USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > Catasauqua > A history of Catasauqua in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania > Part 22
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28
JAMES W. FULLER. The subject of this sketch was prominently known
286
THE HISTORY
as the promoter of many business enterprises that have contributed in a large measure to the commercial and industrial activity and consequent prosperity of Catasauqua and the Lehigh Valley. The ancestry of the family can be traced baek in a direct line to Robert Fuller, whose oldest child, Edward Fuller, was the patriarch of the family in America. IIe was a native of Norfolk, England. About 1607 he went to Holland with his brother, who was a physician. The name of Edward Fuller appears as the twenty-first signer of the compact drawn up on board the "Mayflower" previous to the landing of her passengers at Plymouth Rock.
Chauney Dorrance Fuller, the grandfather of James W. Fuller, was the son of Jehile Fuller of Connecticut. The former was born in western Pennsylvania, and his son, James W. Fuller, 1st, JAMES W. FULLER and father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Luzerne County, Pa., August 22, 1821. He married Clarissa, daughter of Henry and Catharine (nee Sterner) Miller, November 8, 1840. Abiel Abbott secured him as an employee of the Lehigh Canal Company. From 1855 to 1865 he served as Justice of the Peace. While a member of the State Legislature in the beginning of the fifties, David Thomas prevailed upon him to pray for a charter for the construction of the C. and F. R. R. During the Civil War Mr. Fuller became prominently identified with the political and military affairs of Pennsylvania and his influence with the Republican administration was generally recognized. He died November 22, 1872, at the age of fifty-one years and three months.
JAMES W. FULLER, 2nd, was born of these parents, March 16, 1843. IIe attended the public schools of town and private schools at Weaversville, Norris- town and Kingston, Pa. At the age of eighteen he enlisted with the Boys in Blue, and became a member of Company I, 47th Regiment, Pennsylvania In- fantry, under the command of Captain Henry S. Harte. He was promoted and
287
OF CATASAUQUA
mustered in as sergeant Angust 30, 1861. On October 30 of the same year he was elevated to the rank of adjutant. After a protracted illness, which overtook him during the first winter of the Civil War in Virginia, he was honorably dis- charged from the army and returned to his home.
For the next three years Mr. Fuller was salesman of queensware for a Philadelphia house. In 1868 he returned to Catasauqua. where he organized the firm of MeKee, Fuller and Company, proprietors of the Car. Wheel and Axle Works. Beginnings of the plant had been made during the year preceding by Charles D. Fuller, an unele, and William R. Thomas. The capacity of the shop at this time was fifteen wheels per day. The new firm at onee commenced to enlarge the plant. They bought the defunet concern of Frederick and Company, built a forge and added an axle department. Since then the firm was JAMES W. FULLER, 2nd known as the Lehigh Car, Wheel and Axle Works, and developed an enterprise of ex- tensive benefit to the business prosperity of the community.
The town of Fullerton was laid out by Mr. Fuller in 1870 and was named in his honor. So devoted was he to his charge that he made his daily trips to the works, personally superintended the mixing of irons for the casting of the wheels, and made the rounds among his men in whose individual welfare he was vitally concerned. His advice was sought in many spheres and his opinions were valued. He was President of the Catasauqua Manufacturing Company; a di- rector in the Thomas Iron Company, the Wahnetah Silk Company, and the Ironton Railroad. At the time of his death he was Vice-President of the Empire Steel and Iron Company and a director in the Lehigh Foundry Company.
He was married to Miss Kate M., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hopkin Thomas in 1864. Five children came to grace their happy home : George Llewellyn, who
288
THE HISTORY
died at the age of twenty-one; Maud, the wife of JJ. S. Elverson : Blanche, Mrs. Dr. L. A. Salade : Mary Louise, Mrs. H. D. MeCaskey ; and Lt. Colonel James W. Fuller, 3rd. Ile died. January 15, 1910, at the age of sixty-seven years, and his body lies buried in Fairview Cemetery.
A PERSONAL TRIBUTE.
After Mr. Fuller's death William H. Glace, Esq., his friend for fifty years and his companion in sickness in the garret of a Virginia farm shack during the winter of 1863-1864, paid him a beautiful tribute. Mr. Glace wrote:
.. "Owing to the forethought of his uncle, Lieut. Geo. W. Fuller, a victim of the same war, two young girls, daughters of the owner, Mr. Wren, attended us through that long siege of sickness where we lay nigh to death many weeks. After a tedious convalescence, he recovered only in a measure, and was honorably discharged, whilst I recovered to serve the full period of three years.
In 1891 he said to me, 'I wonder what became of the Wren girls; let us go down and see.' We went to Washington and drove up along the Potomac to the Chain Bridge; thence over into Fairfax County, Virginia, and as we came near the place we could not fix our surroundings, as large trees had grown where there had been farm land, and we stopped at a farm house, when a man over thirty-five years of age, a Mr. Catlin, came out, and we inquired if that house on the hill was the Wren house, and whether the 47th Pennsylvania Regiment and 7th Maine Regiment had encamped on yonder slope the first winter of the war. 'Oh, yes,' he replied, 'I heard my father say that the regiments lay there and lost 200 men that first winter; anyhow the Wrens live there.' I shall never forget as he turned to me and said, 'How strange; did you hear him say, 'my father told me,' we forget a generation had grown up since that time.' As we entered the house, the first object that attracted his attention was Lieu. Geo. W. Fuller's photograph in full uniform on the mantel.
We had dinner, after which he gave each of the two women a bank bag of gold. A young son of one of them, when he heard the clink of gold, exclaimed: 'Now I can go to Washington and learn to be an Architect.'
Mr. Fuller inherited from his father personal magnetism and an alert mind, grasping a subject quickly, almost intuitively; had an excellent knowledge of men and had that peculiar ability in a great degree possessed by men of large affairs in selecting men for positions of responsibility and trust and attach them to him by strands of steel. From his mother he inherited a wiry constitution, free from taint, love of rural scenes, of ani- mals and a rapid manner of speech. . . In all my life I never heard from his lips an unclean or unchaste word; never an oath, and under great provoca- tion as a rule kept himself master of the situation. An aged mother had but to express a wish and it was granted, whilst he stood sponsor for his sister and brothers always ready to grant any reasonable desire. Fortunate indeed was the son and daughters who had the benefit of his advice and guidance, and it would be impossible in this short sketch to even enter the
289
OF CATASAUQUA
door in describing the good deeds done by him, and fortunate is the town or community that can number a citizen like Mr. Fuller, whose life work lies within its boundaries."
WILLIAM T. SNYDER. No name is justly entitled to a higher place in the history of Catasauqua than that of the subject of this sketch. for it was borne by a man who most honorably discharged every obligation of life. He achieved success for himself and at the same time benefited the community in which he resided. He was recognized as a man of executive ability and clear judgment and efficiently discharged his duties thus commanding the respect and esteem of his fellow-townsmen.
William T. Snyder was born in White- hall Township. May 30. 1839. and died July 26, 1902. He was the son of Felix and Lydia (Moyer) Snyder. His educational advant- ages were few. At an early age he was ap- prenticed to learn the machinist trade with an Allentown establishment. After serving his time he worked at Coopersburg and in the Crane Fron machine shops. Upon the erection of the Car Wheel Works at Fullerton, in 1867, by William R. Thomas, Mr. Snyder secured employment at these works. For thirty-five successive years he was superin- tendent of the wheel department. He was a mechanic of well known ability, having pa- tented a wheel centering machine, two self- WILLIAM T. SNYDER oiling wheels, a hydraulic gauge, and, in conjunction with James W. Fuller, a ,steel tire wheel. He was perfectly acquainted with every detail about the large establishment and was devoted to his employers. Fidelity was personified in. every walk of life. Between Mr. James W. Fuller, 2nd, and Mr. Snyder there existed the closest fellowship and most implicit confidence.
the closest fellowship and most implicit confidence.
He was married July 31, 1862, to Miss Eliza R. Yoder. There were born
.
290
THE HISTORY
to this union four children, one of whom died in childhood. Those living are : William J., a prominent business man of Brazil, Indiana; Annie, wife of Wil- liam B. Clark : Lizzie Y., wife of James Davies.
When President Lincoln issued a call for 75,000 volunteers, Mr. Suyder promptly responded and served an enlistment of three months in Company D, 9th Pennsylvania Volunteers, and accompanied General Patterson's army into Virginia as far as Martinsburg. When the time of his enlistment expired, he returned to Catasangna and resumed his work as machinist. He became a comrade of the Lieutenant George W. Fuller Post, No. 378, G. A. R.
Mr. Snyder was a man of a firm religious belief and held his membership in Grace Methodist Episcopal Church in which he filled the office of trustee, of steward, and of class-leader for many years. He was a liberal contributor to the support of the Church of his choice.
CHARLES G. SCHNELLER. Charles G. Schneller. one of Catasauqua's early settlers and prominent businessmen, was born in Bethlehem, Northampton County. Pa .. on November 10th. 1821. His parents were George C. Schneller and Mary Brown Schneller. His father was born in the West Indies, his grandfather having come from Saxony, Germany, as a Moravian Missionary. He attended the Bethlehem public schools in the thirties and at the age of fourteen years began a seven year's apprenticeship in tinsmithing. In 1842, he opened a tinstore in Springtown, Bucks County, Pa .. afterwards removing to Pleasant Valley, Bucks County, Pa., and in 1848 came to Catasauqua and opened the first tinshop in Catasauqua in the one and a half story frame building still stand- ing on the northeast corner of Second and Mulberry Streets.
On the 15th day of February, 1849, he was married in Allentown, Pa., to Mary A. Heavner, an estimable Christian lady of Haycock, Bucks County, Pa. The happy union was blessed with the following children: Laura Schneller (deceased), Ilenry D. Schneller (deceased), John P. Schneller, Emma E. Schneller, Charles W. Schneller, and Mary M. Heilman (deceased).
Mr. Schneller immediately took active interest in the religious, political and business affairs of the town. He was one of the organizers of Immanuel
291
OF CATASAUQUA
Evangelical Church, Catasauqua, and served that congregation in various capacities. For ten years he was Superintendent of its Sunday School and he served as a trustee from its organization until his death. For a number of years he served as treasurer and was Class Leader for many years. In 1894 he repre- sented the congregation at the sessions of the General Conference held at Indian- apolis. Indiana. Mr. Schneller was elected in 1853 as a member of the first School Board of the Borough of Catasauqua, and was Secretary of the Board for 16 years, and afterwards served as Borough Treasurer. He was a staunch Re- publiean up to the time of his death.
In 1854 he built the three story briek business block, known as THE SCHNELLER BLOCK, at Front and Strawberry Streets, to which place he removed his business, occupying same until he retired from business in 1887, after 39 years of successful work. He did much of the water-main work per- formed in the Borough in the fifties and sixties. He was a volunteer during the Civil War and was already on his way to Harrisburg. However, Joshua Hunt needed him so sorely here in the installation of the water system that when he reached Harrisburg he was ordered discharged and returned home. He became connected with the National Bank of Catasauqua as a stockholder in 1857, and served as a direetor from 1878 to the time of his death. He was also one of the Board of Managers of the Fairview Cemetery Association. He was always in- terested in the growth and welfare of Catasauqua and at one time owned three acres of land on Walnut Street, between Fourth and Howertown Road, which is now built up and ineludes the site of Grace M. E. Church.
Mr. Sehneller was an upright citizen, active in all which would elevate the moral and business standing of our town, and lived to be a grand old man. On July 13th, 1909, at the age of 87 years, 8 months and 3 days, he laid his head upon the bosom of the Universal Mother and, with her loving arms about him, sank into the sweet slumber which we call death.
THOMAS JONES. The subject of this sketch was born at Merthyr Tydvil. South Wales, April 26. 1838. He was the son of John and Rachel Jones who emigrated to America in 1842 and located at Minersville, Schuylkill County, Pa. On aeeount of hip-disease he was unable to attend the publie schools. Both
292
THE HISTORY
his parents died while he was a lad of twelve years. He made his home with friends and supported himself by picking slate in a coal breaker.
In 1852 he came to Catasauqua and was employed by the Crane Company as the carrier of the mails to and from the Allentown post office. After the open- ing of the Lehigh Valley R. R., when mail trains brought deliveries to town, Mr. Jones was set to drive a mule in a cart to haul ore from the canal to the furnaces. His habits of observation and eagerness to study, wherever he could. soon qualified him sufficiently to become an engineer and a machinist. He was chief engineer at the furnaces for eight years, and master mechanic of the C. and F. R. R. for twenty-five years. In 1861 he graduated from the Eastma 's Business College at Allentown.
THOMAS JONES
He was married to Miss Sarah Morgan, a native of Wales, in January, 1865. Of their four children but one, Mrs. Miriam L. Brown, survives. Mr. Jones served three terms in Town Council and two terms as Burgess. He was Super- intendent of the Catasauqua Gas Company for five years and served as Secretary, Treasurer, and General Manager for a long period of time. He was Justice of the Peace for ten years, and a Charter member of the Phoenix Fire Company, which he served seventeen years as Engineer and eight years as President.
Mr. Jones is now living in retirement, enjoying "The company of my good wife, my daughter and family, and the many kind and estimable friends of my youth and later life."
The family are members of the First Presbyterian Church, where he sang in the Choir for many years. He is also a consistent member of the I. O. O. F.
293
OF CATASAUQUA
DAVID GILLESPIE. Among the representative citizens of Catasauqua who have taken a commendable interest in every thing pertaining to the wel- fare of the community and who have contributed their quota to its progress, was David Gillespie. He was a well known and prosperous business man. By his upright manner and honest dealing he gained the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens. The best interests of the town found in him a friend and his support was never withheld from any worthy enterprise calculated to promote the general welfare.
Mr. Gillespie was born April 25, 1832, in the north of Ireland, County of Derby, and died in Catasauqua April 2, 1901. He came to America in 1852, at the age of twenty, and obtained employment with the Crane Iron Company as boss of ore bins. He opened a general store at 143 Second Street in August, 1865. His integrity, energy and fru- gality contributed to the success which he enjoyed, and he was justly numbered among the successful business men of town.
In June, 1854, Mr. Gillespie was married to Miss Sarah Hazelett by the Rev. Leslie Irwin, and they became the parents of the following children: Mary, the wife of Henry J. Leikel, Catasauqua; Mrs. Sarah Weisley, Catasauqua : Robert, of Coplay, Pa. : Marga- ret, wife of Charles E. Lawall, Catasauqua : Elizabeth, Martha. David, and John, at home.
DAVID GILLESPIE
In his religious affiliations, Mr. Gillespie was a consistent member of the Bridge Street Presbyterian Church, which he faithfully served as an Elder for many years. For forty years he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 269. In politics he was a staunch Republican and a most ardent advocate of the principles of his chosen party. For three terms he served on the
294
THE HISTORY
Borough Council. He served on the School Board for six years, and gave his sup- port to all measures which were calenlated to advance the educational interest of the community.
FRANK M. HORN. He who labors hard for his daily earnings and strives still harder to save and lay up a pittance of his cash knows, as no one else, the value of safety in a bank. One of the most conservative bankers in the Lehigh Valley is the Cashier of the National Bank of Catasauqua. Frank M. Horn is the third son of Colonel Melchior M. Horn and his wife Matilda M., nee Heller, and was born at Catasauqua, October 16, 1852. He was educated in the Borough
FRANK M. HORN
schools and was a member of the first class that received diplomas at the hands of the Catasauqua School authorities. Mr. Horn began his banking experience as a clerk immediately after he left school. He was soon promoted to the position of book-keeper, then assistant cashier and finally cashier. For a few years he was President of the bank, but his services were found much more valuable as a cashier and for this reason he consented to return to his desk. He was a member of Company I. of the Fourth Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, who passed through the riots in the Reading Cut in 1877.
On January 18, 1882, he married Miss Lizzie F. Williams, daughter of John and Emma Caroline, nee Heilig, Williams. Their children are Melchior Hay
295
OF CATASAUQUA
Horn; Emma Williams, now Mrs. Cornelius Van Inwegen of New York City ; and the Misses Susan and Eleanor Traill Horn.
Socially, Mr. Horn is a member of the Porter Lodge F. and A. M., the Cata- sanqua and Charotin Clubs of Catasauqua; the Livingston of Allentown; and the Lehigh Country Club. He belongs to the Allen Commandery of Allentown and is a Noble of Rajah Temple of Reading, Pa.
JAMES LACKEY came to Catasauqua from Reading about the time when the first furnaces were erected. He opened a store in a small frame building somewhere near the Lower Catasauqua depot of the C. R. R. of N. J .; and later he occupied the new building erected by Mr. Biery in 1835. Subse- quently he leased an aere of ground between the canal and the river about a square above the furnaces, and erected a store and dwelling, where he con- ducted business until 1850, when the Crane Company bought the property in order to extend its plant. Then Mr. Lackey moved his store to Front Street be- low Mulberry where he erected another building.
In the fall of 1857 he was elected to the office of prothonotary of Lehigh County when he moved to Allentown. His store building on Front Street was transformed into the Bank of Catasauqua. Mr. Lackey served as prothonotary until 1863, and as assistant in the office for many years thereafter. He died in Allentown at an advanced age, and left the memory of a highly respected man.
COLONEL MELCHIOR H. HORN. One of the live spirits during the formative period of our public schools, and a potent factor in the making of the National Bank of Catasauqua, Colonel Melchior Hay Horn, was born in Easton, April 9, 1822. The occasion is rare when a man's ancestors can be traced back with definiteness to the second or third generation. The Colonel's grandfather was Abraham Horn, who was appointed sergeant in Captain Thomas Craig's Company, Second Penna. Battalion, January 5, 1776. Ile also served under Colonel Arthur St. Clair in his Canadian Campaign during the Revolution. During the war of 1812 he served as Lieut. Colonel of the First R. P. V. R. under Colonel Thomas Humphrey. His grandmother, the wife of Abraham Horn, was Miss Susan Hay, a daughter of Melchior Hay, who came to Easton in 1738. Mr.
296
THE HISTORY
Ilay was of Seotch origin. He was a member of the Committee of Safety during the Revolutionary days and during the war served as a Captain in the army.
The Colonel's father was named _ Melchior Hay after his grandfather on his mother's side. He served with his father in the war of 1812. His wife was Isabella Traill, a daughter of Robert Traill, who hailed from Sanda, the Orkney Islands, and was born April 29, 1744. Robert Traill arrived at Philadelphia in October, 1763. after a stormy voyage of ten weeks. He came to Easton where he taught school and studied law. He was admitted to the Northampton County Bar in 1777, and was the third lawyer to locate in Easton. Ile was the clerk of the Committee of Safety and was commissioned a Major during the Revolution.
COLONEL MELCHIOR H. HORN
Thus we have before us Melchior Hay Horn and his wife Isabella, nee Traill, as the Colonel's parents. Melchior Hay Horn, Jr., spent his boyhood days in Eas- ton, where he attended the Van de Veer school. As a young man he was em- ployed as clerk in the general store of Winter and Yohe; and later served in the store of Mr. Burk. He tried the store business for himself but soon determined to relinquish the trade and take up his new profession as a surveyor. His talents as an accountant and financier having been recognized, he was offered the posi- tion of teller in Farmer's and Mechanic's Bank, now the First National Bank of Easton, Pa.
In 1857 he was offered the position of Cashier in the newly organized Bank of Catasauqua, which he accepted, and served with signal success until he retired in 1888. From now on he served as President of the Bank until his death in 1890. During the Civil War he served on the staff of Governor Curtin and aided in for-
297
OF CATASAUQUA
warding troops to the front. In 1862 he was elected Major of the Fifth Pena. Militia ; and in 1863 he was chosen Colonel of the Thirty-eighth Penna. Militia, which Regiment was sworn into the United States service.
The Colonel took a lasting interest in the affairs of his home town. A year after his arrival in Catasauqua he was elected a member of the School Board. where he was kept by repeated re-elections for eighteen years, when he declined another re-election. He was peculiarly well qualified for this position through his early training in Easton, where school matters had been well advanced. He served his town as Burgess for one term. His opinions were heeded and many of his propositions still uphold and enhance life and property in Catasauqua. He was largely instrumental in the establishment of the English Evangelical Luth- eran Church of the Holy Trinity, and served as Superintendent of her Sunday School for many years.
His life's partner was Miss Matilda L. Heller, whom he wedded October. 1845. Their children were Susan Butz, now Mrs. Martin L. Dreisbach, of Easton, Pa. : William IIeller Horn, living in the City of Mexico; the Rev. Edward Traill Horn, D. D., L. L. D., Professor at the Ev. Luth. Seminary at Mt. Airy, Phila .. Pa .; Frank Melchior Ilorn, Cashier of the National Bank of Catasauqua, Pa. : Harry Yohe Horn, M. D., of Coplay, Pa .; Isabella Traill Horn, deceased ; and Charles Robert Horn, salesman of the Davies and Thomas Foundry Company and residing in Catasauqua.
Mr. Horn passed from the scenes of this present life, February 28, 1890, in his sixty-eighth year, and his body lies buried in the family plot on Fairview Cemetery.
LEIBERT. John Leibert, Ist, built the house below Koehler's lock. known for many years as the Edward Seider home, early in the 19th century. His son, John, married Catherine, daughter of John and Marian, nee Hackett. Tice. and located on the "Lowlands" now the cinder tip opposite Koehler's lock. When the first furnaces were erected the authorities needed some one to take charge of the water power machinery, and, since all the Leiberts were mill-wrights by trade, John was importuned to come and operate the water wheels at the furnaces. He moved his family to Wood Street, in 1841, where he died, April 1, 1845. Ilis
298
THE HISTORY
widow, Mrs. Catherine Leibert, erected the brick dwelling on Front Street, the third door below Willow Alley, where she reared the following children : Mary Ann, wife of James Nevins: William Henry, master mechanic of the Bethlehem Iron works for many years, having been considered one of the brightest men in his line in the Lehigh Valley; Owen, superintendent of the Bethlehem Iron Works for many years; Sarah Jane, of Catasauqua, and Gwennie, wife of Jonathan Price, deceased. Catherine Leibert was born in New York City, March 22, 1808, and died in her home on Front Street, February 25, 1898, at the age of 90 years.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.