Drums, Pennsylvania

Located about 1,500 feet (460 m) altitude in the Sugarloaf Valley, it is situated east of Interstate 81 and north of Nescopeck Creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna River.

In 1749, Jacob married Catharine Strauss, who gave birth to a son, George, on June 12, 1762, in Northampton County, Williams Township, adjacent to Bethlehem and Easton, Pa.

This was a revolutionary time in this area because America's founders such as George Washington, Martha Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Alexander Hamilton visited Bethlehem numerous times where they lodged at the Moravian Sun Inn before and during the American Revolution.

[3] George was attracted to the beautiful Sugarloaf Valley area in Luzerne County as were other pioneers, such as John Balliet, who is also part of the Drum family tree.

George became one of the pioneering settlers there in the late 18th century beginning the development of Drums village and Conyngham.

"Among the early settlers were George Drum, Philip Woodring, Andrew Mowery, and Henry Davis".

[6] George Drum was an entrepreneur and government documents indicate he was a carpenter, contractor, builder, farmer, and justice of the peace for Sugarloaf Township.

George was eventually promoted and commissioned as Captain of Militia for Frontier Service, 5th Company, Eighth Regiment.

Anna & her family were from the Williams Township, Northampton County area adjacent to Easton and Bethlehem.

George Drum's two century old estate still stands in immaculate condition in Conyngham and is a fine example of colonial architecture.

On February 27, 1858, Philip died in Drums, Butler Township, aged 71, he was buried at St. Johns Cemetery.

Further community and land development by family members made Drums and St. Johns the commercial centers of the township.

It is in the heart of a rich agricultural section and is on the Old State Road leading to Hazleton, Pennsylvania, and Wilkes-Barre, about six miles from the former, its natural trading point, between Big and Little Nescopeck.

In 1929 construction began on the present Route 309 to permit horseless carriages a more gradual incline up Butler Mountain.

[23] In 1958, Susan (Drum) Walters, great-granddaughter of George Sr., was elected justice of the peace for the Sugarloaf Valley, serving the community until her death in 1973.

Under the capable direction of Frederick Peters, the Drums office of First Eastern expanded with the township with deposits of several millions.

[20] On January 3, 1990, Edward W. Drum was elected Sugarloaf County Chairman for the community's government.

Edward died on March 17, 2005, at age 79 bringing an end to nearly two centuries of Drum family governmental leadership.

Drums is served by the Butler Township Police Department, which employs Chief David Pavelko, a sergeant, and five other officers.

In 1941, the original wooden Drums school was closed and a larger, brick structure was built across the street.

The Trinity Church project, which George W. Drum donated his land to, organized a Sunday School on May 6, 1844.

The subscribers to this document were consistory George Drum, John Balliet Sr, Philip Woodring, Jacob Speth, George Wenner, S. Earles, Jacob Balliet, Peter Hill, John Balliet Jr, Peter Scheide, Michael Beishline, Jacob Drumheller, A. Maurer, P. Ruth, J. Fuse, J. Wenner, H. Maurer, George Beishline, and Michael Bitterle.

[32] One of the founders, Jacob Drumheller (in the Drum family tree), constructed the first building in what became Hazleton, Pennsylvania, in 1809.

Present day descendants are also buried at St. Johns such as Edward T. Drum (Corporal — Sergeant j in WW II, d. 1995 who is survived by his son; Gary E. Drum, grandchildren; Celeste, Christos, Angelica, and great-grandson Xaeden Andrew-Drum Leo .

Edward is the 3rd great-grandson of George Drum Sr.. St. Johns has become the family's primary cemetery for the past 215 years.

[citation needed] Balliet, Beisal, Beishline, Butz, Chapin, Curwood, Drasher, Dreisbach, Drumheller, Eroh, Fink, Fisher, Fritzinger, Gilmore, Greece, Hart, Heller, Helman, Hess, Hughes, Klinger, Lauderbach, Miller, Mochamer, Morgan, Santee, Schleppy, Shearer, Strauss, Straw, Turnbach, Roth, Wagner, Whitenight, Whitebread, Wilkins, Winter, Wolfe, Woodring, Wotring, Yoch, Young, and Zimmerman are some names in the extended Drum family who lived in the Drums area and contributed to the community.

[3] Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church was founded with the building committee team consisting of Rev.