Cumru Township: Notes of Interest

Hugh Jones, first landowner in Cumru, bought 1,000 acres of land in Cumru Township in 1732.

The tax lists of 1759 were kept and collected by David Evans, Jr. and included 142 married men and 20 single men.

Hemmig mill-seat was owned by Joseph G. Huyett and later operated by Benneville H. Hemmig.

Hendel's Hat factory near Mohnsville. Owner George Hendel and built in 1878. First operated by George Hendel, John Hendel and Samuel K. Mohn.

Woolen and carding mill owned by Joseph Warner.

Mill owned by Henry Voight. Later became D. Matz sawmill.

William Pennypacker operated a mill in 1810 to bore out and grind rifle barrels. Cyrus Hornberger built a new mill there and later R. T. Gring established a mill in the general area.

Other small shops for the manufacture of guns were owned by Frank Miller, Henry Wooley (Worley) and Gougler and Heberling.

Cornelius Reichwein opened a gun shop where Ruth's gristmill was located.

John White had a gun shop on the Wyomissing and later converted into Hiram and Joseph Holtry's file works.

Franklin Schnader had a shop with a tilt hammer and boring machinery and made gun barrels. Later was owned by John Keim. At a power source further above on the stream, Kohl and Keim had another gun barrel factory, which then became a saw and clover mill for Joseph Schoener and then Amos Price. Near the head of the stream Moses Ruffner had a stave mill and John Gougler had a small woolen factory around 1862.

Absolom Ruth was the pioneer of hat making. In 1859 he and his sons, John K, William, Henry and Michael came from Adamstown and started the hat business at the location of the Kessler Hat factory. They bought the Mohn gristmill and converted it into a hat factory, which was later purchased by John K. Ruth. They produced fifty dozen hats per day. Jacob Kessler's woolen hat factory was established in 1867 by Conrad Kessler and Brothers. It burned down in 1878 and was rebuilt by Jacob Kessler in 1880.

In 1878, Henry Worley began making hats using the power of a rifle factory built by Benjamin Mohn.

Daniel Glass had a trip hammer in his gun barrel factory as early as 1848 and Gougler and Heberling replaced him as owners and operators. Later, John Fichthorn made wool hats in the factory. Spatz, Miller and company took over. Anthony Wertz had a cotton lap factory that replaced one of Franklin Miller's gun factories in 1870.

J. H. Spatz opened a hat factory in a three-story frame building in 1878. In 1874, Mohn, Spatz and company began the manufacture of hats in another building. They were succeeded in 1878 by Cyrus Hornberger and Samuel and Jonathan H. Miller. The factory was later operated by Spatz, Son and company and made forty dozen hats per day. J. H. Miller erected a factory n 1886, one of the largest in the area and produced fifty dozen hats per day using steam.

George Frill controlled the ice interests on the Angelica Creek.

John K. White had a gun barrel factory on the Angelica.

Moses Ruffner ran the Forest File Works.

Gouglersville - Took its name from John and Philip Gougler.

Jacob Reedy built and inn in Gouglersville in 1813, which was later owned by William Kohl and then John Gougler in 1842.

Benjamin F. Hemmig was one of the earliest postmasters and justices of the peace.

David and Samuel Hornberger owned a cigar shop in Gouglersville.

Poorhouse - situated near Shillington on the former property of Thomas Mifflin along Old Lancaster Road. The first poor people admitted were William Hydecam, age 83 and his wife Dorothea aged 81 on October 21, 1825. John Ritter, Jacob Mast, David Bright, Abraham Knabb, John Breitenbach, Samuel Adams and John Warner were appointed directors to proceed in the establishment of an almshouse and serve until the election of three directors in October - John Beiteman, Daniel K. Hottenstein, and David Bright.

Schuylkill Road opened in 1750 and followed along the western bank of the Schuylkill river by way of Plow Tavern and Green Trees Tavern through Cumru, Caernarvon and Robeson Townships.

Neversink Road built in 1753 ran from Reading south through Flying Hils.

Early Doctors in 1886 were F. W. Frankhouser in Mohnsville, R. S.

Schweitzer in Shillington and John Schnader in Brecknock.

EARLY LAND OWNERS:

CHURCHES:

The Salem Evangelical Church in Mohnsville was constructed in 1849.

Rev. R. S. Wagner led Wyomissing Church in Gouglersville built in 1850 in the Lutheran faith.

Christ Church of Yocum built in 1854.

Immanuel Church in Shillington opened in 1874 for Lutheran and Reformed. Christ Evangelical Lutheran and Reformed Church - The reverend Thomas Leinbach, minister of the Reformed church preached in the schoolhouse and gave Catechetical instruction as early as June 27, 1823. On February 12, 1854 the following building committee was chosen; Daniel Yocum, Elias Fritz, Joseph Hemmig, Samuel Moser, Moses Yocum.

Wyomissing United Church of Christ - John Gougler was given credit for the founding of the church. Early confirmation class, confirmed by Rev. Martin L. Fritch in 1874 consisted of Amanda Fisher, Mary Hoster, Amanda Kohl, Lydia Kilmer, Elmira Kleinginna, Franklin Kleinginna, John Mosser, Sarah Mosser, Lydia Mosser, Franklin Mosser, Rachael Mohn, Rose Souder, Mary E. Snader and Henry Witeman.

Trinity Lutheran Church - Building committee consisted of John Gougler, Adam Grill, Cornelius Richwein and Joseph Schonour. Samuel Schlabach donated the land.

SCHOOLS:

The first schoolhouse in Shillington was located at the old stone quarry. Huyett, Ruth , Gaul, Miller, Body, Hemmig, Straub, Schilling, Beidler and Hill families attended.

The school system in Cumru Township was accepted by the state in 1850.

In Shillington, July 15, 1904 at a special meeting, two bids were received for the painting of the Gouglersville School. James F. Pennpacker, 54.35 and M.M.Kurtz 46.60. M.M. Kurtz won the bid.

COMMUNITES:

Benjamin Mohn purchased a farm from John Schwartz. Some years later it was converted into a tavern by John Griner.

Samuel K. Mohn opened a general store and gristmill along the Wyomissing Creek.

In 1859, Absolom Ruth owned a wool hat factory along the Wyomissing Creek and near the Mohn gristmill.

The earliest known list of existing mills is an account that appeared in the Reading Eagle in 1875. They were: John Fitchhorn - hat, Henry Worley - gun barrel, John K. Ruth - hat, Mohn-Spatz and Company - hat, Cyrus Hornberger - wheelwright and coach maker and Reuben T. Gring, -Grist. In 1882 John A. Bohler manufactured cigars.

Since 1885 George H. Leininger had a factory and employed 60 hands. No note as to what was made.

Mohn and Seitzinger had in operation a factory and employed 12 hands. No note as to what was made.

In 1886, Huyett and Compnay opened a factory employing 40 hands. No note as to what was made.

1909 Montgomery list includes: Bakeries by Augustus Griffith 1892 with 4 hands; Cigar Factory by J. J. Eshleman 1886 with 40 hands; Cotton Lap Factory by Werley Brothers in 1908 with 4 hands, Grist Mill by John Spatz Estate 1888 with 2 hands; Hosiery Mills by George Leininger 1898 with 75 hand; William G. Leininger 1898 with 120 hands; Isaac Spatz 1903 with 35 hands; Werley Brothers 1904 with 25 hands; Paper Box Factory by E. G. Werner and Sons 1894 with 35 hands; Planning Mills by Frank Warner, now Tyson, 1880 with 8 hands; Isaac Spatz 1901 with 6 hands; Saw Mill by John Y. Weidner 1903 with 3 hands; Shirt Factories by William Werner 1897 with 30 hands; Biram Griffith 1908 with 18 hands; Dr. A. A. Stamm 1900 later Mary Strouse, 1909 with 30 hands; Underwear Mill by Hornberger and Killian 1908 with 25 hands; Wool hat factories by Jacob Kessler 1878 with 40 hands; Isaac S. Spatz 1898 with 50 hands and Wheelwright Shops by Henry Knoll 1880 with 4 hands and Henry Wise 1895 with 3 hands.

Samuel K. Mohn opened the first store in the mill around 1854. A few years later he erected a building for store purposes in which he traded 15 years. Here was established the Mohn's store post office in 1857 of which he was postmaster. The second store was established by Ephriam A. Werner. The mail was brought to Mohnsville by stagecoach from Reading. When the trolley line was put in, the mail arrived by trolley from Reading and was hauled from the trolley station to the post office by wheelbarrow. Neson Kohl was the last carrier to haul mail this way.

Samuel K. Mohn started the water works in Mohnsville in 1882 and supplied the town with water. He continued the plant until 1901 when he sold it to Howard Ahrens and W. D. Mohn who enlarged the plant. The Mohnsville Water Company was incorporated on September 9.1885. Charles S. Mohn was president and John A. Bohler was secretary.

Additional reservoirs were established on the Betzler property and the Binkley property.

1905 mail carriers - Charles Hornberger route 1 and Paul Warner route 2. Howard H. Leininger started a local express business at Mohnton in 1902 for hauling manufactured goods, merchandise, and coal.

In 1894, Isaac Spatz built a plant at Mohnsville for supplying electricity. He sold it to Aaron R. Warner.

First landowners in Shillington purchased land from William Penn in the early seventeen hundreds. They were: Jacob Weiss 1733; Thomas Jones 1734; John Davis 1734; and Michael Ruth 1736.

George Riehm purchased 164 acres from Thomas Jones on July 7, 1761 and 104 acres from Jacob Weiss in 1771. He was an innkeeper at what was later called the Three-Mile House. It was later purchased by Valentine Straub.

Straub was one of the largest landowners in Cumru and married the daughter of George Ream in 1777 and lived in the Fred Gehret home, one of the oldest houses in Shillington.

Jacob Shilling, father of the founder of Shillington, married Hannah Straub in 1816. He died in 1845 and was buried in the Lutheran Cemetery at Re ading.

Samuel Shilling, a son of Jacob Shilling, founded the town in 1860 when he laid it out in lots. He was born in 1819, was a farmer and large landowner and tax collector of Cumru for 15 years. He died on March 29, 1891 and is buried at Yocum's Church.

In 1874, a store was opened by Miss Mary Deeds, which was continued by Adam M. Rollman.

George Riehm built the Three-Mile House property in 1761. Among the proprietors were: George Riehm, Valentine Straub, Oliver Hinnershitz, Jacob Shilling, John Beidler, Abraham Beidler, William Gross, A. E. Hildebrand, Lemon Leisey and Levi H. Snyder.

Aaron Einstein was the proprietor of the Three-Mile Horse Track. Later, automobile races were held on the track. On September 29, 1906 with about 4000 spectators, William Nolan Jr., driving a Buick, won the race and after crossing the finish line struck and killed 15 year old George Pierce who was sitting on the inside rail. Nolan was exonerated of any blame.

Henry Deeds, a famous gun maker lived in Shillington.

Benneville H. Hemmig started the Cumru Band. Members were Benneville Hemmig, David H. Miller.

George Kohl built a tavern in Angelica in 1815.

The Freeman family settled in the area in the mid 1800's. Cornelius Freeman Sr. is believed to be one of the first settlers in the area. His grandfather, George Freeman Sr. and father George Freeman Jr. lived in Cumru Township. George Sr. came to America from Germany around 1750 and settled in Cumru. The name C. Freeman appears on both the 1862 and 1876 Berks County Atlases of Cumru in the Freemansville area. This C. Freeman was the grandson of the original settler. His brothers, William and John also made their homes in Freemansville. Cornelius ran the post office in 1886.

Other early settlers in Freemansville were the Albrights and the Breidensteins.

David Krill opened a factory in 1885 in Gouglersville. He employed 35 hands.

At the turn of the century, Paul Reik and Harvey Body operated the Grill Hosiery company mills and employed 30 or more workers.

Howard Fritz owned a blacksmith shop in Grill.

Early landowners in Cedar Top were Peter Gramling and E. Warren.

The town of Pennwyn was named after the farm of William and Amanda High.

The barn which still stands next to TAI-Tronics along Wyomissing Avenue outside Mohnton is all that remains of the High farm. William High named his farm Penwin. Another farm nearby owned by Irwin Y. Phillips also figured in the story of Pennwyn, as did the Hendel Hat factory. The first homes in Pennwyn were built along South Wyomissing Avenue by the Hendels, to be rented to the workers in the wool felt hat factory which was started by John, George and Henry Hendel in 1879. The factory was known as Hendeltown Factory and the business was located there because of the abundance of water. Hendel's Dam was located to the rear of the row of homes on the west side of South Wyomissing Ave. The race then crossed the fields to the factory, cutting in front of the old Body home. With the construction of Hendeltown within the vicinity of the High and Philips farms, and two other nearby farms owned by the Giles and Leiningers, the beginnings of a small community were initiated. Between 1879 and 1916 the town grew. A two-story brick schoolhouse was constructed in the town around 1907. in 1916 the name of the school was change to Pennwyn, at the suggestion of Mrs. Mabel Good, a teacher at McCann's Business School.

The oldest business in Pennwyn is Amos Milligan's machine shop, founded in 1914 by James Milligan.

Along the Cacoosing Creek and the Tulpehocken Creek a paper mill was built near Fritztown around 1770 that was later converted into a gristmill. Early owners were George Hain, William Hain, an Addams, a Van Reed and the Marshalls. Not too far away, a distillery was operated by Jacob Miller. Philip Von Neida operated a sawmill in the same vicinity.

The Eberly family had a mill site for many years along the Cacoosing near Weitzelville. East of the village, the Grings had a gristmill along a small stream that sunk into the ground just south of Sinking Spring as early as 1840.

William Addams conducted a mill along the Cacoosing creek. Other early mills were operated by the Van Reeds, Lashes, Zugs, Grings and Fishers.

Iron ore mines dotted the Spring Township area. The names of Ruth, Fisher, Grill, Mull and Eckert are associated with these businesses.

The Ruth family was among the early settlers as were Jacob Lambert and Catherine Sohl. John Huy had a public house near the spring built in 1780. Another public house was built about the same time and was operatored by John Ludwig. Early merchandisers in Sinking Spring were John Ludwig, John Miller, and John Lamber Sr. who had a distillery around 1820.

The post office in Sinking Spring was started by Hiram R. Hull in 1831.

Weitzelville, two miles southwest of Sinking Spring was founded by Michael Weitzel who was a dyer and a cradle maker. His son John operated a turning shop. Conrad Marshall was a wheelwright in the village and John Haas was the blacksmith who also operated a tavern in 1824.

Fritztown about half a mile beyond Weitzelville was begun by Jacob Marshall and John Marshall and John Fritz. A store house was built in this town around 1849 by Charles Ruth. The Hill family erected a tavern in the town about 1780.

Early Locktenders at Lock 54 on the Union Canal were Jeremiah O'Conner, Michal Yeager and Thomas Swartz.

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