USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. I > Part 51
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township. To Samuel and Mary Odenwelder the following named children were born: Diana, who died in infancy; John, who died at the age of eighteen years; Hiram, who died at the age of sixteen years ; Levi, who died at the age of four- teen years; Philip, who died in infancy; Cath- erine, who was the wife of Isaac Frankenfelder, and died in June, 1897; Owen, who was born September 2, 1844, and is living in Bethlehem township ; Samuel R., who was born January 23, 1847; Mary C., who was born January 20, 1849, and is the wife of Jeremiah Kem, of Carbon county ; and Sarah Ann, who was born July 20, 1851, and is the wife of Charles A. Kist.
Samuel R. Odenwelder spent his boyhood days at farm labor upon the old homestead, and in attendance at the district schools. At the age of twenty-one he began teaching, and followed that profession for a number of years. He then learned the carpenter's trade, which he made a source of livelihood for several years, after which he resumed educational work, being for eleven years connected with the schools of Nazareth, which made rapid and satisfactory progress under his guidance. He has since practically lived re- 'ired, but is still a director in the Second National Bank, of which he was one of the organizers. He is also a stockholder in the Nazareth National Bank. In matters pertaining to the progress and welfare of the town he is deeply interested, and his efforts have been far-reaching and beneficial along lines of public improvement. He served on the borough council for one term and was also a school director for twelve consecutive terms. His political allegiance is given the Democracy, and he is a member of the Moravian church.
Mr. Odenwelder was married, September 12, 1872, to Miss Louisa Kreidler, of Nazareth, a daughter of Edward and Mary ( Boyer) Kreidler.
DR. DAVID H. KELLER, chief burgess of the borough of Bangor, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, where he has also gained an en- viable reputation as an eminent and successful physician and surgeon, is a lineal descendant of Joseph Keller, who was born in Berano, near the river Rhine, Germany, March 15, 1719, emigrated
to the United States October 31, 1737, and five years later married E. Mary Drumm. They erected a very small house, which would be con- sidered a mere hut in these days, in the section now known as Delabole, Plainfield township, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, and here they labored incessantly for six days in the week, but they remembered the instruction of the Bible and rested on the seventh day. They were the parents of the following named children: Christian, born September 10, 1743; Anna M., born March 15, 1745 ; Henry A., born January I, 1747; Simon, born October 29, 1749; Joseph, born January 15, 1751 ; John J. (1) born July 10, 1754; John J. (2) born March 22, 1757; and Philip, born March 29, 1763. John J. Keller (I) was captured by the Indians, and nothing was ever known of his whereabouts, so when the next child was born he as named for the missing son.
On September 15, 1757, while Joseph Keller, the emigrant ancestor, was at work in the field attending to his crops, the Indians appeared and scalped the eldest son, Christian Keller, captured the mother and John J., the remainder of the children escaping in some miraculous manner. The captives were carried to Montreal, where they were in captivity for three years, and during this period Mrs. Keller was bartered to some French officers to act as a servant, but when the English gained the ascendancy over the French the prisoners were liberated, October 20, 1760, among them being Mrs. Keller and her son. Joseph Keller, fourth son of Joseph and Mary E. Keller, took an active part in the Revolutionary war. Joseph Keller, father of these children, died September 17, 1800, aged eighty-one years, six months and two days ; his wife, Mary E. Keller, died April 22, 1802, aged eighty-three years, seven months and seven days.
Philip Keller, son of Joseph and Mary E. Keller, was born three years after the return of his mother from captivity, and was the youngest of the family of eight children. He received an excellent training during his early years, and the precepts instilled into him by his parents bore good fruit throughout the many years of his
D. H. P Telen M. N
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long and useful life. He married Sarah Miller, daughter of Henry Miller, and three children were the issue of this union-John H., born De- cember 24, 1786; Jacob, born in 1788; and Adam, born October 27, 1790, died in early life. The mother of these children died in the year 1804, aged forty-one years. Philip Keller then married Mrs. Susanna Engler, and they were the parents of one child, Sarah, born October 5. 1807, died March 17, 1856. Mr. Keller was a prosperous farmer and one of the influential citi- zens of the community. In 1826 he purchased a farm along the banks of the Delaware river, to which locality he subsequently removed, and there spent the remainder of his life. His death occurred October 2, 1842, and his second wife, Susanna (Engler) Keller, died December 4, 1859.
John H. Keller, son of Philip and Sarah Kel- ler, was born December 24, 1786, attended the common schools of the neighborhood, and sub- sequently became a farmer and miller by occu- pation. He accumulated a large amount of prop- erty both in his native township and in Crawford county, Ohio, whither he removed in the spring of 1856, accompanied by his family, which con- sisted of his wife, Mary (Engler) Keller, born July 4, 1797, a stepdaughter of his father, and eight children, as follows: Philip, born January 6, 1818; Anna, born March 31, 1820; Amos, born November 10, 1822; Eli, born December 20, 1825 ; Joel F., born March 31, 1829; Aaron H., born November 16, 1832; Joseph A., born March 27, 1836, and Susanna, born June 12, 1840. Mr. Keller and three of his sons, Amos, Aaron H. and Joseph A., enlisted their services in the Union army during the rebellion and during that terrible struggle they displayed the utmost bravery and heroism. Mr. Keller was promoted to the rank of captain and later to that of colonel, and Amos and Aaron H. lost their lives in the defense of their country at the battle of Stone River. Mr. Keller was an active member of and filled many important offices in the Reformed church. He also served in the capacity of justice of the peace and notary public. His death occurred at his home in Crawford county, Ohio, September
10, 1867, and his wife passed away November 18, 1884.
Eli Keller, son of John H. and Mary Keller, was born near Plainfield, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, and up to the year 1843 was a student in the schools of Easton, Pennsylvania. In 1851 he entered the Mercersburg Academy, two years later became a student at Franklin College, but subsequently returned to the former named institution, where he pursued the study of theology. In 1856 he was licensed as a minister and ordained in June, 1856, in the Re- formed church, and received his degree of Doctor of Divinity from Ursinus College in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, in 1886. In 1874 the Rev. Eli Keller located at Zionsville, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, where he resided up to 1901, and for a number of years was the beloved and efficient pastor of the Zionsville Re- formed church, but at the present time (1903) is not engaged in any active pastorate, but occa- sionally acts as supply for vacant pulpits. In 1857 he was united in marriage to Emma J. Hof- feditz, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Hoffeditz, of Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Their children, all of whom were born in Ohio, are as follows: Sam- uel, born May 8, 1858; Amelia, born July 29, 1859; David H., born June 9, 1861 ; Rev. Fred- erick, born January 27, 1863 ; John C., born De- cember 29, 1864 ; Mary J., born August 19, 1866; William A., born May 12, 1868, deceased; and Idalette, born August 2, 1870, dcceased.
Dr. David H. Keller, son of the Rev. Eli and Emma J. Keller, was born in Bucyrus, Crawford county, Ohio, June 9, 1861, and resided there until 1872, when his parents removed to their na- tive state of Pennsylvania. For a number of years he attended the Bellevue High School, and in 1878 entered Perkiomen Seminary, and after remaining there a short period of time spent one year at Ursinus College. The following two years he pursued a course of medical reading in the office of Dr. A. B. Greasmer, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, after which he took a course in dentistry and medicine at the University of Penn- sylvania. From there hc went to Columbus,
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Ohio, and continued his medical studies in the office of Dr. William D. Hamilton, Professor of Surgery in Columbus Medical College, and this college he subsequently attended and graduated from with high honors in the class of 1882. In the early spring of that year he located in Ban- gor, Pennsylvania, and began practice here under great difficulties, but, being possessed of the blood and spirit of his sturdy ancestors, he soon over- came all obstacles, and now has one of the largest practices in the country, and is repeatedly called into consultation by physicians in Easton and other places in cases of a serious nature. For a number of years he lived in a small building on North Main street, but now resides in a hand- some brick structure on Market street. In addi- tion to his extensive private practice Dr. Keller acts in the capacity of surgeon for the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad, and is phy- sician for the following named companies : the Bangor Union Slate, the North Bangor Slate, Bangor Excelsior, Bangor Southern, Bangor Su- pericr, American Bangor, Bangor Royal, New York Slate Quarries and Real Bangor Quarry. He was a member of the board of health for two years, and consulting physician for the county almshouse.
Dr. Keller is a stockholder and director in the First National Bank, and president of the North Bangor Slate Company. He has been a lifelong adherent of the principles of the Republican party, giving a loyal and strong support to the candidates and measures advocated by them. He served for nine years as a member of the school board, and March 3, 1903, was elected for a term of three years to the office of burgess of Bangor by a handsome majority. No better evidence of the esteem in which he is held by his fellow-citi- zens and his great popularity need be shown than the fact that he enjoys the distinction of being the only Republican elected to the office of bur- gess in Bangor in the past ten years. He is ac- tive in lodge and society work, and is a member of the following orders : Bangor Lodge, No. 565, Free and Accepted Masons : Bangor Chapter, No. 3II, R. A. M .; Hugh de Payens Commandery No. 19, K. T., of Easton; Caldwell Consistory, .
32d degree; Lulu Temple, A. A. O. M. S., of Philadelphia ; Prosperity Lodge, No. 661, I. (). O. F., and the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America : Knights of Pythias ; Knights of Malta : Royal Arcanum ; and the Northampton County. Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania State and American Medical Societies.
December 21, 1883. Dr. Keller married Katie S. Hersh, only daughter of John G. Hersh, of East Greenville, Pennsylvania. To this union have been born three children-Florence Ger- trude, born July 4, 1884, a student at Washington Seminary, D. C .; Irene Adele, born November 25. 1888, at Swarthmore College, Philadelphia ; and David H., Jr., born May 25, 1895. Dr. Kel- ler is a prominent member of St. John's Re- formed church, in which his wife and daughter also hold membership.
HERMAN FREDERICK ZIEGLER, a prominent citizen of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, comes of sturdy German stock, and in his success- ful career has justified the hopes that drew his forefathers from the fatherland.
George Ziegler, father of Herman, was born in Richtenhauser, Bavaria, Germany, March 19, 1822. When he was twenty-nine years old, and after giving six years of his youth to service in the German army, George Ziegler came to Amer- ica. With his bride he took passage on the ship "South Haven," being thirty-three days on the Atlantic, and landing in New York August 8, 1851. He crossed into New Jersey, and for a few weeks turned his hand to anything that offered livelihood. But he had been a carpenter in the old country, and he wished to locate in some favorable place and establish himself in his: trade. In October he took up his home in Naz- areth, and engaged in carpentery and masonry. He made a specialty of the laying of brick pave- ments, and followed this line of work until his- retirement from business. His wife was Jennetta Kuhn, whom he married in Holland, May 4, 1851. Six children were born of this union. The four surviving members of the family are : I. Gustave, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; 2. Max, a wheel- wright, of Nazareth; 3. Herman F., whose
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career receives more than passing mention ; 4. Mary, widow of Jeremiah Abel. Mrs. Jennetta Ziegler died June 20, 1880.
Herman Frederick, son of George and Jen- netta Ziegler, was born in Nazareth, December 18, 1857. He was educated in the Moravan school of Nazareth. He served an apprentice- ship of three years at the carriage painter's trade, and worked nine years as a journeyman. He then went to Philadelphia, where he remained for three years, in 1892 becoming proprietor of a restaurant. In 1903 he engaged in the wholesale liquor business in Bethlehem. He served in the borough council of Nazareth in 1901, and is a director of the Second National Bank of Naz- areth, and of the Nonpariel Brick and Clay Com- pany. He is a member of Pilgrim Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Allentown ; of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Senior O. U. A. M., and of the Knights of the Golden Eagle. He is a mem- ber of the Moravian church, and a Democrat. For twenty-five years he has had local celebrity as a trombone player.
He married, February 5, 1890, Sarah Ellen, daughter of William Smith, of Bushkill town- ship. Two daughters, Annie Jeanette, and Carrie Louise, were born of this marriage.
WILLIAM L. SHIMER. Among the self- made men of Northampton county, William L. Shimer occupies a leading position. He is a grandson of John Shimer, a resident of Lehigh county, where his son, Augustus E., was born, in Upper Milford township, May 17, 1810.
Augustus E. Shimer was reared on a farm, and was all his life engaged in agricultural pur- suits, moving to Northampton county a few years after his marriage. He was in all respects a worthy man and a good citizen. Politically, he was for many years an old line Whig, and later became a Republican. He was an active member of the Lutheran church, in which he served as elder. He married Elizabeth, born near Wag- nersville, Northampton county, daughter of Abraham and Margaret (Liden) Shimer, and their children were: William L., mentioned at length hereinafter; Susanna Matilda; Abram
S., and Nathan G. The death of Mrs. Shimer occurred November 28, 1879, and that of Mr. Shimer on March 17, 1881. Both possessed the sincere respect and affection of all who knew them.
William L. Shimer, son of Augustus E. and Elizabeth (Shimer) Shimer, was born October 8, 1834, in Upper Milford township, Lehigh county, and received on the home farm a training which prepared him to become the skilled and successful agriculturist who has for so many years been a leader among the farmers of the county. It is in Northampton county that Mr. Shimer has passed almost his entire life, his parents having moved thither when their chil- dren were young. In this county he now owns five large farms, and ranks among the wealthy farmers of this vicinity. He is an able financier, and has held the office of director in several banks. Mr. Shimer, although not active in the political arena, is a public-spirited citizen in the truest sense of the term, always seeking to pro- mote by every means in his power the best inter- ests of the community in which he resides. His political principles are those of a staunch Repub- lican. He was formerly connected with the Lu- theran church, in which he held the office of trus- tee, and is now a member of the Moravian church.
Mr. Shimer married, December 4, 1856, Annie Elizabeth, born January 24, 1833, in Lower Naz- areth township, daughter of Jacob and Anna Maria (Hummel) Heller. Mr. and Mrs. Shimer were the parents of two sons : Oscar H., who was born December 8, 1857, and died at the age of two years ; and Albert L., who was born February 27, 1859, and is now a farmer. He married Edna. daughter of Richard Knecht, and they have one son, William K., who was born May 31, 1882, was educated in Nazareth, Easton and Philadei- phia, and now holds a position in the First Na- tional Bank of Easton.
Mr. Shimer and the entire family were deeply afflicted by the death of Mrs. Shimer, who passed away May 7, 1900, mourned not only by her hus- band and children but by the many friends who felt her removal from their circle as a great per-
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sonal loss to each one. Mr. Shimer some time since retired from the active duties of his calling, but has not in any sense closed his career of use- fulness and benevolence as a neighbor and a citi- zen. On the contrary, his release from agricul- tural labors has simply left him more at leisure to indulge his keen interest in everything pertain- ing to the welfare of his townsmen, and his ener- getic and well-directed efforts for its advance- ment have been in consequence redoubled.
JACOB A. FRAUNFELDER, M. D., known to the people of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, as a skilled physician and surgeon, comes of German ancestry, and the professional success which he has attained affords an instance of the excellent use that German pluck has made of American opportunities. Jacob, grandfather of Dr. Fraun- felder, was a resident of Easton. He there mar- ried one of his own countrywomen, and of the children that were born one was named Aaron. Aaron Fraunfelder, son of Jacob, was born in Easton. He received such education as the public schools afforded at the time. He was engaged in various occupations, being chiefly concerned with milling. He was an esteemed citizen, and an elder in the Reformed church. He voted with the Democratic party. He married Sabina, a daughter of Adam Heiner, of Plainfield township, and of the union were born the following chil- dren : I. Mary Alice, who became the wife of Val- entine Uhler. 2. Amanda, who married Harry R. Uhler ; 3. Margaret, who died at the age of three years ; 4. Anna, who became the wife of James Cole, and died in 1902 ; Jacob A., of whom a more detailed account follows. Aaron Fraunfelder died in 1899.
Jacob A., fifth child and only son of Aaron and Sabina (Heiner) Fraunfelder, was born in Easton, October 17, 1872. He was educated in the schools of his native town, and showed such aptitude in scholarship that a professional career was determined upon for him. He attended the College of Pharmacy in Philadelphia, from which institution he was graduated in 1891. He after- ward became a student of medicine in the office of Dr. Price, of Philadelphia. He began the prac-
tice of his profession in Nazareth in 1896, and has met with a gratifying measure of success. He is a member of the Northampton and Pennsylvania Medical Societies, and is a member of Whitfield Lodge, No. 622, F. and A. M., as well as of the I. O. O. F., and of the Knights of the Golden Eagle. He is a member of the Reformed church. Like his father, his political sympathies are with the Democratic party.
He married, October 17, 1901, Anna S., daughter of John W. Trumbower, of Nazareth. They have one child, Anna.
HENRY KRAEMER. Prominent among the successful business men of the borough of Nazareth, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, is Henry Kraemer, proprietor of the Nazareth Ho- siery Mills, one of the leading industries of the town, who by industry, enterprise, capability and determination has attained a prominent position in commercial circles, and whose name is synony- mous with honorable transactions and strict integ- rity. He was born in Westphalia, Germany, March 14, 1859, a son of Karl and Caroline (Ad- derhold) Kraemer. Karl Kraemer died when his son, Henry Kraemer, was only eleven years of age.
The educational advantages enjoyed by Henry Kraemer were obtained in the high school of his native town, and his first business experience was gained in the employ of an export house in Ger- many, where he remained for three years. In 1878 he came to America, and being of the opin- ion that the western portion of the United States was the best locality for business he accordingly settled there. After being a resident there for six months without being able to secure suitable employment, he returned east and located in Reading, Pennsylvania, where for seven years he was employed by the firm of Louis Kraemer & Co., and during this period he gained a vast amount of practical experience which thoroughly qualified him for the active management of busi- ness. In 1887 he removed to Nazareth, Pennsyl- vania, and established a mill for the manufacture of full-fashioned hose for ladies and ribbed hose for children. This industry, which conducts
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business under the style of the Nazareth Hosiery Mills; was a very small enterprise in the begin- ning, but gradually the trade increased in volume and importance, and at the present time ( 1903) gives employment to two hundred and fifty hands, the monthly pay-roll averaging seventy-five hun- dred dollars. In October, 1902, the building was almost totally destroyed by fire, but Mr. Kraemer immediately rebuilt two three-story structures, thirty-six by one hundred and forty feet, with a dye-house in the rear of the premises, and the plant is completely equipped with the most ap- proved and modern machinery. It has a capacity for manufacturing a thousand dozen hose per day, and these, being of the highest quality and work- manship, find a ready market in all parts of the United States.
From time to time Mr. Kraemer became con- nected with various financial and commercial en- terprises, in the conduct of which he came to be recognized as a careful and sagacious associate. He is a director of the Nazareth National Bank, and also a director of the Nazareth Water Com- pany. He is a trustee of the Reformed church of Nazareth, in which he has held membership for many years. He is a Democrat in politics, has served four terms on the school board, and has acted in the capacity of treasurer of the same for 'ten years. He is now serving an appointment as prison inspector of Northampton county. Mr. Kraemer is an honored member of Whitefield Lodge, No. 622, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons.
In 1884 Mr. Kraemer married Annie Mack, of Berks county, Pennsylvania, a descendant of an honored German ancestry. Their children were: Louisa, Carl, Emma, William, and Elsie, who died December 12, 1902, at the age of four years. Mrs. Kraemer passed away April 22, 1903, and her demise was sincerely mourned not only by her family but by her many friends and acquaintances.
ROBERT L. SIEGFRIED. Prominent among the representative citizens and successful business men of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, is Rob- ert L. Siegfried, who was born in Bushkill town- ship, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, De-
cember 18, 1872, a son of Joseph W. and Maria (Saylor) Siegfried.
The Siegfried family, which is of German ex- traction, claim as their emigrant ancestor Joseph Siegfried, a brother of the famous Revolutionary hero, Colonel John Siegfried. Joseph Siegfried (I) and his wife, Anna Maria (Romig) Sieg- fried, a native of Northampton (now Lehigh) county, Pennsylvania, reared a family of chil- dren among whom was a son Isaac Siegfried.
Isaac Siegfried (2), great-grandfather of Robert L. Siegfried, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, September 14, 1763. By following his trade of millwright he was forced to change his place of residence to various portions of the state, but he finally settled upon a farm near the town of Nazareth which he operated extensively, in addition to pursuing his trade of millwright. He was united in marriage to Anna Maria Hoch- stresser, who was born April 19, 1771, the cere- mony taking place in Schoharie county, New York. Both were members of the Dutch Re- formed church, and their deaths occurred, respec- tively, November 6, 1833, and December 2, 1831. Their children were Joshua, Paul, Joseph, Sam- uel, Elizabeth Catherine, Anna Maria, and Solo- mon Siegfried.
Paul'Siegfried (3), grandfather of Robert L. Siegfried, was a native of Northampton county, Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred there June 24, 1793. He was a loyal and public-spir- ited citizen, and during the war of 1812 betweeen America and Great Britain he enlisted his services as a drummer boy, and in that capacity served throughout the entire conflict. He married and reared a family of children, among whom was a son, Joseph W. Siegfried.
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