USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. I > Part 77
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Major Kauffman earned his military title by active service in the National Guard of the state. He was commissioned by Governor Hoyt pay- master and inspector of the Fourth Regiment with the rank of captain, and was afterward made aide-de-camp to General John F. Hartranft, di- vision commander of the Pennsylvania National Guard, with the rank of major. He enjoyed fra- ternal association in the Odd Fellows and Ma- sonic lodges, belonging to Lehigh Lodge, I. O. O. F., and to Barger Lodge, F. and A. M. He also attained the Knight Templar degree, and was a past eminent commander of Allen Commandery,
No. 20. No matter how great were his business and social obligations, he never neglected the higher and holier duties of life, his course being in consistent harmony with his membership in St. John's Lutheran church. He was a charter member of the leading social organization of Allentown, the Livingston Club. Major Kauff- man took great delight in travel, several times having made trips to Europe, and thus familiar- ized himself with the places of modern and his- toric interest in the old world.
In October, 1875, occurred the marriage of Major Kauffman and Miss Arabella Balliet, a daughter of Stephen Balliet, deceased, who was one of the prominent iron ore and furnace oper- ators in the Lehigh Valley. There are two sur- viving daughters of this marriage, Leila M. and Adele B. His devotion to the welfare and hap- piness of his wife and children was one of his strongest characteristics, and he also held friend- ship inviolable. No matter how many were the demands made upon his energies by his business interests, he always found a mo- ment for courteous attention to the ex- pressed opinions of any one who called. Possessing an even temperament and genial dis- position, he was at all times a gentleman, and it is said that if a public vote had been taken as to the most popular resident of Allentown Major Kauffman would by the consensus of public opin- ion receive the honor. Within the present year (1904), at the request of the state authorities, who desire to place a portrait of the most prom- inent and useful citizen of Lehigh county in the Hall of Fame at Harrisburg, a popular vote has resulted in designating Major Kauffman for that distinction. His heart was filled with the milk of human kindness, and he possessed to a marked degree the tact which not only makes friends with ease, but succeeds in retaining them.
He died March 10, 1900, and so greatly had he endeared himself to his fellow men and so prominently was he associated with the public life and the upbuilding of the city that his demise was regarded as a public calamity and occasioned uniform sorrow. The bar association of which
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he had long been a member held memorial ser- vices in his honor, on which occasion Arthur G. Dewalt, the president of the association said :
"On a summer evening, whilst the sun was slowly sinking to his bed in rosy clouds, and all nature was preparing for its rest, sauntering through a New England village church yard, I chanced upon a stone with this simple inscription on its face : 'A lover of his kind, and by his kind beloved.' How fitting would that same inscrip- tion be, if placed at the resting spot of him whose memory we to-day are met to commemorate. How true it is that he was a 'lover of his kind, and by his kind beloved.' When the startling report was given that Major Kauffman had died, grief in the community in which he was so well known, was also universal. It can be truthfully said that no one uttered any words but those of sorrow.
"In the profession which he followed, he be- came the confidant and adviser of many. Their troubles, their cares, their difficulties became his burden. And upon his honor and high sense of professional duty, those who sought his advice could always rely. 'His word was as good as his bond.' It required no paper writing as evidence of an agreement with this lawyer. His simple 'aye' was quite sufficient. How many enterprises which tended towards the good of all, did he fos- ter? How many poor and deserving young men did he aid? How great was his sympathy and generous conduct to all of those who needed help ? Those who knew him best can this best tell.
"I have said that this man was very human; had he been without fault, he would have been divine ; but his very faults were lovable. Where, in all your recollection, can you recall a better companion, truer friend and more social being than this, out late brother? Quick in his sym- pathies, loving in his disposition, open and truth- ful in his nature, he was a man without guile. He wore no mask. His face was as open as the brightness of the day. When you and I gathered to pay our last respects at his funeral ceremonies, we may have noticed the wealth of beauty in floral decorations that was strewn about his bier. Had those blossoms numbered thousands, they would not have been too many to voice the regrets of those he left ; had their fragrance been undy- ing and their bloom forever fresh, they could have been no sweeter nor brighter than the love in which we held him."
ANDREW SCHAN. In the legitimate channels of trade Mr. Schan won the success and recognition which is the sequel to well directed labor, sound judgment and untiring perseverance, and at the same time he has concerned himself with the affairs of his adopted state in a loyal and public-spirited way, so that the community ac- counts him one of its leading and representative citizens. He is a native of Baden Baden, Ger- many, the date of his birth being November 30, 1848.
The schools of his native land, Germany, af- forded Andrew Schan practical education which thoroughly qualified him to cope with the duties and responsibilities of an active career. He learned the trade of cabinet maker in his native country, and for many years was engaged in this pursuit. In 1866 he emigrated to the United States, locating in Easton, South Side, where he made his home up to the year 1871. He then removed to Easton and three years later began the manufacture of cigar boxes, which line of industry he has successfully followed up to the present time. The annual capacity of his plant is sixty-three thousand eight hundred and sev- enty boxes, and the wood used in the manufac- ture of the same is pure cedar, this being the best material for that purpose.
Mr. Schan is a strong advocate of the prin- ciples of Democracy. During the administration of Mayor Samuel Lesher, Mr. Shan was a member of the common council, and during his term of office introduced Article 18, which was a bill for the laying of sewers in the city of Easton. He has also been active in promoting other enterprises which have proved to be a last- ing benefit to the city. He is a member of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, the Improved Order of Red Men, and the Knights of Pythias. He is a director of the Easton Band, and is uni- versally admired and esteemed by all classes of citizens, irrespective of party feeling. In June, 1903, Mr. Schan took a trip to his native coun- try, where he spent a few months reviewing the scenes and associations of his youth. He also
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spent some time in the Swiss Mountains, Paris, and other places of note and interest in the old world, and visited all the principal attractions.
In 1871 Mr. Schan was united in marriage to Louisa Bitzer, a native of Easton, Pennsylvania, whose birth occurred July 15, 1853. Eight chil- dren were the issue of this union, seven of whom are living at the present time ( 1903). Emma R., born September 24, 1872; Mary L., born Feb- ruary 4, 1875; Sophia C., born May 13, 1877; Minnie C., born October 13, 1878; Andrew J., born March 21, 1880; William K., born July 8, 1883 ; Charles C., born November 10, 1884. Mr. Schan and his family are members of the Lu- theran church, in which he has held the office of elder and deacon for fifteen years.
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GEORGE WASHINGTON SHOEMAKER, one of the enterprising and successful busi- ness men of Allentown, Lehigh county, Pennsyl- vania, and a representative of a family who took up their residence in that section of the state many years ago, is a native of East Texas, Le- high county, Pennsylvania. His grandparents were Jonathan S. and Lydia Jarrett (Eisenhard) Shoemaker, and his parents were Charles Henry and Caroline (Yeager) Shoemaker, whose fam- ily consisted of twelve children, eight of whom are living at the present time : I. Remelia, wife of Andrew K. Jacks, and their children are : Helen, wife of Mr. Singmaster ; and Charles, unmarried. 2. George W., mentioned hereinafter. 3. Will- iam F., who married Elizabeth -, and their family consists of eight chlidren; 4. Amanda, wife of Israel Bauer, and mother of one child, Luella. 5. Elizabeth, wife of Harry C. Kepner, and their children are Charles and Anna. 6. Charles, who married Cora Hartman, and they are the parents of one child, Charles Henry. 7. Emma, wife of George Bolton, and mother of one child, Stanley. 8. Fred, who married Miss Wag- oner, and they have one child.
George W. Shoemaker acquired his prelimi- nary education in the public schools of his native town, and this was supplemented by attendance at the Hummelstown high school, from which he was graduated, after which he went to Phila-
delphia, attended the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, and was graduated therefrom. He then located in Newark, New Jersey, and estab- lished a pharmacy under the firm name of Hall & Shoemaker, which was conducted successfully for a period of one year. He then changed his place of residence to the city of Philadelphia, as- sumed the charge of a drug store located at the corner of Broad and Girard avenues, and after serving in that capacity for one year removed to Allentown in 1887 and purchased the drug busi- ness of Dr. E. G. Martin. During these past seventeen years the business has increased won- derfully both in volume and importance, and he is now the proprietor of an establishment which is well equipped with a full line of selected drugs and other articles pertaining to that line of busi- ness. In addition to this enterprise he operates a large stone cutting yard, and is a general con- tractor in buildings and bridges, also furnishing cut stone for the same. He is a Democrat in his political affiliations. He is a member of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, Improved Order of Red Men, Knights of the Golden Eagle, an active member of the Good Will Fire Com- pany, the Livingston Club, and is secretary of the building committee of Christ Evangelical church.
Mr. Shoemaker married Luella J. Weikel, only child of Alfred and Mary (Culver) Weikel, the former named being a son of Peter and Miss (Gruber) Weikel, and the latter a daughter of Samuel Culver. Three children were born of this union : Alfred W., Paul Culver, and Loraine Mary Shoemaker.
A. P. BALLIET was born in North White Hall township, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, De- cember 12, 1848. He attended the common schools of the township until 1864, when he en- tered his father's store as clerk and bookkeeper. In January, 1873, he accepted a position as cash- ier with the Lehigh Valley Iron Company ; after- wards was assistant superintendent of that com- pany until the company went into liquidation in 1879. After settling up the affairs of the old company he assisted in the organization of the Coplay Iron Company, Limited, in 1879 and
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1880. Then for a few years he assisted bookkeep- ers and merchants in straightening their ac- counts. In 1882 he took up the wholesale coal business in which he is still engaged. Besides, during this time he was engaged in the real es- ' tate and mercantile business, having an interest in a retail business at Ironton, and one at Cop- lay. He is also interested in the building of bitulithic roads known as Warren Brothers' bituminous macadam. He built Lehigh street at Allentown with that material in 1903.
He has served three years as a member of the school board in Coplay, and about twenty years in the town councils of the borough of Coplay. He was also elected a justice of the peace, but soon resigned. He also served nearly twenty- seven years on the Republican county commit- tee and claims to be the oldest member in service of that committee. He had been delegate twice to the state convention and numerous times a del- egate to the county conventions of his party. He has also been a member of congressional confer- ences between Berks and Lehigh and Lehigh and Northampton counties ; also served as a sub-com- mittee to revise the rules of his party on two occasions and has been chairman of county conventions and county meetings of his party. He is a member of and one of the organizers of the Coplay Fire Company, whose first president he was. He has held minor offices in the Re- formed church, of which he is a member, and a member of the Odd Fellows, the Patriotic Sons of America, and the Knights of Malta.
LEWIS LEVAN RONEY, who as a mem- ber of the firm of Roney & Berger stands at the head of the oldest shoe manufacturing establish- ment of Allentown, it being now one of the lead- ing productive industries of the city, is of Scotch- Irish lineage, although the ancestral connection of the family with Pennsylvania covers several generations. His grandfather, Daniel Roney, was a farmer of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and married Rebecca Abeason. Of the seven chil- dren born unto them, James Roney, father of Lewis L. Roney, was the fourth in order of birth.
James Roney was born in Newtown, Bucks
county, Pennsylvania, February 15, 1808, and his boyhood days were spent upon his father's farm, his time divided between the work of the fields and the acquirement of an education. He after- ward learned the trade of shoemaking in Trenton, New Jersey, where he spent two years, and about the time he attained his majority he went to South America, settling at Caracas, Venezuela, where he had charge of a copper mine. He afterward made his way to the copper mines of Arizona, where for six months he superintended a smelting plant. On the expiration of that period he re- turned to Pennsylvania, and at later dates worked at Trenton, New Jersey ; Wilmington, Delaware ; and Pottsville, Minersville, Beaver Meadow and Millerstown (now Macungie), Pennsylvania. His energies were directed to the manufacture of boots and shoes for those employed in the coal regions, and in April, 1843, he came to Allen- town, where he worked at the bench for a brief period. Later he began the manufacture of boots and shoes-the first representative of the busi- ness in this borough, and the founder of what has developed into one of its leading industries. From the southeast corner of Ninth and Hamil- ton streets, his first location, he removed to Hall and Hamilton streets, where he was associated for a year with Colonel T. H. Good, but during the greater part of the time he was sole proprietor of the en- terprise. He was the first man to purchase a sew- ing machine for use in the factory, and this he operated by hand. He developed his business along modern lines, keeping in touch with the progress made in shoe manufacture, and his fac- tory became one of the profitable industrial con- cerns of the city. About thirty-five years ago he retired from the business with a comfortable com- petence, but continued to make his home in Al- lentown until his death, which occurred in Janu- ary, 1899. Had he lived a month longer he would have reached the ninety-first milestone on life's journey.
Not only through his business interests did Mr. Roney contribute to the development of Al- lentown, but in many other ways he was a valued factor in the progress and improvement of the
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city, his labors thus proving of decided benefit to his fellow townsmen. At the time of his demise he was the oldest member of the Presbyterian church of Allentown, and he took a most active part in its work and in promoting its influence. His early political support was given the Democ- racy, and he voted for Martin Van Buren for the presidency. Later, however, he became a Whig, and subsequently joined the ranks of the Repub- lican party on its organization. In 1862 he was elected a member of the town council, and when re-elected was chosen president of that body. During that time he was also acting burgess in place of William H. Hoffman, while the latter, as a member of the army, was assisting in the re- pelling of Lee's invasion into the state. Mr. Roney was also a member of the school board for one term, and no movement or measure which had for its object the betterment of material, so- cial, intellectual or moral conditions of the city sought his aid and co-operation in vain. He was one of the early members of the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows. In 1840 he was admitted by card from Girard Lodge, of Pottsville, Penn- sylvania, to Beaver Meadow Lodge, I. O. O. F., but in 1843 withdrew from the latter and was never afterward actively affiliated with the so- ciety. In every relation of life he was upright and honorable, and in the discharge of every duty conscientious, and he left to his family the price- less heritage of an untarnished name.
James Roney was married to Miss Try- phena Levan, a daughter of Daniel Levan, of Minersville, Pennsylvania, and who died in 1875. Six of their children are yet living. One son, Charles H. Roney, one of the three brothers who served in the Civil war, was killed by guerrillas while on picket duty. He was a member of the Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania Infantry. He had done twenty-four hours of picket duty some three miles from camp, and upon his return he found the comrade whose turn it was to relieve him, ill, and unable to leave his tent. Charles Roney vol- unteered to go in his place and was stationed to guard a railroad. During the night a red light appeared on the track to stop an approaching
train. The bearer of this was challenged, and at the same time a volley of musketry was fired in that direction, and Charles Roney fell, shot in four places. He managed, however, to crawl to a house some distance away, but only survived for eleven hours. His valuables, which he had hidden when on his way to the house, were after- ward found and returned to his family, and his body was also sent back home. The living mem- bers of the family of Mr. and Mrs. James Roney are William; Mary; James R., who married Amanda Balliet; S. Kate, the widow of Rev. John Urich and the mother of one child, Try- phena ; Elizabeth; and Lewis L.
Lewis L. Roney acquired his education in the public schools of Allentown, and then entered the employ of his brother, William Roney, to learn the shoe business in the factory which had been established by their father. He remained with him for about a year, and then went to Hazleton, Pennsylvania, where he was employed by A. Pardee, one of the pioneer shoe manufacturers of this state. When another year had passed Lewis Roney returned to his brother's employ, going upon the road as a traveling salesman, and acting in that capacity for about five years, when he became proprietor of the factory, which he has since conducted. On his father's retirement he was succeeded by his eldest son, William, who conducted the business under the firm style of William A. Roney & Company, the silent partner being Erastus D. Hawk. Later this connection was discontinued, and Paul Levan was admitted to a partnership under the firm style of Roney & Levan. Afterward William Roney was alone in business until he was succeeded by Lewis L. Roney. In April, 1880, Lewis L. Roney admitted Charles E. Berger and the present firm of Roney & Berger was thus formed. They manufacture a line of misses' and children's shoes, and sell direct to the retail trade. They employ about eighty operatives in their factory throughout the entire year, and the average output is about one thousand pairs of shoes per day. The safe, con- servative policy inaugurated by the founder of the business has always been maintained, and the
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ALLAN PETER LEITH. Among the resi- dents of Leithsville, Northampton county, no name is better known or more respected than that of Allan Peter Leith. The family to which he belongs was in the eighteenth century resi- dent in New Jersey, and it was from New Bruns- wick in that state, that Peter Leith, who was then a boy, came with his mother to Northamp- ton county, Pennsylvania. The name was then spelled Leyd, but appears not long after this re- moval clothed in its present orthography. Peter Leith (or Leyd) settled with his mother in what is now Leithsville, a name no doubt given to the place in honor of this ancestor, who would seem from this fact to have been a man of substance and influence. He married a daughter of Sam- uel Weaver, a member of one of the old families of the county.
Samuel Leith, son of Peter Leith, was born in 1816 in Leithsville, and obtained his education in the common schools of the township. He was a farmer all his life and a worthy citizen. Al- though interested in public affairs and ever ready to participate in any movement which in his judg- ment had a tendency to benefit the community, he was not in any sense of the word a politician, and could never be induced to become an office- holder. His political principles were those ad- vanced and upheld by the Republican party. He was a member of the Reformed church. He mar- ried Mary Ann, daughter of John O. Pearson. Both Mr. and Mrs. Leith occupied a high place in the regard of their friends and neighbors.
Allan Peter Leith, son of Samuel and Mary Ann (Pearson) Leith, was born in 1842, in Leithsville, where he received his education in
the common schools. In early boyhood he began
house throughout the long period of its existence has sustained an unassailable reputation for . to assist in the labors of the farm, and from that promptness and reliability. period until the present time has been constantly Mr. Roney is prominent in Masonry, is a past master of his local lodge, and a member of Lulu Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Philadel- phia. He belongs to the St. Leger and the Liv- ingston Clubs, of Allentown, holds membership in the Presbyterian church, and by his ballot up- holds the principles of the Republican party. engaged in agricultural pursuits. In this field of endeavor his industry, enterprise and wide range of information, joined to a fund of prac- tical experience and undisputed integrity of char- acter, have insured the best and most satisfac- tory results. In addition to the care of his farm Mr. Leith has conducted for a long time a gen- eral store, and as a business man has been very suc- cessful. He possesses the full confidence of his neighbors, who place great reliance upon his judgment in matters relating to the public wel- fare, and in 1891 elected him justice of the peace, an office which he filled to the satisfaction of all concerned until 1898. He belonged formerly to the Masonic order, and also to the I. O. O. F., but has allowed his membership in both organi- zations to lapse. While neither a member of any church, nor connected with any philanthropic so- cieties, Mr. Leith is essentially a true friend, a kind neighbor and a good citizen, earnestly seek- ing by every means in his power to promote the best interests of those with whom he is in any way associated and to advance the wellbeing of the community.
A. D. SHIMER, an esteemed and influential citizen of Bethlehem, Northampton county, Penn- sylvania, is a son of Conrad and Catherine (Quer) Shimer, and a worthy representative of the old and honored Shimer family whose mem- bers located in Lehigh and Northampton coun- ties about the year 1742, were active and prom- inent factors in the settlement of those sections of the state, and were largely instrumental in their growth and prosperity.
Conrad Shimer, father of A. D. Shimer, was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, in 1797. He was a son of Samuel Shimer, who in turn was a son of Jacob Shimer, but there is no authentic information obtainable about either of the two latter named. In 1812 Conrad Shimer was united in marriage to Catherine Quer, and the issue of this union was three children-Sam- uel C., born in 1822, married Henrietta Young,
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and they are the parents of one child, Milton C. Shimer ; Diana, born in 1828, died in 1831; and A. D. Shimer.
A. D. Shimer was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, November 30, 1830, and his educational advantages were obtained in the public schools of Hanover township, Northamp- ton county. His tastes and inclinations led him to adopt agricultural pursuits as his vocation in life, and from the time he laid aside his school books until the date of his marriage he assisted his fa- ther with the labor and management of the old homestead.
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