The Muhlenberg Weekly

Issue date: 11/17/05 Section: Focus

William Allen founded the city of Allentown in 1760. Allen, one of the wealthiest men in eighteenth century Pennsylvania, acquired thousands of acres of land in the Lehigh Valley. On Sept. 10, 1735, Joseph Turner, a business partner of Allen, sold him 5,000 acres close to the Lehigh River. Allen planned to build a community within these newly acquired 5,000 acres. Allen's new town began to quickly attract thousands of immigrants, mostly Germans. The Lehigh Valley developed a strong following of Lutherans due to its large German population.



During the first years of settling in the Lehigh Valley, the immigrants established farms ranging in size from 100 to 300 acres. As the years progressed, settlers began to form smaller towns surrounding present-day Allentown, such as Emmaus, Salisbury, Whitehall and Siegersville, which were formed in the late 1740s. In the early 1760s, German immigrants continued to arrive in northeastern Pennsylvania.



The Germans loved the area because of its rich farming soil and streams. However, since the area was not heavily occupied, the new settlers thought that they could claim all the land. This caused conflict between the settlers and the Native Americans: the Native Americans were eventually forced off their land in the infamous "Walking Purchase" of 1737.



During the French and Indian War, the area around Allentown suffered from constant attack. To solve this problem, a series of forts were constructed in 1756. However, these forts could not defend the settlements from the Native American attacks. By 1760, the farmers needed a safe place to sell their crops locally instead of sending them down to Philadelphia, Pa. and risking attack from Native Americans. To solve this problem, Allen set aside 700 acres of land and Allentown was formed.



Most of the city's residents came from the surrounding area and after 1760 the city continued to grow. However, its early growth was slow, due to a devastating drought and the effects of a Native American rebellion led by a chief named Pontiac.



The lack of adequate transportation also hindered development, even though the city sat on the road connecting Reading and Easton.



By the time of the Revolutionary War, Allentown was wrapped up in the political turmoil that enveloped much of the country. In 1776, the city began to organize a militia which would join George Washington's army. When the possibility of British invasion threatened the area in 1777, the Continental Congress ordered all brass objects, including bells, to be removed from the city. Consequently, the Liberty Bell was taken from Philadelphia and hidden in the Zion Reformed Church in Allentown.



During the Revolutionary War, Allentown was the cite of important war industries, including cartridge making, saddle making and scabbard manufacturing. Many of the Valley's residents served in the war, including Peter Trexler Jr., a member of the local Trexler family.



Source: Allentown 1762-1987: A 225-Year History



Edited by Mahlon H. Hellerich

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