USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. I > Part 71
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87
It was at this time that he first became con- nected with merchandising as an employee of Jo- seph Kressly, who conducted a general store, in which he remained for about two years. On the expiration of that period he entered the service of the Allentown Iron Company, in what was known as the company store, but remained there
415
GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS.
for only a short time, when he secured a position in the store of A. A. Huber. Such was his busi- ness connection until 1870, when he began busi- ness on his own account. In that year, in com- pany with is brother, Henry W. Hunsicker, he purchased his employer's stock of goods and un- der the firm name of Hunsicker Brothers con- tinued the business. Two years later Elias Bitt- ner was admitted to a partnership and the firm name was changed to Bittner & Hunsicker Broth- ers. No further change occurred until 1880, when Frank D. Bittner, a son of Elias Bittner, joined the firm, and the business was then con- ducted under the style of Bittner, Hunsicker & Company until 1886, when the partnership was dissolved, Henry W. Hunsicker taking the retail business, while James F. Hunsicker and the Bitt- ners, father and son, continued as proprietors of the wholesale business. Previous to this time they had organized a business and equipped a factory for the manufacture of hosiery. The new firm also became the owners of this manu- facturing enterprise, but later abandoned it in order to give their entire attention to the develop- men of their growing wholesale business. In December, 1902, the building which they occupied was destroyed by fire, but they immediately re- built it and 'increased their capacity from a three floor to to a five story structure, and now have one of the largest wholesale dry-goods establish- ments in the state outside of Philadelphia and New York. Their patronage has constantly grown, and they now have a large force of sales- men on the road, while the reputation of the house for reliability is widely recognized.
Mr. Hunsicker has advanced from humble surroundings to large successes through the op- portunity which is one of the characteristic fea- tures of America's business conditions, winning advancement because of his ready adaptability, unwearied energy and laudable ambition. He has not confined his attention entirely to merchandis- ing for he is now and has been for many years a director in the Allentown National Bank and is also a director of the Allen Mu- tual Fire Insurance Company. He is also a co-operant factor in many movements
for the general welfare, and his gener- ous benevolent spirit is manifest in his liberal donations to many charitable institutions. He has been a trustee of the Allentown Hospital since its organization, and is a member of the board of managers of the Bethany Orphans' Home, which at the present time provides for one hundred and thirty-five homeless little children. For many years he has been a member of the board of school directors, and his efforts have been effective in furthering the educational interests of the city. He was one of the charter members of the Salem Reformed church, and has served as a deacon, elder, trustee and treasurer, while now he is presi- dent of the congregation. He is also superin- tendent of the Sunday-school, which has an en- rollment of over two thousand pupils and an average attendance of more than thirteen hun- dred. Fraternally, he is connected with the Ma- sonic society, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is an active and earnest worker in both organizations. In politics, he is a stalwart Republican, deeply interested in the success and growth of the party, and thus his interests, branching out to many lines, have made his a well rounded character.
Mr. Hunsicker was married to Miss Mary Schrader, a daughter of Charles S. and Judith (Fritch) Schrader, and a granddaughter of Henry Fritch. In her father's family were five children. Sarah P., the eldest, is the wife of George Snyder, and has two children, Minnie and Helen, both now deceased. William Schra- der married Angelina Gachenbach, and they have four children: Thomas, who married Isabella Troxell, and has five children, Alice, William, Thomas, Mary and Jonas; Laura, who died in childhood; William ; and Alice, the wife of Rob- ert Hall, by who she had three children, Helen, William and Paul. Jonas Schrader married So- phia Helbert, and has two children, Ada, and Lena, who died at the age of four years. Horatio Schrader married Catharine Acker, and has one son, Edwin.
Mr. and Mrs. Hunsicker have three children : I. George W., who married Minnie Keck (de- ceased), and then Eleanor Patterson. He is as-
416
HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS.
sistant superintendent of the American Cement Company, of Egypt, Pennsylvania. 2. Charles O., a lawyer, at Allentown, Pennsylvania. 3. Herbert J., who is in the employ of the Bittner- Hunsicker Company ; he married Ruth Robbins, and they have one child, Marion.
WILLIAM SAEGER, who served in the capacity of second president of the Allentown Bank, and the first under the present (national) organization, was a descendant of an old and honored German lineage. He was born Septem- ber 4, 1806, in Whitehall township, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, and died in Allentown, Pennsylvania, March 10, 1893, after a long, honorable and useful career, his remains being interred in Allentown cemetery.
Christian Saeger (grandfather) married and had among his children three sons-Nicholas, Ja- cob and Daniel. Jacob Saeger ( father) was born in the year 1774, in Whitehall township, North- ampton county, Pennsylvania, where he continued to reside for many years and became an enterpris- ing agriculturist. Subsequently he removed to Allentown, and in connection with his brother Daniel erected a mill there and engaged in mer- cantile enterprises. He was united in marriage to Margaret Mickley, of the same county, to whom was born children : Sarah, Catherine, Ann, Charles, William, Abigail, Mary and Rebecca.
William Saeger resided in his native town- ship, Whitehall, until his tenth year, when he ac- companied his parents to Allentown. He enjoyed such advantages of education as the pub- lic school afforded, after which he became a clerk, and later opened in Hanover township a canal store for the sale of wares then in demand by the canal employes. About the year 1828 or 1829 he established a general store in East Al- lentown, and later extended the field of his la- bors by the entering into copartnership with his brother Charles and brother-in-law Solomon Keck, under the firm name of Saeger, Keck & Co. Continuing the store in East Allentown, and establishing a general store in Allentown, also a general grain and flouring business, they assumed the management of the flouring mill
built by his father in East Allentown. The Le- high Coal and Navigation Company's canal was opened up about that time and brought a large amount of trade to the mill, which was equipped to supply all demands in grain, feed and flour. This mill is still standing, and is now operated by Jacob H. Saeger, a grandson of the original owner. In addition to this he was a manufac- turer of lumber, owner of timber tracts, a coal merchant, and the possessor of considerable real estate.
Hanover township continued to be his resi- dence until 1866, when he built a home in Allen- town and abandoned active participation in his various business schemes. In 1862 he became president of the Allentown National Bank, in which he had previously been a stockholder and director, and continued his official relation with that institution until 1883, a period of twenty- one years, when he resigned and retired from active business. Mr. Saeger was in early life a Whig, and later espoused the principles of the Republican party ; he was not an aspirant for po- litical honors, and therefore held no other office but that of school director. His sympathy in the cause of education assumed a practical form in the influence and financial aid given to Muh- lenberg College, located at Allentown.' He was a member of St. John's English Lutheran Church of Allentown, in which he served as elder and treasurer of the church council.
In 1833 Mr. Saeger married Miss Hannah Gangwere, daughter of Daniel Gangwere, of Hanover township. Their children were: Al- fred Gangwere, mentioned at length hereinafter ; Mary, deceased ; Robert F., deceased ; Jacob H., who married Emma Schimpt, daughter of John Schimpf; Emma, deceased; Thomas W., who- married Florence Troxell, daughter of Aaron Troxell ; and Ella, who died at the age of about seventeen years. Jacob H. and Emma (Schimpf) Saeger are the parents of three children: Rob- ert W., who married Blanch Warwick, and has. two children ; Marguerite and Catherine. John F., who married Frances Ormrod, and has one son, John Ormrod Saeger. Luther, who is a practicing physician.
Eng. G . H. Ritchie
No Larger
417
GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS.
Alfred Gangwere Saeger was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania. During his early boyhood days he was a pupil in the public schools, and afterward attended Allentown Seminary, which was the predecessor of Muhlenberg College. He then entered his father's store to become familiar with merchandising, and after serving as a clerk for a number of years became a partner in the business, continuing his connection therewith un- til 1859, when he joined James K. Mosser and Thomas Keck in the establishment of the firm of Mosser, Keck & Co., for the tanning and manu- facture of sole leather. The output of the fac- tory was entirely union tanned and found a ready sale on the market. The business grew very rap- dly and the profits increased so that within a few years the members of the firm accumulated a fortune. Mr. Saeger retired from the business in 1876. Throughout his entire life his political support has been given to the Republican party.
Alfred G. Saeger was united in marriage to Ella Troxell, a daughter of Aaron Troxell and his wife Angeline (Jarrett) Troxell, whose fam- ily consisted of three children : Ella, above men- tioned ; Emma, wife of Francis K. Smith, of Lockhaven, Pennsylvania; and Florence, wife of Thomas W. Saeger. Aaron Troxell was a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Mickley) Troxell, and his wife, Angeline ( Jarrett ) Troxell, was a daugh- ter of Henry and - ( Heinley) Jarrett. Mr. and Mrs. Saeger are members of St. John's Lu- theran church.
GEORGE J. KUNTZ, one of the represent- ative and highly esteemed citizens of East Allen township, where he is successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits and also serves in the ca- pacity of justice of the peace, has been a lifelong resident in the neighborhood where he resides, having been born in East Allen township, North- ampton county, Pennsylvania, November 19. 1836, a son of Adam and Caroline (Stem) Kuntz, and grandson of Bernhardt Kuntz, who was the progenitor of the family in America.
Adam Kuntz (father) was born in Lehigh township, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, in 1797. He received the educational advantages
afforded by the common schools of that day, and early in life became proficient at the trades of tanner and distiller, having served an apprentice- ship with is father, Bernhardt Kuntz, who fol- lowed those lines of industry in connection with agricultural pursuits. Subsequently, Adam Kuntz and his brother purchased one of the homestead farms in Lehigh township, and for many years was successful in the cultivation and operation of the same. In 1835 Mr. Kuntz removed to East Allen township and purchased the old Stienger farm, which was located on the out- skirts of the borough of Bath, and on this prop- erty he resided for the remainder of his life. He was honored by his fellow-citizens by election to various local offices. He was a member and elder in the Lutheran church, and was formerly an old line Whig, but later a Republican in his political views. Mr. Kuntz married Caroline Stem, who was born in Berlinville, Lehigh town- ship, a daughter of Jacob Stem. Their children were: Sabina Ann; Elizabeth Ann, wife of Ja- cob Miller, of Catasauqua ; George J., and Har- riet, who died January 6, 1894; she was the wife of Dr. E. G. Steinmetz, of Hokendauqua. Adam Kuntz, the father of these children, died in 1882, and his wife passed away in the year 1879.
George J. Kuntz acquired a liberal education in the schools conducted by Dr. Vanderveer and Professor Stem, in the city of Easton, Pennsyl- vania, and this course of instruction thoroughly qualified him for the position of teacher, in which capacity he served for twenty-six and a half terms, his entire administration being noted for faithfulness and efficiency. In 1881 he purchased his present farm which was a portion of the old estate formerly owned by William Brown, and since that date he has devoted his time and energy to the cultivation and improvement of his prop- erty, conducting his general farming operations on an extensive scale. His loyalty as a citizen and his devotion to the interests of his country have ever been among his chief characteristics. and this fact being recognized by his fellow-citi- zens he has been chosen to fill various township offices. In 1899, although a Republican in poli- tics and the township being strongly Democratic.
27
418
HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS.
he was elected justice of the peace by a large ma- jority and is the incumbent of the office at the present time (1903).
Mr. Kuntz was united in marriage in 1859, to Jane Insley, a daughter of the late Philip In- sley, and the issue of this union was two sons : I. Howard I., born in 1860; he was a student at Lehigh University, but owing to failing health returned to the farm; in 1881 he married Fanny M. Lerch, daughter of Aaron Lerch, and they were the parents of three children-Frank A., a law student at the University of Pennsylvania ; Rella Irene; and George Chester Elroy, who died at the age of three years. Howard Kuntz died August 2, 1890; his wite died September 8, 1887, and the children have been reared and educated by their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Kuntz. 2. Horner, born April 21, 1862; he received his education at the schools of Bethlehem and the Business College at Easton, and since his graduation has been engaged as a commercial traveler ; he was united in marriage to Carrie Miller. Mr. Kuntz and his family are active members of the Presbyterian church.
JOHN C. SCHWARTZ. Industry, perse- verance and thrift have been the chief character- istics in the business career of John C. Schwartz, an enterprising and energetic citizen of the thriv- ing city of Allentown, Pennsylvania, whose birth occurred in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 6, 1873. He is a worthy representative of an old and honored German ancestry.
George Schwartz (grandfather) was a native of Germany, in which country he was educated, . reared, spent his active business life, married, reared a family of children, and died. One of his sons, Frederick Schwartz, (father) was born at Stuttgart, Germany, received his educa- tion in the excellent educational institutions of his country, and in 1859 came to this country, settling in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he became a butcher. which occupation he followed for many years. In 1891 he came to Allentown, same state, where he has since resided, practically in retirement, enjoying the result of his years of toil and activity. By his marriage to Christina
Rombard, the following named children were born : Frederick, deceased; Kate, deceased; John C., mentioned at length hereinafter ; George, who died in the Spanish-American war, in the year 1898; Carrie; and several who died in infancy. Three brothers of Frederick Schwartz (father) and seven half-brothers also migrated to the United States, locating in or near the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and becoming active and useful citizens.
During his boyhood John C. Schwartz at- tended the public schools of his native city, Phil- adelphia, and in early life gained his first practi- cal experience by working with his father in the butcher business. Shortly afterward the family removed to Allentown, and in 1891 John C. be- came interested in the manufacture of ice, and with several other gentlemen built an ice plant at Gordon street and Terminal Railroad, which they operated for a number of years with signal success. Subsequently, Mr. Schwartz entered into a copartnership with Frank S. Ritter, under the style of the Allentown Ice Company. They deal extensively in ice and coal, and by their re- liable methods and honorable transactions have won for themselves an enviable reputation in the commercial circles of the city. Their office is located at No. 1006 Hamilton street, Allentown, and in the delivery of their commodities a num- ber of wagons is used, thus giving employment to a number of men. Mr. Schwartz is a noted Ma- son, affiliating with Barge Lodge, No. 333, the various bodies of the Scottish Rite, and the An. cient and Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to Lodge No. 130, Order of Elks, and to other social bodies including the Livingston Club. He is a firm adherent of the principles of Democracy.
JOSEPH R. CASSLER. Among the repre- sentatives of industrial interests in Weatherly, Pennsylvania, is numbered Joseph R. Cassler, who is engaged in the manufacture of spools and bobbins used for high grade silk. He is secre- tary and treasurer of the company, and in this connection contributes to the material upbuild- ing and prosperity of his community.
419
GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS.
Mr. Cassler is a native of Easton, Pennsyl- vania, born on the 24th of December, 1860. His ancestral history can be traced back to an early decade in the eighteenth century, for the Cass- lers emigrated to America from Bohemia about 1732, and settled in the Dry Lands of Bethlehem. They were among the early Moravian pioneers of that region, and their descendants have since been alert and enterprising citizens of the locality, filling various positions of trust and respon- sibility, and occupying prominent positions in business circles and professional walks of life. William Cassler, the grandfather, was born in Easton in 1800. His son, Charles Cassler, was a native of Northampton county, Pennsylvania, and became agent for the Lehigh Valley Rail- road Company, occupying that position from 1864 until his death in 1899. He was also agent for the American Express Company, filling both po- sitions. In 1867 he established himself in the coal business, in which he also continued up to the time of his death. He wedded Miss Mary Keiper, of Easton, Pennsylvania, and their fam- ily numbered four children: Frank, Emma, Clara and Joseph R.
Joseph R. Cassler was but four years of age when in November, 1864, his parents removed from Easton to Weatherly, Pennsylvania, where he was reared and educated, and where he has since resided. He became his father's successor in business, and in the position of station agent for the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company. He retired from that office in 1900, but has continu- ously been agent for the American Express Com- pany, and has also remained as his father's suc- cessor in the coal trade. He engages in dealing and transporting coal, having an extensive yard near his spool factory. His most important busi- ness interest, however, is the manufacture of spools and bobbins, in which he is engaged as secretary and treasurer of the operating company. This is an important enterprise, and the plant situated at Weatherly is forty by one hundred and twenty feet and two stories in height. It was established in 1896, and the business is now in the most prosperous condition, employing from thirty to sixty hands, and having a large output
which annually brings to the stockholders an ex- cellent income on the capital invested. Mr. Cass- ler is recognized as one of the substantial men of the borough of Weatherly, and in the control of his business affairs displays keen discernment, correctness of judgment and unwearied industry.
In 1884 Joseph R. Cassler was married to Miss Mary M. Lauderburn, a daughter of Alex- ander J. Lauderburn, of Weatherly. They be- came the parents of five children, three of whom are living, Charles, Margaret and Mary. In 1902 Mr. Cassler was again married, his second union being with Miss Mary A. Rosenstock, of Weath- erly and they have one son, Joseph R. Cassler, Jr.
JAMES KRUM, a contractor in mason work, whose extensive business covers a large territory in the Lehigh Valley within the bounds of Carbon county, is a native of that county, hav- ing been born in Franklin township on June 30, 1862. The Krum family is of German descent and immigrated to this country previous to the Revolutionary war.
Christian Krum (grandfather) was born in Heidleberg township, Pennsylvania, in 1770, and subsequently his parents removed to Tennessee, but after a short residence in that state returned to Pennsylvania, He served the usual appren- ticeship at the trade of mason, and by close ap- plication and careful attention to all the details he became an expert mechanic. He was united in marriage to Catherine Frederick, a native of Germany, who crossed the Atlantic ocean with her parents when but two years of age, in 1801. Their family consisted of nine children, as follows : John, Lydia, Christian, Grace, Peter, Thomas, Daniel, Catherine and Selinda, and the sole survivors of the family at the present time ( 1904) are Daniel and Catherine. Mr. Krum and his family resided in Lehigh county for a number of years, but in 1816 removed to Carbon county.
Peter Krum (father) was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, in 1814, and died in Car- bon county in 1888. He was a mason by trade, and was recognized among the members of that line of work as a master mechanic. He became an extensive land owner, having in his posses-
420
HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS.
sion at one time more than three hundred acres of valuable land. He was a consistent member of the Evangelical church, and a strong sup- porter of the principles advocated by the Repub- lican party. About the year 1841, Mr. Krum was married to Selinda Driesbach, of Franklin town- ship, and their children were: Sarah, Joseph, Eliza, Angeline, William, deceased; Alice, Emma, James, Francis, deceased; and George, deceased.
James Krum was reared in his native town- ship and received a thorough English education in the common schools adjacent to his home. Under his father's watchful supervision he learned the trade of mason, and like his father and grandfather is a practical business man and a good workman. His business consists chiefly of the building of foundations, houses and bridges, and he has recently erected two fine houses in East Weissport, beautiful and modern in construction and convenience, in one of which he now resides. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, in the ranks of which he is an active worker and favorite, and holds member- ship in the Improved Order of Red Men, Royal Arcanum and the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company.
Mr. Krum was united in marriage, May 21, 1896, to Addie Miller, daughter of Henry and . Amanda Miller, and they are the parents of one son, Charles P., born June 7, 1897.
GEORGE W. KEEFER, a contractor for the American Cement Company at Coplay, Pennsyl- vania, was born in North Whitehall township, Lehigh county, September 7, 1866, and is the only living son of Joseph and Mary (Kleckner) Kee- fer. The family is of German lineage and was established in Pennsylvania at an early epoch in the history of the state. His paternal grandfa- ther, Elias Keefer, a native of Northampton county, Pennsylvania, served as a soldier in the war of 1812. He married Lydia Solt, and their children were Elizabeth, George, John, Joseph, Samuel and William. By a former marriage Elias Keefer had one daughter, Catherine.
Joseph Keefer, father of George W. Keefer,
was born in Allen township, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, April 9, 1844, and from an early age he was dependent upon his own resources, so that the success he achieved was most credit- able, being due entirely to his own labors and well directed energies. In his early youth he was employed in various ways, and later began learn- ing the blacksmith's trade, but before the com- pletion of his term of apprenticeship he enlisted as a private in the Sixteenth Regiment Pennsyl- vania Cavalry. He participated in a number of important engagements, and also did service as a blacksmith, and after receiving an honorable discharge in 1865 he resumed work in the smithy. In 1871 he became an employe in the Thomas Iron Company at Hokendauqua, and afterward successfully followed mining for several years. He invested his means in farming property, be- coming the owner of a farm in 1880, and another in 1900. When he abandoned mining he began quarrying stone under contract for the various cement plants of this locality, and continued in that business until his death, April 13, 1903. He was also a large stockholder and director in the Cement National Bank at Siegfrieds, and his business career was equally honorable and suc- cessful. He belonged to the Reformed church of Egypt, Pennsylvania, which he served as elder, and to the support of which he made liberal con- tributions. He was also identified with the Grand Army Post at Catasauqua and the Veteran League of Allentown.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.