USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. II > Part 23
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ville, where he was the founder of a grist mill which bears his name to this day. He was the father of six sons and three daughters, and the names of the sons were as follows: Abraham, Henry, George, Peter, Jonas, and Isaac. Jonas Haas (grandfather ) was the father of three sons, namely: Levi, Lucas, and Solomon, and four daughters. Solomon Haas (father) was born at Haas's Mill, in Upper Macungie, in 1832. Sub- sequently he removed to Lowhill township, where he still resides, and his entire active career has been devoted to farming and veterinary surgery. He is a member of the Reformed church, and has voted the Democratic ticket since attaining his majority. Although he is two years past the allotted time of the life of man, three score years and ten, he is still hale and hearty. His wife was a daughter of William Mohr, of Fogelsville, Pennsylvania; she was born at Fogelsville in 1834, and died in 1884 at the age of fifty years.
Dr. George H. Haas attended the public school of Lowhill township, and the knowledge thus acquired throughly qualified him for the po- sition of teacher in the same school, in which ca- pacity he served three terms. In the spring of 1881, at the age of twenty-one years, his name was placed on the Democratic ticket for justice of the peace, to which office he was elected, but, not intending to remain in the township, he de- clined to qualify. In the spring of 1884 he took up the study of medicine, and in the fall of the same year matriculated at Hahnemann College, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from which institution he was graduated with honors in the spring of 1887. He at once lo- cated at Parryville, Carbon county, Penn- sylvania, for the active practice of his pro- fession, and after a residence of over six years there he relinquished his practice and entered the New York Ophthalmic Hospital College of New York city, graduating in the spring of 1894 with honors, and receiving the title of Oculi Et Auris Chirurgus. He then located at Allentown, Pennsylvania, and has since conducted a general practice which has proved both successful and lucrative. He keeps in touch with the advanced medical thought of the day by membership in the
Lehigh Valley Homeopathic Medical Society, the Homeopathic Medical Society of Pennsylvania, and the American Institute of Homeopathy.
On July 10, 1887, at the parsonage of the Rev. E. J. Fogel, of Fogelsville, Pennsylvania, Dr. Haas was married to Miss Alice M. Seibert, a daughter of Solomon Seibert, of Lowhill, who was a wheelwright by trade. The issue of this marriage was one child, Ralph E. Haas, born at Parryville, Pennsylvania, June 4, 1891. Dr. Haas and his family are members of Zion Reformed Church of Allentown.
JACOB GEIDNER BIERY, the head of the Lehigh Lime and Coal Company of Allentown, has in the development of a profitable and exten- sive business enterprise contributed to the com- mercial activity of his city as well as to his indi- vidual success. A native son of Allentown, he was born in 1859. His father, John Biery, was a son of Jonathan and Veronica (Roth) Biery. He wedded Mary Geidner, a daughter of Tim- othy and Elizabeth (Kemmerer) Geidner. They became the parents of five children, of whom Jacob G. Biery is the third. The others are: I. Eliza, who married Levi Camp and has four children : Edward, who married; William, who married ; Robert ; and Mamie, the wife of George Borman. 2. Emma is the wife of William Mack, and has two children. 4. Hannah is the wife of Charles Esser, and has two children, Paul and Warren. 5. Charles had for a wife Ida Myer, and has two children, Veronica and Mary.
In the public schools Jacob G. Biery began his education, which was continued in the Greg- ory Academy at the corner of Eighth and Wal- nut streets, in Allentown, and then became a sttt- dent in the Allentown Business College. His father was interested in the lime business, and also dealt largely in coal, and when the son had completed his school life he entered his father's. office to familiarize himself with the business. He served as a clerk until twenty-three years of age, and was then admitted to a partnership, a relation that was maintained until August, 1903. when the father retired and Jacob G. Biery or- ganized the Lehigh Lime and Coal Company.
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The company now operates nine lime kilns with an output of nine hundred bushels per day, handles at least ten thousand tons of coal each year, and carries not only lime but all building materials required in construction, supplying many of the leading contractors of Allentown with all of their materials. The business has steadily expanded along substantial lines, and has now reached extensive proportions.
Mr. Biery's study of political questions and issues has led him to give most earnest sup- port to the Republican party. He is a member of the Reformed church, and belongs to the Order of Heptasophs, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Knights of Malta, of which he is a charter member. He is also connected with the Clover Club.
Mr. Biery wedded Miss Annie Esser, a daughter of William and Mary ( Haines) Esser, whose family numbered three children: Annie; Charles, who married Hannah Biery, sister of Mr. Biery, of this review ; and Carrie, who is the wife of Taylor Fogle, and has one daughter, Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Biery have four children : Miriam, Roy, Fred and Kathleen.
JAMES B. ROEDER, deceased, who was connected with banking interests in Allentown, and was prominent in the social life of the city, was born in Macungie, Pennsylvania, a son 01 George and Margaret (Jarrett) Roeder. Among the representatives of the Roeder family was George Roeder, who married Christiana Mensch, and they had eleven children: Elizabeth, Re- becca, Aaron, Catherine, Theresa, George, Abra- ham, Charles Edward, William Franklin, Sally Ann and Maria. John Freeman married Mar- garet Jerrett, and they had two daughters, Eliza- beth and Angelina. George Roeder married Mar- garet Freeman. Their eldest child, a son, died unnamed. The others are John Augustus Henry, Carolina, Rosetta, Fhaon Francis, Sam- uel Theodore, Joseph Albert, James Benton and Thomas Jefferson.
James B. Roeder, formerly of Allentown, was educated in the public schools of his native city, Macungie, and in Wyoming, Pennsylvania, where
he completed his literary course. He afterward began learning the trade of carriage making, which he followed for some time, and . subse- quently engaged in teaching school. Later he entered a store in order to familiarize himself with the methods of merchandising, and became an active factor in financial circles of the city. He was appointed teller of the Second National Bank of Allentown, where he was employed up to the time of his death, which occurred June 3, 1897. Mr. Roeder was prominent in fraternal, social and church circles of Allentown. He was a leading member of the Masonic and Odd Fel- lows lodges, and was one of the members of the Livingston Club. He held membership in the Methodist church, and was unfaltering in his advocacy of the principles of the Republican party.
Mr. Roeder married Miss Mary Alice Craig, great-granddaughter of General Thomas Craig. Her grandparents were Charles and Salome (Beisel) Craig. Her father, Benjamin M. Craig, was born in Cherryville, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, in 1822, and at an early age ac- companied his parents on their removal to Allen- town. He was fourteen years of age at the time of his father's death, and was then sent to Chris- tian Pretz, the merchant of the town, who was appointed his guardian and reared him. After completing his education he assisted Mr. Pretz in the store; and several years later was asso- ciated with his brother, William R. Craig, in mercantile interests. In politics he was a Jeffer- sonian Democrat, but he never took a very active part in public affairs.
Benjamin M. Craig married Matilda Brobst, a daughter of Jacob and Anna Maria (Knerr) Brobst, the latter a daughter of Andrew and Catherine Elizabeth (Schall) Knerr. Jacob Brobst was a son of Daniel Brobst, who married Miss Reitz. Jacob Brobst had two daughters, Mrs. Craig and Abigail. The lattter married Levi Knerr, and they had three children. Rich- ard, the eldest, married Elemina Lentz, and had two children-Wilbur, who married Miss Hen- inger, and has two children; and Lillian, who married Joseph Zeigler. Calvin Knerr married
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Malita Hering, and they have four children- Byard, Mildred, Harold, and Horace. Levi Knerr is married, but has no children.
The children of Benjamin M. and Matilda (Brobst) Craig are Mrs. Roeder and Charles Craig. The latter married Ella Butz, and they have six children: Edward, deceased; Ralph, Harry, Bertha, Charles and Robert. The chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Roeder are Frank and Annie, and the former married Carolina Helwig.
BENJAMIN CRAIG, who throughout the greater part of his business career was a repre-, sentative of mercantile interests in Allentown, was born in Cherryville, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, in 1822, and was descended from one of the old families of the state. He died January 10, 1861. His grandfather was General Thomas Craig, and his parents were Charles and Salome (Beisel) Craig, who removed to Allen- town during his early boyhood, so that he was reared in that city. His education was acquired in the academy, and he was but fourteen years of age at the time of his father's death. Christian Pretz, a merchant of the town, was appointed his guardian, and Benjamin Craig went to live with him. When he had completed his education he entered the store conducted by Mr. Pretz, in order to acquaint himself with the methods of merchandising. For a number of years he con- tinued in that employ, and then joined his brother, William R. Craig, in a mercantile enterprise, and was associated with him for a number of years. He thus became an active factor in the commer- cial life of the borough, and was well known in trade circles. He took no active part in poli- tics, however, but advocated the principles of the old-time Democracy.
Benjamin Craig was married to Matilda Brobst, a daughter of Jacob and Anna Maria (Knerr) Brobst. Her maternal grandparents were Andrew and Catherine Elizabeth (Schall) Knerr. Her paternal grandfather, Daniel Brobst, married Miss Reitz. Jacob Brobst had but two children. His daughter Abigail became the wife of Levi Knerr, and they had three children : Richard, the eldest, married Elemina Lentz, and
had two children; Wilbur, married Miss Hem- inger, and had two children ; and Lillian, wife of Joseph Zeigler. Calvin Knerr married Malita Hering, and has four children: Byard, Mildred, Harold and Horace. Levi Knerr married Miss Eckert, but has no children living.
The children of Benjamin and Matilda Brobst Craig are Charles and Mary Alice. The former married Ella Butz and had six children : Ralph, Harry, Bertha, Edward (died in 1904), Charles and Robert. Mary Alice Craig became the wife of James B. Roeder, and their children are Frank, who married Carolina Helwig, and Annie Roeder.
MENNO WEIDA, for many years identified with furniture manufacturing in Allentown, was a son of Benjamin and Aria (Deena) Weida, in whose family of seven children he was the eldest. The others were: Peter, who married a Phila- delphia lady and has twelve children; Francis, who was married in Canton, Ohio; Harry ; Eliza, who is the wife of Mr. Hartman, of Reading, Pennsylvania, and has three children; Sarah, the wife of Frank Smith, by whom she has four children ; and Emma.
Menno Weida was born in Long Swamp, near Allentown, and was a public school student dur- ing the period of his early youth. He afterward began learning the cabinet-maker's trade, serv- ing a three years' apprenticeship, and subse- quently he was employed as a skilled workman in numerous furniture factories of this city. He was for fifteen years a resident of Tiffin, Ohio, where he continued in the furniture manufac- turing business, and upon his return to Allen- town he became connected with the Yeager Fur- niture Company, which association was main- tained for a number of years. On his withdrawal from that position he began business for himself, making a specialty of the manufacture of fur- niture to fill special orders, and many of the best homes in Allentown in their rich and beautiful furnishings show the evidence of his skill and handiwork. He possessed superior ability as a representative of his chosen calling, and because of this and his honorable business methods he
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HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS.
secured a very gratifying patronage. He was also known in financial circles of the city, being for many years a stockholder in the Allentown Na- tional Bank.
Mr. Weida gave his political allegiance to the Democracy, and was reared in the Lutheran faith, but in later years joined the Methodist church. Mr. Weida was twice married. He first wedded Mary Fenstemaker, and afterward mar- ried Susan Yeager, who was a daughter of Jacob and Susannah (Fenstemaker) Yeager, in whose family were eleven children: William F., who married Priscilla S. Romig, and has one child- William R., who wedded Ella Dudd, by whom he has one child, Florence Priscilla ; James ; Charles ; Jacob; Hiram; Edward; John; Lescher; Caro- line ; Susan; and Zenia. Mr. and Mrs. Weida became the parents of three daughters, Ida, Lillie and Carrie Weida.
FRED G. W. RUNK is a native of Allen- town, and is a son of Charles M. and Sarah L. Runk. He obtained his education in the public schools of that city, and is a graduate of its high school. He took up the study of the law, was admitted to the bar of Lehigh county on June 6, 1881, and has practiced his profession in the city of Allentown ever since. His great-uncle, Samuel Runk, was admitted to the bar at Allen- town on May 4, 1819; his father, Charles M. Runk, on August 3, 1846; his brother, Charles S. Runk, on July 9, 1878; and all of them had their law offices at Allentown. He is a Repub- lican in politics.
ESAIAS REHRIG was known as a capable and efficient public officer and also as an enter- prising business man actively connected with the industrial development of the Lehigh Valley.
He was born in Carbon county, Pennsylvania, about 1831, the youngest of the four children of William and Leah (Heilman) Rehrig. The others were Aaron, who married Ellen Girard; Moses, who married Eliza Klutz; and William, who is also married. Esaias Rehrig having mas- tered the elementary branches of learning in the public schools continued his studies in Easton
under the direction of Professor Vanderveer. Later he entered upon his business career at Cat- asauqua, where he established a general store, conducting the enterprise with success for sev- eral years. He was afterward assistant to his father-in-law for six years in the office of pro- thonontary of Allentown, and was then elected to that position, in which he served for twelve consecutive years. On his retirement from that position he joined D. O. Saylor and Adam Wool- over in the development of some cement quarries at Coplay, and was engaged in their operation until his death. The business was then carried on by Mrs. Saylor and Mrs. Rehrig until 1900, when they sold out to New York capitalists. In the meantime Mr. Rehrig had become an active factor in financial circles of Allentown, and in 1882 was elected president of the Allentown Na- tional Bank, remaining as its chief executive officer up to the time of his demise, which oc- curred in 1885. Honored and respected by all, there was no man in Allentown who held a more. enviable position in industrial and financial cir- cles than did Mr. Rehrig, not alone because of the splendid success he achieved, but also be- cause of the honorable business methods which he ever pursued.
His loyalty to his country was manifested by active service in the Civil war as a member of Company E, Fifth Regiment Pennsylvania In- fantry. He was mustered in on the 15th of Sep- tember, 1862, and on the 25th of September, 1865, was honorably discharged. Fraternally he was connected with the Masonic lodge of Allen- town, religiously with the Lutheran church, and politically with the Democratic party.
Mr. Rehrig married Margaret Lackey, a daughter of James and Mary A. (Worman) Lackey. His paternal grandparents were John and Mary (Rogers) Lackey, and his maternal grandfather Jacob Worman. In the family of James Lackey were three children, Mrs. Rehrig. John and Jane A. The son married Ann McCracken, by whom he had seven children: James R., Edgar R., Mary E., all of whom died when in infancy ; Margaret ; John B., who passed away when thirty years of
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GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS.
age ; Annie H .; and Ida B., who married Oliver E. Waters, and has three children, Jane E. R., Oliver E., Jr., and Robert, Jr. Jane A. Lackey became the wife of Milton Berger, and they had five children : Ida, the wife of William Eudy ; Charles, who married Mary Kramer and has one child, Louise; Milton, Jr., who married Alice Gilbert, and has four children, Dorothy, Mar- jorie, Ruth and Anna; John F., who married Mary Snyder, and has one child, Edgar; and Robert, who married Florence Iredell, by whom he has one child, Robert Iredell Berger.
JACOB GEORGE STERNER, who for twenty years has been engaged in the undertaking and emblaming business in Allentown and is one of the foremost representatives of that line in the city, is numbered among the native sons of Lehigh county, and belongs to one of the old families of this part of the state connected with agricultural and industrial interests.
His paternal grandfather was Jacob Sterner, and his son and namesake, Jacob Sterner, Jr., was the father of him whose name introduces this review. Jacob Sterner, Jr.,. married Esther Keck, a daughter of George and Catherine Keck, and they became the parents of two daughters and three sons. Mary, the eldest, married Dan- iel Eberhard, and had three children: Mary, who is the wife of William Mackis, and has nine children ; Emma, who married William Yenser, and has nine children; and Sallie, who is the wife of George Kinsel, and has two children. Sarah, second daughter of Jacob and Esther Sterner, married John Lehman, and has seven children, as follows: Revere, who married, and has three children, now deceased ; Milton, who is also married, and has two children; Lillie, who is the wife of John Frey, and has two children ; John, who married Tana Fink, and has one child : Sallie, who married John Housman, and has one child ; Cora, who is the wife of Daniel Kline, and has five children; and George, who is married and has one child, which is deceased. Hiram, eldest son of Jacob and Esther Sterner, married Susan Wieand, and has three children, Ella, Fred
and Edward. His second wife bore the maiden name of Ida Butz. Edward Henry Sterner, youngest son of Jacob Sterner, married Jane Litzenberger and they have two children, the elder being Harvey Sterner, who married Lillie Rabenold.
In his early boyhood days, between the ages of six and eleven years, Jacob G. Sterner, the sec- ond son of Jacob and Esther Sterner, attended the public schools, and in the summer months per- formed such farm labor as his age and strength permitted. He afterward began work at the carpenter's trade with his father in order to thoroughly master the building art, and con- tinued at home until ninteen years of age, when he went to Washington, New Jersey, where he re- mained for a year. He afterward spent a short period in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and subse- quently went to Hunter's Point, Long Island, where he followed carpentering for four years. During that time he was married, and afterward returned to Allentown, being identified with the building interests of the borough for the succeed- ing eleven years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Hunter's Point, but after five years he once more came to Allentown. Here he abandoned carpentering and turned his atten- tion to the undertaking business, which he has followed continuously since, covering a period of twenty consecutive years. He has a well appointed establishment, carries a large line of burial goods, and is now one of the leading un- dertakers of the city. He is also proficient in embalming, having spent some time in learning that branch of the business.
Mr. Sterner was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Smith, of Hunter's Point. Long Island, a daughter of J. Andrew and Catherine (Gibson) Smith. Little is known concerning her paternal ancestry, but her maternal grandparents were Alexander and Jane (Stuart) Gibson. J. An- drew and Catherine (Gibson) Smith, had a fam- ily of eight children. John Andrew, the eldest, married Hannah Van Houten, and has three chil- dren-Catherine and Louise, at home ; and John Andrew, who married Daisy Strause. Catherine
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Francis (2) married Benjamin Van Bryck. Adeline married George Halpin, and has one child, John. Maria is the wife of William Gritt- man. Elizabeth is the fifth of the family. Amanda is the wife of Alfred New, and has two children -Alfred who married Ella Simson ; and Gertrude, wife of Harry Hanks. Louise and George Smith died unmarried.
Unto Jacob G. and Elizabeth (Smith) Sterner have been born three children. Esther is the wife of Clarence E. Wade, and has four children -Elizabeth, Arthur, Margaret and John Jacob. Lucetta is the wife of Ellwood S. Harrar. Edna is the wife of Richard F. Weishample.
The family belong to the Baptist church, and in politics Mr. Sterner is an independent Repub- lican. He has no fraternal relations, but, pos- sessing strongly domestic tastes, prefers to devote his leisure hours to the enjoyment of the pleas- ures of his own fireside and the companionship of his family,
THE WOLF FAMILY. The earliest an- cestor of this family of whom we have any au- thentic information was Henry Wolf, who emi- grated to this country in the days when steam- ships were unknown, and the only means of sea travel was by sailing vessels. After a long and tedious journey of six months duration they landed at New York, but immediately took up their residence at Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he secured employment as a weaver, which occu- pation he followed for the greater part of his lifetime. He married Dorothy Schober, and five children were born to them: Henry, Everhard, Ludwig, Sarah and Mary.
Mr. Wolf accompanied his parents to this country when a child of four years of age, and therefore his education was acquired in the public schools of Allentown, Pennsylvania, whither his parents removed after their arrival in New York city. He served a three years apprenticeship at the trade of blacksmith, and in 1838 established a business on his own account at the corner of Sixth and Turner streets. In those days many oxen and mules were used in farm work, and
the farmers used to drive to his place from all over the county to have their stock shod. He fol- lowed an active business life until about 1880, at which time he left the laborious work to his sons, Lewis and Allan, to perform, but he has always around the shop and interested himself in the business until his death. He held membership in the Lutheran church, was a Democrat in poli- tics, and affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Wolf was married twice. His first wife, Julia Ann (Clewell) Wolf, a daughter of Joseph Clewell, bore him six chil- dren, namely: I. Lewis H., mentioned herein- after. 2. Milton Joseph, who died at the age of sixteen years. 3. Allan D., mentioned herein- after. 4. Mary J., who became the wife of Clin- ton Engleman, and their children are: Julia A., wife of Earl B. Douglass, and mother of three children-Norman, Helen and Mary Douglass ; Elizabeth O., and Rachel U. Engleman. 5. Henry C., who married Kate Hoover, and they are the parents of one child. Harry Wolf. 6. Charles, who died at the age of six months. The second wife of Ludwig Wolf was Hannah ( Mickley) Erney, widow of John Erney, and one child was the issue of this marriage, Annie, who became the wife of Henry Hole, and their chil- dren are: Mary A., Dorothy C., Francis F., and Paul Hole.
Lewis H. Wolf, eldest son of Ludwig and Julia Ann (Clewell) Wolf, attended the public schools, later was a student at the seminary, and completed his education at the Allentown Acad- emy. He then went to work with his father and learned the trade of wheelwright and blacksmith, and in 1865 his father gave him an interest in the business. He is still active in the firm, their business being confined entirely to all kinds of carriage and wagon work. He served in the city council two years, during which time he per- formed his duties in a conscientious and pains- taking manner. He is a member of the Evan- gelical church. His political affiliations are with the Democratic party.
Lewis H. Wolf married Mary Worman, daughter of Abraham and Esther Kemmerer.
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