USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. I > Part 24
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John A. Bachman is a son of Charles W. and Sarah A. (Transane) Bachman. The father was born in Lower Saucon township, whence he re- moved to Easton. He was a merchant tailor by trade, and followed that business for a number of years. He entered into partnership with a Mr. Reader, under the firm name of Bachman & Reader, and subsequently became the firm of Bachman & Ernst. His business prosperity and his patronage grew in volume and importance, bringing to him a good financial return. He was a worthy man and representative citizen, active in trade circles, and interested in all that per- tained to public progress and improvement. His family numbered four children, the eldest being
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John A. of this review. The daughter, Mary A., is now the wife of James V. Bull, of the firm of Bush & Bull. Archibald, a practicing physician, is deceased, and Absalom is an attorney, follow- ing his profession in Orange, New Jersey.
John A. Bachman was born in 1848, and at the usual age he entered the public schools of Easton, therein acquiring a good education. After attaining to man's estate he sought a com- panion and helpmate for the journey of life, and was married on the 25th of April, 1878, to Miss Mary H. Horn, a daughter of Robert T. Horn, of Easton. They now have one son, Robert Charles, whose birth occurred on the 16th of May, 1880.
Mr. Bachman has held various offices of trust and responsibility. He has been connected with the Phillipsburg National Bank since June, 1874, and in 1878 he was made its cashier, in which capacity he has served continously since, his thorough understanding of the business, en- terprise and energy, being important attributes in the successful conduct of the institution. He also served as commissioner of schools of Phil- lipsburg, New Jersey, for six years, and he has been director and treasurer of the People's Water Company of that place since its organization in 1885. He is a trustee and bondholder of the Standard Silk Company and also a trustee and bondholder of the American Horseshoe Com- pany. His business interests have thus extended to many lines, and his wise counsel and sound judgment have been important factors in the successful control of these various enterprises. He is a man of resourceful business ability, car- rying forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. In commercial and industrial affairs he is energetic, prompt and notably re- liable. Tireless energy, keen perception, honesty of purpose and a genius for executing the right thing at the right time, joined to every-day com- mon sense, are his chief characteristics and all of his work is guided by a resistless will power.
Mr. Bachman is a worthy member of Easton Lodge, No. 152, F. and A. M., and has been receiver for Fraternal Lodge, No. 23, A. O. U. W., since its inception. He and his family are
members of St. John's Lutheran church, Easton, in which he holds the office of elder. In matters of public moment he is deeply interested and is a gentleman of broad humanitarian spirit, putting forth every effort in his power that will promote the welfare of his fellow men and aid in the sub- stantial progress and upbuilding of his city and home locality.
W. WHITELAW, D. D. S., is one of the trustworthy and reliable representatives of the dental profession in Easton and this section of the state, and has a well equipped office in which he is accorded a liberal patronage because of the unsurpassable excellence of his work.
Dr. Whitelaw was born in Guelph, Canada, in 1871, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Gowdy) Whitelaw, who were also natives of the Dominion. The father was a practical farmer and stock-raiser, giving close attention to the work which he followed throughout his business career. Of his father's family, Dr. Whitelaw is now the only one in the United States. He ob- tained a good education in the public schools, and with broad general learning to serve as the foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of professional knowledge, he entered the Penn- sylvania· Dental College of Philadelphia, in which institution he was graduated in 1896, on the com- pletion of the regular course. In the same year he came to Easton, locating at his present place of business on Canal street, and since that time he has enjoyed a large and growing patronage. His office is equipped with modern appointments and the finest instruments known to the profes- sion, and in his work he is careful and painstak- ing. His labors are attended with excellent re- sults, and because of his superior skill he is now accorded a large business which is bringing to him a very gratifying income. His promise for future usefulness and success in his chosen pro- fession is bright in the extreme.
Dr. Whitelaw was united in marriage to Miss Elsie, daughter of Edward McClay, of Wilkes- barre, Pennsylvania, the wedding taking place in the year 1899. The young couple have many warm friends in Easton, and the circle is con-
.
&. Whitelaw D. D.S.
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stantly increasing as the circle of their acquaint- ance widens. .
Dr. Whitelaw is a member of Old Easton Lodge, No. 157, F. and A. M., in which he is held in high esteem because of his personal worth and his fidelity to the teachings of the craft.
HENRY W. MERRILL. The ancestry of the Merrill family can be traced back to Nor- mandy, France, and its establishment in America dates to the period of the Revolution. There were three brothers, sons of William Merrill, who came to the new world at the time General Lafayette brought his French troops to aid the colonists in their struggle for independence. One of these brothers went to the west, another settled in the eastern portion of the country, and the other, Richard Merrill, established his home in New Jersey. He was born on the 25th of June, 1767, and after arriving at years of maturity he was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Randolph, whose birth occurred on the 2d of March, 1775. They became the parents of six children, all of whom are now deceased. For his second wife he chose Mrs. Bitters, by whom he had one son, Judge R. M. Merrill, of Easton. Richard Mer- rill was a man of sterling integrity and upright character, and also possessed great physical strength and power of endurance. He served his country faithfully and well in the war of 1812, and was ever devoted to its best interests, aiding materially in its progress along many lines. The children of his first marriage were William, John, Mary, Susan, Elizabeth and Margaret, and the son of his second marriage, Judge R. M. Merrill, is now a venerable gentleman in his eighty-fifth year. He was associate judge for a decade, justice of the peace for thirty years, and county treasurer for two terms.
William Merrill, who was born of the first union, became the father of our subject. His birth occurred in Easton, Pennsylvania, in 1806, and there he was reared and educated. In his youth he learned the shoemaker's trade, which he found a profitable business. He married Miss Sarah A. Wallace, who was born in 1807, and was a daughter of Moses W. and Anna Wallace.
Their family numbered ten children, five sons and five daughters, of whom six are yet living : Henry W., Susan, Margaret, Eleanor, Luther and Will- iam. Of this number Luther is now engaged in the boot and shoe business in Ulster, Pennsyl- vania, but our subject is the only survivor of the family now living in the Lehigh valley. The father passed away in the year 1895, and his wife was called to her final rest in 1893.
Henry W. Merrill was born at Nanticoke, on the Susquehanna river, in 1830, and was reared and educated in his native town, remaining there until his fourth year. His young manhood was spent in the hazardous but lucrative em- ployment of piloting rafts on the Susquehanna river, and he followed that pursuit for five years with good success, but he finally abandoned this dangerous work and removed to Paterson, New Jersey, where he turned his attention to a business in which he was always interested, that of land- scape architecture. There he followed that pur- suit for twenty years, finding it a congenial and profitable occupation. In 1876 he removed to Easton. In 1888 he organized the Jackson Emery Mills which is now one of the substantial and important industries of Easton, adding largely to the material welfare of the city, as well as to the individual success of the owners. Mr. Merrill retained his interest therein for a number of years and then, selling out, gave his attention in the real estate business as agent for the trustees of W. J. Drexel. This he followed for some time, but finally abandoned it to again take up his old calling of landscape architecture, and in this connection he is now filling the position of superintendent of the Easton Heights cemetery, and South Easton cemetery. With a sense of the artistic and the beautiful highly developed, and a thorough understanding of the practical work of his vocation, he has achieved excellent results as a landscape architect, and has made Easton Heights cemetery a beautiful city of the dead. He exercised his official prerogatives in support Easton, which will stand as an enduring monu- ment to his memory.
Mr. Merrill has been honored with the office of councilman, and while in that body served as
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chairman of the sewer and highway departments. He exercised his official prerogatives in support of every movement and measure for the general good, and proved a capable officer. In matters of citizenship he has ever been public spirited and progressive, and has put forth his best efforts for general progress and improvement. He is a Democrat in politics, and for eight years has been a member of the Democratic State Central Committee.
In 1856 occurred the marriage of Mr. Merrill and Miss Lizzie Elmendorf, and to this marriage were born two children : William J. and Kate G. The former is the secretary and treasurer of the company publishing the magazine "Just Fun," a mirth-producing publication of New York. The wife and mother died in 1874, and in 1876 Mr. Merrill was again married, his second union being with Miss Mary R. Failing, a native of Germany. She traces her descent from noted ancestry. One of the most romantic chapters in the history of America was the marriage of Pocahontas to John Rolfe. They became the parents of one son, Thomas Rolfe, who married Jane Bolling, by whom he had five daughters, and one of these daughters married Mr. Ran- dolph from whom is descended Mary, the wife of Richard Merrill. The Randolphs, or as they were first called Fitz-Randolphs, sprang from Norman-French stock, and date back to William the Conqueror and King of England.
EMANUEL LERCH. Emanuel Lerch is a descendant of a well known family of this name whose representatives have spent many years within the boundaries of Pennsylvania. The great-grandfather, Frederick Lerch, was a native of Moore township, Northampton county, but afterward removed to Forks, where he purchased a farm of three hundred acres of land bordering the Bushkill creek. He married Miss Elizabeth Switezell, and unto them were born seventeen children, of whom fourteen reached years of ma- turity. Of this remarkable family nine were sons who became good and loyal citizens of their country, and Frederick Lerch was a popular and influential man who served his township as
justice of the peace and held other local offices, proving capable, prompt and efficient in the dis- charge of his public duties. He was a worthy member of the Forks church, and died in the Christian faith on the Ist of August, 1826, while his wife survived him for about ten years and passed away in 1836.
Among the children of this worthy couple was a son Frederick, whose birth occurred in Forks township, and who after reaching adult age was married and reared a family of his own numbering seven children, six of whom were sons. One of these, Jeremiah, is now living. Another son of the family was Frederick Lerch, the third of the name. He was born in Forks township in 1830, became a blacksmith by trade, and was an excellent mechanic. In 1852 he re- moved to Easton, where he established a coach factory, and in that business he continued until 1869, when he removed to Stemton. He em- ployed about twenty hands in his factory, and carried on an extensive and profitable business, having a large patronage which caused the pro- duct of his factory to be shipped into many parts of the country. He manifested excellent business ability and executive force in the care and man- agement of his enterprise, and as the result of his energy and perseverance combined with keen sagacity he won a handsome competence. He was a worthy member of the First Reformed church of Easton, Pennsylvania, and he died at his home in Stemton in the year 1873. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Miss Polly Kemmerer, was born in Lehigh county in 1830, and is still living. They were married in 1851, and became the parents of seven children, five of whom still survive, namely : Emanuel, Simon, Ida, Emma and Martha.
Emanuel Lerch, whose name introduces this review, was born in the city of Easton in 1854. spent his life in this locality, and is indebted to the public schools for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. In his early life he learned the trade of car building, working in the wood department, and to this pursuit he has since given his attention, thoroughly mastering the business both in principal and detail. He was employed
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by the Central Railroad Company in New Jersey for more than sixteen years, and has been in the employ of the Lehigh Valley Railroad for thirteen years and this is a most creditable record, indicat- ing excellent workmanship, fidelity to the inter- ests of his employers, and appreciation on the part of those whom he serves.
Mr. Lerch has held several offices within the jurisdiction of the state, discharging his duties with ability, promptness and fidelity. He is now a member of the school board, and the cause of education finds in him a warm friend who does all in his power to raise the standard of the schools and promote their effectiveness. Frater- nally he is connected with the Heptasophs.
On the 6th of October, 1877, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Lerch and Miss Alice O. Odenwelder, a daughter of William and Anna R. Odenwelder. She was born in Palmer town- ship, March 18, 1859, and by her marriage has become the mother of eight children, six of whom are living, as follows: William F., born April 4, 1879; Anna L., born February 12, 1882; Nellie, June 25, 1885 ; Florence A., November 3, 1889; Harold E., August 5, 1891; and Helen M., March 10, 1897. Mr. Lerch and his family are members of the First Reformed church, and are well known in the community, having a large circle of warm friends.
It will be interesting in this connection to note something of the ancestry of Mrs. Lerch. The first Odenwelder to come to the Lehigh valley was Philip Odenwelder, a native of Germany. Among his children was a son to whom was also given the name of Philip, and who was in early life a poor man, yet by industry and unfaltering perseverance became the possessor of consider- able means. He purchased for his sons a tract of land embracing two hundred acres, and to this farm he subsequently added, making it an ex- tensive and valuable property. His wife was in her maidenhood a Miss Coch, and she bore him seven children. Mr. Odenwelder was a worthy member of the Reformed church and became an influential and highly respected citizen of his community. The grandfather of Mrs. Lerch was Jacob Odenwelder, who married Miss Elizabeth
Yeager. He became a well-to-do farmer and owned the land upon which Muchlertown now stands and was also the founder of the town of Odenwelder. Unto him and his wife were born five children, all of whom reached mature years, namely : William, Aaron, Samuel, Sarah A. and Mary.
Of this number William Odenwelder, the father of Mrs. Lerch, was born January 24, 1821. He wedded Ann Woodring, whose birth occurred in Lower Saucon in 1820. A farmer by occupa- tion, he made his home near the town of Oden- welder, and was widely known and honored as a man of sterling integrity and upright character. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, frequently called him to public office, in which he served in a creditable manner, enjoying the high esteem of both political parties. His family numbered four children: Elimanda, now deceased; Leona; Jacob, who has also passed away; and Alice, wife of Emanuel Lerch, died August 9, 1904.
EDWARD S. PITTENGER is one of the leading contractors and builders of Easton, Penn- sylvania, his place of business being situated at No. 40 North Bank street. He is a thorough workman, understanding the business both in principal and detail, and his energy, keen dis- crimination and unquestioned honesty have brought to him splendid success. He has a very liberal patronage and many of the fine buildings of the city are indicative of his superiority in the line of his chosen calling.
Mr. Pittenger is a native of Easton, where he was born on the 23d of July, 1854, and is a son of Peter and Maria (George) Pittenger, the former of whom was born at Hampton Junction, New Jersey, in 1829, and the latter in Easton, Pennsylvania, in 1832. In 1850 the father came to Easton, where he followed various callings, but finally embarked in the grocery business, which he carried on quite successfully for ten years. Having accumulated enough money to purchase a farm, he then turned his attention to truck gardening, and has since devoted his time to that pursuit. He and his wife still live upon
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the farm, enjoying the fruits of a well spent life, and they are numbered among the most highly respected citizens of their community. To them were born eleven children, of whom nine grew to maturity, and eight are still living, namely : Edward S., Robert, Erwin, Mrs. Anna Eichland, Mrs. Clara Sinclair, Peter, John and Thomas.
In the city of his nativity Edward S. Pittenger passed the days of his boyhood and youth, at- tending school most of the time. Later he learned the carpenter's trade with the firm of Hellick & Lerch, and for twenty years was in the employ of those gentlemen and George Hayden, never changing his position but once during that entire time. After nine years spent with Mr. Hayden, he bought out his employer on the 29th of Decem- ber, 1892, and has since carried on business on his own account with marked success, enjoying a large and constantly increasing patronage. He employs about ten men all the year round, and many of the best buildings of Easton stand as monuments to his workmanship and skill.
On the 18th of September, 1879, Mr. Pitten- ger was united in marriage to Miss Matilda L. Riedy, who was born in Easton, December 15, 1855, a daughter of Gabriel and Mary (Wert- man) Riedy. Her father was also a native of Pennsylvania, born in Heidelburg, in 1818, and was a blacksmith by trade and a good mechanic. At length he abandoned his trade and ran the engine for the city water works at Easton for eighteen years. In 1841 he led to the marriage altar Miss Mary Wertman, who was born in Car- bon county, Pennsylvania, in 1819, and for the long period of sixty-two years they traveled life's journey together, sharing its joys and sorrows, its adversity and prosperity, but he died in 1903. Mrs. Riedy is still living. She is a daughter of Jacob and Barbara (Andreas) Wertman. Her paternal grandfather and his father were both natives of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, and were farmers by occupation. The latter was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. The grandfather mar- ried a Miss Hess, and to them were born three children. Mrs. Pittenger is one of a family of four children, the others being Francis W., Ben-
jamin, and Amanda J. Her paternal grand- parents were Abraham and Catherine (German) Riedy, in whose family were thirteen children. Her grandfather made milling his life occupation, and his grandfather was a soldier in the Rev- olutionary war.
Mr. and Mrs. Pittenger have three children : Ralph R., Russell, and Paul S. Fraternally our subject is a member of the following honorable orders : Dallas Lodge, No. 396, F. and A. M .; Easton Chapter, No. 137, R. A. M .; Hugh De Payen Commandery, No. 19, K. T .; the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has taken the encampment degrees. In the subordi- nate lodge of Odd Fellows he is a past grand, and is past high priest in the encampment. As a man and citizen he ever stands ready to dis- charge any duty devolving upon him, and he has a wide circle of friends and acquaintances who esteem him highly.
JOHN BUTLAND, for over thirty years an honored and trusted employee of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company at Easton, Pennsyl- vania, where he is serving in the capacity of master painter, is a great-grandson of James Butland, a native of England, who emigrated to the United States in 1754, settled in Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, and was a prominent member of the Church of England. Charles Butland, son of James, was born in Philadelphia ; he married Ellen Balantine, daughter of John and Eleanor Balantine, of Coleraine, Ireland, the latter named being the only daughter of Lord and Lady Leslie of Coleraine, Ireland.
Charles Butland, above named, grandfather of John Butland, was prominently identified with the business interests of Philadelphia, in which city he was for many years a well known and prosperous real estate dealer. By his marriage with Eleanor Balantine three sons and one daughter were born to him: I. Charles, a con- tractor and builder by occupation, who was largely instrumental in the building up of Johns- town in its early days, and also recruited a com- pany of men in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, for service in the Mexican war, in which he was
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an active participant. He was united in mar- riage to Miss Grubb, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. 2. Samuel Balantine, an expert mechanic, and manufacturer of saws, squares, and spirit levels in the city of Philadelphia ; he died February IO, 1889. He married Meribah Kille Holson, of Phila- delphia, January 1, 1842. 3. John, father of John Butland, mentioned at length hereinafter. 4. Lydia, wife of John McQuade of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Charles Butland, the father of these children, died at his home in Philadelphia.
John Butland (father) was born in Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, March 14, 1818. He ac- quired a public school education, and his business career was devoted to the manufacture of a high class grade of saws and cutlery. In 1846, dur- ing the struggle between the United States and Mexico, Mr. Butland organized a military com- pany in the city of Philadelphia, and was at once appointed to the rank of commanding officer. He was a loyal and public-spirited citizen, and always took an active interest in all questions that affected the welfare of his city, state and nation. He was a member of the Protestant Episcopal church.
In 1842 Mr. Butland married Mary Ann Barr, who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 15, 1820, and the issue of this union was ten children, six of whom are living at the pres- ent time (1903). Their children were Eleanor, Charles Leslie, Samuel V., Annie A., John, George, Mansfield, Robert, Ellen (2), and Will- iam Butland. Charles Leslie Butland enlisted in the Thirty-first Regiment Pennsylvania Reserves, and served during the war of the Rebellion, hav- ing re-enlisted under the command of General Hancock on the frontier at the close of the struggle; he was severely wounded at the battle of Fair Oaks. Samuel V. Butland enlisted as a drummer boy in the One Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania Regiment under the command of General Shields, became a private, and was wounded at the battle of Winchester. After the term of his enlistment expired he again entered the service of the United States army and served during the entire period of the war. John But- land, father of these children, died at his home
in Philadelphia, April, 1860, his death having occurred as the result of a railroad accident. His wife, Mary Ann (Barr) Butland, died in Philadelphia, August 21, 1900.
Mary Ann (Barr) Butland, wife of John Butland, was a great-granddaughter of James and Darcas (Jacquett) Barr, who were the par- ents of five children. Darcas was the daughter of Major Peter and Eliza F. (Price) Jacquett, who were the parents of four children : Nicholas, Dar- cus, Samuel and Elizabeth Jacquett. Major Peter Jacquett was a son of French parents, and prior to his death he liberated all of the slaves that were in his possession. The following in- scription is copied from his tombstone :
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE. 1
SACRED TO THE
MEMORY OF MAJOR PETER JACQUETT.
A distinguished officer of the Revolutionary Army, who died at his residence, Long Hook Farm, near this city, Sept. 13th, A. D. 1834, in the 80th year of his age; having been born on the 6th of April, 1755. On the 4th of January, 1776, he joined the Delaware Regiment, and till April 1780, he was in every general engagement under Washington, which took place in Delaware, Penn- sylvania, New Jersey, New York and the Eastern States. He was there ordered to join the South- ern Army under General Gates, and with the brave De Calb, he was in the battle of Camden on the 16th of August, in which the Delaware Regi- ment, consisting of eight companies, was reduced to two of ninety-six men each, the command of which devolved upon his brave comrade Kirk- wood and himself, as the oldest officers left of this gallant band. He was also in the battle of Guil- ford Court House, the second battle of. Camden, and in the battle of Eutaw Springs, he assisted in the siege of ninety-six and capture of the vil- lage of that name and was also in every action and skirmish under General Green, in whose army he remained until the capture of Lord Corn- wallis at Yorktown.
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