APPLEBACHSVILLE, PA IN THE NEWSPAPER 21August 1949 and SOME INFO ON THE TOWN ITSELF

APPLEBACHSVILLE, PA IN THE NEWSPAPER 21August 1949 and SOME INFO ON THE TOWN ITSELF

This is the second article involving Applebachsville, PA that Aunt Fran gave me.  It was in the Philadelphia newspaper. Following the article is info on Applebachsville from a book.

The article is titled: Latvian Refugees Find New Life in Bucks County Community

The article basically speaks of how the small village is going from Pennsylvania Dutch (with associated names) to a place of refuge for Latvian refugees after WWII. The article is interesting and well worth reading.

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Info on Applebachsville - according to the book, "Place Names in Bucks County Pennsylvania" by George MACREYNOLDS on page 8-10:

• Applebachsville is a village on the Bethlehem Road in northwestern Haycock Township.  The land the village is on was apparently originally named Stokes Tract or Stokes Meadow as it was owned by the STOKES family from approximately 1735-1837. 
• The land was sold to George F. DUTCH in 1837. His son (not named in  book) owned the land in 1842 and sold it to the APPLEBACH brothers in 1847.
• Gen. Paul APPLEBACH and his brother Henry in 1847 were already successful in the horse and cattle business.  They laid out part of the tract in building plots on both sides of the Bethlehem Road in 1848. Soon there were 30 brick homes along the road.  A daily stage went through between Bethlehem and Philadelphia.
• The post office was established in 1874. 
• The Lutheran church was built in 1855.  Paul and William APPLEBACH were part of the building committee.
• The family was started by immigrant Johan Heinrich AFFLERBACH who was from Wittgenstein, in Westphalia Germany, where they are said to have been manufacturers of iron. Johan Heinrich AFFLERBACH (who would become known as Henry APPLEBACH) embarked at Rotterdam on the ship Sally which arrived in Philadelphia on 29 Oct. 1770.  He gave his age as 31 and occupation as smith.
• He appears in Springfield Township in August 1775 on a roll of a company of Associators. He married Maria RENSHIMER, daughter of a nearby farmer. Their third son, Daniel, started the Haycock branch of the family. Daniel married Catherine APPLE 02 June 1811. Daniel became Justice of the Peace on 15 May 1833 and held the office until his death.
• Daniel and Catherine's three sons: Paul, Henry, and William were all prominent locally.

PLEASE NOTE: 
ALL PHOTOS AND WRITTEN CONTENT ARE MY OWN UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

LAZARUS WOLF - 1870 AGRICULTURE SCHEDULE

Lazarus WOLF - 1870 AGRICULTURE SCHEDULE

Source: pg.71 of Agriculture Schedules and Federal Census Schedules 1850-1880 by James E. FREY 1997

Lazarus is listed as having: 

• 45 acres improved land valued at $2300
• Farm machinery valued at $50
• Total wages paid $10
• 2 horses, 2 milch (milk) cows, 1 other cattle, 4 swine valued at $315
• 131 bushels wheat, 100 bushels Indian corn, 260 bushels oats, 25 bushels Irish potatoes, orchard products valued at 5200 pounds, butter, and 6 tons of hay
• Animals slaughtered valued at $98
• Estimated value of farm production $962

PLEASE NOTE: 
ALL PHOTOS AND WRITTEN CONTENT ARE MY OWN UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

GARNER, RALPH - Hoopla Around His Birth 1906

GARNER, Ralph - Hoopla Around His Birth 1906

It was certainly no secret in our family that "Pappy" (Ralph GARNER) had been conceived out of marriage by his folks.

So the story goes like this:

When Cora GROFF found out she was pregnant in the early spring of 1906, she told the father of said pregnancy Ben GARNER. His response was to take off for Ohio to hide with Mennonite or Amish cousins there. Cora complained to her parents, who complained to Ben's parents.  Ben's father (and possibly brothers) went to the cousin's home in Ohio and drug Ben back despite his protests and made him marry Cora.  Remember they were both minors and Ben admitted that the baby was his.

Notice on the below marriage license that both fathers had to give permission for the wedding to take place.

Source: my personal collection

While I never personally witnessed any unkindness toward my grandfather due to the hoopla of his conception and birth, from comments made in my hearing, it must have been quite the scandal at the time. Apparently it took my gr-grandfather several years to get over his snit at being forced to marry Cora, although as years went on that changed.

Ralph's early education suffered due to being shuffled around to different relatives and while in the 1910 census he is living with his parents, by the 1920 census he is living with his maternal grandparents.

My mom remembered her mom (with her 10th grade education) working with Pappy from the daily newspaper and family Bible to teach him to read.  I remember Pappy reading the Lancaster paper daily when I was around.

As an adult, Pappy told me that he only completed the second grade.

PLEASE NOTE: 
ALL PHOTOS AND WRITTEN CONTENT ARE MY OWN UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.