USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. II > Part 46
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89
Samuel B. Lewis, third, became his father's successor as manager of the furnaces of the Al- lentown Iron Company, and has contributed largely to the development of this industry which has been of so great importance to the city and surrounding district. He wedded Mary A. Ros- enstiel, and they are the parents of two children, the daughter being Elizabeth, the wife of Thomas Simcoe, by whom she has four children, Mary, Carroll, Bertha and Fred.
Hon. Fred E. Lewis, the only son of Samuel and Mary A. Lewis, was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, February 8, 1865. He was a stu- dent in the public schools in his native city until sixteen years of age, when he entered the prepar- atory department of Yale College at New Haven, Connecticut. Subsequently, he studied in Muhl- enberg College until he had almost completed the work of the junior year, when, having de- cided to make the practice of law his life work, he began preparation for the bar in the office of R. E. Wright & Son, well known attorneys of Allentown, under whose direction he continued his reading for some time. Successfully passing an examination, he was admitted to the bar on the 13th of February, 1888, but for a year there-
after continued in the office of his former pre- ceptor, Mr. Wright. He has since practiced alone, and in February, 1893, was admitted to practice in the supreme court of Pennsylvania. His ad- vancement in his profession has been continuous. and of a most creditable character. He prepares his cases with thoroughness, and his analytical mind and logical deductions are manifest in his presentation of his cause before court or jury. While he has won a place as one of the most capable members of the Allentown bar, he has. at the same time been connected with various business enterprises that have been of material benefit to the city as well as to the individual stockholders. He was instrumental in organiz- ing the Lehigh Telephone Company. He was the prime mover in the formation of the Allen- town and South Allentown Bridge Company. which will invest three hundred thousand dollars in the construction of a bridge between the two. places-a bridge that will be of immense value to the public. Among his more recent labors outside of his profession was the organization, in connection with other substantial and prominent business men of Allentown, of the Merchants' National Bank of Allentown, of which he is presi- dent and one of its directors.
Fred E. Lewis is also recognized as one of the most prominent and influential representa- tives of the Republican party of Lehigh county, and no other man can carry the city vote as has he. He has twice served as mayor in a Demo- cratic city, filling the position for the second time before he was thirty-seven years of age. From the time he attained his majority he has been an earnest and untiring worker in behalf of the party, believing firmly in its principles, and he has frequently become a candidate upon its ticket. although he knew it was foreordained to defeat. And yet at the age of twenty-three years he came within two hundred and sixty-three votes of car- rying the county, when the average Democratic majority was over two thousand. He was thirty years of age when first elected mayor of Allen- town over ex-congressman William H. Sowden, a man of national reputation as a Democratic
267
GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS.
orator and campaign worker. He gave the city an administration clean, progressive and busi- nesslike, and order was rigidly enforced. Natur- ally he aroused the enmity of those who place personal considerations before the public good, but he was again made the party's candidate in 1902, and defeated Hon. Hugh Crilly, a contrac- tor and trolley magnate, who conducted his cam- paign on a lavish scale. He then became the can- didate of Lehigh county for the nomination for lieutenant governor. His success and popularity are largely due to his love for the people and their reciprocal love for him. Few men in the state are more widely known than Fred E. Lewis, and it is said even by his political enemies that he knows everybody in Allentown. He is a man free from ostentation, always approachable, genial and courteous, and his true character worth wins him friends among all classes. Whether in office or out of it he has labored untiringly for the welfare and progress of Allentown. When a youth he joined the volunteer fire department, · and he is now one of the best known members of the State Firemen's Association. He served as a member of the executive committee of that body which secured from the legislature the law donating money for the relief of sick and injured firemen, and this act led to the establishment of the Firemen's Relief Associations throughout Pennsylvania.
Hon. Fred E. Lewis was married April 16, 1892, to Miss Juliet Hammersley, of Allentown, a daughter of James B. Hammersley. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis now have one son, Samuel Lewis, born May 22, 1893, and one daughter, Anna Marie, born November 25, 1897.
MERCHANTS' NATIONAL BANK. Be- lieving that an opportune time had arrived in the history of the city of Allentown for the establish- ing of a new national bank, at the invitation of Hon. Fred E. Lewis, a number of representa- tive citizens met at his office on Tuesday even- ing, December 11, 1900, for the purpose of per- fecting plans for the preliminary organization of a new national banking institution.
The meeting was attended by a number of the most representative citizens, and it was the concensus of opinion of those present that since the national banks of this city had been organized previous to a time when the other banks inter- ests were not so large or diversified, their stock- holders were not to any large extent interested in the city's new industries, and their present stockholders retired from active business, based upon which facts it was but reasonable to as- sume that the time was ripe for the organization of a new national bank.
A preliminary organization was formed by electing Hon. Fred E. Lewis as chairman, and Thomas E. Ritter as secretary. After a number of meetings, at which the details of organization were discussed, it was finally decided that Hon. M. C. L. Kline be requested to accept the presi- dency, Hon. Fred. E. Lewis the vice-presidency, and City Treasurer A. L. Reichenbach the cash- iership. Shortly after Mr. Kline had been ten- dered the presidency of the new institution, he was elected president of the Lehigh Valley Trust and Safe Deposit Company, which made it neces- sary to cast about for a new head for the new in- stitution. Some time subsequent to the tender of the presidency to Mr. Kline, the movement was given new impetus by appointing an organiza- tion committee consisting of Hon. Edward Har- vey, Frank M. Trexler, Esq., Hon. Fred. E. Lewis, Thomas J. Koch, Thomas E. Ritter, Will- iam Gangewere and D. Z. Walker, of which Hon. Fred E. Lewis was chosen chairman, and D. Z. Walker secretary.
The committee, as above constituted, held a number of meetings from time to time in the. law offices of Hon. Fred E. Lewis, and Hon. Edward Harvey, and finally held its sessions in the mayor's office. On March 13, 1902, the com- mittee on organization recommended that the board of directors of the Merchants' National Bank when chosen elect the following officers, viz: F. M. Trexler, Esq., president, Hon. Fred. E. Lewis, vice-president ; and Mr. A. L. Reichen- bach, cashier. In addition to recommending the selection of the officers of the new institution,.
268
HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS.
the organization committee recommended the ac- ceptance of the offer of the Young Mens' Chris- tian Association for the leasing of the first floor of its building for banking quarters, and recom- mended further that arrangements be made for the prompt filing of the organization papers, articles of association, etc., with the proper au- thorities. After these details had been arranged a contract was awarded the Mosler Safe Com- pany for a vault to be finished and ready for use by January 1, 1903.
On October 20, 1902, the organization com- mittee recommended that the board of directors should number sixteen, and consist of the fol- lowing stockholders, viz: Hon. Fred. E. Lewis, Thos. J. Koch, D. Z. Walker, Percivale S. Fen- stermacher, Frank D. Bittner, Wm. P. Moyer, Jonas N. Schrader, Wm. R. Yeager, Benedict Nuding, John Leh, J. M. Grimley, Abraham Samuels, Morris Hoats, Esq., and Dr. F. O. Ritter, and in view of the fact that F. M. Trex- ler, Esq., who had been tendered the presidency of the new institution had declined to accept, his declination having been based upon his appoint- ment as judge of the courts of Lehigh county to succeed the Hon. Edwin Albright, deceased, it was recommended that the board of directors organize by electing Hon. Fred. E. Lewis, presi- dent, and Thos. J. Koch, vice-president. For several reasons City Treasurer A. L. Reichen- bach, who had been tendered the position of cashier of the new institution, declined to serve in this capacity, and it was recommended by the organization committee that Mr. C. O. Schantz, for a long number of years in the employ of the Allentown National Bank, be chosen cashier. At this meeting it was also recommended by this committee that the board of directors designate an executive committee to consist of the presi- dent, Hon. Fred E. Lewis, the vice-president, Thomas J. Koch, and Mr. D. Z. Walker. It was also recommended that the bank open for busi- ness on March 23, 1903.
Permanent organization was effected on the 2Ist day of January, 1903, when the articles of association were subscribed to by D. Z. Walker,
Edwin Trexler, Thos. J. Koch, Hon. Fred E. Lewis and F. M. Trexler, Esq. Owing to the vault and fixtures not having been completed in time the bank did not open its doors as originally intended on March 23, 1903, but one week later, March 30, 1903, with the following complement of officers, directors and clerical force, viz: Hon. Fred E. Lewis, president; Mr. Thos. J. Koch, vice-presi- dent ; Mr. C. O. Schantz, cashier ; Directors, Hon. Fred E. Lewis, Thos. J. Koch, D. Z. Walker, Per- cival S. Fenstermacher, Frank D. Bittner, Wm. P. Moyer, Jonas N. Schrader, Wm. R. Yeager, Benedict Nuding, John Leh, J. M. Grimley Abra- ham Samuels, Morris Hoats, Esq., and Dr. F. O. Ritter. Clerical force, receiving teller and general bookkeeper, Harry S. Landis; individual ledger clerk, H. Russell Hudders; stenographer, type- writer and messenger, Herbert B. Wagner; no- tary public, Robert L. Stuart ; and watchman and janitor, William H. H. Trexler.
THE BOWEN FAMILY. John Bowen, de- ceased, for many years one of the most prominent . and influential residents of the city of Allentown, Pennsylvania, represented the best type of our American citizenship. He was modest and un- assuming in his disposition, a man of few words, of unblemished reputation, spotless character and sterling integrity, and few men possessed so many admirable characteristics as he. He was closely identified with the progress and develop- ment of the city, and having been a man of ac- curate judgment and sound business acumen and foresight, he was enabled to forecast results and he governed himself accordingly. At his death, which occurred January 12, 1902, he left behind him an unstained record, and a large fortune which was made by hard and honest toil and the excercise of great business ability, and which was not reared on the ruins of other men's losses.
John Bowen was born in Whitney, Hereford- shire, England, September 12, 1838. When twelve years of age, after obtaining a common school education, he came to this country with his father, and settled in Mauch Chunk, Pennsyl- vania, where his father succeeded in obtaining
269
GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS.
employment as a teacher, but after serving in that capacity for two years, and not succeeding in winning the fortune that he expected in the new world, he returned to his family in England, and never again visited America. The son, even at that age, gave proof of that indomitable will and pluck which characterized his entire career, and did not accompany his father on his return to England. In 1851 John Bowen located in Low- hill township, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, where he worked on a farm and later taught school, being one of the few English speaking per- sons in the vicinity at that time. Subsequently, he served in the capacity of clerk in various places, and in 1858, when the fever for gold swept the country from ocean to ocean like an epidemic he decided to go to California and secure if pos- sible his share of the golden fleece from the sands. He was then only twenty years of age, but he was filled with the spirit of adventure which prompted so many to leave their homes and risk all in order to secure a fortune. With a single companion by the name of Creitz, he traveled by boat and rail until they came to Kansas City, where Creitz de- cided to give up the journey. Not so Mr. Bowen. Learning that a United States officer was engaged in making up a transport to convey supplies to the army posts at Salt Lake City, he made applica- tion to join in the capacity of driver of an ox team, and after considerable demur as to his abil- ity on the part of the officer he was finally en- gaged. They were three months on the journey, and Mr. Bowen walked every foot of the one thousand miles that lay between Kansas City and their destination, thereby suffering great hard- · ships. Long before the journey was ended his
- shoes had given out, and he was then compelled to wrap coffee sacking around his feet. The trail of the gold seekers and emigrants was marked by blood, and the charred remains of what had once been emigrant trains, with the mutilated bodies of men, women and children scattered about, but the transport, being well armed, was not mo- lested.
Arriving at Salt Lake City, Mr. Bowen's oc- cupation as a teamster was gone. He then
boarded an emigrant train that was being formed to take the last of the people to the land of golden promise. At a point in Arizona, Mr. Bowen, in company with seven or eight other hardy emi- grants, with one ox team, detached themselves from the main body of the emigrants, and turned their faces for the Sacramento valley in Califor- nia. They suffered the greatest hardships and danger, being frequently compelled to repel at- tacks of Indians. During the journey the wagon began to give away, and they patched it up as well as they could, but one day the vehicle col- lapsed, and they were forced to abandon it. Load- ing themselves with such provisions as they could conveniently carry, they pressed forward, and finally reached their destination, after thousands. of miles of weary, dangerous traveling. Mr. Bowen at once engaged himself to a rancher, but, after being in his employ for some time and not receiving any remuneration, he accepted a proffer of fifty cows in lieu of his salary, and set up in business for himself as a dairyman, but shortly afterward a freshet drowned all his cattle. He then commenced his career as a miner. In com- pany with two brothers by the name of Sim- mons, he went to St. Helena, Colorado, where he commenced to mine for silver. He prospected for silver and gold in Idaho, Montana, Dakota, Cal- ifornia, and other states, and he and his compan- ions had many narrow escapes from being killed by the Indians. During these journeys Mr. Bowen became intimately acquainted with many of those who afterwards became famous as bo- nanza kings and statesmen. Among his friends was the late United States Senator Chaffee, and Mark Twain, who at that time was just beginning to make a name for himself as a journalist and humorist. While in California the Civil war broke out, and Mr. Bowen enlisted in a cavalry company which proffered its services to the gov- ernment, but, owing to the great expense of trans- porting it east, it was never called into service. In 1865 Mr. Bowen returned to Allentown, Penn- sylvania, coming home by way of Panama.
Shortly afterward he entered into partnershin with the late Charles Christman in the cattle busi-
270
HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS.
ness, purchasing their cattle in Chicago and dis- posing of them in the eastern markets. In 1868 the partners established a grocery business at No. 807 Hamilton street, Allentown, under the firm name of Christman & Bowen, and during the first six months they were in business their stock con- sisted of home-made apple butter, home-made soap, flour and clover seed. At the end of that time they had made sufficient money to erect a counter and lay in a stock of regular groceries. After the death of Mr. Christman he was in busi- ness with several partners, always under the name of John Bowen & Co. In 1888 he purchased the Hagenbuch opera house property and changed it into a grocery store, and from that year until his decease he conducted business alone. He made many extensive alterations and improvements in the store, and it became one of the leading estab- lishments in the city, controlling a large amount of trade. He was a large holder of real estate, was the owner of about one hundred houses which he erected and sold, and he was closely identified with the development of the West End. He was one of the organizers of the Lehigh Valley Trust and Safe Deposit Company, and a director since its formation. In 1898 he was elected vice-presi- dent for a term of four years. He was also a trustee of the Presbyterian church and the Young Men's Christian Association. Mr. Bowen was charitable to a degree little known or suspected by any save his most intimate friends. He made several trips to England, the last one in 1881, when he brought his mother and his brother, Arthur, back with him. His mother subsequently died in the state of Ohio. He also made a west- ern trip, and revisited all the old scenes of his mining experiences, as well as his two old mining partners.
Mr. Bowen was united in marriage to Emeline Klein, daughter of Joseph and Anna (Wether- hold) Klein, the former named being a son of Jacob and Susanna (Gross) Klein, and the latter a daughter of Joseph Wetherhold, who was mar- ried three times. Joseph Klein, father of Mrs. Bowen, was born in Lowhill township, Lehigh county .. He attended the public schools, where he
acquired his early studies, and completed his edu- cation at a private school in New Jersey. He was then employed in the grist mill with his fa- ther, where he learned the trade of miller, and this he followed for a number of years. He was of an inventive mind, and possessed a genius for "making things." He planned and built the first threshing machine ever made in Lehigh county, and patented several articles of great value, among which were a machine for cleaning grain, and a washing machine. He was an adept at wood carving, and several pieces of his work are still in existence. In later life he removed to Allentown, where he established a repair shop, and when not busy with work he devoted his at- tention to the building of something that would lessen the labor in the house or on the farm, and many of the useful inventions used today are the result of his thought and genius. He was a mem- ber of the Lutheran church, and a Republican in his political affiliations. His wife, Anna (Wether- hold) Klein, bore him three children, as follows : I. Emeline, aforementioned as the wife of John Bowen ; 2. Maria, who became the wife of Henry Faust, and their children are: Anna, who mar- ried William Krauter, a widower, who was the father of one child-Caroline Krauter, and Elmer, unmarried ; 3 Henry A., a sketch of whom ap- pears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Bowen were the parents of seven children, all de- ceased but two.
I. James Klein Bowen, born January 3, 1871. He obtained his preliminary education in the pub- lic schools, later was a student at Muhlenberg College, and then pursued a law course at the University of Pennsylvania. After passing a creditable examination he was admitted to the Philadelphia bar in 1897, and shortly afterward he came to Allentown and was admitted to the Le- high County bar. He established an office of his own, and practiced his profession until the death of his father, when he retired from the practice of law to take the management of his father's business. He is now the owner of the John Bowen Grocery Company, which operates four stores, one wholesale and one retail in the city of
27I
GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS.
Allentown, one in Bethlehem, one in South Beth- lehem, and one in Catasauqua. In addition to this he is serving in the capacity of secretary of the Penn-Allen Cement Company, and treasurer of the Allentown Bobbin Works. He married Letitia Barnes, daughter of Avon Barnes, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. They have no children.
2. Sallie Bowen, born in Allentown, Penn- sylvania. She became the wife of the Rev. Mil- ton U. Reinhard, son of Louis and Hannah (Sanders) Reinhard, who were also the parents of four other children, three boys and one girl. Of these Henry Reinhard who married Elizabeth Strunk ; the others are deceased. Milton U. Rein- hard is a native of Allentown, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, born August 12, 1866. He was a student in the public schools of his native town- ship, at Salisbury, and also Muhlenberg College, and graduated in theology at the Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran church, at Mt. Airy, Philadelphia, with the class of 1899. His first pastorate was in Grantville, Dauphin county, where he remained two years. He then returned to Allentown, remaining for a period of time, after which he located in Lititz, Pennsyl- vania, but after a short residence there settled permanently in Allentown, where he has since been engaged in supply work. The Rev. Mr. Reinhard and his wife are the parents of two children, John Reinhard, born January 30, 1902, and Hannah B., born September 6, 1904.
FRANK D. BITTNER. The Bittner family is spoken of as being of French descent from the present as far back as the recollections of men go. In their locality the Bittners and Werlys were distinctly pointed out as the only French people. Stronger still is the proof that they lived in Ger- many many years before coming to America. They were believed to have been among the Pro- testants who fled from France to Germany on ac- count of the religious persecution following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. They were, however, German in language and customs on arriving in this country. The branch of the fam-
ily settling in this county were essentially, for over one hundred years, an agricultural people, and the great majority are still such. All are Protestants, and almost all of the Lutheran de- nomination.
The earliest ancestor specifically known is a widow who embarked for this country with two children- a boy, Andreas, aged three years, and a girl aged five years, who died at sea. On her arrival in this country, the widow became the wife of Andreas Holben. Their farm was about two miles below Bittner's Corner, along the Jordan creek.
Andreas Bittner, the son, was born in Ger many, October 10, 1759. Upon attaining young manhood he settled on land almost within a stone's throw of the Weisenberg church, on a farm now owned by William Bittner. He was known as a progressive man and of some con- sequence and means in his community. His name is found on the building committee of the Weisen- berg church, to which he gave much of his time, labor and substance. He was also a great advo- cate of schools. In 1770 he was married to Marin Snyder, and the following named children were born to them : Jacob, Andreas, John, Peter, Henry, Daniel, Benjamin, Maria, Lydia, and Katrina. His death occurred January 19, 1831, and his remains were interred in the center of the old cemetery at the Weisenberg church, by the side of his wife, Maria Bittner, who died August 31, 1826, aged fifty-one years.
Jacob Bittner, son of Andreas and Maria Bittner, was born December 17, 1791, and was married to Sarah Wehrle, June 15, 1815. Jacob Bittner was a miller, conducting a grist mill at Bittner's Corner which had been owned and oper- ated by his father, Andreas Bittner, since 1790. After age incapacitated him he lived with his sor Elias Bittner, at Pleasant Corner until his death, August 25, 1874. Their children were as fol- lows: A dead born child, born in 1816; Maria, born June 14, 1819; Eliza, born September 25, 1821 ; Sally, born May 11, 1824; Jacob, born Oc- tober 30, 1826; Jonas and Peter (twins), born September 22, 1829; Lydia, born April 6, 1832;
272
HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS.
Elias, born April 15, 1836. Of these there have died Eliza, wife of Elias Snyder, December 17, 1842 ; and Jonas, who was supposedly lost on the Blue Mountains, having been seen there last on August 20, 1878. All of the children of Jacob Bittner remained in agricultural districts except Elias.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.