The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-02-16

dred among them could weld caststeel
upon iron. He therefore began to ex-
pertinent In the way Of Welding cast
steel and in tempering IL when It was
welded, and in time mastered 1t thor
oughly. But to do this, 1t was necessa-
ry to devote some time TO the study OF
chemistry and metallurgy. He bought
the needed books, supplied himself
with an outfit of chemical apparatus,
etc, needed for his experiments and
investigation, and in time he became
a rather expert chemist, at least 50 far
as the working Of iron and steel was
concerned.
Now a man can not do n work of this
sort in just the same manner that he
would go about in the making Of a
horseshoe or a cOw-chain. He had TO
prepare for himself sort of labora-
tory where he could carry on his exper-
iments and keep his apparatus, etc,
free from the hands Of outside med
dIers. Naturally he would keep it
under lock and key; and just this is
what gave rise to those legends that be-
came current among the more ignorant
of the community that he dealt in the
black art, and had entered into a league
with the evil one; some even went so
far as to say that he made counterfeit
money in this secret chamber.
Among other things used in the sue
cessful welding of steel was borax.
He had method of pulverizing and
preparing this article for use, the Sc
cret of which was zealOusly guarded;
aud when so prepared it was worth,
perhaps, three or four times as much as
was the raw article. We have said that
he thoroughly mastered the art Of
welding and tempering steel.
He now quit common blacksmithing
entirely, and devoted his time to the
making of axes, chisels, drawing
knives and all sorts of edge tools that
were needed in the community, as well
as animal traps, forks and other imple-
ments of steel. The fame of his axes
and edge tools for excellence speedily
spread all through the surrounding
country, and they were eagerly sought
for as much as tifty and sixty miles
away.
The axes had steel poll, as well as a
steel edge. The weight, number, piece
and makers name were all carefully
stamped on each axe, and they were
not ground down to a sharp edge, as
are the axes we buy in the stores in our
own day on the contrary, the edge
was left at thickness Of perhaps a six
teenth of an inch, and was ground TO
an edge by the purchaser. Such as
were not sold from the shop were TAX
en- out and left at the stores through
the surrounding country, to be sold on
commission.
In his work he always used a four
pound hand-hammer. Ia time the pat
ent axe of the present day, which was
sold at much lower price, came into
competition with the JOder axe in the
stores; but in the community in which
they were made, the Joder axe always
held its own as long as Mr.. Joder was
able TO make them. OF course, il was
not possible for any one man 10 make
all the axes and other tools that were
called for, and he soon began TO take
apprentices, who were carefully in
structed in the art, and who, as they
became free, were given employment
as journeymen. The late Aaron
Schrock, of Middlecreek, who was his
brother-in-law, was the first of these
The article of indenture
bearing the date of September -, 1921,
and written by Joseph J. JOder himself
in fair clerkly hand, is still in pos
session Of Capt. VIM. NJ. SehrOck,
son of Aaron Schrock, and, as it is
something of curiosity, is here given:
THIS INDENTURE witnesseth, that Aa-
ron Schrack. Of the township OF BrOthersval-
ley, In the county OF Somerset, by and with
his own consent hath put himself, and by
these presents doth voluntarily and OF his
own free will and accord, put himself appren-
tice to Joseph J. JOder, OF the same place,
blacksmith, TO learn his art, trade and mys-
tery, and, after the manner OF an apprentice,
10 serve him from the day and date hereof,
for and during the full end and term Of three
years next ensuing; during all Of which term
the apprentice his said master faithfully shall
serve. his secrets keep. his lawful commands
everywhere readily obey. Heshall do no dam
age TO his said master, nor see it done by 9TH
ers, without letting OF giving notice thereof 10
his said master. He shall not waste his said
masters goods, nor lend them unlawfully TO
any. He shall neither buy nor sell. He shall
not absent himself day nor night from his said
masters service without his leave, nor haunt
taverns or play-hOuses. but in all
things behave himself asa faithful appren-
tice ought to do during the said term And
the said master shall use the utmost OF his
endeavors to teach or cause TO be taught or IN
structed the said apprentice in the trade or
mystery Of blacksmith, and procure for him
sufficient meat driLk, apparel, lodging and
washing, fitting for an apprentice, during the
the said term one months schooling, and give
him also yearly twelve days free in hay-mak-
ing and harvesttime; and when he Is free
give him two suits Of clothing, one good
watch, and one good rife
And for the performance OF all and singular
the covenants and agreements Aforesaid, the
said parties bind themselves each unto the
other firmly by these presents.
In Witness EheTeof the said parties have set
their hands and seals hereuntO. Dated the
frst day OF September. in the year OF our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and tweDty-one.
Sealed and delivered
in the presence Of AARON ScHRAcK, Seal.
Abraham Miller,
Peter Miller, Jr. JOSEPH ]. JODER, Seal
Certainly a man capable of drawing
up an instrument Of writing such as
this is, was no ignorant mouDtebank,
given to consulting "Hex DOCTORS"
. Erd Spiegels" and the like.
Mr.. Joder has left 1t as a matter of
record that Aaron SchrOck was the
most obedient and faithful apprentice
he ever had; and he also became the
best workman. Tue late Michael
Koontz, who lived several miles south
Of Somerset, was his next apprentice.
Other apprentices seem 10 have been:
David Frankhauser, John Swartzen-
druber, Samuel Judy, Gabriel Sehroek,
Leonard Bsrkey, John Yowler, Joseph
weimer, George Lichty, Benjamin J.
Joder. Ibis SOM Thomas Moore aud