USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. II > Part 45
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Judge Brodhead was born at Dingman's Ferry, Pike county, Pennsylvania, August 13, 1815, son of Garrett and Cornelia Brodhead. He came from one of the very earliest and most
prominent English families in America. The first Brodhead in this country was Captain Daniel Brodhead, who as a captain of British gren- adiers came with Colonel Richard Nicolls under authority from the Duke of York, grantee under Charles II, and in 1664 wrested New York from the Dutch control, and with it all the adjacent territory. Captain Brodhead, with the title of "Captain-General of the Esopes" (Esopus), was, with his troops, assigned to the defense of the country bordering that stream. He made his headquarters at Marbletown, not far from the Hudson river, and where he died July 14, 1667. Before his leaving England he had married Ann Tye, who survived him, and in 1697 built for herself a residence on the property which had been occupied by her husband, and which re- mained with her descendants until about a score of years ago. They were the parents of several children, among whom were three sons, Daniel, Charles and Richard.
The first of the Brodheads to visit Pennsyl- vania was Daniel, a grandson of Captain Daniel Brodhead. He did not settle, however, but his- report upon the country was so favorable that his cousin, Daniel Brodhead, came to the province about 1735, settling upon what came to be known as Brodhead's Creek, near Stroudsburg, then Bucks (now Monroe) county, where he laid out a town which he named Dansbury. From this. pioneer are descended the Brodheads of Penn- sylvania, many of whom have become noted in nearly every department of life. Of his sons, Daniel was a colonel in the Revolution; after the war, under orders from General Washington, he was commander of the western department, with headquarters at Pittsburg ; and was the first surveyor-general of Pennsylvania after its crea- tion as a state. Another son was also an officer in the Revolution. Of Judge Albert Gallatin Brodhead's immediate relatives, his uncle, Hon. Richard Brodhead, was United States senator from Pennsylvania ; several other uncles were prominent in the national congress and the state legislature ; and among his cousins were Dr. Henry Linderman, director of the United States Mint.
A.G. Por ahead for
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Shortly after the birth of Albert Gallatin Brodhead, his parents removed to Lehman town- ship, five miles below Dingman's Ferry. As a lad he assisted his father in farm work in the spring months and in harvesting in the summer, attending the district schools in winter. At the very early age of twelve years (in 1827) he went to Conyngham, Luzerne county, with his uncle, A. G. Gallatin, in whose store he served as a clerk, and during his four years' employment gave much of his spare time to study, thus com- pensating for the very inadequate schooling which had been afforded him. He was at the same time building better than he knew, laying
the foundations of his brilliant future in habits of industry and fidelity. In 1831, at the age of sixteen, he went to Chestnut Hill, Northampton
county (now Monroe), and for two years served the firm of Brodhead & Brown. Notwithstanding his extreme youth he had developed a genuine talent for business which, with his entire trust- worthiness, so won the confidence of his em- ployers that he was entrusted with the most im- portant duties, frequently making trips to Easton and Philadelphia as buyer and seller for the firm, and discharging his missions with a sagacity far beyond his years. In 1834 he returned to the employ of his uncle in Conyngham, to whom he proved a valuable assistant. After three years, with W. H. Cool as a partner, he engaged in a mercantile business at Beaver Meadow, and Cool & Brodhead prospered for several years. Retiring from the firm, Mr. Brohead removed to Mauch Chunk (in 1841), and at once entered upon the larger work whose consummation was of widespread usefulness and crowned his career with honor.
For seven years he was clerk for Judge Asa Packer, and their intercourse thus begun ripened into a deep personal regard and mutual con- fidence. For a short time afterward he served as bookkeeper with Fatzinger & Salkeld, who conducted a store and foundry, and in 1850 re- signed and took up larger responsibilities. May 10, 1850, Mr. Brodhead was appointed to the superintendency of the Beaver Meadow Railroad and Coal Company, and he occupied this position
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until the properties were merged into those of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company in 1864. During these fourteen years he was an all-im- portant factor in the development of the interests with which he had thus become identified. Upon the amalgamation of these with the great Lehigh Valley Railroad, he became division superintend- ent of that corporation, and acted in that capacity until his death. During this entire period of twenty-seven years he gave close personal at- tention not only to his immediate duties, but was ever alert to detect and create opportunities for further developing the lines of which he had charge, and the industrial interests dependent thereupon. He was regarded as one of the most capable and enterprising railway officers in the entire country. During his time the processes of building and operating railroads were revolution- ized more completely than was aught else in the commercial world. He became not only imme- diately familiar with every promising innovation, but he really in many instances anticipated it, and brought into instant play every new method or invention pertaining to transportation. While a careful and vigilant executive officer and entirely loyal to the directors and stockholders, he was also eminently just and sympathetic with the thousands of workmen of all grades under him, and was looked upon by them as their friend.
The public services of Judge Brodhead were of signal usefulness. When he took up his resi- dence in Mauch Chunk, it was situated in North- ampton county, and he was a prime factor in pro- curing the creation of the new county of Carbon. A Democrat in politics, he came to fill a foremost place in the ranks of his party, not only in the state but in the nation, and taking part in every important political event for a full half century. In 1857 he was elected treasurer of Carbon coun- ty, and administered the affairs of the office with that sagacity and scrupulousness which was ever one of his principal characteristics. Later he was called to the bench as associate county judge, and he adorned the place for a term of five years. He was elected state senator from the district com- prising the counties of Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne, in 1869, and the confidence and esteem
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in which he was held by his colleagues is evi- denced by the fact that when opportunity came and the Democrats had a majority (though only of (ne) in the senate they elected Judge Brod- head speaker. He was honored throughout the state for his honesty and integrity in public af- fairs, and it was frequently said of him that no man who ever sat in either house of the legisla- ture of Pennsylvania ever made for himself a cleaner or more honorable record than did Judge Brodhead. 1
Thereafter Judge Brodhead declined to be- come a candidate, but he at the same time main- tained a zealous interest in political affairs, his effort being actuated by the conviction that ideal citizenship demanded an active participation therein. He was an ardent admirer of President Cleveland, and between the two subsisted the warmest personal relations, growing out of mutual esteem and community of thought with reference to governmental affairs. He was on equally friendly terms with Governor Pattison, who frequently sought his advice. Less than one year before his death, and during the political campaign of. 1900, Judge Brodhead threw him- self into the canvass with all the ardor of his nature, and performed herculean labor. When Governor Pattison visited Mauch Chunk, Judge Brodhead took a leading part in the reception tendered to him, and to hir- was primarily due the great success of that notable event. He was ardently desirous of witnessing the inauguration , of Governor Pattison, but died with his wish un- gratified, shortly before the occasion for which he had looked with such expectancy. His last appearance in political affairs was in the latter part of the campaign before mentioned, when he acted as one of three conferees selected by Sna- tor Craig to harmonize differences and select a congressional candidate. The decision was con- trary to what he had hoped for, but he was too fairminded and liberal a man to withhold his acquiescence, and labored for the success of the chosen candidate as earnestly as though he had been the one he first desired-a leading man and a personal friend from his own county.
From the day of his coming to Mauch Chunk,
through all the fifty years following, and down. to the day of his death, Judge Brodhead was -one of the foremost citizens of the city, and his activ- ity was felt in every phase of the life of the com- munity. He aided in the organization of the Mauch Chunk Gas Company, was one of its first: directors, and for many years prior to his death was president of the board. He was interested in all the financial institutions, and was long vice president of the Linderman National Bank. From early life he was a consistent member of the Pres- byterian church, and labored earnestly for the promotion of the usefulness of that body. For more than thirty years he was an elder, and for twenty-five years was superintendent of the Sun- day school. For many years he represented his church in the sessions of the presbytery, and was. a valuable member. He enjoyed the esteem and confidence of many leading men in the denom- ination, clerical as well as lay, who regarded him. as one of the best informed among them with. reference to church history and polity, and he was frequently called in to arbitrate difficulties and harmonize differences, his decisions being habitually and cheerfully accepted by all parties. He was prominent in Masonic circles, and was for many years affiliated with Carbon Lodge, No. 242. He was among the founders of Mauch Chunk Lodge, No. 76, I. O. O. F., in 1842, was its first noble grand, and was held in honor by the fraternity throughout the state.
Before his removal to Mauch Chunk, and while yet a resident of Beaver Meadow, Judge- Brodhead married Miss S. Anne Tolan, a native of Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. Dr. Gray, on July 3, 1838,. at Easton, Pennsylvania. In 1841 they took up their residence permanently in Mauch Chunk. Of their marriage were born two sons and five- daughters, of whom a son and daughter died in extreme youth. The other children were: R. Milton Brodhead, who died December 24, 1898, and who was division passenger agent of the- Lehigh Valley Railroad ; Cornelia, wife of Judge E. R. Enbody, of Mauch Chunk; she died September 5, 1903. Ellen T., wife of Charles H .. Webb, auditor of through freights of the Lehigh
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Valley Railroad ; Mary B., wife of Horace Ham- lin, also connected with that road ; Annie L., wife of George L. Houser, of Pittston. Their grand- children number six.
Judge and Mrs. Brodhead celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on July 3, 1888, and the event was one of the most notable in the history of the entire Lehigh Valley region. There were present all the children and grandchildren of the pair, and nearly seven hundred friends from all parts of the country came to present their congratulations. The host and hostess entered into the spirit of the occasion with all the zest and enthusiasm that did the youngest, and showed by their warmth of feeling that they deeply ap- preciated the loving and reverential attentions bestowed upon them. Another particularly joy- ous event was the celebration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the birthday of Judge Brodhead, on August 15th preceding his death. He gave a dinner at the West End Hotel in Long Branch, New Jersey, where he and his family were spend- ing the summer. Among the guests were men prominent in the largest industrial, financial and commercial enterprises of the Lehigh Valley. Referring to the event, Colonel McClure said in his paper (the Philadelphia Times) : "Judge Brodhead is one of the men of ability and in- tegrity of the Keystone State who have helped make its laws and enforce them, and who has sat in legislative councils in assisting in developing its material resources. Long and useful as has been his career, he is as bright and active to-day at seventy-five as most men in the meridian of life, a striking illustration of the fact that it is not English statesmen and judges alone who show well preserved faculties after seventy."
'The death of Judge Brodhead occurred short- ly before noon on Sunday, January 18, 1891, at his home in Mauch Chunk. Despite his advanced years he had enjoyed excellent health until a year previous, when he suffered a severe attack of la grippe. He seemingly recovered, but did not regain his accustomed vigor. On the advice of his physician (Dr. Horn) he went to Atlantic City, and after remaining there for a time re- turned home and resumed his duties as superin-
tendent of the Beaver Meadow Division of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. During the summer he and his family passed some time at Long Branch. He was then evidently failing in health, although he would not admit so much. He subsequently contracted a slight cold, but persisted in his daily visits to his office. January 6 he was obliged to return to his home, took to his bed the next day, and never rose therefrom. He suffered little, and to the last retained his faculties. He recognized all about him as death was approaching, and spoke words of consolation to his sorrowing wife and children, gave final directions for the closing of his earthly affairs, and impressed upon his son and daughters the care and attention they should bestow upon their mother, also expressing his unbounded confidence in their affection and loyalty to her. By a sing- ular coincidence his death occurred on the same day of the month as did those of his father and mother-the former on January 18, 1872, and the latter on January 18, 1883.
The funeral of the distinguished man took place on Wednesday, January 21st, from the family residence, and was attended by practically the entire population of Mauch Chunk, besides many men of prominence from various portions' of the state, special trains being needed to bring many of the mourning friends. The services were touching in their fervor and simplicity, and were conducted by two deeply attached personal friends of the deceased-his pastor, the Rev. W. P. Stevenson, and the Rev. Edsall Ferrier. The tributes to the lamented dead were many and of deep significance. The session of the church tes- tified to his sincerity as a Christian and his worth as an officer during a period of more than thirty years, and the Sunday school voiced similar sen- timents. The Mauch Chunk Times gave expres- sion to the sense of the community at large in the following earnest phrases :
"The memory of the deceased will always be kept green in the hearts of all who had the pleas- ure of his acquaintance. The people of Mauch Chunk and Carbon county particularly will re- member him as a man of manifold good quali- ties. He was charitable to a fault, and his mag-
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nanimity knew no bounds. There are many families in this county who have reason to sin- cerely mourn the death of this good citizen. While he despised ostentatious display, nevertheless his good deeds were so numerous that they could not be counted. He never let his left hand know what his right was doing, and in this way he ac- complished deeds of charity which are only known to those who were benefited by them. He was always ready to lend a helping hand to the poor and oppressed, and he did this not with the blaring of trumpets, but rather as a modest, re- tiring and sincere Christian, assisting those in need with kind words of encouragement and hope, at the same time remembering them in a substantial way. During his long term of service as superintendent of a railway, many cases came before him which he disposed of with a degree of magnanimity which challenged admiration. He was respected by everybody, and the memory of this good man will long be kept in the hearts and minds of our people. Judge Brodhead was a devoted husband and father, and while the town loses an upright, honest and public-spirited citi- zen, his family suffers an irreparable loss. He was exceedingly domestic in his habits, and was never so happy as when seated at his own fire- side, surrounded by his loved ones. The sym- pathy of the entire community goes to the afflicted widow and sorrowing children in this their hour of trial. It is a comfort and Christian consola- tion to them to know that the paternal head of the family served his Creator well on this earth for a longer period than the allotted time of man, and have every reason to hope that he is now en- joying with the Eternal Father that happiness which is promised the pure in heart."
EDWIN R. ENBODY figures actively and prominently in connection with business and public affairs in Mauch Chunk, being the man- ager of the Gas Company and associate judge of Carbon county. His grandfather, David Enbody, was the founder of the family in Pennsylvania, establishing his home near Berwick in the early part of the nineteenth century. He followed farming throughout his business career, and he married Catherine Turnbach, by whom he had several children.
To this family belonged Josiah Enbody, who was born on the old homestead farm at Berwick, Pennsylvania, in 1818, and died in 1881. He attended the common schools there,
but at an early age accompanied his parents on their removal to Mauch Chunk, where he com- pleted his education. He then prepared for busi- ness life by learning the trade of a boat builder, which he followed for many years. In his later years he was superintendent of colliers at Coal- port, Pennsylvania. His political views were in harmony with the principles of the Republican party, and he held the office of chief burgess in Mauch Chunk for several years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Tabitha Bayne, died in 1896. She was a daughter of John Bayne, a pioneer settler from Warren county, New Jersey. The children of Joshua and Tabitha Enbody were Edwin R., Robert K., who married Miss Con- verse, and is now deceased; and Ella the wife of James Hyndman.
Edwin R. Enbody was born in Mauch Chunk, October II, 1844, and after mastering the ele- mentary branches of English learning in the pub- lic schools he pursued a course of study in Dick- inson Seminary. On completing his education he served as mail agent for a year and a half, and then entered the employ of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, with which he was con- nected until 1868, when he accepted the position of head kookkeeper with W. T. Carter & Com- pany, of Beaver Meadows, Pennsylvania. He next entered the railroad shops at Weatherly, Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1884, when he returned to Mauch Chunk, and became manager of the Mauch Chunk Gas Company. He has since served in this capacity.
In politics, Edwin R. Enbody is a Democrat, active in support of his party. In 1899 he was. elected to the position of associate judge of Car- bon county, and is now serving. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and for twelve years he has been one of its elders, while in various de- partments of church work he is an active cooper- ant. In the community where he is well known he is regarded as a selfmade man of splendid traits of character, his sterling qualities being such as to command the respect and confidence of all.
In 1867 Judge Enbody was united in marriage to Cornelia D. Brodhead, a daughter of A. G.
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and Sarah A. (Tolan) Brodhead. Her father was division superintendent of the Lehigh Val- ley Railroad Company. Mrs. Enbody died Sep- tember 15, 1903, leaving three children-Albert Brodhead, Richard Milton, and Josiah Water- house Enbody.
CHARLES H. WEBB, clerk in the employ of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, is num- bered among Pennsylvania's native sons, his birth having occurred on the Ist of April, 1840, in Montrose, Susquehanna county, where his father, Henry J. Webb, located in his early boyhood days. Having obtained a public school education and reached years of maturity, Henry Webb, en- gaged in merchandising at Montrose, and for many years was active in business, political and official life there. He was a recognized leader in local Democratic circles, served as postmaster of Montrose for six years, and for one term was sheriff of Susquehanna county. He wedded Mary Wakelee, a daughter of A. Wakelee, who was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, and re- moved to Springville, Susquehanna county, Penn- sylvania, where Mrs. Webb was reared to womanhood. Her death occurred September IT, 1902, and Henry J. Webb died in 1880, when about seventy years of age.
Charles H. Webb acquired his preliminary education in the public and private schools of his native town, and received the benefit of in- struction from Professor Stoddard, a noted math- ematician. He was afterward a student in the Delaware Literary Institute at Franklin, New York, and entered upon his business career as an employe in his father's store, where he re- mained until after the inauguration of the Civil war. He then, November 30, 1861, joined the army, becoming a bugler with General Anderson's troop. After two years spent in that service he was honorably discharged on surgeon's certificate of disability, June 16, 1862. but at once re-en- listed in the One Hundred and Sixteenth Regi- ment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, which in 1864 was detached from the Army of the Poto- mac and transferred to the west, and he served
under General Sherman in the operations about Atlanta.
Following his return from the war, Mr. Webb was again connected with his father's business until through the instrumentality of Judge Packer he was given a position by the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company. He has since continued in that service, receiving successive promotions in recognition of his ability, and after acting as freight auditor and car accountant, he is now a clerk in the office of the engineer maintenance of way, and is regarded as a most valuable man by the corporation. Mr. Webb is an advocate of Democratic principles, but has never been an aspirant for public office. He attends the Pres- byterian church at Mauch Chunk, in which he has held the office of musical director for thirty- eight years. On the 29th of December, 1868, he married Ellen Brodhead, a daughter of the late Judge Brodhead, of Mauch Chunk.
HON. FRED E. LEWIS. The life record of Hon. Fred E. Lewis constitutes an important chapter in the political, professional and financial history of Allentown, and he comes of a family long and prominently connected with the devel- opment, progress and prosperity of this portion of the state.
He traces his ancestry back to Samuel Lewis, who was of Scotch-Irish lineage, and who lived in Chester county in colonial days. He was a resident of that county at the time of the Revo- lutionary war, and smelted the iron used in mak- ing cannon for the Continental troops. He mar- ried Elizabeth Long, and to them were born seven children: Betsey, Samuel, William, John, Jane, Anna and Margaret. Of this family Sam- uel Lewis, second, was the only one that married. Like his father, he became an active factor in the business development of Pennsylvania, being one of the pioneer coal shippers of Schuylkill county, and in 1861 built the furnace of the Allentown Iron Company, of which he remained manager for many years, and then was succeeded by his son, Samuel B. Lewis, third. Samuel Lewis, second, was married to Elizabeth Bal-
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liet, and their family numbered eleven children : Samuel, the eldest, is the father of Fred E. Lewis. Elizabeth became the wife of Oliver A. Ritter, and had one child. Templeton C. married Fran- ces Ihrie, by whom he has a daughter, Frances. Mary became the wife of Colonel H. C. Long- necker, and their two children are Elizabeth and Reginald, the latter marrying Cora Hittle, by whom he has two children, Gladys and Mary. William, the fourth member of the family of Samuel Lewis, second, is deceased. Martha is living in Allentown. Joseph B. married Eleanor Schmucker. John S. wedded Mary F. Lawson, and has one child, Hattie, residing at Thompson's Corner. Sarah is a resident of Allentown. Law- rence went to the west, and was there married. James B. deceased, was the tenth of the family. Ella, the youngest, is the wife of Henry C. Long- necker, and has one son, Dr. Parke D. Long- necker, a practicing physician of Philadelphia.
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