USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. I > Part 10
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Henry O. Saylor acquired his education in the schools of Easton and vicinity. His early life was devoted to clerical work-clerking and bookkeeping-and he spent five years with the firm of Day & Saylor, at Hickory Run, Pennsyl-
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vania. He was next in the employ of William H. Kunsman, at No. 436 Northampton street, Easton, whom he served most faithfully for the long period of twenty-eight years, and since leaving that gentleman in 1892 he has been a traveling salesman for mill products, such as infants' shoes and hosiery.
In 1883 Mr. Saylor was united in marriage to Miss Lennie Dow Koch, who was born at Mar- tin's Creek, in 1863, and is a daughter of Charles and Elvira Koch. The Kochs are an old and worthy family of Northampton county, where they have resided for a number of generations. Mrs. Saylor's father owned and operated a good farm of one hundred and three acres near Mar- tin's Creek, and enjoyed the full confidence of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. To our subject and his wife were born two children, but Charles is now deceased. H. DeWitt, born in 1886, is a student in Lafayette College. Pleasant and genial in manner, Mr. Saylor is a popular salesman and he makes friends wherever he goes.
GEORGE B. KIDNEY, the well known pro- prietor of the Excelsior Bakery, of Easton, Penn- sylvania, was born on the 25th of November, 1854, in Blairstown, New Jersey, his parents being Isaiah and Mary (Van Camp) Kidney. His father was a miller by occupation and plied his trade along Paulins Kiln, in Warren county, New Jersey. He was an honest, sober and industrious man, who commanded the respect and esteem of all who knew him. His family consisted of four children, all of whom are living, three being residents of Easton, Pennsylvania and the other of Wheeling, West Virginia.
In Warren county, New Jersey, George B. Kidney grew to manhood, receiving his education in the public schools of that locality. While young he apprenticed himself to the baker's trade at Portland, Pennsylvania, and later worked as a journeyman at various places for some time. At length he established himself in the growing and busy city of Easton, Pennsylvania, in the spring of 1884. Ambitious to gain success more rapidly, added to his inexperience, prompted him to move to Bloomsbury, New Jersey, where he
prospered, but was still dissatisfied, and in 1896 he returned to Easton, where he believes he should have remained in the first place. He now owns his own establishment here, which is one of the best of the kind in the city, the Excelsior Bakery having gained a wide-spread reputation for the excellence of its productions. Mr. Kidney thoroughly understands his business in all its various departments, a fact which accounts for his extensive partonage, and he is to-day num- bered among the leading and successful business men of Easton.
In July, 1883, Mr. Kidney led to the marriage altar Miss Jennie Van Horn, a native of Pater- son, New Jersey, and to them have been born seven children, namely: Lila, Robert, deceased ; Grace, Carleton, George W., Marjorie, and Helen.
HARRY F. DECH, one of the most promis- ing young merchant of Easton, Pennsylvania, who has begun at the very bottom round of the ladder and is gradually working his way upward to success and prosperity, is a native of North- ampton county, born in Forks township, March 30, 1875, and is a son of Henry A. and Emma M. (Keller) Dech, and grandson of Reuben and Polly A. (Schnovel) Dech. Northampton county has been the home of the family for many gener- ations, and the paternal grandfather of Harry F. Dech was born in Hanover township, while his wife's birth occurred in Bethlehem township. They had but two children : Erwin, and Henry A. The maternal grandfather of Harry F. Dech was twice married, and had six children, four by his first wife and two by the second. All were worthy people and loyal citizens. Henry A. Dech (father) was born in Bethlehem township, October 23. 1854, and his wife on the 13th of October, 1855.
The only child of this worthy couple is Harry F. Dech. He passed the days of his boyhood and youth in his native township and there attended school. Later he learned the machinist's trade, at which he worked for twelve years, being in the employ of but two firms during that time-S. S. Messinger & Son, of Tatamy, and Ingorsol Com-
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pany, of Easton. He was a first-class mechanic and skilled workman, but was at length compelled to abandon his trade on account of ill health. In 1898, Mr. Dech removed to Easton and after his retirement from the machinist's trade, he em- barked in merchandising on his own account, which he has since carried on with good success. As he carries a fine line of goods, fresh from the producers, and is strictly honorable in all his dealings, he has built up a good trade which is constantly increasing. He is a very wide-awake, energetic business man, and well deserves the success that has come to him.
In 1894 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Dech and Miss Clara S. Messinger, who was born in Nazareth, Northampton county, April 4, 1874, and they now have a little daughter, Margaret E., born February 22, 1901.
JOHN EYERMAN, of Easton, represents families of the first prominence in Germany and Pennsylvania. He is a descendant of Captain Jean Jacques Eyerman, a grandson of Jean Eyer- man, who was born in 1531.
Captain Jean Jacques Eyerman, styled in the old official record "le Sieur Jean Jacques Eyer- man," was born in 1590, at Preuschdorf, near Worth, Alsace, and there died September 1, 1660. He was captain-lieutenant, (officier superieur) at his native place during the Thirty Years War. His son Jean Georges Eyerman was born there February 2, 1645, and died May 10, 1708. He married, November 29, 1664, Marguerite Oster, daughter of Matthias Oster, a native of the same village with himself, and they were the parents of seven children.
Matthias, second son and child of Jean Georges Eyerman, was born August 26, 1666; at Preuschdorf, and died there October 8, 1728. He married, June 29, 1691, Anne Catherine Schaeffer, of Lampertsloch, and they were the parents of five children.
Judge Jean Henri, eldest child of Matthias Eyerman, was born July 10, 1692, and died there December 3, 1755. He married, May 3, 1718, Catherine, daughter of Judge Jean Martin Roes- sel, of Preuschdorf, and Catherine Pfeiffer, his
wife ; the latter named was of one of the oldest and most prominent families of Alsace. Of that mar- riage were born six children.
Jean Georges, eldest child of Jean Henri Eyer- man, was born at Lampertsloch, May 24, 1719, and died at Freuschdorf, February 4, 1794. Feb- ruary 12, 1745, he married Anne Marie, daugh- ter of Jean Martin Eyer, of Feldbach, and to them were born nine children.
Jean Matthias, fourth child and third son of Jean Georges Eyerman, was born February 24, 1753, at Lampertsloch, and his baptismal cer- tificate of date February 26 is now in the posses- sion of Mr. John Eyerman. He was the founder of the American family of Eyerman. He came to America and settled in New Hanover, Montgom- ery county, Pennsylvania. Shortly after the Rev- olution he removed to Easton, where he died, November 18, 1816. He married Johanna Sneider, who was born in 1749, and died in 1843, daughter of Henry and Catherine Sneider, of New Hanover, and to them were born four children : Anna Maria, Henry, Hannah and Elizabeth.
Henry, second child and only son of Jean Matthias and Johanna (Sneider ) Eyerman, born January 29, 1784, was baptized in New Hanover church and died at Easton, February 22, 1814. He married Elizabeth Herster, born November 25, 1786, and died May 12, 1861. Her grand- father, Andrew Herster, born in 1726, at the age of twenty-three embarked at Rotterdam on the ship "Speedwell," and qualified at Philadelphia, September 25, 1749. He settled at Long (or Faulkner) Swamp, near Pottstown. In 1766 he removed to Easton. He took part in the battle of Long Island and died on board the British prison-ship "Jersey," December 25, 1776, His wife was *Anna Maria Marstellar, and to. them were born three children, the eldest of whom
*The Marstellar family arrived at Philadel- phia on the ship "Bilander Townsend," October 5, 1737, and settled in Providence township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. Peter Mar- stellar owned land in New Hanover and Provi- dence townships, and in 1745 had eighty-six acres in Lehigh county.
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was John, born at Long Swamp, October 16, 1758, and died at Easton, February 25, 1856. He married Margaret Shnyder, born 1762, died Jan- uary II, 1811, who was the mother of Elizabeth. John Herster was ensign of the second battalion Northampton militia, 1782.
The children of Henry and Elizabeth (Her- ster) Eyerman were: I. John, (see below) ; 2. Edward, born April 10, 1810, died August 19, 1833 ; 3. Margaret, born December 25, 1812, died December 21, 1856. The eldest, Captain John Eyerman, was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, July 6, 1808, was baptized in St. John's church, and died January 6, 1883. "He took an active part in the organization of many local stock companies, in this respect his life is a plain proof that an extended business may be diligently and successfully conducted without neglecting the higher duties of life. Throughout his entire career he strictly adhered to what he believed to be duty, and in every position he has relied for success upon principle and unremitting indus- try. In official position he manifested the same regard for the interest of others as for his own." (Capt. Ellis.) He was one of the incorporators of the Warren Foundry and Machine Company, 1856; the Lehigh Water Company, 1860; the Del- aware Rolling Mills, 1866; the North Penn Iron Company, 1873. In 1868 he was elected presi- dent of the Delaware Bridge Company and of the Easton Water Company, both of which offices he held until his death in 1883. He was at various times a director of the Easton National Bank, the North Penn Iron Company, and the Phillipsburg Stove Works Company. At different times he was notary public, a member of the school board and of the town council, and he was frequently made the executor, administrator and trustee of some of the largest and most important estates. He was treasurer and vestryman of Christ church and St. Paul's church. For many years he took an active interest in military affairs. He was a member of the Citizens' Volunteers for six years, and in 1851 he was captain of the National Guards. During the Civil war he aided the gov- ernor in every possible way in the formation of companies for the service of the national gov-
ernment and for the defense of the State, and he was among the most diligent and liberal in pro- viding for the wants of soldiers' families while their protectors were in the field. He died at Easton, January 6, 1883.
Mr. Eyerman married, October 15, 1844, at Easton, Anna M. Black, daughter of James Black and ** Mary Kachlein. She was born in Easton, August 17, 1820, died October 28, 1891. Of
** Mary Kachlein was a descendant of Lieut. Colonel Peter Kachlein, born in Kirchheimbo- landen, November. 8, 1722, and seventh in descent from Heinrich Kachlein of Liestae, Switzerland, born 1528, son of John Peter Kachlein, who with his three sons, Peter, Andrew and Charles, arrived at Philadelphia on the "Francis and Elizabeth," and qualified September 21, 1742. They settled in Bedminster township, Bucks county, and Peter subsequently removed to Easton. He was for several years a student in the Heidelberg University. He became a leading citizen of Easton, closely identified with its inter- ests. He was a ruling elder in the German Re- formed church, in 1755 a trustee of the School for the Education of Protestant Youth, in 1759 a commissioner and in 1762 he was colonel of militia, and rendered useful service in the out- breaks of 1763. From 1762 to 1772 he was high sheriff of Northampton, before it division into six counties. In 1771 he commanded the expedition to Fort Wyoming, and in 1774 was deputy to the provincial convention. March 9, 1774, justice of Northampton courts, he was made a member of the standing committee of Safety, and in 1775 a member of the colonial assembly and the provin- cial assembly at Philadelphia. May 22 he was captain of the Easton company ; July 17 colonel of the first battalion. In 1776 he was lieutenant -colonel of the Northampton county battalion, which he commanded at the battle of Long Island, in which he bore a splendid part. He was cap- tured in the battle, and released on parole. Gen- eral Howe said that General Grant was killed by his men, who inflicted the greatest loss upon that division. In 1780 he was lieutenant of the county under the supreme council of Pennsylvania; in 1787 judge of the court of common pleas : in 1789 the first chief magistrate of Easton, and a member of the first constitutional convention of the State. In 1762 he erected a grist and saw mill near Easton. His son Jacob was first corporal in Cap- tain Arndt's first battalion, and took part in the battle of Long Island.
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this marriage was born one son, Edward Hester Eyerman, at Easton, August 5, 1845, died March 7, 1874. He was baptized in Christ Church. He was educated at the Easton Academy and the Pennsylvania Military Academy at Chester. Ellis says: "Growing to manhood, influence and usefulness, his cheerful and social disposition rendered his companionship genial and attrac- tive, and surrounded him with an extended circle of warmly attached friends." At the age of twenty-two he founded the firm of Eyerman & Co., as agents for the Delaware Rolling Mills Company. and for the manufacture of iron. He died March 7, 1874.
Mr. Eyerman married, at Allentown, Febru- ary 10, 1865, Miss Alice Sabila Heller, born Oc- tober 2, 1846, daughter of *(note below) Chris- tian B. Heller, a descendant of Hans Peter Unsted who settled in Philadelphia in 1685, and of Judge David Wagener, 1736-1796, and Hen- rietta Detwiller, a descendant of Colonel John Philip Bahl.
John Eyerman, only child of Edward H. and Alice Eyerman, born at Easton, January 15, 1867, baptized July II, same year. He was mar- ried, April 21, 1888, by the Rev. G. M. S. Blau- velt, to Lucy Evelyn Maxwell, a great grand- niece of General William Maxwell, and a descendant 'of Maccus of Aulap, King of
* Christopher Heller, with his son Johann Simon, embarked at Rotterdam in the "Winter Galley," and arrived at Philadelphia on Septem- ber 5, 1738. He received a land patent in Lower Saucon township, September 8, 1742, and settled at what came to be known as Hellertown. His son Simon was a prominent man, and was fre- quently appointed to view and lay out roads in Salisbury and elsewhere. Jacob, son of Simon (Johan Simon Heller) was in 1777 commissioned lieutenant of the seventh company, fifth battalion, Northampton county militia.
Henrietta Detwiller was descended from Dr. Henry Detwiller, a native of Switzerland, and a descendant of Georg Datwyler, 1580, who came to America in the ship "John of Baltimore," and arrived at Philadelphia in July, 1817. He was the pioneeer of the Hahnemann school of medi- cine in the United States.
Northumbria, A. D. 949, born in Easton, August 28, 1864. Their children are Marguerite, born at Oakhurst, Easton, March 28, 1895, and John, born April 5, 1899.
Through his distinguished ancestry, three of whom served in the Colonial and seven in the Revolutionary wars, Mr. Eyerman is a member of the Society of Colonial Wars in the state of New Jersey, of which he is secretary. Of the Colonial Society of Pennsylvania, of the Sons of the Revolution, and of the Pennsylvania German Society. He is deeply interested in scientific, his- torical and genealogical lines, and is a member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, a fellow of the Zoological Society of London, a fellow of the Geological Society of America, of the Amer- ican Geographical Society, of the London Geol- ogists' Association, the American Chemical So- ciety, a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Fellow of the New. York Academy of Science, a life mem- ber of the British Association, Fellow of the American Association, member of the National Geographical Society, member of the Auto- mobile Club of America, Society of Verte- brate Falaeontologists, senior warden and treasurer of Trinity parish, and one of the managers of the Easton Delaware Bridge Com- pany. He possesses excellent literary tastes and talents, and is a pleasing writer on topics which have engrossed his attention. He was some time lecturer on Determinative Mineralogy in Lafay- ette College, and is associate editor of the Amer- ican Geologist. He has written numerous mem- oirs and papers on Geology, Palæontology and Mineralogy, published in The American Scien- tific journals, notably the Genus Temnocyon, The Mineralogy of Pennsylvania, Contributions to Mineralogy, The Mineralogy and Vertebrate Pal -. acontology, at the Columbian Exposition, The Mineralogy of the French Creek Mines. A cata- logue of the Palacontological Publications of Jo- sepd Leidy, M. D., LL. D. Bibliography of N. A. Vertebrate Palacontology. On a Collection of Tortiory Mammals from Southiern France and Italy. Contribution to the Mineralogy of Penn-
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sylvania 1905. Shufeldt in his Fossil bones of birds mammals
and from Grotto Pietro Tamponi and Grive-St. Alban," naming Puffinus eyermani n. spi. says: "The species is extinct, and it gives me pleasure to name it in hoonr of the well-known paleontologist, John Eyerman, Esq., of Easton, Pennsylvania, in whose collection the specimens, at the present writing, belong." The German botanist Reichen- bach has named three distinct species of orchids after Mr. Eyerman, Cypripedium Eyermamanum, Laelia Eyermami, Calauthe Eyermani; also a hybrid Borneo pitcher plant Nepenthes Eyer- mani. He has prepared and printed for family use three sumptuous volumes, models of typographical and illustrative art. "The An- cestors of Marguerite Eyerman," a beautiful quarto volume, printed in 1898, the edition lim- ited to forty-five numbered copies, bearing the following dedication : "To my dear little daugh- ter Marguerite Eyerman, this book is inscribed as her very own, by her father." In 1902, after the birth of his son, Mr. Eyerman printed a sup- plementary volume, in a limited edition of fifty- six numbered copies, dedicated "To my dear chil- dren, Marguerite and John Eyerman, and a third and complete edition in 1903, entitled "Genealogi- cal Studies." Also "Some Letters and Docu- ments" and "The Old Grave Yards of North- ampton.
JOHN WALZ. Among the enterprising and successful business men of Easton is John Walz, a contractor and dealer in building and crushed stone. He stands to-day as one of the successful residents of the city, and one whose prominent position in business circles is the result of care- ful management and consecutive effort, for he started out in life empty handed, and has pro- gressed through determination and energy.
Mr. Walz is a native of Germany, his birth having occurred in the fatherland in 1873. His parents, William and Fredericka Walz, were also natives of Germany, and emigrated to this coun- try in 1875, locating in Easton, Pennsylvania, where the father acted as foreman for gangs of laboring men for a number of years. In fact he
followed this pursuit until he had attained old age, and now he is living a retired life, enjoying the fruits of his former toil. He has proved himself a loyal and faithful citizen of his adopted country, showing unfaltering allegiance to the stars and stripes, and taking an active interest in all that pertains to the growth, welfare and pro- gress of this land. His wife died in the year 1880. Their family numbered seven children, all of whom were born in Germany and are now liv- ing in this country, namely : Fredericka, William, Hannah, Andrew, Frederick, Margaret and John.
John Walz, whose name introduces this rec- ord, was a little child of only six years when brought by his parents to the new world. He was reared and educated in Plainfield township, Pennsylvania, attending school at that place until he had gained a fair knowledge of the branches of learning therein taught. In early life he was ap- prenticed to the machinist's trade, at which he worked for a few years, but finally abandoned that pursuit and turned his attention to the work of a stationary engineer. In 1896 he became a con- tractor and dealer in crushed and building stone. He began the manufacture of crushed stone, es- tablishing a plant in Bushkill supplied with fif- teen horse-power and a capacity to crush fifty tons of stone per day. His business has con- stantly increased in volume and importance. He began life at the bottom round of the ladder, and since that time has been steadily climbing to the top. He is now fast reaching the upper round, and he deserves much credit for his continued progress in business circles.
Mr. Walz was united in marriage to Miss Kate R. Schickley, a native of Easton, the wed- ding being celebrated in 1894. Their union has been blessed with three interesting children : Charles W., born August 25, 1894: Stewart I., who was born June 19, 1896, and is now de- ceased ; and Emma I., born January 21, 1901. The mother of this family was born October 23, 1870, and is a most estimable lady. The parents are worthy and acceptable members of the Lutheran church, and have a large circle of friends in the city which has so long been their home. Mr. Walz has made for himself a very creditable
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record. His has been an honorable manhood, and viewed from any standpoint or measured from any standard, his life history will bear investiga- tion and prove true to the measure of an upright career.
JOHN O. BACHMAN, the warden of the Northampton county prison, is a direct descen- dant of one of the oldest families of the Lehigh valley. The authentic history dates back to June 20, 1651, when two hundred acres of land along the Saucon creek was deeded by Christian Beit- ler to Christian Bachman. The latter was a miller by trade, and owned the mill property now. operated by the firm of Eberhart & Brother. This Christian Bachman was the ancestor of the rep- resentatives of the name now living in and ad- jacent to the Lehigh valley. He had a family of ten children, namely : Abraham, John, George, Henry, Mary, Christian, Jacob, Joseph, Solomon and David.
The last named was the great-grandfather of John O. Bachman, and among his children was Peter Bachman. The grandfather Peter was mar- ried and became the father of three sons: John W., Charles and David. Of this number John W. Bachman became the father of our subject. He was united in marriage to Miss Lovina Overbeck, a native of Bucks county, Pennsylvania. He was a farmer of limited means, but was an upright and honest man. In early life he learned the car- penter's trade, which he followed for a number of years, but later abandoned that pursuit and de- voted his remaining days to agricultural pursuits. He was a worthy member of the Reformed church, as was his wife, and both died in that faith, the father passing away in May, 1892, while the mother departed this life in the year 1891. They were the parents of three sons : Peter, de- ceased, Litus and John O.
In taking up the personal history of John O. Bachman we present to our readers the record of one who is widely and favorably known in Easton. He was born in Lower Saucon township, Septem- ber 21, 1854, and spent his boyhood days on the old homestead, while in the common schools of his native township he pursued his education.
Later he followed agricultural pursuits there for a. number of years and became a leading and suc- cessful agriculturist of the community. In 1878 he chose as a companion and helpmate for life's journey Miss Mary Ellen King, a daughter of Henry and Madgalena Young. They have since traveled life's journey happily together, and they now have one daughter, Anna B., who was born in 1880.
In 1896 Mr. Bachman was elected to the posi- tion of prison warden, entering upon the duties of the office in January, 1897. He has since served in this capacity to the entire satisfaction of the representatives of the county. He gives close attention to his duties, and in every relation of life he has also been found true to the trust re- posed in him. He is certainly the right man in the right place, strict enough in his discipline to allow no rebellion or opposition from those under his care, yet humane in his treatment, so that he meets the approval of the public and has gained the respect and good will of the inmates of the- institution over which he has control. He is a member of Hellertown Lodge, No. 563, F. and A. M., and, having taken the Royal Arch degrees, is now identified with Bethlehem Chapter. R. A. M. Both he and his wife are acceptable mem- bers of the Reformed church, in which he has served as a deacon, and his life has at all times been guided by upright principles. Wherever known he is held in high regard, and his worth as a man, citizen and public official are widely recognized, making him one of the representative- men of his county.
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