Oley Valley High School - Olean Yearbook (Oley, PA)

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ix PIONEERS IN Tl-IE HOIVIE With Pioneering as our theme, we are dividinq it into three parts. Let us first consider the pioneers in the home. The first settlements were made at the close of the seventeenth and the beginning of the eighteenth centuries. Oley originally was called Oleka by the Indians. because it resembled a kettle. The Germans construed it Olich, signifying oil. Many of the first settlers of Oley were French Huguenot refugees, who fled from their native country under the persecutions which prevailed in the reign of Louis XIV. Sometime later Queen Anne of England induced many of these oppressed Protestants-French, German and English-to emi- L grate to Arrerica. They came to this wilderness in S1 ..l.l . ,gk 4.1,-e -tiff' we f? w search of l'omes and an asylum of religious freedom. Some of these early pioneers coming from France were Isaac DeTurck, who took up a tract of 300 acres in the very heart of Oltey in 1712: Peter Bertolet, who settled here in 1720. and lean Bertolet in 1726. iirrggmnvly Many of the original estates of the early pioneers are still in possession of their descendants. One of the most important of these is the Fisher Homestead built in 1801 by Henry and Susanna Fisher. who came to Oley from Heidelberg Township. This home was owned for many years by Daniel D. Fisher and is now owned by Frank Fisher, his grandson. Members of the Society of Friends. called Quakers, also made some early settlements in Oley. These, like the Huguenots, were refugees. but came mainly from England. Some German Quakers from Germany also found their way here. These also fled their native land on account cf oppression and persecution. One Quaker. Iohn Keim, believed to be one of the first settlers of the Oley Valley. arrived in 1698 and settled near Pikeville. Yost and Hans Yoder emigrated from a German-Swiss canton and settled along the Manatawny before 1714. Many of the descendants of these early settlers are still living in this community. Take the DeTurck family, for example. Isaac DeTurck was the one who originally started what is lznown as the DeTurck homestead. Two of his qreat-qrandsons. Abraham, Ir., and lohn, were among the prime movers for the erection of Frieden's Union Church. In the fifth, sixth and seventh generations the DeTurck name and blood were associated with some of the important families of Berks County, such as Van Reed, Leidy, C. K. Whitner. founder of Whitner's Store in Reading. Hoch. Hiester and many others. The Bertolet family is another one that still resides in Oley. lean Bertolet's great-grandson, Daniel Bertolet. was a very important man in Oley and is described as a man of iron will, marvelous industry and deep convictions . A son of lean Bertolet married and lived for a number of years on a portion of the original DeTurck farm. which for many years was owned by Israel M. Bertolet. The Herbein family is known for its interest in the church and as teachers and successful farmers. Ionathan Herbein is listed among the taxpayers of Oley Township in 1752. The original Herbein homestead probably was located near the Oley line, where many of the earlier Herbeins lie buried in a private cemetery on the original farm. One branch of these Herbeins moved to the vicinity of Strausstown. Another homestead that has stayed in the same family for many years is the Kaufman home. This home was built by David Kaufman, who came to Oley from Germantown in 1720. As his family became larger he added another tract of land, thus we have two Kaufman homesteads. but one family. This home has been handed down from father to son, until today it is in the hands of the Frank Kaufman estate. The Kaufman family is noted for its efficient farmers and preachers. CContinued on Page 633

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THOMAS S. KNECHT A. B., Albright College English Latin German We, the graduating class of 1948, proudly dedicate our 1948 Olean to Mr. Thomas S. Knecht for his thoughtful, patient and never-ending guidance. Mr. Knecht is ct man of keen understanding and wide experi- ence. As a missionary, he pio- neered in many parts of China. As an educator in the Oley Schools, he has taught for the ii past twenty-one years in the grades and the high school of our district. His unbounded profession has been a source of great inspiration to a host of pupils. We offer evidence of his great loyalty, noble character, and excellent scholarship. Class of Forty-eight, you have selected a theme which presents a challenge to each of you. As pioneers, the UNCHARTED ETERNAL lies before you and, as you advance in the van of progress in school, home, and church, you will leave behind blazed trails. Your enduring worth depends upon your wise use of God's great gift, personal choice. He intends it as a blessing. Use it fool- ishly and it will prove a curse. f Consult your conscience, as the mariner watches his compass, but let it. as the compass, be centered upon a divinely appointed goal. Thus advance, not alone, but with a heavenly escort. Accept a part of Holy Writ which, God grant, may you use. He, hath showed thee, O man, what is good: and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. Five

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PIONEERS IN Tl-IE CHURCH In the beginning of the eighteenth century the territory known as Oley took in Earl, Pike. Rockland. and parts of Exeier, Alsace and Ruscombmanor Townships as its territory. Oley has always been connected with religion and men pioneering in religion. It has sent out many ministers who are now pioneering in other parts of the country. One of the first religious sects to pioneer in Oley were the Quakers. The first Quaker pioneered to Oley 'in 1710. They worshipped in their own houses until 1727 when they built the Friends' Meeting House. However, they brought no ministers along. They were like sheep without a shepherd. QW' fi' -1 mil? Nt xnxx if . el. X -its Another religious sect that pioneered very early in Oley were the Moravians. They came here about the same time as the Quakers did. However, they brought missionaries along. Andrew Eschen- bach gained a large number of followers. Later Count Zinzendorf came to Philadelphia. He sent missionaries into Oley and later he, hirnseli, came. Dr. George DeBenneville emigrated to the New World because of ill-health. He moved to the home of lean Bertolet in Oley. There he founded and preached the doctrine ot Universal Redemption. Another early sect was the New-Born. It had many followers until Henry Melchoir Muhlen- berg proved Mathias Bauman's doctrines wrong. From that time the New-Bom sect started to decline. Two other religious sects were the Lutheran and Reformed. In 1742 Henry Melchioi Muhlenberg, the great Lutheran leader, came to Philadelphia and migrated as cr minister to all parts of Pennsylvania. He preached English and German services in Oley. In 1746 Reverend Michael Schlatter, the great Reformed leader, organized the Refonned Church of America. He started the idea of having the German and English children instructed with approved catechisms. In 1736 the Salem Reformed Church was organized. In 1822 the Christ Lutheran Church was built alongside Salem Reformed. On Ianuary 1. 1830. steps were taken to build the Frieden's Church. It served as a joint church for both congregations. Some of the more recent pastors who pioneered in the Lutheran faith were: The Reverend Thomas laeger-The Reverend Peter Heilman. who was the first superintendent of Topton Orphans' Home-The Reverend William Kistler-The Reverend Anson W. Lindenmuth-The Reverend Harry Fitting-The Reverend Horace Ritter and The Reverend Luke S. Sweizter. The Reverend Paul I. Dundore is the present pastor. The Reformed pastors who pioneered in Oley were: The Reverend Isaac Miese-The Rev- erend P. P. A. Hoffman-The Reverend Daniel E. Schoedler. who was the principal of the Oley Academy, and The Reverend Isaac S. Stahr, who was a truly designated servant oi God. Now The Reverend Earl G. Wolford is serving the area. Finally come the pastors which Oley has produced, who are now pioneering in different sections of the country. The Reverend Ierome Leinbach-The Reverend Henry I. Stahr, president oi Hood College. Maryland-The Reverend Iacob B. Kershner-The Reverend Iames G. Dengler- The Reverend George B. Kershner-The Reverend David C. Kaufman-The Reverend Nathan B. Yerger. The Reverend Roger C. Kauffman, and The Reverend Webster K. Reinert, Superintendent of the Topton Orphans' Home. are serving as pioneers in the service of the church. Seven