USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > Catasauqua > A history of Catasauqua in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania > Part 21
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In the Spring of 1886, he went South when the industrial spirit was just awakening, to assist the President of the Pioneer Mining and Manufacturing Company at Thomas. Ala., to design and to erect the plant. He served this company as President from 1892 to 1899, when the plant was sold. Under the new ownership he served as manager for one year, when he resigned and returned to Catasauqua.
Mr. Thomas is President of the Catasauqua National Bank ; the Nescopee Coal Company ; Director of the Upper Lehigh Coal Company; the Wahnetah Silk Company : the Thomas Iron Company; and a number of other industrial enterprises. He takes an active part in all municipal affairs and aids with a liberal hand any and every movement that tends to develop the Borough.
WILLIAM R. THOMAS. William R. Thomas, son of Hopkin Thomas, was born in Glamorganshire, Wales, May 30, 1829, and is at this writing one of the oldest residents and one of the finest mechanics in Catasauqua. When a boy his parents came to America and located for a time in Philadelphia. Afterward they moved to Beaver Meadows, where William R. received his education in the district schools. When he was sixteen years of age, he learned the machinist's trade in the shops located there. He remained at home until he was twenty years of age, when, having a strong desire to perfeet himself in his line of work, he went to New York City where he received special instruction in the navy yards. After working here for two years, he went to La Salle County, Ill., and then to Amboy, where WILLIAM R. THOMAS he engaged as an engineer on the Illinois Central Railroad, his run being between that city and Centralia.
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On account of failing health, Mr. Thomas returned east and joined his family, who had in the meantime moved to Catasauqua, Pa. After he re- gained his health, he entered the employ of the Crane Iron Co. as master me- chanie, remaining with them until 1868, when he became a partner in the Mckee, Fuller Company. He was superintendent of the plant for two years, when he became connected with the Coleraine Iron Works in the erection of furnaces, managing their workshop until 1875. From this time until March, 1887, he was in the South, building furnaces and superintending mines in Georgia and Alabama, was superintendent of the Coleraine Iron Co., and later of the Thomas Iron Co., with whom he remained for seven years. He was superintendent of the Crane Iron Works from 1887 to 1891, when in company with A. and C. H. Fuller, he started the Globe Metal Works, remaining with them for one year. Since that time he has been connected with the Davies and Thomas Company.
William R. Thomas was united in marriage in Janesville, Pa., in 1856. 10 Miss Martha Mayhew, a native of England. Nine children were born to them as follows: Frank H. (deceased) ; James J., who lives at home: Kate (Thomas) Agthe (deceased) ; John W., of Littlestown, Pa .; Helen, who also resides at home : William R., Jr., of Catasauqua; Ira (Thomas) Hawkins of Kingston, Pa .; Mary (Thomas) Corsa of Amherst, Mass .; and Fritz W., of Chester, Pa.
Mr. Thomas is a Free and Accepted Mason, a Royal Arch Mason and Knight Templar. Politically he is a Republican, and, although he does not take any active interest in political affairs, he maintains a deep interest in everything which promotes the best interests of the municipality. Mr. Thomas has a large circle of acquaintances whose friendship he has won through his integrity and genial social characteristics.
JAMES THOMAS. James Thomas was born in Philadelphia, September 22, 1836, and was the youngest son of Hopkin Thomas and his wife Catherine (Richards) Thomas, both of South Wales. In 1853 he came with his parents to Catasauqua from Philadelphia. He went to Parryville in 1859 to take the super- intendeney of the Carbon Iron Works. In 1871 Mr. Thomas left Parryville and
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went to JJefferson County, Alabama, and while there became the general manager of the Iron- dale and Enreka Iron Company. He enjoys the distinction of having made the first coke iron in Alabama. In 1879 he returned to Catasauqua and formed a partnership with George Davies, under the name of Davies and Thomas, which continued until the death of George Davies in 1894. The following year the heirs of George Davies and the surviving member of the firm, James Thomas, took out articles of incorporation under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania with the corporate name of Davies and Thomas Company.
With every enterprise calculated to pro- JAMES THOMAS mote the prosperity of Catasauqua, Mr. Thomas was prominently identified and re- ceived the heartiest support. Through his efforts the Borough secured the Elec- trie Light and Power Company of which he was one of the principal owners. He was president of the Wahnetah Silk Company and a director of the Catasauqua National Bank. Though he took no active part in politics, he was frequently chosen to occupy positions of trust and responsibility, and represented the Republican Party as delegate to the National Convention in Minneapolis in 1892. For six years he was a member of the School Board, taking an active interest in the welfare of our schools.
Mr. Thomas was married to Miss Mary Ann Davies, June 11, 1861. They are the parents of the following children : Blanche T., wife of Charles R. Horn ; Mary C. Thomas (deceased) : Rowland D. Thomas : Mrs. Ruth (Thomas) McKee; Helen T., wife of Dr. James L. Hornbeck; Catherine R. Thomas (deceased) ; Hopkin Thomas.
In religious belief, Mr. Thomas was a member of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church and was instrumental in securing the erection of the edifice adorning the corner of Fifth and Walnut Streets. Mr. Thomas was one of the best informed
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men, reading broadly upon all matters of general interest and carrying his in- vestigations into the best of literature. He was public-spirited. which, together with his high social standing and courteous manners, made him a very popular and honored citizen.
FREDERICK. George Frederick, the first, lived in lower Saucon Town- ship, Northampton County, Pa. His wife was Magdalena Ebert. Their son George, the second, was born September 26, 1788. On July 29, 1810, he was married to Hannah Haas with whom he reared seven children : Mary Magdalena, wife of Solomon Biery; George; Nathan, who died at Allentown ; Thomas; Owen, the undertaker; Hannah, Mrs. Robert Steckle, who is still living at Allentown ; and Pauline, Mrs. Owen Diefenderfer, who died at Fullerton.
George Frederick moved to Catasauqua with his family in 1828, and occupied the newly acquired farm, and the stone house that stood on the West Side, below the Hercules Metal Works, close by the L. V. R. R. tracks. Mr. Frederick was a man of some literary ability, and gifted with sound sense and a good judgment. He was elected Justice of the Peace for North and South Whitehall Township, May 21, 1834. In October, 1836, he was elected a member of the House of Rep- resentatives of the State of Pennsylvania. Upon his return from the Legislature he retired from the farm and moved to Biery's-Port, now Front Street, below Union, and his son George took charge of the farm. From 1853 to 1855 and from 1858 to 1863 he served as Justice of the Peace in town. He died January 20, 1871. His wife, Hannah, died March 8, 1853, and hers was the first grave dug in the grave-yard at St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church. The old grave-yard has long since been converted into a beautiful lawn.
His son Owen, born January 27, 1822, was educated in the district schools; and, in 1839, he went to Easton to learn the trade of a cabinet and coffin maker. After having served his full time of four years, he went to New York City where he spent five years working at his trade. While in New York he met and married Miss Jeanette Bogardus, July 29, 1847. In 1847 he moved to Catasauqua and occupied the house still standing in the rear of the establishment of Frederick and Scherer, the Undertakers, and began the business which the present firm is carrying on successfully. Mr. Frederick was funeral director at a time during
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which there came a rapid transition from quaint old customs to many new fashions. He was the first undertaker in this community to use a hearse. In his day bodies were preserved until funeral day by means of an ice-box as is described in the chapter of Reminiscences. Besides conducting the undertaking business, Mr. Frederick also established the furniture business, which in those days meant cabinet making. Hand made bed-steads, bureaus, chairs, grand- father clock cases, ete., beautifully inlaid. gracefully designed and substantially built, are searee articles today because everybody wants them and is willing to pay fabulons prices for them.
Owen Frederick died February 11, 1878, at the age of fifty-six years, and left his bereaved widow with the following children : George, Mary Alice, Mrs. Henry A. Steward (who succeeded her father in business) ; Ogden E., who with William H. Scherer succeeded Mr. Steward; and Hannah L.
George Frederick is father of three children : Mary (Mrs. Gardner), Floyd and Ralph. Mary Alice Steward has a son, Frederick A., and a daughter, Mrs. Emma J. Davis.
Ogden E. Frederick was born June 21, 1852. After his school days he worked with his father at the trade. In 1878 he was placed in charge of Fuller's book store, which he ran for seven years. Since Henry A. Steward's death, he is the senior partner in the firm of Frederick and Seherer.
Mr. Frederick married Miss Clara C. Fuller, February 2, 1875. Their daughter, Tillie C., is the wife of Dr. Wesley Willoughby.
T. F. FREDERICK. While memory lingers upon a character like Tilgh- man F. Frederick, one is constrained to say : He sought not his own glory and yet was eeaselessly active for the delights and comforts of his home, the pros- perity of his community and the upbuilding and maintenance of his Church.
Mr. Frederick was born in the old farm house below the Hereules Metal Works on the West Side, January 29, 1849. His parents were George Frederick and his wife Elizabeth, a born Reichard. Father and Mother having died while he was a lad, Tilghman was reared by his unele and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Biery. The distriet school provided him with his education, which he greatly prized and on account of which he was a staunch advocate of the system of
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public instruction. In 1862 and '63 he acted as drummer in the 176th Regiment Pennsylvania Drafted Militia.
After his return from the Army he became chief clerk for Frederick and Beck in the Car Construction Shops at Fullerton. When he had saved some money he took a course in the Eastman Busi- ness College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he perfected himself as one of the finest pen- men and accountants in the Lehigh Valley. He taught school two terms in Catasauqua, and one term on the West Side; and then learnt the trade of a machinist at the Crane Works.
Having finished his apprenticeship he entered the employ of the Catasauqua Manu- facturing Company, where he remained until the Bryden Horse Shoe Works were started. At first he assisted Peter F. Greenwood, the superintendent of the new works. After the latter's retirement, in 1882, Mr. Frederick T. F. FREDERICK was placed in charge of the same and re- mained in the employ of the company until his death.
Mr. Frederick was a member of Town Council for many years, and took an active interest in municipal affairs. He was a prime mover in securing the Pine Street bridge. Active as a fireman, he was a member of the Phoenix Steam Fire Company, No. 1, and president of that Association for many years. He was one of the originators and officers of the building associations of our town.
He was active not only in material affairs, but also in those things which abide forever. He was a member of the Council of St. Paul's Lutheran Church for many years, and served the congregation in an official way in all the depart- ments of her work. What is true of the Church is emphatically so as regards the Sunday School of which he was Superintendent, clerk and teacher for over forty-five years.
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He was married to Mary J., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Andreas of Allentown, January 27, 1869. To this union were born and survive : Charles E .. Mary E., Mrs. Frank J. Reeves of Philadelphia; Harry; Alice C .. Mrs. Adam W. Pflieger of York. Pa. ; and Agnes A. Mr. Frederick died March 31. 1909, at the age of sixty years.
ROBERT MCINTYRE. Robert Melntyre was born in Glack. Ireland, May 10, 1814. His father, George Melntyre, a descendant of a long line of "Coven- anters," was a man of note in the community. Older step-brothers were in America and hearing much of the water-works for New York, then in course of construction, young Robert at the age of seventeen ran away from school to the nearby town of Moville, sneaked on board the "Progress" (a boat which made the Atlantic trip in eight weeks) and landed in New York without money or friends. He got to George Clark, who with other young men had been aided by the elder Melntyre to come to America, and was cared for and allowed to handle the reins of a four-horse team. This team conveyed the workmen from the "shanties" to the Water Works. When the news of the boy's arrival reached his father, there was much rejoicing but Robert could not be induced to return to his home and school. He remained several years with Mr. Clark of Holmes- burg, who was already a wealthy man and contractor of the Water Works.
The boy saved his earnings, which his father had promised to duplicate, and when the output of coal in and about Manch Chunk began to attract atten- tion, Robert McIntyre went there and began business for himself. Here he met Marie Enbody, who, in later years, became his wife and the mother of eleven children. Prior to the opening of the Crane Works, Mr. McIntyre came to Catasauqua and his oldest son was born in the stone house at the Whitehall entrance to the bridge. He built the big red barn on that property, sold the original Fairview Cemetery to James W. Fuller, Sr., erected the first Jordan Bridge of the C. & F. R. R., and sections of the "Lehigh Valley."
When the first Crane Bridge was thrown across the Lehigh, its piers abutted on his property. Litigation followed and in the Court House Records is the chronicle of an unusual and unique agreement signed by Crane officials of that day and on which Judge Trexler gave a forceful opinion in recent years.
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Robert McIntyre founded Porter Lodge, called it and his second son after James Madison Porter of Easton, was its first "Worshipful Master" and re- mained a strong advocate of the Order during his life. When John Peter sold the original traet of land for Church and School purposes, Mr. Melntyre paid one-half the cost and David Thomas one-half. When the "Old School" sepa- rated from the " New School" Presbyterians, he saw to it that an equal division was made both of land and moneys. notwithstanding some strenuous objections thereto.
He built the stone bridge over the Conemaugh, the only one to withstand the "Johnstown Flood" and when the Washington Aqueduct was planned by Montgomery C. Meigs, he was its foremost contractor. The immense hond re- quired by the government was furnished by brethren of outside Masonic Orders. ('abin John Bridge, a section of the supply aqueduct, is one hundred feet above the roadway and has a length of four hundred fifty feet. Of it, in a recent issue, the "Philadelphia Times" says, "It is one of the sights of Washington : it is still the longest single span stone arch in the world; is one of the most daring feats of engineering skill in this country and stands to-day a magnificent monument to its builders."
A strong friendship for Stephen A. Donglas led Mr. Mcintyre to purchase much land in Illinois and in 1865, he began the erection of a fine residence now in the city limits of Quincy. In 1866, he removed from Catasauqua and several years later disposed of his farms in this section. When he died in 1875, he was said to be the "richest man in Adams County." Reserved to a marked degree. a master in his judgment of men, loyal to his kin and countrymen, caus- tic in wit, he won a confidence and financial standing second to none of all the "early timers" in the town of Catasauqua.
JOHN MCINTYRE. John Mclntyre left Ireland in 1832, came to Phila- delphia and for a number of years served as bookkeeper for Richard Clarke, contractor. He married Jane Noblett of that city and some time after came to Catasauqua. Here he entered the employ of the Crane Iron Company as ship- per on its wharves and was prominent in all town affairs.
He was a charter member of its first Church and when the village became
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a borough was elected to the Board of School Directors. A number of houses on Church Street were owned by him, and when too old for active work, the Crane Company granted him a pension which he enjoyed while he lived. His death occurred in 1887 when he had reached the age of eighty-seven.
JOHN HUNTER. John Hunter was another Scotch Irishman who rose to prominence in this community. He came direct from Ireland to Catasauqua in 1844, invested in canal boats and towed coal from Mauch Chunk to the Crane Works. He attracted the attention of Superintendent Thomas and, therefore, did much contract work around the furnaces. In 1852 he married the sister of Dr. F. W. Quig who was the regular physician employed by the Crane Company. He acquired considerable property and was noted for his ever-ready, helping hand to poorer people.
WILLIAM MCCLELLAN. In December, 1851, William McClellan was chosen elder of the First Presbyterian Church. His wife was Margaret Smiley and they raised a large family, each of whom was given a college degree. The wife of John Houston was sister to MeClellan and both names were prominent in the early days of the town. There were several families of Mcclellans in those days and because they attended First Church, this branch was known as the "Welsh MeClellans." Some of the sons are still living and each has attained prominence in his profession. With a number of other Seotch-Irish people, they were among the first to remove to Adams County, Illinois.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS. William Phillips was born in Wales, January 10, 1797. He emigrated to America in 1838 and settled in Tamaqua, Pa. When David Thomas, Superintendent of the Crane Iron Company, heard of him and learned of his ability, he asked Mr. Phillips to come to Catasauqua. He arrived in 1840 and was employed as a keeper of the furnace. He and Evan Jones were the keepers of the furnace when the first east of iron was made, July 4, 1840.
Mr. Phillips was married to an estimable lady in Wales and their union was blessed with seven children, one daughter (afterwards Mrs. Charles W. Chapman) was the only one born in America. He continued a faithful and trusted employee of the Crane Company to the time of his death, May 19, 1867.
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JOHN HUDDERS. John Hudders, a direct descendant of Michael Clyde, one of the original Irish Settlement leaders, who, coming from Ulster in 1728, bought rich land in Northampton County. He was brought to Catasauqua as bookkeeper for Robert MeIntyre and for many years had charge of the Lehigh Valley Railroad depot. He taught school, was leader of the choir and elder of the Presbyterian Church, and lived to a good old age, honored and respected.
FREDERICK EBERHARD was born in Stuttgard, Wurtemberg, Ger- many, March 5, 1809. He learnt the trade of a copper smith in his native land. At the age of twenty-one he arrived in Philadelphia, where he found employ- ment with the construction gang that built the first railroad between Philadel- phia and Baltimore. Later he came to Mauch Chunk from which place he went out to work in the coal mines at Summit Hill. Coal and other produce was floated down the Lehigh and Delaware rivers to Philadelphia on barges or "Arks" as some people called them, and seeing profit in the business, Mr. Eberhard and a companion secured two mules and started in to float barges. This was done before the canal was constructed. The barge was loaded, and then two mules placed on the front end of it, and the trip was begun. When the water was high the movement was rapid, but when the water was low and the current sluggish the trip was tedious. After Phila- delphia was reached both cargo and barge were sold and the boatmen started to ride FREDERICK EBERHARD back astride the mules, anxious to begin an- other trip. Mr. Eberhard however, pur- chased jewelry of all descriptions in the city and employed his time on the return trip by peddling his wares.
In about 1831 he went to work in the copper mines at Flemington, N. J. Here he met and married Miss Catherine, daughter of Peter Tillman and wife
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(nee Miller), in 1832, whereupon he moved into a small house at Dry Run close to where the trolley bridge now stands. For a while he made trips to Manch Chunk where he labored as a blacksmith, twenty-six days for a month, at $18. When the erection of the furnaces began, Mr. Eberhard was employed to open and quarry stone at the pit above the Hokendanqua bridge. This is now the St. Lawrence quarry. Practically all of the stone used to build the first five furnaces at Front Street was quarried here by Mr. Eberhard, and the stone Hoated down the canal on barges. Mr. Eberhard contracted with the Crane Company for lime stone to be used in smelting iron; this he quarried out of the pit on Jonas Biery's farm, which now is the property of the Davies & Thomas Company. It was at this time that Mr. Eberhard erected his home on the corner of Front and Mulberry Streets, into which he moved his family. He also opened a quarry and, by so doing, prepared the site of the Lehigh Valley depot. This stone was hauled in small narrow-gauge cars drawn by mules over a bridge to the furnaces.
In 1864 Mr. Eberhard retired and moved to Second and Turner Streets, Allentown. In 1880 he bought the Peter Miller farm of 76 acres in Whitehall Township beyond the Round-house of the C. & F. R. R., and opened stone quar- ries. He also moved his family to this beautiful spot. Mr. Eberhard accumu- lated a great deal of property. He held stocks in the Lehigh Valley R. R., the Lehigh Coal Company, the Allentown National Bank, the Thomas Iron Com- pany, the Wahnetah Silk Mill, and was a charter member of the Catasauqua Gas Company. He was a shrewd business man, a staunch Republican, and a firm confessor of his faith as set forth in the Augsburg Confession. He died June 24. 1893, at the age of eighty-four years. Mrs. Eberhard died August 7, 1881. at the age of sixty-seven years. The children whom they brought to ma- turity were : Eliza, Mrs. William Easterday ; John, who was burnt with powder in the quarry in 1857; Ferdinand; William, who was killed in the quarry at the Iron Bridge, May 13, 1898: Ellen C., Mrs. Charles Snyder; Franklin ; and Peter J.
FERDINAND EBERHARD was born September 25, 1837, at Dry Run. After his school days at Dry Run and Deily's School House, he entered into the
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quarry business with his father at the age of fifteen years. His particular duty was to superintend the drilling of holes into rocks, loading and setting off the blast. At the age of twenty-six years he succeeded his father in the business. The Jonas Biery quarry was abandoned because the town authorities objected to the blast- ing. In 1867 he contracted with the Thomas tron Company for operations in the quarry at the Iron Bridge. The Eberhards quarried the stone for the Hokendauqua as well as for the Catasauqua fur- naces. The stone for the two furnaces erected at Hokendanqua in 1871 was shipped from the Jordan Bridge quarry. Mr. Eberhard bought the first case of dynamite used in this locality. It was called FERDINAND EBERHARD "dnalin" and sold at $1.25 per pound. His sons are still running the quarry on the farm in Whitehall Township.
Mr. Eberhard was married to Miss Sarah A. Kean in 1864, who died in February, 1891: and late in 1892, he married Miss Mary R. Lambert. The children whom they brought to maturity are Carrie M., Mrs. Kemmerer; Wil- liam F .: Franklin J. ; George W .; and Edward H. Mr. Eberhard is a member of Porter Lodge, No. 284. since 1871, and of Grace M. E. Church.
PETER J. EBERHARD was born, April 25, 1850. School days being ended, January 1, 1869, he began to learn the art of telegraphy at the Lehigh Valley depot. In May of the same year he became assistant to John Hudders whom he succeeded in later years. After six years of service he was given the position of vard master at the Valley depot. When more help was employed at the station, Mr. Eberhard was entrusted with the ticket office wherein he served for many years. In all he served the Company for over forty years.
He entered into matrimony with Josephine, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Bast, June 7, 1873. Their children are: Ellen J .: Frederick A .; Estella 1 .; Charles A. ; Katie E .; Robert J. ; and Emma J.
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