OUR HERITAGE HMPF HELPED RECOVER EARLY CHURCH RECORDS

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "OUR HERITAGE HMPF HELPED RECOVER EARLY CHURCH RECORDS"

Toby Greene
5 years ago
Views:

OUR HERITAGE hmpf@manheim1762.org www.manheim1762.org 717-665-5560 Published by the Historic Manheim Preservation Foundation, Inc.

related to The First Baptist Church of Phelps, New York.

They were not aware of the items being offered at auction, and, in fact, since the chest and documents disappeared in the 1950 s, they thought that they might have been destroyed.

National Register of Historic Places. Needless to say, we are pleased that our organization was able to help recover these important historical items.

1 OUR HERITAGE Published by the Historic Manheim Preservation Foundation, Inc. Volume 11, Number 4 October 2013 HMPF HELPED RECOVER EARLY CHURCH RECORDS At a recent auction held in Lancaster County, a small walnut chest was sold which contained many (200+) early documents related to The First Baptist Church of Phelps, New York. A friend of HMPF was influential in making the purchase, and, on a hunch, he contacted the church to ask if they knew about the sale of the items. They were not aware of the items being offered at auction, and, in fact, since the chest and documents disappeared in the 1950 s, they thought that they might have been destroyed. Through HMPF, the chest and all of the documents are now safely back with The First Baptist Church of Phelps, New York. The church was established in 1845 and is on the U. S. National Register of Historic Places. Needless to say, we are pleased that our organization was able to help recover these important historical items. The documents will not disappear a second time, for the Pastor s daughter now has a summer job with the Historical Society cataloging the items. Arrangements are being made to place the items in the care of the Society. Richard & Susan Everson of Phelps, New York, members of The First Baptist Church, met with Gerry Earhart and Jim Hosler to retrieve the treasures and to take them back home. The above picture shows the chest and a small part of the early church documents dating from Perhaps the church will pursue how the items came to Lancaster County to be placed in an auction. 1

2 Ensminger Family, Part I The first Ensminger to migrate to America was Peter Ensminger, age 39, who landed August 17, 1733, on the ship "Samuel" at Philadelphia, Pa. With him was his wife Catherine, age 32; his sons, Henry age 10, Philip age 6, Nicholas age 1 and his daughter age 8, (named Catherine). Many of these immigrants are listed as Palatines, meaning that they came from the Palatinate Province along the Rhine River. These early Ensmingers were Lutherans in their homeland and when they settled in the Cocalico area of Lancaster County, Pa they became Members of the Muddy Creek Lutheran Church. Two more children were born into this family in America. Their baptisms are recorded in Muddy Creek Church records. Michael in 1735 and Margaret in On March 29, 1735 the Assembly of Pennsylvania passed an Act to Naturalize recent German immigrants, so they could own land and have privileges the same as native born. Among those from Lancaster County were Peter Ensminger and John Casper Stover, Lutheran Minister, who performed numerous marriages of the Ensminger children. In the year 1738 Peter Ensminger applied for 200 acres of land along the Muddy Creek. Peter s dream to own land in America was short lived. One year later, in the fall of 1739, Peter died at the age of 45 years. In November 1739, papers were issued in his estate to his widow. His estate lists three horses, a colt, four cows, three calves, six sheep, a set of black smith tools, farming tools, a Bible, two guns, house hold utensils and misc. items. In 1748 his widow sold the "Plantation of her late husband" for 300. His widow (Maria) Catherine married Jacob Schmidt on 24 Oct The following is a brief summary of what is known about the six children of Peter and Catherine: 1. Henry Ensminger was born in 1723 and died Dec. 17, 1789 in Newberry Twp, York Co., Pa. He was a blacksmith. He married Christina Orner, Oct. 19, They had seven children. 2. Catherine Ensminger - born 1725, died unknown, Married Martin Frey, Apr. 29, Philip Ensminger was born 1727 and died 1807 near Wolf Creek, Monroe Co., West Virginia. He married Catherine Kessinger. They had lived in Frederick Co., Md. in the 1770 s. They had ten children. 4. Nicholas Ensminger was born July 25, 1732 and died April 28, 1781 near Lebanon, Pa. He was a blacksmith and a farmer. He married Elizabeth Philippi May 18, 1754 They had five children. 5. Michael Ensminger was born Nov. 8, 1735 and died May 1822 in Manheim, Pa. He married Mary Holbrin, Oct. 22, Margaret Ensminger born June 22, 1739 and died - unknown Michael Ensminger came to Manheim sometime after He was in Cocalico Twp at the time the census was taken in According to records of the Manheim Reformed Church, the following was found: "Michael Enmsminger s wife died Feb. 6, She was born Feb 25, 1737, was married Oct. 22, 1756 and had eight children." Michael and his wife are both buried in the cemetery of the Zion Lutheran Church, Manheim. Of their eight children, only three have been found at this time. They are Samuel born 1763, Michael born 1774 and Henry born I have no further information on the last two sons. The oldest son, Samuel Ensminger was married twice and was the father of a large family. His first wife was Anna Elizabeth Schindle. This marriage turned out to be very brief because she died Feb. 26, 1795 at twenty two years old. She was the mother of three children: Henrietta born died 1817 and married to Jacob Schwarr; John Philip born and George This is the end of the first part of the Ensminger family. The second part will start with the second marriage of Samuel Ensminger to Anna Maria Schindle, the sister of his first wife. Compiled by Janet Atkinson Strauss 2

Resources: Ensminger Genealogy I by Raymond M. Bell, 1961 Ensminger Genealogy II by Elias E. Kready, Jr Zion Lutheran Church Records, Manheim, Pa. Reformed Church Records, Manheim, Pa.

27, 1840 Feb. 26, 1795 Henrietta Schwarr (nee Ensminger) April 18, 1791 Mar.

old glass plate negatives. gift Copies of the correspondence with CONRAIL related to the efforts in 1982-83 to acquire and save the Manheim railroad station.

gift A leather souvenir from Manheim s 1912 Old Home Week celebrations, in the form of the early Hope Fire Company pumper. gift Reading & Columbia R. R. Co. ticket - Manheim to Litiz - Mar.

3 Resources: Ensminger Genealogy I by Raymond M. Bell, 1961 Ensminger Genealogy II by Elias E. Kready, Jr Zion Lutheran Church Records, Manheim, Pa. Reformed Church Records, Manheim, Pa. Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Manheim, Pa. Michael Ensminger Mary, his wife 8 Nov Feb. 25, 1737 May 1822 Feb. 5, 1810 Samuel Ensminger Anna Elizabeth his wife Aug. 13, 1763 Mar. 1, 1772 Apr. 27, 1840 Feb. 26, 1795 Henrietta Schwarr (nee Ensminger) April 18, 1791 Mar. 26, 1817 On the back of this stone is the following inscription: In Memory of little son of Jacob and Henrietta Schwarr age 3 days Acquisitions: Early Manheim pictures produced by Bill McComsey from old glass plate negatives. gift Copies of the correspondence with CONRAIL related to the efforts in to acquire and save the Manheim railroad station. gift Photos of the destruction in 1961 of the Heintzelman Carriage Barn and a list of the 87 concerned citizens who tried in vain to save the barn. gift A leather souvenir from Manheim s 1912 Old Home Week celebrations, in the form of the early Hope Fire Company pumper. gift Reading & Columbia R. R. Co. ticket - Manheim to Litiz - Mar. 21, X 15 Tile by Jacob Albright? Several years ago, Ben Hershey became aware of red clay roof tiles being removed from a farm building along the Manheim to Lititz road and he was able to purchase several of them, as did this writer. Knowing that there was a tile maker with a connection to the Evangelical Congregational Church in our area of the county has prompted this article. In 2001, Mrs. Marie Steinmetz from Kleinfeltersville wrote an article, Jacob Albright, A Circuit Rider Among The Pennsylvania German Methodists. From this fine article, which appeared in the Historic Schaefferstown Record, published by Historic Schaefferstown, Inc., we have taken some facts concerning Jacob Albright. Jacob, besides being a maker of roof tile, was a farmer and a preacher. His farm was located in the Hinkletown area near Ephrata, Lancaster County, PA and it was his home until his death in Born on May 1, 1758, Jacob was the son of Johannes and Anna Albrecht, immigrants from the Palatinate Region of Germany. His early education was acquired from the Bible. In 1785 he married Catherine Cope and they had six children, three of which died of dysentery. The loss of his three children brought about a deep spiritual struggle, and, after many months of prayer and meditation, his life was changed and he believed that a person needs to come to God through conversion. It was around this time that he began his itinerate ministry. He traveled by horseback in all kinds of weather and road conditions. In 1808, while preaching in Lebanon County, Jacob became ill, and he passed away in the farm house of George Becker in Kleinfeltersville, Lebanon County. He was laid to rest on the Becker farm in the family cemetery. In 1850, the Albright Chapel was built near Jacob s grave site. The chapel has one of the roof tiles that Jacob made and we are hoping that it might match the one pictured here. If the two tiles closely match each other, the one pictured will be donated to HMPF. JH 3

Gen. S. P. Heintzelman, 1808-1878 The information in this brief article is from research by George L. Heiges. Mr.

4 Gen. S. P. Heintzelman, The information in this brief article is from research by George L. Heiges. Mr. Heiges had access to Library of Congress documents, and, being from Manheim, had a wealth of additional knowledge concerning General Heintzelman. Samuel s grandfather was Hieronimus Heintzelman and his grandmother was Catherine Elizabeth (Wagner) Heintzelman. Catherine s father, Tobias Wagner, was an early itinerant Pennsylvania Lutheran pastor. Hieronimus, who immigrated to America from Germany, came here as a member of the English military regiment known as "The Royal Americans." His name of Hieronimus was anglicized to Jerome and/or Jeremiah. Hieronimus and his wife were residents of Rapho Township when Manheim was established in 1762 and Samuel P. believed that his grandfather was the first inhabitant of Manheim. Hieronimus operated a public house on South Prussian Street, now named South Main Street. The property was on the east side of South Prussian Street one block below Market Square. Records indicate that Hieronimus and Henry Wm. Stiegel were close friends. Samuel s father, Peter, married Anna Elizabeth Grubb, daughter of Peter Grubb, 2nd, ironmaster of Mount Hope and Upper Hopewell Furnaces. Peter was also a Manheim merchant and the postmaster in Samuel s uncle, John, was a crafter of tall case clocks (grandfather clocks) and he too was postmaster in In 1822, when Samuel was 17 years of age, he received an appointment to West Point Military Academy through Pennsylvania Congressman, James Buchanan. He graduated from West Point in 1826 with the commission of Lieutenant. Until George Heiges research, it was believed that Samuel never returned to Manheim after graduating from West Point. Through Mr. Heiges having access to the Library of Congress records, he learned that the General visited Manheim six times. He visited Manheim: June 29, 1826, Nov. 19, 1831, Mar. 7, 1833, Oct. 24, 1842, Sept. 7, 1865 and in Aug. 28, Between visits, the General was involved in the Seminole Indian Wars, the Mexican War, the establishment of Camp Yuma, the Indian uprisings in the west, the Civil War and many other assignments. General Heintzelman passed away at his home in Washington, D. C., on May 1, 1880, at the age of 74 years. General William Tecumseh Sherman, paid the following tribute to his late comrade: "Thus parts another link in that golden chain of memory which binds us to the past, and naught now remains of this noble soldier and gentleman except his example and the record of deeds which have contributed largely to the development and glory of his country in the last half century. General Heintzelman was a man of intense nature, of vehement action, guided by sound judgment and a cultivated taste. Universally respected and beloved, at a ripe old age he leaves us, universally regretted" The General s pall-bearers were: Gen. Sherman, Gen. Ricketts, Gen. Alvord, Gen. Dunn, Gen. Hunter, Gen. Barnes, Gen. Reynolds and Mr. J. C. G. Kennedy. He was laid to rest in Buffalo, New York. RARE AUTOGRAPHED CDV During the Civil War, in a Wheeling, Va. paper, Gen. Heintzelman was described as: "a quick spoken, silver haired, handsome, earnest looking man, about fifty five years of age." Also, at a Union meeting in Wheeling, the Gen. said: "I can see but two issues in this contest an honorable peace, accomplished by a vigorous war, or an armistice, a convention of States, and a final dissolution of the Union and eternal war." 4

The following information and the above sketch were provided to the Baron Stiegel Coin Club in 1970 by Michael J.

He later commanded the Military District of Washington and the Twenty-second Corps.

The insignia of the Third Corps was extremely simple: a diamond. The enclosed sketch illustrates the Corps badge.

5 The following information and the above sketch were provided to the Baron Stiegel Coin Club in 1970 by Michael J. McAfee, Museum Curator, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York: "General Heintzelman commanded the Third Corps, Army of the Potomac, from 13 March to 30 October He later commanded the Military District of Washington and the Twenty-second Corps. His command of the Third Corps was, however, his last active field command in which he saw battle action, so it would therefore qualify as his "highest Civil War field command". The insignia of the Third Corps was extremely simple: a diamond. The enclosed sketch illustrates the Corps badge. His insignia did not become official, however, until March 1863, but had been in unofficial use since 1862". JH Mystery Solved The above picture postcard shows two boys pulling a wagon on which is a small model of the early pumper now on display in Manheim s Hope No. 1 Fire Company museum. Unfortunately, the little model is not on display in their museum. First: The model was crafted by Frank Ritter. Some of us who have been around in Manheim for many years remember Frank Ritter and we know what a nice person he was. About thirty five years ago, when I acquired the postcard, I immediately wondered if the model still existed, and, if so, where it might be located. Well, it does exist and I learned of its location about twelve years ago. It is now on display in the building of the Southern Manheim Township Fire Co. From timeto-time, auctions of antiques, coin, etc. are conducted in their building and it was at one of these auctions that I noticed the pumper in a large display case on the wall. After first offering the pumper to the Manheim Fire Co., Preston Smith presented the model to the Southern Manheim Township Fire Co., on behalf of Clyde Snyder. Clyde Snyder received the model from his father Calvin Snyder, who in turn got it from his brother. Calvin and his brother were Sporting Hill farm boys. Calvin s wife was Minnie Ritter, Frank Ritter s sister. Why P.K. told Preston Smith that the Hope Fire Co. would not be interested in receiving the pumper as a gift is surely puzzling. This is one more item that should be in the town of Manheim. The two boys pulling the wagon during Manheim s 1912 Old Home Celebrations were Francis Stormfeltz and his cousin Lloyd Nissley, both age 6. JH 5

Christian Bear, Civil War Veteran It has been written that Christian Bear was born in Fruitville. Today such a village, like many others, seems to have lost its name.

developed out of the former fruit orchard. Some years after the "Civil War", Christian married a native of Manheim, Ophelia Letitia Ensminger, who was a widow with a young son.

6 Christian Bear, Civil War Veteran It has been written that Christian Bear was born in Fruitville. Today such a village, like many others, seems to have lost its name. As far as I am able to discern, the small village named "Fruitville", was at the part of the present "Fruitville Pike" just west of what is now known as "Blossom Hill", for "Blossom Hill" was developed out of the former fruit orchard. Some years after the "Civil War", Christian married a native of Manheim, Ophelia Letitia Ensminger, who was a widow with a young son. Ophelia was a daughter of the editor and publisher of the Manheim newspaper and her son was William John Gies, who later became known internationally as a dental researcher. Christian Bear became his step-father, and the three of them lived in the brick Victorian-era house on the southeastern corner of West Ferdinand Street and Veterans Alley. Early in the 20th century the old Methodist Church on the east side of the house was changed into a theater for showing the early silent-type movies. The dining room in the Christian Bear house had an alcove projecting northward with a window facing the very small front yard off Ferdinand Street. It has been reported that "Chris" had a chair in that alcove and enjoyed sitting there during the nights when the theater was open and liked watching the people going in and out of the theater. The original wallpaper in the foyer contained a lot of red in the design, and the lower part of the wall was of a checkerboard design, while the larger upper wall had a contrasting design which also contained red (one of the favorite colors in Victorian-era America). It has also been said that the house of Christian and Ophelia was beautifully furnished while they lived there. Behind his house, "Chris" had his own business, which was a cigar box factory. He employed about a dozen people. That factory was later torn down and replaced by a garage which also is now gone. Ophelia, as well as being a homemaker, earned money as a seamstress sewing for other people. Her place for relaxing on the front porch was at the very east end of the porch where she had a rocking chair. The couple also had a cottage in Mount Gretna where stylish Manheim people had cottages for enjoying the cool mountain air during the hot Summers of Lancaster County. After the death of Mrs. Bear, Christian sold the house to Frank Gibble and his wife Mary Earhart Gibble, and Christian moved to a much older house on South Prussian Street (now Main Street) shown in the photograph seen below. There, as a widower, he spent his last years. What is written above are a few of the facts not often included when writing about Christian and Ophelia Bear. If one searches Manheim books, you will discover a lot more about Major Christian Bear who was well-known in this town, and you can read a lot of historical facts about the Ensmingers, Mrs. Bear s ancestors. Robert Schneebeli Pictured is the Christian Bear funeral procession as it passed in front of his home at 60 South Main Street. Mr. Bear died, October 14, and was laid to rest on October 17, This picture was taken by Harry F. Ruhl at an angle from the front of his drugstore. Christian Bear s cigar box factory at the rear of his West Ferdinand St. home and some of his employees. See the April 2009 issue of Our Heritage for names. 6

OUR HERITAGE. H. Young, Farmer and Craftsman

OUR HERITAGE. H. Young, Farmer and Craftsman OUR HERITAGE Published by the Historic Manheim Preservation Foundation, Inc. Volume 5, Number 2 April 2007 for sale to farmers. This wonderful miniature fork and rake set, ca 1878, was handed down through