The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-04-26

deferred by any obstacles, however
great, cut the giant trees of the prl-
meval forest, built their rude log
cabins and began the establishment
of new homes in these "wilds OF the
west" this "promised land"
The history of the "Blockhouse," !"
as currently reported, is largely tra-
ditioual, and not authentic. The
writer has given considerable time
and attention to investigating its
history, with the result as below. 1t
was built in the year ITO by Ma
thias Schoch, a Swiss emigrant from
Murlhausen, Alsace Lorraine, as a
refuge for himself and family and
the surrounding district against the
ravages of the cruel Indian, which,
since Braddock's defeat, in 1850,
had been constantly increasing, and
which did not finally cease until
1888. The ground upon which it
is located was purchased Gin pursu-
ance of patents issued by the heirs
of VIM. Penn to Matthias Schoch
June 4, 1862, and April %, 1918,
covering 3O6 acres, 12l perches, en-
rolled in Roll Office, Patent Book,
No. 16, Page SO"
Matthias Schoch came to America
when a boy of eleven years, and
was sold, or bound, as "redemp-
tioner" for term of six years to
pay for his passage. Heserved this
redemption period on the estate OF
Conrad Weiser, the Interpreter, at
Womelsdort, Berks county, Penna.
This was the school that made the
man. He remained with Weiser two
years after his freedom was obtained,
until 1853, and in Berks county
until l76S, his name appearing on
the tax lists of Berks until 1867,
and after that in Penns township,
Cumberland county, until the cree
ton of Northumberland county, in
1772, which then included Penns
township. This locality was then
the extreme frontier, and its danger
most severe.-Here he brought his
little family two tots having al
ready come to bless the humble
homeland built for them the log
cabin, cleared the forest and titled
the soil. He soon found the need
of a more secure shelter against the
onslaught of the savage and treach-
erous red man and, accordingly, in
ITO, built the Schoch blockhouse.
Just here we would like to call
the readers attention to the error in
the report made by the historian in
the work issued by the State of
Pennsylvania, under Act of Assem-
bly, May %, 1898, entitled, "Frontier
Forts of Pennsylvania" On page
62S, Vol. !, this Blockhouse, or
Fort, is called "Hendricks Fort"
which is serious mistake. This
place Of refuge was builtby Matthias
Schoch, as stated above, upon land
purchased by him, as above, and
owned by him continuously until
his decease in 1912, when it succeed
ed to his son, Michael Schoch, who
owned it until 1892, when it passed
out of the family. 1t is but common
justice that the honor duethis sturdy
pioneer of the frontier wilds be not
delegated to another. This 'Block-
house" was the scene of many inter-
esting and thrilling events during
the trying years of the French and
Indian outrages, and its heavy log
walls proved a safe refuge to the
surrounding settlers when dangers
threatened. In fact, it was known
to these settlers as "The Refuge"
and the name has come down to us
as such.
But short half mile north OF the
BlOckhouse occurred the Stock Mas
sacre, in 1882. This was such an
atrocious outrage, and so stealthily
accomplished, that no hel p was pos
sible; yet when it became known to
Schoch, with his family securely
barred within the Blockhouse, with
his trusty hintlock in his hand he
went about from neighbor to neigh
Dor land they were not so close as
now, but sometimes miles apart to
appraise them of the lurking danger
and togather them into the "Refuge."
Tho ,,,annr;au nf cuoh wort IN =