Thus far ten new students have been enrolled, including one from Massachusetts. Prof. O.S. KRIEBEL and Prof. MESCHTER addressed the teachers institute, held in East Greenville, Friday afternoon and Saturday. The former delivered three addresses and the latter two. A number of students attended various sessions. Prof. ROTHERMEL, acting principal of the Kutztown State Normal School, visited the Seminary, previous to the commencement of the exercises at the Institute, Saturday. Miss Elmire OCHS, a teacher in the public school, of Quakertown, visited the Seminary, Saturday afternoon. A class in conversational German consisting of ten students, has been organized under the instruction of Miss MARCHAND, who spent a few years in Germany.
When the family thought he was taking medicine, Matthew THISSEN, a silk weaver, of Easton, was on Sunday night drinking laudanum, from which he died Tuesday morning. THISSEN was an expert weaver. He feared his unsuspecting wife would hear of one of his recent adventures, and resolved to kill himself. On Sunday he gave an intimation of what he purposed doing. One of THISSEN's friends said last night that the silk weaver said to him last Thursday that it was his (THISSEN's) intention to go to the national capital and assassinate President MCKINLEY. He displayed a revolver, which he would use to end the life of the President, because as he put it, McKinley was the friend of Monarchs. THISSEN, when told that he should not talk in that manner, replied that he had decided to commit the muder and then, by shooting himself in the head put an end to his own existence.
Objections by one of the thirteen trustees of the State Hospital for the Insane at Norristown keeps William LOCK in that institution, notwithstanding Resident Physician RICHARDSON and others who come in contact with LOCK are satisfied of his sanity. LOCK several years ago killed one of his children by cutting its throat. He was tried on the ground of insanity, and committed to the hospital. Now he is trying to get out. The law requires in the case of a person convicted of murder that every trustee shall attach his signature to an order for the patient's discharge. Trustee ELLIOTT refuses to sign such an order, feeling that were LOCK's mind again to become dethroned and the man commit another murder he, Mr. ELLIOTT, would be partly responsible. It is purposed by friends of LOCK to ask the Legislature to pass a bill allowing discharges in cases of this character when three-fourths of the trustees sanction the application.
Israel WELLER, a farmer residing near Hill Church, killed a porker that tipped the balance at 530 pounds, dressed. It is claimed that this was the largest killed in that vicinity for several years.
A successful old time spelling bee was held one evening this week in the public school between Bally and Colebrookdale. The school room was crowded and the spelling bee was quite interesting and instructive.
A Twentieth Century meeting will be held in the Perkiomen Seminary chapel, tomorrow evening. The leading events of the last century will be reviewed and a look will be cast forward into the future. An interesting program has been arranged and the meeting promises to be a most interesting one. Special music will be rendered by the Seminary choir. The following program will be rendered: "The Political and Social Movements" - Rev. G.B. WALBERT; Music; "The Press" - R.L. SINGER; Music; "The Progress of Science" - Rev. J.L. ROUSH; Music; "Advancement in Medicine and Surgery" - Dr. J.G. MENSCH; Music; "Religious Movements" - Rev. O.F. WAAGE; "Retrospect and Prospect" - Rev. O.S. KRIEBEL. The services will begin promptly at 7 o'clock. A cordial invitation is extended to all to attend.
The weighing of mails will begin about the middle of February. Every four years the government employs a large force of men to do this work at each large station in order to fix the rate for carrying with the several railroads. The men who do the weighing are usually selected with great care as to their ability.
Alvin STAUFFER, of East Greenville, accompanied by two of his young companions, visited the large ice dam of William BENFIELD near that borough, Monday. The boys were playing on the ice, and while one of them was in the act of drinking from a hole in the ice, it gave away and the boys fell into the water. Fortunately the water was not very deep at that place and the boys escaped with their lives.
Thomas SCHAFFER and F.G. SCHANTZENBACH, of Steinsburg, caught five raccoons and one opossum on Tuesday. These two gentlemen are experienced hunters and it is claimed that they have caught more animals of this kind than any other two hunters in that vicinity. It is quite interesting to listen to them give their wide experience with dog and gun.
The Goshenhoppen Fire Insurance Company, adjusted the claim of J.T. MOYER, of Milford Square; Mr. MOYER received $1,012 insurance which will cover the total loss. The fire occured on December the 15th and five days later Mr. MOYER was placed in a position to start rebuilding his destroyed property. The Company makes it a point to adjust all claims as soon as possible.
John O. KING, the only Pennsylvania German who was with the Boer army in its battles with the English, has returned to America. He arrived in New York City several days ago and is spending the time with relatives in the eastern part of the state, having been in South Africa for a number of years. Mr. KING has no place in this country which he calls home and therefore he intends to visit among his different relatives until the war is over and he can return to the Boer country. Mr. KING is a young man in years but in experience he is gray-haired. He is a modest man, and he does not like to speak of the part he took in the Boer War. He is certain that the Boers will not be conquered by the British - that is about as much as he will say about the war, but in a book called the "Boers in War", written by Howard C. HILLEGAS, the following account is given of his doings: The one American whose exploits will long remain in the Boer mind was John N. KING, a private in the American Scouts, who vowed that he would allow his hair to grow until the British had been driven from federal soil. KING began his career of usefulness to society at the time of the Johnstown flood, where he and some companions lynched an Italian who had been robbing the dead. Shortly afterward he gained a deep insight into matters journalistic by being the boon companion of a newspaper man. The newspaper man was in jail on a charge of larceny; KING for murder. When war was begun KING was employed on a Johannesburg mine, and when his best friend determined to join the British forces he decided to enlist in the Boer army. Before parting the two made an agreement that neither should make the other prisoner in case they met on a battlefield. At Spion Kop, KING captured his friend unawares and, after a brief conversation and a farewell grasp of the hand, KING shot him dead. KING took part in almost every one of the Natal battles, and when there was fighting to do he passed the time away by such reckless exploits as going within the British firing line at Ladysmith to capture pigs and chickens. He bore a striking resemblance to Napoleon I., and loved blood as much as the little Corsican. When the scouts went out from Brandfort in April and killed several of the British scouts, KING wept because he had remained in camp that day and had missed the opportunity of having a part in the engagement.
The following officers of St. Vincent Castle No. 83 K.G.E. were installed last Wednesday evening by the District Grand Chief of Quakertown Castle, Past Chief, Jacob K. NYCE; Noble Chief, Carl E. BRENNER; Vice Chief, Harvey CRESSMAN; High Priest, William BOWMAN; Venerable Hermit, Irwin CLEMERES; Master of Records, A.H. SCHOLL; Clerk of Exchequer, John H. BERGE; Keeper of Exchequer, A.S. KLINE; Sir Herald, Jacob KRATZ; Ensigh, Charles A. SPIESS; Espuire, Rhine ZIMMER; Worthy Chamberlain, John F. BINDER; First Guard, Fred SAUERWALD; Second Guard, Samuel ATKINSON. The Castle expects to take in quite a number of new members within a short time.
The Hill Church Sunday school purchased a new Weaver organ to be used in the Sabbath school. The old instrument was sold to the Bechtelsville, Lodge P.S. of A. The Sunday school elected the following officers to serve the ensuing year: Superintendent, David DEINER; assistant Superintendent, Irwin FRONHEISER, Secretary, Ambrose WELLER; Organist, Harvey WELLER; Music Director, William R. KNOLL; Superintendent for Infant Class, Alice FRONHEISER; Treasury, Hettie B. DOTTERER; Deacons, Alice FRONHEISER and Sallie KNOLL.
A notice was posted in the car barns of the Schuylkill Valley Traction Company, at Norristown, on Saturday night announcing an increase in the men's wages to $2 a day after January 16. The notice is in accordance with a promise made to the men last summer. The notice of an increase came somewhat as a surprise to the men, and it puts them on an equal footing with the conductors and motormen in Philadelphia.
Taking fright at a passing trolley car last Saturday afternoon, two horses attached to a carriage occupied by four persons from Phoenixville became uncontrollable and ran away. Two lamp posts were demolished and the occupants of the wagon were thrown out. One of the women of the party sustained a fractured arm and a badly gashed scalp. The others were also slightly injured.
One of the most unfortunate failures of our schools is that they teach little or nothing of local history, and the result is that our young people know very little of the events which took place in their own neighborhood years ago. Especially is this true of the manner in which the towns and villages of this part of the country received their names. Few persons know why and when certain towns received certain names, and it should be a matter of pride with every well-informed person to know all there is to know of the locality in which he lives.
In this short article it is purposed to give briefly the story of how several towns and villages in the upper end of the county were baptized. Some months ago we printed the history of the naming of the borough of Pennsburg, and hereafter we will give articles dealing with the naming of towns not included in this list.
The village of Hoppenville, in Marlborough township, was named after Goshenhoppen, a name supposed to have been discovered from Shakhoppa, a chief of a small tribe of the Delaware Nation which occupied this region before the coming of white men. Before the name Hoppenville was given to the village, which occured about the year 1864, the place was known by the name "Die Schmais Gasse", which being translated meant "The Lard Road". It was stated that a man carrying a jug of lard once became intoxicated in the local hotel and was obliged to spend the night in the hotel in consequence. When he awoke some fun-loving farmer had disappeared with the Sleeper's lard, whereupon they called the place the "Lard Road".
Sumneytown, which is one of the oldest towns in the county, having been in existence long before 1763, was named for Isaac Sumney, who in that year bought a farm of more than one hundred acres in the neighborhood and conducted the tavern in the town. During the Revolutionary War, Sumneytown became noted for its gunpowder factories, the first one having been built at that place in 1780 by Jacob Dast.
East Greenville, it is said, received its name from a green spruce tree which stood alone on Mill Hill, north of the town and in plain view of every part of the place. At first the village was known as Greenville, but there being a town with that name in the State the post office authorities ordered that it should thereafter be known as East Greenville. The tree which was the cause of this baptism disappeared about fifteen years ago.
Schwenksville was named for the families of that name who lived there at the time it was named, but it is thought that it was particularly named for Jacob G. Schwenk who was successful in 1849 in having a post office by the name of Schwenk's Store established. The name Schwenksville did not originate until 1872 when the government so named the local post office.
Red Hill, received its name from the color and contour of the earth upon which it is situated though it is not definitely known who the genius was who gave it such an inartistic name. The place has been rechristened several times, once having been called Hillegassville, a name it received through the fact that George Hillegass erected a hotel there about seventy years ago. How or when Palm received its name is not definitely known, but it is not a wild conjecture to say that the Schwenkfelder's named it after a feast day of the church. Certain it is that no palms ever grew wild in the village, from which it could have secured its name.
Hillegass, which was known as Milltown for many years, received its name from Jacob Hillegass who lived there many years, though it was so named some time after that gentleman's death. Kleinsville is another village that was named for persons who resided there. It was named for two brothers who owned large farms in the neighborhood.
Salfordville received its name from that of the township in which it is situated. The township which was formed as early as 1727 was named after a town and several parishes of that name in England, whence the first settlers of it came. The name Marlborough is also of English origin it having been derived from the Duke of Marlborough, who was a famous fighter of that time. Limerick, was named after a city and county in Ireland and it may therefore be presumed that the settlers of it were Irishmen.
The name Franconia comes from an old dutchy which afterward formed a circle of the Germanic Empire and means "Land of the Franks" on a map printed in 1682 it was called the Dutch township, wherefore we may believe that Germans were its earliest settlers.
All the Hanovers are named after a kingdom in Germany whence came many of their settlers. New Hanover which was first settled, has many places of Revolutionary interest. Frederick township was also probably named after a German source. The name was probably selected because it had been borne by German emperors in the Middle Ages and because the first inhabitants were of Teutonic origin.
Green Lane, one of the oldest towns in the upper part of the county, derived its name from the Green Lane iron works which existed for many years before the town was created. The iron works received the first part of their title from the green foliage of the surrounding hills and the narrow lane that led from the main road around the hill to where the works were located. The town and township of Hereford were named after a well-known district in England. Douglass is also of English deriviation.
Few of the local names are of Indian origin although it might be expected that such should be the case. Perkiomen, in the Indian language, meant "cranberry patch", Skippack meant "a dark, muddy pool of water", and Macoby of uncertain meaning. Goshenhoppen, as stated, is probably the outcome of Shakhoppa, the name of an Indian chief.
Last, but far from least, comes that travesty upon a name - Hosensack. May history never record the name of the person who inflicted such a name upon a civilized community. There is a current story that of how the place received the name and as might be expected, it tells of the troubles a certain man had with the pocket of his vestments. Literally translated from the dialect the word means "trousers' pocket", but why any community should wish to continue to live under such a name when the post office department is ever ready to adopt new ones is past the understanding of every person except those who live in Trousers' Pocket. If this article does a little good in any direction, may that direction be toward the eradication from the map of the name Hosensack.
Allen B. KEPLER, a farmer residing near Hillegass, in Upper Hanover Township, died on Saturday morning. Mr. KEPLER has been suffering for six months from gangrene but was only confined to his bed for ten weeks. He was born in Upper Hanover Township, and was a son of Copeland KEPLER. Deceased's age was 41 years, 10 months and 28 days. He was married to Miss Isabella TRUMBORE, daughter of the late Sylvester TRUMBORE, of Hillegass, in 1883. Mr. KEPLER is survived by a widow and two children Clara, aged 16 years, Willis, aged 4 years; his aged mother and the following brothers and sisters, Sarah, wife of Ephriam WALTER, Red Hill; Maria, wife of Aaron BENFIELD, Huffs Church; Susan, wife of Levi SEASHOLTZ, Red Hill; Edward B., of New Hanover; John S., of Trappe, and Marcella, relict of Isaac TYSON, of Skippack. The funeral was held on Thursday. Interment was made at the St. Paul's Lutheran church cemetery, near Pennsburg. Rev. O.F. WAAGE officiated.
Mrs. Edwin YODER, of New Berlinville, died on Saturday, after an illness of two days. Deceased is the wife of blacksmith YODER and is survived by the husband, an eight-day-old child, her parents and two brothers. The funeral was held on Thursday, at the Gabach church.
Aaron FRETZ, a well known and highly respected farmer of near Steinsburg, died on Tuesday morning, at about 4 o'clock. His death was due to blood poisoning. Mr. FRETZ's death was quite sudden and unexpected as his sickness was only of a week's duration. He is survived by his wife and one child. Mr. FRETZ's age was 39 years. The funeral will be held today at the Zion's Hill church. Interment on the church cemetery.
Valentine B. EMERY, a respected citizen of Boyertown, died on Friday morning last, of kidney trouble. Mr. Emery had been a sufferer with this disease for many years. Last Wednesday an operation was performed upon him to relieve him of his pain. Mr. EMERY, was proprietor of the store at Hillegass, for several years and is well known in this section. He was married in 1871 to Miss Clara BICKEL, daughter of the late Benjamin BICKEL. Mr. EMERY was a veteran of the Civil War, having served a nine month enlistment. He is survived by a widow. The funeral was held on Thursday. Interment was made in the Union Cemetery, Boyertown.
Mrs. Esther HEANY, wife of Samuel G. HEANY, the well known shoe dealer, of Salfordville, died on Monday afternoon, of pneumonia, aged 43 years, 10 months and 5 days. The deceased was a very estimable woman and was a daughter of the late Franklin WALT, of Spring Mount. She leaves a husband and two small children, Harry, and Earl, besides two brothers and two sisters - Henry WALT of Wyncote, and Frank of Pennsburg; Mrs. Peter BOYER, of Spring Mount, and Mrs. Amandus NYCE, of Schwenksville. The funeral will be held today, at 10 o'clock at the house. Interment will be made at the Old Goshenhoppen church cemetery. Rev. Jacob BOOZ will officiate at the house and Reverends J.L. ROUSH and C.R. FETTER at the church.
Mrs. John KELSH, of Bally, died on Friday, after a lingering illness. Deceased's age was about 82 years. Her husband preceded her in death by about ten years. Since his death she had made her home with her son Jacob, of Bally. She is survived by three children. The funeral was held on Wednesday at the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Bally.
Reuben MELCHOIR, an aged citizen of Bally, died on Saturday morning, after an illness of a few weeks with heart trouble. Deceased's age was 82 years. He is survived by a widow and the following children: Nicholas and Mrs. Aaron EDDINGER, both of Bally. The funeral took place at the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament, on Thursday.
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