USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. I > Part 73
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Henry Francis Martin, like many other rep- resentatives of the family, is a graduate of the medical department of the University of Penn- sylvania, and entered upon the practice of his profession in Slatington. Not long afterward the Civil war began, and on the 5th of July, 1861, he enlisted as. assistant surgeon of the Thirty-eighth Regiment (Ninth Reserve) Pennsylvania Volunteers for three years service. He remained with that com- mand until promoted to Surgeon of the One Hun- dred and Twenty-third Regiment, September 6, 1862. Later he was made chief surgeon of the brigade, and was finally mustered out with the One Hundred and Twenty-third Regiment May 13, 1863. At the emergency call he re-enlisted and served as surgeon of the Thirty-first Regi- ment for three or four weeks, being discharged August 8, 1863.
Dr. Martin then resumed the practice of medi- cine, locating in Catasauqua, where he remained for some time. Eventually, however, he turned his attention to the slate business, and the firm of which he was a member received a medal at the Centennial Exposition in 1876 for the excel-
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lence of material and the style of finish of their work. He continued in that line until 1881, when he retired from manufacturing and invested in mining property in Colorado, where he still holds several valuable claims, but retains his residence in Allentown. He is a member of the Episcopal church, and gives his political support to the Democratic party. He has actively supported many movements to promote social, intellectual, material and moral development and military af- fairs in Lehigh county.
Dr. Martin married Anna M. Dresher, daugh- ter of Nathan and Mary Elizabeth (Zeller) Dresher, and of this marriage were born three children: George Dresher, deceased; Nathan Dresher and May Elizabeth Martin. The second of the sons, Nathan Dresher Martin, ac- quired his education in the public schools of Allentown, graduating from the high school, and at Muhlenberg College, which he entered in 1886 and from which he graduated in 1890. He has never engaged in either pro- fessional or active business work. He is a mem- ber of Grace (Protestant Episcopal) church, and is actively identified with the Brotherhood of St. Andrew and the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation. In politics, he is a Republican.
Mrs. Henry F. Martin (nee Anna M. Dresher) is a descendant of an old and honored German ancestry dating from pre-revolutionary times. The founder of her family in America was her great-grandfather, Philip Dresher, who came from Wurtemberg, Germany, about 1744, and whose son Conrad (died in 1828) was father of Philip Dresher. Philip Dresher married Anna Trexler, and their children were Nathan, and Judith, who became the wife of John Reiter. Nathan Dresher was born in Longswamp township, Berks county, on the farm of his grandfather, Conrad Dresher, February 18, 1815, and died September 10, 1900. His father died when he was twelve years of age, and when he was eighteen the family removed to Allentown. He attended Allentown Academy and a similar school in Doylestown, and acquired a liberal education. He passed some time in Philadelphia, where he studied music
and became a most proficient performer on the violin. He engaged in the lumber business in Allentown with Hoffman Brothers, who were then located where Hersh & Sons' hardware store now stands. Later he embarked in the lum- ber business on his own account on Hamilton street, above Ninth, adjoining his home, and was so engaged until 1856, when he retired and was succeeded by Edwin Jonas & Willoughby Trexler. In 1868 he resumed the lumber busi- ness, in partnership with his son Daniel and Ja- cob Grim. His son died the next year, and he retired, being succeeded by Jacob Grim, Reuben D. Butz and Benjamin Kline, Colonel Harry Trexler having leased the old place.
Nathan Dresher married, March 15, 1842, Mary E. Zeller, daughter of Rev. Daniel Zeller, a clergyman of the Reformed church. Of this marriage were born three children: Daniel A .; Anna M., who became the wife of Dr. Henry F. Martin ; and Mary E. Dresher.
HARRY E. GRIM, proprietor of the Wen- nersville Hotel in Wennersville, Pennsylvania, was born at Allentown, Lehigh county, November 6, 1871.
He is descended in the paternal line from good old Revolutionary stock, and is a representative of a colonial family that was established in Penn- sylvania at an early period in the development of the state. His paternal great-great-grand- father was Heinrich Grim, who married Miss Hot- tenstein, and among their children was David Grim, the great-grandfather, whose birth occur- red in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and who, joining the American forces at the time of the Revolutionary war, rose to the rank of colonel in Washington's army. He wedded Miss Hannah Knapp, and their family included Peter Knapp Grim, who was born on the 20th of January, 1829, in Lehigh county. He has for many years made his home in Allentown, and for a long period was engaged in the tanning business, but withdrew from the trade in 1881, and is now liv- ing a retired life. He married Miss Elizabeth Mosser, who was born in Lehigh county in 1827, and also survives. Her father. Jacob Mosser,
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who was a tanner by occupation, was called to his final rest in his seventy-ninth year. Unto the marriage of Peter K. and Elizabeth (Mosser) Grim were born nine children, of whom David Grim, father of Harry E. Grim, is the eldest. Ellen, the second child of Peter K. and Eliza- beth Grim, is now the wife of William J. Fred- crick and has three children, Bessie, Mabel and Lillian. Kate, the third member of the family, is unmarried. Amanda is the wife of John T. Hart- zell, and their children are: Elizabeth, the wife of Tilden Kelchner ; Florence, the wife of Lyman Clark ; Ralph, Catherine, and John. Emma, the fifth child of Peter K. Grim, is unmarried. Jacob WV., a member of the firm of Grim Broth- ers, brick manufacturers of Allentown, has been married twice. His first wife was Mary Miller, by whom he had one child, Anna, and his second wife was Aggie Miller, a sister of the first wife. Albert P. married Tillie Hauck, and they have one daughter, Florence. R. Tillie is the wife of Charles J. Apple and has two children, May and Charles. Annie is the wife of L. O. Shankwiler and has four children : Claude, Edna, Raymond and Anna.
David M. Grim, the father of Harry E. Grim, was born in Lehigh county, learned the tanner's trade in early life, and followed that pursuit until 1886. He then turned his attention to farming in Dorneysville, where he still resides. He mar- ried Miss Sarah Shaffer, and they became the parents of seven children, Harry E. being the eldest. J. Peter married Grace J. Kern and has two children, Anora M. and Luther D. Frank D. wedded Emma Fleming and has one child, Earle. William R. married Sadie Miller and has one son, Raymond. Helen E., Lula J. and Ida are all at home.
Harry E. Grim acquired his education in the public schools of Allentown, which he attended until about fifteen years of age, when he began learning the plumber's trade with the firm of Birchall & Parton, of Allentown, in whose ser- vices he remained for three years. After he had completed his trade he worked for one year for Thomas Yeager, and afterward for one year for Samuel Swartz. He next spent eighteen months
in the employ of his uncles, constituting the firm of Grim Brothers, proprietors of a brick yard of Allentown, and during the succeeding year and a half he was engaged in plumbing as an em- ploye of John Bittling. For eight and a half years he was in the service of Evan Seagraves & Company, plumbers of Allentown, and in April, 1904, he leased the Wennersville Hotel, which he is still conducting, having made it one of the best road houses in Lehigh county.
In his political views Mr. Grim is a Republi- can, and is now serving as assistant postmaster at the Eckert postoffice. Fraternally, he is con- nected with the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, belonging to Lodge No. 753 of Al- lentown. He is also a member of Lodge No. 110 of the Fraternal Order of Eagles at Allentown. He was married in 1893 to Miss Sarah M. Otto, and they are now the parents of three children- Lillian O., born February 26, 1894; Evelyn R., born January 13, 1896; and Calvin O., born No- vember 7, 1902.
WILLIAM F. NEFF, one of the leading merchants of Allentown, Pennsylvania, whose business transactions have been straightforward and upright, and who has built up for himself a reputation as a good citizen, contributing liber- ally of his time and means to whatever tends to the general welfare, and by his industry and en- terprise affording a worthy example to others, was born in Slatington, Pennsylvania, November 20, 1865. The pioneer ancestor of the family came from Germany at an early day. The name at that time was spelled Neif, but later was changed to Neff, as at present.
John Neif (great-grandfather) was born in Lynn township, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, and he is the first of the family of whom there is any authentic information. He was a lifelong resident of that township, followed agricultural pursuits, and in addition to this was a mason by trade. He married a Miss Oswald, and they reared a family of four sons, namely: John, who followed farming in Lynn township; he was bachelor until about sixty years of age, when he married the widow of his brother Henry. Jonas
I. F. neff
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B., mentioned hereinafter. Elias, who was a mason by trade, and later devoted his time to farming in Lynn township; he married Lydia Ann Mosser, who bore him a number of children. Henry, who was a merchant at Cherry Hollow, Monroe county ; he married and was the father of one child, Quincy Neff.
Jonas B. Neff (grandfather) was born in Lynn township, Pennsylvania, about 1803. In early life he gained a thorough knowledge of farming, which occupation he followed there- after, conducting his operations in Lynn town- ship. For fourteen years he served as captain in the state militia, and his political affiliations were with the Democratic party. He married Mary Magdalene Mosser, a daughter of Jacob Mosser, who was a farmer and merchant, and a son of Burkhart Mosser, who came from Ger- many. Their children were as follows: Nathan, who died in 1852, unmarried ; he was a mason by trade. Edward, who died at the age of thirty years, unmarried. Jonas, who died when about the age of forty years, unmarried. Duan, men- tioned hereinafter. Matilda, who became the wife of David Weaver, a carpenter and farmer, a resi- dent of Germansville, Pennsylvania, and they are the parents of three children: Thomas, Sa- rah and Ella Weaver. Jonas B. Neff, father of these children, died in 1867, and was survived by his wife, who passed away in 1885.
Duan Neff (father) was born on a farm in Lynn township, Pennsylvania, July 19, 1839. He was reared and educated there, attending the old country school, which was located about three miles from his home. He served an apprentice- ship at the trade of carpenter in Slatington, re- turning to his home on Saturday in order to spend the Sabbath day with his family. He followed that line of work until about 1878, and during this time erected many residences, school houses, and two churches in Slatington, giving employ- ment to a number of skilled workmen, all of the window cases, doors and other things being got- ten out by hand at that time. Among the struc- tures which stand as monuments to his skill and ability are the following: the Presbyterian chruch, St. John's Reformed church, the Slating-
ton Knitting Mill, and the American House. Mr. Neff casts his vote with the Democratic party, the principles of which he believes to be for the best form of government. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Slating- ton Lodge, No. 634; Slatington Encampment, No. 230, I. O. O. F., of which he was a charter member ; the American Mechanics of Slatington ; Samuel H. Kress Post, Grand Army of the Re- public, of Slatington ; and the Knights of Honor of Slatington.
January 2, 1859, Duan Neff was united in marriage to Amelia Hunsicker, who was born in Washington township, Pennsylvania, March II, 1840, a daughter of Dennis and Esther (Smith) Hunsicker and granddaughter of Peter and Mary (Hartman) Hunsicker, whose family con- sisted of nine children, as follows : Dennis, Lydia, Caroline, Royal, Mary, Ezra, Kufina, Edwin and Frena Hunsicker. Peter Hunsicker (grandfa- ther) was a farmer in Washington township, and an active participant in the war of 1812. Den- nis Hunsicker (father) was born in Washington township, was a farmer by occupation, and by his marriage to Esther Smith the following named children were born: Harrison, who died in early life; Amandus, who also died in early life ; Amelia, aforementioned as the wife of Duan Neff ; Leon, who married Sarah Kuntz, and they are the parents of one child, Ida; the family re- side in Slatington ; Alfred, who married Isabella Remaly, and their children are: William, Clyde, Minnie, James, and Mary ; the family reside in Washington township, where Mr. Hunsicker is engaged in farming. Nine children were the issue of the marriage of Duan and Amelia ( Hun- sicker) Neff, namely: I. Ida Virginia, who died in infancy. 2. James, who also died in infancy. 3. Allen A., who married Mahala Leiby, of Elys- berg, Pennsylvania, who bore him one child, Liz- zie : after the death of his wife, Allen A. married Mrs. Almeda Kutz, and one child has been born of this union, Emily ; the family reside in Allen- town. 4. William F., mentioned hereinafter. 5. Emma E., who became the wife of Edward L. Krause, of Slatington, and two children were born to them: Antoinette Amelia, who died in
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infancy ; and Helen. Mr. Krause is a manufac- turer of noiseless school slates and the inventor of several machines for making slates and pencils. 6. Ella E., a dressmaker. 7. Melvin B., who mar- ried Katie Morehead; he is president of Neff, Chattoe & Co., manufacturers of stained glass windows. 8. Calvin N., who died at the age of four years. 9. Walter C., who died at the age of nine years. Mr. Neff and his family are mem- bers of St. John's Reformed church of Slating- ton.
William F. Neff spent his boyhood days in Slatington, attended the public schools thereof, and for seven years following the completion of his studies worked in the slate quarries. In 1883 he engaged in the slate roof business, and fol- lowed the same until 1893, a period of ten years, when he came to Allentown and engaged in the stove, sheet metal work and tile roofing business. His store, which is located on the corner of North Hall and North Seventh streets, is twenty by one hundred feet, with a basement the entire length of the store. Here he handles kitchen furnishing goods, stoves, ranges and furnaces. His shop is twenty by eighty feet, three stories and basement, and here he manufactures sky- lights, galvanized and copper cornices and sheet metals of all kinds, employing none but skilled workmen, and thus his work is performed in a thoroughly reliable manner. Mr. Neff is the ex- clusive handler of tile roofing, and has done the best and finest roofing in the city of Allentown, Philadelphia, and has gone as far west as Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, and also throughout New Jersey and Delaware. He is a member of Le- high Lodge, No. 83, of Allentown, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Encampment, and the Euterpean Orotorio Society of Allentown. He is a Democrat in politics.
On November 21, 1890, Mr. Neff married Cora J. Krause, who was born in Lowhill township, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania July 6, 1868, a daugther of Wilson and Abigail (Clauss) Krause, a granddaughter of Frederick and Cath- arine Krause, the former named a native of Hei- delberg township, a great-granddaughter of George Krause, also a native of Heidelberg town-
ship, whose father emigrated to this country from Germany at an early date. Wilson Krause ( fa- ther ) followed the occupation of farming in Low- hill township, his native place, and by his mar- riage to Abigail Clauss was the father of five children, namely: Richard A., who married El- len Leh, and their children are: Marcus D., Mamie A. and Harold W. Oliver N., who mar- ried Martha Steckel, no issue. Cora J., afore- mentioned as the wife of William F. Neff. Annie V., who became the wife of Charles Bradbury, and their children are: Marion A. and Blanche K. Eugene W., who married Annie Wagner, and their children are: Daisy, Clarence, Llewel- lyn and Earl. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Neff consist of five children, as follows: Florence A., Russel M., Mabel A., Hilda E., and Esther K. Mr. Neff and his family are members of St. Andrew's Reformed church, one of the finest chruches in the state, in which they take an active and prominent part ; it is located near their home. Mr. Neff was one of the original fifty-four mem- bers who organized the congregation and ob- tained the charter.
ROBERT IREDELL, JR., in whose death Allentown lost one of its most progressive citi- zens and enterprising journalists, was descended from ancestry honorable and distinguished. In his veins mingled the blood of English and Quaker parentage. Other representatives of the name left their impress for all time upon the progress and development of eastern Pennsylvania and other sections of the country. Among the early distinguished jurists of America was Justice Ire- dell, contemporary of General Washington, whose confidence and respect he enjoyed to a high degree.
Robert Iredell, Jr., was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, March 17, 1844, and was a son of Robert and Teressa (Jones) Iredell. His father enjoyed distinction in Pennsylvania as a journal- ist, and for years was at the head of the Norris- town Herald and Free Press, which was estab- lished in 1796. He survived his son, being eighty- four years of age at the time of the death of Robert Iredell, Jr. His wife possessed literary
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ability of a high order, and was a refined cultured lady, whose example as a wife, mother and friend is indeed worthy of emulation. Her patriotic spirit led to the large assistance she rendered to the families of the soldiers at the front, and she also spent many hours in caring for the sick and wounded who were brought from the scene of battle to their home in Norristown. In her fam- ily were five sons and a daughter, but two of the sons died in infancy, and the daughter, Phebe, passed away a number of years ago.
Robert Iredell, Jr., was fortunate in that his boyhood days were spent in the atmosphere of a refined home. He was provided with good edu- cational privileges, and in his youth attended a boy's seminary in Norristown, Pennsylvania, con- ducted by Samuel Aaron, who was one of the noted educators of that day, and was also a most eloquent speaker and famous abolitionist. Robert Iredell was an apt student, and made rapid pro- gress in school. He not only mastered the branches of study, but also imbibed many of his professor's ideas concerning the slavery ques- tion. In the early years of the Civil war, when the demand of his country for men had depleted his father's printing office, he left school to enter the office, and from that time until his death was continuously engaged in newspaper work as ed- itor, publisher and proprietor. In his boyhood he thoroughly mastered the printer's art, and this enabled him in later years to carefully direct the labors of those who served him. He early began to write for his father's paper, and when still but a young man made an honored name for himself in journalistic circles. In September, 1862, at the time of the emergency call, when but eighteen years of age, he enlisted in the state militia in order to repel the invasion of the Confederate troops into Pennsylvania. He became a mem- ber of the Company D, Eleventh Regiment Penn- sylvania Militia, under Captain William H. Cook and Colonel Charles A. Knoderer. The regi- ment was in service for only twelve days, and Mr. Iredell then returned to the printing office, re-entering the field of labor from which he never deviated throughout the remainder of his active career.
In 1864 Mr. Iredell became one of the owners of the paper, in connection with Morgan R. Wills, and on the admission of Howard M. Jenkins to the firm, the business style of Wills, Iredell & Jenkins was assumed. Not long afterward, however, Mr. Jenkins withdrew. In the winter of 1868 the firm of Wills & Iredell purchased the Lehigh Register, a weekly paper published in Allentown by Elisha Forest. For several months the firm continued the publication of their two papers, Mr. Iredell having the Register under his immediate charge, while Mr. Wills managed the Herald and Free Press at Norristown. In May, 1869, Mr. Iredell sold his interest in the Norris- town paper to his partner and became sole owner of the Register. In the meantime the office had been thoroughly equipped with modern ma- chinery and all the new ideas and methods of journalism had been introduced. In 1870 he began the publication of the Daily Chronicle, giving its first issue to the public March 3, 1870. In 1872 he purchased the Lecha Patriot, a Ger- man weekly paper, which he conducted in the German language during the campaign of that year, and in December, 1872, he merged it with the Lehigh Register. March 19, 1875, he pur- chased the old Daily News, which he merged with the Chronicle under the name of the Chronicle and News. The paper was then enlarged, and the subscription price raised to ten cents a week. In November, 1877, the Daily Herald was estab- lished by Mr. Iredell, and merged with the Chronicle and News. The Chronicle and News is owned and carried on by the widow of Mr. Iredell, also the Lehigh Register. In an edi- torial published by a contemporary at the time of the death of Mr. Iredell appeared the following :
"His paper always stood for everything that was upright and patriotic, and every measure looking to the advancement and prosperity of our country and city found in him an advocate and upholder, and by pen and purse he strove to add to everything that promised to contribute to our common weal. He yielded to no man in his love for the home of his adoption, and no man took greater pride in our material resources and pros- perity. He possessed the impulses, the trained mind, the intellectual capacity and the energetic
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spirit that caused him to inscribe his name upon the pages of journalism in his native and adopted county in characters that will long withstand the mutations of time. He has left the monument to his worth behind him in the paper of which he was the founder, publisher and editor, and which he conducted for nearly a quarter of a century- the Chronicle and News, and its weekly edition, the Lehigh Register. He was an original, accom- plished, virile and graceful writer. He wrote from the inspiration of a mind well stored with knowledge and enriched by wide and careful read- ing. He was in close touch with all those cur- rents of events which shaped, controlled and guided the destiny of our country in his time, and though he left in his later years much to his sub- ordinates, he continually kept a closer and more careful supervision of the journal which was always a source of just pride and gratification to him.
"To the Republican party he ever gave stanch and unswerving allegiance and loyal fealty. He never wavered in his support of the grand prin- ciples of which it is the exponent. He never knew the political trickster's ways, nor ever allowed personal prejudices or preferences to blind him to the duty he owed the party of his adoption. Though an uncompromising partisan who was able to give and take blows, and who wielded a vigorous and effective pen in the numerous politi- cal battles that took place during his career as edi- tor, and which were often waged with unrelent- ing energy and bitterness-when the smoke of the conflict had cleared away and the issues were de- cided, he never cherished any animosity against his political opponents or entertained a feeling of resentment, and it is a noteworthy fact that among his closest personal friends and intimates were many found in the ranks of the opposing party.'
Mr. Iredell was never a politician in the sense . of office seeking, yet he held two positions of im- portance in his community. Early in the '70s he was appointed bank assessor by Governor Hartranft, and occupied the position through sev- eral terms. He was for nine years postmaster of Allentown, and it was during his first term that the delivery system was introduced. He made a popular official, and administered the affairs of the office with a fidelity that won him high com- mendation from the postal authorities. He was for one term a member of the Republican central committee of Pennsylvania from Lehigh county.
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