USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. II > Part 26
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G. FREDERICK KUHL is one of the prom- inent and well known citizens of Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he has resided all his life. The best interests of the community find in him a friend, and his support is never withheld from any worthy enterprise calculated to promote the general welfare.
He is a son of George Frederick and Sarah Eliza (Millhouse) Kuhl, and grandson of George Frederick and Francisca (Eisenbrown) Kuhl, who were the parents of two children, namely : George Frederick, mentioned hereinafter; and Mary, who became the wife of Lewis F. Knecht, and mother of one child, Charles Knecht, who married Annie Tumbler, and their children are Charles and Helen Knecht.
George Frederick Kuhl (father) attended the public schools adjacent to his home until he at- tained his twelfth year, when he was obliged to leave school and depend upon his own resources for a livelihood, owing to the death of his father. He secured employment at whatever a boy of his size and years could find to do. Subsequently his mother remarried, and when George F. be- came old enough to be of service he was admitted to the candy factory owned and operated by his stepfather, and in this man-
ner became thoroughly familiar with the
details of the business. During his many years connection with this line of trade he became so proficient in all departments that, upon the death of his stepfather, he was fully competent to assume control of the business, which he con- ducted successfully for the remainder of his life, manufacturing for the wholesale as well as for the retail trade. At the time of his death, which occurred in 1886, the business was sold out to other parties. He was popular in both business and social circles, and possessed many warm per- sonal friends who fully appreciated his worth. The confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens was demonstrated by the fact that he was elected to the office of county treasurer, in 1882, which position he held for three years. He was a prom- inent Mason, and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was a member of the Reformed church, and his political adher- ence was given to the Democratic party. He was united in marriage to Sarah Eliza Millhouse, daughter of John and Harriet (Raeder) Mill- house, and five children were born to them, two of whom died in infancy and the three remaining are as follows: G. Frederick, mentioned herein- after ; George, unmarried ; and Robt. H., also un- married.
G. Frederick Kuhl obtained his preliminary education at the public schools in the neighbor- hood of his birthplace, and subsequently entered Muhlenberg College, where he pursued both the preparatory and academic courses and was grad- uated therefrom in the year 1897. Having de- cided that his business career should be devoted to mercantile pursuits, he accordingly opened a store for the sale of furniture and draperies, but not finding this investment profitable he there- upon disposed of the stock. His church relations are with the Reiormed denomination, his political support is given to the Democratic party, and he is an honored member of his college fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, and the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Kuhl was united in marriage to Katie
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Aquilla Dresher, daughter of Alfred and Amanda S. (Colver) Dresher, the former named being a son of Samuel and Sarah ( Leipensberger) Dres- her, and the latter named a daughter of Samuel and Maria (Deiley) Colver. Alfred and Amanda S. (Colver) Dresher were the parents of one other daughter, namely: Helen Dresher, un- married.
ASA R. BEERS has successfully conducted a general mercantile establishment at Mauch Chunk since the year 1867. He was the first of his family to establish a home in that city, but represents an ancestry that through several gen- erations has been resident in America.
His paternal grandfather, William Beers, was born, reared and educated in New Jersey, and re- moved to Sullivan county, Pennsylvania, where he followed the life of a farmer and there died. He married and had several children, including Jacob Beers, the father of Asa R. Beers, who was born on the old home place in New Jersey in 1809. His educational privileges were those af- forded by the public schools. Throughout his active career he carried on agricultural pursuits in Carbon county, Pennsylvania, until after the Civil war. He lived latterly in Luzerne county, where he died in 1867. At the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in Company E, Twenty- eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry, and served with the Army of the Potomac until 1864, when the regiment was transferred to the west. He served with Sherman in the oper- ations about Atlanta, and followed that great soldier on his famous March to the Sea. He mar- ried Elizabeth Henry, of Sullivan county, who is also now deceased. They were the parents of eight children, of whom five sons followed the example of their sire and served with courage and fidelity in the army during the Civil war. The children were: John A., a retired farmer at Weatherly, Pennsylvania ; Henry W., who served in the same company and regiment with his fath- er ; Wilson, who served in Company K, Eighty- first Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers; Pa- milla ; Anthony, who was captain of Company H, Eleventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Cavalry Vol-
unteers ; Jacob, who served in Company E, Twenty-eighth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volun- teers ; Rebecca, and Asa R. Beers. .
Asa R. Beers was born in Rockport, Carbon county, Pennsylvania, November 17, 1843, and at the usual age entered the public schools of the town, while later he was a student in private schools. After completing his own course of study he taught in the academy at Lehighton, be- ing then but fifteen years of age. Subsequently he went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he became connected with commercial life as an em- ployee in a dry-goods house, in which he re- mained until 1865. In that year he went to Mauch Chunk, where he clerked in the store of J. W. Heberling for two years. He then opened a general store which he lias conducted continu- ously since, and is now one of the oldest repre- sentatives of mercantile circles in that city. He is also the secretary of the Allentown-Reading Traction Company, and is a business man of en- terprise and foresight whose labors have been directed toward the future welfare of his adopted city as well as to its present prosperity. In poli- tics he is a Republican, and he belongs to the Masonic fraternity, to the Odd Fellows, and to the Royal Arcanum. He and his family attend the Presbyterian church.
In 1868 Mr. Beers was married to Miss Ella Ashley, a daughter of Lucius Ashley, in Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania. By this marriage there are four children : Caroline, wife of Richard Rauch, a printer residing at Mauch Chunk ; Eliz- abeth, who married James Lomerson, a banker, residing at Phillipsburg, New Jersey, and has one child, Elizabeth ; Mabel, at home ; and Rob- ert, who is attending the Rensselaer Technical Institute at Troy, New York.
CHARLES M. BRUNNER, a prominent business man residing in Hellertown, is a de- scendant on both the paternal and maternal side of old and prominent families, long resident in the Lehigh Valley. His paternal grandfather, Joseph Brunner, and his wife Susan (Bucken- stock) Brunner, were the parents of seven chil- dren, three of whom are living at the present
asa R Beers
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GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS.
time (1904) : Francis H., father of Charles M. Brunner ; Mrs. Mary Moyer, and Thomas Brun- ner. His maternal grandfather, David Erdman, who was a farmer and the incumbent of several township offices, and his wife, Anna (Eager) Erdman, were the parents of three children, as follows : Amanda Brunner, Catherine Ritter, and Emma Erdman.
Francis H. Brunner (father) was born in Lower Saucon township, Northampton county, Pennsylvania. After completing a common school education he served an apprenticeship at the trade of blacksmith, which he followed with a fair degree of success for a number of years, but subsequently devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits, deriving a good income from his well cultivated and therefore productive farm land. He is an active and public-spirited citizen, has contributed his quota toward the general welfare of his township, and possesses the confidence and esteem of his fellowmen. He was united in marriage to Amanda Erdman, aforementioned as the daughter of David and Anna Erdman, and their family consists of the following named children : Emma, wife of Horace Musselman ; Anna, wife of Edward Laub; and Charles M. Brunner.
Charles M. Brunner is a native of Lower Saucon township, Northampton county, Pennsyl- vania, born September 7, 1873. He was reared and educated in his native township, and in early life learned the trade of wheelwright. Subse- quently he turned his attention to mastering the trade of machinist, and after this was accom- plished he pursued that line of work, and has steadily worked his way upward to the high posi- tion he now occupies in the business circles of South Allentown, to which place he removed in 1896. The South Allentown Iron Manufacturing Company, of which he was a member, was or- ganized by him in 1901, and he is the owner of the building, which was erected in that year, and also of the machinery with which it was equipped. The dimensions of the shop are sev- enty-five by eighty feet, and the machinery is operated by a seven horse power gasoline engine.
The extensive and profitable business conducted by the company was the result of the well directed efforts of the three partners, who are first-class mechanics, and endowed with a large share of energy, determination and pluck, and their straightforward business principles gained for them the confidence of their business associates. In the fall of 1904 Mr. Brunner dissolved part- nership, and is now conducting business under his own name, Charles M. Brunner. He manu- factures iron fences, fire escapes, all kinds of iron structural work and blacksmithing for structural and ornamental purposes, and is a dealer in all kinds of farming implements. In ad- dition to the property on which his shop is erected, Mr. Brunner is the owner of real estate in an- other section of the borough.
In 1898 Mr. Brunner married Miss Kate Seibert, of Lower Saucon township, and their children are: Russell F., Elsie M., and Percival E. Brunner. Mr. and Mrs. Brunner are active and consistent members of the Lutheran church of South Allentown, Pennsylvania.
GEORGE W. SEAGRAVES. The ancestry of this family can be traced back to George Seagreaves, who came from England to America, establishing his home in Harlem, and he took an active part in the Revolutionary war as a defender of the interests of the colonies. The paternal grandparents of James M. and George W. Seagraves were James and Elizabeth (Schade) Seagreaves, the latter a daughter of Captain Henry and Marguerite (Fogle) Schade. Captain Schade won his title as a commander of a company of Continental troops in the war for independence.
Charles Seagreaves, father of James M. and Greoge W., was the eldest of a family of ten chil- dren. His father accumulated considerable prop- erty, but Charles always told him that when he was ready to dispose of it to give it to the other members of the family, as he was able to care for himself. In his early days he attended the public schools, and afterward learned the trade of saddler, which he followed for some years.
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HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS.
Subsequently, he purchased a farm, and contin- ued its cultivation in addition to conducting his saddlery business. Through his industry and careful management he accumulated some money, and purchased the house that was built by Judge Allen and Judge Henry Livingston, now standing on the southeast corner of Fifth and Hamilton streets, Allentown, Pennsylvania. He made this the Seagreaves home. Later he purchased the American Hotel, located at Sixth and Hamilton streets, Allentown, which he conducted for a number of years, the enterprise proving quite profitable. He also owned and conducted the stage line from Philadelphia to Allentown and Pottsville, Pennsylvania, continuing in that busi- ness until the building of the railroads in 1856- 57. He afterward devoted his attention to the hotel business, in which he continued for some time. He also owned two farms, which he oper- ated, and from his agricultural and hotel inter- ests he annually derived a handsome income. He was a man of great liberality and generosity, and many unfortunate people were the recipients of his bounty. He took an active interest in poli- tics, and gave his ballot in support of the men and measures of the Democracy. Socially, he was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masons. Mr. Seagreaves left his property in such a manner that it was not to be divided until the youngest child was of age, and he provided that each one must learn a trade or profession.
Charles Seagreaves was married twice, his first wife having been Martha Engle and his sec- ond wife Lydia Louise Weaver. His family num- bered five children: James M. (sketch else- where) ; Elizabeth, deceased ; George W., Katie, deceased; and Charles, deceased.
George W. Seagraves, second son of Charles Seagreaves, was born in Allentown, April 16, 1861. He attended the public schools of Allen- town, and the knowledge thus gained was sup- plemented by an academical course at Muhlen- berg College. His first business experience was gained as a telegraph operator with the Philadel- phia & Reading Railroad, with which he remained
for some time, after which he engaged in the in- surance business, successfully conducting the same for a number of years. During this period of time, in 1890, he was elected city treasurer, the term of office being three years. The first year of his incumbency he continued his insur- ance business, but he then disposed of it and de- voted his entire time to his official position, dis- charging his duties and responsibilities in an efficient manner. In 1892, one year before his term expired, he resigned from office, and at once assumed proprietorship of the American Hotel, located at Sixth and Hamilton streets, Al- lentown, formerly owned by his father, and which is now recognized as the most popular commercial men's home in that section of the county. Since the death of his father the prop- erty has had many managers who have conducted the business with a greater or less degree of suc- cess, but since Mr. Seagraves assumed control, more than twelve years ago, the business has greatly increased in proportion, and is now a most remunerative source of income. Mr. Seagraves holds membership in the following named social clubs : Livingston, Clover, St. Leger, Saenger- bund, Euterpean, and Oratorio Society.
Mr. Seagraves married Mamie L. Cooper, daughter of John L. and Eliza J. (Martin) Cooper, who were the parents of three children, namely: Harry M .; Mamie L., aforementioned as the wife of George W. Seagraves; and Al- fred J.
Mr. and Mrs. Seagraves are the parents of two children, Kathleen, and one deceased.
Eliza J. ( Martin) Cooper, mother of Mrs. Sea- graves, was a daughter of Dr. Tilghman H. Mar- tin, a garduate of the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, of the class of 1831, and succeeded to his father's practice in Allen- town. He was an active member of the Lehigh County Medical Society, and the State Medical Society. His father, Dr. Jacob Martin, was a son of Dr. Charles L. Martin, a distinguished physician of Allen- town, Pennsylvania, for many years, and he was a descendant of Dr. Christian Frederick Martin,
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GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS.
who was born in Prussia, December 22, 1727, a son of a Lutheran clergyman who came to the United States with the Rev. Henry Melchoir Muhlenberg and others, settling at Trappe, Mont- gomery county, Pennsylvania. In 1836 Dr. Til- ghman H. Martin married Mary Kramer, daugh- ter of Daniel Kramer, and their children were: Alfred J., Eliza J., mother of Mrs. Scagraves ; and Mary, the wife of H. K. Hartzel.
TILGHMAN SCHADT, a retired business man of Allentown, Pennsylvania, who during his honorable and upright business career accumu- lated a comfortable competency by diligence and perseverence, and whose example is well worthy of emulation, is a native of Lehigh county, and one of fifteen children born to John and Maria (Birch) Schadt, the former named having been a son of John and (Miss Clater) Schadt. The names of the children are as follows: Eliza Lich- tenwalner, deceased; Hettie Stetler, deceased ; Mary Bortz ; Lucy N. Kuntz ; Franklin, deceased ; Thomas, deceased ; Elemina Kuhns; Moses B., deceased ; Tilghman, mentioned hereinafter ; Ro- ยท phena Peters; Sarah Treichler; Caroline, de- ceased ; Caroline Sterner, deceased ; Amanda Mc- Intyre, deceased ; and Polly Kemerer, deceased.
Tilghman Schadt was born in South White- hall township, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, De- cember 1, 1834. During his early boyhood he at- tended the public schools and later he pursued advanced studies at the Allentown Academy, which was then under the preceptorship of Pro- fessor Gregory. His first employment was on the home farm assisting his father, and for a short time thereafter he served in the capacity of school teacher. He then engaged in the butch- ering business, and after successfully conducting this line of enterprise for eight years he disposed of it to good advantage. In 1864 he took up his residence in Allentown, and established a dry goods and grocery store which was the begin- ning and foundation of the present wholesale house of T. Schadt & Co. After a number of years he discontinued the dry goods department, and engaged more extensively in groceries, and
later he ceased disposing of his goods at retail and thereafter became a wholesale dealer. Prior to this, as his sons completed their studies, they were taken into the store to learn the mercantile business, and were finally admitted to member- ship, the business then being conducted under the style of T. Schadt & Sons, the members thereof being Tilghman Schadt (father), Charles F., and Henry P. Schadt. In 1898, when the business was changed from retail to wholesale, they adop- ted the name of T. Schadt & Co., and continued in that manner until the year 1903, when Tilgh- man Schadt (father) retired, and Oliver S. Schadt was admitted in his place under the old style of T. Schadt & Co. Mr. Schadt and his family are highly respected in the community in which they reside. They are independent in na- tional political affairs, but take no active part in local matters, preferring to devote their entire time to their business and families.
Mr. Schadt was united in marriage to Delia Minnich, daughter of John and Sarah (Kem- merer) Minnich, and their children are as fol- lows: I. Josephine, wife of Calvin Ritter, and mother of one child, Leroy Ritter. 2. Sarah, wife of Oliver Fatzinger, and mother of one child, Ed- gar Fatzinger. 3. John, who died at the age of twenty-one years. 4. Mary, who died at the age of six years. 5. Charles F., who married Lillie Bachman, and they have one child. . 6. Emma, wife of Charles W. Fritchman, and mother of two children, Wilfred and Willard Fritchman. 7. Henry, who married Mary Muschiltz, and they are the parents of one child, Lee Wilson. 8. Elsie, who died at the age of twenty-four years, was the wife of Ralph Cooper. 9. Allan H., who died in infancy. 10. Stella, unmarried. 11. Oliver S., who married Catherine Walp, no issue.
REUBEN ACKER was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in 1825. His father was George Acker, who was son of Joseph Acker, and his mother was Elizabeth Frey, who was daughter of John Frey. George Acker and Elizabeth Frey were the parents of five children : 1. Abbie, mar- ried Mr. Foley, and had five children : William,
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HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS.
unmarried ; Alfred, married and had three chil- dren ; Emma, married Peter Scheirer, and had three children; Amanda, married Walter Grim, and had four children ; Sarah, married Mr. Stein- inger, and had three children. 2. Reuben, mar- ried Sarah Andrews, and had five children. 3. George, who died unmarried. 4. Mary, who married Phaon Haas, and had one child, Mary, who married Willoughby Lutz, and had four children-William, Stella, Vincent and Harold. 5. Sarah, who married Levi Kuhns, and has three children -- John, Jane and Maria.
Reuben Acker, second child and elder son of George Acker and Elizabeth ( Frey) Acker, spent his youth and young manhood upon his father's farm. He was brought up to industry and throughout the entire period of his active life he was a hard and constant worker at whatever was necessary for him to do. At the age of twenty- two years he started out to make his own way in life, and his early education was limited to the opportunities of a farmer's boy in the common schools. When he left home to seek his fortune in unknown fields, Reuben Acker possessed just one dollar and fifty cents, and during the busy years that followed he travelled almost from the Atlantic to the Pacific, working wherever he could find employment and at whatever he could get to do, but, with all his traveling, always managing to save some part of his earnings. Leaving home he went first to New York, and thence to Ohio. Next he went to Bethlehem and worked in a ho- tel, and from there journeyed westward to Cleve- land, Ohio, thence to Warren, and thence to Cin- cinnati, in each of which places he stayed only a short time. Later on he returned to Warren, and there, in 1852, in company with William and Samuel Newhard and a man named Kulp, he bought an "outfit" and started for the Pacific coast and the "Land of Gold." An ox tem was used to transport their belongings, but the journey was made chiefly on foot, and required just six months to accomplish before they reached American Valley, in California. From there they went to Marysville and then to Sacramento, and thence to San Francisco, crossed the bay to Alameda
county, and there Mr. Acker found work on a farm at eighty-five dollars per month "and found." He worked five years there, and with his accumulated savings went into business for him- self. His first year's profits amounted to $2,400 ; his second year was equally successful, but at its end he engaged in buying and selling cattle, and was thus engaged for eight more years, and with more than fair success.
In 1864 Mr. Acker returned to Allentown, Pennsylvania, bringing with him the first Cali- fornia gold seen in Lehigh county. He soon pur- chased the old homestead farm where his parents had lived, then returned to the far west to settle his business affairs, and in 1865 returned again to pass the remainder of his days in the locality of his youth. The home farm comprised one hun- dred and twenty-six acres, located some distance outside Allentown borough, and in vain did Mr. Acker offer to give one half the land to any per- son who would erect for him suitable buildings on the remaining half of the tract. But now the growth of Allentown has extended to this farm tract, and its lands have become populous and valuable, from all of which the owner has de- rived a benefit. He has watched this growth, has advanced it, and has contributed his full share in promoting Allentown's interests in every way. He is interested in the city's political welfare, and in its institutions. Himself a strong Democrat, he has not taken an active interest in public af- fairs for his personal advantage. He is a con- sistent member of the Lutheran church. .
Reuben Acker married Sarah Andrews, daughter of John Andrews, and one of his six children. They were John, an officer of the Uni- ted States navy, and Sarah, Daniel, Samuel, Jo- seph, and Elizabeth. The children of Reuben and Sarah Acker are: Joseph, who died at seventeen years ; Ida, who died at the age of eleven years ; Sarah, who married Oscar Knauss, and had three children-Paul, Esther and James ; Agnes, who married Harvey W. Haines; Martha, who married Edward W. Lewis, and has four children -Reuben, May, George and John.
Harvey W. Haines, who married Agnes
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GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS.
Acker, and with whom Reuben Acker makes his home, is a son of William Haines and his wife Sarah Anna (Litzenberg) Haines. Their chil- dren were Harvey W .; George, who married Minnie Klotz; Lizzie, who married Alvin Hor- lacher, and has five children-Lilla, Mabel, Lula, Elmer, and Harold; Sally, who married Quintus Roth, and has one child, Minnie.
Harvey W. Haines was educated in the pub- lic schools and later engaged in mercantile busi- ness. For fifteen years he was employed by H. W. Hunsicker, but later became connected with the house of W. R. Lawfer & Company. He has membership in the Knights of Malta, Sons of Veterans, and the Evangelical church. Harvey W. Haines and Agnes Acker have two children, Ruth and Helen Agnes Haines.
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