USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. I > Part 38
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CHARLES JACOB ABEL, a veteran of the Civil war, and at the present time (1903) suc- cessfully engaged in the manufacture of candy for the jobbing trade in the city of Easton, Penn- sylvania, was born at Lewisburg, Northumber- land county, Pennsylvania, September 10, 1837, a son of the late John Abel, who was a descendant of 'Squire Jacob Abel, who came to this country from Germany, at an early period, and settled in Easton, Northampton county, becoming one of its prominent and influential citizens.
John Abel (grandfather) was a son of Jacob Abel, and his birth occurred in the city of Easton, Pennsylvania. His business career was devoted to the occupations of boating, plying his trade between the cities of Easton and Philadelphia, and the grocery business which he conducted for a number of years in Easton. On July 7, 1825, Governor Shulze appointed Mr. Abel as one of the commissioners for improving the navigation of the Delaware river under the act of March 26, 1821. He was engaged for more than three years in this important work. Mr. Abel and his wife, Catherine (Bleckey) Abel, were the parents of a large family of children, all of whom are now deceased.
John Abel (father) was born in Easton, Penn- sylvania, March 29, 1814, a son of John and Catherine (Bleckey) Abel. After laying aside his school books he learned the trade of cabinet maker, which line of industry he pursued until 1835 and then abandoned on account of impaired health. Subsequently he established a wholesale and retail confectionery business in his native city, manufacturing the goods on the premises, and this he successfully conducted up to the time of his death. Mr. Abel was united in marriage to
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Maria E. Reichard, born in Easton, Pennsylvania, in 1811, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Hay) Reichard. Their children were: Louisa, wife ot William W. Cottingham, of Easton; Charles Jacob ; Elizabeth, wife of William E. Hammann ; Emma M .: Josephine A., wife of George T. Hammann : John H .; Isabel, wife of Howard A. Hartzell : J. Edward; and Mary Abel. A full ac- count of the life of Mr. John Abel appears under his own name on another page of this work.
The private school conducted by Dr. Vander- veer, at Easton, Pennsylvania, afforded Charles J. Abel a good English education which was an ex- cellent preparation for his active business career. He learned the trade of confectioner with his father, but later engaged with the Hope Express Company, which conducted business between Reading, Pennsylvania, and New York city, and remained an employe of that company until 1862, the year of the disruption between the north and south. On August 11, 1862, he enlisted in Com- pany D, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Regi- ment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, serving in the Army of the Potomac, and participated in the second battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Kernsville, and the five days battle of Chancellorsville. He was struck by a spent ball, but was not incapaci- tated from active duty. He served with credit and distinction during the entire term of his enlist- ment, and was honorably discharged from the service of the United States Government in the middle of May, 1863.
After his return from the war, Mr. Abel re- sumed his old position with the Hope Express Company, where he remained for a short period of time. He was then employed by his father until 1870, when he established a confectionery manu- facturing plant in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, which he conducted for fifteen years, and then disposed of to George M. Alpaugh. He then re- turned to Easton, Pennsylvania, and established his present business, that of manufacturing candy for the jobbing trade, which enterprise has proved to be a profitable source of income. Politically, Mr. Abel is an ardent supporter of the principles of Republicanism, his first vote having been cast for Abraham Lincoln. During his residence in
Phillipsburg, New Jersey, Mr. Abel served in the capacity of president of the city council, and chairman of the finance committee, holding the latter position for six years. He is a member of Talmage Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and a charter member of Bell Post, the first post or- ganized in the order. He is also a member of the Royal Arcanum, Free and Accepted Masons.
On February 15, 1858, Mr. Abel married Mel- vina Housel, of Bloomsbury, New Jersey, a daughter of James and Mary Ann ( Barnes) Hou- sel, the latter named being the daughter of Robert and Nancy (Bachivan) Barnes. Their children are : I. Minnie B., born in Easton, Pennsylvania, wife of George M. Alpaugh, and they are the parents of three children-George Adamson, John Everett, and Elizabeth Alpaugh. 2. Lizzie, wife of George A. Adamson, and one child has been born to them-Dorathea Frances Adamson. 3. C. Percival, who was killed in a street railroad accident at Bushkill Park, September 1, 1902. 4. James Ray, a chemist by trade, married Annie Alsover, and they are the parents of two children -Marion and Douglas Abel. 5. Ruth Potter Abel. The family are actively interested in the work of the Lutheran church, in which organi- zation they hold membership.
FRANCIS MICHLER, attorney at law, Eas- ton, Pennsylvania, whose busy professional life extended over a period of nearly a decade and about ten years in the coal business, and who re- sided in pleasant retirement in the city wherein he was born and which was the scene of his earnest activity, was born in 1830, a son of Feter and Mary (Howell) Michler.
He is a lineal descendant of the Rev. John Wolfgang Michler, born in Wurtemberg, Ger- many October 25, 1720, and who came to America in 1743. The emigrant Michler located at Salem, North Carolina, where he served as missionary to the Indians, undergoing many privations and dangers incident to such a life. He always main- tained pleasant relations with the people whom he came to labor amongst, and was the means of re- lieving them from many of the oppressions to which they were subject in face of an ever ad-
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vancing population which was destined to crush them out entirely. He died at Lebanon, Penn- sylvania, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years.
Nathaniel, son of the Rev. John W. Michler, was educated at Nazareth Hall, where he was four years a student, and later was an instructor there. On leaving school, about 1790, he went to Jacobs- burg, and thence to Easton, Pennsylvania. He was a man of broad intelligence, excellent busi- ness qualifications and sterling integrity, and exerted a commanding influence. He was a mag- istrate for many years, and for a quarter of a century served as recorder and register of deeds, a position to which he was originally appointed by Governor Ritnar, and served longer in that posi- tion than anybody before or since. He married Elizabeth, a daughter of Peter Seip, and two sons were born to them, Peter S., and Thomas.
Peter S. Michler, eldest son of the parents named, was educated at Nazareth Hall. He en- gaged in milling on the Bushkill. He was a man of commanding ability, and rose to occupy a con- spicuous place in the moral and material life of the rapidly developing city of Easton. He be- came president of the Branch Bank of Pennsyl- vania, and he was afterwards president of the First National Bank of Easton. He was the first president of the Hokendauqua Iron Works, and was one of the original incorporators and the president of the Lehigh Transportation Company. In politics he was originally a Whig, and after the dissolution of that party he became a Republican. He served in the state senate, and in that body proved a capable and incorruptable legislator. He was a Lutheran in religion, and was for many years an elder in Christ church. He married Mary Burroughs Howell, born in 1799, a daugh- ter of Esick Howell. Husband and wife both died in 1865. The children born to them were:
George and Howell, both of whom died in infancy.
Nathaniel, who was a graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point, and served during the Civil war as an engineer officer on the staff of Generals Rosecrans, Buell, Meade and Sherman. He made a brilliant record
as an enterprising and courageous officer, and in the battle of Shiloh two horses were shot under him. After the war and during the presidency of General Grant he had charge of the public buildings in Washington City, and his army service was continued until his death.
Harriet, who became the wife of Thomas Conyngham, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
Clarence Howell, who was a civil engineer, and died in early life.
Henrietta, who became the wife of the Rev. Dr. J. Y. Mitchell, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
William H. H., who was a physician and served as an army surgeon during the Civil war.
Francis Michler, second child of Peter S. and Mary Burroughs (Howell) Michler, was born March 23, 1830 in Easton. He began his educa- tion at the same institution as did his father, Nazareth Hall, and then entered Lafayette Col- lege, from which he was graduated in 1847. He studied law in the law school of Yale College, and graduated in 1849. For several years he prac- ticed his profession in Easton, and his abilities and integrity commended him to the patronage of an uncommonly large and influential clientele.
Mr. Michler was married, in 1855, to Julia A., daughter of Daniel and Margaret (Henry) Lach- enour, who are referred to at length on another page of this work. Of this marriage were born the following children: I. Henry D., who has. been surgeon in charge at the Easton Hospital from its opening ; 2. Howell, who died young ; 3. Frances K; 4. Roosevelt; 5. Lebbeus C .; 6. William Marsh ; 7. Julia A. Michler. Mr. Mich- ler died February 26, 1904.
JAMES POLLOCK was born in Boston, Massachusetts, August 31, 1817, and died No- vember 29, 1867. His paternal great-great- grandfather, William Follock, was born on the Overtown estate in Scotland. The great-grand- parents were William and Jannet (Shedden) Pol- lock. James Pollock, Sr., son of William and Jannet Pollock, was married to Miss Mary Lamberton, whose mother in her maidenhood was Margaret Douglas. Her parents were James Lee and Mary Douglas. The former was born on the
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Douglas estate, and was a son of the second son of Sir Robert Douglas, knight, who was a son of William and Margaret Lamberton. William Lamberton was born at Douglas Castle, in 1521, and from him the line of descent is traced down to James Pollock. James Pollock, second, mar- ried Helen Hill, at Beith, Ayrshire, Scotland, and in 1817 they came to America.
James Pollock, third, whose name introduces this record, was reared in New Brunswick and in Trenton, New Jersey. He pursued his prelim- inary education in the common schools, and in 184I entered Lafayette College with the intention of preparing for the ministry, but owing to failing health was obliged to abandon his cherished plans and assumed other business relations. He there- fore learned the stone-cutter's trade, and estab- lished a business in Easton, and there conducted his enterprise until 1853, when he removed to Hamilton, Ontario county, Canada, where he car- ried on business for ten years. At the time of the Civil war, in July, 1863, Mr. Pollock returned to Easton for the purpose of enlisting in the Union army, but his services were. rejected on account of his physical condition. He then resumed busi- ness in Easton, at the corner of Northampton and Front streets, and engaged in the manufacture of fine marble monuments until his death.
On the 29th of April, 1848, Mr. Pollock was married to Miss Sarah Howell, who was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, June 30, 1829, a daughter of Jesse Moore and Deborah ( Muirhead) Howell. The ancestry of the Howell family can be traced back to John Howell, who was a private in Cap- tain Tucker's company in the first regiment of New Jersey militia during the Revolutionary war. He was born in 1727, and died in 1779. His wife was Naomi Hart, a daughter of Joseph Hart. John Hart of this family was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Their son, Noah Howell, was born May 22, 1763, and died September 6, 1801. He was married August 22, 1788, to Hannah Lawrence, whose birth occurred December 16, 1769, and her death on August 3, 1814. They were the grandparents of Mrs. Fol- lock and the parents of Jesse Moore Howell, whose birth occurred in New Jersey, August 9,
1789. He wedded Deborah Muirhead, who was born March II, 1794, and gave her hand in mar- riage to Mr. Howell, October 4, 1819. Her death occurred December 27, 1861. Her ancestral his- tory as far as authentic record has been preserved began with John Muirhead, who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and married Rebecca Bailey, of Jamaica, Long Island. His death occurred in January, 1725. His son Andrew Muirhead was the father of Jonathan Muirhead, who was born May 7, 1755. To him and his wife Mary was born on the 25th of June, 1763, a son, to whom they gave the name of George, and who became a soldier of the Revolutionary war. George Muir- head was under Colonel Seeley and his brother, John Muirhead with John Guild and David Laming, on the morning of December 26, 1776, escorted General Washington and his army from the eight-mile ferry to the north end of Trenton. George Muirhead married Charity Guild, a daughter of Rev. John Guild, and to this marriage was born Deborah Muirhead, the wife of Jesse Moore Howell. Rev. John Guild was pastor of the Pennington Presbyterian church.
To Mr. and Mrs. Pollock were born six chil- dren : Charles Muirhead, born January 26, 1849, in Easton, Pennsylvania, died November 30, 1897. Helen Hill, born February 3, 1851, is liv- ing in Easton, Pennsylvania. James, born May 7, 1854, in Hamilton, Canada, died August 13, 1864. Jessie Howell, the next, was born April 6, 1856, in Hamilton. Sarah, born in Hamilton, December 2, 1858, was married, October 18, 1887, to Charles K. Swift, and they had two children, Douglas Pollock, who died at the age of nine months, and Clement Kinnersley, who was born in Norwood, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, July 20, 1890. Casimir Guillot, born February 22, 1861, was married March 17, 1892, to Mary J. Davis.
Mr. Pollock died November 29, 1867, and his wife, long surviving him, passed away February 9, 1902. He was an ardent Republican in poli- tics, was an upright honorable business man, a public-spirited and progressive citizen, a faitliful friend, and a devoted husband and father. More- over, his life was actuated by the highest prin-
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ciples, and was permeated by his Christian faith. In early life he united with the First Presbyterian church of Easton, and afterward became one of the organizers of the Dutch Reformed church, in which he took a most active and helpful part, con- tributing generously of his means to the cause, and putting forth every effort in his power to ex- tend the influence of the church. The Rev. James K. Mason Knox, pastor of the American Re- formed church, and later president of Lafayette College, said of Mr. Pollock : "James Pollock was a man loving and loveable, a worthy son of a Godly father. Orthodox as he could not help being without forswearing his descent, he saw the lineaments of his Master in his fellow men and his heart went out toward all mankind. I remem- ber him to-day for the help he gave me in my work, help given with the earnestness and delicacy which are the fruits of the spirit of God."
ROBERT P. RADER, the superintendent of the Lehigh Water Company, at Easton, is a de- scendant of Henry Rader, who in colonial days lived in the vicinity of Bath, Pennsylvania, and had landed possessions which were quite exten- sive. He was thereby classed among the wealthy men of his day. His son, John George Rader, was born July 27, 1757, and became an officer in the American army in the war of the Revolution. He lived upon a farm formerly owned by his father, and he was married three times. He first wedded Maria Schick, with whom he lived twen- ty-four years, and after her death he married her sister. His third wife was a Mrs. Patterson, a widow. John George Rader died April 24, 1837. His son, John, who married a Miss Flick, was the great-grandfather of Robert P. Rader.
Paul Rader, the grandfather, was born in Upper Nazareth township, Northampton county, September 5, 1801, and throughout his business career followed farming. He resided for a time in Forks township, Northampton county, and from 1831 until 1835 was a resident of Lehigh county. His political support was given the Democracy until 1860, when he joined the ranks of the new Republican party. He belonged to the Reformed church. In 1820 he married Mary
Ann Nolf, who was born January 24, 1795, and their children were: Christianne, born November 26, 1822 ; Peter, August 7, 1824; Mary Ann, April 14, 1826; Jackson, January 23, 1828; Angeline, June 7, 1832; Samuel, March 21, 1835 ; Matilda, June 4, 1837 ; Anna Eliza, August 17, 1839 ; and Jacob, March 20, 1821. Paul Rader died Feb- ruary 24, 1877, and his wife March 3, 1874 ..
Jacob Rader, father of Robert P. Rader, was born March 20, 1821, and when fourteen years of age left his father's farm to become a clerk in a grocery store in Easton. Six months later he en- tered the dry-goods store of C. & R. Innis, and in August, 1843, purchased the stock of his em- ployer, and has since become one of the leading merchants of the city. He also assisted in organ- izing the Easton Gas Company, was a director of the First National Bank, and became one of the organizers of the Lehigh Water Company, of which he has now been the treasurer for many years. His activities have been of marked benefit to the city in promoting its material progress and substantial improvement. For thirty-six years he has been superintendent of the Sunday-school con- ducted in connection with the Reformed church, and is very active in the different departments of church work. A prominent Mason, he has been a member of the consistory since 1865, and his political support is given the Republican party. He was married, July 25, 1844, to Mary Ann Steele, born July 4, 1823, a daughter of John Steele. Her death occurred December 21, 1898. In the family were ten children. Charles Innes, born October 19, 1845, was a Union soldier in the Civil war, and is now superintendent and gen- eral manager of a gold mining company in Utah ; he was married, November 13, 1876, to Susan M. . Sevan. Thomas Jacob, born August 28, 1847, and now a salesman in Brooklyn, New York, was mar- ried October 28, 1875, to Sarah E. Neley. Mary Elizabeth, born May 17, 1850, became the wife of M. S. Hulick, October 15, 1873. Robert Paul, born February 2, 1852, is mentioned later in this record. Frank Steele, born November 19, 1853, died November 25, 1854. Harry James, born June 3, 1855, was married June 14, 1876, to Ida Arnold, and died September 27,
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1897. Lewis John, born September 15, 1857, is manager of his father's store. Ella Jennie, born March 23, 1859. Jennie, born December 15, 1860, was married, October 2, 1879, to David W. Thomas, and died January 25, 1890. Carrie May, born June 18, 1862, was married November 18, 1892, to William C. Merritt.
Robert P. Rader, the third son of Jacob Rader, of Easton, pursued his studies in public and private schools of Easton, and at Nazareth Hall, Pennsylvania. He entered upon his business ca- reer as an apprentice to the machinist's trade, and after three years began working as a journeyman. Four years were thus passed, and in 1875 he be- came engineer in the employ of the Lehigh Water company, with which he has now been associated for twenty-eight years. In 1882 he was made superintendent of the plant, and has since served in that capacity.
Mr. Rader is a Republican in politics, and socially, is connected with the Heptasophs. In 1872 he married Miss Minnie Reifenwarth, of Stewartsville, Pennsylvania, and to them was born a son, H. Eugene, April 27, 1875. He was edu- cated in the public schools and in Lerches prepar- atory school ,and is now engineer for the Lehigh Water Company. He has two children, Ethel E. and Robert A. Mrs. Rader died April 20, 1894, and Mr. Rader afterward married Miss J. Maud Stocker, of Martins Creek, Pennsylvania, a daughter of J. Mackey Stocker. There are two children of this marriage: Edward M., born March 4, 1897; and Louisa Steele, born June 5, 1903.
SAMUEL RADER, a prominent merchant of Easton, Pennsylvania, belongs to a family which has been for at least two centuries resident in Northampton county, where we first find it rep- resented by Henry Rader, who was, for a colonist of that period, a rich man, being a large land- owner, residing in the vicinity of Bath.
John George Rader, son of Henry Rader, mentioned above, lived on a farm which had formed part of the estate of his father. He took an active part in the Revolutionary struggle, be- ing one of the officers of the continental army.
He was thrice married, his first wife being Maria Shick, with whom he lived twenty-four years, and whose sister became his second wife. On being left, for the second time, a widower, Mr. Rader married the widow of Mr. Patterson. He died April 24, 1837, leaving a son, John, who mar- ried a Flick.
Paul Rader, son of John and (Flick) Rader, was born September 5, 1801, in Upper Nazareth township, Northampton county, and afterward settled in Forks township. From 1831 to 1835 he made his home in Lehigh county, his occupation there and elsewhere being always that of a farmer. He was until 1860 a staunch member of the Democratic party, but in that year joined the ranks of the Republicans, to whose cause he adhered for the remainder of his life. He mar- ried, in 1820, Mary Ann Nolf, who was born Jan- uary 24, 1795, and their children were: Jacob, born March 20, 1821 ; Christianne, born Novem- ber 26, 1822; Peter, born August 7, 1824; Mary Ann, born April 14, 1826; Jackson, born January 3, 1828; Angeline, born June 7, 1832; Samuel, mentioned at length hereinafter; Matilda, born June 4, 1837; and Anna Eliza, born August 17, 1839. Mr. and Mrs. Rader, who were regarded with respect and affection by all who knew them, were members of the Reformed church. The death of Mrs. Rader took place March 3, 1874, and her husband survived her three years, pass- ing away February 24, 1877, in the seventy-sixth year of his age.
Samuel Rader, son of Paul and Mary Ann (Nolf) Rader, was born March 21, 1835, in Forks township, Northampton county, where during his early boyhood he attended the common schools. At the age of nine years he came to Easton, where he was employed in the store of his brother Jacob. Here he remained, displaying in the discharge of his duties such industry, ability and faithfulness, that he steadily advanced step by step until he became a partner in the house, which was thence- forth known as Rader & Brother. For many years the firm has owed not a little of its prosperity to the energy and assiduity of the junior partner. Among the most noteworthy reminiscences of Mr. Rader's early manhood is a military experi-
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ence which he gained while serving in the army during the Civil war. Politically, he is a Repub- lican, adhering firmly to the principles advocated by that party. He is a member of the Reformed church.
Mr. Rader married, in 1859, Emma S., daugh- ter of George S. and Phoebe Maria Miller of Bethlehem. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Rader, five of whom died in childhood. Those surviving are: George Faul, who is a mechanic, married Amanda V. Weaver, and has one child, Marie Elizabeth; Kate Miller, who is the wife of Harry H. Haines ; and Edith M., who is the wife of Nicholas J. Hager. Mrs. Rader, the mother of the family, died December 21, 1884, her loss being a bereavement not only to her relatives and near friends, but to all who had ever felt the influence of her attractive personality.
ABRAHAM CARGILL PRINCE, a repre- sentative of various business interests in Beth- lehem, was born in Brooklyn, New York, Sep- tember 8, 1844. The family was established in America by John Prince, Jr., whose father, Rev. John Prince, was rector of East Shefford, Berk- shire, England.
The Prince family had its origin in that por- tion of England bordering on Wales, and the an- cestry can be traced back to remote antiquity. The coat of arms, however, was not granted until the year 1584, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Shrewsbury and Abby Foregate, in Shropshire, were then the seat of the family. From that por- tion of England came John Prince, Jr., in 1633. He was born in 1610, and was a student of Ox- ford University, under the tuition of his maternal grandfather, Rev. Dr. Toldebury. He was ex- pected to succeed his father as rector of East Shefford church, but his ideas of church govern- ment conflicted with those of Archbishop Laud, and because of the displeasure and persecution which he thus incurred he fled to America. He is first mentioned in the records of Cambridge, Massachusetts, as an owner of two lots of land in 1634, and a memorandum to this record says "removed to Hull." He was made a freeman March 4, 1635, and went to Hingham, Massa-
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