USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. I > Part 74
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He belonged to no secret organization, but was one of the founders and the first secretary of the Livingston Club, and was also a member of the Clover Club.
Perhaps no better estimate or picture of Mr. Iredell, when judged from the standpoint of his personal characteristics, could be given than ap- peared in one of the local papers published at the time of his death and which said:
"He had the qualities which called forth the love and respect of those who knew him most intimately. In those whom he had confidence, he revealed the generosity of a mind in which there wasn't a mean strain, and there are many, who, in his death, will realize the fact that they have lost a friend and benefactor. His trust and confidence were often abused, but his forgiving nature was never appealed to in vain. He possessed a tender and sympathetic heart, and we can lay no truer tribute upon his coffin lid than this-he was a true, faithful friend, a tender husband, a loving and indulgent father.'
Mr. Iredell was united in marriage in 1870 to Miss Mathilde von Tagen, who is very prominent not only in the social circles of Allentown, but is also widely known among the Daughters of the American Revolution, and who is now serving for the second term as regent of Liberty Bell Chapter of Allentown. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Iredell: Edmund Lowell, Flor- ence, James Wilkins, deceased ; Robert, deceased ; Lloyd Jones, and Rodney Rodgers.
BERGER. Florence Iredell, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Iredell, is the wife of Rob- ert James Berger, an enterprising business man connected with the Nitro-Powder Company of Kingston, New York. He was born in Catasau- qua, Pennsylvania, in 1870, and is a son of Milton and Caroline (Reich) Berger. The father was twice married, his first union being with a sister of his second wife. By that marriage there were three children : Charles Berger, who wedded Mary Kramer and had one daughter, Louise ; Milton, who married, and has four children-Dorothy. Marjorie, Ruth and Annie ; and Ida Virginia, the wife of William A. Endy. To Milton and Caro-
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line Berger were born two children, John F. and Robert J. The former married Mary Snyder, and has one son, Edgar Milton.
Robert Berger, the younger son, spent the first nine years of his life in Catasauqua, and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Al- lentown. He attended the public schools, later was a student in Muhlenberg College, and after- ward entered Eastman's Business College of Poughkeepsie, New York, in which he was grad- uated. He then returned to Allentown, and en- tered upon his business career as a member of the Allentown Shirt Company, with which he was connected for five or six years. He then closed out this enterprise and became connected with the United States Dynamite Company, with which he continued for eight years. In 1903 he entered into business relations with the Ditmas Powder Company, and in 1904 he joined the Nitro- Powder Company, of Kingston, New York, and in this connection he handles all the quarry busi- ness in this section of Pennsylvania. He is also associated with Jesse R. Brown as agents for the New York Mutual Life Insurance Company, with offices in the Commonwealth Building in Allentown.
Mr. Berger belongs to the Livingston Club, the leading social organization of Allentown, and in his political affiliation is a Republican. Both he and his wife belong to the Reformed church, and Mrs. Berger is the corresponding secretary of the Daughters of the American Revolution. They have one child, Robert Iredell Berger.
HERMAN SIMON, of Easton, Pennsylva- nia, is known throughout the mercantile world as the founder and proprietor of one of the largest silk manufactories in existence, and one of the leading industries of the state.
Mr. Simon was born April 29, 1850, at Frank- fort-on-the-Main, Germany. His father, Robert Simon, spent his early years in Holland, and, be- ing a tobacco expert, in 1849 took up his resi- dence in the city in which his son was born, one of the largest commercial centers of the German Empire. He was a man of sterling character and large business ability, and amassed ample
means. He married Marie Broell, a native of Frankfort-on-the-Main, and they became the par- ents of two sons, Robert and Herman, both of whom were born on the family estate. Mr. Si- mon died in 1888.
Herman, elder of the two sons of Robert and Marie ( Broell) Simon, received his education in his native city. He is a graduate of the Weaving School at Muelheim on the Rhine, and acquired a thorough knowledge of silk manufacturing and everything pertaining to it in Italy, France, Switzerland and Germany. He inherited the business tastes and abilities of his father, from whom he also received somewhat of the inspira- tion which led him into fortune's highway. The elder Simon was too well established to think of removal to a strange land, but he was a close observer of events, and he was so much in sym- pathy with American ideas and had such strong faith in the stability of the United States govern- ment, that in the early days of the Civil war, when that government was seeking means for the maintenance of its army and navy, he in- vested a considerable portion of his means in its bonds.
In 1868, at the age of eighteen, Herman Si- mon came to the United States, landing in Bal- timore, whence he came to New York City. There he entered the silk department of the wholesale store of A. T. Stewart & Co., then the leading merchants of the metropolis, in order to familiarize himself with the wants of the pub- lic with reference to silken fabrics. His brother Robert came two years afterward, and the two rented a couple of rooms and began the manu- facture of silk upon a small scale. This was a period of unremitting industry, activity and en- terprise. The brothers labored constantly with their own hands, not only every day but nearly every night, and often until nearly daybreak. Their effort found abundant reward. Having learned the public taste, and turning out no goods but of exceptional quality, their trade developed rapidly, and they were enabled to extend their operations into a broader field, and in 1874, with some aid afforded them by their father, they es- tablished the large silk mills at Union Hill, New
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Jersey, and which are still operated by Mr. Si- go unspoken of save by the recipients of his mon, furnishing employment to more than one thousand operatives.
In 1883 Herman Simon came to Easton, where he founded the large silk mills with which his name is indissolubly connected, and which have been developed into one of the most import- ant manufacturing institutions of the city, and one of the largest of its class in the world. Ev- ery improvement in machinery and method is brought into use as soon as its utility is demon- strated, and eleven hundred operatives are kept employed. The product of the mills is of the finer grades of silk and of the first quality, and is favorably known in every market reached by American commerce. A distributing office is maintained at No. 63 Greene street, New York City.
Robert Simon, the younger of the brothers, died in July, 1901, deeply regretted by all who were brought into intercourse with him. Since that time the entire conduct of the business has devolved upon Mr. Herman Simon. In all its large and diversified affairs he follows the same thorough course in which he set out, keeping in close touch with his agents and employes, and an intimate acquaintance with trade conditions throughout the world. His relations with those who are in his employ are peculiarly cordial, and he enjoys their confidence and esteem in the highest degree, while the business community look upon him as one of their most thoroughly representative members, and one of the most useful residents of the city in all that pertains to its commercial and social life.
Mr. Simon is a member of various leading social organizations-the Pomfret Club of Eas- ton, the Art Club and the German Club, both of New York City, and the German Club of Ho- boken, New Jersey. In religion, he was reared in the German Reformed church, but is now an attendant of the Protestant Episcopal church. Of kindly and sympathetic disposition, his bene- factions to benevolent institutions and to deserv- ing individuals are many and generous, but he is so devoid of ostentation that his good deeds
bounty. He is a man of wide information, has traveled much, in Europe as well as in the United States, and his beautiful residence in Easton is adorned with costly furniture and art treasures, which he has at various times brought with him from abroad.
DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. The Daughters of the Amer- ican Revolution of Lehigh county, led by their Regent, Mrs. Robert Iredell, held the state con- ference at Allentown, November 16, 1904.
The State Regent, Mrs. W. F. Reeder, of Bellefonte, on account of the death of her hus- band, was unable to attend, and the Vice-Regent, Mrs. Henry C. Pennypacker, presided at the bus- iness meetings. The date was selected as Military Day, on which the Liberty Bell Chapter erected a beautiful bronze tablet on the court house com- memorating the going of Companies B and D, Pennsylvania National Guard, to the Spanish- American War. The address, presentation and unveiling of the tablet were made by the Regent, Mrs. Robert Iredell. The response and accept- ance for the county was made by presiding Judge, Frank M. Trexler ; and the mayor of Allentown, Mr. Fred E. Lewis, responded for the city. Gen- eral J. P. S. Gobin made a stirring address. Companies B and D of the Fourth Regiment, Pennsylvania National Guard, Colonel C. T. O'Neill commanding, with staff and field officers, paraded and attended the exercises which took place in the court house. A large number of Pennsylvania Daughters of the American Revolu- tion were present, including the Vice-President- General of the National Society for Pennsylvania, and other distinguished women. Mrs. Robert Iredell, Regent, presided, while Mayor Lewis was master of ceremonies. After the exercises the unveiling took place on the plaza of the court house. The Regent, surrounded by her chapter officers, awaited the signal of the regimental bugler, who gave the salute to the colors, when she drew the flag, exposing to view the beautiful tablet made by the Faul E. Caberet Company of
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New York. Then followed "The Star Spangled Banner." Many were the congratulations to the Regent and her chapter.
The morning of the same day was taken up with the opening exercises in Zion Reformed church, under the floor of which the Liberty Bell was secreted during the Revolution, while the British occupied Philadelphia. After an invoca- tion by the rector, Rev. Dr. Hacker, there was an address of welcome by the Mayor, Mr. Fred E. Lewis, and then an address by the Regent, Mrs. Iredell, followed by solos beautifully sung by Mrs. Charles D. Shrady and Mrs. Robert James Berger, daughter of the Regent in a most artistic manner. This was followed by the sing- ing of "My Country 'Tis of Thee," the audi- ence joining, which closed the exercises.
The following day, Thursday, was given up to the business pertaining to the state affairs of the Pennsylvania Daughters of the American Revolution. The same evening a brilliant recep- tion was given at the residence of the Regent, Mrs. Robert Iredell, to the visiting Daughters and about one hundred other guests. On Friday morning, November 18th, a business session was called which adjourned at twelve o'clock. The whole conference then assembled at two o'clock to go to Bethlehem, where a reception was given the visiting Daughters at the old Sun Inn, after visiting the historical spots. This ended the eighth annual conference of the Daughters of Pennsylvania.
At the closing session, the following resolu- tions were unanimously adopted :
The Pennsylvania Daughters of the American Revolution are indebted to the Liberty Bell Chap- ter for a delightful week of exceptional interest. From the opening exercises in the beautiful church built on hallowed ground to the final visit to historic Bethlehem, will be a pleasant memory to the fortunate attendants to the eighth confer- ence. We desire to thank the Liberty Bell Chap- ter for giving us the privilege of listening to the eloquent words of Judge Trexler and General Gobin, which filled us with fresh enthusiasm, and we congratulate the Chapter on the splendid work it hos accomplished.
To the Regent, Mrs. Robert Iredell, we
especially extend our thanks for her interesting and instructive addresses, as well as for her de- lightful hospitality extended to visiting Daugh- ters. We thank the city of Allentown, which has so warmly welcomed us through the gracious words of its mayor, Mr. Fred E. Lewis. We would express our sincere appreciation to the members of the press who have so courteously recorded our proceedings, and also to the ladies who so kindly sang for our entertainment ; and, indeed, to all who have contributed so generously to the pleasure of our visit.
Signed : M. F. HANCOCK, M. B. L. LIEPER, R. Y. ROBINSON.
GEORGE W. MACKEY, deceased, who was a prominent member of the Northampton county bar, was a grandson of Joseph Mackey, a native of Schuyler county, New York, who moved after his marriage to Susquehanna county in the same state, where he engaged extensively in farming. He took an active part in local affairs and was elected by his neighbors to several township offices. Politically he was a Whig. He and his wife were members of the Baptist church. He married Esther Sammis, and their children were : David, mentioned at length hereinafter ; Zopher ; and a daughter who became the wife of William J. Bolton. The latter went to California by the overland route, making the entire journey on muleback. Falling ill he was abandoned by his companions, who some time after leaving him were captured by the Indians. Mr. Bolton re- covered and was the only one of the company to reach California. Mr. Mackey, the father, died in 1850 and is buried in Clifford township, Sus- quehanna county. He left behind him the mem- ory of a good and useful man.
David Mackey, son of Joseph and Esther (Sammis) Mackey, was born in 1819 in Schuyler county, New York, and was all his life engaged in the labors of an energetic and practi- cal farmer. Philanthropy was one of his most salient characteristics, and he was always an un- tiring worker in the cause of humanity. He was a strong abolitionist, becoming identified with the movement long before the organization of the Republican party, of which he was an ardent
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supporter, taking a prominent part in its coun- cils. The cause of temperance found in him a warm advocate and one who was never weary in working in its behalf. He also took a deep interest in educational matters and in everything which contributed to the advancement of the community at large. He was a member of the Baptist church, in which he served as deacon from the age of fifteen until his death-a most remarkable record. He married Miranda, daughter of Nathan Griggs, of Connecticut. They were the parents of fourteen children, twelve of whom grew to maturity, and nine of whom are now living, viz. : George W., mentioned at length hereinafter ; M. C., who is a physician in Wav- erly, Pennsylvania ; Charles O., who is a physi- cian in Montrose, Pennsylvania : Lizzie E. : Lillie M. and Lovina M. (twins), who reside in Scran- ton, Pennsylvania ; Jennie A., who is the wife of William C. Tawer, of Cortland, New York ; Ada M., who married William Jones, of North Hec- tor, New York : and Anna Wilson, who is also a resident of the last-named place. The death of Mr. Mackey, the father of this family, while an irreparable loss to his family and friends, was mourned by the whole community as that of one whose place as a friend of humanity could not easily be filled.
George W. Mackey, son of David and Mir- anda (Griggs) Mackey, was born October 15, 1836, in Clifford township, Susquehanna county, New York. After receiving a common school ed- ucation he took a course of study at the State Normal School and subsequently graduated from Hartford University. He then returned home and spent some years teaching school in the win- ter, and during the summer acting as the assistant of his father in the labors of the farm. Feeling a decided inclination for the legal profession. he went in 1873 to Great Bend, Pennsylvania, and there entered the office of the Hon. S. B. Chase. After three years close application to the study of law he was admitted in 1876 to the Susque- hanna county bar. Later in the same year he moved to Bangor, where he was admitted to the Northampton county bar, and where he resided up to the time of his death. Here in the course of
years he built up for himself an enviable reputa- tion, being widely known as a man of excellent judicial ability, sound judgment and sterling in- tegrity of character.
Incessant and engrossing as were the demands of Mr. Mackey's profession and unwearied as was his devotion to it, he found time to pay some attention to public affairs, and was, in fact, one of the leading and active builders of the borough of Bangor. The extent of his labors as a citizen may be inferred from the number of positions of trust and responsibility which he was called upon to fill. He was attorney for the borough of Bangor for seventeen years, during which time he compiled the "Borough Ordinances" of 306 pages. For twenty years he served as a member of the board of directors of the Bangor and Port- land Railroad Company, in which he also held the offices of attorney and secretary. He was for a few years a stockholder and also secretary of the Bangor Union Slate Company, subsequently becoming its president, an office which he held for five years. He was a stockholder, director and president of the Bangor Superior Slate Com- pany, and later held the office of president of the Bangor Slate Company. He was a stockholder and a director in the First National Bank of Pen Argyl, for which he also served as solicitor. During the construction of the Pennsylvania. Poughkeepsie & Boston Railroad he served as attorney for the company, and helped to organize the State Belt Electric Street Railway, of which he was one of the directors and for which he served as solicitor. In addition to these multi- plied cares and responsibilities, a few of which it would seem would be sufficent to employ the time and energies of any one man, Mr. Mackey was active in benevolent and religious labors. He was an ardent worker in the temperance cause and a staunch supporter of the Baptist church, of which he was a member. He gave much valuable time to the Sunday school, of which he was at one period of his life, the able superintendent. He was foremost in every good work.
Mr. Mackey married, May 25, 1864, Isadore C., daughter of Daniel and Theodosia McCullum, and they were the parents of two children : Harry
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A., who was born in 1869; and Grace L., who was born in 1871, and is now deceased. The son, Harry A., graduated from the Scranton high school in 1884. In 1886 he was a graduate of Keystone Academy, where he took the gold medal for the best scholarship in Latin. In 1890 he grad- uated from Lafayette College, and in 1893 from the University of Pennsylvania. He took a post- graduate course at the latter institution in 1894, in which year he was admitted to the Philadel- phia county bar. He is now an attorney in the city of Philadelphia.
Mrs. Mackey, who was born August 29, 18-, in Bridgewater township, Susquehanna county, New York, was a woman of great refinement and intelligence, and liberal culture. The produc- tions of her pen indicated talent of no common order. Like her husband she was active in all good works, and was especially devoted to the interests of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, of which she was an earnest and indefati- gable member. The loveliness of her character was such as to cause her to be universally beloved. Her death, which occurred April 8, 1898, was to her family a bereavement not to be described, and to her host of friends a loss scarcelv to be estimated.
The death of Mr. Mackey, which was ex- tremely sudden, occurred at his home, October 6, 1903. The sense of deep and widespread bereave- ment which followed the announcement of the sad event was such as could not fail to be caused by the death of one who, in all the relations of life, had set so admirable an example and been so universally loved and respected. Mr. Mackey is survived not only by his son Harry A., men- tioned above, but also by two sisters residing in Scranton, and two brothers who are practicing physicians in Lackawanna and Susquehanna counties. Among the many good works in which Mr. Mackey's life was so fruitful one of those by which he will be best known to posterity was the aid which he rendered in the hour of need to the church of which he was a member, going nobly to its rescue when the congregation had become involved in financial difficulties. At that time the congregation became incorporated as the
Mackey Memorial Baptist church, a title which it has since borne and by which it will ever con- tinue to be known.
ST. JOSEPH'S GERMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. St. Joseph's German Catholic par- ish at East Mauch Chunk, Carbon county, Fenn- sylvania, was founded in 1871. At first the spir- itual wants of the few Catholics residing there were provided for by the Rev. G. Frende, of Le- highton, Pennsylvania. In 1874, the number of German Catholics having increased through the zealous efforts of Rev. William Heinen, V. F., the parish residence was changed from Lehighton
to East Mauch Chunk. From here Rev. William Heinen and his assistants attended to the neigh- boring missions-Lehighton, Berlinsville, Slat- ington, Parryville, etc. As Vicar Forane he has ever been considerate for the needs of foreigners, aiding them in their efforts to obtain priests and churches. The present church in East Mauch Chunk is one of the finest edifices in the Lehigh Valley dedicated to divine worship.
In 1874 Rev. William Heinen established a school which has ever since been successfully con- ducted by the Sisters of Christian Charity. This order, founded by Rev. Mother Paulina, of Mallinckrodt, sister of the famous leader of the Center Party, Hermann of Mallinckrodt-highly esteemed in Europe on account of the ability of its members, was exiled during the persecution of Bismarck (Kulturkampf) in 1874, and has since then developed flourishing provinces in both North and South America.
WILLIAM A. SEIBERT, M. D., of Easton, widely known throughout Pennsylvania as an ac- complished practitioner of medicine, and as one of the foremost and most capable exponents of homeopathy, is a representative of a very large family whose members are to be found in many of the states of the American union. The ances- tral stock originated in South Prussia, and the first of the name to emigrate to this country was Nicholas, born in 1716, and who came in 1738, when twenty-two years of age. His descendants were so numerous (there having been more than
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one hundred named Jacob, John, George, etc.), that ancestral lines are exceedingly difficult to trace.
Nicholas the emigrant was probably the grandsire of Nicholas, who lived in Bucks county, and was probably born there, and who married Maria Rohrbach. John Seibert was a son of Nicholas, last named, and was grand- father of Dr. William A. Seibert. John Seibert was born in Upper Milford, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, in 1796, and died in 1854. He was a most industrious man, cultivating a farm and operating a linseed mill and a factory for weav- ing and making coverlets. He was a devout Lutheran. He married Elizabeth Housman, who was born in Lowhill in 1801, and died in 1872, surviving her husband eighteen years. They were the parents of four children : I. Peter, born in 1821, who resides in Allentown; 2. Lavina, who became the wife of David Kistler, and lived and died in Easton ; 3. Owen ; 4. John.
Owen, son of John and Elizabeth (Housman) Seibert, was born in Lowhill township, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, April 19, 1828. He was reared upon the parental farm and was educated in the common schools. For some years he fol- lowed the same agricultural and manufacturing pursuits as did his father before him, and at the place of his birth. After his marriage he re- moved to Easton, where as a merchant and man- ufacturer he was successfully engaged until 1884. He is now living there in pleasant retire- ment, in full enjoyment of all his powers, and sur- rounded by his children and children's children. He is a man who has borne an unblemished char- acter his life through. In religion he is a Lu- theran and in politics a Republican. He mar- ried Matilda Miller, who was born in Lynn, Le- high county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of George and Magdeline (Ettinger) Miller. Her father was born in 1798 and died in 1865, and her mother was born in 1804 and died in 1874. George Miller was a son of Peter Miller, who was born in 1772 and died in 1855, and a grand- son of Christian Miller, who was born in 1706 and died in 1785. The children of George and Magdeline Miller were Alfred, Mary (Bittner).
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