USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. II > Part 21
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pervision of Mr. Malcolm the business is in- creasing to large proportions, year by year ad- vancing steadily in volume and importance. Mr. Malcolm is a man of influence in the com- munity, his efforts ever being directed toward the uplifting of the moral and social conditions of the times. He is an honored member of the Liv- ingston Club, and at the present time (1904) is serving in the capacity of vice-president of the same. He is a staunch adherent of the principles of Republicanism.
In Dundee, Scotland, in 1876, Mr. Malcolm was married to Miss Henrietta Spence Falconer, daughter of Major James and Henrietta ( Forbes) Falconer, both natives of Scotland. The follow- ing named children were born to them: Helen R., James F., George H., Henrietta W., David L., Hilda F. and Lessels H. They reside in a comfortable brick residence, located at No. 301 North Fourth street, Allentown, Pennsylvania.
FRANCIS MOLTON BERKEMEYER, a member of the firm of Berkemeyer, Keck & Com- pany, printers, stationers and blank book manu- facturers of Allentown, was born in Carbon county, Pennsylvania. His parents were Lewis C. and Melinda Jane (Keck) Berkemeyer, who reared a family of seven children, as follows : Francis M., mentioned hereinafter ; Robert Keck, who married Carrie Yost, and they are the pa- rents of one child, John Lewis; Charles Ferdi- nand, who married Emma Clauss; Blanche Amanda, the wife of David A. Miller, and mother of one child, Edward ; Annie ; Mary J., and Char- lotte.
In early life Francis M. Berkemeyer attended the public schools of Kutztown, and after com- pleting his course there entered the Keystone State Normal School at Kutztown, Pennsylvania. He later matriculated in the Philadelphia Col- lege of Pharmacy, and was graduated from that institution with the class of 1888. Immediately afterward he entered upon his business career in Philadelphia, managing a drug store which he conducted with success for six years, or until 1894, when he sold out and came to Allentown. In partnership with C. F. Berkemeyer and Fred
M. Bechtel he established a printing and retail stationery store under the firm name of Berke- meyer, Bechtel & Co. In 1894 Mr. Bechtel with- drew his interest, and Mr. Ray M. Keck was ad- mitted to partnership, the firm name being changed to Berkemeyer, Keck & Co., and in 1901 Charles F. Berkemeyer, brother of Francis M. Berkemeyer, retired from the company, which still retains the old name. The business has steadily grown, and employment is now furnished to about thirty-five workmen. Only the best skilled labor is employed, and the house can pro- duce anything that can be made in the line of the printers' art and blank book work, and they are also dealers in bank and office, stationery. They perform most of the custom work of the city, and have a large and profitable patronage, which is indicative of the modern business methods and honorable principles of the house. Mr. Berke- meyer is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of the Golden Eagle and the Royal Arcanum. In politics, he is a prominent Democrat, and his religious faith in indicated by his membership in the Reformed church.
Mr. Berkemeyer married Miss Mary Anna Neff, a daughter of Alfred G. and Susan (Mertz) Neff, and a granddaughter of John Neff. They are the parents of two children : Ruth, and Anna Berkemeyer.
FRANKLIN THOMAS LINCOLN KEITER, who by appointment and three con- secutive elections has been continued in the office of alderman of Allentown for fourteen years, stands as one of the representative and influential citizens of his city, and as the champion of many public measures which have resulted beneficially for the public he has won the confidence of his fellow citizens to a marked degree. A native son of Allentown, his parents were Aaron Ed- ward and Susan Ann (Mohr) Keiter, and his paternal grandparents were Casper and Eliza- beth Keiter, while his maternal grandparents were Daniel and Mary (Haas) Mohr. Aaron E. and Susan Ann (Mohr) Keiter had but two children, the elder being William Daniel Casper Keiter,
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a Lutheran clergyman residing at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, who married Amelia Ruhe, and has two children, Charles R. and Ernest.
The younger son, Franklin T. L. Keiter, ac- quired his early education in the public schools of Allentown, and afterward entered Muhlen- berg College, in which he remained as a student for two years. His literary training was supple- mented by preparation for the legal profession, his law course being pursued in the office and under the direction of the Hon. J. S. Biery, a well known attorney of Allentown. In 1887 he was admitted to the bar, but he remained with Mr. Biery until 1890, when he was called to public office by appointment of Governor Beaver to fill out the unexpired term of alderman of the sev- enth ward, the vacancy being caused by the resig- nation of Isaac A. Kase. When the time for the election approached in 1891, he received the nomination of the Republican party for the office, and was elected for a term of five years. Again he was chosen in 1896, and for a third term in 1901 by endorsement of all political parties in his ward, so that he will remain as the incumbent in the position for sixteen years at least, if he holds no longer than his present term. The favor- able judgment which his fellow townsmen passed upon him at the outset of his official career has been in nowise set aside or modified ; on the con- trary, it has been strengthened by the able manner in which he copes with all matters brought be- fore him. Prior to his appointment to the posi- tion he had served for two terms as councilman, and he is now a member by appointment of Gov. ernor Pennypacker of the board of commissioners for the erection of the Homeopathic State Hospi- tal for the Insane which is now being erected near Allentown at an expense of several million dol- lars. His political allegiance has been unswerv- ingly given to the Republican party since he at- tained his majority, and his support is not that of blind partisanship, but arises from strong con- viction resulting from a close and earnest study of the issues and questions of the day. Local advancement and national progress are both causes dear to his heart. He belongs to several
social and fraternal organizations, including the Livingston and Clover Clubs, the Knights of the Golden Eagle, the Junior Order United Ameri- can Mechanics, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while he and his family belong to the Lutheran church.
Mr. Keiter was united in marriage to Miss Annie M. Blank, a daughter of Benjamin F. and Emma R. (Stahr) Blank, and a granddaugh- ter of John and Esther ( Klemmer) Blank. Her parents had five children : Emma, who is the wife of Dr. A. E. Heinbach, and has two children : Allan E. and Eugene D. ; Oscar F. ; Eugene ; Ray- mond ; and Annie, who is the eldest, and who by her marriage to Mr. Keiter has one daughter, Madeliene Marion.
JOHN TRITSCHLER, who, engaged in the baking business, sells to both the wholesale and retail trade in Allentown, was born in that city, a son of Henry and Louisa (Herzog) Tritschler. His father established the business which the son is now conducting. He was about twenty-two years of age when he arrived in Allentown, and he began the business of making bread and cake in a small way at the present location in South Seventh street. This was the first bakery in Allen- town, and has had a continuous existence of fifty- one years. In 1860 Henry Tritschler married Louisa Herzog, a daughter of Christopher Her- zog and his wife, Margaret Fichtleman Herzog. Mr. and Mrs. Tritschler had four children : Fidel, married to Carrie Bowman; Lewis P., who mar- ried Emma Teise, and had two children, Julia and Oneida ; Morris, who married Emma Myers, and has three children, John, Morris and Henry ; and John, whose name introduces this record.
John Tritschler succeeded his father as man- ager of the bakery, and is still making a specialty of cake and bread which is sold to the city trade. Eight men are employed throughout the year, and three teams are continually in use to deliver to the wholesale trade, while an extensive retail business is carried on in the store. Ten barrels of flour are now consumed daily in the manu- facture of the different products of the house,
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HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS.
representing an output which is many fold what it was in the beginning.
Mr. Tritschler has been a member of the school board of Allentown, but has never been actively interested in city or national politics aside from casting his ballot for Democratic principles. He is a member of the Masonic lodge, the Knights of Pythias, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and he and his family belong to the Lutheran church.
John Tritschler was married to Cora Michael, a member of one of the old families of Allentown, and a daughter of Charles and Henrietta (Smith) Michael. The founder of the family in America was her great-grandfather, John Michael, who came from Hamburg, Germany. The grand- father, Henry Michael, married Miss Lerch. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Tritschler were Joanthan and Julia (Eagner) Smith. Unto Charles and Henrietta (Smith) Michael were born four children. Alice, the eldest, became the wife of Frank Rinker, and they had one child, Grace, now deceased. Morris married Catherine E. Gross, now deceased, and they had seven chil- dren : Carrie and Charles, who have passed away ; Kate, who is the wife of George Kehm and has three children-Earl, Morris and Catherine; William, deceased ; Mollie; Harry ; and John, de- ceased. Ida Michael is the third member of the family of Charles Michael, and the youngest is Cora, wife of John Tritschler.
JACOB BURNSIDE WAIDELICH, sheriff of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, who prior to his nomination to this important office was an en- terprising and successful business man, was born in Lynn township in 1861, a son of Michael Fred- eric and Sallie (Follweiler) Waidelich, natives of Germany.
Michael F. Waidelich (father) was born in Germany and resided there until he was four- teen years of age, when he emigrated to this country. Subsequently, he entered into the wheel- wright business with Penrose Eli, and this con- nection continued for the long period of thirty- seven years, during which time the partners
never had a disagreement or any friction what- soever, although they kept no books. Each handled the business as occasion called for, and each trusted the other implicitly, a trust which was never betrayed. Some two years previous to the death of Mr. Eli, the settlement of the property was made by the appraisement of the oldest sons of the two partners, the heirs of Mr. Eli taking the business, and Mr. Waidelich tak- ing the farm, after which he retired from active business pursuits. He was united in marriage to Sallie Follweiler, daughter of David and Cath- erine (Wannamaker) Follweiler, and the issue of this union was the following named chil- dren : Dexter Thomas, who married for his first wife Jennetta Lutz, who bore him four children- George, Samuel, Robert, and John; and whose second wife, Lena (Graver) Waidelich, bore him three children-Paul, Minnie, and Ralph. Milton, who married Laura Zeigler, and their children are Grace, Ruth, and Helen. Rev. John Henry, who married Alice Keller, and they are the pa- rents of one child, Luther. Jacob Burnside, men- tioned hereinafter. Charles David, who married Jennie Kistler, and one child has been born to them, Michael Frederic. Mary, who died in early life.
Jacob B. Waidelich received his education in the public schools of his native township, which he attended until he was thirteen years of age, when he began his business career by entering the shop conducted by his father and Mr. Eli. At the age of fifteen years he was appointed foreman of the shop, which position he retained until he attained the age of twenty-one years, and during this period of time he had charge of three of four apprentices. In 1882 he established a blacksmith shop at Lynnport, which he con- ducted in connection with a general store which he established later, and in 1885 he disposed of his blacksmith business and devoted his entire time and attention to the store until 1888. In that year he, in company with five active and en- terprising men, purchased the old slate quarry and formed the Enterprise Slate Company, their business being the production of manufactured
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slate. In 1889 he was appointed superintendent of the company, and served in that capacity for ten years, having from thirty-five to fifty work- men under his charge and control. The follow- ing year he sold out his store in order to devote his entire time to the slate business, and in 1902 he disposed of his interest in this enterprise. In the fall of 1901 he won against five candidates in the primaries for the nomination of sheriff of Lehigh county, and was elected to that office by a large majority, the term extending over a period of three years. He has also served his county as jury commissioner, and during Presi- dent Cleveland's first administration was the in- cumbent of the office of postmaster of Lynnport. He is a member of Lodge, No. 247, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Lehigh Encampment, No. 118; Knights of the Golden Eagle, No. 343; Junior Order of United American Mechanics ; and St. Mary's Commandery. In 1901 he was appointed district deputy grand master for Le- high county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Waidelich holds membership in the Lutheran church, and his political affiliations are with the Democratic party.
Mr. Waidelich married Mary Muthard, only child of Jonathan and Sarah (Henry) Muthard, the latter named being a daughter of Joseph and Judith (Kistler) Henry. Their children are : Clara, Beulah, Jennie, Mary, Frederic, Noble Oliver and Harold Russell, the two latter named being twins.
LEWIS NONNEMAKER, formerly identi- fied with the brick manufacturing industry of Allentown, and now living a retired life, is a descendant of one of the first settlers of this city. The name of Daniel Nonnemacher appears on the assessment list of 1764. He was presumably the father of Henry Nonnemacher, a weaver, whose sons, three in number, were Henry, John and George Nonnemacher. It is to be noted that the original form of the family name was Nonne- macher, which for sake of convenience, the im- medite subject of this sketch changed to Nonne- maker.
John Nonnemacher, the grandfather of Lewis Nonnemaker, resided in a little log house in what is now South Sixth street in Allentown. He was a brickmaker by trade, and developed a business in that line which reached very exten- sive and profitable proportions before his death. During the construction of the old courthouse here, he made the mortar for the workmen at nights, and in the daytime carried the hod for them. As his financial resources increased he established and operated a number of brickyards, and also invested quite largely in land. He served his country as a soldier of the war of 1812. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Gang- aware, and they were the parents of five chil- dren, the second of whom was John Nonne- macher, father of Lewis Nonnemaker. The others were: Henry (1), who married Caroline Fetzer and had ten children: John, Charles, Robert, James, Llewellyn, Mary, Matilda, Jane, Sarah, and Carrie. Polly (3) married George Geise- inger, and had one child-Matilda. Lydia (4) married Isaac Dewalt, and had five children, John, George, Sarah, Mary and Alice. Sarah (5) married Daniel Heinbach, and they had one child, Anna Eliza.
John Nonnemacher, second son of John Nonnemacher, Sr., and the father of Lewis Non- nemaker, was educated in the public schools of Allentown, and when not engaged with his school books largely spent his time in his father's brick- yard, where he gained a practical and thorough knowledge of the business. He was his father's assistant for some time, and ultimately succeeded to the business. He had about four acres of valu- able land which was sold about 1890 to the Amer- ican Steel and Wire Company ; also another lot across the Jordan ; one on' Hamilton street : and subsequently one on Tenth street. Brick was manufactured at each of these yards, and the aggregate output was about one and a half mil- lion bricks per annum, which were largely sold to the local trade, there being an excellent home market for the product.
While actively engaged in business in Allen- town, John Nonnemacher also took a deep and
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HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS.
helpful interest in political affairs. He was for many years a member of the town council, and championed many measures of reform, improve- ment and substantial progress. In his later life he put aside active political work as he did his business interests, retiring from the brick manu- facturing industry in 1870, when he was suc- ceeded by his son.
John Nonnemacher married Lucy Ann Knauss, and they became the parents of eight children: Lewis; John, who married Ellen Wor- man ; George, who died in infancy; Urich, who married Victorine Rumfeldt, and has three chil- dren-Charles, Mary and Robert ; Henry ; James ; Mary, deceased ; and Annie. .
Lewis Nonnemaker, the eldest of the family, and his father's successor in business, attended the public schools and then learned the brick- making trade in the yards established by his grandfather. In 1870 he became owner of the business, which he conducted along progressive and prosperous lines until 1900, when he sold out and has since lived retired from active busi- ness cares. In 1890 he sold four acres to the American Mill and Wire Company, which has there about fifteen acres, the remainder having been purchased from the Kramer and Martin families, and on this property the company has erected an extensive plant employing about one thousand workmen. Like the others of the fam- ily, Lewis Nonnemaker has supported the Dem- ocratic party. The religious faith of the Nonne- makers has been that of both the Lutheran and the Reformed churches.
HARVEY JACOB WIEAND, warden of the Lehigh county jail, was born in Allen- town, Pennsylvania, June 28, 1860. His paternal grandparents were Daniel and Rebecca (Deish- er) Wieand, whose son, Jonathan D. Wieand, married Elizabeth Ernst, a daughter of Jacob Ernst. They became the parents of six children : Tilghman Lewis (I) married Rebecca Egge, and had four children : Annie, the wife of Rev. E. C. Krapf, and the mother of two children, Wesley and Ruth : Oliver H., who married Maggie Low- den ; Ralph, who married Phebe Boyer, and Ida.
Mary (2) is the wife of Clement A. Everhart. Emma Elizabeth (4) is the wife of Irving Free- man and has four children : Elmer, Harvey, Ma- bel and Helen. Florence (5) is at home. Carrie (6) is the wife of Dr. E. B. Heston.
Harvey Jacob Wieand, the third in his fath- er's family, acquired his early education in the public schools, and then associated himself with his father, who was a contractor of the county prison. The new jail was completed in 1868, and Jonathan D. Wieand took the labor contract on the 4th of June, 1870, for the manufacture of brooms and rag carpets, continuing to superin- tend the convict labor in those lines for six years. On the expiration of that period, in connection with his two sons, he took the contract at the jail in Easton for two years. In 1878, however, he returned to Allentown and renewed his old con- tracts under the name of J. D. Wieand & Son, and this business relation was maintained until the father's death in 1885. When the state abol- ished contract labor, Harvey Wieand was em- ployed as superintendent and instructor in the manufacturing department of the jail, and so con- tinued until 1903, when he was elected warden, and has held both positions continuously since. The position is now an appointive one, the ap- pointments being made by the judge of the coun- ty, who is elected for ten years, a fact that in- sures Mr. Wieand's incumbency if he cares to continue in that position for that length of time. Judge Trexler has recently been elected to the county bench, and as Mr. Wieand is a stalwart Republican also, and active in his work in behalf of the party, besides being a most capable warden, there is no doubt that another ten years will still find him in the office. In religious belief he and his family are connected with the people of Pente- costal faith.
Harvey Jacob Wieand was married in 1878 to Miss Sallie M. Meissner, and they have one child, Beulah. Her parents were Dr. Otto and Maria (Haines) Meissner, in whose family were three children : James W., who married Carrie Heck- man, and has four living children-Hattie, Edna, Isabel and Walter; Annie, wife of John Ander- son ; and Mrs. Wieand. After Dr. Meissner's
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Harvey J. Wieand
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death his widow married Levi Gehring, and has one child, Mary, wife of Thomas E. Ritter. They have three children, Lloyd, William and Jennie.
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ERASTUS DANIEL HAWK was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, February 16, 1844, and died in Allentown. His father, Joseph Hawk, was a native of Kunkle- town, Monroe county, Pennsylvania, and for many years was proprietor of the hotel at that place, where he also conducted a store. He mar- ried Elizabeth Hess, and they became the parents of six children, of whom Erastus D. Hawk was the eldest. Jane, the eldest daughter, became the wife of Nelson Hester, and had a family of five children, but only one, Rosa, is now living. Emma is the wife of Daniel Brinker, and has five chil- dren : Frank, who married Mary Walter ; Floyd, married ; Carrie ; Helen ; and Paul. Pamilla is the wife of Benjamin Ward, and has one child, Fred E. Fannie is the wife of William Fron- feldter, and has one child, Flora. Ella is the wife of Rev. C. M. Landt, and has one son, Walter.
Like the other members of the family, Eras- tus D. Hawk attended the public schools, and after he had completed his education he assisted his father in various ways until twenty-one years of age. On attaining his majority he removed to Easton, Pennsylvania, where he began working for Mr. Pollock in the manufacture and sale of brushes. He continued in that employ for five years, and then came to Allentown, where he ac- cepted a position as salesman in the mercantile house of T. B. Anewalt, with whom he continued for two years. On the expiration of that period he joined James Roney in the manufacture of shoes, remaining as a partner in that enterprise for two years, when he returned to the service of Mr. T. B. Anewalt, with whom he continued until his death. He was one of the oldest and most trusted employes of the house, was thoroughly familiar with the business, and by his reliability and enterprise contributed in no small measure to its success.
Mr. Hawk was united in marriage to Miss Amelia R. Ward, a daughter of Michael and
Sarah (Moyer) Ward, of Northampton county, and she has one sister living: Josephia, the wife of Adam Shiffer, by whom she has two children, Ellen and Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Hawk had two children: Laura H., who died at the age of five years and five months; and Edwin W., who died at the age of five years and three months.
Mr. Hawk gave his political support to the Democratic party. He was always interested in the Lutheran church, and he was a member of the Masonic fraternity, being most loyal to the teachings of the craft. He was moreover a man of strong domestic tastes, most devoted to his wife, and his leisure hours were largely spent at his own fireside.
EDWIN KELLER, a prominent and enter- prising business man of Allentown, Lehigh coun- ty, Pennsylvania, is a native son of that state, born March 23, 1844, at Kellersville, Monroe county. He traces his ancestry to Christofel Keller and his wife, natives of Holland, who left their native country for America, but during the voyage he died, and Mrs. Keller landed in Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, with her two children, a boy and a girl. Subsequently, Mrs. Keller became the wife of Mr. Hotleib, who acted the part of a father to her children, they having none of their own. They resided on a farm near Kellers- ville, Monroe county, Pennsylvania, owned by Jacob Metzgar. The remains of Mr. and Mrs. Hotleib were interred near the Bossard stone house, on the hill not far from the church. For many years their graves were fenced around, but they are now in the field unknown.
The children of Christofel Keller and his wife were Christofel, born October, 1749, died June, 1799, buried at Hamilton Square, Monroe coun- ty, Pennsylvania, and a daughter. The former named married Miss Bossard, and the latter named married Phillip Bossard; she died in her seventy-seventh year. Christofel Kel- ler, Jr., and his wife resided near Kellersville for some years ; they then disposed of their land and located on the Daub farm, which was within five miles of Easton, but on account of dry
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