APPLEBACHSVILLE, PA

Source: Quakertown Area Comprehensive Plan Update: Bucks County, Penn. - Aug. 2007

Page 158

The Villages of Haycock Township - Applebachsville

"Situated at the intersection of Applebachsville Road and Old Bethlehem Pike, Applebachsville is [a] great example of a largely intact, predominately residential crossroads village.  It includes numerous homes, some shops and a firehouse. "

"Applebachsville lies within the VC-1 zoning district.  The purpose of the district is to protect village character and allow compatible infill development.  There are various rural residential and vacant uses within the village zoning district that may allow for some infill development."
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Dates unknown of these 2 photos taken in Applebachsville plus a map:

White Hall Hotel

Map

St. Paul's Church.

GROFF/GRAAF IN LOCAL BOOK

GROFF/GRAAF IN LOCAL BOOK:

History of Lancaster County to Which is Prefixed a Brief Sketch of the Early History of Pennsylvania by I. Daniel Rupp.  Published by Gilbert Hills, Lancaster, PA 1844

(page 129-132)

List of how "Conestoga Manor" was sold and/or divided after March 1718.  The tract of land started as 16,000 acres. John Graff is listed as getting 136 acres in 1762. The entire list contains many familiar names: Herr, Hershey, Koenig, Mayer, Kauffmann, Logan, Brenner, etc.

(page 133-34)

Hans Graaf located at the head of a small stream, known by the name of Grove's Run, in West Earl township.

"Hans Graaf fled from Switzerland to Alsace, with one his brothers, about the year 1695 or 96, he came to Germantown, where he remained a short time; afterwards settled on Grove's Run, in Earl township, both of which were named in honor of him."

"...In the spring of the year, having secured by a warrant, dated November 22, 1717, a large tract of land, he erected a house near the cabin.  The spot where he erected the house in the spring of 1718 is still pointed out by his progeny.  At this time, as was common with the aborigines in all the new settlements, the Indians called frequently at his house to see baskets and hickory brooms.  Mr. Graaf had six sons; as soon as some of them were grown up, he turned his attention to dealing in blankets and other articles of merchandise, which he procured at Philadelphia, and took them to Harris's Ferry on the Susquehanna and exchanged them for skins, furs and the like."

"He spoke, it is said, the Indian language fluently.  When one of the sons drove, the old gentleman accompanied him, riding a fine steed, for he kept none but fine horses.....He raised six sons: Peter, David,...John, Daniel, Marcus, and Samuel...."

Hans Graaf, after having served his day and generation, the public also on several occasions, and having divided his land among his sons, died, leaving a large family connection.....So without doubt, the magistrates and inhabitants of Lancaster county thought, when they met to settle upon the bounds and give names to townships, June 9, 1729: they had regard to the worth of this family in calling one of the townships, after the first settlers of Graaf, i.e. Earl township."

(page 190)

"In the north-eastern part of the county, a settlement was commenced about the year 1723 or 24 by Everhard Ream, whose descendants still reside in the village called after the first settler....After clearing a small spot, he procured a warrant and located about 400 acres; afterwards in 1725, received a patent for the same."

Some of his early neighbors, who had been attracted by the improved spot and fine water were Bucher, Huber, Walter, Keller, Schwarzwalder, Leader, Schneider, Killion, Dock, Forney, Rupp, Balmer, May, Mayer, Hahn, Resler, Beyer, Leet, Schlott, Graf, Wolf, Feierstein, Weidman, and others."

GROFF NEWS ARTICLES

A distant relative has allowed me to share these articles here:

There used to be a newspaper, the Quarryville Sun, that ran a series of articles in the early 1900's on the old families of that area.  Here are some excerpts about our family (parenthesis are my addition):

 

    John (Myers, Jr.) was dead before we knew anything of the affairs in this section, but his sons, Frederick, Benjamin, Isaac and John, and his two daughters, Susan and Fannie, we well remember.  Both of them were married to "State Road" Joseph Groff; Susan first, who was the mother of our friends, John, Joseph and Levy Groff and of Mrs. Henry Phillips, Mrs. Abram Lefevre, Mrs. Amos Groff and Mrs. Cyrus Cremer.  After her death he married aunt Fannie but she never had any children.  (reminiscences of Mr. L. T. Hensel, November 27, 1902)

 

    One we remember best and have many pleasant recollections of was "State Road" Joseph Groff who has been dead over twenty years after having lived to a good old age.  All the time we knew him he lived on and owned the farm now owned by Henry Heidelbaugh and no better nor more productive farm was on the Valley road and there were few kept in better condition.  He was really a model farmer and good business man and his home was one of the most attractive in the neighborhood, always open and we really believe entertained more visitors that any other.  The hospitality of Joe and Susan, his good wife, was known to all and if a neighbor wanted a favor he was always sure to get it there.  He and Dan Rineer were great friends and were great hands at a butchering and we will never forget the days when we would kill four of five big hogs and Joe and Dan Rineer and Joe Groff would arrive at five o'clock in the morning, do everything by hand, be done at six, and such sausage and pudding you don't hear tell of now.  Besides this the meat would be put away and the whole butchering done in a day, and during the day there would be plenty of fun and the bottle frequently passed.  It is a great pity that there are no pictures of scenes of this kind-a picture of a gang around an old fashioned chopping bench with cleavers would be worth having.

    The sons of Joseph Groff we all know are John, Levi and Joseph.  They are among our best citizens and it is clearly to be seen were brought up in a good school as there are no more careful or neater farmers nor do you ever miss it if you visit them in their home.  Neither do you make a mistake if you call on any of the daughters-Kate Phillips, Fannie Groff, Barbara Cramer or Lizzie Lefever-at each place you will be sure to be well entertained.  (reminiscences of Mr. L. T Hensel, February 5, 1903)

GRAAF CITIZENSHIP

History of Lancaster County To Which is Prefixed a Brief Sketch of the Early History of Pennsylvania - Compiled From Authentic Sources by I. Daniel Rupp.  Published by Gilbert Hills, Lancaster, PA 1844

Pages 122-126

"...divers Protestants, who were subjects to the Emperor of Germany....transported themselves and estates into the province of Pennsylvania, between the years 1700 and 1718..."

"....have humbly signified to the Governor and Representatives of the freemen of this province, in General Assembly, that they have purchased and do hold lands of the proprietary, and others, his Majesty's subjects within this province, and have likewise represented their great desire of being made partakers of those privileges which the natural born subjects of Great Britain do enjoy within this province... and who have given such testimony of their affection and obedience to the Crown of Great Britain should as well be secured in the enjoyment of their estates in their laudable affection and zeal for the English constitution" - Hans Graaf, and Martin Graaf are included in a long list of men which includes names of Myelin, Hess, Buckwalter, Landis, Funk, Stoneman, Neiff, Bare, Nisley, Goot, Bheme, Coffman, etc.

GROFF FAMILY

This is a clipping I found and is from the book: History of Lancaster County, PA with Biographical Sketches by Franklin Ellis and Samuel Evans.  Published 1883. (pg. 925)

GROFF FAMILY

"The whole eastern part of this township (Upper Leacock Township) was included in a warrant of land granted to Hans Groff, who afterwards disposed of it to different settlers.  Hans Groff, with one of his brothers, were among the persecuted Christians who fled from Switzerland to Alsace, then a province of France, about the year 1695-96.  He came to Germantown, where he remained for a short time only; afterwards he settled in Pequea Valley, but not being content here, he then settled in Groff's Dale (Graaf Thal), which was named in honor of him, and by which the settlement is known to this day."

"The following is the circumstance which led Mr. Groff to settle in Groff's Dale: "His horses having strayed Pequea, while in pursuit of them in a northern direction from the inhabited parts he discovered a fine spring in a heavily timbered spot, the head of Grove's Run...He nevertheless pursued his horses till he found them, and returned to Pequea. A short time afterwards he disposed of his effects, when he returned to the spring, and about half a mile down, on the north side, he erected a cabin under a large white oak tree, in which he, his wife, and an only child remained during that winter.  In the spring of the next year, having secured by a warrant dated Nov. 22, 1717, a large tract of land, he erected a house near the cabin.  The spot where he erected the house is still pointed out by his descendants.  He had six sons - Peter, David, John, Daniel Marcus, and Samuel, and was known as Graaf der Jaeger (the huntsman)."

"Hans Groff, after serving his day and generation, the public on several occasions, and having divided his land among his sons, died, leaving a large family connection. Perhaps there is no family in the county more numerous, especially in Upper Leacock, more "respectable, and more useful citizens than the Groffs. "

The footnote of this article states " this name is variously spelled Groff, Graaf, Groef, and Graffe."