USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > Catasauqua > A history of Catasauqua in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania > Part 23
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JAMES NEVINS. "My father was a linen-weaver. He read his Bible regularly and guided his family in daily devotions. My wife was a Pennsylvania German woman. She was a good woman. the best housekeeper I ever knew. It is because of her that I own my fine, comfortable home." These were the plaudits of James Nevins, who never tired of repeating the same beautiful and inspiring lines. When his steps grew short, his frame weak and his voice husky, and when he forgot many passing incidents, our aged neighbor never forgot his gratitude for the blessings vouchsafed him in those gone before.
James was the son of Hugh and Jane, nee Brown, Nevins and was born in Londonderry, Ireland, June 13, 1826. He came to America in 1845 and wrought at Mauch Chunk for two years. Then he came to Catasauqua, where he served at the furnaces for forty-two years. He married Mary Ann Leibert, November 18, 1852, and died at the ripe old age of eighty-six years, January 26, 1912. His descendants who reached maturity are : John; Owen ; Emma, wife of James Morrow; and Margaret, wife of John Leibert. The last named enjoys a wonderful gift of song.
DANIEL MILSON. DANIEL MILSON was born in Neath Glamorgan- shire, South Wales. February 28th, 1830, a son of Charles and Rachel (Thomas) Milson, the former born in England in 1783, and the latter a native of South Wales.
He was reared in his native country and educated in the common schools of his native town.
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At the age of sixteen he started the boiler making trade with his unele, Joseph Thomas, at Neath. He worked at the Neath shipyards up to the year 1852, then came to this country, landing in New York after a long and dan- gerous voyage of more than three months.
Shortly after his arrival he removed to Philadelphia, where he entered the employ of Merrick & Son, and later entered the service of the United States navy yard as : boiler maker, being one of the men who worked on the vessel that captured Mason and Slidel during the Civil War.
In 1854 he came to Catasauqua and for two years was employed by the Crane Iron Company, and after dissolving this connection he was employed by the Thomas Iron Com- DANIEL MILSON pany in the erection of their furnaces at Hokendauqua. In the latter part of the year 1863, in company with David Thomas, Jr., he went to Ohio, where they erected a furnace of which he was assistant superintendent until 1865.
In the latter part of 1865 he returned to Catasauqua, and opened a boiler shop on his own account, employing fifty men.
He retired from business in 1890 and took a trip to the scenes of his child- hood, which proved a sonree of much profit and enjoyment. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua, and in his political affiliations was a staunch Republican.
In 1861 he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Davies, a native of Wales, who bore him eleven children as follows :
Thomas H., Charles E., Annie, Elizabeth, David (deceased). Minnie. Joseph. Daniel, Henry (deceased), Mabel, and Eleanor. He died November 9th, 1905.
JACOB S. LAWALL. A glance at the lives of the representative men
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whose names appear in this little volume will reveal many sketches of respected and influential citizens, but among them none are more worthy or more deserving of mention than Jacob S. Lawall, who was a prominent business man of this Borough for a great many years.
A native of Northampton County, the subject of this sketch was born at Heektown, October 13, 1832, and died in Catasauqua, March 4, 1889. As a youth he attended the public school at Farmersville of the same county. Ile learned to be a druggist with his brother. Cyrus, of Easton. Having bought the drug business of a Mr. Brunner, who kept his store in the building now occu- pied by Mr. Bower's meat market on Front Street, he came to Catasauqua. In 1859 he erected a brick building on Front Street above Church, and located his drug store in this structure. In 1869 he built a large dwelling on Bridge Street where he and his family resided to the time of his demise.
JACOB S. LAWALL
On October 13, 1857, Mr. Lawall was married to Catherine Buss, a daughter of JJacob Buss. This union was blessed with seven children : Harry E. (deceased) ; Edgar J., of Catasauqua ; Charles E .. of Catasauqua : Idella, wife of Dr. Dumm, of Mackeyville, Pa .; Emily, wife of Dr. Gable, of Lancaster ; Marion L., wife of Rev. W. W. Wilcox, of Walden, N. Y .; Thomas W. (deceased).
In his religious affiliations, Mr. Lawall was a member of Trinity Ev. Luth- eran Church, which he helped organize and, to the support of which he was a liberal contributor. He was a member of Porter Lodge No. 284, F. and A. M. In politics he was a staunch Republican. As a citizen he was public spirited and progressive, and contributed his full quota for the upbuilding and development of
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the best interests of the community. Ile justly merited the esteem in which he was held.
CHARLES W. CHAPMAN. Charles W. Chapman came of sturdy parent- age, his father, Joseph H. Chapman, being a native of New London, Conn., and his mother, Martha Wooley, being from Philadelphia, and of English descent. He was born at Manch Chunk JJune 29, 1836, and died in Catasauqua March 13, 1904. Ile was in his 68th year at the time of his death His family were raised and educated in Mauch Chunk.
In 1853-54, when the Lehigh Valley Rail- road was being constructed through this val- ley, he associated himself with his brother, Lansford F., as a civil engineer and gained i practical knowledge of railroad construction. When the Catasauqua and Fogelsville Rail- road was projected in 1856, he and his elder brother laid out the route, the terminus at that time being Chapman, a station named after the family.
CHARLES W. CHAPMAN
In 1858. he was engaged to run the lines for the North Penn and Delaware Railroad from Freemansburg to Delaware Water Gap. In 1859, he accompanied con- tractor Robert MeIntyre to Washington, D. C., and did the engineering work of the Cabin John Viaduct, which carries the Capital water supply over the Potomae. This stone-arch structure is said to be the largest of its kind in the world. In 1860, he returned to Mauch Chunk and entered the employ of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company. Soon after, the Civil War broke out and Mr. Chapman was mustered into the service as a Second Lieutenant of Co. E., 28th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. This regiment won a great name in the Armies of the Potomac and Cumberland. He was promoted to First Lieu- tenant February 1, 1863, and was mustered out July 30, 1864. His brother
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Lansford, promoted to Major in January, 1863, was killed in front of Chancellors- ville Hotel during that bloody engagement, May 3, 1863. Charles W. Chapman was engaged in the desperate battles of Antietam and Gettysburg.
In 1865, he returned to Mauch Chunk and reentered the service of the Le- high Coal and Navigation Company, and in the fall he went with an engineering corps to Broad Top as superintendent of the Broad Top Coal and Iron Company and opened up several coal mines.
In July. 1867, he was made superintendent of the Catasauqua and Fogels- ville Railroad and continued in that capacity until the time of his death. In November, 1890, the Reading Railway Company purchased of the Crane Railway Company a controlling interest in the C. & F. R. R., and Mr. Chapman was retained as supervisor of the road.
On November 13, 1860, he was married to Miss Annie, daughter of the late William Phillips. She preceded him in death by four years. They were blessed with two sons, Lansford F., a civil engineer of New York City, and Edwin. a machinist in the employ of the Atlas Cement Company.
In the life of Catasauqua, Charles W. Chapman has borne a prominent part. For many years he served as Borough Engineer. For twenty-four years he was a prominent member and president of the School Board. Fairview Cemetery was laid out by him and for many years he was superintendent of the same and president of the association, never accepting any pay for his efficient services.
He took an active interest in the several building associations and was an in- fluential member of the Masonic Order, being a Past Master of Porter Lodge, No. 284, F. and A. M., and a Companion of Catasauqua Royal Arch Chapter, No. 278, and a member of Beacon Council, No. 422, Royal Arcanum of Allentown. In politics, he was a conservative Republican. As a citizen he was always fore- most in promoting the advancement of the community ; in morality and temper- ance he was outspoken ; as a friend he was steadfast and true.
ARNOLD C. LEWIS. Arnold Colt Lewis, son of Sharp D. Lewis and Deborah Fell (Slocum) Lewis, was born in Wilkes-Barre, March 2, 1826. The pioneers of his family were members of the Society of Friends, who came from Glamorganshire, Wales, about the year 1863. Arnold C. was the sixth in the
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lineal descent from Ralph Lewis, who settled in Haverford Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. He served throughout the Mexican War as a Second Lieutenant of the Wyoming Artillerists. After the war he turned his attention to law and was admitted to the bar of Luzerne County. August 5. 1850. Nine years later he came to Catasauqua and with his brother. Sharp D., Jr., bought the Catasauqua Herald from Peter Kelchner.
In answer to Lincoln's call for volunteers, he began to organize a company for the war. With forty-three men he went to Harrisburg, where they united with others from Bethlehem, Pa., forming Company C. 46th Pennsylvania Infantry. The company, with Mr. Lewis as Major, was mustered in, September. 1861. and was given its colors by Gov. Andrew G. Curtin.
On September 22, 1861, they were marching toward Frederick City, Mary- land. Sergeant Sanaghan of Company ( .. who had been reduced to the ranks for breach of discipline, threatened the life of his Captain. To prevent him from doing harm, the Major ordered Sanaghan tied behind one of the wagons. Free- ing himself, some one gave him a cartridge and as the Major rode past. the dis- graced officer shot him from his horse. He died soon after and his body was sent in a metallic coffin to his home. The interment was in Fairview Cemetery and afterward the body was removed to a cemetery in Allentown. In the death of Major Lewis, at the hand of one who pretended to have the welfare of his country at heart, the nation lost a brave officer when she needed him most.
Only a few months before he left on his fatal march to the south. he married Amanda M. Rohn, daughter of William and Sarah ( Weaver) Rohn. To them was born one son, Arnold R., who is now one of the firm of F. Hersh and Sons, proprietors of the largest hardware stores in the Lehigh Valley.
He was a Republican and an ardent supporter of Abraham Lincoln, with command of the "Wide Awake" organization that did so much towards the Martyr President's election. With his commanding presence he could do much for his country for which he gave up his life.
WM. G. LEWIS. The subject of this sketch, Mr. William G. Lewis, was un- doubtedly one of the best known Welshmen in the State. He believed that life is a school and in consequence stored his extraordinarily retentive memory with
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valuable information which he utilized in his social intercourse with men. Ile was genial and kind, and possessed an attractive personality by which he was able to make and retain a large cirele of friends. He was no less esteemed and loved by the Welsh people in this country than he was honored and respected by his own fellow citizens. He was affable and well in- formed on all subjeets and for this reason his company was eagerly sought and his opinions valued. He was prominent in the Welsh musical, educational and literary circles. The Allentown Eisteddfod, in which Mr. Lewis always took an active interest, at their session in Allentown, Pa., Nov. 25, 1897, in a pre- amble and a series of resolutions, paid him a worthy tribute.
Mr., William G. Lewis was born Decent- ber 20, 1841, at Briton Ferry, South Wales, WILLIAM G. LEWIS and died in Catasauqua, November 27, 1897. He was a son of Griffith Lewis and spent his youth and early manhood in his native town. In 1864 he came to America and located in Catasauqua, where he entered the employ of his uncle, Morgan Emanuel. After he had demonstrated to his uncle that he had more than ordinary business ability, he was given an interest in the business, that of selling powder and other explosives, under the firm name of Emanuel, Lewis & Co. It was owing largely to his enterprise and square business dealings that the trade of the company grew to immense pro- portions. In his trade relations he came in contact with men prominent in mining and quarrying interests and by these he was justly esteemed.
In June, 1863, he was married to Miss Margaret Allen. Twelve children were born to them, two sons and three daughters surviving : Griffith R., a prom- ยท inent druggist and business man of Cripple Creek, Col .; William M., Manager of the Grand Rapids Muskegon Power Company, Muskegon, Mich .; Margaret E.,
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wife of Mr. Frank M. Tait, Dayton, Ohio; Ellen J., a teacher in a private school, Baltimore, Maryland; and Lydia, who resides with her mother on Pine Street, Catasauqua, Pa. As husband and father, Mr. Lewis was loving and devoted. ITis home was his chief joy and the welfare of his family was the object of his zealous care.
Mr. Lewis was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and, in 1872, was chosen a ruling elder, which office he held at the time of his death. He was well versed in the Bible and his attendance upon all Church meetings was prompt and unfailing. He was a Past Grand of Catasauqua Lodge, No. 269, I. O. O. F., and a member of Iron Lodge, No. 1964, K. of II. In his political belief he was a staunch Republican. Among his townsmen no one was more highly respected and the confidence reposed in him was never misplaced. As a citizen he measured up to the highest standard and all projects having the general good in view found in him a generous and active supporter.
PHILIP STORM. Philip Storm was a native of Bavaria, Germany, and was born on the Rhine, September 12, 1829, being a son of John and Elizabeth Storm, both of whom were natives of Bavaria. He attended the common schools until he was fourteen, when he began an apprenticeship at the trade of tailor. At the age of nineteen he embarked at Antwerp on a sailing vessel and after a voyage of fifty days landed in New York. He first located at Eliazbethtown, N. J., but later walked the entire distance to Catasauqua. For nine years he was employed loading coal on canal boats at Maneh Chunk. In 1858 he returned to Catasauqua. During the war he enlisted in Company D., 176th Pennsyl- vania Drafted Militia and served nine months. Upon his return he was employed by the Catasauqua Manu- facturing Company until 1889. when he started buy- ing and selling scrap iron.
He was a member of the Borough Council for PHILIP STORM three years, was elected burgess in 1881 and re- elected three successive years. He also served as health officer for twelve years. At the county convention in 1875 he was honored by the Republican party with the nomination for sheriff, but was defeated at the polls.
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Mr. Storm was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church; a member of Porter Lodge, No. 284, F. and A. M .; Allen R. A. Chapter, No. 203; Allen Com- mandery, No. 20, K. T .; and Fuller Post, No. 378, G. A. R.
In 1851 Mr. Storm was united in marriage to Gertrude Koch, a native of Germany, who died in 1883. They were the parents of five children : John (de- ceased), William, Mrs. Allen S. Heekman, Mrs. Mary Jenkins, and Mrs. A. E. Seyfried. On October 9, 1883, he married his second wife, Sarah A. (Trollinger) Miller, widow of John P. Miller of Allentown.
JOSEPHI MATCHETTE. Captain Joseph Matchette, Gentleman, Chris- tian, Soldier, was born in Seacombe, Cheshire, England, on March 18, 1841. He was one of nine children born to Joseph and Susanna (Truman) Matchette. The genealogy of the family runs back to one of the men who crossed the Channel with William the Conqueror and at the Battle of Hastings took England from the Saxons. He was baptized in the Episcopal Church of his native shire and attended its school.
With his father's family in the spring of 1852, he set sail from Liverpool and after an eight weeks' voyage landed at Philadelphia. The trip to Allentown was made in a stage coach. Here his father made a home for the family.
During the winter months of the next three years he went to school and shipped on a canal boat through the summer. The boat carried coal and iron to Philadelphia. One day, while steering, he fell overboard and was taken out of the water by his brother Richard.
At fourteen years of age he came to Catasauqua and drove a mule cart which carried ore to the furnaces. Because of his interest in machinery he was given the care of a pumping engine. In 1856 he began firing the first locomotive (Hereules) used to carry material to the furnaces.
After his experience here he was given a position on the Catasauqua & Fogelsville Railroad, where he fired the "Catasauqua," afterwards running this engine and later the "Maeungie." In 1860 he began work in the machine shops of the railroad, intending to learn the machinist's trade.
The following year the war broke out and he laid the hammer upon the bench and left for the front. He enlisted under Captain Arnold C. Lewis in
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Company C No. 46 Pennsylvania Infantry for three years. Because of his ability to quickly grasp military tactics and his reliable nature, he was soon raised from the ranks. Promotion to Corporal, Sergeant and Lieutenant eame in quick suc- cession. By November, 1862, the ranks were greatly thinned and he was made First Lieutenant. In July, 1864, on the battle field near Atlanta, he was made Captain of Company C, 46th Pennsylvania Infantry.
Fifty times during the war he was under fire. Among the battles in which he took part are: Winchester, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Kenesaw
JOSEPH MATCHETTE
Mountain. His company was at the siege and capture of Atlanta and with Sher- man on his march to the sea.
On July 16, 1865, Captain Matchette was mustered out. Returning home he resumed work upon the railroad and was soon placed in charge of the Cata-
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sauqua & Fogelsville Railroad. In 1868 he resigned from this position to go into the contracting business. That year he moved to Gadsden. Ala., where he remained for one year. Upon his return to Catasauqua he began working the limestone quarry at Iron Bridge. After the limestone of this quarry was con- demned, he was given an agency for the Dupont de Nemours Powder Company. lle served in this capacity until 1906, when, on account of age, he was retired by the Company.
Since that date he, with his son, has been selling the products of the Inger- soll Rand Co., dealers in quarry supplies.
April 8, 1863, while on a furlough from the South, he married Fannie E. Lazarus. To them were born eleven children, nine of whom lived to maturity : Charles L., Assistant Master Mechanic of the Carnegie Steel Co., Rankin; Wil- lard, with the L. V. R. R. at Philadelphia; Minerva Lydia (Matchette) Miller, Allentown; Adah Susie (Matchette) Walters, Lynn, Mass .; Joseph D., who is in business with his father in Catasauqua; Blanch T. (Matchette) Wolf, Kreiders- ville, Pa .; Thomas T., Walnutport, Pa .; Fannie May, Sophia, John Logan, Te- cumseh, who are at home; and two daughters, who died in infancy. On De- cember 20, 1910, his life partner passed away.
When he returned from the war he joined the First Presbyterian Church. As time passed he was elected a trustee and later an Elder of that Church. He was a faithful attendant at the Sunday School, and, after the death of Mr. John Williams, in 1893, he was elected Superintendent. He has served in this ca- pacity ever since.
He has been a life long Republican. His interest has been very large in the school life of his home town, acting as a member of the school board prior to his residence in Alabama. After his return he was a director for two terms of three years.
His life has been one of earnest helpfulness and active usefulness to his home and to his country. Captain Matchette has a large place in the hearts of all with whom he has associated on the battle field, in the business world, in Church work, and the social activites of his home town.
JAMES C. BEITEL. There is no man living to-day who has conducted
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a profitable business for so many years as James C. Beitel, who on December 8, 1913, celebrated the Golden Anniversary of the opening of his jewelry store at 215 Front Street. Mr. Beitel descends from an illustrious family. The Rev. Heinrich Beutel was a native of Adamsthal, formerly called Mondorf, Austrian Silesia, being born January 18, 1711. He served as missionary in Berbice, Guiana, S. A., from 1740 to 1748 and 1751 to 1763. He married Miss Elizabeth Paschke, October 8, 1739. Mr. Bentel died at Hernhut, Saxony, December 4, 1763. His wife was born January 23, 1714, and died at Hernhut August 10, 1783.
His son JJohann Renatus Beutel was born at Pilgerhut, Berbice, Guiana, S. A., De- cember 21, 1740. He married Juliana Schmidt, a daughter of the pioneer settler of Nazareth, and died at Nazareth, September 27, 1840) His wife was born January 3, 1751, and died February 15, 1824.
The next in the line of this family tree was John Beitel. the son of Johann, born at Nazareth July 18, 1782. He married Miss Anna Magdalena Romig and died at Nazareth August 15, 1870. His wife was born at Emaus, Pa., February 22, 1792 and died August 7, 1849. John's son, Josiah Oliver Beitel, was born at Nazareth in 1811 and died in 1898. His wife was a Miss Maria Sophia Kern, born at Bethlehem in 1814 and died in 1895.
JAMES C. BEITEL
From this union proceeded our townsman, James C. Beitel, who was born at Nazareth, June 15, 1842. His wife is Emma C., a daughter of Solomon Koeh- ler and his wife Mary Ann, nee Ehret, and was born August 16, 1845. Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Beitel were married December 29, 1863.
Mr. Beitel was educated in the Moravian school at Nazareth, and at the same time learnt the clock-making business with his father. When President Lincoln issued his third eall for volunteers, Mr. Beitel came forward, October 7, 1862,
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and was mustered in as a private in Captain Owen Rice's Company A, 153rd Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was detailed as a member of the regi- mental band. He saw service at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg and was hon- orably discharged July 23. 1863.
Ile now found employment at his trade in Doylestown. On December 8, 1863, he opened his store at 215 Front Street, where he continued for over forty- five years. After Robert J. Beitel, his son, graduated from High School, Mr. Beitel admitted him in 1900 into the business, and the firm title became J. C. Beitel and Son. New lines were constantly added to the stock so that for larger and more commodious quarters the firm moved into their beautiful store in the National Bank Building during 1909.
The public estimate of Mr. Beitel has been attested repeatedly .. He held publie office in town at various times. His record as Burgess and school di- rector do him eredit. He was a director of the National Bank of Catasauqua for years; and a charter member of the Lehigh National Bank, whose honored president he has been since its beginning. He is also president of the Electrie Laundry Company, at Fountain Hill, Pa. He is a veteran member of Porter Lodge, 284, F. and A. M., sinee 1874, and a comrade of Lient. Geo. W. Fuller Post, 378, G. A. R. His name is enrolled among those who held offiee in St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church to which the family belong and which they liberally support. Their children are: Mrs. Mary Louise Bender; Laura E., a trained nurse in Philadelphia ; Gwennie, deceased, former wife of Rev. J. W. Lazarus; Annie K., wife of Dr. J. C. Lonaere; Robert J .; Otilla G .; and Mabel O., wife of Charles Edwards.
CHARLES GRAFFIN. The man and his devoted helpmate who rear a family of sons who bear a truly fraternal spirit to one another, are gallant and devoted to father and mother, manly and honorable in business, ready to toil. and above all alive to their relation to God and their own souls' highest welfare, are a people who are really great. True worth is measured by blood, wherefore he who contributes an honorable type of manhood to a community leaves that community far more richly endowed that he who shines before his fellows in the glitter of large possessions, not a crumb of which he is willing to share.
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Charles Graffin is the son of Thomas and Rachel Graffin. He was born near Howertown, April 17, 1830, and received his edneation in the "Peoples' Colleges " of Allen Township. When a young man of sixteen, he came to Catasauqua and learnt the trade of cobbler at which he toiled for seven years. In 1856 Burgess David Thomas appointed him as the first policeman of Cata- sauqua. During the Civil War he served as an emergency man in the 38th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. After his honor- able discharge from the Army, he was em- ployed as time and store-keeper at the Crane Iron Works, where he served for thirty-four years. In 1893 he was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace. President MeKinley ap- pointed him Post Master of Catasauqua in 1900, and in 1904 President Roosevelt re-ap- pointed him. The Free Delivery System was CHARLES GRAFFIN established during his administration, for which a grateful people pay him a cheerful tribute. His son Samuel S. succeed- ed his father in the Post Office and is carrying out many details which his father had planned.
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