Zion Lutheran Church (1881); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Sandra Ferguson . Copyright 2004. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************* from Futhey and Cope's THE HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY (1881); The early records of this church are lost. The German Lutherans and Reformed Calvinists jointly obtain the ground, containing about 10 acres. - and a house being erected, each society had their minister, the Rev Henry Muhlenberg, Sr, of Philadelphia, being the first Lutheran preacher. About 1770 the subject of erecting a new house being agitated, the members could not all agree. Those who afterwards erected St. Peter's wished it nearer French Creek, or on their side - but the Vincent members would not yield, and retained their position. The Reformed members also proceeded to the erection of a separate Church. The present building (1881) was then built on thge Schuylkill Rd, about 2 miles from the French Creek bridge and 1/2 mile from the General Pike, where this road ran and Branson's rd. fork. The following names are cut into stone, over the front door; Rev. L Focht (he wrote his name Voigt), C. Shoener, H. Herpel, J. Essig, R. Essig, Peter Miller, __Shuman, Henry Christman, 1774. Some of those buried in the graveyard, were; Ludwig Voigt, b Mansfield, Germany 1731; b 1800 John Hause d 1835 aged 73. (His father, John, is buried at Rhodes' graveyard.) Benjamin Royer, d 1823 aged 54 Andrew Ortlip d 1819 aged 89 Jacob Finkbine, b 1754 d 1822 Nicholas Snider b 1741 d 1822 Henry Hause son of John, d 1825 aged 56 Peter Miller son of Peter d. 1825, aged 42.....he was the organist Peter Miller sr b 1734 d 1803 John Maurear b 1746 d 1800 John Shuman b 1767 d 1822 Henry Miller son of Peter b 1773 d 1839 Clements Rentgen b 1754 d 1833 David Royer d 1832 aged 60 Henry Maurer b 1739 d 1800 Henry Sheeder b 1754 d 1807 Jacob Hailman b 1780 Stephen or Stevanus Hailman, the father, b 1744 d 1821 Henry Christman b 1744 d 1823 George Emrich b 1754 d 1820 Zacharis Ziegler 1713 d 1800 aged 87 John Baker b 1762 d 1833 John Miller b 1762 d 1825 Abraham Knerr d 1836 aged 65 Matthias Waratman d 1801 aged 57 Jacob Mayer b 1749 d 1824 John Walter b 1733 d 1813 Wm Walter sr b 1744 d 1818