History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II, Part 1

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 948

USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II > Part 1

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GENEALCCY COLLECTION

ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00826 4944

HISTORY

LEHIGH COUNTY

PENNSYLVANIA

AND A GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF ITS FAMILIES

CHARLES RHOADS ROBERTS, Member of Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Lehigh County Historical Society, Pennsylvania German Society, Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution, Historian Newhard Family.

REV. JOHN BAER STOUDT,

Member of Pennsylvania German Society, Society of American Folklore, Historical Society of Berks County, Lehigh County Historical Society, Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society, Historian of the Baer Family, Author of History of the Western Salisbury Reformed Congregation, Fifteen Years of Grace, Life and Times of Col. John Siegfried, The Riddles and Nursery Rhymes of the Pennsylvania Germans.

REV. THOMAS H. KRICK,

Member of Pennsylvania German Society, Historical Society of Berks County, Lehigh County Historical Society, Historian of the Krick, High and Overholtzer Family Associations.

WILLIAM J. DIETRICH,

Member of Pennsylvania German Society, Historical Society of Berks County, Lehigh County Historical Society, Bucks County Historical Society, and Author of Dietrich Families in America.

IN TWO VOLUMES-Illustrated VOL. II.

LEHIGH VALLEY PUBLISHING COMPANY, LTD. ALLENTOWN, PA. 1914

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

ACKER FAMILY.

Philip Jacob Acker, the ancestor of this family, was born in 1696 in Germany and landed at Philadelphia on September 25, 1732, on the ship "Loyal Judith," with his brother Henry Acker. He was then thirty-six years of age. He settled in the district, which at that time was called Macungie in Bucks county, now Upper Macungie township, Lehigh county, about six miles west of Allentown, on what is now the Koch farm, on the south side of the public road leading from Allentown to Fogelsville, located several miles east of Fogelsville and probably one mile east of Chapman's Station on the Catasau- qua and Fogelsville Railroad.

Philip Jacob Acker was naturalized at the session of the Supreme Court in Philadelphia on September 27, 1743, and in 1745 he was one of the organizers of the Ziegel Church, located in Weisenburg township. On March 30-31, 1757, David Schultze surveyed land for Philip Jacob Acker in Macungie, as also for Dewald Koontz, Christian Heisler, Adam Fisher and Conrad Pien (See Perkiomen Region Vol. 3, Page 91). On January 11, 1759, Philip Jacob Acker was granted land adjoining his other land and that of Christian Heisler in Macungie township. In 1762 he was assessed £10 in Macungie township.

Philip Jacob Acker and his wife Anna Maria had one son, Jacob Acker, who was born July 25, 1736.

On March 24, 1786, Jacob Acker purchased by assignment from William Green, of Reading, Berks county, for the sum of £120 in gold and silver money, 170 acres of land in Weisenburg township, Lehigh county, formerly owned by George Wise, of Germantown. This land is located five or six miles from the original Acker farm in Macungie township, and about six miles northeast of the Ziegel church. It is said the reason of the further removal from the fertile soil of Macungie to the hills of Weisenburg was the lack of water in the former lands, which was abundant, and still is abundant, in Weisenburg. The Acker farm in Weisenburg remained in the family until about 1870, when it was sold to a Mr. Grim. It is now owned by Mr. Grim's son.

In 1781 Jacob Acker was assessed for the old VOL. II-I

property in Macungie, but in the next published assessment in 1812 no Acker property was as- sessed in Macungie, but in that same year Daniel, Michael and George Acker were assessed in Weisenburg. These three individuals were sons of Jacob Acker, who had purchased the Weisen- burg property in 1786 and who at this time was seventy-six years of age, and, no doubt, had trans- ferred his property to his sons.

Jacob Acker's name is recorded as a Private in Captain Trexler's Company under command of Col. George Breinig of the Northampton Militia, May 14, 1788. (Page III, Vol. 8, 5th Series of Pennsylvania Archives.) The names of Chris- tian Acker and Jacob Acker, Junior, also appear in this muster roll. Jacob Acker, as well as his father, Philip Jacob Acker, was buried at Ziegel church. The tombstone of Jacob Acker, a slate slab, contains the following inscription : "Here rests in God, Jacob Acker, who was born July 25, 1736, had lived in the matrimonial state with Eberhartine Heisler for 47 years, to whom nine children were born, eight sons and one daughter." The rest of the inscription was de- faced.

Eberhartine Acker survived her husband and lived to an old age in the small house on the old Acker farm in Weisenburg. Jacob Acker married Eberhartine Heisler, daughter of Chris- tian Heisler and his wife Eva Elizabeth. They had these children : Christian, born December 25, 1755; Philip Jacob, born August 30, 1757; John Leonhart, born September 22, 1752; George Henry, born December 10, 1761; Daniel; Michael, born December 25, 1766; John, and two daughters.

Christian Acker was a soldier in the Conti- nental Army. He and his wife Elizabeth had a son George Henry, born November 15, 1782.

Philip Jacob Acker is said to have lost his life in the service of the Continental Army. George Acker was at one time a member of the State Legislature of Pennsylvania. His descendants settled in Longswamp, Berks county.

Daniel Acker married May 21, 1793, Marga- retha Schmidt. He owned the old Weisenburg farm. One of his sons, Joseph D., lived in West Chester, Pa. The other of his sons, George Acker, had a large farm, part of which was in- cluded in the limits of Allentown. He married

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Elizabeth, widow of Daniel Knauss, nee Frey, daughter of John Frey. She was born Oct. 28, 1795, and died March 9, 1855. They had five children: Abbie, who married a Mr. Foley ; Reuben ; George, a Civil War soldier, who died unmarried; Mary, married to Phaon Haas; and Sarah, married to Levi Kuhns.

Reuben Acker, the eldest son of George and Elizabeth (Frey) Acker, was born in Allentown, in 1825. He spent his youth upon his father's farm and his early education was limited to the opportunities of a farmer's boy in the common schools. During the entire period of his active life he was a hard worker at whatever his hands found to do. Mr. Acker, in 1847, at the age of twenty-two years, left home to seek his fortune, with a capital of one dollar and fifty cents. He went to New York City, from thence to Ohio, working at various employments, but always man- aging to save some of his earnings. In 1852 he, with others, set out with an ox team for Cali- fornia, and in just six months they reached their goal. Mr. Acker found work in Alameda county on a farm at eighty-five dollars per month "and found." He remained five years and with his savings embarked in business for himself. His first year's profit was $2,400; that of the second year about the same. He then engaged in buying and selling cattle, and continued in this business for upwards of eight years, meeting with fair success. In 1864 Mr. Acker returned to Allen- town and purchased his parents' old homestead of one hundred and twenty-six acres, near Allen- town, where he settled in 1865. In vain did he offer to give one-half his land to any person who would erect for him suitable buildings on the re- maining half of the tract. This proved to be a blessing in disguise, as the growth of the city of Allentown extended to his property and its lands became populous and valuable, from all of which he derived a substantial benefit. He watched this growth and contributed his full share in promot- ing the interests of Allentown. After retiring from active farm work, he resided at 1125 Turner street, Allentown, giving considerable at- tention to real estate. In Sept. 1905, in com- pany with his son-in-law, H. W. Haines, he went to the Pacific coast to visit the places in which he had formerly made his home. While on this visit he died, Oct. 5, 1905, and his remains were brought to Allentown and interred in Union cemetery. In politics he was a Democrat, always taking an interest in the city's political welfare and its institutions. He was a consistent member of the Lutheran Church. Reuben Acker married, in California, Sarah Andrews, born Jan. 17, 1838, died Aug. 19, 1896, and who was interred in Union cemetery by the side of her husband.

Their children were: Joseph John, born June 7, 1868, died Nov. 12, 1885; Ida, born Dec. 16, 1869, died Feb. 15, 1880; Sarah E., born May 15, 1871, married Oscar D. Knauss; Agnes, born Jan. 9, 1873, baptized Oct. 2, 1873, married Harvey W. Haines. Issue: Ruth A., born March 15, 1895, who married, June 18, 1913, Claude U. Keck, of Allentown, and Helen Agnes Haines, born Dec. 3, 1903. Mrs. Agnes Haines has her home at 1613 Chew street, Allentown; Martha D., born Oct. 1, 1875, married Edward W. Lewis. Issue: Reuben, May, George and John Lewis.

A daughter of Jacob Acker married Michael Reichert and both are buried in Milton, Pa. Their descendants are: Rev. George W. Rich- ards, D.D., of the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church at Lancaster, and his son, Joseph W. Richards; Mary Louisa, wife of Dr. James S. Smith, of Allentown, and Cora D. Richards, who was a school teacher, married in 1914, Mr. C. J. Burger, of Allentown.

Another child of Jacob Acker, probably a daughter, was born August 3, 1771.

Michael Acker, youngest son of Jacob Acker, was born December 5, 1766. The sponsors were Christian Acker and Anna Maria, daughter of Adam Heberly, both single. He was born in Macungie and died at the age of 44 years. He married Maria Klein, daughter of Peter Klein, of Weisenberg and his wife, Margaret Stettler. They had six children, four sons and two daugh- ters, namely :

Jonathan, the oldest son, married Sallie Schaef- fer and died at the age of 62 years. They had a number of children, all of whom are now dead.

Elizabeth Acker, born September 6, 1790, mar- ried John Dennis. They lived in Snyder county, Pa. Mrs. Dennis died at the advanced age of over 88 years.

Jacob Acker lived and died in Upper Macun- gie. He married a Miss Feldhof. They had sons and daughters. Among them were: Jacob, of Allentown; and Caroline, who married a Mr. Kuhns, of Atchison.

Henry Acker married Sallie Hartman. They settled in Ohio, about twelve miles west of Akron. He died at the age of 84 years and had sons and daughters.

Polly married Jacob Reinbold. He died at the age of 97 years, and she died at the age of 78 years. They moved on the south side of South Mountain, near Emaus. They had one daughter, Elizabeth, who married Solomon Reinbold and had sons and daughters. Mr. Reinbold died a number of years ago at the age of 58 years. Mrs. Reinbold died several years ago at an advanced age.

Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016

https://archive.org/details/historyoflehighc02robe

REV. J. D. ACKER.

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

Daniel Acker, was born in Weisenburg, April 20, 1792, and died at his home near Wescoesville, March 1, 1844, at the age of 52 years, from the result of an accident. He married, in 1818, Christiana Wuchter, a daughter of Martin Wuchter, of Heidelberg township, and had five sons and two daughters :

A daughter who died in her infancy.

Edwin, born August 29, 1821, who married Eliza Dorney, of Whitehall. They resided in Lehigh county for some years, but later removed to New York City, where he enlisted as a soldier in the Union Army in the Rebellion, and served as corporal in a New York heavy artillery regi- ment. After the war he lived in the State of Kansas, and died at the age of 79 years and is buried in Oswatomie, Kansas. They had sons and daughters. The oldest son, William Henry Harrison Acker, was also a soldier in the Union Army during the war with the South. He resides in East Texas, Lehigh county. Their children are one son and two daughters. One daughter, Mrs. Miller, resides near New York City. One daughter and one son reside in Eastern Kansas, not far from Kansas City.

Stephen, born September 3, 1823, died March 12, 1800, at the age of 76 years. He resided in East Texas, Lehigh county. He was a popular school teacher and a well known surveyor and also served as Alderman and Notary for a num- ber of years. For accuracy and honesty in busi- ness transactions he was highly esteemed. He was a faithful member of the Evangelical Asso- ciation from his early years until his death. He married Helen Schumaker and had three sons and one daughter : Cyrus, of East Texas; Elmer, who married a Miss Sting, of Philadelphia, and had one daughter, Edna. They reside in Pen Argyl, Pa .; Curtis, of Bethlehem, who married a Miss Miller, who died several years ago. They had one son, Ira, who is married and resides in Bethlehem, and two daughters, Lydia H., who resides with her grand-uncle, Rev. James D. Acker, in Philadelphia, and Ada, who resides with her aunt, Sadie H. Acker, in East Texas. Sadie, only daughter of Stephen Acker, resides at East Texas.

Alvin Acker was born March 26, 1826, and died in Bellevue, Kan., June 23, 1904, at the age of 78 years. In 1848, in company with John Joseph Woodring, he walked from Lehigh county, Pa., to Seneca county, Ohio, and settled near Flat Rock, where he married Miss Sarah Casebier. They had two sons : Charles Fremont and James H. The mother died when the boys were quite young. He was married a second time to Miranda Engel. He followed the carpenter trade and farming. In 1869 they moved to

Donophan county, Kas., purchasing a quarter section of the wild prairie land and by their in- dustry and thrift procured a section of 640 acres of the best soil west of the Missouri. He is buried a short distance from their home in the Bellevue cemetery. His two sons reside close to the old homestead and are both farmers.

Mary Ann Acker was born October 22, 1828.

She married John Joseph Woodring, who died in 1908. Mrs. Woodring died in October, 1912. They had seven children: Wilson J., of Allen- town, who married Catharine Kern, and has two children ; Rev. James D., formerly president of Albright College at Myerstown, who died in 1909; Ella, of Allentown; Morrison J., of Philadelphia; Celesta, married William Mc- Cauley ; Walter L., of Allentown, and Rev. Edwin S. Woodring, pastor of Seibert United Evangelical church, Allentown.

REV. JAMES DANIEL ACKER, one of the best known Evangelical ministers of Pennsylvania, was born Dec. 14, 1830, in Lower Macungie town- ship, one mile west of the little town of East Texas, on the banks of the Little Lehigh river. He was thirteen years of age when his father died and he afterwards lived with farmers. On Sept. 24, 1850, he came to Philadelphia. There were no railroads then from Allentown, but they had daily stage communication. He started at seven o'clock in the morning and arrived at Philadelphia at four o'clock in the afternoon. In his own words he stated: "I had only a few dollars in my posses- sion when I came to the city, depending on find- ing employment, in which I was not disappointed. I also brought a certificate of church membership which I prized above the few dollars cash in my possession. In a few days I found a church home, and attended weekday evening prayer-meetings. Before the first Sabbath, I had found a young lady in the prayer-meeting, namely, Miss Eme- line Kinsley, of Philadelphia, and on December 23, 1852, we started to "travel together" and we still travel side by side on the same road. In 1864 I became a commercial traveler, extending my trips westward to Omaha, Neb., northwest to Minneapolis, Minn., and southward to Mem- phis, Tenn. I was then young and vigorous, I am now 84 years old and great changes have taken place. Later in years I entered the ministry and at this writing I am still active in the work." Upon his arrival in Philadelphia in 1850 Mr. Acker united with the first church of the Evan- gelical Association in that city. Later he became one of the prime movers in the establishment of an English mission of that denomination on Darien street, popularly known as "Little Heaven." Later this congregation built a fine church on Eighth street, near Girard avenue.

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

For years Mr. Acker felt the call to the minis- try, to which call he finally yielded and was or- dained by the church of his choice. He served a number of important charges in the Evangelical Association and later in the United Evangelical Church, including appointments in Germantown and Philadelphia.

Although no longer serving a church in the ac- tive ministry, his services are still in demand and nearly every Sunday finds him actively engaged in preaching the Gospel.

Mr. and Mrs. James D. Acker had the follow- ing children :

Emma Laura Acker, born October 26, 1853, married Cornelius S. Klein, who has been in the employ of the Finley Acker Company from the earliest days of its organization. They reside in Germantown and had three daughters: Edith S., married Arthur Kingman, of Newark, N. J .; Mary E., married William Rutter Jenks, of Germantown, and Laura, who died in infancy.

Durbin Stephen Acker, born December 25, 1854. He married Mary Radey, who died in 1912. He is an officer and member of the Finley Acker Company, resides in Philadelphia, and has three children. The eldest, John Henry Rader Acker, is a member of the law firm of Conlen, Brinton and Acker. He married Miss Crozer and has one child. The second, James Durbin Acker, of West Philadelphia, holds a position in the Finley Acker Company. He married Retta Smith. Helen Radey Acker, the youngest, mar- ried Samuel Woolford, an attorney of Philadel- phia, and has one child.

FINLEY ACKER was born Nov. 8, 1857, in Lower Macungie township, Lehigh county. His early education was obtained in the public schools, supplemented by night school and business col- lege training. He made his first step in the business world as a cash boy in the employ of Curwen, Stoddard & Co. After promotion to clerk, salesman and assistant buyer, at the age of twenty-one he opened a retail tea and coffee store on Eighth street, above Arch, in Philadelphia, which, with the co-operation of his brothers, he developed in a manner so different from con- ventional grocery methods as to attract the at- tention of the trade. His success in this busi- ness led him to extend the business to other mer- cantile lines. He later opened stores at Twelfth and Chestnut streets and Twelfth and Market streets, Philadelphia, and one in New York City. Because of his activities in the interest of pure food, he became treasurer of the first National Pure Food Show in this country, held at Wash- iugton in 1887.

He was actively concerned in the citizens' move- ment to require the street passenger railway com-

panies to pay a fair price for the privilege of installing the trolley system in Philadelphia, in consequence of which effort the railway compa- nies were required to repave many streets with improved paving. When the question of pro- tecting the interests of the public regarding the gas lease and the traction system, upon the basis of insuring the maximum benefits to the public after the payment of reasonable returns upon money actually invested, was brought forth, he stood for the interest of the people as a whole as distinguished from any favored interest. His thorough analyses of these two problems were made in a pamphlet, entitled "Eminent Respecta- bility," and in an address, entitled "The Rights of the People and the Rights of Investors in Phil- adelphia Street Railways," which address was de- livered before the City Club in a joint debate with George H. Earle. He was chairman of the postal committee of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and of the National Board of Trade, for a number of years. As chairman of the bank- ing and currency committee of the Chamber of Commerce, he appeared several times before con- gressional committees and his arguments for postal and currency reform were quoted by speakers in all sections of the United States.

Mr. Acker was a life long Republican. He was an active member of the "Committee of Fifty," and one of the organizers of the Munici- pal League. He was chairman of the executive committee of Independent Republicans when Robert E. Pattison was elected Governor over George W. Delamater. He was one of the or- ganizers of the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad Company and a member of the Union League, the City Club, Poor Richard Club, Historical So- ciety of Pennsylvania, Penna. Society of Sons of the Revolution and Penna. Society of New York. He married, in 1883, Elizabeth Boyle Cadmus. Mr. Acker died at his residence, 4943 Rubicam avenue, Germantown, on February 12, 1913.

Ellen Louisa Acker, born January 15, and died in June, 1861.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN ACKER was born Feb. 25, 1865. He was named the same hour when the martyred president, Abraham Lincoln, died. He married Emily Rebecca Focht, and has one daughter, Emily Lincoln. They reside in Tioga, Philadelphia. For a while he was a member of Mayor Weaver's cabinet, but preferred to re- turn to his position as a member and officer of the Finley Acker Company. In 1911 he was elected to the office of sheriff of the city and County of Philadelphia on the Republican ticket, in which capacity he is serving his native city at this writ- ing.

Harrison Benjamin, the youngest son of

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.

Daniel Acker, was born October 9, 1838, in Salisbury, Lehigh county, three miles southwest of Allentown. He died at his home in Bellevue, Ohio, September 14, 1903, at the age of nearly 65 years. He married Eliza Amanda Hiskey of Lower Macungie township. In 1858 they moved to Flat Rock, Seneca county, Ohio. He fol- lowed the carpenter trade until the breaking of the Rebellion, when he enlisted as a soldier in the Thirty-Fourth Ohio Regiment. While in service he was stricken with typhoid-pneumonia and not expected to recover. His brother Alvin of Flat Rock, Ohio, went to the Army Hospital and nursed him, and his life was spared. The Doctor told him if he would take the best of care of himself, he might live for a few years. He

followed this advice and lived forty years longer. He moved to Bellevue, Ohio, where he became highly respected by all classes. For a number of years he was treasurer of the city. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. (The compiler of these records is greatly indebt- ed to him for much contained in these records.) They had five children :

Celesta Maria, a daughter of Harrison B. Acker, married George W. Barber. They re- side in Bellevue, Ohio; their son is Ralph Acker Barber.

Clara Elmira Lavinia is another daughter of Harrison B. Acker. She married George Heter ; they reside near Peabody, Kan. They have one son, Harry John, and a daughter named Georgia.

Hattie Celinda, another daughter of Harrison B. Acker, married Alexander Mittenbuhler. Their surviving children are Charles Dell Mit- tenbuhler and a daughter named Ruby. Both are married. They also had a son Durbin Acker Mittenbuhler, who died when quite young. They now reside in Cleveland, Ohio.

Della Amanda, another daughter of Harrison B. Acker, married Mr. Tyson, of Bellevue, Ohio. She died on September 23, 1899. Their only son is Harry Acker Tyson.

Mrs. Harrison B. Acker died at their home in Bellevue, May 11, 1902, and with her husband is buried in the Bellevue cemetery.

Christiana, wife of Daniel Acker, and daugh- ter of Martin Wuchter, was married after the death of Mr. Acker, to John W. Woodring. They had one daughter, Ella, who marreid Moses Diefenderfer, of Bethlehem, Pa. They have two sons, Victor and Heeber, both married.

Jesse Acker was born in Weisenberg township, May 1, 1807, and settled at Rittersville during the 40's, where he followed the trade of a shoe maker until his death on February 23, 1880, in his 73 year. His wife, Maria Heinrich, was

born February 5, 1803, died March 30, 1880, in her 78th year. Their children follow: Corne- lius; John, who lived in Hanover; Mary, wife of Joseph Honshue; Polly, wife of William Hoehle; Amelia, wife of Aaron Nicholas, and Harrison, who died young. Mr. Acker had two brothers, John and Nathan, and a sister Catha- rine.

Cornelius Acker, deceased, was born in Weisen- berg township, November 22, 1840. When a boy he came to Hanover with his parents and was reared upon the farm. Later he was em- ployed for seven years by Charles Ritter at Rit- tersville and worked in the store and farm. For more than seven years he was a bar-clerk for J. Frank Reichard and later was employed in the rolling mill in Allentown and also in the Bethle- hem Steel Company. He was county commis- sioner for three years, tax collector for five years and was prominent as a Democratic politician. He always lived in Rittersville and died there January 8, 1906. He was an active member of the Lutheran Church and served as deacon and elder and for twenty years was its treasurer. He also served as trustee and the treasurer of the cemetery association for many years. He was a soldier in the Civil war and had three enlist- ments.

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. II, Part 1

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 948

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 948