USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. II > Part 29
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Mr. Boyer was married, October 29, 1843, to Lucy Ann Miller, who was born March 11, 1825, daughter of John Miller, of North Whitehall township, and they were the parents of the fol- lowing named children: 1. Flora A., who be- came the wife of John Koch, and four children were the issue of this union-Barbara, wife of Andrew Herster, and mother of two children- Leroy, and Wilbur ; Wesley P., Sadie, and Edna Koch. 2. Lucinda, wife of John H. Beck, and mother of four children-Idella, who became the wife of Robert Roth, and mother of one child- Esther Roth; Irwin, married Mary Blose, and they have one child Raymond; Gilbert S. and Edgar. 3. Anna Maria, who died in 1887, was the wife of E. R. Newhard, no children. 4. John P., who married Lydia Hunsicker, and their children are Allen, who married Miss Acker; Edna M., and Stanley S. Boyer. 5. Lewis F., unmarried, who resided in Wilkes-Barre for twenty years, and during that long period was in the employ of one firm. 6. William H., who received his education in public schools and at Kingston Business Colege, after which he as- sisted his father in the iron ore business. Subse- quently he turned his attention to farming, and is now the owner of three farms near the city of Allentown, aggregating two hundred and fifty
acres. He is a member of the Reformed church, and a Democrat in his political affiliations. He married Mary Herman, daughter of Joseph and Rebecca (Herring) Herman, who were the pa- rents of three other children, namely : Tilghman, who married Annie Kressly, no issue; Sarah, who became the wife of William Wiesser, and they are the parents of one child, Paul Wiesser; and Eliza, wife of A. J. Reichard, and mother of three children-Howard, who married Dora -, no issue ; Hattie, wife of Harry Strauss, and mother of one child, Ellen Strauss; and James, who married Ray Thiel, and they are the parents of two children-Dorothy, and Ruth Herman. William H. and Mary (Herman) Boyer are the parents of seven children-Bessie J., wife of George Peter, and mother of one child, Miriam Peter; Lucy R., wife of Howard Kramlich, and mother of one child, William Boyer Kramlich; Miriam S., Solomon J., Will- iam H., Jr., Anna M., and Christine R. Boyer. 7. Amandus O., who was instantly killed by a cave-in while superintending the working of what was known as the Henninger iron-ore bed, in North Whitehall township, in the year 1884; he married Ella Kerns, and they were the parents of two children-Agnes M. and Marguerite I. 8. James Oliver, who died in babyhood. 9. Agnes M., wife of Harvey G. Ruhe, and mother of three children-Willard L., Carleton, and Helen Rhue. IO. Ida R., who died in 1902, was the wife of Charles M. Moss, and mother of one child, Mar- shall V. Moss. II. Lillie C., wife of Milton B. Laubach, no issue. 12. Sallie .J., unmarried. Solomon Boyer, father of these children, died February 17, 1897, at the advanced age of eighty years, three months, and nineteen days. His wife survived him a few years, passing away October 25, 1901, aged seventy-five years and six months.
VICTOR D. BARNER, to whose activity in business, loyalty in citizenship and fidelity in friendship may be attributed the prominent po- sition which he occupied in the public regard in Allentown, was born in Lower Macungie town-
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ship on the 22d of July, 1857. His ancestral his- tory through several generations was one of close connection with Pennsylvanian interests. His paternal grandfather, Nathan Barner, was a leading and prosperous farmer of Lehigh county, and his landed possessions at one time included the site upon which has beeen built the plant of the Lehigh Iron Company. His son, David L. Barner, became one of the influential residents of the county, and has several times been called by popular suffrage to the office of county com- missioner, elected on the Democratic ticket. Throughout his business career he carried on agricultural pursuits, and he died in 1897 on the old family homestead in Lower Macungie town- ship. He married Miss Angelina Schaffer, a daughter of George Schaffer, and she survives at this writing in 1904. In their family were six children : Llewellyn, now deceased ; Annie, the wife of James Baur ; Victor D .; Katie, the wife of John Schmoyer, and the mother of three chil- dren-Harry, Warren and Ray; Theodore, who married Irene Bortz; and Calvin, who married Minnie McDonald.
Victor D. Barner spent his boyhood days in the parental home, and early in life the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist became familiar to him. His ambition, however, extended beyond the boundaries of the farm, and realizing the value of education as a preparation for important life work, he continued his studies begun in the common schools as a student in the Kutztown and Millersville normal schools and in Eastman's Business College of Poughkeepsie, New York. In early manhood. he engaged in teaching for six years, and displayed special apti- tude in school work, imparting readily and clearly to others the knowledge that he had acquired. Throughout his entire career he has discharged every duty that devolved upon him with the sense of conscientious obligation, and it was this trait of his character manifest in early life that caused him to be elected commis- sioner's clerk in the year 1878. In order to dis- charge the duties of the office he removed to Al- lentown, where he continued to make his home until his death, which occurred on the Ist of
November, 1897. For three years he occupied the clerkship to which he had been called, and then became court crier and auditor of the court- house offices.
Mr. Barner also became identified with mer- cantile interests of Allentown, establishing a grocery store at Fifth and Linden streets. In 1886, however, he turned his attention to the hotel business, and it was in this connection that he became best known, making an acquaintance that extended far beyond the boundaries of the county and even that of the state. He first leased the Eagle Hotel on Center Square, and made it one of the leading hostelries of Allentown. In 1891 Mr. Barner purchased the Black Bear Hotel, one of the landmarks of the city, it having for fifty years been one of the familiar structures on Hamilton street. After tearing down the build- ing Mr. Barner began the erection of what was the Grand Central Hotel, of Allentown, now the Hess Brothers' dry goods store, and it was open for business on the Ist of January, 1892. His success from the beginning was indeed gratify- ing. Its popularity and patronage constantly grew, and in order to meet the demand of his business Mr. Barner found it necessary to erect an annex, including Nos. 837-839 Hamilton street, and at the rear of the building he erected a large wing. He also extended his business by opening an ice cream parlor, a restaurant, con- fectionery store, bakery, a branch stamp office and pool and billiard rooms. Still the public need was not fully met and Mr. Barner purchased the property at Nos. 831-833 Hamilton street, erecting thereon a large addition to the hotel. His establishment readily found favor with the traveling public, for he put forth every effort in his power to advance the comfort and welfare of his guests and at the same time conducted the hostelry along straightforward business lines, fair alike to patron and proprietor. His business career was indeed commendable, for when he ar- rived in Allentown he was practically an obscure country boy, yet in nineteen years he advanced to a position which placed him prominently in the foremost rank of the representative citizens of his county. Though the conduct of his hotel
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made heavy demands upon his time and atten- tion, he yet found opportunity to extend his efforts to other fields of business activity which have proven of material benefit to the commun- ity and at the same time have promoted the pros- perity of individual stockholders. Mr. Barner was interested in the Allentown & Reading Elec- tric Railway as a stockholder and director. He was likewise a director of the Second National Bank of Allentown and of the Keystone Mutual Benefit Association. He was a member of the Allen Mutual Fire Insurance Company, also hold- ing a position on its board of directors, and his deep interest in agricultural affairs was manifest by his active co-operation in the work of the Lehigh County Agricultural Society, in which he held various positions, including that of treasurer.
Mr. Barner gave his political allegiance to the Democracy, and even before attaining his ma- jority became an active party worker. His opin- ions carried weight in the councils of the Demo- cratic organization of his locality, and his efforts were so discerningly directed along political lines that they proved a potent element in winning success for the party. He was identified with various fraternal organizations, including the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America, the Odd Fellows, the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of the Golden Eagle, the Knights of Pythias, the Red Men, the Royal Arcanum, the Haymakers, the Knights of the Maccabees, the Junior Order of United American Workmen and the Order of United American Workmen. His religious faith was indicated by his membership in St. Michael's Lutheran church.
Mr. Barner was married in 1878 to Miss Lillie E. Straub, a daughter of Jessie H. and Amanda (Slough) Straub. Her paternal grand- parents were Josiah and Catherine (Drie) Straub, and her mother was a daughter of Lucas and Caroline (Mohr) Slough. Mrs. Barner was the eldest of five children, the others being Granville, who married Kate Reinhard, and has six children -Ella, Mabel, Bessie, Pauline, Jessie and Lil- lian ; Morris and Ella, both deceased ; and Lucas. Mr. and Mrs. Barner had but one child, J. Wins- low Barner, who is living with his mother.
Victor D. Barner passed away November 1, 1897, and the esteem in which he was uniformly held throughout his native county is indicated by the fact that there has not in many years been as great a concourse of people gathered to pay their last tribute of respect to any of the honored dead of Allentown. In an analyzation of his character the reason for this is evident. for he stood as a high type of American citizenship, faithful to every trust, however great or small, honorable in his business career, and devcted to all that was manly and upright in his relations with his fellow men. Perhaps no better sum- mary of his life work and what he accomplished can be given than in the words spoken at his funeral by Rev. M. O. Rath, who said :
"Born of a sturdy race, he came up from the farm splendidly equipped with physical endur- ance, bodily health and moral prowess. People wondered, but no one ever doubted the final out- come of his enterprises if health and life be spared to him. People admired his indomitable will, his courage and progressive spirit, and, knowing him to be a man of integrity, they hesi- tated not to hold up his hands while the battles continued. But before he could see the plans he carefully formulated unfold to their ultimate completeness, God takes him in the very prime of life, in the zenith of his power. In all he. did he manifested commendable zeal, whether as laborer on the farm, or teacher in the public school, or clerk at the desk, or official in the court house, or in positions of trust, or as projector of new enterprises, or as manager of an extensive business ; in all he was faithfully zealous and ac- tive. He was a man of unusual business capac- ity. He filled well every position he undertook to conduct, but it was not until he took up the business he followed at the time of his death that he discovered the calling for which he seemed peculiarly adapted. The history of the past eleven years seemed almost unprecedented. From a comparatively small beginning his business grew to one of vast proportions. Then he was known to few : to-day his acquaintances are found throughout this wide world.
"What more eloquent tribute can be given to his worth and character as a man, brother; citizen and friend, than the magnificent floral contributions that have been made, and this vast congregation of sympathizing friends. But our brother departed was, withal, modest, submis-
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sive, kind. Whether we think of him as a hus- band, father, son, brother or benefactor, he was the same kind soul. His was not a selfish life. He lived for othrs, he labored for others ; and, if I dared enter the sacred precinct of the home, the inner circles of the family, I might disclose a nature tender, loving and true. He loved his family. Having been an affectionate child, a dutiful son, it is but natural he should have been a loving husband. As such he will be cherished in loving remembrance."
In his culogy Rev. Steinhauser said: "Few men have accomplished what he has in these short years, and we ask how was he able to do it? What were the causes? It is true the envir- onments of the farm, the training in the school- room and other things were stimulating. Yet there are many who are surrounded by the same stury environments who did not attain what he has. Saul went down while Samuel arose; John and Judas were both under the same environ- ments, yet John rested on the bosom of Christ, and Judas went the other way. Back of his en- vironment there was that strong inherent char- acter which made the man. If I were to place upon this casket a chaplet of oak, I would in- scribe his own name, 'Victor.' If I would place more laurels there. I would inscribe them with 'Fidelity, Loyalty, Integrity.'"
E. F. MOHN, who is filling the position of justice of the peace at Belfast, is a representative of one of the old families of the Lehigh Valley, and the student of history cannot carry his in- vestigations far into the annals of this portion of Pennsylvania without learning of the connec- tion of the Mohn family with business activity and with events that have shaped the develop- ment and progress of the locality.
His great-grandfather was a native of Germany, and became the founder of the family in America. He settled in Plain- field township, Northampton county, where he reared his children. One of his sons was Henry Mohn, (grandfather) who was born in Plainfield township, in 1804. He became skilled in the concoction of herbs and roots, be- ing thoroughly conversant with their medicinal
properties as was soon evident to the people who became his patrons. He traveled extensively, selling and delivering his medicines, and doing a good business in that direction. Afterward he became the proprietor of a hotel which he con- ducted for thirty-five years. He married Eliza Fehr, of Bushkill township, Northampton county, and their family numbered eleven children, five of whom are yet living.
Sylvester Mohn, ( father) a son of Henry and Eliza (Fehr) Mohn, was born in Plainfield town- ship, Northampton county, in 1826, and in early life learned the butcher's trade, which he followed continuously until 1861. In that year he put aside business and personal considerations in or- der to assist in crushing out the rebellion in the south. He joined the boys in blue of Company H, Second Pennsylvania Cavalry, and on the ex- piration of his first term of enlistment rejoined the army as a member of Company I, of the same regiment. He was soon promoted to the rank of first sergeant for meritorious conduct on the field of battle, and continued to serve in that capacity until wounded in the shoulder by a piece of shell at the battle of Deep Bottom, near Weldon Rail- road. He was there taken prisoner, but was soon afterward paroled. During the period of his captivity his wound was sadly neglected, and fin- ally terminated his life. He passed away in one of the federal hospitals in 1863. His wife bore the maiden name of Rebecca Tombler, and by her marriage she became the mother of six chil- dren, namely: Sarah M., Clara A., E. F., James G., Arelia R., and Daniel, who died in 1883. The mother, who was born in 1825, is still living.
E. F. Mohn was born in Plainfield township, Northampton county, October 29, 1849, and was educated in the common schools of his township. When a youth of nineteen years he went to the west, traveling extensively over that portion of the country for six years. In 1874. however, he returned to his native township, where he was united in marriage to Miss Elmira Bishop on the 26th of December, 1874. He then removed to Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in the manufacture of brick. In 1876, however, he returned to Plainfield township and continued
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to reside there until 1883, when his wife died. Two children were living to mourn her loss, Oscar E. and Clara R. On the 26th of February, 1886, Mr. Mohn was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Sarah J. Kendt.
On the 26th of October, 1886, Mr. Mohn went south, where he remained until 1887. Upon returning in that year to his native township and county, he took up his abode upon a tract of rented land which belonged to Thomas Lesher, and after several years residence thereon pur- chased the adjoining property. Subsequently, he purchased another farm just across the road from the home place and upon it he now resides. The house is built of stone and was erected probably as early as 1820. Mr. Mohn and his family are members of the Reformed church, of which he has been the secretary for fifteen years. He is socially connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Improved Order of Red Men, the Patriotic Sons of America and the Sons of Veterans. He votes with the Republican party, and is now filling the position of justice of the peace. Never before has he been nominated or held office, and he was chosen for this position by his fellow townsmen because of his merit and capability. For four years he has now discharged the duties of the position in a most creditable manner, winning high commendation from all law abiding citizens.
JOHN FRANKLIN SHIMER, cashier of the Terminal, Central and Pennsylvania & Read- ing Railroads, in which capacity he has served for the past fifteen years, is a son of Reuben Schantz and Elemina Margaret (Saeger) Shimer, the former named being the son of John Buskirk and Amelia Shimer, and the latter a daughter of Owen and Eliza (Ruhe) Saeger. John F. Shimer was the oldest of a family of four chil- dren, the names of the others being as follows : George Reuben, deceased ; Mary Alice, unmar- ried ; and Henry Saeger Shimer, unmarried, who is assistant general manager of the New York Life Insurance Company in Vienna, Austria.
John F. Shimer obtained his primary educa- tion in the public schools of his native town, and
completed his education at a preparatory school in Providence, Rhode Island. He then returned to Allentown, Pennsylvania, and started to learn the mercantile business with Weinsheimer & Newhard, remaining with them three years. He then went to Philadelphia with the firm of Mech- ling Bros. & Co., as chief clerk and bookkeeper, and his connection with that house continued until 1885. In that year, in company with Aman- dus Kleckner and Reuben S. Shimer, he started in the wholesale grocery business under the name of Kleckner, Shimer & Co., on South Water street, Philadelphia. At the expiration of three years he disposed of his interest in the business, returned to Allentown, and subsequently was ap- pointed cashier of the Terminal, Central and Pennsylvania & Reading Railroads, which respon- sible position he has held up to the present time (1904). He is a strong advocate of the prin- ciples of Republicanism, but has never sought or desired political preferment, preferring the pleasures and quiet of his home and family.
Mr. Shimer was united in marriage to Grace Barnes, daughter of James P. and Mary (Shimer) Barnes, the former named being a son of Britania W. and Sarah (Pardoe) Barnes, and the latter is a daughter of Jacob and Fiette (Keck) Shimer. The family of James P. and Mary (Shimer) Barnes numbered four children : Avon, who is engaged in the manufacture of wagon platforms under the name of the Allen- town Platform Company : Grace, aforementioned as the wife of John F. Shimer ; Jacob, secretary and general manager of the Allentown Bobbin Works, who married Catherine Hume ; and Lena Barnes. Mr. and Mrs. Shimer are the parents of one daughter, M. Margaret. Mr. Shimer is a member of the Lutheran church and his wife and daughter are members of the Presbyterian church of Allentown, Pennsylvania.
JOHN RUPP SCHALL, who for many years was an honorable and honored business man of the Lehigh Valley, and who so directed his energies that in the evening of life he was en- abled to live retired from business cares in a beautiful home in Allentown, was born in Trex-
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lertown, November 26, 1827, and died on the 17th of August, 1887. His paternal grandfather, George Schall, one of the early residents of Penn- sylvania, married a Miss Oys. Their son, David Schall, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and wedded Mary Rupp, a daughter of Jacob and Polly (Fogle) Rupp. David and Mary Schall had six children, of whom John Rupp Schall was the eldest. Caroline, the eldest daugh- ter, became the wife of Hiram Schantz, and has two children : Clement and Tilghman. The lat- ter married Miss Culverson and has three chil- dren : Caroline, Jane and Helen. James D., the second son of David Schall, married Sabina Bal- liett, and they had seven children : David, Fred- erick, Warren, Laura, Sallie, Helen and Minnie. Eliza is the wife of Moses Albright, of Leaven- worth, Kansas, and has five children. Helen Barbara is the wife of Dr. William S. Herbst, and has two children: Dr. H. H. Herbst and Caroline. The former married Annie Frill, and has two children, Frederick and Warren. Amanda, the youngest child of David Schall, is the wife of Dr. Fred Spang, of Reading, Penn- sylvania, and they have four children: Harry, Charles, Ellie and Lizzie.
John Rupp Schall acquired his early educa- tion in the public schools of his native locality, and was afterward sent to Easton, where he con- tinued his studies under the direction of Pro- fessor Vanderveer. His education completed, he went to Philadelphia, where he entered a mer- cantile house in order to learn the business, there continuing until he had gained sufficient knowl- edge of commercial methods to make it a safe venture for him to engage in business on his own account. He then returned to Lehigh county, and his father started him in business in Trexler- town. He bent every energy to the development of his enterprise and carried it successfully for- ward for ten years, when he sold his store and began dealing in grain, coal and lumber. This business he followed for about the same length of time, and then purchased the grist mill at Laury's and added the business of milling to his other interests. Later on he ceased dealing in grain, but continued in the milling business up to
the time of his death. In the meantime he erected a fine residence in Allentown, in one of - the fashionable districts of the city, making his home in that borough from 1870 until called to his final rest. Mr. Schall gave his political support to the Democracy, but the honor and emolu- ments of office had no attraction for him. His religious belief was in harmony with the doctrines of the Reformed church, in which he held mem- bership.
In 1850 Mr. Schall was married to Miss Rosina Fogel, a daughter of Benjamin and Annie (Trexler) Fogel. Her father was a son of John and Rosina (Schaadt) Fogel, and her mother was a daughter of Jonathan and - (Har- locher) Trexler. Mrs. Schall was one of six children. Willoughby (I) married Maria Her- man and had five children : Achilles, who wedded Mary Albright : Robert, deceased ; Solon, who married Lizzie Kline and has two children, Fred- erick and Herman : Josephine ; and Adora. Will- iam Fogel (2) married Mary Grannisch, and they have five children : Frank ; Richard, who married Ella Butz; Alice, who became the wife of Mr. Miller, and has three children, Frank, Claude and Samuel ; Ellen, who married Jacob L. Grim, and has three children, Annie, Mary and Lillie; and Lillie, who is the youngest of the children of William Fogel. John H. Fogel (3) married Caroline Lichtenwalner, and has a daughter, Mary, who is the wife of David Schall and has two children, Horace and David. Mrs. Rosina Schall is the next of the Fogel family. Eliza (5) is the wife of George Deily and has two children : George B. and Mary, the wife of Peter Laubach. Amelia (6) was the wife of William Lichten- walner, and after his death married J. Frank Butz. By her first marriage she had four chil- dren : Allen, who is married and lives in the west ; Ellis, deceased ; Nora, who married Ed Shimer, and has a daughter Irene, the wife of Lewis Ane- walt ; and Fred, who married Jennie Seiple, and has two children, Harold and Francis.
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