USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. I > Part 64
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tributor to the support of that church and its ministry up to the time of his death. The fam- ily of Mr. and Mrs. Gulick consisted of the fol- lowing children: James, who was the originator and owner of the machine shop, the bus- iness now being conducted in Bangor and known as the S. Florey Manufacturing Company. James died during the sum- mer of 1904, buried in Elmyra; Sophia, men- tioned above as the wife of Philip La Barre; Phebe, who became the wife of the Rev. Philip Houck; Lizzie, wife of S. E. Delp, who was postmaster of Bangor for many years; Martha, wife of C. W. Miller. In 1882 Mr. La Barre and his children sustained an irreparable loss in the death of the wife and mother, whose many estimable qualities had greatly endeared her to a large circle of friends. She was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church up to the time of her death.
The death of Mr. La Barre, which occurred in 1888, at the comparatively early age of fifty- six, was mourned by the whole community, his labors in the development of the slate industry having caused him to be regarded as a public benefactor. He was loved and respected by all as a large-hearted philanthropist whose charity included all righteous and worthy enterprises, and as a man who was ever a true and helpful friend to all who were brought within the circle of his influence.
Angelina mentioned above, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. La Barre. was born and edu- cated in Bangor. In 1889 she became the wife of J. W. Heller, and four children have been born to them. Of these, two are now living, namely : Harley, and Blanche. Mrs. Heller is possessed of remarkable executive ability, and served for several years as assistant postmaster to S. E. Delp. She also served as organist in both Trinity Lutheran and Evangelical churches for several years, and was also a teacher in the pub- lic schools.
was the landlord of an inn, the word "hotel" not having been at that time adopted in its present sense by English-speaking people. He married Sabina Apple, and both he and his wife lived and died highly esteemed by all who knew them. Their son John was for some years engaged in his father's business, in which he was extremely successful. He married Barbara-and they were the parents of seven children, two of whom are now living. One of their sons, Colonel J. P. R. Heller, was born in Plainfield township, and was for thirty-five years a popular hotel keeper. He also owned and operated a farm of one hundred acres, being successful in both branches of in- dustry. He married Sarah A. Nice, a native of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and their children were: Sarah J .; Mary A .; John W .; Alberta ; and M. Rudy, of Philadelphia.
John W., son of J. P. R. and Sarah A. (Nice) Heller, was born in 1861, in Wind Gap, North- ampton county, and in 1881 moved to Bangor, where he adopted the calling which might be said to be hereditary in his family taking charge of the American Hotel. This property was owned, as stated above, by Mr. La Barre, whose son-in-law Mr. Heller subsequently became. That Mr. Heller's success as a hotelkeeper was not inferior to that of his ancestors, his record of nine years conclusively proves. Since 1892 he has been engaged in the livery business, which he has conducted in such a manner as to merit the prosperity which has attended him. Mr. Heller is respected by all who know him as a straighforward and upright man and a good citi- zen. He is a consistent member of the Reformed church at Plainfield, Pennsylvania.
S. E. RAESLY, of Bangor, Pennsylvania, known and respected alike as a merchant and a citizen, traces his descent from German ancestry. The family of Rosli (as the name was then spelled), was founded in America by three broth- ers who in 1738 left their native land and set- tled in the province of Pennsylvania, making their home in Bucks county. One of the three
J. W. Heller, mentioned above, belongs to a family which has been long resident in Pennsyl- vania. His great-grandfather, Simon Heller, ' wandered off and was lost to the sight and
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knowledge of his kinsmen, and another remained unmarried, so that the present family of Raesly is descended exclusively from the third brother. One of his sons, who was named Jacob, moved to Upper Mount Bethel township, Northampton county, where he purchased one hundred acres of land which became the homestead of the fam- ily. He married Miss Margaret Brodt, and they were the parents of the following children : Margaret, who became the wife of Christian Hess; another daughter, who married George Beck; Samuel, mentioned at length hereinafter ; and Jacob. Both these sons were farmers and worthy citizens.
Samuel Raesly, son of Jacob and Margaret (Brodt) Raesly, was born in Lower Saucon, township, removing to the homestead when a child, and of which, in due course of time, he be- came the owner, succeeding to its possession cn the death of his father. He was a practical farmer and a very successful one, attaining by reason of industry, skill and upright dealing, to a gratify- ing degree of financial prosperity. He married Susan Ott, and there were born to them three sons : William; Levi, mentioned at length here- inafter ; and Edwin.
Levi Raesly, son of Samuel and Susan (Ott) Raesly, was born in 1830, on the homestead in Upper Mount Bethel. He was a man of marked intelligence and more than ordinary education (judged by the standards of his time and environ- ment), and was for several years engaged in teaching. The greater part of his life, however, was devoted to agricultural pursuits, which he followed according to the same principles which had guided his father, and in doing so was at- tended by the same successful results. He was a man much respected, and was honored by his neighbors with election to several township of- fices. He married Susan Eilenberger, who be- came the mother of three children: S. E., men- tioned at length hereinafter ; Pauline, who is de- ceased ; and Emma. Mr. Raesly died in 1867, at the early age of thirty-seven, and his wife still resides in Mount Bethel township, regarded
with sincere respect and affection by all who know her.
S. E. Raesly, son of Levi and Susan (Eilen- berger) Raesly, was born in 1856, on the old Raesly homestead, which was also the birth- place of his two sisters. He was educated in the common schools of his native township, and early in life became engaged in mercantile pur- suits, to which he has since continued to devote himself with the success which is always com- manded by a high degree of business ability united with strict integrity. The place which he occupies in the regard of his townsmen may be inferred from the fact that for sixteen years he has held the office of justice of the peace, and that his administration of the office during that period has given full satisfaction to all concerned. He is a charter member of Bangor Lodge, No. 565, F. and A. M., of which he was the first junior warden and the second master. He is also a member of the Bangor Chapter, No. 274, R. A. M.
Mr. Raesly married, in 1879, Emma, daugh- ter of Jacob and Rebecca Snyder, and they are the parents of two sons: George, who is a book- keeper with F. S. Wise, Bangor ; and Ray, who is employed at Bangor by the Delaware, Lacka- wanna and Western Railroad.
SAMUEL JOHNSTON SHIMER was born in Bethlehem township, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, December 3, 1837, son of Abra- ham B. and Margaretta (Johnston) Shimer, na- tives of the same county, and of German and Scotch descent respectively. Mr. Shimer was reared upon the old homestead in Bethlehem township, and during his youth he followed the daily routine of farm life. He attended the pub- lic schools of his neighborhood and finished his education at an academy of Bethlehem.
Throughout his early manhood Mr. Shimer was engaged in farming, but in October, 1871, he emigrated to Milton, Northumberland county, for the purpose of joining his brother George in the lumber business, whither the latter had pre- ceded him in the spring of 1869, and commenced
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operations under the firm name of Applegate, Shimer & Company. Their first purchase con- sisted of a tract of eighteen hundred acres of heavily timbered land in Union county, from which they cut the timber, and converting it into lumber and hauled it to Milton, their nearest shipping point. Subsequent purchases increased these operations until the product of about three thousand acres of fine timber lands had been cut and marketed. In 1872 the firm established a saw and planing mill in the borough of Milton, and during this period, while engaged in manu- facturing flooring and ceiling in 1873, an event occurred that proved of incalculable benefit to the firm-the invention of a matcher-head by George and Samuel J. Shimer. A small machine shop was erected and operated up to its destruc- tion by fire in May, 1880. The plant was rebuilt as a machine shop for the manufacture of the cutter heads and other specialties, and from that time forward the firm devoted its whole attention and energies to the prosecution of the new busi- ness.
In 1884 George Shimer retired from the firm, and our subject became sole proprietor. He aft- erward took into partnership his sons, Elmer S. and George S., and the firm became Samuel J. Shimer & Sons. In the fall of 1888 they as- sumed control of the Milton Manufacturing Com- pany's plant, which they have since operated suc- cessfully. In the spring of 1889 Mr. Shimer in- vented and patented a valuable machine for cut- ting metal washers, which was largely instru- mental in establishing a business for the latter plant.
Mr. Shimer was actively engaged in his busi- ness enterprises, and personally supervised the various departments with the assistance of com- petent foremen. He regarded his workmen with the greatest consideration, and had from them at all times their best service. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and for many years an elder. Politically, he supported the principles and measures of the Republican party.
Mr. Shimer was one of the corporate mem- bers of the Milton Trust and Safe Deposit Com- pany, and a director and vice-president of that
institution until his death. He was widely known and recognized as a man of commendable enter- prise and public spirit, as well as one of the most successful manufacturers of the West Branch Valley.
Mr. Shimer was married September 27, 1860, to Catharine A., daughter of Isaac and Catharine (Clemens) Stout, the former a native of North- ampton county, and the latter of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and both of German origin. Mrs. Shimer was born in Northampton county, and is the mother of three children: Elmer S., Mary C., wife of William A. Heinen, and George S. Samuel J. Shimer died at Milton, Northum- berland county, Pennsylvania, June 18, 1901 ..
ISAAC D. DERNBERGER, an active and public-spirited citizen and successful business man of the borough of Bangor, Pennsylvania, whose extensive manufacturing enterprises are an important factor in the commercial life of the community and give steady employment to a large number of its residents, is a native of War- ren county, New Jersey, born near Delaware Sta- tion, the date of his birth being June 13, 1853. He is a lineal descendant of Daniel Dernberger, who accompanied by his brother David Dernber- ger emigrated from Germany and settled in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, at a very early period in the history of the Lehigh Valley.
These brothers removed to the state of New Jersey, David settled near Hampton Junction, and Daniel in the vicinity of Belvidere, where he confined his attention exclusively to agricultural pursuits. One of the sons born to Daniel Dern- berger was also named Daniel, and his son Jacob Dernberger married a Miss Thace for his first wife, and she bore him three children-Isaac, Frederick and Mary. His second wife, whose maiden name was Miss Swazey, bore him a son whom they named Jacob. Jacob Dernberger was a man of marked ability and influence in the community, held the office of justice of the peace for a number of years, and was a large property owner, bequeathing to each of his children a farm. He was passionately fond of good horses, and was the owner of a number of valuable thor-
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oughbred specimens. He married and reared a family of children, among whom was a son named Frederick Dernberger.
Frederick Dernberger, father of Isaac D. Dernberger, was born near Belvidere, Warren county, New Jersey, this being the vicinity in which his ancestors settled in 1704. His educa- tional advantages were obtained in the common schools of the neighborhood, and subsequently he became a practical farmer, owning and opera- ting one hundred acres of land which by his in- dustry and perseverance became very productive and yielded large and abundant harvests in re- turn for his labor. Frederick Dernberger and his wife, whose maiden name was Amanda Aten, reared a family of six children-Sarah, deceased ; Jacob, Simon, and Joseph, all three of whom reside in Michigan ; Isaac D., mentioned at length hereinafter; and William, deceased.
The early years of the life of Isaac D. Dern- berger were spent in the same manner as the lives of most boys reared on a farm, and by studious and close application to his studies in the public schools he was qualified for a life of usefulness und activity. His first employment was a clerk- ship in a store, and the two years following his resignation from this position he was employed as manager of the Tobyhama Lumber Company's store. In 1883 he located in Ackermanville, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, where he established and conducted a general store for ten years. In addition to his duties he served in the capacity of postmaster during this entire period of time and was thoroughly familiar with the . duties attached to that office, it having been a part of the work assigned to him during his two years clerkship. In 1893 Mr. Dernberger removed to the borough of Bangor. For several years he was engaged in the manufacture of school slate, but finally abandoned that line of trade and con- verted his plant into a grist mill, which he is oper- ating at the present time. In 1899 he attached a cider mill to his property, in the management of which he has achieved a large degree of financial success, and in addition to these two enterprises he owns and operates an extensive brick yard years he assisted the residents of the neighbor-
with a capacity of ten thousand bricks per day. All his business transactions are conducted on straightforward principles, and therefore the great prosperity which has attended his efforts is well merited. Mr. Dernberger is an honored member of Warren Lodge, No. 13, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, of Belvidere, New Jersey, and the Knights of Malta, of Bangor, Pennsylvania.
JOSEPH KIDD. Among the native sons of Lchigh county Pennsylvania, is the representa- tive of this sketch, Joseph Kidd, a retired resi- dent of Allentown, where he has resided since the year 1862. His parents, Charles and Eliza- beth (Stover) Kidd, reared a family of five chil- dren to years of manhood and womanhocd, namely: I. Isabelle, who became the wife of Charles Ehret, and their children are: Charles, unmarried ; Amanda, wife of Franklin Weaver, no issue; and Ellen, wife of James Schmidt, and mother of two children : Irene, wife of Mr. Jones, and mother of two children ; and Alberta, unmar- ried. 2. Caroline, wife of Joseph Dech, no issue. 3. Joseph, mentioned at length hereinafter. 4. Tilghman, who married Miss Bigot, and their children are James, unmarried ; and Emma, wife of Mr. Butterwick, and mother of one child, Ray- mond Butterwick. 5. Susanna, wife of Fer- dinand Wint, and their children are: Rufus, who married and his family consists of three children ; and Clara, wife of the Rev. Mr. Erdman, of Nazareth, no issue.
Joseph Kidd attended the public schools in Schamersville, Pennsylvania, and after complet- ing his studies assisted his father in the work and management of the home farm, which con- sisted of one hundred and twenty acres and was devoted to general farming products. His father was also the village blacksmith, and when Jo- seph Kidd was twenty-six years of age he re- moved his blacksmith business to Lower Saucon township, and Joseph was left to manage the entire farm, which he accordingly did for the following six years, and in the conduct of which he achieved a large degree of success. From that time until he attained the age of fifty-five
Jos eph Rida
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GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS.
hood when they were in need of the services of an extra hand, and by industry, perseverance and close economy accumulated a competency which enabled him to retire from active business pursuits and to live in comfort and ease there- after. He took up his residence in Allentown in the year 1862, and twenty years later erected a handsome home on Hamilton street, wherein he and his wife now dwell. In national affairs he cast his vote for the candidates of the Democratic party, but takes no active part in local politics. He is a consistent member of the Lutheran church.
Mr. Kidd was united in marriage to Mary Biery, daughter of David and Mary Ann ( Paul) Biery, the former named having been a son of Frederick and Salome (Knauss) Biery, and grandson of Henry Biery, and the latter named was a daughter of John and Esther (Faust) Paul, and granddaughter of Frederick and Sophia (Bauer) Paul. David and Mary Ann (Paul) Biery were the parents of the following named children: 1. Caroline, wife of George Washington Bogh, and mother of ten children ; 2. Henry, who married Maria Ruch, and they are the parents of two children; 3. Susanna, wife of David Ruch, and mother of seven children ; 4. Hattie Esther, whose first husband was Mr. Good, by whom she had one child, and whose second husband was Jonathan Fischer, by whom she had two children ; 5. Walter, who married Catherine Roth, and their family consists of four children ; 6. Mary, afore- mentioned as the wife of Joseph Kidd, no issue ; 7. John, who married Fiana Weaver, and three children were the issue of this marriage ; 8. Owen, who married Emma Balliet, and they are the parents of one child ; 9. Sophia, wife of Phaon Good, and mother of five children; Io. Diana, who died in childhood; 11. Sallie, wife of Au- gustus Mennig, and mother of four children.
WILLIAM H. SNYDER. Among the hon- ored citizens of Bangor, Pennsylvania, who are respected for genuine worth of character and long and unobtrusive usefulness in the service of the
community in which they reside, none stands higher than William H. Snyder. He belongs to a family which is widely known in Northamp- ton county, where it has been represented for sev- eral generations.
Leonard Snyder, the place of whose nativity is not recorded, was a resident of North- ampton county, where he was engaged in busi- ness. He married a Miss Abel, and their chil- dren were : James, who was a blacksmith ; Charles K., mentioned at length hereinafter; Leonard, who was a well-to-do farmer in Forks township; Lena; Elizabeth ; Joseph ; and two other daugh- ters who married, respectively, Henry Messinger and a Mr. Hazzard. All the son became estim- able and worthy citizens.
Charles K. Snyder, son of Leonard and (Abel) Snyder, was born April 18, 1807, in Plainfield township, Northampton county. He became a blacksmith, and for a number of years worked at his trade at Ackermanville, in addition to conducting a shop, his success in both branches of industry affording conclusive proof of the versatility of his talents. He also cultivated a farm of 140 acres which he owned in South Bangor, then Washington township. In 1843 he moved to Bangor, or what is now the borough of Bangor, and aside from the land already men- tioned owned fifty acres more which were situated east of the borough and are now the site of an extensive quarry of slate. In connection with this fact it may be stated that, great as was Mr. Snyders sagacity as a business man, he did not foresee the great slate industry which has since developed on the property which he then owned. As a citizen Mr. Snyder was distinguished by the same traits of acuteness, enterprise and faith- fulness which marked his character as a business man. He was a member of the Mennonite church. He married Barbara Ackerman, who was born February 18, 1807, in a hamlet which had been named in honor of the family to which her pa- ternal ancestors belonged. The Ackermans were originally residents of Bucks county. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder were the parents of four children, only one of whom is now living, namely, Will-
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iam H., mentioned at length hereinafter. The death of Mr. Snyder occurred November 7, 1871, and his wife, who was a member of the Evan- gelical church, passed away June 4, 1882. Great as was the admiration inspired by Mr. Snyder's executive talents, it was equalled by the respect commanded by his incorruptible honesty. The many estimable qualities of his wife had greatly endeared her to a large circle of friends. When Mr. and Mrs. Snyder were removed from the sphere in which they had so long moved, it was felt by all that their places could not easily be filled.
William H. Snyder, son of Charles K. and Barbara (Ackerman) Snyder, was born August I, 1833, at Ackermanville, where he received his primary education. When he had reached his twelfth year his parents moved to Bangor, where he pursued his more advanced studies. He was engaged in early life in agricultural pursuits, but later turned his attention to the manufacture of school slate, an enterprise in which he was sig- nally successful, conducting a flourishing busi- ness for a period of twelve years, during which time he gave abundant proof that the business ability of the father had been inherited in no small measure by the son. Mr. Snyder is faithful in the discharge of all the duties of citizenship, and possesses the full confidence of his townsmen, who have given convincing evidence of the fact by electing him to the office of school director, judge of elections, and member of the town coun- cil. In this last named position he ably served seven terms. For the last twelve years he has . held the office of assessor. His political prin- ciples are those of a stanch Republican. He be- longs to the Masonic fraternity, affiliating with Bangor Lodge, No. 565, F. & A. M. He and his family are members of the United Evangelical church.
Mr. Snyder married, October 25, 1856, Julia A. Miller, and three children have been born to them. Of this number, two are living, namely : Charles E., and Amanda, who is the wife of George A. Slack. Mrs. Snyder is a daughter of Manasseh and Mary (La Barre) Miller. The
latter was a daughter of Daniel La Barre, one of the old settlers of northern Northampton coun- ty. Mr. Miller was a wheelwright by trade, and a first-class mechanic. He was also, owing to a somewhat peculiar and exceptional combination of circumstances and traits of character, a man of education and refinement, and had had some ex- perience as a teacher, in which capacity he had attained to a degree of prominence. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, four of whom are now living, namely: Mary A., who is the wife of Frank Smith ; Julia A., who was born in 1835, in Upper Mount Bethel township, and be- came the wife of William H. Snyder, as mentioned above ; and two sons, named respectively, George and Reuben.
Mr. Snyder has now retired from active busi- ness life, and is residing in well-earned leisure in the commodious and comfortable home on the corner of Broadway and Third street. Here he and his wife are spending the evening of their days, happy in their domestic relations, and in the sincere and cordial regard of a large circle of warm and devoted friends.
MORRIS ADER, proprietor of a bakery in Pen Arygl, was born in Clinton, New Jersey, in 1865, and remained a resident of that place un- til seventeen years of age. During that time he acquired his education in the public schools, and learned the baker's trade under the direction of A. Webster.
In 1883 he removed to Bangor, Pennsylvania, where he resided for about a year. He next took up his abode in Trenton, New Jersey, where an- other year was passed, and he then came to Pen Argyl, having since been a representative of the business interests here. Establishing a bakery, he has built up a large and profitable business. He purchased his present property in 1892 and added his oven in 1894, at the same time making other necessary repairs. He now has facilities for baking one thousand loaves of bread a day, and the secret of his success is found in the ex- cellent quality of his product. His twenty years of experience in the work has given him an ac-
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