Hans George Jr Hartzell (I40681)
Hit Count:  
|
|
||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Personal Facts and Details
  Events of close relatives | |
| Birth | 8 September 1714 Reihen, Baden, The Palatinate |
| Death | 21 January 1762 (Age 47) Easton, Northhampton, Pennsylvania |
| Universal Identifier | 4D6D74366BC9594DA027031DBE30B0AF726A |
| Last Change | 15 July 2006 - 21:07:26 |
Notes
 Note |
During the midst of the American Revolution, a number of Lutheran families living in the easterly part of Pine Grove township felt the need of a school and a place of worship. Under the leadership of Peter Hetzel, a school teacher by training, they secured from the government in 1780, a tract of land of about fifty-five acres, upon which they built a commodious log school house. Mr. Hetzel assumed charge of the the school and read sermons to the people regularly each Sunday. In 1783, it was decided to organize a congregation and Rev. William Kurtz of Tulpehocken was invited to carry out the organization work and administer the sacraments. Rev. Mr. Kurtz at that time was also serving Jacob's church in Swatara Valley. Communions were held alternately in Jacob's church and at Hetzel's school house. Most of the members of the congregation were aggressive young farmers, who cooperated with Mr. Hetzel in building up a substantial membership. People for many miles around were persuaded to become affiliated with the organization. In the autumn of 1795, the congregation decided to erect a church and building operations were promptly started. The building committee comprised Peter Hetzel, John Lengle and Adam Kreigbaum. The deacons were Christopher Bernhard and Casper Lengel. The church was built of logs and weather boarded. It had galleries on two sides and a high pulpit. It was n a m e d "Salem's Lutheran Church." In 1799, Rev. Mr. Kurtz died and in July of that year Rev. Andrew Schultz was chosen pastor. The church continued to maintain the school under Mr. Hetzel's direction and it is related that both the young and old attended its sessions during the winter months. When the new church was finished a cemetery was laid out across the way from the building. Rev. Mr. Schultz remained as pastor until 1802, when he was succeeded by Rev. John Knoske, who found the congregation to number 38 communieant members. The deacons were Adam Gebert and Nicholas Scheterle and the elders, John Lengel and Henry Appel. During the Revolution the old school house was the scene of many patriotic gatherings. Michael Bretzius, the Bernhards, the Browns, and a host of other farmers living in what is now Washington, Wayne and the easterly part of Pine Grove township, met there and discussed the progress of the war. Some of these men served as officers and privates in the Pine Grove company of Berks county militia during the war and now lie buried in Hetzel's cemetery. Rev. George Mennig succeeded Rev. Mr. Knoske in 1811 and remained until 1833, when his son, Rev. William G. Mennig, succeeded him. He served the congregation until 1839. From then until 1856, the pastors were Rev. A. B. Gockelen, Rev. J. T. Haesbert, Rev. Benjamin Sadtler and Rev. Julius Evhart. Rev. E. S. Henry became pastor or the church in May 1q56 and served it faithfully until his death in 1897. After his death, Rev. Herman Kroh served the congregation for a number of years. Rev. M. M. Kipps is the Dresent Dastor. |
Media
| There are no media objects for this individual. |
Close Relatives
 |
Family with Catherine Schmetzer - [View Family (F17682)] |
 |
|
||
| Wife |
|
||
| Daughter |
|
Research Assistant
| There are no research logs attached to this individual. |
