An American Family History

For many years Heidelberg Union Church was the only church in Heidelberg Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. It also included what is now Washington Township and Slatington. Between 1736, when Heidelberg was legally opened for settlement and 1752, groups of settlers formed two Heidelberg congregations.

The first church was built in 1744 and the earliest document is an agreement between the Reformed and the Lutheran congregations dated March 25, 1745.     

The first church building was destroyed by fire in 1757. In 1757 there were two major Indian attacks in the Heidelberg area. Twenty-five people were killed in these attacks including members of the congregations. Two companies of soldiers were enlisted to protect the settlers.

On March 22, 1777 and in 1778 Jacob Brandstetter appeared on the list of communicants.

Margaretha Brandstetter Schneider was christened on March 23, 1783.

The building was completely rebuilt in 1787.

On Palm Sunday, 1794 Jacob Brandstetter appeared on the list of communicants.

In 1796 they built a new schoolhouse and Jacob Brandstetter promised to pay 1 pound and 10 schillings.

Daniel and Christiana Branstetter were the sponsors at several baptisms: Daniel Kunfahr on January 2, 1812 and Lilia Schneider on February 20, 1813.

In 1842 Maria Barbara Brandstetter Peter was buried in the Heidelberg Church Cemetery with her husband Johannes.

In 1849 the church building was again rebuilt.

Early Baptisms

Heidelberg Union Church
By Samuel J. Kistler, Esq
(Selections on the early years)

The first settlement by the congregation was made in the year 1735. The number of the first immigrants was small, consisting of isolated families who had come from Switzerland and Westphalia. Their names have been preserved, and show that they were from one neighborhood, but the name of the place is, unfortunately, forgotten.

The names of the first arrivals were Jacob Peter, Casper Peter, and Wilhelm Peter, three brothers, but whether their father accompanied them cannot be ascertained. Later came Johannes Hunsicker, Jacob Mayer, David Gisi, Conrad Wirtz (now written Wert), Friederich Nisele, Ulrich Neff, Heinrich Hoffman, Peter Miller, Heinrich Roeder, Georg Grum, and Jörg Schmalz. This first company of settlers formed the foundation of the succeeding congregation, and at once staked off the land they intended to use for church and school purposes...

Between the years 1735 and 1740 there also came hither Palatines and Würtemburgers, and strengthened the colony. Among these there were, on the Reformed side, Heinrich Ohl, Jacob Riedy, Michael Fritzinger, and others; on the Lutheran side, Ulrich Sensinger, Jörch Recks, Peter Handwerk, Johann Krauss, and others. The Lutherans likewise provided themselves with a piece of land for the church and school purposes adjoining the Reformed lands on the south.

The organization of the congregation took place in the year 1740. Heinrich Ohl who had taken up the land where Saegersville now stands, and who was the richest and most respected man in the settlement, agitated the matter of building a church, but four years passed before the church was constructed. Meetings were held, but as no minister could be engaged, the work of construction was discontinued.

During this period the services of a reader from Lynn were obtained, and he was accustomed to hold services at the houses of the people. The place for assembling was at Jacob Daubensdpeck’s, about one mile south of the church lands. There divine service was held for a period of five years. Finally there came a talented Lutheran minister, by the name of Jacob Friederich Schertlein, who was undoubtedly sent through the interposition of Rev. Muhlenberg to this portion of the country.

And now steps were taken to build the first church, which was erected in the year 1744 as a log church, and was dedicated by Revs. Schertlein and Philip Jacob Michael. This first church building stood in the northeastern corner of the old graveyard, which has for a long time been filled with graves. At the same time a school-house was erected. From the very beginning the plan of the fathers contemplated the holding and enjoyment of these buildings in common. For this reason they built the church upon the Reformed land, and the school-house upon the Lutheran, and when the church was completed and dedicated, both branches of the congregation made a contract on the 28th of March, 1745, that it should be and remain a Union church.

The following heads of families formed the congregation: Jacob Friederich Schertlein, the Lutheran minister; Philip J. Michael, the Reformed minister. Schertlein was a regularly ordained minister of great ability, who soon, however, left here and was called elsewhere, either to Maryland or Virginia. Michael, of whom we have already learned in the history of the Ziegel Church, was a reader, who was never ordained, and had elevated himself to the office of minister. The Reformed elders were George Grum and Jörg Schmalz; the Lutheran,
George Recks and Michael Mosser.

The members were Jacob Mayer, Heinrich Ohl, Ulrich Sensinger, George Schmalz (elder), Daniel Burger, Nickel Klein, George Grum (elder), David Gisi, Michael Fritzinger, George Recks (elder), Leonhard Mayer, Heinrich Oswald, Adam Winch, Heinrich Hofmann, Ulrich Neff, Andreas Shcüssler, Friederich Schneider, Jonas Matzinger, Michael Fritzinger, Jacob Peter, Casper Peter, Rudolf Peter, Michael Mosser (elder), Jörg Newhard, Nickel burger, Michael Ruch, Peter Miller, Conrad Wirtz (Wert), Friederich Nisele, Jacob Schlung, Hans Ulrich Arndt, Johannes Niesele, Heinrich Roeder. The above-named members were the builders of the first church, and paid for its construction L18 5s., of which the Reformed side contributed L13 18s 8d., and the Lutheran L4 6s 4d....

The Indian massacres, which during the fifties of the last century devastated all the settlements across the Lehigh, at Gnadenhütten (now Lehighton) and in Lynn, both on the right and left of the Heidelberg settlement, passed by this congregation almost without leaving a trace...

The second church was built in the year 1756. The first little log church was destroyed by fire. The new church was also a log church, but very much larger and better arranged in every respect, being fitted out with galleries, aisles, pulpit, and altar. A new school-house was also erected at the same time with the church. This was placed upon the land of the Reformed congregation, which sold all its right in and to the old school-house to the Lutherans for L4 10s., and from this time on each portion of the congregation had its own school until later years, when the old school-house was torn down, and the schools again united in one. The new church was dedicated in 1757, and the old contract, that this building should be used in common, was renewed. From 1745 and 1757 the number of communicants was more than doubled. However, an increase from Europe partly accounts for this....

Not until 1758, the year following the building of the second church, did the congregation make efforts to obtain a fee-simple deed and lawful possession of their church- and school-lands. To accomplish this Michael Ohl, son of Heinrich Ohl, and Simon Wehr were appointed a committee on the Reformed side to obtain the requisite papers in Philadelphia. At the same time the Lutherans acted in the matter. The following members of the Reformed Church obligated themselves to furnish the money for the purchase of the lands, viz.: Jacob Peter, Johannes Hunsicker, Johannes Grum, Rudolph Peter, George Hack, Bernhard Neff, Jacob Riedy, Heinrich Neff, and Heinrich Ohl. Nancy Ohl, and unmarried daughter of the last named, had the church weatherboarded at her own expense in later years.

In the war of independence, this congregation furnished a number of soldiers, the names of only two of whom, unfortunately, have been preserved for historians, namely, those of Christian Schmidt and ------- Krumbach.

The first church records were, according to the statement of Father Johannes Hunsicker, who died when upward of ninety years of age, and who is the authority for most of the foregoing information, destroyed by fire with the first church building. The minutes of the Reformed Church records begin in 1764, and are still in existence; of the Lutheran, in 1768. On the title-page of the latter appear the names of Wilhelm Rex, Casper Schnerr, Tobias Ebert, and Samuel Miehl as the Lutheran consistory.

A new cemetery was opened in the year 1832. The old graveyard was filled to its entire capacity. The congregation decided to use the ground to the east of the church, and this has been increased in size a number of times since.

In the year 1849 the congregation held an election to decide the question whether the schools should be joined in one, to abrogate the difference in the creeds. All the votes but three were cast in favor of uniting the schools. At this time Ferdinand Berkemeyer taught on the Reformed side, and Joseph Folban on the Lutheran. The latter resigned, and Berkemeyer was chosen as the common teacher. A centennial festival was held for two days in the year 1845, upon the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of the founding of this congregation.

The third church was built in the year 1849. On the 17th of May in that year the consistory and members of the church assembled for the purpose of adopting a constitution, according to which the church should be built, and by which the congregations should in the future be ruled according to the establishment of their fathers. The new church was placed on the other side of the little brook, hardly one hundred paces from the spot where the other stood...

Scarcely was the church finished when the desire arose to possess an organ. The matter had already been agitated before this time, but the majority were always opposed to the idea. They preferred singing without the accompaniment of an organ. Upon the election held upon this matter, only sixty-three votes were cast in favor of purchasing an organ, while fourteen resolute ones were found against it. The construction of the orga was intrusted to Charles Hanzelman, an organ-builder, who had removed to these parts from Philadelphia. The organ was dedicated in 1853, and was for those times a perfect work...

The names of the heads of families who built the new [1757] church are as follows:

Bloss, Conrad
Bloss, George
Borger, Daniel
Daubenspeck, Jacob
Farr, Johannes
Fenstermacher, Wilhelm
Ferber, Heinrich
Ferber, Jacob
Filler, Johannes
Freiman, Jacob
Frey, Johannes
Geiger, Heinrich
Grum, Christian
Grum, Franz
Grum, Johannes
Haf, George
Hammel, Philip
Hoffman, Christof
Hoffman, Heinrich
Hunsicker, Jacob
Hunsicker, Johannes
Kern, Friederich
Kern, Johannes
Kern, Wilhelm
Kreitz, Simon
Lintz, Conrad
Mayer, Peter
Mertz, Philip
Miller, Conrad
Neff, Bernhard
Neff, Heinrich
Neff, Johannes
Neff, Ulrich
Ohl, Heinrich
Ohl, Michael
Peter, Casper
Peter, Jacob Jr.
Peter, Jacob
Peter, Johannes
Peter, Rudolf
Reber, Johannes
Reber, Johannes
Reinhard, Heinrich
Reinschmidt, Johannes
Remely, Geore
Remely, Michael
Rerig, Simon
Riedy, Conrad
Riedy, Jacob
Rockel, Johannes
Roder, Andreas
Schmidt, Christian
Schneider, Friederich
Schneider, Johannes
Schneider, Samuel
Seidel, Peter
Wehr, Lorenz
Wehr, Nicholas
Wehr, Philip
Wehr, Simon

The territory now comprised in the townships of Heidelberg, Lynn, and Washington was known prior to 1752 as Heidelberg District...

Up to 1840 there was little mingling with other people. Those having possession of the land conveyed it from one heir to another, and thus kept the land among their descendants. Schools of the English language were scarce. Churches both of the German Reformed and Lutheran denominations were found all over the county, and were well attended. There was a strict adherence to the doctrine of the churches, the parents gently desired having their children trained in the precepts of Christianity.

It seems to us now an astonishing fact that a man should borrow from five hundred to one thousand dollars of a neighbor, the lender taking no note, but merely marking the amount, and opposite the time when to return the amount or pay the interest thereof, with a piece of chalk on one of the house-joists or on the large house clock. They deemed it a sacred duty when the time had expired to pay the interest or amount, according to what was agreed upon. If any one failed to be prompt, or failed entirely to meet his payment, this was an extraordinary affair, and such shameful conduct was considered a crime. The old saying, “His word is as good as his note,” was really true with this class of people.

For a stranger to settle among them was a rare occurrence. Railroads and telegraphs there were none. Trade was carried on by wagons to Philadelphia and other markets. Stores had their supplies brought all the way from Philadelphia on wagons, a distance of eighty miles. Dealers would arrange it so as to go to the city two or four times a year. They arranged their time of travel so that they were able to reach a hotel when it was time to feed their horses. Here the men greeted each other in the most friendly manner. They drank their pure old rye whiskey, which they obtained at the hotel at three cents a glass with a cigar thrown in, according to the general custom. On the arrival at the great markets they were earnest, prompt, and shrewd at their business, and spared no pains in carrying out their duty honorably. When the time had arrived for the return of the heavy four-and six-horse teams, there was a general excitement. People came from twelve to fifteen miles to see the bright calicoes and other wearing materials. This made every heart glad and anxious to buy. In common with the Pennsylvania Germans elsewhere, those of Heidelberg have been a prosperous and industrious people. Failures have been scarcely known of among them; their whole aim has been to prosper, and it is well known that they have prospered.

Of the family of Peters who early settled in Heidelberg township were three brothers, - Casper, Rudolph, and Jacob.

Casper [Peter] settled in what is now Washington, and the account of his descendants will be found in that township. He built the present house in 1761, and placed in the wall a stone with the year marked upon it... p. 549. Caspar Peters, one of the earliest settlers in that part of Heidelberg which is now Washington, came here about 1741, from Switzerland, and took up three hundred acres of land between Unionville and Slatington, and about four miles distant from the latter place. His log house was built where is now the residence of his great-grandson, Daniel Peters. The date of the death of this pioneer progenitor of the Peters family is not known. He was buried in the Union Church Cemetery. He left several sons, among others, John [Peters] and Caspar. The name of Jacob Peters appears in a list of warrants, in which it is indicated that he took up land Jan 28, 1752. Rudolph Peters took up land in 1754. It is not known that these two men were sons of the first Peters, but is presumable that they were...

Rudolph Peter settled in Heidelberg, where Henry Handwerk now lives. He took out a warrant for seventy-four acres of land on the 28th of January, 1754. Eve Elizabeth, a daughter, became the wife of Adam German, who settled at Germansville. It is not known who his other children were. He died in 1813, aged fifty-seven years, and is buried in Heidelberg churchyard.

Jacob Peter, to be a brother of Rudolph and Casper, took out a warrant for thirty-one acres of land on the 12th of March, 1752; nothing is known of his descendants.  In 1781 Casper Peter, Casper Peter, Jr., William, Jacob, John, and the Widow Peter were assessed on real estate, and in 1812, John, Daniel, Johannes, Jacob, Theobald, William, Casper, Sr., Casper, Jr., John, Sr., Nicholas, George, Michael, Jacob, Henry, Sr., Henry, Jr., and John Peter, Jr.

It must be born in mind that Heidelberg in 1781 and 1812 embraced Washington. The line of Casper Peter, one of the three brothers, has been well traced. Of the other brothers, Rudolph and Jacob, but little is known of the generation following. Nicholas Peter, whose name appears in 1812, had three sons, - Daniel, Elias, and John Jacob (2d). The latter lived where his son, Joseph, now resides.

A John Jacob Peter (1st) lived on the farm now owned by Aaron Peter. He executed the mason work of the county jail at Allentown in 1816.  He married Maria Krum, sister of Michael. They had seven children; Jeremiah, Adam, Polly (Mrs. Dutton), Henry, Abram, Jacob, and Reuben.

Johannes Hunsicker was the first of the family of that name known to be in the township. His son Henry [Hunsicker] married Maria Barbara Huff in 1786, by whom he had three sons and six daughters. She died in 1802, aged thirty-eight years.

Peter Hunsicker lived in 1794 on land adjoining Philip Mosser. The Heidelberg churchyard contains tablets to Susanna Hunsicker, born 1799, died in 1850, and Magdalena Hunsicker, born in 1731.

John Hunsicker, who was born in 1755, and died in 1836, aged eighty years, and his wife, Catharine (Stiegerwalt), born in 1757, died in 1823, were located near the Heidelberg Church, where his son Henry lived. He married Susanna-, who died in 1850, and left five children, of whom were Reuben, David, and Levi, the last two living on the homestead.

Joseph Hunsicker, a brother of John, married a daughter of Michael Ohl, by whom he had no children. He married for his second wife a daughter of Krum, and sister of Christian Krum, by whom he had Christian, Jonas, John, Daniel, Reuben, and Henry.

[from History of Lehigh County Pennsylvania

Johannes Handwerk, Sr., was a large land owner. On November 27, 1761, he sold a tract of 400 acres of land, located in Heidelberg township, Northampton (now Lehigh) county, to his son, John Handwerk, and Nicholas Handwerk, Jr., for the consideration of 300 pounds. Of this tract 130 acres were taken up by warrant from the Province by Henry Hauser, bearing date of April 25, 1744. The 400 acre tract was bounded by lands of Michael Ohl, Peter Handwerk, Bernhard Neff and John Hunsicker. On October 26, 1786, three years before he died, Johannes Handwerk sold three more tracts to his son, John Handwerk.

The third Johannes Handwerk [1777- 1851] son of Johannes, Jr.) became the owner of the homestead upon which is erected the historic house, a cut of which appears in the descriptive history of Heidelberg township. After the death of his father he cultivated this land from the time of his marriage until he died. His wife was Catharine Peter [1783]. They had eight children:
Catharine, (married Michael Harter),
Henry (married Elizabeth Schmidt),
Casper, (married Elizabeth German),
Susanna, (married George Neff),
Elizabeth (married Peter Benninger),
Michael (married Lydia Schneck),
Rebecca (married Henry Hoffman),
Nathan (married Lydia Snyder). .

Jacob Kemmerer moved from Saucon township to this township in the early part of his life, previous to 1754. He was a great hunter, and during his life shot a vast number of deer. He also was or acted as captain over a squad of men who went from here across the Blue Mountains to Gnadenhütten to bury those who had been killed by the Indians. He went to the Wyoming Valley to help to protect the whites from the horrible slaughter of the Indians. The land upon which he lived is now owned by Rev. J. S. Renninger, being adjoining land of the tract formerly owned by Paul and Leonard Stein, now the property of Monroe Sensinger. He died about the year 1825, at the age of eighty-eight years. He had a brother Fritz, who was a miller in Allentown.

The Village of Saegersville is located near the centre of the township, six miles west of Slatington, one mile west of Heidelberg Church, and a little over one mile east of the Schuylkill and Lehigh Railroad station at Germansville. It has one hundred and forty-two inhabitants.

Michael Ohl, Sr., was the original owner of the place, and had in his possession from six to eight hundred acres of land surrounding the village site. Tradition has it that all this land scarcely yielded enough to support himself and family. ...Michael Ohl died in 1804, aged seventy-four years, and, with several of the Ohl family, is buried here in the Heidelberg Church.cemetery. Mary Ohl, who was unmarried, gave five hundred dollars towards building the old Heidelberg Church. She is one of those who are buried there....Michael Ohl, Sr., erected the main portion of the house, which is still standing and used as a hotel. On one of the stones the year 1763 is carved.

Nicholas Saeger, who was a brother to Jacob and Daniel Saeger, of Saegerstown, Crawford Co., and the father of Joseph, John, and Daniel Saeger, of New York State, bought the land of Samuel Ely and Jacob Sweier in 1806. He sold the part on which the hotel and store is erected in 1807 to his son John Saeger. Joseph Saeger, after he had lived for a period of two years on the premises, commenced to keep the hotel and store, and continued in the business until the year 1831, when he moved to Allentown, and there entered in the mercantile business with Christian Pretz, under the firm-name of Pretz & Saeger.

From History of Lehigh County Pennsylvania

Andreas Kunkel (son of George, and grandson of the pioneer) was born April 20, 1781, in Albany township, Berks county, where he lived until his removal to West Penn township, Schuylkill county. There he farmed until 1814 when he traded farms with Peter Ebert who lived in Heidelberg township, Lehigh county, and on this farm (near Germansville) he lived until his death. A log house, built in 1780 by an Ebert, is still standing.

Mr. Kunkel was a cooper and his shop stood where the present residence of Wilson Kunkel now stands. He and family were Lutheran members of the Heidelberg Church, which he served as an elder for many years. He was the constable of Heidelbere for many years. In appearance he was a tall, well-proportioned man possessed of great strength.

Adam Kunkel, a farmer, was born July 15, 1750, and died November 24, 1827. He was married to Maria Margaret Gildner, a daughter of John George and Gertrude (Harter) Gildner. She was born May 15, 1753, and died September 21, 1821. During the Revolutionary War he served from Northampton county, Pa., in the Continental Army [See Pennsylvania Archives.] Both of these pioneers are buried in the old graveyard at the Heidelberg Church. They had eight children: Adam, Andrew, Elizabeth, Margaret, Hannah, Maria (born in 1785, died in 1822, married to Andrew Shissler), Magdalena, and Barbara.

Anthony Krum, one of the pioneer settlers of Heidelberg township, now Lehigh county, made his last will and testament, Nov. 21, 1764, and it was probated Oct. 18, 1765. The will mentions that "my son, John Henry shall have my Sermon Book." It also refers to other children, but does not mention their names. He makes ample provision for his wife, Gertrude. Other children of this pioneer were: George, Johannes, Christian, and Frantz [Krum].

Christian Krum married Maria Neff. They had a daughter, Elizabeth, born on Nov. 28, 1779. Their son, Conrad, was born on Dec. 16, 1776. He married M. Elizabeth Schneider, and lived with her fifty-nine years. She was born on Sept. 18, 1784, and was a daughter of John George Schneider. Her death occurred Aug. 12, 1861, in her 77th year. He died May 28, 1860, in his 84th year. Both are buried at the Heidelberg church. They lived in the vicinity of the old Lehigh furnace. He was a wood-chopper and went to the mountains bareheaded almost daily to cut wood. Their children were: Jonas, who lived at Saegersville; Henry; Isaac; and Peter K.

Peter Krum, of the third generation, lived along the mountains in Heidelberg township. He died in West Penn township, Schuylkill county, while residing with his son, Jesse, with whom he spent his last years. He lived to the age of 82 years and is buried in West Penn township. He was a stone mason by trade and a member of the Reformed Church. His wife, Barbara Snyder, died about 1836. She is buried at Heidelberg church. Their children were: Jesse; Lovina, married Joshua Danah; Elizabeth, married John Benninghoff; Jonas; Jeremiah and Polly, both not married.

Jacob (Gerhard) Rittenhouse was born in Cresheim, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania on September 18, 1756. He was the son of Garret Rittenhouse and Mary Bartlesom. He served as a drummer and a teamster in the Revolutionary War. He married Catherine Marie Salome Arner at Whitehall, Northampton, Pennsylvania, on March 20, 1781. They were among the first settlers in what is now Sugarloaf Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. In 1808, he bought a gristmill in Sugarloaf from William Rittenhouse. Jacob died on March 8, 1847 in Sugerloaf.