Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society
History Quarterly Digital Archives

Source: October 1959 Volume 10 Number 4, Pages 84–86

Julius F. Sachse

Mildred F. Fisher

Page 84

Mr. Sachse's article would not be complete without a brief sketch of the man himself.

Julius Frederick Sachse was the son of Frederick Sachse and Julianna D. W. Buehler. He was born in Philadelphia, November 22nd, 1842, at 4428 Pine Street and he died in his sleep on November 15th, 1919. He was educated in the grammar schools as well as in the Old Lutheran Academy of Philadelphia.

In his early boyhood Mr. Sachse spent his summers with friends in Easttown Township and there became interested in history; he kept up this interest as long as he lived.

His collection of original material pertaining to the Ephrata Cloisters was the most complete known to be in existence; his search for this continued for thirty years. A great many of his writings were about Lutherans, and in order to understand fully the background of several religions he traveled in Holland, Germany, Austria, France and England studying the early history, Among the articles and books he wrote were "The German Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania, 1694 - 1708, and published in 1895, it contained about 500 pages and 22 tinted plates (he was also noted for his photography). The book deals with the Pietists: Moravians, Lunkers, Rosicrucians, Lutherans, Labadists,

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Schwenkfelders, the Ephrata Community, the Hermits on the Wissahickon, the Mennonites, and the German Baptists. He was assisted in writing this book by Judge Pennypacker. A later book on the same topic was "The German Sectarians of Pennsylvania, 1708 - 1800" (Philadelphia, 1899 - 1900). He also wrote "The Wayside Inns on the Lancaster Roadside between Philadelphia and Lancaster" (Lancaster, 1912 - 14), and many short articles too numerous to mention, such as "Benjamin Franklin as a Free Mason." Most of his short articles were read before and published by the Pennsylvania-German Society of Lancaster and the American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia, but he was also a frequent contributor to the West Chester "Village Record."

Julius F. Sachse

He received the degree of Doctor of Letters from Muhlenberg College for his broad knowledge and careful research in history.

He was a member of Columbia Lodge No.91, F. and A.M., Harmony Chapter No. 52, R.A.M.; Kadosh Commandery No. 29, K.T.; and Philadelphia Consistory. He served as Librarian and Curator of the Museum of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania for thirteen years previous to his death in 1919. While there he did research work on the Masonic careers of George Washington, Franklin, Lafayette and others. He was a member of a great many societies and was appointed

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by Governor Pennypacker to be a member of the Advisory Committee of Public Records of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was instrumental in the organization of the Pennsylvania Federation of Historical Societies at Harrisburg on January 5th, 1905, and served as its President in 1909.

He also served as Historical Specialist of the "Public Ledger" and wrote for the "Village Record" of West Chester in 1387 when he wrote of Devon and its historic surroundings as well as Reminiscences of Chester County. For eight years he was Editor of the American Journal of Photography, and also wrote for the "Times" of Philadelphia.

Because of his happy summers, Mr. Sachse always wanted to return to Chester County, and so in 1872 he purchased the property still known as the Sachse property on the south side of Darby road just east of the Leopard. At first the place was used as a summer home - this was in 1872 - but in 1877 it became his permanent home, and there are still a number of persons around Berwyn who remember seeing Mr. Sachse leaving Berwyn station for Philadelphia each morning and returning in the evening.

On his return "the squire," as he was familiarly known to his many friends, would stop at the Saddle Shop to get the "Berwyn News" for the day. The Saddle Shop was run by Mr. Martin V. Yerkes, father of our Rev. Carol (sic) Yerkes, and was located on the north side of the present Lincoln Highway just east of the Fritz property.