PABUCKS-L Archives

Archiver > PABUCKS > 2004-06 > 1087062445


From:
Subject: News from Pennsburg - June 4, 1904
Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2004 13:47:25 EDT


Ref: Town and Country Newspaper
Pennsburg, Montgomery County, PA
Saturday - June 4, 1904

ONE OF THE OLDEST CLOCK MAKERS IN THE COUNTY PASSES AWAY

A long and active life was brought to a peaceful close on Monday in the
borough of Green Lane, when Samuel KRAUSS (picture) who was born August 7, 1807,
passed away. Mr. KRAUSS was of sturdy Pennsylvania German stock and had long
been identified with Schwenkfelders and was of diversified talents and mechanical
turn of mind. He early gave evidence of his genius and successfully turned
his attention to the duties of the storekeeper, foundryman, watchmaker, miller
and farmer. It was at the trade of watch and clock making that he achieved
fame. He made a specialty of the large grandfather clocks and built about
thirty-five in all. But a bare half dozen can be traced to this day, and they have
become very valuable. His natural bent suggested to him the idea of becoming a
clock maker, and an interesting story of how he made his first clock out of
solid wood with a brad awl and a jack knife, has become a family tradition.
Self-taught, he began an extensive clock building business and his services as a
watchmaker were in demand by people from far and near. During the active years of
his long life he was engaged in business in Philadelphia, Allentown,
Coopersburg and at one time owned the extensive milling property at Hosensack, besides
valuable holdings in Allentown. Mr. KRAUSS was always a great reader and up
to the day of his death he took an active interest in the news of the day.
Besides this he had a taste for literature and authorship, publishing about 1880,
a little volume of German Hymns of his own composition. During late years he
was somewhat infirm but his faculties were unimpared, which Mr. KRAUSS
attributed to his regular habits and a total abstinence from tobacco in any form. Mr.
KRAUSS was always a reader of the German Neutralist and for years an
intelligent contributor or correspondent. His manuscript was always written with German
characters and his penmanship was of the so-called old school. He was a man
of more than ordinary mind and achievement in the common walks of life. The
facts above given, and many others connected with this interesting old landmark,
deserve to be preserved, as they no doubt will be, for future generations of
the KRAUSS family. In their records we are sure will always be accorded a
prominent place to the late A.E. DAMBLY's old friend, Samuel KRAUSS, whose letters
to the Neutralist were signed "Der Alte hinter-m Berg" - the old man back of
the hill.

FRUIT TREES IN DANGER

Cyrus T. FOX, regarded as one of the most expert horticulturists in the
country, gives it as his opinion that unless something is done to combat the
propagation of the San Jose scale "there will be no fruit trees in Pennsylvania' in
a short time. The State Monthly Bulletin devotes much space to a discussion of
the scale and the best means of fighting it. It can be had for the asking,
and every owner of a fruit tree should write the department at Harrisburg for a
copy. Our county contains a number of fine orchards, and the owners will do
well to watch for the first appearance of the scale. It spreads rapidly, and if
allowed to go unchecked will kill the trees in short order. The scale was
introduced into Pennsylvania through the importation of some nursery trees from a
neighboring State in 1894. In less than a year it was detected in twelve
counties, and now it is distributed generally throughout the State. The reports
received at Harrisburg indicates that there isn't a county in the State free from
the scourge. The farmers of our county should use every endeavor to conquer
the ravages of the scale. It can be subjugated and the fruit trees saved. It
will not pay to take any risks. The disease is too serious.

HAD A STROKE OF APOPLEXY WHILE GOING UPSTAIRS

While Mrs. Annie HILDEBRAND, of Harleysville, was ascending a flight of
stairs she was attacked by a slight stroke of apoplexy and fell down the whole
flight of steps. She was picked up in an unconscious condition. Her injuries were
thought serious at first, but she was only slightly injured about the head and
is doing as well as can be expected.

P.O.S. OF A. STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

Camp 470 P.O.S. of A., will hold its annual strawberry and ice cream festival
on June 18. A fine orchestra is engaged to furnish the music at intervals
during the evening.

SUNDAY SCHOOL ICE CREAM FESTIVAL

The Sunday school of Keelor's church will hold their annual ice cream and
strawberry festival on Saturday afternoon, June 11.

A HEAVY RAINFALL

It is reported that the rainfall on Monday night was the heaviest in twenty
years. Within a few hours four inches fell and reports throughout Berks county
show that no less than 15 persons were stunned by lightning, some being
rendered unconscious for a time. At Pottstown the storm was terrific. The thunder
was deafning and the people were scared. The rainfall was so heavy that most of
the streets were flooded from curb to curb. The house of John DIEROLF, of
Bechtelsville, was struck by lightning while the family was at the supper table.
The bolt broke the dishes on the table into fragments and damaged the house
very badly. Throughout the county much damage was done to the public roads and
many of the corn and potatoe fields suffered from washouts.

PASTOR MAY GO TO PORTO RICO

Rev. F.E. COOPER, pastor of St. Marks Lutheran church, South Bethlehem, has
received a call to go to Porto Rico under the direction of the Missionary Board
of the General Council of the Lutheran church. He will probably accept. He is
a son of Rev. Dr. C.J. COOPER, of Allentown, Treasurer of Muhlenberg College,
and graduated from the latter institution in 1896 and from the Lutheran
Theological Seimary at Mt. Airy in 1899. He has been pastor of St. Mark's church,
South Bethlehem, several years.

ROOSTER ASSAILS CHILD

A vicious rooster, belonging to a neighbor, attacked, Frank, the four year
old son of E.J. TROXELL, of Allentown, knocking him down and pecking and
spurring him. The mother was brought to the rescue by the screams of the child and
after a sharp fight she succeeded in driving off the vicious fowl.

CONCERT IN ODD FELLOWS HALL

A concert will be given this evening in Odd Fellow's Hall, Pennsburg, under
the auspices of the Red Hill Band. Our music loving public can anticipate a
rare treat as the Band is in thorough training and their music is up to date. A
feature of the evening will be a lecture by Rev. G.W. GENZLER, of Selingsgrove,
formerly of this vicinity.

This thread: