USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. I > Part 69
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WILLIAM JACOB HELLER, of Easton, Pennsylvania, manufacturer, has long been num- bered among the patriotic citizens of the land, and his efforts were largely instrumental in insti- tuting the movement that resulted in placing the flag upon the schoolhouses of the United States. He comes of a family noted for loyalty and pa- triotic service in the colonial struggles and in
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the war for independence, and traces his descent from eleven patriots who served Pennsylvania in the Revolution.
He is a direct descendant of Christopher Heller, who was born in Petersheim, near Bingen, along the Rhine, in the Province of Pfaltz, Ger- many, in 1688, and emigrated to America in 1738, arriving in Philadelphia with his six sons on the fifth of September of that year. He established his home in what is now Milford township, in the southern part of Lehigh county. He passed the last few years of his life with his son Daniel, who lived opposite Lower Saucon church, and where he died in the year 1778. Of his six sons, Jo- seph, in early life known as Joe Dieter, was the oldest, having been born in 1719, and died, unmarried, in 1800. He was buried at Plain- field church.
His second son was Johan Simon Heller, born in 1721. On attaining his majority he purchased the farm in Lower Saucon township, near Lower Saucon church. He was one of the founders of the Reformed church in that township, and in the year 1763 removed to what is now known as the Woodley house, in the town of Wind Gap. Here he assisted in the organization of the Reformed church in Plain- field township. His patriotic spirit was mani- fested by active military service in the French and Indian war. He had sixteen children, of whom, Jacob, John, Abraham, and Simon served in the Revolutionary army. His death occurred in 1783, and he was buried at Plain- field church.
Johan Michael Heller, the third son of Chris- topher Heller, was born in 1724, and died in 1803, and is buried at the ancient burying ground of the Reformed church, now known as the Lime Kiln schoolhouse. Daniel, the fourth son, was born in 1726 and died in 1803. Daniel's children were John, Jeremiah and Michael (the potter). He was buried in the ancient burial ground at what is now Lime Kiln schoolhouse.
Ludwig, the fifth son, was born in 1728, and in early life removed to Hamilton township, Mon- roe county, where he died in 1807, leaving one
son, John. He is buried in Hamilton township, at the church which he helped to organize.
The sixth son, George Christopher, was born in 1731. He married in early life and settled on a farm adjoining that of his brother Michael. A few years later he purchased an adjoining prop- erty on which was erected a grist mill and a hemp mill. He was the father of two boys, Joseph and Michael, who on attaining their ma- jority were given the property, Joseph taking the grist mill, and Michael the oil mill. The father removed to Upper Mount Bethel where he died in 1805, leaving, besides the two boys, four chil- dren by a second marriage-Elizabeth, Magda- lena, Solomon and Daniel. He was buried at the Stone church in Mount Bethel township.
Joseph, after a few years, sold his mill to Michael, and moved to a mill site along the Monocacy, in Hanover township. Michael was now the possessor of his father's entire tract of land in Lower Saucon township, and which is now embodied in the entire east side of the main street in Hellertown. Michael was the father of a large family, all of whom died in infancy, with the exception of Paul and Tobias, who after their father's failure removed to what is now Lanark, Lehigh county, and built the hotel known as Heller's Tavern.
Johan Michael Heller was a direct ancestor of William J. Heller, the subject of this sketch, and was known as Michael, the elder (Alt vater Mike). Early in life he purchased a farm on Saucon creek, in what is now the entire west side of the main street in Hellertown. In 1746 he built a stone house which is still standing. He became the founder of Hellertown, and was an extensive land owner, prospering in all his busi- ness affairs, but lost very heavily through the depreciation of currency during the Revolution, which, together with his contributions to the Revolutionary cause, and his gift of several hun- dred-arce farms to each of his children, left him comparatively a poor man at the time of his death. His team was the first to leave Saucon Valley loaded with provisions for the starving army at Valley Forge. However, he gave not
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only assistance of this character, but rendered active service in behalf of the cause of liberty as a lieutenant in the army. His children were : David, who was born in 1751, served a period in the Revolutionary war, and was a farmer in Lower Saucon township; Margaret, who mar- ried Jacob Kreeling ; Heob (Job), born 1765 and was a farmer in Upper Saucon; Simon, born in 1758, was a farmer, and settled near Plainfield church; Daniel, a carpenter, lived the greater part of his life in Lehigh county; Mathias was a wheelwright and farmer, born in 1763, and after the Revolution took up a soldier's warrant for land in Northumberland county, where he settled and founded what is now known as Hel- ler's church, near Bloomsburg, Columbia county, Pennsylvania; Michael, who was known as "Creek Mike," was born in 1757, and always re- mained at the homestead, where he died in the year 1828.
David Heller, son of Johan Michael Heller, was the great-great-grandfather of William J. Heller. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Ladenmacher, and their children were Catharine, who was born in 1773, and died in 1776; Susanna, who was born in 1774, and died in 1776; Eliza- beth, born in 1775, and married Jacob Roth, who became the owner of the homestead immediately east of Hellertown; Michael, who was born in 1777, and died in 1816, leaving one son named Michael, who lived and died in Cunningham val- ley ; David, born in 1778, learned the trade of a tanner, and afterwards removed to Lehighton, Carbon county ; Job, born in 1780, and died in 1822, unmarried; Catharine, born in 1780, died in 1786; . Yost, born in 1783; Susanna, born in 1784; Maria, born in 1786; Joseph, born in 1788 and at the age of thirty years removed to Phila- delphia, where he remained until his death; Rosanna, born in 1789, and died in 1811.
Yost Heller, the great-grandfather, was reared upon the home farm, and in his early youth was full of life, fun and merriment. Many a laugh did he cause in the neighborhood by his merry pranks, but he also commanded the re- spect of friends and neighbors, and as the years advanced his attention was given to work that
proved of benefit to the community along ma- terial and moral lines. He was the most popular man in Lower Saucon township, and was the first deacon of Appel's church, and reared his family according to its teachings, while its principles formed the rule of his own conduct. He was married to Elizabeth Shaffer, of a prominent family of Lehigh county, and their children were Jacob, Elizabeth, who became Mrs. Bachman, and Mary who became Mrs. Weiss, and after- wards Mrs. Rice.
Jacob Heller, the grandfather, was born in 1804, and died in Easton, in 1881. Brought up in the faith of the church, according to its teachings he also reared his family in the same way. He was the first elder in Appel's church. He mar- ried Sarah Bellits, of Lower Saucon, a descen- dant of one of the original owners of West Jer- sey, Lawrence Bellits, and their children were: Elizabeth, born in 1825; William, born in 1827 ; Josiah B., born in 1829; Jacob, Sarah, John, Susan and Emma.
Josiah B. Heller, the father of William J. Heller, was born in 1829, and pursued his edu- cation in a school at Hellertown, and under Dr. Vanderveer at Easton. Subsequently he engaged in teaching in Easton and in surrounding town- ships, and he also was numbered among the music instructors of the Lehigh Valley in his day. After devoting a number of years to edu- cational work he engaged in farming for a de- cade, and then returned to Easton, where he con- ducted a transfer freight line for many years. He was one of the early members of the Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows at that place, and took a helpful interest in promoting the lodge and its growth. His political allegiance was given- to the Democracy, which he continued to support until his death, on the 5th of December, 1898. He married Susan Heinlein, of Forks township, a descendant of George Heinlein, captain of the Durham township militia during the Revolution, and a great-granddaughter of Elizabeth Morgan, of Morgan's Hill. Their children were : George B., born in 1853; William J., in 1857 ; Arthur P., who was born in 1864, and died in 1903; and Lizzie May, born in 1869, married Chester Seip.
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William J. Heller is indebted to various insti- tutions of Easton, Pennsylvania, for the educa- tional privileges he enjoyed in his youth. After putting aside his text books he followed various pursuits, and became quite widely known because of his artistic talent and ability. In 1886, how- ever, he established his present business, the man- ufacture of flags, opening the first exclusive flag factory in the United States. His business has constantly grown in volume and importance, and to-day he manufactures nearly one-half of the flags used in this country. While witnessing the decoration of a public school building for a celebration in the year 1886, the idea occurred to him that the nation's emblem should be seen used over school buildings of the country in order to foster a spirit of patriotism among the children of the land. He began discussing the idea with the prominent educators of America and, in fact, was the founder of the movement which has embodied his ideas, and deserves great credit for instituting the patriotic movement which swept over the country in 1892. He is popular and well known among workers in patriotic circles, and was one of the first active members of the Patriotic League. He has had many honors con- ferred on him by the Woman's Relief Corps, the National Congress of Women, and other national patriotic organizations. He is a charter member of the George Washington Memorial Associa- tion, organized to promote th establishment of the University of the Uinted States. He is an honorary member of various leading Women's clubs in many parts of the country. He has lec- turned in many of the principal cities of Amer- ica upon patriotic occasions. His lecture on "The Evolution of Our National Ensign" is univer- sally known. History has always been a most in- teresting study to him, and he believes in pro- moting every line of thought that will foster a love of country and its people. He has made a study of local Indian history during his leisure hours, and is now engaged in compiling data for a history of the Forks of the Delaware. He is a life member of the Historical Society of Penn- sylvania, also the Pennsylvania German Society, a member of the Bucks County Historical So-
ciety, and an honorary member of various histori- cal societies in this and adjoining states. He takes an active part in public affairs, and is a member of the Board of Trade and of the Munic- ipal League of the City of Easton.
Mr. Heller was married, May 5, 1877, to Miss Tillie A. Lesher, a daughter of George Lesher, and a lineal descendant of George Loesch, of Tulpehocken, Berks county, Pennsylvania, who gave so generously of his means to assist the struggling Moravians when they first landed in this country. His memory is yet perpetuated by the record of his good deeds, preserved in the Moravian archives. Mr. and Mrs. Heller became the parents of three children, two sons and one daughter. The two sons, Ray and Harry, died in early childhood. The daughter, Bessie Evelyn Heller, is a lineal descendant of sixteen patriots who gave active service in the Revolutionary war, and a great-great-great-granddaughter of Elizabeth Morgan, of Morgan's Hill, through her paternal grandmother, Susan Heller, a daughter of George Bay Heinlein, who was the son of James Heinlein and his wife Ann Bay, a daughter of Mrs. Morgan by her first husband Hugh Bay.
Mrs. Morgan's maiden name was Lizzie Bell, or "pretty Lizzie Bell," as she was known by nearly every one in Philadelphia, where she was born and raised. She was the daughter of Jacob and Ann Bell, residing on Front street, Philadel- phia, prior to the Revolutionary war. Her pa- rents were orthodox Quakers, and consequently frowned upon a certain young grocer, Hugh Bay, son of Rev. Andrew Bay, a chaplain in the pro- vincial army, who was getting very intimate with Elizabeth, and who was not of their faith. They used mild methods to discourage this intimacy, and when, a few years later, Hugh made his ap- pearance dressed in the uniform of a noted ar- tillery company in the Revolutionary service, he was refused admittance to the Bell domicile, and Elizabeth was compelled to make closer applica- tion to her studies. All went seemingly well until the British army was reported coming toward Philadelphia, when its citizens prepared to repel the enemy by gathering all ammunition, collecting old lead and converting it into bullets,
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etc. Elizabeth, whether through born intuitive- ness or from close application to study, at that opportune time developed character that was one remarkable feature in after life. She removed the leaden weights from her father's clock and con- verted them into bullets for her soldier lover, Hugh Bay. This not only caused a flurry in Quakerdom, but so enraged her father that he forthwith transported her to Europe to finish her studies. After the lapse of four years her father, thinking that she had outlived her infatu- ation, brought her home. Elizabeth, however, true to her first live, was married to Hugh Bay in the Swede's church, Philadelphia, August 16, 1781. This act so shocked the orthodox Quaker congregation that they immediately called a special meeting at which a resolution was passed expelling Elizabeth from the congregation for marrying a worldły man, and a certificate to that effect was given her. What effect all this had upon her parents is unknown. Her father died a few years later, and left the greater part of his wealth to Elizabeth and her mother. Hugh made a good husband, and maintained a fine home on the fashionable street. After a marriage of three years he unfortunately died, leaving only one child, Anna. Elizabeth remained a widow six years, when, on September 2, 1790, she became the wife of Dr. Abel Morgan, a prominent physi- cian of Philadelphia, and formerly a surgeon in the Revolutionary army. Two months later her mother died. With the exception of the birth of another daughter, nothing eventful transpired until 1793, when the great epidemic broke out in Philadelphia, when Dr. Morgan took precaution- ary measures and removed his family from Phil- adelphia to the Lehigh Hills, leaving his home in charge of the colored servants. Dr. Morgan selected for his retreat a hotel on the top of the hill overlooking the "Forks of the Delaware." This delightful locality was a favorite of Dr. Morgan's when he was surgeon in the Revolu- tionary army and encamped with his regiment at Colonel Proctor's headquarters, along the ravine to the south of what is now Kleinhans's green- houses, which was then along the main road to Easton from the south. Dr. Morgan, after see-
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ing his family comfortably settled, returned to Philadelphia to help stamp out the epidemic. Elizabeth, not receiving any communication from him for upwards of two months, and quarantine being removed from Philadelphia, concluded to make a trip there. On her arrival at her Phila- delphia home she found that the servants nad de- camped; the house had been ransacked from garret to cellar, and everything of value confis- cated. At a loss to know what had become of her husband, she made inquiry of the health of- ficers, and found that her husband had contracted the malady and died within a few days after his arrival, and was buried in the trench along with the rest. This double affliction required consid- erable fortitude to withstand. Finding herself the second time a widow, she disposed of her fine home and all her interests in Philadelphia, and returned to the "Hills" with the purpose of living in quiet retirement with her two daughters. She never returned to Philadelphia, but purchased the hotel property in which she had taken up her abode, and lived there for upwards of fifty years.
Mrs. Morgan made good use of her excellent education. She possessed a fine library, and her favorite pastime was reading law books, of which she had a complete set. These were kept on a bench in the public room, where she would dis- pense law when occasion required. This room,. in time, became the popular retreat for those of her neighbors who could not settle their differ- ences themselves. They would invariably refer their case to this improvised court. A request for her decision was never refused; both old and young respected her judgment, and seldom was there an appeal to a higher tribunal. This con- dition of affairs brought forth a protest from the legal fraternity of Easton, who endeavored by various methods to break up the practice. Re- flections as to her character and the character of the place were made, bringing her name into ridicule with the unthinking. All this unkindness toward the "Widow" Morgan only increased her popularity. Few of these gentry of the bar could boast of a better legal education than- Elizabeth Morgan, and none of a better university
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training. Her last will and testament ( written by herself) for scholarly composition and legal con- struction is the peer of any instrument of any member of the legal fraternity of her day. Steeled to adversity ; never showing resentment toward her traducers ; living a good and true life ; a kind and generous neighbor, ministering to the af- flicted, adjusting neighborly disputes for many years, she died October 16, 1839, aged eighty years, and was buried in the Reformed Cemetery on Mount Jefferson (now the site of the new library.) Her obsequies were attended by people from far and near, her funeral cortege being nearly two miles long, reaching from the ceme- tery gates to a point along the Philadelphia road beyond Lachenour Heights, South Side.
Her second daughter, Hannah Morgan, died at the age of twenty years. Her first daughter, Ann Bay, was married to James Heinlein, a son of Captain George Heinlein, of Durham town- ship, Bucks county, a prominent figure in the Revolution. Their children were: George Bay Heinlein, born 1799: Hugh Bay Heinlein, born 1802 ; Abel Morgan Heinlein, born 1804; Edward Bay Heinlein, born 1806; Morgan Bay Heinlein, born 1808: Jacob Bay Heinlein, born 1811 ; John Bay Heinlein, born 1813: Henry Bay Hein- lein, born 1814; Hannah Eliza Heinlein, born 1815, became the wife of William Raub. Of the many descendants of these grandsons of Eliza- beth Morgan living in the Lehigh Valley and the regions roundabout, there are very few bearing the name of Heinlein. Mrs. Morgan took great pride in her grandsons and gave all of them an advanced education. Three of these grandsons emigrated in company with several of the families of Hays from Lehigh county to Ohio, settling in and around Fremont.
Mrs. Heinlein, the mother, married, the sec- ond time, a Mr. Shultz. She was buried to the right of her mother, Mrs. Morgan, and Han- nah the other daughter, was buried on the left side. Their remains were not disturbed when the. site of Easton's colonial burying grounds was remodeled for the park surrounding the new library.
ALBERT J. BAER came from an old and prominent family in Lehigh county, who traced their ancestry back to September 30, 1743, when the ship "Phoenix" landed at Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania, and among the passengers were three brothers-Christophel, Melchoir and Johannes Baer-who emigrated from the southern portion of Germany near the boundary line of Germany and Switzerland. Christophel settled in White- hall township, then in Northampton county : Mel- choir settled in Macungie, Lehigh county, then a portion of Northampton county, it having de- rived its name from the Indians who were numer- ous in that section of the state; Johannes (John in English) settled in Germantown, but after ten years' residence there removed to Weisenburg township, Lehigh county.
Christophel Baer, the progenitor of the mem- bers of the Baer family who reside in the Lehigh valley, was the father of six children, among whom were two sons by whom we can trace the generations-Jonathan and Hon Adam (in En- glish) John Adam. Jonathan remained in North Whitehall township. Lehigh county, where his grandfather Christophel Baer settled in close proximity to Semmel's Tannery, near Union Church. He was the owner of a fine farm where- on he resided for the remainder of his life, the property now being in the possession of Sarah Semmel. His death was caused by drowning in a deep spring (which is still on the farm) while drawing a bucket of water ; it is supposed that he was attacked with a severe dizziness to which he was subject. He was survived by four sons and one daughter-Solomon, Abraham, Jonas, John and Susan ( Mrs. Peter Weida) of Allentown, Pennsylvania. Hon Adam (John Adam) sup- posed to have been an uncle or Jonathan Baer, moved to Weisenburg, Lehigh county, and he is the ancestor of the members of the Baer family who reside in the eastern portion of Berks county and the western portion of Lehigh county. After several years residence in that township he dis- posed of his farm and purchased the property formerly known as the Kohler farm, located near Rothrocksville, Maxatawny township, Berks
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county, where he resided until his death. Mel- choir Baer is the ancestor of George F. Baer, the manager of the Philadelphia & Reading Rail- road. When we read in history about the Pala- tines, we are gaining some information of the earlier members of the Baer family.
Jonas Baer, the third son of Jonathan Baer, was born at the homestead in North Whitehall township, Lehigh county, August 13, 1818. Upon attaining young manhood he removed to Weidas- ville, Lowhill township, and located on the old Peter Seibert farm, which he purchased in 1840. He cleared some woodland and also operated an applejack distillery which was on the property. At that time wheat sold for three dollars a bushel and applejack at from eighteen to twenty-five cents per gallon, and by his extensive opera- tions along both these lines he accumulated suf- ficient money to become the proprietor of three farms adjoining each other-the Seibert, the An- drew Knerr and the Daniel Clauss farms. He operated his Seibert farm for twenty-seven years, and then moved on the Clauss farm in Weidas- ville, where he resided for about two years prior to his death, which occurred on January 1I, 1869. He was married to Lydia Peters, of Washington township, Lehigh county, and they were tne parents of the following named chidlren : Phaon, born April 28, 1839; Lewis, born October 16, 1841 ; and John, born May 3, 1850. The father at his decease bequeathed each of his sons a farm, and Pliaon and Lewis still possess their inherit- ance.
Lewis Baer, second son of Jonas and Lydia Baer, has resided all his life on the farm where he was born. He received the usual education afforded by the common schools of the commun- ity, and during the Civil war served under Cap- tain Charles Kech, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in Company I, Forty-first Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was honorably discharged from the service of the United States July 13, 1863. He married Juli Ann Grenawald on December 18, 1864, and they were the parents of Albert J. Baer.
Albert J. Baer, eldest son of Lewis and Juli Ann Baer, was born September 25. 1865. He
received a good common school education, and assisted with the work on the farm until he was eighteen years of age. He left home in order to learn the blacksmithing trade at the Levi Werley coachmaker shops near Claussville, Lehigh county, and when his apprenticeship expired in the fall of 1886 he entered the horseshoeing shop of David S. Wismer, the "Yankee" horseshoer of Richlandtown, Bucks county, who was one of the most noted shoers of the entire upper portion of the county. After serving in this connection for a period of time he was the recipient of two more lucrative positions-one at Hellertown, Northampton county, and the other from Mr. Bachman of Blooming Glen, Bucks county. He accepted the position with Mr. Owen Grube of Hellertown, and subsequently located in Scran- ton, Pennsylvania, where he secured employment in the blacksmith department of the Scranton Buggy and Wagon Company, located at the cor- ner of Eighth and Swetland streets, Hyde Park (Scranton). The company, appreciating his faithful and conscientious labor, soon promoted him to a cleaner and better position in their re- positories. The repository work was filling or- ders for completed jobs to be put together as specified, according to grade of goods, style of work and painting, to get them ready for the men who boxed and crated them for shipment on board of cars or otherwise. In the year 1888 typhoid fever was epidemic in the city, and Mr. and Mrs. Baer were among the many persons who suffered from the disease. Mr. Baer was at- tacked thrice, and each time Dr. Charles Wesley Treverton succeeded in checking it. Owing to these distressing circumstances he determined to leave the company and city, and accordingly he returned to Lehigh county, and in 1889 estab- lished a horseshoeing and general jobbing shop at New Smithville, Weisenburg township. After a seven years residence in that locality, during which time he conducted a lucrative trade, a good opening presented itself at Shoenersville, Lehigh county, five miles east from Allentown, which offered better facilities in every way for his line of business. In addition to the successful man- agement of a coach and wagon making shop and
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