29/06/2024
Oley Township
Tract 42
Ralph Sutton received a warrant for tract 42 in 1719. Little is known about him, and he likely never lived on this two-hundred-acre tract. He sold the rights to Peter Ballie, probably in 1733, when he had the tract surveyed. Peter Ballie built a stone home at 30 Foxglove Lane.
That same year, John Fisher received a warrant for tract 41. This one-hundred-acre tract lay next to the southern border of tract 42. Fisher probably coordinated with his neighbor, Peter Ballie, and built his home on tract 42 at 21 Speltz Lane.
In 1735, Peter Ballie sold a thirty-one-acre lot, property 42b, to John Fisher. This property was in the southwest corner of tract 42 and had access to a stream.
Property 42a
30 Foxglove Lane
After Peter Ballie died in 1743, the one-hundred-sixty-nine-acre estate was inherited by his eldest daughter, Catharina Ballie (b. 1721), and her husband, John Bertolet (b. 1717). His will stipulated that they had to pay one hundred pounds to his youngest daughter, Helena Ballie (b. 1723). She and her husband, Peter Lobach (b. 1719), acknowledged the payment and released the rights to the property in 1762.
In 1765, John Bertolet sold the estate to his son, John B. Bertolet (b. 1754). When he died in 1821, the estate probably went to his sons, John F. Bertolet (b. 1785) and Daniel Bertolet (b. 1799). John F. Bertolet gained full control of the property in 1846.
David H. Bertolet (b. 1809) bought the home and one-hundred-five-acre property from his father in 1857. When he died in 1895, the property was inherited by his sons, James L. Bertolet (b. 1852) and David L. Bertolet (b. 1850). James L. Bertolet immediately sold his interest to his brother, David L. Bertolet.
When David L. Bertolet died in 1923, the estate was bought by Edward M. Lorah (b. 1864). George H. Schwoyer (b. 1876) bought the property from the estate of Edward M. Lorah in 1935. Two years later, he sold it to Harry R. Pennington (b. 1897).
In 1944, Harry R. Pennington sold the one-hundred-two-acre estate to Sydnor B. Penick (b. 1882). He was the founder of a large pharmaceutical firm called S. B. Penick & Co.
Sydnor B. Penick sold the property to S. B. Penick & Co., which became CPC International. Donald F. Specht bought the estate from CPC International in 1971.
David L. Specht bought the ninety-three-acre property from Donald F. Specht in 2006. He sold it to the Matlock family trust in 2010. Jessica Vooz and Johsua Vooz bought the estate in 2021.
Property 42b
21 Speltz Lane
John Fisher (b. 1706) sold the home and one hundred thirty-seven-acre property to his son-in-law, Stephen Reppert (b. 1703), in 1753.
Stephen Reppert sold the estate to his son, John Reppert (b. 1738), and moved to Longswamp Township. This likely happened after his son turned twenty-one in 1759. Unfortunately, John Reppert died four years later. The home and one hundred thirty-seven acre property were inherited by his one-year-old son, John Reppert (b. 1762). The estate was settled in 1785 when John Reppert was twenty-three years old.
In 1810, John Reppert sold the one hundred twenty-seven acre estate to Magdalena Kieffer (b. 1754). Nine years later, she sold the property to her son, Daniel Kieffer (b. 1786). The property was bought by Daniel F. Bertolet (b. 1799) from the estate of Daniel Kieffer in 1854.
Daniel F. Bertolet was forced to assign the property to Joseph M. Frederick (b. 1842) and Cyrus F. Bertolet (b. 1851) for his creditors. Daniel F. Bertolet died in 1880 and three years later, his estate was bought by his son, Cyrus F. Bertolet.
In 1906, Sarah F. Bertolet (b. 1853) inherited her brother’s one hundred fifty-five acre estate. When she died in 1933, the estate went to her brother, John F. Bertolet (b. 1856). He died two years later, and the estate went to his sons, William D. Bertolet (b. 1883) and Lawrence D. Bertolet (b. 1894).
Lawrence D. Bertolet died in 1962. Since he had no heirs, his interest fell to his brother, William D. Bertolet. After he died in 1969, his sons, William E. Bertolet and John L. Bertolet, inherited the property.
In 1974, William E. Bertolet sold his interest in the property to his brother, John L. Bertolet, and his wife, Doris Y. Bertolet. After John L. Bertolet died in 1977, the property was inherited by his wife, Doris Y. Bertolet, brother, William E. Bertolet, and sister-in-law, Kay M. Bertolet.
They sold the one-hundred-fifty-acre estate to the Thomas B. Rutter Limited Defined Pension Trust in 1979. Severin Fayerman bought the property in 1988. In 1993, Severin Fayerman sold the estate to American Farmland Trust.
Harlan W. Hoover and his wife, Kathryn H. Hoover, bought the one-hundred-fifty-acre estate from American Farmland Trust in 1993.
