USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. II > Part 57
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David A. Butz was not of a very robust con- stitution during the early days of his life, and in
consequence did not attend school until he was fourteen years of age. After completing the course of instruction given in the public schools of Lower Macungie, he went to work for his father on the farm and remained at home until he was twenty-eight years old. He then came to the city of Allentown and was employed by Levi Fenster- macher for two years, after which he entered into. partnership with his brother, Oscar E. Butz, and Nicholas P. Redinger, in the wholesale produce and fruit business under the firm name of Butz & Company, as before mentioned. He is an active and earnest member of the Reformed church, and a strong advocate of the principles of Republi- canism.
David A. Butz was united in marriage to Mame Ross, one of a family of six children, as follows, born to Jacob and Sabilla (Cole) Ross : Emma, wife of Horace Strunk, and mother of two children, Ross, and Bella Strunk ; Delia, wife of Millard Cuder, and mother of two children, Albert, and Edwin Cuder ; Mame, aforementioned as the wife of David A. Butz ; Laura, unmarried ; . Edna, wife of Harvey Reinsmith, and mother of four children-Arthur, Carrie, Marguerite and Laura Reinsmith; and Lillie, wife of John Will- iams, and mother of one child, Robert Williams. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Butz, namely : Florence Edna, and Harold Jacob. Butz.
Thomas A. Butz received a good English edu- cation in the public schools adjacent to his home, and then for a number of years assisted his fa- ther in the work on the farm. Shortly after tak- ing up his residence in the city of Allentown he went with Ruhe Brothers to learn the trade of cigar making, and this line of business he fol- lowed up to the year 1886, when he entered into. partnership with his brothers in the produce busi- ness. Like his brother, he holds membership in the Reformed church, and his political affiliations are with the Republican party. The brothers, both of whom are energetic and capable business men, have always avoided political life, preferring to devote their entire time and energy to business pursuits.
Thomas A. Butz was united in marriage to-
-
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Ida Fried, one of five children, as follows, born to Henry and Susan (Abbott) Fried: Edward, who married Ida Schaffer, no issue; Allen, un- married; Henry, unmarried ; Ida, aforementioned as the wife of Thomas A. Butz; and Gertrude, wife of George Snyder, and mother of two chil- dren, Earnest, and Roland Snyder. Mr. and Mrs. Butz are the parents of two children : Charles and Ursula Butz.
PROFESSOR FRANCIS D. RAUB, sup- erintendent of the city schools of Allentown, Pennsylvania, was born in Raubsville, North- ampton county, September 10, 1850, and his an- cestral history in America is one of close con- nection with Pennsylvania from the earliest epoch in its colonization down to the present time, 1903.
His ancestors emigrated from the Palatinate about the middle of the eighteenth century. Three brothers of the name landed in Philadelphia, and ascending the Delaware river, two of them settled in what is now known as Raubsville, Northamp- ton county, while the third, leaving the eastern district of the state, made his way into the in- terior and located on the Juniata. The two who settled at Raubsville purchased a tract of land from John Penn, and the deed, bearing date of 1740, is now in possession of Martin L. Raub, who resides on a portion of the original tract, which on the death of the first owner was inher- ited by Michael Raub, the great-grandfather of Professor Raub. This in time became the pro- perty of Jacob and William Raub. The former sold his portion, but the latter retained possession of his and left to his son Samuel thirty-eight acres which are now owned and occupied by Martin L. Raub, the brother of Francis D. Raub. It was upon the old homestead that William Raub, the grandfather, and Samuel Raub, the father, were born and reared, and there they fol- lowed the occupation of farming throughout their entire lives. The latter marrie Miss Mary Ann Dimmick, a native of Bucks county, Pennsyl- vania, a daughter of David and Anna (Huber) Dimmick, also natives of that county. Unto Samuel and Mrs. Raub were born three sons
and two daughters: Martin L., who is operating the old homestead; Anna, the wife of Charles Walters, of Northampton county; Sallie O., the wife of Jacob Hoffman, of the same county ; and Benjamin F., of Allentown.
Professor Francis D. Raub, the other member of the family, acquired his early education in the village school, afterward attended the Easton high school, and entered the preparatory depart- ment of Muhlenberg College in 1869. In that institution he continued his studies until he had completed the regular college course, and was graduated with the class of 1873. His entire life has been devoted to educational work. After his graduation he was principal of a school in Phil- lipsburg, New Jersey, for two years, and for one term in Holland, New Jersey. In 1876 he re- turned to Allentown, where he was employed as a teacher in the grades for two years. In 1878 he was elected principal of the high school, and acted in that capacity for fifteen years, when in 1893 he was chosen superintendent of schools and has since filled this responsible position. The present excellent condition of the school system of Allentown is largely due to his efforts, his zeal and interest in his work and his superior scholar- ship.
Socially, Mr. Raub is a member of the Lehigh Lodge, No. 83, I. O. O. F., in which he is greatly interested. In religious affairs he worships with the Lutheran church. He was married June 27, 1876, to Miss Susanna Heil, of Rocksburg, New Jersey, a daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Odenwelder) Heil, in whose family were three children, the sons being Philip, who resides at Belvidere, Pennsylvania, and Samuel at Rocks- burg, New Jersey. Prof. and Mrs. Raub have a son, Samuel H., born in 1884, in Allentown. He is a clerk.
GEORGE B. ROTHERMEL, manager of one of the departments of Hotel Allen, Allen- town, was born December 24, 1873, in Allentown, representing a family whose connection with the Lehigh Valley covers almost two centuries. In the early part of July, 1738, the ship "Thistle" left Zweibrucken, on the river Rhine, Captain
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GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS.
John Wilson, of Rotterdam, commanding, with three hundred German emigrants on board, bound for the new world, and after a pleasant but long voyage of about fifty days anchor was dropped in the harbor of Philadelphia in September, 1738. Part of the voyagers went to what is now North Carolina, but subsequently returned to Pennsyl- vania. The others at once established homes for themselves in the north part of this state, and among these was Lorendze Guth and wife.
In his native land Lorendze Guth had been a commissioner of forestry, and on one of his scout- ing trips discovered what he supposed to be a bear, but upon firing he discovered that he had shot a man. He immediately gave himself up, and after a hearing was exonerated and dis- charged, but so keen was his regret over the acci- dent that the familiar haunts had lost their charm for him, and he determined to emigrate to the new world. Previous to this he had taken up three hundred and fifty acres of land along the Jordan river, in Whitehall township, Lehigh county, and he increased nis realty possessions by purchase made from Nicholas Kern, Richard Kohler and Thomas and Richard Penn until he was the owner of one thousand acres. He built thereon a stone house which is still owned and occupied by Eli J. Guth, having never been out of possession of a member of the family.
Lorendze Guth, the founder of the family in America, had six children: Lorendze, Jr., who married and had nine children ; Adam, who mar- rie Barbara Strickler and had eleven children; Peter, who married and had two children; Julia Ann, who became the wife of Peter Kohler ; Eva Barbara, wife of George Henry Mertz; and Mar- garet, wife of Adam Dorney.
Lorendze Guth, Jr., married Margaret Xander and had a large family, one of whom, Daniel Guth, married Margaret Weider. They became the parents of Edward Guth, who married Polly Troxell, and they had two sons, Clinton Guth and Albert Jacob Daniel Guth. The former married Ida Hoffman and had three children, Jennie, Han- nah and Mable, and of these Jennie married Elmer Newhardt and has one child, Ida ; while Hannah became the wife of Clinton Kuhns and has a
daughter Florence. Albert John Daniel Guth married Sarah Kresley and they have two chil- dren : Elmer Alvin, who married Barbara Guth ; and George E. K.
Adam Guth, the second son of Lorendze Guth (first) married Barbara Strickler and had eleven children : Henry, George, Daniel, Peter, Susanna, wife of Jacob Boetz; Maria, wife of Nicholas Robinold; Sallie, wife of Thomas Kern; Eliza- beth, wife of Jonathan Haas; Hannah, wife of Solomon Gross; Adam and John, who died in childhood.
Daniel Guth, third son of Adam and Barbara (Strickler) Guth, and the grandfather of Dr. N. C. E. Guth, had a family of eight children : Benjamin ; Lavina, who became the wife of Na- than Sieger and had four children; Manasser, who married Sabina George and had four chil- dren; Lucinda, wife of Elias Troxell, by whom she had three children ; Owen, who married and had three children; Ephraim, father of Dr. N. C. E. Guth; Uriah, who married Maria Ludwig and had three children ; and Tillara, wife of Moses Haas, by whom she had seven children. Jennie is the eldest and the wife of Silas Rothermel. Agnes (second) is the wife of Peter P. Adams and has two daughters, Mamie and Jessie. George (third) married Sarah Arner. John M. (fourth) wedded Mary Wiser and has a daugh- ter, Irene. Irving (fifth) married Beulah
and has two sons, Robert and Clarence. Edgar (sixth) married Alice and has three children, their home being in Richmond, Indiana. Frederic E. (seventh) married Minnie Reiff, and has three children, Helen and two others. Monroe Guth, second child of Ephraim Guth, married Ellen Erdman, and had one son, Irving, now deceased. Milton J., the third child of Ephraim Guth, married Amanda Woodring, and has two children: Ella, now the wife of Charles O. Neal, by whom she has a son, Rex; and George, who is married. Amanda, the fourth child of Ephraim Guth, is the wife of Simon Heninger, and they have two children, Annie and Nettie. The former is the wife of William Eberhardt, and has four children : Charles, Fred, Minnie and Edna. The latter is the wife of
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HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS.
George F. Schneck, and has a daughter Helen. Jennie, the eldest child of Moses and Tillara (Guth) Haas, became the wife of Silas Rothermel and has three children : George B .; Robert Rol- and, who married Cora Strauss and has a son Roland; and Nellie E., who is the wife of Arthur Rupert and has two daughters, Pauline and Evelyn.
George B. Rothermel, the elder son of Silas and Jennie Rothermel, having acquired his pre- liminary education in the public schools, took up the study of electrical engineering in the Scran- ton Corresponding School and prepared himself for an expert in electrical work. When he had completed his course he became connected with Hotel Allen in order to familiarize himself in the business and in its various departments. He has since been employed by the company operat- ing this hotel, and is now manager of one of the departments, to which he has steadily worked his way upward from a humble position. His so- cial relations are with Franklin Chapter, No. 9, K. F., and with Lehigh Consistory, No. 4. He is a member of the Reformed church, and in his political affiliations is a Republican.
George B. Rothermel was married to Alice M. Stauffer, a daughter of John and Charlotte (Zimmerman) Stauffer, in whose family were seven children : Mary, the wife of Oscar Schaffer ; John, who married Ida Robinault; Henry ; Sarah ; Lillian; Alice, the wife of George Benz Rother- mel; and William. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rother- mel have been born four children : Harry, George, Wallace and Helen Rothermel.
MABERRY SIETLE WEIDNER, organ- izer and secretary of the board of trade of Allen- town, was born in Rohrsville, Washington coun- ty, Maryland, July 2, 1842, and is one of the three children of Jonathan and Mary (Sietle) Weidner. His paternal grandparents were Jonathan and Barbara (Gambler) Weidner. Jonathan Weid- ner, Jr., the father, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, but in early life removed to Mary- land, where he formed the acquaintance of a Miss Mary Sietle, a daughter of John and Rebecca (Miller) Sietle. She, too, was born in Berks
county, Pennsylvania, but had gone to Maryland to engage in teaching school. After their mar- riage they remained for some time in that state, but in 1842 returned to Berks county, Pennsyl- vania. They had three children: Maberry S .; Augustus, who married Marie Diehl and has six children ; and Sarah E., who is the wife of Elias Becker and has seven children.
Maberry S. Weidner was a youth of six years when he accompanied his parents on their return to Berks county, Pennsylvania. He had already begun his education under his mother's instruc- tion, and with her teaching he mastered reading, spelling, grammar and arithmetic. In his early youth he assisted in the work of the home farm as far as his age and strength permitted, and when a youth of fifteen years began teaching, following that profession for four terms. The time which was not occupied with the duties of the school room was devoted to the painter's trade, which he followed until 1861. In April of that year, in response to President Lincoln's call for troops to serve for three months, he was one of the first to enlist as a member of the Seventh Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. On the expiration of his term he received an honorable discharge, but re-enlisted in Company K. of the Ninety-third Pennsylvania Infantry for three years. This regiment was attached to the Army of the Potomac, and participated in some of the most hotly contested and sanguinary engagements of the Civil war. At Malvern Hill, and again at Antietam, Mr. Weidner was wounded, and be- cause of the injuries sustained at the latter place was discharged in December, 1862.
Mr. Wiedner returned to Pricetown, Pennsyl- vania, and the day after his arrival was selected to become the teacher of a school in Muhlenberg township. Accepting the proferred position, he taught until the spring of 1863, when he came to Allentown and began business on his own ac- count as a painter, being thus engaged until 1877, when he turned his attention to the real estate and insurance business, to which he has since devoted his time and energies. He has two offices in Allentown, a fact which indicates the growth of his clientage and the extent and importance of
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his business operations. In 1871, in connection with Morris L. Kaufman and E. G. Martin, he formed the Allentown board of trade, which had a precarious existence until 1889 and was then disbanded. In that year, however, as the result of much earnest and indefatigable effort, Mr. Weidner reorganized the board and was elected its secretary, since which time he has acted in that capacity. He was one of the committee which went to Washington to secure the appro- priation for the public building at this place, and in all matters of citizenship he takes an active and helpful interest. Mr. Weidner formerly be- longed to a number of secret societies, but has demitted from all save the Grand Army of the Republic, in which he retains an active interest. He is a stanch Republican, and he and his family belong to the Reformed church.
He married Miss Sarah Acker, a daughter of Michael and Maria Liepie Acker, and they have three children : William Alfred, who is married ; Charles H., who married Jennie Weibert, and has two children, Raymond and Edward; and Emma M., who is at home.
FLOYD SMITH BIXLER, one of the en- terprising and progressive business men of Easton, Pennsylvania, who, in addition to the successful management of one of the most exten- sive dry goods and notion establishments in north- ern Pennsylvania, is a director of the First National Bank of Easton, a director of the North- ampton Trust Company, and is actively and prominently identified with various other business enterprises. He was born in Easton, Northamp- ton county, Pennsylvania, November 15, 1843, a son of Daniel Lewis and Eloisa (Douglass ) Bix- ler, a grandson of Christian and Catherine (Opp) Bixler, and great-grandson of Christian Bixler, Sr., who was a prominent resident and large land owner of Berks county, Pennsylvania, where he achieved financial success in the conduct of a grist and saw mill.
Christian Bixler, Jr., (grandfather) was born in Breakneck township, Berks county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1765, and after obtaining the educational advantages afforded by the common schools of
that day served an apprenticeship at the trade of silversmith and clock maker. In 1785, he re- moved to Easton, Northampton county, and established a business there which he conducted successfully during the active years of his long and useful life, the same being conducted in the city of Easton at the present time (1903) by his descendants. In his day, knives, spoons and other wares were manufactured from the raw material, and now after more than a century has passed away, in nearly every old home is to be seen a tall wall sweep clock with the name of Christian Bixler on it, signifying that he was the manufacturer. He became the owner of a large tract of land and in 1834, in connection with his other business, he engaged extensively in milling, erecting one of the first mills in this section of the State, it being located at the present site of Kueb- ler's brewery, on the Delaware river. Mr. Bix- ler was united in marriage to Catherine Opp, daughter of Jacob and Anna Maria (Hoffman) Opp, and among the children born of this union was a son, Daniel Lewis Bixler. Jacob Opp was born in 1740 in Germany, in early life came to this country and located in Easton, Pennsylvania, where he became widely known as an inn keeper, was an extensive landowner, and a man of great influence in the community. His house was located where the Central Hotel now stands, at the corner of Fourth and Northampton streets, Easton, Pennsylvania.
Daniel Lewis Bixler (father) was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, October 3, 1810. After completing a common school education he learned the trade of silversmith and jeweler with his fa- ther, and after the death of the latter named he succeeded to the business, which he conducted on an extensive scale, and which proved a re- munerative source of income throughout his entire lifetime. He was, however, engaged in various other important enterprises, the principal ones being the hardware business and the opera- tion of a saw mill. Mr. Bixler was an active member of the Lutheran church, in which body his wife also held membership, and his political affiliations were with the Democratic party. Mr. Bixler married Eloisa Douglass, daughter of Ben-
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jamin and Deborah (Post) Douglass, and the fol- lowing named children were born to them: Adelia, widow of Jacob Shimer Butz; Alonzo, who died at the age of twenty-one years; Rush Heintzleman, who learned the jewelry trade with his father and is now residing in the western sec- tion of the United States ; Caroline Amelia, wife of Lorenzo Wilson; Floyd Smith, mentioned at length hereinafter; Christian Willis; Lewis Ed- ward; and Georgianna, wife of Milton J. Shimer, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Daniel L. Bixler and his wife both died in Easton, Pennsylvania, the former in 1891, and the latter in 1890.
The educational advantages enjoyed by Floyd S. Bixler, third son of Daniel L. and Eloisa Bix- ler, were obtained in the public schools of Easton, Pennsylvania. In 1858 he entered the employ of Jacob Hay, a wholesale dry goods merchant, and this connection continued until 1874, when he was admitted into partnership with his employer, and the business was then conducted under the firm name of J. Hay & Company. In 1879, Mr. Bixler established a wholesale dry goods and notion business on his own account in the city of Easton, and during the years that have inter- vened between that date and the present time (1903), almost a quarter of a century, has suc- ceeded in building up one of the largest trades in that particular line in northern Pennsylvania. In the commercial circles of Easton the name of Mr. Bixler is synonymous with integrity and honor. He is a member and secretary of the board of trustees of the Presbyterian church, and his political views are in accord with those ad- vocated by the Republican party.
Mr. Bixler was united in marriage, May II, 1871, to Emily Evans, of Chambersburg, Penn- sylvania, a daughter of Evan and Abigail (Myers) Evans, the former named being a son of Lewis and Margaret (Davis) Evans, both na- tives of Northampton county, Pennsylvania. Their children are: I. Evan Stanley, acquired his education in the schools of Easton, began his business career as a clerk in nis father's store, and in 1896 was admitted into partnership in the business ; he married Sarah Fordham, of Scran- ton, Pennsylvania. 2. Douglas Evans, attended
the schools of Easton, and is now engaged in busi- ness with his father. 3. Lewis Clyde, obtained his early education in the schools in Easton, in 1898 graduated from Lafayette College and in 1903 from the Medical Department of Johns Hopkins University, taking the honors of his class and receiving an appointment in the hospital of the University. 4. Esther Douglas graduated from the Woman's College of Baltimore, Mary- land, in 1903. 5. Margaret Bixler.
In 1890, Emily, the wife of Floyd S. Bixler, died. In 1894, F. S. Bixler married Julia Merry, of Newark, New Jersey. With this marriage there are two sons, Kenneth M., and Donald F.
NATHAN E. WORMAN, whose deep in- terest in the welfare and substantial upbuilding of Allentown is manifest in his zealous coopera- tion in many community interests, has also con- tributed to the business development of the bor- ough along lines which have direct and import- ant bearing upon its stable prosperity and pro- gress. He was formerly a representative of jour- nalistic circles here, is now manager of the Lyric Theatre, and is also president of the Allentown Bill Posting Company.
A native son of Allentown, born November 20, 1850, his entire life has been passed here. His paternal grandfather and his father both bore the name of Abraham Worman, and the latter married Esther Kemmerer, a daughter of Henry Kemmerer. Fourteen children were born to Ab- raham and Esther Worman, as follows: Abra- ham married Emma Kanuss; George married Lucy Nice, and has two children, George and Warren; Lewis is married, but has no children; Nathan E. wedded Mary Person, by whom he had one child, Gertrude E., and his second wife was Sarah B. Snyder, by whom he had one child that died in early life; Emma is the wife of Dr. S. S. Bachman, and has three children, Morton, Edgar and Annie; Maria married Jeremiah Os- wald and has four children ; Mary is the wife of Lewis H. Wolf, and has three children, Milton R., George L. and Ella, the last named now de- ceased ; Loraine is the wife of W. W. Anewalt and has two children, Charles and John, the lat-
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GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL , MEMOIRS.
ter now deceased; Leana married William Hen- dricks, and both are deceased, as is their only child; Henry married Ida Fatzinger, and had one child, now deceased; William married Folly Butz, by whom he had four children, and after the death of his first wife married Miss Hannah Mullen, by whom he had one son, Raymond ; Rebecca, Walter and James Worman complete the family.
Nathan E. Worman is indebted to the public school system of Allentown for the educational privileges which he enjoyed in his youth, and when his school days were over he entered the employ of the firm of Trexler, Harlocher & Wiener in order to learn the printing business, remaining with that company from 1862 until 1868. He then went to Carbon county, where he worked at the printer's trade for a time, and afterward located in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He was employed by various firms in different parts of the state, thus gaining a thorough knowledge of the best methods of conducting the printing business, and in 1884 returned to his native city, where he started in business for himself. The art of printing claimed his attention and energies until 1900, when he closed out his interests in that line, and has since devoted his time to the man- agement of other business enterprises in which he had become engaged. In 1872 he was one of the founders of the Daily Morning Herald, and continued as one of its proprietors until 1877, when the paper passed out of existence. The fol- lowing year, in company with Cyrus Kuntz, he began the publication of the Daily Item, which is now the leading paper of the city, and with which he was connected for a short time, developing it into an attractive journal and making the en- terprise a profitable one.
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