Georgee Leibenguth, Reformed. On Nov. 8, 1772, the church was dedicated, Rev. Christian Streit, Lutheran pastor in Easton, and Rev. Johann Wilhelm Pithahn, Reformed pastor at Hecktown, preaching the dedicatory sermons. The log church cost $450.00. The first log church was, doubtless, erected by the Lutherans.
In absence of the first record of Ministerial Acts, it is believed that the financial statements and the names of officers recorded in another book may be of interest.
The first of these business meetings took place on December 30, 1786. Lutheran Deacons, Conrad Hermann, Friedrich Moll, Peter Kuster, Nicolaus Antoni, Tobias Guldner and George Kuntz.
Settlement covering a period of three years showed a balance of two pounds, fifteen shillings and three pence. Nov. 14, 1789-the next triennial settlement-balance in treasury after settlement (paper money twenty-four pounds), four pounds, 1 shilling and two pence, adding balance of 1786 "summa summa" equals seven pounds, 5 shillings and five pence. Signed by Solomon Fried - the rest is torn out - (presumably Friedrich, possibly son of John A. Frederici) Tobias Gultner, David Shafer (?) and Ludwig Antoni.
December S, 1791 - Heinrich Bauman had in hand, fifteen pounds, three shillings and four pence. Signed by Ch. Solomon Frederich, David Shafer and Ludwig Antony.
August, 1797 - George Herman reports thirteen pounds, nine shillings and eight pence. Ludwig Antony has in hand sixteen pounds, eighteen shillings and eight pence. He gave a "note" signed Frederich Kuntz, George Herman, Bernard Bauman and F. Eberhard.
December 26, 1798 - Settlement - Frederich App;
Interest on Geo. Herman's note, 1 pound and 2 shillings.
Interest on Ludwig Anthony's note, 1 pound, 8 shillings and 7 pence.
Interest 1 shilling and 8 pence.
Signed,
Fr. Eberhard
Christian Bertsch
Fried. App.
December 1799, Friederich App had in hand - 5 pounds, 1 shilling and 5 pence.
Interest on Geo. Herman's note, 6 shillings and 6 pence.
Interest on Ludwig Anthony's note, I pound and 3 pence.
Signed, Kuntz
Designations in English money are found in settlements up to 1812, when "dollars" and "cents" began to be used.
The last settlement in the record Jan. 1, 1863 - 1864 for 2 years:
Balance... $ 20.00 Credit: To Anthony $ 1.45 Jacob Heiny 1.26 Tax for '63 $ 3.80 John D. Schafer 5.12 Stern for wood 2.03 Jonas Diebert, tax .69 John Benninger 2.79 Edwin Gabel 10.64 Sugear, making nails 4.69 John Stern 1.12 Reuben Walp 6.61 Oats 2.25 R. Walp 2.25 Sam. Becker 10.85 Jonas Newhardt, tax 2.19 Ed. Gabel 6.06 David Best 11.63 Joel Buck, School tax .55 J. Leibenguth 4.00 ______ Coal 2.52 R. Best 2.64 $ 63.02 Daniel Gable, tax 2.98 Jos. Kuntz 4.00 54.54 Jonas Newhardt, tax 3.11 Sam. Kuntz 1.49 ______ ______ Wm. Remaley .84 $ 8.48 $ 22.78 ______ $ 31.76 22.78 ______ $ 54.54 Church Record II. 1826-1867
The names of about six hundred are entered as confirmed in St. Paul's. In 1826, the names of the following may be noted-Daniel Kuster, Henry Hauser, Peter Schaefer, Jacob Eckert, John Meyer, William Antoni, Solomon Wentz, Edward Meyer, Daniel App, Conrad Antoni, Susanna Belford, Lena Meendsen, Maria Best, Susanna Best, Sarah Best, Maria Mayer, Lena Wentz, Sarah Hankies, Elizabeth Wentz, Katharine Meister, Sarah Heimbach, Elizabeth Berlin, Carolina and Sarah Antoni, Lucy Berlin and Hannah Kuster.
In 1858, the names of families who had children baptized are as follows: Kuntz, Stever, App, Smith, Newhart, Walp, Beil, Bachman, Schneider, Anthony, Clewell, Kratzer, Schofer, Markley, Leibenguth, Schmeck, Benninger, Wenrich, Oplinger, Berlin, Baer, Minig, Roth, Balliet, Auer, Miller, Hall, Queen, Best, Stern, Miller, Brion, Andrews, Beer, Koehler, Smith, Saeger, Monsius, Rusland, Breifogel, Nicolaus, Mack and Beck.
In 1861, Rev. D. Kuntz administered the communion to one hundred eighty-seven guests whose names by families may have some genealogical value: Saegar, Jacob and Anna, Amandas, Joseph and wife, Stephen and Sarah; App, Charles and Amandus; Heimbach, Ellawesa, Louisa, Anna M., Anna and Catharine, Bloss, Amanda; Young; Catharine, Elizabeth and Mary; Musselman, Joe and Eva; Glaser, Catharine; Rex, Tilghman; Hangy, Edwin; Gabel, Benjamin, William, Edwin, Mary E., and Sarah; Schaeffer, Thomas, Elizabeth, Peter and Lydia, Joe, Aaron, Stephen, Maria and John; Druckenmiller, Paul and Maria; Snyder, Catharine, Caroline and Mary; Eckert, Peter and Maria, James, William, Sarah, George; Anthony, Mary, Amandes, Susan, Jane, Emma; Wentz, Wilhelmina; Wert, Anna; Vogel, Daniel, Samuel; Leh, William; Breifogel, Susan; Kuntz, George and wife, William H., John J., Tilghman, Jonas, Enos, Reuben, John, Eliza, Anna and Christina; Deipert, Samuel, John, Jonas, James and Thomas; Beer, Eva; Bachman, Rosanna, Ruth, Louisa; Buchman, Sarah; Kleppinger, Sivilla; Miller, Lucy, Anna and Sarah; Reyer, Mary, Catharine Mary; Leibenguth, Catharine, Lydia, Mary, and Sarah; Schneck, Elizabeth, Levi, Mary; Fenstemaker, Harriet; Benninger, Susan and Maria; Mummy, Jacob and Sarah, James and Amanda, Stephen and wife Sarah; Andreas, Sarah, Christian, Salome; Graber, Royal; Berlin, Edwin, Elizabeth, William, Adam and Leah, Emaline, William; Seip, Samuel and Rebecca; Bilheimer, Louisa; Nalor, Benjamin and Ellen; Wagner, John; Yehl, John and wife; Koch, Magdalena; Buck, William, Henry, Adam, Abraham; Beck Julian; Redline, Michad; Reichert, Eliza; Steinbrenner (Stoneburner), Jacob and Amanda; Markel, Martin; Ostertag, Elizabeth; Soldt, Sarah; Kress, Chester; Keller, Catharine, Ebert, David; Queen, Mary and Lucinda; Farler, Anna; Griffith, Mary; Nicolaus, Eliza; Kichline, Amanda; Ohl, Milton; Gangaware, William, and wife; Hower, John and Rebecca, Mary; Stern, Emma, Yost, Christian.
Rev. D. Kuntz had as a parish, Indianland, Kreidersville, Big and Little Moore and few congregations in Carbon and Monroe Counties. His successor, Rev. R. B. Kistler, served the same parish. Under Rev. G. A. Bruegel, the Cherryville parish is constituted of Indianland, Petersville, St. John and East Penn. His membership in 1880 was seven hundred and fifty. Rev. J. J. Reitz, after serving Cherryville parish for about five years, asked for his dismissal from Synod in 1893. This independent relationship to the Synod continued for a number of years, when the pastor demitted the ministry for the practice of medicine in which he has been quite successful, and the congregations asked to be again received into Synod. The parish was next supplied by Rev. P. A. Behler, a member of the Ministerium, and he succeeded in bringing it into active relationship with the Synod and instilled new life into the congregation. When Pastor Behler resigned his parish, it was hoped by the Indianland-Petersville members that he would continue as their pastor, but on account of his physical condition, he preferred to continue his pastorale with the weaker part, i. e. with Cementon and Laurys, and Rev. F. Shupp, became his successor at Indianland-Petersville and Christ, Little Moore, which was added to these congregations to form the present Indianland parish.
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mymeltingpot@geocities.com
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