PI67 TKIP INTO THE "SWATARA 1 REGION OF LEBANON COUNTY, PENNA. BY e. w. s. parthemore. Read at the monthly meeting of the Dauphin County Historical Society, December ISth, 189k. On motion of Wm. B. Egle, M. D., the thanks of the Society were tendered the author for the paper read. HARRISBURG, PA.: • Harrisburg Publishing Co. iS<)5- .Ul _ "Z IN THE SWATARA REGION. It was June 9th that a long contem- plated trip was begun, in company wilh a citizen of this city, to the beautiful Leb- anon Valley, Pa. "We started north from Palmstown, now Palmyra, across the gravel hill and soon turned to the east, pass- ing the school house known as Early's, from the fact that 'Squire William Early led the German element against the Scotch-Irish citizens in that section of Lebanon county in the free school fight. The Germans were not as much opposed to the free school system as they were to give up their parochial school at Bindnagle's church, where they educated for more than seventy-five years their children in both religious and secular training; but the election was gained by the Scotch- Irish for the free school system. No sooner, however, was this adopted, when 'Squire Early donated the land in the lo- cality mentioned for the school house we have just passed on our trip to New Market Forge. Here we arrived after passing the home where Rev. George Mark resided many years, up to the be- ginning of the late war, and who with bis ancestry were early pioneers in Method- ism and afterwards leaders in the U. B. church in that section. We soon arrive at New Market Forge, or rather first at the factory mill, where about the year 1812 a number of wealthy gentlemen from Lancaster, Pa., at the head of which was a Mr. Heintzleman. established a very large cotton and woolen factory at a cost of $96,000. The product of the mill was counted equal to apy manufactured in the country. They lo- cated here on account of the large water power on the Quitopahilla creek, which empties into the Swatara a half mile below the factory. At the close of the war of 1812-14, the opening of our ports to foreign manufactures, brought ruin to this concern. It is now owned by Ezra Early and run as a chopping mill . Here it was that our companion began merchan- dising at the close of the year 1849, and it was with much pleasure we entered the house where our companion for life was born. The house is built against a hill, which we soon ascended to look upon the old graveyard which contains a number of graves, yet only two tomb- stones, with the following inscription: John Stauffer, d. August 14, 1822, aged 56 years 5 months 19 days. He at one time was the operator of this mill in its declining days. The other tells us of the name and death of the son of an Englishman, who at one period expended his energies in this factory, Samuel Worthington, b. July 11, 1819; d. March 5, 1827. Here we saw what was at one time.more than sixty years ago, a log school house which stood and did duty at "McGi'les Stettle," but now occupied as a black- smith shop, having been brought here years ago by our companion. in the Swatara Region. Proceeding up the creek a half mile we come to New Market Forge, which was one of the early iron industries in Dau- phin, now Lebanon county. The forge was erected at the close of the year 1792 by Adam Orth and David Krause. The land upon which it was built, and that on which the dam spread its water, covered many acres. Some of the land was pur- chased from Peter Ney (a descendent of Nicholas Ney, b. June 6, 1742, in Ger- many, and came to America in the year 1751) on January 13, 1792. This was pat- ented by the Province of Pennsylvania October 26, 1765, to John Adam Ney. He, by will dated December 14, 1792, left the same to his son, John Peter Ney, as above. Another tract of 171 acres, pat- ented November 7, 1761, to Cyrus Blough, which, by will dated February 24, 1793, left to his sons, John and Abraham Blough. They sold the same to Adam Orth and David Krause, with this "im- primis:" "Those lands and premises that shall or may hereafter be flowed, over- flowed and covered with water on the above mentioned tract of land and prem- ises by a dam intended to be erected and built on Quittapahilla creek, by the said Adam Orth and David Krause, to raise such dam to be erected for use of certain water works to be erected or built by the same Adam Orth and David Krause. " October 4, 1793, David Krause and wife, Begina, sold their half interest in the plant to Adam Orth. Adam Orth died in the year 1794 and left the property to his son Henry, and he with his wife, Barbara, January 19, 1797, sold the same to Henry Moyer, and the latter, in the year 1798, disposed of the same to John Kean and John Elder, of Harrisburg, for the sum of £22,000, and the following year Mr. Kean removed his family there. Since then the same has been owned and operated by a number of different persons, and was in operation until a few years ago, since which time the building has gone into de- cay and destruction, and no doubt the sound of the forge hammer on the banks of the Qaitopahilla has been silenced for ever, and the wrecking of capital by this enterprise is fulfilled for the last time, in the language of the Pennsylvania German poet: O! Forge'hammT, du grosz, erschreckllch's Thler, Du hoscht, achun, g'fresse drey order fler ; Den f unite hoscnt du a'h In Eaone— Dem werscht'8, Ja woiil, net basser maohe." Toe mill dam iB still there, backing up a lake of water covering eighty acres. On retracing our steps again to the fac- tory our attention was called to a green sward to the left of the road, once en- closed by a post and rail fence, which was the family burial place of the Raysor family, some of whom reside in this vicinity, while a TJ. B. church a few miles east of Harrisburg derives its name from that surname, and all evidences of fence and graves have disappeared. After leav- ing this place, Syner, which is the post office name, we pro- ceed in a northeasterly direction, soon come to the Swatara Creek, and are driving through the Maulfair farm, which Michael Maulfair (MaulvierorMohlwebr), had warranted to him by the Province of Pennsylvania, November 14, 1754. He In the Swatara Region. was a French Huguenot and came to America early in life. He was born in 1729; died in 1807, and left numerous de- scendants, who continue to reside in that section. Michael Maulfair is buried at Bindnagle Church, where he was a com- municant and follower of the Reformer. His wife. Eve, born October 2, 1736 ; d. March 6, 1793, and lies buried by his side. We next come to the Swatara Creek, along whose shores we drive for some dis- tance, when we arrive at "Oil" Miller's ford, so named from the oil mill located nearby, and owned by a Mr. Miller a cen- tury ago. Here we cross the historic stream, yet not as they did a hundred years ago, but over a two- spanned iron bridge, and are now in the east end of Hanover township or the Swatara region proper, originally settled almost wholly by the Germans, except in that section we are traveling, where a few Scotch-Irish assisted in forming the nucleus of Hanover Presbyterian church, situate along the mountains at the Manada, some ten miles to the north and west of this point. As we descend the hill from the bridge, we cross the Union canal bed, which was one of the greatest and earliest internal improvements the American country wit- nessed at the close of the eighteenth cen- tury. As early as the year 1762 the cele- brated astronomer, David Rittenhouse, and the provost of the University of Pennsylvenia. sun eyed a route along the Swatara and Tulpehocken, for a canal to connect the waters of the Susquehanna and Schuylkill, and this very canal, now overgrown with pond lillies, grasB and weeds, with here and there a lonely frog croaking his doleful melody, passes over a portion of this old survey. Great were the plans of the progressive originators of this canal who foresaw a large highway for commerce from Lake Erie and the Ohio with the Delaware river. At this early date no such an avenue was in exist- ence in England, and, for our poor weak colonies to undertake this stupendous work was a Herculean task. The canal was not however finished until after a number of failures and as many renewals of American grit, when in the year 1827 the same was completed, after expending over $1.- 600,000 and using the lottery, which was sanctioned by the Legislature, in assisting to raise money. We now proceed on our journey along this artificial stream, which was, but is not, our objective point, as the sun is nearing the meridian hour, and we reach the location of a great aunt to my chil- dren, but not until we pass the Goetz's locks, three in number, in less than half a mile, and if we had faith in "spooks" we would not venture to pass the lock houses at night. Here settled John Nich- olas Goetz, born June 22, 1736, in Europe, emigrated to America in 1775, arriving October 9th, in the ship 'King of Prus- sia." He was the son of Jacob and AppoloDia Goetz. He married March, 1775, just before his departure for America, Barbara Mechlin. He died at the age of 66 years, 7 months and 10 days. His de- scendants reside in Dauphin and Lebanon counties. After enjoying a dinner such as only a Pennsylvania-German woman can In the Swatara Region. prepare, we left the Goetz settlement to return again at eventide. We now go direct north.passing Sherk's meejing house, owned by the United Brethren. ThiB is an old preaching place; the first church beiBg erected in the year 1826. Here the late Bishop J. Erb, while traveling this circuit, organized in the year 1827 the first class ever enrolled in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. The ground upon which the church stands was deeded by Peter Sherk and wife, and in 1842, by an act of the Legislature, the same was sold by the Mennonite trustees to Jacob Albert, HeDry Neidig and George Bomgardner in trust for the U. B. church. Here are buried the Harpers, Sherks, Shel- lenbergers, Millers and Bomgardners. In the early days the ministers who spoke the Word at this plice were the three Lights, Felix, John and Casper, John Neidig, Roop and Funkhouser. After leaving this church *e sood reach the well known public highway "Jones- towi Road," below Zion Reformed and Lutheran church. Here are buried many of the descendants of the early German ancestry who settled here while the Indian yet traveled through the valley along the "Blue Mountains." The most numerous buried here are the Alberts; Deininger, Ulrich, Weis and Z'tnmerman. We soon arrived at Harper's tavern, a place for the entertainment of man and beast since 1740, where Adam Harper set- tled. It is on the north bank of the Swa tara. Adam Harper was one of the earliest pioneers in the eastern part of Hanover township as origina'dy organized. He was surrounded by Indians, who had a wigwam village near his cabin. Here, about 1755, the Indians killed a number of white persons, and one, a sister of Major Leidig, was scalped and then escaped, and remark- able to relate survived the barbarous act and lived for years afterwards. Many were the atrocities perpetrated by the red men along the mountain in the neighbor- hood of the Manada and Swatara Gaps. Not far from here is where, during the year 1757, in the month of August, the savages bore down upon the early settlers and murdered and captured many ; while during the following year, to the east of this location, between Indiantown Gap and the Swatara, the depredations were numerous and the Indian cruelties very severe. Like the heaviest downpour of rain is at the end of the shower, so in this section, as we have said the cruelties were the most severe, they were also to be the last, which murdering occurred October 23, 1758, by Adam Mosser and brother loBing their lives. After leaving Harper's we turn in the direction of the mountain and soon arrive at the place most important and the ob- ject of this trip. Walmer's Church, one of the oldest that was established by the early German settlers, although nothing more is said of this early preaching pla^e in our county histories save a passing re- mark. The first church was erected in 1751 on ground donated by John Walborn or Walheimer, and is located on the banks of Read's creek, a small stream draining that portion of country. The stream took its name from Adam Read, an early Scotch-Irish settler in that sectio" and a Justice of the Peace. Adam Read, or In the Swatara Region. (■"quire Read, waB born in the year 1703; died February 2, 1769, and is buried at old Hanover Preebyterian church. Here in this section came as early settlers the Stewarts, Youngs, McCulloughs, McClin- licks, McLeans, McFarlands, Murray s, Glens, Woods and others from the north of Ireland and who composed tbe eastern end of the Presbyterians from Hanover town- ship who worshipped at the old church. Soon or probably about the same time came the sturdy German from the Pala- tinate and settled here, whose descendants are there to-day, while the Scotch-Irish- man has left for other portions of this great country. Mr. Walmer purchased a very large tract of land between the two branchPs of Read's Run from the proprie- tors August 14, 1751, and like all those who came from Germany was used to his cburch on Sunday, and feeling the necessity of a place of worship, he and his six sons erected a church in the old graveyard opposite to where the present church stands. The building was erected of heavy logs and in size was 30x32 feet and not very high. It is said that it took them six days to raise the building, thus verifying the old German adage "Onhalt g'wint." The building was not completed, how- ever, for a number of years, it having no floor in it. The beams where the floor was subsequently laid on served as seats, or, modernly speaking, pews, during wor- ship. bu> soon the settlement increased by the coming of the ihueys, Gerberichs, Hetricks, Decker 3 , Bittners, Bneshores and others, when the church was finished, so that there was a comfortable place for the followers of Luther and Zwingli to worship; but no stove was used until many years after, when they secured one four feet long, weighing seven hundred pounds, and which no doubt was one of Baron Steigle's. Possibly the first minister to preach here was Rev. John Casper Stoever, of the Lutheran, and Conrad Tempelman, of the Reformed. Since the organization of the church the Reformed denomination predominated in members. Here also preached that eccentric doctor of medicine, Rev. William Stoy or Stoey. After serving in the active ministry a number of years he turned his attention to medicine, though he did not cease to preach, and when on a preaching trip he usuaily carried his saddle bags, containing medicine. He discovered an effective cure for hydrophobia, which is still in use, and a medicine popularly known as "Stoy's Drops." He was the first to introduce in- oculation for small-pox. He died in Leb- anon September 14, 1801, and some of his descendants reBide in this city. When he came to preach at this point it was usually on week days, with gun on his shoulder, the shot pouch on his side, and placing the same under the pulpit then went to preaching. It is related that one day he came, and, placing his accoutrements at their accustomed place, mounted the plat form and looking around found only a few old women on the logs, the men being en- gaged in the fields as it was summer, he said to those waitiDg to hear the Gospel preached : '"Soil ich do hin stahen und fuer diese paar alte Hexen pradigen, das duh ich nicht, will lieber gehn Gurhinkle schiesen." And so, true to his announce 8 In the Swatara Region. ment,he descended the platform with gun and shot pouch and out into the woods to shoot game. The Sabbath school is an old one, having a few years ago celebrated its semi-centennial. The present brick church building indicates care and a suc- cessful congregation, judging by the man- ner in which it is preserved by paint and cleanliness. After leaving thiB precious edifice we cross the public road to the old graveyard which has been a receptacle for the dead for nearly one hundred and fifty years. Here are buried those who have fought the battles against the world and Satan as well as the cause of their country during the revolution and rebellion. A. trans- script of the tombstones is herewith given : Aunspach, Lidia, b. March 9, 1852; d. September 21, 1873. Aungst, Isaac, b. May 3, 1834; d. Sep- tember 4, 1861. Bordner, Dan : el, b. January 21, 1807; d. March 5, 1887. Bordner, Anna M. (oee Tobias), b. March 12, 1808; d. Januiry 11, 1885. Beisner, Frederick, b. August 6, 1806; d . August 6, 1864 Beisner, Emeline, b. June 1, 1815; d, November 6, 1862 Basehore, Jacob, b. April 2, 1816; d. Basehore, Barbara, wife of Jacob, b. February 3, 1781; d February 3, 1855 Basehore, Molly, wife of Thomas (nee Shuey), b. December 14, 1822; d. Novem- ber 14, 1877. Brunner, Henrich, b. January 24, 1745; d. September 9, 1808. Brunner, Catharine, wife of Henrich, b. , 1749; died October 8, 1827. BrawD, Elizabeth, b. October 22, 1801 ; d May 12, 1837. Bittner, Jacob, b. September 12, 1774; d. March 26, 1845. Bohr, David D., b. March 3, 1842; d. May 1, 1871. Berry, Henry, b. October 8, 1812; d. October 26, 1848. Burgner, , b. November 29, 1811;- d. July 13. 1886. Bender, George, b. July 6, 1789; d. September 22, 1864. Decker. Catharine, b. July 14, 1772; d. July 5, 1844. Decker, Johann Adam, b. April 19, 1757; d. February 2, 1843. [The time of our visit being a short time after Decora- tion Day we were forcibly impressed on finding a flag on his grave, when upon in- quiry we were informed that he was a sol- dier in the Revolution, and on a research we find that he was a private in Capt. Jacob Moser's company, Sixth Regiment, Penn'a. Line, enrolled in the spring of 1777.] Decker. David, b February 8, 1816; d. December 26, 1836 Donmoyer, Catharine, wife of J. ; b. June 15, 1817; d. July 15, 1870. Daubert, Elizibeth.wifeof Geo., b. Jan. 8, 1831; d. Nov. 26, 1852. Daub, John, b. Sept. 13, 1798; d. Nov. 12, 1863. Diub, Mary, wife of John, b. Dec. 22, 1800; d. Dec. 20,1865. Fischer, Johannes, b. April 5, 1790; d. May 12, 1858. In the Swatara Region. 9 Fischer, Elizabeth, wife of J., b. De- cember 3, 1789; d. December 3, 1874. Fitler, Catharine, wife of Jacob, b. August 4, 1787; d. August 4, 1887. Gerberich, Jacob, son of Philip, b. No- vember 14, 1803; d. Oct. 14, 1821. Gerberich, Johannes, b. February 7, 1769; d. September 18, 1843. Gerberich, Philip, b. June 29, 1769; d. October 29, 1846. Gerberich, Maria Elizabeth, wife of Philip, b. October 9, 1778; d. November 7, 1856. Gerberich, , wife of George, b. October 7, 1818; d. March 11, 1891. Gerberich, J. 8., b. March 21, 1796; d. October 18, 1886. Gerberich, Magdalena, wife of G., nee Wenger, b. October 26, 1808; d. Septem- ber 3, 1864. Gerberich, Margaretta, wife of A, nee Walmer, b. June 31, 1770; d. June 15, 1849. Gerberich, John Adam.b. April 13,1763; d. June 15, 1849. Gerberich, Barbara, wife of George, nee Schuey, b. October 7, 1803; d. Septem- ber 5, 1863. Gerberich, Oeorge, b. February 3, 1802; d. February 5, 1884. Gerberich. Catharine, wife of H., b. May 16, 1808; d. December 13, 1884. Gerberich, Henry, b. January 3, 1805; d. June 5, 1889. Gerberich, Rebecca, wife of T., nee Walmer, b. Februrry 11. 1826; d. July 26, 1847. Gerberich, Adam, b. July 2, 1847; d. November 12, 1868. GroBS, Jonathan, b. January 22, 1842; d, March 26, 1863. Co. C, 93d Reg. Gross, John, b. March 13, 1813; d. February 9, 1851. Gingericb, Ferdinand, b. April 3, 1839; d. January 21, 1863. Gamber, Elizabeth, b. December 4, 1840; d. August 2, 1862. Good, Charles, b. June 7, 1809; d. Oc- tober 7, 1849. Guth, Peter, b. March 9, 1779; d July S 1857. Guth, Rosina, b. Nov. 20, 1794; d. April 11, 1870. Gerhart, Jacob, b. Jan. 17, 1805; d.Dec. 3, 1876. Gerhart, Maria, wife of J., nee Albert, b. Aug. 25. 1803; d. April 2, 1851. Groff, George, b. April 17, 1809; d. April 7, 1867. Groff, Elizabeth, wife of George, nee Walmer, b. July 19, 1812; d. Aug. 21, 1881. Hoernafus, Elizabeth Barbara, daughter of Andrew, b. Feb. 15, 1771; d. Feb. 20, 1786. Hednch, George, b. March 22, 1796; d. Sept. 13,1877. Hedrich, Christina, wife of G., b. Nov. 22, 1797; d. Sept. 1.1878. Hetrich, Susan Sophia, wife of J., b. Feb. 20, 1769; d. June 24, 1855. Hedrich, John Adam.b. July 4, 1763; d. Feb. 8, 1845. Hunsicker, Christian, b. Dec. 29, 1772; d. March 7, 1854. Hunsicker, Barbara C, b. March 28, 1786; d. Dec. 7, 1861. Hummel, David, b. June 24, 1823; d. Aug 15, 1854. 10 In the Swatara Region. Klick, John, b. April 26, 1787; d. May Proudfoot, Martha, b. April 3, 1842; 5, 1855. drowned June 5, 1862. Klick, Michael, b. Jan. 6, 1789 ; d. May Proudfoot, Isabella, b. Dec. 24, 184G ; 2, 1868. drowned June 5, 1862. Klick, Susanna, nee Hedrich, b. Dec. [The three above were drowned in the 25, 1794; d. March 8, 1871. Swatara the time of the great flood caused Keefver Catharine, wife of G , b. Feb. by the break of the big dam in Swatara 20, 1792jd.Nov. 10, 1863. Gap.J Kohr, Rebecca, wife of J., b. Dec. 14, Rank, Daniel, b. 1774; d. Oct. 2, 1864. 1830; d. March 20, 1887. Rank, Maria E., wife of D., b. Jan. 13, Kohr, Leander, b. July 26, 1853 ; d. June 1781; d.Sept. 11. 1854. 11, 1870. Riegel, Nicholas, b. May 22, 1803 ; d. Kline, Elizabeth, wife of J., b, May 23, Dec. 5, 1889. 1796; d. Jan. 22, 1852. Riegel, Elizabeth, b. Jan. 29, 1805 ; d. Kohr, Margaretta, wife of M., b. March May 24, 1873. 5, 1789; d Nov. 9, 1863. Schuy, Barbara, b. Aug. 22, 1750; d. May Light, Thomas, b. Nov. 17, 1812; d. 8, 1814 May 13, 1889. Schuy, J. Henrich, b. Mar 8, 1748; d. Loser, Peter, b. Feb. 9, 1827; d. April Oct. 15, 1804. [Son of Ludwig Shuey, b. 30, 1864. Oct. 12, 1726; d. Feb. 25, 1775]. Loser, Lavina, wife of P., b Jan. 2, Schuey, Christian, b. Sept. 17, 1784; d. 1831; d. April 4, 1864. Sept. 21, 1843. Mosser, George, b. March 14, 1821; d. Schuey, Magdalena, wife of C, b. June June 1, 1890. 15. 1789; d. 8ept. 14, 1870. Mosaer, John, b. Jan. 10, 1846; d.Sept. Schuey, Veronica, wife of J. L., nee 2, 1863. Biand, b. Oct. 13, 1811; d. Sept. 11, Mosser, Daniel, b. Oct. 14, 1776; d. 1848. March 8, 1862. Schuey, Anna Margaretta, b. June 10, Mosser, Margaretta, nee Boeshore, d. 1781; d. Aug. 7, 1844. Feb. 5, 1782; d. June 28, 1841. Schuey, Johan Ludwig, b. Aug. 28, 1776; Mease, Anna Maria, wife of P., b. April d. April 22, 1842 13, 1795; d. Aug. 20, 1887. Schuey, Johanna, nee Brost, b. May 28, Natzenger, David, b. Jan. 30, 1802; d. 1788; d. Nov. 24, 1839. Nov. 30, 1851. Schuey, Anna, wife of G., b. May 1, Natzenger, Esther, wife of D. b. Nov. 1795; d. April 12, 1872. 1. 1807; d. Oct. 25, 1852. Schuey, Geo., b. 1790; d. Dec. 2, 1864. Proudfoot, James, b. 1810; d. Dec. 14, [A private in Benj. Lesner's Company, 1st 1875. Reg., 1st Brigade, Col. Maxwell Kennedy, Proudfoot, Anna, b. March 14. 1814; war of 1812. A flag also decorated this drowned June 5, 1862. grave through the G. A. R ] In the Sioatara Region. 11 Schuhe, Thomai, b. March 17, 1819; d. Woods, Johannes, b. Sept. 20, 1790; d. Dec. 14, 1855. Oct. 14, 1830. Shuey, John, b. Aug. 18, 1708; d. Sept. Woods, James, b. Aug. 22. 1750; d. 11, 1864. Aug. 20, 1827. [A Revolutionary soldier; Shuey, Elizabeth, b. Mar. 9, 1806, d. grave decorated with flag. He was a son May 23, 1860. of Col. Joseph Wood, the French and In- Shuey, Joseph W., b. Mar. 19, 1813; d. dian war soldier and colonel in the Revo- Not. 18, 1887. [A. private in the Rebel- lution.] lion, Co. A, Capt. We M. Derr, 93d Pa. Woods, Catharine, wife of J , nee Vol. Reg ] Mayers, b. May 15, 1763; d. May 30, Spangler, John S.. b. Mar. 28, 1351; d. 1804. Feb. 7, 1878. Walmer, John, b. June 18, 1780; d. Stein, Catharine, wife of Q., b. Dec. 14, Aug. 21, 183. 1784; d. Feb. 14, 1863. Walmer, Elizabeth, b. 1781; d. Aue. 5, Stine, Henry, b. Aug. 1, 1807; d. June 1831. 7, 1872. Walmer, John, b. Feb. 12, 1837; d. Jan. Stine, Amos, b. Aug. 23, 1822 ; d. April 6, 1862. 7, 1875. Walmer, Peter, b. April 13, 1774, d. Stine, Daniel, b. Mar. 14, 1798; d. May June 5, 1844. 26, 1875. Walmer, Barbara, nee Fischer, b. Feb. Stine, Elenora, wife of D., b. Sept. 10, 27, 1776; d. Jan. 1, 1854. 1819, d. Feb. 25, 1876. Walmer, Elizabeth, b. Dec. 20, 1828; d. Stump, Anna Maria, wife of H., b. May March 27, 1891. 7, 1789; d. June 24, 1856. Walmer, Elizabeth, b. Nov. 5, 1835; d. Stump, Heinrich, b. Dec. 1, 1784; d. March 3, 1891. May 27, 1856. Walmer, Susannah, b. Aug. 17, 1798; d. Schreckengust, Leonard, b. 1786; d. May 5, 1881. Bept. 19, 1856. Walmer, Johannes, b. Jan. 20, 1799; d. Schreckengust, Mary, b. Jan. 29, 1799; July 3, 1868. d. May 29, 1860. Walmer, David, b. April 16, 1803 ; d. Tobwp, Ann Elizabeth, daughter of Nov. 11, 1859. George, h. Nov. 20, 1784; d. July 24,1866. Walmer, Henrich, b. Aug. 18, 1805; d. Tobias, Solomon, b. July 1, 1812; d. March 22. 1841. Nov. 11, 1881. Walmer, Sarah, b. Oat. 4, 1812; d. April Tobias, Catharine, wife of 8., nee Wal- 21, 1882 mer, b. June 25, 1814; d. Jan. 23, 1854. Wallis, Johannes, b. Jan. 12, 1758; d. Uhrich, Henrich, b. April 8, 1780; d. Nov. 25, 1824. June 4, 1849. Walmer, Johannes, (son of John, the Uhrich, Elizabeth, nee Brecbbill,b. May progenitor,) b. Aug 31, 1776; d. Nov. 15, 30,1791; d. Aug. 23, 1844. 1831. 12 In the Swatara Region. Walmer, Habiaa, wife of J, , b. April 4, 1778; d. June 4, 1861. Walmer, Jacob, b. Oct. 12, 1809; d. March 14, 1873. Walmer, Catharine, b, March 27, 1812; d. Dec. 23, 1869, Walter, John, b. Jan. 3, 1786; d. Oct. 9, 1871. Walter, Magdalena, b. Jan. 29, 1787; d. Sept. 17, 1866. Zehring, Eva Barbara, nee Decker, b. Jan. 1, 1795; d. Aug, 10, 1868. Zehring, John, b. Jan. 10, 1791 ; d. May 23, 1867. On the following morning we took our Toute to the east and soon reached Bell- view (Bellgrove P. O.), where reside the Marks for six generations, and soon passed the old Methodist church, one mile to the north of the village, though now owned by the Dunkards. The early ministers of the faith of John Wesley held services in this section at a very early day, in fact the communicants of the Methodist Episcopal church in this section antedates the his- tory of the church in any other portion of Dauphin and Lebanon counties. Here as early as 1790, Adam Mark, son ot Killian Mark, was a communicant of the Methodist connection. He was born March 20, 1767; died October 20, 1814. We have in our possession some of his Methodist books, viz: Methodist Hymn Book, N. T., 1811, printed by Daniel Hitt; Methodist Conference Minutes of America from 1773-1813. New York, printed by Daniel Hitt; Truth Vindicated, by John Ffirth, printed by J. C. Totten, New York, 1810; The Experience of Eminent Methodist Preachers, Chambers- burg, Pa., printed by Thomas Yeats and Thomas Johns, 1812. When the M E . discarded the German speaking element in the rural districts and refused to supply them with German preaching they drifted over to the TJ. B. Church, and from then until now most of those Methodist mem- bers' descendants are adherents of the United Brethren in Christ. The Method- ist grave yard is situate one-fourth mile farther east from the church and contains a number of graves. From the tombstones we make the following transcripts: Ashmead, Edward, b. Dec. 25, 1804; d. May 22, 1849. Mark, Adam, b. March 20, 1757; d. Oct. 20, 1814 [son of Eillian Mark or Marck came to America in 1735], Mark, Margaretta, wife of A., daughter of John and Elizabeth Miller, b. M*y 28, 1760; d. August 3, 1850. Mark, Adam, b. January 10, 1788; d. Dec. 17. 1862. Mark, Barbara, wife of A, b. Aprll^, 1787; d. March 20, 1863. Mark, Henry, b. April 20, 1788; d. Oct. 15, 1834. Mark, Daniel E., b. November 8, 1825; d. February 1, 1855. Miller, John Peter, b. February 15, 1759; d. March 30, 1838. Miller, Philippenia, wife of J. P., nee Steinmennen, b. 1773; d. June 21, 1831. Miller, John Adam, b. May 26, 1777; d. Dec. 3, 1845. "He was for many years class leader in the Methodist Episcopal church. ' ' Miller, Catharine, wife of J. A., daugh- ter of Jacob Kramer, b. Oct. 26, 1775; d. August 27, 1814. In the Swalara Reyion. 13 Runkle, Sarah, wife ot John, nee Mark, b. June 29, 1811; d. Feb. 8, 1824. Rankle, Lydia, daughter of Henry L. and Christina, b. Oct. 29, 1818; d. June 7, 1860. Runkle, Henry L., b. May 15, 179:; d. Aug. 23, 1860. Schmucker, Samuel, b. August, 1805; d. February, 1832. Walter, Magdalen a, wife of Joseph, b. May 17, 1776, d. Nov. 30, 1841. The last place we visited was the Gravel Hill Meeting House of the United Breth- ren, situated one mile north of Palmyra, from which elevation we have one of the most charming views the eye could look upon— to the south you have a beautiful landscape view of the Lebanon Valley, while to the north is the outstretched lands of the Hanovera, fortified in the rear by the Blue or Kittatinny Mountains, with the declining sun of another day kissing the mountains away beyond the Susquehanna. As we read the lessons of immortality from the gravestones attached to this church we were forcibly struck with the tranBitoryness of man from these lines on one of the stones : "Parents, good afternoon. My work is done. I go to rest with the setting sun, But not to wake witn the morning light, So, dearest parents, a long good night." At another stone we pause to read in the Pennsylvania-German this touching admonition : "Die Glocke schlagt, und zeight darmit, Die zeit hat ab^enommen Ich bin schon vider einen schritt Dem grabe naher kommen Mein Jesu schleg an meine Brust Weil mir die Stunde nicht bewust Die meine zeit bescblusset." While the declining sun hides behind the Eittatinny mountain we descended the hills to the depot at Palmyra and enter the swift coach of the P. & R. R. R. and soon find ourselves in the city of Har- risburg. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 014 314 681 9 '.'