USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. I > Part 56
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MILTON A. WHETSTONE, who for eleven years was identified with public instruc- tion in the Lehigh valley, and is now a represen- tative of financial interests in Lansford, being the cashier of the Citizens' National Bank, is a native of Tamaqua, Schuylkill county. Pennsylvania, his birth having there occurred March 15, 1873.
His parents were A. K. and Rebecca (An- drews) Whetstone, also natives of Schuylkill county. In early life it was the father's intention to enter the ministry, but failing health obliged him to abandon that plan, and, thinking that he might be benefited by outdoor life and labor, he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and became a practical farmer of Schuylkill county. In his younger years he also engaged in teaching school. He prospered in his undertakings, and was a man of marked intelligence who exercised considerable influence in public affairs having direct effect upon the welfare and upbuilding of his community. He held several township offices in a most creditable manner. His children were five in number, two sons and three daughters, and
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two of the daughters are now competent teachers.
Milton A. Whetstone was reared and edu- cated in his native town, attended the various grades of the public schools, and finally gradu- ating with high honors from the Keystone State Normal School, in 1896. His natural qualifica- tions well fitted him for the profession of teach- ing, and he turned his attention to that calling, which he followed with marked ability and suc- cess for eleven years, spending four years of that time in the schools of Schuylkill county, while for four years he was a principal of the schools of Lansford, continuing to fill that position up to the time when he took charge of the Citizens' Na- cional Bank as its cashier. This institution was chartered December 3, 1903, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars. Its president is T. J. Neus- baum, its vice-president Andrew Breslin, and there is a board of trustees of nine members. Since Mr. Whetstone took charge of the bank its patronage has constantly increased, for he is a most popular cashier, and his business methods have largely increased the revenues of the insti- tution.
In 1898 he was united in marriage to Miss Estella Zeigenfuse, of Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, and to them were born two children, Russel H., and one that died in infancy.
EUGENE W. BAER is one of the represen- tauve business men of Lehighton whose intense and well directed activity has made him an im- portant factor in the business life of that place. He is now connected with a productive industry that has been of marked value in promoting the commercial activity of the community, being one of the proprietors of the silk mill at Lehighton. His birth occurred in Paterson, New Jersey, on the 9th of September, 1868. His parents, Jacob F. and Louise (Blattner) Baer, were natives of Switzerland.
The father, born November 27, 1836, acquired his education in his native country, and learned the silk-maker's trade under the direction of his father, John F. Baer. In 1856, when twenty years of age. he crossed the Atlantic to the new world, hoping to find in its rapidly developing
business conditions good opportunities for ad- vancement and the achievement of success. He was first engaged in the silk business in New York city, but soon afterward removed to Pater- son, New Jersey, where he has since made his home. He there began business as a silk manu- facturer on a small scale, having at first but a half dozen ribbon looms. Scon, however, he secured a liberal patronage that justified him in enlarging his plant and increasing his output, and he enjoyed a prosperous career as a manufacturer until 1873, when, together with many other bus- iness men throughout the country, he suffered financial losses owing to the great money panic of that year, and was obliged to discontinue his operations. For a period of several years there- after he acted as superintendent of large silk mills. In 1888 he resumed business on his own account, establishing the Helvetia Silk Mills, which he soon developed into a flourishing con- cern. This mill to-day is one of the leading in- dustrial enterprises of Paterson, giving employ- ment to six hundred operatives. Jacob F. Baer has always been at its head, and its success is essentially due to his untiring energy, executive ability and untarnished reputation for fairness and reliability as a manufacturer. In his deal- ings with his employes he has always been known for his thoughtful liberality and consideration, and as a citizen he is regarded as one of the most progressive and public-spirited men of Paterson. A mild disposition, a genial character and pleasing deportment have gained for him the esteem and friendship of the great majority of those with whom he has come in contact both commercially and socially. He was married in 1858, and his living children are: Frederick A. and Ralph, who are associated with him in the conduct of the Helvetia Silk Mills : Eugene W., who is a partner with his father in the Lehighton Silk Mills : William A., who is in charge of the weaving department in the Lehighton Mills ; Louis C .; Anna, the wife of Charles de Ponthier, of New York city; and Rose I., the wife of Adolph Webber.
Eugene W. Baer acquired his education in the public schools of Paterson, New Jersey, and
Eugene Nr. Baur
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at the age of fourteen years he entered upon his business career as an employe of J. Walder, a manufacturer of silk mill supplies, with whom he remained for two years. Subsequently he spent one year in the service of Ulrich & Company, in the same line of business, after which he entered upon an apprenticeship of three and a half years with the Eastwood Company, builders of textile machinery. From 1888 until 1896 he was in the employ of his father in the Helvetia Mills in Pat- erson. During these years he had acquired a phenomenal practical experience in all the various departments of silk manufacturing. He was cap- able not only of carrying on all the processes of manufacture, but he was so skillful a machinist and of such inventive turn of mind that he was able to make all necessary machinery, as well as the tools and machines for its making. To this ability was added a clear conception of new pro- cesses, and a thorough knowledge of the de- mands of the market. All this led to a laudable ambition to institute new ideas and devices, but the conservatism which marked the management of the mills proved an insuperable obstacle to his proposed innovations. Determined to seek out a field in which he would be unhampered and in which he could carry into effect his desires, he left the employ of his father, forined the firm of Eugene W. Baer & Co., and set up a silk-spinning manufactory at Riverside, a suburb of Paterson. In this undertaking his father afforded him the use of his credit, but this was the only fortuitous advantage enjoyed by the son, who assumed the entire burden of installing and conducting the new plant. His attendant success was entirely the fruit of his own well-considered, persistent effort, and extraordinary ability in all depart- ments of the enterprise, mechanical and manager- ial, and to him is due the entire credit of creating one of the most important industries of its kind in America, and placing himself in the front rank of American manufacturers. After he had firmly established the business and determined its im- mense importance in the manufacturing and com- mercial field, he admitted his father to partner- ship with himself. In 1898 the business and plant were removed to Lehighton, where commodious
buildings had been specially erected, and this is now the leading industry of the place, employing more than two hundred and fifty operatives.
Eugene W. Baer is also interested as a part- ner and second largest stockholder in the Helvetia Silk Mills, and is a member of the board of di- rectors. His business relations also extend to various financial interests in Lehighton. He was the organizer and one of the largest stockholders of the Citizens' National Bank, and is vice-presi- dent. Upon the foundation of thorough prepar- ation, unremitting effort and laudable ambition he has builded his success, and gained a reputa- tion as one of the most extensive and prominent manufacturers of Carbon county.
In December, 1889, occurred the marriage of Eugene W. Baer and Miss Cora B. Tice, a daugh- ter of David and Elizabeth Tice. To them have been born six children : Cora E., Genevieve L., Eugene W. and Rose L., twins ; Carlos A. and Margie E. All were born in Paterson, New Jer- sey, save Margie, who is a native of Lehighton.
D. A. L. DAVIS, who was formerly connected with the educational interests of Carbon county, is now the proprietor and editor of the Lansford Leader, one of the leading Republican papers of Carbon county. In the promotion and conserva- tion of advancement in all the normal lines of hu- man progress and civilization there is no factor which has exercised a more potent influence than the press, which is both the director and the mirror of public opinion. Pennsylvania has been signally favored in the character of its newspapers, which have been vitally enthusiastic and progressive, ever aiming to advance the interests of this favored section of the Union, to aid in laying fast and sure the foundations of an enlightened com- monwealth, to further the ends of justice, and to uphold the banner of the Keystone State. It is in this connection that Mr. Davis' activity in recent years has found favor with the local public of Lansford and the surrounding district.
Mr. Davis was born in Lansford, in June, 1865, and is descended in the fifth generation from a Davis who was a soldier of the English Army during the Revolutionary war. He was
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reared in Lansford, and his preliminary education, acquired in the public schools, was supplemented by study in Juniata College in 1881 and 1882. He completed a two years course, and then took up the study of stenography, mastering two systems of shorthand. In 1883 he entered the employ of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company in the capacity of engineer, serving in that way for about three years, when in 1885 he was crushed in a collision, the accident proving almost fatal. Mr. Davis was taken to Jefferson Hospital, where he eventually recovered, and in 1886 he took charge of the Lansford grammar school, in which posi- tion he remained for four terms to the entire sat- . isfaction of the public and to the school board. He was then principal of the East Weissport school for two and a half terms, and of the schools of the borough of Weissport for one term. In 1893 he tock charge of the Lansford Leader, which then had a paid up circulation of four hundred and ten, and which now has an aver- age circulation of sixteen hundred. In 1893 and 1894 he also owned a half interest in the Lehigh- ton Press. He now has a well equipped news- paper and job printing office, and is also prepared to do all kinds of book work. He has made his paper what its name indicates-a leader among the country journals of this part of the state, and the exponent of the best interests of the com- munity. Mr. Davis is a member of the Patrioti- Order of Sons of America, his membership there- with dating from 1882. He also belongs to the Elks, and the Royal Arcanum.
He was married in 1892 to Miss Susie Lutz, a daughter of Moses and Susan Lutz, of Tamaqua, . and they now have one son, John Davis, born in 1895.
JOHN C. EDWARDS, one of the pioneer settlers of Lansford, Pennsylvania, where for thirty years he was engaged in merchandising, is now living a retired life. He was born in North Wales, May 16, 1830, and in his early youth his parents removed to South Wales, where he was reared and educated and there engaged in min- ing, his father taking him to the mines when he was but six years of age. In 1851, when he had
attained his majority, he came to America with his mother and her children, namely: John C., Charles C., Harriet, deceased ; Lizzie, Jane and Joseph. The father, Charles Edwards, had emi- grated to the new world in 1848, and subsequently sent for his family to join him in the United States. Their home was established near Scran- ton, where they remained for only a short time, and then removed to Beaver Meadows, in Penn- sylvania, in 1852. Subsequently they become res- idents of Stockton, near Hazelton, Pennsylvania, where they remained for eight months and later they took up their abode at Jeddo, where the father died. His widow died at Lansford.
John C. Edwards removed to Tamaqua, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, where he en- gaged in mining, and later he located at Dan- ville, Pennsylvania, but after the death of his first wife he returned to the home of his parents in Jeddo. In 1862 he became a resident of Summit Hill, where he followed mining until 1870, when he removed to Lansford and engaged in mer- chandising. His wife's son, Albert J. Thomas, however, had practical charge of the store, while Mr. Edwards continued his operations in the mines. He was thus engaged for twelve years, but in 1882 retired permanently from the mines and gave his undivided attention to his mercantile interests, conducting his store with excellent success until 1900, when he sold out to his step- son, Albert J. Thomas, and retired from active life.
Mr. Edwards is a selfmade man who began at the bottom round of the ladder of life, and has steadily climbed upward. In his business under- takings he has prospered, and his record is such as any man might be proud to possess, because it has been characterized by unfaltering industry. He has never made obligations that he has not met, nor engagements that he has not fulfilled. He now owns the store room, one of the largest in Lansford, in which the business is still carried on, and he has in addition five houses which he rents. Mr. Edwards is a member of the Baptist church, in which he holds the office of deacon, and so- cially he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.
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While living in Danville, Pennsylvania, Mr. Edwards was united in marriage to Miss Martha Morgans, whose acquaintance he there formed. The wedding was celebrated in 1856, and Mrs. Edwards died at the birth of their only child, who also passed away. In 1858 Mr. Edwards wedded Mrs. Jane Thomas, nee Morgan. They became the parents of twelve children, but only three are now living : Charles A., a shoe merchant of Lans- ford ; Mrs. Harriet Jones ; and Mrs. Lizzie Hall. They also had nine grandchildren. March 20, 1897, Mr. Edwards was united to his third and present wife, who was Mrs. Ann Williams.
GEORGE L. WATSON, a retired merchant of broad business experience, whose labors have resulted in the acquirement of a handsome com- petence which he has judiciously invested in real estate, becoming the owner of much valuable property in Nesquehoning, was born in Blyth, Northumberland county, England, February 25, 1824.
When twenty-seven years of age, in 1851, he crossed the Atlantic to the new world, landing in New York, but soon afterward made his way to Pottsville, Pennsylvania, where he earned his first American dollar by work in the anthracite coal mines of that region. About 1853 he removed to Nesquehoning, and in 1856 he took up his abode at Tamaqua. Not being satisfied there, however, he returned to Nesquehoning, where he has since resided. He had emigrated to America with the firm intention of gaining a for- tune in the new world if it could be obtained through untiring and persistent effort, and, hav- ing already become familiar with the work of mining in his native country, he naturally sought a home in the coal mining region of the new world. He possessed, moreover, much natural mechanical ability, and displayed great skill in the use of all kinds of tools. He could work with equal ability at the blacksmith's, carpenter's, machinist's or tinsmith's trades, and his services were therefore of value to those by whom he was employed. It was about this time that the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company was building a double-action stationary engine which was to be
erected at the mouth of No. L slope. Mr. Wat- son, because of his trustworthiness and compe- tence was given charge of the engine, and had the distinction of hoisting the first carload of coal from that slope. He was retained in the position of engineer for a number of years, and later had charge of the pumping machinery at the mines. His life has indeed been a very busy and useful one. While not actively engaged in the work of the mines, he improved and utilized his time in his own shop, where he followed general repair- ing, being able to handle all kinds of tools and do every kind of repair work. In this way he added greatly to his income, yet he was not content with what he had accomplished in the financial world, and was ever alert to business opportunities. At length he noticed that there was a good opportun- ity for the establishment of a good store in Nes- quehoning, and after consulting his wife about the venture he entered into a partnership with a Mr. Seidles, under the firm name of Seidles & Watson, general merchants. In the course of a short time Mr. Seidles's health failed so that Mr. Watson purchased his interest and continued in the business under his own name until 1895, when he disposed of his store and retired from active commercial life. Whatever he had undertaken in former years he carried forward to successful completion, and industry and enterprise were recognized among his salient characteristics. He built his success upon the sure foundation of earnest and unremitting labor, and he deserves great credit for what he has achieved, his life record proving conclusively that prosperity may be attained without financial aid or assistance of influential friends at the outset of one's career. As his financial resources have increased he has made judicious investment in real estate, and is now the owner of twenty houses in Nesquehoning. also a hotel in the town, and three houses in Mauch Chunk.
July 14, 1846, Mr. Watson was united in mar- riage to Miss Grace Taylor, and she accompanied him on his voyage to the new world, and was ever a faithful companion and helpmate to him on life's journey until she was called to her final rest on September 2, 1894, when seventy-three
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years of age, her birth having occurred in 1821.
Mr. Watson had been in America but five years when on March 3, 1856, he declared his intention of becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States, and since that time he has been most loyal and true to his adopted country. He has always been a staunch Republican, and is the only surviving one of five who were organizers of the Republican party in Nesquehoning. He has never seen fit to change his political views, but has always given stalwart support to Republican principles, and in his duties of citizenship has ever been prompt and faithful. Socially he is con- nected with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and the Knights of Pythias, and in both of these has passed all the chairs. In early life he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and remained one of its zealous workers and ardent supporters until about sixty-five years of age. His leisure hours were largely devoted to the upbuilding of the church and the study of political questions. Through constant research and investigation he was made to change his views. He has been a wide reader and a deep thinker, and he never accepts an idea because it is presented by some one who seems to have authority upon the subject. On the contrary, Mr. Watson looks beyond the surface to the bedrock of fact, and now at the age of eighty years, after years of observation and experience, he confesses himself an ardent spiritualist, and not only stands ready to defend his belief but courts discussion upon the subject. He is surrounded by the best literature of the faith he professes, and makes good use of his books. He has a well equipped library containing many interesting volumes, with the contents of which he has made himself familiar. Mr. Watson still enjoys life at the age of four-score years and has the thorough con- fidence of his many friends, even though they differ from him in religion. He is respected by all who know him for his integrity of purpose and uprightness of character, and his intellectual powers are still strong and clear. As he ex- presses it. he "expects to live to the last minute," or in other words to keep in touch with the ac- tive affairs of life and their bearing upon the
physical, mental and moral nature of man. His has, indeed, been a useful and active career, and, while gaining success, the hope of which drew him to the new world, he has at the same time maintained an honorable course that has made him worthy of respect and esteem.
ALFRED KETTRA, who is engaged in the wholesale confectionery and bakery business at Summit Hill, has prospered by means of the thrift, industry and capable management which underlie all business success. He was born in Bloomingdale, Pennsylvania, February 13, 1861, and is a son of Abraham and Sarah ( Miller) Kettra, both of whom were natives of the Mahon- ing valley, in Carbon county, Pennsylvania. The father was a soldier of the Civil war, serving with Company A, Fourth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, which was attached to the Second Brigade of one of the divisions of the Army of the Potomac. He was with his regi- ment for nine months, in which time many of the most hotly contested engagements of the war oc- curred, and was then honorably discharged at the expiration of his term of service. He and his family are identified with the Methodist Episco- pal church. He had seven children, four of whom are living, namely: Mary, Hattie, Ellen and Alfred.
Alfred Kettra, the only son, spent the days of his boyhood and youth at Summit Hill and Lans- ford, and the public schools of those boroughs afforded him his educational privileges and pre- pared him for the practical duties of a business career. Like most of the boys reared in a min- ing district, his early life was spent in the break- ers, and later he went to the mines, following that pursuit until 1881, when he became identified with commercial interests as a salesman. He was thus employed for thirteen years, during which time he gained a comprehensive knowledge of mercantile methods, and also acquired through his industry and economy the capital which enabled him to engage in business on his own account. In 1894 he established a bakery at Summit Hill, and met with immediate success in that undertaking, so that in 1899 he enlarged the scope of his labors
John Str. Davies
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by engaging also in the wholesale confectionery trade, and to this dual commercial pursuit he now devotes his energies with excellent success.
In July, 1886, Mr. Kettra was united in mar- riage to Miss Ammas Bamford, who was born in Farryville, Pennsylvania, in 1859. To them were born ten children, of whom Harry, William, Alfred, Robert and Laura are living, and Beulah, Emily, Eva, Edward and Barnett are deceased.
While residing in Lansford, where he made his home for a number of years, Mr. Kettia served as a member of the school board, and also as auditor, and in the borough of Summit Hill he has been a member of the board of health, serving as its secretary. He is popular with his brethren of several fraternities, belonging to Tam- aqua Lodge, No. 238, F. and A. M., is a past noble grand of the Odd Fellows Lodge of Lans- ford; is past president of the Patriotic Order Sons of America ; past captain of the Sons of Veterans ; and a member and past president of the Pennsylvania Deutsche Gesellschaft. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been a member from boyhood. Indeed he is one of the charter members of the church in Lans- ford, and is now a trustee and secretary of the board. This church was organized as a class by Rev. O. D. Drake in 1877, and the present edi- fice, which was begun in 1889, was dedicated in July, 1890. The church was attached to Nesque- honing for several years, or until 1883, and in 1891 it became an independent charge. The char- ter members numbered thirty-five, and there is now a membership of one hundred and fifty. The mortgage on the church was burned September 27, 1903, and the church property is now valued at ten thousand dollars.
JOHN W. DAVIES, now deceased, was a well known and much respected coal operator of Lansford who for thirty years was an extensive coal contractor connected with the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, and while hundreds of men were in the employ of that company no man was more valuable because of clearness of per- ception and sound judgment in connection with the mining of anthracite coal.
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