USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. II > Part 56
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Edwin H. Blank married Eliza George, a daughter of Daniel and Esther ( Beidler) George.
Two children were born unto Edwin H. and Eliza Blank : Gilmore G., and Jennie E., the wite of Harry B. Schall.
Dr. Gilmore G. Blank was born in Allentown and pursued his literary education in the public schools. During his younger days he manifested such an interest in horses and cattle that he was sent when a youth of sixteen years to Toronto, Canada, to enter the Ontario Veterinary College, in order to prepare for the practice of veterinary surgery. He studied there for two years, and was graduated on the 16th of April, 1884. He then returned to Allentown, immediately opened an office, and entered upon the general practice of his profession. He has been very successful in his chosen calling, and his practice now makes constant demands upon his time and energies ; in fact, he has more calls than he can attend to. In 1903, he was appointed assistant for this district to the state veterinarian for the inspection of cattle.
Dr. Blank is promirent in Masonic circles in Allentown. He is likewise a member of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Clover Club. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Reformed church, and to the Republican party he gives a stalwart support,. believing firmly in its principles. . Dr. Blank was married to Miss Clara J. Richards, and they have two children, Helen Esther and Charlotte Jean- nette. Mrs. Blank is a daughter of Milton Henry Richards, who was born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, a son ci Samuel and Marie (Wieand) Richards. After acquiring his ele- mentary education in the public schools he at- tended Perkiomen Seminary, in which he was graduated. Subsequently, he was appointed one of the teachers of that institution, and occupied the position for five years, on the expiration of which period he resigned. He then entered upon a business connection with his father, who was engaged extensively in the manufacture and sale of cigars and tobacco. Finally, however, he abandoned that business and became a dry goods merchant, opening a store on Hamilton street in Allentown. He followed that business contin- uously for thirty-five years, or until 1900, when
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he retired. He was one of the best known mer- chants of this city, conducted a leading enterprise and enjoyed a profitable partonage. In religious faith he was a Lutheran, and in political belief a Republican. He died in November, 1901. Milton H. Richards married Charlotte Fryer, and they became the parents of six children : Clayton F. married Miriam Jacoby, by whom he has seven children : Ralph, Arthur, Charlotte, Ursula, Louise, Marie and Amy ; Emma Mary became the wife of Preston Kern, but the latter is now de- ceased; Clara J .; Ursula, who married Augustus Rimm, and has three children : Ursula, Louise and Edward; Annie M., who married Frank Neitz, and has two children, Helen Esther and Frances Louise; and Charles H., who wedded Martha Mertz, by whom he has three children: Charles H., Jr., Milton Richards and an infant.
CHARLES OSCAR SCHANTZ cashier of the Merchants' National Bank, of Allentown, was born in Balliettsville, Lehigh county, Penn- sylvania May 31, 1853, the fourth child in the family of John and Elizabeth (Meyer) Schantz.
The founder of the family in America was John Schantz whose name is upon a record in Harrisburg, Fa., upon the arrival of emigrants from Germany, October 1, 1770. He was the fa- ther of four sons : Jacob, Philip, John and Henry. Of this family Jacob Schantz was born in 1761, and he became the father of three sons and six daughters : Jacob, Peter, John, Mrs. Mohr, Mrs. Henninger, Mrs. Helfriet, Mrs. Fisher and two sisters who married a man by the name of Shimer. Philip Schantz, the second son of the founder of the family, had a number of children, including Philip, Henry John, Mrs. Snyder, two Mrs. Kecks, Sarah, and one child whose name is not recorded. John and Henry Schantz, the other two sons of the founder of the family, setttled at the Trappe, in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and their descendants were found there in recent years.
John Schantz, son of Philip Schantz, was the grandfather of Charles Oscar Schantz, and his son John became the father of Charles Oscar Schantz. John Schantz (father) married Eliza-
beth Meyer, a daughter of Peter Meyer, whose wife bore the maiden name of Miss Gungawere. John and Elizabeth (Meyer) Schantz became the parents of eight children, four sons and four daughters. I. Mary, the wife of William Moyer, by whom she had two children, now deceased. 2. John Benjamin Franklin, who married Cor- nelia Pearson, and their children were: William, who died in childhood; Frank ; Mattie ; Howard ; Fred; Lee; Mary; Harry, who died in infancy; Lillian, and Evalyn, who died at the age of nine years. 3. Paul, deceased, who married Esther Searle, also deceased and they were the parents of two children: George and Paul. 4. Charles Oscar, mentioned at length hereinafter. 5. Mar- tha, who resides at the home of her brother, Mil- ton P. Schantz. 6. Catherine, wife of Lewis Seifert and their children are: Mary, Sarah, John, Charles, Helen and Anna. 7. Sarah, wife of George Eberhardt, and their children are: Ray- mond, Ralph, Augustus, Mamie, Martha and Harold. 8 Milton Peter, who married Catherine Dotts, and their children are: Harold, Catherine, Milton Philip, who died in infancy ; Earle, Lewis, and Marcus Perry, who died in infancy.
Charles Oscar Schantz is indebted to the pub- lic school system of Pennsylvania for the early educational privileges he enjoyed. After the re- moval of his parents to Allentown he attended the military academy of that city. When his. education was completed he entered upon his business career as a clerk in a mercantile house, but remained there for only a brief period. He then entered the employ of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company as a messenger, and by close application and energy worked his way upward to the position of head clerk, his connection with the road continuing between seven and eight years. On February 3, 1874, he entered the Allen- town National Bank as an individual ledger book- keeper, later was made assistant teller, and sub- sequently chief clerk, acting in the latter capacity until 1903, when the Merchants' National Bank was organized and he was chosen cashier. He is- thus connected at the present time ( 1904) and is proving a popular official, as well as one who enjoys the entire confidence of the officers of the
Chas O. Schanz
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bank owing to his thorough understanding of the business and his prompt and faithful dis- charge of the duties intrusted to him. His con- nection with banking interests in Allentown covers a period of over thirty years.
In 1872 Mr. Schantz married Miss Amanda Kline, a daughter of Thomas and Eliza (Dorn- blaser) Kline. Their children are: John Thomas, who married Gertrude Koehler ; Alice E., Charles O., Jr., William D., who married Helen Laury; Hattie A., Edgar J., Robert K., and Dorothy, who died at the age of two years. Mrs. Schantz has one brother, Dr. John J. Kline, who married Rosa Kunkle.
A. H. BALLIET. The sundry indus- trial interests which have contributed to the busi- ness development of Allentown find a representa- tive in A. H. Balliet, who is engaged in the man- ufacture of cigar boxes, controlling what is one of the important productive concerns of the city.
He was born in North Whitehall township, Lehigh county. His paternal great-grandfather, Stephen Balliet, was a colonel of the Revolution- ary war and a personal friend of George Wash- ington. He married Miss Magdalena Burk- holter, and their son Stephen Balliet married Miss Susan Ehrie, and among their children was Aaron Balliet, the father of A. H. Balliet. Aaron Balliet, spending his boyhood days under the parental roof, acquired his early education in the public schools of North Whitehall township, Lehigh county, and afterward continued his studies in Easton. Later he interested himself in the iron business, operating a furnace with his brother-in-law, B. F. Levan, and others. Sub- sequently, he joined his brothers John and Paul, and purchased the furnace on the side of the mountain near Lehighton. This they operated for some time, while later John Balliet became owner of the furnace on the opposite side of the mountain, continuing its conduct until his death. Aaron Balliet aided in the organization of the Second National Bank, and was one of its direct- ors for many years. His political allegiance was given with the Whig party until its dissolution, when he joined the ranks of the new Republican
party, with which he continued to affiliate until his death, which occurred November 1, 1895. For many years he served as justice of the peace in his township, and in all matters of citizenship was loyal and progressive. He was twice mar- ried. He first wedded Sarah Dengler, a daugh- ter of John Dengler and they had eight children. Francis, the oldest, married Mary E. Samuels, and has three children : George S., who married Lizzie Heffner ; Robert, who married Irene Fred- erick and has six children, Miriam, Lee, Emma, Grace, Raymond and Francis ; and Marcus, who is single. Julia, the second child of Aaron Bal- liet, became the wife of Augustus Holterhoff, and is now deceased. Ella afterward married Augustus Holterhoff, and has five children : Robert, Julia, Albert, Augustus and Elsie. Annie is the wife of O. E. Holman and has five chil- dren : Helen, Edith, Miriam, Dorothy and Ed- ward. Emma married O. P. Lampher and has three children : Marion, Adelle, and Richard. Ida S. is single, and Susan and Stephen are de- ceased. After the death of his first wife Aaron Balliet married Catherine Hausman, a daughter of David and Catherine (Scheirer) Hausman, and they had two children, A. H. and Ada M.
A. H. Balliet, spending his early days in North Whitehall township, Lehigh county, mastered the elementary branches of learning in the public schools, and also attended Wyoming Seminary in Kingston, Pennsylvania, where he was gradu- ated. He afterward went to Toronto, Canada, where he pursued a complete course in veterinary surgery, and was graduated with the honors of his class. Returning to his native place, he opened an office and continued in practice for twelve years. On the expiration of that period he went to Allentown, where he remained in the practice of veterinary surgery for two years, and at that time retired from the calling, directing his energies in other channels. He became associat- ed with Walter Biery in the purchase and opera- tion of the Eagle Cigar Box Factory, but after a period of about six months Mr. Balliet pur- chased his partner's interest and continued in the business alone. He now gives employment to about ninety operatives, and the output is about
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seven thousand complete cigar boxes a day. He has a modern factory which has been but recently erected, is well lighted and ventilated, and is equipped with the latest improved machinery for facilitating the work. His business has become extensive and important, and there is an excellent demand for the product. A. H. Balliet was united in marriage to Miss Annie Morgan, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Romich) Mor- gan, in whose family were five children, these being : John, who married Sarah Geiger; James, who married Miss Minnie Couch, who have one daughter, Mary; Edward, who married Alice Smith and has five children, Annie, Howard, Blanche, Miriam and Clarence; Charles, who married Ruth Taylor, who have three children, Willard, Harold and Beatrice.
HENRY W. HUNSICKER, for many years a representative of commercial life in Allentown, and now manager of the carpet and drapery de- partment of W. R. Lamfer & Company, was born at Pleasant Corner, in Heidelberg township, Le- high county, Pennsylvania, and is the eldest son of Owen and Sarah (Bittner) Hunsicker. His paternal grandfather was Daniel Hunsicker, who married a Miss Peters, and the maternal grand- father was Jacob Bittner, of one of the old fam- ilies of the Lehigh valley. In the family of Owen and Sarah Hunsicker were five children. James Franklin,, the second, now a wholesale merchant and manufacturer of Allentown, mar- ried Miss Mary Schrader, and their children are : George W., who married Minnie Keck ; Charles O .; and Herbert J., who married Ruth Robbins and has one child, Marion Hunsicker. Francis P. Hunsicker, the third brother, married Ellen J. Clauser, and they have three children : Katie, the wife of George Knaus; Florence C. and Mame. Alice, the only daughter of Owen and Sarah Hunsicker, married George Koch, and they have five children : Harry, who married Carrie E. Miller, and has two children, George H. and J. Walter ; Lula, who married Frank Kunkle and has one child, Mazie; Sallie and Sadie, at home. Owen S. Hunsicker married Ella White, and has three children, Harry, Frank and Esther.
Henry W. Hunsicker, reared in his native county, attended the public schools in his youth, and afterward completed his education in Troy, New York. Upon his return to Pennsylvania he became connected with the dry goods trade in Allentown as an employe, and in 1870 he joined his brother, James Franklin Hunsicker, in the establishment of a mercantile enterprise. They purchased the stock of Joseph Kressly, and under the firm name of Hunsicker Brothers continued the business. Two years later Elias Bittner was admitted to a partnership, and the firm name was changed to Bittner & Hunsicker Brothers. No further change occurred until 1880, when Frank D. Bittner, a son of Elias Bittner, joined the firm, and the business was then conducted under the style of Bittner, Hunsicker & Company until 1886, when the partnership was dissolved. In the meantime the firm had conducted a whole- sale and retail dry goods trade, and had also en- gaged in the manufacture of hosiery, for which they had especially equipped a factory. On the dissolution of the partnership the Bittners, father and son, and James F. Hunsicker took the whole- sale business and the factory, while Henry W. Hunsicker remained proprietor of the retail de- partment. He continued in this line alone until 1900, when he sold out and then joined the firm of W. R. Laufer & Company as manager of the carpet and drapery department and of the ladies' cloak department, and this has been his busi- ness relation down to the present time.
Henry W. Hunsicker is a member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle, the Knights of Malta and the Patriotic Order of Sons of Amer- ica. He also belongs to the Reformed church and gives his political allegiance to the Democracy.
Mr. Hunsicker was united in marriage to Ida M. Grim, a daughter of Walter Jesse and Eliza (Dresher) Grim. Her ancestry in the paternal line is traced back to Jacob and Elizabeth (Hotten- stein) Grim, her great-grandparents. Their son Jesse Grim wedded Mary Knapp, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Herbein) Knapp, and they had six children. I. Ephraim married Mary Eckert, by whom he had two children, William
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and Sarah, and his second wife was Sarah Mowry, by whom he had one child, Mary, wife of William Mosser. 2. Deborah became the wife of William Eadelman and had six children: Celie; Anna, wife of George Diefer; Emma ; Tillie, who mar- ried in the west; Sarah, wife of Frank Stemmer ; and Jacob, who married Mary Siegfreds. 3. Jacob married Mary Siegfreds, and had two chil- dren, Celia and an infant. 4. William married Eliza Luttrech and had one son, Alfred, who was twice married, first to Miss Madden, and afterward to Miss Schumaker, by whom he had a son, Henry J. Allen. 5. Is deceased.
Walter Jesse Grim, the youngest child of Jesse and Mary (Knapp) Grim, and father of Mrs. Hunsicker, was born in Weisenberg township, Lehigh county, May 15, 1835. He was educated in the public schools and assisted his father be- tween the ages of fourteen and eighteen years. He then learned the trade of tanning and finish- ing leather with his brother William, and in 1857, at the age of twenty-two, started in business for himself, continuing in that line until 1892, when he retired to private life. He has been prominent and influential in community affairs, being coun- cilman for three years, school director for nine years, and a member of the board of control. He is a Lutheran in religious faith, and a Republican in political belief. He married Eliza Dresher, daughter of John and Diana (Grim) Dresher and granddaughter of John Dresher, Sr., who married Miss Fegley. Eliza (Dresher) Grim was one of five children-Samuel, John, Eliza, Nathan and Charles. The eldest married Sarah Loudensberger, and had one son, Alfred, who married Amanda Culver and had two children. Nathan Dresher married Katie Trexler and had five children : John, Edward, Nathan, Mary and Ellen. Charles Dresher married Mary Butz and had six children, of whom four are living.
Walter J. and Eliza (Dresher) Grim, parents of Mrs. Hunsicker, had four children: Ida, George, John Jesse and Charles Dresher. Of these George married Emma Kressley and has two children, George and Henry.
Mr. and Mrs. Hunsicker have five children, as follows: Walter Owen, born April 15, 1882;
Hesser Grim, born August 25, 1884; Jesse Grim, born June 18, 1886; Rhoda Elizabeth, born Jan- uary 16, 1890; and George Washington, born February 22, 1892.
MILTON STEPHEN GABRIEL. Among the enterprising and prominent business men of Allentown, Pennsylvania, may be mentioned the name of Milton S. Gabriel, a native of the city in which he now resides, and son of Henry and Sophia (Christman) Gabriel.
Henry Gabriel (father) was married twice. His first wife, whose maiden name was Cornelia Eckert, bore him two children, namely: William H., unmarried; and Ella, also unmarried, who is a teacher in the public schools. His second wife, Sophia (Christman) Gabriel, bore him eight children, as follows: George, unmarried. Sarah, wife of Charles V. Lodge, and mother of two children, Harry and Benjamin Lodge. Annie, wife of E. O. Helwig, and mother of five children -Henry, deceased; Mary, deceased; John, George, and Harold Helwig. Milton Stephen, mentioned hereinafter. Alice, deceased, who was the wife of George W. Deeths, no issue. Henrietta, unmarried. Emma, unmarried. John, who mar- ried Kathryn Guiley, no issue. Henry Gabriel (father) engaged in the textile business in Al- lentown, Pennsylvania, in the early days, and the plant was devoted to the manufacture of blankets, flannels, yarns and bed-spreads.
Mr. Gabriel's mill, about the middle of the last century, was a custom mill, and the farmers and country folk brought their wool to the mill to have it either carded, spun or woven into cloth, or simple corded and made into rolls, which were afterwards spun into yarns, by the women folks, and the yarn generally brought back so that cov- erlets might be made out of their own pro- ductions.
Milton S. Gabriel attended the public schools of Allentown, after which. he was a student at the Military Academy and the Kutztown Nor- mal School, and completed his educational train- ing at the Excelsior Normal Institute in Bucks county, from which institution he was graduated with honors. After his return to Allentown he
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was employed by his father to learn the textile business. He commenced at the lowest point, and by laborious and unceasing effort he ad- vanced through the various departments, and in 1875 was admitted as a partner with his brothers William, George and John. The busi- ness was then conducted under the name of Henry Gabriel & Sons, and this was continued until the death of the father in 1887. In 1890, George and John withdrew, and his brother-in- law, H. W. Goundie, came into the firm, and the business was then conducted under the style of Henry Gabriel's Sons until 1902, when Milton S. Gabriel purchased the interest of his brother and brother-in-law, and is now conducting busi- ness under the name of Henry Gabriel's Sons, or "The Allentown Hosiery Company." The old firm, back in 1860, was the pioneer in the United States in the manufacture of a seamless stockings, which found a universal sale throughout the va- rious states of the Union. One hundred hands are employed and the business is so arranged that they are furnished with steady employment. They handle the same trade year after year, and of late years they have added dyeing and bleaching of underwear and knit goods to the original dyeing plant. The plant is finely equipped and the ground on which the mill stands was originally the property of the Allen family, for whom the " town was named. It passed from them to a Mr. Frey, then to Mr. Fink, from whom it was pur- chased about the year 1850 by Henry Gabriel, the father of Milton S. Gabriel. It has one of the two water powers on the Little Lehigh in the city. In 1873 the original mill, which was built about 1805, was partially destroyed by fire, and when it was rebuilt a steam plant was added to help them over freshet periods, as the Little Lehigh never becomes dry but occasionally is smaller. This is one of the leading enterprises of the city, and has greatly conduced to the growth and development of the section in which it is located.
Mr. Milton S. Gabriel has also installed a ยท knitting mill at Coopersburg, Lehigh county. This mill was started in September, 1903, with the very latest improved machinery. It employs
about fifty knitters, and has splendid prospects for the future.
Mr. Gabriel is a member of the Reformed church, an Independent in politics, and is affiliated with various fraternal organizations, namely : the Free and Accepted Masons, in which he has at- tained the Thirtieth degree, Scottish rite; the Knights of Malta; Knights of the Golden Eagle ; and the Improved Order of Red Men.
Milton S. Gabriel married Anna A. Goundie, daughter of George H. and Matilda (Kleckner) Goundie, the former named being a son of John: and Hannah (Apple) Goundie, and the latter a daughter of John and Emma (Diebert) Kleckner. George H. Goundie and his wife were the parents. of the following named children : Anna A., afore- mentioned as the wife of Milton S. Gabriel ; Eliza, wife of Allen Lichtenwalner, and mother of one- child, Stanley Walner, now deceased ; Margaret, unmarried; Emma, unmarried; Harry W., who- married Emma Kalbach, and they are the parents of two children, Joseph and Kathryn; Matilda,. deceased ; Ella, deceased ; Paul, who was married. twice, no issue; his first wife was Ella Litzen- berger, and his second wife Elizabeth Mitchell ;: Jacob, unmarried ; and Benjamin, also unmarried .. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ga- briel, as follows: Evelyn, unmarried; Matilda, who married Raymond A. Young, no issue ; Henry, deceased; Marguerite, unmarried; Mi- riam, deceased; Sarah, unmarried; and John,. deceased.
DAVID ALVIN BUTZ AND THOMAS AMBROSE BUTZ. The firm of Butz & Com- pany, one of the leading mercantile enterprises of the city of Allentown, Lehigh county, Penn- sylvania, is composed of David A. and Thomas A. Butz. It was originally established by David A. Butz, his brother, Oscar Butz and Nicholas P. Redinger. After a period of two years the- latter named partner retired and Thomas A. Butz was admitted to partnership. This connection continued until the year 1901, when Oscar Butz also retired, and from that year to the present time the business has been conducted by the aforementioned partners. They conduct a whole-
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sale produce and fruit business, and owing to the superior quality of their goods they have the most extensive trade in their line in the city. They require the constant services of eight men to handle their goods, and nine horses for their de- livery wagons. In addition to the products of this country they handle a large line of imported goods from the West Indies, Cuba, Spain, Jama- ica, and other parts of the world. At the present time (1904) they are building a four-story struct- ure on Turner street, Allentown, and on its com- pletion will occupy the two lower floors and base- ment and rent the two upper stories for manu- facturing purposes. The building will be equip- ped with all modern improvements necessary for the successful conduct of their business, and owing to the attractiveness of its architecture will be an ornament to that section of the city.
Daniel A. and Thomas A. Butz were born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, the place of their birth being between Shamrock and Breinigsville. They are sonsof Thomas and Christie Ann (Kern) Butz, and grandsons of Jonathan Butz. Thomas and Christie Ann (Kern) Butz were the parents of eleven children, as follows: I. James Milton, who married Sallie Plotz, no issue. 2. Hannah Louisa, who became the wife of Granville Ger- nard, and their family consists of four children living-Ida, Sallie, George Gernard, and Annie, wife of Preston B. Schadt. 3. Sallie, who be- came the wife of Benjamin Schmoyer, no issue. 4. Jane, who became the wife of John Foelker. 5. Annie, who became the wife of William Bach- man, and their children are Pauline and Dorothy Bachman. 6. Albert K., who married Catherine Mohr, and their children are: Victor R., Laura M., Ella V., Mamie M., and Grace C. Butz. 7. William, deceased, who married Maria Butter- weck, and they were the parents of two children, Harvey and Horace Butz. 8. David Alvin, men- tioned hereinafter. 9. Oscar Eugene, who mar- ried Ella Miller, and their children are Lloyd and Neva Butz. 10. Thomas Ambrose, mentioned hereinafter. II. Harvey Elsworth, who married Alice Rice ; no issue.
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