The oldest part of this house was built by colonial settler Hans Longenecker, who was born in Langnau, Switzerland, in 1703, came to America in 1728, and purchased 176 acres from William Penn's sons in 1738. Much of the house was completed by his seventh son, Daniel, between 1768 and 1789. Hans Longenecker lived from 1703 to 1767, his wife Frau Elizabeth Kreiter lived from 1709 to 1781, and their children were Jacob, John, Christian, Ulrich, Anna, Daniel, Henry, Abraham, Peter, Mary, and Elizabeth, born between 1729 and 1750.