USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. II > Part 16
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 | Part 88 | Part 89
GEORGE GRANT SYKES, secretary of the Lehigh Portland Cement Company of Allentown, and possessing the enterprise which has in re- cent years been productive of great industrial and commercial activity and advancement in his city, was born in Allentown in 1873. His paternal grandparents were Joseph and Elizabeth (Sweit- zer) Sykes, natives of England, who settled at York, Pennsylvania, in which city their son, William H. Sykes, was born. He married Ella C. Daubert, a daughter of Henry and Sarah Ann (Woodring) Daubert, and a granddaughter of Fredinand Woodring, who was one of the earliest sttlers of the Lehigh valley and took an active and important part in its pioneer development.
At the usual age George G. Sykes became a pupil in the public schools of Allentown, in which he continued his course until graduated from the high school. He afterward pursued a commercial course in the American Business College, after which he entered upon his active career as secre- tary to the general freight agent of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. While thus employed the gen-
eral offices of the road were removed from Beth- lehem, Pennsylvania, to Philadelphia, and from there to New York City. Mr. Sykes's efficiency and unremitting attention to business found ready and deserved recognition, and he was retained in the service of the railroad company during all the changes that were made, and in New York was promoted to the position of chief clerk in the general freight department.
There came to him while he was serving in that capacity, the offer of a position with the Le- high Portland Cement Company, of Allentown, and in 1899 he accepted this offer and returned to the city in which he now makes his home. He retained his original position with this company but a year, and at the end of that time, in recog- nition of his executive ability, as noted by the leading men of the company, he was elected to his present position, that of secretary, in 1900. The officers of the company at this writing (in 1904) are: H. C. Trexler, president ; George Ormrod, vice president; Edward M. Young, treasurer; George G. Sykes, secretary; and Charles A. Matcham, general manager. The busi- ness of the company has continually increased, and this is now a mammoth enterprise, the out- put of the house being greater than that of any other cement company in the United States.
Mr. Sykes has a very wide and favorable ac- quaintance in Allentown, and is popular with a large circle of friends. He belongs to the Be- nevolent Protective Order of Elks, and to the leading social organization of the city, the Living- ston Club. He is also a member of the Reformed church, and in his political views is a stalwart Re- publican, inflexible in support of the principles of the party.
Mr. Sykes married Miss Sarah Ruhe, and they have one child, Edmund Ruhe Sykes, born April 27, 1899. Mrs. Sykes is of English lineage, a descendant in the fifth generation of John Chris- topher Ruhe, who spent his entire life in that country. His second son, John F. Ruhe, also born in England, emigrated to America in early manhood, and married Catherine Maria Hen- rietta Mackenrott. Among their children was
89
GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS.
Charles Augustus Ruhe, the grandfather of Mrs. Sykes. He was of the first generation of the fam- ily born in the new world. He began in the gro- cery and drug business, and afterward engaged in the manufacture of cigars, establishing an .in- dustry which still remains as one of the leading business enterprises of Allentown. He married Catherine Shimer, and they became the parents of twelve children, of whom five died in infancy. Joseph Ruhe, the fourth member of this family, is mentioned elsewhere in this volume, and in connection with his personal biography there is more extended mention made of the ancestral his- tory of the family. Charles H., the third member of the family, married Eliza A. Engleman, and their family consisted of nine children, two of whom died in infancy, the others being: Millie, wife of the Rev. W. D. C. Keiter, and mother of two children-Charles and Ernest Keiter; Ed- ward E., who married Katherine Ingham, and their children are Dorothy E. and Charles E. Ruhe, who married Emma Minninger ; John C., who married Jennie Jacoby, and their children are Paul, Russell, and Roger Ruhe; Samuel J., un- married; Sarah E., wife of George G. Sykes ; and Nina B., wife of M. S. Hottenstein.
WALTER JESSE GRIM, a resident of Al- tentown, Pennsylvania, now leading a practically retired life from active pursuits, was for many years a successful and prominent business man who by industry and keen sagacity conducted a flourishing trade for thirty-five consecutive years, from 1857 to 1892. He was born in Weisenberg township, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, May 15, 1835, a son of Jesse and Mary (Knapp) Grim, the former named having been a son of Jacob and Elizabeth Hatten (Stein) Grim, and the latter named a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Herbein) Knapp.
Jesse and Mary (Knapp) Grim, parents of Walter J. Grim, reared a family of children as follows: (1) Ephraim, whose first wife, Mary (Eckert) Grim, bore him two children, William and Sarah, and his second wife, Sarah ( Mowry) Grim, bore him one child, Mary, who became the
wife of William Mosser. (2) Deborah, wife of William Eitleman, and mother of six children : Celia, unmarried; Anna, wife of George Diefer ; Emma, unmarried; Tillie, married and now re- siding in the west; Sarah, wife of Frank Stem- mer ; and Jacob, who married Mary Siegfied. (3) Jacob, who married Mary Siegfied, and their children are Celia, and an infant. (4) William, who married Eliza Ludwig, and their son, Alfred Grim, married Miss Madden, and after her death Miss Schumaker, who bore him one child, Henry J. Grim. 5. Allen, who died unmarried. 6. Walter Jesse, mentioned herein- after.
The early educational advantages enjoyed by Walter J. Grim were obtained in the schools of his native town and Allentown, which he attend- ed until he attained the age of fourteen years. The following four years he assisted his father with the many and varied duties of the farm, after which he learned the trade of tanning and finish- ing leather with his brother, William Grim, with whom he remained until he was twenty-two years of age. In 1857 he established a business on his own account, which he conducted until 1892, and during this long period it enjoyed a flour- ishing existence. During recent years he has lived a retired life, and as a means of recreation has assisted his son, Charles D. Grim, in the man- agement of his extensive coal and wood business. For three years Mr. Grim served as councilman, and was a school director and member of the board of control for nine consecutive years. In religion he adheres to the tenets of the Lutheran church, and in politics ably supports the candi- dates and measures advocated by the Republican party.
Mr. Grim married Elizabeth Dresher, daugh- ter of John and Diana (Feyley) Dresher, the former named having been a son of John and Diana (Grim) Dresher. Their children are: (I) Ida, who became the wife of Henry Hunsicker, and their children are: Walter, Hessa, Jessie, Rhoda and George. (2) George, deceased, who married Emma Kressley, and they were the par- ents of two children. (3) John Jesse, deceased.
90
HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS.
(4) Charles Dresher, unmarried. Elizabeth (Dresher) Grim was one of five children, as fol- lows :. (1) Samuel, who married Sarah Leispen- ger, and their son Alfred married Amanda Cul- ver, and they are the parents of two children : Katie, wife of George Kuhl, and Helen, single. (2) John, unmarried. (3) Elizabeth, mentioned above as the wife of Walter J. Grim. (4) Na- than, who married Katie Trexler, and their chil- dren are: John, who married and lives in Read- ing; Edward, unmarried; Nathan, who married and lives in Reading, and one child has been born to them; Mary and Ellen, unmarried. (5) Charles, who married Mary Butz, and six chil- dren were born to them, four of whom are now living ; Henry, Georga, Laura, and Emma.
CHARLES B. HAAS has found in each transition stage of his business career incentive for new effort and further development, and now occupies an enviable position in business circles in Allentown, being a member of the well known shoe firm of Koch & Hass.
A native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, he is a son of Nathan T. and Eliza (Butz) Hass. His paternal grandparents were Jonathan and Catherine (Trexler) Haas. His mother was a daughter of Peter and - (Schmoyer) Butz. To Nathan T. Haas and his wife were born ten children. Frank H. married Kate Kerchner. William, the second, married Florenda Kline. Mary became the wife of Daniel Bauer and had four children-Ida, Maurive, Clara, who is the wife of Jacob Bortz and has one child ; and John Bauer, who is a physician. Ann Eliza became the wife of Jacob L. Farr, and has two children -Harvey and Jacob L. Charles B. married Liz- zie Kline. Ella is the wife of John Weiler, and has three children-John, Jennie, and Marie. Katie is deceased. Elizabeth is the wife of Henry Fenstermaker, and has three children-George, Carrie and Ella. Jonathan married Alice Stem- minger, and has six children: Helen, Eugene, John, Ellwood, Amy, and Daisy. Nathan A., the youngest, married Ellen Keck, by whom he had one son, Harry, and for his second wife chose
Emma R. Jacoby, by whom he has three chil- dren, Robert, Ruth and Marguerite.
Charles B. Haas was eleven years of age when he became a resident of Allentown, where he has since made his home. He became familiar with the shoe trade as an employe of J. L. Farr, with whom he continued as a saleman until 1886. In that year he resigned his position and entered into a partnership with George J. Koch in the establishment of a shoe store under the firm name of Koch & Haas. This relationship has since been continued with mutual pleasure and profit, and the firm has to-day one of the best equipped stores in the town, handling everything in the line of boots, shoes, rubber and felt goods. The hon- orable and progressive business policy which they inaugurated has ever been maintained and has been the strongest element in their success.
Mr. Haas is a supporter of the Republican party, and his church membership is with the Reformed denomination.
THE STRASSBURGER FAMILY. The first Strassburger who settled in Pennsylvania was a native of Ober-Ingleheim, a village on the south of the Rhine, between Bingen and Mayence, in the midst of a rich wine producing district. There is a handsome Protestant church in Ober- Ingleheim which dates from the Thirteenth cen- tury, and among the records still preserved there are some agreeing exactly with those in posses- sion of the family in this country.
In the Pennsylvania Archives we find that among those who came to America on the ship "Loyal Judith," from Rotterdam, was Johaan Andreas Strassburger. He qualified September 3, 1742. His age is given as twenty-five years. Again, among those who came on the ship "Minerva," from Rotterdam, via Portsmouth, was Johaan Andreas Strassburger. He qualified Octo- ber 13. 1769. The signatures in both cases are precisely the same. It is probable that it was the same person, ad that after his first voyage he re- turned to Ober-Ingleheim, married, and in 1769 brought to his two children to Pennsylvania and remained here. The dates are as follows : Johaan
A.S. Strassburger
91
GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS.
Andreas Strassburger was the eldest of the eight children of Johaan Ulrich Strassburger and his wife Maria Elisabeth, and was born January 19, 1716; he married Catharina Rosina Kolb, in 1751; she died at Ober-Ingleheim, March 15, 1771. Their children were Christine, born Octo- ber 2, 1751 ; and Johaan Andreas, born January 24, 1754. Some of the family are still living in Ober-Ingleheim and the house, a very sub- stantial stone building two and a half stories high, where the first Johann Andreas was born, is still standing though it is not now owned by the family.
Johaan Andreas Strassburger (1), who ar- rived in Philadelphia, October, 1769, was a school master, and located in Hilltown township, Bucks county Pennsylvania, where some of the leading people of that section built a school house for his especial use. He died, however, suddenly and unexpectedly, and is buried in Tohickon church- yard.
In the marriage record of the German Re- formed church of Philadelphia we find that Chris- tine Strassburger married Alexander Smith, a merchant of Philadelphia, January 1, 1777.
Johaan Andreas Strassburger (2) learned the trade of leather tanning and established himself in Upper Milford, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, and was successful in amassing a considerable fortune. He married Eva Jaeger in 1780, and died April 27, 1825, aged seventy-one years, three month and four days. He and his wife are buried at Zionsville church, Lehigh county. They had seven children, two sons and five daughters, viz .:
John Strassburger, born February 14, 1787 ; married Maria Gangewer, and died February 19, 1863.
Elizabeth, married to Christian Berger, No- vember 29, 1803. This was the eldest daughter, and after her death he married Hannah, the youngest.
Catharine, born July 23, 1784 ; married (first) Christian Young and (second) Jacob Hartzell. She died January 28, 1864.
John Andrew, born October 3, 1796.
Polly, married to John Engleman.
Sarah, married to John Adam Wieder.
Rev. John Andrew Strassburger was a son of Johaan Andreas and ILva (Jaeger ) Strassburger, and was born in Upper Milford, Lehigh county, October 3, 1796, and died in South Perkasie, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, May 2, 1860. As the Reformed church had at that time no college nor theological seminary, he studied for the min- istry privately, under Rev. Samuel Helffenstein, D. D., of Philadelphia. He was licensed to preach by the Synod of the Reformed church at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, September 10, 1818, and was or- dained at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, September 9, 1819. While yet a student he received a call from the Tohickon, Indianfield, Ridge Road and Charlestown congregations in Bucks county. Here he lived and labored from the beginning to the end of his ministry, for thirty-six years, from Easter 1818, to June, 1854. During this time he baptized about 3,000 children, confirmed 1,595 catechumens, married 1,235 couples, and buried 1,044 persons. He was of a mild, kind and modest disposition, and beloved and re- spected by all who knew him. He married Cath- arine Stout, September 15, 1818. She was a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Kern) Stout, and was born November 4, 1798, and died Octo- ber 7, 1838. His second wife was Mrs. Anna (Stover) Worman. The children of Rev. J. A. and Catharine (Stout) Strassburger were :
Nero, born August 7, 1819.
Louisana, born November 24, 1820; married Elias Hartzell November 10, 1839, and died Jan- uary 4, 1899. Elias Hartzell, son of Andrew and Margaret (Fosbenner) Hartzell, was born June 5, 1814, and died January 26, 1875.
Gideon, born February 26, 1822; married Fanny L. Wood, and died at La Crosse, Wiscon- sin, November 29, 1872.
Reuben, born October 1, 1823, married Jan- uary 21, 1847, Elizabeth Z. Schwenk, a daughter of Jacob and Magdalena (Ziegler) Schwenk. She was born September 24, 1821. He died at Schwenksville, August 14, 1872.
A son born April 8, 1825, lived only three hours.
Elizabeth, born February 25, 1826; married Dr. Aaron F. Shelly March 12, 1846, died in
92
HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS.
Philadelphia, November 9, 1880. Dr. Aaron F. Shelly, son of Francis and Catharine (Funk) Shelly, was born in Great Swamp, Bucks county, February 10, 1823, and died in Philadelphia, October 13, 1883.
Henry Stout, born November 2, 1827 ; married Margaret Ray Graeff, September 22, 1860; died in Philadelphia, November 27, 1900.
A daughter, born November 21, 1829, lived only eleven hours.
Mary, born December 20, 1830 : married Jesse D. Hartzell. September 29, 1849. Jesse D. Hart- zell, son of Abraham and Catharine (Deetz) Hartzell, was born January 5, 1827, and died February 7, 1894.
Catharine, born November 16, 1832, died August 17, 1834.
Andrew, (twin with Sarah) born December 31, 1833 ; married Margaret Amelia Lorah, Sep- tember 25, 1858; died near Amityville, Berks county, May 22, 1895.
Sarah, (twin with Andrew) born December 31, 1833, died July 15, 1834.
Noah, born February 23, 1836, died July II, 1836.
Rev. N. S. Strassburger, D. D., was the eldest child of Rev. J. A. and Catharine (Stout) Strass- burger, and was born August 7, 1819, in the Re- formed parsonage near Sellersville, Pennsylvania, and died in Allentown, June 28, 1888.
From boyhood he felt a desire to preach the Gospel, and wished to go to college ; but in defer- ence to the wish of his mother, who was in failing health, he remained at home until after her death. Meanwhile he taught school and studied. In the fall of 1838 he entered the preparatory de- partment of Marshall College, at Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, and was graduated in 1844 with the degree of A. B. Three years later he re- ceived that of A. M. The degree of D. D. was conferred upon him by Franklin and Marshall College in 1887. At college he was a member of the Diagnothian Literary Society.
He studied theology in the Theological Sem- inary at Mercersburg from 1844 to 1847 and was licensed to preach by Goshenhoppen Classis, May 13, 1847, and ordained November 14, 1847,
as a minister of the Reformed church in the United States. His first charge was Friedens- burg and Princetown, in Berks county, and later also Huber's Church and Boyertown. He served as a home missionary, taking charge of weak dis- tracted congregations and restoring peace, in which he was eminently successful. Pottstown, Amity and Limerick congregations constituted his second charge, in which he served about fif- teen years, organizing the English congregation at Pottstown with twelve members. This was a very pleasant field of labor, and in February, 1863, he reluctantly resigned to accept a call from Zion's Reformed congregation at Allentown. There had been strife in this congregation for some years, and both parties now united upon him. He went there conscientiously, feeling it to be his duty to act as peace maker, and he suc- ceeded. When he resigned in 1881, Allentown had four Reformed churches where he found one. He served Friedensburg, 1847-1859 ; Princetown, 1847-1854; Huber's, 1847-1852: Boyerstown, 1848-1853: Pottstown, 1848-1863 : Amity, 1849- 1863; Limerick, 1853-1863; Baumstown, 1861- 1863 ; Allentown, 1863-1881. During the remain- ing years of his life he had no regular charge, but supplied vacant congregations and assisted ministers on various occasions, so that he was generally engaged on Sunday. During the whole of his ministry he preached both in the German and English languages. His fields were large and laborious. He was a close student, and always prepared himself well for all public efforts. As a speaker he was forcible and logical, pos- sessed of a clear strong voice, and was an accept- able preacher. He detested sensationalism in the pulpit, and preached nothing but the Gospel. Strongly attached to the Reformed church, he labored to indoctrinate his people into her cus- toms and theology. As a man he was reserved and unassuming, peaceable and kind. During his ministry he preached about 3.634 sermons, de- livered 754 weekly lectures. baptized 1,351 chil- dren, confirmed 1,304 catechumens, married 610 couples, and officiated at 1,419 funerals.
In 1861 he wrote, "The Child's Catechism," an abridgement of "The Heidelberg Catechism."
93
GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS.
for use in his Sunday school at Pottstown. This became very popular, and has circulated exten- sively ever since. Later he translated it into German. In 1878 he compiled, "The Sunday School Hymnal" for his Sunday school at Allen- town. He also contributed articles to the "Re- formed Quarterly Review," and "The Messen- ger." He translated several works into German, among them the Liturgy.
He was stated clerk of Goshenhoppen Classis, 1848-1863; of East Pennsylvania Classis, 1864- 1880; and of Lehigh Classis from 1880 to the time of his death. He was also treasurer of Lehigh Classis from 1880, and resigned only a week previous to his death. He was frequently a delegate to the synod and general synod, and took an active part in the proposed revision of the constitution of the church. He helped to organ- ize the Allentown College for Women in 1867, and taught there four years. About the same time he taught also temporarily in Muhlenberg College.
He was married to Miss Diana E. Dicken- shied, a daughter of Dr. Charles F. and Anna Catharine (Eberhard) Dickenshied, of Lower Milford, Lehigh county, November 27, 1849. Their son, Charles Edgar, died in infancy, and the daughter, Annie C., survives.
HENRY WEINSHEIMER, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, whose active connection with mer- cantile interests have made him for many years one of the leading and representative men of his community, was born at Waldhilbersheim, near Kreuznach, Germany, October 10, 1814, and was a son of Frederick and Philippina (Bretz) Wein- sheimer.
In his early boyhood days he served an ap- prenticeship to the baker's trade under the direc- tion of his uncle, John Englebert, at Bacharach, Germany, his term of service continuing from 1830 until January 31, 1833. He then returned to his home, but after a brief visit there secured a position at Bingen. Subsequently he was em- ployed successively at Rudesheim, Kreuznach, and Coblenz. In the spring of 1836, in accord-
ance with the laws of his native country, he en- tered the German army, and was for two years a member of the Twenty-ninth Infantry Regiment, being located during the greater part of that time at Ehrenbreitstein barracks, at Coblenz. On the expiration of the term of his connection with the army, he again visited his old home and fam- ily, and May 16, 1838, bade adieu to friends and relatives preparatory to becoming an American citizen. Making his way to the coast, he em- barked at Harve, France, on a westward bound sailing vessel whose destination was New York. In July, 1838, he landed in the American metrop- olis, and immediately afterward made his home in Allentown. For many years he was active and influential in the business circles of this city, and continued to reside here without interruption up to the time of his death, although in May, 1842, he returned to the fatherland upon a visit, continuing in his native country until the spring of 1843.
Throughout the greater part of his active and useful business career he was a representa- tive of mercantile interests. Daniel and Jacob Saeger were the builders of the business block at the southeast corner of Sixth and Hamilton streets, and this property they sold to David R. King & Co., while later Godfrey and Christian Pretz were its purchasers. The firm which then carried on business was known under the style of Pretz, Saeger & Co., Mr. Weinsheimer being the junior partner. As the years advanced changes occurred in the ownership, the business being successively conducted under the firm name of Pretz, Kern & Co., Pretz, Guth & Co., and H. Guth & Co., Mr. Weinsheimer being throughout this part the silent partner. In 1859, upon the retirement of Mr. Pretz, the firm became Wein- sheimer & Newhard. The business was thus con- tinued until 1888, when the partners retired from mercantile circles. They had been engaged in general merchandising, and also handled coal, flour and feed. In the early days the canal was used as a means of transporting their goods, and in consequence they had a large storehouse lo- cated by the side of the water. Their trade
94
HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS.
throughout the valley was extensive, and the en- terprise brought to its proprietors a very gratify- ing income. Mr. Weinsheimer was also inter- ested in the gristmill located on the site of the terminal station in Allentown, this business be- ing conducted under the name of Pretz, Wein- sheimer & Co. For many years he was asso- ciated in commercial and industrial undertak- ings with Christian Pretz, and the relation be- tween them proved mutually pleasant and profit- able. Together they purchased seventeen acres of land from the Livingston estate, and erected thereon the Allentown Seminary, which later was sold and converted into Muhlenberg College. In all business dealings Mr. Weinsheimer was notably prompt, energetic and reliable, and he possessed a good fund of that element so essential to success, yet so often found lacking,-common sense. Regarding untiring industry as the basis of all prosperity he labored on unremittingly year after year, and advanced in accordance with the changing business conditions and progressed with the commercial world.
July 1, 1863, Mr. Weinsheimer responded to the call for troops to resist the invasion of Lee's army into Pennsylvania. He joined Company D, of the Forty-first Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers under Captain Walter H. Seip. He was at that time fifty years of age, and two of his sons, J. Frederick, now deceased, and Alfred S., were then serving in the army. His political allegiance was ever given to the Republican party, and at the time of the Civil war he gave an unquestioned support and undivided loyalty to the Union cause. Throughout the entire period of his residence in Allentown he was one of the most active members of St. John's Lutheran church, in fact, he was one of the organizers of this church, served as an elder for many years, and was superintendent of its Sunday-school for a quarter of a century.
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.