A large number of our residents attended the tabernacle meeting of the Evangelical denomination, which was held in Menno Clemmer's meadow on Sunday. The meeting was well attended, and fourteen were baptised. The services throughout were quite interesting.
The infant daughter of Amandus G. Eck of this place was baptised at the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Bally, on Sunday.
Edwin Krauss and Henry Usffer, the organ builders of this town, have been spending the week at Niantic. They erected the large pipe organ in the church at that place during the week. The organ had been removed to the home of Mr. Krauss and was completely remodeled. The organ as it now stands in the church is one of the most beautiful toned instruments in that vicinity. Mr. Krauss is considered to be one of the most experienced organ builders in this State.
Oliver Gaugler, of this place, had an unpleasant experience this week with a new hammerless which he just recently purchased. Mr. Gaugler was explaining the mechanism of his new purchase to a friend while the gun was loaded. When he attempted to demonstrate the manner in which the hammers work, the load was discharged, with a report which almost deprived the two gentlemen of their senses. Upon further examination it was found that the gun was defective. It was later returned to the factory.
Assessor Butterwick, of Red Hill, was making the rounds in this district of Upper Hanover township on Monday.
The new barn now being erected by George Gery, near this place, is almost completed.
Isaac Roeder unloaded a car of stock at this station on Wednesday. Mr. Roeder claims that it was the best he has handled for some time.
James W. Butz, the coal and feed dealer at this place, is now kept busy filling orders for coal.
The Hancock Ice Company has started to arrange their large houses at this place for the storing of ice. Mr. Miller, the manager, has his men making all the necessary repairs to the buildings.
Mr. and Mrs. John Seasholtz of Royersford, spent Sunday at this place, the guest of Edwin Kepler.
Mrs. Edwin Gottschall of Zeiglerville, is spending a week with her father Eph. Zoller.
Jonathan Jones, of Green Lane, has secured a position as night watchman in L.B. Miller's cigar factory.
O.D. Reiter received a carload of nice potatoes this week. This is as nice a load of potatoes that was ever shipped to this station. They are an elegant variety for seed potatoes, being large, sound and have a good flavor. Read his advertisement in this issue. Mr. Reiter also received a carload of slate this week.
O.D. Reiter, coal and lumber dealer, received the contract to furnish the lumber required for the erection of Markley Brothers new mill, along the Perkiomen Creek, near this place.
The Young Men's Democratic Club has added a large list to their membership. They will have their next meeting at Haring's Hotel on Tuesday evening.
George Heid is again bedfast.
John A. Beyer and lady friend were visiting in Trumbauersville on Sunday.
George Welker is making preparations for a cement walk in his yard.
A.H. Beyer was in Philadelphia on Monday and Tuesday.
A.P. Markley received his lumber for the new mill.
Our merchant, G.M. Welker, will receive a carload of Michigan State potatoes during the forepart of next week. He will sell them from the car at this station in quantities to suit purchaser.
Abraham Beyer, of this town, received a carload of cabbage. He disposed of some yesterday. The balance he will sell today. The cabbage is of excellent quality, and he sells it cheap.
Samuel High of Norristown, addressed the Marlboro Democratic Club, on Wednesday evening. Next Wednesday evening a rousing meeting will be held. Several prominent speakers from Philadelphia will be present.
Macoby's passing siding was put in service Friday and engine 784 was the first regular train to run into it.
J.C. Hancock purchased a number of young cattle from drover Weand.
Stanley Schell died on Saturday of diphtheria. He was seven years old and was a son of Lewis Schell. The remains were interred in the cemetery of the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament on Monday.
Mrs. Jacob Bawman, of near Congo, will shortly make her home in this town with the family of Amos Pannepacker. She will dispose of her personal property today.
Mr. and Mrs. I.H. Bechtel visited relatives at Philadelphia and Valley Forge on Sunday.
James Melcher is making arrangements to rebuild his barn, which was destroyed by fire a short time ago.
John Bauer, who recently moved his pantaloon factory to Sassamansville, is moving it back again to the old place of business.
The Stengel's pantaloon factory was closed for about a week on account of the marriage of the foreman, Wallace Stengel, to Miss Tillie Quigley, last Thursday. They returned from a trip to Washington on Tuesday evening.
Miss Lottie Jones was the guest of her mother, Mrs. Blank, on Saturday and Sunday.
Lutheran communion tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. Preparatory service today at two o'clock.
Reformed communion on Sunday, October 21, at 9:30 a.m. Preparatory services on Saturdays at two o'clock.
Reformed Sunday school tomorrow at two o'clock.
Mrs. L. Gerhart, who spent part of the week in Philadelphia, returned home.
Robert Dannehower and William Robison spent a few days in Philadelphia with friends.
The Ridge Valley Lutheran Sunday school will hold its children's service on Sunday afternoon, October 28.
Samuel Krauss, of Sumneytown, one of the oldest living residents of the Perkiomen Valley, was born August 5, 1807, at Kraussdale. He is of Schwenkfelder stock, but is a member of the Reformed church. His parents were Andrew Krauss and Susanna Schultz, who had a numerous family, of whom Samuel Krauss one brother John Krauss of Kraussdale, and Mrs. J.B. Bechtel of this borough are the only survivors.
Samuel Krauss was, in his younger days, what would be called a born genius. His mind was of a mechanical turn and nothing was too difficult for him to undertake if he once got the idea that he ought to go about it. It was in this way that he conceived the idea of becoming a clockmaker. This interesting story is told of his first success at the trade: When he was quite a young man he thought that a clock made by himself would be a welcome addition to his father's family effects; so he hied himself off to a cubby-hole in an out-of-the-way corner of the garret, with a brad-awl and a jack-knife, and proceeded to carve a clock out of solid wood. In those days clocks of brass were unknown to country people. The rest of the family wondered what Samuel was doing, but he kept his own cousel and barred the door of his garret retreat against all intruders. His father forbade the other children to interfere on pain of severe punishment, telling them that in due time Samuel would make his important secret known. One day he brought the result of his hard labor to the view of the astonished family, and his father was so well pleased that he willingly acceded to his son's request for forty dollars to buy tools with which to ply the trade of a clockmaker. He accordingly went to New York and purchased the tools he most needed. On his return he displayed his purchased, which made only a small bundle. His father could not understand why it was not larger, for forty dollars went a great way in those times.
He then started self-taught in business for himself as a clock and watchmaker. He was an extensive builder of large hall clocks, some of which are still keeping good time, and bid fair to do so for many years to come. He was also handy with the pen-knife, and he exibits with pride specimens of his skill as a carver.
During the active years of his long life he engaged in various business enterprises. He first located on the road that runs from Kraussdale to the East Greenville road, in Upper Hanover township, this county. He kept a general merchandise store in connection with his clock making business, doing a thriving trade.
Mr. Krauss has a taste for literature and authorship. About ten years ago he published a little volume of Germany hymns of his own composition. Sometime in the 30's Samuel Krauss and a young man of his acquaintance made a trip on foot to New York State. He kept a diary of this journey, which contains many interesting notes.
About fifteen years ago he retired from business, and removed to Sumneytown. Mr. Krauss writes a remarkably firm hand for one of his great age.
A birthday party was tendered Mr. and Mrs. Henry B. Hoffman of Niantic, on Tuesday. This being the day on which Mr. Hoffman turned the 77th milestone of his age and his children, relatives and friends took advantage of the fact. They arranged matters and at an early hour on that day they began to arrive at the Hoffman homestead, until about seventy-two were there. The aged couple were very much delighted to see all their children and grand children and a large portion of their neighbors, at their home. An elegant dinner was served the many guests present and the day will never be forgotten by the old couple. Many people from a distance were present. Those present were: Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hoffman and children Henry, Lizzie, George, Amelia, Charles and Estella; Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Smith and their children Katie, Simon, Willie and Eva, all of Hillegass; Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Yergey and children Ella, May, Leidy and Matilda, of Pleasant Run; Mr. and Mrs. David Sacks and children Irene, Howard, Mary, Lily, Eva, Cora, Wright, David, Ada and Elva of Obelisk; Mary Faul, Mrs. Maria Hoffman, Mrs. Mary Lizzie Walp, Lilly Walp, Katie Walp, Katie Hoffman, Andrew Hoffman and Rachael Hoffman all of Quakertown; Mr. and Mrs. John Tagert, James Tagert, Robert Tagert, Mrs. Ellen Tagert, Elias Kuhns, Mrs. Lydia Kuhns, Mrs. Leanna Saylor of Hillegass; Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Fox, Mrs. Lydia Graber, Mrs. Mary Carl, James Tagert, Mrs. Emma Tagert and Mabel Tagert of Pennsburg, and Rev. and Mrs. J.J. Kline of New Hanover.
Palayan, Philippine Islands, August, 15th, 1900
It will no doubt be interesting to you, who live where mail is brought to you at least four times a day, to know that our mail boat reaches us but once a month. It is not necessary for me to tell you that as many as can possibly make arrangements to be present when it arrives and is distributed are on hand. If you could see the great crowd of Uncle Sam's boys in blue congregated around the postal department just after the arrival of a mail, it would be a picture formed upon your mind never to be forgotten. Their faces are a study - I have seen big strong men, grasp a letter, kiss it and run to their quarters and with trembling hands tear open the letter. The first line, (My Dear Boy:) would start tears of gladness to flow from the eyes of this iron constituted man. The experience of receiving letters at an army station is different in the case of each individual. Some cry, some laugh and others shout for joy. This seemingly small matter of receiving news, has become quite a study to me and I will relate two other cases of the many I know, to give you some idea of what news from home is to the boys who are thousands of miles from those who he loves. Shortly after the last mail arrived, one of the boys in my Company received a letter from his best girl. I noticed the next day that he was a different man. I asked him what was the matter, he turned a haggard face toward me and said, "Corporal - its all up some other jay has won her and now she is to be married." On another occasion I met a member of another Company and he was more than happy. This fellow did not need to be asked, he yelled out: "Hello, Corporal its all O.K. at home, she says she will wait, if we have to stay here long enough to kill every niggar on the Island."
I received the papers and I tell you they were welcome, especially the Town and Country. I still have them on my bed and read them over fully a dozen times and strange but true, they are not worn out yet. I would like to have some more as they give all the news in the county and make me feel as if I were at home when I read them. Please visit Town and Country office and make my wishes known.
All we have to do now is fight occasionally with the Ladrones, you naturally ask, What are they? Well, they are bands of robbers or bad niggars as we call them. There are always from 50 to 65 of them in the guard house. They are put to work and kept at it all day in the hot sun, when I say hot I mean it, not as it was at Camp Alger, but from 20 to 30 degrees hotter. Regarding meals we get the same old thing, slum three times a day, slum is a mixture of hard-tack, old canned meat and any other old thing there may be in camp. But we never complain as it is well soaked and does not require much chewing. Outside of slum we get pretty good meals and as a rule we are well cared for.
On the 6th of July we had a fight with the Ladrones, but it was not as exciting as we had hoped for. They attacked the First Batallion at Taal, about 18 miles from this camp, they wounded several men and succeeded in burning half the city before they were started on the run. I never heard just how many of the Ladrones were killed. Companies G and H were ordered out (I am in Company G) but could not find one of them. Then we were recalled and Companies F and E were sent out. They stayed until they found them and killed 28 and took 100 as prisoners not one of their men received a scratch. This gives you some idea of their fighting ability.
A am now having a good time of it I am on duty but once every eight days and the rest of the time I put in sleeping and reading my old Town and Country's, by all means send me all you can get your hands on.
There are rumors going the rounds in camp to the effect that we can expect to eat out Christmas dinners in the United States. The rumor says we will start for home about the first of December, this I doubt very much. But I assure you nothing would please me better than to be able to sit down at the table with those I love. I will say good bye for this time, asking you to remember me to all my friends.
Wallace K. Hunsberger
Corporal 28th Regt. Co. G, U.S.V.
One by one historic landmarks in this vicinity are being eliminated. In Chestnut Hill, a suburb of Philadelphia, the old Yeakel log cabin will soon be demolished. This interesting old house has been in actual use as a dwelling since it was erected in 1743 by Christopher Yeakel, and it is the only building of its kind remaining in the United States.
The Yeakel cottage, as the building is called, is one of the greatest antiquities on the Germantown road. It is one story in height, cozy within and has a pleasant attic. Originally it had a shingle roof, which had to be kept in repair at considerable expense, until a few years ago. A tin roof was substituted.
The building was always kept neatly whitewashed and was a forcible reminder of the old colonial days. Although over a century and a half old, it is still a fine specimen of the style of building once so common. It has been used continuously as a dwelling-house and was occupied by soldiers during the Revolutionary war. If the walls of this log cabin could speak many a chapter of interesting romances would be added to the history of this country. In the parlor, on more than one occasion, sat the leading officers of the Continental Army, and there plans were discussed and campaigns mapped out to foil the plans of the English. Washington, Lafayette and many other generals have looked upon these silent walls.
The history of the cottage goes back to 1743, when Christopher Yeakel, at that time about eighteen years old, came to America with his mother, who was a widow. He apprenticed himself to a cooper and continued during his life to follow that trade. The log cabin was his dwelling place until after the War of the Revolution, when he purchased a property some distance from his old home. When he died it was at an advanced age. By industrious and frugal habits he acquired considerable property.
His descendants are numerous in this county and the old log cabin at Mermaid and Germantown avenues, Philadelphia, has remained in possession of his descendants up to the present time.
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