University of Virginia Library

Ephrata.

This place, situated near Cocalico creek in Lancaster
county, has been called Dunkardtown, and Tunkardtown,
but is now known by the name of Ephrata. It
was settled in 1733, by a sect called, by some, Tunkers,
and by others, Dunkers or German Baptists, most of
whom were from Germany, or of German extraction. They
believe in the general redemption and salvation of the
human race. They are generally well informed, peaceable
in their disposition, simple in their language, and plain in
their dress. They neither swear nor fight, nor go to law,
nor take interest for money loaned. They commonly wear
their beards. At first they kept the first day sabbath, but
afterwards the seventh day.

Peter Miller, a venerable and pious leader and teacher
among the Tunkers, began with them the settlement

of Ephrata. About the year 1746, Miller opened a printing
house, and he and his associates erected a paper mill.
Miller printed a number of books in the German language,
and a few in English; all on religious subjects, and written
chiefly by himself.

In 1748 and 1749, he wrote and printed in Dutch, a work
entitled Blutigen Schau Platzes.[45] It made fourteen hundred
and twenty-eight pages, which he published in two
volumes, and then translated it into German. The paper
on which it was printed, was manufactured at Ephrata
village. This work gave employment to Miller for more
than two years. During that time his bed was a bench;
his pillow a wooden block of about four inches in thickness
and width, and ten inches in length; and he slept but
four hours in twenty-four.[46]

"Miller was born in Germany in 1709; had his education
in the university of Heidelberg; came to this country

in 1730; settled with the Dutch Presbyterians in Philadelphia;
and was the same year ordained a preacher among
them. In 1735 he embraced the principles of the Baptists;
and in 1744 he received another ordination to be the prior
or head of the society at Ephrata."[47] After Miller left the
Presbyterian society in Philadelphia, he removed to Berks
county, where he discovered a valuable quarry of agate,
and he, in company with one Conrad Weiser, a celebrated
Indian interpreter, became concerned in working this
quarry, and in exporting large quantities of the agate to
Germany. But Miller's religious impressions soon led him
to believe that his time and talents should be more usefully
employed; and Weiser dying, Miller forsook the business
of the quarry, and then associated with the Dunkers, and
began the settlement of Ephrata.

Among the brethren of his religious sect, Miller went
by the paternal name of Jabez, alluding to I Chronicles,
chap. iv, verses 9 and 10. His chin bore that dignified
and characteristic mark of manhood given by the
creator, a beard, flowing over his bosom. His countenance,
it is said, was continually so serene that all who saw
him might pronounce that he had not only made a treaty
of peace with himself, but with all the world.

It is not supposed that Miller was bred to printing; but
it is understood he obtained a knowledge of the art after
he arrived in Pennsylvania from the second Christopher
Sower of Germantown. They were of the same religious
sect, and in some way associated in the general government
of the church of which they were members.

Miller was a good classical scholar, a man of most amiable
manners, and highly respected. He died about the
year 1790, aged eighty years.