The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-05-22
MUCKENHAUPT.
More "reminiscences Ofthe celebrated
Preacher-Doctor.

Preacher-DoctOr.
EDITOR HERALD
y very Interesting communication
appeared in the last issue Of the HER
AID, relating to some carly remini-
sciences in the history or Somerset coun.
~, written by our friend T. +. L., to
whose many qualities of head and
heart, his friends, and they are legion
in this county, can give testimony. But,
since this is to be our Centennial year,
our friend, | know, will pardon me, if,
in adding something to the subject,
! may differ little with him in some
Of his details. Accuracy in the rcla-
tion of circumstances should be the first
requisite.
The old German Doctor, Mucken-
haupt, was one OF the most original
characters, among many, who ever
lived in Somerset county. For
years he lived in Petersburg where
he preached in a bluff, ponderous way,
practiced medicine in "A most primitive
fashion, gambled, raced with horses,
and drank an immense quantity of
whiskey. He was the medical, spiritu-
al and legal advisor Of his flock On
Sunday he preached, and on Monday
and every other day, and even on sun
day after preaching, if occasion arose,
he would get gloriously drunk with
some Of the brethren to whom ne had
preached and administered the sacTa-
ment on Sunday.
lie married the young people, and
older ones too, and when necessary at
| tended the women in child birth. and
when they died hc buried them ac-
cording to the rites OF his church,
Lutheran. \ couple Of miles from
Petersburg, during the palmy days of
the old "Pike," stood large stone
house kept by 4 man who is wcil re-
membered by the older citizens of this
vicinity, and who il mentioned fre-
qUently in Col. Searight's history Of
the pike. This hostelry was famou- IN
its day, and many dark stories Of dark
| er deeds have been told 10 The young
er generation. \ traveller would ride
up to this hotel, with welI-filIed sad iie-
bags - was the CUSTOM in those days;
lac would, probably, complain ef sick
ness after eating his supper, his pains
would increase, and Or. Muckenhaupt
would be sent for, and after day or
50 it would BE- given ont that the tray
eler had gotten well and started on his
Journey, during the night. 1T other
times well-groomcd horse would De
seen in the stable, and TO owner SEEM
ei TO be there. y great many similar
circumstances were known, OF which
no explanation was ever given. The
long range OF mountains callyl "Niud-
ing Ridge" was, and j. ful Of rocks
and eaverns, many of which asve n.v-
er been explored, and nigh. hoidbany
secrets.
This preacher-doc:or wa- married
man, but chiidlcss. lie wa-. notwith-
standing his gross immoralities and
his netarious practices, thought 10 De
b. mis- congregation ana patrons, e.
pccially the older women, i model OF
propriety and perfection. When he
got drunk, which was an almost daily
occurrence, they would gather around
him, nurse him, c0ddle him and p3ul-
tice him, and minister 10 all his wants
until "Richard was himself again,
when they would invent every possi-
bie excuse for his back sliding, tell how
sick ne had been and how sincerely he
repentcd for whatever wrong ne might
have done. It Is very doubtful wheJh-
er he had any knowledge OF medicine
or surgery, outside OF the merest rudi-
ments He had no medical books, n
the writer OF this has been credi5iy in
formed. His library consisted of one
book, now in the possession of some
one in this locality, and possibly, al
though it is hardly probable, few
pamphlets.
The book mentioned was in German,
about four inches wide, two inches thick
and long n Webster's Unabridged. An
old friend of the writer's had the book
within the last fifteen years, and he
often said he wanted the writer TO have
i; after his death, but after that Gn-
lucky event the book disappeared ; AT
least when inquired for, it failed 10
materialize. Muckenhaupt's name ap-
peared on the lily leaf, in bold German
characters. Muc.lenhaupt owned "a
property in Petersburg in which he
lived for great many years. The
property is now owned and occupied
temporarily - a dwelling by IL. /.
Dean.
Muckenhaupt did not drift west"
Us T. T. l.. says, but died in Petersburg,
April 18th, lS32, in the house mention
el, of delirium tremens, as was sup
posed. He had been on protySc-ed
spree, and died quite sTdden'y-some
pretended to believe he poisoned him
self northumberland was b3ried in the
Newbury Cemetery, one and a half
miles west from Petersburg. His grave
is unmarked, and no one knows its
exact location. His wife was Penn
sylvania German and after his death
she lived lonely life for Il time, LEFT
this country, and no one can tell where
she went.
The fight spoken of by +. 7. l.. took
place at Harnedsviilc, in the southern
part of this county, at Il ''muster," rs it
was called, such events occurring about
every two or three months, when the
militia would assemble in different
localities for training purposes.
1t WAS strictly whiskey fight, ANA
it is possible that Major Hanna, who
was considered, and doubtless was the
most powerful man in Western Penn
.,.l,-on;, ,r -, fi.a Sfafp N-gs in corn-