USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. II > Part 55
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Allentown. He was a straightforward, honor- able man, and numbered among the valued and substantial citizens of the community in which he made his home. By his marriage to Han- nah Wenner, a native of South Whitehall town- ship, Lehigh county, the following named chil- dren were born : Harrison, mentioned hereinafter ; Lewis F., William, deceased ; and Mary, who be- came the wife of Emerson Shock.
Harrison Bortz was born November 15, 1844, in South Whitehall, now Whitehall township. In early life he removed to Macungie, and, as was the custom with boys brought up on a farm, he spent the summer months in assisting with the labor thereon, and during the winter months at- tended the common schools in the neighborhood of his home. At the age of fifteen he entered the classical school at Quakertown, and the knowledge thus obtained was supplemented by a a course at the Excelsior Normal School at Car- versville, Pennsylvania. For a period of time subsequent to his graduation from the latter named institution he was engaged in teaching school, and with the money thus obtained he en- tered Muhlenberg College. In the meantime he joined a corps of engineers and for a year prac- ticed surveying, after which, in 1869, he entered the employ of the Lehigh Iron Company as out- side superintendent. By his thorough knowl- edge of the craft of an ironmaster, and the ef- ficiency and faithfulness he displayed in the per- formance of his duties, he was successively pro- moted until he became manager and secretary of the works, and after serving in that capacity for a number of years he was appointed to the honorable position he now holds, that of super- intendent. He has been in close connection with the company from 1869 to the present time (1904) with the exception of ten years from 1892 to 1902. He was at one time a director of the Coopersburg Turnpike Company and the Emaus Home Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He was elected on the Republican ticket to the office of county commissioner of Lehigh county, and was the incumbent for three years. He was a member of the school board for twenty-one
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years, serving in a district which was largely Democratic. He was a delegate to the Republi- can national convention in 1880, and was active in the nomination of James A. Garfield. In 1872 he was a delegate to the state convention, and in 1878 he again filled the same office, and for four years he was chairman of the county execu- tive committee. He is a member of the Lutheran church at Salisbury, in which he has been an of- ficer. He is actively identified with Greenleaf Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons ; Allen Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and Green- leaf Lodge, Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Bortz was married August 24, 1867, to Emma H. Sanders, daughter of George H. and Rebecca Sanders, of South Whitehall township. Their children are: Cassius U., Ida L., Oliver F., and Harrison O. G. Bortz.
JAMES M, SEAGREAVES, one of Allen- town's promoters actively identified with its de- velopment through the improvement of property and the building of houses in the borough, was here born in 1857.
The ancestry of the family can be traced back to George Seagreaves, who came from England to America, establishing his home in Harlem. He took an active part in the Revolutionary war as a defender of the interests of the colonies. The paternal grandparents of James M. Sea- greaves were James and Elizabeth (Schade) Seagreaves, the latter a daughter of Captain Henry and Marguerite (Fogle) Schade. Cap- tain Schade won his title as a commander of a company of continental troops in the war for in- dependence.
Charles Seagreaves, father of James M. Sea- greaves, 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 pub- lic schools and afterward learned the saddler's trade, which he followed for some years. Sub- sequently he purchased a farm, and continued
its cultivation in addition to conducting his sad- dlery 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 stand- ing on the southeast corner of Fifth and Hamil- ton streets, and made this the Seagreaves home. Later he purchased the American Hotel, 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, contin- uing in that busness until the building of the rail- roads in 1856-57. He afterward devoted his at- tention exclusively to the hotel business, in which he continued up to the time of his death. He also owned two farms, which he leased on shares, and from his agricultural and hotel interests he an- nually 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 politics, and gave his ballot in support of the men and meas- ures of the Democracy. Socially he was identi- fied with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and was also a Mason, having been made a mem- ber in 1825 at Sunbury, Pennsylvania.
Charles Seagreaves was married twice, his. first wife being Martha Engle and his second wite was Lydia Louise Weaver. His family numbered five children: James M .; Elizabeth, deceased ; George W. (see sketch in this work), who mar- ried Mamie L. Cooper and has one child, Kath- ryn ; and Katie and Charles, both deceased.
James M. Seagreaves, the eldest, began his. education in the public schools of Allentown, and later attended a private school and business col- lege, subsequent to which time he became a stu- dent in Muhlenberg College, but was not gradu- ated in that institution. He entered upon his busi- ness career in the office of L. S. Jacoby, with whom he studied civil engineering, remaining with him for about four years, at the end of which time he abandoned the profession. He has since devoted his energies to the improvement of property and the building of houses in Allentown,:
James M. Seagraveo
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and has thus contributed in large and substantial measure to the growth of his borough. He oc- cupies the old Seagreaves homestead, which was built in 1826, and which was his birthplace. In his political views Mr. Seagreaves is a stanch Republican, and he and his family are connected with the Episcopal church. He married Miss Ida C. Wolf, the only child of Charles H. and Emma (Knauss) Wolf. Her paternal grand- parents were William Henry and Louise Eleanora (Most) Wolf. In the maternal line her ancestry can be traced back to Sebastian Knauss. His son, Jacob Knauss, married Nancy Eleanora Earnhard, a daughter of Jacob Earnhard. Henry Jacob Knauss, son of Jacob and Nancy Eleanora Knauss, married Caroline Acker, a daughter of Benjamin and Christiana (Derr) Knauss, and Henry Jacob and Caroline ( Acker) Knauss were the parents of Emma Knauss, who became the wife of Charles H. Wolf, and the mother of Mrs. Seagreaves. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Seagreaves were born two children, Evelyn and Pearl, both of whom died in childhood.
GEORGE O. ALBRIGHT, whose name figures prominently in connection with industrial interests in Allentown, was the seventh child of Phaon Albright, and a great-great-grandson of John Albright, the founder of the family in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. In the fam- ily of John Albright were three children, John, Susan and Mary. Of these John Albright, the grandfather, married Susanna Eisenhard, and they had eight children, the eldest of whom was Phaon Albright. Samuel, the second, married Kate Mosser and had six children. Moses mar- ried Eliza Schall. Jonh married Ellen Dotterer, and had six children. Stephen married Maria Steckle, and had two children, Amanda and Eliza- beth. The former married Alfred Snyder, and had six children: Edwin, who married Greta Reinsmith, and has one child; Carrie, the wife of Mr. Horne; Cora, deceased; Mabel; Robert ; and Mildred. Elizabeth Steckle became the wife of Lewis Pebble, and her children are Raymond Pebble, who married (first) Flossie Trexler, and
(second) Stelle Ginkinger; Minnie; and War- ren. Mary was the next member of the family of John Albright. Julia Anne is the wife of George Boyer, and has one child. Theresa is the wife of Daniel Schmoyer, and has six children.
Phaon Albright, the eldest son of John Al- bright, married Lucinda Guth, and had eight children : Joseph married Miss Everhard, and had one child ; Ellen is the wife of John P. Dillinger, and has four children; Griffith married Hannah Cleaver, and has five children; Myra married Samuel A. Butz, and has two children; Jennie married Winslow Wood, and has two children ; George Oscar married Sallie I. Brobst; and Lewis is deceased.
George Oscar Albright pursued his early edu- cation in the public schools of Allentown, and afterward attended Muhlenberg College. On putting aside his text books he joined his father, who was one of the leading manufacturers of Allentown. George O. Albright entered his serv- ice in 1874 to learn the trade of pipe making, which he has followed to the present time. Thoroughlily mastering the business in every de- partment he has gradually assumed greater and greater responsibility in connection with the man- agement of the business, until he is now at the head of the firm of Albright Sons & Company. He is also the president of the Allentown Foundry and Machine Company, and is a director in the Allentown National Bank. His business con- nections are thus important and varied in char- acter, and the extent of his investments insures to him a very desirable annual income.
Mr. Albright has been the promoter of move- ments for the general welfare, and a cooperant factor in many enterprises of material value to the community. He is now serving on the board of trustees of the Allentown College for Women, belongs to the Livingston Club, and is a member of the Reformed church. He is a Democrat in his political affiliation.
Mr. Albright married Miss Sallie I. Brobst, and they have five children : Louis R., who mar- ried M. Cena Bittner ; Arthur, who married Katie
21 X
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Ehlrich; George O., Marguerite, and Miriam.
Louis Robert Albright, eldest son of George O. and Sallie (Brobst) Albright, and the junior partner of the firm of Albright, Sons & Com- pany, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, was born in that city. He attended the public schools there, and then entered Muhlenberg College. He also pursued a preparatory course in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, and subsequently matriculated in Princeton College of New Jersey in 1896. There he devoted his time to the mastery of a course in civil engineering, spending two years in that institution. In 1898 he accepted a position with the Allentown Foundry and Machine Company as assistant superintendent, and was actively con- nected with that enterprise until 1899, when he joined his father as junior partner in the firm of Albright, Sons & Company. Mr. Albright be- longs to the Livingston Club and to the Elks Lodge, No. 130. His political support is given to the Democratic party, and he has membership relations with the Reformed church.
Mr. Albright married Miss M. Cena Bittner, a daughter of Frank Bittner. Of this marriage was born a daughter, Dorothy. 1
WILSON P. KISTLER, M. D., AND EU- GENE M. KISTLER, M. D. The early ances- tors of the Kistler family emigrated to this coun- try from Germany many years ago, and shortly after their arrival several members located in Berks county, Pennsylvania, while others took up their abode in Lehigh county, same state. They were active, intelligent and enterprising people, and soon became prominently identified with the religious and educational interests of the com- munity. John Kistler (grandfather) was a na- tive of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, where he was reared, and during his business career he amassed a considerable fortune, being the owner of a large establishment for the manufacture of hats in Kistler's Valley. Benjamin Kistler (father) was also a native of Lehigh county, and in that section of the state he spent his entire lifetime, passing away in the year 1892 at the ad- vanced age of eighty-four years. He was a sad-
dler by occupation, was prosperous in all his un- dertakings, and at the time of his decease was the owner of a number of farms and other real estate. He was likewise in the hotel business from 1855 to 1860, at West Penn, eight miles from Tamauqua in Schuylkill county, where he prospered greatly. His wife, Rebecca (Peters) Kistler, was a daughter of John Feters, who died in 1827 and whose paternal ancestors were among the early settlers in that section, coming from Switzerland.
Wilson P. Kistler was born in Kistler's Val- ley, Lynn township, Lehigh county, two miles from Lynnville, October 12, 1843. His early boyhood days were spent in assisting with the work on the home farm and obtaining an edu- cation in the common schools. At the age of thirteen years he began learning the trade of har- ness-maker and saddler, and after acquiring a thorough knowledge of this branch of business, he accepted a position as teacher in a select school in Kepnersville, Schuylkill county, remaining one term. He then became a student at Schnecks- ville Academy (under Prof. A. A. Campbell, de- ceased), in Lehigh county, where he continued his studies for eleven weeks and then left to go to Quakerstown, where he became a student in the Bucks County Normal and Classical School, where he spent several years, and at the expira- tion of the first year was appointed an assistant instructor in the institution. He also attended for a session each the Allentown Seminary and the Allentown Academy. Prior to his matricula- tion at Bellevue Hospital Medical College in New York city, in the fall of 1864, he taught school in Schuylkill county, also in Lynnville, Mechanicsville, Weaver's school near New Tripoli, in numerous places in Lehigh county, and for a time in the Steinsville Odd Fellow's Hall, where he taught a select school during an entire winter, composed mostly of grown young men and women in that section of Lehigh and Berks counties.
After receiving his medical diploma in the spring of 1867, from Bellevue Hospital Medical College in New York, Dr. Kistler at once located
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at Germansville, Lehigh county, assuming the practice of Dr. G. H. Scholl, who retired at the time. On account of failing eyesight from disease of the eyes, from a traumatic source contracted in the United States army, he was forced for a brief time to abandon his profession after prac- ticing three years, and he entered as a patient the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, receiving treatment under the care of the famous Pro- fessor H. D. Noyes. After his complete re- covery he located at Schnecksville, Lehigh coun- ty, and for a period of twelve years successfully conducted a general practice there. In 1882 he located in Allentown, and from that year to the present time (1904) has attended to the wants of an extensive and constantly increasing patron- age. The practice of father and son extends over a large area, and in order to attend to their numerous patients they require the services of nine horses. Dr. Kistler has contributed a num- ber of valuable articles to medical journals and periodicals, and is also the author of a book, entitled : "Medical and Surgical Family Guide in Emergencies," which is intended for use in the home, and for the teacher in instructing pupils. This work had a very large sale. In addı- tion to his professional labors, Dr. Kistler is ex- tensively interested in real estate in the city, owning more than one hundred dwellings in his own and adjoining counties. He also has an interest in a large general merchandise estab- lishment, and in May, 1891, he purchased the Laurel Hill Slate Company's property, consist- ing of a farm of about sixty acres, on which is located a large slate quarry, well developed and improved, with a mantel factory. He at once be- gan working the quarry, to which he has since added many improvements, and it is now one of the most valuable pieces of property in the Le- high Valley.
Politically, Dr. Kistler is a Republican, and he has always taken an active part in local and na- tional affairs. He served in the capacity of coun- cilman of the Fifth Ward of Allentown for two years, having been elected to that office in 1888, "as a Republican by a very large majority, when
his ward usually gave from three hundred to four hundred Democratic majority. He is a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Ninety-fourth Regiment, Pennsyl- vania Infantry, commanded by Colonel Nagle, in 1863. The regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and Dr. Kistler was placed as clerk in the office of Brigadier-General H. H. Lock- wood, at Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Kistler is an active member of E. B. Young Post, No. 87, Grand Army of the Republic ; the Knights of the Golden Eagle ; the Order of Red Men; the Uni- ted Order American Mechanics; the Knights of the Mystic Chain; and the Daughters of Liberty.
On March 8, 1868, Dr. Kistler married Jane A. Clauss, daughter of Nathan Clauss, a wealthy retired farmer, and three children were born to them: Eugene M., mentioned in the following paragraph ; Emma E., who died in the seventeenth year of her age; and Clara Elmyra, who died in infancy. Dr. Kistler and his wife are communi- cant members of St. Michael's Lutheran church.
Eugene M. Kistler was born at Schnecksville, Lehigh county, April 12, 1873. He graduated from the Allentown high school in the year 1890, then took the short summer course at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and in the fall of the same year entered Bellevue Hospital Medical College, from which institution he was graduated after attending three courses of lec- tures in the spring of 1893, being awarded the highest honors in a class of one hundred and fifty- seven students. He then entered a competitive examination with twenty-four others for appoint- ment to a position in St. Vincent's Hospital, New York city, and was equally successful in this in- stance. He spent eighteen months in that institu- tion, serving in the capacity of house surgeon dur- ing the last six months, and he was then graduated as a practical surgeon. He was offered an ap- pointment at the New York Lying-in Hospital, but refused this in order to accept the position of resident physician at Hackensack General Hos- pital, Hackensack, New Jersey, in which capacity he served six months. He devoted his afternoons to attendance at clinics held in the Manhattan Eye
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and Ear Infirmary, New York city, and later served as assistant to Professor Payne, an eminent oculist of that institution. He is now engaged in practice with his father at Allentown, Pennsyl- vania, and it is a well known fact that their prac- tice is one of the largest and most lucrative in Eastern Pennsylvania. They devote most of their time to surgical work, and the junior member of the firm makes the diseases of the eye, nose and throat a specialty.
Eugene M. Kistler was united in marriage to Lina S. Neuweiler, a daughter of Lewis Neu- weiler, the well known brewer.
LOTTE BROTHERS. Edward F. L. Lotte, Charles E. Lotte and Walter C. Lotte, constituting the firm of Lotte Bros. Co., are conducting a profitable business as skein silk dyers in Allentown.
Their father, Edward A. Lotte, came to America from Paris, France, at the age of four- teen years, in company with his father, who was also named Edward Lotte, and he settled in Reading Pennsylvania. Edward Lotte, the grandfather, had been in his native country in the leather business, but not finding suitable em- ployment in that line in Reading he removed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he entered the stamping and embroidery business. His son, Edward A. Lotte, was subsequently apprenticed to learn the trade of skein silk dyeing. The latter followed this pursuit for a number of years, be- ing in the employ of others until 1879, when he began business on his own accord, entering into partnership with Mr. Philip Mazeres under the firm name of Lotte & Mazeres Co. This relation was maintained until Mr. Edward A. Lotte's death in 1885, when he was succeeded in busi- ness by his sons. In 1866 Edward A. Lotte was married to Miss Pauline Gerbron, an English lady who was brought to the United States in her early childhood days. They became the parents of eight children, of whom five are now living: Edward F. L. Lotte, Charles E. Lotte, Lucie C. Lottte, Walter C. Lotte and Blanche M. Lotte. The eldest son, Edward F. L. Lotte, was mar- ried to Mary Viola Collom, of Philadelphia, and
has two children, Charles Walter and Marguerite. The youngest son, Walter C. Lotte, was mar- ried to Mary Catherine Hertz, of Allentown, Pennsylvania.
As the sons completed their education and attained a suitable age, Edward A. Lotte, the father, associated them with him in business and instructed them in the arts and secrets o. skein silk dyeing, so that upon his death they were able to take up the business where he dropped it and continue it along modern and progressive lines. The business was conducted under the old name until 1899, when the present company was organized and the firm name became Lotte Bros. Co., skein silk dyers, Allentown, Pennsyl- vania. Edward F. L. Lotte is the president ; Walter C. Lotte, vice-president ; and Charles E. Lotte, secretary and treasurer. In 1899, wishing to be nearer the center of their trade, the brothers sold their Philadelphia plant and removed to Allentown and established the present plant in East Allentown. At that time they were ent- ploying about one hundred operatives in their establishment, and in five years they have more than tripled their output and are now employing over three hundred hands. They do a great deal of work for local mills and throughout Penn- sylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland and the New England States. The plant is equipped in modern style and is conducted along progres- sive methods, and an extensive business has been developed. They are thorough masters in the art of dyeing silk, and have no superior in the country when judged by the excellence of their work and the reliability of the firm so well known in the trade circles. The brothers are all practical silk dyers, having an intimate knowledge of the business, and they are thus able to intelli- gently conduct the efforts of their large force of employees.
Charles E. Lotte has attained the Knight Templar degree, also the thirty-second in Ma- sonry. Both he and Walter C. Lotte are mem- bers of the Livingston Club, and all of the brothers are staunch Republicans in politics, and hold membership in the Baptist church. In all matters of citizenship they have an expressive
4
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and public spirited interest, and they co-operate in many measures of general and progressive interest.
EDWIN H. BLANK, who at one time was a factor in commercial circles in Allentown, was born in Saucon Valley of Pennsylvania, and was a son of John and Esther ( Klemmer) Blank, now a grandson of George Blank. In his father's family were five children, of whom he is the eld- est. Charles, the second, married Sarah Egner and has two children: Eliza, the wife of Henry Fabian, by whom she had one son, Raymond, and then married Mr. Knetchel; and Franklin, who married Matilda Keck, and has one child. George Blank, the third son, married Martha Stahr, and they had nine children: William; Preston; James ; Cyrus, deceased; John ; George ; Sylvia ; Jane, and Lillie. Benjamin F. married Emma R. Stahr, and they have five children: Oscar, Eugene, Raymond, Annie, who became the wife of F. T. L. Keiter, and they have one daughter, Magdeline; Emma, the wife of Dr. E. H. Heim- bach, by whom she has two children, Eugene and Ellen. Eliza Blank became the wife of William Weidner, and has one son, the Rev. Revere Weid- ner, who is married, and is a minister of a Luth- eran church in Chicago, president of a Lutheran seminary in that city and an author.
Edwin H. Blank was educated in the public schools, and when sixteen years of age began teaching, but not finding that profession entirely congenial he turned his attention to the carriage business, buying and selling carriages and wagons. He followed this for four or five years and later became a clothing merchant of Allen- town. Subsequently, he dealt in stationery, con- ducting business along that line for some time, after which his wife opened a millinery store and he assisted her in its conduct up to the time of her death. He belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and held membership in the Lutheran church. In his political allegiance, he was a Democrat. He died June 20, 1902. His wife died July 4, 1892.
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